USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Centurial history of the Mendon association of Congregational ministers, with the Centennial address, delivered at Franklin, Mass., Nov. 19, l851, and biographical sketches of the members and licentiates > Part 13
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45. REV. WILLARD PIERCE
Is a native of Stoughton, where he was born 15 March, 1790. He was the son of Seth Pierce, Jr. His mother was Alice, daughter of Timothy and Elizabeth Gay, of Stoughton. Being one of a large family of children, and of parents not abundant in " goods," he left home before eleven years of age to win his own support. His only wealth, was a mind richly stored with the Assembly's Catechism, Watts's Cradle Hymns, and what was of more value, followed by a pious mother's prayers. Not only did he get his own living, but, while a mere lad, and before he began his apprenticeship, he remitted a hundred dollars to his parents. Soon after leav- ing his trade, - a carpenter, - he fell and broke his arm. He returned home in discouragement, with his arm slung to his neck, and having nothing else to do, he attended a religious meeting. A revival was commencing, and one of its early fruits, was the disabled carpenter. By advice of Rev. Dr. Strong, of Randolph, where he learned his trade, he was ad- vised to commence a course of study : and the Dr. offered to teach him at seventy-five cents per week, and be remunerated in carpenter's work at a dollar a day. The plan was agreed
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to, with pecuniary prospects on the part of the student suffi ciently dark to appal the stoutest heart. It took three days work weekly to pay his board and tuition, and the rest was given to study, as labor engagements permitted. Yet he kept pace with a class-mate, who studied all the time, and at the close, was admitted to college, while the student was rejected.
Dr. Strong had a large number of private students, and but one rule of tuition, to charge each for the whole week, whether present or absent. Such a settlement in the present case was very onerous upon a poor youth who had spent half his time in work, to pay for the other half. The Dr. wished to favor his poor pupil, but then the rule, it could not be broken ! An ingenious solution of the difficulty was proposed by the student, in the present case : viz. to settle both bills by the same rule, of charging for the whole week, whether he had studied or worked but a part of it, which with tuition at seventy-five cents per week, and work at a dollar a day, would evidently make a sensible difference in the settlement. The Dr. laughed heartily, and agreed to settle by the actual quantity received and rendered, and offered to furnish a hundred dollars to the young collegian, if he should want it. In two short months, the Dr. was in his grave.
Mr. Pierce graduated at Brown University, 1818, and A. M. He was ordained over the church in Foxboro', 17 November, 1824, and was dismissed, Oct., 1839. Installed in Abington, 8 April, 1840, and dismissed in feeble health 1 May, 1850. He still resides in Abington.
Mr. Pierce married Miss Eleanor Ware, daughter of Metcalf and Fanny Everett of Foxboro', and has several children.
His publications are,
1. Funeral Sermon of Dr. Carpenter of Seekonk, 1825.
REV. CHARLES FITCH. 181
2. A Century Sermon on the day Widow Hannah Sumner of Foxboro' completed her hundredth year, 1828.
3. Sermon on Slavery, 1835.
4. Sermon before the Norfolk Ed. Society, 1836.
5. Sermon on the Mutual Duties of Parents and Children, 1837.
6. Sermon before the Palestine Missionary Society, 1842.
7. Sermon at Dedication of the Meeting-house, E. Bridge- water, 1845.
46. REV. CHARLES FITCH
Was born in Williamstown. He was the youngest son of Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, D. D., the first president of Williams College, afterwards pastor of the church in West Bloomfield, N. Y., and was the sixth in descent from Rev. James Fitch, (or Fytche,) from Bocking, Essex, England, and of Norwich, Ct .* He graduated at Williams College 1818, studied the- ology at Princeton, N. J., and was ordained first in Cherry Valley, N. Y., and then in Holliston, 4 Jan., 1826. He was dismissed 1 May, 1832, and migrated westwards. In 1836, he was in Buffalo. In 1843, he was in Ohio, where he occupied a chaplaincy in some of the State institutions. He is believed to be now in Indiana, acting as an agent of the American Bible Society. Another Rev. Charles Fitch, settled once over a free church in Boston, has been con- founded with the subject of the present sketch.
* Rev. James Fytche, born in Bocking, Essex, England, 1622, and had by two wives 14 children. The eldest, James, Esq., and maj., of Canter- bury, Ct., had by two wives 13 children. The youngest of these was Jabez, Col., had 8 children, of whom was Jabez, jr., Doct., and father of Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, D. D. He married Widow Mary Cogswell, formerly Miss Backus, and had 11 children, of whom was Rev. Charles Fitch, above. See Sketch of Dr. Fitch, Quar. Register.
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Mr. Fitch married Miss Sarah Hamilton, and has three children.
47. REV. CHARLES JARVIS WARREN
Was born in Boston, 3 Aug., 1796. His father and grand- father were natives of Waltham. He spent his early life in Sutton ; at about 21 years of age, removed to Taunton, where, in 1820, he joined the church under Rev. A. Cobb, with whom he commenced his classical studies. He completed his academic course at Castleton Academy, Vt., and grad. at Brown University, 1826. He studied theology with Rev. Alvan Cobb, of Taunton, and was ordained pastor of the first Congregational church in Attleboro', 28 February, 1828. He was dismissed 8 July, 1730. He next supplied the newly-formed Robinson Church, Plymouth, until his settle- ment over the first church in South Weymouth, 1 Jan., 1833. In the following year, Aug. 13, he was dismissed, and opened a classical school in Brooklyn, N. Y. Installed 1 July, 1835, at Weathersfield, as colleague with Rev. Caleb J. Tenney, D. D .; dismissed 1 February, 1837. Next settled in Can- terbury, Ct., 13 September, 1837, and dismissed 1 April, 1840, to become agent of the American Temperance Union, in some department of whose operations he has since been employed. Much of his labor has been given to the enrol- ment and instruction of children and youth in the temperance cause. He is now Corresponding Secretary and General Agent of the New York City Temperance Alliance, and resides at New York.
His publications have been, a Dedicatory Sermon of the Meeting-house of the Robinson Church, Plymouth ; a Bible Manual and Temperance Catechism, for Youth; besides small tractates upon Free Masonry and Temperance gen- erally.
Mr. Warren is married, and has several children.
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REV. PRESTON CUMMINGS.
48. REV. PRESTON CUMMINGS
Was born in Seekonk, 1 May, 1800, the son of David and Hipsey Cummings ; but spent his early days in Attleboro', where he prepared for college, under the tuition of Rev. N. Holman, then and there pastor, and where he also made profession of religion in 1816. He graduated at Brown University, 1822, and studied theology under Rev. C. Park, D. D., then Professor in the University. Was ordained at Lebanon, N. Y., 22. August, 1825 ; and dismissed Feb. 1827, " on account of a serious injury, then supposed to be fatal to his ability to be useful." Installed at Dighton 26 December, 1827, and dismissed 5 Oct., 1835. Installed at Wrentham, North Church, 6 July, 1836, and dismissed 1 Jan., 1838. Installed at Buckland 1 Jan., 1840, and dismissed 1 January 1848, on account of a return of the malady which occasioned his first dismission. Subsequently he has preached frequently, and supplied his former charge in Dighton a year and a half; but has been chiefly occupied in compiling a " Dictionary of Congregational Usages and Principles ;" containing the lan- guage of the various writers on the subjects treated, with copious references to authorities. Several years have been spent in consulting and comparing the works of the fathers of Old and New England, and the result is an invaluable key to the various opinions of prominent writers on our church polity.
Mr. Cummings has been permitted to rejoice in several interesting seasons of blessing upon his labors. One very marked revival occurred in Buckland in 1842.
Mr. Cummings married Miss Alona Davis, of Holden, sister of Rev. Elnathan Davis, and has had two children, - one of whom survives. James P. Chaplin graduated in the medical class at Cambridge, 1850, and is now a practising
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physician at Leicester. He married Miss Harriet V. Mann, of Holden.
Mr. Cummings's present residence is at Leicester.
