The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-20
GAVE ALL HE HAD.
Built n Church with His Own Money
and Now Acts as JanitOr.

Pittsburg Dispatch.
Denver has the extraordinary instance
of a man who gave his entire fortune
became it's i%anitor." said William H. era
ham yesterday. 1T is nothing unusual to
see the man who gave a large donation
cation, but here is a man who gave every
cent of the $4,000 he had accumulated and
was then content to serve in a lowly posi-
ton with 2 small salary. This is a rare
instance of self-sacrifice and particularly
interesting TO Pittsburgers. as the noble
man at one period in his life spent his
time between Alliance and this city. Many
years ago there resided in Alliance, o.,
a man who, in order to make a better liv-
taurant in addition to his regular duties
as engineer on the Fort Wayne road be-
tween Pittsburg and his native town. He
gained a little money in the pursuit of
his vocations, but when the Western fever
broke out and Denver was looming UP
out of the rays of the setting sun as the
coming metropolis OF the West he packed
up his earthly possessions and started for
faat h srpw taken P'a With hin i he i pureh saelns 8
home surrounded by some little property
for himself. AS luck would have it, a por-
denly became very valuable and he sold
IL at a great profit. Having acquired a
a adS1e iOf being Tesi successful eseees nj p Dptij his sna mo snlatf
savings had increased to what in those
days. and We might say even now, were
thought to be a considerable fortune-SS7,-
600. But the engineers path was not to be
all roses. for about this time his wife
died. leaving him alone in the world. He
that he should do some good In the world
he became very much interested in church
work.
THE Christian Church at Denver had
been very successful, but after acquiring a
considerable congregation the work seemed
at a standstil. The pastor had received a
call from another city. and was about to
accept Ii, when the Pittsburg engineer came
to him and argued that his proposed going
orvox " wa MI NlO sHnr' he nfand
while our church has increased rapidly, we
are now at a standstill. What we need
| people for the good work. Establish an
other Christian Church here, and you will
see what great good can be done The min,
see no way 10 accomplish the establishment
OF another church, as funds were very
donate sl2, 900 toward purchasing a lot and
TO be in a new church il the pastor would
remain. This offer was accepted; soon a
lot was obtained, and in a short time the
tent which was erected to hold the serv-
ices held an earnest congregation of sew
enty. Interest in the work increased. and
building soon commenced. So interested did
the engineer become that he not only gave
his promised 81, 600. but kept adding and
adding to his donation until. when the
leaving himself utterly without money or
means of support. The church proved ~
be one OF the finest in Denver. and is to
this day the pride of the city.
But what was this benevolent man 10
do? He had given his all to the church,
but he must live. He went meekly and
asked for the position of janitor. OF course
he was accepted. and to this day he Is
filing that position. But he Is no ordinary
j~anitor; he is rather a king in the congre
CATION. He is about seventy years old.
and lives in the. church Away up in the
belfry which he built he has a comfortable
bedroom arranged, and down in the base
ment he eats his meals. He receives a
salary, but every cent that is not required
for his frugal living he gives 10 the aims
fund. I said he is looked upon as a king.
on every question which comes up about
the church his opinion Is asked for and
respected. He is content with his life. hav-