USA > Vermont > Addison County > Middlebury > History of the town of Middlebury, in the county of Addison, Vermont > Part 32
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Previous to 1836, a large amount of funds had accumulated in the United States treasury, beyond the wants of the government, and Congress, by an act approved June 23d of that year, ordered that " the money, which shall be in the treasury on the first of Jan- uary 1837, reserving the sum of five millions of dollars, shall be deposited with the several States, in proportion to their respective representation, in the Senate and House of Representatives, as shall by law authorize their treasurer, or other competent. authori- ties to receive " and give the required certificate for the same. The certificate was required to pledge the faith of the State to return the money, when called for. The deposits were to be made in four instalments, on the first of January, April, July and October 1837. After having delivered three instalments, on the 2d of October, Congress enacted that "the transfer of the fourth instalment be postponed till the first day of January 1839," and it has never been paid.
The legislature, by their act passed November 17th 1836, agreed to accept their share of the deposit, according to the terms pro- posed, and authorized the treasurer to receive it and give the re- quired receipt. The amount they directed the treasurer to distrib- ute among the several towns, according to their population, as as-
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certained by the census of 1830, and to make a new apportionment at each succeeding census. The act required also, that the several towns should " choose by ballot three trustees, who should receive, take care of and manage the moneys deposited with the respective towns." And they directed the trustees to loan the money on good security, at six per cent. interest, " for a term not exceeding one year at a time," and pay the income annually into the town treas- ury to " be distributed by the selectmen to the several school dis- tricts ... This town, at a meeting called for that purpose on the 26th of December 1836, voted to receive their share of the fund depos- ited, and elected by ballot Elisha Brewster, Paul Champlin and Edwin Hammond trustees of the fund. The trustees, at the annual March meeting in 1838, reported, "that they have received in three instalments the sum of $8,278 89, and had loaned it, on good security, to individuals at six per cent, in sums of $100, or less." And the meeting by vote directed them to pay the interest into the town treasury by the 15th day of July next. And this has been done from year to year, so long as the fund was loaned to individuals.
The amount of the above fund and the small amount of the rents received from school lands, in most of the towns, constitute all the permanent funds, appropriated for the support of schools. The re- mainder it is necessary to raise by direct taxation. It is therefore provided by statute, that the selectmen shall annually "assess a tax of nine cents on the dollar of the list of the town," for the use of schools. In case the town has other funds, which, after deducting one half of the United States deposit money, will amount to the sum raised by the tax or a part of it, the tax or a proportion of it may be omitted. The tax in this town is five per cent. If the funds provided by law are insufficient, the deficiency is to be raised by taxes on the district.
The selectmen by law have the charge and management of all the real and personal estate, appropriated for the use of schools, and they are required annually, on the first day of March, to divide the proceeds of the tax, with the income of all the funds, appropriated . for schools, between the several districts, one fourth part equally, for the relief of small districts, and the remainder in proportion to
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the number of children between the ages of four and eighteen.
Such is substantially the system, under which the schools in this town, have been maintained. School houses of more or less com- fort and convenience have been built, and teachers, more or less qualified have been employed in the several districts. In the large districts in the village, separate rooms are provided in the same building, with separate teachers, and the children have been classi- fied, somewhat according to age, sex and studies.
