USA > Maine > Oxford County > Bethel > History of Bethel : formerly Sudbury, Canada, Oxford County, Maine, 1768-1890, with a brief sketch of Hanover and family statistics > Part 20
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REV. ELIPHAZ CHAPMAN.
Rev. Eliphaz Chapman was never settled over any church in this town, but he preached a number of years at Madbury, New Hamp- shire, and at other places before he came here. Here he engaged largely in farming, and was the founder of one of the most numer- ous and distinguished families in town. He was a descendant of Edward Chapman who came from the northeast of England quite early, and settled at Ipswich, Massachusetts. He was a miller, and
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in sixteen hundred and forty-two, married Mary, daughter of Mark Symonds. Rev. Eliphaz Chapman was the son of Samuel Chap- man, and was born at Newmarket, New Hampshire, March seventh, seventeen hundred and fifty. He married secondly, Hannah, daugh- ter of Timothy Jackman of Newbury, who was the mother of his children. The name of his first wife who died soon after their mar- riage, was Sarah Hutchins. He was the ninth in a family of twelve children. His brother Edmund settled in Freeport and died early, when his widow married James Rogers. Eliphaz Chapman's second wife was born July twenty-fourth, seventeen hundred and fifty- three, and they were married in seventeen hundred and seventy-two. He attended the schools of his town and studied for the ministry under the tutorship of Rev. Moses Bradford of Methuen. He preached at Madbury and then at Methuen for about fifteen years. He owned a small farm in Methuen which he sold when he came to Bethel. He came to Bethel in seventeen hundred and eighty-nine, purchased a farm on the north side of the river, where his son, Tim- othy Chapman afterwards lived, felled trees and sowed winter rye. He then returned to Methnen, and the following spring came back, accompanied by his son Eliphaz, and built a house on the spot where the Indians had lived and grown corn, the hills of which could then be seen. This was the first clearing on the north side of the river above the Moses A. Mason .place. Their oldest daughter, Hannah, was left behind till the next year, for the purpose of learn- ing the trade of a tailoress, which would be absolutely necessary in a new country. She found abundant employment on coming to Bethel, which she did on horseback the next year. The appearance of this portion of the town as it existed in seventeen hundred and ninety, thus described by the late Dea. George Chapman, son of Rev. Eliphaz Chapman, who came here that year at the age of ten years.
The whole country was an unbroken forest, save where it was in- terrupted by small openings. On the north side of the river, Col. Eli Twitchell had a small clearing where Curatio Bartlett once lived ; Dea. Ezra Twitchell where Alphin Twitchell afterwards lived ; Capt. Eleazer Twitchell where Moses A. Mason now lives, and Rev. Eliphaz Chapman where Timothy Chapman lived. On the south side, the largest opening was that of Lieut. Clark which Mr. Albert L. Burbank now owns. Then that of Abraham Russell on the Grout farm, so-called, on the west side of Alder river, and Greely
REV. ELIPHAZ CHAPMAN HOUSE.
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Swan where William W. Mason now lives. These were the princi- pal openings at that time.
The following description of their log house as described by Dea- con George W. Chapman, his son, may be novel to the young. The house was made of second growth poplars which grew on the Indian clearings to a great height and very straight. These were hewed on two sides and laid together. The house at first consisted of but one room, but some boards were afterwards obtained and a room par- titioned off for the girls. The father and mother slept in the prin- cipal room, while the boys climbed up the ladder into the garret. The fireplace consisted of some rocks placed in one corner. The chimney only came down to the chamber floor and was made by crossed sticks plastered with clay. Some loose boards were laid down for a floor. These in a short time became so warped as to render it inconvenient for walking, and was the cause of a serious accident. Mrs. Chapman had brought with her from Massachu- setts some beautiful crockery which was nicely arranged on the dresser ; but accidentally while walking across the floor, she stum- bled, and thereby threw down her crockery and broke the whole of it. She could not have been blamed if under such circumstances she did give vent to her feelings in tears. During the first winter they could get no grinding done at the mill, and they were obliged to live on hulled corn, stewed peas and bean porridge. As soon as they could have some cows they lived well. Their cows found a plenty of forage on the intervales, although garlic was so abundant as to affect their milk, which unpleasant flavor they avoided by eat- ing an onion before taking the milk.
They succeeded in raising bountiful crops and by cutting timber and selling it they were able to purchase a yoke of oxen and two cows from Brunswick. They also obtained some sheep and put them on the islands in the river. After a few years he built the house where his son Timothy Chapman lived and died. He was chosen as the first representative from Bethel to the Massachusetts legislature. This was in eighteen hundred and eight, and he was chosen for three successive years. He was a Justice of Peace and did considerable business in that capacity. He was evidently a man of considerable ability. He published two sermons on the Prophe- cies in seventeen hundred and ninety-nine, which were characteristic of the theology of his day. He died of consumption in eighteen hundred and fourteen, aged sixty-four years, and was buried in the
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cemetery on the north side of the river. He preached occasionally in the adjoining towns but was never settled over any society after coming into Maine.
REV. DANIEL GOULD.
Rev. Daniel Gould was born in Topsfield, Mass., Dec. eighth, seventeen hundred and fifty-three. He was the son of Daniel and Lucy (Tarbox) Gould, and the fifth in descent from Zaccheus Gould, who was born in England about fifteen hundred and eighty- nine, came to this country in sixteen hundred and thirty-eight, and settled in Topsfield. He graduated at Harvard College, and before entering college, and while a student at Dummer Academy he served a term in the Continental army. Returning, he studied Theology with Rev. Mr. Moody of Byefield. He was admitted to the church in Topsfield, Dec. seventh, seventeen hundred and eighty-three. He came to Bethel and preached as a candidate in seventeen hun- dred and ninety-eight and nine, and was installed as the first settled minister in Bethel in October, seventeen hundred and ninety-nine. He remained here until eighteen hundred and fifteen, when, having received a call, he became the pastor of the church in Rumford and moved there. He was installed as such May thirty-first, eighteen hundred and fifteen. He brought the first chaise into Bethel, and was himself a conspicuous figure in his cocked hat, black silk gown and breeches which was the ministrial dress of that day. He was very social in his habits and popular with all classes. His fund of anecdotes was inexhaustible. He wrote his sermons, and when reading them held the manuscript near his eyes. In his will he left a small sum to Bethel Academy, on the condition that the institu- tion should take his name, which was agreed to by the trustees. An oil portrait, said to be a correct likeness, has also been presented to the Academy by Miss Mary Hurd of Topsfield, a niece of Mr. Gould. Mr. Gould married for his first wife, Dec. twenty-fourth, seventeen hundred and eighty-two, Mary, eldest daughter of George Booth of Hillsborough, N. H. She died October first, seventeen hundred and eighty-five. They had one daughter Molly, born Sep- tember twenty-eighth, seventeen hundred and eighty-five, and died the December following. December twenty-fifth, seventeen hun- dred and eighty-eight, he married Mrs. Eunice Perley, daughter of Stephen Foster of Andover, Mass., and relict of Jeremiah Perley of Topsfield. She came with him to Maine and died in this town.
REV. DANIEL GOULD, AT 85.
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She had no children. For a third wife Mr. Gould married Mrs. Anna Poor, widow of Capt Abner Rawson of Paris, who survived Mr. Gould many years, residing in her native town of Andover, Maine.
Mr. Gould's ministry in this town does not appear to have been altogether a happy one. Influences that were brought to bear against him at the time of his settlement seemed to increase during his ministry in Bethel. He continued as pastor till eighteen hun- dred and nine, when he was dismissed. Still the town is much in- debted to Mr. Gould for the character of its inhabitants. He opened a school for young men in his own house, where they could resort and fit for college or for a profession. Many who have since distinguished themselves, availed themselves of his instruction. In this way he developed the educational interests of the town far be- yond that of most towns at that time. Many anecdotes are told of him during his residence in Bethel, though few of them are worthy of record. It is said that one of his hearers expostulated with him for making such long prayers in church. "Well, then, if you are tired, sit down," was his reply. As a neighbor he was peaceable. On a certain occasion he had lost his corn, and though he had the strongest presumptive evidence who was the thief, he refused to move a step, but simply replied, "He will be his own greatest tormentor."
On a certain occasion a parishioner came to him to pay his tax, but not being able to advance the money, it was proposed that he should give his note. As Mr. Gonld commenced writing, For value received, "That is not true," said the parishioner, "I have not re- ceived any value." Mr. G, instead of being offended, laughed heartily and gave him his tax, as he belonged to another denomina- tion. With his chaise, the first in town, he certainly had advan- tages over his less fortunate people. The social element was strong in him, and his fund of anecdotes was inexhaustible. On a certain occasion he was present at a "raising," and as was the custom of the day, he made a prayer just before the broadsides were erected. After the building was up and the toddy passed round, he turned to the owner, who was a young married man, and proposed a senti- ment : "May you live and enjoy many years of prosperity, and, I like to have said, may you have a hundred children." In making his will he made a bequest to the academy in Bethel, on condition that it should be named after him. Unfortunately, but a part of
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what was supposed to belong to the institution was ever realized. The fund so received is to be devoted to the purpose of paying the teacher for his services.
He lived in Bethel in the house built by Lieut. Jonathan Clark, which is still standing. He married for his third wife widow Anna Rawson of Paris, who still survives him and resides in Andover, Maine. He never had any children. For some time previous to his death he was totally blind. Mr. Gould departed this life very sud- denly, while sitting at the table at dinner, May twenty-first, eigh- teen hundred and forty-two, aged eighty-eight years. The writer of this volume has in his possession one of Mr. Gould's manuscript sermons, said to be the first one ever preached by him. It is writ- ten in a very plain, round hand on a page about three by five inches. Mr Gould was a man of excellent character, and is still referred to with respect and reverence by the elderly people of Rumford, though he has been dead nearly half a century. His second wife died Aug. twenty-first, eighteen hundred and thirty, and was buried at Rumford Center.
REV. CHARLES FROST.
The history of every town presents the character of some men who have held a prominent position in the affairs of church and State for many years. Such was the case in the biography of the man in this chapter.
Rev. Charles Frost was born in Limerick, Maine, January twelfth, seventeen hundred and ninety-six. He was the son of Moses Frost, who was born June third, seventeen hundred and sixty-six, and of Sally McKenney, who was born March tenth, seventeen hundred and sixty-six. They were united in marriage April fifteenth, seven- teen hundred and ninety. They had nine children, among whom Charles was the fourth.
Mr. Frost spent a portion of his earlier years in Gorham, Maine, when attending the academy. He studied with reference to the ministry under the Rev. Asa Rand, pastor of the Congregationalist church in Gorham, and was licensed to preach by the Cumberland Association at a meeting held at Gorham, November fourteenth, eighteen hundred and twenty. From a diary which he kept for sev- eral years during the first part of his ministry, it appears that he preached his first sermon in Bethel, five days after he received his license, November nineteenth, eighteen hundred and twenty. His
REV. CHARLES FROST.
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text was in Hebrews, ninth chapter, twenty-seventh verse. One who was present on that occasion described him as a young man of twenty-four years of age, youthful in appearance and exceedingly modest in demeanor, who at first sight would not have impressed strangers in his favor, but who soon obtained a strong hold upon the affections of the people with whom he had come to labor. After supplying the desk six Sabbaths he returned to Gorham, where he continued to preach, and at other places, till March twenty-fifth, when he again returned to Bethel where he continued his labors till his death.
At a legal meeting of the Congregationalist church in the West Parish of Bethel, held November fifth, eighteen hundred and twenty- one, it was voted to extend an invitation to Mr. Charles Frost to become pastor of said church. A council was called, which met at the house of Dea. Samuel Barker, consisting of the following per- sons : Rumford-Rev. Daniel Gould, Dea. Hezekiah Hutchins. Bath-Rev. John W. Ellingwood, Ammi R. Mitchell. Otisfield- Rev. Josiah G. Merrill, Wm. Spurr. No. Yarmouth-Rev. Asa Cummings, Dea. Jacob Mitchell. Waterford-Rev. A. Douglass, Dea. Moses Treadwell. Paris-Rev. Joseph Walker, Dea. Daniel Stowell. Turner-Rev. Allen Greely, Dea. Martin ' Bradford. Gorham-John T. Smith. Bridgton-Aaron Beaman. It is worthy of remark that a long journey was necessary to reach Bethel through the woods in those days. The ordination was held in the meeting house, February twentieth, eighteen hundred and twenty-two. The sermon was delivered by Rev. John W. Ellingwood of Bath. The minister immediately entered upon his labors as pastor. He had discriminating minds among his people, and a society that was reg- ular in its attendance upon his ministry. With a theological library of limited size, he was compelled to draw his arguments more directly from the Bible itself, which gave a simple yet effective style to his preaching. He always had a large attendance and among them were many who were among the oldest settlers in the town, while a large number consisted of young people, who presented a most interesting appearance at that time. It was an audience of more than ordinary intellectual character. His appearance in the desk was solemn. He arrested the attention of his hearers by a clear and argumentative exposition of his subject, which he divided and subdivided so as to be easily comprehended. On one occasion he commenced his sermon by introducing his peroration or close of
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his sermon first. This was done in the most impressive manner, and a deathlike stillness reigned over the house. He then proceeded with his text and argument, and dismissed his audience, who could not fail to be strongly impressed with his subject.
During his ministry the church reccived additions from year to year, but it was in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-nine, when there was a powerful revival, and many individuals, embracing a large number of intelligent and interesting young people united with the church. During his ministry one hundred and twenty-nine per- sons united with the church. His relations with the church were generally pacific until the year eighteen hundred and forty-eight, when it was decided to build a new church in the village, and form a new society on the north side of the river. Though he took but a secondary part in the matter it seriously affected him. His health, which was never very strong, began to give way. Dyspep- sia was a troublesome attendant on him. During the year eighteen hundred and forty-nine, he lost two of his children from ship fever, which had been introduced into his family, and the other members, together with himself, were sufferers from it, from which he never recovered. He died February eleventh, eighteen hundred and fifty, after a successful ministry over the same church for twenty-eight years. His funeral was attended by a large and mourning congre- gation of those who had grown up under his ministry. A sermon was preached by his co-laborer for about the same length of time, Rev. John Douglass of Waterford. He was married May eleventh, eighteen hundred and nineteen, to Miss Lydia Fernald, who was born February twenty-second, seventeen hundred and eighty-seven, and died August twenty-seventh, eighteen hundred and twenty-five. He was again married to Miss Lucinda M. S. Smith, who was born in Scarborough, December nineteenth, seventeen hundred and nine- ty-four, and died in Bethel, November twelfth, eighteen hundred and fifty-nine.
Mr. Frost exerted a powerful influence for the good of his peo- ple. In the church and in the educational interests of the town he was always ready to give his time and influence. His mind was rather inclined to a mathematical exactness in everything to which he directed his attention. Geometry was with him a favorite study, and he rightly judged it a valuable study for every young person who would cultivate precision in their mental operations. In per- son he was of medium height. His hair had become gray and his
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eye was quite expressive. His voice was slightly tremulous, which rather gave effect to his public performances.
He was remarkably uniform in his whole course of life, being neither greatly elated by success or depressed by discouragements. He commenced his labors over a society that had been but little favored with a settled minister for a period of eleven years, but by his uniform course of action he left it among the largest in this part of the State. His counsel was sought after among his brethren in the ministry, and respected. Cautious, though not over and above conservative, his opinion was ever valuable. A man who has the ability to direct the spiritual interests of a church and society so long, is worthy of no ordinary record, and his name is passed down to posterity as one who was honored by those who best knew him.
REV. JOHN H. M. LELAND.
He was born in Amherst, Mass., graduated at Amherst College and at Andover Theological Seminary, and was ordained at Sher- burn, Massachusetts. Soon after the death of Mr. Frost, an invi- tation was extended to Mr. Leland to be his successor. He accepted and was installed pastor of the church and parish July third, eighteen hundred and fifty. He remained till May tenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, when he was dismissed and returned to Massachusetts. He afterwards resided at Amherst.
REV. EDWIN A. BUCK.
He was the son of James Buck of Bucksport, and was born in that town, May thirty-first, eighteen hundred and twenty-four. After fitting for college at the academy in Andover, he graduated at Yale College in eighteen hundred and forty-nine, and at Bangor Theological Seminary in eighteen hundred and fifty-two. He was ordained in Bethel, May twentieth, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and settled as pastor over the First Congregational church. He continued in this relation till February, eighteen hundred and fifty- nine, when he was dismissed. He was married to Miss Elmira R., daughter of Dean Walker, who was born in Aruendel county, Md., December ninth, eighteen hundred and twenty-five. They were married January nineteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-three. Soon after his dismissal from Bethel, he removed to Slatersville, R. I., where he became pastor of a church.
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REV. JOHN B. WHEELWRIGHT.
Rev. John B. Wheelwright is a lineal descendant of that Rev. John Wheelwright who was the classmate of Oliver Cromwell, came to this country, was first at Boston, then was one of the founders of Exeter, New Hampshire, and subsequently came to Wells and col- lected a church there. The descent is John1, Samuel?, Joseph3, Joseph4, Aaron5, Ebenezer6, to John B.7 who was born in Wells, Maine, December thirteenth, eighteen hundred and twenty. He fitted for college at Kennebunk and at Kent's Hill, and graduated from Colby University, then Waterville College, in eighteen hun- dred and forty-four. He married Helen A. Barton of Sidney. He was pastor of the church in Bethel from eighteen hundred and fifty- nine to eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, covering the period of the great rebellion. He has since been settled at South Paris and in Deering. He now resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have had two children, a daughter deceased, and a son, John O. P. Wheelwright, who is a prosperous lawyer in Minneapolis.
REV. STEPHEN L. BOWLER.
Rev. Stephen Longfellow Bowler was born in Palermo, Me., July twenty-fifth, eighteen hundred and twenty. He fitted for college in part at Kent's Hill, and in part at home, and graduated from Water- ville College with the class of eighteen hundred and forty-seven. After graduating, he spent a couple of years in teaching and then commenced the study of medicine under the tutorship of Doctor McRuer of Bangor. In eighteen hundred and forty-nine, he at- tended medical lectures at Castleton, Vermont, and later took a course in the medical department of Harvard College. He then entered the Bangor Theological Seminary, from which he was grad- uated in eighteen hundred and fifty-two. He was ordained at Machias, January fifth, eighteen hundred and fifty-three. He sub- sequently settled in Orono, where, May twelfth, eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, he was married to Miss Augusta J. Colburn of that town. In eighteen hundred and sixty-three, he entered the service of the United States Christian Commission and became the superin- tendent of its work at Washington. He was subsequently appointed general agent for the State of Maine, and organized the work in each county. He edited a part of the history of the commission. Soon after the war closed, he accepted a call to settle in Hampden,
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REV. DAVID GARLAND.
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where he remained six years, and since that time he has continued his labors in the ministry at Saccarappa, Machias, Bethel, Berlin Falls, New Hampshire, and at Robbinston, Maine. He came to the First Congregational church in Bethel in eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, and remained six years.
REV. NAHUM W. GROVER.
