USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > Stratford > History of the town of Stratford, New Hampshire, 1773-1925 > Part 15
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The first preacher remembered was Rev. Antipas Marshall, a Methodist local preacher, who came from Ipswich, Mass., and lived in Northumberland. The family record in the town book states that his son Joshua was born in Ipswich in 1780, so that his coming to Northumberland must be subsequent to that date, although not long after. The family came to Northumberland and settled near the McIntyre meadows. He was a laboring man,
PASTORS OF STRATFORD HOLLOW
Rev. Moses Sherman Rev. George N. Kellogg
Rev. Church Tabor Rev. A. B. Russell
Rev. L. W. Prescott
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but very zealous in religious matters. He preached the law as well as the Gospel, and did not turn aside even at funerals. It is related that at one funeral he read a hymn, which he considered appropriate:
My thoughts on awful subjects dwell, Damnation and the dead.
He was regarded as a man of God, partaking largely of the rigidness of the times, but a faithful and fearless servant of his Lord. He left his impress upon the whole region. Indeed, no other church was formed in town until 1843, when a Baptist church was organized at North Stratford.
Elder Marshall was large of frame, heavy-breasted, with good lungs, hardy and healthy, and could make himself heard as well as felt. It is related that at one gathering of the people for religious worship in the old meetinghouse, the sheep had gathered under the house, as it stood in an ele- vated position, and kept up a continual bleating. Instead of having them driven away, Elder Marshall addressed them thus: "Bleat away, we can drown your noise." So the sheep had the Gospel preached to them. He lived to a good old age and retained his vigor to the last, being 92 at the time of his death. The Sunday before he died he walked to church. Being asked to ride he replied, "Let the old folks ride and the young folks walk." Thus he was faithful to the last. His last Sunday found him in the house of God, the next with his Divine Redeemer whom he had served so well and long.
Of the earliest preachers we have little record. Stratford belonged to a circuit and had no settled pastor. Elders Sabin and Branch were among the first, Elder Plumley lived near Riley Brown's and did blacksmithing. Elder Massure was also a blacksmith. David Lock coopered and preached in the kitchens of his parish. Oftentimes these old kitchens, lighted by their fireplaces and tallow candles, were scenes of great power and blessing.
One of the earliest preachers was Benjamin Brown. He had been a sea captain, and brought about $2,000 with him. He bought the Cargill Mill in Brunswick, and lost it all. He preached in the old meetinghouse, and was here when it was taken down. His widow, Mrs. Mercy Brown, died in 1841 at the home of Elisha Baldwin, where she was tenderly cared for by Mrs. Baldwin through a long and painful illness.
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THE FIRST MEETINGHOUSE
The first meetinghouse was built near James Curtis' and back of his place on the old road that came over the hill near the place where the first gristmill stood. This was about the year 1808 or 1809. This building was never finished. The seats were made of rough boards and placed upon blocks sawn from logs. The women sat on one side of the house and the men on the other side. This first building was taken down and the lumber used in the erection of another church at the center of the town, which was for many years used as the townhouse. Isaac Stevens gave the land for the new house and for a burying ground. No reason is left on record why the change was made. The probability is that the building being so far from the center of the town, the people did not have sufficient interest to complete it or to keep it in repair. It is said the neighbor's sheep used to get into it, and Elder John Lord preached against turning the Lord's house into a sheepfold. People opposed a change, but Elder Lord, who strongly favored a change of location, carried his point. It was done under his labors. This change was made in 1820, and this was the only meetinghouse in town until 1854. It is probable that Elder Manning preached the sermon of dedication when the change was made and the work completed. The following persons com- posed the choir at this dedication: Russell Gamsby, Emeline, Lucinda, and Mary Gamsby, Sabin Marshall and Tirzah Baldwin.
The following subscriptions made for this church building is interesting as showing the spirit of the people and the method of meeting important emergencies:
Abijah S. French, $5; David Platt, $15 (one-half in labor) ; Lewis Curtis, $5 (in work) ; Isaac Brown, $5; Leonard Hatch, $10 (stock or grain); Alexander Brown, $7; Joseph Johnson, $5; Samuel Johnson, $3; George Gamsby, $5; Edward H. Schoff, $2; Elisha Baldwin, $8. In all $70.
Oren Holbrook, $5 (in labor); Richard Holbrook, $5 (in labor); Nicholas Stone $3 (lumber); Grant Fuller, $5 (in labor); Silas Dennis, $2 (to be paid in haymaking); D. Gaskill, $2 (to be paid in labor) ; Lawrence Beach, $5; Russell Gamsby, $3; Hubbard Gaskell, $3; Elbridge Gaskill, $2; Brown Gaskill, $2 (in labor); Marcus D. Johnson, $2; Elisha Johnson, $5; Jonathan Dodge, $5; Daniel Smith, $5 (in labor) ; John Schoff, $5 (in labor). In all $59.
