USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 54
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JOSEPH PERKINS ELLIS is among the oldest living ministers of this Association, and has been one of the most active and useful. His parents were Virginians, but settled in Shelby county, Kentucky, about 1803, where J. P. Ellis was born, in October, 1811. In 1819. his parents moved to Daviess county, where he was brought up. He was educated under the tution of Stephen H. Maddox, whose school he attended seven years. In 1826, he obtained hope in Christ, under the ministry of Sam- uel Vancleave ; but he delayed uniting with a church, till 1834, when he was baptized by John Holland for the fellowship of Bethel church, in Shelby county. This occurred while he was on a visit to his relatives. Four days after his baptism, he delivered an exhortation from the words, " God is love." Re- turning to his home in Daviess county, he gave his member- ship to Panther Creek church. In December of the same year, he moved to Ohio county, and united with Bells Run church. On the 15th of September, 1835, he was married to Jane S. Taylor, and was licensed to preach, the following year. Al- though he had been zealously and usefully engaged in the Mas- ter's vineyard, from the time he was baptized, he was not or-
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dained, till October, 1842, when he came under the hands of Reuben Cottrell and H. H. Ellis. He immediately took charge of Bells Run church, and, within the same year, was called to the care of Panther Creek and Mt. Pleasant churches, in Ohio county, and Bethabara, in Daviess. Besides these, he has ser- ved, at different periods, Zion church in Ohio county, and Zion, Friendly Grove, Whitesville and Pleasant Ridge, in Da- viess. To say that he served these churches faithfully and suc- cessfully, according to the custom of the times, would not give an adequate idea of his labor. Like Talbot, Downs and Cot- trell, whom he succeeded, he was a voluntary unpaid mission- ary, seeking out the dark corners, and proclaiming salvation to the destitute. Only one year did he accept a salary for mission- ary labor. Among the churches of which he laid the founda- tion, are Whitesville and Zion in Daviess ; Zion, in Ohio; Bethel in McLean, and Ohio in Spencer county, Ia. He also gathered the first Missionary Baptist church in Wayne county, Ill. In all, he has aided in the constitution of 16 churches. He has kept no account of the number he has baptized, but it must be quite larger. The war-worn old soldier is no longes able to do the work of a pastor, but is still doing what he can. Hisresi- dence is three miles east of Whitesville, in Daviess county, where he has resided since 1848.
JOHN SAMUEL TAYLOR is among the oldest preachers of this fraternity. He was licensed to preach by Bells Run church in Ohio county, in November, 1835, and, afterwards, ordained at Whitesville, whither he had moved his membership. He has been pastor of a number of churches, for brief periods. But his principal labor has been that of a missionary within the bounds of Daviess county and Goshen Associations. In this field, he has wrought a good work. Some years past, when disease of the throat prevented his preaching, he represented Daviess county in the Kentucky Legislature.
A number of other valuable ministers have labored within the bounds of this fraternity, of whose lives we are unable to give particulars. A. B. Smith, a graduate of Georgetown Col- lege, located at Owensboro, about 1856, and has been pastor of a number of churches in the Association. W. P. Bennett is one of the elderly ministers of the body, and has done good service among its churches, for more than a quarter of a century. Dan- 37
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iel E. Veizer has also been an active and very useful preacher, about 25 years. W. P. Yeaman, a lawyer of Calhoun, was converted from Methodism, and ordained to the ministry, at that village, about 1858. He has been pastor of a number of leading churches in different parts of Kentucky. Subsequently he was pastor of a church in New York City, a number of years, and is now located in St. Louis, Mo. Wm. H. Dawson, now of Rockport, Ia., was raised up to the ministry in this Associa- tion, and was, for a number of years, one of its most useful preachers. To him and his illustrious brother, J. M. Dawson, the author is indebted for valuable contributions to the history of Daviess County and Goshen Associations.
SOUTH KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION.
