John McKendree Springer
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John McKendree Springer (1873-1963) was an American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Church, elected in 1936. He was also notable as a pioneering Methodist Missionary who was instrumental in developing Methodism on the continent of Africa.
[edit] Birth and Family
John was born 7 September 1873 in Cataract, Wisconsin. He was the son of the Rev. Henry Martin Springer, and the grandson of the Rev. Elihu Springer, both M.E. Preachers. Elihu was a soldier in the Indian Wars. Henry served four years with the Colorado Cavalry during the American Civil War.
The Springer family is of Swedish origin. John's mother was descended from the Scarritts of Indian Missions fame.
[edit] Education
John graduated from Northwestern University (1895 and 1899). He went on to earn a B.D. degree from the Garrett Biblical Institute (1901).
[edit] Missionary Service
John was appointed a Missionary in 1901. He was assigned as a Pastor and the Superintendent of the Old Umtali Industrial Mission in Rhodesia from 1901 until 1906. During 1907 he and his wife journeyed across the African continent. He took furlough, 1907-09. Upon his return to Africa in 1910, John was stationed in the Lunda country of Angola and Congo. He held various appointments between 1910 and 1915, including Kalalua in North Western Rhodesia (1910-11), Lukoshi in Belgian Congo (1911-13), and Kambove (1913-15). He tood a second furlough, 1915-16.
