History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 151

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 151

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associated with him as Secretary of the Board of Edu - cation. Hon. Joseph White, another associate for sixteen years as Secretary of Education, says of him : " lle brought to his entire work a ripe scholarship, a cool, unclouded judgment, a strong common sense, a fine legal acumen and a habit of prompt, untiring in- dustry. After my sixteen years of observation, I am confident that no man within my knowledge has rendered the commonwealth a more useful and honor- able service than Dr. Jackson, a service which will bear rich fruit in future years." Under these two secretaries for twenty-two years he filled the position of assistant librarian at the State House, with much satisfaction to himself, and with great acceptance to those with whom he had to do. But as years went on his health and strength, always on a low base, steadily failed, so that he was constrained to abandon his position in 1876. From this time he rapidly declined. Paralysis, combined with chronic disease, by degrees consumed his powers, both of body and mind, till the glad hour of release came, July 26, 1878.

It was the good fortune of Dr. Jackson to be the first pastor of a new church enterprise. He was by nature and taste an organizer. He possessed some- thing of the spirit of the great Apo-tle who boasted that his aim had been "not to build on another man's foundation." To him came the pleasing duty of organizing the Sabbath-School, benevolent societ- ies, the order and usages of worship, and the varied activities of a Christian Church. With such care and wisdom was this work done, as to require, like the stone meeting-house, only now and then a little interior renovation or remodeling.

We are told that when he entered upon his minis- try " his style was classical, his mauner in the pul- pit, graceful and sprightly." As a preacher, how- ever, he was distinguished "for his skill in adapting his sermons to the particular needs of his hearers." Says Professor Park, the best of judges, "His ser- mons were not marked by power, so much as by grace ; not by brilliancy, so much as by dignity. They were argumentative, when argument was needed, but were generally didactic, often earnest, uniformly solemn. His manner was so natural ; his voice so well cultivated and so expressive: his words were so choice and his thoughts so good ; he was in such evident sympathy with his theme and with his hearers, that he drew into the sanctuary some men who had previously absented themselves from public worship ; he attracted the uniform atten- tion of his hearers; he satisfied them so fully that they were reluctant to have him exchange pulpits with other ministers, even when those ministers were celebrated men." HIis discourses on fast days, and thanksgiving days, when the New England pastor feels at liberty to leave slightly the beaten track of Sabbath service, were especially attractive. In his discussions of secular, state, and political affairs, he permitted free play to the varied powers of his

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mind in graphic descriptions, keen witticisms, and pungent criticisms, which never failed to give pleas- nre, instruction and profit.

As a pastor, Dr. Jackson was faithful, attentive, sympathetic and tender. He visited each family in his small parish frequently, and could call all the children by name. He took special interest in the youth of both sexes. And when he found a lad of un- usual promise, he took much pains to have him receive a liberal education. Thus, under his wise guidance, not a few West Andover boys have become useful and even eminent men, in the different professions in various parts of the country. He was also the trusted adviser of his people, acting at times as physician, lawyer and even in- structor in horticulture and agriculture.

During his long pastorate, there were frequent revi- vals, in which a large number of persons were gath- ered into the church, some of whom as ministers, have done, and are still doing, good work for their Divine Master.

Aside from his professional work, Dr. Jackson gave much attention to the cause of education. IIe was associated with Samuel Farrar, Mr. Badger and other influential citizens, in starting a school in town for the higher education of girls, and was one of the committee selected to devise measures and form a constitution for such a school, and, when a liberal donation from Mrs. Abbot for this purpose had been received, and Abbot Academy had accepted its act of incorporation, he was chosen one of its trustees, in which trust he continued to the day of his death, a period of nearly fifty years. At times of urgent need or perplexity in the affairs of the institution, he was the man uniformly looked to for advice or help. He was a warm friend of Phillips Academy and the Theological Seminary of which he was trustee for thirty years.

While in the ministry, the reputation of Dr. Jack- son extended beyond the limits of his own town and Association. He was invited to become president of Middlebury College, and repeatedly to become the pastor of churches much larger and richer than that at Andover. He received the degree of D.D. from Middlebury College.

Dr. Jackson published but little. The annual election sermon, which he delivered before the Gov- ernor, Lieutenant-Governor, Council and General Court in 1843, was published and created quite a furor of excitement. No little animosity was arous- ed by it against its author in certain quarters, on account of its sharp arraignment of the sins of the day.

Dr. Jackson married Miss Caroline True, daughter of William and Rebecca Mariner True. They had five children,-Samuel Charles, a young man of rare promise, who died at twenty-eight years of age ; Caroline R., resides in Andover; Susan E., resides in Andover; Mary A. married to Rev. Wil-

liam Warren, Springfield, Ohio; William, doing business in Boston.

REV. CHARLES H. PEIRCE .- The second pastor of the West Parish Church was born in Peru, Mass., November 29, 1822. He graduated at Ober- lin College in 1845, taught two years, then stud- ied theology at Andover; graduating in 1850. Soon after graduation, he was settled in the West Parish, where he remained for four years and six months. After his dismission he removed to the West, where he spent some seven years in labor with different churches in Illinois and Tennessee. On returning to this State he was settled in Millbury October 22, 1862, and died in office October 5, 1865, aged forty- three.

Mr. Peirce was a warm-hearted, active, kindly disposed man, who made friends wherever he went. A man of good abilities, and the full average of ministerial scholarship and pulpit talent, it was his misfortune to follow in his first pastorate a man of marked attainments and personal power. Neverthe- less, he was esteemed both as a pastor and preacher, and " greatly beloved " by a large circle of friends in the community and in the ministry.

REV. JAMES H. MERRILL .- The third pastor was born in Lyndeborough, N. H., October 16, 1814. He was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Carpen- ter) Merrill. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1834, taught two years in Fryeburg Academy, Maine, studied theology in Andover, graduating in 1839. His first settlement wasat Montague, Novem- ber 25, 1839, where he remained for more than six- teen years, and then became for twenty-three years the beloved pastor of the West Church.

After his dismission, December 1, 1879, Mr. Merrill made a protracted visit to his children living at the West. On returning to town, he located his home on the "Hill," where he lived, and, by slow degrees faded away, till on the 28th day of October, 1886, he fell on sleep.

Mr. Merrill was of slight build, delicate in consti- tution and of limited strength, with hereditary ten- dencies to consumption. llence he never felt him- self to be physically equal to the work of a large parish. He courted the quiet country, and was per- fectly satisfied to spend his days in ministering to a small church of intelligent and appreciative people. Such a church and people he found and loved in the West Parish. He was exceptionally wise in this, that, quite early in his ministerial life, he took the measure of his strength, and, while expending this strength daily quite up to its maximum, he rarely mnch exceeded this, save under special stress. It was a matter of conscience with him to husband his vitality. By so doing, he was able to hold back his hereditary enemy, and spread his work over many years, accomplishing more for his people and the canse of Christ and the church, than many others with sound constitution and equal abilities.

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Mr. Merrill was an instructive, rather than a stimu- lating preacher. Ile was methodical in his pulpit preparation, as in his parochial visits, and brought " beaten oil" into the sanctuary. True to his own convictions, and a critical student of the Scriptures, he always had something fresh and profitable for his people, who took truth from his lips as from the lips of a prophet. His opinions on controverted matters were cautiously formed, firmly held, and frankly stated. Controversy, engendering hard feeling, he religiously shunned. A man of sound judgment, genial temper, affable, courteous, unambitious, with - out craft, envy or hypocrisy. Recognising the fact that the young men of his parish, in large numbers, left the farm for a wider sphere of activity, he re- garded the work of training the youth to a reverence for truth, righteousness, honor and piety, as of pre- eminent importance. This work he never lost sight of, and never failed to emphasize. The result has been that a goodly number of West Andover boys are now to be found among the active and leading lawyers, ministers, railroad and business men all over the country, from Maine to California.

Mr. Merrill was a scholar himself, and a warm friend of all educational institutions, from the common schoof upwards. As trustee for twenty-three years, of the Punchard Free School, and for a like period one of three composing its Visiting Committee, upon whom devolved the supervision of its instruction, he gave much time and thought to the education of the young. In these varied spheres of activity and use- fulness, Mr. Merrill so carried himself as to secure the favor of the people at large, and the esteem and affec- tion of his parishioners and others who were privileged to enjoy his friendship.

