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REV. C. O. BOOTHE, D. D. 
 
 Author of " Plain Theology." 
 

 THE 
 
 CYCLOPEDIA 
 
 OF THE 
 
 (JjOloFFh ^aptish of Jflflabama 
 
 Their Leaders and Their W 
 
 / j 
 
 X^\ BY 
 
 Charles Octavius Boothe 
 
 Author Of " Plain Theology for Plain People 
 
 birmingham : 
 
 Alabama Pcblisbino Compaxy. 
 
 1895 
 
COPYBIGHT 1895 
 
 By Rev. C. O. Boothe, D. D. 
 
 / 
 
 *» 
 
o 
 
 o 
 
 - ^ 
 
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Rev. C. 0. Boothe Frontispiece 
 
 Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite 12 
 
 Hon. A. H. Curtis 19 
 
 Mrs. A. A. Bowie 26 
 
 Rev. L. S. Steinb ack in the act of Baptism 33 
 
 Mrs. D. S. Jordan 36 
 
 tee Shiloh Church, Birmingham Facing 45 
 
 v Rev. F. R. Kennedy 56 
 
 Mrs. M. D. Duncan 66 
 
 Rev. J. P. Barton ' 75 
 
 Miss H. Martin 82 
 
 Rev. W. R. Pettiford 91 
 
 Rev. J. L. Frazier 99 
 
 Rev. P. S. L Hutchins '. 106 
 
 Rev. W. T. Bibb 110 
 
 Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham Facing 120 
 
 Rev. S. L. Belser 129 
 
 Dr. U. G. Mason 136 
 
 Rev. J. P. O'Rilet 144 
 
 Miss Ella Knapp 151 
 
 Rev. J. H. Eason 158 
 
 Miss A. L. Bowman Ifi5 
 
 Rev. M. Tyler 172 
 
 Mrs. Rebecca Pitts 179 
 
 Rev. W. C. Bradford 186 
 
 Rev. EL Woodsmall 194 
 
 Rev. J. E. Wilson 203 
 
 Rev. L. S. Steinback 212 
 
 St. Louis Street Church, Mobile. Facing 221 
 
 Rev. T. W. Walker 228 
 
 Rev. J. W. Jackson 238 
 
 First Church, Selma 244 
 
 Miss Joanna P. Moore, Nashville Facing 249 
 
 Rev. C. J. Hardy ■ 254 
 
 Rev. S. L. Ross 259 
 
 Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery Facing 262 
 
 Rev. C. L. Purce 265 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR. 
 
 POSSIBLY some one may desire at some time and for some 
 reason to know something of the author of this book, 
 and therefore he submits the followiDg short statement: 
 
 Lineage and Nativity. — His great-grandmother was born 
 I on the west coast of Africa and was brought a slave to Virginia, 
 * where his grandmother was born. Ere his grandmother had 
 reached her "maturity of womanhood, she was sold into Geor- 
 gia, where his mother was born. While his mother was still 
 a child, she and her mother were carried to Mobile county, 
 Ala., by a Mr. Nathan Howard. In this county, on a lonely 
 looking sand hill amid pine forests, on June 13, 1845, the writer 
 made his advent into this world. (In this year, 1845, the 
 Baptists of America divided.) 
 
 Early Recollections. — Stored away in my earliest mem- 
 ories I find : (I) The songs and family prayers of my step- 
 grandfather, a pure African, who had not only learned to read 
 his Bible and hymn book, but had also learned the rudiments 
 of vocal music sufficiently well to teach the art of singing. 
 (2) The tender and constant attention of an old white lady 
 (the only white person on the place), who took my hand as 
 she went out to look after the nests of the domestic fowls and 
 to gather a dish of ripe fruit. (3) A Baptist church in the 
 forest, where white and colored people sat together to com- 
 mune and to wash each other's feet. (4) The saintly face and 
 pure life of my grandmother, to whom white and black went 
 for prayer and for comfort in the times of their sorrows. (5) 
 
10 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 A tin-plate containing tbe alphabet, from which at the age of 
 3 years, I learned the English letters. (6) The death of the 
 old white lady, and the severing from dear grandmother and 
 the old home. (7) My introduction at the age of 6 years to 
 the family of Nathan Howard, Jr., where things were not 
 altogether as tender toward me as at the old home, and where 
 I came more into associations with books and with life's sterner 
 facts. The teachers who boarded here at my new home be- 
 came my instructors, and so I was soon reading and writing 
 fairly well. Here, listening to the reading of the Bible, I was 
 drawn toward it, and began to read it for myself. The gospel 
 story bound me to it with cords which nothing has been able 
 to break. At the close of my eighth year I began to seek 
 tbe Lord by prayer and supplication, and have, from that time 
 to this, continued my secret devotions and strivings after 
 truth. My association with Col. James S. Terrel, the brother 
 of Judge S. H. Terrel, of Clark county, Miss., at the age of 
 14, as office boy in his law office, gave me a still broader range 
 of books. I think 1 can say that the Colonel and 1 really 
 loved each other. 
 
 I am not sure that I know just when I was regenerated, 
 as my childhood prayers were often attended with refreshing 
 seasons of love and joy. But my life was too often very un- 
 christian, breaking out into the wildest rages of bad temper, 
 which was followed by weeping and remorse. In 1865, how- 
 ever, I reached an experience of grace which so strengthened 
 me as to fix me on the side of the people of God. „ I went at 
 once to reading the scriptures in public and leading prayer 
 meetings; notwithstanding this, I was not baptized until 
 March, 1866, by Rev. 0. D. Bowen, of Shubuta, Miss. I was 
 ordained in the St. Louis Street Church, Mobile, December, 
 1868, by Revs. Charles Leavens and Philip Gambrell. 
 
 I taught school for the Freedmen's 'Bureau in 1867 — 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR. 11 
 
 taught various schools under our public school system. I have 
 been pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church, Meridian, 
 Miss., Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery, and held various 
 State positions. The only time I have spent at school was 
 spent in Meharry, the medical department of the Central 
 Tennessee College. 
 
 C. 0. BOOTHE. 
 
Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, Pastor Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THIS effort to give substantial and favorable testimony in 
 the interest of the men and work of the Colored Baptists 
 of Alabama grows out of certain aims and purposes, such as : 
 
 1. The desire to produce a picture of the negro asso- 
 ciated with the gospel under the regime of slavery. Such a 
 picture will serve to turn our eyes upon the social, moral and 
 religious forces of the dark times and their fruits in the 
 negro's life. 
 
 2. The desire to make comparisons — to compare the 
 colored man of 1865 with the colored man of 1895. Such a 
 comparison will help the black man himself to see whether or 
 not he is a groicing man or a leaning man. It will also serve 
 to show the same thing to the friend and to the foe. "Appeals 
 to Pharoah and to Caesar" are not so wise as appeals to facts, 
 which prove the negro to be man just as other races are man. 
 
 The book is not all history, nor is it all biography ; it is 
 something of both and it is more. It gives certain informa- 
 tion which can neither rank as history nor as biography : it is 
 the record'of special operations in the denomination in differ- 
 ent sections of the State with a view to showing the mental 
 status now prevailing. I have been engaged with the book for 
 the past seven years, during which time I have searched and 
 gleaned as best I could; I have not tried to obtain everything, 
 nor have I had space to talk of every person who deserved 
 honorable mention. To do this would require too large a book. 
 I could not do more than get enough together to "round out" 
 my testimony. Where I have spoken of anything that touches 
 
14 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 our white brethren or the white people, it has been in tenderest 
 love for them, though my language has been plain and seem- 
 ingly bold. I think I can risk the statement that I have, no 
 " race prejudice : " all men are in a sense my brethren and I 
 am brother to all men — akin to Christ, akin to me. 
 
 If a brother among us deserving mention should not 
 appear, remember that many failed to report to me as I desired 
 them to do, and that I felt I could riot do more than give what 
 would make a full showing of our State. Those names that 
 came after the work was done had to be put into a supplement. 
 
 It will be seen, therefore, that the purpose which gives 
 birth to this little book is not a desire to present a "vain 
 show " of names, appealing to pride for the sake of gain ; but, 
 that it is an humble aim to accomplish some good. It is an 
 attempt to answer the questions : " From whence have we 
 come? "What have we done? What have we attained to? 
 What are the possibilities before us ?" The book is intended 
 to be a simple statement of facts ; which facts, it is believed, 
 will be a sufficient apology for their appearance in book form. 
 The reader may expect faults in arrangement and errors in 
 composition, but it is to be hoped that the sweetness and 
 beauty of the flower will not be rejected because of the thorns 
 upon the stem which bears them. I have not tried to tell 
 everything. If I speak of individuals, it is with a view to 
 giving some of their best things, best deeds, etc "Straws 
 show which way the wind is blowing," it is said; hence only 
 enough of each biographical sketch is given to show the status 
 and trend of the person spoken of. We are too young, as a 
 people, to make lengthy biography. Coming times will give 
 us this form of literature. It will be remembered that this 
 short period suffices to give only a nucleal point in the matter 
 of writings. I have churned the milk with an eye to obtain- 
 ing the butter — the richest and best we have. My selection of 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 15 
 
 material may not be the very best, but something is better 
 than nothing, and I have done the best I could under the 
 circumstances. 
 
 With these prefatory remarks, I present you the rose with 
 its thorns, trusting that God will give sweetness and beauty to 
 the former and allow the latter to do no harm. I cheerfully 
 record my debt of gratitude to my faithful wife, Mattie Alice, 
 who has been in this labor, as in all others, my abiding, sure 
 support. 
 
H ISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 /. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ORIGIN. 
 
 IX turning to the subject under consideration it seems fitting 
 that we should first review those facts and events which 
 gave us our denominational existence. Such a course, it seems 
 to the writer, will serve to give us a proper " setting." It is 
 not definitely known just when, where and by whom, Baptist 
 principles were first propagated upon the American continent ; 
 it is, however, an historic fact that these principles assumed 
 organic form in Providence, R. I., in 1639, in the constitution 
 of. a Baptist, church under Roger Williams as pastor. Other 
 churches soon followed, out of the union of which there early 
 rose Associations, Conventions and Missionary Societies. 
 
 In 1620, nineteen years before the organization of the 
 church in Providence, the African was brought into Virginia 
 as a slave. The North and the South joined heartily in the 
 work of binding their black brother with the chains of cruel 
 
18 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 bondage. Thus the naked savage was taken from his freedom 
 and from his gods and chained to the chariot wheels of Chris- 
 tian (?) civilization to be coerced, dragged into new observa- 
 tions, new experiences, and a new life. 
 
 CHANGES. 
 
 In order to give a glancing look at the progress and decline 
 of slavery in the North, and at the sort of fruit the gospel was 
 bearing in the soul and conduct of the slave, I copy the fol- 
 lowing from the " Baptist Home Missions in America " (.Jubilee 
 volume) : 
 
 «' By 1776 there were about 300,000 slaves in America. 
 In 1793 there were comparatively few slaves to be found in 
 the Northern States. * . * * In 1790 there were 697,897 
 slaves in the United States ; of this number there were 17 in 
 Vermont, 158 in New Hampshire, 2,759 in Connecticut, 3,707 
 in Pennsylvania, 11,423 in New Jersey, and 20,000 in New 
 York. * * *■ Before 1830 slavery disappeared from all the 
 Northern States. In Vermont it was abolished in 1777 ; in 
 Massachusetts in 1780; while acts for the gradual emancipa- 
 tion of slaves were passed in other States — in New York, 
 1799; in New Jersey, 1804. The final act of abolition in New 
 York being passed in 1817, declaring all slaves free on July 
 4, 1827. 
 
 "The native African, fresh from his fetich worship, and 
 incapable of comprehending even common religious statements, 
 seemed an unpromising subject even for the Christian philan- 
 thropist. But, though degraded, he is recognized as human, 
 sinful, accountable, in need and capable of redemption through 
 Christ. The obligation to bring him to a knowledge of the 
 truth as it is in Christ, is practically recognized by many 
 Christian ministers as well as by many pious masters and 
 mistresses. At family devotions in many Christian households 
 
Hon .A. H. Curtis, Ex-Senator to Alabama Legislature from Perry County. 
 
20 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 the domestics are called in to hear the Scriptures read and 
 bow reverently as prayer is offered to God. On Sunday in 
 the same meeting house master and slave listen to the same 
 sermon. Those who give evidence of conversion are received 
 into the church on relation of their experience after baptism, 
 and sit with their masters at the Lord's table. 
 
 « The First Colored Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga., 
 dates its organization from 1788. Other colored Baptist 
 churches appear in various parts of the country -; in Ports- 
 mouth, Va., in 1798 ; the Second African of Savannah, in 
 1803; the Abysinian Church of New York City, in 1803 ; the 
 African or Independent Church, Boston, Mass., in 1805; First 
 African of Philadelphia, Pa., in 1809; the First African of 
 St. Louis, in 1827 ; the Ebenezer of New York City, in 1825; 
 the Union Church of Philadelphia, and a church in the Dis- 
 trict of Columbia, in 1832." One in Mobile in 1839, of which 
 in 1848, it is said : " They have a fine house of worship built 
 by themselves, and some excellent leaders or licensed 
 preachers among them." 
 
 We have it on good authority, that in 1850, there were in 
 America about 150,000 negro Baptists. Thus we see that in 
 230 years the gospel of Christ, though hampered by the insti- 
 tution of slavery, had done much to redeem the fetich wor- 
 shiper from his midnight darkness and consequent spiritual 
 ruin — had done much to induce the black man to obtain and 
 retain God in his knowledge. 
 
 Often we come upon plants which refuse to give out their 
 sweetness so long as their parts are unbroken and unbleeding, 
 but which will quickly yield up their odors when bruised. So 
 it is with men. It is worthy of notice that these dark days of 
 slavery gave birth to some strong colored preachers. Among 
 others, the following are mentioned by their white brethren : 
 Rev. George Leile, of South Carolina, who visiting Savannah, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 21 
 
 Ga. about 1782 or 1783, baptized the famous Rev. Andrew 
 Bryan, of whom the Savannah Association, (white) in 1812, 
 made the following mention : " The association is sensibly 
 affected by the death of the Kev. Andrew Bryan, a man of 
 color, and pastor of the First Colored Church in Savannah. 
 This son of Africa, after suffering inexpressible persecutions 
 in the cause of his Divine Master, was at length permitted to 
 discharge the duties of the ministry among his colored friends 
 in peace and quiet, hundreds of whom through his instrumen- 
 tality were brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is 
 in Jesus." 
 
 In 1820, the Board of the Baptist General Convention of 
 America adopted as their missionaries Revs. Collin Teagueand 
 Lot Cary, brethren of color, from the Baptist church of Rich- 
 mond, Va. These men sailed from Norfolk, Va., to Liberia, 
 Africa, in January, 1821. Rev. Thomas Paul, who was pastor 
 of the church in Boston from 1805 to 1830. is spoken of after 
 a very praiseworthy manner. Touching our own State, we 
 begin at Mobile. 
 
 MOBILE. 
 
 The rise of the work in the Southern section of Alabama 
 appears in the following, copied from Brother Holcombe's 
 work, and originally written for the Christian Index, March 
 10, 1836: 
 
 "About 120 years ago a few Frenchmen came here and 
 ma'de the first little opening in the pine forest. Previously to 
 1817 it was occupied principally as a place of deposit and 
 trade with the Indians. Now its population is not far from 
 10,000. Eighteen years ago a single steamboat found her way 
 to this port, now forty-five are employed in the Mobile trade. 
 The Baptist church was constituted March, 1835, by J. G. 
 Collins, R. L. Barnes and P. Stout with ten members. Rev. 
 
22 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 G.F. Heard was called to begin the pastorate February 14, 1836. 
 
 "At that time they had no house of worship, but met in 
 the court house, and for a time they met in the house belong- 
 ing to the African Baptist Church. The African Church is in 
 a prosperous condition ; their number is about 90." 
 
 In this city and county the colored people had more 
 liberty and better treatment than in any other section of the 
 State. The free people and those who hired their time often 
 supported schools for the education of their children. Revs. 
 Wm. Dossey, P. Stout, A. Travis, J. H. Schroebel, Mt. Haw- 
 thorne and Mr. Spence (all white) are mentioned as pioneers 
 and fathers of the work at this point. Near this old French 
 town, June 13, 1845, the writer was born, and in this county 
 and city he spent the first fourteen years of his life, and many 
 years since. For some years prior to the late civil war, the 
 Stone Street and St. Louis Street churches (colored) were both 
 noted for their numbers and their financial strength. 
 
 STONE STREET CHURCH. 
 
 This is the "mother church." The father of the Rev. J. 
 B. Hawthorne, in the early part of their history, served them 
 as pastor, receiving a regular salary of them. At the close of 
 the war, Mr. Spence was their pastor, since which time they 
 have been under the leadership of the Rev. B. J. Burke, a man 
 who in many regards is as strong as he is peculiar. This 
 church, however, has not done much in the way of missions, 
 and not a great deal for education. One of the peculiar 
 customs of the pastor is to "bless children." Standing in the ' 
 pulpit, he holds the child up in his arms while he prays God's f 
 blessings upon it. - . ! 
 
 A case of discipline which came up in this church many 
 years ago, led to the formation of the St. Louis Street 
 Church, and I am sorry to say gave birth to a very bitter sec- 
 
INTRODUCTION. ' . 23 
 
 tional feeling between the two bodies, which feeling has long 
 been a blight to the Baptist cause in South Alabama. 
 
 This church is stubbornly set against all secret societies, 
 so that no secret society people are allowed in its membership. 
 The pastor is elected for life. For the support of its poor it 
 has a fund which is called the " Church Treasury." 
 
 ST. LOUIS STREET CHURCH. 
 
 This church was for many years especially noted for its 
 missionary enterprise. To this church Alabama owes many 
 of her pioneer preachers. The late Rev. Charles Leavens, who 
 was pastor just after the close of the war, sought to send a 
 pioneer, an organizer, into every section of the State. Their 
 present house of worship cost, I am told, about $24,000, and is 
 a two-story brick structure. Since the war their pastors have 
 been : Revs. Charles Leavens, I. Grant, A. Butler, C. C. 
 Ricbardson, and the present occupant, Rev. Mr. Frazier. This 
 church seems now in full sympathy with its past missionary 
 record, over which no one rejoices more than the writer, since 
 itisirom this church that he, under God, received his com- 
 mission to preach the gospel of the Son of Righteousness. 
 
 ST. ANTHONY STREET CHURCH NOW FRANKLYN STREET. 
 
 This church deserves honorable mention. Rev. A. F. 
 Owens led to the purchase of the property on St. Anthony 
 street, and served as pastor for several years — 1878 to 1889. 
 Rev. A. N. McEwen, the present pastor, advised the church to 
 sell and purchase at a more desirable point. They are now 
 buying a building on Franklyn street. This church has had 
 an earnest class of workers, who have made great and painful 
 sacrifices for the cause. 
 
24 " COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 UNION CHURCH. 
 
 This church is another secession from Stone Street. It, 
 too, has some strong people in it. Rev. A. F. Owens is pastor. 
 
 There are other churches around worthy of mention. So 
 much is said only to show the rise and progress of the Baptist 
 cause in this section of Alabama. The great need here is 
 more brotherly love, instead of the bitter prejudice which 
 withers every hope of united effort. Of course, many of the 
 the good people are already free from its fearful influence, but 
 far too many are still slaves to it. 
 
 Among the founders, or ante-bellum members of the col- 
 ored Baptist work in Mobile, we find the names of Rev. 
 Charles Leavens and wife, James Somerville, Judge Europe, 
 Thomas Sawyer, Rev. B. J. Burke, and Crawley Johnson. 
 
 HUNTSVILLE, MADISON COUNTY. 
 
 Here is where our Statehood was born, the Constitution 
 being formed here in 1819. Huntsville is our State's first 
 capital. Taking Mr. Hosea Holcombe as authority, the first 
 Baptist church organized in Alabama was constituted within 
 a few miles of Huntsville, in 1808. Their constitutional 
 membership was eleven, and Rev. John Nicholson was their 
 first pastor. The first negro Baptist church constituted in 
 this section of the State was the African Baptist Church of 
 Huntsville, organized about the year 1820. I say 1820, for 
 the reason that in 1821 they are recorded as entering into the 
 Flint River Association, with seventy-six members. Rev. 
 William Harris, "a free colored man," is mentioned as their 
 first pastor. It seems that Brother Harris soon fell under the 
 influence of a white preacher, William Crutcher, and became 
 established in the faith of the Piimitive Baptists. Over 
 
INTRODUCTION. 25 
 
 seventy years have passed away, and still Kev. Bartlett 
 Harris, a grandson of Rev. William Harris, is preaching the 
 "election of grace." Instead of seventy-six Missionary mem- 
 bers, there are now about two thousand Primitives. The 
 Rev. W. H. Gaston is the leading educator among them. He 
 is a man of quiet and humble spirit, and is now trying to 
 I establish^ school at Huntsville. How we Missionaries need 
 a school in Madison county! Our little Missionary church 
 seems bound hand and foot. At this writing, Rev. Oscar Gray 
 is pastor, and he seems to do as well as circumstances allow. 
 Perhaps I cannot close this notice of Madison county 
 " more profitably than by directing the attention of the reader 
 ! to the vast consequences, in the form of false views and false 
 practices, which came of one man's decisions. Rev. William 
 Harris decided to follow Mr. Crutcher, and now thousands of 
 people walk in his track as anti-Missionaries. 
 
 PERRY AND HALE COUNTIES. 
 
 At Salem Church, near Greensboro, the Alabama State 
 Convention (white) was organized October, 1823, not quite 
 
 ' forty-five years before the organization of the Colored Baptist 
 Convention in 1868, and its first anniversary was held at 
 Marion, in Perry county. 
 
 Reference is made to these facts in order to introduce 
 other facts bearing a closer relation to ourselves. Within a 
 circle of twenty-five miles of Marion — and Greensboro, is near 
 this point — some of the mightiest influences in support of 
 Baptist views have risen up and gone forth upon the colored 
 
 . Baptists of Alabama. The colored people of Marion, and 
 throughout the country around, are hardly less noted for their 
 refinement than they are for their Baptistic opinions. In this 
 
 /section arose those colored men of power and of pioneer 
 
Mrs. A. A. Bowie, Instructress in Dressmaking, Selma University. 
 
;■ 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 27 
 
 f am e Revs. James Childs, the first pastor of the Marion 
 
 Church (colored) ; Henry Stevens, first pastor of the Greens- 
 boro Church, and John Dosier, so long pastor of the church 
 in Uniontown. This point, till right recently, has been the 
 educational center of our white brethren, and here in Marion, 
 the first colored State Normal school began, as the result of 
 the influence of the late Hon. A. H. Curtis, of Baptist fame. 
 
 MONTGOMERY CITY AND COUNTY. 
 
 Baptist principles manifested themselves in this part of 
 Alabama about 1818-19 in the constitution of the Elim 
 Church, near the city of Montgomery, and Messrs. J. McLe- 
 more, S. Ray, and W. J. Larkin, are mentioned as pioneers. 
 
 A STRAW WHICH SHOWS WHTCH WAT THE WIND BLOWS. 
 
 In Dr. Riley's " History of Alabama Baptists," we have 
 the following : " A negro slave, named Caesar, a bright, smart, 
 robust fellow * * * was ordained to preach. His ability 
 was so marked, and the confidence which he enjoyed was so 
 profound, that Rev. James McLemore would frequently have 
 Csesar attend him upon bis preaching tours. He was some- 
 times taken by Mr. McLemore into the pulpit, and never failed 
 of commanding the most rapt and respectful attention." 
 
 To the credit of the Alabama Association, it is written 
 that they bought this man and gave him his liberty that he 
 might preach among them the gospel of Christ ; and it is said, 
 that though he was as black as a crow, he traveled alone and 
 unharmed on the mission of life. Thus the negro appears in 
 the foundation of gospel operations in Central Alabama. 
 Here also appear the victories of the gospel leaven, the 
 triumphs of the love of God over those hearts wherein Christ 
 was king. 
 
 The price paid for Brother Csesar Blackwell is given as 
 
28 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 $625. Catching inspiration from the encouragement befoie 
 them in the form of their brother Csesar Blackwell's success, 
 and the good will of the Christian white people to whose fel- 
 lowship they belonged, Nathan Ashby and Jacob Belser (col- 
 ored) soon became active workers. 
 
 TUSCALOOSA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. 
 
 Perhaps the first church (white) organized in Jefferson 
 county was organized about the year 1818. Dr. Holconibe's 
 history tells us that in 1823 the "Rock Creek Church," in 
 Tuscaloosa county, received into its membership from South 
 Carolina an African preacher, Job Davis. Mr. Holcombe says 
 of him: "He was *n acceptable preacher, a man of deep 
 thought, sound judgment, and was well skilled in the Scrip- 
 tures of Divine Truth." 
 
 The venerable Mr. A. J. Waldrop, of Birmingham, in- 
 formed the writer that when a little boy he heard Job preach 
 in a camp meeting. He said: "The meeting had been in 
 progress a week or so, and mother and father went to the 
 camp on Sunday morning. The meeting was very cold. 
 Brother Holcombe was wondering who would be the fit 
 preacher to open the day's services, as Job, now free from his 
 daily toil, walked into camp. As Brother Holcombe saw him, 
 he remarked: 'There is our man.' Job was led up to the 
 stand and invited to go up and take a seat. Job replied : 
 'No, I'll stand down here in front of it.' Job then reached 
 back to the top of the stand and took off the Bible and opened 
 it. I can never forget the deep thrill of devotion which Job's 
 person and manner turned in upon the audience that day; 
 something of the feeling is with me yet. He had hardly 
 parted his lips before men and women began to sob. When 
 he was through with his sermon, it was plain to all that the 
 meeting was no longer a dead meeting. This was the begin- 
 
INTRODUCTION. 29 
 
 ninff of a revival which affected much of Tuscaloosa county." 
 
 Mr. Holcombe says of Job, in another place in his book 
 "Job was brought from Africa to Charleston, S. C, in 1806 
 professed religion in 1812; soon learned to read and write 
 taught Sunday school for two summers in Abbeville district 
 S. C.- licensed to preach in 1818; came to Alabama in 1822 
 died November 17, 1835, in Pickens county. He lived the 
 Christian, he died a saint." 
 
 Further, Mr. Holcombe says : " In those days we had but 
 few better preachers than Job." 
 
 Thus it appears that not only in wars for independence, 
 but in gospel labors as well, the negro is in the foundations of 
 this country. ^ 
 
 Rev. Prince Murrell, who had bought himself sometime 
 before the days of the Emancipation, opened the work at 
 Tuscaloosa on the dawn of freedom. Rev. Messrs. M. Tyler 
 and M. D. Alexander came into the van at Lowndesboro. 
 
 LEE, MACON, BULLOCK AND BARBOUR COUNTIES. 
 
 At Tuskegee, in Macon, was the Rev. Doc. Phillips (a 
 blacksmith), a man who, it seems, refused to accept his 
 freedom at the hands of his white brethren in order that his 
 preaching might be more acceptable to his people in slavery. 
 
 At Auburn, in Lee, was the Rev. Thomas Glenn, a man 
 respected and trusted .no less by his white neighbors than by 
 his own people for his genuine piety and honorable life. 
 
 In Barbour and Bullock, Revs. Jerry Shorter, M. Coleman, 
 William McCoo and Deacon J.E.Timothy possessed the spirit 
 of leadership, and moved forward in the work of organization 
 upon the appearance of liberty. Rev. E. Thornton soon ap- 
 pears. 
 
30 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 GREENVILLE, BUTLER COUNTY. 
 
 In this town and county the Rev. Stewart Adams is the 
 pioneer. In 1872 or 1873, he was appointed missionary under 
 the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and was thus 
 enabled to extend his operations, which resulted in the organ- 
 ization of one of the first associations (Union). 
 
 SELMA. 
 
 Somewhere between 1840-45, a colored church was organ- 
 ized in Selma, the first colored leader of which was a Mr. 
 Samuel Phillips, a man who obtained his liberty (so the late 
 Mr. A. Goldsby reported) by some service he rendered the 
 country in the Mexican war. A. Goldsby and Charles White 
 (late treasurer of our Convention) were principal persons in 
 the organization. 
 
 So much has been said to show the ante-liberty growths. 
 It seems fitting to close this chapter with the appearance of 
 freedom as the writer saw it. 
 
 From the days of my earliest recollection, freedom's 
 shadowy forms moved before the eyes of the Southern slave. 
 He felt or thought that he felt — he saw or thought he saw — 
 the touch and visage of approaching liberty. In subdued tones 
 it was whispered upon ears that could be trusted, that slavery, 
 with all its accompanying horrors, was soon to be a thing of 
 the past. Praying bands were organized and met in distant 
 groves to pray for liberty. Gathered beneath the sighing trees 
 and nightly skies, they whispered their agonies upon the ears of 
 the Almighty — whispered lowly, lest the passing winds should 
 bear their petitions to the ears of the overseer or master. 
 And often — as with Daniel and his companions in Babylon — 
 the God who reveals secrets to them that love him, uncovered 
 
INTRODUCTIONS 31 
 
 before our minds coming events, which caused us to laugh 
 and cry. But we kept these things in our hearts, and it was 
 a wonder to all around that the slave could sing in his fur- 
 nace of hot afflictions. God, in unfolding hope, was with us 
 in the fire, and so we were sustained. 
 
 - DREAM TELLING. 
 
 They fall to dreaming : Contending armies are seen in 
 battle, and the one favorable to the liberty of the slave is seen 
 to prevail. Old trees appear to wither and disappear before 
 trees of new sort. 
 
 The war cloud bursts and the slave mingles his prayers 
 with the roar of the booming cannon, tarrying on his knees 
 while the American soldiery contend in mortal strife. It 
 was understood to mean liberty. At last the deadly struggle 
 ceased, and emancipation was declared. It was only the 
 dawning, and therefore the light was dim. 
 
 THK BITTER BUD. 
 
 One of the saddest mistakes of the slave was, that he 
 thought so much of the pleasures of freedom and so little of its 
 weighty obligations. To him, freedom meant mansions, lands, 
 teams, money, position, educated sons and refined daughters, 
 with the liberty to go and to act as he pleased. If he might 
 have burdened his mind with thoughts of his sore destitution 
 of heart, of intellect, of purse; if he might have thought of 
 his poverty as to skill in the arts, sciences and professions of 
 life, as to social status, as to domestic relations, as to opportu- 
 nities to succeed in a wrestle for life by the side of the victo- 
 . rious white man — if he might have seen that to make himself 
 * a strong manhood was his first and his most important duty — 
 if his mind might have been full of these thoughts, it had 
 
32 . COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 been a thousand fold better for him. But, as his mind was on 
 pleasures, he was disappointed when they proved only phan- 
 toms, and hence the bud of liberty was bitter. 
 
 Indeed, to those who had the ability to discern, the first 
 view of liberty was frightful in proportion as it was seri- 
 ously considered. Naturally, as the shackles suddenly fell off, 
 there was such a forcible rebounding of life, as in many cases 
 made liberty mean license to live idle and lewd. 
 
 , I can never forget my first impressions at the full view of 
 
 freedom. O, what helplessness appeared in our condition ! 
 Every day, for weeks, shoeless and hatless men and 
 women, with half naked, hungry children, passed through the 
 little town where I lived, not knowing whither they went, 
 what were their names, nor what they sought. A certain 
 man, when I first met him, was introduced to me as 
 
 Mr. M . A little after this, I was surprised to find that 
 
 he was not Mr. M , but was Mr. R — — . And my ability to 
 
 be surprised was considerably lessened when 1 finally learned 
 
 that Mr. R was now Mr. H . 
 
 Long and anxiously I waited for the appearance of some 
 great colored men to assume leadership in matters of religion 
 
 | and education, but I waited in vain. My heart ached as though 
 it would break, and was at last only partially relieved of its 
 weight when my brother (Rev. J. Gomez) and I had built an 
 
 i humble house in which to worship God and teach the children. 
 
 j Into this we, boys though we were, called the people to meet 
 
 i to hear the reading of the Scriptures and to pray. 
 
 / 
 
 ORGANIZATION IN ALABAMA. 
 
 In 1864 there were four Colored Missionary Baptist 
 Churches in Alabama, owning property worth about $10,000. 
 Two of these were located in Mobile city — the Stone and the* 
 
34 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 St. Louis Street Churches. Another was located in Selma, 
 and is now known as the First Colored Baptist Church. 
 
 Of course there was no association, no convention, no 
 graded school of learning. The colored people of Mobile 
 enjoyed superior advantages over those of other sections of 
 the State and hence many of them had made fair attainments 
 in letters. But in all the State there was but one Baptist 
 preacher, to the writer's knowledge, in April, 1865, who could, 
 with any degree of honesty, claim to be an educated Baptist 
 negro preacher. This was one Rev. Moses B. Avery. I think 
 he is now in Mississippi. Anyhow I know that soon after the 
 close of the war he joined the Methodist brethren and left the 
 State. It will be seen, therefore, that he was no help to the 
 Colored Baptists of Alabama. 
 
 The change which the war had wrought as to the civil 
 status of the black man, changing him from slave to freedman, 
 affected his church standing, so that ex-master and ex-slave 
 did not quite fit each other in the old " meeting house," as they 
 had done in days of yore. There was restlessness on one side, 
 and suspicion on the other. The black man wanted to go out 
 and set up housekeeping for himself, while the white man in 
 most cases feared and hesitated to lay on the hands of ordina- 
 tion. We did not know each other. The "negro preacher" 
 on one side of the river had but little opportunity to know his 
 brother on the other side. Truly our beginning was dark 
 and chaotic. 
 
 It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. In 
 all ages of the world, and with all peoples, want — a sense of 
 need — has gone before human creations. The black man of 
 the South was like, in this, the balance of human kind. 
 When set at liberty, he was for some time lost in looking upon 
 the wonderful changes that had passed over him. But when 
 he came to himself he began slowly to realize his needs. He 
 
INTRODUCTION. 35 
 
 be°"an, for example, to feel the need of church and of school, 
 and out of this feeling of want on these lines there arose 
 thought, discussion, plan, action. Those who were of like 
 faith and gospel practice began to meet for prayer and for 
 •conference, and at last to unite in church covenant, forming 
 churches. Then churches, under the leadership of progressive 
 men, were joined in associational compacts. They met first 
 only to sing and pray, and listen to talks from white brethren. 
 Want increased ; burdens increased; the horizon of duty and 
 possibility widened. Under a sense of duty and repeated 
 exercise, mind and heart developed into greater strength and 
 into greater capacity for thought, plan, speech, and execution. 
 Kindred spirits sought each other's fellowship and counsel, 
 and talked about the work which might be done. Soon it was 
 felt by some that a general State Convention was both neces- 
 sary and possible. The desire, plan and call for such an or- 
 ganization ripened among the brethren at and around the 
 Capital City. Perhaps Montgomery was foremost, for the 
 reason that here was the legislature, and here the colored 
 people saw most of deliberative bodies, and heard most about 
 their needs and opportunities. 
 

 Mrs Dinah Smith Jordan, Birmingham, Ala. 
 

 //. THE STATE CONVENTIONS 
 
 -- FIRST SESSION. 
 
 THE Colored Baptist Convention of Alabama was consti- 
 tuted December 17, 1868, in the Columbus Street Baptist 
 * Church, in the city of Montgomery. 
 
 The officers elected were : Rev. Nathan Ashby, president; 
 ; Rev. J. W. Stevens, of Montgomery, vice-president, and Bro. 
 H. Thompson, secretary. - 
 
 The following appear in the roll of this session : Revs. N. 
 Ashby, J. W. Stevens, Jacob Belser, J. Epperson, and Bro. H. 
 Thompson, of Montgomery county ; Revs. E. Wright and S. 
 Adams, of Greenville; Rev. W. Farris, of Monroeville; Rev. 
 S. Weaver, of Dallas county; Revs. P. Gill and Samuel Morse, 
 of Notasulga ; James Finly, of Fayette ; Revs. I. Glenn 
 and A. Blackburn, of Auburn ; Rev. M. D. Alexander and M. 
 Tyler, of Lowndesboro ; Rev. B. Nelson, of Lee county; Rev. 
 Mr. Wood, of Macon county ; Rev. H. Coleman, of Union 
 Springs; Rev. W. H. McAlpin, of Talladega; Revs. John 
 Dosier and Henry Stevens, of Uniontown ; P. Underwood, 
 Thomas Smith, Ned Atkinson, and Rev. D. M. Phillips, of 
 Tuskegee. * 
 
 About twenty-seven churches were represented. About 
 $150 was collected, and Rev. Washington Stevens was made 
 Missionary. 
 
 SECOND SESSION. 
 
 This session was held in Montgomery in 1869, and the 
 officers of the previous year being re-elected to their sevenil 
 
38 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 positions. Revs. Wm. McCoo, of Bullock county ; P. Murrell, 
 of Tuskaloosa; John P. Lucas, pastor of Mt. Meigs; Henry 
 Clark, of Opelika; B. Burke, of Mobile; Frank Quarles, of 
 Georgia, and H. E. Talliaferro (white), agent for the American 
 Baptist Home Missionary Society; Lewis Brown, of Sumter 
 county; A. Cunningham, of Conecuh county, and James 
 Caldwell, of Marengo county, appear in the roll of this session. 
 Fifty or sixty churches were represented ; several hundred 
 dollars were raised ; the missionary was short in his collec- 
 tions ; Home Mission Society was endorsed. 
 
 THIRD SESSION. 
 
 This session was also held in Montgomery on October 5, 
 1870. As Rev. N. Ashby was sick, Rev. W. Stevens, the 
 Missionary, was elected president, and Rev. M. Tyler vice- 
 president. Rev. Charles Leavens, of Mobile, and Senator A. 
 H. Curtis were enrolled. The ordained ministers present 
 were: N. Ashby, James A. Foster, W. Stevens, F. Brooks, T. 
 Glenn, Chas. Leavens, S. Adams, H. Stokes, C. Blunt, Wm. 
 McCoo, J. Caldwell, S. Weaver, J. Cole, J. W. McLeod, M. 
 Tyler, B. Burke, P. Murrell, J. Dosier, D. M. Phillips, J. Wood, 
 Ned Watkins, B. Bibb, H. Stevens, R. Mason. 
 
 FOURTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Selma November 1-4, 1871. Brother W. H. Mc- 
 Alpine was prominent. The officers elected were : Rev. P. 
 Murrell, president; Rev. Stewart Adams, vice-president; 
 Rev. W. Stevens, recording secretary; and H. Thompson, 
 clerk. 
 
 Revs. D. Alexander, B. Bibb, J. Caldwell and J. Belser 
 have passed away. 
 
THE STATE CONVENTIONS. 39 
 
 About $300 sent in by the churches : twenty-eight churches 
 ■ report Sunday Schools ; three Associations appear by their 
 messengers. 
 
 FIFTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Selma, November, 1872. Officers of previous 
 • year re-elected. A committee is appointed to confer with the 
 white Convention in session in Eufaula. Two more Associa- 
 tions are enrolled. $300 or $400 collected. 
 
 SIXTH SESSION. 
 
 
 Held in Tuscaloosa, November, 1873. The officers elected 
 were: Rev. J. A. Foster, Montgomery, president; Rev. M. 
 
 ■ Tyler, Lowndesboro, vice-president; Rev. P. Murrell, treas- 
 urer; and Bro. H. J. Europe, of Mobile, clerk. Three other 
 
 % Associations reported. Rev. A. Butler, Mobile, joined at this 
 session. Rev. W. H. McAlpine introduced the following, 
 which was adopted : 
 
 " Jlesolced, That w r e plant in the State of Alabama a the- 
 ological school to educate our young men." 
 
 This threw life and aim into the Convention and the signs 
 of activity immediately appeared. Four other Associations 
 entered. Lively discussions ensued. The white Baptist Con- 
 vention assembled in the same city at the same time advised 
 against the educational scheme. The question whether God 
 needed help in preparing his ministry — the question which 
 fifty years before had agitated the white Convention of Ala- 
 bama — was now stirring the souls of black men. Sunday 
 Schools were allowed representation in the body. 
 
 SEVENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Mobile, in the St. Louis Street Church, November, 
 1874. Officers of previous year were re-elected. Brother 
 
40 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 McAlpine's school resolution was endorsed and ordered on the 
 minutes. On motion of Brother McAlpine the following per- 
 sons were appointed a committee to manage the school project : 
 Revs. A. Butler, W. H. McAlpine, H. J. Europe, H. Thompson 
 and the writer. Brother McAlpine was authorized and re- 
 quested to spend six months as missionary and agent of the 
 
 Convention. Much praying. 
 'If . 
 
 EIGHTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Mobile, November, 1875. The officers elected 
 were as follows : Rev. J. A. Foster, president; Rev. M.Tyler, 
 vice-president; Rev. J. W. Stevens, corresponding secretary; 
 Rev. Thomas Smith, treasurer, and Rev. C. 0. Boothe, clerk. 
 Ten Associations were enrolled this year. Brother McAlpine 
 reported $90 in favor of the Convention as the result of six 
 months' work. The body was never so much aroused as during 
 this session. Some trouble arose over contentions among the 
 churches in Mobile. Rev. W. H. McAlpine was appointed 
 missionary and agent of the Convention for the ensuing con- 
 ventional year. Rev. C. O. Boothe was appointed, with Brother 
 McAlpine, to aid in searching for a suitable location for the 
 proposed school, and was authorized to call the attention of 
 our Northern brethren to our heeds and operations regarding 
 educational facilities in Alabama. Never did any set of men 
 appear to be more earnest and enthusiastic. Every eye was 
 on McAlpine as the leader. 
 
 NINTH SESSION. 
 
 Held with the Mount Canaan Church, Talladega, Novem- 
 ber 15-20, 1876. Officers: Rev. M. Tyler, president; Rev. B. 
 J. Burke, vice president; Rev. I. Smith, treasurer; Rev. G. 
 C. Casby, Montgomery, corresponding secretary, and Rev. 
 
THE STATE CONVENTIONS. 41 
 __ 
 
 C. O. Boothe, at this time pastor in Talladega, was continued 
 as clerk. 
 
 This session of the body may be denominated "The 
 Eventful Session." Here the sainted Woodsmall was met for 
 the first time, and bore the Convention the following: 
 
 "Indianapolis, Ind., November 11, 1876. 
 
 "Dear Brethren of the Convention: On behalf of the 
 Indiana Baptist State Convention, I greet you with "ftiis 
 epistle, bearing their congratulations and sympathy. We are 
 engaged in a common cause with you — the cause of our blessed 
 . Lord and Master. * * * So we strike glad hands with you 
 for a renewal^nd continuance of the gospel warfare till Jesus 
 comes." 
 
 This bore the signature of Dr. Wyeth, editor of the 
 Journal and Messenger, and the Secretary of the Indiana Con- 
 vention. This was good tidings, and the information that 
 Brother Woodsmall had come to hold Ministers' Institutes 
 among us was still better tidings. Thenceforward we were to 
 drink from a very high type of manhood. 
 
 Revs. W. J. White, F. Quarles, and Bryan, of Georgia, 
 came with propositions from the Georgia Convention that 
 Alabama should give up her school project and join Georgia 
 "in building a school at Atlanta. 
 
 A letter received from Dr. S. S. Cutting, corresponding 
 secretary of the Home Mission Society, to the clerk, informed 
 the Convention that his board had no help for our school en- 
 terprise in Alabama, and favored our union with Georgia. 
 
 A communication from the white Baptist Convention con- 
 taining the following, was read before the body : ■ 
 
 " Resolved, That we deem this a suitable occasion to ex- 
 press to our colored brethren an abiding interest in their wel- 
 fare, both temporal and spiritual. 
 
 "John Haralson, President." 
 
42 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Brother Mc Alpine turned over $1,000, which he had raised 
 for the proposed school, and again took the field. 
 
 The clerk, as committee on location of the proposed 
 school, reported that if the school should be located at Marion, 
 Ala., our students could obtain scientific and literary training 
 in the State school at that point, in which case, the Conven- 
 tion would only be obliged to furnish theological instruction. 
 The Convention did not decide as to the course it would be best 
 to pursue. Brothers Pettiford and Barton joined the work in 
 this session, and the former took a prominent position at 
 once. 
 
 TENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Eufaula, November, 1877. The officers of the 
 last convention were re-elected. The school project was 
 turned into the hands of the Board of Trustees elected at the 
 session of 1875. The report of the Board of Trustees recom- 
 mended that the school be located at Montgomery. When a 
 motion by Hon. A. H. Curtis to substitute Marion had been 
 lost, Rev. E. K. Love, of Georgia, moved to substitute Selma, 
 which was carried by a majority of three. The Board was 
 authorized and instructed to begin operations. Revs. W. H. 
 McAlpine and W. J. Stevens were put out as missionaries. 
 Before leaving Eufaula, the Board appointed a committee to 
 act on their behalf with regard to the management of the 
 school. At a meeting of the Board held in Selma, December * 
 20, the committee reported : " Your committee has been un- 
 able to find a suitable house for rent in which to commence 
 school for less than $27 per month. There are one or more 
 buildings here that may be purchased at quite a reasonable 
 figure. W. H. McAlpiEe, J. Blevins, H. Stevens, committee." 
 
 At this meeting there were present the following trustees, 
 besides those above mentioned: M. Tyler, C. Blunt, J. W. 
 
THE STATE CONVENTIONS. 43 
 
 Stevens, J. Dosier and A. H. Curtis. Revs. W. H. McAlpine 
 and J. Blevins, with Bro. A. H. Curtis, were empowered to act 
 as Executive Committee of the Board. After some discussion 
 ^as to whether to rent or purchase, it was voted to rent, and 
 not to pay over $15 per month. The Committee was so in- 
 structed, and was further instructed not to assume over $50 
 per month for teaching force. The Committee elected Mr. H. 
 Woodsmall, of Indiana, and he at once opened the school in 
 the St. Phillip Street Baptist Church. 
 
 On May 30, 1878, the Board held another meeting in 
 Selma. Present: Revs. M. Tyler, J. Blevins, G. C. Casby, 
 Thomas Smith, J. Dosier, H. Stevens, W. H. McAlpine and 
 C. O. Boothe. At this meeting the Committee were author- 
 ized to purchase the "Old Fair Grounds" for $3,000. The 
 Baptist Pioneer was started, with W. H. McAlpine, editor; J. 
 Dosier and C. O. Boothe as assistants. The Committee, to 
 the great satisfaction of the Board, reported that the St. 
 Phillips Street Church had donated to the school the use of 
 their audience room, the oil for lights, and fuel, and also that 
 the services of Bro. W. R. Pettiford had been secured at a 
 cost of $20 per month, allowing him time to take lessons in 
 theology. 
 
 The following financial report was submitted : 
 
 RECEIPTS. 
 
 ' Dniontown Association $150 00 
 
 Alabama District Association 40 00 
 
 Rev. A. Cunningham, Conecuh county 30 00 
 
 Deacon A. Scott, Montevallo 15 65 
 
 Rev. Thomas Smith, Treasurer Convention 100 00 
 
 Mr. H. Woodsmall, for tuition 82 10 
 
 Rev. W. H. McAlpine 20 00 
 
 Donations from the North were also reported. 
 
44 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 ELEVENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Marion, November, 1878. The officers of the 
 previous year were re-elected, with the exception of Rev. C. O. 
 Boothe, who had been appointed Sunday school missionary 
 for the State, under the American Baptist Publishing Society. 
 Bro. N. R. Nickerson was elected clerk. 
 
 The Trustees reported that the Old Fair Grounds had 
 been secured, and that the school was in operation. One 
 thousand dollars had been paid on the grounds; $545 had 
 come from the North. Three teachers were supported with- 
 out charge to the State — Misses Emma Jordan and Emma 
 Heustis, and Mr. M. W. Alston. 
 
 Thus the school began. About $2,000 reported. 
 
 TWELFTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Opelika, November 12-15, lb79. In this session 
 Rev. A. F. Owens joined, and Revs. A. Butler and B. Burke 
 forsook the Convention. Rev. D. M. Phillips, of Tuskegee, 
 had left the cross for the crown. 
 
