USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Connecticut, with genealogies and biographies based upon the records of Deacon Lewis Mills Norton, 1897 > Part 21
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272
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
pal in the School, the remaining members of the board shall have full powers to act as trustees of the school.
"VI. The proprietors shall also choose by ballot a Treasurer and Clerk, the Treasurer to receive all monies belonging to the Com- pany and pay them out to the order of the prudential committee, the Clerk to record the votes aud doings of the proprietors.
" VII. The officers of the company shall continue in office until others are chosen in their room. And at the request of five pro- prietons it shall be the duty of the prudential committee to call a meeting, provided, it be not oftener than once in a year, for the election of officers and other necessary business.
" VIII. The rent of the building and apparatus shall be fixed on the principle of twelve per cent per annum on the first cost.
"IX. If the money raised by the original shares should not be sufficient to defray the expenses of erecting and furnishing said building the deficiency shall be made up from the rent and the pru- dential committee shall have power to apply it for that purpose. The expenses of all necessary repairs shall also be taken from the rent of the building and no dividend shall be made amongst the pro- prietors until such expenses are fully defrayed.
"X. The prudential committee shall cause the building to be erected and prepared and the Trustees shall procure an instructor as soon as practicable after their appointment, at furthermost, within eighteen months of the first meeting of the proprietors.
" XI. This subscription shall not be binding upon any one uutil the sum of one thousand dollars is subscribed.
" XII. These articles may be altered or amended at a meeting of the proprietors for that purpose (all having been notified) by a vote of two-thirds of those present, each oue voting according to the number of his shares.
" Moses Lyman, Jr.,
3 shares
$75.00
Trueman Starr,
8
200.00
David Wadhams,
3
75.00
Augustus Thompson,
3
66
75.00
David Beecher,
2
50.00
David Wooster,
2
50.00
Johu Beach,
2
50.00
E. W. Towner & Co.,
4
100.00
Dudley Henderson,
2
66
50.00
Joseph Harvey,
2
50.00
Lewis M. Norton,
1
25.00
Erastus Lyman,
6
150.00
William Brown,
1
25.00
Abraham Norton,
1
66
25.00
Archibald Bierce,
1
25.00
Eben N. Thompson,
1
66
25.00 "
11
1
GOSHEN ACADEMY.
273
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Officers were elected on the same date of the subscription, for the purpose of temporary organization, an Act of Incorpo- ration was obtained at the session of the General Assembly in May, and June 12, 1823, the following persons were elected officers of the corporation.
Rev. Joseph Harvey,
Erastus Lyman,
Moderator. Clerk.
Moses Lyman, Jr.,
Prudential
Theron Towner,
Committee.
David Wadhams,
Rev. Joseph Harvey,
Erastus Lyman,
David Wooster,
Lewis M. Norton,
Trustees. -
The Prudential Committee proceeded with the erection of the building immediately, and it was found necessary to secure a larger capital. Several of the original subscribers increased their subscriptions, new ones were obtained, and the amount raised was $1,850. The reports containing the items of expense and the cost of the buildings have been lost, but it is pre- sumed that the building cost about $1,800. It was insured for $1,500.
The names of the proprietors and the number of shares taken by each are as follows: Truman Starr, ten; Erastus Lyman, nine; Moses Lyman, Jr., six; Augustus Thompson, four; David Wadhams, David Wooster, Samuel W. Gold, and Jonathan Buell, three each; Joseph Harvey, George Stanley, E. W. Towner & Co., Francis H. Case, David Beecher, Lewis M. Norton, Dudley Henderson, John Beach, Samuel Lyman and Isaac Wadhams two, each; and Eben N. Thompson, Abraham Norton, Archibald Bierce, Jonathan North, Giles Griswold, Eliza Lyman, H. N. Lyman, Miles Hart, Henry Hart, Samuel Palmer, Jr., John P. Porter, Nelson Brewster and Beebe Wadhams, one share each.
18
274
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Samuel D. Street, Esther North, Theodore Parmelee's leirs, and Asaph Hall had been subscribers for one share each, but the shares were all taken as above at the time the Academy was opened.
I certify that Erastus Lymana ATo 6 Goshen May 105 182.5
is the owner of one Share of the Stock of the GOSHEN ACADEMY, which share is transferable agreeable to the by- law of the Corporation.
$5.
Erastus Lyman Secretary.
FACSIMILE OF CERTIFICATE.
The enterprise had hardly commenced when it was ascer- tained that an institution such as it was proposed to make this could not be money making, and the proprietors relinquished all right to any dividends, and voted that whatever might be received for the use of the building should be devoted to the school. It was also found that the Act of Incorporation was not just what was needed, and a new one was obtained from the General Assembly holden at Hartford, 1827.
The first principal engaged was a Mr. Eli Burchard, who came highly recommended, but did not prove a success as a teacher. He was a licensed preacher, and it is said that he went on horseback to North Goshen every Sabbath to preach and never wore an overcoat, even in the coldest weather. He remained only one winter. During the remainder of the year Mr. Edward R. Tyler was the instructor.
Mr. Sidney Mills of Canton was engaged as principal in 1825, and continued in that relation until his resignation Sep- tember, 1830. He was an excellent teacher and under his management the institution was prosperous. He died in Vir- ginia.
275
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
The contract made with Mr. Mills contained the following provisions.
" The income of the Academy shall be disposed of as follows:
" 1st. One hundred dollars shall be used for repairs and inci- dental expenses.
"2d. All the expenses of hiring assistant teachers shall be paid.
"3d. The principal shall have the remainder, provided, such remainder do not exceed six hundred dollars.
"4th. If there be any remaining income it shall go to the Academy for the improvement of the apparatus, etc., provided, it do not exceed one hundred dollars. .
"5th. The remaining income, if any there be, three-fourths to the principal and one-fourth to the Academy, always provided that the Trustees, or such other persons as the charter shall provide, shall have liberty at the close of any one year to fix his future salary on equitable terms as shall be thought reasonable by indifferent persons taking as a rule the average salaries of the Principals of the permanent academies of New England.
"The price of tuition as now agreed on and as specified below shall not be altered without the consent both of the Trustees and the Principal.
" For Reading, writing and spelling as is commonly taught, Eng- lish Grammar, Geography and Arithmetic, so far as is contained in the present edition of Daboll's Arithmetick - those studies to be five dollars a quarter.
" All those in Languages other than the English language seven dollars a quarter, and all other six dollars a quarter.
" It is expected of Mr. Mills that he will annually give at least two courses lectures accompanied with such experiments and illus- trations as the chemical and other apparatus of the Academy will admit of on some subject of natural science and that every scholar while in school shall have the privilege of attending them without any additional expense. It is also expected that each member of the Corporation and Trustee of the Academy shall with his wife have the liberty at all times of attending such lectures and illus- trations without expense. The price for admittance to such lectures to others shall from time to time be agreed on by the Trustees and the Principal."
In 1827, the school year was divided into three terms in- stead of four quarters, and the tuition was advanced to seven, eight, and nine dollars.
Rev. Jeremiah Day, S.T.D., LL.D., New Haven, Rev.
276
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Ralph Emerson, Norfolk, and Rev. John G. Stone, Litchfield, were elected trustees in 1827, and signified their acceptance of the office.
In 1832 it was proposed to establish an institution to be known as the Litchfield County Agricultural High School, and the corporation was asked to turn the Academy building over to the promoters of this scheme. A committee was ap- pointed with power to do so under certain conditions, but the plan was relinquished.
In 1861 the corporation received a legacy of one thou- sand dollars from the estate of Giles Griswold and invested the same in stock, the value of which is $2,000 at the present time. In 1881 a bequest of $750 was received from the es- tate of Miss Abigail Lyman.
The following are the names of the principals who have had charge of the Academy at the dates named:
Mr. Sturtevant, brother of the Rev. Dr. Sturtevant, one term, 1830.
Rev. John D. Pierce, 1830-31. Removed to Michigan, and, as Superintendent of Schools, established their school system, which has been pronounced the most perfect of any State in the Union. His work and influence there was very great.
John F. Norton, 1831-32.
D. C. Perry, Yale '33, 1832-34. Afterwards a minister.
Samuel Wesley Judson, 1834-35. Grand Union. Became a lawyer in New York.
Otis Lombard, 1836-37. Grad. Amherst. A teacher for several years.
Mr. Kilbourn, 1837-38. Of the Litchfield family of that name.
Theodore S. Gold, 1838 -- 40. Yale '38. Settled in Cornwall, had family school; has given great attention to agricul- ture; Sec'y State Agri. Society; Trustee State Agricul- tural College, Storrs.
277
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Elias H. Williams, 1840-41.
Dr. E. C. Smith, 1841-42.
Robert Norton, 1842-43.
Rev. Charles W. Camp, 1843-44. Samuel T. Rogers, 1844-45.
Rev. Silas W. Robbins, 1846-47.
Andrew J. Hunt, 1847-48.
Albert S. Hunt, 1848-49.
Samuel F. Chester, 1849-50.
James Q. Rice, 1849-62.
Miss Mary E. Bennett, 1862-63. She was from New Haven, where she now resides. Is a writer for the periodical press, and author of several volumes of considerable merit.
Charles F. Bradley, 1863-64.
Francis H. Wadhams, 1864-65. A. H. Bingham, 1865-69. Miss Higgins, 1869-70.
Melvina Howe, 1870-73. Teacher for several years in Hart- ford.
George W. Cole, 1873.
Nora C. Nettleton, 1874-75. Married George C. Holt and re- sides in Norfolk.
Franklin H. Giddings, 1875-76.
John C. Lester, 1876-78.
Miss Amy Gaylord, 1878-80.
A. G. Creamer, 1880-81; and 1889-90.
Thomas C. Wilson, 1881-82.
Lemuel W. Peters, 1882-84.
Russell H. Croxford, 1884-85. Paul F. Ela, 1885-86.
Miss Nellie Grant, summer 1886.
John G. Adams, 1886-87, 1890-91.
Elmer B. Tooley, 1877-88.
.
278
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
Arthur D. Hall, 1888-89.
Annie M. Tenney, 1891-92. Married John M. Wadhams, Jr.
Miss Jessie Hefflon, 1892.
Miss Mary F. Bailey, 1892-93.
Arthur Lincoln, 1893-94.
Charles M. Hibbard, 1894-96.
The Academy was furnished with a lecture-room on the upper floor; also with a moderate amount of chemical and other apparatus. Its equipment at the time was beyond that of any similar institution in Litchfield County. Whether there was another of that period in the state quite equal to it cannot be determined. One of the early students writes: " Oc- casional visits of individual trustees had a stimulating influ- ence. Especially was that true of remarks, from time to time, by Mr. Erastus Lyman, than whom there was no more promi- nent citizen in the town. After an interval of toward seventy years I recall with great distinctness what he said on one occa- sion. It fired my imagination and gave an abiding impulse to early life."
Reminiscences of Rev. John F. Norton, 1874.
Before the building was completed, the trustees (of which board Rev. Dr. Harvey was Chairman), were making strenu- ous efforts to secure an able teacher. Mr. Burchard came very highly recommended, as a gentleman of large experience and culture. The school was very large at its opening, but fell off rapidly in numbers when it was discovered that Mr. Burchard had no qualifications for the place. He was rough and clown- ish in his manners, his judgment was poor, and his learning small in quantity and poor enough in quality. I think he re- mained only till spring, or two or three quarters. Mrs. Bur- chard assisted him a little. They boarded at Doctor Harvey's.
If I remember correctly, the teacher in the summer term
279
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
of 1825 was Edward R. Tyler, afterward pastor in Middle- town and Colebrook and editor of the New Englander.
