Reuben Gaylord

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Reuben Gaylord
Born April 28, 1812
Norfolk, Connecticut
Died January 10, 1880
Fontanelle, Nebraska
Burial place Prospect Hill Cemetery
Residence Omaha, Nebraska
Nationality American
Alma mater Yale University
Occupation Minister
Employers Congregationalist Church
Spouse Sarah Burton; May M. Willes

Reuben Gaylord (April 28, 1812–January 10, 1880) was the recognized leader of the missionary pioneers in the Nebraska Territory,[1] and has been called the "father of Congregationalism in Nebraska."[2] Writing in memory of Gaylord in the early 1900s, fellow Omaha pioneer George L. Miller said, "It was Reuben Gaylord, the brave Christian soldier who brought Sunday into Omaha and the Trans-Missouri country.[3]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Born in Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut, Gaylord was one of eight children of parents who were of Puritan heritage. Gaylord committed himself to Christianity when he was fourteen years old. He attended Yale University in 1830 and graduated in 1834, when delivered the graduating oration. After he graduated Gaylord worked at the Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois. There he taught and studied theology with Dr. Edward Beecher, president of the college. In 1837 he returned to Yale Theological Seminary and graduated in 1838.[4]

Gaylord belonged to a band of pioneer ministers well-known in the history of Congregationalism who came west after they graduated from the Yale Divinity School in 1838 to established churches in Iowa. He was ordained at Plymouth, Connecticut in August 1839. His first daughter was born on October 13, 1839. His twenty-three year-old wife died the following year.

[edit] Career

Soon after graduation Gaylord was commissioned by the American Home Missionary Society of Yale College to work in Henry County, Iowa. He was the second Congregational minister in that state, preaching at the Mount Pleasant and Danville, Iowa churches, and eventually became the permanent minister at the Danville Congregational Church. While there he became a founding member of the board of trustees of Iowa College at Grinell, now known as Grinnell College.[5]

O. D. Richardson, former governor of Michigan and Congregationalist, invited Gaylord to come and work in Omaha, Nebraska. He first came in September 1855. Moving his family there on Christmas Day, 1855, Gaylord preached his sermons in the Nebraska State House in Omaha, which was the only place in Omaha available.

On May 4, 1856, Gaylord organized the First Congregational Church of Omaha with nine members.[6] A building was completed in August 1857. Later he organized the Congregational Church in Fontanelle, Florence and Fort Calhoun.[7] He also played a key roll in establishing the first Nebraska University in Fontanelle.[8]

In 1864 he was appointed agent for the American Home Missionary Society for western Iowa and the entirety of Nebraska. He accepted this appointment and resigned from the church in Omaha, working there until 1871. Afterwards he returned to Omaha, regularly preaching in LaPlatte, Papillion, Columbus,[9] and other places. In 1875 he returned to Fontanelle as the minister, and preached at the church in Jalapa as well. Gaylord died suddenly in the town of Fontanelle in 1880.

[edit] Family

Gaylord's first wife was Sarah Burton, whom he was married to in 1838; she died two years later. In 1841 he married May M. Willes.[10]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Clark, J.B. (2006) Leavening the Nation: The Story of American Home Missions. Kessinger Publishing. p 117.
  2. ^ Punchard, G. (1865) "Congregationalism in Nebraska," History of Congregationalism from about A.D. 250 to the Present Time. Hurd and Houghton. p 360.
  3. ^ Clark, J.B. (2006) p 119.
  4. ^ "Douglas County Biographies", Andreas' History of Nebraska. Retrieved 4/12/08.
  5. ^ Reeves, W.E. (1916) "The Blue Book of Nebraska Woman." Missouri Printing and Publishing Company.
  6. ^ "History," First Central Congregational Church. Retrieved 4/12/08.
  7. ^ Punchard, G. (1865) "Congregationalism in Nebraska," History of Congregationalism from about A.D. 250 to the Present Time. Hurd and Houghton. p 360.
  8. ^ Our 150th Anniversary, First Central Congregational Church. Retrieved 4/12/08.
  9. ^ Augsperger, D. "A Brief History of The Federated Church", Federated Church of Columbus. Retrieved 4/13/08.
  10. ^ Wells, M.M. (1889) Life and Labors of Rev. Reuben Gaylord: Home Missionary for Iowa and Nebraska. Rees Printing Company.