USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 44
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In 1833 he was appointed to Gorham aud Saccarappa. In 1834 he was appointed agent of Maine Wesleyan Seminary. He eutered upon this work with great earnestness, aud couducted his ageucy with remarkable success, reporting at the ensuing Conference the sum of ten thousand dollars secured for the institutiou ; a sum then supposed to be sufficient to place the Seminary upon a strong aud permanent foundation. "Blinduess to the future kindly giveu !"
These fond hopes very soon proved fallacious. (See page 209 of this volume.)
In 1835 he was transferred to New York Conference and appointed to Vestry Street church. In a few mouths his health failed, so that he was obliged to resign his charge.
457
J. SPAULDING.
He returned to Portland and resumed the editorship of the Maine Wesleyan Journal, and continued in charge of the paper two years. In 1839-41, he served as presiding elder of Portland District. In 1842 he was appointed to Orrington; 1843-4, to Saco; 1845, to Saccarappa ; 1846-7, to Pine Street, Portland ; 1848, Bath ; 1849 he was transferred to New England Conference and stationcd in Boston. From that time. his appointments were in Boston and other important places in New England Conference, till 1864, when he received a superannuated relation. After retiring from the work of the ministry, he spent some time in visiting his children in Maine, but soon procured a home in Salem, Mass. He was kindly remembered by the preachers and other friends in his declining health, especially by his good friend Jacob Sleeper, who was determined that he should not want any thing necessary for his comfort.
His health gradually declined. He was at length prostrated by sickness. and after a long and painful illness, on the 16th of November, 1879, he was released from his sufferings at the age of eighty years.5
Mr. Cox was a man of superior natural endowments. He had a fine physique, six feet tall ; ercct, well proportioned, dignified and graceful:
His elegant black hair " did not need cropping," after the absurd modern fashion ; his eyes were large and lustrous ; his voice clear and mellow. He was studious and scholarly, a forcible writer, an impressive and able preacher.
He had a lively imagination, which sometimes outran his judgment. About the year 1841, he adopted the premillennial advent theory which he made prominent in his ministry for a time, to the detriment of his own influence and the peace of the church. He soon, however, returned from this aberration, and rendered many years of valuable service to the church he loved, and was highly esteemed by the people he served. During the last years of his sickness he received the kind attention of Rev. Dr. Steele and other ministers and friends.
JUSTIN SPAULDING.
Rev. Justin Spaulding was born in Morristown, Vt., in 1802, and died in his native town in 1865.
He was converted in early life and was admitted, on trial, in New
5 From "Knights of the Cross," and Minutes of Maine Conference.
458
W. C. LARRABEE.
England Conference, in 1823, and appointed to Unity Circuit, Vt., as colleague of Abraham Merrill. In 1824 lie was appointed to - Craftsbury and Derby Circuit, with David Leslie; 1825, he was received in full, and appointed to Lyndon, Vt., with John G. Dow ; 1826, Athens and Weston, Vt. ; 1827, Weston ; 1828, transferred to Maine Conference and appointed to Eliot; 1829, Eliot; 1830, Gorham ; 1831, Bath; 1832, Gardiner; 1833, presiding elder of Somerset District ; 1834, Bangor ; 1835, Augusta ; 1836, missionary to Rio de Janeiro, South America. After several years, the mission was discontinued, and Mr. Spaulding returned and joined the New Hampshire Conference in 1842, and continued for a number of years to render efficient service. One year he was a member of the General Conference. He broke down in health prematurely and passed the closing years of his life in feebleness.
Mr. Spaulding possessed many fine traits of character ; he was a good scholar, an accomplished, courteous gentleman, and an able "minister of the New Testament," and was highly esteemed by all who knew him .- (From letter of Rev. O. H. Jasper.)
REV. WILLIAM C. LARRABEE.
The early years of Mr. Larrabee's life were spent in obscurity, poverty and toil.
He was born at Cape Elizabeth, Maine, December 23, 1802. When six years of age he moved to Durham, where he worked on a farm with his grandfather and uncles till he was seventeen. He availed himself of all the opportunities for improvement that came in his way.
When eight years of age he attended a Methodist meeting in an adjoining neighborhood, and at the age of fourteen professed religion and joined the church.
