USA > Alabama > Memorial sketches of the lives and labors of the deceased ministers of the North Alabama conference, Methodist Episcopal church, South (1870-1912.) > Part 7
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REV. LAWRENCE M. WILSON.
R EV. LAWRENCE M. WILSON was born in Au- tauga County, Ala., August 30, 1822; died in Tallapoosa County on October 22, 1896, and was buried at the church near his home. He was married first to Miss Mary Dudley, and after her death to Miss R. A. Love in January, 1855. He was converted and joined the Church at Fayette- ville, Ala., in 1848, and licensed to preach the same year in Columbiana, Ala., Ebenezer Hearn, presid- ing elder. He was admitted on trial at Greensboro in January, 1849; ordained deacon by Bishop Capers at Auburn in January, 1851 ; ordained elder by Bishop Capers at Marion in December, 1852. His work was as follows: Centenary Circuit, 1849; Cedar Creek, junior to J. L. Saunders, 1850; 1851, Pleasant Hill; 1852, Autauga; 1853, Cedar Creek, senior to W. C. Harris ; 1854-55, Monroeville ; 1856, Jacksonville; 1857-58, Orville, with M. E. Butt as junior ; 1859-60, Spring Hill; 1861-62, Tuske- gee, with J. W. Rush as junior; 1863, captain in the Confederate army. In the division of the Ala- bama Conference he fell into the Montgomery Con- ference, and in 1864-65 was at Black's Bend; 1866- 68, presiding elder on the Jacksonville District ; 1869, Talladega District; 1870, Harpersville Cir- cuit; 1871, Talladega District ; 1872, Sunday School
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REV. LAWRENCE M. WILSON.
Agent ; 1873-74, Harpersville Circuit; 1875-77, lo- cated, during which time he served a term in the Leg- islature of Alabama; 1878-81, Tuscaloosa District ; 1882-83, Decatur District; 1884-85, Birmingham District; 1886-89, Lafayette District; 1890-96, su- pernumerary on Camp Hill Circuit. He was a member of the General Conference of 1882 and a delegate to the Centennial of Methodism at Balti- more in 1884.
Brother Wilson was brought up in a Christian home, but did not embrace the Saviour until after his return from service in the war with Mexico; but he was never given to dissipation, nor were his latter years embittered with the memory of way- ward youth. Asa man he had a fine physical frame and constitution, and was capable of great endur- ance and able to do a vast amount of labor. Gifted with a quick perception, retentive memory, and strong logical powers, had he been favored with such early advantages as fall to the lot of many at the present day, he certainly would have attained to eminence in any vocation in which he might have labored. Physically, mentally, and morally, he was no ordinary man. He was noted for industry. His motto was: "Be not slothful in business." His energy knew no abatement even with the weight of more than threescore and ten years upon him. He obeyed the precept, "Whatsoever thy hand find- eth to do, do it with thy might;" and having di- rected his energies to a given end, he conserved what
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MEMORIAL SKETCHES.
was gained. While contributing liberally to a worthy cause, he was careful that there should be no waste. So by diligence and a wise economy he accumulated enough not only for his own day, but for those of his loved ones who survived him. He had courage, even that which is rarest, moral cour- age. He dared to have opinions and to speak his sentiments on all subjects when it was proper to do so. He could tell a brother what he thought wrong in his theory and practice, and yet commend him for his worth. He had a strong will, and in the exer- cise of this he sometimes encountered strong op- position; but he was too broad-minded and noble of soul to let differences of opinion hinder his af- fection. He could not entertain ·malice or_preju- dice. He would openly contend with a brother on one point and as openly and heartily cooperate with him on another. He could entertain a high regard for a brother with whom he differed. He was es- pecially kind to the younger brethren.
Brother Wilson's religious experience was char- acteristic, his conviction deep and pungent. He felt, like Paul, that he was "chief of sinners." His pardon and regeneration were followed with such overpowering evidences that he could say: "I know I am accepted." He knew by the Spirit which was given him, for the Spirit bore witness with his spirit that he was a child of God. And in all his after life he rejoiced to witness such conversions. As a preacher he was clear in statement, convincing in
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REV. LAWRENCE M. WILSON.
