The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-03-22
Rev. DR.. Maxwell Dead.


presiding elder of the South Bend
district, Methodist Episcopal church,
died at St. Vincent's hospital Indian
apolis Friday, as result of an opera
ton for obstruction of the bladder.
Dr. Maxwell had been in poor
health for some time and few weeks
ago went from his home in South
Bend to Indianapolis to take treat
ment. He was operated upon Friday
afternoon and his case proved more
serious than had been anticipated.
He failed to rally and after lingering
throughout the night passed away at
9 o'clock Saturday morning.
Dr. Maxwell was born in Jefferson
county this state, July 5, 1s41, the
second child and only son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Edward Maxwell, and his father
died when he was only eigh. years
old. His mother, however, gave him
careful religious training and as good
a common school education as could
be obtained in the schools at that
time
When he was eighteen years old
he entered Moore's Hill college, but
at the end of two years, left it to as
sist in saving the Union.
In August, 1861, he joined Com
pany K, 26th Indiana volunteer infan-
try, to aid in the union cause in the
civil war. A body of so men, FIVE
chosen from each company, was or
ganized for sharp shooting and young
Maxwell was among the unmber.
These men were armed with long
Enfield rifles and did great deal of
scouting and extra night marching
when in active service. He was
wounded severely in the battle of
Prairie Grove, Ark, Dec. z, 1862, his
regiment losing over 200 killed,
wounded and missing.
For FIVE months his wound dis
charged and it was long time before
he could lay aside his crutches and
cane. AS soon as he was able to
leave the hospital on crutches he be-
gan a clerkship in the commissary de-
partment In April, 1863, he was
honorably discharged on special or
der by Gen. Scho6eld to receive a
promotion and was Immediately re-
mustered as first lieutenant of cav
airy. In this capacity he served with
credit and honor until the close of the
war He was disbursing officer for
over year, handling large amounts
of army stores and funds. Near the
close of the war he served for three
months as judge advocate for a gen
eral court martial About 20 cases
were tried, some being of great i'm
portance. Lieut.. Maxwell was treas
urer of the military post at Fayette-
vile, Ark. He was a member of a
commission of FIVE officers which sat
as board OF arbitration on disputes
as to property rights between soldiers
and citizens.
Returning home he re-entered col
lege, graduated with honors, and
three years later was called to a pro-
fessorship in Moore's Hill college,
taking the chair of Greek and Latin.
where he taught until the fall of 1878,
excepting one year during which he
had leave of absence, being pastor
at Charlestown, this state. For two
years bfore he resigned his profess
sorship he was vice-president of the
college, DR.. ]. P. D. John being presi-
dent.
DR.. Maxwell resigned to re-enter
the pastorate, but served only one
year when he was unanimously elect
ed to the chair of Latin and history
in Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind,
where he taught until the summer of
1883, when he resigned to again enter
the ministry in which he remained
until death. He filled many important
charges as pastor, and was for two
years resident of this city being
pastor of the church in Plymouth and
succeeded in raising the money to
purchase the first Methodist parson-
age. During his pastorate he was
twelve years secretary of the North
west Indiana conference.
Two years ago last September he
was made presiding elder of the
South Bend district in which his SER
vice has been of the highest charac-
ter. He was prominent Grand Army
man and at one time. we believe.
lacked only few votes of being
elected state commander
He delivered the last Memorial day
address in Plymouth and it was one
of the best ever delivered in this city.
He had hundreds of friends in Ply
mouth in all the churches, among the
business men, the old soldiers, and in
fact, among all the best people of the
city.
He leaves a wife and three daugh-
ters. The daughters are Mrs. Leah
Chamberlain, of Lafayette, Mrs. Rose
Dickey, of Washington, d. c. and
Miss Lillian Maxwell of South Bend