USA > Vermont > History of the Baptists in Vermont > Part 31
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Rev. Edgar Hatfield, of Westford, was then engaged and was followed by Rev. E. P. Lyon in 1896, who served one year. The church since then, unable to maintain preaching, has become cx- tinct. The Methodist church ministers to the needs of the com- munity, so long occupied by the two churches.
JOHNSON
In 1780, a charter was granted to a Mr. Brown of Jericho and the boundary lines fixed. By him the territory was called Brown-
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ington. The grantee, before making any attempt at a settlement, was taken by the Indians, who infested the northern boundaries, and by them carried away and sold to the British officers of St. Johns. He remained in captivity three years. When released, he returned to his claim purchase. But because the charter fees had not been paid and nothing was known of him, a man by the name of Johnson had received a grant of the same territory. At his return Mr. Brown was granted a township in Orleans county in place of this. The charter was signed by the governor in 1792, and the name recorded as Johnson, after the name of the grantee. The first settler, Samuel Eaton and family, came from New Hamp- shire in 1784. He built him a home on the banks of the Lamoille River. All his goods were brought seventy miles on the back of his family horse. The next year, two brothers, named McConnell, followed him. Others followed the same year. Among them are the familiar names of Miller, Rogers, Mills, Smith, Grey, etc. From 1790 to 1800, a second band of settlers came from New Boston and Amherst, N. H., and again we find familiar names, as Dodge, Wilson, Balch, and Ellenwood. From Massachusetts and Con- necticut came others, as Ferry, Clark, Wheeler, Atwell, and a little later came families by the names of Griswold, Ober, Patch, Per- kins, Waters, Nichols, Whiting, and Waterman. These are still familiar family names in the town.
In the month of March, 1807, Elder David Boynton, of Spring- field, Vt., in search of a place to locate himself where there might be an opening for him to labor in the Gospel, as well as at his trade, which was that of a bricklayer, was providentially directed to Johnson, where, while spending a few days to fix upon a location for his family, by embracing opportunities for religious conversation with those he chanced to meet, fourd many disposed to listen, and after preaching a few times, was determined, more by the prospect of usefulness in the cause of Christ than of pecuniary advantage to himself, to settle in the town. The next March he removed his family into the town and commenced holding stated meetings for preaching and divine worship. In a few weeks the appearance of seriousness on the minds of the people, induced him to appoint meetings for prayer and conference. It soon became evident that
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a good work of the Lord was in progress, five had obtained hope of pardon and were desirous of submitting themselves to the ordi- nance of baptism. These were accordingly baptized-others fol- lowed soon, so that in November, twelve had been baptized, who with two others, were organized into a church in the following manner:
The little band had determined to call a council and to arrange for it, when to their great surprise and joy, Elder Ariel Kendrick, sent out by the Woodstock Association as a missionary, arrived in town, accompanied by a Brother Willey, a licentiate, who to- gether with Elder Boynton, made up a number sufficient to form a council. Of this couneil, Elder Kendrick was chosen moderator and Brother Elijah F. Willey, clerk. November 11, 1808, the twelve converts were organized as a church. Two others were im- mediately added; Jonathan Burnham was chosen deacon and Charles B. Taylor, clerk. Additions by baptism and letter con- tinued till one year from the date of their organization. They numbered thirty-nine.
The names of the constituent members are as follows: Nathan Atwell, Enos Clark, Jonathan Burnham, Eunice Clark, Martha Davis, Sally Ferry, Martha Fletcher, Charles B. Taylor, Eleanor Ferry, Parker Fletcher, James Heath, Lucy Taylor, Joel Wheeler, and Martha Wheeler. Elder D. Boynton, from the church in Weathersfield and Baltimore, was first pastor, and served till 1821. He still continued a member of this church and resided in Johnson until his death, except for a time, when he became pastor of the church in Coit's Gore, now known as Waterville. Nine members, with Elder Boynton, were dismissed to form that church, which continued its existence for nearly twenty years.
Elder John Spaulding was next engaged to preach half the time in conjunction with Morristown. He labored here two years. Robert Hastings followed from September, 1824, one year. Rev. Joel P. Hayford began a pastorate in July, 1826, which continued till 1830. He died in 1831. He was born in Middleboro, Mass., February, 1799; graduated at Waterville College, Me .; ordained at Morrisville, December 21, 1831. Elder Albert Stone became pastor in 1831. He had been ordained in his own house in Waterville in
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February of the same year. His coming was followed by a revival, in which, during that year, thirty-seven were added by baptism and two by letter. His pastorate continued till 1840. They were years of increase in numbers and strength. During his pastorate, the first meeting-house was built. Elder Stone accepted the doc- trines of William Miller, after his pastorate here closed. He died in that faith in the fall of 1893, at the advanced age of ninety years.
Elder E. L. Clark was pastor from August 24, 1840, to Jan- uary 8, 1842. Many were added to the church during these ex- citing times of the Millerite preaching. Mr. Clark espoused the Millerite faith and was deposed by a council. From 1842 to 1850, the pulpit was occupied by R. A. Hodge, J. P. Hall, and I. J. Cressey. Then came Rev. Moses H. Bixby. His pastorate of a year and a half was one of marked success. Eighteen were added by baptism and ten by letter; the Sunday school became large and flourishing. From Johnson, Mr. Bixby was called of God to enter the work of foreign missionary, and later to the pastorate of the Cranston St., Providence, R. I. Rev. E. Gale was ordained pastor, October, 1852. The membership at this time was one hun- dred and sixteen. He baptized twelve. Rev. T. M. Merriam followed in 1856 and continued pastor till 1861. Under him, twenty- four were baptized. Rev. L. B. Steele was ordained, after his graduating from New Hampton, in July, 1863. He obtained a strong hold upon the affections of the people and baptized seven- teen. The pastors succeeding were: Rev. H. D. Hodge, 1866- 1870; D. C. Bixby and J. P. Hall, supplies; Jabez Ferris, 1872-1874; B. F. Rattrey, 1875-1878; (at the close of his work the church numbered one hundred and forty-three, the largest in its history) J. A. Pierce, 1879-1883; T. Crudgington, 1884-1888. Baptisms were frequent during this pastorate and forty were added to the membership. Rev. N. C. Saunders began a successful pastorate in 1889, which lasted till 1896. Sixty-five were added to the church, forty-four of them by baptism. A historical sketch of the church was written by him and read at the eighty-fifth anniversary of the church, November 3, 1893. A succession of brief pastorates have followed: R. I. MacLellan, 1898; A. L. Boynton, 1899; S. E. Pack- ard, 1900; H. C. Leach, 1904; C. E. Hargrave, 1905-1906; G. A. Williams, 1907-1908; A. M. Watts, 1909-1910.
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COLCHESTER
The first persons in Colchester to embrace the sentiments of the Baptists were Brother Fisher, and his wife and sisters, Roby Greenough, Mehitable Ames, and Jane Hooper. These people became residents of Colchester about 1810, and Brother Fisher preached for a short time, having been licensed by a church in New Hampshire. He remained in Colchester till his death, which occurred in February, 1811. After his decease there were none in Colchester who embraced the Baptist faith till 1816. That year, Brother Jonathan Blake, a licentiate from the church in Essex, came and preached and many were converted. In October, 1816, Ebenezer Spencer and Peter Burns were baptized by Elder Roswell Mears. A few weeks later he baptized nine others. The eleven recently baptized and two others baptized, before coming to Col- chester, now longed for church fellowship. They decided to call a council, which met on the 27th of November, 1816, and recognized this little company of thirteen as a Baptist church. The names of these constituent members were: Walter Ames, Azariah Lee, Ebenezer Spencer, Peter Burns, Parker M. Dole, Melze Packard, William Blakely, Mehitable Ames, Jane Hooper, Sohina Clapp, Silome Washburn, Minerva Hill, Isabella Blakely. The church enjoyed the labors of Jonathan Blake till 1817 and many were con- verted, some of whom united with the Congregationalists and Methodists, which were strong bodies in comparison with the Baptists. From the spring of 1817, till January, 1820, the church had no spiritual guide, but in this interval eleven were added by baptism. Ebenezer Spencer was chosen clerk, and Azariah Lee was ordained deacon. Phineas Culver was installed in 1820, and with an interruption of two years, served the church nine years, and the church came to number thirty-one members. At this time the Baptists in Colchester were a poor, despised people, their sentiments were everywhere spoken against. The church, left without a pastor and depressed by the loss of members, removing from town, despaired of continuing as a church, and in 1832, they voted to give the members letters of dismission and recommenda- tion to unite with any other church of the same faith and order,
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but the members did not use their letters and two years later they got together again and determined that they would maintain their visibility as a church. They employed Elder J. C. Bryant to labor with them, for eighteen months. Then Elder Isaiah Hunt- ley, of Jericho, befriended them, holding special meetings, which were blessed in the conversion of a good number and twenty were baptized. In the fall of 1839, William Miller, of Hampton, N. Y., lectured a few days in Colchester and was received with sympathy. His preaching resulted in the baptism of twenty-three into the Baptist church. Again in 1840, William Miller came and lectured and twenty-five were baptized and ten united by letter. The membership of the church was seventy in 1840, and ninety in 1841. Elder Huntley, who came to them in their depressed state and con- tinued to shepherd them from time to time, won their deep grati- tude.
In 1860, they decided to build a meeting-house by themselves. In July, they secured as pastor, Rev. S. A. Whiting, and the church entered upon a season of prosperity which lasted seven years.
After this came strife and removals and consequent weakness. Since the erection of the new meeting-house the following men have acted as pastors: S. A. Whiting, July 1, 1862-December, 1863; George S. Chase, February 24, 1869-May 5, 1872; Rev. R. Nott, August 4, 1872-July, 1875; J. W. Buzzell, January, 1876- January, 1878; H. C. Robbins, August, 1878-1879; H. H. Davis, 1881-1884; J. S. Ferguson, 1885; Dr. Freeman, 1887; S. E. Miller, 1889-1897; Thomas Davison, 1899-1900; J. T. Buzzell, 1901- 1908; S. E. Aldrich, 1909. Membership (1912), fifty-seven.
JERICHO
April 21, 1817, a branch of the Baptist church in Essex was set off and organized as a church in Jericho. The manner of con- ducting their meetings, the name of their first pastor and the salary offered him, are recorded in the following vote, passed near the close of the year 1819. Voted, that Brethren Joiner, Norton, and Castle stand as those who shall take lead of the meetings. Voted to add $17 to the subscription to make up $75 to Elder J. Ravlin for preaching two years past.
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Meetings were held half of the time at the village, known as the Corner, and the other half at the south part of the town, be- ginning February, 1823. Up to 1829, the pastors were Thomas Hastings, Joel P. Hayford, and Elders Kimball, Spaulding and Cheney, serving in the order named. In 1829, Elder J. M. Graves was chosen pastor and immersion and additions to the church make up its record till the close of his labors in 1833. Rev. Tim- othy Spaulding was recalled and remained till 1835. He was fol- lowed by Elder I. Huntley, five years. Elder Hodge was pastor in 1843, and in February of this year, thirty-nine persons were set off and organized into a church called the Second Baptist church of Jericho, later known as the West Bolton church. Rev. H. M. Stearns acted as pastor from the close of Elder Hodge's service in 1845, for two years, followed by Rev. Peter Chase for one year, and S. H. Abbott from 1850 to 1852; Rufus Smith, 1852-1856; 1856-1859, served by supplies. A house of worship and parson- age were built in 1859. Later pastors: James Andem, 1859- 1861; H. C. Estes, 1861-1872, the longest pastorate; Evan Lewis, a short time; A. Jones, 1874-1880; DeForrest Safford, 1880-1883; P. C. Abbey, supply; J. W. Coombs to 1886; Richard Bradshaw, ordained, 1889-1890.
Rev. A. N. Woodruff came in 1890 and remained till 1894, when Rev. J. T. Buzzell began his service, which continued till 1901. The following pastors have served since this long pastorate closed: O. N. Bean, 1901-1903; G. W. Campbell, 1905; Frederick Emerson, 1907-1908; N. M. Wolcott, 1910.
In 1874, extensive repairs were made on the meeting-house, and in 1891, the prayer meeting room was constructed and the furnace put in the basement of the church.
Up to 1869, there had been six hundred and nine persons con- nected with the church. At that time the roll was examined and there were found to be one hundred and thirty-three names then enrolled and the committee recommended that fifty-two of these be stricken from the roll for various reasons, leaving eighty-one as the membership then. Additions have been made from time to time, the most notable that of 1896, when twenty baptisms are reported. Losses have been many and the present membership is
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fifty-seven. Deacon E. B. Read kept the records faithfully for thirty-eight years and W. R. Curtis for more than twenty years since then.
The longest period of continued prosperity was probably that of the eleven years' ministry of Rev. H. C. Estes, and it remained for Rev. J. T. Buzzell to record the largest single year's addition by baptism within the church 's history in 1896.
MONTGOMERY
The Baptist church in Montgomery Center was organized March 18, 1820, with ten members; Elder John Ide, acting pastor. 1826-1827, Elder Grow served as pastor. In 1829, the church had reached a membership of about thirty. 1831 was a year of refresh- ing. Elder Powell served the church and baptized seventeen. From 1833 to 1840, the church was served by Elders Spaulding, Beeman, Stone, Rockwell, Cole, and Flint. Elder L. Cole was the first pastor settled in 1835. During this period several were bap- tized. The exact number is not known, as the records were de- stroyed by fire. In 1846, the pastor, Rev. A. Stone, and a large portion of the church, were carried away with the Miller doctrine, and no meetings were held during the next six years. The church became practically extinct.
