USA > Vermont > Orleans County > Barton > Centennial book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Barton, Vermont > Part 4
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Called upon to support a family consisting of his mother and five younger children at the age of thirtoen, when his father died, Wil-
DUKESHIRE 1907-1912
lard Baker Dukeshire worked in the lumber camps of Nova Scotia until he was twenty-one, at which age he was
unable to read and write. "Under the urge of a mighty conviction," however, he entered Kents Hill Seminary in 1883 and graduated from Wesleyan Univ- ersity nine years later. His ministry was in Bruns- wick, Farmington and Orono, Maine; and in Montpel- ier, Barton and Enosburg Falls, Vt. For six years he was superintendent of the St. Albans District. John W. Hatch wrote of him: "Five of his seven pas- torates were in educational centers and at none of them did he fail to leave a permanent impression of his ability, goodness and sincerity with the col- lege men and women and the day laborers alike. A. H. Webb pays him high tribute in saying, "He was thinking of somebody else all the time." A. B. Blake wrote, "He was a man deeply religious and much beloved by his church and people in general." Again, Dr. Hatch declared, "Those of us whose priv- ilege it was to know him intimately were often mado to feel that we were in the presence of a very un- usual man. Caprice, insincerity, and self-seeking were impossible to him." Brother Dukeshire was born at Northfield, Nova Scotia, October 6, 1852 and died at Enosburg Falls June 12, 1921. In 1896 he married Harriette Ponnell of Brunswick, Maine, who still survives him, living at Enosburg Falls.
William E. Allen come to Barton in 1912 and re- mained until his death on July 6, 1913, the second of Barton's pastors to die "in the ALLEN 1912-13 harness." "His ancestry was Scotch, and he inherited some of the valu- able traits of that race, including caution, shrewdness of judgment, reverence for the Bible, and their religious spirit." Converted in his native town, Grand Isle, in 1877, he became class leader and steward in 1884, was licensed to preach in 1885, after some preaching in Grand Isle and Wolcott, he joined the Conference in 1889. In twenty-five years of ministry, he served but five charges: threo yoars at Wolcott, eight years at Chelsea, two terms totalling eleven years at Crafts-
bury, two years at Ludlow and something over a year at Barton before his death; and this fact speaks highly of his ability. On July 21, 1891, he mar- ried Miss Nettie Spaulding of Morrisville, who con- tinues to live with us in Barton since his death.
Irving Alonzo Ranney spent four years of effec- tive service in Barton. His modesty makes it dif- ficult to get much information about RANNEY his early life. He was born in Shef- 1914 -- 18 field, where he spent his early life, and received his education at Lyndon Institute, Johnson Normal School, and the Interna- tional Christian Bible College. For several years he taught in the public schools before entering the ministry. Then he spent two years at Westfield and Troy, two years at Waits River and West Topsham, three years at Johnson and Waterville, two years at Cabot, four years at Barton, three years at Hard- wick and Woodbury, one year at Hardwick alone, six years at Enosburg Falls; and in 1928 he began his work at Morrisville and Elmore, where he continues to labor. There are many good things that have been said of Brother Ranney's ministry in Barton, and he has many friends who expect to be happy in greeting him on this Centennial occasion.
Following him cameMilo A. Turner, to serve the longest period of any Methodist minister in Barton, and so to mingle his life with the
TURNER people of Barton that he can never be 1918 -- 26 forgotten as long as the church con- tinues. He is a product of the Ver- mont hills and Vermont ancestors, born in the town of Weston in the heart of the Green Mountains, Aug- ust 21, 1878. His earliest education was received in the little red schoolhouse adjoining his father's farm, and later he attended the village school, walking cach morning and night and working on the farm after school hours. At the age of twenty he left home to attend Montpelier Seminary, graduating
in 1902. In 1905. he married Kabel A. Ramsey of Bellows Falls, another native Vermonter and gradu- ate of Montpelier Seminary. His first sermon was at Bondville, and his first charge at Coventry, where he received the magnificent salary of $300, increased on the occasion of his marriage to $350. Needless to say, Brother Turner did some cobbling and other "worldly" work in those days to help cov- er the expenses. In 1905, he joined the Conference, was ordained deacon and received into full connec- tion in 1907, and ordained eldor in 1909. He served Newbury and West Newbury two years, East Burke three years, Franklin seven years, Barton eight years; and he began his work at Swanton in 1926, where the church work is in gratifying con- dition, with extensive repairs and remodelling tak- ing place on the church edifice.
The present pastor, Kendall Bancroft Burgess, was born in Taunton, Mass., December 25, 1897, spent twelve years of his early life in Il-
BURGESS linois, graduated from high school in 1926 --? Worcester, Mass., attended Bates Col- lege two years, and received B. S. de- gree from Boston University in 1923 and S. T. B. from the same institution in 1928. He began his ministry supplying the pulpit at Oxford and Welch- ville, Maine, until the war fever led him into the army for a brief service. In 1920, he married Mary A. Kilburn of Worcester, who attended Boston Univ- ersity with him until her graduation in 1924. While in school, he served Methodist Churches at West Medway and East Douglass, Mass., joined tho Vermont Conference in 1924 and preachod two years at Albany and South Albany, coming to Barton in 1926. The Barton church permitted him to spend a half-year in taking work at Boston University to complete the requirements for the S. T. B. degree, Mrs. Burgess supplying the pulpit when he could not be present.
SAINTS
OF
OUR
CHURCH
0
Thus far in writing this book we have been on fairly safe ground. Few of our facts can be chal- lenged, and the preachers more significant in our church have been given fairly adequate mention. Now we venture a few pages more liable to criticism, not so much for what they contain as for what they omit. From nearly a thousand people who have been members of our church, a full quarter of whom have beon exceedingly faithful, in addition to many who have stood in the "court of the Gentiles, " giving liberally of substance and personality though not taking the pledge of membership, - from this large number it is no easy task to pick a few for special mention; for each selection involves the omission of many others equally worthy in the sight of God. Therefore, we make no claim that those here men- tioncd are more than a few of those deserving "hon- orable mention." Largely due to chance, we are in possession of information regarding these few, while information about others is not at hand and the limitations of time prevent the securing of it. It would be a worthy task for someone to collect these facts together from their many sources. In the meantime, let these few stand as representa- tives of that larger number who have given their all to the work of the Kingdom.
The first name associated with the history of Barton Methodism is that of Asa Kimball, at whose home the first religious meeting in ASA KIMBALL our town was held. He shared with Colonel William Barton the honor of being first to clear land and raise wheat here, in the year 1795. In 1797, he built a grist mill, a saw mill next year, a larger grist mill in 1809, kept tavern until 1816, then moved to New York State and is reported to have died a few years lat- er in Ohio.
Unless the record reporting the death of the a- bove in Ohio is incorrect, it is probably a second
Asa Kimball whose name, together with that of his ASA KIMBALL
wife, is honored with one of our memorial windows. Of him we know
(Second ?) no thing except that he was chairman of the committee which built our
first church. Whether related to the first Kimball or not, we do not know.
Another early settler was Joseph Owen, youngest son of deputy-governor Daniel Owen of Rhode Island, who first saw Barton in 1798, and
JOSEPH OWEN, Sr. settled here with Col. Ellis Cobb in June, 1803. It is in- toresting (and not greatly to his discredit in the pioneer days) that one of his first acts was to build a whiskey still. He purchased land in the west and southwest part of the village, the present parsonage and church sites being part of it; and he gave the lot on which the church now stands. With others, he went to Long Pond in June, 1810, to turn the water northward. "The result of that day's work was more than satisfactory. Mr. Owen returned to find his meadow stripped of standing timber, covered with sand and great piles of timber and de- bris which romained in part till after his death .. " However, the land was reclaimed and fortune (born of hard labor) smiled upon him. He and his wife, Esther, are honored by a memorial window.
His son, Daniel, born in the village in February, 1805, was five years old and in school when toacher and children were startled by
DANIEL OWEN "What seemed the sound of cannon and tho roar of a deluge." The remarkable sight of a whole swamp being carried off, treos standing erect, remained with him to his death on January 12, 1892. He married Sarah Barnard in 1836 and had nine children of whom Milo, recently deceased father of Oscar and Harry Owen was one. "Mr. Owen was a very industrious and thrifty man; he was a good neighbor, long a member of the Method-
ist church, and always a respected citizen."
Joseph Owen, Jr., was another son of the first Joseph Owen, born in Glover in 1818 and dying in Barton April 23, 1900 at the JOSEPH OWEN, Jr. advanced age of 82 years. Edu- cated in Glover and Brownington Academy, he taught in Westfield, Barton and Sutton and clorked in the latter place, afterwards settling on his father's farm. "Possessed of unusual energy and physical endurance, he clearod land, developed and sold farms and lots, and was financially suc- cossful." As a citizen he was highly respected, serving in numerous tom offices. For fifty-seven years he was a member of the Methodist church, most of tho time in official capacity, and for long a faithful instructor in the Sunday school. Ever a generous benefactor of the church, he contributed the first thousand dollars toward the present church edifice and sorved as chairman of the building com- mittoo. In 1848, he married Diana Shaw of Sutton, who died in 1884. In 1886 he married Mrs. Abbie B. Giffen Bickford, widow of former pastor George Bickford.
David Abbott, a Revolutionary soldier, came with his wife Sarah from Parsonsville, Maine to Sheffield, Vt. in the winter of 1795-6, ABBOTT, DAVID made maple sugar there in the spring and afterwards moved to Barton. Ono incident of his lifo illustrates the hardships of our carly settlers. In October, 1798, he went to Greensboro for the only doctor in the County; and having sent the doctor ahead with his lantern on horseback, he followed on foot. through the twelve miles of mud and snow. Finding some burning log heaps he sat down to rest, fell asleep, and nearly porishod. However, ho survived and con- tinued in Barton till his death on March 8, 1847, at the age of 81. His wife had died at the age of 53, in 1816.
But one son was born of this union, David S. Ab- bott, though there were several daughters. He was the first male child born in DAVID S. ABBOTT Barton, October 6, 1798. One interesting thing related of him is his freighting of the bell from the Revere works in Boston for our first church; and it is ro- ported that he took a prominent part in the build- ing of that church. Both Mr. and Mrs. David Abbott and David S. Abbott are honored with memorial win- dows.
Among the charter members of our present church when organized in 1828 were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chamberlin, whose names are al-
SAMUEL CHAMBERLIN so perpetuated by a memorial window. He was the first class leader, continuing in that capacity most of his long life, as well as holding about every other of- fice in the church. Mrs. Candace (Butler) Chamber- lin went to her reward in 1835, but he continued to inspire the church until June 28, 1878, aged 87, at which time George Blake wrote: "Mr. Chamberlin has resided permanently in this village for the last sixty years, and was long identified with its busi- ness enterprises. While chiefly engaged in mercan- tile pursuits, he did much other business, and was a stirring man in his younger days. . . Mr. Cham- berlin was long an exemplary member of the Method- ist church, and even in his declining years was a 'pillar' of strength and wisdom."
Two other charter members lived to a good age, Gilbert and Rebecca (Pollard) Ellis, the latter de- parting this life in July, 1872, and the former con- tinwing until June, 1878. Mr. Ellis was born in Claremont, N. H., in 1785, be-
GILBERT ELLIS came a saddler, setting up bus- iness in Barre, marrying, and moving to Barton in 1823. George Blake wrote: "During his life-time he held various offices of
trust in town, and in every capacity he was scrupule ously honest and faithful. He was an excellent neighbor, an exemplary Christian, a noble man. His last few years have been filled with infirmities, but he has peacefully gone to his rest."
Prominent in our church life during the sixties and seventies wore Isaac K. Drew and family, who were converted under J. S. ISAAC K. DREW Spinney (1851-53) . Brother Drow and Goorge Blako sponsorod tho building of a new parsonage for A. H. Webb, tho present parsonage. Ono daughter married Rev. Wil- liam Sterling, one time pastor of Newport, after- wards prominent in Maine and California Methodism. The Drows moved to Maino in 1878 to be with their daughter.
