USA > Georgia > Bibb County > Macon > Georgia Baptists: historical and biographical > Part 22
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The same day he came in sight of a fine dwelling, discover- et- able through a beautiful avenue, shaded with trees on either side. A strong impression came upon his mind to go up to the house and pray for its inhabitants. Without hesitation, he a turned up the avenue. The lady came to the door, to whom B?' he promptly stated his errand. She kindly invited him to alight and come in, and though neither she nor any of the ngh isco family made any pretensions to religion, the strange preacher was treated with great respect. The husband being absent, the lady, two sons and two daughters, with the domestics, list- affened to the good man's exhortation, his song, and bowed with ahim in prayer, while he fervently plead with God on their be- an half. This done, he bade them farewell and departed, expect- dis ng to see them no more this side of the eternal world. Several amonths afterwards, two strange young men came into Elbert roqbounty, inquiring for Rev. Dozier Thornton, who proved to be
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the sons of the family above referred to, and who, with their mother and sisters, had, by his visit, all been awakened to a sense of their lost condition as sinners, had been hopefully con- verted, and had now traveled all the way from North Carolina to seek baptism at the hands of him whose prayer had been answered in their salvation. They were accordingly baptized, and returned homewards rejoicing.
For a time, in connection with Thomas Johnson and Little- ton Meeks, he acted as a missionary to the Cherokee Indians.
A flourishing church, situated on Hightower river, was con- stituted and kept up among them until their emigration to the West. In this service he endured great deprivations and hard- ships. Once he and Littleton Meeks lost their way among the mountains, and after traveling until a late hour at night, they were compelled to take up in the woods, without fire or food, and wait for the dawning of the day. They were prevented from closing their eyes in sleep by the barking of the foxes and the howling of wolves.
The churches at Dover's creek and Van's creek were raised up under his ministry soon after he came to Georgia, of which he was pastor near forty years, with the exception of about twenty months, which he spent in Kentucky. He removed to that State with a view to a permanent residence, but soon be- came convinced that he was not acting under the guidance of Providence, and returned to his old neighborhood in Elbert county, where he spent the remainder of his life. It is related of him that on one of his journeys to Kentucky he fell in with a family among the mountains, living in a small, fertile valley, which was thickly settled by a most irreligious community. Finding out that he was a preacher, they invited him to stop for the night, promising that they would blow the horn in a cer- tain manner, which would cause the neighbors to collect, when he could preach to them. He was the more willing to comply when he was assured there had not been a sermon preached among them for twelve years. About sunset the horn was ac- cordingly blown, and he had a congregation of about thirty, to whom he dispensed the word. The most of them were much affected and begged him to leave an appointment for his return. He accordingly agreed to preach to them again on a certain
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evening on his way home. When he did return, however, it was with several other travelers, with whom he was desirous to keep company through the Indian nation, as it was perilous to pass through that region alone. As they would not wait, however, he permitted them to leave him behind. His meeting in the valley of the mountains was one of so much interest, that he concluded to continue waiting upon the Lord several days. He accordingly held a protracted meeting, baptized a goodly number of believers, whom he constituted into a church. With one of their number, who seemed to possess a gift for teaching, he left his Bible and hymn book, admonishing him and his brethren to continue faithful unto death.
About a year afterwards, Mr. Thornton, after spending a restless night, rose early one morning and told his wife he must go and see his children whom he had left in the wilder- ness. The same day he was on the road. When he reached the valley, to his surprise he found the people had erected a comfortable house for the worship of God, and that many others had experienced saving grace through the instrumentality of him with whom he had left his Bible and hymn book. This brother Mr. Thornton ordained, the new converts were baptized, they were all commended to the care of the Good Shepherd, and he bade them farewell, to see their faces no more on earth.
He raised eight sons and eleven daughters, all of whom are members of the church except one. Rev. Reuben Thornton, an excellent minister, was one of his children. He departed this life in Franklin county, in this State, in September, 1843, in the ninetieth year of his age.
THOMAS WALSH,
Of Irish descent, was born in Savannah, Georgia, about 1800, and was apprenticed to the printing business. He united with the Methodists, but expressed scruples about their baptism. He was licensed to preach, and sent to Athens to prepare for college, sustained by the Georgia Education Society. While at Athens, his previous convictions of duty about baptism re- turned, and he could not be silent. He writes his wife, (then
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in Savannah,) who it seems had long been convinced of the duty of following the Saviour, and she entreats him to return to that city, that they may both be baptized together.
Mr. Walsh was attempted to be dissuaded from joining the Baptists by a distinguished Methodist minister, who repre- sented the Calvinistic faith in most horrible colors. This for a while staggered the young disciple. He desired baptism from an authorized administrator, but he could not adopt the Bap- tist faith with its supposed decrees and partial election. Soon after this, Fuller's works fell into his hands. After reading them, be found no difficulty, for, said he, " If these be the views of the Baptists, I can adopt them with all my heart."
After his baptism in Savannah, by Rev. H. O. Wyer, he re- moved his family to Athens, was taken under the patronage of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and advised to take a regular collegiate course. But he was poor, and the support he re- ceived was not actually sufficient to relieve his wants. One day he went to purchase a little sugar with the last dollar he possessed. He expended three-fourths of his all, and returning to the post-office in a despairing state of mind, was told there was a letter for him-postage twenty-five cents. He hesitated about expending his last cent, but, on opening the letter, found enclosed twenty dollars. The kind donor was never known to him.
After remaining a year or two in college he returned to Sa- vannah, where he acted for a time as city missionary. In this sphere he was eminently useful, but continued in it only about a year, when he was called to the pastoral charge of Roberts- ville church, South Carolina. To this enlightened and wealthy church he greatly endeared himself; yet, owing mainly to the state of his health, he was induced to remove hence to Coosa- hatchie. While in South Carolina he received ample support, and was thus enabled to devote all his energies to the improve- ment of his mind. The consequence was, he rose rapidly in reputation and was soon considered one of the ablest ministers in the Savannah River Association, and, indeed, in the State. He had been to attend a session of that body in 1833, was taken sick at Dr. Ayre's, and lived only some two weeks. His remains were taken back to Coosahatchie.
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Vincent Tharp.
He was accused after his death of leaning towards the Epis- copalians, and the report went out that if he had lived he would have joined that denomination. The only ground for this re- port was the friendship between Mr. Walsh and the Episcopal minister of Coosahatchie. He was a man of an amiable and affectionate disposition, and was a speaker of rare talents. Few men of his age were so eloquent.
VINCENT THARP,
A native of Virginia, was born in 1760, and bore arms in the cause of his country towards the close of the revolutionary war. His first wife was a Miss Rogers, by whom he had two children, a son and a daughter. During his first marriage he removed to South Carolina, and thence with his second wife, a Miss Persons, to Warren county, in this State. Owing to the hardness of the times, and his being a poor man, he learned the gunsmith's trade, and was said to be a superior workman. Before he entered upon the ministry he acted as a magistrate in his neighborhood. He was baptized into Briar Creek church, Warren county, and was also licensed and ordained there, about the year 1800. He served that church as pastor several years, also Sweetwater and Rocky Creek, in Burke county. Soon after the purchase, which extended to the Ocmulgee river, he removed to Twiggs county, where many of his descendants are still to be found, and who are among the most respectable and wealthy citizens of the county. Among these may be men- tioned Rev. Charnick Tharp, a son, and Rev. B. F. Tharp, (now of Houston county,) a grand-son.
He was a member and the pastor of Stone Creek church, now one of the most flourishing churches in the State. That church was gathered under Rev. Henry Hooten, who resigned in favor of Mr. Tharp. His labors here and elsewhere were owned of the Lord in the salvation of many souls. To the time of his death he was moderator of the Ebenezer Association. Benevolence and hospitality were prominent traits in his charac- ter. He was always " careful to entertain strangers," and his house was the home of God's people, of every name. He de- lighted in the society of certain brethren, Polhill, Franklin,
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Ross, Rhodes, Baker, Maginty, Mercer and others, by whom he was frequently visited. He died in 1825, in the triumphs of that faith which he had so long preached to others. His end was peace.
JEREMIAH REEVES, JR.
Jeremiah Reeves, Jr., was the second son of Jeremiah Reeves, Sr., and Jane, his wife, whose maiden name was Brazile. He was born in Halifax county, North Carolina, on the third day of November, 1772, and removed with his father's family to Georgia in his twelfth year. He obtained hope that God for Christ's sake had pardoned his sins, in the year 1804-was added to the Church at Sardis, Wilkes county, Georgia, in the same year. "With regard to his conviction or conversion I* have no data but my own recollection. One incident is now fresh, because at the time it made a most powerful impression. I was then in my eighth year ; he was a man of lively turn of mind and fond of such company. Now for the incident. I went in company with him to a distillery in the neighborhood ; (I have heard him say since, in relating his experience, he went there to try to drive off his melancholy feelings.) While there, I saw him once or more shedding tears, which affected me. We, however, left for home; when about half the distance, he stopped and wept aloud. Said he to me, "Son, go home and tell your mother I am such a vile sinner I believe the Lord is about to kill me." I obeyed, went home; he left the road and went into the woods. My mother, on my arrival, went in search; found him near night, and brought him home, still weeping. During the night he found deliverance ; prayed with the family next morning, which I have no recollection of his ever failing to do, night and morning, from that time till his death. He held family prayers always, when even confined to a sick bed."
He was chosen and ordained to the office of deacon of Sardis church in 1806, and commenced public exercise in prayer and exhortation soon after he united with the church. In 1813, the church at Skull Shoals sent an invitation to him, as also the church at Sardis, to take the pastoral charge of them.
*His son, A. E. Reeves.
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Sardis church submitted the matter to him, requesting him to re- late his call to the ministry, which he did. But he being some- what undetermined with regard to his fitness, requested an in- definite suspension of the matter. The church, however, pro- ceeded to license him at the next conference, (he having become more reconciled,) in the words of the church minutes, " for fur- ther proof of his ministry." At the July conference, 1813, the church agreed to call a presbytery for the purpose of his ordina- tion. Wednesday after the fourth Sabbath in August, 1813, was the day set apart. The presbytery, composed of Matthews, Rhodes and Davis, met according to appointment, and proceeded to his ordination. He then responded to the call of the churches above named, and became their pastor in the same year. In the year 1815, having received a call from a church in Clarke county, and from one in Morgan, he removed from Wilkes to the former county. His labors were confined to those and con- tiguous counties for eight years, serving the three churches al- luded to a portion of the time. In 1823, being impressed that it was his duty to change his field of labor, to some extent, and having received a call from two churches in Jackson county, he removed to said county, serving one church still (Mar's Hill) in Clarke county, and Walnut Fork and Academy, in Jackson. Here (a brother, I. Davis, from that county, writes me) " he encountered considerable difficulty and persecution on account of his stern advocacy of the mission and temperance cause. The Association (the Sarepta) in which he was then thrown, was anti. At that time he persevered temperately but firmly, till he became instrumental in forming many societies through- out the bounds of the Association, and also the means of get- ting up a good missionary spirit."
While resident in Jackson county, he received an appoint- ment from the Georgia Baptist Convention. His field of labor was mostly confined to the Cherokee country. He traveled two years through that section, part of the time on his own account, and part under appointment of the Convention ; met with and encountered many hardships, as the country was wild and just settling up. He was one of the first pioneers to that section of the State-aided in constituting several churches,
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ordained deacons, formed temperance societies, and inculcated the missionary spirit wherever his lot was cast.
He was married to Mary Echols in the year 1794, in the twenty-second year of his age. She united with the church a short time after he did ; was the mother of nine children-five sons and four daughters. Two of the daughters are dead and two'living. Five sons yet living, three of them members of the church, and both daughters also. The old lady survived him several years.
His labors as a minister was not characterized by any great accessions at any one time to his churches, but by gradual in- crease of such as wore well. His churches were generally well disciplined. It was his practice to urge strenuously and to have kept up weekly prayer meetings at the respective meeting- houses he attended, or in the neighborhood. Prayer was al- ways his great weapon of defense. He prayed much. "I recol- lect an incident, which is as follows : An individual in the neighborhood, a wicked man, fell out with the old man ; rode up to the gate one day and called father out, abused him much, threatening to sue him. He replied calmly to the threat by saying, 'I will sue you, too.' 'Sue me ?' was the inquiry, ac- companied with abuse. 'Yes, I will sue you at the court of heaven. There it is where I institute all my suits, and where I enter all my appeals, and have hitherto had justice done me, and I am sure I will have it again.' In his family worship, and I presume in private, he did not fail for some time to pre- sent this man's case to a throne of grace. The consequence was, that after the lapse of time, that man became his friend without any explanation on the part of father.
" He died at my house, at Mount Zion, on the 27th of January, 1737, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. His remains were in- terred in the burying ground of the Baptist church at said village.
" He was then on a tour of several weeks' appointments in the low country. He preached, sang and prayed at intervals du- ring his whole sickness, which lasted some two weeks, during which time he would frequently urge me to take him in some vehicle to meet his appointments, remarking that it was a set- tled principle with him not to disappoint a congregation. To-
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ward the latter part of his illness he lost the power of recollec- tion, but seemed to retain his rationality. A few incidents in a short way :
"When he was found to be sinking, the physician prescribed brandy-toddy. (He at this time could not tell what was his own, the name of his companion, or any of his children, or that he had any family.) The toddy was offered; he refused, which was the first thing refused from the hands of his physician or friends during his illness, remarking in his own words, "That is the old Prince-I cannot encounter him ; I know his power too well. I have long since declared against him." As re- marked, he seemed to have lost the power of recollection, from the fact we could not bring his mind to bear upon any circum- stance in his former days. All seemed to be lost so far as per- tained to the things of this world. But speak of the Saviour, or God the Father, or of heaven, he was as perfectly conversant as at any time in his life, and when he could not tell his own name, would quote scripture as correctly, sing hymns, pray as connectedly and as appropriately as I ever heard him. Not an hour before his death, Mr. Bryan, a Presbyterian brother, was asked to pray. He accordingly sang; father joined in the singing; would wait for the giving out of the lines, as the rest of us. When we knelt down, father commenced audibly to pray as Mr. Bryan did; both prayed. He closed before Mr. Bryan, continued to respond to Mr. Bryan's petitions until he closed-and yet could not tell where he was !
" He bore his affliction with patient resignation, was sensible of his death, and possessed strong confidence of his acceptance with God."
JABEZ PLEIADES MARSHALL.
Jabez P. Marshall. was the eldest son of the venerable and la- mented Abraham Marshall. He had an only brother, and they were the only children of their father; and as they were the children of rather his old age, like Jacob of old, he entertained for them a peculiar fondness. Jabez grew up rather in a prodi- gal way; full of the fashion and the pride of life, he exhibited very little regard for religion, though his father took great
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care to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He was desirous also to afford him every opportunity for improvement and for the acquisition of that knowledge which he thought necessary to his future usefulness. Still, however, Jabez was bent upon a course of evil, frivolity and vanity. While at college in Athens, Georgia, he was very wild, and seemed more like a son of an infidel than of a pious, gospel minister. Some of his friends feared that all the care and expense of his anxious father would be lost or turned to bad account.
But it was pleasing to the Lord, about the time our young friend graduated, or soon after, to bring his mind under serious conviction for sin. He saw himself a sinner, justly condemned by the holy law and exposed to everlasting wrath and misery. He knew not what to do. It was then that he inquired anx- iously what he must do to be saved ? but could find no relief by all that he could do, until he at length came to rely simply and alone upon Christ and him crucified. In him he saw a righteousness every way sufficient to justify him against all the claims of Divine Justice, to pardon all his sins, though moun- tain high in magnitude and in number, and to render him ac- cepted in the beloved. Upon this he united with the church at the Kiokee, and soon after began to exhort his fellow-men to flee from the wrath to come. In due time he was licensed to preach, and not a great while thereafter he was ordained to the work of the ministry.
There was something in our young brother, perhaps consti- tutional, which gave him an air of vanity and fickleness, and from which many of his friends feared for his success ; but he rose above all their fears, and soon convinced them that he was a chosen vessel of the Lord to be an able minister of the New Testament. He succeeded his father in the pastoral office in the Kiokee church, in which he served with increasing affec- tion and usefulness until his death.
As regards his religious sentiments, he was strictly a predes- tinarian. His theme was free grace. He believed that man, as a sinner, is totally depraved-dead in trespasses and sins, so that nothing good can be done until that state is changed ; and that this can be done alone by the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
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But still he held men to be morally bound to obey God, accord- ing to his righteous claims on them as rational beings, account- able for the right use of their natural powers, and justly con- demned for not rendering them back to God in holy obedience. That none did this, and consequently all were justly condemned. He inculcated practical religion on professors as the only evi- dence of a gracious state and the means whereby they can glo- rify God. He was a thorough-going missionary, and engaged in all the benevolent plans of the day, zealously advocating every scheme which seemed to be calculated to carry out the commission and fulfill the commands of Christ.
As a preacher he was studious, aiming constantly at a strict compliance with the injunction of Paul on Timothy, regarding it as an injunction alike upon all that minister in holy things : "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." As the priests were to bring none but beaten oil into the tab- ernacle for light, our brother thought it wrong for him to bring discourses into the church, which cost him no care, and in this sense attempt to worship God with unbeaten oil.
In the delivery of his sermons he was clear, zealous and touching. Sometimes, apart from his eccentricities, which were regretted by his friends, he was eloquent and profound.
As regards his general course, he was persevering, punctual and indefatigable. His body was frail and his constitution weak. It is believed his incessant labors and the little care he seemed to take of himself, were the cause, speaking after the manner of men, of his early removal. The immediate cause of his death was the measles, which excited the latent diseases of his constitution, baffled all medical skill, and terminated his earthly existence, in April, 1832.
JEPTHA VINING. .
Very little of the early life of this veteran soldier of the cross is known. Where he was born, or where educated; where or when he entered upon the work of the ministry, is alike hid- den in the obscurity of the past. The first account we have of him is, in 1755 he was a messenger of the Lynch's creek church
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in the Charleston Association. He is marked in the minutes as a minister, and the presumption is, was at this time, pastor of the church. He appears again as the representative of the Upper Fork of Lynch's creek, and this is all the record we find of him in the Charleston Association.
But from sundry persons who have emigrated from that part of South Carolina to this State, with whom we have had an intimate acquaintance, some of whom were members of the said Lynch's creek church, and who sat under his ministry, we have learned that he was a zealous, faithful and very success- ful minister of the gospel. He, it is believed, was instrumental in rearing up several churches in that section before he removed to Georgia, which was during, or soon after the revolutionary war. It appears he settled upon the Rocky Comfort creek, about twelve miles above Louisville. Here he commenced preaching, and soon raised a church, which was called Provi- dence, and is still in existence.
Having lost his wife at this place, he, some time after, sought and found another, about twenty miles above, on the Ogeechee river, to which place he removed his residence, and immedi- ately commenced preaching at a Mr. Fowler's, where his min- istry was so blessed that a church was constituted, and still exists as the Long Creek church of Ogechee. He was called to the pastoral care of this church, whilst he continued also to supply the Providence church. He was instrumental in getting up some other preaching establishments, but whether he acted as pastor in any, save the two already mentioned, does not cer- tainly appear. He closed his distinguished and useful life about the year 1787, in full belief of the truth of those doctrines he had advocated during his long and successful ministry.
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