USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Salem > History of Salem, N.H. > Part 12
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We find also in these same minutes a record of a call for a meeting of members of the Baptist Society at the schoolhouse near Joseph Hall's, to take action to raise money and to see
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
what to do about those who call themselves Baptists, but con- tribute nothing to the support of any society. The meeting was held on May 4, 1805. Israel Rowell was chosen moderator for the meeting. The clerk of the society at this time was David Wheeler, as appears on the summons.
From this time on we have no knowledge of activity on the part of this denomination until 1858. It was then that a mis- sion of the First Baptist Church in Lawrence was started here. Rev. Phineas Richardson had charge, being the first preacher. He was followed by Mr. John McKinley, and he by Rev. Ed- ward Mills, who supplied the mission for two years, closing his labors in May, 1861. Mr. Mckinley then returned for a short while. The services were then intermittent until 1865, when Rev. Charles H. Cole collected a few Baptists and organized a church on October first. The enrollment consisted of four men and eight women, as follows :
Charles H. Cole, Samuel Pillsbury, Moses D. Rowell, William H. Woodbury, Abia Coburn, Marianna B. Cole, Harriet Emer- son, Polly H. Goodwin, Ruth Pettengill, Lucy A. Pettengill, Sally Pillsbury and Mary A. Rowell.
The new church was recognized by a council of pastors and delegates from neighboring churches, December 20, 1865. Rev. W. H. Eaton, D. D., of Nashua preached the sermon, and Rev. J. Storer of Chester gave the hand of fellowship.
Rev. C. H. Cole was recognized as pastor of the church April 25, 1866, and resigned in July, 1867. The meetings were at first held in Union Block, but afterwards in Foster's Hall. This was consumed by fire on the night of January 1, 1867, together with the organ, Sunday school library and other property of the church. Meetings were then discontinued until late in 1868, when they were recommenced by Rev. D. Gage.
Mrs. Clarissa Hovey of Salem gave the church a piece of land on which to erect a house of worship; and in May, 1869, Clar- issa Hovey, Thomas B. Middleton and Clarissa H. Middleton jointly conveyed a piece of land to the deacons for a church site. The lot was ninety feet front, sixty feet back and one hundred eighty feet deep. Subsequently the adjoining strip four feet front, fifteen feet back the full depth of the first lot was added,
THE OLD ROWELL HOMESTEAD. (M 516) (See page 138)
M. E. CHURCH, NORTH SALEM. (M 580)
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
making the property as it is today. The church was to be built not less than forty by forty-five feet.
Mr. Frye Austin was appointed an agent to convey the piece of land owned by the church, on the turnpike. The church was erected, and dedicated December 30, 1869. Rev. S. Pillsbury, a student at Newton, supplied the pulpit from February, 1870, to July, 1871; Rev. Horace Eaton of Wakefield from that time till April, 1873. When he left, the church numbered thirty-two members. Rev. E. J. Whittemore was called to the pastorate May 9, 1873. At his coming an extensive revival commenced, in which Rev. E. A. Whittemore, an evangelist, assisted. In four months twenty-five converts were taken into the church. This pastor closed his work here March 1, 1875. In the records of the preceding year is found the first reference to a vestry, under date May 13. On January 1, 1875, Tristram C. Adams, Thomas B. Middleton and Frye Austin were chosen a committee to investigate the matter of building a vestry. Mr. Austin re- signed and Alfred E. Goodwin was put in his place on the com- mittee. The vestry was finished in the basement and the church remodeled during the summer. The debt of $700 contracted at the time was provided for two years later. On June 15, it was "voted to reseat the house of worship," in accordance with the new accommodations.
In August, 1875, Rev. A. S. Stowell came to the church, being ordained September 9 following. In 1888 a steeple was put on the belfry and repairs made by Mr. Gilman Corning, whose mother, Lydia Corning, was a member of the church. Again in 1906 extensive repairs and alterations were made. The old steeple and belfry were torn down and a new one built outside the main church edifice, but adjoining it. The church was re- shingled and painted, a steel ceiling was put into the auditorium, and other repairs were made. This work was accomplished through the generosity of Mr. Levi Woodbury, whose father and mother were among the early members of the church. The new ap- pearance of the church is shown in the illustration on page 129.
The list of pastors since the time of Mr. Stowell is as follows : Rev. Miles N. Reed, July 1, 1881 to October 25, 1885.
Rev. Henry G. Gay, January, 1886, to October 3, 1886.
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
Rev. Tilman B. Johnson, October, 1886, to December, 1888. Rev. W. B. C. Merry, January, 1889, to August, 1891. Rev. Charles R. Bailey, April, 1892, to August, 1893. Rev. Myron D. Fuller, December, 1893, to November, 1895. Rev. Joseph H. Fletcher, May, 1896, to May, 1902.
Rev. George T. Raymond, July, 1902, to October, 1902.
Rev. John F. Blacklock, December 14, 1902, to the present time.
The membership of the church today is fifty-six, twenty-seven of whom are non-residents. The men number fifteen, seven be- ing non-residents, the women forty-one. The Sunday school has sixty members. In the Christian Endeavor Society there are twenty active members and nine associate members. The church is fortunate in having a number of members who are wide awake and energetic in their enthusiasm for its welfare.
METHODIST CHURCH.
The history of the Methodist interests in Salem have not been as unified as have those of the other denominations. True, these last mentioned have passed through many critical stages, but from all they have emerged without disruption. The Methodist society has suffered two divisions, resulting at present in three distinct churches. Perhaps one responsible condition in this case was the number of men who were strong adherents to this faith; in fact, too much so to think of being attached to any other church, but who at the same time lived in parts of the town separated by considerable distances. Again, the large number of followers has made it possible to successfully main- tain separate societies in a small town.
The original society was organized at Zion's Hill. There is some question as to the exact date and place of the first meetings. There were no records, the movement having at first the nature of neighborhood gatherings. The most authentic sources state that the first meetings were held at the house of Jacob Rowell, at the top of the hill, in 1803. A picture of the place is shown herewith. The barn is of recent construction, but the house has very much its original appearance, having been built in 1796. The old barn stood near the site of the present one, and was the
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scene of the meetings after they were too largely attended to be held in the house.
In 1805 Rev. George Pickering of Boston was induced to come out to preach to the newly gathered congregation. His exhorta- tions led to the awakening of a latent religious intensity which soon found means for a definite organization. About three years after this, Moses Dow in his will bequeathed a fund, to be con- trolled by a board of trustees, for the promotion and support of the work of the proposed society. In 1809 a constitution was adopted and the society formed. It was known as the Metho- dists, and composed of citizens of Salem and Windham. A lease of a piece of land on Bluff Street near the Rowell pasture was obtained from Jacob Rowell by Isaiah Wheeler and Abel Dow for twenty dollars, for such time as the society should continue the use of the same for religious purposes. The money earned by the Dow fund was available for salary to run the preaching services, while part of it could be used for other expenses. The church was built in 1809 and continued in the use of the society until 1836. A few years later it was sold and moved to the Cen- ter. The committee in charge of the plans were Isaiah Wheeler and Abel Dow. The building was known as the Methodist Lib- erty Meetinghouse. Sixty-one members signed the constitution.
In 1815 it was voted to have Rev. Mr. Snelling preach one day each month for the year, to be paid by contribution. Nothing further of importance is found in the record until 1826, when the society "Empowered Alexander Gordon to purchase the house from Nathaniel Woodbury for the ministers to live in, and pay for it out of the funded money." The house was that now standing on the northeast corner at Millville. It was repaired the next year, and in 1830 the back, which up to that time had been left in the rough boards, was finished off.
In 1832 repairs on the meetinghouse were proposed. Conse- quently a committee was chosen to appraise it. The men se- lected, as disinterested parties, were Colonel Park, John H. Clen- denin, and John Pettengill. At the next meeting this vote to- ward repairing was reconsidered, and a motion substituted pro- posing to build a new house near Luke Hovey's. In this we see the influence of division of opinion, which was soon to separate the two factions.
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
The final action came during the year 1836. At a meeting held at the meetinghouse on April 5, Asa Taylor was chosen clerk of the society. It was voted that Mr. Wilbur "divide the Sabbath School books according to his own judgment." The building was then deserted as the headquarters of the Methodist Society. From this point we must trace separately the two di- visions, considering first the reorganized society at North Salem, which was the real parent stalk of the old society transplanted.
NORTH SALEM M. E. CHURCH.
The first meeting after the dissolution was held at the old schoolhouse near the river at North Salem (M566) on May 10, 1836. A committee was chosen to build the new meetinghouse then under contemplation. The record is incomplete, so that the details of the work of building are not known. Only one other meeting was held at the schoolhouse, then the church was ready for occupancy. It was built only one story high, and had but the single large auditorium.
