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Soon after graduating, in August, 1864, he entered the service of the United
States Christian Commission, and was sent to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. In September following, he was appointed field agent of the Commission, and served in that
capacity until the close of the war. He spent July and August, 1865, in North Carolina,
and became much interested in the Freedmen. In October, 1865, he went to Harper's
Ferry, West Virginia, as an agent of the American Missionary Association, to organize
schools for the Freedmen. He served in that capacity until 1867, at which time Storer
College was organized, and he was elected President, which position he still occupies.
They have buildings worth sixty thousand dollars, and an attendance of about two
hundred and fifty pupils. It has both Academic and State Normal departments.
He was appointed County Superintendent of Free Schools in 1869, and held the
office for two years. In 1870 he was clearly elected to the Legislature of West Virginia,
but not being on good terms with the officers who held the ballot-box, he was
counted out. He then retired from politics.
He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Bates College, Lewiston,
Maine, at its Commencement in June, 1883.
During the past year, he has purchased a Summer residence in Phillips, Maine, his
native town, and expects in future to spend his Summers there with his family. He has
also bought the local paper, The Phillips Phonograph.
His religious preferences are Free-Will Baptist; in politics, he is a Republican. He
was married October 16, 1865, to Miss Louise Wood, of Lewiston, Maine.
They have had five children: James Wood, born June 20, 1867; Mary, born
November 13, 1868; Celeste Elizabeth, born June 12, 1871 ; Ledru Joshua, born March
29, 1873; Virginia Edith, born May 22, 1878.
Virginia Edith died July 11, 1879.
Source: "Memorialia
of the Class of '64 in Dartmouth College" complied by
John C. Webster, Shepard & Johnston, Printers, 1884,
Chicago
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