'njnwtd hit ~"^''-.v Sarf^m,, J'iiil". 1-U'ISf 'Ul'AI i'HTJHCH IN AMF.RICA. SKCDN1) H1SH0P OF THE METHODIST , rn.-.v .-w 7-:y<WA.vi;n i;::p!\:f$5!.y ran mr: ii-story ar MXTironzsM :n kkntvgi\\- qsz&xa:, " PAINTING. J'i:fCSi:NTn71 BY THE ZATK BISHOP SO ISLE. * vaUTflEXtr i:rXIVL'.*iSITY THE HISTORY OF METHODISM IN KENTUCKY. BY THE REV. A. H. REDFORD- VOLUME I. FROM THE LANDING OF JAMES M'BEIDE IN THE DISTRICT, IN 1754, TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1808. Najsljbtllf, aremt,: SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE. 186S. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by A. H. REDFORD, in the District Court of the United States for the Middle District of Tennessee. K. CULLIN, BTEEEOTTPEE, SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. TO THE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE Stetjjobist episcopal €§m\, Sjmtjj, in ficntaritj, THIS HISTORY IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY &J)e autiior. —— CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF KENTUCKY TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1787. Daniel Boone—James McBride—Dr. Walker—John Finley The early emigrants—Kentucky formed into a county—Indian cruelties—James Haw, Benjamin Ogden, the first Methodist missionaries to Kentucky—William Hickman—James Smith —Elijah, Lewis, and Joseph Craig—Tanner—Bailey—Bledsoe — Baptist Church organized — The Presbyterian Church — David Bice — Blythe — Lyle — Welch — McNamar — Stone — Beynolds — Stewart — First Presbytery formed — Bishop As- bury — Benjamin Ogden, a revolutionary soldier — Francis Clark — William J. Thompson—Nathanael Harris — Gabriel and Daniel Woodfield — Philip Taylor — Joseph Ferguson — Methodism planted in Kentucky by Francis Clark, a local preacher — John Durham — Thomas Stevenson — Mrs. Sarah Stevenson— The character of the early preachers—Mrs. Jane Stamper 17 CHAPTER II. FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1787 TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1789. Kentucky Circuit — James Haw — Cumberland Circuit — Ben- jamin Ogden—Wilson Lee—Thomas Williamson—Kentucky Circuit divided — Francis Poythress — Devereaux Jarrat Peter Massie—Benjamin Selling — Local preachers 34 (5) — b CONTENTS. CHAPTER III. FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1789 TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1790. Interesting letter from James Haw—Barnabas McHenry—Ste- phen Brooks — Cumberland Circuit — James Haw — James O'Kelly — Interesting account of James Haw, by Learner Blackman — James O'Cull: his style of preaching — Poor support of preachers—Kindness of the Baltimore Conference. 46 CHAPTER IV FROM THE FIRST CONFERENCE HELD IN KENTUCKY, IN 1790, TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1792. Bishop Asbury's first visit to Kentucky—The first Annual Con- ference in the District held at Masterson's Station, near Lex- ington—Richard Whatcoat—Hope Hull—John Seawell—First Methodist Church in Kentucky—Peter Massie—John Clark The Conference composed of six members—Limestone and Madison Circuits—Henry Birchett—David Haggard—Samuel Tucker—Joseph Lillard—Death of Samuel Tucker—Bethel Academy—Madison Circuit disappears from the Minutes Salt River Circuit—Barnabas McHenry—Death of Peter Mas- sie—Life and death of Simeon 67 CHAPTER V FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1792 TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1793. Kentucky admitted into the Union—Isaac Shelby the first Gov- ernor — The imperiled condition of the State — Preparations for its defense — The counties of Lincoln, Fayette, Jefferson, Nelson, Bourbon, Madison, Mercer, Woodford, Mason, Green, Hardin, Scott, Logan, Shelby, and Washington—The Confer- ence of 1792 — Bishop Asbury present — Religious condition of the State — Col. John Hardin—He is sent on a mission of peace to the Indians—Is massacred — Col. Hardin a Meth- odist — Isaac Hammer — John Sow^— Richard Bird — Ben- jamin Northrutt — John Ray — AWtdotes of John Ray — — CONTENTS. 7 John Page — Dr. McFerrin's testimony — Letters of John Page — Bishops Asbury, Whatcoat, and Coke — \Vil6on Lee leaves Kentucky no CHAPTER VI. FEOM THE CONFEEENCE OF 1793 TO THE CONFEEENCE OF 1794. Conference held this year in Kentucky at Masterson's Station Dangers encountered by Bishop Asbury to reach Kentucky His immense labors—Jacob Lurton—James Ward—William Burke — John Ball — Gabriel Woodfield — Death of Henry Birchett 147 CHAPTER VII. FROM THE CONFEEENCE OF 1794 TO THE CONFEEENCE OF 1796. Gen. Anthony Wayne—Gen. St. Clair—His expedition against the Indians unsuccessful—The campaign of 1794—The battle near the rapids of the Miami—Gen. Wayne's victory complete — The Indian war brought to a successful termination Treaty of peace concluded — The Conference of 1794 — John Metcalf — Thomas Scott — Peter Guthrie — Tobias Gibson Moses Speer—Conference of 1795 — William Duzan — John Buxton — Aquila Sugg — Francis Acuff : his Death — Thomas Wilkerson—The small increase in members 169 CHAPTER VIII. FEOM THE CONFEEENCE OF 1796 TO THE