USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Sketches of the churches and pastors in Hampden County, Mass. : and also, an address delivered to the pastors by Rev. T.M. Cooley, D.D., at Mettineague, September 13, 1853 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Gen. Lyman and son proved faithless, and the widow and her children found themselves poor and friendless, in a new country. His descendants are now among the most respectable people of the State of Mississippi. Mr. S. was a man of no economy, and with a salary of £60 had to struggle with poverty.
REV. TIMOTHY M. COOLEY was born in Granville, March 13, 1772. He graduated at Yale, in 1792. He was ordained February 3, 1796, in his native place, over a Church that had been destitute of a pastor 20 years. His father was one of his deacons. He received the degree of D. D. from Hamilton College. He preached his semi-centennial in 1845, his octogenarian in 1852. He writes his two sermons every week, and performs all pastoral duties.
The number of members in this Church is 88. The society has a fund of about $4,500. The salary paid is $500.
In May 29, 1805, a Church was organized, con- sisting of 24 members, taken from the Granville Church ; two deacons were chosen. They removed to Ohio, and called the town where they located
46
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
themselves Granville, which is now one of the most flourishing towns in that State.
WEST GRANVILLE.
THIS is the west parish of Granville ; the people originally attended public worship at the east parish. The Church was organized November 17, 1781. Rev. Lemuel Haynes, the colored preacher, was brought up in this parish, and preached there some time after the Church was organized.
REV. AARON J. BOOGE, son of Rev. Ebenezer Booge, of Avon, Ct., graduated at Yale in 1774, was ordained at Canton, Ct., in 1776, and dismissed in 1785. He was installed at this place in November, 1786. The poople refused to settle Mr. Haynes among them on account of his color; though a mi- nority of the Church were in favor of doing so. After hearing Mr. Booge, some of Mr. Haynes's friends tauntingly inquired of Mr. Booge's friends, "if that was white preaching ?" The ministry of Mr. B. was not only unsuccessful, but disastrous to the welfare of the Church. He was dismissed in July, 1793, and left the parish much divided. He
47
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
removed to Stephentown, N. Y., and preached there for a time; in 1812 he was chaplain in the army ; he was afterwards deposed from the ministry. He was drawn into many unjust and vexatious lawsuits, by the ill-will of his neighbors. He is said to have been entirely honest and upright in his dealings with men.
While at Granville he preached without notes, made his preparations Sabbath morning, and devoted the week to secular pursuits. When death drew near, he gave directions about his coffin, selected his pall-bearers, and wrote a prayer to be read at his funeral. He selected a hymn to be sung, and wrote an inscription for his tomb-stone. He died June 22, 1826, in the 75th year of his age.
REV. JOEL BAKER was a native of Conway, gra- duated at Dartmouth in 1792, studied theology with Rev. Dr. Lyman, of Hatfield, and was ordained June 23, 1797. His sermons were evangelical, and his prayer was of such a character as made the assembly feel that God was near. He was exem- plary in his life, and a useful minister of Christ. He at length became old, though his strength had not much abated, and some of his parishioners met to ask the question, whether the time had not come, when the interests of religion required them to look out for a new minister. It was decided that it had,
48
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
and a committee was sent to inform Mr. B. of the conclusion to which they had come, which was the first knowledge he had of any dissatisfaction. It was a severe blow. He immediately asked a dis- missal ; his health soon failed, and he died Septem- ber 1, 1833, in the 66th year of his age. He was a good man, though not an exact scholar, nor an elo- quent speaker. The people pursued the course which they deemed best, though they regretted afterwards that they did not consider the delicacy of his feelings, and treat the subject in a manner that would have seemed to him more kind and ge- nerous. He married Miss Olive Curtiss, of West Granville, by whom he had four sons, one of whom, Curtiss, graduated at Williams' College, and died in 1823, while a student at Andover.
During the ministry of Mr. B., a Church of six members was organized, and went to Charlestown, Ohio.
REV. SETH CHAPIN, of Mendon, graduated at Brown University, in 1808, was a member of Co- lumbia Presbytery in eastern N. Y., and installed at this place January 17, 1833. He was dismissed January 1, 1835, and went to Rhode Island, and died in Providence a few years since.
REV. HENRY EDDY was from Berlin, Ct., gradu-
49
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
ated at Yale in 1832, studied theology at New Ha- ven, and was ordained February 16, 1836. He was dismissed Sept. 25, 1839. After that, he was pastor of the Church in Stoughton for a time, has since preached in Maine, and at N. Guilford, Ct. He is now a physician, and resides in Bridgewater.
REV. CALVIN FOOTE, from 1842 to 1847. (See Southwick.)
REV. HENRY B. SMITH is a native of West- field, but his father removed to West Springfield, while he was still a child. He graduated at Am- herst College in 1843, studied theology at Andover, and was ordained July 22, 1847. He was dismissed November 4, 1851. He is now pastor of the Church in Abington, Ct., where he was installed January 14, 1852.
This Church has 74 members. The society has a fund, the income of which is between two and three hundred dollars. The salary paid is $400
:
HOLYOKE.
THIS is a new town; it was formerly called Ire- land Parish, and belonged to West Springfield. The
3
50
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
First Church was organized Dec. 4, 1799, and con- sisted of nine male members. For many years the Baptists and Congregationalists occupied the same house alternately. The Congregationalists had no settled pastor for many years.
REV. HERVEY SMITH, 1833-1840. (See Feeding Hills.)
REV. GIDEON DANA graduated at Brown Univer- sity in 1830, studied theology at Bangor, was set- tled at North Falmouth in 1838, and at Holyoke February 24, 1841. He was dismissed May 7, 1844, and is now pastor of a church in Ohio.
REV. SIMEON MILLER is a native of Ludlow; graduated at Amherst in 1840, studied theology at Andover, and was ordained May 7, 1846.
The number of members in this Church is 60. 'i ne salary paid hitherto has been $400.
SECOND CHURCH.
THIS is in the village near the great dam across the Connecticut river, at South Hadley Falls, and was organized May 24, 1849.
51
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
REV. ASA C. PIERCE, a native of Hinsdale, graduated at Amherst in 1843, studied theology at East Windsor, and was ordained Sept 20, 1849. The settlement of a pastor proved to be rather premature ; the manufacturing business of the vil- lage did not increase. Mr. Pierce resigned, and was dismissed June 9, 1851. He is now pastor of the Church in Northford, Ct.
REV. RICHARD KNIGHT Is a native of England, where he was educated, and came to this country three years ago. He was installed April 20, 1853. The Society have now a commodious house of wor- ship, and, though the Church is still small, their pros- pects for the future are encouraging.
MONTGOMERY.
THE Church was organized January 30, 1797, and consisted of nine persons. October 29, of the same year, the Lord's Supper was administered, for the first time, to fourteen communicants.
REV. SETH NOBLE, son of Thomas Noble, of Westfield, was the first pastor. He did not receive a collegiate education. He preached several years at
52
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
Kenduskeag, Me., about the close of the Revolution- ary War. He was a good singer ; Bangor was his fa- vorite tune. The people of Kenduskeag sent him to Boston with a petition for an act of incorporation of the town, which they proposed to call Sunfield. Mr. N., before presenting the petition to the Legislature, erased Sunfield, and inserted Bangor, for which it is presumed the inhabitants of that flourishing city will hold his memory ever dear. He preached as stated supply for a time in N. H., and was installed here November 4, 1801, and dismissed September 16, 1806; removed to Ohio, where he died, Septem- ber 15, 1807, and was buried in a village over the river, against Columbus, aged 64 years. He was a man of great activity, and wrote a good sermon.
REV. JOHN H. FOWLER graduated at Yale in 1790, studied law, and was engaged in the duties of that profession several years. He studied theology, was settled at Exeter, Ct., in 1813, and dismissed in 1821. He was installed at Montgomery, November 13, 1822, and died March 13, 1829, aged 58 years. His son John was pastor of a church in Utica, N. Y., but is now a lawyer.
REV. SOLOMON W. EDSON was born in Wilbra- ham, but his father removed while he was young to the State of Maine. He was educated at Bangor,
53
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
in part. When Prof. Smith died, he went to New Haven, and spent a year. He was ordained in Oct. 1832, and dismissed June 22, 1836. He afterwards preached as stated supply at Chester ; has been since pastor at Jamestown, N. Y. In consequence of a throat difficulty, he has been obliged to relin- quish preaching, and now resides on a farm in West- field, and is the publisher of this volume.
REV. CALEB KNIGHT was born in Lisbon, Ct., graduated at Williams' College in 1800, studied theology with Dr. Backus, of Somers, Ct., was set- tled at Hinsdale April 28, 1802, dismissed April 9, 1816, preached a few years at Franklin, N. Y., was installed at Washington, December 13, 1826 ; dis- missed, and installed at Montgomery, June 22, 1836, and dismissed May 22, 1839. He now resides with his son in Hatfield.
This is a small town. The Church consists of 24 members. They have a neat little meeting-house, and raise $100 per annum for preaching ; the Mis- sionary Society gives them another hundred, with which they employ a minister half the time. The Methodists have also a neat little house, on the op- posite side of the street, and have preaching half the time. Both societies worship together, in one house on one Sabbath, and in the other on the next.
54
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
RUSSEL.
THIS is a small, mountainous town, having a sparse population. A Congregational Church was organized here, by Rev. Joseph Badger, of Blandford, November 1, 1800, consisting of 15 members. It never had a settled pastor. The Home Missionary Society of the county expended $50 a year from 1820 to 1826. At that time, in connection with that little Church, one was brought forward, who has done good service as a foreign missionary-Mrs. Clarissa C. Armstrong, of the Sandwich Islands, and sister of Reuben Chapman, Esq., of Springfield. The Church is now extinct.
SOUTHWICK.
THIS town was originally a part Westfield. A distinct Church was organized August 17, 1773.
REV. ABEL FORWARD, of Simsbury, Ct., a cousin of Rev. Justus Forward, of Belchertown, graduated at Yale in 1768, and was ordained October 27, 1773. He was a faithful minister and a good man. He died January 15, 1786, aged 38 years. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Atwater, of Westfield ; text, Luke xxiii. 28.
55
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
REV. ISAAC CLINTON graduated at Yale in 1786, and was ordained January 30, 1788. He was a man of talent. He published a treatise on Baptism, which is a work of considerable merit ; it went through two editions. He had one talent which few ministers have-that of laying up money-though his salary was small. In 1803 the dysentery pre- vailed in Southwick as an epidemic, and most of his family died in a single week. He was dismissed December 2, 1807, and removed to Lowville, N. Y .; was principal of an academy, and often preached on the Sabbath. There he died, March 18, 1841, aged 82 years.
REV. DUDLEY D. ROSSITER, a native of Stoning- ton, Ct., graduated at Middlebury College in 1813, and was ordained in January, 1816. He preached but one Sabbath after his ordination, on account of a sudden failure of his health. He was dismissed March 25, 1817, and afterwards engaged in mercan- tile business in Boston.
REV. CALVIN FOOTE was born in Colchester, Ct., and graduated at Middlebury in 1814. He taught school in Philadelphia, connected himself with pres- bytery, studied theology with Rev. Ezra S. Ely, D.D., and was ordained at Southwick, February 2, 1820. His ordination sermon by Dr. Ely, of Mon-
56
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
son, was published. He was dismissed May 26, 1830. During his ministry, the old meeting-house, that stood half a mile south of the village, was burned. A new one was erected in the village, and dedicated in December, 1824. The people in the south part of the town being dissatisfied with the location of the new house, withdrew, and built ano- ther house further south ; but, being unable to sus- tain preaching, the house has been occupied by the Methodists.
Mr. F. was installed pastor of a new Church in East Longmeadow, April 15, 1831, and dismissed July 8, 1835. From 1836 to 1839 he was pastor of the Church in Feeding Hills; and from 1841 to 1847, of the Church in West Granville. He is now an agent of the American Tract Society, and resides in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
REV. ELBRIDGE G. HOWE is a native of Paxton, graduated at Brown University in 1821. He went west as a missionary several years, returned, was installed at Southwick, February 26, 1831, and dis- missed May 23, 1832. He was settled at Halifax, in Norfolk county, the same year ; was again dis- missed, and is now laboring in Illinois
REV. THOMAS FLETCHER, a native of New Ips- wich, N. H., was fitted to enter the sophomore class
-
57
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
in college, when his father died, which rendered it necessary that he should remain at home. He in- vested what property he had in manufacturing, and at the close of the war with Great Britain, the com- pany failed. He taught school the following winter in Greenbush, N. Y., and, on leaving to return home in the spring, he said to the man with whom he boarded, " If you hear of any place where I can teach through the summer, let me know it." On the making of this request, the remainder of his life turned. The man wrote him very soon, that a teacher was wanted at the academy in Kinderhook. He immediately went there ; and, as there was no meeting-house in that village, the people requested him to conduct religious worship in the academy on the Sabbath, and read to them a sermon. He did
so ; a revival of religion commenced at that point, which spread into the neighboring towns, and result- ed in the conversion of 1000 souls. Dr. Livingston and other clergymen urged him to prepare for the ministry. He studied with Dr. L .; was settled for a few years in North East, N. Y., after which he preached as stated supply in the south parish of New Marlborough. He was installed at South- wick, February 7, 1838; dismissed October 21, 1845, having preached there in all ten years. The two sermons he preached on the Sabbath that con- cluded his labors were published. His health was
3*
58
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
poor when dismissed ; it continued to fail, and he died at Southwick, December 4, 1846, aged 58 years. Soon after he commenced preaching, the honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Middlebury College.
REV. HENRY COOLEY, a native of Blandford, but brought up in West Springfield, did not receive a collegiate education. The honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon him at Williams' College. He spent about two years with a private instructor, and four years in the theological seminary at New Ha- ven. He was ordained December 2, 1846, and dis- missed at his own request, January 31, 1853.
The Church in Southwick has 98 members, a fund of $1000, and pays a salary of $500.
TOLLAND.
THE Church was organized in 1797. This town was originally the west parish of Granville, and that which is now the west parish was called Middle Granville.
REV. ROGER HARRISON Was born in Branford, Ct., graduated at Yale in 1792, and was ordained Janu- ary 23, 1798. He was dismissed February 18, 1822, and continued in the place until his death,
59
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
which occurred August 31, 1853, aged 84 years. He was twice married, and has left one son. He represented the town two or three years in the Ge- neral Court. Mr. H. was a fine singer ; Dr. Cooley says that many years ago Mr. H. spent a night at his house, and at family devotion sung the Judgment Anthem with such thrilling effect, that one of his students sprung from his chair, rushed at the singer, and was entirely bewildered for several hours. Rev. Gordon Hall, the distinguished missionary, was a native of Tolland, made a profession of religion while Mr. H. was pastor, and commenced with him his preparation for college.
This Church for 25 years after Mr. Harrison's dismission depended on stated supplies
REV. ALONZO SANDERSON, a native of Whateley, graduated at Amherst in 1834, studied theology at Andover, performed a missionary tour in Canada, and was settled at Ludlow from 1839 to 1843; was installed at Tolland, July 12, 1843, and dismissed May 5, 1852. He is now pastor of a Church in Ohio. .
REV. FRANKLIN D. AUSTIN was born in Becket, graduated at Union, studied theology at Auburn, and was ordained June 28, 1853.
The number of members in the Church is 99, and the salary paid is $425.
60
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
WESTFIELD.
MR. JOHN HOLYOKE, of Springfield, preached here six months in 1667; Mr. Moses Fiske, who was af- terwards settled in Quincy, preached here from 1668 to 1671. The Church was organized August 27, 1679.
REV. EDWARD TAYLOR was the first pastor ; he was born at Sketelby, in Leicestershire, Eng., and received his academic education in his native coun- try, came to America in 1668, and graduated at Harvard in 1671. He commenced preaching in this town in the autumn of that year. His settlement, and the organization of the Church, were delayed some years in consequence of the unsettled state of the country, produced by the movements of Philip of Mount Hope. Mr. T. was ordained the day the Church was organized, and, as was the custom, preached his own ordination sermon. He was Cal- vinistic in doctrine, a man of sincere piety, and ex- emplary in his behaviour. He had some knowledge of medicine, and ministered to diseases of the body as well as to the soul. He was twice married ; first, to Elizabeth Fitch, of Norwich, Ct., and second, to Ruth Wyllis, of Hartford, Ct. Three of his daughters were married to ministers ; Anna was the wife of Rev. Benjamin Lord, D. D., of Norwich,
61
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
Ct .; Naomi of Rev. Ebenezer Devotion, of Suffield, Ct., and Keziah of Rev. Isaac Stiles, of North Ha- ven, Ct., and the mother of President Stiles. Some of the land owned by Mr. T. is still in the hands of his descendants, not one of whom is known ever to have been guilty of any criminal offence, or to have been a bad member of society. Mr. T. had a se- vere fit of sickness in 1721, from which he never fully recovered. He died June 24, 1729, aged 87 years.
REV. NEHEMIAH BULL was a native of Long Isl- and, graduated at Yale in 1723, and was ordained colleague pastor October 26, 1726. He married Miss Elizabeth Partridge, of Hatfield. He was a man of respectable talents, rather excitable, and incurred the displeasure of some of the people. The opposi- tion did not become very formidable before he sick- , ened and died, April 12, 1740, aged 39 years. After his death, his wife and children removed to Sheffield, where his eldest son was an eminent physician.
REV. JOHN BALLANTINE was born in Boston ; his ancestors were from Scotland. He graduated at Harvard, in 1735, and was ordained June 17, 1741. His mother was a descendant of Governor Win- throp. He married Mary Gay, of Dedham, sister of Dr. Gay, of Suffield, Ct. He had four sons and
62
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
two daughters. Three of his sons received a col- legiate education, one of whom, William Gay, was the first pastor of the Church in Washington. His son Ebenezer was a physician, and was the father of Rev. Henry B., now missionary to India, and of Rev. Elisha B., D.D., Prof. of Union Theological Seminary, in Va., and afterwards pastor of a Church in the city of Washington. Mr. B. died February 12, 1776, aged 60 years.
