USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 51
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JAMES BUCK.
Rev. James Buck was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, July 14, 1787. He came to America in 1808, and married Elizabeth Saird. The next year, he returned to his native country, and in 1810 came back to America and settled on Cape Breton Island.
In 1815, he was converted. There being no religious meetings in his immediate neighborhood, he succecded in establishing a prayer- meeting, and became the leader. Having in his possession a copy of Wesley's sermons, he proposed reading oue of the sermons to the people each Sabbath ; the plan was approved. The blessing of God attended these services, aud the people became interested. At the close of one of the meetings, one of the congregation suggested to him that he should not confine himself to reading one of Wesley's sermons, but that he should himself preach. After some hesitancy, he decided to try. In his first attempt he was much blessed, and the people were edified. With such mauifest divine approval, he never afterwards hesitated as to his duty. He came to Gorham, Maine, in 1823, and removed to Limington in 1825.
In 1828, he removed to Hollis, Maiue, where he remained till the close of his life, sustaining an unblemished character. His wife, a worthy help-meet, died two years before him.
Mr. Buck had very limited advantages for education, but he was physically and mentally a strong man ; his judgment was sound; he was strong in his convictions of religious truth, well grounded in the principles of christianity, and thorough in his religious experience, and for sixty years he prosecuted his work as a local preacher, traveling on foot to and from his appointments, sometimes making a tour of twenty miles and preaching three times on a Sabbath, generally without renumeration for his services. He was a local preacher of the old style, preaching for the love of it, and for the love of souls.
He was enabled to continue his self-sacrificing labors from the generous care of his daughters, who, by industry and economy, saved from their earning in the factories, a sufficient sum to purchase a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, on which they settled their parents, and with true filial affection, cared for them during their life.
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J. E. BAXTER.
Hc was suddenly prostrated by paralysis, three weeks before his deccase and died July 1, 1881, in the nincty-fourth year of his age. Eight children, twenty-four grandchildren and four great grandchildren survived him.
In his preaching, he never sought to arouse his hcarers by flights of imagination or clegance of diction ; his aim was always to enlighten the judgment and arouse the conscience ; he had a logical mind and he adhered closely to the word of God; his preaching was plain, sensible and forcible, and had a peculiar charm by the quaintness of his Scottish accent.
He was an able preacher, and was highly esteemcd by the people who were favored with his labors, and revered by his neighbors, as an upright citizen, a venerable patriarch, and a faithful christian minister .- (From Sketch by Rev. W. S. Jones.)
JOHN E. BAXTER.
Rev. John E. Baxter was born in Bristol, Maine, December 12, 1798, and died in Saco, January 29, 1875. He was the son of Enos Baxter of Bristol, a worthy local preacher of the Methodist church.
Mr. Baxter was converted in early life, and, after the example of his father, became a local preacher in the Methodist church, and continued through life in that office. For six years, he served his native town as representative in the legislature.
In 1833, he removed to Wilton, Maine, and settled upon a farm, but he was for many years employed in an agency for manufacturing corporations, for which service he evinced more than ordinary capacity. While living in Wilton, he was accustomed to preach on the Sabbath, probably half the time, as a supply in the vicinity, his services as preacher being much in demand.
In 1855, he removed to Gorham, and afterwards to Saco. His first marriage was with Miss Betscy Smith of Bristol, by whom he had several children. His second wife was Mrs. Lucretia P. Rolfe, to whom he was married May 1, 1865.
During the last years of his life, he served as a supply for the Methodist societies in Wells, Berwick, Cape Porpoise and South Biddeford. Afterwards, he took charge of the Mission work in Saco, under the direction of the "Provident Association " of that place. This was his last work. About six months before his death, he organized a mission school and left it in charge of his widow. The school is still prospering, and is called the Baxter Mission.
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J. MC DANIEL.
Mr. Baxter was a man of more than ordinary ability ; he had a discriminating mind, sound judgment, and a kind disposition ; he was thoroughly religious, and, though strongly attached to his own church, was charitable towards other denominations ; he was a valuable helper and a sound adviser to the traveling preachers, and will be remembered by all who knew him, as a noble speeimen of a Methodist local preacher .- (Mrs. J. E. Baxter. History of Bristol.)
JACOB MC DANIEL.
Rev. Jacob MeDaniel was born in Scarborough, Maine, August 21, 1801, and died in Hollis, May 29, 1886.
He was converted in early life, and at once united with the Methodist Episcopal church in Hollis, where he spent the most of his life. He was licensed as an exhorter, June 7, 1832, by Rev. C. W. Morse, preaeher in charge.
In 1834, he received a local preacher's license, and was ordained deaeon by Bishop Soule, in 1840, and ordained elder July 20, 1845. His ministerial orders were not an unmeaning distinetion ; he rendered much valuable service, with very slight renumeration, in Hollis and the surrounding towns, especially in Alfred, Gorham, Kennebunk, North Biddeford and Waterboro'.
On December 29, 1829, he was married to Miss Annie Warren, of Hollis, with whom he lived till the time of his death.
Mr. MeDaniel was a man of superior natural endowments; as a preacher, he had few superiors in the church ; he possessed a genial and happy disposition ; he entertained an exalted idea of a life in harmony with gospel principles, and his christian life was above reproach ; he was twice chosen to represent his town in the state legislature, and held various other offices of trust and importance, in his town and county.
His last years were attended with feebleness of body, but his mind remained strong and vigorous to the time of his last sickness, when he was suddenly stricken with paralysis and rendered uneonscious.
Brother McDaniel was greatly respected and loved by all who knew him. The fragrance of his memory is as "ointment poured forth." At his funeral, a large concourse of people assembled in the Methodist church in Hollis, where he had often officiated as pastor, and by their solemn and tearful deportment, expressed their appreciation of this excellent man and worthy minister of the gospel .- (Rev. Joseph Colby.)
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LAY MEN AND WOMEN.
CHAPTER XXX.
LUTHER SAMPSON. DR. J. L. BLAKE. DR. E. CLARK. M. CALDWELL. HON. BENJAMIN J. HERRICK. D. FURNEL. J. DINSMORE. J. DEERING. HON. R. B. DUNN. A. LORING. S. R. BEARCE. C. DAVENPORT. O. LUNT. HON. J. J. PERRY. E. T. NUTTER. E. K. BLAKE. HON. W. DEERING. MRS. NANCY CALDWELL. MRS. LYDIA MCLELLAN. MRS. HULDAII M. LITTLEFIELD.
LAY MEN AND WOMEN OF MAINE METHODISM.
The sketches in this chapter are selected because they are available, and the characters described are those of representative and prom- inent men and women in the history of Methodism in Maine. The list might be greatly extended.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Maine as well as elsewhere, has been a grand training-school for lay as well as ministerial talent.
LUTHER SAMPSON.
Luther Sampson, the founder of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, was of the fifth generation, in lineal descent, from Henry Sampson, one of the Pilgrim band that landed at Plymouth Rock, December 22, 1620.
He was born March 25, 1760, in Duxbury, Massachusetts. At the commencement of the revolutionary struggle, Luther, not then sixteen years of age, enlisted in the American army, and continued in the service, at different times, three years, enduring great hardships and privations.
In the year 1783, he married Abigail Ford of Pembroke, Massa- chusetts. Five children were born to them, David F. and four daughters. After the decease of his wife, he married Lydia Ford, in 1799.
He received from Government an assignment of land for his services in the army, which, together with his earnings at his trade as a carpenter, gave him a fair start in life.
In the year 1798, he left his home then in Marshfield, Massachusetts, with the intention of purchasing a farm on the Hudson river. He had procceded on his journey but a short distance, when he felt himself strongly drawn in the opposite direction, so much so, that he dismounted, fastened his horse by the roadside, and retired into the
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L. SAMPSON.
grove to seek divine guidance in prayer, and there determined that when he came to another road which did not lead directly back, if his mind should still be drawn eastward, he would take that road. As the result of this determination, he soon found himself journeying eastward. He continued his journey till he reached Kent's Hill, in the town of Readfield, Maine, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and fifty acres.
During the next year, November 8, 1799, he moved his family to the place, and with the help of his son, then sixteen years of age, commenced operations upon his farm. He soon erected suitable buildings.
Abont this time, he received a legacy of two thousand dollars, from the estate of a deceased brother, which enabled him to enlarge his operations. In a few ycars, he became thriving and independent, bought additional land, and by prudent management, became "fore- handed."
A small house of worship had been built on Kent's Hill, which was unfinished and nnfit for nse. A conviction came to Mr. Sampson, that he must see that this house was finished. His sense of duty was imperative ; he could not rest till the work was commenced. Being a carpenter. he worked upon the building with his own hands, notwith- standing his severe lameness. This humble house of worship was finished in very plain style, at the expense of Mr. Sampson, and dedicated August 6, 1800, by Jesse Lee, then on a visit in Mainc.
Mr. Sampson, though he had a limited education, soon began to feel impressed with a conviction of duty to take some measures to provide means for the education of indigent young men who were called to the work of the ministry.
It occurred to him that a plan might be devised by which young men could defray the expense of their education by their labor. The idea grew in his mind to a conviction of duty and a ruling passion. He set apart the sum of ten thousand dollars in real and personal estate which he conveyed to a Board of Trustees, and the Maine Wesleyan Seminary was established, as a Manual Labor School.
He lived to watch the institution with fatherly solicitudc, for more than a quarter of a century, and more than once, came to the rescue, in periods of embarrassment, with generous gifts. He had but crude conceptions of the needs of such an institution, but like other founders in starting this enterprise, "he built wiser than he knew."
His charities were not confined to a single object. He procured a house on Kent's Hill for a parsonage, supplied it with furniture and
542
DR. JOIIN L. BLAKE.
a library, and had an orchard planted upon the lot with choice apple trees. He cherished a lively interest in the cause of missions, often sending generous contributions for this object.
He established a fund of more than three thousand dollars, for the benefit of the superannuated preachers of Maine Conference. HIe generously remembered the poor in his neighborhood, often contribut- ing to their necessitics, providing for-them free seats in churchs, and aiding them in procuring clothing so that they could attend public worship. He continued his habits of charity to the close of his life, which occurred August 31, 1847, at the age of eighty-seven years.
He was a man of marked individuality, of the Puritan type, thoroughly religious, strong-willed and forcible. He was frugal in his habits and rigidly exact in all his dealings. Though a decided Methodist, he was far removed from bigotry ; his convictions ruled him with imperial sway; he believed himself to be the subject of special guidance ; his name is cherished with affection and reverence by those who knew him.
The stately and elegant, Sampson Hall, nearly opposite liis residence, stands as a fitting monument to the memory of the founder of Maine Wesleyan Seminary.
DR. JOHN L. BLAKE
Dr. Blake was born in Farmington, Maine, October 12, 1792. He was left motherless and practically homeless, at the age of ten years. After his fourteenth year, he found a more permanent home in the family of Hon. John Read of Strong. His energy and force of character appeared in youth, and he faithfully improved his opportunities ; he worked upon the farm, taught school, attended Farmington academy, pursued his professional studies with a physician of the village, practiced rigid economy, and secured the education and training required in the profession he had chosen.
The experience of those early years, made him very sympathetic towards those who were compelled to struggle against adverse circum- stances.
He took several young men into his own family, and aided them in getting a start in life ; some of them, as Prof. W. C. Larrabee, rose to prominent positions.
Larrabee, when a poor boy of about seventeen, not only found a home in his family for several years, but through the assistance of Dr. Blake and Richard Clark of Strong, by a loan of five hundred
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DR. JOHN L. BLAKE.
dollars, he was enabled to pursue his studies at Bowdoin college, where he graduated with the class of 1828. The late Dr. Eliphalet Clark, also. was one of his pupils.
Dr. Blake commenced practice in Dixfield in 1815. He shortly after removed to Strong. In 1816, he was married to Miss Polly Read, danghter of Hon. William Read, and soon removed to Phillips, and in 1852. returned to Farmington. Soon after he was married, he was deeply moved to consecrate his life to the service of God. His religious experience was clear and positive. He and his companion were of one mind in seeking the Lord. One morning, while they were kneeling together in family prayer, they both felt that God had pardoned their sins, and accepted them as his children. It was a gennine Methodist experience, such as we should expect from those who had heard Jesse Lee, and other heroes of early Methodism. From that honr the honse of Dr. Blake was the preacher's home. In that home the itinerant fonnd kind hospitality, refreshment of spirit, a steadfast friend and a wise counsellor.
The wedded life of Dr. Blake was uncommonly happy. For sixty- nine years they lived one in heart, purpose and effort. The aged companion survived her husband less than a year.
Dr. Blake possessed a character of remarkable completeness ; he had an uncommon degree of physical vigor and power of endurance ; he was a natural physician. skillful, vigilant and devoted to his patients. He was moderate in his charges, and exceedingly kind to the poor. often discounting his bills largely in their favor. It was his habit to pray with the sick and afflicted as he went on his professional rounds. Probably no clergyman in the country ever carried spiritual comfort to more sorrowing households, than this model christian physician.
He had an extensive practice, and was often called at a great distance, for consultation, with other physicians in difficult cases. Bnsy as he was in his professional engagements, he planned his work, so far as he conld, so as to be present at public worship and at the social meetings of the church ; he was a tower of strength in the church, prudent, hopeful, energetic, generous. He was one of the original trustees of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, the last of that honored board to pass away. He ever commanded the respect of the community where he lived, he had represented his fellow citizens in the Legislature, and had been a member of the Governor's Council. He was distingnished for kindness of heart and practical benevolence. His benefactions to the church aggregated thousands of dollars.
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DR. ELIPHALET CLARK.
His intellect remained clear and his faith unwavering to the last hour of life ; he died at his home in Farmington, Maine, March 2d, 1885, aged ninety-two .- (From obituary by Rev. C. Stone.)
Mrs. Polly Blake, widow of Dr. John L. Blake, died April 21, 1886, aged ninety-two years and ten months. The married life of this venerable couple continued in the utmost harmony and oneness of purpose, sixty-nine years. Mrs. Blake was a woman of intelligence and force of character; she was always deeply interested in the welfare of the church, of which she was a worthy member for seventy years.
ELIPHALET CLARK, M. D.
(Selected, mostly, from Methodist Quarterly Review, January, 1884.)
No layman of the Methodist church in Maine, has been so widely known and so highly esteemed, as Dr. Eliphalet Clark.
He was born in the town of Strong, Maine, May 12, 1801. His father, Richard Clark was of Puritan descent, and was one of the first settlers of the Sandy River Valley. He was a farmer, and with his family, was one of the first in that frontier region to welcome the apostolic Jesse Lee, to the hospitality of their home. Eliphalet was converted in his father's house, at family worship, when lie was eighteen years of age. That family altar must have glowed with the pure flame of devotion, as the six other children, at different times, all received a sense of forgiveness, while at family worship in the parental home. The change in Eliphalet, as may be said, also, of the others, was thorough and accompanied by a clear witness of his acceptance with God. This sound conversion not only gave bent to all his subsequent actions, but was the key which ever unlocked to him the sacred wards of the divine kingdom.
After receiving an academical education, at Farmington Academy, Maine, he read medicine with Dr. John L. Blake of Phillips, and also with Dr. Thomas Little, one of the most eminent surgeons of the State.
Between the pupil and the venerated teacher, Dr. Blake, who has but recently deceased, at the age of ninety-two, there ever subsisted the warmest affection.
In 1824, he received the degree of Dr. of Medicine from the medical school of Bowdoin College.
His first settlement as a physician, was in the town of Wilton, Maine. While here, he was married, October 8, 1827, to Miss Nancy
Eliphaletblack, On. D.
1
545
DR. E. CLARK.
Caldwell, only daughter of Mr. William Caldwell of Hebron, Maine, and the sister of Zenas Caldwell, first Principal of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, and Professor Merritt Caldwell, afterwards of Diekinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She became the life-long companion of her husband. Her rare tact, affability and patience, but, above all, her deep, intelligent, and steady piety, made her, to him, all that a man called of God to a laborious and useful service could require.
In 1830, Dr. Clark removed to the city of Portland. He had but little money and no influential friends to introduce him. It required considerable time to introduce himself and secure the confidenee of the people. During this period of patient waiting, with income less than his expenses, his eourage was put to a severe test ; he, however, soon gained publie confidence as a physician and surgeon, and at length, built up an extensive and lucrative practice ; and this, without compromising his religion or his Methodismn.
He became an active, official member of the Chestnut Street Methodist Church. It was more than once broadly hinted to him that if he would suceeed, he must join some more popular sect, but he promptly resisted the suggestion, and lived to be more respected for his fidelity to his own denomination. He was eatholic in his views and feelings, yet he was a Methodist from conviction.
Dr. Clark was a born leader, though he never sought prominence ; his superior intelligence, force of character and noble presenee, seeured for him a prominent position, without sceking. Our church owes largely what it is to-day, in Portland and vicinity, to his fore- thought, enterprise and liberality.
He was the principal man, and one of the most generous contrib- utors, in the ereetion of the present excellent edifiee of the Chestnut Street Church. He was also the foremost and most generous mover in securing the sites on which the Pine Street and Congress Street churches are built, and also the site of the church at Woodfords, and one of his last works was to see completed the tasteful house of worship at Woodfords, towards which he contributed about one-half the cost.
His zeal for education in the Methodist Episcopal church, was no less ardent than for church building. He was an early and constant friend of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary ; serving for over half a century as a member of the Board of Trustees, and often eontributing to the funds of the institution. He was the originator of the Maine
35
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DR. E. CLARK.
Wesleyan Board of Education, and was president of this board from its organization in 1850, till within one year of his death. He promptly subscribed one thousand dollars towards its funds in 1853 ; other subscriptions followed, till, through the agency of this board, confidence was restored and the Seminary entered upon a new career of prosperity.
One of the last acts of his life was a bequest of a large part of his property to the Board of Education, to be kept at interest till it should amount to the sum of fifty thousand dollars and then to be held as a permanent fund for the benefit of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female college. (The amount named will probably be reached in a few years. )'
Though in full sympathy with the doctrines and polity of the Methodist Episcopal church, Dr. Clark was yet progressive in his views ; he was an early and persistent advocate of lay delegation, and ceased not his efforts till the measure was adopted ; he was not a destructive agitator, but an ardent friend of the church, desiring earnestly to see every impediment removed that hindered its greatest usefulness.
He had a rare capacity for friendships ; his house was the seat of hospitality. For many years it was the home of the bishops and other ministers. Sick preachers from every part of the State, came to be treated, and they were both treated and entertained without charge.
Dr. Clark was preeminently a physician. He had the highest ideal of his profession. "I feel," said he to a clerical friend, "that I am as really called of God to be a physician as you are to be a preacher." His profession was, in his view, a divine calling, and consequently he pursued it with devout, scrupulous and unflagging fidelity.
Quite early in his career, circumstances called his attention to homœopathy. After a full, conscientious examination, he was convinced of the superiority of that system, and felt bound in duty, to adopt it, at whatever cost to his practice. He was one of the first native homœopathists in this country, and was associated with the distinguished Dr. Gray of New York, on the committee which drafted the plan of the American Institute of Homoœpathy.
In 1863, he was offered the chair of Materia Medica, in the New York Homeopathic College. This offer he was obliged to decline on account of feeble health. With all his professional engage- ments, and in spite of long continued physical infirmities,
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M. CALDWELL.
Dr. Clark was "a man of affairs." In politics, business, temperance and good neighborhood, he had decided opinions, and in some directions was very active. He was solicited to accept nomina- tions for governor of the state, and mayor of the city of Portland, but he uniformly declined those offices as incompatible with his professional duties.
He projected the horse-railway of the city, and was the first president of the company ; he was for a long time a director of the Boston and Portland Steam-Packet Company, and for some years its. president.
The last six years of Dr. Clark's life was spent at Woodfords, a rural retreat about two miles from the city, where he owned a small. farm.
On the night of May 12, his eighty-second birth day, he was seized with illness which, after extreme suffering, terminated his life, June 8, 1883. His death was such as befitted the life he had lived. Through all his sickness, his mind was clear, and his faith never faltered. " I am at the gate, the chariot is ou the other side to bear me away," "God is my refuge, a very present help," "I never had stronger consolation ;" these were among his closing words, and he. calmly fell asleep.
MERRITT CALDWELL, A. M.
Merritt Caldwell was born in Hebron, Maine, November 29, 1806, and died June 6, 1848.
He was early trained under the religious influence of an excellent home, and graduated at Bowdoin College with the class of 1828. Immediately upon his graduation, he was elected Principal of Maine Wesleyan Seminary, which position he occupied till 1834. His connection with the Seminary was highly beneficial to it, and honorable to himself. The Seminary was in its forming period, and received from his careful management a direction which secured for it a high reputation for thorough instruction.
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