History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 38

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Royalton > History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911 > Part 38

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).

The only facts at hand of the next incumbent, Joseph Paul Otis, are that he graduated from Dartmouth in 1872, that his native town was Sheffield, that he became a lawyer and practiced at West Burke.

Some important events connected with the history of the academy took place between 1855 and 1875. The land on which the M. E. church stood was not deeded at the time the building was purchased, but was conveyed to the Corporation by William Skinner in 1857. The right which the Corporation had in the town house was sold to the town June 6, 1866. The building was in need of repairs in 1867, and the friends of the institution came to its aid. The trustees passed the following resolution, Jan. 13, 1868: "Resolved by the Board of Trustees of Royalton Academy that the thanks of Royalton Academy are hereby ex- tended to those who have so kindly aided the institution in its need, and especially to Hon. Frederick Billings for his liberal and generous donation for the purpose of repairing the buildings of the institution." Mr. Billings had donated $200 to the in- stitution where he had received a part of his education, and in which he had a lively interest. The academy received a most gratifying bequest in 1872 from Mrs. Eliza (Skinner) Denison. She left by will $500 to be invested and the income appropriated to the use of the academy. This act was to "express her appre- ciation of the work of the institution, in which her sons had pre- pared for college, and her daughters had been trained."

For a few months in 1874 Hiram Beach Sibley was employed as principal of the academy. He was a graduate of U. V. M., and returned there to study medicine. He took his M. D. de- gree in 1875. He died Sep. 20, 1876, at Colchester.

The school was no longer in the prime condition in which it was under the group of principals of whom Mr. Conant was the center, but it still had vitality and a fair attendance.

Frederick Rustedt took his A. B. degree from the U. V. M. in 1874, and began teaching in the academy in the fall of that year. He was born in England, Jan. 24, 1850. He studied law

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and was admitted to the bar in 1878. He went to Pueblo, Col., in 1882. He was brother to Henry E., who was State's Attorney, 1880-82.

During the school year 1876-77, for the second time, a man was employed who was not a college graduate, Sidney Munson Harris. He had had, however, about four years of college train- ing in Middlebury. He graduated from the Northwestern Uni- versity in 1880. He became a preacher, but has spent most of his life in farming in Vergennes. He says of the school at the time he was principal, that it was at a very low ebb, and there was no regular course of study. But one student was taking Latin and Greek. Though the numbers were few, mischief was not lacking. Mr. Harris had a habit of having his hands in his overcoat pockets when on the street. One morning when he set out for school, he found his pockets sewed up, and looking up quickly to some of the windows, he saw several heads dodging back out of sight.

Dr. Robert Hamilton Paddock was born Feb. 18, 1814, the son of John and Lucy (Vaughan) Paddock of Pomfret. He graduated from Yale with B. A. degree in 1837. He took an M. D. degree in 1843 from Castleton Medical College, and from Berks. Med. Inst. in 1844, where he became Professor of Anat- omy and Physiology, and later, Professor of Anatomy and Chem- istry at Starling Medical College. He married and had one or more children. He was sixty-three years old when he came to take charge of Royalton Academy in 1877, where he remained one year. He lived for a time in Bethel.

The successor of Dr. Paddock was M. N. Root, who remained in charge of the academy but one year. No information has been obtained regarding him, except that he became a minister, and was highly respected. Rev. Levi Wild was at this time fit- ting for college at the academy, and recalls some characteristics of Mr. Root. He was very precise, and being invited at one time to tea at five o'clock, and chancing to reach the house ahead of time, he remained leaning against the dooryard fence until the exact minute.

The academy had a very small patronage when William B. Herrick assumed the management of it in 1879. There were then but ten students. There was no regular course of study, and no diplomas were granted during the three years that he was principal. The school increased in numbers, so that at the end of his service there were between thirty and forty students. Mr. Herrick was born in Hartland, Conn., Apr. 5, 1855; gradu- ated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1879; taught two years as principal of the Union Free School at Rock- ville Center, L. I. He was then given a position in Fisk Teach-

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ers' Agency as manager of the home office in Boston, in which office he has given general satisfaction to all parties, and has helped to improve the condition of rural schools by the selection of competent teachers.

