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    This book, published in 1888, memorializes the life of John Dudley Philbrick .  JOHN DUDLEY⁸ PHILBRICK  (PETER⁷, NATHAN⁶, JAMES⁵, EBENEZER⁴, JAMES³, JAMES², THOMAS¹)

For a brief biography of John Dudley Philbrick, CLICK HERE!

    This book is quite lengthy in history and accolades about John Dudley Philbrick and his work in the field of education which he became famous for.  Among his noted accomplishments was implementing in Massachusetts the system of "graded schools" (1st Grade, 2nd Grade, etc...) instead of all ages of school children being taught in one large class as was common in both country and city schools of that time.    He also advocated a pension system for retiring teachers "not only as a security for old age, but as a means of rendering practicable the retirement of the aged and fatigued public servant, without reflecting on his reputation or abandoning him to destitution."

    Though not much genealogical information is presented, the opening chapter discusses John's early life in detail.  A staunch democrat for his entire life, the following illustrates his determination for justice and rights.  In 1840, at age 22, John Dudley Philbrick would be voting in a Presidential election for the first time.  John traveled 75 miles by stage from Hanover, where he was attending Dartmouth College, to Deerfield.  From Deerfield he walked 20 miles to Concord, arriving a day before the elections.  Gilman Tucker, from the book writes, 

"Party spirit ran high, and the voting list was closely scrutinized by both sides.  There as at that time living with his father, as a cheap hired hand, an ignorant but fairly intelligent fellow, named Francis York.  He had been brought up in the poorhouse of an adjoining town, but for the past eight years had been self-supporting.  The Whig magnate of Deerfield, a lawyer of distinguished family and influence, overawed the selectmen, and induced them to strike York’s name from the voting list, on the ground that he was a town pauper.  Upon this, young Philbrick stepped up and protested against the act.  Amid the great crowd of assembled voters he spoke for eight or ten minutes, with an earnestness that filled them with astonishment.  York’s name was quickly restored to the list.  John went back home, brought York to the town meeting, and saw that he deposited his vote.”

    John D. Philbrick was recorded as having said, "Today has been the most glorious day of my life.  I have emancipated a man and defended his rights."

    In 1864, a month before the Presidential election between George McClellan and Abraham Lincoln, John D. Philbrick wrote a letter to an unknown associate where he speaks about the politics of the day.  His letter reflects the turmoil within the Democratic Party as it headed towards the election in November.  For pictures of this document and a transcription of its text, Click Here.