My Genealogy Hound

REV. GEORGE CLINTON VAN VECHTEN EASTMAN, D. D., was born in Addison County, Vt., July 22, 1813. He is a member of a family represented in New England history for several generations, and of substantial English stock. His grandfather, Jonathan Eastman, was a native of Massachusetts, born in Haverhill, and for many years resided in the Green Mountain State. There Amos Eastman, the father of our subject, was born and reared. From that State he went to the service of his country during the War of 1812, returning home with the well-earned title of Captain, and in that State he closed his eyes to the scenes of time, when his life’s work was ended. His wife was Sarah Hewett, a native of New York State and of German extraction.

The subject of this biographical sketch spent his boyhood in Addison County, Vt., and prepared for college in the academy at Middlebury, after which he entered the college at that place, being graduated in 1829. In 1880 his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of D. D., and about the same time he received the degree of S. T. D. from Trinity College, at Hartford, Conn. At Marblehead, Mass., in 1834, he was ordained to the priesthood, the impressive ceremony being performed in St. Michael’s Church by the Rt.-Rev. Mr. Griswold, at that time Bishop of the New England States, excepting Rhode Island.

Dr. Eastman served as rector in churches in the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New York, Vermont, Kansas and Michigan, as well as in Canada. For a time he was rector of Trinity Church at Fairfield, Herkimer County, N. Y., whence he returned to Vermont, and later accepted a pastorate in New Brunswick, Canada. After again sojourning for a short time in the Green Mountain State, he went to Kansas and labored there as a minister of the Gospel at Pittsburgh. Coming to Michigan, he settled in Benton Harbor in July, 1884, and became pastor of the Holy Trinity Mission, there being no church edifice at the time of his coming hither. Through his efforts funds were secured and an elegant brick structure was erected on Pipestone Street. Of this church he remained in charge until 1891, when he retired from the ministry, after having spent fifty-seven years in pastoral work.

For eleven years Dr. Eastman was at the head of a private boarding-school for boys, located at Litchfield, Conn., and he was also Principal of the Cary Collegiate Seminary, in Genesee County, N. Y., for four years. In politics, he is a Democrat, with Prohibition sympathies. About fifty years ago he became a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the Commandery at Montpelier, Vt., and filled the position of Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery of Vermont for a period of two years. He took the Commandery degree at Saratoga, N. Y. He has also taken the fourteen degrees of the Scottish Rite Masonry, being a member of the Lodge of Perfection. For a number of years he held fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but has severed his active connection with that organization.

In September, 1834, Dr. Eastman married Miss Minerva M. Hitchcock, a native of Kingsbury, Washington County, N. Y., and a daughter of Noble Hitchcock, of that county. Mrs. Minerva Eastman died at Burlington, Vt., in 1878, leaving one daughter, Hattie E., the wife of Charles Walker, of Burlington, Vt. June 7, 1882, occurred the marriage of Dr. Eastman and Mrs. Margaret Cook, who was born in Page County, Va., and is the daughter of Peter Hay, a resident of the Old Dominion. The Hay family originated in Scotland and its representatives in this country have been distinguished for the Scotch traits of perseverance and thrift. Mrs. Eastman is a member of the Baptist Church and is a lady of kindly disposition and large heart, who is loved and esteemed for her many excellent qualities.

A life so noble and uplifting as that of Dr. Eastman is worthy the emulation of posterity, and speaks in language more eloquent than words of consecrated efforts and unselfish devotion. For a period covering more than half a century he labored zealously and unweariedly to advance the interests of the church and lead sinners to Christ. Many have been induced by his eloquent appeals to become Christians, and his efforts have been successful in securing the moral and spiritual elevation of many. Not many years shall pass away ere “the silver cord shall be loosed and the wheel broken at the cistern,” but though his long and honored life shall reach its peaceful close, the good he has accomplished shall never die. Through countless ages to come, and indeed until time shall be no more, the fruitage of some kind word spoken or some kind deed done will be borne in the hearts and lives of generations yet unborn.