USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume I pt 2 > Part 24
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Rev. Miles Sanford, D. D., began his ministry July 23d, 1853, and remained until March 10th, 1871. In 1865 the church bought the two lots between its property and Eagle street for $3.500. In 1871 the church edifice was extensively remodeled. A new front, with a tower and spire, was put on, the side galleries were exchanged for an end gallery, and a new baptistry and pulpit put in, the total expense being some 824, 000, about twice the original cost of the building. The building committee were Sanford Blackinton, C. T. Sampson, S. Burlingame, Jeremiah Wil- bur, and E. S. Wilkinson. Rev. Courtland W. Anable, D.D., began his pastorate March 17th, 1872, and was dismissed March 25th, 1877. Rev. Abraham C. Osborn, D.D., preached from September 1st, 1877, until his dismissal, August 20th, 1884.
About twelve o'clock on the evening of Sunday, May 5th, 1879, a fire, starting inside the organ, destroyed that instrument and spread into the roof of the church. To cover this loss the insurance companies paid the church 87,500. The trustees of the church, Sanford Blackinton, C. T. Sampson, and E. S. Wilkinson, were appointed a building committee. They finally accepted the plans of L. B. Valk, of New York, whose directions were followed, even to the details of the fresco decoration. The old church was torn down, with the exception of the front and tower, which were added in 1871, and a new and beautiful building was erected at a cost, including the organ, of $42,500. The church, which covers almost the entire church lot, is of the Gothic order, with agreeably varied pro- portions and outline. The main room or auditorium will seat comfortably 800 people and occupies the whole of the Church street side. The vestry, with basement, occupies the whole of the Eagle street side. The main room will seat 500 persons, and is beautifully ornamented with frescoes and finished in native woods. It is connected with several subordinate rooms which are used for Sabbath school purposes. The church was formally dedicated on the 7th of September, 1880. Rev. Francis H. Rowley began preaching as pastor December 14th, 1884.
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Adams Baptist Church .- The Baptist church in Adams was organ- ized July 1st, 1826, with fourteen members-four males and ten females. Previously to this time there had been no regularly constituted church in the village. Aside from the Friends' meeting house the only place of worship was a small brick building which stood on the northwest corner of the lot now occupied by L. L. Brown's paper mill. Here the re- ligiously disposed of all denominations had been accustomed, for several years, to hold union services ; the pulpit being supplied with such oc- casional or stated preaching as circumstances afforded, without regard to sectarian differences. This building the Baptists continued to occupy after their organization into a church ; and Elder Elnathan Sweet, who 'was then preaching in Cheshire, was engaged to give them his services as pastor half the time. This arrangement proved generally acceptable to the people, and although, from the nature of the case, the occupancy of the pulpit became more and more exclusively denominational, no serious difficulty seems to have arisen from that fact. After a year or two of service on the half time arrangement, Elder Sweet was enabled to give his whole time to the church, and continued to be its pastor until 1842, with the exception of one year (1831-2), when Rev. Henry F. Baldwin was the settled minister.
As early as 1835 the question of larger and better accommodations for the growing church and society began to be mooted. In this move- ment several of the leading families of the place united, and were gener- ous contributors, who afterward connected themselves with other churches, as they were subsequently formed. A half acre of ground was secured on the west side of Commercial street, south of the mill pond, for $250, and a neat frame building was erected on it at a cost of $2,000. This was in 1836. The lot was conveyed in trust for the exclusive use of the Baptist church, and the building was designated for the same pur- pose. The funds were nominally raised by subscription, but in reality by the sale of pews, the subscribers becoming permanent owners of slips or sittings in the church-an arrangement which, so long as it existed, embarrassed the support of the ministry, and was finally abandoned with consent of the owners when it became necessary to remodel and enlarge. This latter event took place in 1852.
