USA > Vermont > Addison County > Cornwall > History of the town of Cornwall, Vermont > Part 20
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From a discourse preached at the funeral of Dr. Post, by the Rev. J. L. Kirkpatrick, D. D., I borrow several extracts, which will show the estimation in which he was held by those among whom his labors were performed, during nearly a quarter of a century before his decease. The sermon was based on the Acts xi:24. For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. After some comments, the preacher proceeds :
Dr. Post was a good man. In any sense of the words admissible ; in the sense in which they were applied by Divine inspiration to Barnabas-by the testimony of all whom I have ever heard speak of him, of the pious and the religious, of those who were the long- est acquainted with his worth, and of those who had the slightest knowledge of his manner of life, he stood accredited before the Church and the world, as a man of piety-a man who sought dili- gently and scrupulously to discharge his obligations to God and his
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fellow-men. Ilis infirmities and his faults, whatever they were, were all such as comported with purity of life, honesty of purpose, kind- liness of heart, and devotion to duty. I suppose it to have been impossible for any one to pass a half hour in his company, in any of the various positions in which he was to be found, without receiving this impression of his character. There was an effluence from his very countenance that, with the accuracy and almost the rapidity of the sunbeam which science has taught us to render tributary to the purposes of art and of affection, imprinted upon the minds of all coming within its scopo, an image of moral beauty that nono could mistake. Some might say it was of nature, some of grace, others of both ; but all recognized its features, and few could resist its power.
There was a nice sense of justice, inducing a careful exactness in rendering to all their dues: It may have been thought that in that respect he was needlessly fastidious. But he belonged to that class of men, of whom some still remain, who think they cannot be too particular in doing right. He remembered the injunction of the Apostle, 'Provide things honest in the sight of all men ;' and adopted as a maxim those weighty words of our Lord, 'He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much ; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much.'
There, too, was kindness. Its law was in his heart, its light was reflected from his eyes, and its accents flowed from his lips. You would not hesitate to tell him all your troubles. The child, guided by that instinct which teaches the inexperienced where to seek for sympathy, would recite to him the story of its grief, without tim- idity or reservation.
There, also, was true benevolence ; not that merely which ex- pends itself in words of condolence and tears of sympathy, grateful and valuable as they often are, but that which joined to these sym- bols of charity, the helping hand. * * That he was discreet in selecting the objects of his charity, is what we would expect from other elements of his character. Profuse he could not be, from ne- cessity ; indiscriminate he would not be, on principle.
In his family relations, Dr. Post's character shone with peculiar lustre. No child or servant was neglected ; but each was duly in- structed, restrained, guided or comforted, according to the circum- stances of each.
Dr. Post was a sound, evangelical, earnest preacher. In the range of his speculations he may not have swept as wide a circuit, nor admitted into his public ministrations as many recondite and curious topics as some others. Hle may not have sought to embellish his discourses with as many of the spoils gathered from the explorations of science, the fields of polite literature, or the distant regions in
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which the imagination loves to dwell. The earnest manner with which he was wont to enforce the lessons of the pulpit, was not that which the orator is taught in his books to cultivate as a means of success in his art. It was the genuine, spontaneous, unstudied, irrepressible utterance of his profound confidence in the doctrines which he proclaimed, and of his intense desire for the salvation of the souls committed to bis charge. You might strive to persuade yourself that it was not called for by the exigencies of your con- dition : you might strive to resist being disturbed in your quietude, or moved from your apathy by its force, but you could not withhold your testimony from the sincerity of the preacher ; and when the sound of that earnest, pleading voice died in your ear, if you had no other tribute to pay, you were compelled to say : 'There is a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,' thoroughly convinced in his own mind, believing and therefore speaking, persuading men because he knew the terrors of the Lord ; that if beside himself, or seeming so at any time in the urgency of his appeals, it is to God, or if sober, it is for our sakes ; because in all the love of Christ constraineth him.
