William Penn Abbott
William Penn Abbott [1]
D.D., a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born near Wilkesbarre, Pa., Dec. 31, 1838. His paternal great-grandfather died defending, his home against the Indians in the famed Wyoming Valley; his maternal grandfather, the Hon. Charles Miner, was the historian of Wyoming and his cousin Mrs. Anna. Wentworth, was one of our earliest missionaries to China. When but a lad his father died, leaving him to the teachings and influences of his devoted Christian mother. From a child he knew the Scriptures. His education was limited to an academical course at West Chester, Pa., and a short time under the late, Dr. Nelson at Kingston. In 1859 he professed conversion, in 1861 was licensed to preach and labored within the limits of the Wyoming Conference, and in 1863 entered that conference on trial. In 1866 he was transferred to the Troy Conference, and in 1869 to the New York Conference, and he was stationed successively at Trinity Church, Newburgh; Washington Square, St. Lukes, and. Thirtieth Street, New York city, where he died Dec. 22, 1878. From the opening of his ministry Mr. Abbott attracted attention, and received the conversion of souls as God's seals to his ministry. He had no barren year in all the sixteen, and was never more successful than on his last charge. He was a diligent student, gifted with a prodigious memory, a well-balanced mind, quick perception, and boundless tact. His presence was commanding and prepossessing; his sermons short, practical, methodical, climactic, and piercing. He excelled as a pastor, and was best known as a great-hearted Christian friend. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1879, p. 27
