History of East Windsor Hill, (Hartford County) Connecticut United States of America

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Biographies:

Charles Oliver Thompson, educator, was born at East Windsor Hill, Conn., Sept. 25, 1836; son of the Rev. William and Eliza Welles (Butler) Thompson. He prepared for college under Dr. Paul Ansel Chadbourne ; was graduated from Dartmouth college, A.B., 1858, A.M., 1861, and was principal of the Caledonia County academy, afterwards known as Peacham academy, Vt., 1858-64, with the exception of a few months in 1860, when he was engaged as a civil engineer at Piermont, N.Y. He was married, May 14, 1862, to Maria, daughter of Dr. Horace and Elizabeth (Dickinson) Goodrich of Ware, Mass. He was principal of the Cotting High school, Arlington, Mass., 1864-68, meanwhile studying chemistry at Harvard university, and in 1868 he became the first principal of the Worcester (Mass.) Free Institute of Industrial Science, a position he held until 1882, together with the professorship of chemistry. In preparation for the work of organizing the Institute (the name being changed to the Worcester Polytechnic school during his administration), which was one of the first of its kind in the United States, he spent several months in Europe studying methods of technical education. He devised and developed the method of instruction in mechanical engineering, which consists in combining the instruction in the theoretic branches of the art with practical work in machine shops, operated under the supervision of the institution, but conducted on strictly business and commercial principles in active competition with other industrial enterprises of the same nature. This system remained in successful operation at the Worcester Polytechnic school and was adopted by a number of other similar institutions. He was president of the Rose Polytechnic institute, Terre Haute, Ind., from its opening, March 7, 1883, until his death, when he was succeeded by Thomas Corwin Mendenhall . Prior to the organization of this school he made in Europe a further study of technical education. He received the honorary degree of Ph.D. from Dartmouth, 1879, and from Williams, 1880; and was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Mass., and of other scientific and literary societies. He is the author of: Hints Toward a Profession of Teaching (address, 1867), Manual Labor and School Work Combined (with Andrew D. White, 1870); Industrial Drawing (address, 1871); Manual Training in the Public Schools (1884); Modern Polytechnic Schools (1883); Robert Boyle, a Study in Biography (1882), and Review of Reports of British Royal Committee on Technical Instruction (with notes, 1885). Memorials of Dr. Thompson were published by the American Antiquarian society; the Terre Haute Literary club; the Rose Polytechnic institute (1885), and the Worcester Polytechnic school (1885). He died in Terre Haute, Ind., March 17, 1885.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jonathan Edwards, theologian, was born in East Windsor, Conn., Oct. 5, 1703; son of the Rev. Timothy and Esther (Stoddard) Edwards; grandson of Richard and Elizabeth (Tuthill) Edwards, and great-grandson of William Edwards, the immigrant, who with his mother, the widow of the Rev. Richard Edwards of the Established church, and her second husband, James Coles, came to America and settled at Hartford, Conn., about 1640. Jonathan was the only son in a family of eleven children. He early developed the theological instinct, preparing a paper when but ten years of age in which he ridiculed the idea of the soul being material. He entered Yale when twelve years old and was graduated in 1720. His favorite book while at college was Locke's "Essay on the Human Understanding," and he was proficient in natural philosophy, moral philosophy and divinity. As a boy "the doctrine of God's sovereignty" appeared to him "a horrible doctrine," but while at college he became convinced of "God's absolute sovereignty and justice with respect to salvation and damnation," and his experience was attended with "an inward sweet delight in God." He then, after consulting with his father, united with the church and remained at Yale, devoting two years to the study of divinity. He preached for eight months in a Presbyterian church in New York city. He then prepared a series of seventy resolutions, definitely outlining his theory and plan of life "which have been effective in quickening the piety of succeeding generations." He declined calls from several congregations and accepted a tutorship in Yale where he served, 1725-26. In 1729 he was ordained the colleague of his grandfather, the Rev. Solomon Stoddard, at Northampton, Mass. He was married, July 28, 1727, to Sarah, daughter of the Rev. James Pierrepont, minister at New Haven. On the death of his grandfather in 1729 he continued alone in the pastorate of the church. His theological views, which are a part of the religious history of his time, attracted wide attention and received severe criticism. In 1740 the Rev. George Whitefield visited him and preached during his four days' stay several times to large audiences. His preaching led to a great religious awakening throughout New England, in which Mr. Edwards was a powerful factor. Mr. Edwards visited various churches by invitation of their pastors and his preaching produced extraordinary results. Fearing fanatical excesses, he published "The Distinguishing Marks of the Work of the Spirit of God"; "Thoughts concerning the Present Revival of Religion," and "Treatise on Religious Affections." He differed with the majority of his parishioners as to the policy of allowing what was known as the "half-way covenant," and condemned its practice so earnestly that on June 22, 1750, he was forced to resign after a ministry of nearly twenty-four years. This left him without an income and with a large family dependent on him. Friends in Scotland sent him money and invited him to settle in that country. The Rev. Samuel Dates of Virginia offered to surrender to him his own parish and some of his friends in Northampton sought to have him remain and live on their bounty. He declined these offers, however, accepting from the London society for the propagation of the gospel an offer to become missionary to the Housatonnuck Indians, and removed to Stockbridge in August, 1751. Here he preached to the Indians through an interpreter and his slender stipend was augmented by the sale in Boston of the delicate handiwork of his wife and daughters. His work on his books was greatly facilitated by reason of his light pastoral duties and was only interrupted by the death in 1757 of his son-in-law, the Rev. Aaron Burr, president of the College of New Jersey. This event led the curators of the college to select and appoint Mr. Edwards as president, in 1757, and he was installed, Feb. 16, 1758. He was at the head of the institution only thirty-four days, but long enough to win the respect and admiration of the students. Having been inoculated for small pox, then prevalent in the neighborhood, he died from the effects. He was buried in the college burying ground, in proximity to the grave of President Burr, and but a few days thereafter his wife and his daughter Esther, the widow of President Burr, fell victims to the same malady and were buried beside him. On the first Sunday of the year of his death he preached from the text, "This year thou shalt die." He left in published books, sermons and manuscript abundant evidence of his superior spiritual attainment. Among his more important publications are: Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections (1746); Inquiry Into the Qualifications for Free Communion in the Church (1749); a treatise On the Freedom of the Will (1754); Original Sin (1757); True Nature of Christian Virtue (1788); Dissertation Concerning the End for which Created the World (1789); Thoughts on the Revival of Religion; History of the Redemption; and Life of David Brainerd. His name was given a place in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, October, 1900, in "Class G, Preachers and Theologians," with Beecher and Channing. He died in Princeton, N.J., March 22, 1758.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor