USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 19
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Next day Mr. Vaughan answered him in a most powerful sermon, two hours and three-quarters in length. This brought on the crisis. Henceforth the warfare was an open one, and fearfully did it rage, till the Campbellites were excluded from the Baptist churches.
Mr. Campbell was not long in discovering Mr. Vaughan's great abilities, and the formidable opposition he was making to the "Reformation." Accordingly he sought a private interview with him. The interview took place in Maysville, in May, 1829. During the interview Mr. Campbell said: "Brother Vaughan, by opposing the Reformation you are losing your popularity, Semple, of Virginia, is losing his popularity by it. I tell you, baptism for the remission of sins will cover the whole earth. you will join the Reformation you will have more friends and be better sustained. I am informed that those who have joined the Reformation are more liberal than formerly, and sustain their ministers better." Mr. Vaughan replied : "I am a poor man ; but neither popularity nor money will induce me to sustain a system of doctrine I do not believe." "I know it cannot," said Mr. Campbell. "And I have told the people, from Lexington to Nashville, that you are the clearest-headed man in Kentucky." During the same conversation Mr. Campbell said to Mr. Vaughan: " If you and Walter Warder will join the Reformation this whole country will go into it."*
#I took down these facts from the lips of Mr. Vaughan, before his death.
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205
Walter Warder.
For a number of years after the division between the Bap- tists and the Campbellites, the strife was very bitter, and the churches were sorely vexed. But Mr. Warder stood firm, and labored on unfalteringly, till his strength failed. In the midst of the strife he was called upon to endure the loss of the wife of his youth. This great trial, together with the distress he en- dured on account of the troubles among the churches, was more than he was able to bear. His strength began gradually to fail. On the 15th of December, 1830, he took for his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Dobyns. He continued to labor on, according to his strength, but his health and energies continued to fail, and his task was well nigh done.
In March, 1836, he went to Missouri to visit his children, and with the hope of recruiting his health; but he rapidly grew worse. As his end approached, he remarked to those around him that he had often been the subject of doubts and fears in reference to his interest in Christ. . "But," he added,
" Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are, While on His breast I lean my head And breathe my life out sweetly there."
On the 6th of April, 1836, he left the thorny walks of men to join the general assembly and church of the first born. His body was brought back from Missouri and laid in the grave- yard near Mays Lick meeting-house, where a neat slab marks his resting-place !
INDIAN CREEK church, located in Harrison county, was probably gathered by Augustine Eastin. It was constituted of eight members, in 1790, and united with Elkhorn Association in August of the same year. It remained a member of this fra- ternity till 1813, when it entered into the constitution of Union Association, to which it still belongs. Augustine Eastin was its first pastor, so far as known. Under his ministry it attained a membership of ninety-five, in 1802. But the next year it di- vided, in consequence of Mr. Eastin's having introduced the Arian doctrine among its members. About thirty members adhered to the recreant pastor, and formed themselves into what would now be called a Unitarian church. This faction, after the death of its leader, united with the Campbellites.
About the time of this rupture David Biggs settled in the
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
neighbornood and became a member, and probably the pastor of Indian Creek church. From this time till 1833, the church enjoyed peace and a good degree of prosperity. At that date it numbered III members. But the next year it divided again, about fifty of its members entering into the fellowship of Licking Association. From this time it continued to decline, till 1856, when it numbered only thirteen members. After that it increased slowly, till 1880, when it numbered forty two mem- bers. Isaac Munson was a preacher in this church about sixty years. He died in 1852. Among its pastors since the death of Mr. Munson may be named Henry Bell, John Holliday, James Spillman, A. W. Mullins and George Varden.
DAVID BIGGS was licensed to preach in Camden county, N. C., in 1791, and was afterwards pastor of Portsmouth church in Norfolk county, Va. Mr. Semple says: "Elder Biggs is a sound and ingenious preacher, and is esteemed by his acquaint- ances as an exemplary man." He came to Kentucky about the year 1804, and was at different times a member of Indian Creek church in Harrison county, and Silas church in Bourbon. In 1811 he preached the introductory sermon before Elkhorn Association. He labored in Kentucky at least sixteen years, and here, as in Virginia, maintained a good character and was a useful preacher.
