USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 47
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In 1840, he was admitted on trial in Maine Conference, and continued in the itinerant service till 1862, when he was compelled by failing health to take a superannuated relation, and continued in that relation till his death, April 9, 1877.
Mr. Pierce was a hard working, faithful, self-denying preacher ; he seemed to care little for personal ease and comfort, and was intensely interested for the cause of Christ and the salvation of souls. Few preachers rendered harder service, or were more scantily paid ; but such was his consecrated zcal that none of these things moved him ; he was interested in the institutions of the church, at several times contributing liberally towards the funds of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, when he was not able to avail himself of the advantages of the institution for his own children. He was a fluent speaker and a faithful and successful minister.
During the fifteen years of his superannuation, he bravely and uncomplainingly bore up under sufferings, and was always glad to be able to preach anywhere, and to pray with the afflicted and the penitent. He gradually and peacefully drew to the close of life, and calmly fell asleep in Jesus.
He was married to Miss Sarah L. Jones, of Monmouth, November 29, 1838. They had ten children, three only of whom are living.
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W. WYMAN.
The eldest daughter is the wife of a wealthy merchant in New York. -(From Minutes and Zion's Herald.)
WILLIAM WYMAN.
Rev. William Wyman was born in Clinton, Maine, in 1814, but spent most of his early life in Skowhegan. He was converted under the labors of Rev. E. Robinson, and was admitted on trial into the Maine Conference, in 1840,
His itinerant life was greatly interrupted by failing health, which compelled him repeatedly to retire from the effective relation. He was eight years in effective itinerant service, five years supernumerary, one year superannuated, and twenty-one years located. During his retirement from regular itinerant work, he labored much of the time as a supply, under the Presiding Elder.
Mr. Wyman was a good preacher, and was greatly interested in the work of the ministry. As a local preacher, he was a zealous worker in the social meetings, an intelligent christian citizen, and an earnest advocate of every good cause.
During his last sickness he was greatly sustained, often breaking out in praise to God. He died at his home, in Farmington, Maine, March 7, 1874, aged sixty years .- (From Miuntes.)
DANIEL WATERHOUSE.
Rev. Daniel Waterhouse was born in Bowdoinham, of christian parents, February 10, 1813. He was converted at the age of sixteen, in a prayer meeting in his father's house.
He was licensed as a local preacher November 12, 1831. In 1839, he was employed by the presiding elder on Shapleigh Circuit. In 1840, he was received, on trial, in Maine Conference, and appointed to Shapleigh Circuit, and continued in active service, with the exception of one year of superannuation on account of failing health, till 1883. having rendered forty-two years of effective service in the ministry. His last appointment, in 1883, was to Newfield, where he had purchased a comfortable home, in which he expected to spend the closing years of his life.
He had preached but once or twice in his new field of labor, when he was prostrated by sickness, and in about two weeks he went to his home above, in the summer of 1883, at the age of seventy.
Bro. Waterhouse was thoroughly religious, a faithful and devoted minister, and successful in his work.
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B. LUFKIN.
His son, a local preacher, was employed to fill out his father's term of service. A daughter was engaged for some time as a missionary teacher in South America .- (From Minutes.)
BENJAMIN LUFKIN.
Rev. Benjamin Lufkin was born in Rumford, of a Methodist family, in 1803 or 1804. Joseph Lufkin, a local preacher, and Moses Lufkin, for some years a member of Maine Conference, were brothers.
Benjamin was received on trial in Maine Conference in 1840, and received in full connection in 1843.
His ordination as deacon and elder occurred in regular course. His early education was limited. He continued in the itinerant work, without intermission, till 1872-forty-two years. His fields of labor were generally large eircuits, requiring mueh labor and affording small pay. Yet he always accepted the work assigned him without mur- muring, and labored faithfully, and usually with good suecess. Though defieient in literary culture, he was deeply spiritual and thoroughly eonseerated to his work.
He was faithful and earnest in his labors, and many were led to Christ or encouraged in their christian life by his plain and pungent exhortations. At the sessions of Conferenee he was a conspicuous figure-tall and stalwart, always solemnly in earnest. Though not prominent in the business of Conferenee, he was, by common eonsent, the acknowledged leader in the meetings for social worship, especially in the five o'clock morning prayer meeting, where he was always promptly present.
