The courier., 1901-12-14
VETERANS OF THE PULPIT
Methodist Ministers Grew Gray in the Service and
Retire to Private Life with the Consciousness Of Life
Work Well Docs - i - = y =

LOUIS tnat year, ORDAINED the heN. MI.
Fort as an elder in the church. The
next year he was transferred to the
Iowa circuit and was located at Glen
wood where he remained for two years
in charge of the church work. During
his stay at GlenwOOd he visited Ne
braska and preached at PlattsmOuth.
what was said to be the first sermon
ever delivered in that town. After Serv-
ing the Iowa appointment he withdrew
for a short time from active work in
the church. About this time his wife.
who had been a devoted co-laborer in
the work. died.
After losing all of his investment in
a Methodist seminary which was start
ed at a small town. Louden, near Glen
wood, he joined the Kansas Nebraska
conference at the meeting. which was
held in Leavenworth in 1859. His first
appointment was to the Falls City
charge When he visited the town he
could find no suitable location for his
family, and he removed to Nebraska
City, where he preached as supply for
a time. While located at this place he
married Miss Mary A. Gates, of Zanes-
vile. o., who was at that time visit
ing in the west. The next year he was
placed in charge of the Methodist
church work at Plattsmouth.
The Nebraska conference was formed
in 1861 at Omaha and of the thirteen
charter members but three are living.
namely: Hiram Burch, HI. I. Davis
and ]. l.. Fort. From this conference,
Rev. Mr.. Fort was given the Peru dis
trict There he remained for two
years, during the time suffering ply
sical injury which has caused him more
or less spinal trouble ever since. This
injury finally compelled him to accept
a superannuated relation to the church
at the Nebraska conference which met
at Brownville that year. The doctors
advised a trip west and in company
with a wagon train he crossed the
plains in "a. This outing partially re-
stored his health although he suffered
financially, the Indians running off
with the principal part of his outfit.
On returning from the trip across the
plains he was appointed by the Amerf-
can Bible society to be superintendent
of its work in Nebraska and Colorado.
He was thus engaged for two years
and then in 1867 he removed with his
family to Omaha. There he received
the appointment as chaplain of the
senate of the Nebraska legislature,
then in session. Two years later he
located in Council Bluffs. having been
made the agent for Pottawattamie
county for the American Bible society.
He remained in this work until 1879
when. having nearly regained his
health. he applied for an active work
in the Nebraska conference again. This
request was granted and he was placed
on the Palmyra circuit. While serving
here his second wife died. In 1873 he
drew the upper Nemaha appointment
at the annual conference. During the
wear he married Miss Mary III. Free
man of Palmyra. Work on the Sal
tilIo circuit was long and arduous, the
settlements being far apart and the
roads mere cattle trails. His health
not permitting further active work he
again assumed a superannuated posi-
ton and in 1878 moved to Peru that his
sons might have an opportunity of at
tending the state normal school. After
a three wears residence in the town he
IA HiSSnriri tn n
farm of one of his sons in northern
Missouri. The outdoor life agreed with
him and he was soon ready to take up
active work in the church. From 1877
until 1855 he served in the following
places: Honeywell circuit, 1879: agent