Chassels, David, Dd

Chassels, David, D.D., a Presbyterian minister, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, April 30, 1787. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1810, and then took charge of the Caledonia County Academy, Peacham, Vt. In 1815 he went to Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., as principal of the academy there. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Troy in 1819, and ordained in 1820. In 1821 he taught at Fairfield, in 1840 became principal of the academy in Herkimer, and in 1842-44 again taught in Fairfield Academy. During all this time, after his licensure, he was in the habit of preaching often, as stated supply, and for five years regularly filled the pulpits at Fairfield and Salisbury. He died at Holland Patent, Jan. 10, 1870. He had the gift of teaching in a pre-eminent degree; his scholarship was thorough and profound; his preaching was like his teaching, instructive, thoughtful, intellectual, soundly Calvinistic. See Presbyterianism in Central N. Y. p. 494.