Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/375

 KIMBALL UN [OX ACADEMY.

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��KIMBALL UNION A CA DEMY.

��REV. rSAAC WTLLEY.

��( Concluded. )

��Charles Walker, from Woodstock, Conn., entered the school at the age of 26, in 181 7. After a preparation of four years he entered the seminary at Andover in 1S26. He was ordained pastor of the church in Rutland, Vt., in 1823, and after a pastorate of twelve years he became the pastor of the church in Brattleboro', from whence he removed, in 1S46, to Pittsford. From 1864 he resided at Binghamp- ton, N. V., until his death, in 1870. The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by the Vermont University in 1S47. He published several ser- mons, an article upon Christian faith, and, also, one upon repentance.

Mr. Walker was a man of influence. ( >n the soundness of his judgment the people were ready to rely. From each of his three pastorates there is reason to believe there is a company on high thankful that at a late period he relinquished his worldly engage- ments, and gave himself to the work of the ministry.

John M. Ellis, from Keene, en- tered the school in 181S; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1822, and at Andover in 1825. He was in business as a tanner, and left it in view of a foreign mission : but the opening of our western country drew him in that direction. The day after his gradua- tion, with two others of his class, he was ordained to the work of the min- istry in the old South Church in Bos- ton. This was done at the request of the Domestic Missionary Society of New York. It is to be noticed that at that time measures were taken, in view of the formation of a national home missionary society, which was soon in active operation. Furnished with $100, Mr. Ellis made his way, in 2

��< weeks, to Kaskaskia, then the largest town in the state of Illinois. After laboring two years a Presbyterian church was formed, and he was install- ed the pastor. At the same time he was appointed one of a committee for the establishment of a college. Jacksonville was decided upon as the site for it, and eight acres of land were secured, and the stakes stuck for the college buildii:

In the spring of 1S28 Mr. Ellis married a Christian lady from Mar- seilles, in France, who had made her way into that country as a teacher. .He removed his relation from Kaskas- kia to Jacksonville, where he had se- cured the formation of a church. He had encouragement of a salary of -o per annum to be paid in pro- duce. He reserved one Sabbath in four for missionary purposes. By this arrangement he was able to preach in Springfield, and to aid in the formation of a church there, and in several other places. A letter of his about this time, relating to openings in Illinois for Christian laborers and for the es- tablishment of a college, reached the eyes of several students in Yale Col- lege, and induced seven of them to seek this as their field of labor. The important influence which they ex- erted and the labors which they per- formed have become matters of his- tory. Mr. Ellis was installed pastor of this church at Jacksonville in 1830, and the record is, " that the female seminary and its beautiful grounds continue an honor to him and to his accomplished wife."

Mr. Ellis commenced his labors for the American Education Society in 1832. In his movements he took an active part in the establishment of

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