Cheney, David Batchelder, D.D.—Since entering fully upon the active duties of the ministry in 1843…
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Cheney, David Batchelder, D.D.—Since entering fully upon the active duties of the ministry in 1843, a period of thirty-seven years, Dr. Cheney has had a career of signal activity and usefulness. We regret that, as in other cases, only a brief out- line of it can be given here. He was born in Southbridge, Mass., June 8, 1820, and spent his childhood and early youth upon his father’s farm. Ile was baptized May 20, 1836, by the late Dr- J.G. Binney, to whom also in his earlier Chris- tian life he was greatly indebted. Simultaneously with his conversion came the conviction that he must preach the gospel, and with this view he began a course of study, in prosecuting which he was dependent entirely upon such resources as he could command by efforts of his own. Under the strain his health began to suffer. After six years spent in the Worcester and Shelburne Falls Academies, and in Amherst College, he decided to prosecute what remained of needful study in connection with his ministerial work. He began preaching when only nineteen or twenty years of age, but was or- dained at the age of about twenty-three, October, 1843, at Mansfield, Conn. His mind was already turned towards the West, so that he hardly con- sidered himself a pastor at Mansfield, though he spent two fruitful years with that people: the house of worship was rebuilt, the congregation greatly increased, while the benevolent contribu- tions of the church were enlarged some twenty- fold. Near the close of the second year he was called to two open fields, but as his thoughts were still towards the West he hesitated to accept either. At length he decided for Greenville, a part of Nor- wich, Conn., where a church was to be organized and a house of worship built. A church was ac- cordingly soon formed, with 100 members, and the new house built. A precious revival began before the house was complete, and upon the dedication of the new sanctuary the congregation so increased that very soon the house was filled from pulpit to door. Between 30 and 40 were baptized as the fruit of the revival. The interest in Western work, however, remained unabated, and correspondence with the board in New York, and a visit to Columbus, O., resulting in a call from the church in the last-named city, with aid towards his support from the Home Mis- sion treasury, he removed to Columbus in April, 1847. The pastorate here was a remarkable one. The church as he found it numbered some 200 members, but was poor and heavily in debt. At the end of five and a half years the church had become one of the largest and most efficient in the State, its available financial strength having in- creased fifteen-fold. Three years of the period named were cholera years. Mr. Cheney remained at his post while, especially in the first of the three years, every other Protestant pastor left the city. His labors among the sick and the dying and in attendance upon funerals were constant. ‘The first year was passed by himself and family in safety, but in the second his wife died of the terrible dis- ease, and himself and two children were attacked and barely escaped with life. The result was broken health, and the assurance on the part of his physicians that a change of residence had become imperative. A second attack of cholera left no alternative, and accepting one of the various calls which he had before him, he removed to Philadel- phia and became pastor of the Eleventh Baptist church in that city, entering upon his duties there Noy. 15, 1852. Here he remained until 1859. Three of the seven years were blessed by an almost constant revival of religion. While here, also, the marked executive ability which he was known to possess led to the offer successively of the secretary- ship of the Missionary Union, the American and Foreign Bible Society, the Home Mission Society, and the Publication Society. The last was offered him in the year 1856, the post having fallen vacant in the middle of the year; he served for the latter half of the year, writing the Annual Report, but, declining further service, surrendered the place to the present able secretary, whom he had the pleas- ure of introducing to the office he has filled so long and so successfully. While in Philadelphia, also, he took a leading part in the work of minis- terial education, being made secretary of the Penn- sylvania Education Society soon after his resi- dence in the State began, and continuing in that office till his removal to San Francisco, in July, 1859. In San Francisco Mr. Cheney remained eight years. He then returned East, accepting the pas- torate of the Central Square church in Boston. His pastorate here had a duration of three years and a half. He found a church of 267 members, and left it with one of 484, 233 of the additions having been by baptism. The house of worship, which had been destroyed by fire, was also in the mean time rebuilt. During the last two years of his stay in Boston Mr. Cheney served on the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Missionary Union. In April, 1874, he removed to Chicago, as pastor of the Fourth church, formed by the union of the Ashland Avenue and Union Park churches. This union, consummated as the result of his coming, restored strength where there had been feebleness, and in- augurated a pastorate of great value not only to the church but to the denomination. After some four years of service here he accepted the call of the First Baptist church in Elgin, Ill., where he is still the useful and valued pastor. Mr. Cheney has served upon boards of trustees, missionary and educational, during many years. While in Ohio he was one of the trustees of Gran- ville University ; in California, of the State Uni- versity, the presidency of which was also offered him, In Illinois, almost from the time of his ar- rival in the State, he has been called to similar service on the boards of the theological seminary and the university at Chicago. The boards of home and foreign missions, and others, have also had his service. In these positions he never fails to take a leading part, and to command for his opinions and measures the confidence of his asso- ciates.From the Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart photos from findagrave
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