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L. B. Cat. No. 1137

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Truman 0 . Doug la s s :

BUILDERS OF A COMMONWEALTH

Vol. IX

1875-1379

L&ruy * AkWvm (4 BEACON STftflET BOSTON, MA 02 i«

I

taw u

Dill M

LI8?C OF SKETCHES

Page

George Gr« Perkins 5

Samuel Jones 14

David G. You3:er • 15

Jonathan Cop eland. 25

Setii A. Arnold 29

Andrew 7. Archibald 53

Nathan H. Whittlesey 59

Sidney Crawford 75

Isaac 0. hughes 82

Amos Jones 85

Gilbert 2indell . 88

George Eir.dley 90

George Sterling 93

Richard H. Burgess 95

Joseph "1, healy 103

Charles 3. Cragin 106

Ezra E. houlton 117

Samuel J. Beach 132

Evan E« Martin 141

filliam A. '.Taterman 145

' > ' " •/1> ***

n>' U v/ I

Eugene L« Sfeaafman	156
Reuben R, 17ood	161
Arthur 3. Arnold	164
Charles 0. Half rah	167
Charles C. Pameter	179
Alexander 3. MoConnell	101
John ?Tesle7 Horner	184
Frederick E. -Bangs	1G6
Charles W. Tfiley	188
Henry lees	191
Calvin^S. Adams	192
7illiam Irving Phillips	195
John Barnes	206
George C, lochridge	£06
John M. Ilclone:-	Nib
Harlot S. Ilills	214
Chaunce-- J. Riohardson	ES2
Charles TT ■ Rogers	226
-»3^ \j oun ur^Tiian	23c<
Trederick H. Magouu	236

Page

John T. Barrett 243

Augustus J. Belknap 245

Cyrus Hamlin 247

Alonso Rogers 250

Walter Hadford 252

Roswell Poster 254

Julian II. Sturtevant 256

William H. Atkinson 276

Stephen L. Smith 287

Norman LIcLeod 290

David Jenkin 516

Prank G. Woodworth 318

William Plested 321

Albert LI. Beman 322

George V, Dorsey 331

Asa E. Everest 333

Charles L. Corwin 356

Joel G. Sabin 337

Nicholas LI. Clute 340

Henry S. Pish 343

Page

Robert Kerr 544

Uorris S. Davis 346

Edward Kimball 348

Thomas Kent 352

Lester L. 7est 554

Fergus L. Kenyon 560

Jesse F. Taintor 562

Robert 3. 'xhompson 564

Joseph B. Sharp 365

Q. 0. Todd 566

Albert H. Thompson 568

llelatiah i£« Dwight 571

Timothy 3. Brainard 574

John 1, Ferner 575

James R. Knodell 582

John B. '.Theeler 416

I.Iilo Kobart 418

Eark LI. Thompson 420

Ozro A. Thomas 421

George '7. Dungan 440

Page

John F. Gravre 442

John K, Chalmers 444

Henry Avery 446

Joseph D. Baker 450

John H. Gurney 451

T/illiam H. Thomas 455

James A. Eoyt 456

Franklin Li. Cooley 459

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VOLULJS IX. 1875--1879

In this half decade, our pioneer days substantially came to an end, although there 77ere pioneer conditicns in spots, much later, -vfc this time, Father Chauncey i'aylor complains t]:at incoming preachers and churches have cut into his territory, so t..at ne has only one county left for his parish, but he comforts himself tiiat he finds one section within his reach, "very new, many of the families still living in sod houses, and it seemed like old times to see them gathering from every direction to their sod school- house, some with teams, and some on foot, picking t..eir way around or through the sloughs, "hey filled the house, so that I could neither spread myself, nor stretch myself, as I could not stand straight, without hitting the crush and grass of the roof."

In this volume may be found sketches of a large number o£ men who have done notable service in Iowa and other parts of the world. Among them are Andrew Archibald, dis- tinguished preacher and author; Eenry Avery, sworn enemy to slavery and tl.e saloon, but full of the milk of human kindness and quite humor; Samuel J. -.each, builder of church- es, everybody's friend, and great in his simplicity; L. Eve- rett Dwight , musician, theologian, and philanthroptist ; John ".Tesley Ferner, preacher, pastor, and one of the people;

