History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 47

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780

USA > Maine > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland Co., Maine > Part 47

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In 1855, with his brother John as partner, under the firm of J. & D. W. True, he began business on Commercial Street as a wholesale groeer.

John True retired in 1862, sinee which time Mr. True has continued the business, having associated with him other partners. His business has kept paee with the growing demands of trade, and his good judgment and business capacity gives him a place among the well-established business men of Port- land.

While a farmer he took an active interest in the local affairs of his town and county, and while a resi- dent of Poland was one of the selectmen of the town for four years. He is a director of the Cumberland National Bank of Portland, and one of the trustees of the Maine Savings Bank. He was a representa- tive in the State Legislature in 1875-76. IIe mar- ried, Aug. 29, 1847, Mary F. Milliken, of Poland, Me. They have an only son, Frank D. True, born April 25, 1868.

Mr. True still retains possession of the farm first settled by his father in 1798, and has caused to be erected thereon commodious buildings of modern design, a view of which, as it is in 1879, and as it appeared in the hands of his ancestors, may be seen on another page of this work.

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CITY OF PORTLAND.

creased very rapidly, and Mr. Payson showed that he pos- sessed the elements of a powerful and persuasive minister ; his society and church became by far the largest in the State, and himself the most popular preacher of his day. The meeting-house was enlarged in 1807, to accommodate the increased members of the society ; it was divided at the first bay before the pulpit, and 32 new pews on the ground- floor were added and sold for the benefit of the parish. The house subsequently underwent an entire change in its in- terior arrangement.

Amidst the great success produced by the zeal and ardor of Mr. Payson, and while an apparent harmony existed in the society, symptoms of disunion suddenly appeared, the cause of which is not fully developed, and Mr. Kellogg's connection with the church and society was dissolved in December, 1811. The plan which had been fondly cherished by the senior pastor of extending the society and forming a branch in the westerly part of the town was abandoned. The whole of the laborious duty now devolved upon Mr. Payson, which he continued to discharge with renewed assiduity and zeal until he wore himself out in the service, and died Oct. 22, 1827.

Several of Mr. Payson's discourses were published during his lifetime, and had an extensive circulation, particularly one before the Bible Society, and another to seamen. After his death two volumes of his sermons and a memoir of his life was published under the direction and for the benefit of his widow.

Mr. Payson was succeeded by Rev. Bennett Tyler, Presi- dent of Dartmouth College, who was installed in September, 1828. He continued in the pastoral relation till 1834, when he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Vail, of Brimfield, Mass., who was installed the same year. In October, 1837, Mr. Vail was dismissed at his own request, on account of ill health, and returned to his former charge in Brimfield. In 1838, Rev. Jonathan B. Condit, of New Jersey, was settled in the place of Mr. Vail. Mr. Condit's health becoming impaired, he made a voyage to Europe in 1843, the parish liberally continuing his salary and supplying the pulpit during his absence. In 1845, Mr. Condit asked and received, though reluctantly, from the parish, a dismis- sion on account of his wife's health, which was seriously affected by the climate. In 1846, Dr. John S. Caruthers, of Montreal, was installed in the sacred office.

THE CHAPEL CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY

was formed on the 18th of March, 1812, by the secession of Deacon James Jewett and 31 others from the Second Church, who formed themselves into a distinct society under the above name. The dismission of these persons was procured by the aid of an ecclesiastical council, which proceeded at the same time to install Mr. Kellogg as the pastor of this society, he having accepted their unanimous call. This small body was joined by some members from the Second and Third Parishes, and their meetings were held in the house of the third society ; the same year an act of incorporation was obtained. It was the design of this society to build a house in the sonthwesterly part of the town, as had been contemplated by Mr. Kellogg when the connection was formed between him and Mr. Paysou. But

the war and commercial embarrassments taking place blasted at once all the hopes of giving strength to their society by the erection of a house of worship in a part of the town where one was much needed, and they reluctantly accepted the offer of the third society to take the conveyance of their house enenmbered as it was with a heavy debt. After about six years, the fortunes of the society still continuing unfavorable, Mr. Kellogg proposed to relinquish the whole of his salary on two conditions : one was that the creditors who had claims upon the meeting-house, and were princi- pally proprietors, should accept a composition of 50 per cent. of the sums due them ; the other was that they should settle a colleague with him to enable him to engage a part of the time in the missionary service. The proposi- tions were accepted; the Rev. Thomas S. Murdock was invited to become colleague with the Rev. Mr. Kellogg, and the pews were sold on the expectation of his ordination for a sufficient sum to redeem the liabilities of the parish at 50 per cent. But the ordination of Mr. Murdock having been delayed by sickness in his family, the purchasers of pews declined paying for them, and the compromise was not carried into effect, so that the burden continued upon the parish. Mr. Murdock, however, was ordained in Sep- tember, 1819, and continued to discharge the duties of the pastoral office until March, 1821, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Kellogg again became sole pastor ; he soon procured the assistance of Mr. Whipple, a popular preacher, to whom an unanimous invitation was given, but declined. Mr. Mason supplied the pulpit a short time in 1821, during an absence of Mr. Kellogg on a mission, and on the return of the latter, in December of that year, the pastoral relation at his request was dissolved .* In the spring of 1822, the Rev. Thomas Smith came to preach to the society, and his services were so acceptable that he re- ceived a united call and was ordained July 30th of that year. Some additions were made to the congregation, and several members were received into the church. He continued his services till 1824, when, the society not being able to give him a sufficient support, the connection was dissolved by mutual consent. This was their last regular minister. The society and church joined other parishes in town, about 35 of them becoming united with the Second Church, from which twelve years before they had derived their separate existence. In 1825 they sold their meeting-house, with its heavy incumbrance, to a new society just then formed.

THE THIRD CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY

was established in 1825. The church, consisting of 20 male and 15 female members, was set off from the Second Church, and founded on the 9th of September of that year. The same year they purchased the meeting-house of the Chapel Society, and settled Rev. Charles Jenkins as their pastor in November, 1825. The society increased rapidly under the pastoral care of Mr. Jenkins until Dec. 29, 1831, when he died suddenly. Ile was an accomplished scholar

# The parish committee addressed a letter to Mr. Kellogg, in which they expressed the regret of the society in parting with him, and ten- dered him its thanks for his faithful services. They say, " This request the society granted you with many painful feelings, and not without honourable testimonies of your merits and services."

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IIISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

and able preacher. He was a graduate of Williams College in 1813, and was forty-three years old at the time of his death. He was succeeded by Rev. Win. T. Dwight, who was ordained June 6, 1832. After the society purchased their meeting-house they made extensive improvements, rendering it handsome and convenient, and weut on pros- perously.

Dr. Dwight, the pastor, was a son of the late distin- guished president of Yale College, was born in New Haven in 1795, and graduated at Yale in 1813. Ile was a tutor in the college four years, and afterwards practiced law in Philadelphia. But not liking the profession he pre- pared himself for the ministry, of which he became a bright ornament. His able ministerial services here continued nearly thirty-two years, he terminating his labors in connec- tion with the parish in April, 1864.

After this, Rev. Jeremiah E. Walton, of Albany, N. Y., preached for the society as stated supply till May 1, 1866. In December, 1869, this church and the Central Congre- gational Church were consolidated in the organization now known as Plymouth Church.

HIGH STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI.

In 1830 the Second Parish, having been so large as not to be conveniently accommodated in their house of worship, and many of the members living remote from it in the upper part of the town, a number of them held a meeting in December, to take into consideration the expedieney of forming a new society, and erecting another church at the west end. The plan met with general approbation, and committees were appointed to carry it into execution. In the following January a lot was purchased on High Street, and a handsome and commodious church edifice erected the ensuing year. The corner-stone was laid by Albion K. Parris, May 28, 1831, Rev. Dr. Tyler, of the Second Church, delivering the address. The building committee were Nehemiah Cram, William Wood, John A. Smith, Mason Greenwood, Oliver B. Dorrance; Nathan How, Superintendent. Parish Committee : Henry Goddard, John Bartells, Eben Steele; Ezekiel Day, Treasurer; William Cutter, Clerk. Building Contractors : Ebenezer Wilson, Master Mason ; Eli Webb, Master Joiner. The building is of brick, with one course of long stained-glass windows ; it is 84 by 68 feet, with tower and belfry, the cost of the building being $15,000.

The society was incorporated under the general statute, Feb. 11, 1831, by the name of " High Street Church." In September a church was formed consisting of 27 male and 37 female members, set off from the Second and Third Congregational Churches. The house was dedicated in January, 1832, Rev. Dr. Tyler preaching the sermon, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Cummings and Cox. In Febru- ary the society invited Rev. Willard Child, of Pittsford, Vt., to take the pastoral charge, but he declined, and in June following they extended a call to Rev. George C. Beckwith, of Andover, who accepted, and was installed Aug. 8, 1832. He remained pastor of the society about two years and a half. On the 2d of April, 1835, he was succeeded by Rev. John W. Chickering, a graduate of Middlebury College in 1826, and who continued the pop-

ular and useful pastor of the society for nearly thirty years, resigning his charge in the spring of 1864. Rev. William HI. Fenn, the present pastor, was installed July 25, 1866, and is now (August, 1879) in the fourteenth year of his pastorate.

STATE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church was established as an offshoot from High Street Church in 1851. A sufficient sum having been sub- scribed, principally by members of the parent church, and a lot purchased on State Street, the church edifice was com- menced in the fall of 1851, and finished the next spring. The church was organized under the name of " The State Street Church," in March, 1852. It consisted of 58 members, of whom 48 were from High Street Church, 4 each from the Second and Third Churches, and 2 from churches in Boston. In June the house was dedicated, and on the 27th of April, 1853, Rev. Hugh Smith Car- penter was installed as pastor. He resigned in April, 1857, and returned to New York. After being without a pastor for more than a year and a half, the church called and or- dained George Lyon Walker, Oet. 18, 1858. Mr. Walker is a native of Brattleboro', Vt., and a graduate of Middle- bury College.

Edward Y. Hineks, a graduate of the Andover Theo- logical Seminary, was ordained to the ministry and settled as pastor of this church Oct. 18, 1870, and still remains in charge.

THE CENTRAL,

formerly the " Union Congregational Church," had its ori- gin in the withdrawal from the State Street Church of 22 of its members, for the purpose of forming a new church. The first public services were held in Union IIall, Sept. 30, 1855, and were conducted by Rev. Henry D. Moore, who had been invited to become the pastor of the church. Jan. 24, 1856, the new church was publicly recognized by an ecclesiastical council, numbering at that time 33 mem- bers. In April, 1856, a lot of ground was procured on Congress Street, west of lIigh, on which a handsome and spacious church was erected, and dedicated December 18th of the same year.

Jan. 29, 1857, Rev. Henry D. Moore was installed. The house of worship was destroyed by fire on Saturday night, March 15, 1862. In August, 1862, the work of rebuild- ing was commenced, according to the plan of the former church, and the basement was occupied for services in No- vember. The church was finished and dedicated April 26, 1863. At the annual meeting in 1862 it had been voted unanimously to change the name of the church from " Union" to the Central Congregational Church.

The successor of Rev. Mr. Moore, and last pastor of this church, was Rev. Benson M. Finck, who was installed April 9, 1868, and continued till Aug. 18, 1869.

ST. LAWRENCE STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

was founded in 1858, with a view to meet the religious wants of a large population on Munjoy Ilill. The society was formed and the church erected during the year named, and on the 22d of September, 1858, Rev. Edward Payson Thwing was ordained the first pastor. He resigned in 1862, to take charge of a Congregational Church in

LITTLE

l'hoto, by Lamson, Portland.

Eten Gory

The Coreys were among the earliest settlers of Roxbury, Mass., the records of which town show that Philip Corey and Mary Scarborough were married Oct. 1, 1647. This Philip came from England, but when, the record does not state. The grandfather of the subject of this notice was named Ebenezer, and was born Jao. 14, 1756. He was a lieutenant in the Revolution, although but twenty years old when independence was declared.

His father, John Corey, born in West Roxbury, Mass., Feb. 16, 1787, married Naney Ward, of Weymouth, Mass., Jan. 27, 1812, and settled in Portland in the year 1808. He carly learned the wheelwright trade, but while a resident of Portland manufactured furniture and car- ried on trade with Alexandria, Va. He died May 15, 1825.