This was the third organization of the kind, which assumed this name, in Kentucky. The first and second of these frater- nities denominated themselves Separate Baptists, while the one under consideration distinguished itself by the appellation of United Baptists, and is in harmony with the great body of the denomination. Its origin has already been explained in the history of South Kentucky Association No. 2. In 1845, the following churches, located in Garrard, Lincoln and Casey counties withdrew from the last named Association, on account of the body's adhering to the name and principles of the Sepa- rate Baptists : Concord, Caseys Creek, Drakes Creek, Gilberts Creek, Greasy Creek and Union. These seven churches, met, by their messengers, the same fall, and formed the fraternity now under consideration. It engrafted in its constitution the following principles.
"The leading objects of this Association, when organized, shall be to devise ways and means for spreading and sustaining the gospel, at home and abroad, but especially to supply the destitute churches in the bounds of this Association with preaching." "No church shall be considered in good standing in this union, that will encourage, by laxity of discipline, or otherwise, the making and vending of ardent spirits as a bev-
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erage, &c." In accordance with these principles, the fraternity has been quite active in its home mission enterprise.
At its first anniversary, in 1846, it reported two addition- al churches (Providence and Rocky Ford,) 17 baptisms and an aggregate membership of 711. The body had a very slow growth for a number of years. At the beginning of the Civil War, in 1861, it reported only II churches, with 860 members, and after the close of the War, in 1866, it embraced only six churches with 744 members. It had been sowing good seed, however, and it now began to reap.
From near the time of its organization, this body had kept one or more missionaries in its territory a portion of the year, sometimes employed by its own missionary board, and some- times by that of the General Association. Among its most active laborers were J. C. Portman, Daniel Buckner, and H. F. Buckner, the distinguished Indian missionary. These all mov- ed to the West, after which Wm. Graves and Wm. Taylor were employed as missionaries. Missionary operations were sus- pended during the War.
In 1866, the board of the General Association appointed Thomas H. Coleman to labor within the bounds of the Associa- tion. He filled the position with excellent success, especially in effecting a better organization of the churches. During the same session, the Association appropriated $50 to a book de- pository, which proved an efficient means of diffusing knowl- edge among the churches. Mr. Coleman distributed 242 vol- umes in his missionary field, the first year. This may be re- garded as the beginning of the period of prosperity in this As- sociation. In 1867, the body withdrew from South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists a correspondence which had been maintained during some years past. J. O. Southerland had been appointed to preach the introductory sermon in 1867, on the subject of "church fellowship." He preached the ser- mon, but on another subject; whereupon the Association adopt- ed the following :
"Whereas, We believe that the Asssociation has the right to name the subject she desires shall be discussed in the intro- ductory sermon, and that the minister appointed to preach the introductory sermon should, in obedience to the Association, preach on the subject assigned him. Therefore,
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"Resolved, That this Association do disapprove of the con- duct of one of her members, in disobeying the rules of the As- sociation, by laying aside the subject assigned him by the As- sociation, from which to preach the introductory sermon, and selecting a new subject."
In 1866, the Association adopted the following : "Resolv- ed, That in the opinion of this Association, no minister ought to baptize an individual who has not been approved for the ordi- nance by a regularly constituted church; and also that we dis- claim any succession, as a denomination, from the church con- stituted by Roger Williams." The first item in this resolution gave some dissatisfaction, and the next year, was referred to the churches. The churches failed to agree on the subject, and the matter was dropped.
In 1868, the now distinguised Dr. Lansing Burrows, who had recently entered the ministry, was appointed by the board of the General Association to succeed T. H. Coleman, and labored in that capacity one year, with moderate success. Af- ter this, the Association, through its executive board, employ- ed its own missionaries.
In 1869, the body first gave its attention to the subject of Sunday-schools, though it is probable that some of the churches had previously organized such schools. The following resolu- tion was adopted :
"Resolved, That the Association heartily recommend to the churches, the importance of encouraging the organization and sustaining of Sabbath-schools." This resolution was carried into effect with so much zeal that, in 1874, the committee on Sabbath-schools reported as follows :
"All our churches have Sunday-schools. All are Baptist schools but one. There are also connected with our churches four mission Sunday-schools. The number of officers, teachers and pupils in all these schools is about 700." This was a re- vival season. T. H. Coleman had been employed as mission- ary, at a salary of $1,000 a year, and his labors were being great- ly blessed.
In 1871, the Association passed resolutions in favor of For- eign missions. At this time the body numbered 8 churches with 854 members. Seven years later, it numbered 17 churches
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with 1, 315 members. It has since somewhat diminished. In 1883, it numbered 14 churches, with 1, 224 members.
