USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Leominster > Leominster, Massachusetts, historical and picturesque > Part 3
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STEAMER AURORA, No. I., is located on Church street. Engineer, Wm. H. Wood.
CLIPPER HOOK AND LADDER Co. No. I., on Church street. Foreman, James Killelea ; clerk, P. H. Killelea ; 15 men.
WASHINGTON HOSE Co. No. I., on Church street. Fore-
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TOWN GOVERNMENT.
man, Walter H. Rugg; assistant foreman, Ernest Perkins ; clerk, John Wilcox ; 10 men.
ALWAYS READY HOSE NO. 2, on Church street. Foreman, Frank Gleason ; clerk, L. W. Lowe ; 12 men.
FRANKLIN HOSE CO. No. 3, on Main street, North Leom- inster. Foreman, T. J. O'Brien ; assistant foreman, P. C. Chute ; steward, F. C. King ; secretary, J. L. Jones ; 12 men.
TORRENT HOSE Co. No. 4, on Church street. Foreman, Charles H. Pierce ; clerk, Clarence N. Cozzens ; 10 men.
The first Chief of the Leominster Fire Department was Emery Tilton, followed by Henry Stearns, D. B. Stratton, James Skinner, George R. Damon,
WILLIAM H. SPAULDING, the present Chief Engineer, is a native of Rochester, New York, learned the carpenter's trade when he was 16 years of age; came to Leominster in July, 1865, and entered the employ of Edwin Litchfield, but soon after went to work for Tenney & Lockey, afterward J. P. Lockey, then John H. Lockey, and more recently the Lockey Piano Case Co., and with the exception of an interval of a few months, has been actively connected with the fire depart- ment since 1866.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
The Leominster Water Works were built in 1873, and the town began furnishing water, Jan. 1, 1874. The first action taken towards providing a water supply was in 1870, when Manson D. Haws, Esq., caused an article to be inserted in the town warrant, to see what action the town would take to obtain water. The committee to examine and report consisted of M. D. Haws, C. H. Merriam, J. H. Lockey, J. C. Allen and Cephas Derby. Subsequently Mr. Lockey, declining to act fur- ther with the committee, Dr. G. W. Pierce was elected to fill his place and Augustus Whitman was added to the committee. The necessary authority having been granted by the legislature
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
the town voted Dec. 30, 1872, on a test vote of 249 yeas to 5 nays, to proceed with the work, according to plans reported by their committee and chose a water board consisting of Emery Tilton, Dr. G. W. Pierce, for three years; H. M. Lane and George Hall for two years ; C. H. Merriam and Wm. M. How- LEOMINSTER land for one year. The board WATER-WORKS, ELEVATIONS S. MONDOSNOCK HILL -600 +- was organized with C. H. Merriam, chairman, H. M. Lane, clerk, and Wm. M. How- land, treasurer. January 13, HAYNES 442 RESERVOIR , 1873, this board was author- ized and instructed to proceed with the work. A loan was MORSE 278 obtained from the State Treas- RESERVOIR urer, payable one third each in PROPOSED ) JUNCTION RESERVOIR 199 18/2 ten, fifteen and twenty years, DISTRIBUTING RESERVOIR/ at seven per cent interest. HOUGHTON HILL 13 -CHUALOOM POND 113- The contract was awarded to A, W. POLLARD HOUSE 92 WEST ST. Charles L. Goodhue of Spring- ABOVE |BELDVĂ MONUMENT SQUARE field, Mass., and completed by PATON MFG.CO. SHOP. 29 him to the satisfaction of the G.W.WHEELWRIGHT ENTRELE MILL +84 HARWOOD LEATHERBOARD MILL+93 town, Dec. 23, 1873, at which time the water was permanently let into the pipes.
The water is taken from Morse brook about one and one half miles from the center, and has a fall of one hundred and eighty-three feet at the top of the curbstone around Monu- ment Square, with a pressure of about seventy-nine pounds to the square inch. The drainage area is 1.215 acres and the storage capacity of all the reservoirs is 150,000,000 gallons. The original surveys and plans were made, providing for four reservoirs, " Haynes," " Morse," " Junction," and " Distribut- ing." Three were constructed and the fourth, "Junction," res- ervoir left to be built at some future time, if needed for storage.
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TOWN GOVERNMENT.
The amount of water in the three reservoirs is adequate to supply present demands. The accompanying diagram gives the elevations of the several reservoirs and points of land and other well known localities in town, with distance above - or below the curbstone at Monument square. A sketch of Mr. Emery Tilton, the first Superintendent of the Water Works is given elsewhere.
MR. JOSEPH G. TENNEY, the present superintendent of the Water Works, has occupied that position and has also been treasurer of the board since 1879. He was born in Leomin- ster, Aug. 5, 1825, educated in the public schools of the town, learned the carpenter's trade and began the business of carpen- ter and builder for himself, while yet in his minority. At the age of twenty he contracted to build his first house for his sis- ter, Mrs. Maynard, on Pleasant street, and soon after the A. (). Wilder house on West street. In 1850 he built a residence for himself on Water street, where he first began housekeeping and where he has since lived. In 1859, Mr. Tenney went South, but was sent for by Isaac Cowdrey to return and help him build a house for Porter M. Kimball. This he did, and con- tinued in business with Mr. Cowdrey for some time. In 1864 he engaged in the Piano business with J. P. Lockey, and in 1867 became the first treasurer of the Arlington Piano Co. In 1870 he began outside, the manufacture of sounding boards, for the same company, erecting the building opposite his residence on Water street, for that purpose. He was associated with the Stratton brothers at Strattons' mills in 1871, bought out their interest, and in 1874 entered into partnership with Captain Clesson Kenney, under the style of Tenney & Kenney, con- tinuing for five years, after which time the latter conducted the lumber business and Mr. Tenney gave his attention to the management of the Water Department for the town.
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CHAPTER IV.
CHURCHES.
EPTEMBER 1743, the first church in Leominster was organized and Rev. John Rogers, a lineal descendant of the martyr of that name, was ordained their first minister. The frame of the first meeting house was raised in the summer of 1741, on land purchased for that purpose of Ebenezer Houghton, and situated in the northeast corner of what is now the old burying ground. The building was far enough towards completion in the winter of 1742, so as to have a month's preaching in it. It was 45 feet in length, 35 in width and 22 feet high. It was rough boarded on the outsides with few windows, and within only a loose floor and movable seats or benches. There were no pews for several years and the outside was not finished and painted until 1753. This house was used not only for public worship, but as a town house, and the town meetings were held in it for over thirty years. In 1775 it was sold at public auction to the Baptist society in Harvard, taken down and carried to " Still River," and for a long time was used by them as a place of worship until they
....
111.0
THE "OLD PARSONAGE" OF REV. FRANCIS GARDNER.
RESIDENCE OF D. W. SALISBURY, WEST STREET.
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CHURCHES.
were about to build a larger house, when they moved the old one across the street, and fitted it up for a parsonage. On account of differences in opinion between himself and his peo- ple, about minor doctrinal points of religion, Mr. Rogers was dismissed in 1757, but about one-fifth of the society adhering to him, a " poll Society " was made of them by the Legislature, to whom he preached until prevented by the infirmities of age, and was dismissed by them in 1788.
After the settlement of the controversy with Mr. Rogers, the church and town proceeded to the choice of a minister, and in 1762, Rev. Francis Gardner was settled as their secod pastor. REV After the dismission of Mr. Rogers from the " poll Society," that church and society was dissolved, and the members united with Mr. Gardner's church. Mr. Rogers died October RE loGER 6, 1789, in the 78th year of his age. The marble monument to his memory was placed MONUMENT over his grave in the old cemetery in 1845 by a committee of the First Congregational Society, one half the expense being paid by the Hon. Walter R. Johnson, of Wash- ington, D. C. a grand-son of Mr. Rogers.
REV. FRANCIS GARDNER, was a son of Rev. John Gardner, of Stowe, and was born Feb. 29, 1736 ; was grad- uated at Harvard Uni- versity in 1755, and was nearly 27 years of age when ordained. He was a man of sound under- RANGI GARDNER TABLET standing and great learning, a thorough biblical scholar, a dis- creet and prudent pastor, and a good sermonizer, but, accord- ing to Mr. Wilder in his valuable history, "as an orator,
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
the Rev. Mr. Adams of Lunenburg and some others were far his superiors." Mr. Adams was not only a good orator, and a good minister, but he was somewhat facetious. On a certain occasion he expressed himself in language like the following : " Let Father Gardner write a sermon and let me deliver it, and we would beat the devil," meaning, undoubtedly that the effect of such N MEMORY OF THE REV FRANCIS GARDNER sermons thus deliv- ered, would be to con- WHO DIED JUNE 27 A.D. vince the hearers that, THE TSDIYEAR OF HIS AGE E WAS BORN FEBRUARY2 9217 36 ORDAINEDA MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL whenever they were enticed by the adver- N LEOMINSTER sary to commit sin, they should immedi- CH HIGHLY IMPORTANT OFFICE HE OFFICIATED UNTIL HIS DE CEASE THE POSSESSED IN AN EMINENT DEGREE THOSE DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL VIRTUES WHICH /ENDEARED HIM TO /HYS ately obey the pre- cept given by St. James : "Resist the
IFAMILY GAVE HIM THE CONFIDENCE OF HIS FRIENDS
AND THE ESTEEM AND RESPECT OF HIS PEOPLE WITH! WHOM HE LIVED IN MUCH AMONY DISCHARGING
devil, and he will flee from thee." Mr.
TO GENERAL SATISFACTION HIS ISTERIAL AND
PAROCHIAL DUTIES @ P 00 OF NEARLY
Gardner died sudden- FIFTY-TWO YEARS. OF THEIR ESTEEM FOR HIS MANY VIRTUES IND/TO ERPETUATE THE ly at Watertown, REMEMBRANCE OF HIS LONG AND FAITHFUL/SERVICES MONUMENT while on a journey to RESPECTFUL DEDICATED Boston, June 2, 1814, INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF LEOMINSTER BY THE in the seventy-ninth year of his age and the fifty-second of his ministry. He was buried in our old burying-ground and over his grave a tablet was erected by the town to commemorate his valuable services and to express their gratitude and respect for him. It was during the minis- try of Mr. Gardner that the second meeting-house was built, the site, a little more than an acre, being what is now the common in front of the present First Congregational (Unita- rian) Church, the dimensions being, probably about 50 x 60
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CHURCHES.
feet, and fronting to the east. At each end was a porch, and in each of the porches were two flights of stairs to the gallery. The expense of the house is not known, but it was considered a large and elegant meeting-house. It was con- sidered the town's property, and for fifty years the town meet- ings were held in it. In 1824 it was taken down and converted into a town house, and used as such for twenty-seven years until the new brick town house was completed in 1851.
REV. WM. BASCOM, the successor of Mr. Gardner was installed in 1815. He was a graduate of Harvard University in 1802, and had been settled in Fitchburg. After a ministry of about five years, the connection between him and the church was dissolved March 2d, 1820. He died in 1845.
REV. ABEL CONANT, the next minister, ordained January 24th, 1821, was a native of Milford, New Hampshire, where he was born July 17, 1793. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1815, and was preceptor of Groton Academy several years, while he was studying his profession. During the ministry of Mr. Conant, the third meeting-house was built by the town. Three more religious societies were organized, and three other houses for public worship erected. Mr. Conant died December 6th, 1836, and was buried in the south-westerly part of the old cemetery. A granite monument PRIEST CONANT MONUMENT was erected by the Society to mark his resting place.
The present Unitarian church edifice was built by a vote of the town at a town meeting held on the 8th of December, 182 I The building was completed early in the fall of 1823. The pews were sold for $ 1600 more than enough to pay for building, and a portion of that sum was appropriated to the purchase of an organ. The bell, which, for so many years, on every Sun- day morning, has invited the members of all religious societies
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
to the worship of God, was presented to the town by one of its public spirited citizens, Joel Crosby, Esq. Oct. 15th, 1823, the church was dedicated.
On the 4th day of May, 1835, the "First Congregational Society of Leominster," was organized by law, and the town ceased to manage its parochial affairs. In the spring of 1837 the clock was placed in the tower of the meeting-house, in accordance with the provisions of the will of the late Joel Crosby, Esq., who, by the same will gave $1000, the interest of which, was to be used for the support of the parish. In 1850 the meeting-house was finished up in more modern style, but its general appearance remained unchanged. Outwardly, the steeple of " beautiful architectural symmetry " remained untouched, as also did the clock and bell.
MR. RUFUS PHINEAS STEBBINS, a graduate of Amherst and of the Theological School at Cambridge, preached as a candidate in July, 1837, and was ordained September following. His relations with the Society were dissolved by mutual con- sent in 1844, he having accepted a call to preside over an insti- tution in Meadeville, Pa., for the preparation of young men for the ministry.
MR. HIRAM WITHINGTON, his successor, also a graduate of the school at Cambridge, was settled over the church from December 25th, 1844, to July 31, 1848.
REV. AMOS SMITH became their minister November 26t', 1848, and resigned September Ist, 1856. From that time to September 2d, 1857, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. T. B. Forbush and Mr. Stephen Barker, at which time Mr. Barker was ordained, remaining until June 1, 1860.
REV. ELI FAY was installed June Ist, 1861, and resigned April Ist, 1864. August 3d of the same year, Rev. John B. Green, a graduate of Meadville Theological School, Pa., became the pastor, remaining until June 20th, 1867.
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CHURCHES.
REV. E. A. HORTON, a graduate of the University of Michigan, (with honorary degree of M. A. in 1880) and a grad- uate of Meadville Theological School, Pa, in 1868, settled in Leominster in 1868, remaining seven years ; was then out one year by illness ; three years at the old church, Hingham, and was settled over Second Church, Boston, in 1880.
REV. WILLIAM H. SAVAGE, a graduate of Andover Theo- logical Seminary, was settled in Leominster from Nov 1876 to Nov. 1886, when he accepted a pastorate in Watertown, Mass.
REV. EDWARD B. PAYNE, the present pastor, is a native of Vermont, forty years of age, a graduate of Oberlin Seminary, preached five years as a Congregational minister in Berkely, Cal. After becoming a Unitarian he was settled at Springfield and Manchester, and Feb. 2d, 1887 was installed in Leomin- ster.
THE ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In pursuance of letters missive from a number of persons belonging to the society organized Nov. 26th, 1822, (now legally designated "The Orthodox Congregational Society in the town of Leominster ") desirous of forming themselves into a church, an Ecclesiastical Council convened at the house of Capt. Eph - raim Lincoln, Dec. 25, 1822. The result of this Council was the organization of a church, in connection with the Society then existing, with 10 members. To these were added four . teen others who had been members of the First Congregational church, (Unitarian) who were received into the new church December 26th, on the recommendation of an ex-parte Council convened at their call. The Church thus formed worshipped in a private house, the same in which it was organized, for nearly two years. Their first meeting-house was built in 1824, and located northerly from the common, about half way to the old burying ground, on land that was formerly owned by Eben- ezer Houghton, and is now the Catholic Church on Main street,
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
having been occupied by the builders until sold to the Metho- dist Society in 1837. Its second place of worship was erected on its present lot on Park street, southwesterly from the com- mon (on land originally owned by Rufus Houghton) in 1836, and was dedicated Feb. 8, 1837. In May, 1850, this house was struck by lightning, and came near being destroyed. In repair-
ing it alterations were made in pews and galleries. In Feb. 1872 it caught fire from an overheated furnace and was entirely consumed. The society had previously arranged to build their present brick church the coming season, which was completed and dedicated August 19, 1873. It cost about $65.000, seats about eight hundred and fifty persons and is one of the finest country churches in the State.
MR. PHILLIPS PAYSON, a son of Dr. Seth Payson of Rindge, N. H., the first minister settled over this church, was ordained
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CHURCHES.
Nov. 17th, 1825, and dismissed on account of ill health April 17th, 1832.
REV. O. G. HUBBARD, of Sunderland, the successor of Mr. Payson, graduated at Amherst College in 1829. He was ordained May 23d, 1833, and after a faithful and successful min- istry was dismissed in June 1851. He died in East Falmouth Aug. 14th, 1852.
REV. JOEL S. BINGHAM, a graduate of Marietta College,
Ohio, after a pastorate in Charlotte, Vermont, was installed as Mr. Hubbard's successor, December 17th, 1851. He closed his pastorate, which had been one of great success, June ist, 1857, removing to Westfield, Mass. He was afterwards settled for several years in East Boston, Mass., and is, at the present time settled pastor at Traer, Iowa.
REV. JOSEPH W. BACKUS, the next pastor of this church and a graduate of Yale, was installed January 14th, 1858, and dismissed August 13th, 1862. 7
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
REV. HORACE PARKER began his ministry December 7, 1862, without a formal call or installation, continuing as acting pastor until May 1, 1865. In January and February, 1865, with the consent of the church, he served as delegate of the Christian Commission at Meade's Station, Va. He has since done much good work as a minister of the gospel, in Ashby, Pepperell and Lunenburg, until obliged by ill health to resign. He is now a resident of Shirley, Mass.
REV. WILLIAM J. BATT, a native of Fall River, and a grad- uate of Brown and Andover, was next installed as pastor, Oct. 17th, 1865, having supplied the pulpit for some months pre- vious. His ministry was very successful in every respect. Mr. Batt was dismissed July 15th, 1874. He is now, as he has been for several years, chaplain and moral instructor at the State Reformatory in Concord.
REV. HENRY A. WALES, succeeded Mr. Batt as acting Pastor. He studied theology at Hartford Seminary, Conn., and was ordained to the ministry Sept. 12th, 1866. He served this church from Sept. 1874 to Sept. 1877.
REV. SYLVANUS C. KENDALL entered upon the duties of the pastorate May Ist, 1878. He closed his ministry here at .
the expiration of one year. He is a graduate of Amherst and Andover, and an able preacher.
REV. GABRIEL H. DEBEVOISE, a graduate of Phillips Academy, Williams College and Andover Theological Semi- nary, was called to the pastorate January 26th, 1880. He accepted the call and was duly installed March 3d, 1885. He resigned May 25th, 1883, after a very successful pastorate, and was dismissed by council July 18th, 1883. He entered the service of the Missionary Department of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society, where he labored faith- fully until the time of his present settlement over the Second Congregational Church and Association of Keene, N. H.
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CHURCHES.
REV. RICHARD MEREDITH, the present pastor, was installed March 6th, 1884. Mr Meredith is of Welsh parentage. He received his education and training for the Christian ministry in his native land ; but preferring the United States as the scene of his public labors, he came to this country in 1862. In April 1863 he entered the Troy Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and spent fifteen years in the Itineracy. In 1878 he accepted a call to the First Congregational Church in East Hartford, Conn., and after six years service there, he received and accepted a call to his present position. Of the members of this church six are known to have entered the ministry, viz : Thomas Boutelle, Artemas A. Wood, now in Lyons, N. Y., Fernando Putnam, who afterwards entered the Protestant Episcopal Church, Payson Tyler, who preached and died at Hardwick, Vermont, Francis J. Marsh, ordained at Upton, Mass., in 1875, who is now pastor of the Congrega- tional Church at Walpole, Mass., and Albert H. Wheelock, who was ordained at Topsham, Me., July Ist, 1888, where he now labors.
