The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 109

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press
Number of Pages: 1066

USA > Vermont > Washington County > The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer: > Part 109

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Would that our limits permitted us to illustrate that readiness and keenness of humor which those who knew him will easily remember. We heard him once make the following characteristic speech, on a certain commencement evening at Norwich ; when the cadets were assembled with a serenading band of music, and the Doctor was importuned for a speech. He opened the window and was heard to say : " Young gentlemen, I thank you for this | Hanover, without other compensation than

admirable music. I have heard you praised greatly this day by our accomplished visi- tors, and I think myself that you have done very well indeed. I cannot help thinking that if you are such fine birds now when you are half-fledged, what will you be when you are in full feather !" When the clergy of the diocese of Vermont, after the death of Bishop Hopkins, held a preliminary meeting to review the names of candidates to fill the vacancy, the Doc- tor while praising highly the timber of Ver- mont, ingeniously argued that a Vermont sapling, which had been transplanted, de- veloped and finished under other and most favorable skies, was ceteris paribus better furnished than one could otherwise be for this responsible service.

Dr. Bourns worked faithfully in his cler- ical life. He was an excellent sermonizer, and extemporized passages and paragraphs with the greatest facility as he was preach- ing. It may be remembered that at a cer- tain Convocation of the clergy in Rutland years ago, the question under discussion was, How may sermons be made more effective in drawing the laity? The Doctor, when asked his opinion, answered that the clergy " should prepare better sermons." " They should use more art," he said ; " not art in the sense of artifice, but high, sacred art in building up, constructing, the sermon, and preaching lt."

As a theologian, he was no mere theo- rist, but sound, practical, consistent, and conservative. He was not by nature en- thusiastic ; and he sometimes distrusted those who were, if he failed to discern the stability of the foundation upon which they built. He deeply felt the value of energy and practical common sense in carrying out the great work of the Church, and showed his sincere missionary spirit by doing under great disadvantages what he could in the paths of clerical work. Before he went to Norwich many clergyman re- ceived his assistance in the pulpit. In Norwich he held service in the chapel, afterwards in a parish church. For 16 years he crossed the Connecticut River weekly to minister to the little parish in

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the small means of the Diocesan Board of Missions could furnish him. At North- field, he served for several years as rector of St. Mary's Parish. In the beautiful cemetery of that village will be found his monument and his grave.

When one, a professor in the Universi- ty, and one of its first two graduates ; one who had become endeared to Dr. Bourns by the mutual trials and sympathies of many years of academic life together : when this good and true man, this Chris- tian brother, Gen. Alonzo Jackman, ap- proached him a few days before his death, and asked the question. "Is the sky all clear between you and your God ?" " Yes." was the emphatic response ; and after a pause, "yes, it is clear."

GEN. ALONZO JACKMAN, LL. 1). BY REV. FRANKLIN W. BARTLETT.

The name of Alonzo Jackman occupies an illustrious place in the annals of Ver- mont, and on account of his distinguished services, as an educator and a soldier, as well as his virtues as a man. he deserves a longer biographical notice than our limits permit. He was born in Thetford, Mar. 20, 1809, the second son of Joseph and Sarah (Warner) Jackman, who were in- dustrious and worthy people. When near- ly 3 years old, his father, a farmer, died of an injury, and his mother was left in straightened circumstances, with three children, Enoch, Alonzo and Joseph. Shortly after that, they removed to Straf- ford, and the next year, 1813, to New Bos- ton, in the town of Norwich; and that summer, the young lad commenced attend- ing school. One day, he had a narrow es- cape from drowning in the swollen brook near by. The same year, he was very low of a fever, and not expected to live. He had early religious impressions ; for when he was only 5 years old, he believed he saw a vision of the Lord walking on the sky. In 1814, while his mother was at Enfield, In 1828, young Jackman went to New York and engaged as seaman before the mast, on a new ship, the St. John, bound for Mobile, and from there, as he sup- posed, to Liverpool. This expectation was not realized, and he returned by N. H., a few weeks, to learn the art of making oil-cloth, he was placed in the care of a Mrs. Sawyer, who instilled into his young mind a knowledge of the Bible. Many years afterwards, the mature man looked back to that period as having had | another ship to New York and thence to

an important influence on his subseqent life. In 1815, he lived in the same house with a Smith family ; and their boy, Jo- seph, who afterwards became the Mormon Prophet, was his play-fellow. In 1816, Mrs. Jackman was married to Eli Clark, who took a farm to carry on by the halves, and the two older boys worked as steadily on it as if hired men. Alonzo cut wood for the family bare-footed, with a warmed board between his feet and the snow. One day when Enoch and he were cutting from the same log, the latter sat down to rest, when Enoch's axe glanced and cut his brother slightly, nearly from hip to knee.

In 1820, these two boys left home, never to return again, except on a visit, their mother having given them the parting ad- monition, " Go for yourselves and remem- ber there is a God." Alonzo went to work with a farmer, James Powell, for board, clothing and schooling. He re- mained one year. While there he heard much religious discussion, and commenced reading the Bible through by course, in order to know the truth more perfectly. In 1821, he commenced work for another farmer, about half a mile from his birth- place. Here he was to have board, cloth- ing and 3 months at school. He did his part faithfully, but was unjustly treated, and some of the winters was allowed but little time at school, a disadvantage in early years, which he always afterwards felt. Having worked here 6 years, he left with $4, and two days provisions. His brother Enoch accompanied him, and the two, with $12.47 between them, went on foot down the Connecticut river until they reached Middletown, Mar. 16, with 25 cents left. They crossed over to Chatham, now Portland, where they secured work in the sandstone quarries, near which his brother still resides. He attended school in the winter.

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Portland, where he worked in the quar- ry during the season, and then went to Ver- mont, where he visited and helped his mother, spending the winter at school. In the spring of 1830, he was again at work in the quarry, and the next winter attended the high school at Portland. About this time he decided to be a Chris- tian. One wakeful night he revolved the subject in his mind and firmly resolved to give himself wholly to the service of God. He joined the Methodist class in March, 1831, and the following summer was bap- tized by immersion. The year 1831 was employed like the year before, partly in the quarry and partly at school.

In 1832, the two brothers left Portland for Ohio; but Enoch, when they had reached Troy, N. Y., could be persuaded to go no further. After a few weeks in the stone cutter's business, they left for New York, where they got employment on a steamboat for a short time, and then re- turned to the quarries. Alonzo, however, did not abandon the idea of going west to settle. In October, he left for Ohio. He traveled in various parts of the state, look- ing for a farm ; but he finally shipped on a steamboat, engaged in the iron trade, be- tween Cincinnati and Wyandotte, Va. He was next employed on a New Orleans and Mobile boat. In May, 1833, he again went to work in the Portland quarry.

The scanty opportunities which he had snatched for reading, and his short seasons of school life had given him a desire to pursue a regular course of study. He con- sidered whether to accept an agency for a line of steamers, go to farming in Ohio, or to get an education. He decided, left Portland, and about Dec. 1, 1833, entered Franklin Seminary at Norwich, Vt. The next year, the principal, Mr. Buck, re- moved his school to New Market, N. H., and young Jackman went with him, and, while prosecuting his studies, rendered as- sistance in teaching mathematics, his fa- vorite branch. In the summer of 1835, he taught the same branch while pursuing his studies in an academy at Kingston, N. H., and also on its removal in the autumn to Rochester, N. H. Norwich University

had, in the meantime, been chartered and opened. He decided to enter it, and did so in December of that year, having passed his examination for admission to the Sen- ior class. He graduated at the first com- mencement, Aug., 1836, with the degree of B. A. Being the only graduate that year he stands at the head of the alumni. Soon afterwards he was elected to the chair of mathematics. In the next sum- mer vacation, he visited in New England, New York and Canada. In 1838, on ac- count of the uneasiness caused by the pro- jected Canada rebellion, he was employed to drill troops at Enosburgh, Berkshire and Sheldon. On returning to open the spring term of 1839, Zerah Colburn, Pro- fessor of Languages, had died, and the charge of the whole institution rested upon Captain Partridge and himself. In Feb., 1840, Josiah Swett, who had been Jack- man's room-mate and graduated a year after him, became professor of ancient lan- guages, and that summer these two profes- sors established a paper at Norwich, devo- ted to military science, national defence, and the interests of the militia. It did not prove a financial success ; and one reason may have been that it stood aloof from politics during the great excitement of the presidential campaign of that year. Pro- fessor Jackman contributed a series of ar- ticles on tactics valuable for their clear- ness and precision. Some time during the publication of this paper, both editors re- signed their professorships and removed to Windsor, where they opened a school, which they called the New England Semi- nary. They were both Methodists, but after much reading and discussion conclud- ed to enter the communion of the Episco- pal church, and received confirmation from Bp. Hopkins, in 1843.

