Surnames: PHILPOTT MERRILL BANGS

----Source: LOYAL TRIBUNE (Loyal, Clark County, Wis.) 12/29/1910

Philpott, Harry (4 JAN 1837 - 21 Dec 1910)

Rev. Harry Philpott was born in Hampshire, England, Jan. 4, 1837, and died at his home in this village (Loyal, Clark County, Wis.), after a three days and four nights illness, Dec. 21, 1910. He came to America with his father in 1855, stopping at Fond du Lac, after four or five years they were able to send for the rest of the family, locating at Iron Ridge. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine V. Merrill. To this union was born two sons, William M., who is pastor of the Methodist Church in Rice Lake, and Thoma B., who died a few years ago. Their early married life was spent in Seymour, Outagamie Co. and at Neosha, Dodge Co., removing to Clark County, Wis. in June, 1874, where the home has been ever since. In 1892 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife.

He was converted to God in Neosho in 1867, according to the Methodist standards and this was one of the most real facts of his life, and the complete change wrought in his life by that experience was the constant testimony of both lip and life. Being a man of some considerable gifts he was licensed to preach, and at the conference in 1893 held at Hudson, he, with his son William, was ordained deacon by Bishop Joyce and assigned work on the Lucas charge. He then went to the Misha Mokwa charge, then to Whitehall, Modena and then to Schlerville, serving nine years of very acceptable service. During his pastorate at Schlerville the parsonage was burned, occasioning considerable loss of their effects and himself receiving injuries which required him to retire from the active work of a pastorate. Though not in the pastorate he was most abundant in labors, preaching, teaching, conducting class meetings, prayer meetings, visiting the sick and aged and carrying the sunshine of a sweet and devoted Christian life into many lives.

In 1898 he was married to Miss Clara Bangs of Illinois, who was of great assistance to him in his church work during the last four years of his ministry. His was a life of true devotion to the church he belonged to. Faithful unto death he has most surely received the crown of life. While the love of many grew cold, while many turned their faces away and dropped out by the wayside, Harry Philpott kept steadily on. When other failed he stood nobly by the cause of God, such a life had a fitting earthly close. No fear, not a doubt his vigorous soul went triumphantly out and up to be with God.

Funeral services were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Loyal Friday, Dec. 23, at two o'clock in the afternoon, conducted by pastor Rev. Kildow, interment in the family lot in the village cemetery.