In 1896 James Fillmore composed a “delegation song” for those traveling from Ohio (reportedly fourteen trainloads!) to the World Christian Endeavor Convention in San Francisco. The lyrics to that song are forgotten, but when Fillmore returned to Ohio he asked Palmer Hartsough, an associate at his Fillmore Brothers Music House, to put new lyrics to the tune. Hartsough responded with “I Am Resolved,” likely inspired by the parable of the Prodigal Son. The new song was included in The Praise Hymnal published later that year by the Fillmore Brothers. It rapidly gained popularity and has since become a standard, being published in over 140 hymnals to date. Fillmore’s other hymn tunes that have endured include “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” and “We Are Going Down the Valley.”.
Palmer Hartsough (1844-1932) wrote the lyrics for at least 250 hymns, but is the one for which he is remembered.