USA > Vermont > Windsor County > History of Windsor County, Vermont, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 19
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It is quite evident that Dr. Burnell was zealously engaged in the laud- able effort of endeavoring to save the medical society from dismember- ment and dissolution ; but, notwithstanding that, the society ceased to exist about the year before mentioned.
The Clinical School of Medicine .- During the latter part of the year 1799 Dr. Joadam, or as he was more commonly styled, Joseph A. Gal- lup, came to reside and engage in the practice of medicine and surgery in the town of Woodstock. He is remembered as being a decidedly eccentric and erratic person, and like all such possessed determination of character to a remarkable degree, a quality that is now commonly termed obstinacy. But, notwithstanding these traits, Dr. Gallup was a man of learning and great medical ability in the special branches he most favored, and of excellent understanding in his profession in gen- eral.
And like many men called great, Dr. Gallup possessed a "hobby," it being his greatest desire, that amounted almost to a passion with him, that he might at some day establish a medical school at Woodstock, for
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the thorough training and education of the young men of the region who aspired to membership in the medical fraternity. To this end the doughty Doctor labored earnestly and zealously, but it was not until the year 1826 that his idea began to assume a definite form. By that time he was prepared to announce to the general public the fact of his having established at Woodstock a Clinical School of Medicine, amply provided with a competent corps of instructors and lecturers upon the several topics necessary for the thorough and complete education of all medical students who sought to avail themselves of its benefits. How- ever, some untoward event occurred that compelled a temporary sus- pension of the affairs of the school, and it was not until the early part of March, 1827, that it was in fact opened.
The institution was managed during the year almost solely by its worthy founder and such medical gentlemen as he had brought here who constituted the " faculty "; but the successes of the first series of lectures were not particularly gratifying, while the expenses were con- siderable. But, not dismayed by misfortune, Dr. Gallup the next year succeeded in interesting a large number of the medical profession of the county in the matter of his enterprise, and the result was a numerously signed petition to the Legislature for an act of incorporation, that the school might be established and conducted on a more substantial basis. The matter, in the nature of an act, came before the Legislature, passed through the customary committee, was opposed by some and favored by others, and finally put upon its passage, and defeated.
This misfortune, together with other disturbances, had the effect of temporarily disorganizing the economy of the school, and caused a post- ponement of the course of lectures arranged for the fall term of 1828; but by the succeeding spring the affairs of the school were resumed un- der more favorable conditions than had previously existed. By this time the friends of the enterprise had provided a suitable building for the lectures and other instruction, and another similar institution had taken this one under its patronage to the extent of conferring such de- grees as were desirable, the adverse determination of the Vermont Leg- islature having left the Woodstock school without such authority. Thus, despite the action of the General Assembly, the enterprise founded by Dr. Gallup became finally established upon a reasonably substantial ba-
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sis, and so it was continued a number of terms and school years. De- grees were conferred upon the qualified candidates through the friendly officers of other institutions, and for a time the Clinical School of Med- icine actually appeared to prosper.
But during these years, too, there existed and was gradually increasing an element of opposition and dissatisfaction with the management of the institution ; and although the residents of the village of Woodstock and vicinity came to the relief of Dr. Gallup, and promised and gave him substantial encouragement and aid, the opposition at length acquired such strength as to threaten the destruction of the school, and the final result was the founding of another medical institution in the same town, in January, 1834. Two such enterprises of course could not stand. At length friends of both interfered in the interest of harmony and the gen- eral welfare, and a compromise was speedily effected, under which Dr. Gallup was prevailed upon to surrender his interest in the enterprise into other hands and control. His connection thereby ceased, and the affairs of the school at once assumed another form, and the act that brought into being the " Vermont Medical College " was soon afterward passed by the Legislature.
That act was passed by the Legislature on the 26th of October, 1835, and named as corporators David Palmer, Henry H. Childs, Willard Parker, Benjamin C. C. Parker and John A. Pratt; but the name of the institution was left to the determination of these corporators and their associates, to be decided upon at their first meeting. This meeting was held on the 20th of April, 1836, and of which Dr. David Palmer was chairman, and Dr. Willard Parker secretary. After the meeting had been organized the corporate name, "Vermont Medical College," was adopted. Norman Williams was then elected a member of the corpora- tion. Then followed the adoption of by-laws, and the election of offi- cers, with this result : Henry A. Childs, president; David Palmer, vice- president; Norman Williams, secretary. These professorships were adopted : The theory and practice of medicine and obstetrics, Henry M. Childs, professor ; surgery and physiology, Willard Parker, M. D., pro- fessor; chemistry and materia medica, David Palmer, M. D., professor ; anatomy, Robert Watts, M. D., professor. A number of changes and additions were subsequently made in relation to the professorships of
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the college, but those just named were adopted at the first meeting of the corporators.
However gratifying to its officers and to the people of this vicinity may have been the successes which crowned their efforts in establishing the Vermont Medical College, it was not destined to enjoy a long life. As has been stated heretofore, the institution was brought into existence in the year 1835, and put into operation during the following year. In 1843 its zenith of success was attained, but soon thereafter came a de- cline, a gradual falling away both in interest and patronage that finally ended in a complete abandonment of the enterprise, by the resignation of its faculty in the year 1856, although the real and personal property of the college trustees was not disposed of until the year 1862.
Unlike the school founded by Dr. Gallup, the Vermont Medical Col- lege was empowered to confer " all such medical degrees, honors, diplo- mas or licenses as are usually given or conferred in colleges or medical institutions, but shall confer no other than medical degrees." This was embraced in the corporate act. The last exercise of authority under the above quoted provision occured at the annual meeting of the trustees, June 24, 1856. During this unfortunate period an effort was made to revive the institution. Frequent and earnest consultations were held, in which the advice of learned physicians and college professors was asked and given, but to no good purpose; the college failed for lack of mate- rial support. In 1861 the board of trustees at a meeting held September 9th decided to place the property in the hands of Charles Chapman and Philo Hatch, as agents to sell the same at the best advantage. On the I Ith of October, 1862, the real estate was sold at public auction, Dr. Ed- win Hazen, of Woodstock, becoming the purchaser for the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars. The further sum of one hundred and fifty dollars was realized from the sale of the personal property of the corpo- ration. The old college building still stands on the hill, in the south west part of Woodstock village; but the character of its occupancy is mate- rially different from that for which it was originally intended, being now a dwelling and boarding-house for summer visitors.
During the years of its existence the Vermont Medical College gradu- ated a very large number of students, as will be seen from the appended statement. But it appears that previous to June 6, 1837, there was a
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connection between this institution and the Middlebury College, and that the degrees conferred by the Woodstock college was done through the medium of the Middlebury College ; but at the time stated the trustees adopted this resolution: " Resolved, that the connection of this institu- tion with the Middlebury College be and is hereby dissolved, and that in future degrees shall be conferred by and under the authority of this in- stitution."
The graduates of the Vermont Medical College need not be named in this sketch, from the fact that very few of them were residents of the county ; but it will be proper to state the gross number of students grad- uated with the close of the school year, each of which graduates car- ried away with him the title of " M. D." In June, 1836, the degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred by the president of Middlebury Col- lege on eleven graduates ; in 1837, on sixteen graduates ; in 1838, on seventeen ; 1839, on fifteen : in 1840, on twenty three; in 1841, eighteen ; 1842, thirteen ; 1843, fourteen; 1844, fifteen ; 1845, twenty-eight; 1846, twenty-four ; 1847, twenty-five ; 1848, thirty ; 1849, twenty-five ; 1850, nineteen; 1851, twenty-six ; 1852, twenty-five; 1853, twenty-two; 1854, ten ; 1855, five; 1856, ten.
