Volume III - ElectricCanadian.com

186 MEN OR,EV. JOHN SEMMENS, MethodistClergyman, Winnipeg,Manitoba, was born JanuaryQth, 1850, in Penzance, Cornwall,England. His parents were John andSarah Semmens. His father was aminer who, through accident, was laidaside in mid-life, makingitnecessaryfor the eldest son to go into the minesat the early age of eight, in order tohelp in the support of the family.Kept from the common school by hisdaily duties, he nevertheless so improvedhis spare time, that when eighteen,he was able to pass the preliminaryexamination at Victoria College,Cobourg. He remained atfounded Fisher River Mission, in 1876,and in 1886-89 na^ charge of a800 field,by 350 miles. His self-sacrifice anduntiring energy, cannot fail to leave amarked impress for good. He isverypopular with his congregation, andwith the clergy. He was secretary ofConference in 1883 a d in 1891, waselected to the presidency in 1892, was amember of the General Conference in1890, and of the General Board ofMissions in 1891. He was chairmanof the Winnipeg District in 1890-93.He was married in 1878, to Helen KalistaBehimer of Dundas. His familyconsists of five sons and two daughters.college nearly three ,years,working his own way bythe sale of books, and byprivate tuition, until hiscall to the ministry in 1870.He was ordained in 1872, inHamilton, Ont., by theRev. William Morley Punshon,L.L.D., Rev. EnochWood, D.D., and Rev. S.D. Rice, D.D. His earlycharges were Walkerville,:Chatham, Dundas, Davenportand Bruce Mines. Hewas sent to the Red Rivercountry, in 1872, where hebecame the assistant of theRev.George Young, D.D.Subsequently he was incharge of Zion Church,Winnipeg ; Emerson, Manitoba; Norway House, NelsonHouse, and BerensRiver, Keewatin, servingas missionary to the Indians,and after his returnto civilization, at Carberry,Wesley Church, and MeDougall Church,Winnipeg.He was the first regular missionaryat Nelson House,