While at Windsor, Jackman had as mathematical treatise printed on the sub- ject of " Series," in which his investiga- tions were carried beyond the ability of the ordinary student. Having conducted the school for 3 years, he and his friend Swett returned by invitation, in 1844, to the University, and resumed their profes- sorships under the new president, Gen. T.

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B. Ransom. After the commencement of instead of india rubber for the purpose of 1845, the two friends left for Claremont, insulation. N. H., proposing to set up a school ; but finding the project unpromising, they abandoned it. Jackman, at the solicitation of the president and the trustees of N. U., again went on duty in the fall term.

In 1846, he wrote and published an arti- cle on the subject of an oceanic magnetic telegraph. He gave in detail plans for the construction, materials and manner of lay- ing a telegraphic cable across the Atlantic. In lecturing to his school on magnetism, he had expressed the belief that if the nec- essary expense could be met, a telegraph might be thus extended across the ocean. In 1846, the Hon. Amos Kendall, then president of a Telegraph Co., at Washing- ton, D. C., communicated to a Philadel- phia paper the difficulties of crossing, with the telegraph, large bodies of water. Prof. Jackman, happening to see this article, wrote Mr. Kendall, and explained how the difficulties could be surmounted. Receiv- ing no reply, he was induced to write out for publication the article to which we have referred, that no other person might have the credit of solving the problem which he had worked out in this field of science. Accordingly, he wrote a paper, answering all objections, providing against all the difficulties, and including all the necessary particulars of construction and the method of laying an oceanic telegraphic cable. This was about 12 years before the first Atlantic cable was successfully laid. He sent the article to periodicals in Washing- ton, New York, Philadelphia and Boston ; but editors refused it, considering the plan visionary. He then sent it to the Vermont Mercury of Woodstock, where it appeared in the number dated Aug. 14, 1846. He forwarded copies to prominent men in the United States, England, Canada and France. It seems, therefore, that the credit is due him of having matured a suc- cessful plan for this gigantic enterprise. The cable as it was laid was of the same gen- eral description with that which he had pro- posed, differing in some minor details, among which was the use of gutta-percha

Prof. Jackman was well versed in tactics, and had a reputation as an excellent drill- master. This led to his being appointed Brigade drill master by the Governor of New Hampshire, with the rank of Major. He drilled the officers of the brigades of that state at certain times in 1847, '48.

Returning to Norwich from a drill, he had held at Exeter, N. H., he suffered from a severe attack of typhoid fever, from which he narrowly escaped death. This is one of the many times when he was near death, either by accident or sickness.

In Aug., 1849, he obtained 3 years leave of absence from the University, and in October, sailed from Boston for California by way of Cape Horn. His object was to see the country and to add to his resources. He reached San Francisco March 13, 1850. Within a few weeks he took out a claim in the gold region. The prospect seemed fair ; but it was desirable to turn the course of the river, and Jackman was elected the Engineer. He was 100 miles from a civilized center, and had to work at a disadvantage ; but his ingenuity and ac- quirements came to his aid. He accom- plished the work he had undertaken, and Californians pronounced it the greatest achievemeut in engineering in the state. He did not find much gold, however. When the rainy season was approaching, he sold out, and the same autumn went to Oregon, and took out a claim of 320 acres, not far from Pacific city, now included in Wash- ington Territory. When Pacific County was organized, June 2, 1851, and county officers elected, Mr. Jackman was made Probate Judge and School Superintendent. In December, he quit Oregon, with some of his farm products on board a bark bound for San Francisco, expecting to realize a goodly sum of money for them. The pas- sage was rough, and his property was ren- dered worthless by leakage of the vessel. While in this city, he learned that a large amount of gold had been realized from his old mining claim since he left it.

He returned to Norwich Apr. 10, 1852,

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intending to settle up his affairs and re- turn to his western farm. Dr. Bourns, at this time President of N. U., induced him to teach until the next commencement. Meantime, the reports he heard from the West dissuaded him from returning thith- er, and he consented to remain with Dr. Bourns and assist him not only in teach- ing, but in paying the indebtedness of the institution. In 1857, the N. U. cadets were organized under the militia law, as an infantry company, and Prof. Jackman was commissioned Captain, and in 1859, when officers of the 2d Regt. were ordered to meet at White River Junction for choice of regimental officers, he was chosen and commissioned Colonel. The next fall, he held an officers' drill there, and a regi- mental muster at Bradford. The same year the Vermont militia were consolidated into one brigade and Col. Jackman was made Brigadier General. He was very painstaking and thorough in his instruc- tions and drills ; and was himself skilled in the use of fife or drum.

At the beginning of our late civil war, he received a telegram from Gov. Fair- banks, summoning him to meet him at St. Johnsbury with Gens. Baxter and Davis. The Secretary of War had called for troops. A long consultation was held, and an extra session of the legislature was called. Several companies were detailed and equipped. The governor offered the general any position in his power to grant, if he wished to go to the front; but ex- pressed the preference that he should remain where he was, and qualify men for duty. He rendered service as an officer during this period ; inspected and got in readiness the old militia, organized new companies and regiments ; sent out cadets to drill companies in different parts of the State, as he was notified of their formation, and regimental officers from different States went to him for instruction at Norwich. At the time of the raid on St. Albans, he took the cadet corps to Derby Line, in response to an order from the governor, with authority to take command of any forces he might find, and to organize more if needed. As no danger had been appre-

hended the militia had been disbanded ; but the cadets were always ready, and were en route by rail 2 hours after the order was received.

Honor is due the general for the results of his work on behalf of his State and the Union during these years ; his industry was untiring ; and his clear, precise, thor- ough instructions to officers and men were of great value to them in the service.

On March 13, 1866, the N. U. " South Barracks " building was burned, whereby Drs. Bourns and Jackman, who had paid up the indebtedness, lost heavily. The latter now thought of leaving to seek a support elsewhere ; but the friends of the institution were anxious that he should remain to aid in establishing it in a new place, and to this he consented, with the understanding that he should not be re- sponsible for its finances or government ; and he removed with it to its new loca- tion in Northfield, and remained connected with it until his death Feb. 24, 1879. He had attended to his duties as professor the previous week, and been at church the day before. He died from an affection of the heart.

He had been a close student, often so absorbed when studying as to be oblivious of what was passing. His delight was in mathematics, in which he excelled, and he was conversant with natural science. His culture lay mostly in these channels and in military science. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him in 1862. He wrote some mathematical works which he never published, and demonstrated the problem of squaring the circle to his own satisfaction and to that of some other emi- nent professors-that old problem which had vexed mathematicians for centuries.

In person, Gen. Jackman was of sturdy compact frame, though of somewhat less than medium height; his complexion slightly dark, his eye, dark grey and keen ; the countenance indicating both benevo- lence and decision of character. He was was very methodical, earnest, and hon- est ; had great endurance and strength of body, and mind; under the trials of life was submissive and patient, and was a

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devout and faithful Christian, and in this respect has left an example which will not soon be forgotten. For several years he was Senior Warden of St. Mary's church, Northfield ; and bequeathed at his death his small estate to the poor.

He was married to Miss Charlotte Saw- yer of Royalton, Jan. 1, 1856. They had two children : Alonzo, born in 1857, and died 1859; Helen, born 1860, and died 1877 ; Mrs. Jackman died 1874.

NORTHFIELD GRADED AND HIGH SCHOOL.

DESCRIPTION BY JAMES N. JOHNSON, ESQ.

The Northfield graded and high school. the most important public school in the valley of Dog river, was established nearly in its present form in 1870. The high school is the successor of the Northfield institution formerly the Northfield acad- emy-chartered by the Legislature in 1846. Previous there had been no regular high school in this valley. Gov. Paine donated the grounds for the academy site in 1850, upon an eminence between the river and the Central Vermont railroad, and not far from the geographical center of the village of Northfield.

Through the exertions of Gov. Paine, Heman Carpenter, John L. Buck, James

Palmer. George R. Cobleigh, Benjamin Porter, Leander Foster, and quite a num- ber of other public-spirited citizens, a sub- scription of about $2,400 was raised for erecting the school-building, and another to pay for furniture and apparatus. About a hundred men signed the main subscrip- tion, Gov. Paine giving $500; Heman Carpenter, $100 ; Wm. Nichols and James Palmer, $75, each ; H. H. Camp, James Moore, H. R. Campbell, P. Belknap & Co., N. C. & C. S. Munson, Dr. S. W. Thayer, George M. Cady, James Gould, Thomas Connor, R. H. Little, $50, each ; J. C. Cady, $40; William Rogers, $35; E. A. Webb, $30 ; N. W. Lincoln, Elijah Smith, Stephen Cochran, A. Wetherbee, G. P

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Randall, C. S. Dole, Leander Foster, $25, |ols, J. H. Orcutt, L. Belknap, George M. each; George K. Cobleigh, William R. Fisk, executive committee. Tucker, A. S. Braman, H. Nye, Theophilus Cass, $20, each ; H. L. Briggs, $12.50.

At the first meeting of the trustees, Mar. 6, 1847, Charles Paine, John L. Buck, Leander Foster, James Gould, Jas. Palmer and Heman Carpenter present, John L. Buck, Esq., was chosen presi- dent, James Gould vice president, and Heman Carpenter secretary and treasurer. Judge Carpenter filled his offices till 1868. The building was erected in 1851, by Wm. H. H. Dunham and E. K. Jones; cost about $2,600 ; dedicated and school opened Sept. 1851, with C. C. Webster, A. M., principal. It flourished well, Rev. R. M. Manly succeeding as principal in 1852-3. In 1854, the name of the school was changed by the Legislature to Northfield Institution. The principals since have been John H. Graham, A. R. Bissell, George Brooks. J. G. Mclutire, George F. Beard and Charles G. Tarbell, able teach- ers, and the school well patronized in their time. Having no separate fund, it de- teriorated somewhat during the War of the Rebellion.

After the decease of Northfield's bene- factor, Governor Charles Paine, the fol- lowing resolutions were unanimously adopt- ed by the Board of Trustees, Jan. 30, 1854 :

WHEREAS, The Trustees of Northfield Academy have heard with deep grief the melancholy intelligence of the death of the Hon. Charles Paine, one of the Trustees of this Institution

Resolved, That in his death this Institu- tion has lost one of its first friends, and one whose aid contributed largely to the establishment and success of the same.

Resolved, That the friends of this Insti- tution will ever hold in grateful remem- brance the many public and private virtues of our deceased friend, and the services he has rendered the cause of education in our midst, and the advancement of the growth and prosperity of our State.

This Institution will perpetuate its or- ganization. the following named gentle- men being the present Trustees : P. D. Bradford; president; Lorenzo Belknap, vice president ; J. H. Orcutt, secretary and treasurer ; P. D. Bradford, George Nich- throat, I by poison.

Perley Belknap, P. D. Bradford, J. C. Cady, Lorenzo Belknap, George Nichols, J. H. Orcutt, W. S. Hazen, E. K. Jones, J. C. B. Thayer, George M. Fisk, Charles Dole.

In 1870, the village school district made a permanent arrangement with the trus- tees of the institution to repair the build- ing, and occupy it for a graded and high school, free for all pupils of the village, which was accomplished through the friends of popular education, notably : Hon. Heman Carpenter, James N. John- son, Rev. William S. Hazen, Thomas L. Salisbury, A. S. Braman and J. H. Rich- ardson. The school opened in Sept. 1870, with 331 pupils, Marshal R. Peck, A. B., principal. He remained 2 years, and should ever be gratefully remembered. Principals since have been, A. R. Savage, Eben C. Smith, A. W. Blair and W. W. Prescott, all efficient, as also, many lady teachers in the graded departments. It received its charter from the Legislature in 1872.

The old building was accidentally burned Jan. 13, 1876, and the following season the present building, 60 x 90 feet, with 7 main rooms, was erected, at a cost of about $11,000, by J. C. Rice, upon the same site.

The school at present stands well among similar institutions of the State. It costs from $2,500 to $3,000 a year to run it.

Directors for 1882 .- P. D. Bradford, president, Chas. A. Edgerton, secretary, Geo. H. Crane, William B. Mayo, H. L. Kenyon.

SUICIDES.

Whole number of suicides in town, 25 : by hanging, 9, by drowning, 6 ; by poison- ing, 4; by cutting their throats, 4: by shooting, 2.

Males, 6 by hanging. 4 by drowning, 3 by cutting their throats, 2 by poison, 2 by fire-arms ; total, 17. Females, 3 by hang- ing, 2 by drowning, 2 by poison, I by cut- ting throat : total, 8.

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The history of Washington county, in the Vermont historical gazetteer:, Part 109

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press Number of Pages: 1066

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890, [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt., Vermont watchman and state journal press
Number of Pages: 1066