MASTEN, Luman V. (c. 1829-1854)

Luman Masten was hired by James White in April 1852 to oversee printing operations at the newly acquired Review press in Rochester, New York. He lived with the Whites for most of his time in Rochester. Impressed with his hard work, Ellen White wrote that “he has overdone often.” Of no particular church affiliation when hired, he was amazed by the faith of fellow employees and other believers in Rochester: “So different, were they, from any [other Christians] that I had ever before seen, that I was struck with astonishment.” Some months later he was “brought almost to death” by cholera. Declaring that he would become a Sabbathkeeper if his life was spared, he made a startling recovery following the prayer of believers. Masten continued his work at the Review and wrote several stirring testimonies for the paper before he died of “consumption” 18 months later, on March 1, 1854, “aged about 25 years.”1EGWLM 868.2

See: Obituary: “L. V. Masten,” Review, Mar. 14, 1854, p. 63; L. V. Masten, “Communication From Bro. Masten,” Review, Nov. 25, 1852, p. 108; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Luman Maston” [sic], New York, Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs, p. 200; J. N. Loughborough, Rise and Progress, p. 169; Ellen G. White, Lt 7, 1853 (Aug. 24).1EGWLM 868.3