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George Askins

? - 1816 Person Name: George Atkin Hymnal Number: d43 Author of "Brethren, we have met to worship, and adore the Lord our God" in Bells of Heaven George Askins was born in Ireland. He immigrated to the United States as an adult. He was a Methodist and became an itinerant preacher for the Baltimore Conference in 1801. He was appointed to other circuits as well, mostly in Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky. He died in Frederick, Maryland 28 February 1816. Dianne Shapiro from The Makers of the Sacred Harp by David Warren Steel with Richard H. Hulan, University of Illinois Press, 2010

Adoniram Judson

1788 - 1850 Hymnal Number: d64 Author of "Come, Holy Spirit, Dove [Guest] divine, On these baptismal waters shine" in Bells of Heaven Adoniram Judson MA DD USA 1788-1850. Born at Malden, MA, his father being a Congregational pastor. He graduated from Brown University, Providence, RI, in 1807 and opened a school. He wrote an English grammar and mathematics textbook for girls. He then attended Andover Theological Seminary. studying Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. His friend, Jacob Eames, turned him from religion, but Eames died suddenly, and he Judson, shocked, turned back to God in 1808. In 1809 he became interested in missions. In 1810 he was licensed to preach by the Orange Vermont Congregational Association, preparatory to pastoral ministry. However, he had inclinations to overseas ministry, and, having failed to get an appointment from the London Missionary Society, persuaded the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ACBFM), to send him and his wife, Ann Hasaltine, and six others, as Baptist missionaries to India. They departed in 1812 on a 4-month voyage to Calcutta. Enroute, Ann miscarried their first child. Arriving there, having studied Baptist principles enroute, they decided to be baptized. They were, and they resigned from ABCFM, laying plans for creation of a Baptist Missionary society from the U.S. After experiencing various hindrances from the East India Company, they escaped India, and began mission work in Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) in 1813, becoming the first mission of American Baptists (where Judson labored for almost 40 years). They spent three years learning the Burmese language with the help of a tutor. They evangelized and did Bible translation. They spent 12 years making 18 converts from Buddhism. In 1817 a printing press came from America and a printer, George Hough, and his wife. They printed the first Christian tracts in the Burmese language, including 800 copies of the book of Matthew, translated into Burmese by Judson. That helped in gaining converts. In 1824, Rangoon having been taken by the British, Dr. Judson was charged with being a British spy and was held captive by the natives until the Burmese capitulated to the British in 1826. Thanks to his sickly wife’s efforts he was released after 21 months in squalid prison conditions, and was pressed to serve as a translator for the Burmese government during negotiations for the Treaty Yandobo. His wife died that year from complications of smallpox. In 1828 he moved his mission efforts to Moulmein, where, with help from a Jonathan Wade, he built a church and school and continued work on the Burmese Bible. He married Sarah Hall Boardman, widow of his late colleague, G D Boardman, who died at sea. She was a gifted linguist and teacher. He finished translating the Burmese Bible, after 24 years, in 1834, and he and wrote several tracts in that language. After the birth of her 8th child (most with her former husband), Sarah’s health declined, and they embarked for the U.S. She died enroute. He completed the trip and remained on furlough for nine months. He suffered from laryngitis due to pulmonary illness, and reduced strength, but was hailed a hero throughout the Christian community. When he talked, he had to use someone who could repeat his words in order to be heard above a whisper. While at Madison University in upstate NY, he met and married Emily Chubbock, a writer and educator. They returned to Burma in 1846 to continue work on an enlarged Burmese dictionary. It was compiled in 1849. Shortly thereafter, he contracted a respiratory fever and, while attempting to travel to a better climate for his health, died at sea in the Bay of Bengal. Most of their children died in infancy or when young. His legacy included establishing 100 churches, 8000 believers, and encouraging more missionaries to come to Burma after him, Sarah Cummings, Jason Tuma, and Eleanor Macomber, to name a few. His memoirs were published in 1853. He also wrote some hymns. Because of his efforts, Myanmar has the 3rd largest population of Baptist Christians in the world, behind the U.S. and India. Each July there is a Judson Day in Myanmar. Accolades given and institutions and organizations named after Judson in both Myanmar and America are too numerous to name here, but one can look them up. John Perry ============ Judson, Adoniram, D.D., born at Maldon, Massachusetts, Aug. 9, 1788, where his father was Pastor of a Baptist Church. He graduated at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, 1807; and went in 1815, together with his first wife, as a Missionary to India. After encountering various hindrances from the East India Company, they began their mission in Burma. On June 8, 1824, Rangoon having been taken by the British, Dr. Judson was imprisoned by the natives, and was kept in captivity until the Burmese capitulated to the British in 1826. His first wife dying on Oct. 24, 1826, he married the widow of his late colleague, G. D. Boardman (ne'e Hull, April 10, 1834. He died at sea, April 12, 1850, and was buried in the deep. He translated the Bible into Burmese, and wrote several tracts in that language. A Burmese-English Dictionary was compiled from his papers. His Memoirs, by Dr. Wayland, were published in 1853. His hymns include :— 1. Our Father God, [Lord] Who art in heaven. The Lord's Prayer. This hymn is dated "Prison, Ava, March 1825," and was written during his imprisonment. It was given in his Memoirs, 1853, vol. i. p. 308. It is in common use in Great Britain and America. 2. Our Saviour bowed beneath the wave. Holy Baptism. This dates from 1829, or earlier, and is in 7 stanzas, It is said to have been "sung at the Baptism of several soldiers at Moulmein, British Pegu." St. i.-iii. usually form the hymn. 3. Come, Holy Spirit, Dove divine. Holy Baptism. This is composed of st. vii., v., vi. of No. 2, and is found in Winchell's Collection, 1832. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Joseph H. Martin