Charles C. Harrah, ecclesiastic, democratic, and a big brother; Cyrus Hamlin, scholar, college professor and mis- sionary by inheritance, nature and grace; Ferg-us L. Kenyon, teacher, preacher, and father of a distinguished son; James R« Knodell, brilliant, brany, preacher, pastor, missionary leader, temperance advocate and a good fellow; Alexander 3. ..-cOonnell, an orthodox i-resbyterian , and a liberal Congre- gationalist and content to abide long in one place; Preder- ick i.;agoun, a flaming torch too soon consumed; ITorman 11c- Leod, of the stuff out of which heroes and martyrs are made Harlow Hills, the country parson and the bishop of churches Jzra C. I.loulton, oust himself and nobody else, a great preacher and a man with a big heart; Charles E. Hogers , a social dynamic, and a preacher of righteoiisness; Julian II. Sturtevant , a big boy, and a big man, and a big brother, in love with all the boys, and all the boys in love tri%h him; Jesse 'Taintor, pastor, college professor, gentle, graoious, but with a mighty grip on people and on the truth Tilliam a. "aterman, forceful, aggressive, evangelistic, and of strong personality; Fathan H. Whittlesey, one of the loveliest of men, a knacky preacher, and a friend to needy ministers; Lester 1. Test , a mystic, 'in love with Jesus', a poet, and a practical preacher; and ]?rank G-. 'Toodworth, an Iowa boy who made good in the pulpit and in the College presidency at xougaloo , Miss*, etc., etc., etc.

T7e begin with George G. Perkins, a personage builder, and what else one may learn as he reads.

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First sketch,

George G. Perkins.

In reply to a request for an ant obi o graphical sketch, Mr, Perkins sends substantially the following:

George Goodwin Perkins, son of Solomon and Armine (Good- win) Perkins, was born in Pittsfield, Hew Hampshire, February 17, 1833. Che family removed to Exeter in the same grfcate when George i*ras a child, and this place became the family home where were reared seven children, he being the eldest. Ehe locality has been and is known as "Perkins kill," and is still owned and occupied by one of the family.

Eis parents brought him in early life to the house of the lord, and the associations of his people, and the impressions there made, were abiding and influential in all his life. In subsequent years, he lost sight to some extent of the true object and end of life, obedience to God, and service to humanity, but by a gracious providence, though afflicted in its inception, his vision was illumi- nated, and he saw clearly, and the all-sorbing question with him became: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" — e united .'itn one church oil wnich »iis parents were mem— bers, the "Tesleyan Lethodists, and there was encouraged to enter the ministry as his life work. He came to this decision when he had enjoyed only the advantages fo the public school and the academy of his native state.

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he v:as licensed to preach and took missionary work in Worcester and hranklin counties, llassachusetts , in which, he continued some years, teaching school, however, a part of the time. In 1856, he was given the charge of East Douglas. In 1857, the Jtew England conference met there, and he was ordained to the work of the gospel. ministry . Ee served another year at East Douglas, and was then given the charge at Dennis, Massachusetts, where he remained tWfl years.

About this time, he decided to seek affiliation With the congregational Church, and with this in view, he located at idddleborough, united with the Congregational church, and entered upon a course of stu&j, in connection with Pierce academy, then a prominent institution; he also supplied churches in the vicinity.

In 1860, the Plymouth Association of Congrega- tional l.Iinisters met in the vicinity, and he came before it, submitted his credentials, was examined, and received to membership, and recommended to the churches; and here began his connection with the ministry of the Congregational denominat ion .

It was his purpose to continue longer and else- where with studies, but a very serious sickness led him to change his plan, and on his recovery, he was called to the pastorate at Lakeville , an adjoining town. After two years of service here, in 1863, he was called to East Taunton, a continuous field.

Impressed that %hQ tfesfc and South T.vas a needy part of the greau field in our country, ne resigned in 1866, at 3ast Taunton, and, bearing tiw ooramission of the American home Llissionary Society, located at Kidder, Mo. A church of seven members had been organized a year or so before, and this was the only one in the village, and it remained so during nearly all the five years he was pas- tor there.

In 1871, he closed his work at Kidder, and took the Hamilton church six miles east. It had a membership of about seventy. In November of 1871, Mr, Perkins reports five years of Home Llissionary labor in the state as follows

"Five ;ears of my missionary labor in Liissouri came to an end to-day, and I may be pardoned if, at the close of this half decade of missionary work, my report shall look backward and forward. !f

"Five years ago, I left 'the Cld Bay State' with wife and five children, to take charge of the church in Kidder, then numbering seven members. Within this time, it has increased more than tenfold. The Sabbath School has grown in proportion, and was, six months since, one of the most interesting and profitable that I have known.

The congregation also grew, and became liomogeneous a

most desiraole thing in this Te stern field. Thile doing what we could to aid the college enterprise, we also gave much work to the elementary school, and had the satisfac- tion of seeing it grow up from almost nothing, and become

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second to none of its grade in this section.

"I write this, not for self-glorification, for we have come fur short of duty, and while we find reason for encouragement, there is none for boasting---exce it in the Lord- — but that it may go on the record, that the time and the money spent in this work T.-;ere not in vain."

"To this church at hamilton, I had given one service a Sabbath for about one year previous to accepting their call, and they received about twelve, I think, to their communion, and also erected a small, but neat and comfortable house of worship. To God be all the glory! We have simply been the instrument he has vised, with ot- hers, to accomplish something for his glory, and the good of men. The record of the five years is made up; its re- sults, doubtless, seem trifles to many; but eternity may show that momentous consequences arc connected With them."

"Si:: months since, I accepted the call of this church to become its pastor, on certain conditions, as to support, that have not been quite realized, but I am willing to divide the burden with the people. Though looking upon the undertaking as something like 'leading a forlorn hope,' I felt willing to enter upon it, believing that time, pa- tience, perseverance, and wisely directed efforts, will give us here a self-supporting church. This is very de- sirable, if our educational enterprise at Ilidc'er is to be a success, "hat could have been done with comparative ease two or three years since, is now more difficult; others .—.ving come in and diverted elements that under wise

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management might ::ave subserved our cause. We find things to enoourage both in the review and the prospect. "Cur suf- ficiency is of God," and re believe that he Will answer the prayer of His faithful ones in this little church, and make it an instrument of salvation to men."

It need not be said that Mr., Perkins was in Mis- souri in the days of reconstruction after the War, a time when churches were being multiplied, and institutions found- ed. Thayer College began its work at Hidder, but owing to adverse conditions, after a few years of great expectations, it ceased to be. It is a matter of devout .thanks giving to God that 'Didder Institute" a few years after, entered into and now occupies the field, and is one of our most flourish- ing schools of its kind in the state.

His nearly ten years at Kidder and Hamilton was a period of fou.ndation work, ctnd he was often called to aid in the organization of churcr.es, to preach inschool houses near by these towns, and in two instances, at Gallatin and Breckenridge , supplying each for some months. The late Rev, 3, B. Turner, one of the I ov a Band, was superintendant of the American Home hissionai^y Society during this time. During his administration covering a period of twelve years, more than seventy churci.es were organized in the state.

In 1871, hr. ±erkins was electee a delegate from the local association to the "ational Council, which met in Cberlin Ohio, at which meeting, the system of Triennial Councils for the churches was inaugurated.

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In 1875, he closed his work in Missouri, and ac- cented a oall to the church at Ames, and held the relation of paster for five years. During this time, a parsonage was erected, and numerous accessions were made to the church, its permanency secured, and its influence greatly increased.

Prom Ames, llr. Perkins reports in Hay of 1875, as follows:

"Tfithin the year, about fifty have been added to the church. £he Sabbath School has increased in about the same ratio, a parsonage has been built, and payment provided for, and the church will try to be self-supoorting hereafter. So here closes, for the present, my relation to the Society as one of its missionaries, a position which I have held for nearly ten years in the 'Test. In behalf of the church and myself, I hereby express thanks for the aid given. I can assure you it has been deserved as well as appreciated. Tho the relation of dependents on the Society will cease, we rill not forget its needs, and the grandly important work its represents and its prosecuting; nor can I forget the pleasant relations which have existed through my years of connection with it. God bless the American home I.lissicnary Society, its officers, its work, its laborers, and all its supporters! The wise and considerate care of its officers, their sympathy with all the toils and privations incidental to the work, have often sustained, relieved, and comforted myself and family; and so many others can testify.1'

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"Those helpers who aid in this cause , by forwarding to the families of missionaries, articles useful to them, 'boxes,' carrying comfort and supplying needs, which gene- rally would not be otherwise afforded, deserve grateful mention, and will verily 'receive their reward.'"

During I.lr. Perkins1 pastorate at Ames, an after- noon appointment was kept up most of the time five miles north of Ames , near what is now known as Gilbert, and a small church was organized in February of 1880, the lute Be v. Rphraim Adams, Superintendent of the American home Missionary Society, being present. It was understood that the Chicago and Northwestern hailroad was coming that way , and there would be a station near, which in time became a fact, and Gilbert Station became the site of the new town. Under those who succeeded to the work on the Ames field, this church lias grown in numbers and influence , and has been doing faithful work for the Master all these wears.

In 1880, Mr* _erkins took the pastorate of the church at Avooa, and served there nearly four wears. I)uring this time, a parsonage was bought and enlarged, and some goodly additions we're made to the church. About the time he 'went to .avoca, a small church had been organized about fifteen miles south, at what ?/as then ImoT.ni as Big Grove, later, the name was changed to Oakland. It had never had regular preaching until I.lr. Perkins began there, in 1861. Ee held his first service in a recently vacated saloon, empty beer kegs serving in part for seats, This appointment

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was ketp up while he was on the field, and before he left, a small house of worship costing about $2,000 was built and dedicated, Sup't T% 0. Douglass preaching cn the occasion. This church lias grown in numbers and influence , and in re- cent years, has built a second and much larger house.

In September of 1685, i.lr. Perkins accepted the call of the church at Spencer, and served it seven years. This period was one of considerable growth for the church and 3abbath School, and it was felt that a larger house of wor- ship was a necessity, and a site for a new building was bought and paid for before he left the field, and the fol- lowing year, in the pastorate of his successor, a large and fine edifice was erected.

During his pastorate also, the parsonage was en- Ij.r^ec;., and all oills upon it paid. Here, also, as in most of the fields where he preached, he had school house ap- pointments. Here, he had appointments west and south of tnie town. A church was orgainsed in the southern neighbor- hood, soon after he left the field. If©r a second time, Mr. Perkins was a delegate to the national council, which met at VTorcaeter, hassacwu^etts , In 1680.

In 1890, he was called to Hock Rapids. In this pastorate a new parsonage was bouglrt and paid for, and a number of persons were received to membership. At the end of the third year, he resigned this charge, and, with his wif e , visited the pacific Coast, spending most of the time

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at Tacoma, Washington, where his son was located. Ee return- ed to the Interior in 1894, and took the pastorate at Blair, Nebraska. This pastorate was brought to a close in 1897, by a serious sickness, which compelled him to retire for a season.

At this time, he visited his native state, spend- ing a number of months at Exeter, Hew Hampshire. Hear the beginning of the year, 1898, he took work under the I. ft« H« Mi S., on the FwOdney field, and continued there for nearly two years, at which time he accepted an invitation to supply for six months at Rogers, Arkansas; and at the end of that time, he was called to the xjastorate, in which he served two years.

In 1902, he retired from active work, and located at Iloline, Illinois, where he has since resided.

La*. Perkins was married liar oh 6, 1856, at -Princeton, Ilassachusetts , to Emily A. Cleveland, who deceased January 1, 1909, in her seventy-fifth year, at Daytona, Florida. Sight children were born to them, six of whom were still living in 1914. It waa a family of girls, there being only one boy in the group.

M». Perkins1 ministry was in five states, Liassachu- setts, llissouri, Iowa, Tebraska, and Arkansas. His longest time of service, which was ever twenty years, was in Iowa. Since locating at Lloline , ;.e has served occasionally as supply for churches in the city and vicinity. GrOd has led him in ways he knew not, but being God's :way, it must

have been "best for him* The churches served in nearly half a century of continuous work, are almost without exception alive, and have gror/n in numbers, influence, and power, in their various localities, and a goodly number are now strong and influential for the work of the Kingdom.

xiS he nears his four score years, with nearly half a century in the active work of the gospel ministry, his confidence in the great fundamental facts of the gos- pel is unshaken, and more strongly than ever, he believes it to be: "the power of God unto salvation," the one ade- quate remedy for a sinful world, bringing light, hope, and life to those in darkness and in sin, and opening the vistas of a glorious immorality.

It is n©W nearly forty years since my acquaint- ance with Brot'.er Perkins began. It is not often that one has occasion to apeak of a "handsome man," but the appella- tion is not inaptly applied to Rev. G. &« Perkins, and, ra- ther strange to say, he selected a pretty wife; and the chil dren all "tookafter" their parents. "Handsome as a picture, was the picture of the Perkins family.

The social qualities of the man, and of the house- hold, were of the highest order. This was one cf the ele- ments of his strength in his pastoral work.

His preaching was good and wholesome , as it was also traditional and orthodox. He could not be called an original thinker. His pulpit utterances and his manners were eminently proper and correct.

