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early training he has never departed. As a youth he
knew something of the straitness of limited means,
but however low the home treasury the Lord must
have His portion. Such fidelity the Lord has blessed,
and while it may not be affirmed that giving his "tenths
and offerings" has been the cause of his financial suc-
cess, it has surely not hindered, and what is more sig-
nificant still, it has given him a richness of enjoy-
merit in the portion he has thought it right to retain for
his own use, that has paid immeasurably. His per-
sonal and home life religiously has been happy, blessed
and honored. As an officer of the church he has al-
ways been loyal to his pastor, and made him his near-
est friend and confidential counsellor. Next to his
own family he has thought of the pastor's family. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have held a number of offices
of responsibility in the Baptist work of Indiana, and
he is now a member of the Board of Directors of
Franklin College, in which he takes a deep interest
and to which he has been a liberal contributor. He
and his wife are of world-wide sympathies in their
benevolences. While Mr. Johnson has the strength of
a business man of large interests, he is as tender as
a woman, and of unsurpassed thoughtfulness for oth-
ers. His sympathy for any one in need is profound,
and he knows just what to do; while others may be
asking what can be done, he does it. Above his busi-
ness judgment are his kindness of heart, humility of
soul, tenderness of disposition, thoughtfulness for
others, unswerving fidelity to his friends and unerring
sense of justice."
Page 229
BEDFORD ASSOCIATION--(COUNTIES OF LAWRENCE,
MARTIN, MONROE AND ORANGE).
This Association was organized at Bedford in 1842;
doubtless Elder T. N. Robertson was the most efficient
man in the organization, for he was pastor at Bedford
at the time, and he aided in the constitution of other
churches in the Association. In a sketch of his life it
is found that he began preaching in Bedford in 1841;
in the second year, the church of 25 members, in one
and a half years, numbered 145. The earliest minutes
accessible are for 1848; then there were seventeen
churches--Bedford, Beaver Creek and Spice Valley
having the largest number of members. Elder T. N.
Robertson was elected moderator and Elder R. M.
Parks, clerk; Elder Robertson also wrote the Circular
letter. Other ordained ministers in the Association
were Elders J. Odell, H. Elkin and S. Weber. At the
session in 1855 mention is made of the death of the.
Rev. N. V. Steadman, a general agent of the Ameri-
can Baptist Home Mission Society, and a resolution
was passed endorsing the Ladoga Seminary. In 1856
there were twenty-one churches and 1,508 members;
Spice Valley had the largest church membership, 191.
Additions to the ministry of the Association were the
Revs. J. D. P. Hungate, A. H. Gainey, H. Burton, W.
Baker, M. C. Edwards, A. Pickthall and I. Carothers.
At the sesion in 1857 the matter of a seminary of
learning for that part of the State was considered and
a committee was appointed to make recommendations.
On the cover of the minutes for 1862 appears the ad-
vertisement of Mitchell Seminary; the Rev. Simpson
