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MARSHALL COLLEGE
Class of 1839 Obituaries
Robert Smith DEAN, Esq., A. M., oldest son of Dr. Alexander and Jane (Smith) Dean, was born in Chambersburg,
Pa., February 1, 1822. At a very early age he removed to Harrisburg, Pa., and prepared for college in the schools of
that city. On the death of his father, in 1834, he made Mercersburg his home, entering the Sophomore class of
Marshall College when it was organized in 1836, and becoming a member of the Diagnothian Literary Society.
After graduation, in 1839, he held a clerkship at the Capitol in Harrisburg for nine months, and then read law at
Chambersburg with Robert M. Bard, Esq., until the autumn of 1841, when he removed to Paducah; Ky. Here he edited
the Paducah Gazette, continuing his law studies at the same time, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. Soon after he
went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he practiced law until the outbreak of the Civil War. He entered the Confederate
service, attaining the rank of captain in a cavalry regiment.
After the war he settled at New Orleans, La., and practiced his profession. Here, in one of the hospitals, he died of yellow fever, October 9, 1867.
In July, 1853, Mr. Dean was married to Miss Mary Baitsell, of Baltimore, Md., who lived only three months after
their marriage. He was regarded as an able lawyer and was an eloquent speaker. He received the degree of A. M. in course from his Alma Mater.
[Miss Sara F. Rice; Miss Jenny F. Smith; Miss Anna M. Young.]
Robert Parker LITTLE, A. M., M. D., eldest son of Dr.
P. W. and Mary Smith (Parker) Little, was born at Mercersburg, Pa., January 19, 1818. His father, an alumnus of the
University of Pennsylvania, was a physician of recognized ability and extensive practice. For many years he was a
prominent citizen of Mercersburg.
Dr. Little received his preparatory and literary training in
Marshall College, entering as a Freshman in 1835 and graduating with his class. He received the degree of A. M. in
course. He was an active member of the Goethean Literary Society. In 1844 he delivered the address before the
Alumni Association of the College, which was afterwards published. Immediately after completing his college course
he commenced the study of medicine, first under the direction of his father, and subsequently at the University of
Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1842. He began his professional work at Mercersburg, assisting his father in
his practice.
On June 5, 1849, he married Miss Cynthia Dow
Scarritt, daughter of the Rev. J. A. Scarritt. Shortly afterward he contracted a severe cold from which he never fully
recovered. In 1853 he gave his practice at Mercersburg into the hands of his brother, Dr. B. Rush Little (1847), and moved,
for the sake of his health, to Columbus, Ohio, where he died, March 17, 1856. He left a widow and son, William Parker
Little, an only child. In his brief residence in Columbus he made many friendships and gained the confidence of all
with whom he came in contact.
[William Parker Little.]
Rev. Solomon Saylor MIDDLEKAUFF, A. M., son of
David and Hannah (Saylor) Middlekauff, was born in 1818, near Hagerstown, Md., where he spent his early life. In
his youth he became a member of the Reformed Church, and soon after he had united with the church, he felt it his
duty to devote himself to the work of the holy ministry.
He received his early education at the Hagerstown
Academy, entered Marshall College, and graduated with his class in 1839. He was a member of the Goethean Literary
Society. He studied theology at Mercersburg and after graduation was examined and licensed by the Classis of
Mercersburg.
He soon after accepted a call to become pastor of the Lincolnton charge in North Carolina. He
immediately went South, and in August, 1842, was ordained to the holy ministry by the Classis of North Carolina, and
installed as pastor of the Lincolnton charge. Here he continued an efficient and successful laborer for about three
years. He died at the Mineral Springs, Catawba county, N. C., May 21, 1845, of consumption. He had recently
been married to Miss Mary Ramsour, of Lincolnton. They had no children. Rev. Middlekauff received the degree of
A. M. in course in 1842.
[The Fathers, 3: 412; Rev. J. S. Kieffer, D. D.]
William PHILIPS, A. M., son of Thomas and Mary
(Eichelberger) Philips, was born near Hagerstown, Washington county, Md., August 19, 1815. He prepared for college at Hagerstown, and entered Marshall College in 1836,
graduating in 1839. He was a member of the Goethean Literary Society. The degree of A. M. was conferred on
Mr. Philips, in course, in 1842.
Mr. Philips was a minister of the Gospel for thirty years.
In the Reformed Church he served charges in Emmitsburg, Md., Mercersburg and York, Pa. He entered the
Protestant Episcopal Church at Easton, Pa., and moved to Philadelphia, Pa., Baltimore, Md., and St. Joseph, Mo.,
where, in 1871, he entered the Roman Catholic Church.
During the war he was chaplain in the Broad and Cherry
Streets Hospital, Philadelphia, appointed by President Lincoln. At the close of the war he went to Baltimore and
had charge of Holy Innocent's Church, and from there was called to the pastorate of Christ Church, St. Joseph, Mo.
After leaving the Episcopal Church he travelled and lectured. He held a professorship in Seaton Hall College,
South Orange, N. J. He was five years at this place and then returned to Missouri. For a number of years he was
professor of English literature in the Christian Brothers College, St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Philips was a good speaker,
speaking the valedictory oration on graduation.
He was married April 12, 1842, to Miss Martha Marcella
Worthington Hook, grand-daughter of Samuel Worthington, one of the early settlers of Baltimore county, Md., in
the vicinity of Silver Run. They had fifteen children. Mr. Philips died in St. Joseph, January 15, 1893.