Meanwhile Elder Sweet had been succeeded by Rev. William M. Young, who was pastor one year (1842-3) ; he by Elder Loomis, who served in 1844-6, and was followed by Rev. George E. Fuller in 1847-8. when Rev. S. B. Grant became pastor and continued in that . office till 1853. It was during Mr. Grant's administration that the church was en- larged and raised, a stone foundation put under it as at present, and a gallery thrown across the eastern or front end. These improvements cost $1,300 and were paid for by subscriptions or assessments. The next pas- tor was Rev. N. J. Norton, who was ordained at the same time to the min- istry and pastora! charge of the church in 1853, and resigned in 1833. In 1854 the organ which is now used by the church was purchased and put
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in place. This was the first organ that was ever brought into the village, and it is one of the Appletons' manufacture, who were famous organ builders in their day. Mr. Norton was followed by Rev. Alfred Colburn, who was pastor for one year, 1856-7.
During the thirty years that had now elapsed since the church's or- ganization, it had been making steady, though not rapid, progress. Other churches. meanwhile, had come into existence and taken away, from time to time, prominent members of the society. Sharp discipline, too, had been maintained-not always judiciously, perhaps-and some alien- ations and unpleasant ruptures had been made : but, on the whole. the state of the church, if not flourishing, was at least hopeful ..
In September, 1857, Rev. E. T. Hunt, who had been appointed prin- cipal of the high school in the village, accepted the charge of the Baptist pulpit as regular supply. This position he held until March, 1863, declin- ing to be regarded as pastor, owing to his connection with the school, though he discharged all the duties of that office faithfully and well. During his term of service the church was greatly prospered, and a con- siderable number of persons, who had previously been prominent and active as members of the society, were added to its communion.
Mr. Hunt was succeeded by Rev. William A. Briggs, who was pastor from 1863 till the 1st of January, 1871. The general prosperity which had attended his predecessor was continued during the ministry of Mr. Briggs. The church was steadily growing in numbers and strength, and some portions of his pastorate were marked by quite large accessions to the membership. Rev. A. B. Whipple next became pastor, in 1871, and served the church for one year, giving it as much of his time as was pos- sible in the circumstances, his residence being in Lansingburgh, N. Y., where he was conducting a flourishing school, of which he was principal. Mr. Whipple was followed by Rev. L. B. Hibbard, who was pastor in 1872-3, when he resigned on account of ill health. About this time the church became severely crippled by financial reverses, from which it has not yet entirely recovered. Rev. Charles H. Ham was the next pastor. He was settled in 1874, and served the church for nine years-the longest pastorate, save one, in its history. Again the meeting house was reno- vated, modern improvements introduced into the vestry, the gallery re- moved, and the building painted afresh within and without, at a cost of $800. In the winter of 1879-80 there was also quite an extensive revival, in which some forty persons were added to the church. The present pas- tor is Rev. C. W. Anable, D.D., who was settled in March, 1883.
The church now numbers 212 members, of whom about 170 are resi- dents. It has a flourishing Sunday school, consisting of more than 200 scholars, with an average attendance of 160. Its deacons are Daniel Upton and B. F. Phillips. The audience room has a seating capacity of 350, and the expenses of the church are met mainly by the pew rents. Since Dr. Anable's settlement a very handsome parsonage has been built on the church lot, at a cost of 84,000. This parsonage is owned at pres-
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ent by private individuals, and is rented by the society for the use of the pastor.
Methodism in Adams .- The earliest authentic record of Methodism in the vicinity of Adams is found in the Methodist General Minutes for 1792, which speak of Pittsfield Circuit. It was embraced in what was then known as the Albany District, with the celebrated Freeborn Garrett- son as presiding elder. During this time some two hundred persons had been converted in the Albany District, which then included the northern part of Berkshire county. It is quite probable that previous to this the old itinerants had visited the same neighborhood in some of their preach- ing excursions. from adjacent circuits, such as Dutchess, Cambridge, or Stockbridge Circuits, out of which the nucleus of the Pittsfield Circuit was formed.
