History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 150

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 150

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Dr. Edwards was much esteemed for his practical wisdom and executive ability. He was for thirty- three years trustee of the Theological Seminary. He was a member of the executive committee of the New England Tract Society ; a promoter of the American Traet Society and member of its publishing commit- tee ; a director in the American Home Missionary Society and a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Yale College, 1×27.

In person Dr. Elwards was tall, erect, muscular, a fine specimen of the physical man. In bearing he was stately, dignified, with a grave countenance, and somewhat stiff in manner and formal in address. His voice was a heavy sub-bass, well fitted to startle the Sabbath sleepers when given full scope. His pulpit delivery was in harmony "with the rugged simplicity of his thought and diction." The style of his ser- mons was simple, with little rhetorical embellishment, little play of the imagination or flash of the seer, or the sharp, terse strokes of the orator. But his sen- tences were solid, his Saxon words weighty with com- mon sense and Scripture truth, and, when sent home to the minds and hearts of his hearers by his sonor- ons voice, they often left an abiding impression. He had the reputation, especially in the early part of his ministry, of being an exceptionally able preacher. During the last six of the fifteen years of his ministry in the South Parish, says Dr. Amos Blanchard, "with an undisputed ascendeney among his own people, he was known far and near as a powerful preacher and a man of eminent, practical wisdom. . Yet,

even then, he had neither attractiveness nor popu- larity ; he had, however, what is so much better,-in- fluence : an influence growing out of his personal qualities, and accumulating with every year of his pastoral life." It is evident that the great power gained by Dr. Edwards over his fellow-men was owing largely not so much to his superior intellectual abili- ties or acquisitions, or to any felicity of speech, as to his downright earnestness, the conviction of his pro- found sincerity, his simple straightforwardness, his tat in approaching men and his luminous piety. He had, withat, some rare gifts for organization, for bringing men into co-operative action.

As a pastor he was indefatigalle, catechising the children establishing and maintaining a Bible-class for adults, visiting frequently the large number of hom + of his parishioners, scattered far and wide over males ef territory. In this field of labor he was un-

Dr. Elwards was the author of a large number of printed triets, documents, sermons, letters, and the commentary of which mention has been made.

He married Miss Lydia Bigelow, daughter of Asa Bigelow, of Colchester, Conn., September 17, 1817, a most worthy woman and efficient helper in the pasto- ral work.

Their children were six in number,-Justin Asa, born January 20, 1819; Jonathan, born July 17, 1820 (ordained at Woburn, September 7, 1848, and since settled in Plymouth Church, Rochester, N. Y., Dedham and Wellesley Hills, where he now resides); Newton, born March 11, 1822, died May 7, 1855; Elizabeth, born November 9, 1824, resides in An- dover; Lydia, born March 6, 1826, resides in An- dover; Ann Eliza, born September 29, 1828 (married Rev. Thomas N. Haskell).

REV. MILTON BADGER was the fourth pastor of the South Church. He was born in Coventry, Conn., May 6, 1800, and was the twelfth child of his pa- rents, Euoch and Mary Badger. He was a graduate of Yale College, in the class of 1823; was for one year the principal of the Academy at New Canaan . After this he passed most of his time for three years at Andover with the class in the seminary which graduated iu 1827, yet was tutor in Yale College 1826-27. He was installed pastor of the South Church in 1828. He lett this last position to become secre- tary of the American Home Missionary Society. In this last important position the great labor of his life was performed. As a pastor and preacher he was emi- nently successful. Ilis ministry embraced a period of extensive and heart-stirring revivals. Protracted meetings and arousing sermons and appeals from such men as Dr. Wisner, Dr. Lyman Beecher, Rev. Charles S. Finney, and others who preached in the South Church, brought many to the exercise of peni- tence and faith in Christ. Seldom have the churches of New England been so signally enlarged. During Mr. Badger's ministry, some three hundred and thirty joined the church, mostly on profession.

