History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 166

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 166

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3. Third Rectorship .- REV. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN NEWTON. He was born October 20th, 1846, in St. Albans, Vt. He graduated at Hillsdale College,

Hillsdale, Mich., in 1870; at the Union Seminary, New York, in 1873; and at the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, Mass., in 1874.

This was his first rectorship, and he continued in it till 1877, when he removed to St. James' Church, Texarkana, Texas, whence, in 1881, he went to the rectorship of the Church of the Good Shepherd, St. Louis, Mo., where he is at present engaged.

While he was here the church made steady and substantial progress, increasing in numbers and efficiency, and doing a large amount of missionary and benevolent work. Some progress was made npon the church edifice.

4. Fourth Rectorship .- REV. REUBEN KIDNER Snc- ceeded, and entered upon the duties of the office .Jan- uary 1, 1878. Mr. Kidner is a son of James Frederic Kidner, merchant, of Bristol, England, and was born March 18, 1848. He graduated at Harvard College in 1875, and at the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge, in 1878. He resigned the rectorship Feh- ruary 1, 1882, to become assistant minister of Trinity Church, Boston, where he is in active service. He married July 3, 1878, Miss Katharine Clinton Si- monds, and has one son, Frederic Clinton. Mr. Kid- ner's successor is the present incumbent.

5. Fifth Rectorship .- REV. JULIUS W. ATWOOD, who entered upon the duties of this office in 1882, was born in Salisbury, Vt., June 27th, 1857. He gradnated at Middlebury College in 1878, where in course he took the Master's degree ; stndied a year in the General Theological Seminary in New York City and in 1879 entered the middle class of the Episcopal Theological School, Cambridge. In 1880-81 he spent a year in study and travel in Europe and the East. Returning in the latter year, he resumed his studies in the Cambridge Theological School, where he grad- uated in 1882 with the degree of B.D. Shortly after graduation, the same year, he was elected to the rec- torship of this church.

In 1883, during Mr. Atwood's rectorship, the church edifice was completed, and was consecrated as the Ascension Memorial Church, in memory of the gener- ous contributions and personal efforts of the Rev. John Cotton Smith, D.D., of New York City, who was the principal donor of funds and who, from the organization of the parish, was a warm and devoted friend of the church. Dr. Smith and Joseph E. Bo- mer, M.D., might be considered the founders of the society and church. Some one has given a very just and vivid description of the edifice :

"It staods forth in all its architectural beanty unadorned by treo or paling. Withio it has all the richness aod refinement of the costly ca- thedrals'of the old world, which it resembles so much in miniature. Nothing tlashy or gaudy can be seen. Its very richness is softened to harmonize with the spirituality of its creatioos. It has none of the un- finished look which so often mars otherwise elegant church edifices. Its very coloring seems to give a restful, quiet atmosphere to the place. It contains two memorial windows, one given by the citizens of Ipswich to the late Joseph E. Bomer, who did so minch in creating and fostering the Episcopal Church in Ipswich. On the lectern we noticed a large Bible presented to the church by his wife, who plays tho organ, and who takes

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a deep interest in the church. The other memorial window is dedicated to a little daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Cotton Smith, to whose gener- osity Ipswich is indebted for one of the most beautiful church edifices that we ever have seen in this country. The pulpit used by the late Dr. Smith in his church in New York was sent to the Ipswich Church after his death. Over the door is a tablet stating that the church is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Smith."

The church organizations are: The Benefit, the Church-Aid, the St. Agnes Societies, the St. Andrew's Guild and the Children's Mission Circle. The officers, teachers and scholars of the Sunday school number about one hundred and twenty-five. The wardens are E. H. Martin and C. S. Tuckerman, Esquires. The society enjoys a harmony of sentiment and a unity of purpose, and has a hopeful future.

6. One of the founders of the church and society was JOSEPH EDWARD BOMER, M.D. Dr. Bomer was born in Beverly, March 14, 1819. His father, of French descent, went, in early life, to Windham, N. H. At the age of twenty-eight years, he removed to Beverly, where he married Abigail Friend, who was descended from the old Puritan stock. He was a farmer and highly respected. He had a family of nine children. Joseph E. was the fifth son. He had a delicate constitution, was unequal to farm labor, was fond of books, and so was devoted to intellectual pursuits. He was a Beverly scholar till he was four- teen years old; then he became a student in the Topsfield Academy, under principal Edmund F. Slafter, who became very much interested in him and soon engaged him as assistant teacher. Leaving Topsfield, he studied in the Phillips Academy, Exe- ter, N. H., and afterwards in the Phillips Academy, Andover. Having completed his course at Andover, he entered Harvard Medical School, from which he graduated in 1848. In February, 1849, he settled in this town, a physician of the old-school of practice. His office was next to the Agawam House, and near the residence of Dr. Thomas Manning, then the oldest and most skillful physician of the town, through whose influence and kindness the young physician soon secured a large and lucrative prac- tice.

In October, 1850, Dr. Bomer married Miss Caroline Elizabeth Hayes, of Gloucester. Soon after this event, Dr. Manning, feeling the burden and cares of business and professional life weighing upon him, and wishing on that account to retire, invited our young doctor to reside with him and assume his practice. Dr. Bomer accepted and lived in reciprocal confi- dence, till the death of his aged friend.

Dr. Bomer was physician to the House of Correc- tion and the Insane Asylum from 1850 till his death. He was examining surgeon, of the Eastern District, of those who enlisted for the War of the Rebellion, during which time he attended professionally the families of the soldiers free of charge. He was placed upon the school board and served while he lived. A high school graduate gives the following estimate of him: " I refer to him who was so respected and be-

loved among us. The physician who was always welcome in the schools, and for his ready tact in ask- ing questions and eliciting answers, as well as pleas- ant manner, won the favor of the schools." In poli- tics, in early life, he was a "Webster Whig." He believed in freedom of thought, and was courteous and liberal to all who differed from him in politics or religion. In the latter he was a firm Episcopalian, and an earnest worker. Some years before his day, the service of that church had been started, but failed to succeed for' want of interest and funds. Through the doctor's influence and perseverance it was again revived. Dr. Bomer and John F. Clothey, of Mar- blehead, then a resident and merchant here, secured, though the kindness of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the use of their church edifice, and then invited the Rev. Robert F. Chase, of Danvers, to officiate. He preached to an audience of devout listeners, and from that service sprung the present church. The doctor continued a firm supporter of the church and society through life. He was a devout, genial, sympathetic and exemplary Christian. He was, too, eminently a public-spirited citizen, and among the foremost in all works of public utility. He bore an unblemished reputation.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY.

Origin .- This denomination of Christians arose in England, in 1729, and derived their name from the exact regularity of their lives, a very pleasing com- mentary npon their character. In 1741 they divided into two parties, under George Whitefield and John Wesley. The former adopted the views of John Cal- vin; the latter of Arminius. The followers of Ar- minins compose the great body of Methodists in this country and Great Britain. In 1830 seceders from the Wesleyan Methodists established a government and discipline of their own and styled themselves "The Methodist Protestant Church." This church differs from its parent church only in certain matters of discipline, particularly those relating to Episco- pacy and the manner of constituting the general con- ference.

Methodism first came into this country with Rev. George Whitefield in 1739, and was an important factor in the deep and extensive revivals that soon after followed. Its power was first felt in Ipswich when that eloquent divine electrified the populace from "the Whitefield-Pulpit" rock near the First Church, and "Pulpit Rock," in Linebrook.

Methodism, as now tanght, "was first introduced in New England, in 1789," says Miss Archer, in her excellent and serviceable sketch of this church, and "in Ipswich in the year 1790, by Rev. Jesse Lee, who was sent by the venerable Bishop Francis Asbury, still active and ardent in the cause." The sketch relates that the first convert, by the preaching of Mr. Lee, was the mother of Gen. James Appleton. She

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fixed the date August 12. 1791, and ever after remem- bered the day with adoring gratitude.

Mr. Felt, in 1834, wrote: "The remainder of the first Baptist Society and some Methodists began to have preaching of the latter denomination in 1817 " but Miss Archer, discriminating in the call and the doctrine, says "no other Methodist preacher labored in Ipswich till October, 1821, when REV. AARON WAIT (1821-25 or '26) came." His coming was for- tuitons. Passing through the town on business, on Saturday, the 6th, he stopped at the " Treadwell tav- ern." He was invited to preach, and the next day addressed three audiences in " the old woolen factory," in which the Baptists had worshipped. and which stood north of and contiguous to the famons Choate Bridge. In November, he came again and preached three times. In four weeks he came again, and again preached three times, and held a prayer-meeting, when five inquirers came forward. On Christmas, he preached twice, and held an inquiry-meeting. Two weeks later he made a fourth visit, and found the work he had done was "good." Soon after he removed his family to Ipswich, but, like Paul, “cov- eting no man's silver," he worked at shoe-making during the week and preached on Sundays. Mr. Charles Dodge was Mr. Wait's first convert.

The seed thus sown by Mr. Wait budded and blos- somed in the spring of 1822, and was named THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY. The first class- meeting was held in the dwelling of Mr. Aaron Wal- lace, afterwards of Mr. Amos Jones, on South Main Street. It had twenty-two members, eight of whom came from the Baptists. Prayer-meetings were held in various parts of the town. The first love-feast was had with Capt. William Gould, in the Robbins house, on High Street, near the North Cemetery. The Sunday-school was organized in the summer of 1824, with three classes and twenty members, and Charles Dodge as Superintendent. The first meeting- house was begun in September, 1824, and dedicated the Christmas following, Rev. John Lindsey preach- ing the sermon. It was built, fifty by forty feet, with galleries, and cost, all finished, less than two thousand dollars, including two hundred and fifty dollars, the price of the land. It stood where now stands the residence of Mr. Robert Jordan. Within six months after this time, the society was called to mourn the deaths of Dr. John Manning, Aaron Treadwell, Sr. and Judge Sutton, three ardently ac- tive friends.

In 1825 Mr. Wait joined the New Eugland Con- ference. Ipswich and Gloucester were made a cir- cuit, and Rev. Aaron Wait and Rev. Aaron Josselyn were appointed Circuit preachers. The first Quar- terly Conference for this circuit was held September, 1825, and there were present Rev. E. Hyde, Presiding Elder; Rev. Aaron Wait and Rev. Aaron Josselyn, l'astors; and Charles Dodge and Daniel B. Lord, of Ipswich, and Thomas Hillard, of Gloucester, Stewards.

Mr. Wait was a native of Malden, and was born September 24, 1799. He united with the church when quite young, and with the Conference in his twenty-sixth year. His appointments were to Ips- wich, Gloucester, Wilbraham and Ludlow. About 1830 he retired, though he preached, more or less, till his death, September 1, 1864. His personal pres- ence was good ; he was an easy, pleasant speaker, had a fair pulpit ability and an unblemished Christian character.

REV. AARON JOSSELYN was born in Pembroke May 4, 1804. He entered the ministry August 9, 1825, and continued twenty years, but preached occa- sionally till age and infirmity disqualified him for pulpit labor. He was an ardent advocate of Anti- slavery, was a member of the Legislature three years, a justice of the peace fourteen years and held various town offices. He was thirty years a resident of Duxbury, but now resides with his daughter, in East Cambridge. This church had a steady growth dur- ing his ministry, and among the number added was Apollos Hale, afterwards Rev. The number re- turned for this circuit this year was forty-six.

1826. REV. NATHAN PAINE .- The number re- turned this year for this church was twenty-eight members. Mr. Paine was born in Burrellville, R. I., September 30, 1791. He was converted in his seven- teenth year, and soon received a license to preach. He joined the New England Conference in 1815, and continued in active service till 1853, a period of thirty-eight years. In 1853 he took a superannuated relation, and removed to New Bedford, where he lived with his children, till his death, September 9, 1863. Says Rev. Dr. Allen : "He was remarkably cheerful, affectionate and unpretentious ; he was wise in counsel, and of unswerving integrity. He was a true, earnest and faithful minister, and accomplished great good, though his pulpit ability was not of the highest order. Few ministers have lived of purer character, of nobler purpose, of more unselfish aims and of greater devotedness to their work. He was a noble specimen of ministerial purity and goodness. The closing years of his life were full of Christian joy and hope."

1828. REV. JOHN THOMPSON BURRELL .- Mr. Burrell was born in Lynn December 25, 1799, and he died in Chelsea September 20, 1885. He qualified for membership in the Conference under direction of pastors, while a local preacher, and entered when he was twenty-eight years old. This was his first pulpit, to which he was returned in 1833 and 1834. He preached in the Methodist Episcopal Ministry till 1850, then in the Methodist Protestant Ministry. His were among the best pulpits. Rev. J. L. Estey re- cords him as a man " of fine presence, of gentlemanly bearing, of eloquent oratory and faithful instruction. He was, wherever he labored, beloved and success- ful." He is said to have been one of the most pleas- ing and talented men ever stationed here. The mem-

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hers returned for his first year number fifty-two, and the number returned for the two years is twenty pro- bationers.

