Rev. Jonathan E. Forrester, D.D., was born in Orange, Mass., Dec. 8, 1826, and died of Bright's disease of the kidneys at Warwick, Mass., Nov. 19, 1881. In 1846 he began to study for the ministry with Rev. Samuel C. Loveland, of Weston, Vt., one of our ablest men, and perhaps the ripest scholar of his time among us. Unfortunately Mr. Forrester remained here but a short time, and lost an invaluable aid in his preparation. He preached occasionally during 1846, and in the spring of 1847 was settled as pastor of the church in Reading. In June, 1847, he married Miss Julia Baldwin, of Weston, an excellent and educated lady whose aid and companionship were of great benefit to him in the early years of his ministry. He was ordained at Ludlow June 14, 1849, and remained at Reading until March, 1852, when he was called to East Randolph. His pastorate at Reading was successful, and he began his labors at East Randolph under favorable auspices; but he remained there less than two years, and left Vermont under charges. He next went to Pennsylvania, settled in Erie, and returned his letter of fellowship to Vermont. About 1862 he received fellowship in Pennsylvania. After about ten years in Erie he went to Aurora, Ill., where he remained until 1872. He was installed over the Second Society of Chicago Jan. 5, 1873, and remained there until 1874, when he became pastor of the parish in Newark, N.H., and when his engagement terminated in 1879, he formed an independent society.
Mr. Forrester's education in early life was very limited, and his attainments were never profound, but beginning his ministry at the early age of nineteen, and coming into contact with some of the best elements of our church during years of residence in or near our great centres of population and intelligence, he acquired a style of composition and delivery which commended him as an orator of no means pretensions. While settled in Erie he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Springfield Academy, then existing at West Springfield, Pa.
Mr. Forrester's first wife died at Weston, VT., while he was settled in Illinois, leaving one daughter. He leaves a widow and four small children.