But it is hardly probably that any considerable body of Methodists had entered Adams as early as 1784, as mentioned in Yeoman's history, for at that date there were but sixty Methodists in New York reported, and this was six years before Jesse Lee, the apostle of Methodism in New England, blew the Gospel trumpet beneath the shade of the "Old Elm" on Boston Common.
At the conference in 1796, the eccentric Lorenzo Dow, who became noted throughout the nation, offered himself for admission into the travelling connection, but his application was declined. "He lingered about the place during the session, weeping sincere tears." "I took no food," he says, "for thirty six hours afterward." In 1798, however, Dow was admitted on trial. His personal appearance is thus described by his presiding elder. " He is tall," writes Colvert, " of a very slender form : his countenance is serene, solemn but not dejected, and his words, or rather God's words delivered by him, cut like a sword." Such was the man who, sometime between the years 1799 and 1802, when he was trav- elling adjacent circuits, called, as evening was drawing near, at the house of Jacob Jenks, in the town of Adams. Having refreshed himself and fed his horse, he told Mr. Jenks that he desired to preach in his house that evening, it then being one of the best and most commodious houses in town. Mr. Jenks objected, but Dow insisted upon preaching at some house in the neighborhood, and invited his host to go and hear him. Upon this Mr. Jenks withdrew his refusal, and the meeting was held at once in the spacious kitchen, where many subsequent gatherings assem- bled. As a result of these meetings a revival broke out. the intelligence of which spread far and near, as revivals were novelties in those days. Among others who were converted through the agency of these meetings were Jacob Jenks and wife, Harris and Daniel Arnold, James Sly, and Asabel Ives and his wife.
In 1801 Pittsfield was made the head of a district, embracing all the territory which lies from the Connecticut on the south to the Canada live north, and from the Green to the Adirondack Mountains east and west. and including Cambridge, Burlington, Plattsburg, St. Albans, and part
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of the Troy districts. Adams appears in the minutes as a circuit in 1802, with Samuel Merwin as preacher in charge. There were several preach- ing places within the bounds of the circuit besides that established at Jacob Jenks', and several miles apart. One of these appointments was at this time made in the "Notch," chiefly through the agency of the brothers Harris and Daniel Arnold, and the first meetings were held in Daniel Arnold's barn.
The services most highly prized and earnestly longed for in those early times were the quarterly meetings. At these gatherings members assembled from all parts of the extensive circuit, which reached to Pe- tersburg, N. Y., and embraced New Ashford, Williamstown, and many school districts scattered through the intervening territory. These meet- ings lasted from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon. The services consisted of preaching, quarterly conference, and an earnest evening prayer meeting on Saturday. Sabbath morning found the members up bright and early making their lodgings resound with songs of praise. Soon came the morning love feast, then followed the presiding elder's sermon, usually from one and a half to two hours long, delivered with great earnestness and fire. Then came the administration of the Lord's Supper, which carried the services far on toward Sunday evening, when the company separated. The presence of so many people, from remote sections of the circuit, gave scope for the exhibition of a primitive and generous hospitality. Almost invariably every bed in the neighborhood of the place of meeting was appropriated by the sisters, while the breth- ren prepared couches upon the kitchen floors, of blankets, buffalo robes, and other suitable materials near at hand.
In sustaining these meetings Mr. Harris Arnold, familiarly known as Father Arnold, bore the leading part. His home became the preachers" home, at which they stayed during their visits to the appointment in his neighborhood, and in his house one of their number, Friend Draper, re sided during his ministerial term upon the charge.
From 1802 to 1824 Adams continued as part of a circuit either called by its own name or by that of Petersburg, but up to this latter date there had been no regular preaching in the village of North Adams.
