USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 20
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Mr. Hosford was married in Saxonville, Mass., July 28, 1845, to Mary Elizabeth Stone, daughter of Luther and Mary (Eaton) Stone.
The names of their children are, -
1. Mary Stone, b. Dec. 8, 1848.
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
2. Benjamin Franklin, b. July 12, 1850.
3. Martha Wheeler, b. Nov. 12, 1854; d. March 13, 1862.
4. Isaac Bartholomew, b. Aug. 28. 1856.
All were born in Haverhill, Mass.
Mr. IIosford has published, -
1. A Lecture to the Young on Character.
2. Introductory Address before the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion.
3. Sermon at the Re-dedication of the Church in Haverhill.
4. Catacombs of Rome. - Am. S. S. Union.
5. Paul and the Chief Cities of his Labors. - Mass. S. S. Society.
Articles in Reviews. - Geological and Theological Analogies. Bib. Sacra, Apr., 1858. - Bhagvat Geeta. Bib. Sacra, Nov., 1859. - Mod- ern Universalism. American Theological Review, Jan., 1859. - Minis-
ter's Wooing. American Theological Review, Dec., 1859. - Old Unitarianism New Orthodoxy. Boston Review, 1861. - Centres of Ministerial Influence. Boston Review, 1861. - The Professor at the Breakfast-Table. Boston Recorder, Jan., 1860. - A New Professor in Old Theology. Boston Recorder, June, 1859. - The Professor on the Clergy. Boston Recorder, March, 1859. - One Idea, and what it can do. Boston Recorder.
HORATIO MERRILL,
Was the son of Nathaniel and Phebe (Merrill) Merrill. He was born in Brownfield, Me., April 26, 1817, and was baptized in infancy.
"I am the youngest," he says, "of eight children, all of whom were brought to embrace Christ by a blessing on the faithfulness and in an- swer to the prayers of a pious mother, - a woman of a superior mind and strong faith. I was received into the Congregational church in Brownfield, Me., at the age of fifteen."
Mr. Merrill was fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H., which he left in 1836, graduated at D. C. in 1840, and at the Theo. Semi- nary, Andover, in 1843. He was approbated by the Andover Associa- tion August 11, 1843 ; ordained pastor of the First Churchi, West New- bury, Mass., May 7, 1845 ; dismissed August 11, 1847. In Oct., 1847, Mr. Merrill received the appointment of Principal of the Washington State School, Princess Ann Co., Maryland, and resided there one year. He preached in Bloomfield, Ct., 1849-50; at New Gloucester, Me., 1850-54, and left the latter place on account of ill health. He removed to Portland, Me., and resided there from 1854 to 1857, when, on his re- covery, he received a call from Salisbury, N. H., where he was installed March 19, 1858 ; dismissed ---- , 1863.
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SKETCHES OF MEMBERS.
Mr. Merrill was married in Turner, Me., January 11, 1849, to Sarah Whitman, daughter of Royal and Sarah (Bradford) Whitman.
