USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > A centennial history, 1837-1937, Colby Academy, Colby Junior College > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
289
THE FIRST CENTURY OF COLBY
to attain to special honors in scholarship and was selected to give the Townsend oration. He entered a law office in Boston, after admission to the bar practised in Man- chester for a time, but returned to the Hub for the major work of his life. No man was better known among the Colby alumni of his time, and both town and school keep in memory his abundant success.
The next few classes were small, and there were no embryo lawyers until the class of 1885. It was the privi- lege of Fred J. Daggett to practise his profession for the better part of a half century, winning a reputation in Boston as a brilliant exponent of the law. Colby Acad- emy stirred with pride whenever reference was made to Whipple or Daggett.
Another period of small classes ensued, with no more lawyers until John H. Bartlett of Sunapee joined the class of '91. Since he achieved so much without gradu- ating from Colby, one wonders if he might not have been chief magistrate of his country if he had completed his course at the academy. After graduation from Dart- mouth he was principal of the Portsmouth High School for two years, and in Portsmouth he got the training as postmaster that qualified him for his later position at Washington. Making the law his profession, he eventu- ally became a member of the law firm of Page and Bart- lett. Not only was he an able lawyer, but his political success carried him to the governor's chair at Concord and even to the capital of the nation, where he became first assistant postmaster general. A New London boy who made good in another department of public service was Fred E. Everett, who made civil engineering his profession, and is rounding out a long term as superin- tendent of New Hampshire highways. Every motorist who tours New Hampshire is grateful to him for the good roads over which he bowls and for the informative signs that satisfy his curiosity.
290
LAW, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC LIFE
Again a period intervened lasting ten years when the law as a profession seemed to fail to make an appeal at Colby, and it was not until 1903 that George E. Dal- rymple graduated, destined to win the confidence of the people in his chosen city of Haverhill and an election as mayor. Two years later Chauncy E. Wheeler bade goodbye to New London and started on a career that was to land him in Providence in a law partnership with Charles E. Hughes, Junior. Some people are near the great and have greatness thrust upon them. Such was the situation with Rubie G. Hersey '04, who became secretary of the legal department of the state of Massa- chusetts in Boston, hobnobbing with lawyers and making herself indispensable to great and small.
Millard B. Smith graduated from Colby Academy in the class of 1916. He found his field of usefulness in the South, where his ability was rewarded with universal respect and a judgeship.
George D. Graves, class of '94, and Walter S. Bucklin, class of '97, both went through law school, one at Yale and the other at Boston University. The Chase National Bank of New York claimed Graves as a Vice President, while Bucklin became the president of the National Shawmut Bank of Boston. Each of them found in bank- ing an engrossing occupation. A number of other Colby boys went into banking. As early as the class of '58 Milon Davidson started on a career that made him a bank treasurer. Henry J. Crippen, class of '57, was bank cashier in Concord, and Daniel S. Dinsmoor '60, was bank cashier as well as lawyer in Laconia. George E. Gale '82, was a banker in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Governor Brackett was the real founder of the co-opera- tive banking system in Massachusetts, which has been so eminently successful that it has served as a model for other states in the Union. Francello G. Jillson came from Rhode Island to join the class of '62 at Colby, but
291
THE FIRST CENTURY OF COLBY
hurried back before graduation to become a banker in Providence. William O. Burdon followed a similar course the next year, coming from Blackstone, Massa- chusetts, to New London, but returning without waiting for a diploma to take up banking in his own home town. Not many bankers got their education at Colby after that, but Harold B. Cobb graduated in 1913, going to Medford where he entered banking.
Young men who were taught at Colby that life had its responsibilities and opportunities for service were not likely to overlook the profession of medicine, and young women who were looking for avenues of useful- ness were attracted by trained nursing after the hos- pitals began to offer their courses. Some had a natural inclination in these directions, others had relatives or friends who had served their communities with a healing ministry. They believed that the ills of flesh were some- thing more than mortal error, and that it was not enough to leave the crippled to some untrained sawbones or aching teeth to the barber and blacksmith as in pioneer days. They were willing therefore to spend four years in academic preparation and four more in college, and then look forward to four or five more in medical school. Not until the twentieth century must they spend a fur- ther term as internes in hospital, but without someone to give them a start or money enough to buy out an established practice it might take months or even years before the "medic" was able to earn a fair living.