When disabled by feeble health and compelled to retire from aetive serviee, without home, or money to purehase one, a generous christian brother, E. T. Nutter of Cape Elizabeth, gave him the use of a comfortable house and earefully supplied his wants, where he spent the closing years of his life.
He died in 1880, in the forty-second year of his ministry and the seventy-eighth year of his life.
JOSEPH C. ASPENWALL.
Rev. Joseph C. Aspenwall was born in Bradford, Vt., April 5, 1809. Converted at a camp meeting in New Hampshire. Commeneed preaching in 1830.
The same year, he came to Maine and labored on Buxton Circuit with Rev. Isaac W. Moore.
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J. HAWKES.
In 1831 he was received, on trial, in Maine Conference and appointed to Cherryfield, and continued in effective work in Maine Conference till 1840. From that time for eleven years he was a member of New Hampshire and Vermont conferences. In 1852 he was transferred to Maine Conference and appointed two years to Pine Street Church, Portland.
In 1856 he was transferred to Wisconsin Conference, of which he is now a member, having rendered fifty-one years' effective service ; ten in Maine Conference and forty-one in three other conferences. In a letter to the writer. March, 1878, Bro. Aspenwall writes : "I am now seventy-eight years of age, a superannuate of West Wisconsin Conference, living in Lodi. Wis., surrounded with earthly comforts. I have found no Conference so harmonious and pious as that of Maine."
Bro. Aspenwall belonged to the radical wing during the anti-slavery controversy, and was one of the number of ministers in Maine Conference who was not careful to obey the advice of the General Conference, " to wholly refrain from agitating the subject of slavery." He has been an able and earnest preacher, and successful in his work.
JOSEPH HAWKES.
Rev. Joseph Hawkes was born in Harvard, Mass., July 5th, 1814. In 1830, while attending the Sunday school in Bromfield Street Church in Boston, he was converted with twenty-six other scholars. The same year he was received into the church.
In 1834 be was licensed to preach by the Quarterly Conference of Bromfield Street Church.
He was, for some time. a student in Maine Wesleyan Seminary. In 1840, he was received on probation in Maine Conference and appointed to South Paris, and he continued in the itinerant work in an effective relation, except 1849, till 1881, when his name was placed upon the list of supernumeraries.
Mr. Hawkes was married to Miss Mary N. Simons, June 2, 1842. They had seven children, six daughters and one son, all now living and most of them settled in life.
Mr. Hawkes is now upon the list of superannuates and is living with his second wife in Cambridgeport, Mass., his first wife having died about 1875.
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C. MUNGER.
At latest accounts he was prostrated by feebleness and confined to his bed by a surgical operation in the removal of cataracts from his eyes.
CHARLES MUNGER.
Rev. Charles Munger was born in Rochester, N. II., October 29, 1818, son of Rev. Philip and Zipporah Munger.
He was converted at the age of seven and reclaimed at a camp meeting at the age of sixteen.
He was student in the Maine Wesleyan Seminary from 1834 to 1840, received on trial in Maine Conference in 1841, and with the exception of two years supernumerary and superannuated (1848 and 1849) continued in effective service till 1887, forty-four years.
While laid aside from active service by failing health in 1848, he was favored with a voyage to England by the kindness of his friend, Capt. Jarvis of Castine.1
Mr. Munger received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Bowdoin College in 1868.
He was a delegate to the General Conference in 1872 and 1876.
He was married to Miss Celia J. Anderson of Fayette, August 8, 1841. Seven children were born to them, two of whom died in early life. On the first of July, 1885, a great sorrow came to his home in the death of his wife, a woman of great excellenee.
CORNELIUS STONE.
Rev. Cornelius Stone was born in Jay, Maine, May, 1817: While a student in Bowdoin College he was converted and joined the Methodist Church.
He graduated in 1840, and the next year was received, on trial, in Maine Conference and appointed to Columbia. In 1842 he was discontinued, and entered the Theologieal Seminary at Bangor. In 1843 he was re-admitted to Conference and appointed to Clinton and took charge of the academy at that place, in connection with the pastoral care of the society.
He continued in the itinerant work till 1857, when he was compelled, by failing health, to retire to a farm in his native town. During his
1 Capt. Edward Jarvis had been one of the leading members of the Universalist Society at Castine, He was converted through the labors of Bro. Munger at Calais, and became thor- oughly devoted to the interest of Methodism in that place,
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S. M. VAIL.
superannuation he represented his town twice in the Legislature, and was twice a member of the Senate.
