The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-02-14
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the first settled pastor. The present Con-
gregational church was organized in 1910.
| The first sermon preached by a Methodist
minister In Bradford was in 1895, one hun
dred years.agO, by Nicholas Snethen, at the
home of Margaret Pickett, who was called
Mother Pickett -
The following year, Ralph Wiliston was
! ! appointed preacher in charge of Vershire
| Circuit which included Bradford; and it
was he whom DR.. McKeen said conducted
| the first religious service that he remem-
| bered. In 1898 Joseph Crawford was the
pastor and he often preached at Mrs. Peck
| etts house. His first sermon was from the
| text, "Come for all things are now ready"
| and at this meeting Laban Clark, then
young man eighteen or nineteen years of
age, was converted. A short time after the
first Methodist class in Bradford was form
ed, consisting of five members. They were
Margaret Pocket, VIM. A. Pickett, Laban
Clark, Joseph Clark and Elizabeth Warren.
The three men became Methodist ministers.
few weeks later Byron Kay and wife,
Samuel Aspenwall, Mrs. Joseph Olmstead
and her two daughters, Sophia and Sarepta,
became members of the class. In 1900 two
years afterwards, when Joseph Crawford
left the charge there were about thirty
members and since that time the church has
slowly but steadily increased until it now
numbers about two hundred and fifty.
Margaret Appleton Pickett, one of the first
i've members, was born in England and be-
fore her marriage was John Wesley's house.
keeper for several years She married Giles
Pickett they were both members of the
Methodist church before coming to Ameri-
ca. hey first settled in HaverhilI, N. H.,
in IVA and from there came to MooretoWn,
(now Bradford), about 1880 A few years
afterwards Mrs. Pickett was left widow
with four children, all of whom became
members of the Methodist church before
she died. She was a woman of superior
talent; well educated and an earnest Chris
tiaI. She lived on the lower plain and hE
house 19!ls was not only home fpr al the gesh
iieooe Gelst PIesS .sss .ltTs u 3s IA s6si
it was Theological Seminary FOR sNsal
young men-Laban Clark, Joseph ClAk,
Martin Ruter, N. w. Aspenwall Joseph c.
Aspenwall and VIM. Pickett. 1t was from
Mrs. Pickett that they received the religious
enthusiasm which characterized their after
lives. The young men all lived in the same
neighborhood and attended school in Dis
trict No. |. Their educational advantages
were few, but the knowledge gained here
and from Mrs. Peckett's books aroused in
them desire and capacity for general read
ing and private study; and it is remark
able fact that six young men from one
little district and with such limited advan-
tages should have become ministers, three
and educators. VIM. Pickett was the son
of Giles and Margaret Pocket, and was born
il England. He became a minister and
was one of the thirty-tive Signers of the pc
tition which was sent to the Vermont Leg
lslature in 1896 asking for charter for a
library in Bradford. Laban and Joseph
Clark were sons of Joseph Clark, who lived
in the house on the lower plain, known as
the Clark house, where Mr.. Chandler now
lives. Before Mr.. Clark built this house he
lived in log cabin not far away. where the
two sons were born, Laban in July, 1878,
md in ifltn iYrf inni nnt
in connection with their history is worthy
of mention. AT one time, hearing that the
Indians were near, Mrs. Clark their mother
after Secreting such valuables as she could,
fled with Laban, then about two years old,
and Joseph babe IN her arms, to the woods
where she found place of safety in 'hOl-
low log, and remained there until the next
lay. In the meantime the Indians passed
over the log but did not discover them in
heir hiding place. Laban was only nine
zen or twenty years of age when he began
% preach and he became one of the fore
most preachers of the age. He Joined the
New York conference and was sent to the
Fletcher circuit in Vermont where he traV-
lied four hundred miles and preached forty
lines every month and for the first nine
months he received the liberal sum of three
lollars. He preached in New York city,
Troy, Schenectady and other important
titles and town in New York and Connec-
icut He was one of the principal found
rs of Wesleyan University In Middletown,
;onn., and its financial agent He was
lected president of the first board of trus-
ees and held the position until his death in
S6S. He took an active part in the Gem
raj Conference, in the formation of confer
nee academies, and was one of the found
rs of the Missionary Society. He was de-
otedly attached to the doctrines and gov
rnment of his church."
Joseph Clark was also preacher of abil-
Jy, but not so distinguished as Laban, his
rOther. He had an excellent spiritp and
rObably no other man did so much to ad-
ance the interests of our church. of
Elizabeth Warren, we only know that she
las another member of the class. Byron
lay and wife came TO this country with the
'eckett family, and were also members of
ne Methodist church in England Their
randson, Bryant Morse, was a Methodist
linlstcr of considerable ability in the New
hampshire Conference. Samuel Aspen
lall was a devoted Christian and loyaI
lethodist. He bad two sons who became
minister's; Joseph Q. was a member of the
ermont conference for twenty years and
len went to Chicago, where he became
ute a distinguished preacher and pre-
ding elder. n. w. Aspenwall remained
! New England and preached in both the
ermont and New Hampshire conferences.
-e lived In his old age at Lyndon and IL
as he who furnished the early history of
ethOdism in Bradford, for DIR. McEeen's
story. Of Mrs. Joseph Olmstead and
iughters nothing is known, as we can
arm. Martin Ruter, to whom we have re-
rred, although not one of the first mem-
RS OF the class, became one soon after
e was son of Job Ruter, who lived on
70 farm where Horace Z. Renfrew now
yes. job Ruter and wife had been mem
rs OF the Baptist church, but became de-
tied Methodists, and opened their humble
yelling for the holding of religious
eetlngs: Martin Ruter was converted at
le OF the meetings held at his fathers