p. 597 | Life Sketch of Elder Isaac Sanborn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 19, 1913

Life Sketch of Elder Isaac Sanborn

By W. T. Thurston

ELDER ISAAC SANBORN, a pioneer in the advent message, was born in the State of Pennsylvania, Dec. 24, 1822. He died in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, May 24, 1913. At the age of twenty-one years he, with his parents, moved to Indiana, and a little later to Wisconsin. They were one of the pioneer families of the State.

Isaac Sanborn learned the pattern trade in his early years, and followed this vocation along with agricultural pursuits for many years. He was converted in 1855, and at once gave himself to the study of the advent message with great zeal. He began preaching the gospel in 1856; and from his very first effort the Lord gave him fruit for his labors. He questioned in his own mind his call to the ministry so soon after his conversion. With a keen sense of his own inability to win souls, he prayed earnestly that if he was called of God to preach, a goodly number would turn from sin to righteousness in the place where he was asked to conduct a series of meetings. The meetings began as had been arranged, and at the close of the effort a church of over twenty members was organized.

He was ordained to the gospel ministry by Elders James White and W. S. Ingraham, in August, 1856. From that time to the time of his death, he gave himself to the preaching of the word, and many churches were raised up under his labors. He traveled and labored in nineteen States and in the province of Ontario, but the greater part of his ministerial work was in Wisconsin. In 1861 Elders Sanborn, Loughborough, and Decker held tent-meetings in Clinton Junction, Harrison, and Davidstown, Ill., and these efforts were blessed of God.

Elder Sanborn was the first president of the conference that at that time embraced the States of Wisconsin and Illinois. He was one of the twenty delegates who assembled in Battle Creek, Mich., in 1863, and organized the General Conference; one of the committee of eight to draft the constitution of the General Conference; and a member of a committee of five to recommend a constitution for State conferences.

Elder Sanborn was a man of strong faith and of fervent prayer, and endeavored always to live the truth and to practise it in his daily life. He was a student of the Bible, a firm believer in the spirit of prophecy, and studied carefully the “Testimonies for the Church” as they came out from year to year. He was ever encouraging others to faithfulness, and in addition to preaching the word, he was faithful in paying tithe and in making offerings for the spread of the gospel. So great was his desire to help warn the people of the return of our Lord, that only a few weeks before his death he assisted in a series of meetings held in Hamilton, Ontario.

We believe that it can be truly said of this man of God, He rests from his labors, and his works do follow him. And with the great apostle, he could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me in that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

His wife, one sister, and many of like precious faith mourn the loss of this beloved pioneer in the third angel’s message , who has laid down his work at the age of ninety-one years, “until the day break and the shadows flee away.” Funeral services were conducted by Elder A. J. Breed. Interment took place at St. Thomas, Ontario. W. T. THURSTON.