USA > New York > Chenango County > Norwich > History and manual of the First Congregational Church, Norwich, N.Y. > Part 5
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" His first sermon was preached January 15, 1802, and the first Churchett to which he ministered was at Blooming Grove, Orange County, N. Y. ,cad where he was ordained as an Evangelist, November 16, 1803. Septem. ber 12, 1802, he was dismissed, with a general letter, from the Bran- ford Church, and April 1, 1803, his wife was dismissed from the same Church to the Church at Bethlehem, Orange County, N. Y., to which Mr. Benedict was then Pastor, and where he remained until 1807, wher 07- he was called to Franklin, Delaware County, N. Y. gan
June 23, 1808, he was one of the Council at Oxford, which ordaineda Rev. Eli Hyde and installed him over the Oxford Church. From 181( to 1814 he was often employed for a few weeks at a time by the Mis ea
f sionary Society of Connecticut, to labor in the destitute parts of Centra New York. January 13, 1813, Rev. David Harrower and he were ap pointed by that Society to labor for sixteen weeks in the Counties of Otsego, Delaware and Chenango. Early in 1814, he closed his pastor ate at Franklin, and again took a commission from the Missionary So ciety. In company with Mr. Harrower, he came to this village, Wed He nesday, April 6, 1814, and in the evening preached " to a large and sol emn Assembly." Tuesday, June 14, he came here for the purpose of organizing this Church, and did so Sunday, June 19.
In 1815 he took the pastorate of the Church at New Concord-now Chatham, Columbia County, N. Y. Not long after he had several hem orrhages from the lungs, which soon forced him to give up the minis try, and he was employed by the Pennsylvania Branch of the American Tract Society in their rooms in Philadelphia, at which place he died out by bursting a blood vessel, Monday, October 21, 1833, aged 61. H. was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
Eager, in his history of Orange County, says that he " was a man of ar- t piety, untiring zeal and eloquence, which continually drew crowds listen to his preaching." The Benedict Genealogy says of him: The same result followed his preaching in the sparse settlements of thern New York and Northern Pennsylvania as elsewhere. The abitants flocked to hear him, and were deeply affected. He was host constantly in the midst of religious revivals from the time he ered the ministry until his health failed. There was nothing ornate rhetorical in his language or manner, He was simple, earnest, clear I persuasive. His sincerity, sympathy and feeling were irresistible. was said of his preaching, 'The word melted hearts like wax before fire.' In all the ministrations of his sacred office his manner was y solemn and impressive. In social life and in his family he was erful and humorous, and abounded in anecdote and repartee."
n 1816 he was a Trustee of the Berkshire Missionary Society of Con- ticut. In 1817 the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Wil- ms College. His sister married Rev. Isaac Headley, Pastor at Wal- from 1813 to 1829, and an uncle of J. T. Headly, author and historian. tter of E. C. Benedict; Oxford and Walton Ch. Records; Dea. John ad, of Walton; Walton Miss. Soc. Records; and H., p. 69.)
REV. BENJAMIN BELL.
Ir. Bell was an early member of the Presbytery of Geneva, and in 7-'8-'9 was preaching at East Palmyra, Wayne County, N. Y. In 1809 anized a Church in La Fayette, Onondaga County, N. Y. In 1810 1 '11 was Stated Supply to the Church at Elbridge, same County. early as 1807, supplied the Church at Skaneateles, N. Y. Gradua- from Yale College in 1779, and was licensed to preach by Litch" d South Association, Conn. Died in 1836.
REV. ASA MESSER.
He was born at Claremont, Sullivan County, N. H., in the year 1794, I was the son of Moses Messer, a carpenter. He was converted and ned the Church at Orwell, Addison County, Vt., in 1810. In 1816, bably, he graduated from Middlebury College, in the same County, 1 studied theology with Rev. Josiah Hopkins, at New Haven-also Addison County-and was licensed by Addison Association-date known. In March, 1817, he married Martha Woodford, and soon er came to this village-Norwich-and supplied this Church for out three months. Mr. Enos used to say he was here about nine. nths, but Mr. Messer's diary gives the time as stated above, though thout dates. He probably came in May or June, and left in Septem- r or October, for in the latter month he was invited to Pittsford,
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
Rutland County, Vt., and was ordained and installed over the Churchport, there in 1818. He remained at Pittsford four years. In October, 182; &bou he went to Essex County, N. Y., and for four years supplied thever Churches of Essex and Willsborough. He then spent about a year & Rock a missionary, having been commissioned by Champlain Presbytery 1bad s labor in the western frontier of Essex County, and spent the time in theprosp towns of Westport, Lewis and Keene.
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His health had been poor for some time. This decided him to givfoun up preaching, and in 1827 he removed to Saratoga, N. Y., and tocar, h charge of a school. In 1829 he acted as Stated Supply for one ye: heir over a Church in Montezuma, N. Y., as a missionary from America They Home Mission Society. In 1833 he supplied a Church in Pultne Hforce N. Y., a short time. He also taught school in Newark, N. J., and Anga burn, N. Y., and finally removed to Geneva, N. Y., where he had'de wa bookstore for thirteen years, and where he died October 22, 1876, ageerit 83 years. (H., ps. 337 and 462. Letters of John S. King and Mrs. Adams.)
REV. WILLIAM MURPHY ADAMS.
Mr. Adams was born at Norwich, Ct., December 28, 1788. He gradu ted at Union College, July, 1816, but had not been a regular student ther having-probably in July, 1814-entered the class of 1815, as a pr tege of Dr. Nott, as is supposed. Upon the recommendation of t] Faculty, the Board conferred the title of A. B. upon him in July, 181 His scholarship was of so high an order that he was immediately e gaged as a tutor in the College, and retained that position about tv years. He undoubtedly studied theology during this time with I Nott.
In the summer of 1817-as is supposed-he was licensed to prea by Union Association, and late in October or early in November was hired by this Church, and the Church at Oxford, and for s months he alternated between the two villages. He came into the sun S section as a missionary, probably in the employ of the Missionary £ ciety of Connecticut, and as such preached in Norwich his first se mon after his licensure. He was the first regularly hired minister tl this Church had. Thursday, November 13, 1817, he preached Thanksgiving sermon in the Court House in this village; and in Marc 1818, two sermons of his were printed, and sold in this vicinity. Wh he left here is not known.
March 11, 1819, he married Sarah Cooley Farnsworth, and April was ordained and installed over the Presbyterian Church at Ludlo ville, N. Y., by Cayuga-now Ithaca-Presbytery. He remained the until June 19, 1827, when he went to Milan, Erie County, Ohio; w taken sick and went to Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, where stayed seven years, leaving about 1833. He then went to Hammon
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
ort, N. Y .; then to Athens, Pa .; then to Horseheads, N. Y .; in all boutfour years. At the latter place some of his flock got the " western ever," and in 1837 urged him to go with them to Pecatonica-now lockton, Ill., then a mere Indian trading post. Up to this time he ad saved nothing. The colonists promised him a farm, and with the rospect of having something to leave to his children, he went, and or- anized a Church there. He also organized a Church at Beloit, Rock ounty, Wis., which is only a few miles from Rockton. Not long af- er, he very much offended some of his little flock by preaching against heir daily habit of grog drinking, and they refused him any support. They also declined to fulfill their promise about the farm, and he was orced in 1840 to start out in search of employment. While wander- hg about, he contracted a fever, which came near being fatal. In 1841 e was hired by a Church at Mineral Point, Iowa County, in the then erritory of Wisconsin; his family, however, remained in Rockton. After about a year of faithful work with that Church, on March 8, 1842, e was prostrated by sickness, and died March 12, aged 53 years, 2 honths and 14 days. He is described as " more than usual among his profession a scholarly man." He was very earnest, and at all times vas eagerly reaching out after new views of truth in all directions. is a preacher he must have been very effective and convincing, for his ine years at Ludlowville was an almost continuous revival; and there, s well as at Mineral Point, he was very dearly beloved by his people. HI , ps. 296 and 403. F., p. 418. Letters of Dr. E. F Hatfield and lev. Wm. W. Adams.)
REV. NORRIS BULL, D. D.
Mr. Bull was born at Harwinton, Litchfield County, Conn., October 4, 1790, and graduated at Yale in 1813. From 1813 to 1816 he taught t Lansingburgh, Rensselaer County, N. Y., and then entered Prince- on Seminary, from which he graduated in 1818. The same year he vas licensed by the Presbytery of Columbia, at Catskill, N. Y., and ent as a missionary to Western New York, by the Young Men's Mis- ionary Society of New York City. He probably began this work in Norwich soon after Mr. Adams left. From late in 1819 to 1821 he was Stated Supply over the Church in Warsaw, Wyoming County, N. Y. June 19, 1822, was ordained and installed Pastor of the Church at Gene- seo, Livingston County, N. Y., from which he was dismissed July 3, 832. September 17, 1832, was installed over the Church at Wyoming, N. Y., and dismissed February 11, 1836. June 27, 1837, was installed over the Church at Clarkson, Monroe County, N. Y. In 1845 received he degree of D. D. from Union College. In 1846 became Stated Sup- oly at Lewiston, Niagara County, N. Y., where he died December 7, 1847. (Letter of Dr. Hatfield.)
