USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Poultney > A history of the town of Poultney, Vermont, from its settlement to the year 1875, with family and biographical sketches and incidents > Part 12
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preached the sermon. Lyman Prindle was the Stationed Preacher. The old Stone House on the hill wassold to a private in- dividual ; by him it was afterwards sold to the " True Wesleyans;" by them to a few individuals, who fitted it up into two stories- the first as tenements, and the second as an audience room for preaching, lectures, etc; by the m it was sold to the Adventista, and, finally, by them to the Masonic Lodge, who have fitted the upper story into rooms for their meetings, and the lower story into rooms, now occupied for the district school.
Nothing can justify the existence of a Church organization, nor the expenditure of money to sustain it, but the moral power it exerts in restraining vice, encouraging virtue, elevating society, bringing sinners to Christ, and "spreading Scriptural Holiness" over the land. This is its divine warrant, and its sufficient vindi- cation. Without this, it is a more fornr destitute of Divine sanc- tion no matter how hoary its antiquity, nor how pretentious its claims. Tried by this standard. the Methodist Episcopal Church of Poultney has manifestly been ordainel of God.
While the Methodist Church of Poultney arrogates to itself no distinction above its sister churches in this r. spect, it is proper to refer to signal spiritual refreshings, of which the first and most
139
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
marked was under the ministry of Stephen D. Brown in 1843. The next was under the ministry of T. W. Harwood in 1867. At this time signal service was rendered by the " Praying Band" of Troy, N. Y., under the leadership of Joseph Hillman. Indeed the pastorate of no one of the long list of worthy men who have occu- pied its pulpit to the present time, can justly be described as des- titute of aggressive moral force or barren of wholesome spiritual results.
A full list of the official members during so long a period would extend this sketch beyond the limits allowed; we cannot therefore give their names further than they have already necessarily ap- peared. Most of them "rest from their labors, and their works do follow them"-"Their record is on high."
Poultney was the residence of Presiding Elders from 1833 to 1868, the succession being Cyrus Prindle, John M. Weaver, Benjamin Marvin, Truman Seymour, John Clark, Joseph Ayres, Tobias Spicer, Sanford Washburn, Lewis Potter, S. P. Williams, P. P. Harrower and Desevignia Starks.
The following is a list of the ministers who have served the Poultney Church, beginning when the movement was first made to build the old Stone House and organize Poultney into a regular appointment. The successive Circuit relations of Poultney from the same date to the time when it was made a separate Station are also indicated.
1821.
Samuel Draper. Moses Amadon. Jacob Beaman. Orrin Pier. Philo Ferris. George Smith. Elijah Crane. Seymour Landon.
Brandon Circuit.
1822.
1823.
1824.
1825.
Elijah Crane. Seymour Landon. Dillon Stephens. William Todd. John C. Green. W. P. Lake. Lorin Clark.
Whitehall Circuit.
1826.
1827.
John C. Green,
Poultney Station.
1823.
1829-30
Nathaniel Porter, Peter C. Oakley,
66 66
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HISTORY OF POULTNEY,
1831-32. 1833-34. 1835. 1836.
Friend W. Smith, John Pegg, J. Ilall, J. Frazer, C. R. Morris,
- Poultney Station.
66
66
J. B. Houghtaling,
‹ .
J. Frazer, John Allen, 6€ Lyman Prindle, 66 66
Stephen D. Brown, Wm. M. Chipp,
66
66
1847-48.
G. C. Wells, Peter R. Stover, Geo. G. Saxe,
66
66
1853. 1854.
Charles II. Leonard, D. W. Dayton,
6:
1855-56.
Thomas Dodgson,
1857-58.
S. M. Merrill,
66
1859-60.
C. II. Richmond, Geo. S. Chadbourne, }
66
66
1862-53.
W. II. Poor, S Geo. W. Fitch,
6:
1864-65.
L. D. Stebbins,
6€
1866-67-68.
T. W. Harwood,
66
66
1872-73-74.
J. J. Noc,
66
1875.
G. C. Morehouse,
The present House of Worship has undergone extensive repairs and improvements at three different times since it was built. First during the ministry of S. M. Merrill at which time it was frescoed, inside blinds were added and the ground in front ter- raced and graded ; second, during the ministry of T. W. Harwood, when the basement was reconstructed and the house repainted ; and third. during the ministry of J. J. Noe, at which time the roof was slated, an orchestra built and an elegant organ procured. In 1844 the Troy Annual Conference held its session in Poultney. At this Conference Bishop L. L. Hamlin presided. He had just been elected to the Episcopal office by the General Conference at
1837. 1838. 1539. 1840. 1841. 1842-43 1844. 1845. 1846.
Joseph Ayres,
66
1849-50.
1851-52. Harvey S. Smith,
18,1.
1869-70-71. H. C. Farrar,
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HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
Its session in New York City. Stephen D. Brown was now the Sta- tioned Preacher and Truman Seymour the Presiding Elder.
It seems a little remarkable, when we consider that Methodism has been established a half a century in Poultney, and that the Troy Conference Academy was founded here forty years ago, that it has given to the Church only one Methodist preacher, native of the town, Alanson Richards-now a superannuated member of the Troy Conference, residing in the West.
The following statements and extracts from minutes are inter- esting, as showing the changes in some respects that have taken place during the last fifty years. The old Stone Meeting House was built in 1822, but was not finished until late in the fall of 1828. John Stanley was treasurer of the society. His account contains several entries like the following : "Rec'd of. . towards fin- ishing meeting house, ten bushels corn." This corn was sold for fifty cents per buskel. "Pd. . for painting S} days at $1.50." Then the painter worked "from sun to sun." Now he will accom- modate you by working short ten hours for $3.50. The Treasurer credits himself with "expenses to Hubbardton, $1.38." Now that would scarcely get you started. by cloth paid out for boards." by boarding Scott Strands six
weeks, $9." Now that sum would scarcely board two men one
week. . by boarding Winchester ten days, 82.25." Less than 25 cents a day ! not sufficient now to pay for a lun- cheon. The amount requisite to finish the house was less than $300, yet it remained unfinished six years.
The District parsonage that was purchased in 1832, was a two story brick house with 22 acres of land on Main street in the centre of the village, and cost $800. The west half, or nearly half, of the lot was sold to the Stewards of the Station for $100. In 1858 the same District parsonage was sold for $2,600.
During the Conference year of 1829 and 1830, Rev. Peter C. Oakley's receipts in Poultney Station were $155. Now $1000 are barely enough to keep a minister on "short commons."
In 1844, Poultney and Hampton were united in one charge with Wm. M. Chipp as preacher. Manifestly one min could mot preach twice each Sabbath in each place. To secure the ser- vices of a second preacher the Quarterly Conference offered Dr. E. Wentworth, whe was then a teacher in the Academy, $100 for
142
HISTORY OF POULTNEY',
preaching once each Sabbath in each place through the year. Strange to say, the Doctor, although not always blind to the " main chance," crucified his love of money and declined the offer; but ten years later he compensated this loss by going as a mission- ary to China where he remained seven years.
Less than thirty years ago, a member of long, and in other respects good standing, was expelled for the crime of letting his horses on Sunday, thus violating the Fourth commandment. And about the same time a man was expelled for indulging in a social way, in the amusement of chess, checkers, cards, etc. These state- ments are made not in any spirit of censure against the discipline of that day-for it is infinitely safer to err on the side of superstition than of license-but only to show how public opinion has changed.
The name of John Stanley has already been mentioned, but the history of the M. E. Church in Poultney would be imperfect, in- deed, if it did not assign to him a prominent place. Although not a professor of religion at its organization, nor for several years after- wards, he was, nevertheless. the life of the enterprise of building the old Stone House and of all financial measures for sustaining. preaching until the imfirmities of age compelled him to hand the burdens over to younger men. The interest which he manifested and the sacrifices which he made for the material prosperity of the Church were rewarded by spiritual refreshing to his own heart. For, long before he died, he became an humble christian, gilding his later years with the mellow radiance of undefiled religion, and. coming down to the grave at a good old age like a shock of corn fully ripe.
Alanson Rice was identified with the Church of Poultney in its organization and was its unfaltering defender and supporter through all the phases of its history. No more staunch or zeal- ous advocate of its peculiarities both of doctrine and polity could be found. Zion was his chief joy and he could truly say of her, " If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cun- ning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."
The membership of the Church was originally composed of classes in Hampton and remote parts of the town of Poultney, there being but few members in the village. The class in Hampton became a separate church in 1843, and the classes in Poultney, outside the village were long ago broken up by death
143
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
and removals. Still the membership is at present as large as ever it was. To endure such decimation without diminution is abun- dant evidence of aggressive vitality.
In accounting for the continued and uniform prosperity of the Church the Sabbath School is a factor that must not be neglect- ed The Poultney M. E. Sabbath School, dating almost from the organization of the Church has always been abreast with the fore- most in this essential auxiliary to religious prosperity. It has for several years past enjoyed the indefatigable services of an able, en- thusiastic and practical Superintendent, together with the heirty co-operation of a band of faithful, zealous and efficient officers and teachers who have labored in active sympathy with him. Its statistics are :- 1 Superintendent; 146 Scholars ; 20 Officers and Teachers; 15 Classes ; 453 Volumes in Library.
Two saperannnated ministers of the Troy Conference have passed their waning years and died residents of Poultney ; Wi, Ryder who took up his residence here in 1835, lived fourteen years in almost unparalelled suffering, being a helpless invalid from in- Aammatory rieumatism, and died in 1849, and Albert Champlin who settled in Poultney in 1868. His wife, Almira Champlin, died after a brief sickness in March, 1872, and he while on a visit to friends in Charlotte was violently attacked with disease and died there in the June following :
Of those who originally signed the Compact of the Meth- odist Episcopal Society of Poultney, the only ones now living are, Seymour Landon, Henry Stanley, John W. Austin and Alanson Richards.
Poultney was embraced within the bounds of the New York Conf rence from its first appearance in Methodist history until 1832. In this year the New York Conf rence was divided and out of its northern division the Troy Conference was organized and Poultney filling within its limits, has so remained to the present time. At the last session of the Troy Conference held in April, 1875, Geo. C. Morehouse, the present Pastor, was appointed to this Station.
The membership of the Methodist Church in, Poultney at the present time numbers G2 males and 114 females with 9 proba- tioners and consists of five classes, embracing one at the Academy. The church property comprises a House of Worship valued at $15,000, a parsonage valued at $3,000 and a Sunday School Li-
144
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
brary valued at $500. The total amount of monies estimated by the Stewards as necessary for defraying the church expense : for the current year is $1000. Of this amount $800 is for Preacher's salary, $48 for Presiding Elder's claim and the balance for main- taining the house in order for public and social worship In ad- dition to this the collections ordered by Conference in support of the various benevolent enterprises of the Church will hardly fall below $150.
In contemplating the agencies which directly under God have co-operated and are still co-operating to make the history of the M. E. Church in Poultney, it is more than fitting to make honor- able mention of the fact that much, very much, is due to the untir- ing activity and intelligence of its faithful and devont women. It has been beautifully said that " woman was last at the cross and first. at the sepulchre," and while we call to mind that the first recorded fruit of Methodist labor in Poultney was the conversion of the young woman mentioned in the journal of Lorenzo Dow, we feel that the concluding lines of this brief history can be devoted to no more appropriate purpose than to record one of the latest instances of intelligent and worthy christian enterprise on the part of the women of this Church-the organization and hearty support of the Poultney branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. This Society was organized September 4, 1872. Its labors are devoted to raising funds with which to maintain in India female teachers and doctors who on account of the unyielding exactions of cruel " caste" can alone gain access to the multitudes of mothers and daughters of that fair land so opulent in material resources ; but at the same time so sorely oppressed with the saddest poverty, while destitute of the riches of Christ.
1
145
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
St. John's (Episcopal ) Church.
No evidence has been found that there were any members of · the Protestant Episcopal Church among the first settlers, or very early inhabitants of this town; but there were some in all the townships around it, whose leaven was gradually infused into Poultney. In Tinmouth, the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden had a small parish, from his ordination, in 1787 to 1790, and had probably acted as lay reader for them for many years previously. He officiated often in Wells, where he found and gathered a congregation of church people more than twice as numerous as the present church in that town. He visited Castleton from time to time, where the Whitlocks and some others formed a group that was represented in the Annual Convention of the ' Diocese by John Whitlock, in 1792, and for many years after- ward. The same zealous clergyman is said to have held oc- casional services in Poultney.
In Hampton, N. Y., a parish was organized in 1798, by the Rev. Amos Pardee, who served it in connection, more or less, with parishes in Pawlet and Wells until the beginning of the year 1802. In the fall of the year 1800, he moved his family into East Poultney, finding here a house most conveniently, and being already connected with the Diocese of Vermont, and re- ceived with honor in its conventions. He found in the town a few persons friendly to the church. These had no very formal organization; but they held a consultation, and invited him to take charge of their spiritual concerns-to lease the "Glebe lands," and to preach in town as special occasions should call for, and his convenience would permit. He did so; leased the the two Glebe lots, and officiated occasionally-first, on the 14th of July, 1799, in the school house in the west village, "to a congregation in and all around the house." Early in 1802, he was called to the rectorship of St. Luke's Church, Lanesboro, Mass., where he remained many years. But, before his removal, the first church edifice in Hampton was commenced; and after his departure, the few friends of the church in Poultney found their religious privileges in connection with that parish. For,
19
146
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
subsequently (1811-1821), under the Rev. Stephen Jewett, the building was finished, and the church acquired considerable importance, and became the mother church in the vicinity.
Notwithstanding its informality, we find the parish in Poult- ney represented in the Convention of the Diocese, in 1809, by Ebenezer Canfield, Esq., who is mentioned by Mr. Pardee as the principal man who manifested much regard for the church, and in 1811, by Lerial Lewis, who had come into the town from Wells.
In a historical letter, addressed, in 1838, to the Rev. C. Chase (afterward Bishop of New Hampshire), the Rev. Moore Bing- ham writes that " Between 1820 and 1825, the church people in Poultney were organized by the aid of the Rev. Palmer Dyer, and became a separate and independent parish, under the title of St. John's Church, Poultney. Mr. Dyer was then a deacon in charge of Granville, Pawlet and Wells. The year was probably 1824, when the new parish was represented in the annual convention by Philo Hosford; and the name, which ap- pears on the journal as a blank for two years, is recognized as St. John's, in 1827, and thenceforth. Its primary records are supposed to be lost."
The Rev. Moore Bingham took charge of this parish, with that in Hampton, July 13, 1828. In the letter before mentioned, he gives the names of the communicants whom he found on his arrival, thus: "Abijah Williams and wife, Mrs. Persis Bailey, Mrs. Fanny Mallory, Mrs. Prindle, Lerial Lewis and wife, Mrs. Lucy Gifford, Aaron Lewis, Sarah Young, and Mrs. Hosford"- 11 persons. The services were in the school house, in the east village. On the Christmas day following, Timothy Marshall was added, and at Easter, 1829, Amon Bailey. The former is believed to have been made Senior Warden for some years, when the office was conferred upon the latter, and continued to the end of his life. In 1831, twenty-nine persons were confirmed here, for this parish and St. John's Church, Center Rutland, by Bishop Griswold. On the 27th of May, 1831, the corner-stone of a new church was laid with solemnities by the Rev. Joel Clap. His discourse, on Ezra III: 2, was universally admired.
