Church, was born in Milton, Pa., August 19, 1832.
He graduated at Oberlin College in 1860, and at the
Theological Seminary in 1864 ; was settled in North
Fairfield, Ohio, December 21, 1864 ; dismissed 1868.
He preached in the suburbs of Chicago, and after-
wards settled for two years in Madison, Ohio; then
became principal of the preparatory department in
Oberlin College, from whence he came to the South
Parish. He was installed in Hinsdale July 10, 1883,
where he still remains.
Rev. John J. Blair, the present efficient pastor
of the South Church, has had but one previous settle-
ment,— in Rockland, Me., 1876 to 1884.
West Parish.— As early as 1771 complaints began
to be heard from members of the South Church re-
siding in the westerly section of the parish, on ac-
count of their distance from the place of worship.
With ever-increasing numbers, their complaints be-
came more pronounced. Whenever the question of a
new meeting-house was agitated in the parish, as was
frequently the case, the matter of location necessarily
came to the front. Those living on the west side of
the Shawshiil insisted that the house should be on
their side of the river. The trouble grew till in
1788, Isaac Osgood and others, residents of the west
side, petitioned the General Court to be set off into a
separate parish. Their petition was refused. But the
majoi-ity of the parish recognized the disadvantages
under which their brethren in the west section la-
bored, and, in the hope of retaining them, voted that
they be relieved of all obligation to aid in building
the new house of worship. But this did not satisfy
the complainants. The parish, finally, taking into
consideration the wishes of these discontented breth-
ren, and further, the onerous labors of the pastor of
a parish eight miles in length and four in breadth,
concluded to form a new parish on the west side of
Shawshin River, and voted, March 12, 1826, that,
" should the people on the west side of the Shawshin
River erect a Meeting-Hoase at their own expense,
â– they have the cordial approbation of the parish."
The house was soon erected by private enterprise,
but built of stone taken from the immediate neigh-
borhood. It contained ninety-eight pews, with a
seating capacity for six hundred people. This stone
structure still stands, though, in its interior arrange-
ments, it has been repeatedly remodeled, refitted and
improved. It was dedicated December 26, 1826. The
dedicatory sermon was by Mr. Edwards, the pastor
of the South Church.
On the 5th of December, 1826, the church was or-
ganized, and called the " West Church of Andover."
Fifty-six persons constituted its membership, mostly
from the South Church. The parish made application
to the next General Court to be set oft' with definite
bounds, which application was granted, no one oppos-
ing. As thus incorporated, the new parish embraced
one hundred and fifty-eight families, or eight hundred
and seventy people. On being thus set off, the South
Parish granted to the West, for its use perpetually,
three-eighths of the income of its ministerial funds.
The Church and Parish have had five pastors : —
Rev. Samuel C Jackson, who was settled June 6, 1827,
dismissedSeptember25,lS50; Rev. Charles H. Peirce,
ordained October 9, 1850, dismissed April 11, 1855;
Rev. James H. Merrill, installed April 30, 1856, dis-
missed December 1, 1879; Rev. Austin H. Burr, in-
stalled April 29, 1880, dismissed January 21, 1885 ;
Frederick W. Greene, installed September 3, 1885,
still the pastor.
Pastori of the West Church. — Rev. Samuel Cram
Jacksox, D.D., was born in Dorset, Vt., March 13,
1802. He was the son of Dr. William Jackson and
Susanna Cram Jackson, a lineal descendant of John
Rogers of Smithfield memory. He prepared for
college under the tuition of his father, a thorough
1604
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUxNTV, MASSACHUSETTS.
classical scholar. When fifteen years of age he en-
tered Middlebury College, and graduated in 1821.
Having a natural bent for legal studies, and an in-
herited fondness for public affairs, he spent one year
in the law-office of Hon. Richard Skinner, Manchester'
Vt., and one in the office of Judge Dand Daggett, of
New Haven, preparatory to entering the legal pro-
fession. While at the latter place, his attention was
turned with special interest to the subject of personal
faitli in Christ. His former skeptical notions gave
way under a thoughtful examination of the claims
of Christianity, and he consecrated himself to the
service of Christ. With this new element of life, came
a change in the purpose of life and its vocation.
Cheerfully yielding to the wishes of his pareuts, who
had consecrated him to the work of the ministry, and
following the advice of Dr. Porter, a friend of his
pareuts, he joined the Theological Seminary at
Andover, graduating in 1826 with the valedictory
addresses. Soon after this he entered upon his min-
isterial work with the West Parish, where he remained
for twenty-two years. His physical energies having
become permanently so impaired as to render his
continuance of the labors, cares and responsibilities of
a minister inexpedient, if not impracticable, he sought
and obtained the position of Assistant State Libra-
rian.
At first his duties were rather those of an assistant
secretary of the Board of Education than of an
assistant librarian. For all the duties which came to
his hands at the State House, he was fully equipped
and admirably adapted. First by his legal trainin/;-,
then by his warm interest in all educational and
scholarly pursuits and efforts, and finally, by his long
and practical experience in founding, supervising and
sustaining educational institutions, he had become a
sort of expert in the science of education. When the
State Library came under his systematic hand, it was
redeemed from chaos and made available for use. The
reports which came from the office of the secretary
assumed new importance and interest. During his
occupancy of the office, twenty-eight thousand volumes
were added to the library, " making it, in some re-
spects, tlie best law library in the Commonwealth."
But the effective influence and activity of Dr. Jackson
there was not merely that of an official. By his
position he made the acquaintance of many of the
leading educators, statesmen and lawyers of the Com-
monwealth and of other states. The library became a
council chamber for college presidents, promoters of
beneficent enterprises and liberal-minded donors to
charitable institutions. Such men would rarely fail
to drop into the library for a word of cheer or counsel
when they visited the city. "His sound judgment,
strict integrity and interest in every thing pertaining
to the public welfare, gave him, in a high degree, the
confidence of wise and good men. Few meu in the
State House were more consulted or more trusted than
he." Such is the testimony of Dr. Sears, for a time
associated with him as Secretary of the Board of Edu-
cation. Hem. Joseph White, another associate for
sixteen years as Secretary of Education, says of him:
" He brought to his entire work a ripe scholarship, a
cool, unclouded judgment, a strong common sense, a
fine legal acumen and a habit of prompt, untiring in-
dustry. After my sixteen years of observation, I am
confident that no man within my knowledge has
rendered the commonwealth a more useful and honor-
able service than Dr. Jack.«on, a service which will
bear rich fruit in future years." Under these two
secretaries for twenty-two years he filled the position
of assistant librarian at the State House, with much
satisfaction to himself, and with great ^acceptance to
those with whom he had to do. But as years went on
his health and strength, always on a low base, steadily
failed, so that he was constrained to abandon his
position in 1876. From this time he rapidly declined.
Paralysis, combined with chronic disease, by degrees
consumed his powers, both of body and mind, till the
glad hour of release came, July 26, 1878.
It was the good fortune of Dr. Jackson to be the
first pastor of a new church enterprise. He was by
nature and taste an organizer. He possessed some-
thing of the spirit of the great Apostle who boasted
that his aim had been "not to build on another
man's foundation." To him came the pleasing duty
of organizing the Sabbath-School, benevolent societ-
ies, the order and usages of worship, and the varied
activities of a Christian Church. With such care and
wisdom was this work done, as to require, like
the stone meeting-house, only now and then a little
interior renovation or remodeling.
We are told that when he entered upon his minis-
try " his style was classical, his manner in the pul-
pit, graceful and sprightly." As a preacher, how-
ever, he was distinguished "for his skill in adapting
his sermons to the particular needs of his hearers."
Says Professor Park, the best of judges, " His ser-
mons were not marked by power, so much as by
grace; not by brilliancy, so much as by dignity.
They were argumentative, when argument was
needed, but were generally didactic, often earnest,
uniformly solemn. His manner was so natural ;
his voice so well cultivated and so expressive: his
words were so choice and his thoughts so good ; he
was in such evident sympathy with hi.") theme and
with his hearers, that he drew into the sanctuary
some men who had previously absented themselves
from public worship ; he attracted the uniform atten-
tion of his hearers; he satisfied them so fully that
they were reluctant to have him exchange pulpits
with other ministers, even when those ministers were
celebrated men." His discourses on fast days, and
thanksgiving days, when the New England pastor
feels at liberty to leave slightly the beaten track of
Sabbath service, were especially attractive. In his
discussions of secular, state, and political afl'aiis,
he permitted free play to the varied powers of his
mind in graphic descriptions, keen witticipms, and
pungent criticisms, whicii never failed to give pleas-
ure, instruction and profit.
