"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. 359-361. Used by permission. [Hardin] WILLIAM POPE YEAMAN, D.D.: William Pope Yeaman was perhaps the greatest character in the annals of Missouri Baptist history. He was the third in a family of nine children born to Stephen Minor Yeaman and Lucretia Helm Yeaman, and was born on a farm one mile west of Elizabethtown, Ky., in Hardin County. on May 28, 1832. His mother was a sister of ex-Governor Helm of Kentucky, and a lady of talent. His father was a man of culture and eminent as a lawyer. As five of his brothers became lawyers we find him entering this same profession before he reached the age of twenty-one. He at the same time was married to Miss Elizabeth Shackelford. Having practiced law for a few years in Elizabethtown, he moved to Calhoun, McLean County, Ky. Here he attained prominence in the legal profession and also became a leader in political campaigns. He proved to be very able as an advocate and was retained in difficult cases. He was at this time a lay member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. An the result of a debate held in Calhoun in the year 1857 between Dr. J. S. Coleman and a Dr. Kaskey of the Cumberland Presbyterians he was led to study the New Testament on the subject of baptism. This led to further inquiry into other doctrines. And this led to his applying himself for membership in the Calhoun Baptist Church as a candidate for baptism. He was duly baptized by Dr. Coleman and immediately licensed and ordained to the ministry by the same Church. As soon as he could close out the legal business entrusted to his care. he moved to Nicholasville, and entered the pastorate. He also divided his time with the East Hickman Church in Fayette County, succeeding Dr. Ryland T. Dillard, who had preached there thirty-seven years. In 1862 he became pastor of the First Baptist Church in Covington, Ky. Here he became known all over the state and all over the common country as a pulpit orator of the first rank. In 1868 he accepted the care of the Central Baptist Church in New York City. His residence here was but for two years, and, in March, 1870, he began the greatest work of his life at the Third Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Here he was soon recognized throughout the entire state as the leader the whole denomination in Missouri had sought and had now obtained. Here also the William Jewell College conferred on him the Degree of Doctor of Divinity in recognition of his ability and attainments. He became part owner of the CENTRAL BAPTIST while in this pastorate. His pastorate at the Third Church saw a substantial growth both in numbers and efficiency. In 1876 he resigned the care of the Third Church and became a constituent member of the newly organized Garrison Avenue Church. For a few years, he served this Church and devoted a part of his time to holding evangelistic meetings. From the year 1878 to 1886 he served as the efficient Secretary of State Missions during which time the Baptists of Missouri made phenomenal progress in spirit and scope. At the close of his tenure of office he made an unsuccessful effort to gain the nomination as the Democratic candidate for Congress. Many have wondered why he allowed his name to be used for political preferment. To this he answered, also giving the reason for his refusal of a large Western pastorate: "I cannot be a pastor. I have not the Scriptural qualifications for a bishop. I cannot control my own family.'' In the meantime he had purchased a farm near Columbia, Mo., and here he made his home until he was called by the Great Judge of all the earth. Here he preached to the Walnut Grove and Bethel Churches in Boone County. In the year 1877 Dr. Yeaman was elected Moderator of the General Association of Missouri Baptists. This office he held for twenty consecutive years. He was acknowledged by all who had any knowledge of parliamentary law to be a prince among presiding officers. After earnest solicitation he accepted the presidency of Grand River College in 1888. The prospects looked bright for an enlarged endowment and enrollment for the school. There came, however, about this time, a general financial panic all over the country, and after four years of hard work and much worry, he gave up the work and returned to his home near Columbia. He now began industriously to prepare a history of the Missouri Baptist General Association. This work of inestimable value was published in 1899. It was a true composition of the great work the Lord had done through Missouri Baptists. After the publication of this book he prepared a treatise on the "God-man," a book that gave evidence of his doctrinal certitude in things Divine. He was still called upon to preach sermons at the dedication of new Baptist meeting houses, for addresses at the large convocations of his brethren and sisters who were seeking to foster the advancement of Christ's Kingdom, and was president of the Board of Trustees of Stephens College and the Board of Regents of the State University for Baptists, William Jewell College. Early in the morning of the 19th day of February, 1904, he suddenly expired of heart failure. His wife died just three weeks before, after a wedded life of more than a half-century. He was a man who believed in God and was sure that the Bible was a revelation of the will of the Great Creator. From the first day he entered the ministry, he preached it in all of its fulness [sic]. Yeaman Helm Shackleford Coleman Kaskey Dillard = MO Calhoun-McLean-KY Fayette-KY NY Boone-KY http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/hardin/yeaman.wp.txt