Randolph County, WV - Obituary of Samuel Nathan McCann - 1917 ******************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Copyright 1998 by Dorothy McCann-Phillips Dodie70 @aol.com ********************************************************************* (Samuel Nathan McCANN was the son of Squire Bosworth McCANN and Roxanne GOULD- McCann) .. Samuel's grandparents were Samuel McCANN (1) and Jane WYATT of Randolph County, West Virginia Samuel Nathan McCann Obituary >From "The Daily News Record" of Harrisburg, Va. "Samuel N. McCann Buried With Impressive Ceremonies From Virgina College Campus" The Daily News Record, concerning the funeral of Elder Samuel McCANN, who died near Sykeston, North Dakota a short time ago: (note) *He was visiting his brothers and sisters there at that time in No. Dakota, where they had moved some years ago.(note by D.M. McCann) The funeral services of Professor Samuel N. McCANN was held on the College Campus and within the shadows of the big boilding that professor McCann helped to build; between 10:30 and 11:00 this morning, in the presence of an unusually large number of people who came to know and attest their high admiration and esteem of the deceased educater and wise leader in his Church. A conservative estimate of people on the grounds was 1500 at the beginning of the Services, and many arrived afterward. Reverend H. C. EARLY preached the funeral sermon, and pronounced a touching eulogy of the life and zealous labours of the departed man of God. Reverend EARLY was assisted by :by Dr. J. S. FLORY, President of Bridgewater College, in which institution Professor McCANN held the Chair of Biblical Literature and Theology. Two of Elizabeth (Gibbel) McCann's brothers and several other relatives came from Pennsylvania to attend the funeral and burial. Mrs. Henry W. POWERS (Samantha McCANN) of Elkins, West Virginia, and his brother William J. McCANN who accompanied the body from North Dakota were also present. One hundred forty three automobiles were counted from the College grounds, nearly half an hour before the singing of the opening hymm. The following is the Obituary: written by John S. FLORY In 1897, he was appointed Missionary to India, in which he served for 10 years. While on that field, he married Elizabeth GIBBEL, of Littitz, Pennsylvania, a member of the mission, both having been called to work by the Brethern Church. At the time of his death, he held the Chair of Theology and Biblical Literature at Bridgewater College at Bridgewater, West Virginia. In the death of Brother Samuel McCANN the Church has sustained a heavy loss. He touched life at so many points and was identified with the large constructive agencies of the Church in such a way as to make departure most keenly felt. In our educational work in the Ministry, on the Mission Field, in the Councils of the Church, as well as in the home and community, he will be missed. Samuel N. McCann was born in Upshur County, West Virginia and was the oldest son of eight children, and spent his early years among the privations of a rugged country. His parents were of the sturdy working class, and from them he inherited a strong mind, and a strong body and a constitution of unusual endurance. His mother, Roxanne GOULD was of New England Puritan stock, and from her he inherited a profoundly religious nature. As a child he was taken to Church by his parents. At the age of fourteen he was baptized in the Buckhannon River by Elder Elias AUVIL, at the Old Indian Camp Church. At the age of eighteen he was elected to the Ministry, and a year later advanced to the second degree. He was ordained to the Eldership at Bridgewater in 1894. His opportunities for education were meager, consisting of a few months at the District School each winter, until he was 18 years of age, when he attended a school in the Summer Institute, and taught his first school the following winter. He then went to the Brethern's Normal School (now JUANIATA College), for nearly four sessions. In 1884 he came to Bridgewater as a teacher in the Normal School (now BRIDGEWATER College). He has been closely associated with the work at Bridgewater since that time. After 2 years of teaching here, he entered the Evangelical Field, and spent about two years on the frontiers of Missouri and Kansas. These wre busy years. His records show an average of more than a sermon a day during the two years. He then came back to Bridgewater, and was associated here until he was called to the Mission Field work in India. Part of this time he was Field Representative for the College. He raised money to pay off a large debt that had accumulated, and also collected a considerable endowment fund. When he was called to India, he was attending the Baptists Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky., preparing himself to take charge of the Bible Department at Bridgewater. His ten years in India were fill of privations, labor, and care. His experiences during the terrible famine reads like a romance novel. The time for his furlough to return home just when the famine of 1905 came on. He refused to leave his post, and sending his wife and children home for rest, he