USA > Vermont > Washington County > The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer: > Part 108
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act provided that the affairs of the Associa- tion should be managed by trustees in number not less than five, nor more than seven, and that they should elect from their number a president, clerk, and treas-
urer. The corporation were: Royce Jones, William Rogers, H. M. Bates, William C. Woodbury, George Nichols, J. C. Cady, P. D. Bradford, J. C. B. Thayer, Perley Belknap, Heman Carpen- ter, E. A. Webb, E. G. Babcock, G. N. Cady, Calvin Cady, and W. F. Wood- worth. In November, 1866, the Legisla- ture passed an act in amendment of an act of 1855, "called an act incorporating the Northfield Cemetery Association," author- izing the Association formed under the General Statutes to accept the charter passed at the session of 1856, and that all rights, both in law and equity, be secured to and enjoyed by the association formed under the General Statutes that are secured to and enjoyed by the members of the as- sociation formed under the act aforesaid. Aug. 12, 1857, the association voted to accept the charter and amendment, and organized under the act of 1855, by elect- ing five trustees, viz : William C. Wood- bury, E. A. Webb, George Nichols, L. D. Gilchrist, and Jefferson Marsh. E. A.
Webb was elected president, George Nich- ols, clerk and treasurer.
In November, 1867, an act was passed by the Legislature in amendment of an act passed November, 1855, changing the name of the Northfield Cemetery Associa- tion to " Elmwood Cemetery "; also au- thorizing the trustees to contract with in- dividuals for the perpetual care and im- provement of any lot or lots in said cem- etery. In November, 1876, the Legisla- ture passed an act in amendment of the foregoing, giving full power and control to the trustees as to the burial of the dead : also full power to control and prevent the burial and removal of bodies buried in said cemetery, as fully and to the same extent that selectmen have in the burial grounds of the State, and to the extent necessary to protect said cemetery from encroach- ment or trespass by any person or per- sons. The cemetery contains at the pres- ent time (1878) the remains of 575 per- sons. It has long been apparent that the grounds were not adequate to the increas- ing and prospective wants of the commu- nity, and the trustees added to the same in 1877 by the purchase of additional land.
The site selected for this cemetery is beautifully adapted for that purpose, and shows the good judgment and taste of the donor. It is withdrawn a little distance from the busy thoroughfare, yet easy of access, and affords a pleasant walk, which appears a favorite one with citizens and strangers. If the character of a people for refinement and religion is indicated by the care of and taste displayed in beautifying the burial places of the dead, it is a matter of congratulation that our cemetery, with its beautiful monuments, its mementoes of affection, and numerous emblems of the Christian hope lighting up the darkness of this world, contrasts so strongly with the cheerless and unattractive burial grounds of 50 years ago. If this cemetery shall be beautified in years to come as it may be beautified, if art shall vie with nature in adding to its attractions, if affection, not avarice, take the lead in questions of ex- penditures, it will soon become one of the
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NORTHFIELD.
most attractive spots with- in the limits of our Green Mountain State.
The Association at its annual meeting, the first Tuesday in May, 1878, re- elected the former trus- tees, viz .: P. D. Brad- ford, J. H. Orcutt, C. D. Williams, J. C. Gallup, and E. G. Pierce, who sub- sequently elected P. D. Bradford, president, C. D. Williams, clerk and treasurer, G. B. B. Den- ny, auditor, and James Evans, sexton.
IHS
1887
In connection with and belonging to said cem- etery, is a substantial and commodious tomb, men- tion of which should not be omitted. At the annu- al town meeting in the spring of 1867, the select- men were instructed by a vote of the town to build a tomb for temporary deposit of the dead, donated by the late Thomas L. Salisbury. to be located at such place as would best It is surmounted by a heavy marble cross, accommodate the town. During the fol- (the emblem of the Christian's faith,) lowing summer the selectmen, (Marvin upon which is the monogram I. H. S.
Simons, William Winch, and Dr. Samuel Keith,) agreeable to instructions, caused said tomb to be constructed at an expense of $1,200, and located it within the cem- etery grounds, the Association donating the site. The front of the tomb is of hewn granite from Berlin quarry, with panels of serpentine from Roxbury quarry,
This tomb, bordering upon the highway at the head of North street, has been found of great convenience in the winter season, and for both usefulness and artis- tic beauty reflects great credit upon the town, and especially upon the member of the Board (Dr. Keith) who had charge of its construction.
CENTER CEMETERY.
