USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Peru > Reunion celebration : together with an historical sketch of Peru, Bennington County, Vermont, and its inhabitants from the first settlement of the town > Part 10
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James M. Dudley, practiced in Johnstown, N. Y.
D. K. Simonds, admitted to the bar.
James K. Batchelder, practiced in Arlington, Vt.
A. Clark Batchelder, practiced in Ayer Junction, Mass.
Charles W. Ray, practiced in Concord, N. H.
PHYSICIANS WHO WERE NATIVES OF PERU.
Horace Ballard, practiced in Williamstown, Mass.
T. Miles Bigelow, practiced in the West.
Asa B. Brown, practiced in Ohio.
Wm. B. Lincoln, practiced in Ionia, Mich.
Hiram Howard, practiced in Ohio.
R. B. Burton, practiced in New York. Asa Bigelow, practiced in Toledo, Ohio. . Daniel M. Priest, practiced in New York.
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Charles W. Ray, practiced in Jamaica, Vt.
CLERGYMEN WHO WERE NATIVES OF PERU.
Joseph Wright, Universalist.
Moses Adams, Methodist.
M. S. Dudley, Congregationalist.
Alonzo Barnard, Congregationalist, missionary among the Indians. Frank Goodrich, Methodist.
C. H. Coolidge, Congregationalist.
D. K. Simonds, editor of the Manchester Journal.
CHURCHES.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Congregational church was organized in 1807, when Benjamin Barnard and Lucy his wife, Thomas Wyman and Sarah his wife, Seth Lyon and Sophia his wife, and William Green and Betsey his wife were formed into church fellowship, and subscribed to the articles of faith. Rev. Mr. Fairley, pastor of the Congre- gational church in Manchester, and his delegate, Capt. Burton, were present on this occasion. Thomas Wyman was elected moderator and clerk of the church at this meeting.
March 20, 18OS, Elisha Whitney, Dr. Silas Clark and his wife, Elijah Simonds and his wife, and Mrs. Lucy Hill were united to this church. The Lord's supper was administered by Rev. Mr. Fairley, of Manchester. Thomas Wyman and Seth Lyon were elected deacons.
On July 17, 1808, Rev. Mr. Calton, of Sandgate, administered the Lord's supper.
In 1809 it was voted to adopt the articles and join in fellowship with the western consociation. and Deacon Thomas Wyman was voted delegate to represent the church in consociation. New members continued to join the church each year until 1814, when the society numbered thirty-four persons. The Lord's supper was administered by pastors from neighboring towns on each side of the mountain. Occasionally a missionary would come from Connecticut or Massachussets to preach and visit among the people, also to receive new members into the church and hold a communion service.
In 1813 the members of the church extended an invitation to Oliver Plympton to be ordained and settled over the church as a . permanent pastor, which he accepted. A council was called to meet
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at Deacon Wyman's house on the 28th day of December, 1813, for the purpose of ordaining Oliver Plympton to the work of preaching the gospel in Peru. The council consisted of Rev. Elijah Norton, Deacon Beriah Wheeler, delegate, Rev. James Tufts, Arba Hol- brook, delegate from Wardsboro, Rev. John Norton, Deacon James McCormick, delegate from Windham, Rev. Amos Pettingil, and Deacon Asa Loveland, delegate from Manchester. Rev. Mr. Norton was elected moderator, and Rev. Mr. Pettingil scribe. The candidate presented the credentials of his standing in the church and his license to preach, was examined as to his doctrinal belief, his acquaintance with theology, and his qualification to preach the gospel. It was unanimously voted to accept him, and he was ordained in the centre schoolhouse, that being the place where the meetings were held. Rev. Mr. Lawton offered the introductory prayer and gave the right hand of fellowship; Rev. Mr. Tuft preached the sermon; Rev. Mr. Pettingil offered the ordaining prayer; Rev. Mr. Norton gave the charge and made the last prayer. This was a happy day for the society, and though there was no church, they had a schoolhouse which was well fitted for their use. Here they could meet for service with their first chosen and beloved pastor, with favorable prospects of enjoying the same for some time. But they were soon disappointed. Their pastor went to Wardsboro to get married (the bride's name was Sally Cook). but died the same day that the marriage was to have taken place. He was buried at Wardsboro, and many of his congregation went there to attend the funeral. Mr. Plympton, as first settled minister in town, was entitled to three lots of land which had been reserved for that purpose in the charter of the town, but previous to his death he had deeded this right to the Congregational society. Deacon Lyon was moderator and clerk of the church at this time.
The society continued to hold services without the aid of a pastor, the deacons taking the lead. Esquire Bigelow would read the sermons, and he led the singing for more than twenty-five years. A year never passed without observing a communion season or having some baptism services. Rev. Amos Bingham preached for the society for a little while in 1817, which was accepted by the congregation with great pleasure. Twenty-six new members were added to the church as the results of his labors. The congregation extended a call to him to settle with them as a permanent pastor, but it does not appear that he accepted the call. Mr. Bingham did
HISTORY OF PERU.
much for the spiritual growth of the church, and his preaching, his life, and his instructions were referred to as long as his hearers and converts lived. The fruits of his labors still exist, though he and his bearers have passed away.
The following ministers and pastors have labored for and with the church since it was organized: Rev. Mr. Fairley, Manchester; Dr. Wm. Jackson, Dorset; Rev. Mr. Calton, Sandgate; Rev. Silas S. Bingham, missionary from Connecticut; Rev. Mr. Kellogg, mission- ary; Rev. N. Lawton, Windham; Rev. Mr. Davis, missionary, Berkshire; Rev. Mr. Parker, missionary; Rev. Mr. Preston, Rupert; Rev. Mr. Hitchcock; Rev. James Tufts, Wardsboro; Rev. Joseph Kitchell, missionary; Rev. Mr. Sargeant, Chester; Rev. Mr. Spaulding, Jamaica; Amos Bingham, Bennington; Rev. Mr. Haynes, Rutland; Rev. Mr. Parmerly, Granville; Rev. Mr. Coe, New Hampshire; Rev. Mr. Goodale, Grafton; Rev. Mr. White; Rev. Mr. Cheevor, Mt. Vernon; Rev. Mr. Manning, Ludlow; Rev. Philetus Clark, Londonderry: Rev. Mr. Parsons. Manchester.
In July, 1825, Rev. Nathaniel Rawson commenced to labor with the church, and continued to do so until 1828, when for two years there is no record of any person preaching until 1830. There were only four new members added to the church from 1821 to 1829. These were years of anxiety to all true disciples of Christ, for the love of many waxed cold. Dissension existed, and much labor had to be performed in the way of discipline, which caused fresh trouble. The ordinance of the Lord's supper was administered each year excepting 1829, for which there is no record of any communion, baptism or preaching, but the deacons held services and continued the Sabbath school.
In the winter of 1830 Rev. Nathaniel Hurd, an evangelist front Tinmouth, came among the people, and a new energy was imparted to the members of the church. On the 3rd of May, at a regular church meeting, they voted to establish three weekly prayer meetings in different parts of the town, also to attend a monthly concert, and have in connection with it a monthly church meeting. At a communion season in 1830 seven persons, living in Dedham, Mass., were united to the church by letter, and they were a great help to the church, both by their means and active labor. In 1831 pro- tracted meetings were being held in many towns, and several members of the church attended some of the meetings, bringing the spirit of revival away with them. In August, meetings were
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appointed to continue five days, and many came from other towns to help on the good work. Rev. Mr. Anderson, of Manchester, and Rev. Mr. Kingsbury, of Jamaica, were present and preached, and Rev. Cyrus Hudson, of Dorset, preached one sermon which took fast hold of the people's minds. Rev. Stephen Martindale, of Walling- ford, was present, and preached like a person filled with the Holy Ghost. Men who had constantly kept away from the house of God now came in, and young people came in from other towns, filling the church to overflowing. It seemed like the house of God and the gate of Heaven, and none left without feeling that they had something to do to enter into the straight and narrow way, which is the way to everlasting life. Mr. Martindale, in his last sermon, held up the Bible, saying, this is my text, and he preached the truths of his text in a way that would melt the hardest heart. It was like the hammer on a flinty rock, or the two-edged sword. The fruits of this meeting will last forever, and it would be impossible to measure the results. Thirty-three new members joined the church during these meetings. Mr. Hurd remained with this church three years, leaving it strong in numbers and vigorous to work for the cause of God.
During the years 1833 and 1834 the people were supplied by Rev. Bowman Brown and Rev. Justin Parsons. Mr. Brown labored as a missionary with great success, holding many special meetings. Rev. Mr. Tuttle, of New York State, came to assist him in these meetings, and their united efforts were greatly blessed by the addition of forty new members to the church. During these two years the society, assisted by Rev. J. Parsons, purchased the parsonage place, which consisted of twenty-five acres of land, a small house and a barn. This property has been of much value to the society, by helping them to sustain a pastor.
In the spring of 1835 Thomas Baldwin came to the society, and received instructions for a short time from Rev. Justin Parsons before entering into the work of the church. Mr. Baldwin had a common school education, and worked on his farm and at his trade until he was over thirty years of age, when he turned his attention to the preaching of the gospel. He was a man of good common sense, affable and sociable with all persons, and spiritually alive to the work of the Master. He made a very acceptable pastor, and did much to strengthen the cause of Christ in the town. After laboring as a licentiate for a year, he was invited to settle as pastor over the church, which he accepted. A council was called to ordain and
REV. A. F. CLARK.
.5 JA, ES .. . TILDAN CURLATION
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install him, consisting of Rev. U. C. Burnap, of Chester, Rev. M. B. Bradford, of Grafton, Rev. Silas Hodges, of Ludlow, and Rev. Justin Parsons, of Weston, with their delegates. Mr. Baldwin was ordained June 15, 1886, Rev. U. C. Burnap preaching the sermon. Mr. Baldwin labored faithfully in season and out out season for ten years, and performed a great amount of pastoral labor among all the * families in town; he was also instrumental in keeping up discipline in the church. He officiated at more weddings and funerals than any other man in town. Revival meetings were held in the autumn of 1842, when Rev. Mr. Warren, of Ludlow, came to assist Mr. Baldwin. Their united labors were greatly blessed by the great head of the church, and many were brought into the fold of Christ. During the ten years that Mr. Baldwin was pastor there were fifty-three new members added to the church. He left in the spring of 1845, to the regret of the society and the whole community, and with the satisfaction that he had done his duty to his Master well and faithfully.
Rev. A. S. Swift was pastor of the church for over two years, and during this time the new church was dedicated. Ten new members were added to the church in these two years.
In the spring of 1848 Rev. A. F. Clark came from New York State to be pastor of the church. He was a well educated man, in the full vigor of life, and having a wife that was well calculated to be a helpmate for a pastor, being Mary Simonds, of Peru. Mr. Clark entered upon the Master's work at once. He was elected moderator and clerk of the church, and performed these duties during the eleven years that he was pastor of the church. Mr. Clark preached the doctrines of the fathers a little more than some of the congregation cared to hear, but he raised his bearers to a higher level, elevating them in mind and thought. On receiving a call to be installed in the church, be accepted, and a council was called to meet for that purpose on the ioth of July, 1849. The council consisted of Rev. Cyrus Hudson, of Dorset, Rev. M. B. Bradford, of Grafton, Rev. J. Walker, of Weston, Rev. Thomas Baldwin, of Plymouth, and Rev. Reuben Hatch, of Windham, with their delegates. Rev. M. B. Bradford preached the sermon. There were forty-two new members joined the church during the time that Mr. Clark was pastor. He worked for the elevation of his people, both morally and intellectually, and took great interest in the education of all classes, giving private lessons in his own house.
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He also aided in getting up and sustaining select schools, where those who could not go away to school might have better advantages than could be obtained at the common schools. There were better scholars in town during his time than were ever there before or since. He preached upon the necessity of keeping the Sabbath until his influence caused it to be generally observed by the whole community. Mr. Clark took great interest in the Sabbath school. ever seeking and encouraging the neglectful ones to come in. In the spring of 1859, in the midst of his usefulness, he resigned, and asked the society to unite with him in calling together a council to dissolve his pastoral relations with the church, which was very reluctantly done.
In November, 1848, Rev. R. D. Miller came as pastor of the church, and remained until September, 1864. Twenty-two new members joined the church during this time. He left of his own choice, but the people would have been pleased to have had him stay and continue his labors.
