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History -- Joseph T. Ladd

George Adam Smith has somewhere said that writing the life of Henry Drummond was like "recording the history of a fragrance." A reference to the career of Dr. Ladd in the presence of those who knew him well is to stir in each mind sweet recollections. He lived a life of beautiful usefulness, and went to his reward suddenly in the midst of his work as he had often expressed that he hoped he might do.

He was born in Worcester, Vermont, October 22, 1854. Northwestern university gave him his A. B. in 1878, his A. M. 1881, and his D. D. in 1900. After his ordination in 1878 he went to Nevada and served Carson City, Eureka, and Austin Charges. In 1882 he married Hannah Rixon of Austin, Nevada. About this time, they returned to the Rock River Conference and were stationed at Richard Street Church, Joliet. He served Galen, Wheaton, Epworth, Lincoln Street, Ottawa, and First Church, Elgin.

After five years' pastorate in Elgin, Dr. Ladd became editor in the David C. Cook Publishing Company and teacher of English bible in the Elgin Academy. He was, therefore, a resident of Elgin during the last twenty-nine years of his life. His life was a benediction not only among Methodist, but the people of all churches and the citizens in general.

For twenty-five years he was the teacher and guiding spirit of the Ladd Bible Class of First Church. All who have served in the pastorate of First Church during these years have born testimony of the fine brotherly spirit and loving fellowship they have had in Dr. Ladd.

Dr. Clendening, Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Stone, and Dr. Martin have joined their testimony with the writer to the effect that in detached service, as in his pastorates, no Methodist preacher ever had a finer brother than Joseph T. Ladd.

He died September 6, 1929 and was buried from the First Methodist Church Sunday afternoon, September 7, 1929. Dr. Charles K. Carpenter, Dr. Fred D. Stone, and Dr. J. B. Martin assisting the pastor, the message being spoken for the great audience by Dr. Stone.

Obituary
The Journal of the Rock River Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1929
p. 108
Transcribed by B. Greene, June 2004

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