Sept. 18, 1823, Ezekiel Robinson, Oli- ver Averill, Joseph Keyes, Harry Emer- son, and Nathan Green bought of E. Tay- lor, Jr., and G. R. Spalding i acre of land west of where the yellow meeting house stood for a burying-ground, paying $60. It was laid out in lots 113x25 feet, with a drive-way running through from east to west. The lots were sold at 75 cents each, and in 1829, had all been disposed of except two lots in the southwest corner,
which were reserved as a burial place for strangers.
Several additions have been made to the "lot; that of Jonathan Briggs on the east, where the first meeting house was built, and last on the west one acre and 127 rods bought of Timothy Reed, Sept. 30, 1874, for $204.45.
Soon after this cemetery was ready, the dead buried on " Richardson's Meadow," west of the railroad, were taken up and interred here. From 1811 to 1823, Rich-
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ardson's meadow was the general burial place in the vicinity. Some few were car- ried to the East Hill burying ground, and some to the west of Depot village, in a burial place near F. A. Preston's farm.
Nature has done much to make this
ground " beautiful for situation." The improvement began in the front part of of the cemetery is praiseworthy, and it is hoped will be continued until the whole enclosure shall present an agreeable ap- pearance.
HON. MOSES ROBINSON,
A son of one of the first settlers-see page 617 for biography of himself and the Robinson family, and page 646 of early anecdotes. Ilis father opened a lot on his land for the first burying ground in town, as we understand, without charge for burial to any one.
EAST HILL CEMETERY is sitnated at the four corners on the East Hill, near the first settlement of the town, in what is call- ed the Robinson district. It was the first burying ground in Northfield, and for a number of years the only one. The land belonged to the farm of Amos Robinson, and no organization as we can learn was ever formed to control it. All who de- sired it for the burial of their friends had the privilege, and here many of the early settlers rest from their labors. Among the prominent men that are here interred are Amos Robinson, Nathaniel Robinson, Abraham Shipman, Thomas Averill, and
Jesse Averill, Lebbeus Bennett, Parley Tyler, William Jones, and Sam- uel Buzzell, with their wives and many of their children.
GOULDSVILLE CEMETERY.
This burying ground, located in the center of the village, shows care and at- tention in the laying out of the lots, and keeping them clear from weeds and briers. A distinguished traveler once remarked : " Show me the cemeteries and churches of a town, and I will tell you the character of the people." The Falls village burial ground association was organized according to chapter 81 of Re- vised Statutes. The first meeting was held at the school-house in district No. 13, December, 1848, at which a constitution was adopted, A. S. Braman, moderator ; Marvin Simons, clerk; Leander Foster, James Gould, Samuel Smith, Lotan Lib- bey, Anson Munson, executive committee. The land for the cemetery formerly be- longed to the farm of Luther S. Burnham ; was bought and laid out in 79 lots, sold at $4 each. The grounds have since been enlarged by about half an acre.
Ord. Sergt. Luke W. Kendall, Co. F, 4th Vt., was shot through the head in the battle of the Wilderness. His regiment had never fought without him, and he never received a scratch until his fatal wound. He had re-enlisted for 3 years ; left a wife.
Edmund Pope, Jr., enlisted in 1861 ; taken prisoner at Wilson's Raid, June 19, 64 ; died in Dec., on board a transport, on his way home.
67 1
NORTHFIELD.
LONGEVITY OF NORTHFIELD.
BY DR. P. D. BRADFORD.
Names of all persons (as far as can be ascertained), who have lived and died in town over 70 years of age.
Whole number of males, 143 ; females, 100; total, 243. Aggregate ages of males, 12,249 : of females, 9,090 ; total, 21,339 yrs. Average ages of males, 85 yrs. 7 m. 26 days ; of females 90 9-10 yrs. Average ages of both sexes. 87 yrs. 9 m. 23 days.
Thomas Averill, 70
David Denney,
77
Prudence Wise Jones, 82
Aquilla Jones,
82
Hannah Shaw Hedges,
80
Thomas Averill,
78
Amasa Tubbs,
84
Mrs. Hill Tubbs,
80
Gilbert Hatch,
71
Elizabeth Averill,
80
Ezekiel Robinson,
70
Amos Robinson.
78
Elizabeth R. Averill, 88
Jerusha R. Richardson, Samuel Richardson,
90
Thomas Coburn,
77
Polly G. Cochran,
70
Reuben Smith.
