USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > History of the town of Palmer, Massachusetts, early known as the Elbow tract : including records of the plantation, district and town 1716-1889 > Part 23
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The Council met June 18 ; dismissed Rev. Mr. Baldwin ; examined Mr. Colton ; and voted to proceed the next day to the ordination. The parts assigned were as follows :
Introductory Prayer, Rev. Samuel Ware of Ware ;
Sermon, Rev. Z. S. Moore of Leicester ;
Consecrating Prayer, Rev. Joseph Blodget of Greenwich ;
Charge, Rev. Ephraim Ward of Brookfield ;
Right hand of Fellowship, Rev. Alfred Ely of Monson ; Concluding Prayer, Rev. Joshua Crosby, 2nd ch. Greenwich.
Mr. Colton's ministry appears to have been a successful one. One hundred and twenty members were added to the church, all but sixteen on profession. These were largely the fruits of a revival which occurred in 1819. In the spring of 1821, some opposition to Mr. Colton was manifested in the town, the nature of which does not appear ; and he asked a dismission from the pastoral relation. He was dismissed by a council November 13, 1821.
Mr. Colton was a native of Longmeadow ; graduated at Yale College 1806, and studied theology with Rev. Samuel Worcester, D. D., of Salem. He was preceptor of Leicester academy for two years. After his dismission he taught the academy in Monson for nine years, where he had been preceptor for a year previous to his settlement in Palmer. He then took charge of the academy at Amherst. Later he removed to Fayetteville, North Carolina, and assumed the care of a new educational institution, established under Presbyterian patronage. He remained here thirteen years ; when, on invitation of the trustees, he removed to Mississippi, to become
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president of Clinton College, an institution just incorporated. This was an attempt to revive a concern that under other auspices, had proved a failure. But expected funds were not forthcoming ; friends became discouraged ; and the effort was abandoned. Mr. Colton returned to North Carolina, and opened a Select School of high order at Ashborough, where he died in December, 1868. His scholarship was of a high order ; as is evinced by the fact that in 1846, the College in Delaware conferred on him the honorary de- gree of D. D. " He was a man of restless enterprise in whatever he undertook, having a full share of that enthusiasm which has been said to be common to many who bear his respectable family name. He was an earnest, faithful preacher, an excellent instructor, always patient and hopeful, prompt in the fulfilment of every duty, and full of the spirit of self-sacrifice, whatever his work might be."
October 10, 1822, the town voted to give a call to Rev. Ebenezer Newhall to settle in the work of the ministry in Palmer; and offered him an annual salary of five hundred dollars. He accepted the call-proposing however certain conditions, among which was one that he should be allowed two Sabbaths in the year to visit friends, attend ordinations, etc. The town first voted to accept the conditions, but afterwards reconsidered the vote ; and the matter was dropped. Mr. Newhall was a native of New Ispwich, N. H .; graduated at Harvard University, 1818 ; was ordained pastor of the church in Oxford, December, 1823; installed at Lincoln, Jan., 1833; settled at Willsboro', N. Y., 1847; Chesterfield, N. H., 1852 ; Litchfield, N. H., 1854.
May 5, 1823, the town voted to hire Rev. Benj. F. Lombard to supply the pulpit until otherwise ordered.
March 8, 1824. Voted, "That the town so far dispose of the use of the meeting-house as respects the supplying the pulpit, that the church and those voting with them shall have the pulpit one- half of the time, and the residue of the people the other half of the time, each weekly and successively-the church to have it next Sabbath and the residue the second week, and so on alternately. [The vote stood, 78 in favor and 10 against. ]
May 3, 1824. At a town meeting a committee consisting of Leb- beus Chapin, Benjamin Converse, Wilson Foster, Jesse Smith, Capt. Jonathan Moore, Asa Ward, James Stebbins, John Sedgwick, Philip Lamb and John McMaster, 2d, was chosen, "to confer to- gether and devise the best and most conciliatory measures to unite the people in the town, and for supplying the pulpit."
In October, 1824, the Church gave a call to Mr. Eric Prince to settle in the ministry; but the town voted not to concur.
IVES
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, PALMER OLD CENTRE. ERECTED 1797. [From a painting by Mrs. Jennie R. Carpenter.]
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PALMER IN MODERN TIMES, 1812-1889.
November 1, 1824. The town voted " to choose a committee of six persons to employ some suitable person to supply the desk in the meeting-house with preaching-said committee to consist of three persons from each party to be nominated by their own party, which vote was passed; but the church party having expressed their dissatisfaction therewith, it was voted mutually to reconsider the said vote."
These votes of the town indicate a very unhappy condition of things as respects religious ordinances. The precise bone of con- tention is not apparent from the records; nor is it expedient at this late day to inquire into or criticise the motives and acts of the par- ties in interest.
REV. HENRY H. F. SWEET .- An article in the warrant for March 9, 1825, was " To choose a committee of equal numbers from each party to select a minister or ministers to supply the desk in the meeting-house." And Lebbeus Chapin, John Blanchard, Jesse King, Amos Hamilton, Solomon Shaw and John McMaster, 2d, were chosen said committee. This committee were so fortunate as to secure a candidate who healed all the ecclesiastical differences in the town and church. And at a meeting held Sept. 12, 1825, it was voted "To give Mr. Henry H. F. Sweet a call to settle in the work of the Gospel ministry in this town, and to give him an annual salary of five hundred dollars-on condition that he may dissolve the contract at any time by giving six months' notice, and the town by a majority vote may do the same, an ecclesiastical council giving its sanction." The answer of Mr. Sweet is so full of good sense and Christian sincerity and wisdom, that it is here copied in full :
PALMER, October 8, 1825.
To the Cong' Church and Society in Palmer :
BRETHREN & FRIENDS : A communication from your respective committees, containing your request that I would settle with you as your pastor and minister, has been duly received. Wishing, as I trust I do, in so important a transaction, to be guided by those plain indications of Divine Providence, which when faithfully con- sulted, and fearlessly and conscientiously obeyed, never lead astray from the path of duty, it has been made the subject of serious and prayerful consideration. Many of the circumstances under which this invitation is presented are pleasing, and deserving of peculiar regard ; and in them the hand of an overruling Providence ought to be reverentially acknowledged. The kindness and cordiality with which I have been received while among you; the harmony
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which has marked your proceedings, and the unanimity with which your request is expressed, afford ground for the pleasing hope that, should I continue with you, my labors might be useful. These things united I have uniformly viewed as indications of the provi- dence of God, which ought not to be disregarded ; and in forming my decision on this subject, have wished they might have their proper influence. But in the consideration of other circumstances, I have felt constrained to hesitate. The principal one to which I allude, and the only one which need be mentioned, is the support which you offer me. Here I would not be understood to intimate that there is any want of liberality on your part. I would by no means say that you have not proposed as much as it is your duty to offer. Nor am I willing to admit that my hesitation has arisen from an avaricious disposition on my part. Every one must be sen- sible that it cannot be the duty of any one to settle in the work of the ministry where he has not a rational prospect of being placed in circumstances free from embarrassment. If in my circum- stances the sum you offer, though liberal considered in relation to yourselves, does not afford me this prospect, it cannot be my duty to accept your proposal. This I have had serious apprehensions, which I have before not unfrequently expressed was the case in the present instance.
