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Editor's note: The bios are listed in the order in which they are published in the book. The symbol * or + beside a name indicates another author of the bio besides Duncan. Pages numbers are in ( ). — jrd

Missouri Baptist Biographies
by Robert S. Duncan, 1882

David Anderson (760-1) — Samuel Boone (761) — James Clayton Armstrong (761-2) — Nathan Ayres (762-4) — Manley J. Breaker (764) — Samuel Driskoll (764-5 — Josiah Duncan (765) — Dr. Benjamin F. Edwards (765-7) — W. L. T. Evans (767-9) — William Fuqua (769) — Henry Farmer (769-71) — Joseph Flood (771-2)— John P. Glover, Sen.* (772-4) — James N. Griffin* (774-5) — John C. Herndon* (775-777) — Tyree C. Harris* (777-9) — Jesse A. Hollis * (779-81) — R. C. Hill (781-2) — Wade Mosby Jackson* (782-3) — John P. Jesse (783) — Richard M. Jones (783-5) — William Metcalf Jones (785-8)— John T. M. Johnson (788-9) —

William P. Lanier* (789) — Evan Lawler+ (789-90) — Elisha Landers (790) — John Hill Luther (790-92) — Matthew Pierce Matheny (793) — Albert Gregory Mitchell (793-94) — John S. Major (795) — Walter McQuie (795-6) — John E. Moore* 796-7) — David Orr* (797) — Joab Powell* (798) — Thomas Pitts (798-9) — John W. Renshaw (799) — William Rice (799-800) — James Schofield* (800-2) — Adiel Sherwood (802-5) — Alia Bass Snethen* (806-7) — Elisha Sutton* (807-8) — William Thompson (808-15)— Thomas Taylor (815) — Mark A. Taylor* (815-16) — Obadiah Tompkins (816-17) — Leonard Turley (817) — Caswell Cobb Tipton* (817-18) — Edward Towler (818) — James Walker* (818-19) — Anderson Woods* (819-22) —

Andrew Baker (822) — Peter Brown (822-4)— Martin Thomas Bibb (824-6) — R. F. Babb (826-7) — Barnabas Baker (827-8) — J. W. Bradley (828) — J. B. Fuqua (828-9) — William R. Green* (829) — John Greenhalgh (829) — Robert Fulton Ellis (829-32) — William Ferguson (832) — P. N. Haycraft (832-5) — Samuel C. Major* (835-7) — James Francis Smith (837-9) — William H. Vardeman* (840-2) — Jesse B. Wallace (842) — B. F. Lawler (842) — George C. Bingham (843-5).

Rev. David Anderson — was born in Nelson County, Kentucky, in 1806, and publicly professed Christ by baptism when 27 years of age. In 18.50 he was ordained by a presbytery composed of Elders T. Ferguson, M. Cline and B. Wheeler. For twenty years he labored with the churches in the northwestern part of Missouri, and at the time of his death was pastor of Missouri City Church. He died near Barry, Clay County, July 5th, 1870.

The last year of Mr. Anderson's ministry was the most successful one of his life. Though possessed of moderate ability, he was "sound in doctrine, godly in walk, loved and revered by all who knew him." The following incident that occurred during the last few months of his life, illustrates his faithfulness, and may be here recorded as a warning to sinners While engaged in a protracted meeting, as it was his custom to speak personally to sinners, he approached a young man, and with deep earnestness urged him then to make his peace with God. "Not now," said the young man. "But," said Bro. Anderson, "you may never have another opportunity." "I'll risk it," was the response of the sinful young man. It proved to be the last invitation and last opportunity, for in less than one
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month the young man sent for Bro. Anderson to come and see him, to whom he said, "Mr. Anderson, I missed the salvation of my soul; I am dying, and am lost."

Deacon Samuel Boone — was an early pioneer to this country. He came to Missouri when it was a wilderness, and was for fifty years a faithful Baptist,for much of which time he was identified with the Mt. Horeb Church, Montgomery County. This church was organized at his house in the year 1833, he being one of the constituent members. He was for many years connected with the Little Bonne Femme Association, being identified with it in its darkest hours through the controversy on missions.

Samuel Boone was a relative of Daniel Boone, the pioneer of Kentucky. At a ripe old age God took him to his reward above. His death occurred in the year 1870.

James Clayton Armstrong — was born in Franklin County, Missouri, November 10, 1847. The teaching and influence of Christian parents did much to shape his after life. He grew up on the farm, where he, labored until he was twenty-one, attending the district school three months each winter. In a log schoolhouse with puncheon floor and split-log benches, he laid the foundation of his education. In August, 1867, he was converted and joined the New Hope Baptist Church. In October, 1868, he entered William Jewell College, compelled by the lack of previous advantages to begin with the preparatory studies. In 1874 he took the degree of A.B., and in 1875 the degree of A. M. He chiefly supported himself in college, partly by superintending the Students' Boarding Club, and partly by teaching some classes in Latin and Greek.
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In June, 1875, he received a call to the pastorate of the Miami Baptist Church, and was ordained the month following. In October, 1877, he resigned and became one of the editors of the Central Baptist. December 26, 1877, he was married to Miss Emma B. Pendleton, of Miami. From February, 1879, to October, 1881, he was pastor of the Garrison Avenue Baptist Church, St. Louis, in connection with his editorial labors. He was immediately called tothe pastorate of the Baptist Church of Mexico, and severing his connection with the paper, he moved to Mexico, May 1, 1882.

Nathan Ayres — is a member of the pioneer brigade — a native of Kentucky, born February 22, 1808. His parents were Baptists and members at Forks of Elkhorn. When nine years old he attended a meeting conducted by Eld. Jeremiah Vardeman, then in his prime, and was deeply convicted of sin, seeing the just judgment of God in his own condemnation. He prayed, sought justification by the law, failed, and finally gave himself up to the practice of many abominable sins. Of this period of his life he says, "I cannot understand why I thus acted against light and knowledge. It seems to me I came near committing the unpardonable sin."

He continued thus to live until about 15 years of age, when, under the ministry of Eld. Wm. Rice he was re-awakened to a sense of personal guilt, and in about a year he yielded himself into the hands of a perfect Savior and found peace for his soul. He soon after was baptized and became a member of the Baptist church at Forks of Elkhorn. A very large crowd was attracted to see the "little boy baptized." He says: "I felt a desire to tell others what a dear Savior I had found as soon as I had an evidence of God’s pardoning love. I talked to my schoolmates and exhorted them to repent of their sins." At his own request his father consented to give him his portion of the estate in an education. Under this arrangement he was sent to O'Hara’s Woodford Select Seminary. The head of this institution was a Catholic, and made the usual promise not to interfere with the religious views of his new pupil, but did all he could to bias the mind of young Ayres notwithstanding. No comments are needed. Before he was 18 years old he got a certificate as a qualified teacher in the French, Latin and English branches.

His church licensed him to preach while he was yet at school. His pastor made an appointment for him at the evening prayer-meeting,
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and for fear of being made a gazing-stock he did not go. Subsequently, however, having partially overcome his timidity, he went forward in this duty.

In the fall of 1828 he came to Missouri and bought land in Marion County; then returned to Kentucky, taught school for a time, and married Mary R. Richmond December 17, 1829, with her returning to Missouri in 1830. On account of the prevalence of malarial fever he went back to Kentucky the same year.

His wife and some members of his church being opposed to his preaching, he spent much of the next ten years of his life teaching school. In 1841 he removed permanently to Missouri, bought the old college farm near West Ely, Marion County, and united with the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church near his home. Three years afterwards he removed near Union Church in the same county, into which he and his wife put their membership, and he became much more active in church work, occupying by request of the church one Sunday in the month in her pulpit, and soon after this succeeded Eld. Jer. Taylor in the pastoral office, he having resigned on account of great age. Upon his election to this office the Union Church called for his ordination, which service was performed by Elds. Wm. Hurley and Jeremiah Taylor in July, 1847. Immediately after his ordination he baptized one of his little school girls who had been converted under his ministry. He continued in the pastoral office at Marion Church for ten years, during which time the church enjoyed several revivals and had many ingatherings. He was also pastor of three other churches, which he visited monthly on Saturdays and Sundays after the usual custom, and returned to his school-room on Monday, all the while superintending the raising of a large family and the cultivation of a farm on which he kept a hired man to do the work. Mr. Ayres was an efficient minister for many years in Northeast Missouri, aided in organizing a number of new churches and in ordaining many preachers and deacons. For more than a year he traveled as missionary of the General Association of the state, and for one year he was corresponding secretary of the same body, with headquarters at Palmyra. The method of work at that time was this: The state was divided into five districts, three on the north side of the Missouri River and two on the south side, in each of which there was a general missionary reporting to the corresponding secretary every month. During the war of 1861 he spent a year in Kentucky, and while there was called to the pastoral care of old Forks of Elkhorn Church.
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Brother Ayres is now an old man, having seen seventy-four winters, and is waiting with great resignation to cross the river.

Manly J. Breaker — This gifted and brilliant young pastor comes of a family of Baptist preachers. His grandfather was a Baptist preacher; and his father, Rev. J. M. C. Breaker, D.D., highly esteemed and well known, is the able pastor of the First Baptist Church, Houston, Texas.

The subject of this notice was born in New Berne, North Carolina, March 9, 1850, but was brought up in South Carolina, as his father soon returned to that state. He was converted in September, 1865, baptized by his father, and united with Spartanburg Baptist Church in South Carolina. His education was pursued at Wofford College, S. C., Washington University, Mo., William Jewell College, Mo., and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. At this last institution he graduated in full in May, 1873; and soon after married Miss Mary Timms, Liberty, Mo. His first pastorate was at Glasgow, which he left to take the presidency of Mount Pleasant College, Huntsville. This he resigned and became pastor of the Baptist church at Fayette, Howard County, Mo., to which, and some neighboring churches, he has preached ever since, except three months that he spent at Austin, Texas. He has done some writing for the press, and especially has he rendered valuable assistance in the editorial work of the Central Baptist, having for some time conducted the Sunday-school department of that paper. His preaching is very largely expository; in style he is clear and forcible. No one questions his devotion to the interests of the Baptist denomination. He is fully identified with the work of the Missouri Baptist General Association and of the Southern Baptist Convention. As a theological thinker he is independent and recognizes no Master but Christ.

Samuel Driskoll — was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina, December 10, 1799. His early religious convictions were deep and pungent, and followed him for many years. At one time his conviction of sin was so heavy as to cause sickness, requiring the attendance of the physician, who bled him, but to no purpose. Getting no better, he removed to Tennessee, where he succeeded in partially throwing off his convictions for three years. He then moved to Green County, Illinois, where he remained only four years, and from there to Morgan County, Missouri.

About this time, at thirty-five years of age, he lost two children,
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which added affliction to his burden of guilt and resulted in the conversion of himself and wife. They were both baptized at the same time. Five years of hard and constant struggling against the conviction of duty to preach brought Mr. Driskoll into a state of mind bordering on despair. But the Lord one evening at his own fireside filled his soul with joy and his mouth with praise. Doubting the genuineness of his first conversion, he was rebaptized by Elder Greer, and began to preach. His first sermon was at the baptismal waters. He was now licensed and ordained, and continued to preach up to the time of his death. He was opposed to a paid ministry, and labored hard with his hands to support a large family. He said that God had called him to preach in the backwoods, and not to educated people, and yet it is said that educated people were delighted and profited by his preaching. On some public occasion after two educated men had preached, it is said that Eld. Driskoll followed in exhortation with such pathos and power that all were made to weep and tremble. On another occasion, when he came before a large audience unexpectedly, and saw the people clad in silks and broadcloth, he looked at his own blue jeans clothes, made by the hands of his own good wife, and said, "These clothes do not suit here," and immediately left the house and mounted his horse and rode home. His last hours were calm and peaceful, and he died as a child would go to sleep, December 27, 1870. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

Josiah Duncan — This brother was for over thirteen years a minister among the Baptists. He was born in Kentucky, May 10, 1808, a son of Rice and Jane Duncan. While engaged in his daily labor he was converted, and soon afterwards joined the Greenville Church, Wayne County, Missouri, in 1836. His marriage to Miss Margaret Miller occurred in January, 1834. In 1845 he was ordained a minister, from which time he did much labor in the gospel in the St. Francois and sister associations. "In early life he was a great horse racer and gambler, but after his conversion he was never known to reflect, by word or deed, upon his Christian character. He died in November, 1858. (Eld. M. A. Taylor's MS.) Josiah Duncan was distinctly a Baptist, an earnest and devoted gospel minister.

Dr. Benjamin F. Edwards * — was born at Darnestown, Maryland, July 2, 1797. He was the son of Benj. Edwards, who was,
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* By William Elmer, in Central Baptist, May, 1877.
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at one time, member of Congress from Maryland and a member of the convention that ratified the Federal Constitution. He was described by Wm. Wirt, the celebrated attorney-general of the United States, as being "one of nature's great men." He possessed great oratorical power, which on several occasions he used in the service of his country.

When Dr. Edwards was two years old his parents removed to Kentucky and settled at Bardstown, where his early life was spent. At the age of 20 he was converted and united with the Baptist church. From the first day of his new life to the last he realized that God had called him to work, and he immediately entered upon an active Christian life. In 1819 he married Miss Eliza Green, a daughter of Willis Green, of Danville, Kentucky, and soon after emigrated to Missouri, where he joined his brother-in-law, Gen. Duff Green, and formed the acquaintance of Gov. Gamble and other prominent men of that day.

His first stay in Missouri was short; it lasted only a year. He then returned to Kentucky and made his home in the neighborhood of Russellville. Here he practiced medicine, the study of which occupied most of his early years.

In March, 1827, he removed from Kentucky to Edwardsville, Ill., where his skill as a physician soon secured him a large practice. His rides extended so far from home as to make five relays of horses necessary to attend to his professional duties. It was while a resident at this place that he and a few others organized in his parlor the first Baptist church in Illinois that was solemnly pledged to the cause of missions. He also advocated and with the aid of Dr. Peck succeeded in organizing the first Baptist association in Illinois which advocated the same cause. But it was not in missions alone that he was interested. He realized the power of an educated ministry and was a prime mover in the organization of Rock Spring Seminary.

From Edwardsville he removed to Alton and continued to reside there till 1846, when he took up his residence in St. Louis. He came to this city with agreat reputation as a physician, and immediately entered upon a large practice. Even in this busy city and active life he was continually seeking to promote the good of the Baptist cause, and no worthy object was permitted to pass by without being recognized and substantially aided.

In 1849, during the height of the gold fever, he went to California and spent two years, at the end of which time he returned and resumed the practice of his profession in St. Louis.
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In 1866 he purchased his beautiful home in Kirkwood and removed there to enjoy the peace and quiet of a country life. Finding no Baptist church here, he soon entered upon the work of organizing one. This could not be accomplished for some time, but at last his work was rewarded, and his dearest wish gratified when in 1870 the present Baptist church was founded. Soon after, almost alone, aided only by a few, he entered upon the work of building the present Baptist house of worship, and this neat brick edifice is to-day a standing monument of his zeal for God and his devotion to His cause. We realize that in his departure we lose an earnest, devoted Christian, a thorough Biblical student and an earnest worker in the cause of Christ. When well, his seat at church or prayer meeting was never vacant.

The family of Dr. Edwards comprised Sarah, Willis, Benjamin, Frank C. and Julia, who now rest with him in Bellefontaine Cemetery; and Mrs. Whittaker, of Kirkwood, Mrs. Ostrom, of New York, Mrs. Todd, of Columbia, Mo., Presley, of Hillsboro, Ill., and Cyrus, of Dennison, Texas, who are still living, besides many grandchildren.

His death, which occurred at his home April 27, 1877, at the advanced age of 80 years, covered with a cloud of sorrow the Baptist church and community of Kirkwood.

W. L. T. Evans — After much suffering and patient endurance, this: man of God died of dropsy, at his home in Randolph County, May 26, 1879.

He was born in Maryland, February 7,1829. His parents were John R. and Catherine Evans. Four years of his early life were spent in Washington City with his aunt, Mrs. Ellen Alexander, where he went to school.

In 1855 he moved to Missouri and settled at Landmark, Howard County; thence to Milton, where he died.

Two years after he came to Missouri he professed religion and united with the Methodists; three years thereafter, being dissatisfied with his baptism and with the government of said church, he united with the Baptists and was baptized by Elder W. K. Woods, soon after which he was ordained to the ministry by Elds. Jesse Terrill and P. T. Gentry, and was a toiling minister in the Baptist denomination for nearly twenty years. His name is associated with the following churches in the counties of Howard, Randolph, Monroe, and Shelby, as pastor, viz Mount Vernon, Moniteau, Friendship, Roanoke, Enon, Pleasant Hill, Union, Hickory Grove, Oak Grove, Mt. Shiloh and Shiloh
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(now Moberly). For several years he rode as missionary in Mt. Pleasant Association.

Bro. Evans was three times married — his last wife (whom he survived only a short time) being the daughter of the lamented Eld. Jesse Terrill.

He was a successful gospel minister, and enjoyed in an eminent degree the confidence of the people among whom he labored and died. He was a man of prayer, full of the Holy Ghost. The salvation which he preached was through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He had no confidence in the flesh, but rested solely on the mediation of the Son of God.

The following tribute to the memory of Bro. Evans, is from the pen of Rev. Jno. C. Shipp, of Kirksville, Missouri:

"The sad news of the death of this useful servant of God, will doubtless cause deep feeling in many a heart. It occurred on the evening of the 26th inst., and the funeral took place on the day following at Hickory Grove Church, Monroe County, Missouri. It is not my purpose to write an obituary, but say a word in regard to the elements of power that he possessed in an eminent degree.

"That Elder Evans was a successful minister of the gospel we who knew him know quite well. No man enjoyed more the confidence of the people among whom he lived, labored and died. No man ever exercised a more commanding influence for good.

"What was the source of this power? What secured for him the confidence of the people? Was it unaided human wisdom? unsanctified talent? No; unquestionably, no. It came of his devotion to God, and truth and love of men. Rev. Jno. G. Swinney, in making some remarks at his funeral said, 'He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost;' which was certainly true of him.

"He believed and taught the religion of the Holy Ghost. He relied on Him to accomplish the work of salvation both in himself and others, and not anything he himself might say or do. He was an earnest believer in the efficacy of both private and public prayer. To him prayer was not a meaningless form; but a source of divine communion and a means of grace. He was a man of prayer.

"In his preaching he embodied in warm and earnest words the simple truths of God's word. Having suffered much in life, he introduced his own sorrows into prayer, sermon and exhortation, and that gave him increased power over his hearers.
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"Socially he was pleasant and kind, and always had a kind word for every one. He cultivated this element of success that by it he might win souls toChrist. He loved fallen, depraved men, and they felt he loved them. By these elements of success, learned from God’s word, he secured the confidence and love of all who knew him. It may not be amiss for me to say that I am indebted personally to this departed servant of God. He was, of all the ministers I knew in childhood and youth, first to drop in my ear a word that led me to Christ. He it was, in connection with that excellent man of God, Rev. S.Y. Pitts, that most of all encouraged me to preach the riches of Christ. He it was who presided over the council that ordained me. He it was who took me by the hand when just struggling into spiritual and ministerial life, and I shall embalm his memory in my heart and by the grace of God follow his example for good in life."

William Fuqua — was one of the pioneer preachers of Missouri. Of him Hon. A. P. Miller, of Pike County, says: "Bro. Fuqua was a good 'old time' preacher, rather above the medium for talent, in his day. I heard him preach in 1836 at Mount Pisgah. I took him to be then about 75 years old. My recollection is that he was a member of the Bethel Association, but subsequently left and became identified with the anti-mission brethren."

