Eben Samuel Johnson (8 February 1866 - 9 February 1939) was an
English-American
Bishop of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, elected in 1916.
Birth and Family
Born in
Warwickshire,
England, he was a son of William and Catharine (née Sidwell) Johnson. His father was an English Methodist preacher. Bishop Johnson was also descended from one of
John Wesley's helpers. Eben married Sarah Tilsley, with whom he had children Samuel D., Arthur H., and Dorothea.
Early Career and Education
Eben took a
teacher training course in England. He also attended the
University of Oxford. He taught school in
London for a time. He also engaged in
newspaper work from 1885-89.
Eben then
emigrated to the
United States of America, where he earned both the
A.B. and the
A.M. degrees from
Morningside College. Syracuse University later awarded him an
honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.
Ordained Ministry
The Rev. Eben Samuel Johnson actually preached on an English circuit at the age of sixteen! In America he entered the Northwest
Iowa Annual Conference in 1889. As a Pastor he served the following appointments: Danbury, Wall Lake, Mapleton, Sac City, Webster City, and Rock Rapids. He then was appointed
Superintendent of the Ida Grove District. In 1909 he was appointed Pastor of the
First Methodist Church,
Sioux City, where his address was 514 7th St., Sioux City.
He served his Annual Conference as the Secretary, then the Chairman of the Examining Board; as the President of the Conference Board...
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