He died of consumption, April 5, 1866, aged forty-nine years. He was married to Miss Frances Sylvester of Jay.
Two children were born to them, a son and a daughter. Bro. Stone was retiring in disposition, but a good scholar, and a man of excellent judgment and of unblemished christian character. He maintained his integrity and his faith in God to the last .- (From Minutes.)
STEPHEN M. VAIL.
Rev. Stephen M. Vail was born in Union Vale, Duchess County, New York, January 15, 1816.
At the age of fourteen, he commenced his studies at Cazenovia Seminary, New York, where he was converted.
In the fall of 1834, he entered Bowdoin College, where he graduated with high rank in 1838.
He also graduated at the Union Theological Seminary, New York city, 1842. After completing his studies he immediately joined the New York Conference, and continued five years in itinerant service. For two years he was principal of Pennington Seminary, N. J., and from 1849 to 1868, he was Professor of Hebrew in the Biblical Institute, at Concord, N. H.
He was transferred to Maine Conference while connected with the Biblical Institute, and remained an honored member of the Conference till transferred to the church above. The nineteen years of service at Concord were years of indefatigable labor. He devoted himself to his work with his entire energies. combating with persistent zeal and forcible logic, the wide spread prejudice, at that time, prevailing in our church against theological schools, and he lived to witness the triumph of the cause he advocated.
During the nineteen years of hard work he published several volumes and numerous articles in the Quarterly Review and other periodicals, all characterized by scholarly ability, and indicating thorough research.
His "Ministerial Education," "Bible Against Slavery," and " Hebrew Grammar," are sufficient to establish his reputation as a thorough scholar and an able writer. He was honored by his Alma Mater with the degree of D. D.
His naturally vigorous constitution gave way under these exhausting labors, and he was compelled to resign his office as Professor and retire to his home at Staten Island.
496
N. HOBART.
In 1869 he was appointed consul to Bavaria, where he remained five- years, availing himself of the opportunity to extend his travels to Italy, Greece, Egypt and Palestine. Returning home, he remained in comparative retirement, though continuing his literary labors and preaching without salary, as his strength and opportunity allowed, to the last.
Early in the year 1880 he had an attack of pneumonia, which greatly prostrated him, and impressed him with an apprehension that the close of life was near. His health continued to decline till the sixteenth of the following November, when he calmly and trustfully fell asleep in Jesus.
Thus closed a faithful and consecrated christian life, characterized by persistent zeal in the cause of God, and the strictest integrity .- (From Minutes.)
NOAH HOBART.
Rev. Noah Hobart was born in Temple, Me., April 20, 1814. He was converted and united with the church at the age of seventeen. He was educated in the district school and at Maine Wesleyan Seminary.
In 1842 he was admitted, on trial, in Maine Conference, and con- tinued in effective itinerant service till 1877, when his health broke down and compelled him to retire from the active work of the ministry.
During the last few months of his life his mind became clouded through the effects of physical disease. In his latest moments he manifested a christian spirit, and passed peacefully away, December 20, 1877, aged sixty-three years.
Bro. Hobart was engaged in itinerant work thirty-five years. He was a good preacher, a faithful, consecrated minister, and an inde- fatigable and successful worker.
The fields of his labors were often the scenes of gracious revivals. -(From Minutes of Conference.)
EDMUND K. COLBY.
Rev. Edmund K. Colby was born in Epping, N. H., April 15, 1812. was converted October 18th, 1832, and admitted on trial in Maine Conference in 1844.
He continued in the itinerant service, with the exception of two years of location, till 1856; after that time he was a member of
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EMERSON. WETHERBEE. COVELL.
Providence Conference six years, and three years located. In 1866 he was re-admitted to Maine Conference and continued in effective service till 1886.
He was married to Georgie J. Saunders, June 23, 1853. They have had two children, a son and a daughter.
SILAS M. EMERSON.
Rev. Silas M. Emerson was born in Haverhill, Mass., January 4, 1817. He was converted in Norwich, Vt., June 30, 1837, and received into the church in December of the same year. He was admitted, on trial, in Maine Conference in 1842, and continued in effective service till 1855. Since that time, in consequence of failing health, his relation has been supernumerary or superannuate.
He was married to Miss Sarah Davis, October 23, 1845. They have had three children, Sophrania D., Susan C., and James S.
SEBA F. WETHERBEE.
