USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > West Simsbury > Historical sketch of the Congregational church and parish of Canton Center, Conn., formerly West Simsbury. Organized 1750 > Part 6
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When he was twenty years old he frequently listened to the preaching of Dr. Griffin, then settled at New Hartford, which so deeply impressed him as to mark what he believed to be the beginning of his Christian life. IIe soon felt an earnest desire to become a minister of the Gospel. He was encouraged by his pastor, and in 1803 entered the Junior class of Yale College, and was graduated 1805. IIe imme- diately began the study of Theology with Rev. Asahel Hooker of Goshen. Conn. In 1806, he was licensed to preach by the Litchfield North Association. He preached his first sermon in Cornwall, Conn., and a few weeks after was invited to preach as a candidate in Fairfield, Conn., which resulted in his settlement as pastor of that church in 1807. During the ten years of his pastorate in Fairfield, his labors were incessant and successful. In 1808, he married Sophia, daughter of Deacon Noah Porter of Farmington, sister of Dr. Noah Porter, pastor of the church in that place.
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While in Fairfield the temperance movement began, and he assisted to organize what was called the " Connectient Moral Society," the object of which was to promote good morals, the better observance of the Sabbath, and to check the evils of intemperance. He was one of the pioneers in the great movement. In 1811-12, he preached several sermons on the subject, characterized by strong arguments, glowing appeals, and fervid eloquence. He was instrumental in the passage of a resolution by the Fairfield West Association, prohibiting the use of spiritnons liquors by that body, and in securing the pledge of its members to discourage their use and sale.
In 1817, he was settled in Pittsfield, Mass. His labors here were attended with powerful revivals. He remained till 1823, when he became President of Amherst College. After filling this office with signal success for twenty-two years, he retired and removed to Pittsfield, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died April 3, 1861.
His publications were many and varied; his work strong and abiding. Well may the town that gave birth to such a man cherish his memory with honest pride.
Rev. Luther Humphrey. - Brother of Heman Humphrey, was born in 1783, died May, 1871.
He was graduated at Middlebury College, Vt., in 1813, and ordained the following year as a missionary to Western Reserve, Ohio. He was installed in Burton, Ohio, and soon began housekeeping with his wife and younger sister. " They settled in a . hired log-house; borrowed two chairs, made three stools, ate upon a chest, slept on the floor, and were truly happy.' "
After laboring here thirteen years, he was called to a pas- torate in Connecticut, where he remained two years. Later he removed to Michigan, and resumed missionary work. He resided in Windham, Ohio, at the time of his death. "IIe was a glorious type of the American pioneer clergyman, and a noble example of Christian zeal, benevolence, and faith."
Rev. Hector Humphreys, D.D. - Was born June 8, 1797. HIe pursued the study of Latin in his native village, and com-
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pleted his preparatory course in Winsted and Westfield. He was graduated from Yale in 1818 with the highest honors. While in college he united with the Congregational Church under the charge of Dr. and President Timothy Dwight. After graduation he decided to become a lawyer. He studied for two years, and entered upon a promising practice. At this time his attention was turned to theological studies in connection with the Episcopacy. In 1824, he was confirmed in Trinity Church, New York, and admitted to the order of deacon.
From 1825-31, he was a member of the Faculty of Trinity College, at Hartford, and also rector of a church in Glaston- bury. When scarcely thirty-four, he was chosen President of St. John's College, Annapolis, Md. "From that time until his death, January 25, 1837, in St. John's College, a period of twenty-six years,-his name and fame, his talents and energies, are identified with the history and progress of St. John's, and have worked out for him a monument more en- during than marble, more noble than 'sculptured urn, or animated bust.'"
Through his influence and efforts he built up the library, collected physical apparatus and a valuable cabinet, and created the laboratory.
To his chair belonged Moral Science; but he taught many other studies, including some very remote, as animal and vegetable physiology. He gave instruction, also, at different times in nearly all the other branches taught in the college. In addition to this work he carefully prepared lectures in the studies belonging to him, and frequently preached in the neighboring Episcopal churches.
Owing to his extreme self-renunciation, very few of his writings have appeared in print. On this account most of his best work lies buried from the world. "Disdaining all mere sham, he aimed only at the real and the true. Imitat- ing the processes of nature, that seeks by gradual accretion to build up her most enduring monuments, he was content with the patient, faithful discharge of every-day duty, adding line to line and precept to precept, trusting to time and to
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results to prove the excellence of his work." Judged by his picture alone, one would say he was a man of solid rather than showy intellectual attainments. He was a genial friend, a frank and sincere man, and a patriotie citizen.
Rev. Francis Hiram Case. - He was born in October, 1797, and was graduated from Yale College in 1822, and studied Theology at the Yale Divinity School. He was settled as pastor of the Congregational Church in Goshen, Conn., Feb- ruary 1, 1526, and dismissed September 30, 1828. In 1830; December 22d, he was installed over the church in Avon, Conn., and was dismissed April 28, 1840. In 1842, he went to Whitewater, Wis., and for two years was pastor of the Con- gregational Church of that place. Soon after he returned to his native town, where he resided several years without charge, and finally returned to the West, and died at Cold Spring, Wis., December 20, 1872.
Rev. Sidney Mills .- Born March, 1799. He was educated at Phillips Academy and Theological Seminary, Andover, Mass. IIe first kept a boarding-school in Goshen, Conn., and afterwards was ordained as a missionary to New York. He settled in Smyrna, and from there went to Otisco, and thence to Lawrenceville, Penn., where he kept a boarding-school until his health failed. Then he removed to Clifton, Va., and lived with a married daughter till his death, March, 1874.
Rev. Chester Humphrey .- Born October, 1802. Was grad- uated at Amherst College, 1828. He was settled over the Congregational Church in Vernon, Conn., and died in his pastorate, 1843.
Ile was a man of devoted piety. The following incident is related of him while residing in Canton. One day he visited a poor woman for whose salvation he had been deeply inter- ested, and told her how he felt. She was so impressed by the fact that Mr. Humphrey was interested in her salvation that she could not get rid of the feeling that she ought herself to be interested, and was soon converted.
Rev. Luther II. Barbour .- Born 1815. Was graduated at Amherst College, 1839, and at Hartford Theological Semi-
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nary, 1842. IIe was ordained at Riverton, Conn., 1842, and remained there till 1$61. Was pastor at Scotland, Conn., 1862-1869. Was acting pastor at Hanover, Conn., from 1869-1878. He became acting pastor at Bolton, Conn., 1878, where he still remains in active service. He married Miss Lucinda Taylor of Canton, August 28, 1842.
Rev. Edmund Y. Garrette .- Born in New Hartford, 1823; but a member of the church in Canton Center. He was graduated at Amherst College in 1850, and he took a partial course at the Theological Seminary of Connecticut, and grad- uated at Andover in 1853. He was ordained pastor at Fox- boro, Mass., April 1854-1867. Was installed at Middlebury, Mass., 1867-1869; at Pittsburg, Penn., in 1869. Was acting pastor at La Crosse, Wis., in 1872; and in 1881 was at Atlanta, Ga. In 1883 he became acting pastor of the Con- gregational Church at Paxton, Ill., where he still remains. HIe married Miss Frances W. Parkhurst of Milford, Mass.
Rev. Augustus Hart Currier, D.D .- Born March, 1832. He was graduated at Yale College, 1851. Taught in Monson Academy, Mass., one year. Graduated at the Andover The- ological Seminary in 1855. He was settled successively at North East, Pa., Auburndale, Mass., Erie, Pa., Minneapolis, Minn., and Indianapolis, Ind. He spent part of 1885-6 in Germany.
The family name was Bandell. At the age of four years he was adopted by his uncle, Mr. Carrier of Bridgeport, Conn., whose name he took. Ile married Miss Susan Ban- dall of Norfolk, Conn. He has two, sons, the elder a gradu- ate of Yale College and Hartford Theological Seminary. He has preached for a time at Bloomfield, Ind., and studied one year in Germany. The younger son is a graduate of Harvard University, and also spent one year in Germany.
Rev. Roger Adams .- Born 1770, died 1838. "Was a man of more than common ability. He had two sons, twin brothers, who entered the ministry. Their names were Erastus Homer, minister of -- , and James Watson, D.D., minister of Syracuse."
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Rev. Abel Lester Barter .- He was graduated from Amherst College in 1831. IIe studied Theology with Rev. Allen McLean of Simsbury, and was licensed to preach by the Hartford North Association, June 4, 1833. He married a daughter of Amasa Woodford of Avon, Conn. He went West, and soon after became a Baptist minister. Returned East, and probably preached for a time for a Baptist Church in Avon, and in Wallingford, Conn., and at the latter place died.
Rev. Rollin S. Stone .- IIe was the son of William Stone, a merchant in Canton Street. He studied in the schools of Canton. Became a Congregational minister. Was settled for a time in Brooklyn. N. Y., and is now pastor of a Con- gregational Church in Chatham, N. J.
Rev. Amos Leverett Spencer .- IIe was born October 14, 1799. He studied theology for a time with Rev. Allen MeLean of Simsbury. He became a local Methodist preacher in Ohio, and died at Bootstown, Ohio, September 19, 1845.
Rev. Roma Barnes .- He was not born in Canton, but while living here as a youth was converted in the revival of 1821, under Rev. Mr. Hallock. He preached for a time in Ohio, and died young. He is described as a man of good ability, and an earnest and convincing preacher.
Rev. Selah Merrill, D.D., LL.D. - Was born in Canton, Conn., May 2d. 1837. His father died before Selah was fifteen years of age, and for two years he labored on the farin, endeavoring as far as possible to fill his father's place, but his natural taste was for study, and in 1854 his mother sold the farm (which had never been out of the name of Merrill since it was bought of the Indians) and moved to Westfield, Mass., that she might give her children better advantages for educa- tion. Here Selah attended the academy, working part of the time in a grocery store. He finished his preparation for college at Easthampton, and entered Yale in the autumn of 1858. After one year of study, during which time he took the first prize for original declamation, he became impatient
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at the length of time devoted to the classics, and leaving the college course, entered the Theological Seminary in New Haven, where he remained three years. Soon after leaving the Theological Seminary, he was appointed chaplain of a Massachusetts regiment stationed near Vicksburg, Miss. He was ordained by the Hampden Association at Feeding Hills, Mass. He preached one year at Chester, Mass., two years at Le Roy, N. Y., from whence he was called to take charge of the Third Congregational Church of San Francisco. He went thither in the fall of '67, intending to make that his future home, but the winter of '67-'68, was an unusually wet one, and Mr. Merrill suffered from a succession of attacks of pneumonia so that he was obliged to return East in 1868. In the fall of the same year, he went to Berlin, Germany, for the study of Hebrew and German. The following year he spent some time traveling in Palestine. On his return to America he supplied for some time the pulpit at Salmon Falls, N. H. During the absence of Prof. Mead in Europe, Mr. Merrill supplied his place in the department of Hebrew instruction in Andover Theological Seminary. About this time he also made a clear, complete, and careful account of the Assyrian treasures in America - the slabs and bricks and figures large and small, plain and inscribed, whole and broken, in the different college museums and libraries. He deciphered and translated the inscriptions upon them, and the result of these labors was published in the Bibliotheca Sacra for April, 1875, and attracted considerable attention. In 1874 he was appointed Archaeologist of the American Palestine Exploration Society, and sailed from America June 19, 1875, arriving at Beirut, the headquarters of the expedition, Ang. 9th. Speaking of this appointment, Rev. Joseph Cook exclaimed, "Thank God, that for once in a life-time the right man has got into the right place."
During the years 1875-'77, he made four different expedi- tions. The journal of two of these is given in a book entitled " East of the Jordan," published by Scribner, in 1881. On Thursday, Dec. 23, 1875, Mr. Merrill was placed in charge of the exploration work, which he carried on until the sum-
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mer of '77, when he returned to America, but was retained by the society for some time to write reports and assist Mr. Meyer in the preparation of maps. In the introduction to "East of the Jordan." Rev. Roswell D. Hitchcock says : " The author of this book has done conspicuous and excellent service in the field. He was no ordinary traveler. As an Archæologist of the . Palestine Exploration Society,' his opportunities were exceptionally good, and these opportuni- ties were well improved. He showed admirable tact, and had rare good luck in dealing with the Bedouins, whose habits he studied carefully, and among whom he dwelt as securely as at Andover. He has the credit of several impor- tant identifications. Another volume written by Mr. Merrill was published in 1551. by the Congregational Publishing Society of Boston, entitled. " Galilee, in the time of Christ." Besides various contributions to the Bibliotheca Sacra, Dr. Merrill has written largely for the London Athenaeum, the Bos- ton Advertiser, Congregationalist, and Watchman ; the New York Independent, and Semi- Weekly Tribune, the New Englander, and the International Review, and has recently published a pamphilet on the " Probable Site of Calvary." In 1881, Dr. Merrill was appointed U. S. Consul to Jerusalem, and the papers were awaiting the President's signature, when the assassin's bullet put an end to president Garfield's valuable labors, and eventually to his life. Thus matters were delayed until the following spring, when Dr. Merrill again sailed for Palestine. His term of office there has been one of general satisfaction to the government at home, to the traveling public, and to the authorities at Jerusalem. Since the Democratic admin- istration has come into power at Washington, a successor has been appointed, but he has not yet reached his post, so that Dr. Merrill is at the present writing still in Jerusalem. In the autumn of 1878, Dr. Merrill delivered a course of twelve lectures before the Lowell Institute, Boston. He also lectured frequently in other towns and cities during 1878-80. Dr. Mer- rill has been three times married. His first wife was Miss Fran- ces L. Cooke of Chester, Mass., to whom he was married, March 15, 1866. She lived but little more than one year, and died
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in child-birth. September 16, 1868, he married Mrs. Phila Wilkins Fargo of Warsaw, N. Y., who accompanied him to Berlin to perfeet herself in vocal music. While there, she took cold at an evening entertainment given by Minister Bancroft, at which Bismarck was present. This cold settled into consumption, and she came home and died at Warsaw in November, 1870. April 27. 1875, he was married to Miss Adelaide Brewster Taylor of Andover, Mass., the seventh generation in direct descent from Elder Brewster. Mrs. Merrill is now with her husband in Palestine. He has no children living.
Rev. Clarence H. Barbour. - He was born February, 1853. HIe was graduated at Amherst College in 1877, and at the Hartford Theological Seminary in 1880. IIe was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in Torringford, Conn., June 17, 1880, where he is still doing successful work. He was married Sept. 29, 1880, to Miss Minnie Johnson of Morris, Con.
SKETCHES OF LAWYERS BORN IN CANTON.
Frederick Brown. - Born 1769. He removed to Ohio, and though not educated as a lawyer, he became judge of the cir- cuit court there. IIe died in 1848.
Jeremiah HI. Hallock. - Son of Rev. Jeremiah Hallock, born 1790 ; was graduated from Williams College 1809. For some time he was judge of the circuit court in Ohio. Other facts of his life are referred to in the sketch of his father. He died at Steubenville, Ohio, 1848.
Jeremiah Humphreys. - Son of Deacon Alvin Humphreys, was born February, 1806. Was a member of Yale College. Entered upon the profession of law 1831 at Nassau, N. Y. Married at Albany, N. Y., August 31, 1829, Hannah Swart of Ponghkeepsie. Went to Michigan and probably resided in Schoolcraft in that State. He afterward removed with his family to Fulton, Ill., where he died in June, 1845.
Randolph Cuse. - IIe was born August 21, 1809. He spent
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one year at Amherst College, but was graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. He studied law, but did not pur- sue it as a profession. He was for some years principal of an academy at St. Leonard, Calvert County, Maryland. He died April 21, 1859.
Hosea Dayton Humphrey .- Born 1809. He was graduated at Amherst College, 1833. Studied law for two years with Henry Starr of Cincinnati, Ohio; settled in the practice of his profession at Crawfordsville, Ind. Two years later he was elected professor of mathematics in Wabash College, Craw- fordsville. IIe continued in the duties of his chair and in legal practice until his death. September 18, 1845. He married Caroline Starr of Warren, Conn., September 23, 1835.
Lucian Burber. - Was graduated at Amherst College, 1837. Settled in Indianapolis, Ind., in the practice of law. He represented his district one term in Congress. Died 1880.
Heman Humphrey Barbour. - Was born in 1820. He mar- ried (1) Miss Frances E. Merrill of Barkhamsted, Conn. He practiced law in Columbus, Ind. He was elected State sen- ator for three years. In 1846 he enlisted for service in the Mexican war, but his regiment never went into active ser- vice. IIe held a commission as lieutenant. In 1847 he re- sumed the practice of law in Columbus, and became elder of the Presbyterian Church, teacher of a Bible class, and chior- ister. In 1850 he removed to Hartford, Conn., where he con- tinued to live until his death in 1880. Ile wrote a book entitled " My Wife and My Mother." He married (2) Almira Barker in 1865.
Elizur Lancel Foote .- IIe was the fifth son of Deacon Lancel -was born in 1822. and died at Chicago in 1868. He fitted for College at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass., and graduated at St. John's College, Annapolis, Md. - of which his uncle, Dr. Hector Humphreys, was then Presi- dent - with the highest honors of his class. He was eminent as a scholar, and successful as a teacher. He commenced the study of law, which on account of ill-health was discontinued, and his attention was turned to active business for a time.
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He established a classical school for fitting young men for College, at Orange, N. J., which flourished for several years. At the time of his death, he was associated with his brother J. Howard Foote as manager of his Chicago Branch House.
wenry Stiles Barbour. - Born in 1822. Married Pamela J. Bartholomew. Studied at the academies in Amherst and Easthampton, Mass. He read law with Roger H. Mills, Esq., of New Hartford. Conn., and in the Yale Law School. He practiced law in Wolcottville, Conn., was judge of pro- bate, town clerk and treasurer, and represented the town two terms in the Legislature, 1850 and 1865 ; was State senator in 1870. He was deacon of the Congregational Church and Sabbath-school teacher. In 1870 he removed to Hartford, Conn., and practiced law with his brother Heman, where he still resides.
Sylvester Barbour. - Born in 1831. Attended school at Suffield, Conn., and at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass. He taught school in Torrington and Goshen, Conn. Studied law with his brother ITeman in Hartford and at the Poughkeepsie Law School. Practiced law at New Hartford and at Ansonia, Conn., and finally removed to Hartford, Conn., where he still resides. Ile married, November, 1860, Amelia F. Collin.
Seymour N. Case. - Born in North Canton, October 10, 1816. Studied law with Hon. Elisha Phelps of Simsbury and Hon. Isaac Toucey of Hartford. Died November 26, 1872. IIe was a bachelor and a man of wealth.
Orrin S. Case. - Practiced law at Collinsville, Conn., went into the Union army during the Civil War, and was killed while on picket duty.
Uriah Cuse. -- He was born March 17, 1828. IIe married Adeline M. Johnson, January 1, 1852. He studied at the Literary Institution at Suffield, Conn. Read law at Ply- mouth, Conn., with Heman H. Barbour of Madison, Ind., and began practice at Plainville, Conn., and afterwards located in Hartford, where he still resides in the practice of his pro- fession.
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Willard White. - He was born May 30, 1843. IIe fitted for college at Easthampton. Mass., and was graduated at Amherst College in 1872. He studied law in Boston and began practice there in 1575, at which time also he received the degree of LL.B. from Boston University. Ile has, however, devoted himself mostly to business of various kinds, in which he has been successful. He is largely interested in the oil business in Pennsylvania. He resides in Boston, Mass.
Wilbert Warren Perry .- He was born December 20, 1851. He was fitted for college at the Collinsville and Hartford High Schools. He entered Yale College in 1867, and was graduated in 1871, the valedictorian of his class. During his college course he won the Woolsey scholarship, the Bristed scholarship, and one of the Townsend prizes for English com- position. For four years after his graduation he taught as assistant and principal in a classical school in Morristown, New Jersey. He was offered a tutorship in Yale, but de- clined, and in 1875 he entered the Columbia Law School in New York and graduated in 1877. He was soon after ad- mitted to the bar, and began practice in Hartford, Conn., where he still resides. He has been assistant States Attorney was a member of the commission for revising the judicial system and criminal code of the State, and has held several responsible positions.
William Edgar Simonds. - IIe was born in Collinsville No- vember 24, 1842. Graduated from Collinsville High School, from the State Normal School in 1860, and from the Yale Law School in 1865, and is at the present time a lecturer in the latter on Patent Law. He enlisted as a private in the Union army ; became sergeant-major, and was promoted to lieutenant for bravery at the battle of Irish Bend, La., April 24, 1863. He has twice represented the town of Canton in the Legislature, and once been speaker of the House. He is the author of three works on patent law, and is now engaged in the practice of patent law in Hartford, but his residence is in Canton.
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Clifford Atwater. - He was born November, 1858, gradu- ated from the Collinsville High School in 1879, and from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, 1883. He was principal of the high school in Tariffville, Conn., and afterwards studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1885.
Albert Tiffany .- Son of Dr. Tiffany. He took his pre- paratory course in the Collinsville High School, and studied law in Hartford, where at last accounts he was practicing.
Charles N. Codding. - He is the son of Samuel N., and was graduated at Yale College in 1886, and is now studying law at the Columbia Law School in New York.
Frederick M. Mills. - IIe was educated at the Collinsville High School and entered college, but did not graduate. Ile studied law at Hartford and New York. He began the prac- tice of law in Collinsville. He died October 23, 1886, aged twenty-seven years.
SKETCHIES OF PHYSICIANS BORN IN CANTON.
Dudley Humphrey .- He was the son of Deacon Theophilus, born Dec. 26, 1784. He married Elizabeth Humphreys, daughter of Col. George. IIe studied medicine with Dr. Philander Humphrey of Hartland, Conn., and practiced a few years in that town, and also for a time in Granville, Mass. He afterwards removed to Orwell, Penn., where he resided until his death, April 26, 1826. He was a deacon and ruling elder in the church, and highly estecmed as a man and as a Christian.
Erastus Humphreys .- He was born May 17, 1785; was the son of Capt. Asher. He married Anna Landon of Canton. He was a nephew of Rev. Jeremiah Hallock. He studied medicine with Dr. Solomon Everest and at the Medical School in Hartford, where he graduated in 1808.
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