History Of The "Old High School" 1828-1840
by Charles Wells Chapin




        David N. Sheldon, a native of Suffield, Conn., succeeded Mr. Hebard. He was the principal a part of the year 1830, having resigned, owing to the disobedience manifested by the boys. He received a salary at the rate of six hundred dollars a year. Mr. Sheldon graduated at Williams College in 1830. Brown University gave him the degree of D.D. in 1847. He received a course of study at the Newton Theological Seminary, and in 1835 was appointed by the Baptist assembly a missionary to France. He was absent about four years, principally in Paris. On his return to the United States he became pastor of a Baptist church in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1842 he was pastor of the Baptist church in Waterville, Maine, and the next year he became president of the Waterville College, now Colby University. In 1853 he resigned the presidency and became the pastor of the Baptist church in Bath, Maine, where he, remained until 1856. Meanwhile having experienced a change in his religious views, the result was the formation of a Unitarian church and society in the town, of which he became the first pastor. In 1862 he returned to Waterville, Maine, and preached to the Unitarian congregation sixteen years, from 1862 until 1878. Dr. Sheldon was held with great respect in the community for his sturdy sense and many virtues, and greatly beloved as a pastor. He was a classical scholar, with clear perceptions of criticisms; a fine linguist, and possessed the faculty of speaking several modern languages. He died at his home on Friday morning, October 4, 1889, aged 82.
        One of the scholars, now a merchant in Boston, writes: There was at one time quite a degree of insubordination prevalent, especially among the older boys. This state of things made it necessary that the authorities, the school committee, should be informed thereof. One day an official called at the school to address the scholars upon the matter. He stated to them that if a change for better order did not speedily take place, it might be necessary to call out the militia. This seemed to have the effect of

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