Historical Sketches of Kentucky by Lewis Collins, Maysville, KY. and J. A.
& U. P. James, Cincinnati, 1847. Volume 1. Reprinted 1968.  Caldwell
County. The Methodist Episcopal Church. Page 447. 

BENJAMIN OGDEN was born in New Jersey in 1764, and when quite a young man
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.  He embraced religion in 1784, at
the age of twenty, and in 1786 was admitted on trial as a traveling
preacher and appointed to the wilderness of Kentucky.  In 1787 he was on
the Cumberland circuit - the first preacher to carry the gospel message to
Middle Tennessee.  But his excessive labors and the exposure of pioneer
preacher-life so impaired his health that Bishop Asbury solicited his
return to Virginia, and placed him on the Brunswick circuit, in 1788.  But
here again he was attacked with disease of the lungs, and prostrated -
compelling his retirement from the effective ranks.  In 1790 he was
ordained a deacon, and the same year was an active local preacher in
Frederick county, Virginia; and soon after, in the same capacity, returned
to Kentucky.  A misunderstanding, a few years later, with the presiding
elder, Francis Poythress, led to the severing of his connection with the
church, but beyond this, seems not to have affected his living "in the
fear of the Lord,;" with emotions of pleasure he contemplated and prayed
for the prosperity of the cause of God.  In 1816 he applied to the
Tennessee conference for readmission, and was appointed to the Henderson
circuit; but his health gave way, and at the close of the year he retired
for some years.  In 1824, again a member of the Kentucky conference, he
was assigned to the Tennessee mission, and during the next two years to
the Christian and the Yellow Banks circuits, where he labored faithfully
and with success.  At the conference of 1827 he was placed on the
superannuated roll, on which he remained until he "fought his last battle."
It had been his often expressed wish to die in the effective ministry;
and although this privilege was denied him, yet during the few years that
immediately preceded his death, he labored far beyond his strength."  "I
wish to die," said he, "having the whole armor on, contending like a good
soldier for the prize."  He died of dyspepsia, Nov. 20, 1834, at the
residence of his son, near Princeton, Ky.  A Christian of the highest
type, his last moments were full of calmness and hope. 

Ogden Asbury Poythress
=
NJ TN Brunswick-VA Frederick-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/caldwell/ogden.b.txt