History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

Personal Sketches 211
on by over study. When about fourteen he went to Eastport and entered
the office of the Eastport Sentinel, where he learned the printer's trade.
Here he remained until he was twenty, working in the office and studying
by himself, as books and opportunity permitted.
He was baptised by Rev. Charles Bugbee, May 20, 1855, being eighteen
years of age. He united with the Christian Church at Eastport on the 12th
of July following. Of this church he remained a member until his death.
His father and mother both belonged to this church and his father was, for
many years, one of its deacons. From childhood he seems to have had
marked inclinations to the ministry. His sister says, " I do not think any
of our family were surprised when he chose it. He was always holding
meetings and Sunday Schools. When a very little boy he would build
pulpits and preach from them, the rest of us children the audience. On our
way to and from school we had to pass a large flat rock. He would gather
the children on this and preach to them. Our father's farm was worked by
two Irish Catholics. One day, after being out with them, he came in and
told us that when he grew up he should be a priest, and that we were all
heretics."
Mr. E. E. Shedd, one of his associates in Eastport, says: "The natural
bent of his mind was the ministry, and he could not help following it when
circumstances favored. Mr. Bugbee was one of the best of ministers and
probably by advice and encouragement helped him to accomplish his
desire."
At twenty years of age he left Eastport and went to Andover Academy,
N. H. The school was then in charge of Prof. J. W. Symonds and was
intended to be a first-class academy where students might fit for college.
His first sermon was preached while in this school, at Hill, N. H., during a
session of the Merrimac Christian Conference.
After being at Andover one year he received and accepted a call to
Bradford, Vt., and preached to the Christian Church there for about a
year. There he made the acquaintance of Martha Ann George, who was
born Feb. 23, 1834, to whom he was married Sept. 22, 1858, by Rev. SUas
McKeen, the Congregational minister of that place. Three daughters
were born to them; Mary G. born Oct. 24, 1863, who has the A. B. of
Wellesley College 1892, and A. M. of Brown University 1901; Martha
Sophia, born Oct. 19, 1868, died in Jan. 1871, and Sarah Mabel, born Dec.
11, 1870, who took the degree of A. B., 1897 and A. M. 1898 at Brown
University; Mary G. and Sarah Mabel are teachers in the High School of
Pawtucket, R. I. (1916).
From Bradford he went to Brantham, N. H., where he preached five
years. There he was ordained June 9, 1859.
In the spring of 1864 he came to Swansea, Mass., and there the work
of his life was done. His first sermon there was preached Sunday May 29th.
He received a call to settle the same day, and commenced his ministry the
following Sunday, the first in June. He was only 27 years of age. Young,
bashful, almost awkward in manner, and with little education save what
he had acquired by general reading, he commenced a pastorate, exceptionally
pleasant and profitable, covering a period which lacked but five months
of a quarter of a century. His transparent honesty and sincerity, his
excellent spirit, clearly portrayed in every lineament of his face, and the
good sense of his preaching, commended themselves to the good judgment
of the people, and immediately won their confidence and affection.
From the outset he was enthroned in their hearts.
Rapidly he acquired influence in the church, the community, the
town—an influence always wise and wholesome, and which grew stronger
and wider until the day of his death. As a teacher and preacher in the
Sunday School and the Church, he was loyal and laborious, doing con-