But the work to which Mr. Badger gave the best of his life, and for which he developed a peculiar fit- ness, was that of a Home Missionary secretary. Ilere his large heart and far-reaching mind and ever-expanding faith had free scope. His parish was the country, extending finally from the Atlantic to the Pacific. But he was a modest man and buried beneath his work. Little can be learned of Dr. Bad- ger, except what is to be found in the history and progress of the missionary enterprise in our broad Western territory. The importance and value of his services for the thirty-eight years during which he was secretary are beyond estimate. Thousands of feeble churches have been nurtured into vigorous life, and thousands of faithful ministers have been cheer- ed and sustained in their self-denying work by his agency. Revered for his piety, trusted for his wisdom and integrity, honored for his manliness and courage, esteemed for his sagacity and patience, loved for his warm, sympathetic heart, many and many a struggling church and toil-worn minister have risen up to call

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lim blessed. He died in Madison, Conn., March 1, 1873. aged seventy-three years, mourned by multi- tudes.

Mr. Badger was married to Miss Clarissa Munger, of Madison, who is still living. They had five chil- dren, only two of whom lived to manhood. Both of these entered the medical profession,-Dr. George Badger, died at Panama; Dr. William Badger, lives at Flushing, Long Island.

REV. LORENZO L. LANGSTROTH, the fifth minister, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 25, 1810. He was a graduate of Yale College, and studied theology in New Haven. After his dismission from the South Church he was for a year principal of Ab- bot Academy ; after this, for four years, principal of the High School for Young Ladies in Greenfield, Mass., preaching for a portion of the time in the Congregational Church in that town. Receiving an invitation to settle there, he was installed and con- tinued its pastor for over four years. On leaving his pastorate he established a Young Ladies' School in his native city, which he was obliged to relinquish, owing to poor health. He was for a time stated sup- ply at Coleraine. Ile removed to Oxford, Ohio, where he now resides. Of late years he has given much attention to the culture of honey bees, and has published a valuable treatise on their nature and habits, and the methods of raising and treating them. HIis book is considered one of the most scientific, complete and trustworthy in the language on this subject. As a minister, he secured the favor, respect and love of his parishioners. But his physical strength was not equal to the care and labor of a large parish.

REV. JOHN L. TAYLOR, sixth pastor of the church, was born in Warren, Conn., May 20, 1814. His par- ents were John Taylor and Anna (Beardsley) Taylor. He graduated at Yale College in 1835. After grad- uation he tanght in Ellington, Conn., two years, was tutor in Yale three years, at the same time pursuing a conrse of theological study, and then became pastor of the South Church for thirteen years.

On leaving this pastorate he took the responsible position of treasurer of Phillips Academy, which he held with marked ability and approval for sixteen years. When a new department, called the "Short Course," was created in the Theological Seminary for the benefit of worthy and suitable men to study for the ministry, who were unable to pursue a collegiate course, Mr. Taylor was appointed its professor in 1868. His title was, "Smith Professor of Theology and Hom- ileties, and Lecturer on Pastoral Theology." The endow- ment fund for this professorship had been given by Miss Sophia Smith, of Hatfield, who, at her decease, left the funds to found Smith College, Northampton. Though for a few years this "Short Course" experiment was measurably successful, yet there were not forth- coming so many and so capable men to take advantage of it as had been anticipated by its friends. Prof. Tay-

lor continued to discharge the duties of his office, with great fidelity and much favor, for eleven years, when, owing to paralysis and increasing feebleness, he resigned. After this the department was given np. During his incumbency of the professorship he was also dean or president of the faculty. From the time he became treasurer to near the time of his death he was President of the Andover (National) Bank. In 1868 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Middlebury College. Occupying these diverse and responsible positions in the town for forty-five years, he became thoroughly identified with its best interests-material, educational and religious. The in- stitution, with which he had been intimately con- nected as financier and teacher for twenty-seven years, was especially dear to him. In his will he made pro- vision for perpetually associating himself in its work, by giving the bulk of his property to further endow the Taylor Professorship of Biblical Theology, which had been established by a liberal bequest of his deceased son, Frederick. He passed away calmly and quietly, as if falling asleep, in his chair, Septem- ber 23, 1884, aged seventy-three years.

As a minister Dr. Taylor was an able sermonizer, an acceptable preacher and a faithful pastor. His preaching was instructing and impressive. Withont shunning to declare the whole truth of God in the doctrines of Scripture as he received them, his main endeavor seems to have been to persuade men to search the Scriptures, believe in Jesus as the Christ of God, and to become followers of Him in faith and love.

As a teacher he was in his element. In his dnties as instructor in the Theological Seminary, he took special pleasure. In the class-room, to young men eager for the information that would fit them to become ministers, he could bring forth from his treasures of Biblical learning, religious experience and ministerial work, "things new and old," worthy of their closest attention.

As a man he has been characterized, by one who knew him well, as " self-controlled, sagacious, san- guine, alert, humorous, disinterested, discreet, and as possessing a rare memory for names and faces,"-the last a most happy faculty for a public man. It may be added, from observation of his years of inactivity, loneliness, feebleness and gradual decay, that he was endowed by nature and grace with rare patience, cheerfulness, steadiness of faith and serenity of spirit.

Dr. Taylor united in himself the student and the man of affairs, the teacher and the financier. He could preside, with equal success, over a meeting of bank directors or a meeting of theological professors, in either case with words of wisdom profitable for direction. He was deeply interested in educational matters, from the common school to the seminary. Poor students enlisted his sympathies and commanded his assistance.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

In addition to his other labors, Dr. Taylor prepared and published, mostly by request, Sunday sermons preached on special occasions, addresses and brief memoir». He also prepared the " Memorial of the Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Founding of the Theological Seminary," and a "Memoir of Judge Phillips," which, for completeness, finish and accu- racy, ranks with the best of biographies.

Ile married Miss Caroline Lord Phelps, daughter of Epaphras Phelps, of East Windsor, Conn. They had five children, three of whom died in early child- hood. The remaining two were Frederick H. Taylor, who died when but twenty-one years of age, leaving his property, a liberal amount, to the Theological Seminary. Rev. John Phelps Taylor, after success- ful pastorates in three churches,-at Middletown, Conn .; at Newport, R. I .; and at New London, Conn,-now occupies the chair of Taylor Professor of Biblical Theology, in the Theological Seminary, en- dowed by his brother and father.

REV. CHARLES SMITH1 was born at Hatfield, Mass., August 10, 1×18. His character was moulded in that typical New England township where Rev. William Williams preached from 1685 until 1741, and Rev. Joseph Lyman, D D., from 1772 until 1828. The influence of these eminent pastors was distinctly recognized in the town during Mr. Smith's carly years. Ile was related to a family which has become conspicuous by its charitable donations. One mem- ber of the family was the founder of the noted "Smith Charities " at Northampton ; another was the founder of an academy in Hatfield, the Smith Professorship at Andover, and Smith College at Northampton. Mr. Smith was graduated at Amherst College in 1841, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1845. In each of these institutions he was held in high es- teem as a young man of studious habit and unimpeach- able character. His sound mind and strong common sense warranted the expectation of his future useful- ness. He was ordained October 12, 1847, as pastor of the Congregational Church in Warren, Mass. ; but after about five years of acceptable service there, he was called to the pastorate of the Old South Church in Andover. He labored faithfully and successfully in his second pastorate during the years 1852 and '53, when he was invited to the Shawmut Church in Bos- ton. He was urged by friends of the Andover parish to refuse this invitation, but was persuaded by his Boston friends to accept it. He remained pastor of The Shawmut Church from 1853 to 188. He spent the years isdo Gi as acting-pastor of the Oak Place Church in Boston. He was then honored by an invi- tation to resume the pastorship of the Old South ( hur h iw Andover He accepted this invitation, and was re-1 -filled over his former charge. Itis wcompl patorate here Continue Itrom 1861 until 1876. He ap ut seventeen years in his unnistry at Andover,

-a longer period than that spent by any other pastor of the Old South Church during the present century. The ecclesiastical council that sanctioned the closing of his lengthened pastorate declared in its result : " We give our hearty testimony to his eminent ability, his abundant labors, his well-accomplished work, and the deep mutual confidence and tender love between his people and himself, which have grown with the years of his labor among them.

" We commend our dear brother to the churches and their pastors as one who, under large and pect- liar responsibility in successive pastorates, has proved himself equal to the demand for a high order of cul- ture, of character, and of natural endowments ; and is esteemed by us as a learned, eloquent, and edifying preacher, a devout and faithful pastor, and worthy of all confidence as a true and honest servant of our common Lord."

