He was born to Joseph Larkin and Mary Bea (Sparks) Yandell, one of several siblings who grew to adulthood: John Daniel; Joseph Elsa; Mollie Myrtle; Lloyd; and Iona.
He began preaching at sixteen years, was licensed to preach in AR, and ordained in Scott county,1894, Rev. Robt. Sessions, AR, FWB, was on his ordaining council, when I.W. was 18 yrs of age. He was dedicated from the start and pursued his ministry in the rural churches and school houses located throughout the area, while also attending available schools nearby.
Sometime after 1894, the family moved to LeFlore Co. OK, near Cameron, where his father probably helped organize the church at Lone Star, now called Royal Oak Free Will Baptist Church. He attended the Academy at Kully Chaha, a school supported by the Mason's and Baptists. He took extended courses at various schools, working at any menial task, he said, to support his studies. Kully Chaha debating team would hold debates with the Presbyterian school team at Cameron, where he participated, and acquired a love of polemics.
He studied medicine at the Vance Medical School in NW Arkansas, (Dr. Robt. Vance and two sons who were also physicans,, Bascom, and Andrew J, all grads of Vanderbilt Univ. Tenn) and passed the Federal Medical Examination at McAlester, OK, and began helping the settlers with their medical needs. He also farmed as most old-time preachers did as they received hardly any support from churches.
He married Ida Bridges and they had four children, Leonard Larkin, Arnold (Bill), Ora, and Lacy, while he practiced medicine and did evangelistic work. He was an accomplished speaker, with a retentive memory, and he was in demand by the growing congregations, as people settled the Indian Territory, which became the state of Oklahoma in 1907.
He also entered into the polemic side of preaching which was poplar in the early days, where churches held debates, that were attended by large crowds. He studied law and procedures. His success in that area was noted throughout church ranks, who often referred to him as "the Okla. Free Will Baptist debater." He had a powerful delivery, and oratorical skills, that caused many to come 'just to hear him.'
He helped organize the Oklahoma State Association of FWB in 1908, at Holdenville, and was its first moderator and held about every office in it at one time or another.
He was moderator of a group of churches called the Southwestern Association, and was active in the later Cooperative General Ass'n, which joined the Nat'l Ass'n of FWB org. 1935, Nashville, TN. He remained active in all phases of his church, and gave counsel to many of his brethren.
He married Dovie Lee in 1919, and had a second family: Iona, L.D., Vernon and DeArthur. Austell died in 1938 at age 17, Herchel and Celia as toddlers.
His brother, Joseph Elzie, was ordained in 1904, at Lodi, (Latimer Co) OK, and both brothers went far and near in Oklahoma preaching and evangelizing. Although Elzie's home was eastern Okla, except for a few pastorates, I.W. ventured to the central part of Okla, which became his base. He was an early pastor of four churches in Center Ass'n in the 1913+ yrs. He held a short pastorate in Dennison, TX in 1923, and pastored several other churches in Okla. His work was mainly in teaching, preaching and evangelizing. The family moved to OKC in the early 1940's, and he organized Capitol Hill FWB church there, and fifty plus other churches. He still held public discussions, until his seventies. His eyesight began to fail in his last years,(probably macular degeneration) and he was legally blind, which was a great hindrance in reading his many books; yet, he was never heard to complain. He had committed so much of the sacred Writ to memory, he could cite it verbatim, though unable to read it, and did so many times from the pulpit.
He was the keynote speaker at the Oklahoma State Association on its 50th anniversary in 1958, at Ada, Okla. and preached once or twice more before his death.
He published a church history book in his latter years which sold out immediately.
No matter his troubles, he always maintained a joyful spirit and was his happiest when his children or some old acquaintance came to see him, or, some minister came to visit, counsel and talk to him.
His family knew he had heart problems, but then he was diagnosed with cancer a year or two before he died in a hospital in OKC, with his thoughts clear and heaven on his mind.
He began preaching at sixteen years, was licensed to preach in AR, and ordained in Scott county,1894, Rev. Robt. Sessions, AR, FWB, was on his ordaining council, when I.W. was 18 yrs of age. He was dedicated from the start and pursued his ministry in the rural churches and school houses located throughout the area, while also attending available schools nearby.
Sometime after 1894, the family moved to LeFlore Co. OK, near Cameron, where his father probably helped organize the church at Lone Star, now called Royal Oak Free Will Baptist Church. He attended the Academy at Kully Chaha, a school supported by the Mason's and Baptists. He took extended courses at various schools, working at any menial task, he said, to support his studies. Kully Chaha debating team would hold debates with the Presbyterian school team at Cameron, where he participated, and acquired a love of polemics.
He studied medicine at the Vance Medical School in NW Arkansas, (Dr. Robt. Vance and two sons who were also physicans,, Bascom, and Andrew J, all grads of Vanderbilt Univ. Tenn) and passed the Federal Medical Examination at McAlester, OK, and began helping the settlers with their medical needs. He also farmed as most old-time preachers did as they received hardly any support from churches.
He married Ida Bridges and they had four children, Leonard Larkin, Arnold (Bill), Ora, and Lacy, while he practiced medicine and did evangelistic work. He was an accomplished speaker, with a retentive memory, and he was in demand by the growing congregations, as people settled the Indian Territory, which became the state of Oklahoma in 1907.
He also entered into the polemic side of preaching which was poplar in the early days, where churches held debates, that were attended by large crowds. He studied law and procedures. His success in that area was noted throughout church ranks, who often referred to him as "the Okla. Free Will Baptist debater." He had a powerful delivery, and oratorical skills, that caused many to come 'just to hear him.'
He helped organize the Oklahoma State Association of FWB in 1908, at Holdenville, and was its first moderator and held about every office in it at one time or another.
He was moderator of a group of churches called the Southwestern Association, and was active in the later Cooperative General Ass'n, which joined the Nat'l Ass'n of FWB org. 1935, Nashville, TN. He remained active in all phases of his church, and gave counsel to many of his brethren.
He married Dovie Lee in 1919, and had a second family: Iona, L.D., Vernon and DeArthur. Austell died in 1938 at age 17, Herchel and Celia as toddlers.
His brother, Joseph Elzie, was ordained in 1904, at Lodi, (Latimer Co) OK, and both brothers went far and near in Oklahoma preaching and evangelizing. Although Elzie's home was eastern Okla, except for a few pastorates, I.W. ventured to the central part of Okla, which became his base. He was an early pastor of four churches in Center Ass'n in the 1913+ yrs. He held a short pastorate in Dennison, TX in 1923, and pastored several other churches in Okla. His work was mainly in teaching, preaching and evangelizing. The family moved to OKC in the early 1940's, and he organized Capitol Hill FWB church there, and fifty plus other churches. He still held public discussions, until his seventies. His eyesight began to fail in his last years,(probably macular degeneration) and he was legally blind, which was a great hindrance in reading his many books; yet, he was never heard to complain. He had committed so much of the sacred Writ to memory, he could cite it verbatim, though unable to read it, and did so many times from the pulpit.
He was the keynote speaker at the Oklahoma State Association on its 50th anniversary in 1958, at Ada, Okla. and preached once or twice more before his death.
He published a church history book in his latter years which sold out immediately.
No matter his troubles, he always maintained a joyful spirit and was his happiest when his children or some old acquaintance came to see him, or, some minister came to visit, counsel and talk to him.
His family knew he had heart problems, but then he was diagnosed with cancer a year or two before he died in a hospital in OKC, with his thoughts clear and heaven on his mind.
He was born to Joseph Larkin and Mary Bea (Sparks) Yandell, one of several siblings who grew to adulthood: John Daniel; Joseph Elsa; Mollie Myrtle; Lloyd; and Iona.
He began preaching at sixteen years, was licensed to preach in AR, and ordained in Scott county,1894, Rev. Robt. Sessions, AR, FWB, was on his ordaining council, when I.W. was 18 yrs of age. He was dedicated from the start and pursued his ministry in the rural churches and school houses located throughout the area, while also attending available schools nearby.
Sometime after 1894, the family moved to LeFlore Co. OK, near Cameron, where his father probably helped organize the church at Lone Star, now called Royal Oak Free Will Baptist Church. He attended the Academy at Kully Chaha, a school supported by the Mason's and Baptists. He took extended courses at various schools, working at any menial task, he said, to support his studies. Kully Chaha debating team would hold debates with the Presbyterian school team at Cameron, where he participated, and acquired a love of polemics.
He studied medicine at the Vance Medical School in NW Arkansas, (Dr. Robt. Vance and two sons who were also physicans,, Bascom, and Andrew J, all grads of Vanderbilt Univ. Tenn) and passed the Federal Medical Examination at McAlester, OK, and began helping the settlers with their medical needs. He also farmed as most old-time preachers did as they received hardly any support from churches.
He married Ida Bridges and they had four children, Leonard Larkin, Arnold (Bill), Ora, and Lacy, while he practiced medicine and did evangelistic work. He was an accomplished speaker, with a retentive memory, and he was in demand by the growing congregations, as people settled the Indian Territory, which became the state of Oklahoma in 1907.
He also entered into the polemic side of preaching which was poplar in the early days, where churches held debates, that were attended by large crowds. He studied law and procedures. His success in that area was noted throughout church ranks, who often referred to him as "the Okla. Free Will Baptist debater." He had a powerful delivery, and oratorical skills, that caused many to come 'just to hear him.'
He helped organize the Oklahoma State Association of FWB in 1908, at Holdenville, and was its first moderator and held about every office in it at one time or another.
He was moderator of a group of churches called the Southwestern Association, and was active in the later Cooperative General Ass'n, which joined the Nat'l Ass'n of FWB org. 1935, Nashville, TN. He remained active in all phases of his church, and gave counsel to many of his brethren.
He married Dovie Lee in 1919, and had a second family: Iona, L.D., Vernon and DeArthur. Austell died in 1938 at age 17, Herchel and Celia as toddlers.
