xt7sj38kdt98 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7sj38kdt98/data/mets.xml Fuson, Henry Harvey, 1876-1964. 1922  books b92-87-27383019 English Jameson, : Covington, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Baptists Kentucky Bell County History. Bell County (Ky.) History. History of the Bell County Association of Baptists  : over a quarter of a century of growth, 1896-1922 / by Henry Harvey Fuson. text History of the Bell County Association of Baptists  : over a quarter of a century of growth, 1896-1922 / by Henry Harvey Fuson. 1922 2002 true xt7sj38kdt98 section xt7sj38kdt98 






         HI STO RY
               OF
THE BELL COUNTY ASSOCIATION
               OF

        BAPTI STS


               B Y
      HENRY HARVEY FUSON
      Author of "The Pinnacle" and other
           Kentucky Mountain
              Poems.

 






H. H. FUSON,
2022 EASTERN PARKWAY,
   LOUISVILLE. KY.

 
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'Dea:wakorg

 





General Dedicatory

             10:30 A. M.



"Praise God from Whom all
     Blessings Flow"     -



Services



-   -   -   Congregation



Invocation.



"All Hail the Power of Jesus Name"



Congregation



Reading the Scripture (Matt. 27:33-50).



"Hanrk! Hark! My Soul!"



-   -   -   -   -   Shelley



CHORUS CHOIR



Prayer.



"What Are They Doing in Heaven"



Sermon



Sam N. Elsey



-  J. B. DeGarmo



Gathering of Special Offering for Building Fund.



Responsive Reacing.



Prelude



-



I

 






                Formal Dedication


LEADER-To the glory of God, the Father; to the worship of Jesus
   Christ, the Son; to the praise of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter;
   to the adoration of the Trinity:
ALL-We dedicate this house.
LEADER-For the ministry of the word; for worship in prayer and
   song; for the fellowship of the saints:
ALL-We dedicate this house.
LEADER-For comfort to those who mourn; for strength to those who
   are tempted; for grace to those who are afflicted; for every help
   to right living; for the salvation of men:
ALL -We dedicate this house.
LEADER-For the guidance of childhood; for the sanctification of the
   family; for the sacred unity of the home; for the purity of social
   life; for the teaching of temperan' e and chastity:
ALL-We dedicate this house.
LEADER- For the training of a good conscience; the teaching of a pure
   faith; the preaching of the plain and simple gospel of Jesus Christ;
   the maintenance of the New Testament orderand ordinances; the
   cultivation of the missionary spirit and the spread of the truth, as
   it is in him, to the uttermost parts of the earth:
ALL-We dedicate this house.
LEADER-For the education of body and mind and soul; for the foster-
   ing of the truest patriotism; the best citizenship; the highest
   ideals; the noblest character; for the defense of all righteousness
   and unceasing war against all wickedness, in public and private
   life:
ALL-We dedicate this house.
LEADER-For the help of the poor; the relief of the needy; the in.
   struction of the ignorant; for the consolation of the troubled; for
   peace to the distressed; for rest to the weary and heavy laden;
   for hope for the discouraged and disappointed; for the protection
   of the orphan, and the widow, and the friendless; for welcome to
   the stranger and wayfarer; for the promotion of the brotherhood
   of man, the fellowship of righteousness, and the bringing in of
   the kingdom of G'od.
ALL-We, the people of the First Baptist Church and congregation,
   here and now, consecrating ourselves anew, dedicate this house to
   the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Prayer of Dedication.
Benediction.

 





COMMITTEES








BUILDING COMMITTEE

T. J. ASHER, CHAIRMAN
M. BRANDENBURG, TREASURER
E. N. INGRAM
J. A. WHITAKER





FINANCE COMMITTEE

T. R. WARE, CHAIRMAN
A. B. GILBERT, SECRETARY
G. M. ASHER
R. B. RICE
J. M. GIBSON
DR. EDW. WILSON
MRS. W. L. MOSS





     TRUSTEES

T. R. WARE
M. BRANDENBUPRG
A. B. GILBERT

 
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History of the Bell County


  Association of Baptists



Over a Quarter
of Growth i



of a Century
896--I 92 2.