argument, and forceful in expression. He had a well-arranged and strong sermon on most of the leading doctrines of Christianity, especially on those of his own Church, and in these doctrines he was truly Wesleyan. As a revivalist he was, in his prime, one of the very best. He feared no failure, knew no discouragement, and was usually rewarded with the largest measure of success. In forwarding the material interests of the Church he was first among his brethren. He probably did more to arouse the missionary spirit and stimulate missionary collections than any other man in either Conference to which he from time to time belonged. He was alike zealous in building and repairing churches, contributing freely of his own means and the affairs of the Church, and as a presiding elder always aiming at the best model. He was wise in
no man in the North Alabama Conference sur- .passed him in bringing up all the interests of his district. In his last sickness he suffered much, but when the end came he passed out without a strug- gle, as easily as an infant sinking into sleep. He spoke repeatedly and freely of his preparation to go, and said that if his temporal affairs were more nearly wound up he would prefer to go and be at rest. He spoke affectionately of his brethren, and said of those who had preceded him that he would soon join them in the "home of the soul."
REV. JAMES A. HEARD, D.D.
R EV. JAMES A. HEARD was born in Greensboro, Ga., July 29, 1821; and died in Florence, Ala., October 15, 1896. He was educated at Ran- dolph-Macon College, Virginia. Among his school- mates were the following: Bishop McTyeire, Bish- op Doggett, Bishop Wightman, Dr. A. W. Jones, Dr. Smith W. Moore, and many other eminent men in both Church and State. Dr. L. C. Garland was a teacher in the college at the time he was in school there. The early years of his boyhood were spent in Augusta, Ga., where his parents lived eleven years before moving to Mobile, Ala. It was at Augusta that he professed religion and joined the Methodist Church in his thirteenth year. After returning from college he studied law in Mobile, and was admitted to the bar in that city. He soon became associated in his profession with John A. Campbell, who was af- terwards a distinguished jurist of the United States Supreme Court. His prospects at the bar were flattering, but God had other and holier work for him to do.
Brother Heard was called to preach, and on Au- gust 29, 1843, he was licensed to exhort, his cre- dentials being signed by Dr. Jefferson Hamilton, at that time pastor of "Old Bee Hive," on Franklin Street, Mobile. The same year, in December, he was
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REV. JAMES A. HEARD, D.D.
licensed to preach, his license being signed by Dr. Jesse Boring, then presiding elder of the Mobile District. At Columbus, Miss., in 1844, he was re- ceived into the Alabama Conference. His first ap- pointment was the Macon Circuit, Tuskegee being one of his appointments. Rev. Elias Story was his senior preacher on the circuit. They preached every day in the week except Monday. On Sunday they preached three times and held class meetings. They had great revivals, and at one of them in Tuskegee he received into the Church Miss Ann E. Hough- ton, who in 1846 became his wife, Dr. Lovick Pierce, who had married his father and mother, performing the ceremony. As to his call to preach, he seems never to have had a doubt. It was to him as clear, as positive, as unquestionable as his conversion, as evident and assuring as his personal experience. He said: "One thing I do know; I know that I am called to preach the gospel of Christ." Nor amid all the changes, amid all the griefs and joys and labors of his long pilgrimage did he ever lose sight of this high calling in Christ Jesus. Above all things he loved to preach the "unsearchable riches." In his prime he was a power in the pulpit, and God honored his ministry.
During the war, 1860 to 1865, James A. Heard was a benediction and a blessing. He was instant in season and out of season, attending the sick and the wounded and the dying, bringing comfort to the dis- tressed, and was a successful agent in bearing the
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means of help to the needy. During all those dark days he continued to preach Christ. The great de- sire of his soul, the controlling effort of his life was to minister to others and win souls to Christ. He was gifted in prayer far above the common run of men. In the prayer meetings, but especially by the bedside of the sick, there was oftentimes a fer- vency of faith in his supplications as though he stood face to face with God, and others felt that they had been led close to the shining portals of heaven.
Dr. Heard filled many important appointments in the Alabama Conference, Montgomery being one of them. No pastor ever left that charge who had done more faithful work or whose departure was more deeply and sincerely regretted. He was a number of times presiding elder, for four years 01 the Mobile District and on the Demopolis Dis- trict. He was transferred to the Memphis Confer- ence. His first appointment in that Conference was the Jackson Circuit. He then served four years in the Jackson Station; afterwards Central Church, in Memphis; then the Memphis District. All these places were served faithfully, the people parting with him with sincere regret.
