Person:Robert Fargo (3)

From A History of Montville, Fargo Families Chapter

... Robert settled in Lyme, in that part of the town afterwards set off to Salem, where he died.

from The Rev. Isaac Fargo of Princeton, IL Feb. 1887

After his marriage and settlement upon a farm in Montville he was converted and united with the Montville Baptist Church, but eventually he became a strict congregationalist and organized a church of the same faith with himself. It differed from the regular Baptist Church in only one thing. They extended their communion to all immersed persons in Pedo Baptist Churches. He was one of the old time ministers, of commanding presence, with large but regular features, a penetrating bluish eye flashing beneath a somewhat massive projecting brow, an aquiline nose with sensitive nostrils, a mobile and yet firmly set mouth, and benevolent chin; standing six feet in height, rather spare, with a compact sinewy bony frame, a man of great physical strength and power of endurance, withal possessed of such quick perceptives and ready sound judgement as made him a man of unusual business ability. Hence in connection with running a large farm, he was able to serve the church of which he was pastor without salary, but also to make long circuits into adjoining towns to preach and baptize. After serving that church forty years as pastor, he removed to the town of Stafford, Genesee Co., N.Y. and settled on a farm.

From Tibby Torhorst

The church they attended is still standing at Bethany, New York, and their graves are in the little cemetery at the rear of the church.

Esther, wife of Rev. Robert; d. October 14, 1845; @@ 73y Moses, d. January 16, 1847; @@ 45y Nancy, daughter of Elder Robert & Esther; d. October 31, 1832; @@ 25y Elder Robert, d. June 23, 1849; @@ 83y; native of Montville CT

From his grandson Robert's autobiography

... my father [Isaac] moved our family to Stafford, Genesee County, New York. We made the trip by boat from New London to Albany via New York, and thence by canal to Brockport, the nearest point to our destination. I remember the boat ride and that while on the sound my hat blew off my head into the water and my furious effort to go over the rail after it, and I was carried below to be consoled with another hat gotten somehow for me. My family moved into a dwelling belonging to my grandfather Fargo, and for two years improved a part of his large farm, the while my father looked up and down and over the country for a farm of his own. I have heard him say he rode hundreds of miles and finally purchased a place about two miles from Grandfather's premises, and moved on to the land the Spring of 1832...

... My good parents were of Puritan antecedents and they did not forget to enforce their tenets. No circuses, theaters, horse races, or card playing in ours. Like the decrees of the Medea and Persians, they were inflexible...

... When the crops were secured, my grandfather, living two miles and a half away, came over and wanted me to help him through his fall work, plowing, seeding, etc. We struck a bargain and I worked for him until the school term at the academy. I was the bearer of his name, "Robert", and I think he rather liked me, for one day he said to me, "If you will come and stay with me while I live, I will give you a farm in Michigan" near what is now the city of Jackson. He was then Eighty-one years old. I told him I did not like to "wait for dead men's shoes". I could not see it. He lived only two years after that time.

swanson.michael@@ieee.org is looking for Ezekiel Fargo, possible son of Robert.

1. ↑ American Historical Society, Inc. Ostrander and Allied Families. (1936).
2. ↑ Henry A. Baker. History of Montville, Connecticut. (Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard Company, Hartford Conn 1896)
   p. 130.
3. ↑ Biographical Sketches of Old Settlers of Wisconsin. (1899).
4. ↑ Lucretia Smith. FARGO: Notes on the Fargo Family of New London and Montville
   Vol. 17, pages 62-70.
5. ↑ James Swift Rogers. ROGERS: James Rogers of New London, CT and his Descendants. (published Boston by the compiler 1902).