Henry Farmer — In his ancestral relations, this very worthy servant of the Lord and minister of the gospel was a Virginian, but by birth a Tennesseean. He was the son of John and Sally Farmer; the grandson of Henry and Sally Farmer; the great-grandson of Henry and Aggie Farmer, of Halifax County, Virginia; and was born in Anderson County, Tennessee, September 17, 1809. In 1833 he made a profession of religion, was baptized by Daniel Briggs, of Meigs County, Tennessee, and seven years thereafter entered the ministry, having been ordained July 18, 1840.

Bro. Farmer came early to Missouri and traveled many thousands of miles in Western and Southwestern Missouri, preaching the gospel of the Son of God to the original settlers and their descendants, among whom he was highly esteemed, and with whom his name is now almost a sacred word.

He died January 30, 1870, and was laid unto his fathers.

Eld. Jeremiah Farmer, a cousin, furnishes the following facts:

Henry Farmer was from boyhood remarkably steady and studious, having been reared on a farm and at a time when opportunities for education were not good. He did, however, by
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dint of hard study and the right use of books, succeed in making himself a very respectable scholar, save in English grammar, in which he was somewhat deficient; nevertheless, from his constant familiarity with good books he acquired the habit of using good language.

His preaching was profound and logical, and at times eloquent beyond anything I ever heard, holding his audiences spell-bound. He was earnest, butnot boisterous, and often so pathetic and tender that his hearers would be melted to tears.

He was of the Andrew Fuller type as to his doctrines; firm in his convictions, amounting at times almost to stubbornness. He had the stuff of which masters are made, yet he was courteous to those who differed from him. He never sought controversy. He was eminently successful in winning souls to Christ. All his churches grew and prospered up to the breaking out of the war.

His marriage with Miss Clarinda Jane Boothe occurred March 7, 1845. She and four children — two sons and two daughters — survive him.

He emigrated to Missouri in the spring of 1839, and united with the Union Baptist Church, Cass County. The presbytery, at his ordination the year after, consisted of Joseph White, Wm. Ousley, John Jackson and John Farmer.

Soon after his ordination he became pastor of Union Church and continued to serve it until within a short time of his death. He and Thomas A. Staton organized the West Fork Church in the latter part of the year 1842, and soon after he and others organized the Basin Knob (now Lone Jack) Church, Jackson County, of which he became pastor and so continued until the war. About the same time he became pastor of the Concord Church, Lafayette County. He served the Blue Spring Church as pastor for many years, and labored in the same relation also at Westport, West Fork, Big Creek, Big Cedar, Elm Spring, Greenton Valley and Harrisonville. For thirty years his labors in the ministry were arduous, traveling from church to church, often twenty miles apart, and all with but little compensation, for the country was new and the churches for some years were really mission stations; and as soon as they gained sufficient strength they had to build houses of worship. Thus did he and his contemporaries labor that others might enter in and reap. Few of those now living properly appreciate the sacrifices of the pioneer ministers among whom Henry Farmer was prominent. The ten churches of which he was pastor all became thriving institutions,
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and during his career he baptized near 2,000 persons. He was the correspondent of David Benedict, the Baptist historian, and gave him an account of Blue River Association.

Henry Farmer was one of the most useful men in the Baptist ministry of Western Missouri, and his memory is yet fragrant among thousands in that section.

Joseph Flood — was a native of Shelby County, Kentucky, a younger brother of the late Noah Flood, and was born October, 10, 1813. In August, 1830, he married Miss Eliza A. Major who survived him at his death. He removed to Callaway Co., Missouri, in 1846, settling near Fulton, where he resided for about twenty years. He removed to Clay County in 1868, and spent the residue of his life in and near Kearney.

In early life he became a Christian and united with the Baptists at Christiansburg Ky., and while he lived he was an ornamentto his profession.

As principal of the preparatory department he was connected with Westminster College in 1866, and held a like position in Stephens' College in 1867. Few men surpassed him in devotion to Sunday-schools. In the Richland Church, Callaway County, he was superintendent of the Sunday-school and served the same church as deacon for years. At Kearney he also was superintendent of the Sunday-school, and for his fidelity therein he was rewarded
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by the news of the conversion of forty souls in the glorious revival of that place just before his death, many of whom were from the school. Mr. Flood served his county as justice of its court for some years, and was a member of the state convention in 1861, and wherever he served was regarded a man of sterling worth. In Kentucky he was licensed to preach, but did not exercise in that way after he came to Missouri. His death, November 14, 1878, was from asthma and heart disease, and he left behind him a fragrant and blessed memory.

John P. Glover, Sen.* — Though not a minister of the gospel this pioneer of Montgomery County, Missouri, deserves a place in these sketches.

He was born in Charles County, Maryland, July 17, 1770. Surrounded by Episcopal and Catholic influences, while the Baptists were only known to be despised and treated with every indignity, even to personal violence and the ducking of the ministers — one of which scenes he witnessed when a boy — nevertheless he attended the preaching of the gospel, and at the age of 19 the grace of God reached his heart. He was made to "rejoice in hope of the glory of God," and by a public profession of faith in a buried and risen Savior, he united himself with the reviled and persecuted people of God.

Although his walk was in the vale of poverty, his education extending only to the rudiments of his native tongue, and his talents not above mediocrity, he felt that he had enlisted for the war, and he engaged as a good soldier for Christ with heart and mind for a life-long effort in his Master’s cause. He sang, he prayed, he exhorted saints to walk close to God and sinners to flee the wrath to come. He took a deep interest in everything calculated to advance the Redeemer’s kingdom on earth. On one occasion, if no more, he walked several miles to a ferry on the Potomac, at which Eld. R. B. Semple was to cross on his way to a meeting of the missionary board in Philadelphia, that he might inform Mr. Semple of the destitution of his neighborhood and entreat him to "send us a preacher." Mr. Semple was detained on account of high wind and rough water, but the watchman of Zion was not thus to be foiled. He awaited the calm, and with it came Mr. Semple, who heard his solicitations and promised, if possible, to supply the destitute field. He did so. Eld. Sam'l L. Straughn was sent, who labored successfully,
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* By D. W. Nowlin in Western Watchman, Vol. XII.
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and many souls were added to the church, among whom were two of our subject’s own children. In his old age he used to relate this circumstance with far greater joy and delight than any old soldier can feel in recounting his hair-breadth escapes.

About the year 1820 he removed to Missouri and settled in Montgomery County, just by what is now the site of Zion meeting-house, at which place he resided up to the time of his death.

He at once erected an altar in his house to Israel's God, and constantly maintained family worship during his life. In his house was constituted the first Baptist church in this region of country, he being one of the most efficient movers therein.

He never found the weather too inclement for him to walk to his church meetings, although the meeting-house was four miles off, and half the distance a prairie. His seat was always filled if his health permitted, and he generally enjoyed very good health. He was always ready to speak a word of consolationto the desponding, and to point the penitent soul to the cross of Christ. His religion was his meat and drink, his joy by day and by night.

One might suppose that such devotion would be attended by continual joy and peace, without any cloud to mar or distress. But such was not the case. After seeing the church constituted, and his house flourish and increase, and the greater number of his children added thereto, and a good comfortable log edifice erected as a place of worship, in 1840 the church passed resolutions strongly condemning missionary operations and all kindred enterprises, and declaring non-fellowship for any who might engage in or advocate them. This was touching the old servant of Christ in a very tender point, and it was a sore trial to his devout, pious soul. On the one side was the church of which he was the patriarch, all the members of which he loved, part of whom were of his own blood. On the other side was what he conceived to be the best interests of Christ's kingdom. He hesitated no longer than to reason with and persuade his brethren to abandon so suicidal a policy. They refused to take his admonitions. He asked for a letter of dismission, which was refused. Other members of the church were alike desirous to obtain letters; none were granted. At length, by advice of Eld. W. Hurley, the church granted to Father Glover and others, certificates of character, containing a statement of the cause of their discontent. They had in contemplation the constitution of a church upon more liberal principles, and Father Glover was greatly exercised
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in prayer to God for grace and guidance. But before the anticipated constitution was realized his Master bade him cease his warfare, lay aside his armor and receive his enduring reward.

On the morning of the Sabbath, the 22d of November, 1840, just before the dawn of day (having retired the night previous in usual health), he arose to renew his fire, and spoke to his wife pleasantly of his family comforts, and returned to bed to await daylight. In a few moments he arose to a sitting posture in the bed, and quietly asked, "What's the matter? What's the matter?" and lay back in the bed. And before his aged companion and fellow-pilgrim from youth could arise and light a candle, he had passed from this state of trial to the full fruition of the joys of his Lord, having lived a few months beyond his threescore years and ten, over fifty of which were spent in the service of our Lord Jesus, in assiduously cultivating and using the talent intrusted to his care, and in realizing the promise, "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season."

James N. Griffin* — born in Kentucky, near Crab Orchard, June 12, 1809, departed this life July 12, 1880, aged 71 years and two months. Elder Griffin moved to Missouri at an early time, was baptized by the writer in February, 1845, being the first hopeful convert ever baptized by myself. At the same timeI baptized his wife and a number of other converts who were organized into a Baptist church some eighteen miles below Mexico, Missouri, on the west fork of Cuivre, in a little log schoolhouse. Afterwards they united with other brethren and formed what is now known as the West Cuivre Baptist Church, near his place of residence, where he spent the most of a long and useful life, raising a large and interesting family of children. Nine of them survive him with their mother to mourn his loss — two sons and seven daughters-having lost one son in early life. Sister Sarah M. Griffin, his wife, was the daughter of my father, Elder Jeremiah Vardeman, and the only surviving sister I have. Eld. Griffin soon after his baptism manifested great zeal in his Master's work, was licensed by the church, soon after was ordained, and preached with good success in the highways and hedges and small churches in that then vastly destitute region. Bro. Griffin, however, lost his health to a considerable degree, being much distressed with a severe cough that lasted him for many years. But still he did all he could to promote his Master's cause while
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* By Rev. W. H. Vardeman in Central Baptist, Vol. XV, No. 33.
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he lived. His doors were always open for the entertainment of ministers and visiting brethren. He lived highly respected by all who knew him, died the death of the righteous, and has gone home to receive the welcome plaudit, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

I preached his funeral sermon in the presence of many mourning friends from that good old and appropriate text, “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord,” etc.

John C. Herndon* — was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, December 16, 1782. His parents were not wealthy, though in comfortable circumstances, and much beloved and respected.

When about twenty-two years of age he professed faith in Christ, was baptized by Eld. William Grinstead, then pastor of Long Branch Church, and was soon after elected a deacon in that church.

The next important event in his history was his union in marriage with Miss Alice Nutt, the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Nutt. Alice was raised a Presbyterian, though when married she was not a Christian. It was not long, however, before she was converted and united with the same church as her husband.

This union proved to be one of great happiness to both. With mutual attachment as husband and wife, and united in the great principles of evangelical truth, they were bound together by the strongest ties. For about twenty years after his marriage he was engaged in teaching school, during which time he educated most of his children, nor did he change his location orhis school, such was his popularity as a teacher. This, with a small farm which he had purchased, made a support for his family.

Elder Herndon and his wife, Alice, were the parents of twenty children — eleven sons and nine daughters — of whom four sons became ministers of the gospel of the same denomination with their parents. All that have made a profession have joined the Baptists. Eld. Herndon had some striking features in his character. He was a very decided man. He governed his children with great firmness and affection. The words of his mouth were the law, ultimate and final. … His religious life was marked by firmness, consistency, devotion, zeal and benevolence. A custom with him, in which he showed the deep interest he felt for the religious training of his children, was to assemble them every
---------------------------------
* By Rev. R. N. Herndon, in Virginia Baptist Ministers, 2nd Series, p. 223.
[p. 776]
Lord's day and hear them read the Holy Scriptures, himself joining in the service.

The following incident occurred in his life. He and his associate deacon (Brother Love) were for a long time the only male members who attended the prayer meeting, and very frequently the only members; but they were not discouraged. On one occasion they met alone at the house of God and covenanted together that they would meet there as long as life and health were granted them, on every Lord's day, and pray for the prosperity of Zion and the blessing of God on their families and their neighbors. In 1828 and 1829 the blessing came through the ministry of Eld. William F. Broadus. More than one hundred souls were gathered into the fold of Christ. The revival continued for several years. Not long after the church ordained to the gospel ministry these two men of God, after they had filled well the office of deacons for twenty-five years. Elder Herndon was called to the church at Antioch, in Prince William County, where his labors were again blessed.

In the providence of God he conceived it to be his duty, for several reasons, to remove to the West. One was, that by becoming surety for another he had suffered loss in property; besides, he thought his children would be benefited by a removal to the fertile West. The struggle was hard to cut loose from brethren and long-tried friends.

But this was only preparatory to severer trials. Stopping awhile in Kentucky, with an only brother, he was called to give up the companion of his youth and riper years, the mother of all his children, and to pursue his future pilgrimage in life alone. She died September 12, 1838, with a firm reliance on the Savior.

He purposed to go to Missouri and pursued his journey with a heavy heart, but with that heart fixed, trusting in the Lord, he reached finally his destination. Settling himself in Missouri, he commenced preaching the gospel to some destitute churches. But his trials were not at an end; he was very soon called to follow several of his children, servants and other connections to the tomb. His own health also began to give way. He became permanently located in Lincoln County, near Troy, the county seat, still laboring in the gospel. From this time until his death, his health gradually declined, until toward the close of the year 1847 he was called to his reward on high. He died as he lived, calmly and fully persuaded that salvation was found only through the mediation and atonement of Jesus Christ.
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He cordially sympathized with the great benevolent movements of the age for the spread of the gospel at home and abroad, and cheerfully contributed his substance to carry out these designs. His remains sleep in Lincoln County at his late residence, with two sons, James and Samuel, and a loved daughter, Ann, to await the sound of the last trumpet.

Tyree C. Harris* — The subject of this short sketch was the son of Tyree Harris, of Boone Co., Mo., and was the tenth of thirteen children. He was born in the year of our Lord 1824.

From childhood he was naturally very delicate. Although no marks of any settled disease were visible, yet he was unable to perform any hard physical labor. Possessing a playful and gentle disposition, he was a great favorite among his early companions — rarely, if ever, known to be out of humor, or in the least to become irritated, as was common with boys of his age. He never used profane language, or engaged in gross wickedness of any kind.

In early youth, Tyree Harris possessed extraordinary sprightliness; at the age of six years he commenced school, and with uncommon aptness he comprehended, as with instinct, every problem presented to him. Though the schools of that day were greatly inferior to what they are now, yet his progress was remarkable. At the age of 13 fears were entertained of his early decline with consumption; but by such exercise as suited his inclination his health was restored.

In October, 1839, he attended the regular monthly conference of the Baptist church at Mt. Gilead, in Howard County, Mo.; and under the faithful preaching of Elder Thos. Fristoe, he, for the first time, clearly saw himself a helpless sinner before God. He went home the same evening in deep distress, with a clear view of the depravity of the human heart. But ere long the burden was removed; and delivered from the thraldom of sin, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, his soul was enabled to rejoice in His redeeming grace and dying love.

At the regular meeting of the Bethlehem Church, in Boone County, in November following, he was received into fellowship by experience and baptism, by that faithful servant of God, Fielding Wilhoite. His prayer at thewater will never be forgotten by those who were present. His whole soul was drawn out in the most earnest melting appeal and supplication to the Divine throne, that young Tyree Harris might be qualified to
---------------------------------------------
* By Eld. X. X. Buckner, in Missouri Baptist, Vol. I, No. 37.
[p. 778]
dispense the word of life and become an eminent minister of the gospel. He commenced the exercise of public prayer with great acceptance. In December, 1841, the church granted him license to preach, which he did, to the astonishment of multitudes who heard him. Shortly after this, Rowland Hughes of Howard County, learning the future promise of young Tyree Harris, and hearing him on one occasion himself, proposed to take him into his family and complete his education; which he did to the satisfaction of all concerned. He was educated in Boonville, under Professor Kemper.

His youthful appearance, together with his bold and earnest manner, his untiring zeal, his eloquent and pungent appeals from the pulpit soon won for him the name of the "boy preacher." His style was forcible, attractive and popular; his manner easy and graceful; his voice sweet and mellow. With a clear, strong mind, he possessed great vivacity of thought and versatility of style. Fluency of speech and lively imagination were combined to make him a "bright and shining light." His manner, both in private and public, in the pulpit and out of it, was such as to make him popular both with the church and the world.

In December, 1843, he assisted in the constitution of the first Baptist church in the city of Boonville; and in August following he commenced his labors with this church as their regular pastor. Though young, he commanded an influence for good and attracted great congregations, and soon succeeded in building a large and commodious house of worship. Under his ministry the church enjoyed a high degree of prosperity; members were added almost monthly by experience and baptism, until they became a large and influential body.

With the brethren in Boonville he spent the prime of his short life. This people loved him dearly. The name of Tyree Harris is still fresh in the memory of those who enjoyed the labors of this eminent divine. Whilst in this field he also for a time preached for the churches at Big Lick and Nebo, in Cooper County, and after eight years of successful toil he left a large church and took charge of the congregation in Fayette in 1851.

In 1852 he commenced his labors as pastor of the church in Columbia, Mo., where, by his distinguished pulpit efforts and his Christian and gentlemanly deportment, he endeared himself to a large circle of admiring friends and acquaintances.

During his pastorate here he was also president of the Columbia Female Academy. And under his able superintendence the
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institution flourished beyond a parallel at that time. He canvassed the state in behalf of the institution, presenting the claims of female education; and his eloquent appeals met a liberal response, for around him were gathered 125 young ladies from all parts of the state.

In 1853 he was called to the chair of English Literature in William Jewell College, but did not accept the position.

In 1854 he was called to take charge of the Female College at La Grange, in Georgia, but did not accept. After two years of arduous toil in the pulpit and school-room, he was called to and accepted the care of the Baptist church in Lexington, Mo. He entered upon his labors in this field with renewed ardor and zeal, and determined to spend his life with the people of God there. He was soon attacked with typhoid fever, and in two months after he had entered upon his duties there he was called to his reward.

Bro. Harris was considered by all who knew him as the ablest and most promising young man in the state. View him as a man, as a minister of the New Testament, and hear his earnest appeals from the sacred desk, and you would mark him as a man of no ordinary talent. As pastor, he was kind, affectionate and prayerful; as a reasoner, clear and forcible; and as a speaker he had strength, beauty and eloquence. Possessing these rare gifts, he was successful in all his labors on earth, and now, whilst his works do follow him his memory is fragrant in the hearts of many.

Jesse A. Hollis* — was born of English parents, in Fairfield County, South Carolina, December 13, 1824. Being left by the death of his parents an orphan at the early age of twelve years, he was while a mere child cast upon his own resources in life. Even at that youthful period he began his fortunes in the world by obtaining a position in a mercantile establishment in Columbia, South Carolina, and laboring persistently therein for the ensuing two years, the earnings of which time he appropriated to defraying his expenses at school in the same city for the two subsequent years. At this period of his life — sixteen years of age — he removed to Utica, Mississippi, where he was engaged in business for several years.

Fired with a noble ambition, by unceasing toil he accumulated enough to secure for him a thorough collegiate education at
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* From the Missouri Statesman, as republished in the Central Baptist, Vol. II, No. 28.
[p. 780]
Georgetown College, Kentucky, where, in July, 1852, he graduated with honor. In the September following he entered the Baptist Theological Seminary at Covington, Kentucky, and remained there until the suspension of that institution a few months later, when he returned to Utica, Mississippi, where, though only a licentiate and but twenty-nine years old, he received a call to the pastorate ofthe church of which he had previously been a member. On September 1, 1853, he married Miss Arzelia Echols, daughter of Robert C. and Arzelia Echols, of Jackson County, Missouri. By her he was the father of seven children, four of whom, little girls, the oldest ten years, with their mother survive him.

Shortly after his marriage, in 1854 he was regularly ordained a minister of the gospel in Utica, Mississippi. In 1854 he removed to Jefferson City, Missouri, where until 1856 he was pastor of the Baptist church, and together with his wife had charge of a school. During the winter of 1855 and 1856 he was chaplain of the state senate. In 1856 he was elected the first principal of the Baptist Female College, Columbia, and held this position for five months, when Rev. W. R. Rothwell was chosen president and Mr. Hollis assistant professor, which position he held till 1859, and during the years 1858 and 1859 was pastor of the Baptist church at Fulton. In 1859 he was called to the presidency of the Baptist Female College of Lexington, Missouri, one of the finest schools in Missouri, where he remained till 1863, during which period he was pastor of the Mound Prairie Church, Lafayette County. In 1865 he was a second time elected princinpal of the Baptist Female College, Columbia, and so remained to the day of his death. Two years of this, from 1865 to 1867, he was pastor of the Baptist church in the same place.

Few deaths have fallen with more suddenness or sadness upon our people, and the grief awakened is universal. On February 1, 1870, the board of curators of the college adopted the following series of resolutions relative to his death:

"Whereas, God, in his wisdom and mercy, has taken from us suddenly our long known and ardently loved president, J. A. Hollis, of The Baptist Female College, Columbia, Mo.;

"Resolved, 1st. That in the death of president J. A. Hollis, we have lost one of our best educators in the West; he has been connected with this institution as teacher nine years, and five years as president, both of which positions he filled with great acceptance.
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"2d. That we deeply sympathize with his bereaved wife and children in this their sad bereavement, and commend them to the protecting care of our common Father.

"3d. That we feel his loss is a loss not only to them and us, but to the church and community at large, and his place cannot be easily filled.

"4th. That copies of these resolutions be transmitted to the widow of our deceased friend, and to the Missouri Statesman for publication.

J. M. ROBINSON, President.

WM. T. HICKMAN, Secretary."

President Hollis was emphatically a self-made man. Beginning in childhood, friendless and fatherless, he had bravely trod the pathway of adversity till he had reached one of the most honored stations among men. But while he was distinguished for his indomitable energy of nature, he was no less eminent for his purity of heart and integrity of character. Determined, upright, affectionate, pious, he had all these elements, which, while they win the love and confidence of men, they lift their possessor above the common ranks of society. In all his relations in life he occupied a foremost and important rank. In his death the community loses a useful citizen, the church an exemplary, faithful minister, the school-room an earnest, forbearing teacher, and the family a loving husband and father. By his spotless example he was an unconscious instructor in every avenue of society. His good deeds were many and they will live after him. It was imperfect, for it were not human to be otherwise; but his influence for good far exceeded his influence for evil. Let us bury his faults — let us imitate his virtues.

Robert C. Hill — The following sketch is from the pen of his daughter, Miss Hattie Hill:

My beloved father died about 9 o'clock Tuesday morning, January 13, 1874. He was born July 11, 1806, in Madison County, Virginia; professed religion November 4, 1832; was baptized in the Roberson River by Elder John Garnett the second Sunday in November, 1832, and was licensed to preach January, 1833. On the 16th of August, 1841, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at the request of the Mt. Horeb Church, Callaway County, Missouri. The presbytery was composed of the following brethren, viz.: Elders A. B. Snethen, Joseph Nicholls, Fielding Wilhite, R. S. Thomas, Wm. Stephens and Thomas Fristoe. He was married August 28, 1832, to Mary J. Hume, of Madison County, Virginia, moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1835, and remained
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in Missouri till November, 1863. He then moved to Kentucky, where he remained till March, 1867. He then returned to Missouri in the spring of 1865. He had a severe spell of pleuropneumonia, from which he never entirely recovered; it left him with a severe cough which the physicians said terminated in consumption.

I never saw any one more reconciled to the will of God. He did not fear death; but often expressed himself anxious to depart and be with Christ. The day before he died he talked freely about his future prospects; said if it was the Lord’s will he would like to be carried to our new church house, sit in his rocking chair, and preach one more sermon to the unconverted from the text, "Prepare to meet thy God." He went to church on the third Sunday in December to hear Brother T. M. Colwell preach, and during the discourse he was made to praise God. Our new church house was dedicated on that day. He took great interest in raising money to erect a church edifice — said he wanted to live to see the house erected and the church worshiping in it — then he would be ready to depart. He went into the organization of the Cottage Grove Church in July, 1870, and was a member of it at his death. His funeral sermon was preached by our beloved pastor, Elder John Harmon, and he was buried by the Masonic fraternity.

He was a faithful servant of Christ; a thorough Baptist; did a great deal of preaching in different parts of Missouri; was pastor of a number of churches, and never let disagreeable weather keep him from his appointments. He delighted in reading his Bible. The 14th chapter of Mark was the last he ever read. He died sitting in his rocking chair. He leaves an affectionate wife, seven children, a brother and sister, and a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. Yet we mourn not as those who have no hope, for the faithful soldier has gone to receive his crown.

Bro. Hill was an old style preacher, somewhat favorable to Sunday-schools and missionary work, and a great friend of temperance. At the beginning of the war he lived near Kingston. He refused to take the oath and went to Kentucky, where he remained awhile during the troubles. He was a man of good sense, somewhat timid, and had not preached for some years prior to his death.

Wade Mosby Jackson * — was for many years an active Baptist layman in Central Missouri. He was born in Fleming County,
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* By Rev. J. M. Robinson, in Columbia Herald, March, 1879.
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Kentucky, December 3, 1797, and died at his residence in Howard County, Missouri, March 22, 1879, being 81 years, 3 months and 19 days old. He leaves a loving wife and eleven children to mourn over their loss. He was the father of Mrs. Judge James Harris, of Boone, and a brother of the late Gov. Claiborne F. Jackson. He moved to Howard County, Missouri, in 1824, and had lived on the farm upon which he died 48 years. He became a Baptist 41 years ago. No man in Central Missouri has been more useful and honored as a citizen and Christian in his relations of life than W. M. Jackson. He represented his county in the legislative halls of his state, served it as county judge, and then as magistrate for ten years. As a farmer he stood in the front rank in his county. As a Christian, from the time he became one, he took hold with his brethren and earnestly and vigorously consecrated his intellect and means to the cause of Christ. For many years he gave his time, talent and means to the advancement of the mission work of Missouri, constantly standing at the helm of the mission board of the General Association, while located at Fayette. Then for ten years, embracing the last years of his life, he was trustee of William Jewell College. He also assisted in drawing up the present charter and in organizing and projecting said school. He also aided largely in advancing Mt. Pleasant College. His head, heart and hands were engaged in every good work. He had been quite feeble for months, but was taken very ill while sitting up and eating dinner, and died in about thirty minutes. He for some months had been quietly and calmly looking to and desiring this hour to come.

John P. Jesse — was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, October 8, 1820. When quite young he professed religion, united with the Baptists and was baptized by Eld. Jenkins. At the age of 13 he, with the family, moved to Missouri, settled in Audrain County, and in 1836 went into the constitution of Hopewell Baptist Church, near Mexico. He commenced preaching in 1848, and in May, 1851, was ordained to the full work of the ministry by Elds. P. H. Steenbergen, J. N. Griffin and his father, William Jesse.

He was a man of considerable culture; as a preacher he was much above the mediocrity, and, during the quarter of a century of his ministry, he was an active and laborious servant of Christ. He died November 8, 1876, after several years of feeble health.

Richard M. Jones — One of the most remarkable men we ever knew was he whose name heads this brief notice. Although he
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had scarcely reached his prime when he was cut down, he had acquired a knowledge of six languages, five of which (including the English) he had mastered; and all this was done by his own resources.

He was born in Culpepper County, Virginia, July 15, 1821. His father, Stephen Jones, and his mother, Mildred Kinnaird, were both Virginians. When he was six years old his father and the family removed to Missouri, and settled first in Montgomery County, where Richard worked upon the farm. After three years the family moved to Lincoln County, and in 1833 the father died; after which time he and his two brothers, one older and one younger, both of whom rose to eminence in the medical profession, continued to cultivate the farm to support themselves and their mother, and a part of the time attended such neighborhood schools as the country then afforded. From 1840-'1 he attended school in Lincoln Academy, at Troy, Missouri. He then taught school for several years, after which he went to Kentucky and studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Joseph Kinnaird, near Lexington. During this time he was converted and joined the David's Fork Baptist Church, and in 1845 was authorized by this church to use his gift as a preacher of the gospel, which he occasionally continued to do to the end of his life.

In the year 1846 he graduated in medicine at the Transylvania University, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession near Lexington. From exposure and overwork in a laborious practice his health failed, and in 1848 he went to Europe,
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hoping by the change to improve his health, and at the same time to improve his knowledge of the medical sciences. He spent two years in Europe, visited many countries there and attended a course of medical lectures the first winter in Paris, and another course the second winter in Vienna. In his preliminary education he had made himself master of the French and the German, as well as the Greek and the Latin languages.

He returned to the United States and practiced medicine and surgery at Lexington, Kentucky, until 1856. At that time on account of failing health he returned to Missouri and located on his farm — the old paternal homestead — hoping to regain his health by means of country life. But nothing availed him relief, and on July 28, 1858, he exchanged his mortal tenement for the "building of God, the house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens."

Through childhood, youth and manhood, he was amiable and affectionate, faithful and true, and was much beloved by all who knew him.

William Metcalf Jones — was a descendant of Welsh and Scotch ancestry, who from time immemorial were Baptists. His great-grandfather, Richard Jones, immigrated to America in the seventeenth century and settled in Botetourt County, Virginia; and William Jones, a descendant of Richard, and a citizen of Kentucky, intermarried with Miss Elizabeth Metcalf of the latter state, and of this union William Metcalf Jones was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, October 6, 1816, The family moved thence and settled
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in Callaway County, Missouri, in 1820, where they resided many years.

Young William's parents were Baptists, and having a good home and servants their house was always open to Christian people — as indeed to all who came, for they were kind and hospitable — and the subject of Christian life and experience constituted the common topic of conversation there. This warm, constant religious influence in after years exhibited its power in his conversion and ministry. At his majority he and Elizabeth Wren Jones, daughter of Robert Payne Jones, were married, and their bond of union was one of deep and unfeigned devotion through life.

He was a man of poetic imagination, ardent affections, candid and upright with his fellow men, and of cheerful and amiable disposition, full of vigor and energy, and enjoyed life and the world with all its beauties and attractions; and so, although he was not insensible to the word of God and the appeals of conscience, conviction of sin did not come upon him until middle age. But when the Spirit of God touched his heart it was with irresistible power, and in his forty-second year he experienced a bright and joyful conversion. Thenceforward his theme was the goodness and mercy of God through Jesus Christ our Lord; and he entered into it and discussed it with all the ardor of his nature.

He made a public profession of religion in 1858 and connected himself with the Regular Baptists — called Old School Baptists — by joining the Siloam Church in Pike County, then under the ministry of Elder Wm. Davis; and in 1861 he was ordained to the ministry in that church by Elds. Davis, Rogers and Wright.

He entered at once upon his ministerial duties and attended to his secular affairs also — farming and merchandising — like Paul, working with his own hands that he might not be a burden to the brethren.

Macedonia Church, Providence Church, and the church at Jonesburg — all in Montgomery County, Missouri — were his regular spiritual charges for many years — the first named, from soon after his ordination to his last sickness. Under his ministration these churches grew in grace and numbers, and Macedonia and the church at Jonesburg erected large, comfortable houses for public worship. He had large congregations at these churches and he and they greatly enjoyed the meeting days, for they were bound together by brotherly love. Besides his regular
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appointments he preached at many other places as opportunity offered.

He was not a controversialist, and did not believe that creeds and doctrines would save sinners, but felt it to be his mission to preach Christ and Him crucified, and as a true evangelist he earnestly and eloquently proclaimed the gospel of salvation.

He and his churches were members of the Cuivre Siloam Association, of which he officiated as moderator and filled other official positions. In the later years of his ministry contention arose on certain doctrines called "Two-seed" and "Eternal Union," which he openly and vigorously opposed wherever he encountered them. This doctrinal contention resulted in a division of the association, after which he and his spiritual charges ceased correspondence with the other churches of that association.

He continued to preach to the three churches above named until prostrated in his last sickness, of which he died June 25, 1878, at his home in Montgomery County, Missouri. Thus did this servant of God after seventeen years of earnest and faithful ministerial work pass to his reward rejoicing in the gospel of peace.

He was esteemed as an upright man and an able preacher, defending the truth and strengthening Zion wherever he labored.

As a worthy tribute to his memory this sketch closes with extracts from the memorial resolutions passed after his decease by the church at Jonesburg:

IN MEMORIAM
"It becomes a painful duty to record the death of that dear and excellent man of God, Elder Wm. M. Jones. * * * He was ordained to the ministry in June, 1861, * * * and thenceforward till his last sickness continued to defend with ability and zeal the great plan of salvation through the unmerited grace of God.
* * * *
"We most heartily believe and gladly place on record that by an earnest defence of his Master's cause, his love of truth, his kindly nature, unsullied honor and purity of life, he offered to the church and the world an example of uprightness and adorned the doctrine he professed.

"Our dear brother was distinguished for clear views of divine truth, earnest and lucid expression of his thoughts, unaffected sympathy for his hearers, and unusual acquaintance with the history of the church, her enemies and defenders. In the last
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particular especially he stood distinguished among the men of his day. * * * *

"God has created a void in our midst which we all must feel — his family, his church, the ministry of Christ and the world. May He grant the consolation which each one especially needs, and raise up others to perpetuate the testimony he offered to the truth of God and reap the fruits of his labors." * * * (From the church at Jonesburg.)

John T. M. Johnson — fell asleep in Jesus, at his home in Ashland, Boone County, Missouri, October 4, 1876, aged 52 years and 11 months. In the death of Bro. Johnson the church as well as the community, sustained an irreparable loss. His character was a beautiful illustration of the power of regenerating grace upon the heart. Bro. Johnson was by nature quick and passionate, but by the influence of God’s grace, became one of the meekest and humblest of men. The worst elements of his character, if not obliterated, were held in complete subjection, while all the nobler instincts and impulses of the human heart were developed, strengthened and confirmed. He pitied the weakness of his fellow men, but detested all that was base, mean, or selfish in their actions, and encouraged all that was pure, elevating and good. In him the extremes of courage and meekness met and harmonized. One of the most humble before God, he was perfectly independent of men. The loveliest of God's creatures were not beneath his sympathy, yet he paid no homage to the rich or powerful. In his character were happily blended the courage of the lion, the meekness of the lamb, and the simple mindedness of the Christian.

His liberality knew no bounds but the want of means to indulge it. No bereaved or afflicted one ever applied to him without securing sympathy and comfort, no one in distress that did not receive aid. His last dollar or his last loaf, were free to those who needed them more than he.

His faith in God was a strong tower which could not be shaken. His religious obligations were paramount to all others. His labors as a minister were faithful and untiring. No ordinary circumstance could hinder him from fulfilling an appointment.

His conscientiousness would not allow him to take what was known as the "iron-clad oath;" but with penalties of fine and imprisonment hanging over him, he put the whole matter into
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the hands of God, and thought no more of it, the rather laboring with greater diligence, because others faltered. Feeling it his duty to preach, he never stopped to inquire about his salary; had it been dollars or stripes he would have preached all the same. None doubted his sincerity — he gave more to the support of the gospel than he received for preaching.

As a preacher he was sound in doctrine, clear in expression, concise in utterance. His doctrine though simple, was elegant. His reasoning was plain but comprehensive, affording problems to the learned, yet adapted to the understanding of a child. His sermons abounded in gospel truth, acid overflowed with love to God and man. The aged loved him, the young reverenced him, and children trusted and confided in him. Such a man must needs have been deeply interested in the salvation of sinners, and had the prosperity of Zion near his heart. A man of many sorrows himself, he considers them not worthy to be compared to the glory which should be revealed in him. He was a peace maker, humble, meek and pure in heart — of such, Christ said, "Blessed" are they. ("S." in Central Baptist, Vol. XI, No. 43.

William P. Lanier* — This gifted young man fell early in the conflict. He came to Missouri from Overton County, Tennessee, and in 1845 was the minister at Pleasant Grove Church, Platte County, Missouri. He was a man of much promise of usefulness, was ordained, we think, by Eld. A. P. Williams, and in November, 1845 (another account says December, 1845) died of lung fever and was taken to his final home. His remains now sleep in the cemetery at Pleasant Grove Church, of which he was the first pastor, and which he served for the brief space of ten months.

Evan Lawler+ — Was a good man and a deacon in the Baptist denomination upwards of forty years. He died in Dallas County, Missouri, October 4, 1875, while visiting his daughter, Mrs. Strickland; being then in his 76th year. He was a native of the state of North Carolina. In 1840 he and his wife became members in the organization of Coon Creek Baptist Church, St. Clair County, Missouri, of which they were steadfast communicants until it was dispersed by the war of 1861. They always were firm supporters and loving friends of their pastor, who always found a home at their house. To them were born nine children, all of whom they raised (four sons and fivedaughters);
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* By Elder Jonas D. Wilson.
+ By Elder Benjamin F. Lawler, a son.
[p. 790]
all of whom, save one, they lived to see professed Christians. Three of the four sons are now ministers of the gospel among the Baptists. What a heritage! How God honors his consecrated servants!

Elisha Landers — When a child this brother came to the territory of Missouri in 1811, and settled in Cape Girardeau County. He grew up with Indians for his neighbors and the most limited opportunities for culture. He seldom heard preaching until after he was a grown man. In 1838 he made a profession of religion and joined a Baptist church called Mount Zion (in Wayne County we think); six years afterwards he began preaching, labored for a time as a missionary in Black River Association and then moved to Southwest Missouri, settling first in the bounds of Spring River Association, then in Southwest Bethel Association. In 1871 this pioneer man of God was 65 years old and lived in Barry County.

John Hill Luther — The subjoined sketch of Rev. J. H. Luther, president of Baylor Female College, Texas, appeared in the Lexington Caucasian in 1872. His former relation to the Baptist institutions of Missouri demands for him a place in this work, and such is most cheerfully given.

"John Hill Luther, now the sole editor of the Central Baptist, is a native of Rhode Island. On his mother’s side he is of Huguenot origin, while his ancestors on the father’s side were among the Welsh emigrants who founded one of the earliest Baptist churches on the American continent, the Rev. Samuel Luther being the second pastor of the Swansea Baptist Church.

"He graduated at Brown University in the class of 1847.
[p. 791]
Among his classmates were Dr. Fisk of Yale College, Dr. Boyce of South Carolina, and R. A. Guild of Providence, who have distinguished themselves as authors, and the late Benjamin Thomas, probably the most distinguished missionary to the East since the day of Boardman. While at Brown he received the University prize for English composition.

"Immediately on his graduation he repaired to the Newton Theological Seminary, pursuing a thorough course of theological instruction and graduating with honor in 1850.

"Declining several calls to the pastorate, he chose the South as the place of his residence and life labors, and immediately opened a classical school in Savannah, Georgia. For three years his career in this state was a series of successes in the work of teaching. But his heart was in another department of labor. He longed to devote himself exclusively to preaching. In 1852 he was ordained, and having received a call from the church in St. Peter's Parish, Beaufort District, South Carolina, he immediately took charge of that ancient church. Here he married and here he won for himself a reputation as a man and a minister which is to-day cherished with affectionate remembrance by thousands in the Palmetto State.

"In 1857 Dr. Luther emigrated to Missouri in company with several families from South Carolina, settling in Kansas City, where he established a Young Ladies' Seminary, which, when the civil war broke out contained over a hundred pupils.

"Compelled to abandon his school, he retired to Saline County and took charge of the Miami Church, succeeding the late Dr. A. P. Williams. Yet again, by the unsettled state of things, forced to seek another settlement, he became the pastor of the Palmyra Church.

"It was in this city that he commenced the publication of the Missouri Baptist Journal, in January, 1866. Rev. W. R. Painter in connection with a few colaborers obtaining a thousand subscribers before the first number went to press. Among the gentlemen who strongly urged Dr. Luther to embark in this hazardous enterprise were Williams, Buckner, Hollis, Hickman and Pitts, now gone to rest, and Dr. Dulin, Prof. Rothwell and Rev. S. A. Beauchamp, who yet live. Dr. Luther was then under bonds for preaching without taking the oath required of ministers, and it was mainly with the design of opposing this encroachment on religious liberty and furnishing a common organ of communication for the Baptists, that this paper was established.
[p. 792]
"In 1868 the Journal and the Baptist Record of St. Louis were merged into one paper, becoming the Central Baptist, and the leading Baptists of the state rallied to its support as the organ of a united denomination.

"Whether this periodical has been a success may be judged from the fact that it is now on its eighth thousand, its subscription list steadily increasing every week, and being recognized in every part of the country as a first-class journal.

"Its editor has at different times been associated with some of the best minds of the state in the editorial department; but he has always been the recognized chief, and has devoted himself to the paper with an unwavering faith in its ultimate success, an untiring energy and a spirit of self-sacrifice which but few will ever know.

"That he is eminently qualified for his position is not doubted by those who have watched his progress from the commencement. His training under Wayland, Sears and Hackett, his intimate association during the early years of his ministry with such spirits as Sherwood and Campbell of Georgia, and Johnson and the elder Manly of South Carolina, all conspired to fit him for the various duties of a journalist. He is emphatically a newspaper man.

"The Courier-Journal of Louisville, and the Boston Traveler, in their sketch of the ministers of the South Carolina convention, speak of Dr. Luther as a fine rhetorical scholar, a thorough theologian and a "born editor." William Jewell College, for whose endowment he has ever labored, conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He is also an honorary member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

"In politics, as might be supposed, he is thoroughly southern in his sympathies; but we doubt if any editor has succeeded better since the war in making a strictly religious paper. Better than all other things he loves the Baptist cause, and to make its adherents a unit in this great state his religious sympathies have overshadowed all others."

During Dr. Luther's residence in St. Louis he filled the pastoral office for a time both at Fee Fee and Carondelet, and not long after his retirement from the editorship of the Central Baptist he removed to the state of Texas, where, for some years, he has successfully filled the presidency in Baylor Female College, at Independence. He is the honored father of Mrs. Anne L. Bagby, the gifted and devoted missionary to Brazil, South America.
[p. 793]
Matthew Pierce Matheny — was born in Putnam County, Tennessee, October, 1852, where he grew up to early manhood, living in orphanage from eight years of age. Early in 1870 he removed to Marion County, Kentucky, where he was converted and united with the Mt. Washington Baptist Church. In January, 1875, he was licensed to preach and at once entered Georgetown College. Here he continued until 1878, in May of which year he was ordained to the ministry by Bacon Creek Church. His wife was Miss Lou Radcliff, of Marion County, Kentucky, to whom he was married in September, 1875. In June, 1880, he removed to Missouri, and became pastor at Troy and New Hope, in Lincoln County; also for a time of Ebenezer and Indian Creek Churches, in Pike County, to which he continued to preach until October, 1881, when he was elected corresponding secretary o f the Sunday-school board of the Missouri Baptist General Association, upon which work he entered the following December, with his headquarters at Montgomery City.

Albert Gregory Mitchell — now living and yet preaching, is a Virginian, a native of Amherst County, where he was born April 26, 1813. His father, Tarplin Mitchell, was of English parentage.

The state of Virginia continued to be his home through childhood, youth and into manhood. In 1833 he became the husband of Miss Amanda Jane Davis, of whom were born to him a large family of children. When about thirty years old he attended the baptism of his wife, and while looking on the scene he was
[p. 794]
brought under the deepest conviction of sin, soon after was happily converted to God, and by the profession of a voluntary and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and baptism in obedience to His command, became a member of the Maple Creek Baptist Church.

Very early in his Christian life young Mitchell clearly indicated a more than ordinary degree of consecration in the service of the Master, being often engaged in holding meetings from house to house for prayer, exhortation, &c. This feature of his life being discovered by his church (now Cove Church in Bedford County) he was licensed to preach. This event occurred some two years after his conversion.

In November, 1845, Mr. Mitchell moved to Missouri and settled on a farm some five miles northeast from Auburn, in Lincoln County, shortly after which event he attached himself to the Ramsay's Creek Baptist Church, then some miles from his home. Here in 1847 he was ordained to the ministry, Elds. A. D. Landrum and T. T. Johnson acting as the presbytery; since which time he has devoted himself to the country pastoral life, giving most of his time to the churches at Ramsay's Creek, New Hope, Buffalo Knob and Mill Creek, the two latter of which he mainly built up. His pastorate at Ramsay's Creek Church is one of the extraordinary ones. Here he was first called to this office in the year 1850, and is now serving out his thirty-second year, which will close in May, 1882. This church has been and is now one of the most efficient bodies in Pike County, having numbered among its members some of the most influential men of the county, among whom we may mention the name of the late Judge Newton McDonald.

Eld. Mitchell is the highest type of a Christian gentleman, a man of sterling character, well acquainted with his text-book, the Bible, and an excellent expository preacher of the olden time sort. He has for almost forty years been a standard bearer in the Baptist denomination in Eastern Missouri, and very much might be said in his praise. He is now spending the evening of a most useful life with the wife of his second marriage, who was Miss Helen Carr, daughter of Deacon James Carr of St. Charles County, Missouri. He also continues his ministrations to the churches, one of which is forty miles from his residence near Wentzville, St. Charles County. May the grace of the Highest sustain him when called to pass over the river.
[p. 795]
John S. Major — "full of years and of the Holy Ghost," died at his home near Kearney, Clay County, Missouri, September 16, 1872, aged 84 years, 5 months and 20 days.

He was born in Culpepper County, Va., March 26, 1788. In 1791 he removed with his father’s family to Kentucky. He served under General Harrison in the war of 1812, and held the rank of major in the campaign of General H. in the Northwest. In the year 1819 he professed religion, united with the Baptist church at South Benson, was baptized by Elder Wm. Hickman, and soon afterentered upon the work of the ministry. In 1850 he left Kentucky and settled in Clay County, Mo., where ho continued his ministry until overtaken by the infirmities of age.

It is a privilege to bear testimony to the moral character of such a man. Exemplary from his youth, when he embraced religion he brought his whole heart with him into the service of his Divine Master. His Christian course has been "as the shining light shining more and more unto the perfect day." In his old age he was a living exemplification of that inspired sentiment: “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." He was highly favored in being permitted to see a large family of children grow up and settle around him, and in being permitted to look upon his great-grandchildren.

Walter McQuie — was of Scotch parentage. He was the fourth son of John and Sally Mosely McQuie, born October 19, 1802. Longevity was a characteristic of his ancestry.

In 1835 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Basket, of Fluvanna County, Virginia. She became the mother of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, and died February 24, 1858, in the 44th year of her natural life.

Walter McQuie was in Missouri as early as 1834, he being that year in the organization of the General Association.

In 1859 he wrote an article in defense of his action in separating from the Baptists, in which he says: "I have been a professor of religion for thirty years, and a minister of the Baptist denomination for twenty-five years." This carries his conversion back to 1829 and the commencement of his ministry to 1834.

Elder McQuie was a man of unquestioned piety. We never knew a man who seemed to be more conscientious in all he did. He was for some years missionary of the General Association and traversed much of the territory of Eastern Missouri in preaching the gospel in earlier times. In 1834 he attended the
[p. 796]
meeting of the Salt River Association as a messenger from Noix Creek Church. He was at that time a preacher. When he became more permanent in his work, and performed much pastoral labor, his field was confined mainly to the counties of Ralls, Pike, Lincoln, St. Charles, Warren, Montgomery, and parts of Marion, Audrain and Callaway. The following were among the churches of which he was pastor towards the close of his ministry: Bethlehem (now Fairview) and Sulphur Lick, in Lincoln County; Indian Creek, Pike County; and Middletown and Montgomery City (formerly Elkhorn), in Montgomery County; the last three, we think, he helped to constitute.

He was a plain, earnest preacher of the gospel. During the latter part of his life there appeared some differences in his views of church polity and the faith of the denomination. This difference finally led to his withdrawal from the Baptists in 1859, after which, on account of said withdrawal, he was formally excluded by the Baptist church at Montgomery City. So far as we have been able to learn, all who knew Eld. McQuie accorded to him sincerity of motive in his withdrawal from the Baptists, but most persons thought he erred in his judgment. He lived several years after this event, and died near Middletown.

During his twenty-five years’ ministry he held a great many revival meetings, and baptized large numbers of converts into the fellowship of the Baptist churches in his field of labor.

John E. Moore* — was born in Somerset, New Jersey. His parents emigrated to the state of Illinois when he was but ten years old. He was early brought under the influence of the saving grace of God, and was converted to Christ at the age of 14 years, and was baptized by Rev. Mr. Newal into the Baptist church at Canton, Ills.

Soon after his church relation he entered Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, Ills., and commenced his studies for the gospel ministry. Here he pursued his studies and graduated in 1854. He loved to preach the gospel, and while in college he preached part of the time to the churches. He went to Kansas about the year 1859, and came to this state about 1870, locating in DeKalb County. During these six years he was devoted to church work. At the time of his death he was pastor of three churches, dividing his time among them, spending one-half of his time with the Baptist church in Maysville, the county seat.
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* From Joseph C. Miller, in Central Baptist, Vol. X, No. 48
[p. 797]
Bro. Moore seemed to realize that his work on earth was near to a close, and he seemed anointed anew with the Holy Spirit, he was so earnest and loving in his pulpit work. Long will his last sermons be remembered by the church here. They were full of Christ and love. Bro. Moore was in his 46th year when he died; yet he looked young and healthful; was sick about two weeks, preaching the gospel up to the time he was confined to his bed. Brain fever was said to be the messenger that took him away. As a minister of the gospel Bro. Moore had peculiar excellencies. He possessed that combination of intellectual and moral qualities which makes a fervently useful preacher.The subject of this sketch departed this life December 5, 1875, leaving a wife and four children to mourn his loss. His home was at Standard, De Kalb County, Mo.

David Orr* — In very early times, even before Missouri became a state, Eld. David Orr labored in the lowlands of Southern Missouri with great success in building up Crooked Creek Church and several others. He was a man of fine accomplishments, with much self-reliance, great zeal and energy in the cause of Christ. He was a graduate, but of what institution we have not learned. Very soon after the territory became a state, he was elected to the legislature, which had a tendency to draw his mind from the great work of preaching the gospel, and which gave rise to considerable dissatisfaction among his brethren. Eld. Moses Bailey succeeded him as pastor of Crooked Creek Church.

We will here give an anecdote of these two brethren, which was told us by persons acquainted with them at the time it occurred. Brother Bailey was then a member of the Methodist church. They had an interview which resulted in a debate on the subject of baptism. Some time afterwards the disputants met at a neighbor’s house, when the subject of debate was again introduced. Each defended his side with great warmth, until at last forgetting themselves in their great zeal to support their respective opinions, they came to blows. Bro. Orr proved too strong in this contest as he had done in the war of words. In a short time after, Bro. Bailey yielded the question, and united with the Baptists, Bro. Orr having the pleasure of baptizing him. After this they went about preaching together indifferent parts of the country, and the most sincere friendship was preserved between them up to the time of Bro. Orr's death.
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* Elder William Polk (Sketches by) Christian Repository, Vol. VI, p. 292.
[p. 798]
Joab Powell* — was a pioneer preacher in the true meaning of that term. He, as a worker in the Lord's vineyard, was in the ranks of those who raised the standard of the Cross along the western border of Missouri. The wilderness has been made to blossom as the rose; and those myriads of flowers, once waving in silent grandeur over our rolling prairie homes, have, like the subject of this sketch, become the pioneer emblems of the advancing wave of civilization.

The last twenty years of his life were devoted to preaching the gospel in Oregon. There he is also remembered as one of those plain, old-fashioned preachers, ever ready in every good word and work, to win souls to Christ.

Mr. Powell's father was a Quaker, who at an early day moved from Pennsylvania to Claiborne County, Tennessee. Joab Powell was born and brought up here. He married when young, Miss Anna Buler, and in 1826 emigrated to Jackson County, Missouri. Together these two lived in harmony along and useful life, and together in death they now sleep near Scio, in Linn County, Oregon. He died in that state in January, 1873.

In the vigor of manhood Brother Powell embraced the religion of Jesus Christ, and united with the Baptist church at Big Barren in his native county.

We have said he was an illiterate man. So he was; but he was not an ignorant one. Far from it. He was of course ignorant of some things, so are all men. He knew not the sciences, but was well versed in experimental religion and the doctrines of the Bible and of the Baptists.

When anti-missionism, like the miasma of death, was about to enshroud the Baptist cause in Western Missouri, he threw all the power of his influence against such unheard-of heresies. He sought not to lead, but shoulder to shoulder with Jeremiah and Henry Farmer, W. P. C. Caldwell, Lewis Franklin, William Duval and others, he believed it right to "preach the gospel to every creature."

A mighty man in Israel has fallen — has laid his armor by — on a distant shore; without the polish of the schools, yet he was instrumental in doing much good.

Thomas Pitts — We have been able to collect but few facts concerning the life of this man of God. He was the first Baptist minister to preach the gospel in Hickory County. He and Eld.
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* From a sketch by J. J. Robinson, published in the Christian Repository, April, 1875, p. 270.
[p. 799]
John Miller organized the first church in the county, about 1843, of six members, in Turner Washburn’s house. Pitts was their minister for some 17 years. He now sleeps with the fathers. (From Eld. L. J. Tatum's MS.)

John W. Renshaw — was a good doctrinal and exhortational preacher of Moniteau County, Missouri. He was born May 24, 1818, and died May 29, 1869. He was raised in Missouri. At about 24 years of age he was converted and joined Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church of Cooper County, and soon after began to preach the gospel. His field of labor was for the most part in Moniteau County, and mostly as pastor of churches. His education was quite fair in the English branches. (By his son, A. J. Renshaw.)

William Rice* — was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1790, and was married to Miss Nancy Arnold, October 22, 1812.

They both professed religion early in life and united with Clear Creek Baptist Church in Woodford County. Their fathers, Richard Rice and John Arnold, were from Virginia, and they were among the first settlers of Kentucky. They were also members of Clear Creek Church.

Bro. William Rice was ordained to the ministry in a short time after he was married, and his labors were greatly blessed while he remained in Kentucky. In 1834 he with his family moved to Clay County, Missouri, uniting with Rush Creek Baptist Church, where his membership remained until the division took place on account of the institution of missions. This church being weak soon dissolved, and he then joined Little Shoal Church, where he remained for several years; but on account of some trouble in the church he left it and joined the Kearney Baptist Church, where his membership remained till his death.

He was attending the Old Baptist meeting at Clear Creek, near Kearney. He was at the morning services and seemed to enjoy himself as well as he did while in the bloom of youth. He came back to the afternoon service, and after listening to another soul-stirring sermon by Brother Wright (an Old Baptist), he seemed to be much revived, and rising to his feet he asked permission to say a few words. Permission being granted, he began with an unusually clear, strong voice to speak.

He said he had “long waited for the summons, and that he felt like he was ready to go." He went on speaking about the solemnity of the judgment; "but still," said he, "it would be glorious to meet loved ones who have passed on before us." He
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* Rev. W. T. Campbell in Central Baptist, August 23, 1877.
[p. 800]
spoke four or five minutes, and began quoting Hosea 13:14: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Oh, death! I will be thy plague; Oh, grave! I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from mine eyes."

He had quoted and commented on the two first clauses, but when he came to the other two he reversed them and said: "Oh, grave! I will be thy destruction; Oh, death!" when he fell full length on the floor, with the word “death” lingering on his lips. He only breathed three or four times after befell. Several persons rushed to him and raised his head there for a few moments and then carried him out into the open air; but all to no effect, for death had come to claim its victim. Dr. Yates, of Kearney, arrived soon after and pronounced it apoplexy.

His death occurred in August, 1877. He was 87 years old. His remains were carried to his old farm, two and a half miles north of Liberty.

James Schofield* — now a resident of Dallas County, Missouri, was born in the state of New York June 7, 1801. He was reared with out the advantages of a liberal education, though by the energetic application of a naturally strong intellect, he succeeded in over coming many of the difficulties growing out of this disadvantage. Forty-seven years ago, in his native state, Bro. Schofield was ordained to the work of the Christian ministry, and from that time to this, his consecration has been single and earnest. In his native state he labored in
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* From the Central Baptist, August, 1877.
[p. 801]
the ministry until he was forty-two years of age, when he emigrated to the West and settled in Illinois.

In Kendall County he labored in the ministry for three years, and in Stephenson County, under appointment of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, he labored for nine years. During this time his labors were blessed to the conversion of many souls and he organized and assisted in the organization of thirteen churches, several of which he served more or less as pastor. He was with the Freeport Church from the time of its organization until he left the state of Illinois.

He went into this region of the country when it was sparsely populated, and the inhabitants were mainly new settlers who were just beginning the establishment of farms and homes. There were no Baptist churches in that region. Most of the thirteen churches constituted during the stay of Bro. Schofield are still in existence, and among them we name Rock Run, Galena, Warren, Mt. Carmel and Oregon in Illinois, and York and Shellsburg in Wisconsin.

In 1853, with a commission from the Home Mission Society, Bro. Schofield moved to Iowa. Here he lived for twelve years. Nine of these years he devoted to the mission work and was permitted to witness the prosperity of the cause to which he gave his life energies. He organized a church at Farmersburg, McGregor, Rossville, Alkadar, Strawberry Point, Hardin and other places. To all of these churches he preached more or less from the time of their constitution until he accepted an appointment as chaplain in the United States Army, which position he held for three years.

In 1867 he moved from Iowa to the southwestern portion of Missouri, and settled in Dallas County, where he now lives. This section of the state of Missouri had been desolated by the war between the North and South, the people were impoverished, the population was made up mainly of widows and orphans, churches had been dissolved, and the field was one for missionary work. Bro. Schofield gathered the people together in the forests, and there, with such comforts and conveniences as nature may have provided, preached the gospel to listening souls. He applied himself to the work of building houses of worship for the people of God and such as attended worship with them. He is just now finishing the third house. One of them the people have named Schofield Chapel. Since coming to this state Bro. Schofield has not received more than fifty dollars for his
[p. 802]
ministerial services. Yet he is a decided advocate of ministerial support where the congregations are able to pay it. He is also a decided friend to ministerial education. During the years of his ministry he has organized and helped to organize forty-three churches. He never succeeded but one man in the pastorate, and that was the late Rev. John Tolman. His main topics of preaching have been and are those most intimately connected with the great facts of a crucified and risen Savior, and these topics he is wont to present in a logical and fervent style of public speech. He has ever been steadfast in maintaining and teaching the distinctive doctrines of the Baptist church, believing that New Testament ordinances in manner and order of observance are of Divine authority, and that man has no right to omit or modify them.