At the age of seventeen he started on foot, with less than a dollar in his pocket, to look out for himself. He made his way to Strong, seventy miles distant. His attention was probably called in that direction by the removal of Mr. Zebulon York, who, with his family, removed from Durham to Strong about that time. Here he found friends in the families of Richard Clark and of Dr. J. L. Blake, who took him into their homes and encouraged him in his aspirations for an education. He was active in the religious meetings, and uncom- monly gifted in exhortation. The preacher in charge of the circuit was so favorably impressed by his exhortations that he gave
459
W. C. LARRABEE.
out an appointment for him to preach. He had, for some time, had convictions that it was his duty to devote his life to the work of the ministry, but had but little hope of being able to obtain the requisite education for this work.
He, however, consented to respond to the appointment by the pastor, and in June, 1821, he made his first effort. His friends describe it as a creditable affair, " simple, natural, ingenious," and " acceptable to all but himself."
He considered his effort a failure, and was heartily ashamed of it. He left the house, where he then was living, of Dr. J. L. Blake, and hid behind the shrubbery in the garden. He was found in his concealment by Eliphalet Clark, then a student with Dr. Blake.
The youthful preacher was in a sad state of discouragement, declaring that he would never try to preach again. He was in good hands, and was cheered by encouraging words. He improved his opportunities. He worked and taught to support himself, while he studied.
He fitted himself for college at Farmington Academy, and procuring a loan of $500. through the kindness of his good friends Richard Clark and Dr. J. L. Blake, he entered the Sophomore class of Bowdoin college and graduated honorably in 1828. The borrowed money was paid in due time. He taught during vacation ; and two terms of his junior and senior years, he taught as an assistant in Maine Wesleyan Seminary.
Immediately after graduation, upon recommendation of Professor Upham, he was called to the charge of the academy at Alfred, Maine, where he spent two years prosperously. When the Wesleyan University at Middletown was opened, he was engaged as tutor, under the oversight of Dr. Fisk.
The following year, 1831, he was elected Principal of the Oneida Conference Seminary, at Cazenovia, New York. His success was immediate and marked. The institution rapidly arose to a condition of great prosperity. While at Cazenovia, he became a member of Conference.
In 1835, he resigned his office as Principal of the Seminary at Cazenovia, and accepted a unanimous election as Principal of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary. Here, his success was no less marked. The school at once filled up to its utmost capacity ; a new building was erected ; great pains were taken to raise the standard of scholarship and the ambition of the pupils.
460
S. P. BLAKE.
Revivals were frequent. Many of the alumni graduated from the seminary to membership in the Mainc Conference, and many found their way to positions of eminent usefulness in other states. Mr. Larrabec's duties were very arduous. The finances of the school became scriously embarrassed, largely through the failure of the manual labor department, and he resigned his office as Principal and accepted a Professorship in Asbury University, Indiana.
In 1852, he was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction in Indiana, and held this office two years. He was subsequently placed in charge of the Asylum for the Blind, and in 1856 he was again clected Superintendent of Public Instruction ; his work was greatly embarrassed by unwise legislation ; he resigned his office in 1859 ; his health, for several years, had been declining, and he died May 4th, 1859.
The predominant traits of Mr. Larrabee's character were kindness, the strength of his affections, and a desire to do good ; his benevolence went to the extent of his means, and beyond. Many young persons were assisted by him in obtaining an education ; he never refused aid when it was in his power to afford it. From these and other causes in his mental constitution and habits, he was never successful in business. His chief claim to remembrance rests upon his qualities as a teacher ; these were of a very high order. It is rarely that a teacher is so much beloved by his pupils, as was Mr. Larrabee.6
REV. SAMUEL P. BLAKE.
Samuel P. Blake was born in Monmouth, about 1802. His parents moved to Bath in his early childhood.
In 1830, he was admitted on trial in Maine Conference, and continued in effective itinerant service till 1852, when he took a superannuated relation on account of failing health.
In 1856, he resumed effective service.
In 1862, he was compelled to retire finally from active service. He died in peace at Worcester, Massachusetts, September 10, 1882, being nearly eighty years of age.
Mr. Blake was amiable in disposition, modest, unassuming and ยท exemplary in deportment, a good man and faithful minister.
REV. ABNER P. HILLMAN.
Abner P. Hillman was born in Lincolnville, Maine, July 19, 1806.
6 Abbreviated from an article in the Indiana School Journal, March, 1868, by William H. Larrabee.
461
A. P. HILLMAN. J. YOUNG.
He was the son of Rev. Samuel Hillman, for many years a member of New England Conference. Abner was converted under the ministry of Rev. Moses Donnell. at Wiscasset, in 1829.
