Putnam patriot., 1909-04-16
Early Missionaries of Windham County
ELLEN n. LAR>kn.
PArKs No. MI.

Another son of Ashford takes the field-Samuel V, son of Deacon and Mrs. Lucinda (Moorel Whiten of West Parish--a youth inspired with even stronger missionary zeal than Skinner or Ninton. This was melted mainly l through the letters and personal in- iiuence of his mothers sister, Hannah Moore. A native of Union, eontempo- rary with Galista Holman, she may l have caught from her the impulse that 1 led her to devote her life 10 missionary 1 work. Under the A. B. C, F. NJ, she 1 labered for time among the Cherokecs | aud Cheotaws. in ls46 she was trans i ferfed to the South African missions. [. Her interesting letters and high cha. raeter deeply impressed tho heart of her young nephew. Converted in the great revival of Is5s, at the age of ls, he at ] once began his work. Nightly meet. i ings were held in the little school house in which he taught, resulting i'll the conversion of nearly every pupil. But the home field was toe marrow for his energies. His soul was atlame with that consuming athitst for souls.h In his own words: Il could not stay at l homo to work, 1 could not give years of precious life to study. The Masters voice, Co teach ail nations, was sound l ing In my ears, and with 1t came Il l |. lrAn al hsan lands. from Africa's burning sands for l help. l could mol bear to sit me down upon New England's chureh-crowned 1 hills, while millions over the seas in slavish felters are starving for the Bread of Iife.n And so he offered his services to the American Missionary Associa- tion, and sailed for Freeport, Africa, in 1882 Compelled to return by illness, he again set forth in 1863, in company with other missionaries, and soon after arrival was married to one of his fellow voyagers, and joyfully entered with her upon mission work in Murdi Mission.
 His journal tells of tours among the natives, reading the Scripture and tell ing the story of the cross wherever prac- ticable. With schoolboy for an inter. preter he would spend days In villages, teaching the children to read the Bible in English. Part of the time he had charge of mission station, where there was "season of precious revival, and his heart was cheered by testimony Of young converts. Less than two years were passed in this congenial work. The death of Mrs. Whiton and im- paired ,health compelled his return home in lS65. As soon as possible he engaged in work among the freedmen at Fortress Monroe and then went out as home missionary to church In Iowa. A revival followed of such pow CT that the church soon became self supporting.
 Repeated attempts to engage in other fields were frustrated by prostration of bodily power, and in 1870 he died at his fathers house aged 30 ycars--but the short life had borne abundant fruit age. His cousin, James Whiton, also labored for time at the African mis- sion until disabled by Ill health.
 And this noble roll of missionary workers--Dr. Ezekiel Skinner, Benja- min Rush and Eliza Reed skinner, Dr. Justus H. and Calists Dolman Vinton, Samuel J. and James Whiton--all went out from Ashford churchcs---from that fine old town Of Ashford, on the main route from Boston to Hartford, where they point out the spot where the first settlers of Connecticut encamped upon their pilgrimage, where Washington spent the Sabbath on his first Presiden- l tial tour. and in later years coach lines brought it into daily communication l with Boston and New York. Left aside by Inew modes of travel and business changes, it has been ranked, perhaps | unjustIy, among "degenerate towns tapping into barbarism. May we not | hope that these unfayorable conditions may be surmounted; that the prayers and offerings of bygone years may rise up as memorial in behalf of this town and that a reflex tide may not only quicken it's churches and natives, but give new life to the alien and stranger now within its borders.
 This closes the record Of the past.
 Afew words should be given to those now upon the field. Reference has aI- ready been made to the many represen- tstlyes by Rev. John E. Chandler, en. gagged in present work. Further details have been received of the vint0ns-- Mrs. CaIIsta vinton Luther continued the work begun by her parents among the Karens until the death of her huc- band. Her brother, Rev. J. Brainard yinton remained In Burmah until his death in 1887. Ills daughter, Mrs. AL bert F.. seagrayes, with her six chii- dren. are now npon mission fields. and with two Of his sons still representthis remarkable missionary lineage.
 Others gone out from our homes, our schools and churches are working with I various missionary organizations East ern Connecticut has had the repeated prisiiege of welcoming Mrs. Sara Ghoi- lar, wife of Rev. John D. Ronlund. with her encouraging report of improved conditions an hopeful work among our Mexican neighboss. Another daughter ofsKilhngiy, Miss Mary A. Ayers sends