chosen superintendent of the public schools in
that city. His remarkable administrative abilities and high
qualifications as a scholar were of great service in his onerous
position. The schools reached a discipline and prosperity before
unknown. He is also a member of the legal profession.

In the development of petroleum Mr. Bissell was a leading pioneer;
perhaps he justly deserves the pre-eminence in this great work. Mr.
Bissell is a self-made man. We quote a portion of his letter to
President Smith, announcing his munificent donation for a gymnasium:

"In acceding to your wishes, my dear sir, I can but recall that day,
now twenty years since, when, leaving Dartmouth, alone and unaided, I
felt that 'Tentanda via est, qua me quoque possim tollere humo.'

"It affords me unqualified pleasure now to be able to gratify a wish
then cherished, to aid in some degree my Alma Mater, and in that
manner which you assure me is the most effectual."

"Gen. David Culver was born in Lyme, N. H. In the year 1832 he left
the parental roof, and after a residence in Hartford, Conn., and New
York City, for some years, where in both cities he was actively
engaged in lucrative business pursuits, he returned to his beautiful
ancestral home in Lyme, in 1855. The residue of his years he spent in
pleasant agricultural life, on the old farm of his strongly-endeared
childhood, memory, and attachment. In the rural district of this home
he was ever apparently content and happy, and, much to his praise,
seemed greatly beloved by his neighbors. His townsmen many times by
their united suffrage gave him important offices of public trust and
confidence. Of the Congregational Church of Christ, in Lyme, he was
for many years a highly valued helping member, and for the gospel
ministry was a liberal supporter, giving of his means in so quiet a
manner that he appeared not to wish his good deeds blazoned to the
world.

"For the needy, suffering poor of his personal acquaintance,
especially the helpless poor, he had a sympathizing heart, and so
deeply pitied them, in many instances, as to greatly alleviate their
sufferings by ministering pecuniarily to their relief.

"To the cause of general education in the community,--elementary,
common, agricultural, and collegiate,--he was always a warm-hearted,
deeply-interested friend. In many instances, to aspiring youth in
indigent circumstances, who were striving after the acquisition of the
needful knowledge t