Two of my contemporaries there -- who, I believe, never attended any other institution of learning--have held seats in Congress, and one, if not both, other high offices; these are Wadsworth and Brewster.
My father was, from my earliest recollection, in comfortable circumstances, considering the times, his place of residence, and the community in which he lived.

Mindful of his own lack of facilities for acquiring an education, his greatest desire in maturer years was for the education of his children.

Consequently, as stated before, I never missed a quarter from school from the time I was old enough to attend till the time of leaving home.

This did not exempt me from labor.

In my early days, every one labored more or less, in the region where my youth was spent, and more in proportion to their private means.