USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 > Part 19
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Auburn > History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 > Part 19
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CHARLES DANIEL TENNEY, LL. D., son of a native of Chester, went to China in 1882 under the A. B. C. F. M. Later he carried on independent educational work. He was president of the University of Tientsin, 1895-6. At the time of the Boxer outbreak his services in restoring order were not only recognized by the Chinese government but a tablet was presented to him by a group of Chinese and Mohammedans giving thanks to God for his gift of the Wise Man to them. Following this he established under the Chinese government schools in the provinces. In 1908 President Roosevelt appointed him Chinese Secretary of the American Legation at Peking. This position he filled till 1920, proving himself to be a wise diplomat.
EMILY HAZELTON was a teacher under the Home Missionary Society in Iowa and Raleigh, Tenn., returning in 1852.
MARY E. KELLY (wife of Rev. Charles Tenney) daughter of Judge John Kelly, at one time a resident of Chester, was a teacher in the schools for colored people, under the A. M. A. at Memphis, Tenn., and Mobile, Ala.
15I
SCHOOL TEACHERS
MARTHA A. FORSAITH, educated at Derry, Manchester, and at Colby Academy, New London, entered into the A. M. A. work for liberated slaves at Hilton's Head, S. C., in 1863 for $12 a month and drew rations as did soldiers.
CELESTIA S. GOLDSMITH was engaged in A. M. A. work at Memphis, Tenn., from 1884 to 1898.
EMMA N. GOLDSMITH was a teacher in Le Moyne Normal In- stitute at Memphis, Tenn., from 1888 to 1893.
EMMA PEARL GOLDSMITH and her sister ELEANOR are teachers in Tillotson College, Austin, Texas.
HANNAH MARSTON (Mrs. Sawyer) was engaged in city mission- ary work in Lowell, Mass., for several years.
MRS. MARY A. (HALL) BAILEY, born at Chester, 8 Mar., 1832, daughter of Henry and Lydia (Marston) Hall, was connected with the city mission work of Boston for a period of years.
GRACE M. EATON, daughter of Rev. Horace Eaton, twice pastor of the Baptist Church of Chester, graduated from Mt. Holyoke College, became a missionary among the colored people in 1911 and worked under the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society in Nash- ville, Tenn.
REV. OLIVER C. EMERSON was secretary of the Hawaiian Evan- gelical Association from 1889 to 1904 and accomplished much in the development of Christian institutions, schools and hospitals.
CHAPTER IX. THE ACADEMIES.
The common schools now, as of olden times, furnish the ele- mentary training. For its higher education today Chester sends to Pinkerton Academy in Derry.
In 1801 a number of prominent citizens organized themselves into the Proprietors of Chester Academy. They erected a building 30 feet by 40 and voted that it should be completed by 15 Oct. 1801. It was erected in District No. I, on a lot leased from Dr. John Wingate. The proprietors elected a board of Directors who had charge of the insti- tution for at least twenty years. The directors authorized a committee to procure a preceptor at a salary not to exceed $400 for the first year, fixed the tuition of each student at $2.00 per quarter and voted that candidates for admission to Chester Academy shall be at least six years old and able to read in common books without spelling and be possessed of a good moral character. Who the teachers were does not appear in the records.
The proprietors records, however, give us a hint of a few of the furnishings of this Academy under the date of Sept. II, 1801. "Voted that the Treasurer purchase a shovel and tongs, wood, three chains for dogs [andirons] and a pair of bellows for the use of the Academy."
On Apr. 1, 1809, the proprietors of the Academy voted that "the directors petition the legislature of this State the next session to have the proprietors of this building incorporated as a publick school." It does not appear whether letters of incorporation were secured. The school was not a great success. On Apr. 2, 1810, it was "voted to give the use of the Academy to a teacher who will engage to keep a school in the same for the year ensuing, provided, however, that the district school is kept in the Academy that the district shall pay to
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HISTORY OF CHESTER
the proprietors of the Academy a sum equal to the interest of the money that the building cost for the time their school may continue in it."
The proprietors rented the Academy to District No. I, for, on Apr. 13, 1818, they voted that the directors collect the money due for the rent of the Academy and pay over to the proprietors their dividend." At this time the directors were William White, Benjamin Eaton, David Shaw, John Bell and Jonathan Dearborn.
The last record ends on Aug. 6, 1821, after which the building was sold to District No. I, for a schoolhouse. Mr. Chase tells us it was burned on Dec. 28, 1856.
Another Academy was established in Chester in 1853. At first temporary quarters were secured and S. Milton Moore was selected for the teacher. He was a man admirably fitted to organize and establish a school for advanced training. Possessed of a pleasing personality his enthusiasm for the work became so contagious that the whole school immediately partook of it. At the close of his first term the trustees made the following announcement: "The flattering success that has attended this Institution during its First Term has induced the Principal to employ more Teachers and thus secure a complete division of labor in the different Departments. He has under his own immediate care and instruction those in the Mathematical, Metaphysical and Natural Sciences, while the Associate Teacher devotes himself to the English, Classical and Elocutionary Departments. The French Teacher has charge only of the French Language. Competent Teach- ers in Drawing, Painting, Music and Penmanship will be provvided for the Second Term, commencing Nov. 30, 1853." Signed T. J. Melvin, Sec'y for the Trustees.
The Assistant teachers in 1853 were Charles H. Crowell and Miss Helen M. Tenney.
The first catalogue of the Academy was published in 1854. It shows that there were three terms for the year. Mr. Moore was principal from 1853 to the end of the year 1855. Moses Merrill, who later became head master of the Boston Latin School, was assistant in the Fall Term 1854 and Miss Lorenza Haynes was teacher of French, Drawing and Painting. Miss Sarah W. Putnam succeeded Miss Haynes in the Winter and Spring Terms following and Miss Ellen Moore, sister of the Principal, was assistant in English and Teacher of the Juvenile Department. The Spring Term, brought Orren E. Moore as Assistant and Henry C. Smart, Instructor in Penmanship.
The housing of so many students as flocked to the village in Chester on the opening of the school was quite a serious matter, but it was met by the residents who kindly offered board or rooms at a sacrifice, such was the interest of the community in the success of the school.
The catalogue issued in 1855 shows that there were 64 students in the fall term of 1854, 54 in the winter term following and 137 in the spring term of 1855. Many were from Chester but some came from Sandown, Londonderry, Nashua, Goffstown and Manchester and others from Lowell, Beverly, Andover and Waltham, Mass., and other towns.
The catalogue for 1855 describes the location of the Academy as follows :
"This Institution is situated on one of the most beautiful and healthful streets in New Hampshire, free from noise and business excitement, from all alluring temptations to idleness and dissipation,
grulchase
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ACADEMIES
so common in cities and larger villages. The Academy building is new, commodious, occupying a healthful position, commanding an extended and beautiful prospect, and supplied with new furniture and apparatus."
In 1856 Dana Patten and his sister Elizabeth Patten were the teachers. Both were tall and dignified and commanded great respect. The love of one of the young motherless pupils for Miss Patten led to an acquaintance with her father and proved a happy union and Mrs. Elizabeth (Patten) Pressey rendered good service on the School Board for many years in her subsequent home at Winchester, Mass. They were nativevs of Candia and gave instruction in 1856 and 1857.
From 1857 to 1859 Mr. (Daniel R .? ) Carter is remembered for his fine character, excellent scholarship and high standard set before his pupils. The Fall of 1859 and the Summer of 1860 the institution was directed by - Little. He was succeeded by Harriette A. Melvin and Mary A. Tenney in 1861. In 1862, William R. Patten of Candia, a graduate of Dartmouth College, 1861, became Principal. The in- spiration he gave his pupils when he urged them to make the most of their talents and opportunities will never be forgotten. He was never afraid to say : "I do not know," but would add "I will find out," and never failed to do so. He entered the army in 1862 as Captain of the IIth N. H. Vols. and subsequently practiced law in Manchester. He retained a keen interest in his former pupils of Chester Academy.