In 1846, a council convened and organized a church after the apostolic order of twelve members. Elders J. Spaulding and I. Cressey, supplied part of the time. From 1850 to 1859, Elders Jersey and A. L. Arms, labored as time would permit. In 1860, the church numbered about fifteen. Rev. J. W. Buzzell labored a year. Up to this time the church had met in schoolhouses. Now they secured the use of the Advent house part of the time. Eleven were baptized this year. 1861 was a year of blessing. The church doubled its membership. From 1862 to 1868, Rev. J. W. Buz- zell was pastor. In 1862, Rev. J. S. Small served about a year. 1865, a building committee was appointed. In January 30, 1867, the new church edifice was dedicated. George A. Parker was ordained the same day that the church was dedicated, a parsonage secured, and the church was greatly revived. The membership
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was again doubled; thirty being added by baptism, fourteen by experience, and seven by letter; total fifty-one. From 1868 to 1872, Rev. J. F. Ferguson was pastor. These were prosperous years. In 1868, Brother S. H. Green was licensed to preach and commenced a course of study at Hamilton. Brother G. A. Smith was also recommended to the same institution, with the ministry in view. In 1869, the church reported thirteen added by baptism, and five by letter; were saddened by the death of Deacon King. In 1870, a commodious church was built. The debt on the incet- ing-house was reduced to $350. In 1871, Rev. H. G. DeWitt as- sisted the pastor in revival work. During Mr. Ferguson's pas- torate forty-six were received into the church, twenty-eight by baptism. April, 1873, Rev. A. S. Gilbert became pastor, and served with acceptance about four years. Prosperity continued. Seventeen were added by baptism, four by letter and one by ex- perience. Within about ten years the church sent out seven young men to preach the Gospel.
In 1864, George H. Parker, ordained in 1867; in 1867, S. H. Green, ordained in 1875; in 1868, George H. Smith, ordained in 1876; in 1868, M. L. Fox, ordained in 1875; in 1871, John Low; 1874, J. T. Buzzell; 1875, O. W. Peck.
Rev. S. B. Macomber labored from May 1, 1876-August, 1879. During his work the last of the debt was paid, and he helped to pay it. Rev. S. G. Chase supplied till January, 1880, when Rev. S. H. Anderson was chosen pastor. He served until August, 1881. The church was supplied by G. Arms, S. B. Macomber and Thomas Grusia, till May, 1883, when the church called Rev. Thomas Tellier. During his pastorate of three years, nineteen were added to the church, fifteen by baptism.
In March, 1887, Rev. R. S. Cook became pastor. Evange- listic meetings were held, assisted by State Missionary, Rev. A. McGeorge. Fifty-seven were added to the church, thirty-seven by baptism, nineteen by experience, one by letter. July 1, 1888, the church called E. K. Dexter and ordained him as pastor. He served about two years and resigned on account of poor health. In December, 1890, Robert MacJannet was called and ordained. He remained about six months. In the spring and summer of
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1892, Mrs. M. L. Jackson was employed. In the fall of 1894, Rev. D. Cooksley came and staid six months. In the fall of 1895, Frank A. Leach commenced to supply and continued till April, 1896. May 10, 1896, the church called Rev. Charles J. Engstrom. During all these years there have been men and women, who have stood by the church, toiling, praying and sacrificing, because of their love for Christ and his cause. Among the number it will be proper to mention a few. Deacon Kingsley, Stephen Kendrick, Mary Kingsley, Deacon Davis, Deacon Campbell and his wife, Deacon L. Hurlbut, William Peck, Joseph Wright, George W. Wright, William O. Parker, and wife, S. N. Dix, Mary J. Wright, Columbus Green, Martha Green.
RICHFORD
The present Richford Village Baptist church is the fourth that has been organized in Richford.
The first Baptist church was gathered by the labors of Rev. William Marsh and Rev. J. Hebbard and was organized August 12, 1802, with eleven constituent members. These were John French, Francis Brown, Friend Gibbs, Stephen Carpenter, Jere- miah Rowe, Sibbal French, Rhoda Gibson, Lucy Gibbs, Florinda Carpenter, Chloe Schovill and Nancy Calf. Shortly afterward they were joined by Thomas Arms and his wife, Martha; Parker Ingalls and his wife, Mabel; John Stearns, Caleb Sanders, and his wife, Sally; Anna Coff, Lucy Powell and Charlotte Nutting.
