- REV. JOHN FAVILLE, who, as pastor of the Congregational Church at Appleton, Wisconsin, became widely known through this city both for his spiritual helpfulness as well as for the executive ability that brought about, within two years, the replacing of the small structure of the congregation by an edifice that ranks with the leading ones of the place. In a wider field Mr. Faville is equally well known. He was the originator, with his brother, Rev. Henry Faville of the Young Men's Sunday Evening Club, an organization which claims membership in every State in the Union. So important and far reaching had become the work of this organization as far back as the World's Fair Congress, that Mr. Faville was requested to address this great body on this subject.
John Faville was born in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, July 7, 1847, a son of Elijah and Eliza (Ostrom) Faville, the former of whom was a native of Herkimer county, New York, and the latter of Wayne county. They were parents of three sons: John and Henry, twins, and Rush E. The older sons both entered the ministry but the youngest adopted agriculture as his business. John Faville attended school at Milford, Jefferson county, later was a student at Lake Mills and subsequently at Lawrence University, where he was graduated in 1871. On leaving his alma mater he became principal of the Milford schools, and one year later accepted the same position at Two Rivers. In 1873 he entered the Theological department of the Boston University, where he was graduated in 1876, and his first charge was the Cotton Street M. E. Church at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. In the following year he was assigned to the M. E. Church at Fox Lake, where he officiated also as supply pastor for the Congregational body. Later he was transferred to Waupun and from there returned to Fond du Lac, Division Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and three years later accepted the urgent invitation of the Congregational Church at Appleton, with the result above noted. After a pastorate of thirteen years at Appleton, he accepted a call to the First Congregational Church of Peoria, Illinois. After a pastorate of nine years at Peoria he was recalled by the church at Appleton, Wisconsin, where he is now in his fourth year of service. Some of Mr. Faville's public service aside from the ministry has been as a trustee of Lawrence University, of Milwaukee Downer and Northland Colleges, as president of the Anti-Saloon League of Wisconsin and director in the League in Illinois; as contributing editor of "Unity" and director in the Congress of Religions; and as moderator of both the Wisconsin and Illinois Congregational Associations. He has been also a temperance and general lecturer and so great a factor has he been in the ranks of the Prohibition party that in the fall of 1894 he was chosen as that party's candidate for Congress. For years he has written for the press and in every direction his influence has been beneficial and uplifting.
Rev. John Faville was married October 26, 1876, to Miss Louise G. Thayer, a daughter of Henry and Mary A. (Kelly) Thayer, of Massachusetts ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Faville have two sons and one daughter: Henry T. (deceased); Mildred and John, Jr.
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1847 - Abt 1927 (79 years)
Biography
