USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Ashburnham > History of Ashburnham, Massachusetts : from the grant of Dorchester Canada to the present time 1734-1886 with a genealogical register of Ashburnham families > Part 36
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REV. JOIN STEARNS, son of Isaac and Mary (Crosby) Stearns, was born in this town, May 11, 1791. Graduated at Union College, 1821. He studied divinity and was ordained in the ministry without charge. He was a teacher
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in Washington, D. C., where he died September 10, 1824.
REV. MERRICK AUGUSTUS JEWETT, D. D., youngest son of Colonel Joseph and Sarah (Woods) Jewett, was born in this town, August 26, 1798. He is remembered as a youth of excellent qualities of mind and heart, and was held . in high esteem as a pupil and subsequently as a teacher in the public schools of his native town. He pursued his preparatory studies at Phillips Academy, Andover, and graduated at Dartmouth College in class of 1823. During the ensuing two or three years he assisted in the store of an elder brother who was established in Baltimore, Maryland, and while there he studied theology under the direction of Rev. Dr. John McKim Duncan. After preaching nearly eight years in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in the sum- mer of 1834, while journeying to St. Louis where a field of labor was inviting him, he tarried for a day at Terre Haute, Indiana. The labor of a lifetime now met him on his way. He was cordially invited to remain and preach the ensuing Sabbath. The first sermon determined the future relations between the preacher and the settlement. Terre Haute, now a city of thirty-five thousand inhabitants, was then a village of twelve hundred. At their earnest solicitation Mr. Jewett remained and preached to them through the week, and early in December, 1834, a Congregational church was organized with eleven members. With an ardent, eloquent preacher and a respected and beloved pastor, the church grew with the town. In 1841, during a series of revival meetings, Mr. Jewett was assisted by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and over one hundred names were added to the roll of the church.
An incident connected with his early labors in Terre Haute was never forgotten by the pastor or his sympathizing flock. After he had preached a few weeks he returned to
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Baltimore to attend his family on the journey to their future home. Returning they arrived at Terre Haute Christmas eve. The following morning his little son was instantly killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of a servant. If his labors were begun with tears, the sorrowful event awoke the tender sympathy of his people.
In 1860, and after a successful and able pastorate of nearly twenty-six years, Mr. Jewett resigned his charge. Without charge, though frequently engaged in religious labor, he continued a residence in that place until a few months pre- ceding his death. While journeying in the South for the benefit of impaired health he died at Paris, Texas, April 3, 1874, aged nearly seventy-six.
In regard to the ministry of Rev. Dr. Jewett, one who knew him through all the years of his devoted labor in Terre Haute, pays him a cheerful tribute : "He was a man of great ability, bearing a high reputation as a pulpit orator and as a faithful, sympathetic pastor." "Added to his social qualities and to his strong sympathy and to his broad catholicity were his superior talents. He was an earnest preacher of the truth. He was a man of thought, a man of culture."
REV. JOSIAH DAVIS CROSBY, Union College, 1826. Vide Chapter VIII.
REV. JESSE GEORGE DAVIS STEARNS, son of Jesse and Lucinda (Davis) Stearns, was born in this town, February 24, 1812. The family removed to New Ipswich in 1829 where he pursued his preparatory studies and graduated at Amherst College, 1836. He was principal of Hopkins Academy in Hadley 1836-8, and tutor in Amherst College 1839-41. Mr. Stearns pursued a full course of theological study at Andover, 1838-9 and '41-2. He was ordained at Billerica, the home of his ancestors, May 29, 1843, and was
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dismissed May 8, 1867. He was subsequently acting pastor at Zumbrota, Minnesota, from 1876 until his death which occurred November 1, 1882.
Of his pastorate in Billerica, Rev. Henry A. Hazen accords the following merited tribute : "The long and faith- ful pastorate of Mr. Stearns deserves especial recognition. A scholar of exceptional diligence and culture, modest and devout and active in every good word and work, he com- mended himself to the citizens of the town as well as to his own charge. As a teacher of a useful private school and superintendent of the schools of the town. he exerted no little influence and represented the town in the Legislature." Mr. Stearns is the author of "Meaning and Power of Baptism," and of several printed discourses and pamphlets.