Methodism in North Adams .- Some time in the year 1823 Methodism had its introduction into the village of North Adams, in this manner : Mr. Ebenezer Alden moved from Pownal to North Adams, and about the same time a young man named Josiah Hayden came to work for Captain Giles Tinker as a machinist. These two were drawn together, and in company went frequently to the meetings at the Notch. Mr. Hayden soon obtained an exhorter's license and started a meeting at the house of Father Alden on Center street. The result was a revival, the conversion of sixty-four persons, and the foundation of a church. In this work they were much aided by a young preacher named Elisha Andrews, who, passing through the place on his way to the seat of conference, and hear ing of the good work, remained with them several days. A local preacher
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named Lewis, from Petersburg, N. Y., who had labored with them in the revival, formed a class and organized the society in proper form. Among the original members were Ebenezer Alden and wife. Giles Tinker and wife, Josiah Hayden, Hart Ives and wife, and Thomas Mcclellan and wife.
The society in the beginning met for worship in various private dwell- ings, at the school house, and in the shop of Mr. Tinker, then located on the south side of Main street.
In the summer of 1824 the society purchased a lot on Center street for $30. The deed is dated June 21st, 1824. They also bought for a small sum an unfinished frame building, which stood near the north branch of the Hoosac River, on Lincoln street This building was removed to the lot prepared for it and temporarily fitted up. The floor boards were loose, the benches were without backs for awhile, and four years elapsed ere the walls were plastered. A large share of the original outlay was borne by Mr. Tinker. The original trustees were Ebenezer Alden, Edward Holden, Harris Arnold, Giles Tinker, and Orson Wells.
For the years 1824 and 1825 Friend Draper was preacher in charge of the circuit. In 1826 Billy Hibbard was appointed. He was a memorable character, notable for his extraordinary wit, his devoted life, and useful labors. Hibbard labored in the church about fifty years, devotedly and successfully.
In 1827 John Nixon and Nathaniel Kellogg were the preachers, in 1828 John Nixon and H. Eames, and in 1829 D. Holmes and Russell M. Little. D. Holmes was returned in 1830 with F. G. Hibbard. In 1831 J. M. Weaver and Edward F. Whiteside traveled the circuit, and at the en- suing conference of 1832 J. M. Moore was reappointed with J. G. Barker as associate. At this session of the New York Conference in 1832, it was divided. Part of it was organized into the Troy Conference, and Adams was included in the Troy District of the new conference, with which it has ever since been connected. In the year 1833 Adams was separated from Williamstown as a charge, and Rev. Wright Hazen was appointed preacher, and remained two years. He was succeeded, in 1835, by Free- born Garrettson Hibbard, who became distinguished not only as a preach- er but as an author. It was during his pastorate that the Sunday school of the church was organized mainly through the persistent efforts of Mrs. Hibbard and Mrs. Harvey Arnold, who made a personal canvass of the village to secure scholars. About the same time a choir was organ- ized under the leadership of J. D. Stewart. The first instrument intro- duced as an accompaniment was a bass viol, to which were added a flute, a clarionet, and a violin, to the great disgust of the presiding elder. In 1836-7 Joseph Eames and R. Westcott were the preachers. Orrin Pier preached from 1838 to 1840, and Rev. Luman A. Sanford was appointed to the circuit in 1841, and served the full term of two years. During the year 1842 the second church edifice was projected and partially built. They sold their old building on Center street to the Roman Catholics,
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who, after using it for some years, sold it to the French Catholics, who, in their turn, sold it to be used as a livery stable.
The society then purchased the lot where their present church now stands and began to build upon it, and in the year 1843 it was completed and dedicated by Rev. John B. Stratton, the presiding elder. The build- ing committee were Harvey Arnold and Larunna Bliss, but the society were indebted to Mr. Harris Arnold more deeply than to any other. The building cost 84,000, and was called the handsomest church edifice then in town.
Rev. Timothy Benedict preached from 1843 to 1845, and Peter P. Harrower from 1845 to 1847. Thomas W. Pearson occupied the post from 1847 to 1849. North Adams had hitherto been part of a circuit, but it was now organized into a station. The names of the pastors are as follows: 1849 to 1851, Thomas Dodson ; 1851 to 1853, Rev. William P. Gray ; 1853 to 1855, Peter Stover ; 1855 to 1857, Samuel Meredith ; 1857 to 1859, Rev. B. O. Meeker : 1859 to 1861 the beloved and lamented Eg- bert H. Foster, who died February 14th, 1861, in his thirty-eighth year. Chester F. Burdick preached for a short time ; Rev. A. J. Jutkins until 1863. Rev. R. J. Wade remained one year, and Sherman M. Merrill preached from 1864 to 1867 inclusive. The centennial services of the de- nomination were held in 1866, and the address was delivered by William R. Brown, of Pittsfield. William H. Meeker was pastor until 1869, Richard Meredith remained one year, and T. A. Griffin was appointed pastor in 1870. The winter of 1870-71 witnessed a revival in the church which resulted in nearly sixty conversions.
At a meeting of the official board, held October 9th, 1871, Harvey Arnold proposed to the board that he would give 830,000 for himself and family toward the erection of a new church edifice, to cost not less than $50,000, or in proportion of three to every two dollars given by all others toward the same object above that sum. This proposition was at once accepted ; and the action of the board was ratified at a public meeting of the church and congregation, held on the Monday evening following. The following building committee were elected : Harvey Arnold. presi- dent ; R. G. Walden. Henry A. Tower, Eli J. Clark, E. H. Arnold, L. C. Rand, and Benjamin G. Olds. Plans and specifications were furnished by Cummings & Burt, of Troy, N. Y., and the building contract was awarded to J. Simmons & Son, of Philmont, N. Y. The church was . completed in the autumn of 1873 at a cost of about $60,000. The audi- ence room with the gallery will seat 1,400 people. It was formally dedi- cated on Tuesday, December 20th, 1873. Two former pastors, Rev. J. A. Griffin and Rev. S. Meredith, were present and took part in the exercises. The formal presentation of the church for dedication was made by Harvey Arnold. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Bishop Janes.
Rev. H. C. Farrar was appointed in 1874 and occupied the pulpit for three years. Rev. H. C. Sexton succeeded him and remained a short time. Rev. J. W. Eaton preached for three years ; Rev. S. M. Laughlin
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a short time ; Rev. Dr. Samuel McKean preached for three years and was succeeded in 1884 by Rev. J. W. Thompson. The present membership is upward of 650, which is a larger number than any other church of the same denomination in the county, except the one in Pittsfield.
Universalist Church .- The first Universalist society in North Adams was organized in the year 1842, under the ministry of Rev. William Wil- cox, formerly of Vermont. There had been occasional preaching prior to 1840. In that year Rev. Mr. Beckwith preached every few weeks in the third story of Arcade Hall. During the years 1841 and 1842 Rev. Mr. Wilcox preached, and in 1843 Stephen B. Brown purchased for the use of the society the building on Center street used by the Methodists as a church, for the sum of 8450. The first settled minister was Rev. Hiram Torrey, who remained during the years 1843 and 1844. Rev. J. D. Mandell preached in 1845 and 1846, Rev. Charles C. Hughes in 1847 and 1848, and Rev. Mr. Peck preached occasionally after Mr. Hughes' departure until the arrival of Rev. Zenas Cook, in 1849, who remained until 1851.
About this time the society not having taken a proper deed of the 1 property on Center street it was taken by the creditors of Stephen B. Brown. The society were not discouraged, however, but in 1851 pur- chased of S. W. Brayton, at a cost of $900, the lot on State street which forms the present site of their church, and erected upon it the building they now occupy. It contains seventy slips and will seat five hundred persons. The building was dedicated January 1st, 1852, and Rev. O. D. Miller was installed pastor. He remained until 1856 when Rev. William H. Waggoner was installed as his successor.
Congregational Church, North Adams .- Although the first meeting house was built of logs in 1766 by settlers whose religious preferences were Congregational, it was probably not until the year 1776 that they assumed the form of a Congregational church and society. The first and only pastor was Rev. Samuel Todd, who was settled in the autumn of 1776, and was dismissed between eleven and twelve years afterward. The early settlers disposed of their lands to purchasers from Rhode Island, many of whom were Quakers ; and the population thus becoming changed the Congregational interest died out. The records of this early church are lost and the particulars of its history cannot now be known. For a period of fifty years or more there was very little Congregational preach- ing in town and comparatively little attention was paid to preaching of any kind.
About the year 1825 or 1826 John W. Yeomans, then a tutor in Wil- liams College, began to preach in North Adams, at first occasionally and then regularly, in a school house on the corner of Main and Eagle streets, and a small band of hearers became. attached to him as a congregation. This little company soon resolved to organize a church, and for this pur- pose an ecclesiastical council assembled on the 19th of April, 1827. There were twenty-two original members, seven males and fifteen females.
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Of these sixteen were from the Congregational church in Williamstown, and six united on profession of their faith. The public exercises were held in the Baptist meeting house, the use of which was granted for the occasion, and the sermou was preached by Rev. E. D. Griffin, D. D., of Williams College. Eli Northam and Artemas Crittenden were elected and ordained as deacons. On the 29th of September, 1827, a committee was appointed to superintend the building of a church edifice, and on the 5th of September, 1828, a unanimous call was extended to Rev. John WV. Yeomans to become the pastor of the church. The call was accepted and Mr. Yeomans was ordained and installed on the 12th of November following. The new meeting honse was dedicated on the same day. Dur. ing Mr. Yeoman's ministry the church entered into an alliance with the church in Florida, sharing with that church in the ministrations of the pastor and the support of the Gospel. Mr. Yeomans was a person of considerable literary attainments ; he wrote a sketch of the history of the town of Adams which was published in 1829 in a history of Berkshire county, and he was afterward president of Lafayette College, in Easton, Pennsylvania. The first meeting house, erected partly by the assistance of friends of religion abroad, was built of brick, on Church Hill, on a site opposite the Baptist church. The building was sixty-five by forty feet, with full gallery ; and with the lot, bell, and stoves, cost about $4,000. The society received assistance for a time from the Berkshire and Massachusetts Missionary Societies, in supplying the desk. The seats in the meeting house were subjected to annuities to defray expenses. Mr. Yeomans was dismissed February 16th, 1832 ; Rev. Caleb B. Tracy was installed pastor July 10th, 1832, and was dismissed February 26th, 1834; Rev. Alvah Day was installed pastor May 26th, 1835. and was dis- missed May 24th, 1836 ; Rev. Ezekiel Russell was installed June 221. 1836, and was dismissed April 24th, 1839 ; the Rev. Robert Crawford was installed August 20th, 1840. After a long and useful pastorate of fifteen years he was dismissed September 28th, 1855. During his minis- try the church membership and congregation had gradually increased to such an extent that the meeting house was too small, and in 1846 an ad- dition of eighteen feet was made to the rear, which, together with the land, cost $1,800. An organ was also put in at a cost of $1, 000. and a bell weighing 700 pounds, and costing $250. The church edifice was eighty- three by forty feet, with sixty-six pews below and twenty-six above. and would seat comfortably five hundred persons. The whole property was valued at about $5.500. Rev. Albert Paine succeeded Mr. Craw- ford and was installed December 3d, 1856, and was dismissed April 21st, 1862 ; Rev. W. Henry MeGiffert was installed May 13th, 1863, and was dismissed March 1st. 1865. During his ministry, on the 20th of July, 1863, at a parish meeting, it was voted to build a new church. Sylvander Johnson, William S. Blackinton, A. P. Butler, Joel Bacon, and James Hunter were selected a building committee. The editice was built of brick and occupies the ground where the old one stood. The
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