Now there was to be an innovation in the employment of principals. Heretofore the trustees had depended almost en- tirely upon young men just graduated from college. Women had been considered sufficiently cultured and capable to be as- sistants, and teachers in country schools, but a man was thought to be a necessity for the governing and executive power of fitting schools. It was the good fortune of the competent, refined, and scholarly Mrs. Ellen Francis (Lee), wife of David Clark Stearns, to prove that women, too, could successfully conduct a secondary school. Mrs. Stearns did not seek the position, but she main- tained the attendance of the years just preceding, and added somewhat to it. There was still no course of study and no graduations. A further account of Mrs. Stearns will be found later on, as she has the distinction, also, of being the first prin- cipal to serve a second time, after leaving the academy. Her term of service was from 1882 to 1884.

The next incumbent was Mrs. Mary Evelyn (Wood) Love- joy, widow of Daniel Webster Lovejoy, M. D., of So. Royalton. Mrs. Lovejoy had been a student at the academy in 1864, gradu- ated from both courses in the Randolph Normal in 1867-68, and had just spent one year in Wellesley College. She found the school in good condition. She introduced again a course of study, which provided for a shorter Teachers' Course, as well as the regular academic courses. Her assistants during the two years of her principalship, 1884-86, were Mrs. Marcia Terry and Mrs. Minnie House, both normal graduates, and graduates of Mont- pelier Sem., and Miss Mary Dewey, a normal graduate, and Miss Inez Culver. The school increased in numbers, and at the end of the two years three students graduated from the Teachers' Course, Miss Celia Marsh of Sharon, Miss Jessie Mudgett of Tunbridge, and Miss Nellie Foster of So. Royalton, all of whom became successful teachers. In 1886 Mrs. Lovejoy served the town as superintendent of schools. Her further record will be given later, as she, also, was elected principal a second time.

The work of the academy was ably continued by Frank J. Metcalf, a graduate of Boston University, with an A. B. degree in 1886. He was born Apr. 4, 1865, in Ashland, Mass., the son of John C. and Sarah A. (Metcalf) Metcalf. He adopted the course of study already in use. During his year he secured, by solicitation, sufficient funds to purchase a fine set of encyclo- pedias for the school. After leaving Royalton he taught two years in Granville, Texas, one in Ogden, Utah, and two in the

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academy at Leicester, Mass. He went to Washington, D. C., in 1893, and has ever since been employed in the Adjutant Gen- eral's Office. He was in the old Ford Theatre not far from the place where Lincoln sat when he was assassinated, when the floors collapsed, June, 1893, and was one of the 100 clerks injured. He published in 1891 a Biographical Record of the High School in Ashland, Mass. He married Aug. 7, 1895, Virginia E. Cla- baugh.

Nothing has been learned regarding the next principal, J. W. Spencer, except that he was the son of Presiding Elder Spencer, a Methodist minister, and that he is not living. He remained only one year, 1887-88.

In 1888 Miss Celia Sherman was engaged to take charge of the academy, which was unusually fortunate in retaining her services for five years. She was a constant student as well as teacher, and in 1894 secured a Ph. D. degree from Plattsburg College, Mo., having done the necessary work by correspondence. No course of study was followed during her term of service, and there were no graduations. Miss Sherman is now in Manchester, N. H., engaged in giving private instruction in music, and in languages, in which she is especially proficient.

The academy was taught in 1893-95 by Herbert Sedgewick Martyn, born Sep. 21, 1871, Hartford, Conn., son of Rev. San- ford S. and Frances (Cummings) Martyn. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1893, and from Baltimore Medical College, 1898. He had a course of study, but no class graduated. He has been practicing medicine in Cuttingsville about ten years. He was married in 1906 to Mary A. Parker of Rutland, and has one son. He has acted as superintendent of schools and is now school di- rector.

