The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-01-13

COnStaDle Wueu WdS eMoA wy
He did not think that the world owed
him a living but did think it was his
place to earn his own and that OF his
large family He was capable, how.
ever, of filling almost any office in the
state. He was much interested in
church work The first prayer ! re-
member of ever hearing was when !
was only about four years old, the
words were "Oh. Gracious Father" l
believe the heavenly Father was gra-
cious to him. He allowed him to live
long. God must have been well
enough pleased with him. "The
wicked shall not live out half their
days." saith God. Mother was con-
verified when she was girl and bap'
tized and joined the Freewell Baptist
church. Father was converted at the
time before mentioned and Joined the
Lutheran church and at once became
a great Sunday school worker. After
he moved to near Kirby, he and mo.
Their united with the first church OF
God organized by Moses Coates the
old time evangelist of the church or
God and father became the first ruling
elder, which Office he continued to
hold until about 1875, when he gave
way for me, his son. The church OF
God had then through the indefatlg-
able and untiring efforts OF father
and mother and VIM. Shambaug's
family and Father Kirby and others
became quite large then came the
additions from Rock Run, including
the Hougendoblers and Filenbaughs
families that gave the early church
| a great lift and caused with the aid
of the Mann family which nearly all
belonged to the Church OF God and
others a great and glorious revival
period that continued for years; that
God had His eye on the church OF
God of which father and mother
were original members had become
manifest thing that no one can
doubt. Eternity alone can reveal
the gooa done by the dear old
church of God, in Kirby, Ohio.
Jesus alone hath the words of eter'
nal life and we must get it through
him and not through our own heads
though l have all knowledge, yet
II am nothing" saith the Apostle Paul
I'By faith are\ye saved and that not
of yourselves, it is the gift OF Cod
For w years father and mother
have travelled hand in hand down
the primrose path passing as many
milestones, but the fleet of all these
years upon the primrosed path upon
which but few briars ever encroached
and upon which they journeyed along
hand in hand, seldom separated but
for a few days, has left it's marks
upon their visages and father seemed
to be blossomed for the tomb.
A letter from Bro. Job at Marion
says mother may be spared for %
years, as she, seems to warrant the
guess hope. Hope, dear editor, that
she may be spared at least to reach
the centenarian mark. What an honor
it will be to us all and what an honor
to hear the editor declare that fathers
life and ripe age was venerable and
that his "
rather and mother both had the
faith once delivered to the saints
faith that was not of themselves
but was the gift Of God. Parents may
give good gifts to their children but
said Jesus chow much more will your
; Heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit
to them that ask Him." This is the
faith that saves, not the historical
faith that comes by memorizinE
catecisms, creeds, history or even the
scriptures. Such faith is purely his
torical and will not insure eternal life
His many Christian graces merited
special mention. No words may say
can do father the justice he deserved.
Would be only too glad to write much
more, but space denies. trust that
when father came to cross the dark
river, made dark by the shadows of
death, that the lighthouse of Peace
upon the farther shore, through the
darkness of the journey of that try.