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CHIDLAW, BENJAMIN WILLIAM (1811-92); b. at Bala, 14 July 1811; his parents were prominent members of the Independent chapel there. The family followed the father, in 1821, to U.S.A., settling at Delaware. Chidlaw's education was completed by three years of study in Miami university. In April 1835 he was licensed to preach, and was ordained in 1836 as pastor of the Congregational church at Paddy's Run, Ohio. In 1844 he became pastor of the Presbyterian church at Cleves and district, but left in 1846 in order to become the first commissioned missionary of the American Sunday School Union. In 1861 he undertook missionary work in the Southern Ohio military camps of instruction established for Union volunteers, and a little later accepted the chaplaincy of the 39th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but was unable to retain this position for more than a year owing to failing health.
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