Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1914 — REMINGTON MINISTER ASKED TO RESIGN [ARTICLE]

REMINGTON MINISTER ASKED TO RESIGN

Rev. R. O. Wickham Married in Hast# to Fair Oaks Girl Four Weeks After Wife’s Death. A sensation that amounted almost to a scandal agitated Remington this past week arid the circumstances surrounding the demand demand for the resignation of Rev. R. <X Wfokham, pastor of the Christian church of that placet are such that every one seems -to talk in whispers, while The Remington Press states that It refrains from printing the things that have been said about .the minister. -3 5..~; Rev. Wickham’s wife died early in December, after a prolonged illness. She was a patient for some time in the Rensselaer hospital and later taken to a sanitarium in Michigan, returning to Remington a short time before dhe died.

On Jan. Ist in Michigan the minister was married to * young lady ■by the name of Miles, Whose home was west of Pair Oaks. It is reported that the girl’s father took an active interest in bringing the marriage about, alleging that the minister had been in company with his daughter in Chicago and suggesting that their relations were improper. This Rev. Wickham denied, but at any rate he got busy and married the girj. Rev, Wickham preached at Pair Oaks on Wednesday, Dec. 31st and went from there north the following morning, Miss Miles going on the same train. —^ The members of Rev. Wickham’s congregation at Remington made a demand for his resignation, holding that even if there was nothing wrong about his relations with Miss Mil®, It was not showing the proper respect for his first wife to ibe married in so short a time. . Rev. Wickham recently created some excitement at Monticelk) by swearing out a warrant for - the searching of a presumed soft drink emporium. Several barrels of iptoxicants were found. 7 Rev. Wickham was regarded In the highest terms in Repaington and his closest friends refuse to believe that he has committed any wrong, but generally agree that it was best for him to resign bis pastorate on account of the unpleasant notoriety his speedy marriage bad brought about.