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
REV. JOHN TRUAIR,
Mr. Truair was born in Cheshire, New Haven County, Conn., N vember 29, 1780, his father being a farmer in that town. He did ne go through College. He was ordained at Cambridge, Vt., November; 1810, and married Mrs. Abigail Woodruff Stevens, March 6, 181 July 8, 1814, he went to the First Congregational Church of Sherburne ery N. Y., and was installed over it July 5, 1815. February 15 or 16, 181! he preached a sermon at Norwich, at the formation of the first Che nango County Bible Society; and several times during his pastorate a In Sherburne he supplied and labored with this Church. October 1600 1819, he joined Oneida Presbytery, and the same year the Synod, offer petition, formed the Presbytery of Otsego, composed of five Churchesas and seven ministers, of whom he was one. His pastorate at Sherburn are was dissolved September 5, 1820. During his stay two hundred or mor persons were added to the Church. In 1820 he went to Cherry Valley and was there less than two years, yet one hundred and sixty-six werm added to the Church during his stay. His pastorate closed by his ow: urgent request, March 24, 1822. The next Sunday he officiated and communion, when eight more were added to the Church. He the de took up missionary work among the seamen of New York.
A writer says of him: "He was educated, talented and full of vim- of excessive activity, of great persuasive powers as a speaker, and s successful in bringing souls to Christ as to merit comparison wit. preachers of the type of Mr. Moody." He died in Fabius, N. Y., Apri 26, 1845, and was buried there. His age was 65. He was father o Prof. John G. K. Truair, who was Principal of Norwich Academy i: 1847-'8, and now and for many years, editor of "The Syracuse Jour nal."
REV. LUTHER CLARK.
Mr. Clark was born at Canterbury, Windham County, Conn., May 1792. His father, Capt. Seth Clark, was a carpenter. He occupied th pulpit of this Church a while after the dedication in 1819, but hov long is not known. He must have been only a student at the time What college he graduated from, or whether he went to college at all is not now known. In 1822 he studied theology at Princeton College remaining about one year. While at Princeton he was under the car of the Presbytery of North River. N. Y., and was a classmate of Rev Albert Barnes, the commentator. Not far from this time he married Mary Rogers, with whom he lived two or three years. One child wa born to them, but soon both the child and its mother died. April 29 1824, he was licensed by the Presbytery of North River, and ordained as an Evangelist by the same body, April 28, 1825. September 27 1825, he married Rachel Amelia Clark, of Pleasant Valley, Dutches
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
unty, N. Y. He continued to preach in various places, but did not ake a permanent settlement until April 26, 1827, when he joined tenango Presbytery from the Presbytery of North River, and October was installed by the former, over the Congregational Church at ymouth, N. Y. In 1831 a powerful revival visited his Church, and- ry many were converted. This was when Littlejohn was at Nor- ch, during Mr. Bogue's ministry. While at Plymouth he often pplied the Church at Otselic.
In December, 1834, he resigned the charge of the Church at Ply- puth. His resignation was accepted at the meeting at which it was ered, and he soon went to Dryden, Tompkins County, N. Y., and is installed over the Presbyterian Church there, June 9, 1835. In arch, 1845, while still a Pastor at Dryden, he visited his old home in nnecticut. At Lisbon, Conn., he preached at the Sabbath services, arch 23. The next day, while preparing to return to Dryden, the rriage waiting at the door, he was taken with a severe pain in the ad, went into the house, and Friday, March 28, died, aged 52 years d 10 months. He was buried in the cemetery at Canterbury, by the le of his parents. He is said to have been " a very fine man, and an cellent preacher." "He was an earnest, devoted and successful inister of the Gospel, and died calmly and peacefully trusting in the ercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ." His widow is now ing in Bloomington, Ill. (H., ps. 290 and 292. Records Chen. Presbty. . A, ps. 47. 76 and last. Letters of Dr. Hatfield, Rev. Henry Clark, other of the above, and several of his children.)
REV. EDWARD ANDREWS.
