History of Saint Johnsbury, (Caledonia County) Vermont United States of America

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Biographies:

Milo Parker Jewett, educator, was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., April 27, 1808; son of Dr. Calvin Jewett (1782-1853), Dartmouth, M.D., 1821; and nephew of the Rev. Luther Jewett . He prepared for college at Bradford academy, Vt., and was graduated from Dartmouth, A.B., 1828, A.M., 1881. He was principal of Holmes academy, Plymouth, N.H., 1828-29 and studied law in the office of Josiah Quincy, Rumney, N.H., 1829-30. Abandoning the law he entered the Andover Theological seminary and was graduated in 1833. He lectured on the common school during his vacations, and these lectures started the movement which resulted in the common school system adopted by the state of New York. Upon his graduation at Andover he decided to teach rather than preach, and accepted a professorship in Marietta collegiate institute. He helped to raise funds for the college, founded the next year, and was professor of rhetoric and political economy at Marietta college, 1834-38. He was a member of the convention which led to the establishment of the common school system in Ohio in 1836 and was sent abroad by the state to investigate the school systems of Europe, and his report created universal interest throughout the United States. He united with the Baptist church in January, 1839, resigned his professorship at Marietta college, and became a Baptist minister. He established and was principal of Judaea Female institute at Marion, Ala., and conducted, in connection with this school, the Alabama Baptist. In 1855 he returned north and established Cottage Hill seminary for girls at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and was its principal 1855-61. While in Poughkeepsie he met Matthew Vassar and suggested to him the plan of a thoroughly equipped and endowed college for the higher education of young women. Mr. Vassar adopted the plan, and when Vassar college was established in 1861, Professor Jewett was made its first president, serving 1861-64. In 1862 he visited Europe to inspect its universities, libraries and art galleries on which he made a report on his return, and at the same time made a report on the organization of Vassar college. He was attacked with almost total blindness, and resigned the presidency of Vassar in 1864. He subsequently settled in Milwaukee, Wis., where he was made honorary president of the Female college; chairman of the board of visitors of the University of Wisconsin; president of the board of health, of the State Temperance society, of the County Bible society; and chairman of the Baptist Educational association. The University of Rochester conferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1861. He is the author of: Jewett on Baptism (1840); Report of the President's Visit to Europe (1863); Report on the Organization of Vassar College (1863): Relation of Boards of Health to Intemperance (1874); A Plea for Academies (1875); The Model Academy (1875.) He died in Milwaukee, Wis., June 9, 1882.

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

Lemuel Hastings Arnold, governor of Rhode Island, was born at St. Johnsbury, Vt., Jan. 29, 1792, son of Jonathan Arnold, a surgeon in the Revolutionary war. After his graduation from Dartmouth college in 1811 he devoted three years to the study of law, going then to Providence, R. I., where he practised for seven years. In 1821 he entered a manufacturing business, in which he was quite successful. He represented Providence in the general assembly from 1826 to 1831, when he was elected governor of Rhode Island, serving a second term by re-election. During the Dorr rebellion of 1842-'43 he was a member of the executive council, and in 1844 he was elected to represent his state in the 29th Congress, where he served throughout his term. He died June 27, 1852.

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

Franklin Fairbanks, manufacturer, was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., June 18, 1828; son of Gov. Erastus and Lois (Crossman) Fairbanks. He was educated in the public schools, Derry, N.H., and at the academies at Peacham and St. Johnsbury. He entered the scale works of his father and uncles in 1845 and worked his way through all the departments up to a partnership and the superintendency of the works in 1855. His inventions of various parts and improvements in the scales were patented. He aided in the construction of the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain, railroad and in 1876, on the incorporation of E. & T. Fairbanks & Co., he was elected its vice-president and became president on the death of his brother Horace in 1888. He represented his native town in the state legislature in 1870 and 1872 and was speaker of the house in 1872. He was an aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel on the staff of Governor Hall, 1858, and on the staff of Governor Fairbanks in 1861. He was president of First national bank of St. Johnsbury, 1888-95; was a trustee of the Northfield (Mass.) seminary, of the Soldiers' home of Rollins college, Winter Park, Fla., of St. Johnsbury academy and of the St. Johnsbury Athen?um; was a corporate member of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions, and held prominent positions in many public and private enterprises. The Museum of natural science was built, equipped, endowed and presented to the town by him in 1891. He was married, Dec. 8, 1852, to Frances A., daughter of the Rev. Sumner G. and Pamelia (Strong) Chapp. Dartmouth conferred upon him the honorary degree of A.M. in 1877. He died at Underclyffe, St. Johnsbury, Vt., April 24, 1895.

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

Arthur Mason Knapp, librarian, was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., Aug. 8, 1839; son of Hiram and Sophronia (Brown) Knapp; grandson of James and Lois (Stearns) Knapp and of Edward Bugbee ancl Lucy (Risley) Brown, and a descendant of William Knapp, who came to this country from England in 1630 and settled in Watertown, Mass. His parents removed to Boston, Mass., during his boyhood, and he was prepared for college at Boston Latin school, where he was graduated first in his class in 1859. He was graduated at Harvard, A.B., 1863, A.M., 1866; was a teacher of classics and mathematics in Phillips Andover academy and the Brookline high school, respectively, 1863-75, and entered the service of the Boston Public library, Jan. 23, 1875, as curator of periodicals and pamphlets, becoming custodian of Bates Hall, the main reference department of the library, in 1878, which position he held until his death. He catalogued the Barton library of Shakespeariana, and was an authority on early Elizabethan literature and on genealogy and local history. He was married, July 2, 1873, to Abbie, daughter of James Bartlett, of Brookline, Mass., who died, Jan. 26, 1876. Mr. Knapp died in Boston, Mass,, Dec. 27, 1898.

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