USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > Historical sketches of Peterborough, New Hampshire : portraying events and data contributing to the history of the town > Part 5
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 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
Nathan Ballard, (5) was the first prin-
cipal of the academy, receiving for his services $3.50 per student; the first term commenced witlı appropriate exercises August 21, 1837, and continued eleven weeks; he remained but one year, and was succeeded by Caleb W. Piper (6). Rev. Curtis Cutler, in his Annals of Pe- terborough, read in the Lyceum March 27, 1841, stated that "Mr. C. W. Piper, who has been teaching in the academy for two years, left at the close of the winter term for want of patronage; in the fall term there were 90 students, but in the winter the number fell to about 15. He was succeeded by Rev. Zebulon Jones (7) formerly a teacher in the Baptist Sem- inary of Hancock, under whose instruc- tion the school rapidly increased." Nov. 9, 1841, the academy was examined and showed the efficient work of Mr. Jones and his assistant, Miss Rolf. Mr. Jones was pastor of the Baptist church, com- mencing in April 1840, continuing until 1843.
David Youngman, who graduated from Dartmouth College in 1839, was the next principal, commencing March 16, 1842; in a recent letter received from his son,
(5) Nathan Ballard was born in Concord, N. H., March 31, 1816, fitted for college at Kimball Union Academy, graduated from Dartmouth College July 26, 1837, after which he went to Pe- terborough and from there to Boscawen; in 1840 he went to Washington, D. C., where he taught until 1844, when he removed to Baltimore, in which city and vicinity he taught until 1850, he then removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he taught in business colleges and as a private tutor until within two weeks of his death, which occurred Dec. 2, 1901, after a brief attack of pneumonia ; he married in 1851 and his widow and five chil- dren survive him,
(6) Caleb Ward Piper, A. M., was born in Weston, Vt., Nov. 30, 1810, and graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1838; he taught at Peterborough two years and Lebanon six months, studying di- vinity in both places ; after preaching at Perkins- ville and Weathersfield, Vt., fron1 1840 to 1842, he was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Perkinsville, June 22, 1842; preached nextat Craftsbury, Vt., two years, also teaching the acad- emy there; removed thence to Troy, Vt., supply- ing its two churches and one at Westfield until 1854, was then employed at Bakersfield and West Townshend, Vt .; he died at West Rutland, Vt., Dec. 12. 1888 .- Records of Dartinouth College.
(7) Rev. Zebulon Jones was born in Cornwall, Vt., Sept. 8, 1812 ; he graduated from Middlebury College in 1836 and immediately became principal of the Hancock (N. H.) acadeiny and pastor of the Baptist church in that town, having been ordained there; he remained there until 1839 when he became pastor of the Baptist church in Peterborough; in 1843 he removed to Hampton Falls, N. H., when he became principal of the Rockingham academy and pastor of the Baptist church ; there he remained until 1851, during which time he was county school commissioner and chairman of the state board of education; for a few years after leaving Hampton Falls he was pastor of the churches in Monkton and Cornwall, Vt., and for some little time he was engaged in secular business ; for a year or more colporteur to the publications of the Baptist Publication so- ciety ; about 1868 he resumed the work of the ministry in East Hubbardton, Vt., where he died March 2, 1883, the oldest settled Baptist pas- tor in Vermont .- History of Rockingham Acad- emy, page 358.
1
27
The Peterborough Academy 1836-1903.
Willis B. Youngman of Boston, the fol- lowing is stated: "Would say, in regard to my father's connection with the Peter- borough Academy, that I know of but one definite fact: he being principal for two years, 1842 and 1843. He was born in Peterborough, August 26, 1817; fitted for college at New Ipswich Academy; taught at Franklin, Tenn., and Hartford, Vt., previous to going to the academy at Peterborough; he died in Boston, May 11, 1895." He studied medicine with Dr. Albert Smith and practiced his profession in Boston from 1856 to the date of his death. (See Peterborough History, page 364, for a sketch of his life and his por- trait.)
Edward Stearns Cutter was the next principal; in a recent letter from his son, Henry A. Cutter of Nashua, the following fact is given: "I have found a Nashua Telegraph, dated Feb. 10, 1845, contain- ing a notice, signed by D. J. Clark, clerk of trustees, stating that E. S. Cutter had been engaged for another term and stat- ing the tuition bill." E. S. Cutter was born in Jaffrey, March 27, 1822, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1844, admitted to the bar in Dec. 1848, began the practice of law here and continued until 1858, when he left town upon his appointment as clerk of the court; he died in Nashua, March 15, 1903. (See Jaffrey History, page 270 and Granite Monthly Vol. 34, page 298.)
It is not positively known whether or not the spring term of 1845 was E. S. Cut- ter's last; from this term to the fall term of 1849 exact data cannot be obtained; it is, indeed, the only period in the Acad- emy history of entire absence of positive information; there is no doubt, however, of the succession of principals (Cutter, Parker and Scott,) but there is a doubt as to just when Mr. Cutter's management ceased and his successor's commenced. Certain it is, however, that John Gideon Parker taught the district school in No. 1 the winter of 1847-8 and in No. 2 the winter of 1848-9, and that he succeeded Mr. Cutter as principal of the academy. As some of the principals of the academy
taught the spring and fall terms of that institution the same years they taught winter terms in the district schools, it is thought that Mr. Parker had charge of the academy during the years 1846-7-8; in partial corroboration of this, is the state- ment of M. L. Morrison, who says that he was a student at the academy the year Sawyer's Granite Block was built, corner of Main and Grove Streets, (1847) and that Mr. Parker was principal at that time. Mr. Parker was born in this town July 2, 1818, studied medicine with Dr. Albert Smith, graduated at the Dart- mouth Medical School in 1852, com- menced practice in Dublin where he re- mained until 1865, when he removed to Warner, where he died Sept. 12, 1869. (See Peterborough History, page 220, and obituary notice in the Peterborough Transcript of March 25, 1871. )
Albert Smith Scott commenced the fall term as principal, Aug. 20, 1849; and the announcement was made that a compet- ent assistant would be provided, that board in good families could be had at $1.25 to $1.50 per week, that good rooms could be had at reasonable rates for those who wished to board themselves, that tuition for common English branches would be $3, for higher English branches $3.50, for Latin, Greek and French $4, and that Samuel Jaquith would give in- struction in penmanship. Mr. Scott was born in this town May 8, 1824, and died here Aug. 14, 1877; he had taught winter terms in school district No. 2 in 1847-8 and in No. 1 in 1848-9 and 1853-4; he was superintending school committee in 1852- 3-4-5-6-7, and prudential committee in district No. 1 in 1853-4-65-6 and 7. (For sketch of his life see Peterborough His- tory page 251, and Peterborough Tran- script of Aug. 16, 1877.)
Yorick G. Hurd of Lempster, taught the spring term commencing Feb. 27, 1850, and the fall term commencing Sept. 1, 1851, at which his sister, Miss Isabel E. Hurd (who taught the summer terms in district No. 3 in 1851-2 and who May 5, 17, 1853 married Dr. John G. Parker, a former principal) and Mrs, J. W. Munroe
28
Peterborough Historical Society Collections.
were assistants. The academy at this time was called "Pine Grove Academy." Mr. Hurd taught the district school in No. 1 the winter term of 1852-3 and stud- ied medicine with Dr. Albert Smith, re- maining in town for some time after he ceased teaching; his name appeared in the discussions in the Lyceum January, 1853, and he was one of the speakers at a temperance meeting here in November, 1853; he was born in Lempster, Feb. 17, 1827 and died in Ipswich, Mass., Sept. 24, 1888; he was Major Surgeon of the 48th Mass. Regt. in 1862-3; was in the Mass. senate 1865-6 from Amesbury and while in the senate he was appointed superin- tendent of the Essex County House of Correction and Insane Asylum at Ipswich, which position he held for twenty-one years. In 1867 Dr. Hurd was appointed Medical Director of the Mass. militia, with rank of Colonel on Gen. Butler's staff .- See History of Essex county (1888) page 566.