UNITY CHURCH, located in the eastern part of Clark county, originated in 1790 from a division of Howards Creek (now Provi- dence) church, as related in the history of that organization. It comprised at first about seventy members, including two preach- ers-James Quesenberry and Andrew Tribble. Being a Sepa- rate Baptist church, it united with South Kentucky Association. After the general union it fell in with North District, and in 1842 united with Boones Creek Association. Three years after this its members united with those of a neighboring church, called Indian Creek, and formed a new church called Mt. Olive. This organization is a large and prosperous body, located about ten miles south-east from Winchester.
JAMES QUESENBERRY was either the first pastor of Unity church or succeeded Andrew Tribble after a very brief pastor ate of the latter. He was a native of Orange county, Va., where he was born, June 13, 1759, and from whence he emi- grated to Kentucky in 1783. Two years after the latter
V I V en da ch Pe viv tio jud Jus bus 000; He for a
207
John M. Johnson and David Chenault.
event he settled in Clark county and united with Howard Creek church, being at that time an ordained preacher. When that church split, in 1790, he adhered to the Tribble party, and entered into the organization of Unity. Besides his charge at Unity, he was pastor of Red River and Friendship churches in the same county. Into the fellowship of the latter he baptized the subsequently distinguished Dr. Wm. Vaughan, in October, 1810. Mr. Quesenberry's preaching gift was very meagre, but he maintained a respectable reputation and doubtless ac- complished good among the early settlers. He departed this life August 5, 1830, leaving behind him a very numer- ous posterity, many of whom have been and still are wealthy and influential citizens, and valuable church members.
JOHN M. JOHNSON was the next pastor of Unity church. He was chosen to that office in May, 1830, but proved him- self unworthy of the position; for, in February of next year he was excluded from the fellowship of Providence church for the sin of adultery.
DAVID CHENAULT was the next pastor of Unity church. His father, William Chenault, was of French extraction, but was born in Virginia. He was a soldier under Washington during the American Revolution. He moved to Kentucky in the fall of. 1786, and settled near Richmond, in Madison county, where he died of the "cold plague," in the spring of 1813. Many of his descendants have been and are among the most valuable citizens and church members in Madison county. David Chenault was born of Baptist parents in Albemarl county, Virginia, September 30, 1771, whence he came with his par- ents to Kentucky in 1786. He was married to Nancy Tribble, daughter of Elder Andrew Tribble, in 1793. He joined the church at Mt. Nebo about the year 1795, and was baptized by Peter Woods. His ministry commenced during the great re- vival of 1800-3. He possessed only a common school educa- tion; but he had a strong native intellect and sound practical judgment. He was an extensive farmer, and held the office of Justice of the Peace about twenty years. He was a successful business man and accumulated a fortune of not less than $100, - 000; and was inclined to be penurious, rather than liberal. He was, however, an active pastor, usually serving four churches for a period of nearly fifty years. Besides this, he preached a
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
great deal in the mountains of Kentucky, even down to old age. Among the churches he preached to besides Unity, were Cane spring, Lulbegrud, Log-lick, White Oak Pond, Mt. Ta- bor, Stoners Branch and Union.
He was a Hyper-Calvinist in doctrine, and very uneven in his religious ministrations. Some times his zeal amounted to a burning enthusiasm, at others he was dull and chillingly frigid. But he never swerved from the path of conscientious recti- tude. At a ripe old age he fell asleep in Jesus, May 9, 1851 .*
HICKMANS CREEK was another small body of Separate Bap- tists, gathered in 1790, in what was then Fayette county. It comprised twenty-five members, among whom were Thomas Ammon, an ordained preacher, and Robert Asherst and John King, licensed preachers. It was either soon dissolved or changed its name, so that it cannot be identified.
THOMAS AMMON was probably the first and only pastor of Hickmans Creek church. He was a native of Virginia, where he was active in the gospel ministry. 3 He was a preacher of great zeal and usefulness, and was at one time honored with a term in Culpeper jail for "preaching the gospel of the Son of God contrary to law." After the close of the Revolutionary War he came to Kentucky. Here also he verified God's prom- ise to the righteous. "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age." John Taylor, who labored with him in Virginia, as well as in Kentucky, speaks of him thus: "This awakening [at Clear Creek] was by the preaching of Thomas Ammon, always a mighty son of thunder. He had been a great practical sinner. His conversion was as visible as his wickedness had been. He began to preach in time of hot persecution in Virginia. He was honored, as many others were, with a place in Culpeper prison, for the testimony of his divine Master. He died some years ago in Kentucky." His death occurred not far from 1820.