In the autumn of that year Sidney Mills must have taken the school, though he had another year of study before gradu- ation. He taught during the autumn and winter terms suc- cessfully and under him regular classes commenced fitting for college. During the spring term Mr. Mills was obliged to be in New Haven, and Mr. Sturtevant, brother of President Sturtevant of Illinois College, took his place for one term. I assisted him in preparing experiments for a short course of chemical lectures. Mr. Mills resumed the school in the sum- mer of 1825, and taught it regularly until 1831. In the autumn of 1827 there entered Yale College of his pupils, Sam- uel DeForest of Watertown, George DeForest of Humphreys- ville, William DeForest, I believe of Derby, and Edward O. Dunning (Yale, 1832) of New Haven. Possibly the last did not enter till a year later. This William DeForest was the one who, when called to account for absence from prayers at college, told President Day that, " the bell rope made so much noise up his room that he could not hear the bell." In. 1828 there entered Yale from this Academy, Ephraim Lyman, Au- gustus T. Norton, Charles T. Prentice of Canaan, and Henry DeForest of Humphreysville; the three former becoming able clergymen, and the last mentioned a missionary physician in the Holy Land.
In 1829 the class for college comprised Epaphroditus C. Bacon and Noah Bishop of Litchfield, George B. Hawley (now M.D. of Hartford), a Bryan of Watertown, Orville Horsford of Canaan, Mark Ives (I think) and John F. Norton of Goshen. This G. B. Hawley was the one who when remonstrated with for asking so much for his old Latin reader, replied that "it was worth two new ones for it had just got the hang of study."
In 1830 Augustus C. Thompson went to Hamilton Col-
280
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
lege, and Reuben Gaylord, a Mr. Aiken of Norfolk, and Carlos DeForest of New Haven went to Yale. Mr. Gaylord was the pioneer missionary of Nebraska. Henry G. Pendle- ton went later (I think) to Union Coll. Philo C. Sedgwick was a pupil of Mr. Burchard who failed of securing the affec- tion of his teacher for various reasons. Major-General John Sedgwick was a student (I think under Mr. Mills). I cannot say whether the Rev. Dr. Luther Beecher was a pupil of Mr. Burchard or not.
Among the ladies of the Academy who distinguished them- selves as teachers: Mrs. Eliza Norton Gaylord, Mrs. Chloe Thompson Jenkins of Falmouth, Mass., and Mrs. Elizabeth Powers Forbes of Naples, Italy .*
Few of Mr. Burchard's pupils now reside in Goshen, and I recall only Moses Lyman, Watts H. Brooks, General Moses Cook and wife, Mrs. Eliza N. Gaylord and perhaps Miss Sarah Beach and John M. Wadhams, who can answer for himself. Possibly also Mr. Elisha Baldwin.
Francis Bacon of Litchfield attended Mr. Mills school, I think.
Mr. Mills was an able teacher, especially in Latin and Greek, and fitted his pupils for college admirably. In mathe- matics some of his pupils were equal to him. Dr. Albert Wright, formerly a physician in North Canaan, was one of his pupils, tall and straight as an arrow when upon the stage to declaim.
Considerable interest was awakened by the scientific lec- tures at the Academy. Mr. Burchard tried his hand at this business, but had not culture and common sense enough to succeed. Mr. Mills gave some lectures of interest, so did Mr. Sturtevant and Dr. Reed, a physician of Goshen, who gave a course on chemistry. While Mr. Mills was principal I as- sisted him in preparing the experiments. You remember the
* Now of Smyrna.
1
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
nitrous oxide that set me to leap the fences and A. C. Thomp- son to sing and dance. This was administered by Dr. Reed. A very popular course in chemistry was given by a stranger, and I do not know but he was the Mr. Holbrook who first turned the attention of Goshen people to mineralogy and geology. These two courses certainly were given about the same time and perhaps by the same gentleman.
