A Loving Tribute by L. McCoy

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 5, 1909

A Loving Tribute

By L. McCoy

HENRY.—The announcement of the death of A. R. Henry has already appeared in the REVIEW AND HERALD. It was the good fortune of the writer to be personally acquainted with this dear brother for the past forty years, even before he was known outside of his State conference. We were bosom friends, and our hearts were knit together as were those of David and Jonathan. The subject of this sketch was born in the pioneer settlement near Bonaparte, Iowa, Jan. 28, 1839, seven years before Iowa was made a State. His father was a Methodist minister. Doubtless his early pious training had much to do with his destiny. He began teaching school early in life, and in 1862 was a student at Simpson College, of Indianola, Iowa. The number of students enlisting as soldiers in the Civil War was so great that the college was suspended. Brother Henry was among those who answered their country's call as a private soldier in the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry; and by promotions he arose to a lieutenancy, and was for some time acting adjutant of the regiment, serving three years—until the close of the war. He then began teaching again in Iowa. In 1865 he was married to Elizabeth Cottle, of Stevenson County, Illinois, taking up their residence in Warren County, Iowa. He engaged in mercantile business for years, and in 1874 he removed to Indianola and engaged in banking, being president of a local bank until 1881, when he received a call to engage as general manager and financial agent of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, for he had some years before identified himself with the Seventh-day Adventist faith and church. To accept this call meant to forsake his own business and forego a liberal salary as a banker, and learn a new and untried business at a greatly reduced salary. Like Levi, he obeyed the call, to the astonishment of his bank officials, who offered to double his salary, and asked only that he give the bank the benefit of his counsel and advice for five days in the week. He removed his family to Battle Creek, Mich., and resided there until his death, June 26, 1909, aged seventy years and five months. He was for a time president of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, and afterward treasurer. He was given financial charge of the erection of Union College and the Boulder Sanitarium, and visited Europe in the interests of denominational institutions. He was modest and unassuming in his manner. Few persons, not even his own family, knew of his generosities and benevolences. While burdened with public duties and responsibilities, he found time to direct in a large private lumber business, and erected many buildings in Battle Creek. And yet, amid all these cares and burdens and sometimes severe criticism, he was a praying man, and loved the precious truth of God, and ever stood like adamant in defense of what he conceived to be truth and duty. In his private life he was the soul of honor, much devoted to his home and family. His domestic life was a happy one. Brother Henry was a diamond in the rough; but he has gone from us, his work is done. In his last sickness he made a brave struggle for life, but a wise Providence ruled otherwise. The funeral service was from their beautiful home, so artistically decorated by his loving companion with nature's drapery of vines, shrubs, and flowers. The life companion she loved so dearly, though gone, is not forgotten. His chair is vacant; but she will assiduously and tenderly perpetuate this lovely spot in her loving memory of the absent one. The pall-bearers were his former associates in the Review and Herald building. A large concourse of neighbors and friends attended the service, as also a goodly number of his old army comrades. Services were conducted by the writer, assisted by Elder Geo. C. Tenney, and the interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Battle Creek.

L. McCoy.