USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 12
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BAPTIST CHURCH.
as thus constituted was not favored with regular preaching, consequently accessions to it were limited, yet in 1809 there were upon its roll some twenty-two members. In 1810, in consequence of some internal dissensions the church was dissolved, and a new church organized July 20, 1810, by the assistance of a council representing the Baptist churches of the towns of Fayette and Jay. The new church embraced eight male and fourteen female members.
From its first organization in 1797, to 1821 the church was favored with occasional preaching, by Messrs. Case, Smith, Billings, Briggs, Lowe, Boardman, and some others --- men of intellectual strength-who preached the Word with great fervency, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the church and parish, yet many were called but few chosen. This condition of the church and society clearly betokened the need of a stated ministry, and, in 1821, Rev. Winthrop Morse was ordained as pastor. The church at this time numbered fifty-two members. Mr. Morse was a very accept- able preacher; although possessing little of the oratorical flourish. His sermons, nevertheless, were fraught with much of the eloquence of sincerity, earnestness, and truth. He resigned, after a pastorate of three years.
The church was without a pastor from the resignation of Mr. Morse until 1828, when Rev. Hezekiah Hull, from Nova Scotia, labored successfully for two years, during which time some accessions were made.
In August, 1834, a protracted Union meeting was held at the Center Village, and some additions were made to the church as the fruit of this meeting. Up to this time the society had been destitute of a suitable house for public worship. Their meetings were held at first in barns and dwelling-houses, and subsequently in school-houses in differ- ent parts of the town, and occasionally at the Center Meeting-House, which was owned by six or seven different religious societies.
In 1835, the Baptist society purchased a desirable sitc, and began the erection of a convenient and substantial church at the Center Village, which was completed the next
152
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
year. It is built of brick, forty-two and one-half by sixty- eight feet, surmounted by a belfry, and exhibits great har- mony of proportion. It contains sixty-two pews, with a vestry on the same floor, which serves as an entry to the body of the house and a means of communication with the gallery. The cost of this house was about $5,000, which was defrayed by the sale of the pews, with the exception of $600 that were appropriated from funds accruing to the society as its proportion of the proceeds of the sales of the ministerial lands, and perhaps $200 raised by voluntary subscription.
Upon the completion of the church, the Baptist society took measures to sustain preaching statedly, from one-half to three-fourths of the time, until the settlement of Mr. Ama- ziah Joy as their pastor, who was ordained Dec. 5, 1838, and continued his undivided labors with the church until Feb. 8, 1840, when he was dismissed. Mr. Joy was suc- ceeded by Mr. Levi B. Hathaway, whose ordination took place June 30, 1841. He remained a faithful sentinel upon the watch-tower until May 30, 1842, when his brief pastoral labors were terminated. In September, 1842, the church gave Rev. N. M. Williams a call to the pastorate for five years, which was accepted.
During the first year, application was made to the Mis- sionary Society for assistance in his support, which was granted : afterwards provision was made by voluntary sub- scription. Mr. Williams presented a letter of resignation May 3, 1846, which was accepted, much to the regret of many members of the church. At the close of his pastorate there were about ninety members on the church roll. After the departure of Mr. Williams, the society was without a pastor until Sept. 9, 1848, when Rev. Charles Miller, a native of Stirling, Scotland (where he was born, Oct. I, 1794, coming to this country in April, 1819), came to Farmington from Livermore, where he had been preaching, and served acceptably as a minister until May 31, 1851, the date of his resignation. He removed to Skowhegan, where he now resides, and was succeeded by Rev. Cyrus Tibbetts, whose pastorate continued from August 3, 1851, to Dec. 31, 1854. Mr. Tibbetts removed to Belfast.
153
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Rev. J. D. Reid, from West Waterville, was called, and settled over this church for some time, between the years 1854 and 1858, when he resigned and removed to Athol, Mass.
Rev. G. M. P. King, from Paris, was called, and settled as pastor April 25, 1858. His resignation was accepted August 1, 1859, and he removed to Washington, D. C.
Rev. Abner Morrill, from Tennessee, was called, and set- tled Nov. 5, 1859. He remained until August 22, 1862, when he removed to Turner, and thence to New York, where he now resides.
Rev. E. Pepper was ordained as pastor of the church Feb. 9, 1864, and remained until October 1, 1866, when he removed to Eastport.
Rev. F. W. Emerson, from Greene, was called, and set- tled over the church June 1, 1867. He resigned Jan. 31, 1 869, and removed to Brunswick.