The writer of this took the Academy in the autumn of 1831 for one year. Among his pupils who have distinguished themselves, I may mention T. S. Gold, Dr. Henry Buell of Litchfield, and Mrs. Elizabeth Powers Forbes, a fine teacher, authoress, etc. and 75 or more others nearly or quite equal to these in industry, good behavior, integrity, and other virtues. It was one of the best schools I ever saw. Our examinations were very attractive, and it was the first time when reading in concert became popular in Goshen.
From the Hon. Theodore S. Gold.
" I cannot give the names of all who have fitted, in whole or in part, for college and graduated, but have many of them in my memory.
" Mark Ives of Cornwall, long missionary to the Sandwich Islands; Augustus C. Norton, D.D., of Goshen, Yale '32, a western missionary and pastor; Augustus C. Thompson, D.D., of Goshen, pastor of Eliot Church, Boston, and Chairman of Executive Committee A. B. C. F. M .; George F. DeForest, Humphreysville, Yale '31; Henry DeForest, Humphreys- ville, Yale '32. He was a missionary in Syria, I think, and later resided in New Haven; Samuel S. DeForest of Water- town; Hezekiah Gold Rogers, born in Madison, N. Y., spent most of his boyhood in Cornwall, Yale '31. Became a lawyer and politician of great promise; was charge de affaires to king- dom of Sardinia; Ephraim Lyman of Goshen, Yale '32, a clergyman of good ability and highly esteemed; Epaphroditus
282
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
C. Bacon of Litchfield, Yale '33, was a lawyer of high prom- ise, but died young; Willard Hodges of Torrington, Yale '45, a farmer near Rochester and held many positions of honor and trust; Luther Fitch Beecher of Goshen, Yale '41, D.D., a clergyman of considerable reputation; Corydon Stillman Sperry, Yale '32, resided in Waterbury; John Clark Hart of Cornwall, Yale '31, minister in Ohio, died 1871. Frederick Miles, M.C., was a schoolmate of mine at the Academy."
SEMI-CENTENNIAL.
The semi-centennial of Goshen Academy was celebrated in December, 1874. Hon. John M. Wadhams presided. Letters of reminiscence were read from former students, full of in- cident; some mirth-provoking, others tear-compelling. Cap- tain Willard Gaylord gave an interesting account of the work done by the founders of the Academy. Mr. Theodore S. Gold, who was present in the school at its opening, then but six years of age, who was fitted for college there, and, after his gradua- tion became its principal, narrated many interesting incidents. The remarks of Mr. Edward Norton and John W. Brooks, the last-named a pupil of a later day, were listened to with atten- tive interest. The names of D.D.'s, M.D.'s, LL.D.'s, of M.C.'s of judges, senators, representatives, generals, and military and naval officers, through all the grades, was closed with the story of one of its later pupils, Hon. Henry R. Pease,- Cap- tain in a Connecticut regiment during the War of the Re- bellion; Assistant Superintendent of Freedmen's Schools; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Miss., and U. S. Sen- ator.
From the letter of the Rev. Robert Norton, then of St. Catherines, Ontario, we extract the following: "When but a child of eight years, I was taught the rules of Murray's grammar, and the solemn mysteries of astronomical science as contained in Morse's geography, in the upper front room. Of
-
283
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
course I then belonged to the infantry corps in the army of science, as it was marshaled under the leadership of Mr. Sid- ney Mills. I felt a reverential awe for the preceptor who sat in the green desk, and an awe, quite without reverence, for the score of big boys that surrounded him. We did sober and whole hearted work and we had good teachers. There was Otis Lombard, who knew everything and turned it into prose. But slavery was a word that fired him up, and all Goshen voted him as wise in everything but one: he had a foolish notion that it would be safe to emancipate the slaves. Still his opin- ions troubled no one, for it was well understood that he was insane on this subject, as most Abolitionists were. Theodore S. Gold, one of ourselves, only he had been made over at Yale. Smiling and easy, and with inexhaustible vitality, he kept us awake and at work. In those years we had brave ex- aminations and exhibitions. Ground pine, hemlock, and the unique reflectors brought down from the lecture-room, gave enchantment to the evening scene. Then the excitement rose high. Fair maidens drew tears profusely with their pathos, and valiant youth handled tragic swords; sometimes the ceil- ing above was hit and a wound was thus given of which it may be said, 'it remaineth unto this day.' Goshen Academy has seldom, if ever, had occasion to be ashamed of her sons. They have been successful men. Some have pursued the even tenor of Goshen life. Some have been transplanted and have borne fruit in other soil. Some have accumulated great wealth. The voices of many have been heard in the pul- pits of our land or among the heathen on distant shores. They have served well their God. And some deserve our love and tears, for they have shed their blood that America might be united and free. The eagle on the Academy's front has felt the heats of summer and the wintry storms and snow-balling for half a century, but there he sits unchanged, not a feather is lost from his pinions or an arrow from his talons. Men
284
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
change and fair faces yield their bloom for wrinkles, but things seem more enduring. Well, let it be so. We must fade, but let our works and institutions endure. May the dear old Academy last another fifty years, till another generation is born and garnered into the graveyard and the Eternal Home."
.
CENTRE STREET - LOOKING NORTH.
285
HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
CHAPTER XVII.
A CHRISTIAN HOME IN GOSHEN SIXTY YEARS AGO.
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the forming of the First Congregational Church in Goshen, the Rev. Dr. A. C. Thompson of Boston, a native of the town, was invited to introduce the anniversary exercises by preaching an appro- priate sermon on the Sabbath of that week in which they were held. Such an earnest desire has been expressed that his dis- course be published in connection with this history, that Dr. Thompson has placed it in our hands to use as our judgment shall dictate. The granting of this request is not only an ad- ditional evidence of his love and interest in his birthplace, but is adding to the number of favors so often repeated as to call for constant gratitude.
THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY.
It is upon a kind suggestion from you, Christian friends, that I appear here to-day. In the good providence of our Heavenly Father, you offer a gratifying opportunity for me to discharge a filial duty, a sacred duty. "For God com- manded saying, Honor thy father and mother." There were naturally dwelling-houses here before a meeting-house, and the family was planted in this township before the church. It is appropriate, then, that in the order of time the topic on which I am to speak this morning should precede and in some sort introduce the special anniversary exercises of the week. The fitness of this precedence claims, indeed, a basis yet more fundamental. It stands associated with what took place, not merely one hundred and fifty years since, but six thousand years ago; not simply with an ecclesiastical proceeding of our
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN.
ancestors only five generations back, but with an immemorial ordinance of the Creator and Supreme Ruler of our race.
The family - What is it ? Not an association; not a club; not a communistic phalanx; not a conventual institution; no contrivance of speculative men; no invention of the ingenious. It was divinely instituted, and is primitive, unique, indispensa - ble. So far from being a happy after-thought, it has place from eternity in the all-wise counsels of Him who projected the world, and its rational, immortal inhabitants. It is grounded in the very elements of human nature, and for purposes the highest and farthest reaching. By no long and profound study could man or angel have evolved such an organism. It is a little domestic government, civil and moral; a jural state, with a constitution that needs no amendments, a position that is sa- cred, relations that are momentous. By the instigation of Satan through the depraved passions of man, its beneficent aim is often thwarted; and its very structure has been widely wrecked in the hideous practices of concubinage, polygamy, polyandry, and divorce.
Matthew 15: 4 .- "For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother."
The Family - What are its constituents ? A limitation of the subject is to be observed at this time. Our theme is more especially the Christian home of Goshen. I do not pro- pose to idealize in the least, nor to give a single fancy touch to the outline now drawn. I shall deal only with facts, and chiefly with personal recollections. Nor in the portraiture contemplated is there any conscious mingling of vanity; nor, - please observe - is any invidious comparison implied. I give a specimen, only a specimen, which, for aught that is known to me, might serve equally well for any number of other families on these beloved hills. Drawing from a vivid recollection it will be impossible, if it were desirable, to ex-
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