Rev. G.W. Syfert, 1861-1942

 My church has a very well documented history.  We date back to 1865, when the members met in a log cabin.  I have been on the Historical Committee off and on for over a decade now, and am always looking for new things to showcase for our current members to see.

A year or so ago, I started a family tree for each of our early pastors.  I didn't go into many details at the time... just got the basics going.  I try to change the history display case once a month... and for this month, I chose to tell the story of one of our pastors.  I chose our 12th pastor, Rev. G.W. Syfert... here is his story (or at least the parts that I was able to find).

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Rev. George William (G.W.) Syfert

Born: June 6, 1861 in Beecher City, IL

Died: September 11, 1942 in Herrin, IL

Buried: Herrin City Cemetery

12th Pastor of Herrin FBC: 1901-1906

Rev. G.W. Syfert, thought to be around 1903-04

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G.W. Syfert grew up on a farm near Shelbyville, IL. His father owned 40 acres, with 3 horses, 4 milk cows, 10 sheep, and 19 pigs.  They grew wheat, rye, corn, Indian corn, oats, peas, beans, and Irish potatoes.  They also had an orchard. His parents were Nathan and Mary Ann (Dunaway) Syfert, both born in Ohio.

We don’t know when or where he first began his ministry work.  He appears in 4 census records as a Clergyman, Baptist Minister, Preacher and Minister.  His obituary states he was a Baptist minister for 20 years, and that he served part of that time in Herrin, Salem, Vandalia and Villa Grove.  In research, we learned that he also served at the Woodlawn FBC, Watson FBC, and at the Paradise White Church in Perry County, IL.  We do not know how long he spent at most of these churches.

In 1883, at the age of 21, he married Laura Jones, in Fayette County, IL.  They had one child, Walter.  Laura passed away in 1939, and G.W. married Anna Wilson in 1940.

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Sept. 26, 1903
From “The Standard”, a Baptist newspaper

"Herrin is a city of 5,000 people and is but a few years old. It is a great coal mining town.

The Baptists have had a country church there for fifty years and the city has grown entirely around the meeting house lot of six acres. It has sold half the land for a ward school and sold the old meeting house to the Methodists and has built a new church and parsonage.

Rev GW Syfert became pastor of this church about three years ago. Since that time he has added about 400 members to the church. One year he baptized more converts than any other pastor in the state. The church seats about 500 people and is almost always overcrowded. Bro Syfert does his own evangelistic work.

Both this church and Marion have raised more than double their apportionment this year for state missions."

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Church dedication program, 1903

Some important things that happened while Rev. G.W. Syfert was at our church: -- Held one of the greatest revivals in the history of our church in 1901. There were 140 conversions, 108 accepted for baptism, and 13 received by letter.

-- The church outgrew the building. Land was purchased and a new church was built in 1902. The name of the church was changed to First Baptist Church on January 18, 1902.

-- In January of 1903, the Sunday School was reorganized and all of the classes were graded for the first time.

-- In June of 1903, there was a small-pox epidemic. The church was closed for 3 months.

-- In 1905, the first music committee was appointed. A new addition and a baptistry were added to the church. Membership had grown to 675.