BELL, Rev. Launcelot Graham

BELL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 1/27/2007 at 22:08:26

"Fairfield Ledger", June 25, 1868

[Ed. note: This obituary is already posted but in an abbreviated form; the text below constitutes the entire article.]

Obituary.

Died, on the 20th ult, in Afton, Iowa, Rev. Launcelot Graham BELL, in the 79th year of his age.

Father BELL was born in Augusta county, Va. He was married March 15th, 1810, and the union then entered into continued with great happiness 57 years, his excellent partner in life preceding him to the grave only one year. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the war.

He entered the ministry, in the Presbyterian Church, in 1827, and after a short period spent as a Pastor in Tennessee, he devoted himself to the Missionary service in the new regions of the northwest. In 1833 he removed to Frankfort, in Indiana, where he was Pastor of the church for three years. In 1836 he removed to Monmouth, Ills. Here the fruits of his labors were seen in the gathering and organizing of the church of Monmouth. In 1837 he again entered the Territory west of the Mississippi, making his home a few miles west of Burlington. Here he diligently and successfully labored, exploring the county in various directions, preaching in the destitute neighborhoods, gathering the scattered members, and organizing them into churches, and supplying them with the word of life until he could procure some one to settle permanently among them. In 1842 he removed to Fairfield, Iowa, to be nearer his field of labor, the scarce settlements of the frontier. In the fall of 1853, Father BELL, seeing that the advancing tide of emigration had swept past him to the Missouri River, intimated to the Presbytery, that if no one else could be found to enter the field thus lying unoccupied, he himself would enter upon it. In the spring of 1854 the promise was claimed, and though Father BELL was then over 60 years of age, he undertook the work, establishing his central point at Sidney, Fremont county, in the south-west corner of the State of Iowa. In this region he labored until 1861. In 1861 the feeble health of his wife and his own advanced age, (being over 70 years of age,) rendered it imperative to withdraw from the kind of labor to which he had then given 25 years of his life. He therefore removed to Monmouth, Ills. There, with the church whose existence was owing to his labors, and surrounded with the affectionate care of a son-in-law and daughter, and their children, he designed to spend his declining years, but still labored in vacant churches in the vicinity as he had opportunity, and devoted part of his time to writing sketches of the early history of the churches in southern Iowa, which were published in the Northwestern Presbyterian. In 1867, his beloved partner, who had endured with rare cheerfulness the privations that fell to the lot of a Missionary’s wife, peacefully died.

Father BELL, though urged by friends and solicited by affectionate relatives, to spend the remainder of his days in rest, could not consent. From the period of his removal to Monmouth, till his death, he twice visited his beloved churches in western Iowa, riding hundreds of miles on horseback, and rather than be idle, spent the last winter with the little church of Pope’s River, Ill., delighted in his work of preaching Christ, and being blessed in his labors. In the spring of the present year he again visited western Iowa, and was on his return, and had reached Alton, where he had appointed a Communion season, when he was met by the messenger of his Master, bidding him cease his labors and enter into rest. His death was calm and peaceful. He confidently professed his unshaken faith in his Savior, and his readiness to obey the summons of death, and, though his bodily sufferings were intense, he bore them patiently, and so passed away. His body was brought to Monmouth and interred beside his wife.

As a Missionary, Father BELL was abundant in labors and privations, and eminently wise in his plans. The objects at which he aimed in his labors were “to explore the newly settled regions, collect the scattered families and members of the church, and consolidate them into particular churches – take early measures for the erection of houses of worship, and to invite the attention of ministers to the region, and also to lay the foundation of High Schools and Academics.”

In this work he was eminently successful, having in the course of his 25 years Missionary service, organized 28 churches, 3 Presbyteries, and one Synod. The last church organized was in Nebraska City. Of course he was called to endure hardness and did so cheerfully. Much of his time was spent on horseback, as the only practicable mode of exploring his widely extended field. The people were poor, and his ministry for many hears was almost gratuitous. During the six years, from 1836 to 1842, though laboring with untiring zeal, he received less than $100 all told, from the people among whom he labored.--- In his numerous and extended rides at all seasons and in all kinds of weather, he was made welcome to the cabins of the settlers and whatever of comforts they could bestow, and beyond this he expected little. But his labors were happy and successful, for he was upheld in them by the grace, and cheered by the blessing of his Master. He never became rich, though upon the widely extended field of his labors, others who sought wealth grew rich.

As a man, Father BELL was characterized by his courteous bearing, gentleness, and kindliness toward all; “none knew him, but to love him.”—He was, withal, remarkably modest and unassuming, never seeking prominence in the sight of men, but was a pattern of unaffected meekness and humility. As a preacher, he was simple, earnest and solemn. None could doubt the sincerity and depth of his convictions, or fail to see that his soul yearned over lost sinners, and delighted to preach Jesus Christ and his glorious Gospel. The common-loving world in estimating a life as that of Father BELL, may say “wherefore this waste? this man, had his labors been differently directed, might have become rich, or great, as others have done in this region of his labors,” but in the day when Father BELL takes his crown from the hand of his Master, and when hundreds bless his labors as the means of their salvation, the excellence of his choice will be made manifest. M.

[Also posted to the Union County Obituaries board.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.