Bouton, W S

Bouton, W. S.

a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born at Roxbury, N. Y., in 1815. He was converted at the age of thirty-two; and being a good singer, and having a rare gift for exhortation and prayer, he became one of the most popular lay helpers ever known throughout that region. His beaming countenance, fervent prayers, earnest exhortations, soul-stirring songs, and ringing halleluias drove away formalism and doubt, and made everybody free and happy. In 1857 he was appointed by the presiding elder to the Germantown and Myersville Circuit, and in 1858 was received into the New York Conference, and returned to his former charge. His subsequent appointments were: West Gallatin, Richmond, and West Stockbridge, Stockport and Claverack, East Chatham and Red Rock, Hillsdale, Lakeville; City Mission, N. Y., and Grace Church, Newburgh, where he died, Aug. 6, 1879. Mr. Bouton was everywhere acceptable and useful. He had few superiors as a pastor. Every interest in the Church, spiritual and temporal; was ever advanced. See Min. of Ann. Conferences, 1880, p. 45.