USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 25
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It had, in 1878, 105 members. Of the early pastors of this church, sketches have been given elsewhere, except that of John Penny which will appear more appropriately in connec- tion with Salt River church.
SAMUEL CARPENTER was a native of Madison county, Va., and he was born in 1785. His parents moved to Bullitt county, Ky., in 1795, where he was brought up. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Bardstown, about 1805. In 1828, he professed religion under the ministry of Jere- miah Vardeman, and joined the Baptist church at Bardstown. He was soon afterwards set apart to the ministry, and became the preacher of Bardstown and Mill Creek churches. Imbibing and preaching the sentiments of A. Campbell, he divided both the churches, and almost destroyed the one at Bardstown. The Campbellites got possession of the meeting- house at that time, one of the best in the State. There was some debt on the house, for which it was sold. Mr. Carpenter bought it, and notwithstanding, he was the leader of the Camp- bellites in that region, and was formally identified with them in church relationship, he manifested his sympathy with the Baptists by selling them the house at little more than a nominal
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price. The Campbellite church soon dissolved, and has not been gathered again.
After these transactions, Mr. Carpenter occasionally preached, but did not make it his calling. He practiced law at Bardstown till 1847, when he was appointed by the Governor, Circuit Judge. He maintained the reputation of a Christian gen- tleman, and died in the faith of the Gospel, June 24th, 1857.
WILLIAM MARTIN BROWN was a prominent preacher in his time, and field of labor. He was an active and valiant soldier, and the cause of truth and righteousness owes much under God to his fine abilities, his active zeal, and wisely directed labors. His principal field of operation was comprised in Nelson, Har- din, LaRue and Hart counties, but he often went beyond these bounds.
He was born in Halifax Co., Va., August 18, 1794, where he grew up to manhood with only the common school educa- tion of the times. In 1812, he married Christina, daughter of John Yates, of his native county. The next year he moved to Mercer county, Kentucky. In 1815, he settled for the rc- mainder of his earthly days, in what is now Hart county. He obtained hope in Christ, and was baptized . by David Thur- man, into Three Forks of Bacon Creek church, in 1820. He was licensed to exercise his gift the first Saturday in February, 1821, and was ordained to the ministry in 1829, having served Three Forks of Bacon Creek church as preacher, three years before he was ordained. To this church he ministered till the close of his earthly career-a period of thirty-two years. He was pastor of South Fork church, LaRue county, thirty years, and of Knox Creek, Mill Creek and perhaps several others, during shorter peri- ods. He was eminently successful in his pastorates, and equally so in the fields of destitution around him, in which he labored abun- dantly. He aided in raising up new churches and strengthening weak ones, and was full of zeal and enterprise in all that pertained to the interest of Zion. He died June 3, 1861.
Mr. Brown was of an extremely cheerful temperament, in- somuch that his conversation, while it was brilliant and pleasing, smacked of levity. He was fond of humor, and was a ready wit. On one occasion, in the presence of Elder William Vaughan, who was one of the most brilliant wits of his generation, Mr. Brown was entertaining some friends in the social circle with a
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Richard H. Slaughter.
rather lengthy and extravagant story. When he had finished, Mr. Vaughan responded : "Billy, if I were you, I would never tell that story in the presence of sensible people." Mr. Brown in- stantly responded: "I never do, Brother Vaughan." It was always Greek meeting Greek when these two wits of the Ken- tucky pulpit came together in the social circle.
Mr. Brown left two sons who are Baptist preachers: James H. Brown, of Louisville, and Judson Brown, of Hart county .*
NIMROD C. BECKHAM, of whose life few particulars are at hand, was a good man of fair preaching gifts, and for a period of twenty years previous to 1856, performed his part in minis- terial labors among the churches of Shelby, Spencer, Nelson and the neighboring counties.
He was born in Culpeper county, Va., May 28, 1802, and received a fair English education. He joined a Bap- tist church in early life, and was early set apart to the ministry. When he moved West, he settled in Nelson county, Ky., prob- ably about 1825. He was for a time pastor of Mill Creek church in Nelson, and Newhope in Washington.
In 1856, he moved to Rumsey, McLean county, where he died of heart disease, August 31, 1865. Of his six children, five became Baptists.
