Chapter IX

THOSE GIVEN TO GENERAL INTERESTS (Cont.)

Dr. Lawrence Keister—Rev. J. M. Lesher—Dr. E. U. Hoenshell—Dr. John R. King— Rev. W. H. Hayes—Rev. A. H. Sholty—Miss Naomi R. Wilson—Rev. F. A. Risley.

DR. L. KEISTER

    Lawrence, son of Solomon and Sarah Keister, was born near Scott-dale, August 28, 1856. His boyhood days were spent like those of any normal, healthy boy. He attended the district schools at Washington and then Tintsman School at what is now known as Owens-dale. He entered Otterbein University, now Otterbein College, and graduated in 1882. He then attended Boston University Theological School and graduated in 1885 with second honors. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity later.

DR. LAWRENCE KEISTER

    He was converted in 1870 and united with the Nebo class in church membership. The quarterly conference granted him license to preach and the credentials were signed by Rev. J. Medsger, presiding elder. He received annual conference license and was received into the Allegheny Conference in 1885. He was ordained by Bishop J. Weaver in 1886.

    He served pastorates at Clarion River, Morrellville, Greensburg, Wilkinsburg, Tyrone, Scottdale, Otterbein College and Mount Pleasant. He was elected president of Lebanon Valley College in 1907 and served five years, resigning in 1912. Since that time he has lived in Scottdale and devotes his time as a writer and publisher. Among his books are, "In Memorium," "The Inner Witness of the Fourth Gospel," and his latest, "The Shining Pathway."

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REV. J. M. LESHER

    J. M. Lesher was born in Freeburg, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1857, and death ended his useful life, July 24, 1924. He was converted early in life and united with the Freeburg United Brethren Church. His early life was the usual life of a farmer boy. He attended the public schools of his native township and then entered Lebanon Valley College from which he graduated. He felt called to give his life in service in the Christian ministry. He received his

REV. J. M. LESHER

quarterly conference license in 1878, his annual conference license in 1880, and was ordained by Bishop Dickson in 1882. He served as pastor at Susquehanna, Middletown, and Tamaqua charges in the East German Conference. He transferred to Allegheny Conference in 1889 and served Wil-kinsburg, Greensburg, Pitcairn, Wilmerding, Copeland and East Pittsburgh, and East Pittsburgh, Wilmerding, McKeesport First, Conemaugh, Wilmerding, McKeesport Fawcett Avenue, and Somerset Charges. In September, 1883, he went to Africa to work under the direction of the General Board and served two years, being compelled to come home because of the health of his wife. He returned to Africa in 1886 and superintended the erection of the Rufus Clark Training School building at Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa. He retired in 1909 from active ministerial work.

DR. E. U. HOENSHELL

    E. U. Hoenshell, son of George H. and Mary Swartz Hoenshell, was born near Smithton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1864. He spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the schools of his native district and county. He later attended college at Lebanon, Ohio, and Glasgow, Kentucky. He attended Union Biblical, now Bonebrake Seminary, and graduated in 1892.

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    He received his quarterly conference license from his home charge where he was converted in 1883 and where he united with the Barren Run class in church membership. He received annual conference license and united with Allegheny Conference in 1890. He was ordained at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, by Bishop N. Castle in 1892. He served as pastor at Tyrone and Mount Pleasant in Allegheny Conference and at Dayton, Virginia, in the Virginia Conference. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by Lebanon Valley College. He became president of Shenandoah Collegiate Institute at Dayton, Virginia, in 1896, and served thirteen years. He also served as president of Brandon Institute. Since leaving there he has traveled extensively and has written a number of books and is now on the lecture platform.

DR. JOHN R. KING

    John R. King was born at Normalville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1866. He is a son of Martin H. and Marie King. Besides the country school, he attended Mount Pleasant Institute and Otterbein College from which latter he graduated in 1894. This school conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1905.

DR. JOHN R. KING

    He was converted in a revival held in the old Walnut Hill Church on the Westmoreland charge and united with that church. His quarterly conference license was signed by Rev. J. E. McClay. He united with the Allegheny Conference in 1892, and was ordained in 1894.

    Appointed as a missionary to Africa in 1894, he served seventeen years. He then became the superintendent of the Otterbein Home in 1912, which he served until April, 1926, when he went to Westerville, Ohio. Since that time he has been manager of King Hall and Field Representative for the college.

    His wife, Mrs. Zella B. King, has been associated with him in all these places of responsibility and shares with him the joys and sorrows growing out of these places of their mutual task.

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REV. WARREN H. HAYES

    Warren H. Hayes, son of Rev. J. S. and Ella Hayes, was born at Coalport, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1892. He was converted at New Florence when ten years of age and united with that church. He finished grade school at DuBois in 1906; high school at Scottdale in 1909; Peterson Business College, 1910; Otterbein College with Bachelor of Arts degree, 1913; Princeton University with Master of Arts degree in 1916; Princeton Theological Seminary with Bachelor of Theology degree in 1916; and took postgraduate work in Chicago University in 1922.

    He was appointed missionary to Japan in 1916 and served until 1924. He was in charge of the earthquake relief in Tokyo, served as statistician for the federated churches of Japan and was president and secretary of the same. He visited Europe, the Holy Land, our Philippine missions, China, and Egypt. After his return home he served as pastor at Braddock, and is now pastor at Wilkinsburg. He has been General Director of Christian Education of Allegheny Conference since 1929.

REV. W. H. HAYES

    He married Miss Ila Bale, of Westerville, Ohio, a graduate of Otter-bein College, class of 1912, who shares all the experiences of her husband and loyally supports him in his undertakings.

REV. A. H. SHOLTY

    A. H. Sholty was born in Laketon, Indiana, October 13, 1895. He was converted and joined the Fairview Church in 1912. He attended the grade schools, graduating in 1912, attended Indiana Central College, 1913-1915; Otterbein College, 1915-1917; Yale, 1918-1921.

REV. A. H. SHOLTY

    He married Miss Ruth Conley, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1920, and they were appointed missionaries to Japan in 1922, serving until 1927. After their return to the States they took up the pastorate and are now serving in Saint Joseph Conference in Indiana.

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MISS NAOMI E. WILSON

    Naomi R. Wilson, daughter of Rev. John W. and Laura C. Wilson, was born in Myersville, Maryland, June 5, 1889. She attended the grade schools and graduated from the Somerset High School. After completing the work at the Indiana Teachers College, she later graduated from Grove City College.

MISS NAOMI R. WILSON

    Miss Wilson was converted at a meeting held by her father in Somerset and united with the Somerset class. She was active in Christian Endeavor work and was conference branch junior superintendent for some years. She was appointed a missionary to West Africa in 1917, and has had thirteen years of service. She has returned for another term of service in the school at Moyamba, Africa. The Braddock and Johnstown Barron Avenue churches have her as their representative.

REV. FRANK A. RISLEY

    Frank A. Risley, son of Reuben R. and Ellen W. Risley, was born in St. Johns, Michigan, March 17, 1880. After attending common school he entered Otterbein College and graduated in 1907. He attended the Seminary one and one-half years. His confession of faith was made under the pastorate of Rev. A. Davis when he united with the local church. He received quarterly conference license in 1899; annual conference license, 1902; was received into Allegheny Conference, 1907; and was ordained in 1909. Appointed as a missionary to Africa in 1910 he served until 1916. He had charge of the manual training department and later had charge of work in the Sherbro and Upper Mende country. After his return he reentered the pastorate and is now serving in St. Joseph Conference. He married Miss Elta Ankeny, who was reared in this conference and with him has shared in his missionary and pastoral experiences.

REV. F. A. RISLEY