Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-12-03
NOTABLE EVENT.
East Middlebury Pastor Passes
Century Mark Next Monday.

7 Rev. Sedgwick w. Bidwell, who is
passing the sunset of his days at his
home in East Middlebury, will reach the
une hundredth milestone on Monday
next, December sixth.
Moth outstanding his remarkable age
Rev. Mr. Bidwell retains his faculties to
most remarkable degree and is well
preserved, physically, for a man of his
years.
The sixth of December, 1909 saw the
birth of this remarkable man in Starks-
boro, this county, of which his parents,
who were of English decent, were among
the first settlers. During the early years
of the past century the country was wild
and the settlements were few and far
between and the struggling settlers had
a hard time to make their living, and in
consequence Mr.. Bidwell had many hard
knocks.
School houses were not numerous at
that;tine but there were few scattered
about this section, and in one of these
he received his early education. At the
age of eighteen his school days were
over except for one year spent in the
academy at Hinesburg.
During the winters of 1850 and 1882
he taught in the district school. During
this time there were religious reviva
meetings held in the school house where
he was teaching and he decided to d
| L. e 81
The same year he was admitted to t
Methodist church on probation for ST.
months and was subsequently receiv
into full membership. In the year IS
he was given license to preach by the
presiding elder of the Methodist church.
He was then % years of age.
This was really the beginning of his
career in the church and since that time
he has been power for good, serving
the church faithfully and well for three
quarters of century. During that time
he has held pastorates in twenty-five
different towns in Vermont end New
| York states. AS far as is known Rev.
Mr.. Bidwell is the oldest living clergy
man of the Methodist denomination in
Vermont, and perhaps in the country.
| Mr. Bidwell was twice married. His
first wife was Miss Evaline l.. Smith of
Monkton, whom he married in 1888
Some years after her death he married
Miss Lucinda Aurora Upper of Middle
bury.
Mr.. Bidwell has wonderful memory,
extending over three generations. He
remembers the Battle of Plattsburg and
distinctly recalls hearing the boom of
cannon during that famous engagement
between the Americans and English.
The venerable preacher was evidently
destined for the ministry, as he relates
with considerable pleas re an incident
which occurred when he was only five
years of age, which incident showed the
tendency of his mind and heart. At
the close of his first day at school he
gathered his schoolmates around stump
which he mounted and preached to
them.
At the age of seven years he could de-
claim the English reader with prompt
ness and won a prize for committing
selection to memory.
During his long career as clergyman
he has officiated at more than $50 we'd
dings and about 400 funerals, and
probably holds the record in this section
of the country. He has had some inter
esting experiences in the wedding line.
On several occasions when called upon
to perform the marriage ceremony his
pay for the service consisted of bushel
of potatoes, corn or other produce, and
sometimes the remuneration was even
smaller, but the ceremony was perform
ed, Notwithstanding the smallness of the
fee.
As recently as three years ago he
preached, upon request, in the East
Mddlebury Methodist church and the
sermon was delivered with great vigor
and to the full satisfaction of the large
audience present.
MIR. Bidwill takes exercise every day
and at times is able to read and write
without glasses which can be said by
very few men twenty years younger
than he.
At the East Middlebury Methodist
church next Sunday a special service
will be held in honor of the aged clergy
man and it is expected that he will give
a brief address.
The Register extends hearty con gratu-
lations to this reverend gentleman on
the attainment OF his one hundredth
birthday anniversary and wishes for HIM
more years of usefulness.