Extracted from: The Charlevoix Sentinel March, 1907 by Patrick McCleary DEATH OF REV. B.H. WHITMAN The sad news was received here Sunday of the death of Reverend B.H. Whitman, at his farm home, near Deer Lake, this county. Reverend Mr. Whitman was for many years an active member of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and held charges in various parts of the Conference District. About twenty years ago he served four years as pastor at Charlevoix, and was noted for his piety and earnestness. On leaving here he was in poor health, and, having bought a farm in Hayes Township, he moved there, where he remained for several years. He returned to the ministry for a short time, but finally sold his farm in this county, moving to Elmira, Antrim County, where for some time he kept a store. About three years ago he bought and moved to the farm where he died. In his younger days he was a farmer near Coldwater, where he was converted, and where he recognized a call to enter the ministry. He was an earnest and forceful preacher, and always made many friends wherever he was sent. Extracted from: The Otsego County Herald & Times 22 March 1907 - Old Mr. Whitman of Boyne Falls died Sunday evening and was buried Tuesday. The Masonic Lodge had charge of the funeral. Several Masons from here attended. Mr. Whitman was in business here for several years and was well known here. Extracted from: Minutes of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church SEVENTY-SECOND SESSION Albion, Michigan, September 10-16, 1907 REVEREND B.H. WHITMAN Barnabus H. Whitman was born in Wayne County, New York, January 1, 1828, and died at his home near Boyne Falls, Michigan, March 17, 1907, aged seventy-eight years, nine months and sixteen days. His father died when he was ten years old. This deprived him of early educational advantages. His entire schooling was less than one year. February 14, 1847, he married Sarah A. Crystler. He then came to Michigan and located at Sturgis. Here he lost his first wife. November 5, 1861, he was married to Mary Jane Wells. He was converted January 8, 1865, under the labors of Reverend William Doust, by whom he was baptized and received into the church August, 1886, in Burr Oak. The call to preach came with his conversion. In May, 1868, Reverend N.M. Steele licensed him to exhort in Bronson charge. In September, 1868, Reverend R.C. Crawford gave him his license to preach. He then entered the Michigan Conference and passed the required course of studies. He was ordained as deacon by Bishop Ames in 1872, and ordained an elder by Bisho Simpson in 1874. He served the following charges: Bronson two years, cannonsburg two years, Charlevoix three years, Boyne City two years, Ironton two years, Manton one year, Norwood three years, and East Jordan two years. His health began to fail in 1888, and in 1889 he was compelled to ask for a superannuate relation. He was a godly man, a forceful preacher of gospel, and a very faithful pastor. He had several sweeping revivals during his ministry. He was the father of eight children; of these only three survive him, one son and two daughters. The last two years of his life were spent on a farm near Boyne Falls. Here it was the writer's privilege to visit him several times, and to find him growing old in most sweet and tender piety. From his recent correspondence with the biographical secretary we read, "Jesus is dearer, heaven is nearer and victory is in sight. God bless the church and God bless the members of the Michigan Conference. Brethren be faithful to the end." For years his heart was weak, and he died unexpectedly at nine o'clock on Sunday evening, March 17. Funeral services, conducted by the writer, and the Masonic fraternity of Elmira, Michigan, were held in the Methodist Church of Boyne Falls, Michigan, on Tuesday, March 19, at three PM; and on Wednesday, March 20, the remains were taken to Charlevoix for interment. L. GROSENBAUGH