An American singer and musical director of evangelism events,on the side of the evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody. He was one of the most famous composers of gospel songs (White Gospels) during the renewal movement.
He was born In Edinburg, Pennsylvania and died in Brooklyn, New York. He was raised in a Methodist home in Pennsylvania. In 1856, at age of 16, he was converted to Jesus Christ and was soon accepted in the communities musical director functions as superintendent of the Sunday school and choir director. Musically, he was self-taught, whereby coming from a very musical family was beneficial.