 The second 61,000 had been paid on our campus, and $700 
 worth of improvements had been added to the buildings. A .J 
 missionary society organized by President Woodsmall and 
 operating in the St. Philip Street Church, is reported as giving 
 partial support to Profs. Alston and Pettiford, and to students 
 D. T. Gulley and J. C. Curry. 
 
 THIRTEENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Marion, November 17-20, 1880. The officers 
 elected were : M.Tyler, president; J. A. Foster, vice-presi- 
 dent; N. R. Nickerson, clerk; G. C. Casby, corresponding 
 
• 
 
 Shiloh Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala., Rev. T. W. Walker, Pastor. 
 
THE STATE CONVENTION'S. 45 
 
 secretary, and C. White, treasurer. Except a small balance 
 due Brother Woodsmall the school was now free from debt, 
 besides owning thirty-six acres of land and temporary buildings. 
 
 Rev. S. Adams had gone to the other world. 
 
 Aided by the Selma Missionary Society, Bros. M. W. 
 Alston, L. Ellington, D. T. Gulley, D. L. Prentice, C. Travis, 
 C. R. Rodgers, L: J. Green and J. 0. Curry had done effective 
 missionary work. 
 
 Brother Woodsmall reported that the Baptist Pioneer is 
 free of debt and has $321.03 in cash. He had received $2,399 — 
 $899 had come from Alabama in tuition and donations, and 
 $1,500 from the North. 
 
 The American Baptist Home Mission Society at this time 
 adopted the school and engaged to give it $2,000 during its 
 session of 1880-81. About $400 were spent on improvements 
 of school grounds. Rev. Win, A. Burch, late of Philadelphia, 
 now pastor of the First Baptist Church in Selma, and Rev. 
 W. "W. Cully, a returned African Missionary, were members 
 of this Convention. Brother McAlpine had raised from all 
 sources $1,976.85. Before the next session Brother McAlpine, 
 at Brother Woodsmall's request, became president of the school. 
 
 FOURTEENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Mobile, November, 1881. The officers of the 
 previous year were re-elected. Revs. A. Cunningham, Belle- 
 ville, J. Blevins, Selma, and J. Cole. Montgomery, are no 
 longer on earth. 
 
 The Home Mission Society gave $3,000 to the present 
 school session. Dr. M. Stone, of Ohio, taught in the school 
 without cost to the board of trustees. 
 
 Before the next session Rev. H. N. Bouey, from South 
 Carolina, became State Sunday School Missionary. 
 
46 COLORED BAPTIST8 OF ALABAMA. 
 
 FIFTEENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Tuscaloosa, November, 1882. Former officers re- 
 elected, except that Rev. J. Dosier was made vice-president. 
 
 This year, the same as last, Brother McAlpine was re- 
 tained president of the school. 
 
 Total receipts from Alabama, including tuition fees, were 
 $2,588. Donation from Home Mission Society $3,350. The 
 last session made Brother Pettiford financial agent, and the 
 present session was greatly encouraged in view of his excel- 
 lent success. 
 
 SIXTEENTH SESSION. 
 Held in Selma, November, 1883, in the First Colored Baptist 
 Church, of which the writer was pastor. Rev. E. M. Brawley, 
 late of South Carolina, was made president of our school, 
 Rev. W. H. McAlpine having resigned in his favor. 
 
 Alabama paid $2,511 towards our educational work. 
 Bro. Woodsmall was not present. Rev. A. N. McEwen, late of 
 Tensessee, now pastor of Dexter Avenue Church, Mont- 
 gomery, was present this session. Rev. H. N. Bouey was 
 made financial agent. 
 
 SEVENTEENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Mobile, November, 1884. Officers of 1882 and 
 1883 were re-elected ; $3,224 reported as coming from the 
 State. 
 
 Before the next session " The Minister's Union " was or- 
 ganized in Talladega, with Rev. C. O. Boothe as secretary, and 
 W. H. McAlpine, president. 
 
 EIGHTEENTH SESSION. 
 Held in the Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham, No- 
 vember, 1885. Officers of previous session re-elected. On the 
 10th of November, one day prior to the sitting of the Con- 
 
THE STATE CONVENTIONS. 47 
 
 vention, the Ministers' Union met and appointed a committee 
 on the character of the author of this pamphlet, and which 
 reported the following : 
 
 '« We, your committee appointed on Bro. C. O. Boothe, beg 
 leave to submit the following : On account of the complications 
 of his marriage relations, his oppositions to the State work, and 
 on account of his want of loyalty to truth, we recommend that 
 we withdraw from him the hand of fellowship as a minister- 
 C. S. Dinkins, J. Q. A. VVilhite, J. Dosier, committee." 
 
 The brother, who was excluded (?) by the adoption of this 
 report, asked and was allowed to put in the minutes of the 
 Convention the following : " To all who may read the reso- 
 lution passed by the Alabama Baptist Ministers' Union bearing 
 upon me, I affirm my innocence of each and all the charges 
 therein presented, and appeal to the King of Kings, whose 
 just judgment I patiently await. C. O. Boothe." 
 
 Dark times follow upon the work and upon many individ- 
 uals. The total receipts for this year, as reported by Bro. 
 Bouey, were $2,200. Rev. J. P. Barton was made State mis- 
 sionary, and Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite was made financial agent of 
 the school. 
 
 The school was getting into debt, and serious losses 
 threatened. The founders of the work were not sufficiently 
 willing to confer with each other. 
 
 NINETEENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Opelika, November, 1886. The same officers were 
 re-elected, except Rev. J. A. Foster replaced Rev. John Dosier 
 as vice-president. Rev. C. L. Puree was made president of 
 the school, Dr. Brawley having resigned. The school was 
 $6,000 or $7,000 in debt. A resolution looking toward mov- 
 ing the University from Selma was adopted. Marion was 
 proposed instead of Selma, and the larger cash donation was 
 
 I 
 
48 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 to fix the location. The contest was heated, and here and 
 there rather ugly. The Baptist Leader favored Marion. Fi- 
 nances were rather short. Revs. G. W. Berry, from South 
 Carolina, and E. J. Fisher, of Georgia, were present at this 
 session. 
 
 TWENTIETH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Montgomery, in the Columbus Street Church, 
 July, 1887. The Ministers' Union rescinded their vote passed 
 in Birmingham in 1885, bearing upon the character of Rev. C. 
 O. Boothe. Rev. W. R. Pettiford, of Birmingham, was elected 
 president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard, clerk. Rev. William J. 
 Simmons, of Louisville, district secretary of the American 
 Baptist Home Mission Society, and Bro. Woodsmall, were 
 present. Mrs. M. A. Boothe, president of the State W. C. T. U., 
 addiessed the Convention. Mrs. C. Thompson, agent in Ala- 
 bama for the Women's Home Missionary Society of Chicago, 
 also spoke. Stormy time, and no small amount of bitter feel- 
 ing. The financial vote sustained Selma, and the University 
 remained at the home of her childhood. 
 
 Debts were threatening our property. Mr. Puree en- 
 deavored tq prevent any increase of debts. 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST SESSION. 
 
 Held in Tuscaloosa, July, 1888. Officers of previous year 
 were re elected. About $4,000 was raised this year. Dr. W. 
 J. Simmons, district secretary of the Home Mission Society, 
 was present with plans for missionary co-operation with our 
 State, which were endorsed. Some of the school grounds had 
 been sold to meet debts, six acres having gone to meet the 
 £7,000. 
 
 Rev. W. R. Forbes, of Virginia, pastor atJEufaula, was 
 

 THE STATE CONVENTIONS. 49 
 
 present. The board recommended Rev. W. H. McAlpine as 
 State Missionary under the joint plan with the Home Mission 
 Society. 
 
 twenty:second session. 
 
 Held in Selma, July, 1889. Officers of previous session 
 ■were re-elected. Rev. C. S. Dinkins, having severed his con- 
 nection with the faculty of the University, was successfully 
 ■ operating an academy at Marion in connection with his pastor- 
 ate. This project the Convention, on motion of Rev. A. N. 
 McEweu, endorsed. Rev. C. O. Boothe was appointed General 
 Missionary of Alabama on the joint plan with the<Home 
 Mission Society. This year our women, under the leadership 
 of Miss S. A. Stone, gloriously rallied to the support of the 
 University. About $5,700 was raised in the State. Rev. 
 Washington Stevens, Montgomery, and Deacon D. Lane, 
 Greensboro, bad passed away. Time of session was again 
 changed to November. Brethren R. T. Pollard and D. T. 
 Gulley made Sunday Missionaries under the Publication 
 Society on the joint plan. During this year, in May, a jubilee 
 meeting was held in Selma and over $2,000 was raised. In 
 this jubilee meeting we met Rev. H. Stevens the last time on 
 earth. 
 
 TWENTY-THIRD SESSION. 
 
 Held in Sixth Avenue Church, Birmingham, November, 
 1890. The officers of the previous session and all the mission- 
 aries were re-elected. The Home Mission Society gave about 
 $6,000 to Alabama, including 62,600 given for University 
 buildings. The financial agent, President Puree, and the 
 missionaries all made very encouraging financial reports — 
 thousands of dollars having been collected ($5,400). Dr. W. 
 J. Simmons and Rev. Henry Stevens crossed the dark river 
 this year. Drs. Clanton and Brawley were present. This was 
 
 s 
 
50 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 a good session — debts fast disappearing under the industrious 
 and wise financiering of President Puree and Agent Wilhite. 
 The missionaries were continued. 
 
 The Baptist Leader (once The Baptist Pioneer), which for 
 several years had been successfully run by Editor McEwen," 
 was continued under its old management. 
 
 This year, in July, a Baptist Congress was held in Mont- 
 gomery in the Dexter Avenue Church. It was entertaining 
 and instructive. Also in August a State Sunday School Con- 
 vention was organized in Union Springs, with Rev. S. Jones 
 as president, and is still doing a grand work, Brother Wells 
 being still presiding officer. 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Peace Baptist Church, Talladega, November, 1891. 
 The same officers were re-elected, and also the same mission- 
 aries, except that Rev. C. R. Rodgers was chosen to fill the 
 place made vacant by Bro. Pollard's resignation. A grand, 
 session — never before in our history had our business seemed 
 to be so much in the hands and hearts of wise, cultivated men 
 and women. The Rev. Mr. Parks and Hon. James White, of 
 Chattanooga, were with us. The mayor of Talladega, pastors 
 of white churches, and everybody else, gave us a word of en- 
 couragement and expressed themselves as pleased and profited 
 by our presence. Prof. Peterson, a recent member of the fac- 
 ulty of Selma University, was introduced to Alabama Baptists. 
 One hundred and fifty churches and forty associations, besides 
 Sunday school conventions and Sunday schools, were repre- 
 sented by two hundred messengers. The year's income from 
 all sources was reported by financial agents as footing up to 
 $12,440. Statistical secretary reported as follows: "Seven 
 hundred and eighteen churches and fifty-eight associations. 
 
 - 
 
THE STATE CONVENTIONS. 51 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Twenty-eight of the associations give an aggregate member- 
 ship of 83,000. Thirty associations have failed to report their 
 numbers." 
 
 Dr. C. S. Dinkins had been operating an academy at Ma- 
 "^rion, for the use of which he had paid $1,000. Our school 
 property increased in value from $3,000 to $30,000. The pres- 
 ident of our Convention, TV. R. Pettiford, was at this time 
 president of a successful banking enterprise. Last, and per- 
 haps least, one of our number had made an humble contribu- 
 tion to the literature of the denomination in the form of a 
 little book entitled '■'■Plain Theology for Plain People" Thus 
 had we grown in twenty -four years. 
 
 Before the next session Dr. McAlpine was made teacher 
 of institutes, under the Southern Board. 
 
 TWENTY-FIFTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Franklyn Street Church, Mobile, November, 1892. 
 *Dr. Dinkins was elected president, and Rev. J. P. Barton, vice- 
 president. With these exceptions, the old officers, as well as 
 missionaries, were continued. Editor W. H. Stewart, of Ken- 
 tucky; Dr. Clanton, of Louisiana; the Rev. Mr. Luke, field 
 secretary of the Foreign Mission Convention ; Revs. T. L. 
 Jordan and C. L. Fisher, of Mississippi, were present. For 
 the most part, this was a good session. However, there were 
 signs of a rising stormcloud, which, it was. feared, foretold 
 approaching evil; and perhaps a clogging of our educational 
 and missionary operations would jthen soon come. A good 
 money showing was made, and new financial plans were 
 adopted. Dr. Pettiford was appointed financial agent and 
 secretary. It was decided to attempt to establish two acade- 
 mies — one in Mobile and the other somewhere in Northern 
 Alabama. Before the next session of the Convention, Rev. C. 
 
52 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 O. Boothe resigned his position as general missionary of the 
 State and pastor at Meridian, Miss. Dr. Puree severed his 
 connection with the University, and Dr. C. S. Dinkins was 
 elected president in his stead. A division of the denomination 
 was threatened in consequence of the presidential changes. 
 Again our debts were beginning to be a menace. 
 
 TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Eufaula, November, 1893. Rev. J. P. Barton, of 
 Talladega, was elected president, and Rev. R. T. Pollard, sec- 
 retary. Hon. Ad. Wimbs, of Greensboro, was a member of 
 this Convention. Drs. Morehouse and Mc Vicar, of New York, 
 were with us ; also Dr. Crumpton, who represented the South- 
 ern Baptists. Many changes were made upon the Board of 
 Trustees. A committee was appointed to plan a change in 
 our school charter. The session was stormy and far from 
 pleasant. Dr. Pettiford made a good financial report. Rev. 
 S. L. Ross was Sunday school missionary. Dr. Dinkins made 
 a good beginning as president of Selma University. Rev. 
 Lewis Brown was elected treasurer. 
 
 TWENTY-SEVENTH SESSION. 
 
 Held in Mt. Zion Church, Anniston, Ala., November, 
 1894. Rev. J. P. Barton was again elected president, and 
 Rev. R. T. Pollard continued as secretary. Times peculiar 
 and money scarce. President Dinkins had prevented any 
 increase of the debt of the university, and continued to grow 
 in favor with all sections. The session, however, was not so 
 orderly as it might have been, if there had been less personal 
 feeling and ambition, and more real humility and consecra- 
 tion. 
 
THE STATE CONVENTIONS. 53 
 
 COMPARISONS. 
 
 True, our white brethren were hindered by the wild 
 forests, which were pathless and bridgeless, fieldless and crib- 
 less, and by the savage beasts and friendless red men, as well 
 as by the slowness of travel, but after all, we may be per- 
 mitted to compare our progress with our white brethrens' 
 struggles on educational and missionary lines ; and I think 
 the foe will feel more hopeful of us, while the friend will see 
 reason for encouragement and pleasure. The white Conven- 
 tion organized in Salem Church, near Greensboro, in October, 
 1823, but they did not begin a school till 1834 — eleven years. 
 We organized in 1868 and started a school in 1878 — ten years. 
 Their school continued only about five years, when their 
 property was sold to pay their school debts. Our school still 
 continues at this writing — 1895. In 1839, they passed a reso- 
 lution to encourage young men to study for the ministry un- 
 der capable pastors, and the money of the Convention was or- 
 dered to be paid out in support of operations on this line. 
 
 They now owe on Howard College, so I am informed, 
 some £30,000 or 640,000 in the form of a bonded debt, the 
 interest on which they find it hard to pay. Indeed, I very 
 much regret to hear that they are thinking of making an as- 
 signment in the interest of their creditors. On careful ex- 
 amination of the records of the Convention, we come upon the 
 following: important facts and lessons : 
 
 1. The blindness of the leadership as to the rcork to be done. 
 
 In the jubilee meeting, Rev. H. Stevens, said : "When I 
 resolved in 1868 to meet the call of the Montgomery Church 
 for a Convention of delegates, I didn't see what we could do. 
 I went only out of some sort of curiosity to meet other breth- 
 ren and to look on. I got a little light before I reached Mont- 
 gomery, as I listened to some things Brother McAlpine had to 
 
54 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 say along the way. And I was not much better off when the 
 Convention closed. I did not know what they were talking 
 about one-half the time." But few saw one inch ahead. The 
 horizon increased only as we advanced. We grew up with the 
 growth of the work. 
 
 2. The power of faith to give form and fixedness to pon- 
 derous enterprises. 
 
 We vacillated till Brother Woodsmall appeared, so far at 
 least as our school project was concerned. As the queen bee 
 draws together her wandering swarm and fixes them in set- 
 tled habitation and orderly toil, so did this saintly man do for 
 the colored Baptists of Alabama. And his spirit is still 
 among us. ~~7* : *j t 
 
 3. Progress is born of progress. 
 
 Because we gained one step, we gained another step. Be- 
 cause we made it to the top of one mountain, we could there- 
 fore make it to the top of another. 
 
///. ASSOCIATIONS, 
 
 [Under this head appear many points and facts of local interest.] 
 
 ALABAMA DISTRICT. 
 
 THIS District was organized in 1869 by Revs. N. Ashby, M. 
 Tyler, W. Stevens, J. A. Fjpster, -Wnf. Jenkins and-other 
 leading men of Montgomery and' Lowndes counties. From 
 their birth to this time, as an Association, they have been 
 
 leaders in missionary and educational operations. 
 
 * 
 - 
 
 LEADING ME.V. 
 
 Among the leading men of this body we may mention : 
 Rev. M. Tyler, Lowndesboro; Revs. R. T. Pollard, M. D. 
 Brooks, E. W. Picket, A. Moore, G. McKinney, A. Campbell, 
 and D. Ware, Montgomery ; Revs. M. C. Mexrell, James Davis, 
 and A. J. Knight, Fort Deposit; Revs. P. Gilchrist and B. 
 Moss, Hayneville: Revs. C. H. Payne, S. M. Reeves, and C. P. 
 Cain, Letohatchie; Revs. J. H. Smith and E. Elias, Tallassee ; 
 Revs. E. W. Jones, M. Snowdon, L. Barnett, A. Dansey, M. C. 
 Williams, L. Calvary, D. Hall, J. Morris, H. W. Tarrant, W. 
 Harris, D. S. Adams, M. E. Pleasant, postoffice unknown. 
 
 They report about 12,000 members. Their annual dona- 
 tion for general purposes averages £300 or £400. This body 
 contributed largely toward the purchase of our school property, 
 and now liberally supports the school. Rev. S. Jones, Mt. 
 Meigs, is a strong man in this Association, and no man in 
 Alabama has done more for the education of his parishioners 
 than he. Rev. J. C. Curry, also of Mt. Meigs, is one of their 
 
 ** 
 
Rev. F. R. Kennedy, Pastor Galilee Baptist Church, Anniston, Ala. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 57 
 
 most scholarly men and most able preachers. They talk of 
 t dividing into two bodies, hoping thereby to accomplish more 
 
 for the furtherance of the gospel. 
 | 
 
 ALABAMA MIDLAND ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1889, is a small body operating chiefly in 
 Montgomery county. They report six churches. Could not 
 I ascertain the membership. 
 
 Revs. B. Bible, B. Coles, "W. Harrison and T. L. Lewis lead 
 them. I submit the following as good supplementary matter 
 I to what has been said of the above Associations : 
 
 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 THE FIRST COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 "Was organized in the basement of the white Baptist 
 Church (First Baptist Church) just after the close of the war. 
 The corner stone of their present building on Columbus street 
 was laid in 1867. Their first pastor was the late Rev. Nathan 
 Ashby, who, prior to the war, had preached to the colored 
 membership on Sundays in the afternoon, in the basement of 
 the white church. Mr. Ashby being stricken down by paralysis, 
 closed his pastorate in 1870. Under his pastorate this church 
 issued the call for the first session of the State Convention in 
 1868; hence this church is the source — the mother — of our 
 Convention. 
 
 For a few months the Rev. J. W. Stevens supplied the 
 pulpit. 
 
 In 1871 the late Rev. James H. Foster was called to the 
 pastoral office, which he served for the space of twenty years, 
 leaving it only to answer the summons of his Master to appear 
 in purer and higher spheres. Under his administration the 
 church increased its membership from a few hundred to 
 
58 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 several thousand. He expended some $10,000 or $1*2,000 on. 
 the present edifice. Under his pastorate the Foreign Mission 
 Convention was organized in 1880. 
 
 After Mr. Foster's death, December 1, 1891, Rev. A. J. 
 Stokes, then pastor at Fernandina, Fla., was called to their 
 pulpit, and now serves with great success, haviDg added within 
 the last two months about 500 by baptism. So far, his success 
 is a wonder to the people of Montgomery. The special item 
 under his administration is the organization of the young 
 people for training and work. 
 
 Old Brother Boykin (about 85 years old) in speaking of 
 the work about Montgomery, said : " The first colored preacher 
 I saw after coming from Charleston, was Bro. Cyrus Hale. He 
 came from South Carolina. He was an old man when I first 
 met him. He was well read, was a good preacher, and the 
 white people 'lowed him to go anywhere there was a call for 
 him. »He was the father of the work in this section. Follow- 
 ing him, was Bro. Jacob Belser, and then came Bro. Nathan 
 Ashby. Brother Hale must have been ordained, for he used 
 to baptize in slavery time. 
 
 While we were worshiping in the white church, we had 
 some 'sistant deacons — Bros. Fayette Vandeville, Jerry Fye, 
 Peter Miles and Abe Blackshear." 
 
 Rev. William Jenkins relates the following : " I was born 
 in Montgomery in 1835, and have been here every since. I 
 began to speak in public in 1852, and continued to speak in 
 'the city and on neighboring plantations all the while. I was 
 (allowed to read the Bible, but I had rather been caught with a 
 hog than with a newspaper ; because, for the hog, I was likely 
 to get a whipping ; but for the newspaper I might get a hang- 
 ing. And there was some faith them times. On a planta- 
 tion out here where I used to preach, there was a balloon com- 
 ing down one day. The overseer and the people saw it, and 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 59 
 
 BE? 
 
 ^ts that was a new thing with them, it frightened them, and 
 -everybody fled except one brother, who, on seeing the man in 
 'the balloon, and believing that it was the Lord, ran towards 
 the descending balloon, exclaiming as he looked up : ' Lord, 
 I I's been looking for you for so long a time, and now you's 
 come at last ! ' The balloon man said : ' Go away, boy ; I'm 
 | nothing but a man.' " 
 
 Montgomery is no longer what it was when, thirty years 
 ago, Bro. Ashby spoke in the afternoon in the basement of the 
 •■white church. Six colored Baptist churches now worship 
 within the city and suburbs of Montgomery. The edifice of 
 j Dexter Avenue Church, standing near the first capital of the 
 ex-Confederacy, is one of the most substantial and neat brick 
 structures in the city, and the congregation which worships 
 therein are people of money and refinement. Messrs. H. A. 
 Loveless, the coal dealer, William Watkins, the contractor, 
 and Charles Steers, the upholsterer, are owners and managers 
 of large affairs, involving thousands of dollars. 
 
 The colored people of this city own many hundred thou- 
 sand dollars in real estate. Mr. Billingslea, the barber, is said 
 to own ?300,000. Dr. Dorsett runs a successful drug busi- 
 ness in one of the lower departments of a two-story brick 
 building owned by himself. The widow of* the late Hon. 
 James Hale has built and is maintaining an infirmary for the 
 sick poor people of her race. 
 
 Contrast this state of things with thirty years ago. when 
 the colored people, like "dumb driven cattle" before hound 
 and lash, wended their way in the "death march " of slavery, 
 and ask if the negro of to-day is the negro of thirty years 
 years ago. There is on Dexter avenue, in the city of Mont- 
 , gomery, an old brick building wherein the " negro trader " 
 
 used to pen his slaves to await his purchasers. Herein the 
 I 
 
60 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 writer organized the Dexter Avenue Church. Compare the 
 occupants of the slave pen with the audience in Dexter Avenue 
 Church. 
 
 DEXTER AVENUE CHURCH. 
 
 This church is a secession from the Columbus Street 
 Church, occurring in the latter part of the year 1877. Its 
 first meeting, with a view to organization, took place in the 
 parlor of Mr. Samuel Phillips. The chief persons in the con- 
 stitutional membership were Messrs. Samuel Phillips, John 
 Phillips, Alfred Thomas (the father of Mrs. S. H. Wright), C. 
 Sterrs, William Watkins and II. A. Loveless. The meeting 
 for the recognition of the church was held in a hall on Dexter 
 l avenue, January, 1878, which in former days had been used 
 Sas a slave trader's pen. Dr. J. B. Hawthorne, pastor of the 
 \First Church (White), with his deacons, represented the white 
 /brethren, and Rev. J. A. Foster, pastor of the Columbus Street 
 /Church, represented his church. 
 
 ( The writer was the first pastor, but owing to embarrass- 
 
 ments which soon followed, he did not remain long in charge 
 of the work. Revs. J. W. Stevens, F. McDonald, J. C. Curry, 
 A. F. Owens, T. Fryerson, A. N. McEwen, Dr. Langridge, and 
 others followed in the pastoral charge. The progress of the 
 church was rather slow till the time of Mr. McEwen, under 
 whom their present beautiful building was erected. The 
 present pastor, Rev. R. T. Pollard, seems to be appointed the 
 task of leading not so much on lines of material development 
 as in lines of spiritual growth. Many other good and pious i 
 persons have been added to their number, so that no church ■} 
 in the State can now boast of a people more thrifty, aspiring 
 and refined. 
 
 AUBURN ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1870 by Revs. T. Glenn, D. Phillips, I. M. 
 Pollard and others. This body operates chiefly in Lee, Macon 
 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 61 
 
 and Tallapoosa counties. In the beginning of Selma University 
 they contributed largely toward its establishment, and have 
 since given it liberal support. Lately, however, they are 
 struggling, under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Wells, to 
 plant a school in Opelika. They number about 8,000 members. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 . Revs. Glenn and Phillips have left the cross for the crown. 
 Among the present leadership we have the names of Revs. J. 
 R. Howard, M. M. Archer, A. Walton, K. T. Young, T. N. 
 Huguely, J. Wood, G. Germany, H. Clark, A. M. McArthur, G. 
 Moore, H. Jones, J. Thomas, J. T. Torbert, E. L. Goer, M. M. 
 Ross, E. White, E. L. Simms, F. T. Holmes, D. TJpshaw, C. 
 Young, E. Cain, R. Burton, J. David, P. Davis. Rev. I. T. 
 Simpson, one of the strongest men in the State, is now in this 
 body as pastor at Opelika. 
 
 The school project in Opelika speaks well of its supporters 
 and deserves to succeed. May God bring them in the path of 
 success. The writer regrets to record that he saw something 
 at one session of this body that was by no means creditable to 
 it. It was this selling business. The grounds about the 
 church were almost covered with cake stands, etc., and the 
 sermons could scarcely be heard for the noise made by the 
 salesmen. Associations ought not to meet with any church 
 which does not pledge itself to keep such off the grounds. 
 The Associations of our white brethren are not troubled with 
 such ugly conduct. The communities in which religious 
 bodies convene should do all in their power to bring about the 
 devotional spirit, the spirit of sincere worship. 
 
62 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 AUTAUGA COUNTY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1882, reports about 2,000 members. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Jones' Switch Post Office — Eev. M. Clark. 
 
 Milton — M. Underwood, J. C. Parker, D. Love, H. Taylor. 
 
 Independence — William Mims. 
 
 Prattville — William McLinn. m 
 
 Verbena — C. Price, P. Dejarnet, D. Gresham. 
 
 Birmingham — E. Goodson. 
 
 Deatville — A. C. Roundtree, A. J. Jones. 
 
 Autaugdville — E. Nun. 
 
 Bozeman — J. H. Brumby. 
 
 Messrs. J. Coles, W. Cooper and J. W. Carroll have served 
 as clerks. They, too, are recorded as contributing for educa- 
 tional purposes. 
 
 BETHLEHEM ASSOCIATION. 
 
 This association was organized in 1868, and has given 
 more students to Selma University than any other association 
 in the State, nor has any other been more liberal in its gifts 
 of money. A calculation would, perhaps, show that they had 
 not paid so much as the Alabama District and the Union- 
 town, but it will be remembered that those are the giant asso- 
 ciations, having 10,000 or 12,000 members, while this bcdy has 
 not more than 6,000. Rev. C. Roberts, one of the founders of 
 this body, in his opening speech before the session of 1892, 
 said : " When we began, not one among us could write. We 
 organized in Tuscaloosa, and when the work was done, it 
 seemed so insignificant an idea that ice had attempted to con- 
 stitute and operate an association that it took us two days to 
 accept and recognize what we had done. But see what we are 
 now, and what we have done ! Of our own sons and daugh- 
 ters, we have with us to-day teachers of the State schools, 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 63 
 
 teachers in universities, teachers of music, persons of charac- 
 [ ter and of learning. I never in my life, thought I would see 
 so much education in black people." The " Jones Creek 
 Church," the church with which the association had convened 
 in the above named session, was the name borne by the white 
 church organized about 1830, which long ago had become ex- 
 tinct. Rev. L. Brown, who now owns a good part of his old 
 master's plantation, presided at this session, and Rev. I. Daw- 
 , son was clerk. 
 
 Their minutes give the following churches and ministers : 
 
 Sherman Post Office — Galilee, Antioch, Little Zion, Mount 
 Tabor. „ 
 
 Warsaw — Mount Pleasant, Union Grove. 
 
 Cataba — Christian Valley, Friendship, Mt. Tabor, Mt. 
 Pleasant. 
 
 Whitfield— Eben ezer. 
 
 Boligee—Mt. Zion, Bethlehem, St. Paul, St. James. Mt. 
 Olive. 
 
 Eutaw — Elizabeth, Eutaw, Zion, Friendship. 
 
 Ramsey — St. Mark, Dowsey, Mary Winston, Jerusalem, 
 Livingston, Shiloh, Pine Grove, New Prospect. 
 
 Sumpterville — Sumpterville, Mt. Zion. 
 
 Mt. Hebron — Mt. Zion, St. John. 
 
 Ydanna — New Providence. 
 
 York Station — Rock Chapel, York Chapel, Mt. Harmon. 
 
 CurVs Station — Mt. Zion, Fourth Creek. 
 
 Gaston — Friendship. 
 
 West Green— Pleasant Valley. 
 
 Tishabee — Christian Valley, Little Zion. 
 
 Gainsville — Gainsville Second, New Bethel, Longford, 
 Spring Valley, Gainsville. 
 
 Epes Station— New Hope, Jones Creek, Miller's Hill. 
 
 Clinton.— Mt. Common. 
 
64 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. G. Young, T. Grant, G. Lowe, J. S. JBoatright, I 
 Dawson, L. Brown, C. Roberts, E. Grant. 
 
 There are other strong men among them whose names I 
 could not obtain. 
 
 Rev. Daniel Griffin, pastor at Gainsville, has especially 
 commended himself for his studiousness, spotless name, and 
 earnest work. Many of our best young men, teachers and 
 preachers, come of this association. 
 
 BIBB COUNTY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1885, report a membership of about 3,000. 
 The post offices of their several churches are given as follows : 
 Calera, Jemison, Strasburg, Lomax, Claytou, Shiloh, Randolph, 
 Traveler's Rest, Maplesville, Briarfield, and Ashley. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 The list which the writer found was not full, but we have 
 the following: Revs. H. Zimmerman, Clanton ; H. E. Doake 
 and A. Thomas, Calera ; C. Gentry, Randolph. I am informed 
 that Revs. J. R. Scott, J. S. Printice, J. W. Witherspoon and 
 W. T. Goodson are also members of this body. 
 
 BLADEN SPRINGS ASSOCIATION. 
 Organized in 1876, reports about 2,000 members. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. 
 
 Bladen Springs, Cunningham, West Bend, Rescueville, 
 Coffeeville, Dead Level, Mt. Sterling, Frankville, Ararat, 
 Campbell, St. Stevens. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. C. Long, of Bladen Springs, P. D. Alford, of Cun- 
 ningham; R. Lewis, F. White, R. Whitley, O: S. Yorke, J. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 65 
 
 "VVhigman, B. White, E. A. Reed, B. Woodson, A. S. Cessions, 
 
 C. L. Davis, and L. W. Morris. The writer baptized Rev. P. 
 
 p. Alford about twenty-five years ago, while doing mission 
 
 work in Mississippi. 
 
 Rev. Charles Long was one of the first colored men to begin 
 l teaching and preaching after the war. He stands as an honest 
 . business man, as well as preacher of the gospel. 
 
 BROWNVILLE ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1883, is a small body composed of about 
 I twenty churches, which have the following post offices : 
 I Phenix City, Gerard, Motts, Columbus, Ga., Hatchechubbee, 
 Ladonia, Crawford, Uchee. 
 
 OFFICERS LAST REPORTED. 
 
 Mqderator — Rev. L. D. Harris, Gerard. 
 Cleric— Rev. J. F. Torbert, Hatchechubbee. 
 Treasurer — Bro. H. Dixon, Phenix City. 
 They number about 2,000 members. 
 
 CANAAN (PICKEXSVILLE) ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1876, is operating chiefly in Fayette county. 
 The writer cannot give their membership, but they report 
 eighteen or twenty churches. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. G. H. Prewett, W. Bozelle, J. P. Neal, J. M. Maddox, 
 S. Clements, G. "W. Brent, A. G. Johnson, J. H. Evey, I. Bizzell, 
 L. W. Bridges, R. L. Gorden, L. Neal, A. B. Richardson. 
 
 Revs. J. M. Maddox and J. W. Glasscox seem to be at 
 least the peers of any in their ranks. 
 
Mrs. M. D. Duncan, Principal Female Academy, Demopolis, Ala. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 67 
 
 THE COLORED BETHLEHEM ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1871, reports about 3,500 members. This is 
 the body so long guided by the late Rev. Armstead Cunning- 
 ham, Bellville. This aided in the purchase of our property 
 ; at Selma. 
 
 • POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. 
 
 Eustis, Grove Hill, Dixon's Mill, Whatley, Thomasville, 
 Glover, Atkerson, Choctaw Corner, Myrtlewood, Putman, Clif- 
 ton, Octagon. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. C. L. Robertson, H. W. Mitchell, C. L. Davis, E. P. 
 ■> Yow, W. Thomas, P. Kimbrough, J. Williams, M. Dosey, J. M. 
 . Houston, R. F. Forman, F. Johnson, A. L. Cleveland, A. 
 Charles, W. M. Kimbrough. 
 
 I 
 
 DALLAS COUNTY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized 1872, is a large body, operating in the "Black 
 Belt." They have about 4,000 members. Support educa- 
 tional enterprises. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES. 
 
 Crumpton, Gee's Bend, Lasso, Linden, Cylonia, Orrville, 
 Portland, Cahaba, Lower Peach Tree, Selma, Brown's Station, 
 Gaston, Rehoboth, Hazen, Uniontown, Martin Station, Bogue- 
 chitto, Hamburg. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 D. Boyd, W. C. Richards, G. W. Jones, T. Mosely, P. 
 Underwood, W. Sprague, H. Robertson, R. D. Vassar, T. B. 
 Goldsby, E. B. Smith, H. Wilier, A. C. Collin, S. Thompson, 
 A. Hardaway, D. M. Coleman, A. Waller, J. Watts, N. Jones, 
 R. Murry, L. Bryant. 
 
 Rev. D. M. Coleman deserves praise for his persistent 
 
68 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 struggles after education. In spite of every hindrance he, at 
 rather a late point in his young manhood, started and com- 
 pleted a course in Selma University. 
 
 EAST PERRY COUNTY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1885, is a small body, and the writer has 
 learned but little of them. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. J. A. Jemison, C. Casby, G. S. Boiling, F. Chandler, 
 S. Morse, C. McCord. 
 
 EVERGREEN ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized 1878, reports about 3,500 members. They 
 liberally support educational and missionary enterprises. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES. 
 
 Evergreen, Dunham, Joy ville, Fairfield, Red Level, Mason, 
 Brooklyn, Grovella, Garland, Andalusia, Castleberry, Brewton, 
 Williams' Station, Pollard. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. L. and N. Hawthorne, G. Donald, J. Wallace, R. 
 Monroe, A. Clairborne, S. Union, J. McCrery, S. I. Shannon, Z. 
 Michael, J. Salter, R. McCrery, D. May, R. Ingrahain, D. 
 Shepard, C. C. Lucious, and C. Jackson. They want to estab- 
 lish a high school at Evergreen, where Rev. L. Hawthorne is 
 now engaged in teaching and preaching. 
 
 THE EUFAULA ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1867, is perhaps the oldest Colored Associa- 
 tion in Alabama. Its chief founders were: Revs. William 
 McCoo and Jerry Shorter, and Deacons J. E. Timothy, of 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 69 
 
 Eufaula, and Byrd Day, of Glennville. This body is peculiarly 
 organized on some lines. For example: Their Sunday School 
 work is divided into districts, which districts, under their 
 several leaders, hold so many meetings a year at different 
 centers of the population. A carefully prepared program is 
 carried out, led on by certain persons who have been previously 
 named and informed. And they have a preachers' association. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. 
 
 Eufaula, Clayton, Glenville, Hurtsboro, Lofton, Pitts- 
 boro, Midway, Hatchechubbee, Seale, Jerigan, Cowikee, Oats- 
 ton, Oswichee, Coal Ridge, Louisville, Hawkinsville, Guerrj- 
 ton, Abbeville, Three-Notch, Enon, Cochran, Batesville. Eu- 
 faula is the leading point in the district. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. G. W. Webb, J. D. Maddox, Wni. Williams, James 
 Peterson, L. F. O'Bryant, I. Bostic, N. Bostic, Eufaula. 
 
 Revs. W. R. Forbes, E. A. McCall, Columbus, Ga. 
 
 Revs. Wm. Pattrick, E. P. Pattrick, Wm. Blakely, Clayton. 
 
 Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, Selma. 
 
 Revs. J. H. Upshaw, T. H. Mitchell, Hatchechubbee. 
 
 Revs. A. A. Rivers, J. J. Young, Midway. 
 
 The author has been unable to obtain the post office ad- 
 dress of the following names : Revs. S. Allen, R. H. Wright, 
 T. Thomas, C. H. Ammons, P. Shorter, J. Torbert, M. Davis, 
 P. Battle, G. W. Moore, L. B. Mitchell, R. Turpin, P. Johnson. 
 E. R. Joseph, E. Crawford. For several years Rev. L. P. Fes- 
 ter has been the missionary for this body. 
 
 Bro. Byrd Day, a pioneer in this part of the State, relates 
 the following interesting story : *' As I could read in the days 
 of slavery, and as the people on the place wanted to know the 
 sayings of God, as they called the Bible, they bought me a 
 
I 
 
 1 
 
 70 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Bible and got me to read for them. We slaves were allowed 
 night farms in those days. An acre or so of land was given 
 to each person wanting to work at night. Well, in order that 
 I might study the Bible, the other slaves on the place worked 
 my patch for me. So I studied the book and read it to them." 
 The writer once spent a month in Eufaula giviDg Bible 
 instruction to ministers, and was paid by the "Ministers' As- 
 sociation." 
 
 I 
 
 FLINT RIVER ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1884, is a small body of less than 1,000 
 members, and is the result of a secession from the Muscle 
 Shoals Association. Rev. F. A. Chapman is its principal 
 founder and perhaps is their strongest man. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Kevs. F. A. Chapman, C. M. Davis, C. C. Matthews, Flint 
 Station ; G. W. Garth, Crowton ; R. Wilhoit, Cedar Plains ; B. _ 
 M. Key, D. Ward, S. M. Robinson, Somerville ; A. Brown, S. 
 Gains, A. R. Eason, Huntsville; C. Davis, Whitesburg; W. T. 
 Connor, Madison ; E. Powell, Hillsboro. 
 
 The writer has greatly enjoyed their quiet spirit and 
 earnest labors. However, he saw at their last session (1894) 
 a rather ludicrous point or gesture in the pulpit exercises. A 
 brother, who is known to be an upright man, as well as a very 
 earnest and industrious man, was making some remarks on 
 the closing sermon of the session, when, becoming very happy, 
 he made a leap upward, which caused his brethren to fear lest 
 there would be a bruise, either in the ceiling, or on top of the 
 minister's head. I would have, if I could have done so with 
 propriety, urged the brother to remember that " bodily exer- 
 cise profits little, while godliness is profitable unto all things," 
 and that " the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet," 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 71 
 
 and "let all things be done decently and in order." However, 
 I remember tbe day when most of the white preachers in 
 Alabama had in their sermons what some people are disposed 
 to call "the holy tone," which was often accompanied by quite 
 a lot of physical exercise. This has become a thing of the past 
 ; with them in proposition, as they by culture, have been raised 
 ► to see that Christianity is Christly believing and. Christly 
 living. By the same process, the same conditions will come 
 upon us. So, we will still labor and still wait. 
 
 FRIENDSHIP WESTERN UNION ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1891, is a small body operating in a section 
 lying south of Anniston and Oxford. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF THEIR CHURCHES. 
 
 Wedowee, Lineville, Rockdale, Graham, Beason's Mill, 
 Heflin, Louina, Micaville, Lamar, Edwardsville, Truet, Gay. 
 
 LEADING MEN". 
 
 Rev. A. M. Crawley, Iron City, moderator ; and J. W. Goss, 
 Wedowee, clerk. Revs. S. A. Banks, L. Dotson, C. T. Early, 
 J. C. Byrd, J. D. Austin, J. R. Heard, D. Welsh, C. Sterling, C. 
 Terry, and J. Culbertson, are mentioned among the principal 
 pastors. 
 
 GOOD SAMARITAN ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized 1881, has some eighteen or twenty churches. 
 The copy of the minutes in the hand of the writer fails to 
 give the membership of the churches. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. 
 
 Farmersville, Gordonville, Selma, Bragg's, Furman, Mon- 
 tery, Haynesville. 
 
72 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. Wm. Moss, W. Baskin, H. J. Kelly, M. Lewis, E. I 
 Crawford, J. H. Hartman. 
 
 HOPE HILL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1886, reports a membership of about 1,500. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. 
 
 Van Dorn, Gallion, Demopolis, Old Spring Hill, Dayton. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. F. Gilbert, J. W. Belle, Wm. Allen, W. Reese, A. 
 Wilson, W. H. Rone, G. C. Roney, W. E. Sharp, A. Collins, 
 and G. V. Spenser. 
 
 LEBANON ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Operating in Pickens county, was organized in 1874, and 
 has a membership of about 2,000. 
 
 LEADING MEN AND THEIR POST OFFICES. 
 
 Revs. J. C. Archibald, Bridgeville ; D. C. Salmon, Bridge- 
 ville ; R. Kichey, Pickensville ; J. Goodwin, Raleigh ; J. T. 
 Atty, Memphis, Ala.; J. G. Johnson, Carrollton ; J. Clark, 
 Ehren ; James Howard, Pickensville. Brother Archibald is 
 liberally educated, teaches school, and is a progressive man on 
 all lines. 
 
 LILY STAR ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1885, contains only about 1,000 members. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. 
 
 Trio, Brierfield, Centerville, Harrisburgh, Scottsville, 
 Green Pond, Blocton, Vance. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS 
 
 PASTORS. 
 
 Revs. T. M. Parker, W. A. Parker, John Bolden, J. A. 
 Foster, S. Page, H. S. Thompson, G. W. Glenn, G. Calhoun. 
 
 MOBILE SUNLIGHT ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1887, operates chiefly in Mobile, Baldwin 
 I and Washington counties. The St. Louis Street Church, 
 ' Mobile, constituted in 1859, is the principal church in this 
 
 body. They have churches at the following points : Whistler, 
 r Chastang, Calvert's Station, Scranton, Miss., Gondola, Four 
 
 Mile Post, Moffitsville, Citronelle, Mount Vernon, Chunchula, 
 
 Cleveland, Cottage Hill, Kushla, Yancleve. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Revs. J. L. Frazier, C. C. Richardson, T. H. Morgan, G. W. 
 Cephas, H. Sims, G. Lewis, A. J. Bolton, E. M. Matthews, S. 
 A. Johnson, M. J. Thompson, T. Benson, C. L. Roberts, C. 
 Reed, W. S. Forbes. 
 
 MOUNT PLEASANT ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Marengo county, was organized in 1878. They number 
 about 2,500 members. 
 
 POST OFFICES. 
 
 Gallion, Linden, Faunsdale, Dayton, Magnolia, Van Dorn, 
 Demopolis, Uniontown, Providence, Spring Hill. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Revs. J. Lawson, H. Shade, James Emmerson, J. Shaw, 
 N. P. Anderson, B. Glover, D. S. Thompson, M. D. Agee, 
 James Brock. 
 
74 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 MORNING STAR ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in -1874, is operating in Coosa and Elmore 
 counties. Their membership is about 2,000. They have been 
 rather separated from the general work, but perhaps it is 
 owing to the fact that their location has made it rather diffi- • 
 cult for those who have represented the enterprises of the 
 denomination to reach them. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. L. W. Whitaker. Rockford ; M. C. Crosby, A. L. 
 Swiridall, A. M. Snowdon, A. Jones, J. A. Baker, E. D. Howell, 
 L. W. McNeely, R. T. Lewis, J. H. Smith. 
 
 POST OFFICES. 
 
 Lockford, Irma, Central Institute, Dexter, Syke's Mill, 
 Pentonville, Equality, Lauderdale, Nixburgh, Weoka, Crews- 
 ville, Goodwater. 
 
 MOUNT PILGRIM ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1874 by Revs. W. H. Mc Alpine, J. R. Capers, 
 and William Ware, with other leading men ; occupies the chief 
 mining regions of Alabama. Their last minutes give the fol- 
 lowing churches and ministers : 
 
 CHUECHES. 
 
 Birmingham — Sixteenth Street, Shiloh, Sixth Avenue, 
 Hopewell, Sardis, First Baptist, North Birmingham, Mt. Olive, 
 Mt. Pilgrim, Healing Springs, Spring Street, St. James, Beth- 
 lehem, Bethel, Vernon. 
 
 Bessemer — Jerusalem, Canaan, Red Mountain. 
 
Rev. J. P. Barton, Pastor Peace Baptist Church, Talladega, Ala. 
 President Baptist State Convention. • 
 
76 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Pratt City — Mt. Hebron, Pleasant Hill, Rising Star, St. 
 James. 
 
 Coalburg — Coal Chapel. 
 Patton — Mt. Nebo. 
 East Lake — Mt. Zion, St. Peter. - 
 Helena — Mt. Moriah. 
 Dolomite — St. John. 
 Avondale — Mt. Calvary. 
 Blossburg — Mt. Hebron. 
 Woodlawn — Jackson Street. 
 Warrior — New Bethel. 
 Rosedale — Walnut Street. 
 Trussville — Mt. Joy. 
 Compton — Mt. Olive. 
 Oxmoor — Shady Grove. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Revs. T. W. Walker, T. L. Jordan, G. W. Parks, William 
 Ware, G. S. Smith, W. A. Shirley, A. J. Fikes, R. Donald, P. 
 C. Caddell, W. T. Bibb, J. A. Peele, S. D. Sanders, William 
 Walker, E. E. Perryman, R. H. Yogle, M. C. Adams, J. P. 
 O'Riley, A. A. Scott, L. V. Ellison, J. E. A. Wilson, V. Hunt- 
 ington, F. M. Miller, B. P. Palmo, H. Neally, F. C. Chandler, 
 S. M. Hall, H. Zimmerman, S. L. Belser, W. E. Craddock, J. B. 
 Gardner, S. A. Latham, Van B. James, P. Woollen, L. J. Green, 
 R. Johnson, L. W. Wells, J. M. Anthony, L. C. Jones. 
 
 As educators, they have Messrs. T. H. Posey, J. C. Barker, 
 F. P. McAlpine. and A. J. Edwards. 
 
 Rev. L. D. James is missionary of their district. Their 
 membership is about 6,000, and their church property is worth 
 not less than $50,000. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 77 
 
 BIRMINGHAM CHURCHES. 
 
 The oldest church in the city is the Spring Street Church, 
 Rev. L. J. Green's church, but the Sixteenth Street, Sixth 
 Avenue, and Shiloh Churches are the most influential 
 churches. The Sixteenth Street Church was organized in 
 1873, it appears, and her pastors appear in the following order : 
 Revs. J. Readon, TV. Reed, A. C. Jackson, W. R. Pettiford, and 
 T. L. Jordan. In a property point of view they owe much to 
 Rev. A. C. Jackson, under whom they obtained the present 
 church lot, three other lots, and a small frame building, say 
 about §5,000. This $4,000 or $5,000 went toward the erection 
 of their brick edifice, erected under the pastorate of Rev. W. 
 R. Pettiford. They owe about $3,000 on their building, the 
 payment of which has been much hindered by the scarcity of 
 money. In all the most progressive plans of gospel work in 
 this section, this church has led the way ; and their advance 
 on these lines is chiefly due to the presence of Dr. Pettiford 
 and the missionary ladies. The Sixth Avenue Church is the 
 next to appear. Its pastors have been : Revs. Silas Jones, T. 
 W. Walker, J. W. White. Tbey have recently offered the 
 pastoral charge to Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite, who is expected to 
 assume management this month (May, 1895). They are in 
 debt also. 
 
 The church that is the marvel of the city is the Shiloh, 
 under Rev. T. W. Walker. This church was organized May 3, 
 1891, as the result of preaching service supported by a society 
 known as the "Christian Relief Association." They now 
 have the smallest debt, the largest house and the largest con- 
 gregation in the city. Often when 1,200 or 1,500 people are 
 in the house, a good part of the street is full of persons who 
 are anxious to approach near enough to hear. Of course the 
 pastor is the source and center of this successful church, but 
 
78 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 he has been fortunate in drawing about him some very busi- 
 ness-like as well as very agreeable people. The following 
 anniversary program, etc., will give an idea of the church's 
 operations and system. (This program, with facts like it, is 
 given for its suggestiveness) : 
 Mat 3, 1891 May 3, 1895 
 
 FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF SHILOH BAPTIST 
 CHURCH, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALA. 
 
 The anniversary of the above named church will be held 
 on Friday, the above date, at the church on Avenue G, between 
 Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets. 
 
 All churches in the city and vicinity are cordially invited 
 to be present and take a part in the exercises, as those present 
 will have the privilege to speak on the subjects after they 
 have been submitted to the assembly. The following will be 
 the programme for the day. 
 
 9:30 to 10 a. m. — Opening. 
 
 Devotional exercises and responsive Scripture reading. — 
 Psalm 24. 
 
 10 to 10 : 30— "The Work of the School," by Mrs. Laura 
 Emmons. Discussed by Rev. J. A. Peel, of North Birmingham. 
 
 10:30 to 11— "The Work of the B. Y. P. U.," by Miss 
 Georgia Battles. Discussed by Rev. J. E. A. Wilson, of Pratt 
 City. 
 
 11 to 11:30— "The Work of the Missionary," by Miss A. 
 L.- Bowman. Discussed by Rev. V. B. James, of Avondale. 
 
 11:30 to 12— "Children's Mission Band Society," by Miss 
 Sallie Bates. Discussed by Rev. L. V. Ellison. 
 
 12 to 1 p. m.— « The History of the Church," by J. M. Ross. 
 Discussed by Rev. T. W. Walker. 
 
 Adjourn to reassemble at 3 p.m. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 79 
 
 3 to 3 : 15 — Devotional exercises by Rev. William Winters. 
 
 3:15 to 3 : 45— « Cbristian Relief Society," by J. W. 
 Sampson. Discussed by Rev. G. W. Parks. 
 
 3 : 45 to 4 : 30 — Sermon on " The Progress of the Baptists," 
 by Rev. W. E. Perryman, of Pratt City. 
 
 COLLECTION. 
 
 4:30 to 5— "Church Unity," by Rev. L. J. Green. Dis- 
 cussed by Rev. T. L. Jordan. 
 
 5 to 5:45— "The Church in the Present Struggle," by 
 Rev. S. L. Belser. Discussed by Syl. D. Jones. 
 
 Adjourn to reassemble at 7: 30. 
 
 7:30 to 8 — Devotional exercises by Rev. C. H. Hopkins. 
 
 8 — Anniversary sermon by Rev. J. Q. A. Wilhite. 
 
 COLLECTION. 
 
 All are requested to bring their Bibles, as they will be 
 
 needed. 
 
 J. W. Sampson, 
 J. M. Ross, 
 
 Rev. T. W. Walker, Pastor. Committee. 
 
 The above exercises took place on Friday, and the author 
 of this book was present to gather evidence of progress. 
 
 Closing the chapter on the Mount Pilgrim Association, I 
 submit the following programs in order to. give further ligbt 
 on the general operations in their field. , 
 
 MT. PILGRIM WOMEN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 TOPICS. 
 
 1894. November — Women of the Bible. 
 December — The Mother's pledge. 
 
 1895. January — Our State work. 
 February — How to make happy homes. 
 
80 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 March — Our duty to our country. 
 
 April — Ways of elevating of our race. 
 
 May — Our duty to the heathen. 
 
 June — What should we teach our children. 
 
 July — Qualifications needed for Christian usefulness. 
 
 August — Economy. 
 
 September — Fireside schools. 
 
 October — Review of the year's studies. 
 
 The above gives the topics of the local monthly meet- 
 ings. 
 
 WOMEN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Jackson Street Baptist Church, Woodlawn, May 3, 1895. 
 
 PROGRAM. 
 
 9:00 a. m. — Praise service. 
 
 9:30 a. m. — President's address. 
 
 9:45 a. m. — Hinderances to Christian usefulness. 
 10:15 a. m. — Best methods for governing children. 
 10:45 a. m. — Has each Christian a responsibility in bringing 
 
 the world to Christ? 
 11:15 a. m. — Reports of local societies. 
 
 2:00 p. m. — Praise service. 
 
 2:15 p. u. — The true women, 
 
 2:45 p. m. — Africa's need. 
 
 3:30 p. m. — The model missionary society. 
 
 4:00 p. m. — Business. 
 
 In this meeting the following names appear : Mesdames 
 P. F. Clark, Sallie Hall, R. Callier, A. McKesson, L. Tyrus, E. 
 C. Bellmy, L. Dean, S. Ceephas, A. L. Billheimer, S. A. Don- 
 ald, M. J. Walker, with the names of the missionaries, Misses 
 Knapp and Boorman. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 81 
 
 FIFTH GENERAL MEETING OF THE BAPTIST YOUNG 
 PEOPLE'S UNION OF MT. PILGRIM ASSOCIATION. 
 
 December 7, 1894. 
 10:00 a. m. — Praise service. 
 10:15 a. m. — President's address. 
 10:30 a. m. — "What is necessary to Christian growth ? 
 ] 1:00 a. m. — How to make a success of B. T. P. U. in country 
 
 churches. 
 11:30 a. m. — The importance of good reading matter. 
 12:00 m. — Literature. 
 
 2:00 p. m. — A model meeting. 
 
 2:30 p. m. — Address : The work of the B. Y. P. U. in evan- 
 gelizing the world. 
 
 3:00 p. m. — Best methods for promoting temperance. 
 
 3:30 p. m. — Report of local Unions. 
 
 4:00 p. m. — Business. 
 
 7:00 p. m. — Praise and conference and collection. 
 
 8:00 p. m. — Echoes from the Toronto Convention. 
 
 These topics, etc., show the lines of thought upon which 
 the mind is working. How different things are now from 
 what they were in 1835, when Job Davis, the African preacher, 
 toiled by the side of his fellow slaves all day and dreamed at 
 night of his far off home over the great sea! Now in the 
 valley where his famous camp-meeting sermon melted the 
 heart of the white people into a condition of submission to 
 Jesus and into hope of the coming world— where the black 
 man knew only spade, plow and hoe — we have the Negro M. 
 D., Negro druggist, Negro dentist, Negro banker, Negro author, 
 Negro merchant, Negroes worshiping in brick churches, Negro 
 scientists, and white people using Negro inventions. Here are 
 Banker B. H. Hudson, Druggist I. B. Kigh, Drs. Goin, Brown, 
 and U. G. Mason, Inventor Andrew Beard, with orators and 
 educators many. « What shall the harvest be ? " 
 
 
Miss Hardie Martin, Teacher in Public School, Montgomery, Ala. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 83 
 
 THE MULBERRY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1882, is composed of only a few churches, 
 chief among which we may mention : New Zion, Mt. Pleasant 
 and Spring Hill, Elba post office; Mt. Calvary, Damascus and 
 Antioch, Rose Hill post office; Friendship and Pleasant Ridge, 
 Henderson post office; Mt. Olive and St. John, Luverne post 
 office. They have between 1,200 and 1,500 members. 
 
 t ■ 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. G. Stringer, M. H. Henderson, G. B. Gibson, C. P. 
 Larkin, D. F. White and J. S. Lee. 
 
 
 MUD CREEK ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1873, is a small body of very poor churches, 
 located in Jackson county. There were a few rich slave- 
 holders in said county, among whom was the Rev. Charles 
 Roach, Sr. On his plantation there were three preachers, one 
 Methodist and two Baptist. The Baptist preachers were 
 Thomas and Perkins. Like many other ex-slaves, they 
 retained the name of their master, and became known as Revs. 
 Thomas and Perkins Roach. Rev. Robert Caver, at an early 
 date after the close of the war, came into the county a Baptist 
 preacher. These men became the organizers of the work in 
 this county. The county is no longer so full of colored people 
 as once it was, and hence the churches are very small and 
 can't support their pastors. Revs. James Larkin, Lewis Roach, 
 T. J. Roach, Lewis Henshaw, F. Cobb, C. L. Lovelady, J. 
 VV. Robinson are doing what they can to keep up the work 
 but they labor under great difficulties. It is the purpose of 
 some to attempt to establish a school at Hollywood. If this 
 .project should mature there is a prophecy of better condi- 
 tions in time to come. 
 
84 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 MUSCLE SHOALS ASSOCIATION 
 
 Is among the largest and oldest Associations in the State, 
 I having been organized in 1869 by Revs. Henry Bynum, Wni. 
 Coleman and W. E. Northcross, aided by Dr. Joseph Shackel- 
 ford (white), of Trinity. I was with them as they met in the 
 session of 1893 in the Courtland Church. In 1827, a Mr. D. 
 P. Bestor, a white minister, preached in this section and began 
 the work of organizing among the whites. I was told that 
 the white church, constituted in Courtland in 1827, had long 
 passed away and that of their building " one stone was not 
 left upon another." Only the vacant church lot remained to 
 tell of what had been. The white people were gone we knew 
 not how nor whither, but that the gospel which they had 
 { preached was blooming like a green bay tree in the hearts of 
 1 their ex-slaves, this large Association was tangible evidence. 
 The Rev. John Belle reminded his brethren that the time had 
 been when he was the only man in the body who could write 
 and when committees went out to consult and agree, and then 
 returned to submit verbal reports, which he as clerk was ex- 
 pected to formulate. He compared this state of things with 
 the present condition, wherein the writer was the ride and the 
 non- writer the exception. 
 
 This body is noted for church building. The people in 
 Huntsville and Sheffield owe their buildings to the plan and 
 liberality of this Association. The Rev. Paul Jones, for many 
 years their moderator, was full of missionary zeal and wise 
 plans, and pushed things in all directions. His death caused 
 them a great loss. 
 
 Their minutes give the following churches and pastors : Tus- 
 cumbia church, Rev. W. E. Northcross ; Courtland and Sheffield, 
 Rev. G. B. Johnson, of Courtland ; Red Bank and Iuka, Rev. 
 John Belle, of Courtland ; Pleasant Grove, Mt. Zion and Little 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 85 
 
 Zion, Rev. E. M. James, of Courtland ; Russellville and Flor- 
 ence churches, Rev. E. C. White, of Tuscumhia; Mount Olive, 
 Rev. L. Warren, of Leighton ; Palmetto, Rev. M. Jones, of 
 Russellville ; Galilee and Mount Pleasant, Rev. B. King, of 
 Leighton; Town Creek and Moulton, Rev. A. J. Owens, of 
 Moulton ; Mount Moriah, Rev. H. R. Baker, of Tuscumbia ; 
 Macedonia, Rev. A. Troupe, of Town Creek ; Elm Grove, Rev. 
 William Weaver, of Oakland ; Mount New Home, Rev. Wil- 
 liam Morris, of Leighton ; Huntsville Church, Rev. O. Gray, 
 of Huntsville ; Cave Springs, Zion and Bethel, Rev. James 
 Hampton, of Leighton ; Zion No. 2., Rev. J. H. Betts, of Flor- 
 ence ; Cater's Branch, Rev. A. Davis; St. Peter's, Rev. H. L. 
 Ellis, of Flint ; Jerusalem and Salem, Rev. D. Jackson, of 
 Tuscumbia ; Mt. Olive, Rev. G. S. Ricks, of Leighton ; Decatur 
 Church; Rev. M. J. Hooks ; Hillsboro, Rev. B. Swoope ; Bap- 
 tist Chapel, Rev. James -Young, of Florence ; St. Paul and 
 Hopewell, Rev. S. Wadkins, Tuscumbia. 
 
 They report church property worth about $25,000. Their 
 principal work has been in the way of starting missions and 
 building churches. They have 6,000 members, and an excel- 
 lent territory, but they greatly need a school. Professors H. 
 H. Stewart, of Courtland, and J. P. Gettis, of Decatur, and 
 Dr. Sterrs, of the same place, are the most advanced men of 
 their fellowship. Dr. Sterrs is a successful young physician 
 as well as preacher. 
 
 NEW PINE GROVE ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1878 and is a secession from the old Pii e 
 Grove. They have, perhaps, about 2,000 members in the fol- 
 lowing churches: At Troy — Pine Grove, Holly Springs, 
 High Ridge, Mt. Olive; Union Springs— Sardis, Low's Field, 
 Lime Creek; Brundidge — Post Oak, New Hope, Mt. Pilgrim. 
 
86 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Rev. A. Martin, Union Springs ; Wm. Mullen and M. 
 Flournoy, Troy ; W. H. Copeland and E. Mayer, Brundidge. 
 
 NEW CAHABA ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1871, has about 2,000 members, and are 
 generous supporters of missionary and educational enter- 
 prises. Their work is managed by such men as Revs. P. S. 
 L. Hutchins, B. N. Tubbs, R. E. Brown, L. Abercrombie, T. 
 Chandler and A. L. Huggins. 
 
 * They have churches at or near Marion, Hamburg and 
 Selma. The copy of their minutes which came to the writer's 
 hand is not sufficiently full to make a good record, as is the 
 case with regard to other minutes in hand. 
 
 OLD PINE GROVE ASSOCIATION. 
 
 With headquarters at Union Springs, Bullock county, was 
 organized in 1870. No section of Alabama affords better tal- 
 ent than is found within the territory of this Association. The 
 people of Union Springs are noted for their ability and skill 
 in business affairs — merchandise, etc. 
 
 The brick church edifice recently erected by Rev. "W. C. 
 Bradford and his church in Union Springs, as 'well as the 
 large and successfully operated stores, is testimony on this 
 line. 
 
 The officers of this body are : Rev. E. Thornton, Union 
 Springs, moderator; Prof. F. L. Todd, Union Springs, clerk; 
 Rev. "W. C. Crawford, treasurer. 
 
 They have about 2,000 members, and the following 
 churches : 
 
 Aberfoil — Elizabeth. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 87 
 
 Union Springs — First Baptist, Mt. Pleasant, St. John, and 
 Mt. Hilliard. 
 
 Cotton Valley — Elizabeth. 
 
 Thompson Station — Mt. Pleasant and Second Baptist. 
 
 Fitzpatrick Station — Greenwood. 
 
 McLemore — Mt. Common. 
 
 Bug Hall — Bethlehem and Mt. Carmel. 
 
 Indian Creek — Mt. Calvary. 
 
 Goslien Mill — Mt. Zion. 
 
 China Grove — Mt. Zion. 
 
 Linicood — Mt. Pleasant. 
 
 Flora — Mt. Sinai. 
 
 Suspension — Mt. Canaan. 
 
 Orion — Bethlehem. 
 They have the following pastors : 
 
 Union Springs — Revs. W. C. Bradford, £. Thornton, L. 
 Lawson, and E. Moore. 
 
 Aberfoil — Revs. C. H. Thornton and J. C. Jett. 
 
 Flora— Rev. P. Allen. 
 
 Fitzpatrick — Rev. William Thompkins. 
 
 Cotton Valley — Revs. M. Ellington and W. Crawford. 
 
 For general purposes the Association raises from $50 to 
 6100 a year. 
 
 Post Offices Unknown — Revs. T. Hendrix, G. Youngblood, 
 P. Johnson, S. M. Dawson, J. M. Faison, R. Jole, S. Barnes. 
 
 Rev. J. W. Jett, a man of Virginia birth, is the oldest 
 member of the body ; he was associated with those pioneers 
 of this section, Revs. Peter Johnson and William Townsend. 
 Mr. Jett is still strong and active, and is ready for any good 
 work. Rev. E. Thornton leads this body, and it could not be 
 otherwise, as no man among them is a mightier and more con- 
 spicuous individuality. 
 
COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 PEROTE ASSOCIATION. . 
 
 Organized in 1880, is not so well known as some other 
 bodies. From the minutes of 1888 I glean the following: 
 They have a church at Perote, one at Mt. Andrew, one at 
 Fresco, two at Victoria, one at Midway, and one at Pine 
 Grove. Their membership at this time was small, and the 
 names of some of their chief men appear as follows : Rev. 
 J. H. Burks, W. B. Grubbs, C. G. Wheeler, R. Allen, and R. Dix. 
 
 PIKE COUNTY ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1887, rose, it seems, in Pike County.^ 
 
 PASTORS. 
 
 Revs. J. S. Adair, T. Diggs, G. Whaley, W. S. Pollard, H. 
 Broxton, M. Stinson, W. F. Williams, J. 0. Davis, and others. 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 Troy Post Office— Troy Church. 
 
 Clayton — Mt. Moriah. 
 
 Burk?s — Antioch. 
 
 Buck Horn — Mt. Olive. 
 
 Elba — Friendship and Harmony. 
 
 Limcood — Benevolent. 
 
 They endorse educational enterprises. 
 
 RUSHING SPRINGS ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1870. Revs. Henry Woods, W. H. McAlpine, 
 and Isham Robinson were the chief founders of this body. 
 Talladega county is their main territory, though they have 
 churches in Coosa, St. Clair and Calhoun counties. 
 
 Rev. E. C. Rivers has been for years their efficient moder- 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 89 
 
 ator, and Rev. A. A. Battle is clerk. They report their churches 
 and ministers as follows : 
 
 Jenifer Post Office — Shady Grove and Shiloh. 
 
 Renfroe — New Salem, Antioch and Bethel. 
 
 Talladega — Pleasant Grove, Mt. Pilgrim, Mt. Cleveland, 
 Rocky Mount, Sycamore, Mt. Canaan, Mt. Moriah, Mt. Zion. 
 
 Eureka — Pleasant Hill, Rushing Springs. 
 
 Kilntdga — Mt. Carmel. 
 
 Goodwater — Marietta. 
 
 Kelleifs Creek — Mt. Zion. 
 
 Sylacauga — Harper Springs, New Hope, Rising Star. 
 
 Silver Run — Sweet Home. 
 
 Cropwell — Crop well. 
 
 Regan — Macedonia. 
 
 Sycamore — Mt. Olive, Pleasant Hill, Salem. 
 
 Sedan — Blooming Light. 
 
 Birnexfs — African Church. 
 
 Lincoln — Pine Grove. 
 
 Mt. Olice—tiew Shiloh. 
 
 Alpine — New Maryland, Kingston. 
 
 Rendalia — Zion Hill. 
 
 Oxford — Rocky Mount. 
 
 Kastaboga — Salem. 
 
 Anniston — Mt. Zion. 
 
 Ironaton — Ironaton . 
 
 Stetcardsville — Un ion . 
 
 Miles — Lebanon. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 D. Savage, of Mumford; A. Z. Wilson, N. Jemison, B. 
 Jackson, A. Bibb, S. Rivers, P. Jordan, C. C. Curry, R. Garrett, 
 A. J. Vincent, A. O'Neal, A.. G. Walker, James Headen, M. H. 
 Cunningham, H Wood, J. Chapman, A. A. Battle, S. Burt, R. 
 
 7— 
 
90 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 B. McClellen, J. L. Looney, A. Bryant, A. Davis, S. Marbry, J. 
 P. Barton, M. C. B. Oden. 
 
 This body is led chiefly by men who have attended Tal- 
 ladega College, some of whom are not only graduates and 
 scholars, but are strong preachers of the plain old gospel story. 
 
 They number about 6,500 members. Talladega and An- 
 niston are their chief points. Talladega is the " Old Indian 
 battle ground," and here the white Baptists formed a church 
 in 1835. Sister Cain, a member of the Mount Canaan Church, 
 Talladega, said to the writer : « There was no town here when 
 I came. The Indians lived here and it was all nothing but 
 wild woods." As she was talking, the Talladega College bell 
 loudly rang out some orders or notice upon the ears of Negro 
 students. I mused : " How the world changes ! About the 
 years 1820-1830, negro slavery is established in Talladega 
 county. In 1835 a white church rises up and, unknowingly, 
 begins to prepare to give birth to a Negro church, which will 
 give birth to a Negro Association. In 1865 the slave is free, 
 and in 1870 the white church constitutes the Mt. Canaan 
 Church (colored), out of which comes the Rushing Springs 
 Association. And Negro men and Negro women are carrying 
 diplomas from buildings erected by white Baptists for the 
 education of white people. All this in less than fifty years." 
 
 V 
 
 THE AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH, 
 
 j In Talladega county, has a rather peculiar history. The 
 ; lot was donated in 1849, it appears, by a Mr. William Jenkins, 
 ja wealthy slave owner, who lived about eight miles south of 
 i the town of Talladega. It is said that In addition to the gift 
 [of land and building, he paid a man to teach the catechism to 
 r the colored children, and paid annually $150 toward the salary 
 ' of a minister for the colored people who worshiped with this 
 
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 Alabama Publishing Co., Birmingham, Ala. 
 
92 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 church. Samuel Jenkins, a slave from South Carolina, was 
 one of their first deacons. 
 
 Pastors. — It appears that the following brethren served 
 the church at different times in the capacity of pastor: Revs. 
 D. Reynolds, S. Boils, D. Peeples, W. H. McAlpine, Phil. Davis, 
 A. Lawler, and Jordan Chapman. 
 
 The origin of this church is full of suggestion. It shows 
 that in spite of the brutalizing influences of the horrible in- 
 stitution of slavery, humanity and Christianity in the master 
 often triumphed in deeds of love and mercy in behalf of the 
 helpless slave. The memory of such men as Mr. Jenkins in- 
 scribed upon such times will be fragrant forever. The planta- 
 tion to which the above named lot belonged has changed hands 
 several times, but this lot is fixed nn the records as the prop- 
 erty of the African Church. 
 
 Honorable mention is made of Rev. Chesley Johnson and 
 Joe Walker. The latter, it is said, was allowed to give Bible 
 lessons on his master's plantation. The manliness which 
 characterizes Mr. Henry Barclay (Mr. Walker's son) and other 
 decendants, marks Mr. Walker's rare talent. 
 
 SANDY RIDGE ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1887, is composed of the following churches : 
 
 Burnesville Post Office — Lily Zion and Lily Grove. 
 
 Selma — St. James, New Liberty, Cahaba, and Elyton. 
 
 Vine Hill — Pleasant Grove and Mt. Pilgrim. 
 
 Stateville — New Mt. Moriah, Autaugaville, New Hope, 
 Pleasant Valley, and St. Paul. 
 
 Jones' Switch — New Providence. 
 
 Augustine — Oak Grove. 
 
 Revs. A. Clay, J. and E. Mixom, M. Bishop, H. W. Peeples, 
 and E. W. Deampart are mentioned among their leading men. 
 Their church property is reported at $8,000. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 93 
 
 SALEM ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1871, is a small body in southeast Alabama. 
 I have been unable to obtain data from this body. I learn 
 that they have churches at the following points : Brundidge, 
 Clintonville, Enterprise, and Cox Mills. 
 
 SHELBY SPRINGS ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Was organized in 1869. Rev. Berry "Ware, it seems, was 
 one of its leading founders. They have a membership of about 
 3,000. They have some excellent men, among whom may be 
 mentioned : Revs. B. M. Mallory, F. Youngblood, H. D. 
 Leathers, of Childersburg; Rev. D. L. Prentice, Aldrich ; Rev. 
 J. P. Barton, Talladega ; Rev. E. E. Perryman, Helena; Revs. 
 G. R. Nash, F. R. Kenedy, B. F. Singleton, and P. Caddell,. 
 Columbiana; Rev. F. Cahill, Harpersville; Revs. J. L. Looney 
 and P. Fancher, Fayetteville ; Revs. W. C. Owens and J. H. 
 Moseley, Calera. 
 
 The minutes of 1890 give the following post offices and 
 churches : 
 
 Ch ildersbu rg — En oh . 
 
 Kymulga — Mt. Olive. 
 
 Aldrich — Hepzibah . 
 
 Blocton — Liberty. 
 
 Talladega — Peace Baptist. 
 
 Wilsonville — Bethlehem, Scott Grove, Mt. Grove, and Dry 
 Branch. 
 
 Harpersville — Mt. Olive. 
 
 Helena — Mt. Pleasant. 
 
 Fayetteville — Shady Grove, Friendship. 
 
 Columbiana — Zion, Friendship, and Macedonia. 
 
 Mt. Pinson — Mt. Bradford. 
 
94 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Siluria — Union Hill, Liberty No. 1. 
 
 Shelby — Providence. 
 
 Long View — Galilee. 
 
 Calera — Moseley Chapel, New Mt. Moriab, Bethel. 
 
 Rev. D. L. Prentice, Aldrich, is doing a very effective 
 work in the school room, and the people of his town bear the 
 marks of his pedagogic labors. Their meetings, I mean asso- 
 ciational meetings, are enjoyable and they give evidence of 
 piety, promise and power. 
 
 This body liberally aided in the purchase of Selma Uni- 
 versity, and has ever been ready for any and every good work. 
 
 SOUTHEAST ALABAMA ASSOCIATION. 
 
 This Association operates in the extreme southeast por- 
 tion of the State. I have not been able to secure a full statis- 
 . tical table from them. 
 
 They report thirty churches, with a membership of about 
 2,000. From a mutilated copy of their minutes for 1892 the 
 following names are given as the ordained ministers of the 
 body : J. Craddock, G. Christinar, J. Stith, Thomas Slaughter, 
 M. Spencer, E. P. Langston, J. Cotton, E. Alford, T. Rollins, 
 A. L. Koonce, J. C. Green, Wm. Carter, A. Powell, J. Foston, 
 J. Sampson, James Humphrey, G. R. Hall, K. C. Liferedge, 
 and A. Turner. 
 
 Part of the statistical table is torn away, but the follow- 
 ing appears as the list of their post offices : Cowarts, Otho, 
 Crosby, Balkum, Headland, Gordon, Shorterville, Halesburg, 
 Zornville, Hardwicksburg, Brackins, Choctawhatchie, Colum- 
 bia, La wrenceville, Abbeville, Fort Gaines, Cottonwood. Dothan, 
 Hilliardsville, Ashford. " I give this list because to know the 
 post offices of the churches is better than to know nothing at 
 all. They are all right on temperance, and they say they will 
 license no man to preach who cannot read the New Testament. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 95 
 
 SNOW CREEK ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Is chiefly located in Calhoun and Etowah counties. At 
 present their officers are as follows : 
 
 Rev. H. W. Whatley, White Plains, moderator. 
 
 Rev. William Munds, Anniston, assistant moderator. 
 
 Prof. Lydden Green, Oxford, clerk. 
 
 This body was organized in 1869 by Rev. Burrell Snow 
 (whose name it bears) and a few others, aided by the late 
 Rev. Mr. Jinkins, a white Baptist minister, whose heart and 
 hand seemed ever ready to help on every good work among 
 the colored people. 
 
 Rev. H. J. Hoke, the efficient missionary of Arkansas, 
 w r ent out from this association. They have something above 
 2,000 members belonging to the following churches : 
 
 Ohatchee, Ohatchee ; New Mount Gilead, Marks ton ; New 
 Prospect, Choccolocco ; Oconee, New Hope, Oxford ; Spring 
 Hill, Bynum ; Bates Springs, Cane Creek, Greensport; Mount* 
 Olive, Oxanna ; Mount Zion, Coat's Bend ; Galilee, Friendship, 
 Anniston ; Bethany, Iron City ; New Mount Silla, Peaceburg ; 
 Shiloh, Dukes; Ziou Hill, White Plains; Antioch, Friendship, 
 Gadsden; New Hope, First Colored, Jacksonville; New Hope, 
 Rock Run ; Pleasant Gap, Stock's Mills : Pine Grove, Knot- 
 ville ; Bethel, Alexandria ; Mount Sinai, Weaver's Station ; 
 Patona, Piedmont ; St. Jacob, Tecumseh, and beautiful Bor- 
 den Springs. 
 
 The following are the pastors : Revs . H. Middleton, J. J. 
 Johnson, B. Jackson, H. Green, Thomas Ivory, A. F. Alexan- 
 der, T. L. Douglass, S. Walker, J. S. Simmons, Gadsden ; H. 
 W. Whatley, White Plains; William Munds, N. P. Pullum, 
 Anniston; C. Pyles, Oxford; G. W. Brewton, Alexandria; 
 James Denson, Talladega. 
 
 These brethren are all 0. K. on the leading issues of the 
 
96 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 day. Brother Whatley is, in many regards, a very strong' 
 man, hospitable as a host, and genial as a companion, a good 
 citizen and successful business man. 
 
 SOUTHEAST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Confined chiefly to Crenshaw county ; was organized in 
 1879. The writer has attended one of their sessions held east 
 of Greenville, a few miles from Luverne. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. James Barrett, Boiling; E. Dunklin. J. H. Hender- 
 son, Greenville; M. C. Lowery, E. D. Wallace, Boiling; S. M. 
 Ransom, Oak Streak; S. M. Lowery, Salsoda; Bro. Walter 
 Williams, Glascow a?id Bro. Henry McLain, Oaky Streak. 
 
 POST OFFICES OF CHURCHES. 
 
 Luverne, Greenville, Glascow, Oaky Streak, Salsoda, Rut- 
 ledge, Pontus, Shell, Bradleyton, Pigeon Creek. They hope 
 to begin a high school, for which purpose they have raised 
 abont $300. It is to be hoped that they will secure their 
 money against loss. Far too many times money has been 
 raised for church and school purposes and put into the bands 
 of men who lost it (?) or loaned it out. Such loose manage- 
 ment of funds destroys the confidence of the people and in- 
 jures the cause of Christ. I regret to say that they, at the 
 session referred to, did not unanimously endorse the temper- 
 ance movement of the day, though there was a strong senti- 
 ment in the right direction. They number about 2,000 mem- 
 bers. I was impressed with the natural power of some of 
 their leaders. In their number I saw some rising young men, 
 who I think will attain to knowledge of books. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 SPRING HILL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Operating south of Montgomery, was organized in 1874 
 by Brethren W. W. Lane, Lewis Witherspoon, George Jones, 
 
 D. Carter, 0. Blue, and others. 
 
 CHURCHES IN 1891. 
 
 Pine Level Post Office — Spring Hill. 
 
 Woodley— White Cloud. 
 
 Center Point — Mt. Pleasant and Macedonia. 
 
 Helicon — Mt. Gilead and Ramer. 
 
 Le Grand — Little Roxanna. 
 
 Snoicdown — Snowdown Valley. 
 
 Meadville — Pilgrim, Hickory Chapel, Galilee. 
 
 Pine Level — Warrior Hill, Bethlehem, and Elizabeth. 
 
 Shellhorn — Israel. 
 
 Montgomery — Columbus Street Church, Baptist Lily. 
 
 Fitzpatrick — Philadelphia, Mount Moriah. 
 
 Woodley — Jerusalem. 
 
 Chambers — Calvary. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Revs. S. Adams, T. Ervin, A. Garner, R. Borden, M. Jack- 
 son, F. Nichols, William Rollins, William Day, 0. Blue. J. 
 Mitchell, W. Mullens, D. S. Adams, I. Davis, John Smith, and 
 
 E. M. Burkett. 
 
 Dr. A. J. Stokes, of Montgomery, has for several years 
 been their moderator. In the session of 1891 they rejected the 
 temperance report; but this year (1893) they vote by a large 
 majority in favor of it. A few, however, claim that they 
 "have a right" to use alcohol if they desire to do so. They 
 have a membership of 5,000 or 6,000. A Rev. Mr. Pollard has 
 been in their employ as missionary, so the writer is informed. 
 
98 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 STAR OF HOPE ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1877 and operating chiefly in "Wilcox county, 
 presents the following roll of churches : 
 
 Antioch, Magnolia, New Hope No. 2, New Hope No. 4, 
 Ruk West, Emanuel Street, and Union Baptist, Camden Post 
 Office; Cedar Grove and Starling, Furman ; Little Rock, Til- 
 den ; Little Zion, St. Emanuel, St. Peter, Nellie; Mt. Gilead 
 and Magnolia, Bell's Landing ; Morning Star and Shady Grove, 
 Miller's Ferry ; New Hope No. 3 and St. Wisdom, Canton's 
 Bend ; New Hill, Butler's Spriugs ; Oak Valley, Monterey ; 
 Pine Flat, Tinela; St. Francis, Caledonia; St. Peter, River 
 Ridge. Antioch of Camden, Cedar Grove of Furman, and 
 Little Rock of Tilden, are the oldest churches in this body, 
 having been organized in 1868. 
 
 Their number is between 1,700 and 2,000. Their pastors 
 are Revs. S. B. McCall, George Earl, M. Boykin, V. Pruit, K. 
 Wolfe, F.- Williams, W. H. Ray, Jr., L. D. Johnson, M. Lewis, 
 L. Jefferson, S. Boyd, C. L. George, J. C. Blackburn, John Poe, 
 N. Hill, George Earl, M. Ervin, W. G. King. J. A. Lawson. 
 The venerable Henry Allen has been in this section as "a 
 father in Israel." 
 
 They are trying to support a high school at Camden. 
 Rev. J. A. Lawson is especially active in educational matters, 
 and all seem ready for any and every good work. 
 
 TOWN CREEK ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Is a new body, organized in 1889. The minutes of 1891 
 give the following : 
 
 Magnolia Church, Warrior Stand, Rev. E. Moore, pastor; 
 Bethlehem Church, Cotton Valley, Rev. M. Ellington, pastor ; 
 Sweet Pilgrim Church, Union Springs, Rev. E. Thornton, 
 pastor; St. Paul Church, Cotton Valley, Rev. C. Johnson? 
 
Rev. J. L. Frazier, Pastor St. Louis St. Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala. 
 
100 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Town Creek Church, Union Springs, Rev. J. Germany, 
 Antioch Church, Columbus, Ga., Rev. E. A. McCall, 
 
 Mt. Nebo Church, , Rev. J. Germany, 
 
 Mt. Pisgah Church, Dick Creek, Rev. W. M. Walker, 
 Perry Hill Church, Warrior Stand, Rev. J. S. Taturo, 
 Mt. Calvary Church, Union Springs, Rev. H. Jones, 
 Oak Grove Church, Cotton Valley, Rev. Mac. Wright, 
 
 pastor : 
 pastor : 
 pastor : 
 pastor : 
 pastor : 
 pastor 
 pastor: 
 pastor. 
 
 They have a membership of about 1,500. 
 
 Rev. E. Thornton, of Union Springs, is moderator, and 
 E. A. McCall, of Columbus, Ga., is clerk. 
 
 The writer has been unable to ascertain all desirable facts. 
 Judging, however, from the character of the men whose names 
 appear in the lead of their work, we may feel sure that they 
 have organized the Association in order to advance educa- 
 tional and missionary interests. 
 
 UNION ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Was organized in 1874 of churches which seceded from 
 the Alabama District Association. 
 
 They have the following churches and ministers : Green- 
 ville — First Colored, Pine Top, Salem, Old Elm, Pine Level; 
 Pineapple — Arkadelphia, New Virgin ; Monterey— Ridgeville, 
 Spring Hill, Mt. Moriah, Rosemary; Bugville — Friendship; 
 Dunham — Long Creek; Simkinsville — Pleasant Hill; Star- 
 lington — Pine Level; Allenton — Siloam and Mt. Zion ; Min- 
 ter — Hopewell; Pleasant Hill — Good Hope, Cedar Grove; 
 Snow Hill — Shiloh ; Georgiana — Friendship; Furman — Anti- 
 och ; Manningham — Mt. Olive ; Luverne — New Hope; Daisy — 
 Union; Vidette — Star of Hope;. New Providence — Mt. Ida; 
 Farmerville — Cedar Grove; Oakfield — Oakfield ; Forest 
 Home — Rock west; Sepulga — Spring Hill; Camden — St. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 101 
 
 Mary. Rev. J. Nichols, Greenville, is moderator; Rev. J. VV. 
 Smith is treasurer, and Mr. I. N. Carter, of Monterey, is clerk. 
 Their sessions are rather stormy, as may be said of other 
 bodies. 
 
 LEADING MEN. 
 
 Revs. L. Adams, H. Thompson, I. Young, W. Morast, S. 
 Albrighton, J. Beverly, Q. C. Craig, J. Scott, L. McKee, W. 
 Anderson, J. Barrett, G. Pugh, J. Henderson, S. Skanes, R. 
 Palmer, E. Perdue, M. McLowery, J. Ricks, J. Moss, E. Wal- 
 lace, E. Stallworth, William Scott, E. Pickett, J. Blackman, It. 
 C. Crane. 
 
 Prof. I. N. Carter is a strong man in this body, whose 
 confidence and good will he seems still to hold. They have 
 many naturally fine young men, but they need a school veiy 
 much. 
 
 UNIONTOWN ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1872 by the late Revs. Henry Stephens, John 
 Dosier and John Blevins, is reported to be next numerically 
 to the Alabama District, containing a membership of about 
 11,500. They raise annually for general purposes from #200 
 to $400 . Their « Statistical Table " gives the following list 
 of churches and ministers: , 
 
 POST OFFICES AND CHURCHES. 
 
 Selma — St. Philip Street, Tabernacle, Mount Zion, Little 
 Rock, St. Paul, New Center, Mount Ararat, Beach Island, 
 Everdale, Providence, Elbethel, Mount Zion ; Newbern — New- 
 bern, Holly Chapel, Oak Grove; Greensboro — St. John, St. 
 Peter, St. Paul, Mount Moriah, Willow Springs, Salem, Pleas- 
 ant Grove, Mount Zion ; Safford's— New Hebron, Mount Leb- 
 anon, Concord ; Boiling Springs — First Baptist, New Boiling 
 Springs; Hamburg — Green Liberty; Brown's — Trinity, Good 
 
102 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Hope ; Sawyersville — Bethlehem, Springfield, New Hope ; 
 Perryville — Pleasant Hill, Perryville; Uniontown— Mount 
 Calvary, Woodlawn, St. James, Uniontown ; Kimbrough — Je- 
 rusalem ; Prairie Bluff — St. Mitchell; Catherine — Salem, 
 Dixon Grove, Mount Olive; Marion— Second Baptist, Spring- 
 field, Willow Grove, Hopewell, Bethel, Eagle Grove ; Lami- 
 son — Macedonia ; Scott's Station — Green Leaf, McKiuley, 
 Bethel Hill ; Faunsdale — :Faunsdale, Camben, Rehoboth ; Sum- 
 merfield — Macedonia, Orrville, Peace and Love; Alberta — 
 Macedonia, Christian Light ; Felix — Center, Bethany, Marion 
 Junction, Pernell, Colerine, Sbiloh ; Pleasant Hill — Bethel, 
 Whitsets, Pickens. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Selma — Revs. C. J. Hardy, I. T. Simpson, D. M. Coleman, 
 L. J. Green, G. H. Hobdy, Q. C. Craig, C. J. Davis, J. B. Russell ; 
 Newbern — W. H. Reddick, G. Frost. VV. H. Huckabee ; Greens- 
 boro — Wm. Madison, P. Cottrell, P. Umphrey, S. Abrams; 
 Marion — C. S. Dinkins, D. D., A. Billingley ; Uniontown — 
 Rev. A. F. Owens, H. Alexander, Wm. Boon ; Faunsdale — F. 
 A. E. Beck; Gallion — P. S. L. Hutchins, A. M.; Marion Junc- 
 tion — A. W. Ragland ; Hamburg — Y. R. White ; Prairie Bluff — 
 W. H. Green; Boiling Springs — E. Slone; Kimbrough — A. 
 Gladen ; Camden — J. A. Lawson ; Lainison — R. Estridge ; 
 Brown's Station — W. L. Lawson: Pleasant Hill — J. R. Scott; 
 Perryville — R. Z. Deyampert ; Sawyersville — I. J. Jones ; Orr- 
 ville — G. M. Jones; Post Offices unknown — R. Christian, J. G. 
 Flood, L. E. Hobson, A. Gladen, W. W. Richardson, R. T. 
 Bowden, E. C. Borroughs, W. H. Hatcher, G. M. Jones, G. 
 King, and others. This body has quite a number of pastors 
 from Selma University. 
 
 Too much cannot be said in praise of these brethren for 
 the manner in which they have stood by the Selma University 
 under all its changes. And yet we would have been surprised 
 
ASSOCIATION'S. 103 
 
 if such a grand set of men as lead this hody should have acted 
 otherwise. Rev. J. Dosier, quite an old man, reads Greek fairly 
 well. Rev. C. B. Davis is a young man of much ability and 
 promise. Rev. F. A. E. Beck appreciates the value of educa- 
 tion, is a natural magnet, and draws the people after him. 
 Rev. A. W. Ragland is loved by all for his brotherly, quiet 
 manners. But space fails me or I would speak of Revs. T. R. 
 White, R. Z. Deyampert, J. R. Scott, and others, who are 
 pillars in this organization. 
 
 SALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, GREENS- 
 BORO. 
 
 The white Baptists had for many years prior to the late ) 
 war a prosperous church at this place, with a large member- 
 ship of white people and colored people — the slaves of their 
 masters. Just about the time of the war the larger portion 
 of the white membership moved away, and from one cause 
 and another, the close of the war found but a few white mem- 
 bers remaining, but a large colored membership. 
 
 The white members, to whom the property belonged, sold 
 the building and donated 12,000 of the proceeds to the colored j 
 members for them to build a church with . This church is 
 the same church that the white people had organized more 
 than fifty years ago. 
 
 Rev. H. Stephens was the first pastor of the colored con- 
 gregation, after they moved their church site, and was pastor j 
 for twenty years. 
 
 Rev. L. J. Green was pastor for about four years, and Rev 
 W. M. Madison, the present pastor, has been there five years, 
 has built a nice parsonage and greatly increased the member- 
 ship. 
 
 There were 300 members (colored) when the church 
 
104 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 moved to its present site. They have now a membership of 
 800. 
 
 ■ This is the mother church of nearly every church in Hale 
 county and they have a great many large and prosperous 
 churches in the county. The church property is worth 
 $2,500. 
 
 This is saying good things for the white Baptists of 
 
 .Greensboro. Deacon Dock Lane, one of the most honorable 
 
 and consecrated among men, deserves mention as a pillar in 
 
 this church. Among the leaders of this church appears the 
 
 name of Mr. A. Wimbs. 
 
 Desiring to make honorable mention of this worthy 
 young man, I requested of him something of bis history, and 
 he sends me the following : 
 
 "I was born in Greensboro, Ala., September 23, 1860. 
 My mother was named Josephine; she was brought from 
 Washington and sold to Mr. A. L. Stollenwerck, of this town. 
 My father was named Addison Wimbs and resided in Wash- 
 ington ; he was a slave on account of his mother being a 
 slave, but his father was a free man, and had bought nearly 
 all of his children and sent them to Canada. What educa- 
 tion I have, I received at the town school here — Tullibody 
 Academy — under the management of Prof. W. B. Patterson. 
 I have served my church in the capacity of superintendent of 
 the Sabbath School and clerk of the church ; was secretary of 
 the Sabbath School Convention of the Uniontown Association ; 
 am a member of the Executive Board of the Convention. I 
 was at one time editor of a small paper here called the 
 Voice. 
 
 " I have been for many years the bookkeeper and general 
 clerk in the law office of Governor Seay. 1 was, I am quite 
 confident, the first Negro in Alabama, if not in the entire 
 South, to operate on the typewriter, and now I think, I am 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 105 
 
 the first Negro to manage the Edison phonograph for busi- 
 purposes." 
 
 I know of no ex-slave and ex-slaveholder, between whom 
 there is more confidence on one side and high regard on the 
 other, than exist between Governor Seuy and Addison 
 Wimbs. This means for Brother Wimbs quietness of spirit 
 and solid worth, as well as a conservative, genial soul in Gov- 
 ernor Seay. 
 
 THE ST. PHILLIP STREET CHURCH, SELMA. 
 
 This church- was organized about the year 1845. The 
 church was composed of the white membership and the church 
 which was composed of the colored membership, agreed to 
 build together, with the understanding that the former should 
 occupy the upper story and the latter should occupy the base- 
 ment. This agreement was kept until some time after the 
 close of the war, when the white brethren bought the claims 
 of tbe colored church, paying $2,000 for possession of the 
 basement. Their first colored pastor was the Rev. Samuel 
 Phillips, a man who had received his liberty as a reward for 
 his services in the Mexican war. Deacon A. Goldsby told the 
 writer that Bro. Phillips was a very earnest, worthy man. 
 Nothing is known of the time and place of his birth, and 
 nothing special is said of his death. 
 
 The Rev. John Blevens, who was born in Madison county, 
 Ala., was the next pastor, and served from 1866 to 1878. 
 Under his administration the present property on St. Phillip 
 street was obtained. The Rev. Mr. Blevens was followed by 
 Rev. G. J. Brooks, who, after a short pastorate, resigned, and 
 was followed by Rev. W. A. Burch, from Philadelphia, Pa. 
 Mr. Burch gathered a larger congregation than any other 
 previous pastor, and did more than any other man in teaching 
 the people to give for the support of the church. After two 
 
Rev. P. S. L. Hutchins, Pastor Churches at Newberne and Gallion, Ala. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 107 
 
 years, he was called to a pastorate in Boston, Mass., and was 
 followed in the Selma pastorate by the writer, who remained 
 with the church during 1882-87. Except the addition of 
 about 350 members and the secession of the Tabernacle 
 Church, nothing transpired that merits mention. The writer 
 was followed by Rev. S. S. Sisson. At this writing, the Rev. 
 C. J. Hardy, late of Florida, is their successful leader, under 
 whose strong administration they have just completed a two- 
 story brick structure on Sylvan Street. Their property is 
 worth not less than $20,000 — finest colored church edifice in 
 Alabama. 
 
 It is worthy of mention and praise that the Selma Uni- 
 versity came to its birth under the fostering care of this 
 church. In the old frame building on St. Phillip street the 
 sainted Woodsmall began to turn upon the negro Baptists of 
 Alabama the morning light, the early dawning, of our denom- 
 inational school. And this church gave him quarters, fuel 
 and lights without money and regardless of costs, so that in 
 May, 1878, it was reported that the school had paid out noth- 
 ing for these things. What a good deed is set down to their 
 credit on high ! But, in addition to this, they organized a 
 missionary society, which gave regular contributions for sup- 
 port of teachers and other workers in the school. 
 
 Deacon A. Goldsby related the following to the writer: 
 " Forty or fifty years ago we organized a prayer band to pray 
 for our freedom. We met outside of the little town, under a 
 large oak tree, on every Friday night. That we might know 
 .when a friend came beneath the tree, we agreed upon a pass- 
 word, which was 'The hindering cause.' Each uttered this 
 softly as he came under the boughs of the tree, and was 
 answered by any other who had come ahead of him. Then 
 he seated himself in the bushes to await the hour for united 
 supplications." 
 
108 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 If in years to come the University should desire a 
 picture of itself as it made its advent from the world of hope 
 to the world of fact, it may paint this : A frame structure, 
 the roof of which is supported by a row of upright posts ex- 
 tending the whole length of the building, which is seventy-five 
 or eighty feet in length. On the morning for opening, there 
 enters this building a white man, whose face bears signs of 
 suffering, but is all aglow with the rays of faith and love. He 
 is the faculty. Also, there enters a short, fat, brown-skinned 
 young man, with high, broad forehead. He has heard of the 
 purpose to begin a school on this day at this place, and, hun- 
 gering for learning, he has come up to enter. This teacher 
 and this student usher in our beloved institution. 
 
 It was good for the denomination that our lot was cast 
 among such a people, and that we had in Bro. Woodsmall a 
 man who did not faint in "the day of small things." 
 
 WILL'S CREEK ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Organized in 1873, and operating in " Will's Valley" and 
 St. Clair county, reports the following churches and ministers : 
 
 At Collinsville Post Office — Pleasant Grove Church ; 
 Lebanon — Lebanon ; Fort Payne — Fort Payne ; Valley Head — 
 Bethlehem ; Attalla — Mt. Zion, Pilgrim, Bethlehem ; Keener — 
 New Hope; Beaver Valley — Pleasant Hill; Ashville — Mt. 
 Zion; Springville — Springville; Whitney — Evergreen; Gun- 
 tersville — Bethlehem and Hooper Chapel ; Trenton — Trenton; 
 North Alabama — Clogville. Rev. G. Neeley, Ashville, is mod- 
 erator; Mr. J. R. Dean, Ashville, is treasurer; and Prof. P. R. 
 Sibert, Keener, is secretary. Their pastors are : Revs. N. 
 Kerley, R. Berry, M. Edwards, of Fort Payne; G. W. Brewton, 
 of Alexandria; H. Massey, J. Griffin, A. Jackson, and James 
 M. Stevens. They have about 1,500 members. 
 
ASSOCIATIONS. 109 
 
 Elder A. Kerley and his brother are the chief founders of 
 this body. They greatly need an infusion of light from -with- 
 out. Rev. James Kerley, the pastor at Springville, is an ex- 
 student of Talladega College. While they were in session in 
 Ashville in 1892 the white people gave them the use of their 
 church, and pastors, mayor of the city, and other leading peo- 
 ple, turned out to encourage them and to financially strengthen 
 their enterprises. While there, a white minister related to' 
 the writer the following story : " When the late Dr. Renfroe 
 was a young man he was very poor, though, as later in his 
 life, he was a powerful preacher. In the height of a glorious 
 revival, the grass in his crop called him to his field. A colored 
 brother who wanted the meeting to continue, requested his 
 master to allow him to prolong the meeting. His master 
 replied: 'Jim, you can't read, you can't preach.' The slave 
 replied : ' I can plow and kill grass — can do these for Brother 
 Renfroe" " 
 
 Gleaning from the associational chapter, we obtain : 
 
 1. The origin and field of each Association. 
 
 '1. The names of the pioneers in each section in the State. 
 
 3. The location and something of the history of churches 
 and communities. 
 
 4. Something of the lines of thought and action prevail- 
 ing in the various gospel enterprises of the denomination. 
 
 It was not thought well to try to tell the same things 
 many times over; hence, some things are given in connection 
 with one Association and other things in connection with 
 another — all aiming at the same end, namely : The giving of 
 
 A TRUE PICTURE OF THE COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
Rev. W. T. Bibb, A. B., Pastor Baptist Church, Oxnioor, Ala. 
 
IV. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 ADAMS, REV. STEWART, of Greenville, Butler county, 
 was the chief leader and organizer in that section of 
 the State for the first seventeen or eighteen years of freedom. 
 He was a pure-blooded Negro, and was possessed of a fine 
 personal appearance. His forehead was large and broad, and 
 the sparkle of his eye indicated the presence of mental power. 
 He could read and write fairly well, and in his speeches al- 
 ways succeeded in conveying his thoughts to others. He was 
 for some years missionary in that part of the State under the 
 American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York, during 
 which time he organized many churches, which were united 
 to form the Union Baptist Association. His neatness in dress 
 and caution in the use of words were everywhere noticeable. 
 It was sometimes thought that he was rather tenacious of his 
 opinions, but I think all his brethren credit* d him with hon- 
 esty of purpose, and hence he died in the love and respect of 
 the denomination. 
 
 Allex. Rev. "Wallace, of Greenville, was a very pious, 
 hard-working preacher in the Union Association. The young 
 men delight to honor his memory. The author has been un- 
 able to learn anything of his history or lineage. 
 
 Axdersox, Rev. N. P., is pastor at Ensley City. 
 
 Ashby, Rev. Xatiian, of Montgomery, was born in Fred- 
 ericksburg, Va., August 5, 1810. He knew nothing of his 
 parents, and to the age of 16 he was under the care and direc- 
 
112 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 tion of his grandmother. At this point in his life he was sold, 
 with some horses, to traders, who brought him to Alabama. 
 He says of this trip : "At first I was not aware that I was 
 sold, but thought (as I had been told so) that I was only help- 
 ing the man to put his horses well into the way. "When in- 
 formed that I was among the stock sold, I wept bitterly at the 
 thought that I could see my dear grandmother no more. While 
 in this state of grief, an old cake woman came on, selling cakes. 
 She, looking into my hand, professed to read as follows : ' Don't 
 cry, for you are born for good luck. The man who will buy 
 you will be more a brother than a master. Fear God and be 
 obedient, and you will do well.' This counsel, no matter 
 whence it came, removed my fears, and I left off crying." 
 
 When about 32 years of age he bought his liberty, paying 
 for the same the sum of 8900. His good wife, Mrs. Nancy 
 Ashby, had been freed a few years before by a Mrs. Tate. 
 Both being of an intellectual, industrious and economical turn 
 of mind, it was not long before they were well under way to 
 notoriety and prosperity. Touching her experience in servi- 
 tude, Mrs. Ashby tells the following: "When I was 16 years 
 old, my mistress, in urging me to be pure and faithful, prom- 
 ised that if I would obey I should serve no one after her. So, 
 when I was 24, she set me free, giving me a daughter that had 
 been born to me." 
 
 Bro. Ashby was baptized by Mr. Shrovell in Monroe 
 county, Ala., and was ordained to the full charge of the gospel 
 ministry just after the close of the war, by Rev. I. T. Tichenor, 
 D. D., and others. His labors in the ministry, however, began 
 about the year 1845, from which time he increased in favor 
 with God and man to the day of his death, in 18S7. He led 
 to the organization of the First Colored Baptist Church (Co- 
 lumbus street) of Montgomery, in which, under his presi- 
 dency, the Colored Baptist State Convention was constituted 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 113 
 
 in 1868. The last seventeen years of his life he was an invalid 
 from paralysis, and four years of this time he was blind. 
 During this time the writer frequently visited him, and it 
 would seem that his faith in God was mightier in the days of 
 his weakness than in the days of his strength. Heavenly 
 sunshine illumined all the way of the dark valley, even to the 
 day of his departure. 
 
 Bro. Ashby was a man of naturally fine parts. His ser- 
 mons and speeches were characterized by order, thought and 
 doctrine. He was not an emotionalist nor dreamer; with him 
 Christianity was faith in the gospel and right-doing. Jt af- 
 fords the writer much pleasure to record that each member of 
 his family not only receives, but also contributes honor to his 
 valuable life and honored name. 
 
 Mr. Ashby was by trade a carpenter, by which means he 
 was able to earn fair wages, and was not long in coming into 
 the possession of valuable real estate. 
 
 In order to show the condition of a free colored man in 
 Alabama prior to the close of the late civil war, I submit a 
 legal document here, bearing upon the good man whose name 
 is now before us : 
 
 a straw which shows the direction of the wind. 
 
 "The State of Alabama,) 
 Montgomery County. ) 
 
 " Know all men by these presents, That whereas, here- 
 tofore, to- wit: on the 1st day of April, A. I). 1859, Charles T. 
 Pollard sold and conveyed to Wm. B. Bell, as guardian or 
 trustee for Nathan Ellis (now called Nathan Ashby). a certain 
 lot in the city of Montgomery, State and county aforesaid, 
 which is described in the deed of said Pollard as 'Lots num- 
 ber three and four in square number fourteen, Scott's plat, in 
 the city of Montgomery.' 
 
114 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 « And, whereas, the said Nathan Ellis (or Ashby), is now 
 capable in law of holding property in his own name, and- 
 desires to hold the title to said lot and premises in his own 
 name; and the said William B. Bell also desires to relinquish 
 and give up the duties and responsibilities devolved on him 
 by the said deed as the trustee or guardian of said Nathan 
 Ellis (or Ashby);; 
 
 "Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and for 
 the further consideration of five dollars, to the said Wm. B. 
 Bell in hand paid by tbe said Nathan Ellis (or Ashby), at or 
 before the sealing and delivery of these presents (the receipt 
 whereof is hereby acknowledged), I, the said Wm. B. Bell, do 
 hereby release, relinquish, transfer and convey by quit-claim 
 unto the said Nathan Ellis (or Ashby), and unto his heirs and 
 ■ assigns, all my right, title and interest both at law and in 
 equity of every kind or description whatever, in and to the 
 said lot and premises herein above described. 
 
 "In witness whereof, I, the said Wm. B. Bell, have here- 
 unto set my hand and seal, this day of January, A. D. 1872. 
 
 " Attest : « William B. Bell." 
 
 « A. R. Bell." 
 
 This manuscript is recorded in " Book 4 of Deeds, page 
 314," March 26, 1872. 
 
 Note. —Seven years elapsed after freedom was declared 
 before Mr. Ashby received from his " trustee " the transfer of 
 his property. He had been free ever since 1842, but his 
 "trustee" must hold and manage both him and his. 
 
 Archer, Rev. Maurice M., son of Mr. A. and Mrs. Mary 
 Archer, was born in Camden, Ala., in 1858. He and his 
 parents were the property (?) of Mrs. Li. J. Adams. He en- 
 tered the free public schools at an early age. but did not loDg 
 remain, because of his father's death and because of the de- 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 115 
 
 mands made upon him as the eldest son in a large family. Mr. 
 and Mrs. J. S. McBryde, seeing that he was a very capable 
 boy, kindly aided him in his studies while he was in their em- 
 ploy. Thus he learned to read and write. At 14 Mr. Archer 
 left Mr. McBryde determined on securiDg an education. Ad- 
 vancing by various means, he was soon able to teach school. In 
 November, 1881, he was baptized into Siloani Church by Rev. A. 
 Gould, which church he served as clerk and superintendent of 
 the Sunday School. Feeling a call to the ministry and desir- 
 ing to prepare himself for the same, he entered Selma Uni- 
 versity October,' 1883, and passed the session of 1884-5, as he 
 says starting with only 20 cents. By severe sacrifice, by push, 
 pluck and self-reliance, he pressed onward, till in May, 1887, he 
 graduated at the head of his class. He was ordained at 
 Opelika. September, 18S9. Revs. G. C. Casby, C. R. Rodgevs 
 and others officiating. He has been principal of the Auburn 
 City School. Mr. Archer is one of our clearest thinkers and 
 most fluent speakers, and his language is especially gocd. 
 
 Barker, Joseph C. — This patient and cool-headed young 
 man was born December "JO, 1863, near Laneville, Hale county, 
 Ala. His parents, Sherrod and Caroline Barker, are both liv- 
 ing and members of the Spring Street Missionary Baptist 
 Church, Birmingham, Ala. They are living monuments of 
 temperance, patience and obedience. Young Joseph was sent to 
 school when still quite young. Filled with self, family and 
 race pride, and feeling grateful toward his parents for their 
 strenuous efforts to educate himself, his sister and brothers, 
 and desiring to help them in return, at their consent, he 
 sought employment with a benevolent merchant, who, after 
 noting his higher qualities, gave him every advantage and 
 privilege available. After three years of pleasant and profit- 
 able services, he left his beloved employer (Mr. J. M. Man- 
 ders), who gave him a final settlement accompanied by a 
 
116 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 worthy recommendation and valuable presents. He is widely 
 experienced in mercantile enterprises. 
 
 He had two years experience on the United States jetty 
 and log boats under Capt. J. McKee Gould, who gave him 
 such an honorable and flattering recommendation as would 
 have been more suitable for a pilot than for a cabin boy. . By 
 studying at home and attending summer schools, he was 
 prepared to enter Selma University in the session of 1884, 
 remaining two scholastic years. Under President E. M. Braw- 
 ley, D. D., he won a prize for map-drawing over forty-eight 
 competitors. He has taught successfully in the schools of 
 Jefferson and other counties. Was four years secretary of the 
 Jefferson County Teachers' Institute. Re-entered Selma Uni- 
 versity in 1893, and won the only prize offered for drawing 
 over twenty or thirty competitors under President Dinkins, 
 D. D. He is now preparing specimens to exhibit at the At- 
 lanta Cotton Exposition in September. 
 
 He is employed by the Monarch Book Company, of Chi- 
 cago, III. To know him, is to know a man possessed of a great 
 soul, affable, and naturally gifted in making friends. He is a 
 financier, ard is rapidly acquiring means. As an artist and 
 penman, he is a prodigy. In the session of 1884 he was con- 
 verted to the Christian religion, and was baptized in the Uni- 
 versity pool by Rev. E. M. Brawley, D. D., and joined the St. 
 Phillip Street Baptist Church under Rev. C. 0. Boothe, D. D. 
 On removal to Birmingham in 1886, he united with the 
 Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, of which Rev. Dr. Pettiford 
 was pastor. 
 
 Last term, he was principal of the Oxmoor public school. 
 He is now corresponding secretary of the Mt. Pilgrim Sunday 
 School Convention. On all lines of manhood, Mr. Barker is a 
 genuine success. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 117 
 
 Barton", Rev. J. P., of Talladega, comes of Virginia 
 parentage, and was born in Colbert county, Ala., October, 1844. 
 
 In 1871 he united with the Little Zion Baptist Church in 
 said county, and was baptized by Rev. W. E. Northcross, of 
 Tuscumbia. In 1877 he entered the work of the gospel min- 
 istry in his native section, doing valuable service within the 
 bounds of the Muscle Shoals Association, especially in line 
 with the Sunday School work. He has led to the organization 
 of two Sunday School Conventions and eight churches, and 
 built five houses of worship. His speeches before our State 
 Convention have been largely conducive of the sentiment and 
 system which have given birth to our women's work and State 
 mission operations. He has held official positions in connec- 
 tion with our State Convention and University, and is now 
 chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Colored Deaf and 
 Dumb Asylum of Alabama. He is easy in society and pleasing 
 in address. He carries the youth and the masses, and so uses 
 everything at his command as to impress one that he is an 
 excellent general as well as a successful pastor. He is full of 
 movement and plan, and is quick of discernment and clear in 
 expression. He is a lover of science. He obtained his educa- 
 tion in the Talladega College. Mr. Barton says that he owes 
 much to his wife, whom the writer would honor as one of our 
 noble women. Mr. Barton is still full of life and growth. 
 
 Our general work has always found in Brother Barton a 
 ready and generous helper. He deserves credit for his in- 
 dustry and enterprise — in material as well as in church affairs. 
 He relates the following : " In the winter of 1 S76-77 I chanced 
 for the first time to meet the late Harry Woodsmall in one of 
 his Ministers' Institutes. He remarked : 'On to-morrow we 
 will discuss the subject of sanctification ; and here is a little 
 book worth only 15 cents which will be of service to you.' I 
 said to myself : ' What is sauctifrcatio/i .*" I never heard of 
 
118 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 such a thing before. I bought the book from Brother Wood- 
 small, and, coming upon my subject, I read till late at night, 
 in order that I might be in line with things next day. When 
 the hour came I was up on the subject of sanctification, much 
 to the pleasure of the teacher." 
 
 Mr. Barton is ever ready to contend for his views, but is 
 remarkably free from bitterness in discussion, is hardly ever 
 wrong in his opinion on things, and is a remarkably winning 
 preacher with the masses. Mr. Barton is now president of 
 our State Convention. 
 
 Bacotes, Rev. Mr. — As the Cyclopedia goes to press the 
 Rev. Mr. Bacotes comes to the charge of the Marion Academy 
 and Marion Church. The writer wishes he knew something 
 of the history of one so much favored and so highly recom- 
 mended as Mr. Bacotes is. He has important trusts in hand. 
 
 Battle, Rev. Augustus A., of Hurtsboro, Russell county, 
 the son of Deacon A. A. and Mrs. Jennie Battle, was born in 
 Tuskegee, July 4, 1860. As his parents were pious people, he 
 was very early the subject of religious impressions, which in 
 1881 culminated in a public profession of faith in Christ. On 
 the third Sunday in August he was baptized by the Rev. 
 Richard Lloyd, of Georgia. In the year 1879, aspiring for a 
 liberal education, he entered the Talladega College, in which 
 he graduated from the normal and the theological courses. 
 
 He is a young man of high moral tone, and his agreeable 
 manners have won for him many friends. At present he is 
 pastor at Sylacauga, and teacher of the city school in Tal- 
 ladega. 
 
 P. S. — Since the above was written, our good Bro. Battle 
 has been called to the Mt. Zion Church in Anniston,and under 
 his industrious and wise leadership his people have con- 
 structed a two-story brick edifice. To do what he has done 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 119 
 
 in these hard times, in the way of raising and expending 
 money, is to prove himself a man of no ordinary parts. The 
 writer has enjoyed the hospitality of his quiet Christian 
 home, where he has learned that the young minister has 
 found helpful companionship in the person of a modest, intel- 
 ligent wife. 
 
 Batts, Rev. J. H., of Florence, is an aspiring young man, 
 and is very active in the enterprises of the Muscle Shoals As- 
 sociation and Sunday School Convention. Evidently, he has 
 not enjoyed early access to books and schools, but his thoughts 
 are orderly ani clear, and he does not hesitate to give expres- 
 sion to his views. 
 
 Beavers, Rev. Jasper, was born May 9, 1S25, in St. Clair 
 county, Ala. His father, and mother were slaves, and of 
 course, he inherited their lot. He now lives at Easonville, in 
 the county in which he was born, and is .still a useful, as well 
 as a very pious man. In 1851, he was baptized by the Rev. 
 Jesse Collins (white), and in 1868 was ordained to the work 
 of the gospel ministry by Revs. Henry Wood, J. Collins and 
 T. Bush. 
 
 He was the first moderator of the Rushing Springs As- 
 sociation. In spite of the laws of the master forbidding such 
 things, he, in slavery time, learned to read and write. By his 
 industry and economy he has obtained real estate worth about 
 $2,000. Brother Beavers is a man of fine personal appear- 
 ance, is modest, genial, industrious, honest, firm. In the 
 early days of our work, there was no more efficient man in 
 St. Clair County than he. A large family of children are the 
 support of his old age. 
 
 Since the above was penned, Brother Beavers has passed 
 to the world that lies beyond. He was the most self-possessed 
 and of the most commanding figure of any man in the Rush- 
 
120 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 ing Springs Association, though no man among them was 
 more modest and humble. 
 
 Belle, Rev. Johx, of Courtland, was born in the State of 
 Georgia and came to Alabama after the close of the war. He 
 says : " In Stuart county, Ga., in the first part of 1861, 1 fol- 
 lowed the white preacher to his different preaching stations, 
 and he would preach to the white people in the morning and 
 and I would speak to the colored people in the evening. I 
 could not say anything about Moses and the children of 
 Israel. 
 
 " I went on preaching without any trouble for some little 
 time, till at last, as I could read a little, it was decided that I 
 should be hung. As I was ready for execution, and as I was 
 praying God for help, a dispute arose between the white people 
 which resulted in my release. I again went on, till on one 
 occasion when I had displeased my mistress with reference to 
 some garden work, and when, as she started to strike me 
 with the rake, and I fled, she reported to her husband that I 
 had tried to kill her and that she only saved her life by run- 
 ning into the house out of my reach. Of course, it was de- 
 cided at once that I ought to and should die. On the night 
 before I was to be executed, the lady became very ill and 
 owned that she was only angry with me for getting out of her 
 way, and that I had done nothing. She died that night. 
 However, her dying words had set me free and so I returned 
 to my work for God, feeling that 1 could not die till my work 
 should be accomplished." 
 
 Brother Belle has labored in different States, but his 
 principal labors have been in Northern Alabama, where he 
 has been one of the chief organizers of our woik in this sec- 
 tion, beginning his operations here in 1868. 
 
 It appears that Brother Belle was ordained in Helena, 
 
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 121 
 
 Ark., some time in 1867, the late Rev. J. T. White, who was 
 then pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church, being one of 
 the officiating presbytery. 
 
 He is still a strong man. For several years past he has 
 been pastor at Iuka, Miss., and of the Red Bank Church in 
 Lawrence county. His pleasant manners have always made 
 him an agreeable companion to his brethren . 
 
 Belsee, Rev. S. L., pastor of the First Church. Bessemer, 
 deserves the respect and love of the denomination for his 
 beautiful brotherly spirit and unassuming manners. 
 
 Berry, Rev. G. W. — Although this good man is no longer 
 among us, his name is still fragrant with his exalted faith and 
 pious life. Like his stay on earth, his stay in Alabama was 
 short, but useful and endearing. He was the son of Pickens 
 and Mary Berry, and was born in Edgefield county, S. C, in 
 1859. Having studied some time in the Benedict Institute in 
 that State, he, after doing some effective work in that State, 
 came to Alabama to take the pastoral oversight of the church 
 in Eufaula. Here it was that after a short illness he exchanged 
 the cross for the crown, singing as his soul retired from the 
 earth, "My Lord calls me and I must go." To know him was 
 to love him, for his gentleness of spirit was beautiful to look 
 upon. 
 
 Betts, Rev. J. W., of Huntsville, Ala., son of John and 
 Edith Betts, was born June 4, 1851, near Courtland, in Law- 
 rence county, Ala. In the fall of 1873 he was baptized into 
 the Courtland Church by the Rev. Gabriel B. Johnson. Brother 
 Betts is among the younger men of the Muscle Shoals Asso- 
 ciation. He is a clear thinker and a lover of books. He is a 
 business man, industrious and economical, and does not live 
 of the donations of his people, but the labors of his own 
 hands. His style is rather didactic for the masses, but it is 
 
122 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 plain and his doctrine is in line with the teachings of the 
 " Good Book." 
 
 Berry, Prof. J. S., son of Jack and Clara Berry, of Union- 
 town, is one among the most proficient Sunday School workers 
 in Alabama. He is president of the Sunday School Conven- 
 tion of the Uniontowh Association. His happy, unselfish 
 spirit fills all his work with pleasantness and sunshine. He 
 is now about 35 years of age. 
 
 Blevins, Rev. John, long the leading man and pioneer of 
 Dallas county, the first pastor of the St. Phillip Street Church 
 after the close of the war, was for his opportunities and times 
 a very strong man in the work of organization. May it ever 
 be told of him that he led his people — his church, to become 
 the foster mother of Selma University in the time of its in- 
 fancy and weakness. This fact is one of the brightest spots 
 upon his memory, and should never be forgotten. 
 
 The buildings in which the St. Phillip Street and the 
 Green Street Churches now worship were built by Mr. Blevins. 
 He died eight or ten years ago at the age of 65. 
 
 Bibb, Rev. Wm. T., son of Linzy and Caroline Bibb, was 
 born in Montgomery, Ala., in 1S53. Brother Bibb is one of 
 the most worthy of our rising young men. He is not noted 
 for brilliancy, but for constant application in the race for 
 knowledge, for pushing things to a finish in search for truth, 
 for the purest life and loftiest piety, he is hardly to be excelled. 
 Already he has been entrusted with various pastorates, in- 
 cluding one at Marion and another near Birmingham. I had 
 the best opportunity to learn him while I was pastor at Selma. 
 Here he was superintendent of my Sunday School and aided 
 me in my ward prayer-meetings. He completed two courses 
 at tbe Selma University, graduating with the title of A. B., 
 and with the highest confidence of all the faculty. In looking 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 123 
 
 upon his open countenance one instinctively feels the impress 
 of an honest, earnest man — a man free from hypocrisy and 
 guile. 
 
 Bradford, Rev. William C, pastor of the First Colored 
 Baptist Church, Union Springs, son of Henry and Elizabeth 
 Bradford, was born in Montgomery, Ala., in 1862. His early 
 years were spent in the Swayne school in said city, in which 
 he succeeded in laying the foundation of a liberal English 
 education. In his eighteenth year, and two years after his 
 father's death, he was baptized into the fellowship of the 
 Columbus Street Baptist Church, Montgomery, by the late 
 Rev. James A. Foster. Feeling a call to the work of the gospel 
 ministry, he, with a view to fitting himself for this solemn 
 charge, entered Atlanta Theological Seminary. In school as 
 well as out among his brethren, he has managed to occupy a 
 place with those who formed the van. 
 
 In the person of his good wife, once Miss M. H. Allen, of 
 Georgia (daughter of Rev. T. M. Allen, ex-member of the 
 Georgia Legislature), whom he wedded in 1884, he has found 
 happy and efficient help in his studies as well as in his calling. 
 For awhile Mr. Bradford followed the tailor's trade, but at the 
 call of the Gilfield Church in Wetumpka, the Dexter Avenue 
 Church, Montgomery, in 1886 set him apart to the work of the 
 gospel ministry. At Wetumpka he built a church edifice 
 worth about 8700. While pastor at Clayton he led to the 
 erection of a building worth $1,000, and just now is rejoicing 
 with the good people of Union Springs on his entrance into 
 the new brick structure which was dedicated on the second 
 Sunday in October, 1892. He was principal of the city school 
 while in Clayton, and now holds several positions of honor 
 and trust. Mr. Bradford is one of the strongest and is among 
 the most successful young men in Alabama. His affable man- 
 ner commends him to all. He is now at Tuscaloosa. 
 
124 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Brooks, Rev. G. J., of Selma, Ala., son of Joseph and 
 Nancy Brooks, was born in 1830 near Richmond, Va., in which 
 city he lived till his eighteenth year, when he was carried to 
 New Orleans, La., and from thence to Texas. 1849 was spent 
 in St. Louis, Mo., and in 1850 he was brought to Huntsville, 
 Ala. In this same year he was baptized into the Primitive 
 Baptist Church of Huntsville by Rev. Wm.| Harris (colored).* 
 Of this period of his life Mr. Brooks says: "By the will of 
 a Mr. Kenedy I was left free, but as the administrator of the will, 
 a Mr. Clark, refused to execute this point in the will, I remained 
 a slave." In 1867 he united with the Marion Church, under 
 the pastorate of tne Rev. James Childs. Near this town he 
 taught school, till in 1872 he went to Kentucky, where, in 
 1873, he was ordained to the work of the ministry. After 
 serving various offices in the work in Kentucky, he came to 
 Selma in 1875, where, after a few years, he became pastor of 
 the St. Philip Street Church. By the assistance of the white 
 family he learned to read at the age of 14. In Marion he ex- 
 tended his studies under Prof. Card, and under Presidents 
 Woodsmall, McAlpine and Brawley he further prosecuted his 
 studies in the Selma University. Brother Brooks has held 
 various offices of trust under the State Convention and the 
 Uniontown Association. His health is now rather below his 
 usual strength, but his love for the Master's cause seems 
 nothing abated. His wife, Mrs. Anna, is among the leading 
 women of Alabama. 
 
 Brown, Rev. Lewis, of Epes, Sumter county, w r as born 
 near St. Louis, Mo.. March 23, 1835, and came to Alabama in 
 his tenth year. He united with the church in 1863, and was 
 baptized by a Mr. Edmonds into the fellowship of the Jones' 
 Creek Church, by which church he was called to ordination in 
 
 * It appears that this denomination, Primitive Baptists, had some one or two 
 ordained colored ministers. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 125 
 
 the fall of 1868. The chief persons in the presbytery were 
 Revs. Abner Searber (white) and Mr. Wright. Mr. Brown's 
 main pastoral charges have been Jones' Creek, nine years; 
 Sumterville, thirteen years; New Bethel, thirteen years; and. 
 Mount Olive, four years. He has long been moderator of the 
 Bethlehem Association, and is known and recognized as a firm 
 and tried friend of education and missions ; and his children 
 give evidence of pure and wise aspirations. 
 
 Mr. Brown was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, a slave 
 girl on the same plantation with himself, in 1852. Seven sons 
 and one daughter are the fruit of the marriage. He is a very 
 industrious and economical man, and has possession of valua- 
 ble property, worth 815,000. Seven or eight hundred acres of 
 his farm once formed part of the plantation on which he (with 
 500 others) worked as a slave till 1865. He says that his 
 master, Mr. Brown, was a Christian, and that after the close 
 of the war this plantation gave to this county most of its reli- 
 gious leaders. 
 
 Buhwell, L. L., M. D., the son. of Charles and Amanda 
 Bur well, was born in Marengo county, Ala., October '25, 1867. 
 At the age of seven years he was given to his brother, Charles 
 A. Burwell, of whom the Doctor says: "To him my success 
 is largely due." For quite a while he lived with this brother 
 on a farm in Perry county. He attended the county schools 
 till he entered Selma University in the winter of 1883-84. 
 His love for books and his quickness of apprehension were 
 early manifestations of native talent which, if properly culti- 
 vated, would unfold to his own honor and to the profit of his 
 people. Each vacation found him upon the farm, earning 
 money with which to re-enter school. During his entire course 
 at Selma University his mother was able to spend upon him 
 but ?30. In 18S6, he graduated from the above named school 
 with the honors of valedictorian, and in the fall of the same year 
 
126 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 he entered Leonard Medical College, Raleigh, N. C, to take a 
 course in medicine. The course extended through four years, 
 but he completed it and received his diploma at the close of 
 the third year, again receiving the honors of valedictorian of 
 his class. In 1889, he passed an examination before the State 
 Board of Medical Examiners of Alabama, and began the prac- 
 tice of medicine in the city of Selma, where he now resides 
 amidst many friends, a paying practice, and a successful drug 
 business. Commencing without a dollar, he has saved from 
 his income about $4,000. In school he was called artist, 
 orator, scholar. He says : "As a doctor I have for my motto : 
 Crurare Cito." 
 
 Brown, Rev. R. E., of Selma, the pushing, energetic 
 leader of several associations, deserves honorable mention as 
 a man of pluck and push — a man of courage and observation. 
 
 Bynuh, Rev. Henry, of Leighton, Ala., was born in Bal- 
 timore, Md., January, 1820. In 1851, in Colbert county, Ala., 
 he was led to exercise faith in Christ by the humble conversa- 
 tion and pious life of a fellow-slave by the name of Isaac. As 
 his master did not believe in the Bible and its Christianity, 
 his baptism was delayed till 1854. In 1867 he was set apart 
 to the office of the gospel ministry by two white ministers, 
 one of whom was Dr. Joseph Shackelford, of Trinity, Ala. He 
 and Rev. Steven Coleman were the first ordained colored 
 preachers in northern Alabama. He was married the first 
 time in 1857, but his family were soon taken from him and he 
 has never seen them since. His present wife is a most excel- 
 lent lady, and affords him that help which only a good woman 
 can bestow. He has good property, and he and his wife keep 
 one of the most hospitable homes in northern Alabama. Bro. 
 Bynum was the first colored minister in this section to ad- 
 minister the rite of baptism. He is now awaiting his chaDge 
 with triumphant hope, and still enjoys fair health. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 127 
 
 Caddell, Rev. Perry, pastor in Shelby, Ala., son of Ed- 
 mond and Edie Caddell, was born September 9, 1859, in Cen- 
 treville, Bibb county, Ala. He was baptized into the Bethel 
 Baptist Church, Calera, by Rev. John Trainholm, in February, 
 1873, and was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry, 
 December, 1877, by Revs. Henry Wood and Mack Jackson. 
 He learned his letters at the age of 12 years, and, though he 
 has never had any help from teachers except such as he could 
 get at night school, he has been a steadily growing man till 
 the present time. He feels that he owes his beginning in 
 letters to his mistress (Mrs. Caddell), who, after the close of 
 the war, taught him to read, and to write his name. Of his 
 father he says : " He was, no doubt, a believer ; but in slavery 
 time he refused to unite with the church for the reason that 
 he felt that master and slave all the week could not be broth- 
 ers on Sunday. And after the close of the war, he would not 
 join for the reason that there was no colored Baptist church 
 near his home." 
 
 Bro. Caddell is an exemplary man in his family. I have 
 found no family where the mother and children study the 
 Word of God with more system and regularity. lie has a 
 ready command of language, both in speech and with pen, 
 and is sociable and genial everywhere. 
 
 Capers, Rev. J. R., of Elyton (since gone to Oklahoma), 
 was born in Camden, S. C, April 22, 1828. In 1845 he was 
 baptized into the Marion Baptist Church (white) by the Rev. 
 Mr. Devotie, and in 1869 he was solemnly set apart to the 
 sacred office of the gospel ministry by Revs. Henry Wood, of 
 Talladega, and Arthur Hall, of Jonesboro. He, with Revs. W. 
 H. McAlpine, Berry Ware, Jasper Beavers, and others, organ- 
 ized the Mt. Pilgrim Association, in Mt. Pilgrim Church, in 
 1868. Of this association he was the moderator for eleven 
 years. Bro. Capers is known among his brethren and neigh- 
 
128 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 bors as an intelligent, industrious, thoughtful, faithful, Chris- 
 tian man and earnest gospel preacher. He is a successful 
 carpenter, and by industry, skill and economy has attained to 
 the possession of a good deal of choice property. No doubt 
 he owes much to his good wife, whom he married in 1850, 
 and by whom he has a large family of thrifty children. Bro. 
 Capers was an organizer in the Jefferson county work, and 
 has left the impress of his decided character upon the workers 
 of this section. He is now in Oklahoma Territory. 
 
 Chapman, Rev. F. A., of Flint, Morgan county, Ala., was 
 born in the county and State in which he now lives, Novem- 
 ber 12, 1843. In 1861 he was baptized into the Sand Hill 
 Church by Rev. M. A. Verser, and in April, 1868, he was set 
 apart to the work of the gospel ministry by a presbytery 
 which was presided over by the brother who about eight years 
 before had administered the rite of baptism. 
 
 Mr. Chapman is one of the most sober, quiet, pious, earn- 
 est, hard-working preachers in the valley of the Tennessee 
 river. He aided in the organization of the Muscle Shoals and 
 Flint River Associations. Most of his time has been spent in 
 mission and pioneer operations. In 1868 he was wedded to 
 Miss Alabama Garth, by whom he has a large family of inter- 
 esting children. Their home is a retreat for weary preachers 
 and a Christian example in their community. 
 
 In a speech which he made before our our last State 
 Convention, he said: "The brethren ordained me in 1868, 
 not because of my fitness for the work, but in recognition of 
 a necessity. There was need for a Negro to baptize Negro 
 believers, and I was chosen as an answer to this want with- 
 out any examination." 
 
 Chandler, Rev. F. C, is pastor of Walnut Street Church, 
 Rosedale, and bears a good name. 
 

 Rev. S. L. Belser, Pastor Red Mountain Baptist Church, Bessemer, Ala. 
 
130 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Clark, Rev. Henry, of Opelika, son of David and Pa- 
 tience Clark, both of Virginia birth, is one of the fathers of 
 the work in Lee county. 
 
 Brother Clark was baptized at Auburn, Ala., by Rev. H. 
 C. Toliver, of Tuskegee, in 1860. He was set apart to the 
 work of the gospel ministry June 27, 1868, by Revs. W. E. 
 Lloyd, D. D., and Thomas Glenn, since which time he has 
 been busy going about and doing good. He has been a harm- 
 less, industrious, pioneer preacher, laying foundations upon 
 which others have builded. He is a tried and faithful friend 
 of missions and education. The writer has always felt that 
 his every pledge was worth every cent it promised. Notwith-. 
 standing he has had no educational advantages, still he has, 
 by study of books and by association with men of letters, ob- 
 tained no inconsiderable store of knowledge. 
 
 The churches of Lee county and the Alabama Association 
 owe much to the faithful, efficient labors of Brother Clark. 
 His loving heart ever adorns his face with the smiles of peace 
 and good will. Truly, he is a harmless man, ever ready to do 
 a brotherly deed. 
 
 Colley, Rev. Moses, of Talladega, son of Rev. Boney 
 Sawyer, who was a preacher over fifty years ago, is about 55 
 years of age. He has never had any school advantages, but 
 has attained to a fair knowledge of books. He is a remark- 
 aby clear headed man, dignified and self-possessed. Mr. Col- 
 ley is a hard working, successful farmer, and by this calling, 
 he has obtained a comfortable support for himself and family. 
 He was baptized by Dr. Renfroe in 1856, and was ordained to 
 the ministry in 1872. He held several important pastorates 
 in Talladega, and was once moderator of Rushing Springs 
 Association. He is guarded in speech, but his manners are 
 always affable. No act of folly or crime mars his good name. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 131 
 
 For many years he has held the pastorate at Mardisville, 
 where he is esteemed no less for his piety than for his sound 
 doctrine. 
 
 Collixs, Rev. Asa Cyrus, of Hazen, Ala., was born 
 November 1, 1861, in Dallas county of this State. Lost both 
 parents at the age of 8 years. Was baptized by Rev. A. Wal- 
 ler in his sixteenth year, and soon began preaching. In 
 September, 1881, he was officially set apart to the work of the 
 gospel ministry. Mr. Collins has been pastor at various points, 
 and is held in high esteem by his brethren. For several years 
 he has been moderator of the Dallas County Association, over 
 which he presides with credit to himself and with pleasure to 
 the body. Brother Collins is still a rising young man. 
 
 Curry, Rev. J. C, of Mount Meigs. Montgomery county, 
 the son of Rev. Philip and Venus Curry, was born in Marion, 
 Ala., October 17, 1852. He was baptized at Felix, Ala., by 
 Rev. D. R. Willis in 1873. On the occasion of his call to the 
 pastorate of the Friendship Church, Shelby, Ala., he was 
 ordained to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. P. Cad- 
 dell, M. Jackson, and Henry Scott. Mr. Curry is liberally 
 educated, having been among the first students of Selma 
 University. He is a close, clear thinker, a forcible speaker 
 and a good preacher. He has been pastor at Shelby, pastor of 
 the Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery, and is now pastor 
 at Mt. Meigs and Tuskegee. 
 
 At different times he has been engaged in the newspaper 
 business; and I am informed that he is now assisting Prof. B. 
 T.Washington in collecting certain statistics for the Tuskegee 
 school. Mr. Curry is a man of rare energy and will force, 
 and being endowed with good intellectual gifts there is no 
 reason why he may not become one among the strongest men 
 of the State. 
 
132 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Curtis, Hon. A. H., of Marion, Ala., was born in Raleigh, 
 N. C, December 29, 1829. He came to Alabama in 1839 with 
 the Haywood family. He was the property (?) of E. Haywood, 
 and served as a waiting boy in the store of Stockton & Hunt 
 for many years. He moved to Marion in 1848 and was the 
 body servant of R. T. Goree for two years. After this he was 
 barber for some years. Succeeding by industry and economy 
 in obtaining some cash, he, in 1859, paid Mrs. K. Haywood 
 $2,000 for his freedom, and during the same year went to New 
 York and was emancipated. After the war he engaged in 
 mercantile pursuits and the barber business. In 1870 he was 
 elected to the lower house of the General Assembly of Alabama, 
 and in 1872 he was elected State Senator from the Twenty- 
 second senatorial district. No other colored man ever pre- 
 sided over the Senate of Alabama. He was connected with 
 the legislature of the State for eight years, and not only en- 
 joyed the respect of his fellow legislators of all parties but 
 closed his service in this connection with growing confidence 
 in his integrity. He was baptized in 1851. In 1850 his mar- 
 riage occurred. His wife was a suitable helper for him and is 
 still alive enjoying the honors and success which justly crown 
 their offspring. The Curtis brothers and sisters are a praise 
 to their parents. The senator was a strong man in society, in 
 church, in State. He died near Marion, July 20, 1878, as the 
 result of a bruise from a fall from his buggy. Three of his 
 sons are successful physicians; two are north; Dr. A. J. 
 Curtis is in Montgomery. 
 
 Davis, Rev. Philip, late of Talladega, was born in 1813, 
 in the State of Virginia, near the North Carolina line. He 
 was baptized in 1841, and about the year 1843 he began to 
 speak to his neighbors of the doctrines and hope of the gospel. 
 Early in life he married, and became the father of a large 
 iamily. After he was brought to Calhoun county, Ala., be 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 133 
 
 continued his labors in the ministry of the gospel, as he had 
 opportunity, constantly increasing in favor with both God 
 and man; and this was true of him to the day of his death, 
 which occurred December 30, 1881. I first met this pious 
 man in December, 1875, in Talladega. He was not a learned 
 man, but he knew the holy scriptures, and was wise in the 
 things of salvation. The more he was known the better he 
 was loved; and his unassuming, gentle, chastened, self-forget- 
 ting spirit, as exhibited at home and abroad, was simply 
 charming. As I have looked upon this unmixed, full-blooded 
 representative of the Negro race, arrayed in the beauty of the 
 Christian spirit, I have felt proud of him as a witness for my 
 people. He was not fully installed in the ministry until the 
 close of the war. The late Dr. J. J. D. Renfroe was the lead- 
 ing man in the presbytery who officially set him apart to the 
 sacred office. His last words were: "Like one of old, I have 
 finished my course and am now ready to be offered, and the 
 time of my departure is come." He left a pleasant home for 
 his family. 
 
 Davis, Rev. C. M., of Flint, Morgan county, was born in 
 the State of Tennessee. He was led to faith in Christ and 
 was baptized by the Rev. F. A. Chapman. He says that his 
 early life was rather wild, but when his eyes were opened he 
 turned with all his heart. In 1885, in May, he was set apart 
 to the ministry by Eevs. F. A. Chapman and C. C. Matthews. 
 Mr. Davis is one among the most promising young men in the 
 Flint River Association. He is a discerning, aspiring man, 
 who believes in studying to know the truth, so that he may 
 not have reason to feel ashamed of his teaching, nor spend his 
 time and energies without producing effects. The writer had 
 special opportunity to know him at the State school, wheie 
 
 | the former was teacher and the latter was student. He is 
 
 ji clear-headed, kind and conscientious. 
 
134 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Dawson, Rev. Iverson, of Eutaw, is a man rich in nat- 
 ural endowments, both of body and mind. Upon no man in 
 Alabama has nature been more profuse in the bestowment of 
 choice gifts. He is tall, well proportioned, kind hearted, ge- 
 nial, sociable, magnetic, clear-headed and ever sanguine. He 
 is, no doubt, the strongest man in the Bethlehem Association-, 
 of which body he has been clerk for many years ; and in 
 every section of the State, and in every phase of business, he 
 is recognized as a man of power and character. As a pub- 1- 
 lic speaker, he is both pleasing and instructive. 
 
 The vote, which in 1887 retained our university at Selma, 
 was largely owing to his influence and labors. 
 
 Mr. Dawson has a pleasant home and an interesting 
 family in the town of Eutaw, where he now serves as pastor. 
 His home is placed on the roll of asylums for tired missionaries. 
 He is a brave, fearless opponent and a true and trusty friend. 
 At this time, he is editing a paper in his town in the interest 
 of the republican party. The writer sincerely wishes that 
 every motion of his strong manhood might be laid wholly 
 upon the church's altar, and that he could consent to leave the 
 running of political papers to others. 
 
 Dinkins, Chables Spencer, D. D., general Sunday School 
 missionary of Alabama for the American Baptist Publication 
 Society, was born September 15, 1856, near Canton, Miss. Mr. 
 Dinkins never knew his father, and his mother, Mrs. Sarah 
 Dinkins, died when he was only 13 years of age. One year 
 prior to her death, he was led to faith in the salvation of God . 
 as presented in the gospel, under the preaching of Rev. Jor- 
 dan Williams, by whom he was baptized into the fellowship 
 of the Mount Zion Church, Canton, in the fall of 1868. For 
 such a boy, at such a time, to make the favorable acquaintance ' 
 of such a man as Mr. Williams, was a peculiar providence. - 
 
 y 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 135 
 
 As in the cases of Saul and Ananias, and Philip and the 
 eunuch, God brought the parties together. 
 
 Mr. Williams, perceiving the superior talents of the 
 youth, privately inquired of him whether or not he desired to 
 educate himself, and when the affirmative reply was obtained, 
 be at once influenced his church to provide the means. 
 
 On Friday night, January 28, 1870, Mr. Dinkins took the 
 cars for Nashville, Tenn., arriving at that point on Sunday 
 - morning. That day he met the good Dr. Phillips, who cor- 
 dially accepted him at once, and remained his admiring friend 
 to the close of his (Dr. Phillip's) long and useful life. 
 
 In referring to his early life, Mr. Dinkins says : " When 
 I was 9 years old, my mother bought me a blue back speller 
 and taught me the alphabet, which I learned in one night. 
 My first teachers were Mrs. and Miss Highgate, of Philadel- 
 phia, and Hon. J. J. Spellman, now of Jackson, Miss. Before 
 leaving the old plantation, I saw something of the horrors of 
 slavery, which I can never forget." 
 
 At the age of 16 he began teaching, which work he pur- 
 sued during summer, returning to Nashville to continue his 
 studies in the fall and winter. He graduated from the classical 
 course of the Roger Williams University, Nashville, in the 
 spring of 1877, as valedictorian of his class, among whom 
 were Messrs. N. H. Ensley and H. M. G. Spenser. In 1878 he 
 returned to take a post-graduate course and was appointed a 
 member of the faculty. In the latter part of this same year 
 he entered Newton Theological Seminary, near Boston, Mass., 
 • where, during the time of a full course, from which he gradu- 
 ated in 1881, he was associated with some of the most promi- 
 nent educators of the country. In this course he took theology, 
 church history, Hebrew, Greek, homiletics, etc. How Mr. 
 Dinkins was seen by this institution, the following story may 
 be allowed to signify : 
 

 
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 Dr. U. (t. Mason. Physician and Surgeon, Birmingham, Ala. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 137 
 
 Just before the death of Dr. Phillips, the writer met him 
 in Nashville. 
 
 Dr. Phillips — How is Brother Dinkins? 
 
 The Writer — He is well and doing well. 
 
 Dr. P. — He is a very capable and worthy person. Dr. 
 Hovey, the president of Newton, said to me on one occasion 
 when I asked after some students who had gone from us to 
 
 him, "Mr. is very sensitive, but Mr. Dinkins is very 
 
 sensible.'''' ^ 
 
 .'. Dr. Dinkins has held various prominent positions, amoDg 
 which may be mentioned : Member of the faculty of the State 
 University of Kentucky; pastor York Street Church, Louis- 
 ville, Ky.; teacher of languages in Selma University ; pastor 
 Second Baptist Church of Marion, Ala.; and principal of the 
 Marion Baptist Academy ; and has been tendered the presi- 
 dency of the University of Kentucky, and many times he has 
 -been earnestly solicited to return to the faculty of Selma 
 University. His examination for ordination before the minis- 
 ters of Louisville, Ky.. in 1883, was an occasion of much com- 
 ment, by both white and colored pastors, in praise of his 
 ability. The writer has had occasion to watch him very 
 closely since his entrance upon work in Alabama, and he does 
 not hesitate to write that Charles S. Dinkins, in point of 
 scholarship, industry and high sense of honor, is not excelled 
 by any man we have had among us. In 1890 the State Uni- 
 versity of. Louisville, Ky., then under the presidency of the 
 late Dr. W. J. Simmons, conferred on him the title of D. D. 
 On the day which closed his twenty-fifth year, the 15th day of 
 September, 1881, he was wedded to Miss Pauline E. Fears, the 
 friend and classmate of Miss M. A. Roach (now Mrs. M. A. 
 Boothe), by his fatherly instructor and faithful friend, Dr. D. 
 W. Phillips. The marriage took place in the Roger Williams 
 University, Nashville, Tenn., a school of which they are. both 
 
138 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA' 
 
 graduates. Perhaps some future historian will write of Mr. 
 Dinkins: "An eventful life, not the least eventful point in 
 which is the finding and wedding of a woman so well suited 
 to a man of such rare gifts." 
 
 Five children — two boys and three girls — grace their 
 home as the fruit of the marriage. 
 
 Closing this sketch, the writer would remark that if Mr. 
 Dinkins has a fault, it may be described thus : An exceeding 
 tenderness of conscience, whereby one may be so entirely 
 possessed by present views of law and duty as to forget that 
 new light and other views may modify appearances. 
 
 P. S.— He is now the trusted president of Selma Univer- 
 sity, and none of his predecessors have made, in the same 
 length of time, a better mark than he has made. His person- 
 ality moves in lofty purposes and is a source of pure thoughts 
 and pious emotions which affect all his surroundings. 
 
 Dosier, Rev. John, the founder and for twenty years 
 pastor of the church in Uniontown, was a man of great moral 
 worth. I once heard a politician who was associated with 
 him in the legislature of Alabama, remark : 
 
 "John Dosier was an honorable man everywhere^ and I 
 never saw a man who did not believe every tcord he said.'''' 
 
 He, like Mr. A. H. Curtis, passed through his political 
 preferments with stainless reputation. 
 
 He was a very old man at the time of his death, which 
 occurred only a few years ago. He was born somewhere near 
 the beginning of the present century. By some means he, 
 during the days of his bondage, learned to read Greek, which 
 knowledge he turned to good results upon his study and in- 
 terpretation of the Scriptures. He was one of Alabama's 
 most worthy pioneers. He was a temperance man. Upon 
 one occasion in a session of -the Uniontown Association, some 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 139 
 
 one complained that he smelled a very disagreeable whiskey 
 odor in the house. 
 
 Mr. Dosier remarked : " With the consent of the body I 
 will find the man who has been drinking." It was agreed 
 that he might make the search. Accordingly, he passed from 
 man to man, requesting that he might smell his breath. He 
 located the man, who, for lying about it, was excluded from 
 the body. 
 
 The writer never met a man for whose veracity he had a 
 higher regard. 
 
 Donald, Rev. R., of Birmingham, was born in Alabama 
 June 10, 1854. He is the founder of the Tabernacle Church, 
 Birmingham, and the builder of the First Church, Pratt 
 Mines. He has worked hard and sacrificed much for the 
 cause. His name will remain in many churches. He owes 
 much to his noble, "patient wife. 
 
 Edwards, Rev. A. J., of Lowndes county, is a teacher as 
 well as a preacher, and in different sections of the State he 
 has labored with good results in the interest of morality, edu- 
 cation and religion. Mr. Edwards is blessed with much body 
 as well as with much soul. Good health and jovial spirits 
 abound, and hence he is ever an enjoyable companion. He is 
 still a young man, full of manly pride, commendable ambi- 
 tion, and a love for the pure and charitable, in view of which 
 we may hope that his day is only in its dawning, and that a 
 brighter noon and evening are before him. 
 
 Ellis, Rev. Hexry, of Flint. Morgan county, son of Wil- 
 liam and Martha Ellis, was born in May, 1856. He was bap- 
 tized in 1871, and in 1S75 he was ordained to the ministry by 
 Revs. Charles Davis and M. J. Hooks. He is now pastor of 
 St. Peter's Church, which is composed of some of Morgan 
 county's best citizens. He deserves special praise for bis at- 
 
140 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 tention to his Sunday School. Mr. Ellis also preaches to a 
 church near Courtland. This brother is a warm friend to 
 missionaries and delights to aid good causes. 
 
 Fisher, Rev. C. L., B. D., son of Alexander and Elizabeth 
 Fisher, was born in St. Bernard parish, twenty miles below 
 New Orleans,- La., February 16, 1866. 
 
 On the first Sunday in February, 1875, he was baptized 
 into the Broadway Street Baptist Church, New Orleans, La. 
 
 Ordained — He was set apart to the work of the gospel 
 ministry by the Second Baptist Church in Evanston, 111., 
 September 29, 1887, where he was student-pastor. 
 
 Educated — He graduated from the college department of 
 Leland University, New Orleans, La., May 28, 1884, with the 
 degree of B. A., and graduated from the Baptist Union Theo- 
 logical Seminary, Morgan Park, 111., May* 5, 1887, with the 
 degree of B. D. On May 27, 1891, he received from Leland 
 University the degree of Master of Arts. 
 
 Positions — In 1888 pastor of Mt. Zion Church, Little 
 Rock, Ark. In 1889-92 he is teacher of languages and in- 
 structor of ministers in Selma University, Selma, Ala. For 
 the last two years of this time he is pastor of the Tabernacle 
 Church of the city of Selma. In the office of State Sunday 
 School Missionary, under the American Baptist Publication 
 Society of Philadelphia, he has for several years rendered very 
 profitable service for the Baptists of Alabama as well as Mis- 
 sissippi. He has recently been recalled to the pastorate of the 
 Tabernacle Church, Selma. 
 
 Than is Charles Lewis Fisher, Alabama Baptists have no 
 more thorough scholar, profound logician and industrious 
 pastor. His physical form is a little frail. Should this noc 
 hinder length of days, early future years must present him to 
 the world as one of our greatest theologians and metaphysi- 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 141 
 
 cians. He is not less modest than he is learned, not less 
 benevolent and respectful than he is self-reliant and dignified. 
 
 Fykes, Rev. A. J., of Pratt City, is the much beloved 
 pastor of the Canaan Church, Bessemer. 
 
 Fluker, Rev. Solomon, of Sylacauga, Talladega county, 
 was born in March, 1833; was baptized in 1866 by a Rev. Mr. 
 Smith (white), of Talladega. He soon began to preach, and 
 ere long he bad become a leading minister in his section of 
 the country. For nine years he was pastor of the church in 
 his town. He is a very meek, unassuming man, careful for 
 the welfare of his family, and hospitable towards his brethren. 
 Of late he has been a great but patient sufferer* and hence has 
 been compelled to cease from active labors in the ministry. 
 We owe much of our success in this section of the State to 
 the industry and exemplary character of this faithful man. 
 He has left the cross for the crown. 
 
 Foster, Rev. L. P., of Selma. was baptized by Rev. Jerry 
 Shorter in Eufaula in 1876. Mr. Foster, some time after his 
 marriage and mature manhood, moved to Selma and gradu- 
 ated from the normal course of Selma University. He is a 
 stirring, industrious, self-reliant man, who purposes to make 
 his own way in the world without striding the back of any 
 other man. He has occupied different pastorates and has 
 served as missionary of the Eufaula Association. He has a 
 comfortable home — free of debt — and lends a helping hand to 
 missionary and educational enterprises. 
 
 Foster, Rev. James A., late of Montgomery, was born in 
 the State of Kentucky, in which he grew to young manhood. 
 He died in the city of Montgomery in December of 1891 — 
 died as he had lived, in love and honor with men and in peace 
 with God. Twenty-five of his fifty-four years had been spent 
 
142 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 in the gospel ministry, from the sacred offices of which he re- 
 tired in great joy. He was ordained to the work of the gospel 
 ministry by Kevs. I. T. Tichenor, D. D., Nathan Ashby and 
 Jacob Bellser, in the city of Montgomery, in the year 1867. 
 His first pastoral charge was the church at Mt. Meigs, which 
 he served till he resigned to accept the call of the Columbus 
 Street Church in 1871. He was the first recording secretary 
 of the State Convention, and was the next man to Mr. Ashby 
 to preside over the Convention as president. He was trustee 
 of the State Normal and Swayne Schools, and moderator of 
 the Spring Hill Association. 
 
 Mr. Foster was a man whom nature had variously and 
 richly endowe'd. Had he possessed early educational advan- 
 tages — advantages suited to his rich natural resources — he 
 would have held a place among the sons of the giants. His 
 sermons were always earnest, and frequently his vast audi- 
 ences were melted into weeping by a pathos that was as mys- 
 terious as it was mighty. He was loved, honored, followed, 
 and obeyed. In the two churches in which he was pastor he, 
 it is said, baptized 10,000 persons, married 600 couples, and 
 preached 4,000 sermons. His loving, courtly manners won 
 and maintained for him such a tender regard as few men ever 
 possess. Nor was this confined to his own flock and race, but 
 it was shared more or less by the whole people, white and 
 black. The following will show something of his liberality : 
 
 "Montgomery. May — , 1891. 
 "Dear Bro. JBoothe : On hearing that you need some 
 money for your work, I look over my account with the Lord 
 and find that I owe him five dollars. Enclosed you will find 
 this amount. May God bless you." 
 
 The last letter I received from him, one month before his 
 death, contained a donation to the mission work. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 143 
 
 His wife says of him: "Some time before his sickness, 
 he talked of nothing but heaven. I could plainly see that his 
 mind had left the world. J tried to interest him in house and 
 home affairs* but he would talk of nothing but of God's grace 
 and of the home of the saints." 
 
 He was a model husband and father, and is sadly missed 
 from his home, as well as from his church and community. A 
 good man has gone from labor to reward — from cross to crown. 
 He was thoughtful of the welfare of his loved ones, and hence 
 carried an insurance on his life, the payment of which has 
 rendered them some assistance since his death. 
 
 He was one of the original incorporators of Selma Uni- 
 versity, and was a life member of the Home Mission Society. 
 
 "Servant of God, well done; 
 Rest from thy sweet employ." 
 
 Forbes, Rev. W. R., now of Columbus, Ga., is still asso- 
 ciated with our Alabama work. He is now about 37 years of 
 age, is possessed of a fine personal appearance, is affable, stu- 
 dious, sociable and industrious. He is a Virginian by birth 
 and came to Alabama in 18S9 to begin woik at Clay ten and 
 Eufaula. 
 
 Fraxklix, Rev. Samuel, of Mt Meigs, was born June 4, 
 1849. He was converted to the Christian faith January, 1866, 
 and ordained to the work of the ministry March, 1876. 
 Brother Franklin is among the energetic enterprising men of 
 his part of Montgomery county. Notwithstanding he earns 
 his living at farming, he is busy in the interest of the affairs 
 of the house of God. At present he is pastor at Pike Road 
 Church. 
 
 Franklin. Rev. William, of Mt. Meigs, was born Octo- 
 ber 30, 1852. He was baptized by the late Rev. Washington 
 Stevens, of Montgomery, July, 1871. He was ordained in 
 
Rev. J. P. O'Riley, Trussville, Ala., Pastor Compton Baptist Church. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 145 
 
 1881 by Revs. P. Lucas, W. Stevens and his brother, Rev. 
 Samuel Franklin. 
 
 He is a thoughtful, enterprising man, and has the pas- 
 toral charge of several country churches. Being self-reliant, 
 persevering, as well as economical with time and means, he has 
 risen somewhat above the crushing heels of poverty and want. 
 At the age of 25 years, he did not know the English alphabet? 
 but by persistent application to study, he now reads and 
 writes and keeps his own accounts. 
 
 His face bears those hospitable marks which make one 
 feel easy and at home in his company and restful amid his 
 family. 
 
 On a trip to Mobile, our train stopped at the bridge of the 
 Tensas river to allow a freight train to clear the track. Mr. 
 Franklin's gaze upon the bridge led the writer to think he 
 was frightened. As the freight train left the bridge, Mr. 
 F. remarked : " If it will hold up that train, it will ours, too." 
 I said : « Maybe that train has just put it into the condition to 
 let us through." ' " Yes, and I'll pull my shoes off now in time 
 to swim," said Mr. F. 
 
 Freemax, Rev. James H., of Moulton, Lawrence county, 
 is one among the very worthy young men of our State. He 
 has had comparatively no advantages for learning, and yet his 
 sober and comprehensive view r s of life have spurred him on- 
 ward in search of information, till now we have but few 
 young men in Alabama who use better language, have clearer 
 ideas of the Christian life, and make a more orderly speech 
 than Mr. Freeman. Better still, his neighbors speak of him 
 
 good man — a man whose conduct is a living epistle of the 
 faittTw-feich he professes. 
 
 French. — Of the many substantial people of Talladega 
 county who deserve honorable mention, none are more worthy 
 
146 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 in all regards than the French family. Messrs. Emanuel, 
 William, and Prince French would be an honor to any race of 
 people, no matter what the degree of their civilization and the 
 purity of their moral culture. The two first named teach in 
 the public schools ; the latter is a preacher, and all of them 
 are prosperous land owners, as well as faithful members of 
 the Baptist church. 
 
 Gachet, Rev. Adam, of Barbour county, Ala., was born 
 in Randolph county, Ga., March 10, 1837. At the age of 16 
 he was carried to the county and State in wbich he now lives. 
 His childhood was wholly deprived of parental love and care, 
 and he says he never knew anything of a relative. De- 
 pressed by his loneliness, he early felt the need of the friend- 
 ship of God, which he sought and soon obtained, to the great 
 joy of his heart. With this sweet peace soon came an impres- 
 sion that he was called upon to speak of this wondrous love 
 to his fellow-slaves. In April, 1854, he was baptized into 
 Enon Church. On June 7, 1869, he was set apart to the work 
 of the gospel ministry. He is one of the pioneers in the work 
 of the Eufaula Association, having preached the introductory 
 sermon of the first session of that body. From the first till 
 now he has been a member of their executive board, and is 
 now a member of the board of trustees of Selma University. 
 Notwithstanding Bro. Gachet has had no educational advan- 
 tages, he reads intelligently and writes some. He has labored, 
 and now labors, in some of the most important churches in 
 his section of Alabama. He is still active on all lines of 
 progress. He has a large family, who seem to do him honor. 
 Bro. Gachet is no more. 
 
 Goldsby, Alexander, was born February 6, 1819, in 
 Edgefield district, S. C. He came to Alabama in 1830. His 
 father, who was a native African, was born on the ocean while 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 147 
 
 his mother was on her way to America. His mother was born 
 in Maryland. In 1844 he was baptized into the white church 
 at Selma, Ala., by the Rev. Mr. Collins. In 1845 he was or- 
 dained to the office of deacon, in which position he served for 
 thirty-eight years. He was a very honorable man, and was 
 not less respected by the white people than he was loved and 
 followed by his own. He was a successful blacksmith, usually 
 hired his time, and hence he was to a very considerable degree 
 his own master. In 1843 he married Miss Nicey Goodwin, 
 and a large family of children is the fruit of the marriage. 
 His massive head and deliberate manner, his strong will and 
 dauntless spirit, his good sense and genuine piety, made him 
 a leader of the people and a pillar in the house of God. A 
 man more capable of friendship at great personal costs, I have 
 never known. Especially from him, aided by Deacons Charles 
 White, Nick Claiborne, Tall Underwood, and E. Ross, our 
 cause in Dallas county has risen up. At or near the close of 
 his seventy-third year, "Eather Goldsby" bravely, triumph- 
 antly and peacefully passed from the earth to that city which 
 knows no night and needs not the shining of the sun. He 
 was one of the chief leaders of the band which met on Friday 
 night, near Selma, forty or fifty years ago, to pray for freedom. 
 His name is honored in his children. 
 
 Greex, Rev. Lawsox J., son of Lawson and Martha 
 Green, was born near Livingston, Sumter county, Ala., Au- 
 gust 4, 1859. Though he was so young, he sajs his heart still 
 bears the impress of the hoirors of slavery. Under his 
 father's direction, he soon learned how to farm. Notwith- 
 standing the colored people of this county were greatly hin- 
 dered by the kuklux, Mr. Green utilized every educational fa- 
 cility within his reach to attain to a knowledge of letteis. 
 After he had gone as far as he could in the schools in and 
 
148 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 around Livingston, in 1879 he entered the Selma University, 
 then under the management of Rev. H. Woodsmall, of Indiana. 
 From this institution, he graduated in 1884 under the presi- 
 dency of Dr. E. M. Brawley. At different times and places 
 he has followed the work of teaching. He taught in his own 
 county, was principal of Tullabody Academy at Gr.eensboro, 
 was a member of the faculty of Selma University, and was also 
 of the faculty of the Baptist Academy at Marion. His prin- 
 cipal pastorates have been at Greensboro, Ala., and Selma, of 
 the same State. As Brother Green is full of good health, 
 pluck and mental energy, there is no reason why he should 
 not have a long and useful life as a Christian leader. He 
 has held various honorable positions in the general woik, and 
 is now secretary of the Board of Trustees of Selma Univer- 
 sity. 
 
 P. S. He is now in Birmingham, pastor of the Spring 
 Street Church and principal of an independent school on the 
 south side of the city. He will long be a power in the 
 denomination, if watchfulness and temperance attend him. 
 
 Gulley, Daniel T., of Selma, son of John L. and Amy 
 Gulley, was born near Snow Hill in Wilcox county, Ala. He 
 was the property of James Gulley, whom he served as " wait- 
 ing boy " till the close of the war. Doubtless this position 
 was favorable in the direction of refinement and culture. A 
 taste and relish for the study of books would naturally come 
 of such environments. Utilizing some school advantages 
 which came to hand, he soon, as the result of hard work, at- 
 tained to such a beginning in letters as enabled him to offici- 
 ate as clerk of the A'ntioch Church. 
 
 At the opening of Selma University on January 1, 1878, 
 he, at 9 o'clock a. m., was the only student on the ground. 
 He completed a course in this institution with the class of 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 149 
 
 1884. On the fourth Sunday in February, 1873, he was bap- 
 tized into the ADtioch Baptist Church by the Rev. Willis 
 Sfcalworth. Here he served as clerk of the church and as 
 superintendent of the Sunday School. From the beginning, 
 he has been a substantial friend of ministerial education. He 
 was ordained in the session of the State Convention held in 
 Selma in November, 1883, Revs. M. Tyler, W. H. Mc Alpine, 
 J. Dosier, E. K. Love, E. M. Brawley, W. R. Pettiford, H. 
 Stevens and the writer, officiating as presbytery. He has held 
 various pastorates and different positions in the general woik, 
 and is now Sunday School missionary under the Publication 
 Society. 
 
 Hampton, Rev. James, of Leighton, Ala., was born and 
 reared near where he now lives. On July 25, 1858, he began 
 life's journey a slave, in line with the condition of his race. 
 In 1869 — in September — he was baptized into the Mount 
 Pleasant Church by "Father" Henry Bynum, and on June 18, 
 1882, he was solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel 
 ministry by Revs. B. King, H. Bynum, O. Jackson and T. W. 
 Morris. Brother Hampton is one of the leading men of the 
 Muscle Shoals Association, and justly so, for added to his 
 natural talent are many graces of character which come only 
 of labor, aspiration, study, faith, and exalted purpose. 
 
 Without the aid of schools, he has attained to a creditable 
 knowledge of letters. He is a builder, an organizer, a pastor 
 and business man. With him and his family, the tired mis- 
 sionary may find a place for rest and refreshment. He lives 
 upon his own fruitful farm near Leighton, in Lawrence county, 
 and is a light which shines upon all the Christian enterprises 
 around him. 
 
 Hawkins, Prof. D. D., of East Lake, Jefferson county, 
 deserves honorable mention for his services for religion and 
 
150 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 education. The people of East Lake are comparatively pros- 
 perous and progressive, and to no man are they more indebted 
 for this condition of things than to Deacon and Professor 
 Hawkins. As church officer and as school teacher he has long 
 and faithfully served his church and his community, and his 
 spirit and labors have been like the leaven which the woman 
 hid in the meal. 
 
 The writer has ever found him a quiet, industrious, 
 hospitable brother, with ready heart and open hand in support 
 of every good work. He is an honor to his school — Selma 
 University. 
 
 Hall, Rev. S. M., pastor of the First Colored Baptist 
 Church at Warrior, Ala., is one of our most robust, handsome 
 and spotless young men. He was born in Walker county, 
 Ala., October 26, 1867. Attended the public schools of his 
 community for five years. In October, 1885, he joined the 
 Oak Grove Church in Walker county, receiving baptism the 
 same month. He has attended the Birmingham Institute two 
 years, and has given three years to the work of teaching. He 
 is one of those jovial, happy, friendly souls which one always 
 enjoys. His hard work in the study of books shows that he 
 sees and appreciates the value of knowledge, and recognizes 
 that there is no easy, lazy road to learning, to culture and 
 refinement. 
 
 Hawthorne, Rev. Lambert, of Evergreen, was born 
 March 15, 1859, in Pine Apple, Wilcox county, Ala. When 
 he was only six years of age his mother, Mrs. Sarah Haw- 
 thorne, died and left him and two other sons to such cold 
 charities as might chance to fall in their way. From the time 
 of his mother's death till he was 18 or 20 he was an appren- 
 tice to Col. J. R. Hawthorne, of his native county. This gen- 
 tleman sent him to school, sometimes paying $2 per month to 
 
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 Miss Ella Knapp, Missionary, Birmingham, Ala. 
 
152 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 his teacher, thus enabling him in his early years to lay an 
 educational foundation upon which he has continued to build. 
 As might be expected of any person possessing his native 
 talent and industrious turn of mind, be has successfully 
 drawn upon every literary opportunity that has fallen in his 
 way, to increase and beautify his store of knowledge and wis- 
 dom. He studied in Talladega College, entering that institu- 
 tion 1875 and leaving in 1879. 
 
 In 1879 he was induced, doubtless by denominational in- 
 fluences, to enter Selma University. 
 
 Both as teacher and as preacher he has been a very busy 
 man. At different times he has been principal of the city 
 schools of Opelika and Union Springs, and now he presides 
 over the Evergreen High School. His most prominent pas- 
 torates have been the First Church, Union Springs, and the 
 Bethel Church, Evergreen. For the latter church Mr. Haw- 
 thorne is now completing a good church edifice. In 1873 he 
 Was baptized at Pine Apple by Rev. W. Allen. In 1883 he 
 was ordained to the ministry in Opelika by Revs. Thomas 
 Glenn, H. Clark, N. B. Robie, D. D. (white), and others. In 
 1880 he was wedded to Miss Laura E. Drake, of Opelika. an 
 affable lady, by whom he has six children. Mr. Hawthorne is 
 energetic, sociuble and full of work. 
 
 Hollow ay, Rev. W. H., who spent two years in the 
 Presbyterian Theological School at Tuscaloosa, is preaching 
 and teaching at Thomas. Affable and industrious, he is mak- 
 ing friends and followers. 
 
 Hunter, Key. Henry, of Faunsdale, son of Reuben and 
 Abigail Hunter, is now (June, 1892) about 77 years of age. 
 He was baptized by Rev. James Caldwell since the close of 
 the war, and in 1866 he was set apart to the work of the gos- 
 pel ministry in a council of which the Rev. James Caldwell 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 153 
 
 was chairman. Speaking of his education Brother Hunter 
 says : "By chance I learned to read the Bible." He is one of 
 the pioneers of Marengo county in the work of the colored 
 Baptists. He is naturally talented, is unassuming, deeply 
 pious, and is known by his brethren as being sober, upright 
 and honorable. He has property worth about 61,000. He is 
 quietly expecting a peaceable end to his earthly career, and 
 like Abraham, has his eyes upon another country where the 
 wicked shall cease from troubling and the weary shall be at rest. 
 
 Hutchins, Rev. P. S. L., of Gallion, son of Reuben and 
 Sylvia Hutchius, was born October 13, 1862, in Barbour 
 county, Alabama. In 1879 he was baptized into the Eufaula 
 Baptist Church by the Rev. Jerry Shorter. He, in youth, was 
 a person of observing, active mind, and hence by the time he 
 came to early manhood he had fairly prepared himself for the 
 position of school teacher. He took the college course in 
 Selma University, from which institution he graduated with 
 the degree of A. B. in May, 1890. On May the 31st, of the 
 same year, he was publicly and officially set apart to the work 
 of the gospel ministry, Revs. M. Tyler, C. L. Puree, C. L. 
 Fisher, J. Q. A. Wilhite, R. T. Pollard ; L. J. Green, A. X. 
 McEwen and the writer, officiating as presbytery. At the 
 time of this writing Mr. Hutchins is pastor at Gallion and 
 also at Xewberne. At both these points he has succeeded in 
 leading his flocks to the erection of good church edifices. He 
 is full of energy and pluck as well as of literary aspiration. 
 Like O'Bryant and other rising men among us, he is a moving 
 man, and has muscles as well as brains. 
 
 He is physically as well as mentally strong, and so, if 
 wisdom, prudence and Providence shall continue to be his 
 companions, a long life, a growing life, a useful life, an honor- 
 able life is to be his. 
 
154 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 P. S. — Since writing the above Mr. Hutchins has been 
 abundant in labors in building houses of worship at differ- 
 ent points. Great physical strength is proving to be a very 
 convenient instrumentality under the powers of a strong 
 mind. 
 
 Jackson, Rev. A. C, the son of Roderick and Ellen Jack- 
 son, was born in Pickens county, Alabama, December 13, 1848. 
 He was baptized into the African Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, 
 Ala., by the late Rev. Prince Murrell. 
 
 He was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at 
 the request of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birming- 
 ham, by Revs. J. R. Capers Cone of the most worthy organ- 
 izers of the Alabama work), Henry Wood and N. G. Scurlock. 
 The writer first met Brother Jackson in Mobile, in 1875, in 
 company with Rev. P. Murrell. His Birmingham work was 
 crowned with success. Beside what he did in the matter of 
 increasing the membership, he laid at the hand of his succes- 
 sor in the pastorate of the Sixteenth Street Church about 
 $3,000 worth of salable land and the present church site. He 
 .is accepted by his brethren as being an honest, earnest, in- 
 dustrious, studious man, especially noted for his hospitality to 
 his brethren. Beside the pastorate above mentioned, he has 
 been a builder and leader of other churches. He is now pres- 
 ident of the Sunday School Convention of the Mt. Pilgrim As- 
 sociation and chairman of the Ministers' Conference of Bir- 
 mingham. He has had sore trials, but in all his changes his 
 love for Jesus has been manifest to all. 
 
 Jacksox, Rev. Johx W., pastor of the First Colored Baptist 
 Church of Eufaula, was born at Whitesville, Ga., about thirty 
 years ago. 
 
 Educational Advantages. — He has enjoyed only such ad- 
 vantages as the free public schools of Atlanta, Ga., afforded 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 155 
 
 him, but because of his native talent and studious application 
 to the study of books, and his association with men of thought, 
 he is possessed of a fair education. His unassuming manner 
 and happy, brotherly spirit win and hold for him the love of 
 his brethren in the ministry as well as the tender, confiding 
 respect of his flock. 
 
 He was led to faith in Christ in his sixteenth year. In 
 December, 1890, he was installed into the work and office of 
 the gospel ministry by a council, in which Revs. W. H. Tilman 
 and E. J. Fisher, of Atlanta, Ga., officiated. He was called to 
 labor in Alabama May, 1892. The Eufaula Church, of which 
 he is pastor, was organized about the year 1867, and is there- 
 fore one among the oldest churches in the State. This church 
 began on the river bank in a little board shanty, but they now 
 worship in a nice large frame building on a main street of the 
 city. Mr. Jackson follows in this pastorate Revs. J. Shorter, 
 J. Q. A. Wilhite, G. W. Berry, Mr. Forbes, and Mr. Bassett ; 
 and he feels gratified with the assurance that he leads a church 
 from which have gone forth some of the best people in the 
 country. " Be thou strong, therefore, and show thyself a man." 
 
 Jackson, Rev. Dexnis, of Tuscumbia, is an honest, in- 
 dustrious man who has a large place in the love of his brethren. 
 
 James. Rev. Lewis D., son of James and Pnscilla James, 
 was born in Sumter county, Ala., December 24, 1859. Bap- 
 tized by Rev. A. Gordon, of Gainesville, Ala., in August, 1875 
 Had limited educational advantages in youth, but has since, 
 his manhood increased his stock of information by study, in 
 which labor he has been aided by Prof. E. D. Lord and Dr. A. 
 F. Owens, of Mobile, and Dr. Pettiford. of Birmingham. 
 
 He was ordained to take charge of the Bethel Church at 
 "Warrior, Ala., October, 1888, by Revs. A. C. Jackson, J. TV. 
 White, A. D. Jemison and W. R. Pettiford, D. D. His brethren 
 
156 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 of the Mount Pilgrim Association have laid on him various 
 positions of honor, such as president of the Sunday School 
 Convention, district missionary, etc. 
 
 James, Rev. Van B., pastor at Avondale, is a brother of 
 Rev. L. D. James. He is a progressive, industrious young 
 man, whose breast is filled with longings for a higher life for 
 his people. His preaching is characterized by thought rather 
 than by emotion. In all the interests of the devotion he shows 
 himself substantially concerned. 
 
 Johnson, Rev. Gabriel B., of Courtland, Ala., son of 
 Beverly and Sophia Johnson, was born in King George 
 county, Va., in 1849. Two years before the beginning of our 
 civil war, the subject of our sketch, with three other children 
 and his mother, were brought to Alabama as slaves. He 
 was led to seek Christ in consequence of a revival conducted 
 near Courtland by Revs. F. Bowman and S. Watkins. In 
 1867, in February, he was baptized by a white brother. 
 Shortly after his baptism, he began to speak for Jesus in the 
 public meetings under the authority of a license from his 
 church. In 1873 he was solemnly set apart to the sacred 
 office of the gospel ministry, Revs. G. Garrett, J. Belle, B. 
 Swope and C. S. Gibson officiating, after which he was called 
 to the pastoral charge of the Courtland Church, in which ca- 
 pacity he now serves. His first marriage was to Miss Millie 
 Davis, daughter of Harry and Susan Davis. As the fruit of 
 this marriage, there were seven children born to him, four of 
 whom still live. In 1887, and some time after death had 
 robbed him of this good woman, he was wedded to Miss 
 Mariah Jarman, daughter of John and S. Jarraan, of Leightou, 
 Ala. 
 
 He has had but poor educational advantages, but has 
 used to considerable effect such as have come within his 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 157 
 
 reach. He has had some access to the free public schools 
 and a few months in the Roger Williams University, Nash- 
 ville, Tenn. 
 
 He has been Sunday School missionary under tbe joint ap- 
 pointment of the Muscle Shoals Association and the American 
 Baptist Publication Society, has for several sessions assisted 
 Prof. H. H. Stewart in the Courtland public school, and is at 
 present the moderator of the Muscle Shoals Association. He 
 has the confidence and love of his brethren, and will doubtless 
 ascend into still greater things. Being physically strong, 
 he will be a young man for years to come. His kind manner 
 and polite disposition readily commend him to the favor of all 
 persons who are inclined to be friendly, and hence a host of 
 friends follow him with good wishes. 
 
 Johnson, Rev. Daniel, Oakland, Lauderdale county, Ala., 
 son of Lewis and Martha Johnson, was born near Florence, 
 Ala., November 11, 1844. Baptized by Rev. H. Beckwith in 
 1872. Ordained by Rev. H. Beckwith, Thos. Bruhes and A. 
 Davis, in January, 1880. 
 
 Brother Johnson has been pastor of Zion No. 1 for some 
 time past and is a cheerful supporter of all tbe general enter- 
 prises of the denomination. 
 
 Johnson, Rev. Richaed, pastor of St. James Church, Bir- 
 mingham, is one of our worthy pioneers, in the Macon county 
 churches. 
 
 Jones, Rev. C. P., pastor Tabernacle Church, Selma, hails 
 from Arkansas. We have nothing of his history. He comes 
 to us highly recommended by those who knew him best, and 
 so far he is making an excellent impression in his praise. Be- 
 side his moral worth and fine intellectual talents he has other 
 personal graces very rarely seen. 
 
Rev. J. H. Eason, A. B., Professor in Selma University. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 159 
 
 The writer loves especially his earnest devotion to his 
 sacred calling. He is of Georgia nativity, is about 27 years 
 of age and is a good scholar. He has been in Alabama only 
 three months. What he has accomplished in books is proof 
 that he is a man of studious habits. 
 
 P. S. — Since the above was written Brother Jones has 
 gone to Mississippi, forcing from Alabama Baptists an ac- 
 knowledgment of his exalted piety, child-like faith, sound 
 sense and superior pulpit power. Brother Jones is now in 
 Mississippi, still growing in grace and popularity. 
 
 Jones, Rev. Silas, of Mt. Meigs, Montgomery county, 
 son of Jupiter and Caroline Jones, was born May 1, 1847. 
 He was baptized into Elam Church, May 1, 1866, by Rev. 
 John Holmes, (white). Was ordained to the work of the gos- 
 pel ministry May 29, 1870, under the auspices of the white 
 Baptist Church, of Wetumpka, Ala., by Revs. A. Carleton, J. 
 Cole and Thomas Smith. The writer first met Brother Jones 
 in Mobile in 1875 — has been with him in his pastorates at 
 Wetumpka, at Sandy Ridge, at Mt. Meigs and at Calhoun. 
 He did not learn the alphabet until after he was about 18 
 years of age, and hence his very manly struggles for a knowl- 
 edge of books have not been attended with the perfection 
 which comes of early training. But he is a man of natural 
 ability and rare tact, and what he knows is most thoroughly 
 utilized. His home Christianity includes a system of regular 
 Bible study for children as well as for hired help. He is an 
 exemplary pastor. He is an industrious Bible student and 
 preaches the truth with telling effect. His urbanity and other 
 elements of personal magnetism bind his people ahout him 
 with strongest cords of confidence and affection . No one 
 man has done more for the education of his people than he, 
 as the schools at Mt. Meigs and Calhoun must show. Brother 
 
160 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Jones is still young and strong and promises a long life. 
 He has good property. His family does him honor. He is a 
 strong man and coming days will give him the honors due 
 him as a man great in service for home and country. 
 
 Jones, Rkv. Pope, of Russellville, was born near Tuscum- 
 bia, Ala., June 15, 1839. He was baptized some time between 
 1862 and 1866, and was set apart to the work of the gospel 
 ministry in 1869 by Revs. Joseph Shackelford, D. D. (white), 
 and W. E. Northcross. Brother Jones was in many respects 
 a very remarkable man— no man in the Muscle Shoals Asso- 
 ciation, no man in Northern Alabama, had so much power over 
 the masses of the ministry and the great body of the laity as 
 he. He was an executive man and a natural magnet, and men 
 gathered about him and cheerfully submitted themselves to 
 the sway of his opinions. He was as affable as he was firm? 
 as joyous as he was earnest. He peaceably passed from this 
 life in 1888. 
 
 Jones, Rev. Wm. B., of Demopolis, was born in 1847 in 
 Marengo county, Ala. Was baptized June 16, 1867, by Rev. 
 John Scott. He has accomplished some work in the churches. 
 
 Kennedy, Rev. F. R., of Columbiana, was born December 
 20, 1864, in this State. He was baptized at Calera by the Rev. 
 Henry Clay in 1881, and in 1886 he was set apart to the work 
 of the gospel ministry by Revs. P. Fancher and John Tran- 
 holm. Mr. Kennedy at the age of 18 did not know his letters, 
 but perceiving at an early age the value of book learning he 
 resolved at the time named to attain to some knowledge on 
 this line. He has availed himself of such facilities and oppor- 
 tunities as have fallen in his way, and in consequence he now 
 reads and writes fairly well. No doubt much of his advance- 
 ment and general success are due to the knowledge, aspiration 
 and persistence of Mrs. Kennedy, whose educational advantages 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 161 
 
 have been superior to her husband's. Brother Kennedy has 
 been pastor in his own town, in Birmingham, at Calera, and 
 now he preaches in Anniston. 
 
 Kennedy, Rev. Samuel, once pastor Union Church, Mobile, 
 is one of those unassuming, modest, friendly men whose heart 
 pours forth in kindness upon everybody. Like many others 
 his chief misfortune is that he bears the marks which declare 
 his want of early school advantages. However, he deserves 
 praise for many good qualities and commendable labors. 
 
 King, Rev. Boling, of Leighton, Ala., was born in Orange 
 county, Va., August, 1836. He was converted to faith in Christ 
 under the ministry of Rev. Henry Bynum, by whom, aided by 
 Dr. Shackleford, he was baptized into the Mt. Pleasant Baptist 
 Church near Leighton. In 1868, in same church and by the 
 same brethren, he was solemnly set apart to the work of the 
 gospel ministry. Though he never attended school he can 
 read and write, and is a natural leader. He is pastor of some 
 of the largest churches in the Muscle Shoals Association. He 
 is an industrious, honorable man and has accumulated about 
 $1,700 worth of real estate. He is one of the pioneers of the 
 work in this section of Alabama. He is still of youthful vigor 
 and leads in the Sunday School the same as in the church. 
 
 Koyton, Prof. Abner C, of Tuscaloosa, son of Henry and 
 Susan Koyton, was born in Marietta, Ga., but was reared in 
 •Summerfield, Ala. Mr. Koyton graduated from the State 
 Normal School, Marion, Ala., in 1880, and delivered the first 
 annual address to the alumni of this institution. 
 
 Under his principalship, and on his plans, so the writer is 
 informed, the city schools (colored) of Tuscaloosa began to 
 operate under their present graded system. He is now just 
 inaugurating the Tuscaloosa Baptist Academy. He is young, 
 
162 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 but studious and progressive. His youth is dignified by his 
 gravity and piety. 
 
 Lawson, Rev. A. J., of Camden, son of Mr. A. and Mrs. 
 Julia Lawson, is doing a good work at Camden. His chief 
 educational advantages have come of the Camden schools, and 
 what he has accomplished in the way of letters, is evidence of 
 his vigilance and application with reference to the opportuni- 
 ties which came to his hand. He was baptized by Rev. David 
 Small, of Clark county, in 1886, two years after which time he 
 was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry at Camden 
 by order of the Camden Church, which was then under the 
 pastoral care of Rev. J. W. White. His labors are well spoken 
 of by his brethren. 
 
 Lawsox, Rev. A., of Union Springs, the pastor of Mount 
 Pleasant Church, now about 45 years of age, is one of the 
 leading men of the "Old Pine Grove Association." Like most 
 of the men of his time, his education has been hindered. 
 However, he is a very clear-headed man and, having a large 
 following, has done much good in Bullock county. 
 
 Leavens, Rev. Charles, the man who led to the erection 
 of the brick structure in which the St. Louis Street Church 
 now worships, was of Virginia nativity, and was born about 
 1805. The writer is of the opinion that no man in Alabama 
 did so much in pioneer days to organize the Negro Baptists 
 in the State as Mr. Leavens. At the close of the war he was 
 not ordained, but was the most enterprising, pushing, san- 
 guine and influential man in his church. Naturally, therefore, 
 the wnrk of guiding the flock fell upon his shoulders. As he 
 could not get ordination of his white brethren, he sought it in 
 New Orleans. Finding himself now possessed with the com- 
 mission of a gospel minister, he sought to touch and commis- 
 sion men for the other cities and towns of the State. The Rev. 
 
BIOGBATHICAL SKETCHES. 163 
 
 Philip Garnbrell was ordained about the same time. Calling 
 in this man's services and assistance, Mr. Leavens ordained 
 Messrs. P. Murrell, of Tuscaloosa ; J. Bleavens, of Selma ; 
 James Caldwell, of Demopolis ; the writer, and a great com- 
 pany of others, who went out into the various sections of the 
 State to organize the people into churches. Of course, as 
 might have been expected, he sometimes put out the wrong 
 man, but it was a time to do and dare. His excuse for hasty 
 action was: "This is a peculiar time whose peculiar circum- 
 stances call for bold methods." His chief questions to appli- 
 cants were : " Can you and do you read the Bible? Do you 
 believe it, pray about it, and practice its teachings ? Are you 
 a good, whole Baptist ? Are you a republican ? " 
 
 Leach, Rev. James, of Birmingham, son of Alfred and 
 Elizabeth Leach, was born July 16, 1332. in Marengo county, 
 Ala. In 1S46 he was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Fox, of Union- 
 town, and on November 26, 1S67, in the African Baptist 
 Church of Tuscaloosa, he was set apart to the work of the 
 gospel ministry by Revs. P. Murrell, P. Bowler and James 
 Caldwell. 
 
 In 1855 he was married to Miss Mary Martin. He was 
 once pastor of the African Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, and 
 one time presided over the Bethlehem Association (organized 
 in 1877) as moderator. Mr. Leach .has held various pastor- 
 ates, is a hospitable man, and has a very pleasant family. 
 
 The writer bas often found — when weary and sick — a 
 pleasing and invigorating refuge within the quiet home of 
 these good people. 
 
 Leftwich, Johx C, of Montgomery, once editor and now 
 manager of the Baptist Leader, is noted especially for energy 
 and independence. He is, at the time of this writing, tem- 
 perance lecturer for the State of Alabama under the " Na- 
 
164 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 tional Temperance Society." Doubtless he inherits his push 
 and ambition from his father, who was at one time a mem- 
 ber of the Alabama legislature. He is quite a young man, 
 and if wisdom shall rule over his purposes and plans in years 
 to come, he will write himself upon the men and the occasions 
 of future years . 
 
 Lewis, Rev. C, is pastor of Macedonia Church, Birming- 
 ham. He appears ready for any good word and work. 
 
 Looney, Rev. J. T., of Fayetteville, Talladega county, 
 was born in Coosa county, Alabama, May 2, 1847. He was 
 baptized into the Fayetteville Church by Rev. Berry Ware in 
 1867, and in 1885 he was set apart to the work of the ministry 
 by Rev. H. Morris and others. At the time of this writing 
 Mr. Looney is pastor at Alpine. He is a quiet and unassum 
 ing man, ever friendly to education and missions, and hospi- 
 table toward his brethren. 
 
 Lofton, Rev. J. B., is pastor at Smithfield, near Bir 
 mingham. 
 
 Lovelady, Rev. C. L., of Hollywood, Jackson county, is 
 noted among his brethren for his interest in missions and edu 
 cation. He followed Rev. Lewis Roach in the moderatorship 
 of the Mud Creek Association. He helps in the building oi 
 churches, and is a liberal supporter of schools. 
 
 Low, Rev. Green, of Livingston, is one of the most mat- 
 ter-of-fact sort of men with whom the writer has ever had 
 any business. No man can beat him wearing his whole heart 
 right on his face. He is uncovered, outspoken and fearless 
 and yet all seems so natural, so honest and so kind, until 
 what would otherwise appear hard and ungenial, is really en 
 joyable. Mr. Low is among the leaders of the Bethlehem As 
 sociation. 
 
Miss A. L. Bowman, Missionary, liirininsrbam, Ala. 
 
166 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 McAlpine, Rev. W. H., at present teacher of Ministers' 
 and Deacons' Institute, under the appointment of the South- 
 ern Baptist Mission Board, was born in Buckingham county, 
 Virginia, June, 1847. At the age of three years, he, his' 
 mother and a younger brother were brought to this state by 
 a "Negro speculator," who sold them to a Rev. Robert McAl- 
 pine, of Coosa county. At the age of 8 years and on the oc- 
 casion of the death of this Presbyterian minister, he became 
 the property (?) of Dr. McAlpine, with whom he remained till 
 the close of the war. In this family he was the nurse of the 
 white children for about ten years. As Mrs. Dr. McAlpine 
 was very anxious and cautious as to the quality of the first 
 moulding influences touching the childhood of her children, 
 and as the schools around were hardly up to her ideal, she 
 had her children instructed at home. As the nurse's position 
 placed him and kept him in constant association with the 
 children, and as he was possessed of a literary turn of mind, 
 he soon began to imbibe a knowledge of letters, advancing 
 into reading, writing, grammar, geography and arithmetic. 
 From 1855 to 1874 he saw nothing of his mother, and for six- 
 teen years of this time did not know where she was. Nat- 
 urally this incident started a train of serious reflections touch- 
 ing the facts and hopes of human life. About the year 1864 
 or 1865 he was converted to Christianity and some time after 
 was baptized into the Talladega Church (white) by his friend, 
 Dr. Renfroe. At the close of the war Mr. McAlpine first 
 worked at the carpenters' trade, which he left for school teach- 
 ing. In the winter of 1K66 he entered the Talladega College, 
 supporting himself by laboring during the morning and eve- 
 ning hours — before the opening and after the close of the 
 school. In 1873 he severed his connection with this institu- 
 tion, having been aroused to undertake the establishment of a 
 similar institution for his own denomination. In 1871 be was 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 167 
 
 ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and accepted a 
 call to the pastorate of the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Talla- 
 dega, which he resigned in 1875 in order to give his whole 
 time to his school project. 
 
 To no man in Alabama has been committed trusts more 
 varied and more weighty. While connected with the Talla- 
 dega College he occupied the position of State canvasser under 
 the appointment of Mr. Cravath. He has been pastor at Tal- 
 ladega, Jacksonville, Marion and Anniston, and president of 
 Selma University. His special excellence is not of that mental 
 style which gives birth to fine psychological and metaphysical 
 discernments and distinctiveness: it is that sort of mental 
 something which strikes with broad side and ponderous weight. 
 The breadth of his rear head would seem to indicate that all 
 his faculties are driven forward by a force that starts from a 
 broad base. The writer first met Dr. McAlpine in Mobile, in 
 November, 1874, the year following that in which he brought 
 forward, at the Tuscaloosa session of the Convention, his 
 school idea. My first impression of him was that he was a 
 man of special mission, and I immediately sympathized with 
 him and with the school project, throwing myself fully into 
 line with his plans. 
 
 In referring to his childhood life, and while talking with 
 reference to the power of secret prayer, he once remarked to 
 the writer: "Upon one occasion, though without my knowl- 
 edge, Dr. McAlpine had resolved to punish me for a trivial 
 matter on my part which had caused him some displeasure. 
 I had gone to feed the horses, and in the crib I was on my 
 knees at prayer. The doctor had followed me with his whip. 
 I was not aware of his presence or purpose, and hence as he 
 did not speak I got through with my prayer and fed my horse 
 and returned to the house. I learned afterward that my 
 
168 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 prayer had subdued him, and that he had expressed himself 
 as being ashamed of his purpose." 
 
 Alluding once to some mistakes he had made, he observed : 
 "We grow wiser as we grow older." He has been happily 
 married twice. By his last wife he has a large family of beau-- 
 tiful and promising children. The Rivers family, into which 
 he married, are a people of very sterling qualities, and no 
 doubt these happy associations have conduced to his success 
 in all regards. 
 
 The act of the University in conferring upon him the 
 honorary title of D. D. is evidence of the high esteem in which 
 he is held by the trustees and faculty of the school. He is 
 now theological instructor in the school and is supported by 
 the Southern Board. 
 
 McAlpixe, F. Percy, son of J. D. and Jane McAlpine, 
 was born August 1, 1865, in Forkland, Ala. He entered the 
 world amid that good heritage which can come only of the 
 exemplary life of parents. Though his early life was spent 
 on the farm, his youthful days were blessed with some edu- 
 cational facilities, which his discerning, appreciative mind 
 turned to good advantage. After completing primary grades 
 in his home schools, he, against the wish of his mother and 
 protest of brothers, entered the State Normal School at Ma- 
 rion, Ala., with only $15 to begin the course of study pre- 
 scribed. The next year he entered Selma University, study- 
 ing during the school session and teaching in summer till 
 1888, when his mother, his only support since the death of 
 his father, fell asleep. He says of this time of struggle : 
 
 " I owe a lasting debt of gratitude to President Puree, 
 who never left me without an encouragement which it was 
 possible for him to bestow." 
 
 In 1890 while in his junior college year, financial straits 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 169 
 
 forced him to give up study and go out to work. Applying 
 for the principalship of the Bessemer City School, he made 
 an almost perfect mark in his examination and obtained the 
 position. While in this capacity, aided by Mr. J. C. Barker, 
 he edited a paper known as " The Marvel Age" In 1S93, he 
 and Mr. Barker operated a bookstore. 
 
 The writer knows but few young men who equal Mr. 
 Mc Alpine in modesty, industry, courage, push and beauty of 
 moral character. An honorable future awaits him, and of 
 friends he shall have many. Talented and studious, he must 
 still advance in scholarship. He became a member of the 
 Missionary Baptist Church in 1885, and lives according to his 
 profession. He expects to complete his university course in 
 1896. 
 
