Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 86

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I > Part 86

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Rev. JOHN N. NORTON, D. D., already spoken of, is descended from two Virginia families, Norton and Nicholas, who removed to western New York some time after the Revolutionary war. He was quite a near relative of the late chancellor, S. S. Nicholas, of Louisville. Few men in the ministry have been more thoroughgoing or more extensively useful than Dr. N. He is the author of many books : A numerous series of small volumes entitled "Lives of the Bishops;" several volumes of very popular " Short Sermons," ". Full Proof of the Ministry;" " Life of Washington," etc., etc.

* Historical Sketches of Christ Church, Louisville, 1862, pp. 118, 128.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF THE

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

THE history of Methodism in Kentucky is replete with interest. It was organized in the district when there was scarcely a cabin outside of the forts in all its broad domain. Its standard-bearers were exposed to privations, suf- ferings, and dangers, the recital of which seem more like romantic stories than the sober realities of history. It was planted and nourished amid opposition and difficulties that brave hearts only could surmount. The extraordinary suc- cess that has attended it-growing up in eighty-five years from a single society of only a few members to a membership of nearly eighty thousand, with more than five hundred ministers (traveling and local), church edifices in nearly every community, schools and seminaries of learning in different portions of the state-its truths proclaimed in every neighborhood, carrying the tidings of a Redeemer's love, with equal celerity, to the homes of the rich and the cottages of the poor-it is invested with an importance at once attractive and com- manding.

In 1786 the name of Kentucky appears for the first time in the General Min- utes of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Kentucky circuit embraced the entire district, now known as the state of Kentucky. To this field of minis- terial labor James Haw and Benjamin Ogden were appointed, as the first regu- lar itinerant preachers, in May of that year, although it was late in the summer before they reached Kentucky. They had been preceded by a few local preachers, among whom Francis Clark stands preeminent as the founder of Methodism in Kentucky. As early as 1783 Mr. Ciark. accompanied by John Durham, a class-leader, and others of his neighbors; with their families, left Virginia and settled in Mercer county. He immediately organized a class, the first in the far West, about six miles from where Danville now stands. Mr. Durham was appointed leader of this class.

Methodist families had also settled in other portions of the district. Among the first was that of Thomas Stevenson, who, with his wife-among the first converts to Methodism on the American continent-had emigrated from Mary- land and settled in Mason county, two and half miles southwest of Washington. In their house a church was organized in 1786.

It was at no small cost the gospel of Christ was preached to the early settlers. The lives of the preachers were in constant danger from the Indians. Some- times they were guarded from one fort to another, but oftener plodded their perilous way alone.

The conference minutes of 1787 show a membership in Kentucky, of 90 whites, colored none. In 1787 James Haw was returned to Kentucky, with Thomas Wil- liamson and Wilson Lee as his colleagues. At the close of this year the mem- bership was 420 white and 60 colored. In 1788 two circuits, called Lexington and Danville, were formed from or in place of Kentucky cireuit. Francis Poy- thress and James Haw were sent as elders, and Thomas Williamson, Peter Massie, and Benjamin Snelling to Lexington, and Wilson Lee to Danville cir- cuit. The membership, at the close of this year. had increased to 812 white and 51 colored. In 1789 Mr. Poythress was the presiding elder, while James Haw, Wilson Lee, and Stephen Brooks were assigned to the Lexington, and Barnabas McHenry and Peter Massie to the Danville circuit.

During this year the labors of the preachers were attended with extraordinary success. The experience of Poythress and Haw, the sound and logical preach- ing of McHenry, the persuasive eloquence of Wilson Lee, and of Brooks, with the holy zeal, the pathos, and the tears of Peter Massie, together with the ear- nestness of James O'Cull, a local preacher of remarkable talents, who had just emigrated from Pennsylvania, had, under the blessing of Heaven, invested

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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE

Methodism with a commanding influence. At the close of the year 1039 white and 51 colored members were reported-a net increase of 227.

In the spring of 1790 Bishop Asbury visited Kentucky, where for the first time an annual conference was held. He was accompanied by Richard What- coat-afterward elected bishop-and also by Hope Hull and John Leawell, men well known in those days as ardent, zealous, and useful preachers. The conference was held, commencing on the 15th of May, at Masterson's station, - five miles northwest of Lexington, where the first Methodist church in Ken- tucky-a plain log structure-was erected. This house is still standing (1871).