Elder Schofield is the father of eighteen children — ten sons and eight daughters. These were the offspring of three different marriages. The oldest son, Rev. J. V. Schofield, is well known to our readers as the pastor of the Fourth Baptist Church, St. Louis. The next is Gen. John M. Schofield of the United States Army, and now in command at West Point. Geo. W. is also in the army, and is commander of the post at Fort Duncan in Texas; Elisha died a few years ago in the shocking catastrophe at Richmond, Va. — the falling in of the floor of one of the chambers of the State house. Frank D., is a farmer in Dallas County, Missouri, and Chas. B., a graduate of West Point, is adjutant to Gen. Mills, U. S. A. Two young men are with their venerable father at home. The other sons are dead. But two of the daughters are living.

More than threescore years and ten of the life of this venerable man are numbered with the past. He says he takes far more pleasure in contemplating death than in realizing life; yet in his old age he feels to give himself anew for the work of his Master, though he sometimes imagines that he can hear the boom and dash of the waves on the boundless ocean of eternity. He testifies that he has never known what it is to be jealous of rising young ministers. He takes delight in their promise and prays for their success. May God bless the declining years of this veteran soldier.

Adiel Sherwood — Although this venerable and eminent servant of the Lord Jesus Christ spent only a part of his long and useful life in Missouri, the history of the Baptists of this state would not be complete without the following sketch of him. Few
[p. 803]
men live through as many years as he spent in the ministry. He calmly "fell asleep" August 18, 1879. Of him the Central Baptist says: "Adiel Sherwood was born at Fort Edward, Washington County, New York, October 3, 1791.

"He graduated at Union College, Schenectady, under the celebrated Dr. Nott, and at Andover Theological Seminary, where he was a pupil of Moses Stuart. Soon after his graduation he went to Georgia and preached four years in Liberty County and vicinity. In 1836 he was elected to the professorship of Learned Languages and Biblical Literature in Columbian College, Washington City, and was also appointed general agent of the college. His efforts saved the institution from financial ruin. In 1837 Dr. Sherwood returned to Georgia and was tendered and accepted the professorship of Sacred Literature and Moral Philosophy in Mercer University. A flourishing church was built up under his ministry in Pennfield, the seat of the university. July 7, 1841, he was elected first president of Shurtleff College, and was afterwards, for awhile, pastor at Fee Fee, St. Louis County. From 1846 to 1849, Dr. Sherwood was president of the Masonic College at Lexington, Mo., an institution which was noted for its high standard of scholarship and excellent management. Among his pupils at this time was Col. A. W. Slayback of St. Louis, who speaks of his instructor in terms of warmest affection. Afterward he went to Cape Girardeau, where he remained some years. Precarious health necessitated a change of climate, and he removed to Griffin, Georgia, where he remained nine years. After the close of the war he returned to St. Louis,
[p. 804]
where, with three years at Kirkwood, he has resided till the time of his death."

The following is from Campbell's Georgia Baptists — pp. 414-'15 — biography of A. Sherwood:

"In October, 1818, he arrived in Savannah, where he preached his first sermon and taught the academy at Waynesboro, Burke County, during the ensuing winter. He was ordained at Bethsaida Church, Greene County, in March, 1820, by a presbytery consisting of Mercer, Reeves, Roberts and Mathews, and was pastor of Bethlehem Church, near Lexington, in 1820 and 1821. In May, 1821, he was married to Mrs. Early, relict of Governor Peter Early. He and Jesse Mercer aided in the organization of the Baptist church at Greensboro, in June, 1821, of which he was pastor eleven years in succession. In April, 1823, he attended the Baptist General Convention of the United States, and in the summer of the same year he and Mercer visited the mission station at Valley Town, North Carolina. In 1820 and 1821 he was missionary of the Savannah Missionary Society in Pulaski, Laurens and other counties in that region. In October, 1820, he became the author of the resolutions passed by the Sarepta Association, which resulted in the formation of the Georgia Baptist Convention at Powellton in 1822. Having lost his first wife, he was married to Miss Heriot of Charleston, South Carolina, in May, 1824.

"In 1827 he took charge of Eatonton Academy, Putnam County, and at the same time preached to the churches at Eatonton, Milledgeville and Greensboro. He was pastor at the former place ten years, and during a portion of that time rode forty miles and back monthly to preach to the newly constituted church at Macon. He also had under his instruction a few theological students in the Georgia Baptist convention in 1831 he made the motion for a theological institution, which finally culminated in the establishment of Mercer University.

"He was a delegate from Georgia in 1829 to the Baptist Triennial Convention. This year he went in company with Dr. Manly of Charleston. In 1832 he attended the same convention with the Hon. Thomas Stocks; and in 1835 with Jesse Mercer. He aided in the formation of the American and Foreign Bible Society in Philadelphia.

"During his connection with Shurtleff College the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Dennison University, at Granville, Ohio.
[p. 805]
"In 1852 he became pastor at Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he continued for five years. Rheumatism compelled a return once more to Georgia in 1857, and he took charge of Marshall College, with which he was connected until called to the pastorship of Griffin Church. He resided in that city several years, which he at length left for his farm in Butts County, where he was broken up by the Federal army in its march through the state in the fall of 1864. He and his family struggled against want until Sept. following, when they returned to Mo. settling in St. Louis."

Dr. Sherwood was fond of literary pursuits and employments, His first work was the Gazetteer of Georgia; published in 1827, Another, Jewish and Christian Churches, is a concise work, and conclusive on the subject treated. His Notes on the New Testament, doubtless his most important work, is aninvaluable contribution to Baptist literature. This work was stereotyped in New York, was first published in 1856 in two volumes, and has gone through seven editions.

For many years he wrote very extensively for magazines, reviews and other religious papers all over the land, on all sorts of subjects affecting the welfare of mankind, and especially the interests of Christ's cause.

Quoting again from the Central Baptist:
"In the years 1827-'35 he was noted as a revivalist. It is said that 14,000 persons were baptized in Georgia in meetings which were the outgrowth of the revival services he began. As a preacher he was plain, earnest and evangelical. As a writer he was terse, forcible and always to the point. As an educator he was popular with those he taught, but never failed to secure good discipline among his students. None knew him thoroughly but to esteem and love him. He had a great heart. He was an Israelite in whom there was no guile. He was so modest and unobtrusive that it took time to find out his true worth. Compliments greatly embarrassed him, and he changed the subject as soon as possible when the conversation was about himself. While men of a tithe of his sense and learning blatantly proclaimed their attainments, Dr. Sherwood retired from the public gaze, and only came forward when forced out by his brethren.

"For sixty-nine years he proclaimed the unsearchable riches of Christ. What a life! No human tongue or pen can tell its significance. Part of its results have gone before him; part will follow after. To have preached Christ sixty-nine years were grander than to have been king of all this world."
[p. 806]
Alia Babb Snethen* — John Snethen, Sr., a native of New Jersey, emigrated to Kentucky in 1799, and in 1802 he married Miss Prudence Bowles, a native of South Carolina. The year previous they had both become Baptists. In 1809 they moved to the territory of Missouri, and soon after (in 1810) went into the organization of a Baptist church near Loutre Island, Montgomery County, the first church of any order north of the Missouri River and west of St. Charles County.

The war of 1812 drove nearly all the settlement on Loutre to the Boone's Lick Forts in Howard County, where the settlement bad become much the strongest. Here John and Prudence Snethen became in 1812 constituent members of Mt. Pleasant Church, the second one formed this far west and north. The war over, they returned to their home on Loutre, and subsequently became members of the Baptist church at Mount Horeb, then located in the eastern borders of Callaway County, some ten miles north of where they lived. They continued members of this church until their death, at the time of which he was 81 years old and she was 71.

The oldest child of John Snethen and Prudence his wife, was Alia B. Snethen, the subject of this brief notice. He was born in Estill County, Kentucky, August 4, 1803, and during his boyhood was of moral deportment. About the year 1822 he was happily converted and joined the Baptist church (Salem, we believe,) on Coates’ Prairie, having been baptized by the pioneer, Lewis Williams. Within a few months of this event he commenced preaching, and about two years after, at the age of 21 years, he was ordained to the ministry by William Coates, Dr. Absalom Bainbridge, and another whose name is not now remembered.

In 1828 he became the husband of Miss Caroline Johnson, who is still living, and resides on the old farm nine miles south of Danville, county seat of Montgomery County.

When the conflict on missions arose in the Baptist denomination, A. B. Snethen thoroughly repudiated the principles of the anti-missionaries and continued with the regulars or missionaries. A few years subsequent to his marriage he studied medicine under the instruction of Drs. Maughas and Forshey of Danville.

From twenty to twenty-five years he gave a large share of his time to the ministry among the churches and as a missionary of the General Association, often sacrificing his own interests and
--------------------------
* From a MS. sketch by Hon. John Snethen, Jr., of Lincoln County.
[p. 807]
those of his family. But toward the last years of his life, the responsibility and expense of a large family and the constant practice of his profession forced him to give up the charge of all the churches, to be attended to by other hands.

He was a close student, and read everything of a solid or practical character that came within his reach, and during his life he collected quite a handsome home library at considerable expense.

About five years before his death he was suddenly paralyzed in one side of his head, shoulder and arm, and lost the sight of the opposite eye. From this affliction he partially recovered, so that he attended to his duties as physician again. About the 1st of February, 1867, he was much complaining for a day or two, but still able to administer medicine from his office. On Sunday morning the third day of the month, he got up and sat by the fire, remarking to one of his sisters, then on a visit to his house, that he had long expected to die on the Sabbath, and he should die on that day; requesting her not to leave his room nor to alarm his family by repeating what he had said. He was conscious that his chest was being paralyzed.

His wife, stepping in the room after an absence of a few minutes, saw that a speedy change was taking place. He was at once helped to his bed, and gave directions to blister his breast, which was done. He continued to give directions to the last without the least apparent excitement, and expired about 8 o’clock A.M. of that day, without pain.

Elisha Sutton* — The life of this young man was hardly begun. He died June 16, 1871, in Henry County, Missouri, then in the fourth year of his ministry.

He was born in Logan County, Kentucky, in 1849, and while a child removed with his parents to Missouri. Under the ministry of Rev. W.A. Gray, he made a profession of religion and was baptized September 23, 1866, and the following year was licensed to preach.

Few young men have been the means, in God’s hands, of doing so much good in so short a lifetime. Beloved by all who knew him, his sermons were thereby rendered effective, and always the means of doing good, either in persuading sinners to come to Christ or encouraging the disciples of Christ to hold fast the faith. Well knowing that his disease (consumption) must soon prove fatal, he, a few days before his death, met with his church, and with calmness bade them farewell, entreating them
------------------------------------
* R. F. H., in Central Baptist, December 12, 1872.
[p. 808]
to continue faithful and meet him in heaven. The last morning of his life he told his mother that Jesus had met him in his dreams the night before, and told him his mansion was ready and he must now go home. He sat up in his bed during the day, and with a voice clear and full of melody sang the last four lines of his favorite song:

"This robe of flesh I'll drop, and rise
To seize the everlasting prize,
And shout while passing through the air,
'Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer.'"

And at night a hemorrhage of the lungs called him to his reward. May God help us to so live that we may meet him there.

William Thompson — Rev. W. H. Burnham, of Fulton, who for four years was a student of this eloquent American orator, offers the following "tribute to his memory:"*

"William Thompson was born in Scotland about the year 1820. At the age of sixteen he came in company with his parents to this country. His parents settled near Washington City, and he attended for several years one of the literary institutions located in that place. At the age of twenty-one he returned to Scotland and entered the University of Edinburg, where he devoted himself with interest and zeal to his studies. I have heard him say that it was his general custom to study all night every other night, and till 12 o’clock the succeeding night; thus sleeping only six hours in forty-eight.

"He graduated in this renowned institution at the age of twenty-five, and shortly afterward returned to the United States. Here he employed hisvigorous talents for a short time in the study of the law. While thus engaged he was convicted of sin and happily converted to God.

"From the day of his conversion he felt strong and forcible impressions that it was his duty to preach the gospel, though he struggled earnestly to stifle these impressions and hush the whispering of the silent voice that called him to duty. He applied for and obtained admission to the bar, and soon entered upon a fine and lucrative practice. lam uninformed as to where he first entered upon the practice of law; but he had not long been engaged in the legal profession before he moved to the state of Illinois. Here he met with a sad accident, which he always believed was a judgment of God sent on him for his refusal to preach the gospel.
--------------------------------
* From the Missouri Baptist Journal, Vol. I, No. 8.
[p. 809]
"He was traveling on a stage-coach to a town some twenty miles distant from the place of his abode, on business connected with his profession. The interior of the coach was filled with ladies, and he was compelled to take a seat above. As they were passing rapidly over a rocky hill-side, the vehicle was overturned, and Thompson was thrown violently down the hill-side. His head struck the sharp corner of a flint rock, and the blow cracked the skull near the suture that unites the parietal and occipital bones on the right side of his head. The effect of this unfortunate accident followed him through life, producing periodical seasons of delirium, and often causing him the intensest suffering.

"On his recovery from the illness that succeeded the accident, he recognized the hand of God in this afflictive providence, warning him to go and preach the gospel. He heeded the warning, and immediately and solemnly turned his attention to the ministry.

"He married in Illinois, but did not long enjoy the sweet society of his companion, before she was called to take her ‘chamber in the silent halls of death.’ She left an infant daughter to remind her afflicted husband of the sad loss he had sustained.

"Thompson preached in Illinois for several years with no marked success; nor did he gain any very extensive or desirable reputation in that state. He was surrounded by some unfortunate circumstances that seemed to stifle his energies and cramp his powers. Finally, difficulties concerning the slavery question arose in the churches of Illinois, and he determined to move farther
[p. 810]
westward. He had some relatives living in Iowa, and, though he was in destitute circumstances, he determined to endeavor to reach them. Alone, and on foot, with a bundle of clothes — his only fortune — tied up in a handkerchief and thrown across his shoulder, he started from Southern Illinois to Southwestern Iowa.

"His failure to complete his journey, and detention in Missouri, seems to have been peculiarly providential.

"One evening, in the latter part of July, there came a careworn and wearylooking stranger to the house of Mr. Hawkins, in the northern part of Boone County. He asked for a draught of water, and then enquired if Mr. Hawkins was at home. When informed that he was absent, the stranger observed that he was very sorry to learn it, for he was desirous of seeing him.

"After resting for a few minutes, the stranger arose, wished them good evening and started on his journey. He had not, however, gone far from the house before Mrs. Hawkins commanded one of her sons to go and call him back, stating, at the same time, that there was something about his looks that attracted her attention, and made her desirous that he should remain, at least long enough for her husband to see him.

"The stranger returned. The evening was spent in conversation, during which the stranger informed them that he was a Baptist minister; that his name was William Thompson; that he had learned before his arrival at the house that Mr. Hawkins was a member of the Baptist church, and hence he desired to see him.

"Mr. Hawkins reached home late in the evening, and was peculiarly struck with the traveler’s manner and conversation.

"Before the family retired, the stranger was invited to pray. He cheerfully complied, and those who knew him may easily imagine how Thompson, surrounded by such circumstances, could pour forth his soul in prayer. So earnest and so eloquent were the utterances that came heaving up from the depths of a wounded and bleeding heart that the family were startled and moved to tears. Mr. Hawkins said that he remained upon his knees, with his face in his hands, listening to the suppliant until "he could stand it no longer," but was constrained to rise up and look at the man from whose lips were flowing such torrents of eloquence as he had never heard before. When he turned to look upon the praying man, behold! all the members of the family were standing before him, gazing in his face, while tears were streaming down their cheeks.
[p. 811]
"The next morning Mr. Hawkins invited the stranger to remain with him for a few days, and preach the next evening at his house. He consented, and so well pleased — yea, so utterly astonished — were they by the extraordinary powers of the man, that they urged him from night to night to remain longer and preach for them. He yielded; a revival broke out; a church was organized; Thompson married a widow lady living in the neighborhood, and served this little church for some time.

"His reputation rapidly extended, and he was called to the care of the Baptist church in Fayette, Howard County. Here his congregation rapidly increased, and the work of the Lord prospered in his hand. He extended his acquaintance in the county and through the surrounding counties, everywhere meeting with large congregations of eager listeners.

"I have heard him say that the number of his sermons during these several years of his active ministry averaged more than four hundred annually. His health began to decline under the pressure of such excessive labors, and he was prevailed upon to accept the presidency of Mt. Pleasant College, located in Randolph County. Here he remained for two years, and his efficient labors and prudent discipline, gave character and standing to the institution.

"He was called from this station to the presidency of the William Jewell College. This institution had long been laboring under severe embarrassments, and had once been compelled, on account of financial difficulties, to suspend operations. But everything pertaining to the institution seemed re-invigorated with new life as soon as it was known that Thompson was president. The endowment fund rapidly augmented; the reputation of the institution extended over the state; the number of students steadily increased, and every circumstance indicated that it would soon become one of the first, if not the first, institution in the state, when the war broke out and swept everything before it.

"Thompson resigned, and, being unable, on account of the war and the financial difficulties that then overwhelmed the country, to gain a support by preaching, he was compelled to return to the practice of law. This he did, and with flattering success. He continued for two years in the legal profession, when he was called to the presidency of a college located at Sidney, a town in the southwestern part of Iowa. Here he remained until his death, which was caused by a severe attack of typhoid pneumonia in the winter of 1865.
[p. 812]
"His loss will be long felt by the Baptists of Missouri. But let us be comforted. Our loss is his infinite gain. He now rests in the bosom of God."

Speaking of Thompson, another writer* describes his pulpit powers in the following lucid manner:

"It was in the summer of 1854, when descending the Missouri, we learned casually that Rev. Wm. Thompson was to preach at a big meeting to be held with the Rehoboth Church) which is back from the river, and about fifteen miles from Glasgow, Miami and Arrow Rock. We were very curious to see and hear him. His name was on every lip, and his fame filled the state. Years before, an accident received in Albany, New York, had well nigh dethroned his reason. Such was the effect upon him that he had been repeatedly deranged. When in this condition he would travel, and would leave his buggy at one place, his harness at another, his horse at a third, and so would rid himself, at the places of entertainment, of his overcoat, watch, and whatever he might have in his possession, regardless whether they belonged to himself or to another. This made much talk.

"When we heard him at Rehoboth the tongue of scandal had been stilled. The man was too unmistakably a power with God and for God, and it became perilous to attempt to undermine his reputation or malign his character.

"On arriving at the place we found the prayer meeting in full tide of success. Rev. Mr. Fristoe, of Glasgow, had charge of the meeting, as he was pastor ofthe church. In that country, and at that time, such a man was to be obeyed. If he told a minister to preach, he must; or if to pray, there was no appeal. The time for service drew on. Expectant hundreds, if not thousands, had gathered from near and from far to be in at the opening of the gospel war. The crowd of well-dressed slaves, the multitudes of women coming on horses, equaled in number by the wild-looking swarthy men presented a scene of romantic and thrilling interest.

"At length it began to be whispered, ‘Mr. Thompson was sick yesterday — it is to be feared he will not be here.’ A feeling of disappointment crept over the faces of all. At length it was decided by Father Fristoe that a certain youthful editor should take the vacant place. Protests were in vain. As best he could he proposed to discharge the trust, and took for his text the familiar passage, 'God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross
--------------------------------
* Correspondent Christian Times, Boston, published in Missouri Baptist Journal, Vol. I, No. 18.
[p. 813]
of our Lord Jesus Christ.' The first hymn and prayer had passed; the last verse had been reached; when there was a noticeable stir, and a look of delight overspreading the features of the audience. Rev. Wm. Thompson had arrived and had entered the door. A glance at his features showed that he was master. We have heard of the racehorse in the West, with wide nostrils, shaggy mane, falling ear, but with gray eye, that with head down and lazy step comes on to the race-course and waits for the rider to stroke his back and the starting word to be given, when he reveals his winning properties and outstrips all competitors. Something like this looked Wm. Thompson. His nose was flat, his nostrils wide, his eye blue, his hair coarse and black, and cut as if by a woman, square off, without taste or much care, his clothes black and faultless in their neatness, but cut and made by some honest tailor who knew little of the latest fashions; his hand delicate, his foot small, his step nervous and his voice clear as a bell, sweet as a flute and powerful as an organ’s peal. Introduced to the expectant preacher, he at first made the condition of his health an excuse for not preaching; but when assured that it would not do to disappoint the people, with the grace of a master he arose and announced for his text the identical one which had been previously chosen. Who will forget how grandly those words sounded: 'God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Surely we thought we should know now whether or not he is the man described. He was five feet eight inches in height, square shouldered, and when in the pulpit as straight as an arrow. Twelve years are gone, but those tones still ring in our ears.

"As we have seen a wind creep stealthily into a forest, first lift the topmost leaf, and now gently touch a bough, and increase in power until, laying its mighty hand upon its head it bows its neck to the earth; so began and terminated that wonderful discourse. His divisions were admirable, his language simple, chaste and beautiful. He painted, with the hand of a master, the things in which the world gloried, and then after weighing them each in turn and proving them lighter than vanity, he turned to Christ and portrayed his life in language so loving, so appreciative, and yet so commanding, that every eye was kept bent upon that form moving from the flowing Jordan to the reeking cross. At last we stood before Calvary. Long since we had forgotten Cone, and Welch, and Fuller, and believed that the half had not been told about the rapt preacher before us. Did we look about,
[p. 814]
the sight was appalling. There were western hunters and muledrivers standing with tears streaming down their cheeks, and with the agony of the Cross delineated upon their faces.

"For over an hour he held the audience, and closed with this illustration: 'It is said that away up at the source of the mighty river that flows through your valley, there is a fountain from which two streams take their rise. One goes westward and empties into the Pacific; the other flows close beside us and pours its freight into the Gulf of Mexico. I have imagined a ledge of rocks hanging over that fountain, and from that rock a dew-drop suspended. A wind coming from the east will bear it into that portion of the fountain whence the Columbia takes its rise, and it will be borne to mingle with the blue waters of the distant Pacific. A wind coming from the west will bear it into that part of the fountain whence the Missouri takes its rise, and so it will be borne to the Gulf. Sinner, you hang like that dew-drop upon that ledge of rocks to-day. A wind coming from the gates of heaven and controlled by the Holy Spirit may bear you to that portion of the fountain whence the stream takes its rise that flows just by the throne of God. A wind coming from the opposite quarter shall result in the destruction of your soul for time and for eternity.' Then in a brief way he sketched the agonies of the Cross and the agonies of the damned. The scene beggars description. The audience forgot itself. Hell was opened to its gaze.

"Then turning, he swept with the rejoicing throng up the shining steeps of glory. We came up here before the throne; the Crucified was victor. Oh, how he looked! How he welcomed us, one and all. The sermon closed — the spell was onus.

"For three days that scene was repeated. His powers of description were unsurpassed, but as he could not be trusted amid the excitements of the city, he lived and wrought in places like this, far removed from the din and bustle of a noisy life. * * * * He was simply an earnest, gospel-loving, Christ-honoring minister of the New Testament, possessed of more magnetic power than any man in America. He had not the dramatic power of a Gough, nor the force power of a Beecher, nor the splendid appearance of a Fuller, nor the culture of a Williams. Yet there was something about him which surpassed them all, and which made him the greatest preacher of his time, and had he been able to exist in a city, his fame would have crossed seas and continents. We visited his home once
[p. 815]
after riding two hundred and fifty miles to secure his services in a protracted meeting in St. Louis. We found him living in a neat log-house, with a plain log-stable for his horse close by, a library of about fifty volumes, a Greek Testament, and an old well-red Bible for companions. His wife was a plain, uncultured woman. His meals consisted of boiled potatoes and pork, bread, no butter, and water, which we drank out of a bowl. Thus this preacher lived in Missouri. We rode together for days. He was a brilliant conversationalist, a courtly gentleman, and yet he was contented with his humble manner of life. He was literally without ambition, loved to preach, and seemed conscious that he was valueless for all else.

"In Missouri he was almost an idol. Every one loved him. Every one stepped aside and awarded to him the first place. He took it gracefully, and kept it with still greater ease."

Thomas Taylor — The subject of this sketch was a native of England, and spent only a few years in this country. He was born near the city of London, March 8, 1796. At the early age of 16 years he was converted and became a Baptist, uniting with a church of that denomination. When 24 years old he commenced preaching, and as a minister he faithfully discharged his duty. He was educated in his native country. In 1859 or '60 he landed in St. Louis County, Missouri, and settled in the neighborhood of Fee Fee Church, with which he united and to which he belonged when he died. He was a man of unquestioned piety and strong in faith.

He triumphed in death November 22, 1865, and now lies buried in the old Fee Fee Cemetery. When in the last agonies of his struggle, he exclaimed, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."

Mark A. Taylor* — for years the leading minister in St. Francois Association, and afterwards of the Wayne County Association, was born in Lee County, Virginia, January 2, 1826, and lived in the same county for thirty years. In March, 1854, he married a Miss Warren, and two years after came with his father’s family to Missouri. They were on their way to Texas to locate, but on reaching Wayne County they stopped a few days to rest their teams, and while thus temporarily delayed, having made some observations of the country, they decided to locate here. Mr. Taylor opened a store and for several years sold goods, even up to the time of the late war. He grew up on a
-----------------------------------
* Taken in part from the MS. of E. P. Settle.
[p. 816]
farm and was required to labor very hard. When a youth of about 10 years of age he secured 45 cents and purchased a Bible, which he read through and through. While other boys were engaged in their plays and sports he was engaged in reading his Bible.

He professed religion in Virginia in 1854. The year after he moved to Missouri (1857) he was ordained by the Sinking Creek Church (now dead) in Reynolds County. He served as pastor of Sinking Creek, Cedar Creek, Lebanon and McKenzie's Creek Churches.

From the time of his ordination (one informant says that this occurred in 1860) until his death, October 31,1879, he was active and zealous as a gospel preacher. He had a fair English education and a strong and vigorous mind. He was indeed a "workman that needed not to be ashamed." In spirit and in fact he was a missionary. His views were broad, they encompassed the entire field — the world. He advocated ministerial culture, and was a contributor to William Jewell College for this purpose. In 1871 he traveled as missionary of St. Francois Association at a salary of $260. No man in Southeast Missouri, perhaps, did more to enlighten the people and build up the cause of truth by awakening a missionary spirit and establishing Sunday-schools than Eld. M. A. Taylor. He was in the organization of the Wayne County Association, and was the life of all effort in it.

In April, 1876, he organized the first Baptist church in Greenville, county seat of Wayne, and was its pastor up to the time of his death. The death of no other man would have been so lamented by the people of Wayne County.

He was held in the highest esteem by the ministry of his association, and might indeed be called the father of them all. He raised a large family and by industry and economy left them in comfortable circumstances. He died of pneumonia after an illness of eight days, at his own home near Piedmont, Wayne County.

Obadiah Tompkins — was born in Granville County, Canada West, January 22, 1823, of parents born also in Canada — of English descent. At the age of 21 he was converted and baptized. He was educated in all the higher English branches in the common schools, and in 1849 began to preach, having been ordained by the Baptist church at Louisville, Canada.

In 1867 he came to Missouri and located in Henry County, and
[p. 817]
has been preaching ever since in the counties adjacent to his home. In the spring of 1868 he organized Big Creek Church, having baptized during the previous winter seventy-five of its members, and for some years he was pastor of said church. He organized the Baptist church at Cove Creek, having baptized ten of its members to begin with, and afterwards gathered up its present membership.

Brother Tompkins was sound in doctrine and practice, and zealous in the defence of the truth.

In 1849 he was married, and subsequently baptized his wife and four of his children.

His death occurred at his residence in Henry County, Missouri, December 31, 1878, being then in the 56th year of his age.

Leonard Turley — the father of the wife of Eld. John F. Hedges of Pike County, moved to Ralls County, Missouri, in 1818, settling near where New London now stands. He died in October, 1823, being then about 70 years of age.

He was a native of Fauquier County, Virginia. At the age of 40 he married Susannah Morton, who was 17 years of age.

In early life he became a Christian and soon after commenced preaching. About 1797 he emigrated to Kentucky, where he spent the prime of his life in the ministry. He preached much, itinerating and caring for the churches. He was seldom at home. He was a colaborer of Vardeman, the Wallers and the Craigs, and was one of the leading spirits at the associations.

After his removal to Missouri his career was short, but his time was spent in visiting and preaching to the destitute settlements. Many of the people in that section of Missouri, in his day, lived in tents the first year, or until after the first crop was made.

Of his six children, two were daughters, the youngest of whom — Lucinda — became the wife of Eld. John Franklin Hedges, for some years a preacher of Pike County, Mo. Sister Hedges furnished the facts embodied in this brief notice.

Eld. Turley fell a victim to bilious fever, which sometimes raged fearfully in those early times. His death was peaceful and happy.

Caswell Cobb Tipton* — By request of the Rolla Baptist Church, it is made my painful duty to announce in the Central Baptist the sudden death of the Rev. Caswell Cobb Tipton, her late beloved pastor. He was returning home from an agency
--------------------------------
* By Rev. Joseph Walker, in Central Baptist, Vol. VII, No. 38.
[p. 818]
tour among the churches, and was stricken down by apoplexy at the house of strange though kind friends, within twelve miles of Marshfield, September 5, 1872.

Elder Tipton was well known in Tennessee, from which state he removed to Rolla after the war. He had in former years traveled as an agent of the Domestic Mission Board of the S. B. C., and was just beginning to be known in Missouri as an excellent preacher, an able expositor of Baptist faith and practice, and a gentleman of fine address and agreeable manners. His sudden demise, in the sixty-second year of his age and usefulness, has cast a veil of deep sorrow over a large and interesting family and the church of which he was pastor.

Much might be added in testimony of his good standing and moral worth, but it becomes us rather to bow in submission to the fiat of Him who doeth all things well.

Edward Towler — The following was published in the Western Watchman of March 15, 1855:

"Died, at his residence in Marion County, Missouri, Eld. Edward Towler, in the 72d year of his age.

"The deceased united with the Baptist church, at Ash Camp, Charlotte County, Va., in 1817, removed to Kentucky in 1827, and to his present residence in 1830.

"In those different fields of labor he was ever ready to bear some part; a zealous advocate for all objects that tended to promote the Redeemer's kingdom upon earth. He was never satisfied to be idle, but felt better when engaged in warning sinners to flee from the wrath to come.

"During his last sickness he delighted in Christian conversation, and he would often remark that he felt a particular interest in those persons that had renounced the world and placed their trust in Jesus. At times he was gloomy, but had an abiding confidence in God's promise, 'that he would turn none away empty.' He was an affectionate husband, kind father and a good neighbor, always ready to administer to the necessities of the poor. When he ascertained that his time here was short, he remarked that he was ready; 'Lord, thy will be done.'"

James Walker* — was born of humble parentage near the Tennessee line in Alabama, March 29, 1820. When he was about 10 years old his father, Jacob Walker, moved to Perry County, Illinois, where young James completed his minority. His father's people being of the Methodist persuasion he grew up in that
------------------------
* By Elder J. S. Frost, of Rolla, Missouri.
[p. 819]
faith, and when 17 years old he united with the Methodist church. In 1840 he emigrated to what was then Crawford, but now Phelps County, Missouri, and on the 26th of the following December he married Miss Margaret Love, a highly respectable and amiable young lady, whose family for many generations had been Baptists.

While a young man, engaged in the harvest field, Bro. Walker was bitten by a rattlesnake. Not long after his marriage, he was again bitten by the same kind of a snake near the same spot on his body. This second bite seemed to so poison his blood that this worthy man of God showed signs of it through the remainder of his life.

Shortly after he came to Missouri he espoused the cause of the Baptists, and with a number of the original settlers in Phelps County organized the Baptist church of Spring Creek, and in 1843 was ordained a preacher of the gospel.

His private and his public character were unimpeachable. He lived to do good, preaching to numerous small churches for many miles around his home for over twenty years. His entire talent led him into exhortation, and but seldom did he branch off on any subject in the way of theory.

To him and the wife of his first love were born twelve children. Seven of them, four daughters and three sons, survived him. His widow is yet living on the small farm, the only earthly heritage left her and the family.

James Walker died at his home near Rolla, December 29,1866, being at the time in his 47th year. The manner of his death was quite distressing. He was subject to fits, caused from the snake bite before spoken of. He would fall into the fire, or in the water, and but for help would have perished often. The last burn proved fatal. He was engaged near his house heating a wagon tire. By some mishap the attention of his family was called away from him for a few moments, and one of his spells coming upon him he fell headlong into the fire, and before assistance reached him was so badly burned about the head and upper extremities of the body, that after lingering some days, he died.

James Walker struggled through life under the most adverse circumstances and in great poverty. It is not possible now to see how he accomplished the half of what he did. But God was with him and this is the residue of the story.

Anderson Woods* — was born in Albemarle County, Va., January
------------------------
* By Dr. A. P. Williams, as published in the Central Baptist, Vol. I, No. 7.
[p. 820]
18, 1778. He was the fifth child of his parents. His father was of Irish descent, and took an active part in our revolutionary struggle for freedom, serving as a captain in a Virginia regiment under Washington. He was a rigid Presbyterian, and brought up all his children in that faith. Under this tuition Anderson grew up a moral young man. He was of good stature, weighing about one hundred and seventy pounds; he had light hair, fair complexion and blue eyes.

At the age of eighteen his father placed him under the tuition of a man by the name of Carr, to learn the trade of a blacksmith. He staid with him until he learned the trade, and then set up a shop for himself in Richmond, Madison County, Ky. Here he soon established a reputation as a skilful workman, and consequently a very fair business. About one year after he began business for himself, May 4, 1808, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Harris, by Elder Peter Woods. After his marriage he remained at Richmond following his trade for nearly two years, when he moved on a farm about four miles from his former residence. In the following spring he was through grace enabled to embrace the Savior by a cordial, obedient faith.

As before stated, he was raised a strict Presbyterian. Sometime before he made a public profession of his faith in Christ he was very seriously impressed with the subject, especially about the time of the great revival of 1801. But he lived struggling with his convictions until the spring of 1811, when he became unusually serious. One evening, having attended a wedding, as he was leaving the place he made it convenient to ride with the minister, made known to him his state of mind, and requested him to. pray for him. Whereupon they alightedfrom their horses and the man of God offered up a prayer for him. A short time afterward he was enabled to rejoice in hope.

He now devoted all of his spare moments to reading the Holy Scriptures. Up to this time he had not thought of ever being anything but a Presbyterian. And not until he had read the New Testament through the third time, was his mind unsettled. He had taken it for granted that the doctrine of infant baptism was taught therein. And though he had read it through for the third time, he thought that perhaps he had overlooked the passage where the doctrine might be found. He therefore read again with special reference to this doctrine, but found it not. After thus carefully reading the word of God he was convinced that he had never been baptized as Jesus has commanded. But
[p. 821]
what was he to do? He had ever looked upon the Baptists as a very ignorant and bigoted set of people; but the plain teaching of God’s word convinced him that they were right. The Bible not only taught him that he had never been baptized, but also that there was only one baptism, and that the people whom he had been taught to look upon with contempt were the people who held the truth as it was in Jesus. He said nothing to any one about what he intended to do, until the evening before he joined the church. His wife had never joined any church up to this time, but some time before obtained a hope in Christ. He on this evening said to her that he intended to unite with the church. The next day he and his beloved wife did give themselves to the people of God, and were together buried with Christ in baptism by Elder Christopher Harris. They became members of the Viney Fork Church, Madison County, Ky.

A few months after his baptism Mr. Woods was chosen deacon of the church and served his brethren as such until October, 1816, when he moved from Kentucky to Missouri and settled in what is now Boone County (then Howard). He soon found a few scattered Baptists in his new home, and with three besides himself and wife, went into the constitution of a church which was then called Bethel, now Walnut Grove. Here he commenced holding prayer meetings with the church, as they could have preaching only occasionally during the first year. And its number increased during this time to about one hundred.

Elder Woods remained here about two years, when he moved about twenty miles east and went into the constitution of a church called Little Bonne Femme. Here betook a very active part in prayer-meetings and occasionally would exercise some in the way of public speaking, exhortation, etc. And on the third day of August, 1823, he was ordained to the ministry of the word by Elder Peter Woods, David Doyle and others.

From henceforth he devoted his whole time to the work of the ministry. The cause prospered here; and from this church soon after there went out two colonies, namely, Salem and Columbia churches. The last named church called him to labor for them as pastor. He labored for them in this capacity for several years, and at the same time he spent all the time he could spare from his immediate charge in laboring in destitute parts of the country, thus aiding in constituting and building up many of our churches which still flourish and prosper.

While laboring for the Columbia Church, Elder Woods traveled
[p. 822]
from one end of the state to the other — from Arkansas to his home — from New Madrid to Kansas, bearing onward the standard of Jesus, feeding the flock of Christ and proclaiming to sinners the cheering news of salvation, spending his time, the strength of his manhood and his means in the service of. his Master.

Elder Woods was one of the fathers of our General Association. He assisted in its organization and was the first missionary appointed by its board. But owing to his time being wholly monopolized by the churches he did not accept it.

In October, 1835, he moved near to Paris, Monroe County, Missouri, and took charge of the Otter’s Creek, Mount Prairie and Paris Churches. Soon after he also preached for the church at Newark. With these churches he labored until his death, which occurred on the twenty-second day of October, 1841, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. He had been gone from home six weeks. He returned on Wednesday. On Friday he talked a great deal about death and appeared to be already enjoying the very beatitudes of heaven. On Monday night he breathed his last and fell asleep in Jesus.

It is enough to add, what every one who knew Elder Woods will testify, that he was "a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and faith," and by his ministry "much people were added to the Lord."

Andrew Baker — was born in Washington County, Virginia, July 25, 1797, and was baptized into the fellowship of St. Clair's Bottom Church of the same county in May, 1818. He was ordained at Versailles, Indiana, September 30, 1837, removed to Missouri in September, 1860, and settled in the neighborhood of Kingston, Caldwell County, where he found a feeble Baptist church with which he united and officiated as pastor till amid the conflicting opinions of war times the church was dissolved in 1863. He now continued to preach at a school-house seven miles from Kingston, where, November 10, 1866, Hopewell Church was constituted. This venerable servant of the Lord was alive in 1869.

Peter Brown — of more than ordinary natural endowments, was born in Washington County, Kentucky, May 8, 1825. His parents were Presbyterians of the old school order, and gave their children a very careful religious training in the Presbyterian faith; four of them, however, including Peter, became Baptists on making a profession of religion. Andrew, one of the
[p. 823]
number, is a minister of no mean reputation in Texas; and another, Mary, is the wife of Eld. M. F. Williams, a Baptist minister of Randolph County.

