Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-11-01
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
Ordination of James Tufts in
WardsbOrO Nov. 4, 1915.

Organization of the NvardsbOrO Church
---the Early Ministers of Windham
COunty---TheIr Characteristics and the
Varied Duties which They Had TO
Perform.
The first town meeting in Wardsboro
was held in the dwelling house of John
Jones, March Ia, 1856. The Congrega-
tonal church was organized at the house
of John Rice, May l, 1893, consisting of
II members. Although money at this
time, soon after the Revolutionary war,
was scarce, the people showed great energy
and self-denial in proceeding at once to
build Westinghouse and settle minis
ter. Mr.. Tufts began to preach in 1874,
and call TO settle was extended to him in
1895, with salary of $50 the first year,
to be increased 81 each year till it reached
$50, which was to be the permanent salary.
Wardsboro South District Dover united
in the call with the North District wards
boro) to Mr.. Tufts, to preach one-third of
the time in Dover and two-thirds in Wards
boro for FIVE years, when he was to preach
all the time in Wardsboro if the people
could pay the salary, which they did.
The ordination took place Nov. 4, 1895,
in the front yard of the house of Daniel
ed by the celebrated DR.. Emmons of
Franklin, Mass, who rode from his home
to Wardsboro on horse back, and passing
through Marlboro came across DIR. Lyman,
the minister in Marlboro, who was at work
clearing off "burnt piece" DIR. EN-
mons inquired if he was not going to the
ordination. DR.. Lyman replied he SHOULD
be there TO- morrow" The people of
Wardsboro were united and harmonious in
the settlement of their pastor, and contin-
ued so during his ministry Cf AZ years,
till 1886, when he had a colleague for five
years, till his death in 1871. The meet
ing-house on the hill was beilt the next
year, 1906 the cost of lumber, nails and
glass for the outside and lower floor being
G191.
Some of the ministers in Windham county
about this time were William Wells, d. D.,
1794-1814, in Brattleboro East village;
Urbane Hitchcock, 1S0S-1S13, in Dover;
in Dummerston, Aaron Crosby, 17S4-1S04 (;
in Grafton, William Hall, 17SS-1S10; in
Halifax, Thomas Wood, 1906 until about
1885; in Jamaica, John Stoddard and
Philip Spaulding, 1794-1S29. In Marlboro
| Gershom Lyman was one of the strong
ministers in the county from IT'S to about
| 1914, when he was succeeded by Ephraim
II. Newton, who was pastor until 1882
In Newfane, Hezekiah Taylor and Jona-
than Nye, Utilised; Chandler Bates,
| 1S21-1S39; in Putney, Josiah Goodhue,
Jairus Remington, Elisha d. Andrews,
1776-lS29 in Rockingham, Samuel Whit
| ing, 1773-lS09: in Townshend Luke Whit
comb, 1S15-1S20, was a very promising
minister and died young, much lamented {;
in Westminster East, Sylvester Sage, 1900
1888; in Westminster West, Timothy
Field, 1S07-1S35; in Wilmington, Winslow
Packard, James Hatch and Alvan Tobey,
17S1-1S10; in Windham, John Lawton
and Selah r. Arms, 1909 to about 1850.
These clergymen were about all graduates
of colleges, well trained, sensible, able and
devoted men; strong men, too. or they
could not have retained the confidence and
respect of the churches as they did for SC
many years.
1t was a great thing in the early settle
ment of these towns TO secure the services
of faithful and able pastor to assist in
the right development of the town and in
the training up Of the young people. In
deed, the prosperity and character of many
of these towns depended very much upon
the character of the clergymen who went
in and out before them. There were moi
so many forming influences as now out
side the pulpit, as newspapers, books, lee
lures and advantages for education.
Though Mr.. Tufts's health was never
very firm, he seldom was absent Sunday
for vacation, and seldom failed of the per.
Torrance of any duty on account of the Sc.
we're winters. | remember well he went
down to Townshend to attend the funera
of Dea. SalsbuTys first wife when the
Thermometer stood at 20 below zero. And
he did much pastoral work in Dover and
Stratton and other towns in the absence OF
pastors. There were no school superin
tendents and the minister was expected tC
visit every school at least twice every year
The people, too, more than now, were ac
customed to go to their pastors for advice
and counsel in trouble, so that many hall
days and whole days were spent in coun
sci. 1t was no slight task, in those hilly
towns, to keep in touch with all the PEG
Pile, so that they should feel drawn to the
great congregation from all parts of the
town, especially before 1920, when stove.
began to be used in the churches. There
were hotels in those country towns, ye
many of these early clergymen were re-
ported to entertain more guests than the
hotels. So great and various were the de
mands on the man of God, that without
real ability, good sense, sound judgmen
and earnest piety he would not be wanted
or respected long. And the names anC
memory of these old-time clergymen of thu
hill towns will be long remembered b!
grateful people.
Wardsboro, with the other hill towns il
Vermont, has suffered much from emigra
grafton, yet the early forming inhuenc
of the gospel proved great blessing t.
those who emigrated from the town, a
they were helpful in building up churche
and schools where they went, to James
town and Carroll, N. Y, and other places
Such emigrants carried with them TO
years the grateful remembrance of "Fathe
Tufts" as the writer found in recent Wis
it to jamestown.
JAMES TUFTS, JR.
Monson, Mass, October, 1895.