Mr. F. W. Tolman, from Harrison, was ordained pastor of the church Jan. 1, 1870, and remained until April 28, 1872, when he resigned and moved to New Hampshire.
Rev. James Heath, from Hamilton, N. Y., was called, and settled Jan. 5, 1873. His resignation took effect August 15, 1875.
Mr. O. O. Ordway was ordained as pastor June 13, 1876. He remained but a short time, and removed to Nobleboro.
Rev. A. W. H. Eaton, and Rev. H. B. Tilden were called, and settled as pastors of the church for some time, between the years 1876 and 1881. They each resigned, and sought labor in other fields. Mr. Eaton entered Harvard Univer- sity, from which he graduated in 1880, and has since taken orders in the Episcopal Church.
Rev. W. H. S. Hascall, a native of Portland, was called, and settled as pastor of the church October 1, 1881. His resignation took effect April 15, 1883, and with his family he went as a Baptist missionary to Henthada, Burmah, a field he had before occupied.
Mr. Edward A. Mason was ordained pastor of the church in August, 1883. He is a young man of much promise,
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
and in his sermons presents the truth in its immediate and practical relation to the lives of men.
The deacons of the Baptist Church have been, Church Brainerd, elected in 1797; Isaac Thomas, elected July 26, 1810; Eliphalet Bailey, elected April 13, 1811 ; John Bailey, elected Nov. 27, 1828; Job Morse, elected July 1, 1843; John Day, elected Sept. 9, 1848; Albert G. Wheeler, elected June 2, 1860; John T. Taylor, elected June 2, 1883 ; James Bailey, elected June 2, 1883.
The clerks of the church have been, Benjamin Brainerd, elected July 26, 1810; Isaac Bailey, elected Feb. 27, 1826 ; Ebenezer Childs, elected May 7, 1836; Job Morse, elected April 11, 1842; Albert G. Wheeler, elected Sept. 9, 1848 ; Lorilla Sweet, elected June 30, 1849; Albert G. Wheeler, elected Feb. 4, 1860; James Bailey, elected July 31, 1880; Everett B. Norton, elected Jan. 5, 1884.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
The religious belief of a large portion of the earliest settlers in Farmington was that of the Universalist faith, nearly all the Dunstable party belonging to that order. It is not definitely known at what time the first preachers of this denomination visited the township, but it must have been early in the present century, if not before. A Rev. Mr. Barnes is believed to have been the first preacher, and Elias Smith, with possibly others, also came into the region in an early day. In 1811, a petition signed by inhabitants of Farmington and adjoining towns, but nearly all of Farmington, was sent to the General Court praying to be incorporated as a relig- ious society. This petition is preserved in the archives of Massachusetts, and reads as follows. The names of resi- dents of Farmington are italicised.
To the Honorable the Senate and Honorable the House of Represent- atives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled, A. D. 1811.
The subscribers, inhabitants of the towns of Farmington, Wilton, Chesterville, New Sharon, Industry, Strong, and Temple, respectfully represent that they profess to belong to the denomina-
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
tion of Christians called Universalists, that they are desirous of supporting a public teacher and public worship, in a regular and orderly manner, and for this purpose find an incorporation neces- sary. They therefore request that they, with their families, polls and estates, may be incorporated into a religious society by the name of the Universalist Society in Farmington, with all powers, privileges and immunities to which parishes are entitled by the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth for religious purposes only, and likewise for the privilege of receiving those who may hereafter wish to join this incorporation with their polls and estates to be holden in the same manner as your humble petitioners, and as in duty bound will ever pray.
William Gould.
Henry Butterfield.
Jesse Butterfield.
Joseph Butterfield.
Asa Butterfield.
Joseph Hiscock.
Warren Butterfield.
Reuben Butterfield.
James Cummings.
Benjamin Weathern.
John Morrison.
Reuben Lowell.
John Lowell.
Jeremiah Stinchfield.
Hannah Butterfield. Peter Corbett.
Jonathan Russ.
Jeremy Wyman.
William Gower.
H. G. Quincy.
David Dwinel.
Nathaniel Folsam.
John P. Shawe.
Lot Hosmer.
T. D. Blake.
Samuel Ladd.
John Young.
James Marvel.
Daniel Beale.
Isaac B. Porter.
Asa Brown.
Joseph Starling.
John Russ.
Isaac Butterfield.
Benjamin Whittier.
Noah M. Gould.
Lemuel Bursley.
Guy Green.
Reuben Lowell, Jr.
