USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 50
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In 1810, a series of cathquakes commenced in the Missis- sippi Valley, and frequently recurred with great violence, for two or three years. Many people regarded the fearful pheno-
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mona as the threatenings of divine vengance against them, for their great wickedness. Among these was the infidel Hickman, who was so deeply convicted of his sins, that some of his friends feared he would die of remorse. But after several months, he obtained a joyous hope in Christ, and was baptized into the fel- lowship of Bethlehem church in Allen county, in 1811, by Zechariah Emerson. After a few months, he was licensed to exercise his gift, and, within a year or two, was ordained to the ministry, by Zechariah Emerson, Augustine Clayton and Sam- uel Greathouse.
Mr. Hickman was a man of warm, emotional nature, and manifested much zeal and energy in his holy calling. Large success attended his labors, and many were led to Christ through his efforts. He became pastor of the churches at Tram- mels Fork, Bethel and Salem (now extinct), in Allen county, and Rocky Spring in Warren. During many years, he minis- tered to these churches with excellent success, and gained the confidence and affection of the [people, in an eminent degree. But, alas, for the weakness of human nature! After preaching with tireless zeal, in winter's cold and summer's heat, without compensation, for more than a quarter of a century, he was tempted into the sin of adultery, by a member of his charge. When accused of the crime, he made a full confession of his guilt, and then added : " The Devil persuaded me that I could make a strong fight on a denial of the charge, but I could not add to this crime, the sin of lying before God." He was ex- cluded from the church, about 1840, and the remainder of his days was passed under a dark cloud of remorse and shame. Af- ter a few years, he was restored to the church, but not to the ministry. He died, at his home in Allen connty, March 23, 1850
JOHN W. HICKMAN, nephew of the above, was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, in 1819. His parents were Metho- dists, and brought him up in their church. He received a very lim- ited education, but was endowed by nature with extraordinary gifts. In early life, he made a profession of religion, and united with Sulphur Fork Baptist church, being immersed by O. H. Morrow. He was licensed to preach, when qnite young, and immediately entered upon the duties of his holy calllng with burning zeal. Having moved his membership to Harmony
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church in Allen county, he was there ordained to the ministry, in May, 1849, by George Butler, M. F. Ham and Joseph Skaggs. From Allen county, he moved to Macon county, Ten- nessee, a little before his ordination, and gave his membership to Spring Creek church. Here he continued to preach with
unabated zeal and success. He was a brilliant natural orator, and gave promise of great usefulness. But he had wrought only a brief morning hour, when the Lord was pleased to call him to his reward. He died, greatly lamented, in 1850.
YOUNGER WITHERSPOON is the senior minister of Bays Fork Association, and was the only ordained minister that en- tered into its constitution. He is a native of Wake county, N.C., and was born, July 14, 1803. In 1809, his parents em- grated to Kentucky, and settled in what is now Allen county. Here he grew up to manhood with barely enough education to enable him to read and write. He was a wild, frolicsome young man, and was excessively fond of the rude amusements of the time. About 1827, he married Martha, daughter of Elder Sam- uel Greathouse, and settled in Warren county. Here he pro- fessed conversion, under tbe preaching of Thomas Scrivner, by whom he was baptized into the fellowship of Rocky Spring church, in 1836. His conversion was a very happy one, and he immediately commenced exhorting with great zeal, and good effect. He was ordained to the ministry, by Thomas Scrivner, August 24, 1839. He soon afterwards succeeded Jesse L. Hick- man in the pastoral care of Bethel and Trammels Fork church- es, in Allen county, and Rocky Spring, in Warren. To the last named church, he ministered 30 years ; to Bethel, 14 years, and to Trammels Fork, 6 years. He also served Bethlehem in Al- len county, in connection with the venerable Zechariah Emer- son, a short time, and Hanging Fork in Barren county, many years. He was the principal instrument in gathering Be- thany, Drakes Creek, and Friendship churches, in Warren county, and Liberty, and Big Spring, in Allen, to all of which he ministered, during longer or shorter periods. In 1873, he went to Woodland, California, where he gathered a church, to which he ministered, until his return to Kentucky, the follow- ing year.
