William Fawcett

Rev. William Fawcett, D.D.

William Fawcett’s life of nearly three score years separates itself into three period of twenty years each, the first in Canada, the second in Iowa, the third in the Rock River Conference. The most important, of course, were those formative days in Canada where he was born in 1842. It was inevitable that he should preach. It was in the blood and he could no more escape it than he could the power of gravitation.

After the completion of his studies in the Old Dominion the finger of providence seemed to beckon him westward and he cast in his lot with the growing state of Iowa, and in 1863 joined Upper Iowa Conference. His first appointment was on the Buckingham Circuit, and during the first year the young preacher travelled 4,800 miles on horseback. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Ames in September, 1863, and sent to Grundy Centre Circuit. After serving at West Union, Anamosa, Davenport and McGregor, he was assigned to Cedar Rapids where he built the beautiful St. Paul’s Church which stil holds him in loving remembrance. Soon Chicago Methodism sighted this new luminary and transferred the plane of his orbit from Dubuque to Grace Church. During his three year’s ministry, then the limit, his wife died.

Next assigned to Park Avenue, Chicago, his five years pastorate culminated in the present handsome stone structure, his most fitting monument. On Feb. 22, 1886, he was united in marriage by Bishop Merrill to Mrs. Nellie Whipple, for ten years organist at Grace Church. Two sons were born to them, both dying in infancy.

In 1890 he became pastor of First Church, Chicago, where he served for three years. His health at this time, which long before had been seriously impaired, made it necessary for him to give up active work, but after traveling and acting as associate pastor at South Park Avenue, he took up regular pastoral work at River Forest in 1896, where a devoted wife and a devoted church enabled him to make full proof of his ministry until his death.

excerpts from Journal and Yearbook
By Methodist Episcopal Church. Rock River Conference