When Mr. Smith resigned his pastorate he was requested by his church to recall his resignation. When he refused to recall it, he was requested by the church and parish to continne his residence in Andover. After having made the tour of Europe in 1876-77, visit- ing France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Irc- land, England and Scotland, he complied with this request and made Andover his home. He often preach- ed in the neighboring parishes, and although not the pastor of the Old South Church, he continued to be a real minister of the town. He was often called to perform ministerial services in the homes of his former parishioners. Such was the confidence of his fellow- citizens in his discretion and incorruptible integrity, that he was elected for the years 1882, '83, '85, and '87 to represent the town in the Massachusetts Ilouse of Representatives. He manifested his well-known sagacity and faithfulness in the Legislature, particu- larly in saving the waters of the Shawshin River from being turned out of their natural course into a water-supply for the city of Boston. Being intimately acquainted with the interests of the central region, and also of the seaboard, of Massachusetts, he com- manded the confidence of varying parties in the Legislature. They found him to be a man of political intelligence and wisdom, a prudent and independent counselor, effective in debate, and fitted to exert a steady and wholesome influence. When a citizen of Andover was needed to prepare the history of the town for the present volume, Mr. Smith was at once selected for the work. He understood the agricul- tural, mercantile, manufacturing, and educational interests of the town, and thus knew what to write and what to omit. He labored with his wonted vigor and fidelity in representing these various interests until the 27th day of October, 1887. He fully ex- pected to finish his manuscript and forward it to the editor of the " Essex County History" on the 31st of the month. He was attacked on the morning of the 27th with a pain which did not alarm him, and at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 29th he died.

!Prjelly Pr i Llw .14 A Park.

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Probably he was not aware that his death was near when he suddenly left the world. It did not seem to be death, but a translation to a higher life. The announcement of his departure was received with universal surprise and grief.

He married Caroline L. Sprague, daughter of Hon. Joseph E. Sprague, of Salem. They have three children,-Edwin Bartlett Smith, in business in Min- neapolis ; Charles Sprague Smith, Professor of Mod- ern Languages and Foreign Literature in Columbia College, New York ; Caroline Reed Smith, resides in Andover.

DR. GEORGE MOOAR, eighth pastor, was born in Andover, West Parish, May 27, 1830. He graduated at Williams College, 1851. After teaching a year in Falmouth and Brookline he entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, and graduated in 1855. After remaining pastor of the South Church from October 10, 1855, to March 27, 1861, he was dismissed to take charge of the First Congregational Church in Oak- land, Cal. Here he was installed May 6, 1861, and continued, with eminent success, for eleven years. In 1872 he was elected Professor of Systematic Theology and Church History in the Pacific Theological Semi- nary, which position he still retains. In 1874 he be- came pastor of the Plymouth Avenue Church in Oakland, which position he also retains. In 1863 he became an editor of the San Francisco Pacific, the organ of the Congregational Churches on the Pacific coast, where he still shares in the editorial work with his co-laborers.

While in Andover Dr. Mooar prepared a most ad- mirable " Historical Manual " of the South Church, from which much valuable information for this sketch has been derived. Dr. Mooar has been, and now is, engaged upon the family histories of Isaac Cum- mings, of Topsfield, who immigrated as early as 1644, and Abraham Mooar, of Andover, who immigrated in 1687.

Dr. Mooar received the degree of Doctor of Divin- ity from Williams College.

REV. JAMES H. LAIRD, the tenth pastor of the South Church, was born in Milton, Pa., Angust 19, 1832. He graduated at Oberlin College in 1860, and at the Theological Seminary in 1864 ; was settled in North Fairfield, Obio, December 21, 1864; dismissed 1868. He preached in the suburbs of Chicago, and after- wards settled for two years in Madison, Ohio; then became principal of the preparatory department in Oberlin College, from whence he came to the South Parish. He was installed in Hinsdale July 10, 1883, where he still remains.

REV. JOHN J. BLAIR, the present efficient pastor of the South Church, has had but one previous settle- ment,-in Rockland, Me., 1876 to 1884.

WEST PARISH .- As early as 1771 complaints began to be heard from members of the South Church re- siding in the westerly section of the parish, on ac- count of their distance from the place of worship.