In spite of these handicaps nearly fifty Colby boys won the coveted "doctor of medicine." Several sons of New London followed in the footsteps of their sires from Ash- ley Whipple to the sons of Dr. Clough. Five classes in the first decade after 1853 sent out eight men who scat- tered from Goffstown, New Hampshire, to Eldorado, Kansas, and three went elsewhere to complete their acad- emy and medical courses, all settling in Massachusetts.
292
LAW, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC LIFE
Eight followed in the next decade, all locating in New England, and there were three more who did not com- plete the course at Colby but took a detour to the same destination. Only four out of twelve who went from Colby to study medicine completed the course at New London in the next fifteen years, but they scattered from New Hampshire to Colorado. With one or two excep- tions those who came later were content with Colby for their academy discipline.
The records of their faithful service are meagre. One would like to know more than they have to tell of their battles with disease, their patience with chronic invalids, their cheerful optimism in the sick room, their midnight rides and lonely vigils, their tryst with death in cham- bers of sorrow, but all that must be left to the imagina- tion as the roll is called.
The first name is that of Edwin Cowles, who graduated from Colby in the class of 1855. Half the class of eight besides himself went to college, but only he and George L. Porter were headed for the profession of medicine. When Cowles left New London Kansas was in the throes of its struggle between free-soil settlers and those who wished to fasten slavery upon the territory. Perhaps it was that which attracted his attention to the trans- Mississippi country, but at all events to Kansas he went, settling at Eldorado, whose name suggested the end of the rainbow, and he lived for many long years of service until death claimed him in 1910. George L. Porter of the same class became a prominent physician in Bridge- port, Connecticut.
Galen Allen, class of 1858 at Colby, felt the lure of the West like Cowles, and Red Wing, Minnesota, gave him work to do until on Christmas Day as the century drew towards its close death ended his career. Fernando C. Sargent, class of '58, followed the unusual course of a Colby graduate of practising surgery in the United States
293
THE FIRST CENTURY OF COLBY
Navy. George W. H. Herrick, son of Deacon Herrick of New London, started in the same class in the academy but remained only a short time. Later he became a suc- cessful practitioner in Massachusetts. With the Herrick homestead on New London hill he never could forget the old school, and from him came the gift of the numer- ous etchings that beautify the modern buildings on the hill. Henry A. Fellows was the only member of the large class of '59 who completed his academy course at Colby and continued his preparation for a medical career. He too laid his course westward and settled in Windsor, Missouri. R. Allen Blood came to Colby from his Springfield home but went elsewhere to complete his course, locating as a physician in Charlestown, Massa- chusetts, to become famous among physicians in Boston and vicinity.
The class of 1860 included three embryo physicians. Two of them received their diplomas from Colby, but neither lived through the decade. James I. Tucker died in Chicago six years after he left New London, and Charles H. Page breathed his last on an American war- ship off Japan the next year. Israel T. Hunt left Colby before graduation, and when he was ready to practise medicine he like Blood elected to hang out his shingle in Charlestown. In 1861 George C. Howard bade his classmates goodbye at Commencement, and fifty years later ended a long and honorable career at Lawrence, Massachusetts. The next year Charles F. George received his Colby diploma. He was content to make Goffstown his residence and to gain a reputation for his skill through all that part of New Hampshire.
Five years passed before another Colby student set out for college and medical school. James B. Hanaford '67, went to Appanaug, Rhode Island. Oscar D. Cheney of the next class located in Haverhill, where he dispensed pills and advice and lectured on European travel for a
294
LAW, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC LIFE
quarter of a century. Again there was an interregnum, lasting three years this time.
