History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 71

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 71

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"In memory of ye Rer'd Mr. Timothy Ruggles, pastor of ye church of Christ in Rochester, who was an able Divine, and a Faithful Minister. Having a peculiar talent at composing Dif- ferences and healing Divisions in Churches, he was much im- ployed in Ecclesiastical Councils, and having spent his Days and his strength in the Work of his Lord and Master, Finished his Course with Joy, and departed this Life October ye 26, 1768, in the 84th year of his age, and 58th of his Ministry. They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of ye Firma- ment, and they that turn many to Righteousness as ye stars, for ever and ever."

" In 1768, Rev. Jonathan Moore was settled pastor of the First Church in Rochester. Soon after Mr. Moore's ministry began, several members of the church were subjected to discipline, some for having long absented themselves from public worship and special ordinances, and some for other violations of their covenant obligations. Perhaps one of the chief causes of the almost constant troubles which long ex- isted in the church was its vote on the 14th of May, 1753, respecting admission to church membership. It was, in effect, that no persons at their reception shall be required to give evidence of a work of grace wrought on them by the Holy Spirit.

" Difficulties between Mr. Moore and members of the church arose in 1791, which continued some two or three years, and issued in his dismission from his pastoral charge."

Mr. Moore was a man of decided talent, and an antagonist to be feared in debate. The late Hon. Abraham Holmes has left on record a reminiscence of him that will well repay perusal. In the days of the Revolution, when the tea question agitated New Eng- land, " the town of Boston sent letters to all the towns in Massachusetts requesting them to call town. meetings and agree and advise what was best to be done. Meetings were generally, if not universally held. The proceedings were generally very spirited. In Rochester the meeting was very free, but as the business was new, and very serious consequences might flow from the proceedings, and as an open op- position to the government might be considered as dangerous, the people generally thought it was the better way to proceed with due caution.

The town clerk (David Wing) for some reason thought it best to stay at home. The meeting opened, and Joseph Haskell (3d) was chosen town clerk pro tem. Deacon Silvanus Cobb was chosen moderator. He was quite an old man, and seldom, if ever, at-

tended a town-meeting. He took his seat and read the warrant, and as nobody wished to break the ice, perfect silence continued for about fifteen minutes, when N. Ruggles, Esq., arose and asked the moderator what method was proposed to proceed in. The mod- erator said as this was a solemn occasion, he thought it would be proper to commence the business by an humble address by prayer for direction on so critical and important an occasion. Justice Ruggles replied there was no article in the warrant for prayer, and the law forbade the acting on anything for which there was no article in the warrant. The moderator said he was astonished to hear such an observation come from Jus- tice Ruggles. Ruggles said, " Not more astonished than I am to see your honor in that seat." After some observations, Ruggles said that if there must be prayer, he hoped it would not be by Mr. Moore, for he had heard so much of his praying on Sunday that he could not bear to hear it on a week-day ; for that man had done more hurt in Rochester than he ever did, or ever would, or ever could, do good. The mod- erator was about making some reply, when Mr. Moore arose and said, " He wished to have an opportunity to return his humble and respectful thanks for the great and singular honor that the gentleman last up had done him. For if any man was to contrive to bestow the highest possible panegyric on me, he could not do it in any way so effectually as to get that man, Rug- gles, to speak reproachfully of me."

On motion, it was voted that the meeting be opened with prayer by Rev. Mr. Moore.

" He stepped into the moderator's seat, and said that, previous to his addressing the throne of Grace, he would make a few preliminary observations. That as to prayer, he had long been of opinion that that gentleman was in general no friend of prayer ; yet, he did not believe he would have come forward in open town-meeting and have sarcastically opposed it if he had not have had a strong suspicion that what would be prayed for would be in opposition to the strong bent of the inclinations and wishes of his depraved and wicked heart. He then proceeded with his prayer. Perhaps Mr. Moore never felt more pleasing sensations than he did in the course of this prayer, though some people might doubt of the prayer's being so strongly seasoned with humility as that of Heze- kiah, after the message brought by Isaiah."

