USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 15
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*Life and Travels, pp. 15-16; revised.
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him I should do as I had first told him. The next monthly meeting, ยท I baptized him, according to my first arrangement. When I came to Kentucky I left him the minister of Tomahawk church."
Another circumstance will illustrate the strictness of dis- cipline among Baptists, at that period. A young lady, the daughter of Colonel Haskins, was arraigned before the church at Skinquarter, "for wearing stays, they being fashionable at that time. She was truly a meek and pious young lamb," continues Mr. Hickman. "I plead her cause and saved her. She after- wards became the wife of Edward Trabue, and died in Ken- tucky."
On the 16th day of August, 1784, Mr. Hickman started to move to Kentucky. He arrived at George Stokes Smith's, in what is now Garrard county, on the 9th day of November. "The next day," says he, "which was Sunday, there was meeting at brother Smith's, and unprepared as I was, I had to try to preach, though there were three other preachers present. I spoke from the fourth psalm : 'The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself.'" This was his second attempt to preach in Ken- tucky. It was now more than eight years since he began his ministry at the head of the spring at Harrodtown." Thomas Tinsley was present when he made his first effort. Speaking of the second, he says : "Old brother William Marshall was there, and invited me to go where he lived, at a place called the Knobs. He appeared to set some store by me, but thought I was tinc- tured with Arminianism. I thought he was strenuous on eternal justification. There was a church at Gilbert's creek, but I had no inclination to join so soon after I moved there. Brother John Taylor came from the north side of Kentucky river, and preached at brother Robertson's. William Bledsoe was there. Brother Taylor's text was : 'Christ is all in all.' I fed on the food. It was like the good old Virginia doctrine." Thus, in a few days, Mr. Hickman was brought in contact with nearly all the preachers in "Upper Kentucky." There were at that time, only two Regular and two Separate Baptist churches in that part of the State; and the first revival did not occur till the following winter.
The 5th of the following April, Mr. Hickman moved to the north side of Kentucky river, and settled near Lexington. The fourth Saturday in the same month, he and his wife handed in
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their letters, and were received into the fellowship of South Elkhorn church. Here hc and Lewis Craig became yoke-fellows in the ministry, and John Taylor was near by. Than these, a nobler trio of gospel ministers has seldom blessed any one com- munity on our planet. They, with a few others perhaps equally pious, but less active and zealous, raised up, in a few years, churches enough to form a large and influential association, and their names were familiarly known over this continent, and in Europe.
Mr. Hickman's labors at Boones Creek, Marble Creek, Forks of Elkhorn and Brashears Creek, in Shelby county, have already been spoken of. He became pastor of Forks of Elk- horn, at its constitution, and sustained that relation till it was severed by death. He supplied Brashears Creek near the present town of Shelbyville, about a year, when he had to be attended by a band of soldiers between Frankfort and that point, to guard him against the hostile Indians. He then induced Joshua Morris to move to Brashears creek, and take charge of the little church. In 1791, he paid a short visit to his old churches in Virginia. On his return to Kentucky, he commenced preaching in Mr. Ficklin's barn, on McConnells Run, in Scott county. Here he raised up a church, at first called McConnells Run, but now known as Stamping Ground. To this church he ministered about fourteen years. A few brief quotations from his Life and Travels will give, in a narrow compass, some idea of his abun- dant labors and great success in Kentucky. Speaking of the great revival of 1800-3, he says: "I suppose I baptized more than five hundred in the course of two years, though in different places. Our church (Forks of Elkhorn) increased to three or four hun- dred in number. About this time the churches began to branch off. We dismissed members to constitute Glen's Creek, South Benson, North Fork and Mouth of Elkhorn (Zion) churches. I attended all those young churches at that time, they being desti- tute of ministers, and baptized a number of members in each, till they were supplied. In those days I went down and visited my friends on Eagle creek, and baptized a number there. Soon after that a large and respectable church arose there. Brother John Scott moved among them, and has long been their pastor." "I am now in my eighty-first year; and have a greater charge on me than ever I had. I am called upon to attend three other
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churches, besides our own. This takes up all my time. But I want to spend my latter moments to God's glory. I enjoy com- mon health through the goodness of God."