Their children are, -
1. Royal Whitman, b. in Bloomfield, Ct., Nov. 28, 1849.
2. Elizabeth Greeley, b. in Portland, Me., Sept. 18, 1854.
3. Catherine, b. in Portland, Me., Nov. 27, 1857.
4. William Bradford, b. in Salisbury, N. H., Feb. 27, 1861.
Mr. Merrill has published, -
1. A Sermon. Voices of the Cross. Hartford, Ct., June, 1850.
2. A Sermon. The Ministry fulfilled, 2 Tim. 4: 5; its Day and Crown, 1 Thess. 2 : 19. Portland, Me., 1858.
2. Report as Sehool Commissioner for Merrimack Co., 1861-62. Concord, N. H.
4. Address before the Alumni of New Ipswich Academy, Sept. 15, 1861. Pub. New York, Oct., 1861.
CALVIN EMMONS PARK,
Was born in Providence, R. I., Dec. 30, 1811. He was the son of Rev. Calvin and Abigail (Ware) Park, and was baptized in infancy. He was hopefully converted in a revival during his Freshman year at Amherst College, 1828. IIe united with the Congregational church at Stoughton, Mass., then under the pastoral care of his father, March 4, 1832. He graduated at A. C. in 1831, and at the Theo. Sem., Andover, in 1835 ; was approbated April 22, 1835, by the Woburn Association. Mr. Park was ordained pastor of the Cong. church in Waterville, Me., Oct. 31, 1838; dismissed April 24, 1844; installed pastor of the Cong. church in West Boxford, Mass., Oct. 14, 1846 ; dismissed June 4, 1859. Since that time he has been engaged as teacher of a select family school at West Boxford.
Mr. Park has published articles in the Biblical Repository and Biblio- theca Sacra.
He was married at Portland, Me., Nov. 5, 1839, to Harriet Turner Pope, daughter of Joseph and Caroline (McLellan) Pope, of Portland.
The names of their children are, -
1. Joseph Pope, b. January 7, 1841, in Waterville, Me. ; d. April 14, 1842.
2. Anna Pope, b. Sept. 18, 1842, in Waterville, Me.
3. Charles Ware, b. Sept. 8, 1845, in North Andover, Mass.
4. Caroline Mclellan, b. July 23, 1847, in West Boxford, Mass.
5. William Pope, b. Aug. 4, 1853, in West Boxford, Mass.
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
JOHN MOOR PRINCE,
Was born in Portland, Me., June 6, 1820. He was the son of John Moor and Eleanor C. (Eaton) Prince, and was baptized in infancy by Rev. Dr. Payson of Portland, of whose church his parents were mem- bers. He was removed to Bangor, Me., at an early age, and was a resi- dent of that city until after the completion of his studies in theology.
Among the papers of Mr. Prince we find the following :
SABBATH EVE, Sept. 30, 1838.
" While reflecting this evening on my past life, my thoughts ran back to the time when I was living without hope and without God in the world, and from thence to the time when I first found peace and joy in believ- ing, which was in December, 1833. For a few weeks previous to that time, I had felt very anxious for the salvation of my soul, but had not come to the conclusion to be on the Lord's side. There were at that time nine of my friends and schoolmates in the same condition with my- self. We concluded to hold a meeting where we might converse and pray more freely. On the next Saturday evening we came together, ten precious souls, at the house of one of our number, and we had a meeting which will never be forgotten by me. We continued to meet week after week, until all indulged a hope that our sins were forgiven. We continued these meetings for about two years, when they were broken up, most of us leaving to fill different stations in life. Our names and ages were as follows : William H. Brown, 11; Thomas H. Rice, 11 ; Samuel Thurs- ton, 11; George W. Brown, Jr., 13; Allen Tupper, 14; Benjamin Silsbee, 14; Enoch Pond, Jr., 13; Richard B. Thurston, 14; Kimball, 15; John M. Prince, Jr., 13."
This is the circle of lads alluded to in the sketch of Rev. Enoch Pond, Jr.
Mr. Prince united with the Hammond Street church, Bangor, March 5, 1837. He graduated at B. C., 1841, and at the Theo. Sem., Bangor, in 1845. He was approbated by the Waldo Association for three months, Aug. 29, 1844; and afterwards by the Penobscot Association, Nov. 12, 1844. He was ordained at Georgetown, Mass., Feb. 3, 1847, as colleague pastor with Rev. Isaac Braman. He left his pulpit on account of ill health and other causes in March, 1857, but was not dismissed until Nov. 19, 1857. He commenced preaching in the Trinitarian Church. Bridgewater, Mass., in Sept., 1858, and was installed Feb. 23, 1859. In June following, he was again compelled to give up preaching in conse- quence of failing health, and died November 16, 1859, aged thirty-nine years and six months. A sermon was preached at his funeral by Rev. H. D. Walker, of Abington. Text, Phil. 1 : 21-24.
