A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I, Part 42

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.]
Number of Pages: 888

USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Sullivan > A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I > Part 42

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

DEACONS.

The church was established, Jan. 14, 1808. On Oct. 9, 1809, Daniel Converse of Gilsum was invited " to act as deacon," probably temporarily. At a meeting of the church, Nov. 25, 1810, it was voted to celebrate the communion once in two months, beginning with the first Sunday in December following. Amasa Brown and Dalphon Gibbs were elected deacons and probably at the organization of the church. They continued in that office while they remained in town. Dea. Brown was dismissed to the Keene Baptist ch., Apr. 28, 1841. Dea. Gibbs was never dismissed, but left town in 1857, and, on Apr. 26, 1857, Windsor Gleason, Jr., of Gilsum was chosen to succeed him as deacon. They were the only three deacons of the church.

CLERKS.

Rev. Mr. Cummings made a few records at the beginning of his ministry. No other record of the church proper appears until Apr. 2, 1831. No name of a clerk appears until Aug. 28, 1833, when Hosea Foster was chosen, who appears, by the chirography, to have written all the records after 1831, to that time. He continued to serve until Dec. 26, 1852, when the records made by Hartley Thurston begin. The latter served until Aug. 12, 1855, when Windsor Gleason, Jr., was chosen, who served until Apr. 16, 1859, when Geo. W. Foster took the place, who served until the church disbanded, Aug. 15, 1861.

PASTORS.

I. CHARLES CUMMINGS, born at Seabrook, N. H., Sept. 23, 1777, son of Rev. Joseph and Anna (Gove) Cummings. His father was a graduate of Har- vard in 1768, and was one of the early ministers of Marlborough. Rev. Charles Cummings had only an ordinary school education, except as he educated him- self. He was ordained in Sullivan, Oct. 24, 1810. He settled upon a farm (178 on map) and labored industriously, often evolving his sermons, with his hand upon the plow or rake. He was an able, forceful, and effective preacher. He was poorly paid for his preaching and was permitted to labor elsewhere when he wished. A tablet in the Keene Baptist Church, erected by his daughter, Mrs. Hemenway, testifies that that church is " a vine of his planting." He labored here from 1811 to 1817. He also labored in Peterborough from 1817 to 1820, and in the employ of the Domestic Missionary Society from 1820 to 1830. His long and honored pastorate in Sullivan was closed by a mutual under- standing between himself and the society, March 17, 1834. He promoted the Baptist cause in Swanzey, Marlborough, Hillsborough, Lyndeborough, Antrim and Pottersville. He died in Roxbury, N. H., Dec. 27, 1849, his residence while supplying Pottersville.

2. WILLIAM NORRIS preached one half of the time through the official year extending from March 3, 1834 to March 2, 1835, and represented the church at the Dublin Association session for 1834. He was a licentiate, not ordained, while in Sullivan. He was born in Stratham, Dec. 31, 1807; studied at New Hampton ; several years a teacher ; ordained at Newton, N. H., 1835 ; pastor at Newton, 1835-37; at Ashfield, Mass., 1842-46; Northwood, N. H., 1846-9; 2d Bap. Ch., Sanbornton, 1851-2 ; where he died, June 1, 1852.

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.

3. ALANSON FISH preached a half of the time through the official year extending from Mar. 2, 1835 to Feb. 27, 1836, and represented the church in the session of the Dublin Association for 1835.

4. ARNOLD KINGSBURY supplied the church through the official year, Feb. 27, 1836 to March 6, 1837, preaching one half of the time here, and the other half at Nelson Factory Village (now Munsonville). He was ordained, Nov. 2, 1836, at the Nelson church, having been examined in Sullivan, by a council which convened on the day previous. He was, therefore, the second "settled " pastor of the church, but only for a short time after his ordination. He was born, Dec. 6, 1812, at Corinth, N. Y., according to the only authority (Rev. Wm. Hurlin of Antrim, in a MS. history of N. H. Baptist ministers) which gives the complete date of his birth. He studied at Burr Seminary, a Methodist institution at Manchester, Vt., and became a Methodist circuit preacher in the Troy confer- ence and the Hinesburg circuit. He, later, united with the Baptist ch., at Monkton, Vt. Having been accepted by a Baptist council, May 11, 1836, he became a licentiate preacher in that denomination. After serving Sullivan and Nelson, he was at Westmoreland in 1837; later, at Bristol, Vt., Middlebury, Vt., Winfield, N. Y., Pittsfield, Mass., Winfield, 2d time, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Albany, N. Y., Fredonia, N. Y., Adrian, Mich., Elbridge, N. Y., Stockton, N. Y., Adrian, 2d time, Jamestown, N. Y., Stockton, 2d time, then at Fredonia, but supplying Cassadaga and Sinclairville, N. Y. He died at Fredonia, N. Y., June 8, 1893. In Sullivan, he lived in the Wm. Brown house, where Rev. Josiah Peabody lived afterwards.

Through the official year, March 6, 1837 to March 5, 1838, there is no record of any preaching and no pastor represented the church at the Dublin Association.

5. DAVID PATTEN FRENCH began serving the church a half of the time during the official year, beginning March 5, 1838. He was not ordained until Sept. 4, 1839. Some authorities call the date, Sept. 5, but the record of the council is for Tuesday, Sept. 3, which was "the day before the ordination." He was born at Lyndeborough, N. H. (not Bedford, as some authorities say), Feb. 1, 1817. He was educated at Meriden and Hancock Academies, and at Oberlin, Ohio. He remained in Sullivan until Nov. 1, 1840. He boarded with Hosea Foster, who lived where Henry C. Rawson now lives. He was married at Peter- borough, Aug. 3, 1840, to Miss Mehetabel Foster, a sister of Hosea. After leaving Sullivan, he preached in Marlborough and West Swanzey, and was at Goffstown from 1847 to 1849, and afterwards in Lyndeborough. He served several churches in Illinois, and was for eight years a general missionary in the south part of that state. In 1875, he was paralyzed and eventually lost his voice. He died at Nashville, Ill., Apr. 29, 1886. He was the 3d and last " settled " minister of this church.

6. SEM PIERCE preached for the church a half of the time in the official years, Jan. 4, 1841 to Jan. 2, 1843, and less frequently until Jan. I., 1844. He supplied Nelson Factory Village the rest of the time. He lived in the old " Winch " house north of the present Town Hall. He was born in Windham, Vt., July 8, 1794; worked on a farm until he was 21; studied theology with Rev. A. Graves, of West Townshend, Vt .; settled at South Londonderry, Vt., in 1821 ; ordained there in 1828, remaining until he came to Sullivan ; was sub-

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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

sequently settled at So. Londonderry again, also in Plymouth, Vt., and Cavendish, Vt. He died at So. Londonderry, Vt., Oct. 15, 1865.

7. TRISTAN ALDRICH was the acting pastor of the church for an official year, Jan. I, 1844 to Jan. 6, 1845. He was born Oct. 13, 1781. He came to Swanzey, in 1823, from New Salem, Mass., and became a farmer. He is called a deacon in the Baptist records there, and was ordained as their pastor, on June 12, 1823, and continued to serve that parish until 1832. He preached occasion- ally in other towns, but, after leaving Sullivan, spent the rest of his life in Swanzey. He lived in that house, between Sawyer's Crossing and West Swanzey, which was so very near the west side of the Ashuelot R. R., but has now disappeared. His son-in-law, Orleans S. Eaton owned it a long time. Mr. Aldrich died in Swanzey, Dec. 31, 1870. In Sullivan, he lived in the Hosea Foster house, where H. C. Rawson lives.

In 1845, there was no acting pastor of the church. Rev. Isaac M. Willmarth came over from Drewsville and preached a few times. He was born in Deer- field, N. Y., Oct. 27, 1804; graduated at Hamilton College, in 1825, and at Newton Theological School, in 1833; ordained in the city of New York, Apr. 30, 1834 ; missionary in France, 1834-37; settled in Peterborough, 1839; New Ipswich, 1840-42; Walpole (Drewsville), 1844-46; later at several places in Vermont. He died at Philadelphia, Pa., at the house of his son, Rev. Dr. Will- marth, Apr. 23, 1891. Rev. John Langdon Sanborn of Richmond also preached two or three times for the society in 1845. He was born in New Hampton, Aug. 31, 1813; graduated at New Hampton Theological School in 1842; ordained at Richmond, Feb. 14, 1844; and remained there until 1848. He preached in many towns in Maine and New Hampshire. He died at Bradford Springs, N. H., Aug. 4, 1895.

