USA > Maine > Oxford County > Bethel > History of Bethel : formerly Sudbury, Canada, Oxford County, Maine, 1768-1890, with a brief sketch of Hanover and family statistics > Part 26
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ABERNETHY GROVER was mustered into service as Captain of Company H, Thirteenth Maine Regiment, December 13, 1861, was promoted to Major to rank, from April 28, 1862, and was mustered out with the regiment. He went west.
ROBERT B. GODDARD was mustered in Company C, Twentieth Maine Volunteers, August 29, 1862, was reported sick at Fort Schuyler in 1863, and as a deserter, July 5, 1863.
ELBRIDGE G. GROVER was mustered as Corporal in Company A, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, November 15, 1861; in 1863, he was reported as detached and on provost duty, and in 1864, he was mustered out with the regiment.
SIMEON GROVER was mustered as a recruit in Company A, Twelfth Maine Regiment, June 4, 1864 and was transferred to the Twelfth Maine Battalion.
EDWARD GODDARD was mustered as Corporal in Company G, Tenth Maine Regiment, October 4, 1861 ; was made a prisoner at Winchester, and was discharged for disability, November 12, 1862. Deceased.
FREDERIC O. GERRISH was mustered as a musician in Company A, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, November 15, 1861, and was dropped from the rolls.
ADELBERT GROVER was mustered into Company A, Twelfth Maine Reg-
MAJOR ABERNETHY GROVER.
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HISTORY OF BETHEL.
iment. November 15, 1861 ; he died at Ship Island, April 4, 1862.
JOHN GROVER, JR., was mustered in Company A, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, November 15, 1861, and was discharged for disability, March 20, 1863.
JAMES P. HOLT enlisted and was mustered in the Fifth Maine Battery, December 4, 1861 ; he was killed at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863.
GEORGE HOLMES was mustered into the Seventh Maine Battery, Decem- ber 30, 1863, and was discharged for disability, June 20, 1864.
ENSWORTH T. HARDEN was mustered into the Seventh Maine Battery, December 30, 1863, and was discharged for disability, January 2, 1864.
CLEMENT S. HEATH was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Regiment, June 24. 1861, and was discharged August 3d, following.
GEORGE P. HALL enlisted as a musician, and was mustered into Com- pany D, Sixteentn Maine Volunteers, August 14, 1862, and was discharged with the regiment, June 5, 1865.
AUSTIN W. HOBART was mustered in Company D, Sixteenth Maine Regiment, August 14. 1862, was taken prisoner August 19, 1864, and died December 14, 1864.
GEORGE E. HOWE was mustered in Company B, Twenty-third Maine Regiment, September 29, 1862, and was mustered out with the regiment. He re-enlisted in the Seventh Maine Battery, was mustered December 30, 1863. and was mustered out with the battery, June 21, 1865. Resides in Montana.
GIDEON A. HASTINGS was mustered as Captain of Company A, Twelfth Maine Regiment, November 15, 1861, was promoted Major, transferred to Twelfth Maine Battalion, and mustered out April 18, 1866.
ORLANDO E. HARDEN was mustered in Company A, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, January 1, 1864, and was mustered out with the regiment.
GEORGE W. HARDEN was mustered in Company A, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, November 28, 1863, and was mustered out with the regiment, April 18, 1866.
FRANCIS O. HALL was mustered in Company A, Twelfth Maine Regi- ment, January 1, 1864, and was discharged July 18, 1866.
SULLIVAN R. HUTCHINS was mustered into Company I, Fifth Maine Regiment, as Sergeant, June 24, 1861, and was discharged August 3, 1861.
JOSEPH B. HAMMOND was mustered into Company I, Fifth Maine Regi- ment, June 24, 1861, as Sergeant, and was discharged September 22, 1861. He was commissioned as Lieutenant of Company C, Thirty-second Maine Volunteers, to rank from July 22, 1864, and was promoted to Captain of Company D of the same regiment. This regiment was consolidated with the Thirty-first Maine, December 1, 1864. Resides New Gloucester.
DAVID T. HODSDON enlisted in Company E, Tenth Maine Volunteers, October 4, 1861, and was mustered out with the regiment, May 8, 1863.
