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John Byington
John Byington was a Seventh-day Adventist minister and the first president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. His father was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, and was a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. John was also a active in the anti-slavery movement. In 1852, he read a copy of the Review and Herald (now the Adventist Review) and began to keep the seventh-day Sabbath. -
James Springer White
James Springer White was born on August 4, 1821 in Palmyra, Maine. He was also known as Elder White and was a one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and husband to Ellen G. White. In 1849 he started the first Seventh-day Adventist newspaper entitled "The Present Truth" which is now called the Adventist Review. -
John Nevins Andrews
John Nevins Andrews was born on July 22, 1829 in Poland, Maine. He was a Seventh-day Adventist minister, the first official Seventh-day Adventist missionary, and a writer, editor, and scholar. Andrews University in Michigan is named in honor of him. He became a Millerite meaning he was one of many who thought the Second Advent of Christ was on the day we now call The Great Dissappointment, October 22, 1844. In 1845, he began to observe the Sabbath. -
James Springer White
James had was sickly and had poor health, suffering from fits and seisures. His eyesight was not reliable so he was forced to work on the farm instead of getting educated. At age 19 his eyesight improved and he enrolled at a local academy. He was babtized into the Christian connexion at age 16. He was raised to believe in the Millerite message and later met E. G. Harmon and married her. -
George Ide Butler
George Ide Butler born on 1835 was a Seventh-day Adventist minister, administrator, and author. His family originally from Vermont, were closely involved with the start of the Adventist religion. However, he never believed in Adventism until 1853 when his family moved to Iowa where he was converted at age 22 and baptized by J. N. Andrews. When James White's health began to decline, he took over as the adventist general conference president. -
James Springer White
When James White's health had recovered, George Ide Butler resigned and James went back into office. He later played a major role in the development of the Adventist educational structure beginning in 1874 with the formation of Battle Creek College, which is now known as Andrews University. In 1865, he had a stroke and G. I. Butler replaced him in 1880. He died shortly after on August 6, 1881. -
George Ide Butler
By October 1880 he had returned as General Conference president frequently consulting with Ellen White. In 1882 he also became president of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. In 1901 Lentha died and George was elected the first president of the Florida Conference. The next year Butler became the first president of the South Union Conference and the Southern Publishing Association. In 1907 Butler married Elizabeth Work Grainger, and they retired for a second time.
