Copied from family papers by David S. Clarke.
The subject of this sketch was the youngest child of Benjamin and Eunice Angier - He was born in Walpole NH Sep 17, 1807. His great grandfather and one brother early came to this country from England, though the family originally came from France as the name would imply. One of these brothers settled in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire. His grandfather, Silas, had six sons and two daughters - his father was the eldest. He was twice married, having three sons by his first marriage and by his second, three daughters and one son. The older children were born in Fitzwilliam New Hampshire and the youngest, Aaron, only having been born in Walpole. His father afterwards lived in Alstead NH. Pittsford Vermont - and then moved to Westport NY where he died June 24th, 1844. His father and his sons were members of the Baptist Church he, (the father) being many years one of its Deacons - His father was a cooper by trade - and in this way Aaron may have learned something of the use of tools - for he was very fond of carpentering - tho he never learned the trade - or worked at it much - His education was gained at the public schools and by private study - He became a Christian when quite young - and his thoughts early turned towards the ministry - He made the most of every opportunity to acquire an education and fit himself for his chosen life work - At the age of twenty three we find him teaching a school of sixty to eighty pupils - then again in his old letters he refers to his progress in studying Greek. At this time (1830) his thoughts all turned to Burma as the place where he hoped to labor - He was much interested in Dr. Judsen's work there and he hoped to join him. Though his plans and desires were not fulfilled. God had other work for him, but it was in this country. His desires perhaps influenced his afterlife, making him an earnest advocate for, and worker in the cause of Foreign Missions.

He was married the 1st of April 1831 to Eliza Lajunia, second daughter of Jabez and Elizabeth Luther - in Pittsford, Vermont by Elder Joel Green. He must have been ordained to preach when only twenty-two, or early in his twenty-third year, for in letters of that date he speaks of preaching in Orwell, Vermont - for the pastor who was sick at the time - Possibly he was licensed and ordained later. Soon after their marriage he was settled as pastor over the church in Orwell and remained there four years - He then removed to Waterbury, Vermont - with his wife and two children. During his residence there his family was increased by two sons - There he remained four years. No record has been kept here of those early years of pastoral labor - but if one may judge by his after years of usefulness, he was able to meet the record above with joy. From Waterbury he removed to Hardwick in 1839 - The first year he preached in Hardwick their home was in Greensboro a mile or two from Hardwick village. During this year a house of worship was built. Eld. Angier taking a personal oversight of its erection - and he also built a dwelling house for himself, doing part of the work with his own hands. His pastorate there was much blessed, many were added to the church. The house, which would seat about four hundred was often crowded, and he enjoyed the love and respect of his congregation. At one time, while there - in the dead of winter - the ice having been cut from the river to allow entering the water, he baptized thirty candidates - without himself coming from the water. During the four years he lived in Hardwick - two more children were added to their family. At this time, a Baptist paper "The Vermont Journal" which had been published for two years at Middlebury by Mr. Krinly, a Baptist Minister, and Mr. Maxharn, and which had a varied success - was about to be suspended - and to save a Baptist paper to the State he was induced to undertake its publication. To do this, early in the year 1844 he removed to Middlebury and became the Editor and Proprietor of that paper changing its name to "The Vermont Observer". In that year the Antislavery, or "Third Party" nominated candidates for President and Vice President and the State also nominated candidates for Governor and Lieut. Gov. for this last office the name of Aaron Angier was placed upon the ticket. It was while in Middlebury that the Faculty of the College there, honored him by conferring upon him the degree of A.M. The two years he was in Middlebury he preached part of the time for the Baptist Church in that town. The church had become divided under the former pastor, Mr. Brierly, and was at that time very weak. The paper had a moderate success - but the denomination becoming comparatively small in Vermont it was difficult to sustain a paper. After two years - strong inducements were offered him to remove the paper to East Poultney. This was done in 1846. The change not providing such a benefit as had been promised, the next year it was removed to Ludlow - where it was published one year, under the name of "The Genius of Liberty" - at the close of that year it was sold to the "Watchman and Reflector" of Boston. Eld. Angier still retaining an interest, and occupying the position of the Vermont Editor. During the year the paper was published at Ludlow - he had preached for the church in Derttonsville about six miles from Ludlow. At the close of that year he removed to Derttonsville and become the settled Pastor. He remained there two years, but an increasing family and enlarged expenses made it impossible for him to support his family on the small salary the church was only able to raise - and in 1850 he accepted the call from the church in Meridian Cayuga County, New York and removed there. For three years he labored there with success - eleven were baptized - and eleven others united with the church by letter or experience. He was a pastor much beloved, and enjoyed the respect of all. There being no advantage there for any but a common school education, the parents felt that the older children needed other advantages - and the salary not being sufficient to warrant sending them from home - the title of pastor and people was surrendered with mutual regret. In 1853 he removed his family to Elbridge, NY where there was an Academy and there the children were placed at school. He had accepted the position as Agent, to travel in the interest of the Bible Union - this he held for one year. In the Spring of 1854 an invitation was sent to him by the church in La Moille, Bureau County, Illinois, through one of its Deacons J. Holbrook - to visit them, with the view of becoming their Pastor should the visit prove mutually satisfactory. The visit was made and he concluded to remove there. In May, 1854 the family was settled in that he might better provide for this large family - and especially the oldest son Charles, who wished to become a farmer. On his visit - he had purchased one half section of land and soon after their arrival Charles went to work upon it - to get it under cultivation. After only about eight weeks the first of July - Eld. Angier was taken with Bilious fever which developed into Typhoid and continued for weeks - slowly he recovered and was able one Sabbath in august to go to the church and take part in the exercises - making a prayer and pronouncing the benediction - saying to the congregation that he hoped to preach the next Sabbath. During the next week a relapse occurred and about this time Charles was taken with Bilious fever - no danger was apprehended - but suddenly - his brain was attacked and in a few hours he was dead. That the father might have a little change, he had, that morning - been taken to spend the day with his cousin, Mrs. Mary (Angier) Holbrook - where the terrible shocking and unexpected news was broken to him of the death of his son - serious results were feared - but he calmly bore up - comforting the stricken mother, and brothers and sisters who went to him. He desired to return home - but that was not thought best - and he remained at Mr. Holbrook's. During the night Eld. Angier had a sinking spell - but revived. It was deemed best that the funeral of Charles should take place the next day. When they were going to the graveyard - the father sat by the window watching the sad procession carrying his loved by - the first child he had been called to part with - to his last resting place - nature again gave way and he fainted. He was taken to his bed - and after a short time again revived. The wife and children with friends were soon with him but all feared the worst. He grew weaker and weaker - and about sunset his spirit was taken to be with his God. His last words were, in reply to a daughter who hung over him saying - "What shall we do without you, Pa?" were, "The Lord will provide." Thus passed away on the 2nd of September 1854 - one whose life had been faithfully employed in his Master's service. He had been faithful in all things and his loss was deeply regretted and mourned.