Monadnock Moment No. 076

Multi Era 4 - 7: 1837 to 1910

Roxbury's Professor Dolbear

Amos Emerson Dolbear was born in Norwich, Connecticut in November of 1837. He was orphaned at the age of four and came to Roxbury, New Hampshire to live with Deacon Moses Guild. Dolbear attended the one room district school in Roxbury and was noted as a quiet and studious youngster.

He later left Roxbury and worked his way through college as a school teacher. Dolbear graduated from Wesleyan University of Michigan the following year. He soon became professor of natural sciences at Bethany College in West Virginia. In addition to teaching, Dolbear served two terms as mayor of the city of Bethany. In 1874 he took a job as professor of physics and astronomy at Tufts College.

Professor Dolbear is best remembered as an inventor, however. Through his inventions he made great contributions to the advancement of science. Among his many inventions were the electrical gyroscope, writing telegraph, magneto telephone, static telephone, air space telegraph cable, and a wireless telegraph. Dolbear also authored seven books and more than 100 articles for scientific journals.

Despite his great success in the scientific community, Professor Amos Dolbear always retained his interest in his childhood home and continued to visit Roxbury until his death at the age of seventy-three.