Cressy, Rev. Timothy R.

CRESSY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/18/2007 at 19:47:57

Historical Sketches of Iowa Baptists, 1886

REV. TIMOTHY R. CRESSY 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 Hingham, 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, 1846, he became pastor of First Baptist Church, Indianapolis. Here he remained six years and secured the erection of a meeting house seating 400, 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 going home.”