USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the churches and ministers, and of Franklin association, in Franklin County, Mass., and an appendix respecting the county > Part 10
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uated at Dartmouth College. His theological studies were under the instructions of Rev. Joseph Lyman, D. D., of Hat- field ; and he received license from the Hampshire Associa- tion. June 21, 1797, he was ordained to the pastoral office in this place, (West Granville) ; and to you, beloved hear- ers, it is known with what painful diligence, with what zeal for the glory of God, and unquenchable desires for the salvation of souls, he has executed his ministry. His record is on high.
" His ministry commenced at a most eventful period of the world. It was the era of Missions. England was send- ing forth the heralds of the gospel to the islands of the sea. The cause of Home Missions was awakening in the hearts of the wise and the good a deep and active interest. He was for one term one of our earliest missionaries to the West. It was also the era of revivals. It was his privilege to witness three distinct seasons of revival ; and during his ministry more than two hundred were added to the church by profession. He was an affectionate pastor. His ser- mons, if they failed in logical accuracy, were plain, practi- cal, and evangelical ; his prayers were spiritual ; and his pastoral visits, in which he was abundant, were in a special manner pleasing and profitable. As a christian, though he was wont to speak of himself with diffidence and fears, he manifestly reached high attainments. Whether he could refer to the precise time of his conversion, or whether, like Baxter, he could fix upon neither the day, the month, nor the year, is a point of minor importance. Probably the dawn of his religious hopes was in that early period when he ex- perienced long and distressing sickness. 'He was chosen in the furnace of affliction.' He walked with God in days of prosperity, for years of quietude not a few fell to his lot. He was also prepared for changes and trials. We remember with what exemplary submission he closed the eyes of two of his sons in the midst of their brightening prospects, and resigned them to the grave.
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" But it was in ' the chamber where the good man meets his fate,' that our lamented brother appeared with most at- tractive loveliness. However his rising, or meridian, or de- clining sun may have been overspread with clouds, 'his setting sun shone bright.' He experienced months of wast- ing disease. He could review the past and look forward to the future. In his best days he feared that he should be deserted in the final struggle. But no ! His covenant God was with him. Often, very often, he spoke of God's good- ness. He spoke of peace and joy. With sweetest compo- sure he imparted to his children his dying counsel and patriarchal blessing. His last hour was an hour of triumph. Awaking from a deep lethargy, he was sensible that the time of his departure had arrived. He could speak but few words. He was heard to say, 'Death ! death !' Being asked, 'Are you ready and willing to die ?' ' Yes, yes,' was his prompt reply. With a hope full of immortality, with beneficence beaming in his dying eyes, he looked a long, last farewell, and, without any apparent suffering, he 'fell asleep in Jesus.' It had been his expressed desire that he might depart on the Sabbath. Even this request was granted. Last Sabbath, at midday, his spirit took its flight. 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.' "
Mr. Baker, previous to his settlement in West Granville, preached in Gill and Chesterfield, and received a call to settle in the latter place. Rev. John Emerson preached his ordination sermon. The two sons, referred to in the fore- going extract, were Curtis Baker, a student at Andover, and Phinehas Baker, a medical student. The epitaph on Mr. Baker's gravestone is the following, viz .: "For thirty-six years the faithful and revered pastor of the church in this place. Died in peace and triumph, September 1, 1833." " O grave, where is thy victory !" " Erected by the church."
2 .* Mr. Elisha Billings was born in Sunderland, Oct. 1, 1749 ; graduated at Yale in 1772; was licensed by Hamp-
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shire Association, 1774, and preached a few times, but " was compelled, after a year or two, to desist from preaching and engage in other pursuits, on account of bodily weakness.", He died in Conway, Aug. 7, 1825, aged 76. He preached about six months in Westchester, N. Y., during the Revolu- tionary war, and received several calls to settle as a pastor, but never received ordination. He was a deacon in the church in Conway from 1812, and held several important public offices in the county. A lengthy and interesting ex- tract from his funeral sermon was published in the Recorder and Telegraph, Nov. 25, 1825. He removed from Sunder- land to Conway about the close of the Revolutionary war. One of his daughters married Rev. Ezekiel Russell, and one married Rev. Robert O. Dwight, a foreign missionary.
3. Mr. Richard S. Billings was born in Conway, Sept. 29, 1819 ; in 1837 removed to Trenton, N. Y. ; graduated at Amherst in 1847 ; finished the theological course at An- dover in 1850; has been a resident licentiate at Andover and New Haven, and has supplied in several places, but was never ordained.