In 1830, after earnest prayer and strong convictions, he gave himself up to the work of the ministry ; he received license to preach and recommendation to Conference, and was admitted on trial in Maine Conference the same year ; he continued in effective itinerant service till 1856, when failing health compelled him to retire to the ranks of the superannuates.
During his superannuation, his home was for some time at Cape Elizabeth ; for several years he served as chaplain at the State Reform School. During the few last years of his life, his home was in Concord, Massachusetts, where he died, November 19, 1882, in the seventy-seventh year of his life, and the fifty-second year of his ministry.
Mr. Hillman was tall in person and gentlemanly in manners, of superior culture, discriminating mind, keen sensibilities and kindly affections, and was an able preacher, and a prominent minister of the Maine Conference. His widow, Mrs. Alfrida R. Hillman, did not long survive her husband. She died in Wiscasset, her native town, September 4, 1884, a worthy woman and an active christian worker.
JOHN YOUNG.
Rev. John Young was born in Pittston, Maine, August 22, 1799.
In December, 1818, he deliberately decided to commence a christian life, and during the next month he obtained an evidence of sins forgiven. He soon had an impression that it was his duty to preach the gospel, but from a sense of insufficiency for this great work, he resisted the impression and soon relapsed into coldness and indifference.
In March, 1820, he was married to Miss Emma E. Freeman, a woman of rare excellence, who still survives (1886). They immediately commenced having family prayers. As a result, his religious peace and joy returned, and also his impressions of duty to preach. At a camp-meeting held in Jay, in the month of September, 1820, through the aid of divine grace and the prayers of the brethren, he was enabled to submit ; he returned home rejoicing.
In the following November, he preached his first sermon in Windsor ; he soon received license to preach, and for ten years served as a local preacher, working on his farm during the week and preaching generally on the Sabbath.
462
F. MASSEURE.
In 1830, he was received on trial in the Maine Conference, and was appointed to Pittston, his native town.
In 1831, he was re-appointed to Pittston. During these two years, he witnessed powerful revivals, receiving on probation three hundred and twenty-five persons.
In 1832, he was received in full connexion and appointed to Woolwich. His subsequent Conference record is as follows : 1833-4, Neweastle ; 1835, Richmond ; 1836-7, Vassalboro' ; 1838-9, Orrington ; 1840, Excter; 1841, Georgetown ; 1842, Bristol ; 1843, Nobleboro'; 1844, South Vassalboro'; 1845, Sidney ; 1846, supernumerary, and supplied South Gardiner; 1847, supernumerary, connected with Augusta station, agent of Kennebee County Bible Society ; 1848-52, agent of American Bible Society ; 1854, made effective, and appointed to Bowdoinham ; 1855, Sidney ; 1856-7-8-9, Presiding Elder of Readfield Distriet ; 1860, East Readfield ; 1861, located ; 1865, re- admitted and appointed chaplain of Maine Insane Hospital, and continued in this offiee till 1867, at the same time supplying Readfield Corner and South Gardiner alternately, with Sabbath evening preaeh- iug, continuing his labors, though for some months in feeble health, nearly to the time of his death, which occurred at his home in Augusta, February 3, 1867.
Mr. Young was a man of good, sound common sense, genial and amiable in his disposition, of calm and even picty, a faithful minister and a good preacher, highly esteemed by his brethren in the Conference and by people where he resided ; he was ordained deacon by Bishop George in 1825, and elder by Bishop Hedding in 1829. He died as he lived, ealm and peaceful, enjoying the divine presenec, and trusting in the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Minutes.)
FRANCIS MASSEURE.
Rev. Francis Masseure was born of Methodist parentage, in Stark, New Hampshire, in May, 1807.
In September, 1827, he was converted with a brother and sister, at a camp-meeting at Guildhall, Vermont. Soon after, believing himself called to the work of the ministry, lic eame to Maine and attended awhile the seminary at Kent's Hill.
In 1829, he labored some time on Bethel Circuit, under the Presiding Elder.
In 1830, he was received on trial in Maine Conference, and for fifteen years, with the exception of a few years of respite, he rendered
463
C. MUGFORD.
effective service ; his hard work and many privations impaired his health.
In 1850, in consequence of broken health, he was compelled, with much regret, to retire from active service ; he continued a superannuate till November 22, 1878, when, after a season of patient suffering, "in the fullness of a rich experience," he was called to his heavenly home.
The last eighteen years of his life he spent in Lawrence, Massa- chusetts, cheerfully rendering such religious services as his feeble health would allow. The pastor of Haverhill Street Church, Lawrence, thus speaks of him : "His life here has been uniformly spiritual and useful. For many years he has been a popular class leader and Sabbath school teacher ; he was willing to do anything to promote the interests of Zion. His faithful attendance upon public worship and other means of grace, was a beautiful trait in his religions life. His last days were serenely peaceful and some times exnltant." (Minntes, 1879.)
CALEB MUGFORD.
Rev. Caleb Mugford was born in Windham, Maine, February 16, 1799. He was converted in his eighteenth year, and served several years as class leader, exhorter and steward.
In 1830, he was received on trial in Maine Conference, and passed, in usual time, to deacon's and elder's orders. Thirty years of his life were spent in the usual duties of the ministry.
In 1856, he was superannnated in consequence of failing health, and provided his family a home in Livermore. He was suddenly smitten with paralysis, and the same day, September 9, 1860, he passed to his rest above.
Mr. Mugford was a plain, substantial man ; his aim was to " hold fast the form of sound words ;" solid, rather than brilliant, in his pulpit efforts ; he had his work greatly at heart, and was attentive to all the duties of a Methodist minister ; he had true manhood, and cheerfully and readily bore the burdens of the itinerancy and was interested in all that pertained to the welfare of the church.7
.
His wife, an excellent woman, was a native of Livermore, and survived her husband several years. (Minutes, 1861.)
REV. JOSEPH H. JENNE.
Joseph H. Jenne was born in Fair Haven, Massachusetts, in 1807.
7 The Maine Wesleyan Seminary was remembered by him in his will.
464
J. H. JENNE. M. TRAFTON.
He removed to Maine in 1826, and resided some time in Bangor ; he received license to preach about 1830, and preached that year, under the Presiding Elder, on Waldoboro' Circuit.
In 1831, he was received on trial in Maine Conference, and appointed to Orono, and continued in effective service in the Conference till 1856, serving as Presiding Elder four years on Bangor District, four years on Portland District, and two years as agent of Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Wesleyan University.
In 1856, he was transferred to Wisconsin Conference, where he was eight years Presiding Elder, and one year agent of Lawrenee University. He was a delegate to the General Conference from Maine Conference in 1844 and 1852.
He is a man of marked character, and of much more than ordinary ability ; of strong eonvietions, vivid imagination, ready utterance, with a remarkable command of language ; a man of strong faith and much prayer, and is thoroughly spiritual.
For many years, he was one of the most prominent ministers of Maine Conference.
In 1880, after effective service in Wisconsin Conference twenty-four years, he retired to the ranks of the superannuates, having been forty-nine years in effective itinerant serviee.
He resides at Lake Mills, Wisconsin, and writes, July 14, 1886, as follows, viz. : " I am within a few months of four seore years of age, and feel as young as ever ; stand as ereet, walk as well and feel as well as ever. I realize with difficulty that people are not mistaken who call me an old man."8
MARK TRAFTON.
Rev. Mark Trafton was born in Bangor, Maine, August 1st, 1810, son of Theodore and Margaret Dennett Trafton. He had very limited advantages in early life. At the age of fifteen, he was apprentieed to learn the trade of a shoemaker. At the age of eighteen, he was converted and associated in the same class with Joseph H. Jenne. Encouraged by the pastor, Rev. Greenleaf Greely, to devote himself to the work of the ministry, he eommeneed, with his friend Jenne, holding meetings. In one year, he succeeded in buying the remaining time of his apprenticeship, (three years,) and attended one term at the Seminary at Kent's Hill.
8 Letter of J. H. Jenne to the writer, and Minutes.
465
1. LORD.
In 1831, he was admitted to Maine Conference, on trial, and continued in the itinerant service till 1842, when he was transferred to New England Conference and stationed in one of the churches in Boston, aud from that time till within two or three years, he continued in effective service in that Conference, with the exception of two years while a member of Congress. He has filled many of the most important charges in the Conference and has retained his physical and mental vigor to a remarkable degree.
He is tall and erect in person, has keen black eyes, and black hair, now somewhat faded. He has a wide-awake lively disposition, and is an able and eloquent preacher. He has been a strong abolitionist and an ardent advocate of temperance.
