The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-29
OLD CIRCUIT RIDER DEAD
PEACEFUL ENDING OF REV. HENRY
RUSSELL PRITCHARD's CAREER.
He Was known Throughout the State
for His Christian Character
Other Deaths.

unique and beloved men in the religious
history lof this State, died suddenly at
Chesterfield, near Anderson, at 4:30 Satur-
day afternoon, and his body was brought
home Yesterday for burial. The manner of
his death was unusual and great shock
to those to whom it first became known
and to the members of his family, whom
he left at IL a. m. Saturday morning in his
usual good health for one of his age.
The Rev. Mr.. Pritchard was a Christian
minister who had for many years preached
throughout Wayne and adjoining counties.
His first work was in that part of the
State. and he was often called upon by
his old friends and admirers TO preach
for them. His visit to Chesterfield was
i'm answer to such a call, and he was to
have preached there yesterday. He was
the guest of Mr. Clifford During the aft
ernoon Mr. Clifford began the planting OF
some trees in the front yard and Mr..
Pritchard was given a chair on the porch.
When not watching the progress of the
work by Clifford he read from a book OF
his earlier addresses, which published
several years ago. He had been alone
about half an hour when a friend of fifty
years called to see him. Mr.. Pritchard
sat in the chair with the book in his hands,
and apparently asleep. The greeting of his
friend met with no response, and thinking
Mr.. Pritchard was in need of sleep the
friend left him and talked with Clifford
for some time when he returned to Mr..
Prtchard and again spoke to him. Receiv-
ing no answer he went to Mr.. Pritchards
side, and gently shaking him, said:
Haven't you slept long enough, Brother
Pritchard?" Mr.. Clifford was called and
as he could not awaken his guest physi-
clan was summoned. He said death had
come at least an hour before.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Henry Russell Pritchard was born Jan.
%. 1919, near Paris. Bourbon county, Ken
lucky. When seven years of age he re-
moved with his family to Bracken county,
and in the fall of 1923 to Newport. Campbell
county. His mother died the year follow
ing, and he was sent with his two sisters
and two brothers to live with his grand
father He and his brothers, in an effort
to help the finances of the family, worked
at such odd jobs as could be found, at the
same time attending the schools. which Mr.
Pritchard described Every common"
When eighteen years of age he united with
| the Methodist Church. After a year and
a half he was given license to exhort
Mr.. Pritchard in his sermons often referred
| to this period OF his life, saying that he
never had an enemy until he began TO
preach. In 1910 he left the Methodist
| Church and united with the Disciples of
Christ. During the winter of 1910 and 1Si1
he earned money by cutting cord-wood and
used IL in attending school at Rising Sun,
Ind. He was there eight months, and dur
ing all of the time preached in the church
| at that place for payment of his board.
In 1913 he was sent out by the churches of
Cincinnati as an evangelist in Hamilton.
| Butler and Preble counties. He was given
a horse. saddle and bride. all valued at
So, coat, pair of pantaloons and SIS in
| money, which was all he received during
eight months of this service. While study
ing at Mt. Pleasant, o., in 1S44 he was
| given So per week for preaching in the
| church there. Later in 1874 he went to
Kentucky on an evangelistic tour, return
| ing in October and settling at oxford, o.,
| where he studied under the direction of one
was married in 1916 at Oxford to Miss
| Emeline Birdsell. who survives him. I'M
mediately after his marriage he removed
to Fairview, Ind, from which place he
| covered a circuit I'm Rush, Fayette Union
| and Wayne counties for eight years. The
baptism and conversion of persons was at
that time considered by the press of the
| country. and especially in the thinly pop
| ulated sections, as live news. Mr. Pritch-
| ard had the idea that the reporting of
conversions to the papers presented an APP
| pearance of boasting, and not one in ten
| of these was reported.
| CAME TO COLUMBUS.
Early in 1854 he removed to Columbus,
L
Church, which was the first and only
church with which he had connection as
its pastor. In addition to his work in this
church he preached regularly in several
others in smaller places nearby.
He spent altogether seventeen years in
| Bartholomew county preaching, and in 1870
removed to Daviess county, where he took
up farming on account of the Ill health of
| his eldest son. James A. Pritchard, a law
| yer of this city. During his four years on
the farm he preached in the church at
| Washington, and left it in the fall Of 1873
removing to Indianapolis, and continually
residing here until his death.
| During the greater part of his residence
here he lived on North Senate avenue
| within short distance of his home at 2001
North Senate avenue. He continued his
| evangelistic work. which was carried or
mostly in the fields first covered by him ir
this State Though being well along in
years he retained his physical activity and
| was at work in his chosen calling nearly
! every day. In the winter of 1887, while
preaching in a small village, he slipped and
fell from the porch of his host and was
paired his health, but did not cause ces-
| sation of his labors
| Mr.. Pritchard had very decided ideas OF
the meaning of the gospel, and his many
years of study resulted in a Familiarity
| with IL which made him very successful In
the numerous debates on religious topics ir
| which he engaged and enjoyed in a great
degree on account of numerous converts
made in this manner. His creed was, as
he expressed it, Gods Word is right
The number of public debates upon the
doctrines of religion in which he engaged
| was surprisingly large, and with his view
of his religion these debates were a source
| of much enjoyment TO him. He was
| speaker with wide knowledge of the af
| fairs of the world, and. though very alb
rupt, was an entertaining talker
AN ARDENT REPUBLICAN
Mr.. Pritchard was in politics a Wing
and after the incipiency of the Republican
party an ardent supporter OF the party
Though much interested in politics, h,
never actively engaged in party work III,
was twice member of the Electoral Col
lege which placed Abraham Lincoln in tn,
presidential office, being elected from Bar
tholomew county. He was once defeated il
the old Third congressional district fol
Congress by William Holman the nomine.
of the Democratic party.
He took great interest in the issues o.
this campaign and was a firm believer il
| President Mckinley The factional fight:
in Kentucky were also of great interest Il
him, as he was reared in that country ant
intimately acquainted with the earlier gen
Grafton of the families now in such bite,
opposition TO each other. In his home h,
was very fond of relating I'm this connectio,
incidents of his life in Kentucky.
Besides his wife Mr.. Pritchard leaves sew
eral children They are James A Pritch
ard of 20lO North Senate avenue. VILLA N