Dr. W. W. Satterlee

William Wilson Satterlee, M.D., D.D., was born at La Porte, Ind., April 11, 1837, and died at Minneapolis, Minn., May 27, 1893. He did not enjoy the advantages of an advanced education, but was a life-long student, a profound thinker, and a keen reasoner.  
     After practicing medicine for several years, he entered the ministry, where, as a preacher of great power and as a faithful and loving pastor, he achieved signal success. He was a member of the general conference of the M. E. Church in 1888. During the last six years of his life he was professor of scientific temperance and hygienic philosophy in U.S. Grant University, Athens, Tenn. In this, he was the first chair of its kind in any higher institution of learning in the country. 
     Dr. Satterlee was a born reformer. Of godly parentage, he was trained to a hatred of oppression and wrong. When a boy he was pointed out as "the little black Abolitionist." His earlier ministry was in the 'Wesleyan Methodist Church, but he entered the Methodist Episcopal Church soon after the abolition of slavery. He early espoused the temperance reform. He took part in the red-ribbon movement, was an active Good Templar and Son of 'Temperance, bravely defended the cause of the woman's Christian Temperance Union, and was still more widely known as the champion of the Prohibition Party, which he joined soon after its organization. As chaplain of the Minneapolis Reform Club for several years, he laid the foundations of that party in Minnesota.  
     He thoroughly understood every phase of the liquor problem and possessed great power as an orator. The characteristics of his public address were candor, courage, logical power, and fervor. He edited the State organ of the Prohibition Party for some time, and was the author of the "Political Prohibition Text Book." For several years previous to 1884, and again in the campaign of 1892, he was the efficient secretary or the State central committee.  
     He was an excellent organizer, an untiring worker, and possessed of a hopefulness and enthusiasm which inspired all who came in contact with him.  He was the candidate for governor of Minnesota as well as for several minor offices, and at the national convention of a complimentary vote candidate for Vice-President of the United States.

-- An Album of Representative Prohibitionists (1895)

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