The oldest churches in this fraternity are Mt. Salem and Somerset (formerly Sinking Creek), of which some account has already been given.
JESSE COFFEE PORTMAN was one of the most popular and efficient preachers that ever labored in his part of the State. His great-grandfather, John Portman, sr., emigrated from Penn- sylvania to South Carolina, where he raised his family. In old age, he moved to Christian county, Kentucky, where he died, in 1799, aged about 100 years. John Portman jr., a son of this venerable patriarch, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and fought in the battle of Kings Mountain. After the War, he settled on the upper waters of Green River, in Kentucky, where he raised two sons, John and George. John moved to Mississipi, where he died, about 1855. George married a Miss Coffee, and settled in Casey county, Ky., where he died, June 12, 1857, aged 84 years. In this county, his son, Jesse Coffee Portman, was born, Sep. 2, 1805, and was brought up on his father's farm, receiving a fair common school education. Not- withstanding his parents were pious Baptists, Jesse grew up a wicked, profane lad, and continued to indulge in sinful sports and blasphemy till he was 22 years of age. In August, 1827, he professed conversion, and was baptized by Jacob Warriner for the fellowship of Hurricane church in his native county. The following March, he was married to Leannah, daughter of Gen. Christopher Riffe.
Hurricane church, afterwards called Green River, and, still, more recently, Middleburg, belonged to South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists. The churches of this frater- nity, like the Campbellites, rejected all creeds and confessions of faith. At the period of Mr. Portman's entering the ministry, Campbellism was a raging fanaticism in northern Kentucky; and, scenting after the non-committal policy and loose "order of things" among the Separate Baptists, the Campbellite pro- claimers descended upon them like eagles upon a carcass. John Steele a Baptist preacher, who had acquired great influence in Casey county, was carried away by the new doctrine, and, en- tering the Campbellite ranks, made havoc of the churches. Green River church held in its membership four preachers.
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Three of these, Warriner, Polton and McCan, were swept into the " reformation," carrying with them a large part of the church.
In October, 1832, Mr. Portman was ordained to the pas- toral care of the remnant of Green River church, by Thomas J. Chilton and A. J. Quinn. He had been preaching and exhort- ing for some years, and had gained the attention and confidence of the people. Soon after his ordination, he was called to the care of Rocky Fork (now Rolling Fork) church, in the same county. Into the fellowship of these two churches he baptized over 500 persons. He was pastor of several other churches at different periods, seidom preaching statedly to less than four congregations. However, he did not confine his labors to his pastoral charges, but preached with great zeal and power among the churches of his own and the surrounding associations. Early in his ministry, he became a convert to the principles and polity of the United Baptists, and ultimately succeeded in win- ning eight or nine churches of his Association to his views. These were afterwards embodied in South Kentucky Associa- tion of United Baptists, as related above. In this fraternity, Mr. Portman was the leading spirit. He acted as its mission- ary, two years, under the direction of its own board, and one year under that of the General Association. During this per- iod, he baptized a great number of people, and gathered several churches. Among the latter was the church at Stanford in Lincoln county, which was constituted of 12 persons, De- cember, 4, 1852/
In 1853, this eminently useful and greatly beloved min- ister moved to Texas, where, after remaining a short time, in Collin county, he finally settled in Denton county. In his new field of labor, his zeal and usefulness was unabated. He was usually pastor of four churches, and, during eight years, acted as moderator of Elm Fork Association. During his thirteen years' residence in Texas, he baptized over 500 persons. In the midst of a career of great usefulness, he was stricken with a violent fever, of which he died, August 23, 1866. His last words on earth were :- " I am done ;" and doubtless the first words he heard in Heaven were : " Well done."
The acquirements of Mr. Portman were moderate, but his natural gifts were varied and extraordinary. As a pleasing and
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effective preacher, he was far above mediocrity, and he seldom preached without weeping profusely ; in the social circle, he was charmingly attractive, and, when conversing on the subject of religion, he exhibited so much of the mild sweetness of his Master, that his conversation was pleasing, even to the un- converted. It is said by those who knew him well, that he never failed to make peace between contending parties, in any case he undertook. Possessed of such gifts, used with rare i sincerity, zeal and industry, his brilliant success is not wonder- ful.