In March, 1804, Elder William Rogers became first pastor. He was a native of Hancock, Mass., son of Elder Clark Rogers, who was settled minister in that town; was baptized by Elder J. Heb- bard in St. Armands, and was the second person baptized in that place, and one of the seven constituent members there when the church was organized. He was ordained in September, 1802.
God blessed Elder Rogers' labors and the church increased to a membership above eighty. But unhappy divisions and difficul- ties took place. One of the first was on account of one of the breth- ren allowing his children to attend balls. After long discussions and efforts at satisfactory discipline, eight or ten withdrew from
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the church. About this time, a woman began a train of prophesy- ing, as she called it, pretending to have messages from Heaven to denounce against Elder Rogers, calling him a sheep in wolf's cloth- ing, and a devourer of the flock, etc., and considered that she had authority from God to depose him and to name others in his stead. Some of the church were half inclined to believe her. However, in spite of difficulties, the Lord revived His work and added to their number, those who gave evidence of having been renewed by grace. Other trials soon came, but the fatal one was division upon doctrinal questions, one part of the church being strongly Calvinis- tic and the other Armenian.
Elder Rogers continued his labors until age and infirmities disabled him. He died March 9, 1851, after service of forty-seven years. At this time the church became extinet.
The Second Baptist church was organized about 1827, by those who left the first church on account of the doctrinal differences. Prosper Powell and Albert Stone were pastors of this church. A large number of this church, with their pastor, Albert Stone, became Second Adventists in 1842. As a consequence, the church be- came extinct in 1844.
The Third Baptist church in Richford was organized with four- teen constitutent members on the 16th of July, 1851. Rev. J. C. Bryant was the first pastor and served five years. Rev. A. Bedell served as pastor two years. In March, 1860, Rev. A. L. Arms be- came pastor and continued to serve until the church, after an ex- istence of twenty years and eight months, thought it advisable to disband. On the 25th of March, 1872, the church met, and with the advice of the late Rev. M. G. Smith and Dr. Estes, deemed it advisable to give letters of dismission to all members in good standing and to dissolve the church for the purpose of clearing the way for the present organization.
The Fourth Baptist church, called the Richford Village church, was organized with twenty-three constituent members on the 25th of March, 1872. Rev. M. G. Smith served as pastor for the first three years. He received able assistance from Rev. H. C. Estes, D. D., during the first year. By advice of Mr. Smith pews were purchased in the new edifice, built by Adventists and others.
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$2,000 were paid for these with the promise of the use of the build- ing one-half the time. Rev. J. S. Goodall was next pastor one year; G. S. Chase, three years; and J. T. Buzzell, two years. Good work was accomplished and many added to the church.
In September, 1886, Rev. W. G. Schofield was called to the pastorate and held the sacred office until 1907. The arrangements with the Adventists concerning the joint use of the house worked smoothly for a time, but at length a jealousy on the part of the Adventists led them to seek a separation. Efforts on the part of the Baptists to buy out the shares of the Adventists proved unavailing, and on the 9th of October, 1887, the Baptists began holding their services in music hall, meanwhile erecting a meeting-house of their own. On the 30th day of August, 1888, the new house was dedi- cated free of debt. The cost of the new house was about $4,500. The church, happy in their new house, seemed on the high road to prosperity. The Lord graciously smiled on them. Their meetings were of high spiritual order and converts were multiplied. The aid of the State Convention was relinquished. But in 1892, thirty members moved away to other places and six passed to the better country. Among them were the very best workers and most liberal givers. The pastor thought it best to resign, but the church were not willing to let him go, but on the contrary, built a convenient parsonage and retained his faithful labors.
During the first ten years of this pastorate, ninety new mem- bers were added, sixty-six of them by baptism. The membership increased from forty-six to seventy. Ten years later the number enrolled was one hundred and eight. Mr. Schofield's pastorate of thirty years was well nigh an ideal one. The relation between him and the church and people of the community, one of confidence and esteem.
After the resignation of Mr. Schofield, Rev. Silas P. Perry was called to the pastorate and took up the work with character- istic hopefulness and energy, remained five years, welcomed to membership thirty-eight by baptism, twenty-one by letter and ex- perience. Numerical losses were many, twenty-one having been dropped from the list in 1908. Mr. Perry removed in 1911, to take up the work in Fair Haven, Vt. The present membership of the church is one hundred and six, (1912).
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