From: "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and
Brown Counties, Illinois 1892", by Biographical Review Publishing
Company, Chicago, Illinois; pages 474-475, a reprinted by Stevens
Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is sold by the Schuyler County
Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
Rev. Daniel A. Blose, pastor of the First Congregational Church
of Beardstown, was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1854.
He was reared on his father's farm, and there remained until seventeen
years of age, when he entered Covode academy in the same county, and a
year later attended an academy in Armstrong county, and graduated in
the class of 1875, and then entered the University of Lewisburg, now
known as Bucksnell University, and graduated there with the class of
1878, receiving 100 per cent in all class examinations, also the first
honors with the oration in the scientific course. He entered in the
fall of 1878, the Auburn Theological Seminary of Auburn, New York, and
graduated with the class of 1881. He was then licensed by the
Kittanning Presbytery of the synod of Pennsylvania, that being their
custom. He was ordained by the Geneva Presbytery of the synod of New
York, January 12, 1882, and soon after became pastor of the
Presbyterian Church of Dresden, New York. In 1886 he became connected
with the Congregational Church, and has since been an earnest worker.
It was in De Kalb, Illinois, that he did his first work as a
Congregational minister, and the beautiful stone church edifice of that
place stands as a silent monument to his labors. Being overworked he
was obliged to resign his position against the unanimous protest of the
people. He was immediately called to the church at Tonica, Illinois,
which he accepted under the promise of being able to rest. During his
one year there the membership was doubled. At the close of the year an
anti-Masonic faction caused a lack of harmony in the church, and the
Rev. Blose resigned against the united request of the congregation. He
immediately received a call from four churches, and decided to accept
the one from La Harpe, Illinois, where he remained fifteen months, and
increased the membership by fifty members. He was then unanimously
called to the church at Beardstown, which he accepted much against the
wishes of his congregation at La Harpe.
He was married May 1, 1881, at Burns, Allegany county, New York,
to Mamie E. Coray, born December 15, 1857, educated in the Union High
School of Canaseraga, New York, graduating in 1879. She is an
accomplished lady, an enthusiastic worker in the church and in all the
avenues where good may be promoted, and is the devoted mother of two
very bright children: Minnie Coray and Charles A.
Mr. Blose is a sound Republican, his faith being born of
intelligence vitalized by righteousness and patriotism. He feels that
he has a right to spread his principles and advocate his political
faith from the rostrum as he preaches his religion from the pulpit.
