Submitted by Paul K. Anderson, Jr.
This document was first copied on August 17, 1951 by a Ruth Combs and then recopied by a Mae Stevason on February 29, 1959. Rev. J. W. Anderson states that his ministry began November, 1885. He also stated at the writing of this document that he had preached for 44 years. Adding 44 years to 1885 indicates that this document was written in about 1939. Paul Anderson recopied this document on to the computer on the above date. The document was found and furnished by Genealogist Edna Jones at Tyner, KY. This was originally written about 1939.
My ancestors came from the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. My grandfather, William Anderson, Sr., was born in North Carolina and at age 20 moved to Tennessee, and soon was married to Nancy Cheek, of Tennessee. My information is that my grandparents on my mother's side were of Tennessee birth, namely, George Morris and Betsey Johnson Morris. Latter on in life both sets of grandparents moved to Kentucky, settling mostly in Jackson and Owsley Counties. My grandfather Anderson was a Primitive Baptist Minister, which ministry began at age of 25. He assisted in the constitution of Flat Lick Church in Jackson Co., and was a member of that church at the time of his death and of which church I have been the pastor for the past 35 years.
William Anderson, Jr., my father, was married to Sylvanie (1860 Holt County US Census says Lavina indicating a missed translation) Morris, my mother. I do not know the exact date of their marriage. (8-21-1856, Edna Jones)(1860 US Census, Holt County MO, Nodaway Township, Wm. L. Anderson age 29 born in TN, wife Lavina age 26 born in KY, daughter Nancy E age 2 born in KY, Jasper K. age 2/12 born in MO, married not later then 1857) They were both young in years and were united marriage near the sight of Tyner Post Office, in Jackson Co., KY, his father, my grandfather, officiating. To this union five children were born, four sons and one daughter. Being ambitious to obtain a living they early in life embarked for Missouri, in which state all the heirs were born. After many years of toil health failed them. The climate was wholly against them. As soon as they could dispose of their gatherings they returned to Kentucky in May 1868. In the month of June following, my father was called to his eternal reward, and in the month of September following, my mother likewise was called home. I was nearing five years of age at the time of their death.
I was born in Buchanan Co., Missouri, October 17, 1863. My younger brother and I were bound to my father's oldest brother by the Court of Jackson Co. and of course, the advantages of an education as we grew up were scant. As we grew older we were made acquainted with the toil and labor of farm life. At about age 16 I resolved to fit my self for professional life, so with all the energy and study at my command, at the age of 21 I began teaching in the public schools, mostly in Jackson and Owsley Counties. I endeavored to keep in touch with the required advancement and improvement necessary to my profession and continued teaching for a period of 24 years.
At the age of 24 yrs. I was united in marriage to Miss Louie (Loutie?) McCollum, of Owsley Co., Ky., on April 3, 1888. To this union five children were born, two sons and three daughters, three of whom are now living. Soon after my marriage I began the study of law and in about 1893 I was admitted to the bar and continued to practice for seven or eight years until my mind became absorbed in preaching the Gospel. I soon learned that the preaching of the Gospel and the practice of law were not congenial and my mind was so weighted with preaching that I made the decision seriously, honestly and prayerfully that I must leave off the practice of law in order to do justice to preaching the Gospel, and now, in the decline of life, I fail to regret my decision, for I have always had a great desire to make full proof of my ministry.
In the autumn of 1890 I became unrested and woefully distressed. I got a view of myself as a sinner, unprepared to die and far from being fit to live and for a period of more than a year I found myself in gloom and despair by reason of sin. However, at a time unexpected and in a way not looked for, relief came and I was made to rejoice in Christ, my Savior, and the day of my acceptance with him will be a gree (sic) spot in memory the remainder of my earthly pilgrimage and in April, 1895, I joined the Primitive Baptist Church of Macedonia, in Owsley Co., Ky. and was baptized by Elder J. J. Gilbert, of Winchester, Clark Co., Ky.. My ministry began in 1895, making my first effort from the pulpit on the fourth Saturday of November, that same year, using for my text, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acception that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Elder J. N. Culton, Elder H. J. Clarkand Elder E. B. Bartlett constituted the Presbytery that officiated in my ordination. I do not recall the exact date of same.
In the more than 44 years of my ministry, I have served as pastor of four churches most of those years, during which period I have baptized 305 willing subjects into the fellowship of the Old Baptist Church. I have assisted in the constitution of several churches, also in the ordination of a number of ministers and deacons, preached 142 funerals and married 144 couples up to this present time. I served as Moderator of three associations, and in all, I have done pastoral work for 12 Old Baptist churches. I have preached introductory discourses many times in associations of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Indiana.
I evidently know full well the trials, hardships and privation of a minister's life, traveling thousands of miles on horseback, through all kinds of weather, cold and hot, wet and dry, in day time and at night, regardless, crossing swollen streams and swimming to the shore. On one occasion upon my return from a toilsome journey my wife asked me the following question - "If you had known the privations and hardships of a preacher's life in the beginning, would you have entered into the ministry?". My answer, in humble faithfulness, was, "Had I known it before starting, I would have entered it just the same, all because the oasis I have found in the desert have sufficiently sweetened and lightened the burden", and now, that I realize I am entering into the evening of life, gazing toward the western sunset, I am humbly minded to adopt the language of the eminent apostle who said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith", realizing that there is a crown of righteousness awaiting me when the time of my departure is come.
A brief abstract of principles as I see, believe and for all these years have endeavored to advocate and vindicate to the best of my ability embraces purpose, fore knowledge, election and predestination, likewise embraces the eternal perfection of the only true and living God, and that they contain all that we ought to believe or practice religiously, believing that in Adam the human family fell, and of that family Christ was given a bride, for whom he died, and that the atonement by Jesus Christ was for that bride exclusively, and that by the Scriptures of inspiration we are informed that the bride is to be recognized as the Lamb's wife, the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Throughout my ministry I have had a great desire to publish and to vindicate the doctrines of the resurrection of the dead, the soul in time and the body in the Resurrection Morn, at which time the bride will put on that heavenly attractions, dressed in white, robed in glory and upon the wings of his love be wafted (sic) into the world of endless joy.
J. W. Anderson
Prepared by:
Paul K. Anderson, Jr.
1804 Glenbrook PL
Dalton, GA 30720
706 275 0870
pa@alltel.net
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