The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 106

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064

USA > Vermont > Washington County > Montpelier > The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier. > Part 106

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Among the prominent Universalists who contributed liberally to the erection of one or both churches at the Center village, were Amos Robinson, Jesse and Oliver Averill, Lebbeus Bennett, Elijah Burn- ham, Isaac P. Jenks, John West, John Starkweather, Heman Carpenter, Roswell Carpenter, Judge Robinson, David R. Til- den, Thomas S. Mayo, Samuel Fisk, Sid- ney Hatch, Moses Robinson, Sherman Gold, Harvey Tilden, I. W. Brown, Lewis Hassam, Volney H. Averill, Joel Parker, Elijah Pride, William Wales, Mrs. Hurl- burt, and others.

After repeated efforts to get a vote to build a new church in the Depot village, for the railroad was drawing business, the post-office and a majority of the citizens to that place, a vote was passed to take measures to purchase the land and proceed with the building. In November, 1858, at a society meeting, 51 votes were cast

to locate said church on the H. M. Bates lot, north of the common, and H. Tenney, T. A. Miles, J. C. Gault, Sherman Gold and John Gregory were appointed a build- ing committee. The church was com- pleted the following summer, dedicated to God in the usual form December, 1859, and Rev. O. H. Tillotson selected as pas- tor, and commenced his labors the first Sunday in January, 1860, at a salary of $1,000 per year. The society prospered under his ministration, for he was well liked, honoring his profession as he did by a well-ordered life. He died in Northfield in 1863, aged 47 years, lamented by a large parish, leaving a wife and one son. Of him it might have been said : "A good man has fallen."

His remains were interred in our beau- tiful Elmwood, and many a tear has fallen upon his grave, at the recollection of his manly bearing and Christian usefulness.

Rev. Eli Ballou supplied the pulpit un- til the Rev. C. W. Emerson was settled as pastor, who labored with them 3 years. Then followed the Rev. Stacy Haines Mat- lack, an excellent young brother, who, in feeble health, preached to the society near- ly one year, but was compelled to resign his pasturate, and died at the home of his parents, in Eaton, O., Apr. 15, 1870, age 30 years. He was a graduate of St. Law- rence University at Canton, N. Y., of the class of '71, and Northfield was his first charge.

The Rev. R. A. Green followed Mr. Matlack, remaining 5 years. Since then the hard times and the removal of many friends, have greatly embarrassed the so- ciety. Rev. W. M. Kimmell, of Ohio, commenced his labors as pastor the first Sunday in May, 1878.

FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.

This denomination had quite a good so- ciety in 1823, so that they drew more pub- lic money than the Methodists that year. But schism got in among them, they died out, and have no longer a name to live in Northfield. Elder Nathaniel King was their prominent preacher.

Sylvanus, son of Col. Ezekiel Robinson, was ordained as a Baptist Elder, by the

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laying on of hands, by Elders James Mor- gan, George Hackett, and Ziba Pope, Feb. 27, 1821, and preached here and else- where as opportunity presented.

James Morgan was ordained as a Bap- tist Elder, June, 1822, by Elders Daniel Batchelder and Thomas Moxley, and preached considerable in Northfield. Ma- ny years have passed since the Baptists gave up their organization, and the writer has not been able to find one of that order that can give him a history of the rise and decline of this once prominent society. Deacon Nathaniel Jones was its principal lay member, and his zealous advocacy of Millerism not only tended to break up the Baptist society, but injured him in point of property. JOHN GREGORY.

REV. NATHANIEL KING.

From an obituary by Elder Henderson, who preached his funeral sermon :

Died in Northfield, Oct. 18, 1852, Elder Nathaniel King, aged 853 years. He was born in Hampstead, N. H .; at 8 years, his father removed to Sutton, N. H., where he resided until 21 years of age. At 22, he visited Tunbridge, Vt., which was new and but sparsely settled, purchas- ed a tract of land and commenced making improvements. In 1794 he married Miss Lydia Noyce, which relation was sustain- ed with honor and fidelity 58 years. He was permitted to see an interesting family gathered around him. In 1799, he indulg- ed a hope in Christ, and in 1802, was pub- licly consecrated to the work of the gos- pel ministry. His ministerial labors will live in grateful remembrance while his re- mains moulder in the dust. He felt deep- ly interested for the heathen in his blind- ness, the slave in his chains, and the poor around him.

He contributed $100 for the endowment of the Free Will Baptist Biblical School at Whitestown, N. Y., $150 for the Bible cause, $350 for the Mission cause, and other benevolent enterprises shared in his liberal contributions.

Of his useful life, 42 years were spent in Tunbridge and Randolph, and 14 years in Northfield. In each of these towns he se -. cured the confidence and esteem of his

townsmen, and as a token of their esteem and confidence he was appointed to offi- ces of trust, 'and for 13 years represented the town of Tunbridge in the Legislature.

Elder King, as a husband and parent, was kind and affectionate; as a citizen, upright and patriotic ; as a Christian, hum- ble, faithful and consistent ; as a minister, in his public ministrations plain, direct and fearless,-in labors untiring, and suc- cessful. He was long spared to bless the church and the world.

His sickness was protracted and dis- . tressing ; but he repeatedly assured his friends that the doctrine he had preached for more than half a century sustained him in the time of trial. His end was calm and triumphant. In his removal, one of the strong men and faithful watchmen of Zion has fallen. M. C. HENDERSON. East Randolph, Oct. 25, 1852.

OBITUARY OF MRS. NATHANIEL KING.

Lydia, widow of the late Rev. Nathan- iel King, died in Middlesex, Feb. 5, aged 90 years, 6 months. She was born in Bow, N. H., and when quite young, re- moved to Tunbridge, Vt., where she re- sided many years. In 1794, she married the man whose relation was enjoyed for 58 years. She indulged a hope in Christ in in 1799, and soon after received baptism and united with the F. Baptist church in Tunbridge. During the 50 years' minis- try of her husband, she ever encouraged him in his work, and enjoyed the satisfac- tion of having contributed much to the cause of Christ. Her interest was identi- fied with the denomination for 70 years, and in advanced age, her attachment was not allowed to decline.

A family of 5 sons and 8 daughters gathered around her. Nine remain to mourn her departure, and cherish her memory. She lived to see a numerous posterity extending to the fourth genera- tion. Her last 10 years were pleasantly passed in the family of Stephen Herrick, Esq., (Mrs. H. a daughter,) where she - received the kindest attention. On the 10th, funeral services were conducted by the writer, after which her remains were brought to Northfield, and laid by the side

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of those of her husband. The occasion was solemn and interesting.

M. C. HENDERSON.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

had something of a following in 1823, but was the smallest of all, as we learn by the amount of public money they drew. Af- ter the yellow meeting house was removed from the Center, they ceased holding meetings, and became extinct as a rell- gious society. Efforts have been made to find some one that would give a brief ac- count of this order in Northfield, but in vain. J. G.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN NORTHFIELD.

BY REV. WM. S. HAZEN.

Most of the first settlers of Northfield were Universalists, and for a number of years that was the prevailing religious in- fluence in town. Then a Methodist church and a Free Will Baptist church were organ- ized ; and as the population of the town increased, a number of families were found who preferred the "Congregational Way."

Virgil Washburn, a devoted Christian, who came from Randolph, was especially active among them. Occasionally meet- ings were held in private houses or barns. Sometimes they had preaching by clergy- men from neighboring towns. The pro- fessing Christians among this company, after consultation as to how they could best promote their own spiritual interests and those of their friends, decided to form a church. The meeting was called and the church organized in " the little yellow meeting-house" at the Center Village. The first record of the church reads :

Northfield, May 27, 1822. This day was organized the first Congregational church of Christ in this town. Composed of the following persons, viz: Josiah B. Strong, Virgil Washburn, Moses R. Dole, Samuel Whitney, Thomas Whitney, Lucy Whit- ney, Clarissa Strong, Rizpah Whitney and Betsey Houghton, by professing their faith in Christ, and entering into covenant bonds with God and each other. They then pro- ceeded to choose Brother Josiah B. Strong Moderator, Brother Samuel Whitney clerk, and Dea. Virgil Washburn Deacon.

Attest,

ELIJAH LYMAN. ¿ Ministers of AMMI NICHOLS, S the Gospel.

June 17, 1822, there is this record :

This day held a church meeting accord- ing to appointment. Voted to hold open communion with all regularly organized Christian churches.

The feelings of these nine Christian men and women as they stood up and entered into covenant with one another and the Lord, can be better imagined than de- scribed. It was a step on their part taken after much deliberation and prayer. They felt the importance of the movement, and the responsibility resting upon them indi- vidually. They were in earnest in seeking the honor and glory of God, and the spir- itual good of their friends and neighbors. To secure for themselves and children reli- gious privileges, they were willing to bear heavy burdens, to practice great self-denial. Thus this small company were organized into a church and ready for Christian work ; but their condition and prospects, humanly speaking, were not flattering ; they had no home. The only right they had in any house of worship, was in the small meet- ing-house in which the church was organ- ized. This they could occupy the fifth Sabbath of every month in which there were five Sabbaths. They had not the means with which to provide themselves a home. They were not able, even, to sup- port regular preaching ; occasionally they had preaching, and the ordinances were administered by the pastors of neighbor- ing churches : Revs. Elijah Lyman, Ammi Nichols, James Hobart, Salmon Hurlburt, E. B. Baxter, Joel Davis, Amariah Chan- dler, Henry Jones, A. C. Washburn, F. Reynolds and others; such was the distrust of their success, many whose sym- pathies were with Congregationalism stood aloof even during a very extensive revival about 1825 ; the converts who would nat- urally have united with this church, turned from it because they thought it would prove a failure. The first addition to the church was Sarah Shipman, Feb. 23, 1823. Dur- ing the first 10 years there were 19 admis- sions and 2 dismissions by letter. I have no record of deaths. If none, the church when 10 years old numbered only 26, These were years of struggling for very ex- istence. When the church had increased in

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strength and influence, so that it was thought advisable to hold public services every Sabbath, a school-house in the Depot village was occupied. Shut out of this house by vote of the district, a large room in Gov. Paine's woolen factory was used. During the winter of 1835, a subscription paper was started to raise funds to build a church, but Gov. Paine forestalled the necessity by building a house and inviting the church to worship in it, and it was dedicated to " The Father, Son and Holy Ghost," Dec. 1, 1836, Rev. J. K. Converse of Burlington, preaching the sermon, and offering the dedicatory prayer. This house was occupied for about 6 years, when the church decided to build a house at the Center for itself, of which it would have the entire control.

The edifice was erected and dedicated Aug. 3, 1843 ; thus when 21 years old the church had a habitation of its own as well as a name. The church continued to worship in this house, till the railroad having been built and business so centered in the Depot village it seemed desirable the church should be there, and Dec. 1854, it was decided to change back from the Center, and the house built by Gov. Paine formerly used, was bought of the heirs, enlarged, repaired, and has been the home of the church since.

The first 10 years the church could not hold meetings regularly on the Sabbath, but the last years "reading meetings" were held, which Dea. Cady usually con- ducted, Gov. Paine frequently reading the sermon.

In Sept. 1833, Mr. James Ferguson, a young man, commenced laboring with the church. He was called to be its pastor, but died the very day he was to have been ordained and installed.

On the last Sabbath in May, 1834, Rev. Calvin Granger preached for the church, and arrangements were made with him for "stated supply." June 4, 1836, the church voted to give Rev. Calvin Granger a call to become the pastor, with a salary from the church and society of $200, the re- mainder of the salary to be supplied by the Home Missionary Society.

Dec. 1, 1836, Mr. Granger was installed, and was pastor till Dec. 1842, when he was dismissed by advice of a council.

After this I find no record of any action of the church in regard to ministers until Sept. 12, 1843, when Rev. Thos. S. Hub- bard was invited to become pastor, who declined, and Nov. 25th, after, the church voted to hire Rev. Wm. Claggett one year, whose services were retained till the end of 1845.

Again, no record of action in regard to a minister till Sept. 19, 1846; the church voted to employ Rev. J. H. Benton one year. March 24, 1847, he was installed, and was pastor till Sept. 7, 1849, when dismissed by advice of a council. The rea- sons given were, "inadequate support, a call received from a church in Michigan, and circumstances growing out of that call."

In Jan. 1850, Mr. Ambrose Smith was acting pastor ; July 9, 1850, ordained ; dis- missed Apr. 24, 1853, and soon after Rev. C. B. Tracy became acting pastor. He received a unanimous call to become pas- tor. There is no record of the acceptance of this call, but he remained acting pastor till the close of 1855.

Dec. 27, 1855, Rev. L. H. Stone was voted a call to become pastor. His labors commenced the first of April, but there is no record of the acceptance of this call, and Mr. Stone was not installed, but con- tinued acting pastor till the first of Apr. 1863, when Mr. C. W. Thompson supplied till the first of Sept. after, when the min- istry of the present pastor, Rev. Wm. S. Hazen, commenced, who was ordained pastor Oct. 12, 1864.

The first deacon was Virgil Washburn, who held the office from the day of organ- ization till Apr. 1, 1832, when at his own request he was dismissed, and recommend- ed to the fellowship of the church in Ran- dolph. Aug. 11, 1832, Caleb Winch and Calvin Cady were chosen deacons, and continued in office until their death ; the first, Apr. 27, 1843; the last, Apr. 12, 1864. There is no record of the election of Chas. C. Closson and Samuel Denny, but it must have been during 1843. They served till their dismission by letter ; the

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one in 1848, to the church in Worcester, in which he held the same office a number of years, and died in 1872; the other to the church in Thetford. Dea. Denny, after his return to this church in Aug. 1850, served for some time. Wm. Winch was chosen July, 1848, and is now the senior deacon of the church. There is no record of the election of Leonard Harring- ton, who served several years previous to his removal to the church in Waitsfield. Lorenzo Belknap was elected Aug. 8, 1864, and Daniel Chandler, at present one of the acting deacons, July, 1880.

Clerks of the Church .- Samuel Whitney, Chas. C. Closson, John L. Buck, Calvin Granger, John L. Buck, J. H. Benton, Truman S. Kellogg, Ambrose Smith, Sam- uel Denny, Wm. S. Hazen, M. McClearn, J. H. Orcutt.

The church has enjoyed only two ex- tensive revivals; one during the winter of 1835-36, which resulted in more than doubling the membership, the other in the winters of 1841, '2. The total mem- bership is 372 ; present membership, 126.

Though there had been something of a Sabbath-school, or better, perhaps, Bible classes, connected with the church for sev- eral years, the school was not regularly organized until Dec. 1836, when Samuel Denny was chosen superintendent, since which the school has been well sustained, but never was more flourishing than now, when it numbers 156; and at least three who here first professed their faith in Christ, have become ministers of the Gos- pel: Rev. Daniel Parker [see page 644], Rev. C. M. Winch, who is now pastor of the church at Hartland, and Rev. Geo. W. Winch, pastor of the Congregational church in Enfield, Conn., and two others who united with this church by letter, have become clergymen, and are laboring in the West. This church was formerly aided by the Vt. D. M. S., the last record of such aid being in Nov. 1855.

This review may at first present some- thing of discouragement ; to some it may seem as though Christian effort here has been useless, or at least very inefficient ;

that after 60 years of labor there is so small a church numerically to show. It must be remembered that the fruits of any moral or religious undertaking are never all to be seen. "One soweth and another reap- eth." Aside from the influence on this community in sustaining a Christian church 60 years, the full value of which eternity alone will reveal, the church has been continually exerting a wider influence in sending forth to other parts of the land those nurtured in its bosom. Who will attempt to estimate the good it has thus been continually doing ? Such country churches as this, gaining slowly if at all, yet constantly holding on, are like those mountain springs which are continually sending forth their sparkling streams to irrigate and fertilize the valleys below, thus making, what would otherwise be a barren waste, a fruitful garden. No cause of discouragement here, then, but rather of devout gratitude that this church is as strong as it is to-day, while it has done what it has for others.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. BY REV. FRANKLIN W. BARTLETT.

The Parish of St. Mary's was first or- ganized in 1851, under the auspices of the Rev. Dr. Josiah Perry, who died after four or five months of faithful service. We ascertain from the records that an associa- tion was created April 10, 1851, to form a parish in Northfield, for the purpose of supporting the gospel ministry and main- taining public worship, in conformity with the constitution and canons of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Vermont. The name adopted was St. Mary's Parish, Northfield. The Articles of Association were signed by Samuel W. Thayer, Jr., Edward H. Williams, H. H. Camp, James C. B. Thayer, F. E. Smith, E. G. Babcock, W. H. Cornwell, Perley Belknap, James Moore, H. L. Briggs, Isaiah Shaw, J. H. Glennie, Benj. Crid- land, J. N. Mack, Riverius Camp, Jr., Ozro Foster, O. H. Finley, Peyton Booth, John Pollock and D. P. Burns. Nearly all of these have since removed, or are deceased.