74
Hannah Robinson,
70
Elijah Smith,
77
Amos Averill,
80
Paul Richmond,
79
Mrs. Keyser,
80
Abraham Shipman.
80
Mary M. Smith,
82
William Cochran,
80
William Wales,
82
Azubah H. Frizzle,
78 71
Ebenezer Frizzle,
94
CAPT. JESSE AVERILL. See page 618.
85 Mrs. Ebenezer Fox,
IO1 David Plastridge, 73
71 Ebenezer Fox,
85 Henry Knapp, 72
79 Calvin Cady,
81 Stephen Thrasher,
79
John Plastridge,
70 Betsey M. Cady,
73 John Preston,
95
Polly Loomis Averill,
72 Mrs. Maith Howe,
76 Eunice C. Preston, 87
Joel Winch,
74 Stillman Allen,
83 Almos Wheeler,
75
Lemuel Pope,
71 William A. Gallup,
73
Rachel A. Wheeler,
82
Daniel Stevens,
77 Isaac Kinsman,
84 Betsey Martin Fisk, 84
Polly Nichols Smith,
So
John Leonard,
82 James Heath, 85
Lydia Heath,
71 Anson Adams,
76 James Loomis, 75
Betsey Gallup,
74 Nathaniel Fisk,
87 David Partridge,
73
Betsey R. Tyler,
75 Sarah Fisk,
74 Willard Alger,
71
Lewis Hedges,
72 Amos Howes,
72 Eleazer Loomis,
SI
Lavina Chamberlin.
70 Libbeus Bennett.
83 Lois Rice,
89
Mrs. Lewis,
75 Daniel Worthington,
91 Silas Rice.
93
Theophilus Gould,
74 William Hedges.
73 Amarvale LaDuke,
76
Joseph Grant,
74 William Keyes,
73 Fanny Udall Richmond, 90 Simeon Curtis,
72
Amasa Alger,
87 Joel Brown,
70 Rebecca Pope,
84
Nathaniel B. Ashcroft, 70 Seth P. Field,
76 Betsey C. Pitkin, 90
John Fisk,
74 Silas Braley,
81 Lucy R. Trow, 74
Asahel Briggs,
84 'Hannah Reed Davis,
75 Asahel Blake, 76
Perley Tyler,
76 Betsey Fisk,
71 Michael Welch, 84
Polly Fish Worthington, 71
David Fisk,
73 Margaret Mowcroft, 75
Nathaniel King,
Thomas L. Mayo,
William Gold.
Dinah D. Robinson,
87
David Hedges,
85
7
Esther Grant,
76 Mrs. Wm. Noyes King, 91
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
Polly Latham,
James Latham,
95
Ezra Latham,
88
John Greene,
78
Benjamin Porter,
88
James Pike,
92
Laura S. Randall,
76
Sally S. Thrasher,
88
Jedediah Bacon,
78
Marian Belknap,
97
Joseph S. Daniels,
73
Abijah Howe,
83
Samuel Richmond,
70
Mrs. M. R. Plastridge,
86
John F. Nye,
76
Nora Hannon,
75
Daniel Hannon,
75
Mrs. H. D. Balch,
80
Lydia W. Smith,
82
Nancy Quimby,
78
Susan Adams,
87
Richard Hedges,
87
Julia T. Hedges,
83
Adolphus Denny,
77
John Mosely,
70
Samuel Maxham.
81 79
DR. BENJAMIN PORTER. See page 632.
80 James Webster,
74 |
Nathan Ring, 84
SI Simon Eggleston,
81 |James Nichols, 77
95 Nathaniel Richardson, 86
Adin Smith, 78
Roswell Alger,
78
Betsey P. Houghton,
85 Zebedee Briggs, 73
Betsey French,
Polly Latham,
85 Solomon Dunham, 75
Ora Nichols,
James Latham,
90 80
Mrs. James Pike. 84
Mrs. McCarty,
86
Oliver Averill,
Died in 1880 and 1881.