A volunteer company-Rev. Peter Massie, John Clark, and eight others- guarded the bishop from Virginia. On the seventh day of the journey they reached Richmond, and on the tenth, Lexington. Bishop Asbury, alluding to this journey, says: "I was strangely outdone for want of sleep. Our way is over mountains, steep hills, deep rivers, and mnddy creeks-a thick growth of reeds for miles together, and no inhabitants but wild beasts and savage men. I slept about an hour the first night, and about two the last. We ate no reg- ular meals; our bread grew short, and I was much spent." On his way he "saw the graves of the slain-twenty-four in one camp" -- who had, a few nights previous, been murdered by the Indians.

The conference was composed of six members, namely, Francis Poythress, James Haw, Wilson Lee, Stephen Brooks, Barnabas McHenry, and Peter Mas- sie. Three elders were ordained, preaching had, noon and night, souls were converted, and the fallen restored. A plan was fixed for a school, called Bethel, and £300 in land and money subscribed toward its establishment.

The conference lasted but two days. On Monday, the 17th, Bishop Asbury preached, ten miles from Lexington, to a large number of people, with great power. "The house was crowded, day and night, and often the floor was covered with the slain of the Lord, and the house and the woods resounded with the shouts of the converted." Thus the visit of the bishop-the first bishop, of any denomination, ever in Kentucky-was greatly blessed. and a fresh impulse given to the infant church in Kentucky. Remarkable as was his career-born in England, converted when quite a youth, holding public meetings at seventeen, preaching before he was eighteen, appointed by Mr. Wesley to America at the age of twenty-six, and at the Christmas conference in Baltimore, in 1784, unanimously elected bishop-there was a singular fitness in his being the pioneer bishop of the pioneer state, sent to organize the pio- neer conference. The conference was an humble one, and small in the begin- ning-only six preachers-but these ministers were destined to go forth as the heralds of the cross, shedding the mellow light of Christianity, and spreading the triumphs of the gospel through every settlement of the state, winning many trophies to the Redeemer from the ranks of sin. It was their mission to lay deep and wide the foundations of a system whose teachings should bless the nations; to plant here, upon virgin soil, the evergreen tree of Christianity -which, though the storms of opposition should gather around it and the lightnings of persecution play upon it, should continue to grow until its boughs should spread over every hill-top and upon every vale-offering a shel- ter to the weary and way-worn pilgrim on his journey to the grave.

Two additional circuits in Kentucky, the Limestone and Madison, were added this year, and nine preachers, instead of six, appointed-among them, for the first time, Henry Birchett, David Haggard, Samuel Tucker, and Joseph Lil- lard. At the close of this year were reported 1459 white and 94 colored mem- bers-a net increase of 463. Cumberland circuit was really a part of Ken- tucky district, but is not included here because located mainly in northern and middle Tennessee.

Up to this period, in addition to the local preachers mentioned, thirteen itinerants had been appointed to this dangerous and remote field. A deep interest will ever be felt in the history of the noble men who sacrificed so much, and labored so untiringly to plant Methodismn in the West. The briefest outline of their lives and labors can only be given in this sketch.

JAMES HAW, in 1781, was the junior preacher in the Isle of Wight; and afterwards traveled the South Branch, Amelia, Bedford, and Brunswick cir

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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

cuits, all in Virginia. He spent five years in the itinerant ministry in Ken- tucky-in 1786 and 1787, as superintendent of the Kentucky district, and also in 1788, but conjointly with Francis Poythress. In 1789 he was in charge of the Lexington circuit, and in 1790 was transferred to the Cumberland cir- cuit in Tennessee. At the close of this year's labor his name appears, with eight others, in answer to the question, "Who are under a location through weakness of body or family concerns?" He settled in Sumner county, Ten- nessee, where he preached as a local preacher until 1795, when he became dissatisfied and joined the O'Kelly branch of Methodists (who, in 1792, had separated from the Methodist Episcopal Church on the subject of episcopacy and the elective franchise). In 1800 he attached himself to the Presbyterian church, and continued to preach for several years -- dying, as he had lived, a. Christian.

BENJAMIN OGDEN was born in New Jersey in 1764, and when quite a young man was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He embraced religion in 1784, at the age of twenty, and in 1786 was admitted on trial as a traveling preacher and appointed to the wilderness of Kentucky. In 1787 he was on the Cum- berland circuit-the first preacher to carry the gospel message to Middle Ten- nessee. But his excessive labors and the exposure of pioneer preacher-life so impaired his health that Bishop Asbury solicited his return to Virginia, and placed him on the Brunswick circuit, in 1788. But here again he was at- tacked with disease of the lungs, and prostrated-compelling his retirement from the effective ranks. In 1790 he was ordained a deacon, and the same year was an active local preacher in Frederick county, Virginia; and soon after, in the same capacity, returned to Kentucky. A misunderstanding, a few years later, with the presiding elder, Francis Poythress, led to the severing of his connection with the church, but beyond this, seems not to have affected his living "in the fear of the Lord;" with emotions of pleasure he contemplated and prayed for the prosperity of the cause of God. In 1816 he applied to the Tennessee conference for readmission, and was appointed to the Henderson cir- cuit; but his health gave way, and at the close of the year he retired for some years. In 1824, again a member of the Kentucky conference, he was as- signed to the Tennessee mission, and during the next two years to the Chris- tian and the Yellow Banks circuits, where he labored faithfully and with success. At the conference of 1827 he was placed on the superannuated roll, on which he remained until he "fought his last battle." It had been his often expressed wish to die in the effective ministry; and although this priv- ilege was denied him, yet during the few years that immediately preceded his death, he labored far beyond his strength. " I wish to die," said he, "having the whole armor on. contending like a good soldier for the prize." IIe died of dyspepsia, Nov. 20, 1834, at the residence of his son, near Princeton, Ky. A Christian of the highest type, his last moments were full of calmness and hope.

THOMAS WILLIAMSON was admitted on trial in 1785, and traveled the Yadkin and Salisbury circuits in North Carolina. In 1787 he was in charge of Ken- tucky circuit; in 1788, of Danville, and in 1789, of Cumberland circuit- returning, in 1790, to the Danville circuit for two years; after which, having "literally worn himself out in traveling and preaching," he asked for a loca- tion. He died near Lexington, in great peace. He was a good man, and a very excellent and successful preacher.

WILSON LEE was born in Sussex county, Delaware, November, 1761, and admitted into the traveling connection in 1784. He was sent out to labor in Kentucky in 1787, and continued to labor in the different appointments as- signed him, as a man of God esteemed very highly, for his work's sake, until 1792. From that conference he was transferred to the east, where he con- tinued to labor until he finished his course, by the rupture of a blood vessel, in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, October 11, 1804. Wilson Lee was a preacher of no ordinary acceptability, correct in the economy of himself and others. As an elder and presiding elder he showed himself a workman that

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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE

needed not to be ashamed. Professing the sanctifying grace of God, he carried about him the air and port of one who had communion with heaven; his life and conversation illustrated the religion he professed. He hazarded his life upon all the frontier stations he filled, from the Monongahela to the Cumber- land river, all through Kentucky. He had to ride from station to station, and from fort to fort, sometimes with, and sometimes without a guide.

FRANCIS POYTHRESS became identified with the infant church in Kentucky in 1788, having begun his career as an itinerant in 1775, and labored continuously in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, in the years 1786-7, as a presiding elder. In this capacity he had charge of the Kentucky district for ten consecutive years, contributing probably more than any other minister to the struggling cause. In 1798 his appointment was to a district embracing parts of Virginia and Tennessee; in 1799, again he led the hosts in Kentucky ; while in 1800, he was put in charge of a district, of fifteen circuits, in North Carolina, a field too great for his strength. He returned to Kentucky, but not to his labors in the ministry. Twenty-four years of such labor as he had undergone was too much for mortal strength. His bodily health was prostrated, and his mind shattered and deranged. After 1802 his name dis- appeared from the roll of elders and ministers. The last years of his life were spent at his sister's, Mrs. Susanna Pryor, twelve miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, where in 1818 he closed his earthly pilgrimage.

PETER MASSIE, of all the itinerant preachers identified with the fortunes of Methodism in Kentucky, was the first who died, as he was the first man con- verted in the State who became an itinerant. He was among the fruits of the revival of 1786. In 1788 he entered the conference, and traveled successively the Lexington, Danville, Cumberland, and Limestone districts. He was a very pathetic preacher, and was eminently useful. His talents were fair, his personal appearance attractive, his voice soft and plaintive. He was a good singer, fascinating in his address, and remarkable for his zeal. His death occurred on the 19th of December, 1791, at the house of Mr. Hodges, four miles west of Nashville, Tennessee, whither he had gone on a visit, having traveled the Cumberland circuit the previous year. During the night before his death he suffered considerably, but in the morning took his place at the table. Expressing a wish to visit other friends, Mr. Hodges suggested to him that he would soon be able to travel. To which he replied: " If I am not well enough to travel I am happy enough to die." These were his last words. In a few moments he fell from his seat, and suddenly expired. He was buried by a negro boy who had escaped the evening before from the Indians, but who had been converted previously under the preaching of Mr. Massie (Mr. Hodges being too ill to assist in the interment). His coffin was simply rude ash slabs, split for the purpose.