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Ee was not a Billy Sunday, but he was mildly evangelistic and the churches rjj&er iiis care ".ere built up in numbers as in other resoects. He made no attempt at authorship beyond his sermons. He gave nineteen years of valuable service to our Xqwl churches.

It v.'ill be seen from the foregoing narrative tnat he was a parsonage -builder. His family demanded a comfor- table home, and everywhere he preached in Iowa, a new parsonage was built, or the old one greatly improved. The years of Ms public ministry fell a little short of a half century. In 1914, he was still hail and hearty. In Ifey of that year, he attended the meeting of the State Confer- ence at ilarshalltown v here one of his daughters resides. Ee expressed to me the private opinion that the present State Conference was not as good as the old association used to' be. .imong the builders of Iowa, we count this good man, George Goodwin Perkins.

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Sao olid sketch,

Samuel Jones.

Samuel Jones, son of Fionas Jones, was born in Bethsadia, ITorth Tales, I'ebruary 15, 1829. His education 7TQ.S almost entirely obtained from private study. In 1851, he married Elizabeth Owens, of Bethsadia.

Ee v/as ordained by Council at hiddle G-reenville, 3ffew York, December 3, 1864. I?rom 18G4 to 1872, he vjas pastor in this place. he then came to Iowa, and for two years, 1872-1874, r;as pastor of the '."Telsh church at long Greek. He then put in a pastorate of ten years' duration, 1874-1884, at G-omer, in Ilontgomery county. IText, he spent three years, 1884-1887, with our 'Telsh church at Cleveland. In 1891 and 189.^, he was pastor at Carroll, Nebraska. Here he died of pneumonia, February 17, 1904, aged seventy- five years and four days.

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Third sketch,

David Sdo&wifc Youker.

Of his life work, and of some of his experiences, Brother Youker speaks for himself as follows:

"Qowrie, Iowa,, "August 24, 1914.

"Dear Brother Douglass:

"In reply to yours of the 6th inst . , I \ ould gay I delayed writing because I thought it unnecessary. I took it for granted that you knew more about me than I know about myself; and that what you did not hno %q not worth kno77ing. But on looking over the list of truest ions you propounded, I concluded that there might be a possible need of refreshing your memory.

"I -.-as born in -rescott, Oanada, once after I got there, of German Scotch parentage; and once before I left there, of hlethodist parentage. Jfly f at -.er 's name was John Youker. he was born at Youker !s Bush, Few York. My mother was Christiana C-oo&win, born in 01 as gov;, 2 cot land. I was the eighth of tv;elve children, seven sons and five daughters .

"TThen I was twelve year3 of age, mother died; and from that time until I l.eA a home of my ov.n, I never knev;

hat a home meant. At that tender age, I vent out into thjs world to make my ov.n way, to get my ov.n education, and to build my ovn character. I might be called a self-made man; and that., you might say, vould relieve the almighty of a

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great responsibility. However that may bo, I think I did <_uite well to finish the Grammar School, and commence teach- ing whan I v/as seventeen. At the age of twenty, I was con- verted in a hethodist revivs.l.

"I was born 27-ovembor 27, 1841, and born again November 1G, 1851. hfter my conversion, I did not unite with any church. I had been brought in childhood in the Scotch Presbyterian church. '.Then my spiritual eyes '..ere opened, I saw some things in that church I did not like; as also in the government of the II. E# church. In 186£, I came to Taterloo, 7isdonsin, -.'here I taught school; and in 186c3, want to Roefoalla, Illinois, ..ore I continued in that profession.

"In the spring, I cane to ,'ebster county, Iowa, in quest of land? I bought two pieces of eighty acres each, at two dollars and a half an acre, xhen I returned to Illinois, where I taught until 1869.

"In the meantime, I met Louisa J. Russell, of Bellvidere, Illinois, whom I married in 1871, and with her oame to Iowa. I traded part of my land for a farm at Otho , where we found the church we had been looking for, and united with it, Shis , of course, was the Congregational oiiurch of Ctho.:T

"After my conversion, I felt I ought to preac... but" thought I wanted to get some property first. 2he lord prospered me in all my undertakings. I saw in the outlying- districts around Otho spiritual dearth; and the Otho church

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having license d me to preach, I began to hold meetings in t he scaool Louses far and near. I built a Lome on my land, and wife and I took possession, and lived there five years . I worked the land summers , and taught school .inters, in "hie:: Mrs. Youker assisted me until there came into our home a little man -.!ho took up all her time and attention; and two years afterward earns another , w.ich made life doubly wojrtn the living, and brought sunshine and gladness into our lives. ir

"In the meantime, the Des lloines '/alley Railroad had been built, and the town of Sowrie started, twenty ..riles to the southwest of Ctho. Soon an invitation to preach there reaching me, I accepted, and Trent there every t the r week, on

horseback a good deal of the time without a saddle. FRan-

cis \aw":es aaS I gathered nine Chritstian men and women to- _a~her, and organized them into a church. This W$s in 1676. "hey at once invited me to become their pastor. On returning, I told.llrs. Youker. bhe asked, !W?Iat are you going to do about it?' Mgr reply was that if I was sure one lord wanted me to go I would not hesitate;- and I added, 'If the lord wants me to go to G-owrie, and will send a man bo buy our home, I will go.' The next day, before noon, the house ?;as sold. . I took this as a token that the Lord wanted me at Gowrie , and I still think He .die..1'

"The first years, however, v. ere trying years; the crops were poor, and the grasshoppers wasted the little I Had laid by before entering the ministry, and I found myself

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without money, and with a six hundred dollar mortgage on ny home. I cast about not for a bigger salary, but for wider fields of usefulness, and I found abundant opportunity, like Robinson Crusoe, I found myself monarch of all I sur- veyed. ■ A call came from Lanson, thirty-tvro miles away* I accepted, and preached there every alternate Sabbath for tv/elve years. I also v;ent seven miles south of hanson; held a revival meeting in a schoolhoiise , and organized what is no.: known as the Center C-iurch. "hen I went '.vest of Gowrie seven miles, held meetings there, and organized the Farn- harnville church. For twelve years, my parish was as follows: one Sabbath, I was at Gowrie in the morning and evening, and at 1'arnhamville in the afternoon; the newt Sabbath I would preach at Hanson morning and evening, and at Center in the afternoon. Ihifl continued (for twelve years) until Hanson and Center gre?; strong enough to go alone. rJhen I resigned there, and remained at Gowrie and Farnhamville until 1893, •at which time I accepted a call to Rockwell."

"The first great grief came to our hearts in the death of our first-born son, John. Soon after his death, I began to feel the need of a better school for our only son, DeTTitt . I therefore accepted the call to Rockwell. From that time on, my werSe in the ministry is as familiar to you as to myself. I remained in Rochr:ell a little over eleven years v:hen I returned to Farnhamville, With the intention of retiring. 3ut I v:as persuaded by them to become their pastor. I accepted, and remained with then for three years,

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and then came to Gowrie , again intending to retire, but found the church in debt on their parsonage, and the chu-ch- building sadly in need of repairs. I knew I could raise money enough to put the church in respectable condition as a stranger could not do, so I preached and built here for three years , spending seventeen hundred dollars on the church property, and left it in fine shape, free from debt. I retired, finally, in 1909."

"I want to say this for the benefit of any fearful one who may read this shetch: flhen I was converted, I felt that I ought to preach, and promised the lord that I would, as soon as I could see my living assured. The Lord prospered me in everything that I put my hand to. he then sent me to a field that could pay me nothing, and left me there until my money ".'as all gone; then showed me that He could care for me, and would, in his own way. I can bear testimony that I have lacked nothing from that day until this. I had no salary during all my ministry in Gowrie . I took what the people felt disposed to give. In hockwell, it was practically the same. I never pressed the natter of salary. I stayed with rny people for what the Lord put into their hearts to give, when I was offered $3000 from one church, and $2400 from another. I do not say this to "boast myself , save in my Lord. But few men who have kept the salary to the front have as good a home as I have to-day."

"One asked me how many years I had preached. I replied, 'Twenty- one years at Gowrie , nineteen years at

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Farnhamville , twelve years at Hanson, twelve years at Center, eleven years: at Rockwell, four years at Owens Grove, eight years at South Owen."

"InTe have a nice home , lots of friends, and a little means left yet — enough for two years more with rigid economy. TThat then? I don't know any more than I did in the beginning. I leave that with my Lord.

"D.C-.Youker."

It may "be proper to add to this autobiographical sketch a few items with notes and comments.

L3r. Youker W&8 ordained at Gowrie , May 29, 1976, Sup't B, Adams preaching the sermon, and Father J. D. SAn&s offering the ordaining prayer.