Mr. Merrill married Miss Lucia Wadsworth Gris- wołdl, daughter of Dr. Oliver Griswold, of Fryeburg, Maine. They have had five children : James G., D.D., Pastor of the First Congregational Church, St. Louis, Missouri ; William F., (General Manager of the Il. & St. J., C. B. & K. C. R. R.); George C., (deceased) Professor in Washburn College, Kansas, and teacher in Phillips' Academy ; Sarah E. mar- ried Rev. Joseph D. Wilson, Rector of St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church, Chicago; Lucia S. re- sices in Andover.

THE REV. AUSTIN BURR, the fourth pastor, was born in Charlestown, Ohio, June 18, 1849; received his collegiate training at Oberlin College, and his theol gical instruction at Andover Seminary, gradu- uting in 1875. Ilis first settlement was in Franklin, IL., November 3, 1875, where he remained until 1580 when he came to the West Parish. Since leav- ing this parish, he has been settled in Peterboro', N. H. where he still remains. He married Miss Fanny Hammond, of Andover.

The prespet pastor, Rev. Frederick W. Greene, re- ceivel his collegiate education at Amherst, and his theole il instruction at Hartford Seminary, Conn.

LATER CHURCHES OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

For a century and a quarter, the South Church, with its daughter, the West Church, embraced in its ecclesiastical fold the entire territory of the South Precinct. The people of this territory were all expected to attend public worship, first at the meeting-house in the South Church, and after- wards at that or the house of the West Church. They were by law compelled to pay taxes for the support of worship in one or the other of the parishes, whether they attended the service or not. This was the state of things till the year 1833; then the law was so changed as to give people the liberty to worship where they pleased, and to pay taxes when and as much as they pleased. This was followed by the incoming of other sects.

METHODISTS .- As early as 1829, the Methodists began to hold occasional services in the bank hall, but not for four or five years did they acquire suffici- ent strength to establish regular worship and build a meeting-house. For a few years, this society flour- ished, some of the tax-payers leaving the South Church and joining their number. But little by little they grew feeble, and in 1840 gave up regular service. The meeting-house was finally sold to the parties who formed the "Free Church," and is now, after under- going extensive alterations, their house of worship. Some of the Methodists followed it to its new site, and joined the " Free Church."

While there has been no Methodist preaching in the center of the town since this sale of the meeting- house, there has been, and now is, a Methodist So- ciety at Ballard Vale. In 1851, a Methodist meet- ing-house was built in this village, and, since then, with more or less regularity, preaching has been sus- tained there. By the liberality of Capt. Bradlee, they have a neat place of worship, and a commodious par- sonage.

BAPTISTS,-A Baptist Church was formed and recognized October 3, 1832, the services of recogni- tion being held in the South Church meeting-house. The society erected and dedicated a house of their own August 28, 1834. For fifteen years the church sustained regular preaching, having during these years five different pastors, who remained from one to five years each. After the departure of the last of these pastors, October, 1849, the church was without stated preaching until its dissolution, which took place December 8, 1857, sixteen of its members unit- ing with a Baptist church in Lawrence. The pastor of this church, Rev. Frank Remington, after a time, opened the meeting-house of the denomination in town for services. His preaching drew a full con- gregation, and was attended ;with such marked suc- cess in the conversion of the unregenerate and the quickening of the old members of the church, that a new church (with one hundred and fifty-six members) was formed and recognized July 28, 1858, a little over seven months from the time the

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church had, in despair, disbanded. At this time they received as their pastor Rev. William S. McKen- zie, who remained with them for more than two years. Since his dismission, December, 1860, the church has sustained regular services, and had four stated preachers and various temporary supplies. Rev. H. R. Wilbur, who was the pastor from April, 1872, to October, 1876, has been their most reliable and abid- ing pastor. He is now a resident of the town, a pub- lic-spirited citizen, who, by his money and his per- sonal labors in the church and parish, contributes largely to the maintenance of the religious services. The feeble health of Mr. Wilbur forbids his assum- ing the active pastorate of the church, but his assist- ance is invaluable to its prosperity, if not to its existence. Dr. Bronson, who recently left the ser- vice of the church for a western field of labor, minis- tered to them for a number of years.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL (CHRIST) CHURCH .- Mr. Abraham Marland, an immigrant from England, a member of the English Church, a successful manu- facturer in Andover, and, withal, a man of sterling piety, liberality, and indomitable purpose, has been called, with much aptness, " the father of the Episco- pal Society in Andover." It had been his deter- mination for years, while rising from poverty to riches, to see an Episcopal Church established in his adopted home, "even if the whole cost of it were borne by himself." Through his agency, doubtless, a liturgical service was held at the South Church meeting-house, by Rev. Dr. Stone, rector of St. Paul's Church, Boston, as early as December 25, 1833. But, though the society was in embryo in the mind of Mr. Marland at this time, no serious effort was made to form an Episcopal Church till 1835. On July 26th of that year "an Episcopal service was held in the bank hall," couducted by Bishop Smith, of Kentucky. He was followed by other distin- guished clergymen of the denomination, including Bishop Griswold. On the 4th day of August follow- ing twenty-three men met together, and agreed to " form themselves into a religious society, to be called the Episcopal Society in Andover." They drew up a petition to N. W. Hazen, Esq., justice of the peace, for him "to issue a warrant for calling the first meet- ing " of the society. This meeting was held August 6th, when an organization was formed, and the cus- tomary officers chosen.

The formation of this society was, ecclesiastically, an entirely novel movement in the town, not in sym- pathy with its antecedents, or prevailing sentiment. It drew from the South Parish a goodly number of able and influential men and prominent families. But this new ecclesiastical departure, attended by a depletion of its membership, was not merely ac- quiesced in by the South Parish, but generously encouraged by friendly speech and acts. The Christ- mas service of the new church, with decorations and music, was held for the first time, by invitation, in

the meeting-house of the South Parish. These ser- vices were conducted by Bishop Griswold, who, in administering the communion, extended an invita- tion to partake in the ordinance, so liberal as to bring many members of the South Church to receive the sacred emblems at his hands. The present rec- tor of the Episcopal Church, Rev. Leverett Bradley, in his admirable semi-centennial sermon, from which the facts of this paper are mostly drawn, in recalling this passage in the history of his church, says, "Whatever may have been the spirit of the most populous churches towards the Episcopal Church during the first century of her life in America, it is well to know that in Andover the Episcopal Church has received nothing but the best wishes and kindly interest from all denominations." "The South Church by the loan of its building to our people ou several occasions, that they might hold liturgical services and listen to preaching by one of their own clergymen, disclosed a spirit of Christian brother- hood, as the most carefully drawn resolutions could not have done," -- giving "new proof of the large- minded, Christian spirit of the officers and members" of this church.

Mr. Marland, as has been intimated, was the most liberal supporter of this enterprise. He gave the cemetery lot, built and donated the "rectory," con- tributed freely towards building the church edifice, and sustaining public worship. His son-in-law and partner in business, Mr. Benjamin H. Punchard, gave seven thousand dollars, as a testamentary be- quest, to the society, the income of which is available for current expenses.

The church has had six rectors and two ministers, all of whom have been worthy and capable clergy- men, and some of them notably able. Dr. Fuller, in his two pastorates, served the church sixteen years, and in this time did much towards forming its char- acter and shaping its destiny. Ile was a man, phy- sically and intellectually, fitted to command the respect of his fellow-men, and in heart and life such as to win their confidence and esteem. His influence was felt beyond his parish in the esthetic, educational and moral interests of the town, and in the councils of the diocese.

In the summer of 1885, Mr. John Byers, a liberal merchant of New York, whose deceased parents were members of this church, wishing to erect some mem- orial to their memory, and, above all, to do something that would be of permanent service to the church and the cause of Christ, offered to build and furnish a new stone church edifice, and give it to the parish. On the evening of the Sabbath, February 28, 1886, while preparation was going forward for confirmation ser- vices, to be performed by the Bishop, the original church building took fire from a defective chimney and was entirely consumed. The present stone edifice, the gift of Mr. Byers, was erected in 1886, and conse- crated with appropriate services, Dr. Phillips Brooks

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of Boston preaching the sermon, and Bishop Paddock conducting the consecrating rites on January 4, 1887.