147
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
The building was completed the following spring, and first used on the 27th of May, 1832. The consecration, by Bishop Hop- kins, took place January 16, 1833. Very little help in this work was received from abroad, and the small debt at first resting upon it was quickly paid. Mr. Bingham speaks of the whole enterprise and result, as "a work which reflects high honor on the taste, and higher honor on the zeal and liberality of the parish." One "which could not have been effected but for the extraordinary effort and self-denial of the building committee, Col. Amon Bailey and Eleazer Lyman " [letter aforesaid]. Bishop Hopkins [Address of 1833, Jour ] says of the parish, " which has made very great and praiseworthy efforts under his (Mr. Bingham's) care, to erect and complete a very handsome and commodious parish church, in the Gothic style, which I ex- amined with great satisfaction." And the Rev. J. A. Hicks, having " exchanged " with Mr. Bingham, under date of September 1, 1832, entered in his private journal: " Staid, upon invitation, at the house of Mr. Bailey, one of the main sup- porters of the Episcopal Church in that place. Preached three times to a large congregation. The prospects of the church in Poultney are flattering. The church edifice, lately erected, is a beautiful building."
Mr. Bingham continued his rectorship over the united parishes of Hampton and Poultney until Easter, 1837, about nine years, when he withdrew from the latter, remaining in the former. His missionary services had been many, extending into all the adjoining towns. His last report to the Bishop gives the num- ber of communicants as 46, in place of the 11 with which he commenced; and, in the meantime, there had occurred an exodus, long lamented, of several families (the Giffords and others), comprising many communicants of importance to the church.
It seems right, both in respect to the parish, which first took root and bore fruit under his ministry, and to the writer, who " grew up under his ministry, to add something more respecting this worthy clergyman. He was a son of Solomon Bingham, · formerly of Tinmouth, afterward of Franklin County, and spent
148
HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
most of his youth and early manhood in East Berkshire. While constitutionally strong and agile, he had from youth a mysteri- ous pain in one of his limbs, which, not impeding its external development or its strength, was yet so great as to make him insist upon its amputation. The tradition is that the physicians assembled to consider the case, saw him come in from the fields, and leap the fence, merely putting his hands upon the top, and positively refused to perform the operation. But he assured them (and the threat coming from him was felt to be serious) that "if they would not do it, he would." It was done, but without wholly releasing him from the pain. The strength of will indicated in this anecdote was a very marked characteristic of the man. After he had concluded that a course was right, he " conferred not with flesh and blood" about following it. His education, which was quite respectable, both in classics and theology, was acquired by himself with little instruction. It is said that his early studies were pursued, often leaning over the back of a chair, in a posture uncomfortable enough to dis- tract his attention from his constant pain. He was ordained by Bishop Griswold, Deacon, in Middlebury, October, 1825, and Priest, in Fairfield, September, 1827, and officiated in Sheldon and Fairfield until called to Hampton and Poultney. Here, his salary, as he estimated it, averaged only about $400, and there were not gratuities enough added to suffice for his large family, without rigid self-denial. This was never wanting; nor was charity to others forgotten. His sermons were original, ingeni- ous, and sui generis, always inculcating sound doctrine and faith- ful practice. Ilis elocution was as peculiar as the author and the composition. His eccentricity extended to his parochial in- tercourse; he liked to put some well digested thought into a startling remark and let it work, and when its strangeness had caused some excitement, and he was questioned about it, he would explain it, in excellent spirit and with marked effect. He remained in Hampton a year or two after his withdrawal from Poultney, and then removed to East Berkshire, where he pur- chased and settled upon a farm, and officiated (1839-1843) in Enosburgh. In 1845, he gave up his farm, and returned to his
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HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
former charge in Hampton, rendering also partial service in Tinmouth (1848-1852), teaching pupils, and working the few acres of the rectory lot. Finally, he bought a Western farm, and had scarcely settled upon it when he was summoned away from all earthly pains and toils. He was a man of sterling moral characteristics, great energy, and good mind, and a reli- able and earnest Christian minister.
