USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 53
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Not only Mr. Robinson, but Dea. Benjamin Dutton, advised and helped Mr. Harrison in his preparatory course. By teaching, he was enabled to defray current expenses, and by studying "nights and at odd hours," he progressed satisfactorily. In the autumn of 1809, he put himself under the care of the Rev. Israel B. Woodward, of Wol- cott. In this town, he taught school and studied with the pastor. Mr. Woodward dying in the fall of 1810, he sought advice of Mr. Robinson, and was counselled to go to Rev. Ebenezer Porter, of Washington, Conn., afterwards professor at Andover, Mass. He here taught and studied for a year, when he went to South Britain and put himself under the care of Rev. Bennet Tyler, who became first pro- fessor of theology at East Windsor. He was licensed to preach, Oct. 20, 1812, by the Litchfield Association. His first sermon was from the text, Ezek. 18:30. He was invited to supply the pulpit at Rox- bury, Feb. 15, 1813, and March Ist received an unanimous call to settle. June 2, 1813, he was installed pastor of that church by the South Consociation of Litchfield County. He continued at Roxbury twenty-two years. For a few years he supplied the neighboring parish of Bridgewater one-third of the time. Having been called to Beth-
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lehem, he was installed pastor July Ist, 1835. He remained there fourteen years. Subsequently he supplied at Bethany, North Guilford, and Bridgewater. In the last place he died, Feb. 9, 1858, aged seven- ty-five. The Sabbath before his death he preached to his people in his usual health; and only the day before he visited some of his parish.
At the next regular meeting of the Litchfield South Association, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:
" Whereas God in his holy providence, on the 9th day of February last, removed suddenly by death the Rev. Fosdick Harrison in his seventy-sixth year, who was acting pastor of the church in Bridge- water, and who had been for many years the pastor of the church in Roxbury, and subsequently in Bethlehem: Voted, that we recognize with gratitude to God the long and faithful services of the deceased; . hold in grateful recollection his many excellences and peculiar gifts which eminently fitted him for many special services; and that we sympathize with the churches which he has served, in the affliction, and with his family in their bereavement."
In personal appearance, Mr. Harrison was tall, compactly built, and imposing, resembling much the late Rev. John Pierrepont, of Boston. At the Litchfield centennial in 1851, they sat side by side, and were supposed by many to be brothers. In mind, he was solid. As a theologian, he was of the type of his instructors, and not at all dis- posed to metaphysical inquiry. His disposition was kindly, and in all his pastoral life he exhibited great charity and benevolence.
At the Litchfield centennial, Rev. T. L. Shipman (now of Preston) remarked of him: "Harrison was so gifted by nature that he needed not the adventitious aid of a college diploma." He became what he was notwithstanding his early disadvantages. He always felt his own deficiencies in this respect, and was a strong advocate of liberal edu- cation. By marvelous diligence, he measurably overcame his early lack of culture, but in all his after life he was careful to advise candi- dates for the ministry to pursue a full course of study. He received the honorary degree of A. M. from Yale College in 1815.
There was a dry wit' about him, and he was not slow to avail him- self of it if necessary.
1 A son-in-law asked him, "Have you seen my pigs? I have two glorious ones." He answered, " I will look at them, since I never saw any of that breed."
When preaching at - , a family, known as " backbiters," made a good deal of Trouble. He wrote on a bit of paper and dropped in the streets, " Why are the -'s like bed-bugs ?" Ans .- "Because they bite people's backs." "What ought to be done if they don't stop this ?" Ans .- " They ought to be well scalded ?"
Mr. Harrison had a parishioner, Gen. H-, who was very sick, and sent for him. The General was of strong and strange prejudices. " Mr. Harrison, I did not know but that my time had come; and it is usual to ask the prayers of the church, but I had
63
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
Mr. Harrison is worthy of special record as a man who won his place by simple merit. Aside from the grace of God, he may be ranked as one who made himself.
WILLIAM ROBINSON. (A CANDIDATE FOR THE MINISTRY.)