RICHARD H. SLAUGHTER was descended from a distinguished family of his name, among the pioneers of Kentucky. He was born in Hopkinsville, Ky., in 1823. He was educated at George- town College, and was early set apart to the ministry. His preaching gifts were not above mediocrity, and most of his time was devoted to school teaching. However, he loved the work of the ministry, and preached as often as he could make oppor- tunity. He usually supplied several churches with monthly preaching, in connection with his teaching. Under such cir- cumstances, as might be expected, he was not very successful in the ministry. But he was an excellent teacher, and a good man of fine, cheerful spirit. He was at different times, stated preacher for the churches at Mt. Washington, Bullitt county, Mill Creek and Cedar Creek in Nelson county, and perhaps others. He died of typhoid fever while conducting a school at Shiloh, Hardin county, Ky., Jan. 16, 1863.
*The latter, a valuable minister, died January 1, 1885, aged 48.
+
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
MT. MORIAH CHURCH,* at first called Drennon's Lick Creek, is located in Nelson county, about twelve miles south- west from Bardstown. All its early records are lost, and little is known therefore, of its early history. It was admitted into Salem Association, in 1793, and has continued a member of that ancient fraternity to the present time. William Taylor, Joseph Barnett, and John Whitaker were the only Regular Baptist preachers known to have lived in that region of the State at that period, but which of them gathered this church, or who preached to it during its early years is not known. The growth of this church appears to have been slow at first. In 1822, it contained 95 members. It had enjoyed a precious re- vival in 1816, during which 27 were baptized. In 1839, it com- prised 116 members. It continued gradually to increase till, in 1879, it attained a membership of 185.
COLMORE LOVELACE was the most distinguished pastor of Mt. Moriah church. He was a native of Maryland, and was born Nov. 26, 1795. His parents, who were both Baptists, emigrated to Kentucky, and settled in Nelson county, about the year 1800. They united with Lick Creek (now Mt. Moriah) church. Here their son Colmore was raised up with very little education. At the age of fourteen years, he professed conver- sion, and was baptized by Moses Pierson. From the time of his conversion, he manifested a strong desire for the salvation of sinners. But he possessed no extraordinary sprightliness, and his growth in a knowledge of the gospel was very slow. In his twenty-first year, he married Rachel, daughter of Thomas Newman, and settled in Hardin county. Here he took mem- bership in Severns Valley church. He was extremely timid, but so great was his desire for the salvation of his neighbors that he began to pray and exhort, and the church licensed him to ex- ercise his gift, April, 6, 1822. His progress was so satisfactory that, on Aug. 2, of the following year, he was ordained to the ministry at Severn's Valley, by Alexander McDougal, Simeon Buchanan and Daniel Walker. In a brief space of time he became the most popular preacher in his Association and re- tained this popularity as long as he lived.
*I am convinced that Lick Creek (con. 1789) and Mt. Moriah are the same church.
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Colmore Lovelace.
On the 4th of March, 1824, his wite died, and, on the 24th of June following, he married Christina, daughter of Benjamin Irwin. Among the first churches to which he was called, was that to which he first belonged, and it was among the last he re- linquished in his old age. During his ministry of about forty- one years, he was at different periods pastor of about 15 churches, all of which were probably within less than thirty miles of his home, and he seldom went out of this boundary. Living within less than forty miles of Louisville, from early childhood to old age, he never saw that city.
He was a good medium preacher. He studied his subject well, and adhered closely to his text. He studiously avoided controver- sy, and his sermons, prayers and exhortations were all attuned to love tones. His life was one of almost spotless purity ; it is not known that, from his youth to his death, he ever committed a single act, unworthy of a Christian minister.
His address was extremely pleasing. His voice was soft and musical. His countenance was always bright, and his face seemed to beam with the tenderest love. All classes heard him with interest and pleasure. It is probable that no man ever had fewer enemies. His popularity was evidenced in the fact that he married over 575 couples. A moderate degree of success at- tended his labors; he baptized something over 1, 200 persons.
Sometime before his death, his health was feeble. In the winter of 1864, he was attacked with paralysis. He was confined to his bed a few weeks. Among his last words were these: "I now have a glimpse of my precious Savior." He passed to his reward, on the 16th of March, 1864.