Succession of officers from time of incorporation to 1856: 1836, Henry W. Childs, president; David Palmer, vice-president ; Norman Williams, secretary. 1837, the records of the board of trustees for this year do not disclose an election of officers, but it is understood that those for the preceding year were continued, either by election or omission to elect. 1838, Henry A. Childs, president ; David Palmer, vice president ; Norman Williams, secretary. 1839, David Palmer, president; Rev. B. C. C. Parker, vice-president ; Norman Williams, secretary ; John A. Pratt, treasurer. 1840, David Palmer, president ; Rev. B. C. C. Parker, vice-president; Norman Williams, secretary; John H. Pratt, treasurer. 1841, Henry H. Childs, president ; 1 Rev. B. C. C. Parker, vice-presi- dent; Norman Williams, secretary; John A. Pratt, treasurer. 1842, Henry H. Childs, president; Rev. B. C. C. Parker, vice-president; Nor- man Williams, secretary; John A. Pratt, treasurer. 1843, Henry H.
1Dr. Childs was chosen president at an adjourned meeting of the board. At the time of the election Dr. Palmer was seriously ill, and the trustees deferred electing a successor until his illness terminated his life.
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Childs, president; Benjamin R. Palmer, vice-president; Norman Will- iams, secretary ; John A. Pratt, treasurer. 1844, Henry H. Childs, president ; Benjamin R. Palmer, vice-president; Norman Williams, sec- retary. 1845, no record of any officers being elected. 1846, Benjamin R. Palmer, president; Hon Jacob Collamer, vice-president ; Norman Williams, secretary. 1847, Benjamin R. Palmer, president; Jacob Col- lamer, vice-president ; Norman Williams, secretary and treasurer. 1848, Benjamin R. Palmer, president; Jacob Collamer, vice-president; Nor- man Williams, secretary and treasurer. 1849, same as in 1848. 1850, Benjamin Rush Palmer, president; Norman Williams, secretary and treasurer. (No others elected.) The years 1851-52-53 there was no change from the officers of 1850. In 1854 there appears to have been none elected except that Jacob Collamer was chosen vice-president. 1855, Jacob Collamer, president; William Henry Thayer, vice-presi- dent; Norman Williams, secretary and treasurer.
Such organizations as are in the county at the present time, that re- late to the medical profession, and have their membership from among the physicians, are those known as the White River Valley Medical As- sociation and the Connecticut Valley Medical Association, both of which are in active existence. But each has its jurisdiction extending beyond the borders of the county, and beyond the limits of the State ; for the character of each society is such that physicians residing east of the Connecticut may have membership in either association, or both if they choose.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE PRESS OF WINDSOR COUNTY.
E DUCATION is the great civilizer, and printing its greatest aux- iliary. Were it not for the aid furnished by the press the great mass of people would still be groping in the darkness of the middle ages, and knowledge remain confined within the limits of the cloister.
It is surprising when searching our libraries to discover how little has been written of the " Art preservative of all arts," and the educator of
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all educators. While printing has been the chronicler of all arts, pro- fessions and learning, it has recorded so little of its history as to leave even the story of its first invention and application wrapped in mystery and doubt. We only know that from the old Ramage press which Faust and Franklin used, capable of producing only a hundred impressions per hour, we have now the ponderous machine which turns out one thousand copies per minute.
In glancing over the pages of history we discover the gradual devel- opments in all the arts and sciences. We notice that they go hand in hand-one discovery points to another, one improvement in the arts leads to others continually, and the results of the last few centuries show that observations of no apparent use led to the most important discov- eries and developments. The falling of an apple led Newton to unfold the theory of gravitation and its relation to the solar system; the dis- covery of the polarity of the loadstone led to the construction of the mariner's compass; the observation of the muscular contraction of a frog led to the numerous applications of galvanic electricity ; the observation of the expansive force of steam lead to construction and manifold uses of the steam engine; the observation of the influence of light on chloride of silver led to the art of photography ; the observation of the commu- nication of sound by the connected rails of a railroad led to the invention of the telephone; the impressions cut in the smooth bark of the birch tree led to the art of printing-the art which transmits to posterity a record of all that is good and valuable to the world
There is progress discernible in every successive generation of man. Gradually has he advanced from a state of nude barbarism and total ignorance to a degree of perfection which gives him almost absolute dominion over all elements, and in the pride of glorious and enlightened manhood he can exclaim with Cowper :
" I am a monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute ; From the center all 'round to the sea. I am lord of the fowl and the brute."
