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 13
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5. Mr. Orin Cooley was born in South Deerfield, Aug. 18, 1801 ; spent two years at Amherst College, and gradu- ated at Union in 1827 ; studied theology at New Haven ; was licensed by the Eastern Association of New Haven County, Ct. ; preached a year in Tolland in 1832-3; after two years' trial of the employment, relinquished preaching, on account of ill-health ; and since then has been en- gaged in teaching, living in Carlinville, Ill., till 1850, since which time he has lived in Chesterfield, Ill. Mr. Cooley was never ordained.
6. Rev. John Hawks, Jr., was born in Deerfield, Jan. 22, 1823 ; graduated at Amherst in 1847 ; completed the course of theological study at the Union Theological Seminary, New York, in 1850 ; began to preach in Montezuma and Newport, Vermilion County, Ia., in 1850, as a Home Mis- sionary, and still continues to preach there, residing in Mon- tezuma. Mr. Hawks was ordained as an Evangelist at Bainbridge, Ia., Aug. 28, 1851, and Rev. S. K. Sneed preached the sermon on the occasion.
7 .* Rev. Ebenezer Hindsdale was born in Deerfield, in 1706 ; graduated at Harvard in 1727. A credible corres- pondent in Deerfield says of him : " He administered bap- tism in two instances in Deerfield in 1736. He became intemperate, and made public confession thereof in 1750.
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Previously he had relinquished the gown for the sword, and was dubbed Colonel. He married Abigail, daughter by his second wife of the Rev. John Williams of Deerfield." It ap- pears that he was ordained a minister, but it is not known that he was ever pastor of a church, nor where he preached during the short period of his ministry. For a considerable time previous to his death he lived in what is now Hinsdale, N. H., and was promoted to many town offices, and seems to have been an active and influential citizen of the place. The following epitaph is on his tombstone in Hinsdale, N. H .: " Underneath reposited is the body of Colonel Ebe- nezer Hindsdale, who, for his supernatural endowments, ex- tensive learning and usefulness, not only in private life but in various important public offices he sustained, was far known and admired. After a long illness he died, Jan. 6, 1763, in the 57th year of his age."
8. Rev. Edward Hitchcock, D. D., LL.D., was born in Deerfield, and having been settled as a pastor in Conway, a notice of him is given in the account of the pastors in Conway.
9. Rev. Asa Johnson was born in South Deerfield, Feb. - 13, 1802 ; studied two years at Amherst College, and gradu- ated at Union in 1827; studied theology at Auburn ; or- dained as an Evangelist at Henrietta, N. Y., Jan. 2, 1830, and Rev. Dr. Perrine, Professor in Auburn Seminary, preached the sermon ; preached one year in Richmond, N. Y. ; in- stalled pastor in Nunda, N. Y., February, 1833, and Rev. Moses Hunter preached the sermon; dismissed from there in September, 1837 ; preached one year in Goshen, Ia .; has preached eleven years in Peru, Miami County, Ia., and still lives in Peru, Ia.
10. Rev. Alonzo Sanderson was born in Bernardston, Jan. 24, 180S, and at about one year of age removed to South Deerfield, where he lived till manhood. Mr. Sanderson graduated at Amherst in 1834; finished the theological course at Andover in 1837 ; preached a year as a Home
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Missionary in Canada ; ordained as pastor in Ludlow, in January, 1839, and Rev. Dr. Osgood preached his ordination sermon ; dismissed from Ludlow in May, 1845 ; installed in Tolland, July 12, 1843, and Rev. Mr. Dwight, then of Win- sted, Ct., preached the sermon ; dismissed from Tolland in May, 1852 ; in June, 1852, began to preach in Wellington, Ohio, where he was installed as pastor, March 1, 1854. Mr. Sanderson was licensed by Franklin Association, Aug. 9, 1837.
11 .* Rev. Rufus Wells was born in Deerfield, and having been settled as a pastor in Whately, an account of him is given in the sketches of the Whately pastors.