The first service was conducted in a pri-

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vate school-house, at present occupied as Judge Carpenter's office. The parish or- ganization was maintained ; but after Dr. Perry's death no services were held until the winter of 1856-7, when clergymen from different parts of the State officiated, and worship was conducted at the Center vil- lage. There were then but four commu- nicants. The summer following a change was made to the Depot village, and to the edifice ever since occupied. It had for- merly belonged to the Congregationalists, but was purchased for its present purpose and removed from the Center village to its present eligible site at the corner of Main and Elm streets. After its removal, it was opened for divine service on Christmas day, 1857, by the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hopkins, D. D., LL. D., assisted by the Rector of Montpelier, who came accom- panied with his choir and about 30 of his congregation. On the following day, (Saturday) the house was solemnly conse- crated. The Rev. Messrs. F. W. Shel- ton, Josiah Swett, Gemont Graves, and Wm. C. Hopkins participated in the ser- vice. Toward the parish Mr. Swett had evinced great interest and zeal, and had raised money for it in other parts of the diocese. The Vestry subsequently passed a resolution acknowledging their obliga- tions to him. From this time the church was served by the 4 clergymen just named and by the Rev. Messrs. C. R. Bachelder, A. Oliver, M. A. Herrick, and T. L. Ran- dolph. A Sunday School was organized by the last named, in Jan. 1858. The Church had been hitherto under the gener- al supervision of the Clerical Convocation of Vermont, but on Feb. 17, 1858, a call was extended by the Vestry to the Rev. Wm. C. Hopkins, a deacon, the youngest son of the Bishop. The latter, as his eccle- siastical superior, having given his consent, Mr. H. entered on his duties, Easter day, Apr. 5, 1858. The free seat system was advocated by him, and on May 23, the Vestry passed a resolution declaring it de- sirable, but it was not then made the rule. Mr. Hopkins was ordained a priest Sept. 30, 1858. On New Year's day, 1862, the

and have never since rented them. On Sept. 25, 1862, the Governor appointed Mr. Hopkins chaplain in the army. The Vestry passed resolutions of congratula- tion, and consented to part with him for a time, but asked him to continue their rector. It was so arranged. The Rev. J. Isham Bliss (now professor in the Uni- versity of Vermont and officiating in mis- sion stations,) conducted services for the next 6 months. Meantime, the Rector wrote from Pensacola, Fla,, under date of Feb. 27, 1863, resigning the rectorship, but the Vestry declined to accept the resig- nation. The Rev. Gemont Graves (now of Burlington) became minister-in-charge in May, 1863, and continued such one year. Charles Fay, D. D. (now of Chica- go, then of St. Albans,) officiated on Sun- days in the following summer, and ser- vices were thereafter conducted by Dan- forth H. Brown, as lay reader. The res- ignation of Mr. Hopkins as rector was ac- cepted Nov. 27, 1864, with expressions of great regret. He had been an active and laborious pastor, and was greatly beloved. During his absence from his charge he had continued to manifest his interest by sending gifts of money for the church from himself and his regiment, the 7th of Vt. Vols. The Presbyter John B. Pitman, formerly of Fishkill, N. Y., (now of Ma- lone, N. Y.,) became rector in the spring of 1865. His resignation was accepted Nov. 13, 1866. The able and learned Edward Bourns, LL. D., the President of Norwich University, was engaged to conduct services until a rector could be procured. He was made minister-in-charge Easter, 1867, and continued his official re- lations until Roger S. Howard, D. D., pre- viously of St. James, Woodstock, became rector, in the summer of 1869. Dr. How- ard was at the same time President of the University.

During this period a chancel was added to the church at considerable cost, in fulfil- ment of assurances made Dr. H. before his acceptance. A very handsome stained glass window was placed over the altar by Mr. J. C. B. Thayer as a memorial to his Vestry made the pews unconditionally free, deceased wife. Dr. Howard resigned the

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rectorship, May, 1872. The Rev. Amos D. McCoy, a clergyman of fine talents and a remarkably good reader, officiated for a short time, but his state of health did not admit of protracted mental exertion. He retired, and a vacancy followed. Dr.

Malcolm Douglass, who had succeeded Dr. Howard, as President of the University, frequently officiated at St. Mary's. The Rev. G. C. V. Eastman was next elected rector, and entered upon his duties, Jan. 30, 1873. He resigned Apr. 5, 1875. Dr. P. D. Bradford and Dr. George Nichols conducted the services, as lay readers until the appointment of the Rev. Wm. Lloyd Himes, deacon, in the spring of 1876, who resigned the parish to take effect Easter 1877, having meantime been advanced to the sacred order of priests. There fol- lowed an interval of several months lay- reading. The present Rector, Franklin Weston Bartlett, formerly of the diocese of Pennsylvania, entered upon the charge Christmas day, 1877, just 20 years since the church was opened by Bishop Hopkins. The interior of the church has been. re- cently improved, and some gifts have been made for the chancel by individuals. Among these is an altar cross to the mem- ory of the late Gen. Alonzo Jackman, who was a faithful and devout Christian, and for several years senior warden of St. Mary's.

CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NORTHFIELD. BY REV. Z. DRUON, V. G.

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The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 106

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press Number of Pages: 1064

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064