Smyrna times., 1904-07-06
SKETCH OF REV. THOMAS L. POULsON, D. D.
Was Associated With Editor r. D. HOffecker in
the Publication of the Delaware Herald.

Thomas Layman POulsOn was born
at Sadsburyville, Chester county, Pa,
on December 13, 1881. His parents
were devout Christians, his father
being local preacher in the Method
ist Episcopal Church. The family
soon thereafter removed to West Ches-
ter, Pa., where Thomas received his
education and training for his life work.
In 1852 he came to Smyrna, where his
| father, Abraham POulsOn, edited and
published the DeldWdre Herald, he
with Robert D. Hoffecker, purchased
this paper, and changed its name to
The SMYRNA TINES. In 1854 he mar
ried Miss Cora Wilmer, daughter of
the Rev. Pennell Coombe, of the
Philadelphia Conference of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. not long after
this event Mr.. Poulson withdrew from
his partnership i'll the publication of
The TINES, and removed to Port De-
pOsit, Md, where he engaged for short |
time in a mercantile enterprise. All !
these preceding years he felt called to !
the Gospel Ministry. In March 1857 |
he was received into the travelling
connection of the Philadelphia Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
at a session held in old Asbury Church,
Wilmington, Del He was regularly |
assigned to the charges of Annamessex, |
Cambridge and Church Greek. on the
Eastern Shore of Maryland, of the
breaking out of the civil war he was
Commissioned Chaplain of the First /
Regiment of Eastern Shore of Mary |
land volunteers, by Governor Thomas
Holiday Hicks, and served in that
capacity to the close of the war. His
Regiment did important duty in Vir
ginia, and Maryland, and participated
in several famous engagements, notably
at Gettysburg in 1868, where Chaplain
POusOn lost his horse, and was taken
prisoner, but escaped with many other
prisoners during the fearful conflict of
the last day of that record breaking
battle.
Appointments Served by the Rev. Dr. PaulsOn.
After being mustered ont of service
at the expiration of his term of enlist
ment with his Regiment, he was again
appointed to a Chaplaincy at Fort Della
ware, but resigned to accept the charge
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
at Delaware City, to which he was
assigned by Bishop Scott Subse-
quently Mr.. Poulson served the
charges of North East and Zion,
Cecil county, Maryland. In 1871 he
was transferred to Baltimore City,
where he served several important
churches for fifteen years. Then he
was appointed to the Methodist Church
in the City of Alexandria, Virginia.
i, After remaining a term In this charge,
9 he was retransferred to Baltimore
10 city. In 1885 he was transferred to
o the New York East Conference, where
d he filled responsible pastorates in the
is greater New York City for eighteen
q years up to last April, when he asked
le and was granted a release from the
Of effective ranks of the ministry.
j. The honorary title of D. D., wal
l. conferred on Mr.. Poulson by Della
/" ware College at the Commencement
l. of 1871, when he delivered an oration
/" before the large audience assembled
g, on that occasion. He has been in de-
le mand througout the years of his minis
a. try as a Preacher on special occasions
;, particularly at Camp Meetings. H.
Id is blessed with a clear baritone voic
s. and distinct articulation, enabling tn
be largest audiences to hear his differences
e. He has lectured extensively on Tenn
be perance and Literary themes in thi
lie country and Europe, appearing on tn,
rn platform with some of the creates
"a orators of his day. Before leaving hi
ry last charge, Lawrence, n. Y, whic
Y, DIR. PoulsOn had been unapimousl
of and urgently requested to return fo
at the fourth year, his children planned t.
rs celebrate the fftieth anniversary of tn
Es marriage of their parents. This Gold
as en- celebration was largely attended
~ testimonials were presented the happ
, subjects of the brilliant function, onl
! two persons who witnessed the weddin
I ceremony half century ago are liv
i ing, viz; the brides sister, Mrs. W
/ W. Tschudy, of Smyrna, and tn
| grooms sister, Mrs. Susanna Mont
| gomery, of Wilmington, Del.
| Has Been Distinguished in the Ministry.
DIR. Poulson retains in a most re
markable degree the physical an
i mental vlgor for which he has bee
i distinguished in all the long years {
i his eventful ministry. His wife ais
still possesses the vivacious spirits an
brilliant social and conversation
powers which have ever characterize
| ii, 4