Obituary of Brother John Byler
John Byler died at his residence in Adams Co., Ill., on the morning
of Feb. 12, 1875. Bro. Byler was born in Hawkins Co., East
Tennessee, April 29, 1798, and emigrated to Illinois in the fall of
1836, taking with him a letter from the Regular Baptist Church. He
was in the constitution of the Little Flock Church, and has been a
consistent member of the Regular Baptists over fifty years, never
suffering his seat in the house of the Lord to be vacant, unless
providentially hindered. He was respected by all who knew him, as
an upright man, always ready to lend a helping hand to the cause of
God, and to suffering humanity. He died in the full triumphs of
living faith, leaving a bereaved family, which consists of a second
companion, by whom he had no issue, three sons and four daughters.
Truly the church is bereft of one of her best members, both in
counsel and financially. May his mantle fall upon his sons, that
his seat may not be left entirely vacant. A funeral discourse was
delivered by the unworthy writer, on the day following (the 13th)
at his late residence, to an unusually large and very attentive
congregation, from Rev. 14:13. May God's promise rest upon bereaved
friends, "I will be a father to the fatherless, and the widow's God
and husband" is the prayer of an unworthy laborer in the vineyard
of his divine Master.
CYRUS HUMPHREY.
The above obituary was taken from Signs of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 6,
March 15, 1875, page 71.
Copyright c. 2003. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