BY



HENRY



HARVEY



FUSON



       Author of
THE PINNACLE AND OTHER
KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN POEMS



PRINTED IN Q9VI;GTON, KY., BY J. R. JAMESON, 35 rziK ST.

 



=ll 'WI3 4"=   4 7=  



       SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS


ACTS 14:2 7
     "And when they were come, and had
gathered the church together, they rehearsed
all that God had done with them, and how
he had opened the door of faith unto the
Gentiles."


ACTS 15:41
    "And he went through Syria and Cili-
cia, confirming the churches."


ACTS i6:-
    "lAnd so were the churches established
in the faith, and increasd in number
dailv."
                    Selections by Dr. L. L. Henson.



 
















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Location of Churches Bell County Association of Baptists



A..



Branch



Chapel



Camp
Colmar



Mery



Salemo



Chenoa  


 









    History of the Bell County Association of

        Baptists Over a Quarter of Century

                of Growth---1896-1922.

    No history of the Bell County Association of Baptists, as it exists
today, would be complete without some statement of the meeting of
the North Concord Association in which the East Concord Associa-
tion (now the Bell County Association) came into existence. T1his
meeting was held at the Little Creek Baptist Church, on Left Fork of
Straight Creek, Bell County, Kentucky, on the 13th day of Septemiber,
1895. The following resolution of separation was passed at this
meeting:
    "The committee on .he (Tiv'siait ct the aSsociation beg leave to
make the following report, to wit:
    "We recommend the division on the following basis: conllnienC-
ing on the head waters of Stinking Creek and left hand fork of
Straight Creek, and runaing witin the quell and Knox County line to
the Whitley County line. We recommend that its part of the asso-
ciation, below said line in Knox County retain the name of the North
Concord Association, and above the line in Bell County be called the
East Concord Association. We recommend that the first annual
meeting of the East Concord Association be held with the Walnut
Grove Church, in Bell County, on Friday before the first Saturday in
September, 1896, and that W. M. C. Hutchins preach the first annual
sermon and act as moderator pro tem, and that W. M. Hoskins act as
clerk pro tem. It is further recommended that the present moderator
and clerk visit the new association at its first annual meeting to assist
the brethren in their beginning."
        "J. H. Begley          W. J. Caudill
        W. M. C. Hutchins     T. M. Lock
        Jas. Hammon           J. Hopper, Chin. Com."
        William Amis



S

 




    Well do I remember the large trees in front of the church house
on Little Creek, beneath which, on rude benches, the members and
visitors of the association sat and listened to the fervent, eloquent
words that fell from the lips of the best of our preachers. I can see
again the great crowd as it sits there, beneath the wide-spreading
branches of the trees, amid the hills that group themselves about in
their dignity and repose, and can hear the words of Brother Steve
Golden, that noble man of God, as they sweep out over the crowd to
cheer and comfort the hearts of his hearers.

    The business sessions were held in the church house just back of
the trees, and I remember, while attending some of these sessions
as a delegate, how I wished to be on the outside listening to the preach-
ing. I cannot remember a time in my life when powerful oratory,
whether from layman or preacher, but especially from the preacher,
did not appeal to the inmost nature of my soul; and many of these
mountain preachers were, and are still, endowed with remarkable
powers of oratory. They are free from the formalities of the
rhetorician-their words come with a freedom and spontaneity that
go direct to the hearts of their hearers. They arouse in them those
noble emotions that cawnpel thenw to side with tMe larger and better
things of life. All honor to these noble orators of God's cause! But
for them life in this beadtiful nmoiuntai.i region would be hard and
prosaic! But for them the vision of ihe Prophets would fade from
the minds of men! But for them the glory of Heaven would be a
myth and men would go to their graves "'unwept, unhonored, un-
sung"!

    I was there as a delegate from Harmony church, Little Clear
Creek, near Clear Creek Springs, and was more of an humble par-
ticipant and an onlooker than anything else. Rev. W. M. C. Hutch-
ins, now of Crab Orchard, Kentucky, who was one of the leaders in
this meeting and who the next year became the first moderator of the
East Concord Association, in a recent letter to Rev. W. T. Robbins,
has this to say about the leaders of that meeting: "I think I remember
the leaders in that movement. They were: S. Golden, W. J. Caudill,
Wilk Amis, Caleb Slusher, T. M. Lock, John Begley, N. J. Brock, Joe
Hopper, and myself."

    Rev. WV. T. Robbins, in the minutes of the association for 1920,
under the heading "Report of Baptist History in Southeastern Ken-
tucky", has this to say about the leaders in this movement: "The
                               6

 



following brethren were the most prominent in bringing about and
perfecting a new organization: Rev. W. M. C. Hutchins, now of
Crab Orchard, Ky., Rev. W. W. Mason, of Wasioto, Ky., Rev. M. S.
Webb, Davisburg, Ky., Rev. R. G. Evans (Middlesboro, Ky.), Rev.
Preston Turner (Ferndale, Ky.), Rev. Steven Golden (Barbourville,
Ky.), Rev. Caleb Slusher, Rev. Noah Smith (Calloway, Ky.), and
others who have gone to their eternal reward."
     Recently my father, J. T. Fuson, who has been Clerk of Harmony
Baptist Church for almost a life time and who has been one of the
main workers in the North Concord, East Concord, and Bell County
associations for more years than r remember, visited me, and, in
reply to a question from me as to whom the leaders were, replied:
"S. Golden, Moderator; John H. Davis, Clerk; Dink (Wilkerson)
Affis and W. M. C. Hutchins". I told him I agreed with him as to
the Moderator, but thought that W. J. Caudill was Clerk. I am most
sure Brother Golden was Moderator, since the resolution of separa-
tion contains a suggestion that the officers attend the first meeting of
the new association, and I find in these first minutes of 1896 that
Brother Golden was in attendance. The Clerk evidently did not
attend.
    There is agreement, in a general way, of my. father, Brother
Hutchins, Brother Robbins and myself, as to the prominent men, and
it is pretty safe to let these opinions stand as authoritative on the
subject. Of this I am sure, at one time or another, all these men
mentioned had a prominent voice in this separation. Many, many
others, whom I am sorry we do not have the names of to honor in
this connection, deserve a place in this history. But all honor to the
noble, self-sacrificing men, who, in humbler positions, aided in this
movement to better the Baptist cause! But all honor, too, to the
noble women, who, in humbler position still, helped to forward this
movement! To one and all, even to those who did the least, we
hereby endeavor, in the strongest words, to do honor to their names!
Heaven itself is filled with those who have little or no mention here
on earth! Mention of our names here, in places of honor, is a mere
breath compared with Eternity! This will pass away, but Eternity
never!
    The necessity for the division of the association was discussed
for several years prior to 1895, and this necessity was based on the
unwieldly size of the body. So many delegates and visitors came to
each meeting of the association that only large and well-to-do com-
munities could take care of them. Hence, on these grounds, a sep-

                               7

 



aration was necessary. At the meeting at the Little Creek Church,
mentioned above, in 1895, the separation came; and the parent asso-
ciation, as stated above, was to retain the name North Concord and
the new association to take the name East Concord. But, in 1907,
the following resolution was unanimously passed, as offered by Rev.
C. M. Reid: "Resolved, That we change the name of this association
from the East Concord Association to the Bell County Association".
Hereafter, in speaking of the association, I shall speak of it as the Bell
County Association, even when reviewing the earlier meetings.
    According to the resolution of separation, Rev. W. M. C. Hutch-
ins was chosen Moderator of the Bell County Association at its first
meeting with the Walnut Grove Church, Four Mile, in 1896. But the
Clerk mentioned in the resolution failed to appear, and Brother Henry
Rice, now of Harlan, Kentucky, was chosen first Clerk. Rev. Noah
Smith was chosen Assistant Moderator and Rev. N. J. Brock, Assist-
ant Clerk.
    Eleven churches composed that first organization, as follows:
Antioch, WValnut Grove (Four Mile), Pineville (Pineville), Little
Creek (Left Fork of Straight Creek), Mt. Hope, Mt. Hebron (Straight
Creek), Jack's Creek, Union, Harmony (Near Clear Creek Springs),
Little Clear Creek (Near W. L. Fuson's), and Roost (Ferndale).
    Some of the most active men of this meeting were, besides the
Moderators and Clerks who have been mentioned, Rev. W. A. Borum,
Rev. W. P. Slusher, J. T. Fuson (father of the author of this history),
Rev. Preston Turner, Rev. J. H. Peace, Rev. M. S. Webb, J. F. Rice,
Elijah Smith, L. D. Miracle, John Hendrickson, Rev. Thomas M.
Lock, J. M. Robbins, Rev. S. Golden from the North Concord Asso-
ciation, Rev. R. G. Evans, Rev. J. W. Broughton, John Elliott, Rev.
W. H. Partin. At least, these men's names appear most on the min-
utes of the association for that meeting.
    At this meeting Rev. W. A.- Borum was selected to preach the
next annual sermon at Pineville with Rev. R. G. Evans as alternate.
    The membership of the association at the time of organization
was 704, with church property valued at 3,425. The Pineville
church alone had 3,000 of this amount and the other churches com-
bined had 425. The churches with the names of the pastors and
clerks follow:
  Church                 Pastor              Clerk
Antioch...      .... William Gibson        Pleasant North
Roost ......... W. M. C. Hutchins        Gillis Turner
Mt. Hebron ......   . G. W. Brooks       Mrs. Ellen Livingston
                               8

 



Union ................ Noah Smith         Thos. M. Lock
Jack's Creek ........... John Collett     John H. Napier
Mt. Hope ............... Noah Smith       W. C. Hoskins
Walnut Grove ......... Wm. H. Partin      Martha Hendrickson
Little Clear Creek ...... M. S. Webb      J. J. Evans
Harmony ............. R. G. Evans         J. T. Fuson
Little Creek ............ G. W. Brooks    N. J. Brock
Pineville ..........                      John Geisler
    The list of ordained ministers as appended to the end of these



first minutes were as follows:
    Wm. Gibson, Ingram
    Isaac Gibson, Pineville
    John Collett, Skidmore
    G. W. Brooks, Ingram
    W. H. Partin, Pineville
    M. S. Webb, Pineville
    W. M. C. Hutchins, Wasioto
    Preston Turner, Roost



Wiley Gibson, Pineville
W. A. Borum, Middlesboro
J. W. Broughton, Skidmore
N. J. Brock, Lock
Noah Smith, Calloway
J. J. Evans, Pineville
J. M. Pittman, Wasioto
R. G. Evans, Pineville



F',



9

 









                         MODERATORS
     In running over the historical table for the year 1922 I find that,
among the moderators, Rev. J. G. Browning, of Middlesboro, has
served longer than any of the others. He has been moderator 12
times, as compared with Judge J. R. Sampson 4, Rev. C. M. Reid 4,
Rev. J. M. Roddy 3, Rev. R. G. Evans 2, Rev. W. M. C. Hutchins 1, and
Rev. J. H. Peace 1. Rev. J. G. Browning was moderator in 1906,
1907, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1915, 1916, 1920, 1921, 1922; Judge
J. R. Sampson in 1899, 1900, 1901, 1905; Rev. C. M. Reid in 1902, 1903,
1904, 1908; Rev. J. M. Roddy in 1917, 1918, 1919; Rev. R. G. Evans
in 1897, 1898; Rev. W. M. C. Hutchins in 1896; and Rev. J. H. Peace
in 1914. Of these men Rev. W. M. C. Hutchins has the distinction
of being the first moderator. His greatest labors in connection 'with
the work were performed with the North Concord Association in the
years just preceding the separation, as one of the leaders in the sep-
aration, and as the first moderator. The very next year, 1897, after
the organization of the association he moved to Garrard County,
vhere he has resided since that time.
    Rev. W. M. C. Hutchins was born in Bell County, Kentucky, six
miles north of Pineville, on Straight Creek, April 8, 1862. He ob-
tained a common school education and taught in the public schools
from 1880 to 1889. May 30, 1880, he joined the Baptist church and
was licensed to preach in the fall of 1881. He was ordained the third
Sunday in June, 1882. He served as pastor in Bell County, of Pleas-
ant Grove and Roost churches; in Garrard County, of Good Hope,
Harmony and Freedom; in Lincoln County, of Ephesus, Tyroan, and
Pleasant View; in Rockcastle County, of Broadhead, Scaffold Cave,
Old Zion, and Poplar Grove; in Pulaski County, of Liberty church.
    Rev. R. G. Evans, who acted as second and third moderators of
the association, was born in Bell County, Kentucky, September 18,
1839, on the Evans Mountain, the divide between the headwaters of
Cannon Creek, Four Mile Creek, and the central course of Little Clear
Creek. He died in Middlesboro, Kentucky, February 3, 1905, and
was buried in the Evans graveyard on Evans Mountain where his
father, Rev. William Evans, and grandfather, John Evans, were
buried before him.