4 .* Mr. Abel B. Clary was born in Conway, June 17, 1795 ; removed in 1801 to Hartford, Washington County, N. Y. ; and in 1804, to Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y. He was bred a merchant, and lived ten years in Sackett's Harbor, N.Y. Being converted after his marriage, he turned his attention to the ministry, but did not pursue a regular course of study. He never graduated at any college, and was never ordained. He was licensed by the Black River Association, N. Y. ; and preached about four years in vari- ous places in New York state. While on his way to preach as an itinerant in the Shenandoah Valley, Va., he died of typhus fever at Wilkesbarre, Penn., Jan. 1, 1833, aged 38. Rev. Dr. Nicholas Murray preached his funeral sermon. A ministerial correspondent, intimately acquainted with him, says : " He was a man of uncommon depth of christian ex- perience, very eminent in prayer, and in that faith which
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expects great things. His soul was very familiar with what is called, and very properly, travail for the regeneration of sinners. He was a member of the Presbyterian church of Sackett's Harbor, and one of its elders ; and both as a private member and a preacher, he was 'faithful under death.' " He was a brother of Rev. Dexter Clary, a notice of whom immediately follows.
5. Rev. Dexter Clary was born in Conway, Feb. 1, 1798 ; in 1801 removed to Hartford, N. Y .; and in 1804 to Adams, N. Y. He never graduated at any college ; pursued a course of study at Watertown, N. Y., and studied theology under the direction of the Watertown Presbytery, and attended theological lectures at New Haven ; was licensed in 1828; ordained as an Evangelist, Jan. 12, 1829, at Watertown, N. Y., and Rev. Jedediah Burchard preached on the occa- sion ; preached till 1835 in Northern and Western New York ; in. 1835 and 1836 preached in Montreal, Canada ; then supplied in Rome and Brownville, N. Y., several years ; in 1840 began to preach in Beloit, Wisconsin, and in Feb- ruary, 1844, was installed pastor in the first Congregational church there, and Rev. Stephen Peet preached on the occa- sion. Mr. Clary was dismissed from his pastoral charge in Beloit, in September, 1850, and has since then been an agent of the American Home Missionary Society, and resides in Beloit. During his ten years' pastorate in that place about three hundred were added to his church.
6 .* Rev. Stalham Clary was born in Conway, April 10, 1782 ; never graduated at any college ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne, and with Rev. Moses Miller of Heath ; was licensed by Franklin Association in 1823 ; was ordained as an Evangelist by the same body at Shel- burne, Nov. 4, 1823, and Rev. Dr. Edward Hitchcock preached on the occasion. Mr. Clary removed to Conhoc- ton, N. Y., in November, 1823, where he remained, preach- ing there and in various places till 1827 ; and then removed { Prattsburg, N. Y., and was a Home Missionary in Steuben
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County one year ; preached in Pultney, N. Y., from 1828 to 1830 ; and in Benton one year, and died in Hopewell, N.Y., while attending a protracted meeting there, Nov. 25, 1831, aged 49. Mr. Clary was eminently devoted to the service of his divine Master ; was peculiarly solemn and heart- searching in his preaching ; was active and useful in numer- ous revivals ; and the blessing of God most signally attended his labors. A great amount of labor devolved upon him while attending the series of meetings at Hopewell, N. Y., on account of the illness of most of the other ministers. On the Sabbath previous to his death he preached three times, and sat up a great part of that Sabbath night, laboring with a learned infidel physician, on the subject of personal religion, who renounced his infidelity and hopefully yielded his heart to God before morning. It was remarked by Mr. Clary that this was the most interesting scene he ever witnessed. He was taken sick on Monday with pleurisy, and died on Wednesday night. His last breath was spent in prayer. He left a widow and several children.
7. Rev. David Dickinson was born in Conway, July 24, 1770; studied medicine, and practised several years in Ash- field ; afterwards studied theology with Rev. Mr. Crosby of Greenwich, and with Rev. Mr. Holt of Hardwick ; was or- dained as pastor in Plainfield, N. H., July, 1803, and Rev. Mr. Holt preached the sermon ; dismissed from there, in 1817; installed in Columbia, Ct., January, 1819, and Rev. Mr. Bas- sett of Hebron, Ct., preached the sermon; dismissed from Columbia, June, 1837 ; preached several years in Mexico, and Lowville, N. Y .; and about 1840, removed to New Bremen, Lewis County, N. Y., where he still resides. Re- vivals have attended his labors. For some years past, the infirmities of age have compelled him to relinquish preach- ing to a great extent. Mr. Dickinson never graduated at any college.
