USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 130
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 130
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Frank P. Davis was born in this township, Oct. 29, 1845.
Walter S. Fairfield emigrated from Vermont to this township in 1836, settling in Vermontville. He was a printer by trade, and was one of the first to lend his aid towards establishing a newspaper in Eaton County. Besides holding several offices in his township, he was chosen to the positions of sheriff and register of deeds for the county, and filled them satisfactorily. His death occurred at Ver- montville, Feb. 15, 1860.
Edward H. Barber, one of the original colony of Ver- monters who settled here, made this his home in 1839, and was the second member of the colony who died here,¿ his death occurring June 23, 1865. Mr. Barber was one of the prominent pioneers of the county, and in the early his- tory of the latter served eight years as a member of the board of supervisors. He was exceedingly anxious for the success of the Union arms during the great Rebellion, and for the abolition of slavery in the United States, and with the consummation of his long-cherished hopes his life went out. He was seventy-one years of age at the time of his death.
Comparatively few of the original members of the col- ony are left in the township, their number having been thinned by deaths and removals. The colonists were men of hardy constitutions, and well calculated to withstand the hardships incident to a frontier life.
RESIDENTS IN 1844.
The following list of resident taxpayers in the township and village of Vermontville is taken from the assessment- roll for 1844: A. L. Armstrong, W. U. Benedict, G. S. Browning, Daniel Barber, E. H. Barber, Barber & Ladd, Levi Brundige, John Barrite, Joshua Blake, D. F. Bul- lock, S. S. Church, William Clark, Nathan Clifford, Orin Dickinson, Jonas Davis, Willard Davis, Lucy Dwight, W. S. Fairfield, Jacob Fuller, William B. Fuller, James A. Fuller, Hamilton Fonger, Warren Gray, Sidney B. Gates, R. W. Griswold, Jay Hawkins, F. P. Hopkins, Amos Hooker, David Henderson, Isaac Hagar, James Hagar, H. I. Mears, S. McOtter, Wells R. Martin, Levi Merrill, - Ford, M. S. Norton, D. H. Robinson, William F. - Hawkins, Henry Robinson, T. W. Rogers, Robinson &
* Streets were laid out through the centre of the village each way, and at their intersection was the public square.
See Mr. Church's article.
# Mr. Fairfield was the first.
521
VERMONTVILLE.
Martin, Samuel Richards, W. Symer, Manly Symer, Arte- mas Smith, Cephas Smith, Philetus Sprague, S. D. Scovill, Ilenry Standish, Reuben Sanford, Lovina Smith, William B. Sherman, Jason Smith, William W. Warner, Asa B. Warner, Henry Hayner, Wait J. Squier, A. Hooker.
Wells R. Martin, one of the original colony, settled here with his wife and babe, May 25, 1838, and has since had his home at the village. Ile has been prominent in many ways, having served his township in various capacities, and represented his district also in the Legislature.
Roger W. Griswold, from Benson, Rulland Co., Vt., as was also his present wife, came here in 1836, unmarried, in company with his uncle, Orin Dickinson (now deceased). In 1837 he went to Vermont and was married, and soon after returned and purchased the interest of one of the colonists. His wife died, and he afterwards married the widow of George S. Browning. Edward and Daniel Bar- ber, brothers and early settlers at Vermontville, were uncles of R. W. Griswold, and came later.
Professor Edward P. Church, who was but a year old when his father, Deacon S. S. Church, settled at Vermont- ville. He is a graduate of Oberlin College, Ohio, as is also his wife, who was a member of his class. Mr. Church had studied one year at Cambridge University. After com- pleting his course at Oberlin he was recommended as a teacher in Oahu College, Sandwich Islands, and went there with his wife. He was professor of mathematics and su- perintendent, and was finally made president, remaining ten years with the institution. Mrs. Church was matron and teacher. Their post-office was Honolulu. Professor Church is now superintendent of the high schools at Green- ville, Montcalm Co., Mich.
Willard Davis, who came to Bellevue in 1836, removed afterwards to Vermontville, at which place he became a permanent resident in 1843. He has been prominently identified with the political interests of the county, serving in various positions, including that of member of the Legis- lature.
O. M. Wells, now a resident of the township of Ver- montville, was an early settler in Sunfield, where other members of the family are still living.
H. J. Mears is numbered also among the settlers of 1836, and has held numerous important positions in the township.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION .- LIST OF OFFICERS.
An act of the Legislature approved March 11, 1837, provides that "all that portion of the county of Eaton, designated in the United States survey as townships 3 and 4 north, of range 6 west, and 3 and 4 north, of range 5 west, be, and the same is, hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Vermontville, and the first township-meeting therein shall be held in said township." From this territory have since been formed the townships of Chester, March 21, 1839, Sunfield, Feb. 16, 1842, and Roxand, March 19, 1843, leaving the present township of Vermontville to include only the southwest quarter of its original area, or town 3 north, in range 6 west.
The following account of the first township-meeting is from the township records :
" Agreeable to an act of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, passed Feb. 14, 1837, and approved March 11, 1837, organizing sur- veyed townships Nos. 3 and 4 north, of range 6 west, and townships Nos. 3 and 4 north, of range 5 west, in Eaton County, in said State, a town, with township privileges, under the name of Vermontville, the clectors met at the town-house in said Vermontville, agrecably to previous notice, on the first Monday in April, and organized said meeting by choosing Samuel Selden, Esq., moderator, and S. S. Church township clerk, who administered the oath prescribed by law to each other, when proclamation was made of the organization of said meeting.
"2d. The ballots being taken for supervisor, Orin Dickinson was duly elected.
"3d. S. S. Church was then chosen township clerk.
"4th. S. S. Church, Samuel Selden, and John Hart were elected assessors.
"5th. Walter S. Fairfield was elected collector and constable.
" 6th. Elected S. S. Church and Bezalecl Taft directors of the poor.
"7th. Elected Orin Dickinson, Jay Ilawkins, and Bezaleel Taft road commissioners.
" 8th. Elected Franklin Hawkins poormaster.
"9th. Elected Reuben Sanford, Levi Merrill, Jr., and Sidney B. Gates fence-viewers.
" 10th. Elected Jacob Fullers, Harvey Williams, and Samuel S. Hoyt overseers of highways.
" 11th. Elected Orin Dickinson, John Hart, and Levi Merrill school inspectors.
" 12th. Elected Samuel Selden, S. S. Church, Samuel C. S. Hoyt, and Orin Dickinson justices of the peace.
"13th. Orin Dickinson for the term of one year, S. S. Church for two years, Samuel S. Iloyt for three years, and Samuel Selden for four years.
" 14th. Voted, To raise the sum of two hundred dollars on the tax- able property in said township, to be appropriated to building bridges and making roads in said township.
" 15th. Voted, To raise the sum of two hundred dollars on the tax- able property of said township for defraying the town expenses for the current year.
" 16th. Voted, That cattle and horses be permitted to run at large in said town, but the owners is to be liable for damages when they shall break over a decent fence, in which case the fence-viewers shall decide whether the fence is decent or not.
" 17th. Voted, That hogs be permitted to run at large.
" 18th. Voted, That Jay Hawkins, Jacob Fuller, S. S. Church, and Samuel Selden be the board of inspectors of election.
" 19th. Voted, To dissolve the meeting.
" The foregoing is a true record of the township-meeting held on the first Monday in April, 1837, and the doings of said meeting.
"Attest, S. S. CHURCH, Township Clerk."
At a special election held April 3 and 4, 1837, to fill a vacancy in the Legislature caused by the death of Ezra Convis, twelve votes were polled, all for Sands McCamly.
In 1846 the following articles were produced in the town- ship of Vermontville, as shown by the assessors' books for 1847 : 419 tons of hay ; 395 bushels of rye ; 1884 bushels of wheat; 371 bushels of barley ; 5100 pounds of beef ; 48,125 pounds of pork ; 7350 pounds of butter; 1330 pounds of cheese ; 12,430 pounds of sugar (maple) ; 1463 pounds of wool ; 140 pounds of flax ; 1383 bushels of oats ; 4252 bushels of corn; 59 bushels of buckwheat; 3993 bushels of potatoes. H. Robinson, assessor.
The principal officers of the township of Vermontville, beginning with 1839, have been the following :
SUPERVISORS.
