CHATFIELD, REV. LARMON, of Portland, was born in Windham, Green County, New York, September 7, 1807, and was the son of Josiah and Olive Chatfield.
His early years were spent in hard work on the farm, as he was the only child capable of assisting his father in this labor. His parents were unable to send him, for more than a few months, to the rude district school in the neighborhood; and this, with a few months' academic training, which he earned in after years, constituted his school education. But his keen intellect and studious disposition triumphed over all obstacles; and so well did he turn to profit his limited advantages, that, in the days of his pulpit power, no man was more accurate in the use of language.
He knew well the meaning of words, and had rare skill in fitting them into rugged sentences to express his earnest thoughts. His parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and were firm, intelligent believers in its doctrines; but, in his boyhood, he manifested a dislike for the teachings of that church, and sought every opportunity to play truant from it, and attend the more congenial meetings of the Methodists. His heart was touched with their fervent preaching, and he was early converted. For a time, however, as he approached manhood, he "fell from grace," as he expressed it, until, at the age of twenty-two, under the preaching of Elder Bangs, he again came under religious conviction, and united with the Methodist Church. Immediately afterward, he entered upon the work of the ministry. He was licensed as an exhorter, and took his first work as a subordinate in the old Ohio Conference of 1835, and was sent to Mount Clemens, Michigan. In 1836 his name appeared in the minutes of the Mansfield Conference, and he was sent to Plymouth. There he married Miss Lorimer, who died eight months later. In 1838 he was sent to Lyons, the charge then including the territory now covered by the thriving village of Portland. Here he assisted at the funeral of Philo Bogue, in 1839. Two years later, he was married to Mrs. Eliza Bogue, by Rev. Allen Staples, since deceased.
After serving two years on the Lyons circuit, he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Shiawassee District. Four years of district work, in which he traveled from Grand Haven to Saginaw, proved his efficiency; and, at the expiration of the term, he was sent as Presiding Elder to the Adrian District. He lived at Adrian three years, poorly paid, but setting forth such grand truths that there remain indelibly fixed on the minds of those who heard him, profound impressions of the preaching of Larmon Chatfield. In 1848 his health failed, and he was placed upon the list of superannuates. Two years and a half later, his health having improved, he was re-admitted, and appointed to Lansing. In the fall of 1853, he was transferred to Rock River Conference, Rockford, Illinois. In 1854 he returned to the Michigan Conference, and was, at his own request, retired from the active work of the Gospel ministry. His last attendance at Conference was at a session held at Three Rivers, in 1868, where the appearance of the old man, whose tall form was seen going forward to the altar of that Church to which he had consecrated his life's best efforts, is remembered with mournful pleasure by many who were present. From this time until his death, which occurred July 23, 1876,(Note from Marilyn Johnson McDowell, this date of death conflicts with the inscription on his gravestone and with the age inscribed on said stone).he resided at Portland, where his home was during the effective years of his ministry, and when his form now reposes in the quiet sleep of death. In the minutes of the forty-first session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church a touching tribute was paid to his efficiency as a preacher and his character as a man. He was particularly known s a doctrinal preacher; and, as a controversialist, he and few superiors. Pushing his investigations to the utmost, he searched the word of God for his authority, and stored his mind with the truths which he found therein; and, when occasion required, launched them forth in the thunder of his arguments against what he considered fallacies in any creed or doctrine. He would, a sermon of an hour or more, probe to the bottom he dogmas of his religious opponents, and was celeb rated for his matchless controversial sermons on " Calvinism," the "Doctrine of Decrees," and the "Final 'reservation of the Saints." For some time before his death, he made his home in Portland with his son-in- law, F. G. Lee, of whose family his aged wife is still a cherished member.
Source; American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men. Published by Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
His early years were spent in hard work on the farm, as he was the only child capable of assisting his father in this labor. His parents were unable to send him, for more than a few months, to the rude district school in the neighborhood; and this, with a few months' academic training, which he earned in after years, constituted his school education. But his keen intellect and studious disposition triumphed over all obstacles; and so well did he turn to profit his limited advantages, that, in the days of his pulpit power, no man was more accurate in the use of language.
He knew well the meaning of words, and had rare skill in fitting them into rugged sentences to express his earnest thoughts. His parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and were firm, intelligent believers in its doctrines; but, in his boyhood, he manifested a dislike for the teachings of that church, and sought every opportunity to play truant from it, and attend the more congenial meetings of the Methodists. His heart was touched with their fervent preaching, and he was early converted. For a time, however, as he approached manhood, he "fell from grace," as he expressed it, until, at the age of twenty-two, under the preaching of Elder Bangs, he again came under religious conviction, and united with the Methodist Church. Immediately afterward, he entered upon the work of the ministry. He was licensed as an exhorter, and took his first work as a subordinate in the old Ohio Conference of 1835, and was sent to Mount Clemens, Michigan. In 1836 his name appeared in the minutes of the Mansfield Conference, and he was sent to Plymouth. There he married Miss Lorimer, who died eight months later. In 1838 he was sent to Lyons, the charge then including the territory now covered by the thriving village of Portland. Here he assisted at the funeral of Philo Bogue, in 1839. Two years later, he was married to Mrs. Eliza Bogue, by Rev. Allen Staples, since deceased.
After serving two years on the Lyons circuit, he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Shiawassee District. Four years of district work, in which he traveled from Grand Haven to Saginaw, proved his efficiency; and, at the expiration of the term, he was sent as Presiding Elder to the Adrian District. He lived at Adrian three years, poorly paid, but setting forth such grand truths that there remain indelibly fixed on the minds of those who heard him, profound impressions of the preaching of Larmon Chatfield. In 1848 his health failed, and he was placed upon the list of superannuates. Two years and a half later, his health having improved, he was re-admitted, and appointed to Lansing. In the fall of 1853, he was transferred to Rock River Conference, Rockford, Illinois. In 1854 he returned to the Michigan Conference, and was, at his own request, retired from the active work of the Gospel ministry. His last attendance at Conference was at a session held at Three Rivers, in 1868, where the appearance of the old man, whose tall form was seen going forward to the altar of that Church to which he had consecrated his life's best efforts, is remembered with mournful pleasure by many who were present. From this time until his death, which occurred July 23, 1876,(Note from Marilyn Johnson McDowell, this date of death conflicts with the inscription on his gravestone and with the age inscribed on said stone).he resided at Portland, where his home was during the effective years of his ministry, and when his form now reposes in the quiet sleep of death. In the minutes of the forty-first session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church a touching tribute was paid to his efficiency as a preacher and his character as a man. He was particularly known s a doctrinal preacher; and, as a controversialist, he and few superiors. Pushing his investigations to the utmost, he searched the word of God for his authority, and stored his mind with the truths which he found therein; and, when occasion required, launched them forth in the thunder of his arguments against what he considered fallacies in any creed or doctrine. He would, a sermon of an hour or more, probe to the bottom he dogmas of his religious opponents, and was celeb rated for his matchless controversial sermons on " Calvinism," the "Doctrine of Decrees," and the "Final 'reservation of the Saints." For some time before his death, he made his home in Portland with his son-in- law, F. G. Lee, of whose family his aged wife is still a cherished member.
Source; American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men. Published by Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
CHATFIELD, REV. LARMON, of Portland, was born in Windham, Green County, New York, September 7, 1807, and was the son of Josiah and Olive Chatfield.
His early years were spent in hard work on the farm, as he was the only child capable of assisting his father in this labor. His parents were unable to send him, for more than a few months, to the rude district school in the neighborhood; and this, with a few months' academic training, which he earned in after years, constituted his school education. But his keen intellect and studious disposition triumphed over all obstacles; and so well did he turn to profit his limited advantages, that, in the days of his pulpit power, no man was more accurate in the use of language.
He knew well the meaning of words, and had rare skill in fitting them into rugged sentences to express his earnest thoughts. His parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and were firm, intelligent believers in its doctrines; but, in his boyhood, he manifested a dislike for the teachings of that church, and sought every opportunity to play truant from it, and attend the more congenial meetings of the Methodists. His heart was touched with their fervent preaching, and he was early converted. For a time, however, as he approached manhood, he "fell from grace," as he expressed it, until, at the age of twenty-two, under the preaching of Elder Bangs, he again came under religious conviction, and united with the Methodist Church. Immediately afterward, he entered upon the work of the ministry. He was licensed as an exhorter, and took his first work as a subordinate in the old Ohio Conference of 1835, and was sent to Mount Clemens, Michigan. In 1836 his name appeared in the minutes of the Mansfield Conference, and he was sent to Plymouth. There he married Miss Lorimer, who died eight months later. In 1838 he was sent to Lyons, the charge then including the territory now covered by the thriving village of Portland. Here he assisted at the funeral of Philo Bogue, in 1839. Two years later, he was married to Mrs. Eliza Bogue, by Rev. Allen Staples, since deceased.