HEAD OF BEECH FORK was the name of a Separate Bap- tist church constituted of about thirty members, in the eastern part of Mercer county, in 1790. Among its members was a
*I have these facts from his son, recently living in Tennessee.
tHistory Ten Churches, p. 102.
209
Separate Baptist Churches Constituted in 1790.
licensed preacher of the name of William Ray. This is all that is now known of this church. Doubtless it was soon disbanded, as were many other small churches of Separate Baptists consti- tuted in this period of partisan excitement. During the year 1789 an unsuccessful attempt was made to unite the Regular and Separate Baptists. This seems to have greatly inflamed the party zeal of the Separates. Their preachers became fac- tious proselyters, and organized little churches wherever they could get a few converts together, even though it were in the immediate vicinity of Regular Baptist churches. Most of these soon perished, and, of course, did harm rather than good. The practice of constituting little, feeble churches in out. of-the-way places is still too common.
HARDINS CREEK was constituted a Separate Baptist church, of fifteen members, in 1790. It was located near the south- west corner of Washington county, in the immediate vicinity of Hardins Creek church of Regular Baptists. It had no preacher among its members, and it soon perished.
MOUNT PLEASANT church was constituted at the house of William Haydon, in Franklin county, by Moses Bledsoe and John Bailey, July 24, 1790, and united with South Kentucky Association under the style of the Separate Baptist church at the Forks of Elkhorn. The members of which it was consti- tuted were Daniel James, Ernest Martina, Benjamin Craig, William Solsman, William Haydon, Robert Church, Prichard McAndrew, Joseph Collins, Jeremiah Craig, Elizabeth Hatton, Robert Smither, Sarah James, Benjamin Perry and Ansellor Church. Not long after its constitution the church took the name of Mount Gomer, and in 1801 assumed its present title. For a long series of years this was one of the most prosperous churches in Franklin Association; but for a number of years past it has been on the decline, and, although it is supposed that 2,000 persons have been members of it since its constitu- tion, its present membership is less than fifty. Prominent among the preachers who have served it as pastors may be named Moses Bledsoe, Theodrick Boulware, Isaac Crutcher, William Hickman, Sr., William C. Blanton, Y. R. Pitt and F. H. Hodges.
WEST FORK OF COX'S CREEK was constituted a Separate Baptist church on the western borde- of Nelson county, in 1790.
-
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
It was probably gathered by Benjamin Lynn, and numbered thirty-one members. This church continued to prosper for a number of years, but was finally dissolved. New Salem, a large and flourishing church, long under the pastoral care of P. B. Samuels, occupies its ancient locality.
WHITE OAK RUN church of Regular Baptists was consti- tuted of eighteen members, in 1790, and united with Salem As- sociation the same year. It was located in the southern part of Nelson county. Of its history nothing more has been ascer- tained. It probably soon dissolved.
We are now, at the close of the associational year, in the fall of 1790, able to give complete statistics of the Baptists of Kentucky and of the United States. The following summary, copied from "Asplund's Register," will exhibit the condition o" the Baptists in the United States and its territories at thi t period :
STATES.
Churches ...
- MINISTERS-
Ord.
Lic.
Members ...
New Hampshire
32
23
17
1,732
Massachusetts.
167
95
3I
7,116
Rhode Island.
38
37
39
3,502
Connecticut ..
55
44
2I
3,214
Vermont.
34
2I
15
1,610
New York.
57
53
30
3,987
New Jersey.
26
20
9
2,279
Pennsylvania
28
26
7
1, 260
Delaware
7
9
I
409
Maryland
I2
8
3
776
Virginia ..
204
150
II2
20,443
Kentucky.
42
40
2I
3, 105
Western Territory
I
30
North Carolina ..
94
77
71
7,503
Deceded Territory-Tennessee.
18
15
6
889
South Carolina
70
48
29
4,167
Georgia
42
33
39
3,21I
Total ..
927
699
45 I
65,233
1
a
0
İ
2II
Sects or Orders of Baptists.
The following table shows the different sects or orders of Baptists at that period :
SECTS OR ORDERS.
Associations ..
Churches. ....
- MINISTERS -
Members ...
Ord.
Lic.
Six Principle Baptists.
I
18
26
4
1,599
Open Communion Baptists ..
I
15
I3
4
1,714
General Provision Baptists ...
3
30
26
19
1,948
Seventh-Day Baptists
IO
13
3
887
Regular Baptists
30
795
622
407
58,398
Total.
35
868
700
437|
64,546
There were in Kentucky, at this time, three associations- Elkhorn, Salem and South Kentucky. The last named was composed of Separate, the other two of Regular Baptist churches.
Elkhorn comprised 14 churches, 21 ordained ministers, 9 licensed ministers and 1, 379 members.
Salem comprised 8 churches, 6 ordained ministers, I licensed minister and 505 members.
South Kentucky comprised 20 churches, 14 ordained min- isters, 12 licensed ministers and 1,344 members.
The total numbers in Kentucky were three associations, 42 churches, 40 ordained ministers, 21 licensed ministers and 3, 105 members.
The whole population of Kentucky was 73,677. This gave a little less than one Baptist to every twenty-three of the popu- lation. This was at the close of a revival, and was followed by a spiritual dearth of ten years' duration.
Another ten years will considerally decrease the proportion of Baptists to the population.
CHAPTER XV.
CHURCHES CONSTITUTED IN 1791, AND THEIR PASTORS. 1
From the beginning of the year 1791, our pioneer fathers could look over the labors, toils and dangers of the past ten years, with mingled feelings of thankfulness and regret. Much privation and labor had been endured, and many dangers had been encountered.
Many of their beloved brethren and sisters had fallen by the hands of the blood-thirsty savages, and, much suffering had been endured for want of food, clothing and shelter. Their labors in the gospel had produced as yet but meager fruits. The for- ty-three churches which they had gathered were all still in ex- istence, except Gilbert's Creek of Regular Baptists, but they contained an aggregate membership of only a little more than three thousand, and a large majority of these had been received by letter. The clouds of Indian warfare hung darkly along their north-western border, and the news of murder and rapine con- stantly reached their ears, aud filled their wives and children
with alarm. But the outlook was far better, and the prospects much brighter, than they had been ten years before. They had become inured to toil and suffering, so, that even their women and children endured hardships, and dared dangers with com- paratively little murmuring, or alarm. The forests had been cut away around their cabins, and the virgin soil produced an abun- dance of materials for food and clothing. Their dwellings had been better arranged for their protection against sun and storm. Many conveniences had been arranged for their comfort, and the " old settler " began to " feel at home."
Of the more than forty ordained, and twenty licensed preachers that had emigrated to the country, or been raised up in the infant churches, only one had been taken away.
[212]
213
Churches Constituted in 1791.
John Gerrard had fallen by the hand of the red men. All the rest were in the field of labor, could these faithful servants of Christ have lifted the veil that hid from their eyes the next ten years, they would have seen an almost unbroken cloud of appalling gloom, hanging over the cause they loved so dearly, thickening and darkening, up to the very close of the decade. But happily they beheld only the past and present, and these inspired them with hope and courage.
Of the churches they had planted, many were feeble and ready to perish, but a number of them had grown strong, and were mighty bulwarks against the unrolling waves of vice and folly. Among the latter which still exists, may be named Sev- erns Valley, Cedar Creek, Cox's Creek, Forks of Dix River, Shawnee Run, Hanging Fork (now New Providence), Tates Creek, Howard Creek (now Providence), Boones Creek (now Athen), Marble Creek (now East Hickman), Clear Creek, Bry- ants, Great Crossing, Forks of Elkhorn, Limestone (now Wash- ington), Mayslick, and several others that have now grown feeble.
The foundation to build upon was laid broad and strong, and these men of God labored faithfully to build up taberna- cles for the " habitation of God through the spirit."
During the year 1791, at least seven new churches were gathered, three of which are still in existence.
COVE SPRING, afterwards called Stony Point, church was constituted of thirteen members, dismissed from Hanging Fork, in the eastern part of Mercer county, in 1791. It was proba- bly gathered by William Marshall, who was the only Regular Baptist preacher, laboring in that region, at that time. Mr Marshall was a member of Hanging |Fork church, as well as its pastor, and had his residence in the Southeastern part of Shel. by county, "at a place called the Knobs." Stony Point church united with Elkhorn Association, in August of the same year in which it was constituted. It remained a member of that body, till 1808, at which time it contained forty-seven mem- bers. It finally dissolved, several years ago.
STRODES FORK was constituted of nine members, and united with Elkhorn Association, in 1791. It continued to rep- resent itself in the Association till 1796, when it reported nine members, having received but one by baptism during five years. It was probably dissolved about this time.
