USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 13
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Mr. JAMES CRAWFORD was received candidate at the same time with William Wilson, April, 1779, and licensed with him Oct. 28th, 1779. Mr. Davidson, in his History of Kentucky, pp. 79 and 80, gives all the memoranda concerning him that have been preserved.
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SAMUEL SHANNON-JAMES MITCHEL-MOSES HOGE, ETC.
Mr. Terah Templin was licensed by Hanover Presbytery, at Tinkling Spring, April 28th, 1780. He grew up near the Peaks of Otter, and received his preparatory education under his pastor, David Rice. He was ordained in Kentucky, in 1785, and died Oct. 6th, 1818. Davidson's Kentucky gives a short sketch of him.
36th. SAMUEL SHANNON was received as candidate, Oct. 26th, 1779, from Donegal Presbytery, a graduate of Princeton 1776, introduced to Presbytery by Mr. Waddell. After passing examinations in Greek and Latin, reading a Homily, and preaching a sermon, he was ad- vised by Presbytery, at Falling Spring, Oct. 24th, 1780, to abandon preparation for the ministry, on account of the time he had been in study, and the manner he had acquitted himself in divinity and moral philosophy. The next year he appeared before Presbytery, Oct. 25th, 1781, passed his examinations with James Mitchel, and was licensed with him. Receiving a call from Windy Cove and Blue Spring, he was ordained on Cowpasture, Nov. 24th, 1784, at the house of Mrs. Lewis. In April, 1787, he was relieved from his charge, and removed to Kentucky. He died in Indiana, in 1822. For further notices of him, see Davidson's History, p. 83, et alibi.
37th. JAMES MITCHEL, the 37th member, has an appropriate sketch in this series.
38th. Of MOSES HOGE, the 38th member, there is a short me- moir in Sketches of Virginia, and some further particulars in the chapter of this series, containing the history of Hampden Sidney, after the removal of Rev. Archibald Alexander from the Presidency of the College, to Philadelphia.
39th. JOHN MCCUE was received candidate in the spring of 1781, and was licensed at Timber Ridge, May 23d, 1782. He was ordained the first Wednesday of August, 1783, having accepted a call from Camp Union near Lewisburg, and Good Hope, in Green Brier. In 1791 he was relieved from this charge to take the pastoral care of Tinkling Spring and Staunton. Further notices of him will be found under the Chapter, Tinkling Spring.
40. ADAM RANKIN, a native of Western Pennsylvania, was re- ceived candidate, November, 1781, at the Stone Meeting House, Augusta, and at New Providence was licensed, Oct. 25th, 1782, in company with Samuel Houston, Samuel Carrick, and Andrew McClure. October 29th, 1783, steps were taken preparatory for his ordination, and he was enrolled at Bethel, May 18th, 1784. He emigrated to Kentucky, and is the hero of many pages of David- son's History of the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky. A man of fiery zeal, he believed himself called of God to reform the church, particularly in Psalmody.
SAMUEL CARRICK-SAMUEL HOUSTON-ANDREW M'CLURE. 111
41st. SAMUEL CARRICK, the forty-first member, native of Adams County, Pennsylvania, was born July 17th, 1760. At an early period of his life he went to the Valley of Virginia ; and prepared for the ministry under the instruction of William Graham. He was received as a candidate the last Wednesday of November, 1781, at the Stone meeting-house, Augusta ; was licensed at New Providence, October 25th, 1782, with Rankin, Houston, and McClure ; and was ordained and installed pastor of Rocky Spring and Wahab meeting- house, on the Cowpasture, at the house of Mr. James Hodges, on the fourth Wednesday of November, 1783. He made frequent visits to the south-western frontiers as a missionary; and in the year 1789, removed to Tennessee, and took his abode on the Hol- ston, about four miles from Knoxville, in sight of Boyd's Ferry. In 1794, at the opening of the Territorial Legislature, in February, he preached before that body at their invitation, on the second day of their session. He was chosen by the Legislature President of Blount College, named in honor of the Governor, now known as the East Tennessee University. He organized the first regular Presby- terian church in Tennessee, at the junction of the French Broad and the Holston, called Lebanon ; and soon after the church in Knox- ville. He held the Pastorate of these two churches, and the Presi- dency of the College, till 1803, when he resigned the charge of Lebanon. The office of President of the College, and pastor of the church in Knoxville, he held till his sudden death. From the his- torical sermon delivered by the Rev. R. B. McMullen, pastor of the first Presbyterian church in Knoxville, March 25th, 1855, the authority for some of the preceding facts, we also learn that among the elders of those two churches were numbered James White, George McNutt, John 'Adair, Archibald Rhea, Dr. James Cosby, and Thomas Gillespie. White, McNutt and Adair were members of the Convention for forming the Constitution of the State. McNutt was from Virginia ; White and Adair from North Carolina. The death of Mr. Carrick was ordered in very peculiar circumstances, in his 50th year. The usual summer sacramental meeting had come. He spent much of the night of the 5th of August, 1809, in prepa- ratory study for the duties of the occasion. Very early on the morning of the 6th, he was struck with apoplexy, and in a few mo- ments his spirit was with his Redeemer.
42d. SAMUEL HOUSTON, the forty-second member, has an appro- priate sketch in this series.
43. ANDREW MCCLURE, born in Augusta County, 1755, was received as candidate, November, 1781, at the Stone meeting-house, Augusta County ; licensed, October 25th, 1782, at New Providence, with Messrs. Houston, Rankin, and Carrick. Accepting a call from the North Fork of Roanoke, he was ordained May 9th, 1784. He removed to Kentucky in 1786, and occupies a place in Mr. David- son's History. He died in 1793. -
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112
JOHN D. BLAIR.
44th. The forty-fourth member, and the, last ordained by the Presbytery before the formation of Virginia Synod, was JOHN D. BLAIR, son, of John Blair, Professor of Theology in Princeton Col- lege, and nephew of Samuel Blair, the instructor of Davies and Rodgers. He was born 15th of October, 1759, and was graduated when quite young, in the year 1775, at Princeton. He made pro- fession of religion at an early age. Before he left his minority he was elected tutor of his alma mater, under Dr. Witherspoon. On the application of Edmund Randolph, Esq., to Dr. Witherspoon for a qualified teacher for Washington Henry Academy, in Hanover, Mr. Blair came to Virginia in the year 1780. He presided over the Academy with much usefulness and credit, for a number of years. Oppressed with the view of the spiritual desolations around him, his mind and heart were drawn to the subject of his early meditations and desires, the ministry of the gospel. He was re- ceived as candidate by the Hanover Presbytery, May 20th, 1784, at Bethel ; and was licensed at Timber Ridge, October 28th, of the same year. He became pastor of the church in Hanover County, gathered by Davies on the ground where Morris had his reading- - room, and his own father had preached with success. The record of his ordination is lost ; but it necessarily took place previously to May, 1786, as he that year was enrolled a member of the Synod. About the year 1792, he was induced to remove to the city of Richmond, and open a classical school, and divide his ministerial services with Pole Green church in Hanover, and the city. Having no church building in the city, he held public worship at the capitol, alternating his Sabbaths with Rev. John Buchanan at the Episcopal church. These two ministers maintained the kindest relations through life. They were both remarkable for amiability of manners and purity of morals. Mr. Buchanan, being a bachelor, took fre- quent opportunities of manifesting his sympathy and respect for his brother Blair and his family, by kiud and complimentary acts, such as sending marriage fees to Mrs. Blair, and encouraging the atten- tions of others. Mr. Buchanan manifested the same generous spirit to Mr. and Mrs. Rice. When the monumental church was built upon the ruins of the burned theatre, the tradition is-that Messrs. Buchanan and Blair were of the opinion, the building should be occupied as the capitol had been, and be a memorial and a place of worship for the two denominations most interested in the sad event of the night of the 26th of December, 1811, and the subsequent transactions. When by extraneous influence the discussion was going on, whether the church building should have a denominational character, and to which it should be given, Mr. Blair from motives of delicacy kept back from the discussion. It was believed that had he exerted the influence of which he was capable, and entered the arena of debate, his opinion would have prevailed, whether he had advocated the use of the building as open and free as the deso- lation of the event it commenorated had been wide and general, or whether he had contended that if any denomination should have the
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JOHN D. BLAIR.
