Obituary for Rev. John Golden (1891-?)
Uncited clipping.
From the Collection of June Groshong

REV. JOHN GOLDEN

Rev. John W. GOLDEN, of Hannibal, a former pastor of the Troy Christian Church and several other Lincoln County churches, died at 7:15 o'clock Sunday morning, August 16, at Levering hospital, where he had been admitted 15 minutes earlier after suffering a heart attack at his home, 1713 Grace Street.

He had been ill for about three months, according to the Hannibal Courier-Post, but had recently made apparent recovery and returned to his ministerial duties and had conducted five funerals last week.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon from the Clark Funeral Home to the First Presbyterian Church, conducted by Rev. William Bailey, of Fowler, ILL. Interment was made in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, with graveside rites by St. John's Lodge No. 28, A.F. & A.M.

Rev. GOLDEN was born August 2, 1891, in Kansas City, a son of the late John Paul and Caroline RANNENBERG GOLDEN. He had lived in Hannibal for 64 years. He was married to Fay SULLIVAN November 7,1912, at New London.

Surviving are: Mrs. GOLDEN; a daughter, Virginia Faye, of Hannibal; a son, Rev. Richard GOLDEN, of Kahoka; two grandchildren, John WISNER and Faye Frances GOLDEN, and other relatives.

As a young man Rev. GOLDEN worked for the Miller and Worley Dry goods Store in Hannibal, then for the International Shoe Company. He left the shoe factory in 1909 and was employed until 1922 with the C.B. and Q. railroad. At that time he began working with Standard Oil Co., traveling for them during the week and serving as minister on Sunday. In 1925 Rev. GOLDEN left the oil company for full time ministry which he continued until 1959.

During this time he has served 43 churches, 22 of them at one time. He had conducted a total of 4,569 radio broadcasts during his three radio programs, "Through the Golden Gate," "Window of Life," and "Through Gates of Gold."

The minister's records show that he had conducted 5,042 funerals, during his ministry, performing 3,341 weddings and baptized 1,359 persons.

Rev. GOLDEN had many friends in this area who are sorry to learn of his death.

[Transcriber's Notes: I can remember Bro. Golden preaching at Briscoe Union Church Briscoe, Mo. in Lincoln Co., when I was very young 1949 and early 1950s. My grandparents Mr. & Mrs Wm. Massie Hutt, my mother, my three sisters and myself walking down to the church on Saturday evenings to hear his preaching. I don't think he preached every Saturday night as he also preached at Davis Christian Church Davis, Mo., a small town near by. My grandparents had heard him preach there as well. The youth from Briscoe Union Church went to sing for the Davis Church one evening as I remember being small but singing there as a group. Bro. Golden also preached at Corinth Christian Church in Foley as well as many other Churches in Lincoln Co.. I've heard about his preaching at Foley often.

At the turn of the 19th Century the Christian Church was the fastest growing church in the nation. Lincoln County has lost its share of congregations. The Davis, Briscoe Union, New Hope and Old Alexandria Christian Churches that I knew of, are no longer in existence. Jan. 7, 2007... ]

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by June Groshong, 7 January, 2007.

NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or their legal representative, and contact the listed county coordinator with proof of this consent.

Return to Lincoln County, Missouri
Obituary Index  |  Heritage Page  |  Home Page