USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > A history of the town of Queensbury, in the state of New York : with biographical sketches of many of its distinguished men, and some account of the aborigines of northern New York > Part 27
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(a) HENRY MOVICKAR, son of the late professor John McVickar of Columbia Col- lege, N. Y., was born at Hyde Park in Dutchessco., N. Y., in 1817. He graduated with honors from Columbia College in 1836. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1840, after a year spent in travel in Europe and the East. For a brief period he practiced law in New York, and afterward in Michigan. His earnest, and de- vout mind, however, was not contented outside of the ministry, and he returned once more to New York, and entered the Theological Seminary. He became an alumnus of that institution, was ordained by the Right Rev. Bishop McCoskry in 1846, and, at once went to Glen's Falls, and engaged heartily and zealously in the laborious missionary work of that neighborhood. During his brief stay at this point, he instituted services at Caldwell, Lake George, and founded the church at Warrensburgh, besides being continually engaged in the exhaustive labors inci- dent to the instruction of a parish school. The severe climate, and earnest zeal in the discharge of his duties, broke down his health, and laid the foundation of a pulmonary affection from which he never recovered. At the termination of his year in Glen's Falls, he went to the south, and spent two winters, doing missionary
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fresh from the schools; and of singular loveliness of character, whose purity of life and Christian deportment, have embalmed his memory with the odor of sanctity, in the hearts of his par- ishioner's.
The school was conducted with great acceptance and gave promise at one time of obtaining a permanent foundation.
The services in the three parishes, were held alternately by the three clergymen associated in the mission. As an evidence of their devotion to the work, it may be stated that this labo- rious interchange of duties was mainly performed on foot, and often at unpropitious seasons and in inclement weather.
The relations subsisting between the three parishes, continued until the spring of 1847, when the Sandy Hill and Fort Edward churches dissolved their connection with that at Glen's Falls, and extended a call to the Rev. S. B. Bostwick to become their pastor. For nearly a quarter of a century, he has retained this charge, with the unabated respect and affection of his people.
The same year (1847), the Rev. John A. Spooner is returned in the records of the convention, as rector of St. Luke's church Mechanicsville, and the joint missionary station of Glen's Falls and Luzerne is reported as vacant.
Notwithstanding this rectorship at Mechanicsville, and his subsequent charge of Grace church in Albany, Mr. Spooner re- tained a quasi relation and charge over this virtually vacant parish, until the month of September, 1851, when he formally tendered his resignation, which was accepted by the vestry.
work in Florida, and North Carolina, founding the church at Marianna in the former diocese, and devoting himself especially to the improvement of the blacks. Having at last become the undoubted prey of consumption, he returned to the north, and passed the last two years of his wasting life amidst the surroundings of home, and the sustaining presence of loving friends. Even then he was not idle, but was systematically engaged in study, and the writing of tracts, essays, and articles for the church publications of the day.
He died at Morristown, N. J., in 1852, beloved and lamented by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
One writing from the south, who had lived in the same house, and known him all one winter, says in a letter of condolence to his friends, "it was my good for- tune to know your departed brother, the Rev. Henry McVickar, whom to know was but to love ; and although I have known many saintly characters, many pure and holy ones of this earth, still, I have always thought, since I learned to know him, that I have never met one so holy, so free from gross alloy, so meet for Heaven." This estimate of his character, will doubtless meet the hearty con- currence and approval of the few now remaining, who remember the modest, un- assuming, yet gifted messenger of Christ's gospel, who once ministered at Glen's Falls.
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On Easter Monday (12th April), 1852, the Rev. Mr. Bostwick, by invitation, officiated at morning prayers in the chapel, and, due notice having been previously given, a new election, the first for six years, was held for wardens and vestrymen.
On the 18th of May following, a vestry meeting was convened, at which, it was " resolved that the Rev. William George Haw- kins be engaged as minister of this parish for the ensuing year," at a salary of three hundred dollars a year, and a donation, in addition to the missionary stipend.