Albert S. Buswell '71, lived in Epping, New Hamp- shire, until 1916. Luther G. Harvey made himself use- ful at Griggsville, Illinois, living until the same year. Charles S. Collins, class of '72, became widely known as a physician in Nashua. Not content with his reputa- tion in his profession he became president of the state board of trade and a member of the governor's staff. The class of '73 at Colby gave George W. Dow to Lawrence to pick up the cases that George Howard dropped, and Perley L. Sanborn of the same class was not far away at Marblehead in case consultations were needed. He did not complete his academy course at New London. George W. Weymouth of the next class settled in Lyme, New Hampshire. Edward N. Kingsbury married Carrie A. Coffin of the same class and made his home in New Haven, Connecticut.
The class of '75 graduated fifteen. Fred W. Elliott and Charles C. Messer were among them. Elliott's career as a physician was limited to less than ten years; he died in Boston in 1899. Messer's work was done in Turner's Falls in western Massachusetts, where he ministered to rich and poor for twenty years later still. Three others were in their classes for a time but did not graduate. Joseph B. Gerould was a Keene boy, who found his place in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Arthur G. Griffin had the unusual job of serving the needs of the employees of the American Woolen Company. Harriet L. Harring- ton of Watertown, Massachusetts, found success in two professions, teaching and medicine. She undertook to study medicine when women physicians were few and unpopular among many people, but in Boston she won friends and clients who had confidence in her ability and skill.
Anson C. Alexander tried New Hampton before he
295
THE FIRST CENTURY OF COLBY
came to Colby Academy, but he liked New London well enough to stay and graduate with the class of '77. He went to the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia for his medical training, graduating in 1881 with a gold medal for scholarship. He practised in Penacook, special- izing in tuberculosis. He took time off to represent his political district in the state senate.
For the next eight years only one Colby graduate went into medicine. The number of students who completed the course was very small compared with those who took a partial course. The class of '78 graduated six; twenty- six others were in classes with them part of the time. The next class numbered four when they came to the Commencement platform, while thirty-three fell by the way. The class of '80 made a better record, graduating six out of twenty-one. There were six graduates the next year out of twenty-three; one of them was Fred W. Lovejoy, who became a community benefactor in East Pepperell, Massachusetts. Those who were aiming to- wards the practice of medicine doubtless thought that they would do better elsewhere. Among those who were at Colby for a while were Frank B. Adams, a New Lon- don boy, who went to Northampton, Massachusetts; Harlan P. Abbott of Antrim, who settled among the elite of Providence under the shadow of Brown University; and Oscar L. Corliss of Lempster who found enough sick people in Walpole, Massachusetts, to justify his settling there. Arthur M. Dodge of Franklin chose Beacon Street, Boston, and J. Walter Bean of Brent- wood went to West Medford, Massachusetts. S. Manson Abbott, a graduate in the class of '81, had the unique distinction among Colby alumni of becoming a Chris- tian Science healer with Los Angeles as his city of resi- dence.
Colby had the proud record within another decade of sending out three fully fledged alumnae to take their
296
LAW, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC LIFE
places in the medical ranks. Anna M. Littlefield gradu- ated from the academy in 1884, taking time to teach art for a while, but decided on the study of medicine in Philadelphia and returned to her home town to practise. Mabel I. Westwood completed her course in 1891 and proudly wrote M.D. after her name when she had completed her long course of study, but she suc- cumbed to the wooing of Arthur C. Waldron and made a home for him in Malden. Maud A. Powell came to New London from Laconia with the intention of equip- ping herself for medical practice, graduated in the class of 1893, and when she went back to Laconia to stay she had her doctor's diploma.
As if it were not enough to graduate these three, Colby launched Edwin P. Stickney in 1886, who went to Arlington, Massachusetts, for a long and busy career; and helped to educate John L. Pepper, future physician of Madison, Maine, Walter H. Abbott from the same town of Bradford, who remained for his career in the neighborhood, choosing the town of Warner, and Silas W. Dean of Bow, who must have had the wanderlust since he opened his office in Gold Hill, Colorado. W. P. Houston preferred dentistry to the general practice of medicine, and extended his usefulness through Tufts College as well as through his Boston office. James S. Roberts had the distinction of being the only graduate in the class of '89, though thirty-five boys and girls "also ran." Roberts saw a field of usefulness in the moun- tain country of New Hampshire, and gave himself to the countryside in Sandwich.