His brother, Joseph Elzie, was ordained in 1904, at Lodi, (Latimer Co) OK, and both brothers went far and near in Oklahoma preaching and evangelizing. Although Elzie's home was eastern Okla, except for a few pastorates, I.W. ventured to the central part of Okla, which became his base. He was an early pastor of four churches in Center Ass'n in the 1913+ yrs. He held a short pastorate in Dennison, TX in 1923, and pastored several other churches in Okla. His work was mainly in teaching, preaching and evangelizing. The family moved to OKC in the early 1940's, and he organized Capitol Hill FWB church there, and fifty plus other churches. He still held public discussions, until his seventies. His eyesight began to fail in his last years,(probably macular degeneration) and he was legally blind, which was a great hindrance in reading his many books; yet, he was never heard to complain. He had committed so much of the sacred Writ to memory, he could cite it verbatim, though unable to read it, and did so many times from the pulpit.
He was the keynote speaker at the Oklahoma State Association on its 50th anniversary in 1958, at Ada, Okla. and preached once or twice more before his death.
He published a church history book in his latter years which sold out immediately.
No matter his troubles, he always maintained a joyful spirit and was his happiest when his children or some old acquaintance came to see him, or, some minister came to visit, counsel and talk to him.
His family knew he had heart problems, but then he was diagnosed with cancer a year or two before he died in a hospital in OKC, with his thoughts clear and heaven on his mind.
He began preaching at sixteen years, was licensed to preach in AR, and ordained in Scott county,1894, Rev. Robt. Sessions, AR, FWB, was on his ordaining council, when I.W. was 18 yrs of age. He was dedicated from the start and pursued his ministry in the rural churches and school houses located throughout the area, while also attending available schools nearby.
Sometime after 1894, the family moved to LeFlore Co. OK, near Cameron, where his father probably helped organize the church at Lone Star, now called Royal Oak Free Will Baptist Church. He attended the Academy at Kully Chaha, a school supported by the Mason's and Baptists. He took extended courses at various schools, working at any menial task, he said, to support his studies. Kully Chaha debating team would hold debates with the Presbyterian school team at Cameron, where he participated, and acquired a love of polemics.
He studied medicine at the Vance Medical School in NW Arkansas, (Dr. Robt. Vance and two sons who were also physicans,, Bascom, and Andrew J, all grads of Vanderbilt Univ. Tenn) and passed the Federal Medical Examination at McAlester, OK, and began helping the settlers with their medical needs. He also farmed as most old-time preachers did as they received hardly any support from churches.
He married Ida Bridges and they had four children, Leonard Larkin, Arnold (Bill), Ora, and Lacy, while he practiced medicine and did evangelistic work. He was an accomplished speaker, with a retentive memory, and he was in demand by the growing congregations, as people settled the Indian Territory, which became the state of Oklahoma in 1907.
He also entered into the polemic side of preaching which was poplar in the early days, where churches held debates, that were attended by large crowds. He studied law and procedures. His success in that area was noted throughout church ranks, who often referred to him as "the Okla. Free Will Baptist debater." He had a powerful delivery, and oratorical skills, that caused many to come 'just to hear him.'
He helped organize the Oklahoma State Association of FWB in 1908, at Holdenville, and was its first moderator and held about every office in it at one time or another.
He was moderator of a group of churches called the Southwestern Association, and was active in the later Cooperative General Ass'n, which joined the Nat'l Ass'n of FWB org. 1935, Nashville, TN. He remained active in all phases of his church, and gave counsel to many of his brethren.
He married Dovie Lee in 1919, and had a second family: Iona, L.D., Vernon and DeArthur. Austell died in 1938 at age 17, Herchel and Celia as toddlers.
His brother, Joseph Elzie, was ordained in 1904, at Lodi, (Latimer Co) OK, and both brothers went far and near in Oklahoma preaching and evangelizing. Although Elzie's home was eastern Okla, except for a few pastorates, I.W. ventured to the central part of Okla, which became his base. He was an early pastor of four churches in Center Ass'n in the 1913+ yrs. He held a short pastorate in Dennison, TX in 1923, and pastored several other churches in Okla. His work was mainly in teaching, preaching and evangelizing. The family moved to OKC in the early 1940's, and he organized Capitol Hill FWB church there, and fifty plus other churches. He still held public discussions, until his seventies. His eyesight began to fail in his last years,(probably macular degeneration) and he was legally blind, which was a great hindrance in reading his many books; yet, he was never heard to complain. He had committed so much of the sacred Writ to memory, he could cite it verbatim, though unable to read it, and did so many times from the pulpit.
He was the keynote speaker at the Oklahoma State Association on its 50th anniversary in 1958, at Ada, Okla. and preached once or twice more before his death.
He published a church history book in his latter years which sold out immediately.
No matter his troubles, he always maintained a joyful spirit and was his happiest when his children or some old acquaintance came to see him, or, some minister came to visit, counsel and talk to him.
His family knew he had heart problems, but then he was diagnosed with cancer a year or two before he died in a hospital in OKC, with his thoughts clear and heaven on his mind.
Bio by: wvy
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
