History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 49

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 626

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The parish in Homer opened a wider field than that from which he retired. The church had four hundred names upon its record, and the Sabbath congregation averaged six hundred. There was a flourishing academy in the place, of which Mr. Keep was elected a trustee soon after his settlement. He entered upon this field when he was forty-one years of age, in full vigor of body and mind, with an experience of sixteen years in the pastoral relation, and all his resources were brought to bear upon the work before him. An extract from a written state- ment made by one of his parishioners, will afford some apprehension of his labors there.

" He was now in the full possession of his mental and physical manhood, in the enjoyment of good health, and he entered upon the duties of this new charge with all the zeal, industry, and energy of his ardent temperament. His congregation, mingled in

a population of six thonsand sonls, spread over an area of ten miles square, were to be full-fed on the Sabbath, to be nursed in their families, to be bathed in his sympathies when sick, and to be tenderly sus- tained at the burial of their dead, requiring religions visits, many weekly lectures and a perpetual suc- cession of funeral sermons. His pulpit discourses were uniformly well prepared and attractive ; his various and exceedingly multiplied duties out of the pulpit were punctually performed, and to the satis- faction of the community. Through his influence as president of the board of trustees of the academy, a ladies' department was inaugurated, more teachers were employed, the attendance of pupils increased. and the institution was at once placed on a basis which led it on and upward to a position of one of the most popular and useful educational agencies in central New York.

" Mr. Keep was remarkable for the interest he manifested in all the business, social, and religions affairs of the community. No one knew so much as he of all that was going on in the community. For the aged he ever had a pertinent thought, a word of consolation and cheerful advice. To the middle-aged business men, he was ever ready to address words of encouragement and wise counsels. For the young he invariably had a word of cheerful greeting and a hearty welcome. No child, ever so young, escaped his notice. lle thus became a great favorite with the yonth and children in our vicinity. The admission to the church, during his twelve years' labor among ns, of five hundred members, is the reliable testimony that the blessing of God attended his ministration.

" During the five years before his removal from us, he maintained weekly five Bible classes, in as many different districts, and such was his punctuality in fulfilling his appointments, that only in one instance did he fail of being present with his class. Many members of the church received their first religious impressions under his faithful presentations of truth in these Bible recitations.

" His ardent temperament, with his talent for leading the community, placed him in the front rank in all measures necessary for a healthful public senti- ment, the prosperity of the church, and the strength and adornment of a christian commonwealth ; yet in all this he was never captions or dogmatical, but at all times ready to listen to the opinions of others, and to profit by their suggestions, never allowing expediency to take the precedence of principle."

A man so ardent and progressive would inevitably find some tendency to reaction in his church, and the apprehension that this might at length result in dis- sension and party division induced him to tender his resignation, and thus avert the danger. Many were grieved at his decision, but he never regretted the step.

Two calls were then before him-one to an agency in New England in behalf of the American Coloniza- tion Society, the other to the care of a church in Cleveland, Ohio.

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OUFIO.

Until about this time, most of the practical anti- slavery feeling of the country had gathered about the colonization society-an organization the design of which was to send free colored people and liberated slaves to Africa, where it was supposed they belonged. Mr. Keep was a colonizationist ; and with this call in his pocket he came on to Cleveland.

The doctrine of immediate emancipation on the soil had just been broached by Garrison and others, and the colonization society had been assailed as selfish and cruel.

Pondering these questions on his journey, he came out an unconditional emancipationist, and hence de- clined the call to the agency ; not that he was more opposed to slavery than before, but he had obtained new light as to the practical treatment of it.

Cleveland, in 1833, was a village of three or four thousand inhabitants, and here Mr. Keep spent a year as pastor of the Stone Church,-now the First Presbyterian Church. Then with a colony from this church he organized a church in Ohio City,-now the First Congregational Church, West Side .- and be- came its pastor.

The work at Oberlin was commenced in 1833. In the spring of 1834 the permanent teachers came upon the ground, and in the autumn of that year Father Keep was elected a trustee and president of the board. From this time he began to be known as Father Keep, not so much on account of his age, which was fifty- three years, as for his benignant, fatherly character.

One of the first. questions before the board after his election, was that of opening the doors of the college to colored pupils. Several meetings were held; the discussions were long and earnest; there was much excitement in the new "colony;" and when the vote was taken in the final meeting, there was a tie. Father Keep, as president, gave the casting vote, and determined the position of the college and of the community on the side of the colored people. The position was taken with hesitation, but courage grew with the conflicts which followed. From that hour Father Keep took Oberlin on his heart, and never laid it off until he laid off all earthly thought and care. During the feebleness of the last day of his life, he referred to a letter which he was writing in the inter- ests of the college, saying that he would finish it to- morrow.

In 1836, he resigned his pastorate in Cleveland, and accepted a financial agency for the college. This work he prosecuted for a year with excellent success; but the financial crash of 1837 came on, and only a few of the pledges secured were redeemed-his own. of one thousand dollars, being one of the few. The times were unpropitions for such an effort, and he resigned his agency to return to pastoral work.

But there were few pulpits, in those days, open to a minister connected with the unpopular cause of abolitionism, and the unpopular college of Oberlin. fle preached a few months in Wooster, Ohio, and afterward in Lockport and Albion, New York.

Then, in view of the pressing wants of the college, especially of a debt which was truly formidable, and the impossibility of raising money in this country, in the spring of 1839, in connection with Mr. William Dawes, a trustee of the college, he undertook a mis- sion to England for its relief. Mr. Dawes was the leader in the enterprise, and Father Keep was his ardent supporter and co-laborer. It was a bold un- dertaking, but successfully accomplished, giving a net. result of thirty thousand dollars in aid of the college, and furnishing relief which was vital to the success of the enterprise at Oberlin. This sum was collected by personal application, and in small amounts, mostly under fifty dollars each, involving a great expenditure of labor and patience, continued through a year and a half. Mr. Dawes and Father Keep gave themselves to the work without reservation, not even taking a day for recreation or sight-seeing, passing St. Paul's daily, for weeks together, without turning aside to visit it. It was not because Father Keep lacked ap- preciation of such objects of interest, or had no desire to see, but because he had given himself to a great work, and it engrossed the energies of his soul. This arduous and self-denying labor he performed almost without compensation.

For the next ten years, he gave himself to the work of preaching, having charge of churches in Mansfield and Hartford, Ohio, and preaching in Arcade, New York, and Litchfield, Ohio.

In 1850, having nearly reached his threescore years and ten, he removed his family to Oberlin, put on the harness again, and aided in raising an endowment of one hundred thousand dollars by the sale of schol- ships. Here he passed the remainder of his years; but they were not years of idleness, or the quiet en- joyment of the fruit of his labors. Ile filled them all to the very last with a ceaseless activity: looking after the interests of the college and the place; going ont upon an occasional agency: writing letters to friends and acquaintances to enlist their sympathy and aid : preaching without compensation from place to place on the great themes of the gospel and the pressing questions of the times, the doctrine of human rights, and the true idea of a "christian commonwealth;" aiding in every public enterprise of the town, as church building and the schools; looking after the poor and the stranger; showing an intense interest in all that concerned the welfare of the families and the place; attending diligently all meetings of the trus- tees of the college, and cheering on every effort for improvement, often electrifying the whole body of trustees and faculty with the impulse of his ardor and his energy and faith. Others might be discour- aged; he never was. His personal contributions to the college in money and services, estimated at the lowest standard at the time when rendered, exceed four thousand dollars; and all this at great self-denial, most of the time without any income, shut out from pastoral work by his labors for the college.

Father Keep was blessed with a remarkably vigor-

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

ons constitution, and during his long life enjoyed almost uninterrupted health. He was never contined to his bed a single day, save the last one of his life. Perhaps the best explanation of this fact is, that "a cheerful heart doeth good like a medicine." For a few weeks before his death, he was more feeble than usnal, and felt that his end was near. He spoke of his decease and made arrangements for it with as much freedom and cheerfulness as if it had been a journey or a change of residence.

February 11, 1870, his long journey was finished. He died, not because he was overcome by disease, but because he had lived life ont. Ile closed his eyes as calmly as a child to sleep, holding the hands of his daughter, and putting his last breath into a farewell kiss. At last he rested from his labors.

Some of the prominent traits of Father Keep's character are well exhibited in the following commu- nication from Rev. Albert 11. Plumb, Boston, Massa- chusetts, who knew him in his best days:

" The visits of my uncle, Rev. John Keep, to my father's house in my childhood, are remembered with great interest. Ilis cheery ways, his quaint and pithy sayings, his kind interest in each member of the family, made his coming a breezy, sunny time.

" He seemed to have a rare faculty of comprehend- ing at once the entire situation of the parties, of discerning just the topics which a wise regard for the interests of the families would bring up for conference; and passing quickly by all the little nothings which too often engross the thoughts when friends meet, occasioning regret afterwards that need- ful things were left unsaid, he promptly seized hold of each important subject in its order, so that when he left our roof we all felt like saying, 'what a sat- isfactory visit! how much was accomplished!' His life often reminded me of one of his own aphorisms: . Duty done gilds the future.'

" He must have early formed, for he long main- tained, a habit of looking with real interest upon every person he met, and of giving to almost every one some inspiring word bearing on his vital inter- ests. These vigorous sayings often carried so much concentrated wisdom that they were treasured as mot- toes for life.

" He was endned with remarkable foresight, so that his age was not embittered by the overthrow of his plans, and the disappointment of his hopes, through the changes of the times. On the contrary, he en- joyed, as few are privileged to do, the realization of his fondest hopes, the triumphs of his most sacri- ficing toils.

"As a friend, Mr. Keep was beyond praise. How quickly personal grief melted away in the warm sun- light of his presence; for, in his high consecration to great and worthy ends, he thought little about him- self-his frames or moods, his burdens or cares. His friendship was wise, far-sighted, and it held on. Look at his married life-one long, peaceful, cloudless sum- mer day! And when, at length, husband and wife

were tottering down the hill together, no sweeter picture of wedded love ever met my eyes than they then presented to the view of all."

In noticing further the character exhibited in the life of Father Keep, we are struck with his permanent and ever fresh interest in life and its work. He was never disposed to live in the past, or imagine the former times better than these. He congratulated those who were younger, that they were permitted to live and act in these better days, and no admonition to his younger brethren was more often on his lips, than that they should appreciate the privilege of living at such a time as this, and not fall behind the age.

Hence, he was naturally a progressive, and never a conservative. He had no veneration for anything merely because it was of long standing. He was always looking for something better, and ready to enlist in any reform that promised any good. And this trait was quite as prominent when he had passed his fourscore years as in his early manhood; out of this, and his abiding faith in God, sprung his great hopefulness and his never-failing confidence in re- sults.

This hopefulness and faith were perhaps the source of another trait-his courage and fidelity in maintain- ing his convictions of unpopular truth. Few, at this later day, can appreciate the courage which it re- quired, in his early manhood, to espouse as he did the cause of the colored man, and to identify himself with the friends of abolitionism so thoroughly.

Hle had a plan for everything. Nothing was ever done at random, or by accident. He was not drifted along by circumstances, but subjected circumstances to his purpose. His mind was fertile in devising, and persevering and inflexible in execution. This appears in his early pastorates, and is the secret of the great amount of work which he was able to ac- complish. His plans took in all the interests of every family in his wide parish,-and were laboriously and faithfully carried out in all their details.

This habit carried into his business, explains how he was able to live upon his slender means, almost without income, and yet give to benevolent canses more than most persons who had tenfold his resources. Nothing but rigid economy, and the most systematic conduct of his affairs, could have accomplished such results. Many a minister of later days might learn wisdom from him in this particular.

Finally, Father Keep was a man of disinterested and abounding love. His self-forgetfulness was most remarkable, and he manifested it everywhere. lle lived to do good, and his love embraced all classes. His mind was occupied with plans for others, seldom for himself. His reflections and private meditations did not pertain to his own state. Ile sometimes re- gretted that he had not more of an experience, and depreciated his own subjective life and character in comparison with what seemed to him the higher ex- perience of his friends. But he held on his way in

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HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OIIIO.

simple and transparent faith and obedience, and to the end testified of the sufficiency of Christ and his salvation. His faith was as striking as his good-will to men,

He never had any sympathy with the spirit of reformers who showed disrespect for the Bible and the church. It was his great aim to apply the prin- ciples of the gospel to all the relations and affairs of man. To this agency, under the blessing of God, he ascribed all improvevements in the condition of the world. And so, in quiet trust and earnest consecra- tion, he waited the call of his Master, and when the summons came, went home in peace.

SAMUEL MATTHEWS.

When a truly good man passes away, the commu- nity in which his noble qualities were known and appreciated stand in awe at the divine dispensation, and are naturally led to wonder why Providence should select one who, by the very excellence of his life and character, could be so much more benefit to mankind in general than many others. But His ways are inscrutable, hence the seeming inconsistency of events, as viewed from a mortal's standpoint. The above thoughts are called forth by reference to the obiturary notice of the death of the late Samuel Matthews, who departed this life May 8, 1877, and of whom it can be truly said, no better man ever lived within the limits of Russia township.

Samuel Matthews was born in Addison county, Vermont, September 19, 1817. His ancestors had been prominent citizens of that State for many years, and we find his father, Lucius Tuttle Matthews, and his grand-father, Darius Matthews, residents of Corn- wall, the latter living there in 1788, and the former born there in 1793. They were a hardy, honest and practical class of citizens, just the kind, in fact, to be the progenitors of pioneers.

When Samuel was a boy, his father emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Thompson, Geauga county. In the year 1837, at the age of nineteen, he (Samuel,) struck out For himself, came to Russia township, and contracted for one hundred acres of land, upon which his widow and daughters now reside. HIe made his home with his uncle, Deacon Daniel B. Kinney, while making a start upon his new farm. With but little capital, except a strong constitution, a brave heart and willing hands, he commenced making an opening in the wilderness, got out timber for a barn, erected a log house, and brought his father and mother on to share his home, Ilere they all lived together until 1849, when, on the 19th of September of that year, he mar- ried Lomanda, daughter of Enoch Barnum. She was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, March 12, 1816. Iler father was a soldier of the war of 1812, during which he was severely wounded, and on that account was a pensioner. There were born to them two daughters, Emma Augusta, born February 14, 1851;

married Herbert II. Barnum, January 18, 1871; (has two children, Maud Lonise, born November 18, 1821; Roy David, born January 7, 18:5;) Myra Lonisa, born March 25, 1857; died December 25, 1861,

As showing how difficult a matter it was, in early days, to obtain money, and what slow work it was to pay for his farm, he used to raise oats and sell them for one shilling per bushel, and when he had thus gathered a few dollars, he would go to Amherst, the home of the agent, on foot, after a hard day's work, and pay it on his article, and so persevered, paying little by little, until his farm was all paid for.

His parents were christians of the old puritan Con- gregational school, and being naturally sober and thoughtful, he early made a profession of religion, and soon after arriving in Russia united with the Congregational church of Oberlin. At the division of the society, he was one of the number that with- drew from the old church and formed what is now known as the Second Church. His heart was enlisted in the work of erecting a church edifice, and he vol- untarily pledged two hundred dollars to this object to be paid in installments, but realizing the imme- diate need of funds, he borrowed the money, at ten per cent. interest, and paid it all at once. He and his excellent wife, who joined him in every good work, afterward took one hundred dollars in the building fund, which they soon after paid. He was never for- ward or ostentatious, never seeking notoriety, but in his quiet, retiring way; was ever a steady, earnest, consistent christian. His deeds of charity were nu- merons and constant; many were the acts of kindness which he performed without any hope of reward, and which will live in the hearts of his neighbors long after his mortal remains shall have mouldered to dust. Ilis home was a constant hospital for the needy and suffering. After his marriage his father and mother went to Iowa, to live with children there, but at the death of his mother, his father returned to finish his days with his son Samuel. The father and mother of Mrs. Matthews also found a home in his house, and in their declining years were cared for with generous kindness until removed by death.