REV. WILLIAM RAYMOND, son of Daniel and Sally (Green) Raymond, was born in Ashby, October 27, 1815. The family removed to this town in 1822. He entered Amherst College in 1834 and remained two years. Subse- quently he was an academical and theological student at Oberlin College but did not graduate. Having been appointed to the Mendi Mission, Africa, under the auspices of the American Missionary Association he arrived with his wife at Freetown, Sierra Leone, January 15, 1842, after a passage of fifty days. During the voyage they experienced considerable sickness and buried their only child. They immediately returned to their native land, but again sailed for Africa, November 21. 1843. In this service he died in Africa, November 26, 1847.
REV. WILLIAM SAFFORD SPAULDING, son of Isaac and Lydia (Brown) Spaulding, was born in this town, March 4, 1809. He was a student at New Ipswich Academy and graduated at Marietta College 1839. He was principal of an academy in East Brooklyn, New York, 1841-2 ; of Brooklyn
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Female Collegiate Institute 1843-4; of Salisbury, New Hampshire, Academy, 1845-6: of Boseawen, New Hamp- shire Academy, 1847-8. While residing in Salisbury he studied divinity with Rev. C. B. Tracey and was ordained in the ministry September 18, 1848. During the succeed- ing ten years he was engaged in teaching and in the ministry in Ohio. Commencing in 1859 he was two years acting pastor of the Congregational church in Bristol, New Hamp- shire, and agent of the American Tract Society from 1867 to 1870. He died in Lynn, June 10. 1884.
GENERAL HARRISON C. HOBART, a distinguished lawyer and politician of Wisconsin, was born in this town, January 31, 1815. He was a son of Peter and Keziah (Hobart) Hunt and at the solicitation of his maternal relatives he assumed the name of Hobart. In his youth he served an apprenticeship of three years in a printing-office at Haverhill, New Hampshire. Through his own efforts at his trade and in teaching school he pursued a liberal course of study grad- nating at Dartmouth College 1842. He studied law in the office of Hon. Robert Rantoul of Boston and emigrated to the Territory of Wisconsin in 1846. Mr. Hobart entered upon the practice of his profession in Sheboygan. His talents and sterling qualities commanded immediate recog- nition and on the year of his arrival he was chosen to the territorial legislature from Sheboygan and Washington counties. On the organization of the State government he was the first senator from his district. In this service he was appointed chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, a most important position, and many of the early statutes of the State were drafted by him. The following year he was returned to the Assembly and was elected Speaker of the House. In the years immediately following he was twice nominated for Congress and commanded the full support of his political party which was in the minority in his district.
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In 1855 he removed to Chilton in Camulet county and from that district he was elected to the Assembly in 1859. The following year he was the standard bearer of the Democratic party in the gubernatorial contest. In this canvass the town of Ashburnham was exclusively and honorably represented, the Republican and successful candidate being Hon. Alex- ander W. Randall whose father was a native of this town.
During these years, crowned with many and substantial honors, Mr. Hobart has been a successful lawyer and has been thoroughly identified with the prosperity of a vigorous State and the welfare of its public institutions. At the first call for troops in the Spring of 1861 he closed his office and enlisted as a private. In the organization of the Fourth Wisconsin Regiment he was commissioned captain. Having been stationed several months near Washington, in March, 1862, the regiment was ordered to New Orleans under com- mand of General Butler. In this campaign the regiment rendered gallant service. Captain Hobart, then at Baton Rouge, was promoted August 21, 1862, to lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-first Wisconsin Regiment. Colonel Hobart joined his regiment in Kentucky in October. The colonel being absent on account of wounds, Colonel Hobart was in command of the regiment from the time of his arrival in Kentucky. At the battle of Stone River which ensued soon after, Colonel Hobart and his command received honorable mention in the report of General Rosseau. On the evening of the memorable battle at Chickamauga, General Thomas ordered a retreat ; in this movement, Colonel Hobart who had been holding a forward position was taken prisoner. With many other Union prisoners he was incarcerated in Libby prison. At the end of four months he with many others escaped through a tunnel which they had excavated under the street and a distance of sixty feet. He returned to
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his regiment and participated in the siege of Atlanta, Georgia, and in the "March to the Sea." In the closing scenes of the war he was in command of a brigade. At the request of General Sherman and dating from the capture of Atlanta, he was brevetted brigadier-general for meritorious service. On his return to civil life in 1865 General Hobart removed to Milwaukee and there renewed the practice of his profes- sion. In 1865 he was again a candidate for governor and was defeated by Hon. Lucius Fairchild on party issues. Two years later finds him again in the Assembly where his service was conspicuous. Through several succeeding years he was a member of the city council and in 1878 its president.
His career has been brilliant and honorable. As a lawyer, an orator, a legislator and a soldier, he has won many laurels and has secured the confidence and respect of his fellow-men.
REV. JOSIAH MILTON STEARNS, son of Jesse and Lucinda (Davis) Stearns, was born in this town, June 17, 1818. He fitted for college at New Ipswich Academy and entered Amherst College in class of 1843 but graduated at Marshall College, Pennsylvania, in class of 1844. He studied theol- ogy at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was ordained over the Congre- gational church at Lunenburg, Vermont, June 6, 1849. From his first charge he was dismissed February 3, 1852. After a brief pastorate at Brentwood, New Hampshire, he died in that town June 12, 1853.
REV. DANFORTH LEANDER EATON, son of Josiah and Mary (Reed) Eaton, was born, July 4, 1822. Entering Oberlin College he graduated in regular course 1843 and remained in the theological department of that institution the ensuing two years. During a prolonged and active career he has been a successful preacher in Michigan. (All the places named in the following paragraphs are in that
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State. ) He was ordained in the ministry at Farmers Creek, March 1, 1848, and the same year he was installed over the Congregational church in Oakland, where he remained until 1856. Subsequently he labored four years at Howell and .at Brighton. In 1860 he was installed over the Congrega- tional church in Lowell. From 1862 to 1866 he was engaged in business but returned to the ministry and preached in several places in the vicinity and again in Lowell from 1874 to 1878. During the past eight years, with a home in Lowell, he has supplied in Ovid, Cannon and Cannonsburg.
Mr. Eaton has been a faithful pastor and an acceptable preacher. He has ever maintained friendly and intimate relations with his charge, and with rare executive ability he has been eminently successful in building up the churches over which he has presided.
PETER THATCHER HUNT, son of Peter and Hezekiah , (Hobart) Hunt, was born in Ashburnham, September 9, 1819. He graduated at Dartmouth College, 1847. He taught at Lexington and at Louisville, Kentucky, and was principal of the Glasgow Academy in the place last named. In the mean time he studied law and was admitted to prac- tice in Louisville. Removing to Iowa he entered upon a successful practice of his profession, but failing health led him to modify the matured plans of a life work. In quest of health he visited the Pacific coast where for several years he was familiar with a life among the mines and with Indian warfare. Later he removed to Washington Territory and was there engaged in teaching and in stock-raising. During the war he was active and influential in the Union cause and a leading member of the Legislature. In 1872 he removed to Denver, Colorado, where he continues to reside and is a useful and influential citizen.
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DR. CHARLES EDSON DAVIS, son of Charles and Elvira (Bnss) Davis, was born in this town, May 11, 1822. He entered Dartmouth College 1846, and remained through Freshman and Sophomore years. With impaired health he pursued his professional study with Dr. Harriman of Gard- ner and graduated at Dartmouth Medical School, 1852. He practised successfully in Greenwich. Hardwick and Ashby. He died in this town, June 8, 1863.
OLIVER DAVIS, son of Charles and Elvira (Buss) Davis, was born in this town, August 7, 1823. He entered Dart- mouth College with his brother and graduated in class of 1850. He studied medicine with Dr. Alfred Hitchcock of Fitchburg, and later he was a student at Harvard Medical School. On account of failing health he returned to his home a few weeks before the completion of the prescribed course of study. With ample preparation and ability for a life of usefulness, he died March 1, 1853.
REV. WALTER RICE, son of Silas and Almira (Corey) Rice, was born in this town, December 25, 1836. He attended the public schools of his native town and of Ashby and in carly life removed to Illinois. With a view to enter the ministry, he entered Beloit College. Wisconsin, where he graduated with honor in the class of 1862. He pursued the prescribed course of study at Newton Theological Institution and graduated 1865. In July of the same year he was ordained and installed over the church in West Acton. In 1868, he became acting pastor of the church in South Royals- ton. Commeneing in April, 1874, he was a student, in special course, at Andover Theological Seminary, and sub- sequently was pastor of the church in Lunenburg. Since May, 1880, Mr. Rice has been pastor of the church in Brandon, Vermont. He is in the midst of a successful
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career and every year is presenting the fruit which will attend the labor of a lifetime.
REV. FRANCIS JOEL FAIRBANKS, son of Emory and · Eunice (Hayward) Fairbanks, was born in this town, Sep- tember 8, 1835. During his preparatory studies he was a popular teacher in the public schools of this town, Lunen- burg and Gardner and one term in the High school at Ashby. HIe entered Amherst College the last term of Freshman year and graduated in class of 1862. He pursued a course of theological study at the Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, and Union Theological Seminary, New York city. Licensed to preach May, 1863, by the Worcester North Association. Having supplied at Westminster, Vermont, during vacations while at the seminary, he was installed over the church in that place August 31, 1864, and dismissed in May, 1871. From January 1, 1872, he was acting pastor two years of the church in Ayer and acting pastor of the church in Paxton from April 1, 1874, to Sep- tember 1, 1877. Since the last date he has been acting pastor of the Congregational church in West Boylston. Mr. Fairbanks is an earnest laborer in his profession. With the force of a vigorous mind and a fixed purpose he has commanded the attention and respect of his charge. His warm sympathies have sought their confidence and love, and in his daily life his publie instruction is continually renewed. He has delivered a number of discourses on miscellaneous subjects and is the author of the History of Westminster, Vermont.
JOSEPH WHITCOMB FAIRBANKS, PH. D., son of Emory and Eunice (Hayward) Fairbanks, was born in this town, March 26, 1841. He fitted for college at Williston Semi- nary, Easthampton, and graduated at Amherst College 1866. He was principal of the High School, South Hadley Falls,
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1866-8; of Centre School, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1868-74; of Dix Street Grammar School, Worcester, 1874-5; of Worcester High School, 1875-8 and of Williston Seminary, Easthampton, 1878-84. During the past two years he has been private tutor at St. Paul, Minnesota. Mr. Fairbanks is a person of strong and massive frame, genial in manner and of commanding presence. Endowed with rare executive ability, combined with liberal culture and ripe scholarship, he is a popular and efficient instructor. The labor of his life has been attended with an unusual measure of success.
MELVIN O. ADAMS, EsQ., son of Joseph and Dolly Win- ship (Whitney) Adams, was born in Ashburnham, November 7, 1847. He pursued his preparatory studies in this town and at New Ipswich Appleton Academy and graduated with honors at Dartmouth College in the able class of 1871. He was sub-master of the Fitchburg High School 1871-2, and read law with Hon. Edward Avery of Boston, and Hon. Amasa Noreross of Fitchburg. He received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from Boston University 1874, and the same year he was admitted to the Suffolk county bar. Until the year 1876 he continued a legal residence in this town and was moderator of the annual March meeting 1874, '75 and '76. Mindful of the partiality and appreciative regard of his townsmen, he has responded to many invitations for ad- dresses on miscellaneous subjects.
In his professional labors in Boston since 1874, he has . been successful and has won a merited reputation for character and ability. Since 1876 he has been assistant distriet attor- ney for the district of Suffolk, and has probably been engaged in the trial of a greater number of cases than has fallen to the lot of any lawyer of his age in the State. In habit of thought he is quiek and vigorous. In attack or defence his resources are at. instant command, and all his
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work is sustained by the weight of integrity and character. Mr. Adams is yet a young man, possessing ability and opportunity to complete a career which has been ably and firmly outlined.
DR. ERNEST P. MILLER, son of Dr. Alfred and Elsie L. (Kibling) Miller, was born in Ashburnham, January 4, 1851. He attended the public schools of this town and of Fitchburg, and graduated at Harvard University 1872, and at Harvard Medical School 1877. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in Fitchburg, and has been successfully employed. Since 1877, he has been Medical Examiner ; in 1878 and 1883 he was elected City Physician and since 1884 he has been a member of the Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions.
