USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hollis > History of the town of Hollis, New Hampshire, from its first settlement to the year 1879 > Part 27
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Publications of Mr. Powers .- An Installation sermon preached by himself with the following title, " A sermon preached at Holles, February 27: 1765, at the Installation of Rev. Peter Powers, A. M., for the towns f Newbury and Haverhill, at a place called Coos, in the Province of New Hampshire, by myself, published at the de- sire of many that heard it, to whom it is Humbly dedicated." Also a sermon preached at the funeral of D. Bailey, 1772 .*
REV. JOSIAH GOODHUE,
the second Hollis college graduate, was the son of Dea. Samuel and Abigail (Bartlett) Goodhue, born 1735. His father was among the early settlers of Hollis, but his family register is not found in the town records. Allen in his "American Biographies " and Farmer in his ' New Hampshire Gazetteer" speak of the son as having been born in Hollis. He graduated in 1755, at the age of 20, and was first settled as pastor of the Congregational church in Dunstable, Mass., June S, 1757, at the age of twenty-two. Dismissed by a mutual council, September 2S, 1774, and recommended by it " as a person of conspicuous seriousness and piety."f He afterwards settled as pastor of a church in Poultney, Vt., where he died Novem- ber, 1797, æt 62.
*See Allen's Am. Biographies, p. 635, and History of the Coos Country. by Rev. G. Powers. tAllen's Am. Biographies, p. 355.
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REV. HENRY CUMMINGS,* D. D.,
was the son of Ensign Jerahmael and Hannah (Farwell) Cummings. and was born in Hollis, September 16, 1739. His father, Ensign Cumings, was from Groton, (g. v. p. 131.) and died October 25. 1747, leaving his widow with five young children, of whom the old- est was ten years of age, and the youngest, an infant. He prepared for college in Hollis, with Rev. Mr. Emerson, and graduated in 1 760 at the age of twenty-one.
In Rev. Dr. Sprague's "Biographies of the American Pulpit" it is said that " the mother of Dr. Cummings was a woman of dis- tinguished piety-of great strength of character and greatly devoted to her children. That some years after the death of her husband she received proposals for a second marriage which she accepted. But shortly before the contemplated wedding, the prospective bridegroom intimated to her, that he did not expect her children would come with her to the new home, and asked her how she ex- pected to dispose of them? To this question the mother promptly replied : ' If you do not take my children you cannot take me. I have a mother's duty to perform for them and by God's help I shall perform it,' and immediately gave her suitor leave to retire."
You.g Cummings early gave such indications of so vigorous a mind as ' : attract the attention of his pastor, Rev. Mr. Emerson, and to justif unusual efforts to give him a collegiate education, and so as to induce Mr. Emerson personally to take charge of his preparatory studies. He entered college in 1756 and maintained a high rank both for scholarship and good conduct. As pleasant evidence of the esteem in which he was held at home, it is shown by the Hollis church records that in the last year of his course, the Hollis church contributed fro O. T. towards his college expenses.
He left college at the age of twenty-one, and but a few months after was invited to preach in Boston, and elsewhere, and soon be- came one of the most popular preachers of the time. In the fall of 1762, at the age of twenty-two, he had a call to settle as pastor of the church in Billerica, Mass., which he accepted, and was ordained at Billerica, January 26, 1763. The sermon at his ordination was preached by his old friend and pastor, Rev. Mr. Emerson, from
*This name which very often occurs in the old Hollis records is in them uniformly spelt with but a single " M," "Cumings." The same name, for the last fifty years or more, hat been more co amonly spelt " Cummings." doubling the " M."
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Heb. xiii : 17. He was the only minister of Billerica from 1762 to IS14, fifty-two years, when Rev. Nathaniel Whitman was settled as his colleague.
After his ordination, Dr. Cummings devoted himself to his studies with great assiduity, became an excellent classical scholar. and so well versed in the Hebrew, as not only to read, but also to write it with ease. During the Revolution, he was an earnest friend of Independence, and in, as well as out of the pulpit. labored to diffuse the spirit of patriotism and to give strength to the new government.
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He is described as having been a fine specimen of physical, moral and mental nobility. His countenance evinced a high order of intelligence and dignity. His excellent social qualities rendered him a most agrecable companion, and he did not withhold his sym- pathy and kindness even from the unworthy. His public discourses were characterized with great boldness of style and delivered with a voice of much power. Among his published writings are the following : " Thanksgiving Sermons", 1766, 1775, 1785 and 1799. "Public Fast," ISO1. Sermon at the " Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington," and also "General Election" sermon, 1783. Sermons on "Natural Religion," 1795, also in 1796. At the ordination of Rev. Caleb Bradley, ISoo. "Eulogy on Washington," ISO1. "Charity" sermon at Roxbury, 1So2. "Half Century" sermon at Billerica, .813. Received the honorary degree of D. D. from Har- vard College, ISoo. Died at Baltimore, Maryland, September 5, IS23, æt. S4 nearly .*
REV. JOSEPH EMERSON.
son of Rev. Daniel and Hannah Emerson, born in Hollis, Septem- ber 28, 1759, and graduated at Harvard college in 1776, at the age of seventeen. He studied for the ministry with his father in Hollis, and died in Hollis, July 27, 17SI, in his twenty-second year. For sometime previous to his death, he had preached as a candidate and had accepted a call to settle in the ministry as pastor of the Con- gregational church and society in Temple, New Hampshire, but was taken sick and died but a short time before his expected ordina- tion. It is said that the church at Temple, in manifestation of their esteem and affection for him, attended his funeral at Hollis in a
*Sprague's A nerican Unitarian Pulpit, pp. 55, 56. Allen's American Biography, p. 274. (19
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body. The following tribute to his memory, expressive of his character, is inscribed on his gravestone in Hollis.
"JOSEPH EMERSON, Son of Rev. Daniel and Mrs. Hannah Emerson, Born September 2S, 1759. Rec'd the degree of A. B. in 1776, and the degree of A. M. at Harvard University in 1779. Possessed of good mental powers and disposition, Sedate, Contemplative and Studious, A dutiful son, an affectionate brother, a respectable scholar, An agreeable companion, a faithful and benevolent man,
An Exemplary Christian, a solid and devotional preacher, Died July 27, 1781, in the 22d year of his age, Much lamented, not only by the family but by a numerous Circle of friends and acquaintances, particularly the Church and Congregation at Temple, who had given him an invitation to settle with them in the work of the Gospel Ministry. His mortal part here deposited Rests until it rises in glory and immortality."
DR. SAMUEL EMERSON
was the 6th son of Dea. Daniel and Hannah Emerson, born in Hollis, September 6, 1764. In 1779, when in his fifteenth year, he enlisted as a fifer in a company commanded by his brother, Capt. Daniel Emerson, in the regiment of Col. Hercules Mooney. After the war he fitted for college with his father, and graduated at Har- varc. college in 1785. He subsequently studied medicine, and set- tled as a physician in Kennebunkport, Maine. Dr. Emerson was high .y educated, an excellent English and classical scholar, and is said to have retained his taste and interest in classical literature till his death. He was also very fond of music, and played well on the violin, flute, clarionet and organ. He had a laborious and exten- sive practice, and was much distinguished and very popular in his profession, but it is said of him that he could never be persuaded to send a bill for his services to a poor man. Died at Kennebunk- port, August 7. 1851, in his eighty-seventh year. George B. Emer- son, A. A. S., a graduate of Harvard college in 1817. an eminent Boston teacher, naturalist, and author, and for several years Presi- dent of the Boston Society of Natural History, was a son of Dr. Emerson.
REV. JOSIAH BURGE,
son of Ephraim and Anna (Abbot) Burge, born in Hollis, April 15. 1766. Graduated at Harvard college, 1787, at the age of twenty- one. Studied for the ministry with the Rev. Seth Payson. D. D., at
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Rindge, N. H., and was licensed to preach ; but after having preached about nine months, his health failed. and he died at Hollis. March 24, 1790, in his 24th year.
REV. DANIEL EMERSON, JUN.,
son of Dea. Daniel and Ama (Fletcher) Emerson, born in Hollis, July 15, 1771. Graduated at Harvard college, 1794. For several years after leaving college, he engaged in business as a merchant, first in Charlestown, Mass., and afterwards in Hollis, and was Town Clerk and First Selectman in Hollis in the years IS02. 1803, IS04 and IS05. He afterwards studied for the ministry with his brother, Rev. Joseph Emerson, at Beverly, Mass., and began to preach in 1806. He was ordained as pastor of the Congregational church at Dartmouth, Mass., October 14, 1807, and died at Dartmouth, November 16, 1808, æt. 36. Two of his sons, Benjamin F. and Joseph. were college graduates. (q. v.)
REV. JOSEPH. EMERSON, 2D.,
son of Dea. Daniel and Ama (Fletcher) Emerson, born in Hollis, October 13, 1777, and graduated at Harvard college, 1798. After graduating, he was for a time college tutor at Harvard. He studied Theilogy with Rev. Nathaniel Emmons. D. D., of Franklin, Mass. Was ordained as pastor of the Congregational church at Beverly, M: ss .. September 21. 1803 ; resigned his pastorate at Beverly, September 21, 1816 ; removed to Byfield, Mass., in ISIS, and the same year established there a seminary for the higher education of young ladies. In 1821 he removed to Saugus, Mass., and estab- lished his seminary at that place, and remained in Saugus till IS24. preaching in the meantime on the Sabbath. In the latter part of the year last named, in compliance with an invitation of the people of Wethersfield, Conn., through his townsman and friend, Rev. C. J. Tenney, D. D., his seminary was removed to Wethersfield. which he continued to conduct with great acceptance at that place. till about a year before his death. He was reputed an excellent and accomplished scholar, and a faithful and popular teacher. His seminary had a wide reputation, and is believed to have been the first institution of the kind in New England. Mr. Emerson died at Wethersfield, May 13, 1833, æt. 55. An interesting biography of him by his brother, Prof. Ralph Emerson, was published in IS34.
Mr. Emerson was the author of several publications, among
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which was the "Evangelical Primer," ISIO: "Writings of Miss Fanny Woodbury, with Notes," 1814 ; "Lectures on the Millen- ium," 1819 ; "The Union Catechism," 1821 ; " Poetic Reader," 1831.
MANASSEH SMITH, JUN., ATTORNEY AT LAW,
the oldest son of Manasseh and Hannah (Emerson) Smith, was born in Hollis, August 16, 1779. Graduated at Harvard college in ISoo. Afterwards read law and settled in his profession in Wiscasset, Maine, where he died in 1822, æt. 43.
JACOB ABBOT CUMMINGS, AUTHOR AND BOOKSELLER,
son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Abbot) Cummings, was born in Hollis, November 2, 1772. His father enlisted in the Continental Army in April, 1777, and died in the service the next year. Mr. Cummings graduated at Harvard college in 1801. After leaving college he became a teacher for several years, and afterwards a bookseller and publisher, and a member of the well-known Boston publishing house of Cummings and Hilliard. He was also the author of several elementary educational works, among which were "New Testament Question," published in 1817, and a "Spelling Book" and "School Geography Ancient and Modern," with an atlas." His publications for schools were highly esteemed, and his " industry, useful labors, and amiable qualities procured him much respect .*
BENJAMIN M. FARLEY, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son 'of Benjamin and Lucy (Fletcher) Farley, and grandson of Lt. Samuel Farley, one of the first settlers of Hollis, was born April S, 1783, in that part of Hollis afterwards set off to Brookline. Mr. Farley prepared for college at the academy in New Ipswich ; grad- uated at Harvard college in 1804 ; read law with Hon. Abijah Bige- low in Leominster, Mass. ; admitted to the bar and settled in his profession in Hollis in ISOS, and continued to reside in Hollis till IS55, when he removed to Boston. Upon being established in his profession, he soon rose to a high rank in it, and for many years he had no superior at the Hillsborough bar, of which he was for sey- eral years president.
Distinguished for his legal ability, as well as for his fidelity to his clients, he spared no pains in the preparation of their cases for the court, and it is said of him that he made the cases of his clients so
* Allen's American Biographies, p. 374.
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Benjamin M. Lavery
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much his own, that he examined witnesses, and addresssed the jury as if himself personally were on trial. In the popular acceptation of the term, Mr. Farley was not noted for eloquence. He relied more for his eminent success upon a carefully arranged and lucid statement of the evidence to the jury, and a clear presentation of his points of law to the court, than upon figures of rhetoric, or appeals to sympathy, and his presentation, both of the evidence and law, were made so clear and distinct that neither the jury nor court could misunderstand him.