12 .* Rev. Eleazer Williams, the eldest son of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, was born in that town, July 1, 1688 ; being absent at the time of the destruction of Deerfield and the captivity of his father's family, he escaped the horrors of that scene ; he graduated at Harvard in 1708 ; was ordained as pastor in Mansfield, Ct., October, 1710, where he remained in the pastoral office about thirty-two years, till his death in that place. He had two brothers, who were ministers, two sisters who married ministers, and three daughters who mar- ried ministers. His daughter Eunice married Rev. John Storrs, his daughter Sarah married Rev. Hobart Estabrook, and his daughter Mary married Rev. Dr. Richard Salter. The following epitaph is on Mr. Williams' gravestone : " Here lies the body of Rev. Eleazer Williams, pastor of the church in Mansfield, descended from venerable ancestors, but more nobly born from above; and with faithfulness, prudence, zeal, and courage, improved the gifts and graces his divine Lord had entrusted him with, in the work of the ministry here being found with his loins girt, and looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus to eternal life. At his Mas- ter's call he fell quietly asleep in Jesus, Sept. 21, 1742, in the 55th year of his age, and the 32d year of his pastoral work. 'Them that sleep in Jesus, God will bring with him.' "
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13 .* Rev. Stephen Williams, D. D., was a son of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, and was born in that town, May 14, 1693, and was taken a captive with his father at the destruction of Deerfield in 1704, carried to Canada by the Indians, and returned to Boston, Nov. 21, 1705. He wrote a full and interesting account of his captivity, which is pub- lished in the Appendix of the "Redeemed Captive." He graduated at Harvard in 1713 ; received his Doctorate from Dartmouth in 1773 ; ordained as pastor in Springfield, (now Longmeadow,) Oct. 16, 1716, and continued pastor of the church about sixty-two years, till his death. The American Quarterly Register, vol. 10, p. 273, says of him ; " In 1745 he went to Louisburg as a chaplain under Pepperell, and, in 1755, he went to Lake Champlain, in the same capacity, under Sir William Johnson, and, in 1756, under Winslow. He was much honored by the officers and soldiers. By his first wife, Abigail Davenport, daughter of John Davenport of Stamford, Ct., he had seven children, three of whom were ministers ; all were present at his funeral. Probably he was the principal means of sending a missionary to the Housa- tonic Indians, for, on the 9th of September, 1734, he went to New Haven and engaged John Sergeant for that purpose." He gave Mr. Sergeant the charge when ordained as a mis- sionary in Deerfield in 1735. Mr. Williams had two brothers who were ministers, and two sisters who married ministers, and three sons who were ministers, viz., Stephen, Jr., who was settled at Woodstock, Ct. ; Warham, who was settled at Northford, Ct. ; and Nathan, who was settled at Tolland, Ct. The following is the epitaph on his tombstone at Long- meadow : "In memory of Rev. Stephen Williams, D. D., who was a prudent and laborious minister, a sound and evangelical preacher, a pious and exemplary christian, a sincere and faithful friend, a tender and affectionate father and consort, and a real and disinterested lover of mankind. Departed this life with humble and cheerful hope of a
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better, June 10, 1782, in the 90th year of his age, and 66th of his ministry."
" Softly with fainting head he lay Upon his Maker's breast ; His Maker kissed his soul away, And laid his flesh to rest."
Just before his death he called his family together and thus addressed them : "It is a great thing to die. I am afraid of death. I am afraid of the pangs and throes of death, for death is the wages of sin ; but I am not afraid to be dead, for I trust, that, through the merits and grace of my dear Redeemer and Advocate, Jesus Christ, the sting of death, which is sin, is taken away." An engraving of Rev. Mr. Williams is inserted in the edition of the " Redeemed Captive," published by Doctor Stephen Williams in 1853.
14 .* Rev. Warham Williams, son of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, was born in that town, Sept. 16, 1699. The following obituary notice of him was published in the Boston Gazette, of August 6, 1751: " Waltham, June 22, 1751. This evening died here the Rev. Warham Williams, the faithful and beloved pastor of the church in this town. He was son of the venerable Mr. John Williams. When be- tween four and five years of age, he was taken, with the rest of the family, by the Indian enemy, Feb. 29, 1703-4, and carried to Canada. Great kindness was shown him by the Indians, who sometimes carried him in their arms, and sometimes drew him on sleds over the snow and ice. Provi- dence designed his preservation, that he might in time to come be an active and useful instrument in advancing the kingdom and interest of Christ among us. He was in cap- tivity near upon three years, and then returned to his native country, having entirely lost the English language, and could speak nothing but French. However, he soon recovered his mother tongue, was put to school and made great pro- ficiency in the Latin. At the age of 16 he was admitted
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into Harvard College, where he was very studious, and im- proved much in all kinds of useful learning, took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1719, and Master of Arts in 1722. June 11, 1723, he was ordained to the pastoral care of his flock, and has ever since, except a few of the last months, carried on the whole work of the ministry, discharging his office with much success. The advantages of a pious edu- cation made an early, deep, and lasting impression upon him. He was eminently endowed with ministerial gifts and graces ; copious and fluent in prayer, with expressions well adapted ยท to all occasions and circumstances ; methodical, solid and judicious. In his preaching, his subject was always [rela- tive] to the state of his own people, or the conduct of Divine Providence towards our nation and land. His voice was indeed small, yet there was always an agreeable warmth and fervency discovered in the delivery ; a spirit of piety towards God and compassion to the souls of men breathed in all his public performances. He was zealous in promoting the most substantial things in religion, and in bearing testimony against everything vicious and immoral, and especially among his own charge ; very prudent in managing religious affairs, whereby peace and good will were remarkably pre- served in the town; and what crowns all, he adorned his profession as a christian, and his character as a minister, by an exemplary, holy conversation. Those who knew him best valued him most. He bore his lingering sickness with great patience and full resignation, having a comfortable hope of his interest in the special love and favor of God through Jesus Christ. When a friend said to him, 'I hope God will yet spare you for a blessing to your family and to your flock,' he replied, ' Were it put to me to choose whether to live or die, I would cheerfully refer it back again to God, and say, Lord, not as I will, but as thou wilt.' He has left a sorrowful widow and five children."
Mr. Williams had two brothers and one son, who were ministers. He had four daughters, who were married to the
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following ministers, viz., Revs. Samuel Woodward, Job Cushing, D. D., Jacob Cushing, Joseph Parsons, and Eliphalet Williams-one daughter having been married twice.
Mr. Williams was struck with the palsy while in the pulpit, Feb. 18, and died in Waltham, June 22, 1751, in the 62d year of his age. The following is a part of the inscription on his gravestone : " Here lie the remains of the excellent, pious, and learned Divine, the late Rev. Warham Williams, the first and beloved pastor in the church at Waltham. He was indeed a burning and shining light, of superior natural powers and acquired abilities, diligent in study, apt to teach, fervent in prayer, accurate and instructive in preaching, pru- dent and faithful in discipline, tender and skilful in comfort- ing, grave in his deportment, agreeable and edifying in con- versation, meek towards all men, constant and candid in friendship, endearing in every relation, resigned in adversity, a bright example in behavior and doctrine, universally es- teemed, and died greatly lamented."
15 .* Rev. Edward Wright was born in Deerfield, May 1, 1815, and died in West Haven, Ct., Oct. 23, 1852, aged 37. On the occasion of his death a sermon was preached in his native place by Rev. Alfred E. Ives, which was published ; and from the biographical sketch appended to the sermon the following is an extract : "At the age of eight years, his father died, and his early training devolved on a devoted mother, who still survives him. He continued at home spending his time in the school and on the farm, till about the age of seventeen years, when he was apprenticed to Capt. Thomas White of Ashfield, Mass., to be taught the black- smiths' trade. There he came under the pastoral instruction of Rev. Mason Grovesnor, and in the subsequent year was a hopeful subject of renewing grace. Though he had before been a moral youth, the change in him was marked ; and the strong characteristics of promptness and boldness in duty were immediately evident. At the time of his conversion, Capt. White was absent from home ; and, in consequence, the
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wonted family devotions were omitted. Young Wright felt that the circumstances devolved a duty on him ; and imme- diately conferred with the members of the family, and ob- taining their permission, although himself the youngest of his fellow apprentices, who by no means sympathized with him in his religious feelings, he assumed the responsibility of leading their devotions at the family altar till the return of Capt. White. Those fellow apprentices and himself are the 'three mechanics' referred to in the little Sabbath School book, 'THE MOUNTAIN GLEANER.'
" After mature deliberation and counsel, he devoted him- self to the work of the gospel ministry ; and purchasing the remaining time of his apprenticeship for this object, at the age of nineteen years he commenced studies preparatory for college, at the Academy in Deerfield. He found on his re- turn, that measures were already in progress towards the for- mation of an Orthodox church in Deerfield. There had previously been in the village only the church for some time Unitarian, at which he and his relatives had attended ; and he now found this 'new sect,' or newly revived old sect, everywhere spoken against. But all the influences exerted upon him, all the opposition and the derision to which he was subjected, could not move him. His eyes had been opened. Nothing less than the atoning sacrifice of God manifest in the flesh, could meet his deep spiritual wants. And he rejoiced, rather, that he was accounted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ. His interest, his ener- gies, and his heart, were given to the new church, which was organized, June 2, 1835. He was active at this time in sustaining frequent meetings for christian conference and prayer, and the influence he exerted was decided and happy. If any were desponding, he was always hopeful. If any were fearful, he was bold.