Mr. Andrews was born in Ipswich, Mass., July, 1792. His father, sa Andrews, was a prominent lawyer in Essex County, Mass., and as a graduate of Harvard, from which the son also graduated in 1810, ving entered at the age of fourteen. He studied law, and practiced veral years successfully. By a providential circumstance he decided enter the ministry, and went to Catskill, N. Y., and studied with ev. Dr. Porter, a prominent Presbyterian clergyman. After complet- g his studies, he was soon licensed to preach, and began missionary bors, traveling on horseback and preaching in dwellings, school buses, or out of doors, wherever he could find listeners. The coun- y was then but thinly settled, and he made his home with whoever ive him room, staying over night, or a few days together, as he tought the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom demanded. In this ay he traversed the Susquehanna and Genesee Valleys, sowing the ed. Among those who entertained him was Robert Harper, of Coles- lle, from whom the village of Harpersville was named. Mr. Harper as a graduate of Glasgow University, Scotland; had been a pro- ssor in Kings (now Columbia) College, New York, and had held sev-
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
eral civil offices. Owning a large tract of land in Colesville, he wen there to live at the age of sixty. Mr. Andrews was a very welcome guest at his house, and in April, 1820, his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was married to the young clergyman, and they came directly to Norwich to live, where, June 28, Mr. Andrews was ordained by a Joint Com mittee from Otsego Presbytery and a Constitutional Council from Urs ion Association, and installed Pastor of this Church.
The following October he was elected Corresponding Secretary ce Chenango County Bible Society, but resigned July 3, 1826. While Pastor of this Church he opened a school in the village, which wadi quite successful. He was one of the ministers who composed th Presbytery of Chenango, at its formation, May 29, 1826, and was pre: ent at its first meeting. His pastorate over this Church closed Noven ber 30, 1826, and he went to Oxford and took charge of the Academy While there he decided to enter the Protestant Episcopal Church, to wards which he had been leaning for several months. October 1, 182" he was ordained Deacon by Rt. Rev. J. H. Hobart, in St. George Church, Schenectady, N. Y., and October 16, reported the fact to th Presbytery. A Committee was appointed to remonstrate with hin This being unsuccessful, with a slight show of ill-temper by the Pre bytery, his name was stricken from the roll, September 10, 1828 About this time he became Rector of the Episcopal Church at Ne Berlin, and remained there some years; from which place he went 1 Hudson, Columbia County, and from there to Binghamton, in 183 becoming Rector of Christ's Church. He sustained this relation unt 1850, when failing health compelled him to give up preaching. E however remained with the Church as a communicant until his deat] which took place Tuesday, March 5, 1867, at the age of seventy-thre years. He was buried in Spring Forest Cemetery at Binghamton, b side his wife, with whom he had lived nearly fifty years. The Church placed a marble tablet to his memory, on the wall near his pew.
The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by Geneva-now H bart-College. He was a man of strong, vigorous intellect, which 1 retained until his death. He was often eloquent in discourse; ver earnest, and very devoted to his calling; and after forty years of se vice only laid down the armor when his physical nature refused wear it. He was very affectionate in disposition, and left a lasting ar loving remembrance in the hearts of his people. Hon. Thurlow Wee says of him while in Norwich: "He was highly esteemed as Preac er, Pastor and Citizen." (Letters of Hon. E. C. Andrews, Hon. Thu low Weed, and Records of Otsego Presbty.)
REV. ASA DONALDSON.
February, 1818, he was ordained by Union Association, having ber previously licensed by that body; and May 25, 1819, was installed 1
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
he same, over the First Congregational Church of Guilford, where he emained until 1831, During this time he was employed several times s a missionary by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of he United States, to labor in Western New York. He was one of the ministers who were formed into the Presbytery of Chenango, May 29, 826; was Moderator at its first meeting, and was elected to the posi- ion at nearly every meeting while he remained in this section. No- ember 21, 1826, he was appointed by the Presbytery to supply the Norwich pulpit during December and January, after Mr. Andrews eft. He finally went west, and lived with a son, at whose house he ied several years ago. (Records of Chen. Presbty. Letter of Rev. eter Lockwood, etc.)
REV. PETER LOCKWOOD.