BENJAMIN SNELLING entered the conference in 1788, traveled one year on the Lexington circuit, but the second year on the Fairfax circuit, Virginia. After one year he returned to Kentucky, and was appointed to the Madison circuit. His name the next year disappears from the minutes, probably by location. He settled in Bath county, where he died in 1856.

STEPHEN BROOKS was admitted on trial in 1789, and appointed to the Lex- ington circuit with James Haw and Wilson Lee, and the next year on the Danville circuit, laboring with zeal and energy. In 1792 he was appointed to Sevier circuit, East Tennessee; and in 1793 located in East Tennessee. In 1796 he was a member of the convention that framed the Constitution of the State of Tennessee. As a gentleman, he is represented as courteous and affable ; as a Christian, a perfect model; as a minister of Christ, of the first order of talents. Of him a gentleman once said: "If he had to hear but one sermon before dying, he would choose Stephen Brooks to preach it."

JOSEPH LILLARD was born in Virginia and came to Kentucky when quite young. He entered the itinerant ministry in 1790, and was appointed to the

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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Limestone circuit. His next and (as a result of ill health) last appointment was to the Salt River circuit. He located, and then settled near Harrodsburg, and lived to a good old age. In his local relations to the church, although as a preacher, unpretending, yet, by the sanctity of his life, and devotion to the church, he was very useful. He died about 1853, while on his way to Mis- souri. It is not known when, where, or how he died. His friends think he was murdered.

BARNABAS MCHENRY was born December 6, 1767, in North Carolina, but raised in Virginia; joined the Methodist Church at fifteen, and at nineteen entered on his itinerant career on the Yadkin circuit, North Carolina. In 1788 he was in Kentucky, on the Lexington circuit, and in 1789 on the Dan-" ville circuit, with Peter Massie for colleague. During the next three years he traveled the Madison, Cumberland, and Salt River circuits; and spent the next two years in East Tennessee and Virginia. At the conference of 1795, he located. He had previously married Miss Sarah, daughter of Col. John Hardin, an accomplished and pious lady. He taught school for two years in Frankfort, and for one year, each, in Danville and Richmond; afterward removing to his farm, four miles south-east of Springfield, Washington county, where he remained most of the time until his death. While sustaining the local relation, he devoted much time to preaching the gospel. In 1818 he re-entered the conference, and was appointed to the Salt River district. In 1821 he had charge of the Bardstown and Springfield station; but in 1822, because of broken health, was placed finally on the superannuated list. He died of cholera, June 15, 1833. Mrs. McHenry, assuring all of confidence in God, and that she felt sustained by his grace, died a few hours after him, and husband and wife rest together in the same grave. The next day, Sab- bath, the 16th, a daughter and grand-daughter fell victims to the same destroyer, and a common grave received their uncoffined forms, laid there by kindred hands, to be followed by yet another victim, the youngest daughter, only three days after. What a dispensation of events in a single family in less than one short week! But to the anguish of that terrible death-scene succeeded "the rest that remains for the people of God." The intellectual piety of Mr. McHenry, added to his purity and zeal, had made him famous, popular, and useful. "In the early days of the Commonwealth, no country was so dis- tinguished for young professional men as Kentucky. Rowan, Daveiss, Pope, Allen, and many others, were among the foremost young men at the bar in America. In the ministry, also, were young men of marked ability, among whom Barnabas MeHenry occupied a prominent place. On one occasion, in 1819, the young lawyers named were going from Louisville, where they had been in attendance at the Quarter Session Court, to Bardstown, and stopped at a small tavern midway between the two places where they found Mr. McHenry, who had also stopped to spend the night. Full of genius and humor, although familiar with the reputation and with a deep reverence for the piety of the young preacher, they ventured too far over the line of solemn respect in their sportive talk on the subject of religion. To this he made no reply. When the time for repose had come, the landlord, as was always the habit in that country, placed before the young preacher the Bible, and politely invited him to lead the devotions of the evening. He read a chapter, and they all knelt in prayer. After a most ardent and impressive presentment of the company to the mercy of the Creator, he uttered, in the sweetest, kindest voice, for which he was remarkable, 'O Lord, thou hast heard the conversation to-night; pardon its folly.' The young lawyers arose from their knees, and retired with silent respect. Each felt the rebuke, and wished to let the preacher see that he felt it. The next morning they greeted him with a cordial shake of the hand, and an expression of demeanor that said plainly: 'We honor you and your religion.' 'The preacher and the lawyers were firm friends all their lives."

HENRY BIRCHETT entered the itinerant ministry in 1788. He was a Vir- ginian by birth. The wants of the Church in Kentucky required ministerial help, and he cheerfully volunteered for this distant and dangerous field. In the circuits he traveled he was eminently useful and remarkably popular. He I ... 29

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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE

was regarded an excellent preacher, while his zeal scarcely knew any bounds. He looked on the children as the future hope of the Church, and in their moral and religious instruction took the deepest interest. He formed the children into classes, sang and prayed with them, catechised them, and ex- horted them. For many years after he had "entered into rest," his memory was green and his name fragrant among the young people.

DAVID HAGGARD accompanied Mr. Birchett into Kentucky, and for two years, 1790-91, was a faithful, acceptable, and useful preacher on the Lex- ington circuit. His previous labors, and those for several years subsequent, were in Virginia and North Carolina. He became connected with the O Kelly schism; and afterward with the New Lights, and died in their communion.

SAMUEL TUCKER, in 1790, was appointed to the Limestone circuit, but on his way down the Ohio river, at or near the mouth of Brush creek, the boat was attacked by Indians, and the crew all killed except Mr. Tucker, who was mortally wounded. With extraordinary coolness he defended the boat to the last, and reached Limestone (Maysville) alive, but soon died of his wounds. His remains now lie in the cemetery at Maysville, with no stone to mark his grave. A local preacher, named TUCKER, was murdered by Indians near Greensburg, Kentucky, about the same time.

We have thus presented a brief outline of the first thirteen itinerant preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Kentucky. These sketches are too short to give more than a faint conception of the characters of these noble men, together with the dangers they incurred, and the sacrifices they met, to plant Christianity in the uncultivated West.

BENJAMIN NORTHCOTT was admitted on trial at the second conference that was held in Kentucky, at Masterson's station, May 1st, 1792, and appointed that year to Lexington circuit. In 1793 he was sent to Limestone circuit. This year he married and settled in the neighborhood of Flemingsburg, where he long lived- a preacher of holiness-illustrating the same in life.

WILLIAM BURKE was born in Loudon county, Va., on the 13th of January, 1770, and was received into the traveling connection in 1791, at MeKnight's, on Tar river, North Carolina, and appointed to West New river, in Virginia. Met again in conference in the next year in the rich valley of Holstein, near the salt works, on the 15th May, and appointed to Green circ it, in the Western Territory (now East Tenn.). Met again in conference at Nelson's on the 13th of April, 1793, at which conference he volunteered for Kentucky, came out and attended the conference held at Masterson's station on the 6th of May, 1793, and was appointed that year to Danville circuit. Met again in conference at Bethel Academy, in Jessamine county, on the 15th of April, 1794, and appointed to Hinkston circuit. During the year traveled Hinkston, Salt river, and Lexington. As a faithful, effective, and labo- rious itinerant, William Burke continued to travel various circuits and districts in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ohio, until 1808, when he was changed from effective to a supernumerary relation, and appointed to Lexington circuit. In 1809 he was appointed to the Green river district, and continued in that extensive and laborions work, until conference met in Cincinnati, October 1st, 1811, when he was appointed to the Miami circuit, including Cincinnati. In '1812, from the conference which met that year in Chillicothe, he was appointed to Cincinnati station. the first station west of the mountains. In the fulfilling of that work, he lost his voice entirely, and was placed in a supernumerary relation for several years. He then superannuated. which relation he sustained to the Kentucky conference. As a preacher, William Burke stood among the first in his day. Possessing a cultivated and accurate memory, he stored it richly with Bible truths, and joining with his biblical knowledge a deep acquaintance with human nature, he was enabled to adapt his sermons to the varied characters of his hearers ; nor did he fail, whenever a fit occasion offered, to rebuke sin boldly in high places. Possessing a large, muscular frame, he had a great deal of native physical courage, and this, added to high moral purpose, made him one of the

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 86

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452