USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Newport > The history of Newport, New Hampshire, from 1766 to 1878 > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
119
RELIGION.
consequence of which Father Wakefield built a chapel at North- ville, which is now standing, as good as new, and open for the use of all evangelical Christians. In 1843 the Miller excite- ment, which swept over the country, robbed this infant society, then in a flourishing condition, of all its male members except Father Wakefield and Brother N. O. Page. It seemed to them the setting of the sun ere 't was noon. It was, however, only the interception of a dark cloud. Methodism had not accom- plished its mission here : it was not to be confined to the north portion of the town, but was to occupy a more central position, from which its light might radiate. Circumstances arosc in the Congregational church which caused a secession of those Methi- odists who had joined it for the want of a church of their choice in the place, and also of many other highly respectable mem- bers. These proposed a permanent union with the Methodists at Northville, which being consented to, they asked the New Hampshire conference for a preacher. Accordingly, in May, 1850, Warren F. Evans was stationed among them. The Uni- versalist chapel was secured as a place of worship. A good congregation was gathered. On the 30th of October, 1852, a society was organized under the discipline of the M. E. Church, consisting of N. O. Page, J. B. Hurd, N. Batchelder, F. Kelley, James Baker, Abner Whipple, Jacob Robinson, Joseph Sawyer, Jr., T. A. Twitchell, Elnathan Hurd, Henry Chapin, and their associates. Steps were taken to erect a church edifice. A cen- tral site was selected ; and such was the progress of the work, that, Dec. 25, 1851, they were able to dedicate their house to the worship of Almighty God. Bro. Evans remained two years. They have since enjoyed the pastoral care of Sullivan Holman, A. C. Manson, J. W. Guernsey, D. P. Leavitt, John Currier, James Thurston, S. G. Kellogg, C. M. Dinsmore, Chas. Young, C. W. Mellen, Charles E. Hall, Elijah R. Wilkins, O. H. Jas- per, and A. W. Bunker.
A good religious interest, with occasional conversions, has characterized the society from the beginning. Gracious revival influences visited it in the years 1852, 1853, and 1869. In 1854 grounds were purchased and a parsonage built, at an ex- pense of about $2,000. Since then the church and grounds have been enlarged, an organ purchased, and improvements
I20
HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
made to the amount of nearly $5,000. With such a record of prosperity ; with a congregation large, intelligent, appreciative ; with a Sabbath-school in a flourishing condition ; and with a church membership of over two hundred, many of whom are eminent for their spirituality,-we are led to ask, not only "What hath God wrought?" but, What will he not accom- plish with this powerful agency for good ?
The New Hampshire conference of the M. E. Church was held here in May, 1853, and again, in April, 1873.
FREEWILL BAPTISTS. The Freewill Baptist church, which held a very conspicuous place in town for many years, had its origin, in 1816, in a division of the Baptist church, then at North- ville. This division resulted mainly in diverse opinions in re- gard to what were deemed essential articles of faith. Becom- ing dissatisfied with their pastor, the Rev. Elijah Hutchinson, who preached the doctrine of fatality too strongly to suit them, the large body of the church and congregation withheld their support from him, and procured the services of the Rev. Sol- omon Howe, who was a disciple of Arminius. A council was called, and, after a patient hearing, decided that the Rev. Mr. Hutchinson and his adherents, holding more nearly to the true church doctrines, were entitled to be considered as the church. Whereupon the admirers of Mr. Howe and his doctrines, cut off from the church by their belief and by the action of the council, organized as a Freewill Baptist church. Under the ministra- tion of Mr. Howe, and subsequently that of Rev. Elijah Watson, the church had full congregations, and enjoyed a large measure of success. The Rev. Mr. Goodale succeeded Mr. Watson, and continued to preach until after the introduction of Methodism, when a portion of the church united with that order, and the organization, in 1834, was given up. The following year, mainly through the labors of the Rev. L. H. Stevens, formerly of Weare, it was renewed, and continued for several years.
Among the difficult problems to be solved in the separation of the church was the question as to which side was entitled to occupy the house. The contest was for a while quite animated ; and from Sabbath to Sabbath the question was solved for the day by allowing the first on the ground to occupy the pulpit for
I2I
RELIGION.
the day, while the others would retire to the school-house for worship. The question was finally settled, when Mr. Hutchin- son and his friends removed their place of worship to the new church at the village, and left Mr. Howe the undisputed occu- pancy of the house.
For many years Nathaniel Wheeler and Abel Wheeler were deacons of this church. They were succeeded in their offices by Abel Wheeler, Jr., and Ira Wakefield.
The quarterly meetings of this church, at which were usually present several men of commanding talents, were always sea- sons of great interest, and drew crowded houses.
Mr. Howe, the first preacher, was a native of Hillsborough, and was licensed to preach at Washington in IS12 ; came to this town in IS15, and was here ordained, July 5, 1819. He re- moved to New York in 1827, and died at Smyrna, in that state, in 1858, at the age of 72 years. His preaching was plain, easily understood, and often startling and pathetic. Mr. Watson was a fluent and forcible talker, and quite a revivalist. The Rev. David Marks, who died at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1845, a most elo- quent divine, often preached to this church, and was a great favorite, though never an ordained pastor here, as we can learn.
UNIVERSALISTS. The Universalist Society of Newport was organized on the 11th of February, 1830. Meetings were held at the town hall and court-room until 1837, when their chapel was built. Among those who have ministered to this society are Revs. John Moore, William S. and Aaron L. Balch, W. S. and Levi Ballou, Walter Harriman, Ezekiel Dow, Lemuel Willis, Luther Walcott, Thompson Barron, J. T. Powers, and Joseph Barbor. They were mostly men of fine talents. Moore was afterwards a candidate for governor, and died suddenly at Concord. The former Balch became eminent as a traveller and lecturer ; Harriman turned his attention to politics, and became governor of New Hampshire; while Powers, whose sermons were always adorned with sparkling imagery, became a con- tributor to the leading magazines.
THIE UNITARIAN SOCIETY was formed Sept. 30, IS73. Rev. G. F. Piper was installed pastor Dec. 10, IS73. A large share
9
122
HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
of its members had previously belonged to the Universalist so- ciety, or had been its patrons, and the meetings of the new soci- ety were held in their chapel. Soon after its organization, the Hon. Edmund Burke presented the society with a new organ. At the close of the year Mr. Piper left, and his place was sup- plied by Rev. A. S. Nickerson. During 1876 and 1877, the church was remodelled and modernized. In 1878 the Rev. Geo. W. Patten was engaged as pastor.
ROMAN CATHOLIC. The first Roman Catholic service in town was held in 1854. Regular services of the church have been con- tinued since 1870. They have a membership of 150. Since Dec., 1873, they have occupied the old Masonic hall, in Burke's block, for church purposes. Rev. Father O'Sullivan, of Claremont, the pastor, visits them and holds public services once a month.
MILLERISM. The old church at Northville was the head- quarters for the disciples of the pseudo prophet Miller, for a large section of the surrounding country, during the excitement which prevailed in the fall and winter of 1842 and the spring of 1843. Here documents were distributed, and here meetings, enthusiastic, large, and long-continued, were held. The Rev. Mr. Hines and other eminent apostles of the faith, from Boston, were present. It is difficult for one, not an eye-witness, ade- quately to conceive of the wild frenzy which prevailed, as ap- proached the fourth of April, that portentous day when they were to see the world enveloped in flames which should burn it up and all the wicked, while they were themselves to be caught up in the clouds. The impassioned eloquence of their speeches, and the thrilling strains of music, in which the whole congregation joined, contributed to intensify the feelings of the hour. When the day was passed, and the delusion was over, most of them returned to their farms and the business which they had been neglecting.
SPIRITUALISTS have held circles in town, and for several years have had frequent public meetings, which have been ad- dressed by mediums and eminent apostles of the faith. Several families are adherents to its doctrines.
SECOND ADVENT. The doctrine of a Second Advent has had
123
RELIGION.
apostles and believers in this town, most of them residing in the Northville district. Rev. Calvin N. Fletcher, Rev. William W. Southerland, and Rev. John B. Libbey are among its more prominent teachers.
Newport has furnished the following clergymen, natives and former residents. A fuller account of them will be found in the Genealogy :
Name.
Denomination.
College.
Residence.
Worthen H. Ames.
Methodist
John -. Batchelder.
Congregationalist.
Middletown. Dartmouth .. Amherst.
Brookfield, Mass.
Simeon Chamberlain
Baptist . . Congregationalist.
Amherst .... Dartmouth ..
Alstead. Geneseo, 111.
William A. Chapin
Erastus B. Claggett
Lyndeborough.
William Claggett
George Dustin.
Amherst.
Sandusky, O. Goshen.
Calvin N. Fletcher
Universalist
Norwich.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Carlos Gould
Methodist
Geneva.
Geneva, N. Y.
David F. Huntoon
Universalist
Lowell, Mass.
Enoch Hutchinson
Baptist
Dartmouth ..
New York city.
Elijah Hutchinson.
Vermo't Conference.
Peter Kimball ..
Congregationalist. Presbyterian.
Beloit, Wis. Amherst ...
Augusta, Ill.
Lycurgus Kimball
Alonzo King.
Baptist
Waterville ..
Westborough, Mass.
Elias McGregor.
Kendrick Metcalf.
Episcopal.
Dartmouth ..
Geneva, N. Y.
Charles H. E. Newton
Methodist
Pacific Conference.
James Hill Parmelee.
Congregationalist.
Dartmouth ..
Charles Peabody
Josiah Peabody.
Carey Russell ..
Nathaniel Smith
Methodist.
Josiah Stevens.
Congregationalist. Baptist .
Columbian .. Dartmouth ..
Boston, Mass.
Jeremiah J). Walcott.
Auburn, N. Y.
Lovell Wheeler
Congregationalist. Baptist
Vermont.
Abijah Wines
Congregationalist. =
Dartmouth ..
John Wilcox.
Middlebury.
Newport. Newport. Hartford, Conn.
Carlos Wilcox
Methodist
Utica.
Rochester, N. Y.
Charles Cotton Kimball, D. D
Erie, Penn.
Milton Kimball .
Congregationalist.
Jacksonville, Il1.
Colchester, Vt.
Zanesville, O. Chicago, Il1. Sullivan. Goshen. Weare.
Isle of Shoals.
Baron Stow.
Windsor, Vt.
George Johnson.
Peterborough.
Nathaniel W. Fisher
Advent
Luther J. Fletcher.
Chelsea, Mass.
Bradford Boardman.
George F. Chapin.
Jason Chapin ..
Craftsbury, Vt.
Washington.
MISSIONARIES. The churches have always taken a lively in- terest in the cause of missions, both home and foreign, and have contributed generously to their support. The first church, the Baptist, at the north part of the town, was gathered by the Rev. Bial Ledoyt, a missionary sent here by a society in Rhode Island. The first missionary from town was Dea. Josiah Stevens, the father of the Stevens family in town. Melvina J. Chapin, a sister of Dea. D. B. Chapin, married the Rev. Geo.
124
HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
B. Rowell, a graduate of Dartmouth college, and a son of the Rev. Mr. Rowell, of Cornish, and went to the Sandwich Islands, where they have exerted a beneficent influence upon the habits and religion of the natives.
Elizabeth Forbes, daughter of Charles Forbes, and grand- daughter of Col. Wm. Cheney, afterwards wife of Wm. Moore, upon her marriage went with her husband as missionary to Burmah, where they resided six years. The loss of voice, from which he never recovered, disqualified him for the duties of his mission, and they returned home.
Jennie E. Chapin, daughter of Wm. A. Chapin, was sent out in 1871, by the A. B. C. F. Missions, as a missionary to Pekin, China.
Charles Preston, son of Margaret, and grandson of William McAllister, has been a devoted and efficient missionary in China for seventeen years.
Mrs. Sarah J. Hale has for many years been president of the "Woman's Union Missionary Society " at Philadelphia. She has written much for the cause, and has made several very valu- able reports, which have been printed and widely circulated. Under her superintendence the society has been most prosper- ous, and has been the means of doing much good.
As illustrating the spirit of our people, it is related that the widow of Mr. Simeon Chamberlin, in her very old age, while on the verge of the grave, as the last act of her Christian life, when her worldly fortune, once abundant, had all been swept away by sad reverses, and she reduced to the scantiest penury, as the only offering she could make, unravelled a scarf once worn by her husband, and, knitting it into stockings, came, with a trembling step and a countenance as if radiant with divine blessings, and laid them upon the altar of missions.
CHRISTMAS. A public observance of the Christmas festival was first introduced into this town by the Universalist society, and was kept up by them for several years. It was shortly af- ter adopted, and most successfully carried forward, by the Methodists. The first recognition of the day by the Congrega- tional church was in 1871, on which occasion the house, then newly refitted, was brilliantly illuminated, and a large number of valuable presents distributed.
Sarah folate 1
CHAPTER XIX.
LITERATURE.
R EV. CARLOS WILCOX [see sketch] was the first of the natives of the town to be enrolled among the literary men of the country. A volume is extant containing some of his more able sermons, together with several of his poems, and an account of his life and labors. Among his poems, " The Age of Benevolence " and " The Religion of Taste " are productions of much merit. The latter of these was pronounced before the Phi Beta Kappa Society, of Yale college. Extracts from both appear in other literary publications of the country.
BENJAMIN TEALL, the old schoolmaster, who lived on the Unity road, was a sort of poet laureate to the old Republican party, of which he was an enthusiastic member. He was a Revolutionary patriot, and at ninety years of age wrote many beautiful poems, which were published. He was the discover- or of Unity Springs, now so justly celebrated, and built there a little shelter, where he spent much of his time during the sum- mer months, and where he composed many of his poems.
MRS. SARAH J. HALE, wife of David Hale, Esq., and daugh- ter of Gordon Buell, has been an editor of the Lady's Book, the leading ladies' magazine of the country, for half a century. By the high tone and well sustained intellectual vigor of this journal, and by her numerous and varied publications during the time, both in poetry and prose,-some of them of rare merit,-she is entitled to the first rank among the writers of her native town, and is among the most distinguished female writers of the country. Her " Woman's Record." a volume of nearly a thou- sand pages, has passed through several editions, and has been widely circulated, both in this country and in Europe. It is her most elaborate work, and ranks highest among her prose
126
HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
productions ; and her poem, entitled " Mississippi," written dur- ing the Rebellion, is among her finest poetical inspirations. The following account of herself and her works is from her own pen, and from "Allibone's Dictionary of Authors :"
Having been requested by the editor of a work illustrating the history of Newport, N. H., to communicate some particu- lars respecting myself and family, and feeling a deep interest in all that concerns my native town, I submit a few papers on the subject, which may interest my early friends and be acceptable to the readers of the book. What I have been able to effect, having an interest for the public, is chiefly through my writ- ings ;- to these, then, my remarks will be principally confined.
My parents, Gordon Buell, of Killingsworth, and Martha Whittlesey, of Saybrook, both towns of some importance in Connecticut, removed to Newport, soon after the close of the War of Independence. My great-grandfather, Dea. Dan- iel Buell, of Killingsworth, was one of the proprietors of New- port, and my father settled upon lands belonging to him. This land possessed a valuable tract of pine forest. Before the Rev- olution, the charter of the town exacted that "all pine trees should be preserved for the use of the Royal Navy." I men- tion these trees, as they were objects of great interest to me in my childhood. This farm of 400 acres was my birthplace and home. I had two brothers, older than myself,-Charles Whit- tlesey Buell and Horatio Buell,-and a younger sister. My parents brought with them into the wilderness of the North that love of learning and those strict religious observances which distinguish the inhabitants of the Charter state. But good schools could not at once be established in the new settle- ments, and I owe my early predilection for literary pursuits to the teachings and example of my mother. A few words re- specting the influences which have probably caused me to be- come the chronicler of my own sex may not be considered ego- tistical.
The books to which I had access were few, very few, in com- parison with the number given children nowadays ; but they were such as required to be studied-and I did study them. Next to the Bible and " The Pilgrim's Progress," my earliest
127
LITERATURE.
reading was Milton, Addison, Pope, Johnson, Cowper, Burns, and a portion of Shakespeare. I did not obtain all his works till I was nearly fifteen. The first regular novel I read was " The Mysteries of Udolpho," when I was quite a child. I name it on account of the influence it exercised over my mind. I had remarked, that of all the books I saw, few were written by Americans, and none by women. Here was a work, the most fascinating I had ever read, always excepting " The Pilgrim's Progress," written by a woman ! How happy it made me ! The wish to promote the reputation of my own sex, and to do something for my own country, was among the earliest mental emotions I can recollect. This love of country was deeply en- graved on my heart, by reading, when I was not more than ten years old, Ramsey's ". History of the American Revolution." It made me a patriot for life. These feelings have had a salutary influence by directing my thoughts to a definite object :- my lit- erary pursuits have had an aim beyond self-seeking of any kind.
The moral power of woman, which I had learned to appre- ciate from my mother, was strongly influential in my literary pursuits, as is apparent in my largest work, "Woman's Record." I sought to make this work an assistant in home education, hoping the examples shown and characters portrayed might have an inspiration and a power in assisting the moral prog- ress of society. Yet I cannot close without adverting to the ready and kind aid I have always met with from those men with whom I have been most nearly connected. To my brother Horatio I owe what knowledge I have of Latin, of the higher branches of mathematics, and of mental philosophy. He often regretted that I could not, like himself, have the privilege of a college education.
To my husband I was more deeply indebted. He was some years my senior, and 'greatly my superior in knowledge. We commenced, soon after our marriage, a system of study and reading, which we pursued while he lived. The hours allotted were from eight o'clock in the evening until ten-two hours in twenty-four. How I enjoyed those hours ! In all our mental pursuits, it seemed the aim of my husband to enlighten my rea- son, strengthen my judgment, and give me confidence in my own powers of mind, which he estimated more highly than I
128
HISTORY OF NEWPORT.
did. But this approbation which he bestowed on my talents has been a great encouragement to me in attempting the duties that have since become my portion ; and if there is any just praise due to the works I have prepared, the sweetest thought is, that his name bears the celebrity.
The results of my literary labors are treated of in the follow- ing article :
[From Allibone's Dictionary of Authors.] MRS. HALE'S LITERARY PRODUCTIONS.
HALE, MRS. SARAH JOSEPHA, formerly Miss Buell, of Newport, New Hampshire, is the widow of David Hale, a distinguished lawyer, who died at an early age in 1822. In 1828 Mrs. Hale became the editress of the Ladies' Magazine, published at Boston, and discharged the du- ties of this responsible position until 1837, when this periodical was united with the Lady's Book, of Philadelphia. With this well-known and truly popular magazine Mrs. Hale has ever since been connected, and since 1841 she has been a resident of Philadelphia. The following list of this lady's productions evinces an extraordinary amount of literary industry : 1. "The Genius of Oblivion, and other Original Poems." Concord : 1823. 2. "Northwood : A Novel." Boston : 1827-two vols. Republished in London, also in New York, in 1852. 12mo. 3. "Sketches of American Character." Philadelphia. 18mo. 4. "Traits of Amer- ican Life"-1835. 2 vols., 12mo. 5. "Flora's Interpreter." Boston. Reprinted in London. 6. " The Ladies Wreath." Boston. 12mo. 7. " The Way to Live Well, and to Be Well while we Live." 8. "Gros- venor : A Tragedy"-1838. 9. "Alice Ray : a Romance in Rhyme"- 1846. 10. " Harry Guy, the Widow's Son," in verse. Boston : 1848. 11. "Three Hours ; or, The Vigil of Love, and other Poems." Phila- delphia : 1848. 12. "The Poet's Offering : edited by Mrs. Hale." Philadelphia. 13. "Good's Book of Nature (abridged) : edited by Mrs. Hale " 14. "Ladies' New Book of Cookery, and Complete Housewife (new edition)." New York : 1852. 12mo. 15. "A Complete Diction- ary of Poetical Quotations." Philadelphia : 1852. 8vo. 16. "The Judge : a Drama of American Life." 17. "New Household Receipt Book-1853. 12mo. 18. "Woman's Record; or, Sketches of Distin- guished Women from the beginning till A. D. 1850." New York : 1853. Svo. New edition. 1856. This work, by far the most important of Mrs. Hale's productions, though in some points open to criticism, may yet be justly commended as an invaluable manual for the library shelf and parlor table. 19. "Liberia; or, Mr. Peyton's Experiments : edited by Mrs. Hale"-1853. 12mo. 20. "The Bible Reading-Book." Phil- adelphia : 1854. 12mo. 21. " The Letters of Mme. de Sévigné to her
129
LITERATURE.
Daughter and Friends." New York : 1856. 12mo. 22. "The Letters of Lady Mary W. Montague-1856. 12mo. In addition to the labors here enumerated, Mrs. Hale has edited several annuals,-" The Opal," " The Crocus," etc.,-prepared a number of books for the young, and contributed enough matter, in the way of tales, essays, and poems, to fill several large volumes.
Since the publication of Allibone's Dictionary, Mrs. Hale, besides continuing her editorship of the Lady's Book. has pub- lished (23) "Happy Homes and Good Society all the Year Round ; " (24) "Love; or, Woman's Destiny ;" (25) "The Mother's Legacie ;" and has revised her selections from Mad- ame de Sévigné and Lady Montague. She has also revised and enlarged " Woman's Record," which has lately appeared from the press of the Harpers. This edition has received spe- cial notices from the press, of which we give the following,. written by Prof. John S. Hart :
Woman's Record. By Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale. 918 pp., royal Svo. New York : Harper & Brothers. A third edition of a work of such magnitude as this, after so short a time from its first appearance, is no slight attestation to its solid value. Mrs. Hale has done for her sex what Dr. Allibone has done for British and American authors. By long years of patient and persistent labor and research, she has gath- ered the authentic evidences of what the eminent ones of her own sex, in all ages of the world, have been and have done, and has placed the fruits of her labors in this noble and enduring Record.
We quote the following, not as illustrating the greatest in- spiration of her womanhood,-but the one, as showing the early footprints of her young muse, and for the local interest it may have for all the dwellers upon the borders of the sweet stream it commemorates ; and the other, as showing how one, after hay- ing passed ninety summers-most of them in active literary toil-can yet weave a beautiful garland.
ADDRESS TO SUGAR RIVER.
Let Avon roll with Shakspeare's deathless glory, And Thames as smooth as Pope or Thomson glide, The Tiber, Hellespont, in ancient story
Reflect Mars' triumphs, or fair Venus' pride ; While Scotia's every stream can boast its poet, Whose Patriotic muse would make us know it :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.