preference it should be his own. He chose to keep silence, and after a long discussion, under various influences, on February 7th, 1814, one hesitating vote decided the character of the monumental church. That part of the congregation, worshipping in the capitol, that adhered to Mr. Blair, made preparations for the erection of a house of worship for their own special occupancy; and as church building in those days was a work of slow' progress, in the most favorable circumstances, the design was not fully completed till the autumn of 1821. To this new house, called the Presbyterian church on Shockoe Hill, Mr. Blair transferred his services. But in a few months increasing infirmities brought his ministerial labors to a close. He united with the church in obtaining the services of Rev. John B. Hoge, who continued their pastor about four years. Mr. Blair lingered till the 10th of January, 1823, and departed in his 64th year, with these words upon his lips-" Lord Jesus, into thy hands I commit my spirit." During his active life, his modesty put a seal upon his lips in reference to his religious experience. On- his dying-bed he felt called upon to speak out his hopes. He declared that Christ was the only rock on which a sinner could build for eternity; and that trust in him was the best evidence of fitness for heaven ; that his early convictions and experience retained their hold upon his heart. He was confined to his bed for several months previous to his death, and bore his pains with patience, waiting-" all the days of his appointed time." According to his request his body was taken to the church before interment, and an address made by his co-pastor, announcing his firm adherence in death to the doctrines he had preached through life, and the com- fort these had given him in his near approach to the grave.
The. estimation in which Mr. Blair was held as a teacher, by his brethren, may be known from the fact, that the Board of Trustees of Hampden Sidney College, in the year 1796, invited him to the Presidency. Upon his declining to leave Richmond, Mr. Alexander was prevailed upon to accept the office. .
Rev. John Buchanan, the friend and fellow-laborer of Mr. Blair, died on the 19th of December, 1822, about three weeks before his friend. Of these two men Dr. Rice says - " They lived together in Richmond, in habits of closest intimacy, and most devoted friend- ship, for five and thirty years. No jealousy, no unfriendly collision of sentiment was ever known between them. They lived and loved as brethren ; and interchanged in the pulpit and out of it, offices of unstinted, unreserved kindness.". It is also related that when Mr. Buchanan, at the approach of death, requested that the prayers of the church should be offered up in his behalf, his friend was not forgotten ; for in the most affecting accents he added -"Pray also for Blair." ›
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114
THE SETTLEMENTS ON THE HOLSTON.
CHAPTER IX.
THE SETTLEMENTS ON THE HOLSTON.
THE enterprise and bravery of the pioneers of Washington County, Virginia, gave birth to events of romantic interest in poli- tics, religion and war. Ex-Governor Campbell, near Abingdon, thus writes :
Montcalm, Nov. 12th, 1851.