During the period Eugene Lewis, a graduate Dartmouth 1864, and Daniel Norris Lane each gave instruction for one or two terms, the former in 1863 and the latter in 1864. Harriette A. Melvin was again teacher in the Fall of 1864.
In 1865 and 1866 John King Lord, a student in Dartmouth College, gave instruction to the students in the Academy. Although only in his seventeenth year, a full dark beard concealed his immature age and his fine scholarship, pleasing dignity and good judgment inspired con- fidence at Chester Academy and bespoke his future as professor, dean and acting president of Dartmouth College. His pupils ranked high and a large number of young women went forth as teachers of public schools in Chester. Among his pupils were Daniel Chester French, John Carroll Chase, Charles W. Kimball and Charles A. Wilcomb.
In 1868 the Academy was in charge of Harriette and Sarah Melvin. In 1869 Miss Elizabeth B. Coolidge and her sister Mary Coolidge opened the Chester Normal Institute in the Academy with four terms yearly. They had an excellent school but in 1871 the Principal accepted a position in Lockport, N. Y. Miss French was her successor. In 1872 and 1873 Miss Emma Gale, who was loved and respected by all her pupils, was the teacher. She was followed in 1874 to 1878 by Miss Lucy P. Greenough who seems to have for her assistants, Miss Emma M. Moore, Alice Brown, and Anna W. Marsters.
In 1879 and 1880, Jacob T. Choate of Amesbury took charge of Chester Academy, then located in the upper story of the Town Hall. The curriculum called for Latin, French, Greek, Geometry and in fact all of the branches taught in a modern high school. He taught in the fall of 1879, the winter and spring of 1880 and began the fall term but resigned about Nov. 1, 1880, to go to Michigan to teach and study law. The teacher in 1881-2 was Leonidas A. Curtis; 1883-3 Luvan Harriman ; 1884-5 William W. Wilcomb and Herbert S. Kimball.
Long since Chester Academy closed its doors but the development of individuality which was there attained has never been excelled in our modern High Schools. There was the literary club, the Shakes-
I54
HISTORY OF CHESTER
peare class, the declamation periods, the school paper, the mock trial, the exhibition and the reproduction of the masterpieces of the best literature which furnished the men and women of a former generation with a superior culture and a high regard for American institutions and noble achievements.
A little poem by Mary Adelaide Hazelton has been discovered which will appeal to any who remember the "Euphemian Band," as especially associated with the Academy.
Tis no unwilling chain we bear Yet firmly linked we surely are, And side by side we'll ever stand, Dear members of the "Euphemian Band."
But nine, the ancient muses numbered, Long, long, their tuneful notes have slumbered.
These sisters fair we should outshine, For we can number twenty-nine.
Yet one, who now should with us be, Has gone away far o'er the sea- Fled, like the gentle breath of summer And we've forever lost our Plummer.
And is it not amazing,- very - Within our band we have a Berry, Which through the winter will abide, Yet neither be preserved or dried !
'Tis never green -'tis seldom blue; I cannot well describe its hue ; It may have-but it is now known- A little tendency to Brown.
Within thy breasts, Jenness & Kimball, Each youthful virtue finds its symbol. Here's Emerson with eye of blue, Robie & Henry Learnard too.
A Fowler boast we have a care ! For warily he spreads his snare, And if you once get in-I doubt If you will evermore get out.
And see-fair models of all grace. Two scions coming of French race, But, strange to tell-it is a chance, If they have ever been in France !
We've Haseltons, not quite a score, Sweet Fanny & James Whittemore, Richards, so prone to youthful sallies, And Hills in plenty, but no valleys.
See-radiant as the morning star, Gay Salisbury, next, three maidens fair Whose names are deep our souls impressed on- They're Melvin, Robinson, McQuestion.
