Biography of
Charles D. Barrows
Charles Dana Barrows, son of Dr. Reuel and Ann Kimball (Dana) Barrows, was
born April 21, 1844, at Fryeburg, Maine. He commenced his classical education at
Fryeburg Academy, and entered Dartmouth College in the Spring of 1861.
After graduating, he accepted the position of Assistant Principal of Fryeburg
Academy, which he occupied until the Spring of 1865, when he became Master of the
High School at Portland, Maine. In the Fall of 1865, he returned to Fryeburg, as
Principal of the Academy, and remained there until the Fall of 1867, when he removed
to Norway, Maine, and became Principal of the Academy at that place. He remained
here until the Summer of 1868, at which time he decided to study for the ministry, and
entered the Andover Theological Seminary. While in his Middle year at the Seminary,
he received and accepted a call to the Kirk-street Congregational Church, at Lowell,
Massachusetts, and during his Senior year he was the pastor-elect of that church.
Immediately after graduating, in June, 1871, he was ordained, and labored there very
successfully for eleven years, accomplishing a great deal in tile church, and was also
interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the city. He had great influence in
the Reform Club, of which organization he was one of the founders, and in whose
prosperity he always felt, and still feels, tile deepest interest. It was also mainly through
his efforts that the French Protestant church in Lowell was established, and their present
comfortable and commodious building erected. He was chairman of the committee which
carried through so successfully the meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions, which was held in Lowell in 1880, the largest gathering of the
society on record.
In 1881 he accepted a call to become the successor of Rev. A. L. Stone, D.D.,
over the First Congregational Church of. San Francisco, California, which position he
occupies at the present date. He has a large field and a flourishing and influential
church. He is President of the Congregational Club of San Francisco, and is interested
and helpful in all the social reforms of the day. He is one of the executive officers of
the Home Missionary Society. He is also President of the Dartmouth Alumni Association of
the Pacific Coast. He is the editor of the Overland Monthly, and has contributed to
various newspapers and periodicals. He is a popular and eloquent lecturer, but his
regular church duties forbid his responding to the many calls made upon him in this
department of literary work. He is the Chaplain of the Second Regiment of Artillery, of
California. He also takes an active interest in musical affairs. He is the Director of the
Choral Society of San Francisco, which society gave a very successful and gratifying
rendition of the Oratorio of the Redemption on the evening of May 8, 1883. It was very
highly spoken of by the press of the city.
At a meeting of the General Association of Congregational Churches of California, held at Santa Cruz, California, October 9, 1883, he was heard for the first
time. The report of that meeting has the following: "After his eloquent address, no one
was more welcome to the platform than he. He was recognized as a power, and a born
leader for every good work and cause. The practical paper of the Association was by
him, on "The Ideal Sunday School.''
From 1865-8 he was Supervisor of Schools at Fryeburg, Maine. In 1872 he was
elected a member of the Board of Trustees of Fryeburg Academy. The degree of Doctor
of Divinity was conferred upon him by his Alma Mater in June 1883.
He was married May 16, 1866, to Miss Marion C. Merrill, daughter of Rev. S. H.
Merrill, of Portland, Maine. They have four children: Malcolm Dana, born April 11,
1868; Charles Dana, born November 11, 1871 ; Alice Prentice, born November 11,
1871; and Samuel Fay, born September 18, 1879.
