The daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-19??, 1903-03-30
5S YEARS IN
THE MINISTRY
Interesting Career of the Rev.
j. L. Valandigham
of Newark.
LONG And USEFUL WORK
Believes That Steady Employ
ment is Highly Conducive
to Health, Longevity
and Happiness.

The Rev. James Laird Vallandig-
ham, celebrated on March 13 at his
home Newark, the ninety first an
niversary of his birth.
TO those who inquire how it is
that at his advanced age he retains
30 much activity and vigor he re-
plies that he cannot tell, but says
that when a college student he sign.
oil the temperance pledge and las
ever since been temperate man
and temperance man; has never
used tobacco in any form, and has
been regular in all his habits He
was a teacher for eight years, a
lawyer and active politician for six
years, and for So years has preach.
ed the Gospel, and believes that
steady employment in some pleasant
occupation is highly conducive to
health, longevity and happiness.
The Rev. James Laird Nallandig-
ham, son OF the Rev. Clement and
ReDecca LAIRD Vallandigham, was
boru in New Lisbon, o., March 13,
1912, His ancestry on the paternal
side was Hugnenot; on the mater
nal, Scotch-lrish lie was prepared
Ror college by his father, who taught
, classical school, and graduated
from Jefferson College, Pa in 1880,
In class of 81 members, Of which
he is the only survivor.
Immediately after graduating he
commenced teaching-principally
Latin and Greek and the higher Eng
lish branches, and taught for six
years-two in his native town, two
in Buckingham Academy, Berlin,
and two in Union Academy, Snow
Hill, Worcester county, Md. In
the meantime he studied law with
Irving Spencer, of the Eastern Shore
and the Hon. Andrew w. Loomis,
OF Ohio For six years he practic-
ed law in Ohio, and took a very ac.
tive part in politics.
In 1910. with DR.. Leonard Hanna,
father Of Senator Hanna; Col. Jas.
Collier and the Hon. Annrew NJ.
Loomis he stumped parts of Ohio iu
favor of Gen. W. II. Harrison the
Wing candidate for the presidency.
In 1889 he was married to Miss
Mary E. Spence of Snow Hill, a
niece OF Judge ara Spence and of
the Hon. John s Spence, United
States Senator f,'o!a Maryland She
was noble wolnau, who was spared
to him for 50 years. In lS43 he
abandoned law and commenced the
study of theology, and in the mean.
time ror the support of his family
he took charge Of the clinical de-
partment of the high school of New
Lisbon.
In 1915 he was licensed to preach
by the Presbytery Of New Lis bon.
In 1913 he removed to Maryland,
and after preaching some time in
the vicinity Of Baltimore received
call from the churches of Princess
Anne and Rehoboth, He accepted
the call. was ordained in the church
of Princess Anne, May 4, 1850, by
the Presbytery of Baltimore, and
served as pastor for four years. In
November, 1858, he removed to
Newark, Del, and became pastor
of Head of Lhristiana Church, of
which he continued pastor for 40
years. Seven years OF that time he
was also pastor of Newark Church,
and q years Of that time pastor Of
White Clay Creek Church. His
pastOrate at Head of Christianu
Church closed November 80, 1893.
Since that time he has preached
very frequently every year, supply
ing feeblu churches and aiding his
ministerial brethren in the vicinity.
: March Is being the first Sunday
after entering upon his WI year he
preached in the church OF which he
had been SO long pastor, and was
cordially greeted by those Of his old
parslionors who were still living,
and by the children and grand
children of those Of them that had
departed.
On Friday evening, March 13, a
number of his friends called at his
home to tender their congratulate
tions, and he entertained them for
some time with recollections of his
pastorate Of 40 years.
lie received his degree of d. d.
from Delaware College in 1874, and
that of LII. d. from Westminster
College, Mo-. in 1881. He is Il MEM
Der of the Delaware Society of the
Sons of the American revolution,
his grandfather, Col. George Val
landi%ham, of Virginia, having
served as IN officer i'll The Revolu.
tiunary War