With ever-increasing numbers, their complaints be- came more pronounced. Whenever the question of a new meeting-house was agitated in the parish, as was frequently the case, the matter of location necessarily came to the front. Those living on the west side of the Shawshin insisted that the house should be on their side of the river. The trouble grew till in 1788, Isaac Osgood and others, residents of the west side, petitioned the General Court to be set off into a separate parish. Their petition was refused. But the majority of the parish recognized the disadvantages under which their brethren in the west section la- bored, and, in the hope of retaining them, voted that they be relieved of all obligation to aid in building the new house of worship. But this did not satisfy the complainants. The parish, finally, taking into consideration the wishes of these discontented breth- ren, and further, the onerous labors of the pastor of a parish eight miles in length and four in breadth, concluded to form a new parish on the west side of Shawshin River, and voted, March 12, 1826, that, " should the people on the west side of the Shawshin River erect a Meeting-House at their own expense, they have the cordial approbation of the parish." The house was soon erected by private enterprise, but built of stone taken from the immediate neigh - borhood. It contained ninety-eight pews, with a seating capacity for six hundred people. This stone structure still stands, though, in its interior arrange- ments, it has been repeatedly remodeled, refitted and improved. It was dedicated December 26, 1826. The dedicatory sermon was by Mr. Edwards, the pastor of the South Church.

On the 5th of December, 1826, the church was or- ganized, and called the "West Church of Andover." Fifty-six persons constituted its membership, mostly from the South Church. The parish made application to the next General Court to be set off with definite bounds, which application was granted, no one oppos- ing. As thus incorporated, the new parish embraced one hundred and fifty-eight families, or eight hundred and seventy people. On being thus set off, the South Parish granted to the West, for its use perpetually, three-eighths of the income of its ministerial funds.

The Church and Parish have had five pastors :- Rev. Samuel C. Jackson, who was settled June 6, 1827, dismissed September 25, 1850 ; Rev. Charles H. Peirce, ordained October 9, 1850, dismissed April 11, 1855 ; Rev. James H. Merrill, installed April 30, 1856, dis- missed December 1, 1879; Rev. Austin H. Burr, in- stalled April 29, 1880, dismissed January 21, 1885; Frederick W. Greene, installed September 3, 1885, still the pastor.

Pastors of the West Church .- REV. SAMUEL CRAM JACKSON, D.D., was born in Dorset, Vt., March 13, 1802. He was the son of Dr. William Jackson and Susanna Cram Jackson, a lineal descendant of John Rogers of Smithfield memory. Ile prepared for college under the tuition of his father, a thorough

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

classical scholar. When fifteen years of age he en- tered Middlebury College, and graduated in 1821. Ilaving a natural bent for legal studies, and an in- herited fondness for public affairs, he spent one year in the law-office of Hon. Richard Skinner, Manchester, Vt., and one in the office of Judge David Daggett, of New Haven, preparatory to entering the legal pro- fession. While at the latter place, his attention was turned with special interest to the subject of personal faith in Christ. His former skeptical notions gave way under a thoughtful examination of the claims of Christianity, and he consecrated himself to the service of Christ. With this new element of life, came a change in the purpose of life and its vocation. t'heerfully yielding to the wishes of his parents, who had consecrated him to the work of the ministry, and following the advice of Dr. Porter, a friend of his parents, he joined the Theological Seminary at Andover, graduating in 1826 with the valedictory addresses. Soon after this he entered upon his min- isterial work with the West Parish, where he remained for twenty-two years. llis physical energies having become permanently so impaired as to render his continuance of the labors, cares and responsibilities of a minister inexpedient, if not impracticable, he sought and obtained the position of Assistant State Libra- rian.

At first his duties were rather those of an assistant secretary of the Board of Education than of an assistant librarian. For all the duties which came to his hands at the State House, he was fully equipped and admirably adapted. First by his legal training, then by his warm interest in all educational and scholarly pursuits and efforts, and finally, by his long and practical experience in founding, supervising and sustaining educational institutions, he had become a sort of expert in the science of education. When the State Library came under his systematic hand, it was redeemed from chaos and made available for use. The reports which came from the office of the secretary assumed new importance and interest. During his occupancy of the office, twenty-eight thousand volumes were added to the library, "making it, in some re- spects, the best law library in the Commonwealth." But the effective influence and activity of Dr. Jackson there was not merely that of an official. By his position he made the acquaintance of many of the leading educators, statesmen and lawyers of the Com- monwealth and of other states. The library became a council chamber for college presidents, promoters of beneficent enterprises and liberal-minded donors to charitable institutions. Such men would rarely fail to drop to the library for a word of cheer or counsel when they visited the city. "His sound judgment, Mrlet integri y and interest in every thing pertaining to the public welfare, give him, in a high degree, the entalence of wise and good men. Few men in the Sute Honse were more consult d or more trusted than he." > hs the testimony of Dr. Serra, for a time

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 150

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672