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
REUBEN SMITH was ordained to the ministry at Strodes Fork, in November, 1793. Bryants church refused to take part in his ordination because of the irregularity of his baptism. Soon after Strodes Fork church dissolved, Mr. Smith moved to Spencer county. Failing to unite with any church, after this removal, Salem Association, at its meeting at Cox's Creek, in in 1797, entered upon her minutes, the following item: "The Association advises the churches of this union to discontin- ue Reuben Smith from either preaching, or administering the ordinances amongst them, unless he unites himself with some church." In December of that year, Mr. Smith gave his letter to Elk Creek church, and in June of the next year, was chosen its pastor. He continued to preach to this church till May, 1818, when he resigned. He was recalled the next year, and preached to the church another twelve months, when he resigned again. Soon after this, he was dismissed by letter, and moved to Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his earthly life.
Reuben Smith was a man of strong intellect, and possessed good natural gifts for public speaking, but he was morose, stubborn and indolent. He lived always in extreme poverty, and murmured much about his charges not supporting him. He was arraigned before his church, at one time, for saying that the church had not paid him enough, during the nineteen years he had preached to it, to pay for the pins that fastened his children's clothes. At another time, he invited the breth- ren to visit him at his house, on a certain day. Many of them went. At dinner time he invited them to the table, on which there was nothing to eat but a large pone of corn bread. He apologized to them by saying: "Brethren, the fare is rough, but it is the best I have." Next day the brethren sent him a supply of provisions for his table.
He was inclined to be speculative in his preaching, and sometimes went beyond his depth. On one occasion he was preaching about the " sea of glass mingled with fire." He had talked but a short time when he became so much confused that he paused, unable to proceed farther. After a moment, he said abruptly: "Brethren, you think Smith's in the brush and can't get out: I'll show you. Let us look to the Lord and be dis- missed."
215
Churches Constituted in 1791.
TAYLORS FORK, a small church of nineteen members, was . onstituted and added to Elkhorn Association, in 1791. It seems never to have had a baptism into its membership. It re- ported twenty-two members, in 1794, and then disappears from the records. It was probably dissolved about that date.
GREEN CREEK church was constituted in Bourbon county, of ten members, on the fourth Saturday in April, 1791. It joined Elkhorn Association in August of the same year. It enjoyed some degree of prosperity till the great revival of 1800-3, when its membership was increased to 120. Means of tracing its his- tory further are not at hand.
BLOOMFIELD church, originally called Simpsons Creek, like Cox's Creek church, from whence it sprang, has, from its consti- tution to the present time, been a large, influential body, and has held in its membership a large number of influential citi- zens. It is located in a small village, from which it derived its present name, in the north-eastern part of Nelson county.
Simpsons Creek church was constituted of thirty members, by William Taylor and Joshua Carman, March 12, 1791. Im- mediately after the constitution, William Taylor was called to its pastoral care, and Joshua Carman was invited " to serve us as often as possible." The church began at once to prosper. Some were baptized and a number were received by letter within a few months. In the year 1800 the church comprised about IIO members, to which 72 were added the following year. Strict discipline was maintained, and there were occasional bap- tisms, till the year 1816, when a great revival visited the church, and 116 were added to its membership, by baptism.
In December, 1820, the church invited Jacob Creath to preach for it. This proved unfortunate. Mr. Creath was among the first preachers in Kentucky to adopt and preach Campbellism. A number of the members of Bloomfield church imbibed his sentiments. The churchi continued them in fellow- ship, till 1834, with the hope of reclaiming them. Failing in this, they were excluded, to the number of fifty-seven. Among these was Jervis P. McKay, an ordained preacher. The church committed an unfortunate blunder in allowing these Schismatics the use of its house of worship. It is a great inconsistency, not to say a great sin, for a church to exclude its members for hold- ing false doctrine, and then encourage them in teaching that
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
doctrine by allowing them the use of its house of worship.
From the death of William Taylor, in 1809, the church seems to have had no regular pastor, till 1834, when it called Isaac Taylor, a son of its first pastor, to that office. During this interval, it had a number of preachers among its members. These, together with other preachers within reach, who were in- vited to preach certain Sundays in the month, occupied its pul- pit. This policy, although adopted by several of our most pros- perous churches, in the early days of the commonwealth, is by no means commendable, for reasons not now necessary to be stated.
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