14 Facts About Oliver Dean

Oliver Dean was an American physician, businessman, and philanthropist who became the founder and namesake of Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts.

Oliver Dean became a medical doctor and then changed careers and became manager of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Oliver Dean had founded a Universalist church in Manchester and was instrumental in the growth of Universalism in Franklin after returning there.

Oliver Dean helped establish and was the first president of the Franklin Library Association, to support Franklin Public Library, the first and oldest continually used public lending library in the US.

In 1865, Oliver Dean founded the co-educational Oliver Dean Academy with donations of about $125,000 and approximately 9 acres of land for the school.

The land Oliver Dean donated had previously belonged to well-known theologian Nathanael Emmons.

When eight Emmons family graves were relocated to a nearby cemetery in June 1870, Oliver Dean paid half of the cost.

Oliver Dean married Caroline Francoeur of Wrentham in 1811 and she died in 1866.

Oliver Dean married Louisa C Hawes, of Wrentham, in 1868.

Oliver Dean returned to Wrentham after his death and died there on March 16,1902.

When Oliver Dean was studying medicine with local doctor James Mann, he was seeing Nathanael Emmons' daughter, Deliverance, whom he called Delia.

On learning of her father's great dislike for him and for Mann, Oliver Dean discontinued the relationship.

In October 1871, after 40 years of leadership at Amoskeag, Oliver Dean declined reelection and was complimented by the board of directors upon the retirement.

Oliver Dean gave all of his remaining "Emmons Farm" property, including his residence, to the First Universalist Church in Franklin.