BIOGRAPHY: Rev. Loren Eastwood; Weedsport, Cayuga co., New York transcribed and submitted by: Ann Anderson (ann.g.anderson at gmail.com) ========================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm ========================================================= BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING CITIZENS OF CAYUGA COUNTY NEW YORK BOSTON BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY 1894 REV. LOREN EASTWOOD has been pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Weedsport, Cayuga County, since 1892. According to the customs of that denomination, Mr. Eastwood has dwelt in many places; and in the towns where he has been settled he will long be remembered both for the spiritual influence he has exerted and for the material assistance he has given in building and repairing church edifices. He was born at Truxton, Cortland County, N.Y., and was the son of Truman and Almira (Simmons) Eastwood. The father was a farmer, and died when his son was but five years old. His grandfather was formerly of Madison County, having originally come from Massachusetts. The mother, Almira Simmons, came from Massachusetts to Lenox, Madison County, in her early life. From his earliest years Loren Eastwood manifested a great love for learning, and after a common-school education spent every moment he could spare in private reading. This industry was rewarded by his being allowed to enter the ministry at an early age. In 1860 he joined the Oneida Conference, which appointed him to the charge of Sangersfield circuit, afterward Waterville Station. From 1860 until 1862 he was at this place, and then went to Litchfield circuit, Herkimer County, where he built a church at Crane's Corners. The name of this charge was at this time changed from Litchfield to Cedar Lake. During his pastorate a gracious revival brought scores of souls to Christ, and greatly strengthened the charge. His next field of labor was Jordanville Station, where more than thirty members were taken into the church. Thence he went to Deansville, Oneida County, and after two years to Verona, in the same county. Here he stayed three years, during which time a new church was built and additions made to the membership. From its formation in 1868 he has been a member of the Central New York Conference, In April, 1871, he was appointed to Wolcott, Wayne County, N.Y. This pastorate will long be remembered for the energy and enthusiasm with which he aroused the people to their need of a new church edifice, which was built at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. The membership was increased by a third, and the financial strength of the society was doubled. The high regard and gratitude of the people were manifested by the increased recompense for his services which they bestowed upon him. After three years and a half at Wolcott the Rev. Mr. Eastwood was sent to Watkins, Schuyler County, where he began his preaching in the Opera House, afterward assisting in the dedication of the new church. Two years later his charge was changed; and he was given what is now West Genesee Street, Syracuse. His financial ability enabled him to raise a debt of ten thousand dollars, paying off the old mortgage of that amount; and through him the society received a gift of a parsonage worth eight hundred dollars. At that time he was the only Protestant pastor in the settlement of eight thousand inhabitants, and the opposition of the Catholics was very great; and all the financial undertakings of their opponents they watched closely, standing ready to take the church edifice, should their Protestant neighbors fail to raise the funds necessary for carrying on their work. By his brethren in the ministry as well as this grateful church this was called an heroic work and great success. His next charge was at Skaneateles, Onondaga County, where he instituted a movement which resulted in the building of a new parsonage after he had left there, two years later, and accepted the duties of pastor at the First Ward Church at Syracuse. Here he enjoyed three pleasant years, during which the church debt was paid off and the church repaired. At Phoenix, Oswego County, which was his next charge, Mr. Eastwood contributed largely toward making it possible to build a new church, a brick edifice costing ten thousand dollars. He himself collected much of the necessary funds, and took personal charge of the workmen, hiring them and paying them off. A change was now necessary, after such tiring work; and Mr. Eastwood went to Baldwinsville, where he remained the full disciplinary period of five years. The revivals which he held in his fourth year here were extremely interesting, and the good they did is not soon to be forgotten. After two years at Canastota, in Madison County, he was settled at Weedsport in the fall of 1892. The Rev. Mr. Eastwood is a Trustee of the Central New York Conference, and one of the Board of Finance of the Mutual Aid Society of the East Genesee Conference, and has been Secretary of many of the committees of the Conference. Mr. Eastwood married Anna O. Roantree, of Lenox, Madison County. She was a daughter of James and Ann (Pinckney) Roantree, and was of English ancestry, she herself having been born in Middletown, Yorkshire, England. Her father was born at the old ancestral home at Market Wheaton, Yorkshire; and, when his daughter was fifteen years old, he left England and settled in Lenox, and afterward in Vienna, Oneida County, where he bought a mill and worked at his trade as miller until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Eastwood were married April 8, 1857; and they have two children, Ruth Ann and Charles L. The daughter is the wife of the Rev. B. W. Hutchinson, S.T.B., President of the West Virginia Conference Seminary at Buckhannon, W.Va. She has two children — Mark E. and Paul. Mrs. Hutchinson is a graduate of Syracuse University, and has the degree of B.M. Her husband was graduated at Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, and afterward at the Boston University School of Theology. Charles L. Eastwood is Secretary of the Eastern Building and Loan Association in Syracuse. He married Georgiana N. McChisney; and they have one child, Ruth. Mr. Eastwood has had a long, useful life; and his ministries have been full of good works and faithful service for his Master. Wherever he has been, his voice has not been silent when he saw that the Lord had need of a preacher. He has had much prejudice to overcome, many difficulties to surmount, and much opposition to resist; but in every position he has held he has, by his great ability, his quiet persuasion, and his earnest enthusiasm, improved the material as well as the spiritual condition of those who have looked to him for help, comfort, and advice. Without thought of self, and with the spirit of the Master manifested in all his acts, he has labored faithfully in the vineyard; and all who know him love to think of his deeds of mercy and the words of love and inspiration which this man of God has left with them.