After Mr. Moore's dismission the church was with- out a pastor for about seven years.

" In 1799, Rev. Oliver Cobb was ordained and in- stalled pastor of the First Church in Rochester, which . was then composed of members living in the First and Fourth Precincts of Rochester. Mr. Samuel Briggs,

...

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

from the Fourth Precinet, was one of the church com- mittec, who informed Mr. Cobb of their unanimous vote, inviting him to become their pastor. The record shows that the First and Fourth Precinets of Roehcs- ter agreed to concur with the church in their invita- tion to Mr. Cobb, on conditions to which the parties interested mutually eonsentcd.

" During the pastorates of Messrs. Ruggles and Moore some four hundred members were added to the church, but such had been the troubles and eon- fliets that when Mr. Cobb commeneed his pastorate, only eleven males, with a few more females, retained regular standing in the ehureh.

" In 1827, when the Centre Church was formed of members from this church, the whole number of members was one hundred and forty. Of these, fifty-seven remained with the pastor. While this church continued its connection with the two pre- eincts the ministerial labors of Mr. Cobb were devoted to cach preeinet, according to mutual arrangements. Two deaeons of the church resided in each preeinet, and the sacraments were administered interchangeably in the meeting-house of each. In this period of about twenty-eight years, three special refreshings from the presence of the Lord were enjoyed, and from the two precincts one hundred and eighty-six persons, pro- fessing to have been born again, were received into the church.

" In 1827 the church ealled a eouneil for the pur- pose of installing Rev. Jonathan Bigelow, colleague pastor with Rev. Oliver Cobb. At the meeting of the eouneil, Mr. Bigclow and his friends in the First Parish were anxious that the church should be di- vided, so that he might be the sole pastor of the church over which he would be installed.

" The council advised that such a division be made. The pastor of the First Church and the committee acting with him had no wish for this division, but cheerfully consented to it, provided at some regular meeting the church would adopt said advice. On this ground Mr. Bigelow was installed pastor of the Centre Church, Rochester, and minister of the First Precinet. At a subsequent meeting of the First Church, regularly notified by its pastor, it was voted unanimously that the division be according to advice of the council, and by this vote the members who formed the Centre Church were separated from the original church, and the aet of the eouneil made valid.

" The pastoral relation of Rev. Oliver Cobb with this ehureh, which was formed in 1799, continucd untarnished and untouched to the hour of his death ; but for the sake of peace and harmony with that part of his original charge that gave him up and

chose another minister, hc relinquished his legal right to salary, sinec his serviecs were no longer required. For the sake of peace, also, and according to advice of the council, this church consented to take the name South instead of First Church in Rochester. It has not since by any vote changed its name, but con- formably to other changes it is now called the Con- gregational Church of Marion.

" Rev. Oliver Cobb, D.D., the fourth pastor of this church, was born in Kingston, Plymouth Co., Mass., March 18, 1770, in a house still owned and occupied by his father's descendants. Near by stands the aneient residence of his grandfather, who lived in three centuries (1694-1801). Dr. Cobb was gradu- ated at Brown University, ordained and installed at Rochester in June, 1779, and continued in this pas- torate just fifty years, till his death, in 1849. Dur- ing his ministry two hundred and twenty-two were added to the church. He was especially esteemed as a sermonizer, and some of his eharaeteristie sermons are well remembered still. He published two ser- mons preached at Sandwich during the famous Uni- tarian division. One of these was delivered at the installation of Rev. Jonathan Burr."

Dr. Cobb left a numerous family. His eldest son, Nathaniel, was the eceentrie evangelist who died in 1878; the second son, Leander, succeeded him in the ministry of this ancient ehureh.

Rev. Leander Cobb was installed colleague pastor with his revered father in 1841, but his ministerial labors commeneed with this church in 1839. At that time many things in the condition and prospects of the church and society were discouraging. The resident members of the church were less than forty. Of the males only one was under forty, and of the females there were none under thirty years of age. Some had withdrawn from the society, and only a small proportion of the youth of the place attended this place of worship.

A flourishing socicty had been recently organized, whose religious principles were antagonistie to the faith of this church. Its preaeher was popular, and among its advocates and supporters were influential men.

Mr. Cobb had returned from a post of nearly twelve years' labor in the West to visit friends and reeruit his health. God had given him favor among strangers, and prospered his efforts to enlarge His ehureh. A wide field of promise was opening before him, and he hoped soon to return and labor in it with renewed vigor and efficiency, but Providenee had ordered otherwise. He said to his people in a historieal sketeh of the Congregational Chureli in Marion,

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HISTORY OF MARION.

preached Dec. 29, 1861 (and from which most of these facts are taken), " You will bear me witness, I think. that I consented to the change, not because a larger and lucrative salary was offered me, nor was it with the prospect that in this limited community of different and conflicting interests I might hope to build up a large church and society." Dec. 1, 1841, a new and beautiful church edifice was dedicated. Mr. Cobb says, " That dedication was the com- mencement of my pastoral relation with you, and I feel it my duty to say here that I regard the erection of this house among the most valuable aids to my ministry in this society." Soon after the dedication, the church was blessed with an interesting revival of religion. There were forty conversions, and about twenty united with this church, a large proportion being heads of families. This was an important ad- dition, and the vigor and moral influence of the church seemed to be more than doubled. The happy effects of the revival in the church and society were felt for years. A plan was adopted for systematic benev- olent contributions. In view also of the educational wants of the children and youth, members of the congregation formed themselves into a corporation for the purpose of establishing and sustaining a private school, in which the children might be taught the proper lessons of morality and subordination, and be advanced from the primary into the higher branches of school instruction. Having surmounted many obstacles, they had the pleasure of sustaining and regulating for a succession of years the school, whose superior excellencies were known and highly appre- ciated abroad as well as at home."

In 1858 the church was favored with another gra- cious revival, whose good influences were felt for many years.

The closing passages of Mr. Cobb's " Historical Ser- mon" (now a rare pamphlet ) are tender and affecting. " My best years of active effort are gone. And if some of you are beginning to feel our pastor is grow- ing old and his labors less acceptable, and if you are beginning to think, is it not best that some one should be selected to stand in his place ? I hope that grace would be given me for such a trial ; but at my pres- ent age I should be poorly prepared to enter and labor in the promising fields which in earlier life I forsook for your good. Such now are my warm attachments, strengthened by age, to this sacred house and its hal- lowed associations, to the beloved people of my charge, to this beautiful harbor, and all its islands, and its cheering light at the entrance ; to all the land around it, with the trees and houses ; to the sweet, retired, and solemn spot, that instructive repository of our

dead, whither we have so often gone together in silent procession, bearing the relics of our departed ones ; such are my warm and growing attachments to all these that, if it be Thy will, O my God, here let me live my appointed time, and here let me die ! To yonder graveyard let this mortal body be taken ; and let it be buried in the dear inclosure which I have selected and prepared. There let it rest with the bodies of loved ones, near and all around, until the trump of God shall sound, and the dead shall arise ; then may this mortal, together with that of my re- vered father, and of Clarke, and Clapp, and Baker, and Hiller, and of all others that have there and else- where rested, or that shall rest in Christian hope, come forth, in the general resurrection of the just, and put on immortality. Amen."

Mr. Cobb's death took place Sept. 2, 1872. Rev. William H. Cobb, the gifted and popular pastor of the Congregational Church in Uxbridge, Mass., at the present time (1884) is his son.