Rev. M. A. Gates, by the request of the people, came to Peru from Tinmouth in November, 1864, and entered at once upon his duties as pastor of the church. He labored successfully for the interests of the church and for the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom, and his labors were rewarded by new members joining the church from year to year. In January, 1868, a council was called to install him over the church, consisting of Rev. J. H. Thyng. of 'Derry, Rev. R. S. Cushman, of Manchester, and Rev. A. F. Clark, of Windham, with their delegates. The installation services took place on the 3rd of January, Rev. R. S. Cushman preaching the sermon. In 1867 the society voted that Rev. Mr. Tarleton should be sent for to help Mr. Gates in holding revival meetings, that spiritual blessings might be showered upon the members of the church. The labor put forth by all Christians was greatly blessed. sinners were convicted and converted, uniting themselves to the church of Christ. During the time that Mr. Gates was pastor of the church it admitted sixty-seven new members. In August, 1868, Mr. Gates sent in his resignation. A meeting was called for the purpose of considering his resignation, and it was voted not to accept it, but to join in calling a council to consider it. The council met on the 20th of August, when the following resolution was passed: Whereas, our pastor, Rev. M. A. Gates, has labored with us in the gospel ministry for the last four years, with the evident approbation of the great head of the church
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upon his labors, giving the word of life to the penitent, baptising our children, receiving the faithful into the church, and burying our dead as a devoted servant of Christ, and is now about to remove from us. Therefore resolved, That we cheerfully express to him our unwavering confidence in his moral and religious character, our affection for him as a faithful minister of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our desire that the blessing of God may attend him in all his future labors. The council voted to dissolve the relation of the pastor and church, cordially recommending Brother Gates to the confidence of the churches as a faithful and laborious pastor.
Rev. A. F. Clark, who was formerly pastor of the church, returned to perform the ministerial duties of the church on the 8th of November, 1868. He received eleven members into church fellowship. Mr. Clark closed his labors in the church in May, 1873, and went to Leverett, Mass.
Rev. S. H. Amsden came to take the pastorship of the church in June, 1873, and continued his duties until October 9, 1876. He admitted four new members during that time.
Rev. Charles Rockwell was pastor of the church from November, 1876, to May, 1878, and united six new members.
Rev. Charles Scott came to the church on June 9, 1878, and was pastor for nearly a year. He admitted four new members to the church.
S. L. Vincent came in November, 1879, as licentiate, and the society extended to him a call to settle with them as their pastor, which he accepted. A council was called to ordain and install him, consisting of Rev. A. C. Reed, of Manchester, P. J. Walker, delegate; Rev. J. L. Harrington, of East Dorset; J. L. Batchelder; Rev. P. S. Pratt, of Dorset, G. H. Williams, delegate; Rev. J. H. Flint, of Weston; Deacon Enoch Pease, delegate from North 'Derry; G. S. Hobart, delegate; Rev. V. M. Hardy, of West Randolph. The candidate was examined and installed, Rev. V. M. Hardy preaching the sermon. Rev. S. L. Vincent continued his labors as pastor of the church until October 15, 1882, when he asked to be dismissed. A mutual council of the society assented to it, and dissolved the connection between pastor and people. During his pastorate three were added to the church by confession and five were added by letter.
A Sunday school was organized in this society in 1818, and has been sustained ever since.
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METHODIST.
The Methodist society was organized in Peru on the 22nd of February, 1822, and was called the Athens Circuit. The prominent members were Samuel and Josiah Stone, Francis Bennett, N. Whitney, with their families. Soon after they were organized they were changed from the Athens Circuit to the Weston Circuit. They held meetings in private houses, and their numbers slowly increased. About 1825 a quarterly meeting was held in the Congregational church, with a large number of the brethren from Landgrove and Weston, it being a large gathering for that time and place. They held services in the North schoolhouse, and frequently had preach- ing. In 1833 a committee was chosen to take into consideration the building of a church, and consisted of Samuel Stone, Francis Bennett, and F. K. Stiles. They went to work in earnest, and by June the frame was up, shingled, boarded, clapboarded, and windows in. It was used without any more being done to it until 1846, when a meeting was called to see about improving it, and a committee, consisting of John Whitney, Abel Adams, and James Lincoln, was chosen for that purpose. It was decided to move the church back from the road and put an addition on the east end for a porch and belfry. The slips were sold for enough to pay for the improvements, quite a number being taken by members of other societies. The church was finished in the fall, and has never been changed in any way since. George Batchelder made the improvements. Rev. C. R. Harding preached the dedication sermon. Meetings were held in this church with much enthusiasm, and prosperity attended the enterprise. It was changed about this time from Weston Circuit to the "Landgrove and Peru Charge." The minister in charge of the circuit would sometimes preach in this church, and at other times one of the circuit ministers would preach. This church and society has suffered in the same way as many of the churches in the rural towns of New England. It is depleted by death and removals until its active and prominent members have all passed away to sing the songs of Zion in the new Jerusalem, and none have come to fill their place in the house of God, in consequence of which, the church is suffering for want of repairs.
A Sunday school was established and maintained in this society for many years.
Some of the prominent families who helped to sustain this society and church were Samuel, Josiah, and Joseph Stone, F. K.
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Stiles, Francis and Jonas Bennett, John, Zimri, and %. Whitney, M. Roby, Nathan, Alvah, Ira, and William Whitney, James Lincoln, Elder Lilley, A. G. Bowker, Nahum, Benjamin, and Abel Adams, Samuel Stiles, Levi Batchelder, Harvey and Hezekiah Stone, James Lakin, and Adam Corbet.
CHURCH BUILDINGS.
The Congregational church and society, feeling the need of a suitable church building, commenced in earnest to obtain one. It seems that the whole town was united in the enterprise, almost every family putting a shoulder to the wheel by purchasing one or more pews, thus encouraging the work of building. In 1815 Gen. Peter Dudley and Capt. John Batchelder were chosen a committee to superintend the building of the church and carry the work along. They commenced on the work immediately, the people furnishing the timber and lumber as best they could. The master workman in framing was Capt. Whitman, of 'Derry. The men assembled to raise the frame, and one of the deacons was about to offer a petition for Divine blessings on the enterprise, when Rev. Pliny Fisk (afterwards a missionary to Jerusalem) unexpectedly arrived, and offered a most earnest prayer for the blessing of God to rest upon the enterprise and all the community after it was finished. The prayer was abundantly answered during the labors of Rev. Amos Bingham. The architecture of this church was of the plainest kind. It was a square building, about 40 by 50 feet, with a portico on the east end about 15 by 20 feet, and finished plain on the outside. The building had two rows of windows, and was clapboarded with the best of pine clapboards, which were painted dark yellow. There was a door at the east end of the porch, and a flight of stairs on the right as you passed in, which led into the upper story. On the south side, and near the main building, was another door and a flight of stairs leading to the upper story, also two doors in the centre to enter the main building, turning right and left to follow the aisle. The pulpit stood at the west end of the building, with a large window at the back of it, and was about ten feet high, spreading out at the top. The deacons seats were partly under the pulpit, and Thomas Wyman and Seth Lyon sat there for years. The pulpit was finished with paneled work, with trimming around it of the best lumber. A flight of winding stairs, with railings, on which the dominie could ascend to the rostrum, from whence he could see
HISTORY OF PERU.
every one in the building. The pulpit was seven or eight feet long, rounded out in the centre so that the speaker could stand in it, with a raised place in front for him to rest his books when reading. The only furniture was a board seat. From this pulpit has been dispensed the words of Life to encourage the fainting ones to a higher spiritual life, and to be faithful in doing the Master's work, also to encourage those out of Christ to come to him by repentance and faith, to enter into his fold and live for and with him. In front of the pulpit was a round table, which was used for communion services. The gallery was on the sides of the room, with a row of pews on the outside, and long seats on the sides for the singers, who were directly in front of the pulpit, but could only be seen by a small portion of the congregation. There were sixteen wall pews and eight centre pews in the church. The wall pews were about eight inches higher than the centre ones. The pews were made about six or seven feet square, with doors, the seats being made with hinges. It was the custom to stand during prayers, turning the seats up to make more room, and at the close of the prayer there would be a good deal of noise, as the seats would come down with a bang. The work of finishing the inside was done by Capt. Webster, of Weston, and Joseph Dodge, of Peru, who were excellent workmen. The result was the best meeting house in town. The best pine was used in this work, and the rich color of the wood gave it a very good appearance, there being no paint used on the inside. Meetings were held in this building during the warm weather, the old schoolhouse being used in the winter as it could be heated better than the church. About 1831 a large stove was put into the church, making it comfortable for the winter months, but some of the people thought it so affected their heads that they could not sit in the building; they soon got over it however. The good mothers who had used their foot stoves from the beginning continued to use them, but instead of going to the nearest neighbor for coal they used those from the church stove. In 1830 Esquire Bigelow put a small stove in his slip. About this time a long row of horse sheds was erected, obeying the precept that the merciful man will be merciful to his beast. This continued to be the place of worship until 1846, and many a Christian has been spiritually fed from this desk, and inany a person led to accept the offer of salvation through a crucified Saviour from the hearing of God's word unfolded in this house, and there are living in distant places many who turn their minds back to
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