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SKETCHES OF MEMBERS.
Mr. Prince was a devoted pastor, an earnest preacher, a faithful and loving disciple.
Ile was married in Philadelphia, Penn., Dec. 7, 1852, to Sarah Bart- lett Coffin, daughter of Joshua and Clarissa Harlow (Dutch) Coffin of Newbury, Mass.
They had two children, -
1. Clara Coffin, b. in Georgetown, May 24, 1854.
2. Charles Lewis, b. in Georgetown, July 29, 1856.
His widow still resides in Bridgewater.
DANIEL TAGGART FISKE,
Was born in Shelburne, Mass., March 29, 1819. He was the son of Ebenezer and Hannah (Tirrill) Fiske, and was baptized in infancy. He united with the church in A. C., Aug. 23, 1839. He graduated at A. C. in 1842, and at the Theo. Sem., Andover, in 1846; was approbated by the Andover Association April 7, 1846, and ordained at Newburyport Aug. 18, 1847. Mr. Fiske was elected a member of the Board of Trus- tees of Phillips Academy, Andover, in 1861. He received the degree of D. D. from Amherst College in 1862. He was married in Boston Nov. 7, 1849, to Eliza Pomroy Dutton, daughter of Dea. George Da- mon and Mary (Pomroy) Dutton. She died in Newburyport, Oct. 22, 1862.
Their children are, -
1. Mary Fidelia, b. Aug. 11, 1850, in Newburyport, Mass.
2. George Dutton, b. March 9, 1856, in Newburyport, Mass. Mr. Fiske has published, - .
1. An Historical Discourse commemorative of the Fiftieth Anniver- sary of the Organization of the Belleville Congregational Church, preached on Thanksgiving day, Nov. 25, 1858. 8vo, pp. 41. Boston, 1859.
2. Article in the Bib. Sacra, April, 1857. The Theology of Dr. Gill.
3. Article in Bib. Sacra, April, 1861. The Necessity of the Atone- ment.
4. Article in Bib. Sacra, April, 1862. The Divine Decrees.
DAVID OLIPHANT,
Was born in Waterford, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Nov. 9, 1791. He was the son of Duncan and Rachel (Woodruff) Oliphant, and was baptized in infancy. Of his religious life and education he says :
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
" I regard regeneration as an instantaneous work wrought by the Holy Spirit in the soul, developing itself in a progressive work of sanctifica- tion by the same Spirit; which sanctification makes itself evident in a temper of mind, and manner of life, in accordance with the precepts of the Gospel. I do not fix any definite period of moral change in my own case. Sobriety of deportment, and regard for sacred things, marked my early years. My intercourse with religious people was confined mostly to such as I met on the Sabbath ; no other religious meetings being held at that time in the community among whom I grew up. I entered col- lege before I was fourteen. There I became acquainted with pious stu- dents, and attended private religious meetings. From that period my interest in religious things increased, till, in the year 1810, I united with the Reformed Dutch church in Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y. My church connection is at present with the church in the Theo. Sem., Andover, where I reside. My common-school education was in the town of Ball- ston, to which my father removed in my early childhood. My academi- cal course was at Ballston Academy, from which I graduated in 1805. I graduated at U. C. in 1809; at the Theo. Sem., Andover, in 1813 ; and was approbated by the Haverhill Association April 14, 1813."
Mr. Oliphant was ordained at Keene, N. H., May 25, 1815, dismissed Dec. 1, 1817 ; installed over the Third Cong. Church in Beverly, Mass., Feb. 18, 1818, dismissed March, 1834 ; installed over the Second Cong. Church in Wells, Me., Sept. 24, 1834, dismissed March 28, 1838. He commenced supplying the pulpit of the Congregational Church and So- ciety of Plaistow, N. H., and North Haverhill, Mass., Sept., 1838, and continued to supply the same for somewhat more than fourteen consecu- tive years. He left chiefly on account of impaired health, and has since resided in Andover, Mass.