1839, Wait J. Squier; 1840-45, Edward H. Barber; 1846-48, Henry Robinson ; 1849-50, Wells R. Martin; 1851, Henry Robinson ; 1852-53, W. U. Benedict ; 1854-55, Willard Davis; 1856, W. S. Frink ; 1857-61, R. W. Griswold; 1862-64, Artemnas Smith ; 1865- 66, R. W. Griswold; 1867, Willard Davis; 1868, Wells R. Martin;
66
522
HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICIIIGAN.
1869, Hiram S. Dickinson ; 1870-72, Charles Hull; 1873-78, Andrew P. Green ; 1879, Charles Hull.
TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
1838-40. Hiram J. Mears; 1841-42, Wells R. Martin ; 1843, Hiram J. Mears : 1844, W. S. Fairfield; 1845, Artemas Smith; 1846- 48. W. S. Fairfield : 1849-52, F. A. Church; 1853-54, Homer G. Barber; 1855-58, W. U. Benedict; 1859, R. C. Kedzie; 1860, E. W. Barber; 1861-64, A. Il. Proctor ;# 1865-66, William U. Bene- dict ; 1867-68, Charles llull; 1869-70, W. U. Benedict; 1871- 73, C. E. Hammond; 1874-79, Mart F. Barber.
TREASURERS.
1839, Jacob Fuller; JS40-41. Simeon McOtter; 1842-44, Roger W. Griswold ; 1845, Daniel Barber; 1846, Wells R. Martin; 1847- 49, R. W. Griswold; 1850-51, Warren Gray ; 1852-53, Daniel Barber; 1854-55, R. W. Griswold ; 1856-58, M. L. Squier; 1859- 61, H. S. Dickinson ; 1862-66, E. O. Boardman; 1867, C. W. IIyde; 1868, E. W. Hyde ; 1869-70, Daniel W. Church ; 1871, I. C. Griswold ; 1872-78, Daniel W. Church ; 1879, E. W. Hyde.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1838, Levi Wheaton, t Willard Davis, Samuel S. Hoyt, S. S. Church ; 1839, Orin Dickinson, Edward O. Smith ; 1840, Edward O. Smith; 1841, Martin S. Norton ; 1842, S. S. Church, Daniel Barber ; 1843, Warren Gray ; 1844, Levi Merrill ; 1845, Pbiletus Sprague, M. S. Norton ; 1846, S. S. Church; 1847, Orin Dickinson ; 1848, P. Sprague, Wait J. Squier ; 1849, Wait J. Squier ; 1850, Henry Robiuson ; 1851, W. B. Hopkins; 1852, A. Sprague; 1853, Wait J. Squier ; 1854, W. Davis, A. L. Armstrong ; 1855, Amos Green ; 1856, Asa Benedict, W. R. Martin; 1857, R. E. Armstrong ; 1858, Willard Davis; 1859, Homer G. Barber; 1860, Asa Bene- diet, F. A. Stebbins ;į IS61, F. A. Stebbins; 1862, S. S. Church; 1863, H. G. Baker, A. L. Armstrong; 1864, Asa Benedict, Wil- lard Davis ; 1865, A. L. Armstrong ; 1866, Charles Hammond; 1867, Julius Hall; 1868, M. L. Squier, A. P. Green ; 1869, Asa Benedict, A. P. Green ; 1870, C. G. Townsend, George C. Dwight ; 1871, A P. Green, E. J. Ryman ; 1872, J. T. Scovill; 1873, H. L. Curtis, E. O. Boardman; 1874, Duane Hawkins, W. R. Mar- tin, Frank P. Davis; 1875, Asa Benedict ; 1876, W. C. Bodine, A. P. Denton ; 1877, A. P. Denton, Charles E. Hammond ; 1878, Duane Ilawkins, Wells R. Martin ; 1879, Jonathan N. Hawkins. 1880 .- Supervisor, Charles Hall; Town Clerk, A. M. Barber ; Treas- urer, A. G. Jewell; Justice of the Peace, W. C. Bodine; Superintendent of Schoola, William W. Gifford; School In- spector, C. E. Hammond; Commissioner of llighways, J. N. Hawkins ; Drain Commissioner, A. D. Lake; Conata- bles, John Il. Squier, A. D. Lake, John Young, Samuel Williams.
CEMETERIES.
