USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Danvers > Danvers, Massachusetts : a resume of her past history and progress, together with a condensed summary of her industrial advantages and development : biographies of prominent Danvers men, 1899 > Part 6
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and Middleton. After organization, com- mittees were appointed to procure preach- ing and to attend to the providing of a meeting house. This house was finished and the pews sold in 1783. Dr. Ben- jamin Foster naturally became their first pastor, remaining for three years. He afterwards became pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York, and is said to be buried in the graveyard of that church.
After several years of irregularly sup- plied preaching, Rev. Thomas Green be- came pastor in 1793. It was during the first year of his pastorate that the society was constituted a church, with thirty-seven members. Israel Porter and Eleazer Wallis were chosen its first deacons.
During its more than a century of ex- istence the church has had eighteen pas- torates. One of the longest and most prosperous of these was that of Rev. Jer- emiah Chaplin (1802-1818). The mem- bership was increased and the meeting- house enlarged. Dr. Chaplin was a great student of theology. He frequently had a dozen or more theological students studying with him. His attainments in theological learning were so notable that at length he was elected president of Maine Literary and Theological Institu- tion, now Colby University.
Other pastors who should be mentioned either for length of service or special work accomplished are-Rev. James A. Boswell (1819-1820) during whose time a new Act of Incorporation, containing the names of seventy-five males was se- cured from the Massachusetts Legisla- ture. Rev. Arthur Drinkwater (1821- 1829). Rev. James Barnaby (1830- 1832). Rev. John Holroyd, (1832-1837). Rev. John H. Avery, (1841-1843.) Rev. J. W. Eaton, (1843-1849.) Rev. A. W. Chaffin, (1850-1862). Rev. C. F. Hol- brook, (1865-1870) and again a second pastorate from 1889-1898. Both pastor- ates were highly successful. The call to the second pastorate was one of entire unanimity and the pastoral relation was terminated only by the death of Mr. Hol- brook, which brought a sense of personal loss to each one who came under his ministration. Between Mr. Holbrook's
two pastorates came those of Rev. Lucian Drury (1877-1883) and Rev. Gideon Cole (1884-1888). As has been stated the first meeting house was built in 1783. In 1829, during the pastorate of Mr. Drink- water, the second house was built. This was totally destroyed by fire Sept. 6, 1847, Rev. J. W. Eaton, pastor. Al- though it was a time of general financial depression, pastor and people rallied to the occasion, and took immediate steps toward rebuilding. Oct. 10, 1848, the third and present house was dedicated, the organ now in use being presented at that time by Capt. Benjamin Porter. During the pastorate of Mr. Chaffin (1850-1862), Capt. Porter also built and presented to the society the parsonage, together with funds to care permanently for the same. Land was bought and a much needed chapel built while Rev. Gideon Cole had charge of the church. In 1898 the house itself was repaired and refitted and the parsonage furnished with modern improvements.
The Danvers Baptist Church is the oldest of the Salem Association of Baptist Churches, and at different times has given of her members to aid in constituting four other Baptist Churches, those of Beverly, First Salem, Wenham and Peabody. The churches at Lynn and Marblehead have also drawn largely upon her membership. In the year 1800, out of a membership of sixty, seventeen were dismissed to form 2 the church at Beverly, but during Dr. Chaplin's pastorate the number was more than regained. Again in 1843, thirteen were dismissed to constitute the church in South Danvers, now Peabody. In spite of dismissions and losses from other causes, the church has enjoyed a steady, if not always rapid growth, until at the present time the membership, about 175, is the largest at any time in its history. In all about 700 persons have been en- rolled as its members. Fifteen deacons have served the church, Deacon Charles H. Whipple, the present senior deacon, having held that office for nearly forty- five years.
Mention should be made of the centen- nial anniversary of the church celebrated in 1893. It is from the historical address
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presented by Rev. C. F. Holbrook, at that time, that the facts here given are gleaned.
REV. C. S. NIGHTINGALE.
Rev. C. S. Nightingale, the present pastor of the Danvers Baptist Church, was born in West Eaton, N. Y. Later his father moved to Louisville, Ky., and here in the Louisville Male High School he fitted for college. In 1890 he entered Brown University and graduated in 1894. In the fall of the same year he en- tered Newton Theolog i c a 1 Institutionre- maining for two years. During the first of these years, he served the Baptist church at South Y a r- mouth, Mass. He went to Northville, Michigan, in July, 1896, where he was ordained the following Oc- tober. After remaining with the church at Northville one year, he returned to Newton, graduating from the Theological Institution in June, 1898, coming immediately to Danvers to begin work with the Baptist church.
First Universalist Society.
The First Universalist Society of Dan- vers, being the third religious society in the present town of Danvers, was organ- ized April 22, 1815 under the title of the " First Universalist Society," although
there were believers much earlier, even in the earlier part of the eighteenth cen- tury, Deacon and Captain Edmund Putnam being the pioneer of the Univer- salist doctrine in 1785, when he with- drew from the First Church, where he had been a prominent man, and deacon of the Church for many years. When organized it consisted of nineteen mem- bers from Danvers, and four from Wen- ham, who declared themselves in their Constitution dissatisfied with " those sys- tems of Divinity which have for their fun- damental ar- ticle the eternal mis- ery of the greatest part of mankind." Its first meet- ings were held in the School House in Dis- trict No. 3, (Putnam- ville) where seemed to be the strong- hold of the new faith. Here preach- e d R e v. Hosea Ballou, Charles Hud- son, Rev. Walter Bal- four, Lemuel Willis a n d others. From 1830 to 1833 the Society held services in the " Old Baptist Meeting House," at New Mills, and in 1833 it moved into its new house of worship, which house, greatly enlarged, is now the Catholic church, Danversport. In 1859 the Society built its present house of worship, which since then has been its religious home. Rev. Edson Reifsnider is the present pastor.
FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
REV. EDSON REIFSNIDER.
Mr. Reifsnider is a native of Illinois,
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the city of Aurora being his birthplace. His early education was received in Chi- cago to which city his parents removed when he was but an infant. After being for some years in the employment of a large wholesale house in Chicago he de- termined to enter the ministry, taking the regular theological course at Tufts Col- lege and graduating with the class of '98 in June of that year.
Maple Street Church. (Congregational.)
On the sixth day of March, 1844, a prelimi- nary meeting was held of those favorable to the organization of a religious society on Danvers Plains. Nine days later ap- plication was made for a legal warrant calling a meeting of those who proposed to form such a so- ciety. This ap- plication w a s signed by Na- thaniel Silvester, Moses J.Currier, Henry T. Ropes, Benjamin Hen- derson, Aaron Batemen and Gustavus Put-
nam. The so- ciety was duly organized on the twenty- fifth, and was called the " Third Ortho- dox Congregational Society of Danvers." Officers were chosen, arrangements made for securing a more suitable place of wor- ship than the school-house where services had already been held, and a committee appointed to solicit subscriptions for future preaching. Incorporation followed a year later, April 1, 1845.
Steps were next taken to purchase the lot of land now occupied by the Maple
Street Church, and to build upon it a basement story of rough granite ; upon which foundation was erected a struc- ture of wood, which was dedicated Jan. 2, 1845. This building was seventy by fifty-two feet in area, and was surmounted by a spire rising to a height of 144 feet from the ground. Six years later it was destroyed by an incendiary fire, only the granite walls remaining, as the basis of a new structure which was erected with- out needless delay.
Meanwhile, on the fifth of December, 1 844, the church itself was organized by a company of forty-two per- sons, all but two of whom had been members of the church at Danvers Centre. Until April 30, 1857, the name of the new or- ganization was the Third Con- gregational church in Dan- vers, the term Maple Street Church being assumed at that date.
MAPLE STREET CHURCH. (CONGREGATIONAL.)