His wife and five children survive him: Thomas Hook, Esq., Los Angeles, Cal. ; Mrs. G. C. Maguire, John W. Nevin and Mrs.
J. U. Rose, Omaha, Neb.; and Miss Frances Maria, Kansas City, Mo.
[John Philips; Mrs. William Philips.]
Rev. Samuel Hahn REID, A. M., oldest child of Patrick
I. and Justina (Hahn) Reid, was born at Emmitsburg, Md., August 1, 1816, of an ancestry Scotch-Irish on his paternal,
and German on his maternal side. Having fitted for college in the best schools of the neighborhood, Mr. Reid entered
the Sophomore class of Marshall College in 1836, and graduated in 1839./ He received the degree A. M. in course,
and was a member of the Goethean Literary Society.
After graduation he entered the Theological Seminary
and completing his course, was licensed by the Synod of the Reformed Church, in session at Lewisburg, Pa., in October,
1842. He was ordained by the East Susquehanna Classis in December of the same year. After supplying the
Reformed congregation at Lewisburg for a brief period he was called to the Waterstreet charge, locating at Alexandria, Pa.
He was installed pastor, November 5, 1843. On April 17, 1845, he was united in marriage with Miss
Susanna Harnish, Canoe Valley, Huntingdon county, Pa., the Rev. F. A. Rupley, D. D., officiating. To them were
born two sons and five daughters, of whom all except one daughter yet survive. The children are Nevin, Marion (now
Mrs. Reuben Wilson), Blanche, Marshall, Ada, Grace and Ella.
His pastorate at Alexandria continued until 1852,
when he accepted a call to the First Reformed church, Race Street, Philadelphia. Impaired health compelled him to
leave the city after a few years' labor. He returned to Alexandria, and was the principal of a seminary for young
women until April, 1857, when he became pastor of the Huntingdon charge, serving until April, 1866. He then accepted a call
to the Reformed church, Milton, Pa., which he served until April 1, 1873.
For four years he was without a charge, and becoming
tired of the liturgical controversy in the Reformed Church; he with his family united with the Presbyterian Church in
April, 1876. As a minister of the Presbytery of Northumberland he served as stated supply at Renovo two and
one-half years; then the Chilisquaqua charge, and the Mifflinburg charge. Rev. Reid was an able, eloquent preacher of
the Gospel, and a watchful, prudent pastor.
He was active in maintaining and circulating the Guardian
and the Mercersburg Review at their inception, and was a frequent contributor to both of these periodicals. He served
with Dr. Harbaugh for some years as co-editor of the Guardian.
His wife died March 2, 1883, and he followed into rest
August 28, 1894. They lie in the beautiful cemetery at Milton.
[Rev. D. W. Ebbert; Rev. F. A. Ripley, D. D.; Henry M. Schmuck.)
Rev. George William WELKER, A. M., D. D., the oldest
son of Daniel and Anna Maria (Keesicker) Welker, was born near Greencastle, Pa., November 3, 1817. His paternal
grandfather had served with distinction in the Revolutionary War. He was baptized in infancy by the Rev. James R.
Reily, at Hagerstown, Md. When seven years of age he came with his parents to Mercersburg. First he attended the
academy and afterwards the grammar school of Rev. Robert Kennedy, until February 27, 1836, when he entered the
Sophomore class of Marshall College. Under the inspiring instruction of Dr. Rauch and Prof. Budd he became
an earnest and diligent student. Graduating in 1839, he pursued his divinity course in the Theological Seminary of
the Reformed Church, completing it in 1841. He was a member of the Goethean Literary Society, recognized as
an able debater and polished orator. Upon the death of President Rauch he was chosen by his Society to deliver a
eulogy on the life and character of that eminent divine. The eulogy was published at Chambersburg, Pa., in 1841.
Ordained to the ministry by the Classis of North Carolina, March 27, 1842, he became pastor of the Guilford charge,
and continued in this office and charge just 51 years. He preached 5061 sermons, officiated at 518 funerals, married
157 couples, confirmed 820, and baptized 945 persons. He died July 9, 1894.
Dr. Welker was married three times. He was married to
Miss Abigail Mason, April 6, 1843; to Miss Louise Mason, October 15, 1851; to Miss Emily Jane Corsbie, March 21,
1861. In 1870 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the University of North Carolina, and in
the year following also by Heidelberg University, of Tiffin, Ohio. He took an active interest in the affairs of Catawba
College and from 1851 to 1890 was a member of its board of trustees. He was the stated clerk of North Carolina
Classis for 47 years; president of the Potomac Synod in 1883, and of the General Synod, which met at Akron, Ohio,
in 1887. In 1878 he was appointed a member of the " Peace Commission," and was active in the work accomplished by
that body, of Reformed ministers and elders.
Prior to the War of Secession Dr. Welker was deeply
interested in the colored population of the State of his adoption. Many poor and humble slaves were carefully
instructed by him in the doctrines and duties of the Christian religion, and received into the congregations to which
he ministered. During the war he was a strong Union man.
In 1867 he was elected from Guilford county, N. C., to the convention to form a new constitution for the State. He
was elected a member of the State Senate in 1868 and served three sessions. In Church and State he was an active and
faithful servant of the Lord.
[Rev. J. C. Leonard; Rev. A. S. Weber.]
Source: Franklin and Marshall College
Obituary Record, Edited for the Alumni Association, Vol. 1, No.1, Lancaster,
Pa. Published by the Alumni Association of Franklin and Marshall College,
June 1897.
Obituaries
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