USA > Indiana > History of Coffee Creek Baptist Association, (Southern Indiana): an account of present churches, and biographical sketches of its ministers > Part 7
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In 1806, having lost his land through a defec- tive title, Elder Vawter moved to the Northwest Territory, locating about one mile from the Ohio River, directly north from where now is the city
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of Madison, and engaged in opening up a farm in the green woods. Soon other settlers came in, and Elder Vawter commenced holding meet- ings in his own cabin and in some of those of his neighbors, and in 1807 had the pleasure of seeing a church constituted called Mount Pleas- ant, of which he was chosen pastor, sustaining that relation, with very satisfactory results, until 1831, when, on account of the constitution of a Baptist church in Madison, Mount Pleasant was disbanded, the aged pastor and most of his flock going into the new organization.
Elder Vawter's ministerial labors were ex- tended over a large scope of territory. When he learned of a new settlement being formed he visited it and held religious meetings. As the country developed, his preaching tours were enlarged, covering great portions of the counties of Jefferson, Switzerland, Ripley, Jennings and Clark, and in some cases were reached by travel- ing from twenty to forty miles through the wilderness, much of the way being marked only by blazed trees or broken down underbrush.
Elder Vawtér was greatly blessed in his work, and was instrumental in planting the gospel standard in many destitute fields. He was pas- tor of and administered the ordinance of baptism in eighteen churches, the highest number at one
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time being eighteen, and the greatest number in any one church (Mount Pleasant) being 127. The whole number of baptisms is not known. He assisted in ordaining eight ministers, in con- stituting twelve churches, and in organizing three associations. At the organization of Silver Creek Association in 1812, he and an older brother, Philemon Vawter, were two of the four ordained ministers, the others being Wm. Mc- Coy and John Reece. Jesse Vawter was Mod- erator of Silver Creek Association thirteen years; of Coffee Creek, six years, and when Madison was formed was its Moderator four years, when old age and feeble health compelled him to resign. He continued to preach, however, and take an active interest in all Christian work as long as strength permitted, and being a man of deep piety, of strong faith, and of unswerving consecration to the cause of Christ, was enabled to accomplish much good. He was called from his home below to an inheritance on high the 20th of March, 1838, in the eighty-third year of his age, honored and beloved and lamented not only by his own church and denomination, but by the entire community where he had so long and faithfully labored.
Elder Philemon Vawter was also a man of piety, and a faithful and successful pioneer
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preacher the few years he remained. He died in 1814, and consequently was not a member of Coffee Creek Association. His death was a severe loss to the denomination, as laborers at that time were few. Of the two sons of Jesse Vawter, before mentioned, William located north of Vernon in the Sand Creek Association. The date of his ordination is not known, but he was a preacher of ability and success, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years. John Vaw- ter, being a minister of Coffee Creek Associa- tion, will receive a more extended notice.
ELDER THOMAS HILL, SR.
The following history of Father Hill was written by his son, Elder Thomas Hill, Jr., by request of Coffee Creek Association, and pub- lished in the minutes of 1848:
"Elder Thomas Hill, Sr., was born March 17, 1763, in the State of New Jersey. While he was yet small, his parents removed to Vir -- ginia, where, at the age of nineteen, he entered: the army and served a three months' term in: the war of the American Revolution. The 26th of October, 1786, he was married to Mary Stone, by whom he had five sons. About the year 1788 or 1789, it pleased the Lord to awaken
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him to a sense of his condition as a sinner, and, after some months of sorrow and distress on account of sin, he was enabled to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and realize peace in believing. He immediately began to exhort his fellow-men to flee from the wrath to come. He united with the Baptist Church, was baptized by Elder Jos. Anthony, and received a license from the Church to preach the gospel. His companion, a few months after, made profession of religion and united with the same church.
" After laboring a few years in Virginia, he removed to East Tennessee, where he resided about four years. In the fall of 1798, he removed to Kentucky, and settled near Somerset, Pulaski County, uniting with the church at Sinking Creek, Thomas Hansford being pastor. He soon began to hold meetings in a destitute neigh- borhood about eight miles distant, and in a short time, under his labors, a church was raised up called White Oak, of which he became pastor. He was there ordained the 2d of February, 1800, by Thomas Hansford and James Fears. He continued his labors at White Oak and retained the relation as pastor about seventeen years, during which time many were added to the church. He labored successfully in other churches and neighborhoods, especially in the vicinity
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where he resided, and was the favored instru- ment, under God, in the conversion of many souls.
"In March, 1817, he removed to Indiana, Jennings County, and united with a small church called Graham's Fork, was chosen pastor, and continued to serve the church as such until May, 1822, at which time Coffee Creek Church was organized in his immediate neighborhood and under his labors. He was a member in the constitution, was chosen pastor, and continued his pastorship for sixteen and a half years, when, at his own request, he was released in conse- quence of the infirmities of age.
" He was a faithful and persevering laborer in the gospel field in Indiana, supplying from three to four churches regularly for many years, until, by reason of age, he found himself unable to perform the arduous duties devolving upon him, and was compelled to retire. He labored faith- fully, and had the satisfaction to know that his labors were not in vain in the Lord. Many yet live who claim him as their father in the gospel, while many others, who were brought into the fold of Christ under his instrumentality, are gone to enjoy that rest which remains to the people of God.
"On the 24th day of October, 1844, he was
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called to part with his bosom companion, with whom he had lived nearly fifty-eight years. She had been a faithful burden-bearer with him in all his labors and toils. The bereavement to him was very painful, but he comforted himself with the thought that his loss was her gain.
"He continued to labor as far as health and strength would permit, and when he was no longer able to travel out and visit neighboring churches, he was still faithful in attending the meetings of his own beloved church, even when unable to walk without being supported; and frequently, at the close of meeting, he would lean upon his staff and exhort his brethren and sisters to faithfulness in duty, and point sinners to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.
"He departed this life on Monday, the 22d of May, 1848, after a short, but painful, afflic- tion, occasioned by a fall. The last month of his life was to him a season of more than usual religious enjoyment. He died in hope of a blessed immortality. In his last illness he re- marked to his friends that he felt willing to go, and, after a few moments, repeated : 'Yes, I feel willing to go; my hope is in Jesus. I have no confidence in the flesh.'
"On the following day, at 3 o'clock, his
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funeral sermon was preached at Coffee Creek meeting-house by Elder J. B. Swincher, from I Chronicles xxix. 15: 'We are strangers be- fore thee and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.' After which his remains were followed by a very large procession to the graveyard, where they were interred by the side of his dear companion, there to remain until the resurrection morn."
In addition to the foregoing, it is due to the memory of Father Hill to say that he was a preacher of much more than common ability. Although, at the time of his conversion, he was entirely uneducated, he very soon learned to read his Bible, which was his daily companion, and in which he made great proficiency. During the entire time of his ministerial labors in this State, he was regarded as one of our most able expounders of the Scriptures. Perhaps no min- ister in Southern Indiana had a better faculty of illustrating his subject to make it interesting to all, or of securing and holding, while speaking, the undivided attention of his auditors. Cer- tainly no one more fully possessed the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
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ELDER JAMES ALEXANDER.
Of the early history of James Alexander but little has been ascertained. It is believed that he was a native of England, and that he came over and settled in Kentucky early in the pres- ent century. He came to Southern Indiana probably about 1812 or '13, locating in an un- broken forest, on Middle Fork Creek, some eight miles north from Madison, where he opened up a farm and resided the remainder of his days.
He was a Baptist before coming to the State, and soon after his arrival united by letter with Mount Pleasant Church, where his brethren soon recognized his ability as a speaker and urged him forward in that course. In 1842 Mount Pleasant Church granted him license to preach, and he engaged in the work to a considerable extent, holding meetings in the cabins of early settlers in various neighborhoods, and in school- houses where one was to be found; and his labors were well received by the pioneers of the new country.