The history of the parish for the next ten years is one of frequent change. In the spring of 1838, the Rev. Luman Foote took charge of it, in connection with that in Tinmouth, giving the latter one fourth of his time. His service in Poultney was short-a little more than one year.
After Easter, 1840, the Rev. Lucius M. Purdy, of Hampton, began to officiate a part of the time in Poultney. His services continued over two years. He was eminent for his learning-a. man of zeal and unassuming piety-but was afflicted with epilepsy, which finally terminated his life.
In January, 1843, the Rev. Norman W. Camp (since D. D.) became rector, giving the parish full services. Being very active, able, and of commanding and engaging address, he gathered, within six months, in the parish and surrounding towns, a large class (29 persons) for confirmation. The com- munion list was reported at 73. The report of the following year, however, shows that 22 of these belonged in Fairhaven, West Haven, and Middletown. Mr. Camp served but one year, and moved to Mississippi.
About Christmas, 1844, the Rev. Benjamin Daniels became the minister in Hampton and Poultney; but his brief ministry was suddenly terminated by death in the following September. He was buried, sincerely mourned by the large congregation, in the old church yard in Hampton, on Sunday, the 15th of that month, by Dr. Hicks, and two other clergymen assisting.
At the end of July, 1845, the Rev. James Stephenson, recently from the Gen. Theo. Seminary in New York, was put in charge of St. John's Church, but removed to Tennessee after about six months.
The next rectorship of the parish, and the longest in its his-
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HISTORY OF POULTNEY.
tory, was that of the Rev. Oliver Hopson. It began the Sunday after Easter, 1847, and continued to Easter, 1865-18 years. St. John's Church had continually one-half of his services. The other half was given, for two or three years, to Wells; then one-fourth each to Wells and Hampton, besides services of him- self and others, under his oversight, in Tinmouth and Benson. From 1853, half services were rendered in Hampton, and the church in Wells supplied one-fourth of the time by arrange- ment with others; and, finally, the last parish had one-half of his services for three years after his resignation of Poultney. His supervision in Tinmouth was continued through most of these years. His residence was constantly in Poultney, at his well-remembered hospitable house, between the two villages; but during his settled connection with Hampton, his Diocesan relation was transferred to New York. His salary being in- adequate to the wants of his large family, he combined with the labors of his extensive charge a private school for boys, which was quite successful. His ministry was efficient and fruitful. While here, he baptized, in Poultney, 93; in his whole field, 168; presented for confirmation, in Poultney, 75; in the whole, 133; and admitted as new communicants, in Poultney, 73; in all his charge, 122. At his last report from St. John's Church, its communicants numbered 75. While here, also, he gave the rector's testimonial required of candidates for Holy Orders, to William R. Johnson, John E. Johnson, Elkaneh F. Remington, George B. Hopson (reckoned as a candidate of the Diocese of New York), and William B. McLeod, candidate of the Diocese of Virginia, whose health failed him after one year's study at Alexandria, and he returned home and died. Before Mr. Hopson's time, there had been but two candidates for the sacred ministry strictly from this parish, Darwin B. Mason, M. D., and A. II. Bailey. The Rev. Herman Hooker originated in town, but is supposed not to have become a candidate for our ministry here. It is presumed that after such a service in this parish, it will be felt that something more of Mr. Hopson's biography belongs here. It is in some sort a connecting link between the beginning and the present of the church in this
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