SKETCH OF LITTLETON. 295
since officiating have been as follows: Dudley P. Leavitt, 1852-53; L. L. Eastman, 1854-55 ; J. P. Stinchfield, 1856; George N, Bryant, 1857-58; L. P. Cashman, 1859-60; George S. Barnes, 1861-62 ; S. E. Quimby, 1863 ; H. L. Kelsey, 1S64 ; Truman Carter, 1S65-66 ; x\lfred E. Drew, 1867-68 ; J. M. Bean. 1869-70; John Currier, 1871 ; George Beebe, 1872-73 ; George W. Ruland, 1874-75-76; N. M. D. Granger, 1S77-78; George McLaughlin, 1879-80-81. The present pastor, Rev. G. M. Curl, who has been stationed here since the last April conference, is a native of Elkhart, Indiana. He was educated at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He preached seven years in Iowa as a member of the Northwestern M. E. Conference, and at Antrim in this state three years, before going to Littleton. The church membership at the present time is not far from two hundred. The church edifice was remod- eled and repaired in the winter of 1880-81 at a cost of about $4000, and the audience room is nov/ one of the most attractive among the Methodist churches of the state.
The Free Will Baptist church in Littleton was organized in 1869, when the present house of worship was erected. Rev. Elijah Gilford was the first pas- tor, serving until his death, in 1873. llev. Burton Minard occupied the pulpit until July of the next 3'ear, when he was followed by Rev. E. P. Moulton, now of Rochester. In May, 1876, he was succeeded by Rev. Ira Emery, who offici- ated two years, and was followed by Burton Minard, who again preached a year. In October, 1879, the present pastor, Rev. F. H. Lyford, was called. During Mr. Lyford 's pastorate the church and society have increased largely in num- bers and prosperity. The meeeting house has also been remodeled and im- proved at a cost of about $2000. The present church membership is about one hundred, and the average attendance about one hundred and thirty. The pastor, Mr. Lyford, is one of the most popular men in the community. He takes an interest in all matters of public concern, has been twice chosen superin- tending school committee for the town, and is a member of the Board of Ed- ucation for Union School District. He is a native of the town of Pittsfield, and previous to his settlement here had preached in Meredith, Hampton, and at Haverhill, Mass.
The Catholic church edifice was erected in 1876-77, by Rev. F. X. Trudell, missionary priest, of Lebanon, under whose labors the parish was established. Missionary services were held to the beginning of the present year, first by Rev. P. J. Finnegan, and subsequently by Rev. L. M. Laplante, both from Lebanon. This year a regular pastor has been placed in charge — Rev. J. H. Noiseux. The parish embraces about one liundred and twenty-five families, of whom about twenty are Iri.,h. and the balance, or more than five sixths of the entire number, French. The number of communicants is about two hun- dred and fifty.
In 1875 the Episcopalians erected here a neat little church edifice, of brick, at a cost of about $5000. The first Rector was Rev. J. B. Goodrich, who of- ficiated about two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Anson R. Graves, now of Bennington, Vt., who served three years, until September, 1880, Rev. J. Jones officiated until May following, when the present Rector, Rev. H. M. Andrews, took charge. Mr. Andrews is a native of Enfield in this state, a graduate of Dartmouth College, of the class of 1876, and of the Union Theological Semi- nary. There are about forty communicants, with an average attendance of seventy-five. A rectory is owned by the society.
Universalist and Unitarian services have been held at different times in the place, various halls having been occupied for the purpose. For some months past the Rev. J. B. Morrison, Unitarian clergyman at Lancaster, has held
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