DEAR SIR - I failed to take my intended journey to Tennessee, and will now endeavor to answer some of your inquiries, in your letter of the 7th of October. The first emigration to the Holston Valley, was about the year 1765-In that year John Campbell ex- plored the country, and purchased land for his father David Camp- bell and himself. The first settlers were from Augusta, Frederick, and the other counties along the Valley of Virginia -from the upper counties of Maryland and from Pennsylvania, were mostly descendants from Irish stock, and were generally Presbyterians, where they had any religious opinions -a very large proportion were religious and many were members of the Church. There were however some families, and among the most wealthy, that were wild and dissipated in their habits. I send you enclosed by the same mail that carries this letter, a copy of the call to the Rev. Charles Cummings, signed by one hundred and thirty-eight heads of families. In my early life I knew personally, many of those whose names are signed to it-and I knew nearly all of them from character. They were a most respectable body of men; were all whigs in the revolution, and nearly all -probably every one of them, performed military service against the Indians -and a large portion of them against the British, in the battles of King's Moun- tain, Guilford court-house, and other actions in North and South Carolina. The Campbell family, from which I am descended, were originally from the Highlands of Scotland, and emigrated to Ire- land about the latter end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. John Campbell, my great-grandfather, with a family of ten or twelve children, came to America in. 1726, and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He had six sons -three of whom, Patrick, Robert and David, emigrated with him from Pennsylvania, to what was then Orange, but afterwards Augusta County, about the year 1730. Patrick was the oldest child and grandfather of General William Campbell of the Revolution. David was the youngest, and was my grandfather. . He married in Augusta County, Mary Hamilton, and had seven sons - John, Arthur, James, William, David, Robert and Patrick. All except William, who died when a young man, emi- grated to Holston; John, Robert and Arthur before their father, the other three with him. The other sons of John Campbell had
115
CALL TO THE REV. CHARLES CUMMINGS.
families, and their descendants are scattered over many of the States of the West. William B. Campbell, a young man and lately elected Governor of Tennessee, is my nephew, and is the grandson of Margaret Campbell, one of the daughters of my grandfather, David Campbell. The Edmiston, or Edmondson family, that came to Holston, was a very large and respectable one, numbering some ten or fifteen families. They were zealous whigs, and William the oldest brother was Major in the regiment from this county, that behaved so gallantly in the battle of King's Mountain. Two of his brothers, Captain Andrew Edmiston and Lieut. Robert Edmis- ton, and a cousin Captain William Edmiston, were killed in that battle. The Vance, Newell and Blackburn connection was very large and respectable. The Rev. Gideon Blackburn once of Ten- nessee, and one of the most distinguished pulpit orators of his time, was of the same Blackburn stock. Col. Samuel Newell, son of Samuel Newell who signs the call, was a distinguished officer in the battle of King's Mountain and a man of fine talents. He died in Kentucky. The Buchanan family was a numerous one, all worthy people. There were four brothers of the Davises and three of the Craigs, all very worthy men - also several brothers of the Low- reys and Montgomerys, equally worthy. William Christian was. from near where Fincastle now stands - was a man of fine intellect, and distinguished in western warfare. Benjamin Logan was the same man who went to Kentucky, and became a distinguished man there. There are on the list many others whose families have done well in the western country. I will omit at present going into more detail, and indeed I do not know that I can give you any informa- tion further that would deserve your notice. I have not given you any particular account of my immediate ancestors, supposing it would not be suitable from me.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID CAMPBELL.
A call from the united congregations of Ebbing and Sinking Spring, on Holston's river, Fincastle Connty, to be presented to the Rev. Charles Cummings, minister of the gospel, at the Rev. Pres- bytery of Hanover, when sitting at the Tinkling Spring :
WORTHY AND DEAR SIR-We being in very destitute circumstances for want of the ordinances of Christ's house statedly administered amongst us ; many of us under very distressing spiritual languish- ments ; and multitudes perishing in our sins for want of the bread of life broken among us ; our Sabbaths too much profaned, or at least wasted in melancholy silence at home, our hearts and hands dis- couraged, and our spirits broken with our mournful condition, so that human language cannot sufficiently paint. Having had the happiness, by the good Providence of God, of enjoying part of your labors to our abundant satisfaction, and being universally well satisfied by our experience of your ministerial abilities, piety, literature, prudence
116
CALL TO THE REV. CHARLES CUMMINGS.
