Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Ransom, George 1900
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The Ionia Standard,  4 January 1900

REV. GEORGE RANSOM.

Touching Tribute to His Memory—The Funeral Service.

When on Friday morning, Dec. 22, the tiding, "Elder Ransom is dead," was passed
from lip to lip through our quiet village, it came as a shock even to the many
who had felt warned for some months by his increasing feebleness that we could
not hope to have him with us much longer. Although he had been steadily failing
for two years or more he had kept at his beloved work, failing upon only a few
occasions of being in his accustomed place upon the Sabbath. The Sunday morning
previous he preached a most excellent sermon from John, 4-11: "Sir, thou hast
nothing to draw with, and the well is deep." In the afternoon he conducted the
funeral services of Wm. Barrowman, and though much exhausted attended the C E.
evening service, participating with prayer and testimony. He was not feeling as
well as usual during the week, still on Thursday he went to the cemetery and
superintended some work on the family lot. In the evening his son, Charles, was
up from Ionia, returning at 9 o'clock. Mr. Ransom then sat at his desk writing
letters and making the day's entry in his diary until about midnight. He had
just retired when Mrs. Ransom observed a slight irregularity in his breathing
and tried to arouse him, but without  avail. Arising hastily, she attempted to
administer a restorative, but he was already dead. 

The funeral took place Tuesday morning at ten o'clock from the church. The house
was well filled with town people and representatives from the various districts
where he had preached. Appropriate music was furnished by the choir. The floral
decorations were furnished and arranged by the ladies of the aid society. The
services were simple in character and devoted entirely to the memory of the
deceased. Dr. Oxtoby opened with a brief prayer, and Rev. Mr. Loomis, of the
Lyons M. E. church, read the ninetieth psalm.  Rev.  Augustus Marsh, a
class-mate of Mr. Ransom, at Auburn seminary, spoke feelingly of that 'period of
his life’. He said: "If an angel from heaven had asked the class of '60 to
select the one of its members who was pre-eminent for humility, purity of life
and zealous piety, the choice would have fallen unhesitatingly upon the man who
lies before us today." 

He was followed by Rev. David A. Jewell, who dwelt upon Mr. Ransom’s efficiency
in connection with the work of the presbytery.  He said of him that he had held
the position of stated clerk in that body for 18 years, and was highly esteemed
as an advisory in all matters pertaining to its work. Dr. Oxtoby then paid a
touching tribute to the dead pastor, saying that his funeral sermon was written
in the hearts of his people. Choosing as his theme the words: "A great man is
fallen," he showed how rich in real greatness was the life that had just
closed." Rev. Mr. Ebert, of Muir Disciple church, made  the closing prayer, and
Dr. Oxtoby pronounced the benediction, after which the assembled congregation
passed in sorrowful procession to look their last on the dear, benevolent face
that had passed in and out among us these many years. 

Rev. George Ransom was born at Chazy, N. Y., May 16, 1831. He graduated from
Auburn theological seminary in May, 1860, Preaching four years at Redford, N.,
he then accepted a call to Muir, July 26, 1864. His pastorate of this church
during the last 35 years has been continuous with the exception of two and one
half years  spent in Alma and Hancock Mich. 

He was united in marriage to Miss Minnie A. Slack, of Mexico, N. Y., on June 27,
1860. Of the four children born to them three are living: Charles, of Ionia;
Miss Ellen, of Detroit, and Carrie, now Mrs. D. C. Arnold, of Cleveland, Tenn.
The youngest son, Herrick, died Sept. 27, 1896, in what would have been the last
year of his theological course.

The life that has "so suddenly ended in our midst was one of simple piety
earnest zeal in his Master's service, and the utmost faithfulness. He possessed
in a remarkable degree the ability to encourage the weak and comfort the
sorrowing. Identified as he was for 35 years with the life of this community, he
held its individual interests very near his heart and there is scarcely a home
which he has not entered with words of needed comfort. He has often remarked to
the writer that pastors who have remained only a few years in a charge can
hardly realize the strength of attachment that can develop between pastor and
people through so many years.

His love for the children and his interest in and understanding of the young
people was remarkable in a man of his years. When totally unfit physically to do
so he maintained the junior C. E. service, regretting only that he could not
bring greater energy to the work. He was always present at the C. E. prayer
meeting, ready with prayer and testimony. He will be remembered as the organizer
of the first Christian Endeavor society in Michigan, and the first Presbyterian
C. E. society on record, on Dec. 21,1881.  

His dearest wish was to see the cause of the Master prosper in our midst, and
his greatest anxiety that it should languish when he could no longer carry on
the work. In a correspondence with the writer during last winter, when enfeebled
by the grippe, he said again and again, "Pray that I may work yet a little
longer, if He wills." In his character he showed the rare combination of high
scholarship and mental culture with the unaffected simplicity of a child. He was
thoroughly optimistic, seeing the brightest side of everything, quick to
discover the good in every one with whom he came in contact. The death of his
son, Herrick, just at the beginning of his last year at McCormick seminary, was
a severe blow to him, but he bore it with sweet resignation. The last entry in
his diary, written probably not more than 20 minutes before he died, expressed
his quiet yielding to God's will. After chronicling the little events of his
last day on earth, of which he speaks as "a beautiful day," he quotes:

"O Father, so forgiving—Thy love was perfect, and Thy will was best." 

It is highly characteristic of him that his last earthly work was the writing a
letter of comfort to a relative who had recently lost her husband. In this he
speaks with tender appreciation of the faithfulness of the dear wife with whom
he had been permitted to spend nearly forty years of christian service. He
concludes: "And now we have only gratitude for our heavenly father's patient
forbearance with our imperfect and bungling service, and we grow willing to
leave everything to him. "We are glad to carry comfort to his sad and sorrowing
ones, encouragement to his weak and desponding ones, and warning to all careless
ones, while we mingle with them, and are almost anxious to join the happy ones
who are with him. The other morning at family prayers we read this sweet thing
written by someone who had learned in the school of trial life's great lesson.

Sometimes when o'er this life the shades of death are falling,
When sun and stars are never more to shine,
When from the murky mists we hear strange voices calling,
To life eternal and love divine.
It may be in that hour before the light so glorious
Shall flood our souls with radiance untold,
Before there bursts to view the realms of the victorious—
The pearly streets and gates of shining gold.
That to our wondering eyes from which the scales are lifted,
A vision of the life that's past may come,
And we may see the rocks on which our souls had drifted
If God's kind care had failed to draw us home.
Then with our souls uplifted in thanksgiving,
To Him whose love this earthly life has blessed,
I think that we shall cry; O, Father so forgiving,
The love was perfect and Thy will was best.

May God help the bereaved family and sorrowing community to have implicit trust
that in this, our sore affliction, "His love is perfect and His will is best."

CARRIE MOORE STOTT


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