The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-09-12
ROSWELL HARRIS AND
THE OLD ACADEMY
Sketch of Prominent Brattleboro Edu-
Gator Of Years Ago and His Sue
cess in His Efforts.

The opening of the fall term of
schools reminds the writer of the fall
term, l849, of Brattleboro academy.
when $50 students were in attendance,
ReV. Roswell Harris being principal
with an efficient board of assistants
As great numbers of young men and
Young women were under Mr.. Harris Is
instruction during the long time. that
he was principal, many of whom owed
Whatever success in life they attained
to his inspiring influence, brief sketch
Of him may help pefpetuate his
memory.
An old highway may still be traced
from point near the farm buildings of
Frank b. Richardson in this town, ex-
tending north to the present stage road.
IN house.. now in ruin, situated on
TINS crOss-road near the foot of Round
mountain, Roswell Harris was born
March o. 1898. He grew to manhood on
TINS farm, was eager for an education
and aValled himself OF all the advan-
ta9es within his reach. He was born
teacher. At the age of l6 he began
teaching district schools and followed
that pursuit to earn money while fitting
for college under the special tuition of
Rev. Caleb Burge. He entered Middle
bury college in 1917 and graduated
| there in 1921. While in college he de
Vised plan for the uplift of the
academy OF which he had been a stu
| dent, and upon his graduation, in ac
cordance with his plan, the institution
was reorganized under new charter,
| the buildings were repaired. he was
| made principal, and in Il few years he
| raised It from its waning condition, fir
cd 1t with new life and soon made
1t rank with the best academies in the
TO n Nx-h5 eh d. = l,gr,
most of them having since been put out
OF existence by high schools
But Mr.. Harris was ambitious to en-
| ter the ministry, SO he studied theology
and graduated from Andover THEOLOGY
| cal seminary after a full course and en-
| tered upon the work of his profession.
| Without being installed as a pastor he
| preached for two years as Hcentiate
IN Salisbury and AmesbUrv, Mass, and
in Antrim and Derry, \. H.. when an
affection Of his throat. with which he
was always afterwards afflicted. com
| PEELED him to give up preaching. He
then accepted the position of principal
of Hampton, y. H., academy, about 80
miles utheaSt from Concord. That
academy was very prosperous during
the five years OF his management. He
had large classes of young men fitting
for college, and MANY who became dis
/ tinguished in business, in political life
and in the learned professions might
we'll give Mr.. Harris credit for his
thorough instruction and his magnetic
power to stimulate students to develop
their best qualities.
In August, 1888. Mr.. Harris was in
duced by the trustees of Brattleboro
academy to again take charge of that
institution, which he soon restored to
u high state OF prosperity. 1t was espe-
ciallv noted for its large class OF Young
men preparing for college. most OF
/ whom were destined for the ministry
under the guidance of the principal. 1t
may also he safely stated that a good
number of Young wAmen in the academy
were destined to become ministers
| wives without guidance from the prin-
cipaI
/ In 1887, on account of i'll health Mr.,
Harris resigned his position and did
not resume it until lS45, when he again
took up the work and continued it un-
til 1888, when he finally retired. His
greatest success in the academy was i'm
these last eight years.
Il Mr.. Harris married Matilda Leavitt
i'm August, ! >:;3, about the time he re
TUNED to Brattleboro This estimable
lady had been an assistant of his in
Hampton academy She died in 1871
. Mr.. Harris died on his 73rd birthday
anniversary. They had three sons
William J.. a DID. of eminent ability
and high standing in the Episcopal
church, now living in Nashua, \. II
The other sons died many years ago
Roswell, .ir., business man in East
Saginaw. Mich, Charles c., for sever
al wears rector of st Michael : episco
pal church in this town.
BrattlebOro academy, once a potent
agent in the work of education, and
, Roswell Harris, its principal and one
of the foremost teachers of his time
are nearly forgotten. vet their influence
will last through many generations.
Sept. 10. 1914. !. NJ. 7.