FREDERIC D. LANE, son of Samuel and Nancy H. (Eaton) Lane, was born in this town, July 4, 1849. He attended the public schools of Ashburnham and Appleton Academy at New Ipswich and graduated at Dartmouth Col- lege in class of 1878. He taught one year in the public schools of Ashby and this town and since December, 1879, he has been an instructor of mathematics and German in Cushing Academy.
FRANCIS W. LANE, son of Allen F. and Laura (Tyler) Lane, was born in this town, October 24, 1858. He pur- sued his studies in the public schools of his native town and at Cushing Academy, and graduated at Dartmouth College 1881. He has taught in Yonkers, New York, and in Wash- ington, D. C. At the present time he is examiner of pen- sions in the Department of the Interior.
DR. HENRY E. CUSHING, son of Benjamin and Lois (Holbrook) Cushing, was born in this town, November 30, 1853. Pursued his preparatory studies at Westfield High School and graduated at Dartmouth College 1882. He
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received his degree from the Chicago Medical College in March, 1884, where he had pursued a prescribed course of study. In April following he removed to Champion, Illi- nois, and is junior member of the firm of Howard & Cush- ing, physicians and surgeons.
WALTER HERBERT MARBLE, son of Warren and Mary L. (Wilker) Marble, was born in this town, September 13, 1858. He was a student in the public schools of this town and at Cushing Academy. He graduated at Dartmouth College in class of 1883. At present he is a student at the Chicago Medical College, where he will graduate in March, 1886.
In addition to the college graduates a considerable number from this town have been admitted to the learned professions. Some of them have been distinguished in their calling and none have failed to honor the town from whence they came and in which the early habits of life were formed.
REV. STEPHEN RANDALL, son of Stephen and Sarah (Fairbanks) Randall, was born in Stow, January 20, 1763. He was the eldest of ten children, seven of whom were born before the family removed to this town in 1780. He was married and resided in this town until about 1808. In 1795 he was dismissed at his request from the Congregational church in order that he might unite with the Methodists. He was a preacher in that denomination several years. He died in Sweden, New York, April 16, 1828.
REV. SAMUEL HARRIS, son of Deacon Jacob and Eliza- beth (Winchester) Harris, and a grandson of Rev. Jonathan Winchester, was born in this town, August 18, 1774. He read theology with Rev. Dr. Seth Payson of Rindge, and with Rev. Samuel Worcester of Fitchburg, and was licensed to preach 1803. After preaching a short time at Alstead and New Boston, New Hampshire, he was ordained and
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installed over the Congregational church in Windham, New Hampshire, October 9, 1805. In consequence of loss of voice, he was dismissed at his request in December, 1826. In 1830 and 1831 he preached in Dublin, New Hampshire, but his voice again failed and he returned to Windham, where he died September 5, 1848. He was a faithful pastor and a useful man, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him.
REV. ELIJAH WILLARD, son of Deacon John and Sarah (Willard) Willard, was born in this town, April 19, 1782. At nineteen years of age he entered the Methodist ministry and was then received into the New England Conference. For several years he was assigned to stations in New Hamp- shire, Vermont and Canada. Subsequently, he filled several pastorates in this State, but for many years he was retained in the Conference in superannnated relation. He was an attentive student of the Scriptures and eminently biblical in the matter and the language of his public instruction. It is the unanimous testimony of all who knew him, that he was a sineere, earnest preacher and a most worthy and exemplary man. He died at Saugus, September 5, 1852.
DR. ABEL WILDER, son of Samuel and Dorothy (Carter) Wilder, was born in this town, June 24, 1786. He was a man of marked ability, and for many years a distinguished citizen and eminent physician of Blackstone, where he was engaged in active practice from 1823 to 1864. A few weeks before his death he removed to New York where he died 1864.
SIMEON SANDERSON, EsQ., son of Moses and Mary Proctor Sanderson, was born, September 24, 1790. After. attending the public schools of this town and several terms at the academies in this vicinity, he read law with Mr. Dustan of Westminster, and entered upon the practice of
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