PUFFER, Rev. William Martin

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• Ref#: 407
• _COLOR: 11

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He attended public schools and St. Johnsbury (VT) Academy, where he graduated in 1878, entered Wesleyan University at Middletown, CT, where in 1882 he received his degree of A.B. From his alma mater he received the degree of A.M. in 1885, and D.D. from Albion College in 1898. He was principal of the graded school in Clare, MI, 1882-4; he joined the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1884 and in the same year became pastor of the church at Hart, MI. In 1885-7 he was pastor at Plainfield Avenue Church, Grand Rapids, MI; pastor from 1888 to 1892 inclusive at Hastings, MI; and from 1893-5 inclusive in Manistee, M I. He was appointed Presiding Elder of the Lansing District of the Methodist Episcopal Church and served 1896-1901; pastor at Kalamazoo, 1901-7; superintendent of Kalamazoo district 1907-13; now pastor of Trinity Church, Grand Rapids. He was elected member of the London Society of Bi lical Archeology, Jan 11, 1891. He was a member of the General Conference in 1900 and is a member of the Federal Council of Churches in North America.

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GRID=30712948

William married MCMICHAEL, Margaret on 11 Jun 1883 in Farwell, MI. Margaret (daughter of MCMICHAEL, James Wyley and HORTON, Mary Ann) was born on 9 Jul 1864 in Freedom, OH; died on 10 Apr 1958 in South Boardman, MI; was buried in Kalamazoo, MI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. PUFFER, William James was born on 24 May 1884 in Clare, MI; died on 9 Jan 1956 in Weslaco, TX; was buried in Weslaco, TX.
2. PUFFER, Rodney Arthur was born on 24 Jan 1886 in Grand Rapids, MI; died on 27 Jul 1945 in Denver, CO; was buried in Denver, CO.
3. PUFFER, Anna Margaret was born on 29 Mar 1888 in Grand Rapids, MI; died in Jul 1985 in Kalamazoo, MI; was buried in Kalamazoo, MI.

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• Ref#: 320
• _COLOR: 11
• Residence: 1860, Sheldon, VT
• Residence: 1870, Cambridge, VT
• Residence: 1880, Highgate, VT
• Residence: 1886, Chittenden, VT
• Residence: 4 Jun 1900, Richford, VT

Notes:

Originally named William Erasmus. He worked on his father's farm and attended the district schools until he was twenty years old. He attended academies during the next two years and studied for the ministry. In 1852 and 1853 he preached in Methodist pulpits under appointment of the presiding elder; in 1854 he joined the Troy conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For years he preached and labored in the ministry, chiefly in Vermont, the conference of which he joined in 1861. He had numerous pastorates in the state of Vermont and was Presiding Elder of St. Johnsbury District from 1874 to 1878. He was elected in 1876 a member of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been one of the most honored and influential clergyman of his denomination in Vermont. He retired in 189_ and lived in Richford, VT.

His 2nd marriage shows some differences in his record. The Vermont Vital Records records that his father was Austin Puffer and that his 2nd wife's name was Esther Ann Kingsley.

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GRID=129716297

William married KINSLEY, Esther Ann on 12 May 1859 in Fletcher, VT. Esther (daughter of KINSLEY, John and WALKER, Laura) was born on 6 Dec 1836 in Fletcher, VT; died on 23 Jan 1918 in Richford, VT; was buried in Richford, VT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11
• Residence: 1850, Fletcher, VT
• Residence: 1860, Sheldon, VT
• Residence: 1870, Cambridge, VT
• Residence: 1880, Highgate, VT
• Residence: 1910, Richford, VT

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GRID=129716307

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• Ref#: 197
• _COLOR: 11
• Birth: 30 Dec 1803, Westmoreland, NH

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He settled in 1813 in Richford, VT and died there. "A good man respected by all that knew him; a man of strictest honor; a good citizen." He was a farmer.

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GRID=131150713

Martin married BLISS, Sophronia on 14 May 1826 in Richford, VT. Sophronia (daughter of BLISS, David and ELMORE, Polly) was born in 1807 in Orange County, VT; died on 29 Jan 1839 in Richford, VT; was buried in Richford, VT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=171127592

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• _COLOR: 2

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In 1852, "there was a revival at North Cambridge (VT), near the edge of Fletcher. This was long known as "The Great Reformation", and had a widespread and strong influence. John Kinsley was among the many converted. He had faced determined and persistent opposition. For 60 years righteousness was supreme in his life. He had a dominant sense of God. he was a man of inflexible honesty and his house was a home of Bible reading and prayer. He joined the Methodist church, into which he was followed by all his children. He commanded his household to know the way of the Lord." Richford Journal and Gazette, Richford, VT, 25 Jan 1918, page 5

John married WALKER, Laura on 2 Feb 1836 in VT. Laura was born on 4 Sep 1810 in Cambridge, VT; died on 20 Oct 1853 in Cambridge, VT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 2

Other Events and Attributes:

• Ref#: 107
• _COLOR: 11
• Milit-Beg: 18 Jul 1782, Bernardston, MA
• Residence: 1850, Berkshire, VT

Notes:

He removed to Dublin, NH about 1772 with his father's family. He settled in Westmorland, NH and about 1813 removed to Richford, VT., near the Canadian line. He died at the home of his daughter Mrs. Nancy Rogers in Westfield, VT. He was a farmer.

Benjamin Puffer, the Son of a Patriot of the American Revolution (Jabez Puffer) and the Father of a Patriot of the War of 1812 (Erasmus Puffer). He was esteemed as a neighbor, honored as a man and beloved as a brother and father. He found religion in 1813 with the Baptist Church and then joined the M.E. Church where he was a member until his passing. 

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Milit-Beg:
Receipt dated Springfield, MA, Jul 19 1782, signed by Seth Banister, Captain, 4th Mass. regt., Muster Master, stating that he had received said Puffer of Lieut. Michael Frizzle, Chairman of Class No. 5 of the town of Bernardston, MA, and mustered him as a recruit to serve in the Continental Army for the term of 3 years; also, Private, 7th Co.; entries dated Oct 25, 1783, and Jan. 29, 1784, or orders for wages for May-Dec (year not given), appearing in a register of orders accepted on account of wages, etc.

Residence:
Living with his daughter Nancy and her husband Samuel Rogers.

Benjamin married WHITE, Sally\Sarah on 27 Oct 1794 in Westmoreland, NH. Sally\Sarah (daughter of WHITE, Moses and STONE, Dinah) was born on 16 Nov 1767 in Westmoreland, NH; died in Apr 1826 in Richford, VT; was buried in Chelsea, VT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11
• Birth: 1768

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GRID=120477282 no stone

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• _COLOR: 11

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David married ELMORE, Polly. Polly was born in 1770 in Somers, CT; died on 3 Jun 1857 in Richford, VT; was buried in Richford, VT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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GRID=41567771

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• _COLOR: 2

Samuel married MONTAGUE, Celinda. Celinda (daughter of MONTAGUE, Samuel and SAFFORD, Lucy) was born on 28 Nov 1777 in Bennington, VT; died in 1870 in VT; was buried in Cambridge, VT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _COLOR: 11

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