At an early day, the legislature directed the selectmen, in the several towns, where there were lands, under the New Hampshire charters, belonging to the glebe right, or rights for the Propagation of the Gospel, to lease them, and appropriate the rents for the use of schools. This appropriation of the glebe rights was regarded as valid, by the decision of the United States Courts. But the lands belonging to the Propagation rights, were, by the same authority, retained for their original purpose. The first and second division of the school right, and the glebe right had been leased, and previous to the decision, the first division of the Propagation right had been leased for the use of schools, but has since been surrendered. The first and second hundred acre divisions of the school right and of the glebe right are the only lands leased for the use of schools. No. 2 is the first hundred acre division of the school right, of which Andrew Bain owns the lease. The second hundred acre division of this right was surveyed by Judge Painter in 1775, lying on the Salisbury line and east of Nathaniel Everts' lot of that division, and the lease is owned by Capt. Joel Boardman. The first hundred acre division of the glebe right is No. 49, and the lease of the west half is owned by William Carr Jr., and the east half by Abel Abbey; and the second hundred acre division of that right lies within the limits of the first division between the town plot on the west, and the east tier on the east; and the lease is owned by Elijah S. Boyce. The rents of these lands, which were entirely wild, were so small, that the town adopted the policy of loaning the rents, to constitute an accumulating fund, to be divided, when it would be of greater benefit. This plan was opposed by a part of the citizens, and the question was agitated in town meetings for sev-
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éral years. In the meantime trustees were appointed from the sev- eral districts, who had charge of the fund. At the annual meet- ing in 1817, the trustees were directed " to deliver all notes and se- curities for the school fund to the town clerk," and he was directed to collect them. This measure was adopted to make preparation for a distribution ; and not long after the fund was divided. The shares, which belonged to the two districts in the village, were ap- propriated for the erection of the brick school houses on each side of the creek.
The amount of the United States deposit money received in 1837 was $8,278 89. On the new apportionment after the census of 1840, there was refunded to the State treasurer the sum of $1,032 21; and after the census of 1850 the sum of $255 08 was returned, leaving now in possession of the town the sum of $7,501 76. The fund annually distributed in Middlebury among the districts is as follows :
Interest on the deposit,
- $450 10
Amount of rents, -
- - - 119 00
Proceeds of tax in 1856, - - - 387 00
Amounting in the whole to - - $956 10
The common schools in this town are not what they ought to be, although the provisions of the law have been generally complied with, and they have been gradually improving from the first settle- ment. The want of funds has heretofore been an obstacle to their improvement. At an early day the expenses of the schools were more generally paid by taxes on the scholars, and provisions were otherwise so inadequate for making them respectable, that, espe- cially in the village, select schools became common. The doctrine that the education of the children is a public interest, and should be supported at the public expense, has been extending and gradu- ally coming into practice. When the rich are compelled to pay for the support of the public schools, in proportion to their property, instead of the number of their children, it is an inducement to them to improve those, instead of patronizing select schools. The friends of education have long felt, that the schools in Vermont
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
were altogether below the standard they ought to occupy ; and the tendency of the legislature has been to improve them. And there is a sanguine expectation, that the plans recently adopted by the legislature, for the general superintendence of the school system, through the State, will make them better.
ADDISON COUNTY GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
By an act of the legislature on the 8th of November 1797, a Grammar School was established in Middlebury, under a corpora- tion by the name of the "Coporation of Addison County Gram- mar School." Full powers were granted to the corporation to ac- quire and hold the necessary estate, and for other purposes necessary for sustaining a permanent school ; and to hold and use all the lands in the county, reserved and appropriated for that use, in the char- ters granted by this State: The trustees, appointed by the act, were Gamaliel Painter, Seth Storrs, Samuel Miller, Daniel Chip- man and Darius Matthews. The trustees are authorized to add to' their number ; but the whole number is not to exceed twelve. A. proviso is added to the act, " that the inhabitants of Middlebury, and such others as may voluntarily subscribe therefor, shall build and finish a good and sufficient house for said Grammar School, of the value of one thousand dollars, by the next stated session of the legislature, and shall forever after keep the same in good repair." The inhabitants immediately set themselves to work to fulfil the condition, but did not limit their expenditures to one thousand dol- lars. The design was already formed to establish a college, and provide a building, which would accommodate such an institution, at least for a time. Accordingly a subscription was raised in this and the neighboring towns, and the wooden building since used for the college, eighty feet by forty, and three stories high, was com- pleted in 1798, within the time limited by the act. It was divided into convenient rooms for students, with a public room for a chapel, and other uses, in the centre of the upper story.
The land on which the building, together with the extensive grounds connected with it, was, in July 1800, and previous to the charter of the college, deeded to the corporation by Seth Storrs,
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
Darius Matthews, Appleton Foot, Stillman Foot and Anthony Rhodes. Most of the land was owned by Col. Storrs; but the grounds embraced small pieces belonging to the other grantors.