In addition to his very successful pastoral ministrations, he has labored much, and with equal success, among the destitute,
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and in numerous protracted meetings. At the age of more than four score years, the venerable man of God is still doing good service in the Master's vineyard.
MORDECAI F. HAM has been a leading minister in Bays Fork Association, from near the time of its constitution. He was born in Allen county, Kentucky, April 30, 1816, and has thus far resided within its limits. He received a meager com- mon school education, in his youth. But possessing a good natural intellect and a grave, thoughtful disposition, he has ap- plied himself to study, as opportunity has afforded, till he has acquired great familiarity with the English Bible, an extensive stock of useful general knowledge, a liberal reading in church history, and some acquaintance with the Greek language. He professed conversion, and united with Trammels Fork church, in 1838, being baptized by Jesse L. Hickman. After exercis- ing in the prayer meeting, a few times, he was licensed to preach, January 1, 1842, and was ordained to the ministry, April, 1, 1843, by Younger Witherspoon, R. P. Brunson, J. B. Evans, and W. F. Spillman. Soon after his ordination, he was called to the care of Bethlehem church, to which he has con- tinued to minister to the present time-a period of more than 40 years. He has served Trammels Fork, nearly as long, and Scottsville and Bethel churches, more than a quarter of a cen- tury. During the Civil War, and for some years after, he was pastor of six churches, preaching to two of them on week days. He has enjoyed a high degree of success in his pastoral charges. It would be safe to say that more than 2,000 persons have been brought into the churches he has served, under his ministry.
In addition to his pastoral labors, he has performed much work among the destitute, and the weak, pastorless churches. Indeed, all the churches in his Association, and the broad mis- sion field within its limits, have shared his labors, his prayers and his tears. He seems to have left nothing undone that his perpetually serious thought could suggest, and the means with- in his power accomplish, to advance the cause of Christ. At the cost of no small percent of his little estate, he has collected a library of rare and costly works, for the special benefit of young preachers. At the age of nearly three score years and ten, he is still laboring with increasing zeal and industry, preaching to four churches, visiting mission stations, and in-
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structing the churches of his Association on special subjects of practical utility.
TOBIAS J. HAM, only son of the above, was ordained to the ministry by Trammels Fork church, in 1876, and has, generally, been pastor of four churches, since. He is regarded a good preacher, and is said to be worthily following the foot steps of his father. He received a fair education, having spent some time at Bethel College, after his early marriage to the amiable Ollie McElroy. The churches are looking to him to fill the place of his venerated father, when that consecrated man of God shall lay down his armor at the brink of Jordan.
RICHARD PARKS BRUNSON was the first preacher ordained in Bays Fork Association. He was a son of Jonathan Brunson, a small farmer and miller of Allen county, and was ordained to the ministry by Bethel church, about 1841. Being a cripple, and of a feeble constitution, he adopted the trade of a tailor. On being ordained, he took the pastoral care of Salem church in Barren county, to which he had been previously called. To this congregation he ministered only one year. He possessed very moderate preaching gifts, but was esteemed for his piety and devotion. After preaching a year or two, he was called to his reward.
JOHN G. DURHAM, a native of Allen county, was among the early laborers in Bays Fork Association. He was ordained by Trammels Fork church, about 1848, and was a very zealous and active laborer, for a number of years, within the bounds of Bays Fork and Barren River Association. He was well adapted to the work of a missionary, and was very useful as a laborer among the destitute. He was also an acceptable pastor of several churches, at different periods. After the close of the War, he moved to Bowling Green, and engaged in merchandising, since which time he has not been so useful in the ministry. He still continues to preach occasionally.
ISAAC McMURRY, a son of James McMurry, a prominent Baptist of Allen county, was several years a minister in Bays Fork Association. He was fairly educated, acquired a good knowledge of books, and was esteemed for his piety and upright life. What church he first joined, does not appear ; but, about 1842, he gave his membership to Rocky Spring church in War- ren county. Here an attempt was made to ordain him to the
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ministry. But the presbytery called for that purpose, deemed him unsound in doctrine, and refused to lay hands on him. However, he continued to labor as a licensed preacher, and, with the aid of his pastor, Younger Witherspoon, raised up Big Spring church, in Allen county. To this congregation he gave his membership, and was soon afterwards ordained to its pasto- ral care. He was also called to the care of some other churches in that vicinity. About the beginning of the War, he moved to Logan county, from whence, after a year or two, he moved farther west, and settled within the bounds of Little River Asso- ciation. Here he labored in the ministry, about ten years. In 1875, he moved to Texas, where he still resides.
HENRY RAY was born of poor parents, in the State of Mis- sissippi, about 1833. In youth he professed conversion, and united with a Baptist church. He was at once deeply impressed with a sense of duty to preach the gospel ; and, believing him- self called of God to that work, he resolved to prepare himself for the solemn responsibility. In 1855, he came to Kentucky, and, although a stranger and destitute of money, entered George- town College. Using the strictest economy, teaching school during vacation, and borrowing some small sums of money from his brother, he remained in college, till June, 1858, when he graduated with the second honors of his class. He was soon afterwards called to the church at Maysville, Ky., where he labored acceptably, till the fall of 1860. He then returned to his native State,, where he soon afterwards married. During the War, he preached at various points in the Southern States. In 1865, he returned to Kentucky, and took charge of the church at Bowling Green. This church had suffered greatly dur- ing the War, and was in a sad state of confusion. Mr. Ray went diligently and prayerfully to work, and before the first of June of the following year, the scattered and dispirited mem- bership had been collected, the schisms healed, and about fifty members had been received by Baptism. But the model young pastor had now finished his work. While attending the South- ern Baptist Convention at Russellville, about the last of May, 1866, he was attacked by billious fever. He returned home, and after about a week of great physical suffering, he went to receive his eternal reward.
JOHN MITCHELL BILLINGSLY united with Union church in
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Warren county, under the ministry of O. H. Morrow. He was licensed to preach, in 1849, and ordained, about 1851. About 1856, he moved to Allen county, and united with Harmony church. He was well informed, possessed fair preaching gifts, and was a ready and pointed writer. But his fondness for controversy, his radical temper, and his bitter denunciation and sarcasm, rendered him unpopular, and prevented his being as useful as he might otherwise have been. When the civil War broke out, he was commissioned captain of a company of home guards. In this position he is said to have been very tyrannical, and to have deported himself, otherwise, in a manner unbecoming a christian. After the War, he was, with consider- able difficulty, nominally restored to the fellowship of his church. Soon after this, he moved to Illinois, where it is hoped that age and experience have sobered down his fiery passions, and rendered his fine capabilites useful to the cause of Christ.
JOHN F. SOUTH was for many years a Methodist preacher, and was honored with the title of Doctor of Divinity. About 1857, he united with Providence Baptist church in Warren county, and was baptized by J. M. Pendleton. He was soon afterwards ordained to the ministry, according to Baptist usage. Being a man of superior ability, of large experience, and high social connections, much was hoped from his ministerial labors. But his preaching, though able and eloquent, was unbaptistic, and he failed to secure the confidence of the denomination. After a few years, evil reports concerning his morals, began to be freely circulated, and his influence, as a minister, was greatly impaired. He then turned his attention to politics, and edited a political paper, and, at one time, was a candidate for Con- gress. But he succeeded as illy in his political aspirations, as in the ministry. He remained a member of Bowling Green church, and preached occasionally, till near the close of his life. But a cloud of suspicion rested upon him, and he died at the mid afternoon of manhood.
JOSEPH SKAGGS was a good, humble man, of moderate ability, but of devoted piety. He was licensed to preach, by Union church in Warren county, about 1841, and was ordained, a year or two afterwards. Soon after his ordination, with the aid of George Butler and O. H. Morrow, he gathered Harmony church in Allen county. To this congregation, and perhaps to
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some others, he ministered a few years. He died of lung dis- ease, about 1855.
SALEM ASSOCIATION OF PREDESTINARIAN BAPTISTS.
