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Historical Sketches of Iowa Baptists, 1886
S. H. Mitchell
Published
by Burdette Co., Burlington, Iowa
Obituary Notes
From Works to Rewards
An Ever Increasing Record.
How often have those words of the poet
been repeated and applied to brighten the otherwise sombre aspect of
those scenes that separate between the life that now is and that
which is to come. They are not worn out, but will serve to
introduce our memorial of those, who from making Baptist history in
Iowa, have gone to join the acclaim of those who glorify God in the
better land.
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"The
chamber where the good man meets his fate,
Is
privileged above the common walks of life,
Quite on the verge of Heaven." |
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Our obituary record
begins with 1846.
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Page 471 |
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Rev. Peter Robinson died at Marion,
September 1846 hailed him as a fellow laborer in Iowa. But while
admiring his work of faith and brightening prospects at Marion, the
summons came. It only remained to comply with his request, go to
Marion and preach his funeral sermon, comfort the bereaved church, accept the situation, be
faithful unto death and meet him in glory."
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Page 472 |
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Rev. D. Whitmore died in
Jackson county in 1846 but we have no further particulars of
his life. |
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Rev. M. J. Post died in Pella,
April 2, 1848. An account of his death from the pen of his
daughter is given on
pages 84-5 together with an account of
his life. |
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Rev. Wm. B. Knapp of Charleston
and his entire family, consisting of wife and two or three
children, died of cholera in 1849. The family had entertained
a stranger at their home, who, either before or immediately
after leaving, sickened and died with the fatal disease. They
had entertained an angel unawares but it proved to be the
angel of death. Mr. Knapp left his home to fill an appointment
at Denmark, and while there was attacked with the cholera and
died in a few hours. About the same time death smote his wife
and one of the children, and while a messenger was bearing to
his home the sad news of his death, another was on the way to
convey to Denmark the sorrowful tidings that he never
received. |
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Mrs. J. A. Nash, wife of Rev.
J. A. Nash of Des Moines died in 1851. In the Annual of that
year, after making glad mention of the coming of Brother Nash
as a helper in the great work committed to Iowa Baptists, it
is added, "Soon after his arrival he was called to drink the
bitter cup of affliction in the removal of his companion to
the haven of eternal rest. Those of us who became acquainted
with sister Nash esteemed and loved her, and we mingle the
tear of sympathy with our bereaved brother, early called to
mourn, while yet a stranger in a strange land." |
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Rev.
Ira Blanchard died in California about 1852. He was settled
in Delaware county, Iowa, as early as 1844. He was
instrumental in organizing the church at Cascade and labored
there and in Delaware county until 1850, when he went to the
Pacific coast here he died. He organized the first Delaware
Church Delaware county in 1844. |
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Page 473 |
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Morgan. A minister by the
name of Morgan died in Bellevue in 1852, but nothing further
is known of him. |
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Rev. B. F. Brabrook died at
Davenport June 9, 1853. Born at Acton, Massachusetts,
September 15, 1809, baptized in 1829; graduated at Columbia
College, D. C., and studied theology at Newton Theological
Seminary. He was ordained April 19, 1837, and immediately
started for St. Louis, where he labored until his health
failed and he was compelled to return east. In 1843 he
gauged as agent of Foreign Missions in the Western States. He
visited Iowa, and on the day he entered the state said,
"To-day, for the first time my feet press the soil of Iowa,
and beneath its sod my bones may rest." In 1845 he
settled as pastor at Davenport, and afterward, upon the
failure of his eyes, entered the agency of the Home Mission
Society. He was continuously under appointment of this society
from 1846 till 1852. "As a Christian, a pastor and an agent
Brother Brabrook was pious, devoted, talented and beloved. The
influence of his labors will long be felt in Iowa, and the
record of them in heaven." |
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Rev. A. Russell Belden died of
cholera in Iowa City in 1855. Mr. Belden came from New York in
1851 and was successor of Dexter P. Smith as pastor at Iowa
City. After a pastorate of less than three years he "conceived
the idea of founding an orphan college in that city. A site
was secured and a foundation laid, when death suddenly called
him away. A list of ministers who died in 1855 also contains
the names of W. S. Barnes, J. McKain and
W. T. Martin, but without particulars. |
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Page 474 |
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Rev. George I. Miles died at
Muscatine, Iowa in November, 1857, having been pastor of the
church there only a little more than a year. One who had known
him well in Pennsylvania wrote: "Brother Miles was extensively
known to the denomination for his sterling piety, and as a
zealous and successful minister of the cross. ** A prominent
actor in all the benevolent operations of the day, his
presence and counsels were sought in the convocations of the
denominations in the east.." His coming to our State was
hailed with joy. But alas! "In the midst of his
usefulness he was cut down and his active, lively and eloquent
tongue lay motionless and still in death." |
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Rev. A. Thompson died in the
Eden Association in 1859. He was ordained in Indiana in 1847,
and came to Iowa in 1848 and located in the new and destitute
region southwest of the Des Moines River. In 1857 he was
appointed Missionary of the Eden Association and the State
Convention, and labored with great success, baptizing with in
the year "not less than ninety-nine converts with his own
hands." |
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Rev. N. Richmond, also of the Eden Association,
died in 1859. He removed from Indiana to this State
three years before his death. He preached in the
midst of many privations, to several churches, " with a good degree
of success." Rev. — Hewson died in the Iowa
Valley Association some time in 1859. He had recently come from Illinois and settled on a farm, and after
preaching to one of the churches with much acceptance for
a few weeks " was stricken down with sickness and summoned
away." Rev. S. B. Baker died near Winterset,
April 25. 1859. He had removed from Indiana to Iowa
some four or five years before. Was regularly ordained to
the work of the ministry only about a year before his death, though he had
preached more or less for many years. |
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Page 475 |
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Rev. Peter Colgrove
died near Fairbank, Fayette
county, Iowa, August 1, 1860, after a sickness of only two
days. He was born in Tompkins county, New York, June
10, 1817. United with the Baptist church at Mecklenburg
at the age of 16, entered the institution at Hamilton June
27, 1834, and completed their full course of study. He was
ordained at Mecklenburg August 25, 1841. He labored
with a number of churches in his native state, and received
to their membership about three hundred souls. He came
with his family to Fayette county, Iowa, in 1859. "As a
counselor, judicious and safe; as a preacher, instructive
and some times thrilling; as a man, a Christian and a minister, upright and dignified." He was "just such a man as
is needed in every new settlement, and greatly missed by
the whole community." |
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Rev. J. R. Dean died August 19, 1860. He was a
graduate of the Theological Seminary at Kalamazoo, Michigan.
He came to Iowa in 1857 and first settled as pastor at New
Hartford, where he baptized 27, and the church increased
from 11 to 50. He preached also at Shell Rock and intermediate points with marked success, especially in revival
work. In the spring of 1860, with impaired health, he went
to Pike's Peak, "hoping to regain his health and be useful
in helping to cast society in that vicinity in a religious
mould." But God ordered it otherwise, and he was taken
to join the heavenly throng in the mount of eternal glory. |
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Rev. Zophor Ball died near Knoxville, Iowa, August
19, 1860, the same day that Brother Dean passed away.
Nothing is known of this brother further than, it is said,
"He was an ordained minister and had labored faithfully
for many years, mainly at his own charges." |
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Sister Elizabeth S. Aitchison, wife of
Rev. J. Y. Aitchison,
died in October 1860. Her maiden name was Frazee. She was born in
Scotch Plains, New Jersey. She was baptized in Davenport by
Rev. E.
M. Miles, about 1854. Was married about 1857. “Had lived for six
years a highly consistent Christian life, and for three years and
eight months a loving spouse and helpmeet to her bereaved husband.”
Her end was peace.
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| Page 476 |
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Deacon John Scott died at Bonaparte in March, 1861.
His known integrity and zeal as a member of the Mt.
Zion Church (Bonaparte) made for him a cherished place
in the annals of that church and in the hearts of all who
knew him. His pastor. Rev. W. A. Eggleston, wrote, "He
died with a good hope through grace, and the last of earth
was peace." He was about 60 years old. |
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Rev. Abraham Smock of Davis county, died at Camp
McClellan in the spring of 1863, of disease contracted in
the army. A full notice of this brother will be found on
page 149, in the history of the Fox River Association. |
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Rev. D. T. Case of Bethlehem, Wayne county, died in
1863. He was in the fatal charge on the entrenchments of
Vicksburg, May 22, 1863, and escaped unhurt, but died a
few months later at a railroad station almost in sight of
friends, on his way home. He died of disease contracted
in the army. He was "a young brother, with his ministerial vows fresh
upon him, and giving much promise of usefulness." |
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Rev. Jonah Todd died near Dodgeville, Des
Moines county, May 12, 1863. He was the Moderator at its
organization, of the Des Moines Association, and consequently the first to
occupy that position in a Baptist Association in Iowa. |
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Rev. Mr. Pratt of Onawa, entered the
army and was found dead in the streets of Helena, supposed to
have been assassinated. No particulars. |
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Deacon
Chamberlain of the Burlington Church, died November
12, 1863. |
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Dea. Toogood of Marion died at the Toogood
Settlement, and Deacons Hutchinson and
Whitney of the
Palo Church died in the army, all in 1863. Also
Deacon
C. W. Forbes of the Van Buren Church, Jackson county,
died in camp near Vicksburg.' |
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| Page 477 |
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Deacon Henry A. Ritner of
Danville, son of Ex-Governor Ritner of Pennsylvania, one of the founders of our
State Convention and a prominent man in the denomination, was killed on the railroad by a singular accident in
April, 1863. He had sons in the army and had been at
Burlington, as we remember the circumstance, to see something about sending them some
relief or token of affection.
He was walking on the track, and being a little deaf, and
perhaps lost in abstracted thought, a train struck him from behind and he was killed.
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Deacon A. Fisher, of the
Brighton Church, died in the spring of 1863. "Father Fisher" will be remembered as
long as any live who knew him, for his intense devotion to the church he
loved. (See page 297.)
Sister Lucy Brabrook, widow of
Rev. B. F. Brabrook, died at Davenport
in May, 1863. A noble, earnest Christian woman, a helper
in every good work. Lieut. Samuel Bates, 21st Regiment Iowa Volunteers, son of
Rev. John Bates, "was mortally wounded on the memorable 22nd of May, 1863 at
Vicksburg, and died in a few days." (See page
203.)
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Rev. John M. Coggshall
died at Little Rock, Arkansas, October 29, 1863. Born in Bristol, R. I., December 29,
1820, converted at 18 and united with the Baptist Church
at Troy, Penn. He studied at Madison University, and was ordained in June,
1843. He served as pastor successively of churches in Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and
Iowa, and then entered the army as chaplain of the 1st
Iowa Cavalry, where he gave up his valuable life for his
country and his God, leaving an afflicted widow and six
children. |
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| Page 478 |
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Rev. A. A. Sawin died of small pox at West Irving in
the summer of 1864. He was born at West Minister, Massachusetts, and dedicated himself to the
Christian ministry
in his youth. He showed marks of great earnestness and
more than ordinary ability. He preached at Ticonderoga,
then in Vermont, afterwards at Stillwater, N. Y., at Fulton, Ill., Lyons, Iowa, and at Marion, Iowa. From Marion he
removed to Benton county and threw himself with all the characteristic
earnestness of his nature into the enterprise of establishing the
Addison Collegiate Institute at
West Irving. He was Acting pastor at the time of his
death of the Toledo Church where he "was buried among
an attached and mourning flock." |
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Rev. James Parker died at Avon, Iowa, early in 1864.
He was born in Kentucky, but his parents removed to
Ohio when he was about 4 years old. He was converted
at the age of 20 under the labors of Rev. J. L. Moore. Was
ordained about 12 years before his death, and preached in
Washington and Van Buren counties. He then moved to Pella and labored for two or three years with great activity
and energy with churches in the Central Association. In
1863 37 were baptized at Vandalia, and the next winter at Hartford,
Carlisle and Avon 79 as the result of a great revival under his labors. ''Worn down with excessive labors
he was taken sick at Avon and died." |
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Deacon Elihu Ives died near Marion, September 12,
1864, aged 77. He had been a resident of Linn county
since 1839, and a member of the Marion Baptist Church
from its organization. "A man of deep toned piety and
uprightness, though an active member of the church he
shown brightest in the exemplification of the Christian life
in his daily deportment." Mrs. Williams, wife of
Rev.
John Williams, one of the early Missionaries of the Convention died also in 1864.
Dr. A. W. Everett died in the
Eden Association in 1864. He practiced medicine and
preached as occasion offered. |
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| Page 479 |
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Rev. Isaac Christie, also of the Eden Association,
died in 1865 at the age of about 60 years. He labored some
years in Indiana, and afterwards removed to Missouri,
where he had a good farm and preached to the surrounding
churches. ''In the fall of 1860 he voted for Mr. Lincoln
for president, and was soon afterward notified to leave the
county or his life would be taken." He was an earnest
and faithful pastor and a devoted Christian. |
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Rev. Luther Holmes of Monmouth died in April, 1865,
of congestion of the lungs, in his 70th year. He was the father of
Rev. O. A. Holmes, one of the most successful
pastors in Iowa for many years. For further particulars
see pages 204-5 of this volume.
Rev. Lyman Carpenter
died in California June 27, 1865. Brother Carpenter was
pastor of the church at Blue Grass, Scott county, from 12
to 15 years. He was ordained there in 1846, Rev. B. F. Brabrook preaching the sermon. He went to California
only a few years before his death. |
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Rev. A. H. Harris died at Vinton, Iowa, November 26,
1865, aged only 38 years. He was ordained in Michigan
about 1860, and came to Iowa perhaps in 1863. He took
charge of the Vinton Church in February 1865, but after a
painful illness of six weeks, fell asleep in Jesus and went
to his reward." "He was retiring, modest and unassuming, yet firm and unswerving as a minister of Jesus Christ.
A man of strong faith, in his preaching plain, direct and
searching, the great burden of his heart was the salvation
of souls and the building up of the Redeemer's kingdom." |
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Rev. Hezekiah Johnson died at Oregon City, Oregon,
in August, 1866 He was born in Maryland, March 6, 1799,
"the son of Rev. Eleazer Johnson and
Martha Rounds."
He was ordained in Highland county, Ohio, in 1824, and
was pastor at Frankfort and Greenfield in that state. In
1839 he was one of the first three missionaries appointed
by the Home Mission Society to the Territory of Iowa, and
labored as an itinerant until 1844, assisting in organizing
some of the first churches and Associations in the state." In 1845 he went
with Rev. Ezra Fisher to Oregon. He organized the church at Oregon City and labored there under
appointment of the Society from 1847 to '51. "He traveled
preached, helped to organize churches and Associations
and lay the foundations of religious and educational institutions in the new state. He also wrote and published
many sermons and pamphlets, completing the last on his
death-bed. He was one of the strongest Baptist preachers
in the early days of Oregon," as he had been of Iowa.
Over his grave and that of his faithful wife is placed a
memorial stone with the simple inscription, "Pioneer Baptist Missionaries." He was the father of
Rev. Franklin
Johnson, D. D., of Cambridge, Mass. |
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Mrs. Harriett R. Wedgewood, wife of
Rev. J. M.
Wedgewood of the Turkey River Association, died
September 21, 1860. Also the beloved wife of
Rev. John Fulton at Independence, March 18, 1866, and the wife of
Rev.
A. W. Russell, some time in June after a lingering illness.
Rev.
A. H. Starkweather, of Lyons, died, much lamented, January 17, 1867, preceded by his excellent wife not
quite three months. He was a "graduate of Madison University and served the churches at Corning and Bethany,
New York." He came west in 1855 and located in Fulton,
Illinois, and in 1858 crossed the river and began work in
Lyons, Iowa, where he continued almost eight years. Mrs. Starkweather was born at Bethany, New York; daughter of
Deacon Burroughs.
"She was a fond wife, and especially a good minister's wife." They left two lovely" daughters who were "graciously cared for in the
home of their
uncle, George Starkweather, at Albion. New York."
Rev.
James Kay, pastor of the Baptist church at Cascade, died
at that place July 4, 1867. Born in Westmoreland, in the
North of England, he was converted in early manhood, and
was for a time on the City Mission Staff of Manchester. See further notice
on page 207. |
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| Page 481 |
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Rev. John Jackson died at McGregor, Iowa, in 1867.
He was born in England. About 1852 he became pastor of
the English Baptist church at Agra, East Indies, and continued five years. His health becoming impaired he left
Asia and came to America. He was for six years pastor
of the West Baptist church at Milwaukee, and then removed to McGregor, Iowa. After serving one 3 year as
pastor of the church here he went back to India and settled
at Alahabad. But feeble health soon led him to return to
this country and to the bosom of his friends at McGregor,
where he "peacefully departed this life to enter into the
joy of his Lord." His friends at Milwaukee claimed the
honor of his remains and he was buried at that place. |
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Rev. Hazzaud Green of Jacksonville died January 6,
1867. "His sickness was protracted and severe, yet he
bore it with fortitude and resignation, His end was joyous and triumphant." "For several years he had been an
honored minister of the gospel in this state."
Rev. Wm.
McEwen of Fremont was suddenly called home on the 5th
of February, 1867, at the close of a successful revival effort.
He was a warm hearted, zealous laborer in the vineyard of
the Lord, and respected and loved by those who knew him. |
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| Page 482 |
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Deacon George M. Colgate of McGregor died full of
faith and good works. He was clerk of the Turkey River
Association for several years, and was an unusually intelligent and devoted
Christian and church member. See
page 338. Brother Colgate was converted when thirteen
years of age and baptized by the late Wm. R. Williams,
D. D., being the first candidate baptized into the fellowship of the Amity Street Baptist Church of New York
City, of which Dr. Williams remained pastor until his
death, over fifty years. Mrs. Susan E. Wilber died at Cedar
Rapids in December, 1867. The wife of Rev. H. R. Wilber,
she was the daughter of Prof. D. Knowles. She consecrated herself to the
cause of Home Missions, and cheerfully endured the privations and made the sacrifices incidental to
her position as the devoted wife and helpmeet of a pastor
of new and struggling churches. |
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Rev. A. F. Willey died at Oskaloosa April 4, 1868.
He was born in Vermont in 1830, and while quite young
removed with his parents to Texas, and subsequently to
Illinois. He was baptized by Rev. A. J. Joslyn of Elgin,
graduated from the University of Rochester in the class
of 1858, and from the Theological Seminary in 1860, and
in the fall of the same year settled as pastor at Burlington,
Iowa. Here he was ordained and remained as pastor four
years. His ministry at Burlington was greatly blessed
until his health failed under his exhaustive labors. He
was afterwards the first pastor of the church at Marshalltown, where he labored fifteen months. Still more enfeebled
he spent a year in the country in Missouri. Though but
partially restored he was unable to content himself out of the work of his
love. He settled with the church at Oskaloosa. Here he preached his last sermon in February,
1868, from the text Psalm xxxvii:37, '"Mark the perfect
man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is
peace." It was a wonderful sermon. Many who heard it said, ''He has
preached his own funeral." He himself said to his wife on
entering his home, "Carrie, I have preached my last sermon.''
But he said to a friend, during his last sickness, "I rejoice
to die at the front." |
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Rev. R. D. C. Herring died in March, 1868, at
the age of 70. He was born in Kentucky, and spent most of his
life in Indiana. He came to Iowa about 1865, and preached in
Boone and Story counties. He administered baptism on the
Sabbath and died the Wednesday after. Rev. Wm. Rutledge died
at LeClaire, October 27, 1868. Born in England August 19,
1804; he rendered excellent service in London in the
Temperance Cause, and as a lay-preacher in Essex county. He
came to America in 1845 and the following year was ordained in
Philadelphia. He came to Davenport in 1847 as a Colporteur of
the American Baptist Publication Society. He was pastor of the
churches at LeClaire and Princeton, Iowa, and Cordova and Port
Byron, Illinois, laboring in this vicinity for twenty-two
years. He preached his last sermon October 18, and died just
nine days later, in his sixty-fifth year. |
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Rev. Marion Hazen, pastor at Parker's
Grove, died in 1868 or '69 "soon after the meeting of the Linn
Association." He was converted at an early age in Indiana and began
preaching before he was twenty years old. In the spring of 1867 he
settled at Shellsburg. Modest and unpretending he was yet full of
the spirit of the Master, and was owned of God in the conversion of
many souls. He was eminently pious, and died sweetly trusting in
Jesus, committing his companion and little ones to the covenant-keeping God. His memory is fragrant with the perfume of
good deeds and a Christ-like spirit. He has a son now in the
ministry. |
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| Page 484 |
| Rev. Phineas Inskeep died September 16, 1869. He
was born in Ohio, December 31, 1812, converted at the age of twelve,
and ordained as a Methodist minister at 21. In 1839 he became
convinced that immersion was the only Christian baptism and was
immersed but remained in the Methodist connection until 1859 when he
united with the Baptist church and was ordained at New Boston, Lee
county, April 28, 1861. He was pastor at Charleston, at Bonaparte,
and perhaps some other churches, and was warden of the Penitentiary
at Fort Madison. He had also been a member of the Legislatures
of Ohio and Iowa. "Those who attended him in his last sickness,
witness to his triumphant death in hope of a glorious immortality."
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Rev. G. G. Edwards of Toledo, died in 1809. He came to Iowa
in 1855 and organized the Toledo Church. "He was a faithful minister
of Christ, and active in all that pertains to the work of the Lord."
He was an ardent supporter of the anti slavery sentiment and of the
American Baptist Free Mission Society in its day, also of work among
the Freedmen. He was a Missionary of the Convention and though in
great weakness, labored at Belle Plaine and West Irving the last
year of his life. He had a burning zeal to preach the gospel as long
as he had breath and could stand upon his feet.
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Hamilton Samson died at Palo in March 1870. He was pastor at Maquoketa in 1864 and remained two years; afterwards at Mt. Vernon
and other places in the Linn Association. He was one "often seen in
our annual gatherings and whom to meet was always a pleasure." |
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Rev. Timothy R. Cresset died at Des Moines, August 30, 1870. He
was born at Pomfret, Conn., September 18, 1800. Converted at twenty,
graduated from Amherst College in 1828 and from Newton Theological
Seminary in 1830. He was pastor, first at Bingham, Massachusetts,
three and one-half years, and then went to South Boston. While in
college he had solemnly dedicated himself to Home Missions, and in
1835 began Home Mission work in the great west by becoming
pastor at Columbus, Ohio, where he remained seven years, and built
the church edifice now in use. Here he lost his first wife,
Mary
Peck, and married Josephine, daughter of
Rev. Jonathan Going, who
survived him a number of years. He was two years pastor of the First
Church, Cincinnati, and then a like time Agent of the Bible Society
for Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. In July, 184G, he became pastor of
First Baptist Church,
Indianapolis. Here he remained six years and
secured the erection of a meeting house seating 40U, with Sabbath
School rooms, etc. He was the third minister to enter the Territory
of Minnesota, May, 1852, and became pastor of the First Baptist
Church, St. Paul. He was pastor two years here and then "Home Mission
work began in earnest." Journeying on foot, sometimes walking a dozen
miles without seeing a human being. Seven years were mainly employed in such work, preaching the first sermon ever heard in many a
place and ''having much to do with the organization of not a
few churches." Riding on horseback in the rigors of the Minnesota
winters, preaching in log cabins, "all appointments were sacredly
kept." In August, 1861, he became chaplain of the 2d Minnesota
Volunteers and spent two years in the service. He was then pastor
two years at Kendallville, Indiana, preached at Plainfield and
Olney, Illinois, and in 1868 removed and became pastor at
Indianola, Iowa. In 1870 he removed to Des Moines. He had accepted
an appointment as "Railroad Missionary" to begin labor the first of
September, but on the 31st of August he was suddenly taken ill, and
soon after uttered his last and memorable words, ''My work is done;
I am goin' home." |
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| Page 486 |
| Rev. John
Trevitt died at Bonaparte in 1872. He had been pastor for several
years at West Point, Iowa, and at Bonaparte Just before his death.
He was a good man and left an excellent record. Rev. Edwin Eaton, D.
D., died at Lagrange, Mo., May 10, 1872, aged 54 years. He had been
pastor of the Baptist Church at Muscatine, president of the Iowa
Baptist State Convention and of the Union for Ministerial
Education for the first three years of its existence. " When
choosing his life work, under clear and forcible convictions of
duty, he abandoned the study of law and the prospects of worldly
position and fame, for the ministry." He spent 28 years in his
chosen pursuit. Inconsequence of failing health he resigned the
care of the church at Muscatine, hoping that rest and the genial
influence of a milder climate might restore his exhausted energies.
But soon the Master's voice was heard saying, "Come up higher." " He
was extensively known in Ohio, Michigan and Iowa as an able and
successful minister, a faithful pastor, a thorough scholar and an
earnest advocate for an enlightened ministry." "As a man and a
citizen he commanded, in an eminent degree, the confidence and
respect of the community in which he lived." |
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| Brother Daniel
Johns was drowned in the Mississippi at Comanche, July 13, 1872. He
was a student in the Chicago University and in the Theological
Seminary, and was supplying the church at Comanche. They deeply felt
his loss. A native of Wales, he commenced preaching in that country,
but coming to this country he had entered the institutions above
named, and was n ear completing his course. |
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| In the Keokuk
Association in 1873, Deacon Jonathan Swan and
Father Bristow, of the
Denmark church,- and Father George Moore of Charleston all passed
away. Deacon Swan was a constituent member of the Denmark Church,
and also the last surviving; constituent member of the church in
Massachusetts from which he came. He had lived a Christian over half
a century. Father Bristow was the father of
P. S. Bristow, Esq., of
Des Moines, well known about the capital. Father Moore had followed
the Good Shepherd for 73 years. |
| |
| Page 487 |
| Rev. Ezra Fisher died at
The Dalles, Oregon, November 1, 1874. He was born at Wendel, Mass.,
January 6, 1800, "when Baptists were suffering much persecution in
that state by the established church." He was converted at 18, and
after many struggles to obtain an education graduated from
Newton Theological Seminary in 1829, and was ordained January 17,
1830. He was pastor one year at Cambridge and two years at
Springfield, Vermont, and was very successful in both places,
baptizing at the latter 80 persons. He was sent by the Home Mission
Society, near the close of 1832, to Indianapolis, Ind., one of the
first three missionaries to that state. This was the first work of
the society, and 41 missionaries in all were commissioned that year,
including two general agents. He remained at Indianapolis something
over two years, and in 1836 is found at Quincy, Ill., where he remains, three or four years. In 1840 he was commissioned by the
Society to Scott and Muscatine counties, Iowa. He was very active in
our Iowa work in the years 1841 to 1844-5, when he crossed the
plains and was probably the first Baptist minister to enter
Oregon. In 1846 he organized the first Baptist church west of. the
Rocky Mountains, in Washington county Oregon. In 1847 he and
Hezekiah Johnson were the first two missionaries of the Home Mission
Society on the Pacific Slope. He remained as missionary of the
Society at Astoria and Oregon City until 1852, when he became
General Agent for Oregon Territory. He had special gifts for
teaching, and at one time took charge of the Baptist school at
Oregon City, out of which grew the college at McMinnville. He
continued, however, in pastoral and missionary work until October
1874, when he preached his last sermon. |
| |
| Page 488 |
| The
Beloved Wife of Rev. James Hill of Cascade departed this life March
12, 1874. She was much esteemed and universally lamented. Also in
1875 the church at Maquoketa lamented the removal by death of the
beloved wife of their pastor, Rev. N. F. Hovt.
|
| |
| Rev. John
Bates died in Canada, May 8, 1875, aged 70 years. He was born in Bugbrook, Northamptonshire, England, January 26, 1805. Baptized
December 25, 1829, into the fellowship of the Eagle Church,
Rev.
Joseph Irving, pastor. He early '"turned his thoughts towards the
Christian ministry, intending to go out as a missionary among
the colored people of the West Indies." Not carrying out this
purpose, he afterwards decided to enter the service of the Baptist
Irish Society to work among the Roman Catholics of Ireland. He was
appointed by that body in 1833 and labored at Ballina, Sligo,
and other localities. At Ballina where he continued for nine years,
he baptized 60 persons, the fruit of missionary toil. He was in the
employ of the Baptist Irish Society in all, seventeen years. He
came to America in 1850 and settled in Cascade, where his
efficient labors are noticed in these Sketches. In this state he
"came to be recognized as a power, and his counsels in Association
and Convention were most carefully weighed." He removed to Canada in
1864 and became pastor of the church at Dundas. In 1867 he removed
to Woodstock and became identified with the interests of the
Canadian Literary Institute located there. He was also for six years
pastor of the church at Woodstock and received into its
fellowship by baptism and letter 211 persons. Hero he consecrated
two of his daughters to the Foreign Mission work. Mr. Bates was
truly a man of great power and ardent piety. |
| |
| Page 489 |
| Rev.
E. Loomis died at his home in Emerson, Iowa, August, 6, 1875. He was
"full of years, ripe in Christian experience, loved by all who knew
him and assured of his reward." Rev. Wm. C. Cunningham of the
Southwestern Association, died about 1875. "A young man of more than
ordinary promise," and had not been long in the ministry
Rev. J. C.
Otis died at Glenwood in 1876. See notice on
page 249, in the
history of the Southwestern Association. He had lived an unusually
active and pious life, and died as he had lived glorifying God. |
| |
| Rev. J. W. Roe died at his home in Malvern in October, 1876,
while the State Convention was in session at Des Moines. He was
recognized in the Southwestern Association as one ''whose work in
the Association for a number of years had been a succession of
victories for the Master, culminating in the founding of Malvern
Academy.'' Brother Roe begun his ministry in the Burlington
Association about 1864 as pastor, for a short time, of the Jefferson
Church, and also at Charleston in the Keokuk Association. From 1865
to '67 he labored as Missionary of the Home Missionary Society in
Missouri, in Gentry, Worth, Harrison and perhaps other
counties. In 1868 he returned to Iowa and became pastor at Sidney.
"His life was eminent for usefulness in the upbuilding of churches,
the promotion of all worthy benevolent enterprises, the advancement
of our educational work, and especially was he blessed of God
in leading precious souls to Jesus." |
| |
| Page 489-490 |
Rev. J. B. Peat died in
California November 15, 1876. He was born in England September 24, 1816. His
father died when he was two years old, and his mother when he was
eight, leaving him an orphan. In his young manhood he yielded to the
attractions of America and emigrated to the New World. He was
converted and gave his whole heart and service to the cause of
Christ and won for himself esteem as a zealous and conscientious
preacher. He was ordained in 1860, at Rogers' Grove, Linn county.
Iowa, but owing to poor health he was unable to continue long in
pastoral work. About 1870 he visited California for his health and
received much benefit. He was pastor at, the City of Red Bluff where
he died. "He was very active in Temperance work and other reform
movements," and also with his pen. His first published work was a
pamphlet entitled" The Bible and Pedo-Baptists Against Open
Communion." The title was afterwards changed to "The Bible Against
Open Communion. "The Baptists Examined" is a volume of
considerable size, probably his principal work. He is said to have
published two other works, " Sure," and " Parsonage Pencilings."
|
| |
| Page 490 |
Rev. John Warren, pastor for four or five years of the
Ainsworth Church, died some time in the spring of 1877. "Father
Warren," as he was most fittingly called, "was a man of deep and
fervent piety, of strong faith and thoroughly imbued with a spirit
of consecration to his Master, walking in the ordinances of the Lord
blameless." He was ordained at Chariton, Iowa, about 1859. He was
afterwards pastor at New London, Denmark, and perhaps other places,
and finally at Ainsworth. He was also chaplain of the Penitentiary
at Fort Madison. He had a simple, unobtrusive, unaffected manner,
beautifully manifest in all the walks of life, and won the affection
and esteem of all who knew him.
|
| |
Rev. L. Frescoln of
Brookville died in 1877. He
spent most of his ministerial life in Ohio, where it is said by one
having personal knowledge, " that he served long and faithfully
preaching the word of life to perishing sinners, and gathering many
precious souls to the church."
|
| |
|
Historical Sketch Baptist in Iowa
Chapter LII |
Rev. a. H. Rumbaugh of
Charleston and Rev. G. W. Dowd, near Ottumwa, passed away in
1878. Of Brother
Rumbaugh it is said, "A consistent
Christian, a
zealous worker and a faithful pastor. Brother Dowd was pastor in the Davenport Association as early as 1861, at Zion,
LeClaire, Hickory Grove, and Blue Grass. He was pastor of the
last named for a number of years. |
| |
| Rev. Wm. J. Sparks died at
his home near Moingona, Boone county, June 30, 1878. "Father
Sparks" may well be called the spiritual father of the Baptist
Churches in this part of Iowa. He was born in North Carolina,
and was one of those who forsook the home of their early childhood
to get away from the evils of slavery. He came first to Indiana, and about 1852 removed from there to Boone county, Iowa. He was the first Baptist minister in all that region
of the Des Moines Valley north of the city of Des Moines. He
organized the North Union, Mount Pleasant and Great Bend
Churches and preached and labored with unremitting zeal as the
pioneer in all this region. He had a most tender and
affectionate way of calling his brethren and sisters "My
Father's children," and he will be remembered for many years
for his own fatherly and loving spirit. |
| |
Rev. R. J. Reynolds
died at Ames, August 8, 1879., He was from the state of New York
and had been in Iowa
only a little more than a year. This was
his first and only pastorate in this state. He was a very
earnest and devoted Christian, and was lamented most by those
who knew him best.
|
| |
| Page 492 |
Rev. Wm. Wood of Cedar Falls died July
21, 1879, aged 73
years. He came from the state of Pennsylvania,
where he was well
known for his activity in the ministry, and settled at DeWitt,
Iowa, in 1857. After a few years he removed to Cedar Falls, and
for many years, indeed till near the time of his death, was
actively engaged in missionary and evangelistic work. He was
of fearless and indomitable energy, and rebuked sin with an
unsparing but sanctified zeal. Many souls were by him led to the
cross, and many churches in Northern Iowa can testify to
his success in missionary work. |
| |
| Rev. James Christie Hurd,
M.D., on Sunday, December 21, 1879, while yet in " the
fullness of manhood and activity, suddenly passed away, in a
few hours after preaching to his people with his usual
power." He was born in Nova Scotia, April 17, 1829. "He early
prepared himself for the practice of medicine, but soon felt
that it was his duty to preach the gospel." He became pastor
of the Cedar Street Baptist Church, Buffalo, N. Y., in 1873,
and while in that city occupied an editorial position on the
Buffalo Express. From Buffalo he removed to St. Thomas, Ontario,
and in 1876 came to Iowa and took charge of the Baptist Church
at Marshalltown. In 1878 he became pastor of the 1st Baptist
Church, Burlington, where he " died in the harness " on the date
mentioned above. "Though he had been in Iowa less than four
years, yet by marked ability and consecration to his work, he
had won a place of great power and influence throughout the
state." In October, 1878, he was elected president of the Iowa
Baptist State Convention, which position he filled with
"signal ability" until the time of his death. |
| |
| Rev. Joshua
Hill died at Guthrie Center, December 4, 1879. He came to Iowa
at the age of 70, nearly ten years before his death. But though
so advanced in years he was
an efficient pastor for three years, and a useful member of
the church as long as he lived. |
| |
| Page 493 |
| Rev. Wm. Roney died at
Chicago June 12, 1879, of disease of the heart, aged 64. He was
born within the present limits of Philadelphia, September 6,
1815, graduated from Madison University in 1843, and from
Hamilton Theological Seminary in 1845 and married to Irene B.
