John Ellison Vassar

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John Ellison Vassar (1813-78) was an American lay preacher and missionary.

He was born at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., a cousin of Matthew Vassar, the founder of Vassar College. He worked in the Vassar brewery at Poughkeepsie, but, from religious convictions, withdrew from the company and devoted his time and money to missionary work. In 1850 he became an agent and colporteur of the American Tract Society, and traveled as its representative throughout the West. During the Civil War he was at the front with the Union Armies, and after its close devoted himself to religious work in the South. He was popularly known as "Uncle John" Vassar.

[edit] Publications

• T. E. Vassar, Uncle John Vassar (New York, 1879)

• This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain.