USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > History of Piscataquis County, Maine : from its earliest settlement to 1880 > Part 19
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BAPTIST.
come extinct in this town, all falling by their internal diffi- culties, and not from outward opposition.
ATKINSON AND MILTON.
Under the labors of Mr. Jonathan F. Page, a church was organized in the east part of the town in the year 1825. . Mr. Page was ordained as an evangelist in 1830. It once had thirty-four members, but now it is extinct. Rev. Alonzo Bunker, a missionary to Burmah, was from Atkinson.
MONSON.
August 10, 1827, this church was organized, consisting of fourteen members. It had occasional supplies until 1842, when Rev. Lebbeus Kingman became its pastor. In 1845 it built a meeting-house, and Rev. Lucius Bradford occupied it for the next six years. In 1853 Rev. Dudley P. Bailey be- came its pastor, preaching in other places one-half of the time. He remained eighteen years. Since his removal it has been supplied by several for short periods. Its present number is 110, and Rev. E. C. Long is its pastor.
BLANCHARD.
In 1828, before the town was incorporated, a Baptist church was organized. It resulted from the labors of Elders Hall and Oakes. It was a hard field to enter and cultivate in a religious sense, but this church once had more than 30 members. It soon began to decline, and in 1837 expired.
ABBOT.
This was organized in 1829. Soon after, a revival was en- joyed, which increased this, and a Free Baptist church also. Here Elder William Oakes, Joseph Hall and Samuel Tufts, licentiates, preached the Word. This church once had forty- two members. In 1840, it united with others in building a union meeting-house at the upper village, and had preaching in it a portion of the time. For a few years past it has wor- shiped with the Free Baptists, and has but thirteen members.
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
DOVER AND FOXCROFT.
In August, 1840, this church was organized, and after two years, absorbed a small church previously existing in Fox- croft. Rev. C. P. St.Clair was their first regular supply, and Rev. O. B. Walker their first pastor, supplying from 1843 to 1846. After him, Revs. S. Adlam, J. M. Follet (twice engaged), C. M. Herring, A. D. F. Palmer, A. B. Pen- .i dleton, E. A. Van Kleeck, S. P. Pendleton, C. M. Steadman and George E. Tufts have been permanent supplies.
In 1843, they built and dedicated a meeting-house in Do- ver village. This church has had a prosperous career, and is the strongest of the order in the county. The strange and trying connection that this church had with C. M. Stead- man, the imposter, will be learned from the account given of him in a chapter further on.
It has recently enjoyed the labors of Rev. J. H. Higgins, a successful evangelist, a revival was experienced, and the church is recovering from its afflictions. It reported in 1879, one hundred and one members.
MILO.
This church was organized in 1840, starting with twelve members. From the first it had preaching a 'portion of the time. In 1853, it built a union meeting-house with the Free Baptists and others, and still alternates with them in the use ofit. Revs. Thomas Macomber, A. G. Tibbets, M. Cross, A. M. Piper, R. Noyes, F. J. Bicknell and E. C. Long have sup- plied this church, and it has enjoyed a healthy growth, and has sixty-two members. .
GREENVILLE AND SHIRLEY.
. This was organized by a missionary, Rev. O. B. Walker, in 1843. It had only thirteen members when largest, and after a few years became extinct.
BOWERBANK.
A Baptist church was organized here in 1836, which once
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CONGREGATIONAL.
reported thirty members. It was connected with Piscata- quis Association for a season, but now it is extinct.
SEBEC.
A church of this order was organized at Sebec village, in 1836, consisting of twelve members. It had occasional preaching and rose to thirty members. But it declined, and, though some of its members still survived, it was dropped from the Association. During the year 1878, it was re-or- ganized, a pastor secured and a meeting-house (built by the Congregationalists in 1837), obtained and repaired. Its prospects are regarded as hopeful. It has seventeen members, and Rev. H. Stetson is supplying it. Quite recent- ly a revival has been enjoyed by this church, through the as- sistance of Rev. J. H. Higgins. Expectations of good are raised, but definite statements cannot now be given.
It appears from the above, that sixteen churches of this order have been organized in this county. Eight have be- come extinct, one, after a long suspension, has been reorgan- ized, and seven are now in an active, working state. Guil- ford church has survived the longest. Parkman has had the largest number of members, four hundred and twelve in all, previous to 1843, while Monson now has the highest total.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
BROWNVILLE.