When the connection between the Rev. Mr. Spooner and this parish was discontinued, he declined to surrender the possession of the chapel, and other church property, on the score of arrear- ages of salary. The congregation was consequently obliged to look elsewhere for a place of worship. This state of affairs re- sulted in hiring, for the time being, the use of the house of worship, belonging to the Universalists, a building since de- stroyed in the great fire of 1864, and which then stood on a plot of ground now owned and occupied by Judge Rosekrans, facing Warren street.
Legal proceedings were promptly instituted by the vestry, for the recovery and possession of the church property. The points in controversy were finally referred to the Hon. Alonzo C. Paige of Schenectady, and his decision, which was rendered in June, 1853, and which was final as regarded further litigation, was substantially in favor of the parish. During the same season the old chapel was repaired and in the autumn following, and until Mr. Hawkins's connection with the parish ceased, the ser- vices were continuously held therein.
Mr. Hawkins (a) remained in charge of the parish until the first of December, 1855. During that period of time, the chapel
(a) WILLIAM GEORGE HAWKINS, only son of John H. W. Hawkins, the celebrated Washingtonian, and temperance reformer, was born at Baltimore, Md., on the 22d of October, 1823. His mother's name was Rachel, daughter of Joseph Thompson of the same city. The wonderful conversion of his father in 1840, to a life of great usefulness, changed the son's whole course in life from the career of an errand boy in a grocery and liquor store, to a student at the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass., where, with his two (only) sisters he matriculated in 1842. He entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn. (Dr. Stephen Olin, pres't), in 1844, and graduated therefrom in 1848. In the fall of the same year, he entered the Theological Seminary of the Episcopal church in Fairfax co., Va., over which Bishop Meade, of that diocese, had the principal oversight. Having completed a three years' course at that institution, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Meade, and called in 1851 to the rectorship of St. Paul's church, Centreville, Md. By rea- son of a failure in his health, he determined to seek an engagement at the north
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was repaired, a church lot contracted for, and secured, and the work of building the new church commenced. The corner stone of this substantial and costly structure was laid on Monday, the 12th of June, 1854, by the Right Rev. Jonathan M. Wain- wright, bishop of the diocese, Bishop Otey, of Tennessee, being presentand delivering an address on the occasion. In this time, Mr. Hawkins made two extended visitations to the larger cities of the diocese, in solicitation of funds, with which to carry for- ward the church work. In this way, several thousand dollars were realized, with which to strengthen the slender resources of the parish. This laborious enterprise, which had been under- taken by Mr. Hawkins in addition to the ordinary parochial work, added to the arduous responsibilities of the school, which, under his management, speedily attained a magnitude
and in the fall of 1852, was appointed by the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese of New York, to the charge of the parish at Glen's Falls.
In August, 1856, he was called to St. John's church, Pequa, Lancaster co., Pa., where he continued teaching with success an English and Classical school for boys, similar to the one conducted at South Glen's Falls. On the death of his father at his residence in Pequa, Pa., in August, 1858, he removed to Cambridge, Mass., where he devoted some months to writing out the life of that distinguished advocate of temperance. This work has already passed through seven editions. In 1860, he was called to the charge of St. John's church, Wilkinsonville ; in 1863, wrote the Life of Linsford Lane, or Another Helper from North Carolina, (304 pp. 2000 vols., sold). Removed about the same time to Worcester, Mass., to take the general charge of the missionary work of the diocese of Massachusetts, established three new parishes all at present doing well, viz : Christ church, Fitch- burg, Trinity church, Milford, and Grace church, Oxford, Mass. In 1864, he was called to the secretaryship of the National Freedman's Relief Association, and in that connection projected and edited for three years its organ The National Freed- man, was also a working member of the committee on teachers and publications, and during the above three years, selected and sent into the South over three hundred teachers, male and female ; organized under his own personal supervision the graded schools at Washington, D. C., Norfolk, Va., Richmond, Va., and Raleigh, N. C., and wrote a brief history of the Freedman's Commission, of which 20,000 copies were circulated as a tract. In 1865 removed to an estate at Rippon Hall, York co., Va., which was purchased and presented by personal friends. Here he resided for sixteen months during which interval, he was appointed Registrar of Freedmen, of the 3d district of York co., by Major Gen. Schofield, the registration office being at Fort McGruder.
In April, 1868, he removed to Chambersburgh, Pa., where he organized Trinity church, purchased a parsonage and lots, and erected a church, (a stone gothic edi. fice) at an aggregate cost of about $18,000. To this, it is in contemplation to add a female seminary as soon as means and opportunity shall permit.
The Rev. Mr. Hawkins is still in the prime and vigor of an active manhood,. whose energetic usefulness gives promise of a long future, replete with the mani- fold works of a matured judgment, sustained and incited by a Christain thoughtful- ness for the welfare of others and the progress of Divine truth.
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and prosperity both flattering and remunerative, bears cumu- lative testimony both to Mr. Hawkins's efficiency as a pastor, and devotion to the work in which he was engaged.
About this time Mr. James E. Kenney, a resident of this place, and communicant of the church, commenced studying for the ministry with Mr. Hawkins, being also associated with him in the instruction and management of the school.
Early in the fall of 1855, Mr. Hawkins tendered his resigna- tion, to take effect on the first of December following. This was accepted by the vestry on the 14th of September. The interim was passed in negotiations which resulted in the call of the Rev. Louis Legrand Noble,(a) a clergyman of distinguished talents and ability. He assumed charge of the parish, about the first of January, 1856. At that time, work had been sus- pended on the new church building, the walls having been carried up a short distance only above the basement story.
Heavy debts had been incurred in the prosecution of this un- dertaking. These remained like an incubus upon the feeble parish, paralyzing all efforts. Through Mr. Noble's active per- sonal solicitations, chiefly made in New York city, the greater portion of these debts were liquidated, or means and methods
(a) " The Rev. LOUIS LEGRAND NOBLE was born in 1812 in the valley of the Butter- nut creek in Otsego county, in New York. While he was a youth his father removed to the banks of the Wacamutquiock, now called the Huron, a small river in Michi- gan, and there, among scenes of remarkable wildness and beauty, he passed most of his time until the commencement of his college life. In a letter to me, he says : ' I was ever under a strong impulse to imbody in language my thoughts, feelings, fancies, as they sprang up in the presence of the rude but beautiful things around me ; the prairies on fire, the sparkling lakes, the park-like forests, the Indians on the hunt, guiding their frail canoes amid the rapids, or standing at night in the red light of their festival fires, I breathed the air of poetry.'
"Mr. Noble was admitted to orders in the Protestant Episcopal church, in 1840. His principal poetical work is Ne-mah-min, an Indian story, in three cantos, in which he has made good use of his experience of forest life."
The foregoing is copied from Griswold's Poets and Poetry of America, written nearly thirty years ago. Since that time, Mr. Noble has committed several volumes to the press, both of poetry and prose. Among the number may be named The Life of Cole the Artist, a friend and companion of his early years. Mr. Noble is now stationed at Hudson, N. J., where for a number of years he has been in charge of the Episcopal church, beloved by his parishioners and honored, and respected by an extensive circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a most genial friend and companion, a powerful writer, and impassioned sermonizer, emotional and impressive, quick to arouse the sympathies and touch the hearts of his auditory, and judging from probabilities, has still a long career of usefulness, and Christian : influence before him.
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provided for their extinguishment during the short period of his incumbency. Trinity church, alone, contributed two thou- sand dollars at this time, taking a lien upon the church for security, with a view to ensure its perpetuity, and that the bene- faction should not be diverted to other uses.
The dilapidated condition of the old chapel, rendered it im- peratively necessary that it should be thoroughly overhauled and repaired. A new roof was put on, the walls papered, the seats and other wood work painted, and other necessary repairs effected. In the mean time, before this renovation was com- pleted, the Universalist church was again rented for another year, and the services were conducted therein, until the condition of the chapel, improved by the repairs above named, was such that the congregation was enabled to resume its devotions there, and from that time forward until the completion of the new church, and the sale of the old one, the services were held with but slight interruption, in this revered and time honored place.
The cost of these repairs was defrayed by the Ladies' Aid Society of the church, to whose self sacrificing efforts and labor- ious zeal, much of the success of the church enterprises in this parish have been due. During a period of about fifteen years, dating from the reorganization of the church in 1852, an ener- getic and devoted band of women, scarcely a dozen in number, but brave with a spirit of Christian devotion, earned in various ways of hard working industry, a sum amounting to nearly, if not quite five thousand dollars, which whenever, and whatever the financial pinch might be, was always promptly available, and forthcoming to meet the needs of the pastor, the vestry, or the church, whenever a call was made or the occasion demanded. Deficiencies in ministers' salaries, repairs of chapel, delinquent bank notes given by the building committee for work or mate- rial, and finally a large amount expended in finishing the in- terior of the new church, were among the channels of usefulness, to which this steady and unfailing stream of endeavor was applied. A passing tribute to the worth and excellence of these Christian women, is without doubt worthy of commemoration in the annals of the church they helped to build. During the greater proportion of the period of Mr. Noble's ministrations here, and, at his request, the Rev. John H. Babcock, a minister of the church, who was at the same time principal of the Glen's Falls Academy, was called by the vestry to the position of as-
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sistant minister of the parish. In this capacity, he aided the rector in his services, besides officiating as missionary in visit- ing, and conducting worship at several contiguous points.
Messrs. Noble, and Babcock, (a) terminated their connection with the parish by resignation in June, 1857. In their brief tarrying here, each of these efficient ministers and accomplished gentlemen, won for themselves a large measure of the esteem and attachment of the people.
Nearly a year elapsed before the parish was again regularly supplied, occasional services being held by Rev. Mr. Kenney, who had just been admitted to the diaconate, and other neigh- boring clergyman. In the mean time, negotiations were carried forward with the bishop, and the missionary committee of the diocese, with a view to secure the services of another pastor. This correspondence resulted in the call, and engagement, of the Rev. Henry H. Bates, of the diocese of Connecticut, who removed hither with his family, and commenced his pastoral duties on the first of May, 1858. For a term of three years, his fidelity to the trusts thus assumed, his discretion and judgment, and Christain forbearance and charity, conspired to place the church on a prosperous footing, and to secure for himself the cordial good will, and respect of the entire community. During his pastorate, another subscription was raised, the balance of indebtedness cleared off, and the walls of the church carried up a stage further towards completion.
On the 7th of June, 1859, the Rev. James E. Kenney, who had already served the church during its period of destitution, was called by the vestry to act as assistant minister of the parish without salary, his only compensation for his services being the missionary stipend. The balance of his support was derived from the maintenance of the English and Classical school on the
(a) The Rev. JOHN H. BABCOCK, M. A., the third son of Deodatus Babcock, D.D., and Mary, (nee Hine) his wife, was born at Ballston Spa, N. Y., 11th Aug., 1826. He passed three years of an academical course under the supervision of the Rev. Dr. Hawks, at St. Thomas' Hall, Flushing, L. I. Graduated at Union College, July 1845, was ordained to the diaconate in 1853. Assisted his father, as a teacher in the Ballston Spa Institute, from 1846 to 1856, received to the priesthood the latter year. Took charge of the Glen's Falls Academy from May, 1856, to August, 1857, principal of Cheshire Academy, Conn., from Sept., 1857, to Sept., 1861 : Principal of Yeates Institute, Lancaster, Penn., from Sept., 1862, to April, 1864 ; missionary in Minnesota, and Wisconsin, Oct., 1864, to Sept., 1867. Since then he has been engaged in teaching or ministerial work in the state of New York. Since May 1st, 1871, he has been occupied in parish work in Tioga co., Penn., where he is now located.
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south side of the river already spoken of, in connection with Mr. Hawkins's ministrations.1 During the greater portion of Mr. Bates's sojourn here, this parish was associated with the missionary station of St. James' church, Caldwell, and the Rev. Mr. Kenney contributed largely of his valuable aid in main- taining the mission services. In 1860, the chapel was once more repaired, papered and painted. The same year, the building committee reported to the vestry, " that but little had been done towards completing the new church building."
Early in the spring of 1861, the church at Caldwell signified its intention of severing the connection hitherto maintained with this parish, and, for a while afterward, it was associated with the church at Warrensburgh in the employment of a clergyman.
