USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
There was no pastor from the time of Rev. Mr. Lake's leaving until about the Ist of April, 1863. when Rev. C. E. W. Dobbs was chosen for a supply at first, and on the 27th of September was chosen pastor.
In May, 1863, the church had great diffi-
culty in preventing the colored members from acquiring entire control of the basement of the church. The city was at that time under military rule, and the commanding officers sympathized with the colored people. Great care was necessary to avert such a misfortune. When the matter was carried before the pro- vost judge he declined to interfere and the trouble passed away.
May 9, 1864, Rev. C. E. W. . Dobbs, the pastor of the church, was imprisoned by order of Gen. B. F. Butler, and the church shortly after was occupied as a hospital by the Fed- eral forces, and continued to be so used until Rev. S. B. Gregory, missionary of the Bap- tist Home Mission Society of the North, came about the middle of December, 1864.
On February 10, 1865, the colored mem- bers of the church were granted letters of dis- mission for the purpose of organizing an in- dependent church. This church after its or- ganization was known as Zion's Baptist Church. Richard Cox gave the lot upon which the house was built. It is now a large and prosperous body.
On the IIth of June, 1865, Rev. William M. Young was elected pastor, but declined the call. On the 3d of September, 1865. Rev. J. L. Johnson was called to the pastorate, and continued pastor until May 31, 1867. His pastorate was quite successful. The smallness of his salary was the cause of his resignation. August 11, 1867. Rev. M. R. Watkinson was elected pastor by a vote of 39 against 36 cast for Rev. William M. Young. This call Rev. Mr. Watkinson declined. October 3, 1867, Rev. I. B. Lake was elected pastor but de- clined. November 10, 1867, Rev. Harvey Hatcher was unanimously elected pastor. and entered upon his duties the first of December following. During the pastorate of Mr. Hatcher the church built a pool for baptismal purposes. He resigned on the 27th of Feb- ruary, 1870. On the 20th of Marcli, 1870. Rev. William M. Young was elected pastor, but again declined.
Rev. C. Wilson Smith, of England, was
232
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
elected pastor, and commenced his labors May I. 1870: he resigned on the 8th of April, 1871, to take effect in the following July. He was re-elected the Ich of June. 1871, by a vote of 39 to 26. On the 8th of July, 1871, the church requested him to resign. not on ac- count of any moral objection, but because the church was divided. but Rev. C. Wilson Smith declined to do so, until, in mass meeting held July 16, 1871, there were 55 votes in favor of his resignation. to 27 in favor of his remain- ing, whereupon he resigned.
September 17, 1871, Rev. A. E. Owen was unanimously elected pastor, and remained as such to July. 1899, when Rev. R. B. Gar- rett was called to the church. This church has sent out from her members the following ministers, viz .: J. W. M. Williams, J. L. Reynoldson, Richard Allen, C. E. W. Dobbs, Thomas Hume, Jr. ( who was baptized into the church, but licensed by the Fourth Street Baptist Church), H. Petty, T. J. Knapp, W. F. Higginbotham. George J. Hobday. C. A. G. Thomas, E. G. Corprew ( colored ), Ed- ward B. Morris, John W. Daugherty and W. P. Hines. The present membership is 501.
Fourth Street Baptist Church, Portsmouth,
Was constituted April 9. 1855. by members of the Court Street Baptist Church,-Rev. Thomas Hume, Sr., moderator, and Samuel J. Staples, secretary. The exercises contingent upon the formal recognition of the church were conducted by Dr. J. L. Burrows and Rev. Thomas Hume, Sr.
The house of worship is located in South Portsmouth. The church edifice, originally built of clapboards, was afterward enlarged by the addition of 16 feet to its length. and the erection of a gallery and belfry, and, at present it is a commodious brick structure.
Rev. Thomas Hume, Sr .. was the first pastor, who served the church with great suc- cess until May. 1861, at which time he left the city, it being evacuated by the Confederate forces. Soon after the constitution of the
1
church, the terrible scourge of the yellow fever became epidemic in our city. During its prevalence six of the members fell victims to its relentless hands, and others were scat- tered, and consequently lost to this particular church.
Again in 1861, the number of members was depleted and scattered by a call to arms : but at the close of the war, a few were found ready to cultivate the field, and spend and be spent in the Master's service. During the war and after its close Revs. J. D. Elwell and C. E. W. Dobbs supplied the pulpit. Rev. John Phillips also preached a series of ser- mons, resulting in great good and the admis- sion of many members upon a profession of faith and baptism.
July 12. 1866, Rev. J. C. Hiden accepted the call of the church to the pastorate, and continued to serve the church with eminent usefulness to the close of his pastorate in Sep- tember. 1868.
In January, 1869, Rev. N. B. Cobb was elected pastor in connection with the church at Kempsville. Princess Anne County. Vir- ginia, who. with his amiable wife, was emi- nently useful. If his whole time could have been given to this one church, his ministry would have been an eminent success. Not- withstanding the division of his time between these two churches, the largest and most suc- cessful revival was carried on during his pas- torate with which the church has ever been blessed. Rev. Mr. Cobb continued until No- vember, 1870. It is also due to Rev. Mr. Cobb to state that he was instrumental in mak- ing collections for and purchasing a bell for the church.
Shortly after the resignation of Rev. Mr. Cobb. Rev. Patrick Warren made a visit to the church with a view to the pastorate, but, in a few weeks after his return to Washing- ton, sickened and died.
Rev. M. R. Watkinson, of Camden. New Jersey, labored a month with the church, the result of which was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It was about this time that at-
* 233
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
tention was called to Rev. R. W. Cridlin, as a suitable person for pastor. He was called to the pastorate in May, 1871, which he ac- cepted. Rev. Air. Cridlin's stay resulted, under the blessing of God, in uniting and strength- eting the church, and greatly building up the congregation and the cause of Christianity in our midst; thus giving evidence that the church would soon become -self-sustaining. But his wife's health failed, and he felt com- pelled to leave for other fields of labor. In June, 1874, he resigned, to the great sorrow of the church and the entire community.
!
Rev. Q. T. Simpson became pastor in Oc- tober, 1874, but on account of the death of his estimable wife resigned after one year's serv- ice. The church then engaged the services of Rev. E. M. Buyrn, first as a supply, then as pastor, which office he held only for a short time. Again the church was without a pastor, during which time Rev. M. R. Watkinson made a second visit, which resulted in 14 pro- fessions. A second time did Rev. Mr. Wat- kinson decline the call to the pastorship of the church. Rev. R. W. Cridlin served his sec- ond term as pastor of this church. Rev. W. F. Fisher is the present pastor, with 360 mem- bers.
This church has been instrumental in licensing some of the most useful preachers of the Baptist Church: George M. West, January 17, 1856: Thomas Hume, Jr., April 12, 1860; I. B. Lake, July 12, 1860; Jolin N. Ward, August 22, 1858,-the last named was ordained by Elders Hume, Teasdale and Goodall. And here Rev. I. T. Wallace was examined with a view to his ordination. The following ministers have been members of this church, viz. : Thomas Hume, Sr., Thomas Hume. Jr., R. W. Cridlin, C. A. Raymond, I. B. Lake, C. Goodall, V. Palen, George M. West. John N. Ward, H. Ayers and N. B. Cobb.
First Baptist Church, Norfolk.
There had existed a Baptist Church in
Norfolk some 10 or 15 years prior to the year 1817, known as the First Baptist Church. It was composed largely of colored members, and Rev. James Mitchell was their pastor. This church got into trouble, and the white members, with the exception of the pastor's family, withdrew and built a new house of worship on Cumberland street. and consti- tuted themselves into a church known as the Cumberland Street Baptist Church.
This church was constituted September 20, 1817, consisting of 25 members. The pres- bytery was composed of Martin Ross, Aaron Spivey, and Richard Dabbs. Rev. George Patterson, who had been associate pastor with Rev. James Mitchell in the First Baptist Church, was chosen pastor, but remained only four months, receiving in that period three new members, and settled in Alexandria, Vir- ginia. Rev. Samuel Cornelius became pastor January 28, 1818. He continued five years and nine months. Under his administration 61 new members were added to the church.
Rev. Noah Davis, father of Prof. Noah K. Davis of the University of Virginia, be- came the pastor in October, 1823. and labored as pastor only 16 months, and as occasional supply for eight months. Rev. Mr. Davis left. to become the general agent of the Amer- ican Baptist Tract & Publication Society in Philadelphia, of which he was the founder.
Rev. R. B. C. Howell, then a young grad- uate of Columbian College, Washington, D. C .. was ordained in this church, January 27. 1827, by Rev. William Staughton, D. D., and Rev. Samuel Wait. A. M. He first served the church as a supply for three months: after that was elected pastor April 17, 1827, but did not accept until the end of the year. This was the commencement of the public career of a distinguished divine; he very soon made his mark in the community. His talents and aggressive power soon brought him in conflict with the . Pedobaptists, and called forth his three sermons on baptism, which were pub- lished in pamphlet form. He also published three tracts, of some 40 pages each, in reply to
234
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
Dr. Ducachet, rector of Christ Protestant Epis- copal Church, on the office of sponsors in the Protestant Episcopal Church, and of other matters in dispute between Baptists and Epis- copalians. This year ( 1827) started Dr. Howell on the line of controversy, which he kept up a good part of his life. The church building was enlarged about this time. Dr. Howell resigned July 7, 1834, and left for Nashville, Tennessee, early in November, 1834, having labored with the Cumberland Street Baptist Church nearly seven years and a half and received to her membership 364 members.
The church was destitute of a pastor six months. During the period 12 members were added as the fruits of a meeting held by Rev. Thomas Hume, Sr., and others.
Rev. John Goodall became pastor in Jan- uary, 1835. He was a man of decided ability ; his. ultra-Baptistic sentiments, and his per- petual preaching on baptism, drove all the con- gregation from his pulpit except his own peo- ple. He remained only one year and received 12 members. The church was destitute of a pastor the whole of the next year ( 1836). During this time, Rev. Stephen Gardiner was ordained by Revs. T. C. Braxton, D. M. Woodson, Thomas Hume, Sr., A. Paul Repi- ton. and J. Hendren. During this year the church had occasional preaching by Revs. Comstock, Gardiner, Tinsley and others, and six members were added.
Rev. Joseph S. Baker, M. D., was made pastor in March, 1837. This was a period of great excitement and trouble, on account of disciplinary action against Rev. James Mitchell, pastor of the colored church, known as the First Baptist Church. Dr. Baker re- mained' pastor three years, and received 106 new members.
Rev. Joseph B. Breed, from the North, be- came pastor in 1840. He continued two years and received 60 members. As the fruits of a meeting held by Rev. Joseph H. Fox, some 40 members were added to the church.
Rev. E. G. Robinson, D. D., a distin-
guished president of Brown University, was ordained in this church as its pastor in Novem- ber, 1842, by Revs. J. B. Jeter, J. Walker, J. R. Scott and Thomas Hume, Sr. Rev. Dr. Robinson was a man of exalted intellect, high culture and a magnificent preacher-all intel- lect and but little emotion-intensely opposed to revivals and religious excitement-at heart a strong Abolitionist. The church received 16 members and built the lecture room.
Rev. John W. M. Williams, D. D., sup- plied the Cumberland Street Baptist Church one year while Rev. Dr. E. G. Robinson, the pastor, served as chaplain at the University of Virginia. Rev. Mr. Williams was or- dained in this church February 27, 1844. Rev. Dr. E. G. Robinson returned from the university, but remained only a short time. In 1846 Revs. Latham and Kingsford preached in the church occasionally and a few members were added.
Rev. C. R. Hendricson. after laboring a short time as a supply, became pastor in June. 1847, and labored 17 months. He was a fine pulpit orator, and added to the church 50 members. The pastor fell into serious trouble and the church divided on the question of re- taining him as pastor; a majority voted to continue him, which resulted in the with- drawal of nearly all of the wealthy and influ- ential portion of the church, 74 members in number. On May 7, 1848, these persons were regularly dismissed to be constituted into a new church, now known as the Freemason Street Baptist Church. Rev. Mr. Hendricson thought it prudent to leave, and he settled in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Rev. Reuben Jones entered upon the pas- torship of this church June 23. 1848. The members were generally poor, but they were a praying, working people, and strongly at- tached to the old mother church. In 1849, Rev. J. S. Reynoldson held a meeting with the church, which resulted in the baptism of about 100 persons, many of whom proved ut- terly worthless. Rev. G. W. Johnson, from the Methodist Protestant Church, was bap-
--
235
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
tized and ordained about this time. The church was beautifully frescoed, the pews cushioned and other improvements added dur- ing his pastoral administration. After five years and a half with this church, the pastor resigned and left in December, 1853, for Hele- na, Arkansas, having received into the church about 180 new members.
Rev. Meriwether Winston, a native Vir- ginian, was called from one of the churches in Philadelphia to be the next pastor. He was a very fluent and attractive speaker, but left after one year's service, about the commence- ment of the great pestilence of 1855. and set- tled in Savannah, Georgia. Rev. James L. Gwaltney settled as pastor the latter part of 1856. One of the first duties was to preach the funeral of all the members who had died with the yellow fever. He remained only one year and then returned to Boutetourt Springs.
Rev. J. C. Long, afterward a professor in Crozer Theological Seminary at Upland, Penn- sylvania, became the next pastor of this church the first of 1859, and continued until tlie Confederate War closed his labors in May, 1861. His term of service embraced about three years.
During the four dark years of the Con- . federate War, the Cumberland Street Baptist Church was served successively for short periods. by Revs. C. H. Toy, C. Goodall and J. D. Elwell.
In February, 1864; Rev. H. J. Chandler was called to be pastor, and he accepted; but before he had time to take charge, that is, on February 9th, the keys of the church were taken possession of by the provost marshal and handed over to Rev. Ira Prescott and held by him for the Baptist Home Mission Society in New York. The congregation in- dignantly declined to accept the services of a pastor forced upon them by military authority. After preaching a while to empty seats. Mr. Prescott delivered up the keys of the church to Deacon March, which the latter accepted
upon the specific condition that he, Prescott, would go away and never come to the church again.
When Rev. Thomas Hume, Sr., took charge of'this church in July, 1865, it was in a very feeble, dispirited condition. His labors at first were almost gratuitous. The congre- gation and membership gradually increased. His health began to fail, and while spending the spring in Florida to recuperate, Rev. Mr. McGonigal, from New York, supplied the church. He labored earnestly and successfully, and added a considerable number of members to the church. Rev. Mr. Hume resigned July 1, 1874, a short time before his death, which sad event occurred at his residence in Ports- mouth, Virginia, March 8, 1875, being about 63 years of age. He was pastor of the Cum- berland Street Baptist Church nine years. Under his administration, the church was lifted to a high plane of Christian zeal, be- nevolonce and holy activity.
Rev. Thomas Hume, Jr., was immediately called to succeed his father. July 17, 1874- He held this call under consideration for sev- eral months, during which time, Rev. Samuel Saunders, late from the theological seminary, became temporary supply for the church.
September 18, 1874, Rev. Samuel Saun- ders, by request of the lower Northampton Baptist Church, was ordained in this church with the following order of exercises, viz. : Sermon. by Rev. C. H. Toy; charge to can- didate. by Rev. Reuben Jones ; presentation of the Bible, by Rev. A. E. Owen ; right hand of . fellowship, by Rev. G. J. Hobday; ordaining prayer, by Rev. J. F. Deans; charge to the church, by Rev. A. C. Barran.
Rev. Thomas Hume, Jr., formally accept- ed the pastorate November 21, 1874, and shortly thereafter, December 27. 1874, was in- stalled by a large presbytery in the presence of a very large assembly: Sermon by Rev. W. E. Hatcher, D. D .; charge to pastor by Rev. W. D. Thomas, D. D .; charge to the church by Rev. Reuben Jones. After four years of
236
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
faithful and eminently successful labor, Rev. Mr. Hume resigned in December, 1878.
Rev. W. W. Wood served a short time as a supply, and then became the pastor July I, 1879, continuing in that position until 1884: He was followed by Rev. Tiberius Gracchus Jones, D. D., and Rev. E. B. Hatcher, the present pastor, succeeded Rev. Mr. Jones. in 1893. The First Baptist Church is the mother of all the Baptist churches in Norfolk. It has 320 members and its property is valued at $40,000.
Freemason Street Baptist Church, Norfolk.
In May, 1848, the Cumberland Street Bap- tist Church ( or First Baptist Church) after free consultation gave a fraternal dismissal to certain persons, about 75 in number, who were the same month constituted into a church, Rev. J. B. Jeter and other ministers conduct- ing the services.
Two of these, Thomas D. Toy and Will- iam Dey, had some months before purchased a piece of ground at the corner of Freemason and Bank streets. A plan of a building was obtained from Thomas U. Walter, of Phila- delphiia, workmen secured and the building begun; the lecture room was completed in May, 1849, and the whole house, including the spire, about October, 1850. The dedica- tion sermon was preached by Dr. Richard Fuller, of Baltimore. The cost of the house was about $35,000, and of the land $5.000. The architecture and acoustics are uncommon- ly good.
.
The church worshiped, in the meantime, the first year in the Odd Fellow's Hall, cor- ner of Washington and Avon streets. For one month after the constitution. the pulpit was filled by Rev. J. B. Taylor, of Richmond, and in June following, Rev. Tiberius Grac- chus Jones was secured as pastor, and the church began its life.
The first pastor, Rev. Tiberius Gracchus Jones, commenced about August, 1848, and re- maine1 in all 19 years, from IS48 to 1871,
with absences amounting to four years. It was his first pastorate: he and the church grew out together, and were endeared to each other by the thousand experiences of ecclesias- tical and individual life. His lofty eloquence, noble nature and genuine piety, gave him a lasting hold on the church and community. Under his care, the church grew in numbers and efficiency. The Sunday-school flourished, and Baptists took a position in the community that they had never before held. In 1863, dur- ing the occupation of Norfolk by Federal troops, he went to Baltimore and became pas- tor of the Franklin Square Baptist Church of that city, returning to Norfolk in 1865, as soon after the end of the war as possible. In 1867, he was elected president of Richmond College, but gave up the position after serv- ing two years; and in 1869 resumed the pas- torship of his old church in Norfolk. In 1871 he accepted a call to the First Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Jones returned to Norfolk in 1884, becoming pastor of the First Baptist Church, and so continuing until a few years before his death, which occurred June 27, 1895, at the age of 74 years.
During the temporary absence of Dr. Jones, from 1863 to 1865, the church had the services of Rev. H. J. Chandler and Rev. Dr. Bealor, who faithfully discharged their duties in that trying time, ministering to the handful that remained in the city, and keeping up the church organization.
From 1867 to 1869, while Dr. Jones was at Richmond College, Rev. J. Lipscomb John- son ( later a professor in the University of Mississippi) acted as pastor. His ministry was markedly successful, especially in that he had great influence over the younger part of the congregation, and the church was greatly attached to him.
After Dr. Jones' removal to Nashville. Rev. William D. Thomas ( then in Greenville, South Carolina) became pastor. His faith- ful and able ministry began in October, 1871. He served until 1882, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. L. Burrows, D. D. Rev. M. B.
237
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Wharton succeeded Dr. Burrows in 1891, and resigned in 1899, when Rev J. J. Taylor, the present pastor, was called.
The history of the church has been marked by the usual variations of prosperity and ad- versity. Of its constituent membership only a few persons now remain. It suffered 110 little by the yellow fever scourge of 1855, and during the late war, when, however, by the exertion of some of the members, the build- ing was saved from injury. The church has never been without the kernel of earnest, spir- itual-minded members, and has never given countenance to injurious errors or fanatical views. At various times special meetings have been held, with greater or less effect ; in 1849, by the beloved Reynoldson : in 1852 and 1874, by Rev. Cornelius Tyree; in 1870, by Rev. A. B. Earle; and in 1876, by Rev. William E. Hatcher.
1
In 1872 the pastor, Rev. Dr. Thomas, ar- ranged a series of lectures on denominational topics, the expenses being borne by the church, which were delivered in the church by some of the prominent Baptist preachers of the coun- try, and, being afterward printed and cir- culated in pamphlet shape, made a contribution to the literature of the subject. The lecturers were Rev. Alvah Hovey, of Newton Thelogi- cal Seminary; Rev. Howard Osgood, of Cro- zer Theological Seminary; Rev. J. L. Bur- rows; Rev. N. M. Wilson ; and Revs. John A. Broadus and William Williams, of the South- ern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The Sunday-school. under the superin- tendence successively of Themas D. Toy. T. P. Warren, J. H. Hendren. J. A. Yancey, W. H. Morris and C. E. Jenkins, has been notably successful, both as to members and as to its general efficiency and liberality. Unusual care has been given to the music in the church.
The choir has been under the directorship, first of Thomas D. Toy, then of Samuel Borum, and then of R. B. Toy. The organ- ists have been Possett, Whitman. Southard and Miss J. McKenny. Under the direction of R. B. Toy, the singing, of classic music in 14
the church and the Sunday-school has been introduced without diminishing the congrega- tional singing. The church continues to be an earnest body, with a growing interest in mis- sions and education. One minister of the gos- pel has gone out from it. Rev. C. H. Toy, and one licentiate, Rev. T. P. Warren. The prop- erty of the Freemason Street Baptist Church is valued at $40,000, and the church has 821 members.
West Norfolk Baptist Church
Is situated in the village of that name at the mouth of the Western Branch of the Eliza- beth River. It is an offspring of the Church- land Baptist Church, not far distant, and was organized in 1895. The building is worth $1,500, and the church has 93 members. Rev. A. B. Dunaway, D. D., the first pastor, was succeeded by Rev. Braxton Craig and he by the present pastor, Rev. Vernon I'Anson.
South Street Baptist Church, Portsmouth,
Is at the northwest corner of South and Effingham streets in Portsmouth. It was or- ganized in 1889. the first pastor being Rev. J. W. Daugherty, who continued until 1894, when he was followed by Rev. J. W. Mitchell. the present incumbent. The church property is valued at $21,000, and the church has the names of 337 members on its rolls.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.