David Curtis, $4 (in potatoes); Charles G. Platt, $5; Joseph Blodgett, $2 (in work); Charles Blodgett, $I (in
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work); Josiah D. Lamkin, $2; Alpha Hatch, $5 (one ton of good hay); Philander N. Blodgett, $5 (in timber); Elisha Barlow, $5 (in lumber) ; Abel Holbrook, $2 (to be paid in sap tubs). In all $31.
The following letter indicates the hardships experienced by the preachers of those early days:
In August, 1835, the New Hampshire Conference met at Portsmouth, and we were stationed at Stratford circuit, embracing six or eight towns on both sides of the Connecticut River: Columbia, parts of Brunswick, Bloomfield, and Lemington. Rev. Eleazar Walls was the presiding elder the first year and Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt the second year. We found one small church about two miles from what was called Stratford Hollow. My husband, Rev. L. H. Gordon, preached half the time in the church in Stratford, once in four weeks in a schoolhouse in Columbia, and once in four weeks in a schoolhouse in Bloomfield, holding meetings in the other places during the week. There was no parsonage nor place prepared for the preacher's family to live in, but we found one room in the house of Samuel Gaylor Bishop in Columbia, which served as parlor, bedroom, dining room, and kitchen. The church was poor and feeble, and our salary hardly exceeded one hundred dollars per annum, to supply a family of three, very little of this cash. In 1836, being returned, we lived in Stratford, near Brother Elisha John- son's. Some of the prominent families were Johnson, Hatch, Baldwin and Waters. They were good people, but not rich, and often poor crops made them feel that a minister of the Gospel was not a luxury they were able to support. But these hard times are past, and we have heard in our western home of a building up of new churches and general prosperity, for which we have been thankful. We have thought of our work there as hard and unremunerative from a wordly point of view, and felt that but for zeal for souls in the Master's cause, we could not have borne the hardships incident upon the planting of Methodism in a newly developed part of the country.
Quincy, Ill., -- , 1886.
MRS. E. A. GORDON.
The following letter from Rev. George S. Dearborn, who was stationed in Stratford in 1843, boarding in the home of David Merriam, is interesting as throwing light upon the status of Methodism in the town seven years after the work of Mr. Gordon:
In 1843 L. Austin and myself were stationed in Guildhall, Vt., which meant that he should preach at Guildhall and I at Northumberland, Stark, Stratford, Milan, etc., and he
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have charge of the whole field. I went as a stripling, in- experienced, and not of much account. At Stratford there was a small church building and I preached in it, I think, every two weeks to a small congregation. Methodism, it seems, had only been rooted in this region, but at this time there was very little spiritual aggressive Methodism in Stratford. There were a few good sisters that had some spirituality, and a few young people that had been converted not long before. I found some friends and sympathizers with my work, but most of the old and more substantial families showed very little spiritual life, and the officials were not only backsliders but unsound of faith. Had it not been for the wise, kindly counsel of Mother Merriam, where I made my headquarters for that part of the circuit, I do not know what the boy preacher would have done. My colleague, whom I could see and consult once in a while, was a good and agreeable man, and it was refreshing to meet him. The names committed to me by my predecessor as belonging to Stratford first class were:
J. W. Johnson, leader; Mary Johnson, Elisha Johnson, Lydia Johnson, Marcus D. Johnson, Maria Johnson, Jona- than Rolfe, Lydia Rolfe, Victory Gamsby, Almina Gamsby, Joshua Marshall, Betsy Marshall, George Kimball, Polly Kimball, Alfred Martin, Cynthia Martin, Sarah Stevens, Emeline Gamsby, Sarah J. Johnson, Polly Gamsby, Susanna Day, Lucinda Baldwin, Mary. Gamsby, Priscilla Johnson, Mary A. Johnson, Emily J. Johnson, Albina Kimball, Susan Shoff, Mary Ross, Susan Gamsby, Nathaniel Baker, John McAllister, Edward E. Kimball, Bernice Kimball, Ann Curtis, Delphia Gamsby, Betsey A. Mahurin, Lucretia A. Johnson.
There was a second class of some thirty-six members, taking in the Waters, Merriam, Byron and Marshall families, but many of them lived in Northumberland and some at Stratford Hollow. The whole claim was $106, of which I received $71.14. Not a church paper was taken except mine and Marcus Johnson part of the time. No benevolent monies were raised. I think we had a small Sunday school. Yet I had kind friends whom I remember with gratitude.
GEORGE S. DEARBORN.
METHODIST CHURCH AT STRATFORD HOLLOW
Rev. Ira Carter, who was settled here in 1853 and returned in 1854, and during whose pastorate the church in Stratford Hollow was built, writes:
In regard to my pastorate at Stratford, I was stationed there in the spring of 1853, receiving a missionary appropria-
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tion of $75. We soon began to talk about building a church, and the sentiment quite generally prevailed that if one was built it must be a union church. I kept my own counsel and told them we would see by and by what was best. Some- time during the fall we commenced a series of meetings at the Hollow and had a great revival. Among others Judge Day became much interested and I believe was soundly converted, and went forward in baptism, but did not join the church. The winter following, the judge and myself drew a ground plan for a M. E. church, locating the pews and offering them for sums we thought sufficient to cover the cost of the church and then canvassed the field and sold the pews, each man putting his name in the slip he was to have and the price placed with it. We then called a business meeting and chose a building committee, consisting of William McIntire, Marcus D. Johnson, and Noah B. Waters. At a subse- quent meeting we set the contract of building up at auction. It was bid off by Smith Folsom at $1,000, if I recollect right. Mr. Folsom sublet the putting up of the frame to Mr. B. R. Ockington, Sr. The work when done was not very satis- factory but was accepted rather than have any trouble, I don't recollect the date of dedication, but it was sometime during the fall of 1854. William D. Cass, presiding elder, preached the sermon and offered the dedicatory prayer. Revs. A. McMullen of Guildhall, Vt., and L. L. Eastman of Littleton, were present and took part in the services. Rev. Mr. McMullen preached in the afternoon, and Mr. Eastman in the evening.
Mr. Carter's pastorate was two years, and he was succeeded by Rev. L. W. Prescott, who commenced his labors on May 20, 1855, preaching his first sermon from the text from Acts 10: 29. Rev. Ira Carter and Rev. L. H. Massure, a local preacher living in Groveton, were present and assisted in the service. A large congregation was gathered and a good choir of young people filled the seats. The following persons composed the choir at that time: Joseph and John Harding, B. Brooks Ockington, H. H. Wright, Charles Johnson, Mrs. J. W. Harding, Mrs. H. H. Wright, Misses Ellen M. and Betsy M. Day, Miss Lucia B. French, and Miss Emma Day.
William K. Richey was chosen superintendent of the Sunday school. Services were held regularly at the church at the Hollow, and occasional lectures at the east part in the Barnes schoolhouse, at Northumberland in the townhouse, and in the schoolhouse in Groveton, as also in the Johnson neighborhood. The first
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quarterly conference for the year was held at the church June 16; W. D. Cass, presiding elder, and J. W. Harding was chosen secretary. P. J. Rogers and Samuel Banfield were chosen stew- ards. The preacher in charge gave a favorable account of the Sunday school at Stratford. The claim was fixed at $275. John P. Rogers was appointed to circulate a subscription paper in the north part of the town, John Buzzell in the east part, and J. W. Harding for the south end. Mr. Prescott was returned to this field in 1858 and remained here two years. Part of the time he was ill and the pulpit was supplied by Rev. L. Massure, a local preacher living in Groveton.
Mr. Prescott was able to gather many interesting items of the Methodist Church history which we are unable to print in full. The three letters given above, and the following must suffice to present some of the pictures of church life during a part of the first century of the town's history:
Rev. S. H. Kellogg, who was presiding elder in 187-, writes:
My son, William C., supplied a few weeks during college vacation. George N. was there eight months in 1872-73. During his stay eight persons were converted and united with the church, the interior of the church repaired and a new pulpit and platform put in. The old pulpit was a large, square structure, and so high that my son, who was rather short, could not be seen by the audience in the front pews if he kneeled, and in preaching he had to make use of the kneel- ing stool. An Englishman who preached there during George's pastorate, and who was stouter and shorter, could not stand at the desk. In giving out his first hymn he remarked: "Hif he preached in this church he would 'ave the pulpit haltered." The people did not seem inclined to contribute much toward making a change. On Monday morning George asked Brother Moulton to go with him to the church. On the way he asked the loan of an axe. In the house the pastor brought the axe against the desk and out came one panel, another and out came another. Brother Moulton, with astonishment and some anger, said: “What are you doing?" "Beginning repairs," was the reply, bringing another blow. "Stop! Stop!" said Brother Moul- ton, "You are spoiling the pulpit." "Just what I intend," giving another blow. "Sacrilege, sacrilege! What will Brother Platt say? I would not have come in with you if I had known." "Particeps criminis," said the pastor; "no amount of argument would prevail to raise money. Let us proceed to the work and do it this week." They rode to
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Lancaster, purchased a new pulpit, secured lumber, nails, and a carpenter, and the work was done. Great surprise was manifested on the faces of the people when they entered the house the next Sunday. Brother Moulton added $10 or $12 to his subscription, others, especially Mr. Marden, depot master, Brother Platt, etc., did nobly. The ladies raised money for new carpet for the platform, and altogether a fine change was wrought.
