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Note: N5601 Given name (Jesse), middle initial (P), surname (Sprowls), occupation (Cumberland Presbyterian minister) and residence (Salem, Illinois) from Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), page 221
Prefix title (Rev), given name (Jesse), middle initial (P), surname (Sprowls), suffix title (D. D.), education (Waynesburg College), occupation (pastor) and location (Salem, Illinois) of interment from the obituary of Elizabeth W. Sprowls in the ÒWaynesburg RepublicanÓ newspaper, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, dated Thursday, October 22, 1925
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1850 (October 24) census data from the census images for East Finley Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania (Page 540 - image 8 - line 22) on HeritageQuest. The census indicates that he was 6 years old and had not attended school within the year. He was living with his father, stepmother and 1 sister. He is listed as having been born in Pennsylvania. His given name is listed as "Jesse" in this census.
1860 (June 26) census data from the census images for East Finley Township (Post Office - East Finley), Washington County, Pennsylvania (Page 33 - Image 4 - line 38) on HeritageQuest. The census indicates that he was 16 years old and had not attended school within the year. He was living with his father, stepmother, 1 half-brother and 1 sister. He is listed as having been born in Pennsylvania. His given name is listed as "Jessie" in this census.
1880 (June 6) census data from the census images for Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio (Enumeration District 76 - page 17 - image 17 - line 1) on HeritageQuest. The census indicates that he was a 35 year old preacher. He was married and living with his wife and 2 sons. He is listed as having been born in Pennsylvania as were his father and mother. His given name and middle initial are listed as "Jesse P" in this census.
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DEATH OF DR. J. P. SPROWLS
The Well Known Cumberland Presby-
terian Minister Passes Away at Salem,
Illinois.
Samuel Harvey, Esq., of this place received a telgram on Monday, May 9, announcing the death of Rev. Jesse P. Sprowls, D. D., of Salem, Ill. Dr. Sprowls was born at East Finley, Pa., being a son of Cyrus Sprowls, deceased. He was educated at Waynesburg College and had been a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian church for over 25 years. He was pastor of the Waynesburg C. P. church a few years ago. He was married to Miss Lizzie Widney, daughter of Doctor Widney, a physician in Waynesburg many years ago, and they have three children. One sister of deceased, Mrs. J. L. Rockey, resides at Burnsville, Pa.
Source - ÒWaynesburg RepublicanÓ newspaper, Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, Thursday, May 12, 1898
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CLASS OF 1871. Jesse Porter Sprowls, D. D.
Son of Cyrus Sprowls and Phebe Jane Post; born in East Finley, Pa., March 11, 1845; fitted for college in the public schools of his native town; graduated at Waynesburg (Pa.) College, 1868; took the full course in this Seminary, 1868-71, his graduating essay, June 29, 1871, being on "The Relation of Eternal Punishment to Other Truths." He was licensed to preach by the Pennsylvania Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in session at Pleasant Hill, Tenmile, Pa., September 22, 1868, and ordained by the same presbytery in session at Waynesburg, Pa., April 12, 1872. He served as pastor of the church in Lebanon, O., from 1871-83; then of the First Church, Nashville, Tenn., 1883-87; at Salem, Ill., 1887-90; of the college church at Waynesburg, Pa., being also Professor of Hebrew and Evidences of Christianity in Waynesburg College, 1890-91; again at Salem, Ill., 1892-98.
He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., in 1883. He was a member of the Masonic order and of the Royal Arcanum, and filled the office of Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templars in Tennessee. The Cumberland Presbyterian, Nashville, Tenn., said: "The evening following his death the regular monthly meeting of the fifteen Christian Endeavor Societies of this city was held, and the fact was gratefully recalled that Dr. Sprowls organized the first society in Nashville, and that from his work the movement had grown throughout the city add state. Even the holding of the great International Convention in Nashville would have been impossible but for his wisdom and foresight in thus early planting Christian Endeavor in the religious center of the South."