and peculiar agreeableness of your qualifications to us in particular as a gospel minister-we do, worthy and dear sir, from our very hearts, and with the most cordial affection and unanimity agree to call, invite and entreat you to undertake the office of a pastor among us, and the care and charge of our precious souls-and upon your accepting of this our call, we do promise that we will receive the word of God from your mouth, attend on your ministry, instruction and reproofs, in public and private, and submit to the discipline which Christ has appointed in his church, administered by you while regulated by the word of God and agreeable to our confession of faith and directory. And that you may give yourself wholly up to the important work of the ministry, we hereby promise to pay unto you annually the sum of ninety pounds from the time of your ac- cepting this our call ; and that we shall behave ourselves towards you with all that dutiful respect and affection that becomes a people. towards their minister, using all means within our power to render your life comfortable and happy. We entreat you, worthy and dear sir, to have compassion upon us in this remote part of the world, and accept this our call and invitation to the pastoral charge of our precious and immortal souls, and we shall hold ourselves bound to pray.
George Blackburn,
Robert Gamble,
John Sharp,
William Blackburn,
Andrew Martin, Augustus Webb,
John Berry,
John Vance,
James Montgomery,
John Casey,
Samuel Brigg,
Samuel Huston,
Benjamin Logan,
Wesley White,
Henry Cresswell,
Robert Edmondson,
James Dorchester,
George Adams,
Thomas Berry,
€ James Fulkerson,
George Buchanan,
Robert Trimble,
Stephen Jordan,
James Dysart,
Wm. McGaughey,
Alex. Laughlin,
William Miller,
David Dryden,
James Inglish,
Andrew Leeper,
Wm. McNabb,
Richard Moore,
David Snodgrass,
John Davis,
Thomas Ramsey, Saml. Wilson,
Danl. McCormick, Francis Kincannon, Joseph Snodgrass,
Nathl. Davis,
William Young,
James Thompson,
Saml. Evans,
William Davidson,
Robert Denniston,
Wm. Kennedy,
James Young, John Sharp,
William Edmiston, Saml. Edmiston, Andrew Kincannon,
Saml. Hendry,
John Long,
John Patterson,
Robert Topp,
John Kelley, ' John Robinson, "
James Gilmore,
John Hunt,
John Lowrey,
Thomas Bailey,
James Kincannon,
Wm. Christian,
David Gattgood,
Margaret Edmiston,
Andrew Colvill, Robert Craig,
George Clark,
John Boyd,
Joseph Black
James Molden,
Robert Kirkham,
Jonathan Douglass,
William Blanton,
Martin Pruitt,
William Berry, John Cusick, James Piper,
Joseph Gamble,
Alexander McNutt,
James Harrold,
John McNabb,
William Pruitt,
Samuel Newell,
Chrisr. Funkhouser,
David Wilson,
John Funkhouser,
David Craig,
.
John Funkhouser, Jr.,
John McCutchen James Berry, James Trimble,
Halbert McClure,
Arthur Blackburn,
Joseph Vance,
Andrew McFerran,
Alexr. Breckenridge,
John Edmiston
Nicholas Brobston,
Chrisr. Acklin, James Craig,
Andrew Miller,
1
117
THE CAMPBELLS OF HOLSTON.
William Berry,
Thomas Evans,
Richard Heggons,
Moses Buchanan,
William Marlor,
John Lester,
David Carson,
Wm. Edmiston,
Hugh Johnson,
Samuel Buchanan,
Thos. Edmiston,
Edward Pharis,
William Bates,
John Beaty,
Joseph Lester,
William McMillin,
David Beaty,
Saml. White,
John Kennedy,
George Feator,
William Lester,
Robert Lamb,
Michl. Halyacre,
William Page,
Thos. Rafferty,
Stephen Cawood,
Saml. Buchanan, Jr.,
Thomas Baker, . John Groce,
James Garvill,
Thomas Montgomery,
Rob. Buchanan, Jr.,
Samuel Bell,
Robert Buchanan,
Edward Jamison,
John Campbell.