In 1896 steps were taken for rebuilding the church at the Hol- low. The following committee were appointed: Fred N. Day, W. R. Brown, Fred L. Kinney, Miss Florence M. French, and Mrs. Addie Brown. The entire old building was removed except the frame, nine feet were added to the rear, and a tower placed in the front. Three memorial windows were contributed: one to Charles G. and Mary Blake Platt, one to Nahum D. and Janet Platt Day, and the third to the Dorcas Society. Other gifts from the Dorcas Society followed, the whole resulting in a very at- tractive house of worship. It was dedicated May 22, 1897, by Presiding Elder O. S. Baketel, who preached the dedicatory ser- mon. Other ministers present were Revs. G. W. Walton, Guildhall; L. W. Prescott, Warren; J. S. Brown, North Stratford, and I. C. Brown, Monroe, under whose pastoral leadership the work had been done. Music was furnished by the Baptist choir from North Stratford.
Following is the list of pastors of the Methodist Episcopal church at Stratford, after Mr. Prescott, with the dates of their service:
Moses Sherman, 1860-61
D. W. Barber, 1862 Church Tabor, 1863-64
J. H. Lord, 1866 William C. Applebee, 1867-68
Charles D. Stafford, 1869-70 George Kellogg, 187I Amos Merrill, 1872 William Kellogg, 1873
Moses Pattee, 1874-76
W. H. H. Collins, 1877 Amos B. Russell, 1878-80
James Crowley, 1881-83 L. R. Danforth, 1884-86
E. C. Langford, 1887-89
J. H. Trow, 1890-92
I. C. Brown, 1895-97
E. R. Perkins, 1897-99
William F. Inerson, 1899-1900 John H. Vincent, 1900-02 Henry Candler, 1902-04 D. J. Smith, 1904-07 E. S. Coller, 1907-09 A. L. Nutter, 1909-II R. S. Barker, 1911-15 Joseph W. Presby, 1915-17 John R. Ryans, 1917-25
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THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The first labors of the Baptist denomination in Stratford were begun in 1836, by Elias McGregor, a missionary for the Baptist State Convention. He was a man of ardent spirit and genial disposition, and accomplished a great and good work, the fruit of which remains to this day. To ardent piety and geniality was added an unusual gift of song. He has been called the Sankey of those days, and his singing seems to have reached hearts and won souls to the Master. Elder Spence, a Baptist preacher, is also mentioned in connection with this work.
The efforts of the Baptists have been centered in the northern part of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Baldwin were already members of the Baptist Church in Eaton, Que. They had always been stalwart supporters of any religious work in Strat- ford, regardless of creed, and their home had ever contained a "prophet's chamber." Many a discouraged preacher found material as well as spiritual help under its roof. This family became the chief pillar of the Baptist Church. Their hearts as well as their hands, their purse as well as their prayers, were consecrated to this work.
No church was organized until 1843. There was occasional missionary effort, and the embers were kept burning, and the spirit of the Lord seems to have brooded over them. In response to an invitation from a number of brethren in Stratford and vicinity delegates from nearby Baptist churches met at the schoolhouse near Elisha Baldwin's, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon of June 27, 1843. The object of this meeting was "to take into consideration the expediency of constituting a church in said town upon Baptist principles." The following Baptist brethren were present at this meeting: Rev. Elisha Bedell, Lunenburg, Vt .; Rev. Abraham Bedell and Deacon B. Webster from Jefferson and Rev. Absalom Forbes from Pittsburg. Those present organized themselves into a council by choosing Rev. A. Bedell as modera- tor, and Rev. E. Bedell as clerk. Prayer was offered by Rev. A. Forbes. The council recommended the recognition of the little church, composed of the following charter members: Elisha Baldwin, Huldah Baldwin, Elisha Alger Baldwin, William L. Baldwin, Jedediah M. Baldwin, Edmund W. Baldwin, Joel W.