Mr. Oliphant was married at Andover, Sept. 27, 1815, to Mary Pear- son, daughter of Dr. Abiel and Mary (Adams) Pearson.
The names of their children are, -
1. David Sewall, b. at Keene, N. H., June 18, 1816 ; graduated at A. C. in 1836 ; took the degree of M. D. from the Homoeopathic Med. Soc. in St. Louis, Mo., in 1859.
2. Ilenry Duncan, b. at Keene, N. H., Dec. 30, 1817 ; merchant.
3. Mary Elizabeth, b. at Beverly, Aug. 9, 1819 ; d. April 10, 1821.
4. James Woodruff, b. at Beverly, Dec. 29, 1821 ; merchant.
5. Robert Woodruff, and Twins, 6. Mary Pearson,
b. at Beverly, Dec. 28, 1824.
Robert graduated at A. C. 1845, and from the Harvard Medical School in 1848 ; is a physician in St. Louis, Mo. Mary graduated at Mount Holyoke Seminary in 1845 ; was married May 3, 1850, to Rev. Lauren C. Ford, and died at Coolville, Ohio, June 9, 1851.
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SKETCHES OF MEMBERS.
Mr. Oliphant has published, -
1. Two Sermons, from Acts 20: 26, preached at Keene, N. II., on the last Sabbath of his ministry in that town.
2. A Sermon, from Psalm 144: 11-15, preached to his congregation in Beverly, Nov. 25, 1825, on the day of annual Thanksgiving. "The Happy Nation."
3. A Sermon, preached to the same congregation, May, 1831, from John 6 : 65. " Why Sinners cannot come to Christ."
Mr. Oliphant has also contributed many articles to religious periodi- cals and papers. In 1829, he published an article in the " Panoplist," disapproving the "Clergyman's Almanac," which had then been pub- lished some twelve years, and had become a vehicle of Unitarianism. The first number of the " Christian Almanac " was published by the Amer. Tract Society the next year.
ALBERT PAINE,
Was born in Woodstock, Conn., July 21, 1819. He was the son of John and Betsey (Smith) Paine, and was baptized in infancy. The occasion of his conversion was a severe sickness, from which recovery appeared hopeless. He united with the church in East Woodstock, Conn., Nov. 1, 1835. Mr. Paine graduated at Y. C. in 1841. He was at the Theo. Seminaries in Andover and New Haven for a portion of his course in divinity, and graduated at Auburn Theo. Sem. in 1845. He was approbated by the Brookfield Association Oct. 2, 1844, and or- dained at West Amesbury Sept. 7, 1848, dismissed April 11, 1854; and installed at North Adams, Mass., Dec. 3, 1856, dismissed April 21, 1862. He received a commission as Chaplain of the U. S. Hospital at Fortress Monroe, dated June 13, 1862.
Mr. Paine was married at West Amesbury, Nov. 20, 1849, to Sarah Sargent, daughter of Patten and Dolly (Sargent) Sargent.
The names of their children are, -
1. Edward Sargent, b. May 3, 1851, in Amesbury, Mass.
2. Charles Hamilton, b. March 27, 1853, in Amesbury, Mass.
3. William Alfred, b. Jan. 29, 1855, in Amesbury, Mass.
4. Dolly Elizabeth, b. Oet. 16, 1856, in Amesbury, Mass. Mr. Paine has published, -
1. A Sermon in the National Preacher, 1857. " Responsibility of Men for each other."
2. Thanksgiving Sermon, pub. in North Adams, 1858. "Clouds in the National Sky."
3. A Sermon on the State of the Nation, pub. in North Adams, 1861. " Rectitude before Expediency."
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
WALES LEWIS,
Was born in Bristol, Me., July 20, 1798. He was the son of Frede- rick and Luey (Wadsworth) Lewis, and was not baptized in infancy. He pursued his classical studies, preparatory to the ministry, in Bangor and Monmouth Academies, and graduated at the Theo. Sem., Bangor, in 1825.
