USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 32
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JOSHUA L. MORRIS was probably the first preacher that settled within the present limits of Carroll county. He aided in gathering the first church in that region, and became its first pastor. This church was located at the mouth of Kentucky river, and Mr. Morris was aided in constituting it, on the 5th of May, 1800, by William Hickman. It was at first called Port William, afterwards, McCools Bottom, and finally took the name Ghent, from the village in which it is now located. Mr. Morris served the church about three years, and then gave place to the more gifted John Scott. The time of his death has not been ascertained. Some of his posterity still live among those of his successor, in that region of the State.
WILLIAM MORGAN moved to what is now Owen county, in 1809, and gave his membership to Twins church. The follow- ing year, that church recorded this item :- " The church having taken into consideration the situation of Elder Morgan in moving from a distance amongst us, and wishing to remove any dif- ficulty that may be in his way, with respect to ministerial duty, declares she heartily approves of and accepts his services as a min- ister, and hopes he will act freely with our other ministering brethren." In 1823, he was dismissed from Twins, and united with Emmaus church. At the same time, he accepted an invita- tion to preach once a month at Twins. He remained a minister in Emmaus church, till 1837. He was, by this time, advanced in life, and probably ceased from active labor, although he lived a number of years afterwards. He appears to have been active and useful in the ministry.
JAMES BAXTER was born in Washington county, Tenn., September 17, 1787. While yet a child, he came with his par- ents to Kentucky, and settled near Mill Creek, the first church
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organized in what is now Monroe county. Here, in the 17th year of his age, he professed hope in Christ, and was baptized by John Mulky. Having afterward moved to Henry county, he was licensed to preach by Drennons Ridge church, in 1822, by which church, also he was ordained to the ministry in 1824. In 1827, he left the State, but returning, about 1835, he settled in Owen county, and united with Greenup Fork church. The remainder of his life was spent in preaching the gospel in this region. He was a preacher of very moderate gifts, but a man of deep humility and constant piety. He fought a good fight during a period of more than fifty years, and then went to receive his crown on the 31st of August, 1857.
ELIJAH THRELKELD was greatly esteemed, both for his earnest, practical preaching, and his eminently godly walk. He was born in Scott county, Ky., August 1, 1797. He was brought up on a farm, and received a limited common school education. In the 19th year ot his age, he was led to Christ, under the ministry of William Hickman, by whom he was bap- tized for the fellowship of McConnells Run church. He was married to Ruth Mothershead, March 2, 1819. This amiable wife died after a few years, leaving him two children. In 1821 he moved to Owen county, where he united with Long Ridge church.
In 1824, he was ordained to the deaconship, and after fill- ing this position about ten years, was licensed to preach, in January, 1834. In April, 1837, he was ordained to the minis- try, by L. D. Alexander, Archer Smith, and John Scott, and, in May of the following year, was called to the care of Long Ridge church. To this congregation he ministered, during the remainder of his earthly life. He was also pastor of Emmaus, Macedonia and Pleasant Ridge churches, for longer or shorter periods. He died of pneumonia, Jan. 22, 1861.
As a preacher, Mr. Threlkeld was below mediocrity; but his personal influence more than compensated for the deficiency in his gifts. He was twice married-the second time to Marga- ret Hearn, by whom he raised eleven children. Ten of his children are known to have become Baptists.
JOHN SEARCY, a good old preacher in Concord Association, was born in South Carolina, March 17, 1762. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After the close of the war, he
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moved to Kentucky, and settled in Woodford county. Here he was a soldier in the Indian wars, till the savages were driven from the country. He united with Clear Creek church, by which congregation he was licensed to preach. He moved to Owen county, before Concord Association was constituted, and was laborious in building up the early churches in that fraternity. It is not known that he was pastor of any church, or that he was ever ordained. He died November 14, 1848, in the 87th year of his age.
CORNELIUS DUVAL was regarded one of the best preachers in Concord Association, in his generation. He was a minister in Greenups Fork church, as early as 1822, and pastor at Long Ridge, a year earlier. In 1829, he went into the constitution of the church at Owenton, and was pastor of that congregation about twelve years. He was also pastor of Muscle Shoals, and perhaps other churches. He ceased his labors in this region about 1800. Whether he was called home at this period, or sought another fleld of labor, has not been ascertained.