Brownville was the first organized. Rev. Hezekiah May moved into this town in 1808, and was the first minister of this order to enter the county. In 1814, he left the place. Mr. May graduated from Yale College in 1793. Between 1800 and 1805, he supplied the church in Bath for one year. After he left Brownville, his residence is not known.
Rev. John Sawyer then came and succeeded him in the same labors. At length Mr. Sawyer left, and missionaries visited the settlement occasionally. One of these, a Mr. Welch from Bangor Seminary was very acceptable, and dur- ing his visit in 1818, quite a religious interest was awakened.
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
In the previous summer, Miss Caroline Pillsbury, from Newburyport, Mass., taught school in this town, and gath- ered the children into a Sunday-school, the second attempt- ed in this county. On the 25th of August, 1819, a council convened, and organized a Congregational church, consisting of eight male and three female members. In October fol- lowing, Rev. J. Sawyer spent a Sabbath with this church, and administered the Lord's supper to it for the first time.
In 1824, the church took measures to secure a permanent pastor, and they proceeded in the old-time way. A legal town meeting was called to concur with the church in in- viting Rev. N. W. Sheldon from Bangor Seminary, to be- come their pastor. The town concurred, voting him the minister lot, the whole income of the ministerial fund, and $150 per annum, to be paid from the town treasury, as long as he remained their minister.
A similar occurrence cannot be found in the county or in northern Maine. The town paid this amount, and sometimes raised more, for the nine years that Mr. Sheldon served them in the pastoral office. He was ordained, June 2, 1824, Revs. H. Loomis, T. Williams, M. Blood, and Prof. John Smith, officiating as the ordaining council. He was dismissed, March 2, 1833. In 1824, a Sabbath-school was re-established, and it has continued to the present time. Mr. Elisha Johnson and Dea. Jonah Thomas were its earliest superintendents. May 21, 1834, Rev. Henry Richardson was installed as its second pastor. He continued till January 12, 1838. Before his ministry commenced, a Methodist meeting had been established, and the Congregational society had suf- fered losses. Father Sawyer saw distinctly that the building of a meeting-house was essential to its life and prosperity. It was undertaken, and carried through successfully. It was completed and dedicated, Sept. 25, 1839, Rev. Elias Wells preaching the sermon. From 1822 to that date, a meeting of some kind had been held in the village school-house, every Sabbath, not excepting the most stormy. In the afternoon of Sept. 25th, Mr. William S. Sewall was ordained as the
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CONGREGATIONAL.
third pastor of this church, Rev. Robert Page preaching the. ordination sermon. Soon after, a parsonage was purchased, and forever secured to the parish so long as its ministers preach the orthodox doctrines as stated in the Assembly's Catechism.
In the early part of Mr. Sewall's ministry, the slate quar- ries were opened. This increased the population, though many of the immigrants were Welshmen. He remained as pastor till June 3, 1863. Then, for about four years, they had occasional supplies. Nov. 9, 1867, Rev. L. S. Coan was engaged as stated supply, and continued for the next three years. Up to this time this people had been aided by the Maine Missionary Society, but then they ceased to receive it. During his labors a revival added a large number to the church. He was a widower when he came to the place, and married a daughter of Rev. I. E. Wilkins. He left the church in a not very harmonious state. Mr. Coan obtained some notoriety as a public reader, lecturer and author, but died the past summer in Alton, N. H. Rev. C. L. Nichols came to this people in July, 1871, and was installed pastor Feb. 20, 1872. At this date the church numbered 139. It has increased by a steady, promising growth, to 170, though reverses in business have caused many removals. Recently, 1880, it has enjoyed a pleasant revival.
Lemuel Shepley and Francis Brown were the first chosen to this office. Dea. Shepley joined the church in Milo, in 1829, thereby vacating the office, and Jonah Thomas was elected to fill his place. He and Dea. Brown retained it un- til their deaths in 1854. Then Gilman Ryder and Zadoc Waterhouse were chosen, but both were removed by death in 1857. Charles Page and George E. Wilkins were chosen in 1858. Dea. Wilkins removed in 1869, and Samuel A. Smith was chosen. He and Dea. Page still remain in office.
It should here be noted that Rev. I. E. Wilkins, a son of Dr. Wilkins, was a native of Brownville. After preaching acceptably in several places, his health failed, and, in 1841, he returned to Brownville and practiced medicine till his
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
death in 1848. His widow and some of their children still reside in town.
In the spring of 1875, this people repaired their house of worship. As the Penobscot county conference was organ- ized in Brownville, January 11th, 1825, this and also Aroos- took and Piscataquis conferences, formerly embraced in Pen- obscot, met here to celebrate its semi-centennial in June 1875. The review of half a century of evangelizing labors recalled much that was encouraging, though not without some reverses.
A few of the Brownville people who were present at the first meeting, still survived to take part in this. But their hoary heads spake affectingly of the past. Not one of the min- isters or delegates who brought this conference into being was then alive, but their labors and their memory lived in the grateful recollections of those who once sat at their feet, and who now succeed them.
MONSON. .
In the first colony which came from Massachusetts to this town, there were several active Christians who were Congre- gationalists. There were already there some of this, and also some of the Baptist, denomination. With one accord they established a meeting upon the first Sabbath after this colo- ny arrived. These meetings were conducted by the breth- ren, with occasional help from visiting clergymen. Father Sawyer soon made this a new outpost in his diocese, visited it, and prepared the way for organizing a church.
On the 11th of August, 1821, a council convened, consist- ing of Rev. J. Sawyer, a delegate from the church in Brown- ville, Rev. J. Peet and delegate, and organized a church of eight members. Abel Goodell and Lucius Hyde were chosen deacons, both having held this office in Massachusetts. All who attended that council from other places rode on horse- back. The deep mire was covered over with fir and spruce boughs. One woman rode in this manner, from Guilford, another, from Harmony. Mr. Sawyer taught school there
245
CONGREGATIONAL.
the next winter, and preached on the Sabbath. Students from Bangor Seminary frequently visited this church. In 1823 and 1824, Mr. Henry White spent six months with them. In the autumn of 1824, Mr. Lot Rider from Bangor Seminary began to labor with them. By this time the church had been increased, and he was invited to become their pas- tor. On the 9th of March, 1825, he was ordained by a coun- cil in which were the following clergymen, to wit, Rev. Messrs. Fargo, Peet, Williams, Sheldon, and Prof. Smith of the Seminary. The public services were held in Capt. Whit- ney's barn. His career was short, but of much promise. In a pleasant revival he was stricken down with sickness, and died September 23, about six months after his ordination, leaving a deeply afflicted people.
They had occasional supplies till the fall of 1827. Rev. Anson Hubbard then came, and was installed January 15th, 1828. The public services were held in Dea. L. Hyde's wood-house. It will hardly seem credible to us now that a good member of the church would not have the meeting in his dwelling-house, after he had fully prepared it, because he was refused a license to sell spirits. But before five years, he was a pledged and active temperance man. .
In 1831, there was a revival enjoyed, which brought a good addition into the church. " This year they finished and dedicated a house of worship, the first completed in this county.
After a stay of six years, Mr. Hubbard found it conven- ient to retire, and was dismissed August 19th, 1834.
In the spring of 1835, Mr. John Baker came from Andover Seminary, to supply them for a few weeks. He was accept- able to the people, and continued to supply through the sum- mer, having transferred his relation to Bangor Seminary.
September 15th, 1835, he was ordained pastor of this church, Rev. John Maltby of Bangor preaching the sermon. Revs. H. Sewall, T. Williams, S. S. Drake, H. Richardson, Silas Baker and J. Maltby were members of this council. Mr. Baker was an esteemed and successful minister, but his
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
poor health constrained him to sever his connection with them. He was dismissed May 15th, 1839. Previous to this, removals, in part occasioned by the Kidder swindle, had re- duced the membership and resources of this church.
In the summer of 1841, Rev. H. Ilsley visited the place and was installed as pastor, October 12th of that year. He continued there with a good degree of success till Oct. 18th, 1855. He then went to Illinois, and there lost his wife and eight children, all drowned in one night by the bursting of a railroad embankment in a great freshet which completely demolished their dwelling.
Rev. R. W. Emerson was the next pastor. He was in- stalled May 6th, 1856, and dismissed May 4th, 1858. He has remained in town and done good service in supplying feeble and destitute churches in the vicinity. For the next four years they had occasional supplies only. May 27th, 1860, their meeting-house was laid in ashes, in the great fire, and rebuilt the next summer. For five years, beginning Dec. 18, 1862 and ending in 1867, Rev. H. S. Loring was acting pastor, preaching one half of the time in Blanchard. For a season after he left, they had occasional supplies only.
Rev. A. H. Tyler formerly from this church, became act- ing pastor in July, 1870, and continued till 1877. The church increased during his labors. Rev. G. W. Jones en- tered this field May, 1878, and is now the acting pastor. Its present membership is ninty-seven.
FOXCROFT AND DOVER.
The first settlers of these towns were not like the Pilgrim Fathers, and religious meetings were not early attempted. The first was in the summer of 1809, and this, at the instiga- tion of Col. J. E. Foxcroft, in which Mrs. William Mitchell bore an important part, as already noticed. Soon after this, Rev. John Sawyer began to visit this place in his pioneer work, and several persons were hopefully converted. As early as 1814, some of these united with the church in Gar- land. About this time a regular Sabbath meeting was estab- .
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CONGREGATIONAL.
lished at the town-house in Foxcroft village, conducted when no minister was present, by the brethren. The number of believers increased, and the Lord's Supper was occasionally administered to them. Some time during these labors, an account of a Christian woman who had gathered a few chil- dren to instruct them from the Bible, caught the eye of Mr. Sawyer. He asked: Why may it not be done here? Mrs. Nathan Car penter ventured upon the experiment. A class met at her house that summer, and she, it should be said, established the first Sunday-school in the county, in 1816 or 1817.
In 1820, Rev. Thomas Williams began to visit this place, and his labors were very acceptable. In. due time measures were taken to retain him permanently. Up to this time, all the Congregationalists residing in Foxcroft, Dover, Sanger- ville and Guilford were connected with the Garland church. These persons united in a request to be set off, as a distinct church. They also extended a formal invitation to Mr. Wil- liams . to become their 'pastor. A town meeting also was called in Foxcroft, to see if the town would concur, and vote him the reserved lot of land. It did so concur, voting him "the minister lot," and the entire income of the ministerial fund, but pledged no specified salary. Mr. Williams return- ed an affirmative reply, in which he manifested a humble, but honorable Christian spirit.
On the 30th of December, 1822, Rev. Messrs. Sawyer and Williams organized these eighteen dismissed members into the Foxcroft and vicinity Congregational church. Jan. 1, 1823, the installing council convened. Rev. Jonathan Fisher came on foot all the way from Bluehill, to attend it. Rev. M. Blood from Bucksport, Rev. H. Loomis, Dea. Pike and Prof. Smith from Bangor, Rev. J. Peet and Dea. Heald from Norridgewock, and Rev. John Sawyer were also present. At that time an ordination attracted a large assembly. It was foreseen that the old school-house would not contain it, so Blake's old "still-house" was fitted up for the occasion. Its fires for distilling purposes had been long extinct, and the building had been turned to better uses.
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
Mr. Williams received missionary aid, and spent a part of his time in Sangerville and Sebec. The church had a steady increase. After the academy was built, his meetings were held in that. In January, 1829, this church adopted a total abstinence rule for itself, and for incoming members. In 1831, quite a revival was enjoyed, which increased the church. In 1833, it built a house of worship, which was dedi- cated Jan. 21, 1834. The Penobscot County Conference continued the services. The weather was extremely cold, the stoves standing in the entry at the north end were kept intensely hot, and communicated fire to the partition. The wind drove the flames directly up into the belfry, and, with- out an engine, it was impossible to save it, and soon that beautiful house was laid in ruins. It was full of people when the fire took. They hurried out without injury, gazed upon the destructive element with the deepest sadness, and then gathered in a private dwelling, and closed as usual, by cele- brating the Lord's supper. This was a serious misfortune to that struggling people. But though cast down they were not discouraged. Mr. Williams applied to other churches for aid, and found a ready response. The next summer another house was erected on a more eligible spot. Then in- ternal difficulties arose in the church. Mr. Williams tender- ed his resignation, but the first council called declined to dismiss him. This was soon after thought advisable, and his pastoral relation was terminated, April 3, 1835, having con- tinued more than twelve years. He left many tried and last- ing friends in that place and in the vicinity.
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Mr. Williams was grave, affable and sympathizing ; a learned, sound and devout man ; an able preacher, a faithful pastor. During his ministry two colonies were set off to form new churches, but more than one hundred still re- mained connected with the church when he left.
For the next two years, they had occasional supplies, one of which was Rev. John Turner. Mr. Elias Wells from Ban- gor Seminary spent a few weeks here, in the spring of 1837, and, in November following, was ordained as pastor. He re- mained about five years, and was then dismissed.
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CONGREGATIONAL.
Rev. Wooster Parker succeeded him, and was installed, Nov. 10th, 1842. During his stay Mayo's factory was built, and the population of the village was much increased.
On the night of Oct. 21, 1850, the second meeting-house was burnt, and it was not thought to be accidental. With a little aid from abroad, the present church edifice was erect- ed on another lot, and dedicated Oct. 22, 1851, Rev. E. Pond D.D. preaching the sermon. The church made a de- cided advance in numbers and resources during Mr. Parker's labors, which continued. till .Sept. 9, 1856. Rev. Edward S. Palmer was next settled, Oct. 12, 1857. A revival was en- joyed and a large addition made to the church, but old divis- ions lingered, and, after one year, he left. Rev. Calvin . Chapman began his labors with them in the summer of 1859, and continued with them till 1862.
Rev. Walter Darling was their next pastor, ordained May 28, 1862, but he left the field after two years, his health fail- ing. Rev. Benjamin C. Chase succeeded him in April, 1864. He was installed, and continued in pleasant and successful labor till his lamented death, Oct. 13th, 1868.
Rev. John H. Gurney was the next pastor. His labors ex- tended from September, 1869 to April, 1875. Mr. H. A. Loring was next called to this pastorate, when completing his studies at Bangor Seminary. He was ordained June 8, 1875, Professor Barbour of Bangor Seminary preaching the sermon, and A. Loring, his father, giving the charge. That summer a convenient chapel for vestry purposes was fin- ished, at a cost of nearly $4000, three fourths of it being paid by the late Deacon Mayo. The next year, the meeting-house was extensively repaired, its seating capacity increased, a lofty steeple erected, in which a town clock was placed. A good degree of religious interest has prevailed quite a portion of the last three years, and the church has increased in numbers and strength. Its present membership, 1879, is two hundred and forty-seven.
As these pages are going through the press, this church and people are preparing to receive the Maine General Con-
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HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.
ference of Congregational Churches. It is to meet June 15, 1880. It will be the first time that this large and intelligent body has ever met in this county, and an interesting and profitable meeting is anticipated.
SANGERVILLE.
In August, 1828, the members of the Foxcroft and Dover Congregational church, residing in Sangerville, Guilford and Parkman, were dismissed and organized into Sangerville Con- gregational church. Rev. Henry Sewall had removed into town, and he supplied it, preaching a part of the time at Guilford village. It increased slowly, and, in 1841, Rev. .Charles Duren was ordained as joint pastor over this and the church in Abbot. After two years he left. From this time it had but occasional preaching until 1847, then Rev. Euse- bius Hale spent his time with the destitute churches in the vicinity, and preached in Sangerville a part of it. He, too, left this field, and in 1857, Rev. J. A. Perry preached to them a part of the time. After his death, Rev. R. W. Emer- son was occasionally with them. This feeble church remind- ed the Maine Missionary Society of its existence, by its regu- lar contributions, but it was suffered to go unsupplied, yes, to languish and decline.
Rev. Henry Sewall continued to reside in this town until his death, in June, 1850. He was then in his seventy-ninth year. He was a self-taught man, but very logical, clear and methodical as a sermonizer. He knew the doctrines and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and exhibited them in word and in life. In prayer he was able and eloquent, mingling adoration, praise, supplication and confession of sin, express- ing them largely in well chosen scripture, in a reverent, sol- emn and earnest manner. But in selecting the best thoughts and phrases, he was led into a sameness not always relished by constant attendants upon his ministry. Nor was his sound, faithful preaching appreciated by the masses. But the rewards of heaven may more than supply what an erring world withheld, for verily such do not lose their re- ward.
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CONGREGATIONAL.
MILO.
This church was organized, May 6, 1829. Its first mem- bers were dismissed from the church in Brownville. For a season it enjoyed the labors of the Brownville pastor, a small part of the time. It had a severe trial through the defection of its senior deacon, still it has had several valua- ble members. Death and emigration reduced its numbers, and now it is extinct.
BLANCHARD.
Several Congregational families moved into this town aft- er Blanchard and Davee purchased it. March 13, 1833, a church of eleven members was organized. Rev. A. Hub- bard from Monson preached for them one-half of the time. In 1834, Mr. S. S. Drake from Bangor Seminary spent a Sabbath with them, and as a result, seven persons were hopefully converted. He was invited to settle with them, and was ordained in a hall over Blanchard & Davee's store, October 15, 1834, Dr. Pond preaching the sermon. He re- mained three years. Blanchard & Davee built a meeting- house at their own expense, but sold pews to all who wished to purchase.
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