Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-03-20

REV. r DUNHAM.

community which Will long De ielt. HE
had been a resident OF the town for nearly
halfa century, was one OF the very first
settlers in Bryaut's Pond village over thir-
" wears ago. had witnessed its growth
from { wilderness % a thriving hamlet
and had been closely Identified with all It's
varied interests Siuce his removal 20
Woodstock. he had been one OF Its most
prominent citizens. His stately form and
strongly marked features, rendered him :
conspicuous and commanding figure in
any public gathering. while his deep voice
aui earnest manner compelled attention
whenever he rose % speak. Physically, he
was a man OF wonderful visor, aud in bis
later wears, having lived far beyond the
period allotted TO msu by sacred writ, like
the guarded oak OF the hills which sur
wives the wi1.ry blast ant che summer
tornado. DE- enjoyed health aal strength.
AMI remarkA5,e exemption from those
Tls which are tie usua, Accomplishments OF
o,I8-t. But even the oak must succumb
a, Ia,,. ava wien tl- c-r,ua>t Old age. il i
only a question Of time. The great laws
ocure snl death are immutahle.
Rev. R,u>om Dlu1tm sprirs from good
OIL Pilgrim stock. III, tr-, American an-
ce,tor came early 20 Plymouth aud lived
aud died near that ola a'ral-h. The or
biography OF the uameh undergone some
changes. the Original being Dowuham
.homs on the Downs. that was changed
% Douhsm which O, >,i..retsinei hy some,
and Others 20 Duuham There are few
New England name, which have not uu-
ders,ue more or less chsrg->- The SUB
fectof This sketch was born 10 II 'aron. ;hen
called Shepplrl>GeIi ia l-9>. H.- father,
james Durham. OF Briigeva:er Mass,
born Feb g, 1851 married Nary EtnS'n Of
Carver who was born Aug - 1875. The
latter was also or Pilerim descent. James
Durham served in the War FOR InIepeni-
ence. and when the war over, came East
ward" % make himself q home in the
wilds OF Maine. lie reared large family.
but R4usom was the only one who ever re-
sided iu Woodstock.
In 1916. Mr.. Dluhsm became an appren-
tice O. a sn.thy nanei C1Ipn1u In Paris,
where hc learned the blacksmi,h's art after
which De- st up in business for himself on
Paris HUI While here h married Susan,
daughter OF Lemgel Jackson, jr, aud
IA. u
settlers Ia Paris. Ia lS24, he moved %
Parkmau in the county 90 PNclAq1iS,
where his brother BariimaS had gone. Il
was while here that he felt himself called
70 the ministry aud began 70 preach as a
liceu.iate OF the Baptist denomination. In
ls5S he moved 70 Bangor anI resided there
q short time. In ISIS. be preached at
Par, HUI and in 1886, he moved - Wood
stock His drs; place Of residence there
was near the foot OF Billings HlI iI North
woodstock; he subsequently bull, the
house south OF Pinhoak on the
Paris road. where De continued 70
reside until he moved % Bryants
Pond. lie hal little farm aud also a
blacksmith shop, and made a practice Of
laboriug hard during the six days aud
preaching on the seventh. The church of
Hamlin's Gore, which embraced the Gore,
the north par, OF Woodstock aud few
families Ia Bethel aud Milton Plantation,
was organized in lS27. In 1896, Hr. Dun
ham preached here as a l.ces.iate, aud 10
the follOwiu- wear. wI- ordained % the
work OF the ministry. Tie was the first
pastor OF this church, aud sustained that
relation for twenty-five years. A. thebe-
ginning Of his ministry. the church mum
bered only thir,y-four COMMITMENTS; in
1887. 10 numbered 80; In ls5s, s.; in 1913,
g.. During these and the subsequent years,
he performed large amount OF mission
ary work. travelling from town 10 town
among the back settlers, holding N aetingS
st school houses, private houses or barns,
wherever he could convene an au Hence
and where be was always welcomed HIS
plain dress and unaffected mauzer. his
willingness. yea his eagernesS 70 enter the
humble dwellings OF the poor and dispense
the word Of lie. made him very popular
wherever he went In his travels in tie
sparsely settled regions o. Maine, and on
the islands along the coast, his familiar
talk. ungrannatiraI aud uuredu-d thou Ih
it nav have been, carried peace AMI COM
fort 70 many lJa-lv aud sOrr)WinS heart.
In hi, various miuistrltiOns, hs admins
tered the rite of baptism 10 more than six
hundred persons. In his la,er years he
iourneyed aud preached less than before,
though he occasionally occupied the pulpit
up 20 near the close OF his life.
Hewas a member OF the first temperance
society ever organized in Woodstock, snd
was ever after an uncOmpromisius foe OF
drunkenness and Of the traffic in intoxicat-
ing LIQUORS. He associated himself with
all the organizations for the promotion o.
the cause Oftemperauce talked temperance
and practiced ii wherever he went. he
was much interested in agriculture aud Is
pecislly in horticulture. His love of flow
ers amounted TO passion, and his garden
at Bryant's Pond attracted large number
Of visitors during the flower season. His
plants and flowers were his pets and he
took great pleasure in feeding them and il
witnessing their growth and marvellous
development. His education was limited,
his knowledge Of general literatur,
amounted TO nothing, but he had gOOC
common sense, and carefully studied hi:
Bible. lie despiSed shams in whatever
form they appeared, believing that life