ANDREW SUITOR was a young preacher of good gifts. He was in the constitution of Long Ridge church, in 1820. In 1824 he was ordained a deacon. After serving in that capacity ten years, he was licensed to preach in January, 1834. His gifts were so satisfactory that in the following October, his church invited him to preach to it once a month. In November of the same year, he was ordained to the ministry, by B. F. Kenney, C. Duval, Jas Baxter, and R. H. Shipp. In April, 1835, he was called to the care of Long Ridge church. He also served Green- ups Fork, and perhaps other churches. But he had only fairly begun a career which promised great usefulness, when the Lord was pleased to call him from the field of labor to the land of rest. He departed this life October 9, 1838.
HUGH MONTGOMERY was licensed to preach, at Emmaus church, in Owen county, about 1839, and was ordained, as early as 1833. In 1835, he moved his membership to Twins church, and was immediately called to its pastoral charge. He continued in this relation. till 1838, when he was succeeded by the more zealous and popular L. D. Alexander. In 1840, he took a let- ter of dismission, and joined Long Ridge church of Particular Baptists. After that, he was among the ministers of Licking Association, till about 1849. His gifts were moderate, and his
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ministry appears not to have been very fruitful. He sustained a good religious character, however, as far as is known.
R. H. SHIPP was licensed to preach at Greenups Fork, in 1834, and was ordained by that church, about 1839. Little is known of his brief labors. He died about a year after he was ordained.
WILLIAM D. BALL was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1799. Losing his į arents in early childhood, he was adopted by his aunt, a Mrs. Chilton, who gave him such an education as the common schools of her neighborhood could impart. He professed faith in Christ, and was baptized, at about the age of 17. In 1822, he emigrated to Kentucky, and settled in Henry county. Here he united with Cane Run church. After serving that organization, as a deacon, some years, he was licensed to preach, in 1832. In 1835, he was ordained to the ministry, by Hugh Montgomery and Isaac Malin. During the early years of his ministry, he was very active and zealous, and exhibited es- pecial earnestness in exhorting and persuading sinners to re- pent. But during the contest on the subject of missions, he identified himself with the opposition, and, in November, 1841, he and 24 others drew off from the church, and formed what was styled Cane Run church of Regular Baptists. This church united with a small fraternity, known as Mt. Pleasant Associa- tion. After this, Mr. Ball's ministry was unfruitful. He went to give an account of his stewardship, not far from 1850.
ELISHA COBB, son of Samuel Cobb, was born in South Caro- lina, Feb. 19, 1794. When he was about a year old, his parents moved to what is now Owen county, Kentucky. Here he grew up to manhood, in the new settlement, with barely a sufficient knowledge of letters to enable him to read and write. Although his parents were pious Baptists, he was much more familiar with the arts of gambling and the language of profanity, than with books. But the pious teaching and example of his parents were not lost on him. About the 22d year of his age, he was led to Christ, under the ministry of Benjamin Lambert, by whom he was baptized, into the fellowship of an arm of Mountain Island church, located at Muscle Shoals on Eagle Creek. On the 11th of October, 1817, this arm became an independent organization, under the style of Muscle Shoals church. By this congregation, Mr. Cobb was licensed to preach, in 1838, having been profit-
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ably exercising in exhortation for some time previous. He was ordained to the ministry, in May, 1839, and called to the pas- toral care of Muscle Shoals church, in November of the same year. To this congregation he ministered, about 15 years, with unusual popularity and usefulness. He was, at different periods, monthly preacher for the churches at Greenups Fork, Mount Hebron, Pleasant View and Harmony, in Owen county ; Grassy Run and Dry Ridge, in Grant ; Crooked Creek, in Pen- dleton, and Hartwood, in Bourbon. He was eminent for his well tempered zeal and cheerful piety. His gifts, though not es- pecially brilliant, were of the most useful kind. Perhaps no minister has been more beloved, or more useful, in the field in which he labored. In September, 1854, he was attacked with dropsy of the heart, which ended his earthly career, on the 4th of the following December. He died in the full triumph of faith.
Mr. Cobb was twice married, and raised (all by his first wife) three daughters and three, sons, all of whom became members of Muscle Shoals church, of which his youngest son, William, is now pastor.
ASA COBB, a brother of the above, was born in what is now Owen county, Ky., May 22, 1799. At about the age of eigh- teen years, he obtained hope in Christ, and was baptized by Benjamin Lambert, for the fellowship of Muscle Shoals church. He was a faithful and useful church member, and was accustom- ed to exercise in public prayer, till 1839, when he was put into the deaconship. In 1843, he was liberated to exercise his gift, and invited to preach once a month to the church of which he was a member, In October of the following year, he was ordained to the ministry, by L. D. Alexander, Elijah Threlkeld and Elisha Cobb. Although his gifts were not equal to those of his brother, he was an acceptable preacher. During his brief ministry, he served the churches at Crooked creek and Ravens creek, in Pendleton county ; Long Lick, in Scott, and Hartwood, in Bourbon. He enjoyed a good degree of success, both in edifying the churches and in leading sinners to the cross. He died of cholera, Aug. 28, 1852. Of his six children, five are known to have become Baptists.
FRANCIS B. MCDONALD was a very prominent and success- ful minister in Concord Association, during a period of about
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ten years. He was a licensed preacher at Stamping Ground, in Scott county, in 1839, and was ordained at that church in 1841. The next year, he moved to Carroll county, and gave his mem- bership to Sharon church. He soon became very popular among the churches, and had many more invitations to pastoral charges than he was able to accept. He was also very successful in pro- tracted meetings. Unfortunately, while he is still affectionately remembered by many who were led to Christ under his minis- try, few particulars of his life and labors have been preserved. He finished his course, not far from 1852.
PASCHAL HICKMAN TODD is probably the oldest living min- ister, except J. E. Duval, in Concord Association. He is a grandson of the famous William Hickman, Sr,, and was named for his mother's brother, who fell in the battle of the river Raisin, in 1812. . Mr. Todd was licensed to preach, by the church, at Owenton, as early as 1837 ; and was ordained, in 1841. With the exception of a brief period, during which he labored as missionary in the city of Louisville, he has spent his time within the bounds of Concord Association. His gift of exhortation is very superior, and has rendered him a very valu- able workman.
JAMES E, KENNEY is another aged minister in this fraternity. He is a brother of the more widely known B. F. Kenney, long a prominent preacher in Elkhorn Association, and more recent- ly, of Missouri. He united with Twins church, by letter, in 1831. In 1843, he was chosen a deacon, in 1854, was licensed to preach, and was ordained to the ministry, in 1856. Although his preaching gifts are not regarded of a high order, he has been very useful in his sacred calling. His cheerful piety, his frank and warm-hearted temper, and his extraordinary social qualities render him a universal favorite, and have given him great influ- ence over the masses, where he is known. With propriety it may be said of him : He is a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and much people have been added to the Lord through his ministry.
CLARK M. RILEY is among the elderly ministers of this body. He was baptized for the fellowship of Twins church, in March, 1842, and was licensed to preach, in May, 1845. In November, 1852, he was ordained to the ministry, by B. F. Kenney, L. D. Alexander, E. Threlkeld and P. H. Todd.
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He has been an indefatigable laborer, and has been eminently successful, both as a pastor and an evangelist.
LOUIS H. SALIN, the widely known " converted Jew," was raised up to the ministry, and still resides within the bounds of this fraternity. He is the son of Henry B. Salin, a Jewish Rabbi, and was born in the kingdom of Bavaria, in Germany, July 2, 1829. He attended school in his native country, twelve years, and, having become interested on the subject of Christianity, came to America while a youth, and engaged in mercantile pur- suits, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He afterwards came to Owen county, Ky. After much investigation of the subject of Chris- tianity, he sought and obtained hope in Jesus, and was baptized for the fellowship of Long Ridge church, in June, 1852. He was licensed to preach early in November, 1854, and ordained in March, 1857. His early pastoral charges were Mt. Pleasant and Greenups Fork churches, to both of which he ministered twenty- two years. Various other churches have enjoyed his pastoral ministrations, and he has performed much labor as an evangelist.
'Among the active ministers of this fraternity, at the pres- ent time (1885), are John W. Waldrop, William Cobb, G. W. Wheatley, L. S. Chilton, R. H. Alexander, J. A. Head and J. W. Wheatley, besides a number of zealous young men.
RED BIRD ASSOCIATION, NO. I.
This small fraternity was located in Clay and some of the adjoining counties. Messengers 'from four churches met at the house of William Morris, in Clay county, on the 16th of November, 1822, to consider the propriety of constituting an association, of the churches located in Goose Creek valley. The enterprise was deemed expedient, and, in the fall of the following year, messengers from five churches, met at Middle Fork meeting house, in Perry county, and constituted an asso- ciation, to which they gave the name of Red Bird. The name was derived from a small stream, which rises at the base of Pine Mountain, and flows westerly into Goose Creek, the most southerly tributary of Kentucky river. The churches of which
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the fraternity was organized, were South Fork and (it is be- lieved) Red Bird, in Clay county; Quick Sand and Middle Fork in Perry, and Mt. Gilead, in Estill. South Fork, Mt. Gilead and Middle Fork had been dismissed from North District Asso- ciation. The other two had probably been unassociated, until now. The five churches aggregated 165 members.
The pioneer preachers of this association, and of this re- gion of country, were George W. Baker, John Gilbert, Wil- liam Cockrill, Thomas White, and Joseph Ambrose. Except- ing the last named, they were very plain, illiterate men ; and the results of their labors indicate that they were either un- skillful and inefficient, in building up the cause of the Redeemer, or that they had very inferior building materials.
For a few years, the Association enjoyed some degree of prosperity, and, in 1826, it numbered 12 churches, aggregat- ing 309 members. But these were the largest numbers it ever attained. The churches neglected to represent themselves in the association, and the body gradually diminished. Mean- while, it became Antinomian in doctrine, and Antimission in polity. In 1850, a majority of the churches, being discouraged, formally withdrew ftom the body, and subsequently united with South Fork Association. The remaining four churches nom- inally kept up the associational connection, till about 1859, when the fraternity was formally dissolved.
JOHN GILBERT was remarkable for his great longevity. He was born in 1758, and served as a scout and soldier in the Revolutionary War. At what time he came to Kentucky is not known; but he was a resident in Clay county, and a mem- ber of North District Association, in 1822. He was in the con- stitution of Red Bird Association, of which he was frequently the Moderator. After having been in the ministry more than 60 years, he died at his residence in Clay county, March II, 1868, aged 110 years.
GEORGE W. BAKER was an early settler in the castern part of Estill county. Here he appears to have raised up a church called Mt. Gilead, which he represented in North District As- sociation, as early as 1813. With this church, he went into the constitution of Red Bird Association, in 1823. Of this body, he was the first Moderator and the preacher of the first introductory sermon. He was much the most conspicuous
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member of the body, for two or three years, after which his name disappears from the records, and we hear no more of him.
BOONES CREEK ASSOCIATION.
This body was constituted of four churches, at Mt. Gilead meeting house, in Fayette county, on the 28th of May, 1823. The churches were Mt. Gilead, Boones Creek and Boggs Fork, in Fayette county, and Hickman, in Jessamine county. Boones Creek and Mt. Gilead had been dismissed from Elkhorn Asso- ciation, the other two, from Tates Creek. At the next meeting of the body, which was at Mt. Gilead, in September of the same year, G. G. Boone was reelected Moderator, and B. W. Riley, Clerk. Mt. Union, Providence and Hinds Creek churches were received. The following year, Lower Bethel and Mt. Moriah churches were added to the Association : so that, at its first an- niversay meeting, which convened at Boones Creek, in Septem- ber, 1824, it numbered 9 churches, aggregating 760 members. Dur- ing the next six years, it received into fellowship the churches at Nicholasville, Friendship, Mt. Zion and Liberty. Meanwhile, Campbellism, which began to be developed about the time this Association was constituted, made very rapid progress among the churches, and, under the auspices of this " easy system of converting sinners," 1, 149 were baptized within the bounds of the fraternity, within five years after its first anniversary. Of this number, 869 were immersed during the associational year end- ding, September, 1828. Most or all of the latter number were baptized, according to Mr. Campbell's teaching, " for the re- mission of sins." This gave the Association a majority of Camp. bellites, as was sufficiently evinced by the adoption of the fol- lowing resolution, in 1828 :
" Resolved, That we, the churches of Jesus Christ, believ- ing the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, and the only rule of faith and obedience, given by the great Head of the churches, for their government, do agree to meet on the 3d Saturday, Lord's Day and Monday in Sep- tember of each year, for the worship of God, and on such occa-
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sions, voluntarily communicate the state of religion among us, by letter and messengers."
The Association advised the churches, each to abolish its present constitution, and adopt in lieu thereof, the foregoing resolution. In 1829, the Association numbered 13 churches, aggregating 1,800 members. This is the largest aggregate mem- bership the fraternity has ever attained. The following year, the separation between the Baptists and the Campbellites be- gan, and, as the figures will show, only a remnant was saved to the Baptists. The Association was reduced, in 1836, to 7 churches, aggregating only 412 members.
After this schism, the Association assumed the attitude of a Missionary body, and, from year to year, expressed its ap- proval of the benevolent enterprises of the denomination, urg- ing the churches to contribute to their support. In 1838, its churches were visited by a revival, which brought its aggregate membership up to 501. But during the Anti-missionary schism, it was reduced, in 1840, to an aggregate membership of 420. The next year, another revival began, and, within three years, the aggregate membership increased to 832. From this per- iod, to 1869, the fraternity varied but little. Since the close of the Civil War, it has manifested commendable en- terprise in its various benevolent operations, especially in its as- sociational missions. From 1870, to the present time, it has en- joyed a good degree of prosperity. In 1877, it numbered 17 churches with 1,284 members, in. 1880; 14 churches with 1, 060 members, and, in 1882, 13 churches with 1,034 members. Dur- ing 56 of the first 60 years of its existence, there were baptized into the fellowship of its churches, 3,738 converts.
Two of the churches of this Association, Providence and Boones Creek, are among the oldest in the State. Some account of their early history has been given elsewhere. The fraternity has suffered from a scarcity of ministers, during most of its history. Only two preachers, G. G. Boone and B. W. Riley, were in its constitution, and it has seldom or never had enough, at any one time, to supply its churches.
GEORGE G. BOONE was in the constitution of Boones Creek Association, and was the first Moderator of that body. He was first a member of Boones Creek church, by which he was set apart to the ministry, and was ordained by Jeremiah Vardeman
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and Ambrose Bourne, on the 2d Saturday in March, 1815. Soon after his ordination, he moved his membership to Mt. Gilead church, in Fayette county. He was a preacher of good ability, and was quite active in the ministry, for a number of years. At different times, he was pastor of Providence, Boones Creek and other churches. But, according to tradition, he ac- quired the habit of indulging too freely in strong drink, by which he lost his popularity. In 1830, he became identified with the Campbellites. Whether he continued to preach after- wards, or not, the author has no means of knowing.
BENJAMIN W. RILEY was also in the constitution of Boones Creek Association, was the first clerk of that body, and preached before it, the first introductory sermon. After preach- ing here some four or five years, he moved to Missouri, where he connected himself with one of the churches in Fishing River Association.
RICHARD MORTON, one of the early preachers of this fra- ternity, was received into Providence church, in Clark county by experience and baptism, in April, 1811. The following year, he went into Boggs Fork church in Fayette county, and was very soon afterward put into the ministry. In 1816, he preached the introductory sermon before Tates Creek As- sociation. In September of the following year, he accepted the pastoral care of Boones Creek church, and, was called to preach once a month to Providence church. He was a good man and a fair preacher; but his health was delicate, and he was taken away in early life. He was called to his final reward in 1827.
WILLIAM MORTON was a brother of the above, and was bap- tized into the fellowship of the same church, during the same year. He also was in of Boggs Fork church. He afterwards returned to Providence, where he was licensed to preach in 1819, and the same year was invited to preach at Tates Creek church, in Madison county.
In 1822, he united with Bethlehem church, in Elkhorn Association, where he preached about five years. He was the first preacher of his region of the State to embrace the teachings of Mr. Campbell, and when the division between the Baptists and Campbellites took place in 1830, he identified himself with the latter.
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BUFORD E. ALLEN was one of the most useful and active preachers that have labored among the churches of this frater- nity. He was born in 1801, and in early life united with Boggs Fork church [it is believed], and on the union of that or- ganization with that of Boones Creek, in 1840, he became a member of the latter. He was ordained to the ministry in Jan- uary, 1842, and assumed the pastoral care of Boones Creek church the following March.
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