He was approbated by the Penobscot and Hancock Association, Dec. 15, 1824. He was ordained at East Machias, Me., Sept. 27, 1826 ; dis- missed June 15, 1831. Installed at Brewer, Me., Nov. 2, 1831 ; dis- missed Sept. 1, 1838. Installed at South Weymouth, Mass., Sept. 12, 1838 ; dismissed June 15, 1848. Installed at East Haverhill, Mass., July 18, 1849 ; dismissed May 12, 1857. Installed at Lyman, Me., Oet. 21, 1857.
Mr. Lewis was married May 30, 1826, at Kingston, Mass., to Lucy Wadsworth Perkins, daughter of Daniel and Welthea (Wadsworth) Per- kins. She died in South Weymouth, Mass., April 20, 1846. and was buried there.
The names of their children are, -
1. George, b. Oct. 21, 1828, in East Machias, Me. ; d. Nov. 5, 1828.
2. Lorenzo, b. Oet. 11, 1829, in East Machias, Me.
3. Edward, b. Aug. 21, 1831, in Bristol, Me.
1. Horace, b. April 29, 1834, in Brewer, Me. ; d. Aug. 16, 1834.
5. Alvan, b. Dec. 10, 1835, in Brewer, Me.
6. Horatio, b. January 13, 1838, in Brewer, Me. ; d. March 10, 1839, in South Weymouth, Mass.
Mr. Lewis was married a second time in Weymouth, Mass., Dec. 1, 1846, to Lucy Pratt, daughter of Bela and Sophia Western (Lyon) Pratt.
They have one child, -
7. Walter, b. May 17, 1852, in Haverhill, Mass.
Mr. Lewis published a sermon preached in South Weymouth, Mass., Jan. 10, 1841.
JOHN EDWARDS EMERSON,
Was born in Newburyport, Sept. 27, 1823. His father was Charles Lee Emerson. His mother's maiden name was Rhoda Penelope Ed- wards of West Hampton. Her first husband was Harvey Tillotson, She was married to Mr. Emerson at Northampton, Mass., Sept. 4, 1819. Their son, John Edwards, was baptized in infancy by the Rev. S. P. Williams, then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Newburyport.
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SKETCHES OF MEMBERS.
of which both his parents were members. At a very early age he mani- fested evident marks of a religious disposition and a high degree of con- scientiousness. But in Dec., 1833, when he was but little more than ten years of age, his religious character took a decided form, and early in 1834 he became a joyous disciple of Jesus. He united with the First Presbyterian Church in Newburyport, Feb. 12, 1836. He was prepared for college at the Brown High School in his native town. Mr. Emerson graduated at A. C. in 1844, and in Sept. of the same year took charge of a school in Conway, Mass., where he remained for two years. He graduated at the Theo. Sem., Princeton, N. J., in 1849, and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Londonderry Presbytery, at a meeting in Newburyport, April 26, 1848. He was ordained pastor of the White- field Church, Newburyport, on the evening of January 1, 1850, on which day the church was constituted. Very soon his health began to fail, and about the first of June his public services were in a great meas- ure suspended. He made an address to his people Jan. 1, 1851, in which he alluded to his probable early departure.
The last Sabbath that he was with them was March 2, 1851, on which occasion he baptized a child who was named after himself.
Ife fell asleep in Jesus, Sabbath night, at ten minutes before one o'clock, A. M., March 24, 1851. His funeral services were performed in the Federal Street Church, Newburyport, on Thursday, March 27. A sermon was preached by Rev. J. F. Stearns, D. D., of Newark, N. J.
He was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, in a lot provided by the gift of one of his parishioners, and a simple monument was erected to his memory by the members of his congregation.