A. J. DYE was a young preacher of excellent promise. He was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, May 3, 1831. Under the tuition of Henry D. Anderson, who was conducting a school at Somerset, he acquired a good English education. Having obtained hope in the Savior, he was baptized into the fellowship of Fishing Creek church, in his native county, by James Cooper, September 3, 1852. A few months later, he was licensed to preach, and was ordained to the ministry, by James Cooper, Robert C. Buckner and F. Richardson, in 1853. Af- ter preaching with much acceptance in his native county, he accepted a call to the church at Cloverport in Breckinridge county, in 1855. While serving this church, he was married to Catherine E. Braden of that county. After preaching at Clover- port two years, he returned to Pulaski county, in a very feeble state of health. Here he divided his time between preaching and laboring on a farm. His health improved for a time, and hopes of his recovery were entertained. But, in 1862, two of his three children died of flux. His health now rapidly de- clined, and, on the 3d of November, of the same year, he died of consumption of the lungs.
WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION.
This small, but very respectable fraternity originated in a rupture in Bracken Association, in 1847, caused by a difference of opinion regarding the conduct of Gilbert Mason, then pastor of Washington, Maysville and Mayslick churches. A council of messengers from the above churches, together with those
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from Lewisburg, was held at the last named place, in 1845, to investigate certain charges alledged against Mr. Mason. The coun- cil decided that he was guilty of unchristian conduct, and ad- vised Washington church, of which he was a member, to ex- clude him, " unless he frankly acknowledge his errors, and ask the forgiveness of his brethren " Mr. Mason evaded the require- ments, and merely conceding that he was fallible, asked to be forgiven for any injustice that he might have committed. Wash- ington church accepted this vague apology, but it was rejected by others that were concerned, and the whole matter was brought before Bracken Association. Washington church was charged with violating its agreement to abide by the decision of the Lewisburg council, and, failing to give satisfaction, was ex- cluded from the Association.
This church and others that sympathized with it called a convention, in 1847, and formed Washington Association, whose churches were intermingled with those of Bracken. The young fraternity started off prosperously. In 1849, two years after its constitution, it reported 6 churches, 117 baptisms, and 527 members. After this, it had very little increase. In 1855, it reported 5 churches with 546 members. This year, Mr. Mason returned to Virginia, and the Association, in which he had been the principal minister, reunited with Bracken, and thus lost its identity.
BETHEL ASSOCIATION OF REGULAR PRIMITIVE BAPTISTS.
This confederacy is located in the extreme south-west cor- ner of the State, and the adjacent border of Tennessee. Its name sufficiently indicates that it is Hyper Calvinistic in doctrine, and Antimissionary in practice. It was constituted of 15 churches aggregating 507 members, at Mud Creek meeting house, in Fulton county, Kentucky, in 1846. These churches had been dismissed from Obion and Clarks River Associations.
This fraternity has, of course, accomplished but little in spreading the gospel, as its doctrine and polity require it to put forth no effort in that direction. I It has generally enjoyed a good degree of peace and harmony. Some of its ministers are
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excellent men and very good preachers. Through their labors, the churches have had small additions, from year to year, and the Association has had a slight increase in numbers, during the last decade. In 1870, it numbered 13 churches with 450 mem- bers, and, in 1880, 20 churches with 653 members. According to its official statistics, there were baptized into the fellowship of its churches, between the time of its constitution and its meet- ing in 1881, a period of 35 years, 784 professed believers.
WILLIAM A. BOWDEN has been one of the most popular, influential and successful preachers in this Association, from its organization to the present time. He is about 70 years of age, has been preaching from early life, and is still (1882) active in the ministry. His residence is in the south-east corner of Graves county, and he preaches both in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was the first moderator of Bethel Associatiou, and has been its clerk since 1850. His moral reputation is unsullied, and he is much esteemed, both by the churches and them without.