1829. REV. JOHN J. BLISS .- Mr. Bliss united with the Conference in 1826 or '27, and for about seven years was au earnest, active and successful minister. In 1834 he was excluded from the church, upon charges that may not have affected his character, and, it is thought, went West. He was a man of considerable ability, aud had beeu highly esteemed by those who knew him.

His pastorate here was very successful. Rev. John N. Maffitt assisted and preached sixty successive nights. The religious interest was so great that for an entire week business was suspended, most of the stores were closed, the cotton-mills shut down for want of help, and people seemed hent on seeking "first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." The number returned for this year is two hundred.

1830. REV. JACOB SANBORN .- Mr. Sanborn en- tered the ministry in 1812, and continued fifty-five years. He died March 16, 1867, at the age of seven- ty-nine. During his pastorate a parsonage was built.

1831. REV. ENOCH MUDGE .- This man was the first native Methodist preacher in New England. He was born in Lyun June 28, 1776. He entered the New England Conference when seventeen, received Deacon's orders when nineteen, and Elder's when twenty. He continued in active service fifty-seven years. His fields of labor were chiefly in Maine. In Massachusetts he was a member of the convention to revise the State Constitution, and was two years a member of the Legislature.

He occupied this pulpit ten months and was called to the responsible charge of the Seaman's Chapel, New Bedford. He remained there as chaplain of the Port Society, abundaut in labors and honored by all, till 1844, when failing health compelled him to seek repose. He went to his kindred at Lynn, where he died April 2, 1850. Enoch Redington Mndge, the famous Boston mill-agent, recently deceased, was his son.

1832. REV. EPAPHRAS KIBBY .- He served the church well, and there was a steady growth. He en- tered the ministry in 1798, and after a service of forty-three years, died, August 16, 1864, at the age of sixty-six years.

1833-34. REV. J. F. BURRELL .- This pastor is noticed in 1828, above.

1835, REV. NEWELL S. SPAULDING .~- During this pastorate there was quite an extensive work of grace, and fifty probationers were received. Mr. Spaulding began to preach in 1822, and after a ministry of sixty- two years, died August 17, 1884, at the age of eighty- four years.

1836-37. REV. EDWARD MURPHY BEEBE .- Dur- ing this pastorate the church edifice was enlarged at a cost of one thousand and forty dollars, and a bell

was purchased at a cost of three hundred dollars, raised by subscription. Mr. Beebe was in the minis- try sixteen years. He died March 19, 1845, aged forty years.

1838-39. REV. JOEL KNIGHT .- Mr. Knight con- tinued in the ministry thirteen years. While here forty probationers were received. He died August 13, 1843, at the age of thirty-nine years.

1840-41. REV. DANIEL WISE, D.D .- This church kept the Ist day of January, 1841, with fasting and prayer. It was the beginning of a very gracious re- vival. The following winter was also a season of re- freshing. Eighty-eight were received on probation. Because of failing health, he resigned in March, 1842.

The doctor was born in Portsmouth, England, June 10, 1813. He was educated in the Portsmouth Gram- mar School, a classical institution, under the patron- age of the dean and canons of Christ Church, Oxford. He removed to America in the summer of 1833. He received the Master's degree in 1849, and the doctor- ate in 1859, from the Wesleyan University, Middle- town, Conn. He was licensed to preach iu 1834, or- dained deacon in 1839, and elder in 1843. He has published two books, highly recommended : "Boy Travelers in Arabia," and "Our Missionary Heroes and Heroines." He resides in Englewood, N. J.

1842. REV. DANIEL WEBB .- During this pastor- ate a steady growth was maintained, and “ a few valuable members were added to the church." "Twenty-five members withdrew and joined the ' Methodist Wesleyan Church in the United States.' Some of them soon returned." Mr. Webb was sixty- nine years in the ministry, and died March 19, 1867, aged eighty-nine years.

1843-44. REV. JOHN S. SPRINGER .- In this pas- torate the church edifice was re-modeled, and a new pulpit constructed. The expense was about two hun- dred and fifty dollars. He joined the Conference in 1839, and for seven years was a very successful min- ister. In 1847, while stationed at Lowell, he with- drew from the church. It is thought he stood well in his Christian and moral character. He was a man of cousiderable ability, was popular, and filled some of the best puipits in the Conference.

1845. REV. JOSEPH DENISON, D.D .- Though he left no special vestige of his service here, he was an able and learned man. He was born in Bernardston October 1, 1815. He entered Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, in 1833, and the sophomore class of the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1837, graduating in 1840. He taught the languages in Amenia Seminary, Dutchess County, N. Y., three years; he spent about twelve years in the ministry, and in 1855 went to Kansas. He was one of the founders of the State Agricultural College, and was its president from 1863 to 1873, and was president of Baker University from 1874 to 1879. He received the doctorate from McKendree College. He is an

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ardent and active Prohibitionist. He is now presid- ing elder of the Atchison District (Kansas) Confer- ence, and resides in Atchison.

1846-47. REV. LORENZO R. THAYER .- During this time a vestry, fifty by forty feet, was built, in the rear of the church, at a cost of four hundred dollars, and about twenty probationers were received. He preached at the dedication of the new church edifice in 1860. He was born in Winchester, N. H., De- cember 2, 1814. He studied for college in the New- bury Seminary, Vt., and in 1841 graduated at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. He joined the New England Conference the same year. He was stationed at Lynn in 1848-49; is now in Newtonville.

1848. REV. STEPHEN CUSHING .- This pastorate was pleasant, and attended with much spiritual inter- est. Fifteen were received into the church. Mr. Cushing was born in Boston March 15, 1813. He was two years at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, and took a partial course in the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., in 1832. He entered the New England Conference in June, 1833. He now resides in Boston.

1849. REV. CHARLES BAKER .- During this pas- torate about thirty were received on trial, He was born in Scituate, R. I., April 7, 1798. He did not graduate. After a ministry of forty-three years, he died at Somerville, August 16, 1864, aged sixty-six years.

1850-51. REV. JAMES SHEPHERD .- During the first year of this pastorate the meeting-house was again enlarged, at a cost of seven hundred and fifty dollars. He preached twenty-two years. He died May 22, 1855, at the age of fifty-three years.

1852. REV. MOSES A. HOWE .- With Mr. Howe the New England Conference held its annual session. He died January 27, 1861, aged sixty-one years, after a successful ministry of twenty-two years.

1853-54. REV. JOHN WILLIAM DADMAN .- This was a period of great harmony, in the church and out of it. Mr. Dadman and Mr. Southgate made the first pulpit exchange between the Methodist and Congregational Churches, and the event marked a new era in Christian fellowship among the good peo- ple of the town. Mr. Dadman was born in Hnb- bardston, December 20, 1819. He entered Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, in 1840, and graduated in 1842. Indigent circumstances obliged him to forego a collegiate course, and he at once entered the minis- try. He was licensed April 10, 1841, joined the Conference June 29, 1842, and was ordained elder May 3, 1846. His fields of labor have been Boston, Worcester, Lowell, Roxbury and the western part of the State. The last twenty-two years he has been chap- lain and superintendent of schools in the city insti- tutions, Deer Island, Boston. One of his children, Luella Jane, was born here June 30, 1853.

1855-56 .- REV. JEREMIAII L. HANAFORD. At

this time there was another great outpouring of the Divine Spirit, and one hundred and fifty were re- ceived on trial, and Rev. George S. Noyes and Rev. F. G. Morris were among them. Mr. Hanaford was born June 7, 1824, at Northfield, Vt.

1857-58 .- REV. WILLIAM CARPENTER HIGH. Mr. High took up the good work and labored earnestly and well. He baptized about sixty. He was born in Waitsfield, Vt., March 30, 1822. He was educated at the Montpelier Academy and the Newbury Semi- nary. His first appointment was at Danvers (now Peabody). He took a supernumerary relation, and has since resided in Somerville. Mr. High conducted several large revivals, and was generally considered a successful minister.

1859-60 .- REV. C. L. EASTMAN. At this time the present house of worship was built, and, marvelous to relate, not a dollar was pledged. The trustees be- came personally responsible for it. Their names were Joseph Wait, Ezekiel Peabody, Oliver Under- hill, Daniel L. Hodgkins, Daniel P. Nourse, William H. Graves, Abraham D. Wait, James M. Wellington, Frederick Willcomb, ever worthy of remembrance. The size of the house is eighty-four by sixty-two feet ; chancel, twenty-nine by eleven feet ; vestibule, eight and a half feet wide; tower, eighteen feet square; and several hundred sittings. Rev. George Bowler was the architect, and our townsman, William H. Smith, the contractor. The cost was twelve thousand dollars, including the site. It was dedicated January 8, 1861, Rev. L. R. Thayer, noticed above, preaching the sermon. Mr. Eastman was born in Weare, N. H., June 11, 1822. He joined the conference in 1844. His pulpits have been among the most onerous and best, He now resides in Chelsea.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 166

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1538

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538