49. REV. ELAM SMALLEY, D. D.
Is a native of Dartmouth ; graduated at Brown University, 1827, and A. M .; and also S. T. D., 1849. He studied theology with Rev. Otis Thompson, of Rehoboth. He was ordained at Franklin, 17 June, 1829, and was, at his own request, dismissed 5 July, 1838. He was installed over the Union Church, Worcester, 19 Sept., 1838, where he still labors.
Dr. Smalley married Miss Louisa J. Washburn, daughter of Gen. Abiel and Mrs. Elizabeth Washburn, of Middleboro', and has two children.
Dr. Smalley has published a Sermon on " the Piety which the present Age demands," Franklin, 1835; A Centennial Discourse, Franklin, 1838 ; A Volume upon the Sacrament, 1841; "The Worcester Pulpit," 1851; Pastors' Counsels ; and Funeral Sermon of Hon. D. D. Foster, 1852; besides some articles in the Quarterlies.
50. REV. AMOS AUGUSTUS PHELPS
Was the son of humble but pious parents, and was born in Simsbury, Ct., 11 November, 1804. His mother's name, previous to marriage, was Clarissa Bodwell.
He early exhibited strong traits of character; and his mother, on whom entirely devolved the care of rearing him from childhood, furnished him with the best facilities for gaining an education within her reach. He spent his early years with his uncle, Mr. Augustus Bodwell, of Farmington, Ct. When about sixteen years of age, his mother was mar-
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ried to Mr. William Tryon, and he was placed in a store in Farmington.
While thus employed, he became, in 1821, a subject of Divine grace, and immediately turned his desires and plans toward the Gospel ministry. His mother had, meanwhile, become again a widow, and the little property accumulated by her careful toil was involved in the insolvent estate of her deceased husband. Her only possible way of rescuing any- thing was by assuming all the debts, which the heroic woman actually did, and eventually paid them.
It was in this time of embarrassment and perplexity that she was called also to decide upon giving her son a liberal education. She resolved it should be done, and was enabled to accomplish it. Such energy was worthy of such a son as Mr. Phelps.
Mr. Phelps graduated at Yale College 1826, and A. M., and studied theology at New Haven. He was ordained at Hopkinton, 14 Sept., 1830, as colleague pastor with Rev. Nathanael Howe. His cordial enlistment in the cause of Temperance so displeased many in the town, as to lead to his dismission, 1 May, 1832.
Mr. Phelps then removed to Boston, and supplied the pulpit of the Old South Church, and afterwards of the Pine Street Church, where he received a call and was settled, 13 Sept., 1832. Induced chiefly by the failing health of his wife, he obtained a dismission, 26 March, 1834.
It was during his settlement at Pine street that he became an Abolitionist. In 1833, he was invited to deliver a Fourth of July Address upon the subject of Slavery. With his natural earnestness and thoroughness, he collected and studied all the documents upon the subject, and upon all . sides of it, to which he could gain access. . The result of his examination was, his clear, cordial, and life-long conviction of the right of immediate emancipation. His address was written accordingly. He subsequently enlarged it to four
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lectures, which were published, and became a text-book on the subject.
Immediately after his dismission from the Pine St. church, Mr. Phelps entered, April 1, upon an agency for the Ameri- can Anti-Slavery Society, - in whose organization in Phila- delphia, Dec. 30, he had been a prominent agent, - and visited New York, Washington, and, during the summer, the State of Maine. On the arrival of George Thompson from England, Sept., 1834, Mr. Phelps joined him, and accompa- nied him through New England and New York. April, 1836, he accepted the Editorship of the Emancipator, and conducted it until May of the following year ; when he re- moved to Boston and became General Agent of the Mass. Anti-Slavery Society, in whose service he continued until the division in 1839. In 1838, he declined an invitation to the pastoral office of the Third Presb. church in New York, on account of his Congregational attachments. But he ac- cepted a call from the Marlboro' Chapel Free church, and was installed 24 July, 1839. In 1841, March 1, he entered upon the Agency for City Missions ; and the year following, March 2, he was settled over the Maverick church, East Bos- ton, still holding a nominal connection with his missionary agency.
