USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 21
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In the fall of 1835, he accepted the general agency of the American and Foreign Bible Society for the State of Kentucky. He had occupied this position only six months when the Bap- tists drew off from that society, and formed an independent organization. Mr. Vaughan immediately resigned his position. While engaged in the work ef the Bible Society, he visited Bloomfield. The church at this place invited him to settle among its members, and preach to them in connection with their aged pastor, Isaac Taylor. This invitation he accepted, and, at once prepared to move to his new field of labor. Mr. Taylor continued to preach to the church once a month, till some time the next year, when he resigned.
Mr. Vaughan moved his family to Bloomfield, in June, 1836. At the time of his removal he says: "I was oppressed with deep melancholy, and dreadful forebodings." Ten days after his arrival, his daughter, Ann, a beautiful and highly accom- plished young lady, eighteen years of age, died, a short time before she was to have married. She was not a professor of religion, which added to the distress of her parents.
Mr. Vaughan purchased a small farm near Bloomfield, on which he lived, until he became too old to attend to it com- fortably, and then moved into the village. He preached two Sundays in the month at Bloomfield, from June, 1836, till June 1868, when he was disabled by a fall, and resigned his charge. In 1838, Mr. Taylor having resigned, Mr. Vaughan was installed in the pastoral office at Bloomfield. Besides his labors at this place, he preached to other churches within his reach, so as to fill up all his time. In the fall of 1836, he accepted a call to preach once a month to the church at Elizabethtown, for one year. During the year, he baptized twenty-five, among whom was the lamented A. W. LaRue. In the fall of 1837, he preached on Sunday, during the sitting
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of Salem Association, at Bethlehem church in Washington county, from the text: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation." The effect on the people was so great, that it was determined to protract the meeting a few days. This was done, and forty were added to the church. In the summer of the same year, he went to Harrodsburg, and preached several sermons. In the following fall, he went back, and was aided by John Rice and John S. Higgins, in constituting a church of sixteen members, in that town. To this church he preached, one Sunday in the month, five years from its constitution. About a hundred were added to its membership, and a good house of worship was built, during the time.
Some years before Mr. Vaughan moved to Bloomfield, Thos. J. Fisher and Jordan Walker constituted a church at Lawrenceburg. Mr. Walker became its pastor ; but, in 1837, he joined the Anti-missionary Baptists, taking a large number of the members with him. In the confusion, a number of the members joined the Campbellites. To the remnant of this church, Mr. Vaughan commenced preaching once a month, in 1837. He preached about seven years. About sixty were baptized. Among them were Thomas M. Vaughan, Robert R. Lillard, and William Blair, all of whom became Baptist preachers. Mr. Vaughan preached one year to the church at Shepherdsville, about 1840. In 1842, Mrs. Vaughan visited her daughter in Elizaville, Ky. She was in delicate health when she started, and continued to grow feebler till the 20th of September, when she died. Mr. Vaughan was on his way to Elizaville, to bring her home. When he got within ten miles of that village, he learned that she was dead and buried. The good man was overwhelmed with grief. But he sorrowed not as those who have no hope, for he doubted not that she was at rest.
May 30, 1843, Mr. Vaughan, married for his second wife Mrs. Malinda H. Cain, widow of Major James Cain, and daugh- ter of William McKay, of Nelson county. This marriage was a most happy one. This lady was an excellent Christian woman, and by her industry, prudence and economy saved to her husband, who was but a poor financier, a sufficiency of this world's goods to make them comfortable, in their helpless old age.
In 1845 Mr. Vaughan was called to the pastoral care of
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Little Union church, in Spencer county. Here he preached once a month, a few years, and then began to preach there two Sundays in the month.
From this time till he was too old and infirm to go in and out before his people, the faithful and beloved old shepherd divided his time equally between Bloomfield and Little Union churches, which were located six miles apart. While he preached to Lit- tle Union church only once a month, he preached monthly at Buck Creek, in Shelby county, into the fellowship of which he baptized thirty-six members.
In June, 1868, Mr. Vaughan, then in his eighty-fourth year, fell and crushed his hip. This rendered him unable to at- tend to pastoral labors, and he resigned his charges. Two years after this, his faithful wife fell and crushed her hip in a very sim- ilar manner to that of her husband. In a few weeks afterwards, she went to receive the reward of the righteous.
Mr. Vaughan, now old and feeble, went to live with his son, Elder T. M. Vaughan. He kept up his habit of regular study as long as he was able to sit a portion of the day in an easy chair, and preached when his health would permit. In the Centennial Convention, in May, 1876, he made two or three short speeches. On the 25th of February, 1877, he preached his last sermon, in the Baptist meeting-house at Danville, Kentucky. On the 3Ist of March following, at 4:30 P. M., he fell asleep in Jesus. His remains were carried to Bloomfield, where they were buried near the pulpit in which he had preached thirty- two years.
Truly a great prince had fallen in Israel. Of him, J. M. Pendleton says: "I have heard the great preachers, so-called, in the East and West and North and South, but * *
* * I have heard no man superior to Dr. Vaughan, in his palmiest days." J. M. Weaver says of him : "As a theologian, he had no superior in Kentucky." These testimonies were just. For many years, he was the ablest preacher in the Kentucky pul- pit. But far above this shone the more exalted qualities of purity, piety and consecration to the cause of his divine Mas- ter. But, at last he rests from his labors and his works do fol- low him .*
*His son, Elder T. M. Vaughan, has published a neat volume of 336 pages of " Memoirs of William Vaughan."
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J. M. WEAVER was the last preacher licensed in Bloomfield church. In his youth Mr. Weaver joined the Methodist church and was immersed, upon a profession of his faith, by a Metho- dist preacher. He was received into Bloomfield church "on his Methodist baptism," and licensed to preach June, 12, 1852. Soon after this, having been ordained, he accepted a call to the pastorate of Taylorsville and Plum Creek churches, in Spencer county. After some years he accepted a call to the pastorate of Chestnut Street church, in Louisville, of which he has been the able, beloved and successful pastor for about a dozen years. The irregularity of his baptism continued to be a subject of much discussion and no little dissatisfaction among churches, till the 5th of July, 1879, when he was regularly baptized by Elder James P. Boyce.
CRAB ORCHARD church, formerly called Cedar Creek, was con- stituted of forty members, by William Marshall, in 1791. These members had been dismissed from Gilberts Creek church for that purpose. William Bledsoe was chosen pastor. An extensive revi- val prevailed in this locality, from 1789 to 1792. It commenced in Gilberts Creek church and extended to the bounds of Cedar Creek. To the former church about 400 members were added, and the latter shared largely in the ingathering after it was constituted.
Among those who united with Cedar Creek church, were three sons of John Vardeman-Amaziah, Morgan and Jeremiah. The last named became one of the most distinguished preachers that has ever labored in Kentucky. Mr. Bledsoe preached to the church but a short time, before he became a Universalist.
Jeremiah Vardeman was probably the next pastor from 1802 to 1810. In 1808, the church agreed to change its name from Cedar Creek to Crab Orchard, having built a new house of worship in the village of that name. In 1810 Mr. Vardeman resigned the pastoral care of the church, and took from the church a letter of dismission.
In August of the same year, Moses Foley accepted the care of this church, and soon afterwards moved into its bounds. Un- der Mr. Foley's administration it was very prosperous. At one time it contained about 400 members. Mr. Foley continued pastor of this church till near the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1858. After this, John S. Higgins supplied the church with preaching for a time. During the Civil War, the church be-
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came much scattered and demoralized. After the close of the war, John James, then of Columbia, but more recently of Paris. Texas, took charge of the church for a short time. When Mr. James came among the membership its number was less than forty. The Lord blessed his labors and a goodly number were baptized. The church became quite prosperous again under the care of N. B. Johnson.
. WILLIAM BLEDSOE, the first pastor of Crab Orchard church, was the son of Joseph Bledsoe, the founder and first pastor of old Gilberts Creek church of Separate Baptists. He, with his father and brothers, was among the early settlers of what is now Gar- rard county. He was a brother of the distinguished Judge Jesse Bledsoe, who served two terms in the United States Senate from Kentucky.