"I have, after my poor manner, to serve Mt. Pleasant, North Fork and Zion churches. Our regular meetings at the Forks of Elkhorn, have been on the second Saturday and Sun- day in each month for nearly forty years. This church I hope to serve till I am laid in the dust, for they have ever manifested their love and esteem to me. They lie near my heart, I wish to live and die with them ; and I hope to spend a blessed eternity with them where parting is no more."
Some two years after he wrote the paragraphs just quoted, this venerable servant of God, still in ordinary health visited south Benson church, of which his son William was pastor. After preaching, and then eating a hearty dinner, he complained of feeling uncomfortable. He started to go home, accompanied by his son. When he reached Frankfort he was unable to pro- ceed further. He stopped at the house of a friend and re- quested a pallet to be made on the floor. On this he lay down to rest. As he lay there, talking of his trust in Christ, on a mild evening in the fall of 1830, he grew weaker and weaker, until his voice was silenced. A few moments afterwards he passed away to the eternal home. So ended a long life of ac- tive labor and prominent usefulness in the cause of Christ. Of this remarkable man of God, John Taylor wrote in the follow- ing quaint style, while Mr. Hickman was living:
"This man had a great range in Kentucky, for here he has been a faithful laborer nearly forty years. He is truly a '76 man, for in '76 he paid a visit to Kentucky, and here, the same year, he first began to preach. In early times, and in the face of danger, he settled where he now lives, for a number of years, at the risk of his life, from Indian fury. He preached to the people in Shelby county, and other frontier settlements. So that he is one of the hardy, fearless sons of '76. For upwards of thirty years he has served the church at the Forks of Elk- horn, in which congregation he has, perhaps, baptized more than five hundred people. He has statedly served a number of other churches. Perhaps no man in Kentucky has baptized so many people as this venerable man. Though now about seventy-six years old, he walks and stands as erect as a palm tree, being at
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least six feet high, rather of a lean texture, his whole deport- ment solemn and grave, and like Caleb, the servant of the Lord of old, at four score years of age, was as capable of going to war as when young. This '76 veteran can yet perform a good part in the Gospel Vineyard. His preaching is in a plain, solemn style, and the sound of it like thunder in the distance ; but when in his best mood his sound is like thunder at home, and operates with prodigious force on the conscience of his hearers."*
Mr. Hickman was twice married and raised many children. His oldest son, William, was long pastor of South Benson church. Captain Paschal Hickman who fell in the battle of River Rasin, and in whose honor Hickman county was named, was another of his sons. The venerable Elder Paschal Todd, of Owen county, is a grandson.
HUSTONS CREEK church was a small body of Separate Baptists, gathered in Bourbon county in 1788, by Moses Bled- soe. It contained, in 1790, fifty-six members. After this its name disappeared from the records.
MOSES BLEDSOE was a preacher of considerable prominence among the pioneers of Kentucky. But little is now known of his life and labors. He was most probably a son of Elder Joseph Bledsoe, the founder and first pastor of Gilberts Creek church of Separate Baptists, in Garrard county, and brother of Elder William Bledsoe and the brilliant but erratic, Judge Jesse Bledsoe.
Moses Bledsoe was a native of Virginia. He came to Ken- tucky at a very early period, and was active among the Sepa- rate Baptists, in raising up the early churches of that order. He was pastor of Hustons Creek, Bethel and Lulbegrud churches, and was one of the committee which arranged the "terms of general union." He had the reputation of being a good man.
ROLLING FORK church was located in the southern part of Nelson county. It was constituted in 1788, and united with Salem Association the same year. It reported to the Associa- tion seventeen members. It was probably gathered by Joshua Carman, an enthusiastic Emancipationist. This church sent . with its letter to the association, the year after it obtained ad-
*His. Ten Ch's., pp. 48-49.
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mission into that body, the following query: "Is it lawful in the sight of God for a member of Christ's church to keep his . fellow-creatures in perpetual slavery ?" "The association judge[d] it improper to enter into so important and critical a matter at present." This answer was unsatisfactory. The church continued to agitate the subject of slavery till, in 1796, it withdrew from the Association. It returned to the Association in 1802, but was disturbed by a factious spirit, and a disorderly preacher of the name of William Downs, and continued to wither till 1825, when it dissolved .*
JOSHUA CARMAN, who appears to have been the founder and first pastor of Rolling Fork, was probably a native of Western Pennsylvania. He was among the early settlers of Nelson county, Kentucky. For a number of years he was an active minister in the bounds of Salem Association, and was several times appointed to preach the introductory sermon before that body. He was regarded a man of good ability, and was much beloved by the brethren. But, becoming fanatical on the sub- ect of slavery, he induced Rolling Fork church to withdraw from the Association, in 1796, and declare non-fellowship with all slave-holders. He attempted to draw off Cedar Creek church, of which, according to tradition, he was pastor at that time. But, failing in this attempt, he collected the disaffected members from that church, Cox's Creek and Lick Creek, and, with the assistance of Josiah Dodge, constituted an Emancipation church, about six miles north-west of Bardstown. This church soon withered away, and Rolling Fork church returned to Salem Association. The exact date of constituting this Emancipation church, or the name it bore, is not now known, but it is sup- posed to have been the first organization of the kind in Ken- tucky. Mr. Carman, finding himselt unable to bring any con- siderable number of Baptists to his views, moved to eastern Ohio, where it is said he raised up a respectable church, and preached to it till the Lord took him away.
WILLIAM DOWNS was the next preacher in Rolling Fork church. He possessed extraordinary natural gifts, and was one of the most brilliant and fascinating orators in the Kentucky pulpit in his day. But he was indolent, slovenly and self-in-
*Min. Sal. Asso.
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dulgent. This rendered him almost useless to society, and per- . haps worse than useless to the cause of Christ.
William Downs was a son of Thomas Downs, an early settler in what is now Ohio county, Kentucky. He was prob- ably born in a fort where the county seat of Ohio is now located, about the year 1782. His father, having moved to Vienna Fort, on Green river, where Calhoun is now located, was killed by a party of Indians, about the year 1790. He left two sons, Thomas and William, both of whom became Baptist preachers-the former, a man of great usefulness. William was brought to Nelson county, and placed under the care of Mr. Evan Will- iams, by whom he was brought up. He received a fair English education, for that time, and adopted the profession of school teaching. In early life he professed religion, and united with Rolling Fork church. He commenced exercising in public soon after he was baptized, and gave evidence of such extraordinary gifts that the church too hastily had him ordained to the minis- try. He had preached but a short time before he was sum- moned before the church to answer the charge of being intoxi- cated. To avoid the trial he sought membership in a Separate Baptist church, and was received. Rolling Fork church, how- ever, publicly excluded him, and requested Salem Association to advertise him. This was done in the minutes of that body, in 1805.
Mr. Downs, however, continued to preach among the Sepa- rate Baptists till he raised up a large church of that order, called Little Mount. It was located about three miles north-east of Hodgenville, and contained a number of highly respectable citi- zens. Mr. Downs was fond of controversy, and engaged in several debates. His exceeding familiarity with the Sacred Scriptures, his ready wit, keen sarcasm, and brilliant oratory attracted the attention and won the admiration of the most in- telligent and refined people within the limits of his acquaintance. Hon. Benjamin Hardin, one of the leading lawyers and states- men of Kentucky, greatly admired his oratory, and embraced every opportunity to hear him preach. During an informal dis- cussion with a Catholic priest, Mr. Downs' wit and sarcasm so irritated the "reverend father" that he struck his troublesome adversary in the face with his fist. This afforded Mr. Hardin an opportunity to arrange the terms of a public debate between the
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priest and Mr. Downs. Mr. Hardin presented his friend Downs with a handsome suit of clothes to wear during the debate. The priest opened the debate with an hour's speech. Not knowing Mr. Downs' church relationship, he attempted to confound him by proving conclusively that all the Protestant sects had received their baptism from the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Downs admitted his proposition, but denied being a Protestant. The priest exhibited his disappointment and confusion by saying to Mr. Hardin : " You have brought me an Anabaptist to contend against : had I known this, I would not have debated with him." Greatly to the gratification of his honorable friend, Mr. Downs gained a complete victory.
About the year 1830 Mr. Downs moved to Ohio county, and again joined the United Baptists. Here an opportunity was soon afforded for the display of his controversial powers.
