USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 32
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their leader and teacher. In this way they progressed, till 1797, when they were regularly constituted a church. Mr. Kellar was continued as their preacher, and in due time was ordained to the ministry. Soon after his ordination, he began to baptize, and, among others, baptized several of his old Methodist friends. This led to a debate with the Circuit rider, who was after- wards Bishop McAndrew.
Soon after Harrod's Creek church was constituted, and before his ordination, Mr. Kellar heard of a new settlement, ten or twelve miles east of him. To this he made his way on foot, through the unbroken forest. Here he found four Bap- tists. He continued to visit this settlement till, in 1800, a church was constituted, which is still known as Eighteen- Mile church. To this organization, he ministered seventeen years. For a number of years, he walked to his appoint- ments, always carrying his gun and knife. His descendants still tell about his killing a very large bear, while on his way to preach at Eighteen-Mile, one Sunday morning.
Two years after Eighteen-Mile church was constituted, he gathered another church, four or five miles south of the former, which was called Lick Branch (now LaGrange). To this he ministered fifteen years. Meanwhile, he had accepted a call to Beargrass church, which had been constituted in 1784. Mr. Kellar ministered to these four churches monthly, without pay, traveled and preached much among the destitute, and raised nine children, of whom eight were daughters. " And yet," says his biographer, Abram Kellar, "I know of no man whose property has increased more rapidly than his."
When the War of 1812 broke out, Mr. Kellar, who had served in some of the wars with the Southern Indians, like Da- vid, left his flocks in the wilderness, and went to see how his brethren did in the Northwestern army. He was captain of 100 mounted riflemen, in the campaign against the Indians, in Ill- inois. When the campaign closed, he returned to his pastoral charges, and continued his labors, with much success, till his last illness. The illness was supposed to have resulted from the bite of a bear. Having shot the animal, and supposing it to be dead, he went up with his knife to "stick it," when it seized him by the calf of his leg, mangling it fearfully. The wound never healed. His illness continued about three weeks. The
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William Kellar.
night before his death, he asked his wife if the family were to- gether; being answered in the affirmative, he seemed to resume all his strength of reason and voice ; he commenced praying for his family ; then for the church, and the preachers, and finally for all mankind. He thus continued to pray till he was ex- hausted. Next day, November 6, 1817, he breathed his last.
Few men have been better fitted for pioneer preachers than was William Kellar. He possessed great physical strength and courage, and unflagging industry. And it added much to his popularity, that he was a skillful hunter, "a boss me- chanic"-cabinet maker, -and "the best hand in the settle- ment, at a log-rolling, or house-raising." He was of a cheer- ful temperament, and extremely casy and charming in conver- sation. "His doctrine was built on sovereign grace," and he was eminently practical in applying it. He was so industrious and wise in the management of his business affairs, that, with- out entering into speculation, he supported his family well, without any compensation for preaching. His energy and in- dustry in preaching the gospel was not inferior to that directed to the support of his family. He would walk ten miles through a pathless forest, with a rifle on his shoulder, preach to the people, and return home again the same day.
Of him, John Taylor says: "Everything that is calculated to recommend a man to his fellow-men was summed up in Mr. Kellar. Generosity, good will and liberality, as well as justice and truth, were predominant in him. Resignation to God or- namented him as a Christian. He was once asked what was a man's best evidence, that he was a Christian. His answer was, to have no will of his own. Some years passed, his house, then lately finished, was burnt down, with all his principal fur- niture in it. Being from home at the time, though hearing of it before he returned, he found his companion and little children in a poor, sorrowful, naked hut. The first words he said to her, with great cheerfulness, were: 'Well wife, do you feel like Job?'
" As to preaching talents, he was not above mediocrity. He had a good understanding of the scriptures and a readiness ; of communicating his ideas, with a peculiar method of dealing with the heart, and a most winning address. His pathos was often such that every tender feeling of the heart was in heaven-
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
ly emotion, so that his hearers would weep aloud, or loudly shout the praises of their God. His voice was naturally loud and melodious. But his singing .oft-times seemed to do more than all the rest. Above that of all other men his singing seemed to come from above. At times, after preaching, he would leave the stage and strike up some heavenly song, his own eyes filled with tears of sympathy for his fellow-men ; and while he sang, ranged through the assembly and reached out his hand to all who came in his way, the flax that was only smoking before, would burst into a flame, and hundreds or thousands would be weeping or rejoicing at once.
" Among men, there never was a more safe or more agree- able friend than William Kellar. Nor do I know of any man or preacher whose death could have made a greater chasm in the Baptist Society in Kentucky. Of the value of this man, a tenth part has not been told." He was moderator of Long Run Association, three years, and was filling that position at the time of his death. He also preached the introductory ser- mon before that body four times. His only son, Abram Kel- lar, was a Baptist preacher in Illinois."
BENJAMIN ALLEN was the second pastor of Harrods Creek church. He was a native of Virginia, and was born April 28, 1776. He came with his father to Kentucky, in 1785. At the age of twelve years, he was apprenticed to Elder William Kellar for the purpose of learning the trade of a carpenter and cabinet-maker. Heremained with Mr. Kellar six years. During this time he learned to read and write. While serving his ap- prenticeship, he professed conversion, and was baptized by Mr. Kellar into the fellowship of Harrods Creek church. Shortly after his baptism, he began to exercise in prayer and exhorta- tion. He was active and zealous, became a good, easy, fluent speaker, and ultimately one of the most pleasing and popular preachers in his region of the state. He was orthodox accord- ing to the Baptist standard, preached experimental religion with great warmth and zeal, and carried the hearts of the people with him as effectually as did Absalom. He became pastor of Flat Rock and Floyds Fork churches in Jefferson county, Dover in Shelby, and many were added to the churches through his min- istry. John Taylor compared him to Barnabas and added, that, like Barnabas he had been carried away Ly dissimulation.
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Benjamin Allen.
When Alexander Campbell began to propagate his doc- trine in Kentucky, Mr. Allen speedily received it, and by preach- ing it guardedly, carried a large majority of Flat Rock and Harrods Creek churches with him. The former was entirely destroyed as a Baptist church. A few members that held to Baptist principles, organized what is now Pleasant Grove church in Jefferson county. The history of Harrods Creek has been given above. After the final separation between the Baptists and Campbellites, Mr. Allen continued to preach among the lat- ter, till his death, which occurred April 6, 1838.
The immediate occasion of the split of the churches in Long Run Association, was the rejection of two churches which made application for membership in that body. Their names were Pond Creek and Goose Creek, the former in Oldham, and the latter in Jefferson. These churches had been gathered by Mr. Allen and constituted after the manner of the Separate Baptist churches, without any written creed. Mr. Allen boasted that he was the first man in Kentucky that constituted a church which from its origin, discarded all crecds and confessions of faith. This, however, was an empty boast, since there werc, at that time, two associations in the State embracing more than forty churches, and a number of them among the oldest in the State -not one of which had ever had a written creed or confession. Benjamin Allen was a man of great zcal and activity, and excrt- ed a strong influence. He brought many people into the Bap- tist churches, but he took many more out. The Campbellites owe him more, and the Baptists less than any other man that has labored in the bounds of Long Run Association.
A. M. RAGSDALE was pastor of Harrods Creek church a few years. Hc was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, August 20, 1810. Hc united with the church at Eallardsville in Oldham county, in 1839. Here he was licensed to preach, in 1842, and ordained, in October, 1844. He labored principally in Trimble county, where he gathered Middle Creek church, which was constituted of twenty members, October 20, 1848, and Poplar Ridge, which was constituted in 1858. To these, Harrods Creek, Covington and perhaps some others, he ministered as pastor with a good degrec of success. He died of typhoid fever, in his 52d year.
Mr. Ragsdale was a good, sound practical preacher, and
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
was much devoted to his holy calling. He had a stern appear- ance, and seldom made a favorable impression on strangers, yet few men were more beloved where he was well acquainted. He spent most of his ministerial life in the rough, hilly country along the Ohio river, in Trimble and Oldham counties, where his labors were much blessed from first to last.
