According to what appears to be a eulogy he’d written to honor Rev. Elijah Hitch, very early in his days as an itinerant preacher, Rev. Sypherd was Junior Pastor to Rev. Hitch (Nov 15 1807 – Oct 18 1888), “while traveling as colleague with the late Brother James Hargis on what was then known as Quantico circuit."
According to the census info. present on Mike Hitch’s site, Rev. Hitch was settled in Little Creek Hundred, Sussex Co., DE. to at least 1860. In 1870 he’s living in what is simply listed as “Sussex County”. The census of 1880 finds Rev. Hitch living in Broad Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware.”
Source: Descendants of Adam Hitch; Website of Mike Hitch of Salisbury, Md.; Page entitled, “Sixth Generation”.
1863 – 1865
Judging from the number of baptisms he performed 22 may 1863 – 11 jan 1865 at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Harrisburg, Pa., I think we can safely say that he was a minister there for at least that period of time.
1868 – 1871
He served as a pastor to Whatcoat U.M.C. in Camden, DE.
1878
Rev. Sypherd is listed in the 1878 Cecil County Directory as being pastor of Union M.E. Church in the town of Mechanics’ Valley, Md.
Source: New River NotesWebsite; Jeffrey C. Weaver, Arlington, Virginia.
1880
he 1880 Census for Red Lion Hundred,St. George’s Village, New Castle, Delaware, taken 14 Jun 1880, finds Rev. Sypherd listed as Owen J. Sypherd. His occupation is listed as “Clergy”. His stated age is 46, making his approximated year of birth 1834. His wife’s name was Josephine, age 42. They had three sons – Clarence, Herman M. and Wilbur.
1883
In a summary of events from the Wilmington M.E. Conference which was held in Cambridge, Md. on March 7, 1883, the news article in “The Journal” newspaper for Denton, Md., issue for 10 Mar 1883 states: “The Rev. J. Owen Sypherd was appointed to audit the accounts of the Church Relief Fund, with authority to draw $30.” To view this article click HERE. The article had to be pieced together due to the size of the whole newspaper page.
1885 – 1886
In about 1889 the ladies of Sardis Chapel of St. Michaels, Talbot Co., MD, decided to create a large embroidered quilt in order to do some fund raising. Rev. Sypherd’s name appears in block 19 of the quilt with other preachers who were in charge of the Talbot Circuit from 1830-1890 A.D. The year range next to his name is 1885-1886.
Source: Website named Chance & Blades – A Genealogical Archive On Chronography.com; Site by Susan Chance-Rainwater.
This biographical piece is a work in progress. As more information becomes available, it will be included on this page. – B.J. Peters