USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Westhampton > Memorial of the reunion of the natives of Westhampton, Mass., September 5, 1866 > Part 9
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hills and hamlets of my native town. Mr. Judd told me afterwards, when gather- ing his materials for that book, he went carefully over the western part of West- hampton to fresben and revive the impressions of his boyhood. While paying this slight tribute to his memory, I ought to add that he was as eminent for an earnest and sincere piety as he was for creative and literary ability. His romances had in them the religious fervor and christian purpose of his sermons. He died at the time of his greatest promise, with unused powers waiting for opportunities to call them into action. I cannot regard him as altogether departed, but I recall him to- day among my Westhampton associations, as one of the strong spiritual forces not only of the past but of the present.
Another of my companions, and one whom I like to recall, was Jonathan S. Judd, a man of most refined feeling, clear intellectual perceptions, very graceful in both his thought and writing. I saw him but rarely in the later years of his life, but I have heard from his friends that he matured wonderfully in all these original quali- ties of his nature, and became of a most enthusiastic spirit, clear in his visions of the future, very genial and catholic in all his religious sympathies.
There are others whose names it is a pleasure to mention-Asahel Lyman, Luke Phelps, Hall Judd, and Daniel Clark. These have all entered into their rest. Two only of my more intimate friends are still living, Philetus Hale and Sylvanus Clapp. The latter was my earliest playmate; he has been my lifelong friend, and is now one of the leading physicians of Rhode Island, a man as faithful in his friendships as he has been successful in his profession.
Among these pleasant memories of my youth, I cannot pass over without a word of gratitude the church and the preaching of that time, and which have given di- rection to all my later life. Some of you who have remained by the old hearth- stones, may think I have wandered from the faith that first so impressed me, but certainly I have not lost the spirit that breathed and burned in the prayers and ser- mons of Horace B. Chapin. In my own ministry, I have never forgotten my earliest spiritual home, or the holy influence that I have ever drawn from it-the church of Westhampton.
These early recollections would be very imperfect, if I did not refer to the origi- nal characters and quaint old men who always said sharp things, whenever they said any thing. It seems now that I heard more wit and humor in my boyhood than I have ever heard since. But I can not indulge in particulars without pro- longing my letter which I fear will weary you as it is. Still I cannot help wishing that some Sylvester Judd would write the biography of "Uncle Bill " and some other queer old souls whom I so well remember.
Let me conclude these recollections with a tribute to those sons of Westhampton who were my friends and companions-the wild boys who matured into sober and useful men.
Yours truly,
DEXTER CLAPP.
Dr. Sylvanus Clapp, of Pawtucket, R. I., sent the following letter, after the Reunion :
PAWTUCKET, September 18, 1866.
To Matthias Rice and others, Committee of the Reunion:
It would have been pleasant for me to have withdrawn from the active scenes and duties which surround me, to have been present at the Reunion. I expected to have done so until the day before, when I found it impossible for me to do so, on account of the dangerous illness of two of my patients, and of course unable to send a letter in season for the occasion.
I had looked forward to the day with great satisfaction when I should visit my child-home, and look upon faces, once my companions in life, after years of sepa- ration. And this was rendered doubly so when I thought of the many gem homes that there existed in good old Westhampton. I need only to mention the names of Hale, Hooker, Edwards, Hall, Kingsley, Clark. Judd, Lyman, Parsons, Phelps, Norton, Burt, Clapp, Bridgman, Montague and Rust, to remind you that here lived some of the choicest spirits of the land. Good nature and kindness always existed among them.
We joined together in the jocund laugh, and passed through the bright days of boyhood together. Enduring friendships were formed and kind feelings originated that will only forsake me when remembrance itself shall cease.
The sailor loves his ship ; to her none is superior. The soldier loves his regi- ment ; and his is the best. And who, to the last day of his life, does not uphold the fireside round which he played when a child, and all its associations ?
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These are attachments that grow upon us, that are founded in human nature. Can we wonder that there is within us a love for the town in which we were born and brought up ; a pride for it which will not brook to hear anything disrespectful said of it? And when I remember the many choice spirits that have gone out from it, of the noblest and purest blood of the land, well may I feel proud of my native town. I should like to rest there the remainder of my life. Did I say rest ? No- where is rest to be found. It would rather be a delay than rest. We are all in the great cycle of change. Continually changing ! We are breathing off nearly one pound of charcoal daily. Our career would soon be terminated were not the waste supplied by daily food ;- daily loss, daily gain. Nothing remains permanent but memory and the consciousness of our identity ; and this is retained in a body which is wholly changed every few years. My memory delights to think of the scenes enacted in my native town, and I should like to linger awhile and wander over its hills and valleys. It also teaches me this important lesson-the necessity of careful and rigid habits of thought ; that a fact, unperceived or viewed improper- ly, is a link lost in the chain of truth.
It was a great disappointment for me not to have been with you on that joyous day. This disappointment reminds me that there is not always a morning bright- ness on the skies, and that night succeeds to-day ; that each strain of music bas its final note ; that summer flowers and winter snows have an end. Yet notwith- standing these vicissitudes, friendship survives them all, and lives on amidst muta- tions. It survives these earthly changes, and binds men together in trial as well as prosperity. It becomes hallowed by distance, and waxes stronger and stronger by the lapse of time. Such, gentlemen, I trust, is my friendship for you all.
Truly yours,
S. CLAPP.
Mr. E. C. Bridgman, of New York, said :
Mr. President :- A minute or two, if you please, before we break up. It is not my purpose to make a speech. Some years since, a letter came to me from a gentleman of this town, solic- iting my interest and aid in procuring a town library. In my reply, information was asked concerning the old library. He could give none ; nor could he find any one who knew what be- came of it. Well do I recollect the pleasure experienced in the perusal of books drawn, now more than thirty years ago, from the old library of the town, and from that of Southampton, while a member of "Sheldon Academy."
This is no ordinary entertainment to which the absent natives of Westhampton are invited. Nothing to be compared with it can we expect to enjoy again this side of the River. To show our appreciation of and gratitude for what has been done for us, I suggest that we take action in the formation of a town library. Some of us have money ; some have books-good books that we do not need ; and all, I feel sure, are disposed to do some- thing. To set the " ball in motion," I offer, for this object, one hundred dollars.
The President proposed that the pastor's library should come in for its share of attention ; and the whole subject of the libra- ries was referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs. E. C. Bridgman, Otis Clapp, S. F. Phelps, Dr. Hooker, E. M. Kings- ley, and Rev. Mr. Allender.
On motion it was resolved, that the proceedings of this occa-
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sion be published in a pamphlet form ; and Rev. Dorus Clarke, Rev. George Lyman and Prof. Montague were appointed a Committee to carry that vote into effect.
Mr. G. B. Drury, on behalf of the Committee of Arrange- ments, returned the thanks of the Committee to the citizens of the town, who had so liberally responded to their call, in mak- ing such ample arrangements for the entertainment of the large number of guests.
By request of the President, Rev. Dorus Clarke pronounced the apostolic benediction ; and after many parting salutations, the large assembly broke up, and slowly retired from a scene they will long remember as one of the most interesting in their history.
A gentleman from abroad who is not a native, after listening to all the exercises of the day, went home, making the exclama- tion : " Well, it's of no use to be born at all, unless you were born in Westhampton !"
WESTHAMPTON REUNION.
PASTORS OF THE WESTHAMPTON CHURCH.
Rev. Enoch Hale was ordained September 29, 1779, and con- tinned the pastor of the church (or senior pastor,) till his death, January 14, 1837, at the age of 83, making a period of fifty-sev- en years, three months and fifteen days. Rev. Joseph Hunting- ton, D. D., of Coventry, Connecticut, preached Mr. Hale's ordi- nation sermon from 1 Cor. 2 : 7: Rev. Jonathan Judd, of South- ampton, gave the Charge, and Rev. Solomon Williams, of Northampton, the Right Hand of Fellowship. Rev. Payson Williston preached his funeral sermon. Text, Heb. 13 : 7.
Rev. Horace B. Chapin was installed colleague pastor, July 8, 1829, President Humphrey, of Amherst College, preaching the sermon. Mr. Chapin was dismissed at his own request, May 1, 1837.
Rev. Amos Drury was installed June 28, 1837. Rev. Mr. Goodwin preached the sermon. Mr. Drury died at Pittsford, Vermont, while on a visit to his friends, July 22, 1841, aged 49.
Rev. David Coggin was ordained May 11, 1842. Rev. Jacob Coggin, of Tewksbury, his father, preached the sermon. Mr. Coggin died April 28, 1852, aged 37.
Rev. Andrew Bigelow was installed March 2, 1854. Sermon by Rev. J. P. Cleaveland, D. D. Mr. Bigelow was dismissed April 18, 1855.
Rev. Roswell Foster was installed November 20, 1856. Ser- mon by Rev. Eden B. Foster, D. D. Mr. Foster was dis- missed December 28, 1858.
Rev. Edward C. Bissell was ordained September 22, 1859. President Stearns, of Amherst College, preached the sermon. Mr. Bissell was dismissed May 10, 1864.
Rev. Thomas Allender, the present pastor, was installed June 21, 1866. Sermon by Prof. Julius II. Seelve, of Amherst Col- lege.
The first meeting house was built about 1785, in the old style. A new meeting house was built in 1816. In February, 1829, that house was burnt. The present house of worship was built the next year.
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In 1828 a new Society was formed. September 30th, 1829, another church was organized by Rev. Jolmn Truair, called the Union Church, forty-one members of which seceded from the old church. Mr. Truair acted as pastor of this new church about eight years. August 5, 1829, the Hampshire Central As- sociation withdrew their fellowship from Mr. Truair, and October 12, 1831, the Presbytery of New York, of which he was a mem- , ber, deposed him from the ministry. Gradually, several mem- bers of the Union Church went back to their first love. The Union Church was formally disbanded August 17, 1850, and, subsequently, all the remaining resident members returned, were received into the old Church, and great harmony has since prevailed.
NATIVES OF WESTHAMPTON WHO HAVE GRADUATED AT COLLEGE.
ABBREVIATIONS .- A. C., Amherst College ; H. U., Harvard University ;; T. C., Trinity College ; W. C., Williams College ; Y. C., Yale College ; C. C., Columbia College'; U. C., Union College.
NAMES.
Time and Place of Graduation.
Residence.
Profession.
Date of Death.
Tertius Strong,
·
·
1799, W. C.
Westhampton.
Lawyer.
1802, æt. 24.
Samuel Fisher, D. D,
1799, W. C.
Morristown, N. J.
Clergyman.
1857, æt. 80.
Levi Persons,
1801, W. C.
Marcellus, N. Y.
Nathan Ilale, LL. D.
1801, W. C.
Boston.
Clergyman. Editor.
Feby. 9. 1863, at. 78.
William Fisher,
1805, W. C.
Allensville, Ind.
Clergyman.
Apr. 19, 1840, æt. 64. -1809, æt. 28.
Justus Kingsley.
1809, W. C.
Westhampton.
Justin Edwards, D. D.
1810, W. C.
Andover.
{ Clergyman, and Pres. July 23, 1853, at Bath And. Theo. Sem.
Hophni Judd,
1812, W. C.
Northampton.
Lawyer.
Ebenezer B. Wright,
1811, W. C.
Huntington.
Clergyman.
Calvin Montague,
1814, W. C.
Westhampton.
Physician.
Epaphras Clark.
1815, W. C.
Enfield.
lawyer,
Dorus Clarke,
1817, W. C.
Waltham.
Clergyman and Editor.
Anson Hooker,
1819, W. C.
East Cambridge.
Physician.
Elward Hooker,
1820, W. C.
Cleveland, Ohio.
Lawyer.
1846, æt. 40.
Joel Bart,
1821, U. C.
Benton, Ala.
Physician.
1859, æt. 63.
Tertius S. Clarke, D. D., George Burt,
, 1825, A. C,
Merchant.
1834, æt. 31.
Levi F. Claflin,
1826, W. C.
Perrysburgh, Ohio.
Paper Manufacturer.
Orange Clark, D. D., Jacob L. Clark, D. D., Calvin Clark,
1831, T. C.
Clergyman.
1832, W. C.
Marshall, Mich.
Clergyman.
Sylvester Judd, 3d, George Lyman,
1836, Y. C. 1837, A. C.
Augusta, Mc. Sutton.
Clergyman.
Zenas M. Phelps,
1839, W. C.
Riverdale, N. Y.
Teacher.
Jonathan S. Judd,
1839, W. C.
Clergyman.
Dexter Clapp,
1839, A. C.
Chauncey P. Judd,
1810, Y. C.
Middlebury, Conn. Salem. Reading.
Clergyman. Lawyer, Boston.
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WESTHAMPTON REUNION.
·
Jany. 26, 1853, æt. 39.
Clergyman.
1828, C. C.
San Francisco, Cal. Waterbury, Conn.
Clergyman.
1821, Y. C.
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Benton, Ala.
¡Clergyman.
Alum Spa., Va. æt. 66. Mar. 15, 1818, æt. 24.
1861, æt. 70.
May. 11, 1864, æt. 48.
· 1864, æt. 85.
.
Melzar Montague,
1841, W. C. Ripon, Wis. .
Enos J. Montague, Luther Clapp.
1841, W. C.
Oconomowoc, Wis.
Samuel W. Fisher, James Brewer, Anson Clark, Charles H. Norton, Justin W. Parsons, Chester Bridgman, Henry M. Bridgman, Francis Burt,
. 1841, W. C. Wauwatosa, Wis.
.
1811, W. C.
Huntington.
1842, W. C.
1815, W. C.
1847, W. C.
·
1849, W. C.
·
· 1856, A. C.
· 1857, A. C. Ifumi, South Africa.
1857, A. C. ITaymouth, Mich.
[ Clergyman, and Prof. Ripon College. Clergyman. Clergyman. Paper Manufacturer. Clergyman. Clergyman. Clergyman. Missionary. Clergyman. Missionary. Teacher.
Jan. C, 1857, æt. 34.
Sept. 9, 1863, at. 36.
NOTE .- There is some discrepancy of opinion as to whether Samuel Fisher and William Fisher were natives of .Westhampton. The tradi- tion in the Fisher family is that they were not, and this opinion is grounded on a paper left them by Major Aaron Fisher. But that paper appears to trace his own pedigree merely, and it is silent upon the question here under consideration. On the other hand it is clear, that their father, Jonathan Fisher, 2d, moved into what is now the town of Westhampton in 1772; that his name is on the tax list, and that he paid poll and other taxes there from 1772 till 1777, and died in the American army, at Morristown, New Jersey, March 10, 1777, after being absent from his family only five or six months. Besides, the Triennial Catalogue of Williams College where they graduated, and which is of the highest authority, states, that Samuel Fisher died in 1857, aged 80, and that William Fisher died in 1840, aged 64. These dates throw the birth of both of them back within the latter part of the time that their father's domicile was in Westhampton. This would seem to be conclusive proof that they were born there; and inasmuch as documentary evidence is much more reliable than parol, the Committee have placed their names in the above list. Evidence, too, has been discovered which is considered highly probable, that, upon the death of their father and while yet in their infancy, they were removed to the care of their uncle, Dr. Samuel Ware, of Conway, and hence they ceased to be known as natives of Westhampton.
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WESTHAMPTON REUNION.
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Allen's Grove, Wis. Hartford, Wis. North Becket. Turkey, in Asia. Ludlow.
WESTHAMPTON REUNION.
PROFESSIONAL MEN FROM WESTHAMPTON, NOT GRADUATES.
DR. ENOCH HALE. He received his medical degree at Cam- bridge, in 1813, and was an eminent practitioner in Gardiner, Maine, and afterwards in Boston, where he died in 1846. He was the author of several important medical works.
DR. SYLVANUS CLAPP, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was ed- ucated at the medical schools in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Hanover, New Hampshire, is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, a Permanent Member of the American Medi- cal Association, and has been President of the Rhode Island Medical Society. He has made several contributions to the cause of science in his profession, the principal of which is a treatise on Diabetes Mellitus.
DR. OLIVER DWIGHT NORTON, Cincinnati, Ohio. He has been, for several years, in successful practice in that city.
The younger men in that profession are Drs. Watson Loud, Philo Clark, Henry Cook and Mendal Jewett.
Christopher Clapp, Henry Loud, Joseph Stearns and Anson Stearns entered the ministry of different denominations, with- out a regular theological education.
John A. Judd, Edwin Cook, Zenas Kingsley, Alvin Clark, and perhaps others, spent some time in college, but did not com- plete the usual curriculum, nor enter the learned professions.
.
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WESTHAMPTON REUNION.
REUNION ODE.
This original Hymn was sung by the choir on the occasion.
From the far-off golden WEST, Where the setting sunbeams rest, Where majestic rivers sweep To the ocean's broader deep .- Ye are here with us to meet, And in social union greet.
From the SOUTH, with milder clime, Honored in the olden time,
From yon torn and crimson field,
Where rich harvests Peace shall yield, - Ye are welcome, as ye come, Soldiers, to your native home.
From the EAST, with culture crowned, From that grand old battle-ground, Where our fathers, side by side, Fought to stay oppression's tide,- Glad our hearts these sons to see, Bulwarks strong of Liberty. .
From the NORTH, with granite hemmed, From those hills with beauty gemmed, From those valleys sleeping low, Where the babbling brooklets flow,- Welcome to these native hills, Welcome to these rippling rills.
Welcome all this gathered throng, Welcome now in cheerful song ;- Welcome be this festive day, When glad offerings here we lay On the Altar that we love,- Cherished once by those ABOVE.
F 899 965 4 7 حسونة
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