Reverend John Kendrick Converse

REV. JOHN KENDRICK CONVERSE6 (Joel,5 (29), Thomas,4 Samuel,3 Sergeant Samuel,2 Deacon Edward,1), born in Lyme, N. H., 15 June 1801; died in Burlington, Vt., 3 October 1880. The pecuniary obstacles to obtaining an edu

Page 167 - The Converse Family (Picture of Rev. John Kendrick Converse on this page)

cation attending the farm life of that period were overcome by him by industry and close study; and he fitted for college at Thetford, Vt., under the tuition of Rev. John Fitch. He entered Dartmouth College with the class of 1827. The closest application marked his college course. He developed fine scholarship and literary ability, and was deeply interested in the discussions and debates of the College Literary Society, of which he was a, member, which doubtless contributed largely to the facility in extemporaneous speaking which charac terized his subsequent eforts in the pulpit.

During the winter of his second year at college he taught a school at Acton, Mass., and the neces sity for self-support led to his leaving Dartmouth after two years to become the principal of a large school at Keene, N. H. Later in the same year he conducted a classical school in Nottoway Co., Va., at the same time pursuing his college studies. He spent the last year of his college course at Hampden Sidney College in Virginia, where he was graduated in 1827; Dartmouth College also subse quently conferred upon him the degree of A.B. Upon his graduation at Hampden Sidney, he pronounced an English oration on the subject of "Classical Education," and, on the evening of the same day, a valedictory' oration before the Philanthropic Society on "The Origin and Influence of Literary Societies."

After graduation, he continued teaching the school in Nottoway County for a year. Among his pupils was a quiet, studious lad, whose mistaken zeal for his native state of Virginia led, later in life, to an act of aggression of which he doubtless afterward repented, Edmund Ruffin. Preparatory to a course of the ological study, Mr. Converse, at the end of the year, resigned the Nottoway County School, and for nearly two years assisted his brother, Amasa, in the editorial charge of The Southern Religious Telegraph and The Literary and Evangelical Magazine at Richmond, Va. During a portion of this time he had been studying theology, which he continued at the Princeton Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1832. During that year he received calls to the pastorate of the neighboring historic church of the sainted Tennent, and to churches in Burlington, Vt., and Trenton, N. J. On 8 August 1832 he was installed as pastor of the Congregational Church in Burlington, Vt., long known as the White Street Congregational Church. He was its pastor for twelve years.

Page 168 - The Converse Family

In 1839, his acceptance of a call to the Congregational Church of Providence, R. I., was prevented by the burning of his church in Burlington, and his sense of duty to continue in a field where his labors were then so much more needed in consequence of that catastrophe.

"THE FIRST CHURCH" BUILDING

The first house of worship in Burlington was erected in 1812, by the First Calvinistic Congregational society. Previous to that date the church with which this society was connected worshipped in the first county court house, an old wooden building afterwards destroyed by fire, and in the college chapel. The first church building was a large structure of wood with a spire. It stood nearly where the present church building stands, but faced north, towards Pearl street. It was painted white and for many years was familiarly known as "The Old White Church." It was set on fire by an incendiary in the early morning of June 23, 1839, and wholly consumed. Some time previous the only Catholic church in town, which stood at the north end of what is now North Prospect street, where the old French church stands, was destroyed by fire-its destruction, as it was commonly believed, being one of the results of a heated controversy, which had been in progress between two factions in the church as to which should control the buildings. Among some of the Catholic population, however, the burning of their church was laid at the door of the Protestants, and to avenge the wrong a zealous Catholic set fire to the Old White Church. He was seen coming from the church before the flames broke out, and was sent to the State's prison for his act. The present brick structure which is now in process of extensive repairs, was designed by an architect named Searles. While it was in process of construction, the congregation worshipped in the old wooden vestry or chapel, which long since gave place to the present chapel. It was enlarged for the purpose by a temporary addition. The church was dedicated April 14, 1842, and barring changes of color of the paint on the exterior, and of tints of the walls and ceiling in the interior, has remained substantially unchanged for more than half a century. It will be much improved by the changes now in progress, which will be described later.(Burlington Free Press, Aug. 17,1899.)

During his pastorate, Mr. Converse labored with untiring energy, and the growth of the society was rapid and constant. While he was pastor, a portion of the church was set off to form a new church in the adjoining town of Winooski, in which he always felt a deep interest. During the same period he laid the foundation for the Congregational Church at West Milton, Vt.

A pastor who had been a contemporary of Mr. Converse (the Rev. James Buckham) says of him, in the preface to the memorial of him written by his eldest daughter and published in 1881:

"Cowper's description of the preacher (such as Paul, were he on earth, would

Page 169 - The Converse Family (A picture of Mrs. Sarah (Allen) Converse is on this page)

hear, approve, and own) was as fully exemplified, I think, in Mr. Converse, as almost any other minister that I have known:

"Simple, grave, sincere;

and plain in manners; decent, solemn, chaste,

In doctrine uncorrupt; in language plain.

And natural in gesture; much impressed,

Himself, as conscious of his awful charge,

And anxious mainly that the flock he feeds,

May feel it too; affectionate in look,

And tender in address, as well becomes

A messenger of grace to guilty men."

He was married, 21 May 1834, in Burlington, by Rev. Joseph Torrey of the University of Vermont, to Sarah Allen, who was born in Milton, Vt., 13 August 1810, and was the daughter of the Hon. Heman and Sarah (Prentis) Allen. Heman Allen of Milton and Burlington, Vt., was designated M.C., to distinguish him from his contemporary in public life of the same name, the United States Minister to Chile. Mrs. Converse died in Burlington, Vt., 14 April 1873. Her ancestry is shown in a subsequent part of this book. In youth she was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Burlington. It is interesting to recall that the church at that time was not supplied with an organ, the instrumental music being furnished by an orchestra composed of a bass viol, violin, and two flutes, in which her brother, George Allen (afterwards Professor of Greek and Latin in the University of Pennsylvania), played the violin, and her brother, Charles Prentis Allen, played second flute. She subsequently united with the Congregational Church of Burlington.

The development of a bronchial affection led to Mr. Converse's resignation of his pastorate in the spring of 1844, to become the head of the Burlington Female Seminary, of which he was the principal for about twenty-five years. It was the first advanced school for young women in that locality, drawing pupils from nearly every State in the Union, and from the Canadas.

A memoir of Mr. Converse written by his daughter mentions the deep attachment felt for him by all his pupils, his great influence over them for good, and his broad methods of instruction, which for that period were advanced, and greatly tended to stimulate their best efforts toward intellectual development.

He was a man of fine presence and distinguished by an unusual courtesy and ease of manner, which doubtless was largely due to his previous residence in the South.

Page 170 - The Converse FamilyDuring a portion of the time when he was Principal of the Seminary, he was also pastor of the Congregational churches of the neighboring towns of Colchester and Winooski, the former from 1850 to 1855, anti the latter from 1855 to 1861; and he subsequently supplied the pulpit of the West Milton Church for several years.

The Converse School, Burlington, Vermont

During this period he was also for several years Superintendent of public schools in Burlington, and his advocacy of a higher grade of scholarship in the The Converse School. Burlington, Vermont public schools, and improved school buildings, contributed to considerable improvement in that service. Having seen much of the workings of slavery during his residence in Virginia, and being thoroughly interested in the welfare of the colored race, he early took strong interest in the American Colonization Society, and in the Republic of Liberia, as affording a solution of the great Southern problem. He was the active Secretary of the Vermont Colonization Society for over twenty-five years; and during the latter part of his life, for a number of years, until incapacitated by physical infirmity and advancing years, he was the agent of the American Colonization Society for Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Northern New York, speaking in many pulpits, raising funds, and devoting himself to the work of the Society with characteristic earnestness and success.

Since his death, in Burlington, on 3 October 1880, a large new public school building has been named after him, the "Converse School," and one of the new streets of Burlington has been named "Converse Place" in memory of him. The remains of John Kendrick and Sarah (Allen) Converse lie in Lake View Cemetery, Burlington.

Children of Rev. John Kendrick and Sarah (Allen) Converse:

LIZZIE S. CONVERSE,7 born in Burlington, Vt., 26 Feb. 1835; died, unmarried, at Rosemont, Pa., 15 May 1891. She was a member of the Congregational Church at Burlington. After graduating from the Burlington Female Seminary she devoted several years to educational work, teaching in a seminary in Virginia, and in her father's school. She founded a scholarship in the University of Vermont called the "Lizzie S. Converse Scholarship." She wrote a memoir of her father, published by J. B. Lippincott d: Co., Philadelphia, in 1881. Her remains lie in Lake View Cemetery, Burlington.

JULIA ALLEN CONVERSE,7 born, in Burlington, 30 Sept. 1837; she was educated in her father's school; unmarried. With her sister Helen she resides in the old homestead in Burlington which has been occupied by the family for some fifty years, and which is the central of the three buildings built by Bishop Hopkins for a boys' school, and subsequently used as one of the buildings of the Burlington Female Seminary.

HELEN CHRISTINE CONVERSE,7 born, in Burlington, 7 July 1839; unmarried. She was educated in her father's school, and subsequently taught therein; for several years, including 1900, she was one of the deaconesses of the Third Congregational Church in Burlington; in 1902, Vice-regent Green Mountain Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

JOHN HEMAN CONVERSE,7 born, in Burlington, 2 Dec. 1840; married, 9 July 1873, Elizabeth Perkins Thompson. (221)

WILLIAM KENDRICK CONVERSE,7 born, in Burlington, 3 Jan. 1842; died 27 April 1844.

Page 172 - The Converse Family

CHARLES ALLEN CONVERSE, 7 Colonel,

born in Burlington, 17 May 1847 (222).

FRANK KENDRICK CONVERSE,7 born in Burlington, 4 Nov 1849; married Abbie Adelia Conner. (223)

IDA FLAVIA FREDERICA CONVERSE, 7,

born in Burlington, 24 Aug. 1851; married

Dr. George Foster Simpson. (224)