Rev. Jeremiah Atwater, of New Haven, Conn., was appointed principal of the grammar school, in anticipation of his becoming president of the college, when established. Until 1805, both insti- tutions were continued in the same building, and President Atwater continued nominally principal of the academy, although the in- struction was given by a tutor or other officer of the college. At that time the preparatory school was removed to the building erected for the Female Seminary, that institution being vacant in conse- quence of the death of Miss Strong.
Since the separation, the following preceptors have had charge of the academy for the periods designated :
APPOINTED.
LEFT.
APPOINTED. LEFT.
1805 Rev. Chester Wright
1807
1823 Rev. Addison Parker
1824
1807 Rev. John Frost
1808
1824 Rev. Lucivs L. Tilden 1825
1808 Rev. Richard Hall
1809
1825 Hon Horace Eaton 1826
1800 Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton 1810
1826 Rev. John Wild
1827
1810 Hon. Zimri Howe
1811
1827 Rev. John J. Owen
1828
1811 Rev. Joseph Labaree
1813
1828 Rev. Truman M. Post
1828
1813 Rev. Otto S. Hoyt
1814
1828 Rev. Edwin Hall 1830
1814 Rev. Reuben Post
1815
1830 G. T. Thompson, Esq.
1834
1815 Rev. Danicl Hemenway
1816
1834 Henry W. Ellsworth, Esq. 1835
1837
1817 Milo Cook, Esq.
1818
1337 William Warner, Esq.
1838
1818 Rev. Beriah Green
1819
1838 Rev. John Bradshaw 1841
1819 Rev. George C. Beckwith
1820
1841 Rev. Azariah Hyde
1843
1820 Rev. Ora Pierson
1820
1846 Daniel A. Bowe
1849
1820 Rev. Roswell Pettibone
1821
1849 Eleazar Sherman 1850
1821 Rev. Uzziah C. Burnap
1823
1851 Thomas S. Pearson
1853
1816 Rev. Benson C. Baldwin
1817
1835 Rev. Merrill Richardson
When more permanent teachers have not been engaged, tempora- ry teachers have been employed to supply their place.
Rev. Joseph Steele, in the spring of 1857, was appointed precep- tor and principal, and it was hoped it might be sustained until it should assume a more permanent character. But from the want of adequate funds, he found it difficult to give it this character, and re-
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linquished it. The only permanent funds are the rents of the Gram- mar School lands in the county, which amount to a little over $100 annually,-hardly sufficient to keep the building in repair. The lands are principally in the mountain towns, where only charters were granted by this State. Other charters were granted by the Governor of New Hampshire, and contained no appropriation for' that purpose. While similar institutions were less common, popular teachers collected large schools, with a liberal income from tuition alone. Some of the teachers have received from the treasury, in addition to this income, from fifty to one hundred dollars annually. But the income has never been sufficient, and sufficiently certain to induce competent teachers to make it a permanent business. The citizens of Middlebury and vicinity would doubtless, long since, have adequately endowed this institution, if their liberality had not been exhausted on the college, which they regarded as a more im- portant objeet. We hope it will not be long before some efforts will be put forth for a thorough endowment, as such an institution, of a high order, is greatly needed in this vicinity.
After Mrs. Willard opened her school at her own residence, the building erected for the female seminary was wholly given up to the Grammar School. In 1820, the principal proprietors of that building transferred their shares to the corporation of that institu- tion. In 1843 that building came to be regarded as inconvenient, on account of its location and otherwise, and some measures were adopted to provide a different place. In 1844 a negotiation was opened with the corporation of the college, for occupying the wooden building, originally erected for the grammar school, or a part of it, and arrangement was made for that purpose. Accordingly a part of the lower story was altered and fitted up for that purpose, and the school has since been held there. The land, on which the female school building was erected, was deeded only for the use of such a school by Hon. Horatio Seymour, and being deserted by both schools, the whole was surrendered to him, on his making some compensa- tion for the building, to enable the corporation to fit up the rooms in the college building. The corporation have also, with the aid of contributions from the citizens, enclosed with a railing the building
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and the extensive common west of it; and by the liberal donation of several hundred dollars, by Charles Starr Esq., of New York, the grounds have been prepared and planted with ornamental trees and shrubbery.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
CAPTER XXIII.
