Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-02-23
A USEFUL SON OF BRATT1BBoRo

Rev. John {. IIolbrook. ID. D., of Call
fornIa Gives a sketch of Ills Lifelong
Friend, Rev. ThOs. u. Fessenden, and
Gov. Holbrook Adds Record of Boy
ish Days.
Rev. Thomas X. Fessenden, who died in
Pennington, Conn, Jan. Is, was born in
Brattleboro village Sept. TO- 1918, and was
consequently past so years of age. He
was the son of Joseph Fessenden, and
grandson of Deacon John Holbrook, two
prominent citizens of this place, of the
firm of Holbrook d. Fessenden, extensive
booksellers and paper makers. He united
with the Congregational church, and fitted
for college under Prof Dewey at Pitts
field, Mass. He graduated from Williams
college, and studied theology at New Ha-
ven when DR.. n. w. Taylor was professor
there, whose system of theology he fully
embraced, He spent a little time at
Princeton also. He began preaching at
Hatfield, Mass. His first settlement was
at Norwich Falls, Conn, from whence he
was called to the Presbyterian church in
Cazenovia, y. Y, but the young minister
being unable to subscribe to the ultra old
school views of the presbytery, the society
declined to install him. He then received
call to the large Congregational church
in Homer, y. Y, where he was pastor for
10 years. Afterwards he was pastor at FL
leryton, Conn, for 10 years. His wife's
mother requiring her attention, he then re-
moved to Pennington, Conn, where he
lived till his death.
Mr.. Fessenden was three times elected
to represent Pennington in the legislature
Of 7,,t,,, t,.,rt 1
drew up and secured the passage of an act
Incorporating the industrial and reform
school for girls at Mddletown, to the
establishment and endowment of which
he devoted much time, securing for it by
personal solicitation about 100000. The
institution has proved a great success and
an incalcuable blessing. There are six
buildings, costing some 5000 each. He
also became deeply interested in the
Hampden institute under Gen. Armstrong,
and acted as its financial agent from 1870
to 1850, securing for it SS1, 1G5 IN sundry
donations, and towards the endowment
S57, 40, a total of S13S, 275. He had a
wonderful facility OF approach to individ-
uals, never giving offence, and was rarely
unsuccessful in his solicitation for funds
1t was through his influence, also, that c.
1 - Uni bpiA' blN idlllbdh llliElldlt was
induced to give $4,000 to the Pacific theo-
logical seminary at Oakland, Cal, which
resulted in the endowment of the profess
sorship of Rev. DR.. |. L. Dwinell.
On resigning his financial agency the
board of trustees of Hampton institute
passed a series of resolutions recognizing
Mr. Fessenden's great services, of which
the following is one: The board desire to
express to Mr. Fessenden their most
hearty thanks for, and appreciation of. his
long-continued and sef-sacrfcing services
to the institution, and for the still further
interest cherished in it, shown by his gen
erous bequest in its favor, as instanced in
his report. Gen. Armstrong, in his re
port of June, 1877, acknowledges "the
debt the institution owes to Mr.. Fessenden.
and to his skill and success is, to great
degree, due the extent and completeness of
our buildings and Improvements, as well as
the endowment fund, now yielding about
$1,000 year, to be eventually increased
to double this amount, through legacies
which he has induced people to make"
ON his resignation as trustee of the in
stitute the board also passed series of
resolutions very complim entary to Mr..
Fessenden and his work. He was a warm
personal friend and adviser of Gen. Arm
strong
The town of Homer, y. Y, was settled
by immigrants from Massachusetts, in the
latter part of the last century, and the
church was one of the largest in the inte-
rior of the state. While Mr.. Fessenden
was PASTOR and while great efforts were
being made to carry over the Congrega-
tional churches to presbytery, he was re-
peatedly approached and urged to use his
influence to cause change of politv in
that church, but he steadfastlv refused,
and the church ultimately became a pow
ertul factor in the movement which has re-
suited in saving to Congregationalism
many churches and the formation of sever
al associations. j. c. H.
p. 5. To the above sketch by a lifelong
friend and relative of the serious work of
the manhood of Mr.. Fessenden, another
friend would add that probably some of
the Older Inhabitants of Brattleboro will
remember the subject of the sketch as an
ardent, active, harmless, miscellaneous, fun
loving and fun-proyoking boy of some 10
OF II years of age or less, who was the
life of his young circle Of companions on
the streets of BrattlebOro. On one occa-
sion the writer of this postscript remem-
bers that the boy tom having been
cutting up in some way for which his
always amiable father reluctantly thought
1t incumbent on himself to give emphatic
rebuke, the recusant boy started on a run
to escape, and stubbing his toe and falling,
he exclaimed: Kings curse, father, you
know it amt fair to hit a fellow when he
is down." The appeal was effective, the
father retiring, smiling, Sometimes a
glimpse of childhood is interesting and
amusing, when considered along with the
serious and useful work done in later life.
from which lasting reputation has followed
the beneficent endeavor. +. II.
MASSACHUSETTS, NOTES.