The new edifice is a tasty and commodious structure, ensting, with its furnishings, not far from forty-one thousand dollars. It is credited by all as a choice specimen of church architecture, an instructive lesson in enduring stone, an ornament to the town and a priceless boon to the church. It is thought by some good judges to be, architecturally, the finest public building in town, while others give precedence to the stone Chapel on the Hill.

"The building is of the Byzantine Romanesque style of architecture, built of reddish granite with trimmings of Kibbe stone. The church fronts to the east, contrary to the usual enstom, owing to the position of the lot. The tower, situated on the south- east corner, is a large, plain and solid structure, and contains a semicircular staircase. It serves as the principal porch of the building, and is balanced by a smaller porch on the northeast corner. The chan- cel is semi-eirenlar in form. The rectangular auditorium has a seating capacity of four hundred. The pews are open and of oak finish. The roof of the main body of the church is of hard pine con- struction, the panels between the rafters being of spruce, and the whole being shellaced in natural color. The ceiling of the semi-circular chancel or apsis is treated with honeycomb in gold, and is devoid of stars. The decoration throughout the church is exceedingly quiet and simple, particularly the stained glass windows in the apsis, which, although very rich in color, are framed by a ground of rather dark color. Five of them represent the life of John the Baptist, as a child, in the wilderness, as a preacher, in prison, and received up." A sixth is inscribed to the memory of the donor's brother.

The organ was the gift of Mr. Horace H. Tyer and Miss Catherine L. Tyer in memory of their father and mother, Henry George and Elizabeth Tyer, former worshippers at Christ Church. Miss Catherine Tyer died suddenly intestate. Iler heirs discovered among her papers a memorandum of a purpose to give $10,000 to the parish. In recogni- tion of this wish, they have given the above sum as a permanent fund, one-fourth of the income to be expended for the care and improvement of the church grounds, the remainder for the church music. There is a chapel connected with the church at its north- west corner, of corresponding architecture, and built of the same material.

UNIVERSALISTS. " A Universalist Society was formed in town in the fall of 1838. A church was form d later. Publie worship was irregularly sus- tained tib 1-46, when for several years it was entirely N11 punk 1." The declared purpose of organizing this scotty, de set forth in its records, was "the pron ation of truth and mor il'ly among its members, at Bestie worbl . 1 forge and as the G spel of the Lord Jesus Christ is calculated above all truth to

inspire the heart with the emotions of benevolence and virtue, this Society shall deem it one of its main objects to support the preaching of the Gospel ac- cording to the Society's ability, and to aid in spread- ing a kuowledge of it among men." The society sustained public worship for twenty-five years, with considerable intervals of suspension, when regular preaching was abandoned, and the meeting-house was finally sold and devoted to other uses. During its existence, this church had seven resident ministers or stated supplies, Rev. Varnum Lincoln being the one longest in service. Mr. Lincoln was pastor for five years, and, after an interval of several years, a regular supply for a time. He now resides in An- dover, where he has served for a term on the School Committee, and is an active member of the " Farmers' Club."

THE FREE CHRISTIAN CHURCH .- This church was organized May 7, 1846, with a membership of forty-four persons, drawn from the South and West Parishes, and largely from the disbanded Methodist Society. A number of circumstances combined at this time to bring the church into existence. The partners of the Smith & Dove Manufacturing Com- pany were natives of Scotland. Their operatives were almost exclusively from Scotland. They did not fully coalesce with the natives of Andover. The factory village was at some distance from existing places of worship. Above all, the anti-slavery agita- tion had begun to introduce dissension into the churches. The more determined opponents of slavery held that the church should not fellowship with those churches at the South which upheld slavery, or with those churches at the North that fellowshiped with the Southern churches, nor should they unite with either of them in any missionary work at home or abroad. Many of this class did not go to the extreme of denouncing the entire church as "the bulwark of slavery," or in demanding that all true friends of the State should "come out " of the churches. They wished to have a church connection, but in a church that should be free from all alliance, near or remote with slavery. Messrs. Smith and Dove belonged to the latter class of anti-slavery men.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 151

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