Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-01-08

; Edward Conant, the reyered principal o
the Randolph Normal school for so man,
years, died Sunday night or Monda,
morning.
Mr.. Conant met with a severe accident
at Niagara Falls in the summer of 1901
from which he never fully recovered. II,
gradually improved, and it seemed that he
would eventually recover. He has been
able to take charge OF the Normal school
and do great deal Of work Last Sunday
he attended church and appeared as well
as usual and was so when he retired for
the night. Not arising as usual Monday
morning, Mrs Conant stepped into the
room and found be was dead. He died
apparently without struggle.
Edward Conant was born in Pomfret,
Vt, May 10th, 1920, being son Of Seth
and Melvina Perkins, Conant At the
| age Of fifteen, he left home and went to
West Bridgewater, Mass, where he work.
ed as maehinist until he was p years old
when ne returned and took a two-years'
preparatory course at Thetford academy
and entered Dartmouth college in 1852
He left college in the fall OF 1854 and be-
came principal of Woodstock Conn.,
academy and later he was principal OF
Royalton academy and Burlington High
school.
In February, 1861, Mr.. Conant became
principal OF Orange County Grammar
school at Randolph. A distinctive feature
of the school at that time was the fitting
of young men for college, and there were
six other academies in the county doing
the same kind OF work. Mr.. Conant was
student of our school system, and he be-
came convinced that there were too many
academies doing the same kind OF work,
and sooner or later some would be merged
in graded and high schools, and he also
thoroughly believed IN normal schools.
In 1866 he proposed to the trustees of Or
ange County Grammar school that they
should ask the then coming Legislature to
make it a State Normal school, to which
they assented, and through Mr.. Commits
efforts it was established as a State Normal
school, and in the same bill the legislature
gave permission for the establishment of
two others, which was afterwards done.
Mr.. Conant continued principal of the
Normal school at Randolph till 1875, hav- |
ing been elected state superintendent of |
education by the Legislature Of 1874, which |
office he held by successive elections till |
1881. He then became principal OF John
son Normal school and remained there
three years, and then returned to the
of Randolph Normal school,
which place he has since held. He con-
ceiyed the Normal school system for YER
mont, and, by untiring energy and zeal.
has brought these schools up to be re-
spected by all. II can be justly said, as it
Is, that edward Conant was the father OF
Normal schools in Vermont The town
system OF schools is also due largely to his
efforts.
Mr.. Conant was a member OF the board
Of education in 1S66-lS67, and has been
president of the Vermont Teachers asso-
citation and an influential member of the
several educational associations OF the
state and OF the New England Normal
School Teachers association. In 1866, ne
received the honorary degree of A. NJ.
from Mlddlebury college and in 1867 the
same from the University Of Vermont.
Mr.. Conant was the author of several
works, among which are IA
Few Roots OF English Words" "a Drill
Book in the Elements of the English Lam
guage" and "Conant's Vermont
Mr.. Conant has been an active and in
huential member of the Cong1 church at
the Center and one of its deacons for
many years. He was always very liberal
in the support Of all good causes He
was member OF the national council OF
Congl churches, which met in Boston in
and in Minneapolis, Mimi, in 1892.
Mr.. Conant was well read ON eonstitu-
tional and all great political questions,
but was not an active politician. He al
ways had his opinion and voted accord \
ingly. He was member Of the Vermont
convention in 1870.
Mr.. Conant's life has been an active one
"a great student and great instructor
and the effect OF his labors for good is
bearing fruit in the lives Of hundreds that
have been under his instruction. The re-
spect of his pupils grows as years 90 by.
as was plainly evidenced at the reunion Of 4
the alumni in 1902, when his former stu
dents presented him with purse OF $500. |
as slight token OF their affection. The
words OF another seem apt and true in re-
lation to Mr.. Conant: "Of the strength Of 4
his presence in the community as well as
in the school much might be written; the |
record is kept In the hearts of the people y
Mr.. Conant was married to Cynthia A. /
Taggsrt, May 10, 1858, by whom he has /
four children living. Frank Herbert.
Seth Edward, Nell Florence and Grace Luz
cia. Frank Herbert is civil engineer in |
the state OF Washington. The others \
have always lived with their parents.
The funeral was largely attended by /
neighbors and friends at the house on I
Wednesday. The exercises were conduct i
ed by Mr.. Conant's pastor. Rev. q. "
floral offerings, one from the assistant
teachers of the Normal, one from the stu
dents, one from the trustees, one from the
neighbors and others from individual
friends
One of the strongest educators OF the
state, an upright AID Christian man has
gone, and the community, town and state
mourn.
Among those from out of town who at
tended the funeral were;-W. r. Ranger Of
Montpelier. superintendent OF education; /
F. W. Pierce OF Chester and o. ID. Mat
thewson of Barre, Normal school commits I
sioners; Prof. Z. 4. Shaw Of Norwich uni /
versity. Priu. p. r. Leavenworth Of Castle |
TO Normal school, Miss + f. Ges Of john |
son Normal school. Miss Maud Durham az
Bethel, the Misses Hewitt OF Pomfret. III. |
NJ. Gaylord Of Brookheld and many 9th /
ers. former students Of Mr.. Conant. The
present students attended in a BODY.
IL Keeps the Feet Warm and DRY.
Ak today FOR Aliens Foot-Ease a powder. II
cures Chilhlains, swollen Sweating. sore schins,
t'amp feet. At al Druggists and shoe stores IS
Dsaa'- Rheumatic pills absolutely cure.
ma Nssuratuia Enf