Byer, William C

Byer, William C.

a Free-will Baptist minister, was born in Eaton, N. Y., in April, 1814. His father was a blacksmith, and his son, spending most of his time at the anvil in the early period of his life, had but limited advantages for acquiring an education. His conversion took place under the labors of the Methodists, and he was licensed as a preacher in that denomination in 1839. He united with the Free-will Baptists, and was ordained as a minister in 1842. He was very successful as a laborer in revivals, and during his ministry baptized not far from five hundred converts. In the spring of 1866 he had a stroke of paralysis, and afterwards another, of which he died, at Fabius, N. Y., Oct. 30, 1869. Although compelled to spend much of his time in manual labor for the support of his family, Mr. Byer was an earnest and successful preacher. -See Free-will Baptist Register, 1870, p. 75. (J. C. S.)