Nahum Wesley Grover is the son of Andrew Grover, and was born in Bethel in eighteen hundred and thirty-five. He graduated from Bowdoin College in the class of eighteen hundred and sixty- four, and from the Theological Seminary at Bangor, three years later. He was pastor of a church in Mantorville, Minnesota, at Topsham, Maine, in Bethel and in Colebrook, New Hampshire. He married in eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, at Bangor, Fannie. E. Osgood of that city.
REV. DANIEL W. HARDY.
Rev. Daniel Warren Hardy was born in Wilton, Maine, July twenty-fourth, eighteen hundred and thirty-four. He was educated in the common school, at Farmington Academy and at Bowdoin Col- lege. He entered college with the class of eighteen hundred and sixty-one, and remained two years. He then studied medicine and graduated from the Maine Medical School in eighteen hundred and sixty-three. He was then appointed surgeon of the thirty-seventh Regiment of United States colored troops, and served through the remainder of the war. He was breveted Lieutenant Colonel, United States Volunteers, March fourth, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven. He graduated from the Bangor Theological Seminary in eighteen hundred and seventy-one, and preached two years at Presque Isle. He became acting pastor of the Congregational church in Bethel, August first, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, and still remains here.
REV. DAVID GARLAND.
Rev. David Garland was the fourth son of Dea. John Garland of Newfield, Maine, and was born March twenty-second, eighteen hun- dred and fifteen. He graduated from Amherst College in eighteen hundred and forty-three, and from Andover Theological Seminary in eighteen hundred and forty-six. His first labor in the ministry was at South Solon, then a year in Sweden, Maine, and a year at.
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Burlington, Massachusetts. He commenced his labors with the Second Congregational church in Bethel, in April, eighteen hundred and forty-nine, and was ordained pastor on the fifteenth day of August following. He was the first and only pastor of the Second church, and labored diligently as such until the time of his death, a period of nearly forty years. The council called to assist and ad- vise in the service was composed of the following individuals : Bethel-Rev. Charles Frost, Josiah Brown ; Rumford-Rev. Eli- phalet Hopkins, Otis C. Bolster ; Norway-Rev. Charles Packard ; Turner-Rev. John Dodd ; Albany-Rev. Charles F. Tewksbury and J. H. Lovejoy ; Sweden-Rev. John Foster and Doctor Nathan Bradbury ; North Bridgton-Rev. Z. M. Harris and Moses Gould ; Waterford-Rev. John A. Douglass and Amos Gage ; Portland- Rev. John W. Chickering. The following persons performed his ordination services : Invocation and reading the scriptures, Elipha- let S. Hopkins ; Introductory prayer, Rev. Charles Packard ; Ser- mon, Rev. John W. Chickering ; Ordaining prayer, Rev. John A. Douglass ; Charge to the pastor, Rev. Charles Frost ; Fellowship of the churches, Rev. L. W. Harris ; Address to the people, Rev. I. Dodd ; Concluding prayer, Rev. J. P. Foster ; Benediction, the pastor. On the seventeenth day of September, eighteen hundred and forty-nine, he was married by Rev. John J. Carruthers, D. D., of Portland, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Thaddeus and Sukey . (Barker) Twitchell of Bethel, who died January twenty-third, eigh- teen hundred and sixty-seven, and he married secondly, Mary Jane Baker. Mr. Garland was the faithful and beloved pastor of the church as long as he lived. He worked for small pay and eked out his salary by serving on the board of superintending school com- mittee and by cultivating a small piece of land. He was methodical in his habits and a hard-working man. During his pastorate he attended seventy sessions of the county conference, out of seventy- four, united in marriage, one hundred and ninety-five couples, and attended over five hundred funerals. He was a genial, companion- able man, a good citizen, an accommodating and obliging neighbor and a true friend. Without guile himself, he trusted others, and in one instance he lost nearly all his little accumulations by misplaced confidence. He died very suddenly in his pulpit while attending upon his regular Sunday services, October sixteenth, eighteen hun- dred and eighty-four. After his death, the church had a supply for a short time, but July sixth, eighteen hundred and ninety, the sec-
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