Jeremy Fisher Tolman
17 Dec 1784 – 24 Mar 1872
Son of John & Elizabeth Prudence Fisher Tolman
A letter to Brother Meacham in Cato, Cayuga, N.Y. from Alonzo Tolman, for his father, Jeremy Fisher Tolman; Long Grove, Illinois, 4 Jan 1835:
Dear Brother Meacham, (of the Church in Cato)
Doubtless you have heard of our arrival and affliction in Illinois. But you may not. I will therefore relate. After a prosperous but fatiguing journey of 3 weeks we arrived at Chicago all in good health. Finding that our goods had not come (that we sent by water) after conferring with Elder Freeman (the missionary at Chicago) we concluded to go into the country 35 miles where there was a destitute church and remain until our goods came, calculating to go farther south. But God who seeth not as man, has seen fit otherwise to direct.
We arrived at Chicago on Thursday the 29th of May and Saturday to the destitute church on the plain. My father’s eyes began to fail on Sabbath the first of June and failed gradually about three weeks until he became entirely blind with the inflammation and continued so for 8 weeks. They then gradually recovered so that he could see to walk for some time by spells. Our goods all arrived in fine shape. But my father’s eyes remaining so bad we could not go south. Am thinking that we should like this part of the country the best we concluded to locate here. At this date father is blind, the most skillful physicians say it is a doubtful case and that he must think little and preach none, keep the light excluded. Hope that he will recover, the Lord has afflicted a Dear Brother. Remember us in your supplication at the throne of grace. Father has had very little of the asthma since he left Buffalo, N.Y. Brothers health is very good, bears up under the disadvantage of settling a new country very well. All of my brothers and myself and sisters are enjoying good health.
This is truly a prairie country and land flowing with milk and honey, it may be compared to lake in an ocean full of islands, some round others long from 1 to 15 miles wide, greatly varying in length and generally from 1, 5, 10, 20 miles apart. The islands timber is generally of good quality, red and white oak, black walnut, hickory, bass and some maple and ash. Stock has an excellent range and get very fat, good beef without any seasoning, save a little salt. Oxen are worth from $10 to $50, cows from $10 to $15. Some fetch more. Corn 50 cents, wheat 75 cents, oats 50 cents. ( In Sagamon county 200 miles south, corn is 12 ½ cents, wheat 25 cents) The soil is very rich, the prairies produce extremely well. Corn gets from 40 to 70 bushels per acre, wheat about as in Cato, N.Y. There is but little land that is not fit for the plow. In many places the prairies are taken up where they are 10 miles across. They plant timber and burn stone coal.
The prairies are not taken across about here where they are more than 2 miles. Our location is in or by a grove called Long Grove, 2 miles from Fox River (Fox River rises northwest of Chicago and empties into the Illinois River at Ottawa) and 48 miles from Chicago, 25 miles from Ottawa, and consists of 80 acres of timber and as much prairie as we wish.
We have a fine prospect of the surrounding country, can see the house at Walkers Grove 12 miles from us and the timber on the plains 20 miles, and several groves partly between. There are 12 families in this settlement from New York, the majority are from the south, several more are expected in the spring from New York.
My father preaches as often as he can to an attentive though small congregation. A small church was formed here the 2nd of December, it numbers but nine. I have enjoyed many precious sessions here in prayer and meeting with the little few that love the Lord. I sometimes look forward with joy to that bright day when if I am what I profess to be, I shall meet many of my friends that I left in Cato where parting will be no more. Father, Mother, John and myself have all joined the little church and I trust feel united in love with the same.
Elder Freeman, the Baptist Missionary of Chicago is moving. He was here at the constitution of the church the 2nd of December, and much laments. Give my father’s love to Elder Knapp and tell him that I was at his brother Lampphier’s on the plain 3 weeks ago and that they were all well there. This is certainly a healthy country, water is good, climate mild and pleasant. There has not been 4 inches of snow here at this date, the roads are dry and as good traveling as in July. We all join in giving our love to you and yours and all friends. Please inform Uncle Leland’s folks of our health.(His mother had five brothers and their parents were Phineas & Sarah Warren Leland.)
