USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > A century of church life. A history of the First Congregational church of Marietta, Ohio, with an introduction by Rev. John W. Simpson > Part 6
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
In the same paper, Pres. I. W. Andrews, D. D., wrote as fol- lows: "A great audience was gathered at the Congregational church in Marietta on the afternoon of the Sabbath, November
62
13th, to attend the funeral service of the Rev. Thomas Wickes. It was fitting that one who had ministered at the altar of that church for nearly thirty years should be carried from it to his last resting place. * He came to Marietta in March, 1840. After supplying the pulpit of the Congregational church for a few Sabbaths, he was invited to become the pastor of the church and society, and was installed in July of that year. In April, 1869, he tendered his resignation of his charge after a long and successful pastorate of about twenty-nine years. He died on the tenth of November, 1870, at the residence of his brother, Stephen Wickes, M. D., at Orange, N. J., after a brief illness. Thus has passed away a most excellent and useful min- ister of Christ. No one but a man of ability could have main- tained himself so long as pastor of such a church. His influ- ence was great, not only in the immediate region, but with all churches of the denomination in the state. He was active in the formation both of the Marietta Congregational Conference and of the State Conference; of the latter body he was chosen moderator in 1853, and again in 1860. No Congregational min- ister has been more influential, and no one has been more re- membered, and his memory will be cherished by multitudes whose acquaintance with him was slight as well as by those whose privilege it was to sit under his ministration. In 1849 he was elected a trustee of Marietta College, which office he continued to hold during his life. The degree of Doctor of Di- vinity was conferred upon him by Wabash College some seven or eight years since (1864.) Prominent among his traits of character were simplicity and conscientiousness.
He was removed as much as any one could be from anything like policy. Direct, frank and transparent himself, it was diffi- cult for him to bring himself to distrust others. His sincerity no man called in question. All who knew him believed him to be a true Christian. However any might differ from him in doctrine they never doubted his piety. All who were present at the installation of Dr. Wickes in July, 1840, will remember the touching and beautiful words addressed to the young pastor by Prof. Allen (then of Marietta College, afterwards of Lane Sem- inary,) as he gave him the right hand of fellowship. At that
*
63
time Prof. Allen doubtless expected to spend his life in Mari- etta, but God appointed him to another work. Now after thirty years passed in different fields of labor, these Christian broth- ers have been re-united, their call to their final home having come to them almost at the same time. Two good men have finished their work together, different in some attributes of character, they were both earnest, true, godly, successful men."
Dr. Wickes was twice married; November 17th, 1838, he was married to Mary Antoinette, daughter of Rev. Alexander Gunn, D. D., of New York. She died at Marietta, May 20th, 1849. Of this marriage the following children are still living: Sarah Eliza, unmarried; Harriet Frances, wife of Charles H. Nye, Esq., of Canton, Ohio; and Rev. Thomas Alexander Wickes, of Helena, Mont. He afterwards married Lydia Frances, daughter of William Rockwell, of New York, who is still living, as are also their children, Mary Hopkins, William Rockwell and Car- oline Hubbell.
The memory of Dr. Wickes is still tenderly cherished by hun- dreds who knew him as their pastor. A large number of the students of Marietta College came under his influence and many commenced a Cristian life and devoted themselves to the work of the ministry through his teaching.
-
CHAPTER V. 1869-1883.
THE PASTORATE OF REV. THERON H. HAWKS, D. D.
March 8th, 1869, after the resignation of Dr. Thomas Wickes, ยท the church appointed a committee to secure a pastor, consisting of Pres. I. W. Andrews, Wm. R. Putnam and John Newton, to whom were added in behalf of the Society, Beman Gates, J. B. Hovey and C. K. Leonard. After correspondence and delibera- tion this committee recommended that Rev. Theron H. Hawks, D. D., of Cleveland, Ohio, be invited to preach as a candidate. They also reported that they had taken no steps to consider the claims of any other person.
Dr. Hawks preached here April 18th and 25th and May 3rd. The result was that without considering or hearing any other candidate, the church and Society on May 17th extended a unanimous call to Dr. Hawks to become their pastor. The let- ters that passed between the church and Dr. Hawks were as follows :
"MARIETTA, OHIO, May 21st, 1869. Rev. Theron H. Hawks, D. D.,
DEAR SIR: In transmitting to you the invitation from our church and Society, we cannot refrain from expressing our most earnest hope that in the entire unanimity with which this call has been made and in the readiness with which the Society has taken upon itself largely increased pecuniary obligation, you will see clear indications that you have been called by the Great Head of the church to this field of labor. Praying that God may direct you in your decision and that His blessing may ever abide with you, we are,
Most sincerely yours,
ISRAEL W. ANDREWS, W. R. PUTNAM, JOHN NEWTON, BEMAN GATES, JAMES B. HOVEY, CHAS. K. LEONARD."
Rev. Theron H. Hawks, D. D.
65
Reply :
"ORANGE, N. J., May 27th, 1869.
DEAR BRETHREN : The action of the Congregational church and Society in Marietta, by which they invite me to become their pastor and which you have transmitted, has been received. I desire to acknowledge gratefully this expression of their confi- dence. It has been my prayer that the Lord might make known his will in regard to the field of my labors in the ministry and this I think is his answer.
The steps by which the call has been reached, the unanimity with which it has been issued, and the good will which I am sure accompanies it, with other reasons that need not here be mentioned, have wrought the conviction that I am not at lib- erty to decline it. I do therefore accept it, praying that God will manifest his approval of the act by the bestowment of abundant grace upon us all, that through our instrumentality the cause of Christ may receive great advancement. With sin- cere esteem,
Yours in Christian bonds,
T. H. HAWKS. To Israel W. Andrews, John Newton, William R. Putnam, Be- man Gates, J. B. Hovey, C. K. Leonard, Committee of Church and Society."
Rev. Theron Holbrook Hawks was born at Charlemont, Franklin county, Massachusetts, October 24th, 1821. He was the son of Calvin B. and Cordelia B. Hawks. He graduated at Williams College in 1844 and at Union Theological Seminary in 1851. He spent several years as a teacher, three of which were in Union Theological Seminary. He was ordained March 5th, 1855, at West Springfield, Mass., where he was pastor from 1855 to 1861, and of the Second Presbyterian Church at Cleve- land, Ohio, from 1861 to 1868. He received the honorary D. D. from Williams College in 1864. The council of installation was held October 11th, 1869. The public exercises of that in- teresting occasion were as follows :
Sermon, Rev. Samuel Wolcott, D. D.
Installing Prayer, Rev. C. N. Ransom.
Charge to the Pastor, Rev. William Wakefield.
Right Hand of Fellowship, Pres. I. W. Andrews, D. D.
Charge to the People, Rev. J. A. Bates.
Concluding Prayer, Rev. William Addy.
Dr. Wolcott's sermon was from I Thess. 1, 5, "For our Gospel
66
came not unto us in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."
The following original hymn was written for the occasion by Dr. Wolcott :
"Joyful in Thy courts we stand, Thankful for Thine open hand ; Take we now Thy loving gift, And to Thee our voices lift.
To our waiting souls draw nigh,
Consecrate this tender tie,
Gird our pastor with Thy might, Count him faithful in Thy sight.
Through him cheer the fainting heart, To the feeble strength impart, Soothe the sorrowing, guide the meek To the contrite comfort speak.
In the pastures of Thy flock, And beside the shadowing rock, Let Thy sheep and lambs be fed, And to grateful shelter led.
Gather wanderers to Thy fold, Sweet communion with us hold; Bring us all Thy face to see --- Pastor, people, one in Thee."
When Dr. Hawks entered upon his work here he found the church strong and well organized, but he was able to streng- then the organization in some respects, and lead in some new lines of work. He was a pastor of ripe experience, and one of the leading divines of the state. He was Moderator of the Ohio State Association in 1870, and preached the annual sermon be- fore that body in 1871. The church had given regularly and generously to benevolence from the first, but this was a time when woman's work began to be emphasized, and in 1870 a branch of the Woman's Board of the Interior was organized ; in 1877, a Young Woman's Missionary Society, and in 1882, a Children's Missionary Society, all of which have since been effec- tive and active. The coming of Dr. Hawks also gave a new im-
67
pulse to home missionary work, both in the church, and in Ma- rietta Conference. In 1869 the Marietta Conference Home Missionary Society was organized. The contributions to home missions were largely increased, two or three missionaries were sustained within the bounds of the conference, and the small churches much encouraged. The receipts of this society aver- aged about $1000 a year. The success of this local society was an incentive to the state to attempt self-support of home mis- sions, and after the organization of the Ohio Home Missionary Society in 1872, this local society was merged into it.
In 1872, a Sunday School was opened on Post Street, and a building erected in which the school and other services were held for about ten years, resulting in much good, and a num- ber were converted, and added to this and other churches. In 1876, another school was established in the part of the city called Texas, which was sustained for several years. During the winter of 1878, this church united with others in the city in a series of revival meetings under the lead of Rev. E. P. Ham- mond. As a result, eighty-seven persons were added to the church on confession of faith at the communion season in April of that year. Although this was the only "great revival" during the pastorate of Dr. Hawks, there was a constant growth. The church received additions, especially from the Sunday School, every year, and nearly every communion, and among these were many very valuable accessions, The number re- ceived during these fourteen years, was 318, or an annual aver- age of nearly 23. The benevolent contributions during these years were well sustained, and considerable donation was made to Marietta College. A parsonage was purchased in 1874 for $8000, and repairs were made on the church and chapel in 1880, costing $1185. The amount raised by the church and society during these years, for all objects, was $77,532, an annual average of $5,520. In 1882, important action was taken provid- ing for a list of permanent absentees, on which are put the names of such members of the church as have been long absent without reporting. While these are retained upon the list, and may receive letters upon giving a satisfactory account of them- selves, they do not appear on the roll of the church.
68
Dr. Hawks was a man of superior social qualities, and endear- ed himself not only to his own congregation, but to all who knew him. He and his family did a great deal for the poor of the city.
A peculiarity of this period in the history of the church, which may properly be mentioned here, was the death of a num- ber of aged men, who had long been prominent in the church and community.
Bro. Daniel P. Bosworth died June 9, 1869, aged 69 years. Mr. Bosworth was a prominent business man, and a generous sup- porter of the church of which he was a member for forty years, for four or five years superintendent of the Sunday School, and for three years church clerk.
November 10, 1870, Dr. Hawks was called to officiate at the funeral of his predecessor, the Rev. Thomas Wickes, D. D., whose remains were brought here for burial.
Dea. Dennis Adams died April 2, 1873, aged 80 years. Mr. Adams was a member of the church nearly forty years. He was a deacon for eighteen years, and a deacon emeritus for the last five years of his life. He was a man of very strong religious convictions, and of sterling Christian character. During the early years of Marietta College, when manual labor was practiced by the students, Mr. Adams superintended the me- chanical department, and his influence over the students was always good. He was also a wise counselor in the affairs of the church. Pres. I. W. Andrews said of him that "He had a re- markably clear conception of what was best to be done in the circumstances and exigencies of life, especially was this true in all matters relating to the church and its work. We all know how highly favored this church has been in its officers for the last thirty or forty years, and it is doing no in- justice to the others to say that the counsels of none were re- garded with more respect and deference than his."
His pastor said of him, "He was a diligent, thoughtful 'stu- dent of God's word, and such were his attainments in the knowl- edge of the truth that the oldest and most mature Christians were glad to be taught by him."
Bro. Weston Thomas died April 10, 1878, aged eighty-seven
69
years. Though not an officer of the church, he was for forty years a valued member and generous supporter.
Dea. Samuel Shipman died May 9, 1880, aged seventy-three years. Mr. Shipman was for many years a leading merchant, and an enterprising citizen. He was elected deacon of the church in 1842, and held that office continually until his death. He was also for many years treasurer of the church, and for two or three years superintendent of the Sunday School. He was a friend and benefactor of Marietta College, of which he was treasurer from 1855 to 1867, and a trustee from 1857 to his death, a period of twenty-one years. The following action was taken by the church after his death :
"Resolved, First, That in the life of Dea. Shipman as a mem- ber of this church, extending over a period of more than half a century, we recognize the power of the principles of the Gospel of Christ to sustain, to brighten, and to exalt personal character.
Second, That during his thirty-eight years term of the office of deacon, he gave largely his best service to the church, discharg- ing, with eminent ability, the official duties assigned him by the church and the society. He won the love and confidence of his brethren, and of his pastor, and did noble work in the service of the Master.
Third, That now that he has passed away from mortal vision, we feel assured that in tender love for his faithful follower, the Divine Master has called him to higher and nobler service in the church triumphant above."
Bro. Ichabod Nye died June 24th, 1880, aged seventy-three years. Mr. Nye was a prominent business man and an esteemed member of the church for thirty-five years.
Deacon William Rufus Putnam died May 1st, 1881, aged fifty-nine years. Deacon Putnam was a native of Marietta and a grandson of Gen. Rufus Putnam, the leader of the Marietta colony, (1788.) He was held in very high esteem both as a citizen and as a Christian. He was Associate Judge of Washington county, and during the Civil War commandant of the military post at Marietta, with the rank of Colonel. He was deacon of the church from 1869 to his death, and a trustee of Marietta College for thirty-two years, and left to the College the principal part of his estate, or about thirty-five thousand dollars.
Deacon Anselm Tupper Nye died October 5th, 1881, aged
70
eighty-four years. Mr. Nye was a grandson of Gen. Benjamin Tupper, one of the founders of the Ohio Company. He was also a prominent business man of Marietta for many years and a member of the church forty-eight years. He was elected deacon in 1834 and held the office continuously for forty-four years, and was deacon emeritus for the last three years of his life. He was superintendent of the Sunday School for twenty- four years and church clerk twenty-eight years. He prepared a considerable amount of historical matter, which has been of great service to the compiler of this work. A paper prepared by him and read before Marietta Conference in 1876 is printed among the papers of the Ohio Church History Society (1892.) He inaugurated the movement which resulted in the organiza- tion of the Marietta Consociation (now Marietta Conference) in 1841, and was also one of the leaders in calling the conven- tion in 1852, which organized the Ohio State Association. He was one of the founders of Marietta College and a contributor to its funds; he was one of the original trustees and held that office until his death, a period of forty-six years.
Deacon John M. Eells died January 1st, 1882, aged seventy years. Mr. Eells was connected with the Marietta Chair Com- pany, an active business man. He was a member of this church for twenty-seven years and a deacon nine years. He was a con- sistent Christian, a safe adviser, and esteemed by all who knew him.
Col. John Mills died March 14th, 1882, aged eighty-seven years. Col. Mills was a native of Marietta, and from his arrival at maturity was intimately connected with the business inter- ests of the city, as a merchant, manufacturer and banker. A contemporary says of him, "Scarcely a business enterprise during fifty years of his life was undertaken without his counsel or association in some way." He was one who always devised liberal things for the church, of which he was a member for nearly fifty years. He was one of the founders of Marietta College, its treasurer from 1833 until 1850, and a trustee for forty-seven years.
Prof. George R. Rosseter died July 27th, 1882, aged fifty-eight years. Prof. Rosseter entered Marietta College in 1839 and
71
about the same time united with this church. He was a deacon for seventeen years, clerk for fourteen years and superintendent of the Sunday School for two or three years; also for many years a very successful Bible class teacher. He was instructor in the Academy and College for twenty-two years and one of the most successful in impressing young men. An obituary notice in the Marietta Register of August 3rd, 1882, says of him : "As a citizen he was loyal, as a Christian above reproach, as a neighbor kind and forbearing, as a friend near as a brother, as a husband and father more than words can tell. In his death every man has lost a friend, and both the College and commu- nity one of those they . least could spare." The citizens and returning alumni of the College to this day speak of these we have mentioned as a remarkable company of men,-men who were pillars in the church and the stay of the pastor. Others have arisen to fill their places, but the memory of these men lingers as a fragrance in the community and the church.
January 31st, 1883, after a pastorate of nearly fourteen years, Dr. Hawks presented his resignation as pastor of the church, giving as a reason the need of prolonged rest. The church re- quested him to withdraw his resignation and offered him a leave of absence for six months, but he did not think it expedi- ent to accept their generous offer and the resignation was very reluctantly accepted, and he was formally dismissed by Council, March 22nd, 1883. The Council unanimously adopted the fol- lowing minute :
"Resolved, That in coming to this result the Council express their deep sympathy with the church thus deprived of their faithful pastor, whose long and tender relations are thus sun- dered.
The Council are also able to declare with great satisfaction that they have found nothing in their investigation of the causes which have led to this dismission to impair their confi- dence in the Christian and ministerial character of the retiring pastor, whom accordingly they heartily commend to the confi- dence of the churches, as in their judgment an able, faithful and useful minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose life has been most exemplary, and whose influence for good in the com- munity and in the conference of Congregational churches will long be remembered with affectionate gratitude, and who carries
72
with him their warmest sympathy and earnest prayer for his future prosperity in the work of the Lord wherever Providence may assign his labors."
On the same day with this dismissal of Dr. Hawks, another Council met in the same place and was composed of the same individuals, with a few others. This Council examined, ap- proved and ordained to the work of a foreign missionary under the A. B. C. F. M., Mr. Winthrop B. Hawks, eldest son of Dr. Hawks.