His health, never robust, was at this time enfeebled by his multiplied labors ; and, as a respite, he sailed for Eng- land, 1 June, 1843, to attend the Anti-Slavery Convention to be holden at London, June 12, to which he had been elected delegate by the Mass. Abolition Society. He was a promi- nent and active member of that Convention.
The prevalent east winds at Boston induced him to resign his pastorate at East Boston, and accept the office of Corre- sponding Secretary of the Am. and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, at New York, whither he removed in April, 1845. But the symptoms of Consumption so increased upon him, that he was advised to seek a. milder clime. He sailed for
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Hayti, 20 Oct., 1846, and reembarked for Jamaica in De- cember, where he spent the winter, but without any marked benefit.
In April, 1847, he left for the United States, reached New Orleans on the 18th, and proceeded up the river to Cincinnati, and thence to New York. After a brief rest, he continued on to Castine, Me., where his family had remained. But the season was most unfavorable to him, and he jour- nied, once more, to Roxbury, to the house of his brother- in-law, Rev. E. D. Moore. In the quiet of his family, he arranged the valuable information which he had collected respecting slavery in the West Indies, prepared his Letters to Drs. Stowe and Bacon for the press, and set his house in order to die. The anticipated event came suddenly at last. He died at little past midnight, on the morning of the 30th of July, 1847, aged 43 years; and, Aug. 2d, his remains were committed to rest in Mount Auburn.
Mr. Phelps married, Nov., 1830, Charlotte Brown, daugh- ter of William and Margaret (Shepherd) Brown, of Wrent- ham. Her father died in her childhood, and her mother had become the second wife of Rev. Elisha Fisk, of Wrentham. Mrs. Phelps was born 1 Sept., 1803, and died 31 Aug., 1838, and was buried in Wrentham. She was an amiable, devoted, and exemplary Christian, and exhibited the beauty of the Gospel in her long and painful sickness, consumption. She left one child.
Mr. Phelps married, 3 Oct., 1839, Caroline G. Little, daughter of Mr. Doty Little of Castine, Me. She died in a short time, leaving one of two children to survive her. Mr. Phelps married her sister, Lucy T. Little, 9 Oct., 1844, by whom he had two children. She is still living in Ellsworth, Me. Of Mr. Phelps's children :
1. Edward Augustus, b. 21 June, 1832, lives in East Abington.
2. Lucy Little, b. 11 Jan., 1841; 4. Caroline Little, b. 18
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Nov., 1845 ; and 5. Clara Bodwell, b. 23 July, 1847; are with Mrs. P. in Ellsworth.
Mr. Phelps's writings were voluminous, but mostly occa- sional pamphlets, etc., connected with his agencies. He pub- lished, however, the following volumes : 1. Lectures on Sla- very, 1834. 2. Book of the Sabbath, 1841. 3. Letters to Drs. Bacon and Stowe, 1848. He also left, unfinished, a volume on the Bible View of Slavery, and materials collected for many other works, of which his early death prevented a completion.
Here is not space to give more than the most sketchy outline of his character and labors. His whole life showed him to be indefatigable in perseverance, cool and thorough in his examination of all doctrines and duties, and explicit and bold in making his conclusions fully known. Whatever he considered to be wrong in principle or practice, he fear- lessly and uncompromisingly attacked ; and strong had to be the entrenchments which could stand before the fire of his well-directed assaults. He was as determined an enemy to ultraism as he was to timid conservatism. In all his attacks upon slavery, he used none but what he believed to be Chris- tian weapons, and sternly rebuked the use of any others by his casual associates.
As a preacher and pastor, he was regarded as instructive and faithful. His ministry, both in Hopkinton and Boston, was crowned with success. In the former place, he enjoyed an extensive revival, in which some 150 were hopefully con- verted. His labors in Pine Street church were attended with a similar, though less extensive, work of grace.
As a public lecturer and extempore speaker, he was re- markable for his systematic clearness, logical accuracy, and argumentative cogency. However entangled a subject might have become by rambling debate, under his lucid exposition the crooked became straight, light broke through the obscu- rity, and the point at issue was revealed in vivid distinctness.
