Thousands of our readers will learn with genuine sorrow of the death of the Rev. S. W. McCorkle ("Uncle Sam"), who for many years was a faithful and constant contributor to the Children's Corner of the CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN. He died June 25th, in Colorado, whither he had gone in quest of health. He had been a great sufferer for many years, but such cheeriness and hopefulness ran through all his writings that none would have suspected that he was a hopeless invalid. He has gone, but his spirit will long dwell among us. In the lives of thousands of little ones his own noble and beautiful life will continue to flourish and gather strength for untold generations. He preferred to write over an unknown name. Perhaps thousands will now learn for the first time who "Uncle Sam" was. His good deeds, however, will live without his name.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, July 16, 1885, page 4]

McCorkle.--The following is the action of Rocky Mountain Presbytery relative to the death of the Rev. S. W. McCorkle:

Whereas, since our last meeting death has entered our ranks, and the voice of our much-beloved and honored Brother S. W. McCorkle is not heard at roll-call on earth--he departed this life the 25th of June, 1885, on Currant Creek, Col., and is buried at Canon City, Col.; therefore,

Resolved, 1. That we recognize in the death of Brother McCorkle that mortality awaits us all.

2. That as a Presbytery we recognize the ability of our brother as a preacher, a writer, and as a Presbyter, and will endeavor to profit by his example.

3. That as a Presbytery we sympathize with the family in their loss.

                                                                 W. W. M. Barber, S.C.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, October 15, 1885, page 2]

If the death of the Lord's saints is precious in his sight, it ought to be held so in the memory of the Lord's people, and their faith and works should still speak to the living, though they are dead. There is something exceedingly sad and gloomy in the thought of being forgotten, and yet we should not desire to perpetuate the memory of our mistakes or evil deeds. The living should remember the goodness of the departed, that they "may tell it to the generation following."

Samuel W. McCorkle was born in Cooper County, Missouri, February 6, 1828, being the fourth son and sixth child of the Rev. Archibald and Elizabeth L. McCorkle, who came to Missouri in 1819, and united in the organization of New Lebanon Church in 1820.

Fondness for good books and quiet, good behavior were marked traits of character in little Sam, and these were often exhibited in contrast with the fun-loving habits of other boys around him; for while they were spending their time in amusements he might be seen in a corner to himself, poring over some good book that he had quietly taken from his father's scanty library. He was not regarded in the school or family as specially promising for intellectual development, but was an example in studious application and plodding advancement. he became religious when quite young--I think in his ninth year, if not younger--and was led to take this step of personal consecration to Christ under the ministration of the Rev. Minor Neal. the time of his connection with the Church is not remembered, but he is one of the many sons of New Lebanon Church who served the cause of Christ in a useful life in the ministry. He was received as a candidate for the ministry by the New Lebanon Presbytery in the house of the Rev. P. G. Rea, in Saline County, Missouri, October 4, 1847; was licensed by the same Presbytery in Salt Fork Church, Cooper County, Missouri, April 11, 1849, and dismissed by letter in 1851, and went to Texas. He was ordained soon after his settlement in Texas, and remained in that State until 1868, when he returned to Missouri, and united with New Lebanon Presbytery, October 13, of that year. He held membership in that Presbytery until 1878, when he again took a letter of dismission, and united with the Rocky Mountain Presbytery, with which he held connection until his death.

"Uncle Sam" died in his cottage on Currant Creek, in Colorado, June 25th, 1885. His devoted daughter, who accompanied him to the Rocky Mountains on his last trip in search of health, says: "He never seemed to rally after he came out here as he had done heretofore, though at times I was a little hopeful of his recovery. He suffered a great deal, especially the last three days of his life. At 1 o'clock in the morning before he died he seemed freed from his pain, and fell into a heavy sleep, or stupor, from which he did not arouse. He died at 12:30 o'clock. I was alone with him until about four hours before his death. he spoke often of dying during his sickness, and longed to go and be at rest, free from suffering, yet was always submissive to the Divine will. He is buried in the Canon City cemetery, beside the only one of his children that preceded him. No wonder that he should 'long to be at rest, free from suffering,' for he drank deep in the cup of affliction here, and we trust that he has now realized that 'our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.'"

Brother McCorkle possessed traits of character worthy of imitation. He had fixedness of purpose, or the power of decision, and strength of will to stick to it. His life has given several instances in which this has been developed. Before his return from Texas to Missouri he communicated by letter to the writer his purpose to write for the children of our Church. There were many things calculated to discourage and cause him to give up this purpose. He had no experience, no standing as a writer for our periodicals; he had but few books, and no money to get more, and a large family to be maintained. He was regarded by some of his friends as visionary in his notions generally, and some of them were ready to discourage this as the most visionary scheme of his life. His health soon began to fail, and his afflictions, though severe, and often very painful, were such as not to emaciate the body, and hence many gave him "no credit" for any of his "aches and pains."

The labors of Brother McCorkle in the "Children's Corner," although, like all that is human, not perfect, were so abundant and successful as to make "Uncle Sam" a household word in the families of the Church that read the CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN, and no doubt thousands of his readers will carry his memory, green and fresh, to hoary age; and if they had known all the afflictions and discouragements through which his iron will drove his pen to serve them, his labor would have been more appreciated. Did he not do more than any other writer, outside the editorial chair, to build up this interesting and instructive department of our paper?

His frequent trips to the Rocky Mountains, in spite of the discouraging difficulties attending them, are illustrations of how persistently he stuck to a purpose. What a noble trait this is, and how often does it win, even where talent is wanting!

He possessed the necessary energy, without which the purpose would stand as a steamless engine. This was manifested in every department of his work--on his farm, in his little shop of goods, in improving every spare moment for study or writing, in his ministerial work, and in overcoming difficulties in travel. In fact, this conqueror of "lions in the way" seemed to have inspired the whole family, from "Uncle and Aunt Sam" down to the least little boy. Perhaps not more than a year ago Brother McCorkle arrived at Marshall, Mo., from a trip to the mountains, and walked home through snow nearly a foot deep, a distance of twenty miles. for the want of energy many a man has made a miserable failure under much more favorable circumstances.

He was a good economist; he controlled his wants by his ability to supply them. His ideas of economy and his prudent management of his limited means sometimes subjected him to criticism by those who really did not know him; but he was not only honest, but generous and systematic in his beneficence.

He had constitutional defects and human imperfections, as we all have, but an acquaintance of forty-eight years has not only matured Christian confidence in his goodness of heart, but ripened into ardent brotherly love for the Master's sake, and we feel sure that a good man has fallen asleep in Jesus. We believe that all his family are trying to follow him as he followed Christ. May his mantle fall upon some of his sons.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, January 21, 1986, page 2]

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1886]