Vermontville Burying-Ground, No. 1, was laid out Feb. 25, 1848. The work of clearing it had been given to W. J. Squier the previous year, eight dollars being paid him for his services. The numbers of the lots were placed in a box, shook up, and each head of a family-fifty-six in all -drew one out, taking for his own the lot corresponding with the number drawn. The lot, which included one aere, was purchased of E. H. Barber, in April, 1846, for forty-three dollars.
Vermontville Burying- Ground, No. 2, in the northeast part of the township, including half an acre, was purchased July 19, 1851, of Rufus Hanor, for twenty-five dollars, and at once laid out and improved.
* Willard Davis appears as clerk also in 1864.
+ Chester township was organized in 1839, and the place of Levi Wheaton, who lived in that town, and whoso terin of office had not expired, was filled by the election of Martin S. Norton.
Į Mr. Stebbins elected to fill vacancy cuused by death of R. E. Armstrong.
VILLAGE ITEMS.
PLATTING OF VILLAGE AND ADDITIONS.
The original town of Vermontville, located on the south half of seetion 21 and the north half of section 28, was laid out Aug. 14, 1867, by Orin Dickinson, William Par- menter, John L. Ilunter, and thirty-seven others. Church's addition was laid out Sept. 6, 1869, by Eliza Church ; Squier's addition, Nov. 8, 1869, by Martin L. Squier ; Davis & Parmenter's addition, May 24, 1877.
HOTELS.
The first hotel-keeper in the village was Wells R. Martin, who entertained travelers in the house he occupied for a dwelling. Licenses given him are recorded in 1846-47, at two dollars per annum. The hotel now known as the " Follett House," which is the principal one in the place, was the first and is the only one built expressly for hotel purposes, and was ereeted in 1855 by James Tufford. It was first ealled the " New England Ilotel." It has several times been extensively repaired, and is now managed by S. A. Gunn, who has been its proprietor sinee Feb. 15, 1877. Mr. Gunn removed here in February, 1855, from Wayne, Ashtabula Co., Ohio.
FIRST STORE.
The first stock of goods offered for sale in the village was brought from Bellevue by Wells R Martin and Decatur Scovill ; but the first regular store was not established until as late as 1846-47, when Hale & Frink opened one in the lower story of the academy building.
VERMONTVILLE POST-OFFICE.
Within a few years after he settled at the village, S. S. Church brought in the first mail, over a route which was established from Bellevue and Ionia. A post-office was at the same time established at Vermontvilles, with Dr. Dewey H. Robinson as first postmaster. Mail was carried on horse- baek once a week. Dr. Robinson was succeeded by Walter S. Fairfield, and he by Henry Robinson. Amanda Robin- son, sister of Mrs. W. R. Martin, also held the office after Mr. Robinson. Those appointed since have been Wells R. Martin, Homer G. Barber, Henry Martin, C. G. Town- send, Willett, Diekinson, and the present incumbent, A. G. Jewell.
NEWSPAPER.
In the spring of 1874, the Vermontville Enterprise was started by J. C. Wore: ster, who sold out to G. W. Hoskins in May, 1875. K. Kittridge, now of the Euton Rapids Journal, was afterwards its publisher. In 1878, Capt. F. M. Potter purchased the establishment, and the paper is now edited and published by him under the name of The Vermontville Hawk. Capt. Potter was formerly a corres- pondent of the Charlotte Republican. The Hawk is a five-column quarto sheet, independent in politics, issued weekly, and has a circulation of 1000 copies. It is the only paper published in the place.
¿ Tbis office was established about 1840. It is possible that Henry Robinson, instead of W. S. Fairfield, was the accond postmaster. Miss Amanda Robinson became afterwards Mrs. Dean.
523
VERMONTVILLE.
SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.
Vermontville Lodge, No. 252, F. and A. M., was organ- ized in 1868, with H. G. Barber as Worshipful Master. The charter members numbered about ten, or sufficient to hold the various offices of the lodge, and others were im- mediately admitted. The members of the order in the vicinity had been previously connected with the Charlotte Lodge. The present Master of the lodge is Duane Hlawk- ins. The membership is principally made up of persons living out of the village.
Judge Lune Lodge, No. 166, I. O. O. F., was instituted about 1872, with some forty members. It has a present membership of 125, with the following officers : L. A. Dun- lap, Noble Grand ; E. A. Serine, Vice-Grand ; E. L. Clark Per. Sec. ; E. T. Rawson, Rec. Sec. ; John Rawson, Treas.
Eaton Lodge, No. 71, A. O. U. W., was organized June 17, 1879, with ten members, and Wallace C. Mears as Past Master Workman. William Griswold was the first Master Workman. July 13, 1880, the membership of the lodge was thirty-four, and the officers were as follows : William H. Broas, Past Master Workman ; Dr. Charles Snell, Master Workman ; Eugene Mears, General Foreman ; William Stein, Overseer; I. C. Griswold, Recorder ; Mart F. Bar- ber, Financier ; George Browning, Receiver; E. B. Ham- mond, Guide ; Martin L. Squier, Inside Watchman ; George D. Spellman, Outside Watchman.
VILLAGE INCORPORATION .- LIST OF OFFICERS.
The village of Vermontville was incorporated by the Legislature, March 11, 1871, to include section 21, the west twenty rods of the southwest quarter of section 22, and the north three-fourths of section 28, in town 3 north, range 6 west. The charter was amended March 26, 1875.
The first village election was held April 17, 1871, at which the following officers were chosen : President, O. G. Stebbins ; Recorder, D. W. Church ; Treasurer, M. A. Hance; Trustees, W. C. Bodine, H. L. Curtis, C. E. Hammond. At a meeting of the board, April 22, 1871, E. O. Boardman was appointed marshal, and James H. McOtter street commissioner. The officers of the village since 1872 have been as follows :
1872 .- President, Wells R. Martin ; Recorder, J. T. Scovell ; Treasurer, M. A. Hance; Trustees, H. G. Barber, James Fleming.
1873 .- President, R. W. Griswold;# Recorder, C. E. Hammond; Treasurer, M. A. Hance; Trustees, William Parmenter, G. S. Browning, H. G. Barber.
1874 .- President, H. G. Barber; Recorder, F. P. Davis ;} Treasurer, M. A. Hance ; Trustees, William Parmenter, H. J. Martin W. H. Benedict.
1875 .- President, Horace L. Curtis; Recorder, C. H. Browning ;} Treasurer, Charles Hull; Trustees, O. G. Stebbins, R. W. Griswold, P. S. Wright.
1876 .- President, H. G. Barber ; Recorder, I. C. Griswold; Treasurer, Charles Hull ; Trustees, C. M. Ambrose, A. M. Barber, John Remalia.
1877.2-President, H. G. Barber; Recorder, I. C. Griswold; Treas-
urer, Charles Hull; Trustees, O. G. Stebbins, O. M. Wells, Wallace Mears.
1878 .- President, If. G. Barber ; Recorder, I. C. Griswold; Treasurer, Charles Hull; Trustees, A. M. Barber, O. M. Wells, Wallace Mears.
1879 .- President, If. G. Barber; Recorder, Ovid N. Case ; | Treasurer, A. M. Barber; Trustees, John Squier, F. S. Loomis, William Griswold.
1880 .- President, O. G. Stebbins; Recorder, H. L. Curtis ; [ Treasurer, James Fleming ; Trustees, D. W. Allen, A. M. Barber, W. M. Griswold.
The village of Vermontville, although having a quiet air, is yet a place of considerable business, and its importance among its sister villages is recognized. The fact that its founders were former residents of the "Green Moun- tain State," where they were all prominent and respected citizens, speaks well for its morals and the ability of those to whom its affairs have ever been intrusted.
SCHOOLS.
Deacon S. S. Church, in 1869, wrote as follows concern- ing the early schools in this town :
"The first school was in the summer of 1838, in a private house. In the fall a log school-bouse was erected, in which schools were regu- larly taught from three to four months in summer hy a female teacher, and the same time in winter by a male teacher. In 1843 the popula- tion bad so increased that an academical association## was organized and materials procured to build an academy to answer the double pur- pose of academy and church. In the fall of 1844 the upper story was completed, and Rev. W. U. Benedict, the pastor of the church, taught a school four months in the fall of 1844-45, in which the higher Eng- lish branches and also the languages were taught. Mr. Benedict con- tinued to teach for several successive winters. The district school was also continued summer and winter, several months each, so that, not- withstanding our isolation from thoroughfares and the bustle and business of the world, as many thought, our children and youth were better educated and better qualified for business, both morally and mentally, than those of many of the villages of our State, as their subsequent lives bave abundantly proved. With the exception of one or two seasons, the academy school was maintained for several months in the year, until, a few years previous to 1869, that and the district school were finally united in a union school, with two departments, occupying both rooms in the academy building."