James Johnson,
74
Roswell Carpenter,
76
Betsey W. Kathan, 76
84 Samuel Emerson, 76
Ozias Silsbury, 76
76
Jonathan Rich,
87 Anna R. Smith,
79
Ansel Shaw, 77
Dennis Canady,
70 Dyer Loomis,
88 1
Jacob Loomis, 77
Daniel Stevens,
79 Jesse Averill,
74
Moses Robinson,
77
Mrs. Johnson,
88 Betsey L. Ashcroft,
88
Abigail Alger,
78
Silas Jackson,
72 Betsey W. Kathan,
76 Harriet Hoyt Sylvester, 79
Lyman Cochran,
78 Susan C. Eastman,
87 Calista Vinton Porter,
79
Jonathan Pitkin,
95 Edward Eastman,
94 Charles Simons, 79
80
Noyes Tower,
83 Hannah Gilson Parker,
99 Mary Wales,
Jemima Thompson,
84 Ezekiel Stanton,
73 Louisa Jones Rice, So
Mrs. Rich,
90
Joel Coburn,
100
Josiah Lane, 85
86
Richard Hedges,
87 Abbie Tyler,
85 Aurelia Kathan Nye,
86
Rhoda R. Hedges,
83 N. A. Whittaker,
84 Elmira C. Nye,
86
Abigail D. Foster,
72 Elijah Ellis,
80 Stephen Burbank,
86
Mary LaDuke,
83 Mrs. Elijah Ellis,
83 Silas Sheldon,
87
Edward Bean,
87 James Wiley,
75 Melinda F. Davis,
88
Harriet G. Dodge.
77 Mary B. Tyler,
70
Allen Balch, 91
Susan Kent,
73 Betsey F. Mayo,
75 M. R. Burbank,
92
Amos Rice,·
75 Isaac Libby,
75
Zervia S. Williams,
91
Ziba Rice,
75 Joseph B. Newton,
77 Mrs. A. Dumas, 93
James Steele,
82 Rachel B. Newton,
74 Mrs. E. E. Corliss,
96
Esther S. Steele,
77 Jacob Amidon,
75 |John Leahy, 100
George Rice,
75
· Esther Rice,
75
Roswell Carpenter, Jr.,
Tyler Ladd,
71 Lovisa Carpenter,
William Mowcroft,
71 Azuba Simons,
71
Huldah Varney,
70 Thomas N. Courser,
73
Thomas Emerson,
Samuel Adams,
81 Mrs. Holden,
Elijah Burnham,
78
Sarah Allen Curtis,
73
Nancy L. Field,
Elijah Hedges,
85
Polly T. Hedges,
Samuel Buzzell,
John Greene,
80 John Gregory, 71
- Churchill,
76| Joel Parker,
89 Rebecca W. Coburn,
93 Joseph Moffitt, 83
Joseph Chamberlin,
88 Anson Farnham,
Nancy H. Chamberlin,
76 | Polly Farnham,
77 John Averill,
83 82
NORTHFIELD.
673
LEWIS COLLEGE.
NORWICH UNIVERSITY. BY REV. F. W. BARTLETT.
The early history since its foundation in 1834, may be found in the history of Norwich, where it was located until after the burning of the " South Barracks " in the spring of 1866. The next fall it re- moved to Northfield, the citizens thereof having raised $16,500 for the purpose. Rev. Edward Bourns, LL. D., had been president for 15 years.
On removal, the institution first occupied the upper part of Paine's building, i. e., from Sept. 13, 1866, to the Commencement in July, 1868. Capt. S. W. Shattuck became president pro tempore in 1866, Dr. Bourns remaining as professor of languages until his death, in July, 1871. Maj. Thomas W. Walker, U. S. A., became president in 1867, Rev. R. S. Howard, D. D., in 1869, Rev. Malcolm Douglass, D. D., in 1872, Rev. Josiah Swett, D. D., in 1875, Capt. Chas. A. Curtis, U. S. A., in 1877, Hon. Geo. Nichols, M. D., in 1880. Dec. 31, 1880, the trustees, having been em- powered by the Legislature, changed the name to LEWIS COLLEGE.
of Boston, an alumnus, to render it the needed financial support, on certain con- ditions, which were accepted by the trus- tees. With no endowment, there had been of late years a long-continued strug- gle for existence. Col. Lewis was at the same time elected president, and Dr. Clarence L. Hathaway, M. S .. vice presi- dent.
The college has conferred the following degrees since its foundation : Bachelor of Arts, III ; Bachelor of Science, 140 ; Bach- elor of Philosophy, 2; Civil Engineer, 3 ; Master of Arts, 80; Master of Civil En- gineering, 13; Doctor of Medicine, 3; Doctor of Divinity, 16; Doctor of Laws. 14 ; Doctor of Philosophy, 2.