A Universalist preacher, of the name of Mann, had been for some months preaching at Hawesville, in Hancock county, occasionally. At the close of each discourse he challenged his audience to furnish an orthodox preacher to debate with him. Finally a gentleman present accepted the challenge. The terms of debate were agreed on, and the time appointed for it to com mence. Punctual to the time Mr. Mann, who was a very hand- some man, and dressed very elegantly, made his appearance. Mr. Downs had worn out the suit of clothes which Mr. Hardin had given him, and was now clad extremely shabbily. He had on a pair of coarse, short, tow-linen pantaloons, an old wool hat, with a piece of leather sewed in the crown and a pair of coarse cow-skin shoes, without socks. He and Mr. Mann were formally introduced. The latter expressed his astonishment and disgust by asking the question : "Is this the man you have brought here to debate with me?" Mr. Downs replied promptly: "Never mind, Mr. Mann, I am only fit to do the dirty work of the church." The debate proceeded. The Universalist fop, in debate with the old experienced controver- sialist, was as a pigmy in the hands of a giant. Mr. Downs played with him as a cat plays with a wounded mouse. At the close of each argument, presented with irresistible force, he quoted from Paul, leaving out the word "every." " Let God be true and man (Mann) a liar." At the close of the debate
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the crest-fallen Universalist beat a hasty retreat, and was never afterwards seen in Hawesville.
In the split among the Baptists of the Green River country, on the subject of missions, about the year 1835, Mr. Downs went off with the anti-mission faction. After this he had a controversy with a Campbellite preacher. But while he always displayed splendid abilities in the pulpit, his moral character was so defec- tive that he exerted little influence for good. He died in pov- erty and obscurity, about the year 1860.
HEAD OF SALT RIVER church was a small body of Separate Baptists, constituted in Mercer county, in 1787 or 1788. In 1790 it reported to South Kentucky Association 57 members. After this we hear no more of it; it either dissolved or changed its name.
BUCK RUN church was gathered by John and James Du- puy. It was constituted October 1, 1788, and was located in Woodford county. It united with Elkhorn Association the same month in which it was constituted, and the following year reported 14 baptisms and a total membership of 34. This church, like many others at an early period in Kentucky, prob- ably had no stated pastor, but was supplied with preaching by the ministers who were among its members. In 1793 it attained to a membership of 70. After this it was rent by factions, and rapidly declined, till 1799, when it dissolved.
JOHN DUPUY was of French extraction. The history of his ancestors is one of thrilling interest.
In spite of Papal vigilance, the Lutheran Reformation spread from Germany over France, till the French Protestants numbered hundreds of thousands. The contest between them and the Catholics led to the Bartholomew massacre in 1572, in which it was supposed thirty thousand Protestants were slain within thirty days. This persecution continued till Henry IV published a decree, in 1598, granting the Protestants certain civil rights. This decree is commonly known as the Edict of Nantes. After this the Protestants, who were called Huguenots, enjoyed some degree of peace, till Louis XIV again deprived them of their civil rights, in 1681, when another fearful persecu- tion broke out, and the sufferings of the Huguenots became in- tolerable. Notwithstanding the borders of the Empire were
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guarded by armed soldiers, more than a half million of the Protestants escaped to Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Eng- land. In 1685 the Edict of Nantes was revoked, and the Protes- tants were left wholly at the mercy of the Catholics. Such as could get away fled from the Empire, while the remainder were forced to recant or perish by martyrdom. Among the former was a young man of large estate, of the name of Dupuy. He had served fourteen years in the French army, and had been en- gaged in as many pitched battles. On retiring from the army he was married to Susannah Sevillian, a young countess, and settled on his estate. Six months after this the Edict of Nantes was re- voked. Dupuy secured a suit of male attire, dressed his wife in the garb of a page, and, taking all the gold he had by him, they mounted a pair of fleet horses and fled towards Germany. They left the doors and windows of their house open, to prevent sus- picion. But the wily zealots were soon aware of their flight, and pursued them. Coming in sight of the refugees, they fired on them, but with no other injury than the mutilating of a small Bible,* which the countess carried on her person. As soon as the refugees found themselves safe on the territory of Germany, they alighted from their horses and worshiped God in solemn prayer and a hymn of thanksgiving. After remaining in Ger- many about fourteen years, the Dupuys, with many other French Huguenots, emigrated to Virginia, about the year 1700, and settled at Manakin, an old Indian town on James river.
Here John Dupuy, a son of Bartholomew Dupuy, and a descendant of the bold Huguenot, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, March 17, 1738. He received a good education for that time, and began in early life to devote himself much to re- ligious exercise. He belonged to the Church of England, and possessed a good estate. Being a good reader, and having a pious disposition, he began to collect his neighbors, and read to them from the church service the sacred scriptures, or printed sermons. He was invited to hold meetings at the houses of his neighbors. In a short time he had established three weekly ap-
*This Bible and a short sword, carried at that time by M. Dupuy, are said to be still kept in the Dupuy family, fn America. Miss Eliza Dupuy has published a historical romance, entitled, "The Short Sword of the Hu- guenots."
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pointments at the houses of three poor but pious old widows. These people being too poor to furnish candles, he read by the light of fires made of pine knots. He gradually fell into the habit of exhorting the people, after reading the Scrip- tures.
Much interest began to be manifested at young Dupuy's meetings. Under his warm exhortations the people would groan and weep, and give other indications of strong religious feeling. At one of these meetings, while Mr. Dupuy was exhorting, and the people were exhibiting much tenderness of feeling, a son of the widow at whose house the meeting was held, rose up and cried out angrily : "John Dupuy, you must stick to the rules of the Church of England. You shall not preach here." Mr. Dupuy now began to study the Bible, and soon became convinced of the duty of believer's immersion. At this time he had probably never heard a Baptist preach. Some time after this, hearing that Samuel Harris and Jeremiah Walker had an appointment to preach, about forty miles from where he lived, he went to hear them. He was so well pleased with their doctrine that he re- lated to them his Christian experience, and was baptized, June 16, 1771.
The seeds Mr. Dupuy had sown in his Bible readings and exhortations were ripening for the harvest. He induced William Webber and Joseph Anthony to visit the neighbor- hood. The Lord blessed their labors. A church, called Pow- hatan, was constituted the same year. This was the first Bap- tist church in Powhatan county. Mr. Dupuy built them a sub- stantial meeting-house, a part of the wall of which is still stand- ing ; but the building has been greatly enlarged. Soon after this church was constituted the famous John Waller and the Craigs visited the neighborhood. A great revival ensued, and a large number was added to the church.
David Tinsley was induced to settle among these brethren, and became their pastor. The church prospered under his mis- istry, till 1774, when he was thrust into Chesterfield jail for preaching the gospel. During this year Mr. Dupuy was mar- ried to Elizabeth Minter, and was soon after ordained pastor of Powhatan church. This position he occupied till he moved to the West. This church was a very prosperous one. Previous to the year 1827, it had raised up fourteen preachers. Among
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these were John and James Dupuy, George and George S. Smith and William Hickman, all of whom settled in Kentucky.
In the fall of 1784 John Dupuy moved to Kentucky, and settled in what is now Woodford county. In the following spring he went into the constitution of Clear Creek church. After remaining about three years a member of this church, he and his brother James Dupuy, who had recently moved from Virginia, constituted a church, on Buck Run, not far from where Griers Creek meeting-house now stands. This church, as stated above, was dissolved in 1799.
In 1801 Mr. Dupuy moved to what is now Oldham county, and united with the church on Pattons creek. Here he re- mained on his farm till about one year before his death, when he moved to Shelbyville. The church on Pattons creek with which he had labored about thirty-five years, wrote him a long and affectionate letter after he moved to Shelbyville, begging him not to move his membership from among them. This he consented to, and died a member of that church, October, 1837, in the hundreth year of his age. *
Mr. Dupuy possessed very moderate preaching gifts. But he was a good man, and in his younger days was active and useful as an exhorter. He was much beloved for his ardent piety and his munificent charity to the poor. :
JAMES DUPUY was a brother of John Dupuy, but nearly twenty years younger than he. He was probably converted under the preaching of David Tinsley. He commenced exer- cising in exhortation in the little night meetings held by William Hickman and others, about the year 1773, when he was only a youth. There were seven of the young men, none of whom were recognized as preachers then, but who were zealous in holding meetings in that neighborhood till Skinquarter church was raised up and Hickman was ordained its pastor. The seven all became preachers, ultimately.
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