Dr. Heard had been a man of means, but the for- tunes, or rather the misfortunes, of war swept his property away. This and the necessities of his own family and of his grandchildren, who had been left on his hands since the death of his son-in-law,
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REV. JAMES A. HEARD, D.D.
caused him to accept the presidency of the female college at Collierville, Tenn., and afterwards the college at La Grange, Tenn. Then he returned to Alabama to accept the presidency of the State Nor- mal College at Florence. He was also pastor of the Church at Sheffield, which was just being or- ganized. Dr. Heard labored very hard to build a church house there, in connection with his du- ties as President of the college at Florence. His · next pastoral charge was Tuscaloosa, Ala. He was afterwards presiding elder of the Florence District, and his last appointment was as Sunday School Agent for the Conference. In 1894 he asked for and was granted the superannuate rela- tion.
Dr. Heard spent fifty-three years in the active work of the ministry. For several years he was superannuated. The last twelve months of his life he was very feeble, but his interest in the work of the Church never abated. But now the end of his long and toilsome warfare had come. On the date above given he breathed his last and entered into rest. After brief services conducted by his pastor, Rev. W. F. Andrews, his remains were con- veyed to Memphis, Tenn., and in First Church, where two of his sons worshiped, the funeral serv- ices were held by Dr. Smart, the pastor. Among the many who brought floral offerings to lay on his casket were some of his former slaves who never lost their love for their old master and friend. His
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MEMORIAL SKETCHES.
body sleeps in the beautiful Elmwood Cemetery to await the summons of the resurrection morning. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory ?"
"There is no death! The stars go down To rise upon some fairer shore ; And, bright in heaven's jeweled crown, They shine for evermore."
REV. JAMES E. M'CAIN.
R EV. JAMES E. M'CAIN ("Uncle Jimmie") was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., March 24, 1830; was converted in his youth; licensed to preach in November, 1851; was received into the North Alabama Conference as an elder from the Metho- dist Episcopal Church in 1877. Brother McCain served the following charges after joining the North Alabama Conference : 1877-79, Arbacoochee Circuit; 1880, Tallapoosa Mission; 1881, 'super- annuated ; 1882-84, Louina Circuit ; 1885-87, Weso- bulga Mission; 1888-89, Chandler's Springs Mis- sion; 1890, Mellow Valley Mission; 1891-95, super- annuated. He died at Lineville, Ala., August 12, 1896.
In estimating the worth of a man and his life work, little if any importance should be attached to his early opportunities, provided he improved them the best he could; but supreme importance should be attached to what he accomplished with his opportunities in after life. Brother McCain has furnished the world an interesting example of what a man may accomplish in a comparatively brief time with poor advantages from start to finish. His friends and ardent admirers could be numbered by the hundreds, perhaps thousands; and those led to Christ and salvation through his in-
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MEMORIAL SKETCHES.
fluence and personal ministry will rise up in the last day by the score and hundreds and bless the day they first knew "Uncle Jimmie" McCain. He was the very soul of simplicity, sincerity, zeal for souls, and an abiding faith in God. This faith manifested itself in a marvelous degree in his prayers for penitents, for the recovery of the sick, and for the help of those in need of temporal bless- ings. He was a man "full of the Holy Ghost," and therefore full of faith and power. Many were the converts under his ministry. He was much in demand among the preachers for camp meeting oc- casions, because he seemed to have a peculiar fitness for that kind of work. Brother McCain passed through many seasons of severe bodily affliction, but all such experiences gave him a keener relish for his great work. To know James E. McCain was really to love him.
REV. JOSEPH T. CURRY.
R EV. JOSEPH T. CURRY was born in Marengo County, Ala., February 22, 1821; was con- verted in Sumter County, Ala., January 20, 1841, and was licensed to preach in the winter of the same year. He joined the Alabama Conference, and remained a member of that body until the Montgomery and Mobile Conferences were formed. By appointment falling in the bounds of the Mont- gomery Conference, he remained there until the Conference lines were again changed and the Ala- bama and North Alabama Conferences were formed. He then became a member of the North Alabama Conference, in which he remained, except that for a year or so, on account of his wife's feeble health, he was transferred back to the Alabama Conference in 1883. His health and age forced him to ask for a superannuate relation, which re- lation he had when the Master said: "It is enough; come up higher." He died on his farm at Fayette- ville, Ala., March II, 1885. Through all these years of toil and sacrifice for the Master he never failed to go where the authorities of the Church as- signed him. We regret that we have no definite information in regard to the time he became an itinerant preacher and the various charges he served; but we know enough of his history to say
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that preaching the gospel of Christ was his great life work. He filled with great acceptability impor- tant circuits, stations, and districts.
Brother Curry was a man of fine native gifts as well as acquired ability. He was quick to see the right, and stood firm for the defense of truth. His rank was among the highest type of men. He was a warm and true friend, a noble, genial spirit. It was not uncommon with him, in or- dinary conversation, to be moved to tears in speaking of a friend. He had a warm heart, and his long list of friends will never forget his friendly smile and benignant face. His religion was of the purest kind. He lived what he pro- fessed, and had no patience with pretended piety. He denounced the hypocrite with a peculiar em- phasis of his own. He was held in the very high- est esteem by all who heard him preach as an able and richly endowed minister of the gospel of Christ. He always gave a clear, definite exposition of the text in hand; and while he did not belong to that class of ministers who are called eloquent, yet there were times when he rose to the highest points of true eloquence, convincing his audience of his thor- ough knowledge and acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures as they stood connected with the subject he was presenting. So long as Methodism has a home in Alabama the name of J. T. Curry will stand prominent on the pages of history. He died as he had lived, in full fellowship with his Lord.
REV. CORNELIUS N. M'LEOD.
F OR lack of reliable data we are unable to give any facts concerning Brother McLeod's early history. He spent the greater part of his itinerant ministry in the Alabama and Montgomery Confer- ences. We find that for a good many years of that time he was on the superannuate roll. This of it- self tells a sad story of a preacher's life, a story of affliction and often of privation.
When the North Alabama Conference was formed, in November, 1870, he was in the bounds of its ter- ritory as a superannuate. In November, 1871, lie was placed on the effective roll and appointed to the Valley Head Circuit. After this his appoint- ments were as follows: Coosa River Mission, Te- cumseh Mission, Moulton Circuit, Blountsville Cir- cuit (two years), Tuscaloosa Circuit, Ball Play Mission. He then asked to be placed on the super- annuate roll, which was accordingly done, and he re- mained in that relation the remainder of his life. The exact date of his death we have not been able to learn, but it was sometime during the year 1883. As will be seen from the list of appointments he re- ceived, they were not likely to have paid him large salaries, but he was always faithful and uncomplain- ing. Like most itinerant Methodist preachers, he died poor as to this world's goods ; but his reward in heaven will not be measured by what he possessed of earthly riches. A crown of glory, a mansion, with eternal life, are greater riches than all earthly stores.
REV. PHILANDER P. RILEY.
R EV. PHILANDER P. RILEY was born in Marshall County, Ky., May 17, 1857. His mother was a Methodist of the old type. The father's con- version took place in later life under the efforts of his son. In early life P. P. Riley was con- verted and joined the Methodist Church. About this time his parents moved from Kentucky to Ala- bama and .settled in Limestone County. On Octo- ber 23, 1883, he married Miss Lou Hightower, a young woman of piety and talent, who shared faithfully the toils and sufferings of his life.
In the summer of 1880 Brother Riley felt the moving of the Spirit toward the work of the Chris- tian ministry. In prayers and exhortations he showed gifts and graces for the work. In 1883 he was received on trial into the North Alabama Conference. At the Conference held at Gadsden in 1885, the records show, Bishop Alpheus W. Wilson ordained P. P. Riley to the office and work of a deacon. Two years later at Tuscaloosa he was ordained an elder by Bishop John C. Keener.
Brother Riley served various circuits and mis- sions throughout the bounds of the Conference, do- ing acceptable work until the year 1896, when he asked for a superannuate relation. Always ham- pered and depressed by his state of health, this giv-
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REV. PHILANDER P. RILEY.
ing up of the work was a fearful trial to him. Brother Riley spent the latter days of his life in Gadsden. Among this good people he lived, broken in health, but nevertheless his life was that of a blameless, hopeful Christian minister. Thus from our midst has gone a brave, true minister who strug- gled against odds that most of us are hardly in a position to appreciate. In his conversion he placed his feet
"Upon the great world's altar stairs, That slope through darkness up to God,"
and, unfaltering in his sufferings, he climbed; and who can doubt that at its summit his Master met him and greeted him with those most gracious words, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord?"
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REV. CHARLES ELLIOT M'GIBBONEY.
