The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-05-06
John Sullivan Adams.

Adams bave become q part of the record
OF the history OF our commonwealth. Few
Of her SOUS have labored more earnestly
aud effectively to promote her inter, St.
aud the future we'll being Of her sons I'd
daughters. lie was compelled by up
preaching disease TO leave his native
state which he bonored aud loved so well,
aud retire from labors which we're cor ke
NAL to his tsstes, to seek another climate
hoping for proougstion Of life. After
a lew years OF useful service 10 his adopt
ed state, on Sunday afternoon, April %,
no succumbed to that dread disease, con.
sumption, at his homo at Brooklyn, Flor
ida, at the ago Of SO years
He was the sou OF Hon. Charles I'D
ANS leading lawyer Of Burlington, VIA
was the first graduate Of the University ui
Vermont. John prepared for college un-
der the tuition mainly Of his father and
in the schools of Burlington, aud was
admitted TO tho University Of Vermont
graduating 10 the class Of 1888. Hi
GLASS was Que of tho strongest aud IL Dbl
marked i1 the history OF the college
Among its members were joan Gregory
Smith Of St. AIbans, Calvin Peaae, rfier
wards president OF the university, Juba
Z. Deau of Cavondi-h, Edward A. Ca.
hoon OF Lyndon, Heury b. James of Wa.
terbury, Alexander Mann OF Rochester
n. Y, Rev. Rufus Case of Maine, REV
A. X. Putnam Of Massachusetts,, Georg,
w. Reed of Montpelier, Andrew Rob
crison of Montreal. After leaving col
lege be read law in his fathers office, an n
was admitted to the Cnttenden count,
bar il 1913 Alter few yeays, in the
early gold excitement, he went TO Cal
toruia, where he remained MS Ii uiiuer uu.
til ls49. After a varied and unsucce, :.
iul lite he returned to Burlington. HC
was soou after appointed county clerk fol
Chiitenden county, which position he held
until he lett the state. Ga the organza'
tlon of the Vermout board of ejuca or
he was appointed iis secretary, whict
committed to him the general supeiiu ~
deuce Of the common schouI edudaiiol u
the stote, responsibility he did not les
irate 10 ASSUME, and 10 is duties he pave
the best energies OF hi mind aud hear
with what success the people OF Vern. N,
know full well. He was an earnest III
ticisn and platform speaker, ani pgrtc N.
ed great service for the republican prrty
in political campaigns, aud wo5 pt IN,
timo quite frequently spoken OF as an
didate for member OF congress from III,
third district. lie was au eloquent auc
enthusiastic friend Of temperance. i.
| which cause be was ever ready and vii
ling to labor, because he knew the eyl, .
intemperance from bitter and sGd ex
perienoe, aud from bis lips often lei
butnIng words, equal to 2pY ever utt, rec
by Cough or Dow.
Warned of approaching disease, he ii,
down bis labors in Veruaut and sought
home in Florida, hoping for complete yes
toratioD to health. and to return and re
sumo his laboIs, or at least to prolour hi
life. lie was cordially greeted BY III
people OF Florida, and at once entege,
upon lsbors for the benefit of that ther
demoralized state. lie was appoiute,
commissioner of education and int ira
tion, and through his Iabors the tor 0
public sentiment was elevated aud a sys
TEN Of education establi,hcd which llaa
his name with the benefactors Of ihe
stare, and brought to her rapid i, iu.
of permanent settlers as well as Wis nr
through the board OF immigration. IL
was for several years collector Of intei na
revenue, and for the past two years aa
been postmaster at jacksonville. ii
was the centennial commissioner of Fl1ri
ds. also editor Of thst vigorous magpziu
The NV South"
He was twice married. His 6rst n IL
was Miss Pltkin OF Winchendon, NJ g.
a lady Of culture aud refinement, hos
carly death made deep impression upo
Mr.. Adams. She left two children
sou aud daughter. His daughter wa at
amisble, beautiful girl, u good scholar
whom he committed TO the care o. hi
friend and co-leborer, b. F. Bingham, 0
Brattleboro, TO educate. She ded a
Brattleboro some two years since, grc I'll
beloved aud esteemed by all who kue'
her. His second wife was sister o
Mr. W. W. Perkins of Rutland, wh
with his son survive him.
This is the brief recori of a life OF on
who, for many years, devoted hia bcs' "a
erges to the public service. To him Va
mout 10 Indebted for the perfection OF lu
present common school System. Ii
found on his entrance upon the duti.s q
secretary Of the board Of education, ou
educational system iu sad condition,
system it could be called. lie at onc
completed general Organization, an
found that the great need of the lin
was thoroughly trained and experience
teachers. Teachers institutes were c,
tablished which he conducted in person
and soon put new life into our schools
He found one Of the great needs OF tn
times TO make educatioa effective, ws
10 awaken the people Ia sense OF III
! Importance OF our schools aud their dut
, toward them. He at once began a eau
! paign vi ,h he continued for six YEAR
until the state had been thoroughly cat
, vassed. He travelled in winters col
aud summers heat over our mountains
arousing the people, giving an impulsiv'
. effective presentation OF the subject unt
| the people Of Vermont begau to see AL
3 appreciate our system oil education. II
:. was the piopeer who performed ID ghi
work. wsrk which done other THAI .