USA > Kentucky > A history of Kentucky Baptists : From 1769 to 1885, including more than 800 biographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 57
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He was born of poor parents, in Lee county, Va., Dec. 30, 1824. Here, among the wild romantic scenery of the Cumber- land mountains, he was raised up to hard labor, receiving barely education enough to enable him to read and write intelligibly. In his 18th year, he united with the Methodists. But after fur- ther consideration of the divine teaching, he joined the Baptist church at Thompsons Settlement in his native county, in Oc- tober, 1842. Soon after his union with the Baptists, he began
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to exhort and pray in public ; but it was some years before he gave any especial promise of usefulness.
In February, 1850, he was married to Amy Parsons ; and, on the 2d Saturday in June of the same year, was ordained to the ministry, at New Hope church in his native county, by Jonathan Bishop and John Gilbert. Having settled near Tur- key Cove, in the same county, he spent a few years in preach- ing, almost, if not altogether, gratuitously, among the associates of his youth. After this, he moved to Clay county, Kentucky, where he spent a few years in the same manner, and then moved to his present location in Estill county, Kentucky. His habit was to preach three or four days in each week, and labor the remainder of the time on a farm. His wonderful success in winning souls to Christ began to attract attention beyond the mountainous region in which his labors were principally per- formed.
In April, 1862, he was appointed by the missionary board of Irvine Association to labor within the bounds of that frater- nity. His success continued to be, as heretofore, very re- markable. The Board of the General Association, which aided in supporting him in that destitute field, says of him, in its an- nual report, in 1864: "This faithful and laborious servant of Christ, has a record and success during the past fifteen years, that very few ministers of the gospel can equal. Without a scholastic education, in great pecuniary embarrassment, he has persevered in his calling, and God has wonderfully blessed his labors. During that period he states he has devoted to the ministry 2,646 days ; traveled 19,092 miles, about one third of which was on foot ; preached 3,270 sermons and made 1, 000 exhortations, and received into the church 2,032 persons. Un- til the last two years, his income from preaching has not averaged more than thirty cents per day for the time actually engaged."
Mr. Edwards continued in the employment of the board of the General Association, till 1878, when that body reported as follows : "Rev. J. J. Edwards, Winston, is one of the old- est missionaries in the employment of the board. He has traveled more miles, preached more sermons, and baptized a greater number than any other missionary of the General As-
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sociation. He has been quite feeble for the last few months, and unable to do his accustomed work."
During the nineteen years he spent in the employ of the General Association, he traveled on foot and horse-back over a very rough mountainous country, 36,730 miles; and it is not strange that even his robust constitution should have yielded to a strain so heavy and long continued. However, his health im- proved, after a few months, and he isstill engaged in ministerial labor. In 1880, his memoranda showed that he had baptized 5,673 persons, and gathered about 35 churches.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE JOHNSON descended from one of the most distinguished families in Kentucky. His grandfather was a brother of the famous pioneer, Col. Robert Johnson, of Scott county, and his father was first cousin to Richard M. Johnson, once vice-president of the United States, and to James and John T. Johnson, both of whom were members of Congress from Kentucky.
N. B. Johnson was born in Fayette connty, Ky., about 1816. His parents being in reduced circumstances, he received only a moderate common school education. In early life he joined the Campbellites, and was immersed in order to the remission of sins. He turned his attention to mechanism, and became a skillful mechanic; but, alas ! he also became a drunkard, and, for a number of years, spent much of his time in dissipation. On the 28th of October, 1846, he was married to Edith Martin of Clark county. He continued to divide his time between dissipation and labor, till about 1858, when he was arrested by the Holy Spirit, and brought penitently to the feet of Jesus. Finding peace in the Savior, he was baptized, and entered into the constitution of Waco church in Madison county, in the year last named. Shortly after his union with the church, he began to exercise a public gift, and, on the 25th of October, 1862, was ordained to the ministry, by Thornton I. Willis, Na- than Edmonson and J. J. Edwards.
Although now passed the meridian of life, he entered upon the duties of his sacred calling with great zeal and energy. About the first of October, 1866, he accepted an appointment from the board of the General Association, to labor as mission- ary in the mountain counties of Eastern Kentucky. In this position he labored twelve and a half years. His reports for
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about eleven years of this time show that he traveled over his mountainous field, 19,096 miles ; 2,603 sermons ; delivered 1, 139 exhortations ; made 1,323 religious visits ; witnessed 1, 109 additions to the churches ; baptized (in eight years) 861 ; constituted (with proper helps) ten churches ; organized 112 Sunday-schools, and distributed large quantities of religious lit- erature. He occupied the same field in which the famous J. J. Edwards was laboring, and his labors were the more valuable on account of his being an excellent organizer and disciplinarian.
In 1879, he left the missionary field, on account of failing health, and devoted the brief remainder of his days to the du- ties of the pastoral office. He served the churches at Crab Orchard in Lincoln county, Waco in Madison, Cow Creek in Estill, and perhaps others. He proved to be a good pastor. After lingering several months with paralysis, he died at his home near Waco, November 12, 1882.
CLEAR FORK ASSOCIATION.
The churches composing this body are located principally in Warren, Logan and Simpson counties. The Association was constituted, in 1860, of the following churches : Providence, Shady Grove, Pleasant Hill, New Gasper and Pleasant Prospect. These five churches aggregated 420 members. The preachers in the constitution were Brice Roberts and S. M. Shaw. In 1861, the following churches were added: Liberty, Strong Point, Friendship, Center and Moats Lick. With these five churches, there came into the fraternity five additional preach- ers, viz: Robert Woodward, J. H. Felts, J. J. Felts, Isaac Bar- row and G. B. Dunn. The Association now numbered ten churches, seven preachers, and 853 members. At its first anni- versary, the Association appointed a missionary board, consist- ing of Churchill H. Blakey, T. L. S. Proctor, S. M. Shaw, J. J. Felts and Allen Mansfield, expressed itself in favor of Sunday- schools, and advised the organization of a ministers and deacons' meeting.
Notwithstanding the confusion consequent upon the Civil War, the young fraternity prospered from the beginning. It
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earnestly advocated the use of the means of growth . but there was a marked want of liberality in its churches, especially dur- ing the first decade of its history. This deficiency was made up, however, by the zeal of its self-sacrificing preachers, who sup- plied the destitution within its bounds, almost gratuitously. It has done comparatively little in the Sunday-school enterprise. The report of the committee on Sunday-schools, in 1881, con- tains this language : "We are sorry to say that, as a body, we are doing nothing in this great work. But two or three churches report Sunday-schools." The body appears to have taken no interest in missions beyond its own bounds.
In 1880, the Association numbered twenty-nine churches with 2,479 members, and, in 1883, thirty churches with 2,447 members. During fifteen of the first twenty four years of its existence, there were baptized for the fellowship of its churches, 1,984 converts. Providence in Warren county, constituted in 1804, and Center in Logan, constituted in 1810, are the oldest churches in this fraternity.
ROBERT WOODWARD was born of Methodist parents, in Jessamine county, Ky., February 4, 1797. He was raised on a farm, and taught to read and write. In his twentieth year, he was married to Polly, daughter of David Spencer, and settled in his native county, where he followed the occupation of a far- mer. Not long after his marriage, he became greatly concerned for the salvation of his soul, and, for about three months, sought the Lord in daily secret prayer. At last he found peace in the Savior, and was baptized into the fellowship of Jessamine church by John Sacra. In December, 1825, he moved to Lo- gan county, and settled a few miles north of Auburn, where he spent the remainder of his long and useful life.
During the general revival of 1837, and the two years suc- ceeding, he became active in the prayer meeting exercises, and frequently exhorted sinners to repent and turn to God. This led to his being licensed to preach, in the spring of 1840, and he was ordained to the ministry, on the 29th of the following July, by O. H. Morrow and D. L. Mansfield. He was immediately called to succeed Philip Warden, as pastor of Liberty church, of which ne was a member. This position he occupied unin- terruptedly forty-three years. He was also pastor of Stony Point and Friendship churches, about twenty years, and of
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Pleasant Hill church, which he had gathered, about the same length of time. In all these congregations, he labored with good success and great harmony , and, although he was forty-three years old when he entered the ministry, he is supposed to have baptized more than 1,000 people, and to have married about the same number. At the ripe old age of eighty-six years, this faithful man of God was called to his reward above, August 14, 1883.
ISAAC BARROW was born in Pulaski county, Kentucky, Aug. 2, 1816. He moved to Logan county, in 1838, and settled near old Center church. Here he was "born again" in the fall of 1841, and baptized into the fellowship of Center church. After exercising as a licensed preacher a few years, he was ordained to the ministry Oct. 9, 1846. He possessed only moderate ability as a preacher ; but he was pious, and his humble gifts were consecrated. For about fifteen years he labored principally in that poor, hilly part of Logan county, commonly called the "Coon Range,". devoting a portion of his time to pastoral work, and engaging in many protracted meetings, especially in destitute churches and neighborhoods. In 1863, he was employed as missionary within the bounds of Clear Fork Association. In this position he labored about six years, seeking out the most destitute places in three or four counties ; and many heard the gospel for the first time, from the lips of this zealous and devoted servant of Christ. About 1878, he moved from Logan county and settled near Pilot Rock in Todd, where he continued to labor in the gospel the brief re- mainder of his days. He died of pneumonia, Jan. 5, 1883, leaving six children, five of whom were members of the Baptist church.
BRICE ROBERTS is among the oldest and most prominent ministers in Clear Fork Association. His home is in Simpson county, and he is a member of Shady Grove church, of which he was pastor many years. It is regretted that more particulars of his life and valuable labors have not been obtained.
MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION.
The churches of this Antimissionary fraternity are located
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principally in Wolf and Breathitt counties. The exact time of its constitution has not been ascertained. In 1860, it reported seven churches with 197 members. It had considerable increase from that time till 1874, when it numbered eighteen churches with 655 members. Since that date, its aggregate membership has remained about the same, although it has received several new churches. In 1879, it reported twenty-two churches, twelve of which aggregated 369 members, the other ten making no : report.
JOHN D. SPENCER is the most prominent minister in this fraternity. He has been judge of Wolf county court, has been preaching in that and the surrounding counties about forty-five years, and is a man of considerable influence, both as a citizen and a preacher.
CRITTENDEN ASSOCIATION.
The churches of this confederacy are located principally in Grant and Pendleton counties. The Association was constitu- ted at Crittenden meeting house in Grant county, October 12, 1860. The following churches, aggregating 403 members, en- 1
tered into the organization: Grassy Creek, Crittenden, Unity, Short Creek, Oak Ridge, Pleasant Ridge and Mt. Carmel. The body is missionary in sentiment, and endorses the general be- nevolent euterprises of the Association ; but it has been de- ficient in liberality. In 1865, a resolution in favor of Sunday- schools was adopted, and considerable progress has been made in that direction. In 1880, the committee on that subject re- ported Sunday-schools in all the churches but one ; that these schools were well attended, and moderately well organized ; but, that they were meagerly supplied with books and papers. At the same session, the subject of female representation came be- fore the body, and was disposed of by the unanimous adoption of the following preamble and resolution :
" Whercas, There seems to be a disposition upon the part of some churches to appoint sisters as delegates to the Associa- tion ; and,
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" Whereas, It seems that such is not the practice of Bap- tists ; therefore be it.
" Resolved, That none but brethren be appointed by the churches as messengers, in the future."
Sulphur Fork Association passed a similar resolution, not far from the same period.
The growth of Crittenden Association was moderate dur- ing its first decade, and has been quite rapid since that period. In 1870, it numbered 9 churches with 573 members ; in 1880, 15 churches with 1,307 members, and, in 1883, 15 churches with 1, 388 members. During 21 of the first 23 years of its ex- istence, there were baptized for the fellowship of its churches 1, 187 converts.
THOMAS LUMMIS was, perhaps, the oldest preacher in this Association. He was the oldest son of Reuben Lummis, and was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, October 21, 1805. In the 19th year of his age, he obtained hope in Christ, and was baptized into the fellowship of a church in Hamilton county, Ohio. In 1829, he was married to Evaline Smith of Pendleton county, Kentucky, and settled in Cincinnati. The next year, he moved to a farm on Grassy Creek in his native county, where he lived about 40 years. In May, 1839, Grassy Creek church licensed him to preach, and, four years later, he was ordained to the ministry by Christian Tomlin, Wm. Meyers and Amos Egleston. His education was limited, and he was timid and re- tiring in his disposition ; but he slowly developed a fair preach- ing gift, and his constant piety gave him a good influence over the people. He was pastor, at different times, of Grassy Creek, Harris Creek, Short Creek, Unity, Pleasant Ridge, Oakland and Three Forks of Bowman churches. He was industrious and self-sacrificing, and, in addition to his almost gratuitous pastoral labors, he preached much among the destitute. During the last year of his life, he suffered much from an enlargement of the neck. He was called to his final reward, February 9, 1881.
MARTIN LUMMIS, a younger brother of the above, and one of the most prominent and useful preachers in Crittenden As- sociation, was born in Campbell county, Kentucky, February, 1813. At the age of 16 years, he professed faith in the Savior, and was baptized into the fellowship of Wilmington church in what is now Kenton county, by Wm. Hume. He
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was licensed to preach, in September, 1842, and ordained, in March, 1848. Since his ordination, he has acceptably served many churches in Crittenden and the adjoining associations. He was moderator of his Association at its first session, and has presided over it at least ten years.
MARQUIS MONROE ARNOLD is one of the active ministers of this body. He was born in Hampshire county, Va., March 28, 1827, and came with his parents to Pendleton county, Ky., in 1831. At the time of his marriage to Elvira Williams, March 3, 1846, he could not read intelligently, or write his name. He was converted in 1853, and baptized by A. W. Mullins for the fellowship of Short Creek church in Pendleton county. After laboring as a licensed preacher about two years, he was or- dained to the pastoral care of Short Creek church, in May, 1861. Since his ordination, he has been pastor of about 20 churches, during longer or shorter periods. In 1881, he had baptized something over 600 persons.
CUMBERLAND RIVER ASSOCIATION, NO. 2.
This body originated in a split in the old Cumberland River confederacy. At the annual meeting of the latter, held at Liberty meeting house in Pulaski county, on the first Saturday in September, 1861, a motion was made to drop correspon- dence with certain missionary organizations. The motion was lost; upon which the Moderator, the venerable Richard Col- lier, arose and said : " We are a divided people." The majority retired to the house to organize, and the minority organized at the stand. Both parties retained the name, and claimed the prerogatives of the original fraternity.
The body now under consideration entered upon its min- utes the following explanation : "The reason why our num- bers have decreased is this : We declared unfellowship with the present plan of missionary efforts ; and a portion of our body saw proper to organize themselves together , and we organized as usual, having II churches and the regular old moderator with us, on the constitution. We were constituted 52 years ago.
The II churches of which the body was organized, most
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of which are located in Pulaski county, aggregated 683 mem- bers. The body is avowedly Antimissionary, in the commnon ac- ceptation of the term ; but claims that the churches have a right to send out ministers to preach the gospel, but not to promise them salaries. It does not differ in its doctrinal views from the Missionary Baptists ; but opposes all secret societies, and all religious organizations, except gospel churches. It belongs to that class of Baptists, commonly known, 40 years ago, as " Go- betweens." It has had a slight increase in numbers. When last heard from, in 1879, it numbered 13 churches with 886 mem- bers. During the past 18 years of its existence, from 1861 to 1879, there were baptized into the fellowship of its churches 728 professed believers.
RICHARD COLLIER was the most distinguished preacher in this fraternity, and was, for about 50 years, a very useful minister in old Cumberland River Association. He was born in East Tennessee, about the year 1783, and migrated to Pu- laski county, Kentucky, while a young man. Soon after his set- tling in Kentucky, he commenced exhorting, and was ordained to the ministry, at Mt. Pleasant church in Pulaski county, about 1811, by Elijah Barnes, and, probably Stephen Collier, who was his first cousin. He was a moderate preacher, but a zealous, faithful laborer ; and he did much in building up the early churches in Pulaski county. His popularity was evinced in his being chosen Moderator of Cumberland River Associa- tion, about 20 years. He was also Moderator of the body now under consideration, at its first session. He rested from his la- bors, in April, 1865.
REUBEN J. SHADOWEN was the most prominent preacher in this Association. After the death of Richard Collier whom he succeeded in the moderatorship, in 1862. This position he con- tinued to fill, as late as 1879. At that time he was quite old and feeble.
JACKSON ASSOCIATION.
This small fraternity was located principally in the county from which it derives its name. The churches of which it. was
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originally composed, appear to have previously belonged to South Fork Association, which was dissolved about 1861. Jackson Association was constituted about 1862. At first it corresponded with the neighboring associations; but, in 1868, it adopted a new constitution, and, passed the following reso- lution :
"Resoived, That we hold the hireling system and the Mis- sionary Board should not be fellowshiped by us."
The eleventh article of the new constitution reads thus. "We believe that the Lord's Supper and washing of saints' feet are ordinances of the Lord, and are to be continued by the church until his second coming." At this time it num- bered seven churches with 134 members. The next year it numbered twelve churches with 348 members. But from this time, it rapidly declined. In 1872, it reported only six churches with 166 members. No later information concern- ing it has been received. It has probably been dissolved."
HENDERSON COUNTY ASSOCIATION.
At the annual meeting of Little Bethel Association, held at Richland meeting house in Hopkins county, in 1868, the following churches were dismissed to enter into a new organiza- tion : Grave Creek, Bethel, Mt. Pleasant, Zion, Cherry Hill, Cash Creek, Henderson and Pleasant Valley. These eight churches aggregating 931 members, met, by their messengers, at Cash Creek meeting house in Henderson county, the same fall, and constituted the fraternity now under consideration, under the style of " Henderson County Association of Bap- tists." The name was derived from the county in which the churches are located. The new organization appointed a mis- sionary board, which at once inaugurated a system of home missions. Atits next session it urged upon the churches the importance of sustaining Sunday schools, and, in 1871, recom- mended the organization of a Sunday school convention, which was carried into effect.
This body has, from the beginning, not only expressed sympathy with, and contributed to the general benevolent insti-
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tutions of the denomination, but has also exhibited an enlight- ened zeal in the promotion of sound education and moral reform.
In 1873, it warned the members of the churches against sending their children to Roman Catholic schools, since such a course would result in many evils. These evils have been deplored, not only by this Association, but by all similar bodies whose members have come in contact with these institutions. These schools are usually taught by enthusiastic women, many of whom are themselves uneducated in everything but some light and frivolous accomplishments, and whose sole aim in life is to inculcate the pernicious superstitions of their church. The unfortunate girl who is placed under the instruction of such teachers, is not only deprived of all opportunities of obtaining a solid, practical education, but, what is far more deplorable, has her mind and heart perverted from the simplicity of truth and reality, to the indulgence of a dreamy, superstitious imagi- nation, and an extravagant estimate of insignificant trifles.
In 1874, the Association expressed its sentiments with regard to temperance reform, as follows ;
" Resolved, That, in the opinion of this body, the sale and use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage is injurious to the community, and a reproach to the cause of Christ, and should be discouraged and condemned by all Christian people." During the same session, it adopted a resolution against danc- ing or encouraging that evil, and warned the churches against agricultural fairs, inasmuch as those institutions had been "turn- ed into common race .courses."
The churches were also warned against the evils of lotteries.
This Association has enjoyed a slow, but steady and healthy increase. In 1878, it attained a membership of sixteen churches, aggregating 1,616 members ; but during the ensuing year, it sustained a loss of four churches with 426 members, by the formation of Union County Association, on the south-west- ern border of its territory. In 1880, it· numbered twelve churches with 1, 151 members. and, in 1883, ten churches with 1, 315 members. During the first fifteen years of its existence there were baptized for the fellowship of its churches, 1, 226 converts.
OLD CHURCHES. Grave Creek is the oldest church in this
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fraternity. It was constituted by Wm. Bourlin and Van Teague, near a small stream from which it derives its name, in what is now Webster county, in 1803. It was subsequently moved ten miles north to its present location in Henderson county. Soon after its constitution, it applied for admission into Cumberland Association : but its petition was rejected on account of some charges which were alleged against Van Teague. The Association advised the church to be reconsti- tuted, which was accomplished, in 1804, by Lewis Moore, and Jesse Brooks. 'The church then numbering about fifteen members, was received into Cumberland Association, and, on the division of that fraternity, in 1806, fell into Red River Association. Since 1811, it has belonged in turn, to Wabash, Highland, Little Bethel and Henderson County Associations. On the early records of the church are the names of Willing- ham, King, Spencer, Allison, Walden, Voris and Street. Its early pastors were Wm. Bourlin, John Weldon, Job Hobbs, John Dorris and Wm. Hatchett.
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