The trustees of the Dow fund had been incorporated by act of June 29, 1826, under the name of Trustees of the Dow Fund and Donations to the Methodist Episcopal Society in Salem. The body consisted of Alexander Gordon, Caleb Duston, Joseph Tay- lor, Oliver Taylor, John Ewins, John T. G. Dinsmoor and Sam- uel Rowell. The conditions stated that the actual income should not exceed three hundred dollars. The board was then organ- ized with the following officers : President, Alexander Gordon ; moderator, Oliver Taylor; secretary and treasurer, John Ewins.
The money was in the hands of the old society at the time of the partition; but a few years later the new society at the Cen- ter entered suit for a share of it. After some contention, the court ordered that it be divided, since some of the members of the original bequest were enrolled in the ranks of the plaintiff.
After the new church (M580) was completed, a summons was posted for a meeting of the proprietors of the old Methodist meetinghouse. The meeting was held November 23, 1836, and was the last act in connection with the old house. A committee was chosen to sell the building, consisting of Isaiah Wheeler, Alexander Gordon and Richard Dow.
FIRST M. E. CHURCH, SALEM CENTER. (M 46) (See page 142)
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
From this time the old house was used for meetings of various kinds. Many amusing stories are told relating facts about some of these gatherings. It is said that the crowd of auditors was frequently too great to be accommodated within the building, and some would repair to the nearby tavern, where they could regale themselves with cooling beverages while they listened through the open windows to the preaching of the word. And after service the tavern was crowded as full as had previously been the meetinghouse. After a few years the building was moved to the Center and given a berth on Main Street (M8), where it stands today, in a battered condition.
At a church meeting June 3, 1841, it was voted to build a new parsonage on land purchased from Mr. Bickford for five hun- dred dollars. The society had up to this time used the house now occupied by Mr. Fred Rolf (M594). The committee chosen for building were Oliver Taylor, Job Kent and Richard Dow. They built the present parsonage at (M596).
For many years the society keenly felt the need of a vestry, but had not sufficient means to undertake any further building obligations at the time. However, a way was suggested. A party of young men proposed to raise the church, put another story beneath it, and finish it for a vestry, provided it could be used for ten years for purposes of a hall for parties and amuse- ments, after which time its title should remain in the church. The offer was accepted, and in 1864 the work was done. A dance was held to celebrate its completion, which marked the en trance of a new and elevated social era for the north village. Dances and entertainments were held for the next few years at intervals, the society assuming entire control after the stated time had elapsed.
Various additions and improvements have been made from time to time, until the church now presents an attractive appear- ance in its uniform lines of olden architecture. Its location and style are shown on the page opposite.
The preachers before the separation are given under the next heading, First M. E. Church. The names of those who have preached at the North Salem Church cannot be obtained at this time.
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
FIRST M. E. CHURCH.
The branch of the old society which went to the Center built a church on the site of the present edifice, and took the name of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Repairs and alterations were made from time to time. In 1857, the furnaces were put in, being first used on October 25. Four years later a new organ was put in at a cost of six hundred dollars. It was not until 1871, however, that the most extensive repairs were made. Then the building was enlarged and remodeled, the vane was placed on the steeple, and new furnishings obtained for the interior. The dedication was held on Tuesday, September 10, 1872. It be- came the commodious and comfortable church of today, a picture of which is here presented.
The parsonage is just above Ewin's Corner, on the Canobie Lake Road (M27). It was built. by Peter Massey in 1825, after his old house on the same site had burned. After it had several times changed hands, Carleton Ewins bought it and soon sold it to the M. E. Society.
On October 9 and 10, 1895, the church celebrated the ninetieth anniversary of the birth of Methodism in Salem, dating it from the time of Mr. Pickering's preaching. The exercises com- menced on Wednesday evening, and continued all day and even- ing Thursday.
In giving the list of pastors of this church, we shall go back to the beginning of the old society on Bluff Street. The circuit system, in which several towns were in a group and supplied by the same preacher, was continued until 1831, when Salem was made a separate station. The next year, 1832, marked the sep- aration of the New Hampshire churches from the New England Conference and the establishment of the New Hampshire Con- ference. Following are the names of the men who have preached in this denomination :
1805 Rev. George Pickering, then presiding elder of Boston Dis- trict; Rev. Daniel Webb, then Alfred Medcalf assisted un- til the following conference.
