Miscellaneous - Honors for Rev. Elmer E. Pearce

Hillcrest Rites Sunday Honor Retired Pastor

Special Services Planned by Ogden Methodist Congregation

April 1937

 

Formal recognition, with parish honors, of the Rev. Elmer E. Pearce, lifelong rural Methodist Episcopal pastor and retired member of Wyoming Conference, will feature the services at the Ogden M.E. church, Hillcrest [Rockland Co., NY], Sunday at 10:30 a.m., according to the pastor, the Rev. Charles W. Phillips, Mr. Pearce will be 75 years old Sunday. 

 

The service will be followed with a family reunion and gathering of friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Pearce, 15 Hillcrest avenue, Port Dickinson, and a birthday dinner.

 

Mr. Pearce was born at North Afton [Chenango Co., NY], Chenango county, April 11, 1862, attended district school there and was graduated from the Afton  High school, the Wyoming Seminary and the Drew Theological seminary.  He professed conversion at 12 years of age, and spent his youth in preparation for the ministry.

 

He joined the Wyoming Conference in 1892, and served in Wyoming pastorates until 1925.  He held pastorates at East Worcester, 1892 - 1894; Laurens, 1895 - 96; Fly Creek, 1897 - 1900; Morris, 1901-02; Gilbertsville, 1903 - 04; Harford and Kingsley, 1905-06; Maine, 1907 - 09; Slaterville, 1910-12; LeRaysville, 1913-14; Barton, 1915-17; Flemingville, 1918-19; Castle Creek, 1920-22; Choconut Center, 1923 - 24.  Mr. and Mrs. Pearce are very active in Ogden parish circles. 

 

                   Obituary:  Retired Pastor Dies at Home in Hillcrest:  The Rev. Elmer E. Pearce of Port Dickinson, reportedly the oldest living member of the Wyoming Conference died last Thursday afternoon in Binghamton.  He was 96.  Active in the Methodist ministry for 33 years, Mr. Pearce lived with his daughter, Miss Elma Pearce at 15 Hillcrest Avenue.  The body lay in state at Ogden-Hillcrest Methodist Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.  The Rev. Rolland Crompton, T.D., pastor of Odgen-Hillcrest church officiated, assisted by the Rev. Clayton H. Hoag, pastor of Fairview Methodist Church.  Mr. Hoag was pastor of the Hillcrest Church which Mr. Pearce attended, from 1938 to 1942.  Born in North Afton on April 11, 1862, the retired pastor was graduated from Wyoming Seminary and Drew Theological Seminary.  He was ordained in 1892 at First Methodist Church, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.  On his 80th birthday in 1942, he preached a sermon "50 years in Wyoming Conference," in the Hillcrest Church.  When Mr. Pearce observed his 90th birthday in 1952, the church congregation presented him a bouquet of 100 $1.00 bills.  Rev. Pearce was always present on Old Home Day at North Afton and gave many remarks on the old days in the vicinity.  Mr. Pearce and his wife, Gertrude (Russell) Pearce, both attended Afton school.  Mrs. Pearce was a sister of the late Ed Russell.  [Afton Enterprise, Oct. 9, 1958]