In September, 1866, a committee was appointed to select a site for a union sehool building, and finally purchased a very eligible location from W. J. Squier. A petition was sent to the Legislature in 1867, asking that body to grant to the district power to raise a sum not exceeding $10,000, for the purpose of building a union school house. Nothing final was done until 1869, when the matter was placed in the hands of a committee of three to decide, and they re- ported (Oet. 18, 1869) in favor of building. Their report was adopted almost unanimously, and the sum of $10,000 was voted, with which the house was erected in 1870. The entire cost of the building, with interest, was about $12,000, and it is a credit to the place, being constructed
# This office was vacant March 19, 1873, and the Council elected H. L. Curtis.
+ Resigned, and M. F. Barber elected.
# Resigned, and A. G. Jewell appointed.
¿ For the years 1877, '78, and '79 no record of election was kept, and owing to this fact it is not certain whether the list for those years as here given is correct or not, but probably it is nearly so.
| Resigned, and I. C. Griswold appointed.
" Resigned, and C. E. Hammond appointed.
## The Vermontville Academical Association, consisting of W. U. Benedict, Orin Dickinson, S. S. Church, W. S. Fairfield, David Barber, W. J. Squier, M. S. Morton, D. II. Robinson, and Levi Merrill, was incorporated April 28, 1846, with "power to establish at or near the village of Vermontville, in the county of Eaton, an institution for the instruction and education of young persons." The trustees were to be nine in number, and the capital stock, $10,000, was to be divided into shares of ten dollars each.
524
HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of brick, and two stories in height. The school had pre- viously been held in the old academy, as stated by Mr. Church.
The union, or graded, school was established soon after 1860, and has four departments,-viz. : primary, inter- mediate, grammar, and high school. The teachers for the school year of 1879-80 were : Primary department, Jennie Ellis ; intermediate, Miss Grace Noble ; grammar, David Young; high school, William W. Gifford, principal of all the schools. The school board (trustees) for 1880 is com- posed of the following gentlemen,-viz. : Homer G. Barber, Charles Hull, O. G. Stebbins, William Parmenter, James Fleming, C. E. Hammond.
The schools of Vermontville have a reputation for gen- eral excellence, and are a source of pride to the citizens, who have fewer conservative ideas regarding the manner of conducting them than are found in many other localities. Progression is the watchword leading to success, and this faet is not overlooked.
From the report of the township school inspectors for the year ending Sept. 1, 1879, are taken the following items of interest :
No. of distriets in township (8 whole, 2 frac-
tional) 10
school-children in township 578
attending during year .. 460
days school taught .. 1904
school-honses (2 briek, 7 frame, 1 log) .. 10
seatings in same .. 705
Value of school property. $14,672
No. teachers employed (males, 4 ; females, 15) .. 19 Wages paid same (males, $1042 ; females, $1259) $2301.00 Total resources for year. 4051.85 Amount on hand Sept. 1, 1879 863.34
Total expenditures, less amount on hand. 3188.51
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Congregational Church .*- In February, 1837, a Con- gregational Church, consisting of sixteen members, was or- ganized in Vermontville by Rev. S. Cochrane, who had been in the habit of holding meetings on the Sabbath, reading sermons and conducting other religious exercises. Mr. Cochrane was the first pastor of the church, and his duties extended over a period of five years. He was a grad- uate of Dartmouth College. His successor was Rev. William U. Benedict, from Caynga Co., N. Y., a graduate of Wil- liams College and Auburn Seminary. Ile entered upon the duties of his position in 1843 and remained until 1851. Not long after, Rev. Seth Hardy, of Lyman, Mass., gradua- ting respectively from Amherst and Andover, became the pastor, and was the first and only regularly installed pastor the church ever had. His labors here closed in 1854, and in the same year Rev. Charles Temple, son of a noted mis- sionary, took charge. Hle was born on the island of Malta and was educated at Amherst and Andover. He remained in charge of the church at Vermontville about seven years, and resigned on account of ill health. His successor was Rev. O. II. Spoor, from Georgia, Vt., a graduate of Oberlin. S. S. Church and Willard Davis were chosen deacons at the organization. Mr. Davis soon after removed, and Mr.
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