The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-03-17
Rev. Elisha Bfbbins.

county, N. Y, July l6, 1890 His parents
were the first to open their doors to re-
ceive the Methodist preachers in that re-
| gion, and under the first Methodist sermon
preached in their house they were both
awakened. This was in the year l7SS;
the preachers were Lemuel Smith and
Samuel Wigdon. Mr.. Bibbins, his wife,
and his second son, Samuel (who was for
many years q laborious and successful
preacher, and died member Of the Black
River Conference in 1867 united with
the first society formed in that place,
which was soon after the preaching of the
| first sermon
Elisha was converted November 8, 1905,
! under the labors Of Rev Bradley Sillick,
was licensed to preach in January, 1912,
and was admitted on trial in the Genesee
| Conference in July of the same year He
was for twelve years of his ministry in the
| effective ranks, three years a supernume-
rary, and, including the present year, thir-
| ty-two years superannuated preacher; he
however did much valuable service in the
way of filling vacancies during the years
| OF his approximation
| During this period he preached many
| sermons and won many souls to Christ
The last twenty years of his life he spen.
| in the state of Illinois His strong at
tachment to his old friends, and q desire
once more to visit the fields Of his early
| tolls, led him to form the resolution to be
present at the session of the Wyoming
Conference, to be held in Newark Valley
This purpose he executed. although he
was very feeble-so much SO that perhaps
prudence would have dictated his remain
ing at home, i'll the bosom Of his family
! He met his old friends and fellow-labor-
ers with the genial spirit the same hearty
God speed, which characterized his early
conference associations He considered il
his las: visit but still he babe the breth-
rem farewell without any indications Of
gloomy forebodings. Soon after the close
! Of the conference, Dr.. Eyc-ets, OF Nichols
after thorough examination Of his case
informed him that there was every evi-
dence that his heart was diseased, and ne
would die suddenly. The information did
not startle him in the least, although it
seemed TO be new. His cheerfulness abat-
ed not for moment, and he subsequently
referred TO this medical opinion as one
well founded, but with no other remark
than, " am trying to be ready for the
! summons
He travelled slowly, and with intervals
o! rest, with his friends, through Bradford
/ county, to Tunkhannock, where he spent
/ the 4th of July. Here the bIandness OF
his manners and the freedom OF his inter
course with the people, excited great ad-
miration.
! On the morning Of the .5th-rather sud
| denly-he resolved that dav to visit the
( writer at his home in Scranton A. Il
o. clock 4 N. OF that day Le was seated il
my study After dinner he walked out
to see a friend; he was troubled with diff
hculty III breathing. but seemed about in
his Usual health. During the afternoon, ,,
with the exception OF the time occupied
/ IN writing two letters he spent the time
III free and cheerful conversation. At =
few minutes before ter o'clock he prayed
with US and retired The house was
alarmed in the night by call from his
room fastened TO him with a light,
and found him in a violent paroxysm OF
coughing and freely expectorsting blood
He was IN . severe chill and expressed a
i desire to be where there was fire We inn
mediateiy removed him TO our room, kin
died fire in the stove, and sent fo- 8
physician. Medical AID relieved his suf-
! ferings, and he seemed disposed to sleep
Not being able to lie down, he was seated
IN an easy chair, his head back, and his
ieet supported with pillows The doctor,
/ considering him out Of danger now lef,
Mrs 7. took another room. and thought
10 watch with hun the nigh, out At
about 50 clock ne importuned me TO lie
down and take some rest, adding, - Will
do well enough" | reclined upon the bed
in my clothes, and being relieved of all
anxiety with regard 10 any immediate
danger Of his having another attack. fell
asleep. When i awoke it was daylight,
and MY friend seemed to be in q sweet
! sleep. An examination of him, however
proved that 1t was tie sleep Of death He
had not changed his position in the least,
and from every appearance died without
the disturbance of muscle A post-mor-
tenn examination verified the opinion of
DR. Everets-he died of ossiGcation of the
heart
The Rev Elisha Bibbins was man of
good natural abilities His powers of per
ception were quick, and his reasoning fac
ulties vigorous His sensibilities were
strong and well disciplined He had a
strong sense of The ludic,o Gus Uereadily
/ formed unusual associations, and exhibited
a striking tendency 10 wit and humor-a
tendency which showed itself to the very
last. He was capable OF the most biting
sarcasm, but seldom INDUCED this danger
Gus faculty to the annoyance of his friends
His cuts were usually modified by SO much
good humor that they inflicted no pain
lie was man of great energy of charac-
ter, and great industry. He was always in
earnest. 1t was this which gave almost
overwhelming power to his sermons, ex-
hortations, and prayers. He was a good
! theOlOglan, but better preacher In his
best moods and his best ights he poured
out a torrent of eloquence which would
melt the very rocks.
He was a good singer, and in his prime
his singing had fire and power in it, and
was often the means of awakening and
conversion. Many souls were brought TO
Christ by the instrumentality Of this zeal
Gus and faithful minister of the gospel
The fruit of his labor is thickly scattered
over the field which he occupied as pas
tor or as temporary laborer. Influential
members Of the church, and ministers of
high standing, now doing good service, ac-
knowledge him as their spiritual father
The Rev. George Landon, on the occasion
of his funeral, gave an interesting account
of his own awakening and conversion, and,
in most effecting language, claimed the
man whose mortal remains lay before the
desk, as the means, under God, of that
great change. So literally true is it, that
he, being dead, vet speaks" in and through
those living epistles, known and read of
all men,, who were redeemed from sin and
death through his instrumentality.
| He was of medium size, well formed,
with prominent nose. piercing but be-
nIgnant eye. Of q nervous temperament,
and, but for the excess of the sensitive in
his nature, might have done good service
down to old age, and enjoyed good health.
But the sword was to sharp for the scab-
bard The fire within consumed him.
His great efforts in revivals early reduced
a splendid physical organism to wreck;
still there was life in him, and that life
manifested itself in efforts to do some
thing for God and the world to the close
of life .,s 1.r...- .I..-
| His piety was sincere, deep, and earnest