Another Pioneer Fallen in Death.
By I. D. VAN HORN
John S. Wager, of Venice, Shiawassee Co., Mich., died suddenly of heart-disease, June 27, 1901, aged 84 years, 8 months, 3 days. He was born in Brunswick, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Oct. 24, 1816. When quite young, his father and family moved to Saratoga Co., N. Y. Here he was married to Miss Mary Cushman; and here he heard William Miller lecture on the prophecies relating to the second coming of Christ, and fully accepted the views presented. He was among those who were disappointed at the passing of the great prophetic period, the twenty-three hundred days, in the fall of 1844. When Elder James White published his paper—Present Truth—at Saratoga, N. Y., Brother Wager became a reader of it, and readily accepted the truth on the sanctuary question, which explained the disappointment; and led to the observance of the Sabbath of the Lord. In 1851 he and his family moved to Lockport, N. Y., where they resided till 1865, when they came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Venice, Shiawassee Co., where he remained till the day of his death. He maintained his integrity in the message for our time, and hoped to live to see the Saviour come. He was benevolent to the poor and needy, and especially so to the cause of the Lord. In 1881 death entered his home, taking away his faithful companion. A year later he married Mrs. Melvina Harmon. She, and his six children and their families, are left to mourn their loss; but the blessed hope of the Christian buoys them up, and gives comfort in this severe affliction. The church at Hazelton, of which he was a faithful member, will miss him in their meetings. The funeral was held at his late home, with a large attendance of sympathizing friends and neighbors, on Sabbath, June 29. Sermon, by the writer, was based on a favorite text of the deceased—Rev. 14: 13.