USA > Vermont > Addison County > Cornwall > History of the town of Cornwall, Vermont > Part 17
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The pulpit of the Methodist Chapel was supplied by different preachers, several years, and though never strong, the Church was weakened by the withdrawal of a part of its members, and their organization under the title of " Wesleyan Methodists." The orig- inal Church soen ceased to be supplied with regular preaching, and the new organization united with the Free Church in sustaining religious worship. For several years, neither branch of the Meth- odist Church has maintained stated preaching.
FREE CHURCII.
The origin of the Free Church has already been unavoidably alluded to in the sketch of the Congregational church, and some of the incipient incidents of its history have in that connection been mentioned. These it seems unnecessary to repeat. I have en- deavored to procure from some one connected with the organization,
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its history, but have failed in the attempt. I give the narration therefore, as I have been able to gather it from the records, which were legibly and faithfully kept, mostly by Dr. Eells and B. F Haskell.
March 21st 1841 was held the first preliminary meeting, in re- gard to the formation of the church, embracing several persons wh never became connected with it. The expediency of forming a church having been discussed in that and subsequent meetings and affirmatively decided, a committee, which embraced members of the Congregational, Baptist and Methodist churches, was appointed "to report articles as a basis or platform to the contemplated organiza- tion." At an adjourned meeting rules for the government of the church were adopted, together with a Confession of Faith which read as follows :
We believe there is one God, self-existent. cternal, perfectly holy, the creator and rightful disposer of all things, subsisting in a manner mysterious to us, as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
We believe that the Bible is the revealed will of God to man- kind, and was given by inspiration, as an unerring rule of faith and practice.
We believe that mankind are fallen from their original rectitude, and are. . bile in a state of nature, wholly destitute of that holiness which is required by the divine law.
We believe the Hagas Christ, the Eternal Wor I was made flesh, r. They became mhun. and by lus obedience, suf- male full satisfiction Gir the sins of a world, and vaich all who believe: on hitu, with repentance for
Siz seved without an beachment of the divine jus-
Heve that they, and they only will be saved in consequence : the merits of Curist, who are born of the Spirit, and united by A living twith to the Son of Cul.
We be'leve Bautismo and the Lord's Supper are Gospel ordinances, to be marinel by the Church.
Wobeiteve in a resurrection of the dead, and a general judg- .atous will be received into the joy of their
i ! chill go away into everlasting punishment.
The covenant is su stantially like that adopted by other church- es, including the usual pledges of self-consecration to God, and of fraternal vigilance and faithfulness towards each other.
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The Church invited the aid of Rev. Hiram Wilson, of Canada, in the services of its organization ; who, after the assent of the members to the Confession of Faith and Covenant, declared them "July organized as a Church of Jesus Christ, invested with all the rights and privileges, and entitled to all the benefits of a rightfully constituted Church."
Truman Eells, the moderator, and Oliver J. Eells, the scribe of the preliminary meetings, were elected to the same offices by the Church, after its organization ; and arrangements were made to sceure, at the earliest period, the services of some one to officiate as Pastor.
Soon after the organization of the Church, they adopted the fol- lowing standing rules in regard to Slavery and Temperance, viz :- "On the subject of Slavery - We believe in the inviolability of human rights, and cannot hold Christian fellowship either with slave-holders, those who apologize for slavery, or remain silent and inactive on the subject." "On temperance :- Whereas, this Church believes drunkenness to be sin, and the habitual use of alcoholic drinks as a beverage, to be the direct avenue to drunkenness ---- Therefore we will not use alcoholic liquor as a beverage."
In September, 1841, the Church invited Rov. W. B. RANSOM to serve them as Pastor for one year, and the invitation was accepted. They also entered into an arrangement with the Baptist Church for a joint occupancy of their house of worship, the Pastor of each supplying the pulpit a portion of the time. About this period Asahel Bingham, Abram Foot, and Truman Eells, were chosen deacons of the Free Church, and arrangements were proposed for a protracted meeting, under the management of Messrs: Kellogg and Day, in which " the Baptist and Methodist Churches, and all other Christians in town " were invited to participate.
Before the close of the year, Mr. Ransom was, by his own re- quost, released from his engagement with the Church, and they were dependent on temporary supplies for some months.
In July, 1844, Rev. ISRAEL HUTCHINSON of the Wesleyan Methodist denomination, was employed by the Methodist and Free Churches conjointly -- the latter holding their meeting with the
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former, and using the Methodist house of worship. Mr. Hutch- inson remained in the same relation through several years, and un- til his decease, having in the meantime become, by profession of his faith, a member of the Free Church. After the close of his labors, the Free Church was supplied by Rev. Henry Boynton, and others, a portion of the time, until 1851, when Mr. C. B. Camp- bell, was by an Ecclesiastical Council ordained as an evangelist, and installed over the Church. Mr. Campbell was chosen clerk of the church in place of B. F. Haskell, who resigned, having held the office from 1843.
At this time, 1862, the Church is without a Pastor, but proposes to unite with the Baptists in rebuilding their house of worship, and in sustaining a minister.
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CHAPTER XX.
PROFESSIONAL MEN OF CORNWALL-MARTIN POST, ESQ .- PRACTICING PHYSICIANS, NATHAN FOOT - FREDERICK FORD SEN. AND JUN. -- SOLOMON FOOT -- ABRAM FLEMING - HOSRA BROOKS - RODOL- PHUS FIELD-OLIVER J. BELLS-R. G. GREENE-C. B. CURRIER --- THOMAS P. MATTHEWS -- M. O. PORTER-E. O. PORTER -- DARIUS MATTHEWS.
MARTIN POST, Esq., " is the only lawyer, so far as is known to the writer, who, as a resident citizen, has ever deemed it expe- ` dient to offer bis professional services to our people, and his stay in this capacity was of comparatively brief continuance - some three or four years. Why legal gentlemen have thus neglected our town, whether because of our aversion to litigation, or because we are accounted unworthy of their attentions, may be left an open ques- tion. We may, however, find consolation in the thought that among our kind neighbors in Middlebury, there may always be found an ample fund of legal wisdom, upon which we may draw in emer- gencies, without seriously diminishing the supply in store for our fellow-citizens in other parts of the County. We may perhaps safely continue to live as we have done, till our duties become more difficult of comprehension, or our readiness to perform them more doubtful.
Mr. Post, possessed very estimable traits of character. While in Cornwall he was chosen town clerk, and while a resident of Middlebury was County Clerk, and was once Clerk of the General
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Assembly of Vermont. Wherever he resided he secured the affec- tions of those with whom he associated ; but feeble health crippled his energies, and disease, in the midst of his years, laid bim in the grave.
Of the Physicians of Cornwall, Dr. NATHAN FOOT takes pre- cedence in point of time, having, as already noticed, arrived among the earliest settlers in 1774. I have been unable to gather, even from tradition, much respecting his medical practice. It is evident from the Proprietors' records that he made it a prominent object to secure for himself and his family, a desirable selection of lands, and if, in his professional labors, he exercised as sound judgment as in pitching his lands, he was a discreet and successful practitioner. No one of the early settlers selected lands more desirable as to quality or location.
I am informed by his daughter, Parthenia M. Foot, who has kindly furnished several interesting reminiscences of her father, and the events of her childhood, that he was born at Watertown, Conn., Feb. 10, 1838, - that he was married in 1757, to Marian Silk- riggs, a native of Waterbury, Conn .; born in 1840. He resided in his native place till 1769, when he removed to Williamstown, Mass., and 1771 to Clarendon, Vt., from which place, after a stay of three years, he removed to Cornwall. His employment in thesc several places of abode, his daughter does not specify, but we infer that it was medical practice, as ho first appeared in Cornwall as a physician. He spent, as surgeon at Ticonderoga, the winter pre- vious to its surrender to Burgoyne, and his daughter relates that at the time Burgoyne passed up the Lake, her father was at Crown Point ; and that after its evacuation, when his and other families had mostly fled from the region, he. remained as surgeon to attend to several soldiers who had been wounded in a skirmish. As soon as he could prudently leave them, he rejoined his family in Rut- land, where he continued till the return of peace.
Miss Foot relates that some two or three years after his return, her father was summoned to Brandon to attend a patient, and the roads being impassable, the messenger came down the Creek in a boat, and returned with the Doctor in the same way. When they
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reached the landing near the patient's house, the Doctor was unable, on account of a rheumatic affection, to walk the distance, and as he was a very light man, the messenger undertook to carry bim in his
arms. They had gone but part of the way, when the man fell, and broke the Doctor's leg. Happily being a surgeon he set his own leg, and after a few weeks was able to be carried home. Sev- cral years after this occurrence, the Dr. and his wife went on horseback to visit a married daughter in Benson, On their return his horse unfortunately slipped and fell, and broke his other leg. This leg also he set himself, but never so far recovered from the injury, as to be able to walk without crutches or a staff, and for several of the last years of his life could not walk at all.
Though in carly life a, member of a Congregational Church, he subsequently adopted Episcopal views, and became connected with that denomination. He died in 1807, in the family of his son Uri, then living in Charlotte. In accordance with a desire he had expressed, his remains were removed to Cornwall, and are interred with those of his kindred near the Congregational meeting house.
Dr. FREDERIC FORD SEN., as already noticed, came to town in 1784. With a due regard, like the other immigrants of his time, to securing for himself a fair proportion of the valuable lunds then obtainable by settlers at tempting rates, he devoted his energies to his appropriate calling. He carried into his practice innate energy and industry. Previous to 1795 his location was ou the farm al- ready mentioned, where he first settled, bat in that year, for the better accommodation of his business, he removed to a more centrfl position, where he afterwards resided. . Here he bought of Dr. Daniel Campbell, who had, to some extent, been engaged in medi- cal practice, in connection with the keeping of a store of goods- his "good will," his store, and his real estate. The store Dr.
Ford kept up a few years, and in connection with it carried on the making of potash. But as his medical practice extended, it fur- n' hed full employment for his energies, and he abandoned his other pursuits. Few medical men in this, or adjoining towns, have enjoyed a wider or more lucrative range of professional employ-
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ment. He was often called, as a consulting physician, to Leicester. Orwell and other remote towns.
Dr. Ford, early in his career, became distinguished in this region by the adoption of a hydropathic system of medical practice pecu- liarly his own, at least as to the extent of its application. Cold water he used in subduing fever in almost every form. Among his papers are found minute descriptions of its successful employment in numerous, and some extremely critical cases of Scarlet Fever, Puerperal Fever, Billious Fever, Typhoid Fever and even Mumps. The use of the Doctor's favorito remedy was often so prompt and sometimes so abundant, as to meet the opposition of his medical brethren, and to awaken the fears of his patients and their friends. He tells us in his written reports of these cases, of wrapping some of his patients in wet sheets frequently renewed, or of pouring upon them pail full after pail full of water ; of immersing his patients in casks of cold water; and even once of laying a child upon a snow bank, wrapped in a wet cloth, and there applying the water. It is within the recollection of the writer, that Dr. Ford was instrumen- tal in effecting many wonderful cures, after the usual remedies em- ployed by other physicians, had proved abortive. Other physicians had previously adopted, to some extent, his theory and practice, as did some of his cotemporaries; and it has formed the basis of a remedial system, adopted in many medical establishments in our land. But to Dr. Ford belongs the credit of having carried out a theory to successful results, in the midst of opposition, and often of obloquy. His notes contain the record that, in a single year, he treated more than a hundred cases of Cynanche Maligna, or Scarlet Fever, with cold application, with the loss of only one or two pa- tients, and those, desperate cases before he saw them, and in repeated instances of treatment of all the forms of disease above named, similarly happy results followed.
Dr. Ford was a man of social turn, and was very fond of soci- ety. Few men had more pleasant anecdotes to relate, and none loved better to listen to their recital by others. His laugh-pecu- liar both for its manner and its heartiness-cannot be forgotten by
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those who were favored with opportunities to witness his intercourse with his neighbors.
As a citizen, he took an active part in measures affecting the sec- ular interests of the community. In the early part of his resi- dence in Cornwall he often accepted town offices, and discharged their duties to acceptance. He continued in the house he purchased of Dr. Campbell until about the year 1816, when, with his son, he built the spacious mansion now occupied by bis grand-son, Charles R. Ford. Dr. Ford had been accustomed, for a considerable period, to receive medical students into his family for instruction, and in erecting this house, he intended to provide for their accommodation. His death occurred Sept. 17, 1822, at the age of 63.
Dr. Ford was connected with the army in the revolutionary war, and belonged to the detachment which, under Gen. Wayne, "Mad Anthony," captured Stony Point by storm in July 1779-a ft soldier to follow a leader so dauntless and determined.
FREDERICK FORD, JR., M. D., was the only surviving son of the preceding, and the only child who survived infancy, of a family numbering, it is said, twenty-two, all children of the same mother. He was born in 1787 before his father's removal from his first pitch. After leaving the common school, he studied Latin to some extent, under the instruction of Rev. Mr. Bushnell - pursued the study of medicine under his father's direction, and completed his professional education at the Medical School in Hanover, N. H., and there received his degree.
Dr. Ford was married to Miss Sally Reeve in 1810, and com- menced professional practice in connection with his father, and adopted his theory in regard to cold affusion in inflammatory dis- eases. During the continuance of his father's life, Dr. Ford devo- ted himself exclusively to his profession, but after that period, devoted his attention more to agricultural pursuits, preferring, in the enjoyment of a competency, to leave the management of his affairs very much in the hands of his son. He was fond of read- ing, especially the current intelligence of the day ; was an interested and active member of the " Young Gentlemen's Society," and was its Librarian., I believe, from its establishment to his death. He
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died April, 1858, aged 71, having been for several months disabled . by an affection of the brain, and was on the 17th of the next month, followed to his grave by his wife, also aged 71 years.
DR. SOLOMON FOOT, already mentioned in our notice of the loca- tion of the early settlers, was born in Colchester, Conn., but in his childhood accompanied his father to Lee, Mass., where he acquired his academical education, and pursued his professional studies. He came to Cornwall in the year 1992, and commenced the practice of his profession, residing as a boarder in the family of Dea. Jeremiah Bingham. In this family he remained until his marriage in 1798 to Mies Betsey Crossett, who was born in Pelham, Mass , in 1771. After his marriage he managed a small farm contiguous to his dwelling, but only as incidental to his professional labors, to which he was steadily devoted. He was a religious man previous to his removal to Cornwall, and developed a strongly marked Christ- ian character. Immediately after his arrival in Cornwall, he became connected with the Congregational Church, of which he remained a worthy member, till, in 1804, he removed to West Rut- land, Vt., where he continued the practice of his profession until his death in 1811. Ho was tall in stature, of fine personal appear- ance, and decided intellectual ability. IIis widow, who survived till 1845, died at Rutland in the family of her son, Hon. Solomon Foot.
The only children of Dr. Foot, born in Cornwall, are two sons, both of whom are still living-Hon. Solomon Foot, born Nov. 19, 1802, and Jonathan Foot, M. D., born Oct. 31, 1804, a sketch of whom will be found among the sons of Cornwall who have entered the learned professions. ,
ABRAHAM FLEMING settled as a physician in the north part of the town about 1803, and purchased one acre of land with a small house thereon, on the corner where R. T. Samson, Esq., now lives. His business could not have been extensive, as his residence in town was very brief. I am unable further to relate his history.
HOSEA BROOKS, M. D., came from the east side of the mountain . and established himself in medical practice at West Cornwall, early in this century. Ile resided there during the fearful epidemic of
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إيه قيمة بشري اليوم الواحد.
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1812-13. When he removed from town, Dr. O. J. Eells entered the field and took much of his practice:
RODOLPHUS FIELD, M. D., from Brandon, was engaged in medi- cal practice in West Cornwall for a short period, when he removed to Put's Creek, in the State of New York, and there continued till his decease.
OLIVER J. EELLS, M. D., has already been mentioned, in noting the early residence of his mother, as having originated in Coventry, Conn. His childhood was spent in the family of his uncle, Nathan Eells, Esq., and his advantages for early education were those only . which were furnished by the common school. The writer, who attended the district school in his company, remembers him as a quiet and orderly scholar, devoted to his appropriate duties, and desirous of improvement. His intellectual bias was carly seen in the deep interest he cherished in the exercises of the "Young Gentlemen's Society, " of which he became a member as soon as his age allowed. He possessed an active, discerning and independent mind ; was fond of argument, and did not easily yield any ground he had once assumed.
Having completed the usual course of professional study, he es- tablished himself in West Cornwall, and there commanded an ex- tensive and profitable practice down to the close of his life. He first lived some distance south of the "Corner," on the west side of the road, after which he built a cottage, which he sold to Ethan Andrus, near the corner on the east side of the way. Ile finally remodeled the residence of the late Joshua Stockwell, by transform- ing it into a neat and tasteful cottage, which, since his decease, his son, Everard Eells, has occupied.
Several years before his death, he adopted the homeopathic theory, and, to a considerable extent, conformed his practice to it. His increasing infirmities, for a few years, rendered him unequal to his labors, and compelled him to employ a colleague. For this purpose, he formed a partnership with R. D. GREEN, M. D., who succeeds him in practice. Dr. Eells died April 4, 1860. After his decease, Dr. C. B. CURRIER took part of his practice, as a
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partner of of Dr. Green ; and still later, as an independent prac- titioner.
THOMAS PORTER MATTHEWS, M. D., established himself in med- ical practice in Cornwall, about the year 1820. He was born in Middlebury Dec. 27, 1791, and fitted for College at the Addison County Grammar School. Having completed his collegiate course in. 1811, and spent a few months in teaching in Washington, Conn., he commenced the study of the medical profession in the office of Dr. Ford of Cornwall, and prosecuted it with Dr. Gridley of Castle- ton. He attended lectures at the Fairfield Medical School, New York, --- an institution at that time in considerable repute. Åfter a few months spent in practice in Le Roy, N. Y., and in Middle- bury, he located himself as a physician in Cornwall, near the centre of the town, where he continued ten years. In 1836 he removed to Redford, Michigan, his present residence, having stopped by the way, a brief period in Western New York. He enjoyed an increas- ing business while in Cornwall, and in his present location has se- cured the confidence of the community to such an extent as to ren- der necessary, a part of the time, the employment of an assistant.
He represented the town of Cornwall in 1820, in the State Leg- islature, and for two years was Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Chemistry, in the Vermont Medical College at Castleton. Since his residence in Michigan, he has been called by his fellow- citizens to represent them in the Legislature of that State.
MARCUS O. PORTER, M. D., from Tinmouth, Rutland Co., en- tered the field left vacant by the removal of Dr. Matthews from town. Dr. Porter commenced the study of his profession with his brother in East Poultney, and prosecuted it, with Dr. Hitchcock in Shoreham, engaged meanwhile, a portion of his time, in teach- ing in that town. He attended medical lectures at the Medical College in Castleton, from which institution he received his degree in 1830. From his first residence in Cornwall, Dr. Porter enjoyed : steadily increasing patronage down to the autumn of 1860, when he removed to Middlebury-a field to which his practice had pre- viously extended, and where he now resides. During most of his residence in Cornwall he officiated as a magistrate, and from 1839,
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was town clerk, with the exception of one year, till his removal from town. He twice represented the town in the State Legisla- ture, was twice elected by that body Commissioner of the Insane Asylum, and was once a member of the Constitutional Convention. His first residence in town was near the Congregational meeting house, but he afterward purchased and occupied a part of the farm of the late Jeremiah Rockwell, and in 1855, erected the beautiful dwelling in which he resided at the time of his removal.
Since the removal of Dr. Porter to Middlebury, his son, EDWARD O, PORTER, M. D., hos offered his services to the community as his father's successor.
In this connection may appropriately be mentioned Dr. DARIUS MATTHEWS, who though for some years a resident of Middlebury, was at an early day extensively engaged in medical practice in Cornwall, and in 1809, transferred his residence to this town.
He first located himself in Salisbury in 1788, and was the first settled physician of that town. Mr. Weeks says of him in his his- tory that "he was a successful practitioner, and performed other valuable services for the town, among which was the survey of highways." The writer will not attempt to draw a portraiture of the subject of this sketch, but will instead, copy the notice which Judge Swift bas furnished on the pages of his history.
" DARIUS MATTHEWS was settled in Middlebury in 1789 as a physician, and the year following purchased of Judge Painter the lot next north of Samuel Miller's,, and the same year built a small house, which constitutes the kitchen of Mrs. Merrill's residence .--- In November of the same year, he was married to Abigail Porter, daughter of Hon. Thomas Porter, of Tinmouth, and sister of the late Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D. D., Professor and President of Andover Theological Seminary. He resided in this house until 1797, when he purchased, of Col. Seth Storrs, an acre of land, on which he built the house afterwards occupied by Ethan Andrus, Esq. This lot is now owned by Jason Davenport, and is the site of his new dwelling-house.
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