REV. HARRISON GREENOUGH PARK. 189
As an advocate of emancipation, he stood unrivalled amongst his coadjutors. The progress of the cause was greatly indebted to his enlightened and fervid zeal. He was regarded as a leader, not only at the North and in England, but also at the South. The high value which was put upon his labors by the slaveholders, is indicated by the offer, in the Milledgeville (Ga.) "Federal Union," of Feb. 1, 1836, of $10,000 for his head !
He was a man of unblemished morals. He was a warm friend, cherishing all the domestic affections, and loved the cause of the slave, not merely as a principle of duty, but from the impulses of the heart. His characteristic calmness, collectedness, and freedom from excitement marked his clos- ing hours. " All is right, all is right," were his last excla- mations .*
51. REV. HARRISON GREENOUGH PARK
Is the eldest son of Rev. Calvin Park, D. D., and was born in Providence, R. I., 1806. He graduated at Brown University, 1824, and studied theology at Princeton, N. J., and with Rev. Dr. Wisner, of Boston. He also read law three years with Bradford Sumner, Esq., of Boston, and with Hon. J. Fisk, of Wrentham. He was ordained pastor of the church in South Dedham, 16 Dec., 1829, and dismissed in 1835 ; settled a short time over the second church in Dan- vers, and was installed over the church in Burlington 15 Nov., 1849, and dismissed in 1851. In the interim of his last two settlements, he was employed, part of the time, as trav- elling agent for the Mother's Magazine, and in the publica- tion and editorship of the Father's and Mother's Manual. Mr. Park married Miss Julia Bird, daughter of Mr. George
* Condensed from Boston Reporter, Emancipator, National Era, and Letters of Messrs. L. Tappan, A. Bodwell, and E. A. Phelps.
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Bird of Dedham. Subsequently to her death, he married her sister, Miss Elizabeth Bird. He has several children.
Mr. Park published a Funeral Sermon of Rev. George Cowles, and his wife Mrs. Elizabeth Cowles, who were lost in the steam Packet, Home, 9 Oct., 1837. Preached at Danvers 12 Nov., 1837.
52. REV. ASAHEL BIGELOW
Was born in Boylston ; the son of Andrew and Sarah Bigelow, and brother of Rev. Jonathan Bigelow of Rochester, and of Rev. Andrew Bigelow of Needham, and descendant of John Bigelow, Watertown, 1841. He graduated at Har- vard Univ., 1823, and at Andover, 1826 : ordained at Walpole, 12 March, 1828, and dismissed 1 Jan., 1849. Installed in Hancock, N. H., 15 May, 1850, where he now labors. Has published : 1. Sermon before Norfolk Co. Ed. Soc'y, 1833 ; 2. Sermon at ordination of Mr. Andrew Bigelow, So. Dart- mouth, 15 Aug., 1841.
Mr. Bigelow married Miss Dorcas F. Homes, daughter of the late Henry Homes of Boston, and has several children.
53. REV. DAVID SANFORD
Is a native of Medway. His father was Mr. Philo San- ford, a son of Rev. David Sanford, pastor of the church in West Medway.
He graduated at Brown University, 1825, and A. M., and studied theology with Rev. Dr. Ide, and at Andover Semi- nary. He preached a short time in the city of Lowell, and in Somersworth, N. H. ; and was ordained at New Market, N. H., 22 May, 1828. He was dismissed June, 1830, to take charge of a new church in Dorchester, over which he was installed as pastor, 14 July, 1830. He was again dis- missed, Sept., 1838, to take the pastoral charge of a new
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REV. TERTIUS D. SOUTHWORTH.
church in his native place, Medway Village. He was installed there 3 Oct., 1838, and continues to labor 'amongst his own people.'
Mr. Sanford married Miss Sarah P. Daniels, daughter of Mr. Obed Daniels of Hopkinton, and has several children.
Mr. S. has published a sermon before the Norfolk Co. Education Soc'y, 1840; Sermon to Young Men, 1848 ; Sermon to Young Ladies, 1849 ; Funeral Sermon of Mrs. James B. Wilson, 1850.
