USA > Tennessee > History of middle Tennessee Baptists : with special reference to Salem, New Salem, Enon and Wiseman associations > Part 33
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ELDER W. M. S. WILKS, Enon College, Sumner County, Tenn. He is of English and Irish descent. He is above an average in height and size. He is in- clined to be fleshy, with fair complexion. He is the son of John and Nancy T. (Horseley) Wilks. He was born ten miles east of Gallatin, in Sumner County, Tenn., July 12, 1850. He was brought up on a farm. He made profession at old Hopewell Church, in Sum- ner County, Tenn., on Wednesday, after the fourth Sunday in October, 1864, and two days later he united with said church and was baptized by Elder Jonathan Wiseman. He was ordained by Hopewell Church in May, 1881, by Elders A. H. Rather, J. F. Lambert, J. P. Gilliam and J. S. Pardue, with Deacons J. G. Pardue, P. S. Harris, J. G. Hawkins and J. W. Jones. He has been pastor as follows (dates approximated) : Corinth, Macon County, 1884; Pleasant Grove, 1884- 87; Hopewell, 1887 to the present, 1902; Pleasant Valley, 1888-91 ; Corum Hill, 1888-91; Mt. Olivet, Trousdale County, 1888-91 ; Siloam, 1889-92; Harts-
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ville, 1889; Hillsdale, 1891-1901; Friendship, 1893- 99; Defeated Creek, 1896-99; Rocky Valley, Wilson County, 1899-1901 ; Galla- tin, 1901; Knob Spring, 1901 to the present, 1902. He was educated in com- mon country schools. He has assisted in the consti- tution of two churches. He has no record of bap- tisms and marriages, but has been very active along these lines. He was mar- ried to Miss Nettie Gib- son, October 25, 1868, by whom he has eleven chil- dren-nine living and two dead.
ELDER J. W. CUNNING- ELDER W. M. S. WILKS. HAM, Marcelena, Wilson County, Texas. He is of Scotch descent. He is
He rather tall and slender, with dark complexion. is the son of James M. and Elizie E. Cunningham. Hr was born in Rhea County, Tennessee, February 18, 1847. He was brought up on the farm and in a tan yard. He professed faith in Christ at Dayton, Tenn., August 23, 1860, and united with Union Church, Sequatchie County, Tennessee, fourth Sat- urday in July, 1865, and was baptized by Elder T. King, in Sequatchie River, on the next day. He was ordained by Union Church January 22, 1870, by Elders T. King, James Hale, J. H. Alexander and T. L. Rodgers. He has been pastor as follows: Rob- inson Springs, Tenn., 1870-71 ; Shell's Ford, Warren
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County, Tenn., 1871-75; Hebron, 1872-75; McMinn- ville, 1875-76; Spring Hill, 1876-77 ; Macedonia, 1876- 77; Liberty, 1876-78; Pleasant Hill, White County, 1877-88; Pistole's 1877-78; Cookeville, Putnam County, 1878-79; Evangelist, 1879; Yellow Creek, Washington, Mt. Zion and Rody Station, East Ten- nessee, 1879-80; General Evangelist, 1882-83; Deca- tur and Kingston, East Tennessee, 1883-84, when he
ELDER J. W. CUNNINGHAM.
moved to Texas; Cedar Creek, Texas, 1884-86; Mof- fat, 1884-85; Mountain Springs, 1884-85; Oennaville, 1885-87; Postoak Grove, 1885-88; Bartlett, 1886-88; Devilla, 1886-88; Corn Hill, 1886-88; State mission- ary, 1888-96; Devine, 1896-1900; Francisco, 1896- 1900; Elm Creek, 1896-98; Benton City, 1896-1901 ; Gate's Valley, 1899-1901 ; Bexar, 1899-1901; Mar-
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celena, 1901 to the present. He was educated at Ma- sonic M. and F. Institute, in Sequatchie County, Tennessee. He was associate editor for three years of the Missionary Messenger, Lampassas, Texas. He has constituted seventeen churches. He has baptized 1,432 persons and married about 200 couples. He was married to Miss S. M. Elliott, at Dunlap, Tenn., Sep- tember 24, 1865, by whom he has eight children- three sons and five daughters. She passed to her reward August 7, 1888: He was again married, to Miss L. R. Epperson, at Pendletonville, Texas, January, 22, 1890, by whom he has six children, equally divided. He has fourteen children in all, twelve of whom are still living.
ELDER STEPHEN R. G. HAWKINS, Westmoreland, Tenn. He is of English descent. He is the son of Robert and Sarah F. Hawkins. He was born in Macon County, Tennessee, October 30, 1826. He was brought up on a farm. He made profession at Siloam Baptist Church, Macon County, October 12, 1842; united with said church in November of the same date, and was baptized by Elder Jonathan Wiseman in De- cember, 1842. He was ordained by Independence Church, Sumner County, Tenn., in November, 1883, by Elders A. H. Rather, W. R. Minick and R. H. Piland, with Deacon J. A. Hanner. He has been pastor of Chestnut Grove one year. He has married twenty-two couples. He was married to M. A. Roberson in 1853. She died March 11, 1885. He was again mar- ried, to Rebecca Stinson, February 18, 1886. Nine children have been born unto him.
ELDER T. J. HAM, Scottsville, Allen County, Ky. He is of English descent. He is tall, medium size,
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with fair complexion. He is the son of Elder Mordecai Fowler and Elizabeth (Dearing) Ham. He was born four miles north of Scottsville, Allen County, Ky., August 16, 1847. He was brought up on the farm. He made profession at Harrison School- house, Allen County, Ky., in 1866, united with Tram- mel's Fork Church in 1870, and was baptized by Elder Mordecai F. Ham, Sr. He was ordained February 4, 1876, by Elders M. F. Ham, Sr., Younger Wither- spoon and W. W. Durham. He has been pastor as follows: Drake's Creek, Warren County, Ky., New Bethel, Mt. Gilead, Big Spring and Liberty, Allen County (he has served the latter eighteen years) ; Hillsdale and Pleasant Hill, Tenn .; Salem, Simpson County, Ky. ; Oak Forest, White Stone Quarry, Green Wood, Barren River, Bay's Fork and Old Union, Warren County, Ky. He was educated in district schools and Bethel College, Russellville, Ky. He has constituted five churches. He has baptized 1,500 and married about 800 couples. He was married to Ollie L. McElroy, December, 1869, by whom he has five children. One is the noted young minister, Elder Mordecai F. Ham, Jr., who has been ordained only five months and has had about 700 conversions in this time and baptized 500 converts into Baptist churches.
ELDER JOHN HARPER, Jr., Gallatin, Sumner County, Tenn. He is of Scotch descent. He is low and heavy of build, with dark complexion. He is the son of Elder John Harper, Sr. He was born about 1835, in Smith County, Tennessee. He was brought up on the farm. He made profession and united with Plunkett's Creek Church, 1860 A. D., and was bap-
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tized by Elder J. C. Brien. He was ordained by said church, but date not known. We have no data of his pastoral work. Among the places he was pastor we note Plunkett's Creek, Hogan's Creek and Rome. He has raised a large family of children.
ELDER A. E. JOHNSON, Lebanon, Wilson County, Tenn. He is a Swede in descent. He is medium height and size, a little inclined to dark complexion. He is the son of Matthias and Sarah (Hickman) Johnson. He was born near Lebanon, Wilson County, Tenn., December 3, 1849: He was brought up on the farm. He made profession at Barton's Creek Church in the fall of 1868. He united with said church and was baptized by Elder William Barton. He was or- dained by Barton's Creek Church the third Sunday in January, 1876, by Elders Lewis Lindsley and William Barton. Among the points he has served as pastor we note the following : Barton's Creek, Athens, Glade- ville and Knob Spring. He also spent a time in the State of Illinois. He was principally educated in the State of Illinois, taking the Theological course in Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn. He has baptized and married quite a number, but has kept no record. He was first married to Melissa N. Lain, April 12, 1877. This union was blessed with three children, all boys. She went to her reward August 13, 1885. He was married a second time, to Miss Sue Smith Oldham, January II, 1886. This is blessed with a son and a daughter. She died October 31, 1890. He was again married, to Miss Orlena Owen, May 31, 1891. He has no children by this last mar- riage.
