Caledonia

FISK, Wilbur

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, pp 348-349 (extracted from 
a section on the history of Lyndon)

Rev. Wilbur FISK, D. D., professor of Wesleyan University at Middletown 
[Middlesex County], Connecticut, a graduate of Brown University in 1815, was 
born 31 August 1792 at Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont], and was the son 
of the Hon. Isaiah FISK of this town [Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont]; 
fitted for college at Peacham [Caledonia County], and first entered college 
at Burlington [Chittenden County], but that instruction being suspended by 
the war, he transferred his relationship to that at Providence, Rhode Island, 
where he graduated with distinguished honor. He entered the law office of 
the late Hon. Isaac FLETCHER, and grasped the elementary principles with 
avidity, but the practice did not harmonize with his views of Christian duty 
and inclination, and after a year or two, a portion of which was spent in 
Maryland as tutor in a gentleman's family, he yielded to his sense of duty 
and became an itinerant Methodist minister in 1818.

As is usual in the conference, as the representative body of the denomination 
is called, he was stationed here and there, where his experience and talents 
would seem to indicate, and to some places where his innate modesty and 
infirm health would make him, in anticipation, quail, but where the reality 
fully justified the appointment; he never failed to be most acceptably 
received wherever he went, and there were probably but few, if any, his 
superiors in his order. He was soon appointed principal of the institution 
at Wilbraham [Hampden County, Massachusetts], at which place he labored hard 
and successfully, and was appointed a bishop, which he declined, and 
afterwards first president of the Wesleyan University, which he accepted, 
having presided over the institution at Wilbraham five years, being elected 
to the last office in 1830, fifteen years and four months after graduating; 
over this new institution, in its commencement laboring under many 
difficulties, and the greatest the want of funds, he presided with 
distinguished ability for the remainder of his life, about nine years.

During the term of his presidency, for the double purpose of soliciting aid 
for the university, and promoting his health and also enriching his mind, he 
visited Europe, or to use the phrase of his biographer, Prof. HOLDICH, "at 
the meeting of the joint board of the Wesleyan University it was resolved to 
give the president a commission to Europe for the two-fold purpose of 
benefiting his health and advancing the interests of the institution, 
particularly having in view, for the university, additions to its 
philosophical apparatus and library. On 04 September 1835, Re. Dr. WAYLAND, 
president of Brown's University, officially communicated to the Rev. Mr. FISK 
that the board of fellows of Brown's University had conferred on him 
unanimously the degree of doctor of divinity. This was very acceptable from 
his alma mater on the eve of his departure for the tour of the east, which 
occurred on 08 September 1835. His wife and a Mr. LANE, afterwards professor 
in the university, accompanied him; they were absent over a year, making an 
interesting and profitable tour to the most important cities and places of 
Europe, including England, France, Italy, Ireland and Scotland, and returning 
in November 1836, invigorated with health and well laden with very valuable 
donations as desired for the university. All were well satisfied with the 
result of his mission.

During his absence the general conference elected him to the office of 
bishop, his former election to that office being in 1829, by the Canada 
conference. He declined this also, considering his duties to the university 
paramount, preferring duty to honor, and also disregarding great offers of 
wealth if he would accept that office, and continued to do his whole duty to 
the university as long as health would admit, and it continued to increase in 
popularity and numbers under his administration. His incidents of travel in 
Europe, published by request, is an interesting work; he published other 
works of interest, some were election sermons, and upon other occasions, and 
some dissertations on matters of ecclesiastical polity, all well worthy of 
perusal. His last sickness was of pulmonary complaints, which troubled him 
through life, and it is said were in the last stage extremely painful, yet 
borne with great fortitude and meekness. He [Rev. Wilbur FISK] died as the 
good man dieth, 22 February 1839, aged forty-seven and a half years nearly.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly