USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Dover-Foxcroft > Old Foxcroft, Maine : traditions and memories, with family records > Part 13
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The school house in District #2 (the village) was, after the sale of the town house, located on the lot at the north corner of North and Winter streets, the site of the home of Mrs. Lelia S. Blethen. The district outgrew it and a new one was built on the present site of E. W. Judkins' house. In 1875 it was moved to its present site by B. B.
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OLD FOXCROFT
Vaughan and converted into a two family house, now the corner of Summer & Spring st. The frame and outside boarding today are however the original. I know of few, now living who attended school there.
One has said to me within a few months, "Yes I attended school in the old red school house and we had the best teacher Foxcroft ever had."
"Will you tell me the name?"
"Why certainly, Adeline Gilman."
"Then that may be a matter of opinion. I disagree with you for I was a pupil in her younger sister's classroom and I know that Miss Julia was the best!" A laugh followed and she added, with a bright twinkle, "Well, let's compromise and say, A Gilman was the best." Is not our ninety-three year old lady delightfully keen? Dear Mrs. Harriet Green Coffim!
In 1873 it was not only evident but imperative that the village school should receive especial attention. A new building must be erected after the most "improved and generally accepted plans" and the "school graded into Grammer, Intermediate and Primary division." Such was the call and as usual "old Foxcroft" heard and responded.
.
In the winter of 1868 after Isaac Medar had sounded the officers of Mosaic Lodge about cooperating with him in a new building and had completed negotiations for the present site of the Masonic Temple, Mrs. Chandler decided, for reasons purely of sentiment, that she would have Esq. Chandler's office building then on Masonic Temple site moved to the corner lot of the old homestead on Lincoln St. There- fore Seth Brawn, the master mover, transferred it across the ice above the dam to its present site and when the schools were found in such a congested state, Mrs. Chandler offered the office for an overflow school of the intermediate grade with. Miss Matilda Daggett in charge. And that left the youngest children in the same building with the oldest, a strange anomaly.
But Miss Arra Chase was ready with a solution. Her father's house was the one erected twenty years before by Mr. Tash for his "Foxcroft and Dover Boarding and Select School." Over the carriage house was a hall or school room. Some of the seats and desks had already been taken to the Chandler office for Miss Daggett's cherubs! There were many left. The hall's only use at the time was a theater in which on frequent afternoon occasions Miss Chase's younger sister, Myrtie and her mates gave entertainments for the neighborhood! The children should not be disturbed, only restricted to Saturday and she, Miss Arra, would teach the primary grade in the Hall!
A private school had already been functioning for some favored ones in a building erected for that purpose by Mrs. Sarah J. J. Goodwin on her homestead lot, the present L. K. Lee residence on Main St. West. When Mrs. Goodwin decided to change her residence to Brunswick, she
117
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OLD FOXCROFT
gave the building to Geo. L. Fitzgerald who moved it to its present location on Green street, the Mrs. Stephen J. Law house. Either that or the Monroe house was the first house on that street. The W. W. Clark house, though on the corner was considered to be on Main St.
Miss Laura Johnson, a Mt. Holyoke Seminary pupil, daughter of Dr. Benj. Johnson of Dover, was our teacher at Mrs. Goodwin's. Thus Miss Sarah Buck, "Teacher Buck" as she was always affection- ately known throughout the town, was left with the oldest pupils who had been her children during all their school days.
The Academy received and cared for the High school grade. Such was the very comfortable, agreeable and until the "new wore off", harmonious state of the schools. The village at that time consisted of Main, North, and Lincoln streets, Summer street as far as the Jack- son's or Townes' and Winter St. was just opening, the Carleton and Edwin Brown houses in process of erection.
August 1874 found the "large spacious, very elegant and decidedly modern school building" on the hill ready, with Mr. Wm. R. Hemin- way of Garland, monarch of the upper or grammar room; Miss Julia R. Gilman and Miss Arra E. Chase graciously receiving in the inter- mediate and primary rooms; the yard filled with the future citizens,- some awe struck, others disputatious as to scholastic merit and the room he or she would honor! We were made to understand fully the wonderful facilities provided, not only for us, but our teachers, and not asked, but told that we must appreciate everything, and especially not to waste the chalk provided for our improved standard of blackboard. That, of course, called our attention to Chalk, for we were of average brightness of intellect, and we found it broke easily into convenient sizes for us to use as bullets! All these valuable hints came from Hon. A. G. Lebroke. Then Augustus W. Gilman and Thomas Daggett (known by us among ourselves as "Gus" & "Tom") commenced the grading; and the teachers were powerless over the "order of our com- ing". There was a scramble for seats and seatmates, and the teachers, being wise, graciously accepted the stampede; our names were taken, we were instructed how and where to enter that "elegant" building the next morning and told the rest of the day was ours!
That we were an orderly, well-behaved and industrious body of pupils is conclusive from the fact that the building of '73 stood the vigor of youth and the stress of mothers' priceless suggestions to teach- ers for over forty years, without renovation! The example set by us, the first pupils has been scrupulously maintained and we acknowledge our superior leadership!
To compile a list of those teachers during the seventy-five years, ap- proximately, of which I recite, is impossible, because of lack of records and the generosity in yielding positions to others! Illustrative of ex- periences of both teachers and scholars in those days, I would picture a personal one. Let me hasten to add that the "scene of action" was
.
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OLD FOXCROFT
not in "old Foxcroft" though perhaps typical of many within her limits.
School house, gray with age as well as worn; the room itself, perhaps sixteen by twenty feet; furniture, common, two seated desk style, table for teacher's needs, customary water pail and one dipper, small box stove, two small windows on two sides, entry serving the double pur- pose for hanging wraps and as woodshed. " On windy days the wood was convenient and useful, in keeping the outside door in normal position !
The summer term had been most efficiently and profitably accom- plished and the teacher (exceptional) invited to return for the winter. This she did, but was unfortunate in not being able to withstand blasty ventilation, taught one week and two days and died from pneumonia. Another was found to go on, but the third day, the young "gentlemen " of the school decided that she would not prove a satisfactory teacher and used no ceremony in the order of her departure. They opened the window and gently. (?) tossed her into the snow outside, locked the door and departed!
The agent called upon the committe of "old Foxcroft" to offer relief in the person of a "prize fighter". They knew of none, but they did know of a teacher, who as a side issue, broke colts!, Could not say that she was available, but try her. She would remain in the school room and she would teach if the scholars remained! She was found, and while the story was not alluring, the idea of human colts was ap- pealing. It was Friday, if she could obtain her certificate and have Fred Curtis, the harness maker do a small job for her, she would open the school on Monday at nine A.M.
The certificate was duly signed and Mr. Curtis had an admirable strap ready for the teacher's bag. Monday morning the engagement commenced. For three days much perfect harmony and sympathy ex- isted. After the lunch hour on the 4th day, (indigestion, probably, was the provocation,) pandemonium in its various elements swooped upon that room. A well developed biceps back of the strap handle with the biceps of left arm in full control of the youngster's coat collar and that colt and several others were subdued. Two of the "big boys" grasped their desks ready to jump to assistance, while the girls paled and trembled. Quiet was resumed and at the close of the session the "colts" were invited to return in the morning, if they could keep within the traces; otherwise school hours would not be given to such per- formances as had there been experienced and the disorderly ones could remain at home.
For nine weeks an ambitious group met five days in each week and the teacher was sorry to close the door for the last time. Such was not an unusual experience in those early days, I understand.
But the schools in "old Foxcroft" were more than the average stand- ard and our committee very efficient and kindly interested officers.
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OLD FOXCROFT
How large a percentage availed themselves of high school privileges, I am unable to learn.
FOXCROFT ACADEMY
The State Legislature of 1822-23 was petitioned for an act of incor- poration of Foxcroft Academy and the charter was granted on Jan 31, 1823.
William Emerson
Daniel Wilkins
of Bangor " Charleston
Thomas Williams
" Foxcroft
John Bradbury
Samuel Chamberlain
James S. Holmes
Thomas Davee
Dover
Joshua Carpenter
Joseph Kelsey Guilford
Samuel McClanathan
Sangerville
Samuel C. Clark
Jason Hassell " Sebec
and their successors forever were constituted a body politic by the name of the Trustees of Foxcroft Academy . . . to establish an Acad- emy at Foxcroft for etc, etc,-
By this act, certain conditions were imposed upon the above named Board of Trustees the principal ones being :-- to have in possession funds or property for the use of said Academy or vested in a building for the same purpose which together should amount to at least $1500.00, and also commence instruction in said institution within one year.
The town assessment for 1823 was $1140.00, it is shown by the rec- ords, of which $900.00 was to be paid in work on highways, $100,00 for schools, $90. for town charges and $50.00 for powder and balls. The original list of voters as sworn to by Thomas Wentworth and Nathan Carpenter, Selectmen, contained the names of ninety three (93) voters.
A meeting was promptly called however at the house of John Brad- bury in Foxcroft. I assume that this was the "little yellow house" just in the rear of the "little red store", built some four years earlier by John Bradbury at the "Mills". The Blethen block is on the site. The Trustees then proceeded to organize under the act and chose Daniel Wilkins, President, James S. Holmes Secretary and Samuel Chamberlain, Treasurer.
The records went on to state that a committee consisting of John Bradbury, Joshua Carpenter, Samuel McClanathan, Jason Hassell, Thomas Williams Samuel C. Clark and Daniel Wilkins were named to ascertain what sum could be obtained for the purpose of erecting a building for an Academy and as funds for the use and benefit of the same. Then followed a series of meetings to hear reports of committee on subscription etc. The subscriptions were made to be paid in labor,
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OLD FOXCROFT
boards, shingles and other necessary materials with small sums of money. Encouragement was such that on Mch. 8th, the Trustees felt justified in naming a committee to select a site. That committee, Joshua Carpenter, John Bradbury and Rev. Thomas Williams re- ported in favor of a site owned by Samuel Greeley Esq. then of Stafford N. H. On 1823 a deed was given for a piece of land,-
"Beginning at stakes or stones 18° south from the north east corner of Daniel Greeley's" house, etc, containing one half acre of land to be and remain for the express purpose upon which to erect and maintain an Academy,-
"And I, the said Samuel Greeley do further covenant and agree with the said Trustees that all the land lying between the above described 1/2 acre and the road shall be and forever remain a common; and shall never be occupied by any kind of building or buildings, nor the whole or any part thereof be surrounded by any fence or fences, nor in any way occupied encumbered of obstructed in any manner by any author- ity derived through, from or under me."
Signed SAMUEL GREELEY L.S.
The consideration was $50.00 and the lot was located between Daniel Greeley's and the Mills. Today the Daniel Greeley lot is oc- cupied by the Congregational Chapel and the Congregational parson- age, A. O. Robbins' residence and a small house occupy sites between the one half acre lot and the mills to the east. The Common remains unfenced and upon it has been erected a beautiful granite monument in memory of old Foxcroft's boys who gave "all" in service for their coun- try, 1861-65. The monument was presented to "old Foxcroft" by a native son, the 2d boy born in the settlement Peleg Washburn, b. Aug 13 1809 on the farm opened by his father, Jesse Washburn in 1808 and now the home of George Eberhardt. Peleg Washburn died in Dexter on May 28, 18 -.
Joshua Carpenter was appointed agent to superintend the erection of a building for an Academy and a supervising committee from whom the agent should receive instruction consisted of John Bradbury, Thomas Davee and the Rev. Thomas Williams. One of the pro- visions of the act of incorporation as will be recalled was, that the said Trustees shall also have commenced instruction in said institution within one year and on Dec. 31, 1823 at a meeting of the Trustees, a committee was appointed to notify the Legislature that the conditions of the act had been complied with. That committee contained the names of James S. Holmes, Thomas Williams and Thomas Davee.
Work on the building was begun the first of June and while the building was not ready for a school, one was commenced there in Oct, 1824 by Charles Parsons Chandler A.B .; and the building was leased for religious services late the previous year, as I find from a petition for a town meeting now before me that Art. 2 specifies
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OLD FOXCROFT
"to see if the town will raise three hundred ($300.00 to appropriate to the use of the Trustees of Foxcroft Academy in consideration that said Trustees will grant the Inhabitants of said Foxcroft the use of the building ... for a house of worship on the Sabbath day for a term of ten years from the first of June next."
Foxcroft Oct. 27th 1823
DANIEL GREELEY ADONIRAM BLAKE NATHANIEL BRADBURY NATHANIEL BUCK
Passed and Accepted.
"The Treasurer's Record of Foxcroft Academy" is the title given to a small home made account book before me, and in which are, in Capt. Chamberlain's handwriting, records of donations, subscriptions and expenditures for the benefit of Foxcroft Academy for Feb. 22 1823 to Aug. 28 1838. On the fly leaf is written :--
"Treasurer's Records of donations and subscriptions of Foxcroft Academy, February 22rd 1823
SAMUEL CHAMBERLAIN Treasurer
Feb. 22rd Joseph E. Foxcroft in cash. D.C.
$50.00
Feb. 24 Samuel Chamberlain note in materials for building 50.00
On the back leaf
"1823 Paid out for the benefit of Foxcroft Academy by order of Super- intending Committee"
then follows a long list for supplies etc. and to Nathan Carpenter by vote of Trustees to be indorsed on his own note $23.00. And I assume that it was to reimburse Mr. Carpenter for his numerous trips to Cum- berland County with petitions for act of incorporation and on solici- tation of funds!
The first expenditure for instruction of any kind is,-
"Feb. 1825 Charles P. Chandler the Preceptor $36.06
Dec. 1825 By paying John Bradbury for boarding Preceptor his note $1.50 Cash 1950 21.00
Feb. 7, 1828 by paying James S. Holmes for plastering Academy an order . 12.61
Sept. 9, by paying an order to Charles P. Chandler for instructing Academy 198.91
This was evidently back pay for on Dec 13 1828 I find
"By paying Joshua Randall Jr. for instructing Academy 78.00
Oct. 21 1829 By paying Charles P. Chandler on account 13.70
Dec. 12, 1829 Paid A. Sanborn Perceptor for instruction 14 weeks 87.50
May 22, 1830 Pd Win. Richardson Preceptor 39.50
Sept. 28, 1830 60.00
Jan'y 1831
80.50
T
L
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OLD FOXCROFT
May 28 1831
Pd Samuel Stevens
$10.00
Aug 30 16
80.00
Nov. 24
50.00
June 5 1832 66 William H. Ropes
40.00
And Mr. Ropes continued to be paid as Preceptor until the Fall of 1835, when Martin Snell succeeded him. Then James S. Wiley and Thomas Moulton became preceptors and in 1842 Thomas Tash assumed the duties and continued for several years.
The income seems a more complicated affair.
D.C.
1823, Feb. 26, Nathan Carpenter, note in labour
25.00
James Call, note for lumber
6.00
Sylvanus Longley, note for Tucker
15.00
Nathaniel Buck, note for labour.
10.00
Benjamin Hammond,
note for labour
5.00
Jacob Hammond
8.00
Mar. 8 Daniel Brown
10.00
.19 Cyrus Holmes
Note
15.00
20 Isaac Weston
10.00
28 Thomas Wentworth
payable in grain. 5.00
Salmon Holmes
20.00
J. S. Holmes
25.00
Jason Hassell
10.00
Nathaniel Chamberlain note in labour
15.00
Thomas Williams
note
25.00
Eliab Buck
5.00
Samuel Palmer
paid
5.00
Lucien Hide
note .
10.00
=
Oliver Crosby
note the interest annually of twenty dollars
20.00
Caleb Wingate
note.
5.00
May 28
Jonathan Noyes
2.00
George Knight
5.00
= John Morrell
5.00
Wm. Sands
4.00
"
Seth Cutter
3.00
Jeremiah Cutter
5.00
Daniel Chase
5.00
Byley Lyford
4.00
George Sherburne
3.00
Silas Harriman
5.00
=
John M. Brown
3.00
16
Isaac Stevens
5.00
Friend
paid
3.00
Aug. 12 Miss Dorothy Giddings a note against Eben Greenleaf
4.96
66
Dec. 5 Michael Delailtre
note
1.00
Samuel Pierce
2.00
= John M. Edes 16
2.00
16 Bazaliel Loring
4.00
=
"
£
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OLD FOXCROFT
D.C.
1823, Dec. 5
Samuel Robey
note
$10.00
John Bennet
5.00
31 Oren Record
5.00
notes against Bela Hammond and Eben Carseley in grain . 3.69
1
=
Russ Snow
note
5.00
Tiliston Snow
5.00
64
1.00
=
Daniel K. Heath
2.00
Luther Turner
5.00
Jonathan Tewskbury
3.00
5
Jonathan Harvey
2.00
Love Hanson
3.00
Josiah Bartlett
3.00
14
",
David Herring
5.00
21 Austen Newell
3.00
6 4
=
Robert Carlton
5.00
Guy Carlton Due bill against Abraham Moor
3.36
6 4
Thomas Fuller
note.
5.00
4 4
Charles Stearns
4.00
4 4
4 4
Nathaniel Harriman
2.00
Willaim Cleves
John S. Cleaves
3.00
Joseph Kelsey
5.06
1824 Sept. 18
Daniel tracy
and interest
109.28
J. P. Leland
6.50
Aaron Tucker
15.80
Aaron Morse
10.60
David Haynes
32.55
Eli Towne
8.30
Andrew Blethen
9.65
Joel Pratt
18.00
Mar. 22
Daniel Wilkins
10.00
Int. money on do cash
1.03
-
Benj. Flint
3.30
Barnabas Burley
2.19
=
=
Asaph Howard
cash
2.21
1825 The following notes received for the rent of the Academy for a meeting house. Nathan Carpenter $2.00, John Bradbury $3.00, David Haynes, Wm. Bradbury and Joel Pratt $1.50 each and Ebenezar Carsley, Alden Crooker, Thatcher Blake, Nath1, Bradbury, Nathaniel Buck, Cyrus Holmes, Cartillo Hamlin, John Lancy, J. S. Holmes. Sylvanus Longley, Ebenezar Greeley, Israel Record, Abel Chandler, Ad. Blake, J. S. Godfrey, Daniel Buck, Mordicai Mitchell, Joseph Gurney each $1.00
Received for tuition
1825 William Frost. 1.00
John Bradbury
2.50
. 4
William Rarsons Sr.
3.00
=
Philip Greeley
2.12
14
E. W. Snow
Wm. Hammond
1825 Feb.
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OLD FOXCROFT
1825
Nathan Carpenter
. 75
Betsey Coombs. 2.75
Joseph Crooker . 1.00
Gerritt F. Turner
1.25
Liberty Moor
.75
Jefferson Moor
2.25
Celia W. Coy
Although the "records disclose the fact that one James Gooch taught from Mch. 1824 until June as a Committee was appointed to settle with him," as the Treasurer did not pay him from the funds of Foxcroft Academy, was he a Preceptor of Foxcroft Academy, or a teacher of a private school? He did not teach in the Academy building as that build- ing was not in existence.
In October 1824, Col. Foxcroft and Esq. Holmes were successful in bringing to the Academy, Mr. Charles Parsons Chandler A.B. who two years before had been graduated from Bowdoin College. He had con- sented to come to. Foxcroft and teach the first school in the Academy. He was a law student in his father's office, Judge Peleg Chandler of New Gloucester, Maine.
As has already been pointed out, Col. Foxcroft and Judge Chandler were life long friends and the young man was glad to accede to the Colonel's wishes. In the spring of 1825, Mr. Chandler, on motion of Samuel Fessenden Esq. was admitted to the Cumberland County bar, with the privilege of practicing in the Courts of Maine. At once, Thomas Davee Esq., a gentleman of great astuteness, who had already served our Congressional District at Washington, urged young Chan- dler to return to upper Penobscot County and settle in Dover as her first Attorney and Counselor at Law.
His class mate and intimate friend, John Appleton, already was lo- cated in the practice of law at Sebec; and with his father, Judge Chan- dler considering changing his residence to Bangor, the young man decided to yield to Mr. Davee's wishes. Col. Foxcroft was very magnan- imous, recognizing at once that with Esq. Holmes established in Fox- croft and no lawyer in Dover, the latter place offered inducements. Col. Foxcroft was also generous, assuring Mr. Chandler of his support and any business he might be able to give him. Esq. Chandler there- fore accepted the proffer from Esq. Holmes of the fall term at the Academy while waiting for clients.
To his father under date of Nov. 24, 1825 the young man wrote ;-
"My school has flourished this fall. I have had 62 scholars, nearly double the number of any former term. There is a catalogue of the students in press. I shall send you one. The people in this vacinity want me to take the school as a permanant instructor. The Trustees have consulted me on the subject but I have declined. They would give me $200. and all the tuition. I hope that you are forwarding preparations for removal to Bangor."
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OLD FOXCROFT
The tuition at the Academy was $2.25 per term, board $1.00 to $1:50 per week including washing, rooms, lights, fuel etc. The curriculum offered eleven subjects. Mr. Chandler however continued to teach for several terms principally in finishing out terms commenced by less suc- cessful teachers.
On Nov 15, 1826 while in his office in Dover, Esq. Chandler received the following communication.
CHARLES PARSONS CHANDLER ESQ.,
Sir: I have the pleasure of informing you that you are unanimously elected a member of the Board of Trustees of Foxcroft Academy.
Will you please to meet the trustees this afternoon who are now in session at my office and signify your acceptance.
JAMES S. HOLMES Sec.
During the Preceptorship of Abram Sanborn, Miss Sarah M. Wheeler of Garland, daughter of Isaac Wheeler Esq., was called to assist him. Miss Wheeler had been a pupil of Miss Grant and Miss Mary Lyon at Ipswich, and proved a teacher of much merit. In 1830 Esq. Chandler and Miss Wheeler were married; and they came to the little yellow house, that I remember, as located at, or near, the corner of Main and School streets in Dover. They were my grandparents. Later their son and daughter and son-in-law, my father, taught in the "old Academy"; and I therefore look back upon my Alma Mater, with inherited memories, as well as with very precious emotions and remem- brances of my own. Neither the campus nor the building has the quiet reflective spirit of those days, and in silent salutation I reverence them. 'Tis with pride that I re-live that period; and marvel at Alma Mater's tenacious resistance against a bivouac of ever-changing potentialities.
"With fond affection memory loves to dwell "; and the scene of youth's heyday is a vital spot, notwithstanding that the Biblical allotment of Time has wrought its furrows and silvered the locks. Is digression a shadow? If so, may it tend only to intensify the sunshine of reminis- cence !
In the fall of 1832 came, as Preceptor of the Academy, a bright young fellow with a fresh A.B. from Colby College. Wm. H. Ropes, son of Hardy and Hannah (Elson) Ropes of Salem Mass had been well edu- cated and enjoyed the advantages of extensive travel. His father was a wealthy merchant and large ship owner. The Ropes mansion is now open to visitors, a Memorial Museum and Lecture Home provided by the Misses Ropes.
Mr. Ropes continued the plan of Mr. Chandler to issue a catalogue and in the one dated May 1835, the curriculum, board and tuition re- mained unchanged but with addition of music lessons and the innova- tion of philosophical and astronomical apparatus.
Mr. Ropes purchased of Caleb Prentiss Esq. the land and house, now the site of the L. C. Sawyer residence and in Bangor in 1834 he made
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OLD FOXCROFT
Miss Hannah Anderson Chandler, his wife. She was a young woman of much musical ability, of brilliant intellect, already a writer of merit. Among the wedding gifts from the Salem family was a spinet, the first keyed instrument in town.
A new element was now introduced, social life among the students and towns people. At Mr. Ropes' home was also held a bi-monthly literary club composed of Esq. Holmes and Rev. Mr. Williams, Brown Alumni, John Appleton Esq. of Sebec and Chandler then of Foxcroft, Bowdoin Alumni, Esq. Straw of Guilford and Ropes, each of Colby. Frequently did Judge Chandler of Bangor, father of Esq. Chandler and Mrs. Ropes, himself a Brown alumnus, meet with them.
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