William Bledsoe was a native of Culpeper county, Virginia. He was probably raised up to the ministry, under the preaching of his father, in Gilberts Creek church, after he came to Ken- tucky. He was the most active laborer in that wonderful revival in Lincoln and Garrard counties, in 1789, and the years follow- ing. He was in the constitution of Cedar Creek church, at Crab Orchard, in 1791, and became the first pastor of this church. During the revival just referred to, in 1789, two hen's eggs were brought to Gilberts Creek meeting-house with this sentence written on them : "The day of God's awful judgment is near." It was pretended that this writing was on the eggs when they were found in the nest. " Elder W. Bledsoe," says Mr. Boulware, "read aloud. The people were alarmed. Elder Bledsoe professed to feel alarmed, preached, exhorted, warned, invited, etc., etc. This revival lasted several months. I have seen from five to twenty come up, or led up, to be prayed for at one time. There were about 400 added to the church." * "He" [William Bledsoe], says John M. Peck, " was a smart, rather than a pious preacher." John Bailey, who was one of the laborers in this revival, subsequently became a Universalist. Bledsoe also apostatized to Universalism, and then became indif- ferent to a religious life and reckless in his conduct. " Elder W. Bledsoe," says Mr. Boulware, "and many of his converts em- braced the doctrine of universal salvation, and soon after he be-
* Autobi. of T. Boulware, p. 3.
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came a deist, and died a practicing horse-racer. I continued an acquaintance with these converts for eight or nine years, and then knew not of one that had not, like the dog and sow, turned to their vomit and mire again." Such were the fruits of this shame- ful fraud and hypocrisy, and the end of the man who practiced them. "God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap."
JEREMIAH VARDEMAN was the second pastor of Crab Or- chard Church. He was probably the most effective pulpit or- ator, and the most successful preacher that ever lived in Ken- tucky. His father was a Swede, his mother a native of Wales. John Vardeman, sr., with his young family, emigrated from Swe- den to South Carolina, in the early part of the 18th century. He was a member of the Lutheran church, but joined the Epis- copal church, in South Carolina, and was esteemed for his piety and moral worth. His descendants reported that he died at the age of one hundred and twenty-five years.
His son, John Vardeman, jr., was also born in Sweden. He came with his parents to South Carolina when he was seven years old. He married Elizabeth Morgan, a native of Wales, in South Carolina. Soon after his marriage, he moved to Bed- ford county, Virginia. While living here, he and his wife pro- fessed religion and united with a Baptist church.
A bout 1767, he moved farther west, and settled on New river, and, ten years later, pushed still farther into the south- west corner of Virginia, and settled on Clinch river in what is now Russell county. Here he was compelled to move into a fort to protect his family from the Indians. But he did not long remain here. Again he moved on westward, and, in the fall of 1779, settled in Lincoln county, Kentucky, near the present town of Crab Orchard. This was two years before Lewis Craig settled on Gilberts creek, with his traveling church.
Here John Vardeman and his older sons were compelled to take part in the numerous wars with the Indians, that gave ex- citing and hazardous employment to the early settlers, for a period of nearly twenty years after his settlement in Kentucky. But he did not become indifferent to his religion.
He kept up family worship, and, when a church was organ- ized near him, became a member of it. He and his wife were probably members of old Gilberts Creek church, and it is cer-
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tain that they were at an early period, members of the church at Crab Orchard, where many of their children afterwards became members.
The old pioneer remained near Crab Orchard, till 1812, when the country became too thickly settled to suit his habits of life, and he became restless and discontented, and again turned his face towards the setting sun. In October of that year, the church at Crab Orchard entered on its book of records an order, "that old John Vardeman have a letter of dismission." The term "old" was designed to distinguish him from his son, of the same name. With this evidence of his fellowship with the children of God, he moved to Missouri, where he died at the age of 109 years.
Jeremiah Vardeman was the youngest of twelve children born to John and Elizabeth Vardeman, and was born in Wythe county, Virginia, July 8, 1775. He came with his parents to Lincoln county, Ky., in the fall of 1779. Here he was raised up to manhood, in "the deep tangled wildwood," amid the constant dangers and privations of a frontier settlement, re- ceiving barely education enough to enable him to read, write and exercise in the simplest elements of arithmetic. After long continued and pungent convictions of sin, during which period his father and mother were his principal comforters and in- structors, he obtained hope in Christ, about the year 1792. He immediately united with the church at Crab Orchard, and was baptized, probably by William Bledsoe, who was then pastor of that church. This was during the revival referred to above, conducted by the Bledsoes, John Bailey and Peyton Nowlen. Mr. Vardeman always asserted that the preaching of these men had nothing to do with the awakening of his conscience. He was under conviction three months, during which the instruc- tions of his parents, the prayers of his father, and his own reading of the Bible deeply impressed him.
When Mr. Vardeman, then about seventeen years of age, realized the joys of salvation, he felt strongly impressed with the duty of warning sinners of their danger, and exhorting them to flee the wrath to come. This feeling preyed on his mind till he felt that he must preach. But many apparently in - surmountable obstacles appeared in his way. He was young, timid, had not the gift of speech, and was uneducated. Still 16
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the subject bore heavily on his conscience. But he continued to resist the impressions till they measurably worc off. He continued very comfortably in the church, about two years, dur- ing which time he habitually prayed in secret, but did not at- tempt to pray or exhort in public. This was doubtless more the fault of the church and its unfaithful pastor, than of the young convert.
It is a sad truth, that many of our churches lose the talent, zeal, and influence of a large number of their best young mem- bers, by giving them nothing to do, in the Master's service. Every young church member should be proved, to ascertain his gifts, as soon as he becomes a member, and then be diligent- ly employed in the work of the Lord, in accordance with his gifts. The pastor that fails to do this, is either incompetent to fill his position, or unfaithful to his charge.
Had young Vardeman been prudently brought forward in public prayer and exhortation, immediately after he joined the church, it would, no doubt, have saved five years of his invalua- ble services to the cause of Christ, and himself from piercing his own soul through with many bitter sorrows. But this was neg- lected, he gradually wandered off into sin, and brought reproach on himself and the cause of Christ.
Some of his young associates made persistent efforts to draw him into the circles of frivolity. They finally succeeded by a misapplication of Scripture language, in convincing him that it was "no harm to dance," so far as to induce him to attend "a frolic," "just one time." He went once. Then again, and again, and finally engaged in the giddy dance. About this time Col. William Whitley, the well known pioneer and daring Indian fighter, permitted a dancing school to be taught in a large ball room, fitted up in the third story of his fine new residence .* "The young people were crazy about the dancing school." Young Vardeman was induced to subscribe himself a scholar, though, as he acknowledged, with a trembling hand and a smitten conscience. He was, of course excluded from the church. He
*In 1879 the author visited this ancient residence, which was still in a good state of preservation. It was located one and one-half miles west of Crab Orchard, and was occupied by the aged and pious Widow Penington, once a ward of Morgan Vardeman, brother of Jere.
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soon afterward bought a violin, and, having a taste for music, be- came "a good fiddler." During this period, he became enamor- ed with Miss Elizabeth James, daughter of Richard James, and, became engaged to her. Her parents were pious members of Cedar Creek church, and, regarding Vardeman as a vain, frivolous young man, opposed the match. The result was an elopement and marriage. The young wife had made no profession of reli- gion. Her parents had the good judgment to perceive that fur- ther opposition would be useless; they forgave the delinquents, and, with young Vardeman, moved to Pulaski county, on the waters of Cumberland river.
"There Vardeman became the leader of the young people in every species of mirth and amusement. None could sing and play on the violin so enchantingly, none so jovial and full of hilar- ity as Jeremiah Vardeman. He was the life and soul of every dance and country frolic, and his young wife, much to the grief of her father and mother, joined him in all these recreations. Thus nearly three years of his life passed away to no useful pur- pose. In a worldly sense he was not immoral. He never swore profanely, was temperate in drink; kind-hearted, generous and honorable in all his dealings with his fellow-men ; his duty to God was wholly neglected, and he lived after the course of this world. Yet he was not a happy man. In the midst of his associates, in gayety, music and dancing, he was full of enjoyment; but con- science was then stifled. There were seasons of mental disquiet- ude which none can realize, but those who have drunk the worm- wood and gall, after a season of backsliding. Conviction of his sin and folly often drove him back to sinful pleasures for tempor- ary relief .*
His religious friends with the exception of his mother, had given him up, believing he would go on the downward course to the end. She continued in persevering prayer and unwavering faith, saying with deep emotion: "I know Jerry will be re- claimed; God is faithful, and I feel assured that he is a prayer hearing God."