Since the decease of Rev. Leander Cobb, the fol- lowing pastors have served the church : Charles A. Kingsbury, 1872-77; Edward N. Pomeroy, 1877- 82; J. Lincoln Litch, 1882-84.

Quaker Church .- In the comparatively early his- tory of Rochester there was a Quaker Church, near where the Methodist Episcopal Church of Marion now stands. The society was a flourishing one for many years, but it is now difficult to obtain facts and dates concerning it.

Methodist Protestant Church .- A Methodist Protestant Church was organized some fifty years ago within the limits of Marion. The first pastor was Rev. Calvin Cummings. The following pastors suc- ceeded him : Nathan S. Clark, N. W. Britton, R. H. Dorr, and William Tozer.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Methodist Episcopal Church of Marion was organized in 1866, and has been favored with the following list of pas- tors : Abel Allton, 1866; D. J. Griffin, 1867-69 ; N. W. Chase, 1870; supplied, 1871 ; J. B. Wash- burn, 1872-74; Frederick Upham, D.D., 1875-76 ; E. W. Culver, 1877-78; T. B. Gurney, 1879; Sam- uel Mckeown, 1880-81; Daniel M. Rogers, 1882 ; supplied by J. Lincoln Litch, 1883-84.

Episcopalians .- Among the summer residents are many Episcopalians, and during the summer season they have occasional preaching, but no stated pastor.

Universalist Church .- The Universalist Society of Marion was formed in the year 1828, and was called the First Universalist Society of Rochester, Marion then being a part of Rochester. Among its

tel

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

original members were Jesse Martin, Ebenezer L. Foster, Dr. Wilbur Southworth, Noble E. Bates, John Clark, William Clark, Elisha Wing, John B. Blankenship, John Bassett, and Paddoek Bates.

Rev. David Piekering, Rev. James M. Bugbee, and others preached oeeasionally for a year or two, after which the society had regular pastors, as follows : 1831, Robert L. Kilam ; 1832, Alanson St. Clair; in 1833 the church edifiee was built; 1834-41, Theo- dore K. Taylor ; 1841-44, Henry C. Vose : 1844-47, M. E. Hawes ; 1847-52, George J. Sanger ; 1852-54, Lueius Holmes ; 1854-57, Henry C. Vose; 1857-61, James E. Bruee ; 1861-66, J. E. Davenport ; 1866- 84, Henry C. Vose.

The three pastorates of Rev. Henry C. Vose eover a period of twenty-five years, and under his faithful ministrations the ehureh at the present time is enjoy- ing a good degree of prosperity.

TOWN CLERKS.

1852-56. W. N. Ellis. 1866-68. Ward P. Delano.

1856-58. Sumner Ryder.

1858-59. Christopher C. Luce.

1859-64. Ward P. Delano.

1864-66. John H. Simmons.

REPRESENTATIVES TO GENERAL COURT.

1859. Marshall E. Simmons.

1876. Isaac N. Hathaway.

1862. Andrew J. Hadley.

1877. Obed Delano.

1865. James H. Allen.

1873. Peleg Blankenship.

SELECTMEN.

1852-54 .- Gilbert Hathaway, Paul Briggs, Henry D. Allen. 1855 .- Gilbert Hathaway, Barnabas Hiller, Consider Benson. 1856-57 .- Andrew J. Hadley, Barnabas HI. Gurney, William Clark.

1858-61 .- Andrew J. Hadley, Barnabas II. Gurney, Joseph S. Luee.

1862 .- Joseph S. Luce, Reuben B. Swift, Obed Delano.

1863 .- Joseph S. Luce, Obed Delano, Barnabas Hiller.

1864 .- George H. Kelley, Franklin L. Hathaway, Ezra S. Par- low.

1865 .- Obed Delano, Goorge H. Kelley, Franklin L. Hathaway. 1866-68 .- George H. Kelley, Samuel II. Elder, Joseph S. Luce. 1869-71 .- Joseph S. Luce, Georgo HI. Kelley, Henry D. Allen. 1872 .- Joseph S. Luce, George H. Kelley, Obed Delano. 1873-76 .- Joseph S. Luce, Obed Delano, Horatio N. Washburn, 1877-78 .- Joseph S. Luce, Obed Delano, Jawies II. Allen. 1879-81 .- Joseph S. Luce, Obed Delano, Isaac N. Hathaway. 1882 .- Isaac N. Hathaway, Audrew J. Hadley, Leander C. Cowing.

1883-84 .- Andrew J. Hadley, Leander C. Cowing, Frederick P. Vose.

War of the Rebellion .- Marion furnished about one hundred men, and had a surplus of ten at the end of the war, over and above all demands. Two were commissioned offieers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exelusive of State aid, was four

thousand two hundred and twenty-five dollars and forty-five eents ($4225.45).

The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' fami- lies and repaid by the commonwealth was as follows : In 1861, $86.57; in 1862, $724; in 1863, $1115; in 1864, $1330; in 1865, $478; total amount, $3733.57.

The following is a list of soldiers and sailors from Marion in the war of the Rebellion :

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY.

Alexander A. Atwood.

Andrew J. Haskell.

Warren Atwood.

George F. Handy.

Charles A. Allen. Martin V. B. Hammond.

Loring T. Ames. Nathan H. Mendall.

Benjamin H. Bowman.

Alexander McRiver.

James W. Blankenship.

William H. Potter.

Frederick S. Barden.

Stephen C. Phinney.

Samuel J. Bolles.

Richard Powers.

Elisha Besse.

Andrew J. Pratt.

Edward P. Cowing.

Sumner Ryder.

Oliver Cobb.

Jesse Swift.

Gilbert A. Dodge.

Benjamin HI. Swift.

George Dickson.

William A. Simmons.

David Faunce. George Seymour.

Richard Gurney.

Marshall E. Simmons.

Charles Gray. James Sewell.

Henry W. Gifford. James Travers.

Rufus H. Gurney.

James D. Weeks.

Alpheus Haskins.

Nathan H. Weeks.

Peter A. Holmes.

James Wittett.

George B. Hinckley.

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY.

David L. Briggs.

George F. Hammond.

Daniel Baker.

Nathan H. Jenney.

John H. Bolles.

James E. Jenney.

William G. Bruce.

Hiram Look.

Thomas H. B. Briggs.

George E. Look.

Nathan C. Briggs.

William C. Mendall.

William Borland.

Elbridge G. Mendall.

John Burgic.

Alfred L. Parker.

John Brown.

Richard N. Swift.

Jenison G. Clifton.

Antone Silvia.

Joseph S. Clark. Henry Surry.

Joseph Calvin. John Thompson.

James H. Delano.

Adelbert Trusdell.

Robert B. Elder. Edward Thompson.

Joseph Gahm. Paul M. Weoks.

Stephen W. Hadley.

James T. Wittett.

Thomas H. Haskell.

Charlton II. Wing.

Groenloaf F. Hammond.

Joshua G. Wing.

Industries .- SALT .- From the days of the Revo- lutionary war until within a short time salt was manu- faetured on the sea-coast of Marion, and this town was one of the last to relinquish the business in Southern Massachusetts.

WHALE-FISHERY .- For nearly a century vessels engaged in the whale-fishery havo sailed from this port. Sometimes there has been quite a fleet, but at

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1868-69. Jordan B. Barden.

1869-71. Charles Sturtevant.

1871-84. Charles H. Delano.

1881. Stephen D. Hadley.

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HISTORY OF MARION.

the present time there is but one, the " Admiral Blake."

BOX-BOARDS, SHINGLES, STAVES, ETC .- Large quantities of these are made at the mills of Dr. W. E. Sparrow and Ezra S. Parlow. The box-boards are carried to New York, Philadelphia, and other places, and the business gives employment to quite a large number of men.

OYSTERS, CRANBERRIES, ETC .- The oysters grown here are of excellent flavor, and large quantities are sent annually to different markets. During the months of summer many are engaged in catching scale-fish, which are transported to Boston, New Bedford, and other places.

Within a few years the attention of the people has been directed to cranberry cultivation, and it promises soon to become an extensive and lucrative business.

Social Organizations .- Pythagorean Lodge, F. and A. M., was organized Aug. 20, 1861. John D. Allen, W. M .; M. E. Simmons, S. W .; and J. E. Davenport, J. W. The present officers are as follows : F. B. Coggeshall, W. M .; F. P. Vose, S. W .; H. A. Shurtleff, J. W .; Ezra S. Parlow, Treas. ; S. W. Hall, Sec .; Rev. H. C. Vose, Chaplain ; George B. Nye, S. D .; Charles D. Bolles, J. D .; William T. Briggs, S. S .; D. H. Bowman, J. S .; R. S. Ryder, I. S .; Daniel Galline, Tyler.

The following is a list of the Past Masters of this lodge : John D. Allen, J. S. Luce, J. L. Meigs, Job A. T. Eddy, Joseph Blankenship, Joseph L. Cole, A. B. Conro, George B. Nye.

A lodge of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows was organized in Marion in 1845 by District Deputy Grand Master William H. Taylor, of New Bedford. The first officers of the lodge were as follows : Rev. Nathan S. Clark. N. G .; Walton N. Ellis, V. G .; George Delano, Sec. and Treas .; Robert W. Ham- mett, Warden ; Ichabod N. Lewis, Conductor.

The charter of this lodge was surrendered in the year 1855.

Tabor Academy.1-Tabor Academy was opened to students in September, 1877, and has at this date, July, 1884, been in active operation for seven years. During this time about one hundred different stu- dents have been connected with the school, although its number of pupils has at no time exceeded thirty-five. Of these students, seven have entered college, two have completed a medical course of study, and three have entered the Boston School of Technology.

This shows that about twelve per cent. of the stu-

dents thus far have regarded their course at Tabor Academy as preparatory to further study.

All the others, so far as known, with the exception of three, have herc completed their education. The courses of study are so arranged that the pupil may fit for college or pursue miscellaneous studies at his . option.

In 1880 it was found necessary to build a house for the principal, with accommodations for those who might wish to leave their children under his care, and a new building was erected. This new building, like the academy, is heated by steam, and designed to accommodate with pleasant quarters eight or ten pupils.

It is the aim of this school to give thorough in- struction, and to encourage in its pupils a desire for the real rather than the showy, and to develop the moral as well as the intellectual element.

The school has been from the first under one prin- cipal,-C. P. Howland, A.B., of Yale. It was soon found, however, that one teacher could not do satis- factorily the work necessary for cven this small school, and since 1878 an assistant has been em- ployed. These, up to the present time, have been Rev. C. H. Phelps, Russell Little (a graduate of Bowdoin), John Bates (a graduate of Columbia), and H. L. Crane (a graduate of Worcester Academy).

The school is not incorporated, and is entirely under the control of its founder, Mrs. Elizabeth Tabor, who almost wholly supports it from a desire to improve the young of her native town. The ex- penses are-for tuition, twenty-four dollars a year ; for tuition and a home with the principal, three hundred dollars.

While not in any sense a denominational school, it will probably always be under the management of those who sympathize with the Congregational faith.

· Its history as yet lics in the future, but we are convinced that it has donc, and will continue to do, a noble work in fitting for the proper performance of life's duties the young of Marion and adjoining towns.

Bi-Centennial of Rochester .- The two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the ancient town of Rochester was celebrated at Handy's Grove, Marion, July 22, 1879. It was a great gala day, and will never be forgotten by those who were present. At the least calculation six thousand people were present.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 71

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706