Unexpected Legacies: Joseph M. Scriven

By Matthew J. Elliott

Joseph M Scriven - keithbeattyonline

In my last article, I spent a great deal of time writing to you about unexpected legacies in unexpected ways. I talked about how sometimes even the smallest act can have the biggest impact on the world around you. 

Continuing our conversation, I imagined how E.M. Reynolds found the inspiration for her song. “Jesus Paid it All.” My primary focus was to bring new life to a story that has been told many times over. In the end. We put some energy into celebrating the not-so-well-known historical figures who left their own unexpected legacy.  

As I searched for a historical figure for this month’s article, I came upon the story of a young man who went through a great deal of hardship throughout his life. This story tells of friendship and pain, hope and loss. I will not pretend to understand how much pain Joseph M. Scriven endured, but I can speak to the impact the pains he faced in life had on his legacy in the end. 

Unfortunately, there is not much of a happy ending to the story behind the song this man wrote. Everyone knows how popular the song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is, don’t they? Well, the tragic story behind how this song started with the death of someone he held quite dear to his heart. However, let’s start at the beginning rather than the ending of this sad story. To do that, though, let us go back to the beginning of his story.

Joseph M. Scriven had lifelong hopes and dreams as a child growing up. In particular, one of his biggest streams was to find happiness through marriage. His parents had enough money to send him to the college of his choice. He dreamed of a life and service in the military, but, like many young men, companionship was a deep longing of his. 

When his military career practically failed because of health issues, he had to let go of that dream for a more realistic one. He still longed to find that place where he could find love. The end of his military career was just the beginning of all the things he would have to endure throughout his life.  

After his career in the military failed, Joseph returned home and fell in love with his childhood sweetheart. Despite wanting to stay behind, he pursued graduating from a non-military college. Once he was able to complete this academic adventure, he returned home intending to marry the childhood sweetheart he fell in love with. At some point, Joseph and his fiance planned a wedding. However, on the day before the wedding was to take place, Joseph and his sweetheart traveled to meet for unknown reasons. 

As they traveled along opposite sides of the riverbed close to where they lived, the two found themselves in an uneasy predicament. The ice from the riverbed had melted enough that when his fiance tried to cross it, she fell off her horse and drowned. All Joseph could do was stand there helplessly watching as his fiance died.

Honestly, there was nothing the man could have done to save his fiance. We do not know what else may have happened at this time in Joseph’s life, but something caused him to move to Canada two years later and take up the role of a teacher, and tutor, for our family in need.  

Catherine Roche - Porthopehistory

Unexpectedly, during his time in Port Hope Canada, Joseph fell in love with a young lady named Catherine Roche, who was related to the family of the child he was tutoring. This young lady and Joseph became quite close and while, at the time, she was still underage, they eventually reunited and became engaged as well. 

The two of them were engaged for almost a year before they planned their wedding. At the time, the young lady Joseph was to marry committed to converting to the faith that he lived by. For the wedding to even take place this time, the young lady would have to be baptized. 

However, she was already dealing with a sickness of her own. Upon getting baptized in the lake close to where her family lived, she became consumed with a better cold. It was winter when this baptism took place. Before Joseph knew it, his fiance had died because of the sickness she contracted after her baptism had taken place. 

Maybe winter just wasn’t his season, I don’t know, but based on my research, Joseph published a poem called “Pray Without Ceasing” at this juncture. This is the poem that would eventually become the words to the Hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus.”

Scriven Residence - Porthopehistory

Ultimately, Joseph remained unmarried. Despite this, he managed to find a sense of purpose in the pain he experienced. For the rest of his life, the man focused on mentoring and tutoring young men, while also selflessly devoting his free time to helping his community with various tasks, aiming to make their lives a little easier. His life’s purpose was to remind anyone who experienced pain that Jesus was there as a friend to support and protect them. 

However, to this day, there is still a great mystery surrounding his own death. In truth, people have not been able to find much evidence of what took place. It is rumored that he drowned as well. That, however, is not the purpose of his legacy. The purpose of his legacy is one of overcoming a great deal of pain multiple times in life, and turning that pain into something useful and encouraging for those around them. This is where we find the unexpected legacy of Joseph M. Scriven.

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He has served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which has given him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew is happily married to Traci, and they have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, Matthew's goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

The Cyprus Journal is Out! Have you grabbed Your copy?

One Young Man. His Significant Story. A Witness of the Early Church.

Many knew him as the young cousin to Barnabas the Encourager, the son of Mary who offered her home to honor the Savior and those who followed Him, or even the man who abandoned Paul on his First Missionary Journey, but there is more to his story. His story is one of new beginnings, a promise fulfilled, and a man who overcame fear of the unknown.

----