Rutland

LEAVENWORTH, Abel Edgar

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 243-244 
(portrait p 243)

Abel Edgar LEAVENWORTH, of Castleton [Rutland County, Vermont], was born 03 
September 1828 in Charlotte [Chittenden County, Vermont], son of Abel and 
Anna (HICKOK) LEAVENWORTH. Having obtained his preparatory education at the 
district schools of Madrid [St. Lawrence County], New York and Charlotte, he 
continued his studies at Hinesburgh Academy [Chittenden County, Vermont], and 
afterwards entered the University of Vermont, from which he graduated in 
1856, on his return from the South. He commenced his career as a teacher in 
1846, taught district schools five winters and became successively the 
principal of Boilivar Academy [Polk County], Missouri, and the academies of 
Hinesburgh, Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont], and New Haven [Windham 
County, Vermont]. In 1870 he secured the incorporation and endowment of 
Beeman Academy at New Haven, the position of principal of which, after a most 
successful administration, he resigned in 1874 to become principal of the 
State Normal School at Randolph [Orange County, Vermont], leaving the former 
institution with an endowment fund of $12,000.

Leaving the Normal School at Randolph in 1879, after having greatly increased 
its facilities and the number of pupils, he spent two years in institute work 
and the collection of a large and choice cabinet of minerals, while 
recruiting his impaired health. In 1881 he purchased the school building and 
equipment of the Rutland County grammar school, and was appointed principal 
of the State Normal School at Castleton under its patronage. Since that 
date Mr. LEAVENWORTH has devoted his energies to the interests of the school, 
and has always given special attention to the training of teachers, having 
signed six hundred and thirty-nine certificates while principal of the 
various institutions under his charge.

Mr. LEAVENWORTH is a veteran of the Civil War, and soon after his enlistment 
as a private in Company K, Ninth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, was promoted 
through the ranks of sergeant and first lieutenant to that of captain. He 
was made assistant inspector general of WISTAR's brigade of the U. S. forces 
on York Peninsula, of the Second division of the Eighteenth army corps, and 
of the provisional brigade at Bermuda Hundreds. He also served as assistant 
adjutant general of the last named command, later of the Second brigade, 
Third division, Twenty-fourth army corps, and led the skirmish line into the 
city of Richmond on 03 April 1865. He was appointed assistant provost 
marshal of that city, and subsequently assistant adjutant general of the 
district of Appomattox. He was mustered out of the service at Richmond on 13 
June 1865, having received highly commendatory letters from the generals on 
whose staff he had served.

At the age of twelve he united with the Congregational church, with which he 
has continued his connection, serving the local congregation as deacon and 
delegate to county associations and state conventions. Never sectarian in 
belief or practice, he has ever maintained most friendly relations with all 
branches of the Christian church. He was one of the founders of the Delta 
Psi fraternity at the U. V. M. [University of Vermont], and in early life was 
an active Mason, Odd Fellow, Son of Temperance, and Good Templar, having been 
presiding officer in each, as also in various county and state teachers' 
organizations, and later in the Grand Army, from which body he was a 
delegate-at-large from Vermont at the twenty-fifth national encampment at 
Detroit in August 1891. He has also been a member of the American Academy of 
Political and Social Science from the first year of its organization.

On 14 September 1853 Mr. [Abel Edgar] LEAVENWORTH was married to Mary 
Evelina, daughter of Samuel and Sally (HUBBARD) GRIGGS, of Cazenovia [Madison 
County], New York. To them were born: Anna Maria (deceased), Francis Abel 
(deceased), Samuel Edgar, Clarence Greenman, William Stowell, Emily Reynolds 
(deceased), and Philip Reynolds. Mrs. LEAVENWORTH [Mary Evelina] died 30 
July 1877. On 30 July 1877 at Linden [Montgomery County], Maryland, he [Abel 
Edgar LEAVENWORTH] contracted a second alliance with Lucy Elizabeth, daughter 
of Marcus N. and Julia M. (BURT) WADSWORTH, of Oswego [Oswego County], New 
York.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly