Wichita eagle., 1886-10-01
DEATH OF REV. j. Il. HARSEN.

One of the early and quite prominent
ministers of the Presbyterian church of
Kansas is no more Rev. j. P. Harsen
who organized the first Presbyterian church
in Wichita and who was loved and respect
ed By all who knew him died at his home
in Wilkes Barre. Penn, on Saturday even
ing last. The following from a Wilkes
Barre paper will be read with interest by
many:
The Presbytery of Lackawanna has met
with loss which it can meyer repair, in the
death of Rev. John p Harsen, which took
place at the parsonage, in Kingston, on
Saturday evening at 8 o'clock Smitten
with a relentless disease, cancerous af-
lection of an internal organ, his friends
knew that he must die and SO did he,
but no one ever faced the mes
senger of death with a stouter heart or
with brighter Christian faith than
did he Dissolution came suddenly He
had received the letter of sympathy sent to
him by Presbytery, and had finished dictat-
ing to his wife the church notices which
were to have been read in his pulpit the
next day and the Sabbath following when
his attendants responded to his request to
place him in m easier position. when, as
they raised him up. he drew long breath
aud was gone from earth He had forseen
the inevitable end weeks ago and made all
necessary arrangements for his burial, it be-
ing his wish that the funeral be held in his
church and interment to take place III the
Forty Fort cemetery-ground consecrated
by the life blood of the patriots of IT'S.
Thus closed the life of an earnest, de
voted christian man, whose brief but busy
career was devoted to the building up OF
the Kingdom of Christ. and the furthering
of any cause that would benefit and make
better his fellow beings. Transformations
and unassuming il his walk and life. gen
tie in his disposition as a woman, he won
the respect and love of all with wnom he /
came in contact To the young people Of /
his congregation he was as an elder broth
er, advising and guiding them to a higher
life, and giving them earnest christian
counsel He will be greatly missed 10y the /
church and community both as a pastor
and rs citizen.
Asa pastor he had no superiors in the |
presbytery. He was n worker, and he |
found an abundance of worh-looking up /
his membership holding cottage prayer
meetings. inquirinff after new comers into /
the town, and multitude of other activi- /
ties. As preacher his sermons were al I
ways We'll written and well delivered His |
education was Of Il superior character. He
had always been close student, and did
not cease TO be such when he left college /.
The deceased clergyman was born in /
New York city May 10. 1874, and was
consequently in the ADD year of his age.
He was the descendant Of an OLD Huguenot
family He was prepared for the Presby-
terian ministry. and when % years Of age /
graduated at the New York academy He
then entered Union Theological seminary
and graduated therefrom in 1867. While
in the seminary he was engaged in mission
work in connection with the Dry Dock !
mission, now Emanuel chapel. On gratlu-
ating from the seminary be received
commission from the board of home mis-
sons 10 labor for three months ai Martins
burgh, Lewis county. \. Y, intending 10
take post graduate course at -Andover
seminary On Feb. i3. lses. he was for
mally ordained as Presbyterian minister
After three months spent in the mis-
sionary field he received 4 call from
the church at Nartins5aTgh In
the fall Of the wear 1858 he entered the
"A
tember. 1869. he commenced his laboFs Is
Home Missionary in the town Of Pleas /
anton Kansas On the Sabbath following
his arrival in tue frontier town a church of
eight members was organized in ~ TN
plastered blilliny and destitute u doors
and windows. While house Of worship
was being erected the congregation Assem- .
bled on the Sabbath in vacant store rooms. +
the lumber for the seats beng carried from 4
y nei-hSoring lumber yarsi. a work which 4
the pastor of the church was compelled .
frequently TO perform himself
On February y, 1870. her was married i
10 bliss Frances c. Yale. daughter of the
late Venerable Calvin Yale. OF Martins
burgh. \. Y He continued As pastor Of
the church at Pieasanion one year ard three
months and in November. 1871, accepted
call 10 the church ST Wichita. Kan The