USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 38
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As early as 1848, Fox Run church reported a Sunday- school of 75 scholars. But no action was taken by the Asso- ciation, in regard to Sabbath-school instruction, until 1857, when a resolution was passed, recommending all the churches, which had not done so, to establish Sunday-schools. Here the subject was dropped, and nothing more was said about it, in the body, till 1864, when the interest was revived, and a spirit- ed resolution adopted, endorsing a Sunday-school convention,
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and favoring the maintenance of a Sunday-school in every church. The Association has since fostered this institution, and it has made rapid progress among the churches.
The subject of temperance first received attention in this body, in 1853, when the following preamble and resolutions were adopted :
"WHEREAS, the use of ardent spirits as a beverage, has proven to be a bane to the happiness of society, and a reproach to the cause of Christ ; and, whereas, its fearful ravages among the young men of our country, threaten the degradation and ruin of thousands of them ; therefore,
"Resolved, That we feel it to be our duty to oppose, by all lawful and honorable means, its use and traffic among our members, and in society generally.
"2d, That we request all the preachers in this Associa- tion to preach at least one sermon to each of their churches, the ensuing year, upon the subject of temperance."
Subsequently the following resolutions were adopted ; the first, in 1868 ; the second, in 1878 :
"Resolved, That this Association condemn the traffic in ardent spirits as a beverage."
"Resolved, That we recommend the churches to condemn and prohibit the buying, selling and using of intoxicating drinks, as a beverage by their members."
Besides the institutions already named, this fraternity has contributed to the general enterprises of the denomination. It has within its bounds, also, an organization, known as the Henry and Trimble County Missionary Society, which has ren- dered very important service to the cause of home missions. It was established by Dr. F. J. Yeager of Campbellsburg, by whose indomitable energy it has been successfully conducted. It was organized soon after the War, for the purpose of sup- plying the destitute with preaching, within the counties named in its title. As early as 1870, it had obtained subscription to the amount of $4,735, of which $975 had been collected. It had expended $1,297, 22. It is still in active operation ; but no late account of it has been received.
In 1853, the Association passed a resolution, recommend- ing the churches to encourage permanency in pastoral relation. This was an important suggestion. Much evil has resulted
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. from frequent change of pastors. It is everywhere observable, that those churches which have fewest pastoral changes, have been most prosperous and happy.
In 1857, the Association advised the churches to meet for worship, every Sabbath, although they might have preaching but one Sunday in the month. This advice was repeated, in 1858, and again, in 1869. Little seems to have come of it. Our people are extremely fond of hearing the gospel, and it is very difficult to induce them to go where it is not preached, when they can attend a neighboring church, where a sermon will be delivered. The remedy for the evil complained of, is to have preaching every Sabbath.
In 1858, the subject of receiving alien baptism was taken up, and a resolution was adopted, requesting all the churches to take the matter under consideration, and report their con- clusion to the next Association. The following year, a some- what lengthy and very able report, written by B. T. Taylor, advising the rejection of all alien baptisms, was adopted by the Association. The general practice of the churches has been in accord with this report.
