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Brunson, Alfred, D.D.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born at Danbury, Connecticut, February 9, 1793. He was educated in the common-schools and trained as a shoemaker; converted July 3, 1809, while living with an uncle at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and licensed to exhort. Returning to Connecticut the same year, he settled at Bridgeport and began to hold religious services. In 1812 he removed to Ohio, and entered the army under general Harrison. He was licensed to preach in 1815, and in 1818 formed a large circuit in Huron County, Ohio. In 1820 he became connected with the Pittsburgh Conference, formed that year. Here he labored and studied law until 1836. In July 1836, he removed to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, to labor in behalf of the Indians. In 1839 he relinquished his ministerial labors on account of ill-health, was admitted to the bar, and practiced for ten years, during which period he filled several secular offices. He resumed pastoral work in 1850, and served several important charges, including Prairie du Chien district. In 1862 he was commissioned chaplain of the Thirty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, but resigned on account of failing health one year later. He remained on the superannuated list until 1869, when he again became effective. He travelled until the fall of 1872, when he was superannuated for the last time. He was four times elected a member of the General Conference, and closed his remarkable career at Prairie du Chien, August 3, 1882. He was a frequent contributor to the secular and religious journals, and especially to the Methodist Quarterly Review. He published his autobiography, in two volumes, entitled The Western Pioneer, and also a Key to the Apocalypse. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1882, page 308.