Caledonia

PUTNEY, Charles Edward

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 330-331 
(portrait p 330)

Charles Edward PUTNEY, of St. Johnsbury [Caledonia County, Vermont], was born 
26 February 1840 in Bow [Merrimack County], New Hampshire, son of David and 
Mary (BROWN) PUTNEY. He received his primary instruction in the public 
schools of Bow, fitted for college at New London [Merrimack County], New 
Hampshire, and was graduated from the classical department of Dartmouth 
College in 1870, having attained high rank in his class. With the exception 
of three years of service in the army, Mr. PUTNEY's life has been that of an 
educator of the highest type. He commenced the practice of his profession 
while yet an undergraduate, teaching in various schools in the neighborhood 
of the college and also in Massachusetts. For three years after the 
completion of his college course he was the principal of the Boys' Boarding 
School of Norwich [Windsor County, Vermont], and then came to St. Johnsbury 
as assistant in the academy at that place, and was finally chosen principal 
of the institution, which position he still occupies. He has been state 
examiner of the Randolph and Johnson Normal Schools and has served as 
president of the Caledonia County board of education. For purely patriotic 
motives and at great personal sacrifice he enlisted in Company C, Thirteenth 
Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, in which he rose to the rank of sergeant. 
His regiment served with the armies of the Potomac and James, and he 
participated in eight regular engagements, having the good fortune never to 
be wounded or taken prisoner. He is a member of Chamberlin Post No. 1, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of St. Johnsbury; has always taken much interest in the 
St. Johnsbury Young Men's Christian Association; is affiliated with the 
Congregational church, and has always a class of students in the Sunday 
school. Probably no man in Vermont has exerted a greater or more beneficial 
influence upon young people, for his aim has ever been not only to train 
their intellects, but to broaden their whole lives. On 26 July 1876 Mr. 
[Charles Edward] PUTNEY married Abbie, daughter of Rev. Jonathan and Phebe 
Foxcroft (PHILLIPS) CLEMENT, of Norwich. They have two daughters: Mary 
Phillips (WOOD), and Ellen Clement.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly