"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 
1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone.  Probably published in 1944 by 
Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, pp. 293-293.  
Used by permission. [Webster]

ROBERT TABB BRUNER:  Robert Tabb Bruner did a great work as a pastor 
and writer and filled a unique place in the history of Daviess County 
and Kentucky Baptists.  He was born in Hancock County, on March 21, 
1837.  At the age of sixteen he was baptized into the fellowship of 
the Blackford Baptist Church.  This same church licensed him to 
preach on December 25, 1857, and ordained him to the ministry on July 
8, 1864.  On July 14, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca 
L. Hale.  Ten children blessed this union, seven of whom with the 
widowed mother survived him.  One son, C. J. Bruner, became an active 
and laborious minister of the Gospel.
     He held his membership with the Blackford Church until 1877, 
when he moved it to Bethlehem in his native county.  Still later it 
was moved to Pellville Church and then after he became a resident of 
Owensboro in Daviess County it was with the Walnut Street Church.
     He served the following churches in this Association: Panther 
Creek, Zion, Mt. Pleasant, Pleasant Grove, Green River, South 
Hampton, Stanley, Calhoun, and Old Buck Creek.  Besides these he 
served Blackford for 16 years, Pellville for 21 years, Bethlehem, 
Union, Sand Spring, Lewisport, Poplar Grove, Hardinsburg, 
Stephensport, New Bethel, Pisgah, all in Kentucky, and Rockport and 
Gilead in Indiana.
     For some time he served as the Editor of the Green River 
Baptist.  He was also the author of several outstanding tracts.  
Among these were "Qualifications of the Administrator of Baptism," 
in 1880, and "Is Baptism Essential to Justification?" in 1894.  In 
his earlier ministry he held several debates with ministers of other 
denominations and proved himself a master in polemics.
     Though not a college graduate he became a good Latin and Greek 
scholar.  He was a sound, true Baptist, smashing error with the 
hammer of truth grasped by an iconoclastic hand.  He spent one year 
studying at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary when past 
sixty years of age thereby setting the younger preachers an example.  
His preaching was characterized by clearness of thought, precision 
of expression and a simple yet comprehensive exposition of the 
Scriptures.  His occasional contributions to the religious press were 
among the best to be found among Kentucky Baptist Papers.
     His brethren loved him enough to elect him Moderator of 
Blackford Association eight times and Daviess County Association two 
times.  He also preached the Annual Sermon before Blackford 
Association four times, and before Daviess County Association one 
time.
     He came home ill from an appointment on the afternoon of February 
14 1909, and expired by that night.  His funeral was preached from the 
Walnut Street Church and the remains were interred in the Elmwood 
cemetery in Owensboro.  His work was promotive of holy living and was 
therefore lasting.  He entered into a glorious rest after a faithful 
ministry of forty-five years.

Bruner Hale
=
Daviess Hancock IN

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/webster/bruner.rt.txt