Samuel Gardner, who came here from New York City but whose home was in Boston, taught the spring term commenc - ing March 15, 1852; he was said to be a graduate of Harvard College although no record of him can be found there, it is understood that he had been teaching a number of years in New York; this mea- gre data is all that can be obtained of him; he taught the winter terms in dis- trict Nos. 4 and 5 (6 weeks each) in 1851- 2 and in No. 4 in 1852-3.
Isaac Jones Cutter, commenced the fall term Aug. 23, 1852, but after nine weeks withdrew and A. S. Scott finished the eleven weeks' term. Mr. Cutter was born in Jaffrey, May 31, 1830, fitted for college in New Ipswich, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1852, studied law with his brother, Edward S. Cutter, in this town, was admitted to the Massa- chusetts bar in September, 1855, began the practice of law in Boston, October, 1856, where he still resides; lie was mar- ried September, 1858, and has a wife and two children living (Jaffrey History, page 271) ; he commenced the winter term of 1848-9 in district No. 9, but after con-
tinuing for seven weeks voluntarily with- drew, and Albert S. Scott, then one of the superintending school committee, completed the term.
Albert S. Scott, who had taught the fall term of the academy in 1849 and fin- ished the fall term of 1852, commenced again as principal March 9, 1853, and con- tinued in charge until 1857, the longest term of service in the history of the academy, during part of which time he studied medicine with Dr. Albert Smith, but abandoning this he took up the study of law. It may be presumed that the academy was in a somewhat precarious condition when Mr. Scott took charge, as he published a notice, before the spring term in 1853, stating that a term would be held, "if sufficient encouragement is given." In August, 1853, the academy was repaired and painted. The fall term commenced Aug. 22, 1853 with 41 stu- dents and at its close, in November, a public examination was held and another examination was held in the academy in February, 1854; the spring term com- menced March 1, 1854, and closed May 9, 1854, when the students presented Mr. Scott with a beautiful bible; the fall term commenced Aug. 21, 1854 with 44 stu-' dents; during this term Mr. Scott had as assistant, Miss Oplielia A. Cutter of Jaf frey, who had taught the summer school of 1852 in district No. 2 and the winter term of 1852-3, summer terms No.1, 1853 and No. 2, 1854; she died during the acad- emy term (Oct. 30, 1854) and Miss Ada L. Taft was employed as instructor in music; there was a public exhibition by the students at the close of the term; the spring term commenced Feb. 26, 1855; the fall term commenced Aug. 20, 1855, when Mr. Scott had as assistant, Miss Mary Washburn; the spring term com- menced Feb. 25, 1856 with Oscar Lingke as teacher of German, French and music; the fall term commenced Aug. 25, 1856 with Miss Mary Washburn as teacher of French and drawing and Miss Mary A. Kimball teacher of music; the spring term commenced Feb. 23, 1857 with Miss Sarah E. Robbins as assistant and Miss
29
The Peterborough Academy 1836-1903.
Mary A. ]Kimball teacher of music; the fall term commenced Aug. 24, 1857, witlı 82 students, Miss Sarah E. Robbins of Jaffrey and Miss Phylinda C. Scott as- sistants and Miss Mary A. Kimball teach- er of music; the students held an exhibi- tion at the Town hall Nov. 4, 1857; this was Mr. Scott's last term; he was admit- ted to the bar in 1857 and commenced the practice of law in East Jaffrey. Miss Scott was born in this town Oct. 29, 1832; she married S. G. Blanchard, Spring Vale, Iowa, who died and she subsequent- ly married a Mr. Wiley of the same place; she now resides at San Diego, Cal .; she taught the summer terms of district school in No. 9 in 1851, No. 1 from 1852 to 1859 and in 1865; she also taught the winter terms in No. 1 in 1852-3 and 1853- 4. Miss Robbins taught more terms of district school in town than any other teacher of the academy; she commenced in district No. 5 with the summer term of 1851 and taught both winter and sum- mer terms, closing with the summer term, 1853; she taught the winter term of 1853- 4 in Nos. 5 and 7, and commencing in No. 1 with the summer term of 1854 she taught winter and summer terms until the winter term of 1856-7; she taught the winter term of 1858-9 in No. 3, and the summer term of 1861 and winter term of 1866-7 in No. 1; she died at her home in East Jaffrey, Dec. 15, 1887, aged 53 years.
