USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Campton > The Centennial celebration of the town of Campton, N.H., September 12th, 1867 > Part 3
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School Teachers.
poses of education never has been prepared. They were taught also to spell their mother tongue, as the records of the town and other public documents will show. In after time there were two school districts in town, one on each side of the river. They have since been increased from time to time, until we fear they have become injuriously small.
SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Many excellent teachers are remembered, and many there were, doubtless, who are not remembered, whose services have been worth more to the youth of this place than the compensation which they have received.
Among the early female teachers was Miss Sally Chapin, the daughter of Rev. Mr. Chapin. With her kind and gentle spirit and her skill in teaching, she did much in tbe formation of the intellectual and religious character of her pupils. The speaker is indebted to her in this re- spect. She lived to advanced years, and left some three or four thousand dollars for the benefit of the Freewill Baptist denomination.
Among the men who early taught here was Master Church, as everybody called him ; for a long time a useful citizen of this town, and afterwards of Thornton. Mas- ter Norris was a long time a teacher in this place. He was a good reader, good in arithmetic and an unusually good penman. He did much towards the education of the young of his day, and left an impression, if not on their minds, yet on their hands quite skin deep. The late Deacon Allen, of Lebanon, taught in the village with good success, - more than fifty years ago.
Col. Enoch Colby, when he gave himself to the work, was a good teacher. Mr. Davis Baker did good service in this respect. Peabody Rogers, Esq., a young man of precocious intellect, taught in this town to great advan-
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Centennial Celebration.
tage. A former citizen of this town, Jacob Giddings, Esq., now of Portland, Maine, was for many years a suc- cessful teacher in this town. Many young men from Dartmouth College, have taught here at different times and given elevation to the schools. Among them was the Rev. Isaac Rogers, for forty years the pastor of the church in Farmington, Maine. Rev. J. B. Richardson, D.D., a dis- tinguished minister and agent of the American Bible So- ciety in Central New York, taught the district school in the centre of the town, and music at the same time. Many other valuable men and many excellent females, who have at different times benefitted this town by their labors as teachers, it would be pleasant to call up before us, if we had the needful information.
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.
It is a fact of some interest that an effort was made by the proprietors to secure the establishment of Dartmouth College in this town. A committee was chosen in 1769 to visit Dr. Wheelock, and invite him to visit the place which it is said he did, for the purpose of examining its advantages for the College.
HOLMES' PLYMOUTH ACADEMY.
It is well known that Colonel Holmes more than fifty years ago gave $500 as the beginning of a fund for an Academy in Plymouth. Such an institution, bearing his name, had been established and was highly beneficial to all this part of the country. But we are not informed that any addition to this was ever made, and we ask to- day, where is Holmes' Plymouth Academy ? and where are its funds ?
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Social Library .- Prospects of Young Men.
THE SOCIAL LIBRARY.
A social library was early established in this town. It is well known that Dr. Belknap, the early historian of our State, urged this object upon the attention of all the new towns and that Dr. Emmons, who first preached the gospel in this town, set forth its importance in a dis- course of great ability.
Rev. Mr. Church had an important agency in establish- ing the library in this town about the time of the close of his ministry here. It was increased from time to time by a tax on its members, and contained at times three hun- dred volumes. It embraced few, beside substantial works. It contained valuable histories, travels and biographies. A large portion of the young people made themselves famil- iar with Rollin's Ancient History. It was well supplied with the theology of New England, and with some of the best foreign works. The young people of the town read these books. It was common for them to have some one volume on hand, which in due time was returned for another. Not a few prided themselves in having read through the library. Their leisure hours and their evenings were given to such employments. It was a matter of deep regret to the sons and daughters of this town abroad, that this library should have been divided among the proprietors. We venture to suggest the inquiry whether many of these books cannot be called in again, others added to them, and the library re-established.
PROSPECTS OF YOUNG MEN.
Fifty years ago and previously the young men of the town, as they looked forward to a settlement in life, had their eye upon some piece of new and uncultivated land for a farm and a home. To secure this, after they were of age, free, as they called it at twenty-one, they would
1217085
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Centennial Celebration.
work for some man who wished to hire, for $100 a year to secure the means of buying their land and of starting in the world. Colonel Holmes and other leading men took pleasure in aiding such enterprises. This continued the order of things until the land was so far taken up as to afford no encouragement of this kind. Other young men sought employment in the lower towns and in our cities, from whence they did not always return. The West has opened to us a vast field of emigration and many have left this town for those prairies. The name of your town has been transferred to one of the towns in Illinois.
YOUNG WOMEN.
The factories have given at different times employment to a large number of young women of the town. It is believed that there were at one time forty young women from this town in Lowell.
INDUSTRY AND TEMPERANCE.
The people of the town, it hardly need be said, have been an industrious people. They must have been, to have lived, yet they have secured a large share of the comforts of life for themselves and families. Many have obtained independence and wealth. Poverty has hardly been known here. The people of the town have generally been temperate. This was eminently true of the early settlers, and continued so long as the penalty for getting drunk was to dig up a pine stump. But when taverns were licensed to sell intoxicating drinks, one on each side of the river, and when the stores kept them for the free use of the people, their habits suffered, valuable citizens were in danger and were saved only by the temperance reform. In this place, this work has been thorough and of incalculable benefit.
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Doctors of the Town.
DOCTORS OF THE TOWN.
We would not forget on this occasion to notice the men of skill in medical science, who have attended to the wants of the sick and the dying. Doctors Rogers and Robins of Plymouth, and Nichols of Thornton, practised in this place before any physician was established here. Jeduthan Clough from Canterbury, was the first doctor in the place. He settled here in 1802, and lived in the village. Doctor Angier was the next, and he lived also in the village. The third was Robert Morrison. He came here in 1814, and died in 1819. He was a young man of a genial spirit, of attractive manners and well skilled in his profession. He secured in an unusual de- gree, the esteem and confidence of the people. He was skilled in music and gathered the young people around him in the cultivation of it. In the revival of 1815, he was among the number who took a stand for Christ and was instrumental in leading others to the same decision. His sudden death was the occasion of general mourning.
Succeeding him was Dr. John Kimball. He had prac- tised in the north part of the State, had returned to Hanover his native town in feeble health. Application was made by a young man in college from this place to Dr. Mussey, a leading professor in the Medical School, for a man suited to take the place of Dr. Morrison. Him- self a decidedly religious man and having sympathy with the people here, he at once recommended Dr. Kimball, saying that he was one of the best read men who ever went forth from that institution. Dr. Kimball had a long and successful practice here, and will be remembered as a good physician and a remarkably conscientious and truly christian man. He removed to Beaver Dam, Wis- consin.
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Centennial Celebration.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
The first settlers of the town were generally young peo- ple, who had been religiously educated. The stern reali- ties of life were before them and an opportunity was to be afforded for the development of their characters. They were not generally professedly religious. But the wor- ship of God has been maintained in this town from the beginning. The first preacher of the gospel here was Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, afterwards Dr. Emmons of Franklin, Massachusetts. In 1771, he received a unan- imous request from the inhabitants and from the proprie- tors of the town to become the settled pastor. That Mr. Emmons should have sought another field of labor is not a matter of surprise. The time of his being here was not more than four years after there were but five families in town, and there were not probably more than twenty at this time. But in each succeeding year renewed efforts were made to secure the preaching of the gospel, but with little success until the spring of 1774.
FORMATION OF THE CHURCH AND SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER.
At that time Rev. Selden Church, a graduate of Yale College in 1765, came to the place and was settled as pas- tor, June 2d, 1774. A Congregational church was organ- ized the day previous at the house of Nathaniel Tupper. The early records of the church having been lost, we kuow little of these important events. The persons who constituted the church we have not the means of knowing. But we know that Nathaniel Tupper, David Perkins and Daniel Wyatt were religious men, and we may presume that they were among the earliest members. How many christian women of those days were united with them it would be pleasant to know.
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Ordination.
ORDINATION.
Some particulars in regard to the ordination are of in- terest to us as matters of history. At 10 o'clock on Mon- dey, the tenth of October, there was a town meeting to make the needful arrangements. Chiliab Brainard was moderator. It was voted that the town make a general entertainment on the occasion, and that the rum and sweetening be at the "town's cost"; that Darius Willey, David Perkins, Ebenezer Taylor, be a committee to take the oversight and see that all things were made ready at the time and place. Such an entertainment was deemed proper in those times.
Rum, the only intoxicating drink then used at all by the people, was an expensive article. It was used spar- ingly, and only on important occasions. The provision for it on this occasion, shows the importance of the occa- sion in their estimation. Could we know who were on this counsel, who preached the sermon and who perform- ed the other parts of the services it would be a matter of interest to us.
The salary offered Mr. Church was fifty pounds lawful money per year for six years, then to be advanced five pounds per year until it should reach to seventy pounds. His settlement was one hundred and five pounds in labor and provisions. He was to have drawn thirty cords of wood, eight feet in length, each year.
Mr. Church commenced his ministry when there were not probably much beyond thirty families in town. But they were united and all attended meeting, notwithstand- ing the bad roads, and want of carriages. Their worship was held in a private house ; first in that of Col. Joseph Spencer, and afterwards in that of Isaac Fox.
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Centennial Celebration.
A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
In 1779, the town chose Moses Baker, John Holmes, and Daniel Wyatt a committee to agree with Joseph Pulsifer for his dwelling house for a house of worship. The purchase was made, and Samuel Holmes, and Wil- liam Baker were appointed a committee "to plan the pew ground " and sell the same. The money raised in this way was to be laid out in the repairs of the house. This arrangement, it will be borne in mind, was made at the time when the expenses of the revolutionary war bore heavily upon the people. This house of worship was used also for a town house. Here Rev. Mr. Church preached some twelve or more years. In 1791, the town voted that the meeting house be removed to the brow of the hill near, and a little south of the place, where the road descends to cross the river. A boat was also pre- pared to accommodate the people on the west side of the river in attending meeting. In 1796 the town voted to build two meeting houses, one on each side of the River, at such place as shall be most convenient-board and shingle the same and allow the remainder to be done by the pew holders. This vote was reconsidered and made void in a following meeting. For many years meetings were held on both sides of the river. Every third Sab- bath on the west side, for a time at least, at the house of Mr. Samuel Cook. It was under these circumstances that a portion of the people in the west part of the town be- gan to attend worship at Plymouth, where some of our most valuable citizens have ever since attended.
The dwelling house of Rev. Mr. Church was a large gambrel roofed house where Dea. Brown's house now stands.
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The Ministry of Rev. Mr. Church.
THE MINISTRY OF REV. MR. CHURCH.
From any view which we can take of his ministry it will appear to have been arduous and difficult. He came here when the town was new and the people poor. They lived remote from each other and the roads were bad and the stream often difficult to cross. The people of the town coming from different regions of the country did not at once harmonize. Those from Connecticut were generally a discreet, industrious and reliable people, and strongly attached to religious institutions, but few of them were professedly pious. They had been accustomed to the half way covenant and partook to some extent of the characteristics of the churches in their native. State at that period, as we learn from the complaints made in regard to them, viz : "a want of a pungent application of the truth in preaching, a neglect of the proper qualifi- cations in persons received into the church, and a want of proper church discipline." They had heard of the extravagances of Davenport and others and had little sympathy with the " new lights." But the people from Massachusetts came from under the preaching of White- field, of Parsons and Spring of Newburyport, and of Cleaveland of Ipswich. But under the discreet ministry of Mr. Church, a good degree of harmony prevailed among his people for sixteen or seventeen years. During the latter part of his ministry there was an awakened relig- ious interest and a goodly number gathered into the church. But having been aware of a growing disaffection for some years, Mr. Church requested a dissolution of his pastoral relation in 1792. He remained in town and con- tinued to preach and his salary was paid for a con- siderable time, and an effort was made for his resettle- ment, and it was thought at one time that it would be successful. But it was judged in the end to be inexpe- dient. The complaints of cavilers were that he was slow
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Centennial Celebration.
in his delivery, -long in his sermons and that when the people with their families went to meeting upon an ox- sled they would not get home until after sunset. But that ministry must have been uncommonly pure, of which we have heard in after years so little that was derogatory. Those of us who came forward in the following genera- tion have been in the habit of hearing no man spoken of with more respect than the Rev. Mr. Church. Whatever might have been said of other ministers, we have heard nothing evil of him. After a time he removed from the town and was settled in Northumberland, in Coos county. Here he spent the remainder of his life, both as a preacher and a teacher. Men are found in the higher walks of life who came forward under his instruction. It was a loss to lose from the town such a man at such a time.