JAMES KINSOLVING was pastor of Harrcds Creek and La Grange churches, a short time about 1844. He proved to be a man of a turbulent spirit. He soon became involved in difficul- ties with several members of his charge, and was compelled to resign. He was an elderly man at that time. He moved some where in the region of Madisonville, and died.
WILLIAM EDMUND WALLER, JR., became pastor of Harrods Creek church, in 1869. He was a son of A. D. Waller, grand- son of the distinguished George Waller, and a great grandson of the noted old pioneer preacher, William Edmund Waller. In intellectual gifts, he was not surpassed by any of these ancestors. His voice and delivery were both defective. But the matter of his theoretical discourses was clear, strong and logical. He was an effective, practical preacher, and an excellent disciplina- rian. It is doubted whether there was an abler preacher or bet- ter pastor of his age, than he in the State, at the time of his death.
W. E. Waller was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, Nov- ember 17, 1845. While he was a child his parents moved to Louisville, where he received a fair English education, in the city schools. After his parents moved back to Shelby county, he labored on a farm till the breaking out of the war between the States, in 1861, when he became connected with the South- ern Army. At one time he was arrested and condemned by a Federal court-martial to be shot as a spy. But some influential friends interfered, and procured a pardon for him. His health was so much impaired by exposure in the army, that he never recovered. At the close of the war he engaged in school teach- ing, for which he showed good capacity. In 1866, le professed conversion, joined Long Run church in Jefferson county, and was baptized by Walter E. Powers. A few days after his bap- tism, he commenced exercising in public prayer, and in less than two months, he was licensed to preach in December, 1866. In July, 1868, he was ordained to the work of the ministry. . He
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William Edward Waller, Jr.
'spent about three years from the time he was licensed, in the work of a missionary, in Jefferson, Bullitt, Shelby and Franklin counties, during which his labors were blessed to the conversion of many souls. He preached statedly to Fisherville and Cedar Creek churches, in Jefferson county, a short time. In 1869, le was chosen pastor of Harrods Creek, and afterwards, of Jeffer- sontown church. Between these, he divided his time, during the few remaining years of his brief life. He died of diabetis, at Jeffersontown, whither he had gone to fill his regular ap- pointment, November 10, 1878. His physician had warned him many months before that his disease was incurable, and must, ere long, terminate fatally. But he was faithful to the end.
Mr. Waller was a close student, and had not only made himself familiar with the best works on theology, but had made considerable attainments in the Greek and Latin languages. With the Bible, he was remarkably familiar. His most marked characteristics were those of meekness, humility and self-depre- ciation. Few men were ever more beloved by those who knew him. "I am satisfied," says W. E. Power, "that he had a stronger hold on the affection of his people than any [other] man I ever knew." He was several years clerk of Long Run As- sociation.
LONG RUN church is located on the eastern border of Jeffer- son county, about 18 miles from Louisville, and near a small tributary, of Floyds Fork, from which tributary it derives its name. According to the best authorities, it was constituted in 1797. At this date, it united with Salem Association, of which it remained a member, till 1803, when it entered into the con- stitution of Long Run Association. At this time it numbered 57 members. Who gathered it will probably not be known. The tradition that it was gathered by W. E. Waller is not prob- able, as he lived, at that time, in Fayette county. Joshua Morris, William Taylor, and Reuben Smith, lived nearest to its locality, at that time, and John Penny was much nearer than Waller. It is probable, but by no means certain, that John Penny was the first pastor. In 1802, South Long Run church was constituted partly of members from Long Run. In 1804, at a log-rolling in the neighborhood, the question as to whether or not a man would be justifiable in telling a falsehood, under any circumstances, was sprung. This illustration was proposed :
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
"Suppose a man has five children. The Indians come and kill four of them, the fifth one being hidden near by. The savages then ask the father if he has another child. Would he be jus- tifiable in telling them that he had not ?" The dispute grew warm. Some members of the church engaged in it. It finally got into Long Run church, and split it. The " lying party " moved three or four miles west, and were constituted "Flat Rock church " of seven members, the first Monday in March, 1805. In 1812, Long Run sent out the third colony to form Dover church. This left the parent body only 62 members. From this time till 1821, her membership was reduced till she num- bered only 45. That year, 24 were added by baptism. In 1827, the church enjoyed a revival, during which 162 were added to her membership by baptism. This gave her a total membership of 272.
This year Long Run church sent out her fourth colony, which joined with others in the constitution of Floyds Fork (now Fisherville) church. About 1833, John Dale was chosen pastor of Long Run, and served in that capacity nine years, dur- ing which he baptized 200, into its fellowship. Of these, he baptized 101 during a revival, in the fall of 1839. From 1842, till 1861, the church changed pastors seven times, and, of course, did not prosper. The expulsion of an old member, about 1859, for keeping a disorderly grog-shop, caused much confu- sion in the church for two or three years.
In 1861, S. H. Ford, who was pastor of the church at that time, went South, on account of the War, and W. E. Powers, one of its own members, who had lately been brought into the ministry, supplied the pulpit until 1862, when he was regularly called to the pastoral care of the church, a position he still occupies (1885). When Mr. Powers began to preach to the church, it numbered 213 members, but was soon afterwards re- duced by a dismission of the colored members. Again, how- ever, it greatly prospered, so that, in 1872, it numbered 230 members. It now sent out another colony to form Pewee Valley church, which was constituted, in 1873. In 1880, Long Run church numbered 183 members.
JOSEPH COLLINS was born in Culpeper county, Va., about 1765. In early life he professed conversion, and was baptized by the eccentric Joseph Craig. About 1785, he was married to
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Joseph Collins.
Delilah Morse, and, in 1786, moved in company with Elijah Craig and others, to Kentucky. This company of emigrants traveled across the mountains in mid winter, journeying several' hundred miles along this route without passing a single settle- ment. They had to " camp out " every night, sometimes in deep snow, and at other times in a cold, drenching rain. They were always surrounded by blood-thirsty savages and ferocious wild beasts. The sufferings, especially of the women and child- ren, were very great. Towards the opening of spring, they reached the settlement, on Elkhorn. Here they met with many brethren with whom they were acquainted.
After stopping a few years near Lexington, Mr. Collins moved to the western border of Shelby county, and settled on the waters of Long Run. He probably united with Brashears Creek church, near tbe present site of Shelbyville. In 1797, he went into the constitution of Long Run church, near his resi- dence. Here he was brought into the ministry, in the year 1802. Three years after this, he was called to the care of Long Run church. He was pastor, afterwards, for short periods, of two or three neighboring churches. In 1812, he was called to preach at Burks Branch, one year, in the absence of George Waller, the pastor. He died after a brief illness, in the fall of 1826.
Mr. Collins possessed but moderate ability and small attain- ments, but he was a man of piety and zeal, and exercised a good influence over the settlers. The Lord blessed his labors, to his own glory and the good of the people. He left a numer- ous and respectable posterity, many of whom have been, and still are, members of Old Long Run, and the neighboring churches.
JOEL HULSY succeeded Joseph Collins as pastor of Long Run church. He was raised by very poor parents, near Little Mount church, in Spencer county. At an early age he professed the religion of Jesus. He went to Elk Creek church, and related his Christian experience. The brethren gave him the hand of Christian fellowship, but would not receive him into that church because he lived nearer to Little Mount. In April, 1816, he united with Elk Creek by letter, and was at once licensed to preach. On the 19th of October, of the same year, he was or- dained to the ministry, by George Waller and William Stout.
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
The following year, having been called to the care of Long Run and Dover churches, he took a letter and joined the latter. Af- ter preaching to these churches some years, he was called to New Castle in Henry county. H'e was also called to East Fork church in the same county. He probably preached to some other churches.
T. Not far from 1835, he moved to Illinois, where he engaged in merchandising. He soon failed in business, and it was thought his mind became somewhat disordered before his death.
In the early part of his minstry, Joel Hulsy was regarded one of the leading ministers of his association. He was success- ful in leading the unconverted to the Savior, in an eminent de- gree. But it was said that his wife was a worldly, ambitious woman, and could not be satisfied to live within his limited in- come. This drove him to speculation, and destroyed his in- fluence as a minister.
JOHN HUME STURGEON succeeded Joel Hulsy as pastor o. Long Run church. He was born in Jefferson county, Ken- tucky, October, 1790. His parents were Presbyterians, and brought up their son in the faith of their church, having him christened in infancy, and taught to repeat the Catechism, and observe the form of religion, as he grew up. Although these parents were orderly in their conduct, they afterwards acknow- ledged that they had never been born again. They sought and obtained the saving grace of God, and were baptized into the fellowship of Long Run church. Thomas Sturgcon, the father, was remarkable for his piety and zeal, even in his old age. A short time before his death, he went to Long Run meeting. At the close of the services, he called all his children and grand- children around him, and exhorted them to meet him in Heaven. He then knelt down and prayed for them. Rising from his knees, he bade farewell, one by one, and then went home. A few days afterwards, he was called to his treasures in Heaven.
John H. Sturgeon professed religion and was baptized into the fellowship of Long Run church, about the 16th year of his age. He soon began to pray in public, and, afterward to exhort sinners to repent and seek the Lord. He was licensed to preach about 1812. It was some years after this before he was or- dained, by Joel Hulsy and others. He was probably pastor of
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John Dale.
no church but Long Run, while he was in Kentucky. His gifts were quite meager. But his life was one of eminent purity, and devoted piety. In 1833, he moved to Pike county, Mis- souri, where he died in about a year.
JOHN DALE was the successor of J. H. Sturgeon, in the pastoral office at Long Run. He was born in Woodford county, Kentucky, November 6, 1789. He was the subject of very early religious impressions, and professed conversion at twelve years of age. He was baptized into the fellowship of Hillsboro' church, in Woodford county, by Edmund Waller, in 1801.
He was married to Elenor, daughter of John Vaughan, Oct- ober 31, 1809. This union was blessed with three sons and five daughters, all of whom were raised to the estate of manhood and womanhood, but they all except William preceded him to the grave.
About the year 1818, he moved to Shelby county, and set- tled on Long Run, where he united with South Long Run church. He was an active, zealous church member, and often exhorted among the people. The church here soon discovered a gift, which had been too long overlooked at Hillsboro'.
He was licensed to preach about the year 1823, and some two years afterward, was ordained by Joel Hulsy and Zacheus Carpenter. He was immediately called to the pastoral care of Long Run church. He moved his membership to Long Run, where it remained till a church was formed at Simpsonville. He then became a member, and the pastor, of that fraternity. He was also pastor of Dover and Pleasant Grove churches. At all these, he was abundantly successful. At Long Run, in fifteen years, he baptized 305; at Simpsonville, in nine years, he bap- tized 297. He also baptized large numbers at Dover and Pleasant Grove.
In 1849, his health which had been failing several years be- came so feeble that he was compelled to desist from active labor. He continued to preach occasionally, when his health would per- mit. He died from the effects of a tumor on his neck, March 29, 1862.
Among the many faithful ministers of the Cross that have labored to build up the cause of truth within the bounds of Long - Run Association, none have been more suscessful than John Dale. During a period of twenty years, he labored with
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
tireless zeal, and was, during that period, the most popular min- ister in his association. As an expositor of the scriptures, he was below mediocrity. His principal gift was that of exhorta- tion, and in this he has seldom, or never been surpassed, in Ken- tucky. He always drew large congregations, and never failed to rivet attention. Weeping and rejoicing commingled in every congregation he preached to. His exhortations consisted mainly in quotations from the scriptures, so forcibly applied that the effect was electrical. Although not a scholar, a profound thinker, nor a logician, he was eminently a great man. But above all, he maintained a spotless Christian character, an un- abating zeal for the salvation of sinners, and a constant, living piety.
JOHN DULANEY was pastor of Long Run church a short time. He lived within the bounds of Sulphur Fork Association, and was in the ministry about twelve years. He possessed small preaching gifts, was unstable in his habits and purposes, and was not very profitable in the ministry. He died at his home in Bedford, in the 38th year of his age, about 1865.
WALTER ELLIS POWERS has held a longer pastoral term at Long Run, than any of his predecessors. He began to supply the pulpit of that church in October, 1861, was regularly in- ducted into the pastoral office, in July, 1862, and has served in that capacity without interruption to the present time (1885).
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