Person Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

Showing 1 - 10 of 13Results Per Page: 10 20 50

Johnson Oatman, Jr.

1856 - 1922 Person Name: Rev. J. Oatman, Jr. Author of "Jesus Will be There" in International Praise Johnson Oatman, Jr., son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, was born near Medford, N. J., April 21, 1856. His father was an excellent singer, and it always delighted the son to sit by his side and hear him sing the songs of the church. Outside of the usual time spent in the public schools, Mr. Oatman received his education at Herbert's Academy, Princetown, N. J., and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute, Bordentown, N. J. At the age of nineteen he joined the M.E. Church, and a few years later he was granted a license to preach the Gospel, and still later he was regularly ordained by Bishop Merrill. However, Mr. Oatman only serves as a local preacher. For many years he was engaged with his father in the mercantile business at Lumberton, N. J., under the firm name of Johnson Oatman & Son. Since the death of his father, he has for the past fifteen years been in the life insurance business, having charge of the business of one of the great companies in Mt. Holly, N. J., where he resides. He has written over three thousand hymns, and no gospel song book is considered as being complete unless it contains some of his hymns. In 1878 he married Wilhelmina Reid, of Lumberton, N.J. and had three children, Rachel, Miriam, and Percy. Excerpted from Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers by Jacob Henry Hall; Fleming H. Revell, Co. 1914

B. D. Ackley

1872 - 1958 Composer of "[When the storm-clouds gather o'er the pathway]" in Harvest Hymns Bentley DeForrest Ackley was born 27 September 1872 in Spring Hill, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest son of Stanley Frank Ackley and the brother of A. H. Ackley. In his early years, he traveled with his father and his father's band. He learned to play several musical instruments. By the age of 16, after the family had moved to New York, he began to play the organ for churches. He married Bessie Hill Morley on 20 December 1893. In 1907 he joined the Billy Sunday and Homer Rodeheaver evangelist team as secretary/pianist. He worked for and traveled with the Billy Sunday organization for 8 years. He also worked as an editor for the Homer Rodeheaver publishing company. He composed more than 3000 tunes. He died 3 September 1958 in Winona Hills, Indiana at the age of 85 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, Indiana, near his friend Homer Rodeheaver. Dianne Shapiro (from ackleyfamilygenealogy.com by Ed Ackley and Allen C. Ackley)

William C. Poole

1875 - 1949 Person Name: Rev. W. C. Poole Author of "My Light Is Jesus" in Harvest Hymns William C. Poole was born and raised on a farm in Maryland. His parents belonged to the Methodist church. He graduated from Washington College and became a Methodist minister in Wilmington, Delaware area. He was pastor of McCabe Memorial, Richardson Park and other churches. In 1913 he was superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League of Delaware. He wrote about five hundred hymns. The writing was done as recreation and a diversion from his pastoral work. His goal in writing as well as in being a minister was to help people. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916)

Oswald J. Smith

1889 - 1986 Person Name: Oswald J. Smith, D.D. Author of "Safely Anchored" in The Stirling Three Hundred Smith, Oswald Jeffrey. (Odessa, Ontario, November 8, 1889--January 25, 1986, Toronto, Canada). Presbyterian. Attended Manitoba College, Winnipeg, 1909-1910; Toronto Bible College, 1907-1908, 1910-1912; McCormick Theological Seminary, 1912-1915; further study at Knox College, Toronto; several honorary doctorates. Pastorates in Toronto, 1915-1958; frequently conducted evangelistic meetings and crusades elsewhere. In 1928 he organized the virtually autonomous People's Church, which combines a vigorous evangelistic program in Toronto with an enviable overseas missionary network; in 1958 he relinquished its guidance to his son Paul, but remained its highly active minister emeritus. He published some 35 devotional and inspirational books, which he eventually combined into fourteen; most of his 1200 hymns and poems first appeared in church-connected magazines, but many are found in Poems of a Lifetime (London: Marshall, 1962). --Hugh D. McKellar, DNAH Archives

William J. Henry

1867 - 1955 Author of "Look away to the glory land" Originally from Ohio, Henry was an early leader in the Holiness Movement near Boyertown, Pennsylvania. In 1889 he, answered a call to hold revival meetings in eastern Pennsylvania. Denominational leaders had received requests from congregations there, but had no one to send. Though Henry was only 22 years old, he proved a very effective organizer. He toured eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey for several months each year till 1895. He became a very active evangelist and song writer, holding meetings in every American state and in Britain. --www.hymntime.com/tch ================== The song, “I Cannot Be Idle,” was written by William J. Henry, in 1897. He got saved from his sins at the age of 20 (in 1882), and he wrote this song at the age of 35 years old. He got saved at an evangelistic meeting, took his stand with the church of God, and he was called to the ministry nine years later, in 1891. Two years later (at the age of 31 years old), he made his first trip to spread the gospel overseas. A small congregation in Liverpool, England, was started through his laboring. Henry could not be idle! Later, he started a congregation in Springfield, Missouri, where he pastored for 13 years. He wrote more than 300 songs. At the age of 73 years old, Henry and his wife wrote: “To God be all the glory! This has been the busiest and happiest time of our lives. We are both enjoying the best of health and are decided to do more for [God] in the future.” He died 20 years later. --www.churchofgodfca.com/

R. H. Cornelius

1872 - 1933 Composer of "[When storm clouds gather o'er the way]" in Cornelius' Gospel Songs No. 3 R.H. Cornelius, known as Rufus Cornelius by his friends, was born in Blount Co., AL., January 24, 1872. He was educated in the public schools of Oneonta, the county seat. He began teaching in the public schools at an early age and at one time was associate Principle of the Oneonta High School. It was while teaching in the high school that he became interested in church music and began to study with some of the best teachers of the time. His first major teacher was the late A J showalter in one of his normals at Eden, AL. He continued his study with this wellknown teacher until he had finished the courses a second time. He soon felt that the study of harmony was his first love in his study and soon became one of the best harmon teachers of his time. Near the close of the century, he moved to Texas and settled in Midlothian, Ellis Co., where he established a publishing house and published many fine gospel song books that sold by the thousands. However, before coming to Texas, he was associated with The Showalter-Patton Co. who published his first compositions. Soon after coming to Texas, he devoted much time to teaching singing schools (Cornelius Normal Musical Institute) and soon became one of the best known teachers of that great state, often having many more calls for schools than he could have time for. In many cases his schools were dated years ahead. he had possessed a beautiful tenor voice and was of a very pleasant personality. This caused his to be loved by all who knew him. About 1914 he was called to Southwestern Baptist Seminary as head of the music department. After several years here in the Baptist School in Ft Worth, Texas, he felt he was more needed back in the field of teaching and songbook publishing. Soon after coming to Texas, he married Maycon Temperance Burleson, who was a fine singer and musician and wrote many songs.During the first 32 years of the 20th Century, this couple of musicians blessed the State of Texas with their singing and teaching. Of all the fine song written by Mr. Cornelius, "Oh, I want to See Him" will carry his memory for years to come. The Cornelius' were members of the Baptist Church and were devoted Christians. Mr. Cornelius passed away in 1932. Mrs. Cornelius lived only about two years, passing away in 1934. In the passing of these fine gospel singer and teachers, church music suffered a great loss. By C C Stafford --www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/ (excerpts)

George S. Schuler

1882 - 1973 Composer of "[When the storm-clouds round me gather]" in The Stirling Three Hundred

Chalvar A. Gabriel

Person Name: C. A. G. Author of "Just Keep on Praying" in Favorites Number 2

Charles K. Langley

1852 - 1904 Person Name: Chas. K. Langley Composer of "[When the storm clouds gather above my head]" in International Praise Charles King Langley, Sr., 1852-1904 Born: March 17, 1852, Marysville, Ohio. Died: 1904, Stuttgart, Arkansas, of typhoid fever. Buried: Fairmount Cemetery, Belcher, Arkansas. Music ALPERTON CROWN HIM WITH REJOICING GOING ON JUDAH'S STAR IS RISEN ON WHICH SIDE WILL YOU BE FOUND? WE'LL FOLLOW ON --www.hymntime.com/tch/