He has been a prolific writer, though not a writer nor reader of sermons ; has remarkable power of description. His sketches in Zion's Herald and other papers are very frequent, and always enter- taining.
His published works are, "Trafton on Baptism," and "Scenes in my Life." He received the honorary degree of D. D., many years ago, from Wesleyan University.
In 1835, he was married to Miss E. Young of Pittston, Maine, an excellent woman who departed this life, a few years ago.
ISAAC LORD.
Rev. Isaac Lord was born in Hallowell, Maine, January 28th, 1803. He had the privileges of the common school in the place of his birth, and commenced active life as a carpenter ; he was converted in Boston in 1822.
In 1827, he commenced preaching as a local preacher.
In 1831, he was received, on trial, in Maine Conference, and continued in effective service without interruption till 1882, when he was obliged to retire, partially, from his chosen work, to the ranks of the supernumeraries. He supplied Oak Ridge, one year ; but his work was done, and he retired to his pleasant home in Biddeford, where he closed his life peacefully May 25th, 1885, aged eighty-two years.
Brother Lord had a vigorous constitution, with remarkable power of endurance and indomitable perseverence.
For fifty-one years, he went without a murmur, to the fields of labor assigned him, however distant and undesirable, and put his best
30
466
T. GREENIIALGII.
endeavors into his work, not nofrequently employing his skill as a mechanic in building or repairing the churches or parsonages of his charges.
Hc was a diligent student of the Bible, a sound and forcible preacher and an indefatigable worker ; lic was thoroughly loyal to the church, and loved his work, hard as it sometimes was. When, after fifty-one years of itinerant service, without a vacation, it became necessary for him to retire, it was with profound gricf that he was compelled to ask a supernumerary relation.
He was trained from early life, to habits of industry and rigid economy. However scanty his receipts, he always continued to live within his income, and was able from his moderate receipts, to lay by a sufficient sum to provide for himself and family a pleasant home and the means of a comfortable support.
REV. THOMAS GREENHALGH.
Thomas Greenhalgh was born in Berry, Lancashire, England. His youth was spent in orphanage and poverty, being compelled from the age of five years, to earn his daily bread, and deprived of all school privileges ; he never attended a school, and had scarcely heard a sermon, till after his marriage, at the age of twenty-one years. As it was customary for new married people to appear out at church, he attended a Wesleyan meeting at Shropshire.
The sermon had a powerful effect upon his mind, and led to his conversion. He mingled in the services of the society, and his relation of personal experience, was so clearly presented, that the brethren made him a leader in their meetings; he was obliged to secure the services of a good brother to aid him in committing to memory the hymns and scriptures to be used, as he could not read.
Being requested to become a teacher in the Sunday school, he selected the lowest class, and from the little boys of the class, he learned the alphabet, and without any other instruction, learned to read. His success in learning was a surprise to himself. His first trial at preaching was a failure. He closed the Bible, sat down and wept. But encouraged by sympathizing brethren, he soon became an acceptable local preacher.
In 1826, he landed in Boston, and found his way to Maine. He was employed, by the Presiding Elder, to supply the charge at Saco. In 1831, he joined the Maine Conference, and served as an effective preacher, nineteen years.
467.
H. BUTLER,
One year he was returned as supernumerary, and for the last. fourteen years of his life, as superannuated. He was naturally diffident and retiring, but cordial in his intercourse with his brethren. He was sound in the faith, mighty in the scriptures, and powerful in prayer.
He was a diligent student of the Bible, and the works of the Wesleyan writers, and was an able defender of Methodist doctrines. On special occasions, before large audiences, he sometimes soared to. a wonderful height of eloquence. His sermons at the Arrowsic camp- meeting, on the text "When Christ who is our life, shall appear," etc., was a discourse of remarkable power. For more than an hour, a large audience was held as if spell-bound, while he poured forth a stream of eloquence, such as is rarely heard. He battled against sin and error in all their forms.
For his fearless advocacy of temperance at Saco, his life was threatened by a mob. He was rescued and taken home by John Fairfield, Esq., then unknown to him, who afterwards was Governor of Maine. He retained many of his English peculiarities of pronuncia- tion and manners, though he was an ardent admirer of Republican institutions.
With a large family dependent upon him, he endured, cheerfully, the privations of the itinerant life.
In his last sickness, he suffered greatly, but was sustained by a victorious faith, after repeating, "For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain."
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