Peter Brown spent four years of his boyhood life — from 9 to 13 years of age — at school in his native place, and always stood at the head of his class. When 13 years old his father with the entire family moved to Missouri and settled in what is now St. Clair County. Many arguments were used to retain young Peter with an uncle in Kentucky, that he might continue his studies, but he had heard of the “new country” in Missouri, which abounded in deer, turkeys and fish, and all arguments were unavailing. He found no schools in his new home, nor were there any churches or preachers, and he grew up a wild and wicked young man. He was very fond of reading, especially newspapers, and he soon became quite a politician. Having access to but few new books he finally took up the Bible, in which he became very much interested, especially in the history of Joseph whose character he determined to imitate. Under this state of things he became a self-righteous pharisee.

About 1843 Eld. Isaiah T. Williams visited the St. Clair County country and held meetings, under whose preaching young Brown was led to a proper conception of sin, and finally through faith in the atonement of Christ he found sweet peace to his soul, and began at once to feel a longing anxiety for the salvation of sinners. He had convictions that he ought to preach, but for some time resisted this impression, until finally it was like fire in his bones, and he concluded to try, though, as he says, he "was poorly qualified." His first effort at preaching was greatly blessed, and a wide-spread revival commenced and continued for about two years. He was ordained in 1847 by Elds. J. T. Ricketts and W. P. C. Caldwell, at the call of Brin Zion Baptist Church, where he had preached for some two years prior to this event.

For a number of years he was pastor of Hogle's Creek Church in Benton County, which had been organized by Andrew Brown in 1847. Into the fellowship of this church he baptized many persons up to 1859, when he ceased to preach for it. During the war the church became extinct and was subsequently reorganized.

In 1848 Peter Brown laid the foundation of Bethlehem Church, Henry County. That year he established a mission station eight miles south of Clinton, where ho continued to proclaim the gospel, and in 1853 removed the preaching station to within four
[p. 824]
miles of Clinton, in September of which year he held a protracted meeting, resulting in twenty conversions, after which the Bethlehem Church was organized. Within two years the church had grown to 76 members and built a neat house of worship, 30x40 feet, in which they now worship. Just after the date last named he aided Rev. J. T. Wheeler in a meeting resulting in over twenty conversions and the organization of Bethlehem Church in Hickory County.

From 1847 to 1859 he labored a great deal as missionary, a part of the time under the patronage of Blue River Association, and from 1853 to 1855 as colporteur of the American Baptist Publication Society. In 1863 such were the troubles around him that he became a refugee and sought safety, sometimes in Texas and sometimes in the Confederate Army. In July, 1865, he returned to his family — for home he had none — and found it reduced to poverty by foraging parties from the army. But with an unflinching determination he set to work with his hands to get sustenance for those dependent on him, and so soon as the Test Oath was abrogated, he again entered the field as an independent itinerant, and worked faithfully in Osage, Hickory, Henry and other counties. A part of the intervening period from that time to 1879 he labored as missionary of the General Association, for which he received small appropriations at different times.

Peter Brown is a man of fine natural ability, well posted in the tenets of the Baptist denomination and Bible doctrines generally, and is "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."

Martin Thomas Bibb — was born in Amherst County, Virginia, April 24, 1812. Becoming an orphan at ten years of age by his father's death, his training and education was left entirely in the hands of a widowed mother, who was a deeply pious woman. He was convicted of sin during family worship conducted by his mother, not long after which he found peace andreconciliation with God through faith in Christ, and in the fall of 1827 united with the Baptists, very soon after which he commenced the study of the Bible with a view of being useful in the church; also such other books as he could get hold of, to the end that he might make some literary improvement. Most all this study was done at night by the usual "bark light" so common in that day. He commenced preaching in 1841 and determined to make the ministry the great business of his life. In the fall of 1842 he was ordained by Elds. I. S. Tinsley. Jacob Tinsley, E. Thomas and
[p. 825]
others, and in the following spring removed to Fayette County, West Virginia, where the people had built him a house on land he had previously bought. This was in the midst of a field of great destitution, but many of the people "gladly received the word." In 1843 he aided in the constitution of Fayetteville Church, of which together with two other churches he became pastor. He prosecuted his labors in West Virginia for fifteen years, about one-third of which time he was missionary of the General Association of Virginia. For most of his time he was pastor of four churches, and sometimes of seven, and was greatly cheered by seeing the work of God prosper in his hands. Among the converts under his ministry was his nephew, M. Bibb, who became an eminent minister of the gospel. After becoming missionary of the General Association, he had Eld. Ellison as a colaborer, their field embracing more or less of the counties of Nicholas, Fayette, Raleigh, Logan, Mercer, Giles and Monroe. In 1854 he was made moderator of the Greenbrier Association, and by re-election held the office until he removed from the state. During his fifteen years' residence in West Virginia he preached or exhorted on an average every other day, baptized seven hundred converts, and married one hundred couple.

In 1858 he removed to Missouri, having started to Iowa. In the fall of that year he landed at Clarksville, Pike County, and spent most of the ensuing winter in protracted meetings. In the spring of 1859 he bought lands and settled in Montgomery County, five miles southwest of Danville the county seat; and soon
[p. 826]
after entered upon the pastoral work in Middletown, Mt. Horeb, Loutre and Unity Churches. His connection with Middletown and Loutre was severed by the war. At Unity he continued six years and at Mt. Horeb twelve years. He has since filled the office, of pastor at Montgomery City, Liberty, Danville, Zion, and perhaps one or two others. For several successive years he served as moderator of the Bear Creek Association, and he lives at Montgomery City in the bounds of said association.

Eld. Bibb has been three times married. To his first wife, Sarah Duncan, in 1831. She became the mother of two children, and was killed by lightning. He subsequently married Harriet Michell, who bare to him four children and died. His third wife, by whom he has eight living children, was Sarah M. Taylor, and she still lives to bless his home. The date of this marriage was in 1847. Of the children last named one, Martin Luther, is a Baptist minister, and pastor of the First Baptist Church, Warrensburg, Mo. Thomas is an M. D. and lives at Americus, Mo., and John T. fills the office of school commissioner of Montgomery County, and for several years was one of the principals of Montgomery College.

Eld. Bibb though over 70 years old, has the activity of many men at 60. For fifty-five years he has been a Baptist, for fortythree years of which time he has been in the ministry. For punctuality, few men have equaled him, and fewer still have surpassed him, he having missed less than one appointment a year during his ministerial life. He has baptized near 1,000 persons, and preached over 4,000 sermons. He is an able minister of the New Testament, and for almost a quarter of a century has been reckoned one of the most useful ministers in Eastern Missouri.

R. F. Babb — was born in Laurens District, South Carolina, October 26, 1816. He grew up with limited opportunities for an education and learned to read at Sunday-school. Soon after he was eight years old he learned to pray, and then to trust in Christ for salvation, but being naturally very timid he remained out of the church until 1843, when he united with Poplar Spring Church in his native state, seven years thereafter entering the ministry; his first pastorate being in Union Church, by which he was ordained. His second pastorate was at Raiburn's Creek. In 1853 both of these churches enjoyed extensive revivals, 54 converts being added to the former and 34 to the latter. A few years after this he removed to Missouri and became pastor of Union Church, Audrain County, which increased in numbers under his
[p. 827]
ministry. With Eld. W. R. Wigginton as a coworker he organized the Bethlehem Baptist Church at the house of Levi Barton. This church (in Boone County) numbered 276 members in 1879. He aided in organizing and building up Zion Baptist Church, with Eld. P. T. Gentry as a coworker. In many of the central counties of Missouri he has contributed valuable help in meetings in connection with Elds. Wigginton, Baker, Walthall, Beswick, Tipton and Haynes.

In October, 1872, he left the field of his former labors and settled in the town of Columbia. Of his compensation he says, "I have not received during my whole ministerial life enough for preaching to clothe myself."

Brother Babb is what we hear frequently called an “old time preacher,” of the experimental and exhortational order, his appeals being to the emotional rather than to the intellectual nature.

Barnabas Baker — was born in England, July 26, 1817, and while young, through the influence of a tract, was religiously impressed. At the age of 17 he made a public profession of religion, and was baptized by Wm. Davis, a Welsh Baptist minister. In 1839 he commenced preaching, his mind having been greatly exercised on the subject from the time of his conversion. He married in England in June, 1838. His wife's name was Leah Smith. She is a plain and pious English woman, the mother of three children, all Baptists, and still lives to preside over the household.

In 1843 he emigrated to the United States, and soon after settled in Columbia, Missouri, in which place he still lives. November, 15, 1850, he entered the service of the American Tract Society as a missionary colporteur, and except the years of the war has so continued ever since.

He was ordained as a Baptist minister January 25, 1857, by Elds. J. A. Hollis, X. X. Buckner, P. H. Steenbergen and J. T. M. Johnson. Most of his preaching has been as an itinerant missionary. For brief periods he has done pastoral work, in which capacity he has labored for Nashville and Sugar Creek Churches in Boone County, and for Ebenezer in Callaway County.

His brother, Samuel Baker, D. D., is an eminent Baptist minister of Kentucky.

No man in Central Missouri has done more, we think, towards the dissemination of general religious literature, than Barnabas Baker, and the annual visits of "old Brother Baker" are looked
[p. 828]
for by hundreds of families with about as much certainty as they look for the return of Christmas.

J. W. Bradley — died at the age of 57 years, February 13, 1879. He was born in Kentucky, February 22, 1822, and in 1828 moved to Randolph County, Missouri, where he has ever since lived. He confessed faith in Christ in 1863, and was received as a member of Silver Creek Baptist Church (anti-mission) and baptized by Eld. M. J. Sears. By this church he was ordained to preach the gospel, which work he did until 1877, as far as his health would permit him. At the date last named he united with Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Regular Baptists, of which he was a member at his death.

Mr. Bradley was ever ready to serve his friends and neighbors when such would not conflict with his religious duties. For two terms he served his county as judge of the county court, besides filling other official positions of somewhat less importance.

J. B. Fuqua — was born in Virginia, July 8, 1822. At the age of 17 he joined the Baptist church, and three years later married Miss A. E. Smith, daughter of a highly honored and useful minister in that state, and soon commenced preaching the gospel which was the work of his life. In 1853 or '54 he was pastor of the Cape Girardeau Church, and successor of Dr. Sherwood. In a year or two he removed to St. Louis, where he served the churches at Fee Fee, Concord and others for some years. About 1870 he removed westward to theneighborhood of Independence, where he continued to labor successfully. For the last two or three years he has been laboring in the state of Mississippi as agent for the Baptist college in that state; his family, a wife, two sons and one daughter, remaining in St. Louis.

He spent a part of the fall months in this city with his family, preaching as opportunity occurred, and then returned to his work in Mississippi. He had one or two attacks with something like a congestive chill, and started for home when a little better, spending a Sabbath at Carrollton in that state, where he preached; but another attack put an end to his labors, and he died at the residence of a kind family, Capt. Wm. Ray's, December 12, 1877. The body was brought to St. Louis, where public service was held on Saturday, the 15th inst., and the burial was at Fee Fee Cemetery, in the northwest part of the county. His last sermon was addressed chiefly to the young. May-our Heavenly Father sanctify the affliction to the mourning widow and bereaved children. He was a good minister of Jesus and died calmly
[p. 829]
trusting in His merits alone for everlasting salvation. He paid great respect to the opinion of his senior brethren. But he is gone. ("A. S.," in Central Baptist.)

William R. Green f116 — who died at his home in Knob Noster, Mo., January 25, 1879, was a minister in the Baptist denomination for twenty-five years. He was born January, 24, 1823, in Tennessee, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth Green.

For twenty-one years he labored hard and went to school in the fall and winter. At the age of twenty-six years he entered the Baptist university at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, under the presidency of J. H. Eaton, LL. D., finishing his course and graduating in this institution in 1854. He was pastor successively at Clarksville and Nashville, Tennessee; also for awhile in Texas. Nearly twenty years of his life were spent in Missouri. Bro. N. T. Allison, who was for some years intimately acquainted with Mr. Green, says of him:

"He was a noble, honest and conscientious man; with him Christianity was not a mere belief; it was a manly, upright practice, that entered into his life from day to day. He was a good preacher and a devoted minister of Jesus Christ, giving all his time and talent to this object. Possessing a clear insight into the mysteries of the plan of salvation, he was especially thorough in the doctrines of God’s sovereign grace and redemptive mercy. Though for years he suffered from the effects of a fall through a bridge on the Illinois Central Railroad, and was at times reduced in his financial circumstances, yet he never for a moment shrank from his duties in the work of the ministry. 'Though dead, he yet speaketh.'"

John Greenhalgh — This brother died about the year 1850, near Columbia, Boone County. He was strictly a temperance man. Once upon a time some menmade brandy of his peaches and got drunk. To prevent a recurrence of the same event he had all his peach trees cut down.

He made a man once take off his gloves to be married, in order that he might make the twain one flesh, saying that he could not make one flesh, unless both bare hands were together, and he illustrated the fact by the welding of two pieces of iron.

Robert Fulton Ellis — Spent a few years of his useful life in Missouri. He fell in the midst of battle, in his prime, and was at the time associate editor of the Western Watchman, the Baptist paper of Missouri, published at St. Louis. Dr. William Crowell,
[p. 830]
editor of that paper (Western Watchman, Vol. VII, Nos. 5, 6), gave the following testimonial of him:

"Rev. Robert F. Ellis is with the dead. On last Friday afternoon, when he was momentarily expected among us — it being his design to spend a few of these midsummer weeks with his family and preach to the Second Church in this city during the absence of the pastor — the overwhelming intelligence fell like a thunderbolt upon us, that the remorseless hand of Death had cut him down. Stranger hands ministered to him in his dying hours, and bore him softly to his final resting place.

"He was born in Topsham, Me., Oct. 16, 1809, and died at the residence of Mr. G.K. Biggs, in Clarke County, Mo., On Monday morning, July 24, 1854, in the 45th year of his age. The disease which took him away was inflammation of the brain. Bro. Biggs writes that he came to his house on Tuesday morning of the previous week, quite ill. A physician was immediately sent for, who attended upon him faithfully to the last. He received the attention of kind friends although among strangers. Bro. Wm. Carson, of Marion County, spent one night with him. But the most assiduous attentions were of no avail: fatal disease had fastened upon him — the irrevocable decree had gone forth. This heavy blow sinks deep into the crushed spirit. We would bow to the Father’s will, and be silent."

R. F. Ellis was of Scotch descent, but for several generations his ancestors were natives of America. Both his father and his grandfather were ministers in the Congregational communion. He spent his youthful days in his native town, and at 20 years of age he professed conversion and was baptized into fellowship in the Baptist church in Sangerville, December 26, 1830, where he was at the time engaged in teaching school.

The following is from the pen of "L." in the Western Watchman, Vol. VII, No. 6:

"In October, 1833, he entered the freshman class of Bowdoin College. How long he continued in the college we are not definitely informed. In June, 1834, we learn from his journal that he is a member of the Theological Institution at Newton, Mass. Here he completed his course of classical studies, and also the course of Theological studies pursued at the institution.

"As a memoir of our departed brother is expected to appear in the Baptist Memorial, we omit further extracts from his diary, and present only a brief outline of the subsequent portion of his useful life. He graduated in August, 1838; and during the
[p. 831]
same month he was publicly ordained, having several months previously been elected to the pastoral charge of the Second Baptist Church of Springfield, Mass.

"In April, 1839, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Child, of Woodstock, Conn., who now, with their beloved daughter, thirteen years of age — the only survivor of four children — has just learned from a distant stranger's hand her heart-rending bereavement.

"Mr. Ellis continued the esteemed and useful pastor of the church in Springfield about seven years, during which period his pastoral labors were appreciated by the church and the community, who still cherish his memory with warm attachment. By him 116 persons were baptized into the fellowship of that church.

"At this time he received an appointment from the board of the American Sunday-school Union to labor as an itinerant missionary and agent in the promotion of its benevolent work; and in the spring of 1845 he commenced his mission in the state of Missouri. After itinerating six months he removed his family from Massachusetts to Columbia, Boone County, Mo., and there continued his arduous labors with gratifying success till October, 1847. Having previously been elected to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church in Alton, in October he removed to this city and entered upon the discharge of his parochial duties. For six years he was pastor of this church, enjoying the confidence and love of the people of his charge, the esteem of the ministers and churches of other denominations, and the respect of the entire community.

"Mr. Ellis was ever an active promoter of the cause of general education, co-operating with others in the advancement of common schools, academies and colleges. The various organizations for benevolent religious effort, both those of a general and those of a denominational character, ever found in him an earnest advocate.

"Soon after Mr. Ellis resigned the pastoral office in this city, he entered upon the service of corresponding editor and general agent of the Western Watchman, published in St. Louis, Mo. In this itinerating service a wide field of usefulness was open before him. On the Sabbath days, and with more or less frequency between the Sabbaths, he preached to the people the message from God; and thus thousands heard from his lips the gospel of Christ.
[p. 832]
"During the last three months his labors were in the counties bordering on Iowa. His contemplated tour had been finished, and he had commenced his journey homeward. Letters received by the ‘loved ones at home,'" informed them when to expect the way-worn husband and father. But on his return home he stopped at the house of Deacon Biggs', complaining of illness. His disease soon developed into brain fever, and a few days after, with only brief intervals of returning consciousness, he died.

William Ferguson — of Pettis County, son of Thomas and Hannah Ferguson, was born in Barren County, Kentucky, October 19, 1806. His father was of Scotch ancestry; his mother was a descendant of the famous "Murphy boys."

He continued with his parents on the farm until he was 22 years old, when he married Dorinda Wright, October 28, 1828; soon after which event they both were converted to Christ, and united with Smith's Grove Baptist Church. He continued in Kentucky until the fall of 1841, and then moved to Pettis County, Missouri, and joined what was called the "Regular Baptist Church on Muddy Fork." This church taught the "Two Seed" doctrine and was opposed to missions, and Brother Ferguson finally left it and became a member of a newly constituted church, called Providence, at High Grove, in 1847 or '48.

He was licensed to preach soon after he became a member at High Grove, and December 15, 1849, at the call of said church, he was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry by Elias George and J. G. Berkley.

Not wishing to become pastor, the most of his time when preaching has been given to places most needing it. He has, however, labored as pastor in several churches in Western Missouri.

Of their ten children, four are dead — three dying in infancy; five are members of the Baptist denomination, and all living are heads of families. Bro. Ferguson says: "I am like Paul in this respect: 'Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.'"

P. N. Haycraft — was born near Elizabethtown, Hardin County, Ky., April 8, 1797. His parents, Samuel and Margaret Haycraft were Virginians, who emigrated to Kentucky in 1783 or 1784. Coming down the Ohio River they landed at the mouth of Beargrass, where Louisville now stands. Here they lived in the wild forest, exposed to the cruelties of the savages and the hardships of a frontier life; nevertheless God blessed them with an offspring of three sons and seven daughters, all of whom became
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Baptists and lived fifty-four years as a family circle unbroken by the hand of death. P. N. Haycraft was the youngest of the family, and when twenty-one years old was married to Miss Elizabeth Kennedy. About six years after he moved with his little family to what is now Scott County, Illinois. Being separated from those whose evil influences had led him into the ways of sin, the earlier lessons of piety, taught by his mother, came afresh to his mind, and he felt the necessity of personalrepentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. For two years he agonized in prayer that God would remove his burden of guilt and bestow the joys of His salvation. The prayer was answered. Concerning his conversion, Bro. Haycraft writes: "In May of 1831 I found the Lord Jesus an all-sufficient and willing Savior. With joy I embraced Him, and immediately an insatiable desire for the salvation of souls was impressed upon my mind."

This desire to save souls, seconded by the voice of the church, was regarded as a call to the ministry, although Brother Haycraft pleaded his want of talents. He was licensed to preach in April, 1833, and faithfully improved on the gifts he possessed until August 1834, when he was examined and properly ordained by a presbytery composed of Elders Jonathan Sweet, Joel Sweet, Jacob Barnes, and Lewis Allen. He no longer conferred with flesh and blood, but resolved by the grace of God to work for souls. In 1835 he moved to Lewis County, Missouri, where the laborious self-sacrificing life work of himself and his Christian wife really began. Desiring to do the will of God towards his family and towards sinners, he labored on his little farm through the day, studied at night by the firelight, and on Sunday preached where Providence seemed to open the way. Quite a portion of this time he labored as missionary in the bounds of Bethel Association, which at that time embraced all the northeast quarter of the. state, and at other times for the General Association, through nearly all the counties north of the Missouri river, and between Illinois and Kansas. He writes: "In the winter of 1842 and '43, there was a general revival throughout the northeast part of the state. I preached to Mound Prairie Church, thirty-eight miles south of my home, and to North Wyaconda Church, sixty miles north, and at Gilead Church where my membership was. Four hundred were added by baptism that year to the churches in Northeast Missouri. I went the rounds once a month, baptizing every week. I have crossed
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the wide prairies, riding all day without the sight of a fire, when it was so cold that farmers were all housed. I have crossed the streams where the water would run over the back of my horse, carrying a rail on my shoulder to break the shore ice; sometimes swimming my horse, and riding all day in winter with wet clothing to meet my appointments."

Such were the sacrifices and hardships endured by our fathers in the ministry; so destitute and large also were the fields, and so few the laborers, that their temporal interests were allowed to suffer. Missionaries employed by the association had from fifty to sixty cents a day. This condition of things had reduced Bro. Haycraft to a condition of dependence. He became financially involved, and owing to the failure of crops was obliged to borrow money and pay large interest to save his home. About this time he decided to go to California in search of gold. "Some," he says, "that never gave anything towards supporting the gospel, considered it a great sin to leave the churches and go hunting gold, but I could see no other way to pay my debts."

In the spring of 1849 Mr. Haycraft started for the gold regions of California, leaving his wife and elder son to provide for the family. A five months' overland journey with ox-teams brought him to San Francisco, where he succeeded in accomplishing the object of his heart; and on the first day of April, the next spring (1850), he set sail for home by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, New Orleans and St. Louis, and arrived at La Grange in June. Of his arrival, he says: "I found myself surrounded by friends, and was brought the same evening to my home, where I found my family all well. The gratitude and thankfulness that I felt to my Heavenly Father, can better be imagined than expressed. Suffice it to say, so far as temporal matters are concerned, I paid my debts and have not been embarrassed since."

In the thirty-five years of residence in Missouri, Mr. Haycraft has constituted thirteen churches and assisted in the ordination of seventeen ministers. He has preached seventeen years to one church, about fifteen to another, and eight to another. As pay for preaching to a church sixty miles from home, he received sixteen dollars, and thirty dollars from another thirty-eight miles from home. His labors have been for the salvation of souls, and amid strong opposition to a paid ministry. And now, as he looks back over the seventy-four years of his life, be says, "my labors are well-nigh done, and it seems to me that I have
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accomplished but little for my Savior. I shall soon go the way of all the earth. Then let me here advise ministers and churches to be more careful in the reception of members, particularly in time of excitement; let us return to the old custom of having candidates relate the exercises of their minds relative to the change necessary for all to experience before coming into Christ's visible church." What timely advice from an experience of forty years in the ministry! (By S. W. Marston, in Central Baptist, Vol. III, No. 44.)

Samuel C. Major* — On Saturday afternoon, March 13, 1880, the people of Fayette and of Howard County were thrown into deep grief by the death of this universally esteemed gentleman. For some months he had been in feeble health, and for ten or twelve days had been confined to his room with a threatened attack of pneumonia. On Saturday afternoon, about one o'clock, he had a brief spell of coughing, and being too weak to expectorate, passed away about half an hour afterwards; without a gasp or struggle.

His funeral took place at the Baptist church on Monday afternoon.
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* By Rev. M. J. Breaker, in Central Baptist, April, 1880.
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The religious services were conducted by Rev Dr. Yeaman, Rev. W. R. Painter and the pastor of the church, Rev. M. J. Breaker. The last named preached the sermon from Revelation 14:13: "And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them." The vast concourse of people that had assembled from all parts of the country was much too great to get into the church, so that after the building had been filled to its utmost capacity there were about as many persons outside as inside. From the church the long and solemn procession moved to the cemetery, where the body was interred with impressive ceremonies.

Bro. Major was born in Franklin County, Ky., August 26, 1805. In 1826 he removed to Fayette, Mo., and has lived here ever since. On March 5, 1829, he married Miss Elizabeth Daily, who, after spending half a century in rare love and devotion, now deeply mourns his departure. Eleven children blessed this union, seven of whom lived to be of age, and four (Hon. Samuel C. Major, Jr., Mr. A. M. Major, Mrs. J. R. Findley and Mrs. W. C. Arline,) survive their honored and beloved father.

Bro. Major began life as a cabinet maker, and for more than fifty years has had a furniture store in Fayette. About 1832 he was elected justice of the peace, and held this office thirteen years. In 1840 he was appointed public administrator, and except four years, when he was receiver in the land office, he has held the office ever since. At different times he has been mayor of the city of Fayette.

As a business man he was very painstaking and thoroughly upright. As a public officer he was to the last degree faithful and obliging. All who have ever had dealings with him had the utmost confidence in his self-denying devotion to duty. He was thoroughly a man of work, and came very near realizing to the very letter his wish to die at work, having but a few hours before his death dictated some business correspondence.

As a citizen he was ever alive to the welfare of society. In his political views he was a decided conservative. His patriotism was pure and strong. He loved and served his country, not from the hope of reward, but because it was his country.

As a husband and father, he was loving, gentle and considerate; and in the sacred circle of the family his many virtues shone with the greatest brilliancy.
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In April, 1843, during a protracted meeting, he made a profession of religion and united with the Fayette Baptist Church. He felt that he had too long neglected this most important duty, and he set himself with all his strength to make up the time he had lost. Henceforth, to advance the cause of Christ became the great end of his life, and nobly and successfully did he follow that end. An excessive distrust of himself kept him back from conspicuous places, but he was a very useful workman. His bountiful hospitality is known and appreciated throughout the whole state. The church at Fayette is almost orphaned without him; and the cause of Christ at large, especially the Missouri Baptist General Association, the efficient president of whose executive board he was for years, has lost one of its best, truest and strongest friends.

James Francis Smith — Under the preaching of Rev. James F. Smith, the writer was convicted of sin in the summer of 1851. For many years, twenty-five or more, he was one of the most laborious and successful itinerants of North Missouri. In exhortation, when in his prime, he was often overwhelming. Hundreds now active in church work in the field of his labors have been brought in under his ministration.

From his autobiography we cull the following facts:
J. F. Smith was born May 7, 1811, in Jessamine County, Kentucky. He grew up under pious parental influence and under the ministry of Edmund Waller, yet despite these influences he lived in a state of rebellion against God. On the 7th of March, 1833, he was united in marriage with Mary A.
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Dingle of Kentucky, daughter of Eld. Edward Dingle; and not long after this event he removed to Missouri and settled in Marion County. In 1835 he and his wife were both converted under the ministry of Eld. Jeremiah Taylor, by whom they were baptized in March of that year, having been approved for membership in the Little Union (now Union) Baptist Church, Marion County. He continued for several years with no special indications of anything above an ordinary interest in the progress of Baptist principles. In 1841 the Bethel Association met at old Bethel Church. This meeting he attended and became very much revived, and here he delivered his first exhortation, though he had no thought of ever becoming a preacher. His church (Mt. Zion in Shelby County), however, of which he was a member, licensed him to preach in the following December. He continued his labors in the gospel, now more and more blessed, and in November, 1843, he was endowed with the full powers of a gospel minister by ordination at the hands of Elds. Christy Gentry, John H. Keach and Benjamin Stephens. Of this period of his life he says, "I had but little education, was very poor, my knowledge of the Bible limited, and a growing family made my prospects anything but promising; but the grace of God and the encouragement of a few friends who never faltered, enabled me to persevere. I soon saw and felt the need of an education. It was now too late for me to think of obtaining one, but I must use all the means in my reach to acquire knowledge. I studied English grammar on horseback, in going to and from my appointments. I have read thousands of pages while in the saddle. At one time I went to school with four of my children."

Brother Smith has been a useful minister in the Baptist pulpit in Northeastern and Central Missouri for over forty years. Besides being pastor at different times of a number of churches, he has abounded in itinerant labors, having done more work, perhaps, in protracted meetings than any other man in this section of the state, from Lewis County on the north to Warren County on the south; and from Pike County on the east to Howard and Chariton Counties on the west. He has baptized about 1,200 converts into the churches, and witnessed as many more baptisms by the pastors with whom he has labored. Though a good preacher, his forte is in exhortation.

In physical appearance he is a man of a powerful frame, weighing from 220 to 240 pounds, has broad shoulders, a large head, and a voice like a lion.
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In December, 1865, while in the midst of a glorious revival, he was arrested by Jim Mitchell, the constable of the township, and carried before Squire Wilson for a preliminary trial. He was charged with having preached the gospel without taking the oath. William Biggs volunteered to act as his attorney. Several witnesses were examined, and Mr. Smith was required to give bond of $1,000, in default of which he must go to prison. Mason Rose and Asa James went on his bond. Of the subsequent proceedings in the case, he gives the subjoined brief account:

"I appeared at the next circuit court at Bowling Green. I do not think the judge (T. J. C. Fagg) wanted me arraigned; but the clerk, who was a Baptist, reminded him that I had not yet been called. So I was brought before the court with four others — three negroes and one white man — all charged with stealing except myself. My crime was 'preaching the gospel and baptizing.' I gave bond to appear at the next term of the court and sat down near a group of lawyers, one of whom said, 'Parson, that is pretty hard, I tell you.' 'Yes,' said I; 'but there is no Patrick Henry here.' I thought of Christ being 'numbered with the transgressors' and felt a little nearer Him than ever before."

As it is a document of rare interest, we give below an exact transcript of the indictment against Brother Smith.

"STATE OF MISSOURI, COUNTY OF PIKE.

In the Circuit Court, March Term, 1866.

"The Grand Jurors for the State of Missouri, empanelled, sworn and charged to inquire in and for the body of Pike County; on their oaths, present, that heretofore, to-wit, the 30th day of December, 1865, at the county aforesaid, one James F. Smith, being a minister of the Missionary Baptist religious persuasion, sect and denomination, unlawfully did preach and teach and act as such minister of the Missionary Baptist religious persuasion, and sect and denomination, by baptizing divers persons, to the jurors aforesaid unknown, without having first taken, subscribed and filed the oath of loyalty prescribed in the constitution of the state, in the clerk's office of the county court of the county of the residence of him, the said James F. Smith, against the peace and dignity of the state.

E.P. JOHNSON, County Attorney."

Before the case finally came up for trial, the Supreme Court of the United States passed upon the "Missouri Test Oath," declaring it unconstitutional, and Brother Smith with a number of others were relieved from further annoyance and cost.
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William H. Vardeman* — the tenth child of the renowned Jeremiah Vardeman, and Elizabeth his wife, was born near David's Fork Baptist meeting-house, Fayette County, Kentucky, June 28, 1816. At the age of two years he was left motherless; hence his training was left mainly to his stepmother, the third wife of his father, Miss Lucy Bullock, of Woodford County, Ky.

In 1830, when he was 14 years old, his father moved to Missouri and settled in Rails County, six miles west of New London, the county seat. Here he completed his majority, and by the assistance of Butler W. Brown, a celebrated school teacher from Kentucky, he acquired a good education in reading,writing, English grammar, arithmetic, geography, geometry, trigonometry, surveying and algebra.

He professed religion and was baptized by his father in 1833, when he was 17 years old. After he professed religion he was early impressed with desires to preach the gospel, but his father being a minister with no support at all from that quarter, his limited knowledge of Divine truth and other hindering causes, made it appear to young Vardeman that it was altogether impracticable for any one family to support two preachers. Yet, by the aid of his father's library, consisting of Dr. Gill's Commentary on the New Testament and a few other readable books, when he was not at hard manual labor, he strove to acquire a knowledge of Divine truth.

After the death of his father in 1842, the church at Bethel in Rails County, being deprived of their beloved pastor, and feeling it to be their duty to encourage such gifts as they had among them, on the motion of Deacon James Culbertson, licensed W. H. Vardeman and John M. Johnson to exercise their gifts in the
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* By S. H. Ford, in Christian Repository, Vol. XXII, pp. 77-9.
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ministry. Feeling his incompetency to so great a task, Mr. Vardeman had many hard struggles with doubts and fears as to going forward in the work. Finally, meeting with pressing inducements, he started on his first tour, and stopped upon the waters of West Cuivre, in Audrain County, where there was no Baptist church, and where the people had but little preaching of any kind. Here he held a meeting, and many converts were received for baptism. Desiring a continuance of his labors among them, these converts and the scattered brethren sent a petition to Bethel Church requesting his ordination, whereupon Elds. William Hurley, Benjamin Stephens and Jacob Bower were called as a presbytery, and January 12, 1845, W. H. Vardeman was set apart to the gospel ministry.

He returned to his field on Cuivre, baptized a number of hopeful converts, and constituted them with others into a Baptist church of Jesus Christ. They are now a large and prosperous church, having united with many others gathered into the kingdom mainly by Eld. James F. Smith, some few miles above where the original church was organized. This is now the West Cuivre Church.

Eld. Vardeman succeeded his venerable father at Salem in Ralls County. This he did with considerable embarrassment and with great reluctance, realizing the many difficulties in following a man with the pulpit powers of his father. But he went forward, and during a ten years' pastorate God gave him many seals to his ministry. He was called about the same time to the care of Mount Pleasant Church in Pike County, where his father had preached for several years. Here he continued only about one and a half years with some success. From this place he was called to perform labor in another part of the Master's vineyard, where his labors would be crowned with more abundant success, holding protracted meetings in the counties of Montgomery, St. Charles, Warren, Lincoln and Pike. He continued in this work several years, commencing it about 1850 or 1851, during which a number of souls were added unto the Lord.

In 1852, on the 4th of February, by Eld. William Hurley, Eld. Vardeman was joined in the holy state of matrimony to his now surviving, most esteemed wife,* Lizzie M. Lindsay, daughter of William C. and Maria L. Lindsay of St. Charles County, Missouri. At the time of his marriage Eld. Vardeman was collecting
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* Mrs. Vardeman has since died, after living an invalid life for several weary years. During her last years she passed the deep waters of afflication.
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agent for the William Jewell College, for which he has ever had the greatest sympathy, and to the permanent funds of which he gave two hundred acres of land, situated in Montgomery County. Since his marriage he has resided in St. Charles County, dividing his time somewhat between the farm and the pulpit. Much of his labor in the ministry has been done at his own charges. For nine successive years he preached to the church at Zion, in Montgomery County, where his labors were blessed to the good of souls up to the 23d of April, 1863, when he was taken by the Federal authorities, without a single criminal act against the government or any individual in it, and incarcerated in Gratiot Street Prison, St. Louis, Mo., the only pleasant remembrance of which is that he preached fifty sermons there inside of sixty days, and had the pleasure of seeing and hearing many hopeful converts speak of the love of Christ that had been shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost.

Eld. Vardeman has ever been a strong advocate for missions and a liberal education of the young and rising ministry. He has done much hard labor for which he has not received enough remuneration-to keep boots upon his feet; yet he believes that the churches ought to support their ministry.

Physically and mentally he regards himself as able at the close of his 60th year to do ministerial work as he has ever been, and he feels determined to try to persevere to the end.

Jesse B. Wallace — is one of the pioneers of Southern Missouri, and had in 1872 been a Baptist about forty years. He is a Kentuckian, and was born September 4, 1799, in Christian County. In 1820 he emigrated to Missouri, and thirteen years after he was converted and became a member of Black River Church, Wayne County.

He was ordained a preacher October, 1848, by Josiah Duncan, N. G. Furguson and Deacon Geo. Graham at Mt. Pleasant Church. For twenty-four years he labored in the pastoral office, during which time he had the oversight of six churches, three of which are defunct. The dead churches are Mars' Hill, Webb's Creek and Sinking Creek. In all his twenty-four years of labor he sayshe did not receive from the churches as much as $30, while he gave away for benevolent work not less than $2,000.

He is a farmer and was in comfortable circumstances before the war, but is now poor and blind, having only his farm of about three hundred acres left. Brother Wallace is a man of limited literary education.
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B. F. Lawler — was born in Henderson County, Tennessee, January 31, 1834, and in early life removed to St. Clair County, Missouri, where he grew up. His first convictions of sin were at 14 years of age, but more powerful were these convictions when he was near 20 years old, when he began to entertain hope of eternal life, and was baptized by Rev. James T. Wheeler at the age of 22. Four years after this (in 1860) he was ordained to the ministry by Elders Calvin Maxwell, W. R. McLaine and James Moody. For sixteen years, save a short interval during the war, he was in the pastoral work in the bounds of Tebo Association; and in 1876 he removed to Nebraska and settled as pastor in the Salem and Prairie Union Churches, which position he held in 1882. He is the son of Deacon Evan Lawler, and has two brothers in the Baptist ministry.

Hon. George C. Bingham — a prominent man in political circles, and who, in originality and accuracy as a portrait painter, had few superiors in this country, was a Baptist. He was the second son of Henry V. Bingham, and was born in Augusta County, Va., March 20, 1811. When a boy 7 years old, with his parents, he moved to Franklin, Howard County, Mo. In early life he exhibited a talent for drawing, and abandoning his former purpose to embark in the legal profession, he visited Philadelphia in 1837, and spent some time in the Academy of Fine Arts. He
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opened a studio in Washington City in 1840, where he remained about five years, during which time he established his reputation as an artist. In 1845 he returned to Missouri, and three years thereafter he was elected to the legislature from Saline County.

Among the drawings and paintings which won for him deserved celebrity, may be mentioned the "Jolly Flat Boatman," "Stump Speaking," "County Election," also full length portraits of Washington, Jefferson, Clay, and equestrian portraits of General Jackson and General Lyon. There are full-length portraits of Baron Von Humboldt and of Frank P. Blair in the Mercantile Library, St. Louis, and a similar portrait of Hon. James S. Rollins in the State University of Missouri, the works of his hands.

In other relations than his profession did Mr. Bingham win an enviable fame. Wherever known he was esteemed as an honorable and good man.

During the civil war he filled the office of state treasurer, and discharged the duties of his position with fidelity. "He was a man of fine intellectual powers, wide intelligence, and a terse,
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strong and vigorous writer." "At the beginning of Governor Hardin's administration he was appointed to the office of adjutant-general, in which he acquitted himself with credit." (History of Missouri, Davis & Durrie, p. 471.)

Mr. Bingham was three times married: in 1836, to Elizabeth Hutchinson of Howard County; in 1849, to Miss Eliza Thomas of Columbia; and the third time to Mrs. Lykins, widow of the late Dr. Lykins of Kansas City. He is now dead.
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[From Robert S. Duncan, A History of the Baptists in Missouri, 1882; rpt. 1981, pp. 761-845. Thanks to Dale Lawson of Foristell, MO for giving me this book. — jrd]



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