This small body is located in Boone and some of the sur- rounding counties. It originated in a division of North Bend Association, produced, it is alleged, by the preaching of Thomas P. Dudley of Licking Association. Some of the churches of the old North Bend Association became dissatisfied with that body on account of its tolerating benevolent societies. As early as 1833, Forks of Gunpowder church inserted in her letter to the Association the following paragraph :
"Since our last, we have taken into consideration the pro- priety of our members uniting with, or having anything to do with the societies as follows, viz: Missionary Societies, Bible societies, tract societies, Sunday-school or temperance societies, State convention, American Bible Society. After the matter was taken up, and some investigation had on the subject, the church agreed that her members should have no connection with siad societies. And we wish, also, the counsel of the As- sociation to be given on that decision, and advise the churches accordingly. We have no difference of sentiment on that sub- ject, with the exception of two of our members, who are friendly to the Bible society." To this the Association replied : "We are willing to leave the whole subject of those societies with the brethren who compose the churches, trusting that each one will act in that matter so as to have a conscience void of offense toward God, and that they will all bear with one another in love."
The answer of the Association was not satisfactory to the church, which desired an unqualified condemnation of all these societies ; and the subject became a matter of contention in the Association, till the meeting of that body, in 1840, when it culminated in a division. In the fall of that year, Forks of Gunpowder, Crews Creek, Salem, Mud Lick, Bethel and Four- Mile churches withdrew from North Bend and organized them- selves under the style of "Salem Association of Predestinarian
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Baptists." The new fraternity adopted a Hyper-calvinistic creed, and expressed an unqualified opposition to all the benevolent so- cieties of the day. Between the time of its constitution and the close of its meeting, in 1843, the following churches, or, rather, factions of churches, were added to its membership : Brush Creek, Mt. Pleasant, Dry Creek, First Old School Bap- tist church at Covington, and Little Hope. The ordained min- isters of the body were Lewis Conner, William Hume, James Finnell, William Gosney and William S. Hickey. The licensed preachers were Buford Rice, R. Stephenson, P. Roberts and Alfred Gosney.
In 1846, the Association attained a membership of thir- teen churches with 388 members. From this time it gradually withered, till 1879, when it reported five churches, aggregating only sixty-five members. Whether it continues to meet, or not, the author is not informed. During the twenty-nine years of which we have statistics of this fraternity, there were baptized for the fellowship of its churches seventy-one persons.
LEWIS CONNER was the most prominent preacher in this body. He was probably a native of Virginia, but settled in Boone county, at a very early period. Here he was converted during the great revival of 1801, and united with Bullittsburg church. In 1804, he went into the constitution of Mud Lick church, and afterwards became a member of Forks of Gun- powder, in which church he was an ordained minister as early as 1822. He appears to have been a good and useful preacher among the churches of North Bend Association, until the diffi- culty about missions arose in that body. In 1840, he entered with his church into the constitution of Salem Association of Predestinarian Baptists, and was moderator of that body, from its organization, till 1857. At this date, he was quite old, and it is probable that he soon afterwards went to his reward.
TATES CREEK ASSOCIATION OF PREDESTINARIAN BAPTISTS.
Of this small community, the author has been able to ob- tain very little information. Like other fraternities of its order, it rose out of the contention in the denomination on the subject
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of missions, but at an earlier period than most of the others. It is located in Madison and some of the adjoining counties, and its churches intermingle with those of Tates Creek Association of Missionary Baptists, from which it originated. In 1830, not long after its constitution, it numbered five churches, aggrega- ting 159 members. The names of the churches were Tates Creek, Mt. Nebo, Gilead, Bethel and Liberty. The ordained ministers were Joel Morehead, Thomas Wolverton, Daniel Duff and Samuel Jones. The body had a very slow growth. In 1843, it numbered only seven churches with 250 members. After this, there was no great change in its numerical strength till after the close of the civil War. About 1867, a slight re- vival began among its churches, and continued to prevail sev- eral years. The first year of the revival, its churches reported forty baptisms, and, in 1869, fifty six baptisms. At the latter date, it numbered eleven churches with 456 members. But soon after this, it began to decline again, and, in 1880, it num- bered ten churches with only 260 members.
This body has embraced within its churches a number of prominent and influential citizens; but has usually had a weak and inefficient ministry, which, together with its antimission polity, and its antinomian doctrine, has prevented it from avail- ing itself of the advantages it has had for becoming a strong and influential fraternity.
ORIGINAL BARREN RIVER ASSOCIATION OF UNITED BAPTISTS.
This small Antimissionary fraternity originated in a second split in Barren River Association. In 1840, that body passed the following :
"Resolved, by this Association, That joining any of the benevolent societies of the day or contributing to its funds, or refusing either to join or contribute, shall not be made a bar to union and fellowship; but that all shall, in this matter, be left to exercise their own free will." There was a considerable Anti- missionary element in the Association, and the adoption of this resolution caused much discontent, and no small degree of ex- citement, among the churches. In 1841, a remonstrance against
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the resolution came up to the Association from Dripping Spring church. This brought the subject again before the body. A motion was made to rescind the resolution. After a protracted and exciting debate, the motion was put to the Association. The vote stood 24 against 24. The moderator, Thomas Scriv- ner, gave the casting vote against the motion. The Antimis- sionaries had exerted their full strength, and now felt that they were finally defeated. As soon, therefore, as the result of the vote was announced, they withdrew from the house, under the leadership of Elder Seth Bradshaw. During the same fall, messengers from the dissenting churches met at Concord meet- ing house in Barren county, and organized what they styled the "Original Barren River Asociation of United Baptists." At its first regular meeting, which met at Mt. Pleasant meeting house, in the same county, on the fourth Saturday in July, 1842, four churches, aggregating 172 members, were represent- ed. The names of the churches were Dripping Spring, Dough- tys Creek, Zoar and Mt. Pleasant. The next year, Concord, Glovers Creek, and Skaggs Creek were added, and the aggre- gate membership was increased to three hundred and twenty- seven, Zoar having been dissolved. The ministers of the body were Seth Bradshaw, Ben. Bailey, and John Clark.
This Association agrees, in doctrine, with the Baptist de- nominatin generally, but is opposed to all societies, organized for the spread of the gospel. Like Green River, Stocktons Val- ey, South Concord, and several other associations in the State, it claims to be missionary, but opposes all the means by which missions can be efficiently promoted. It alleges that a local church is the only religious institution which has divine sanction, forgetting that its members meet annually in an association to transact business for the glory of God.
The body had a slow and irregular growth, till 1856, when it numbered 12 churches with 484 members. In 1858, a revival commenced among the churches and a considerable increase resulted: So that, the next year it numbered 15 churches with 679 members. This is the largest membership it has yet attained. During the next decade, it was reduced to 9 churches with 341 members. Since that time, it has had a small increase. When last heard from, in 1879, it numbered twelve churches with four hundred and forty-two members. We have
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its statistics for 23 years, during which its churches reported 507 baptisms.
This fraternity has been very well supplied with preachers, as to numbers; but most of them have been men of very mod- erate gifts and attainments. Seth Bradshaw, of whom some- thing has been said elsewhere, was among the ablest of its early ministers.
THOMAS DODSON was, for a number of years, one of the most highly esteemed ministers in this fraternity. He was of a large and respectable old Baptist family, of his name, in Wayne county, Ky., where he was born, Oct. 12, 1804. He was raised on a farm, and received a limited common school ed- ucation. At the age of 18, he professed religion and united with Big Sinking church in his native county. In 1828, he was married to Martha Hurt, after which he moved to Russell coun- ty, where he united with Mt. Pleasant church. Here he was ordained to the ministry, Dec. 4, 1847, by Wm. Smith, Moses Wilson, Thomas Wilson, and Josiah Stephens. In this region, he preached, with constantly increasing usefulness, about 12 years. In December, 1859, he moved to Barren county, and be- came a member and the pastor of Poplar Spring church. To this and some other congregations, he ministered, about twenty years when he resigned on account of the encroachments of old age. Up to about the year 1870, he was identified with the Antimis- sionary Baptists, among whom he had been raised up. But, at that date, having changed his views, he, with Poplar Spring church, united with Liberty Association, after which he was a warm friend of missions. He finished his course with joy, July 10, 1881. Of his seven surviving children, six are Baptists, one of whom is a humble minister of the gospel.
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