In 1817 Middle Fork Church, near his resi- dence, and where he had diligently labored for some years, was constituted, himself and wife being constituent members. At this church, in 1819, he was ordained to the ministry, in which service he took an active interest as long as he
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lived. Although compelled to labor hard in clearing off a heavy growth of timber; in fenc- ing the land and cultivating it to maintain his family, yet he gave a large portion of his time to the ministry of the word, and was soon rec- ognized as one of the leading men of the denom- ination. He was a co-worker and fast friend of Elder Jesse Vawter, and they frequently made long tours together through the wilderness to hold meetings at distant points. Many times they were permitted to collect and constitute new churches, and to strengthen and build up feeble ones already constituted.
Middle Fork Church, of which Elder Alex- ander was pastor, united with Silver Creek Asso- ciation in 1818; was one that united in forming Coffee Creek Association in 1827, and Madison in 1833, in each of which Elder Alexander was a prominent and influential member, and ever proved himself a wise and safe counselor and an energetic Christian worker. As a pastor he was loved and respected, and his labors were greatly blessed. A large extent of country was em- braced in his preaching tours, and he was well known in several counties, and held pastorates with many different churches.
He lived to quite an advanced age, but the date of his decease has not been ascertained.
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All the old settlers with whom I have conversed speak of him in the highest terms as an able preacher and pure Christian, and it is much to be regretted that a more complete history of his life can not be given.
ELDER JOHN VAWTER.
John Vawter was born in Orange (now Madi- son) County, Virginia, January 8, 1782. When an infant his parents moved to North Carolina, and a few years later to Scott County, Ky., locating near Frankfort. When about eighteen years of age he was converted, and with several of his father's family, and others, united in the constitution of the North Fork of Elkhorn Bap- tist Church. In 1805 his name appears in the minutes of Elkhorn (Ky.) Association as a messenger from Long Lick, a church recently constituted. A few months later he married Miss Margaret Smith, of Scott County.
In the summer of 1807 he removed to Indiana, locating about one mile from his father-Elder Jesse Vawter-and near where the Madison court-house now stands. He was the first mag- istrate in the town of Madison, and was subse- quently elected sheriff of Jefferson and Clark counties. In 1812 or '14 he was appointed U.
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S. Marshal, by President Madison, which office he held until 1829. He was five times elected to the Legislature, and in 1836 represented the counties of Jennings, Brown and Bartholomew in the State Senate.
Being possessed of a good English education, and by profession a civil engineer, he was em- ployed by the government to survey large por- tions of the State. In 1813 he surveyed Jen- nings County, and being pleased with the coun- try, selected a site on the bank of the Muscat- atack for his future home. Here he platted the town of Vernon, and in the early summer of 1815, built a cabin and moved his family into it. At that time, it is said, there was but one other family in Jennings County-that of Solomon Deputy on Coffee Creek, ten miles distant. The nearest settlement was on Camp Creek, in Jefferson County, eight miles south.
Brother Vawter continued surveying for sev- eral years, and during his tours preached the gospel in the counties of Jennings, Brown, Barth- olomew, Johnson, Marion, Shelby and Decatur.
In the fall of 1815, Wm. T. Stott and family, with a few others, located in the vicinity of Vernon, and soon, in connection with Brother Vawter, commenced holding meetings in their cabins, which resulted in the constitution of the
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Vernon Baptist Church, in April, 1816-John Vawter, Wm. T. Stott, Mary Stott, Wm. Pad- gett, Ann Padgett, Nancy Lewis and Margaret Stribling being the constituent members. Brother Vawter was an active member of the church, and in 1820 was licensed to preach and called to the pastorate; was ordained in 1821, and zealously continued in the ministry up to the time of his death. Being a man of great energy and per- severance and indomitable will, he permitted nothing to interfere with his ministerial engage- ments; and during the forty-four years in which he preached the gospel, much of the time through a sparsely settled country without roads, and with many dangers to encounter, rarely, if ever, failed to fill his appointments.
In 1818 he was chosen Clerk of Silver Creek Association, serving nine years, and was the first Clerk of Coffee Creek Association, serving twenty-two years, being promptly on hand at each meeting for thirty-one years in succession. At Coffee Creek he four times preached the Introductory Sermon, and eight times wrote the Circular Letter, and was always a leading man in the Association.
Prompt and reliable in all business transactions ; of great executive ability ; a good organizer and zealous worker, his influence in both church and
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community was great, and when called away the loss was deeply felt. Though not what at the present day would be called wealthy, yet he had a competency, and in this respect was more favored than most of his fellow-laborers in the ministry. Kind-hearted and benevolent, he was always ready to assist those in distress, and was liberal in the support of all church-work.
He removed to Morgan County in 1848, and shortly after erected a good brick meeting-house in Morgantown, and donated it to the denom- ination. In August, 1862, he left the church militant and entered the church triumphant, aged eighty-one years.
Three wives preceded Elder Vawter to the grave. The fourth was left to mourn his loss, but not as those who have no hope.
ELDER ALEXANDER CHAMBERS.
Alexander Chambers was born in Rockbridge County, Va., May 15, 1756, where he resided until twenty-three years of age, when he married and moved to North Carolina. In 1790 he re- moved to East Tennessee, remaining four years ; thence to Kentucky, where he resided three years. In 1797 he moved to Illinois, and two years thereafter returned to Kentucky, where he
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remained until the summer of 1809, when he came to Indiana, and located on White River, in Jefferson County, where he resided for about forty-eight years.
The exact date of his conversion is not known, but it was during his first residence in Kentucky, where he united with a Baptist Church, and retained his connection until his removal to In- diana. Here he, and a few others who came at the same time, commenced holding prayer- meetings, and were soon visited by Elder Jesse Vawter, who constituted them into a church in 18II.
Brother Chambers was a leading member, and in 1816 was licensed to preach, which he did at his own church, and in new settlements in Jefferson and Clark counties. In 1823 he was "set apart" to the work of the ministry, and engaged in pastoral labor to a considerable extent, though compelled to work at secular employment to support his family. His pastor- ates at White River covered a period of about ten years, and his labors were well received there and at other points where he preached.
It is seldom a man enters the ministry so late in life as did Elder Chambers, he being sixty- seven years of age at the time of his ordination ; but he was permitted to labor many years in the
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Master's service, passing to rest the 29th day of June, 1857, in the 102d year of his age.
Elder Chambers was one of the solid men of the community. A hardy pioneer; an enter- prising citizen; a devoted and faithful husband and father, and a humble disciple of Jesus; of strict integrity and unblemished moral character, he possessed, in an eminent degree, the, confi- dence of his neighbors, and of his brethren in the church where he had so long been a worthy member.
As illustrative of the wild state of the North- west Territory when Brother Chambers first en- tered it, the following incident, which occurred during his trip to Illinois, in 1797, and recorded in the Coffee Creek Minutes of 1857, is inserted :
"On that trip he got lost from the company of movers, under the following circumstances: He went out to shoot a buffalo from a herd that was in view, and after having killed one and taken from the carcass as much as he could carry-it being about sunset-he missed the trail, there being no roads. Darkness set in; he traveled all night, and for sixteen days wan- dered alone in a then entire wilderness. The company, after stopping one day and searching for him, moved on, supposing he had been kill- ed by the Indians. On the seventeenth day the
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Indians found him, nearly starved, when they took him to their camp and placed him in the hands of an old squaw, who fed and nursed him several days. They then sent two of their war- riors with him to his family, from whom he had been absent about twenty-seven days." .
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ELDER WILLIAM BLANKENSHIP.
William Blankenship came from Kentucky and located on White River, in Jefferson Coun- ty, while Indiana was yet a Territory; probably as early as 1810 or 'II. Of his early history but little is known. His own statement was that he had been "a wicked man," but as a cit- izen and neighbor he was well respected. Dur- ing the ministerial labors of Elder Jesse Vawter at White River, it pleased the Lord to awaken him to a consciousness of his being a sinner, and of his need of pardoning mercy. He was en- abled to repent and believe; was baptized and united with the church about the year 1813.
The change in Brother Blankenship was sud- den and permanent. Instead of the thoughtless, indifferent man-treating religious matters as of little importance-he became the humble, de- voted follower of Jesus; testifying by his daily
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walk and conversation, that Christ hath power on earth to forgive sins.
In 1818 White River Church gave him license to preach. The same year Scaffold Lick was constituted, and he moved his membership to that body-it being more convenient to him- and was there ordained in 1823; commencing pastoral labors immediately, and serving success- fully four years. He then moved to the northern part of Jefferson County, where he united with Indian Kentucky Church and became its pastor. He also had pastoral care of several other church- es; and, though uneducated, possessed good nat- ural abilities and was a very pleasant and attrac- tive speaker. His pure Christian deportment, and his piety and zeal in the cause, enabled him to accomplish much in his pastoral work.
In 1827, as messenger from Indian Kentucky Church, he assisted in the organization of Coffee Creek Association, and was a useful member of that body until the formation of Madison Asso- ciation; in the bounds of which he labored faith- fully for two or three years, when he was called to his heavenly inheritance, about the year 1835.
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ELDER THOMAS HILL, JR.
Thomas Hill, Jr., was born in East Tennessee, September 12, 1797. While in infancy his par- ents removed to Kentucky-purchasing a farm in Pulaski County-where he resided until nine- teen years of age, assisting his father, when old enough to do so, in cultivating the farm.
In 1816, accompanied by his father and some others, he came to Indiana on an exploring trip, going as far north as the Muscatatack, near where are now located Sullivan's Mills. Here they erected a "camp," and the following day killed a large bear in the immediate vicinity. They remained until all had selected lands-Sullivan, Meek, and others, on the Muscatatack; and the two Hills on Coffee Creek. Returning to Ken- tucky, the subject of this sketch was married the following winter, and in March, 1817, came to his land in Indiana.
In May, 1822, Coffee Creek Church was con- stituted, and the same day Thomas Hill, Jr., offered himself to the church; was baptized by his father the day following, and retained mem- bership in the same body through life. In 1823 he was licensed, and in August, 1825, was ordained and "set apart to the responsible work of the gospel ministry;" and from that time
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forward made the "ministry of the word" the main business of life.
At that early day anti-mission sentiments had become quite prevalent; but from the first Elder Hill had warmly espoused the cause of Missions, and was the first missionary in this part of the State, accepting an appointment from the Am. Bap. Home Mission Society as early as 1826 or '27, continuing several years, and traveling on horseback through most of the counties of Southern Indiana, at a time when such traveling meant something. It was through his influence, probably, more than that of any other, that the missionary spirit ultimately prevailed throughout this section; and he lived to see every church in Coffee Creek Association, as well as others where he had labored, not only adopt missionary principles, but contribute to their support.
In the early days of the Ind. Baptist Gen. Association, he accepted an appointment as missionary under that body, and was afterwards appointed general agent for the State. At the close of 1838,, Elder Thomas Hill, Sr., resigned the pastoral care of Coffee Creek Church, and the same day a call was extended to Elder Thomas Hill, Jr., to fill the vacancy, which he accepted, resigning his position as State agent. His pastoral relations continued at his home
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church nearly thirty years; and he also, at vari- ous times, labored with nearly every church in the Association, as well as many in Madison, Sand Creek and Brownstown Associations, and some across the river in Kentucky, in all of which God abundantly blessed his labors to the conversion of souls. In addition to pastoral duties, he had much arduous labor to perform. He was Moderator of Coffee Creek Association thirty-nine years, and was expected to attend all annual sessions of corresponding Associations ; to attend at ordinations, at church constitutions, at protracted meetings, and at conventions of the various societies of the denomination; his time being thus fully occupied throughout a long and eventful life.
In 1865 his companion was called away. This sad bereavement and the infirmities of age in- duced him to resign regular pastoral work, yet he continued to preach and labor in the cause of Christ until stricken with the disease that termin- ated his mortal life. His first sermon was deliver- ed at Coffee Creek Church in the commencement of 1823, and his last, or last but one, at the same place in November, 1875, making nearly fifty- three consecutive years that he had labored in the same community, always drawing a large congregation of attentive and interested listen-
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ers. He closed his earthly career and passed to rest the 27th day of March, 1876, in the seventy- ninth year of his age.
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