Eld. Oliver Perry Hull, son of Eld. Richard Hull, and brother of Elders Nathan, Varnum, and Hamilton Hull, was born in Berlin, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in the year 1813, June 25th. While a young lad, he moved with his father's family into the town of Alfred, Allegany Co., NY, and there shared with them in the toils and hardships of pioneer life in that country, then new. He acquired such education as the scanty facilities of the common schools at that time afforded. At the age of thirteen, he was converted to Christ, along with his brothers, Nathan and Varnum, under the preaching of Eld. John Green, whose effort in Alfred at that time resulted in a revival long to be remembered by that people.
At the age of twenty-seven years, he was married to Miss Emma A. Davis, of Alfred, NY. He was both baptized and married by Eld. Daniel Babcock. At some time subsequent to his marriage, he went to settle with his father's family at Lewistown, Fulton Co., Ill. It was there he began the use of those talents which, through twenty-five years of hard and valuable service in the ministry, gave him rank among the most efficient ministers of our denomination. There was a rude and somewhat uncongenial class of people in the neighborhood where he settled, whose respect he commanded by feats of agility and prowess, such as gave him a vantage ground from which to appeal to higher motives, and nobler views of the rights and privileges of strangers moving into a new country. There was also a better class of people there, many of whom, though not Seventh-day Baptists, gave him a friendly hand, and greatly encouraged him to engage in public speaking with a view to the ministry as a life work.
For about two years he preached, as opportunity was afforded, in his own and surrounding neighborhoods in Illinois. He then went to Albion, Wis., and in 1844, or thereabouts, was by that church ordained to the gospel ministry, and installed as their pastor. After supplying them a time, he accepted a call to the pastorate of the First Church in Brookfield, NY. In that capacity he served the Brookfield church a year and a half, when, leaving warm friends and pleasant memories behind him, he returned to the Albion church, and added three years to his previous services in that church. He then accepted a call by the church in Walworth, Wis., which he served for eight years as its pastor. He then took the pastoral care of the church in Milton, which, under four and a half years of his labor, was greatly increased in numbers and strength.
About five years ago, he moved with his family to Minnesota, with the church at Carlston, and during that time, and until his death, labored faithfully, as pastor, for its upbuilding; while he also as his feeble health would allow, did much and valuable service for the Sabbath cause, traveling and lecturing, generally in the largest villages and county seats. His labors in that field were most able and promising, when he was compelled to leave them, and, as he said, come back to Milton to die. On the night of Jan. 22, 1869, he departed this life. He died in the triumphs of faith, and has gone to the reward of a life, than which few in this country have been truer to God, or more beneficial to man. D. E. M.