With all his excellences, Mr. Lovelace had one palpable weakness that should not be imitated. Perhaps it originated in his extreme timidity. It is as much the duty of a minister to defend the truth as it is to preach it. And no part of God's truth should be left untaught. Man's influence may be wider where he preaches only what is pleasing to men, but God gives greater success to him who preaches and defends a whole Gospel.
MILL CREEK church (Jefferson county), was located three miles south of the present limits of Louisville, near the junction of the 18th Street and 7th Street turnpike. There is a small brick meeting-house, in which a congregation of Methodists worships,
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and in which the Baptists own an interest, marking the site of this ancient fraternity. The early settlers of this locality were principally Germans, prominent among whom were the Shive- leys. But of whom the church was composed, who gathered it, or was its pastor is utterly unknown. The most we can know of it is, that,
"Once in the flight of ages past There was a church ...... "
It was constituted as early as 1793 ; for during that year, it was received into the fellowship of Salem Association. The number of its members was not reported. The excitement on the subject of African slavery ran high at that period. In 1795, this church sent the following query to Salem Association : "Is it right for professing [religious] heads of families to raise up their servants without learning [teaching] them to read the word of God, and giving them sufficient food, raiment and lodging ?" The Association thought it not proper to interpose in domestic concerns, and, therefore, voted it out.
2. Query from the same church : "Has a black slave a right to a seat in the Association ?" Answer : "Yes, provided he be sent as a messenger from a church."
The manner in which these queries were treated seems to have offended the church past its endurance. Next year, the Association, "Resolved, That the church at Mill Creek, Jefferson county, be no longer considered a part of this Association, hav- ing withdrawn from us." After this, the name of the church ap- pears no more on associational records. Whether the Anti-mis- sionary church that occupied the same locality afterwards was identical with the original "church at Mill Creek" does not appear.
FLAT LICK church, located, it is believed, in Bourbon coun- ty, and probably gathered by Augustine Eastin, was received in- to Elkhorn Association, with a membership of 13, in 1793. It had a moderate growth till the "Great Revival," during which it received 63, which brought its membership up to about 100. But Mr. Eastin, its pastor had succeeded in leading most of its membership into the Arian heresy: so that, in 1803, it only had 16 members. In 1809, it entered into the constitution of Lick- ing Association with a membership of about 33. In 1819, it took the name of Mt. Dependence. It existed, with a member- ship of 30, as late as 1832.
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Tates Creck Association.
RICHARD THOMAS was a minister in this church, where he probably succeeded Mr. Eastin in the pastoral office. He, with his brother Philemon, who afterwards attained to some promi- nence in the councils of the State, had been baptized by Wm. Hickman, at the Forks of Elkhorn, about 1788. He was a young preacher of some sprightliness, and might have been use- ful, but for his union with Licking Association of Anti-mission- aries.
JOEL MOREHEAD was a minister in the same church a num- .
ber of years. He preached the introductory sermon before Licking Association, in 1829, and again in 1833. He appears to have stood well with his people.
SPRINGFIELD church was constituted, at the county seat of Washington, in 1793, and united with Elkhorn Association, with a membership of 19, the next year. In 1796, it reported 27 members, and then disappeared from the records. Who gather- ed it, or who occupied its brief pastorate is unknown.
In 1793, a third effort was made to form a union between the Regular and Separate Baptists. At the meeting of Elkhorn Association, in May of that year, it was agreed that Ambrose Dudley, James Garrard, John Taylor, John Price and Augus- tine Eastin be appointed to visit the South Kentucky Associa- tion to confer with them on the subject of a union between the two bodies. Arrangements were made to have the churches of both associations to send messengers to a meeting to be held at Marble Creek, in Fayette county, in July. The meeting was accordingly held. A large majority of the messengers agreed on terms of union. But some of the Separates opposed the measure in such a manner as to defeat it. This so displeased some of the churches of south Kentucky Association that they at once, declared a non-fellow for that body.
On the 23d of the following November, four* churches met, by their messengers, and formed themselves into an associa- tion, under the style of " Tates Creek Association of United Baptists." This was the fourth association formed in Ken- tucky, and the first that styled itself United Baptists. This was done in imitation of the Baptists of Virginia, who had hap- pily united, and assumed this title, six years before.