As a pastor, Dr. Jackson was ftithfiil, attentive,
sympathetic and tender. He visited each family in
his small parish frequently, and could call all the
children by name. He took special interest in the
youth of both sexes. And when he found a lad of un-
usual promise, he took much pains to have him
receive a liberal education. Thus, under his wise
guidance, not a few West Andover boys have
become useful and even eminent men, in the
different professions in various parts of the country.
He was also the trusted adviser of his people,
acting at times as physician, lawyer and even in-
structor in horticulture and agriculture.
During his long pastorate, there were frequent revi-
vals, in which a large number of persons were gath-
ered into the church, some of whom as ministers,
have done, and are still doing, good work for their
Divine Master.
Aside from his professional work. Dr. Jackson
gave much attention to the cause of education. He
was associated with Samuel Farrar, Mr. Badger and
other influential citizens, in starting a school in town
for the higher education of girls, and was one of the
committee selected to devise measures and form a
constitution for such a school, and, when a liberal
donation from Mrs. Abbot for this purpose had been
received, and Abbot Academy had accepted its act
of incorporation, he was chosen one of its trustees,
in which trust he continued to the day of his death,
a period of nearly fifty years. At times of urgent
need or perplexity in the affairs of the institution,
he was the man uniformly looked to for advice
or help. He was a warm friend of Phillips Academy
and the Theological Seminary of which he was
trustee for thirty years.
While in the ministry, the reputation of Dr. Jack-
son extended beyond the limits of his own town and
Association. He was invited to become president
of Middlebury College, and repeatedly to become the
pastor of churches much larger and richer than that
at Andovei". He received the degree of D.D. from
Middlebury College.
Dr. Jackson published but little. The annual
election sermon, which he delivered before the Gov-
ernor, Lieutenant-Governor, Council and General
Court in 1843, was published and created quite a
furor of excitement. No little animosity was arous-
ed by it against its author in certain quarters, on
account of its sharp arraignment of the sins of the
day.
Dr. Jackson married Miss Caroline True, daughter
of William and Eebecca Mariner True. They
had five children, — Samuel Charles, a young man
of rare promise, who died at twenty-eight years
of age ; Caroline R., resides in Andover; Susan E.,
resides in Andover; Mary A. married to Rev. Wil-
•VER. 1605
liam Warren, Springfield, Ohio; William, doing
business in Boston.
Rev. Charles H. Peirce. — The second pastor
of the West Parish Church was born iu Peru,
Mass., November 29, 1822. He graduated at Ober-
lin College in 1845, taught two years, then stud-
ied theology at Andover ; graduating in 1850. Soon
after graduation, he was settled in the West Parish,
where he remained for four years and six months.
After his dismission he removed to the West, where
he spent some seven years in labor with different
churches in Illinois and Tennessee. On returning to
this State he was settled in Millbury October 22,
1862, and died in office October 5, 18(35, aged forty-
three.
Mr. Peirce was a warm-hearted, active, kindly
disposed man, who made friends wherever he went.
A man of good abilities, and the full average" of
ministerial scholarship and pulpit talent, it was his
misfortune to follow in his first pastorate a man of
marked attainments and personal power. Neverthe-
less, he was esteemed both as a pastor and preacher,
and " greatly beloved " by a large circle of friends in
the community and in the ministry.
Rev. James H. Merrill. — The third pastor
was born in Lyndehorough, N. H., October 16, 1814.
He was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Carpen-
ter) Merrill. He graduated at Dartmouth College
in 1834, taught two years in Fryeburg Academy,
Maine, studied theology in Andover, graduating in
1839. His first settlement was at Montague, Novem-
ber 25, 1839, where he remained for more than six-
teen years, and then became for twenty-three years
the beloved pastor of the West Church.
After his dismission, December 1, 1879, Mr.
Merrill made a protracted visit to his children
living at the West. On returning to town, he located
his home on the " Hill," where he lived, and, by slow
degrees faded away, till on the 28th day of October,
1886, he fell on sleep.
