Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-11-12
HISTORY OF COUNTY
TAKEN FROM VERMONT GAzATEER PUBLISHED in
The YEAR 1862

rlgnJy, a STUDENT VI AlluoNSl 1hCO-
logical Seminary, and latterly presi-
dent of Knox College, ILL.,, supplied
our pulpit for few weeks, and six
were added to the church by profess
sion, and four by letter. The Rev.
E. Holmes, formerly of st. Johns
bury, next supplied the desk for a
year, without much apparent result,
though considered a pretty good
preacher. Oct. IA, 1887, Francis P.
Smith-formerly an attorney at law,
and later a licentiate preacher, of
New Hampshire-was invited to be-
come pastor;and Mr.. Smith removed
his family to town, and continued
preaching without further action in
relation to his settlement until Aug.
Is, 1888, when the society, or SUBJ
scribers to his support, seconded the
invitation of the church, and he was
ordained pastor September IL, fol-
lowing; and continued his labors over
six years with general satisfaction
and so good success that 67 were
added to the membership. But the
pastoral relation has of late years
become very subject to change, and
that of Mr.. Smith with this church
and people was terminated by his
dismission May l, 1874.
At the time the old Westinghouse
was erected, though lalge and re-
mote, it was better filled than some
more modern houses, situated in a
village upon a river road, and easy
of access to many more people; but
at length different location became
desirable, and about 1928 the house
was taken down ard removed to the
plain at the most convenient spot for
all then concerned; and the town as
sisted in rebuilding the house, in
consideration Of occupying it for the
purposes of September elections and
March meetings. For some years it
was the only place of worship on the
Sabbath. But for some years before
its removal from the hill the people
had held meetings more or less at the
Falls; an ! about the time that Mr..
Smith commenced his labors; it was
decided to have the meetings upon
] the Sabbath One-half the time at
that place, the courthouse being
used for that purpose; but near the
close of Mr.. Smiths labors-in the
spring of 1843--the Methodists, tax
: ing advantage of a temporary ar
rangement by which the Congrega
tional society were holding meeting
during the warm season at the ole
Westinghouse, took possession o
the courthouse, and declined yield
ing thereafter its occupancy any par
of the time, thus making it neces
sary for the Congregationalist
either to contest titles or abandon
the village altogether, or build a ney
house. The latter course was adopt
ed, and the next year-1844-prir
cipally through the efforts and mar
agement of David E. Dennison, Esq
a persevering, energetic man, a goo
I and sufficiently commodious hous
, was erected at an expense of onl
$1,000. And after the completion G
the new house, the Rev. Thoms
Hall, formerly of Waterford, Vt
e was employed to preach, and in tn
[ course of the ensuing year to settl
as pastor. He accepted the call, an
= arrangements were made for his il
7 stallation, but, owing chiefly to tn
5 precarious state of his health, til
i matter was postponed, and, final
Il abandoned. Mr.. Hall remained
e town several years, and, we believ
i supplied the desk two or three year
q but from that time to the summt
e of 184S, the desk was occupied mo-
Il OF all the time by Methodist preacI
: ers, sent by their conference.
d In August, l848, the Rev. JOSEF
h Marsh became our minister, ar
o sustained that relation with cred
- to himself, and to the satisfaction
e church and society for nearly thrt
st years. And after Mr.. Marsh left u
q early in 1851, Mr.. Hall returned ar
G supplied US again for about yea
is we think. Afterward the place W
} occupied mostly by Methodists, the
v being little if any Congregation
he preaching till March, 1858.
m For distance Of nearly one and
d. half miles the hills advance full
s. the rivers side, admitting of no S,
lie Element; thus dividing the face
T. the township and the people into t,
q parts, north and south; betwe
ut which sections there had been
many years considerable rivalry a
IN jealousy.
40 The village, including that up
as the Northumberland side of the r
Ut er, as being in one fact of busin
ne interest, is situated near the N.
ry corner of the town; but contain