Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical Review of the Leading Citizens of Hampden County, Massachusetts Pub. Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston - 1895 [11-12] REV. SAMUEL G. BUCKINGHAM, D.D., a distinguished Springfield pastor for nearly half a century, was born in Lebanon, Conn., on November 18, 1812, at the beginning of the last war with England. His native town is noted for having furnished the State with five governors, holding the office for an aggregate of thirty-five terms. Among them were GOVERNOR TRUMBULL, who ruled during the Revolution, and our clergyman's brother, who was Connecticut's was governor, elected in 1859, and holding the position eight consecu- tive years. Their parents were SAMUEL and JOHANNA (MATSON) BUCK- INGHAM. The father, who belonged to a race of stalwart farmers, went to Lebanon, where he was married, and served as Deacon of the old Congregational church forty years. MINISTER BUCKINGHAM, of Saybrook, who helped to establish Yale College, was among the an- cestors, and so were several provincial army chaplains. The MAT- SONS were a fine old family of LYME. CHEIF JUSTICE WAITE, of Connecticut, father of United States CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE, was a nephew of MRS. SAMUEL BUCKINGHAM, our subject's mother. The REV. MR. BUCKINGHAM received his early education in Lebanon, but was fitted for college in Plainfield Academy, and entered Yale in 1829, at the same time with PROFESSOR DANA, the first mineral- ogist in the world, and JUDGE TAFT, formerly Secretary of War. Their graduating class, that of 1833, was very large, numbering eighty-seven. Of course, MR. BUCKINGHAM received the customary degree of A.B., and three years later he applied for and received the degree of A.M. After a four years' course in the New Haven Theological Seminary he accepted a call to Millbury, Mass., where he was ordained in 1837, and remained ten years. In 1842 he re- ceived a call to the South Church in Springfield, then only a vil- lage; but, not being ready to accept, his brother-in-law, DR. NOAH PORTER, accepted the charge, and remained in Springfield four years, when he was called to take a professorship at Yale College, afterward becoming President; and MR. BUCKINGHAM came to the Springfield church, then worshipping in a small building on Bliss Street. During his pastorate he had the satisfaction of seeing and sharing the progress of the town, both in secular and sacred affairs. The present meeting-house is on the corner of Maple and High Streets, on a lot costing thirty-eight thousand dollars, the edifice itself costing a hundred and forty-five thousand dollars. DR. BUCKINGHAM served this church actively from 1846 to 1885, nearly forty years, gathering a society of wealthy, influential, and cultivated members, whereof he is now the pastor emeritus. He has been largely identified with educational interests, doing much for the betterment of the local schools. In recognition of these efforts the school near Winchester Square received his name. During forty years he has been a Trustee of Williston Seminary, Easthampton, watching its development with especial pride. He has also been actively connected with the theological department of Yale, serving on the reconstruction and building committees. His wife, whom he married in 1838, was HARRIET, daughter of NATHANIEL W. TAYLOR, for many years a theological professor in the college. She died about 1864, leaving one child, HARRIET TAYLOR BUCKINGHAM, born in 1840. The parents also adopted a daughter, who died, leaving four sons to grow up under the good Doctor's protecting care. To him might be, and often have been, well applied OLIVER GOLDSMITH'S familiar lines about the village pastor: - "Even children followed with endearing wile, And plucked his gown, to share the good man's smile. "As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells fromt he vale, and midway leaves the storm, - Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head." =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================