Rev. George Plowman

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-134127
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Minister
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; U. Brethren

Notes:

Death of Rev. George Plowman

On Friday evening of last week, there passed away one of Sheffield's oldest and most respected inhabitants, in the person of Rev. George Plowman, who had obtained the ripe old age of 87 years and four months.. The deceased was born in the county of Caithness in the north of Scotland, on the 21st day of April, 1813 and received his primary education, while at the home of his parents, but losing his mother at an early age, he went out into the world to make his own living at the age of eleven years. Many boys who have gone out from the good, influences of the parental home have made shipwreck of life, but such was not the case with the subject of this brief sketch. Going to Edinburgh at an early age, he lived there for many years. At the age of 23, he was married to Miss Esther Gunn, who has been the partner of his joy and sorrows, for a period of fifty-five years and who still survives him. The breaking of the cord which united them, has been a very severe blow to his aged partner. At the age cf 25 years, he was thoroughly and soundly converted to God and at once engaged in the Master's service. He frequently said that he had no sympathy with people who could sit and hear two or three sermons a day but, who could not work when sinners were perishing and with a heart overflowing with love for his fellow creature, he began pointing them to the Saviour, as the only source of true happiness. He was shortly afterwards chosen by the Rev. Dr. Kirk of Edinburgh as his assistant and as a missionary in that great city, his sphere of usefulness was greatly increased. He occupied the position of assistant for eleven years, his time being taken up in preaching, visiting the sick and the poor, as well as the rich and administering comfort to the afflicted. Being a man of fine physical appearance, as well as deep sympathy for others and having a good flow of language, he was well adapted for this noble work. At length, after eleven years labor in Edinburgh, he determined to try his fortunes in the New World and set sail for New York, in February 1850. After a some what stormy voyage they reached that city in March of that year and after spending some weeks in this place, they went to what was then the wild, wild territory of Minnesota. But the change from the busy city to this new country, was so great that they found it imposible to reconcile themselves to it, and after a short time upon the invitation of the Rev. George Anderson formerly of Galt, they removed to that town. After residing in Galt a few months, they went to Ayr, where they remained about one year, they removed to Sheffield, which has been their home ever since, except a few years spent in Freeport. When he first came to this village, the Rev. R. Sloan had charge of the work in the United Brethren church. Mr. Plowman frequently took charge of the services and being in full accord with the doctrines of the church, he became a member and a minister in it. He was shortly afterwards appointed presiding elder over the Canada Conference and for many years traveled in ail sorts of weather and over all kinds of roads, visiting the churches once every quarter and his visits were always anticipated with pleasure by the people over whom he presided. At length the infirmities of age compelled him to retire from the office of which he held so long and he has since remained at his home in Sheffield, preaching occasionally, giving a word of encouragement to the down cast and doing good when ever an opportunity occurred. To him death had no terrors. He quietly and composedly made all arrangements for his funeral and on the last visit of many of his friends, bade them good-bye. He said it was pleasant to live with them and enjoy their society, but to depart and be with his Saviour was far better. He was entirely a self-made man and to very few has such a wide sphere of usefulness been opened up for so long a time. In him the community has lost one of its most respected members, the church lost its best councillor whose life was spent for it and every citizen of this village and neighborhood, a true friend. With his work on earth fully ended, he has gone home to enjoy that rest, which remaineth for the people of God."

The Dumfries Reformer 27 Aug 1891 pg 1

George married Esther Gunn 1836, , Scotland. Esther was born CALC 17 Apr 1809, , Scotland; died 17 Dec 1903, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Sheffield Cemetery, Sheffield, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]