William Henry Withrow

William Henry Withrow, born on August sixth, eighteen thirty-nine, in Toronto, Upper Canada, was a distinguished Canadian Methodist minister, journalist, and author. He pursued his education at notable institutions including Toronto Academy, Victoria College in Cobourg, and the University of Toronto, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in eighteen sixty-three. Before embarking on his academic journey, Withrow spent three years working in the office of architect William Hay in Toronto.

Ordained in Hamilton in eighteen sixty-four, Withrow dedicated his life to serving the church in various locations, including Waterford, Montreal, Hamilton, Toronto, and Niagara, returning to Hamilton for a second term. Initially affiliated with the New Connexion Methodist body, he joined the Wesleyan Conference in eighteen sixty-seven and became a passionate advocate for church union.

In eighteen seventy-four, Withrow took on the role of editor for the Canadian Methodist Magazine and Sunday School periodicals, a position he held until nineteen oh six. His literary contributions include significant works such as 'The Catacombs of Rome and Their Testimony Relative to Primitive Christianity' and 'History of the Dominion of Canada and Our Own Country: Picturesque and Descriptive.' He also authored several smaller volumes, including 'Valeria, the Martyr of the Catacombs,' 'Neville Trueman, the Pioneer Preacher,' 'The King's Messenger,' and 'The Romance of Missions.'

In recognition of his contributions, Withrow was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in eighteen eighty-three. He was actively involved in various academic and historical societies, including the Historical Society in Montreal, the Senate and Board of Regents of Victoria University, and the Senate of Wesleyan Theological College in Montreal, as well as the Senate of the University of Toronto. In eighteen sixty-four, he married Sarah Anne Smith from Simcoe, Ontario, and together they had two sons.