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REPRESENTING THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF 2X2 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET
Abbie Barton - First Sister Worker to
Die in America
Harry Cross - First Brother Worker to
Die in America
Willie Jamieson
George Walker
Jack Carroll
Abbie Barton .
Abbie was a native of Massachusetts, living near Springfield. Two Brothers, Jack Carroll and Hugh Matthews, came from the old country in May 1904, and she went to their Meetings and decided later that year. She went into the Work in Oct. 1907, after the Convention at Pittsburgh, PA., where it was arranged for her to go with Agnes Hutchinson to West Virginia. She preached from October, 1907 to February, 1908, when she was stricken with Typhoid. While ill, she was cared for in the home of people by the name of Hutchinson who were not professing. Her death was on, or about, February, 15.
George (Walker) was in Western Pennsylvania for special meeting when word came of Abbie's illness. On Sunday at noon, he decided to visit her--not because of word she was worse, but for lack of word from her. He took the train to Burnsville, West Virginia. Arriving there in early morning, February 17th, Monday, he inquired of a man nearby where Gim, West Virginia was. The man said, "I am going that way. If you like, you can walk along with me. (") They visited on the 3 mile journey and the man pointed out Gim. 'Twas then George asked the man if he knew two ladies that were preaching in that part. . . and where the Hutchinsons lived. The man pointed out the house and said the younger one was buried yesterday.
George walked on to the home and inquired about the girls. Agnes was in the wash-house washing clothes . . . the folks went for her and told her a man had come to see her. She came to the house and looked at George and turned and went back to the wash-house-- in a shock from the strain she had been through. She had nursed her companion through her illness and made arrangements for her funeral with the help of friends not professing . . . paid $75 for the casket -- all the money both had. The undertaker demanded his money right then. Some of the neighbors took a wagon and team and carried the body as far up the hill as possible . . . then carried the casket the rest of the way. On top of a hill 3/4 mile from where she died, she was laid to rest in a small cemetery. She was the first worker to die in this country.
Arrangements were made for Agnes to join another sister worker at Charleston,
West Virginia, where there were a few friends.
6704 Leeds Street
Philadelphia, PA.
June 2, 1975
I was not well acquainted with Abbie. I met her at convention in 1907 -- the convention she went out from. My first experiences in West Virginia were not so pleasant or encouraging. On my 3rd visit, I got to know some true, worthy and reliable people who became true helpers in the Gospel. I hope you will have this experience. Glad you keep well.
Your Brother,
.
George Walker
Berlin Raymond, a worker, hand-wrote on the type account above:
.
"I wrote George Walker for information when I first went to West Virginia, and I visited her grave several times with those who desired to see it.
.
(signed) Berlin"
Harry Cross
First Brother Worker to
Die in America
In 1908, Harry Cross
died from a spider bite and was buried at Dayton, Washington. (From
Early Days in California)
"Willie (Jamieson) went to Dayton, WA to the funeral of Harry Cross, although it was over by the time he got there. Tom Lyness and Harry were having a mission in Dayton; one night no one invited them home so they slept in a haystack. Harry was bitten by a spider and died on July 2, 1908." (From: "When the Gospel came to Oregon in December, 1907," compiled by Ada Park in 1985)
Possibly the FIRST death of a worker on the 1905 list was that of Jim Hodgins from tuberculosis in May, 1907, at the age of 22. He was one of the FIRST workers to go to Australia, along with his sister Francis in 1905.
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