An account of the old churches of this fraternity has been given in the early part of the history, and in the history of Long Run Association. A few observations on the younger churches, may be added herc. Sligo is a recently applied name to an old church. It was gathered by the venerable John Dupuy, about 1813, and took the name of Pattons Creek. It united with Long Run Association, and, in 1826, entered into the constitution of Sulphur Fork. About 1838, it became very feeble, and ceased to represent itself in the Association. The following account of it is given in the minutes of the Associa- tion of 1840, at which date it assumed the name of Pleasant Ridge : "This church has been about two years struggling for existence with about twelve members. Recently, Brethren Berry, McGuire, Ransdale and Netherton, held a meeting of ten days duration, with them. The Lord was with them, and 56 were added to their number." Since that period it has been one of the most prosperous churches in the Association. In 1853, it took the name of Sligo, from a small village near which it is located. Friendship was located about one mile south of Bed- ford, in Trimble county, and was in the constitution of Sulphur
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Fork Association. In 1830, a majority of this church, under . the leadership of Isaac Foster, went off with the Campbellites. After this the church gradually declined. It took the name of Bedford, in 1850, and dissolved, in 1855. Providence, in Trimble county, was gathered by John Gillespy, about 1827. In the split of 1840, it adhered to the Anti-missionaries, but was restored to the Association, in 1844. In 1856, it assumed the
name of New Providence, by which it is still known. Hillsboro, located four miles west of New Castle, in Henry county, was constituted of six members, on the 2d Friday in June, 1829. It has been a prosperous and influential church, under the care of John A. McGuire, E. G. Berry, J. S. Dawson and W. W. Foree, during its history. Mr. Foree, its present pastor, has served it with great acceptance, about 25 years. Union, in Henry county, was received into the Association, in 1834, and dis- missed, by letter, in 1842. Ballardseille was received into the Association, in 1834, and was dissolved, in 1836. It was re- organized and received into the Association again, in 1839. It is located in the village whose name it bears, four miles south of La Grange, in Oldham county. Two churches of the name of Mt. Pleasant have belonged to this Association. The first is located at Pleasureville, in Henry county. It went off with the Anti-missionary schism, in 1840, and still remains with that faction. The Mt. Pleasant church which now belongs to the As- sociation, was gathered, in 1864, and is located at the village of Todds Point, in Shelby county. Covington is located near the mouth of Pattons Creek, in Oldham county. It was gathered by John Gillespy, and was constituted of eleven members, Jun 27, 1843. A few years after its constitution, it was greatly built up by the labors of J. B. Porter and W. W. Force. It has enjoyed the pastoral labors of J. B. Porter, A. M. Ragsdale, J. F. Martin, Thomas Reynolds and two or three others. West- port is located in the village from which it derives its name, on the Ohio river, in Oldham county. It was received into the Association, in 1848. J. B. Porter was its first pastor. Liberty, located near Oldhamburg, in Oldham county, was constituted, in 1844, in which year it joined Long Run Association. It was received into Sulphur Fork, in 1848. It has generally been a small inactive body. Middle Creek is located on a small stream from which it takes its name, in Trimble county, two miles from
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the Ohio river. It was gathered by A. M. Ragsdale, and was constituted of 20 members, October 20, 1848. It was first called Siloam, but assumed its present name, in 1850. It has enjoyed a moderate degree of prosperity, under the care of A. M. Rags- dale, W. B. Smith and others. Union Ridge was a small church, located not far from the village of Centerfield, in Oldham county. It was constituted, in 1843, and united with Long Run Association. It joined Sulphur Fork, in 1852, and was dissolved , two years afterwards. Poplar Ridge is located four miles north of Bedford, in Trimble county. It was gathered by Archer Smith, and joined the Association, in 1858. It has enjoyed fair pros- perity. Chestnut Grove was originally an Anti-missionary Bap- tist church. It united with Sulphur Fork Association, in 1862, and retained a respectable standing, under the care of Garland Williams, till that good man's death, after which it declined, and was dissolved, in 1880. Concord was a small church, located near the line between Carroll and Trimble counties, and was gathered by Minor Horton. It united with the Association, in 1866, and was dissolved the following year. Locust is situated on a creek from which it derives its name, in Carroll county. It was gathered by W. B. Smith, and united with the Association, in 1866. It increased with such rapidity, that, six years after its constitution, it had grown from 20 to 280 members, and was the largest church in the Association. Antiochi is located in Trimble county, about three miles north-west from Campbells- burg. It was gathered by W. B. Smith, and J. F. Martin, under the auspices of the Henry and Trimble County Missionary Society, in 1866. It has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity, although it bas passed through some fiery trials. Milton, located in the village from which it derives its name, on the Ohio river, in Trimble county, united wtth the Association, in 1870. It has had some bitter trials, and has not been very prosper- ous. Cove Hill. in Carroll county, and Spring Hill, in Henry county, are small young churches. The former joined the As- sociation, in 1874, and the latter, in 1877.
The progress of this Association, although not rapid, has been unusually even and regular. With the exception of the Campbellite and Anti-missionary schisms, it has had no serious disturbances. The remarkable revivals it has enjoyed, occurred in 1829, when 416 baptisms were reported, in 1842, when 310
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baptisms were reported, and, in 1852, when the churches re- ported 421 baptisms. Its loss, consequent upon the War, be- tween 1861 and 1866, was about 300 members more than its gain. In 1860, it numbered 19 churches with 3,475 mem- bers; in 1870, 24 churches with 2,305 members,; in 1880, 25 churches with 2,532 members ; in 1882, 25 churches with 2,709, members. From its constitution, in 1826 to its meet- ing, in 1882, there were baptized for the fellowship of its churches, 4, 802 converts.
The fraternity has experienced a scarcity of preachers, dur- ing almost its entire history. A number of promising young ministers have been raised up in its churches; but most of them either died young, or moved to other fields of labor. E. G. Berry, D. N. Porter and W. W. Foree, all living, are the only preachers who have exercised long ministries within its bounds. Sketches of most of its early preachers, have been given in other connections.
PETER H. VORIES was a young preacher of unusual zeal, piety and ability. He united with Sulphur Fork church, in Hen- ry county, during a great revival which prevailed in that region, in 1817, and was baptized, with 164 others, by Alan McGuire. In November of the same year, he was licensed to preach, and, in 1819, was ordained to the ministry, and took the pastoral care of Sulphur Fork church. In this position, he labored with great zeal and success, about six years. In the midst of a career of great usefulness, he was called from the field of labor to his re- ward above, October 26, 1825. He left several children, among whom is Hon. William L. Vories, late of Smithfield, Kentucky, but now of Frankfort.
JOHN W. THOMAS was raised up to the ministry in Sulphur Fork church. He was received into its fellowship and licensed to preach, in November, 1825, and was ordained to the ministry, in November, 1827. At the latter date, a revival of religion commenced in Sulphur Fork church, under the joint ministry of him and John A. McGuire. During the progress of this revival, which continued about fourteen months, the two young preachers baptized 167 converts. In 1830, the two zealous young ministers were chosen joint pastors of the church. But the next year, Mr. Thomas moved away from the State.
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ISAAC FOSTER was in the constitution of this Association, and occupied a prominent position in its early councils. He appears to have been either raised up to the ministry, in Pat- tons Creek church, or to have moved to its vicinity, about 1824. He preached the introductory sermon before Sulphur Fork Association at both its first and second meetings. In 1828, he moved his membership to Friendship church. Early imbibing the sentiments of Mr. Campbell, he rendered himself obnoxious to the Baptists, by partaking of the Lord's Supper with the Unitarians, and committing other disorders. In 1830, he and his party, comprising a majority of Friendship church, were excluded from the Association for holding and teaching false doctrines. After this he was identified with the Campbell- ites.
WILLIAM DAWKINS was an early settler in Oldham county, and was probably in the constitution of Eighteen-Mile church, in 1800. He was licensed to preach, at Lick Branch, in July, 1813, and afterwards ordained at Eighteen-Mile. It is probable that he was not pastor of any church, although he supplied the pulpit at Lick Branch, several years. He was a very moderate preacher, but maintained a good moral character. Towards the latter part of his life, a crazy adventurer came into his neighbor- hood, preaching to the people, that, if they would exercise a sufficient degree of faith, they should never die. Mr. Dawkins, a man of the name of Jones, afterwards known as "Live-for- ever" Jones, and one other man fell under the hallucination, and formed a "Live-forever society." Nevertheless, Mr. Daw- kins died at his home near LaGrange, about 1836, something short of three score years and ten. He left a numerous pos- terity in Oldham and the surrounding counties.
ABRAHAM BOHANNON was connected with a numerous, re- spectable family of his name, who settled early, near the north- east corner of Shelby county. He was an ordained preacher in Indian Fork church, in that locality, as early as 1811. About 1827, he moved to Oldham county, and united with East Fork church, in Henry. He appears to have been useful in his early ministry ; but later in life, he became so entangled with the af- fairs of the world, that he lost his influence as a preacher, to a great extent. He was poorly educated, was possessed of very moderate gifts, and it is not known that he was ever pas-
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tor of a church. In his early ministry, he aided in constituting several churches, and was frequently called on to assist in the ordination of young preachers. After he had lost his influence to such a degree that he could not command an audience, he is said to have remarked that the people were tired of hearing preaching, and that he believed he would engage in lecturing. It is not known that he carried this purpose into effect. He died at his home in Oldham county, at a good old age.
ISAIAH CORNELIUS was a member of Drennons Creek church (now New Castle) when Sulphur Fork Association was formed, but became a member of that body, in 1827, by hav- ing united with Rock Lick church. He was chosen Moderator of the Association, at that date, and occupied the position three years. In 1832, he moved to the vicinity of Union Spring, in Trimble county, and became a member of that church. He was again chosen Moderator of the Association, in 1833. About this time he began to preach that the apostles had author- ity to remit sins. He drew a party to him, and the church split on the subject. In 1834, he and his party were rejected by the Association, on account of their false doctrine. After this, he was identified with the Campbellites. Mr. Cornelius was an elderly man when he came into Sulphur Fork Associa- tion, and was probably the ablest and best educated preacher in the body, at that time. But he became the subject of fre- quent fits of insanity, which doubtless weakened his mind, and probably led to his eccentricity in teaching. He was loved and honored as aman of piety and integrity.
ASA B. NAY was raised up to the ministry in Eighteen- Mile church, about 1833. He soon afterwards moved to In- diana, and united with the Antimissionary Baptists. He be- came a respectable preacher of that connection, and was living a few years past.
ELIJAH GATES was raised up to the ministry, in North Six- Mile church, in Henry county, abont 1828. Two years later he moved his membership to Pigeon Fork, and in 1838, to Friend- ship, in Trimble county. Not long after the latter date, he and his wife lost their lives in a steamboat disaster. Mr. Gates was a man of excellent Christian character, and was a good, plain, useful preacher.
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WESLEY ALEXANDER was a brother of the famous Lewis D. Alexander, of Owen county. He was a native of Scott county. But moving to Owen county, in his youth, he joined the church at New Liberty, where he was licensed to preach, in 1826. The next year, he moved to Henry county, where he united with East Fork church, in January, 1825. The following month, he was licensed by this church, to continue the exercise of his gift ; and in November of the same year, was ordained to the ministry, by Joel Hulsey and Abraham Bohannon. In 1830, he accepted the care of LaGrange church, and, in 1833, that of the Ballardsville. At both places, his brief labors were much biessed ; and he gave promise of great usefulness in the minis- try. But his task was soon accomplished. The Lord took him from his nome in Ballardsville, to his eternal abode, on the 30th of August, 1835.
WHARTON M. RANSDELL was licensed to preach, at Sul- phur Fork church, in 1838, and was ordained to the ministry, in May, 1840. During the latter year, he moved his member- ship to Pigeon Fork, and probably took the pastoral charge of that church. A cotemporary says of him : "He was a young man of great piety, and good promise in the ministry ; but he preached only a few years, when the Lord called him home."
ELISHA B. STRATTON was raised up to the ministry in Cane Run church, in Henry county. He was licensed to preach, in 1844, and ordained to the ministry, in April of the following year. In March, 1846, he was called to the pastoral care of Cane Run church. He occupied the position about a year, and then moved to Campbellsburg, in the same county. After this, he was pastor of several churches, during brief periods. He pos- sessed excellent gifts, and was endowed with extraordinary readiness of mind. But he had a strong propensity for money- making ; and this led him into speculations which, however hon- orable in themselves, greatly impaired his usefulness as a minis- ter. A little after mid life, he was attacked with bronchial af- fection, which disabled him from preaching, and of which he finally died, at his home in the city of Louisville, not far from 1875.
WM. BROWN SMITH was a son of deacon Geo. Smith, and a grandson of the famous pioneer preacher, George Stokes Smith, the first pastor of Mt. Pleasant church, in Jessamine county.
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He was born in Woodford county, Ky., Feb. 5, 1818. He was raised up on a farm, and received a moderate common school education. In early manhood, he professed conversion, and united with the Methodists. He was soon made a class leader, and became an efficient worker in the Methodist church. About 1840, he was married to Jemima, daughter of Joseph Lillard, a local Methodist preacher. His wife lived only about two years, and was soon followed to the grave by her only child.
In December, 1844, he married Mary V. Wilson, of Mer- cer county, and settled on a farm near Salvisa. About 1852, he joined the Baptist church, at Salvisa, and was licensed to preach, in July of that year. The following November, he was ordained to the ministr:, by V. E. Kirtley, Wm. R. Combs, Willis Peck and R. H. Slaughter. Soon after his ordination, he moved to Harrodsburg, and took a course of theological instruc- tion under A. W. LaRue, then pastor of the Baptist church at that village. While living at this place, he served as pastor of Shawnee Run and Salt River churches, and also performed much labor among the destitute around him. In 1859, he moved to LaGrange, in Oldham county, and settled on a small farm, on the northern suburb of that village. For a short time after this, he served the churches at Dover, in Shelby county, and Law- renceburg, in Anderson. He then took pastoral charge of the churches at Sligo, in Henry county, and Bedford, Poplar Ridge and Corn Creek, in Trimble. He soon afterwards gathered Lo- cust church, in Carroll county, and took pastoral charge of it, having resigned the care of Corn Creek. He also resigned at Bedford, and took charge of Middle Creek church, in Trimble county. He now had a wide field of labor, in which there was much destitution, and faithfully did he occupy it. Here, per- haps, he did the best work of his eminently useful life. He ap- pears to have been called of God to the especial work of a mis- sionary. His bodily strength was remarkable, his health was almost perfect, his cheerfulness was unremitting, his courage, unfaltering, his faith, unwavering; his powers of endurance, al- most marvelous, and his zeal and energy never flagged.
After laboring in this field, with abundant success, about nine years, he moved to Louisville, and engaged in the work of a city missionary. Here he gathered Pilgrim church (now called
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Cabell Street) in the north-east part of the city, and became its pastor. He served in this capacity, with his accustomed suc- cess, till 1878, when he moved to Millersburg, Ky., where he was employed as a missionary in Bracken Association. In 1881, he moved to Fleming county, and located in Foxport. He soon became pastor of Salem church in Lewis county, Stone Lick in Mason, Pleasant Valley in Fleming, and Locust Grove in Nich- olas. These churches were wide apart, and his going to and from them afforded him opportunities of preaching to the desti- tute, which he did not fail to improve. Although he had become so corpulent that he and his wife, who were of about equal aver- dupois, weighed over 600 pounds, he did all his traveling on horseback. His most valuable career was suddenly closed by his death, from concussion of the brain, (caused by a fall from his horse,) on the 10th of May, 1883.
The gifts of this remarkable man were scarcely above the medium grade; but they were supported by an untarnished christian character, and were used so diligently that they were far more effective than those of many of his cotemporaries who possessed brilliant genius and superior learning. His surviving children are Gabriel T. Smith of Louisville, Samuel W. Smith of Labette county, Kansas, and Jennie, the wife of Rev. J. G. Bow of Newport, Ky. They are all members of Baptist churches.
GARLAND WILLIAMS was raised in Shelby county, and first united with Dover church ; but he afterwards became identified with the Antimissionary Baptists, and was raised up to the ministry among them. He went into the constitution of Chest- nut Grove church, and was elected its pastor. This position he filled till near the close of his life. In 1862, he, with his charge, became identified with Sulphur Fork Association. He was pas- tor of several churches, at different periods, and was regarded by them all, a most godly man. His gifts were below, rather than above mediocrity, but he made himself remarkably famil- iar with the Scriptures, and gained the universal confidence of the people. He died, much beloved, and in great triumph, at his home in Shelby county, about 1878.
ARTHUR B. HUNTER was born in Shelby Co. Ky., July, 1825. He was bred a farmer, and acquired a common school education. He professed conversion under the ministry of T. J.
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Fisher, and was baptized by John Dale, for the fellowship of Simpsonville church, in his native county. By that church he was licensed to preach, in the Spring of 1858, and ordained to the ministry, in November, 1859. During his ministry, of 22 years, he was, at different periods, pastor of the churches at Covington, Ballardsville and Eighteen Mile, in Oldham county ; Fisherville, in Jefferson, and Dover and Mt. Pleasant, in Shelby. The last named church was gathered principally by his labors, in 1864. Of this congregation, he was a member from its con- stitution, and the pastor, from 1867, till the failure of his health, two years before his death. He died of pneumonia, on the 3d of December, 1883.
Mr. Hunter was wanting in the gift of exhortation, but he was a most excellent singer, and the author, who heard him of- ten, regarded him one of the ablest preachers, of his acquire- ments, in the State. He was diffident among strangers, and seldom went abroad. His labors were performed in a compar- atively narrow circle, around his home. His surviving children are two daughters, both of whom are Baptists.
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