Bixby, Rev Newell Willard, of Randolph, (Orange Co.) VT and his wife, Ruby Knapp Bixby, of Huntington, Chittenden Co., VT, ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed and transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by David C. Young ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Free Baptist Cyclopaedia" Historical & Biographical by Rev G. A. Burgess. A. M. & Rev. J. T. Ward, A.M. Free Baptist Cyclopaedia Co. 1889 page 55-57 Bixby, Rev Newell Willard, and his wife, Ruby Knapp Bixby, have been prominent and successful among the pioneer ministers of Iowa, Bro Bixby, son of Ebenezer and Hannah (Flint) Bixby, was born in Randolph, VT, Jan. 18, 1809, and received his education at the Chelsea High School and Randolph Academy. He received baptism in 1827, began to hold meetings in 1835 and received license from the Corinth Q. M. in June, 1836. Ill the fall of that year he went into the Susquehanna Y . M.. (N. Y.), holding revival meetings at Fort Ann, N. Y., and in Warren and Rome, Pa. receiving ordination May 27, 1837, and preaching with success in Union and W. Windsor, N. Y., and Rome, Warren, Franklin and Jackson, Pa. In 1841, he engaged in revival work in the Lawrence Q. M. (NT. Y.), baptizing converts in Dickinson, Brasher and Pierpont. After this he labored in Vermont nearly five years, preaching at Williamstown, Brookfield, Chelsea, Elmore, Stowe, Lincoln, Waterbury and Starksboro. Sister Bixby, a daughter of Peter and Olive Knapp, was born in Huntington, Vt., Jan. 22, 1818. She professed religion in early life and joined the Huntington church. They were married 'Nov. 9, 1842, and, in July 1846, under direction of the Home Mission Board, they started for the territory of Iowa. Their traveling by canal through New York, by boat oil the Lakes, and with a horse across Wisconsin made the journey long. Remaining for a time with the Pike Grove church, Wis., they reached Iowa in June, 1847, and soon settled at Lodormillo, later Edgewvood, Bro. Bixby being then the only ordained Free Baptist in the state. After a year they had organized a Quarterly Meeting consisting of four churches, and thirty members. The Home Mission Society paid their traveling expenses to Iowa, and, after a few years, aid to the amount He continued in that vicinity three years, of a hundred dollars was given. Sister Bixby, while in Wisconsin, had received from the Honey Creek Q. M., license to preach. This was renewed for a time in Iowa from year to year, but later was made a " license without limitation." Though not receiving ordination, she was not merely an assistant pastor, but was an independent, self-reliant preacher. Sometimes after revivals in churches where she was the on1y pastor, or in places where there were no churches, she would return home and care for the family, leaving ail appointment for her husband to go and baptize the converts. At that time it was unpopular for a woman to preach, and though it was said that Sister Bixby was the "better preacher," many opposed because of her sex. There was strong opposition, too, because of the antislavery position of the denomination, and the first church organized was called in derision, the " Abolition Baptist church." But they toiled on, and in 1853 the Iowa Yearly Meeting reported fourteen churches. Their labors continued to receive the divine blessing. Sister Bixby was a most consistent and devoted Christian. Love was manifest in her daily example and in her ministry. Her sermons were persuasive; and her ministry, both as pastor and evangelist, was more than ordinarily successful. After a brief illness, Jan. 5, 1877, " at break of day," her earthy ministry closed. Bro. Bixby has continued to occupy a position of great influence in the state. He has been five times a member of the General Conference, and has been active in caring for all the denominational interest.