CHARLES W. HOWE was mustered in as private in Company I, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, March 17, 1865, and was discharged by order, October 14, 1865.
CUVIER G. HARDEN was mustered in Company H, Thirteenth Maine Vol- unteers, December 12, 1861, and died at Ship Island, June 22, 1862.
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HISTORY OF BETHEL.
ABEL C. T. HUTCHINS was mustered as Corporal in Company C, Twen- tieth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, August 29, 1862, was reported sick at Baltimore, December following, was reduced to the ranks and discharged by order 94.
STEPHEN E. HOWARD was mustered in Company C, Twentieth Maine, August 29, 1862, and was discharged February 10, following.
AARON F. JACKSON was mustered into Company I, Fifth Maine Volun- teers, June 24, 1861, and died at Lincoln Hospital, January 4, 1862.
ITHIEL H. KENNERSON was mustered into Company D, Fifth Maine Volunteers, June 24, 1861, lost an arm and was mustered out in 1862.
MOSES F. KIMBALL was mustered in Company A, Twelfth Maine Volun- teers, November 15, 1861, and was discharged for disability, August 27, 1862. He re-enlisted in Company B, Thirty-second Maine, March 10, 1864, and died July 28, following.
DAVID C. KENNERSON was mustered in Company H, Thirteenth Maine Volunteers, December 12, 1861, and died at Ship Island, June 18, 1862.
GUSTAVUS M. KIMBALL Was mustered in Company C, Twentieth Maine Volunteers, and was discharged by order, June 8, 1865.
MELVILLE C. KIMBALL was mustered as Sergeant in the Fourth Maine Battery, December 21, 1861; he was promoted to Second and First Lieutenant, and was discharged for disability, December 21, 1864.
JAMES LOCKE, JR,, was mustered in the Fifth Maine Battery, December 4, 1861, and was discharged December 15, 1862.
JOHN E. LAPHAM was mustered on the quota of Bethel in Company I, Thirty-second Maine Volunteers, May 5, 1864. He was wounded Septem- ber 30, 1864, at the fight in front of Petersburg, near Peebles Farm, was transferred to Company I, Thirty-first Maine, and then to the Veteran Reserve Corps.
ABIJAH LAPHAM was mustered in Company I, Thirty-second Maine Vol- unteers, and the day after he joined the regiment, near the North Anna river, he was accidentally shot by a comrade, and died soon after. He was standing in front of a tent when a comrade came out of the tent, dragging his musket by the muzzle. From some cause the musket was discharged, and the ball passed through young Lapham's body. He is incorrectly reported by the Adjutant General's as "killed in action, May 26th, 1864." He was never in action.
AMOS EAMES LAPHAM enlisted as wagoner in Company D, Fifth Maine Regiment, June 24, 1861. He was fatally injured by being crushed beneath a heavy bar, and died in a hospital in New York, date unknown.
CHARLES LAPHAM was mustered in Company G, Tenth Maine Regiment, November 27, 1861, and was mustered out with the regiment, May 8, 1863. He re-enlisted in the Seventh Maine Battery, was mustered December 30, 1863, and was mustered out with the Battery, June 21, 1865. He resides in Greenwood.
CHARLES A. LOCKE was mustered as musician in Company D, Sixteenth Maine Regiment, August 14, 1862, and was mustered out with the regiment.
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HISTORY OF BETHEL.
SOLON H. MILLS was mustered into Company B, Ninth Maine Volun- teers, September 22, 1861; he re-enlisted January 1, 1864, and was mus- tered out with the regiment, July 13, 1865. After his re-enlistment he was a musician.
FRANCIS MITCHELL was mustered in Company A, Twelfth Maine Vol- unteers, November 15, 1861, and was discharged to join the Second United States Artillery.
EDMUND MERRILL was mustered in Company G, Thirtieth Maine Volunteers, and was mustered out with the regiment.
SAMUEL H. MERRILL was mustered in Company G, Twelfth Maine Vol- unteers, February 19, 1864, and was transferred to the Twelfth Maine Battalion.
ALONZO D. MORGAN was mustered as private in Company K, Thirteenth Maine Volunteers, December 13, 1861, and was discharged by order of Major Gardiner, April 17, 1862.
