Vail, Stephen M., D.D.

a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born at Union Vale, Dutchess County, N.Y., January 15, 1816. At fourteen he entered Cazenovia Seminary, where he was converted. In 1838 he graduated from Bowdoin College, and in 1842 from Union Theological Seminary. After completing his studies he joined the New York Conference, and was stationed successively at Fishkill, N.Y.; Sharon, Connecticut; and Pine Plains. He was two years principal in Pennington Seminary, N.J., and from 1849 to 1868 was professor of Hebrew in the Biblical Institute at Concord, N.H. His health giving way, he resigned his professorship and returned to his home on Staten Island. In 1869 he was appointed consul to Bavaria, where he remained five years. Returning home, he continued the literary: labors in which he had been engaged for years, preaching as he had strength and opportunity, without salary, until his death, which occurred in Jersey City, N.J., November 26, 1880. He wrote numerous articles for the Quarterly Review and other periodicals. Among his literary works were, Ministerial Education: — Bible against Slavery: — and a Hebrew Grammar. He lived an earnest, faithful, noble Christian life, characterized by the strictest integrity and honor to the Church. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1881, page 85.