Herbert Buffum

Herbert Buffum (1879–1939) was a tireless evangelist and one of the most prolific gospel songwriters of the early 20th century. Born in Lafayette, Illinois, Buffum’s ministry began remarkably early; he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church as a youth, preaching his first sermon at the age of seventeen. His early years were defined by the grit of "city mission" work, where he traveled extensively along the Pacific Coast and through the small towns of Kansas, ministering to those on the margins of society.

Buffum’s literary career was just as precocious as his preaching. He published his first hymn at eighteen and eventually became a dominant force in the "Holiness" and early Pentecostal music scenes. Over the course of his life, he is credited with writing over 10,000 songs and poems. Because he often sold the rights to his songs for small sums to support his traveling ministry, many of his compositions were published under the names of famous music editors or remained anonymous, yet his distinct, rhythmic style left an indelible mark on American gospel music.

His most enduring hymn, "I’m Going Through," was written in 1905 during a period of intense personal and ministerial testing. The song became an anthem for the "Holiness" movement, expressing a gritty determination to follow the Christian path regardless of the cost or the "scoffs of the world." Other notable works include "The Rock That Is Higher Than I" and "I’m Glad I Found Out," which highlight his focus on personal testimony and the joy of spiritual discovery.

In 1916, the famous composer Charles H. Gabriel described Buffum as a man of "boundless energy" whose songs were sung in missions and camp meetings across the country. Buffum’s music was characterized by "singability"—melodies that were easily caught by the ear and lyrics that spoke directly to the struggles of everyday people. He spent his final years in California, continuing to write and preach until his death in 1939. Today, he is remembered as a "king of the gospel song" who lived out the persistent, pioneering spirit of the Western American frontier.