History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

1728

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

The Puritan fathers left the impress of their belief that only through
suffering and privation could worthy success be gained. Under most
primitive surroundings and with most limited advantages young Buel
did not permit his desire for education to wane, and as a youth he made
rapid and substantial progress along the path of learning.
Early in the childhood of Mr. Buel, we note the removal of the
home and family to the near-by village of Castleton, Vermont, quaint
in its simplicity and a continuation apparently of the beautiful landscape and surroundings of Poultney (his birth place) in mountain, lake
or stream.
Best of all, however, seemed the educational advantage gained by
change of residence in the easy access to the Castleton Academy, delightfully located, well equipped in that day for the education of both
young men and women. From its teachings and untiring work emerged
many brilliant scholars, distinguished either in college or elsewhere in
life's work. Catalogues of classes of the older or later day are accessible
at any time in the present. The old fashion of the stately building still
impresses the visitor.
The well remembered classic-pillared village church, in its pristine
white with its old time spire pointing heavenward, stands serene and
steadfast in the midst of the church yard sleepers, who many a day since
rested from their labors-among them sleep the few Litchfield progenitors of the Buel family, who journeyed far away from many of their
kin in the early day. (Think of the wearisome travel of that date into
ways untried.) In the church yard resting near them sleep those of
their children or others of kin, who lingered in the beloved East to live
and die with their elders, while others of the flock, more ambitious and
venturesome, sought the land toward the setting sun, near-by or far away
Westward and onward to take up their lives thus fulfilling destiny.
Among the latter was young Buel as we discover later on in the sketch.
At the early age of fifteen years, Mr. Buel entered Middlebury College, Vermont, and thus is given evidence of the special talent and close
application that had made him thus eligible. Just twenty years after
his graduation from this institution he was invited to deliver the oration
at the semi-centennial celebration of the founding of this historic college,
and he ever retained the deepest love for his alma mater. Soon after
his graduation Mr. Buel turned his attention to practical pedagogic work,
and it is a matter of record that he rendered effective service as professor
of languages in several of the representative academies in the states of
Vermont and New York.
Languages, ancient and modern were to him a source of delight, and
among his papers still extant is found a translation from the French of
one of the oldest American works in existence, the same having been
written by one of the Jesuit Fathers and its context mainly treating of
the Iroquois Indian tribes. He also had translations from the Italian and
Portuguese classics, and in his collection is to be found a most interesting
work compiled by himself. This consists of two books of the Ojibway
vocabulary, the context being written with pen and each word being
given its English definition. This exacting and fatiguing work is a
model of penmanship, clear and symmetrical throughout, and even at
the present day the ink remains unfaded.
Like many another aspiring and ambitious young man of the east,
he became imbued with a desire to cast in his lot with the pioneers of the
far west, as the central part of our national domain was then considered.
He made Detroit, Michigan, his destination, and here he soon gained
the friendship of the representative citizens of the future metropolis of
a great commonwealth. He had previously instituted the study of law,