Mr. Merrill was of slight build, delicate In consti-
tution and of limited strength, with hereditary ten-
dencies to consumption. Hence he never felt him-
self to be physically equal to the work of a large
parish. He courted the quiet country, and was per-
fectly satisfied to spend his days in ministering to a
small church of intelligent and apprecia:tive people.
Such a church and people he found and loved in the
West Parish. He was exceptionally wise in this,
that, quite early in his ministerial life, he took the
measure of his strength, and, while expending this
strength daily quite up to its maximum, he rarely
much exceeded this, save under special stress. It was
a matter of conscience with him to husband his
vitality. By so doing, he was able to hold back his
hereditary enemy, and spread his work over many
years, accomplishing more for his people and the
cause of Christ and the church, than many others
with sound constitution and equal abilities.
1606
HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. Merrill was an instructive, rather than a stimu-
lating preacher. He was methodical in his pulpit
preparation, as in hi.s parochial visits, and brought
" beaten oil" into the sanctuary. True to his own
convictions, and a critical student of the Scriptures,
he always had something fresh and profitable for his
people, who took truth from his lips as from the lips
of a prophet. His opinions on controverted matters
were cautiously formed, firmly held, and frankly
stated. Controversy, engendering hard feeling, he
religiously shunned. A man of sound judgment,
genial temper, affable, courteous, unambitious, with-
out craft, envy or hypocrisy. Recognising the fact
that the young men of his parish, in large numbers,
left the farm for a wider sphere of activity, he re-
garded the work of training the youth to a reverence
for truth, righteousness, honor and piety, as of pre-
eminent importance. This work he never lost sight
of, and never failed to emphasize. The result has
been that a goodly number of West Andover boys
are now to be found among the active and leading
lawyers, ministers, railroad and business men all over
the country, from Maine to California.
Mr. Merrill was a scholar himself, and a warm friend
of all educational institutions, from the common
school upwards. As trustee for twenty-three years,
of the Punchard Free School, and for a like period
one of three composing its Visiting Committee, upon
whom devolved the supervision of its instruction, he
gave much time and thought to the education of the
young. In these varied spheres of activity and use-
fulness, Mr. Merrill so carried himself as to secure the
fiivorof the people at large, and the esteem and affec-
tion of his parishioners and others who were privileged
to enjoy his friendship.
Mr. Merrill married Miss Lucia Wadsworth Gris-
wold, daughter of Dr. Oliver Griswold, of Fryeburg,
Maine. They have had five children: James G.,
D.D., Pastor of the First Congregational Church,
St. Louis, Missouri ; William F., {General Manager of
theH. &St. J., C. B. & K. C. R. R.) ; George C,
(deceased) Professor in Washburn College, Kansas,
and teacher in Phillips' Academy ; Sarah E. mar-
ried Rev. Joseph D. Wilson, Rector of St. John's
Reformed Episcopal Church, Chicago ; Lucia S. re-
sides in Andover.
The Rev. Austin Burr, the fourth pastor, was
born in Charlestown, Ohio, June 18, 1849; received
his collegiate training at Oberlin College, and his
theological instruction at Andover Seminary, gradu-
ating in 1875. His first settlement was in Franklin,
N. H., November 3, 1875, where he remained until
1880, when he came to the West Parish. Since leav-
ing this parish, he has been settled in Peterboro',
N. H., where he still remains. He married Miss
Fanny Hammond, of Andover.
The present pastor, Rev. Frederick W. Greene, re-
ceived his collegiate education at Amherst, and hiti
theological instruction at Hartford Seminary, Conn.
LATER CHURCHES OF VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS.
For a century and a quarter, the South Church,
with it.s daughter, the West Church, embraced in its
ecclesiastical fold the entire territory of the South
Precinct. The people of this territory were all
expected to attend public worship, first at the
meeting-house in the South Church, and after-
wards at that or the house of the West Church.
They were by law compelled to pay taxes for
the support of worship in one or the other of the
parishes, whether they attended the service or not.
This was the state of things till the year 1833; then
the law was so changed as to give people the liberty
to worship where they pleased, and to pay taxes when
and as much as they pleased. This was followed by
the incoming of other sects.
Methodists. — As early as 1829, the Methodists
began to hold occasional services in the bank hall,
but not for four or five years did they acquire suffici-
ent strength to establish regular worship and build a
meeting-house. For a few years, this society flour-
ished, some of the tax-payers leaving the South
Church andjoining their number. But little by little
they grew feeble, and in 1840 gave up regular service.
