Abilene Christian University Digital Commons @ ACU Stone-Campbell Books Stone-Campbell Resources 1939 Sketches of Our Mountain Pioneers J. W. West Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, and the Christianity Commons Recommended Citation West, J. W., "Sketches of Our Mountain Pioneers" (1939). Stone-Campbell Books. 597. https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/crs_books/597 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Stone-Campbell Resources at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Stone-Campbell Books by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ACU. Sketches of Our Mountain Pioneers Compiled and Edited by J. w. WEST Published by J. W. West 402 Sussex Street Lynchburg, Virginia Copyright 1939 J. W. West Second edition, Revised Typesetting, printing and binding by Scott Printing Company Route One. Salem, Virginia, USA Dedication To the Memory of Ashley Sidney Johnson, Founder and for more than thirty years President of Johnson Bible College, who extended to me as to thousands of other young men of limited means the oppor­ tunity to prepare for the Gospel mini­ stry, this book is lovingly dedicated. Preface It is not our mission merely to publish another book. Already private homes and public libraries are cluttered with books which are seldom or nev­ er read, and therefore serve little purpose but to fill space and make an appearance of ‘ ‘ books in the library. ’ ’ It is our purpose to present the work and per­ petuate the memory of pioneer preachers and edu­ cators of this mountain region of our country, and also provide history not heretofore published in book form. It is our desire to make some contribution to our Brotherhood at large and especially to our moun­ tain people. Much work has been done and many difficulties have been encountered to obtain material. This demonstrates that some of the Pioneers have al­ most been forgotten even by those nearest of kin and by the natives of their own communities. Often we have found but one descendant able to furnish any of the material desired. If some such book does not come to the light, most of these Pio­ neers will be forgotten in the very fields where they toiled and sacrificed for the Cause of Christ. We send forth this labor of love that the present and future generations may become acquainted with these heroes of the faith. We are glad to include many pictures that you may visualize how these noble men looked when they appeared before congregations with their hearts on fire for the salvation of sinners and with the zealous Plea for all who loved the Lord to re­ turn to the Christianity of the New Testament. Not for a reformation only did they plead, but in the words of the late Frederick D. Power, “The proposition was, to begin anew, to begin at the be­ Sketches of Our Mountain Pioneers ginning, to ascend at once to the pure fountain of of truth, disregarding all decrees of popes, coun­ cils, synods, and assemblies, traditions, perver­ sions, and corruptions; to work not a reformation of the church, as sought by Luther, Calvin, and Wesley, but its complete restoration at once to its original purity and perfectness.” We need not state why they succeeded in win­ ning so many to Christ, for the published records will speak eloquently to that point. The publisher owes a debt of gratitude, not only to those whose names appear above the Sketches as the authors, but to others who have lent books, assembled documents and old photo­ graphs, and copied church records to make this volume worth-while. Among those who thus offer­ ed help we mention: H. B. Worley, A. Preston Gray, Warren Baldwin, John A Tate, B. C. Bob- bit, Miss Mabel Puller, Librarian of Lynchburg College, and Dean John L. Davis of Lynchburg College, the last named for reading the Sketches and history written by the publisher, and other service in connection therewith. The dedication is to the memory of Ashley S. Johnson who in pioneer spirit opened a door of opportunity to a host of young men of limited means who have desired above every other desire to preach the Word. With three dollars and sixty cents left after paying transportation from the state of Maryland, the writer was accepted at the first session of what was then ‘‘The School of the Evangelists,” but now Johnson Bible College. Alva Ross Brown, the present President of the in­ stitution, provides the Sketch of President and Mrs. Johnson, and the College moves forward in its mission of helping provide the Church with a faithful Gospel ministry. Critics will discern imperfectness in a book Sketches or our Mountain Pioeebrs prepared by one with pressing obligations in his general work. But whatever may be its imperfec­ tions, this book has a message. The faith, heroism, and sacrifices of these Pioneers should be an in­ centive to like faith and heroism and sacrifice in others. May the descendants of these sturdy men of God “consider the issue of their lives and ini- tate their faith.’’ May we all strive to be faithful unto death, to inherit eternal life, to enter into fellowship with these Pioneers and all the saints of all the ages forever and ever. Amen. Contents Byrdine Akers Abbott 116 George W. Abell .... 131 Daniel Myles Austin 146 p. B. Baber ............ , . B I: '. 58 Wilson G. Barker ... 244 William Barnett .................... ................................78 Dr. Chester Bullard .................... ;. 21 William Stone Bullard ............ ............... ...................... 28 William Grant Burleigh ................ ................... 192 Henry Calfee .............................................. ................ 226 J. A. Campbell ........................ ........................................ 261 Elder Allen Jackson Carter ........................................... 237 James A. Cogill ................ 243 Daniel Garrard Combs .................................................. 247 W. K. Cooley ................................................ 144 Aaron Alexander Ferguson .............. ................. 82 Anthony McKnight Ferguson ....................................... 80 James H. Gillespie ............ 275 William Snidow Givens 272 J. D. Hamaker .......... 73 John Newton Harman 95 J, A. Hopkins _____________________________ _ 143 Josephus Hopwood .............. ........................ 136 Octavius Lake Huffman .................. .. .......... 276 William Huffman .................................. 70 Ashley S. Johnson 59 C Jimmie” H. Johnston ............................ 125 T. M. Kibbey .........!.................. 112 j. N. Kistner .......... ............... .............. 216 W, H. Kistner ....................................................... 214 Heath Larrowe .............. 251 Elijah Calvin Lee .... -•i.. .r-.j..?;.... .1...... .. 228 Jonathan Calvin Lee .............. ....................................... 231 Chapman S. Lucas '. si';. Is .•.oUk’Sf. »«U.b».tW!>...:... 177 J. W. Lusby ■•:.. .nl.. .itdi.!. ..... 126 James Ransom, McWane .'.'till ’161 Charles Maddex .......... .................. ................................. 151 J. W. Masters ........................................ 32 William Conrad Maupin ................................................. 50 Samuel H. Millard .................... 186 Genealogical Table of the Miller Preachers .............. 166 Elder Alfred Elisha Miller ............................................... 167 James Miller ..................................................................... 47 Elder Jonathan J. Miller ................................................. 169 Skwfohbs or oim Mountain Pionkeks William Wayne Miller ........................ ............................ 175 Rutherford Benton Mitchell ...................... .................... 259 Charles William Montgomery ................ ..................... 154 Joel Q. Montgomery ....................................................... 101 Edwin L. Motley .................................................. ,.......... 104 William Motley .............................. ................................ 103 A. I. Myhr ..................................................................... 217 R. B. Neal ................ ................................................... 107 J oseph Kennedy Osborne . ............................................ 234 Armstead Puller Ramsey .................... ............................ 264 Virgil M. St-Clair ........................................................ .. 31 D. M. Scott........................... ................ 160 Genealogical Table of the Shelburne Preachers .... 2 Cephas Shelburne—Minister, Educator ............ 10 James Shelburne ................ ............................................ 6 Samuel Shelburne .............................. .............-............ 8 Silas Shelburne .................. ...... .............................. I Silas E. Shelburne, Ml) and VDM .............................. 17 Lucius Clarke Shelburne ................................................. 13 John S. Shouse ................................................................. 114 Josiah Thomas Showalter .................................. 211 ■Raccoon” John Smith ................................. 194 John A. Spencer .................. ....................................... 93 Joseph Thomas, ‘‘The White Pilgrim” ...................... 85 H. H. Thompson ............................................................... 271 James Ireland Tipton ....................................................