Orange

CONANT, Edward

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 78-79 
(portrait p 78)
Edward CONANT, of West Randolph [Orange County, Vermont], was born 10 May 
1829 in Pomfret [Windsor County, Vermont], son of Seth and Melvina (PERKINS) 
CONANT. Leaving home at the age of fifteen, he worked as a machinist in East 
Bridgewater [Plymouth County], Massachusetts, until he was twenty-one. After 
two years of preparatory study at Thetford Academy [Orange County, Vermont], 
he entered Dartmouth College in 1852, and left at the end of fall term, 1854.

In November 1854 he became principal of Woodstock Academy, [Windham County], 
Connecticut, and afterwards was principal at the Royalton Academy [Windsor 
County, Vermont] and Burlington high school [Chittenden County, Vermont]. In 
February 1861 he became principal of the Orange County grammar school at 
Randolph, where he remained fourteen years. During his administration this 
institution became a State Normal School. He was principal of the State 
Normal School at Johnson [Lamoille County] for three years (1881 to 1884), 
when he returned to the State Normal School at Randolph, of which institution 
he is still the principal.

Mr. CONANT was a member of the National Council of the Congregational 
Churches, which met in Boston in 1865, and in New Haven, Connecticut in 1874, 
and in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1892. He has occupied the position of 
president of the Vermont Teachers' Association, member of the Board of 
Education and of the Vermont Constitutional Convention in 1870. He was State 
Superintendent of Education from 1874 to 1880.

On 10 May 1858 he [Edward CONANT] married Cynthia H., daughter of John and 
Betsey (AVERY) TAGGART, of Stockbridge [Windsor County, Vermont], by whom he 
has four children living: Frank Herbert, Seth Edward, Nell Florence, and 
Grace Lucia. Mr. CONANT's interest in his profession has resulted in the 
authorship of several educational works, among which may be mentioned: "A 
Few Roots of English Words" and "A Drill Book in the Elements of the English 
Language" and "Conant's Vermont." In 1866 he received the honorary degree of 
M. A. from Middlebury College and from the University of Vermont in 1867. 
The respect and love his pupils give him from the first, and their gratitude 
to this wise man, grow as the years roll by.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly