USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 40
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About 1869, he lost his wife, to whom he was very fondly attached, and, sometime afterwards, fell into a state of mental depression which rendered him incapable of preaching, for a year or two. After his recovery, he devoted himself wholly to
the ministry with much zeal, and corresponding success.
In
the fall of 1879, he received a hurt, from being thrown from his buggy, from which he was confined to his bed for many weeks, after which he lapsed into a state of mental depression from which he never sufficiently recovered as to be able to preach: He raised two children (having none of his own). One of whom is his nephew, H. T. Daniel, now a prominent preacher in Richmond, Kentucky. He died in 1884.
NEWCASTLE church is located in the village from which it derives its present name, in Henry county. It was constituted of 18 members, by William Hickman and others, April 6, 1799, and was the first church gathered within the present limits of that county. It was at first, and for many years, called Drennon's Creek. In Manly's Annals of Elkhorn Association, it is in- correctly printed Drennons Lick. By whom this church was gathered, or who its first pastor was, there is no means at hand of knowing. It united with Elkhorn Association the same year it was constituted. At this time, it numbered 10 mem- bers. In 1804, when it united with Long Run Association, its membership had increased to 26. In 1811-12, it enjoyed a re- revival, under the ministry of Thomas Vandiver and Elijah Summars, during which more than 30 were baptized into its fellowship, and its membership was increased to 86. In 1818-
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Newcastle Church.
19, it enjoyed another revival, during which about 30 were bap- tized, and its membership increased to 123. In 1823, Thomas Chilton was called to the care of the church, and, during that year, 40 were baptized. The calling of Mr. Chilton to its pastoral care, and receiving him into its membership, involved the church in a difficulty with the association, he being a Separate Baptist. A committee was sent by Long Run Association, to labor with the church, and try to convince her of her error. Failing to be convinced, but expressing a desire to still remain in the associa- tion, that fraternity entered upon her minutes of 1824, the fol- lowing item: " Forasmuch as the church at Drennon's Creek expresses no desire to be separated from us, or to bear on the feelings of this association, and notwithstanding we believe she has acted inconsiderately, in professing fellowship and com- munion for the Separate Baptists, who are distinct from, and not in union with us, we feel disposed to exercise forbearance towards her, with this special advice-that she rescind her or- der, establishing full fellowship and communion with the Sep- arate Baptists."
This advice was rejected by a majority of the church, whereupon the association, at her meeting in 1825, advised the minority to organize as a church, and to receive into its mem- bership two brethren who had been expelled by the majority. The minority followed the advice of the association. But be- fore the next meeting of that body, the two parties of Drennons Creek church had happily adjusted their differences, reunited, and rescinded the obnoxious order. The united church peti- tioned for readmittance into the association and was "affection- ately received."
The church now (1827) numbered 145 members. During the next year, a most glorious revival visited the church, under the ministry of those eminent men of God, Jeremiah Vardeman and Silas M. Noel, and 165 were baptized. This brought the mem- bership up to 310. Drennons Creek was now, and for many years afterwards, the largest church in its association. In 1835, another great revival visited the church, under the preaching of John S. Wilson, and 136 were baptized, bringing the mem- bership up to 375. Only three years later, another revival resulted in the baptism of 115. During the two years 1842-3, the church received 154 by baptism. In 1847, it attained to
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a membership of 427. This year it joined Sulphur Fork As- sociation. After this it enjoyed a number of extensive re- vivals; but its number gradually decreased, from year to year, till, in 1879, it reported only 99 membess.
ISAAC MALIN was the first preacher that is known to have settled in what is now Henry county. It is not improbable that he was instrumental in gathering Newcastle church, and he may have supplied it with preaching for a short time. In 1801, he gathered Drennons Ridge church, became its pas- tor, and ministered to it more than forty years. In 1813, he gathered Cane Run church in the same (Henry) county. Of this church also, he was pastor many years. He was a good, plain preacher of medium gifts, and sound practical wisdom. His piety was unimpeachable and his influence over the peo- ple was very great. He took much pains to explain the scrip- tures, and enforce the obligation to practical godliness, by the use of plain, familiar illustrations. In one of his practical talks to his people, he is reported to have used the following lan- guage: "Brethren, Christians are like fat-gourds. If there is any fat in the gourd, it is certain to show on the outside. And, so, if there is any grace in a man's heart, it will be seen in his works." To understand this homely, but very pointed illustration, it must be remembered that in the pioneer days, when vessels for domestic useses were very scarce, the people were accustomed to keep their lard, which they called fat, in a species of large gourd, raised for that purpose. Some of these "fat-gourds" would hold more than a peck.
THOMAS VANDIVER became a member of Newcastle church, about 1812, and ministered to it two or three years. During this period, the church enjoyed a revival season, and about 30 were baptized. But, as related in the sketch of Joshua Rucker, Mr. Vandiver made some well meant, but imprudent and thoughtless remark in the pulpit, which made it prudent for him to leave the neighborhood. He moved away from the State, about 1815. He was regarded a preacher of small talent.
THOMAS CHILTON was called to the care of Newcastle church, in 1823, and served it three or four years. He was well ed- ucated for that period, and had been bred to the law in the practice of which he continued for a time, and then entered the ministry.
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Thomas Chilton.
He was the son of Thomas J. Chilton, one of the signers of the "Terms of General Union," and long the most prom- inent leader among the Separate Baptists in Kentucky, and was probably a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky. When he abandoned the law, and entered the ministry, he speedily attracted attention by his superior talents and brilliant oratory. Although a Separate Baptist, and not in union with the great body of Baptists in the State, the church at Newcastle could not resist the temptation to secure the brilliant orator as her pastor. He baptized quite a number of people there, but he probably did the church more harm than good. When he left Newcastle, in 1826, he moved to Hardin county, and re- sumed the practice of law. At the bar he was regarded the equal of the famous Ben. Hardin, whom he often met in de- bate.
In 1827, he was elected to Congress and returned again in 1829. In 1832, he was chosen one of the presidential electors for Kentucky, and the same year was elected to Congress again. During his last term in Congress he cast a vote on some impor- tant measure, contrary to the principles upon which he had been elected. His constituents were so incensed at this breach of trust, that it was feared he would be mobbed on his return from Washington. This put an end to his political career. Meanwhile, he had contracted the habit of drinking to excess, and had been excluded from the fellowship of Republican [now Big Spring] church in LaRue county. Deeply mortified by the loss of his popularity, and demoralized by strong drink, his rea- son tottered, and he attempted to commit suicide. Prevented from committing the rash act by his friends, he endured a long season of fearful remorse. At last he expressed the hope that God had forgiven him. He was restored to the fellowship of the church, and to the ministry. He soon afterward moved to the southern part of the State, where he remained a short time, and then moved to Alabama. Here he spent a number of years, in preaching the gospel. He finally moved to Texas and died.
THOMAS SMITH, EsQ., one of the most energetic and suc- cessful business men Kentucky has ever produced, was a mem- ber of New Castle church. . He was born in Henry county, Ky., November 22, 1790. He recelved a common English ed- ucation, and began the business of life, as a merchant, in Shel-
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
byville. From there he went to Port William (now Carrollton) and finally settled in business at New Castle. He continued his mercantile business here, till 1839, when he had accumulated a fortune of over a half million of dollars. At this period he sold out his mercantile interests and devoted the remainder of his life to the improvement of his immense land estate, dealing in vari- ous stocks, and promoting various improvements in his town and county. He was president of the Louisville & Frankfort railroad, and had brought it nearly to completion at the time of his death. He is said to have been a man of great benevolence. He died of cholera, August 7, 1850, in the sixtieth year of his age.
THOMAS SMITH, JR., a son of the above was born in Henry county, Kentucky, April, 1827. His father designed educating him to the law. But while pursuing his literary course at George- town College in his senior year, in 1845, he was led to the feet of the Savior, and made to partake of his pardoning grace. He at once united with the church at Georgetown, and was almost immediately deeply impressed with a sense of duty to preach the gospel. The church licensed him to exercise a gift, and he commenced his ministry in the hilly portion of Scott county, in the early part of the year 1846, while he was still in College. He graduated the following June. He went home and spent the summer in holding meetings in Henry and the adjoining counties. Wonderful suceess attended his labors everywhere he went.
In the fall of 1846, he entered Princeton Theological Sem- inary, in New Jersey. While here, he spent his Sabbaths preach- ing to the surrounding churches. He graduated in Theology, in 1849, and again returning home, gave himself to preaching as before, with consuming zeal. In the short time that he la- bored among the churches around his home, he gained the love and admiration of the people, as no other man ever did, and hundreds were brought to the Savior under his brief ministry. In October, 1849, he was ordained to the full work of the min- istry.
Soon after his ordination he accepted a call to the First Baptist church in Louisville. The Baptists at that time, in the center of the city, were divided into two seemingly irreconcila- ble factions. But this wise and godly young man entered upon
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Thomas Smith, Jr.
his labors, with a zeal, earnestness and a dependence on God, that can never fail to accomplish a good end. Within a few months the two factions were harmonized and united. The present Walnut Street Baptist church, was the result, and Mr. Smith became its first pastor. But now a few more weeks of deeply consecrated labor, and the work of this young servant of Jesus was done.
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In the fall of 1850, his health gave way, and he went south to spend the winter. But it was too late for a change of cli- mate to effect a cure. As the spring approached he saw that his end was drawing near, and started home to die.
When he reached New Orleans, he could travel no farther. On the 6th of March, 1851, he went to his final reward, aged 23 years and II months.
EDWIN GARDNER BERRY was pastor of New Castle church a short time. He is a native of Clark county, Kentucky, and was born February 1, 1801. His father was Lewis Berry and his mother was a sister of Elder William Rash. His parents were in rather limited circumstances, as to this world's goods, and he received a very limited education. But being fond of music, and having an excellent voice for singing, he obtained sufficient knowledge of that science, to be able to teach its rudi- ments. He was married to Ellen, daughter of John Strode, of Clark county, November 29, 1821. This young woman made him a most excellent wife. She was a very extraordinary busi- ness woman, and to her, no doubt, he owed his success in life, as much as to his own energy and prudence. She became the mother of eighteen children, fourteen of whom were raised and became members of Baptist churches. In addition to this she and her husband raised and educated not less than four orphans. This remarkable couple began life very poor, and Mr. Berry did, perhaps, as much preaching as an average of his contemporaries in the ministry, yet, without entering into speculation, and by mere dint of economy and industry, they raised and educated eighteen children, gave such of them as married, a comfortable tart in life, and had left for their support in old age, a fortune perhaps of $25,000.
In March, 1824, Mr. Berry moved to Henry county. In 828, during the great revival at Newcastle, he, with his wife, rofessed conversion, and was baptized October 15th, by Jere-
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History of Kentucky Baptists.
miah Vardeman, into the fellowship of Newcastle church. Moving to the neighborhood of East Fork, in the same county, he, with his wife, united with that church, by letter, in June, 1834. In August of the same year, he was chosen a deacon of that church. The following October, he was liberated to exercise a preaching gift, and, in September, 1835, was ordained to the ministry by Robert W. Ricketts, Joel Hulsy, John A. McGuire and John Dale. He was called to the care of LaGrange church the same year, and served it as pastor twenty-six years. He succeeded Joel Hulsy at East Fork church, of which he was, and still is, a member, in the spring of 1838, and, with the exception of two or three years during the Civil War, served it as pastor till 1882. Besides these, he has served the churches at Newcastle, Ballardsville, Pleasant Grove, Eighteen Mile, Clear Creek, Fox Run, Hillsboro and Sligo at different peri- ods. In 1840, he was elected moderator of Sulphur Fork As- sociation, and served in that capacity at every meeting of that body except one, when he was absent, till 1882.
Mr. Berry's preaching talent was by no means brilliant at the beginning, and it developed slowly. But he was, from the first, a close Bible student, and advanced no thought till it was fully matured. He is a man of extraordinary practical wisdom, and tuc his nin the Jen seve short and the ple, A his cool, deliberate prudence never forsakes him. He is a plain, practical, sound preacher, rather than a profound or bril- liant one. His sermons are eminently scriptural, and are pro- fusely interlarded with quotations from the Bible. When called to preach at associations, or on other extraordinary occasions, he never makes a failure. Knowing beforehand what he is able to perform, he undertakes no more than he can accom plish. He has enjoyed a good degree of success during hi: whole ministry. He is now in his eighty-fifth year, and walk as straight as a youth, and frequently as briskly. The grea trial of life was the loss of his aged companion, who died in th 4, 182 full persuasion of the christian's hope, May 7th, 1877.
WILLIAM A. CAPLINGER, a pious, gifted and consecrated young man, was, for a short time, pastor of Newcastle church He was a native of Oldham county, Ky., and was born of Bar tist parents in 1843. He united with Ballardsville church i his native county in 1859, and was baptized by W. W. Foreefover it Although only sixteen years of age, he was licensed to preac Kentuc
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William A. Caplinger.
only one month after he was baptized. After spending some years in study, he was ordained to the ministry, in 1866, and accepted a call to the church at Charleston, Illinois. He con- tinued here two years, and baptized twenty persons. He then preached a short time at Jeffersonville, Indiana. In November, 1859, he accepted a call to Valparaiso, in the same State. Here he baptized forty-three. He supplied the church at Greens- burg, Ind, a short time, and baptized forty-three. Soon after this, he accepted a call to Shelbyville, Ind, where he baptized thirty-five. But disease of the lungs caused him to return to Kentucky. Here he took charge of Newcastle, Ballardsville, Covington and LaGrange churches. After laboring among these churches a short time, his lung trouble increased to such a degree as to force him to desist from preaching. He made a trip to Colorado, and his health seemed to improve so rapidly that he resolved to make that country his home. But on return- ing to Kentucky for his family, he lingered some months among his friends before bidding them a final adieu. This delay proved fatal. He reached Pueblo, Colorado, and ministered to the church there several months. But it became apparent that he was near the end of his pilgrimage, and he returned to Ken- tucky to die among his friends. He went to give an account of his stewardship, November 7, 1878. His labors aggregated nine hundred sermons, and four hundred were received into the churches under his ministry. He left an excellent wife, Jennie, daughter of Thomas Bain of LaGrange, Kentucky, and several small children.
ROBERT RYLAND, who was pastor of Newcastle church a short time, is a son of Josiah Ryland, and was born in King hisand Queen county, Virginia, March 14th, 1805. He united with talksthe church at Bruington, and was baptized by Robert B. Sem- greatple, August 1, 1824. He was licensed to preach September n the4, 1825, graduated at Columbian College, D. C., in 1826, was ordained to the ministry April 27th, 1827, and immediately crateaccepted a call to the church at Lynchburg. On the 4th of nurch uly, 1832, he became principal of the Virginia Baptist Semin- f Baphry, located in Richmond. Under his management, this sem- Irch inary grew into Richmond College, and he continued to preside Forever it until 1866, when he resigned, and, in 1868, moved to preacKentucky. He was pastor of the First African church in Rich-
y d a il-
ien ary hat om-
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mond, Virginia, twenty-five years. This church greatly pros- pered under his ministry, and was probably, for a number of years, the largest Baptist church in America. Since Mr. Ryland came to Kentucky, he has conducted female schools in Shelby- ville, Lexington and Newcastle. He has usually served one or more churches as pastor. He has recently returned to Virginia.
BUCK CREEK church was gathered, as tradition has it, under the labors of William Edmund Waller, who became its first pastor. It was constituted early enough in the year 1799, to be received into Salem Association the same year. The first three years of its existence, it was called Plum Creek church. In 1803, it assumed the name Plum and Buck Creek. In 1807, the name was contracted to Buck Creek, by which it has continued to be known to the present time. When it entered into the constitution of Long Run Association, in 1803, it numbered fifty-eight members. About this time George Waller succeeded his father* in the pastoral office, and continued to serve in that capacity till old age admonished him to relinquish the responsi- bility. The church had a slow, regular growth, almost exclu- sively from additions by letter till 1822, when it numbered about one hundred and fifteen members. During this year, a most precious revival visited the valley of Buck creek, in the southern border of Shelby county, and within two years, one hundred and twenty-eight were baptized into the fellowship of Buck Creek church. The church now numbered two hundred and forty, and was the largest in Long Run Association. Another revival, in 1827, added to the church fifty-six by bap- tism. From 1833 to 1842, the church was in an almost contin- uous revival, and, during this period, two hundred and eighty- nine were added to the church by baptism. At the latter date, it numbered three hundred and fourty-two members, and was the largest in the association, except that at Shelbyville and the First African church in Louisville. But the days of its prosper- ity were now over, at least for many dreary years of coldness, strife and schism. During the next eight years, there was but one person baptized into its fellowship. A difficulty between the pastor and one of the members ultimated in a division of the
*It is not certain that Wm. McCoy did not serve this church a short time before George Waller.
f fi T ca 17 is Gi tha bec In of t tions first chur E. II of op fellow Bryan in con:
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William Edmund Waller.
church in 1849. Both parties were denied a seat in the associ- ation. But next year, both parties were admitted into th association as separate churches, but both worshiping on differ- ent days in the same house. The party adhering to the old pastor, and numbering one hundred and forty, were admitted as Buck Creek church; the other, containing seventy-two mem- bers, was admitted as Second Buck Creek. 3 They remained separate churches ten years, during which the larger diminished to one hundred and two, and the smaller to fifty-seven-an aggregate loss of fifty-three members. In 1860, they reunited, and reported to the association one hundred and sixty-one members. From that time till 1880-a period of twenty years- the church received by baptism just fifty. Its total membership in 1879, was ninety five. In 1872, Buck Creek church entered into the constitution of Shelby County Association, of which it is still a member. S. F. Thomson is its present pastor.
WILLIAM EDMUND WALLER, the first pastor of Buck Creek church was a native of Spottsylvania county, Va., and was a broth- er of the famous John Waller, who suffered so severely in Virginia jails, "for preaching the gospel of the Son of God, contrary to law." It is not known that William E. Waller, was imprisoned for preaching, or, indeed, that he was in the ministry at a suf- ficiently early period to have suffered that form of persecution. The earliest account we have of his preaching is, that the be- came pastor of County Line church in his native county, in 1782. In 1784, he moved to Kentucky, and settled in what is now Garrard county. Here he most probably united with Gilberts Creek church of Separate Baptists, as he belonged to that sect in Virginia. In 1785, his son William S. Waller, who became a distinguished banker, was born in Garrard county. In 1786, he moved to Fayette county, and on the 15th of July, was of that year, united with Bryants church. His ministerial func- the per- less, but n the f the tions, however, were not recognized by that church, until the first of the following November. In Angust, 1788, "the church took into consideration the conduct of Brother William E. Waller, in his manner of leaving us, [and] are unanimously of opinion that his conduct was disorderly, and for the same dis- fellowship him." This transaction on the part of the church at Bryants, though not stated on the records, appears to have been a short in consequence of Mr. Waller's joining in the constitution of a f d 1. p- n- y- te,
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small Separate Baptist church, called Hustons Creek in Bourbon county, without having obtained a letter of dismission, from Bryants. Besides this, Bryants was a Regular Baptist church and hence not in fellowship with the Separate Baptists. In De- cember, 1789, Bryants church made the following record: "William E. Waller came before the church and gave full satis- faction for the cause for which he was disfellowshipped, and is re- ceived into union again." After this he was identified with the Regular Baptists, till the Regulars and Separates were united on the "terms of the General Union," in 1801.
Mr. Waller remained about twelve years in Fayette county. It does not appear that he was pastor of any church, while he lived in that region. He was however, a useful co-laborer with the pioneer preachers of that early period, in building up the cause of the Redeemer in the wilderness, and his name should have a place with those of that noble band of brave and self-sac- rificing men, who "took their lives in their hands," and planted the standard of the cross on the ancient hunting ground of the cruel and blood-thirsty men of the forest.
In March, 1798, Mr. Waller took a letter of dismission from Bryants, moved to what is now the southern border of Shelby county, and settled on Buck creek, on a large tract of land which his father-in-law, a Mr. Smith, had given to his daughter, Mr. Waller's wife. Here, in 1799, Mr. Waller gathered a small church, which now bears the name of Buck creek, and ministered to it about four years. He also aided in gathering Cane and Back Run (now Kings) church, in 1800, and probably minis- tered to it two or three years, when he was succeeded by Hen- son Hobbs. Mr. Waller, having lost his wife, returned to Virginia, in 1803. Marrying a second wife, and settling in the region that gave him birth, he became pastor of Goldmine church in Louisa county, in 1807. He continued to live and labor in this region until the Lord called him home in his eighty-third year.
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