Charles Wilder commenced the spring term March 1, 1858, confined to English branches; he had taught the winter terms in school district No. 2 in 1854-5, No. 7 in 1856-7, and No. 1 in 1857-8 and 1858-9; he was prudential committee in district No. 7 in 1866-7, 1872-3. 1878-9, and one of the town school committee 1882-3-4-5 ; he was born in this town May 13, 1836, and died here July 26, 1900. (See Peterborough History, page 348).
Henry Hastings Kimball, born in Tem- ple, Sept. 4, 1835, graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1860; during his junior year he taught the fall term of the acad- emy which commenced Aug. 25, 1858, with his sister, Miss Harriet M. Kimball, (born in Temple Jan. 22, 1838, married the late
Stillman Haynes, Oct. 8, 1863) as assist- ant, and his cousin, Miss Mary A. Kim- ball, (see Peterborough History, page 130) teacher of music. Mr. Kimball's life- work has been that of teaching; before he graduated from college he had taught district schools in Rindge, New Ipswich and Marlow in New Hampshire and Townsend, Harvard and Attleboro, Mass .; since 1860 he has taught in Dedham, Can- ton, Newton and Boston, in the latter city from 1863 to 1893; since then he has been in the publishing business in Boston, where he now resides, and is secretary and treasurer of the Massachusetts Fish and Game Protective Association.
Riley Burnham Hatch taught the spring term commencing Feb. 23, 1859, with 55 scholars, Miss Lizzie M. McCoy and Miss Augusta F. Ames, assistants, the summer term commencing May 25, 1859 and the fall term commencing Aug. 24, 1859 with 75 scholars, John S. Smith and Miss Liz- zie M. McCoy, assistants, and Miss Mary A. Kimball, teacher of music; school motto: "Half a lesson learned is far bet- ter than a lesson half learned." This is the only year in which three terms were held. Mr. Hatch also taught the winter term of 1859-60 in district No. 1, after which he abandoned teaching and gave his attention to the study of law, being admitted to the bar in 1862, and is still in practice here; he was prudential com- mittee in district No. 1, in 1867-S; his na- tive place is Williamstown, Vermont, where he was born Oct. 19, 1832. (See Bi- ographical Review of Hillsborough and Cheshire Counties, page 200.) John Stearns Smith, son of Dea. John Smith, was born in this town Nov. 27, 1837; his present residence is St. Paul, Minn., where he is Assistant Division Superin- tendent of the Railway Mail Service.
Charles H. Goulding of New Ipswich had charge of the spring term commenc- ing March 7, 1860; he began the fall term Aug. 22, 1860, which closed prematurely on account of his sickness; lie gave no- tice in the Transcript in February, 1861, that he would hold the spring term, if the academy, which was then offered for
30
Peterborough Historical Society Collections.
sale, could be obtained; the spring term commenced Feb. 27, 1861. In a recent letter from Mr. Goulding, who is now in the furniture business at Peabody, Mass., he states: "I taught the academy the fall of 1860 and spring of 1861 ; in May, 1861 I enlisted in the Peterborough Company which joined the 2nd N. H. Vols. and I became a member of Co. G, of that regi- ment; my assistant in the academy was Miss Arabella S. Fisk (who now resides in Dublin, having married Dr. Henry H. Smith, May 25, 1880). After the war I followed teaching until 1880; taught grammar school in Peabody, Mass., ten years, also in Portsmouth, N. H. high school, also Bradford, Mass., and Dan- vers, Mass .; since 1880 I have been en- gaged in the furniture business." Mr. Goulding was born in Millbury, Mass., March 24, 1838, he was educated at New Ipswich Academy, taught there and in Gardner, Wilton and Dublin; he has been chairman of selectmen and on the school committee of Franklin for nine years and a member of the legislature of 1902. In July, 1861 the academy was thoroughly repaired and improved and the grounds graded and fenced.
