Person:William West (138)

Watchers
m. 16 Jan 1831
  1. William B. West1833 - 1904
m. 23 Sep 1852
  1. Allen Burdick West1856 - 1940
  2. Isaphena Genette West1865 - 1956
Facts and Events
Name William B. West
Gender Male
Birth[1] 24 Feb 1833 Durhamville, Oneida, New York, United States
Marriage 23 Sep 1852 to Isaphena Burdick
Death[1] 19 May 1904 Milton Junction, Rock, Wisconsin, United States
References
  1. 1.0 1.1 The Milton Journal
    June 2, 1904 p. 4.

    Dea. Wm. B. West was born in Durhamville, Oneida county, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1833, and died of valvular disease of the heart in Milton Junction, Wis., May 19, 1904. His father and mother were Baptists and attendants of that church, so that his early religious training was with them. The family came to Wisconsin in 1844, coming by the way of the Erie canal to Buffalo and by lake steamer thence to Milwaukee and they made their first settlement on a farm a few miles south of Ft. Atkinson.
    In 1848 they moved to Spring Prairie, in Walworth county, where the father died and the son was left at this early age to his own resources.
    About this time Brother West attended a district school where the teacher was especially good and under his encouragement he came to have a great desire for a college education; and with this object in view, he accompanied this teacher to Oberlin, Ohio, and entered the school. There was a great revival of religion in progress at the time, and Bro. West was soon among the seekers for Christ, whom he found and greatly rejoiced in forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life.
    The professors in the college gave great encouragement to the converts. Every session of the classes was opened by prayer and these young people were often invited to lead in these devotions, thus receiving a training similar to that now received in the Young People's societies. For various reasons Mr. West did not remain long in Oberlin, but returning to Spring Prairie he united with the Baptist church of that place.
    In 1849 for the purpose of gratifying his desire for a higher education he came to Milton Academy, where he became a convert to the Sabbath of the Lord and since then he has been faithful in its observance. Although he did not obtain the liberal training he desired for himself, his interest in training schools continued as shown in the generous contributions made at various times for their support. At the age of seventeen he taught his first district school and in this work he became quite proficient.
    Sept. 23, 1852, he was married to Isaphena, daughter of Ethan and Amy Allen Burdick, of Lima. In 1854 they moved to Utica, Dane county, Wis., and a year from that time he united with the Seventh-day Baptist church of that place, remaining a faithful and efficient member until its dissolution. In December, 1865, he was elected and ordained a deacon of that church.
    A very large part of his active and useful Christian life was spent in teaching or superintending Sabbath schools, and he did considerable institute work among the Sabbath schools of this section of the country. He was often called to serve his fellow citizens in offices of honor and trust and was especially efficient and satisfactory in his work and in his wise counsel to those who sought his aid. For twenty-six consecutive years he has been the treasurer of the Seventh-day Baptist Northwestern association and a member of its executive committee. In June 1901, Bro. West became a member of the Milton Junction S. D. B. church. His long life has been filled with usefulness and faithful service and this church feels greatly its loss.
    He leaves a wife, one son, Allen B. of Lake Mills, Wis.; two daughters, Mrs. W. H. Allen of Alfred, N. Y., and Mrs. W. D. Burdick of Nile, N. Y.; twelve grandchildren and many other relatives and friends to mourn his departure. His eldest son, Wm. Leman, went before to the spirit land thirteen years ago. G. J. C.