Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-04
R-v. LEWIS HARrsouoH, NOTED
METHODIST PREACHER. MAD
WRITTEN MANY SONGS.
ACTIVE LIFE CLOSES AT
HOME IN MOUNT VERNON.
Nest Noted Hymn, ~ Am Coming.
Lord" Credited With Causing Many
Conversions in Revival Meetings
Was Joint Author Of "Dsulah songs
had Served Several Iowa Districts.

Mount Vernon. Jan. 4..-Latr in the
afternoon Of New Years day, Rev.
Lewis Ilurtsough, q veteran minister
Of the Methodist church and writer
OF hymns Of wide repute. passed away
in his home at AS West Second street,
north. in Mount Vernon, at the age Of
90 years, I months and day.
Lewis Hartsouyh was born In Ithaca,
n. Y, on Aug. 81, 1898; educated In
Cazinovia seminary, becoming a men-
Der Of the Oneida conference OF the
Methodist church in 1851. He was mar
ried on July Il the following year TO
Miss Isabella Mar Coonish. Their only
child, Mrs. Alice Hartsough Smith.
who has spent the last twenty -hN
years caring for her aged parents, sura
wives.
Failing in health, Mr.. Hartsough
entered into supernumerary relation
with the Oneida conference in 1868 and
spent a year travelling in the west. In
ISs9 Bishop Simpson made him super
intendent of missions in the territory
Of Utah and he was also presiding
elder Of the Wyoming district. During
the following year, he organized the
Methodist church in Utah. But hiS
daughter could not stand the climate
and attitudes Of their Utah home, and
the following year. 1870, the Hart
soughs were obliged TO return to Cliff
ton Springs. n. y. for treatment for
the young woman. While there the
father served as chaplain Of the sana-
forum. In 1871 Mr.. Hartsough took
work In the Methodist church at Ep-
worth, Iowa, where he remained for
three years. While there he held a
most wonderful revival service,
wonderful even in those days when the
Methodist church had wide sweeping
revivals. After the meetings had
progressed for some time without re-
suits. certain official brethren had
talk with their pastor and asked him
II he did not think the meetings should
close. He replied that he would sec
after the service that night and give
his answer next day. That evening
stranger in the audience came forward
at the invitation and before the service
closed eighteen young men had been
converted.
1t was during this meeting that Mr..
Hartsough wrote both the words and
the music to II Am Coming, Lord"
This hymn has been sung the world
around and has had far reaching in
fuence that can be measured alone by
eternity itself. Ira d. Sankey, who
accompanied Moody on his evangelistic
work. wrote Mr.. Hartsough that he
knew Of as many as 1000 conversions
that had taken place chiefly from the
influence Of that hymn as he sang II
in the Moody and Sankey meetings.
Just recently Mr.. Hartsough had word
from a y. M. c. A. man in army work
in England, asking permission to use
the hymn in a collection that was be-
ing issued for soldiers. He said it was
being sung in camps "over there" and
that it was proving to be a great
favorite with the men. OF a hundred
or more Of Mr.. Hartsough's hymns, II
Am Coming. Lord" is the most gen.
orally known and the most frequently
sung. let Me Go Where Saints Are
Going" is one that Bishop McCabe
sang frequently. II Am Glad There Is
Cleansing in the Blood" was a favorite
with Evangelist Weber, a converted
Catholic.
The Revs. w. Mcdonald and l.
Hartsough published the hymn book.
"Reulah Songs" and 1.-THE Revivalist''
was edited by Mr.. Hartsough alone.
Mr.. Hartsough served the Sioux
City district, the Fort Dodge district,
the Huron district. and the Sioux Falls
district as presiding elder during his
active ministry. He also served tho
church at Sioux Falls, S. D., as its
pastor. AS a reyivalist he was a
marked success as having packed
houses and getting results always.