USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Dunbarton > Record of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Dunbarton, N.H., on Wednesday, September 13, 1865 > Part 6
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Both laid down their charges from choice, through infirmity, with the warm regard of the people. The one is not, he went to his rest twenty years ago. The other still lives, cherished by filial love. While the former lived, the harmony between them was delightful to witness. Mr. Putnam testifies in his funeral discourse after Dr. Harris's death, that he had been everything to him that he could ask. And we all know that he honored Dr. Harris, even as a son honors his father.
I indulged a hope under Dr. Harris's ministry, and came into the church under Mr. Putnam. Thus tenderly related to both, the friend of both, I lay this small tribute as a wreath of olive on the grave of the one, and on the aged brow of the other, of these honored ministers of Christ.
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No 5. Our Native Ministry.
Response by Rev. Caleb Mills, Prof. in Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Natives of Dunbarton, resident and non-resident: It would have been to me a matter of great gratification to be present and participate with you in the fes- tivities of this Centennial Celebration. Ishould have enjoyed, in a high degree, the pleasure of a personal interchange of social greeting with the associates of my early years and ma- turer life, now gathered both from our native hills and the more distant abodes of their emigrant homes; but that satis- faction I must forego for reasons unnecessary now to specify. Had the subject of this celebration been ventilated twelve or fifteen months ago, the number of absentees would have been greatly lessened, and the responses from those providentially absent would have been more numerous. Here let me sug- gest for the consideration of the committee of arrangements for the next celebration, that, when "Dunbarton sends greet- ing to her absent sons and daughters and bids them all come home" in 1965, she gives them, at least, a twelve months' no- tice of her maternal wishes and their corresponding duties and obligations in the premises.
The century, whose close we celebrate to-day, commemora- tive of the incorporation of our native town, has been one of wonderful development and deliverance in the history of our country-too great not to be recognized, and too important to be passed without devout thanksgiving to their Divine Au- thor. Let this day, therefore, be one of joyful thanksgiving for the past and present, and of noble and generous purpose for the future, in regard to the highest welfare of both our native town and beloved land. Let us thank God for the de- liverance and triumph which He granted to our fathers at the opening, and to us at its close.
It is a remarkable fact that our fathers, in less than ten years after the incorporation of their town, were summoned, by the battle of Lexington, to the defense of their country against British oppression. Their response was a noble one, for Stark, in his "History of Dunbarton," gives the names of thirty-seven who served their country in the Revolutionary War. Among those names will be found the representatives of the most substantial families of the town, as the Stinsons, Pages, Starks, Mills, Hammonds, Putneys, Buntens, Lords, Baileys, Beards, Holmes, MeCurdys and MeColleys. Several of
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these volunteers were minors. Two of these who were in the battle of Bunker Hill-John Mills and Caleb Stark-were mere youths, the former was in his nineteenth, and the latter in the sixteenth year of his age. Whether Dunbarton's re- cord, in the second struggle for civil liberty and true democ- racy, just closed so triumphantly, is as brilliant and patriotic, I know not. But if the home residents have done as well as some of the foreign, as illustrated in the case of the descend ants of three brothers, sons of one of the branches of an old family represented at Bunker Hill and Bennington, who fur- nished no less than fourteen sons and grandsons for the glori- ous conflict of the last four years, Dunbarton of 1865 has nothing to fear in comparison with Dunbarton of 1775. That contribution was not a bloodless one, for five of the fourteen lie in a soldier's grave. Our historian also states that Dun- barton furnished but one Tory in the Revolutionary War, and it is to be hoped that, in the slaveocratic rebellion, she has not had a larger number of rebel sympathizers.
The developments in the physical appearance of the town during the first century of its existence would appear strik- ing, indeed, could we have a photographic view of the farms which our grandfathers opened, the roads they traveled, the houses they built and the forests through which they pursued the game, and their children sought the chestnuts in 1765, and a similar view of the corresponding objects, which 1865 would present. Few traces of resemblance would be discov- ered even in the natural objects modified and changed by cul- ture and transformation. Hills, then covered with forests con- cealing their configuration, now denuded of their primeval ornaments, are dotted over with fields and orchards and farm houses. The first edition of dwellings, in which the original settlers reared their families and taught their children to love their country better than party, has passed away, and even the sites of many of them are now unknown. The roads, then few and of a primitive character, now, by relocation, multiplication and improvement, would greatly mystify the topographical knowledge of the early settlers. But I will not enlarge on these points, lest I should trench on some other's theme, for I must hasten to the topic assigned me, viz : "Dun- barton's quota of college graduates and professional men."
Here I must confess a slight change of programme, for har- ing had a part of the loaf assigned me, I have taken the lib- erty to appropriate the whole to my use on this occasion. Whether it will be deemed grand or petty larceny, I cannot
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say, but I will make a full confession of the facts, and throw myself on the clemency of the court before which I stand. Having been requested to give a sketch of the ministerial graduates from Dunbarton, I found that but two had finished their ministry, and that of the surviving, probably all but two, would be present, and therefore I took the liberty to make the change above stated.
A centennial celebration, like the blooming of a century plant, can be witnessed only by a few of every third generation. While some may admire the beauty and enjoy the fragrance of the queen of the floral world, others may gather up and consider the lessons of wisdom and warning, which a century's experience sends down the stream of time, for the admonition or imitation of all whose barks are floating on its silent and resistless tide to the boundless ocean of immortality. Such is the privilege of all participating in this celebration. Let us contemplate one of these lessons so productive of good, and so suggestive of the life and labor of one gone to his rest.
An earnest zeal and a corresponding effort to promote the cause of popular education, characterized the first settled minister of Dunbarton, whose pastorate extended over forty years. His labors in this department gave, in a greater or less degree, development and shape directly to the character of parts of three generations, and indirectly, more or less, to their descendants. He took a deep and lively interest in all the district schools, and probably not an individual went from this town to an academy or college, who was not indebted to him for the initial idea or subsequent encouragement. This hearty sympathy with the tyro in his initial essays and the student in his academic and collegiate course was shown by his semi-annual visitations of the common schools during the entire period of his pastorate. Dr. Harris performed this labor of care for a series of years without any public thanks or remuneration, and it was not till near the close of these self-imposed labors that the people bethought themselves of the obligation of gratitude and compensation. While the catechetical exercises connected with these visitations evinced his interest in moral training of the pupils, and the persever- ing inculcations of such a form of sound words, embodying the fundamental doctrines and duties, for our belief and prac- tice, left an ineffaceable impression on the youthful part of his charge, he always manifested a lively sympathy in the strug- gles of youthful intellect, and bestowed on the diligent and deserving the stimulus of his appreciating smile and approval.
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Herein lay, in no unimportant sense, the secret of that power which he possessed and employed in molding the moral and literary development of the people of Dunbarton. The pow- er of such unconscious tuition may, nevertheless, be seen and distinctly traced in the character of not a few of the gradu- ated sons of Dunbarton.
Nothing is more striking in the history of our native town, during the century that this day completes, than her gener- ous appreciation of sound learning, shown in the number of her sons who have enjoyed the advantages of a collegiate, and of her daughters who have been trained in academie institutions. Introductory to a sketch of the former, the appropriateness of the above allusions to the labors and influ- ence of the venerable Gamaliel, long since passed to his re- ward, and at whose feet many of us sat in early life, will appear too pertinent and just to be questioned by the ad- vanced portion, at least, of this audience. Two years after his ordination, the first native graduate of the town, entered Darmouth College, rendering it very probable that he fitted under Dr. Harris's tuition, and went forth from that institu- tion to the life mission of an academic teacher in 1795, just thirty years after the incorporation of the town, while the people were struggling with the difficulties incident to a new settlement and the necessities of young and growing families. Such were the times and circumstances of the entrance and graduation of the first native of Dunbarton who completed a collegiate course of study.
It is a remarkable fact that during the seventy years from that date to the present year, there has been but one year, 1808, that I am aware of, in which there has not been from one to fire sons of Dunbarton in Dartmouth college. Few, if any of the rural towns of New England, with an average pop- ulation of less than a thousand inhabitants, and with no grad- uated professional man residing in its midst but the pastor, can produce such a record as the above. Such a fact is in- deed significant of the popular appreciation of learning, and the character of the training under which such a trait was de- veloped and established. This also explains why so many of the youth of Dunbarton have received, supplementary to the common school, an academic training, more or less extensive. It is a better and more reliable investment than railroad stocks, as some of you know by sad experience. Better ex- pend more in sending your sons to an academy and college, and your sprightly daughters to Mount Holyoke Female Sem-
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inary, and less for big farms and attractive marriage portions. This intellectual culture and moral development far out- weigh any pecuniary inheritance at the expense of the former. The former will, ordinarily, secure as much of the perishable as is necessary to the true welfare of the higher nature, while the latter has often proved its poverty and incapacity to meet the wants of either the mental or physical man. A sugges- tion on this point will be made in a subsequent part of this address.
It appears from triennial catalogues that thirty-three natives of Dunbarton have been graduated, and in subsequent life en- tered the professions of theology, law and teaching. Of the first class, who have made preaching their life work, the num- ber is ten, of whom six are still living, and only four have been called from the harvest "to enter into the joy of their Lord."
Of the ministerial graduates the sketches will be given in the order of the date of graduation.
Isaac Garvin was born in 1774, graduated at Darmouth in 1803. He was employed many years by the N. H. Missionary Society, and closed his ministerial life and labors in 1848, aged 74 years. 1
Abraham Burnham, D. D., was born in 1775, graduated at Dartmouth in 1804. Taught an academy at Bradford, Mass., a few years, and was settled at Pembroke. He was not only a zealous and successful minister, but a warm and efficient friend of education. Under his. fostering care, Pem- broke Academy arose and flourished. Dr. Burnham was a man of clear and decided opinions, and equally fearless in their utterance and defense. He lived to a good old age, and died among his flock, beloved and respected, in 1852, aged 76 years. The remaining ministerial graduates are still living.
Hosea Wheeler was born in 1792, graduated at Dartmouth in 1811. Settled in the ministry at Newburyport, Mass., where he died in 1823.
Amos W. Burnham, D. D., now in his seventy-fifth year was born in 1791, graduated at Dartmouth in 1815; taught the Academy at Pembroke one or two years, and then settled in Rindge. He has spent his ministerial life among the same people, and now passing the evening of life among the people of his first and only pastoral charge, which is a sufficient com- ment on the character of his ministerial fidelity and success, awaits the Master's summons.
Thomas Jameson was born 1794, graduated at Dartmouth
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College, 1818; studied theology at Andover, Mass., was approbated as a candidate for the ministry by the Hopkinton Association ; instructed Academies at Pembroke and Effin- ham, was ordained and installed pastor of Congregational Church and Society, at Scarborough, Me., in 1825. His health failing, was dismissed in 1840 ; resided in Gorham, Me., ยท till 1860. Since that time has resided with his children in Cambridge, Mass., Greenland and Exeter.
Harrison C. Page was born in 1820, graduated at Brown University, where he remained as Tutor for two years. He then went to Newton Theological Seminary, where he died just before graduation.
Charles H. Marshall was born in 1823, graduated in 1844, at Wabash College, Indiana, and studied theology at Lane Seminary. He was pastor of the 2d Presbyterian church at Lafayette, Ind., for five years. Failing health compelled him to relinquish his charge. He is now pastor of the 4th Pres- byterian Church of Indianapolis.
Abraham Burnham was born in 1829, graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1852, and at Theological Seminary at Ando- ver, in 1857 ; was ordained and installed pastor of the Con- gregational church in East Haverhill, Mass., September 30th, 1857. He was dismissed at his own request, May, 1865, and is now employed as stated supply of the Congregational church in Hooksett, N. H.
Ephriam O. Jameson was born in 1832, fitted for College at Gilmanton Academy ; graduated at Dartmouth, 1855. Went immediately to Andover Theological Seminary, where he grad- uated in 1858. Supplied the church in Dracut, Mass., through that summer, and various other churches through the year. In August, 1859, he engaged as permanent supply at East Concord, N. H., where he was ordained and installed March 1st, 1860. He was dismissed at his own request, November, 1865, and installed over the Union Evangelical Church of Salisbury and Amesbury, Mass., November 9th, 1865, where he is now pastor.
George A. Putnam was born in 1835 ; commenced his pre- paratory studies at Reed's Ferry, Merrimac, the winter of 1851, entered the Sophomore Class at Union College, in 1855; entered the Middle Class at Bangor Theological Seminary, in 1858; was ordained and installed pastor of the First Congre- gational Church in Yarmouth, Me., November 14th, 1860, where he is still located.
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. Six of the Dunbarton graduates have made teaching their life mission. The first was Samuel Burnham, who was the first graduate. He was born in 1767, and graduated at Dart- mouth in 1795. He taught the Academy at Derry for many years and died in 1834, aged 67, deeply loved for amiableness of character.
William Parker was born in 1802, graduated at Dart- mouth in 1827, spent his life teaching, mostly in the State of New York, and died in Illinois in 1865, aged 62.
Caleb Mills was born in 1806, graduated at Dartmouth in 1828, studied theology at Andover and went directly from the seminary to take charge of the Preparatory Department of Wabash College in 1833, and has remained connected with that Institution as Professor, to the present date, with the exception of two years he was Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Indiana, having been elected to that office in 1854. Having been called directly from the seminary he has never had any pastoral charge.
Charles G. Burnham was born in 1807, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1829. He taught a classical school at Rahway, N. Y., several years, and then took charge of Pembroke Acad- emy: He subsequently became Preceptor of an Academy at Danville, Vt. He was Representative of the town for two years, and also Superintendent of Public Instruction of that State. His educational labors, in his native and other states of his residence, have been exceedingly valuable. He is the author of the well-known " Burnham's Arithmetic." He has resided for several years past on a farm at Haverhill, Mass., and is now in charge of a plantation at Montgomery, Ala.
Joseph Gibson Hoyt, LL. D., was born in 1815 and grad- uated at Yale College in 1840. He was for several years an assistant teacher and assistant Principal of Phillips Academy at Exeter. Having won a high reputation as a classical scholar and accurate teacher, he was elected Chancellor of Washington University in the city of St. Louis. He fully sustained himself in that position and promised to become a man of distinguished usefulness. He was cut down in the midst of his splendid career, and the prime and vigor of life, in 1862, aged 47 years. He was the most brilliant son, Dun- barton ever educated.
Mark Bailey was born 1827, graduated at Dartmouth in 1849. His taste having led him, after graduation, to direct his studies in the line of Rhetorical development and culture, he soon acquired a reputation as a teacher of Elocution that
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has led him to give an annual course of lessons in several of our Theological Seminaries and Colleges for several years. He is permanently connected with Yale College as Teacher of Elocution.
William A. Putney was born 1846, fitted for College at Meriden, graduated at Dartmouth 1865, served three months in a detached company stationed at Portsmouth, N. H. Pres- ent occupation, teaching.
The first on the list of graduates, who entered the legal profession, is Jeremiah Stinson. He was born in 1775, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1798. Having studied his profes- sion, he opened an office in his native town, but devoted his attention to agricultural and other pursuits. He died in 1809, of a wound received in sliding from a haymow in his barn, aged 36 years.
Of William Stark, the next on the list, I know nothing, except the date of his graduation which took place in 1799. Studying law at Hopkinton, he went to Canada, since which, nothing is known of himn.
John Burnham was born in 1779, graduated at Dartmouth in 1807, and died in 1826, aged 47. He practiced law in Hillsboro'. I have the impression, from my faint recollection of him, that he attained some distinction in his profession.
John Whipple was born in 1789, and graduated at Dart- mouth in 1812. " He held the office of Register of Decds of Merrimack County, and also Judge of the Police Court of Concord." He died in 1859, aged 68 years.
John Jameson was born 1797, graduated at Dartmouth 1821, passed three years in teaching at Milledgeville, Ga., read law with Hon. Rufus MeIntire, Mc., and has been a suc- cessful lawyer and farmer in the same State, and Paymaster in the Union army. His present residence, is Cornish, Me.
John Tenney was born in 1799, graduated at Dartmouth in 1824, and opened an office in Methuen, Mass., where he was highly esteemed by his fellow citizens and sent to the Senate of his adopted State, and was, also, a member of the Council. He died in 1853, aged 53 years.
James Henry Paige was born 1811, graduated at Union College in 1834, studied law at Aurora, N. Y., and located in practice in Lewiston, N. Y. Died at Dunbarton, 1852.
Waller Harris Tenney was born in 1818 and graduated at Dartmouth in 1839. Whether he studied law I know not. His feeble health after graduation forbade any very close appli-
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cation to study, and in five years he was laid in the grave, aged 26 years.
Amos Hadley graduated at Dartmouth 1844. Settled in the practice of law, at Concord, and has been for some years associate editor of The Independent Democrat.
Joseph M. Cuvis was born in 1824, graduated at Dart- mouth in 1846, opened an office in Holyoke, Mass., went to California in 1851, and was elected, in 1864, Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of that State.
David B. Kimball was born 1829, graduated at Wabash College, 1854, read law at Salem, Mass., and is now settled in the practice of his profession at the same place.
George H. Twiss was born 1833, fitted for college at Francestown, graduated at Dartmouth 1859, has read law, but has been engaged mostly in teaching, being for some years Superintendent of Schools in Columbus, Ohio, where he still resides.
Wm. E. Bunten was born 1833, fitted for college at Meri- den, graduated at Dartmouth, 1860, read law at Concord, N. H., enlisted in the 14th Regiment of N. H. Volunteers, served as captain in the Army of the Potomac, and is now in a clerkship at Washington, D. C.
Henry M. Culdwell was born 1839, fitted for college at Pembroke, graduated at Dartmouth 1861, enlisted as sharp- shooter, received a captain's commission, and died at Fal- mouth, Va., July, 1862.
Henry M. Putney was born 1840, fitted for college at New London, graduated at Dartmouth 1861, read law at Concord and Manchester, N. H., admitted to the Bar in 1862. Pres- ent location, Manchester, N. H.
Henry E. Burnham was born 1844, fitted for college at Meriden, graduated at Dartmouth 1865, now reading law at Concord, N. H.
The following gentlemen, whose names are appended, were members of college at some period, but closed their studies short of graduation, as their names do not appear on any triennial catalogue :
John Stinson was born 1773, was for a time a member of Dartmouth College. Was a prominent man in his native town for many years.
N. Fisher Harris, son of Walter Harris, D. D., was born 1797, was in Dartmouth College for a time, became a physi- cian, resided in Georgia where he was made a Judge, and where he died in 1844.
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Caleb Stark, Jr., grandson of Gen. John Stark, of Revolu- tionary memory, was born 1804. Was a member of Har- vard College for some time, but did not graduate. Studied law, but did not practice his profession. He spent his life in Dunbarton, engaged in private literary pursuits, among which was a history of his native town, published by him in 1860. He died in 1864.
John Gould, Jr., was born 1794, died in Dartmouth Col- lege, 1815.
Abel K. Wilson was born 1808, died in Dartmouth Col- lege, 1831.
Leonard S. Parker was born Dec. 6, 1812, fitted for col- lege mainly at the Boston Latin School, entered Dartmouth College in 1832, but left before graduating from a failure of health,-spent four years at the Oberlin Institute, Ohio,-was ordained at Mansfield, Ohio, Dec. 16, 1837, was two years pastor of that church,-was installed as pastor of High St. Congregational Church, Providence, R. I., in 1840, leaving after three years from ill health,-subsequently became pas- tor of the churches in West Brookfield and Haverhill, Mass., remaining seven years in each place, was installed pastor of the First Church in Derry, N. H., Feb. 20, 1861, where he now labors. He was the first scholar in his class, both at the Latin School and in College. Before completing his studies, with another young man, (now Rev. Hiram Foote, ) Mr. Par- ker lectured against slavery in Northern Ohio, and was repeatedly assaulted by mobs. The late Hon. Joshua R. Giddings said that these two young men revolutionized his district.
Frank A. Putney was born 1843, fitted for college at New Hampton, entered Dartmouth 1859, left in August, 1861 and enlisted in First Co. N. H. Sharpshooters, served with the Army of the Potomac until after the seven days' fight before Richmond-was then transferred to Philadelphia, mustered out in 1864, but returned to duty and left at the close of the war in June, 1865. At present in Eastman's Business Col- lege, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Of professional men who did not enjoy a Collegiate Education, we find Joel Wheeler, born 1808, and Christie Wheeler, his brother, born in 1810. Both received their edu- cation at New Hampton, settled in the clerical profession at McHenry, Illinois, where the elder still resides, the younger having died some twenty years since.
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