Charles Edward Putney: An Appreciation

In Short

This book is a commemorative volume dedicated to Charles Edward Putney (1840–1920), a career educator and Civil War veteran who spent decades teaching in Vermont, most notably at St. Johnsbury Academy. Through a series of biographical notes, personal letters, and heartfelt testimonials from former pupils, the book illustrates his profound influence on his students' characters and professional lives. It serves as an intimate, respectful study of how a humble teacher, through patience and consistent moral guidance, becomes a guiding force in the lives of those he instructs.

The Story

The narrative follows the arc of a life defined by steady, quiet labor. Born in Bow, New Hampshire, as one of fourteen children, Charles Edward Putney grew up on a farm. His path to education was interrupted by the Civil War; he served in the Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment, participating in eleven major battles, including Fredericksburg and Cold Harbor. Following the war, he attended Dartmouth College, graduating with honors. This early discipline, forged in both the field and the classroom, formed the bedrock of his long career as a teacher.

The heart of the book concerns his work as a principal and teacher at St. Johnsbury Academy, and later in Burlington. The accounts provided by his students paint a picture of a man who treated teaching not as a job, but as a vocation. He was a classicist who taught Latin and Greek, yet his pupils emphasize that his true subject was character. He managed his classrooms with a gentle but firm authority, using a quiet sense of humor to deflate student anxieties and encourage academic rigor. Even when his health was frail, he maintained an open-door policy, often tutoring students in his own home without expectation of payment or recognition.

As the story progresses, it moves into the "autumn" of Putney’s life. The book highlights the celebration of his seventy-fifth birthday, which prompted an outpouring of letters from former students now scattered across the country. These letters are filled with nostalgia and gratitude, revealing how Putney’s influence persisted long after his pupils had left the classroom. He is described as a "king of gentle bearing," a man who possessed "nature's own authority." Even in his eighties, he continued to be active in his church and remained a source of counsel for the young.

The conclusion of the book chronicles his passing in 1920. It does not frame his life as one of grand, public ambition, but rather as a "distribution of a rare personality" through the lives of others. The final sections offer tributes from his colleagues and the students of Burlington High School, where he taught until the end. The book closes by framing his life as an example of "preparedness"—the idea that by being ready and faithful in the smallest daily tasks, a person creates a life that serves as a permanent, positive force for the future.

How It Unfolds

The early foundation The narrative begins with Putney’s humble origins on a New Hampshire farm and his interrupted education due to the Civil War. These early years establish the physical and moral grit that would characterize his later teaching career.

The classroom years The focus shifts to his tenure at St. Johnsbury Academy, where he taught Latin and Greek for many years. Here, the book describes his unique ability to command respect without raising his voice, relying instead on his own gentle, steady character.

A life of service The middle section documents his commitment to his pupils beyond the classroom, including his willingness to tutor students in his home. It highlights his deep involvement in church activities and his reputation as a supportive, patient friend to those in need.

The birthday tributes The book centers on his seventy-fifth birthday, providing a collection of heartfelt letters from former students across the country. These testimonials reveal how deeply he was loved and how he remained a touchstone for his students throughout their adult lives.

The final legacy The concluding chapters cover his final years in Burlington and his death in 1920. The editors synthesize these memories into a final argument about the power of an "unobtrusive" life that manages to shape the character of an entire community.

The People

Charles Edward Putney is the central figure, described consistently as a man of great patience, scholarly thoroughness, and quiet humor. Though frail in body, he is remembered for his mental vigor and an "unspoken sympathy" that put students at ease.

His pupils, such as those who contributed letters (including Wendell Phillips Stafford and various members of the St. Johnsbury alumni), are the vessels of his legacy. They describe themselves as having been "thirsty and hungry for an education," finding in Putney not just a teacher, but a mentor who believed in their potential.

His colleagues and fellow church members, like the Rev. I. C. Smart and C. H. Merrill, provide context for his life outside the classroom. They highlight his loyalty to the church and his role as a "pillar" of the community, underscoring that his professional and spiritual lives were inseparable.

Finally, his granddaughter, Mary P. Lane, appears as a symbol of the domestic affection that sustained him. She participates in the ceremony where he is presented with his Civil War corps badge, marking the bridge between his "gallant service" as a soldier and his later identity as a beloved educator.

In Its Own Voice

"Still, still a summer day comes to my call,-- / A room wide-windowed, bright with girls and boys, / A wrinkled Homer craning from the wall, / A bee-like murmuring of ai's and oi's."

(The poet Wendell Phillips Stafford recalls the atmosphere of Putney’s classroom decades after he was a student.)

"He turned deep furrows in shadowed soil, / Where the weeds of dark despair / Were the only growth; the seeds of Hope / He patiently planted there."

(A poem reflecting on Putney’s role in cultivating the minds and spirits of students who were struggling.)

"He was a loyal friend to everyone he knew, always looking for ways of encouragement and help."

(L. Jennie Colby’s reflection on Putney’s character and his approach to teaching.)

What It's Really About

This book explores the nature of true influence. It argues that a person’s most lasting impact is often found in the "unobtrusive" and "subtle" shaping of other people’s lives rather than in worldly success or public fame. It posits that teaching is a spiritual and moral act of "preparedness," where the teacher prepares themselves so that they may, in turn, prepare the young for the future. The book questions how we measure success, suggesting that it is not found in wealth or position, but in the "multiplication of self" through helpfulness and the nurturing of the next generation. Ultimately, it is a study of how a life lived with integrity and kindness creates a "custom of the heart" that outlives the individual.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate quiet, reflective biographies of ordinary people who lived extraordinary, principled lives will find this book deeply moving. It provides a rare, unvarnished look at a nineteenth-century educator's life, capturing a world where classical education, religious devotion, and a sense of duty to one's community were the primary markers of a successful life.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the book's archaic, formal prose and its heavy reliance on the sentimentality common to memorial volumes of the early twentieth century. The text does not analyze Putney’s flaws; it is a eulogy, not a critical biography, so it offers a highly idealized, celebratory portrait. If you are interested in the history of American education or the power of the mentor-student relationship, you will find it a tender and thoughtful read. The strength of the book lies in its cumulative effect; as you read the various voices, you begin to understand why so many people felt compelled to preserve his memory. It is a book that encourages the reader to consider the "sheaves" of their own life—the impact they are having on those around them—and leaves a lingering sense of peace and purpose.