CONFEEENCE OF 1797. The Conference of 1796 held at Masterson's Chapel—Jeremiah Lawson —Aquila Jones — Benjamin Lakin —John Watson — Henry Smith—John Baird—Increase in membership—Shelby Circuit 204 —— 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1797 TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1799. The Conference of 1797 held at Bethel Academy—Bishop As- bury — Thomas Allen — Francis Poythress —Williams Kav- anaugh—John Kobler — Decrease in membership — The Con- ference of 1798 held on Holston — Robert Wilkerson — Valentine Cook—Increase in membership—John Kobler, the first missionary to Ohio 218 CHAPTER X. FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1799 TO THE CONFERENCE HELD IN APRIL, 1800. The Conference held at Bethel Academy—Daniel Gossage—Far- ther increase in membership—The decline in membership between the years 1792 and 1800, and the causes—Emigra- tion from the State—The O'Kelly schism—Legislation on the subject of slavery—Prevalent infidelity—Erroneous doctrines —John and William McGee—The great revival—Red River Church—Muddy River—The Ridge meeting—Desha's Creek Letter from the Rev. John McGee 248 CHAPTER XI. FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1800, HELD AT DUNWORTH, ON HOLSTON, ON THE FIRST FRIDAY IN APRIL, TO THE CONFERENCE HELD AT BETHEL ACADEMY, KENTUCKY, COMMENCING ON THE SIXTH DAY OF THE FOLLOWING OCTOBER. Local preachers—John Nelson—Robert Strawbridge—Francis Clark—Gabriel and Daniel Woodfield—John Baird—Benja- min Northcutt—Nathanael HarriB—Philip W Taylor—Henry Ogburn—William Forman—Joseph Ferguson—The Confer- ence in the spring of 1800—The General Conference—William Burke—Thomas Shelton—Controversy with the Baptists William Burke chosen Presiding Elder—The Revival—San- dusky Station—William Algood—Hezekiah Harriman—John Sale—Jonathan Kidwell 273 —— CONTENTS. 9 CHAPTER XII. FROM THE CONFERENCE HELD AT BETHEL ACADEMY, OCTOBER 6, 1800, TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1801. Representative women—Mrs. Lydia Wickliffe—Mrs. Sally Helm —Mrs. Sarah Stevenson—Mrs. Mary Davis—Mrs. Elizabeth Durbin—Mrs. Jane Hardin—Mrs. Jane Stamper—Mrs. Mary T. Hinde—Conference held October 6, 1800, the second in Kentucky for this year—Bishops Asbury and Whatcoat pres- ent—The Conference Journal —William McKendree—Lewis Hunt—William Marsh—The spread of the great revival Ilai Nunn—Major John Martin—Dr. Hinde—Increase of membership 302 CHAPTER XIII. FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1801 TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1803. The Western Conference — The early centers of Methodism in Kentucky — Clarke's Station — Ferguson's Chapel — Level Woods—Chaplin—Brick Chapel—Ebenezer—Grassy Lick Muddy Creek—Foxtown —Mount Gerizim—Thomas's Meet- ing-house —Sandusky Station—The Conference of 1801 held at Ebenezer — Bishop Asbury present — Nicholas Snethen Lewis Garrett—Large increase in membership—The Confer- ence of 1802 held at Strother's, in Tennessee—Bishop Asbury present—Samuel Douthet—William Crutchfield—Ralph Lot- speich — James Gwin — Jacob Young — Jesse Walker — Red River Circuit — Barren Circuit —Winn Malone —Wayne Cir- cuit—Increase of membership 386 CHAPTER XIV. FROM THE CONFERENCE OF 1803 TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1808. Conference meets at Mount Gerizim — Bishop Asbury present — Anthony Houston — John McClure — Adjet McGuire — Fletcher Sullivan — Louther Taylor — John A. Granade — Learner Blackman — Increase of membership — The Coa- — 10 CONTENTS. ference of 1801—Abdel Coleman—Joshua Barnes—Joshua Riggin— William J. Thompson — Edmund Wilcox — James Axley — Peter Cartwright— Asa Shinn — Benjamin Edge- Miles Harper — George Askins — Samuel Parker — Death of Wilson Lee—Livingston and Hartford Circuit—Churches or- ganized in Ohio county—Church organized at Thomas Stith's, in Breckinridge county—Thomas Taylor—Margaret Taylor Licking Circuit—Increase of membership—The Conference of 1805—Bishop Asbury present—Thomas Heliums—Henry Fisher —Samuel Sellers—David Young—Moses Ash-worth—William Ellington — Richard Browning —William Houston — Joshua Oglesby—A small class in Louisville—Increase in membership —Conference of 1806—Bishop Asbury present—Abbot God- dard—Hector Sandford—Joseph Bennett—Frederick Hood Zadoc B. Thaxton—Abraham Amos— Joseph Williams—John Thompson—William Hitt—Joseph Oglesby—The first deed of ground, on which to build a church, in Mason county — In- crease of membership—The Conference of 1807—Bishop As- bury present — Thomas Stillwell — Mynus Layton — Josiah Crawford — John Craig — William Lewis — Jacob Turman — Henry Mallory—James King—Sela Paine—Milton Ladd Joseph Hays—Elisha W- Bowman—The Silver Creek Circuit, in Indiana Territory, formed—Kennerly Chapel—Pond Meet- ing-house — Increase in membership — Causes of locations — Our Review 429 — PREFACE. The History of Methodism in Kentucky cannot be otherwise than interesting, if faithfully delineated. Organ- ized in the District when there was scarcely a cabin outside of the forts in all its broad domain—its standard-bearers