Nathan L. Griffin was the son of Professor Griffin of the academy. He received his Colby diploma in 1894. After completing his course at Yale he too returned to the New Hampshire country, married Florence M. Bick- ford of the class of '96, and practised at Bradford and New London until his health compelled him to winter
297
THE FIRST CENTURY OF COLBY
in Florida. After a few years he was able to return to the state of his choice, and he became the health guard- ian of the students at the University of New Hamp- shire until his death in the prime of life. Charles B. Allen '95 studied in Colorado State University and then settled in the Far West. Edward C. Durgin completed his course at Colby in '97 and eventually settled in New- tonville, Massachusetts, interrupting his local practice to participate in the World War.
Colby Academy closed the nineteenth century credit- ably by graduating two who went on to the study of medicine, and doing its best for Murray H. Cann, who made his way to the same goal without a diploma from Colby. William P. Clough, son of General J. M. Clough of New London, went from Colby to Dartmouth in 1900. He served in the World War and returned to do his part in keeping New London a healthy place for the academy boys and girls as well as townspeople, and to bring up two boys to follow in his footsteps. Marion E. Spaulding was the daughter of Reverend A. D. Spauld- ing, class of '80. She went to Boston University from Colby and when she was ready to practise settled in Cohasset, Massachusetts, near her Scituate home. Cann located at Portsmouth.
Five years passed without a candidate for medicine before Charles F. Warren graduated at Colby in the class of 1905. He too went into the war to lend his skill to the suffering, and came home with the title of captain to practise in Amesbury. In the next class Stillman G. Davis completed his course, went into the army, and afterward returned to Nashua. Ralph G. Hurlin '08 did his bit in the war, receiving the title of major. He studied for the degree of doctor of philosophy, and be- came a research specialist on the Russell Sage Foundation with headquarters in New York City. Tancredi G. Gran-
298
LAW, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC LIFE
ata, class of 1910, was in the war and settled afterward to practise in Providence.
The war claimed Paul F. Russell '12, but spared him to return home to America and make a reputation as a research bacteriologist, working in New York City under the auspices of the Rockefeller Foundation. The class of 1914 graduated Llewellyn H. Rockwell, who also saw war service before he could get his medical education, but at length reached his goal and became a specialist con- nected with the Cambridge Hospital. Harold E. Ting- ley did not remain to graduate with the class of 1914, but in due time became a dentist with office in Boston.
Without doubt many sweet girl graduates in the early Colby decades so caught the spirit of goodwill and service that they became good neighbors wherever they went and in time of sickness were ready to lend a helping hand. It was not until late in the century that women trained for nursing as a profession and made themselves indispensable in the sick room, but since that time Colby girls have taken their places in hospitals and private homes, and the new Colby makes them skilled in the technique of medical secretaries. It is not re- corded that any of the young women who left the acad- emy to practise medicine or nursing ever imitated Dr. Mary Walker's costume of broadcloth trousers and silk hat; they were pioneers in a feminist movement that no one may criticize because it has been an unalloyed bless- ing to the world.
Among the names on Colby's roll of nurses are two Massachusetts girls, Edna Cameron, who was enrolled with the class of '96 but did not graduate, and Alice M. Whitney, who graduated in the class of 1898. Lina D. Washburn of Lyme was of the same class. Jennie B. and Mary A. Messer, New London sisters, received their Colby diplomas in 1899, trained as nurses, and later be- came owners of the Beacon Hospital in Manchester. In
299
THE FIRST CENTURY OF COLBY
the same class but not graduating at New London was May P. Abbott of Medford, Massachusetts. These six followed one another in quick succession, but the fol- lowing years did not maintain the record.
It was not until the second decade of the new cen- tury that war summons took several Colby girls into foreign service. Eva A. Dean, class of 1911, later became superintendent of a hospital in Wilkesbarre, Pennsyl- vania. Lura G. Knowlton of New London was a member of the same class. Myra E. Gay '13, and Louise M. Hart- shorn, who for a time was in the same class, both were enrolled in war service before they married, one to settle in New York City, the other in New London.