WILLIAM HOWARD is also an earnest preacher in this fraternity. He was born in North Carolina, October 27, 1806, migrated to the West, in 1830, was licensed to preach, at Mt. Zion in Graves county, Kentucky, in 1838, and was ordained, in the same church, by Reuben Ross* and W. A. Bowden, in 1847. Mt. Zion, Brush Creek, Mt. Zion (north), Pisgah, Mud Creek and Spring Creek (Tenn.), have enjoyed his pastoral min- istrations. He has frequently been moderator of his Associa- tion, and is still (1882) actively engaged in the ministry.
ZION ASSOCIATION OF UNITED BAPTISTS.
This body of Antimissionary Baptists is located on the eastern border of the State, in a very mountainous region of country, lying between the Tug and Lavisa Forks of Big Sandy River. It was constituted of six churches, at Salem meeting house in Wayne county, West Virginia, Nov. 4, 1848. These churches, which had been dismissed from Paint Union Asso- ciation, aggregated, in 1849, 205 members. Their names were
*Not the famed Reuben Ross of Bethel Association.
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Rockcastle, Silver Creek, Zion, Salem, Comfort, and Kiers Creek. The fraternity was quite prosperous, and so rapid was its growth that it was, some years past, deemed expedient to divide its territory. The eastern division, including most of the West Virginia churches, took the name of Bethlehem Associa- tion. At present most of the churches of Zion Association are located in Johnson and Martin counties. In 1879, the As- sociation numbered 19 churches with 959 members, and, in 1880, 20 churches with the aggregated membership not re- ported.
JAMES WILLIAMSON is the most prominent minister in this Association, and has acted as its moderator, since 1876; pre- vious to which he was clerk of the body. He was born in Law- rence county, Ky., Nov. 3, 1813. At the age of 22 years, he united with Rockcastle church in what is now Martin county, and was baptized by Henry Dixon. After exercising some time in public prayer and exhortation, he was ordained to the ministry, by John Borders and Henry Dixon, about 1840. He has generally been pastor of from two to four churches, and is still (1881) actively engaged in his holy calling.
MT. OLIVET ASSOCIATION.
The origion of this fraternity has been sufficiently explained in the history of West Union Association. Mt. Olivet, Little Obion, Liberty and Salem churches, aggregating 199 members, withdrew from that body, on account of the expulsion of Thomas L. Garrett from its council. These four churches met in convention, by their messengers, at Mt. Olivet meeting house in Graves county, on Saturday before the first Sunday in July, 1848. A sermon was preached by T. L. Garrett, from Heb. 13: I. The convention was organized by the election of M. S. Wiman, moderator, and W. W. Maxey, clerk. The four churches named above were then reorganized as a con- federacy under the style of Mt. Olivet Association of United Baptists. The only preachers in the organization were T. L. Garrett, M. S. Wiman and Wm. J. Flournoy.
At its first anniversary, the Association received Pleasant
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Ridge church, which increased its membership to five churches with 231 members. But as the organization of the body was revolutionary, the neighboring fraternities refused to corres- pond with it. It also manifested a spirit of great bitterness in its meetings. In 1849, it declared the circular letter of West Union Association to be "a tissue of falsehood throughout." Under these circumstances, the little fraternity continued to diminish, rather than increase, till about 1856. After this, it had a slow growth, till 1860, when it numbered 9 churches with 353 members. After the Civil War, it obtained recogni- tion by the neighboring associations, and has enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. In 1865, it organized a ministers' and deacons' meeting, and has since employed the usual appliances, used by the denomination in the State, for the spread of the gospel and the promotion of morals.
In 1877, the body expressed its sentiments regarding the use of strong drink in the following language: "Alcoholic liquors constitute the greatest curse of the age. They impede the progress of education, civilization and Christianity, more than all things else: tney cause more suffering, both mental and physical, more paupers, criminals and maniacs." Church members were advised to abstain from intoxicating drinks, and the churches were recommended to deal rigidly with members who drink or sell intoxicating beverages.
A remarkable incident in the history of this body is, that there were baptized into the fellowship of its churches, from 1850 to 1855, just three persons each year, six years in suc- cession. The whole number baptized into its churches, from 1848 to 1883, exclusive of the year 1856. was 1, 889. In 1870, it numbered nine churches with 648 members; in 1880, twenty churches, with 1,086 members, and in 1883, eighteen churches with 1, 193 members.
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