A Memoir of Mr. Emerson, by Rev. R. W. Clark, D. D., was pub- lished in 1852. (8vo, pp. 406. Boston.) An abridgment of the same has been published by the Am. Tract Society.
Mr. Emerson was unmarried.
He published the sermon which he preached the first Sabbath after his ordination, Jan. 6, 1850, in Market Hall, Newburyport. Subject : " Church Members reminded of their Duties."
FRANCIS VERGNIES TENNEY,
Was born in Newburyport, April 19, 1819. He was the son of Sam- uel and Deborah (Pearson) Tenney, and was baptized in infancy. For the first seven years of his life he lived in Newburyport ; afterwards in Boston. He fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover; graduated at A. C. in 1841, and at the Theo. Sem., Andover, in 1844. He first
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
united with the Salem Church, Salem St., Boston, May 3, 1835. " About six months previous to this time," he says, "I became especially inter- ested in the subject of religion. I had many seasons of thoughtfulness before, and sometimes I had been led to seek, with some degree of earn- estness, the salvation of my soul. My awakening at this time was inti- mately associated with my first experience of home-sickness. I had just left a pleasant home and gone to Andover to prepare for college. Find- ing myself among strangers. I felt lonely and desolate; then came thoughts of my sinfulness, and the importance of yielding my heart to God without delay. My convictions, I think, were deeper than ever be- fore. And various encouragements, which were presented to me in my reading and conversation with friends, together with the fear of losing my concern and going back to the world, helped, with the Divine Spirit, to keep me in a course of duty and earnest prayer, until I was led to en- tertain the hope that I had become a new creature in Christ Jesus."
Mr. Tenney was approbated by the Andover Association, April 9, 1844 ; ordained at South Braintree, Ang. 7, 1845 ; dis. Nov. 14, 1848. Installed at Byfield, Newbury, March 7, 1850; dis. April 22, 1857. Installed at Manchester, Mass., Aug. 18, 1858.
Mr. Tenney was first married in Boston, October 8, 1846, to Jane Robinson Hutchings, daughter of Solomon and Sophia (Webb) Hutch- ings. She died Nov. 24, 1851, aged 29, and was buried in Byfield.
The names of their children are, -
1. Albert Francis, b. July 24, 1847, in South Braintree, Mass.
2. Granville Storrs, b. Feb. 13, 1849, in Boston, Mass .; d. Sept. 3, 1864.
3. Ella Jane, b. March 31, 1851, in Byfield, Mass.
He was married a second time in Boston, Nov. 17, 1852, to Miss Al- mira Dodge Webb, daughter of Joshua and Almira (Dodge) Webb. She died January 26, 1854, aged 32 years ; and was buried in Byfield.
They had one child.
4. Georgianna Webb, b. Sept. 4, 1853, in Byfield, Mass. ; d. Sept. 25, 1853.
He was married a third time in Ipswich, Dec. 4, 1854, to Miss Joanna Stanwood, daughter of Isaac and Joanna (Caldwell) Stanwood.
Mr. Tenney has published a sermon occasioned by the death of Mrs. Martha Lee. Preached at Manchester, May 6, 1860 ; pub. in Boston, 1860.
ELAM JEWETT COMINGS,
Was born in Berkshire, Vt., April 22, 1812. He was the son of An- drew and Betsey (Jewett) Comings, and was baptized in infancy. In
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SKETCHES OF MEMBERS.
the autumn of 1829, Mr. Comings united with the Cong. church in East Berkshire, Vt. He entered Vermont University, and remained there for about a year and six months. He graduated at Oberlin College in 1838, and at the Theol. Seminary in Oberlin in 1841. He was appro- bated by the Lorain County Association, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1840, and or- dained by the same body as an evangelist, at Oberlin, August 24, 1841 .*
The ministerial life of Mr. Comings has been largely that of a mis- sionary. He was three years in Fredericktown, Knox Co., Ohio; four years in Montpelier, Vt., as stated supply of the Free Church, com- mencing in 1844; then he was four years at Haverhill, Mass., as S. S. of the Free Church, afterwards known as the Winter Street Church. In June, 1852, he took charge of the Cong. church at Gustavus, Ohio ; re- signed that position in 1859, and removed to Lenox, Ohio, and spent one year. From thence he went to East Berkshire, Vt., in Oct., 1860.