MDDLEBURY COLLEGE.
AT an early day the leading citizens of Middlebury felt the im- portance of establishing literary institutions, not only for the advan- tage of their own town, but because they were needed in the forma- tion of an intelligent community in the state, then just opened for settlement, and rapidly filling up with an enterprising population. As an explanation of the efforts then made, and the measures adopted for the purpose, we commence the history of Middlebury College with a quotation from Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D., then president of Yale College. In his extensive travels in New Eng- land and New York, he visited Middlebury three times,-in 1798, 1806 and 1810. Of his first visit, among other things, he states as follows.
" An academy was nearly completed, which was intended to be the germ of a future college." "The evening of the 30th (of September) I spent in company with a number of gentlemen, in a consultation concerning this projected seminary, at the house of S. Miller Esq. They informed me that a college was already incor- porated in the State, the intended seat of which was to be Burling- ton ; that it had been incorporated some years and was liberally en- dowed ; but that, for various reason, which were specified, nothing material had been done toward carrying it into operation ; that al- though some indecisive efforts had been made by the trustees soon after their appointment, all its concerns had, for a considerable time been at a stand ; that there was now less reason to expect any effi- cacious efforts from those gentlemen, than there had been heretofore; as they themselves appeared to have relinquished both exertion and hope. The gentlemen then explained to me their own views of the
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IIISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
importance of such an institution to their state; the propriety of making this town the seat of it; their own intentions and the wishes of many respectable people in the State, who coincided with them in the opinion, which they had expressed to me. When they had unfolded their views, I frankly communicated to them my own; and have since had no reason to complain, that they were disregarded. I will only add, that the local situation of Middlebury, the sober and religious character of the inhabitants, their manners and various other circumstances render it a very desirable seat for such a sem- inary." In 1811, after his visits of 1806 and 1810, he makes the following record :
" The academy, which I have mentioned above, began to prosper from the time when it was opened ; and was in the year 1800 raised by an act of incorporation into a college. From that time to the present it has continued to prosper ; although all its funds have been derived from private donations, and chiefly, if not wholly, from the inhabitants of this town. The number of students is now one hundred and ten; probably as virtuous a collection of youths, as can be found in any seminary in the world. The faculty consists of a president, a professor of law, a professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, who teaches chemistry also, a professor of lan- guages and two tutors. The inhabitants of Middlebury have lately subscribed 8,000 dollars for the purpose of erecting another colle- giate building. When it is remembered, that twenty-five years ago this spot was a wilderness, it must be admitted, that these efforts have done the authors of them the highest honor."
These extensive quotations will save the necessity of saying more relating to the origin of the institution. On the first day of No- vember 1800, an act was passed by the legislature, establishing a college under a corporation by. the name of the " President and Fellows of Middlebury College." Rev. Jeremiah Atwater, who had officiated as principal of Addison County Grammar School, was by the act constituted the "present President," and Nathaniel Chipman, Heman Ball, Elijah Paine, Gamaliel Painter, Israel Smith, Stephen R. Bradley, Seth Storrs, Stephen Jacob, Daniel Chipman, Lot Hall Aaron Leeland, Gershom C. Lyman, Samuel
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
Miller, Jedidiah P. Buckingham and Darius Matthews, " the pres- ent Fellows." The act contains a proviso, that it should not be construed to give the corporation any right to the "property or estate, which had been or should be granted for the use of a col- lege in this State " or " granted and oppropriated by this state to the University of Vermont." The lands reserved for that purpose, in the charters granted by this state, had been devoted to the Uni- versity of Vermont at Burlington, which was incorporated in 1791.