The meeting-house was finally sold to the parties wlio
formed the "Free Church," and is now, after under-
going extensive alterations, their house of worship.
Some of the Methodists followed it to its new site,
and joined the " Free Church."
While there has been no Methodist preaching in
the center of the town since this sale of the meeting-
house, there has been, and now is, a Methodist So-
ciety at Ballard Vale. In 1851, a Methodist meet-
ing-house was built in this village, and, since then,
with more or less regularity, preaching has been sus-
tained there. By the liberality of Capt. Bradlee. they
have a neat place of worship, and a commodious par-
sonage.
Baptists.— A Baptist Church was formed and
recognized October 3, 1832, the services of recogni-
tion being held in the South Church meeting-house.
The society erected and dedicated a house of their
own August 28, 1834. For fifteen years the church
sustained regular preaching, havijig during these
years five different pastors, who remained from one
to five years each. After the departure of the last of
these pastors, October, 1849, the church was without
stated preaching until its dissolution, which took
place December 8, 1857, sixteen of its members unit-
ing with a Baptist church in Lawrence. The pastor
of this church. Rev. Frank Remington, after a time,
opened the meeting-house of the denomination in
town for services. His preaching drew a full con-
gregation, and was attended |\vith such marked suc-
cess in the conversion of the unrcgenerate and the
quickening of the old members of the church, that
a new church (with one hundred and fifty-six
members) was formed and recognized July 28,
1858, a little over seven months from the time the
church had, in despair, disbanded. At this time
they received as their pastor Rev. William S. McKen-
zie, who remained with them for more than two years.
Since his dismission, December, 1860, the church has
sustained regular services, and had four stated
preachers and various temporary supplies. Rev. H.
R. Wilbur, who was the pastor from April, 1872, to
October, 1876, has been their most reliable and abid-
ing pastor. He is now a resident of the town, a pub-
lic-spirited citizen, who, by his money and his per-
sonal labors in the church and parish, contributes
largely to the maintenance of the religious services.
The feeble health of Mr. Wilbur forbids his assum-
ing the active pastorate of the church, but his assist-
ance is invaluable to its prosperity, if not to its
existence. Dr. Bronson, who recently left the ser-
vice of the church for a western field of labor, minis-
tered to them for a number of years.
Protestant Episcopal (Christ) Church. — Mr.
Abraham Marland, an immigrant from England, a
member of the English Church, a successful manu-
facturer in Andover, and, withal, a man of sterling
piety, liberality, and indomitable purpose, has been
called, with much aptness, "the father of the Episco-
pal Society in Andover." It had been his deter-
mination for years, while rising from poverty to
riches, to see an Episcopal Church established in his
adopted home, " even if the whole cost of it were
borne by himself." Through his agency, doubtless,
a liturgical service was held at the South Church
meeting-house, by Rev. Dr. Stone, rector of St. Paul's
Church, Boston, as early as December 25, 1833.
But, though the society was in embryo in the mind
of Mr. Marland at this time, no serious effort was
made to form an Episcopal Church till 1835. On
July 2Gth of that year " an Episcopal service was
held in the bank hall," conducted by Bishop Smith,
of Kentucky. He was followed by other distin-
guished clergymen of the denomination, including
Bishop Griswold. On the 4th day of August follow-
ing twenty-three men met together, and agreed to
" form themselves into a religious society, to be called
the Episcopal Society in Andover." They drew up
a petition to N. W. Hazen, Esq., justice of the peace,
for him "to issue a warrant for calling the first meet-
ing" of the society. This meeting was held August
6th, when an organization was formed, and the cus-
tomary officers chosen.
The formation of this society was, ecclesiastically,
an entirely novel movement in the town, not in sym-
pathy with its antecedents, or prevailing sentiment.
It drew from the South Parish a goodly number of
able and influential men and prominent families.
But this new ecclesiastical departure, attended by a
depletion of its membership, was not merely ac-
quiesced in by the South Parish, but generously
encouraged by friendly speech and acts. The Christ-
mas service of the new church, with decorations and
music, was held for the first time, by invitation, in
VER. 1607
the meeting-house of the South Parish. These ser-