 McEwen, Rev. A. N., pastor of Franklin Street Church, 
 Mobile, lately editor of the Baptist Leader, is a native of the 
 State of Mississippi, where he was born April, 1849. When 
 he was about 18 years of age he went to Nashville, Tenn., in 
 search of better things than those to which slavery had in- 
 troduced him. Here he entered the Roger Williams Univer- 
 sity, remaining only a very short while. Here also he found 
 and wedded a wife. Being controlled by industry and econo- 
 my he soon saved enough from his small wages to purchase 
 a horse and wagon. This was the first of a series of financial 
 successes by means of which he soon rose above poverty and 
 want into comfortable circumstances for himself and family. 
 While attending the services of Mt. Zion Church in Nashville 
 in 1870 he was led to faith in Christ which he professed by 
 receiving baptism. 
 
 Shortly after he began religious work, and in 1876 he was 
 ordained to take charge of the pastorate at Tullahoma, Tenn. 
 Five or six years after this he came to Alabama to take charge 
 of the Dexter Avenue Church. Mr. McEwen, since his en- 
 
170 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 trance into Alabama, has been intimately connected with all 
 our state operations, educational and missionary, and no man 
 among us has been more successful as a church financier. He 
 has bestowed special care upon the education of his children, 
 all of whom he has reared for the most part without their 
 mother's aid, as she died when they were young. The Dex- 
 ter Avenue Church building was constructed under his lead- 
 ership. 
 
 McCall, Rev. E. A., at present pastor in Columbus, Ga., 
 the son of Rev. H. A. McCall, was born May 15, 1855, in Rus- 
 sell county, Alabama. In 1872 he was baptized into the Hawk- 
 insville Baptist Church by the hands of his father. In Sep- 
 tember, in the twentieth year of his age, he was set apart to 
 the work of- the gospel miuistry by Revs. A. Gachet, S. Fant- 
 roy, J/ Daniel, J. H. Davis and H. A. McCall. It will be seen 
 that he entered the sacred office at a very early age — at an age 
 rather soon in most cases — rather early for the good of the 
 minister as well as for the good of the people and the cause. 
 But though in youth he was possessed of very poor educa- 
 tional advantages, by talent, push, courage, ambition, observa- 
 tion and application to books, he has made surprising ad- 
 vances. He is strictly a self-made man. He speaks with 
 ease and performs well on the organ. 
 
 He has had a wide range of operation, having been pastor 
 at different times of eleven different churches, some of them 
 equaling the best pastorates in the country. Among them the 
 church at Union Springs may be mentioned. No man in Ala- 
 bama is more companionable than he. 
 
 McCobd, Rev. C, of Selma, was set apart to the work of 
 the gospel ministry by the St. Phillip Street Church while the 
 writer was pastor in 1884. He started the study of books late 
 in life, but by associating with men of advanced ideas and 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 171 
 
 close application to books he is now considerably ahead of the 
 masses of the ministry. He is a sober, judicious man, peace- 
 able and ever ready for work. 
 
 Maddox, Rev. J. D., the son of Daniel and Tabitha Mad- 
 dox, was born in Barbour county, Ala., near Midway, in 1854. 
 His father was sold away from him when he was only three days 
 old, and his mother when he was three years old, and hence he 
 came up without knowing anything either of -father or 
 mother. 
 
 This friendless condition early impressed him with the 
 desire to obtain the friendship of God, which in his eleventh 
 year, he sought and found. He was baptized into the Rama 
 Church by the Rev. Mr. VanHoose (white) during the same 
 year. 
 
 In his seventeenth year, a desire to read books came into 
 his mind. By good fortune, he came into possession of 25 
 cents which he invested in a "blue back speller." In order 
 that his book and purpose might not come to the notice of 
 the white people he decided that he would tear out and learn 
 one leaf .at the time. Thus he began to spell, aided by a 
 more fortunate fellow slave. The widow of a Baptist minis- 
 ter encouraged him with the statement that if he could read 
 she would give him a hymn book and a Bible. On one Sabbath 
 he learned the Ten Commandments. Doubtless he owes 
 much of his success to his excellent wife, who is no less en- 
 terprising than she is devout and faithful. He said to the 
 writer : " My wife makes me study." 
 
 In 1879 at the call of the Friendship Baptist Church of 
 Barbour county, he was set apart to the ministry by Revs. J. 
 Shorter, A.Gachet and E. Alexander. Brother Maddox is a 
 good man, a faithful preacher, and a successful builder — a 
 leading man in the Eufaula Association, and is as gentle as a 
 woman, and simple hearted as a child. 
 
Kev. M. Tyler, D. 1)., Lowndesboro, Ala. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 173 
 
 Madersox, Rev. William, of Greensboro, was born in 
 Virginia in 1849, and came to Alabama in 1866. In the fall of 
 1872 he was baptized into the Second Baptist Church at Marion, 
 Ala., and in the following year began to enter upon the work 
 of the ministry, speaking in public as he had opportunity. 
 While the Convention was in session in Marion in 1880, the 
 hands of ordination were laid upon his head by order of the 
 Marion Church, and by the same presbytery that ordained Dr. 
 Pettiford. He spent some time in study in the Selma Uni- 
 versity, under the presidency of the late Rev. Harry Wood- 
 small. Mr. Maderson is a man ot fine natural gifts which, 
 considering his early, meagre advantages, have been well 
 developed. He is remarkably capacitated for imbibing what 
 is pure and elevating in good men and good books. He is 
 dearly beloved no less for his stainless character than for his 
 refinement and wisdom. After serving various other impor- 
 tant pastorates, he was called to the pulpit of the Salem Church 
 at Greensboro, where he now serves with success, greatly in- 
 creasing the membership and purchasing a neat parsonage. 
 For the past seven or eight years he has been the moderator 
 of the Uuiontown Association — the largest Association in the 
 State. Should he continue as he has begun, coming years 
 must increase his power with God and man. 
 
 Mebrell, Rev. Masox C, of Fort Deposit, son of M. C. 
 and Harriet Merrell, was born in Dallas county, Ala., June 26, 
 1849. As his parents were poor, he was apprenticed to the 
 Rev. H. Talbird, D. D., of said county, who sent him to the 
 schools of the neighborhood. By such means he was early 
 placed in conditions where he was able to lay the foundation 
 of a liberal English education. Much of Mr. MerrelFs time 
 for many years has been spent in teaching in the State schools. 
 The money thus earned has been a supplement to the meagre 
 
174 COLORED BAPTISTS OP ALABAMA. 
 
 support given him by the small churches of which he is the 
 efficient pastor. He was baptized into the fellowship of the 
 Carlowville Church October, 1867, by the hands of his bene- 
 factor. In 1879 he was set apart to the work of the gospel 
 ministry in the city of Montgomery, Revs. J. A. Foster, W. J. 
 Stevens, Wm. Jinkins and R. Aarons officiating as presbytery. 
 Brother Merrell is a sociable, genial companion, a careful 
 speaker, an earnest Christian, and a firm believer in .missions 
 and education. On all the moral questions of the times he is 
 as straight as a shingle. He, by his various pastorates, is asso- 
 ciated with the Alabama District and the Union Associations, 
 and in both bodies he is held in high esteem by all the 
 thoughf ul and pious persons. 
 
 Indeed, he is respected by all who know him, white and 
 black. Because of his quietness and sunshine, as well as for 
 his musical talent and skill, he is in special demand at our 
 annual and extra meetings. 
 
 Mureell, Rev. Prince. — Rev. Prince Murrell was born 
 in Savannah, Ga., January 1, 1817. His mother, who 
 descended of a Congo prince, was born in Providence, R. I. 
 His father was the son of an Englishman, of the name of 
 Murrell. Some of his youthful years were spent with his 
 parents in South Carolina. In the yearlS38, his mother with 
 seven children, he being the youngest, moved to Tuscaloosa, 
 Ala. At this time no member of the family knew anything 
 of the Christian life. In 1839 his mother was baptized, which 
 incident excited such serious, impressions in her son as re- 
 sulted in his baptism in August, 1842. About this time he 
 began to speak and exhort as he had opportunity. At the 
 close of the war he had been a member of the Tuscaloosa 
 Church (white) about ten years, and was the only colored 
 Baptist preacher in Tuscaloosa. This brother has had a 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 175 
 
 rather remarkable career. In the year 1855 he bought his 
 freedom, and in 1856 started to Liberia, Africa, going as far as 
 Savannah, Ga. His aspiration for liberty, his unaided toiling 
 for the mastery of letters and books, his tact and persever- 
 ance in organizing the colored Baptists of his section into, 
 churches and associations, and his success in accumulating 
 property with many other things, mark him as no ordinary 
 man. His marriage to Miss Mary Drisdell in the year 1842, 
 was no doubt largely conducive to his energy and success, for 
 she — even up into old age — was a woman of strength and 
 industry. The first colored school ever taught in Tuscaloosa 
 was taught by him, and taught at a time when to teach a col- 
 ored school was to put one's life at the muzzle of the shot gun. 
 Touching this phase of work, he related to the writer the fol- 
 lowing stories : "When we were just set at liberty I went to 
 a white Baptist who had in times of slavery shown himself 
 friendly toward black people, and said, 'Mr. S — , we need a 
 schoolteacher, can't we secure you?' He replied, 'Do you 
 think I would disgrace myself by teaching a negro school? 
 Besides this, it would be only throwing into the waste my 
 time, my talent and my strength. I might as well drive into 
 a room a drove of sheep or a herd of swine, and put books be- 
 fore them as to put books before kinky-headed nigger child- 
 ren.' 
 
 "On one occasion, two white men who had come into 
 town to bring a prisoner, walked into my school room with 
 their ropes and chains in hand, and teacher and school, feel- 
 ing sure that the ropes and chains were for their necks, were 
 so dismayed as to excite the pity of the dreaded visitors, and 
 they sought to remove our fears and to encourage us to con- 
 tinue on in our good way." 
 
 Speaking of the organization of colored churches in the 
 South, he remarked to the WTiter : "I was in Savannah when 
 
176 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 the white people were discussing the propriety of organizing 
 colored churches." He opened the first Sunday School for 
 colored people in the city of Tuscaloosa the first Sunday in 
 December, 1866. He claimed to owe most of his success in 
 the study of divine truth to the Rev. Chas. Manly. On July 1 
 he organized the African Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa with 
 25 members. As he did not begin reading till he was 22 
 years old he was not faultless in his mastery of the English 
 language, but was a good speaker, self-possessed and ready in 
 words. Mr. Murrell was one of the leading fathers of the 
 Alabama work. His children were a pride to him in his old 
 age. 
 
 In the last years of his life he spoke tenderly of his old 
 mistress who encouraged him to learn to read, and of his 
 maiden mistress, who in many ways saved him from oppres- 
 sion and aided him in securing his liberty. 
 
 Since the above sketch was commenced Mr. Murrell and 
 his good wife have exchanged the cross for the crown. 
 
 Nichols, Rev. James, of Greenville, moderator and mis- 
 sionary of the Union Association, was born in Virginia May 
 10, 1842, and was brought to Alabama September, 1856, locat- 
 ing at Selma, where he joined the church and was baptized by 
 the Rev. Mr. McCraw, who was then pastor both of the col- 
 ored and of the white churches of that city. At this time, as 
 the dates will show, he was a young man. It was in this same 
 church and city that he began the work of the ministry dur- 
 ing the days of slavery. 
 
 His first marriage was to Miss Emma Allison, of Dallas 
 county. The fruit of this marriage was two sons and one 
 daughter, neither of whom is now living. His present wife 
 has two living children. He has an humble home of his own. 
 
 Mr. Nichols is a man of energy, industry and decision of 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. . 177 
 
 character ; he has opinions and has the courage to express 
 them. No man has any trouble in times of controversy to 
 locate him, and yet in his rulings as presiding officer of the 
 above named association, the writer has seeu evidences of 
 prudence and commendable flexibility. 
 
 His early life was robbed of literary environments, and 
 hence he is not an extensive reader of books ; but his knowl- 
 edge of things is superior to many whose advantages have 
 been far better than his have been. He says that he knew ab- 
 solutely nothing of letters till since the close of the war, when 
 he had a little opportunity to attend night school at Union- 
 town. 
 
 He was ordained in 1873 at Georgiana, Butler county, by 
 Revs. Dan Shepard, Nelson Briggs, Jesse Holens and others, 
 and he has done a good work in his section. 
 
 Northckoss, Rev. W. E., of Tuscumbia, Colbert county, 
 was born in Colbert county, Ala., in 1840, and ordained to the 
 gospel ministry in 1867 by Rev. Mr. Slater (white) and Rev. 
 Henry Bynum. 
 
 Mr. Northcross is strictly a pioneer. He, Rev. Stephen 
 Coleman and Rev. Henry Bynum, aided by Dr. Joseph Shack- 
 leford (white; laid down the foundation stones in Morgan, 
 Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence counties. 
 
 He is a peculiar man. He is a man of very positive na- 
 ture — with him it is yea and amen. 
 
 To those who do not know him as well as to those who 
 vacilate and pretend, his sternness is repelling. But behind 
 and below external appearances there is a heart that is as ten- 
 der as it is brave, and as kind as it is firm. Except a little 
 time spent in the Roger Williams University, he has had no 
 school advantages, but he reads and writes fairly well. 
 
 The Tuscumbia, Barton and Sheffield churches were built 
 
178 • COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 up under his labors. In the formation of the Muscle Shoals 
 Association at Tuscumbia in 1869, he was one of the lead- 
 ing spirits. He relates the following incidents : 
 
 " Before the close of the war I was captured by the Fed- 
 eral troops and carried to Decatur, where I joined their army. 
 As I had a crippled foot I was allowed to remain with the 
 commissary department. While we were camped at Athens, 
 General Forest came upon us and defeated, captured and 
 killed until we were almost literally wiped out of existence. 
 I had been kind to some little white children by which I had 
 won their love and, of course, the love of their parents. There- 
 fore, in the time of danger, I rushed to this house, and the 
 good people hid me and changed my clothes. Hence when I, 
 was found, I was taken for one of the gentleman's slaves. 
 When I was permitted by the man to try to return to Tus- 
 cumbia and had gone some distance, I was caught by de- 
 serters from the Southern army, who voted to shoot me. 
 They bound me and kept me over night, intending to do 
 away with me the next day. It was in a lonely desert on 
 the Tennessee river. I could not sleep, and so all night I 
 prayed to God, and all night the wives of the men prayed for 
 " the poor nigger " — prayed to their cruel husbands. Their 
 cries and tears prevailed, and I was robbed and let go after I 
 had vowed not to reveal their whereabouts. I left loving God 
 and believing in his faithfulness to his people as I had never 
 done before." 
 
 For years Mr. Northcross has been the trusted treasurer 
 of the Muscle Shoals Association. He is the pastor of the 
 largest church, and has the best edifice, in northern Alabama. 
 
 Oden - , Rev. M. C. B., of Sylacauga, was born in Charles- 
 ton, S. C, December 24, 1839. He was baptized by Rev. J. J. 
 D. Renfroe, D. D., in September, 1865, and in 1873 he was set 
 

 ■ -.-■- •/ 
 
 Mrs. Rebecca Pitts, Member Board of Trustees Woman's State Convention, 
 Uniontown, Ala. 
 
180 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 apart to the work of the gospel ministry, Rev. W. Wilks, and 
 others, officiating as presbytery. He, in speaking of the rise 
 of the work in this section, says : "I came from South Caro- 
 lina in 1858, a Methodist. There were nineteen or twenty 
 other slaves on our place beside myself. I, and one other, 
 professed to be Christians. The master of the place permitted 
 us to hold prayer services, and allowed the slaves of his kin 
 people to attend. The Lord blessed these meetings and at the 
 close of the war this humble beginning was ready to unfold 
 into the Harpersville Church. At the close of the war, I 
 began to teach night and Sunday Schools, and thus introduced 
 the study of letters, though in the Sunday School as well as 
 in the night school, we had nothing but the ' blue back speller.' " 
 Brother Oden is an honorable, outspoken, industrious, prosper- 
 ous man, whose hospitality is known far and wide. His home 
 has often been an asylum of rest to the writer, as well as to 
 other missionaries of Alabama of all denominations. 
 
 O'Bbtant, Rev. L. F., of Eufaula, the sou of Frederick 
 and Hose O'Bryant, was born on the Dent plantation in Bar- 
 bour county, Ala., in the year 1860. In 1879 he was converted 
 to the faith of the gospel under the preaching of Rev. Jerry 
 Shorter, and was baptized into the Pleasant Grove Baptist 
 Church. At the call of the above named church, he was set 
 apart to the work of the gospel ministry in 18S5 by Revs. J. 
 Q. A. Wilhite, A. Gachet, J. D. Maddox, E. May and J. A. 
 Alston, of Arkansas. Notwithstanding his educational ad- 
 vantages have been very meagre, he has, by constant study 
 and observation, advanced to a fair knowledge of books. He 
 is a loving husband, a successful pastor, a strong preacher, a 
 genial associate, and carries sunshine everywhere. The writer 
 was associated with him for some weeks in the institute work 
 at Eufaula, and was truly delighted with his urbanity and in- 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 181 
 
 nocent wit. He is a young man of hopeful prospects — if his 
 present wise course should continue to the end. His father 
 before him is a Baptist minister, whose life is held in high 
 esteem, and hence the subject of this sketch comes into his 
 public career having his own excellent personal graces savored 
 by the good name of his revered ancestor. 
 
 Owens, Rev. A. J., of Moulton, is an ex-student of Selma 
 University; he is an agreeable companion, a kind father, an. 
 orderly thinker and a forcible preacher. The writer has 
 greatly enjoyed the hospitalities of his home and the abund- 
 ance of his good humor. 
 
 Owkxs, Rev. Albert Fraxklyx, editor of the Baptist 
 Leader and pastor at Mobile, was born in Wilcox county, 
 Ala., January 1, 1854. Early in life he left Alabama for 
 Louisiana, in which state he was led to exercise faith in the Son 
 of God and was baptized into Little Mt. Zion Church by the 
 Rev. G. Stemley, of Avoyelles Parish. In April, 1873, he was 
 licensed to enter upon the work of the gospel ministry. At 
 the call of the Third Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., he was 
 ordained to the functions of the ministerial office by the Com- 
 mon Street Baptist Church, New Orleans, La., May 28, 1877, 
 by a council of which Rev. Marsena Stone, D. D., of Ohio, 
 was chairman, and Rev. A. M. Newman was secretary. His 
 longest and hitherto most prosperous pastorate has been with 
 the church who called for his ordination, and whom he led to 
 the purchase of their neat brick edifice on St. Anthony street. 
 
 Beginning with them in the spring of 1887, he left them 
 for Uniontown, September, 189U, in excellent quarters and 
 free from debt. This he did at such patient self-sacrifice as 
 may be found in only a very few men of his age. 
 
 In 1873 he entered Leland University, New Orleans, 
 
182 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 where he remained four years persuing the classical and theo-'f> 
 logical courses under Drs. Gregory and Stone. 
 
 While in Louisiana he was engaged in teaching school ;. 
 and was intimately associated with the general Baptist work, \ 
 being at one time editor of their state organ, the Baptist Mes- ! 
 senger. In 1884-85 he was editor of the Baptist Pioneer, lo- 
 cated at Selma, Ala., and has served as general superintendent 
 of missions for the State of Alabama. For many years he I 
 has been on the Board of Trustees of Selma University, and 
 in recognition of bis solid worth and general information he V 
 is now the bearer of our denominational standard. 
 
 Mr. Owens is a typical, Christian gentleman. No other 
 man among us has a library so select, so varied and so valu- 
 able as he has, nor has any man in Alabama a clearer evidence 
 of literary talent and literary relish. He is a many-sided man, 
 and the beauty of his solid personal qualities is greatly en- 
 hanced by his indigenous vivacity, unstinted hospitality, and 
 perennial benevolence. In the hovels of the poor and in the 
 times of the sources of disease, no man among us is more 
 welcome than he, neither is there one of his brethren whose 
 duty renders more heedless of danger or blind to personal 
 privations and material losses. Whether he builds houses of 
 worship, preaches, lectures, teaches, writes— whatever may ( be 
 the engagement of the hour, that engagement focusses the 
 whole man. The following incidents will show something of 
 the style of his mind : On one occasion when severely tried 
 in administering discipline, and when he had allowed his feel- 
 ings of indignation to run too high, he was so distressed that 
 for many nights sleep almost entirely forsook him. The 
 writer overheard him on this occasion, saying, "Against 
 thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." 
 
 Upon another occasion in the midst of a session 
 of the Convention, and as one of the policemen of the town 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 183 
 
 walked in and was seated, he arose and remarked : "Brother 
 president, I see in our assembly a policeman of the city in 
 which we are convened. I think this a fit time to give notice 
 to any who may feel incline! to be unruly that they must ob- 
 serve good order or I'll have them arrested." This came in 
 just at a condition of the meeting when a bit of humor was 
 just the thing most needed. 
 
 The St. Anthony Street Church, Mobile, is a tangible me- 
 morial of his energy, self-sacrifice and patient industry. Be- 
 side the pastorate of the St. Anthony Street Church (the 
 Third Baptist), he has served in the pastorate of the Dexter 
 Avenue, Montgomery, and in the pastorate of the church at 
 Uniontown. 
 
 His speeches are characterized by originality, clearness, 
 force and dignity. He is still a growing man — growing in 
 worth of manhood and in the confidence and love of the de- 
 nomination ; and should his health and life continue, the his- 
 torian who will write of a brighter day than this — a day not 
 far in the future — will point with pride to this man of rare 
 gifts, giving more space than is here accorded him. With 
 special pleasure the writer records the name of Albert F. 
 Owens, D. D., high upon the roll of his personal friends. 
 
 And this short notice of a worthy man can hardly close 
 at a point of greater beauty than in an humble tribute to his 
 other self, Mrs. Mary Mims Owens (once Mrs. Taylor), whom 
 he wedded in 1882, and who is held in high esteem as a leader 
 in church and educational circles. 
 
 Pettifoed, Rev. "W. R., D. D., son of "William and Matilda 
 Pettiford, was born in Granville county, X. C, January 20, 
 1847. He was, when a boy, of an industrious turn of mind, 
 working faithfully at whatever his hands found to do. At one 
 
184 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA 
 
 time he was with the tanner, and at another time he was 
 running his father's farm. 
 
 At the age of 21 years he united with the Baptist Church 
 of Rocksboro, Person county, N. C, and was immersed by the 
 Rev. Ezekiel Horton, of Salisbury. While he. was serving 
 this church as clerk, he told his mother, as a secret which he - 
 greatly desired she would not reveal, that he felt called to the 
 gospel ministry. As Brother Horton often put up at their 
 home he soon got possession of the secret. Dr. Pettiford now 
 says: " When I was called into an examining council and 
 learned that my secret was out, I was very much frightened ; 
 but the advice given upon this day has ever been helpful to 
 me." The writer met the subject of this sketch for the first . 
 time at the session of the State Convention held in Talladega 
 in November, 1876. He and the late Senator A. H. Curtis 
 were messengers from the church at Marion. At this time 
 the only traits that were especially noticeable were the frank- 
 ness of his countenance and the geniality of his manners. 
 At the commencement of Selma University in the winter of 
 1877-78, he joined Brother Woodsmall, becoming a member 
 of the pioneer faculty of the school. It was here that he was 
 seen as the studious, patient, industrious man -loved no less 
 by tender youth than he was trusted by riper years. He was 
 called to ordination by the Marion Church, Marion, Ala., and 
 dedicating hands were laid upon his head in Marion, Ala., in 
 the midst of the conventional session held there in November, 
 1880. After this he severed his connection with the school as 
 teacher and as financial agent, to enter the pastorate in Union 
 Springs. His open, earnest face, tact, and urbanity of speech, 
 made him one of the most successful financial agents the 
 University has ever sent upon the field. He relates the fol- 
 lowing incident in connection with his field work for the 
 school : " I was about thirty miles southeast of Greenville, Ala. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 185 
 
 A colored man by the name of Turner had just been mobbed 
 in Clark county. The colored people along the road were ex- 
 ceedingly frightened at the threatening attitude of the whites, 
 and hence refused to entertain any stranger. 1 knew not 
 where I was and it was now dark. My horse was broken 
 down. Family after family turned me off. At last one man 
 agreed to entertain my tired horse. Thankful for this little 
 drop of kindness, I stopped and fed my animal. Then I 
 started off — I knew not whither. After awhile I saw through 
 the boughs of the pines a dim light, which seemed far away. 
 Turning towards this light I wended my way through sage 
 field and bush, until I stood beside an old log hut, a rickety 
 relic of an old time Negro quarter. With ease this tiny spark 
 peeped through the great opening in the dirty cabin full into 
 my weary face. Herein, with husband and wife and babies, 
 and a lot of dirt, I was allowed to rest my tired limbs and 
 heavy heart till morning. 
 
 " Upon one occasion while Bro. D. T. Gulley and I were 
 on mission work together, we were delayed in Marengo county. 
 Waters were up, Brother Gulley was sick, and the people had 
 no money to give for educational purposes. I went to beg- 
 ging milk cows and succeeded in getting the people to donate 
 six." 
 
 Mr. Pettiford married his present wife, Miss Delia Boyd, 
 of Selma, Ala., November 22, 1880. She is an excellent 
 woman and comes of a fine family. As might have been ex- 
 pected the marriage has been a happy one for both parties. 
 
 Dr. Pettiford is a clear thinker, a concise speaker, a firm 
 friend, a lover of his race, and a fine presiding officer. Every 
 feature in his bearing is indicative of the true gentleman and 
 earnest Christian. He is a firm friend of Selma University, 
 and by this school he has been honored with the degree of 
 D. D. He is at this time (1892) president of the "Alabama 
 
Rev. W". C. Bradford, Pastor First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 187 
 
 Fenny Savings Bank" and of the Baptist State Convention 
 of Alabama. He is further noticed in connection with the 
 chapter on " State Convention" and " Selrna University" as 
 well as in other chapters. 
 
 Closing this sketch, it seems fitting that I should remark 
 that though he excels in many virtues, he is especially pecu- 
 liar in these : 
 
 1 He is abundant in plans and measures, so that the 
 variety of his operations almost wholly exclude the monotony 
 so often felt in church work. 
 
 2. He is in a peculiar degree a patient man. In all con- 
 ditions he seems to possess his soul in patience. 
 
 Since the above was written, he has been elected finan- 
 cial secretary of the State work. 
 
 He is now organizing the Alabama Publishing Company. 
 He is full of enterprise. 
 
 Phillips, Rev. D., of Tuskegee, was a " Father in Israel." 
 Those who are old enough to remember him as a slave, 
 say that he sat in council with the white ministers and was 
 permitted to speak in their associational gatherings. Nothing 
 seemed to disturb his peace; no amount of heated discussion 
 ever caused him to break from his strong hiding place of pious 
 humility. He was a large man with strong will, but every 
 ,l jot and tittle" of his ponderous being was under submission 
 to his consecrated will, which ruled all like the helmsman 
 steers the great ship. He was about the age of Mr. John 
 Dosier. eighty years. He refused to accept freedom till all 
 were free. 
 
 Peels, Rev. J. A., pastor of the First Colored Baptist 
 Church in North Birmingham, is a rising young man in the 
 Mount Pilgrim Association. His church, though a new enter- 
 prise, is a success, and all plans for gospel aggression find in 
 
188 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 him a ready and substantial friend. His brethren love him 
 because he is peaceable and benevolent in his dealings with 
 them. 
 
 Pollaed, Rev-Robeet T., son of Rev. R. T., Sr., and Mrs. 
 Mary F. Pollard, was born in Gainesville, Ala., October 4, 1860. 
 A few years after the close of the late civil war, Rev. R. T. 
 Pollard, Sr., moved with his family to Enterprise, Miss. There 
 the subject of this sketch received his first impressions— im- 
 pressions which were to serve as the foundation of his future 
 character. At the age of 12 his mother left him for the better 
 country. The boy, reflecting over his sad loss in the death of 
 his mother, turned unto the Lord, and was baptized into the 
 fellowship of the Mt. Pleasant Church, in which he imme- 
 diately became clerk and Sunday School teacher. Thus, 
 starting right, we are not surprised at the righteousness of the 
 course he now pursues. 
 
 By studying at night under his fathers instruction, he, at 
 the age of 12, could read and write. At 16 he was known as 
 "the boy preacher." At the age of 20 he entered a school 
 taught by Prof. Paul D. Jones in Meridian, Miss., in which 
 school he studied arithmetic, algebra, English grammar and 
 Latin. He remained here two years. In 1882 he entered Selma 
 University, under Prof. Woodsmall. Of this good man he 
 says : " His consecrated life did much toward fixing my charac- 
 ter in the spirit and doctrines of Christ." From this institu- 
 tion he graduated with the class of 1884 as valedictorian. In 
 the same school and in the same year he entered upon the 
 college course and completed the freshman and sophomore 
 years. During this time he was assistant teacher in the Uni- 
 versity. By all, and throughout all, he has been and is now 
 accepted as a student, a thinker, a rigid moralist and faithful 
 Christian. In March, 1885, he was ordained to the gospel 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 189 
 
 ministry in Selma, Revs. E. M. Brawley, D. D., W. H. MeAlpine, 
 H. N. Bouey, A. X. McEwen, C. L. Price, and C. R. Rodgers, 
 officiating as presbytery. After this he entered upon and 
 served acceptably different important pastorates in Perry 
 county. With credit to himself and with profit to the denomi- 
 nation, he has, as teacher, as moderator, as recording clerk of 
 the State Convention, and as district Sunday School mission- 
 ary, served the Baptists of Alabama. At this time he is the 
 successful pastor of the Dexter Avenue Church, Montgomery. 
 Thus this quiet, hard working young man has risen up till 
 there are but few that go before him. Mr. Pollard is a 
 philosopher, clothed with the spirit of a child. In him a full 
 heart balances a well stored head. 
 
 Pollard, Rev. I. M., of Lochapoka, is one of the few men 
 of whom we sometimes feel that they are Nature's favored 
 children. So evenly balanced are all his tempers and passions, 
 hopes and fears, that we are almost compelled to think that 
 so much self-government must have come largely as the gift 
 of nature. The writer has reasons to know him as an honest 
 man — as a man who can handle the money of his neighbor 
 without fault to himself or loss to his friend. Mr. Pollard is 
 held in high esteem by all who know him — white and black. 
 He was born about the year 1840. He possesses a fine per- 
 sonal appearance, a gentlemanly bearing, and is a good 
 preacher of the plain old gospel. 
 
 Posey, Prof. Thomas H., of Bessemer, the son of Wesley 
 and Patience Posey, was born September 15, 1854, at Besse- 
 mer, Ala. He was baptized into the Canaan Baptist Church 
 about the year 1872 by Rev. William Ware. Brother Posey 
 deserves honorable mention for his faithful services as an edu- 
 cator. He graduated from the normal course in Selma Uni- 
 versity in the spring of 1884, and has proven himself to be 
 
190 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 not only a power in the affairs of secular education, but a very 
 efficient, faithful worker in the church and Bible school. 
 
 Prentice, Rev. D. L., of Selma, Ala., son of James and 
 Caroline Prentice, was born in Shelby county, Ala., December 
 25, 1852. The home of his youthful days, like that of the 
 writer, must have been in a wild country infested by wolves ; 
 for he, in speaking of how he had to go after wood and water 
 into the thick swamps before the break of day, says: "On 
 one morning as I found myself surrounded by wolves, I cried 
 to God for help and was delivered. In my prayer for deliver- 
 ance I made a vow of consecration, which was the beginning 
 of a new life." In 1875 he was baptized by Rev. Berry Ware. 
 About the year 1865-66 he began studying Webster's speller, 
 and sought information, he says, of every person that he 
 thought had any information to give. He learned to read and 
 write and began figuring under the instruction of a Mr. J. W. 
 Strong, a man, so it is said, who used to be mayor of Selma, 
 Ala. The writer first met the subject of this sketch while he 
 was student in the Talladega College, and since his graduation 
 from the Selma University, his course and success as pastor, 
 teacher, missionary and lecturer, has been watched with 
 pleasing interest. He was ordained to the ministry May, 1882, 
 by Revs. Joe Smith and Henry Scott. He is a genuine friend 
 of religion and education, and being young and strong he has 
 a large opening for future usefulness and fame. 
 
 Prixce, Rev. J. T., of Gallion, Ala., son of John and Mary 
 A. Prince, was born March, 1853, in Marengo county, Ala. 
 He was baptized into the fellowship of the Bethlehem Church 
 by Rev. D. R. Willis the third Sunday in April, 1871. In 
 1884 in the St. Philip's Church, Selma, he was set apart to the 
 work of the gospel ministry by Revs. E. M. Brawley, H. N. Bouey, 
 C. R. Rodgers, L. P. Foster and the writer. He attended Selma 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 191 
 
 University under the different presidents — H. Woodsruall, W. 
 H. McAlpine, and E. M. Brawley. He began his education by 
 studying under a white man, whom he paid $1.00 a week. At- 
 tended a public school after he was 23 years of age. He taught 
 in the State school. Is now district missionary. He is an in- 
 dustrious man and owns good property. 
 
 Pullum, Rev. H. P., of Anniston, son of Lawrence and 
 Caroline Pullum, was born in Pickensville, Ala, March 23, 
 1862 ; baptized at Carrolton August, 1SS2, and entered imme- 
 diately upon the work of the ministry, but was not ordained 
 until March, 1889. At the request of the First Colored Bap- 
 tist Church at Bessemer, which he had organized and built 
 up, Mr. Pullum received the hands of ordination from Revs. P. 
 Murrell, W. A. Shirley, S. Page, A. J. Austin, D. M. Sewell. 
 and J. C. Crawford. He has a large following wherever he 
 goes. 
 
 Pcrce, Rev. C. L.. ex-p*resident of Selma University, is no- 
 ticed in this work only so far as other authors have not been 
 able to see him in his peculiar relations to the work in Ala- 
 bama. 
 
 It was in 1886, 1 think, in the most trying period of our 
 history, that Dr. Puree was unexpectedly called (upon the 
 resignation of Dr. E. M. Brawley) to assume the presidential 
 office in the Selma University. The school was burdened 
 with $7,000 of debt, its credit was about gone, its debtors 
 were impatient, its supporters divided, and denominational 
 strife was at white heat**-" The former president was not only 
 a peculiarly brilliant and cultured man, but had enjoyed 
 special advantages looking toward fitness for the presidential 
 chair. Many feared for Air. Puree. 
 
 However, it was thought by some that caution and 
 economy were the special characteristics called for by exist- 
 
192 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 ing conditions. We needed a man who could shun the strife 
 of factions, keep cool under severe pressure, and cause the 
 school's expenses to drop below its income. Some who had 
 watched Mr. Puree, were willing to trust him with the diffi- 
 cult duties of this trying hour, and the writer records with 
 much pleasure, that he kept clear of the quarrels, and mean- 
 while did much to remove the debt by putting the school on 
 plain and well regulated fare. 
 
 Dr. Puree has done the Baptists of Alabama very praise- 
 worthy service, not only as an educator, but as an example 
 in the matter of school management; and those who follow 
 him will profit by heeding his caution and economy. And, to 
 his honor it may be said, we have had no president who has 
 been more generally loved by the school. 
 
 Ptles, Rev. Carter, of Oxford, Ala., born in Talladega 
 county, Alabama, December 15, 1845, of Christian parents. 
 He was baptized in 1865 by Rev. Mr. Jenkins, a white minis- 
 ter, who devoted much of his time to evangelical work among 
 the colored people. In 1876 he was officially set apart to the 
 work of the gospel ministry by the Rev. Mr. Jenkins, William 
 Taylor and B. Snow. Mr. Pyles is among the leading men of 
 the Snow Creek Association. His pastorates at Jacksonville, 
 Choccolocco and other points prove him to be a leader of 
 ability. He is now undertaking a new work at Oxanna, Ala. 
 
 Rivers, Rev. E. C, of Talladega, Ala., was born January 
 5, 1847. He is the eldest son of Mr. Edward and Mrs. H. J. 
 Rivers, two very worthy old citizens of Talladega. In his 
 twenty-fourth year he was married to Miss Jane Moore, of 
 Talladega, by whom he has a large family of children. 
 
 He has a fair English education, having attended the Tal- 
 ladega College for parts of five sessions. In 1867 he united 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCIIES. 193 
 
 with the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Talladega, and was bap- 
 tized by the late Rev. Phil. Davis. 
 
 He was called to ordination by the Salem Baptist Church 
 in 1884, Revs. J. P. Barton and Moses Colly officiating in the 
 rites. He is an industrious, prudent man, and has accumu- 
 lated property worth 13,000 or $4,000. At this time he is the 
 moderator of the Rushing Springs Association, over which he 
 has presided with dignity for several years. He is a model 
 citizen and substantial man, sociable and aspiring. 
 
 Rivers, Rev. S. A., of Talladega, the son of Mr. Edward 
 and Mrs. H. J. Rivers, was born in Talladega, November 10, 
 1854. In a series of meetings, held by the writer in Mt. 
 Canaan Church, he was led to exercise faith in the religion of 
 Jesus Christ in 1876. In the same year he was united with 
 the church by baptism. 
 
 He immediately began laboring as a leader in Sunday 
 School work, in which he at once proved himself to be a very 
 capable person. He was soon appointed Sunday School Mis- 
 sionary for the Rushing Springs Association, in which posi- 
 tion he was remarkably successful. In 1877 he married Miss 
 Elizabeth Walker, by whom he has three promising daugh- 
 ters. He is a graduate from the theological department of the 
 Talladega College. He is an industrious business man, a 
 Christian gentleman, a clear thinker, a ready speaker, a social 
 genius. No man among us of his age has blighter prospects 
 than he, none more admired and loved. The manner in which 
 he has succeeded, under trying circumstances in the Mt. 
 Canaan Church, is simply amazing. Toward God he is faith- 
 ful, toward man he is kind, gentle and full of service. He was 
 ordained in 1889 to take charge of the Mt. Canaan Church. ' 
 
 Rivers, Rev. Alexander A., of Midway, Ala., the son 
 
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 Rev. H. Woodsmall, of Franklin, Ind., First President Selma University. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 195 
 
 'of John and Violet Rivers, was born near Glennville, Ala., in 
 the year 1851. 
 
 In his twentieth year he was baptized into the Spring 
 Hill Zion Church by the Rev. A. Gachet, under whose preach- 
 ing he had been led into repentance toward God and faith in 
 our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 It was not long before he felt that he was called of God 
 to the work of the ministry. At the call of the Enon Church 
 he was set apart to the sacred office by the Eevs. A. Gachet, 
 P. Johnson and F. Randall. Brother Rivers is one of the 
 strong preachers and successful pastors of the Eufaula Asso- 
 ciation. He has had very limited educational advantages, but 
 he is a constant reader of books and a close observer, and 
 hence he has made considerable educational attainments. He 
 is quiet, unassuming, even and hospitable. The writer en- 
 joyed a very pleasant stay with Brother and Sister Rivers at 
 their home in Midway. He once held a very fine pastorate in 
 Texas, which he had to give up because of the poor health of 
 Mrs. Rivers and return to his old home in Alabama. 
 
 Roach, Rev. Perkins, of Stevenson, father of Mrs. M. A. 
 Boothe and of Rev. Thomas Jefferson Roach, was born in 
 Tennessee. He, with Rev. Thomas Roach (who was the first 
 ordained colored minister" in Jackson county), and Rev. Robert 
 Caver, organized the work in northeast Alabama. He was 
 noted for his magnanimity and joyfjulness of heart. It is said 
 that his life was as one continuous song of gladness. When a 
 child he was a house boy, which position brought him into 
 continual contact with persons who knew books. He so far 
 utilized this advantage as to learn to read, but his knowledge 
 of writing was delayed till since the close of the war his 
 daughter (now Mrs. Boothe) had sufficiently advanced in her 
 studies to instruct him. This story is told of him : During 
 
196 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 the war his mistress, the widow of Rev. Charles Roach, Sr., 
 fearing the Federal soldiers, left home and fled across the 
 Tennessee river into Sand Mountain. The slave remained at 
 home to care for things about the place. With the view of 
 preventing want to the widow and those who were with her, 
 he, regardless of the dangers of his undertaking, and while 
 the shades of night hid his operations, would bear across the 
 river and up the mountain such things as he thought they 
 might need. 
 
 He has been dead sonie eighteen years. His widow, Mrs. 
 Charlotte Roach, has done nobly in rearing and educating 
 the children. 
 
 Roach, Rev. Lewis, of Fackler, deserves mention as a 
 hard working, poorly paid gospel preacher. Many years he 
 led the Mud Creek Association as moderator. He, Rev. James 
 Larkin, Rev. Lewis Henshaw, and others, are trying to build 
 an academy at Hollywood, Ala. They deserve success. 
 
 Roach, Rev. T. J., of Hollywood, is an industrious and 
 honorable man. He has served the Mud Creek Association as 
 missionary, has been pastor at Bridgeport, and now preaches 
 at Paint Rock. 
 
 Robixson, Rev. Isham, of Eureka, Talladega county, was 
 born in Greenville, S. C, October 10, 1814. "While he was the 
 property (?) of Mr. John Truss (in 1833) he took to wife Miss 
 Aggie Truss, by whom there has been born unto him a large 
 family of sons and daughters, who are now grown and are 
 honorable members of society. Brother Robinson was bap- 
 tized by a Rev. Mr. Joseph Byers in 1840. He said to the 
 writer: " I was licensed in 1850, but could not preach except 
 when I could secure the presence of two slaveholders. I was 
 licensed by the Mount Joy Church, the first church organized 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 197 
 
 in our section of the State. I was ordained in 1865, by a 
 council over which Rev. A. J. Waldrop presided. I was so 
 hindered in my ministry in slavery time that Brother Henry 
 Wood and I covenanted together to take our case to God and 
 beg for liberty. We agreed that we would go at sunrise at 
 least once each week and pray to God for freedom. It was 
 eighteen years before the victory came, and often appearances 
 caused our faith to waver." Mr. Robinson is now quite old, 
 but is still in fair health. His sons are leaders in the Baptist 
 church and helpers in every good cause. 
 
 Rodgers, Rev. C. R., missionary for the western district 
 of Alabama under the American Baptist Publication Society, 
 was born at Hamburg, Perry county, Ala., August 4, 1859. 
 
 In early life he had opportunity to attend the country 
 school of his neigborhood, beginning under the instruction of 
 Rev. G. J. Brooks, now of Selma. 
 
 Living on the farm, his early activities were in line with 
 his calling. He was a farmer boy, and hence he drew his 
 bread and bed from the handles of the plow and the hoe. 
 
 In November, 1878, he entered Selma University, gradu- 
 ating from the normal course in 1884, with Messrs. R. T. 
 Pollard, L. J. Green, R. B. Hudson, D. T. Gulley, — Hines, 
 Miss S. A. Stone and Miss Eliza Washington (now Mrs. R. T. 
 Pollard). The next year he began the college course and com- 
 pleted with Messrs. Pollard and Hines the sophomore year. 
 
 Mr. Rodgers was converted in his fifteenth year, and was 
 baptized by Rev. R. Windham September, 1S74. 
 
 On June 11, 1884, he was set apart to the full work of the 
 gospel ministry in the St. Philip Street Church, Selma, by 
 Drs. E. M. Brawley, C. L. Puree and C. O. Boothe, aided by 
 Revs. H. N. Bouey and G. J. Brooks. From the time of his 
 ordination till December, 1890, he served the pastorate of the 
 
198 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 First Colored Baptist Church, Tuskegee, but since this last 
 date he has been successfully operating in his present posi- 
 tion. 
 
 In January, 1889, he was wedded to Miss Lily B. Fore- 
 man, of Opelika. Bro. R. is a man of excellent spirit, quiet, 
 unassuming, and makes changes in men more on the order 
 of the sunshine than in the manner of the storm spoken of in 
 the fable of the contest between sun and wind. Perhaps no 
 man among us has so few enemies as he has. 
 
 From 1889 to 1892, he has presided over the Auburn As- 
 sociation. He is an easy, pleasant speaker, and a choice 
 man. 
 
 Ross, Rev. S. L. — It was March 9, 1861, when the subject 
 of this sketch was born of slave parents — Luckie and Emily 
 Ross — near Rehoboth, Wilcox county, Ala. 
 
 He had the advantage of a pious, Christian mother, and 
 was hopefully converted at the age of 12 years, and united with 
 the Pine Grove Baptist Church by baptism, Rev. Wallace 
 Richardson, pastor, officiating. 
 
 He was taught his " A B C's " by his mother and grand- 
 father. As soon as free schools opened he was placed in 
 school, which were simply poor, for schools in those days were 
 kept, not taught. 
 
 In December, 1879, he was sent to Selma for the purpose 
 of attending: school. He united with the St. Philip Street 
 Baptist Church — Rev. W. A. Burch, pastor. For a number 
 of years he was clerk of the church and superintendent of the 
 Sunday School. 
 
 It was while he was superintendent of the Sunday School 
 that Mr. Ross felt called to the gospel ministry, in order to a 
 better preparation for which he entered (1883) the Alabama 
 Baptist Normal and Theological School (now Selma Univer- 
 sity), where he spent a number of years. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 199 
 
 Having received a call to the pastorate of the Hamburg 
 Baptist Church, near Marion, Mr. Ross was accordingly or- 
 dained March 31, 1889. Ordaining council: Revs. Charles L. 
 Puree, president Selma University; R. T. Pollard, Sunday 
 School Missionary; William Madison, J. H. Hunter and L. J. 
 Green. Dr. C. O. Soothe and Rev. Charles L. Fisher were 
 also present and participated. 
 
 Rev. Ross was married to Miss Emily C. Boyd, of Selma, 
 August 7, 1889. October 1, of the same year he resigned the 
 Hamburg Church, the Forkland School, which he had taught 
 for a number of years, to accept the principalship of the 
 Eutaw public schools, Eutaw ; Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Boli- 
 gee, and Liberty Baptist Church, Blocton. 
 
 Owing to her thorough training and long experience as 
 instructress in the city schools of Selma, Mrs. Ross has con- 
 tributed much to the success of her husband. 
 
 Against the wishes of friends, patrons and churches be 
 resigned his school of 350 pupils and the two churches 
 named, to accept the position as treasurer and instructor in 
 the State Colored Normal School, Normal, Ala. 
 
 July 1, 1893, he severed his connection with that school 
 and became pastor of the Steele Street Baptist Church, Hunts- 
 ville. 
 
 October 1 of the same year he resigned the pastorate of 
 
 the Steele Street Church to take charge of the Sunday School 
 
 Missionary work in the State under the American Baptist 
 
 . Publication Society, Philadelphia, Pa., which position he 
 
 now holds. 
 
 Savage, Rev. Daniel, of Mumford, pastor of several 
 large churches, deserves to be mentioned among the praise- 
 worthy, busy men of the Rushing Springs Association. He is 
 held in high esteem for his self-reliance, stainless reputation, 
 
200 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 agreeable manners, public spirit and earnest Christian labors. 
 He preaches for Shady Grove Church, Jenifer, and Sycamore 
 Church, Talladega. The writer has seen him during the past 
 fifteen years — in many meetings where there were hot words 
 and hotter feelings and yet with him there was the same 
 quiet spirit, the same smiling face. "He that ruleth his own 
 spirit is better than he that taketh a city!" 
 
 Sampson, Mr. James William, son of Rev. Green Samp- 
 son, of Wetumpka, is a young man of high rank in the order 
 of the Knights of Pythias, but is no less a solid efficient mem- 
 ber of the Shiloh Baptist Church, of Birmingham. He de- 
 serves consideration, as a man of discernment and enterprise 
 concerning racial questions and denominational interests. 
 
 Scott, Rev. John, late of Demopolis, led to the erection 
 of the edifice in which the First Colored Baptist Church of 
 Demopolis now worships. After the Rev. James Caldwell, 
 Rev. Scott was the chief leader of the people in his section. 
 He died five or six years ago at about 50 years of age, and 
 his pastorate is now filled by the Rev. Mr. Wallace. 
 