REV. NOAH ATWATER, of New Haven, graduated at Yale College in 1774, and was tutor there three years. He was ordained Nov. 21, 1781, and died January 26, 1802, aged 50 years. His death was the result of a diseased limb, occasioned by bathing daily in cold spring water. His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Lathrop, in which he says, "He was blessed with superior abilities, a clear under- standing, a capacious mind, and a solid judgment." He was very systematic in all he did, never preached the same sermon twice-always kept several ser- mons on hand which he had never preached, and prepared his sermon for the ensuing Sabbath early in the week. He always rose before the sun, even in summer. He was a man of considerable science, kept a rain-guage and thermometer, and received a premium for an Essay on the Canker Worm, in 1793. He was twice married ; first to Mrs. Rachel
63
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
Mather, of Northampton, and second, to Mrs. Anna Rockwood, of Milford, Ct. He had one son, Wil- liam, who graduated at Yale College, and was a distinguished physician in his native town. The last sermon preached by Mr. Atwater was his twen- tieth anniversary sermon, which was published.
REV. ISAAC KNAPP was born in Norfolk, Ct., and graduated at Williams' College in 1800, where he was tutor one year. He studied theology with Rev. Dr. Backus, of Somers, Ct., and read to the congre- gation there the last sermon that Dr. B. wrote, " On the fear of God," the writer being unable to go out. He was a man of uncommon prudence, of great kindness of disposition, conservative, sound in faith, and lived agreeable to his profession. He was ordained November 16, 1803. His health became impaired, so that he preached but little after 1835. He died July 6, 1847, aged 73 years. He published a sermon preached before the Hampshire Missionary Society, and one on the death of General William Shepard. He was thrice married ; first, to Jerusha Ellsworth, of Ellington, Ct .; second, to Clarissa Hale ; and third, to Mrs. D. Nichols. Two sons survive.
REV. EMERSON DAVIS Was born in Ware, July 15, 1798, and graduated at Williams' College in
64
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
1821. He was tutor there one year, preceptor of Westfield Academy fourteen years, studied theology with Dr. Griffin, at Williamstown, and was ordained colleague pastor June 1, 1836. He received the degree of D.D. from Harvard, in 1847.
The Church in Westfield consisted of seven mem- bers at its organization, and has now 425. The salary paid is $1000. The Society has a fund of $5500, and raise $1500 annually by renting their slips.
WEST SPRINGFIELD.
THE Church was organized June, 1698. This town was at first a part of Springfield, and the people attended public worship on the east side of the river
REV. JOHN WOODBRIDGE was son of Rev. John W., of Killingworth, Ct., and graduated at Har- vard in 1664. He was ordained the day the Church was organized. He married a daughter of Rev. Joseph Elliot, of Guilford, Ct., by whom he had six sons and two daughters. His son John was pastor of the Church in South Hadley. He died
65
IN HAMPDEN COUNTY.
June 10, 1718, aged 40 years. Dr. Williams, of Longmeadow, after his death, said, "I look upon this as a great frown upon us all in this town, and in this part of the country ; for he was a man of great learning, of pleasant conversation, of a very tender spirit, very apt to communicate, one that had an excellent gift in giving advice and counsel, and so must certainly be very much missed among us."
REV. SAMUEL HOPKINS was born in Waterbury, Ct., graduated at Yale in 1718, and was ordained in 1720. He was an uncle of the celebrated Dr. Hop- kins, of Great Barrington and Newport, R. I. His wife was a sister of President Edwards, of North- ampton. They had four children, one of whom was Rev. Dr. Hopkins, of Hadley. He wrote fifteen hundred sermons during a ministry of 35 years. In 1753 he published a volume relating to the House- tunnac Indians, and the mission among them. His salary was £100. He died October 6, 1755, aged 61 years.
REV. JOSEPH LATHROP Was a descendant of Rev. John L., the first minister of Barnstable. He was born in Norwich, Ct. His father died when he was two years old. His mother married again, and resided in Bolton, Ct., where he spent his youth. He graduated at Yale in 1754, studied theology
66
SKETCHES OF CHURCHES AND PASTORS
with Rev. Mr. Breck, of Springfield, who preached his ordination sermon, August 25, 1756. He mar- ried Elizabeth Dwight, of Hatfield. They had six children. In 1791 the degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Dartmouth College, and in 1811 by Harvard. In 1793 he was offered the Professorship of Divinity at Yale, which he declined. He wrote 5000 sermons in 65 years. Seven 8vo. volumes of his sermons were published, besides a very great number of occasional sermons. He died December 30, 1720, aged 89 years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.