THE FOLLOWING PERIOD.
There followed a dark period in the religious history of the iown. Without any one to call off the attention of the people from their worldly interests, every one sought his own, and the interests of the Saviour's kingdom, and the welfare of the souls of men were neglected. It was at this time that Dea. Evans of Hebron, an earnest christian man of humble pretensions felt himself moved to come and warn the people of their danger, and invite them to Christ. His labors were blessed in arousing some of the people to a conviction of their sins and a sense of their danger, and a number of persons were hopefully led to the Saviour. Among them was Dea. John Wooster, Dea. Jonathan Burbank, Mr. Josiah Blaisdell and a num- ber of valuable women.
NEW HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
In 1799 preparations were made for erecting a house of worship. It was to be done by the people on the east
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Rev. Mr. Chapin .- Renewal of Covenant.
side of the river, for their own and the use of their fami- lies. It required a great effort on the part of individuals. The people in the west part of the town generally at this time found their home in the church at Plymouth, where their aid was much needed in sustaining the institutions of religion. The new house of worship was finished in 1802. It stood south of Mr. David Bartlett's and in front of the old burying ground. It is remembered by multitudes as the gate of heaven. No other place on earth has the same interest to them. Some of us now living, after forty years, can recall the occupant of every pew in that house. It had high galleries, a high pulpit, the sounding board above it, and the deacons sat below it. There we heard and praised and prayed.
REV. MR. CHAPIN.
The first preacher in the new house was Rev. Peletiah Chapin. He had labored occasionally in the place. In 1800 he proposed to the people that he would preach to them for a time on condition that they would furnish board for himself, wife and daughter. He was invited to settle with them, but he declined, saying that he was like his horse, sure to break away if tied. With some abate- ment on the score of eccentricity, Mr. Chapin labored here successfully for about five years.
RENEWAL OF COVENANT.
The third of April, 1800, the church renewed their covenant, Rev. Noah Worcester being present and aiding in the services. The names of those who signed it were as follows : Nathaniel Tupper and wife; Dea. Daniel Wyatt ; Jonathan Burbank and wife; David Bartlett ; Josiah Blaisdell; Deborah Willey, the wife of Jesse Willey ; Dea. Baker and wife. Afterwards, Rev. Peletiah Chapin and Joshua Rogers. Twelve in all.
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Centennial Celebration.
In 1802, the following persons became connected wit the church : viz., Tristram Bartlett, Mary Willey, Mose Baker and wife, Sarah Rogers, David Wooster, Rut. Southmayd and Olive Durgin, making twenty members About three years after, in 1805, Rev. Mr. Chapin avowed his dissent from the Congregational church, and unite with a Baptist church in a neighboring town. About on third of the church gradually came into sympathy wit him.
Rev. Mr. Chapin was invited still to continue his minis try in the parish. But he replied that a man would be fool to attempt to lead others right while he did not d right himself. He sat up a separate meeting in tow which was attended by those in sympathy with him Many of these persons were owners in the new meeting house, and claimed their share of it. A certain portio of the time was assigned to them and the house was oc cupied by them, while the Congregational church an society worshipped in a school house. At length th portion of the house owned by the Baptist people wa purchased by the Congregational society.
Mr. Chapin preached frequently in different parts o this town and in other towns, but as we are informed b the Baptist people, was not active in the formation of th Baptist church in the north part of the town, in 1811, and was never its pastor. At one time he was called upor for a tax of fifty cents, and he said it was more moue than he had received for preaching for ten years.
At the election of Mr. Jefferson as President of the United States in 1801, Mr. Chapin took strong ground in his favor. At one time while he acted as pastor, Dr John Rogers of Plymouth delivered a political address in the meeting house on the fourth of July. Mr. Chapin was invited to be present but refused. On the following Sabbath he commenced his services by reading the hymi
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Rev. Daniel Stanford .- John Webber.
commencing with the following lines, "I lift my banner saith the Lord, where anti-Christ hath stood." He after- wards had a controversy with Dr. Rogers, which was car- ried on in poetry. He was a man of kind and generous feelings. He once met a boy near his own home in a cold day without a coat. He took off his own and placed t upon him. Mr. Chapin often preached impressively. He lived to an advanced age, and expressed his thank- fulness that his different faculties failed alike, that he was not wholly deprived of any one of them.
REV. DANIEL STANIFORD.
Rev. Daniel Staniford was employed to preach for one year in 1806. He was a man of feeble health ; of a clear and cultivated mind, and earnest in his work. He lid much to establish the minds of the people in the doc- rines of the gospel and in giving stability to the church.
JOHN WEBBER.
John Webber, a graduate of Dartmouth College and brother of President Webber of Harvard College, was settled here in the ministry in 1812. He was a man of much information and would have done more for the peo- ple if his salary had met the wants of his family. For their support he was obliged to labor upon the land. His ministry was of only three or four years continuance and was useful in enlarging the views of the people on many of the principles of theology. He was of an active mind and loved a joke. Riding with a young man of easy morals, he remarked to him that he did not always see him at church. The young man replied that there were other places of worship of different denominations in the vicinity and that he usually attended somewhere, and added, " You know a change of pasture makes fat calves." Said Mr. Webber, " I knew an instance where a calf was
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Centennial Celebration.
permitted to suck two cows through the season." And " what was the result," said the young man? The an swer was, " A great calf." Mr. Webber was dismissed in the early part of 1815, and removed to Ohio.
SPIRITUAL PROSPECTS.
To human view the prospect for the spiritual interest of the place was never more unpromising than at this time. The active members of the church were reduced to a handful, not more than six in number. They were persons advanced in years. The parish was unable to support a minister, worldliness prevailed and the young a large number of whom were in town at this time, were given to their pleasures. The faith of the people of God had no earthly supports, but rested upon the grace of God and the promises of his word. Such was the time which a merciful God chose to work like himself. It was afterwards remarked that the darkest time was just before day.
GREAT REVIVAL.
He first visited His people with judgments, one of which was as follows : At the raising of a house near the pres ent church and town house, after the broad side was thrown up, the poles were unfastened and thrown down. One of them struck upon the head of a young man and caused his death. It was a terrible event and shocked the whole community. The young man was one of the sprightliest and most attractive in the town. They car- ried him to his grave. But the event was not forgotten. The building remained unfinished for some years, a re- membrancer to all passers by. At length an attempt was made to gather the materials for finishing it. The father of the young man being skilled in the business, went into
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Great Revival.
the woods with others to prepare the shingles. After felling a suitable tree, while setting upon it between two other men, a limb which had been broken, and was held in the top of other trees, fell and instantly killed this man while the other men remained uninjured. The death of this young man, as it afterwards ap- peared, was the means of the awakening of many of the young people to their immortal interests ; and the afflict- ed mother, a lovely member of the Baptist church, re- marked that this circumstance aided greatly in reconciling her to the loss of her son.
Rev. Mr. Hardy preached to the people for a time in the early part of this season, - a man wanting in elo- quence, but an able and godly man. The providence of God also preached, -the Spirit of God was present in an unusual degree to convince us of sin. The people generally were aroused from their stupidity and many made the inquiry what they should do to be saved. A young man who had been attending school at Haverhill, where there had been an extensive revival, returned and commenced holding meetings for the young in the school house, in the intermission of public worship. These meetings were soon largely attended. The aged and ex- perienced members of the church were now in requisition to guide the young to the Saviour. In the fall of this year, Rev. Mr. McKeen preached for a time. Not a few owe the life of their souls to his faithfulness. About the beginning of the following year, Mr. Warren Day came to the place. He had studied theology with Rev. Dr. Shurtlief, was a young man of humble pretensions, not distinguished for eloquence, but was evidently one whom God had raised up in his Providence to labor in his vine- yard. He preached the truth of God from his heart and God spoke through him to the people. They had also a hearing ear and an understanding heart given to them
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