The first meeting looking to the organiza- tion of a church in distinction from the eccle- siastical society already formed, was held July 24; the creed and covenant, substantially the same as now, were adopted Sept. 4; and the actual organization was affected Dec. 5, in the house of John A. Learoyd, one of the principle projectors of the enter- prise. Thenceforward, the two bodies, Church and Society, acted together in matters of mutual interest. Among the earliest of these was the choice of a min- ister who should serve as the first pastor. Not until July, however, was a pastor se-
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cured in the person of Rev. Richard Tol- man, to whom was paid a salary of six hundred dollars, afterward raised to seven hundred, with three weeks' vacation. This first pastorate continued three years and two months, and was terminated by the resignation and dismission of Mr. Tolman.
He was succeeded by Rev. James Fletcher, whose pastorate extended from June 20, 1849 to May 21, 1864 ; by Rev. William Carruthers, from April 18, 1866, to March 28, 1868; by Rev. James Brand, from Oct. 6, 1869, to Nov. 1, 1873 ; by Rev. Walter E. C. Wright, from Oct. 12, 1875, to Sept. 4, 1882 ; and by Rev. Edward C. Ewing,who was in- stalled Nov. I. 1883, and who is pastor at the time when this sketch is prepared.
Upon the or- ganization of the church two of its members were chosen to serve as deacons : Freder- ick Howe and Samuel P. Fowler. This number was increased to three by the addition of John S. Learoyd, July 1 5, 1864 ; since which time the following per- sons have been elected as vacancies have occurred : Eben Peabody, Samuel P. Trask, Samuel L. Sawyer, and John S. Learoyd. The first of these has held the office since Dec. 5, 1875.
These members have successively served the church as its clerks with terms greatly varying in length : Benjamin S. Turner, Joseph S. Black, John S. Learoyd, Samuel P. Trask, Addison P. Learoyd, Edward C. Burbeck and John S. Learoyd, Jr.
REV. E. C. EWING.
Moses W. Putnam was the first super- intendent of the Sunday School, followed in 1852 by Joseph S. Black, in 1855 by Nathaniel Hills, in 1865 by John S. Lea- royd, in 1895 by George W. Fiske, and in 1898 by John S. Learoyd, who suc- ceeds his honored father in each of the offices of deacon, clerk and superinten- dent. In 1885 a Society of Christian Endeavor was formed, and a few years later a Junior Endeavor Society. The former of these has a present member- ship of 130, and the latter of 76.
The history of this church has been character- ized by several revivals of religion and consequent large accessions to its member- ship ; notably in I 866, when eighty-two p e r- sons were received on confession of faith and seven- teen by letter from other churches ; and in 1895, when seven - ty-eight were re- ceived on confes- sion, and twenty- two by letter. The original member- ship of forty-two has increased to one of three hun- dred eighty-two, besides the many who have removed to other churches or have passed into the other world. The entire roll of members up to Jan. 1, 1899, contains seven hun- dred fifty-one names.
At the outset the Sunday School con- sisted of twelve teachers and one hundred fourteen pupils, with an average attend- ance of seventy-five. It now has a mem- bership in its several departments (main, primary, kindergarten, and home) of 584, with 39 classes and an average attendance (aside from the home department) of 342.
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The annual contributions of Maple Street Church to benevolent causes amount to over two thousand dol- lars in cash ; and three of its mem- bers are engaged in the missionary work in China. Plainly it exists not for itself alone, but for humanity and for God.
REV. EDWARD C. EWING.
Edward C. Ew- ing : Born in Wal- pole, N. H., Dec. 20, 1837. Spent boyhood and youth in various places, chiefly in that part of West Springfield which afterward became the city of Hol- yoke, Mass. Pre- pared for college at Northfield In- stitu t e ; graduat- ed from Amherst Colle g e in 1859; studie d theology at Ban- gor and Prince- ton Sem- inaries, from each of which gradua t- edin I 863. Pastor at Ashfield, Mass., three and a half years, at Enfield, Mass., fifteen years, and at Danvers since
REV. T. E. POWER.