Moses Butterfield.
Jeffry B. Brown.
S. Quincy.
Nathaniel Whittier.
Jacob Jordan.
Leonard Billings.
Newell Gordon.
James Butterfield.
The prayer of this petition was granted, and the society was organized Sept. 2, 1811, by the choice of Jeremiah Stinchfield, clerk; Benjamin Weathern, Reuben Lowell, and
Ebenezer Jones.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
Jeremy Wyman, assessors; William Gould, treasurer, and Reuben Lowell, Jr., collector. At the same meeting, Thomas Gordon, Reuben Lowell, and Horatio G. Quincy, were ap- pointed delegates to represent the society in the general convention to be held in Freeport the second Wednesday of September. Immediate measures were taken to raise the funds necessary for the support of preaching, and an assess -. ment of $100 was levied upon the estates of the members of the society. Rev. Mr. Root was employed for one-third of the time, and from 1812, when the general convention met at Farmington, until 1824, preaching was furnished a part of the time. About the year 1820, William Allen Drew came to Farmington as preceptor of the Academy, and united with this society. He was a young man of more than usual abilities, and soon became an able speaker. So long as he was a resident of the town, he preached quite regularly for the society. The Universalists were, for the most part, residents of the lower part of the town, and had but a small interest in the Center Meeting-House. Their services were usually held in the old meeting-house at the Falls and in school-houses, but Mr. Drew frequently preached in the hall of the Academy building. Mr. Drew left town about 1823, and soon after, Rev. Zenas Thompson settled with the society. From time to time accessions had been received, and at the time of Mr. Thompson's settlement, the society numbered about seventy persons. The state of the society becoming somewhat unpromising, it was thought best in 1829 to organize a new society, under the name of the First Universalist Society of Farmington and Vicinity. This organization was effected under a law then existing, by a warrant issued from a justice of the peace upon the petition of William Gould and sixteen others. These petitioners met at the school-house near Reuben Butterfield's, June 29th, and organized by the choice of Gen. William Gould, moderator, and Zenas Thompson, clerk .. The meeting adjourned to the first Wednesday in September, when ten additional members were received and the following officers chosen : John Russ, James Butterfield, and Lemuel Bursley,
I57
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
assessors; Nathaniel Whittier, collector ; Moses Butterfield, treasurer, and Leonard Billings, Ira Morse, and William Gould, standing committee. Mr. Thompson continued to labor with the society until April, 1833, when his pastoral relation ceased at his own request. About the year 1850, Rev. Mr. Frost began to preach for the society and remained until 1855. During his pastorate the Sunday services were usually held in the school-house near Reuben Butterfield's house. Since the departure of Mr. Frost no minister has been settled and preaching has only been held occasionally.
In 1832, the society received $686.17 as its share of the ministers' and ministerial fund, and this fund has been held intact and slightly increased. Its income, together with some voluntary contributions, are devoted regularly to the support of preaching. The location of the society was moved to Keith's Mills, about the year 1878, and there Sab- bath services are held a portion of the time.
Since the organization of the society, about 160 male members have been connected with it, and the present mem- bers number not far from twenty, a part of whom reside in Chesterville.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Few of the earliest settlers in Farmington belonged to the Congregational order, and this denomination was weak through the first years of the history of the town, its church being among the latest organized. The first preaching in the township, however, was by a minister of this denomina- tion, the Rev. Ezekiel Emerson of Georgetown. He came into the settlement, probably, about the year 1783, for the purpose of baptizing the first child born in the wilderness, the son of Mr. Stephen Titcomb; and at that time he preached in Mr. Titcomb's log-house. As early as 1790, the Massachusetts Missionary Society began to send missionaries into the Sandy River region, and in that year Rev. Daniel Little, pastor of the church in Kennebunk, visited Farming- ton, and the Revs. Levi Frisbie, Wait Cromwell, and Joseph Thaxter, labored in the place during portions of the years
21
158
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
1792, 1793, and 1794. Mr. Thaxter was an agent of the Missionary Society, and went through the region distributing Bibles and tracts. The devoted Jotham Sewall, one of the fathers of Congregationalism in Maine, settled in the adjoin- ing town of Chesterville, in the year 1788, and for the rest of his life exercised a paternal care over all the churches in this part of the State. The church in Chesterville was organized through his instrumentality, in 1796, and with it many of the Congregationalists in adjoining towns united. Missionaries from abroad continued to visit the township, however, and among the most remarkable of these was the Rev. Paul Coffin, D. D., of Buxton. Mr. Coffin was a gradu- ate of Harvard College, of the class of 1759, and was learned in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew tongues. He was said to have been imbued with the Armenian and even Arian views prevalent at that time in the established order, but he con- tinued in the Congregational church as a faithful and devoted minister until his death, in 1821. The journal of Mr. Coffin's four missionary tours in Maine, between the years 1796 and 1800, forms one of the most interesting chapters in the early history of the State. He visited Farmington in each of his journeys, and the entries in his journal regarding these visits are full of interesting particulars and keen observations. The good man seemed but poorly endowed with the gift of char- ity, and his contempt for the well-meaning though ignorant brethren of other denominations, shows on every page. He is grieved at the "bad grammar, poor connections, and little scripture explained" by some who feel themselves called to preach. One missionary tells him "a man may steal five hundred dollars one day, and coming out clear into Christian light, go on and enjoy the cash." He is even disposed to criticise the revivals of his fellow laborers, but it does not appear that his brethren ever had any occasion to reciprocate his criticism. In spite of his faults of temper, the visits of so learned and able a minister to a rough and rude commun- ity, were not without their effect.