Buell in the same year. His first pastorate was with the
Hamilton Baptist Church in Ohio. His last pastorate was in the same state. He was pastor at Clinton, Iowa, in 1868 and '69.
The text of his funeral discourse was one of his favorite
quotations, repeated with great earnestness on his deathbed; "I
know that my Redeemer liveth." |
| |
| Rev. O. L. Critenden died at
New Sharon, February 23, 1880. He was born in Chenango county,
New York, and was 66 years old at the time of his death. He was
educated at Madison University and was ordained in Chautauqua county, New York, in 1844. He had been pastor in the states
of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and for several years at
the 2d Church, Pella, Iowa. He was a man of great
conscientiousness and purity of life. Rev. James Frey, Sr., at
Sigourney, January 3, 1880, Rev. T. C. Briggs at Chickasaw,
January 24, 1880, and Rev. Wilford Whitaker at Iowa Falls, July
9, 1880, make up our record for that year. |
| |
| Rev. F.
A. Gates, of Massilon, Cedar county, died suddenly in
Kansas, October 21, 1880, while visiting his youngest daughter. Born
at Attleboro, Massachusetts, March15, 1810, converted in his youth.
Was in Waterville College from 1833 to '36. Was ordained at
Marietta, Georgia, in 1842. Spent much of his time in teaching, and
preaching occasionally as opportunity
offered. He came to Iowa in 1852. Brother Gates was a life
member of the Baptist State
Convention, used frequently to attend its meetings and
contributed liberally to its work. |
| |
| Page 494 |
Rev. Hiram Burnett died
at his home in Mt. Pleasant, January 8, 1881, in his 82d year.
Born in Georgia in
1799, but removed with his parents when ten
years of age to Winchester, Adams county, Ohio. He was ordained
about 1832, and labored in Ohio for ten years. He came to
Iowa in 1832 and settled at Mt. Pleasant where he labored for
twelve years. Many of the churches in the Burlington and Keokuk
Associations can testify to the untiring activity and devotion of
Father Burnett in the earlier days of their history and
struggles. |
| |
| Rev. Wm. Young
of Charleston, Iowa, died March 25, 1881. He was born in Upper
Canada. Was "born again" in Wapello county, Iowa in 1862, and
ordained at Charleston in 1866. "Through the fifteen years of his
ministerial life many
souls, through him were led to Christ." Rev. Adna Orcutt died at
the home of his son in Kansas City, April 19, 1881, in his 77th
year. He was born in Vermont, removed when 43 years of age to
Rockford, Illinois, was ordained and preached to the Cherry
Valley Church. Afterwards came to Hardin county, Iowa, and
supplied the Hardin City, Point Pleasant, Xenia, and perhaps
other churches. "He was earnest and conscientious in his work,
even going beyond his strength in his old age, to do his Master's service." |
| |
| Rev. Thomas Powell died in Keokuk,
May 14, 1881. He was born in Orange county, Ohio, in December
1837. He entered the ministry before the outbreak of the Rebellion. He went into the army and served part of the time as
chaplain of his regiment. He afterwards preached in Ohio. He
came to Iowa in 1878 and preached to the church at Ft. Madison a
year and nine months, closing April 1, 1880. He preached also at Charleston and West Point. He
had studied law and been admitted to the bar. "He was a man of
marked traits and of true consecration, and as a speaker he
had peculiar ability." |
| |
| Page 495 |
| Rev. Albert G. Ebebhart
died at Waterloo, May 22, 1881, in his 71st year. He was born in
Greensboro, Pennsylvania, in 1810. He was a glass-blower by
trade in early life, and was married in 1833 to Miss Eliza
Evans. He was licensed to preach by the Greensboro Church in
1813, and was ordained as an evangelist in 1844. He first
entered Iowa in 1854 and settled at Muscatine. He was after-wards pastor at Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids, His
pastorates were usually short, but he always left behind him a
healthful religious spirit. He had four or five sons in the army
of the Union, and he served for a time as chaplain of the 12th
Iowa Infantry. "Life's fitful fever over, he rests well."
Rev.
A. W. Russell died at Lake City, June 5, 1881, at the age of 64.
He came into Iowa in 1855, and was well known as one of our
active ministers, as a missionary and a pastor, in the
earlier years. |
| |
| Rev. Alva Bush, L.L.D., Principal of Cedar Valley
Seminary, died June 26, 1881, at Osage. He was
stricken with paralysis, in the street, June 23, and lived but
three days. He was born January 25, 1830, and was married in
1853 to Eliza J. Moore of Jamestown, New
York. His education was, mainly, received at Jamestown Academy and
at Burlington
University, Iowa. He was ordained pastor of the church at
Strawberry Point in November, 1859, and was afterwards pastor at
Fayette, and instructor in the Upper Iowa University. In 1863 he
went to Osage and began the Cedar Valley Seminary, where we
have already traced his most honorable career for eighteen
years. He was recognized as one of Iowa's ablest educators. "A
thorough scholar himself, he
impressed upon his pupils his own methods of thought and study.
His bearing and presence were an inspiration to those who
learned of him." "Thus in many respects was Prof. Bush a model
man.'' |
| |
| Page 496 |
| Rev. J W. Denison passed to his rest in 1881. He
was born in New York, April 9, 1818. He entered the
ministry in 1846 and served successively the churches at
Upper Alton, Brimfield and Rock Island, Ill. His health failing,
he came to Iowa in 1856 as agent and co-partner of the
Providence Western Land Company, and entered over 20,000 acres of
land in Crawford county. Here he settled down, founded the
town of Denison, and during his first year of residence here
organized the Denison Baptist Church, of which he was pastor
until 1863. After his retirement "every successive pastor found
in him a judicious counselor, an earnest co-laborer, and a
warm personal friend." |
| |
| Rev. C. G. Smith
died at
Creston, Iowa, in September, 1881. He was born at Homer, N. Y.,
November 27, 1813, and was baptized at the age of 18 by Elder A.