Montcalm, Nov. 29, 1851.
DEAR SIR-I had the pleasure of receiving by the last mail your letter of the 18th inst .- and on further consideration have concluded to comply with your views. I do not know that what I have written will be worthy of notice, and I am not in sufficient health to revise. You must make what you can of it.
Yours most respectfully,
DAVID CAMPBELL.
The Campbells of Holston.
JOHN CAMPBELL, the great ancestor of the Campbells of Holston, came from Ireland to America, with a family of five grown sons and several daughters in the year 1726, and first settled in Lan- caster County, Pennsylvania. About the year 1730, he removed to what was then Orange, afterwards Augusta County, where he resided until his death; and where his numerous descendants lived for many years. The Campbells above named were the descendants of his oldest son Patrick, and his youngest son David-Patrick had a son Charles, and he a son William, who was the General William Campbell, of the Revolution, and the grand-father of Mrs. Gov. M'Dowell. David, the youngest son of John, married Mary Ham- ilton, and had a family of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, the youngest of whom was eleven years old when the family removed to Holston-John Campbell, the elder, and all his descendants, were raised and educated after the strictest manner in the Presbyterian church, and a large portion of them became mem- bers in that church. In 1765, John, the oldest son of David Camp- bell and Mary Hamilton, in company with Dr. Thomas Walker, explored the western wilderness, and purchased for his father and himself an ancient survey near the head-waters of the Holston, called the Royal Oak -and a few years afterwards the family removed to it. John and Arthur, the two oldest sons, preceded their father, and accompanied by one sister, Margaret, and making improvements. The father and mother then followed, accompanied by their sons James, David, Robert, and Patrick-and daughters Mary who was then married to William Lochart, and Martha, Sarah and Ann, single. In a few years after this removal Margaret, who had been a pioneer with her two oldest brothers, married David Campbell, the pioneer who erected Campbell's station fifteen miles
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THE CAMPBELLS OF HOLSTON.
below Knoxville, Tennessee. James lost his eye-sight with the small-pox, and died at 50 years of age-John, Arthur, David, Robert and Patrick, were active men and rendered some service to their country. John Campbell, the oldest son of David, was born in 1741, and received a good English and mathematical education. He was raised a farmer, inured to hard labor from boyhood, and accustomed to Indian warfare. He came to Holston when twenty -. five or six years of age-and shared in nearly all the campaigns against the Indians until the close of the revolution. He was a Lieutenant in Wm. Campbell's company in Col. Christian's regi- ment against the Shawnees in 1774. He commanded a company, and was second in command in the battle of the Long Island flats, of Holston, in July 1776, where his company sustained the centre charge of the Indian chief Dragon-canoe, made with such boldness that the Indians for a few minutes, were actually intermixed with his men-and where the victory over the Indians was most decisive. He also commanded a company in October of that year, under Col. Wm. Christian against the Cherokee towns, and up to the year 1781, he was in almost constant service. In 1778, he was appointed clerk of Washington County, which office he held until 1824, being forty-six years. His great fondness for farming and a rural life induced him many years before his death to place his office under the charge of a deputy and to remove to a farm. Here for more than thirty years he enjoyed himself in tranquillity, surrounded by his wife and children, and receiving and entertaining educated strangers, or old acquaintances who often called upon him. Such visits were most frequent from young Presbyterian preachers who were then often passing through the country. I recollect two, John and James Bowman, from North Carolina, of whom he was very fond as worthy good men and agreeable companions. They often called on him. He died in December, 1825, in the 85th year of his age. Arthur, the next brother, was a talented and distinguished man ; and a very good sketch of him may be found in How's His- tory and Antiquities of Virginia, under the head of Washington County. . In the sketch there are one or two small errors. He died in his 69th year-and he came first to Holston with his brother John.
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