He was the only son of the Rev. William and Sophia (Mosely) Rob- inson, and was born Aug. 31, 1784. His mother died Dec. 24th, of the same year, less than sixteen months after her marriage. As a boy he was far from being robust in body, and had early admonitions of the presence of the same disease that took away his mother. His father placed him under the care of Rev. Dr. Chapin, of Rocky Hill, who fitted him for college. He entered Yale College in 1820, and not- withstanding poor health, he took an advanced standing in his class. For nearly four years he withstood the power of disease, but finally in the spring of 1804, he was compelled to leave college. Mr. Chester Whittlesey had recently become a resident of the town, and had found in young Robinson a very congenial literary friend and companion. After his return from college, William Robinson, with his new friend, took a journey into sonthern Massachusetts, to try the mountain air, and also to consult a celebrated root doctor. When they came home they brought " sundry jugs of tinetures prepared from roots and herbs, and the body of a rattlesnake, skinned and dressed, which was to be administered in some way."1
But no change of air, no medical treatment, could arrest the disease, and he died Nov. 14th, 1804. Although not really graduating, yet his rank and character were such that his name was included in the list of graduates, and the customary degree conferred.
Among the papers in my possession I have found the following transcript of a document " Written by Presant Dwight." "Died at Southington on Wednesday 14th inst Mr William Robinson, A. B. of this Seminary.
1. "This young gentleman was the son of the Rev. William Robin- son, minister of Southington, and was possessed of fine endowments
rather die than ask Deacon - to pray for me." "Well, (said Mr. H.) you might put it in this way : Gen. H- being near death apparently, desires the prayers of the people of God." "That's it; (exclaimed Gen. H.) I knew you'd fix it. If Dca. - prays for me it will be on his own hook, for he does not belong to the people of God."
While preaching at -, objection was made to Mr. Harrison, because he was not a " college-bred preacher," and this was the only objection to him. In that place there was living a graduate of Yale College by name of -- , who was not considered at all smart. At a ladies' society, when this objection was raised, one of the ladies remarked, " You had better get - - to preach for you." This answered the objection.
1 Mem. of Rev. W. Robinson, p. 121.
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and an excellent disposition. Few youths have at the same age ad- vanced further in literature and in amiableness of life.
2. "He was destined to the ministry of the Gospel, and promised to adorn the office with distinguished talents, piety, and usefulness. But a pulmonary consumption ended his life at an untimely period, and cut off the hopes of his parents and the expectations of all his acquaint- ances.
3. "To himself, there is the best reason to believe, his death has been unspeakable gain, but to mankind it has occasioned the loss of one of the most hopeful members of the rising generation."
The funeral of Mr. Robinson was largely attended; the sermon preached by Rev. Mr. Foote of Cheshire. His death produced a pro- found impression. Perhaps no young man ever had a stronger hold upon the affections of the community than he.
EDWARD ROBINSON, D. D., LL.D.
He was the son of Rev.1 William and Elizabeth (Norton) Robinson, and was born in Southington, April 10, 1794. His boyhood and youth furnish less material than is the case with many distinguished men. Nothing can be revealed that, taken by itself, can be regarded as a prophecy of his future greatness, and yet much is there that, in the light of his great career, may be interpreted as the foundation of the future Christian and scholar.
His timidity was great, and this kept him from extended associa- tions in his own neighborhood. But at home he felt the freedom and inspiration of the boy ; although even here he was never as fond of sports as the mass of boys .? He was not robust in health, and farm- work was considered too heavy for him. In fact it was feared that he would not live to manhood. The death of his brother William at the age of twenty, had given ground of anxiety to the parents with respect to Edward. Hence he was allowed an exemption from work on the farm that had not been otherwise. His leisure hours, however, were not unemployed, if such a statement be allowed. With something of a mechanical genius, he was given to the planning of various kinds of helps by which domestic labor was lightened. Under the tuition of Clara Hitchcock-a member of the family and to whose character he
i Among the papers of Rev. William Robinson I find the following that was not discovered in time to put in connection with the sketch of himself. It has an interest and value that justify its being incorporated here: "Ichabod Robinson and Lydia Robinson's Best advice to their Son William Robinson going to Yale College, Novr 5th 1770. BE RELIGIOUS BE VIRTUOUS."
" One who grew up with him told me that he never heard him in play utter a " shriek" of any kind.
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pays a special tribute in the memoir of his father-he acquired a knowl- edge of the loom, and mementoes of his skill are still preserved.
So far as he could he availed himself of his father's library, and was an indefatigable reader. It is said that all his moments were occupied,1 either in reading or in some useful work.