Alonzo Tolman
We have heard that you are enjoying a recent revival. My father wishes you write soon and inform him of all of the alterations in the church, with the names of the persons, and all local and general information in regard to Zion that you think will be interesting to him.
Papa also wishes collection to be made of all the money as fast as it becomes due as he will not consider himself holden for any failures that occur after a reasonable time for collection and give him timely information if there be any.
Direct yours to Holdermans Grove, LaSalle County, Illinois, and request Mr. Ingram to mail all letters for us to the same office.
A. Tolman
To Brother Meacham, Cato, N.Y.
Post Office
Holderness Grove, LaSalle, Illinois
Written from Long Grove
7 July 1835
Dear Brother,
Thanks to the brethren for their kind remembrance of me in my affliction as expressed in your letter. I remain much as when you heard from me last.
I am in want of some things I cannot get here. First and most of all 2 or 3 Ibs. of Princess Pine if so much can be gotten as 2 different herbs bear this name, I want the genuine. A physician will know and I think Mrs. Marble knows it and can tell where it grows. Also 6 Ibs. Southern and 6 Ibs. Porthann Clover seed if it can be had, and a handful of currants dried in the sun so that the seeds will grow, a few pear seeds, a few cherry, plum, and peach stones, oh apple seeds, a quart or more if they can be gotten early. Put the whole into a tight barrel and fill it with white flint wheat for seed, and direct it to me in care of Dole and Sons, Chicago, Illinois. Have it forwarded as quick as you can. Please write me when you send it and send your bill of the articles. As I may probably have to back up the Monroe Vote to some amount I shall omit paying for these articles until said vote is settled, of which you will please to inform me as soon as you can.
Yours,
Jeremy F. Tolman
P.S. Have the receipt for the barrels written on a sheet of paper and you can write your letter on the same. J. F. T.
NOTES: They lived near a small place called Pavilion which church he organized and also the church at Bristol. He left Kendall county about 1847 and the only public appearance he made was at the Old Settler’s reunion about 1870. He was seated in a wheel chair to which he had been confined for a number of years. He was wheeled to the front of the platform and made the main address of the day.
He spent some time at Upper Alton, Illinois, near St. Louis as that is where his wife Betsey is buried. Whether he went there for health or to preach I do not know. His son John Newell Tolman resided at Sandwich, DeKalb, Illinois and it is possible that he kept his father.
A letter written by Alonzo Tolman for his father, Jeremy Fisher Tolman.
Long Grove , Illinois
7 July 1835
Dear Brother, ( P.P. Meacham)
Pa cannot dictate a letter without hurting his eyes is the reason why he has been so brief. Yours to me came safe and gave me joy and sorrow. Pa continues to preach until June, when he overdid and has not preached since. At present his eyes are bit gaining though very weak, cannot bear the light. Leland has sore eyes and has not seen for 2 months, gains a little. Charles was blind 6 weeks and has got well. The brethren hold prayer meetings, some of which are very solemn. 5 have lately joined this little church by letter from York State.
Emigration has been great to this country this spring, mostly from the east. Land has not come in market yet here but the timber is all claimed and just the claim on 80 acres of timber sells from 200 to 300 dollars but there is enough good timber and Prairie to be taken from here. We have fenced 60 acres of prairie and broke almost 50 this spring (only hired 200 rails split) 26 of which is in corn, spring wheat and oats 10 acres. The spring has been very wet and backward though crops look very well. As Pa and Leland or Charles have been blind, John and myself have had to keep quite busy. The family enjoys usual health. My respects to you, and all enquiring friends.
