USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 53
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boro. It is presumed that these societies did not meet with popu- lar favor, as we hear no more of them.
The subject of education engaged the attention of the As- sociation, as early as 1855. It was then asserted that the education of the ministry should be one of the prominent objects of the body, and it was resolved to raise money to educate J. M. Dawson, a young preacher, at Georgetown Col- lege. Young Dawson declined going to college, and the sub- ject was dropped. In 1860, the Association approved the enter- prise of erecting a high school at Hartford, and the sum of $2,000 was pledged to aid in its establishment. In 1869, the Association resolved to secure a shool property in Owensboro, and establish a high school, at a cost of $10,000. The buildings were finished, and the school was opened, under the style of the Central Baptist Institute, in September, 1869. The prop- erty was a very handsome one, and was valued at $25,000. But in default of paying the paltry sum of $3,500, a debt in- curred in the erection of the buildings, this valuable property was sold, and thereby alienated from the Baptists. In 1865, the Association did a better work, 'in raising means to aid in educa- ting John S. Gatton and F. P. M. Sharp, who are now very val- uable ministers of the gospel.
About 1860, the subject of what was called intercom- munion, was agitated among the churches of the Association, especially by B. T. Taylor, pastor of the church at Owensboro. He took the position that each church should confine the ad- ministration of the Lord's Supper to its own members. The great ability of Mr. Taylor so influenced the Association, for the time, that it declared in favor of his views, and advised the churches "to examine the Scriptural authority for this prac- tice." The churches generally were not convinced of the cor- rectness of the position, and the former practice of intercom- munion among the churches " of the same faith and order," has been continued.
In 1864, a Mr. Bidwell, recently excluded from New Hope church, appealed to the Association for redress. This gave the body an opportunity to express its adherence to the ancient Baptist doctrine, that the individual church is the highest ec- clesiastical authority on earth, and that, from its decision, there is no appeal, except to the Supreme Arbiter of human affairs.
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Mr. Bidwell was accordingly informed that the Association had no jurisdiction in his case.
In 1866, the Association designated the first of the follow- ing January "as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer to Al- mighty God, for a revival of his grace." This is believed to be the only fast day this fraternity has ever appointed. The body gave its opinion, in 1869, in regard to agricultural fairs, as fol- lows : " Resolved, That fairs, as now conducted, are not suita- ble places for members of the church to attend ; and, as the evils growing out of them are manifest, we advise the churches com- posing this body to take the subject under serious considera- tion." In 1880, it expressed its opinion on the subject of danc- ing : " Resolved, That promiscuous dancing, as practiced by the unbelieving world, is inconsistent with symmetry of chris- tian character, and destructive of christian influence. 2. That we earnestly request our churches to use all christian means for the suppression of the practice among their members.
The progress of this Association has been unusually even and rapid. Its membership was nearly doubled during the first ten years of its existence. In 1860, it numbered 26 churches with 2,783 members; in 1870, 34 churches with 3,639 mem- bers ; in 1880, 34 churches with 4, 103 members ; and, in 1882, 34 churches with 4,317 members. At the last named date, it was the largest association of white Baptists, but two, in the State, Little River being the largest, and Bethel the next. Its statistics are wanting for the years '48, '50 and '61. During the remaining 35 years of its existence, down to its meeting, in 1882, its churches reported 6,95 1 baptisms.
OLD CHURCHES. Beaver Dam is the oldest church in this fraternity, and the oldest but one in the lower Green River country. Its history has been given. Buck Creek, located in McLean county, after existing some time as an arm of Beaver Dam, was constituted an independent church of II members, by Job Hobbs, Samuel Anderson and Philip Warden, in 1812. The new organization took the name of "Tanners Meeting House, " by which it was known many years. Its first pastor is supposed to have been Job Hobbs, who served it but a short time, and was succeeded by the famous pioneer, Ben Talbot. Mr. Talbot was succeeded by George Render, who was follow- ed by Thomas Downs. The latter served the church many
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years, and was succeeded by Frederick Tanner, who was raised up to the ministry, in that church. Since the resignation of Mr. Tanner, the church has had the pastoral labors of J. S. Coleman, J. M. Peay and Wm. Stephens. It is now one of the largest and most prosperous churches in the Association. Yelvington, located in the village from which it takes its name, in Daviess county, was constituted of II members, by Ben Talbot, and John Weldon, June 30, 1813. It first took the name of "Panther Creek." John Weldon was its first pastor, and served it about three years. In 1815, it joined Gasper Riv- er Association. In May, John Weldon resigned, and moved from the country. He was succeeded by Thomas Downs, who served the church nearly 25 years. In 1817, the name of the church was changed to "Rock Spring," and the next year it united with Goshen Association. Since the resignation of Mr. Downs, in 1842, the church has been served by a large number of pastors, prominent among whom may be named William Head, J. G. Howard, D. Dowden, C. J. Kelley, J. M. Dawson, D. E. Yeiser and W. H. Dawson. The church assumed its present name, in 1860. In 1878, it united with Blackford Association. Green Brier, located in Daviess county, was constituted of 25 members who had been dismissed from Tanners Meeting House, by Ben Talbot and Thomas Downs, Oct. 29, 1820. Thomas Downs was chosen pastor, and served the church nearly 30 years. Since his death, it has had the pastoral labors of J. M. Bennett, Wm. J. Owen, J. S. Dawson, J. S. Coleman, B. F. Swindler and J. M. Peay. It is now the largest and one of the most prosperous, of the country churches in this Association. Bells Run, located in Ohio county, was constituted Dec. 24, 1820, and took the name of "Barnetts Creek." Thomas Downs, by whom it was gathered, became its first pastor. About 1833, the somewhat notorious Wm. Downs, took the pastoral care of the church, and its name was changed to "Little Flock." Wm. Downs was succeeded by Ancil Hall, about 1839, and the church assumed its present name. In 1841, Reuben Cottrell took charge of the church, and served it till J. P. Ellis, one of its members was ordained to its pastorate, in October, 1842. Mr. Ellis continued in of- fice till 1856. Since that period, the church has had a number of pastors,each serving only a brief period. J. S. Coleman took
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charge of the church in 1882, and large numbers have been ad- ded to its membership, under his ministry. Bethabara, located in Daviess county, eight miles southeast from Owensboro, was constituted in 1826. Among its early pastors, was that devoted man of God, Reuben Cottrell. It has been a very prosperous body, and, in 1881, was next to the largest country church in the As- sociation. The remaining churches of this Association are com- paratively young.
THOMAS DOWNS was among the fathers in Daviess county Association. He was born, perhaps, in Nelson county, not long before the year 1780. He spent his childhood and youth, with his parents, among the wilds of the lower Green River country. His father was killed by the Indians, near the present location of Calhoun, in McLean county. In early life, he united with Hazel Creek church, in Muhlenburg county, and was early set apart to the ministry. Of this church, he remained a member, till about 1815, when he moved his membership to Panther Creek (now Yelvington in Daviess county ?) In 1824, he, with his wife, four daughters, nis son and his son's wife, united with Green Brier church in Daviess county. Of this church, Rock Spring, Buck Creek and Ohio (Ia.,) he was pastor many years. He was also pastor of various other churches, for briefer pe- riods. But his work was not so much that of a pastor, as of an indefatigable pioneer missionary. He bore the standard of the cross among the early settlers on both sides of the Ohio river, from the mouth of Green river, 100 miles up the Ohio, and over a belt of country, about 100 miles wide. In this re- gion he gathered many of the early churches, and supplied them with occasional preaching, till they could procure pastors. He raised a large family of children, all girls but one, and was so extremely poor that he had to do much of his traveling on foot, and often barefoot. "Many a time," writes his successor in the pastorate, "has he ploughed hard five days in the week, and then walked from Green Brier to Rock Spring, a distance of 25 miles, and preached two hours, shoeless and coatless ; some- times to but few hearers, and once, to only three sisters." Such was the labor and lot of this consecrated servant of Christ, during a ministry of nearly 50 years. He endured many se- vere domestic trials. In early life, he lost his father, who was murdered by Indians, while hunting in the forests for his horses.
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After he had raised a large family, his only son went to hunt horses in the forest, and was found hung by a bridle, already dead. About the same time, several of his children died of an epidemic, within a short period.
When Mr. Downs commenced preaching, not far from the year 1800, there were but two small churches in the broad field of his subsequent labors; when he closed his work, the same fiel l was occupied by six flourishing and populous associations- four in Kentucky, and two in Indiana. In the closing years of his life, he became very corpulent and helpless. But such was the attachment of his brethren to their aged pastor, that they would convey him to Green Brier meeting house, and place him in a chair, where he, like the Apostle John, would talk to them about the love of God, and exhort them to love one an- other. Not far from 1850, the aged servant of God was called to his reward.
Mr. Downs was not regarded a great preacher, even at the time in which he lived. He was uneducated in the scholastic sense of the term; but he was a close, prayerful reader of the Bible, and few men of his times were better acquainted with the sacred oracles. He possessed only medium talents, but he had an easy flow of common English words, his heart was thorough- ly educated and deeply imbued with the grace of God, and he was an indefatigable laborer in the gospel of Christ.
REUBEN COTTRELL was born in Henrico county, Va., in 1792. Here he grew to manhood, receiving a fair English ed- ucation. After his marriage, he emigrated to Kentucky, and settled in Shelby county, in the fall of 1815. In the following February, he united with Buck Creek church, in that county, and was baptized by George Waller. He was ordained to the ministry by George Waller, Zacheus Carpenter, John Holland and Wm. Stout, the same year in which he was baptized. Soon after wards, he was invited to preach once a month to Buck Creek church. About this period the subject of missions was agitated in Long Run Association, and Mr. Cottrell was engaged to labor as missionary, within the bounds of that fraternity. Louisville and Jeffersonville were points at which he preached. During these lahors, he became deeply imbued with the spirit of missions, which led him to visit many points of destitution, on both sides of the Ohio river. In 1832, he made a tour
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down the Ohio river as far as the "Yellow Banks." Next year he moved to Daviess county, and settled on a farm. He ac- cepted a call to Bethabara church. A revival followed almost immediately, and 80 were added to the church. In 1834, he was called to Bells Run, Blackford and Union churches. About this time, he was invited to deliver a sermon at a barbecue, to be given on the 4th of July, at Owensboro. He accepted the invitation, and afterwards continued to preach there, until he raised up a church, to which he ministered till it could procure a pastor. In 1837, Little Bethel Association sent a letter and messengers to Goshen Association, asking correspondence. The corresponding messengers from Highland Association opposed the petition, on the ground that Little Bethel believed in mis- sions. Mr. Cottrell, with others, warmly advocated the recep- tion of the correspondence, and it was finally granted. The missionary spirit became very active in the lower part of Goshen Association. A convention of messengers from 13 churches was held, in 1838, and it was resolved to employ two mission- aries to labor in the region around Owensboro. Mr. Cottrell and Samuel Anderson were appointed, and a great revival pre- vailed under their labors. From this period, the work of mis- sions was prosecuted in this region, Mr. Cottrell always being a prominent actor, both in the council and in the field, until his strength failed. For several years before his death, he was too feeble to leave his home, and was constantly anticipating his de- parture. On the 29th of May, 1863, the summons came, and he went to his reward, after a very successful ministry of 47 years.
WILLIAM J. OWEN. This excellent and zealous young man was ordained to the ministry by Green Brier church, in Daviess county, near to which he was born and raised, Jan. 20, 1850. After serving this church with some others in the neighborhood, a short time, he moved to Jacksons Purchase, about 1856. Here he zealously devoted himself to the work of the ministry. In February, 1859, he located in Troy, Obion county, Tennessee, where he accomplished the principal work of his brief ministry. During the same month in which he moved to Troy, he gathered a church of eight members. Under the faithful labors of the young pastor, the little church steadily grew, till it numbered thirty-three, Mr.
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Owen was also pastor of Palestine and Concord churches, where his labors were also successful. But his work was soon brought to a close. Early in December, 1863, he became too feeble to leave his room, and, on the 14th of the following June, was called to receive his crown.
FREDERICK TANNER was a good, plain, humble preacher. He united with Buck Creek church in McLean county, soon after its constitution, in 1812, and was probably baptized by Benjamin Talbot. After serving that church as clerk, a num- ber of years, he was ordained to the ministry, in 1830, and, afterwards, served it as pastor, for a considerable time. He was also pastor of several other churches, at different periods. He had an humble opinion of his abilities, and, as he expressed it, only consented to serve a church, when it could procure no other preacher. Yet Dr, Coleman regarded him as a man of superior natural endowments, and, under favorable circumstan- ces, an eloquent and powerful preacher. He maintained a spotless Christian character, and exerted an excellent influence over the people who knew him best. He died, at his home, in McLean county, at a ripe old age, about 1868.
