Rev. George E. Delevan 1804-1861

DELEVAN

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 6/8/2020 at 13:44:36

The Anamosa Eureka, Anamosa, Iowa, Friday, March 29th, 1861

Died-At Wyoming, March 18th, Rev. G. E. Delavan, aged 57 years.

This good and eminently useful man was born at Dover, New York, in 1804. He early manifested an unnatural fondness for books, and seemed determined to obtain an education and this determination was carried out fully, although, many obstacles presented themselves in his way. His father died while he was young, and he was thus left wholly upon his own resources, but by teaching school occasionally to procure means for paying his way, and adhering to rigid economy, he was enabled to carry out his plan. He fitted for college at Danbury, Conn., and entered the sophomore class at Yale in 1821, and graduated with high honors in 1827. He preached one year at Whitneyville, Conn. While pursuing his theological studies, and was also very active while there in building house of worship. He entered upon the full work of the ministry at Hammondsport, New York, where he remained two years; was next settled at Sherburne where he founded n academy and afterwards preached with marked success at Lafayette and Wilson-each six years. During that time he had a strong desire to labor in Iowa; and in the spring of 1856 moved with his family to Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa, where he remained one year, preaching also at Wyoming and other points. In 1857 he moved to Wyoming, and organized a Church with but seven members, each laboring with undaunted zeal to promote the cause of his Master. He was also first and foremost in the great works of reformation, such as Education and Temperance, and whatever tended to elevate the morality of society. By his efforts, a house of worship was commenced in the spring of 1860; and although the walls were prostrated by a terrible wind, he went to work with renewed vigor and accomplished what no other man in our community could have done. No storms could prevent his activity, and the walls soon arose again, but these severe labors, with his ministerial duties-which instead of neglecting- he was increasing, as he preached to four different places-seem to human eye, to have brought on the disease, Consumption, which has r=terminated in his death. Though apparently on the verge of the grave for a number of days, and suffering extremely, his mind was clear and tranquil, but constantly exercised for his little church and people, and the many dying messages which he gave to them told of his love to them; yet he had no will but his Heavenly Father’s and was ever ready to depart and be with his Christ. His family, the church and community have met with a loss which cannot be made up, yet the precepts and examples set forth in his life, will long be cherished nd we trust followed, to the glory of god, and the advancement of his cause in this new country. “Though dead, he yet speaketh.”