54. REV. TERTIUS DUNNING SOUTHWORTH
Is a native of Rome, N. Y., and son of Rev. James South- worth, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Bridgewater, N. Y .* His mother's name, before marriage, was Mary Dennison, of Saybrook, Ct.
He studied with W. R. Weeks, D. D., of Paris Hill, and also at the academy in Whitesboro', and graduated at Hamil- ton College, Clinton, N. Y., and A. M. 1825 (?) ; attended Theological Seminary at Auburn one year, and at Andover nearly three years, and graduated at Andover, 1829.
He was ordained in Claremont, N. H., 18 June, 1834, and dismissed July, 1838. Installed at Franklin 23 Jan., 1839, and dismissed 25 April, 1850. He afterwards supplied temporarily at Bridgewater, N. Y., at Sasquoit, in the ad- joining town, at Hebron, Ct., and Andover Theological Seminary. His present place of labor is Lyndon, Vt.
Mr. Southworth married Miss Martha Warren, daughter of Luther and Martha (Niles) Warren. She is a native of
* His paternal ancestry is directly traceable to Sir Richard South- worth, who was knighted by James I. of England, and whose widow Alice, migrated to Plymouth, and became the wife of Gov. William Bradford. She brought two sons with her, Constant and Thomas Southworth, prominent personages in the Plymouth Colony, from the former of whom Mr. S. (above) is descended.
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Haverhill, N. H., was educated at Mr. Brace's Female Seminary, Hartford, and, at the time of her marriage, resided at Weathersfield, Vt. They have no children.
Mr. Southworth's publications are : 1. A Sermon, " Civil Government ordained of God," 1840. 2. Funeral Sermon of Rev. N. Emmons, D. D., 1840. 3. Dedication Sermon at Franklin, 1842. 4. " Memorial of Unassuming Piety," 1844. 5. Sermon before Norfolk Co. Education Society. 6. Man's Hopes destroyed. Besides pamphlets.
55. REV. DANIEL J. POOR
Was born in Woburn, and was the son of Lemuel and Elizabeth (Richardson) Poor.
He graduated at Amherst College, 1837 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Ide, and was ordained in Foxboro', 11 March, 1840. He was dismissed, at his own request, 12 May, 1847. Since this date, he has been the preceptor of an academy in Hopkinton, where he now resides.
Mr. Poor married Miss Susan Thompson, daughter of Mr. Alpha and Mary (Scottow) Thompson, and has several children.
56. REV. MORTIMER BLAKE,
The eldest son of Ira and Laura (Mowry) Blake, was born in Pittston, Me., but early removed to Franklin, with his parents .* He fitted for college, partly in private, and partly
* His earliest discovered paternal ancestor was Robert Blake of Wrentham, 1676; who married Sarah, daughter of John and Sarah Guild, of W., and had 10 children. Three of them were the first settlers of Keene, N. H .; namely, Nathan, who built the first house in Keene, Elijah, and Doct. Obadiah, the first physician in that town. - Annals of Keene. Josiah, son of Robert, lived in Wrentham, and had 7 children, of whom was Dea. Philip, father of Ira Blake, and grandfather of Rev. Mortimer, above.
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at the Medway Classical Institute, and graduated at Amherst College, 1835. He next taught an academy three years at Franklin, during which time he studied theology under the direction of Rev. E. Smalley, D. D., then pastor. He was employed one year as preceptor of Hopkins Academy, Had- ley. He then resigned school-teaching, and was ordained at . Mansfield, 4 December, 1839, where he still continues.
Mr. Blake married Harriet Louisa, daughter of Mr. Joseph and Susa (Fisher) Daniels, of Franklin, and has two chil- dren.
His publications are : 1. A Funeral Sermon, 1844. 2. A Funeral Sermon, 1845. 3. Address on the erection of a Monument to Rev. Dr. Emmons, at Franklin, 1846. 4. Two Sermons, on the Import of the Church Covenant, and on the Duty of Mutual Forbearance, 1846. 5. Gethsemane and Calvary, 12mo, 1844, two editions. 6. Fast-day Sermon on the " Maine Preventive," 1852, three editions.
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