James H. Symington (1913–1987)

Mr James Harvey Symington (J.H.S.) grew up on his family’s farm six miles south and west of the town of Neche, North Dakota.

He was the second son of Lyle and Ida Symington (née Hughes) in their family of eleven children: five boys and six girls. From his early youth, J.H.S. was engaged in physical labour, working with his hands and building up a strong constitution physically. He also committed himself from a young age to set aside time to read the scriptures and ministry methodically.

J.H.S. was born at home in rural Pembina County, North Dakota, on 28 August 1913. His primary education was at the ‘Duprey School’, a one-room country school near his parents’ farm. Most boys left school at 8th grade but J.H.S. continued his education at Neche Public School, riding his horse the six miles to and from his home and the school. Although he received a scholarship to go to College after four years of High School, he turned it down and worked with his father and brothers on the farm.

In the late 1930s J.H.S. bought a sawmill and used the lumber for floor joists and rafters in building sheds and his own house on the farm.

In 1940 he married Beatrice Main from Regina, Canada. She had also grown up on a farm and was used to a simple way of life.

While bringing up a family of five boys in the 1950s and 1960s, J.H.S. travelled long distances by car to serve the brethren in the mid-west of the U.S.A. and Canada. Two of Mr and Mrs Symington’s sons served in the U.S. military at time of the Vietnam war. In the 1960s through to the mid-1980s, they made many flights around the world, visiting gatherings of brethren, both large and small, in many countries. His spiritual ‘family’ finally included an entire global community.

J.H.S. was a very efficient and effective manager of his farm and was greatly respected by all who knew him for his integrity and practical righteousness.

Up to the last few years of his life he continued to serve universally in ministry, in spite of great weakness and excruciating suffering from diabetes which caused him to become blind. Poor circulation resulted in his leg having to be amputated.

J.H.S. died in hospital in Minneapolis on 23 April 1987.