Mr. Comings has never been installed over any church.
He was married in Enosburg, Vt., Feb. 1, 1839, to Fanny Woodbury Fletcher, daughter of Comings and Sarah (Wheeler) Fletcher.
The names of their children are, -
1. Sarah Dawes, b. in Oberlin, Ohio, July 5, 1840.
2. George Harwell, b. in Fredericktown, Ohio, May 24, 1843 ; died the same day.
3. Eliza Stewart, b. in Montpelier, Vt., Nov. 29, 1847.
4. George Roberts, b. in Gustavus, Ohio, June 20, 1857.
RUFUS KING,
Is the son of De Lanson and Sarah Jeffres (Smith) King ; was born in Freehold, Greene Co., N. Y., April 13, 1821 ; fitted for college partly at the academy in Gallupville, and partly at the academy at Schoharie Court House. He graduated at U. C. 1844, and at the Union Theologi- cal Seminary, New York, in 1848. One year between his college and theological course, he taught school in Catskill, Greene Co., N. Y. After leaving the Theol. Seminary, he preached one year, on alternate Sabbaths, in Newport, Herkimer Co., and Deerfield, Oneida Co., N. Y. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Fourth Presbytery of New York, May 29, 1848.
. He was ordained at Amesbury Mills, April 17, 1850, dismissed May 17, 1853 ; installed at Jamestown, Chautaugua Co., N. Y., Aug. 22,
* This association was dissolved some years since, and its records were placed in the hands of its last scribe, Rev. M. W. Fairfield, of Oberlin, Ohio.
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
1855, dismissed June 20, 1860. Ile left his people, however, some six months earlier, on account of ill health.
He was married March 17, 1855, to Abby B. Bagley, adopted daugh- ter of Dea. Daniel C. and Abigail (Bailey) Bagley, of Amesbury.
JAMES MONROE BACON,
Was born in Newton, Mass., January 3, 1818. He was the son of Joseph and Beulah (Fuller) Bacon, and was baptized when about ten years of age. The following is the account which he has given of his religious experience :
" I united with the First Church in Newton (then under the pastoral care of Rev. J. Homer, D. D., and Rev. James Bates), in April, 1833. During the previous autumn, there was considerable religious interest in the parish, and neighborhood meetings for prayer, and, at the same hour, in an adjoining room for inquirers. I was induced to attend one of these meetings, - up to this time my opposition to religion remaining bitter and outspoken. I was determined I would not go into the inquiry meet- ing. I took my seat, surveyed my fellows, and felt assured that I was right, until I heard singing in an adjoining room. Then I saw my mis- take, and that I had been taken in my own craftiness ; but I was too proud to rectify my mistake at that late hour, and I resolved to sit and brave it out. But when the minister came to me, - so mild and affec- tionate in his manner, and so moved in his feelings, - I was completely ยท unmanned, and went home feeling ashamed and dissatisfied with myself. My convictions of guilt were more or less pungent for some days, when I strove to make a compromise with conscience by promising to lead a correct life, read my Bible attentively, and daily engage in secret prayer ; hoping to enjoy religion secretly, for fear of my schoolmates and other companions. This course, pursued for a while, only increased my un- rest, until I at length resolved that I would make an open avowal of my purpose to assume the yoke of Christ, and rely upon his merits rather than upon my own good carriage and outward religion. The struggle was now over; relief came gradually, accompanied with compassion for the souls of others, - which compassion at length found expression in my purpose to devote my life to the work of preaching the gospel."
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