Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-12-04
DEATH OF REV. JAMES HERR1oK

DEATH OF REV. JAMES HERRICK.
Rev. James IerriclI, for 81 wears a mis-
sionary in India, man whose early life
was spent in West Bratteboro. and whose
closing days have been spent there, died
suddenly at midnight on Monday night.
! Nhlle in slender health Mr.. Herrick had
oeeh usually active, attending church on
sunday and being out on Monday. The
cause of death was heart disease, the end
coming with ease and quietness. The fol-
lowing sketch of his life is contributed from
a competent source which will be readily
recognized:
Mr. Herricls's Life and Character.
Rev. James Herrick, who died here as the clock
was striking twelve Monday night was the son
of Nathaniel and Lydia Eastman Herrick. and
born in Broome, Canada, March 49, 1914 His
father, Nathaniel, was the son of Jonathan and
MehitaGe French Herrick of BrattIeboro The
III rrck family Is reputed to have descended from
Ercke a Danish chief. who came to Britain
about the year g1l. The Norman invasion fonnd
this name represented by Eric the Forester
FROM him came Henry Eyryk. the grandfather
| OF Robert Eyryk who by his wife Joanna had
a son who became Sir william Henry the son
| of Sir William. came to this country and settied
| in Salem in June, 1929 Joseph Youngest son of
| Henry, came from Concord, Mass, to Vermont
| nVtd while IN Townshend and finally settled in
of Rev. James Herrck, was born in l1l3 iona
than 5 son, Nathaniel, the father of James, was
born March Z, lfS2 In 1906 he married Lydia East
man, and lived, for time. where A. W. Crouch
now lives, near LeRay's. From there he went to
Rroome Canada, where James was born, as al
ready stated. On his return from Canada ne
lived year or two in "a cottage northwest of the
Sergeant place, near little brook, west of the
road that leads to Whitakers Johnsons) mill
and Dummerston Hill. It was here that James
began his school-boy studies, at the age of about
lve years in the schoolhouse in the so-called
Miller district Here he earned a prize of five
cents, reward of merit wi it'll which, and an
other five cents which his sick mother put with
1t, he bought copy of the New Testament,
which he kept and used to the last. From here
his father moved to farm near the southeast
corner of Newfane, where the mother of James
died when he was about 10 wears old From this
the father and children moved to q farm now oc.
cuped by one of his sons, half brother of James,
IN West Dummerston.
| II was from this farmers home and life that
james began to attend school. during fall terms.
at the Bratteboro academy, at the age of IS or
~ years, and taught district school in the winter
to pay His way in preparing for college. 1t
here in the academy that | made his acquaint-
ance as fellow student in 1881, where we had
such good fellow students as VIM. +. Richardson,
Francis Goodhue, a. ID. Putnam, VIM. o. Miller,
Roswell II. and VIM. s Newton, Misses +. II.
Atwater), Sarah p. Hubbard Mrs. Baldwin,,
Diantha Adkins (Alrs. Arms and scores of others,
many of whom, as 5. II. Elliot Z. p. Barber,
l. f. Skies, ~ Graves, and others went through
college and entered the ministry
Mr. Herrck Was eminently digent. faithful,
SUGGEST III IN all his studies and was noted for his
regular, punctual attendance upon every recita-
ton and other engagements or duty. He seldom
failed of a daily walk or run of few miles for
exercise and health For much of the time he
p boarded TWO miles away. where Jerome Ward
, now lives, whence he would start on a trut just
ia time for the school hour, aud hardly break his
gait tail he reached the academy. He was fond
OF music line singer, often led the choir, and was
always ready to give himself, body, soul spirit
and understanding also to the service of song
2 whenever duty or priv iegc opened the way. He
was often employed as assistant teacher IN the
academy, and sometimes took entire charge of
the school, during his preparatory studies for
! college. His religious life was one of marked
activity, devotion and fidelity. Having completed
his preparation for college he went to Williams,
where he graduated in lSIl, and after teaching a
year went to AndOver, where he graduated in
! 1915. He ordained in Brattleboro Oct 10,
married Miss Elizabeth II. Crosby, Nov. ,, and
embarked Nov. ~, under the auspices of the
American Boar for Madura, southern India, and
; there gave himself to mission work teaching,
e preaching visiting villages duty required
till failing health called for a season of rest. For
i this purpose he came ON visit to America in
r | 1864, whence, at the end of two years he went
, back again to India and there remained till 1883.
Since that time his home has been here in West
| Bratteboro. MIR. Herrlcks devotion to the cause
: | of foreign missions ever steady, warm and
. strong, did his interest in It seem to abae at
all when failing health compelled him to with
draw from active service IN 1t. Not only was he
- deeply interested in the work of missions and de-
voted TO 1t, but well qualified by nature training
and grace to engage in 1t His eminent fitness for
such work seen, in part, in his naturally
= strong constitution and generally good health
But for these, the heavy strain of mission work in
4 such field as that of India would have made h
e days few and feeble instead of giving him three
and a half decades of active, useful labor. Ill;
o great good sense and well-disciplned mind fitted
3 him to cope with prejudice, superstition ana er
/, His versatility OF talent and early farm ltt
s made him practical, and fitted him to meet the
varied emergencies and ever-changing circum
is stances to which the missionary on heather
h shore is always exposed.
= BY the strong, independent character, sym
~ metrical withal and solid yet social and win
p some, for which the dece used was noted, he wa
able to make himself felt in efforts to change
, direct fashion the opinions, habits, lives of men
- whether in high station or low. He was cour
\ | ageous, yet gentle; he was modest and quiet il
y his ways, yet in mind and heart neither weak no
. tmd He was patient and plant, neither rasl
u, nor obstinate He could be flexible in plans an
II methods able and willing to see them modified b.
circumstances, yet firm for the right, steadfas
r. in principles, ever loyal to truth aud conscience
~ not sefcontident yet not easily discouraged, no
" soon weary, ever hopeful set on persevering an
lis prevailing. He felt his dependence on God, look
tn ed to him for guidance and strength; ma
a, of prayer, a man of faith, faith in God, in hi
word, his power, his grace, and, like his Master
Jesus, counted it as his meat and drink to do th
will of his Father in Heaven.
Mr.. Herrick was he father of 10 children, all q
y. whom were born in India, and six of whom, wit
IN the wife and mother of the family, survive hin
The death of the four who have passed on too
place in India and they were buried there. O
rs the six who remain James Frederick, the Oldes
re son, was for several years on the staff of tn
N Springfield Republican and is now connecte
vi with the New York World. The second son, WI
as York city. Dr. Joseph Herrick, the third son,
= a practicng physician in Springfield, Mass. IN
Z, youngest son, David Scudder, graduated at Wi
~ liams college in 1884 and taught in India severe
of | years He is now in Union theological seminar
m fitting himself for missionary work OF th
III daughters Mrs. j. H. Dunklee, the oldest OF III
v family, is a wellknown resident of the West vi
It. lage and in these later years of their lives ht
y parents have enjoyed her constant care and Owe
y sight. The other daughter, Emily, is the wife
nn | Rev. Geo. 4. Martin of St Louis
i'm Mr. Herricks funeral took place at the Congn
- | gational church Thursday afternoon, preceded b
us a brief service at the house. The church wa
an filled with neighbors, friends and old.time a
II quaintances, from this and the East village an
= from other places who paid m this way la
u tribute of respect to a life well and faithful
n lived. The body was taken to the church at a
ge early hour to permit those who wished TO loo
Is for the last time upon the face of the dead befo
the funeral services began. The service was co
ce Quoted by Rev j. II. Babbitt, the pastor al
10 brief addresses were made by Rev Lewis Grou
n Rev c. o. Day, Rev. A. F. Clark and Rey. NJ
III Rabbit The burial was in the West Brattle6o
cemetery A memorial sermon will be preach'
by Mr. Babbitt next Sunday morning. H. L.