As a lad, he was far from prepossessing in appearance, having large limbs and an ungainly gait. His shyness only added to his ungainli- ness. I once asked a schoolmate 2 of his, whose appreciation of his real worth was unsurpassed, as to his personal appearance. "O," she replied, "he was a great lumbering boy !" She then explained, that when young, he hardly knew where to put his hands and feet. Another3 of his school-mates remembers him in the school-room, " sitting on high benches with feet hanging and dangling." She says that " a look from his teacher would start him trembling, and assuming all kinds of shapes." He was generally at the head of his class, but if he happened to miss he would cry vehemently. Mrs. Jones says that she remembers seeing him "frequently alone around the old church, and peering through the foundations, examining stones and timbers." Others of his early companions recall the fact now that he closely examined what- ever came before his eyes-a tree, stone wall, or house. Thus his natu- ral traits and early habits combined to lay the foundation for that taste and accuracy that distinguished him in his later years. His first teacher was Chester Whittlesey, who taught the village school, and who is said to have been very irascible and severe in the school-room. He adopted Solomon's code in full, and several still living recall the experience of the rod in his hand. His pupil, Edward Robinson, was exempted from this experience, for the reason that his conduct was unexceptionable, and his lessons well learned. But the severity of his instructor made an impression upon him that time could not efface. His next instructor was Asaph Whittlesey, brother of Chester, and who proved the more acceptable because of his greater amiability. He is remembered as a teacher of great kindness, intelligent, gentle, but firm in discipline, and respected by his pupils. These brothers became partners in mer- cantile business in Southington, and for a time Edward Robinson was their clerk. The clerk never made much headway in weighing grocer- ies and measuring cloth. He was then assigned more particularly to the drug department, but in this he was not at home. It is said he knew where every article was to be found, but had no facility in dis- posing of them. So awkward and slow was he in weighing or meas- uring, that customers were often sorely tried and vexed.
1 " The loss of a minute," (he once said to a brother who had laid down his book to eat an apple) "is just so much loss of life."-Hitchcock's Memorial, p. 38.
2 The late Mrs. Chauncy Buck.
3 Mrs. Dr. Timothy Jones.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
Before entering the store his father sent him to Wolcott to be under the care and tuition of Rev. Israel B. Woodward, a pastor in that town, but who to supplement his salary took a limited number of boys to prepare for college. He also taught school at Farmington and East Haven. I can not learn where he began classical studies. Something of his skill and tact appears in the fact that while at Wolcott, "inoen- lation" was there practiced as a novelty, and that he took some of the virus home with him, and successfully inoculated the whole family.
At first, it seems, his father had no intention of sending him to col- lege. But circumstances changed his mind. From some cause his father did not care to have him enter Yale. In the memoir of his father (p. 150) he alludes to an accidental visit from President Dwight, at which the President, placing his hand on Edward's head, remarked, " I suppose, sir, you intend to send him to us by and by;" to which an evasive reply was given.
Not so much from the desire of the father as the earnest wish of the son, Edward Robinson was permitted to go to Clinton, N. Y., and become a member of the family of his maternal uncle,1 Professor Nor- ton. And this led to his admission to the freshman class in 1812. Of his college2 course nothing has been transmitted. His friends recall the frequent and emphatic tribute he paid Professor Theodore Strong,3 (afterward at Rutgers College, N. J.,) and to whom he traced more than to any one else " the shaping of his course in life by thoroughly rousing his mind to study." He graduated at the head of his class in 1816. He spent several months in visiting his friends, and in 1817 he entered the law office of James Strong as a student. The next year he accepted the position of tutor in his Alma Mater. He married, Sept. 3d, 1818, Eliza, daughter of Rev. Samuel K. and Jerusha (Bingham) Kirtland. His wife died July 5, 1819. After her death he devoted himself to study, and prepared for publication an edition of Homer. In 1821 he removed to Andover, Mass., and in connection with Pro- fessor Stuart, engaged in important literary work. Ile was licensed to preach, Oct. 1, 1822, by the Hartford South Association, at its sessions in Middletown (Upper Houses). The records read: "Mr. Edward Robinson having presented himself for licensure to preach the Gospel, was, after deliberate examination, unanimously licensed and recom- mended for that responsible work." He was instructor in Hebrew at
1 In Chair of Languages.
2 On his way to Clinton he visited his sister, Mrs. James Woodruff, at Catskill ; and in January, 1814, he spent his college vacation with her, and was then taken violently sick with lung fever .. The unfavorable symptoms caused great anxiety, and his parents were sent for. They drove thither in their own sleigh. Memoirs of his Father, p. 126. 3 In Chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy.
