USA > Vermont > Orleans County > History of the Congregational churches in Orleans County, Vt., with biographical notices of the pastors and native ministers > Part 2
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HISTORY OF ORLEANS COUNTY
preached one hundred and sixty-four times. He was ordained to the ministry at Windsor, Ct., 29th September, 1802. The Rev. J. Washburn preached the sermon. He then went as a missionary into the South Western counties of New York, and Northern . counties of Pennsylvania, where he labored nearly two years.
He was installed pastor in Norwich, Vt., 5th September, 1804. The Rev. Asa McFarland, D. D., of Concord, N. H., preached the sermon, and it was published. He was dismissed from Norwich in 1820, and was installed in Brownington, 11th January, 1826. The Rev. Jacob N. Loomis of Hardwick preached the sermon. He was dismissed early in 1828, after which he was a missionary in various places in New York and New Hampshire till he was disabled by paralysis. He died at Waterbury 26th July, 1847. He married 4th October, 1808, Sarah Partridge, a native of Norwich,
ITis published sermons were four ; two of them preachel 28th December, 1817, on the last Sabbath of public worship in the old meeting-house at Norwich, the other two at the dedication of two new meeting-houses in Norwich, one "on the plain," 20th Novem- ber 1817, the other "on the hill," January 1818.
2. The Rev. VERNON WOLCOTT, son of Dea. Philemon and Amy (Treat ) Wolcott, was born in Shoreham in March 1809. He spent two years in Middlebury College, and some time in Union College, but was not graduated at either, though he subsequently received the honorary degree of A. M., from Union. His theolog- ical studies were prosecuted at Auburn. He preached alternately at Ferrisburgh and Moukton, for one year from 1st September, 1837, and was ordained to the ministry at Vergennes 7th Febru- ary 1838.
For one year from November 1838 he preached at Moukton, then a year at Whitehall, N. Y., and another at Moriah, at which last place he also taught the academy. Ile was installed in Brown- ington, 11th October, 1842. The Rev. James Johnson of Irasburgh, preached the sermon. The death of his wife, which took place 12th November 1844, was a blow from which he never recovered. He sunk into such dejection as to be wholly unfit for ministerial labor, was dismissed, 7th September, 1845, and though he supplied the pulpit in Bristol three months, he was soon compelled to make
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his bodily and mental health the sole object of his care. He died in the city of New York in October 1847, and the place of his sepulchre no man knoweth to this day.
Ilis only published discourse was a Thanksgiving sermon in 1810.
3. The Rev. SAMUEL REED HALL, L. L. D., son of the Rev. Samuel R. and Elizabeth (Hall) Hall, was born in Croydon N. II., 27th October 1795. Ile pursued classical studies at Kunball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H., but was prevented by feeble health, from taking a collegiate course. For several years he was em- ployed in teaching in which he was eminently successful. He studied theology with the Rev. Walter Chapin of Woodstock, and the Rev. William Eaton of Fitchburg, Mass., and was licensed by the Worcester North Association at Princetown, Mass., in May 1822. Ilis first settlement was in Concord, Vt., where he com- menced preaching 2d June, 1822, and was ordained pastor 5th March, 1823. The Rev. Walter Chapin preached the sermon. At Concord he established and taught a normal school, the first that was established in the United States. He was dismissed in June 1830, to take charge of a Teachers' Seminary in Andover, Mass., with which he was connected for nearly six years. He was afterwards principal of a Teachers' Seminary in Plymouth, N. II., about three years, beginning in June 1837 ; then resmning active labor in the ministry, he was installed pastor in Craftsbury, 8th July 1840. The Rev. James Johnson of Irasburgh preached the ser.non. He was dismissed 4th January 1854, commenced preach- ing in Brownington on the following Sabbath, and was there in- stalled pastor 7th March, 1854. He was dismissed from that pas- torate, 5th February, 1867.
Mr. Hall has been a prolific author of works connected with education. His first publication was " The Child's Assistant to a knowledge of the Geography and History of Vermont." This was published in 1827 and passed through several editions, the last of which, revised and enlarged, appeared in 1865, and is now used in the common schools of Vermont. In 1829 he published "Lec- tures on School-keeping," of which two editions were speedily sold, and by order of the Superintendent of Common Schools in
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HISTORY OF ORLEANS COUNTY
New York, an edition of ten thousand copies was printed for distri- bution among the schools of that State, A revised and enlarged edition was published in 1852. In 1832 he published "Lectures to Female School Teachers," "The Child's Instructor," and "The Arithmetical Manual;" and in 1833, "Practical Lectures on l'a- rental Responsibility and the Religious Education of Children," "The Grammatical Assistant," and "A School Ilistory of the United States." IIe has published several other small volumes, and contributed numerous articles to the "Journal of Education" and other educational periodicals.
He was postmaster at Brownington from .1st August, 1863 to 1st February, 1865. In 1839 he received the degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College, and in 1865 the degree of Doc- tor of Laws from the University of Vermont.
4. The Rev. DAVID SHURTLEFF, son of Amasa and Fanny (Brockway) Shurtleff, was born in Westfield, Mass., and was em- ployed in mercantile business till he arrived at middle life. In October 1866, he entered the Theological Seminary of Comecti- cut at Hartford, and pursued studies there for about a year. He was licensed by the Orleans Association, 16th September, 1867, and was ordained pastor, 25th February, 1868. The Rev. W. A. Robinson, of Barton, preached the sermon.
NATIVE MINISTER.
The Rev. JAMES WOODWARD STRONG, son of Elijah Gridley and Sarah ( Parsons) Strong was born 20th September, 1833, and was graduated at Beloit ( Wis) Colloge in 1858. During his res- idence in Beloit, he was city clerk for two years, and superintend- ent of schools about the same length of time. He was graduated at Union Theological Seminary in 1862, licensed by the Third Presbytery of New York 10th April, 1562 and ordained at Beloit 28th September, 1862. The Rev. D. P. Noyes, D. D. preached the sermon. He commenced preaching at Brodhead, Wis., 21st September, 1862, and remained two years.
Ilis ministry at Brodhead was successful, and two revivals oc- curred which brought forty members into the church. In Jan- uary, 1865, he commenced preaching in Faribault, Minn., and was
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there installed pastor of the Plymouth Church, 26th January, 1866. The Rev. C. C. Salter of Minneapolis, preached the sermon. Within a year and a half from the beginning of his ministry at Fairbault, two revivals occurred, and the membership of the church was increased from thirty- three to ninety. In August, 1868, he was called to the pastorate in Natick, Mass., but declined the call.
CHARLESTON.
A Congregational Church, consisting of four male and four female members, all but one of them having letters from other churches, was organized in East Charleston, 5th October, 1841, by a council of which the Rev. William Claggett, of Derby, was Moderator. For several years it was supplied with preaching one fourth of the time by the Rev. Jacob S. Clark, of Morgan. In accordance with the advice of the Orleans Association, the Church voted, 21st August, 1852, to change its location to Island Pond.
The Congregational Church in West Charleston was organized 14th May, 1844, by a council of which the Rev. Jacob S. Clark was Moderator. It consisted of four male and five female mem- bers. The Rev. R. V. Hall, of Stanstead, C. E., preached a sermon from the text: " Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The Rev. Jabez 'T. Howard, through whose agency the Church was gath- ered, became acting pastor, and so continued till 1857. In 1854, the Church, though few in numbers and poor in purse, undertook to build a house of worship, and after a struggle of five years it was completed and paid for. It was dedicated 21st June, 1859. The Rev. Thomas Bayne, of Irasburgh, preached the sermon. For nearly three years, 1857-60, preaching was maintained only by temporary supplies. The labors of the Rev. Phineas Bailey, for a few months in the winter of 1859-60, strengthened the church by the addition of eleven members. In May, 1860, the Rev. 2
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Charles Duren became acting pastor, and continued till December, 1862. He was succeeded by the Rev. Levi Loring, who was ordained to the pastorate in July, 1863. His ministry of three years and a half was prospered to the marked increase of the Church in members and strength. He was dismissed in June, 1866, soon after which the Rev. Timothy E. Raney became act- ing pastor and remained for a year. The Rev. R. V. Hall then supplied the pulpit about four months. On the second Sabbath in October, 1867, Mr. N. W. Grover began to serve as acting pastor, and continued six months, since which time the pulpit has not been regularly supplied.
PASTOR.
The Rev. LEVI LORING, son of the Rev. Levi and Sophia (Bos- worth ) Loring, was born in Buxton, Me., 26th November, 1819. Ilis father was a minister in Maine for nearly half a century. He became pious when about twelve years old, and at the age of six- teen commeneed studies preparatory to the ministry ; but his health failing, he engaged first in teaching, and then in mercantile business, which he followed ten or twelve years in Athens, Me., and Lawrence, Mass. In 1859 he again turned his attention to the ministry, and in February, 1860, he went as a missionary of the Canadian Missionary Society to Magog, C. E., where he preached a year and a half. He was licensed by the Orleans Association, at Newport, 11th June, 1863, and was ordained in Charleston, 9th July, 1863. The Rev. Pliny HI. White, preached the sermon. He was dismissed 15th June, 1866, and immediately became acting pastor of the East Church in Haverhill, Mass., where he remained ten months. On the last Sabbath in April, 1867, he began to labor as acting pastor at Saxton's River, Vt. A powerful revival soon followed, and the church was greatly strengthened.
In February, 1845, he married Sarah Woodward, of Gorham, Me. His son Frederick HI. Loring, was a soldier in the 17th Maine Regiment, and died in the service.
His Thanksgiving Sermon, 26th November, 1863, was published in the " Orleans Independent Standard," Ist January, 1864.
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COVENTRY.
The church in Coventry was organized 2d October, 1810, by the Rev. Seth Payson, D. D., of Rindge, N. H. It consisted of six male and eleven female members, five of whom remained members of this church for more than half a century. Perez Gardner was chosen deacon, and Dr. Peleg Redfield, clerk. For about six years public worship was maintained by lay services, with only occasional preaching by itinerant missionaries. In 1816, the Rev. Luther Leland, of Derby, was engaged to preach every fourth Sabbath ; and as the result, a number of conversions took place, and six persons united with the church. Another period of lay services now began, and continued till September, 1822, when the Rev. Lyman Case commenced preaching as a candidate for settle- ment, and in the following March he was ordained pastor, under an engagement to preach on alternate Sabbaths, for a salary of $125, payable in money or in specific articles. In 1825, an extensive revi- val took place, and thirty-four persons, half of them heads of fami- lies, united with the church. An unhappy state of affairs occurred in 1827, and occasioned a long series of disciplinary proceedings, and much dissension, the evil consequences of which did not pass away for many years. Mr. Case was dismissed in the fall of 1828.
In 1829-30 a house of worship was built, at an expense of $2750, and not without great sacrifices and self-denials. It was dedicated 7th October, 1830. The Rev. David Sutherland, of Bath, N. H., preached the sermon. The Rev. Ralden A. Wat- kins began to supply the pulpit 6th June, 1830, and after preach- ing on alternate Sabbaths till August, was then engaged to preach every Sabbath for a year. Ilis salary was fixed at $350, payable one third in money and two thirds in grain. In 1831 a protracted meeting of six days' continuance was held, numerous conversions took place, and thirty-two persons, two of whom became ministers of the gospel, united with the church. Mr. Watkins's ministry closed, 15th May, 1836, and a period of destitution succeeded, which continued more than a year. The Rev. Lyndon S. French began to supply the pulpit, 8th October, 1837, was soon engaged
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as acting pastor, and remained till August, 1844. During his ministry twenty-two persons united with the church by profession. In the fall of 1844, the Rev. A. R. Gray was ordained pastor, continued in that relation nearly fourteen years, and was dismissed in June, 1858. During the latter part of his pastorate there was a decided increase of religious interest, and some conversions took place. The additions by profession during his ministry were twenty.
The Rev. Pliny II. White became acting pastor, 8th August, 1858, at a salary of $600, and has continued in that relation ten years. At an evening prayer meeting. 20th November, 1858, the presence of the Holy Spirit was umilest, and a number of persons expressed a desire to become Christians. A revival ensued, which continued for some months, with the use of little more than the ordinary means of grace. As the result, mainly, of this revival, twenty persons united with the church. A revival of similar character, but of greater power, began 28th July, 1867, and continued for six months. It was marked by great depth and intensity of feeling, yet was singularly free from unhealthy excitement. It began without any special means having been used to produce it, and continued without any unusual labors or means, except one or two additional prayer-meetings weekly, and a weekly inquiry meeting, which was thronged by inquirers. As the result of this revival, fifty-three united with the church. The salary of the acting pastor was advanced to $700 in 1866. and to $800 in 1807. In 1868 a vestry was built under the house of worship, and the house was put in thorough repair at an expense of $2000. "
The whole number of persons who have been connected with the church is three hundred and thirty-seven, of whom one hundred and twenty-seven were males and two hundred and ten were females. Ninety-eight were admitted by letter and two hundred and thirty-nine by profession. Eighty-four have died, ninety-one have been dismissed to other churches, fourteen have been sep- arated on account of long absence, and one hundred and forty- eight remain members This church is now the largest in the county. Among the temporal causes to which its prosperity may
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be attributed are these : It is the only church in the town ; for more than thirty years it has enjoyed the uninterrupted preaching of the gospel, each minister continuing to supply the pulpit till his successor was ready to occupy it ; and all its ministers have been in the very prime of life, neither too young to lack experience nor too old to be wanting in zeal.
PASTORS.
1. The Rev. LYMAN CASE, son of Abijah and Thankful (Cowles) Case, was born in Whiting, 18th April, 1792, and received only such.education as the common school afforded. He studied the- ology with the Rev. Josiah Hopkins, of New Haven and the Rev. Benjamin Wooster, of Fairfield ; was licensed by the Winooski Association. and before his settlement at Coventry preached for short terms in Montgomery and Lowell. He was ordained pastor 19th March, 1823. The Rev. Benjamin Wooster, preached tho sermon. He was dismissed 8th October, 1828, after which he preached for short terms in various towns in Vermont and Canada, but continued to live in Coventry, with the exception of about a year, when he lived in Johnson. During the latter part of his life he was in the service of the American Tract Society as a colporteur. Hle died 27th February, 1858.
2. The Rev. ASAHEL REED GRAY, son of Dea. Ebenezer M. and Levinah (Reed) Gray, was born in Coventry, 29th June, 18 4, and was graduated at the University of Vermont, in 1844. He studied theology with the Rev. S. R. Hall, was licensed by the Orleans Association at Albany, 16th August, 1842, and was ordained at Coventry, 13th November, 1844. The Rev. John Wheeler, D. D., preached the sermon. He was dismissed 29th June, 1858. He supplied the pulpit in Albany, on alternate Sabbaths, from August, 1853 to January, 1856, and in Morgan, from July, 1864, four years and more, the other Sabbaths being employed in various other places. His residence continues to be in Coventry. He was the representative of that town in the legis- latures of 1860 and 1861.
NATIVE MINISTER.
1. The Rev. LEAVITT BARTLETT, son of Seth and Asenath (Huggins) Bartlett, was born 4th September, 1837. Hle studied
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HISTORY OF ORLEANS COUNTY
law with Jesse Cooper of Irasburgh, was admitted to the Orleans County Bar at the June Term, 1859, and practised four years in Irasburgh and a few months in Coventry. Then, becoming a Christian, he abandoned the law, and entered Bangor Theological Seminary where he was graduated in 1865. He was licensed by the Penobscot Association at Bangor, 12th July, 1864, and was ordained to the ministry at the same place, 27th July, 1865. The Rev. G. W. Field, of Bangor, preached the sermon. He preached a year and a half at Kansas City, Mo., where he gathered a church and had a successful ministry. In July, 1867, he returned to Vermont on account of impaired health, and in the spring of 1868 he began preaching at North Bennington. A church was soon organized, of which he became acting pastor.
He married 29th November, 1865, Emily J. Scales, daughter of the Rev. Wm. Scales.
2. The Rev. A. R. GRAY.
CRAFTSBURY.
The Church in Craftsbury was organized 4th July, 1797, and consisted of sixteen persons, eight of each sex. At a meeting held 12th July, Nehemiah Lyon was chosen deacon, and the church voted not to adopt " the half-way covenant.". Most of the mem- bers were from Massachusetts, and had there seen the evil results of the adoption of that covenant. Within a few weeks the Rev.
* " The half-way covenant" was one of the evil results of a law of the Colony of Massachusetts, (18th May, 1631) that " noe man shallbe admitted to the freedome of this body politicke, but, such as are members of some of the churches within the limits of the same." By this law, many men of sound patriotism, good judgment, and nublamable hves were excluded from all tho rights of citizenship; to remedy the hardship and injustice of which, many churches allowed any and all persons who had an adequate knowledge of reli- gious truth, and who were not scandalous in life, to become members of the church upon mere appliention, they covenanting only to do certain of the external duties of religion. This was the " half-way covenant," and with the way involved the history of New England, civil as well as ecclesiastical, for a full century. The dismission and expulsion of Jonathan Edwards from North- ampton, markes the culmination of the controversy which grew out of it.
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Samuel Collins, one of the constituent members, was installed pastor, the town acting as a parish and uniting with the church to give him a call. His ministry was productive of but small visible results, only one person being added to the church during his pas- torate of nearly seven years. He was dismissed in June, 1804.
For a long term of years the church was destitute of a settled ministry, and enjoyed only the occasional labors of missionaries and neighboring ministers. In 1811, under the labors of the Rev. Salmon King, of Greensboro, a revival was experienced which resulted in the addition of twenty-one persons to the church. A yet more extensive revival occurred in 1818, in connection with the ministry of the Rev. James Hobart, of Berlin, and thirty addi- tions took place. Several years of declension and great trials followed, during which there were no additions, but many excom- munications. In 1820 a house of worship was completed, which was dedicated 28th September, the Rev. James Hobart, preaching the sermon. In August, 1822, the Rev. Win. A. Chapin was called to the pastorate, and in the following September he was ordained. Additions to the church now took place almost every year, and in the latter part of 1830 a powerful revival was experi- enced, which brought in twenty-four members. During Mr. Cha- pin's pastorate of just twelve years, sixty-five persons were added to the church.
The pulpit was supplied but partially till February, 1838, when the Rev. Daniel Parker became acting pastor, and continued two years. Ile was succeeded by the Rev. Samnel R. Hall, who commenced preaching on the first Sabbath in May, 1840, and was installed 8th July, 1840. In 1842 and 1843 there was a general revival, and fifty-two were added to the church. Mr. Hall's pastorate continued till January. 1854, nearly fourteen years, during which term ninety persons were admitted upon profession of faith. The Rev. Thomas Kidder then became acting pastor for a year, and was succeeded in the spring of 1855 by the Rev. Austin O. Hubbard, who continued until the fall of 1857. In the fall of 1858, the Rev. L. Ives Hoadly became acting pastor and continued seven years. The Rev. Edward P. Wild commenced preaching on the first Sabbath in September, 1865, and in the
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following October was installed pastor. As the result mainly of pastoral labor in 1866-67, an interesting work of grace took place, and a number of conversions occurred, principally among persons who had been neglectors of the means of grace, and immoral in their lives. For more than two years, 1866-68, there were additions to the church at every communion.
PASTORS.
1. The Rev. SAMUEL COLLINS, was born in Lebanon Crank, (now "Columbia, ) Ct., in 1747. He was apprenticed to a trade, and did not commence study till he had passed the age of twenty- one. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1775, was ordained pastor in Sandown, N. H., 27th December, 1780, and was dis- inissed 30th April, 1788. He was installed 25th November 1788, over the Presbyterian Church in Hanover Center. The Rev. Eden Burroughs, D D. had been pastor of this church, but had renounced Presbyterianism, taking with him the greater part of the church and people. Mr. Collins became pastor of the remain- ing minority, and as a consequence, his ministry was beset with trials. He was, however, universally esteemed as a devoted and excellent Christian minister. He was dismissed from that pastor- ate in 1795, was installed at Craftsbury in 1797, was dismissed 30th June, 1804, and died 7th January, 1807.
In 1779 he married Betsey Hackett of Salisbury, Mass., by whom he had Robert, born 23d January, 1782; Samuel, born 23d May, 1784 ; Abigail, Priscilla, Julius, Betsey, James HI., Mary Anu ; Miranda, born 1st November, 1798; Lucia, born 28th July, 1801.
2. The Rev. WILLIAM ARMS CHAPIN was born in Newport, N. HI., 8th December, 1790, the oldest of twelve children of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Arms) Chapin, all of whom became members of the same church with their parents. His father was the son of Moses, who was the son of Ebenezer, who was the son of Japhet, who was the son of Dea. Dauiel Chapin, who settled in Spring- fill, Mass., in 1612, and who is supposed to be the ancestor of nearly thirty thousand descendants. His parents were Christians
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of the Westminster Catechism stamp, and tanght him to recite by heart the whole of that compend of Theology, before he could read. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1816, taught several years in Virginia, then studied Theology with the Rev. Ephraim P. Brad- ford, of New Boston, N. II., and was licensed by the Presbytery of Londonderry, in 1821. He was ordained at Craftsbury 25th September, 1822, the Rev. Chester Wright, of Montpelier, preach- ing the sermon, and was dismissed 24th September, 1834. He then removed to Greensboro, where he was acting pastor for six years, and was there installed 20th January, 1841. There he remained till his death, which was occasioned by consumption, 27th November, 1850. Ile married 10th September, 1823, Lney Cur- tis of Hanover, N. HI., by whom he had five children. She died 29th June, 1832 ; and he married, 26th March, 1833, Sarah Orr of Bedford, N. H., by whom he had two children, one of whom, John Orr, died of a wound received at the battle of Pittsburgh Land- ing. His second wife survived him, and died at Waverly, Ill., 29th August, 1858.
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