SYLVESTER MASON was mustered in the Seventh Maine Battery, Decem- ber 30, 1863, and was reported absent sick, when the battery was mustered out, June 21, 1865.
JOHN MASON was mustered in the Seventh Maine Battery, December 30, 1863, and was mustered out with the battery, June 21, 1865.
OLIVER Y. NUTTING was mustered in the Fourth Maine Battery, Jan- uary 14, 1862, was promoted to Corporal, re-enlisted and was mustered out with the battery. He resides at Perham, Aroostook county.
JAMES NUTTING was mustered in Company H, Tenth Maine Volunteers, August 21, 1862, was transferred to the Tenth Maine Battalion and thence to Company G, Twenty-ninth Maine, was placed on detached service and remained until his term of three years expired. He now lives at Perham, Aroostook county.
REUBEN H. PENLEY was mustered in Company G, Ninth Maine Volun- teers, September 21, 1861, as a musician ; was transferred to Company H, and then to Company I of the same regiment ; he was discharged for disa- bility, May 10, 1863. He re-enlisted as musician in Company G, Thirtieth Maine, was reduced to the ranks, and was mustered out with the regiment.
CHARLES F. PENLEY was mustered in Company C, Seventeenth Maine Volunteers, August 18, 1862, wounded May 5, 1864, was promoted Corporal and was mustered out with the regiment, June 4, 1865.
LEWIS POWERS was mustered in Company I, Thirty-second Maine Vol- unteers, May 5, 1864, and died in Washington, July 10, 1864.
GEORGE W. PEABODY was mustered into Company B, Thirty-second Maine Volunteers, was transferred to Company B, Thirty-first Maine, and was mustered out with that regiment.
SPENCER T. PEABODY was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Volun- teers, June 24, 1861 ; he was promoted to Corporal and Sergeant, and was taken prisoner, December 14, 1863. He is sometimes recorded as "Thomas S. Peabody," and sometimes as "T. Spencer Peabody." He is also in some reports accredited to Gilead.
LOWELL B. PRATT was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Volunteers,
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HISTORY OF BETHEL.
June 24, 1861, and was discharged for disability, October 4, 1863.
CHARLES H. PUTNAM was mustered in Company D, Sixteenth Maine Volunteers, was promoted Corporal, taken prisoner July 1, 1863, and died at Richmond, Va., November 24, 1863.
STEPHEN S. ROBERTSON was mustered in Company D, Sixteenth Maine Regiment, September 15, 1863, and was transferred to Company I of the Twentieth Maine, was taken prisoner and parolled. He was mustered out with the regiment.
AURELIUS A. ROBERTSON was mustered as Corporal in Company I, Sev- enteenth Maine Regiment, August 18, 1862, was wounded July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, and died July 5th following.
ASBURY T. ROWE was mustered in Company B, Twenty-third Maine Volunteers, September 29, 1862, was promoted Corporal, and was mustered out with the regiment, July 15, 1863.
WILLIAM RICHARDSON was mustered in Company A, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, November 15, 1861, and was discharged for disability, July 17, 1862.
CHARLES B. RYERSON was mustered in Company B, Twelfth Maine Regiment, November 20, 1861, and was subsequently transferred to Company A, and was discharged for disability in 1863.
ALBERT B. RICHARDSON was mustered into Company H, Thirteenth Maine Volunteers, February 29, 1864, and was transferred to the Thirtieth Maine, and was mustered out with that regiment.
CEYLON RUSSELL was mustered in Company D, Sixteenth Maine Regi- ment, August 14, 1862, was reported absent, sick, in 1862 and 1863, and was transferred to the Invalid corps, November 15, 1863.
SOLON ROBERTSON enlisted in Company G, First Maine Regiment, May 3, 1861, and was mustered out with the regiment at the end of three months.
NELSON RICE was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Regiment, June 24, 1861, and was transferred to gun-boat service.
WASHINGTON B. ROBERTSON was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Regiment, was captured at Bull Run, and was reported a deserter by vir- tue of general order 92; he was also reported discharged Sept. 12, 1862.
LORENZO D. RUSSELL was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Regi- ment, June 24, 1861, and served out lis full term.
FRANK ROWELL was mustered in Company G, Thirtieth Maine Volun- teers, December 28, 1863, and when the regiment was mustered out, was reported sick in hospital.
O'NEIL W. ROBINSON was mustered as Captain of the Fourth Maine Battery, December 21, 1861; he was promoted Major and died July 17, 1863, at his father's house in Waterford.
SOLON ROBERTSON was mustered as Corporal in the Fourth Maine Battery, December 21, 1861, and was discharged March 18, 1863.
ORSON H. SAWTELLE was mustered on the quota of Bethel, in Company G, Thirtieth Maine Volunteers, December 28, 1863, and was mustered out with the regiment.
279
HISTORY OF BETHEL.
JOSEPH H. SKILLINGS was mustered in Company G, Thirtieth Maine Regiment, June 20, 1864, and died December 6, following.
OSMYN SMITH was mustered in the Fourth Maine Battery, February 12, 1862, and was discharged for disability, March 17, 1863.
EDWARD P. STEARNS was mustered into Company G, First Maine Regi- ment, May 3, 1861, and was mustered out with the regiment at the end of three months. He was mustered as Corporal in the Fifth Maine Battery, December 4, 1861, re-enlisted, and was appointed wagoner, and was mus- tered out with the battery.
CYRUS SWIFT enlisted in Company H, Thirteenth Maine Volunteers, and died at Fort St. Phillip, La., August 28, 1862. He formerly lived at South Bethel.
JOHN MASON SWIFT was mustered in Company 1, Fifth Maine Volun- teers, November 9, 1861; he was reported a deserter by virtue of order 92, was subsequently restored to the rolls and discharged for disability. He went west.
EDWARD N. STOWELL was mustered into Company I, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, and was mustered out with the regiment. He had previously been in the 18th unassigned company.
MARCUS E. SWAN was mustered in Company C, Twentieth Maine Vol- unteers. August 29, 1862, was reported sick at West Philadelphia in 1863, and was discharged for disability, March 3, 1863.
CHARLES P. STEARNS was mustered into Company G, First Maine Regi- ment, May 3, 1861, and was mustered out with the regiment at the end of three months.
EDWARD G. STURGIS was mustered into Company I, Fifth Maine Regi- ment. November 13, 1861, and was killed in battle, May 3, 1863.
DANIEL W. SCRIBNER was mustered into Company I, Fifth Maine Vol- unteers, as First Sergeant, June 24, 1861. He was reported a deserter, re- duced to the ranks, returned, and was detailed on gun boat service. He resides in Portland. In some reports he is not accredited to Bethel.
SIMEON W: SANBORN was mustered into Company I, Fifth Maine Volun- teers as Sergeant, June 24, 1861 ; he was promoted to First Sergeant, and to Second Lieutenant to rank from February 5, 1862; was dropped from the rolls by order 163, restored and discharged for disability.
DANIEL M. STEARNS was mustered into Compaay I, Fifth Maine Volun- teers, January 4, 1862; he was wounded May 3, 1863, and was transferred to the First Maine Veterans.
JEROME O. SANBORN was mustered in Company E, Tenth Maine Regi- ment, October 4, 1861, was wounded September 7, 1862, at the battle of Antietam, lost a leg, and was discharged March 23, 1863.
GEORGE W. SMITH was mustered into Company A, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, November 15, 1861, and deserted December 11, following.
MARTIN A. STOWELL was mustered in Company I, Twelfth Maine Regi- ment, and was discharged by order, March 23, 1866.
WAINSBURY B. SEAVEY was mustered in Company I, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, and was discharged with the regiment.
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HISTORY OF BETHEL.
AUSTIN F. TWITCHELL enlisted in the Fourth Maine Battery and was mustered January 14, 1862. In December, he was reported sick in hos- pital, and was discharged January 7, 1863. He re-enlisted in the Seventh Maine Battery, was mustered December 30, 1863, and was mustered out with the battery. He resides in Portland.
ALBERT S. TWITCHELL was mustered as Quartermaster's Sergeant in the Seventh Maine Battery, on account of disability returned to the ranks, and was mustered out with the regiment, June 21, 1865. He resides at Gorham, N. H.
WILLIAM L. TWITCHELL was mustered in the Seventh Maine Battery, January 29, 1864, and was mustered out with the battery. He died soon after from disability incurred in the service.