The faculty of professors and instructors have numbered 60, of which there grad- uated from Bowdoin College, I ; Brown University, I ; Cambridge, Eng., I ; Co- lumbia, 2; Dartmouth, 2; Harvard, I ; Michigan, I ; Middlebury, I ; N. Y. City College, 1 ; Norwich University, 29; Trin- ity, Dublin, 2; Union, 1; University of Vermont, I ; Upsala, Sweden, I; U. S. Military Academy, 2 ; Williams, I.
Under the presidency of Col. Lewis
This was done chiefly in recognition of the offer of Col. Chas. H. Lewis, LL. D., there have been the following professors
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VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
besides the lecturers : Clarence L. Hath- away, M. S., M. D., Prof. of Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene : Charles Dole, A. M., English, History and Political Science ; William M. Rumbaugh, C. E., Drawing, Architecture, Civil and Topo- graphical Engineering ; Franklin W. Bart- lett, A. M., Latin and Greek ; John B. Johnson, A. B., Mathematics, Mining and Mechanical Engineering : Frederick W. Grube, A. M., Modern Languages ; Asa Howe, C. E., M. D., Engineering, Field Work.
Military science has been taught and military discipline enforced from the out- set ; and accordingly many graduates and past cadets have entered the army in time of war, and not a few have risen to dis- tinction as officers or engineers. The roll of honor includes the names of 12 general officers, 40 colonels and a great number of other officers, among whom some shed their blood for their country.
Recently efforts have been made to bring the college more prominently before the public as a school of practical science. The publication of the old college paper, The Reveille, has lately been revived by the cadets. The number of students is in- creasing.
REV. EDWARD BOURNS, LL. D.
BY REV. MALCOLM DOUGLASS, D. D.
Edward Bourns was born in Dublin, Ire- land, Oct. 29, 1801. His father's ancestor was a Scotchman, whose name was thought to have been originally Burns, who went to Ireland about the time of James I., and settled in Derry. His mother bore the name of King. His two grandmothers were sisters, Medlicott, by name ; and his great grandmother was a Kirkpatrick from Scotland. He was educated by Dr. Mil- ler, of Armagh, entered Trinity College, Dublin, and won his degree of B. A. July 9, 1833. He passed the theological exam- inations, June, 1834. Both before and after this date he was engaged as a writer and reviewer by the well known publishers, Thomas Tegg & Son, Cheapside, London. He did not at once take orders, but en- gaged as tutor in a private family in Eng-
land. In August, 1837, he landed in this country. He soon after opened an English and Classical School in Philadelphia, where he became acquainted with the Rev. Dr. William H. DeLancey, Provost of the Pennsylvania University. After the con- secration of Dr. DeLancey as Bishop of Western New York, and his removal to Geneva, in 1838, Edward Bourns was at- tracted to Geneva. In 1839, he received the degree of M. A. from Geneva College, then presided over by the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Hale. In the same year, he was made ad- junct professor of the Latin and Greek languages. In 1841. he received the de- gree of LL. D. from the same college. In the same year on the 7th of March, in Trinity Church, Geneva, he was ordain- ed Deacon in the Protestant Episcopal Church ; and in the year following, March 12, at Zion Church, Palmyra, N. Y., he was ordained Priest. In 1845, he re- signed the Professorship and went to Brooklyn, L. I., where he continued to give instruction in the languages, until he was called, in Sept. 1850, to the Presidency of Norwich University, Vt. He held this office until 1865 ; and from 1850, discharged also the duties of Professor of Latin and Greek until shortly before his death, which was caused by paralysis and occurred July 14, 1871.
Dr. Edward Bourns was no ordinary man. In the midst of pressing cares, fre- quent infirmities, and peculiar embarrass- ments, the intrinsic force, native shrewd- ness and genial kindness of his nature, notwithstanding a vein of constitutional caution and reserve, made him felt and re- spected and greatly endeared to many. The trials of Norwich University in his time were peculiar, and arose chiefly from the lack of an early and wise plan of foun- dation by generous endowments. Yet perseveringly and staunchly he stood by, through evil report and good report. He braved with wonderful elasticity and spirit the frosts and freshets and droughts of neglect and almost literary banishment and pecuniary hardship. In the most loyal, unselfish spirit, he resigned his Presidency of N. U., after 15 years of service, and
675
NORTHFIELD.
still faithfully continued in her service, en- dured her transplanting from Norwich to Northfield, and became rooted in the new place, winning the esteem and confidence of all the people on every hand. Against increasing infirmities his well-proved spirit bore up to the last, scorning the thought of surrender ; bearing him up by the long training of habit to give instruction, and to sacrifice himself, and to rally his powers, when it was marvelous that he could even prolong existence. He died in harness.
in moulding for good the character of many American youth, who now live to remem- ber him with pleasure and gratitude.
