Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-12-31
REV. ELBRIDsE GERRY.

Stedman came from their farm home in
Brantree, and made their home in the viii
lage of West Randolph. With them came
their adopted son, Elbridge Gerry, then a
bright, active boy Of sixteen years, who
had been a member of their family from
his third year. He attended school at the
West Randolph Academy, and was soon
recognized as one of its most promising
students. During school vacations he was
employed in the printing office, then own
ed by Mr.. William Hutchinson who pub
lished the GREEN MOUNTAIN HERALD. He
was devoted to reading, of the best class,
and soon developed literary ability Of un-
usual merit and became prominent in the
school debating society. In 1857 he ac-
cepted the Christian faith, was baptized,
and became a member of the Congrega-
tional Church in West Randolph. In 1858
heentered Middlebury College from which
he graduated in 1862 with acknowledged
credit, having, from his own choice, by
constant industry, maintained himself
and paid his expenses throughout his col
lege course. After year OF school teach
ing and farm work, of which he was al
ways fond, he determined to enter the
ministry, and for this purpose he spent
three years of diligent study in the Theo-
logical Seminary at Andover. Mass, grad
uating therefrom in 1866. The subsequent
two years he was pastor OF the Congrega-
tional Church at Sterling, Mass. He then
returned to West Randolph, and in Sep
tember 1868, married Miss Lucia Church,
of that place, and Immediately afterwards,
having received an appointment by the
Home Missionary Society of the Congre-
.gational Church, he and his wife went TO
Oregon, where he spent four years as pas
tor OF the Church of that Society in Ore
gon City.
During his stay in Oregon his fondness
for newspaper work and his ability to
render a useful service in connection with
it, led him to devote such of his time as
could be spared from his church work TO
that employment. He remained in Ore
gon until the fall OF 1872, performing
while there a most acceptable service. He
then returned to Vermont, and accepted
the pastorate of the Congregational Church
at Bethel, where he remained about nine
years, until the spring of 1882, when he
returned to the same church in Oregon
City OF which he had formerly been pas
tor for four years. His wife and daughter
did not accompany him, and at the end OF
a years engagement be returned to YER
mont. During the following year he
preached in Brookfield, Bethel and Brain
tree at various times, and spent much of
his time in literary work. In the Spring |
farm near West Randolph village, and |
from that time until very near the time of
his death, he spent most of his Sabbaths
in preaching, chiefly in Rochester and /
Braintree, and his week days in unremit
ting labor, alternating in work on his /
farm, and in the editing OF the HERALD /
AND NEWS. How efficiently the latter has
been done the readers of this paper well
know, except that they probably do not
know the full extent to which they and
we are indebted for bis service. 1t was
his habit to stand at his case and put in
type, without writing, the editorials
which have constituted an important !
feature Of this paper. He was a careful
student, well informed on political and
other subjects of public interest, and we
think we are not mistaken in claiming for
his writings 2 merit which has not been
exceeded by any similar work in this
state.
Mr.. Gcrry's personal characteristics
were those of sterling honesty and extreme
industry. The full performance of his
own duties coupled with sensitive and
reserved disposition, led him to have the
appearance of desiring everybody to at
tend as scrupulously to their own busi-
ness as he did to his. He felt a genuine
interest in the welfare OF the church, the
state and the community in which he liv-
ed, but this was not often manifested I
towards individuals, and his social quali
ties were only disclosed to a few of his
most intimate friends. Perhaps as correct
view Of him as can be presented in so
few words may be found in the following
letter which was addressed by him to the
members of his class at Andover Seminary
at their twenty fifth annual reunion in
June last:
after giving an account OF the severe
trials Of his boybood and recounting his
pastorate in Oregon where he was held in
high esteem, he tells OF the fact that two
incendiary fires have destroyed his farm
buildings, tools and stock, and have put
his own life and that Of his wife in jeop-
ardy.
He closes with the following:
My life has been one of almost lnces-
SAINT toll. have known nothing Of vaca-
tons OF holidays, have never been laid
aside by sickness. Have written seven
hundred and sixty sermons in full, have
attended one hundred and seventeen fu-
nerals and married eighty seven couples,
and have written from two to four col
umns per week for the papers for nearly
eighteen years. have nne library Of
about two thousand volumes which has
run the gauntlet OF fire and food, and is
as good as new. ] have found great deal
Of happiness in life, have enjoyed my I
work Of all kinds, have met with some