Pearne, William N

Pearne, William N.

a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Rochester, England, and came to this country in 1822. He resided at New York Mills some years as the principal business agent and accountant of a large manufacturing establishment. We are not able to state at what time he became a member of the Methodist Church. Most likely it was before his immigration to this country. His social relations in England were of a high order. Dr. Paddock, when stationied in Utica, formed a class in Pearne's house and made him leader. He sustained an unblemished character, and his powers rapidly developing, he soon became an able minister. He was calm and dispassionate, but there was enough of emotion and of thought to command a deep and profound attention. In 1833 he joined the late Oneida Conference, and filled acceptably some of the most important appointments, among which were Binghamton, Cortlandville, and Utica. He was possessed of an amiable disposition, was a faithful friend and a Christian gentleman. As a minister he was clear. chaste, practical, and fearless, and a passionate admirer of the beautiful. His poetical productions found admirers, and as an amateur painter in his later years he manifested a measure of genius. When inquired of concerning the state of his mind in his last hours he exclaimed, "Happy! Happy!" while his beaming countenance and uplifted eye told better than words could do the rapture of his closing hour. He died in Kingiton, N.Y., April 30, 1868. He had the happiness and honor of giving to the ministry of the Church two sons well and extensively known, Rev. William Hall Pearne, of Memphis, and Rev. Thomas Hall Pearne, D.D., of Knoxville, Tenn. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1868.