Fuson - George P
GEORGE PARKER FUSON
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal 9 August 1895
The Board of Deans of the Missionary Baptist Church held an important meeting at the church on the corner of Pike & Walnut Streets last Monday and at this meeting Rev. GP Fuson tendered his resignation. It has been known by a few of the leading members of the church for some time that Mr. Fuson had this step in contemplation but its announcement will be in the nature of a genuine surprise to many of the church members and to the city. The relations existing between the pastor and his people are of a most pleasant character, but Mr. Fuson has received several flattering offers from other churches and has concluded that he can probably be of greater usefulness in other fields. He has not yet determined just where he will locate. Mr. Fuson has been one of the most popular pastors in the city and it will be with great regret that Crawfordsville will see him leave. Of course, the church has as yet no one in view as his successor.
Source: Ferguson, Sylvia C. Fuson. Oxford, Ohio: Oxford Press, 1939, p 177.
Rev. George Parker Fuson (18946-1898) Baptist Minister
Rev. George Parker Fuson entered the Union Army as a private at a tender age and served his country honorable for 3 years. At the close of the Civil War he returned to Illinois, where, in 1866, he married Miss Mary Jane Malcolm. They established their home at Wakefield, Ill on a farm. Mr. Fuson had completed the common school course of his day and also a Normal course and was a student at Shurtleff College. At Wakefield he commenced teaching school; and by candlelight on the farm began preparing himself for Christian Ministry. A mere lad, Mr. Fuson had held service in the Army, although he was not a chaplain and was not ordained into the ministry of the Missionary Baptist Church until Nov 21, 1869. In 1870, a caravan of 3 covered wagons was seen to move from Wakefield, ill to LaClede County, Missouri. Adoniram Judson Fuson and two of his sons, George Parker and Roland Adoniram Fuson with their families, formed the caravan. The Fusons remainedin Missouri until 1874, when George Parker Fuson moved his family back by wagon to a farm near Flat Rock, Illinois. Moving to Shelburn, Indiana in 1878, Mr. Fuson's life became that of the typical itinerant preacher of the Middle West of that day. During the years 1878-1880, he preached at Shelburn, Indiana; Little Flock Church, 2 miles west of Shelburn; Fairbanks (12 miles from Shelburn) and New Harmony CHurch. From 1880-1882 he preached and Sullivan, Indiana, 1882-1884 gave 1/2 of his time to Door Village and half to Kingsbury. In Dec 1884, Mr. Fuson moved to Browns Valley, Indiana while ministering to Browns Valley and Waynetown Churches. In 1887, George Parker Fuson became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Crawfordsville, Indiana where he served faithfully for 9 years. Ill health compelled him to ask for a leave of absence from the church there that he might seek restored strength in Nebraska. While on leave, Mr. Fuson presided over a church in McCook, Nebreska. Later he sought health at Colorado Springs but his condition did not improve and he died at his home in Crawfordsville until 5-10-1898 Mr. Fuson received the charge with but 18 active members in the church. During the pastorate the membership increased to several hundred and with unflagging zeal and Christian courage, he built a beautiful church edifice which served as the church home until about 1917 when replaced with a larger structure. A memorial window has been retained in the new church. It was said of George Parker fuson that "the city had lost of citizenship who was loved and esteemed for his many admirable trait of character and his sterling honestly and Christian manhood. His life was a sermon in itself from which many valuable lessons might be learned. Mr. Fuson died as he had lived, a man beloved by all and one who numbered his friends among all classes and creeds. He was a minister who carried the banner of love, hope and charity among his fellow men with unfaltering step and unswerving fidelity to the cause he had espoused. His reward will be that of the good servant and he will enter into the House of the Lord with the record of a blameless life." He contributed many articles and stores to denomination papers and magazines. His story, "Broken Links United" was published serially in the Baptist in 1892 (poem included).