But, upon mature deliberation and in view of the encouragement afforded in the form of a settlement by individual contributions, I have thought that it is not my duty finally to object to your pro- posals on this account. After taking into consideration the attendant circumstances, and, as I hope, having sought direction from Him who is the fountain of light and wisdom, I have con- cluded to yield myself to your wishes. Believing it to be the call of God's providence, I now accept of your invitation to settle with you in the work of the Gospel ministry. And while I thus come forward to surrender myself to the labors and trials of this high and arduous calling, I would not for a moment forget my depend- ence on Almighty God for ability and a disposition to discharge the important and responsible duties which it involves ; nor can I refrain from reminding you that I need your prayers. The inter- est which you have manifested on this subject, and the sacrifices which you have shown yourselves ready to make, while they inspire the hope that this wish will be complied with, afford a pleasing token of future good. Let us unite our supplications that the Lord our God may counsel and direct us in all our transactions relative to the interesting connection now contemplated. That the Great Head of the church may own and signally bless your ex-
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ertions for the advancement of religion and lead you in the way best calculated to promote His glory and your present and eternal interest is the ardent wish and unceasing prayer of
Your friend & Brother in the Lord
HENRY H. F. SWEET.
He was ordained November 9, 1825, and after a brief ministry of fifteen months died February 20, 1827, aged 30 years and 4 months.
Mr. Sweet was the only son of Henry and Lucinda Sweet, born in Attleboro' Nov. 1, 1796. He united with the church in A., then under the pastoral charge of Rev. Nathan Holman, in 1816, graduated at Brown University 1822, and studied theology with Rev. Dr. Ide of Medway, who preached his ordination sermon. He married Miss Elizabeth Henshaw of Roxbury, who afterwards married Mr. Cyrus Merrick of Sturbridge.
As a man Mr. Sweet was gentle, unassuming and kind in his manners and intercourse with others. His mind, though not brilliant, was above the ordinary level - patient, logical, fully grasping and thoroughly understanding its themes of thought. As a preacher he was interesting and impressive. He was thor- oughly Calvinistic in his doctrinal views. As a pastor he was sol- emn, deliberate, wise. He particularly excelled in the conference meeting and in his interest in the lambs of his flock. A revival of considerable power commenced a few months before his death, as a result of which over 30 were added to the church. His memory was fragrant in Palmer for many years.
REV. JOSEPH K. WARE. - Oct. 15, 1827. The town voted to give a call to Rev. Joseph K. Ware to settle in the work of the ministry, offering him an annual salary of $500, with conditions similar to those agreed to in the case of Mr. Sweet. He gave his answer, accepting the invitation, Nov. 8, and was ordained Dec. 12, Rev. Dr. Humphrey preaching the sermon.
A considerable minority was opposed to the settlement of Mr. Ware, and did not become reconciled to his ministry. Many left the society, some at first because of their dissatisfaction, others on account of the heavy burden of taxation for his support, until his friends found themselves unable to raise the salary. On his re- quest, he was regularly dismissed from the pastoral relation Mar. 16, 1831.
Mr. Ware was born in Norwich, Mass., April 21, 1793, and re- moved with his parents to Conway at three years of age; graduated at Amherst College 1824, and studied theology at New Haven.
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
After leaving Palmer he preached several years in Newark, N. Y., and one year in Walworth, N. Y., then took charge of a High School in Palmyra, N. Y., where he remained two years, then preached in Havana and Burdette, N. Y., four or five years and one year in Dresden, N. Y .; then took up his residence in Canan- daigua, same State.
A Parish Organized. Soon after the dismission of Mr. Ware, i. e., on April 4, 1831, a Society or Parish was formed, comprising those who held to the doctrines of the church covenant and ac- cepted the Congregational form of government. The society elected its clerk and treasurer, but meetings for business, where money was to be granted, were called by the selectmen, the war- rant specifying, "All the male inhabitants of said town legally qualified to vote in the Congregational Religious Society of Palmer." And by a vote (already quoted, see ante p. 215) in 1835 the town virtually transferred the control of the meeting-house to the Society or Parish.
REV. SAMUEL BACKUS. - During the summer succeeding the dismissal of Mr. Ware, preaching was sustained irregularly, and re- ligious affairs were in a low and dark state. In September, Rev. Samuel Backus was employed to preach as a candidate, and con- tinued . to supply till his installation, January 11, 1832. He held the pastorate for nine years. Some dissatisfaction arose, partly in consequence of his active efforts in the cause of temperance, and he asked a dismission. The pastoral relation was dissolved May 4, 1841.
Mr. Backus was a native of Canterbury, Ct .; graduated at Union College, 1811; was first settled in Woodstock, Ct. Since leaving Palmer he has lived in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he has been engaged in teaching, and laboring as city missionary.
REV. MOSES K. CROSS .- Early in the fall of 1841, Mr. Moses K. Cross began to preach, with a view to settlement as pastor. His ministrations were highly acceptable to the people. He received a call, which he accepted, and his ordination took place Feb. 2, 1842, the sermon being preached by his former pastor, Rev. Milton P. Braman, D.D., of Danvers.
Shortly after this date, the growth of business and population at the four villages left the Old Centre "out in the cold." Nothing but the meeting-house and graveyard remained there to draw the townspeople either on week-days or the Sabbath. The settlers at Three Rivers were accommodated with both Baptist and Meth-
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odist meeting-houses. The new and thriving village at the Depot felt the need of religious privileges and a house of worship near at hand. The division of the town into distinct parishes be- came an acknowledged necessity. The people would not go to the (distant) meeting-house, and the meeting-house must come to the people. In view of these patent facts, an amicable and nearly equal division of the town into two parishes was effected April 1, 1847. The second society made its centre at the Depot Village. The old parish and the old church removed to Thorndike Village, where they soon erected a neat sanctuary, which still continues to be the home of the First Church.
Mr. Cross remained pastor, and continued his work at the new location till, owing to failure of health, he was constrained to ask a dismission, which took place March 7, 1849. He was born in Danvers, Sept. 24, 1812; graduated at Amherst College 1838 ; studied theology at East Windsor and Andover. He was installed pastor of the First Church in South Deerfield Sept. 4, 1850, where he remained till 1854. He then went west, and was pastor at Tip- ton, Iowa, 1855 to 1865 ; Washington, Iowa, 1865-1867 ; Waverly, same state, 1867-1871. Since that date he has resided at Waterloo, Iowa.
For the year following the dismission of Mr. Cross, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Levi Smith and Rev. Plineus Moody.
REV. SYLVESTER HINE .- Mr. Hine, the next pastor, was in- stalled Nov. 19, 1851, and remained in the pastoral office till May 23, 1854. He was born in Middlebury, Ct .; graduated Yale Col- lege, 1843, and at East Windsor Theological Seminary; was or- dained pastor of the Congregational Church in Ticonderoga, N. Y. He is now associate editor of a paper at Hartford, Ct.
Nov. 25, 1854, the Society voted to give Rev. M. K. Cross, who had just been dismissed from South Deerfield, a call to re-settle in the ministry in Palmer ; but he declined.
REV. JOHN H. M. LELAND .- Mr. Leland commenced preaching in 1855 ; was installed Sept. 17, 1857, and retained the pastoral of- fice but little more than a year, being dismissed Nov. 13, 1858. He was a native of Amherst, born Jan. 25, 1821; grad. A. C. 1840 ; ordained at South Royalston, Oct. 13, 1847; dismissed 1849; in- stalled Bethel, Me., where he was pastor 1850-53; preached in Palmer, as above ; since 1858 has lived in Amherst.
Since Mr. Leland's time the Society and Church have been sup- plied with acting pastors without installation.
1
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
REV. JEREMIAH W. TUCK .- Commenced his labors here April, 1859, and remained till May 1, 1865. Mr. Tuck was born at Ken- sington, N. H., Oct. 8, 1811; grad. A. C. 1840 ; Hart. Theol. Sem. 1843 ; ordained at Ludlow, Sept. 6, 1843, where he remained till 1860. After leaving Palmer he was settled at Jewett City, Ct., and was pastor, 1866-76 ; pastor Third Ch., Middletown, Ct., 1877-81.
REV. WILLIAM B. BOND .- Came to Palmer from St. Johnsbury, Vt., and supplied the pulpit from May 4, 1865, to May 1, 1869. He is now at Lake Forest, Ill.