But, again, on his mother's father's side he inherited also something of the capacity, strength and robustness of the Irish oak. This is a tree distinguished for its genuine toughness of grain, and practical power ; and its ability to furnish sound timber for traffic, constructions, and the welfare of men and communities. And this tree may also represent in some sort the character- istics of this man. If you regard him as to his physical mould, it is easy to see that if he had been brought up to cultivate chiefly his bodily powers, he would have been gigantic even amongst our most pow- erful men. He was somewhat bent from long sedentary life, but when standing fully erect his height was but little short of six feet and three inches, with a frame- work-a breadth of shoulder, a develop- ment of muscle, and massive loins-in equal proportion. His physical courage was perfect. For although diffident to an extreme, and reluctant to a fault to dis- play himself, no truer, braver heart could anywhere be found when the time for ac- tion came ; no sympathy more ready than his with the oppressed, no freer outspeak- ing of views than his, no contempt of hum- bug and pretension-of mere glitter and show-more thorough than his. Take him all in all as he was, even as developed by purely literary and professional pur- suits, by the life and service of the parish minister, by the trials of the academic professor and president, by the confine- ment of books and writings, and the inter- course of educated men ; notwithstanding, mentally and physically, the Scottish larch and the Irish oak will not badly represent him.
Let us draw an illustration of his char- acter from the trees of a forest. There, in the admirable variety of nature, there are certain types and characteristics which distinguish one tree from another, and in which their respective excellences and good qualities lie. So it is also with men, and it was eminently so with this man. His character, like that of certain grand families of trees, was conspicuous amongst the many men of ability, education and practical sense with whom he constantly mingled. It was moulded and grew up under a combination of influences which helped to make the man. On his father's and his mother's mother's side he might be said to have inherited the characteris- tics of the Scottish Larch, which now clothes the heathery Scottish highlands and rugged hills. In hardihood under adverse storms, in patient endurance against the wintry sleet and driving hail, in the qualities which fit that tree to bear transplanting, to redeem the sterile, rocky wastes, and give them a new value; in these respects, this representative tree may well illustrate some of the marked charac- teristics of this man. He came in the prime of his young manhood to a country before unknown to him and strange, and was transplanted into its soil. As he stood upon the deck of the vessel which bore him Dr. Bourns was a man of learning and acumen. His Alma Mater, Trinity Col- lege, Dublin, was second to none in the United Kingdom in scholarly training and classical learning. Here he won honora- ble prizes, and in his library were books marked with the printed seal of the col- lege recording the occasions upon which from his native shores, he resolved at once and always to lay aside in obscurity the traditions of his native land, and accept in good faith and generously the traditions of the land of which he intended to be an ac- knowledged citizen. And under difficulties which few can understand, he succeeded in making himself useful and a blessing, and he won them in scholastic competitions.
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He earned by long practice a right to speak and to teach as it were ex cathedra. He was also a voluminous, careful and ex- haustive reader. Yet never at any time in his sermons or addresses, in conversation or in discussions, did he ever betray the con- sequence of the pedant, or assume to be other than a sincere enquirer after truth. He was fond of accuracy ; willing to be restrained by well-grounded principles and laws; ready to surrender cheerfully his opinions and theories, if found to be un- tenable, but not otherwise. No man could discern better than he the weak points of a coxcomb or hypocrite ; and no man could with keener humor and presence of mind foil the advances of intrusive persons and turn the tables upon them. Yet, with a facility of extempore speech, and a native readiness that but for his diffidence and physical hindrances would have placed him amongst our foremost public speakers, and with a keen and humorous moth- er-wit sufficient for three ordinary men, he guarded the portals of his lips with the extremest care from hasty, unbecoming, or careless words. He never passed the bounds of perfect propriety, modesty and good sense, in public or in private. He sometimes felt himself obliged to show a presuming, pertinacious or priggish person that he had the advantage of him and would keep it. But he never told tales out of school, or treated the character and actions of any scholar or any person but with the most delicate reserve. He stood in all these respects upon his sacred honor. His reticenice under the most trying cir- cumstances and in regard to those who had caused him great anxiety, was mar- vellous and instructive.
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