Bennett. He attended school at a Methodist institution at
Cazenovia, N. Y., and while there became a Methodist, but in
1837 returned to the Baptist faith and was licensed to preach. He went to Ohio and preached with success, then to Michigan, where he formed a Baptist church and was ordained as
pastor. After a very active ministerial life and much affliction
he came to Iowa and went on a farm, and afterwards passed on
to his reward above. |
| |
| The records of 1881 bear the names of
two deacons and one beloved sister, in addition to the long and
notable list of ministers, who went to their rest. Deacon Edwin
Cady at Danville, December 14, 1880, Deacon Azel Pratt at
Waukon, February 19, 1881, and the beloved wife of Brother H. H. Smith of Davenport, December
10, 1880. Of Deacon Cady "Rev. G. J. Johnson once said that in
all his extensive travels and acquaintance, he never met with a
more benevolent man." The present writer can attest the same
characteristic in a remarkable degree. Deacon Pratt "was an
honored servant of the Lord, identifying himself with all the
interests of the denomination to which he belonged," Of
sister
Smith it is said, "Some who come to earth are ever found in the
chambers of the dying. They comfort the bereaved, they lift up
the fallen, they nerve the faltering, they lead reforms and are
first in the church. Such a person was Sister H. H. Smith of
Davenport, who died in that city December 10, 1880, after
four years of protracted suffering. She was born February
25th, 1819, and was baptized by Dr. Gillett
into the 11th
Baptist Church of Philadelphia in 1838. Was married to H. H. Smith in 1842, and moved to Davenport in 1850. |
| |
| Page 497 |
Rev.
Philemon Perky Shirley died since 1880, we believe at Cheyenne.
He was born December 16, 1827, in Hancock county, Indiana, was
converted and baptized in 1840, and in 184L his parents moved to
Iowa. Thirsting for knowledge, he studied, taught, and preached
among the destitute, until, with a fair knowledge of natural science, he entered Madison University, New York. In 1854he
became pastor at Grafton where he was ordained. About 1855 he
returned to Iowa. He labored with many churches in Illinois and
Iowa, much of the time as an evangelist and helper of other pastors,
and baptized about 1,000 converts. In 1879 he went with his family
to California, and became pastor at Petaluma, but
poor health preventing continuous pulpit work, he had returned
part way back towards the east when he was called home.
Sympathetic, genial and eloquent he continued to plead with men
to accept the gospel as long as he had strength.
|
| |
| Page 498 |
| Rev. Joseph T. Robert, LL. D., president
of Atlanta Seminary, died in that city, since 1880. (The
date in the two last cases not known.) He was born in Robertville, S.C, November, 1807. He was baptized in October,
1822, at Robertville, and in 1825 entered Columbian College, Washington, D. C. He was graduated with the first honors of
his class at Brown University in 1828. In 1882 he was licensed
to preach by the Robertville Church and entered Furman
Theological Seminary, where he remained two years, and was
ordained pastor of his home church in 1834 and in 1839 removed
to Kentucky to become pastor at Covington. He returned south again
about 1848, and was pastor at Savannah, Georgia, and in
1850 was called to Portsmouth, Ohio. About 1856 he came to Iowa,
and lived a year or so on a little farm and preached at Ottumwa.
He then became Professor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
in Burlington University. In 1864 he was secured by the Iowa
State University as Professor of Languages, and in 1869
accepted the presidency of Burlington University. The
necessity of a milder climate soon took him back to Georgia,
where he accepted, in 1871 the care of the Augusta Institute for
colored ministers established by the American Baptist Home Mission
Society, which was removed to Atlanta, in 1879 and incorporated with
the Atlanta Baptist Seminary under the
presidency of Dr. Robert, "A scholar of the highest order
and a perfect Christian gentleman." Dr. Robert was of Huguenot
descent. As a preacher and theologian he was sound
and learned, a scholar of wide proficiency. |
| |
| Rev. Daniel
Jewett died in the spring of 1882. He came to Iowa in 1844 and
settled in Van Buren county. We have no statistical data of his
life. Rev. Edward Otis, pastor of the Hayden Grove Church, died
September 1, 1882. He was born in Ohio in 1816, and after three
years residence in Illinois,
removed to Iowa in 1856. Nearly fifty years a Christian,
and twenty-three years a pastor, he was for seventeen years
of the time pastor of the Hayden Grove Church. He was a faithful
minister of the gospel and a devout and zealous Christian. (See
page 386.) Dea. Spencer Allen of Anamosa, departed this life in
1882,aged 72. He had been a member of the Anamosa church
sixteen years. He was greatly afflicted with Asthma for several
years, but did not give up doing good. He was greatly
interested in church-building and in Home and Foreign
Missions, and made liberal provisions for both in the final
disposition of his property. He left an earnest, Christian
''helpmeet"' who still lives to continue his good works.
Clement
Leach, Jr., died after only four years residence in Iowa in
1882. Educated for the law, but, "compelled by failing sight to
relinquish that profession, he sought to live for Christ." He
had been an efficient helper in the Sunday School at Galesburg,
Illinois. Mrs. A. Plumley, wife of the veteran Missionary,
Rev.
A. Plumley, died at Goldfield, March 3, 1882. "Her life was
devoted to the cause of Christ from childhood." As a wife and
mother faithful and loving, her last work was work for the
Master. Mrs. Burkholder, wife of
Rev. J. C. Burkholder, died at
her home in Dakota. She was well known in Iowa where her husband
preached for many years. |
| |
| Page 499 |
| Rev. James H. Pratt died February
6, 1883 at Atlantic, Iowa. (See page 398.) He had been but a
few years in Iowa, but had attached himself to those who knew
him, especially at Emerson and Atlantic where he served as
pastor. "As a pastor lie was kind, full of sympathy, like the
Master, ready to do the Master's bidding. As a preacher,
clear in statements of truth, sympathetic in its utterance,
and earnest in its vindication. He ranked among our best men in
all departments of ministerial life." |
| |
| Page 500 |
Rev. A. C. Sangster died at Iowa City, January 3,
1883, in the 86th year of his age. He was born in London,
England, March 6, 1797. His father was a member of the East India
Company. He was ordained to the Baptist ministry in
1822, at Dummo, Essex. He came to America in1832, and preached
in a number of places in New York, city and state, and in
Michigan, and in 1861 he came to Iowa, and though already advanced
in years he served acceptably the churches at Downey,
Richmond, Lone Tree, and Columbus Junction, besides preaching
betimes at other places. For six years he was confined to his
room, where thrice a day he prayed that he might be'
permitted to go away and be with Jesus. He retained his memory
to the last to a wonderful degree, and from a mind richly
stored with choice Scripture and Hymns, he brought forth for his
own encouragement and the edification of all." Some-times the
old fire would "flame up again and again, and he would say,
"I believe I could preach better than I ever could." It has been
the present writer's privilege to meet few men whose minds were
so richly stored with spiritual truth.
|
| |
Rev. Thomas
W. Clark died at DeWitt May 11, 1883, after a residence there of
forty-three years. So says the Obituary Report of 1883. The
earliest record we find of his name in the minutes is in 1858,
where he is named as coming into Iowa in 1857. It is possible he
may then have returned from a temporary absence from the state,
having entered the ministry in the mean time. He was born in
Queen's county. New Brunswick, February 24, 1808, and removed to
Stark county, Ohio, in 1830. He was the founder of the DeWitt
Church and for many years the pastor, and was always a ready
and willing worker in every good cause. The later years of his
ministerial work he labored in the capacity of an evangelist,
and under his faithful labors
many feeble churches were strengthened and enlarged."
Mrs. P. P.
Golding, a constituent member of the church at Mechanicsville,
died during the summer of 1883. "She became a life member of the
Iowa Baptist State Convention in 1868, and often manifested a
grateful remembrance of the Board for its aid to the weak
church of which she was a member, as well as a deep interest
in the work throughout the state."
|
| |
| Page 501 |
| Rev. Jeremiah Hall, D. D., died within the last few years, having resided of late
years at Port Huron, Michigan. He was born at Swanzey, New
Hampshire, May 21,1805. Baptized in 1816, in 1847 he was
admitted by Madison University to the degree of Master of
Arts, and in 1854 the degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by Shurtleff College. He took the regular course of studies in
Newton Theological Institution, finishing in 1880. He was
ordained February 3, 1831 in Westford, Vermont, and preached
there and at Fairfax, and afterwards at Bennington. He was much
interested in the founding of institutions of learning. In the
spring of 1885 he removed to Michigan, and through his influence
Kalamazoo College was located where it was, financial
obligations assumed to secure it causing him afterwards " great'
embarrassment and loss."' In 1853 he was elected president of
Granville College, Ohio, and soon after entering upon his
duties the name was changed to Denison University. He lived
for a number of years at Waverly, Iowa, and at Shell Rock,
where he was pastor of the Baptist church. It was the writer's
lot to be one of his early successors at Shell Rock, and to
take knowledge of the most excellent influence and Godly
testimony of his life and work while there. |
| |
| Page 502 |
Rev. Eber Crane
died at Mt. Pleasant, April 4, 1884 in the 76th year of his
age. He was born in Killingsworth, Conn. He was converted in his seventeenth year. Recognizing in early life the divine call to preach the gospel, he spent three years at the South Reading Academy, and in
1831 entered Newton Theological Seminary and graduated in 1832,
and was soon after ordained pastor of the Baptist Church at
Amesbury, Mass. He came west to Ohio under appointment of the
Home Mission Society, and "served with much acceptance, churches
at Akron, McConnellsville and Garrettville." In August 1853,
he came to Mt. Pleasant, and though he held no pastorate in this
state, "spent the declining years of his life in supplying
pastor-less churches near his home." "Like a shock of corn
fully ripe he was gathered to his fathers."
|
| |
Rev. H. N.
Millard died in the Hospital at Independence. May 2d, 1884 He
was born in the state of New York, February 16, 1833. He came to
Iowa in 1853, and was afterwards converted and joined the
Baptist church at Comanche. He was ordained March, 26, 1872, and
settled as pastor of the church at Lyons, where he served two
years, followed by three years at Mechanicsville. "Here his
ministry was blessed to the conversion of over twenty souls." He
was pastor next at Boone, Iowa, nearly four years, and over
fifty were" baptized. For the last year and a half of his
ministry he was pastor of the Mt. Pleasant and Pilot Mound
Churches, and Missionary of the Convention. He was "a good
minister of Jesus Christ," kind and loving, and pure in heart
and life. "Greatly loved by all classes, and especially by the
young." Rev. John Wilson died at Winfield in 1884. He was
lately from England, a student of Spurgeon's College. And
Dea. Robert Cole, at Council Bluffs, February 22, 1884.
Brother Cole
was long a useful member of the Mt. Pleasant Church and was
well and favorably known all over southeastern Iowa. We close
our Obituary Notes with 1884. The annals of 1885 and '86 contain extended lists which rapidly
closing space will not permit us to copy, even in condensed
form. We may add here the suggestion that those possessing
themselves of these Sketches, by taking care to obtain and
preserve the Annuals of the two last and of succeeding[years, may
have quite an unbroken history both in this and all other
departments.
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| Page 503 |
| For the facts given in the foregoing notes, of
the long list of soldiers of the cross who have done duty in
Iowa in some part of their service, and have received promotion,
we have not been dependent upon any one source of information, but have drawn upon a variety of different sources, and
have been aided in many instances by a long and intimate
personal knowledge of the individuals. For convenience of
reference we mention here the names of those who have been called up
higher during the last two years, referring to the
respective Annuals for the facts of their lives. Professor David
Forrester Call at his home in Iowa City, August 1885.
Mrs.
Josephine Webber Bowman, the beloved wife of
Hon. M. T. Y.
Bowman of Des Moines, at the time the president of the State
Convention, in November 1885. Rev. Wm. H. Turton at his
home in Farmington, Iowa, December 19, 1884, in the 78d year of his
age. Rev. Nathaniel Hays in the 72d year
of his age. Ordained in 1849, and came to Iowa in 1856. Baptized over 500
converts in the States of Illinois and Iowa. Rev. M. Terwilliger
at Murray, September 16, 1885. in the 71st year of his age.
Deacon Gideon Bear at Richmond, Iowa, in his 75th year.
Sister
Howell, wife of Rev. A. F. Howell, at Toledo, Iowa, June 4,
1885. Converted in London, England, under the preaching of
D.
L. Moody, married in 1875, and came with her husband to Iowa
in 1884. Rev. J. M. Mack, at Boyden, Sioux county, Iowa, March
15, 1885, in his 76th year. |
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| Page 504 |
| Rev. Thomas Miller, thirty-five years a pioneer minister in
Southern Iowa, the father of our missionary. Sister, L. Ella
Miller, died in Kansas in 1885. Rev. Thomas C. Townsend at
Sidney, Iowa, March 5, 1885, in the 87th year of his age.
Ordained in 1834. Deacon Major W. Rudd, one of the constituent
members of the Iowa Baptist State Convention, at his home in
Washington, Iowa, March 25, 1885. Rev. J. Hendrickson, "doing a good work among the Danes in our state," died of
apoplexy
at Independence, December 17, 1886, in his 59th year. Rev.
Andrew E. Lovegreist, at his home in Forest City July 17, 1886,
only thirty-three years old. Rev. Lyman Stillson, the Hero
Missionary, at his home in Jefferson, Iowa, March 23, 1886, in
his 82d year. Rev. Elisha R. Swain, April 7, 1880, aged 85
years, 1 month and 25 days. Rev. A. D. Abbott at Delhi, August
11, 1886. Deacon Albion Parsons at his home in Burlington in
1886. Dea. Samuel Harlan at his home in Atlantic, in October
1886. Mrs. Ruth Prey, wife of Rev. James Prey of Sigourney,
April 1, 1886. Mrs. Eliza C. Critenden", widow of Rev. O. L. Critenden May 19, 1886, at Des Moines.
Mrs. Ada Garton Dewey, a
life member of the Convention, daughter of W. L. Garton of Des
Moines, in 1886. Rev. Lewis Brasted. (See page
132.) Rev. Archibald L. Parr at his home in Florida in the fall of 1886, at
the age of 60. "The end of a noble, useful and beautiful life."
Some of his most successful work was done at Iowa Palls in our
state. Dea. Penny of the Pisgah Church. A shock of corn fully
ripe," late in 1886. And now as we clode this record of lives
translated from works to re-wards; as in our mind's eye we gaze
upward towards the golden streets; as we think of Him who ascended before, may we not hear the angels salving, as to the
astonished disciples, "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven",
this same Jesus which is taken lip from you into heaven, shall
so come again in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven." "Even so, come Lord Jesus." |
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