Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-12-25

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| g. Colburn on which said pig was fat
tened Gilman killed two which did not
weigh half as much, fattened on his own
| corn.
Early ministers of Pittsford---
/ Rev. Eleazer HARDWOOD.
Of the early life of Mr.. HARDWOOD
very little has been preserved. He was
of the third generation from Peter Har.
wood, of Concord, Mass, and was born
at Hardwick, Sept. 28th, 1887. While
a young man he became weaver by
trade, and was intending to follow this
occupation for livelihood. He married
Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Mon
tague, formerly of Sunderland, Mass,
afterwards of Bennington, VT, May
2Sth, 1851, and soon after located in the
I latter town. 1t appears from records
that he had experienced religion, and
united with the church, in Hardwick,
some time before his removal to Ben
nington. The church in Bennington
the first within the limits of the State
of Vermont-was\ organized December
Sd, 1862, and of that church Mr.. and
Mrs. HARDWOOD were Among the original
members. That Mr.. harwood lived an
exemp AIRY christian life is shown from
the fact that little later he was chosen
on of the first two deacons. In 1776 he
bought fifty-five acres of wild land in
Pittsford. and four years later he cleared
his family here. For two or three years
his time appears to have been divided, a
+ part being given to his trade and part
| to the cultivation of the soil At that
early day no regular preaching services
were held within the limits of the town,
though prayer and conference meetings
were sustained, and conducted by some
one of the more active christians,
among whom Deacon HARDWOOD was
! quite conspicuous. The Congregational
church was organized here April 18th,
1884, and Mr.. Harwood was chosen dea-
con. A minister by the name of Haw-
| ley officiated at the organization, wrote
their articles of faith and covenant, and
preached few Sabbaths, after which
the responsibility of conducting the
public worship fell principally on Dea.
HARDWOOD, who read printed sermons
and led the devotional exercises Soon
after the church was organized, occurred
the first religious revival in the town.
| The church at that time being without
pastor, the need of some one to in
struct the anxious and inquiring mind
was deeply felt. Deacon Har-
wood for few months gave
himself up almost wholly to this
work, and the success which attended
his efforts served to convince his breth-
ref that he ought to be set apart to the
ministerial office. 1t was probably about
this time that he had the first serious
thoughts of entering the ministry. But
he had no preparatory training for such
a work. His early school advantages
were very limited, he could read the
English Bible, but had no knowledge of
| the tongues from which the translation
was made. But he was man of ardent
piety and sound judgment, and by close
application to study, he soon became
quite learned in the Scriptures, and his
brethren in the church became accus-
toned to look to him as their spiritual
guide. At that early day ministers were
not so numerous and easily obtained as
they are now, and prominent members
of the church, as well as neighboring
ministers, thought it desirable that Dea.
| Harwood should be properly authorized
to administer to the people in holy
| things. After seeking divine guidance,
he was induced to attend the meeting of
an association about to be held at Wood
stock, and he was there examined and
! licensed to preach.
He now devoted his time and energies
to ministerial work, and in the course of
a few months sixty-five were added to
the church. Those who had advised him
TO accept a license to preach, now urged
him to accept the pastorate of the
church. A call to this end having been
extended to him, he was persuaded to
accept it, and he was accordingly or
dained and installed. There is nothing
on record to show the exact time of his
settlement as pastor of the church,
though there is little doubt it was early
in the spring of 1885.
After the settlement of Elder Rich as
pastor of the Baptist church, March II,
1885, it was generally supposed by his
friends that he would be entitled to the
right or share of land which had been re-
served in the charter of the township
for the first settled minister. But it was
soon found that counter claim to this
right of land was urged by the friends of
| Mr.. HARDWOOD in his behalf. We believe
it was admitted that the installation of
Elder Rich took place before the ordina-
ton and installation of Mr.. Harwood.
But the latter had been a resident of the
town longer than the former, and he
had been regularly licensed to preach,
had conducted the meetings and really
been the minister of the Congregational
church some time after the installation of
| Elder Rich.
1t was on this ground that the claim
was pressed by the friends of Mr.. Har-
wood This ministerial right" con-
tinued to be bone of contention be-
tween the two societies until December,
1856, when the ministers themselves
took the matter into their own hands,
and divided the property between them,
thus honorably settling the controversy.
AS pastor, Mr. HARDWOOD was very
successful, and during his ministry there
were several extensive and powerful re-
vivals of religion in the town. His ser
mons appear to have been well arranged,
clear, and comprehensive, and they ex-
hibit the authors zeal in the Masters
work, and his skill in the application of
gospel truth Only one of his sermons,
was ever published. This was sermon
founded on Ephesians I A; the theme
being, Goods electing love the founda-
ton of the Church"
Mr.. Harwood died May 10, 1907, hon.
ored and beloved. His remains were in
tered in the village cemetery, and over
them was erected marble slab, bearing
an appropriate inscription. Recently,
however, the slab has been displaced by
a beautiful monument, the inscriptions
being:
On the West side-'Rev. Eleazer Har-
wood, the first settled minister of Pitts
ford, VT, died May 10, 1907, aged 20, in