REV. HIRAM DAY .- From Windham, Ct .; began his labors here in Sept., 1869, and closed April 1, 1870. Is now located at Glen- coe, Ill.
REV. THEODORE ADGATE LEETE .- Was acting pastor from May 1, 1870 to April 1875. He was born in Guilford, Ct., May 20, 1814 ; grad. Y. C. 1839. Y. Theol. Sem. 1843 ; ord. pastor First Church, Windsor, Ct., Sept. 24, 1845, dismissed Sept. 1859 ; acting pastor Florence, (Northampton) Mass., 1861-2 ; Agawam, 1862-3 ; in the service of the Christian Commission, 1863-4. Was acting pastor at Blandford, Mass., 1864-'70 ; Palmer, 1870-'75 ; Union Church, Three Rivers, 1875-'77; Orange, Ct., 1877-'80; North- ford, North Branford, Ct., 1880-'83 ; without charge Longmeadow, Mass., where he died April 28, 1886.
The Society and Church was supplied by Mr. H. L. Read, an evangelist, from May 1875, for about a year and a half.
REV. - WHITE, was acting pastor from March 1877, to Oct. 1878, when he removed to Hallowell, Me.
REV. CHARLES H. RICKETTS .- Came to Palmer direct from the Theological Seminary, and had charge of the pulpit from 1880 to 1884, when he went to the First Church, Rockville, Ct., where he was installed, and remained till May 1, 1889.
REV. ALBERT C. HURD, took charge of the pulpit Aug. 24, 1885, and remained two years, when he went to Francestown, N. H., where he is now acting pastor.
REV. ERNEST W. SHURTLEFF, from And. Theol. Sem., com- menced preaching March 8, 1888, but at the end of three months his health failed, and he removed to California.
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PALMER IN MODERN TIMES, 1812-1889.
REV. CARLOS H. HANKS, was employed on recommendation of Mr. Shurtleff, and has since supplied the pulpit. He received ordination in Ohio, where he supplied both Presbyterian and Congregational churches. He is now (1889) a member of Boston University.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
As early as 1818, a few families resident in Palmer began to hold religious meetings under the auspices of neighboring Baptist min- isters ; and that year, two or three taxpayers filed certificates that they had paid taxes for the support of preaching elsewhere, and were exempted from the minister's rate. A church of this faith was organized in the south part of Belchertown, under the name of the " Belchertown and Palmer Baptist Church," November 16, 1825. For a while meetings were held in a house occupied in com- mon by this people and a Methodist society. In 1832 they erected the present church edifice in the village of Three Rivers, which was dedicated in January 1833. The name of the church was then changed to the " Baptist Church in Three Rivers." The number of original members was 24, 11 males and 13 females. The number of members in 1852 was 111. The pastors have been : Rev. Messrs. Alvin Bennett, Henry Archibald, Tubal Wakefield, David Pease, John R. Bigelow, Prosper Powell, N. B. Jones, Chester Tilden, Joseph Hodges, Jun., Sanford Leach, Addison Parker, March 1848-1852, L. H. Wakeman, Dec. 1852-March 1855, C. L. Baker, June 1855-Apr. 1857, L. W. Wheeler, May 1857-May '58, E. H. Watrous, June 1858-May '62, E. Kinney, July 1862-May '63, Thomas Womersley, May 1863-Aug. 1868, L. F. Shepardson, Jan. 1869-April '73, S. Wright, Sept. 1874-Mar. "75, J. W. Holman, 1875-Apr. 1877, Philip Berry, June '77-April '78, T. C. Russell, July '78-1881, F. B. Joy, May 1882-April '87, John Eyers, Sept. 1887.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A class of ten persons was formed at Three Rivers by Rev. A. Taylor in 1833, and Royal Buffington was appointed leader. The class met in the school house on the hill. At first it was connected with Brookfield circuit. In a short time it became connected with South Belchertown, Rev. A. Perry being the preacher in charge. In 1837 a chapel was built opposite and a little to the southwest of the mill-old lady Hubbard giving the land, on condition that it should be occupied by a Methodist chapel and should revert to her heirs whenever such religious service was discontinued. Rev. H. Moulton was appointed preacher. He was followed by Rev. William Gordon, who in 1840 was succeeded by Rev. T. W. Gile. Up to
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HISTORY OF PALMER.
1841 the society divided the labors of the pastor with the society in Belchertown ; but in that year it was made a station, with Rev. J. Nichols preacher in charge. He remained two years, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. D. L. Winslow, for one year ; Rev. J. Cadwell, under whom the church had a large growth. The preachers that followed were Rev. Amos Binney, Rev. Daniel Chapin, Rev. C. L. McCurdy, Rev. J. W. Mowry, Rev. Nathaniel J. Merrill, Rev. E. B. Morgan and Rev. F. Fisk. This brings the record down to 1856.
A class had been formed at Thorndike before 1845, and the next year applied to the Conference for a preacher. Rev. N. E. Cob- leigh was sent. A church was organized January 23, 1847. Ser- vices were held in the hall of the school house. At the end of a year the membership numbered 60. Rev. William M. Hubbard was preacher 1849-50. In 1852 the society began to hold service in the old Congregational meeting-house at Palmer Centre, and so continued to do for a couple of years. Rev. D. K. Merrill and J. A. Ames were pastors in charge. In 1853 this church and the one at South Belchertown were made one station, with Rev. D. Atkins as preacher. As the outcome and adjustment of a series of diffi- culties encountered by the Thorndike society, in 1854 this and the mother church at Three Rivers came together and formed one large congregation, with Rev. C. Morgan as preacher. During the sum- mer they met in the Town House at Four Corners; in the winter they returned to the old chapel.
1855. Rev. F. Fisk was appointed preacher. This year, as the result of a friendly consultation, it was decided to build a new meeting-house at the Four Corners. Work was begun in Septem- ber, 1856, and the house was dedicated June 16, 1857, Bishop O. C. Baker preaching the sermon.
The chapel at Three Rivers being given up by the denomination, reverted to the Hubbard heirs, was sold and removed and made over into a dwelling house.
The preachers in charge at Four Corners have been Rev. James M. Clark, Rev. L. R. Bolles, Jun., Rev. D. K. Banister, Rev. J. B. Bigelow, Rev. C. H. Hannaford, Rev. A. F. Bailey, Rev. A. P. Asken, Rev. N. Fellows, Rev. J. M. Clark, Rev. O. W. Adams, Rev. William Gordon, Rev. W. R. Tisdale, Rev. Charles T. John- son, Rev. - - Matthews, Rev. - Atkins.
At the Fourth Quarterly Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Palmer, held March 10, 1866, the following were elected trustees of the said church for the year ensuing, viz., A. Beard, E. B. Gates, Robert McMaster, Martin Sedgwick, T. D. Potter. The Board organized Mar. 19 by the choice of A. Beard chairman and
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T. D. Potter secretary and treasurer, who was sworn by G. W. Randall, J. P. Town Records.
Methodist Episcopal Church at Bondsville. In April, 1866, the Methodists of South Belchertown and those living in Bondsville formed a union and commenced holding religious services in Union Hall. A class of 15 members was organized ; Rev. John Cadwell was sent as preacher; the Sabbath school was started with 70 mem- bers. In 1875-6 a neat and convenient house of worship was erected, at a cost of $6,000, the corner stone being the gift of Mr. Cadwell. The preachers in charge have been Rev. John Cadwell, Rev. Wm. N. Hubbard, 2 years ; Rev. Wm. P. Blackmar, 1870, 2 years ; Rev. J. W. Cole, 1 year ; Rev. George E. Chapin, 1873, 2 years ; Rev. Alfred Noon, 1875-6; Rev. D. K. Merrill, 1877-9.
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