dren ought always to be encouraged to come into the church, there to be trained for God." So earnest and persistent was his desire, that before he was eleven, father received him into the Congregational Church of Winfield, and he continued faithful from that time to his death. Very soon, he began occasionally to lead in prayer at home, in family devotions.
He was naturally full of life and fun; quick to see the humorous in everything, yet very tender of the feelings of others, and watchful not to appear to trifle. He was of a cheerful, hopeful temperament; very honorable and upright in all his business-never knowingly wronging any. He was one in whom we could safely trust; gentle, thoughtful and affectionate.
He and brother John were pupils of Beriah Green, and graduates of Oneida Institute. While there, they learned the printer's trade, in the office of the Friend of Man, and when father first published the Cenhadwr, in Remsen, they came home and took charge of the printing office.
From a child, Robert longed to preach the Gospel, and the church in Steuben was hearty and unanimous in inviting him to do so. He began his theological studies in Whitestown, but did not complete the course on account of his health. After leaving school he learned the Daguerrean art, and carried on that business for some years in Utica; yet always cherishing the hope of being sometime able to return to his chosen work.
He was an interesting speaker, and happy whenever his health permitted him to do anything in this way. He preached a number of times, quite acceptably, in
