Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-13
MlDDLEBURY'S OLDEST GRAD.
Samuel =. sherman, '8s, Has Remark
able Record a. Educator-was
Born In Rupert.

One of the most Interesting men
ever graduated by New England
college is the venerable Samuel s.
Sherman. '3s. the present senior alum
nus of Middlebury College. Middle
bury. VT, says the Boston Globe. He
is resident of Chicago and has been
a Baptist minister, college, seminary
and institute president. a carrier of
northern ideals to the antebellum
south. a. successful business man and
lastly gentleman who has made his
leisure effective for good.
Born In Rupert. one OF the beauti-
full hill towns of southwestern YER
mont, In 1915. he entered Middlebury
at an early age and received It's de-
gree with the largest class UP to that
time.
Armed with his sheepskin he start
ed South. 1t took him nearly six
weeks and gave him no end of adven-
ture to reach Alabama.
Railroads were almost unknown
and were only spur lines, while Ala
bama itself in those early days was
almost a wilderness, very recently re-
Cherokee Indians, who had been
transported to the other side Of the
Mississippi river
Yet there was already a university
of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and there
Rev. Or. Basil Manley, the leading
Baptist clergyman OF the State. babe
the young Vermont graduate welcome.
He gave him a position as tutor in
the institution and Mr. Sherman
found himself associated with one of
the great educators of the country,
Prof. +. A. =. Barnard. later presi-
ent of the Mississippi University
and, after the war, president OF Col
umbla University, New York, and the
founder of Barnard College. the wom-
ans annex Of Columbia.
Three years later the Alabama
state Baptist convention determined
to found a college Of Its own at Mar
ion and asked Mr.. Sherman to assume
charge of It. This venture, frst
known as the Howard literary and
theological institute. became in time
simply Howard college and rapid u
became one of the important educa
tional centers of the south Mr.. Sher-
man started his work a. Howard with
nine boys, but the number of stud
ents was soon greater and in 10 years
the project was thoroughly establish
ed.
At that time Mr.. Sherman decided
| to purchase the school property
| known as Brownwood. near La Grange.
and left Howard to conduct his own in
| stltution.
His going away from Marion was sig
nalized by a public meeting called to
pay tribute to his success there, and
| the college itself has prospered on the
| principles he inaugurated 1t was later
| removed to Birmingham and for 10 years
had as president DR.. ]. NJ. L. Curry.
who became we'll known as agent OF the
Peabody and Slater funds for education
in the South. The college now has 200
students.
Brentwood occupied Pres. Sherman's
energies only three years. after which
he returned to Marion to purchase and
take charge of Judson institute. pop
ular female seminary. which under his
management became the most import
ant of its kind in the State. He built
1t up on the most liberal lines both
as to studies and the accomplishments
taught, and as a reward found that his
school secured a noteworthy popular sup
port with an accompanying reinarka BILE
financial success.
Time had gone on until 1t was 1859.
and the passions that resulted in the
| civil War were coming to the fore. Po-
| litical feeling in the South was rapidly
approaching the exploding point. and
even naturalized northerner was not
| treated quite the same as genuine
southorncr Pres. Sherman OWNED this
situation without any overt expression
Of 1t coming to his attention, and de-
clded the south nj that time was no
place for him and his growing family
So he quietly and sagacously disposed
of all his property interests while yet
there was time and with many regrets
set out for the North
He went TO Milwaukee, For three
years he was In charge Of the Mlwau-
kee female college. which had been
founded by Miss Catherine Beecher Al
the end of that time he gave up teach
ing and entered upon business career.
Soon after the war Mr. Sherman re-
! turned To Alabama for a short time and
was given an enthusiastic public recep-
tion. being hailed as "Marion's most en-
inent citizen"
lie devoted the rest Of his life 10 bust
ness. chiefly in Chicago. and is passing
his last days in that city surrounded by
his relatives in a pleasant home, l