Upon the outbreak of the rebellion in 1861, the Rev. Mr. Bates (a) was offered, and finally accepted the position of chaplain
1 " The present incumbent took the charge of this congregation, on the first week in May ; previous to which time, for the conventional year, the services were con- ducted by the Rev. James Kenney, deacon, who has also, for several months past, rendered us aid in our services in St. James' parish, Caldwell, and for the most part without compensation .- Extracts from Rev. H. H. Bates's report. Journal of Diocesan Convention, for 1858.
(a) HENRY H. BATES was born in the town of Benson, Rutland co., Vt., on the 23d November, 1808. Here in the secluded quiet of a rural neighborhood, with scant advantages in the way of education or mental culture, he passed his child- hood and youth. Stirred by those brave impulses which seem to germinate with uncommon thrift in the Yankee breast, at his majority he pushed out to acquire an education, and fit himself for the great, earnest struggle of life.
His preparatory studies were pursued mainly at the Phillips' Academy, Andover, Mass. Of the difficulties he had to surmount, and the trials and struggles to which he was subjected in those early days, we get only a brief hint. His colle- giate course was commenced in 1832, at Union College, Schenectady, and ter- minated in 1836, graduating with honor. Two years of his theological course were spent at the General Theological Seminary New York. The third year of his divinity studies was completed at Northampton, Mass. He was admitted to dea- con's orders in the city of Boston, Mass., in 1839, being ordained by the Rt. Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, bishop of what was styled the eastern diocese.
Mr. Bates's ministerial career was commenced immediately afterward, at Blan- ford, Hampden co., Mass., where, in 1841, he was ordained to the priesthood by the same venerable prelate. In 1840, he was married to Miss Eunice S. Bascom of Orwell, Vt., by whom he had two sons and one daughter.
In 1844, he received a call, and removed to Warehouse Point, Hartford co., Conn., where he rapidly built a thriving parish, and large congregation, by his industry, zeal and tact, many still living bearing witness to his faithfulness and efficiency.
In 1852, he removed to Tarriffville, in the same county, and state, where he built up another new parish. in the heart of a manufacturing village, whose chief population consisted of laborers and operatives. In this respect, his success was
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of the 22d Reg't N. Y. Vols., three companies of which were raised in this vicinity. The regiment was commanded by Walter Phelps jr., a parishioner and member of the vestry.
During the autumn next ensuing, services were held for six or eight weeks by a Rev. Mr. Van Antwerp, a candidate for the vacant pulpit. His irregularities of conduct were such as would reflect little credit to himself or honor upon the church, and he was at length quietly got rid of. He was subsequently deposed from the ministry, for conduct debasing, and unworthy his sacred calling.
In view of the destitute condition of the church, and, in order that the vestry might in no degree be hampered by the nominal relations existing between them, Mr. Bates tendered his resig- nation of the parish here, while the regiment to which he was attached, was still in barracks at Albany. This was brought before the congregation, at a special meeting convened on the
so striking, that when, in the winter of '57-8 applications was made to the mis- sionary committee of the diocese for a recommendation of some clergyman suited to the wants of this parish, the name of Mr. Bates was promptly suggested and heartily endorsed by the bishop, as the man preeminently fitted for the place if his services could be secured.
Mr. Bates assumed the rectorship of this parish in May, 1858, and from that date, until May, 1861 ; he was assiduously, earnestly, and industriously devoted to the interests of the parish. A large debt which had been incurred in carrying up the walls of the present church edifice, was paid off, and the way thoroughly cleared for the completion of the building at a more favorable moment. The financial crisis of '57, had but just passed by, and this, like many other manufac- turing villages, had its energies paralyzed and its industries crippled to that ex- tent, that, for the time being, an attempt to complete the church would have been impolitic and injudicious.
During Mr. Bates's ministry here, the accessions to the church were numerous, and its prospects flourishing. While in the midst of his success, looked up to, and beloved on every hand, the nation was suddenly convulsed with the throes of civil war. Sumter was attacked, and simultaneously, the united North arose as one man to the defense, the maintenance, the salvation of our government.
In response to the call for troops the 22d Regt. N. Y. Vols., sprung into ex- istence, and within two weeks of its organization the chaplaincy was tendered to, and accepted by Mr. Bates.
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