Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Henry Bagg Smith worked the West Spring- field farm when a boy. Deacon Henry Smith re- moving from Westfield when Henry was four years old, and received the discipline and educa- tion of farmer lads of seventy years ago. The father supplied milk to customers across the Con- necticut river in Cabotville (now Chicopee), and Henry and his brothers took it to them in a skiff. There was eitough natural beauty in that fertile Connecticut valley region to stir the noblest am- 146 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. bitions of the boy, and Nature was bountiful enough to satisfy the labors of his hands. But he was called to other fields and a different cul- ture by a strange Providence. While driving cattle before a harrow in the field, when about fourteen years old, lie was thrown to the ground and drawn under the iron teeth. How he escaped alive no one can tell, but the cruel wounds laid him at death's portal for days. With recovery came the conviction, which never left him, that this was truly a call to his soul as ever the daz- zling glory that smote Saul blind in his funous progress toward Damascus. The fervor of the young convert's zeal stopped short of only the fullest consecration of himself to the blessed Master's service, and he soon obtained his fath- er's consent to prepare for the Gospel ministry. This preparation began at Wilbraham, and the subsequent preparatory studies were pursued at Westfield and at Munson. He furthered his studies in a collegiate course at Amherst, and then took up his theological studies at Andover Seminary, graduating from college in 1843 and from the seminary in 1846. His commencement oration at Amherst was a thrilling anti-slavery address. He was licensed to preach in April, 1846, before he left the seminary, and began the ministerial work in which he fainted not for thirty-si.\ years. His first charge was at Charle- mont, Mass., where he was hired for a time. His first settlement was at West Granville, Mass., where he was ordained July 22, 1847, President Hitchcock of Amherst College preaching the ordination sermon, and Rev. R. S. Hazen of Berkhamsted, the young pastor's future father- in-law, giving the charge to the people. The new minister was not long in finding a bride at Barkhamsted's Congregational parson- age, tvliss Sarah Stedman Hazen. The Hazen stock is also an old Puritan institution, and has supplied many ministers of the Word. Rev. R. S. Hazen, a remarkably well-balariced man, and sincerely spiritual in his aspirations, finally died at Westminster, Conn., his last pastorate. His surviving children were: Rev. Timothy Hazen, of Goshen, Conn.; Mrs. George Fowler, of Aga- wam (now deceased); Mrs. Rev. H. B. Smith, and their half brother. Rev. Dr. James K. Hazen, of Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Smith was for five years pastor at West Granville, then the next twenty-seven years were passed in Connecticut. Abington, his first par- ish, retained his services until August 11, 1863; Burlington, until 1867; Newtown for six years; Greenfield Hill until July 31, 1877; and, finally, Staffordville, until November i, 1879. From Staffordville he went to South Amherst, Mass., where a father's bequest had made it pos- sible for him to secure a small place at which to end his days, and help some of his boys through college — at his own Alma' Mater. He supplied the South Acnherst pulpit, but closed his labors at Shutesbury, ten miles from his South Amherst home, where he began a yearly supply April 10, 1880. His death occurred on August 10, 1882. Rev. Smith was a successful pastor. He was a pastor rather than a preacher, but many a word of his has lingered to comfort and sustain the Christian hope. He threw heart and soul, him- self, his family and all the resources he could command into his parish work, and his genial smile has been a benediction in many a house- hold. In all matters of public moment he was prominent, taking a leading part with other citi- zens, a man among men. With scarcely an in- termission, for stalwart health, boundless push and an indomitable will kept him at work almost every Sunday during his whole ministry. Abington, Rev. Smith's longest pastorate, was also the birthplace of most of his children: Horace D., born November 8, 1852, died in in- fancy; Clara W. (Rev. Mrs. Thresher), born Feb- ruary 9, 1854; Sarah M. (Mrs. Jenks), January 23, 1856; Robert D., October 4, 1857; Willie D. (a graduate of Amherst College), June 7, 1859; Charles H., April 11, 1861, and Henry M., Jan- uary 5, 1863; Horace died a babe of nine months; Allison P. was born October 27, 1866, at Bur- lington; Arthur J. and Emily L. were born in Newtown, March 10, 1868, and May 12, 1870, respectively. Reuben H. Smith, the eldest surviving son of a country clergyman