Mr. Matthews was a man whom to know was to love, and whose name from the first to the last con- tinued a synonym for all that was benevolent, gener- ons and good. His character for personal integrity was above reproach. In the exalted relations of hus- band and father he was kind and affectionate, a good provider, but reasonably exacting in family discipline and obedience. In fine, he was a man whose life in general constituted a worthy example of practical usefulness.

CHARLES BASSETT.

Among the families whose general worth has made them conspicuous in the history, not only of the con- munity in which some members of them now reside, but also in the castern States where for more than two

1834

CHARLES BASSETT

MRS. CHARLES BASSETT

VINU VU

LOTT PARSONS

MRS LOTT PARSONS.

RESIDENCE OF LOTT PARSONS, RUSSIA , LORAIN CO., OHIO.

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IIISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

centuries their ancestors have resided, that of the Bassetts hold an exalted and prominent position. "The progenitors of him whose name heads this sketch, settled in Massachusetts contemporary with the pil- grim fathers, while those of his mother actually came to America on the "Mayflower" in 1620, she being a lineal descendant of Miles Standish, the warrior pil- grim. Each successive generation from this historic stock have by industrious and straightforward lives done honor to their exalted ancestry.

Charles Bassett was born in the town of Chili, Monroe county, New York, March 10, 1820, and we write this sketch of him on the fifty-ninth anniver- sary of his birth-day. He was the youngest child and second son of Nathan Bassett and Sarah Standish. the former of whom was born Angust 12, 1763, the latter, December 10, 1775, both at Bridgewater, Mas- sachusetts. They were married April 4, 1793, and lived together sixty years, the husband and father dying in 1853, the wife and mother in 1854. Their children numbered nine, and were born in the order named: Thomas, Phebe, Sarah, Naomi, Betsey, Free- love, Amanda, Emily and Charles. In 1812 they removed to Chili, Monroe county, New York, and to Russia township in 1834. They settled on the farm now occupied by their son, Charles, and for two years lived in a log cabin, 14 by 16 feet, an illustration of which appears in the sky margin of the view of the homestead on another page of this volume. In 1836 he erected a frame house, which is still standing in the rear of the present residence. Nathan Bassett was a man of extraordinary vitality, and possessed mental capabilities above the average. lle was of a sunny temperament, of a jocular disposition, and had an extended knowledge of human nature. In his younger days he had been a great traveler, having spent seven years on the ocean, in the service of the West India Company. As a sample of his indomita- ble will and courage we mention the fact that he had reached his "three score years and ten" when he pen- etrated the wilderness, purchasing sixty-seven acres of land, and made a home for himself and wife in Russia township.

Towards the close of the revolutionary war, he vol- unteered, and went with his regiment to Rhode Island, where the British were expected to land. He also served in the war of 1812. at Buffalo, New York, where he was wounded. lle lived to the age of ninety years, and to within a few months of his death was as active as most men at sixty. On the Christmas day preceding his decease he was prostrated by a paralytic shock, the effects of which, four months later, ended his remarkable life. Ile enjoyed the respect and esteem of all by whom he was known, and his memory to-day is green in the hearts of those who knew him best. In politics he was an old line whig. He held several offices in the township government, notably that of school examiner. His last days were rendered as comfortable as possible, and the filial affection of his children, and the long-tried love of his devoted

wife did much toward the alleviation of his sufferings and in smoothing the entry into " that bourne from whenee no traveler returns."

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History of Lorain County, Ohio, Part 49

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers Number of Pages: 626

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia, Williams brothers
Number of Pages: 626