ST. LEO'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first movement for the formation of a Catholic Church in Leominster, was made in 1849, by the Rev. M. F. Gibson, pastor at Worcester, Mass., who came here and said mass at the home of one of the Catholic families. From that time he made monthly visits and, as the numbers increased rapidly, permission was granted by the Selectmen to use the Town Hall, then Gardner Hall, and there services were held every other week. In 1857 the small meeting-house owned by the Baptist Society, on North Main street, near the North Village, was purchased and fitted up for worship. At this time Fitch- burg was assigned a resident pastor, (Rev. M. F. Gibson) and Leominster was made a part of that parish, and was attended
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LEOMINSTER, HISTORICAL AND PICTURESQUE.
by Father Gibson until 1856, Rev. Edward Turpin until 1866, and Rev. C. M. Foley until 1872, when Leominster was made an independent parish with the present efficient pastor, the Rev. Daniel Shiel. Father Shiel completed his studies at St. Carlow, Ireland, and was the first priest ordained by the Rt. Rev. P. T. O'Reilly. The present church and a parsonage were purchased of the Methodist Society in 1871. In 1876 this church was remodelled and much enlarged, so as to give a seat- ing capacity of 800, making a fine church edifice. In 1882 the old parsonage building was moved from its location on Main street adjoining the church, and a new and attractive modern structure erected on its site. When the parish was established and Father Sheil appointed (in 1873) the church was dedicated to Almighty God, under the patronage of St. Leo. It is now a large and flourishing parish.
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH.
Early in the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Bascom, those per- sons, in town, who embraced Baptist views, united with the Baptist Society in Holden. In August 1822 those who had joined the Holden church, with others to the number of sixty- five, were dismissed to form a church in Princeton. The mem- bers living in Leominster were constituted a branch with the privilege of sustaining a minister, and a Calvanistic Baptist Society was formed in 1824, by David Allen and nine others. The Branch Church was publicly organized as a distinct and independent Church of Christ in 1837. This church was dis- solved Oct. 27th, 1849, and a church, principally composed of members of the old church, was constituted March 10th, 1850. It was named "The Central Baptist Church of Leominster." A new Society had been organized three months previous. The first place of worship was the old John Richardson tailor shop on Main street. Its first meeting-house was built by
53
CHURCHES.
Capt. David Allen, and located on the plain near North Leom- inster, on land now occupied for a residence by S. A. Meads. It was dedicated in June 1832, and occupied by them until 1849. It was afterwards owned by the Catholic Society until they purchased their present house of worship on Main street. At present it is occupied by the said Meade as a barn and car- penter's shop. The present church edifice in the center of the town, facing the common, was erected on land purchased of the First Congregational (Unitarian) Society in 1849, and was dedi- cated in January 1850. The ministers by whom the people were supplied with preaching prior to the formation of the " Central" Church were (as nearly as can be learned) as fol- lows : Rev.'s John Walker, A. Sampson, Elisha Andrews, Nicholas Branch, Elias McGregory, Luther Goddard, Josiah C. Carpenter, David Taylor and B. H. Clift. At the organiza- tion of the "Central Baptist Church," (March 10, 1850,) the Rev. A. M. Swain was chosen pastor, the call being dated April 27th. He continued pastor until Nov. 1854. Rev. A. C. Bronson, his successor, served from Dec. 1854, until June 1857. The Rev. Isaac Woodbury served the church one year, beginning Sept. 6th, 1857. Rev. A. M. Higgins accepted the call of the church May Ist, 1859, remaining thirteen months. For about a year after this, the church was supplied by Joseph Barber, then a student at Worcester. In January, 1862, the Rev. W. H. Watson, commenced a pastorate of three years and a half. Rev. A. L. Fittz supplied the church from July 1865 until Jan. Ist, 1866, when Rev. Abijah Hall of Attleboro, became their pastor. In July, 1868, he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Clarkson Russell, who remained until April 1, 1874. Rev. A. F. Mason was settled November 5th, 1874, remaining until April 23d, 1876. Rev. O. D. Kimball was pastor from Sept. 3d, 1876, to Feb. 4th, 1883; Rev. A. L. Freeman from Feb. 24th, 1884 until July 29th, 1886.
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