USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 14
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One who reads these pages or knows anything about the town at any period cannot fail to note the strong individuality of the people of Buckfield and this marked characteristic has been manifested from the earliest times to the present day. Nothing better illustrates this fact than the division of religious views en- tertained by the builders of this edifice. This variety of individ- ual beliefs and purposes divided what otherwise might have been a united effort to establish in the carly days a permanent religious society. It is evident the good people of that day did not realize the true cause of their failure and it is scarcely to be wondered at, that some in their disappointment at times erroneously re- garded the citizens of Buckfield, as a whole, a godless people and called them such but they were never this. There may have been a very few such in every age as in almost every community, yet the great mass of the people in every station in life has ever
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borne testimony of the highest Christian and moral char- acteristics.
The denominational rights to the use in the house were ap- portioned by a committee, consisting of Daniel Chase, Dominicus Record and Samuel F. Brown, who divided the proprietors into five classes, representing one hundred and twenty-two rights on the basis of two rights to a pew, with the following assignments :
To class number one, consisting of Universalists, was as- signed thirty-seven Sabbaths of the year, its representation being eighty-eight rights as follows:
William Bridgham, 10 rights; Isaac Turner, 2 rights ; Jona- than Buck, 2 rights; Zenas Mitchell, 2 rights; Joseph Turner, 2 rights ; Leonard Spaulding, 3 rights ; Wn. Bard, I right ; Elisha Buck, 2 rights ; Daniel Chase, 2 rights; Samuel Buck, 2 rights ; Levi Turner, 2 rights ; Axcel Spaulding, 2 rights ; E. Warren, 2 rights ; Noah Hall, 2 rights; David Warren, 2 rights ; Rodney Chaffin, 2 rights; John Warren, 2 rights; James Bonney, Jr., 4 rights ; Geo. Bridgham, 4 rights ; James S. and S. Buck, 2 rights; James Bowker, I right; Samuel B. Perry, 2 rights; Elijah Jor- dan, 2 rights; D. B. Warren, 2 rights; Benj. Heald, 2 rights; Benj. Tucker, 2 rights; Nathan .Atwood, 6 rights ; Calvin Bisbee, 2 rights; Caleb Cushman, 4 rights: Aaron Parsons, 10 rights ; Dominicus Record, 2 rights ; Luther Turner, I right.
To class number two, consisting of those who denominated themselves "liberals" were assigned eight Sundays and twenty rights as follows :
William Cole, 6 rights; Luther Crocker, I right ; James Jew- ett, 3 rights ; Ira Gardner, 2 rights ; Lucius Loring, 2 rights ; Zadoc Long, 4 rights; A. D. White, I right ; Jonas Spaulding, I right.
To class number three. consisting of sundry proprietors, re- questing to be classed together, were assigned four Sundays, or eight rights, viz .: Benj. Spaulding, Nathaniel Shaw, Samuel F. Brown and Larnard Swallow, two rights each.
To class number four, consisting of Baptists, one Sunday was assigned. This class had five rights, represented by Noah Prince, D. W. Corliss, William Safford and Nathaniel Harlow.
Class number five consisted of only one person, the Rev. Will- iam Pidgin, Congregationalist. His rights entitled him to less than a day's use of the house but an overlaying fraction from another class was added to his, giving him one full Sunday.
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The house was dedicated June 6, 1832 with a large concourse of people from Buckfield and surrounding towns. The sermon was preached by Rev. Seth Stetson. Nearly seventy years have passed away since that day and the builders of the church have all gone to their final rest, bat in the memories of our oldest citi- zens that interesting occasion is cherished as an impressive event of their youth and a red letter day in the past history of the village.
Union Chapel for several years after its dedication was occu- pied in accordance with the assignment previously recorded, the Universalists supporting settled ministers and clergymen of vari- ous other denominations preaching occasional sermons; but, as the former largely owned and controlled the house, it came to be known as a Universalist church. Sabbath services were somewhat irregularly continued till 1855, after which date the religious exercises were usually confined to preaching and a Sab- bath school during the summer months, but these were discon- tinted in 1874, after which the house remained unoccupied ex- cepting its occasional use for secular meetings. Aside from its use for religious purposes which included many notable conven- tions, the house was prominently associated with the people as a common meeting place on all important public occasions to which its doors were always open. During a period of forty years it was the exposition hall for the political, educational, musical and other associative interests of the community. In 1836 it was the scene of an enthusiastic celebration of the anniversary of our National Independence with an oration by Hon. Virgil D. Parris and in 1853 the Buckfield High School students, under Principal S. T. B. Willey gave an exhibition in the house which has taken prominence in the educational annals of the village and in which a large number of students who have since become well-known citizens participated. Music was furnished by the somewhat famous Buckfield Brass Band and the program occupied an after- noon and evening.
When the hostilities of the late Civil War began in 1861 this old house was flooded with a tide of patriotic enthusiasm at the war meetings of the citizens which invested it with hallowed re- membrance of the old Faneuil Hall of Buckfield ; and again when the tidal wave of temperance, known as the Reform Movement of 1873, swept over the country, it became the place of continued
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and zeal-inspiring meetings. Here, too, in 1884 occurred the first meeting in Buckfield in observance of Memorial day and also in 1900 of Old Home week with an overflowing house of old and young citizens and with old-time songs, remarks by vari- ous sons and daughters of the town and an address by Hon. John D. Long, then secretary of United States Navy. Similar observ- ances were held here the following year, which included the simple dedicatory exercises of the Zados Long Free Library. In 1863 the house had become considerably out of repair. Many of the old proprietors had passed away and others had grown indifferent : but a few of those who retained a deep interest in the old house called a meeting and voted to assess the pews to raise the needed funds for repairs. Only a small number of the own- ers responded and the pews of delinquents were sold at auction, a controlling number of which were bid off by Sullivan C. AAn- drews and Charles B. Atwood and from the funds thus received the house was placed in good repair. It was subsequently struck by a bolt of lightning which shattered the belfry and left its traces through the interior of the house. The exterior damage was gratuitously repaired by Ozen Spaulding and Alfred Cole and the house was painted by subscription procured through the efforts of Mrs. Charles Withington and other ladies. No further efforts for its perservation were made till 1894, when it had fallen into sad decay. For years it had been abandoned, a prey to vandal hands and the elements of nature, till it stood with vane awry, windows broken and roof gradually falling in and nothing short of prompt repairs could save it from utter ruin. The dilapidated condition of the dear old landmark of his childhood awakened the sympathies of Hon. Jolin D. Long, who offered a liberal contribution towards its restoration, provided the town would purchase it for a town hall. Frank P. Withington im- mediately devoted his time and energies to this project and sent out appeals to absent sons and daughters of the town which met with generous response. His successful efforts were supple- mented by an organization of citizens and the sum of five hun- dred dollars was soon pledged.
A town meeting was held in October, 1894, to see if the town would vote to purchase the house for a town hall at a nominal price not exceeding one hundred dollars. The meeting was largely attended and the question at issue was hotly contested, a
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strong opposition to the proposed purchase having developed ; but, after an exciting debate, the friends of the old house won the day. This action was soon followed by a legal re-organiza- tion of the proprietors of the church, who voted to sell it to the town for seventy-five dollars for a town hall, on condition that it should be kept in constant repair. Most of the proprietors donated their holdings. At the annual town meeting the follow- ing spring the town appropriated two hundred dollars for the purchase and repair of the house and this amount united with the subscription funds, soon restored the house to its old-time condition and appearance. Its dedicatory exercises occurred Nov. 3, 1895, under the auspices of the citizens and the Grand Army Posts of Buckfield and Sumner. It was a memorable oc- casion, with a sympathetic audience, for the old house was en- deared to nearly every one present by sacred memories and asso- ciations of an honored ancestry. The exercises were informal and wholly by local talent, with speaking by citizens and music by the Buckfield Band, stationed in the gallery from which the old band of the same name, nearly half a century before, had entertained the people. Since that date the house has been occu- pied for town meetings and public exercises of Memorial days and Old Home week. Its acquisition by the town insures the future preservation of its most cherished landmark and affords one of the finest town halls in Oxford County.
"Winning the dawning smiles of the sun, And its lingering kiss when the day is done, From all approaches a beacon seen, Piercing the blue above the green ; O'erlooking the scene a befitting crown Of the landscape fair, and the beautiful town; The pride of our father's toil and skill --- The old white chapel that stands on the hill."
ALFRED COLE.
UNIVERSALISTS.
A large number of the early residents of Buckfield were never in full accord with the dogmas of the established churches and when the doctrines of universal salvation were promulgated as the teachings of an organized church, they were readily em-
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braced by many citizens. As Universalism spread over the coun- try its ministers occasionally visited this town, preaching in school houses and winning converts and a controversial spirit on religious matters and scriptural interpretations prevailed in the community. The organization of Union Chapel Society in 1830 included thirty-three proprietors in the proposed church build- ing, who classed themselves as Universalists and eight who classed themselves as Liberals and these two classes represented nearly nine-tenths of the ownership and control of Union Chapel. No society of Universalists was incorporated but un- der the associations of their classification in the chapel society they united in support of religious services and other church af- fairs customary with parishes.
Among the early occasional preachers of the new faith in Buckfield were Revs. Samuel Hutchinson, Seth Stetson, William A. Drew, A. M. Hawkins, Russell Streeter, Sylvanus Cobb and George Bates. Several of them became eminent in their denom- ination. Th first resident preacher of record was Rev. Samuel Hutchinson, who came here from Windham, his native town, and settled on the place later known as the Leonard Russell farm, where he died in 1828. Originally a Free Baptist preacher, he changed his views to Universalism and wrote and published a book giving "good reasons" for his change of belief.
The first Universalist clergyman to settle here professionally was Rev. Seth Stetson, familiarly known as "Father" Stetson, who moved here from Brunswick in May, 1830. He had for- merly been a resident of Boston and an Orthodox minister but becoming a convert to Universalism, he made a missionary tour to Maine. finally locating at Brunswick. He preached in Buck- field one or two Sabbaths each month about three years, when he fell under the displeasure of some of his strong supporters on account of his public utterances in advocacy of temperance : and, feeling that his usefulness here as a preacher was ended, he re- turned to Brunswick where he passed the remainder of his life. For several years, however, he made occasional visits here, preaching to the acceptance of all. He is pleasantly recalled as an amiable, exemplary man, always highly esteemed as a citizen and preacher.
The retirement of Father Stetson was followed by a season of dullness in religious affairs with only irregular services by
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visiting clergymen of various denominations and many Sabbaths went by with no religious meetings in the village. But in 1838 there was a revival of church interest among the Universalists with a united effort to employ a minister. Rev. George Thomes, then a resident of Turner, began to preach and soon entered up- on a prosperous pastorate which continued nearly ten years. The relations of his people continued pleasant until the summer of 1844, when an element of discord appeared resulting from the presence of a preacher named Canfield, then a stranger here, and of whose history little is now known. He obtained considerable temporary popularity but preached only a short time and it does not appear that his services were productive of any good results.
Mr. Thomes was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Foster, who moved here from Winthrop in the spring of 1845. He preached occasionally for a time and in 1847 began to supply the pulpit in Union Chapel. He was employed regularly only a few years but he continued to reside here till 1861, preaching in this and various other towns. He was a scholarly man and acquired a wide reputation as a teacher. He was the last resident Uni- versalist preacher in Buckfield and after his removal no regular preaching was sustained ; but during the summer months sup- port was frequently given for sermons by various clergymen, prominent among whom were Revs. George Bates and William R. French and in later years, Prof. Cone and J. M. Paine, a stu- dent, both from Canton N. Y. Theological Seminary. During the many years of their activity the Universalists sustained public services a part of the time at East Buckfield where they had an assigned holding in the meeting-house, visiting and resident cler- gymen of the village often preaching there. Associations of the denomination were also held there. Among the prominent patrons in that part of the town were Lewis Mason, Isaac Shaw and Varanes DeCoster.
In August, 1867, a Universalist parish was organized in the village, partially in the interest of the denomination, but more especially as a means for the repair and preservation of Union Chapel. During the last decade in the occupancy of Union Chapel for public worship its religious associations were centered in a large and flourishing Sabbath school successively under the superintendence of Thomas Chase, Sullivan C. Andrews and Al- fred Cole. A good library was acquired, and patrons, old and
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young, from all parts of the town contributed to the success of the school, giving it a broad influence in the community ; but for various natural causes its prosperity declined till in 1874, when it was discontinued, and the old church on the hill was left with closed doors alone with its memories. Since that time Universa- list preaching has been confined to occasional sermons at North and East Buckfield and in the Methodist church in the village.
The association of Universalists in Buckfield embraced many representative citizens of the past. In its early years one of its strongest supporters was Dr. William Bridgham, whose spacious house was always a place of hospitality for clerical representa- tives of his chosen faith. Aaron Parsons was another patron whose long devotion is worthy of special record. Other faithful helpers were James Bonney, Jr .. Noah Hall and Benjamin Heald, whose descendants in this town to this day retain the religious faith of their fathers. The zealous workers of later years were Thomas Chase, Sullivan C. Andrews. Asa Robinson, Nathan O). Storer, Ozen Spaulding, Josiah W. Whitten, Dastine Spaulding, Andrew J. Hall, Albion P. Bonney, Mrs. Charles Withington and Mirs. Sullivan C. Andrews. Dastine Spaulding and Mr. Storer were enthusiastic singers and the former led the choir. All of the men have passed to their final rest, leaving their names in honored memory.
REV. GEORGE THOMES.
Rev. George Thomes was born in West Gorham, March 9, 1795. He was a son of Samuel Thomes, a Free Baptist clergy- man. At the age of eighteen he was converted and baptized in the faith of his father ; but when he came to ponder on religious matters he became inclined towards a more liberal doctrine and was impressed with a desire to become a preacher of the gospel. He moved to Portland where he often conferred with a Universa- list minister called "Father" Raynor, who advised him to become a preacher of his faith. Accordingly he prepared himself and preached his first sermon in his native town, following with pul- pit labors in various parts of Cumberland County. In 1836 he accepted a call to Otisfield and from there he moved to Turner, then to Buckfield, where he passed the remainder of his life. Ile had a wide acquaintance with the people of his denomination, his house being a home of visiting clergymen, with whom he often
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exchanged. He was active in public affairs, took a deep in- terest in school matters and was widely known as an educator. In politics he was a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school and served as postmaster under the administration of President Buchanan. He reared a large family of sons and daughters, who became prominently identified with the social and business interests of the community. He was a devoted Free Mason, having joined the order at Bridgton in 1826, and was one of the founders of Mt. Moriah Lodge, Denmark. He died in Buck- field, May 6, 1871, and was buried with Masonic honors by Eve- ning Star Lodge of which he was acting chaplain. His funeral sermon was from the text, his own selection: "I know that my Redeemer liveth."
REV. FREDERICK FOSTER.
Frederick Foster was born in Salem, N. H., May 10, 1813. His father died, leaving a family of eleven children when Fred- erick was six years old. His mother, being unable to provide for so many, they were necessarily separated, Frederick going to Newbury, Vt., with an uncle. He remained there six years and then passed three years in a store in Charlestown, Mass. He returned to his native town, learned the trade of shoemaker, and went into business in another town. At the age of eighteen he became impressed with a strong desire to enter the ministry. He had diligently improved his limited opportunities for reading and study and acquired the rudiments of a good education. But he saw the necessity of more thorough acquirements and against the discouragements of friends and relying wholly upon his own efforts, he entered Dartmouth College from which he graduated in 1840. He prepared for the ministry under the tuition of that eminent theologian, Dr. Hosea Ballou, and declining a call from Manchester, N. H., he settled at Winthrop, Me., in 1842, where he was ordained. He remained there until August, 1845, when he moved to Buckfield, residing here fifteen years and preaching here and at North Turner, Summer, Harpswell, Freeport and New Gloucester, a portion of the time in each of these places. In 1860 he responded to a call from Meriden, Conn., but in the following spring removed to Weare, N. H., where he continued to preach until the day of his death. On the first Sunday in March. 1865, he preached two sermons to the great satisfaction
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of his hearers from this text in Psalms: "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me." On the fol- lowing day, not feeling well, he lay down to rest and was soon apparently in a refreshing slumber. An hour later his wife ap- proaching his bedside found him in the quiet sleep of death. Mr. Foster had three children, but none of his family now sur- vive him. His wife is recalled as an estimable lady and his son. Frederick, as a precocious student under his father's exacting tutelage. He became a teacher and devoted most of his years to literary work. He died a few years ago in New Hampshire.
The individuality of Frederick Foster has been well preserved in the association of Buckfield, not so much, perhaps, for his ability as a preacher as for his reputation as a scholar and his impress as the village schoolmaster to the boys and girls of half a century ago, who now, as members of an elder generation, re- late the school-day tales of their youth.
FREE BAPTIST.
During the first half of the century just passed quite a num- ber of Free Baptist families resided in the northwest part of the town and public services were held in the schoolhouse there many years with preaching by Elders Charles C. Witham and Joseph Hall, who were farmers and residents of the neighborhood ; but the local interests of this denomination centered in the east part of the town at Federal Corner where a union meeting-house was erected in 1833. Here their earliest church associations were formed, which in later years developed considerable strength and influence. We are fortunate in the following historical sketch of their early days written by Rev. Joseph Fullerton in 1847:
"There was preaching by the Free Will Baptists in Hebron, a town southerly of this, about the commencement of the present century and a church constituted. Some of the members lived in Buckfield and the brethren of the two towns were united in one church until 1824. A young man, named Daniel Hutchin- son, a native of Windham, lived in the town and improved pub- licly and to profit. Nov. 21, 1802, at a quarterly meeting held at Gorham, he was set apart to the work of the ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands. He labored in Buckfield and vicin-
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ity with success and then adopted Calvinistic sentiments and joined the Baptists. After he had been in that connection awhile he embraced Free Communion sentiments and left the denom- ination. After some years he returned to that church again. His son, Joseph, is also a Baptist preacher.
The next preacher who did much in Buckfield was Elder Samuel Hutchinson, who was ordained at Parsonsfield in Novem- ber, 1806. He lived in town and preached some time, after which his mind became entangled with several new notions and finally he settled down to the belief of Universalism. He died not far from 1828. He was useful while with the Free Will Baptists. Elder Stephen Hutchinson and Bro. Asa Hutchinson, a licentiate, are now Free Will Baptist preachers and have, we trust, a great attachment to the cause so dear to their father in the days of his prosperity.
The bretheren in Buckfield were separated from Hebron and formed into a church April 16, 1824. The number of members at first was twenty-three. At that time Elder Hubbard Chand- ler, a native of Wilton, was in the place blowing the trumpet of jubilee with success. In the course of that spring and summer he baptized about thirty, The meetings were held in private houses and barns, but the presence of Christ was there and the places were awful to the wicked, but glorious to believers. In the course of a few years that followed, the church enjoyed the occasional labors of Elders Jordan, Files, Hathorn, Hobson, Hutchinson, White, Tracy and Witham. At length, some time after 1830, Elder Clement Phinney, a native of Gorham, moved into the place and tarried two or three years, devoting a portion of his labors to this church. The church had become much dis- ordered and while he was with it, in September, 1831, with the assistance of Elder Hobson, a re-organization was effected in which twenty-four united.
The next minister that resided in the place was Elder Zacha- riah Jordan. He commenced about 1834 and continued some three years, during which there was some increase. In the latter part of his labors in 1837, it was a dying time. About the latter part of August, five children of Mr. Henry DeCoster died in ten days. God's judgments were abroad and some feared but did not fly to the Savior. In 1839 the church was low, but in the spring some had a mind to arise and build. A protracted meet-
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ing was commenced which continued eleven days. Much of the labor was performed by Elders A. Wheeler and Levi Hersey. God worked with them and several were converted. In May, Elder Wheeler baptized about twenty. The church adopted a covenant and about this time Elder Levi Hersey took charge. The season continued glorious and he baptized about forty. Elder Hersey preached in the place two years and left the church in a good state. After this, Elder Wheeler supplied one year.
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