USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 31
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Mr. Peck was plain, strong, practical preacher, firm in principle, prompt in decision, and energetic in action. He was three years clerk of South District Association, while living in its bounds, and was Moderator of Russell's Creek Association, for several years before his death.
DEEP CREEK church is located in the south-western part of Mercer county, and belongs to South District Associa- tion. It was probably gathered by James Keel, who became its first pastor. It was constituted in 1796, and the same year, applied for admission into South Kentucky Association, on the records of which it is described as "the Church on Chaplin." On account of some objection to its faith, constitution, or dis- tinguishing appellation, it was not recieved into full fellowship. The objectionable features were probably removed by the next year, and the church remained a member of the old South Ken- tucky fraternity, until the peaceable division of that body in 1801, when it fell into its present associational connection. Ten years after its constitution, it numbered 44 members, and the next year, was reduced to 35. In 1812, it enjoyed a revival, which increased its membership to 75. The following year, Joel Gordon was called to its pastoral care, and served it about 25 years, during which it enjoyed prosperity. B. F. Keeling succeeded Mr. Gordon, and after his death, David Bruner be- came its pastor. It has to the present time continued prosper- ous. In 1879, it numbered 223 members, and was the largest church in South District Association, except Forks of Dix river.
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Benjamin Fowler Keeling.
JAMES KEEL, who has been accredited as the founder, un- der God, of Deep Creek church, was a native of Virginia, and was raised up to the ministry, in that state. In 1780, he moved to East Tennessee, where he aided in raising up the first churches in that region. He assisted in organizing Holston Association, with which South Kentucky Association corresponded. Mr. Keel was the preacher in Cherokee Creek church, Washington county, Tennessee, as late as 1790. Between this period and 1796, he moved to Kentucky, and settled in Mercer county. Here he is accredited with raising up Deep Creek church, as re- lated above. He continued to serve this church probably till as late as 1812, although he had become a member of Salt River church, as early as 1806, and possibly went into its constitution in 1798. He must have been quite an old man in 1812, after which his name appears on no accessible record.
BENJAMIN FOWLER KEELING, succeeded Joel Gordon, as pas- ยท tor of Deep Creek church. He was a preacher of fine abilities, and was very popular. He was one of the leading ministers of Baptist Association before which he preached the introductory sermon, on four occasions, and of which he was moderator six years.
He was born of very poor, but pious and respectable Bap- tist parents, in Washington county, Kentucky, 1808. His father, John Keeling, was a native of Washington county, and, al- though in very lowly circumstances, was respected as a man of piety. He occasionally engaged in public exhortation. His son was brought up to labor on a rented farm, during " crop time." The remainder of the year, he "hired out," to work by the day, or month, to aid in the support of his father's family. He, however, possessed a sprightly mind, and managed to learn to read and write. In his youth, he professed conversion, and was baptized into Rockbridge church, by Elijah Summars, who had raised up this church, in the northern part of Washington county.
Young Keeling soon began to pray and exhort in public, and the church licensed him to preach. His efforts were quite acceptable, and he gave indications of usefulness. But on being appointed constable, he gave himself to secular pursuits. He soon became invoived in a difficulty, about some business trifle, and was excluded, from the church. Being a very popular young
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man, a considerable party of the church adhered to him. This party set up a claim to being a church, and Mr. Keeling was in- duced to accept an irregular ordination, and become its pastor. Of this imprudent step, however, he soon repented, and was re- stored to the fellowship of Rockbridge church. He now re- turned to the work of a licensed preacher.
About this time he was married to Rebecca, daughter of John Gordon, and niece of that eminently godly minister of Christ, Joel Gordon. She was a Baptist, and a devoted christian woman, and made him a good wife. The fruits of this marriage were seven sons and three daughters, most of whom, like the children of Job, have given themselves to feasting, rather than to godliness.
In 1840, Mr. Keeling was ordained to the pastoral care of Salem church (into the recent constitution of which he had en- tered), by John Dean, Joel Gordon, David Bruner, and Reuben Searcy. He was soon afterwards called to the care of Deep Creek, Glens Creek, and Rockbridge churches. He was also supply for several other churches, at different periods.
After laboring several years, in this field, with a good de- gree of success, he moved to Illinois, where he remained one year. But being dissatisfied with the country, he returned to his old field of labor in Kentucky.