Our youthful hearts are full of joy -- But earthly bliss has some alloy- And Scandal says, to spoil our sport, Ah! That we are all too fond of Porter.
I55
ACADEMIES
CHESTER ACADEMY CATALOGUE.
In 1855 there was printed by the Steam Power Press of Abbott, Jenks Co., a catalogue of officers and students of Chester Academy at Chester, N. H.
In 1854-55, the officers consisted of a board of trustees and examining Committee of which last Jonathan Tenney, A. B., was from Manchester, and Rev. Wm. T. Herrick, from Candia. The principal of the academy was S. M. Moore. There was a total of 64 students during the fall term, and of 54 during the winter term, 137 for the spring term, and there were 27 teachers.
The students were divided into gentlemen and ladies, and the juvenile department into males and females. Most of the students were from Chester, but Sandown, Londonderry, Lowell and Beverly, Andover, Biddeford, Waltham, and Bristol, Wisconsin, were repre- sented. The only student from Manchester in 1854 was James N. Stevens. Portsmouth, Epping, Nashua, Avon Springs, were repre- sented in the next term and there was no one from Manchester in 1855. The number of towns and cities represented was increased, several new ones being represented. The name of Cyrus W. Sargent appears from Goffstown Centre, also Miss M. F. Sargent from the same place. During the spring term of 1855 some 25 or more students received "certificates of qualification for the business of instruction in our common schools," having been examined by the examining committee. There are a few first names which we do not see nowadays, for instance, Daty, Arianna, Zoe, Samantha, Caleb, Gershom, Harriette, etc.
"Public conveyance by coach from Derry Depot, on the Man- chester and Lawrence Railroad, every day. Also, by coach with Manchester, Haverhill, Exeter and intermediate towns."
The general remarks are also interesting :
"It is a fact not to be overlooked by those seeking a place of resort for educational purposes, that the citizens generally take a deep interest in the prosperity of the institution, and in the welfare of the students, striving at all times to make their temporary abode as agreeable as possible; hence each boarding place is emphatically a home for the student. The moral and religious influence will be such as judicious parents would have exerted over their children.
"All are expected to attend church on the Sabbath, and also a Bible class. It is desirable to have students present at the commence- ment of the term, that they may have some voice in forming the classes, and be ready to commence with the others. Those that come in late, cannot expect that new classes will be formed for them. It is not desirable that students should be permitted to go home often during term time, for although they may not be absent more than a single day, yet the interruption is often felt for days and some times for weeks."
The expenses were as follows :
"Tuition-High English, $4; languages, extra, $1; drawing and painting, from $1 to $3; music, extra.
"This will be expected at the middle of the term; allowances made in case of sickness, or when otherwise necessarily absent.
"Board-From $2 to $2.25. Good accommodations are offered those who may wish to board themselves, or board in clubs. During the past term more than 25 have been supplied with accommodations for self-boarding; a larger number can be accommodated if desired."
The fall term commenced Aug. 6 and ended Oct. 19. The winter term, Nov. 5, and ended Jan. 17. The spring term lasted from Feb. 3 to April 17.
I56
HISTORY OF CHESTER
How would the student of today like this arrangement ? A list of text books required is given and while this list is too long to be printed there are many names which are familiar to the older generation. The report of the committee on the examination of the Teachers' class is rather interesting, as following extracts will show. "Its appearance, at examination, indicated that its members had been accustomed to think, and to work, and the very fingers of some of them were almost as nimble, in the use of the chalk on the blackboard as the lightning-flash of their intensely active minds. Many of the questions were really difficult-some of them such that the committee were obliged to study them carefully themselves. Among the questions on arithmetic, for example, were these: If one square yard of ground cost $2 what cost 25th of an acre? If I buy cloth for 12c and sell it for 13c, on 8 months' credit, what do I gain per yard and what per- cent ?"
The committee particularly noticed this fact, that there were frequent instances of misspelling and in looking over these examination papers, the conviction forced itself strongly upon their minds that spelling is too much neglected in our Common Schools.
Thus it would seem that even in 1856, students were beginning to misspell words.
CHAPTER X.
SOCIAL AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
The Chester Social Library was opened on June 9, 1793. (Chase's History of Chester, p. 157). It was incorporated June 16, 1797. The Act recites that, "Whereas a general diffusion of useful knowledge in a land of Liberty has a happy tendency to preserve freedom and make better men and better citizens Be it enacted That William White, Esq", Majr. Simon Towle, Doct. Thomas Sargent, Benja. Brown, and others their associates" are named as corporators of Chester Social Library. The act was signed by William Plummer, Speaker of House, Amos Shepard, President of Senate and John Taylor Gilman, Governor of the State.
A small building was erected in the rear of the parsonage of the Congregational Church (the house now owned by George Hook) and the library was catalogued and kept there. It is remembered as "long rows of leather-colored volumes upon the shelves." The catalogue for 1821 indicates the kind of books which the former generation "lunched upon." There were a few works of fiction but the most related to the useful arts, history and religion. The books were finally sold at auction and distributed near 1870. Here are listed the books which were in use in Chester one hundred years ago.
Acts of Congress. Life of Bonaparte.
Arabian Knights Entertainment. Life of Watts & Doddridge.
American Jest Book.
Life of Trenk.
Alleines Alarm.
Life of Putnam.
Adventure of Robert Boyle.
Lady's Pocket Library.
Antiquary.
Lady's Advice.
Beauties of History.
Life of Howard.
Bennet's Letters.
Life of Christ.
Burgh's Dignity.
Life of Whitefield.
Bruce's Travels.
Laws of New Hampshire.
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PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Belknap's New Hampshire.
Belknap's Biography.
Bancroft's Washington.
Baron Trenk's Life. Buckminster's Sermons. Boston's Covenant of Grace.
Butler's Hudibras.
Bunyan's Law of Grace.
Boston's Four Fold State.
Moore's Journal in France.
Butler's Analogy.
Mormoutell's Tales.
Blair's Sermons.
Mason on Self Knowledge.
Berry Street Sermons.
Coquette.
Modern Europe.
Memoirs of Pious Women.
Mormoutell's Memoris.
Manners & Customs.
Marvellous Sermons.
Milton's Paradise Lost.
Newton on the Prophesies.
Newton's Letters & Sermons.
New England Farmer.
Necken on Religion.
Owen on Sin.
Page's Travels.
Park's Travels.
Pilgrims Progress.
Paley's Philosophy.
Pike's Cases of Conscience.
Pleasing Instruction.
Paradise Lost.
Plutarch's Lives.
Peregrine Pickle.
Public Character.
Rollin's Ancient History.
Robertson's America.
Romsey's Revolution.
Revolution in France.
Rowe's Letters.
Edward's History of Redemption. Religious Courtship.
Friend of Youth.
Rochesoncault Maxims.
Russel's Sermons.
Rumford's Essays.
Robertson's Scotland.
Forester's.
Rambler. Rasselas.
Flavel's Husbandry.
Father's Legacy.
Robertson's India.
Fisher Ames's Works.
Stackhouse's History of the Bible.
Fischer's Travels. Frederick the Great.
Spectator.
Seneca's Morals.
Saint's Rest.
Sentimental Journey.
Sterne's Journey.
Silliman's Travels.
Smelley's Philosophy.
Scott's Bible.
Shakespeare.
Select Sermons.
Life of Washington. Life of Nelson. Life of Tom Paine.
Lewis & Clarke's Expedition.
Millot's General History.
Morse's Geography. Morse's Abridged.
McEwen's Types.
Charles Grandison. Cooke's Voyages.
Chinese Spy. Carver's Travels.
Complete Duty of Man. Cowper's Task. Cecilia.
Coeleb in Search of a Wife. Charlotte Temple.
Citizen of the World.
Clarke's Travels.
