The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-16
Presidential Goddard Trustees
Over 80 Years
AND A CHARTER MEMBER
William R. Shipman Passed Away Last
Night at Tufts College, Mass
His Life Had Been an
Active One.

William Rollins Shipman, A. NJ, -.
d., H. II. d., a charter member OF the
Goddard seminary corporation, the
president of the board OF trustees for
over thirty years and perhaps its
staunchest friend, also the first dean Of
the Tufts college faculty and for over
forty years a professor in that institu-
tlon, died in Boston last night A
message announcing his death was re.
ceived in Barre this morning The fun
eral will be held Saturday forenoon 1T
his Tufts college home.
Prof Shipman was born In Granville,
Vermont, May 4, 1886. In his infancy
he was taken by his parents to Royal
ton, where they settled and in which
place the boy grew up. The boys
prediction for scholarly life was early
encouraged BY his father who was
farmer, and William went to the aead
envy in his home town. progressing 30
rapidly IN his studies that lie became
assistant in the school. He also taught
district school in the winter and sup
ported himself during the time he was
preparing for college In 1855 he en-
tered Middlebury college and four years
later was graduated from that institu-
tion with distinction. During his stay
at Middlebury he became a member Of
the Masonic fraternity there.
On leaving college he took charge of
the Green Mountain institute at South
Woodstock. where he remained for four
years. resigning to take an active part
IN the movement which led to the found
ing OF Goddard seminary in Barre. He
was the last surviving member Of the
charter Incorporation board of the school
and he made the first canvass for funds
for Is start, raising about $4,000
when Ne received call to accept
psofessorship in Tufts college. going
there in 1864. But although he left the
work he was still devotedIy interested
IN the welfare Of Goddard. During the
dark days OF the school in the early
seventies he was the man who took the
brunt of the movement which finally
brought the institution to point
where il could hope for brighter days.
Even at that, the debt incurred hi start
ing the school was not cancelled until
1888
Az president Of the trustees for over
thirty years he has been active in the
welfare of the school and with scarcely
sinele exception has been present at
every commencement since the first one
He was here last june and participated
in tie various functions
Meanwhile, his professional work lay
at Tufts college, with which institution
be had been actively engaged from 1864
mp 10 last June when be resigned his
professorship Of rhetoric, having had tha
distinction Of having held the chair in
that subject longer than any professor
Ill New England 1T Il significant that
the chair 81 English literature which ne
surrendered in 1891 was taken bv Prof
David Il. Naulsby who was d former
principal Of Goddard. In addition s0
bis work as teacher, DR. Sllipman wa
prominent in the Tniyersalist church He
was ordained as minister in 1865, anG,
although he never made It pastoral set
tlement, he became quite widely known
as clergyman.
He was honored IN 1862 with a degree
Of A. NJ from Middlebury college, with
the degree Of D. d. from st. Lawrence
in 1882 and with the degree
of L. L. D. from Tufts in 1899. There
was break Of year in his services
az Tufts while lie WAS abroad, that being
in 1899 when the college raised purse
and gave him year in Europe.
DR. Shipman was married to Miss
Martina r Willis, daughter Of the Rev.
John +. Willis, on July 2s, 1865. Two
sons were born to them, the elder dying
Ill early life and the other, Albert II.
Shipnan being III business in Bostoa.
Mrs. Shipman died fourteen wears ago.
A few years ago, the following opinion
Of his work was pronounced; 1His work |
has always been quiet and without os-
tentation, but none the less far-reach-
ing and effective. He is severe but
kindly critic, and one word Of praise
from him is highly treasured by
Tufts man. The undergraduate VINO Is
not up in his college work regards Dean |
Sbipman with dread approaching ter
ror The alumnus who has safely COM
pleted MS race for a Tufts sheepskin |
thinks OF him as one of the greatest
as well as the GREATEST power |
he met while a student at College Hill" |