 Scott, Rev. Anderson, is at this writing pastor of the 
 Tabernacle Church, in Birmingham, but began his ministry at 
 Selma, where he appears among the organizers of the work. 
 He has undergone a good many changes, but because of the 
 presence of a, very large amount of vitality and will force he 
 is still pushing on amp»g his brethren. His life may give this 
 useful lesson, namely, "keep the face to the lion, never give 
 the back to the foe" — forgetting the things that lie behind us, 
 vigorously reach for the good that lies before us. Brother 
 Scott is one of the pioneers and his name lies in the founda- 
 tions. 
 
 Scott, Rev. Henry, of Blocton, is of Maryland parent- 
 age. He is a man of piety, of integrity and industry. He has 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 201 
 
 labored as a missionary of the Shelby Springs Association, and 
 has rendered valuable services in support of Selma Univer- 
 sity. He is an uncompromising foe of low morals. Recently 
 his health has been poor, and hence his work has been hin- 
 dered. 
 
 When Selma University existed only in purpose he very 
 substantially aided the purpose toward materialization. He 
 and Rev. P> L. Prentice collected over a hundred dollars from 
 one church and*sent it up to the writer' in Talladega in 1876. 
 
 Shirley, Rev. W. A., was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., June 
 12, 1857. He began the work of mastering letters in his 
 native city at the age of seven years, by attending the public 
 schools provided for by the State. Later he attended three 
 sessions (of nine months) of the city school in Columbus, 
 Miss. For seven years he worked in a whiskey saloon, where, 
 he says, that while at work behind the bar, he was converted 
 to the faith of the Christian religion. Joined the church in 
 1878 in Mississippi, under the pastorate of Rev. T. L. Jordan. 
 Studied theology in the Presbyterian school at Tuscaloosa. 
 Was ordained in the African Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa 
 under the pastorate of the Rev. J. M. Mason. His pastorates 
 have been at Hull's and Birmingham, Ala. 
 
 For ten years he served the Antioch. Bethlehem Associa- 
 tion, as clerk. He has built three church edifices. 
 
 Mr. Shirley is possessed of that easy, joyous, friendly 
 turn in manners and address, which n»tke him agreeable to 
 all classes of reasonable people. He is studious and observing, 
 which fact, coupled with his native talent, offers him an ever 
 broadening field of operation as che years shall come and go 
 "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." 
 
 Simmons, Rev. J. S., at present pastor of the Gadsden 
 Church, son of James and Annie Simmons, was born in Ala- 
 
 14— 
 
202 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 "1 
 
 bama August 16, 1859. He was baptized by the Rev. Henrys 
 Stevens into the Greensboro Church May 27, 1878. Mr. Sina-"v| 
 rnons is a man of talent, and is a graduate of the Lincoln •*■ 
 University, once located at Marion. He was set apart to the • 
 work of the gospel ministry by the Sixteenth Street Church, 
 Birmingham- in April, 1889, Revs. W. R. Pettiford, D. D., A. 
 C. Jackson, and R. Donald, officiating as presbytery. Since 
 his ordination he has served the Galilee Church at Anniston, 
 and now serves the church at Gadsden, wheretis labors have 
 been especially successful. Everywhere he has borne the 
 reputation of an honorable and pious man. He has been for- 
 tunate in finding and winning a helpmeet for him in his 
 spiritual and intellectual labors in the person of a very excel- 
 lent lady. 
 
 Simpson, Rev. I. T., of Selma, Ala., was born in this State 
 August 1, 1858. He was baptized into the Belleville Church 
 December, 1876, and in 1883, he was ordained to the work 
 of the gospel ministry by Revs. D. Shepherd and C. Travis. 
 He attended the State University at Montgomery and is now 
 soon to close a course in Selma University. Brother Simpson 
 is a man of fine sense, is a good speaker, and with heed on 
 his own part, sympathy on the part of his people, and bless- 
 ing from above, his opportunities for increasing usefulness 
 and honor are very encouraging. Already he has attained a 
 reputation as a pastor and builder as well as orator. 
 
 P. S. Since the above was written, Brother Simpson has 
 completed his course at the University, and is now pastor at 
 Opelika, where be is already the peerless preacher and suc- 
 cessful leader. 
 
 The writer has the good fortune to know something 
 about the good order of his home, and of the hospitality of 
 his refined and agreeble wife. He is peculiarly himself and 
 
Rev. J. E. A. Wilson, Pastor Rising Star Baptist Church, Pratt City, Ala. 
 
204 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 not another — clear headed, comprehensive, reasonable, self- 
 reliant, genial, in his home as well as in the public harness. 
 Doubtless the historian who comes after, will tell of the fruits 
 which shall hang upon the ripened years of this strong man. 
 May God help him to remember that Sampson's strength was 
 the source of his ruin. "Eternal vigilance is the price of 
 liberty." 
 
 Smith, Rev. G. S., is pastor of the Red Mountain Church 
 Bessemer. 
 
 Steinback, Rev. L. S., ex-pastor African Baptist Church, 
 Tuscaloosa, was born in Marengo county, Ala., March 12, 1852. 
 He was set free at 12 years of age. 
 
 He says : " One year, all the wages I received above my 
 scanty meals and rough clothes, was one dozen apples. Often 
 I was glad to obtain a good meal of parched corn. At 19 I 
 worked in Uniontown for 50 cents a day." 
 
 It was at this time that he learned his alphabet, studying 
 at night school. He says that as he' went to his meals and 
 to his work, his spelling book was ever with him. He at- 
 tended school after he had married — using such time as he 
 could spare after crops were " laid by." 
 
 He was ordained to the ministry in October, 1883, Rev?. 
 John Scott, F. Gilbert and A. Wright officiating as presbytery. 
 By industry and perseverance, he has been able to teach in 
 the free public schools of the State, has been missionary in 
 his association, and is now pastor of one of our largest 
 churches. He lives, he says, on his own plantation, for 
 which he has paid three thousand dollars. 
 
 This is an example which is well calculated to encourage 
 poor, struggling young men to overcome difficulties and rise 
 anyhow — rise in spite of difficulties. Brother Steinback has 
 served the pastorate of the Tuscaloosa Church and also edits 
 a newspaper, The Christian Hope. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 205 
 
 Stevens, Rev. Henry, of UniontowD, son of Harry and 
 Agnes Stevens, was born near Port Royal, Va., May 5, 1820. 
 At the age of 21 he was baptized into Flat Run Church, 
 Orange county, Va., by the Rev. B. Hodge. He came to Ala- 
 bama in 1843, at which time he began to speak concerning the 
 grace of God in the redemption of sinners. In 1845 he began 
 for the first time to read the sacred Scriptures, and in the same 
 year he married Miss Clarissa Clay, by whom ten children 
 were born to him. 
 
 Mr. Stevens was one of nature's noblemen. He was an 
 honest, outspoken man, an orderly citizen, and a very forcible 
 preacher of the plain old gospel. 
 
 In 1868 he was fully set apart to the work of the gospel 
 ministry by his white brethren, Revs. T. M. Bailey and Drs. 
 Mcintosh and Curry. 
 
 His every word was believed by all who knew him, and 
 his perfect honesty no man doubted. For nine consecutive 
 years he was moderator of the Uniontown Association. He 
 was one of the founders of the State Convention, and also of 
 the Selma University. In 1890 he exchanged the cross for 
 the crown, dying as he had lived, loved and respected by all. 
 He left his family in possession of good property, worth about 
 65,000, and, above all, a name that has no blemish. Often our 
 school sought refuge from want in the purse of Elder Stevens. 
 He was two years older than his brother Washington, who 
 died before him in Montgomery. 
 
 Stokes, Rev. A. J., pastor of Columbus Street Church, 
 Montgomery, was born in Orangeburg county, S. C, July 25, 
 1858. He was led to exercise faith in Christ at the age of 
 twelve and a half years. He entered the work of the minis- 
 try in the Methodist church, but soon became convinced of the 
 correctness of Baptist views, and, joining the Baptist people, 
 he was baptized by Rev. Edward Green, of Branchwell, S. C, 
 
206 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 May, 1871. After studying two terms in Crafting University 
 and two terms in the State University, he entered Benedict 
 College, from which he graduated in 1884. In 1874 he was 
 solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. 
 E. Green, Jacob Govan, Henry Harvey, and Harry Reeves. 
 Brother Stokes has been missionary, editor and school com- 
 missioner, and is one of the most successful preachers and 
 pastors in all the land. During the two months in which be 
 has been preaching in Montgomery he has added, by baptism, 
 about 500 members. The writer tried to learn something of 
 his methods,. by visiting his meetings and young people's 
 classes, and the following points seem worthy of mention ; his 
 preaching is characterized : 
 
 1. By the idea of salvation by grace through simple 
 faith. 
 
 2. By narrative and portraiture and illustration. There is 
 no cold obtruse reasoning nor loud emptiness in his speeches. 
 
 3. By pointedness and sympathy. Each man seems to 
 feel that the pastor is talking to him and that the heart that 
 speaks has a care and tenderness for all. 
 
 Then he is sociable, approachable to all, from the lowest 
 to the highest, old folks and children, rich and poor, great and 
 small, wise and otherwise — all seem to find in him a ready echo. 
 In view of his power and of his youth, prayer spontaneously 
 rises to God that he may be kept in watching, in humility, in 
 faith and in faithful service. 
 
 It is worthy of remark that during his short time with 
 Columbus Street Church, he has bought a neat and valuable 
 parsonage for the church from means raised above the neces- 
 sary expenses. 
 
 Tatlor, Rev. William, Choccolocco, was born in April, 
 1836, in the State of Georgia. He was the property (?) of a 
 
Rev. W. X. Sliirley, Pastor Sardis Baptist Church, Enon Ridge. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 207 
 
 Mr. B. Jenks, whose daughter married a Mr. Taylor. He says, 
 ''When in my ninth year my mother bade me farewell with 
 this charge: 'Don't kill, don't steal, don't keep bad company, 
 don't be impolite to old people, don't be disobedient to those 
 who own you, and you will never be abused.' I have never 
 seen her face since, but her words have ever been with me to 
 confirm me in the right way." Brother Taylor has now been 
 in the ministry about twenty-four years, having entered upon 
 his public career 1868. He is one of the leading men of the 
 Snow Creek Association, and has attained to a fair knowledge 
 of letters, though he has had no educational advantages. 
 Brother Taylor has been careful of the welfare of his family 
 and interested in the affairs of the house of God. He lives on 
 his own farm near Choccolocco, respected by his neighbors, 
 both white and colored. 
 
 Thorxtox, Rev. Elbert, of Union Springs, son of E. 
 Thornton and Matilda Thornton, was born in the State of Geor- 
 gia, December 8, 1838. In 1853 he was moved into Barbour 
 county, Alabama, where he remained till he was emancipated 
 in 1865. In June, 1861, he was baptized into the white Bap- 
 tist Church at Midway, Ala., by the Rev. Mr. Brooks. In 
 1868 he was united with the church at Union Springs, and 
 was one among the colored brethren who drew out from the 
 white church to organize a colored Baptist Church in Union 
 Springs — the first colored church in Bullock county. He was 
 chosen one of the first deacons. It was not long ere his breth- 
 ren urged him to enter the work of the ministry, which, under 
 a deep sense of duty and after some hesitancy, he did. On 
 the 5th day of June, 1874, at the call of his church, he was 
 solemnly set apart to the sacred office of the gospel ministry 
 by Revs. C. H. Thornton, B. Clark and others. When he took 
 charge of the church it was in debt, but this debt was soon 
 
208 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA 
 
 removed and the membership was increased, during six , 
 years pastorate, from 48 to 188, and the pastor's salary was": 
 raised from $30 a year to $25 per month. From 1874 to 1881 
 he was moderator of Pine Grove Association, and since his 
 return from his gospel labors in Arkansas he has been re- 
 elected. Brother Thornton is no less commanding in his per- . 
 sonal appearance than he is in his strong, clear intellect. He 
 is a strong leader. 
 
 Thornton - , Rev. C. H., of Aberfoil, Bullock county, was 
 born in North Carolina, in 1842. He was baptized in 1862 by 
 a Rev. Mr. Brooks, of Midway. In 1869 he was ordained to 
 the work of the gospel ministry by Revs. R. Wright and J. G. 
 Jett. He organized and built up the Aberfoil Church. For 
 several years he was moderator of the Fine Grove Association. 
 Mr. Thornton is a strong, industrious, economical, persever- 
 ing man. He has obtained property worth about §3,000. The 
 people whom he serves at Aberfoil are honorable and aspiring, 
 and hence each — pastor and people — finds in the other the 
 elements of success. 
 
 It was within his comfortable home that the writer, 
 weary from overwork and exposure in constant travel, found 
 in February, 1890, a quiet retreat in which to finish "Plain 
 Theology for Plain People." 
 
 Troupe, Rev. Aaron, of Town Creek, Lawrence county, 
 was born February 14, 1851, in Morgan county, Ala. Imme- 
 diately after the close of the war his parents moved to Court- 
 land, Ala., where Aaron was brought up. He was baptized in 
 1869 by Rev. John Bell, the pastor of Red Bank Church. 
 Feeling that it was his duty to preach the gospel, and not 
 willing to enter upon such a responsible mission without pre- 
 vious preparation, he, for about four sessions, attended the 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 209 
 
 Selma University, known at that time as the Normal and 
 Theological School. On his return home he taught in the 
 public schools. On May 16, 1886, he was ordained to the work 
 of the ministry by Revs. G. Garth, M. J. Hooks, A. J. Owens 
 and M. James. Brother Troupe has served in the church at 
 Huntsville, and is now the successful pastor of Macedonia, 
 near Town Creek. In 1882 he labored as district missionary 
 under the Publication Society. He promises well. He and 
 his brother, Deacon Troupe, are in the bone and sinew of the 
 north Alabama work, and in them every good thing finds a 
 ready echo and a tangible response. 
 
 Tyler, Rev. Maxsfield, of Lowndesboro, was born about 
 twelve miles from Augusta, Ga., in the month of November, 
 1826. When very young he was moved into the city of 
 Augusta and lived in the family of his great aunt, the wife of 
 Rev. Jacob Walker. He was early brought under the influences 
 of the Springfield Baptist Church of that city — a church of 
 colored people, which as early as 1845 was reported as num- 
 bering 1.100 members, and it was added: "This large com- 
 munity, with the pastor and a large corps of exhorters, are all 
 of the colored race." Rev. M.Tyler remained in this Christian 
 family and attended the services of the above named church 
 till he was 18 years of age. He says: "I was with them 
 when the stars fell." 
 
 At this time, as he was a slave, he was removed by his 
 master to the State of Alabama, where he has remained until 
 this writing. In April, 1855, he made a public profession of 
 faith in Christ and united with the people of God by baptism. 
 Shortly after this he felt impressed with a call to enter the 
 work of the gospel ministry. This call he tried to obey as far 
 as his condition and fitness would allow. "The work," he 
 says, " was exceeding difficult, as we were not allowed to know 
 
210 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 books and might receive only oral instruction on religious sub- 
 jects." When a very young man he married his first wife, with 
 whom he lived for twenty-six years — till her death. 
 
 At the close of the war he located at Lowndesboro, where 
 he went immediately to work to organize a colored Baptist 
 church. Success attended his ministry and many were brought 
 to faith in Christ. In 1867 he' succeeded in organizing the 
 colored Baptist church in Lowndesboro. On June 27, 1868, he 
 was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, since which 
 time he has baptized 1,000 persons into the Lowndesboro 
 church and 500 at White Hall. 
 
 When the Alabama District Association was organized in 
 1871, he was elected moderator, and is moderator at this time. 
 He was a leader in the organization of the Baptist State Con- 
 vention, over which he presided from 1876 to 1886. He is one 
 of the originators, stockholders, and trustees of the Selma 
 University, and is now, and from the beginning of the Uni- 
 versity, has been the chairman of the board of trustees. He 
 is a man dearly beloved. 
 
 In recognition of his Christian manliness, his faithful 
 labors, and his knowledge of the word of God, the above 
 named university in 1890 conferred upon him the honorary 
 title of D. D. 
 
 He is studious, industrious, devout, urbane; and though 
 he is now about 68 years of age, he is still so full of sunshine 
 as to be acceptable to youth as he is to old age. His present 
 wife heartily joins him in every good word and work. 
 
 He has succeeded in accumulating considerable property, 
 and is greatly to be praised for the care he has bestowed upon 
 the culture of his sons. He has been among the chief finan- 
 cial supports of all the worthy measures of the denomination. 
 He is very sociable, and possesses rare powers as a preacher. 
 No man in Alabama has so much power over the Alabama 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 21 1 
 
 Baptists as Dr. Tyler; his works as well as words make him 
 the beloved. 
 
 Walker, Rev. William, of Avondale, was born Novem- 
 ber 30, 1848, near Jacksonville, Ala. In August of 1866 he 
 was baptized into Bethel Baptist Church, Alexandria, by Rev. 
 George W. Brewton. Mr. Walker's ordination took place in 
 August, 1876, Revs. G. W. Brewton, S. L. McLean and James 
 Miller officiating as presbytery. It was late in life ere he came 
 upon opportunities for book learning, but finally some good 
 white friends, seeing his desire to learn, assisted him in mak- 
 ing a beginning upon which he has made a fair improvement. 
 His preaching is characterized by self-abnegation, application 
 to the subject, and earnestness of style.. Indeed in several re- 
 gards he is really a strong preacher. He is no less forcible in 
 the pulpit than he is agreeable in the parlor. He has served the 
 pastorates at Gadsden and Anr.iston, and now presides over the 
 church at Ashville. The following will give some evidence of 
 his standing among all classes : While the Wills Creek Asso- 
 ciation was in session a few weeks ago in Ashville the white 
 Baptists allowed him the use of the house of worship for the 
 session, and the Rev. Mr. Montgomery (white), of this town, 
 informs me that the white people aid in his support, some of 
 them constantly attending upon his services. 
 
 Walker. Rev. T. W., of Birmingham, the son of Rev. 
 Emanuel and Charlotte Walker, the property (?) of Benjamin 
 Walker, of Coosa county, Alabama, was born in Coosa 
 county, Alabama, September 5, 1852. 
 
 He joined the old Elam Baptist Church, Montgomery 
 county, Alabama, in May, 1879, and was baptized by Rev. 
 Jerry Cole in the same month. On February 26, 1884, he was 
 ordained to the gospel ministry at the call of the Sixth Ave- 
 
Rev. L. S. Steinback, Pastor Second Baptist Church, Demopolis, Ala. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 213 
 
 nue Church, in the city of Birmingham, by Revs. W. R. Petti- 
 ford and J. R. Capers. His success has been marvelous. 
 
 The writer first met the subject of this sketch in Mont- 
 gomery county in the year 1879, when, though he was not a 
 Christian, he was acting as Sunday School superintendent. 
 He says that on this occasion the question, "How can you lead 
 others in the road to heaven when you, yourself, are not walk- 
 ing therein?" destroyed all his carnal security and false ease, 
 and was the beginning of a change in his life. 
 
 I doubt if any man among us has had more power over 
 the masses than he. While he was building the Sixth Avenue 
 Church there was a constant demand for more room for his 
 audiences. And since he has been serving at the Shiloh 
 Church, the writer has seen not only the building filled to its 
 utmost capacity, but hundreds of eager listeners standing 
 without at the door. 
 
 Those who know him best feel that his power over the 
 masses is largely owing to his common sense, goodness of 
 heart, and his simple, steady faith in God, his cool self-reliance 
 and his hard work for and among the masses of the people. 
 
 Future historians will no doubt find reasons for record- 
 ing his name high on the best pages of their books* 
 
 He relates the following incidents of his early childhood 
 "When I was five years of age, 1, for the first time, enjoyed a 
 ride to town. When I got off the wagon Mr. Harrison rolled 
 up my shirt sleeves and the legs of my pants and placed me 
 on a block on the street in the middle of a great crowd of 
 people. I enjoyed it, as I seemed to be the person especially 
 noticed by all. I saw my mother and father weeping, but I 
 could see no reason for it. When I came down from the block, 
 I, with two sisters and a brother, went hunie with a Mr. 
 
 •See chapters on Sixth Avenue and Shiloh Churches, Birmingham, and the 
 Mt. Pilgram Association. 
 
214 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 House, where the crack of the whip, the yelp of the hound 
 and the howl of the wolf were the most frequent sounds that 
 fell upon my ear. The fact and horrors of slavery were first 
 hranded into my heart by the tying and whipping of my 
 father before my eyes. When I asked father what it meant, 
 he replied : * 'The lash which I fear will soon fall upon your- 
 self, my son, will too early explain what is meant.' " 
 
 A white man to whom he hired himself taught him at 
 night his alphabet, and started him to spelling and reading 
 during his eighteenth year, and now he reads, writes, and 
 manages his own figures in business. He is a grand man. 
 
 He has organized a building and loan association with 
 about 2,000 members. 
 
 Ware, Rev. William, of East Lake, Jefferson county, 
 Ala., was born in said county October 5, 1837. He was con- 
 verted to Christianity in his thirteenth year, and was baptized 
 into Union Church, near Birmingham — that is, where the city 
 now is — by the Rev. Willis Burns (white). He was ordained 
 to the work of the gospel ministry November, 1868, by Revs. 
 Edmond Burris and Allen McAlpine. 
 
 The Rev. A. J. Waldrop (white) says of Bro. Ware: " We 
 never had in Jefferson county a man of more stainless charac- 
 ter. He is not an educated man, but he is earnest, honorable 
 and upright." 
 
 The writer has found Bro. Ware to be one of the meekest 
 and gentlest of men. He, with Rev. Henry Wood, organized 
 the Mt. Zion Church in 1878, and he was the first moderator 
 of the Mt. Pilgrim Association. He has held various pastor- 
 ates, and has held them always with credit to himself and 
 profit to the cause. 
 
 He lives on his ow r n pleasant home and quiet farm a few 
 miles northwest of East Lake. He is still an active worker, 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 215 
 
 and enjoys the love and confidence of the people among whom 
 his light so long has shone to the glory of God. 
 
 Ware, Rev. Berry, was one of the pioneers of the work 
 in Shelby, Jefferson and Talladega counties. Few men in 
 those early days had more power over the masses than he. 
 He died some sixteen or seventeen years ago, and I have noth- 
 ing of his history or nativity. He baptized the Rev. D. L. 
 Prentice, and started the church at Aldrich. 
 
 Webb, Rev. George W_, of Eufaula, Ala., was born in 
 Russell county, Ala., in 1844. Fortunately for him, Capt. TV. 
 H. Redd carried him, while he was still quite young, to Co- 
 lumbus, Ga., where his perceptive mind was permitted to 
 imbibe such ideas of refinement as did not exist on the planta- 
 tion. Here, under the advice of his parents, he entered upon 
 a sort of irregular course of study, which led to some success 
 in book knowledge. As Gen. Wilson's army was passing 
 through Georgia, he enlisted as a soldier, remaining in service 
 till he was mustered out in 1S66. 
 
 He was baptized into the fellowship of the white Baptist 
 church at Abbeville, Ala., by the Rev. L. R. Sims. In 1868 he 
 married Miss Eliza Collins, and in 18G9 was among those who 
 led in the organization of a colored Baptist church at Abbe- 
 ville. In 1870 he assisted in organizing the "East Alabama 
 and West Florida Association." In 1873 he moved to Eufaula. 
 He was ordained to the gospel ministry about 1874-75. Mr. 
 Webb is a very energetic man and a successful builder of 
 churches. He took a leading part in the organization of the 
 Eufaula District Sunday School Convention, and much of its 
 success is due to his missionary labors. He is a friend of edu- 
 cation and missions, and believes in progress on all lines. 
 
 Whatley, Rev. W. H_, of White Plains, is of Georgia 
 nativity, but came to Alabama while young. Without doubt 
 
216 COLORED BAPTISTS OP ALABAMA. 
 
 Mr. Whatley is the most influential man in Calhoun county, 
 and yet no man in the county is more modest, deferential and 
 unassuming. He is a man of power, and yet he does not seem 
 to know anything about it. For years he has been the moder- 
 ator of the Snow Creek Association, and except something un- 
 usual shall occur he will continue to preside for years to come. 
 1 know of no moderator who has better government in 
 his association than Mr. Whatley, and yet there seems to be 
 no effort to command. He exercises an oversight over every 
 branch of his associational work, appearing in all the general 
 meetings, whether the interest at stake pertains to local church 
 work, to missions, to education, or to Sunday School. He is 
 an ex-student of the Georgia school, and attended while it was 
 located at Augusta. And it is a fact, much to the credit of 
 his white brethren, that they made it possible for him to attend 
 school. He lives on his own valuable farm amid his children, 
 who are now maturing, his son Charles being now a young man. 
 
 White, Rev. E. C, of Tuscumbia, was born about the 
 year J 842 in Chester county, S. C. In 1859 his master brought 
 him to Alabama, where he has since resided. He was con- 
 verted the fourth Lord's day in October, 1869, and in the same 
 month was baptized into the Russell ville church by the late 
 Rev. P. Jones. 
 
 Brother White says : "In April, 1868, my wife was bap- 
 tized by the Rev. W. E. Northcross, and her devoted life con- 
 strained me to desire peace with God. My wife overthrew all 
 my old ways and lovingly compelled me into the ways of the 
 Lord." At once he became zealous for the cause of Christ, 
 and soon began to speak as opportunity offered itself, first at 
 Russellville and then at Tuscumbia. At the request of a 
 church which he had built up near Tuscumbia, Rev. W. E. 
 Northcross called a council, and on October 8, 1873, solemnly 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 217 
 
 set him apart to the office of the ministry. He has attained 
 to some knowledge of books, of which he is still an industrious 
 student. Before his whole time was employed in the ministry 
 he taught in the public schools. 
 
 The good people of Russellville and Florence have long 
 held to him as pastor. 
 
 Brother White owes much to his excellent, Christian wife, 
 who has been a helpmeet for him since 1865. He is a hospit- 
 able brother and faithful Christian minister. 
 
 White, Rev. J. W., the son of Claburne and Elizabeth 
 Hatcher, was born in Dallas county, Ala., in October, 1839, 
 eleven miles south of Selma, on the Alabama River. He takes 
 his name from the Mr. White who owned his mother. He was 
 baptized into the St. Phillip Street Baptist Church, Selma, by 
 Rev. John Blevins, in September, 1868. He was ordained to 
 the work of the ministry by the above named church, in 
 August, 1875, Revs. J. Dosier, J. Carter, Henry Stevens, and 
 John Blevins, officiating presbytery. Bro. White was at one 
 time moderator of the Uniontown Association ; was for some 
 months missionary under the American Baptist Publication 
 Society ; was pastor, at different times, of the Mt. Zion, the 
 Summerfield, the St. Paul, and the Providence Churches, near 
 Selma ; was pastor at Camden, Ala., and recently retired from 
 the pastorate of the Sixth Avenue Church, Birmingham. He 
 has from the first been officially connected with the Selma 
 University, in which he studied for about three sessions, being 
 the first ministerial student who was enrolled. He is an 
 earnest preacher and a studious man, so that it may be said 
 of him that he is an elevator of the people on all lines. He 
 relates the following story: "During the war, and at a time 
 when things looked rather dark for the South, my stepfather 
 and I were attending a Presbyterian meeting, when he was 
 
218 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 called on to pray God to 'drive back our enemies.' Father 
 prayed : ' O Lord, drive back our enemies.' When we were 
 at home alone I told him that I found fault with his prayer, 
 for it was really against the interest of his people. The old 
 man answered : * The our meant the colored people, and the 
 word enemies referred to our oppressive chains.' " 
 
 At this time, extending from a time long before, there 
 was an organized prayer circle in Selma, which met on every 
 Friday night beneath a great oak tree in the woods to pray to 
 God to bring liberty to the slave. Brethren Alex. Goldsby 
 and Charles White were among the leaders of this meeting. 
 Doubtless Bro. J. W. White knew of this meeting and of its 
 purpose, and hence was hardly prepared to hear a prayer so 
 seemingly contrary to the wishes and needs of his people. 
 
 Wilhite, Rev. J. Q. A., of Selma, was born August 13, 
 1854, in Louisville, Ky. He was baptized in 1866, and in 1878 
 was ordained to the office of the gospel ministry in his native 
 city. The presbytery of the occasion was Revs. C. C. Stamm, 
 D. A. Gaddie, W. W. Taylor and others. Shortly after this 
 he entered the gospel work in Alabama, beginning as pastor of 
 the Second Baptist Church, Eufaula. He came to supersede 
 the Rev. Mr. Bassett, who for some reason had returned to 
 Indiana. Under his administration the Eufaula Church rose 
 into success and beauty unequaled by anything that had 
 passed before. Beginning with 1886 he was for several con- 
 secutive years financial agent for Selma University. Resign- 
 ing this work he was for sometime pastor of the church at 
 Uniontown, where he was attended by his usual prosperity, 
 both in gathering the people and in raising finances. This 
 position he resigned in order to assume once more the office of 
 financier for the University. At the present writing he is 
 treasurer of the University. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 219 
 
 Mr. Wilhite's success is largely owing to the following : 
 Self-reliance, industry, tact, perseverance, adaptability of him- 
 self and methods to the condition of the people. 
 
 He is an ex-student of the Roger Williams University, 
 Nashville. 
 
 In 1872 he wedded Miss Kate Talbert, who has presented 
 him with a large family of promising young folks, to whose 
 education he is giving special attention. He is to be com- 
 mended for that economy, as well as industry, which has en- 
 abled him to possess a comfortable home for himself and 
 loved ones. He has not been forgetful of the welfare of them 
 over whom God has made him guardian. Like very few 
 preachers, he is a good business man as well as a good 
 preacher. 
 
 P. S. — He has recently built a brick edifice at Uniontown. 
 He is now a successful pastor in Birmingham. 
 
 Wilson, Rev. J. E. A., pastor of the First Colored Bap- 
 tist Church, Pratt City, comes to our denomination from the 
 Methodist Church. He was born January 1, 1861, in Fayette 
 county, Alabama, and was led to submit to Christ as his Sav- 
 ior, September, 1882. He was regularly inducted into the 
 Baptist ministry, September 27, 1887, by the laying on of the 
 hands of a council consisting of Revs. A. C. Jackson, V. 
 Huntington and others. He has served acceptably at Patton, 
 Corona and Jasper. He is unpretending, quiet, brotherly and 
 has a good report from all circles. His school advantages 
 have been rather meagre, but with his youthful vigor and 
 self-control, coupled with the abundant facilities for an in- 
 crease of knowledge common to these times, he may yet be a 
 man of learning and a leader in letters. Of course no man 
 can hope to attain to knowledge beyond his ability to study 
 forever and without any thought of tiring or despairing. 
 
220 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Notwithstanding he is a man of strong emotions, he has 
 rare executive ability and is hard to equal as a leader. 
 
 Wood, Rev. Henry, of Talladega, was born August 15, 
 1825, in Greenville, S. C. His father was a lawyer in South 
 Carolina. He came to Alabama with his mother when eleven 
 months old, and was settled in Jefferson county, near Elyton. 
 
 He was baptized into the white church by Rev. Joseph 
 Bias, who, at the time, gave it as his opinion that "Henry" 
 would be a preacher. Ordained to the work of the gospel 
 ministry just after the war (1867), he was a timely instrument 
 in the special mission of organization. Mr. Wood has been 
 one of the pioneers of our work in Jefferson, Talladega, Cal- 
 houn and St. Clair counties. In speaking of his struggle after 
 knowledge in slavery time, he says : "I had been reading for 
 some time and had begun to learn to write fairly well, when 
 the fact came to the notice of the white people. They tied me 
 up and laid 600 lashes on my back; and, I tell you, I lost all 
 my knowledge of writing after this." Referring to his mis- 
 sionary and pioneer work since freedom, he relates the follow- 
 ing: "For the most part the white people have treated me 
 well. Sometimes, however, I have been troubled with drunk- 
 ards and ' negro whippers.' As I was riding on my missionary 
 work in Blount county, I once met a man who gave me such a 
 crack over my shoulders with his horse whip as almost broke 
 the skin ; but as I did not so much as look toward my abuser, 
 he let me go with no further harm. I passed on, thanking 
 God that it was no worse with me." 
 
 Brother Wood is a man of excellent spirit — is as jovial as 
 he is earnest. His life has been temperate and chaste, and he 
 is approaching the death shadows and the tomb with triumph 
 and in peace. He has occupied good pastorates and honorable 
 places in the associations. His first wife (Miss Dicey Truss, 
 
St. Louis Street Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., Rev. J. L. Frazier, Pastor. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 221 
 
 whom he married in 1844), has preceded him to the goodly- 
 land, and both their children have passed before him. He 
 now lives in Talladega with his second wife (the widow of 
 Mr. Thomas Barclay), in very easy circumstances, and still 
 finds plenty of work to do in the cause of the Master. Few 
 men are more widely known and more generally beloved than 
 he. For wrath and malice he is entirely a child. Nothing 
 could more surprise his brethren than to see him in a fit of 
 ugly temper, or to hear from his lips expressions of ill will. 
 Brother Wood speaks in praise of Revs. Messrs. McCain, 
 Mynett and Law (white) as friends to their colored brethren 
 in the time of the latter's weakness and inexperience in 
 church work. 
 
 P. S. — Our dear Brother Wood has gone to his crown on the 
 ever bright shore. Peace hover over thy dust, O thou man of 
 God! 
 
 Wood, Rev. R. T., of Huffman, pastor of Pleasant Hill 
 Church, and son of Mr. Henderson Wood, of the same place, 
 is the eleventh child of a family of thirteen children. While 
 he was still very small two older brothers were killed by the 
 " K. K. K.," which clan terrorized the country after the close 
 of the war. In consequence of which sad incident, it is 
 thought, his father died of mental depression, leaving the sub- 
 ject of our sketch without a father's presence, guidance and 
 support. Nothing daunted by this host of sorrows and mis- 
 fortunes, Mr. Wood, industriously and with patient spirit, 
 notwithstanding his delicate constitution, gave himself to such 
 engagements as came to his hand, making horse collars and 
 brooms as well as aiding his widowed mother in spinning, 
 knitting and weaving. In his thirteenth year he was minded 
 to seek for peace with God, and, so at an early age, he began to 
 attain to experiences of grace which have increased with the 
 growth of years. 
 
222 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Evidently the family is possessed of sterling qualities, as 
 may be seen in their aspiration and courage. The other mem- 
 bers of the family whom I have met live an independent home 
 life in the mountains near Huffman. Mr. Wood hopes he may 
 find an opening through which to enter the mission field in 
 Africa, and his name has been sent in to the mission authori- 
 ties. If his life should be spared for a maturer development 
 he will be a tower of strength in good things. He is a gradu- 
 ate from the Grammar Department of Selma University, in 
 which institution he expects to take a higher course. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT. 
 
 IT is to be regretted, perhaps, that this volume has in it a 
 feature which must be considered a supplement. But 
 doubtless the author will be excused when he tells the reader 
 that many have delayed till now — long after the completion 
 of the book — to send in their names. New men, strong men, 
 have lately come to us from other States — men whose names 
 could not well go into the main body of the book, for the 
 reason that this has been done for some time. Also, young 
 men of our own State have risen into such favorable notoriety 
 as to merit honorable notice. 
 
 In the body of the book I have placed the names of per- 
 sons in their alphabetical order. Not so here: I have entered 
 the names as they came into my hands. The printer was 
 hurrying me, and I could not stay for proprieties. 
 
 Clark, Me. Peter F., son of P. F. and Daphney Clark, was 
 born in Hale county, Ala., near Gallion, on the Taylor planta- 
 tion. He first attended what in his neighborhood was known 
 as the Vaughn Hill School, and afterward studied at a night 
 school taught, he says, "by one who would have been my mis- 
 tress had slavery continued." Bro. Clark has been remarka- 
 bly successful in business, which is largely due to his industry, 
 economy and courteous manners. He is vice-president of the 
 Penny Savings Bank in Birmingham, as well as one of the 
 directors. In speaking of the line of work out of which he 
 derived his start in business affairs, he remarked to the 
 
224 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 writer : " I remained with one firm twelve years." As we see 
 -his success in the light of this statement, we are reminded of 
 the old saying, " The rolling stone gathers no moss." So many 
 fail on all lines because they move about so much. Mr. Clark 
 is sociable, hospitable, and courteous. 
 
 O'Riley, Rev. J. P., pastor at Compton and Trussville, 
 gives the following sketch of himself: "I was born in Saint 
 Croix, Danish "West Indies, August 1, 1850. In 1 870 I entered 
 a Catholic school in Baltimore, with a view to preparing for 
 the priesthood. In 1874 I joined the Protestant church, and 
 in 1880 I was ordained to the ministry of the Baptist denomi- 
 nation. My pastorates in Alabama have been in connection 
 with the St. Paul Church at Greenville, Coalburg Chapel, Mt. 
 Nebo at Patton, Mt. Joy at Trussville, and Mt. Olive at 
 Compton." 
 
 Bro. O'Riley is a vigorous worker, and js blessed with 
 social qualities which make him an agreeable companion. 
 
 Fbazier, Rev. Jeremiah Lemuel, son of Richard and 
 Phoebe Frazier, was born in Abbeville county, S. C, June 18, 
 1857. He says : " My parents were among the poorest of the 
 slaves." In 1867 his parents moved to Florida, where, in 
 1874, their son was baptized into the Bethlehem Baptist 
 Church, near Madison county Court House. 
 
 His Education. — He has had no public school advantages, 
 but being possessed of a quiet, appreciative, observing, aspir- 
 ing turn of mind, he availed himself of such educational facil- 
 ities as came in his way. In the fall of 1874, he entered a 
 night school and continued his studies during the long nights 
 of the winter, paying the teacher one dollar per month. Be- 
 ing called off from this advantage by the demands of the 
 farm, he sought knowledge in the Sunday School, and in the 
 study of such books as he could command. He speaks with 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT. 225 
 
 pleasure of the fact that his mother prayed that he might 
 learn to read the Bible, that he did learn to read it, and that 
 he read it to her in her weary hours of sickness. The affec- 
 tionate son is now the affectionate man. 
 
 His Work, etc. — On informing his pastor that he was 
 called to preach, he was advised to take up a course of study, 
 which he did, continuing it for about ten years, during which 
 time, 1878, he was wedded to Miss Ida Paul, a young lady 
 sufficiently skilled in letters to render him valuable service in 
 his books. He was ordained in March, 1885, to take charge of 
 the Zion Baptist Church, Enterpise, Fla., since which time he 
 has been pastor in Sanford, Fla. He is now the beloved, suc- 
 cessful pastor of the St. Louis Street Church, Mobile, Ala. He 
 is a good preacher, good pastor, good financier, good man. 
 The above named church was organized in 1854 ; their build- 
 ing is worth §20,000. 
 
 Kellee, Rev. R. H., of Birmingham. This young man 
 is brought into special prominence by his missionary opera- 
 tions in the " Magic City." He began at Avondale as pastor, 
 but seeing that so many people were absentimg themselves 
 from the churches, he conceived the idea that where the 
 people would not or could not go to the gospel, the gospel 
 should go to them. Mr. Keller went to work at his idea, 
 speaking in empty store houses, etc., in the most ignorant and 
 most polluted neighborhoods or sections of the city, to such 
 of the people as he could induce to attend. At last he stirred 
 such interest in favor of his project and plans as influenced 
 many of the good people of the white churches to render sub- 
 stantial aid. 
 
 At present all the white and all the colored ministers of 
 Birmingham — except the Catholic and Episcopal — are united 
 in Mr. Keller's support. It is rather a strange fact in gospel 
 
226 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 work that this man should thus represent both races and all 
 creeds. His talks before the white people, so I'm informed, 
 have caused the white women of Birmingham to propose a 
 work upon their part that has for its object the betterment of 
 the home life of the colored people. 
 
 " The Union Conference of the White and Colored Minis- 
 ters of Birmingham " is a result of Mr. Keller's labors. Evi- 
 dently he is a man of strong hope in and strong grasp upon 
 his purpose as well as patience, amidst discouragements. 
 
 Loveless, Hon. H. A., of Montgomery, was born Novem- 
 ber 24, 1854, near Union Springs, in Bullock county, Ala. His 
 ex-master retained him on the old farm for five years after the 
 war was over on the plea that his mother was unable to as- 
 sume his management and support. Finally, however, he es- 
 caped to Montgomery, where he found employment for small 
 wages. Being industrious and economical, he soon obtained a 
 little money ahead which he invested in the butcher's busi- 
 ness. His business tact, push, courage, kindness of heart, 
 politeness and integrity soon won for him the confidence and 
 respect of his neighbors, who marked him as a youth of 
 merit and promise. He soon became an earnest, consistent 
 Christian man, from whose hands the poor and needy were 
 daily fed, and at whose house pastors and their families were 
 entertained for years without cost. 
 
 Now (1895) in addition to his old business of butcher, he 
 operates a hack and dray line, a coal and wood yard, and an 
 undertaker's establishment, giving constant employment to 
 about twenty-five persons at a daily outlay of about $25. His 
 wife, once Miss Lucy Arrington, whom he married in 1875. is 
 a suitable help for him, no less in his labors of love than in 
 his business enterprises. He* is worth not less than $15,000. 
 His life is an inspiration to poor young men starting the 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT. 227 
 
 journey of life. Mr. Loveless is an honest man, which in the 
 language of another, is the noblest work of God. The char- 
 acter of the man may be seen in his advice to his laborers : 
 "Pay your debts if it takes the last cent you have." 
 
 Eason, Rev. James Henry. — Among the younger and 
 scholarly men of Alabama is Rev. James Henry Eason. This 
 energetic Christian worker and model of moral courage was 
 born October 24, 1866, in the " piney " woods, eight miles from 
 Sumterville, Sumter county, Ala. — fifteen miles from the 
 railroad. 
 
 His father, Jesse Eason, has served as deacon in the Sum- 
 terville Baptist Church for a number of years, and is highly 
 respected by both races in his community. 
 
 His mother, Chaney Eason, is a faithful Christian worker 
 in the church, as well as a devoted wife and mother. Mr. 
 Eason's strength of character, talent and success are, to a large 
 degree, heritages from this good woman. His mother taught 
 him his alphabet one Sabbath when he was only five years of 
 age. The early part of his life was spent with his parents on 
 the farm, and he attended public school near his home. His 
 first teacher was a Mr. Poe, a white man, who said to him, as 
 they were coming from school one day : " You will be a smart 
 man one of these days." 
 
 James did not advance very far in his books under this 
 teacher, who taught the old method of going through the 
 spelling book first, next the reader and then review. Besides, 
 the schools only lasted three months in each year. His marked 
 improvement was not made until his parents moved to Sum- 
 terville, and he began studying under Rev. C. R. Rodgers and 
 H. D. Perry from Selma University. It was in the Wednesday 
 evening prayer meetings, held in' the school by Rev. C. R. 
 Rodgers, he received a deep and effectual religious impression. 
 
Rev. T. TV. Walker, Pastor Shiloh Baptist Cbureh, Birmingham, Ala. 
 Moderator Mt. Pilgrim Association. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT. 229 
 
 A year afterward — October, 1881 — he was baptized into the 
 Suniterville Baptist Church by Rev. G. Lowe. In November 
 of the same year he entered the Alabama Baptist Normal and 
 Theological School at Selma, Ala., now Selma University. In 
 1885 he graduated from this institution with the highest 
 honors of his class — his class being the second class to gradu- 
 ate from this institution. Along with the normal course he 
 took the college preparatory course, and began his college 
 course in the fail of 1885. After spending about two years in 
 this course he abandoned it on account of financial embarrass- 
 ment and other unfavorable circumstances. To this point he 
 had kept himself in school by working on the farm during 
 the summer 'months. 
 
 In 1883 he took a little school at Ohio, Ala., and in 1886 
 he canvassed and sold the Colored Chieftain. In 1887 he was 
 elected principal of Garfield Academy, Auburn, Ala. It was 
 in this position his noble qualities claimed the attention of the 
 public as a teacher and preacher— yes, as a leader. Here the 
 desire of higher education burnt again upon his heart and, 
 against the protest of patrons, he resigned this position and 
 entered Richmond Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va., in 
 18S7. After three years of hard study he graduated ahead of 
 his class in 1890 with the degree of B. D., and returned to 
 Alabama and began work as professor of mathematics in Selma 
 University — a position he still holds. He was ordained in 
 Tabernacle Baptist Church, Selma, Ala., in 1891, and took 
 charge of Union Baptist Church, near Marion. Ala. He has 
 baptized one hundred persons. He is moderator of New Ca- 
 haba Association, and managing editor of the Baptist Leader. 
 As -a teacher he is admired by the pupils and respected by the 
 faculty. He is a hard student and takes high rank as a 
 preacher, and excels in persuasive oratory. He is original, 
 
230 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 broad minded and good natured, and is much respected among 
 the brethren of the State. 
 
 Mason, Dr. Ulysses Grant.- — "We feel justified in saying, 
 that among the rising and foremost young men of Alabama is 
 the one whose name heads this article. He is the youngest 
 son of Mary and Isaac Mason; was born November 20, 1872, 
 in Birmingham, Ala., which city is still his home. 
 
 Until the age of 16 his school advantages were limited to 
 the rural districts, where educational facilities were few. But 
 his desire to learn soon exhausted the shallow draughts of the 
 primary school, and therefore he entered the State Normal 
 School at Huntsville, Ala., now located at Normal, Ala., where 
 he drank more freely from the deeper springs of science and 
 art. Aside from his regular course, he pursued the carpen- 
 ter's trade, at which his success M r as soon apparent; for, two 
 months after entering, he was advanced to the position of 
 foreman over some of his older colleagues. He graduated 
 from the above named school June 1, 1891. As a student and 
 teacher the thought uppermost in his mind was that of serving 
 his race by helping to lift it to a higher plane of intellectual 
 culture, for he was not slow to see the moral and physical 
 disadvantages under which it was laboring. To effect 
 this result, he dedicated all his energies to the social and 
 educational betterment of his race. After finishing the course 
 at this school, he taught, as a stepping stone to further use- 
 fulness, having held with honor and respect the principalship 
 of the Calera public school. He resigned this position, much 
 to the regret of the school board and patrons, to enter the 
 Meharry Medical College, Nashville. His success as a stu- 
 dent of medicine surpassed even his previous career, causing 
 the surprise and even the envy of many who claimed to have 
 towered far above him in the literary world. He was ap- 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT. 231 
 
 pointed prescriptionist for the clinic, and assistant professor 
 of clinical medicine in the absence of Prof. R. F. Boyd, B. S., 
 M. D., D. D. S., in which capacity he proved very efficient. He 
 refused the honor of valedictorian of his class, and was unan- 
 imously elected treasurer. 
 
 Dr. Mason is now located at his home, Birmingham, Ala., 
 and is one of our best physicians. His kindly and affable 
 manner has won to him the love and confidence of all. There 
 can be no question as to his future success, as this is assured 
 in his good qualities, skill, and the confidence of the people. 
 
 Sisson, Rev. Samuel S. — The subject of this sketch was 
 born in the little town of White Plains, Calhoun county, Ala., 
 June 11, 1863. He lived with his parents on a plantation, - 
 helping them in every possible way. He was converted and 
 baptized in 1871. He attended the public schools as opportu- 
 nity allowed him. In 1882, being convinced that he was called 
 to preach, he entered the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theo- 
 logical School (now Selma University), under the presidency 
 of Dr. W. H. McAlpine. Here he studied hard, paying his 
 own way. 
 
 In 18S-1 he was called as pastor of the Baptist Church at 
 Stock Mill, Ala., Cherokee county. He served this church 
 four years, during which time he baptized and added to the 
 church 250 persons. Not being satisfied with his education, 
 he returned to Selma University in 1888. He was in school 
 only two months when he was asked to supply the pulpit of 
 the St. Philip Street Baptist Church, Selma, Ala., as pastor 
 pro tern. 
 
 He served them in this capacity three months, when he 
 was elected pastor, in which capacity he served the church 
 about five years. A great many doubted the ability of the 
 young Timothy to stand in the shoes of such noted theologians 
 
232 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 as Rev. Wm. A. Burch and Dr. C. O. Boothe. He himself felt 
 that his task was very difficult. He could only trust in Him 
 whose power is inexhaustible. 
 
 It was not long until his congregation outnumbered any 
 other in the city. He states that during his five years as 
 pastor he added 1,142 members to the church. Six hundred 
 and forty-two by baptism. 
 
 He also laid plans to build a new church. Three thousand 
 three hundred and ninety-seven dollars, so he informs the 
 writer, was raised under his administration for the new church 
 building. Feeling that his work was about accomplished in 
 this field, he resigned as pastor in the fall of 1893. He was 
 then called to Milton, Fla., to pastor the Mt. Pilgrim Baptist 
 Church. He served the church only five months. His own 
 State, Alabama, not being willing to give him up, he accepted 
 a call by the Jerusalem Baptist Church, Bessemer, Ala. He 
 is now serving this church and is building up a strong con- 
 gregation for the Master. He is active in church work and 
 much loved by his brethren throughout the State. 
 
 In 1888 he married Mrs. Roxie Drake, of Auburn, Ala., 
 and to this fortunate union is due much of his success. She is 
 to-day the organist of his church. Rev. Sisson has high hopes 
 for the future of his people and does everything possible to 
 advance them. He is friendly and, therefore, has friends 
 everywhere he works. He is a hard student of God's word. 
 As a preacher he is sound in practice and doctrine. 
 
 Jordan, Mrs. Dinah Smith, was born in "Walker county, 
 Ala., March 26, 18(59. Her early days were spent in Arka- 
 delphia, Blount county, and in 1883 she came with her mother 
 to live in Birmingham. Ala. Mrs. Jordan, from a child, loved 
 to read that Book of all books the best, the Holy Bible, and in 
 April, 1885, gave her heart to God. The new-found love in 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT. 233 
 
 her heart now brought new motives and new aspirations into 
 her life. She was in a new kingdom, and wanted to work for 
 her King. A sermon preached by her pastor, Rev. W. R. 
 Pettiford, on " Christian Growth and Usefulness," very deeply 
 impressed this young Christian, and to this day is an inspira- 
 tion to ber. Another one whom she dearly loved was Mrs. 
 M. A. Ehlers, a missionary under the Women's Baptist Home 
 Mission Society, who was at that time in Birmingham, and 
 who she says will never know the help she has been to her 
 in her Christian life, until the lights of Eternity dawn upon 
 her. She began by doing the little things that came to her 
 hands to do — faithfully attending the services of her church, 
 bringing children to the Sunday school, and seeking in her 
 home to honor her Savior. As grand a motive may be had in 
 doing those things which in the eyes of the world seem small 
 as in doing that which the world calls great and admires ; and 
 Mrs. Jordan, we believe, had this true motive, the love of 
 Christ constraining her. 
 
 Her marriage, which took place on June 7, 1S87, to Mr. 
 Andrew Jordan, had been made a subject of special prayer. 
 The husband thinks he has one of the best of Christians in 
 his wife, and through her consistent life he was led, in the 
 fall of 1892, to say, as did Ruth of old: -Thy God shall be 
 my God." The Women's Missionary Society opened up new 
 avenues of usefulness to her, and as they came she gladly 
 went forward — visiting the sick, doing religious visiting in the 
 homes of non-church-goers, and holding fireside schools for 
 the children in her neighborhood. She rejoices that in these 
 she has had the blessed privilege of directing the minds of the 
 little ones to Jesus. Her work as teacher in one of the indus- 
 trial schools conducted by the missionaries has been faithful, 
 earnest, and a means of great strength to them, and her gentle 
 ways have won the love of the pupils. 
 
 16— 
 
234 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 She loves the work of the young people, and is a member 
 of the board of the associational B. Y. P. U. Her consistent 
 Christian life in her home and in the circles in which she 
 moves has made her life a blessing to all. 
 
 Duxcan, Mrs. M. D. — This lady who began and is now 
 operating a female academy, was born in the year 1864 . 
 March 8, in Jefferson county, Ala. She, for one, has made 
 her mark in life. She professed a hope in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, in the year 1876 — was baptized by Rev. E. T. Wink- 
 ler (white), and joined the Baptist church of Marion, Ala. 
 She worked her way in school. After she finished the 
 primary department (taught by Mrs. Frances Nickerson,) she 
 entered the Lincoln Normal University, where she was grad- 
 uated in 1882. Then she was thrown out on the great voyage 
 of life, to meet the many hindrances and obstacles that fall in 
 the pathway of life. But being a brave and persevering wo- 
 man, she triumphed over them all. She commenced teaching 
 school in 1879, in Marion, Perry county. In 1882, she taught 
 a three months' term in Bibb county. She was then highly 
 recommended by the President of L. N. University to Tuska- 
 loosa, where she taught in the city school for two terms; then 
 removed to York Station, Sumter county, and there taught 
 two terms, and in 1889, taught one term in Forkland, Greene 
 county. She was then called to Demopolis, to take charge of 
 the Female Institute, where, for five years, and up to the pres- 
 ent time, she has given mutual satisfaction to the entire city 
 and community. 
 
 The above is given to show the spirit of enterprise among 
 us and to excite others to work on the same line. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT. 235 
 
 Closing the chapter which brings into prominence notable 
 individuals of the denomination, the author feels that it is 
 only just to remark that many of the most cultured and 
 deserving of our number are not mentioned. This comes of 
 the facts that limited means made the production of a large 
 book impossible, while, on the other hand, as the author was 
 hard pressed with other business, his survey of the field was 
 necessarily imperfect. Such persons as the learned and indus- 
 trious Prof. J. W. Beverly, of the State School at Montgom- 
 ery ; Prof. A. H. Parker, principal of one of the city schools 
 of Birmingham ; Prof. R. B. Hudson, principal of the City 
 School of Selma; Prof. E. W. Knight, of the faculty of 
 Selma University; Prof. Phillips, principal of one of the 
 city schools of Montgomery; Mr. Edgar A. Long, the busi- 
 ness manager of the "Alabama Publishing Company," Bir- 
 mingham ; Mrs. A. A. Bowe, teacher of the sewing depart- 
 ment of Selma University ; Mrs. M. A. Boothe, the first pres- 
 ident of the Colored W. C. T. U. of Alabama, and Mrs. S. L. 
 Ross, the first secretary ; Mrs. S. A. Hardy (once Miss Stone) 
 who led the women in their successful money effort in inter- 
 est of our brick school building at Selma; Mrs. C. Copeland 
 and Miss Octavia B. Boothe, who have been in the employ of 
 the Baptist "Women's Home Mission Societies as missionaries; 
 Mrs. Amanda Tyler, of Lowndesboro ; Mrs. R. T. Pollard and 
 Mrs. S. H. Wright, of Montgomery ; Mrs. Rebecca E. Pitts, of 
 Uniontown ; Mrs. Alice Gray, of Talladega ; Mrs. Lula Pat- 
 terson (once Miss Lula Watkins), the very capable teacher of 
 music in Selma University ; Doctors Robert and Felix Tyler, 
 of Lowndesboro ; Prof Samuel Roebuck, of Elyton ; Rev. T. 
 W. Robinson, of Gurleys ; Rev. H. Zimmerman, the efficient 
 leader of Bibb County Association ; Mrs. Nancy Nickerson, 
 the first teacher of colored children in Perry county ; Rev. F. 
 L. Jordan, pastor of the Sixteenth Street Church, Birmingham 
 
236 
 
 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA 
 
 — of all these, with many other worthy persons, our book fails 
 to give any notice. Their absence from the biographic sketches 
 is to be accounted for solely in the reasons mentioned, namely, 
 that means were limited and the author's time and energy 
 were divided between so many different lines of work as 
 necessitated an imperfect survey of the field. 
 
V. SUMMARY. 
 
 WE now turn our pen toward the conclusion, on our way 
 to which we will briefly consider: (1) From whence 
 we have come; (2) How we have come; (3) The point we 
 now occupy. 
 
 I. FROM WHENCE WE HAVE COME. 
 
 We have seen tbe tree — dwarfed and yellow-leafed — in the 
 sterile rock-bound soil of the mountain peak, and we have felt 
 that its life was a mere existence, a mere hairs-breadth re- 
 move from death. The fearful regime of slavery had reduced 
 the mental life of the Negro to the point where its activity 
 was a simple, natural struggle for existence. By the terms 
 mental life are designated especially the knowing faculties 
 and voluntary powers, as well as that part of the emotional 
 nature that has to do with character-making. I mean to say 
 that in his intellect, will, and moral sense, the Negro was, by 
 slavery, reduced to the minimum. It could not be otherwise 
 for these reasons : (a) It was unlawful for him to know 
 books; he must know nothing save what his master told him, 
 and must never ask for a reason, (b) He was not allowed to 
 have any will of his own except in minor points, with refer- 
 ence to a brute or a fellow slave. His master's will was sub- 
 stituted for his, and out of his master's choice his words and 
 deeds must proceed, even as concerned the most sacred rela- 
 tions of life. At his master's choice he took the wife, and at 
 his choice he gave up the wife, (c) He was not allowed to 
 
Rev. J. W. Jackson, Pastor Eufaula Baptist Church. 
 
SUifMABY. 239 
 
 have any conscience, except where his master had no choice. 
 Whatever the master said the slave must do, that he must c?o, 
 conscience or no conscience. Now this state of things had 
 gone on for over 200 years. From this condition we came 
 forth into liberty, and with this eking existence of wilted life 
 we must make a beginning as freemen. With nothing of that 
 sort of manhood which comes only of the well ordered domestic 
 circle, we had to put our shoulders beneath burdens which 
 come of the family institution. The duties of citizenship were 
 imposed upon us, notwithstanding we had never felt or studied 
 anything of the privileges and obligations which center in 
 individual sovereignty. Though we were ignorant of the 
 gospel for the most part and knew nothing of the order of 
 business in church meetings, we found ourselves suddenly 
 forced into the management of church affairs. We had now 
 to look to our own heads for light, to our own hearts for cour- 
 age, and to our own consciences for moral dictation. So much 
 for the hinderances from within ourselves. 
 
 CHANGE rs THE SOCIAL STATUS OF THE SOUTH. 
 
 The master and the slave were each pulled from his place 
 as by a mighty force — a force which did no little tearing on 
 both sides, especially on the side of master. For this reason 
 the master was sore. The South had grown rich in slaves. 
 This property the war pulled from its fists, and left in its 
 midst. The Southern people who were rich one day were poor 
 the next day. That the presence of the former slave, clothed 
 in the sovereignty of citizenship, amidst his ex-master's 
 poverty, should chafe and madden the master, there can be no 
 wonder. Well, it did madden him, and because of this fact 
 the pioneer Negro leader often found himself " headed off" or 
 hindered with reference to some church or school project in 
 his mind. Often did he hide or turn from his course to escape 
 

 240 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 punishment or death by the hands of persons who suspicioned 
 him as a bad man to be among " the Negroes of the neighbor- 
 hood." The writer has had many narrow escapes and painful 
 experiences. 
 
 We needed help, but whither should we go to obtain it? 
 Thank God for the few white people who had grace in such a 
 time to extend a helping hand to us in our and in their time 
 of weakness. 
 
 II. HOW WE HAVE COME. 
 
 (a) Not long since a white merchant of this state re- 
 marked to me: "No people have ever improved so much in so 
 short a time as your people have." I replied: "I think no 
 people ever had a more faithful, self-sacrificing leadership." 
 I think it may be said of us that we have done what we could. 
 The work began when we owned neither land for home nor 
 land for church house — when there was no church, no associ- 
 ation, no mission board to offer any pay for labor. I speak of 
 course of the rule. True, there were a few colored churches 
 in "slavery time," three missionary and one primitive ; but 
 what were three churches in the midst of such a vast popula- 
 tion, scattered over so much territory? What could they do 
 in their poverty and want of training to support 400 or 500 
 pioneer organizers? We went to the battle at our own 
 charges. With homeless mothers and fathers, with homeless 
 wives and children, and with oppression on every side — with 
 all these burdens and much more which cannot be told, upon 
 us — we bravely undertook the work of building the walls of 
 Zion. The writer knows a minister who, (between 1866 and 
 1875, especially between '66-77, during the reign of the "K. 
 K. Klan," when the people could not in many places be induced 
 to open their doors after dark for fear of being shot), has en- 
 
SUMMARY, 241 
 
 dured some of the severest privations and performed some of 
 the hardest toils known to the ministry, at his own charges. 
 This case is only one in hundreds. Our ministry, whatever 
 the faults and imperfections which have attended them, have 
 wrought nobly and wrought to good results. 
 
 The following will serve to show why the writer is in- 
 clined to believe these early pioneers were often especially 
 favored of God in controlling the people for good: On one 
 occasion two preachers met for the first time. The younger 
 man spoke, and the elder was one of the hearers. The sermon 
 was ended. The two preachers, approaching each other and 
 grasping hands, spoke to each other thus: The younger man: 
 "I feel the Lord wants me to preach, but I am not able to 
 preach." The elder man: "God has called you to preach the 
 gospel, but you are not now in the spirit of the ministry. You 
 are proud and 'pend too much upon yourself. You get self 
 out so God can fill you up with his spirit. Go and pray to 
 God for the spirit of the gospel ministry." This advice was 
 heeded and the end revealed the correctness of the elder man's 
 views. Another case: 
 
 A young man of some attainment in letters, who taught 
 school under the "Freedmen's Bureau," being anxious to rid 
 himseif of a sense of duty to preach the gospel, decided to go 
 off to another state where his church connections were un- 
 known. He did so. After he had quit the train and put down 
 his baggage at the home of a family who had consented to en- 
 tertain him, and as evening drew on, he was requested by his 
 hostess to attend the preaching which was to come off at a 
 neighbor's house that evening (there was no church house). 
 The young man went. A pen picture of the preacher is given 
 after this fashion: Lean, brown skin man, whose shirt showed 
 much of his breast; whose feet were sockless and in shoes 
 which left the toes uncovered; whose stiff locks held a comb. 
 
242 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 He told us of a wicked city that was laying beneath the pend- 
 ing judgments of God. 
 
 It needed a message of warning — only this, and it would 
 face about and clothe itself in humble penitence. God had 
 the message, and He imparted it to the messenger and ordered 
 him to go. Here the preacher drew a picture of Jonah : He 
 is shrinking from his glorious charge — has his back toward 
 Niueveh, and is fleeing in an opposite direction ; is boarding a 
 ship that he may go to regions over the sea ; is going down 
 into the hold of the ship ; is fast asleep. Here the storm and 
 the raging deep receive notice : A cloud rises and quickly 
 covers the skies; winds attend it with a fury hitherto un- 
 known to the shipmen, who seem at once to discern hi the 
 storm the tokens of judgment ; the sea is wild ; the sailors, as 
 a last resort, awake Jonah and cast lots ; the lot falls upon 
 Jonah, and he is cast into the maddened sea, where a sea 
 monster swallows him. At this point, changing his voice 
 more into the imperative tone, the preacher said : " I 'spect 
 there is a Jonah here to-night, and I warn him to take the 
 message of his God and carry it to poor, lost sinners who do 
 not know their right hands from their left; I warn him to go 
 before he shall be in the belly of hell." The reader is left to 
 imagine how this affected the young school teacher who was 
 fleeing from his duty. In some parts of Limestone county the 
 people use an improvised lamp, the oil vessel of which is a 
 snuff bottle. This is a rough vessel, but it holds the oil which 
 feeds the flame. This reminds us of Mr. Spurgeon's beer- 
 bottle candlestick. Well, I want to say that God used these 
 men, whatever were their imperfections — they had power. 
 But we have had help from without. 
 
 (a) Our white neighbors — some of them, at least — have 
 aided us. They have helped us build our church houses and, 
 in some cases, contributed to our schools. They have taught 
 
SUMMARY. 243 
 
 in our Sunday schools, preached in our pulpits, helped us in 
 the work of organizing associations, etc. They have taught 
 ministers' classes and held ministers' institutes among us. 
 The writer once held the position of teacher of institutes 
 under the appointment and support of the white Baptist Con- 
 vention of Alabama, and Dr. McAlpine now serves under the 
 appointment of the Southern Board. Several of our best men 
 were enabled to attend the Home Mission schools on money 
 given by their white brethren. 
 
 (b) We have been improved by our public schools. It is 
 a strange providence which, in our public school system, now 
 returns upon the black man something of the interest due 
 him in consideration of unrewarded labors. These schools 
 have given us some choice men and women, who are strong in 
 the work of the church. However, it is in place to say that 
 we have not derived from our public school system all the 
 good which it is capable of bestowing, first, because poor 
 teachers have far too often been put upon the people. But, 
 on the other hand, there has been loss because we have not 
 properly appreciated our needs and opportunities, as consid- 
 ered from an educational point of view. The sessions of the 
 public schools could be supplemented and extended in most 
 cases so as to cover six or eight months of each year. 
 
 (c) The Publication Society has rendered substantial aid 
 in the gift of books to our ministers and Sunday Schools as 
 well as by the personal touch and teaching of their Sunday 
 School Missionaries. 
 
 (d) The Missionary Societies of the Baptist women of 
 Chicago and Boston have done a great work among us. Their 
 good missionaries, such as Misses Moore, Knapp, Voss and 
 others whose names will ever be precious to our people, have 
 given themselves to work among our women and girls. They 
 have breathed into our home life their beautiful piety, and 
 
First Baptist Church, Selma, Ala. 
 C. J. Hardy, Pastor. 
 
SUMMARY. 245 
 
 they have acquainted our mission bands and church workers 
 with the latest and best methods of labor. We have seen 
 with their eyes and felt with their hearts. 
 
 (e) The Selma. University, with one exception, is the 
 source of our greatest blessing. It is simply impossible to 
 estimate the good that has come to Alabama Baptists out of 
 this institution. What it has done is beyond the power of 
 calculation. Only Omniscience can reckon up the good effects 
 of its power upon the people. God be praised for Selma Uni- 
 versity! When we began the school in 1878, we hadn't one 
 single graduate in our midst. Since that time graduates have 
 gone forth as follows : 
 
 1884. 
 
 R. T. Pollard, S. A. Stone, W. W. Posey, T. H. Posey, R. B. 
 Hudson, L.J. Green, C. R. Rodgers, A. A. Bowie, D. T. Gully, 
 A. W. Hines, and Miss Washington, now Mrs. R. T. Pollard. 
 
 1885. 
 J. A. Anthony, W. E Large, J. H. Eason and Mrs. Thomp- 
 son. 
 
 1886. 
 W. S. Matthews, H. L. Thomas, Dr. L. L. Burwell and 
 Mrs. H. M. Baker. 
 
 1887. 
 M. M. Archer, S. H. Campbell, J. C. Copeland, W. T. Bibb, 
 W. A. Watson, F. P. Tyler, J. H. Culver, P. A. Kigh, C. H. 
 Patterson, Mrs. R. B. Hudson, Mrs. A. W. Hines, Vannie 
 Brooks. 
 
 1888. 
 S. H. Abrams,D. A. Bible, R. D. Taylor, Mrs. M. F. Wil- 
 son, E. J. Nelson and Mary F. Williams. 
 
 1889. 
 R. M. Williams, E. L. Blackman, Mrs. P. F. Clark, Mrs. 
 
246 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 W. T. Bibb, P. E. Gresham, D. L. Prentice, J. R. Willis and 
 Dr. W. K. Pettiford. 
 
 1890. 
 W. J. Bryson, R. T. Payne, J. F. Payne, Dr. R. Tyler, Dr. 
 L. Roberts, E. W. Knight, J. C. Leftwich, L. A. Sinkler, 
 Mrs. W. B. Johnson, Mrs. G. A. Brown, Win. Cooper, Emma 
 Garrett, M. Turner, Mary L. Smith, P. S. L. Hutchins. 
 
 1891. 
 P. B. Taylor, C. E. Clayton, Mary Osborne, Lula Gray, 
 Ida M. Wilhite, Yiola Hudson, Mamie C. Welch, A. M. Jack- 
 son, J. McConico, J. H. Hutchinson, M. M. Porter, E. T. Tay- 
 lor. 
 
 1892. 
 R. L. Hill ? G. P. Adams, E. M. Carter, W. T. Coleman, I. 
 B.Kigh, B. R. Smith, Chas. White Jr., M. J. Brown, A. E. 
 Gilliam, Pattie Richardson, Amelia Tyler and Maggie John- 
 son. 
 
 1893. 
 J. A. Graham, W. M. Montgomery, H. E. Grogan, Eva 
 Green. 
 
 1894. 
 I. T. Simpson, C. J. Davis, W. H. Wilhite, Annie Stone, 
 T. W. Calvary and Eliza Fuller (Mrs. Knight). 
 
 1895. 
 
 Lula E. Ware, Annie L. Jones, Comer E. Carter, Benja- 
 min F. Sanders, Lila L. Jones, Julia L. Sanders, Mary F. Mc- 
 Cord, Emma P. Jones, Earnest W. Brown and Donnie E. 
 Hillson. 
 
 We see very little that these names mean except we asso- 
 ciate them with the masses of the people in the various walks 
 of social and business life. But, associating them thus, we 
 see them as so many stars lighting up the dark places around 
 
 J 
 
SUMMARY. 247 
 
 them. However, to do this is by no means to place ourselves 
 where we can see the whole truth. What has been wrought 
 upon the thousands of students who failed to finish the pre- 
 scribed course? They are elevated and they have borne their 
 elevation to their neighbors. From their teachers and from 
 the refining atmosphere of the school, they have drunken 
 purer thoughts, loftier aims and a stronger manhood. This 
 they have carried to others less favored than themselves, and 
 now it works as the leaven in the dough. Again, the school 
 has strengthened us by its weight upon our hearts and hands. 
 Labor, well directed, develops strength in the laborer. We 
 are greater because we have been compelled to care for that 
 institution, and it has caused us to have faith in ourselves. 
 We now know that it is possible for us to maintain an educa- 
 tional work. It is needless to say that by means of it, we have 
 looked larger in the eyes of others. Somehow, he who can 
 do something good and great commands our respect. 
 
 (/) The Home Mission Society. — This society has 
 served us to greater results than any other agency. To this 
 society the university owes above half the money which has 
 given it support all these years. They have given us mission- 
 ary aid which has served to produce higher life and better or- 
 der in our churches and associations. And from their schools 
 beyond our state we have received many of our most capable 
 persons, among whom we may mention Drs. Dinkins, Puree, 
 Stokes, Owens, our eloquent Fisher, and Jones, our scholarly 
 Peterson, the urbane Jackson of Eufaula, the industrious 
 Bradford, and others whose names I cannot at this moment re- 
 call. Mrs. C. S. Dinkins, as well as Mrs. C. 0. Boothe, came 
 to us from the Roger Williams University, a Home Mission 
 Society School. But what has been said will suffice to show 
 us how we have come to be a wiser and a better people than 
 we were thirty years ago. And if we see what has blessed us 
 
248 ' COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 in the years gone by, no doubt we shall be able to see that the 
 same things may, if we will permit them to do so, bless us in 
 the years to come. May our steps not be forgotten by our 
 children. 
 
 III. THE POINT WE NOW OCCUPY. 
 
 Thirty years we have been beneath the opportunities and 
 duties' of free manhood, which is to say that for thirty years 
 we have been associated with the family institution as hus- 
 band, as wife, as parent, as sister, as brother, as son, and as 
 daughter. Three decades with the family, developing af- 
 fection and making patience. . 
 
 Thirty years of business life has passed upon us, which is 
 to say that we have for this length of time been associated 
 with those facts which grow out of our physical wants, such 
 as labor, system, economy, competition, skill, etc. 
 
 We have had thirty years over our own consciences, over 
 our own wills, over our own church affairs. We have had 
 thirty years with books and schools. We have had thirty 
 years under the duties of citizenship. What have we attained 
 to in this time? Have these years given us any fruits? Are 
 we where we were in 1865? Let us see. 
 
 (a) Church Property. — At the close of the war we 
 owned (?) two frame buildings in Mobile and owned (?) the 
 brick basement of the building now occupied by our white 
 brethren in Selma, worth — all told — about $8,000. We now 
 own nine brick buildings, worth not less than $100,000 above 
 their indebtedness. And we cannot make an estimate of the 
 church property whereon are frame structures. The property 
 of this sort in the city of Birmingham and vicinity is worth 
 $15,000, in Montgomery $26,000, in Mobile $12,000, in Talla- 
 dega $10,000, in Greensboro $3,000, in Eufaula $6,000, in Tus- 
 kegee $2,500, in Opelika $2,500, in Eutaw $2,000, in Deinopoli* 
 
Miss Joanna P. Moore, Xashville, Tenn., thirty years Missionary to the 
 Colored People of the South. 
 
SUMMARY. 249 
 
 $3,000, in Decatur $1,500, in Florence $1,500, in Courtland 
 $1,200, in Gadsden $2,000. But, it is not intended, and is not 
 necessary, to mention every point, as the aim is to show that 
 throughout the State we have churches in their own quarters, 
 on their own land. Everywhere we have put our work not 
 only into mind but we have put it into dirt, brick and stone. 
 Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of church prop- 
 erty scattered throughout the State, as it is, affords a good 
 foundation for future operation. 
 
 (b) School Property. — Our school at Selma is now 
 worth about $30,000. It was bought in 1878 for $3,000, and 
 has been in constant operation ever since, though at one time 
 a debt of about $8,000 threatened its life. We owe a debt 
 of a little over $3,000 at this time. The Howard College, 
 the leading school of our white brethren, owes it is said a debt 
 of about $33,000, and lately the report has come to the writer 
 that the management had thought of assigning, because they 
 could not see how they could raise money enough to meet the 
 interest. I mention this only to show that our struggles are 
 similar to the struggles of other good people, and that we have 
 abundant cause for rejoicing and hope. 
 
 Well, we have in Selma University an educational founda- 
 tion. The Marion Academy, worth about $2,000, begins aca- 
 demies. 
 
 (c) Educated Men and Women. — Over one hundred 
 young people have received diplomas from Selma University. 
 Graduates have come to Alabama from other States. Baptists 
 have graduated from other schools in this State— schools like 
 Talladega and Tuskegee, the school at Huntsville, and the 
 school at Montgomery. This statement of facts is calculated 
 to turn our minds toward a possibility and prophecy of the 
 
 17— 
 
250 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 near approach — even on the part of the masses — of that state 
 of mind which lives and moves in the higher pleasures and 
 to the more sacred ends of life. 
 
 (d) Homes. — The wandering life which characterized the 
 masses of the people in 1865, is fast giving place to settled 
 home life. We have invested hundreds of thousands of dol- 
 lars in town lots and farm lands, where we are quietly and 
 contentedly rearing our loved ones, studying the good of our - 
 community, and arranging for the prosperity of the house of 
 God. In other words, we are fixtures in the country and 
 fixtures in the cities and towns. We have attained to affairs — 
 to the possession of money and other forms of material value — 
 so that we have power in the world of exchange. Prof. B. T. 
 Washington is a wonder among men as the builder and man- 
 ager of the greatest school in Alabama, and his friend, Mr. 
 Logan, proves that the colored men can manage great money 
 schemes, while Mr. B. H. Hudson and others, of Birmingham, 
 establish the Negro as a banker. 
 
 (e) Organizations. — We are now together — acquainted, 
 organized. In the beginning of 1865, the minister in one part 
 of the State did not know the minister in the other part. 
 There was no union, no plan of agreement. Now there are 
 about 800 churches, all organized into associations. Each 
 church may be reached and affected through its association, ' 
 with regard to any line of work. We have created a strong 
 sentiment in favor of education and a strong sentiment against 
 intemperance, so that the masses of the people may be easily 
 led in right directions. The day of pioneering lies behind us, 
 and most of the pioneers are gone to their long home. We 
 are now at the point for action on new lines. As individual 
 Christians we need to turn our attention more directly upon 
 the one aim of human life, namely, God-like character building 
 
SUMMARY. 251 
 
 in ourselves and in them with whom we have to do. As 
 churches, we need to see to it not only that we win souls, but that 
 we train them in Christian work also. All other points being 
 equal, the trained soldier is the man to trust with the battle. 
 The Sunday school work and the young people's unions are 
 very available as training institutions. May God put it into 
 the hearts ot the leaders of this new day and new chapter in 
 our history to see to it that these organizations shall serve the 
 ends for which they are so well suited. May their hearts 
 wholly enter into the possibilities and purposes of every 
 sacred organization ! 
 
 I take courage, and there arises in my mind glorious 
 prospects coming down the future, as I see the faith and push 
 of our Sunday school and our women's conventions. If our 
 present Sunday school leaders should succeed in wrapping 
 their mantles about men who will be as faithful under the 
 midday light as they have been in the dawning, the future 
 must find an ever broadening compass of Bible influence, and 
 an ever-increasing beauty in our words and lives. 
 
 THE WOMEN S' CONVENTION— A HIGH POINT. 
 
 The Women's State Convention organized in 1886, marks 
 a new era in the history of our denomination. The present 
 brick building on our school grounds owes its existence chief- 
 ly to this organization. They came into the field in a dark 
 time, and at a time when the wheels of the school dragged 
 heavily. The circumstances which sent Miss S. A. Stone be- 
 fore the people of the State seemed a providence. The time, 
 the conditions, needed the heart of a woman to control them. 
 And the Women's Convention conquered the hardness of heart 
 and the division of opinion, prevailing among the people, by 
 sending Miss Stone among them. Most grandly did she con- 
 
252 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 quer. "Well, what is the lesson here? It is this: let the wo- 
 men still be encouraged, let them continue to operate. We 
 need all our forces in line. 
 
 Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon JVlesdames G. 
 J. Brooks, R. T. Pollard, C. J. Hardy, A. A. Bowie, W. R. Pet- 
 tiford. A. J. Gray, M. Tyler, S. H. Wright, E. W. Armstead, 
 J. A. Craig and the other noble women associated with them 
 for the services they have rendered the state in the support 
 they have given their Convention. The times demand that 
 this work shall still be faithfully continued. I am glad that 
 we are up in our ideas of woman, and the fact that we are 
 argues progress on our part. 
 
 It is a praiseworthy fact that we colored Baptists occupy - 
 advanced ground with regard to the questions which involve 
 the powers and rights of women. I remember that upon one 
 occasion just after the close of the war, my mother returned 
 from church rather disgusted because a woman had been 
 called upon to lead in public prayer. Now, too, the singing, 
 the reading and the praying in our congregations, are assum- 
 ing forms suited to our advanced or advancing state of mind. 
 The song is suited to the text and fewer stanzas are sung. 
 The music is not so slow and is rendered with more harmony 
 and life. In the sermon, the preacher aims to give his audi- 
 ence thoughts rather than feelings, and longs to make his hear- 
 ers iciser rather than happier. He who reads the Bible to 
 others, whether he reads in family or church, reads by para- 
 graphs — taking in a single thought or fact at the time — in 
 place of the old custom of reading a whole chapter in connec- 
 tion with which no one idea was raised into prominence. In 
 short our gospel reformers seem now to realize that saving 
 faith in the truth is that exercise of soul regarding truth that 
 satisfies the intellect, impresses the sensibilities and bows the 
 will beneath the gospel forms and gospel spirit. Of course 
 
SUMMARY. 253 
 
 this is not true of all our teachers, but it is true of many of 
 them ; and the tendency upon the part of the whole people is 
 in this direction. Individual human essence leavened with the 
 Divine essence, is the goal in the eye of the representative 
 leader of our people. Largely we have attained to the confi- 
 dence of our white brethren. In the union conference of the 
 •white and the colored ministers of Birmingham, recently held, 
 I plainly saw that the white Baptist ministers were more at 
 ease with the colored brethren than the white ministers of 
 other denominations, except perhaps, the Presbyterian breth- 
 ren. And I think they were not so much disturbed about the 
 social question. I call attention to this fact in order to say 
 that their joint work with us has enabled them to see our 
 good qualities and concede to us the claims which belong to 
 intellectual and moral culture. And as our Christian culture 
 shall widen its radius and deepen its impressions upon all 
 who may be touched by us, the prejudice and barriers inci- 
 dent to our color must retire behind the curtains of the past. 
 
 " Were I so tall to reach the pole, 
 
 Could grasp creation in my span ; 
 I'd still be measured by my soul — 
 
 The mind's the standard of the man." 
 
 I delight to record that we are attaining to humility as a 
 Christian grace. This is the crowning grace. Some years 
 ago the writer called at the home of Dr. J. M. Pendleton, in 
 Upland, Pa. The doctor was upstairs. A servant answered 
 the door bell, and the visitor was conducted to the parlor 
 to await the famous man's entrance. As the visitor was 
 in every way a very little man, and as he thought of Dr. 
 P. as being in every way a very large person, he feared the 
 sound of every footstep. He expected to be over-awed by the 
 majesty and dignity of the great man. As the door knob 
 turned he was almost annihilated. But how different the 
 
Rev. C. J. Hardy, Pastor First Baptist Church, Selma, Ala. 
 
SUMMARY. 255 
 
 sight ! There stood the noted writer in the spirit of a child. 
 How mighty, yet, how meek and lowly ! How charming, how 
 winning was this child-like simplicity and hospitality ! With 
 the bewitching smiles and musical tones of childish inno- 
 cence, he repeated, "Brother Boothe, from Alabama, I suppose." 
 Toward this end we, too, are coming. The time has been 
 when the best man among us would air his big words, hang 
 out his learning (?), strut because of a fine suit, boast of his 
 school advantages, laud his superior graces, gloat in his 
 empty titles. Not so now. To be meek and lowly in heart, to 
 be full of prayer and watchfulness, to be charitable and self- 
 abasing, to be pure and pious — these things are before us 
 now. 
 
 The old plan of collecting money for church work regard- 
 less of system and regardless of the duty associated with 
 Christian giving, must also soon retire to the past; for forces 
 are now appearing which will work as the leaven in the dough. 
 
 Dr. Pettiford has recently brought out a book titled, 
 " God's Revenue System," wherein the author labors to bring 
 before the people the Bible methods of giving. Arguments 
 are presented and proof texts are given in their support. This 
 work is being widely circulated among the churches and min- 
 isters. And the writer served a churcU where the following 
 plan prevailed : At the end of each year the church appointed 
 a committee to .figure on the expenses of the ensuing year, 
 and to help the members and friends apportion the burden 
 among themselves according to their several abilities. Each 
 person took upon himself what he thought he might be able 
 to pay, and dividing his share as the church might have need, 
 he paid it in installments. Usually the money was collected 
 in the conference meetings. Another church came under my 
 notice that had in it " the tithe band, " which gave a tenth of 
 their income to the house of God. In a session of the Sea 
 
256 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 Coast Association I witnessed the following, it was what they 
 called " Women's Day:" 
 
 One woman, holding her money in her hand, said : « I am 
 president of a mission band which meets once a month to learn 
 of our duty to missions. We tax ourselves one nickle a month, 
 and this is our donation to the work." 
 
 Another said : " I raise chickens. One hen in my yard 
 I've- given to God. This money is from her eggs and chickens." 
 
 Still another : " In my orange orchard there are some 
 trees which I have dedicated to God. The money which comes 
 of the sale of the fruit grown on these trees goes to the cause 
 of Christ." And she laid her donation on the table. 
 
 In a Christian home I saw on the mantelpiece a little box 
 marked, " God's bank." Into this money was dropped at | 
 stated seasons in order that there might never be any want of . 
 consecrated money in the house. In a certain home sickness.- 1 
 had cut off income. The missionary secretary sent to this 
 home for money. In order that a donation might be sent in, 
 the family agreed to leave the sugar off the table for a certain 
 length of time. Thus a small amount was saved for the cause 
 of Christ. Thank God, that truth on all lines is finding an 
 echo in our souls ! We are not only learning the value of 1 
 money and enterprise, but we are also learning that "a man's m 
 life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he I 
 possesses." 
 
 Wedlock is becoming more sacred. More and more the 
 people are growing into a responsiveness to the sacredness of 
 the marriage relation. The husband has increased in knowl- 
 edge regarding his duty to his wife; the wife sees better her 
 relation to her husband ; the parents more clearly perceive 
 what is possible and proper with reference to their children ; 
 and, therefore, we can claim thousands of homes which are 
 sources of refinement, of love, and of purest pleasure. Music ; 
 
SUMMARY. 25' 
 
 is brought in, and in many homes the family choir contributes 
 to the enjoyment of children and parents, whose hearts feast 
 upon mutual, sweet affection. Not long ago the writer had 
 the pleasure of receiving the hospitality of a family in which 
 such a choir existed. Each member had his place somewhere 
 on the staff; either he was in the tenor, or in the alto, or in 
 the soprano, or in the bass. Mother, father and children de- 
 lightfully partook of the feast of song. Their Scripture lesson 
 was not a long, disjointed chapter, but a single thought, 
 namely : " The wisdon that is from above." Its qualities 
 were considered — they were: (1) Pure; (2) peaceable; (3) 
 gentle ; (4) approachable ; (5) merciful ; (6) fruitful of good 
 works; (7) impartial; and (8) honest. This lesson was in a 
 scheme on the blackboard, kept in the home for such pur- 
 poses, thus : 
 
 1. Purity. 
 
 2. Peaceableness. 
 
 3. Gentleness. 
 
 4. Approachableness. 
 Mercy. 
 
 6. Fruitfulness in good works. 
 
 7. Impartiality. 
 
 8. Honesty. 
 
 This plan gave opportunity to discuss in a few words 
 each designated quality. Each person large enough to take 
 part was encouraged to do so. One part of the evening hour 
 Was spent in amusing literary games, like the following: 
 
 A word was suggested, and so many minutes were al- 
 lowed to elapse, during which time each member of the family 
 sought to make the greatest number of words out of the let- 
 ters composing the word suggested. At the close of this 
 allotted time, spelling was compared, and the difference as to 
 the number of words made by each was noted. The exercise 
 was pleasant, exciting and profitable. The writer mused : 
 
 Heavenly Wisdom, 
 Its Qualities. 1 5 
 
258 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 « 
 
 " This is so much better than gossip, unsociableness, sullen 
 silence, and quarreling." From the word abatement, for ex- 
 ample, came the words: At, mat, bat, bet, tab, mate, am, an, 
 ant, tent, beat, abate, Abe. At other times problems in 
 mathematics furnished the wrestling point; then points in 
 geography and history were entertained. "Name as many 
 cities as you can containing so many thousand inhabitants, 
 and tell where they are," was proposed. Thus an hour or so 
 of the early evening was profitably passed away in shunniDg 
 evil and gathering knowledge for good. 
 
 We dare hope that every home will seek to improve on 
 this line. Evil cannot be kept out of the home except in pro- 
 portion as we fill it with what is good. And the quality of 
 the home life must determine the quality of the social life, of 
 the church life, and of the political life, as well as of the busi- 
 ness life, of any people. 
 
 As a further illustration of the influences and plans oper- 
 ating among us — as a fitting conclusion — we present the follow- 
 ing from Miss Knapp, one of the faithful missionaries of the 
 Women's Baptist Home Mission Society : 
 
 MISSIONARY WORK IN BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT. 
 
 Many are the blessings God has bestowed upon mission- 
 ary work in Birmingham and it is a real pleasure to state 
 briefly some of the methods employed which have given the 
 workers so much joy, and which our Heavenly Father has 
 used to advance his cause. 
 
 Religious visiting in the homes of the people is a very im- 
 portant part. God's word never returns unto Him void, and 
 when it is carried into the homes and its truths taught and 
 heart to heart talks given only eternity will reveal its results 
 in leading lost souls to look to a loving Savior, and arousing 
 indifferent Christians to the fact that God has chosen them 
 
Rev. S. L. Ross, Sunday School Missionary for Alabama, under Auspices Ala- 
 bama Baptist Publication Society. 
 
260 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 and ordained them that they should go and bring forth fruit. 
 Again, the teachiDg of the children is a work never to be over- 
 looked, for the future of any race or nation depends upon the 
 moral and religious instruction given to the young. The Sun- 
 day schools, children's meetings and industrial schools are 
 means which are accomplishing great good. From two hun- 
 dred to three hundred meet each week in the industrial 
 schools during the school year. We have one session each 
 week in each of the schools. They are held in the different 
 churches. About one half of the time in each session is spent 
 teaching different kinds of sewing, and the remainder in giv- 
 ing moral and religious instruction. The progress made by 
 many of the pupils in sewing and in gaining Bible knowledge 
 is often a marvel to the missionaries. The strong temperance 
 stand taken by many of the children is truly a delight, and 
 when one after another professes a hope in Christ we are led to 
 say, " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, 
 bless His holy name. " The welfare of the young people also 
 has a large place in our hearts and with the faithful co-opera- 
 tion of pastors and the young people themselves, there are 
 about forty local B. Y. P. U.'s which are uuited in an Assso- 
 ciational Baptist YouDg People's Union. Great things are ex- 
 pected of these young people from the Bible knowledge they 
 are acquiring and instruction which they are receiving con- 
 cerning Christian work. 
 
 Perhaps no richer blessings have been given than those 
 which have fallen on the efforts which the women are putting 
 forth. Well can we remember when there was but one mis- 
 sionary society in Birmingham that was trying to obey our 
 Savior's last loving words : " Ye shall be witnesses unto me 
 both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto 
 the uttermost parts of the earth." 
 
 They stood alone, but were inspired to go forward by their 
 
SUMMARY. 261 
 
 pastor, Rev. W. R. Pettiford. Though few in number, the 
 blessings of God rested upon them. After a time they had a 
 public missionary meeting. The subject was "The Indians." 
 It was held on Sunday night. Hearts were enlarged ; the 
 work was better understood by the membership of the church, 
 and as a result new members were added to the society. The 
 sisters in one church after another organized and joined the 
 ranks. The society of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church 
 no longer stood alone. 
 
 The object of the work is given as follows in Article II 
 of the Constitution: "Its object shall be to promote the 
 purity, intelligence and happiness of our homes, and to edu- 
 cate the women of our Baptist churches in a knowledge of 
 missions, to cultivate in them a missionary spirit, and thus 
 lead them to help in mission work at home, in the State, in 
 our country, and in foreign lands." 
 
 The following blanks are used by the sisters in reporting 
 their work from month to month : 
 
 Report of 
 
 For the month of 189 . . 
 
 Have you read the Bible each day ? 
 
 Have you taken the Mother's Pledge and kept it? 
 
 Number of religious visits 
 
 Number of families helped 
 
 Number aided to the Missionary Society 
 
 Number of meetings conducted 
 
 Number of new members brought into the Sunday School. . . 
 
 On July 26, 1S93, a day memorable in the history of the 
 work, the local societies were united in a "Women's Missionary 
 Association." Mrs. Cordelia Taylor was chosen as its presi- 
 dent. 
 
 The local societies number about twenty-five. We meet 
 
262 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 twice a year, for a one day's meeting. These meetings are 
 largely attended, well conducted and of real profit to the work- 
 
 The study of the uniform subjects which have been pre- 
 pared for the use of the local societies have greatly helped the 
 mothers in their great work in the home, in the Church work, 
 and given a more intelligent knowledge of missions in ours 
 and other lands. The public missionary meetings are being 
 held on Sunday afternoons or nights in the different churches 
 and are proving the same blessing as the first one. 
 
 Miss Moore's paper, Hope, is being taken and read by 
 scores of the sisters, and is an untold blessing to all. 
 
 The " Mother's Pledge " has been signed by quite a com- 
 pany and is rich in results to both mother and child. 
 
 Several of the earnest, Christian women are having fire- 
 side schools for the children in their neighborhoods, and the 
 books are being purchased by many, thus affording good and 
 helpful reading in many homes. 
 
 Our hearts go up to God in gratitude as we call to mind 
 the co-operation of pastors and people in the plans suggested 
 by the former as well as the present missionaries, and the 
 bountiful way in which God has blessed the efforts which we 
 have together put forth, and we would say in the words of 
 the Psalmist : " Many, O Lord, my God, are thy wonderful 
 works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which to 
 usward, they cannot be reckoned up in order to Thee; if I 
 would declare and speak of them they are more than can be 
 numbered." 
 
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala., Rev. R. D. Pollard, Pastor. 
 
264 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 We earn millions of dollars, a large part of which we 
 ought to and can keep among ourselves, and thus strengthen 
 the financial standing of the Negro Race. 
 
 We need to establish and maintain money operations 
 among ourselves, especially for the following reasons : 
 
 (1) No moneyless people have any power or voice in the 
 solid things of life, in those -facts which command homes, 
 farms, store houses, railroads, live stock, steamship lines, 
 furnaces, manufactories, merchandise, banks, and the like. 
 We need plans of co-operation which will enable us to come 
 together with our little savings until they aggregate to an 
 amount that is large enough to support some sort of busi- 
 ness. Saving societies or circles should be organized all over 
 the country, for the purpose of studying methods for money 
 saving and money investment. 
 
 Of course, it must be admitted that money raised by our 
 people in this way has fallen into the hands of men who bavc- 
 made way with it. But this danger may be put out of the way 
 by compelling the man who holds the money to give good 
 security in the form of a bond, legally made and properly 
 signed. The money thus raised should be deposited in the 
 bank till the amount obtained is large enough for some busi- 
 ness project. The Alabama Penny Savings Bank of Birming- 
 ham started somewhat after this fashion, with a small be- 
 ginning, but now they command in one way and another 
 nearly one hundred thousand dollars. This bank gives the 
 colored people of Birmingham a power in financial circles that 
 they could obtain by no other means. 
 
 CI) Our young people need something to do. When the 
 young white man completes his course at school, he returns 
 to find a job ready for him — a job as clerk, bookkeeper, collec- 
 tor or something so. Not so with the young black man — he 
 returns to an empty void so far as concerns the business 
 
Rev. C. L. Puree, President, Louisville, Kv. 
 
 —18 
 
266 COLORED BAPTISTS OF ALABAMA. 
 
 world. He comes home to be a loafer, or a boot-black, or a 
 buggy boy, or a cook, or a waiter, or a barber, or a prisoner. 
 He comes home to despair, to temptation, to ruin. And this 
 sad state of things can never change by accident: if a better 
 condition of things shall ever be our lot, it must come about 
 as the result of forces which the Negro himself shall put in 
 operation. Our white neighbor looks upon the facts that we 
 earn the millions and can't control the cents, as proof that we 
 are an inferior race. They say we can be preachers, teachers 
 and doctors, but we can't manage money and can't unite in 
 great business enterprises. We seem not to realize that the 
 handling of business affairs conduces to the formation of 
 moral character. The writer dares to hope that there are bet- 
 ter things in our hearts on this line than have yet appeared, 
 and that ere long they will appear in our united action and in 
 our substantial investments. However, "Fear God and keep 
 His commandments" 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 And now our book is at its end. How well it serves the 
 purpose for which it was produced, the reader will determine. 
 We gratefully recognize the substantial services rendered by 
 friends, as during the past ten years we have hunted and 
 gleaned for subject matter. The author is under special obliga- 
 tions to Messrs P.W.Williamson, F. D. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Rich- 
 ard Walker, Rev. T. W. Walker, Dr. Waldrop,Dr. and Mrs. Pet- 
 tiford, Mrs. Rachel Jenkins, Mrs. H. C. Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. 
 W. S. Simpson, of Birmingham ; Mr. Tom Posey, Bessemer, 
 and Hon. H. A. Loveless, of Montgomery. 
 
 To such as may feel disposed to credit me with the ability 
 to continue at work, I would say that but for the faithful toil 
 and sacrifice of my wife, Mrs. M. A., and of my daughter, Miss 
 
FINAL REMARKS. 
 
 267 
 
 Octavia B. Boothe, it is hardly likely that my name would 
 now appear in its humble place on the roll of writers. They 
 have borne the burden with me, and we together have per- 
 formed these humble tasks. "With them I cheerfully divide 
 my meagre honors. The writer lays down his pen at the end 
 of a pleasant but arduous task, fully believing that what we 
 have done is but the bud and prophecy of what we can and 
 will do in the years to come. This book can only tell of our 
 infancy and youth while the historian who shall come upon 
 the stage after twenty or thirty years beyond this date, will 
 bring forth a book wherein shall appear a portraiture of our 
 ripened manhood, out of which shall have grown great enter- 
 prises, manned by unity, wisdom, wealth and righteousness. 
 
 
 
 Hi 
 
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