Mr. Farley was not only industrious, faithful and prompt, but what he undertook to do he did with his might. His temperament was not impulsive, but having once settled upon his course, he was not easily diverted from it. If it required loss of sleep or exposure to heat or cold, he was ready to meet them, and he knew no such thing as failure if by his personal efforts success were attainable. He had so trained himself to these habits from early life that he seemed hardly conscious that advancing years had lessened his strength, and as he approached the age of fourscore it could hardly be perceived that " his eye had become dim, or his natural force abated." He was naturally conservative, and this trait of his char- acter grew upon him with his years. He had acquired an ample competence by his profession, yet in his pecuniary investments he ma .e no ventures, nor did he readily become a convert to new teach- ing ; in education, morals, or social changes. He does not in any part of his life seem to have been an eager aspirant for political office or distinction. Though decided and outspoken in his political preferences and opinions he had but little taste for party politics, yet his standing and personal popularity with his fellow townsmen are shown by the fact that between the years 18og and 1844 he was twenty-five times chosen a member of the School Committee, and from 1814 to 1829 he was elected in fifteen different years to repre- sent the town in the General Court. As a member of the legisla- ture Mr. Farley was highly respected, and, though in his political relations often in the minority, he never failed to exert an important influence upon its deliberations. His ability as a lawyer was well known and felt, and being often on the judiciary committee of the House, it is said that some of our important statute laws originated with him. Knowing himself but too well the evils and uncertainties of litigation, as well as its expense, Mr. Farley was in the habit of dissuading his own townsmen from engaging in it. Owing in great
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part to this cause, it is said that the people of Hollis were but sel- dom represented in the courts. His wise counsel in this direction rarely failed of success, he not wishing to add to his own fortune at the cost of the peace of his neighbors. Died at Lunenburg, Mass., September 16, 1865, æt. 82.
JOSEPH E. SMITH, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son of Manasseh and Hannah (Emerson) Smith, born in Hollis. March 6, 17S2. Graduated at Harvard college 1804. Read law and settled in his profession in Boston. Mr. Smith is reputed to have been well read in his profession, an able and successful advo- cate, and highly esteemed for his integrity and moral worth. Died I837, æt. 55.
BENJAMIN BURGE, M. D.,
son of Ephraim and Anna (Abbot) Burge, born in Hollis, August 5, 1782. Graduated at Harvard college in 1805. Was for a time a tutor at Bowdoin college, and received the honorary degree of A. M., at Bowdoin in 1815. He studied medicine and settled in his profession in Vassalborough, Maine. Died in Hollis, June II, 1816, æt. 33.
SAMUEL E. SMITH, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son of Manasseh and Hannah (Emerson) Smith, and grandson of Rev. Daniel Emerson, born in Hollis, March 12, 17SS. Graduated at Harvard college in ISOS. He held a high rank in his class, and graduated with distinguished honors. He read law with the Hon. Samuel Dana, of Groton, Mass., and with his brother, Joseph E. Smith, in Boston. He was admitted to the bar in Boston in ISI2, and afterwards settled in his profession in Wiscasset, Maine. Mr. Smith was a member of the General Court of Massachusetts in IS19, and of that in Maine in IS20, and was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Maine from IS22 to 1830. He was elected Governor of Maine in the years 1831, 1832 and IS33 ; and was re- appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in IS35, resigned in IS37, and the same year was appointed one of the Commissioners to revise the Statutes of Maine.
In an obituary notice in the Harvard Necrology it is said of him. "that he was unostentatious in his intercourse with his fellow citi- zens-honest in all his dealings-exemplary in his habits and re- spected by all who knew him." Died at Wiscasset. March 3, 1860. æt. 71.
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JOHN PROCTOR, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son of Cyrus and Sybil (Farnsworth) Proctor, was born January 28, 1787. Graduated at Harvard college in 1813. Read law and settled as an attorney at law in Rockport, Indiana. Died at Rock- port in 1844, æt. 57.
GEORGE F. FARLEY, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son of Benjamin and Lucy (Fletcher) Farley, was born April 5, 1793, and graduated at Harvard college in IS16. He read law in the office of his brother, Hon. B. M. Farley, of Hollis, and Hon. Luther Lawrence, of Groton, Mass., and was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of his profession at New Ipswich in IS21. In the year 1831, he was a member of the New Hampshire General Court from New Ipswich, and the same year removed to Groton, Mass., and practised his profession, with distinguished ability and success till his death at that place, November 8, 1855, æt. 62. Several years before his death, Mr. Farley established a law office in Boston, and was regarded as one of the most eloquent and able lawyers at the Massachusetts bar.
REV. WILLIAM P. KENDRICK,
son of Capt. Daniel and Mary (Pool) Kendrick, born June 20, 1794, graduated at Harvard college in 1816, and at the Theo- logical seminary at Andover, Massachusetts, in IS19. He was ordained as a home missionary in 1823, and for many years after- wards was employed as a home missionary or " stated supply" in western New York, and at length removed to the State of Illinois, and became pastor of a church at Bristol in that State, where he died November 5, 1854, æt. 50.
TAYLOR G. WORCESTER,
son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester, born April 6, 1799. Graduated at Harvard college in 1823, at Andover Theological seminary in 1827, and was licensed to preach the same year. Ile afterwards preached in several places in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but was never settled in the ministry. He still ( 1879) resides in Hollis on the old ancestral homestead. While in college and at Andover he became interested in the doctrines of the New Jerusalem church as taught in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and was the editor of a revised translation of the work of that
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author, entitled the "True Christian Religion," and also aided i: the revision of the translation of some of the smaller works of the same author.