" In the year 1836, he entered Yale College, and was graduated with a respectable standing as a scholar in 1840. He pursued his professional studies in the Theological de-
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partment of the same Institution. During his course of edu- cation, as testified by his teachers, he invariably manifested a sweet and amiable temper ; while his kind, cheerful and happy disposition, united with his consistent and active piety, gave him an excellent and extensive christian influence.
" During his last year in the Seminary, he was invited to preach in West Haven, in the pulpit of the venerable Rev. Stephen W. Stebbins, then infirm. The divine blessing attended his labors, and more than fifty, the fruit of the re- vival, were added to the church. He was soon afterwards invited to settle as colleague pastor with Mr. Stebbins,-a befitting colleague and successor of one, whose name in the churches is still as ointment poured forth. He accepted the invitation, and was ordained, June 28, 1843. The same year he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Arms.
" In this field of labor he continued till death, cheered with the evident approbation of God, and with repeated manifestations of the special presence of the Holy Spirit. The church, very small at the commencement of his labors, has been increased in numbers and strength. Dependent before on missionary aid for the support of its pastor, since the time of his settlement and through his influence the ec- clesiastical society has sustained itself unaided ; and at the time of his death, his people were engaged in erecting a new and greatly improved house of worship; and they attribute their successful action in this work to his influence and efforts. They had hoped to see his form and hear his voice within its completed walls ; but his voice is silent, and they will see his face no more.
" As a preacher, Mr. Wright was serious, earnest and pun- gent. Important thought, stated with clearness, neatness and taste, characterized his public performances. In his parochial visits he was faithful, while friendly and cheerful. The character of his piety,-which bore a just relation to both the understanding and to the emotions, which could see clearly and hold strongly and intelligently the distinctive ob-
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jects of faith, and could also feel and melt or kindle and glow at the cross,-was evident in all his ministrations. The in- fluence which went out from him, was not simply that of the truth faithfully dispensed, but more perhaps that of a heart thoroughly imbued with the truth and deeply moved with love to God and man-the influence of truth warm and intense with feeling.
" Soon after their marriage, Mrs. Wright devoted a portion of her time to the instruction of a class of young ladies. These efforts were gradually extended, until they resulted in the establishment of the present Female Seminary in West Haven. The maturing of this Seminary, the erection of the building on its beautiful site, and the procuring of funds needful for this object, the contriving and carrying out of all the minute details of the plan, with the labors and cares of the Principal of such an institution, devolved upon Mr. Wright. The religious interest, also, which has been re- peatedly manifest in the Seminary, while rejoicing his heart, has added to his anxieties and labors.
" These duties, with those included in his pastoral re- lation, and of late the labor and anxiety connected with the erection of the new house of worship-in all which, not only a leading, prompting influence, but also the planning and carrying out of no small part of the details, was neces- sary, not improbably exceeded even his powers of endurance.
" His attack of typhus fever was not such as to cause ap- prehension, but at the end of about three weeks the disease suddenly assumed an alarming form, and during the last week, his mind had but one brief lucid interval. Early in the morning of the 23d October, 1852, he died. On the 25th, devout men carried him to his burial ; his remains were first borne to the ancient sanctuary, where a sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, and from thence to the grave. He has left with his surviving companion a son, eight years of age."