Yours in Christian love,
Alonzo Tolman
Copy of a newspaper clipping of 18 April 1872:
Funeral Services of Rev. J. F. Tolman at Sandwich, Illinois.
It was with a tender and mournful interest that a large concourse of people assembled at Sandwich on Thursday last, March 28, to pay their tribute of honor to the venerable “Father Tolman” whose name has been a household word in Northern Illinois for many years. Christian brethren and sisters from Chicago, Aurora, Bristol, Mendota, Amboy, and intervening points, met with the churches and community of Sandwich to speak of a common sorrow, and give glory to God for the long and useful life which had just closed. At the house were gathered even to the third generation, the numerous descendants of the deceased, among whom were Rev. J. N. Tolman of Faubius, N.Y., and Rev. C. F. Tolman, one of the District Secretaries of the Missionary Union. Here, too, was the aged sister (Mehitable), ninety-three years old, whose love for her brother has been so tender and beautiful.
Mr. Tolman was born in Needham, Massachusetts, 17 December 1784. He improved well the early advantages of his day, and was counted one of the best “schoolmasters” in Massachusetts. His parents being “orthodox,” were not a little perplexed at his joining the Baptists. Shortly after his conversion he commenced preaching at Dana, Massachusetts, in the spring of 1814, where he was licensed to preach. He supplied the Templeton church during the year 1816, but declined their urgent invitation to ordination and the pastorate, preferring a pioneer life in the then “wilds” of New York. Bearing recommendations from Elder Jonathan Going and others, he settled in Junius, where he was ordained, 1 April 1819, Elder W. Luke acting as moderator and preaching the sermon on the occasion.
The services at his funeral were planned by the family, and conducted as follows: After prayer by Rev. Wm. M. Hatch, of Mendota, all repaired to the church, where a large congregation awaited the public services. Rev. Dr. Kurd, pastor of the Presbyterian church, Sandwich, invoked the divine blessing. The hymn, “Asleep in Jesus,” a favorite one with the deceased and peculiarly appropriate to his own death, was read by Dr. S. M. Osgood. Rev. C. Button offered prayer, in which the afflicted family, the aged sister, the bereaved church and pastor were tenderly remembered. Rev. Mr. Woodward, of Bristol, then spoke of Father Tolman’s ministry at Cato, N.Y. Though many years elapsed between the removal of Father Tolman to the west and his own settlement at Cato, yet he found the name of their former pastor still fragrant among them, and the results of his labors were to be seen in the noble Christian men who had been trained under his ministry. As he saw through that region the footsteps of his predecessor, he gained a new and deeper conviction of the vast influence which a faithful, earnest ministry exerts.
A letter was read from Rev. F. B. Ives, of Princeton, expressing his deep affection for his former pastor and his regret at not being able to attend and take part in the funeral services as invited. Rev. Wm. M. Haigh then spoke upon the deceased’s pastorate at Long Grove and Bristol and the first years of his affliction.
He remarked that it must have appeared truly “a day of small things” when Father Tolman left his large church and congregation in Cato, and nearly thirty-eight years ago constituted a church of 6 members in this then “Far West”. ( It was in recognizing this church and next day baptizing a young man in Fox River that Elder Freeman closed his public ministry and his life.) There was nothing to indicate where unto this germ would grow, but the faith and prayer and consecration of this feeble band were accepted on high, and though Father Tolman was afflicted with blindness for many months, and did not for about two years look upon the faces of those who called him to be their pastor, yet he was sustained by Divine grace, and felt that his labor was not in vain.
As years rolled on, by immigration, and by seasons of gracious refreshing which are still gratefully remembered by many survivors, the little band grew until two churches were formed to occupy that region, and from these have gone forth large numbers as constituent and permanent members of other churches; and, best of all, there can be numbered ten ordained ministers – one a foreign missionary – who have been raised up or ordained there, many of whom, including his two sons were led to the work under the personal influence of Father Tolman.
The labors of these men and the devoted brethren and sisters who have gone forth to other fields, can be traced in many portions of our own and other states, by the raising up of churches, erection of houses of worship, and the enjoyment of precious revivals; while one mission in Asia (Mikir) owes it’s origin to the labors of our brother, C. F. Tolrnan. In that glorious missionary prayer of David, which was also his last (Psalm ix xii.) he says, ” There shall be a handful of corn on the top of the mountain, the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon.” There were but a few kernals of corn planted in Long Grove thirty-eight years ago, but today the fruit is waving both here and in the mountains of Asia.
When informed, a few months after coming to Illinois, in 1852, that Father Tolman was expected from the south to reside at his old home, I anticipated meeting a man not only laid aside by affliction, but broken in spirit and unfitted for social or active life, but when the sound of his afterwards well known carriage announced his arrival, and I entered his room, it was to find a man laid aside, to be sure, from raising or moving about, but in every other respect a man of remarkable intellectual vigor and of indomitable will. To say that he bore his affliction patiently is to give no adequate allusion to his condition as though it was unfortunate, while on some marked occasions he seemed overwhelmed with a sense of a divine goodness.
He was intensely interested in the cause of Christ, and especially all that pertained to the work of the ministry. As the wounded and disabled in the hospitals would watch the varying fortunes of the army with an interest as deep as that of the soldiers in the front, so did our departed brother feel identified with all the varied movements by which so much has been accomplished in this region during the past twenty years. When’ I was considering the grave question of entering fully on the work of the ministry, he gave me such kind and timely counsels as contributed much to my final decision, and I regard it as one of the special privileges of my life that I was permitted to enjoy his society so constantly during the first few years of my pastorate. Every topic touching Christian and denominational interests, all in varied necessities of the preacher and pastor, came up for discussion in our interviews, and I am astonished as I observe how much they had to do with giving direction to my thoughts, and studies and habits.
How many during the past twenty years have had reason to bless God for the counsels and encouragement which have come to them from that room of affliction! And so, as I entered it again this morning, and saw how peacefully, as in a soft, sweet sleep, he had passed away, there arose unbidden to my lips the words:
“Servant of God, well done!
Rest from thy loved employ;
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master’s joy.”
Another hymn, a favorite with the deceased, was then sung, “Alas, and did my Saviour bleed.”
The pastor, Rev.Mr. Card, then said:
It falls upon me as the pastor of this church to speak of the high appreciation in which our venerable and deceased brother was held by this church. We called him “Father Tolman.” In this there was a degree of propriety not only on account of his age, but also the tender and fatherly care he always manifested to this Zion. When this church was constituted he preached the sermon, and from that day to the day of his death has labored and prayed for her peace and prosperity. Dr. Matthews, one of our deacons, said to me, this church would never have been what it is but for Father Tolman’s wise and timely counsel. He said, some talked about his being laid aside, but Father Tolman was never laid aside until last Lord’s day. In keeping with this last remark a brother said, he came to my house in his carriage, saying he was in search of “deacon timber,” and also that he succeeded in his object. He attended an association when the weather was so unfavorable that he was the only delegate present from this church. The fact was if he undertook anything for God, he almost always accomplished it. In financial matters he was hardly to be equaled; never asked for money unless needed, and never failed to get it.
At the Fox River Association, held at Sandwich in 1869, he addressed the ministers; and in his closing remarks he exhorted them to “preach Jesus,” “preach Jesus'” and so earnest was his appeal to the ministry that the whole audience was moved. A prominent sister in the church said she would never forget the first covenant meeting she attended after she came into the State. Father Tolman presided. She was called upon to speak, and asked to be excused. He said,” I have no doubt your brethren and sisters will excuse you, but will the Lord excuse you?” She added that Father Tolman would live in her memory through time and eternity. He has said of late that he did not wish to live any longer-that life was of no account to him unless he could be doing something for the Master.