After serving two years on the Lyons circuit, he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Shiawassee District. Four years of district work, in which he traveled from Grand Haven to Saginaw, proved his efficiency; and, at the expiration of the term, he was sent as Presiding Elder to the Adrian District. He lived at Adrian three years, poorly paid, but setting forth such grand truths that there remain indelibly fixed on the minds of those who heard him, profound impressions of the preaching of Larmon Chatfield. In 1848 his health failed, and he was placed upon the list of superannuates. Two years and a half later, his health having improved, he was re-admitted, and appointed to Lansing. In the fall of 1853, he was transferred to Rock River Conference, Rockford, Illinois. In 1854 he returned to the Michigan Conference, and was, at his own request, retired from the active work of the Gospel ministry. His last attendance at Conference was at a session held at Three Rivers, in 1868, where the appearance of the old man, whose tall form was seen going forward to the altar of that Church to which he had consecrated his life's best efforts, is remembered with mournful pleasure by many who were present. From this time until his death, which occurred July 23, 1876,(Note from Marilyn Johnson McDowell, this date of death conflicts with the inscription on his gravestone and with the age inscribed on said stone).he resided at Portland, where his home was during the effective years of his ministry, and when his form now reposes in the quiet sleep of death. In the minutes of the forty-first session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church a touching tribute was paid to his efficiency as a preacher and his character as a man. He was particularly known s a doctrinal preacher; and, as a controversialist, he and few superiors. Pushing his investigations to the utmost, he searched the word of God for his authority, and stored his mind with the truths which he found therein; and, when occasion required, launched them forth in the thunder of his arguments against what he considered fallacies in any creed or doctrine. He would, a sermon of an hour or more, probe to the bottom he dogmas of his religious opponents, and was celeb rated for his matchless controversial sermons on " Calvinism," the "Doctrine of Decrees," and the "Final 'reservation of the Saints." For some time before his death, he made his home in Portland with his son-in- law, F. G. Lee, of whose family his aged wife is still a cherished member.
Source; American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men. Published by Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
His early years were spent in hard work on the farm, as he was the only child capable of assisting his father in this labor. His parents were unable to send him, for more than a few months, to the rude district school in the neighborhood; and this, with a few months' academic training, which he earned in after years, constituted his school education. But his keen intellect and studious disposition triumphed over all obstacles; and so well did he turn to profit his limited advantages, that, in the days of his pulpit power, no man was more accurate in the use of language.
He knew well the meaning of words, and had rare skill in fitting them into rugged sentences to express his earnest thoughts. His parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and were firm, intelligent believers in its doctrines; but, in his boyhood, he manifested a dislike for the teachings of that church, and sought every opportunity to play truant from it, and attend the more congenial meetings of the Methodists. His heart was touched with their fervent preaching, and he was early converted. For a time, however, as he approached manhood, he "fell from grace," as he expressed it, until, at the age of twenty-two, under the preaching of Elder Bangs, he again came under religious conviction, and united with the Methodist Church. Immediately afterward, he entered upon the work of the ministry. He was licensed as an exhorter, and took his first work as a subordinate in the old Ohio Conference of 1835, and was sent to Mount Clemens, Michigan. In 1836 his name appeared in the minutes of the Mansfield Conference, and he was sent to Plymouth. There he married Miss Lorimer, who died eight months later. In 1838 he was sent to Lyons, the charge then including the territory now covered by the thriving village of Portland. Here he assisted at the funeral of Philo Bogue, in 1839. Two years later, he was married to Mrs. Eliza Bogue, by Rev. Allen Staples, since deceased.
After serving two years on the Lyons circuit, he was appointed Presiding Elder of the Shiawassee District. Four years of district work, in which he traveled from Grand Haven to Saginaw, proved his efficiency; and, at the expiration of the term, he was sent as Presiding Elder to the Adrian District. He lived at Adrian three years, poorly paid, but setting forth such grand truths that there remain indelibly fixed on the minds of those who heard him, profound impressions of the preaching of Larmon Chatfield. In 1848 his health failed, and he was placed upon the list of superannuates. Two years and a half later, his health having improved, he was re-admitted, and appointed to Lansing. In the fall of 1853, he was transferred to Rock River Conference, Rockford, Illinois. In 1854 he returned to the Michigan Conference, and was, at his own request, retired from the active work of the Gospel ministry. His last attendance at Conference was at a session held at Three Rivers, in 1868, where the appearance of the old man, whose tall form was seen going forward to the altar of that Church to which he had consecrated his life's best efforts, is remembered with mournful pleasure by many who were present. From this time until his death, which occurred July 23, 1876,(Note from Marilyn Johnson McDowell, this date of death conflicts with the inscription on his gravestone and with the age inscribed on said stone).he resided at Portland, where his home was during the effective years of his ministry, and when his form now reposes in the quiet sleep of death. In the minutes of the forty-first session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church a touching tribute was paid to his efficiency as a preacher and his character as a man. He was particularly known s a doctrinal preacher; and, as a controversialist, he and few superiors. Pushing his investigations to the utmost, he searched the word of God for his authority, and stored his mind with the truths which he found therein; and, when occasion required, launched them forth in the thunder of his arguments against what he considered fallacies in any creed or doctrine. He would, a sermon of an hour or more, probe to the bottom he dogmas of his religious opponents, and was celeb rated for his matchless controversial sermons on " Calvinism," the "Doctrine of Decrees," and the "Final 'reservation of the Saints." For some time before his death, he made his home in Portland with his son-in- law, F. G. Lee, of whose family his aged wife is still a cherished member.
Source; American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men. Published by Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
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