I got this from a book that was online for the Methodist, and they had a conference.  They did this for Thomas who attended.  I have a copy, and it had a picture of him, but I don't have it on my computer.  I typed it in my family tree maker.

Angelic

Biography of Thomas Harrison Vipond

One of the most unique and interesting characters among the ministers of this Conference was Thomas Harrison Vipond, familiarly known as "Father Vipond."   Ge was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, May 14, 1807, and lived though nearly the whole of the nintennth century, and a year and a half into the Twentieth century.  Naturally he was endowed with mental abilities both strong and acute, and these had been developed and sharpened by a liberal education, and by long experiences with men in numerous and diverse relations in several different countries.  He received his education in St. Andrews college, Edinburgh, the leading Presbyterian institution of Scotland, from which he was graduated at an early age.

He was converted in his youth, and united with the Primitive Medodists, among whom he remained untiol he meet the Free Methodist people in Illinois, about two years after the organization of the denomination.  Then, as a matter of conviction, he identified himself with them for the advocacy of the Spriptual holiness and in defense of all the unpopular principals and issues for which they stood.

Mr. Vipond was licensed to preach when quite young and according to a report published several years before he's death, he must have been engaged in the work of the Christian ministry for a period of about seventy-four years.  After joining the Free Methodist Church he labored in Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas, and Colorado, but the larger portion of this time in the last named state.

Before reaching his majority he bade fare! well to Scotland's charming scense and sailed for America.  He settled at first in Canada, where he continued to live for many years.  His home in Canada was at the liberty's end of the underground railway, operated for the safe landing of fugitive slaves in the Queen's Dominion, which may have helped to develope his reformatory zeal.

Some time during the fifties he left Canada and became a resident of the United States.  At the breaking out of [he civil war he enlisted in defense of the Union, and took a heroic part in the struggle which was waged for the emancipation of the enslaved Negroes of the Southern States, and for the total abolition of the system of chattel slavery in the United States.  He made himself especially uneful by serving as a nurse to the sick and wounded soldiers in the federal hospitals.  While thus engaged he contracted blood-poisoning, from which he continued to suffer at times to the close of his life.
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It is uncertain just when "Father Vipon" settled in Colorado, but he appears to have been identified with Free Methodism in the state from it's very beginning.  In previous years he had not devoted himself exclusively to the work of the ministry, although holding and more or less reglarly exercising authority to preach the gospel.  During his later years, and especially after uniting with the Free Methouist people, he devoted himself regularly to the work until he was superannuted, in 1985m because of his advanced age.  Even after that, so long as he lived, he preached much, and that was uncition and acceptability.

"Father Vipond" was a saint whose piety and devotion were of a cheerful and practical type.  He seems never to have appeared in other than a cheerful, denignant and happy mood, such as is indicated by the smiling face which appears in his portrait.  He had a custom of speaking pleasantly to all whom he met about the ! welfare of their souls, and he knew also how "to speak a  word in season to him that was weary."  "Laddie, do ye luve Jesus?" was his oft-repeated question asked of those whom he met for the first time.  "Bless the Lord," was the expression an affirmative reply would invariable envoke.

Though he spent three-fourths of his long life this side of the Altantic, he was to the last a typical Scoutchman - a Scotchman of the Scots.  He retained the dislect of his native country with all it's peculiarities of brogue and accent to the last, and also the better qualities of the Scottish mind and heart, without the more undesirable ones.  He also abound in the generous hospitality so characteristic of the race from which he descended-that trait which Robert Burns was so impressed with when entertained on one occasion in the Scottish Highlands that, with a diamond, he inscribed the following lines on the window pane of his bed-room.

"W! hen death's dark stream I ferry o'er.  A time that surely shall come.  In heaven itself I'll ask no more Then just a Highland welcome."

In his extreme age "Father Vipond" was a man decidely impressive personal appearance.  His head and face indicated a thoroughly well balanced mind, a broad intellience, a sound judgement, a determined will, a benignant and sunny disposition and a refinement and gentleness of manner which attracted people of all classes to him.  Goodness and love beamed from his very eyes, and were reflected in every feature of his countenacne.  His venerable and distinguished appearance commanded the attention of all classes.  Prominent railway officals would alight from their private car in order to speak with him and introduce to him their friends, on seeing him at the railway station; and, out of respect to his patriachal appearance and his commanding intelligence and goodness, they favored him frequently ! with the freedom of their respective roads.

The most fondly hope of this venerable patriach's life was that he might survive to hail the coming of the Lord.  Though mistaken therein he fully believed it had been reveal to him that, like Simeon of old, he should not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ.  Instead of having it as he desired, the King, while yet delaying His appearance, summoned him to His presence.  But what better fitness for such a summons could any man have than that of readiness for and expectancy of the Lord's personal appearing.

This good man fell asleep in Christ on Sunday, June 1, 1902, aged ninety-five and seventeen days and loving Christian friends laid his remains to rest in the cemetery near his hom in Hillside, Colorado where they await the resurrection morn.