Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/354

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��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��ture one year. He is now eighty-one years of age, and in October last commenced a three years' course of study in the " Chatauqua Literary and Scientific Circle," of the class of 1884, under the direction of Rev. Dr. J. H. Vincent, being a course of daily read- ings in " History, Art, Science, and Literature." " Father Kelley " has another sentiment which governs him, and to which he closely adheres : " I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it." His first wife, Mary Ann Sherburne, youngest daugh- ter of John Sherburne, of Concord, N. H., to whom he was married May, 1827, died at Newmarket in 1828. His second wife, Emeline, daughter of Abednego Robinson, Esq., of Portsmouth, was married in 1830, and died at Lynn in 1S64, having faith- fully and lovingly shared with her husband the toils and sacrifices of an itinerant life of thirty-four years. Father Kelley is now residing with his son Samuel, who is elocutionis'. in the New England Conservatory, with Dr. Eben Tourjee, Boston. His other children have passed over the river, and he is left almost alone ; but he clings close to the Comforter, and labors with customary zeal in the cause he early espoused and has long served with unabated fidelity and ear- nestness.

Rev. Jacob Stevens was born at Epping, N. H., in 1809 ; joined the N. H. Conference in 1835, and died at Epping, March, 1869. He " was a preacher of good abilities and of un- common excellence in the Sunday school department." He filled his appointments most acceptably, and was successful in the ministry. On account of ill health he relinquished the regular pastorate and sustained a superannuated relation for a few years, during which he engaged in mercan- tile pursuits at Newburyport. In 1868 he was made effective and stationed

��at Fremont, but died the following year, after a faithful service of thirty- four years.

Rev. William D. Cass, who was born at Bradford, Vermont, April 2, 1797, joined the N. E. Conference in 1827 ; was a member of the General Conference in 1844 ; was financial agent of the N. H. Conference Sem- inary, of which he was also for many years trustee, residing where the insti- tution was located, and devoting much time to promoting its interests. He was presiding elder for eleven years, and preached his last sermon Oct. 6, 1866, on the Centennary of American Methodism. He died at Sanbornton Bridge, now Tilton, N. H., May 7, 1S67. He was for forty years an able, fearless, and indefatigable preacher, leaving a good record. His widow, Betsey C. Cass, to whom he was mar- ried in 1832, attained the age of sev- enty-five years, and died May 3, 1882, at Tilton, N. H., only a few miles dis- tant from where she was born, at " Father and Mother Knowles's" house in Northrield, which was the cradle of Methodism in that town. Rev. Caleb Dustin preached in 1807 at their house on Bay Hill. Rev. Martin Ruter vis- ited Northfield the same year and or- ganized the first Methodist church at their home.

Rev. Elisha Adams, d. d., was born in Williamston, Vt., July 29, 1815, and died at his residence in Concord, N. H., August 15, 1880, aged sixty-five. He was a student at Newbury seminary, and three years at Norwich university. He was mar- ried June 21, 1838, and June 13, 1870. Having been licensed to preach in 1835, he joined, the next year, the N. H. and Vermont Confer- ence. As presiding elder he was as- signed to all the districts in New Hampshire, and in that capacity served eleven years ; at stations eighteen years. He was financial and general agent of the N. H. Conference Sem- inary for three years. For the last twelve years of his life he sought " lighter work in more retired fields "

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