Mr. Winthrop Hawks was a young man of great promise, but man's ways are not always God's ways, and failing health pre- vented him from carrying out his chosen plans. After a brave struggle with disease, Rev. W. B. Hawks died at Colorado Springs, Col., March 24th, 1885. This church spread upon its records the following minute, prepared by Pres. I. W. Andrews :
"We have heard with much sorrow of the decease of our young brother, Winthrop B. Hawks, a member of this church, and eldest son of our late pastor, Rev. Theron H. Hawks, a graduate of Marietta College and the Theological Seminary at New Haven. He was well prepared for a life of eminent useful- ness, but God has ordained otherwise, and our brother has been called to his heavenly home, just as he was entering upon his active work.
"We tender to Dr. Hawks and his family our deepest sympa- thy in this their bereavement, remembering gratefully the bless- ed words of consolation that fell so gently and lovingly from his lips, 'when death has entered our households, and the places of our dear ones have been made vacant.' "
After his dismissal from this church, Dr. and Mrs. Hawks spent several months in Europe. Since their return they have resided in Springfield, Massachusetts.
In 1884, Dr. Hawks occupied the position of instructor in Church History in Hartford Theological Seminary, and since January, 1885, has been instructor in Bible History, Exegesis, and Church History in the School for Christian Workers, at Springfield, Massachusetts.
PASTOR'S STUDY.
--
CHAPTER VI.
1883-1896.
PASTORATE OF REV. C. E. DICKINSON, D. D.
Rev. Cornelius Evarts Dickinson, son of Deacon Aaron and Sarah (Miller) Dickinson, was born at Heath, Franklin county, Mass., April 23d, 1835. He graduated from Amherst College in 1860 and from Chicago Theological Seminary in 1863. He was pastor at Oak Park, Ills., (where he organized the church) from 1862 to 1867, and at Elgin, Ills., from 1867 to 1882. He spent five months in travel for his health and during the au- tumn and winter of 1882-3 did some missionary work in Chi- cago.
After the dismissal of Dr. Hawks, this church heard no can- didate until April 15th, 1883, when by invitation Mr. Dickinson preached for them, and also the two following Sundays. As a result he received a unanimous call to become pastor. The letter extending the call was as follows :
"MARIETTA, O., May 5th, 1883.
DEAR SIR : At a meeting of the Congregational church of this place on Monday evening, April 30th, it was resolved with- out dissent that a call be extended to Rev. Cornelius E. Dick- inson, of Elgin, Ills., to become the pastor and teacher of this church and Society. Messrs. I. W. Andrews, Henry Rodick and Howard Stanley were appointed a committee to act with a com- mittee of the Society, should that body concur in this call, to communicate this action to Mr. Dickinson.
At a meeting of the First Religious Society of Marietta, held May 4th, it was resolved without dissent to concur with the church in extending a call to Rev. Cornelius E. Dickinson, of Elgin, Ills., to become the pastor and teacher of this church and Society. It was resolved further that the salary be $1,500 per annum, with the use of the parsonage, and that the same vacation be given as was given to the former pastor. Messrs.
74
Beman Gates, S. L. Grosvenor and William G. Way were ap- pointed a committee to act with the committee of the church in communicating this call to Mr. Dickinson.
The undersigned take pleasure in communicating to you this action of the church and Society and express their confident hope in view of the unanimity with which the call has been made, and the fact that the congregation has heard no other person with a view to settlement, that you will return a favor- able response.
Very truly yours,
I. W. ANDREWS, - HENRY RODICK, Committee of the Church. H. W. STANLEY, BEMAN GATES, S. L. GROSVENOR, Committee of the Society." W. G. WAY,
The answer to this letter was as follows :
"ELGIN, ILLS., May 7th, 1883. DEAR BRETHREN : Your favor, communicating to me a call to become pastor of the Congregational Church and Society of Marietta, Ohio, is received. I am very grateful for the unanim- ity of action on the part of both church and Society, and after prayerful consideration have decided to accept the call upon the conditions specified. In making this decision I have been influenced not only by what seems to be the leadings of Provi- dence, but also by the great interest I have come to feel in your people and in the church as a most important field for Christian labor. Though conscious of my own insufficiency for the posi- tion to which you have called me, I shall go to work with you in the confident expectation that the Master whom we serve will bless our mutual efforts. I now expect to be in Marietta with my family in season to occupy the pulpit on Sunday, May 20th. Fraternally yours,
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.