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Andover, 1823-26. In 1826 he went to Germany, and for four years engaged in close study. He married, Aug. 7, 1828, Theresa Albertine Louise Von Jacob, daughter of Professor Von Jacob, of the University of Halle. Returning to this country in 1830, he was appointed Pro- fessor, and Librarian at Andover. The Biblical Repository was founded by him in 1831. In 1834 he removed to Boston, and spent three years in preparation of his works. In 1837 he was elected Professor in the Union Theological Seminary of New York, and accepted on condition that he be permitted to spend three or four years in the Holy Land. The result of this visit was " Biblical Researches." He again went to Palestine in 1852, and added a volume to his "Researches." In 1861 his eyesight failed him, and after vainly seeking relief in Europe, he returned to this country, and died peacefully, Jan. 27, 1863.
REV. JEREMIAH BARNES.
He was born in Southington, March 9, 1809, and is the son of Eli and Roxanna (Newell) Barnes. In 1812 his father removed to New Haven, and built what was long known as Barnesville at the west end of the bridge leading to Fair Haven. The son was occupied chiefly in manual labor until his 19th year, when he began to prepare for college, which he entered at New Haven in 1830, and graduated in 1834. For a time he taught the Academy at Southington, and then pursued his theological studies at New Haven. He was ordained an evangelist, Oct. 1838, and settled pastor of the Presbyterian church, Evansville, Ind., Nov. 24, 1838. He remained nine years at Evans- ville, and then accepted the appointment of agent for Marietta College for a year. He supplied the Presbyterian church at Piqua, Ohio, for two years. In 1850 he removed to Cincinnati, and published a maga- zine, the Western Emporium; and was also Principal of a Young Ladies' Seminary in that city. Before establishing the seminary he visited Europe for the purpose of examining the methods of instruc- tion in Scotland and Germany, but from some cause his own experi- ment at Cincinnati was not a success. He supplied a church in Georgetown, Ohio, in 1854-5; and churches in St. Paul, Northfield. and Cannon Falls, Minnesota, in 1855-6.
Mr. Barnes has in later years engaged himself successfully, in plant- ing Congregational churches at the west, and was for a time an agent of the American Missionary Association. He was married, first, in 1836, to Catharine Platt, of Prospect, Conn. She died in 1838, leav- ing one son. In 1839 Mr. Barnes was married a second time, to Caroline M. Webster, a daughter of James Webster, an Elder in the 2d Presbyterian church, Newburyport, Mass.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
REV. ROLLIN A. NEALE, D.D.
He was born in Southington, Feb. 13, 1808, and was the son of Jeremiah and Anna (Fuller) Neale. Although his family had toward the close of the century withdrawn from the Congregational society and joined the Baptists, yet as the latter was practically extinct for several years, they attended the worship of the former. Rollin, the son, was very fond of church services, and after the Sabbath school was established he was always present as a pupil. Among his teach- ers were Deacons Eli Pratt and Oliver Lewis. He is said to have excelled all others in committing verses1 of the Bible to memory. At home he was never fond of work. His brother stated that, "he preferred always to stuff his pockets full of books or papers, and lie down in the bend of a fence and read (always keeping an eye out to see if his father was coming) than to work." One day he and his brother were bidden to thresh rye with the flail. Rollin, after a little while, said to his brother, " You stamp with one foot while you thrash, and father will think that two flails are at work, and I will go on the hay-mow and read." This was agreed to, but soon the father ap- peared, and finding out what had happened, exclaimed, "The good-for- nothing boy,-he'll never amount to anything."
As early as he could he began teaching, and soon had fifty dollars " clear." Mr. Ogden, the pastor of the church, was interested in him, and gave him for several months gratuitous instruction in the classics -loaning him the books. This was when he was fourteen. At sixteen he became a child of God, and was baptized and received into the Baptist church of Bristol, a few miles distant. Now came forcibly to his mind a remark he had heard when only five years old. At his father's house Elder Wildman2 called. The father had asked, " What will become of the church when you and Mr. Miller (another minister) pass away-who will take your place?" Mr. Wildman said in reply, "God will take care of that; but who knows but that boy may become a preacher yet"-pointing to Rollin. This remark was treasured in the boy's heart.
