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THE WESTERN STAR, 25 August 1916
Obituary of DR. W. J. MARTINDALE
DR. W. J. MARTINDALE, PIONEER METHODIST PREACHER, DIES AT HIS HOME IN
WICHITA.

Dr. W. J. Martindale, who was known to thousands of people all over central and southwestern Kansas, where he labored so long and faithfully as a Methodist minister died on last Friday at his home in Wichita, and burial was made in that city on Monday. Dr. Martindale had been in failing health for some time. For two years or more he had been confined to his home almost constantly. The funeral services were attended by a
large number of the pastors and laymen from many of the counties included in the Southwest Kansas conference. There was an expression of almost universal esteem and of loving tributes to Dr. Martindale such as is heard on few similar occasions.

Dr. Martindale was born in the year 1841, hence at the time of his death he was nearly 75 years of age. Miami-co., Ind., was his place of birth. He was educated in the schools of that state. His preaching career began
at the age of 22. Soon after the close of the Civil War young Martindale became pastor of the M. E. church in Chillicothe, Mo. Later he was pastor at Savannah, Hannibal and Glasgow. He served as presiding elder
on two or three Missouri districts. In the year 1887 he came to the Southwest Kansas Conference. For one year he was pastor at Nickerson and for four years at Newton. He was then made presiding elder of the
Wichita district. In 1899 he was appointed presiding elder of the Dodge City district, when it comprised about 30 counties in the southwestern part of the state, also Beaver-co., Okla. Six years later he entered
upon the duties as presiding elder of the newly formed Pratt district, in which position he labored for six years. In 1910 he retired from active work in the field and was made Conference Secretary of the Ministerial Claimants' Fund, serving in that position for three years,
thus rounding out a little over 50 years of active in the ministry.

Dr. Martindale's quarterly visits to this city, through a period of over 12 years, gave opportunity for our people to know him well. Not only did the members of his own church respect and love him, but of all other
churches as well. He was able and convincing as a preacher, wise and progressive as a church leader, and, withal, a patriotic citizen and a noble Christian gentleman. He left his impress upon the world whenever
he touched it, and that influence was always uplifting and ennobling. In his labors he was earnest, thorough and untiring. It is said that during the six years he was presiding elder of this district he traveled 83,000
miles, 16,000 miles of which was traveled in a buggy. In the death of Dr. Martindale, Methodism loses a great preacher and a wise counselor and all humanity a true friend.
Transcribed and Contributed by Shirley Brier


Last Updated:  Wednesday, December 14, 2005 22:23:44


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