1806 Salem united with Salisbury Circuit, Rev. Mr. Medcalf pastor.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
1807 Rev. Joseph A. Merrill.
1808 Wm. Stevens, A. Medcalf and Thos. Asbury.
1809 Asa Kent, Edward Hyde, David Wentworth.
1810 Asa Kent, Benj. Sabin, John Jewett.
1811 John Williams, Orlando Hinds.
1812 Benj. F. Larrabee, Orlando Hinds.
1813 Leonard Frost, J. W. Hardy.
1814 Leonard Frost, Aaron Lummis.
1815 Ebenezer Blake, E. Marble.
1816 Philip Munger, John Briggs.
1817 Philip Munger.
1818 Bartholomew Otheman.
1819 Orlando Hinds, under whose influence the great revival took place. Among those converted were three men who were afterwards widely known as ardent exponents of the faith, Samuel Kelly, Caleb Duston and Abraham D. Mer- rill.
1820 Orlando Hinds, J. P. Harvey.
1821 J. P. Harvey, D. Culver.
1822 D. Dorchester, James Templeton.
1823 J. Randall, A. Breck.
1824 O. Hinds, A. Breck.
1825 J. Allen.
1826 H. Foster, S. Fisk.
1827 Lewis Bates.
1828 Lewis Bates, Lemuel Harlow.
1829-'30 L. Bennett, last preacher of the circuit.
1831-'32 Samuel Norris.
1833 A. Brigham. 1834-'35 Warren Wilbur.
1836-'37 Jacob Stevens.
1838 S. Cushing.
1839 O. G. Smith.
1840-'41 Mathew Newhall.
1842-'43 A. W. Osgood.
1844-'45 J. L. Slason.
1846-'47 A. C. Manson. 1848-'49 C. C. Burr.
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
1850-'51 W. D. Cass. 1852 William Hewes. 1853-'54 G. W. T. Rogers. 1855 Justin Spaulding, J. L. Trefren. 1856-'57 J. L. Trefren. 1858-'59 Elihu Scott. 1860 G. W. H. Clark. 1861 Lewis Howard. 1862 W. H. Jones. 1863-'64 Irad Taggart. 1865-'66 O. H. Call. 1867-'69 T. L. Flood. 1870-'71 D. W. Downs. 1872 A. R. Lunt. 1873-'74 Henry Dow. 1875-'77 A. C. Coult. 1878 N. P. Philbrook. 1879-'81 E. C. Berry. 1882-'83 W. C. Bartlett. 1884 J. Mowrey Bean. 1885-'86 Mellen Howard. 1886-'89 A. W. L. Nelson.
1889-'90 C. H. Leete. 1890-'91 J. C. Langford.
1891-'93 Ernest W. Eldridge.
1893-'95 Herbert F. Quimby. 1895-'98 Edgar Blake. 1898-1901 A. B. Rowell. 1901-'04 E. S. Coller.
1904- H. E. Allen, present pastor.
The church clerks up to the time of separation of the old so- ciety were: Jacob Rowell, chosen 1808; Joshua Gordon, 1809; Alexander Gordon, 1812; John Ewins, 1813; Asa Woodbury, 1835. Each held office until his successor was chosen. The last clerk elected before the separation was Asa Taylor, who became clerk of the northern branch.
PLEASANT STREET M. E. CHURCH, SALEM DEPOT. (M 180) (See page 146)
FRANK DALE DAVIS.
WILLIAM BALCH KIMBALL.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
DEPOT VILLAGE M. E. CHURCH.
About the year 1860, when the young village at the Depot be- gan to show signs of its future growth, a great need was felt for a church in this locality. The small Baptist mission was in its infancy and could not be expected to perform the work of an old established church. After considering the situation carefully, a number of members of the Methodist Church, who lived at the Depot, determined to establish a church of that denomination in their own village. Mr. Isaac Emerson of Melrose, Mass., who has been known in other places for his generous contributions to the support of religious work, suggested the immediate erec- tion of a house of worship, and donated a piece of land for the purpose. This was in the spring of 1861. A subscription paper was started and in a few days more than two thirds of the neces- sary amount was pledged, so that it was decided to build during the coming fall and winter. A building committee, composed of George Woodbury, Isaac Thom and Seth Hall, was chosen. They let the contract for construction to Messrs. Copp and Smith, work being commenced November 4, 1861. The vestry was fin- ished and opened for religious worship the first Sabbath in April, 1862.
Meantime it was thought inadvisable to defer services until the new building should be in readiness. Mr. E. Scott, a superannu- ated preacher of the New Hampshire Conference, was engaged to supply the desk until the ensuing annual conference. The first meeting was held October 20, 1861, in Union Block.
