Ira David Sankey was born in Pennsylvania on August 28, 1840. His father was a Senator and a banker. Even though his family was busy with business, they always made time for spiritual things. Out of the 9 children his Scotch Irish parents had, only 4 made it to adulthood.
He recalls a local Scottish farmer named Mr. Frazer who would take him, along with his own boys to "Sabbath School". He remembers how the man would stand and pray for the for the children. He loved the children very much and they all loved him. These memories would be with him until the day he died.
Ira grew up with a love for music. At 15, he attended special services that were held in a church a few miles from his home. Reverend H. H. Moore was the pastor. It was at these services that he felt a need to know the Lord as his personal Savior. After a week of deep conviction, he accepted Christ's offer of salvation.
Later that year, he joined the Methodist Episcopal church that his parents were members of. Even at this young age, he became very active in his church- leading the choir, teaching Sunday School, and working with the local YMCA.
When the civil war broke out in 1861, Ira was among the first to Fort Sumter sign up to fight. During his enlistment, he would gather the soldiers together to have a prayer meeting and song service. After the war he worked for the IRS for nearly 10 years.
He met his wife in 1863. Miss Fanny Edwards was a member of his choir and a teacher in the school. Together they raised 3 boys who all went on to serve the Lord.
In 1870, he was sent as a delegate to the YMCA International Convention in Indianapolis. It was at this convention that he met Dwight L Moody, a delegate from Chicago. When Mr. Moody heard Ira sing, he asked him to come help him with his evangelical work in Chicago. Mr. Moody said that he had been looking for someone for 8 years, and he thought that he had found him in Ira.
Ira said that he would talk it over with his wife, pray about it, and let him know.
Six months later, he resigned his position and moved to Chicago. He worked here for 2 to 3 years. His friendship with Dwight Moody grew until they had the same Spiritual desire- Moody did the preaching, and Sankey did the singing. Though they seemed to have opposite personalities, they worked together so well that it seemed they rounded out each other's deficiencies.
The great Chicago Fire of 1871 changed things for the duo. They lost all of their possessions, and had to separate company for a while. Ira and his family were only in Pennsylvania for 3 months before they received a telegram from Dwight Moody. He returned to Chicago to find the hearts of the people more ready to hear and accept the preaching of the Word.
Another memory that never left him happened the winter after the fire. A woman sent for Ira to come see her little girl who was sick. He enter the make shift home to see the girl lying there, knowing that she was past the hope of recovery. She had the sweetest smile on her face. She told him that she accepted Christ as her Savior when he was singing "Jesus Loves Even Me", and now she wanted him to give her parents the plan of salvation. He never forgot that experience, and often encouraged others to sing at the bedside of those who were sick or dying.
After the fire, they visited Great Britain. Their line of work moved from only the Chicago area to all over. They even held a small meeting in New York,
They began work in England in 1873. His singing in this new location opened up a new door for his music ministry, which became an international ministry. In Scotland, the distrustful followers of John Knox were moved by the singing. They listened as his words sang the gospel message and years of prejudice washed away during the moving of the Holy Spirit. Through his songs, he and Mr. Moody became known throughout all Europe.
His most popular hymn, "The Ninety And Nine" was written during his time of travel when he was visiting Scotland. He came across the words for the song by Miss Elizabeth Clephane published in a copy of The Christian Age where it was printed as a poem. He was so moved by the words, that he wrote a melody for it and sang it 3 days later. The sister of the deceased Elizabeth sent him a letter telling him the background of the poem. It also contained another one which became known as the gospel song Beneath The Cross Of Jesus.
Ira Sankey composed a hymn book that is still used today. A copy of his songs have been translated into many different languages. In 1906, he published My Life And Sacred Songs which contained his biography, solo songs, and a detail of how he had seen the Lord work through his ministry.
Ira Sankey died in 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. Just before he fells asleep to wake no more, he was heard quietly singing the words to his favorite song Face To Face by Fanny Crosby.
Some day the silver cord will break
And I no more, as now, will sing;
But oh! The joy when I awake
Within the palace of the King.
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story Saved By Grace.