Under date of Sept. 19, 1796, Mr. Coffin writes of visit- ing Stephen Titcomb's "sweet farm," where he is treated
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
with brandy and wine of their own produce. "Mr. Tit- comb," he says, "is one of those whom Prudence takes in her arms and never fails to guide. His house, barns, fences, etc., are, as they should be, finished, neat and good. Econ- omy and hospitality link hands, and religion is at the head of both." Sept. 17, 1797, he writes : "Preached to a very large and serious auditory. Squire Abbott and son, from Concord, N. H., were here, who are running a number of townships on the west of Farmington. He is a pleasant and sensible gentleman." Sept. 18, 1800, he says: "Squire Belcher called his singers together and gave us an evening of sweet music. The two Misses Butler are quite agreeable and admirable singers. Lodged with Dr. Stoyell."* This was Mr. Coffin's last tour to the Sandy River.
From 1800 until 1814, when the church was formed, many different Congregational ministers preached to the people, nearly all sent out by the Massachusetts Missionary Society. The names of many of these are now lost, but among them were Rev. Mr. Gould, who visited the region in 1804, and Rev. Mr. Marcy who came in 1805. Samuel Sewall, a resi- dent of the southwestern part of the town, and a brother-in- law of Father Sewall, also frequently preached for the people during the early years of the century. In 1813, Fifield Holt, a student of Andover Seminary, preached in Farming- ton. He was earnest and devout, and had many popular gifts. Until the settlement of a pastor, he exercised a kind of pastoral supervision over the interests of the denomina- tion. Dec. 14, 1814, the church was organized, with twelve members, as follows :
Thomas Wendell, Abraham Smith, Harrison Allen, Me- hitable Titcomb, Martha N. Blake, Prudence Minot, Luther Townsend, Dorothy Townsend, Mary Bailey, Mary Case, Hannah C. Beale, Susannah Richardson.
Mr. Holt, who was settled at Bloomfield, frequently visited the young church, and various students and mission- aries preached.
* Collections of Maine Hist. Soc., Vol. IV., p. 310, et seq.
ยท
160
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
In 1814, Hezekiah Hall, a ready speaker, but an eccentric man, visited the town. In 1817, Mr. Elijah Gates, Mr. J. Walker, and Mr. Thomas Adams supplied the church four- teen weeks. Mr. Adams formed a catechetical class, which he reported as "under the direction of a young man deeply in- terested in such matters." Mr. Samuel Johnson preached for six weeks, in 1818, and the year following Mr. Wm. P. Ken- drick was commissioned to preach fourteen weeks in Farm- ington and Temple. A communication was sent to the trustees of the Missionary Society, signed by forty persons, pledging themselves to pay $200 annually for the support of the gospel, and expressing the hope that after a year they can support the gospel the whole of the time. During this year the Sabbath-school was organized, and has since con- tinued a powerful adjunct to the church. In 1820, Mr. Elijah Jones preached sixteen weeks in Farmington and vicinity. Mr. Eben Newhall, and Rev. Jotham Sewall sup- plied the church fourteen weeks, in 1821. Mr. Sewall preached in Farmington more or less during his life, in all, four hundred and ninety-seven times.
