Copied from the Western Predestinarian Baptist, Charleston, Illinois, Elder Richard M. Newport, editor, dated April 1, 1845. "By a letter received from our esteemed brother, Elder Cyrus Wright, we are informed of the death of Elder Robert Bagby, of the Sangamon Association. When we were at Springfield, we unerstood he was dangerously sick, and we now learn that he died shortly after we left. With Brother Bagby we had but a very limited acquaintance. We heard him preach once only, and we felt satisfied that he was a workman approved of God, that need not be ashamed. Among his brethren, and those who were intimately acquainted with him, he sustained the character of a sound and able minister of the gospel, and highly exemplary professor of the Christian religion; and we feel to sympathize deeply with his bereaved wife and children, and also with the churches and brethren generally of the Sangamon Association, who will long mourn the great loss they have sustained. Brother Wright writes to us as follows: "It now becomes my painful duty to announce to you the death of our beloved and highly esteemed brother in the Lord, Elder R. Bagby. He is no more with us here on earth; he has, as we humbly trust, fallen asleep in Christ. He deaprted this life on the 4th of February 1845. His moral and religious character stands high in the bounds of his acquaintance. He has left a most tenderly, affectionate and now greatly afflicted wife and family; as well as churches and friends to lament their great loss." Since the remainder of the obituary contains nothing about his family, I will not copy it here. Likewise, since the account published in 1842 of an article written by Elder Robert Bagby is his religious experience rather than his natural history, I will not post it except to give the date of his birth, which he states is March 20th, 1811. He also mentions hearing Elder William Watkins preach, who was also a member of the New Salem church (Lincoln's New Salem). Hope this will be of interest to someone. Robert Webb ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.