The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-10-15


delegates assembled and ten males
and five females were organized into
new church. Among the names of
these early religious workers were
Solomon Clark. William Steward. Phin-
cas- Steward. Solomon Steward, Jr.,
Peter Haywood. Jr., Samuel Weston,
Eli Weston, Selma White, George
Bigelow, John Hunt. Rebecca Jewett,
Elizabeth Steward. Polly Weston. Sally
Weston and Mary White. These names
were the fruits of the Randall Refor-
nation and among them are many
surnames still common at Skowhegan.
Rev Marcy preached considerably
in 1904, but the town voted not to set
tie him. In the year 1903 there was
quite an interesting revival. During
the fall of that year Rev. John Cay
ford. an Englishman, was employed
six Sabbaths and in December was
invited to settle He was installed
Sept. s. 1909. A dissatisfaction which
had been growing for several years
broke out in 1912 and the church and
town united in demanding a council
to investigate several charges against
Mr. Gaylord. The charges on the part
of the town were. First, an unfaith-
full watch over his flock; second, too
much talk of merchandise and poll
tics and too little Of religion; third.
ungentlemanly illusions to public
characters in the pulpit The council
met and advised his dismission aud
December 20, 1872. it was voted in
town meeting to dismiss him from his
charge. The next year he had fifty
five out of one hundred and fifty-nine
votes cast for representative to Gen
eral Court He did not preach for the
Congregationalists but a short time
after his dismission before he went
over to the Baptist faith. He was for
a time confined in Augusta jail for
misdemeanors altogether unworthy of
clergyman and later went to Flor
da, where he was postmaster for
some time. He is supposed to have
died in that State.
From this time on by the division
of Canaan and the erection of Bloom
field, the remainder of the church his
tory belongs to the latter town, and
Skowhegan and in this manner the an
cient Congregationalist church of Ca
naan, became transferred to Bloomfield
soon after the dismissal of Mr.. Cay
ford. The church becoming much i'm
pressed with the ministerial character
and qualifications of Rev. Fifield Holt,
invited him to settle and the town
concurred February II, 1914. He was
to have for his salary, $3.50 for one
half of the time He was installed
pastor in 1914 and was to preach one
half the time in Bloomfield, devoting
the rest of his time to missionary work
in the neighborhood.
March !, 1924, it was voted to select
a spot for the new Congregational
church and John Kimball Pickard
Jewett and Joseph Webster, End. were
appointed a committee to report
plan They discharged the duty laid
upon them and reported in favor of n
wooden church fifty feet long, forty
feet wide and Is feet stud. with a bel
fry, to have forty-four pews and to
cost $500. This report was accepted
and a committee was raised to carry
it into effect A part of the old house
was sold at auction dwelling house
being erected from portion of the
timbers, which now stands on West
Front Street, just around the corner
from Maine Street. this town. It's
present occupant is William Gordon
and the house was built by Sewell
Bigelow The new church was built
in 1925 near the spot upon which now
stands the residence of Mrs. Charles
A. MarstOn and was dedicated the fol-
lowing year.
Mr.. Holt proved very popular in his
parish, but on Sunday, November Z,
1880, he was attacked with erysipelas,
while in his pulpit and he died about
one week later His remains now lie
in the South Side Cemetery, which
was then the new burying ground for
the community and the stone which
was originally one of the fiat kind has
in later years been given an upright
position. When it was erected part
of the inscription was buried, but a
portion of it has been traced as fol-
lows:
"In memory of Rev. Fifield
Holt, a man greatly beloved in
all his relations of life, but es-
pecially as good minister of
Jesus Christ. He was born in
Hollis, N. H., became a pastor of
the Congregationalist church in
Bloomfield, June 10. 1915. and
died Nov. Is, 1880. Acts, AT. In
the blessed hope of dwelling
forever in the Savior. whose
cause on earth, he had diligent-
ly and successfully labored to