Jacob VerNooy DeWitt
DEWITT, VERNOOY, HOLLIS, ST JOHN, FULLERTON, CHURCH
Posted By: CJeanealogy (email)
Date: 12/8/2017 at 16:05:48
The Marion Register Wednesday December 13, 1893
OBITUARY.
REV. JACOB VERNOOY DEWITT.
Died, at his son-in-law's, Hon. C.M. Hollis, in Marion, Dec. 7, 1893, Rev. Jacob Vernooy DeWitt.
He was the son of John and Maria Vernooy DeWitt, and was born in Ulster Co., N.Y., Dec. 18, 1817. He was the youngest of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. His father died when he was only nine months old, and when he had arrived at the age of 14, to relieve his mother of the burden of providing for him, he left home to work for himself. As he was naturally of a delicate constitution he selected the tinner's trade. It was while working at this trade in Cooperstown, N.Y., that he was converted and united with the Baptist church. From the time of his conversion, he felt it to be his duty to preach the gospel. And with this end in view, he went to the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution, now known as the Madison University, where he graduated, August, 1844. He served as pastor, in the following Baptist churches, Tioga Centre, Tioga Co., N.Y., Candor and Virgil, N.Y. He moved to Marion, Iowa, and took charge of the Baptist church in this city, in April, 1854, enjoying an uninterrupted pastorate of seven years, during which time his ministry was greatly blessed. Having experienced some trouble with his voice, and thinking perhaps some other might carry on the work better, he resigned the charge of the church, and resumed his former trade.
But after a few years experience with other pastors, the church gave him a unanimous invitation to again become their pastor. His health in the meantime having improved, he accepted, and served them again five years as pastor. Being convinced that the state of his health required his retirement from the active work of the ministry, he resumed his former trade, and in 1875, moved to Martelle, and engaged in the hardware business, preaching occasionally in vacant churches, until a year ago, feeling the infirmities of age he decided to retire from business, and accept the invitation which his daughter and her husband had repeatedly given to spend the remainder of his days in their home. He was married, Jan. 2nd, 1844, to Miss Louisa C. Church, at Hamilton, N.Y. They had four children, two of whom are living, Mrs. C.M. Hollis, of Marion, and Mr. Edward S. DeWitt, of Cedar Rapids. August S. died in 1859, and Mrs. Mary L.D. St. John, in Jun. 1881. They have five grandchildren living and two dead. Mrs. DeWitt, who had shared with her husband, in the joys and sorrows of the home, and the pastorate, 24 years, died in Marion in Sept. 1868. Elder DeWitt was married Dec. 2, 1879, to Mrs. Fullerton, mother of Dr. Fullerton, of Marion, and widow of the late Rev. J.S. Fullerton, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Linn Grove. She died in Martelle, in Sept. 1890.
Elder DeWitt was a faithful pastor, tenderly caring for the people of his charge. His welcome to the home was not confined to the families of his own parish. He was wise in counsel and exemplary in conduct. He seemed to always have in his heart, if not on his lips, the petition, "Thy will be done." Death had no terrors for him. After he lost the power of speech, to a brother repeating the words of the Psalmist, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil," he signified his assent with his hand, but it seemed more like the wave of victory over that last enemy, and the receiving the crown of life. No one so long and so intimately acquainted with Elder DeWitt, as the write, can doubt that he is now wearing a crown with many stars already in it and more to follow.
"Blessed are the dead who died in the Lord, henceforth, they rest from the labors and their works do follow them."
The funeral services were held at the house, conducted by Rev. Alex S. Marshall, pastor of the Presbyterian church, assisted by Revs. Perry, of the Baptist and Seaton, of the Disciple church.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138477262/jacob-vernooy-dewitt
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