CLASS OF 1837

Rev. Joseph Munroe Rockwood, the last survivor of his class, and since October, 1905, the senior graduate of the College, died at his home in Bellingham, Mass., January 31. He was the son of Joseph and Anne (Chilson) Rockwood, and was born in Bellingham, July 1, 1818. He prepared for college at Milford Academy, and took the first three years of his college course at Waterville, now Colby, College. Having decided to enter the ministry of the Baptist church, he took the three, years' course in Newton Theological Institution, graduating in 1841. The same year he became pastor at Rutland, Vt., and was ordained there Feb. 9, 1842, remaining till 1849. He was then pastor at Belchertown, Mass., 1849-55. For a year or more he served as financial agent of the Worcester Collegiate School and then returned to the active ministry at New England Village, Mass., where he remained from 1857 to 1864. In 1853 he had been a member of the state constitutional convention, and in 1864 served in the legislature. In the fall of the same year he spent some weeks at City Point, Va., in the service of the United States Christian Commission. His last pastorate was at Middlefield, Mass., from 1865 to 1890. He then retired to his native town, where he spent the rest of his . life, with general health and mental vigor remarkably well preserved. He always identified himself with the public interests of the towns in which he lived, and especially during his long pastorate at Middlefield he came to be regarded with the affectioriate veneration of the whole community. He was present at the last College Commencement, and led the procession, in company with Judge Dana of '39, whose death shortly preceded his. Since his return from Commencement his life had been filled with rather more than his wonted activity. He took exercise daily in the open air, and attended public worship regularly until November 31. Then he was confined to his room for nine weeks, his strength failing. Mr. Rockwood was married June 28, 1842, to Elizabeth Hammond, daughter of Jonathan and Lydia (Cutler) Bixby of Newton Upper Falls, Mass., who died Feb. 23, 1908. Of their seven children, two sons and two 'daughters survive their parents. Another daughter was a missionary in Burmah, where she died in 1882.