USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 25
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As the fruits of a revival in 1843, 62 were added; and 19 in 1854.
Not only in years of interest, but in seasons of dearth, too, the earnest laborer toiled on- writing sermons-preaching faithfully through many months, and sometimes years, without much encouragement-speaking in the school- houses, sometimes to meagre gatherings-going to the prayer-meeting to find but few-visiting from house to house among the people, with- out any special interest, but gathering here and there a sheaf.
It is mentioned as a remarkable result of Dr. Payson's pastorate of a city church, that, on an average, 25 were added annually to the mem- bership. In a country parish the average an- nual accession, mostly by profession, during a ministry of 26 years, was about 19. The aver- age accession, annually, by profession of faith from those converted, in the five more marked seasons of religious interest alone, is about 10 }.
Mr. Steele was a wise pastor. Simply, his po- sition was influential. It was always felt that he would be upon the right side. He was never fanciful nor hasty. Was it an instinct of wisdom, sanctitied by grace ? An endowment of nature Christianized ? He had a Christian common sense, as a minister, which gave his words and plans great weight.
Yet, behind all effort. the Christian man was the power of the people's salvation.
The good man in the pulpit, in the prayer- meeting, in the parsonage, in the streets, in the homes -- at weddings and at funerals-by sick and dying beds, was the real power. Night
and day he was living among the people, Christ's minister of life to them. It is no exay. geration-a moral halo-an atmosphere of Chris tianity hung about him and about h's home. That parsonage, decaying now, but surround- ed by the trees he planted, and sanctified by his studies and prayers and life, will never be looked upon by the generation that knew it as his home, without a feeling akin to rever- ence .*
These lines of Cowper are a faithful trans- cript of this devout pastor's influence, who now rests from his labors :
" As when a ship, well freighted with the stores, The sun matures on India's spicy shores, Hath cast her anchor and her sails hath furled . In some safe harbor of our western world,
'Twere vain inquiry from what port she went; The gale informs us, laden with the scent.
When one that holds communion with the skies Hlas filled his urn where these pure waters rise, And once more mingles with us meaner things, Tis e'en as if an angel shook his wings ;
Immortal fragrance fills the circuit wide,
That tells us whence his treasures are supplied."
FROM THE NOTICE OF JUDGE C C. CLAT.
Died at the house of Mr. Charles Hopkins, in this city, at 5 1-2 o'clock, P. M., Thursday, April 25, 1827, Rev. Joseph Steele, aged cear- ly 71. He was slightly indisposed on Wednes- day, but walked about the city as usual. On Thursday he remained at home complaining of an unpleasant sensation, rather than pain, which passed from one to another place over his chest and back. While sitting in the family circle. conversing with accustomed cheerfulness, be suddenly expired.
Although only a few months in this city and known to the writer, he thinks he learned bis character. * * * Indeed, his simplicity and in- genuousness soon revealed it to all about bim. * Faith, hope and charity irradiated his countenance, and dwelt upon his tongue. Humility, gentleness and tenderness marked his intercourse with his fellow-men. ** * Such a man would find friends among strangers in any clime or creed, as he found them bere.
Mobile, Ala., April 28, 1872.
FROM HON. JAMES SLADE.
The remains of Rev. Joseph Steele were sent by express from Mobile, Aln., to Middlebury, Vt., where the funeral exercises were attended at the Congregational church, May 2, 1872.
An address by Rev. Dr. A. Walker of Wal-
* Impaired health and voice constrained him to dis- continue his pastoral duties which he was never abie to restime .- C. C. Clay.
* The Middlebury Sunday School, the place of Mr. Steele's last residence .- Ed.
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lingford was followed with a sermon by the pas- tor, Rev. E. P. Hooker.
In the audience were many from other towns, especially from Castleton, the former parish of the deceased.
The presence of the Sabbath school of which he had long been superintendent, in the burial procession and at the open grave, into which they cast the wild flowers of the early spring. was a tribute any laborer in Christ's vineyard might well covet.
News was received by telegram. on the 25th inst., of the sudden death of the Rev. Joseph Steele, at Mobile, where he in company with his wife was visiting her brother. Mr. Steele left our village last fall, and the news of his death was the first intimation his family had of his ill- ness. Mr. S. has lived in Middlebury about 15 years. He was one of the best men I ever knew-a good scholar, a sound divine, an ex- cellent preacher a consistent, every-day Chris- tian, whose walk and talk partook of heavenly things. He was a model for young men to im- itate. He was cheer'ul and happy in his inter- course with his fellow-citzens, and alive to all measures that tended to advance the communi- ty in morality, education and religion.
As a preacher he was always impressive in his manner, and practical in his teaching. His public prayers were always marked with great simplicity aud humility. In the pulpit or on the street, he was free from ostentation and show, possessing a countenance that bespoke cheerfiilness of spirit and purity of heart. IIe labored to do good. both to the bodies and souls of his fellow-men, and was greatly belor- ed by all classes of our citizens. He was a warm friend of Middlebury College, being a member of the corporation, and ever active to promote the interests of the institution that lay so near his heart. He was a safe counsellor and a trusty guide. There was nothing vision- ary in his character. He was careful in the adoption of measures to carry out any desirable object. His aim was to secure the results de- sirel. He deprecated rashness. Men of his own age felt that they could rely upon his sound judgment aud uniform discretion with perfect safety. His motto was to prove all things, and hold fast to that which was good.
But his work is done. With him the dangers and trials, the labors and hardships of life are past. and he has entered into rest. Blessed rest to the aged Christian, to tile faithful, de- voted minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hle leaves behind him the rich legacy of a well-
spent life-better than gold or silver or houses and lands; for while the latter frequently cor- rupt and corrode the soul, the former enno- bles and dignifies humanity, making it akiu to God and heaven.
Middlebury, April 29, 1872.
CAPTAIN JOHN HALL.
BY MRS. CAROLINE V. SMITH, OF MILTON, VT .*
Almost one hundred years have expired since we, as a people, declared our independence of Great Britain. Many were the hard-fought bat- tles which our forefathers engaged in to accom- plish this great end: but not on them alone who survived the great conflict, did the honor all rest. Many fell in the commencement of the war whose patriotism and valor lie buried in oblivion. Among these was Capt. John ITall of Castleton, a militia officer who was mortally wounded on the 6th July, 1777, aud died on August 6th, one month after.
A scouting party of British soldiers and In- dians, sent out by Col. Baum, were marauding. around upon the defenceless inhabitants of those frontier towns. They came on the Sabbath day into Castleton, and as some of the people were assembled that day for religious worship, in a log-school-house, about one and a half miles cast from the village, where three roads met, the enemy advanced upon them, and attempted to surround them. and take them all prisoners. The women and children succeeded in making their escape, and fled to their homes, or some place of refuge; while the men, some ten or fifteen in number, being armed, defended them- selves with great bravery. in fighting for those homes and their country, till their leader, Capt. Hall, fell mortally wounded. and they were obliged to surrender. Most of them made their escape : but two sons of Capt. Hall were made prisoners and carried to Ticondero a, from whence they made their escape in a short time. At this time his house was burned-all his property destroyed, furniture broken to pieces, horses and cattle turned into fields of grain, and his wife and three young children barely having time to make their escape from the scalping-knife of the Indlan, whose war- whoop resounded through the forest.
Mrs. Hall remained in Castleton during Mr. Hall's life, and then with her three daughters, the youngest about five years old, rode ou horse-back a great part of the way to Preston, Ct., where she remained for the time being .- After the war she came back to Massachusetts,
* Grand-daughter of Capt. John Hall .- Ed.
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where she resided some time: but in a few years she returned to Castleton, and lived with her son Elias Hall, on the homestead, which he occupied after his father's death. She survived her husband till the year 1808, and was buried by his side in the cemetery at Castleton, where a plain stone marks their resting-place.
That she was a woman of no ordinary intel- lect, could be shown from manuscript papers which the writer of this has in possession, writ- ten in 1774. She was a woman of great piety. Of her early education we have little means of knowing. The dietion of her correspondence was of a superior kind; but the shortness of this sketch will not allow of extracts from her letters.
Capt. Hall was born in Plainfield, Ct., in 1727. His ancestors were of English origin, and emi- grated to this country sometime in the 16th cen- tury. We do not find that any of the name came over with our Pilgrim fathers; but the tradition of the family has it, that three brothers .came over from England, and settled in Con- necticut, from whom have sprung those numer- ous families of . that name, throughout New England, and some of the Western States.
He removed to Vermont about the year 1775 or '76, and purchased a farm of 200 or 300 acres, where he erected a dwelling-house, and carried on an extensive tannery.
Little more is known of his history: but we gather from an old manuseript that was writ- ten by one of his sons, that he " was a zealous whig, and took a decided stand in the defence of his country."
Of his patriotism none can doubt ; and that he instilled it into the hearts of his children is proven. by his two youngest sons' enlisting into the army, and doing good service for their country. His older sous being married, and having settled in Massachusetts, did not enter the Vermont regiments.
From the old family record, which dates back about 130 years, we find that he was the father of 12 children-some dying young, but all act- ing their part in the great drama of life, and finally fallen upon that "sleep that knows no waking."
ELIAS HALL
Was the son of Capt. Hall, and he enlisted into the army as a private soldier, but was soon promoted to a lientenantey, which he held while in service. He, with his younger brother, were taken prisoners by the British. and taken to Ticonderoga ; but soon made their escape. Of the time of his services we have not the | bury College.
record before us, but from other sources we have learned it was some 3 or 4 years ; he acting as volunteer some part of the time. His figure was tall and commanding, well becoming a mil- itary officer. Genial in manners, with great conversational powers, which rendered him an agreeable companion in his latter years. He was extremely fond of society, and delighted in recounting over the scenes of his earlier days. Well does the writer remember when, on a visit to Castleton, in 1837, with her father (brother of Lieut. Hall) on going to the village, they stopped the carriage, and pointed out to her the battle-field where their father was kill- ed, and they standing by his side, fighting against the wild infuriated Indian, and the little less savage British soldiers. It rekindled in their bosoms all the fire and patriotism of their youthful days. To them it was a sacred spot, and needed no monumental stones to tell them what their sire had done. These two brothers lived to an advanced age, one being 88 or 89, the other 84, frequently exchanging visits, and re- newing those kindly feelings of brotherhood that ever existed between them. They both be- came pensioners in later life, and it was a sol- ace to them in their declining years. Lieut. Hall lived on his father's old homestead, for more than 70 years after his decease, which oc- cured in 1842 or '43. From respect to his age and services, his remains were interred with military honors, by his friends in Castleton.
DR. SELAH GRIDLEY.
BY REV. P. H. WHITE.
Selah Gridley, a son of Timothy and Rhoda [Woodruff] Gridley, was born in Farmington, Ct., in 1767. His father lived within the lim- its of Farmington, but had more connection with West Hartford, where he was deacon of the Congregational church. He studied medicine and removed to Castleton, in which place and vicinity he not only obtained an extensive practice, but acquired such a repu- tation for professional learning as attracted to him numerous students. The impossibili- ty of doing justice to them all by the in- structions of one individual led to the estab- lishment of the Medical School at Castleton. He was one of the associates named in the act of incorporation, was the first President of the school, and held the Professorships of Theory and Practice, Materia Medica, and Medical Jurisprudence. In 1817 he received the honoraty degree of A. M. from Middle-
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He was naturally despondent, and an in- cident which occurred during the latter part of his life heightened his despondency al- most to insane melancholy. To make room for a new and larger house which he was about to build, it became necessary to remove his former house from its site. In doing this a neighbor to whom he was warmly attached was crushed to death beneath the rollers. This gave him a shock from which he never recovered. He completed the house but did not move into it. A friend whom he invited to visit the house with him, noticed almost with alarm, that the Doctor carefully locked the door of every room as soon as they had entered it. His partial insanity did not, however, disable him from the skillful prac- tice of his profession. At length, to escape from unhappy associations, he removed to Ex- eter, N. H., and there he died about 1826.
In 1823, he collected his fugitive poems, revised them, and wrote others, with refer- ence to publishing a volume. After his death the volume was published by his brother, Timothy Gridley, with the title " The Mill of the Muses." It was a duodecimo of 267 pages, and a few copies are still extant. The sub- joined poem, " The Old Drum," is a fair spec- imen of its contents. The chief merit of Gridley's Poems is the Christian spirit which they manifest. Their chief defects are dif- fuseness, careless versification, and a vein of sadness which runs through them all. His "Gloom of Autumn" was a favorite poem in Vermont forty years ago, and within a few years it has been in circulation on a broad sheet.
Coventry, Vt., August, 1863.
SELECTIONS FROM SELAH GRIDLEY'S " MILL OF THE MUSES."
THE OLD DRUM.
The drum, the old drum, in the wars of our land That echoed alarm when invaded by foes, Long beaten and bruised by a merciless hand, Now hangs in the garret in silent repose.
Brave herald of courage, where enemies met, Loud, loud, were its thunders when dangers arose, Hard beaten in battle and marches when wet, The last sad relief is in silent repose.
Long strained for the march or the quick reveille, And sounding its echoes forever from blows ; Elastic no longer, from echoes now free, The garret receives it to silent repose.
Ah! much like that drum is my own failing form, Hard used in all weather, in tempest and shows,
Long strained, bruised, and beaten in life's driving > storm,
It wants a calm mansion of silent repos
Alas! no dismission from service is found,
The head's pelted still for new wants or new woes,
While strains show a spring, or while strokes give a sound,
This head and this form find no silent repose.
While springs are diminished, sensations remain, Like pride in heart forever little comfort bestows ; Remembered activity heightens the pain, And swells the desire for more silent repose.
Faith trusts when alarms and life's warfares shall cease,
When death his long last role on nature shall close, The spirit may dwell in the mansions of peace, This form in earth's bosom have silent repose.
THE GLOOM OF AUTUMN-AN EXTRACT.
Hail ye sighing sons of sorrow, View with me the Autumnal gloom : Learn from thence your fate to-morrow, Dead perhaps-laid in the tomb.
See all nature fading-dying; Sileut all things seem to mourn; Life from vegetation flying, . Brings to mind the mouldering urn.
See our sovereign, sole Creator, Lives eternal in the sky, While we mortals yield to nature, Bloom awhile-then fade and die.
As the annual frosts are cropping Leaves and tendrils from the trees; So my friends are yearly dropping, Through old age or dire disease.
When a few more years are wasted, When a few more springs are o'er, When a few more griefs I've tasted, I shall fall to bloom no more.
FUNERAL DIRGE.
When shall the mourners find relief, When overwhelmed with seas of grief, When kindred friends in death depart, And anguish dwells in every heart?
Let friends survey that faded form, So late with living virtues warm, How can we view that spirit fled, And leave those limbs among the dead ?
Behold those eyes that gave delight, Now dim in death's cold dreary night! That lovely beam will ne'er return, Remembrance bida her kindred mourn.
Have pity, O ye mourning friends, For here our earthly comfort ends; Our fondest hopes thus fade away And perish in this house of clay.
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Great God, where shall our hopes repose ? O, shed Thy grace amidst our woes, Sustain us in this mouruful hour, And grant submission to Thy power.
The kindred mingle with the dust, Be Thou our strength, our hope, our trust, May grace suppress these wasting sighs, And give us mansions in the skies.
REFLECTIONS-AN EXTRACT.
Awakened by reading in the Christian Messenger, propo- sals to publish by subscription, the sermons of the late Rev. Oliver Hubbard, Prof. of Languages, &c., in Middlebury College.
How sweet is the sound of the name Of him who was dear to my heart! Whose lovelinees lives with his fame Whose works can instruction impart !
With meekness and modesty joined, He moulded his manners with ease ; His Maker had fitted his mind, At once to instruct and to please.
With him many Castleton youth Beheld our academy smile ; His genius made science aud truth, The pain of their studies beguile.
Around me to cherish my love, I see fond memorials rise ; To raise my affections above, They point like his soul, to the skies.
Remembrance recurs with delight, To days when my ho .se was his home, When faith was more precious than sight, When hope was fruition to come.
Our Sabbaths passed sweetly away, Devotion commenced with the dawn, Foretasting that heavenly day, Where he now to heaven has gone.
Ah, when shall this heart be at rest? Ah, when shall life's mniseries cease ?
Ah, when shall I meet with the blest, And share their ineffable peace ?
Make haste ye dark years as ye roll, The joys ye once gave are no more, Your griefs come like waves o'er my soul, I sigh for eternity's shore.
A pious and sensible friend, When nature's sinking in gloom, Where kindness and sympathy blend, May light up a smile o'er the tomb.
Sadness steals into and runs through almost every subject our poet touches, yet, once in a while, a stroke of his pen breaks into humor, as in the following :
"Joy beamed through the world when a women was made,
On finishing her, God's creation was stayed :
E. HIGLEY
was an admirer of serious and solemn poetry and sometimes he enjoyed putting his thoughts in such forms. He and Dr. Gridley spent many a pleasant hour together, in crit- icising and improving each others essays at versification.
As specimens I send you the following from the hand of E. H .- H. O. Higley.
ON DEATH.
E. HIGLEY.
Relentless Death ! what trophies thou hast won! Here siuk the wise, the aged, and the young, Our predecessors, since the race began, And Eden lost, have proved the lot of man. They lit on earth, received the vital flame, Then quit the scene ; and iu their place we came, Successors soon our places will supply ; We hail their entry, take our leave, and die. Divine instruction hence to man is given " Prepare in time to meet our God in heaven."
ON SAFETY.
E. HIGLEY.
When trouble comes, and sickness pale, The spirits sink. and fears prevail Jesus appears, His people's friend, To calm their fears, their peace defend.
When hostile armies ruin spread, Tornadoes beat around my head, If Jesus and His love I share,
My safety is His faithful care.
When earthquakes pour destruction wide,
And empir. s perish in the tide, Jesus will gnard His chosen sheep ; Safe in His arms His children sleep.
When God appears enthroned on high, To burn the world and rend the sky, Jesus will bear me safe above ; My safety is His matchless love.
THOUGHTS ABOUT CASTLETON. BY NATHANIEL HOIT .*
O, how silent is the dreary past !
Memory alone resuscitates the dead,- The youth and beauty of the times remote, And sees again the images of former years- Sees where youthful hope, bright as the sun, Looked through the vista of the years to come Sees in the aspect of the dawning Spring The flowers of beauty show their blushing face; Sees the tall pine, in matchless grandenr, wave Its rustling foliage to the sunny breeze ; Sees in the distance lofty mountains rise Tingel with etherial blue, and over there, Fixed as polar star to the northen sky.
* Nehemiah Hoit, now 84 or 85 years old, has lived muost of his days in this town, was long a Deacon in the Congregational church-is now visiting a sou and
This last best performance was followed by rest."-Ed. | grandson in Michigan .- LI. O. Higley.
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Though evanescent those who gaze upon the scene, The mountains last ; the lofty hills, at least, A semblance of old Eden's charms retain, The former actors, where are they ? O, where? They trod life's pathway to its final verge :- Yet, I review those scenes by memory's aid; I see the humble, holy man of God, Whene'er the Sabbath's sacred morning comes Stand at his post, instruct, invite, and warn, The wise, the weak, the vile to flee the wrath to come. I love to see the lofty dome, where science shines ; Where genius kindles, and where knowledge pours Its genial beams on all around.
I love to hear of showers of mercy falling there, As in the past-when the whole arch of heaven Sent down its copious rain ; and scores became New-born, and sanctified by love divine, And took their passport to fair Canaan's shore. Now, marble speaks for those who once could tell, In glowing strains, a Saviour's priceless love.
Farmington, Oakland Co., M. May 15, 1851.
JAMES HOPE
was born at Drygrange, Roxborough Shire, Scotland, Nov. 29, 1818. Soon after his father removed to Berwick upon Tweed, where his mother died when he was about a year old. His father afterwards removed with him to Canada where he died of cholera when James was about 13, and at the age of 15 he came to the United States, and lived nearly 6 years at Fairhaven, Vt. He then spent a year in the Seminary at Castleton. In the Fall of 1840, he went to West Rut- land and taught the village school. The ensuing Fall ( Sept. 20, 1841) he married Miss Julia M. Smith, of West Rutland. They have had 5 children, the four eldest of whom were born in West Rutland; the youngest, who died in infancy, was born in Castleton. Three of his children, Henry F., I. Douglass and Jessie, are now living. His eldest daughter, Addie (Mrs. G. A. Stearns), died in Parana, Argentine Republic, South America, March 20, 1871.
Mr. Hope commenced as a professional artist in the Spring of 1843, in West Rut land. The three years following he was a teacher in Castleton Seminary, when he re- moved with his family to Montreal, where he spent 2 years as a portrait painter. He then returned to Rutland, and began to spend a part of his time painting landscape from nature, and again engaged for 3 years or over as a teacher in Castleton Seminary. In 1851, he built his present residence in Castleton, and removed there Dec. 1, 1851. In the winter of 1852, I think, he opened a
studio in New York City, where he has spent every winter since, except the winters of 1861, '62 and '63.
He took an active part in raising and organizing a company of a little over 60 men, sometime in April, immediately after the rebels fired on Fort Sumpter. He was elected captain and deputized to offer the services of the company to the Governor of Vermont, which he did the day the special session of the legislature convened to take measures for the defence of the country. Gov. Fairbanks requested him to give his compliments to the company and to say that in two or three days they would be accepted under the provision of the law then under consideration. In due time, he was appointed recruiting officer for the county of Rutland ; he re-enlisted most of his first company ; filled it out to the number required by law ; was mustered into the State service some- time early in May, when the company was organized, and he was elected captain. His company was mustered into the United States' service as Co. B, of the 2d Vt. at Bur- lington, June 20, 1861, and came under fire for the first time at Bull Run. Toward the close of the engagement he deployed his company as skirmishers, covering the left front of the regiment where Co. B held the ground for over half an hour after all other troups had left the field. While he remained in the service, besides having charge of his company, he had a sort of general detail from Gen. W. F. Smith as a scout, which occupied much of his time when in camp. Capt. Hope was often detailed as an engin- eer in both departments, and was for a time detailed as topographical engineer at general head-quarters. By over-work and exposure he gradually lost his health, till at length, finding himself unable to do duty, even on horseback, he resigned, and returned to Vermont in the Spring of 1863, with many regrets that he was obliged to leave the old 2d before its work was done, and with the intention of again entering the army when he regained his health if the war was not ended.
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