In 1822, a parish was formed consisting of thirty heads of family. Mr. Seneca White was engaged twelve weeks, and $300 were raised for the purpose of employing him the whole of the succeeding year, but his engagements prevented his acceptance. From 1822 to 1825, Mr. Burr, Mr. Wm. L. Buffet and Daniel D. Tappan supplied the church for longer or shorter periods. The people invited Mr. Tappan to re- main with them, but his health forbade his assuming so onerous a charge. Mr. Isaac Rogers, a student of Andover Seminary, was sent to Farmington and vicinity in 1825, and was ordained over the church March 9, 1826. At this time the church consisted of upwards of fifty members, and was in a prosperous condition. The Missionary Society contin- ucd to aid the church in meeting its expenses until 1832, since which time it has been self-supporting. Mr. Rogers' connection with the church thus begun, continued until his death, and his life, thus identified with the town for nearly fifty years, deserves more than a passing notice.
161
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Isaac Rogers, a lineal descendant from John Rogers, the martyr of Smithfield, was born in Gloucester, Mass., July 13, 1795 ; was graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1822, and at Andover Theological Seminary in due course. In connection with his coming to Farmington, a classmate tells the follow- ing anecdote: The claims of the State of Maine upon the consideration of the christian ministry were at one time most earnestly presented to the students of the Seminary, by the secretary of the Missionary Society. Mr. Rogers arose in his place and said to the speaker, "If you have any place in Maine so destitute and unattractive that no one else will go, send me." So he was sent to Farmington, and came in- tending, as he told a friend, to lay his bones among his peo- ple. Mr. Rogers gained a strong hold on the hearts of his congregation, less as a preacher than as an earnest and faith- ful pastor, and a man of thorough Christian character. As a citizen he was no less respected than as a minister, and his strong love of truth, his excellent good sense, his keen knowledge of human nature, combined to render him a con- spicuous member of the community so long as he lived. The church was especially dear to him. During his pastorate, he received several offers to broader fields, and more liberal salary, but he preferred to spend his life among the people of his first choice. When the infirmities of age settled upon him, and it became necessary for him to resign his pulpit, it was with a reluctance he could not disguise. After his resignation, in 1858, Mr. Rogers continued to preach for many years to various feeble churches in the vicinity, but his active life closed with his pastorate. His wife, Miss Eliza French, of Newburyport, came with him to Farmington, and was no less faithful and devoted to the interests of the flock than was he. She was a woman of remarkable intelligence, of a brilliant intellect, and of great executive ability, as well as deep piety. Without children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers were like a father and mother to all the youth of the parish, and the love given to them was deep and fervent. Mrs. Rogers died, April 27, 1867, and Mr. Rogers survived her until Feb. 15, 1872. They rest in the old church-yard,
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
surrounded by all that is mortal of a generation whom this faithful pastor had married, whose children he had baptized, and over whom his voice had pronounced the final bene- diction.
At the time of Mr. Rogers' ordination, the only meeting- house at the Center Village was the union house afterward used for the court-house. For the first five years of his pas- torate he preached one-quarter of the time at Wilton, and, as the Congregationalists were entitled to the use of the meeting-house but a half of the time, worship was also held in school-houses and dwelling-houses in various parts of the town, chiefly in the Academy building, and the school-house erected by Dea. Nathaniel Greene. The present edifice, built at a cost of $3,000, was dedicated Nov. 23, 1836.
In 1846, $800 was appropriated to enlarging the building, by an addition of fourteen feet to the west end, and further improvements were made in 1879. The organ was purchased in 1855, at a cost of $750. The parsonage, a brick cottage, was built in 1833, with the share of the ministerial fund which fell to the society, and was occupied by Mr. Rogers until the death of his wife. It was afterwards sold to Mr. S. S. Hersey, who remodeled it at a considerable cost. The parish bought it again in 1872, and has since used it as a parsonage.
Mr. Rogers resigned his pastorate Sept. 4, 1858.
The Rev. John S. C. Abbott acted as a pastor from Nov. 14, 1858, to April 29, 1860. Mr. Rowland B. Howard, a native of Leeds, and a graduate of Bowdoin College, in the class of 1856, and of Bangor Theological Seminary, accepted a call to become pastor, and was ordained to the ministry and to the pastorate Oct. 11, 1860. During his connection with the church, a large number were received to the membership, and both the temporal and spiritual interests of the church were well cared for.
Having accepted an invitation to Princeton, Ill., Mr. Howard tendered his resignation July 3, 1870, and was im- mediately succeeded by Rev. Geo. N. Marden, a graduate of Bangor Theological Seminary. Mr. Marden's supply was
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