Christian Philosopher.
Cases of Conscience.
Don Quixotte.
DeLolme's Constitution.
Doddridge's Rise & Progress. Dere's Memoirs.
Dodd's Reflections on Death.
Doddridge's Sermons, 3d vol. Emma Corbett. Edwards on Original Sin.
Evelina.
Economy of Human Life.
Edwards on Affections. Essay on Man.
Ferguson's Astronomy.
Flavel's Navigation. Fordyce's Addresses.
French Revolution. Goldsmith's England. Gardiner's Life. Greenland's Adventures. Gospel Treasury. Guy Mannering. Hudibras. Harris's Encyclopedia.
Moore's View of Society.
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HISTORY OF CHESTER
History of Redemption.
Theological Magazine.
Humphrey's Works.
Thompson's Seasons. Tattler.
Howie's Sermons.
Hervey's Meditations.
Trumbull's Voyage.
Heloetic Union.
The Coquette.
History of the Bible.
Universal Magazine.
Idler.
Interesting Memoirs.
Washington's Letters.
Josephus's History of the Jews.
Jefferson's Notes.
Warvel's Travels.
Jay's Sermons.
Watt's Lyric Poems. Whitefield's Sermons.
Knox's Essays.
Waverly.
Kirke White.
Young's Night Thoughts.
Lives of the Poets.
Zimmerman on Solitude.
Loungen.
About 1868, Helen French, Lizzie Noyes, Harriette Melvin and Lucy Greenough were influential in starting the Ladies Social Library which was connected with the Congregational Church vestry. The members contributed one dollar a year. Any one could take out books. The librarians gave their services. The library continued till 1894.
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Free Public Library in Chester was founded in July, 1894, by a gift of one hundred fifty dollars worth of books from the State. At the annual town meeting in March preceding a board of three trustees were elected, consisting of Rev. James G. Robertson, Addison A. Bean and Albert F. B. Edwards.
The books were placed in a case in the store of Arthur H. Wilcomb and he was the first person to issue them to the public. Six months later, Miss Isabelle H. Fitz was appointed librarian and has served continuously since that time.
In the spring of 1896 the town purchased the shop on the Derry road at the corner, and Luther W. Hall converted it into a public library building. This is the present library building.
New book stacks have been added. From the beginning Cyrus F. Marston has been an active promoter of the new library. Largely through his influence the Ladies' Circulating Library of over 900 volumes was given to the Public Library in May, 1896.
A catalogue containing 1256 volumes was printed in 1897. A card catalogue is now in use and the library now contains about 4000 volumes.
The largest donors to the library are Mrs. Paul Fitz Simons, Amos Tuck French and recently John H. Hazelton has donated a part of the law library of his father, the late Hon. George C. Hazelton of Washington, D. C. In 1908 the late George W. Stevens gave a small fund.
The Library has a large patronage and is greatly appreciated by the townspeople. It is recognized as a potent force in the intellectual life of Chester.
Hunter's Sacred Biography.
Vicar of Wakefield.
William's Vermont.
Jenyn's Evidences of Religion.
Willich on Long Life.
Johnstone's Travels.
Watts on the Mind.
Knox's Sermons.
Whole Duty of Women.
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PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC
CHAPTER XI.
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC.
LAWYERS.
SAMUEL BELL, son of Hon. John and Mary Ann (Gilmore) Bell, was born in Londonderry, 9 Feb., 1770; graduate at Dartmouth College, 1793; admitted to the bar 1796; practiced at Amherst and Francestown, 1796-1811; representative from Francestown 1804, 1805, 1806; state senator 1807, 1808; removed to Chester 1811; com- missioned Justice of the Supreme Court 1816; Governor of New Hampshire 1819-1822 inclusive; United States Senator from New Hampshire 1823-1835; trustee of Dartmouth College 1808-1811; received the degree LL. D. conferred by Bowdoin College, 1821; died at Chester, 23 Dec., 1850, a. 80.
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