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O. A. Burgess
O. A. BURGESS.
Otis Asa Burgess was born in Thompson, Windham county, Connecticut, August 26, 1829. His
ancestors, both paternal and maternal, were of the Pilgrim stock.
When about eight years of age his parents moved to Norwich, Chenango county, New York. He attended "Munich Academy," near his home, completed the course (except the classics) in the spring of 1847, and in the fall of the same year "went west" to Woodford county, Illinois, and taught school till 1851, in that and in Marshall county.
It was during this time that he first heard of the Disciples, and at Washburn that he first heard a full, clear statement of their doctrines. This was a forcible presentation of the gospel and its conditions, by Elder Henry D. Palmer, based on Acts 2: 38. His own words concerning it were, "It was new, wonderful. It opened -a new world." He was immersed July 1, 1850; went to Bethany College in the fall of 1851; graduated July 4, 1854, and was married October 17 of the same year to Miss N. J. Ledgerwood, of Washburn, a granddaughter of Elder Palmer.
During the winter of 1854-5 he was solicitor for Walnut Grove Academy, and was instrumental in obtaining the charter for Eureka College that same winter.
In the spring of 1855 he took charge of the church in Washington, Illinois, but resigned in
the fall and became a professor in Eureka College, continuing one year. From May, 1861, to
May, 1862, he was in his country's service, but his health failing, he returned home. |
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Late in the fall of 1862 he took charge of the Central Christian Church in Indianapolis. After a pastorate of nearly eight years, he accepted the presidency of Northwestern Christian (now Butler) University, in which capacity he served two years, resigning to take charge of the church on the corner of Indiana avenue and 25th street, Chicago. After a pastorate of three years he returned to the presidency of the university, where he remained eight years.
In the spring of 1881 he decided to go back to the same little church in Chicago. This was
his last work. He passed away March 14, 1882, and was laid to rest in the quiet little cemetery at Forest, Illinois.
He was a man of great force of character, full of energy and persistence, of great physical power and mental vigor, and was always at work.
He was strong in controversy, and held a number of important and successful discussions in defence of Christ and his teachings. Was firm even to sternness in refuting his opponent, and seemed cold as an iceberg, but it was only seeming. His heart was as warm and tender as a little child's, and large enough to take in all the world. And so it came to pass that both his friends and his enemies were strongly so. While he was eminently successful in debate, he was just as successful as an evangelist in winning souls to Christ by his own strong personal convictions, his tenderly persuasive power, and his knowledge and use of the Word of God.
Moreover, he was successful in the management of his finances. Was deeply interested in politics, benevolence, education, Christianity at home and abroad, and freely used his means for whatever would uplift and ennoble humanity.
O. A. Burgess was a good man. In his death the church lost a pillar, and the whole world a friend.
Source:
A History of Eureka College, St. Louis: Christian Publishing
Company, 1894.
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