8. ASA WITHINGTON supplied the pulpit a part of the time during the official year, Jan. 3, 1846 to Jan. 4, 1847. He was a young man from Swanzey ; born in that town, Oct. 4, 1822 ; educated at the Hancock Literary and Scientific Institution, and at the Theological School at New Hampton. He was licensed to preach, Dec. 5, 1844, but apparently not ordained. He was very scholarly, and a fair poet, but of delicate health. He died Apr. 4, 1849. His father was a good, but very eccentric man, who resided in Swanzey. It is said that he would walk barefoot to church, to save shoe leather, and put on his shoes at the church door. He would not enter a carpeted church. He accumulated several thousand dollars, much of which he left to some indigent old ladies. Rev. Sem Pierce also preached two or three times in 1846, while on a visit from South Londonderry, Vt. When in Sullivan, Mr. Withington boarded with Dea. Gibbs.

9. HENRY ARCHIBALD was the next acting pastor, who supplied three official years, Jan. 4, 1847 to Jan. 7, 1850, though not preaching all of the time in Sullivan. He lived, in the meantime, in Gilsum. He was born in Mussel- burgh, Scotland, Aug. 14, 1786; emigrated to America in 1818. He was first a Congregationalist, and became a Baptist in 1820. He was ordained in Suffield, Conn., in 1823; supplied Suffield, 1823-24; Shrewsbury and Boylston, Mass., 1824-26 ; Belchertown, Mass., 1828-30 ; West Springfield, Mass., 1830-33; Mid- dlefield, Mass. ; Wenham, Mass., 1837-39; Bow, N. H., 1838-39 ; Sutton, N. H., 1841-44 ; Lyndeborough, 1845; Hancock, 1846; Sullivan, 1847-50; Dublin

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(now Chesham), 1850-51 ; and Guilford, Vt., his last settlement. He died at Mount Holly, Vt., Dec. 4, 1859.

There was no preaching through the official year, 1850-51, unless an occa- sional labor of love.

IO. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS WARE was the supply through the society's official year, Jan. 6, 1851 to Jan. 5, 1852, preaching here only a part of the time. He lived and preached the remainder of the time at Marlborough. He was born in Gilsum, Dec. 17, 1822; educated at the Hancock Literary and Scientific Institution and at the theological school at New Hampton ; licensed to preach, by the Sullivan church, Apr. 19, 1846. He was ordained at Marlborough, Aug, 24, 1851. He remained in Marlborough until 1853, but only preached occasion- ally in Sullivan after the beginning of 1852. He preached at Sanbornton Bay, July, 1853-57 ; Addison, Vt., 1857-59; Whiting, Vt., July 17, 1859-65. He died at Surry, Aug. 29, 1865.

In 1852 and 1853, the society had no stated supply and very little preaching. Mrs. Bethiah, widow of D. E. Boynton, willed them a hundred dollars, which they called their "fund " money, which they used at this time, instead of raising money by subscription. Mrs. Boynton also willed $25 to the Nelson Baptist Society.

II. LEVI M. POWERS was the stated supply for the society, from Sunday, Jan. 8, 1854 until the last Sunday but one in December, 1855. He lived during the time in Gilsum. He was born in Gardner, Mass., June 11, 1808. He was ordained at Bolton, Mass., in 1836, and remained there seven years. He preached at Littleton, Mass., 1844-5; Hillsborough, N. H., 1847-8; Sullivan and Gilsum, 1854-5; Goshen, 1859-62; and East Washington, 1879-81 ; where he died, Feb. 14, 1890.

Rev. Andrew Jackson Howard preached for the society, the last Sunday in 1855 and the second Sunday in January, 1856. He was born in Marlow, March 13, 1815, and was at first an adherent of the Christian Connection, sometimes known as the Christian Baptist, or simply Christian denomination, the first "i" of the word Christian being often spoken with the long sound. He was after- wards a Congregationalist. He was ordained at Gilsum, Oct. 23, 1851. He supplied the Gilsum Methodist Church, 1865-68, and labored in surrounding towns. He joined the Congregational Church of Gilsum and was its deacon, 1876-83. He married Rizpah Mack of Gilsum, and died in that town, March 20, 1883.

12. WILLIAM WALLACE LOVEJOY supplied the society from Sunday. Feb. 3, 1856 to Sunday, Jan. 4, 1857. He lived in the town of Marlow in the mean- time. He became a member of the church and was not formally dismissed for a considerable time after his services ended. He was born in Campton, N. H., Aug. 27, 1810; studied for the ministry at the New Hampton Institution, 1836- 39 ; licensed to preach, 1839; ordained at Littleton, N. H., 1840 ; was at Brook- field, Vt., 1842-47 ; Campton, 1847-49 ; Antrim and Bennington, Apr. 26, 1850- 55 ; preached in Gilsum, to the Sullivan and Gilsum society, 1856, while living in Marlow ; Pottersville, 1857-62 ; where he died, Apr. 4, 1862.

Mr. Lovejoy was the last pastor. There was no other stated preaching for the society. They had an occasional service of " love," or for no more than

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nominal expenses. Preaching ceased altogether after 1859. The church dis- banded, Aug. 15, 1861, at a meeting at the house of Samuel Goodhue in Alstead. According to official returns, there were then only 23 active members.

At the time this church disbanded, old members who were present informed a representative of the "Dublin Association," who was there (see minutes of that association for 1861), that, in addition to the regular pastors, the following clergymen had rendered many labors of love :- Benjamin Cole, Jeremiah Higbee of Alstead, Theophilus B. Adams of Acworth, John Woodbury of Swanzey, Asahel Woods of Fitzwilliam, Elias McGregory of Pottersville, John Peacock of Keene, Caleb Sawyer of Swanzey and George W. Richardson of Stoddard, who was licensed by this church to preach, but died early of consumption.

The pastors from Wm. Norris to Sem Pierce, both inclusive, supplied the church at Nelson Factory Village (now Munsonville) as well as Sullivan. Mr. Ware supplied Marlborough and Sullivan. The remaining pastors preached both in Gilsum and Sullivan, as well as supplying other neighboring towns occasionally, the last pastor regularly supplying Marlow a part of the time.

SOCIETY.

The society, formed for the purpose of providing the means of sustaining this church, was organized, Feb. 11, 1806. The members of the society, the larger part from the first (no dates recorded for the admission of any), were the following : Benjamin Eaton, Dalphon Gibbs, Reuben Wright, Antipas Maynard, Stephen Foster, David Cummings, Timothy Dimick, David Chapman, Benjamin Thompson of Gilsum, Daniel Converse of Gilsum, Israel Loveland of Gilsum, John Boyden (probably John Borden of Gilsum was meant), William Warren, David Emery Boynton, Selden Borden of Gilsum, John Withington of Fitz- william (later of Swanzey and father of Asa, the 8th pastor), Amasa Brown, Joseph Elliot Cummings, Willard Dort, Ephraim Foster, Hosea Foster. The re- vised constitution, accepted, March 2, 1840, was signed by the following additional members, besides the resident survivors of those who had signed the other: David Boynton, Chauncy W. Rawson, Stephen 'Foster, Jr., Hartley Thurston of Gilsum, David Randall of Gilsum, Timothy Dort of Gilsum, Amasa Brown, Jr., Samuel Winchester, Nathaniel Mason, William Brown, Windsor Gleason, Jr., Nahum Kingsbury of Alstead, Geo. W. Foster then of Gilsum, Jesse Dart then of Gilsum. Their annual meetings were on the second Tuesday in February from 1806 to 1810, both years inclusive; on the first Monday in March from 18II to 1840, both years inclusive ; and on the first Monday in January in 1841, and thereafter, the last meeting of the society being held on Jan. 3, 1859, at the house of Jesse Dart in Gilsum.

Their Moderators were: Stephen Foster, 1806, 1814, 1817-18, 1832-33, 1847 ; David Cummings, 1807, 1813; William Warren, 1808, 1811 ; David Emery Boynton, 1809-10, 1812, 1819, 1822, 1826; Wm. Banks, (whose name was not signed to the constitution), 1815; Amasa Brown, 1816, 1820-21, 1824, 1837; Dalphon Gibbs, 1823, 1825, 1827-31, 1835-36, 1838, 1841-43, 1845, 1849-50, 1852, 1855 ; Wm. Brown, 1834; Ephraim Foster, 1839; Nathaniel Mason, 1840; Chauncy W. Rawson, 1844, 1846, 1848, 1858 ; Hartley Thurston, 1853; Stephen Foster, Jr., 1854, 1856 Windsor Gleason, Jr., 1857; Jesse Dart, 1859; no

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meeting recorded for 1851. At special meetings, were chosen : Timothy Dimick, Apr. 21, 1807 ; Amasa Brown, Jan. 13, 1832, and Nov. 21, 1832 ; Stephen Foster, Jr., Aug. 30, 1834 ; Dalphon Gibbs, in Sept., 1836, and again, Feb. 28, 1853.

Their Clerks were: Benjamin Eaton, 1806-22 ; Stephen Foster, Jr., 1822- 31 ; Stillman Eaton, 1831-32; Ilosea Foster, 1832-36; Wm. Brown, 1836-41 ; Hosea Foster, 1841-42 ; Ephraim Foster, 1842-46; Chauncy W. Rawson, 1846- 48 ; Jesse Dart, 1848-52 ; Chauncy W. Rawson, 1852-53; Timothy Dort, 1853- 54 ; Chauncy W. Rawson, 1854-58; Stephen Foster, (formerly Jr.,) 1858, to the last meeting, Jan. 3, 1859.

Their Treasurers were the same as the Agents, who were also the Collectors. In some years, they elected two or three. These Agents (serving also as Col- lectors and Treasurers) were the following : Reuben Wright, 1806, 1808, 1813; Benjamin Eaton, 1806-7 ; Dalphon Gibbs, 1806, 1809, 1816, 1828, 1830, 1834, 1836, 1841, 1845-46, 1852-53; Stephen Foster, 1807, 1810, 1827, 1829, 1831, 1837, 1849; David Cummings, 1808; David Chapman, 1812, 1817; Samuel Winchester, 1814, 1818, 1823, 1826; Amasa Brown, 1815; David Boynton, 1819, 1844, 1848, 1856; Eleazar Hathorn, 1820; Silas Hathorn, 1821 ; Stillman Eaton, 1824; David Emery Boynton, 1825; Ira Ellis, 1832 ; Stephen Foster, Jr., 1833, 1855 ; Hosea Foster, 1835, 1840; Wm. Brown, 1838; Ephraim Foster, 1839, 1842 ; Joseph Elliot Cummings, 1843; Chauncy W. Rawson, 1844, 1847, 1854 ; Windsor Gleason, Jr., 1857-58; Jesse Dart, 1859, the last one elected ; no one chosen in 1850 or 1851.

The new constitution of 1840 provided for trustees. None had been pre- viously chosen and none were chosen after 1856. The following served from 1840 to 1856, both years inclusive : Stephen Foster, 1840-42, 1844, 1854-56; Dalphon Gibbs, 1840-42, 1844-52, 1854-56 ; Nathaniel Mason, 1840-41 ; Chauncy W. Rawson, 1842, 1845-52; Willard Dort, 1843; David Boynton, 1843-47, 1850-56; Jos. Elliot Cummings, 1843; Jesse Dart, 1848-49; Stephen Foster, Jr., 1853; Hartley Thurston, 1853.