The church edifice was completed in June, 1862, and dedi- cated July 1. The service was conducted by Bishop Osman C. Baker of Concord. At the quarterly conference held that year the new church was formally organized and its members sep- arated from the First M. E. Church to the number of twenty-five. The officers of this conference were George Woodbury, Isaac Thom, Seth Hall, H. C. Piercy and E. Scott. The preacher's claim was fixed at three hundred dollars. Following are the names of the first members: Annette Aldrich, Nathan Conner, Betsey Conner, Millet G. Copp, Rowena Copp, Caroline E. Cor- liss, Alice Corliss, Archibald Emerson, Sarah Emerson, Jane
11
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
Gordon, Seth Hall, Jemima Hall, Charles H. Hall, Esther Mid- dleton, Isaac Thom, George Woodbury, Mary K. Woodbury, Isaac Woodbury and Caroline Woodbury.
The first regular stationed preacher was Rev. L. T. Townsend, who was installed in April, 1862. A year later, D. C. Bab- cock came. During his stay the membership was considerably increased. The claim was raised to five hundred dollars and a lot was bought at the Epping Camp Ground.
From 1865 to 1867 John Currier was pastor. He was fol- lowed by Rev. J. W. Guernsey, for whom the salary of the po- sition was raised to seven hundred dollars. In 1868, Rev. N. M. Bailey began his vigorous work here, remaining for two years. Rueben Dearborn preached from '70 to '73, to be followed by J. H. Haines. The latter was strong in exhortation and held his congregation firmly by his powerful personality. A. W. Bun- ker was the choice of the conference in 1876, and remained at his Pleasant Street charge two years. C. M. Dinsmore occupied the pulpit from 1878 to '81; O. B. Wright from that time until 1883. In this year J. D. Folsom, one of the ablest preachers of this church, entered upon his duties, which he continued for three years. E. S. House followed him in 1886 and remained until 1888. The next two pastors, Newton M. Learned and L. Morgan Wood, preached one year each. In 1890 Fred E. White came for a two years' stay, being succeeded by W. A. Mayo, who held the charge for an equal term. From 1894 to 1897 Daniel Onstatt led the flock. He was followed in April, 1897, by Silas E. Quimby, who held the church for the longest pastorate in its history, remaining until 1901. J. Roy Dins- more preached one year, then Fred K. Gamble from April, 1902, to January, 1905. Frederic T. Kelly was pastor from that date to April, 1906. It was then that the present pastor, Rev. Charles R. Bair, came.
The church is at present very strong, having a membership of one hundred. The Sunday school has one hundred and ten mem- bers, and the Epworth League has fifty. The appearance of the church is shown facing page 144.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
MISCELLANEOUS RELIGIOUS NOTES.
Besides the three principal denominations which have formed the religious history of Salem there have been a number of less important sects in evidence at various times. As none of these have had a definite organization, there are no records by which to trace them. Our information regarding them is therefore not complete nor authentic.
There were a large number of Presbyterians among the set- tlers in the west part of the town, who were descendants from the Scotch people of old Londonderry. Many of these attended the church in Windham, having been granted the privilege of paying their minister tax to that town.
Formerly the Universalists were strong in the north and cen- tral parts of Salem, and held meetings at several homesteads. These families, however, have either become scattered or formed affiliations with other churches. At the time of the division of the old Methodist Society there were several families of Uni- versalists near Zion's Hill. They, as well as some other small societies, held meetings in the old meetinghouse. Rev. Dr. Miner, with his doctrine of universal salvation, found consider- able favor with his hearers.
About 1760, when the town recognized but one church, a sect known as Annabaptists came into prominence on the outskirts of the town. They became obnoxious to the staid Congregation- alists, especially as they made a considerable impression upon some of the members. Matters grew rapidly worse, until fin- ally the town was urged to take legal steps to suppress this en- croachment. Many citizens opposed such measures, but finally the advice of legal counsel was sought. After a few years the matter was gradually lost sight of, the antagonism became less bitter, and no more reference is found to it. But the details of the contention indicate a very bitter feeling for more than a decade.
In more recent times other sects have been in opposition. Just after the Civil War the Second Adventists began to hold meetings in Salem Hall. They were followed, three years later, in 1869, by a party of Spiritualists. A Mr. Cook held sittings
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
here to which the townspeople in general were invited. They were, however, somewhat disappointed, after the loudly heralded claims of the adherents of this faith. The results at the sit- tings were declared "not very satisfactory."
Right upon them came Rev. Mr. Rodman, the Adventist. He held meetings in Salem Hall, at which he denounced in the most strenuous fashion the "pretensions" of the Spiritualists. His arguments were received with considerable approbation, and drew very large audiences.
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