So long as mind shall occupy its seat, so long will progress be the watchword of man, and onward and upward will be his march to an endless and limitless ascent-where all the hidden and occult secrets of
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creation will unfold their mysteries to his comprehension and crown him master of them all.
The printing-office has well been called the Poor Boy's College, and has proven a better school to many ; has graduated more intellect and turned it into useful, practical channels; awakened more active, devoted thought than any alma mater on the earth. Many a dunce has passed through the universities with no tangible proof of fitness other than his insensible piece of parchment-himself more sheepish, if possible, than his "sheep skin." There is something in the very atmosphere of a printing-office calculated to awaken the mind to activity, and inspire a thirst for knowledge. Franklin, Stanhope, Berranger, Thiers, Greeley, Taylor and a host of other names, illustrious in the world of letters and science, have been gems in the diadem of typography, and owe their success to the influence of a printing-office.
The newspaper has become one of the chief indexes of the intelligence and progress of the community in which it is published, and its files are the foot-prints of the advancement and refinement of the period of its publication ; and the printing-office is now deemed as essential as the school-house or church. It has taken the place of the rostrum and the professor's chair, and become the great teacher. No party, organization, enterprise or calling is longer considered perfect without its " organ "- the newspaper-as a mouth-piece.
In journalistic ventures Windsor county has been as prolific as per- haps any in the State, there having been established, and conducted for a greater or less length of time, between the year 1784 and this present, something like sixty or seventy separate newspaper publications, and the majority of them were put in operation prior to 1860, and covered a period when there was far less demand or necessity for newspaper infor- mation than has existed since that year. And prior to that time the publication of a newspaper, in all the details of its departments, was at- tended with far greater proportionate expense than at this day ; for now news can be gathered from all quarters of the globe and placed before every community within twelve hours from the occurrence of an event, while formerly weeks and sometimes months elapsed before reports of transactions abroad, and the more distant parts of America, reached the newspaper office. This is the result of rapid telegraphic transmission of
27
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news, made possible by the organization of press associations. And dur- ing the years subsequent to 1860 the actual expense of obtaining news and interesting selected miscellaneous reading matter has been materially lessened by the invention and distribution of what has been designated "patent sides," for local rural papers. Until within a very few years it was not an unusual thing for some large offices to print certain portions or sides of a paper, to the number of hundreds of thousands, and sell the prepared sheets to rural offices at a very slight advance upon the cost of the blank paper; but this means of providing and disseminating news is not now employed to so great an extent by far as it was ten or fifteen years ago.
Another device that has contributed toward lessening the cost of news- paper publications, and which supplanted largely the " patent sides " sys- tem, is that known as "plate matter," being nothing else than selected literature from the papers of large cities, and establishments designed for the preparation of the matter ; all of which is stereotyped from the orig- inal work, and thus distributed at a very moderate cost to the local offi- ces. The advantages of this system are employed in very many offices throughout the country, perhaps in some in Windsor county. This method of acquiring reading matter is far from objectionable, in fact is highly commendable, for by it the publisher of a paper is enabled to fur- nish his readers with carefully selected miscellany at a cost far less than was necessary to be charged a dozen or more years ago. The people, not the publisher, derive the greatest benefits from these systems.
The press in Windsor county had a beginning quite as humble as that of any other of its institutions, and whether or not it has kept even pace with them in this age of progress the reader must judge. It will not be questioned that, in every respect, as a community, the people of this county have kept even step with the spirit of advancement in human progress that has so signally distinguished the present century. Their churches and schools will compare favorably with those of any other of the several counties of the State ; and as for the general characteristics of the people, whether as to enterprise, industry, morality, or intelligence, it is claimed-and with much show of reason-that Windsor county oc- cupies an advanced position among the others of the State similarly sit- uated. This is not only true of the present generation, but was the case even before the opening of the present century.
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The honor, if it may be so called, of having founded this newspaper in Vermont belongs to Windham county; and the first paper so published was the Vermont Gazette, or Green Mountain Post Boy, the production of Judah P. Spooner and Timothy Green. Its first issue appeared in Feb- ruary, 1781, but its publication ceased in 1783. The second paper of the State was started at Bennington, in June, 1783, by Anthony Haswell and David Russell, and its name was the Vermont Gazette, or Freeman's De- pository. This paper was continued through manifold vicissitudes until about the year 1850.
But to the county of Windsor, and to the village of the same name, is, given the credit of having the third newspaper publication of this State ; and that the Vermont Journal and Universal Advertiser, founded and established in the year 1783, by George Hough and Alden Spooner. The first issue of this paper made its appearance on the 7th of August of the year named. But unlike its predecessor, the Gazette or Green Mountain Post Boy, the Journal proved to be a prosperous venture, and has continued in publication even to the present day, though having ex- perienced numerous changes in proprietorship and "dress." For its establishment the proprietors, or one of them at least, purchased the materials and press of the defunct Gazette office at Westminster, and moved them to Windsor for the purpose of the new publication.
The early years of life of the Journal were not a continued series of struggles and hardships more than any other of the pioneer institutions of the county, nor were the efforts of its enterprising publishers rewarded with any remarkable success in the matter of cash accumulations. In fact, this was a commodity at that particular period most noticeable for its absence, and in every branch of business and trade the proprietors were content to receive produce of all kinds in exchange for merchandise; and in the infant days of journalism in this State it was not a rare occur- rence that the publishers advertised to take " clean cotton rags " in pay- ment for subscriptions.
The publication of the Journal by its original proprietors was contin- ued without material interruption until the year 1788, but during the month of December of that year Mr. Hough retired from the partnership, and Mr. Spooner became sole proprietor, the first issue of the paper under his exclusive control being made December 29. A little more
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than three years later the pioneer name of Vermont Journal and Univer- sal Advertiser was dropped, and Spooner's Vermont Journal appeared in its stead. No further change in the paper or its proprietorship was made until the year 1817, at which time Wyman Spooner, a nephew of Alden Spooner, purchased an interest. This firm continued until August 10, 1818, when the junior partner became sole owner and proprietor.
During Wyman Spooner's control the name was again changed by dropping "Spooner's," leaving the title page simply Vermont Journal ; but on the 12th of August, 1826, Alden Spooner having again entered the office, its previous name was restored, and so continued until the early part of February of the succeeding year, when Enos Folsom became proprietor of the enterprise, Alden Spooner still holding, however, a lien on the property, and under which claim the plant was sold to Simeon Ide during the year 1828. Mr. Folsom, during his brief editorship, also cut from the heading the word Spooner's, and took, for the third time, the name Vermont Journal.
On the Ist of August, 1829, the Journal was united with the Vermont Republican, a paper of the town, founded in 1809 by Farnsworth & Churchill. This union was followed by the issue of the Vermont Repub- lican and Journal; and again, on the 5th of January, 1835, Simeon Ide and Charles H. Smith having then succeeded to the ownership of the last named paper, the old journal, the pioneer newspaper of the county, tem- porarily lost its identity entirely, the new firm adopting the name of Ver- mont Republican and Courier.
However, during the year 1844, through the energy of Charles F. Merrifield, the old paper was again brought into existence, and the Ver- mont Journal was again in the community ; this time, too, to remain as one of the staunch newspapers of the town and county. Since its revival the editorial management has frequently changed, but finally became firmly established under the control of the Journal Publishing Company, a character of management and ownership of late years having become quite popular. The name of the proprietary company implies that a number of persons are interested in the enterprise, from patriotic or political motives, but who are not directly in charge of the practical work of the office, that duty devolving upon one or more persons whose quali- fications fit them for such service, and who are called either manager or editor, or both. Marsh O. Perkins is the present editor of the paper.
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