Born: Jamestown, O., 1833.
Died: Mason City, Ill., 1912.
Became a Christian in 1859 at Rothchild's Schoolhouse, west of Lincoln, Ill., under the preaching of Minister Goodsell, of the Baptists. In June, 1861, he took charge of the Baptist Church in Mason City, and the following winter transferred his membership to the church of Christ in that place. Thereafter, his ministry was continuous till failing health compelled his retirement. He never sought to serve a church because of the salary, but supported his family by the newspaper business. In his ministry he walked throughout Mason County and added multitudes to the Lord.
On one occasion he was preaching, in a schoolhouse packed full of people, on "The Four Baptisms." Just in front of him sat an old gentleman with steady eyes on the preacher. He spoke first of the baptism of suffering; second, of water, and, third, of fire. "Now I come to the baptism of the Holy Spirit," said the preacher. Just then the old gentleman extended his arm full length, and, pointing his index finger almost into the speaker's face, said, loud enough for all to hear, "Yes, sir, and it's the only baptism I'd give a snap for, by ginger." He had formed the habit of saying "by ginger" in his youth, and it stuck.