PASTORS IN NORTH STRATFORD
Rev. J. S. Brown
Rev. John L. Clark
Rev. J. L. Sanborn
Rev. E. M. Fuller
Rev. G. F. Rouillard
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Forbes, Phebe H. Forbes (Northumberland), Ann Thomas, Samuel Thomas (Columbia), Mary R. Blake, Lucretia Beach, and Sarah Marshall. Joel Forbes and Samuel Thomas were elected deacons, and E. A. Baldwin, church clerk.
Within the year nine others were added to the little organiza- tion, one of whom, Edmund J. Alger, was a stalwart son of the church, a man whose strong spiritual life and consistent Christian character were an inspiration long after his accidental death by drowning in the Nulhegan River, April 20, 1866.
Elder Abraham Bedell, under whose ministry the church was organized, was dismissed from the pastoral care October, 1843, and Elder Daniel Rowley became pastor, remaining until July 20, 1844. Rev. George M. Butler ministered to the church from 1845 to 1851, living in the little house at the Baldwin Mill, and preaching in the townhouse and the schoolhouses. After his pastorate there were but occasional supplies until 1857, when Rev. Amos Boardman was called and remained more than two years.
No attempt was made for several years to build a house of worship. Meetings were held in schoolhouses, homes, and at the townhouse, when not otherwise engaged. When the coming of the Grand Trunk Railway, the building of the Nulhegan Mills, and the bridge across the Connecticut River brought the village of North Stratford into being, plans were formed for building a church there. Elisha Baldwin bought a lot of land from William Fuller, upon whose farm the village now stands, and building operations began, in 1855. The house was an artistic and a commodious structure, 38 by 50 feet, with a basement containing a vestry and a schoolroom that was used for the public school until the burning of the church, February 28, 1868. The house cost the little society $3,500; some help was afforded by the sale of pews, but the burden of expense fell upon the Baldwin brothers, who furnished lumber and labor. The building committee con- sisted of E. A. Baldwin, William L. Baldwin, and Elisha Baldwin. The church was dedicated June, 1855, Rev. Archibald Gillies of Eaton, P. Q., preaching the dedicatory sermon.
The following statistics, taken from the church records, are of interest, as they show of what heroic material this little band of Christians was made, and their determined stand to maintain public worship:
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Statistics June 23, 1866
Congregations, 60 to 100, increasing. Sunday School, 50. Library, new books, 30; total, 117. Number of resident members, 12.
Total membership, 23.
GEORGE A. GLINES, Pastor. N. W. ALGER, Clerk.
Mention should be made here of Nathan W. Alger, who was Sunday-school superintendent at this time, the first to introduce vitality into this branch of the church work. He gives us this first record of a Sunday-school here. Mr. Alger was in trade in North Stratford for several years, finally leaving to enter the Baptist ministry, where his earnestness and efficiency made his work unusually successful. His father, Enos Alger, became a resident of the town, and was of great help to the church finan- cially and spiritually.
The Nulhegan Mills had passed into the hands of a company from Maine. This change brought Baptist families - the Perkinses and the Browns - the former of whom remained many years, and were a power for good in church and community.
The loss of the church building was a severe blow, but plans were at once made for rebuilding. Elder Abraham Bedell, who was pastor at the formation of the church, again came to their aid, and was tireless in his efforts to replace what fire had de- stroyed. The new building was erected in 1868-69, and dedicated in 1870. Rev. Kilburn Holt of Lancaster preached the sermon.
After twenty-five years of service the church building was found to need remodelling. The total amount paid for these changes was $3,241.85, of which $1,508.40 was in the form of memorial windows, porte-cochère, carpets, etc. The following account of the rededication exercises appeared in the Manchester Union of November 6, 1905:
North Stratford, Nov. 5 .- This has been a day full of spiritual interest for the members of this community, mark- ing, as it does, the rededication of the Stratford Baptist Church, another step in sixty years of a progressive life. The church was crowded to the doors at all the services, and many instructive addresses have been delivered in the course of the day in the handsome edifice.
The Rev. O. C. Sargent, secretary of the New Hampshire State Convention, offered dedicatory prayer, and an address
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of much power was delivered by the Rev. J. S. Brown of Manchester, Vt., a former pastor. The Rev. Stacey R. Warburton, pastor, was in charge and there was special singing. The Lord's Supper was commemorated at the conclusions of this service. In the afternoon occurred the memorial services at which the beautiful memorial windows were formally presented to the church. This part of the day's service was particularly impressive. The windows were given in memory of the following persons who were formerly members of the church; Elisha and Huldah Bald- win, Elisha Alger Baldwin, J. M. Baldwin, W. L. Baldwin, Harvey Hinman, and Silas and Albina Curtis.
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