The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-04-10
M|ETtOR1C Career or FORMER !
MINISTER. OF. STARK COUNTY
Or. R. c. Flower Preached at Fifteen LAWYER
and Physician Soon After Now a /
Prisoner in New York. >i

DR.. Richard G. Flower, physician
and promoter, who was recently placed
Under heavy bonds In New York on
the charge Of swindling and who is
inspected OF inducing the late Theo-
dore Hagaman to invest his money in
worthless securities, was not only a
former preacher at Alliance. O., but
s graduate ofsOhio Medical univer-
sity. e-t
In long statement to the New York
Herald, covering his' life. DR.. Flower
tells Of his Ohio life as follows:
II am" said he, the second son of
Alfred Flower, q minister, who, in hts
time, was of more than local note. I
was born Dec. 16, 1849, near Albion,
III. Ny grandfather, George Flower,
was an intimate personal friend Of
Thomas Jefferson. My years Of childa
hood were spent on a farm, where,
however, my education was directed by
a private tutor.
when just 13 years old / went out
into the world, not to struggle for my
self, but to make my own way with the
assistance Of my parents and my
friends. worked my way through a
business college, and then, feeling a
coll to a higher plane of life, entered
the Butler university, at Indianapolis.
During the last two years of my uni
versity life / took up the study of
medicipe with Professor r. T. Brown,
of the university, and later took q de-
gree in medicine at the Ohio Medical
university. But at this time did
l,x%A 10 -,
life to the ministry.
PREACHER AT FIFTEEN
when l faced my first congregation
and preached my first sermon I was
little more than 15 years Of age.
Sometimes l think that boys matured
younger in the old school OF expert
ence than they do now. My first two
charges were at Henderson and Bowl"
ing Green, KY, where preached from
1863 to 1872. Then my health failed
me, and while on a vacation from the
pulpit l studied law and was admitted
to the bar in Charleston, Ind.
"On the recovery of my health re-
turned to the ministry, taking charge
Of the Disciple (or Christian) church,
ct Alliance, o. This church was one
Of the largest In the Disciple dcnom-
nation. I was perhaps too liberal for
the doctrines Of my church, and the
kesult was split in 1877 Then fol-
lowed one Of the most serious religious
controversies that ever interested or
excited the Buckeye state. took with
me more than 80 per cent. of the mem
bers of my church, including all those
Of prominence and wealth
HAD pJG CnNEREn TTON
Il established an Independent
church, and very soon had the largest
congregation in northern Ohio. A
large church structure was erected,
but this was soon outgrown. and on
Sunday afternoon lectured in col.
lege hall before an audience seldom
less than two thousand Now l come
TO one of the unpleasant incidents OF
my life. Here, could live my life
again, I would not do exactly as did
30 years ago.
z Matthias Hester, an old and wealthy
resident Of Alliance, who had been
D member Of my original congregation,
but who had not followed me to tho
Independent Organization, made active
war upon me. After repeated attacks
he published In one town paper q let
ter which he said had been received by
him and which contained many libels
upon me. began suit for damages.
William r. Day, now supreme court
justice, was my counsel. He advised
mo that because of the religious con-
troversy which / had stirred up 1t
would be almost impossible for me tn
obtain a verdict, but as he saw that
could place my case properly before
the public he advised that the trial
Ehould proceed.
RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE AvOWED.
1t was admitted by Mr.. Hester that
he had been imposed upon and that
the charges against me were untrue;
hut he urged that or some friend OF
mine must have sent the letter to him
for the purpose OF misleading him
His counsel made the most of this op-
portunity, charging me with being the
anthor of the damaging letter. The.
trial practically developed into a re-
1igious conflict and 1t was filled with
intense excitement for me and I think
for the entire community. Religious
pre;udices were aroused in an unfortu-
nate manner and 1t is because OF that
fact and not because n lost the suit
that. regret the incident"
After reviewing his career as med
lcai man, Dr. Fowler adds: u
Quitting for all time the practice
Of medicine in 1899, I came to New