Under this charter the college went into immediate operation, and two classes were received into the institution the same fall. The Grammar School, for about five years, was continued in connection with it, under the same superintendence, and the members were in- structed by a tutor. The first class in college, consisting of one member. Aaron Petty-was graduated in 1802. The graduating classes, from this time continued to increase, and in 1805 consisted · of sixteen, in 1808 of twenty-three, and in 1811 of nineteen, which were the largest classes to this period. Rev. Jeremiah At- water resigned the office of president in 1809, and on the 26th day of September of that year was inaugurated as president of Dickin- son College at Carlisle, Penn. He continued in this office until August 1815, when he resigned, and established his residence, in his native town, New Haven, Conn., where he has since resided .*
Rev. Henry Davis D. D., as successor of President Atwater, en- tered upon the duties of the office in 1811, and resigned it in 1817. The classes under his administration, for several years, had in- creased, and in 1812, the graduating class consisted of 26, in 1813 · of 29, in 1814 of 28, and in 1815 of 30. The other classes during this period were considerably smaller. President Davis had been a professor in Yale College and afterwards in Union College at Schenectady. He occupied the latter office, when he' was chosen president of this institution. Besides his eminent talents, he had a commanding person, address and eloquence, which gave him great popularity as president. On the death of Dr. Dwight, he was elected president of Yale College, but declined the office. Soon
"President Atwater died at New Haven, Conn., in July 1858, aged 84 years.
HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY .. 379
after he was chosen president of Hamilton College at Clinton N. Y., and accepted the appointment, which was the occasion of his resign- ing the same office here in 1817. After a few years he also resigned the office of president of Hamilton College; but continued his resi- dence at Clinton until his death, which occurred in 1852.
Dr. Davis was succeeded in the office of president, by Rev. Joshua Bates D. D., who entered upon the duties of that office in 1818. He was graduated, with distinguished honor, at Harvard College in 1800, and was settled as a pastor of the first Congrega- tional church in Dedham Mass., in 1803. In this position he re- mained until elected president of this institution. He brought to his new position an established character, as a scholar and as a man. Through the influence of his talents, learning and untiring devotion to the interests of the college, it was, during most of his adminis- tration in great prosperity, and the average number of the classes was larger than previously, and the graduating class in 1838 con- sisted of forty. While he was in office the under graduates rose to the number of 160. It had been Dr. Bates' design to return to the clerical profession, to which he was greatly attached, several years earlier than he did. While president, it was his delight, and he was often invited, to preach on public occasions and in destitute places, where his ministrations were highly appreciated. He re- signed the office of president in 1839, and in the succeeding session of Congress, he officiated as chaplain of the House of Representa- tives, and continued to preach in various places, and was finally settled as a pastor in Dudley Mass., in which position he continued until his death in 1853, at the age of seventy-seven.
Rev. Benjamin Labaree, D. D., was elected to the office of pres- ident, and entered upon its duties in 1840. From various causes occurring about the time, the numbers of the classes were some- what diminished before and about the time of the close of Dr. Bates' administration. From 1838 to 1840, through the resignations and deaths of the officers, there was a total change in the faculty. At the time of its greatest prosperity, the reputation of Middlebury College drew students from nearly all the New England States from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and some from as
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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBURY.
far south as Georgia. At this time the University of Vermont was in successful operation ; Dartmouth College on the eastern and Williams College on the southern border of the state, and Union College not far off, had risen on their endowments and standing be- fore the public. In a competition with such a multitude of well en- dowed colleges, this institution could not be expected to sustain its reputation over so wide a field, without persevering and successful ef- forts to enlarge also its endowments. These efforts the corporation have been and are making, and the influence is to some extent felt in the gradually increasing number of its students.
The college, at its commencement, was entirely destitute of funds. Until the year 1816, the only building belonging to the institution was the wooden building previously erected for the Addison County Grammar School. The tutors, for some years, were wholly sup- ported by contributions of the citizens. Frederick Hall, in 1806, was appointed to the professorship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, which was then established, with a very small salary, and in part sustained by a donation from Samuel Miller, Esq. While mn office he went to Europe to qualify himself more thoroughly for his department, and on his return claimed a higher compensation. A considerable part, if not the whole of the addition, was subscribed and guaranteed by the citizens. A similar addition was afterwards made to the salary of President Davis, and paid in the same way. The. citizens, many of whom were young men who had adopted this as their home, were early trained to the duty of sustaining the litera- ry institutions ; and it is hardly necessary to say that they entered upon their duty with zeal.
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