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DEACON J. M. WILLIAMS, Union Camp, Macon County, Tenn. This brother is what might be termed a kind of lay-preacher. Few men, even among the ministers, travel more, attend more public meetings, and do more denominational work than he. He is of Welsh, Irish and English descent. He is medium height and size, with dark complexion. He is the son of Richard and Sarah (Owen) Williams. He was born in Macon County, Tennessee, November 24, 1845. He was raised on the farm, and at the age of eleven years, November, 1856, he gave his heart to God under the ministry of Elder L. A. Smith- wick. He was at once baptized into the fellowship of Union Church. His public career did not begin until after the Civil War. He was elected clerk of the second section of Enon Association in 1867, which position he filled for twenty-one years. He was made a member of the Executive Board of Enon Associa- tion in 1872, and still serves in that capacity. He was secretary of the board for twenty-five years and is now chairman of the board. He has written, taken and given thousands of receipts for mission money, visited destitute sections, and wept and prayed with missionaries. He is also clerk of Enon Association. He completed a good English education in Lafayette Academy, and, for about twenty years, taught school five months in the year. He was married to Miss Sarah L. Tuck, in 1869, by whom he has thirteen chil- dren, eleven of whom are still living. He has brought this author under many obligations by leaving his home and collecting material for this work. He is never too busy to serve the Lord and his brethren. He was made deacon of Union Church in 1870. He is one of those deacons who sees to it that good discip-
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line is maintained in his church. He has written a great deal for the press.
DEACON GUS FUQUA, Pryor, Macon County, Tenn. He is the son of Caleb Fuqua and was born near Lib- erty, Bedford County, Va., March 4, 1844. His father emigrated from Virginia to Macon County, Tennes- see, in November, 1845, when the subject of this sketch was yet an infant. He grew up among the hills of Goose Creek, where he still resides. He gave his heart to God and was baptized into the fellowship of New Harmony Church the second Sunday in Novem- ber, 1869. Few men do more denominational work in their section. The public meetings of his Asso- ciation never seem complete without him. While not a preacher, yet he is always counted among the preachers. He was made deacon of his church in May, 1880. He was made clerk in February, 1870, serving until 1882, when he resigned. He was called back to this position in 1897 and still serves. He has missed very few Associations for the last thirty years. He has assisted in the ordination of a number of min- isters and deacons, and also in the constitution of two new churches. He was one of the leading fac- tors in the constitution of Wiseman Association, in 1891. He was at once made a member of the Execu- tive Board of Wiseman Association and is still serv- ing in that capacity. He is a close reader of our de- nominational papers and keeps abreast with what is going on. He is a strong Landmark Baptist and never hesitates to measure swords with the advocates of error. He is a great lover of the fifth Sunday meet- ings and delights in the discussions. He put him- self to a great deal of trouble to assist this author in
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collecting material for this work. He was first mar- ried to Elizabeth A. Adams, May 28, 1865, by whom he had six sons born. She fell on sleep July 23, 1889. He was again married, to Sarah E. Norman, a widow with three children. He has done considerable writ- ing for the press.
ELDER A. J. BRANDON, Christiana, Rutherford County, Tenn. He is of English-Dutch descent. He is tall, medium size, with dark complexion. He is the son of James Armstrong and Sarah (Tenpenny) Brandon. He was born two and one-half miles north of Woodbury, Cannon County, Tenn., September 5, 1829. He was brought up on the farm. He made profession at Brawley's Fork (now Marion) Church, at Cateston, Cannon County, Tenn. He united with said church in May, 1847, and was baptized by Elder J. M. D. Cates. He was ordained by the order of the same church in November 3, 1852, by Elders Jos. H. Eaton and J. M. D. Cates. He was educated at Ma- rion Collegiate Institute, at Cateston, Cannon County, Tenn. He has been pastor as follows: Marion, two years; Hogan's Creek, three years; Prosperity, six years ; Auburn, four years; Mt. Olivet (Leeville), eleven years ; Rutland, five years ; Little Cedar Lick, two years; Laguardo, one year; Eagleville, three years ; Rover, seven years; Bethany, two years; New Hope, at different times; Palestine, ten years ; Anti- och, two years; Liberty Gap, two years; Powell's Chapel, two years; Salem, Wilson County, two years ; Winchester, one year ; Tullahoma, three years; Fair- field, two years; El Bethel, one year; Mt. Hermon, two years; Mars Hill, one year; Rocky Valley, fif- teen years; Fellowship, five years; Barren Fork, one
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year ; Hale's Chapel, three years. He has organized six churches, baptized about 2,000 people and mar- ried about 200 couples. He was married to Melissa Palestine Lowe, January 25, 1866, by whom he has one son, Professor Alfred Joseph Brandon, President of Tullahoma College. He has reared a number of or- phan children. He has baptized six who became preachers. Among them is Elder T. J. Eastes. He is now seventy-two years old. For forty-two years he was continuously in the pastorate, never being without a charge during the time. He now preaches occa- sionally, but never fails to attend services at his home church. Notwithstanding his advanced age, he adds. "I am now strong in body and faith."
ELDER J. J. PORTER, Mexico, Mo. He is of Scotch descent. He is tall (stands erect six feet and four inches), medium size and of fair complexion. He is the son of Elder William Lee and Henrietta Raborn Porter. He is one of ten children and has two brothers who are Baptist preachers. He was born at Cain Town, Pulaski County, Ky., December 4, 1855. He was reared on a 500-acre farm. He made profession at Hopewell Church at the age of fourteen. He united with Fall Branch Church and was baptized by Elder J. A. Lay. He later united with Mt. Pisgah Church, where he was ordained at the age of nineteen, by Elders J. J. Cooper, C. J. Harris and William Rex- road. At this time his education was limited, having only attended public schools. He now entered school, attending High Schools at Mill Springs, Bramlett Seminary, Albany, and finally Bethel College, where he took the degree of A.M. During this time he did considerable evangelistic work and supplied some
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country churches. He also took a two-years' course of study in Hebrew and Syriac under Professor Bal- lard. He has been pastor as follows: Albany, Kv., two years; Green Wood, White County, Tenn., two years ; Smithville, DeKalb County, two years; Leba- non, Wilson County, two years; Shop Spring, one year ; general missionary for Tennessee, three years ; Owenton, Ky., five years ; Jerseyville, Ill., eight years. His present pastorate is Mexico, Mo. He has been in this field two and one-half years. In addition to this, he has done a great deal of evangelistic work, and is perhaps one of the most successful evangelists in the country. He has held meetings extensively in Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, In- diana, Illinois, Kansas and Missouri. He has wit- nessed in these meetings 17,046 conversions. Fifty- four young men who are known to have been con- verted in meetings which he conducted are now preaching the gospel. He has baptized 5,638 persons and constituted twenty-three churches. (A wonder- ful record.) He does not shrink to defend the faith, thus demonstrating that one does not have to sacrifice the doctrines to be an evangelist. He has held de- bates with such men as J. S. Sweeney, Jacob Ditzler and J. R. Charlsworth. The latter is a leading infidel. The debate was published in book form and is one of the best works on that point to be had. He is author of the following books: "Christianity Against Infi- delity," "The Book of Books," "The Founding of the Church," "Scriptural Doctrines of the Lord's Sup- per," and a work on "Higher Criticism," in manu- script. He has also been editor of the following pa- pers : Missionary Baptist, at Lebanon and Nashville, Tenn., four years; Baptist Helper, Jersey City, Ill.,
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seven years; associate editor of Baptist News, five years. He has married 521 couples. He was first married to Miss Alice Long," Albany, Ky., by whom he has one daughter living. She was called away and he was again married, to Miss Dollie Carpenter, Mt. Vernon, Ill., by whom he has six daughters and one son. His son's name is Porter Porter.
ELDER JOHN WASHBURN.
ELDER JOHN WASHBURN, Ewing, Ill. He is of English, Irish, German and Welsh extraction. He is of medium height and size, with light complexion. He is the son of Lewis and Nancy ( Moore) Wash- burn. He was born three miles north of Alexandria,
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between Brush Creek and Hickman Creek, Smith County, Tennessee, on November 5, 1830. He was brought up on the farm, and worked in the tobacco patch and hunted rabbits. He embraced Christ by faith on June 13, 1853, in a forest near Burritt Col- lege, Spencer, Van Buren County, Tenn. He made public profession and united with Brush Creek Primi- tive Baptist Church, October 15, 1853, and was bap- tized the next day by Elder Sion Bass. It was soon discovered that he was the Lord's anointed and in the spring of 1857 he was licensed to preach by this church, and ordained by the same church to the full work of the gospel ministry in the summer of 1858, by the following presbytery, viz .: Elders Sion Bass, P. G. Magness, Thos. Spain and William Kelley. He was educated in Burritt College, Spencer, Van Buren County, Tennessee, and is one of the most scholarly men in our ranks. After his ordination he moved to Illinois, settling at Benton. He was called to the care of East Fork Church, Hardshell Baptists, in Franklin County, in 1864. In December, 1865, he naturally withdrew from the Hardshell brethren. In June, 1866, he united with the Baptist Church in Ben- ton, Ill. From this time forward he has preached and taught jointly. In 1867 he moved to Ewing, Ill., and founded Ewing College, a leading Baptist in- stitution of learning. This is a monument of which any one might be proud. This has really been his life's work. However, he has gone away temporarily to other points in Illinois and even other States, but has again returned to the idol of his heart "Ewing College." He is there now, doing some of the best work of his life, notwithstanding he lias passed his threescore and ten years. He has served as pastor,
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First Baptist Church, Ewing, Ill., at various times, incessantly from 1868-75; Spring Garden, Ill., 1871- 75; Sugar Camp, two years; Antioch, one year ; Car- bondale, Ill., one year ; Benton, one year. In 1877 he moved to Texas where he taught and preached for three years. He traveled as missionary in 1878. He organized the Floresville Baptist Church and Flores- ville Academy. He was pastor at Floresville, Stock- dale and Marcelena. In 1880 he returned to Illinois, and resumed the presidency of Ewing College, where he remained till 1890. During this time he served the following churches : Ewing and Sugar Camp Creek. In 1890 he came to Willette, Tenn., and took charge of Willette Academy; also serving Bellwood Church. In 1892 he moved to Gordonsville and assumed charge of Gordonsville High School, serving as pastor Mace- donia Church at New Middleton, 1892-93. In 1894 he returned to Illinois, where he has since served McLeansboro, 1894-98; Hickory Hill, Creal Springs. He also had charge of Creal Springs College. He has constituted two churches. Number baptized and married not known, but a great many. He was mar- ried to Miss Irene S. Ely, in Putnam County, Ten- nessee, July 7, 1856, by whom he has five children living and two dead. He is enjoying good health, having daily five recitations in Latin and four in Greek.
ELDER R. A. RUSHING, Lawton, Okla. He is of English-Irish descent. He is medium height, rather slender of build, with dark complexion. He is the son of Deacon W. A. Rushing and Nannie J. (Landis) Rushing. He was born at Woodbury, Cannon Coun- ty, Tennessee, January 4, 1868. He was brought up
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on the farm. He professed faith in Christ in Bed- ford County, Tennessee, in the fall of 1884; and united with Powell's Chapel Church, Rutherford County, Tennessee, in the spring of 1885, and was baptized by Elder S. G. Shepard. He was ordained to the ministry at the instance of Shop Spring Church on August 5, 1894, by Elders J. P. Gilliam, J. M. Knight, E. S. Bryan, J. W. Patton, G. H. Butler and A. J. Holt, with Deacon J. S. Womack. He was pas- tor at Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee, 1897-98. Besides this he has done considerable work as col- porteur and evangelist. He has been teaching for two years and preaching in connection with it. He finished his literary course in Cumberland University, Leba- non, Tenn., and has since taken a course in the Theo- logical Seminary at Louisville, Ky. He has assisted in the constitution of two churches. He has baptized one, and married one couple. He was married to Miss Mattie M. Williams, December, 1897. She was called home in April, 1899, leaving a young babe which was caught up to dwell with her in September following.
ELDER FORREST SMITH, Louisburg, N. C. He is of English and Scotch-Irish descent. He is tall, rather slender, with light complexion. He is the son of George L. and America Ann Smith. He was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, between Statesville and Auburn, in the year of 1867. He was brought up on the farm where he was born. He made profession of religion at Statesville, Tenn., in October, 1887, and one week later he united with Prosperity Baptist Church and was baptized in the waters of Smith's Fork, near Cottage Home, by Elder J. H. Grime, the
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pastor. In the summer of 1892 he became supply at Columbia, Tenn., and was ordained at the instance of that church by Elders John T. Oakley, W. T. Ussery and S. C. Evins. He has been pastor as follows : Providence and Poplar Grove, West Tennessee, 1893; Tullahoma, Middle Tennessee, 1893-94; New Colum- bus, Ky., 1895-97; Bramlette, Ky., 1895-97; Irving- ton, Ky., 1895-97 ; Louisburg, N. C., 1897, to the pres-
DEACON M. H. GRIMMET.
ent, 1902. He was educated in the Southwestern Baptist University, Jackson, Tenn., taking the degree of A.M. in 1893. He has since taken a three years' course in the Theological Seminary at Louisville, Ky. He has baptized between three and four hundred and married forty couples. He was married to Miss Jessie Thomas, of West Tennessee, in 1897, by whom he has two children, one living and one dead.
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DEACON M. H. GRIMMET, Greenvale, Wilson Coun- ty, Tennessee. He was the moderator of the last ses- sion (1901) of Salem Association. He is the son of Elder W. H. and Elizabeth (Bryan) Grimmet. He is perhaps now fifty years of age and is one of the standards in Greenvale Baptist Church. He was made deacon of this church in 1897. He has twice been moderator of Salem Association. He is a physician by profession. He has been twice married and has a family of children.
DEACON WADE H. GRAVES.
The subject of this sketch was born in Smith Coun- ty, Tennessee, November 10, 1832. He is the son of Beman and Susan ( Pate) Graves, who came to Ten- nessee from Virginia before they were married. He has been a very successful farmer. He was married to Elvira E. Tell in 1857, who proved an excellent helpmeet. He served through the Civil War in the Confederate Army and came home, broken in health, to find his property all swept away, but industry soon brought an abundance of this world's goods. He gave his heart to God and united with the Methodists, where he remained until 1875; then he joined the newly organized Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Jackson County, Tennessee. The young church was without a house of worship, and to build one was his first undertaking as a Baptist. There was very little resource except his own private means. Not- withstanding the fact that he was building on his own soil and with his own means, the Campbellites waged an unrelenting war of opposition. It was like "fight- ing with beasts at Ephesus."
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Soon after uniting with the Baptists he was made deacon, which office he filled with distinction till God called him home, August 28, 1901. His kindness won the hearts of all, and his death was mourned by all who knew him.
ELDER WASHINGTON GLOVER.
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