BIO: William Wyatt, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Judy Banja & Denise Phillips

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 267-268.
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  WYATT, WILLIAM, was born on February 20, 1812, quoting himself, "amid 
the tall pines and uncultivated fields of Danby, Tompkins County, in 
the State of New York."  His father was of English descent, and his 
mother from French stock.  His parents were among the pioneers in that 
section of the State.  Their character may be seen from the following 
by the pen of our subject.  "Thanks be to early Christian training that 
I am out of prison, and out of the drunkard's grave, and out of hell, 
today."
  He was born again in his thirteenth year, in the month of June, at a 
camp meeting held in the town of Lansing, Cayuga County, N.Y.  So 
complete was his consecration, and so clear the witness to adoption, 
that for a half century he never entertained a doubt concerning his 
adoption into God's family.
  His educational advantages were few.  He states that he only received 
three months' instruction in a common school - advanced as far as the 
word, "baker" in Dilworth's Spelling Book, and the rule of three in 
arithmetic.  He, however, became well read in history and English 
literature, by perseverance.
  He was licensed an exhorter in 1831, and the year following he 
received local preacher's license.  In 1835 he joined Oneida 
Conference, transferred to Black River Conference in 1842, returned to 
Oneida in 1847, and became a member of Wyoming at its organization.
  He was strikingly original, and never lost his individuality; a 
prodigious worker, and a really talented preacher; wherever known, 
distinctly remembered.
  He married a daughter of Rev. Reuben Reynolds, Mary Almena, who 
proved a superior help to him in all his work.  She died February 28, 
1898.  Their daughter Lizzie became the wife of Rev. William Penn 
Abbott, and their son Albert H. entered the ministry.  He was for some 
time a member of Wyoming, is now a member of New York East Conference, 
and bears the title of D.D.
  After his superannuation he published a volume called Life and 
Sermons of William Wyatt.  It is not only a very readable book, but of 
historical value.  We are indebted to it for many facts in this volume.
  His controversy with the spiritualists in Carbondale, and the revival 
in the same place in which over two hundred were brought to Christ, are 
among the great victories of our Church in this territory.
  He died in Albany, N.Y., March 19, 1879, and was buried in the 
cemetery in Wilkes-Barre, on the banks of the Susquehanna.
  His pastoral record is as follows:  1835, Windsor; 1836, Slaterville; 
1837, Barton; 1838-39, Speedsville; 1840-41, Candor; 1842-43, Adams 
(Black River Conference); 1844, Watertown; 1845-46, Lowville; 1847-48, 
(Oneida Conference), Oxford; 1849-50, Bleecker Street, Utica; 1851, 
Honesdale; 1852-53, Carbondale; 1854, Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre; 
1855-58, Presiding Elder on Wyoming District; 1859-61, Presiding Elder 
on Honesdale District; 1862-63, Henry Street, Binghamton; 1864, 
Chaplain of the 109th Regiment of New York Volunteers; 1865-78, sd.