Charles L. Curtis was the next incumbent, a graduate of Colby University. He did post-graduate work at Bowdoin one year, was in And. Theo. Sem. and Harvard University four years. He was finely prepared for his work, and teaching with him was a profession. He introduced full courses of study, English, Classical, and College Preparatory. Mrs. Stearns was secured as assistant, and the school was again in a thriving condition, with full attendance. Mr. Curtis followed the example of some of his predecessors, and married a Royalton girl, Miss Annie Morse, daughter of Dr. James Morse. He left Royalton in 1897 after two years of service, and became the principal of the high school in Lancaster, N. H., and superintendent of schools there, remaining two years, when he went to Newport, N. H., as super- vising principal of the schools there, including Richards High School. He was principal of the high school in Orange, Mass., 1901-4, and then was called to a similar position in Andover, 22

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Mass. He was manager of Winnepesaukee Summer School one year. He left Andover in 1910 to assume the direction of schools in Mattapan, Mass.

Mrs. Stearns, who was principal, 1882-84, was elected town superintendent in 1889, and continued to serve in this capacity with the exception of one year, until 1900. She was president of Royalton Woman's Club three years. She was again called to take charge of the academy after the resignation of Mr. Curtis, and presided with her usual ability and success. She paid the tuition of her students taking Greek under Prin. Graves of South Royalton, who also took her classes in physics. Her interest in the institution has been and is of the liveliest kind. Her present address is W. Concord, N. H.

Miss Mary H. Dow, a graduate of a Maine college, suc- ceeded Mrs. Stearns in 1898 and taught one year. Inquiries for further data have not been answered. She is said to have taken her degree from Colby College.

Miss Fanny Eastman became the principal of the academy in 1899, holding the position for five years. Miss Eastman was born in Barnet, Feb. 26, 1872, fitted for college at Bradford academy, and graduated from the U. V. M. in 1896 with the degree of A. B. She followed the courses of study already in use in the academy, and sent out six graduates during her connec- tion with the school, five of whom became teachers. She was superintendent of schools three years, and knowing the lack of well-prepared teachers for the rural schools, she specialized along that line in her instruction of academy students. She continues to teach, and was for a time employed in Thetford Academy as teacher of French and English. She was eminently successful in her work, but already the establishment of good high schools in Bethel and South Royalton had begun to lessen the patronage of the academy.

The trustees of the academy deemed it best in 1896 to dele- gate temporarily the power of hiring teachers to the town board of directors, who established a town high school in connection with the academy, which was supported in part by academy funds, and in part by school taxation. The selection of teach- ers now rested with the school directors of the town.

Miss Evelyn Waterbury, the next principal of the academy, was born in Saugerties, N. Y., July 17, 1882. She graduated from the high school there in 1900, and from Syracuse Univer- sity with the degree of Ph. B. in 1904. She taught the academy one year, 1904-05. The attendance was small, and no assistants were employed. She has since taught Latin and German in Free- port, L. I., High School. Miss Waterbury was well prepared for her work, and was much liked by her students.

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Miss Waterbury was succeeded by Julius V. Sturtevant, who came from the South Royalton schools, and whose record will be found in connection with them. He remained in the academy one year, 1905-06.

In 1906 Mrs. Lovejoy, who had been principal of the acad- emy twenty years before, again accepted the same position. She had been selected to write the History of Royalton, and it was understood that all available time would be devoted to that pur- pose. On leaving the academy in 1886 she went to South Da- kota, was principal of the Aberdeen high school 1886-91, super- intendent of Aberdeen city schools 1891-94, graduated from the University of Chicago with A. B. degree and Phi Beta Kappa rank in 1897, critic teacher in the St. Cloud, Minn., Normal 1897- 99, in the University of Berlin, the winter of 1899-1900, teacher in the grammar and high schools of Helena, Montana, 1902-06. She has been a contributor to numerous educational and other periodicals, and has published one novel, "Dandelion."

There was a small increase in membership during her two years of service in the academy. A new course of study was in- troduced in 1906 suited to local conditions, but the next year the school was required to conform to the state course of study, and as but one assistant was employed, the academy was limited to a three years' course. Miss Elizabeth Moore, a normal gradu- ate from Maine, and Miss Edith M. Grant, a Randolph Normal graduate, were capable assistants during the two years. In 1907 one graduate from the old course was sent out, Miss Jessie Rus- sell. In 1908 it was planned to have a modest re-union of such former students as could conveniently be present. There were three graduates, Miss Katharine Elizabeth Dewey, Miss Mary Etta Whitney, and Frank George Spaulding. Each had a part on the program. Rev. DeForest Safford, a native of the town, was present and gave an excellent address, and Judge William H. Bliss, also a native and former student of the academy, read a fine original poem. The exercises were held in the Congrega- tional church, which was filled with friends and old-time stu- dents. After the exercises the company repaired to the academy, where responses to toasts were given by Hon. Nelson L. Boyden of Randolph Center, a former student and assistant teacher, Mr. Daniel H. Woodward of Randolph, and Mr. Martin S. Adams of South Royalton, both former students, and Mrs. Stearns, a former principal. After this part of the program was over, re- freshments were served, which had been furnished by ladies of the village and vicinity. This ended what, possibly, is the last graduation from a full course of the old academy, unless friends rally to its support.

