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




Boston. Subsequently he went to South American, returning in a few years to Massachusetts and spending the remainder of his life in Wellesley Hills with his sisters, where he died May 12, 1877, aged 65 years, greatly respected and beloved by all who knew him. Two of his children are now living at Wellesley Hills.
    One of his scholars, who is now a prominent citizen residing in Connecticut, writes: "Of the boys that were under Mr. Eaton's instruction, it is somewhat remarkable how many have achieved more or less distinction." He might also have added that a large number of the girls that were under his tuition have obtained equal distinction and eminence through their husbands who have held positions of honor and trust in the city, state, and national governments, both civil and military. He further writes: "The school was a good school for the time. Mr. Eaton was a very accomplished man, a graduate of Harvard, very popular and pleasant in his ways. In connection with Rev. Dr. Peabody he was largely instrumental in establishing the Springfield cemetery, and contributed probably more than any other one person to laying out and beautifying the grounds. The row of elm trees that line the avenue from Maple street were planted by him from the seed about the year 1844." The consecration of the cemetery took place Sept. 5, 1841. Dr. Peabody was the first president of the Cemetery association. He graduated at Harvard College in 1816. Studied theology at Cambridge Divinity school, was licensed to preach in 1819. In October, 1820, he became pastor of the Unitarian Church, where he remained during his life-time. He was an accomplished scholar and poet. Dr. Peabody was one of the Commissioners of the Massachusetts Zoölogical Survey, for which he prepared a report on the birds of the Commonwealth in 1839. He contributed to the North American Review, wrote for "Sparks' American Biography" lives of Alexander Wilson, Cotton Mather, David Brainerd, and James Oglethorpe, and edited the Springfield Collection of Hymns for Sacred


page 126



© Laurel O'Donnell 1998 - 2005, all rights reserved
This document may be downloaded for personal non-commerical use only
and should not be reproduced or distributed without permission.