JOHN GRAVES HOWARD was born of respectable and pious Baptist parents, in Caswell county, N. C., Nov. 9, 1792. Under the parental roof, he received a plain English education. He was raised on a farm, and, in his twenty-first year, was married to Priscilla Yancy. In 1816, he emigrated to Daviess county, Ky., where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a man of high social standing, and, at one time, filled the office of justice of the peace, and afterwards that of sher- iff. He also filled the office of colonel of the State militia, for a time, and from that circumstance, was afterwards known as Col. Howard. He was fond of society, and at one time, after he entered the ministry, was betrayed into the habit of drinking to intoxication. From this, he soon recovered himself; but his repentance and mortification were deep and long continued. The high esteem in which he had been universally held, the sincerity of his repentance, and his manly and Christian charac- ter, not only restored him to the fellowship of his brethren, but also secured to him the respect and confidence of the uncon- verted.
He professed faith in Christ, and was baptized into the
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fellowship of the church at Tanners Meeting House (now Buck Creek), about 1818, by Benjamin Talbot. He commenced his public Christian labors, as superintendent of a Sunday-school, at Green Brier church. He was subsequently ordained to the deaconship, and, in December, 1821, was licensed to preach, at Green Brier church. It was several years before he entered fully into the work of the ministry. In September, 1840, he was ordained to the pastoral care of the church at Owensboro, by H. B. Wiggin, Reuben Cottrell, and Thomas Downs. He ministered to this church about two years. After this, he was active and zealous in the ministry, and, together with William Head, R. M. Snider, and Isham R. Allen, gathered a number of churches on both sides of the Ohio river. He served several churches, between 1845, and 1865. His last pastoral minis- trations were at Pleasant Grove church, in Daviess county. He was chosen moderator of Daviess County Association, immedi- ately after its constitution, in 1844, and served in that capacity, till 1859. He also served Goshen Association, as moderator, from 1841, to 1844. After the close of his last pastoral term, he continued to preach occasionally, till near the close of his life. He died, at his residence in Owensboro, April 16, 1874.
ISHAM R. ALLEN was a wicked, profane youth; but on professing faith in Christ, about 1837, he united with the church at Owensboro, and was probably baptized by John L. Burrows. He was licensed to preach, at Pleasant Grove church in Daviess county, about 1841, and, about two years later, was ordained to the ministry. For a number of years he preached with great zeal, in connection with William Head and John G. How- ard ; and, by his fervent exhortations, gave much aid in gather- ing a number of churches, on both sides of the Ohio river. He was a very impulsive man, was somewhat eccentric, and his gift consisted principally in exhortation. During the latter years of his life, he preached but little. He died at his home in Owens- boro, a little past middle life, not far from 1864.
JAMES M. DAWSON was one of the ablest preachers that have lived in the Green River country. It is much regretted that more particulars of his life and labors have not been received. He was a native of Daviess county, Ky., and was born in 1835. His opportunities for acquiring an education were very poor. However, he possessed a strong intellect, and devoted himselt
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to close study, from his boyhood to the close of his life. With- out the aid of a teacher, he not only acquired a good English education, but made considerable attainments in the Greek language. He declined the proffered aid of Daviess County Associaion, to enable him to attend Georgetown College, pre- fering the slower, but more independent course of acquiring an education by his own energies. He professed religion in his seventeenth year, and united with South Hampton church, in his native county. At the age of about twenty, he was licensed to preach, and was ordained, about 1857. At first, his efforts to preach were dull and prosy ; but he improved steadily, and it was only a few years before he exhibited a massive strength, and an acuteness of logic, unequaled in his Association. He preferred to serve the country churches around his birth place, to occupying a city or village pastorate, and hence gave his entire ministry to those of Daviess County Association. He was successful in his pastoral labors, and was esteemed and honored by his brethren, throughout the State. But before he reached the prime of manhood, he was suddenly called to give an account of his stewardship. He died of pneumonia, at his home in Daviess county, April. 20, 1873.
Mr. Dawson distinguished himself as a clear and logical writer, and an able controversialist. He published a pamphlet in defense of " the final perseverance of the saints," and was engaged in various controversies, both oral and written, in de- fense of the doctrine and polity of his denomination. Among his last writing was a somewhat lengthy controversy with the learned Prof. J. E. Farnham, through the columns of the West- ern Recorder.
J. D. ARNOLD spent the last years of his life within the bounds of this Association, and was a valuable laborer in the Master's vineyard. He was born in Macon county, Tenn., Aug. 12, 1839. At the age of seventeen he lost his father, and his mother could afford him but scant means of obtaining an cduca- tion. He was studious, however, and acquired a fair knowledge of the common English branches. In 1855, he united with Pleasant Hill church, in Robertson county, Tenn, and was bap- tized by G. W. Featherstone. Here he was licensed to preach, in 1860. He shortly afterwards moved his membership toLake Spring, in Simpson county, Ky., and was ordained to the
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ministry, in 1861, by O. H. Morrow and J. W. Self. He was pastor of Lake Spring church two years, and of Franklin, one year. In May, 1869, he moved to Owenboro, Ky. While here, he served Macedonia church, one year. Meanwhile, he moved across the river into Indiana, where he served the church- es at Grand View, New Hope Pleasant Valley, and Pigeon. In all these churches his labors were much blessed. Under his ministry, at Grand View, there were eighty-one additions to the church; at New Hope, fifty-eight additions; at Pigeon, fifty- eight, and, at Pleasant Valley, fifty five. In 1873, he com- menced the publication, at Evansville, of a paper, called the Baptist Missionary, and a Sunday-school paper called the Echo. He soon found that he had undertaken more than his strength would bear, and accordingly disposed of the Baptist Missionary. He continued the publication of the Echo a short time, when the office in which it was published was destroyed by fire. He had continued to serve Pleasant Valley church two Sabbaths in the month, and he wasnow, in 1874, recalled to New Hope, and Pigeon. The next year, he resigned these charges, to take the care of some churches in Daviess county, Kentucky, whither he returned and pitched his tent, for the last time. He was pastor of Bethabara church five years, during which 130 were added to its membership. He served the church at Whitesville, about the same length of time, and those at Sugar Grove, Mt. Carmel and Zion, briefer periods. In the midst of a career of great usefulness, and in the prime of manhood, he was suddenly called home. He died at the house of a brother, Giles, near Pleasant Valley church, in Spencer county, Ia., where he had been invited to lecture on church history, June 11, 1881. Mr. Arnold was a man of great energy and tireless industry, and succeeded in his holy vocation, in an eminent degree.
JOSIAH BRIDGES SOLOMON was born of Baptist parents, in Franklin county, N.C., January 18, 1824. He was brought up on a farm, alternating between the plough and such schools as the neighborhood afforded. In 1843, he professed conversion, and was baptized by P. N. Smith, for the fellowship of Hay- wood church, in his native county. He soon began to take part in a prayer meeting, and was licensed to exercise his gift, at about the age of 20 years. After this, he entered Wake Forest College, where he spent three years. He was ordained to the
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ministry, while at college, in November, 1848, by Wm. Hoop- er, W. T. Brooks, Thomas Crocker and Wm. Biddle. In 1849, he was married to Mary M., daughter of John Burges of War- ren county, N.C. In December of the same year, he accepted an appointment to labor as missionary under the patronage of the Baptist State Convention. After filling this position, with good success, two years, he took charge of the church at War- renton. Here he labored successfully, about seven.years, when he was called to Leigh Street church, in Richmond, Va., where he entered upon his labors, in 1860. To this church he min- istered four years, during which time it had an increase of 150 members. Being now impoverished by the War, he resorted to teaching, as a means of supporting his family. In 1873, he accepted the presidency of Monongahela College, in Pennsyl- vania, and occupied the position two years. In 1875, he took charge of the church in Sharon, Pa. Here he remained till 1880, when he accepted a call to the First Church in Owens- boro, Kentucky, where he was well received, and labored, much to the satisfaction of the church, till 1885, when he ac- cepted a call to Zion church in Henderson county, Kentucky.
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