Rev. Seba F. Wetherbee was born at Harvard, Mass., January 23, 1815. He was converted at Dexter, Me, December, 1838, and received into the Methodist church by Rev. A. Sanderson.
He received license as a local preacher in 1842, and in 1845 he was admitted, on trial, in Maine Conference, and has continued in the itinerant service till the present time (1887) excepting one year, when he served as chaplain in the army. Many of his appointments have been among the most important in Maine and East Maine Conferences. He was twice a delegate to the General Conference.
He was married to Miss Sophia W. Hook of Skowhegan, March 4, 1838. They have had six children, of whom two sons only are living.
CHRISTOPHER C. COVELL.
Rev. Christopher C. Covell was born in Woolwich, Jan. 28, 1811. He was converted when about twenty years of age, and ever after- wards gave good evidence of christian character, having served several years as a local preacher.
He was admitted, on trial, in Maine Conference in 1842, and rendered effective service till 1855, when, on account of failing health, his name was placed in the list of superannuates.
He provided a home at North Pownal, where he supported his
32
498
C. C. MASON.
family by working at his trade as a harness maker for twenty-cight years. During this time he rendered valuable service to the preacher in charge, by his sympathy, counsel and co-operation. During his last sickness he rested on the promises and died in the faith, July 1, 1883, aged seventy-two years.
Bro. Covell was respected for his intelligence, his unaffected picty, lis amiable disposition, and his excellent christian character. As a preacher, he was faithful in his work, original in his methods of presenting the doctrines of the gospel, and remarkably fluent. He was a good man and a worthy minister of Christ .- (From Minutes.)
CHARLES C. MASON.
Rev. Charles C. Mason was born in Boston, Massachusetts, July 21, 1816. He was baptized in 1831 at Gorham, by Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy of the Congregationalist church. The same year, he attended the Maine Wesleyan Seminary ; he also attended the Gorham Academy and the High School at Portland, and studied medicine with Dr. Ingalls of Standish ; he wandered away to Florida and taught school in that state and Georgia.
At a camp-meeting held in Tatwall county, Georgia, September 29, 1839, he was converted and was received into the church in Florida. He was licensed to exhort, and in 1840, he received license to preach at a Quarterly Conference, in Jacksonville, East Florida.
In 1842, he was received on trial in Maine Conference, and ordained deacon and elder in regular course. His first appointment was to East Rumford, and from that time, he continued in the itinerant 4 service, with the exception of three years of superannuation, till 1881, the last four years serving as Presiding Elder.
Before the close of the last year his health failed, and he returned to his home in Hallowell to die ; he endured his prostration and severe suffering with great patience, " without a murmur or complaint," till the twenty-second of March, 1882, when, in full hope of eternal life, lie passed from earth.
Mr. Mason was married January 1, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Richardson. They had six children ; one died in infancy ; four are married and settled ; the widow and one daughter remain in their home at Hallowell.
Mr. Mason served several years as Assistant Secretary of Con- ference, and one year as Secretary. He was a man of intelligence, and of genial and cheerful disposition, a fluent writer and able preacher .- (From Minutes.)
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Rev.
6.B. Allen.
499
A. GREENE. C. F. ALLEN.
BENJAMIN FREEMAN.
Rev. B. Freeman was a native of Saccarappa. He was educated in Maine Wesleyan Seminary and admitted to Maine Conference on trial in 1844, and has continued in the itinerant work till the present time (1887), forty-three years.
Mr. Freeman is quiet and unassuming in manner and disposition, but is faithful in his work, a sound preacher and faithful pastor.
ASA GREENE.
Rev. Asa Greene was born in Wilton, Maine, in 1818. He was converted in his fifteenth year, and subsequently, from a conviction of duty, obtained license to preach, and labored several years under the Presiding Elder.
In 1842, he was received on trial in Maine Conference, and appointed to Vinalhaven ; he continued in the itinerant work till 1860, when, in consequence of failing health, he retired to the ranks of the superannuates ; he procured a home in South Livermore, near the friends of his wife ; his health rapidly declined till the fourth of December, the same year, when he calmly closed his earthly work, in the fifty-eighth year of his age.
Mr. Greene was distinguished for meekness and christian patience, always cheerfully accepting the work assigned him ; he was faithful as a pastor and a good minister .- (From Minutes.)
CHARLES F. ALLEN.
