Born: Christian county, Kentucky, June 15, 1821
Died: Eureka, Illinois?, October 15, 1887

Elder John Lindsey was born in Christian county, Kentucky, June 15, 1821. Was of Scotch descent. His father, Elder James A. Lindsey, was for many years a Baptist preacher, but in the year 1827 he with his church took his stand with the Reformation with no name but that given in the New Testament and no creed but Christ. He moved with his family to Tazewell county, Illinois, in 1834.

He obeyed the Gospel at fifteen years of age, and began preaching at eighteen, receiving many into the church. He was a strong temperance man, and came near being excluded from the church in 1841 for delivering a temperance lecture, signing the pledge, and inducing others to do so. About 1843 he visited Kentucky with Dr. G. P. Young, and while there was chosen by the Disciples of that State to receive the education given by Bethany College to the State. He entered college in the fall of 1844 and graduated in 1848. Spent his vacations preaching in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, averaging over one hundred additions each year. Returning to Illinois in the fall of ‘48, he was made district evangelist with Elder John T. Jones.

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Was married to Maria K. Mason, sister of Prof. Mason, of Bethany College, in 1850; located in Walnut Grove, and with John T. Jones and William Davenport began soliciting means to build Walnut Grove Academy, which was soon erected, and began teaching there September of the same year, with Prof. A. S. Fisher. In 1852, his wife's health failing, he resigned as teacher to travel with her, and at the same time to raise means to build what is now known as "Gentlemen's Hall, No. 2." He afterwards located at Washington, Illinois, with the little church of 30 members, which grew to 145 during his stay there. Early in 1855 he and Elder William Davenport spent two weeks in Springfield at their own expense to obtain the charter for Eureka College, the loss of time from his church in Washington being deducted from his salary of $600. He was one of the committee of three to name the town. He reported "Eureka," and Elder J. T. Jones "Althea."

When Alexander Campbell canvassed the State for endowment for Bethany College Mr. Lindsey traveled with him. Mr. Campbell being indisposed much of the time, Mr. Lindsey filled his appointments.

He held a successful debate at Metamora with Mr. Davis (Universalist), and one at Lincoln with Mr. Luckock (Methodist).

Later he moved to Peoria, and while there he

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married Miss Frank Redding of that city. Also organized the church there with seventeen members, and ministered to it; taught school for a support; secured a lot and built a small house of worship, and increased the membership to sixty-five. Left it in care of I. N. Carman at a salary of $600, he and O. A. Burgess each paying $150 of that.

He was then elected a professor of Abingdon College, but on conferring with the Board of Trustees his work was changed to that of financial agent, and in one year he raised six thousand of the nine thousand dollars indebtedness, and nine thousand dollars endowment.

On Oct. 12, 1858, he was married to Miss Martha M. Davidson, of Walnut Grove, and then located in Atlanta. Soon the State Board sent him to liquidate the debt on the house of worship in Quincy, which he did in one month's time. He was elected President of the college at Monmouth, Oregon, in 1858, but declined, and accepted a call to the church at Palmyra, Missouri. While there was elected President of the college at Kirksville, Missouri, but declined, preferring to preach. Somewhat later he returned to Eureka, and at the close of the war took charge of the church at Duquoin, and while there was elected about the same time President of Carbondale College, Illinois, and President of Princeton College, Kentucky. He

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accepted the latter, and recommending Clark Braden for the former, began the arduous labor of building up a school in his native State just after the ravages of the Civil War, and used this opportunity given to show his high appreciation of the favor Kentucky had conferred on him.

The school opened with seventeen and closed with ninety-seven. He taught through the week and traveled on horseback from Friday till Monday, preaching and soliciting money and students. By the end of the second year his health was so impaired that he resigned, leaving the school in good condition. He then took charge of the church at St. Joseph, Missouri, where his labors were crowned with great success in additions to the church and in work at mission points. But the work was too arduous, and before the end of the third year his disease, which proved to be a growth around the heart, became so serious that, on the advice of his physicians to abandon his pastoral work, he again returned to Eureka in the winter of 1873. But his rest was short. He could not resist the many calls to hold meetings, and was very successful. Had more than 150 additions in one at Mackinaw.

He traveled one year as State Evangelist. The remainder of his life was spent preaching for different churches. His last sermon was at Twin Grove, McLean County, July 3,1887, on The Resurrection. He was then barely able to stand. His

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disease had gradually progressed, and on the morning of Oct. 15, 1887, the weary spirit passed to its heavenly rest. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."