Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-29
CONY FEMALE ACADEMY.
It's Founder and Its History.


columns of the Maine Farmer series of
articles from the graceful pen of Mr.. Joseph
H. Manley, one of the editors of that paper,
relative to the history of the Cony Female
Academy and also containing biography of
its founder. We take the liberty of present
ing some extracts and condensations from
those articles, thinking that an account of
an institution which has existed so long in
our midst cannot fail to be interesting:
Daniel Cony, who was its founder and
benefactor. was born in Sharon, Mass, Aug.
3, 1852. He received "A good education and
fitted himself fpr the medical profession.
On that famous night o. the 18th of April,
l775, when Paul Revere went riding into the
country sounding the alarm that the British
were IN lrching from Boston, he heard the
cry, and before the morning dawned was on
his wav to Cambridge, with the company of
which he was lieutenant. He served in the
army until the surrender Of Burgoync, re-
ceiving distinction and promotion for his
personal bravery and his faithful devotion to
dLty. In l77S, in company with his father,
Deacon Samuel Cony. he removed to the
Fort settlement, then IIalowell, now Angus
tn, and settled on the east bank of the river,
just south of where the Insane Hospital now
stands. He resided on the east side of the
river at this spot, and where the residence of
the late Judge Weston now Is. until his
death, Jan u, 1912, aged ninety years. In
the sixty four years that he was resident, he
lived long life of remarkable usefulness.
He possessed strong and vigorous intellect;
was a man of genuine excellence throughout
life OF strict probty. immense industry.
good worker, generous. just, of high princi
pie and unbcnding integrity. interested in
children, pronounced opinions upon all sub
jects, yet. with iii entity of mann, which did
MT permit familiarity, he became at Il
leading man among the people with whom he
lived.
lie haJa high regard for his profession ofmed-
icine, and gained successful practice which
extended widely over this section of the State.
As public man he was remarkably honored.
In 1856 he represented IIalowell in the Mas
sachusetts General Court and dill so for five
successive years. He also represented
Augusta, after its separation from ilalowell:
he was "A senator and a member of the Cover
nor's Council; one of the electors who chose
Gtorge Washington. President and John
Alams Vice President for their second term;
he was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
and Judge of Probate previous to the scpa-
ration OF Maine from Massachusetts IL dele
gate from Augusta to the Constitutional Con-
venton of the new State, and was appointed
Judge of Probate under the Constitution.
He resigned his office in ls23, being able to
retire, having by his economy and strict at
tantion To business, acquired a competency.
The city of Augusta should always hold him
in grateful remembrance for his efforts in Sc
curing the charter for the bridge here inst Fad
of at Hallowell. and for his persevering labors
in obtaining the funds for its construction.
He was always warmly interested in the
cause of education, and the Importance of
female education having become impressed
upon him, he erected a building for this pur-
pose during the summer of 1915 at the north
east corner of what is now Bangor and Cony
streets. Mr.. Cony decided the academy build
ing and the lot OF land upon which it stood to
a board of trustees. The first meeting of the
trustees was held Jan. ), 1916. Judge Wilde
was elected President, Ruel Williams, Secre-
tary and Treasurer and Judge Weston and
Rev. Mr.. Stone were appointed a committee
to procure precepress. They secured the
services of Miss Hannah b. Aldrich and the
school at once went into operation. In 1918
the trustees were Incorporated by the Legisla-
ture of Massachusetts by name of ''Cony
Female Academy" and were organized by
the election of Judge Wilde As President and
Kuel Williams as Secretary. July Is, 1921,
Judge Weston was elected President to sue
coed Judge Wilde
Miss Aldrich having married in February
Mr.. Pit Dillingham;. Miss Bancroft, sister
OF Hon. George Bancroft the historian, sue
ceeded Miss Aldrich as preceptress. July II,
lo22 Rev. Hczekiah Packard. d. d., was
elected trustee to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Judge Wilde. In 1923
Mrs. Pitt Dillingham; was at the head of the
school. In 1924 Miss Sibyl a. Farnham
taught; she relinquished the school in 1925
and became Mrs. Allen Lambard. In ls2j
Miss Harriet Green was preceptress. In ls21
the three story brick boarding house now
standing at the corner of Bangor and Myrtle
streets was erected, Judge Cony giving the
lot.
Miss Green remained at the head of the
school until ISIS, when Mrs. Dillingham;
again assumed the management, assisted by
her sister, Miss Mary A. Aldrich. On Aug.
Z, Rev. DIR. Packard resi- ned his trusteeship
and Rev. Mr.. Ford the pastor OF the Unitarian
church of this city, elected his successor.
At this time the school was in such a prosper
Gus condition that it had as per its return to
the State, real estate personal securities and
furniture amounting to S97s5 and its library
numbered twelve hun lred volumes. May Ii,
1884, Rev. John Ii. InGraham was elected
librarian in place OF Daniel Williams re-
signed, and John IL. Ilartwcll was elected
trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the death
OF Rev. Daniel Some On the 3lst day of
May, General Samuel Cony resigned his truss
teeship and his son DIR. Robert a. Cony. was
elected as his successor. Rev. Mr.. Ford having
removed from Augusta and never having ac-
cepted his tiusteeship, Rev. John II. Ingra-
ham was elected in his place. Mrs. Diiling-
ham and her sister remained with the school
until 1882 when Miss Susan b Owen was
placed in charge and remained until 1884.
She was succeeded by Miss Thoreau, one
year, Miss Owen, one year, Mrs. Gibbs, two
years, Miss Lambard, two years. Miss
Sophia 4. Townsend had charge of the school
in 40, Al and ~ and Mrs. Dillingham; and
her sister in lS43 and Miss Aldrich. Miss Irish
and Mr. Jonathan Edwards. a brother OF the
late Newton Edwards, in 1874.
This same year the house and lot belonging
to the East Parish were purchased and re-
modelled into the present Academy building
at the junction of Lincoln and Stone street
The old Academy building was sold to Rev
John II. Ingraham for $500 and converted by
him into IA dwelling house. Ii is the second
building now standing on the east side of
Bangor street from the corner.
In 1916 Jonathan and Newton Edwards were