There lived in Pulaski county a plain, illiterate preacher of the name of Thomas Hansford. He was an earnest, self-sacrific- ing man, and had the confidence of the people. Mr. Vardeman
*J. M. Peck in Chris. Rep. Aug. 1854. p. 463.
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sometimes attended his meetings with his wife. On one of these occasions, Mr. Hansford preached from 2 Pet. 2:22: "But it is happened to them according to the true proverb. The dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sor that was washed to her wallow- ing in the mire." He applied the text to those who had professed religion and afterwards apostatized. The Spirit of God directed the truth with great pungency, to the conscience of Mr. Var- deman. He was deeply convicted of his backslidings. In speaking of it to Mr. Peck, many years afterwards, he said: "If brother Hansford had poured coals of fire on my naked body, it would not have burned me worse than that sermon did." His wife was convicted of her sins at the same time. They both went home with heavy hearts. Mr. Vardeman could not labor. For several days he spent most of his time in the woods, some times on his knees, and sometimes prostrate on his face, confess- ing his sins and crying to God for mercy. He repented bitterly of all his sinful frivolity, but his deepest conviction was for that sin which caused him to turn back to the world and commit all his other sins, his refusal to follow the impression of the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel, or call sinners to repentance. In his penitent anguish he cried out : "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? I will do anything the Lord requires, if it kills me. He obtained some relief in reading and meditating on Malachi 4:2. " But unto you that fear my name, shall the sun of righteous- ness arise with healing in his wings, and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall." He now vowed to the Lord that he would forsake all vain and worldly amusements and preach the gospel to his fellow-men.
A prayer meeting had been appointed at the cabin of one of Mr. Vardeman's neighbors. He with his wife attended this meeting the night after he had made the solemn vow just recorded. There was no preacher present, but there was so much interest felt that the people attended for several miles distant. It had been extensively rumored, without his knowledge, that Varde- man would preach. Before the meeting closed, one of Mr. Vardeman's neighbors, who was aware of his recent seriousness on the subject of religion, invited him to speak. He arose and commenced talking, but retained nothing of what he said, in his memory. He only recollected that the people of all classes were weeping and sobbing around him. Another social meeting
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was appointed for the next Sabbath. Mr. Vardeman again at- tended. He waited for older persons to take the lead, after which he rose up and with deep feeling and tears gushing from his eyes, delivered an exhortation, mingled with confessions of his own backslidings, and calling on his young associates to for- sake their sinful amusements and follow Christ, and assuring them that they would then feel what he now felt-peace of con- science, and salvation through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. To his surprise and amazement, young and old were crowding forward to give him their hands, and crying out: "Oh Mr. Vardeman pray for me, for I am a heap bigger sinner than you ever was." There were probably a score of people standing around him, and begging him to pray for them. He had never attempted to pray in public, but he thought of the vow he had recently made to the Lord, and he attempted to pray, for the first time in the hearing of others.
These social meetings were continued in a similar manner on each succeeding Sabbath, and two or three times in the week, except that Mr. Vardeman began to invite the people forward for prayer. Soon many of his former associates in sin gave evi- dence of conversion, and among the first was his wife.
News of the revival, of Mr. Vardeman's change, and of his preaching, as the people called it, soon reached Lincoln county. His parents, brothers and friends urged him to visit them. His first discourse there was solemn and effective. He seemed to want neither words nor matter. The church at Cedar Creek re- stored him to membership, and licensed him to preach. He preached several times in the neighborhood of Crab Orchard. The multitudes came out to hear him. In a short time upwards of twenty of his former associates in Lincoln county, and mem- bers of the dancing school that led him astray, professed con- version.
Mr. Vardeman was probably ordained in 1801, and the next year, moved back from Pulaski to Lincoln county, where he became pastor of four churches. He remained in this region of the State about eight years. Few particulars of his labors of this period have been preserved. But it is known that he was active in the ministry, traveled extensively, and was very popu- lar and successful. The late Isaac Goodnight, Esq., of Warren county, who "cropped" with Mr. Vardeman in 1804, informed
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