His wife, born in Weymouth, Oct. 29, 1790, and who died May 19, 1863, was a descendant of " Daniel Gookin, an American author and soldier, born in Kent, England, 1612; died in Cambridge, Mass., March 19, 1687. ]Ie came with his father to Virginia in 1621. Held with thirty-five men his plantation, now Newport News, against the savages during the massaeres of March, 1622 ; removed to Massachusetts, in 1644, on account of his sympathy with the Puritans. He settled in Cambridge in 1656 ; became superintendent of all the Indians who had submitted to the government of Massachusetts, an office which he held till his death. He is said to have written the history of New England, which is lost."*

Eben Corey, born in Portland, Jan. 16, 1824, was the youngest of three children, and received his education in the schools of Portland. At the age of sixteen he be- eame a clerk in a grocery house, where he remained until 1845, when he became a elerk in the wholesale and retail

iron store of Francis Edmunds. In 1846, during the absence of Mr. Edmunds in Boston, Mr. Corey took charge of the business, and in 1848 purchased the Edmunds interest. On Nov. 1, 1869, he purchased the interest of the late John C. Brooks in the iron business, which was established by his father, Cotton B. Brooks, in 1801, and was the oldest iron house in Maine. The iron store of Francis Edmunds was established soon after that of Cotton B. Brooks, by Daniel Gilbert & Co., and thus in their purchase Mr. Corey united the trade established by the two oldest iron houses in the State. He carried on a large import trade with England until 1874, when the cheapness of manufacture in this country brought the balance of trade to the United States. Mr. Corey has not been un- mindful of the duties of the citizen amid business cares, with its successes and reverses. He was one of the incor- porators of the Portland Mercantile Library ; held the various offiees it bestowed, being its president for a term, and was an interested member until it was overshadowed by the public library.

Ile was an original stockholder and dircetor in the Port- land Railroad Company. He was a director of the Cum- berland National Bank of Portland for several years, and is interested in a spring and axle manufactory at Gardiner. Me. Formerly a Whig, he is now a Republican. He was a member of the City Council, 1864-65, and alderman in 1871-72. He is one of the parish committee of the State Street Congregational Church. He is also "high up" in Masonry, being a member of the Ancient Landmark Lodge of F. and A. M., of Mount Vernon Chapter, R. A. M., of Portland Commandery, K. T., and is treasurer of the Portland Masonie Relief Association.

He married, May 20, 1852, Elizabeth II., daughter of' Capt. John Sawyer, of Portland. Their children are Edward W., William S., Frank S., and John L.

* Appleton's Encyclopaulia.

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CITY OF PORTLAND.

Quincy, Mass., and was succeeded by Rev. John II. Mor- dough. The pastors since have been Rev. Samuel MI. Morrison, installed Oct. 25, 1865, resigned Nov. 4. 1867. Rev. R. K. Harlow, acting pastor from Oct. 17, 1868, to near the elose of 1870. Rev. Abiel HI. Wright, installed April 19, 1871, and is the present pastor.

PLYMOUTH (CONGREGATIONAL) CHURCH

was formed by the consolidation of the Third and Central Congregational Churches of Portland, Dee. 27, 1869, and has since occupied what was formerly the Central Church edifice, on Congress Square. This church has had but three pastors, viz .: Rev. Mosely HI. Williams, installed Nov. 29, 1870, dismissed Nov. 21, 1873; Rev. Charles F. Dole, installed April 22, 1874, dismissed Sept. 27, 1877 ; and Rev. Herbert W. Lathe, the present pastor, installed Sept. 27, 1877.

WEST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI.

This church grew out of the principle of church exten- sion to meet the wants of the inhabitants of the west end of the city and the country immediately adjacent. It was founded chiefly by the exertions of Rev. Dr. Chickering and members of his parish. The church edifice was com- meneed in 1860, and dedicated Jan. 17, 1861. A bell was placed in the tower in July following, and a church organization effected Sept. 17, 1862, consisting of 17 per- sons. Rev. Josiah Turner preached for the society a short time, and was succeeded by Rev. George A. Tewksbury, in December, 1863. The number of church members in May, 1864, was 28, and of the Sunday-school 130.

BETHIEL CHURCHI FOR SEAMEN

was organized in September, 1842. In 1829 a society was incorporated to provide for religious instruction to seamen, under the name of " The Trustees of the Mariners' Church." A large granite building on Fore Street, between Long and Commercial Wharves, was erected in 1828 at a cost of $33,- 000, and a spacious chapel was finished in the third story, where services were held till the building passed out of the hands of the trustees. They were then held in Exchange and City Halls by Rev. George W. Bourne and Rev. David M. Mitchell. In 1849 a brick church was erected near the corner of Fore and Chatham Streets, and the Bethel Chapel for seamen became established. Rev. Samuel Merrill was installed in 1856, and Rev. V. J. Hartshorn in July, 1864. The pastor since has been Rev. Francis Southworth, installed June 11, 1866, who still oc- cupies the pastorate.

EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. OLD ST. PAUL'S.

The origin of Episcopacy in Maine, and of its establish- ment in Portland, are shown in the following concise pre- fatory note to the " Minutes of the Convention of the Dio- cese of Maine," by the Rev. Charles W. Hayes, secretary of the Convention :

" It is well known that Maine was originally a Church of England colony. Richard Seymour, the chaplain of the Popham colony of 1607, held the first service of the Church (probably the first Christian 23

service of any kind, in all New England: Richard Gibicon. for some years, from 1636. officiated at Saco and Richmond's Islan i ocar Port- land), in each of which places a church appears to have been created ; and Robert Jordan, from Lis arrival in 1640, was for thirty-six years the minister of all the sctl'ements between Falmouth ( now Portland) and Portsmonth, N. H. From his time, under the Puritan rule of Massachusetts, the ministrations of the Church were suspended for eighty years. In 1756 the Society for the Propag; tion of the Gospel sent the Rev. Mr. Macelenachan as missionary to the Kennelec ; in 1760, a more efficient successor, the Rev. Jacob Bailey, built a church and parsonage at Pownalboro'; and in 1768 the Rev. Willard Wheeler took charge of the mission at Georgetown, remaining. how- ever, only four years. Meantime St. Paul's Church, Portland, was founded in 1764, and John Wiswall, a graduate of Harvard, be ante the first rector of the parish, which, in 1774, numberel seventy fami- lies."

We are indebted to a pamphlet history by Bishop Perry, published in 1863, for a knowledge of the fact that Rev. Mr. Wiswall, prior to becoming rector of St. Paul's, was pastor of the New Casco (Congregational ) Parish of Falmouth. There had grown up among the members of the First Par- ish a spirit of dissatisfaction with their preacher, Rev. Thomas Smith, and efforts had been made for several years either to organize a new society, or, by non-attendance on the ministrations of Mr. Smith, to induce his resignation. Sundays found the malcontents driving ostentatiously through the streets to hear Wiswall, the younger and more attractive preacher over the New Casco Parish. There was, besides, an element of Episcopacy in the town, which was not unnatural in a place to which a growing trade was at- tracting not only provincials but even natives of the mother- Jand. Nearly twenty years before, the learned and courtly Brockwell, rector of King's Chapel in Boston, had attended Gov. Shirley on his visit to Falmouth to make treaties with the Norridgewock Indians, and in his capacity of chaplain had officiated on more than one occasion in the meeting- house of the Congregationalist Parish, giving, as we learn from Mr. Smith's diary, " great offense as to his doctrine." A few years later, in 1757, influences emanating from the Episcopal party were brought to bear upon the New Casco Parish and its preacher to induce them to conform to the Established Church. This result seemed probable at one time, but finally the parish stood firm, and though its pas- tor, as appears from his subsequent course, had imbibed Jeanings towards Episcopaey, it was not till several years later that the decisive step was taken which led to his change of ecclesiastical relations. It is probable that his temporary derangement, which incapacitated him for minis- terial duties for upwards of a year, may have delayed this step, but, be that as it may, in September, 1763, not long after Mr. Wiswall had recovered, Mr. Smith writes sadly in his diary, " I have been discouraged about my enemies ; they talk of a new meeting-house." That this movement was something more than " talk," is shown by the following document from the old parchment-covered folio volume of parish records :

" FALMOUTH. November 4, 1763. " Whereas, Tho inhabitants on the Neck are becoming so numerous as to render it inconvenient to meet together in one house for public worship, for the better accommodation of all the inhabitants it is proposed to build another house for divine service between Major Freeman's and the house improved as a school-house; we, therefore, the underwritten, oblige ourselves, our heirs and assigns, to pay the respective sums affixed to our names to the person or persons ap-

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.

pointed to receive the moneys, towards boilding a convenient meeting- house, provided :

" Ist. Said meeting-house he made fit to meet in at or before the last Lord's Day in June, 1764.

" 2. That the subscribers have the first choice of pews in this order, -the largest subscriber choosing first, etc.

"3d. That if the Rev. John Wiswall, Pastor of the Third Parish of this town, should leave his people, he be invited to settle as a Minister in said Meeting-House."

Names. £

Names. €

John Waite, Jr. 26

Joseph Pollow .. 5 0

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History of Cumberland Co., Maine, Part 47

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 780

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 780