The war was almost over when Mary D. MacInnis left at Commencement in 1918 to pursue her education farther. She found her place of service in the Whidden Hospital, Everett, Massachusetts. The class of 1920 gave Florence M. Preston of New London to the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. The same hospital claimed four of the girls who graduated from Colby in the class of '21. These were Constance C. Batten of Turner's Falls, Massachusetts, and three New London girls, Marion N. Bean, Gladys E. Holmes and Gladys A. Rob- bins.
These are they who have found, like Sir Launfal in his search for the Holy Grail, that
"The Holy Supper is kept indeed, In whatso we share with another's need;
Not what we give but what we share, For the gift without the giver is bare; Who gives himself with his alms feeds three, Himself, his hungering neighbor, and me."
300
XIV
THE ALUMNI IN EDUCATION AND BUSINESS
T is impossible to call the long roll of men and women who have devoted their lives to teaching, but there are some who have held positions of responsibility and have made a noble record through long years of in- struction. Eminent among these are four whose reputa- tion extended across the country.
The first of these to graduate was Albert Bickmore, class of '56. A boy from the Maine seacoast, he found his way to Colby Academy and Dartmouth College. His fondness for natural history drew him to the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University in order that he might study with Louis Agassiz, and that led him into a field of activity unique among Colby alumni. After nine months of war service he graduated bachelor of science from Harvard in 1864, and with the help of friends he was able to make a collecting expedition to the Malay Archipelago, visited China and Japan, and pub- lished his papers in scientific journals. In 1868-69 he was professor of natural history in Colgate University. While at Harvard he had conceived the idea of an American museum of natural history in New York City and he be- came its real founder, enlisting the support of prominent men in the metropolis. Appointed its first superintend- ent, he guided its affairs for fifteen years, then became curator of the department of public instruction of the museum, for he believed that it was an important educa- tional agency and should be tied up closely with the schools of the city and the state. After twenty years ill
301
THE FIRST CENTURY OF COLBY
health compelled his retirement, but his place in the history of one of New York's great institutions is not forgotten.
A fellow scientist was John R. Eastman, class of '60. He was an Andover boy who came up the hill to broaden his mental vision. He did it to such purpose that he be- came a notable astronomer. Choosing Dartmouth for his college, he graduated in due course and went to Washing- ton, where he became assistant astronomer to the Naval Observatory. Three years later he was made professor of Mathematics. Many were the hours spent in computa- tions and preparing materials for scientific study. Tire- some would it be to many persons to edit the publications of the Observatory, but that was one of Eastman's tasks for ten years. He traveled many thousands of miles to make astronomical observations on such occasions as a total eclipse of the sun or a transit of Venus. His promi- nence in astronomical circles made him the choice at one time for the presidency of the Philosophical Society of Washington and also of the Washington Academy of Sciences. He held the responsible position of general secretary of the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science. The government gave him the rank of rear admiral. With all his advancement and honors he did not forget his native town and state. He married Mary J. Ambrose, a fellow classmate at New London from Andover, and he wrote the History of the Town of An- dover. He remained in his position at the Naval Observa- tory until his retirement from active service in 1898.
The other two men included in this distinguished quartette were eminent in the theory and practice of edu- cation. Samuel Train Dutton came to New London from his Hillsboro home in time to take his academy course with the class of '69. He chose Yale for his college instead of following the beaten track to Dartmouth or Brown. When he received his bachelor of arts degree in 1873 he
302
ALUMNI IN EDUCATION AND BUSINESS
expected to become a minister, but needing money to continue his education he accepted the superintendency of schools in South Norwalk, Connecticut. This turned his mind in another direction. He had some thoughts of making the law his profession, but his success in educa- tion gave him the principalship of the Eaton Grammar School in New Haven, where he married. After five years he became superintendent of the New Haven schools, which gave him prominence in the educational world.
Dutton's stay of eight years at New Haven was followed by ten years at Brookline, Massachusetts. There near the heart of Boston culture he occupied a position of wide influence, and answered many calls for public addresses on educational topics. These included series of lectures on pedagogy at Harvard, the University of Chicago, and Boston University. In 1900 New York City called him to become superintendent of the Horace Mann School and professor of administration in Teachers' College. There he could influence the professional thought of the whole country in the field of education, and there he re- mained until he was made professor emeritus in 1915.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.