ADELBERT B. TWITCHELL was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Volunteers, June 24, 1861, and was appointed Quartermaster Sergeant of the Regiment. He was transferred to the Fifth Maine Battery, was pro- moted to be Second and First Lieutenant; was wounded in the battle at Chancellorsville; resigned to accept the Captaincy of the Seventh Maine Battery, into which he was mustered December 29, 1863; was mustered out with the battery June 21, 1865, as Brevet Major, by reason of the close of the war. He resides in Newark, N. J.
OZMON F. TWITCHELL enlisted in the 18th unassigned company, March 17, 1865, and was assigned to Company I, Twelfth Maine Volunteers.
ALFRED M. TRUE was mustered into United States service in Company G, First Maine Regiment, and was mustered out with the regiment at the end of its term of three months. He re-enlisted in Company A, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, and was mustered November 15, 1861, as Corporal, was promoted Sergeant, re-enlisted, was transferred to Company A, Twelfth Maine Battalion, as Sergeant, and was mustered out April 18, 1866.
FORDYCE P. TWITCHELL was mustered in Company D, Sixteenth Maine Regiment, August 14, 1862, and was detailed as hospital nurse. He was subsequently promoted to Corporal and Sergeant, and was mustered out . with the regiment, June 5, 1865.
CHARLES J. TWITCHELL was mustered in Company B, Twenty-third Maine Volunteers, September 29, 1862, and died at Offut's Cross Roads, December 20, 1862.
HENRY VAILLANCOURT enlisted, and was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Volunteers, June 24, 1861, and was discharged June 27, following, he being a British subject.
JOHN B. WALKER was mustered as First Lieutenant of Company I, Fifth Maine Volunteers, June 24, 1861 ; he was promoted to Captain to rank from July 1, 1862, and was discharged for disability, June 18, 1863. He went west and died.
MILO C. WALKER was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Volunteers, June 24, 1861, and was reported a deserter by virtue of order number 162.
JOHN S. WORMELL was mustered in Company I, Fifth Maine Regiment, June 24, 1861, and was reported a deserter by virtue of order 92.
CYRUS M. WORMELL was mustered as Second Lieutenant of Company I,
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HISTORY OF BETHEL.
Fifth Maine Volunteers, June 24, 1861, and resigned February 15, 1862.
E. MELLEN WIGHT was mustered as First Lieutenant in Company B, Twenty-third Maine Volunteers, September 29, 1862, and was discharged December 17, following. He died at Chattanooga.
JARVIS S. WIGHT was mustered as Corporal in Company B, Twenty- third Maine Volunteers, was promoted Sergeant and was mustered out with the regiment, July 15, 1863.
HARLAN P. WHEELER was mustered in Company B, Twenty-third Maine Volunteers, was promoted Corporal and mustered out with the regiment.
CORNELIUS M. YORK was mustered In Company I, Fifth Maine Regi- ment, December 4, 1861, and was discharged for disability, August 23, 1862.
AURELIUS L. YOUNG was mustered in Company I, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, and was mustered out with the regiment.
GEORGE H. YOUNG was mustered as Corporal in Company H, Thirteenth Maine Regiment, and was transferred to the Thirtieth Maine Volunteers.
CHAPTER XXIII.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
HEN the first school was opened in Sudbury Canada planta- tion, cannot be stated with any degree of confidence. There were no public schools until some time after the plantation became a town, but in the west parish and quite likely in the east, private schools were taught quite early. It is known that in seventeen hundred and eighty-eight a private school was taught in the west parish by Mr. John Mason. About this time, a log school house was built near the junction of the Mill Brook road with the river road, not far from where the steam mill was afterwards built. It was a rude structure, badly lighted, and the seats were benches made of slabs. Rev Eliphaz Chapman taught in this house in seventeen hundred and ninety-two, and during the following sum- mer, the teacher was Sally, daughter of Rev. William Fessenden of Fryeburg. The next teacher was Abigail Warren of Waterford, then Hannah Chapman, Dr. John Brickett and David Coffin. Rev. Caleb Bradley, who was here as a possible candidate for settlement, in seventeen hundred and ninety-eight, taught school in the house of Lieutenant Jonathan Clark and had twenty pupils. This house
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HISTORY OF BETHEL.
was long occupied by Rev. Charles Frost and is still standing, the oldest house in the west parish. In the lower parish the terms of school were few and far between, and were taught in private houses. Abigail Warren taught there in seventeen hundred and ninety-nine.
In seventeen hundred and ninety-eight, there was provision made for the erection of three school houses, one for the east parish, to be near the house of Thaddeus Bartlett, one for the center of the town, to be located at Middle Interval, and the one for the west parish, to be near John Stearns' barn, or near Barker's Ferry. This house was moved to Bethel in three years. This year, also, a school com- mittee of seven was chosen, Nathaniel Segar, Jonathan Bartlett, Amos Gage, Eleazer Twitchell, Amos Hastings, Josiah Bean and Walter Mason. The first money raised for schools was in eighteen hundred, when one hundred dollars were appropriated for summer and the same amount for winter schools. In seventeen hundred and ninety-nine, Rev. Daniel Gould was settled over the Congregational church at Bethel Hill, and soon after opened a boarding school on the farm he then occupied, now the Doctor Wiley place. His suc- cess was marked, and no doubt this early school and his other efforts. in the same direction, had much to do in giving character to the town. He was a profound scholar, an accomplished teacher and a devoted friend of popular education. He took great interest in the early schools of the town, visited them often, encouraged the teach- ers in their good work, and attached the pupils to himself by words of advice and encouragement. His Bethel pupils have, one by one, either preceded or followed him through the dark portals of the tomb, but his memory will be fragrant in this town so long as the bell of Gould's Academy shall be heard, calling its pupils together for study and for recitation. Some of his early Bethel pupils be- came distinguished men and women. The amount raised by the town for schools was gradually increased, and in a short time with interest on the school fund added, amounted to a respectable sum.
In eighteen hundred and three, a committee was appointed to. divide the town into school districts, and at a subsequent meeting the committee reported. The report which was accepted, divided the town into six school districts, each district extending from the south to the north line of the town, and numbered from the most. easterly district. This division was subject to many inconveniences, but the town was sparsely settled, and perhaps it was the best that could be made under the circumstances. Each district was divided
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HISTORY OF BETHEL.
by the great river, and the only means for crossing it in summer was by boats. This re-districting called for three additional school houses, which were erected by the districts with a little aid in some cases by the town. As the population increased, the school dis- tricts were divided, the river being made the dividing line until several new districts were formed. In eighteen hundred and twenty- five, Bethel had fourteen school houses, six hundred pupils, and over five hundred dollars were expended for schools. In eighteen hun- dred and forty, the town was divided into twenty-four school dis- tricts, and there has been no regular re-districting since that time. Some districts have since been divided, thereby increasing the num- ber, but the numbering made in eighteen hundred and forty, so far as it goes, is still in force.
Through the instrumentality of Gould's Academy, Bethel las sent. out a large number of trained teachers, who have performed excel- lent service in the cause of education. The town has not only been able to supply its own schools from its native born teachers, but it has furnished teachers for schools of every grade, not only in this, but in many other States of the Union. Many have done missionary and educational work in the South, and some who were there at the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, found it difficult to get away, and more difficult to remain with any degree of safety. Many of the new states of the west have had the benefit of Bethel trained teachers, and there is hardly any State where they are not found. The clergymen of Bethel, following the example of Parson Gould, have ever manifested a deep interest in the success of the common schools of the town, and have had much to do with their management. Notably among them, may be mentioned Rev. Charles Frost, Rev. David Garland, Rev. John H. M. Leland, Rev. Benjamin Donham, Rev. Arthur Drinkwater and Rev. Absalom G. Gaines. Mr. Donham, besides attending to his parochial duties, tauglit school nearly every winter while he remained here. Mr. Garland was indefatigable in his efforts to elevate the character of the common schools, and the scholarly attainments of Mr. Gaines, with his long experience in teaching, admirably fitted him for the duties of superintending school committee. But few of the early Bethel school houses are left. Some have been burned, but most of . them have been torn down and given place to more convenient and more imposing structures. The little school house on the Bird Hill, where the writer hereof first attended school, and where he first.
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