A High Redemption Price
While digging around in the Wesleyan archives a few weeks ago, I found this interesting and sad story from a letter to the editor in one of the earliest Wesleyan publications.
The newsletter was from 1866 (January 31 I believe) and was called the American Wesleyan. Adam Crooks served as editor.
Crooks wrote "The record of Brother Pearson in the obituary notices this week, is indeed, as sad one. Five sons and one son-in-law laid upon our country's altar as a part of its redemption price.
The obituaries listed:
Calvin W. Pearson, 3rd Wisconsin Regiment Died April 12, 1864 He was a member of the Congregational Church. Left a wife and three children.
Levi Pearson -- 6th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Army. Wounded June 19, 1864 at Petersburg. died in a New York hospital July 20. Left a wife and two children.
William Pearson, July 1863 -- died at the first volley of Gettysburg. Signed up with Levi -- 6th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Army.
Jesse Pearson -- enlisted with Levi and William. Killed at Petersburg June 19, 1864
Alan Pearson -- enlisted in 1864 with the same company and regiment. He was taken with typhoid fevel -- Marched and fought for 18 days until he sank under it, and was taken to the hospital. He was discharged, and died of consumption October 9, 1865
Son-in-Law, Buford Gifford -- Captain in the Indiana Regiment. Fell near Atlanta in 1864. His wife had died previously and left one child.
Thus, in 28 months, five sons and onse son in law were sacrificed on the altar of my country.
A son and a daughter are yet among the living, but the daughter is partly bereft of reason and has been in the asylum.
Dear brothers, pity the sorrow and pray for the comforting of a bereaved father.
Connected with all this is an intense suffering of soul on account of my having lost the bright evidence which I once enjoyed of the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost.
But, although He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.
Brethren, Pray for me, that my faith fail not.
-- B. Pearson
Elysian, Minnesota Dec. 26, 1865
The newsletter was from 1866 (January 31 I believe) and was called the American Wesleyan. Adam Crooks served as editor.
Crooks wrote "The record of Brother Pearson in the obituary notices this week, is indeed, as sad one. Five sons and one son-in-law laid upon our country's altar as a part of its redemption price.
The obituaries listed:
Calvin W. Pearson, 3rd Wisconsin Regiment Died April 12, 1864 He was a member of the Congregational Church. Left a wife and three children.
Levi Pearson -- 6th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Army. Wounded June 19, 1864 at Petersburg. died in a New York hospital July 20. Left a wife and two children.
William Pearson, July 1863 -- died at the first volley of Gettysburg. Signed up with Levi -- 6th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Army.
Jesse Pearson -- enlisted with Levi and William. Killed at Petersburg June 19, 1864
Alan Pearson -- enlisted in 1864 with the same company and regiment. He was taken with typhoid fevel -- Marched and fought for 18 days until he sank under it, and was taken to the hospital. He was discharged, and died of consumption October 9, 1865
Son-in-Law, Buford Gifford -- Captain in the Indiana Regiment. Fell near Atlanta in 1864. His wife had died previously and left one child.
Thus, in 28 months, five sons and onse son in law were sacrificed on the altar of my country.
A son and a daughter are yet among the living, but the daughter is partly bereft of reason and has been in the asylum.
Dear brothers, pity the sorrow and pray for the comforting of a bereaved father.
Connected with all this is an intense suffering of soul on account of my having lost the bright evidence which I once enjoyed of the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost.
But, although He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.
Brethren, Pray for me, that my faith fail not.
-- B. Pearson
Elysian, Minnesota Dec. 26, 1865
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