CLASS OF 1864

Nathan Cook Brackett, son of Joshua and Mary (Cook) Brackett, was born July 28, 1836, at Phillips, Maine. He received his academic education at the Maine State Seminary, Lewiston, Maine, and entered Waterville College in the fall of 1860, where he remained until the close of his junior year. He came to Dartmouth at the beginning of senior year, and graduated with our class in July, 1864.

In August, 1864, he entered the service of the United States Christian Commission, and was sent to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. In September following, he was appointed field agent of the Commission, and served in that capacity until the close of the war. He spent July and August, 1865, in North Carolina, and became much interested in the freedmen. In October, 1865, he went to Harper's Ferry, W. Va., as an agent of the American Missionary Association, to organize schools for the freedmen. He served in that capacity until 1867, at which time Storer College was organized, and he was elected president, which position he occupied for about twenty-five years, later serving as member of the board of trustees and treasurer, both of which positions he occupied at the time of his death. He was county superintendent of schools for two years. In 1870 he was clearly elected to the legislature of West Virginia, but not being on good terms with the officers who held the ballot boxes, he was counted out. He then retired from politics. He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, in 1883. He married Miss Louise Wood of Lewiston, Maine, on October 16, 1865, who survives him, and is a teacher of drawing in Storer College.

Early in January, 1910, he placed himself under the treatment of a Washington specialist for a trouble of the mastoid process. Two operations resulted in complete loss of hearing on that side. He returned home to recuperate, planning to go back and forth to Washington for the necessary treatment. Unfortunately he fell and sprained his ankle, which kept him too long from the hospital, and a complication of diseases ensued, including the kidneys and heart, and after great suffering he died on July 20, 1910, at Harper's Ferry.

A letter dated July 25, 1910, received from Henry T. McDonald, Ph.D., the present president of Storer College, pays the following tribute:

"In regard to his work here, I wish to say that he was recognized in this state, and in the adjoining state, as the pioneer in the work for colored people. Doctor Brackett was one of Nature's true noblemen, clear of vision, sound in heart, comprehensive in mastering problems, wise in leadership, and a believer in men. You will cherish his last sentiment. Viewed in the light of years of persecution, misunderstanding, and opposition which followed the founding of this work, does it not seem as though he had a larger measure of the divine than most of us, when he could say, 'Tell them that I love everybody.' That sentiment is the truest possible summary of his unselfish life. I had often heard him express his intention to be back with his class at their semi-centennial. That prospect was a very pleasant one to him. You will also be interested to know that $5,000, on a fund of $25,000, as a memorial to him has been promised."

Secretary, Dr. John C. Webster, 6117 Winthrop Ave., Chicago