Rev. John G. Chafee was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 12, 1828. His parents moved to Brookville, IN when he was a small boy.

Chafee joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in Brookville in 1847, and was converted in 1849. He was licensed to preach in 1851, and was admitted to the Indiana Conference that same year. In 1852, when the Southeast Indiana Conference was organized, he became a member of that body.

On September 28, 1855, he married Clara Sparks. He was deeply affectionate and tenderly loved his family, looking forward with anticipation to the 50^th anniversary of his marriage, so his family would be around him in a happy reunion, but it was not to be. He died on June 2, 1903.

Collection Statement

The collection includes several sermons by Rev. Chafee, as well as poems. Also included are clippings and a letter of accommodation from the Madison and Jeffersonville District of the Southeastern Indiana Conference pastor.

Folder  1 Sermon: "The Relation of the Emotional to Piety", 1869

            2 Sermon: "The Work of the Church of Christ", Sept. 19, 1880

            3 Sermon: "Romans 5:2-5

            4 Sermon: Matthew 6:19-34

            5 Sermon: Ephesians 2

            6 Sermon: James 5:16-

            7 Sermon: Psalm 46

            8 Sermon: "There Remaineth Therefore a Rest to the People of God"

            9 Sermon: Ephesians 2:18-22

          10 Sermon: Matthew 13-44

          11 Sermon: "The Measure of Responsibility"

          12 Sermon: "Excuses for Irreligion"

          13 Sermon: "The Importance of Stability to Success in Life"

          14 Sermon: "Brief Synopsis of Sermon"

          15 Sermon: Amos 6:1-

          16 Sermon: Romans 5

          17 Sermon: "For the Love of Christ Constraineth Us"

          18 Sermon: Isaiah 55, latter part of Matthew

          19 Sermon: Job 28

          20 Sermon: Psalm 84 and John 14

          21 Sermon: Psalm 104

          22 Sermon: "Light Weights"

          23 Sermon: Psalm 1-2, Ephesians 6:10-19

          24 Letter of Accommodation from the Madison and Jeffersonville District of the Southeastern Indiana Conference pastors (no date)     

          25 Library of Congress copyright, 1882

          26 Clippings

          27 Poem: Poetry of the Gospel III-"Pauline"

          28 Poem: "God in Us"

          29 Poem: "The Bible"

          30 Poem: "Mary Reed"

          31 Poem: "A Storm in the Woods"

          32 Poem: "Winterglow and Idyll of the Hearthstone", Dec. 14, 1902

[umc.inv\Chafee, John Gilmore]