Rev. James Sawhill (1904)

SAWHILL, WALLACE

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 10/6/2007 at 15:21:46

The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 31, 1904

Rev. James Sawhill died at his home in Pitzer on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. The funeral occurred on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the U. P. church, Rev. Garret officiating. The remains were interred in the Jackson cemetery.

Mr. Sawhill was beloved and highly respected by all who knew him and leaves many friends who extend their sympathy to the bereaved relatives.
_________________________

The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 7, 1904
Page 2

Obituary

James Sawhill was the son of William and Jane Lorimer Sawhill, being the sixth in a family of eleven children. He was born Feb. 22, 1829, near Taylorstown, Washington county, Pa. Besides his training in the home, in the church, and in the common schools he was trained for his life work as a minister of the Gospel at Franklin college at New Athens, Ohio, and at the U. P. Seminary at Cannonsburg, Pa. Oct. 3rd, 1854 he was licensed by his home presbytery, the presbyter of Chartiers, to preach the Gospel. For a few years he was employed as a home missionary in some of the newer and needier fields of the West. June 18th, 1863, he began his work as a settled pastor, being installed as pastor of Cascade congregation, Cascade, Ia., by the presbytery of Le Claire. He continued in this pastorate till April 14, 1875. Two years later he began his duties as pastor of Union congregation in Des Moines presbytery, the congregation which is now known as Pitzer.

He continued as pastor here till his retirement from the active duties of the ministry in 1890. For some years afterward he continued to preach, supplying various vacancies in the neighborhood of his home. But gradually declining health compelled him to give up, little by little, the active work of the ministry, and the last years of his life were spent in retirement on his farm near Pitzer.

Feb. 21st, 1866, he was married to Miss Martha Ellen Wallace, of Vinton, Ia. To them were born seven children, three of whom died in infancy. Anna, a brother’s daughter was taken by him at the age of 5 years and given a home with his children till she went out into a home of her own. Of the four children living, two are yet in the home and one, William R., is pastor of the 2nd U. P. church of Washington, Ia. He died Sabbath afternoon, March 27, aged 75 years, 1 month and 5 days. He was beloved by all who knew him. He was a man of deep piety. A loving husband and father, and a thoroughly Christian gentleman. The family have the love and sympathy of the entire community in their sad bereavement. But they have the Christian’s hope – “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”
_________________________

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 31, 1904
Page 5

County and City

Rev. James Sawhill, one of the oldest settlers of Jackson township and for many years the pastor of the United Presbyterian church of that township, died on last Sunday at the age of seventy-five. Mr. Sawhill enjoyed the esteem of a large circle of friends who recognized in him a person of education and refinement and one who lived a life consistent with the principles of his religious teachings. More complete particulars of his life have not as yet been received.

Gravesite
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen