Rev. John Wesley Chaffin (1824-1892)

CHAFFIN, CHAFLIN, CHAFFLIN, HANNA, WILSON, COMPTON

Posted By: CJeanealogy (email)
Date: 9/8/2020 at 16:29:02

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette January 28, 1892
AT THE COUNTY SEAT.
Mr. Markley is gradually failing. Mr. Chaflin is also becoming weaker.

Marion Sentinel Thursday February 11, 1892
Rev. J.W. Chaflin was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, July 17, 1824 and died at Marion, Iowa, Sunday, Feb. 7, 1892. He was the youngest of nine children, all of whom, with father and mother, have preceded him to the Better Land. His parents were fine representatives of French and English characters and carefully trained their children, educating them to ways of refinement and instilling into them principles of morality and honor.
His early days were spent at home assisting in the duties of the farm and in attendance at private schools. At the age of nineteen he entered the Ohio Institute, where he received a classical education, which he supplemented with Greek and Biblical history with a view to entering the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist church.
He was ordained in 1846, and entered upon his ministerial duties at Wilmington, Ohio, in 1847. He remained there five years, and during this pastorate assisted in editing the Herald of Freedom, a journal devoted to the abolition of slavery and the temperance reform.
In 1858 Mr. Chaffin became pastor of the George St. church, Cincinnati, then to Felicity, Ohio, filling this pulpit until the war broke out, when he entered the army as Chaplain of the 59th Ohio Vol, Gen'l Chittenden's corps, the 14th. he remained in the army one year being mustered out on account of ill health.
After retirement from the army, Mr. Chaffin accpted from Sec'y Salmon P. Chase a position in the U.S. treasury. In 1865 he resigned his position in the treasury and accepted a pastorate in 1866 at Richmond, Ind. From there to Mt. Carmel, Ind., an appointment in the S.E. Ind. Conf. of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1868 to Charlestown, Ind. While here he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Adrian college, Michigan, receiving notice of the honor from the venerable and saintly Dr. Asa Mahan.
In 1869 Mr. Chaffin was appointed by the Iowa Conf. to Mt. Pleasant, from there to Grinnell, thence to Chatham Square church at Keokuk; then at Washington, Iowa; then to West Liberty. He remained there but six months. Resigning his position he purchased the Clarinda Herald, conducting the paper four years. He afterward started the Weekly Advance at Council Bluffs. In 1883 he became proprietor of the Red Oak Express and in October, 1884, purchased the Marion PILOT and became a resident of this place.
In Feb. 1890, he accepted a call from the Congregational church at Kingsley, Iowa, preaching his first sermon just two years from the morning he died. Circumstances beyond Mr. Chaffin's control obliged him to return to Marion in a year. The church gave them up regretfully, feeling that they had prospered ni every way during his stay.
Brother Chafflin was taken ill in November. For a time it was supposed he would recover, but six weeks ago his symptoms became worse and he has steadily declined until he quietly passed away as the church bells were ringing on Sabbath morning Feb. 7.
During his long illness he was a model of patience, and at all times was thoughtful of those who cared for him.
In 1850 the deceased was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Grant at New Burlington, Ohio. She died after ten years, leaving one daughter, Mrs. Compton, who, an invalid, now resides at Redkey, Ind.
In 1862 he was married a second time to Miss Belle Shriver of Felicity, Ohio, and now he leaves his wife and three children, Wm. F. now in Washington, Mrs. Laura Hanna of Greeley, Neb., and Mrs. Ella Wilson of this city, to mourn his loss.
The funeral services were held at the Methodist church, Tuesday, Feb. 9th, 1892, conducted by Dr. E.L. Miller, pastor of the church. It was expected that Dr. A.S. Marshall and Prof. W.W. Gist would assist, but a funeral at same hour prevented Dr. Marshall and necessary absence from home also detained Prof. Gist from joining in these last services.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11577521
 

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