Although occupying from a very early period of his ministry, positions where he was exposed to the temptations which, alas, so many find themselves unable to withstand, to seek to please men, rather than to study to be approved unto God in the manner of dispensing the Gospel, I suppose I may safely challenge any man to affirm that he ever witnessed in your Pastor an effort to display his own powers in order to win the applause of the multitude. Preaching with him was a serious business. It was no matter of entertainment, of agreeable pastime, of harmless diversion; nor yet an instrument merely of social cultivation, for the refinement of the taste of individuals, and the better promotion of public decorum, but a divinely ordained agency for the specific ends of subjugating the rebellious soul to the authority of God, recovering the lost soul through the knowledge of Christ Jesus, restoring the dead soul to life and power of holiness and salvation ; and by these blessed re- sults of glorifying God in the Gospel of His Son. Hence, he was earnest ; hence, he divelt so frequently and urgently upon the great themes of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. - It was a sublime and affecting spectacle to behold him when he was entitled, if ever a man was entitled on the score of long and faithful service, to repose amidst the garnered fruits of his labors, still toiling on, in season and out of season, not asking nor accept- ing release, nor even uttering a word of complaint at the weight of his burdens ? Such an example of unremitted exertions, patient endurance, and quenchless devotion to his covenanted duties, is of priceless valuc to to his younger brethern of the Ministry, and to
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every Christian who desires to persevere in well-doing, faithful to the end. You will find such an example only among the servants of Jesus Christ, and in their ranks, only among those in whom the Spirit of Christ dwells in most affluent fullness.
He shrank from notoricty-notoriety which has vanity as its source, and self-glory as its aim. Neither in person nor through friends subsidized for the purpose, was he ever known to solicit ap- pointments which would lift him up to the public gaze. You never saw bis name or his deeds in the public gazettes, or if there, it was not by his connivance and approbation. He had not by a sacrile- gious tampering with his judgement and conscience, reduced them to that state of moral obliquity when one is no longer able to dis- tinguish between the right hand, self, and the left hand, God, but is verily persuaded that whatever tends to the advancement of the former, must of necessity contribute to the glory of the latter. He shrank, I say, from all such notoriety. He was modest, diffident and humble. Some will doubtless say he erred in this respect ; that more self-confidence would have added to his energy of charac- ter, that less retiring he would have would have exerted a wider influence. I do not know how this would have been; but I must confess to a high admiration of the qualities here mentioned, they seem so redolent of the spirit that breathed through the Sermon on the Mount; they are such appropriate and beautiful elements in the character of one whom we love to think of as 'a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith .? ??
MARTIN M. Post, a nephew of the preceding, was born Dec. 3, 1805. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1826, and having passed through his theological course at Andover, was immediately settled at Logansport, Indiana, where he still remains, engaged in humble and unobtrusive labor, as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Since 1849, he has also been Principal of Logansport Seminary.
DANIEL ROCKWELL was born about 1788. In early life he enjoyed only ordinary advantages for education, and was, till middle age, employed in secular pursuits. Thus late in life he com- menced the study of theology, with the hope of rendering himself more useful. He was first settled in Morristown in this State, where he labored for several years.
ORSON ROCKWELL, brother of the above was born in 1810. He completed his collegiate course and received his degree with the class of 1834. After his graduation, he spent two years in teaching an
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Academy in Norwalk, Conn., -spent the next year in study at the Theological Seminary at New Haven ;- became & Baptist clergy- man and preached a short time ; was then, for a brief period, Secre- tary of the New England S. S. Union ;- was a teacher in Mobile, Alabama, 1838-40 ; in Brandon 1840-41; in Salem, Mass. 1841 -13 was employed in Howard College, Marion, Ala., one year ; a teacher in Cababa, Ala., 1845-48 ; then became a teacher in Rich- mond, Ala., where he was in 1850. His present residence I am unable to name.
ASHLEY SAMSON was born May 2, 1819, and graduated at Mid- dlebury, with the class of 1836. He passed through the prescribed course of study at the Theological Seminary, at Andover, and, having received ordination as an evangelist, in 1839 became an agent of the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, to labor in Mis- souri. While thus engaged he died suddenly of fever at Fayette, Missouri, Oct. 15, 1840. In the language of his aged father at the time-"he died as every soldier of the Cross should die, with his harness on." His work though brief was well done.
EZRA SCOVEL was born in 1798. He was a graduate of Middle- bury College with the class of 1822. After his graduation he was Editor of a Religious Newspaper, in Wilmington, Delaware. At the close of his editorial career, he became Preceptor of the Acad- emy at Dover, in that State, where he continued about a year, and then commenced theological study at Andover. There he con- tinued nearly through the prescribed course, but before its comple- tion, was settled as Pastor of the Congregational Church, Pittsfield, N. H., where he continued two years. He afterwards labored in several places ; was, for a number of years, Pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Mexico, N. Y., and is at present laboring in West New- ark in that State.
MILES POWELL SQUIER, D. D., was born in 1791. He gradu- ated at Middlebury in 1811, and at Andover in 1814. He was several years Pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, N. Y., and then for a considerable period was Secretary of the Geneva Agency of the American Home Missionary Society. Since 1850 he baz been Professor of Mental and Moral Science in Beloit College,
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Wisconsin. He received the honorary degree of D. D. from Mid- dlebury College.
LUCIUS L. TILDEN was born in Nov. 1802, and completed his collegiate course at Middlebury in 1823. He pursued Theological study at Andover in 1825-26 ; was Pastor of the Congregational Church at West Rutland, 1830-89, and was several years Princi- pal of the Middlebury Female Seminary. He afterwards resided on a farm in Cornwall until 1851, in the meantime supplying the pulpit of the Congregational church for several months after the removal of Mr. Magill. In 1851, he became cashier of the White River Bank at Bethel, and subsequently hold the same office in a Bank at Royalton. He was was Secretary of the Corporation of Middlebury College from 1848 to 1851; and was Superintendent of Common Schools for Addison County, 1846-48. He has re- cently been appointed assistant Librarian to Congress.
HYMAN A. WILDER was born in Cornwall, but I have not the means of determining, with precision, the date of his birth. It was probably about 1827 or 1828. Mr. Wilder was a graduate of Hamilton College, and having pursued a course of Theological study, he has for many years, with a measure of self-denial and Christian zeal, creditable alike to himself and to his native town, devoted himself to Missionary labor among the Zulus of South Africa.
To the preceding list it is proper to add the names of several clergymen, who, though not born in Cornwall, were here in childhood, except the second one named.
ELIHU B. BAXTER was born in 1789, in Tolland, Conn .; came to Cornwall in early life, and when young, hopefully experienced religion and joined the Congregational Church. Without having - enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education, he first became a preacher of the Methodist denomination, but after a few years, returned to the Congregational church and received approbation as one of its preachers. Viewing himself as peculiarly suited to itinerant service, he labored in several localities ; but with failing health, has for a considerable period resided at La Crosse, Wisconsin.
JAMES PARKER, from Saybrook, Conn., had been much engaged
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in teaching until 1804, when he commenced preaching, and was ordained to the ministry. In this employment, he labored with great zeal and efficiency until his death, which occurred in 1827, at Trev, Vt. He had, for several years, discharged with much faithfulness, the office of Deacon in the Congregational Church, and was one of those who, in the language of the Apostle, having "used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
EBENEZER PECK SPERRY was born in New Haven, Conn., June 31, 1785, and came with his parents to Cornwall in 1788. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1805, and pursued Theological study at Andover, partly in the family of Rev. Jonathan French, and partly at the Theological Seminary. He was several years T'astor-of the Congregational Church at Dunstable, N. II., after which he was settled at Wenham, Mass., near a quarter of a century. After his dismission from Wenham, he officiated for a time as Chap- lain of the city Reformatory Institutions at South Boston, and in 1844 removed to Ohio, where he labored in different localities, till his decease in 1853. Mr. Sperry proved himself a faithful preach- er, a serious, devout and consciencious man in all the relations of life.
SILAS LAMB was born about 1790, but the place of his nativity I have been unable with certainty to determine. It was probably Hancock or Rochester. He was engaged in secular pursuits until he reached middle age, when he commenced the study of theology, and entered the ministry. He labored for short periods in various localities. During the childhood of the writer, Mr. Lamb was re- markable for his habits of somnambulism. It used to be said of him, that if he had been intensely engaged about any employment du- ring the day, so as to become fatigued, he was sure to attempt to be similarly employed during the night-that he would start on a jour- ney, while overpowered with sleep, and proceed for miles before awaking to consciousness.
GEORGE C. V. EASTMAN was born in Bristol July 27, 1807, and with his father removed to Cornwall in early youth, and was a res- ident bere during his collegiate course. He graduated at Middle-
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bury in 1829 ; studied theology with Rt. Rev. Benj. T. Onderdouk, D. D., of New York City, and became an Episcopal clergyman. He has preached in Saybrook and Litchfield, Conn., in Rochester, N. H., in Bangor, Maine, and in other places.
JOEL GREEN, son of Elder Green, was born probably in Wal- lingford, Vt., a few years before his father's removal to Cornwall. His study of theology was pursued with his father. His labors as a preacher were performed in several localities.
LYMAN MATTHEWS was born in Middlebury, May 12, 1801; removed with his parents to Cornwall in 1809, and graduated at Middlebury College in the class of 1822. He taught in 1822-23 in the academy at Powelton, Ga. ; in Wilmington, Del., 1823-24, and in Newark, N. J., 1824-25 ; was a member of the Theological Seminary at Andover, 1825-28, and the following year was an agent of the American Education Society. He was pastor of the Con- gregational Church in South Braintree, Mass., from 1830 to 1844, but owing to the failure of his health, relinquished his pastoral charge in 1844, and has since resided on a farm in Cornwall. He edited the Lectures on Eloquence and Style of the late Ebenezer Porter, D. D., of Andover Theological Seminary, which were published in 1836, and the year following, published a Memoir of Dr. Porter. A sermon on Self-Control, preached by him before the Auxiliary Education Society of Norfoll: County, Mass., was published by order of the Society.
JEIIAL K. WRIGHT was born in Addison Aug. 15, 1801. With- out acquiring a collegiate education, he entered the ministry of the Baptist denomination in 1829. During this and the following year he preached mostly to the church of New Haven and Wey- bridge, when he removed to Cornwall and supplied the Baptist church in 1831-32, receiving ordination the latter year. Eleven years preceding May 1861, he supplied the church in Bridport, residing meanwhile upon his farm in Cornwall, and superintending its management.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
NATIVES OF CORNWALL WHO HAVE ENTERED THE PROFESSIONS- LAWYERS.
CHAUNCY ABBOT was born Sept. 16, 1815, and received his first degree at Middlebury College in 1837. He was employed as a private tutor in Warren County, Va., 1837-38; pursued legal studies with Phinehas Smith Esq. of Rutland from 1838 to 1541 ; was engaged in professional practice at Winnebago, Wiscon- sin, two years, and then removed to Madison in the same State. He has been a member of the Legislature of Wisconsin.
WILLIAM R. BAXTER was a graduate of Williams College about 1856 or '57. Ilaving acquired his profession, and been admitted to the bar, he established himself in legal practice at Chaska, Carver County, Minnesota, where he still resides.
LUTHER L. BAXTER, without having enjoyed the advantages of a Waral education, pursued the study of law in the office of the late Julius Beckwith, Esq., of Middlebury, and became settled in Wis- ruasin, and afterwards at Chaska, Carver County, Minnesota. He is at present a captain in the Minnesota Home Guards, and stationed at one of the forts on the border of the State.
JEDEDIAH S. BUSHNELL Was born in 1804, and was graduated a: Middlebury in 1326. Having completed the study of his pro- fesion, L. commenced its practice in partnership with the late Hon. Peter Starr of Middlebury, and was afterward connected in profess- ional business with the late Edward D. Barber. He was for many
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years Register of Probate for the District of Addison, and still re- sides in Middlebury.
MILO D. Cook' was born June 3, 1819. He was a member of the class which graduated at Middlebury in 1842. He was for several years engaged in teaching, having been thus employed in Moriah, N. Y. ; at Liberty Corners, N. Y., and at Henderson, Ill. His present residence is Galesburgh, Illinois, where he is engaged in the legal profession, and is a city magistrate.
JAMES MARSH DOUGLASS was a graduate of Middlebury College in the class of 1838. After his graduation he spent several years in teaching, in South Carolina, and in Lexington, Kentucky. He afterward became a lawyer, and settled in Brunswick, Missouri ; where he still resides, engaged also in mercantile business,
HON. SOLOMON FOOT, L. L. D., was born Nov. 19, 1802, his birth-place having been separated from that of the late Governor Slade only by the highway. His father, Dr. Solomon Foot, of whom a biographical sketch will be found on another page, removed to West Rutland in 1804. By his decease, in 1811, young Foot was left at an early age to the care of a kind and judicious mother, under whose training his aspirations for usefulness and influence were early developed.
