Newcomb, George

Newcomb, George a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was born in Quincy, Mass., Nov. 8, 1814. Upon attaining manhood he devoted himself to teaching, which vocation he followed for many years. In 1856 he was licensed as a local preacher by the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1864. impelled by a sense of duty, he went to Beaufort, S. C., to labor among the freedmen as superintendent of schools. In 1867 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, decided to take active work in the ministry, and joined the South Carolina Conference. He was appointed to Beaufort Circuit, where he remained three years. While laboring there he organized several societies on the Combahee River and Ladies' Island. At the Annual Conference of 1870 he was made presiding elder, and assigned to St. John's District, Fla. He knew from experience what privations and hardships mean; but, bold in the strength of God, he braved storms of opposition, surmounted difficulties, and in the pine lands and river bottoms, as well as in the crowded streets of the busy town, his voice was heard heralding forth the words of truth and soberness. The work proved too great for his physical strength, and he was finally obliged to relinquish it. and went North to regain his health. On his way, while at Beaufort, S. C., he fell a victim to yellow fever, and died Oct. 12, 1871. George Newcomb "occupied a large place in the hearts of all who knew him." See Minutes of Annual Conf. of the Meth. Episc. Church, South, 1871, p. 10.