And now, brethren, I shall miss him; for I had learned to love him and look to him for counsel, for he had been uniformly kind to me, as I understand he has to the pastors of this church. May the mantle of our departed brother fall on us, his brethren in the ministry.
Rev. B, Hicks remarked on the wonderful power possessed by Father T., of making others feel what he felt himself, and suggested as an appropriate designation of the deceased, “not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”
Dr. S.M. Osgood pointed to the shining mark which death sought in our brother twenty years ago, but he at whose girdle are hung the keys of death shielded him through all this time, that his influence might go forth for the cause he loved. It was not only in those interests which were immediately around him, but in the spread of the Redeemer’s Kingdom everywhere, that he was enlisted. The work of home Missions, Bible Work, Ministerial Education, and Foreign Missions all found in him a warm friend and advocate. His interest in the latter was evinced by giving his youngest son to Assam; and though precluded from the more active forms of service, his earnest thought and mature judgement had often been gratefully enjoyed by those on whom rested the responsibility of labor. It was remarked that from the time of Judson’s going out, Father T.’s heart was in the Foreign work; that nothing but external circumstances prevented him from seeking a foreign field – that in obedience to the same desire he sought a field in the newer settlements of the East, and then the Far West; and he proved the reality of his consecration by taking a collection for Foreign Missions every year of his pastorate without a single failure! Would that every pastor might have such a record!
Concluding prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Curtis, of the Methodist church, and then repairing to the cemetery, we laid to rest the remains of our revered brother, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection of eternal life. On Sunday morning following, Rev. Mr. Card preached a sermon suited to the occasion from 2 Cor. iv. 17., 18.
Father Tolman was no ordinary man, and his influence upon the denominational history of this region has been marked. His distinguishing characteristic was faithfulness in whatever he undertook. It is to be hoped that reminiscences of his life, his practical wisdom, his pithy sayings, his whole hearted consecration, may find their way into The Standard while yet there live so many who loved him in life, and now revere his memory.
The family of Jeremy Fisher Tolman met at the home of his son-in-law Joseph weeks in Sandwich, Illinois, about the time of their father’s death or shortly after. They included:
Son, Alonzo and his family, 13 in all.
Son, Rev. J. N. Tolman of Hannibal, N.Y.
Daughter, Marilla & husband A.M. Bacon of Chicago.
Son, Rev. C. F. Tolman of Chicago.
Included were a total of 29 descendents. With those not present he had 51 lineal descendants. Says 3 sons and 3 daughters, 2 sons-in-law and 1 daughter-in-law, 20 grandchildren and great grands.
From the history of the Baptist church of Cato, Cayuga, N.Y. It was formed in 1810 and their third pastor was Fred’s great great grandfather, Jeremy Fisher Tolman.
Elder Jeremy Fisher Tolman became pastor in March 1821, and continued for thirteen years. The first years of his labors with the church were not greatly blessed to the salvation of souls. In 1829 there were indications of a change, the church began to awake to the consciousness of her backsliding and return to duty and God. In 1831 then increased membership by over a hundred new members. In 1833 the church united with the Cayuga County Association.
Elder Tolman closed his labors with the church in May, 1834. He was a good man and faithful pastor, and as the fruits of his faithful efforts, was permitted during his pastorate to welcome one hundred and seventy four converts to the membership.
John Tolman, son of Elder Tolman, was sponsored by this church’s contributions to Hamilton Institute, now Colgate University. He held several pastorates in central New York before removing to the mid-west where his father was located.
Cyrus Fisher Tolman, another son of Elder Tolman, was graduated from Colgate University in 1856 and Hamilton Theological Seminary 1858. Ordained in New York City, 11 October 1862, he went to Asia as a missionary and on his return entered the pastorate, serving churches of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Fort Madison, Iowa. The American Baptist Missionary Union called him to serve as District Secretary in the Chicago District from 1868 to 1901. In 1917 and 1918 he was pastor at Albany, N.Y.
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