Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-06-14
A sketch of Mr. Bingham. Life.

a sketch of Mr. Binghnm's Life.
On the occasion of the first annual meet
ing of the High school reunion society, held
in October, 1851 we printed sketch of
Mr. Bingham's life which is here repro
duced. 1t was prepared with great care,
after consultation with him and an exami-
nation of a book of genealogy of the Bing-
ham family, and may be relied upon as cor
rect
Benjamin Franklin Bingham, who has
played a more important part in the affairs
of this community during the past twenty
five years than any lawyer, doctor, minis
ter or editor, and who has undoubtedly left
his impress on more young minds than any
other man in the state, was born in Corn
wall, April :, 1924 He is a Vermonter in
the fullest sense of that term. His grand
father, Dea. Jeremiah Bingham, was one of
the original settlers of Cornwall, moving
there with his family in the spring of 1854.
He lived in Bennington at the time of the
famous fight at that place and took part in
it, He was chosen moderator of the first
town meeting at the organization of Corn
wall as town and his services were in
constant demand as an officer of the town
leave such duties to younger men. He was
an original member of the Congregational
church in Cornwall and one of the first dea-
cons He lived to the advanced age of %
years.
Mr.. Bngham's father, Dea. Asahel Bling
ham, was the second son of jeremiah Bing
ham and was himself prominent citizen
of the town, being for twenty years its
town clerk, and representing the town in
the legislature for three successive years
He spent his life on the old homestead of
his father, and here his four children were
born. These were Joel S, now settled in
the ministry at Traer. Iowa Sarah 7. Mrs
Johnsonl now of West Rutland Asahel
H., who died at his brothers in Brattle
boro in 1881, and Benjamin Franklin.
Mr.. Binghams boyhood was like that of
all farmers boys He helped in the farm
work as he grew up and got his early edu
cation in the public schools. His brother,
Joel $, followed teaching before entering
the ministry, and Benjamin +. attended for
three years the academy taught 10y him at
Ferrisburg and for the two years following
a similar school taught by him at Shelburne.
Mr. Bingham taught his first school when n
boy of IS. Up to this time he had had no
thought of becoming teacher, his purpose
being simply to obtain such an education as
the opportunities at his command afforded.
! But after the conclusion of the eXamina-
tions which closed the fall term of his
brothers school at Ferrisburg in 1912,
| gray headed man from Charlotte, who had
attended the examinations, came to him
and told him he wanted him TO teach the
winter school in that place. The young
man replied that he didn't think he knew
enough to teach it. ' Il will risk that if
] =. Al. 4 I
and the result was that young Bingham en-
| gagged himself and taught successful term.
He also taught the same school the follow
| ing winter
Mr.. Bingham was married in 1916 TO
| Frances Elizabeth Pease, who has ever
since been his faithful helpmeet and
friend Of every good work in the commun-
tiles in which she and her husband have
| lived For three years following his mar
riage Mr. Bingham taught select school
in the fall and winter in Charlotte. From
this he went back TO the home farm and as
sumed its management, hut for five or six
years he taught the fall and winter terms
Of the village school in Cornwall During
this time he was not without public houors,
for in 1855 he was chosen town clerk and
was elected a selectman in 1854, o. and
SO, being chairman of the board the latter
year.
His reputation as a teacher of rare abili-
ty gradually went abroad, and it was in
the year 1886, while engaged in the alter
nate work of teaching and farming, that
two gentlemen from West Rutland came to
visit him and persuaded him TO undertake
the charge of the select school in that place
! His work there continued some eight years
! and was very successful There was "a de
| cided objection to the position, however,
from the fact that the school was support
ed in part by public funds and in part by
buttons, and in consequence the means of
its support We're more or less precarious.
For this reason Mr. Bingham finally let it
he known 10 his warm personal friend, the
late j. :. Adams, the well known, faithful
and competent secretary of the state board
of education, that he was ready to accept
IA position in some one of the graded schools
of the state if one should offer Mr. Ad-
ans was in Brattleboro when he received
Mr. Bingham's letter and met ON the street
Chas. l.. Mead, who asked him if he could
not recommend some one to teach the High
school Mr.. Adams told him of Mr.. Bng-
ham with a cordial recommendation The
result was that Mr.. Bingham was written
10 10y the committee and asked TO come to
/ BrattlehOrO for a consultation. This was
early in April, 1868, after the annual
school meeting was held The prudential
committee Of that year were Dea. A h,
Dwinell, Dea. Geo. Newman aud Horace
Hastings, with the Rev Addison Brown as
advisory committee Mr. Bingham came
down 10y the afternoon train at an early
day and was met at the station by one of
the committee, who took him To the Yer
mont Phoenix office, Mr.. Brown being then
the editor of the paper and its location be
ing the same then ms now. Here consul
tation was held with the committee and at
It's close Mr.. Bingham was told that the
committee would consider the matter and
let him know in the morning, Late that
evening Mr., bingham was sitting in the old
Brattlebnro House when Dea. Newman
came IN and said, As you are up may as
well tell You % night as 10 wait until morn
ing, that the committee have decided to en-
gage your services" Mr. Bingham began