The following served as Assessors : Timothy Dimick, 1806, 1809-10; Ben- jamin Eaton, 1806-08, 1810-14, 1819-20; David Emery Boynton, 1807-10, 1823; Dalphon Gibbs, 1812-15, 1818-19, 1822-26, 1830-31, 1834, 1840-41 ; Wm. Banks, 1815-17; Stephen Foster, 1815-18, 1820, 1833; Amasa Brown, 1822; David Boynton, 1824, 1848; Stephen Foster, Jr., 1825-29; Stillman Eaton, 1825-29, 1831-32 ; Ira Ellis, 1827, 1832-34; Ephraim Foster, 1830, 1834-36, 1842-44 ; Joseph Foster, 1832 ; Wm. Brown, 1833, 1835-40; Hosea Foster, 1839, 1841-42, 1846-47 ; Chauncy W. Rawson, 1843-49 ; Jesse Dart, 1849.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

A Sunday School was organized in connection with this church, of which we first get a report in 1834, when there are 8 teachers and 35 pupils. Hosea Foster was for a long time the superintendent. The last report of the school to the Dublin Association was in 1844. There were then 5 teachers and 35 pupils. The teachers had varied in number from 5 to 8, and the pupils from 30 to 60. The largest number was in 1840, just after the great revival in that church.

REVIVAL.

In 1839, this church was agitated by what was quite an extraordinary revival

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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

for a church in so small a town. Rev. John Peacock was the leading evangelist in the movement. It will be seen by inspecting the roll of the church that a large accession was made to the church in this and the following year, as the result of the movement. The preaching, often in the open air, and the immer- sions, had drawn large crowds, many of whom were attracted by curiosity to witness the immersions.

III. UNION EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Persons residing at East Sullivan in the last part of the nineteenth century, found that, as the village increased, there were many who had no teams with which to go to church on Sunday. Others would not take the trouble to go quite so far. It seemed desirable to many that a new society should be formed in that place to better accommodate the growing community. At first, however, it was hoped that some arrangement could be made with the First Congrega- tional Church, whereby some of the preaching of their minister might be had at East Sullivan. Several ineffectual attempts were made to secure such a result. On Aug. 22, 1870, the first church society passed over an article to consider the matter of preaching at East Sullivan. A petition, signed, March 15, 1875, by several prominent persons at East Sullivan was presented to the First Church, asking for a portion of the preaching at East Sullivan. On April 29, 1875, the First Church had a meeting to consider the matter and voted " that we cordially invite our brethren and friends at East Sullivan to unite with us in the support of preaching and other religious ordinances,-and that we are willing to have the third meeting (Sabbath evenings) at Union Hall, as often as may be con- venient, and that the clerk be and is hereby instructed to notify them of said vote." On May 5, 1875, the East Sullivan people petitioned the First Church to unite with them in calling a mutual council to see about the formation of a new church at East Sullivan, intimating that their answer to the previous petition was not satisfactory. On Aug. 24, 1875, the Sullivan church voted that Rev. S. S. Drake as pastor attend an ex-parte council at Union Hall, East Sullivan, to see about the formation of a new church. This council was held on Aug. 26, 1875, and the East Sullivan people were advised to maintain preaching. On Aug. 31, 1875, the East Sullivan people again petitioned the Sullivan people to unite with them, in some way, with reference to hiring a common pastor for the two places. After several meetings, the society at the centre decided, on Sept. 22, 1875, not to enter into such a union with East Sullivan.

It would doubtless have been better for the religious interests of the town if there had never been any schism in the old church. It was obviously best that there should be preaching a portion of each Sunday at East Sullivan. It was unfortunate that this boon could not have been obtained without any division in either the society or church. If the old church, at its meeting of Apr. 29, 1875, previously noted, instead of offering only an evening service, had offered the afternoon service, as has really been the custom in later years, it is quite likely that there would have been no new organization. In the country, espe- cially, it is difficult to get an audience in the evening, when it is cold and the snow is deep, in the spring when the roads are muddy and dangerous, in stormy weather, or in evenings when there is no moon. It would have been a still

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HISTORY OF SULLIVAN.

more difficult matter to have brought children to such a service, or to have had a Sunday school at such an hour. It can now be clearly seen that the proposition of the older church, at the meeting mentioned, should have been more liberal.

As negotiations with the church at Sullivan Centre were not satisfactory to the people at East Sullivan, a meeting of persons interested in the matter was called, at Union Hall, for Oct. 19, 1875. It was voted to form a new society and a committee was appointed to draft a constitution. The committee, con- sisting of Charles Mason, Lucius P. Nims, and Ellery E. Rugg, reported the draft of a constitution at an adjourned meeting, on Nov. I, which was discussed, amended, and adopted. At an adjourned meeting, on Nov. 8, 1875, the society was formed, to which we shall again allude.

The Union Evangelical Congregational Church, in connection with this society, was organized, by a council convened for the purpose, on Jan. 27, 1876. The council consisted of pastors and delegates from the Congregational churches of Keene (both churches), Marlborough, Harrisville, Nelson, and a delegate from the church at Sullivan Centre; as well as the pastor and a delegate from the M. E. church at Keene. The Baptist church at Keene was invited, but not represented in the council.

The members of this church to date (June, 1906) have been the following :

1876. Jan. 27, Covenant members : Lucius Nims, from Cong. ch., Sullivan ; Elizabeth C., wife of Lucius Nims, from Cong. ch. Sullivan, dis. to Ist Cong. church at Keene, Aug. 1883; Charles A. Tarbox,¿ dis. to Nelson, Apr. 4, 1880, received back, Mar. 4, 1894, dis. to M. E. ch., Keene, Mar. 22, 1896 ; Alma A., wife of Charles A. Tarbox,¿ dis., received back, and dis. again, with dates and places the same as for her husband; Charles Mason,t dis. to Marlborough, June, 1877; Ellen P., wife of Charles Mason, previously member of the Baptist ch. at East Jaffrey, dis. to Marlborough, June, 1877 ; Eli N. Cotton,; and Ellen M., wife of Eli N. Cotton, ¿ both dis., Feb. 24, 1878, to M. E. ch., Stoneham, Mass .; Nathan G. Lyman, ¿ dis., Apr. 21, 1881, and joined Church of Redeemer (Universalist) of Hartford, Conn., on Apr. I, 1888 ; Mary A., wife of Nathan G. Lyman ;# Samuel B. Bailey, # and Violet A., wife of Samuel B. Bailey,# both dis., May 27, 1877, to M. E. ch. at Hinsdale; Lucius Pembroke Nims ; } Julia A. Nims, wife of the preceding, t dis., Dec. 18, 1892, to Ist Cong. ch. of Ashburn- ham, Mass. ; Minot Wesley Hubbard ; t Betsey, widow of Geo. F. Hubbard, t John Culverhouse ; # Nellie J. Nash, later Mrs. Albert Harder, still later Mrs. Henry Wilder Elliott, finally, Mrs. Elijah J. Farr, dis. ,Mar. 25, 1894, to the ch. at Park Hill, joining later the Baptist ch. at E. Westmoreland; Albert Davis; Rosette E., wife of Albert Davis; # Orinda R., wife of John Gilman Stevens ; # Calista K., wife of Oliver Wilder ; t Edwin Albert Blood ; Elvira M., wife of Edwin Albert Blood; Amanda C., wife of Joseph Beauregard, dis., Dec. 5, 1886, to 2d (now Court St.) Cong. ch. of Keene .- March 10, John N. Grout, from Cong. ch. at Leicester, Mass., excommunicated " by unanimous vote," Mar. 19, 1879; Eliza M. Grout, wife of John N. Grout, from Cong. ch. at Leicester, Mass., dis., Apr. 23, 1882, to Plymouth Cong. ch., Worcester, Mass .- March 12, Mary L., wife of Elbridge H. Taft, from Cong. ch. at Nelson, dis., Jan. 7, 1900, to 2d (now Court St.) Cong. ch., Keene .- May 14, Elizabeth, wife of Jacob D. Nash, from M. E. ch. at Marlow, dis., Dec. 14, 1890, to the

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A history of the town of Sullivan, New Hampshire, 1777-1917, Volume I, Part 42

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917 Publication date: 1921 Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.] Number of Pages: 888

Author: Seward, Josiah Lafayette, 1845-1917
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: [Keene, N.H., Sentinel printing Co.]
Number of Pages: 888