8. Rev. Harrison G. O. Dwight was born in Conway, Nov. 22, 1803 ; in 1804 removed to Utica, N. Y. ; graduated
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at Hamilton in 1825; finished his theological course at An- dover in 1828; was ordained a Foreign Missionary at Great Barrington, July 15, 1829, and Rev. Dr. Beman preached the sermon. Mr. Dwight preached for a time at South Ab- ington, and performed an itinerary agency for the American Board, previous to his embarkation. He embarked for Mal- ta, Jan. 21, 1830, and arrived there in February ; and soon made an exploring tour in Armenia, with Rev. Dr. Eli Smith ; and removed to Constantinople, June 5, 1832, where he has since labored. He visited this country in 1838 and in 1849. Among the several works he has published, are the following, viz. :- " Smith's and Dwight's Researches in Armenia;" the "Memoirs of Mrs. Elizabeth B. Dwight," his wife; and "Christianity Revived in the East." As an illustration of the perils and hardships of some missionaries, I am permitted to record the following account. Mr. Dwight has twice been in imminent danger of shipwreck, often in the midst of robbers, breathed a cholera, atmosphere where tens of thousands were falling around him, and stood for several successive years in the midst of the loathsome and deadly plague. For seven years after his arrival at Constan- tinople, the plague almost constantly raged around him; and ยท its victims at some times were in every house in his imme- diate neighborhood. In 1837 it entered his family. His wife, and little son of two and a half years, were attacked the same day. His family physician came, and finding the disease was the plague, deserted them. With no physician, and no help except some aid from a German woman, he took the whole care of his wife and son. His son died in two days, and his wife on the twelfth day. He had seen whole families swept away, and expected his own would be. But God spared him, and during those days of sorrow, and the thirty following solitary days of quarantine, poured abun- dant consolation and joy into his soul, so that he hardly knew whether he was in the body or out of the body. He was afterwards constrained to believe that God was prepar-
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ing him by that discipline for the trying labors of several subsequent years of missionary life, when the enemies of the cross were multiplied, and persecution raged. Mr. Dwight buried a son of fifteen years, in 1853, of whom an interesting account is given in the "Journal of Missions" for July, 1853. Mr. Dwight still lives in Constantinople, em- ployed in the missionary service.
9 .* Rev. Samuel M. Emerson was a native of Conway, and died while a pastor in Heath ; and an account of him is given in the history of the Heath pastors.
10. Rev. Samuel Fisher, D. D., was born in Sunderland, June 30, 1777. His father, who resided in Westhampton, died just previous to his birth, in the Revolutionary Army in Morristown, N. J. Mrs. Fisher, his mother, at his birth was making a temporary stay with her brother-in-law, Dr. Samuel Ware, then living in Sunderland. On the day of his birth, he was given to Dr. Ware. For a few years he lived with his mother in Dedham, and in 1782 he went to Conway, to live with Dr. Ware, his uncle, where he re- mained till he joined college. He graduated at Williams in 1799; then was a preceptor in Deerfield Academy ; then a tutor in Williams College, from 1801 to 1803; then studied divinity with Dr. Hyde of Lee ; was licensed Oct. 3, 1804, ' by the Berkshire Association ; was ordained as pastor in Wilton, Ct., Oct. 31, 1804, and dismissed from there, July 5, 1809; installed at Morristown, N. J., Aug. 29, 1809, and dismissed from there, April 27, 1814; soon after installed in Patterson, N. J., and dismissed from there in 1834; then took charge of a church in Ramapo Works, N. Y., until 1840; then, being unable to preach, lived in West Bloom- field, N. Y., till 1843; then lived in Albany, N. Y. ; and from 1844 to 1850, supplied a church in Greenbush, N. Y .; and since 1850 has lived in Orange, N. J. He received his doctorate from Nassau Hall in 1827. He buried his wife in 1850. He has had six children ; all have become hopefully pious; five of them are living ; and one is the Rev. Samuel
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W. Fisher, D. D., of the second Presbyterian church in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. Dr. Fisher is brother of Rev. William Fisher, an account of whom here follows.