When about fourteen years of age, he resided for a short time in the family of Mr. Asa Bond of this town, who relates the following , incident, which, as it is both amusing and characteristic, may inter- est the reader :
One spring morning Mr. Bond sent young Foot into the field with his team, to "drag" in some seed which had been sowed the evening previous. About the middle of the forenoon, he went out to see what progress he was making, and as he came in sight of the field, discovered the team standing without a driver. Supposing him to be absent after water, he waited until he had amplo time to return, and then commenced a search for him. At length he found him in a corner of the fence lying flat upon his back, on the grass. " Sol," said he, what are you doing here ?" Sol. replied, " I am thinking what I shall say when I get to be a member of Congress."
"Coming events cast their shadows before."
JH Buffuras Lith. boston.
Valoman
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He graduated at Middlebury College in 1826, and immediately Became the Preceptor of Castleton Academy. After a year spent An this service, he was Tutor in the University of Vermont during The College year of 1827-28. He then returned to Castleton and resumed the instruction of the Academy. The summer of 1829 he devoted with his wonted energy to re-establishing the institution on a broader basis, and to erecting the spacious and imposing edifice, which has since been an ornament to that beautiful village, and a credit to the State. He continued the Principal of the Institution till 1981, officiating meanwhile as Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Vermont Academy of Medicine.
While engaged in teaching. he also pursued legal studies, and when he resigned his connection with Castleton Seminary in 1831, was admitted to the bar and established himself in professional practice at Rutland, which has since been his residence. As car- ly as 1893 he was called by the people of Rutland to represent them in the State Legislature, and was re-elected to this office in '36, '97, '38 and '47, and the three years last named was Speaker of that body. In the year 1836, he was also a member of the Con- stitutional Convention.
In 1832, even before he had been called by his fellow-citizens to act as a legislator, he participated effectively, though perhaps with- out its bring generally known, in a political meeting held at Mont- pelier in October of that year, to secure the election of Henry Clay to the Presidency. The Address fraught with forcible argu- ment, and urgent appeals to the patriotism of the freemen of Ver- mont, was the production of his pen. He also prepared a Memorial and Resolutions, which were adopted by a meeting very numerously attended at Rutland, February, 1834, for the purpose of consider- ing the derangements of the currency then prevailing ; of disap- proving the assaults at that period made by the existing administra- tion upon the Bank of the United States, and of advocating its support and a continuance on its behalf of public confidence and favor.
From 1836 to 1842, Mr. Foot was State's Attorney for Ratland County. In 1842 he was chosen Representative in Congress, and
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filled the station the four subsequent years. In this station bis capacity as a legislator, which had already been apparent in the Legislative Councils of this Commonwealth, was soon appreciated by his fellow-citizens, and by the country. Though always con- servative in his political views and action, he was ever the fearless advocate of right, in the management of our domestic affairs, and in our intercourse with other nations. While he would defend the honor of his country against every menace or encroachment of ar- bitrary power, he advocated no less decidedly a spirit of conciliation, which, in unimportant matters, would make reasonable concessions for peace. In the exercise of this spirit, he discountenanced the defiant tone of certain members of Congress in reference to the question which arose between this country and Great Britain re- specting the Oregon boundary. While some gentlemen urged extreme claims at the hazard of war, our representative with ear- nestness counseled forbearance, conciliation, and careful investigation of the justice of our demands.
" Mr. Chairman," said Mr. Foot, "I would yield much to the spirit of peace and harmony ; and if the sword must be drawn, let it be done in a just and necessary war; let it be in defence of the invaded rights and honor of the country. And when that crisis comes, if come it must, it will be met by the American people with one voice and with one heart. If war be brought upon us by the rash and reckless counsels of those whom the people have placed in the highest seats of power, while they will be held to a fearful account before the supreme appellate tribunal of public sentiment, our talismanic watchword will still be -'our country, our whole country, and nothing but our country.'
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