with a large family, early in life learned what hardship was. When his fa- ther was preaching at Burlington, although but a lad, he worked for a time in an axe-works at CoUinsville, and frequently on Monday morning in winter the six miles to work through snow storms were walked. His tenderness and care in looking after his numerous small brothers and sisters is a matter of history which broadened his heart for the children which in later years blessed his home. At eighteen he learned typesetting on the Waterbury Auu-ricait, and in a short time assisted in the make-up of the paper. At twenty- two he entered Berea College in Kentucky, re- mained one year and then returned to Waterbury as the editor of the American. His work on that newspaper spoke for itself. He succeeded in bringing the paper up to a high standard, and when he left it was one of the best known and most quoted journals in the State. His next po- sition was en the Springfield Repiiblican, a paper which has always had a high standing from a COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 147 literary and news standpoint. His experience on the American fitted him for his new work, and it was not long before editors Clark and Griffin discovered his real worth. He wrote a series of articles on education in the South, which attracted wide attention, and required months to gather the material. Although nominally hold- ing the position as "exchange editor," he con- tributed largely to the editorial columns. Night work, however, was very disagreeable to Mr. Smith, and it was with regret that editor Griffin accepted his resignation to come to the Ncu'lown Bee. Mr. Smith's success on the i?(T has largely been augmented by the assistance Mrs. Smith has given him, who in recent years has taken an active hand in the office work. During the jears of his residence in Newtown, and years of service on the Bee, there were few men more esteemed in the community and in the county at large than was he of whom we write. Honesty of purpose, and a hardworker, he brought the Bee up to a high standard. True to his convictions, strictly honest in his dealings with his fellow men, he won respect and admiration on every side. Up- right in character, he is unswerving in loyalty to duty and to God. Mr. Smith retired from the Bee in October, 1892, to engage in newspaper work at Riverside, Cal., and after a period there he returned to the East and became con- nected with the Religious Herald, of which he is now editor and proprietor. Mr. Smith married Miss Rebecca Webb, of Waterbury, Conn., and has five children living. Allison P. and Arthur J. Smith received the benefit of a good education, completing their studies in the public schools at Amherst. In September, 1882, Allison P. came to Newtown, and for a year and a half was in the office of the Bee with his eldest brother, during which time he learned the printing trade. Thence he went to Springfield, Mass., and took a position in the composing room with the Phelps Publishing Com- pany, the publishers of the Neio^Englaml Ho)ne- stead, Springfield Homestead and the Agricul- tural Homestead. It was not long until some of his occasional contributions attracted the atten- tion of Edward H. Phelps, the able editor-in- chief, who became interested in the young man and invited his services on the reportorial staff, and from that time on for eight years he did re- porting and editorial work on the several publi- cations of the company, chiefly on the Home- stead. He was comphmented by being made the representative of the Springfield District for the Zion Herald oi Boston, one of the leading papers of the M. E. Church in the United States. This position was given to the young reporter and editor at the solicitation of the ministers of Springfield, his work in the district comprising some sixty-five Churches. His historical writ- tings in this work attracted much attention. His next field of labor was on the Newtown /><•(-, which is referred to farther on. Mr. Smith was mar- ried, in May, 1890, to Miss Hattie, daughter of Frederick S. Hazen, of Springfield, Mass., and has one child, Hazel Hazen Smith. Arthur J. Smith, after the completion of his studies at Amherst, learned the jewelry business in that city with J. A. Rawson. Subsequently for a period he was employed in a business house in Springfield, Mass., then was for a time em- ployed in a factory in Bridgeport, Conn. From Bridgeport he came to Newtown and entered the office of the Bee. and, like his older brothers, learned the printing trade. Subsequently, how- ever, he returned to Bridgeport, and for a period was employed in the Mechanics and Farmers Savings Bank there. Thence he came to New- town, which he has since made his home and field of work. He was married, in May, 1897, to Miss Frances, daughter of Samuel Scudder, of Newtown.