Ono of the strongest lay Methodists in this sec- tion was George H. Blake, for twenty years editor of the Monitor. He was born in GEORGE H. BLAKE Sutton April 27, 1836, cared for the family for three years when fourteen, while his father sought gold in Cal- ifornia with fair success. Then the boy picked up the millwright's trade, was educated by spells at Newbury Academy, Orleans Liberal Institute and oth- er schools, and at seventeen began to teach. The Civil War broke into his plans for college; he en- tered as lieutenant and came back as captain with an honored record. Many honors came to him both in town and state affairs. He joined our church on Oct. 17, 1875, and was "ever an earnest worker in the cause of religion. For many years he served as suporintondont of the Sunday school. He had the interests of the town at heart. " Among his good doods was the giving of the parsonage lot to the church. In his honor a photograph was placed in the church vestry in 1899, shortly after his death on February 26, 1898.
His wifo, Frances, survived him but a year,
until June 22, 1899. She was "a lawy of rare in- telligence and was deeply interested in every good word and work. . . For years she sang in the choir, was a teacher in the Sunday school, always present and active in the prayer-meeting and made the most of every opportunity."
The only minister from the ranks of Barton Meth- odism was Albert Bertrand Blake, brother of George H. Blake and father of Dr. John M. Blake, physician in Barton. ALBERT B. BLAKE He was born in St. Johnsbury on March 22, 1842, afterward coming to Barton and en- gąging in the grist mill business. Feeling the call to preach, he sacrificed his successful busi- ness "to go into a new and difficult field of labor." For two years he was at Derby; two years at Holland and Morgan; three years at Irasburg; three years at Craftsbury; three years at Hardwick; one year at Randolph; one year at Marshfield; three years at Essex and Jericho; two years at Fairfax; two years at Highgate; one year at Sheffield and Wheelock. In 1905, on account of his wife's ill health, he retired and returned to Barton, where Mrs. Blake died in 1914. On Nov. 10, 1915, he married Lucy A. Annis, who after his death on April 28, 1921, mar- ried Joseph Higginbottom and now lives in Boston. "During his residence in Barton he continued to show his interest in the church he so much loved, by his kind attentions and helpful words to tho se who were sick or in trouble; and many a heart has been warmed by his poems of love and good cheer. He was interested in all of the church activities, and attended the regular services as long as his health permitted. He was a teacher in the Sunday school for many years."
The name of Joseph N. Webster is found frequent- ly on our church records, for he served the church in many capacities. Born in JOSEPH N. WEBSTER 1838, he came to town when
twenty-one. In 1862 he enlisted; and after the war learned photography, in which business he continued for fifteen years until he had developed an insur- ance business which took his whole time. He joined the church in 1888, becoming a most faithful member, and leaving a legacy of nearly $8000. The esteem in which he was held by the society is well express- ed in resolutions sent him during his illness in 1920: "he was a man of sterling qualities, deeply mindful of the trust reposed in him, that his long life abounded in kindly decds and Christian acts, and that our association with him has been a privi- lege not soon to be forgotten." His death came on Decomber 31, 1920.
On July 7, 1890, Mr. Webster had married Luvia Goodnow, who "for over fifty years was a most con- scientious and successful teacher in both the day and Sunday school. . . A member of the Methodist church, she was a regular attendant at all its ser- vices and an active worker in all its departments. . . She gave much of her time and strength in doing for others."
The brother of Joseph Webster was Pliny L. Web- ster, who was equally faithful in the work of the Kingdom. Born in Irasburg, May
PLINY L. WEBSTER 19, 1850, he was educated in the school there, and continued afterward to improve every opportunity "for the things that make for true scholarship and culture." He worked for a brother in the printing business, and later for G. H. Blake on the Monitor, until during the last twenty years of his lifo he was as- sociated with Joseph in the insurance business. Both ho and his wife, Ellen ( Chamberlin), joined the church on April 1, 1888, both to become active and loyal members. At the time of his death, March 20, 1915, he was treasurer and recording steward, having previously held many other offices. He was "in overy sonse of the word, a kind friond, and a good neighbor."
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