JONATHAN SAUNDERSON, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son of Jonathan and Lucy (Pool) Saunderson, born December 30. 1802, prepared for college at the academy at Westford, Mass., and graduated at Harvard college in IS2S. Read law in Hollis with . Hon. B. M. Farley and at the law school in Cambridge, and settled in the practice of his profession in Philadelphia. .
SAMUEL T. WORCESTER, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester, born August 30. 1804. prepared for college at the academies in Pembroke, N. H., and An- dover, Mass., and graduated at Harvard college in 1830. After leaving college, taught an academy for one year at Weymouth. Mass., and also for one year at Cambridge. Read law in the office of Hon. B. M. Farley in Hollis, and also at the law school in Cam- bridge, settled in his profession in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1835, and . continued in the practice of the law in that place till the summer of 1867, when he removed to Nashua, N. H., where he still resides
(1879). May 13, 1835, married Mary F. C. Wales, daughter of Samuel Wales, Esq., of Stoughton, Mass., who deceased at Nashua. April 29, 1874. Was a member of the Ohio Senate in the years 1849 and 1850; elected district judge of the 10th Ohio judicial district in October, 1859, and while holding that office was elected a member of the United States Congress in the spring of 1861. Publications : 1831, "Sequel to the Spelling Book ;" 1833, "Amer- ican Primary Spelling Book ;" 1871, Revised Editions of " Wor- cester's Comprehensive and Primary Dictionaries :" 1871, "Old and New, or the School Systems of Ohio and New Hampshire compared."
FREDERICK A. WORCESTER, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester, born January 2S, ISO7 : prepared for college in part at the Pinkerton Academy, in Derry. New Hampshire, and in part at the Phillips Academy, in Andover : graduated at Harvard college in 1831. Read law with Hon. B. M. Farley in Hollis and at the law school in Cambridge, admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Bangor, Maine.
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Sand J. Worcester
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in 1834. Soon afterwards removed to Townsend, Massachusetts, where he still resides and yet continues (1879) in the successful practice of his profession.
FRANCIS J. WORCESTER, ATTORNEY AT LAW,
son of Taylor G. and Lucy (Bell) Worcester, born in Hollis, No- vember 1, 1848, graduated at Harvard college in 1870. Read law in New York city, and was there admitted to the bar, and com- menced the practice of his profession. in 1877, and still resides in New York.
GRADUATES OF YALE COLLEGE.
JOSEPH E. WORCESTER, L. L. D.,
son of Jesse and Sarah (Parker) Worcester, was born in Bedford, N. H., August 24, 1784, and in 1794, when in his tenth year, came to Hollis with his parents. His youth, till the age of majority, was passed in agricultural labor on his father's farm in Hollis, but he early manifested an ardent love of knowledge and availed himself of every attainable means for mental improvement. After reaching his majority he prepared himself for college, partly at the academy in Salisbury, N. H., and in part at Phillips Academy in Andover, and entered the sophomore class at Yale in ISog, and graduated at Yale in ISII. After leaving college he was for several years employed as a teacher of a private school at Salem, Mass., he afterwards passed two years at Andover, Mass., and in IS19 removed to Cambridge, . where he devoted himself to literary pursuits, and to the prepara- tion for the press of his numerous and valuable publications, till his decease, October 27, 1865, at. SI. He was married June 29, 1841. to Amy Elizabeth Mckean, (who still survives), daughter of Rev. Joseph McKean, D. D., formerly Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard college.
The first literary work of Dr. Worcester was his "Universal Ga- zetteer, Ancient and Modern," in two volumes octavo, of near 1000 pages each. published at Andover in ISI7 ; the next a " Gazetteer of the United States," one volume octavo, of 372 pages, published in ISIS. This was followed in IS19 by his " Elements of Geography. Ancient and Modern, with an Atlas," a work that was received with such favor that it passed through several stereotype editions. In IS23 this Geography was succeeded by an illustrated work in two volumes duodecimo. entitled "Sketches of the Earth, and its
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Inhabitants." In 1825 upon being elected a member of the American Academy, he communicated to that association an elabo- rate essay, entitled, "Remarks upon Longevity," which was puh- lished with the memoirs of the academy. His "Elements of Ancient and Modern History," with an " Historical Atlas," ap- peared in 1826, a work from that time to the present very exten- sively used as a standard text book in our public high schools and academies.
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