His whole pastoral life was given to Iowa. It will be seen that according to his calculations, he gave us eighty-seven years of service! Of course, this is a joke, and perfectly transparent, for almost the while, he served more than one church. CHe twelve years' pastorate at Manson and the same twelve years at Center, and the greater part of his nineteen years at Farnhamville , -./ere included in his twenty- one years at Gowrie. So also, j.is four years at Owens Grove, and his eight years at South Owen, were spent in connection with his eleven years at Rockwell. He began preaching in 1875, and retired in 1909; so his term of service was thirty-four, not eighty-seven , years.

Hut a year of service with him counted for more than that of most men. His labors were so incessant in

intense . Literally, he did with his might what his hands found to do. he -put every energy of his soul and body, including his lungs, into his sermons. SCme times his voice was as the sound of many waters. Tall, spare, his long hair falling upon his shoulders, his whole frame ofton quivering v:ith emotion, he was a nni;_ue and impressive f iov.re in the pulpit. A good deal of his preaching was lilre that of the Did -ebrew prophet, who was anointed of the Lord to ;'cry aloud and spare not, to lift up the voice like a trumpet, and declare unto my people their trans- gfession, and to the house of Jacob, their sins." he did not .

"Tone down the gospel unto ears polite -nd smiggly tuck damnation out of sight."

"but he smote the wickedness of the world with words like

fire. He made it hot for sinners. Hie denunciations of

•sin were sometimes fierce and terrific. "rrong-doers were

afraid of him. It is reported that he once said to a man:

"It will cost you ten thousand dollars to become a Christian

in restitutions for ill-gotten gains."

But this Boanerges ■"'as also a gentle, hind, and loving neighbor, and a brother greatly beloved. He was not much given to levity, but he was a -ood companion.

Brother Ttyctfeer's career is a good illustration of the hard labor, the thrift, the poverty, and yet the abound- ing riches of the Iowa home Missionary. As we have seen, hi was a life of intense activity and toil, he saw times whon he hardly knew where the next meal was coming from, and wet

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the ne::t meal always came in due tine. To the Eome Hissionary in January of 1878, he writes:

"With feelings of thankfulness to you, and. grati- tude to -rod, — 10 seeth all our poverty, and knoweth our needs in our struggles to serve him, I received jout letter last evening containing the draft. Tines never seemed so dark as they did yesterday, ^e had "been obliged to go in debt at the grocery, and the mill, and the butcher's, till I was as- hamed to ash for more credit. Lly wife remarhed to. me, as with a heavy heart I started for the Post Office: "It is often the darkest hour just before day," and sc it was with me. -'on will never know in this world how much good that money will do us."

Again and again Brother Youker provoft the promise: Trust in the Lord and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily shall thou be fed. He was indeed one of the builders of the Commonwealth. ?or many years, he was one of Calhoun's county most distinguished citizens, and one of her greatest forces for truth and righteousness. Without him, the fellowship of Congregational Iowa would not be perf cet .

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fourth sketch,

Jonathan Cope land.

^e see this brother only "through a glass Starkly." Che Year Book for 1801 notes his death, but gives no account of his life. The place and dato of his birth are nowhere given in our denominational records, so far as I have "been able to discover, he must have been born as early as 1820, for the Oberlin General Catalogue indicates that he was in the Oneida Institute in 1837, that he entered Oberlin Col- lege in 1839, and graduated from the theological Department of the institution in 1894.

Wherever 2:is earliest heme may have been, York State was his place of residence in 1837. he entered Ober- lin College from Sherbourne, ^err Y0rk.

Our records show that he r:as ordained some time, somewhere, and by soma body in the year, 1844. Cur first Congregational Quarterly, published in 1855, locates him at Volley, BfW York. It is probable that the first decade of his ministry ras in that state.

As early as 1857, we find him out in Kansas , and Kansas, for the most part, was his home for over thirty years. Among his Kansas fields, were Clinton, Eanwaca, Bioomington, Eureka, Augusta, and Douglass, ^rom Eureka in June of 1869, lie reports:

"Hy preaching and labors during the quarter, were by force of circumstances, confirmed mostly tc this town and

vicinity. In the first place, I had no horse, nor means of getting one; and in this region, where streams are so numer- ous, and without bridges, it is next to impossible to travel without a horse. I have no:: purchased, and this difficulty is obviated. In the second place, there has never been, I think, so rough a 77 inter- --such incessant storms, and swollen streams, making travelling unsafe, and often impossible, as during this cuarter.

"In November, I moved my family and goodsr to this place. An incident connected with moving rill illustrate, somewhat, missionary life at the JTgst* ?n Saturday night, at dush, I had arrived, with two teams and my goods, at Eagle Greek, forty miles north of 3uroka. Finding that the teamsters, contrary to my own wishes, were expecting to travel on the Sabbath, my son and myself walked seven miles that night to the house of a friend on Verdigris River, Where we spent the Sabbath. On --onday morning, the teams, of course, had passed on beyond our reach, and as there is but little travel on the road, we were oblige-" to perform the rest of the journey on foot. In the meantime, considerable, rain had fallen, and the streams were swollen, so that, on Monday, We Traded Creeks, waist deep; and at night, our clothesr were dripping wet, and we were obliged to dry our- selves with our clothes on before the fire.

"Tor did I regret for a moment this little sacrifice for the sake of keeping the Sabbath. *2:ere is so much looseness in

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regard to travelling on the Sab" ath, even among professors of religion at the West, that I was glad to set an example in this respect,11

Again and from Augusta, in June of 1874, he re- ports as follows:

"^e are feeling the full force of that intense worldliness whioh prevails in most pioneer fields. She great and absorbing questions rrith the people are, Uhat shall 77e eat, what shall we drink:, and wherewithal! shall we "be clothed.?1 Ehe financial 'panic1 found us already prostrate, and swept over us, only leaving us where we "'ere, in the 'slough of despond', financially. I-Iost of our farr.iers cannot this year by any amount of exertion, pay their taxes, and will lose their hones, the avails of years of toil and privation, the hopes of a lifetime. Many fortunes have been sunk, and many more are sinking, in the settlement of this beautiful country, which will yet, in the near future, be both populous and wealthy. While men are t kus struggling for dear life, it is not easy to impress them with the im- portance, or charm them Trith the attractions, of the gospel. The Home Missionary, with everybody else, finds himself crippled in his labors. A vast amount of drudgery consumes his time, exhausts his energies, dwarfs his mind, and hinders his pastoral work. Still, we have much to encourage us to labor on, and hope on for the future, until the seed sor/n shall bear its glorious harvest."

In 1875, Mr, Cop eland came up into Iowa, and under

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the commission of the A. H, 1.1. 3. located at Harrisons In 1876, the commission Was for Dunlap , "but Dunlap is only another name for Harrison* ~r-e was in this field for two years, and from Dimlap, in April of 1876, he reports:

"Tlie vreoh of prayer was observed by the churches in Dunlap, and the spirit of God was with us from the first. Before the week closed, sinners began to inquire, '"That must I do to "be saved?' There have "been thirty or more hopefull conversions, and many others are deeply interested. The converts have "been from all classes and ages, from the gray haired woman of seventy years, to the little child. Several heads of families have set up the family altar." -he remainder of the report is taken up with an account of the reconversion of a prominent lady in the church. This is the last of Ut. .^o^eland's reports published in the Hone Hi a s ionary . "

After his term of service in Dunlap, Hr. Copeland took charge of the church at Shelbyville , and was there until 1881. A part of the year 1881, he was at Dunlap again, without charge. -?rcm 1882 to 1885 , he resided in Eureka, and later made his home at Beaumont. The Year Book for 18S1 reporter! him, "Deceased , " "but the next year, he was reported again as residing at Pueblo. At present I have no means of determining which report was correct.

In response to a letter of inquiry respecting Hr« Copeland, to -ev. 0. a. Richardson, of I^arion, Kansas, under date of August 12, 1914, he -rites:

"I remember the man, and your letter brings to mind the somewhat vague pioture of the brother whom I thinly I must have met at looal associational meetings 4 a few times when I first entered upon the work in Kansas, ooming here directly from the Seminary. As I seem to remember him, he was a rather small, slender man, probably fifty odd years of age, broomed with the sun and wind of the prairies, quite unassuming in demeanor. Shis was about the year 1872, or 1873, if I am correct as to the time When I first met him. I was at that time a member of What waS the Southern association of Kansas, which, at that time, com- prised roughly the southeastern quarter of the State. I judge, therefore, that Ins ":orh must have been in that section of the sto.te , but With ""hat churches I do not re- member, nor how long he had been in the State, nor do I know personally anything of him after that time. Che Ge- neral Catalogue of Oberlin College, in the year 1908, lo- cates him Oologah, Oi&ahoma . 11

With this we must leave Brother Copeland, at least for the present.

Since writing the above, I