11 .* Rev. William Fisher, though not a native of Con- way, yet as he spent the chief part of his early life there, is reckoned as one of the sons of Conway. The following obit- uary notice of him was published soon after his death :-
" Died at Allensville, Switzerland County, Indiana, of con- sumption, on the 19th of April, 1840, Rev. William Fisher, in the 65th year of his age, and the 33d of his ministry. Mr. Fisher was born at Westhampton, Mass., Nov. 20, 1775. His father, Lieut. Jonathan Fisher, at the call of his country, left his family and joined the army of Washington, marched into New Jersey, and died at Morristown in the spring of 1777, when William, the subject of this notice, was but little more than a year and a half old. He left a widow and seven children, four sons and three daughters, the oldest being but about nine years old. Mrs. Fisher, soon after the death of her husband, being in straitened circumstances, removed with her family of little children to Dedham, her native place, and lived with her father. William lived with his mother at Dedham, until he was eight or nine years old, when he went to reside with his maternal uncle, Dea. John Avery of Conway, Mass. He continued with his uncle at work, until after he was twenty-one years old. While he resided at Conway, and during an interesting revival of re- ligion in that place, he became hopefully pious, and joined the church, then under the pastoral care of the late Rev. John Emerson. As near as the writer of this notice can rec- ollect, he was then under sixteen years of age. After his majority, he was for several years employed as a common laborer in different parts of the country. About the year 1798 he went to Williamstown, Mass., and was employed as a laborer in the erection of the new college building, which he afterwards inhabited as a student. For several years he had manifested an ardent desire to obtain an education, that
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he might be qualified to preach the gospel ; but had hitherto been prevented by the want of means. But soon after he left Williamstown, he made up his mind to obtain an educa- tion. Accordingly, in the spring of 1800, he went to the academy in Deerfield, Mass., of which his younger brother was then preceptor, and commenced his studies. Here he pursued his classical studies with untiring diligence, until the fall of 1802, when he entered the Sophomore class in Williams College, of which class, his younger brother was then the instructor. Though, in consequence of his poverty he was obliged during some part of his collegiate life, to en- gage in keeping school, yet by a close application to study, he was enabled to maintain a respectable standing in his class, and to graduate with honor in 1805. Soon after he left college he went to Lee, and pursued his theological studies under the direction of the late venerable Dr. Hyde. He was licensed to preach the gospel in the summer of 1807, by the Berkshire Association. After preaching for a short time on probation, he received a call from the congregation in Middlesex, (now Darien ) in Fairfield County, Ct., to become their pastor. He accepted the call, and was ordained and installed pastor of that church in the fall of 1807. Here he labored with great diligence for nearly twelve years, and was successful in arousing the sleeping energies of the church, and in winning souls to Christ. A goodly number were hopefully converted under his ministry in this place. But the congregation being small, they felt themselves una- ble to raise an adequate support for his increasing family, unless he engaged in keeping school. He therefore felt it to be his duty to seek another field of labor. Accordingly the pastoral relation between him and that people was dissolved in April, 1819. He was employed the following summer as a missionary in Western New York; and in October of that year, he removed his family to Meredith, Delaware County, and was shortly after installed pastor of the church in that place. There he labored with great fidelity and persever-
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ance for about sixteen years. The population being then sparse, and the congregation being extended over a large ter- ritory, his labors were rendered very severe. But his labors were owned and blessed of God. Five seasons of general refreshing were enjoyed by his people, during his ministry among them, and large accessions were made to the church. From a small and feeble floek, when he went amongst them, they increased to a large and respectable church. Mr. Fisher had, for many years, been afflicted with a disorder in his stomach, which often eaused him great distress. In conse- quence of the arduousness of his labors at Meredith, this dis- order increased upon him to such a degree, that in 1835 he felt himself unable any longer to discharge the duties re- quired of him in that extensive congregation. He accord- ingly asked and received a dismission from his people in September, 1835. He then removed with his family to the State of Indiana, where his oldest son had previously settled with his family. He purchased a farm and located himself in Allensville, Switzerland County. Here he continued to preach the gospel, gratuitously, to the destitute inhabitants of that region. He succeeded in organizing a small Presby- terian church in Allensville ; and reorganized another, about nine miles distant, which had fallen into decay. To these he alternately preached, while his strength enabled him. After he became too feeble to minister to both, he confined his labors to the church in Allensville, till the past winter, when he took a severe cold, accompanied with a distressing cough and great prostration of strength, which terminated his ministerial labors. He continued to decline till the 19th of April, when he breathed out his spirit into the hands of his Redeemer.
" Mr. Fisher was possessed of a mild and amiable disposi- tion ; and yet he was firm and pesevering in whatever he undertook. This trait in his character was manifested in his acquiring a collegiate education almost entirely by the labor of his own hands. As a preacher, he was warm and ani-
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mated. He preached the doctrines of grace plainly and pointedly, and yet with much simplicity. His hopes of a blessed immortality brightened as he approached the close of life ; and he cheerfully resigned up his soul to Him who gave it. A few days before his death, he was informed of the death of one of his classmates, Rev. William Bonney of Nelson, Ohio, when he said to his family, 'They are all getting the start of me, but I shall soon follow.' A short time before he expired, he was asked whether he still felt that glorious confidence in his Saviour. He answered em- phatically, I do. Mr. Fisher was married to Miss Rhoda Bardwell of Goshen, Mass., Oct. 25, 1807. By her he had six children, three sons and three daughters. All his chil- dren became hopefully pious. His sons and two of his daughters survive him."
12. Rev. John A. Nash was born in Conway, Sept. S, 1798; graduated at Amherst in 1824; studied theology at Andover and at New Haven; was licensed by the Hampshire East Association, in the fall of 1826 ; was ordained as pastor in Binghampton, N. Y., in the spring of 1835, and remained there three years, till the loss of health compelled him to relinquish the ministry. Both previous and subsequent to his settlement, Mr. Nash has been employed as a teacher. He has taught two years in Hadley ; one in Hopkinton, N. H .; six in New York city ; seven in Pittsfield; and six in Amherst, where he still remains. He is the author of a work called the " Progressive Farmer." In 1852 he became a teacher of agriculture in Amherst College. In 1853 he trav- elled several months in England.
13. Rev. Edward W. Root was born in Conway, March 15, 1820 ; graduated at Yale in 1844; studied theology at New Haven ; was a tutor in Yale College, from 1847 to 1850; was licensed by the New Haven East Association in 1848; was ordained as pastor in Williamsburg, Nov. 13, 1850, and the sermon was preached by President Woolsey of Yale College. Mr. Root still remains in Williamsburg.
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14. Rev. Joseph K. Ware was born in Norwich, April 21, 1793, and removed to Conway at three years of age ; grad- uated at Amherst in 1824; studied theology at New Haven ; ordained as pastor in Palmer, Nov. 12, 1827, and Rev. Dr. Humphrey preached the sermon ; and was dismissed from there, March 16, 1831; then preached several years in New- ark, N. Y., and one year in Walworth, N. Y .; then took charge of a High School in Palmyra, N. Y., two years ; then supplied in Havanna and Burdette, N. Y., four or five years, and one year in Dresden, N. Y .; and for several years past has lived in Canandaigua, N. Y., supplying neighboring churches, as his health would permit. He is a brother of Rev. Samuel Ware.
15. Rev. Samuel Ware was born in Norwich, Sept. 5, 1781, and removed to Conway, about 1797 ; graduated at. Williams in 1808; studied theology with Rev. Vinson Gould of Southampton ; was licensed by Hampshire Association, October, 1809; was ordained as pastor in Ware, Oct. 31, 1810, and Rev. V. Gould preached the sermon. William Hyde, Esq., of Ware, says of him in his published address, delivered at the opening of the new Town Hall in that place, in 1847 : " He was a useful minister, and was much blessed in his labors for more than fifteen years, and gath- ered one hundred and ninety-seven into the church. * * He was dismissed in consequence of ill health in 1826, (July 19), and the following vote, passed by the town, July 3d, will show the esteem in which he was held." "Voted, unani- mously, that agreeably to his request we dismiss and cordially recommend the Rev. Samuel Ware, as an exemplary chris- tian, and an able, judicious, and faithful minister of the gos- pel." Mr. Ware lived from 1827 to 1833, in Conway ; from 1833 to 1838, in Amherst; from 1838 to 1848, in South Deerfield ; from 1848 to 1853, in Shelburne ; and now re- sides in South Deerfield. Since his dismission, he has sup- plied for short periods, destitute churches, and among others,
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those in Rowe and Tolland. He is a brother of Rev. Joseph K. Ware.
16. Mr. William Ware, son of Dr. Samuel Ware, was born in Conway, May 22, 1784; studied a short time at Williams College, but never graduated at any college ; prac- tised as a physician in Ware, and five years in Westminster, West Parish, Vt .; studied theology with Rev. Timothy Field of Westminster, Vt .; was licensed by the Windham Association, Vt. ; preached in Jefferson County, N. Y., and two years in Windsor, Poquonnock Parish, Ct .; about 1829 removed to Clear Creek, Chautauque County, N. Y., where he still resides, as a physician and farmer. He was never ordained, and has for many years relinquished preaching. About 1845 he became a Baptist.
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