New-York tribune., 1883-06-18
PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY.
IT'S FIRST CENTURY WELL ROUNDED OUT
HISTORY OF THE TOWN TIE MAN AND THE scHcoL
-PRFPARATIoSs FOR THE CENTENNIAL ohL~-


BRAIION
fv,o,, 4 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
EXETER. n H. June 1G.-This ancient town,
foppded in 1888 by the Rev. John Wheelwright
brotber-in-law of the famous Anne Hutchinson, IS
in n fever of excitement just now. The centennial
of the establishment Of its chief pride, Phillips
Academy is to be celebrated on Thursday next, and
all the living alumni have been invited. Ihey
number at least 1000 about the population OF the
place. Nearly every State in the Union will be
represented, and accepiances enough have been re-
ceiged to put even cots and sofas at premium
"The oldest lnhabitant" does not recollect before
such an era of painting, papering aud general clean
ing up mechanics are called dozen ways at once,
and prudent housekeepers are dlscounting an ap-
pretended famine by laying In stores betimes.
The occasion is really interesting. The Academy
is the oldest in the land, with the single exception
of it's elder sister, the Phillips, of Andoyer Mass.
1t has educated 5,275 young mon. all cheaply and
many gTatuitousiy; even giving pecuniary AID to
not few. It's roll OF graduates sparkles with dis
tinguShed names, including those OF Da8iei web
ster, Lewis Cass, John 4. Dix. Joseph Il. CogsweH'
Bushrod Washington, CassUs and Francis Light
foot Lee. George Bancroft. Jared Sparks, John g.
Palfrey Joseph S. Buckminster, John Z. Hale,
Theodore Lyman. Thomas w. DOrr. Francis Bowen,
B. +. Butler, Richard llildretb, Horatio Southgate'
Leverett Saltonstall. Woodbury. Langdon. Alpneus
Crosby, Paul A. Chadbournc, ". l.. Dorshsimer, u
c. Langdcll. J. l.. Sibley, Robert J. Lincoln, IT, ;.
Grant. ir and representatives of such noted fami-
lies as the Van Burens Van Schaicks, SIgourneys'
Emersons, Eniots, Madisons, Hudekopers. Thorn
dikcs, Wistars Gerrys and Cilleys. Omitting pres
ent reference to the eminent principals the assistant
instructors furnish large a proportion OF famous
names as the graduates. II is sufficient to mention
those of Alexander Ii. Everett; James Walker, pros-
dent of Harvard: Nathan Lord, president OF Dart
mouth, and =. a. Cha5bourne, president of Will
Jams College Nathan Hale long editor of TIE Bos.
ton Adceri,scr; Professor Francis Bowen. of Har-
ward College, and Ashur Ware, Judge of the United
States Court for the District of Maine.
The locality is interesting also. Exeter Is charm
ingy situated on both sides Of the river SqCam-
SCOT where falls bring to stop the tlde-wAter of
this branch OF the Piscataqua. 1t had hard tight
against tho Indtans but survived TO become noted
early in the last century for its enterprise in ship
building, the fisheries and the West India trade. Ii
was blessed from the beginning with men Of ex-
cep;iona abilIiy. IL was the hive from which sew
eral OF the most numerous and Influential f,milies
OF the country have swarmed. Tho prolific racs Of
the Cline trs which took tho leai in local at .irs IN
the Seventeenth century and maintained its iniiu-
euco through the eighteenth and throCgh more than
one decade of the nineteenth. settled hcrc about
1850. II has given the State Governor for four
teen years, eleven consecutivcy; member TO The
Constitutional Convention OF 1857; two Repre-
sentatlves In Congress and United Sta ties
Senator, and lled many homo offices. Lewis Cass.
"a Gilman on his mothers side was born
here. Tho Fosoms distinguish II IN diplomacy and
lsttefs had their first American residencc In Exc tcr
DR. Samuel Tcnney whose account OF the Dark
Day Of 1880 furnishes the only real history Of that
80 -
man. Chief Justice aud Governor; Judge Oliver
Peabody and hB twin SONS, forty years ago dis
tinguishcd in literature and theology. were long
residents Of Exeter IL was here that George White
field preached hs last sermon, september 20. 1870,
dying at Newburyp,rt, Mass. early on tho follow
ing morning. During the Revolution Exeter
the capitai OF the State aud the centre Of patriotic
effort. II was III its Court House that Daniel Web
ter achieved bis earliest forensic tgiumphs. and IT
may ho said in passing that whom boy at the
Academy be WAS once sent oGt 10 the pump 10 wash
his face.
Into tho old town OF Exeter. IN the summer OF
I74I. came Nr. John Phillips, of AndOver. Mass.
q young man IN his4wenty y-second year. He0pcnsd
private classical school. but hts patr mage must
have been small. for the historian finds him year
or two later accepting the mastcrship of tho town
school. He WAS OF Brahmln stock being n son
grave divine. AMI 80 revercnced by his flock that
none yentured to leave the moeting-houss after
nervice until the pastor had gone out. John hal
been graautcd at Harvard College At the age Of
fifteen. Ho taught school IA his native place.
studied medicine and theology and was even Ii
censrd to preach. lls lungs were weak. however,
and after hearing White.i.ld OF whom ho became
jealous disciple he concluded that the ministry was
not his vocation lIc vas poor, hut pru lent mar
riaqe brought hym abundant wealth and made him
eventually tho richest man in Exeter. One
Of the statclicst oil houses in the
town thirty years ag0-now, alas! an Irish
bar1 ack was the mansion built about 1924 for
his youthful bride, Sarah Emery. by one Of tho Gil
mans. known TO his contemporaries as Gentleman
Natp lie was prosperous merchant bat died in
middle life. leaving his widow and three children
E7j.OOO Mr. Philips offered himself TO the oldest
daughter, but she preferred her cousin. Samuel G-
man. Thereup0n tho cntcrpTising schoolma5ter laid
s.ege TO tho widow, and with better luck She was
forty-one and he only tWcntY-four but he appears
to have loved ms mature cOnsOTt sincerely. Mrs.
Phillips died in 1863, and though her husband WIS
consOled enough to cSpOuso AisS Elizabeth Hale,
two years later, his grief for the departed was cvi
IDENTIFY deop. find IL tue pro1f-sheots OK forth
coming Official history Of the Academy by that
eminent antIquary Ex-Governor c. II. Bell, letter
written by Mr.. Phillips 10 Mrs. JOSIAH Gilman his
wifGs granddaughter. shortly after his berelve-
ment 1t is quantity pious and really pathetic, but
Il is too long to be quoted entire. few paragraphs
are all that can be given:
have bean arderty wishing for your dear grand
mothers picture and make me happy Ia presenting
me herewith Mothinks be lovely person lives In you,
and that old mauslOn house s more enlyrned
and ornaInented with the living image of It's late nbab
| liant
Itaha this opportunity 90 express my thankfuuess for
the favor obi aiDcd OF the Lord when ths vie OF my
youth gave her hand wt her heart 10 so unworthy
per.On VINO appears to hiuiSef % have been but -
fOl 20 mako her excellence more reSpendont lie who
kindly gave hath takcn. bless Ills name,
! but NY breast hraYes,. my hhsrt sun
beeds the image too deeply impressed TO be cfacad
IL she dead On, she yet speaks her works syeGA for
her her sarg5 and calls her blnsscd. Her hus
band also whilst be llmeats hh own grioYOu5 iangS,