In the prayer meetings he exhibited such gifts that his friends advised him to begin preaching. He declined doing this, and uttered this wise saying; wise for a man to utter, very wise for a youth-" If I ever preach, I want also to teach and give the people instruction."
His purpose- was, if possible, to enter college. One night his brother found him weeping, and the reason given was, that he could not
1 As a joke he one Sabbath recited a large part of one of the Gospels so as to keep his teacher (Dea. Pratt) from eating his dinner or lunch. The intermission between preaching services was an hour.
2 See pp. 312-316 of this volume.
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see his way clear about going to college. His brother had $100, and this he offered Rollin. Then he had $50 of his own, earned by teach- ing; and another party supplied fifty. This was to him a mine of wealth. About this time a letter had been received from Rev. Lu- ther Rice, who at that time was the financial agent of the Columbian College, Washington, D. C., saying, "Tell the young man to come to Columbian College, and I reckon we shall be able to put him through." This settled his plans, and forthwith preparations were made for his departure. An oldl wooden chest was brought out; clothing was made up, and some second-hand clothing was bought, all of which was carefully packed away. He went to Washington, was matricula- ted, and began his course of study. Soon he was called to go out and address assemblies of colored people, and this opened the way for him to preach in the neighboring churches. Thus without a formal license he began his ministerial life at sixteen.
While in college he was indeed "pinched by poverty," and he tells some amusing stories of his trials. He had worn out the clothes taken with him so that even patches could not conceal the rents. He says that he cut off the skirts of his coat to mend his pants. In this plight he wrote home for a home-spun suit, and a pair of shoes. As to the latter he says, "guess at the size, only be sure and have them large enough." In the meantime, Rev. William Robinson, his old pastor, had died, and in some way his shoes came into the hands of the family, and by them were sent to Rollin. He wore them, although two or three sizes too large, and often preached in them, laughingly claiming it as an honor that he stood in parson Robinson's shoes. Thus he pursued his studies until finally the college itself succumbed to financial pressure, and suspended operations. Young Neale preached for a time in the Navy Yard, Washington, but in 1830 entered New- ton Theological Seminary. Finishing his studies here, he settled in New Haven, over the First Baptist church, and remained about three years. He was then called to the First Baptist church of Boston, to which he has since ministered.
Dr. Neale has for many years been ranked among the foremost of Baptist preachers. Not alone in his own denomination is he popular, but his warmest friends are in other bodies. He and the late Dr. Kirk, of Boston, were like twin brothers. His large, tolerant views of Christian interchange, and the catholic spirit he at all times exhib- its, can not but do much for the furtherance of true fellowship between all denominations.
RODNEY CURTIS (THEOLOGICAL STUDENT).
He was the son of Leverett and Ruth (Barnes) Curtis, and was born Sept. 26, 1803, and baptized by Mr. Robinson, Oct. 30, 1803.
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In his boyhood he sustained an unblemished reputation, keeping himself aloof from many of the sports and gaieties that sometimes are thought to constitute youthful follies. Those who remember him speak of his straightforward and quiet conduct, winning at every step the confidence and esteem of his companions. Always thoughtful, he had not settled his religious purposes until he was quite grown. When about eighteen, he was brought under the ministry of Mr. Ogden, whose preaching and counsels led him to a final decision, and he united with the church Aug. 3, 1823. He was now preparing for college, and his mind turned to the subject of a future profession. The result was a full and unreserved consecration to the work of preaching the Gospel. He entered college, and graduated in 1828. One of his classmates (the Rev. Dr. Newton, Norwalk, O.,) writes: "I well remember Rodney Curtiss. We were classmates three years-division mates two years, and, if I remember rightly, boarded at the same table the greater part of one year. Intellectually, Mr. Curtiss would not be called brilliant. Yet his mind was well balanced. While he was more inclined to the study of the mathematics, he did not neglect the other studies of the college curriculum to his own detriment, as some do. He felt the importance of a general culture of the mind as a preparation for the highest usefulness in his professional life. Hence he was a diligent and faithful student. He was one of the few who was always present at the recitations and lectures, unless prevented by unavoidable hindrances. He did not attain a high grade of scholarship, yet his standing was reputable. There were more, in a class of eighty-two, who stood below than above him. His religious character was marked not so much by the fervency which is awakened by occasions, as by a steadfast, uniform course of Christian conduct. He was thoroughly conscientious-no time-server. His standard of right was the law of God, and not the laws and customs of society."
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