*Benedict says five but the official record before me says four.
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Tates Creek Association did not, at first, adopt any con- fession of faith, but in general terms agreed to that adopted by Elkhorn and Salem. This gave some trouble, for, although Elkhorn entered into correspondence with the new fraternity immediately, it caused such uneasiness among some of the churches, that she was compelled to withdraw her correspond- ยท ence the next year. But, in 1797, the correspondence was re- sumed, and has continued to the present time.
Of the eight churches constituted this year, only three are known to exist now, and, judging from the partial reports ac- cessible, the number of baptisms was only a little more than half of that of the preceding year. But the faithful old sol- diers of the cross labored on amid increasing gloom, believing that in due time they should reap if they fainted not. . Nei- ther did their faith fail, nor their hopes mock them; although they must wait yet seven years for the harvest they were now so diligently sowing and cultivating.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
LICKING, FOX RUN, ELK CREEK, BULLITTSBURG, AND OTHER CHURCHES CONSTITUTED IN 1794.
The year 1794, like the preceding, and several succeeding, opened gloomily as related to religious interest in Kentucky. There were preachers enough to occupy the settled portions of the State. They were men of piety, and preachers of a high order of effective talent, and were generally active and zealous laborers in the cause of the Master. There were churches enough, and, indeed, far too many. In many instances they were crowded so close together as to devour each other. There were a few new settlements where churches were wanting, but these were speedily supplied. There was some agitation among the churches, on the subject of slavery, especially within the bounds of Salem Association, and some excitement had been created in South Kentucky Association by the formation of Tates Creek Association within its bounds, and of churches which had violently rent themselves from its fellowship. There was also some restlessness among the churches of Elkhorn Association, because of a correspondence having been established between that body and Tates Creek Association of United Baptists. But the cause of this religious dearth did not lie in any of these trifling circumstances.
An immense tide of immigration was pouring into the new State. Land was rising in value, the staple products of the country commanded high prices, and the heads of the people were turned to money-making; not only people of the world, but most of the enterprising church members. Many of the ablest and most efficient preachers engaged wildly in land speculation. The minds of Christians became worldly, and they walked too much after the flesh. They naturally became watchful and suspi- cious of each other, and overreached each other in their secular
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dealings. Under such a state of affairs, the cause of religion continued to languish, from the close of the revival, in 1789, to the beginning of the great revival of 1800-3. Meanwhile, many of the preachers kept themselves aloof from speculation, and were diligent in the work of the Lord. These pushed out into the new settlements and gathered churches, wherever there were Baptists enough to form them.
SPENCER CREEK church was located on a small stream from which it derived its name, in Montgomery county, and was con- stituted, in 1794, principally of persons who had been dismissed from Providence church in Clark county, by John Rice and Moses Bledsoe. The next year it united with South Kentucky Association, and, after the general union, fell into the North Dis- trict fraternity. Who its early pastors were, if it had any, has not been ascertained. Its growth was so very slow that, in 1817, it numbered only 30 members. In October of that year, John Smith moved from Wayne county to Montgomery, and took charge of Spencer Creek, Lulbegrud, Bethel, and Grassy Lick churches. Under his ministry Spencer Creek grew so rapidly that, in 1829, it numbered 313 members, and was much the largest church in North District Association. But, as a Bap- tist church, it was strong only in numbers. Mr. Smith had fully adopted Campbellism, and nearly all the church had re- ceived his teachings. In 1830, the Baptists were separated from the Campbellites, leaving the former only 25 members. This remnant represented itself in the Association, as Spencer Creek church, till 1840, when it formally dissolved.
JAMES EDMONSON, one of the pastors of this church, was a native of Maryland, and was born in March, 1785. His parents moved to Clark county, Kentucky, in 1790, where he was brought up to manhood, receiving only a common school education. On the 5th of May, 1808, he was married to Sarah R, daughter of Bartlett Haggard. He was very gay and fond of amusements, particularly dancing. But, in 1809, he was awakened to a sense of his guilt, under the ministry of Robert Elkin, and, on finding peace in Jesus, was baptized into the fellowship of Providence church. About 1830, he was licensed to preach, and was soon afterwards ordained to the ministry by Thomas Boone and David Chenault, having been previously called to the care of Indian Creek church in
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Licking Church.
Clark county. He was afterwards pastor of Dry Fork, Provi- dence (not the old mother church of that name), and Log Lick, all in the same county, and Spencer Creek and Grassy Lick in Montgomery county. He was an acceptable pastor, and an active, zealous preacher, preaching much in the private houses of the people, which was a common custom at that period. He was experimental and hortatory, rather than argumentative, and continued to labor with, much zeal till near the close of his pilgrimage. As his end drew near, he expressed great desire to depart and be with Christ. His family urged him to use reme- dies for his recovery; but he replied: "I am thus far on the road home; I do not wish to turn back. I am anxious to go on and be with the Savior." In full assurance of hope, he left this world for his home above, Sept. 9, 1861.
NATHAN EDMONSON, a son of the above, and also a resi- dent of Clark county, was a preacher of fair ability, and, it is be- lieved, was pastor of some churches. But he had some eccen- tricities that impaired his influence. It is probable that he never possessed an entirely sane mind. At about mid-life, he commit- ted suicide.
LICKING church, first called Mouth of Licking, was consti- tuted in October, 1794, at the house of Wm. Decourcey, in what is now Kenton county. It was located on the Ohio, about six miles above the mouth of Licking river, and its first mem- bers were Wm. Decourcey, Bethel Riggs, Closs Thompson, and Joseph Kelley and their wives. John Smith, of Columbia. Ohio, was the first pastor of this church, and was soon succeeded by Bethuel Riggs, who preached much in the settlement, during several years. John Beal was a member of the church, in 1807, and was probably its pastor. Closs Thompson was also a licensed preacher in the church, which, at that date, numbered 38 members. Christopher Wilson, a brilliant preacher of North Bend Association, who died insane in Hancock county, preached much to this church, from 1817 to 1827, and was probably its pastor a part of that time. Since that period it has had the pastoral labors of John Stephens, Robert Ware, Wm. Mon- tague, James Vickers, Wm. Stillwell, Furgus German, N. C. Pettit and others. This church first united with Elkhorn Asso- ciation ; it entered into the constitution of North Bend Associa- tion, in 1803, and finally aided in forming that of Campbell 19
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county, in 1827. It has never been a large church. In 1876, it numbered 87 members.
JAMES VICKERS was one of the most distinguished pastors of this old church. He was the son of Moses Vickers, a well known pioneer preacher of Northern Kentucky, and was born at Cane Ridge, Bourbon county, Ky., Oct. 7, 1794-the same year that Licking church was constituted. Soon after his birth, perhaps the next year, he was carried to what is now Kenton county where he was brought up amid the dangers and priva- tions of the wilderness. He was an exceedingly wild, fun- loving youth, and devoted much of his time to rude frolicking and perpetrating ruder practical jokes. His favorite pastime consisted in procuring a bottle of whisky, collecting as many boys and young men as he could, and then preaching to them. He continued in his course of daring wickedness till he was about twenty-four years of age. At this period an arrow from the quiver of the Almighty stuck fast in him. His contrition was deep and pungent. But at last he found peace in Jesus. He united with Banklick church in Kenton county, in 1818, and was baptized by Elam Grizzle. He was licensed to exer- cise his gift, at Crews Creek, in 1820, and ordained to the min- istry in 1824. He had, at different periods, the pastoral care of Licking, Banklick, Wilmington, Brush Creek, Four-Mile,
Newport, Jamestown and Dry Creek churches. Among the masses he was probably the most popular preacher that ever labored in North Bend or Campbell County Association, and probably preached more than any other preacher of his day, in that region of the state. Late in life, he was attacked with dys- pepsia, which rendered him unable to preach, for about two years. During this period he was very gloomy and deeply depressed in spirit. At length he sufficiently recovered as to be able to preach, and again entered upon his work with all the zeal of former years. He not only ministered promptly to his pastoral charges, but also, like most active preachers of his day, labored abundantly among the destitute around him. He often extended his labors to Cincinnati and the regions beyond it, in Ohio. As a pastor he was active, constant and successful. As a preacher he was plain, simple and unaffected. . He was not a profound thinker, but most happily applied the fundamental principles of the gospel, and his gift of exhortation was almost
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