Herrick, Rev. Stephen L.

HERRICK, DIKE, CHAMBERLAIN, WYATT

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 1/15/2013 at 07:52:35

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

HERRICK, Rev. STEPHEN L. - Grinnell Twp - pg 903-4. Says the Independent: "No community can afford to forget its wise and true benefactors if it would encourage the young to follow in the ways of the - good fathers. - In this view we give some facts relative to the history and public service of one of our most venerable and esteemed citizens. Mr. Herrick was born in Rutland Vermont, in April, 1880 [sic]. He graduated in Burlington, at the University of Vermont, in the class of 1824. Like most of the New England students he taught theology. He studied with Dr. Hopking, of New Haven, Vermont, and was settled over the Congregational Church at Crown Point, New York, for twenty-five years, and later preached four years for the Congregational society at Fair Haven, Vermont. Removing to Grinnell in 1855, Iowa has employed twenty-three years of his activities in business, religious counsels, preaching and college engagements. The church manual reports that, in connection with others, he rendered gratuitous service in the pulpit for five or six years, and this indicates but a small part of his labors. A sojourn for a year on the Pacific coast was a pleasant stay, and of interest to those perusing his valuable letters. We learn that in preaching, he was methodical, concise and instructive, and spoke with emotion. On all matters of public concern he is practical and conciliatory, and wins the highest regard for cordiality of manner and strict uprightness in business. The town has had no warmer friend of education, he giving not only of his money, but acting as an instructor for only that pittance which the early days allowed. Afterward chosen trustee of Iowa College, and secretary of the board, it had no wiser counselor, or more correct auditor of its accounts. The munificent gift of several thousand dollars to the college by the late C.F. Dike, Esq., is associated with the friendly interest of Mr. Herrick, his father-in-law, confidant and co-administrator of the estate with his daughter. Few persons have been so fortunate in their social relations, only just deprived of the companion on whom the anniversary golden wedding day was almost dawning, enjoying the company of all his children near or under his roof, being Mrs. Dike (now Mrs. J.M. Chamberlain), Mrs. Frank Wyatt and family, and that of his son, S.H. Herrick, Esq., at present engaged in the hardware business, and his family, with a home of comfort, pecuniary competence, and the warm regard of the circle in which he has moved for near a quarter of a century, and with strength quite unusual for the years employed, there are grounds of hope that mutual pleasure in society may be prolonged yet for some years."