Colby Rev RH02

Waupaca Republican

June 29, 1906

“ENTERED INTO REST”

Rev. R.H. Colby, A Good Man; A Good Friend and Neighbor,

Has Passed to his Reward into Another Life

It hardly seems possible, but nevertheless it is a fact that in mortal sense our friend and neighbor, a former pastor of the First Baptist church in this city is no more on earth. His kind comradeship, his wise counsel as a pastor, husband, father and friend is stilled, his spirit has gone, his earthly tabernacle has been laid at rest in the beautiful Lakeview cemetery. His family and friends have him now only in sweet remembrance; but that good influence and kindly spirit which was manifest in life has been a power for the right and will linger long as a bright day dawn and a golden sunset to all who knew him as cheerful and happy in their minds, as the flowers which our friend so loved to cultivate and admire.

The transition was so sudden to his family and friends. He was only last Wednesday so energetic in his garden, subduing the weeds and training the plants and vines his ambition was too great for his strength. Wednesday night he was feeling bad and Mrs. Colby administered such remedies as was thought best but Thursday he grew worse and Dr. Pelton was called, pronouncing the disease a very bad and sudden attack of pleura pneumonia. His condition was such that he could not rally although everything possible was done to alleviate the attack. The sons, Rev. Chas. Colby arrived on Saturday and Ray Hal on Saturday night both in time to be at the bedside of the passing away of their father.

Sunday morning at 6:30 o’clock, on his seventy-first birthday, occurred the death of Rev. R.H. Colby, an old and respected Baptist clergyman. Deceased was confined to the room and house since Wednesday last. Rev. R.H. Colby was born in the town of Sardina, N.Y., June 24, 1835. His family was of New England origin and pilgrim stock, his forefathers having settled in early days in Vermont. He was reared in the Congregational church faith but in early life his convictions led him into the Baptist church into which his family also followed him. He came first to Wisconsin in 1856 to teach, returning to New York state near his early home where he was married in 1861 to Mary Sanders, the mother of his two surviving [sons]. He removed again to Wisconsin, becoming pastor of the Baptist church at Weyauwega where he remained seven years. Feeling the need of further preparation for his chosen work he removed to Chicago, where he entered the Baptist theological school. He stayed within a few weeks of completing the full course in this institution, when he accepted a call to his old home church at Holland, N.Y. Soon he received a call to become pastor of Hope chapel, then a struggling mission in Buffalo, N.Y., which he soon organized in the present large and flourishing Emmanuel Baptist church. In this field he did perhaps his greatest work, remaining six years. Being compelled to remove from Buffalo on account of his wife’s health he served various churches in New York state, accomplishing a noble, self-sacrificing work in each until after his wife’s death in 1891. He became pastor of a large church at Dundeen, N.Y., in 1891. In the course of two years he removed to Waupaca, Wis., where he was married to Mary L. Oaks, his surviving widow, and became pastor of the First Baptist church, here, remaining five years. Soon after this he retired from active pastorate, continuing however, to engage in missionary evangelistic work to the Sunday before his death. He was a man of great mental and bodily activity and spiritual power. He possessed a magnetic personality which enabled him to lead many souls, especially men, into the Christian life. Perhaps no other pastor in the state was more widely known or possessed a larger number of friends. He leaves a widow, Mary L. Colby in Waupaca, and two sons, Charles, pastor of the Baptist church of Lodi, Wis., and Ray H. manager of Paulson & Co.’s shoe store at Marshfield, Wis. Two sons have died, Merle the eldest in 1896, who left a widow and two sons. They reside in Buffalo, N.Y., and J. Clair who died in Waupaca in 1899.

The funeral was held from the home, cor. Union and High St. on Monday afternoon at two o’clock, a large concourse of friends attending.

Rev. A.C. Watts pastor of the First Baptist church gave a touching tribute on the life of this good man. It being in the nature of personal reminiscences, dating from the time Mr. Colby was attending the Baptist seminary at Chicago, the speaker at the time; attending the Chicago University their rooms happened to be near each other in the same house. He spoke of the unselfish devotion of Mr. Colby toward his friends and his work in the Master’s vineyard, and his magnetic winning ways in bringing souls to Christ also in taking a weak church and built it up in strength. His words were true as we know from personal observation and neighborly friendship. Rev. F. Arthur Hayward, recent pastor of the church now of Milwaukee, and Rev. Webster Millar, pastor of the Methodist church were both present and took part in the funeral services at the house and at Lake View cemetery where the remains were laid at rest beside those of other loved ones gone before.

The floral tributes were many and beautiful, among them being a lovely wreath of roses from the Young People’s Society and Sunday School and a large floral pillow from the I.O.G.F. of Marshfield.