continued to work on, though his health was impaired. For nearly three years he continued to labor in behalf of the people until his health became so shattered that he was finally prevailed upon to take his rest at home. From the impairment of his health during those strenuous years he never recovered. During the last eight years of his life, he occupied the Chair of Biblical Literature and Theology at Bridgewater College, for which he was preparing himself when called to India. His work as a teacher of the Bible was especially strong. Last session his class in New Testament Enegetical work numbered over forty. His knowledge of the New Testament and it's message to us was profound and clear. He, like the Great Apostle, could say with confidence, "I know Him whom I have believed". In the Bible Institute the College and at other places, his teaching reached a large circle. He was an indefatigable worker. Along with his teaching, he continued his college work and completed his college course only two years ago, in the Class of 1915. The attainment of his college degree was a great satisfaction to him. It was one of the chief disapointments of his life that he had not been encouraged to go on with his college course in his early days. Amidst his busy life as a teacher and a student, and with almost constant suffering, he still found time to write several books. His hopeful, soulful contemplations on the Beatitudes have comforted many a heart. And the manuscript for a volume on Spirit Ministration is ready for the publisher. I believe if anyone was qualified to speak of conditions in the Spirit World, that man was Brother McCANN. His lofty contemplative nature, and his intensely Spiritual state of mind fitted him peculiarly well for this work. I have the manuscript, and believe the book has a message the world needs. Brother McCANN made a long and hard fight for his life. Ten years ago when he came home from India his health was very much impaired. He has not been a well man since. Several years ago he submitted to an operation in Baltimore, from which he suffered a great deal of pain and inconvenience. He placed himself at different times in the hands of experts of various kinds, but received no permanent relief. The past summer was spent in North Dakota where he held a series but gave up the third because he was not strong enough to preach. As a final effort to regain his health he was induced to take up a fast. For forty days he took no food. Under this treatment his condition seemed to improve, although his strength naturally declined. He was hopeful to the very last and believed that he would be well again. But a complication of serious stomach and intestinal problems developed and caused his death. He passed away at the home of his brother, Henry O. McCANN, near Sykeston, North Dakota, on August 24, 1917. When news of his last change for the worst reached his home, Sister Elizabeth McCANN, his wife, at once started to join him. She was overtaken at Martinsburg, West Virginia, by a telegram, announcing his death. She immediately returned home. The body of Samuel McCann arrived Tuesday August 28, accompanied by his brother William J. McCann, with whom he had spent part of the summer. Funeral Services were conducted by Elders H. C. EARLY, H.G. MILLER, and J.S. FLORY, from 2 Timothy 1.12 The Service was held on the College Campus in front of Founders Hall, which he entered daily for so many years. It was largely attended, the crowd being estimated variously from 1500 to 2000. The audience was a fitting tribute to the esteem in which he was held. Relatives were present from North Dakota, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The aged mother (Roxanne GOULD McCANN) now in her seventy-eighth year was too feeble to attend. She, with three brothers and two sisters survive him. His faithful companion Elizabeth GIBBEL McCANN and two children mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father. Henry is seventeen, and Mary, thirteen. They have such a rich heritage in the character and life of their father. His associates in the faculty carried his body to it's last resting place. nearly 200 automobiles were counted in the procession from the College to the Cemetery. The floral decorations were profuse and beautiful. Loving hands can not do enough for those they fondly cherish. His passing makes a large void in the Church, in the home, in the school, and in the community. His life has been an inspiration and a blessing. His influence will go on living in the lives of those he inspired, and his teaching will continue to enrich character in the years to come. Note: Their daughter Mary Roxanne, married John Wesley Wright June 29, 1930 at Bridgewater, West Virginia. They then moved to Kingsport, Tennessee. Mary died suddenly at a young age, soon after her marriage to John Wright, after undergoing Appendicitis surgery. Henry, Samuel and Elizabeth's son, moved later to Pennsylvania and/or New York with his mother. I would like to locate Henry's descendants, and would appreciate any information) Dorothy McCann-Phillips (Descendant of Samuel's brother, William J. McCann and Aldarada Van Camp-McCann)