10

 




    This flat-top mountain, known as Evans Mountain from the fact
that the Evanses settled it in the early days, was the scene of some
stirring life in my boyhood days. The whole of the broad top, being
a part of Log Mountain, was laid out in farms, covered with splendid
crops in season and many apple orchards. Here Rev. R. G. Evans
and his two brothers, Rev. John Evans and Rev. Ingram Evans, lived,
struggled and led the hosts of the Lord thruout their long lives. All
of them lived to good old age and (lied in full triumphs of the faith-
such a faith as Roger Williams proclaimed on our Eastern Coast in
the early history of this country.
    Rev. R. G. Evans was the most eloquent of these brothers.
Brother John was like the Disciple John of a sweet and lovable na-
ture, while Brother Ingram was an exhorter after the type of Peter.
Well do I remember, on one occasion, hearing Brother R. G. Evans
preach on "The Hosts of Angels that Accompanied Jacob". I shall
never forget how the eloquent words of the man so aroused his hear-
ers, a mere handful on this occasion, that "Amen" came from the
whole congregation time and time again, a thing unusual at the aver-
age country meeting. I was then returning from college, where I
had been as a student, and had stopped on my way home seeing that
preaching was going on at the church. I compared him as he
preached with some educated men I had heard and the words that
came to my lips, though not expressed at the time, were, "was ever
such a sermon preached by mortal before" His powers of oratory
and inspiration took greater flight than I had ever witnessed before.
I realized then and there how nobly inspired the man was and what a
great light was soon to pass from the church (he was then getting
pretty old) ! I have often wished for this sermon in print so that it
might be distributed to his brethren and friends. But, better still,
it remains in my heart and in the hearts of the other hearers on this
occasion, and who will say that this sermon shall pass from the earth
before it has gathered a great host to its standard
    These three preachers were the sons of Rev. William Evans who
was brother of my grandmother, Lucinda (Evans) Fuson, thereby
making my father and the Evans brothers first cousins. John Evans,
father of Rev. William Evans and of my grandmother, settled on
Evans Mountain in the early days and was frozen to death in his old
age near Kennedy Mountain overlooking Middlesboro, Kentucky,
where he had wandered from the house on a cold winter's day.
    Rev. R. G. Evans began preaching when he was sixteen years old
and continued without cessation till the time of his death as an old
                               I I

 



man. He was a member of Harmony Baptist Church, near Clear
Creek Springs, on Little Clear Creek, at the time of his death, and
had been pastor of this church for nearly forty years! Think of the
record! Enough to make him immortal among men!
     I sat under his preaching as a boy and have never heard more
 eloquent sermons in after years than I heard there from him. He
 had an unusually strong mind, a very vivid imagination, and the gift
 of language that went direct to the heart of the hearer, to uplift and
 exalt him. From the preachers I have known in the mountains per-
 sonally, or have known of from the lips of others, 1 would class him
 with Rev. Eb Ingram, of Greasy Creek, who flourished during Civil
 War times; with Rev. S. Golden, of Barbourville; and Rev. Silas
 Miracle, who was reared on the headwaters of Little Clear Creek. In
 saying this, I have in mind his power as an orator and preacher.
 Others were far better organizers than he, as was Rev. W. M. C.
 Hutchins, but none of them surpassed him in the fine art of expres-
 sion.
     The labors of his many years were spent largely on Little Clear
Creek, from its head to its mouth, and the neighboring regions. Here
he lived the quiet life on Evans Mountain and preached up and down
this creek. However, at times, his voice was heard far out over the
confines of this mountain section. Wherever he was known he was
loved and honored.
    Most of his children live in and about Middlesboro, Kentucky.
    Judge J. R. Sampson, of Midlesboro, Kentucky, who served four
sessions as moderator, is the true type of layman. He is a godly
man, earnest and zealous in the cause. He has sacrificed much of
his business time as a lawyer for the cause of the church, the associa-
tional work, and school work. He has been a member of the Board
of Trustees of Cumberland College (formerly Williamsburg Insti-
tute) for a number of years. He is a free giver and has probably
done as much in a financial way, as well as in a spiritual way, for the
cause of religion in this section as any man living in it. All honor
to the layman who takes hold of the work, and works side by side
with the preacher for the Great Cause!
    Judge J. R. Sampson, the subject of this brief sketch, was born in
Glasgow, Kentucky, April 27, 1852. His parents both died before he
was fourteen years of age. He was taken to Louisville in 1867 where
he lived until December, 1876.
    He went thru the graded school there, and, in October, 1870,
went to the law school of the University of Louisville, where he
                               I2

 



graduated March 21st, 1872, with the degree of LL. B. But, in the
meantime, he had been admitted to the bar, March, 1871.
     He began the practice of law in 1871 but, finding this not suf-
ficiently remunerative, he taught a country school for three months.
But in 1872 he began the practice of law in earnest and has followed
this profession from that day to this.
     He was converted at a meeting held at Horse Cave, Kentucky,
Baptist Church, and baptized there in 1867 at the age of fifteen. He
became a member of the Chestnut Street Baptist Church, Louisville,
in 1868 and continued as such until January, 1876, when he left
Louisville and went to Columbia, Kentucky. Here he became a mem-
ber of the Columbia Baptist Church and continued as such until
1883. For several years he was superintendent of the Sunday school
there.
    On April 14, 1884, after a trip to Colorado in 1883, he went to
Williamsburg, Kentucky. At that time there was no Baptist church
there. One had been organized in 1883, but the pastor had died and
they had had no meetings since his death. Some of the members had
joined the Congregational church, the only active church organiza-
tion there then. About June or July, 1884, Brother Sampson and
some others organized what is now the First Baptist Church of Wil-
liamsburg.
    A year later, in 1885, the Mount Zion Association was organized,
and about 1886 the association entered upon the task of building a
college, with the result that Williamsburg Institute (now Cumber-
land College) began, in 1886, its splendid career.
    In July, 1889, he went to Middlesboro, Kentucky, where in Octo-
ber of that year, in the office of Brother Sampson, the First Baptist
Church of Middlesboro was organized. He was superintendent of the
Sunday school here for years, as well as of the Sunday school at
Williamsburg in the years before coming to Middlesboro. Of the
Board of Deacons selected in that first organization Judge Sampson
is the only remaining one, and Judge Sampson and Judge J. F. Bos-
worth are the only living members of that first organization. Brother
Sampson is still a member of the Middlesboro church.
    Brother Sampson was one of the prime movers in the effective
organization of the Bell County Association and has been one of its
most active workers.
    Rev. J. G. Browning, of Middlesboro, the veteran moderator
from the standpoint of number of years service, is one of God's noble-
men. I have heard him tell over and over again and again (and the
                              I3

 



best of it is that I have never tired of hearing him tell it), how that
he was snatched from a drunkard's road, imbued with the spirit of
God, and sent upon his way to build up the Kingdom of God in the
hearts of men. The story of Paul's conversion is not more remark-
able than that of this good man. Few people realize, as I do, the
conditions out of which he emerged. I say this because of my per-
sonal acquaintance with the man and with my knowledge of the sur-
rounding conditions.
    He has been one of the faithful, untiring workers of this associa-
tion. He is one of these agreeable, good-natured men who place the
Kingdom of God above the petty jealousies of the hour. But, when
it conies to fighting sin, in its very den, he becomes a terror to all
the hosts of darkness. He uses the strong language of a prophet in
Israel when facing these hardened hosts of sin. How noble his stand!
    Rev. J. G. Browning was born in Knox County, Kentucky, June
28, 1858. He wras converted December 26, 1879, and united with the
Disciples Church, but one year later, in 1880, joined the Baptist
church. He was ordained to the full work of the Gospel Ministry,
May the 2nd Saturday, 1881. Elders James Bussell, William Burch,
and Rev. Coleman acted as a presbytery.
    He has at different times acted as pastor of the following
churches: Old Red Oak, Old Yellow Creek, Miller's Chapel, Hensley
Chapel, and Spruce Grove, at Shamrock. Twenty-eight years of this
time he has acted as pastor of Old Yellow Creek Church, this being
the oldest church within the bounds of the association, having been
established in 1842.
    During the ministry of Brother Browning he has baptized over
500 converts and has assisted in the organization of Many of the
churches. He has also aided in the ordination of many of the min-
isters.
    He has stood for the time-honored doctrines of the Baptist
church, and, in their defense, has had many a tilt with the heretics.
He is truly a gospel preacher and is much loved by all his brethren.
He has fought the battle for the cause of temperance as few men
of the association have ever fought it. He knows the abuse of the
liquor traffic and feels the tragic consequences of it.
    Rev. C. M. Reid, formerly pastor of the Middlesboro church, was
the lovable disciple who entered into close touch with his workers.
He had a great heart like the Disciple John. Like the deep, quiet
stream his noble life move(d to its destiny-the boundless ocean of
God.



I4

 



    I have labored with him shoulder to shoulder, have known him
in his home, have known him in distress and sorrow, and have always
found him the same lovable, trusting servant of God. He knew no
sacrifice too great, no work too difficult, no by-ways too rough, for
him to do all he could for his Master. Under his guiding hand the
Middlesboro church, whose course had been a more or less variable
one before his pastorate, became a living example of what a modern
church in a good community can become.
    He became pastor of the Middlesboro church' in 1900 or 1901
and was pastor for ten years. He went from Middlesboro to Lon-
don, Kentucky; from there he went to Colorado; and is still some-
where in the west.
    Rev. J. H. Peace, who served as moderator of the church one
year, was reared on lower Cannon Creek. I taught my first school,
in 1895, not far from where his father lived. His father and all
his sons and daughters were good, law-abiding people, 'and as
noble-hearted as were to be found anywhere.' They gave me the best
of support in my first effort as a teacher, and, for this, I am under
a thousand obligations to these good people.
    They were good church members and hard workers. They sent
their children to school regularly and gave them good counsel. In
short, they were model citizens.
    Brother Peace has had a hard struggle, as well as myself and
others who have been associated with him, but thru it all he has per-
severed to the last. What a noble example is this to his generation!
No greater tribute can be paid to a man, than that he was faithful to
the end! This is true of Brother Peace!
    He is brother-in-law of Rev. W. T. Robbins, brother Robbins
having married his sister.
    Rev. J. H. Peace was born in Whitley County, Kentucky, Novem-
ber 7, 1868. He united with Ferndale Baptist Church in 1892, and
was baptized by Rev. Noah Smith, one of the pioneer preachers of this
association. He was ordained by Rev. N. H. Powell, Rev. Preston
Turner, and Rev. W. T. Robbins on October 13, 1900. He has had
the care of the following churches: Ferndale, Mt. Mary, Riverside,
Dorothy, Wasioto, and several in Tates Creek and Rockcastle associa-
tions.
    He has been associated with the Rev. W. T. Robbins in the or-
ganization of the following churches: Williams Branch, Campbell's
Chapel, and Clear Fork.
    Much of the time he has been engaged in evangelistic work, with
the result of over 1000 additions to the churches.
    His father moved to this- country over forty-five years ago.
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                          THE CLERKS
     In passing to the story of the clerks of this association, Henry
 Rice, now of Harlan, Kentucky. comes first. He was the first clerk
 in the organization of the association at Walnut Grove Church, Four
 Mile. He is a brother of J. R. Rice, deceased, of Pineville, and has
 many relatives in and about Pineville and Harlan. His people are
 strong Baptists and are to be found in the churches wherever you find
 the name.
     0. V. Rilev, deceased, formerly a lawyer of Pineville, Kentucky,
and a graduate of the University of Kentucky, was the second clerk
of the association. He came to Pineville from Central Kentucky as a
young man, and was an active worker in church, Sunday school, and
the association for many years. As a boy in school at Pineville he
gathered me into his Sunday school class, as well as many other
country boys who had come to town to go to school, and I remember
distinctly the impressions from him of some of those great lessons
he taught. I can now hear his voice ring out in beautiful language
full of conviction. We students dearly loved him. I still have a
book of Hawthorne's "Twice Told Tales" that he gave me in that
Sunday school. It probably cost him about fifteen cents, but its
worth to me cannot be calculated in mathematical terms. We often
e