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A couple of writings that were published by my great, great grandfather on September 20, 1919 in The Religious Telescope.

John Bixler Deever was the seventh of twelve children. He was born on his great-uncle’s farm near Monroe, Wisconsin. He always knew in his heart that he should become a minister and felt that God had given him a definite sign to do so, following the survival of a train accident when he was in his early twenties. John had met his wife, Jennie, at Lane University in Lecompton, Kansas. Initially Jennie wasn’t sure she wanted to be the wife of a minister, but John and Jennie married on September 9, 1880 in Overbrook, Kansas. Thy made a home in Lecompton. In 1881, John began taking the steps necessary to become an ordained minister of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, serving both as parish pastor and conference superintendent for nearly 40 years. He was ordained in October 1885. He was an eloquent pulpit preacher. His evangelical calling consumed a lot of his time, as his was a traveling ministry. Sometimes when he was out on his circuit (assignment) visiting his charges (congregation) at classes (teaching points) it created hardships at home for Jennie. However, John was known to be a devoted husband and father. Jennie kept up family worship in John’s absence – held at bedtime each night. Giving birth was often hard on Jennie. She almost died giving birth to their eldest, O.T. One year she was so ill, she was bedridden the entire time. Diligent medical care, her strong will to recover and prayer saved her. The family moved around a lot, no less than 18 times. John and Jennie lived in Kansas most of their lives, chiefly in and around Topeka following John’s retirement in 1920. Three of his four sons got, “caught in the Gospel net,“ and followed John into the ministry.