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NOW THEREFORE, WE, the Orthodox Congregational Society of West Hartford aforesaid, for divers good considera- tions thereunto moving, especially for the sum of Sixty Five Dollars received to our full satisfaction, of Hezekiah G. Webster of the town of Hartford, Society of West Hartford, a member of said Orthodox Congregational Society, do by these presents assign, transfer and convey to said Hezekiah G. Webster to his heirs, executors and assigns, all the interest, right or title which we have or ought to have in Slip No. 39 in said house, situated in the North half of the same, unto him the said Hezekiah G. Webster, his heirs and assigns, to hold the same in fee simple, subject only to the provisions and incumbrances mentioned in vote third of February 10th 1834, viz: subject to a percentage sufficient to support a clergyman, and other necessary expenses, and not to exceed ten per cent, on the original appraisal of said slips, as in vote 10th of November 3, 1834, and to be sold for the same if necessary, according to the foregoing votes passed Febru- ary 10th and November 3d, 1834.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Ninth day of March A.D. 1835.
The Orthodox Congregational Society of West Hartford, by their Agents,
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
Signed in presence of R. Seymour Chester Francis
Hezekiah Selden Samuel Talcott, Jun.
Hartford County s s Hartford the 9th day of March 1835.
Personally appeared by their Agent, the Orthodox Congre- gational Society of West Hartford, and acknowledged the above instrument to be their free act and deed, before me,
Solomon S. Flagg Justice of the Peace
(Reverse Side)
Orthodox Congregational Society of West Hartford Deed to Hezekiah G. Webster.
Recd. May 21st, 1835 and entered on the Society Records Book 2 page 28th by Sam Whitman Society Clerk."
But it soon became necessary to increase the salary of the minister and to incur other expenses, and the income proved insufficient. A movement was started inviting the owners of pews to relinquish their claims and allow the pews to be sold, or rented annually, to the highest bidder at auction. Many responded promptly and heartily to this appeal. Others did so after considerable deliberation and somewhat reluctantly, and some never acquiesced in the plan, and retained ownership of their pews so long as they existed. The pews which had been given up by their owners to the Society were rented each year to members of the church and congregation. The amount paid for the use of each pew was determined by holding an auc- tion and assigning each pew to the highest bidder. This plan was continued for many years, but was finally superseded by the plan of making all the pews free and depending upon the free will offerings of the people for securing the necessary funds for meet- ing the expenses of the church.
After the Society sold its vestry to the Town, it became nec- essary to make some provision for accommodations suitable for holding the weekly prayer meetings and for other similar pur- poses. Plans were considered for the erection of an addition to the church on its southwest corner, but the people of the Baptist Church claimed the ownership of a considerable part of the land desired for this purpose. As it was found impossible to make any satisfactory arrangement with them even after a de- cision of the court had been obtained in favor of the people of the Congregational Church, the project was abandoned and in 1881 the church exchanged its property with the Town for the vestry and land on which the vestry stood on the southeast cor- ner of Main Street and Farmington Avenue and purchased ad- ditional land where the horse sheds were located south of the vestry. Upon that site the granite stone church which is still standing was built. In the exchange of property the Society
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
received from the Town the sum of $3,000. The entire cost of the building was $29,663.89. The furnishings cost $3,773.17 making a total of $33,437.06.
The building committee were Joseph E. Brace (chairman), John B. Griswold, Edward L. Mix, Walter Cadwell, Benjamin Sterling Bishop and Prof. Charles C. Stearns. The builders were the W. N. Flynt Construction Company of Monson, Mass., and the granite was from the Monson quarries.
REV. BENJ. COLTON
REV. N. PERKINS
REV. M. N. MORRIS
REV. T. HODGDON
The following named persons have served as the ministers of this church from the date of its organization in 1713 until the present time:
Benjamin Colton
1713-1759
Nathaniel Hooker
1757-1770
*Nathan Perkins
1772-1838
*Caleb S. Henry
1833-1835
Edward W. Andrews
1837-1840
George I. Wood
1841-1844
Dwight M. Seward
1845-1850
Myron N. Morris
1852-1875
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
Franklin S. Hatch 1876-1883
Henry B. Roberts 1883-1890
Charles W. Mallory 1890-1890
** Thomas M. Hodgdon 1891-1926
Rev James F. Halliday 1926
*Rev. Caleb S. Henry and Rev. Edward A. Andrews were colleagues of Rev. Nathan Perkins, who retained his position as pastor until his death in 1838.
** Now pastor Emeritus.
C
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BUILT IN 1882
During the two hundred and sixteen years of its history, the church has had four ministers whose pastorates aggregated over one hundred and seventy years, and whose cumulative personal influence in the church and community was of incalculable value. The church has always manifested great interest in the mission- ary work of the Congregational churches as carried on in this and in foreign lands, and has contributed liberally for the support of that work. It was among the first churches in the State to organize a Sunday school for the religious instruction of the young, and to organize a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. It also entered early and heartily into the Boys' Brigade, Boy Scout, and Girl Scout movements. Its pastors have been actively interested in the promotion of the interests of the public schools, rendering service as members of the school committee and as acting school visitors having the general over- sight of the schools.
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
The most serious disturbance in its past history occurred during the pastorate of Rev. Benjamin Colton when, in the lan- guage of the ancient records, the Society voted that they were "uneasy at Mr. Colton for interfering with Mr. Brace in setting the psalm." This led to Mr. Colton's resignation.
FIRST CHURCH PARSONAGE BUILT IN 1838 OCCUPIED BY REVS. ANDREWS, WOOD, SEWARD, MORRIS, HATCH, ROBERTS, MALLORY, HODGDON AND THEIR FAMILIES.
The church for many years held two preaching services on Sunday and a prayer meeting on Sunday evening besides a weekly prayer meeting on Friday evening. During the early autumn, prayer meetings were held weekly in some of the school- houses in the outlying districts. These were conducted by the minister or one of the deacons.
The following is a list of many of those who, through the generations, have gone from this church to render service as ministers of the gospel in other communities:
Rev. Eli Colton (son of the first pastor), graduated from Yale College, 1737. Pastor at Granby, 1740-2; Stafford, 1744-56.
Rev. George Colton (son of first pastor), graduated from Yale College, 1756. Pastor at Bolton, 1763-1812.
Rev. George Colton, graduated from Yale College, 1804. Home missionary in New York State. Pastor at
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
Westford, N. Y., 1809-1836; pastor at Wyoming, N. Y., 1836-39.
Eliphalet Steele, graduated from Yale College, 1764. Pastor at Paris, N. Y., 1770.
Rev. Nathan Perkins, Jr. (son of third pastor), graduated from Yale College 1795. Studied law for a time; pastor of Second Congregational Church, Amherst, Mass., 1807-42.
Rev. Marshfield Steele, graduated from Yale College, 1790. Home missionary for a time in Vermont and New York State. Pastor at Machias, Me., 1800-32.
Rev. Chester Colton, graduated from Yale College, 1804. Home missionary for a time in New York State. Pastor at Brentwood, N. H .; Old Lyme, 1829-39; North Go- shen, 1839. During the latter part of his life he was engaged in home missionary work in Ohio.
Rev. Joab Brace, graduated from Yale College. Pastor at Newington, 1805-55.
Rev. Epaphras Goodman, graduated from Dartmouth Col- lege, 1816. Home missionary in South Carolina. Pas- tor in Torringford, 1822-36. Actively interested in reformatory, missionary, and educational enterprises. Editor of Watchman of the Valley and Christian Era. Western Secretary at Chicago of A.M.A.
Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick, pastor at Ogden, N. Y.
Rev. Seymour N. Spencer. Engaged in foreign missionary work.
Rev. Richard Woodruff. Pastor at Morris, 1838-41; Unionville, 1842-46; Hampton, 1848-52.
Rev. Amzi Francis, graduated from Middlebury College. Pastor at Bridgehampton, L. I.
Rev. Chester Isham, graduated from Yale College, where he excelled in scholarship and attainments. Pastor at Taunton, Mass., 1824. Died 1825, greatly beloved and lamented.
Rev. Austin Isham, graduated from Yale College. Pastor at Roxbury, 1839-63. Later supplied church at New Preston Hill. United with West Hartford Church in 1829, and continued a member through life.
Rev. Lemuel Haynes, supposed to have been son of a colored household slave in one of the West Hartford families. A devoted and efficient pastor at Granville, Mass.
Rev. Hiram Elmer. Pastor in Chelsea, Mich. Afterwards connected with the faculty of Olivet College.
Rev. Charles C. Stearns, stepson of Charles Boswell, grad- uated from Yale University, 1872. Missionary of American Board, Manissa, Turkey; professor in Doane College, Nebraska; proprietor of Boys' School, Hart-
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
ford; Professor in Pomona College, Claremont, California.
Rev. Everett H. Francis, graduated from Yale University, 1892. He was pastor at Ludlow, Mass., 1895-1905, resigning his position on account of illness. He now resides in Springfield, Mass.
Rev. Charles N. Morris, son of Rev. M. N. Morris, grad- uated from Yale University, 1882; Berkeley Divinity School, 1889. He served in Episcopal churches as curate or rector in Stamford, New Haven, and Lyme, Connecticut; in Westminster, Maryland; Philadelphia, Penn .; Brooklyn, N. Y .; Chester, Boston, and Ames- bury, Mass. He is now living in Amesbury, having retired from active service because of defective hearing.
The Quaker Meeting House, School House, and Cemetery. As early as 1780 some people who represented The Nine Partners of Quakers in New York State came to the West Division for the purpose of forming a Quaker church here. They purchased one acre of land on the east side of the road later known as Quaker Lane at the point where the small cemetery is now located. That land was a part of a large farm owned by Charles and Elisha Gilbert. A meetinghouse and schoolhouse were built soon after, and the church organized. The meetinghouse was located near the northwest corner of the lot. It had two outside entrances, one for the males, the other for the females, according to the prevailing custom among the Quaker people at that time. The schoolhouse was located in the southwest corner of the lot.
The principal families of the West Division who embraced that faith and became members and supporters of that church were the Gilberts, Arnolds, Cadwells, and Sedgwicks. Some of the headstones still remaining in the cemetery bear these family names. A number who became identified with this Quaker Church had been members of the Fourth Church of Christ (Congregational), and when they withdrew to join the Quakers they were charged with heresy.
When John Greenleaf Whittier, the Quaker poet, came to Hartford in 1830 and became editor of the New England Review, it is reported that he served as an elder in this church. Ill health compelled him to relinquish his editorial position in 1832 and return to Massachusetts; so his connection with the church was brief.
It is not definitely known how long the Quakers continued to hold meetings in this meetinghouse, but there are reasons for believing that a meeting was held at least-once a year, when Quakers came for that purpose from other localities, until about 1830.
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
The Quaker schoolhouse was used at first for a school ex- clusively for the instruction of the children of Quaker families, but in later years it was apparently used by the East School Dis- trict for the maintenance of a district school. Mr. Frederick A. Mitchell, now one of the oldest residents of West Hartford, whose boyhood home was on Park Road near Oakwood Avenue,
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Third Church Building
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L Built in 1834 Now Town Hall
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1742-4 Second Bldg. i
New Town Building r -- 7
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Sheds
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FARMINGTON
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Vestry 1883
Fourth Building 1881
CHART, PREPARED BY HENRY C. WHITMAN, SHOWING LOCATION OF THREE CHURCH BUILDINGS ERECTED SUCCESSIVELY ON LAND FORMERLY OWNED BY TIMOTHY GOODMAN ON THE WEST SIDE OF MAIN STREET NOW OCCUPIED BY TOWN OFFICE BUILDING AND TOWN HALL
distinctly remembers attending school in that building in his boyhood, and Mrs. J. P. Allen of Hartford, daughter of Charles G. Arnold, formerly a resident of that district, also was an at- tendant of the district school in that building when the teacher was Sylvanius F. Cone, father of the late Col. William E. Cone, John Barnard Cone, and Mrs. C. W. Pratt of Hartford.
MAIN
AVENUE
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
About 1852 Benjamin Gilbert, a prominent Quaker, pur- chased the meetinghouse and schoolhouse and had them drawn by many yokes of oxen to a position farther north on the west side of Quaker Lane and converted into a dwelling house. The meeting-house constituted the main building and the school- house formed the ell. This house was occupied by different families in succession for several years and was finally entirely destroyed by fire.
In 1915 Mrs. J. P. Allen of Hartford caused a fine ornamental iron fence to be built at her expense enclosing the cemetery, and
QUAKER CEMETERY
some other improvements to be made in its condition, a worthy tribute of regard for those people of former generations who worshipped there and were buried there.
The cemetery is now under the general care and oversight of the Town Plan, Park, and Cemetery Commission of West Hartford.
St. James Episcopal Church. The first public services of this church were held in 1843 in the Quaker Meeting house, then standing on Quaker Lane. Worship was also conducted for a while in the North District schoolhouse, and later services were held in the Academy building on the east side of the park at West Hartford Center. Reverend George Burgess, the rector of Christ Church, Hartford, had general charge.
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The present site of the church was purchased in 1852, and the corner stone of the building was laid with appropriate cere- monies on October 23, 1853. The building was consecrated with appropriate ceremonies, in which many prominent Episcopal clergymen had part, on April 25, 1855. The tower of the church, which was originally low, was extended in 1861 to its present height.
What is now the rectory was originally built for the second pastor of the Congregational Church, Reverend Nathan Hooker, Jr., in 1658. Afterwards it was owned and occupied by Reverend Nathan Perkins, D. D., who was pastor of the Congregational Church from 1773 until 1838. It was purchased for St. James Church in 1868, moved back from its original location quite near to the street, and remodeled.
The following named clergymen have served as rectors since 1852 :
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
Samuel Benedict, Jan. 18, 1852 to Nov. 27, 1855. Became Rector of St. John's Church, Savannah, Georgia.
Abner Jackson, 1856, April to October. Became President of Trinity College.
Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, 1857 to 1863. Became a profes- sor at Trinity College.
Peter Voorhees Finch, 1863.
Benjamin Webb, Oct. 1863 to 1864.
John Trumbull Huntington, 1864 to 1869. Became Rector of the Church of the Incarnation, Hartford, and a professor at Trinity College.
G. H. Clark, D.D., 1869 to 1873.
Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, 1873 to August 1875. Became President of Trinity College.
William Ford Nichols, August 8, 1875 to April 29, 1877. Became Rector of Christ Church, Hartford, and Bishop of California.
John Moore Bates, July 1877 to April 1881.
Joseph William Hyde, Sept. 3, 1882 to June 1887.
Greenough White, Sept. 22, 1893 to June, 1894.
James Gammack, LL.D., Feb. 1896 to October 1911. Re- tired and died here February 17, 1923.
Harry Erskine Robbins, February 1912 to November 1914.
Samuel Rawson Colladay, October 1, 1916 to October 1, 1917. Became Rector of Christ Church and Dean of the Cathedral.
John Stockton Littell, D.D., October 1, 1918 to 1929.
In time of vacancies, baptisms, communions for the sick, confirmation preparations, and parish services were recorded by Professors Huntington, Pynchon, Hart, Ferguson, Beckwith, and Urban of Trinity College.
The church has received many valuable gifts from time to time from its members and friends, including memorial windows, an organ from Mrs. Alice Gilbert Beach, a bell from the family of Robert Price, and a house and several acres of land bequeathed by the will of Mrs. Oliver Stanley, whose home was at the corner of Mountain Road and Park Road. The Huntington and Beach families have been for many years generous financial supporters. of the church and the donors of many valuable gifts. For many years the prosperity and efficiency of the church was greatly promoted by the generous and valuable contributions in money and in devoted official and personal service of the family of Charles M. Beach. Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Huntington were also for many years generous and efficient supporters of the church.
After the resignation of Rev. John S. Littell as rector, the question of the continued maintenance of the church received much careful consideration and it was decided that, for a time at least, it should be affiliated with St. John's Episcopal Church
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
on Farmington Avenue, its services and work to be under the direction of the rector and assistant rector of that church.
Baptist Church. On the fourth day of March, 1858, Elam Tuttle, Joel E. Rood, Virgil L. Woodford, Joseph C. Sisson, Lyman Hotchkiss, Jr., and Joseph Bishop, citizens of West Hart- ford, purchased of Adna Hart of Farmington one acre of land with the buildings thereon, situated on the north side of Farm- ington Avenue, opposite the post office and store of Leonard Buckland. The buildings consisted of an old tavern, a barn and shed. The premises were occupied by David E. Stoddard, a son-in-law of Mr. Hart, and his family. This purchase was made by the persons named with a view to the organization of a Baptist church in the community and the erection of a church building.
On the 24th of April of that same year, a meeting of those interested in the organization of a church was held at which the following named persons were present: Josiah Briggs, Elam Tuttle, Virgil L. Woodford, Lyman Hotchkiss, Jr., Joel E. Rood, Joseph C. Sisson, O. L. Tuttle (probably Mrs. Elam Tuttle), Mrs. L. J. Woodford, Mrs. E. Sisson, Mrs. D. H. Rood, Mrs. L. Bishop, Mrs. L. B. Bulkeley.
On May fourth a "recognition meeting" was held with the following named persons present, who are referred to in the church records as original members.
Josiah Briggs Mrs. Patience Briggs
Miss Caroline S. Briggs
Elam Tuttle
Mrs. Betsy L. Tuttle
Orrin L. Tuttle
V. L. Woodford
Mrs. Lucia Woodford
Charles Ramsey Lyman Hotchkiss, Jr.
Joel E. Rood Mrs. Dorinda H. Rood
Mrs. Elizabeth Sisson
Mrs. Zerviah H. Bishop
Mrs. Lucy Bulkeley
Mrs. Hannah Parsons
Mrs. Sarah A. Churchill
The Stoddard family continued to occupy the tavern for a while, but as they did not use the spacious ball-room on the second floor of the building, preaching services were held there on Sunday quite regularly for some months. Frequently the preach- ers were those leaders in the Baptist denomination of the State known as "elders," men of somewhat unusual ability and in some cases of unique characteristics as preachers, who attracted large congregations. Among these were Elders Swan, Jennings, and Shailer.
Admissions to membership in the church were accompanied by baptisms by immersion, which often took place on Sunday afternoon in the river near Bishop's Bridge on Bishop Road, now Fern Streeet. As this was a novel feature in the church life of the community as well as an interesting and impressive
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
ceremony, it attracted a large attendance of the people of the town as well as from other communities.
BAPTIST CHURCH, BUILT IN 1858
At a meeting held May 24, 1858, it was voted that "we go forward and build a meeting house as soon as possible," and on June 21, 1858, it was voted "to build a house similar to plan of O. H. Easton of Hartford: 66 feet by 411/2 feet." The corner stone was laid on August 19, 1858, and on February 3, 1859, the church was dedicated. On June 26, 1858, Elam Tuttle and Charles Ramsey were elected the first deacons of the Church, and on April 1, 1859, Rev. Dr. Elisha Cushman was elected first pastor, serving until June 3, 1861, and continuing after that date until April 1, 1862
-
EDWARD C. NICHOLS Janitor for 25 years
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
as supply. Rev. Dr. Cushman also occupied the position of editor of the Christian Secretary, a weekly religious paper published for many years in Hartford in the interest of the Baptist Churches. A very exciting event occurred in connection with Rev. Dr. Cushman's ministry. One Sunday during the opening year of the Civil War he took occasion to preach a vigorous (war) sermon in which he expressed sympathy with the South. His sermon greatly disturbed some members of the church and con- gregation. When the people came to church the next Sunday morning, they beheld a Confederate flag wrapped about the steeple, far up towards its highest point. There were many expressions of indignation and curiosity, and no service was held in the church on that day. Later in the week the flag was taken down, but it was not known by whom it had been put up. No member of the church or congregation was suspected of having had any connection with the affair.
Rev. N. H. Bennett served as pastor from April 1862 to October 1863; William M. Ross from May 14, 1865, to some time in 1868; E. W. Pray from October 1868 to about January, 1870. Mylon Merriam served from November 27, 1871, to July, 1872, following which period Rev. Amasa Howard of the Washington Street Baptist Church, Hartford, (now the Memorial Baptist Church) held services once a month, beginning October, 1873.
Rev. R. E. Whittemore served as pastor from July 1876 to April 1877, and Brother Randlett was stated supply for about six months thereafter. Following this, E. B. Elmer was lay preacher for about six months early in 1878, but was succeeded by C. W. Ray and Brother Barton as stated supply, after serv- ing for a short period.
On October 30, 1879, George W. Hinckley was called as pastor and was ordained on May 13, 1880. This was Rev. Mr. Hinckley's first pastorate. After leaving this church he had a short pastorate at Rainbow in the town of Windsor, then went to Maine as a missionary of the American Sunday School Union. A few years later he founded the Good Will Homes for boys, which has since become an institution of nation-wide reputation and has given thousands of boys a fine start in life. Mr. Hinckley served until October, 1881, and in 1882 was succeeded by Rev. H. G. Smith.
In 1889 Mrs. Minnie L. Jackson was pastor, serving until 1890. Rev. E. E. Ayres was pastor in 1890. The church was pastorless from 1891 to 1894. Rev. W. R. Bartlett was pastor until 1897. Rev. N. M. Leonard was stated supply in 1898. In September, 1898, Rev. W. J. Noble was called to the pastorate. He was succeeded in 1900 by Rev. Harvey R. Traver, who served until December 31, 1903.
On January 1, 1904, W. S. Middlemass, a student at the Hartford Theological Seminary, was called as pastor. He
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HISTORY OF WEST HARTFORD
served until March 29, 1905, and was succeeded by E. K. Jordon of the same Seminary, who continued to February 28, 1907. A very severe illness of several months' duration from typhoid fever prevented him from doing effective work for a good part of this time.
In May, 1907, J. Franklin Ray was called and served until June, 1908. He was succeeded by M. C. Tunison, who continued to May, 1912. On November 1, 1912, C. A. Boyd became pastor. He was ordained as a minister on February 12, 1913, and con- tinued with the Church until June 1914, during a part of the time serving as assistant pastor at the Asylum Avenue Baptist Church, Hartford.
On October 1, 1914, James Perry, a student at the Hartford Theological Seminary, became pastor, continuing to June 3, 1915. Mr. Perry afterwards served in the Red Cross, working in Turkey and Armenia during and following the World War, and in 1920 was killed by the Turks in Armenia.
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