Soon after returning from Illinois, he was elected justice of the peace. But finding this office incompatible with his minis- terial duties, he resigned the magistracy, at the expiration of two years, and now gave himself more earnestly and consistantly to the work of the ministry. He was a good business man, a little inclined to wordly ambition, in his youth, and not indif- ferent about money-making. He was a good economist, and easily acquired property ; was very popular with the world, as well as the church, and the way to local fame was open before him. He had a hard struggle with the world. But finally the
grace of God overcame. His fine gifts were at last consecrated to his holy calling. His success, both in building up the churches, and in leading sinners to Christ, was abundant. He rose rapidly in the estimation of his brethren, and, in a short time, was the most popular preacher in his association. " Who- soever honoreth me," said the blessed Savior, "him will my Father honor." But Mr. Keeling did not long enjoy his honor,.
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David Bruner.
among the brethren, or pursue his course of usefulness. His work on earth was soon done. He died of typhoid fever, July 27, 1854.
In docrine, Mr. Keeling was moderately calvinistic, but urged all men to repent and believe the gospel. His address was tender and pathetic, and he often wept profusely, while dwelling on the love of God, or the sufferings of Christ. He addressed the hearts of the people with great power. His con- gregations were often bathed in tears, and the Lord added many souls to his ministry.
DAVID BRUNER was the fourth pastor of Deep Creek church, in which capacity he served twenty-two years. Mr. Bruner, it is believed, was of German extraction, and was born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, 1810. He was early left an orphan. His mother died when he was only six years old. On her death bed she called him to her side, and, placing her hand on his head, said : "My son! be a good boy and meet me in heaven." Young as he was, the impression made by his mother's dying words was never effaced.
When about eight years old, he was brought to Mercer county by Michael Horn, who raised him up with his family, till he was eighteen years old. In his 21st year, he professed re- ligion and was baptized by Joel Gordon. He soon felt impressd with a sense of duty to preach the glad tidings of salvation to lost sinners, He was wholly illiterate, but his heart was stirred with a great desire to know the will of God. With the help of his wife he was soon able to read the Bible. This holy book he studied with great zeal and diligence. Meanwhile, he began to hold meetings at school houses and the private residences of the people. He was doubtless very awkward and ignorant. But the deep feeling he manifested and his great earnestness in trying to 'lead sinners to the Savior, brought the people together to hear him. He possessed good natural gifts, and his improvement in speaking was so satisfactory to the church that his ordination was called for. Accordingly, in 1842, he was set apart to the sacred office of the ministry, by Strother Cook, Willis Peck and Joel Gordon. He was soon called to the care of Deep Creek church, and then to that of others. He has lived and labored in the same locality during his whole ministry, and perhaps no man in the State has been better adapted to his field of labor.
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He has served as pastor, at different periods, twenty churches. He has aided in constituting eight churches, most of which he has gathered by his own labors, and has baptized about two thousand people. He is now (1885) in his 75th year, and is still laboring in the cause of his beloved Master.
Mr. Bruner is regarded only a moderate preacher. He is a good exhorter and sings well. Yet no one of his gifts seems extraordinary. His greatness which his works unmistakably de- clare, consists in his industry, diligence and faithfulness to the Master in whom he trusts, and by whose blessing he pre- vails.
The distinguished John L. Waller, is reported to have said, (in substance) after hearing David Bruner preach: "I would give anything I could command to be able to preach like that man." It is related that the great and godly William Vaughan, while preaching on the subject of God's accomplishing great ends by feeble instruments, turned to David Bruner, who was sitting behind him on the stand, and said (substantially): "See what this raw Dutchman can do when upheld by the power of God."
MT. NEBO church, originally called Dreaming Creek, and popularly known as Woods' Meetinghouse, first appears on the minutes of Tates Creek Association, in 1796. It was located in Madison county, about three miles from Richmond. This church appears to have been a daughter of Otter Creek, and was probably gathered by Christopher Harris and Peter Woods and by them constituted the same year it was received into the Association; at which time it numbered ninety members. From its constitution, it was a prominent and influential mem- ber of Tates Creek Association. Peter Woods and Christopher Harris, who were in its constitution, were both active and use- ful preachers. In 1829, it numbered 116 members. But the next year, it was torn in factions, and a large proportion of its membership was carried away by the Campbellite schism. In 1832, it contained only sixty-three members. After this, it gradually withered away till it dissolved.
PETER WOODS was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and came early from Virginia to Madison county, Kentucky. Here he united with Otter Creek church, in which he was ordained to the min- istry in 1795, by David Thompson and Andrew Tribble. The
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Peter Woods.
following year, he entered into the constitution of Mt. Nebo church, of which he appears to have been the pastor for about thirteen years. He soon rose to prominence among the min- isters of Tates Creek Association, of which he was moderator, from 1805 till 1809. Not long after the latter date, he moved to the Boones Lick country in Missouri. Here he labored with other Kentucky preachers, in building up the churches of which Mount Pleasant Association was formed. One of these churches was Mt. Nebo, and was doubtless gathered by the first pastor of Mt. Nebo church in Kentucky. Mr. Woods was moderator of Concord Association, a daughter of Old Mt. Pleasant, as late as 1824-perhaps a year or two later, when, it is supposed, the good Master called him up higher.
The work of the Kentucky Baptists during the year 1796, appears very small. Yet it was by no means unimportant. Six churches were planted. Some of them were in the midst of wide fields of destitution. Two of them are still large and flourishing churches, and even those whose original stocks have perished, have left many flourishing scions to bless the broad lands, on which they grow, with the generous fruits of faith, hope and love.
CHAPTER XXI.
GOSHEN, LICK CREEK, HARRODS CREEK, LONG RUN, HAZLE CREEK, AND VINEY FORK CHURCHES.
The year 1797 was one of peace and quiet among the churches of Kentucky. The little want of confidence in the orthodoxy of Tates Creek Association of United Baptists, on the part of Elkhorn Association, was removed this year, and a fraternal correspondence has been kept up between the two bodies to the present day. Salem Association was in full accord with Elkhorn and Tates Creek Associations. South Kentucky Association with her eighteen churches and 1, 300 members, stood off from the others like the Samaritans from the Jews. And as no overtures for union was made to her this year, she had no opportunity to vent her ill humor.
Very little business engaged the attention of the Associa- tions. Elkhorn condemned parades at funerals, decided that it was proper for a minister of Christ to preach the gospel where the people assembled to inter the dead, but denied that preach- ing at a funeral was necessary to the decent burial of the dead. She appointed a committee to meet with some brethren in Ma- son county, to consider the propriety of organizing a new As- sociation, dismissed Columbia church to go into an association about to be formed in Ohio, advised the churches to be on their guard against the imposition of one Robert Smith, who had been excluded from his church, and was preaching around over the country, and appointed a committee of her ablest preachers to guard against clerical impostors. Salem Association warned the churches against encouraging Reuben Smith, till he should put his letter into some church.
There was a manifest increase of spiritual interest among the churches. The hearts of the earnest ministers and pious church members rejoiced at the prospect of an approaching
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Goshen Church.
revival. The indications were indeed slight; but "a cloud as a man's hand," rising on a brazen sky after so long a drought, afforded the eager watchmen grounds of hope. Only a few of the churches shared in the ingathering of the year; but some of these had a large blessing. Limestone church received by bap- tism seventy-seven, Mays Lick, forty-three, and Bracken, 157. These churches were all in Mason county. Several other churches received smaller numbers. There was just seventy churches with an aggregate membership of about 4,436, repre- sented in the four associations, which then existed in the State. The aggregate number of baptisms was probably something near five hundred. This was much the largest ingathering the churches had enjoyed since the revival of 1789. There was also an increased activity in planting new churches, to which the at- tention of the reader must now be directed.
GOSHEN church is located in Clark county, some ten miles northeast from Winchester. It was probably gathered by William Payne, at whose house it was constituted by him, Ambrose Dudley and Donald Holmes, Jan. 14, 1797. William Payne preached to it about two years, when the distinguished David Barrow became its pastor. He continued in the pastoral care, till about 1802, when he resigned on account of his anti-slavery sentiments. In 1804, at which time it numbered seventy-one members, it took a letter from Elkhorn Association, and joined North District. From 1816 to 1855, good old Thomas Boone preached to this church. For many years it was a flourishing body but about 1840, it allied itself with the Anti-missionary Baptists, after which it withered, but is still a respectable church.
WILLIAM PAYNE appears to have been a preacher of very moderate ability, among the pioneers of Central Kentucky. He settled near Lexington, and was a licensed preacher in Town Fork church, as early as 1790. He was associated with Am- brose Dudley in raising up some of the early churches, as far westward as Henry county. In 1797, he went into the consti- tution of Goshen church, and became its pastor for a short time. In 1802, he moved to Washington in Mason county, and was for some time a preacher in the church at that village. In 1810, he went into Licking Association of Particular Baptists, among whom he remained as late as 1821, after which his name disap- peared from the records. 23
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EDWARD KINDRED was an Englishman, who was in the Bush settlement in Clark county, at an early period. He was baptized into the fellowship of old Providence church, in 1790. The following year he was chosen deacon of that body. He was afterward put into the ministry, and in 1804 was called to preach at Goshen church. He was regarded a good man, with very moderate gifts. He labored in the ministry many years, in Clark county, and died childless.
RAVENS CREEK church united with Elkhorn Associa- tion, in 1797. It embraced, at that time, sixteen members. In 1801, it received 104 by baptism, increasing its membership to 127. But was gradually reduced in numbers, till in 1808, it had thirty-eight members. In 1810 it entered into the constitution of Licking Association. It contained about the same number of members, in 1848, when it was dropped from that Associa- tion, for being in disorder. The "disorder" probably consisted in that refractory church engaging in some of the benevolent enterprises of the day.
BETHEL church, formerly called Tick Creek, * is located on a small stream from which it derived its original name, about five miles east of Shelbyville. It was probably gathered by Joshua Morris, or James Dupuy, and was constituted in 1797. It first united with Elkhorn Association, to which it reported a membership of sixteen, the same year it was constituted. In 1799, it took a letter from Elkhorn, and joined Salem Associa- tion, at which time it numbered twenty-four members. In the division of the latter fraternity, in 1803, it fell into Long Run Association, at which time it numbered 107 members. Five years afterward, when George Waller took the pastoral care of it, the number of its members had been reduced to forty-five. Mr. Waller preached to the church twenty-three years, when, in 1832, he accepted an appointment to ride as missionary in the State of Kentucky, one year, under the direction of the Ken- tucky Baptist Convention, which had just been organized. At this time the church numbered 186 members. At Mr. Waller's solicitation, John Holland was invited to serve the church dur- ing Mr. Waller's absence. When his year expired, and Mr. Waller returned from the missionary field to resume his pastoral
* Both in Manley's Annals of Elkhorn Association, and Clacks History of Salem Association, the name is improperly printed "Lick Creek."
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Stark Dupuy.
charges, it was ascertained that a strong anti-missionary element had been developed in the church. It was also made to appear that Mr. Holland, although a portion of the year under the em- ployment of the same missionary board that employed Mr. Wal- ler, the church not knowing it, had encouraged the anti-mis- sionary spirit. This led to unpleasant feelings between the preachers, which required several years for adjustment. In 1835 the church attained to a membership of 259. But the two ele- ments-missionary and anti-missionary-were irreconcilable. The church divided. The anti-missionary party was in the ma- jority, and kept the house, the name and the records. The missionary party is the present prosperous church at Clay Vil- lage, which belongs to Shelby county Association, and in 1879, numbered 140 members. Old Bethel church united with Lick- ing Association, and though next to the largest in that body, in 1876, it numbered only forty-three members.
STARK DUPUY was, in its early day, raised up to the min- istry in Bethel church. And, although he has been briefly spoken of elsewhere, a few words may be added here. His father, James Dupuy, was among the early Baptist preachers in Powhatan county, Va., where his son Stark was born. He was an early emigrant to Kentucky. After spending some years in Woodford county, he moved to Shelby, and settled on Tick creek. Here Stark Dupuy received, at least, a good English education for that day. He early entered the ministry, and was "a boy " of extraordinary sprightliness. He was a young man of fine energy and public spirit. In 1812, he commenced the publication of THE KENTUCKY MISSIONARY AND THEOLOGIAN, he being the sole editor. It was a quarterly magazine, four numbers of which made a volume of 244 pages. The first num- ber was printed by the public printer, at Frankfort, in May, and the volume was completed in the following February. At the latter date, its publication was suspended, as the editor stated, till the War should close. Mr. Dupuy, who was doubtless the first Baptist editor of a religious periodical, west of the Alle- gheny Mountains, did not resume the publication of his journal ; for soon after its suspension, Silas M. Noel commenced, in 1813, the publication of The Gospel Herald, that more than filled the place of its predecessor.
Mr. Dupuy was a man of delicate constitution. He move 1
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
early to Tennessee in search of a mild climate. Here he aided in raising up the first churches in that region, and forming them into old Forked Deer Association, of which he was the first moderator. After his lungs became so much diseased as to prevent his preaching, he compiled a hymn book, known as DUPUY'S HYMNS, which was, for many ycars, among the most - popular works of the kind in the Mississippi Valley. He died in the prime of life, with that fatal malady, popularly known as consumption of the lungs.
HARRODS CREEK church is, by several years, the oldest fra- ternity of the kind on the northern border of the State, below Old Bullittsburg, in Boone county. It takes its name from the principal water course in Oldham county, and is located six miles from the Ohio river, and about the same distance from LaGrange, the county seat of Oldham.
It is probable that the first settlement, formed in Oldham county, was made near the present location of Harrod's Creek church, about 1788. Among the settlers, were the Shirleys, Glores, Wilhoits, Yeagers, and a young Baptist exhorter of the name of William Kellar. Mcst, or all of these families, were Germans, and a number of Baptists were among them. Mr. Kel- lar made regular appointments, and preached to the people, at his own house, for a number of years. In 1797, he procured ministerial aid, and the Baptists in the settlement were consti- tuted the Regular Baptist church on Harrods creek. Mr. Kellar was immediately chosen pastor, and continued to occupy that position till his death, in 1817.
Harrods Creek church was received into Salem Associa- tion the same year it was constituted, and remained in that con- nection six years. In 1803, it went into the constitution of Long Run Association. It numbered, at that time, 151 mem- bers. At the death of Mr. Kellar, it contained 279 members. Benjamin Allen succeeded Mr. Kellar in the pastoral office, and preached to the church, till 1831, when it numbered 209 mem- bers. Mr. Allen has now become a zealous follower of Camp- bell, and, being exceedingly popular, carried about seven- eighths of the church into the heresy of Campbellism. The Baptists separated themselves from the Campbellites, and called the distinguished George Waller to minister to them. In two years they had increased to 40 members, and, in 1855,
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William Kellar.
when it had united with Sulphur Fork Association, it numbered only 67 members. Its growth has been very slow, but it has been distinguished for its steadfastness in the faith, promptness in discipline, and the warm spirituality of its membership. In 1879, it reported ninety members.
WILLIAM KELLAR was the first pastor of Harrods Creek church. He was the son of Abram Kellar, a pious German, and was born in Shenandoah county, Va., about the year 1768. Al- though his father was a man in prosperous circumstances, the condition of the new country was such that his large family of children grew up with but little education. William was the youngest of eight children. His mother died soon after his birth, and he was left fatherless before he was grown. He was a wild, wicked youth. Just before the father's death, he called William to his bedside, presented him a large Bible, and said to him: " My son, this is your portion." The youth received it from the dying father with a feeling of anger, mentally saying : "Is this all you mean to give me." However, the good old man willed him the valuable farm on which he lived. He con-
tinued to live in vice and folly, till sometime after the death of his father, when he was alarmed under the preaching of James Ireland, who suffered so bitterly in Culpeper Jail " for preach- ing the gospel contrary to law." However, young Kellar soon shook off his convictions, married the daughter of Colonel John Netherton, and moved to East Tennessee. Here his convic- tions were soon renewed, under the preaching of John Mulky, by whom he and his young wife were shortly afterwards bap- tized. Soon after this, he removed to Kentucky, and, after re- maining a short time near Lexington, settled on Harrods creek, where he spent the remainder of his life. In this new settlement, there were about an equal number of Methodists and Baptists, but no preacher of any kind ; for Mr. Kellar was not licensed to preach for several years after this. The two sects, agreed to lay aside their differences, so far as to worship together. They held night meetings, for prayer, at the different houses in the settle- ment. After awhile, Mr. Kellar began to exhort at the prayer- meeting, and was soon acklowedged the leader among them. Having no opportunity of becoming a church, in legal form, about eleven Baptists gave their church letters to Mr. Kellar, agreeing to watch over each other as brethren, and chose him as
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