His college and seminary classmate, Rev. M. L. Gordon, M. D., D. D., sent from his missionary home in Kyoto, Japan, this tribute: " During a part of his college course and the whole of his life in the Theological Seminary, I was most intimately associated with Dr. Sprowls; but afterwards we were so widely separated that I knew him mainly through others. The valuable work he did in his first pastorate at Lebanon, Ohio, attracted wide attention and eventually resulted in his going to the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tenn., which may be fairly called the highest position in that denomination. His health was never robust, and after a few years there he resigned. Later, he faithfully served the churches at Waynesburg and Salem, Ill., preaching in the latter the Sunday preceding his death, although so weak that he had to cling to the pulpit for support. It would be pleasant to dwell upon the many and varied good qualities of Dr. Sprowls, but as I think of him now, one thing stands out above all else Ñ his exceedingly lovable character. I am sure that was what impressed itself most strongly upon his classmates; and from what I can learn of the attitude toward him of the churches he has served, that quality had most strongly moved them. Month after month found him so feeble that it was uncertain whether he could preach or not, but his loving people urged him to stay with them, even though preaching should become entirely impossible. What higher testimony could a pastor have ?"
He was married, April 16, 1872, to Elizabeth Marian Widney, of Library, Pa., daughter of Dr. John Widney and Elizabeth Boggs. She survives him, with two sons.
He died of diabetes, at Salem, Ill., May 9, 1898, aged fifty-three years, one month, and twenty-eight days.
Source - ÒAndover Theological Seminary, Necrology, 1880-1881.Ó, Henry Allen Hazen, Charles Carroll Carpenter, Boston: Beacon Press, Thomas Todd, Printer, Corner Beacon and Somerset Sts., 1881, page 369
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REV. JESSE PORTER SPROWLS was born in Washington Co., Penn., March 11, 1845. His parents were Cyrus and Phoebe J. (Post) Sprowls. They were of Scotch-Irish descent; their ancestors having come from the North of Ireland in the early history of Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Cyrus Sprowls was a farmer, and a man of considerable influence, politically and socially, in the community in which he dwelt. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm, and passed through the incidents usual to a young farmer's life. From very early years, he had a strong desire for an education. All of the books and papers within reach were eagerly perused and partially mastered. Historical works and biographical sketches were especially prized. In 1863, at the age of 18, he was admitted into the Preparatory Department of Waynesburg College, located at Waynesburg, Greene Co., Penn. This institution of learning is under the control of Pennsylvania Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is one of their best colleges. He graduated from this institution in 1868, and in September of the same year entered Andover Theological Seminary, Andover, Mass., graduating from this institution in June, 1871. He was received under the care of Pennsylvania Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian, Church, as a candidate for the ministry in the autumn of 1868. This decision was reached only after several months of serious debatings and earnest prayer. His inclinations were in the direction of the legal profession, and he had taken several steps looking to this end, when a plain sense of his duty settled him once for all in the ministry. He was licensed to preach by the above-named Church Judicature in 1870. Shortly before his graduation at Andover, he received a call to the pastorate of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Lebanon, Ohio. After spending a vacation of three months among friends in Western Pennsylvania, he arrived in Lebanon, Sept. 30, and preached his first sermon to his people the next day, Oct 1, from Luke, ii, 49, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" He was ordained to the full work of the ministry by the Pennsylvania Presbytery, April 12, 1872, at Waynesburg, Penn., the Rev. A. W. White preaching the sermon and Rev. S. Winget presiding and delivering the charge. His ministry at Lebanon has been a pleasant one, and at this writing (1882) continues. At this time, when changes in pastorates occur so frequently, this lengthy relationship between pastor and people is to be commended most heartily. In Library, Allegheny Co., Penn., April 16, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Mariam Widney, the only daughter of Dr. John Widney, of Baltimore, Md. Miss Widney graduated from the Female Department of Waynesburg College in the Summer of 1868. She was the Valedictorian of her class. Although not strong physically, yet, by her sweetness of disposition and strength of character, she was enabled to accomplish an excellent work in Lebanon. Two children were given to them, viz., Carl Widney, born 1873, and Harold Leigh, in 1878. Mr. Sprawls (sic) has taken a deep interest in everything that has for its aim the advancement of the cause of Christ and humanity. Being naturally of a reserved disposition, he has not been as noisy in his advocacy or as demonstrative in his opposition as many other men, but his friends always know where to find him. They have manifested this confidence by calling him to positions of trust in the church and community. Being still a young man, it is the hope of his friends that very much usefulness may yet be in store for him.
Source: ÒThe History of Warren County Ohio Part V. Biographical Sketches Turtlecreek TownshipÓ, Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992, pages 779-80
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