The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-03-29
OBITUARY NOTES.
Sketch of the Life of the Late Rev. J. w.

The funeral services of Rev. James
 w. Denton, who died at the New Haver
 hospital March 26 aged eighty-three will take place at the Grove street cem-
 etery chapel tomorrow, Saturday after
 noon at 2:30 o'clock. The deceased was
 a much esteemed clergyman and earn
 est worker for temperance, and his long
 life had been full of usefulness. The fol
 lowing interesting sketch of his life was
 prepared for publication in this paper
 in the event of his death by the deceas-
 ed about two years ago:
 The ancestry of my family were of
 the early settlers of this country, in
 Massachusetts, New York and New
 Jersey.
 I was born in the city of New Bruns-
 wick N. J., April 5, 1918. Until thirteen
 years of age my education was in the
 select and common schools of New
 Brunswick and New York city, my par
 ents having removed there about the
 year 1927.
 Between thirteen and fourteen years
 of age, was employed at printing, as
 ccmpositor, on the Genius of Temper
 ance, pioneer temperance paper in
 New York, published by Goodell &
 Crandell. At the suggestion of my
 mother was instrumental in forming
 the New York Youths Temperance so- ciety, composed of boys of about my
 own age, and though so young, yet we
 held our meetings with the order and
 decorum of men.
 Bishop Coxe of western New York
 was one of the boys with us about
 which time his fathers house and
 church Dr. Samuel Cox) were assault
 ed and severely damaged by New
 York mob, because of his avowed prin- ciples and preaching in regard to slav- cry in our country
 Our Youths Temperance society held public meetings In various churches in the city, originating no doubt much of the interest that has existed there since, as appeared in the Junior Temperance society of which was a member and officer, and of which John o. North of New York Rev. John M. Read, secre- tary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal church; iAVf. o1liilSl foGiiIOIl, d IUGluDpT OI IIle New York East Methodist Episcopal church conference, and others who be- came prominent in the church, were | members
 About this time was also organized the apprentice and Young Mems Tenn perance societies which were the means of incalculable good.
 In the year 1880 a time of extraordi- nary religious revival, I professed con- version, being twelve years of age: the old Sullivan street church, near Spring street New York, now the Washington Square church, New York, was the place of my spiritual birth
 From this period, with attendance at evening school, my education was en- tirely selfacauired. At this time I felt my heart incining me to the sacred ministry but was obliged to rely up- on my personal efforts in pursuing my theological studies. I was at an early age licensed to preach. June ?, 1899, I was married to Miss Martha Ann War ren of New Haven, Conn.,, on Sabbath afternoon in the old brick Methodist Episcopal church on the green, corner of Elm and College streets by Rev. La ban Cheney. father of Dr. Cheney of New Haven, Conn. March 20, 1S49, I was ordained to the office of deacon in the Methodist Protestant church, being thereby authorized by the New York annual conference to baptise and to visit the elder in the administration of the Lords supper, to celebrate matri- | mony, and to preach and expound the ! Holy Scripture. At the same confer | ence I received my first appointment to | the charge of a circuit in Sussex county, | New Jersey.
 Afterward in 1850, I was appointed to the care of a circuit in West Chester | county, New York. Tn 1851 joined the | Methodist Episcopal church, Jane | street, New York, of which Rev. Rufus | Putney was pastor, I conducting such local service as was possible, At the | New York annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, 1852, I was received and appointed to the Catskill circuit residing and preaching at Cox sacbie on the Hudson, having Catakill and two other appointments. At Coxsachie a revival of religion com menced early in the autumn, and con- tinued through the winter resulting in the conversion of many souls, and an increase of membership of the church. At the annual conference of 1853 I was appointed to the Jefferson circuit in Schoharie county, N. Y., having my residence at Jefferson academy. Preach ing there and at other places, in 1854 I vas appointed to the charge of the Fallsburg circuit in Sullivan county, New York, residing with my family at Woodburn, having four churches to supply with preaching at alternate Sabbaths, travelling some twelve miles each Sabbath. At the conference held at Poughkeepsle, 1855, I was appointed by the New York Conference Tract so- ciety to their work in Ulster, Green and Delaware counties, in which l labored ; two years, securing a large circulation for their publications. Subsequently I ] served the Ulster county, New York, Bible society in a re-supply of the { with the Holy Scriptures. Tn : 1858 I was appointed by Presiding Elder [ Albert Nash to the charge of the church ] 1t North Madison, Conn.,, New York ] East conference, and afterwards to the charge of the Barkhamsted circuit re- { siding at Pleasant Valley. I also l trough that region extensively circu- , ated the publication of the Tract socie- ies. Iii 1861, the year of the outbreak { 4 IL. |.