In the July 8, 1895, issue of The Free Methodist, Eliza Witherspoon submitted a ministry report from Virginia, Missouri, noting that she, her mother, and sister had been “advocating the principles of Free Methodism” in the region for the past seventeen years. Eliza shared that her family was the only Free Methodist family in the area and that they had spent the previous three weeks holding meetings where “God sent us help and souls were converted to God—more than twenty souls.”

A Legacy of Ministry Reports

Eliza Witherspoon’s contributions extend beyond this initial report, as she continued to appear regularly in The Free Methodist over the following decades, documenting her work as a Free Methodist evangelist in Arkansas, Southern Missouri, and eventually Kansas. Her story is emblematic of the many female evangelists deserving of recognition.

Early Life and Background

According to the 1880 and 1900 U.S. Census reports, Eliza was born around 1855 to Caroline and W.A. Witherspoon. The 1880 Census indicates that her sister Martha, six years her junior, is likely the sibling mentioned in the 1895 report. By 1880, Eliza, her mother, and Martha were living independently in Bates, Missouri, where her mother worked as a school teacher.

Conference Involvement and Evangelism

Eliza first appears in conference minutes in 1895, not as an evangelist but as a delegate to the Arkansas and Southern Missouri Annual Conference. She participated in conference committees focused on education and fundraising for publishing minutes. After a five-year hiatus, she reappears in 1900, still single and living with her mother in Bates, Missouri, but now recognized as an evangelist.

In the 1901 Arkansas and Southern Missouri minutes, she is listed as a “conference evangelist,” which meant she traveled and preached without being assigned to a specific church. By 1904, she was appointed to the Phelps County Missouri Circuit and, in 1905, to the Neosho Circuit.

Passionate Reports and Community Impact

Eliza’s ministry reports are passionate and fiery, showcasing her dedication. In an August 15, 1905, report, she summarizes her work in Phelps:

“I desire to state a few facts about the Lord’s work at this place. I have been doing all I can for the salvation of precious souls nearly three years. The Lord has been with us. Some have been led out into the experience of entire sanctification and a few converted.”

She recounts a quarterly meeting where Free Methodist District Elder J.M. Roberson preached, detailing the local community where “sin abounds everywhere.”

“I am pressing on my upward way. The Lord enables me to grow stronger every day. I am so glad I belong to the blood-washed company. I love the Lord. I love His people. I am devoting all I have to His cause—talent, time, voice, silver and gold; not a mite do I withhold.”

Eliza’s colorful language and vivid descriptions characterize all her reports. She never married, choosing to dedicate her life to ministry. Most of her career unfolded within the Arkansas and Southern Missouri Conference.

Mentorship and Collaborative Ministry

The 1910 Census lists Eliza as living with Ollie and Bessie Dryer. Although the census describes Ollie as her “son-in-law,” he was actually another Free Methodist evangelist. In the 1908-1909 annual conference minutes, Ollie was appointed to the Harrison County Circuit alongside Eliza. This collaborative appointment occurred multiple times in her career; in 1910, she was co-appointed to Harrison with Grace Huntsinger. Eliza likely mentored Ollie and Grace as new evangelists, indicating her respected status within the conference.

Significant Contributions and Recognition

Eliza spent most of her career in regions with few Free Methodists or Christians. In a testimony submitted to The Free Methodist on October 17, 1911, she discussed attending the 1911 General Conference, expressing surprise at her ability to attend and the number of “saved people” she encountered. Notably, the 1911 General Conference Dailies highlight that she delivered the opening prayer for the nineteenth session, a significant moment, especially as Bishop Walter Sellew proposed a motion to allow women to be ordained as deacons like men.

Rhetorically, Eliza identified as a minister, with both the 1910 and 1920 U.S. Census listing her occupation as “minister” or “pastor”—a rarity among women evangelists of her time.

Continued Service and Legacy

Eliza continued her work with the Free Methodist Church in various appointments across Arkansas and Southern Missouri until around 1913, when she relocated to Kansas, where she remained active until her death in 1932. Her Free Methodist obituary is surprisingly brief for a woman who devoted her life to the denomination:

“Witherspoon—Elizabeth was called from early toil to heavenly reward on April 10, 1932, in Arkansas City, Kansas. In her youth, she was wonderfully saved, consecrated herself to a life of service, and has very commendably adorned her Christian profession. She was a member of The Free Methodist Church and held an evangelistic relationship with the Kansas Conference. She leaves relatives and a host of friends who mourn her loss.”

Eliza’s story raises questions about how many other women have had their entire ministries summarized in just a single paragraph or less. I’ll be sharing more stories of remarkable female evangelists in the coming weeks.