USA > Vermont > Orleans County > History of the Congregational churches in Orleans County, Vt., with biographical notices of the pastors and native ministers > Part 3
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Mr. Chapin's theology was strictly Cadvinistic. His sermons were very lucid and methodical, and in the delivery of them he was slow and deliberate, almost.to a fault. He was proverbially punctual to meet every appointment, let the state of the weather, or of the road, be what it would. His advice was much sought in the adjustment of ecclesiastical difficulties, for which he was well qualified by imperturbable calmness, patience in investigation, and soundness of judgment. No one had more than he of the confi- dence of the ministers and churches of Orleans county, or did more to fashion them according to the puritan type.
3. The Rev. S. R. HALL. See Brownington pastors, p. 15.
4. The Rev. EDWARD PAYSON WILD, son of the Rev. Daniel and Iluldah ( Washburn) Wild, was born in Brookfield, Vt., 4th June, 1839. He fitted for college at Royalton Academy and at Orange County Grammar : chool, and was graduated at Middle- bury in 1860. He studied theology at Bangor, where he was graduated in 1868. He was licensed by Penobscot Association, 12th July, 1864. and was ordained at Craftsbury, 11th October, 1865. The Rev. Daniel Wild, preached the sermon. He married,
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HISTORY OF ORLEANS COUNTY
2d August, 1865, Ruth S. Nichols of Braintree. His Fast day sermon, 10th April, 1868, was published.
NATIVE MINISTER.
The Rev. DAVID ADAMS GROSVENOR, youngest son of Nathan and Lydia (Adams) Grosvenor, was born 10th July, 1802. On the mother's side he was descended in the sixth generation from the Rev. James Fitch, the first settled minister in Norwich, Conn. His father was a deacon of the church in Craftsbury, and after- wards became a minister. Before he was twelve years old his father died, leaving his mother with six children to train and edu- cate, with very limited means-y praying, godly mother in Israel, whom he greatly revered and loved, cherished and assisted, till her death, at the age of eighty-nine. He became pions at the age of fourteen, and soon entered upon a course of study for the ministry. He was graduated at Yale College in 1826, and then spent a year in Ellington, Conn., as principal of a classical school. The next three years he was in Yale Theological Seminary, where he was graduated in 1830. For nine months, 1830-31, he sup- plied the pulpit of the Congregational church in Pomfret, Conn., and afterwards labored for several months in a revival of great interest and power in Wallingford, Conn.
Ile was ordained at Uxbridge, Mass., 6th June, 1831, as col- league pastor with the Rev. Samuel Clark of the Second Congre- gational Church, (now First Evangelical. ) He was dismissed in May, 1812, and removed to Ohio, where he was installed, 9th February, 1843, over the First Presbyterian Church in Elyria. His ministry in Elyria continned for about ten years, and was terminated by a season of illness which rendered him unable to preach for one year. In the Antmmm of 1853, he became acting pastor of the First Congregati mal Church of Medina, where he continued for about nine years. In both these fields his labora were successful in the conversion of souls, the edification of the church, and the establishment of the truth. After his pastoral work in Medina ceased, he prosecuted an agency for many months in aid of Lake Erie Female Seminary, of which he had been from its commencement an active Trustee, and greatly assisted in
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securing its endowment. Few ministers have done more than he to promote the cause of education. In each of the three places of his permanent ministry he originated and sustained a female seminary of a high order. For more than a year before his death ho was agent for the Atna Insurance Company. He died of cholera at Cincinnati, 11th August, 1866, after a sickness of only twenty- four hours.
In May, 1835, he married Sarah Whitney of Princeton, Mass., by whom he had one child, which died in infancy.
MINISTER'S WIFE.
Sarah C. Chapin, daughter of the Rev. William A. Chapin, and wife of the Rev. Ilenry Melville, was a native of Craftsbury.
DERBY.
The church in Derby was organized 9th August, 1807, by the Rev. Elijah Lyman of Brookfield, and consisted of nine male and seven female members, living in Derby, Morgan, Newport, and in Stanstead, C. E. It was supplied with only occasional preach- ing by itinerant ministers, till the summer of 1810, when the Rev. Luther Leland was settled as pastor. He preached on alternate Sabbaths, and continued in the pastorate till his death in 1822. In 1825 the Rev. Samuel Marsh, a missionary of the Vermont Juvenile Missionary Society, spent in Derby the principal part of the time for twenty weeks ; and, as the result of his labors, a revi- val occurred, and more than fifty persons were converted, of whom forty-two united with this church. The Rev. Lyman Case of Cov- entry partially supplied the pulpit at various periods between the falls of 1822 and 1826.
In the fall of 1826, the Rev. Samnel C. Bradford commenced preaching here. He was installed as pastor in June, 1827, and remained in the pastorate about two years. For the next five years, the supply of the pulpit was only partial and irregular ; notwith-
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standing which, the church shared in the great revival of 1831, and received fifty-seven persons to membership. Among them was Orem Newcomb, who was afterwards a deacon of the church and filled that office with much more than the usual ability and suc- cess. " Ile was a godly man ; the man of public and private worth ; the man of business and piety ; the poor man's friend and the rich man's confidence ; the widow's protector and the orphan's guardian ; the pastor's helper and comforter and the lover of the church."
In October, 1832, the Rev. James Robertson became acting pastor, and continued till May, 1836. He was a Scotchman and had the Scotch fondness for doctrinal discussion, and his sermons, which were regularly an hour in length, built up the recent con- verts, as well as the older Christians, in the faith of the gospel, to an eminent degree. The Rev. Stephen M. Wheelock was act- ing pastor two years, 1837-39. and the Rev. William Claggett, three years. In the fall of 1849, the Rev. Orphens T. Lauphear was ordained pastor, with a salary of $500, which was afterwards increased to $700. Ile had a pastorate of five and a half years, during which fifty-five persons were added to the church, and was dismissed in 1855. The Rev. John Fraser became acting pastor in August, 1856, and continued seven years. The Rev. B. M. Frink was acting pastor two years, commencing in August, 1866, and the Rev. James P. Stone two years, commencing in October, 1865. In April, 1868, the Rev. John Rogers of Stanstead, P. Q., was engaged to supply the pulpit half a day each Sabbath.
PASTORS.
1. The Rev. LUTHER LELAND, son of Abner and Hannah ('Thayer) Leland, was born in Holliston, Mass., 31st October, 1781, and was the sixth in descent from Henry Leland, who emi- grated from England to Dorchester, Mass., in 1652. Ile was graduated at Middlebury in 1806, studied theology with the Rev. Asa Burton, D. D., of Thetford, Vt., and was ordained at Derby, 28th June, 1810. The Rev. Caleb Burge, of Guildhall, preached the sermon. For several years he was the only minister in Orleans County, and he performed a great amount of toilsome service as
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missionary, or as acting pastor, in many towns. During the war of 1812, he was chaplain of the United States troops stationed at Derby Line. He died 9th November, 1822.
2. The Rev. SAMUEL CLEVELAND BRADFORD was one of three ministers who were sons of the Rev. Moses and Sarah ( Eaton) Bradford of Francestown, N. II., at which place he was born, 2d July, 1795. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1818, read theology with the Rev. James Bradford of Sheffield, Mass., and was licensed by the Berkshire Association in October, 1819. He spent some more than a year in the service of the New Hamp- shire Missionary Society, and in January, 1821, went to Crown Point, N. Y. where he was ordained pastor in June, 1822. The Rev. Josiah Hopkins, of New Haven, Vt., preached the sermon. During the first year of his ministry at Crown Point, a revival took place, which donbled the membership of the church. He was dismissed in 1826, soon went to Derby, and was there installed pastor in June, 1827. Ilis father, the Rev. Moses Bradford, preached the sermon. On account of the failure of his health, ho was dismisssd 19th May, 1829, and was compelled to discontinue preaching for a while. He subsequently labored at various places in Vermont and New Hampshire for short periods of time, but did not again resume the charge of a parish. For many years he lived in Sunderland, Mass., and afterwards in Francestown, N. II.
3. The Rev. ORPHEUS THOMAS LANPHEAR, son of sabin and Luey ( Lamb) Lauphear, was born in West Fairlee, 26th January, 1820. Ile was graduated at the University of Vermont in 1845, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1848, and was licensed by the Andover Association, 10th April, 1848. The first year after graduation he preached at Milton, and from there went directly to Derby, where he was ordained 25th October, 1849. The Rev. Ebenezer Cutler, D. D., preached the sermon. He was dismissed 25th May, 1855, and was installed pastor of the High Street Church in Lowell, Mass., 6th September, 1855. The Rev. W. G. T. Shedd, D. D., preached the sermon. He was dismissed from this pastorate 31st October, 1856. His next settlement was at Exeter, N. H., where he was installed pastor of the Second Congregational Church, 2d February, 1858, the Rev. John P.
THE NEWBERRY 11/3/1 9 RY
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Cleveland, D. D., of Lowell, Mass., preaching the sermon. From this pastorate he was dismissed 16th February, 1864, and he was installed 9th March, 1864, pastor of the College Street Church in New Haven, Conn. The Rev. W. I. Budington, D. D. of Brook- lyn, N. Y., preached the sermon. He was dismissed from the New Haven pastorate, 26th February, 1867, and was installed pastor of the Dane Street Church, Beverly, Mass., 23d October, 1867. The Rev. W. T. Eustis, D. D., of New Haven, Conn., preached the sermon.
Many of his sermons, and a temperance address, have been published.
NATIVE MINISTER.
The Rev. CHARLES WILLEY, son of Jesse and Hannah (Per- kins ) Willey, was born 9th September, 1815. He studied theology , with the Rev: Samuel R. Hall of Craftsbury, was licensed by the Orleans Association at Morgan, 16th August, 1843, and then spent some mouths at Andover as a resident licentiate. His original design was to become a member of the mission to the Pawnee Indians, but circumstances changed his purpose, and he commenced preaching at Chichester, N. HI., 1st September, 1844. He was there ordained pastor, 15th October, 1845, the Rev. E. N. Hidden, of Deerfield, Mass., preaching the sermon. He was dismissed 3d December, 1850, and since then has been acting pastor in Kingston two years, in London four years, in Epsom nearly two years and a half, in Barrington five years and a half, and in Center Harbor several years. In May, 1868, he became acting pastor at Greenfield.
Ile married, 24th September, 1843, Harriet Claggett, by whom he had Charles C., born 2d Jannary, 1847. She died 20th August, 18-47, and he married Charlotte E. Kelley of Concord, N. HI.
MINISTER'S WIVES.
Sophronia B. Boynton, wife of the Re- ". E. Ferrin; Ann M. Child, wife of the Rev. Charles 'T. W and Ruth M. Child, wife of the Rev. John Fraser, were nativ Derby.
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GLOVER.
Nearly all the early inhabitants of Glover were distinguished for their ungodliness. For several years there was no preaching except occasionally by itinerant missionaries, usually Methodists, and they were treated not merely with contempt, but with open insult. Their meetings were often interrupted by the loud talking of those who attended, and sometimes by the intrusion of men blackened like negroes and armed with pitchforks or other farming tools. In 1807, Stephen Bliss, a man of decided and earnest piety, moved into Glover, and for several years was the only active Christian there. Ile performed religious services at funerals, maintained worship on the Sabbath by gathering his neighbors together and reading sermons to them, and in fact performed all the duties of a minister, except preaching. In 1817 he was rein- forced by Loring Frost, a young and ardent Christian, who zeal- ously engaged in direct efforts for the salvation of souls, and ,with so good success that a powerful work of grace ensued, and many persons, among whom were some obstinate unbelievers and har- dened opposers, were hopefully converted. By these means the materials for a church were provided.
The church was organized 12th July, 1817, by the Rev. Samuel Goddard, of Concord, and the Rev. Luther Leland, of Derby, and consisted of sixteen persons, of whom four only were males. Stephen Bliss was elected deacon. Before the close of the year the number of members was increased to forty-two. For several years the church was destitute of stated preaching, but maintained the institutions of religion by " reading meetings," and received frequent additions to its membership. In the spring of 1826, the Rev. Reuben Mason was installed in the pastorate, and continued in that relation ten years. During that period a powerful revival took place, and forty-two were added to the church, of whom thirty united by profession at one time. In 1830 a house of wor- ship was built in the village, in which this church had the right of occupancy one-fourth of the time. In 1882, another union house was built in the West part of the town, and was occupied by this church, jointly with others.
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After the close of Mr. Mason's ministry, the pulpit was supplied for a time by the Rev. Noah Cressey. The Rev. Ora Pearson commenced preaching here late in 1889, was soon installed pastor, and so remained four years. On the first Sabbath in July, 1815, the Rev. Levi H. Stone became acting pastor for half the time, and so continued for four years and two months. He then became acting pastor for the whole time, and remained to the end of the year 1854. Through his influence and active agency, the church was induced to abandon its interest in the union honse in the village and to build a house for itself. This was not accomplished without much sacrifice and self-denial, and some assistance from benevolent persons and societies, and at last, a debt of some hundred of dol- lars remained. . The house was completed in January, 1853. So much discouragement was felt, that for two years after the close of Mr. Stone's ministry, no attempt to sustain preaching was made. In March, 1857, the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society sent one of its itinerant missionaries to Glover, who labored with good success for a time. He was followed by several others, each of whom preached for a few months, to the great encouragement of the church, and the couversion of nine persons. In August, 1858, the Rev. Sidney K. B. Perkins commenced supplying the pulpit. Hle was ordained to the pastorate in January, 1860, and has remained till the present time. During his ministry, the meeting- house debt has been paid, a bequest of property valued at one thousand dollars has been received, and forty-four additions to the church, by profession and by letter, have taken place.
In the first half century of the existence of this church, it received one hundred and seventy-seven members, of whom fitty have died, fifty have been dismissed to other churches, and four- teen have been excommunicated. The present number of mem- bers is seventy-four, of whom twenty-one are males. The principal obstacles to the growth of the church have been-poverty, which for more than thirty years disabled it from maintaining preaching, except on alternate Sabbaths-an entangling alliance with other denominations in the use of a church edifice-embarrassment by a debt incurred in building -- and the maintenance of public worship alternately in two houses several miles apart.
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PASTORS.
1. The Rev. REUBEN MASON, son of Perez and Martha (Barney) Mason, was born in Lebanon, N. H., 3d July, 1778. He was brought up a carpenter, with almost no education, and began preaching as a Methodist, but in January, 1817, united with the Congregational church, after which he studied theology under the direction of the Rev. Samuel Goddard, of Concord. In Septem- ber, 1818, he was ordained pastor in Waterford. The Rev. Leon- ard Worcester, of Peacham, preached the sermon. Ilis ministry in Waterford was very successful and many were added to the church. His next settlement was at Glover, where he was installed 18th March, 1826. The Rev. Drury Fairbank, of Littleton, N. II., preached the sermon. He was dismissed in 1836, and was installed in Westfield as pastor of the churches in Westfield and Newport, 26th September, 1837. The Rev. Chester Wright, of Hardwick, preached the sermon. IIe was dismissed 3d October, 1842, preached a while at Newport, and died 30th June, 1849.
He married, 2d March, 1803, Mary Hibbard of Lebanon, N. HI., by whom he had two sons and eight daughters.
2. The Rev. ORA PEARSON. Sec Barton pastors, p. 9.
3. The Rev. SIDNEY KEITH BOND PERKINS, son of the Rev. Jonas and Rhoda (Keith) Perkins, was born in Braintree, Mass., 14th April, 1830. Ile was graduated at Amherst in 1851, taught the IIollis Institute at South Braintree, two years, and then entered . Bangor Theological Seminary, where he was graduated in 1857. For nine months, 1857-58, he preached at White River Village, from which place he went to Glover. He was ordained 11th January, 1860, his father preaching the sermon. Two of his funeral sermons, and his semi-centennial sermon at Glover, have been published.
NATIVE MINISTER.
The Rev. ELIAS W. HATCH, son of Edwin and Silence ( Woods) Hatch, was born 12th October, 1836, and at the age of twenty- two united with the Baptist church ; but upon more careful study of the Bible became a Congregationalist, and having pursued theo- logical studies privately, was licensed by the Orleans Association 3
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at Charleston, 16th January, 1866. ITe soon commenced preach- ing at Berkshire, and was there ordained pastor, 25th September, 1866. The Rev. Pliny HI. White preached the sermon.
Hle married, 25th November, 1858, Frances O. Hlatch, a native of Hardwick.
GREENSBORO.
Before a single field was cleared in Greensboro, or a single dwelling built there, the town was dedicated to God in prayer, and IIo was invoked to be the God of those who should become its inhabitants. In 1787, two ministers passing through the wilder- ness, spent a night in that town and offered fervent and earnest prayer that it might become the abode of a people virtuous, reli- gious, and blessed of the Lord. The very first settler was a Christian man, and from his log cabin there daily went up the voice of prayer and praise. When a few families had moved in, they regularly assembled on the Sabbath for Divine worship, first at private houses, afterwards in school-houses, and this custom was maintained for many years, before a church was organized, or any of the ordinances of the gospel were regularly maintained.
The Congregational church in Greensboro was organized 24th November, 1804, in a store chamber, by the Rev. Leonard Worces- ter of Peacham, and the Rev. Samuel Collins of Craftsbury. It was composed of nine male and twelve female members, twenty-one in all. Ashbel Shepard, the first settler of the town, was modera- tor, Ephraim Strong clerk, and Seth Eddy deacon. Several years elapsed before the stated preaching of the gospel was secured, but public worship of some kind was constantly maintained. Early in 1805 the church appointed six of the brethren to pray in public meetings, and one of them "to read the psalms and sermons ;" and, from time to time, as vacancies occurred, others were appointed to do the same duties. There was no preaching except occasionally by an itinerant minister till the summer of 1810, when
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the Rev. Salmon King was settled as pastor. During his pastor- ate of three years and a half, eighteen were added to the church.
A term of more than eleven years now succeeded, during which there was only occasional preaching. But there was no discon- tinuance of public worship, nor did God fail to help those who so perseveringly labored to help themselves. In June, 1811, a Sabbath School was established, one of the first, if not the very first, in Vermont. In 1817 William Conant was chosen deacon, and held the office till his death ; a period of fifty-one years. The same year a powerful revival occurred, the principal work of which was in the Sabbath School, and no fewer than fifty-seven persons were added to the church. The ministers who preached, more or less frequently, during the destitution of stated ministerial labor, were the Rev. Messrs. James Ilobart, Samuel Goddard, James Parker, Clement Parker, Levi Parsons and David HI. Williston.
In September, 1825, the Rev. Kiah Bailey became acting pas- tor with a salary of $200. During his pastorate, a house of wor- ship, the first in Greensboro, was built. It was dedicated 25th September, 1827, Mr. Bailey preaching the sermon.' In March, 1829, he closed his labors with this church, and another period of destitution ensued, during which the Rev. Messrs. Lyman Case, Elias W. Kellogg, Amariah Chandler and Robert Page, rendered occasional services. The Rev. Jacob N. Loomis was acting pastor two years, 1833-34. Early in 1835, the Rev. Win. A. Chapin became acting pastor, and having served in that capacity six years, he was in January, 1811, formally installed, and sustained that relation till his death in November, 1850. In December, 1850, the Rev. James P. Stone became acting pastor. A revival was experienced in 1851, and thirty-five were added to the church. In 1853-4 another revival was experienced, the congregation was greatly increased, and the church began to sustain preaching without aid from the Domestic Missionary Society. During Mr. Stone's pastorate of eleven years, the house of worship was remodeled, improved, and furnished with a bell, and a parsonage was built and paid for.
During the years 1862 and 1863, the Rev. Andrew Royce was acting pastor. In May, 1864, the Rev. Azel W. Wild began to
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HISTORY OF ORLEANS COUNTY
supply the pulpit, and in the following October he was ordained to the pastorate, with a salary of $675, which was increased in January, 1868, to $800. Since his pastorate commenced, the house of worship has been thoroughly repaired, and between thirty and forty persons have been added to the church.
PASTORS.
1. The Rev. SALMON KING was born in Bolton, Ct., about 1771. Ilis ancestor, Jolm King, came from England in 1645, and lived in Hartford, Ct., till he became of age, when he married Sarah Holton, daughter of Wm. Holton, one of the first settlers of Hartford, and with his wife and her father moved to Nonotuck, (now Northampton, ) Mass , of which they were among the earliest settlers. Salmon was descended from him in the fourth generation. He was graduated at Yale in 1796, read theology with the Rev. Charles Backus, D. D., of Somers, Ct., and was ordained pastor of " the Orford Society in East Hartford, Ct.," 5th November, 1800. The Rev. Dr. Backus preached the sermon. After a pastorate of nearly eight years he was dismissed 25th October, 1808. IIe then came to Vermont and labored as an itinerant missionary till he came to Greensboro. Here he was installed 11th July, 1810. The Rev. Leonard Worcester, of Peacham, preached the sermon. He was dismissed 25th January, 1814, the ostensible reason being the waut of a competent support. He then removed to Warren, Pa., where he became pastor of a Presbyterian church, and there he died abont 1836. His ouly publication was a sermon preached at the funeral of Mrs. Hannah Parker of Glover. This was the first Orleans County sermon given to the press.
2. The Rev. WILLIAM A. CHAPIN. See Craftsbury pastors, p. 24.
3. The Rev. AZEL WASHBURN WILD, son of the Rev. Daniel and Huldah (Washburn) Wild, and grandson of the Rev. Azel Washburn, pastor in Royalton during the latter part of the last century, was born in Brookfield, 12th June, 1886. He was grad. uated at Middlebury in 1857, spent two years in teaching, and then entered Andover Theological Seminary, where he was gradu-
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ated in 1862. He was licensed by the Royalton Association at Brookfield, 8th January, 1862. Ilis first labors in the ministry were at Pittsfield, where he preached till March, 1864. He was ordained at Greensboro, 26th October, 1864. The Rev. Daniel Wild preached the sermon.
Ilis sermon on the death of E. E. Hartson and Horace Sulham in the United States service in 1864, his sermon at the funeral of Charles Cook in 1868, and his sermon before the Orleans County Bible Society in 1868, were published.
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