Search✖

CONNECT WITH US

Vandenburg, Harrison Biggs

4/25/1923

HARRISON BIGGS VANDENBURG December 9, 1853 - April 25, 1923
Harrison Biggs Vandenburg was born in Algiers, Louisiana, on December 9, 1853. He passed away at his home in Pineville, Louisiana, on April 25, 1923; and. was laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery near Pineville on April 27, 1923. There were nine children born into the home of his parents. Only three of these lived to the age of maturity. About 1863 his parents removed to the neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi. Here the family remained for some time, going later to reside in Vicksburg, Mississippi. In this city Brother Vandenburg was reared and lived until middle life. His education was secured in such private and public schools as were conducted in the home of his boyhood. In early life he secured employment in a shoe store in Vicksburg and continued in this employment until he entered the itinerancy in 1891. In 1878, at the age of twenty-five, during the pastorate of Rev. C. B. Galloway, later Bishop, Brother Vandenburg united with the Crawford Street Methodist Church in Vicksburg. He was married to Miss Emma A. Smith, of Vicksburg, on April 7, 1887. To this union were born nine children. The wife and mother passed to her reward a number of years ago, leaving the care of these small children to the itinerant father. Brother Vandenburg was licensed to preach by the Quarterly Conference of the Crawford Street Church in 1889 and was recom-mended for admission into the traveling connection by the Quarterly Conference of the same church in 1891. Concerning his work in the Mississippi Conference, of which he was first a member, Rev. W. M. Sullivan, of that Conference, says: “He served Meadville Circuit two years. He served charges until December 1904, when he was located.* * * He then left us for two years and was with the Methodist Protestant Church. In December 1906, his orders were again recognized by our Conference. * * * In December, 1907, he was readmitted into our Conference and transferred to Louisiana.” Before being readmitted into the Mississippi Conference he served Downsville in Louisiana during 1906-07. After being readmitted and transferred to Louisiana he served the following charges: Downsville, 1907-09; Prudhomme, 1909-12; Glenmora, 1912-13; Ring-gold, 1913-14; Pineville, 1914-15; Melville, 1915-18. At the 1918 session of the Louisiana Conference he-was superannuated. During the Conference year of 1919-20 he supplied the Standard-oils Charge. He began the year on the Campti Charge during the year 1920-21, but was soon compelled to give it up due to feebleness of health. For about two years after his superannuation he lived in his own home in Pineville with a son and daughter. Brother Vandenburg was a patient, modest man. He suffered much during his last years. The care of a large family of motherless children during long years was a great undertaking for him. Serving large circuits and being much away from home made his responsibilities, as the only parent in the home, even more difficult. His children love and honor his memory. He left them a goodly heritage. He rests from his labors. His body lies in the new Greenwood Cemetery near Pineville. We miss his quiet, unassuming presence. He has gone home. His memory lingers as a precious heritage to those whom he served while with us.
Source: Journal Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1923, pages 92-93, by W. L. Doss, Jr.

CONNECT WITH US

Found an issue with this page? Click here to let us know.