Obituary for Andrew Derrick

February 8, 1868

Died - January 10,1868, Andrew Derrick, age 69 years and 13 days.

Father Derrick was born in Hawkins County East Tennessee December 28,1798. On the 11th of February 1819 he was married to Miss Julia Brown and in the same year embraced religion and connected himself with the M. E. Church. His wife had embraced religion before him and was the cause of his conversion. The happy pair immediately erected a family alter which they kept until his death.

During much of his life he held the position of class leader, and in that capacity he was always punctual and ardent. Being of a very even disposition he made friends of even his enemies. He was a great favorite of the children who always rejoiced to see him in the sabath school of which he was often the superintendent. It was__________ to see the little fellows coming from far and near to see him on his death bed. They crowded around him and sadly wept as if he were their own father.

In 1860 he moved to California where he lived until 1864, when he removed to the Willamette Valley and thence to the Walla Walla area. Three of his sons were preachers, the rest of his children (of whom there were sixteen ) eleven boys and five girls, were all professors of religion except two and it was his greatest desire that they should be converted before his death. After he settled in Walla Walla he joined the M.E. Church in which he was a class leader when he died. His house was the home of the itinerent preacher, as the writer of this can testify. For nearly half of a century he fought the fight of faith and at last gained the victory. I was permitted to visit him before he died. I found him suffering much in the body but happy in the spirit. We collected around his bed and sung and his soul seemed in a state of soulacy. Although he could say little that could be understood, yet he would often look up and smile and say, 'Bless the Lord'. A short time before he died he desired we should sing and pray with him, which we did. When we closed he said, 'Prayen' and in a few moments he his life sweetly away, as one going to sleep.

It is worth a half a century's faithful fighting to win such a death. He lived a live of devoted piety, and is now gone to his reward. He leaves a wife and many friends to mourn; the community miss and but our loss is his infinite gain.

We may all profit by his example and as he followed Christ, let us follow him.
James J. Gallager
Umatilla County Oregon (California and Tennessee papers are requested to copy)