R EV. CHARLES E. M'GIBBONEY was born in Co- lumbiana, Ala., April 9, 1857; and died at the parsonage in Pelham, Ala., May 20, 1894. Brother McGibboney was reared in a Christian home, his father being a minister. He received baptism as an infant, because that was the faith of his parents and the accepted doctrine of the Methodist Church. He was converted and joined the Church under the ministry of Rev. S. P. West in 1884. In October of the same year he was li- censed to preach by Rev. J. T. Morris at a Quar- terly Conference of the Coosa Valley Circuit. He remained a local preacher one year, and in 1885 was received on trial into the North Alabama Confer- ence and appointed to Chandler's Springs Mission. His next work was the Abernathy Circuit. In 1887 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Keener and ap- pointed to Heflin Circuit, where he remained two years. In 1889 he was ordained elder by Bishop Duncan at Huntsville, Ala., and appointed to the Fern Bank Circuit, in the Jasper District, where he remained two years. In November, 1891, he was appointed to the Pelham Circuit, in the Talladega District, where he died on the date above given.
Brother McGibboney was married to Miss Mat- tie A. Hearn, of Burwell, Carroll County, Ga., on
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REV. CHARLES ELLIOTT M'GIBBONEY.
February 20, 1889. Three children were born to them. The eldest, little Ruth, preceded her father to heaven, and may have been the first to welcome him home. His dust sleeps .in the bounds of the Fern Bank Circuit.
Brother McGibboney wa's a dutiful son, a kind fa- ther, and a faithful servant of the Church. The charges that he served were all poor as to financial ability, but that fact made no difference in his zeal for the Master's cause. He always had the unre- served confidence of the people he served, and left a good name as an inheritance for his successor. It is a sad fact that when a preacher leaves a bad name where he has served, his successor is sure to have to share it, rightfully or wrongfully. It has been said that "a good name is rather to be chosen that great riches," and nothing can be truer.
REV. LEVI C. SIMS.
R EV. LEVI C. SIMS was born in Clay County, Ala., May 12, 1856; and died on August 8, 1899. Brother Sims was converted at the early age of fourteen years, and would have joined the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South, at that time but for the interposition of his father, who, being a stanch member of the Methodist Episcopal Church (North- ern branch of the Methodist Church), was not will- ing for his son to join any other than his branch of the Church. Not wishing to offend or to give pain to his father, he complied with his request and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church while at- tending school at the Andrews Institute. But the young man was never satisfied about the matter till later on, when he joined the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South. But even then he was not at perfect peace. His conscience would not let him be satisfied with being merely a member of the Church, but the Spirit kept saying to him: "Son, go work in my vineyard to-day." God needed oth- er harvesters, and so he was chosen and called to the work of the ministry. He applied for and re- ceived a license to preach, went to work as a local preacher, and for several years supplied the follow- ing charges: Island Creek Circuit (one year), Fa- bius Circuit (one year), Columbus City Circuit (three years), Summit Circuit (two years).
In November, 1894, he was admitted on trial into
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REV. LEVI C. SIMS.
the North Alabama Conference, and returned to the Summit Circuit for the year 1895. In 1896-97 he served the Cleveland Circuit; 1898-99, South Hill Circuit. This was his last work.
Brother Sims was methodical and painstaking in his work, looking after the minutest details with zeal and fidelity. His death was very sudden. He
REV. L. C. SIMS.
had just returned from church and was talking with a friend when he complained of a feeling of dizziness. He walked across the room, quietly lay down on the bed, and in a few moments expired. He left no message; but none was needed, for his life spoke for him in louder tones than words could tell. He is not dead, but sleepeth. .
REV. ROBERT D. CARVER.
R EV. ROBERT D. CARVER was born in Pickens County, Ala., July 3, 1834; and fell on sleep January 20, 1889. He was converted in his four- teenth year, and at once united with the Methodist Church. He was educated at Summerfield and li- censed to preach at twenty-one years of age. He became a member of the Alabama Conference in 1857, and in due time was ordained deacon by Bishop Kavanaugh and elder by Bishop Early. In 1868 he located, and remained in that relation six years a laborious, useful minister of the gospel, preaching to his neighbors, leading many sinners to repentance, and urging the Church to devotion and holiness.
Dr. Carver was readmitted into the North Ala- bama Conference in 1874, and remained in this re- lation till the end came. He was twice married, first to Miss M. C. Pucks, who left him a son and a daughter. His second wife, to whom he was mar- ried on October 13, 1864, was Miss Mary T. P. Watkins, and to them were born three daughters and one son.
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