IN Piedmont. Virginia, there is a cheerful veteran of Jesus Christ, broken in his service, but still not cast down. The fragrance of a rich and beautiful piety goes out from his faithful soul. He lives in the affection of his brethren. The church is his debtor for zeal and successful labor in the days of his strength; and in the evening of his life, his prayer for the prosperity of Zion of ascends to God. His attachment to Methodism is deep and abiding. He is saluted at the Conference will tender regard.

He is a son of William and Dorothy Gary; was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia. September 10th, 1811. Reared by pious parents, he was early impressed with the importance of religion but unfortunately like many others he postponed his return to God until nearly grown. During the great revival of religion, which took place in Chesterfield Circuit in the year 1830, under the ministry of Revs. Anthony Dibrell and Jesse K. Powers, in which more than five hundred souls were converted he embraced religion, and immediately connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He soon became exercised upon the subject of preaching the gospel, but for the want of educational qualifications he was kept out of the ministry for several years.

In the year 1834 he went to Randolph Macon College, where he remained four years. In June 1838, at a quarterly meeting, held in the College Chapel by the Rev. Lewis Skidmore, he obtained license to preach, and also a recommendation to the Virginia Conference as a suitable person to be received into the traveling connection. He traveled under the Presiding Elder on Mecklenburg Circuit, the remainder of the year. In February, 1839, at a Conference held in Edenton, N. C. he was received into the traveling connection, and sent to Caroline Circuit. In 1840 he was in charge of New Kent Circuit: 1811 Williamsburg and Hampton; 1842 and 1843 Nelson: 1814 and 1845: Buckingham: 1846 and 1847 Scottsville ; 1848 and 1849 Westmoreland; 1850 and 1851 Eastville. He was returned to Caroline in the following year. and in 1853 and 1854 sent to Powhatan. He was Presiding; Elder on Lynchburg District in 1855, but his health having. failed about the middle of the following year, he was compelled to leave the district. His health still being feeble, he took no regular work until 1858, when he was sent to Fluvanna where he remained only one year. In 1859 he had charge of the agency for the Book and Tract Society of the Virginia Conference. In 1860 he had charge of Nottoway Circuit: in 1861 he was returned to Scottsville, where he remained 
two years. From 1862 until 1868. his health would not justify his taking regular work; but in 1868 his health having improved he was in charge of Batesville Circuit, where he remained four years. In 1872 he returned to Fluvanna, and in the following year he had charge of Scottsville for the third time, where he remained two years. In 1875 and 1876 he returned to Nelson Circuit. While on that circuit his health gave way completely, and from that time to the present writing (1880,) he has sustained to the Conference a superannuated relation.

He is trying to grow old gracefully and to bear his afflictions patiently, in hope of a glorious reward beyond the grave.

 Source:  Sketches of the Virginia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South.  by Rev. John J. Lafferty Richmond, Va., Christian Advocate Office 1880.

Free genealogy resource from genealogy finds . com

Virginia Ministers 

LeRoy Madison Lee

George W. Nolley