Sylvester Baron Partridge commenced the fall term Aug. 28, 1861, with 60 stu- dents, Miss Augusta F. Ames, assistant. With the consent of the committee he closed the academy three weeks before the eleven weeks' term was completed and enlisted October, 1861, as a private in the 92nd New York Vols. Mr. Partridge was born in Evans Mills, N. Y., May 28, 1837, removed to Potsdam, N. Y., in 1840, he graduated at Middlebury College in 1861. After his enlistment he was pro- moted to 2nd Lieut., Jan. 1862, and to 1st Lieut., July 1862, transferred to Signal Corps, Oct. 1862, 1st Lieut. Signal Corps Regular Army, 1863, Chief Signal Officer 25th Army Corps and was with the first troops to enter Richmond, April 3, 1865, was made Captain by Brevet, March 1865, entered Newton Theological Semi- nary in the fall of 1865, graduating in 1868, and sailed for Siam as Baptist Mis- sionary; was in Missionary Union to
China, Oct. 1868, transferred to Swatow, China, 1873, is at present in Hamilton, N. Y., but expects to return to China in the fall of 1903. Augusta F. Ames was born in this town, Dec. 2, 1836, and married Wm. A. Smith, Oct. 9, 1865; she taught the summer term in district No. 10 in 1854, winter term No. 12, 1854-5, summer No. 1 in 1855, winter No. 1 in 1855-6, winter terms Nos. 6 and 10 in 1856-7, summer No. 1 in 1857, winter No. 1 in 1857-8, summer No. 1 in 1859, summer and fall No. 1 in 1862, and summer and winter No. 6 in 1863-4, summer term No. 1 in 1873.
Henry Clay Tenney of Marlborough commenced the spring term Feb. 26, 1862, with his wife, Julia C. Tenney as teacher of music. Under the same management the fall term was commenced Aug. 27, 1862, and continued eleven weeks. Mr. Tenney was born in Marlborough, N. H., Dec. 26, 1830 and died April 24, 1885 in Orange, Mass., where Mrs. Tenney now resides. (See Marlborough History, page 362 for his portrait and page 652 for a sketch of his life.)
George Mason commenced the spring term March 4, 1863; he had taught school in district No. 1 in the winter of 1862-3; he was born in Putney, Vt., Dec. 31, 1831, entered the University of Vermont from Brookline, Vt., and graduated in 1858; he received A. M. from his Alma Mater in 1873 and LL. B. from Columbian Col- lege, Washington, D. C., in 1861; he was admitted to the bar in 1863 and practiced law in Washington until the date of his death which occurred Sept. 1, 1901; his widow now resides there.
Samuel Newton Bartlett of Townsend, Mass., was a senior in Dartmouth Col- lege when he commenced the fall term of the academy Aug. 27, 1863 with fifty stu- dents, Miss Julia C. Hartland, assistant; he had previously taught the winter term of 1857-8 in district No. 7. While teach- ing the academy he boarded at J. H. Ames' and had a severe hemorrhage of the lungs before he left town; he was a native of Rindge. The marble slab, at his grave in Townsend, reads: "Born
31
The Peterborough Academy 1836-1903.
April 11, 1838, died Dec. 28, 1864 ; gradu- ated at Dartmouth College July, 1864."
Martin H. Fisk of Temple, a graduate of Dartmouth College, 1852, commenced the spring term Feb. 15,1864, with forty students, Miss Henrietta F. Breed, assist- ant. The fall term, under the same man- agement was commenced Aug. 29, 1864, with 88 students. Miss Breed-who was a former student of the academy-was born in 1837, married Mr. Fisk June 20, 1865, and died Jan. 29, 1901 ; she had taught the summer school in district No. 10 in 1853, the summer term in No. 1 in 1857, the winter term in No. 1 in 1857-8 and the summer and winter terms in No. 1 in 1858-9. Mr. Fisk was born in Temple, May 10, 1827, and now resides there.
John L. Hildreth commenced the spring term Feb. 20, 1865, with his wife as assistant. Under this management was conducted the fall term commencing Aug. 23, 1865, with nearly 100 students, the spring term Feb. 26, 1866, the fall term Aug. 15, 1866. and the spring term which began Feb. 25, 1867, with 75 students. Dr. Hildreth was born in North Chelmsford, Mass., Nov. 29, 1838; he taught the winter terms in district No. 1 in 1865-6 and during these two years studied medicine with Dr. Albert Smith and attended medical lectures at the Harvard Medical School; he attended medical lectures at Dartmouth College in the autumn of 1867, graduating in No- vember of that year. Dr. Hildreth is now an eminent physician at Cambridge, Mass. Mrs. Hildreth taught district No. 1 school in the summer of 1865, but on account of ill health discontinued it in the middle of the seventh week ; she is now in the enjoyment of good health.
William Moore commenced the fall term, Aug. 19, 1867, with Miss Mary Ne- ville of New Boston, assistant, and Miss Kate Smith teacher of music and draw- ing; he commenced the spring term Feb. 19, 1868 with Miss Neville as assistant and Miss Clara E. Wheeler teacher of music and drawing, but owing to a bron- chial trouble which temporarily deprived him of his voice, he was able to teach
only seven or eight weeks and Miss Ne- ville finished out the term as principal. Mr. Moore taught the winter terms of district school in No. 2 in 1863-4, 1864-5 and 1869-70 and in No. 9 in 1867-8; he was born in Peterborough April 24, 1844 and now resides on the farm where his father, grandfather and great grandfather lived and died. Mr. Moore has been on the school board from 1901 to the present time (1903.)
Miss Mary Neville, assistant teacher of the previous term, was principal of the fall term commencing Aug. 20, 1868; she was the only female principal the acad- emy ever had; she had previously taught the summer school in district No. 1 in 1868. She was born in New Boston, April 25, 1846 and died in Francestown, Jan. 6, 1875.
James E. Vose commenced the spring term, Feb. 10, 1869, with Miss Mary Ne- ville (whom he married April 6, 1870,) as assistant; under the same management the fall term, which began Aug. 25, 1869, was conducted; he had previously taught the winter terms of school in district No. 7 in 1859-60 and 1860-1. Mr. Vose was for many years principal of the Frances- town Academy and during the latter part of his life he was principal of Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, Mass., where he died June 1, 1887; he was born in Antrim, July 18, 1836. (See Antrim History, page 728.)
Alfred Byron Spaulding of Lynde- borough commenced the spring terni, Feb. 23, 1870, with 40 students. J. V. Smith had been engaged to teach this term and his name appeared in the print- ed notices, but owing to some misunder- standing he declined to come here and Mr. Spaulding was secured a short time before the term commenced. Mr. Spauld- ing was born in Lyndeborough, Aug. 16, 1849, entered Dartmouth College in 1868, but did not complete his course; was married to Miss Eva S. Barker of this town-who had been one of his students- Nov. 27, 1873, was admitted to the bar, was in law practice in Greenville in 1875, began practice in Hillsborough Bridge
32.
Peterborough Historical Society Collections.
the latter part of 1876, where he remained a little less than two years; he died Nov. 9, 1881. Mr. Spaulding attempted to con- duct a fall term in 1870, but the effort failed and the term was suspended for want of support, only a small number of students attending. This was the last term and with it the history of the Peter- borough Academy closed. The terms were usually ten weeks long in spring, and eleven weeks in the fall, although a few were twelve weeks long.
For a more convenient reference to the thirty-three years taught by the twenty- five principals, the following list is given. Where the same year is found opposite two names, a change of principals in that year was made, one having charge of the spring term and the other having charge of the fall term.
1837-8. Nathan Ballard
1839-40. Caleb W. Piper
Rev. Zebulon Jones 1840-I ..
1842-3.
David Youngman
1844-5.
Edward S. Cutter
1846-7-8
John G. Parker
1849.
Albert S. Scott
1850-I
Yorick G. Hurd
1852.
Samuel Gardner
Isaac J. Cutter 1852.
1852-3-4-5-6-7. Albert S. Scott
Charles Wilder
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.