Mr. Wright's thoughts were first directed to the Christian
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Ministry as the employment in which he might be the most useful, by reading "Dr. Hawes' Lectures to Young Men." His ordination sermon was preached by Dr. Hawes. A lengthy obituary notice of Mr. Wright was published in the New York Evangelist, in November, 1852. From another similar article, published in the New York Independent about the same time, the following extracts are taken : " His conversion was not one of those cases which occasion the pastor much doubt and anxiety, but one of a decided and satisfactory character. He had been a moral youth ; but when awakened by the Spirit, a survey of his past life produced deep and painful feelings. The character of this change, and of the active piety which resulted from it, can be better un- derstood from an interview which his pastor had with him a few weeks after it occurred, than from anything else that can be said. On meeting him, his pastor, addressing him by his christian name, said, 'Edward, how do you get along in religion now ?' 'Very well,' was his reply. 'But have you seen no dark times-no hours and days of doubt and anxiety about your christian character ?' 'No, sir ; I cannot say that I have.' 'Have you had enjoyment in religious things most of the time since your hopeful conversion ?' 'Yes, sir.' ' And how have you managed thus to enjoy religion so con- stantly ? Few converts are able to do this.' 'I have pursued one course, and I don't know any other. When I was converted, I gave myself, all I am, and all I have, to Christ. I felt that I belonged to him, and I promised to serve him daily and forever. This consecration and this promise I have renewed every morning when I awoke, and at night I have examined myself, to see whether I had kept it.' 'But have you never failed ?' 'No, sir.' Here was the secret spring of his christian life, which continued to flow out till the day of his death. The facts brought out in this interview have since often been rehearsed, without naming the person, to hundreds of hopeful converts, in order to illustrate the nature of true piety, and to stimulate others
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to the same course. * His dying testimony fully con- firmed the testimony of his life. The following are among his last rational utterances. They were part of the last in- telligent conversation, which he had with his wife two or three days before his death, when his nearest friends hardly regarded his disease as dangerous. Seemingly conscious that delirium was impending, he seized the opportunity to utter his last words : 'God must be glorified, but man humbled. I shall never rise from this bed. Will the interests of this institution be carried on ? My heart has been in it too deeply. But God has blessed it. The Holy Spirit has often de- scended upon it. This church ; oh, I have not been faithful as I ought, as a preacher ! I have not felt the worth of the soul. Oh, what untold agonies await the impenitent ! I shall soon be coffined for the grave. I shall never be carried from this hill alive. The Son of Man has come at an hour when I little expected him. I have been a great sinner. I have had many failings. But, I think, in looking over my life, my general purpose in all my plans has been, to glorify God.' And then, after a little time, when he seemed troubled concerning himself, he broke forth in the following triumphant language of faith : ' Oh, the precious Saviour ! He is able to present me faultless before my Father in heaven. Yes, faultless. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor prin- cipalities, nor powers, shall be able to separate me from the love of God.' "
Several persons, who became ministers and lived for short periods in Deerfield, are not included in the foregoing list. Rev. Dr. Amariah Chandler was born in Deerfield, but removed to Shelburne when about five years of age, and being a pastor in Greenfield, a notice of him may be found in the account of the Greenfield pastors. Mr. Rodolphus B. Hubbard, when four years of age, in 1807, removed to Deerfield and lived there a short time; a notice of whom may be found in the account of the preachers who origin- ated from Sunderland. Rev. William M. Richards in 1808,
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when about two and a half years old, removed to South Deerfield and lived there a year or two, and also lived there several years subsequently, to learn the trade of shoemaker ; a notice of whom may be found in the account of the South Deerfield pastors. Rev. Rufus P. Wells spent some part of his early life, after 1826, in South Deerfield ; a notice of whom may be found in the account of the Whately pastors.
Of the fifteen Congregational ministers reckoned as sons of Deerfield, thirteen were natives of the town; fourteen were graduates ; thirteen have been ordained; two were taken captives by the Indians ; and seven are now living.
OTHER DENOMINATIONS.
BAPTISTS. The Baptist church in Deerfield was organ- ized in that part of the town called Wisdom, Feb. 26, 1787; and May 31, 1792, the church voted that this church shall be known in future by the title of the First Baptist Church of Christ in Deerfield and Shelburne. Aug. 24, 1832, this church met at Shelburne, and voted to divide the church into two bodies, according to residence of the mem- bers in the two towns. The members residing in Deerfield, at a meeting, March 25, 1833, took the name of the Baptist Church of Deerfield. In February, 1834, this Deerfield church voted, by a majority of one, to dissolve the church. During this unsettled state of things, two councils were called to act in relation to their organization. Since then, they are known as the Baptist church of Deerfield. Its number of members in 1853 was 55. Among the preachers who early supplied this church, were Revs. Messrs. Beck- with, Green, Cole, Hamilton, and Bennett. Rev. David Long of Shelburne was ordained pastor of this Union church, Sept. 21, 1792, and served them till his death, May 13, 1831, at the age of 79. Since then, the following Baptist preach- ers have supplied in Wisdom, viz., Revs. Messrs. Tristram Aldrich, Austin, Orra Martin, Dalrymple, George B. Bills, Milo Frary, and W. A. Pcase. They have not had much preaching regularly for some time past.
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