Rev. Charles F. Allen was born in Norridgewock, January 28, 1816. He was converted at Farmington in 1832, and joined the church at Norridgewock in December, the same year. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1839; engaged in teaching in St. Albans Academy and in Maine Wesleyan Seminary for two or three years.
He received license to preach at Kent's Hill, September, 1842, and was received on trial in Maine Conference in 1843, received deacon's and elder's orders in regular course. His first appointment was at Kent's Hill ; he continued in the itinerant service, being appointed to many of the most important charges in the Conference, till 1869, when he was transferred to East Maine Conference, and appointed to Brick Chapel, in Bangor. After remaining three years in that charge, he was elected President of the Agricultural College at Orono, which office he held seven years, the institution prospering under his care ;
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E. 11. GAMMON.
he resigned this office in 1879, and was re-admitted to the Maine Conference, and has continued till the present time in effective service, four years Presiding Elder of Lewiston District.
Hc has been a delegate to the General Conference twice, and was a member of the committee appointed by the General Conference to revise the Hymn Book ; he served seven years as Secretary of the Conference.
In 1872, he received the degree of D. D. from Bowdoin College, and also from Wesleyan University ; he has been for many years a member of the Board of Trustees of Maine Wesleyan Seminary.
August 25, 1844, he was married to Miss Ruth S. Morse. Their children are Mary Elizabeth, Isabel Sibley, William Albert, Charles Morse. All are living ; two married and settled.
REV. ELIJAH HI. GAMMON.
Elijah H. Gammon was born December 23, 1819, in Gilman Pond Plantation, Maine, afterwards called Lexington. He was converted at the age of seventeen, under the labors of Rev. James Farrington. He united with the church, and was licensed to preach in 1843, and the same year, was received on trial in Maine Conference, and appointed to Wilton Circuit.
January 6, 1844, he was married to Miss Sarah Jane Cutler of Wilton.
He continued in the itinerant service till 1851, when he located on account of failing health, and removed to .Illinois. The next year, he was re-admitted in the Rock River Conference, and appointed to important charges, serving three years as Presiding Elder.
In 1858, his health having again become impaired, he located.
In 1855 his wife died, and in 1856, he married Mrs. Jane Colton, an accomplished and estimable lady.
Mr. Gammon has been greatly afflicted in the loss, by death, of two married daughters and his only son, all his children.
After leaving the active work of the ministry, he engaged in business for which he developed taste and ability, and he has succeeded in acquiring a large property. For several years he was engaged with Hon. William Deering in an extensive manufactory of agricultural implements, in Chicago.
Mr. Gammon has taken a deep interest in the prosperity of the church, and has contributed generously to several of our church enterprises and benevolences, among which may be mentioned five
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J. MCMILLAN. C. C. WHITNEY.
thousand dollars to the Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female College, ten thousand dollars to the Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston, Illinois, twenty-five thousand dollars to found the Gammon Theological School at Atlanta, Georgia, to which he has since sent additional gifts. besides pledging not far from fifteen thousand dollars for additional buildings for the University at Atlanta, now under the direction of the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Gammon's ability as a minister of the gospel may be seen in his promotion to responsible appointments. His rare capacity for business, in his remarkable success, notwithstanding his feeble health. His generons and repeated gifts to the educational and benevolent enterprises of the church, are a gratifying proof of his abiding love for the cause of Christ. He now resides in Batavia, Illinois .- (From letter of Hon. William Deering.)
JAMES MCMILLAN.
Rev. James McMillan was born in Bartlett, New Hampshire, August 3, 1806. He was converted in early life. In 1830, he was licensed to exhort by Rev. D. B. Randall.
He soon received license as a local preacher and continued in that ser- vice till 1843, when he was received, on trial, in Maine Conference, and continued in the itinerant work till 1874, when, on account of failing health, his name was entered as supernumerary ; he passed to his. heavenly home, September 14th of the same year.
Mr. McMillan was a devoted and successful minister of the gospel ; he had a cheerful, sunny disposition ; his sermons were plain, practical and highly evangelical ; he was kind and faithful as a pastor, specially attentive to the children and to the sick and poor of his parish : he was beloved by the people of his charges, and by his brethren of the Conference.
His last hours were peaceful and triumphant. His companion, a devoted christian woman, still survives. (1887.)-(Minutes.)
CALVIN C. WHITNEY.
Rev. Calvin C. Whitney, from Augusta, Maine, was admitted to Maine Conference in 1843, and continued in itinerant service till 1847.
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