Nov. 1, 1883. Married Mary L. Alvord of Philadelphia, Oct. 13, 1863 ; rejoices in four adult sons, two of whom are missionaries i n North China, one is professor in Wabash College, Crawfords ville, Ind., and one en- gaged in business in Boston.
Annunciation Church. (Rom. Cath.)
The first Cath- olic service was held in Danvers, Nov. 1, 1854, at the house of Rev. Edward Mc- Keigue. The officiating clergy- man was Rev. Thomas N. Sha- han of the church of the Immaculate Conception, Salem. Regular services began soon to be held in Frank- lin Hall, and a f- terwards i chapel which stood on the south side o f High street, near the old cem- etery. In 1859 the house
ANNUNCIATION CHURCH. (ROMAN CATHOLIC.)
first built by the Universalist Society was purchased ; and after an occupancy of
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several years, this building having been greatly enlarged and remodeled, was ded- icated anew by the Right Rev. Bishop J. J. Williams of Boston, April 30, 1871. Previous to 1864 pastoral duties were per- formed by clergymen from Salem. From Oct. 13, of that year, Rev. Charles Ranoni had charge of this parish, and also of the Catholic parish at Marblehead, having his residence in Danvers. In 1872 he re- moved to Marblehead, the parishes being separated, and his place was taken by Rev. Fr. O'Reilly, who remained but a
year. Rev. Patrick Jos- e ph Halley was appoint- ed to Dan- vers in April, 1873, and his pastorate ex- tended to Septem b e r, 1882 ; Rev. D. B. Kenne- dy's, from the last date to April, 1885, when the present pas- tor, R e v. Thomas E. Power, w a s appointed. The pastor's residence oc- cupies a pleasant site overlook i n g the river. This is the largest parish in the town.
CALVARY CHURCH. (EPISCOPAL.)
Calvary Church. (Episcopal.)
Mr. Joseph Adams of St. Peter's Church, Salem, having removed to Dan- vers (to the Braman House on Pine St.), was interested in founding a Parish ; and there was a sufficient number of people from England and the Provinces, mem- bers of the Church of England, and of others who were devoted to the doctrines
and rites of the Church to make a good beginning.
The first services were held in the hall of the bank building in the summer of 1857, by Rev. George Leeds, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Salem.
Early in 1858 the services were held by Rev. Edward Cowley for a few weeks. He was succeeded by Rev. Robert F. Chase, Rector of St. James' Church, Amesbury, who became the Rector of the Parish upon its organization, 14 April, 1858, and entered upon his duties 9 May. The first wardens were Joseph A d- ams and John S. Pratt ; ves- try men, Charles H. Adams, Dan- iel J. Preston, Joseph G. Prentiss, Wil- lard Howe, Eri Hayward. Contrib u- tions having been received for building a Church, and a lot secured on the corner o f Holten and Cherry streets, a building com- mittee was appointed, viz., Joseph Adams, E d- ward D. Kim- ball, Jesse W. Snow, A. Proctor Perley, Charles H. Adams. The plans were fur- nished by Ryder & Fuller of Boston. The cornerstone was laid on Wednesday, II May, 1859, by Rt. Rev. Morton East- burn, Bishop of Massachusetts. Among the numerous documents placed in the stone were the following : Proceedings at the reception and dinner in honor of George Peabody, Esq., of London, by the citizens of the old town of Danvers, 6 October, 1856; annual report of the
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trustees of the Peabody Institute ; address of the Mayor of Salem upon the organiza- tion of the city government, 24 January, 1859 ; rules and orders of the City Coun- cil of the city of Salem ; copy of a ser- mon preached in London, A. D., 1773, before the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts ; a ms. sermon preached A. D., 1778 by Rt. Rev. Ed- ward Bass, first Bishop of Massachusetts. "Owing chiefly, under God, to the lib- erality of Edward D. Kimball and Joseph Adams, Esqrs. (who generously gave the land, sufficient for the Church a n d Rectory and a garden, and bore the greater part of the cost of the building), the church was erect- ed, and on Friday, 25 May, 1860, consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Man- ton Eastburn, D. D., to the wor- ship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."
The organ was given by Mr. Ed- ward D. Kimball, the altar vessels, books, etc. by members of the parishes of St. Peter's and Grace, Salem, and St. James', A m e s- bury. The bell was given by Mr. Adams, and used for the first time on the first Sunday in Advent, A. D., 1860. Mr. Adams also gave two hundred books for the library, for the use of the Rector.
A lot of land had been bequeathed in 1847 by Miss Collins, for the erection of a Church (Episcopal) ; but the location was thought undesirable, and the legacy was not claimed.
Mr. Kimball added to his other bene- factions a bequest for the support of the
REV. J. W. HYDE.
Rector, which was received in October, I868.
Rev. Mr. Chase resigned in July, 1865. There is no record of the two years fol- lowing. Rev. W. W. Silvester served the parish as reader (before his ordination) from the spring of 1867 till the fall of 1868. Rev. S. J. Evans became Rector in the spring of 1869, and remained un- til October, 1871. Rev. W. I. Magill was Rector from June, 1872, to August, 1877, and Rev. George Walker became Rector in November following, and also of St. Paul's, Pea- body, where he resided. He re- signed in Febru- ary, 1888. The Parish House was built in 1886. He was succeeded by Rev. A. W. Griffin (April, 1 8 88- May, 1890), dur- ing whose rector- ship the Church w a s thoroughly renovated.
Rev. J. W. Hyde became Rector in June, I 890. In the same year the Rectory was built in anticipation (with her con- sent) of a bequest by Mrs. Daniel J. Preston, who was one of the most active and effic- ient of the foun- ders and sustainers of the Parish. She died in October, 1894, and the Rectory stands as a memorial of her.
Unitarian Society.
In the fall of 1864 Mr. Philip H. Wentworth of Roxbury purchased of Mr. Edward D. Kimball the Prince Nichols farm now owned by Mrs. Leopold Morse in the westerly part of the town upon Beaver Dam Brook, and to which he
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removed with his family, who were mem- bers of the Mount Pleasant Society in Roxbury, of which Rev. Dr. Alfred P. Putnam had been a former pastor. They attended the First Church in Salem until the following August, when they, like the occupants of the Farms in that vicinity, two hundred years before, thought it best to try and form or establish a church nearer and more convenient for them. So they with the Rev. Dr. Putnam, their former pastor, a son of Old Danvers, who was very much interested in the move- ment to establish a Unitarian Society in town, had it announced that Dr.
John C. Butler and Alfred Mackenzie were chosen a standing committee and Mr. Andrew Nichols clerk, and a sufficient sum of money was pledged to continue the services in the Town Hall on each succeeding Sunday and they were so continued until its chapel on High street was dedicated in 1871.
The Rev. Leonard J. Livermore, of Lexington, preached his first sermon to this Society on April 7, 1867, and un- der his administration the Society was duly organized on the 28th of the July following, just two years from the first service held in Town Hall. It was legally
UNITARIAN CHURCH.
Putnam would hold a service at Town Hall on Sunday, July 30th, 1865, which service was followed on every Sunday in August by a number of the most noted ministers in the denomination. On the last Sunday of the month a notice was given that all persons interested in the formation of a Unitarian Society are requested to meet at this Hall on Thurs- day evening next, August 31, 1865. Of the twenty-one persons who attended that meeting, ten have since deceased and six have removed from town. At that meeting, Messrs. Philip H. Wentworth,
organized as a religious society on Decem ber 2, 1867.
On Sunday, August 5, 1867, a com- mittee was appointed to make arrange- ments with Rev. Mr. Livermore to offici- ate as pastor. At the annual meeting, January 4, 1869, the article to build a church or chapel upon the Society lot on High street at the corner of Porter street, which had been purchased at the auction sale of Capt. Eben Putnam's estate, was postponed.
On June 26, 1869, Messrs. Philip H. Wentworth, Charles T. Stickney and
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Andrew Nichols were chosen a committee to erect a chapel on the above described lot when the subscriptions amounted to a certain sum. The ground was broken for the foundation in the spring of 1870, and the annual meeting January 2, 1871 was held in its parlors. The plans by Mr. Nichols with the elevation plans by Mr. Samuel F. Eveleth were adopted. The chapel was dedicated on Thursday, the 16th of March, 1871.
The pulpit was given by Alfred Fel- lows, the marble clock by the Mt. Pleasant Society of Roxbury, and a sil- ver communion and christening service by the society in Brooklyn, N. Y., over which Rev. Dr. Putnam was settled.
On Sunday, March 19, the first service was held, at which some children of the society were christened.
At the annual meeting January 1, 1872 it was voted to install as its pastor the Rev. Leonard Jarvis Livermore, who had preached and labored there so success- fully for over four years.
He accepted the same and was in- formally installed the 15th of March, 1872, and he very acceptably filled the office as pastor until his death on the 30th of May, 1886, which had been pre- ceded by the death of Philip H. Went- worth.
The Rev. John Calvin Mitchell, who had been settled over the Orthodox Con- gregational Church at Wenham, was en- gaged to supply the pulpit for one year from the Ist of January, 1887, which was continued for another year. He was duly installed as pastor on Thursday, May 3d, 1888, which relationship continued for one year to May 1, 1889.
The Rev. Eugene DeNormandie of Sherborn was engaged to supply for one year from the Ist of May, 1890, which engagement was continued from year to year until he withdrew his connection April Ist, 1897.
Mr. Kenneth E. Evans of the Bangor Theological School was engaged for one year from the ist of September, 1897, and was ordained on the 27th of October of that year, and on Sept. 1, 1898 was engaged for a further term.
The corporate name of the Society is
the Unitarian Congregational Society of Danvers, which was adopted at one of its early meetings, the name of the " First Unitarian Society of Danvers " being the name given to the Society at Peabody in 1825.
This Society is strictly a free church, all are welcome, there being no owner- ship of pews, and maintains its services by the voluntary subscriptions, and is free from debt.
Its officers at the present time are Calvin Putnam, H. B. Learnard, Charles Newhall, Mr. A. A. Legro and A. S. Kelley, Standing Committee ; Wm. S. Grey, Charles Newhall and John Lum- mus, Trustees ; P. T. Derby, Treasurer ; Andrew Nichols, Clerk ; and Wm. S. Grey, Superintendent of the Sunday School.
Methodist Episcopal Church.
In Sept., 1871, the late Rev. Albert Gould, pastor of the M. E. Church, Pea- body, Mass., with four leading Methodists from Lynn, came to Danvers for the pur- pose of seeing if it was best to commence services under the auspices of the M. E. Church. The field was well surveyed. The part of the town called Tapleyville was the place where a church was most needed. The first service was held in Lincoln Hall, Tapleyville, Oct. 22, 1871, Rev. Mr. Gould preaching forenoon and afternoon. In December of this same year, Elias Hodge, a student of Boston Uni- versity Theological School, became a per- manent supply. In April of the follow- ing year a public meeting was called for the purpose of taking into consideration the erection of a new church. A build- ing committee was appointed and sub- scription papers were at once put into circulation. Gilbert Tapley and his son Augustus headed the list with subscrip- tions of $2,000 each, and all gave gener- ously and according to their ability. The present location was selected and the land was given by G. A. Tapley. The corner stone was laid July 2, 1872, Bishop Gilbert Haven being present and making an address. The church was completed and dedicated Mar. 27, 1873, Rev. F. H. Newhall, D. D., then of Lynn, preach-
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