DeMotte, Daniel - Putnam

Noe: This had black marks all over it so did the best I could typing it - kbz

Rev. Dan’l DeMotte died at his residence in this city Tuesday morning at 7:15 o’clock of congestion of the bowels after an illness of about two weeks, age 77 (?) years.  Mr. DeMotte entered the ministry in 1833 and was actively engaged in that work except 9 years served as agent ? of Asbury University until about 1870 all of  ____ as _ _ age __ the debility sessions __ __ undergone in the early history of the State.  He was a self-made man in every respect and possessed more than an ordinary mind.  We __ __ ___ personal testimony to the nobleness of his character and the excellence of his views on all subjects of current thought in which he took an interest ___ for one of his age.  He was careful in __ matters and in consequence leaves a considerable estate in good condition.  Mr. DeMotte had been married twice, his second wife surviving him.  He also leaves 8 children, all of whom are married and settled in __ some of them occupying high, responsible positions among their fellow crew.  They all visited Greencastle last Commencement and gathered in joyous reunion at their father’s fireside. The recollection of that happy event must now be very pleasant to them if anything can be pleasant at a time of such sad bereavement.  Their names and residence are as follows: Rev. John G. DeMotte, Russellville Indiana; Mrs. Hiram Marshall of this city; ___ DeMotte, merchant, DesMoines, Iowa; Mrs. Eileen Sunderlin, Burlington, Iowa; Prof. WH DeMotte, President of Illinois Female College; Mrs. Col. Morrison of this city; Mark L. DeMotte, editor of the Lexington, Missouri Register and Postmaster of that city. The most of these are expected to be present at the funeral which occurs today.  Dr. Wiley will conduct the services and the remains will be interred in the family burying ground in Forest Hill Cemetery. A full biographical sketch of the deceased will appear in the Banner next week. During his long and useful life he possessed the love and respect of those with whom he came in contact, and now that he has been gathered, to his fathers …. Rest is totally black (sorry)

Source: Greencastle Banner Feb 11, 1875 p 2

As was promised in our notice of the death of Rev. Daniel DeMotte last week we now present a brief sketch of his varied and exemplary life. He was a representative man of a class of men the history of whose lives is the history of this state and to whom the state is as largely indebted for her present proud position as to any other class.  It is the pioneer preacher, especially the Methodist pioneer preacher. The first settlers showed no greater courage in braving the dangers of that day for the promotion of temporal interests than did the preachers who immediately followed them in guarding the higher interests of the soul.  While the former subdued the forests and fitted the land for cultivation the latter established the privilege of the church and schools.  Even while some venerable representatives of this class still live, historians are recording the fact that the best type of Western civilization is the result of the labors and examples of these Godly men.  Rev. Daniel DeMotte was born in Mercer County, KY March 19, 1798.  He was left an orphan when but a lad and at the age of 13 left home to shift for himself.  He was married before 19 years of age and in 1828 was converted. The custom then was to keep liquor constantly on the table and a log rolling or a corn husking without a plentiful supply of whiskey was thought to be out of the question.  When Daniel DeMotte was converted he came directly home from the meeting and took the glasses and bottle from the table, putting the bible in their place. The next morning an old topar who had drunk up a large farm and a number of slaves came across the old fields as usual to sponge his morning dram.  As soon as he entered the cabin, Father DeMotte, feeling to  flinch from his newly assume duties would be cowardly, quietly remarked, “breakfast a little late and we haven’t had prayers.” The toper looked thunderstruck but without a word pulled off his slouched hat, stuck in under the chair, sat bolt upright during the whole proceeding.  As soon as the prayer was ended he remarked without a hint as to his usual glass that he guess he must be a “gwien,” and trotting out nervously never returned for any more liquor.  An illustration of his decision of character is found in his conduct at a cornshucking soon after.  When the bottle was started around the ring for each to take a swig and hand to his right hand man, Daniel DeMotte stepped outside the circle, remarking that he couldn’t drink.  Some one said that if he did not drink he might pass it along.  “No, sir,” he replied, “What I cannot do myself, I will not ask other people to do.  In the fall of 1831 he moved to Parke County, Indiana buying a farm which is now a part of Rockville.  He brought his church relations and was licensed to preach at the time when Uncle Billie Smith was preacher in charge and James I. Thompson presiding elder being appointed to assist Samuel C. Cooper on Rockville circuit, which then included all of Parke and part of Vigo and Putnam counties.  He began in a vast wilderness and was spared to see the country over which he had traveled become thickly populated the rude cabin which was also the preaching place give way to the well filled farm, comfortable home and commodious church.  Daniel DeMotte has 7 children, 39  grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren now living of whom all who are old enough to appreciate church privileges are members of the Methodist Church. The funeral services were held in Roberts Chapel Thursday morning Feb 4 two days after his death.  Of the children there were present, John B. DeMotte of the Northwest Indiana Conference; Mrs. Hiram Marshall and Mrs. Col. Morrison both of this city, Prof WH DeMotte, President of Jacksonville, Ill Female College and Mark L. Demotte editor of the Lexington MO Register. The two remaining children, James DeMotte of Des Moines and Mrs. N. Sunderland of Burlington Iowa were detained at home by sickness.  A large proportion of other relatives were present.  After the singing of the 956th hymn and a ? appropriate prayer by Rev. HA Bechtel of the Second Charge ME Church, brother NL Brakeman of Terre Haute, a warm friend of the family read two passes of scripture both favorites of the departed one. Also conducting the service with some feeling remarks upon his memory of the deceased in the conference room and elsewhere. After the reading of the scriptural lessons a select choir of 8 voices sang with remarkable effect that beautiful funeral anthem dedicated to Braderry.  Dr. Philander Wiley of Asbury University preached a sermon well befitting the occasion from the 74th Psalm, xxxvii, verse 37. “Mark the perfect man; and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace.”  The speaker at the conclusion of the discourse included some personal reflections of which the following are abstract: in the political world, he saw many changes. Since 1798 much has been accomplished; all these western States and territories have been organized and civilized.  He saw Texas and Alaska with all the intervening territory added to the Union; heard the noise of the War of 1812 as well as that of Mexico and the rebellion, watched the bearings of the Missouri compromise and the founding of Liberia by the colonization society and studied and talked for nearly a half century upon the growth and development of the great slave power – and rejoiced in the fullness of the freedom given by Lincoln’s proclamation. The sound of the woodman’s ax had not then been heard in our forests; no railroads, canals, steamers, telegraph were known.  All those with our many asylums high schools academies, colleges, universities, theological institutes, bible, tract, missions, Sunday school, aid and church extension societies have come to bless the church and the world during the life of this good man.  Since the beginning of his work as a minister our church has grown in this state from 25,4600 to over 100,000; our missionary contributions from 0 to $100,000 and by its aid and influence the gospel has been sent to India, China, Japan and many islands of the sea. These are a few of the grand events his eyes have seen and his hands handles; the millions of minor ones that make up the whole are left out.  When he entered this work in 1835 he brought the capital, little money, little education of the schools but much plain common sense, a clear judgment, a pure heart, a strong faith, a burning seal and such a desire for knowledge as made study a delight.  Ande with him, came for a helper, such a wife as God bestoweth only when he bestoweth a good gift.  And thus he lived and died ever receiving the confidence of his brother and the approval of his Master.  He was 18 years in the pastorate, 9 years in the agency for Asbury University, 3 years in the agency for the Preachers’ Aid Society and 9 years superannuated.  As a citizen, he was always loyal to the government and as a minister, he yielded a willing obedience to the authority of the church.  At one time, when appointed to Newcastle while his boys were in college, it was suggested to him that a move would almost impractical but he replied, “I will move to my work and the boys shall stay in college if it takes my last cent.”  And so he did and the boys went on to college.