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One of the graduates, Miss Dewey, whose entire preparation had been in the academy, entered the University of Vermont in the fall of 1909, by examination, and won the prize for the best Latin paper. She continues to stand close to, if not quite at, the head of her classes. Another academy student now in the U. V. M. is Miss Mary Winslow, who had three years at the acad- emy, and took her fourth year in the Randolph high school. She, also, is maintaining a high standing in college. Recent legis- lation has been rather inimical to the continued existence of small academies in the state, but there yet seems to be room for institu- tions which are not bound by rigid courses of study, but which can adjust their courses to meet the needs of the communities where they are located.

Mrs. Lovejoy was followed by Miss Bessie Lewis of Ran- dolph. She graduated from the high school in Randolph and from the U. V. M. She taught the year before coming to Roy- alton. Her work was very acceptable, and the school made good progress, though the attendance of those doing academic work was small and no graduates were sent out. Miss Lewis resigned her position in November, 1909, and her place was temporarily filled by Mrs. Charles Seymour, for many years assistant in the South Royalton high school. The spring term of this school year was taught by Miss Margaret Little, a graduate of Smith Col- lege in 1908. The present school year Miss Marion V. Morse, a graduate of Mt. Holyoke in 1909, has been employed as principal. She is having marked success. Miss Cecilia M. Wynne has been the assistant for two years. She is a graduate of the S. Royal- ton high school. At Christmas time the pupils in the eighth and ninth grades wrote on "The Adventures of Santa Claus," and the two senior classes dramatized the same. This drama was admirably written and finely presented before a large audience. Though the old academy has had its wings clipped, it is still able to make a good showing beside the more modern institutions of learning of the same grade.

Only a few of the many students who have in part or in whole fitted for college in Royalton Academy, and have since occupied important positions of trust and usefulness, can be no- ticed.

Harvey Freegrace Leavitt, a Hartford student, born in 1796, belongs in the list. He entered Dartmouth in 1812, and gradu- ated from Yale in 1816. He first studied and practiced law, then began preparing for the ministry in 1828. In 1861 he had charge of a female seminary in Middlebury. He was for many years one of the directors of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society. In 1839 he was chosen a member of the Corporation of Middlebury College, from which he received the honorary de-

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

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gree of A. M. in 1857. Through his efforts provision was made for widows and orphans of deceased ministers.

The life and work of Prof. William R. Shipman, a student and assistant teacher at the academy, is noted elsewhere, as is also the record of Truman Henry Safford, the famous mathema- tician. Nearer home we may note Judge William Henry Bliss, late Judge of Probate at Middlebury, and Nelson Boyden, Esq., of Randolph Center, student and assistant teacher in the acad- emy.

No family can present so remarkable a record of distin- guished persons fitting at the academy as the Denison family, which includes the names of Dudley C., Joseph Adams, George Stanton, Franklin, Henry, Charles, John Henry, and James, whose distinguished careers are chronicled in the genealogy of the Denison family.

The brilliant record of Salmon P. Chase as senator, Secre- tary of the U. S. Treasury, and Chief Justice of the United States is too well known to need repeating. In a biography of him written by Robert B. Warden, is found a charming bit of reminis- cences of academy days, which is quoted for the benefit of any interested. The biography was printed in 1864 at Cincinnati, Ohio.

"Towards Spring it was determined that I should go to Royalton in Vermont, where my former instructor, Mr. Sprague was preceptor of the academy.

It must have been early in 1824, perhaps in February or March, that I went to Royalton, and was received in the family of Dr. Denison, whose wife was the bishop's sister and our favorite aunt. The doctor occupied a very respectable and comfortable mansion in the north- eastern part of the village, with a garden on the northern side, just beyond which stood the Congregational Church. In front of the house was the road-the main village street-across which, situate in an open space in a sort of public square, stood the Academy. Behind the Academy and skirting the village, from north to south, or north-west to south-east, ran the little, clear, sparkling stream, called Whitewater River. Behind the house rose the hills, among which a peak called the pinnacle, was very conspicuous, and a favorable resort of the boys and girls who attended the Academy. Among the girls, there was one-born somewhere south-gentle, pretty, and intelligent, who quite won my heart. Walks with her, sometimes to the top of the pinnacle, whence I guarded her descent with solicitous care; visits to the house of some neighbor friend, varied by a row in a skiff in the Whitewater, were my chief outdoor pleasure. Indoors I learned to play chess with my cousin Jo Denison, who, for a while, was at home from col- lege-the University of Vermont-for vacation. It has since been in my power to make one of his sons Collector of New Orleans. Of chess I was very fond, and it came near disturbing my progress in study. But after all, study was my chief occupation. I wished to enter the Junior Class at Dartmouth at the approaching commencement, and was obliged to read a great deal to make up the difference between the scanty proficiency at Cincinnati as sophomore, and the catalogue re- quirements for a junior at Dartmouth. But I did read a great deal,

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reciting to Mr. Sprague, and reading for the most part, during reading and study hours, at my desk in the common study and recitation room. I did not read thoroughly,-nor was my preceptor very well qualified to criticise my recitations. He generally took what I gave him as I gave it, and let it pass. How much I have since regretted the extremely loose way in which all my education went on."

On the face of it this does not seem very complimentary to Mr. Sprague and the academy, but perhaps young Chase's work was more nearly perfect than he seemed to think. On another page of the biography the following is found :

"The great event of my stay at Royalton was the marriage of my sister Jane to Doctor Skinner. At the same time Gracia Parkhurst, one of her friends, was married to Dr. Bloss. Two fine girls they were, and their lovers were promising young men, just commencing the practice of their profession. The double wedding took place in the little Episcopal church at Bethel, whither we went in such vehicles as the country afforded; and then there was the wedding party at aunt Denison's, and the fun and the jollity, and the rich happiness that usually attend such occasions. My cousin Jo and I officiated as waiters; for servants were unknown and help scarce."

Otto Smith Hoyt, perhaps a nephew of Jacob Smith, became a clergyman, trustee of the U. V. M. and of Middlebury College, and agent of the American Educational Society.

James Andrus Blinn Stone, born 1810, was a Baptist clergy- man, Professor in Newton Theo. Sem., President of Kalamazoo College, editor and publisher of the "Telegraph," and author of many theological works.

Azel Washburn Wild, son of Daniel and Huldah (Wash- burn) Wild, born 1836, became a Congregational minister, and author of several Congregational histories.

Edward Payson Wild, brother of Azel, was also a Congrega- tional minister.

Henry Hobart Vail, a Pomfret student, is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Book Company, and trustee of Middlebury College.

David Haskell Adams, born 1835, became a Baptist clergy- man.

Robert Safford Hale, born in Chelsea, 1822, was a Member of Congress, Counsel for the U. S. Treasury, regent of the Uni- versity of New York, and held other important positions.

William Collamer, born in Royalton, 1824, was a lawyer, and state senator.

William Skinner Hazen, born 1836, was a Congregational minister.

The fine records of Frederick V. and Henry S. Marcy, and Daniel Harvey will be found in their respective family histories.

In connection with academic history it seems proper to give a list of college men and women who are natives of Royalton, and also of other residents, not natives, who have been more or

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less closely identified with the life of Royalton. Non-graduates will be recognized by the years placed after their names, indi- cating the length of time they pursued collegiate courses. Names of those not natives, or not known to be such, are printed in italics. Many in this list were prepared in whole or in part for their college work in Royalton Academy. The college records of principals of schools in town, lawyers, doctors, and clergy- men, are given in connection with these respective professions, and are not repeated in this list, except when they are natives of Royalton. The list is as full as the means at hand could make it, but no doubt names will be missed that ought to be added. In that case, the reader may be assured that they were not inten- tionally omitted.

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History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 38

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280