Mr. Lockwood was born at Bridgeport, Conn., Thursday, February , '1798, his father being a merchant at that place. He was converted 1 1815, and graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1820. n August, 1822, was ordained by Fairfield West Association, Connect- cut, and October 2, married Matilda Davenport, of Stamford, Conn. Tuesday, April 25, 1826, he joined Chenango Presbytery from Presby- ery of New York City, and Sunday, either June 14 or 21, 1827, began reaching to this Church on trial for three months. About May 1, he eceived a call from the Church to become its Pastor, with a salary or the first year of $400, guaranteed by eight men-" Truman Enos, Deacons Elijah Chamberlain and Levi Brooks, Joseph S. and Loring 'enton, and David Buttolph, members of the Church, and William now and Benjamin Chapman, of the Society." Mr. Lockwood ac- epted, and about the middle of May went to Stamford for his wife nd goods. At this time a son was born to him, and he was thus de ained until June 30, after which he started with his goods by Erie Canal. At Utica he received a letter from the Church, saying he had etter not bring his goods at present. He left them in Utica and has- ened to Norwich, to see what was the matter. He was told that nothing was the matter with him, but it was thought best that he should emain a while longer on trial. (Sce p. 24.) He peremptorily refused, and vent to Pharsalia, where his father-in-law owned wild lands, and reached a few times " in a school house near Judge Waldron's." He very soon went to Oxford, and for a short time made his home with Rev. Elijah D. Wells, Pastor of the Oxford Church. Friday, August , 1827, he went to Chenango Point-now Binghamton-having received un urgent call to become colleague Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and was installed Wednesday, December 5, 1827. After the leath of the Pastor, Rev. Benjamin Niles, July 18, 1828, he was sole Pastor until 1833, when he left. From April 12, 1843, until 1848 or '9,
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
he was Pastor of the Church at Berkshire, Tioga County, N. Y. O tober, 1845, was Moderator of the Synod of Geneva, at Cortland.
Mr. Lockwood and his wife are now living in Binghamton, and a connected with the First Presbyterian Church. Though he is n preaching, he is still vigorous, and himself and wife are in good healt and able yet to attend to their household and business affairs. In 18 they celebrated their Golden Wedding. At this time, 1879, they a each over eighty years of age. (F., p. 504. Records of Chen. Presbt and letter of Mr. Lockwood.)
REV. LYMAN SPENCER REXFORD.
Mr. Rexford was born at Barkhamsted, Litchfield County, Conn., 1783. His father was a farmer. Soon after the birth of this son, t] family moved to that part of the town of Sherburne which is no Smyrna. In 1807 he entered Yale College in the Senior year, ar graduated in the Class of 1808. He then studied law, and October 1811, was licensed to practice in the Court of Common Pleas. Not f: from this time he married, but to whom is not known. He practice law until about 1818, when his son died, and this affliction broug. about his conversion. He studied theology under the tuition Rev. John Truair, in his own office, and was licensed to preach } Union Association, probably in 1820. Mr. Truair left the Sherburi Church in September, 1820, and for two years Mr. Rexford acted Stated Supply over it. In October, 1820, he was elected Manager Chenango County Bible Society, and July 3, 1821, Corresponding Se retary in place of Rev. Edward Andrews. September 18, 1822, he w: ordained by a Council in this County. He continued to live in She burne until 1827, when he moved to Norwich, and January 29, 1828 was appointed Treasurer and Depositary of Chenango County Bib Society. While living in Norwich he supplied this pulpit for a fe months after Mr. Lockwood left, but just how long is not knowI April 17, 1829, he preached a sermon at the funeral of Pcter B. Guer sey, Jr., in the Church, and this seems to have been about the last ( his labors in the village. March 2, he had resigned his offices in th Bible Society, " as he was about to leave the place." He soon remove to Sherburne.
September 8, 1829, he joined Chenango Presbytery, from the Pre bytery of Albany, and was appointed Commissioner to Auburn The logical Seminary. Not far from this time he was attacked with som laryngeal difficulty, and being obliged to give up preaching regularly he engaged in mercantile business in Sherburne. He however preache occasionally in the vicinity, and in this way spent the remainder of h life. He died in Sherburne, November 8, 1843, at the age of sixt years, and was buried in the Episcopal church-yard in that place. H had been married twice.
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BIOGRAPHY OF MINISTERS.
Mr. Rexford was a man of ability; a fine reader; very critical, and ve much attention to elocution. At family devotions he often com- lled members of his household to read again and again their verses Scripture, because they were not read properly. An error in pro- inciation or grammar was unpardonable. Being very fond of theo- gical discussion, he rendered himself at times rather offensive to those th whom he conversed; and yet he was very kind-hearted, and his emory is lovingly cherished by those who were most intimate with m. He was a man of varied learning, and could converse on almost y topic with fluency. He was always ready with a joke or anec- te, and was very entertaining in social gatherings. (Records Chen. ). Bible Society and Chen. Presbty. Letters of Mrs. C. M. Wells, H. Dunham, Rev. J. Chambers, etc.)
REV. HORACE PUBLIUS BOGUE, D. D.
Mr. Bogue was born at Winchester, Litchfield County, Conn., De- mber 22, 1796, and was a son of Rev. Publius Virgilius Bogue, who the early years of this century was very well known and respected Central New York. The father and grandfather both were gradu- es from Yale College, and the grandfather was also a clergyman.
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