Hymnal Number: d329 Author of "Spurn me not, O loving Savior" in Bells of Heaven Late 19th Century. Martin was a minister. http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/a/r/t/martin_jh.htm

John E. Gould

1821 - 1875 Person Name: J. E. Gould Hymnal Number: d216 Author of "The last appeal" in Bells of Heaven John Edgar Gould USA 1821-1875. Born in Bangor, ME, he became a musician. He managed music stores in New York City and Philadelphia, PA., the latter with composer partner, William Fischer. He married Josephine Louisa Barrows, and they had seven children: Blanche, Marie, Ida, John, Josephine, Josephine, and Augusta. He compiled eight religious songbooks from 1846 thru 1869. He died while traveling in Algiers, Africa, and was buried in Philadelphia, PA. John Perry

Charles Walker Ray

1832 - 1917 Hymnal Number: d323 Author of "Some blessed day" in Bells of Heaven Rv Charles Walker Ray DD USA 1832-1917. Born at Otselic, NY, he became a Baptist minister. He was educated at Hamlton College, Clinton, NY. He earned his doctorate from Monongahela College, Jefferson, PA. That school closed in 1894. He pastored at North Stonington, CT, for a number of years. He also served at Plymouth, NY. He married Julia Tracy Sheffield, and they had a son, Arthur. He wrote a number of books and song books: “Grace Vernon Bussell, the heroine of western Australia” (1878); “Spicy breezes” (1883); “The day school crown” (1892); “The revival helper: a collection of songs for Christian work and worship” (1893); “Bright blossoms of song” (1895); “Zion’s delight” (1901); “The song of songs of the King and his bride-an interpretation” (1913); “The fallacies and vagaries of misinterpretation” (1914). He died at Philadelphia, PA. John Perry

F. A. Blackmer

1855 - 1930 Person Name: Francis A. Blackmer Hymnal Number: d273 Author of "Since I've learned to trust Him more" in Bells of Heaven Blackmer, Francis Augustus. (Ware, Massachusetts, February 17, 1855--October 8, 1930, Somerville, Massachusetts). Advent Christian musician. His parents, Augustus and Jane Blackmer, were among those caught up in the excitement of the Millerite Movement. One son, Fred, became an Advent Christian minister. Francis, with a talent recognized at an early age, consecrated his own life to Christian service as a musician. He was immersed in baptism at the Adventist campmeeting in Springfield, Massachusetts, by Elder Miles Grant. His early years were spend in central Massachusetts, his schooling at Wilbraham Academy. He was largely self-taught in harmony and musical composition. He wrote the words and music to his first gospel song, "Out on the fathomless sea," at the age of sixteen. Altogether he wrote over 300 gospel songs about the Second Coming, witnessing and working for the Lord, and praises to God's Holy Name. A few of these have circulated widely outside his own denomination. His final text, "I shall see him, And be like him," came when he was so weak that his friend, Clarence M. Seamans, had to supply the music. He used the pseudonym, A. Francis, with some of his early songs. Blackmer's first anthology was The Gospel Awakening, (1888). Subsequent gospel songbooks with which he was associated were: Singing by the Way (1895), Carols of Hope (1906), The Golden Sheaf, No. 2 (1916), and Songs of Coming Glory (1926). Most of his adult life was spent in Somerville, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, where he had a prosperous piano business. In the 1890s, his "Francis A. Blackmer Pianos" were made for him by the Washington Hall Piano Company of Boston. Later, his "Good as Gold Pianos" were manufactured by the Christman Piano Company of New York City and shipped directly to his customers throughout New England. In Somerville, Blackmer served as choirmaster and song-leader in the Advent Christian Church for many years. He was also an elder of the church until his death. From 1914 until his death, he was songleader at the mid-summer Alton Bay Campmeeting on Lake Winnepesaukee, New Hapshire. There his High Rock Hill was both a salesroom and a summer cottage over the years. He was a member of the board of directors of the campmeeting association for several years. Very popular were his singing sessions on the campground square between suppertim and evening services, and a final sing into the small hours of the night following the final service of the campmeeting. --Leonard Ellinwood, DNAH Archives

J. H. Kurzenknabe

1840 - 1927 Hymnal Number: d392 Author of "Let the light of the wonderful city" in Bells of Heaven Kurzenknabe, John Henry. (Muenchhof, Kurhessen, Germany, June 18, 1840--April 13, 1927, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania). German Reformed layman. His parents died of cholera when he was five, and he was placed in a boarding school. When 14, he came to the United States with his violin and his share ($500) of his parents' estate. During the 48-day voyage, he attended an elderly sick woman, a Mrs. Ziegler from Wilkes-Barre, Penn., whose family helped him settled in the States. He attended Wyoming Seminary nearby, where he studied music and perfected his English. Even before graduation, he taught violin and began teaching singing classes in the area. In 1856, William B. Bradbury came to Wilkes-Barre for a six-week musical institute. He was so impressed with Kurzenknabe's talent that he offered him, still only 16 years old, $50 a month and board to accompany him to other institutes as an assistant teacher. Two years later, Kurzenknabe was teaching a class in Hagerstown, Maryland. At the final concert, one of the soloists became ill and a 14-year-old girl, Susan Shaffer, filled the role so well they eloped to Greencastle, Penn., and were married on November 13, 1859. They had 15 children, moving every few years until 1869 when they settled permanently in Harrisburg. J.H. (as he preferred to be called) tried to enlist in the Union Army during the Civil War, but was rejected because of his flat feet. He became a U.S. citizen on November 2, 1866. He opened the first piano story in Harrisburg. He continued to teach singing classes, published his many song-books under the imprint J.H. Kurzenknabe & Sons, organized a band and an orchestra, and was an early and active member of the Board of Trade. Long active in the local German Reformed Church, as the city expanded he organized St. John's Sunday School in 1893 which became St. John's Chapel in 1899 at Fourth and Maclay Streets. This has kept growing so that the present church buildings include Kurzenknabe Auditorium. As president of the Pennsylvania State Music Teachers' Association, he presided over their convention in Harrisburg, December 26-28, 1894. For the occasion, he prepared a concert with 300 voices and orchestra which was conducted by W.W. Gilchrist of Philadelphia. From this grew the Harrisburg Choral Society. That same year, he became the local examiner for the London (England) College of Music. He wrote the words and/or the music to over 650 hymns. His song-books went through several editions, selling a total of over 300,000 copies. In 1904, with his daughter Lily he made an extended trip back to his native Germany. On his 50th wedding anniversary, the wedding march was played by six sons and a daughter. His wife died on March 24, 1920, at the age of 75. He followed her at the age of 86. --Information furnished by great-grandson, John G. Kurzenknabe. Additional essays are available in the DNAH Archives. =============================== Born: June 18, 1840, Mönchdorf, Kurhessen, Germany. Buried: East Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Kurzenknabe, J. H., music teacher and author, was born in Moenchehof, near Cassel, Curhessen, Germany, Jun 18, 1840. He is a son of John George and Anna Kurzenknabe. He was left an orphan in childhood. He attended the Industrial School at Cassel. When he was fourteen years old he bade farewell to friends and home, September 15, 1854, and set out to seek his fortune in the New World, sailing from Bremerhaven for America on the following day. By mistake he was transferred to a ship on which all were strangers to him, but he was buoyant with hope and free as a bird. During the voyage of forty-nine days, being a very clever violinist, he made friends among the officers and crew and became also a general favorite with the passengers, so that he was the pet of the ship. His especial attention was attracted to an old lady who was sick during the whole voyage. Her children in America had sent money to bring over their old mother. To this helpless woman he ministered in his boyish way as best he could. The forty-nine days' voyage was tempestuous, and minus mast, and storm-beaten, the ship hove in sight of the eagerly looked-for land. On her arrival at New York, the children of the old lady were there to meet her, to whom she told the story of the boy's kindness. In this family he found a temporary home, and in years to come he was not forgotten by them. Arrangements were made for him to go to a seminary in Pennsylvania, where under Christian training he found a safe shelter and valuable instruction. Having a talent for music he followed this bent, and in that institution of learning he prosecuted his musical studies and made for himself a name as a teacher of the violin and vocal music. He was afterwards placed under the care and instruction of William B. Bradbury, then the most prominent teacher of music in the country. After a thorough course under this master, Mr. Kurzenknabe started on his own responsibility. His first and only attempt to teach singing and a day-school together in a Maryland town was a total failure, but the very next engagement, which was at Sag Harbor, L. I., proved a complete success. After teaching successfully in Baltimore and other Maryland towns, he visited the New England States and taught conventions in a number of important cities. He then returned to Hagerstown, Md., where his lot fell in pleasant places, and here, too, he found the wife to cheer him through his busy life. He taught successfully in Baltimore, York, Pa., Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York, and last in Camden, N. J., where the first child, a boy, greeted the parents and cheered their hearts. His next place of residence and teaching was Moorestown, N. J., and the next Philadelphia, where a daughter was born. The war coming on, the New England States seemed safer than Pennsylvania, hence Dedham, Mass., became the next home. Fine classes in Yankee land, war songs and teaching in most of the prominent town brought money to the purse, but sickness claimed the boy for a victim. Repeated and urgent invitations from Maryland friends to make a change, for the boy's sake, induced the Kurzenknabes to disregard the threatening perils of war and journey southward. Antietam and Gettysburg brought the armies of both sides, and the great invasion left the family destitute and helpless, with but five dollars in money and a railroad ticket to Sunbury, Pa., whence the floods drove them back. Mercersburg and study for the ministry were quickly decided upon. But exciting debates of the church involved theological gladiators and their followers, and too free a tongue was not the wisest thing to have in those days of trial. Fairy visions vanished. The advent of twin boys made an increase of income imperative and teaching was the only resource. A house was purchased at McConnelsburg, but sold after an occupancy of two years. Mechanicsburg was home for a short time, and finally Harrisburg became the permanent residence, and a house was purchased which is still home. Teaching for twenty-seven years in many different States, sometimes hundreds of miles from home, always joyous, looking at the bright side of life, active, with plenty of grit, yet with his heart centered where the loved ones stay, earnest, enthusiastic, this is J. H. Kurzenknabe as his friends and scholars know him. Professor Kurzenknabe is the author and compiler of the following books: "Sweet Silver Echoes," "Music at Sight," "Gospel Trio," "Songs and Glees," "Wreath of Gems," "Song Treasury," "Peerless Praise," "Gates Ajar," "Sowing and Reaping," " Theory of Music," "Fair as the Morning," and "Kindly Light." The sale of "Sowing and Reaping" has rached over 280,000 copies, and over 190,000 copies of "Fair as the Morning" have been sold. "Kindly Light" starts in with 20,000 copies engaged in advance of publication. All of htese books are published by his well-known house of J. H. Kurzenknabe & Sons, Harrisburg, Pa. Mr. Kurzenknabe was married in Greencastle, Pa., November 13, 1859, to Susan Shafer, daughter of George and Frederica Shafer, residents of Hagerstown, Md. Professor Kurzenknabe is at present a member of Salem Reformed church, which, as elder, he represented for many years at Classis and in the Synod. He belongs to Peace and Plenty Lodge, No. 69, I. O. O. F., Harrisburg Encampment, No. 301, the I. O. of H., and several other organizations. He is often for weeks from home, attending conventions, gospel services and children's gatherings. He eats and sleeps well, is in perfect health, is five feet nine inches in height, turning the scale at two hundred pounds, and knowing nothing by experience of sickness. You will find him a hale-fellow-well-met. May his days of usefulness be many and his talent ever be active in the Master's cause, till the welcome summons, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," calls him to the rest that awaits the people of God. This sketch is prepared by one of his loyal friends and ardent admirers. http://maley.net/transcription/sketches/kurzenknabe_j_h

Harriet E. Jones

1823 - 1915 Hymnal Number: d124 Author of "Go proclaim the story" in Bells of Heaven Harriet E. Rice Jones, 1823-1915 Born: April 18, 1823, Pompey Hollow, Onondaga County, New York. Died: 1915, Binghamton, New York. Buried: Oran Community Church Cemetery, Pompey, Onondaga County, New York. Daughter of Eleazer Rice, Jones lived in Onondaga County, New York. Her girlhood was spent on a farm, receiving what education the country schools and one term at high school could provide. She was always fond of reading, and was a great singer, with a clear ringing voice. On July 7, 1844, she married a son of Rev. Zenas Jones; her husband died in 1879. Her song writing career began when her poetry came to the attention of Dr. M. J. Munger, who asked if she could write some Sunday school hymns for him. She went on to write for Daniel Towner, J. C. Ewing, the Fillmore brothers, and others. --hymntime.com/tch

S. J. Goodrich

Hymnal Number: d361 Author of "Good night and happy dreams" in Bells of Heaven

Birdie Bell

Person Name: R. F. R. Bell Hymnal Number: d59 Author of "The Shepherd's call" in Bells of Heaven C. Louise Bell, also known a Birdie Bell, was born, raised and lived in New York city. She began writing hymns when she was sixteen years old. She is the author of more than 500 hymns, 200 religious poems, and 200 Christmas and Easter lyrics, as well as short stories, and articles. She wrote under the name of Birdie Bell, which is what her family called her. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916)