[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Charles Thompson McCaughan (1909)

BROWN, HEIZER, MCCAUGHAN, SHEPPARD, SHAFER, STEEL

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 7/29/2005 at 13:33:12

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, October 14, 1909

Dr. C. T. McCaughan Answers The Final Summons, Was Past 95 and 59 Years A Minister

Dr. C. T. McCaughan, the oldest graduate of Miami University, and oldest person in this county, passed away early yesterday morning. His health had been failing for some time but he suffered from no illness. Until recently he enjoyed the full possession of his faculties and his long life of devoted zeal in the cause of right living was rewarded by a serene old age in which he was permitted to enjoy the companionship of friends and loved ones.

He was ordained in the ministry in 1840 and continued to labor in that field until seventeen years ago when he resigned his pulpit but has preached at intervals until two years ago.

Funeral services will be held at the United Presbyterian church tomorrow afternoon at 2:20 and burial in the Winterset Cemetery.
________________________

The Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, October 14, 1909
Page 3, Column 3

Charles Thompson McCaughan

Born of Scotch Irish parentage in Trigg County, Ky., on June 19th, 1814, died in Winterset, Ia., Oct. 13th, 1909, in the house which had been his home since Oct. 1865.

He graduated from Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, in 1837. Attended the Theological Seminary in Allegheny City for two years, was licensed to preach by First Ohio Presbytery April 22, 1840. Attended Oxford Seminary one year and was ordained to the ministry Oct. 13, 1841 by the Presbytery of Springfield, Ohio. Was pastor at Sidney, Ohio, from 1841 to 1856. Principal of the Urbana, Ohio, Female Seminary in 1856-1859 and of the Mansfield, Pa., Academy in 1861-1864. In 1865 he became pastor of the Winterset Congregation with its connections and continued actively at work in this field till 1882, being released by Presbytery from the then charge at Peru April 10th of that year.

He was a regular writer for the church papers, and a number of his sermons are in print. Notable among which are “The Temporal Support of Religion”, “The Value of the World when the Soul is Lost” and “The Glory of a Christian Church”.

He was married Nov. 2, 1841, to Miss Emily Sheppard, and to them were born twelve children, three of whom died in infancy. One son, James, a prominent Des Moines attorney died in 1900, and Thomas A. merchant of Carnegie, Pa., died in 1901. The wife and mother passed to her reward Aug. 3, 1896, and there remain to revere and honor a father’s memory, three sons, Jno. S. of Mexico, Geo. E. of Chicago and F. G. of Sapulpa, Okla., and four daughters, Mrs. Francis A. Steel, of Winterset, Mrs. D. N. Heizer, of Colorado Springs, Mrs. M. C. Shafer, of Great Bend, Kansas, and Mrs. R. H. Brown, of Atlanta, Ga.

The above is a very brief history of an unusually long but perfectly clean, serene and beautiful life. C. T. McCaughan, D. D., was a man of courage and a man of conviction, he obeyed in early manhood the call to the ministry and he obeyed faithfully too, Paul’s injunction to Timothy, “Preach the Word.” He did not hesitate to, “Declare the whole Council of God,” so that as preacher of the word, as pastor, as citizen, as neighbor, as friend, he was everybody’s friend, as well as a friend of God.

The latter years of his life have been years of gradual decline though he kept up his activities till about nine months ago since which time he has been able to be out little. Yet but two weeks and three days before his end, when 95 years 3 months old he was able to attend the Church of his choice and partake of the Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper. How anxiously he looked forward to it. How intensely he enjoyed it. He waited patiently for the final summons and when it came, never did weary child sink to rest in its mother’s arms with more perfect confidence than did he in the promises of Him whose he was, and whom he served.

The U.P. Synod of Iowa in session at Indianola on being advised Wednesday morning of the death of Dr. McCaughan, appointed a committee of four, W. C. Williamson, D.D., Joseph Calhoun, D. D., Rev. Nicol and the Synod’s Moderator Rev. A. C. Douglas, of Des Moines, to attend the funeral which will be from the U.P. Church, Winterset, Friday at 2:30 p.m.
_______________________

The Madison County Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, October 15, 1909
Page 1, Column 1

REV. DR. MCCAUGHAN DIES AT AGE OF 95

Winterset Noted Clergyman Succumbs to Old Age

ACTIVE MINISTER FOR 73 YEARS

Resident of Winterset Since the Close of the Civil War. Remarkable Career of a Remarkable Man. Funeral Services to Be Held Friday.

The Rev. Dr. Charles Thompson McCaughan died at his home in this city early Wednesday morning, aged 95 years. He was a pioneer Iowan, and for many years pastor of the United Presbyterian church. He was the oldest graduate of Miami university.

Rev. McCaughan has been a resident of Winterset ever since the close of the Civil war. It was only last year when the doctors told him he could not possibly survived a long railroad journey. He listened quietly to their admonition, and as quietly went home and packed his trunk and caught the train for Pittsburgh, where the United Presbyterians of the United States were then holding a national convention. No delegate present was more conspicuous or more actively interested in the business of the convention. He was on hand at every session, and all of his fellow churchmen United in showing him how well they thought of a man who has been continuously administer for seventy-two years and who, at 94, undertook a journey of hundreds of miles for the purpose of participating in one more national conference.

When, one morning, Dr. McCaughan threw back his head, squared his shoulders and strode down the main aisle of the convention hall, facing about at the platform to lead the great throne in prayer, the delegates almost cheered. It is given few men to move their fellows as Dr. McCaughan did at that moment when, his eyes gleaming, he beamed countenance lightened with the accrued joy of a long and unselfish life, he offered his simple prayer, which was really a benediction.

After that convention Rev. McCaughan decided to take part in the commemorial exercises at Miami, his alma mater, which were being conducted that week.

He preached his farewell sermon at Winterset a couple of years ago. He resigned his pulpit, however, about seventeen years ago, but since that time has conducted services at intervals. His congregation refused to accept his resignation when he believed that his advanced age necessitated his withdrawal from active life, and he continued preaching until he was 78 years old. It was only after he had succumbed to his exertions and fainted twice in the pulpit that his people reluctantly consented to his retirement.

The funeral services will be held in the United Presbyterian church Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. The children who will be present at the funeral are Mrs. Frank Steele, Mrs. Max Schaffer, of Great Bend, Kan., George McCaughan and wife of Chicago, Fred McCaughan of Satulta, Okla. Dr. Stewart of Sialkot, India, Revs. Williams of Clarinda, Nichols of Red Oak, Calhoun of Indianola, Sawhill of Washington, Douglass of Des Moines and others will attend the funeral.

Gravesite
 

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

[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]