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. 300-305. Used by permission. [Ohio] JAMES SMITH COLEMAN, D.D., Ph.D. The names Daviess County Baptist Association, Baptist Doctrines, and James Smith Coleman, D.D., are synonymous. No history of the association would be complete without the account of the monumental labor of Dr. Coleman. The same is true in regard to a history of Kentucky and Southern Baptists. His achieved success was remarkable for its magnitude. Few men in the entire country and none, perhaps, in this section of Kentuucky [sic], have a religious history equal to his. Dr. Coleman was born on a farm near Beaver Dam, Ohio County, Kentucky, on February 23, 1827, and was the only child of Elisha and Susanna Maddox Coleman. The family name was formerly spelled Kohlmann. His mother was of Scotch-Irish descent. His great-grandmother was among the early members of the old Beaver Dam Church, she having united with that Church about the year 1804. His grandfather and father likewise were members there until their deaths. Dr. Coleman's education was the best that the schools of his day afforded and was largely of his own making. He took advantage of these opportunities. For some time he was a student under the instruction of Prof. Frank Griffin at Hartford, Ky. When barely twenty-one years of age, James S. Coleman was elected as Sheriff of Ohio County. At that early day the duties of that office were more arduous than now, and many of the interesting stories for which he was famous during the latter years of his life, were of the days when he served as a peace officer of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. One of his first duties was that of taking two convicts to the Frankfort penitentiary. This he did without assistance. Each of the prisoners was mounted upon a mule with a strong cord connecting the feet beneath the animal's body. The journey from Hartford to Frankfort required several days. The only way for the officer to sleep was to take his prisoners into some county seat and lodge them in jail while he sought the needed respite. The courthouse towns along the way were not many, and the young officer was forced to ride for two or three days without rest. By virtue of his office he was elected Brigadier General of his Congressional district, in which capacity he was induced to look forward to a seat in Congress. But just here the course of his entire life was changed. He had previously at the age of fifteen felt a call from God to preach but he dismissed the call and sought to aspire to statesmanship and law. On a matter of business he attended the service in a revival meeting but God used it to stir up again the former impressions to preach the Gospel. He soon forgot the business he came to transact and went home vowing eternal submission to the Lord's Will, and on the next Sunday night he preached in the old home church at Beaver Dam his first sermon. His conversion had taken place in the early part of the year 1838 as the result of reading Isaac Watt's old hymn, "That Awful Day Will Surely Come," etc. His conviction had been so deep and strong, that, after wrestling for two or three days he proposed to God that if he would let him serve God in Hell that he would give up all hope of Heaven and cheerfully go there. The surrender being complete he was instantaneously made to rejoice with a sense of acceptance with God. Upon a profession of his faith in a new found Saviour [sic] he was baptized into the fellowship of the Beaver Dam Church by Elder Alfred Taylor on March 10, 1838, at the age of eleven. From his first effort at preaching there were conversions. At the next regular business meeting of the Beaver Dam Church he was licensed to preach - this was on May 27, 1854. His ordination took place in October of the same year. Elders James M. Bennett, Alfred Taylor, John O'Bannon, J. F. Austin, and John Tichenor composed the presbytery. His entering the ministry was like a clap of thunder in a clear sky to the majority of people. Some smiled, some scorned, some said he was crazy, and others shouted the praises of God. Thus began a ministry that was to last for over fifty years and one that is without parallel in the annals of West Kentucky Baptists. He immediately accepted the care of the Sandy Creek Church in Butler County for only one Sunday per month. The remainder of his time he spent as a Missionary of the Gasper River Association. In the capacity of Missionary and Pastor he baptized over 1,000 persons in a period of four years. From first to last he served the following Churches as pastor: Sandy Creek, Butler County, 1855-1856; Salem, Butler County, 1857; Beaver Dam, Ohio County, 1854-1870, 1872, 1888-1889; Buck Creek, McLean County, 1855-1869, 1873-1878, 1884-1886; Green Brier, Daviess County, 1856-1869; West Point, Ohio County, 1856-1862; Sugar Grove, Daviess County, 1875-1877; Mt. Carmel, Ohio County, 1874-1877, 1880-1887; Greenville, Muhlenberg County, 1875-1877, 1880-1887; Owensboro First, 1878; Walnut Street, Owensboro, 1880-1884; Bell's Run, Ohio County, 1880-1884; Whitesville, Daviess County, 1884-1896; Hartford, Ohio County, 1875-1876, 1885-1894; Madisonville, 1898; Morgantown, Butler County, 1898-1900; Grand River, Livingstone County, time not known; Livermore, McLean County 1885, and Pleasant Ridge, Daviess County, 1892-1894. Dr. Coleman left a monument behind him that will stand for generations to come. He made a record that is perhaps unequaled. During the fifty years of his ministry he baptized 5,013 into the fellowship of Baptist Churches, married 1,002 couples, preached 14,000 sermons, witnessed the conversion of 15,000 persons, organized over 60 churches, dedicated 63 Church houses of worship, assisted in ordaining 67 ministers, assisted in ordaining over 100 deacons, and preached over 2,000 funerals. To this may be added many speeches, articles for the press, both religious and secular, and the immense preparation for a number of debates. Dr. Coleman's phenomenal work in functions ministerial did not surpass his record as a presiding officer of religious deliberative assemblies. A man of superb executive ability by nature and a master of the art of parliamentary law by application, his services in an official capacity were sought by all assemblies with which he was connected. He was Moderator of the Daviess County Association for twenty-nine years - 1870-1873, 1875-1890, 1893-1901. During those years, largely due to his influence, this Association assumed its present position in the van of Baptist Associations in the entire State of Kentucky. As is noted the services were not consecutive. There were other giants within the bounds of the Association and these too aspired to preside over its deliberations. Dr. Coleman was at length succeeded by others but the demand for the guiding hand of the veteran was too strong and he was given the office again. He never again left the chair until the Association had grown to such proportions as to necessitate a division of the territory and Dr. Coleman's home church became a part of the Ohio County Association in 1901. Even then his presiding abilities were still desired and in consequence he was the first Moderator of the Ohio County Association in 1901 and 1902. After this he became too feeble to continue in the office and another was elected. His name as a presiding officer was not confined to this section. He also served the General Association of Kentucky Baptists as Moderator for sixteen years: 1859-1862, 1864-1872, 1890, 1895-1896. For two years he also served as assistant Moderator of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was Moderator of the Gasper River Association in 1857 and preached the Annual Sermon before that body in 1859, 1863, and 1866. He preached the .Annual Sermon before the Daviess County Association in 1868, 1875, 1885, 1888, and 1893. The sermon before this Association in 1888 entitled "The Work of Baptists An Urgent Work" was published in the minutes for that year. It also received notice by being published elsewhere. In another respect Dr. Coleman stood as the peer of any man of his day and generation. This was as a doctrinal preacher and able debater. In doctrinal views, to use his own words. He was "A landmark successionist, denying the claims of all other denominations." His unparalleled success in pastoral and evangelistic work proved that holding these rigid Baptist doctrines did not interfere in the least with soul-winning but in every way enhanced the work. As a debater he held two discussions with Dr. Kaskey, one of the war horses of the Cumberland Presbyterians. The arguments in these debates exhausted the points of difference between the two denominations. He also held one debate with a Methodist preacher. In his debate at Calhoun in 1857 with Dr. Kaskey he prepared to answer the argument for infant baptism from the inference that infants were included in the record of household baptisms in the New Testament. Dr. Kaskey made his speech as Coleman had expected, and argued that since households were baptized by the Apostles, it is reasonable to infer that infants were in these households, therefore infant baptism is Scriptural. Dr. Coleman in his reply, spoke as follows: "I am surprised at Bro. Kaskey's limited information concerning Lydia's household. He has inferred that Lydia had children under the age of accountability, and that, therefore these children were baptized. I am surprised, sir, that you do not know that Lydia was a widow, and a traveling cloth- merchant, and that she never had but one child, and that was a daughter, who had married a red-headed, one-eyed shoemaker, and had moved off to Damascus and had not been at home for years, and that her household at that time consisted of herself and servants, who assisted her in her business. I am surprised, sir, that you did not know this." Kaskey in his confusion spoke out and said: "Dr. Coleman, how do you know what you just said? In a lion-like voice the reply came: "I inferred it, sir, just like you inferred that there were infants in the household." This was too much for the audience, which broke out in uproarious laughter and applause. When Kaskey rose to speak the very sight of him would be enough, and the laughing, half suppressed, would be so continual that it was with great difficulty he could proceed. Every time he would make the slightest reference to the household baptisms the vision of that "red-headed, one-eyed shoemaker" would come into mind and the Moderator could not control the laughter. Bro. Kaskey gave it up as a bad job, cut the debate short one day, and left. This debate proved to be one of the greatest boons to Baptists in many ways Among these may be mentioned the fact that the celebrated Missouri Baptist preacher, Dr. W. Pope Yeaman, was then a young practicing lawyer in Calhoun and was a Methodist class leader. The debate led him to further inquiry as to the Bible support for Baptist beliefs. In consequence he became a Baptist and was baptized into the fellowship of Calhoun Church by Dr. Coleman. He was later licensed and ordained to the ministry by this same Church. His ministry among Missouri Baptists is a household word. He served the General Association of Missouri Baptists for a period of 25 years. Missouri Baptists made unheard of strides under the leadership of Dr. Yeaman and Dr. J. C. Maple, his good friend. Dr. Coleman also served as an editor of papers. He edited the "Green River Baptist" during the Civil War at Hartford, Ky., and also helped to save the Western Recorder from going under as a result of the same war. All during his useful life he was a colporter and book agent. Baptist faith and practices were sacred things to him to be spread abroad in every legitimate way. Everywhere he went he secured subscriptions to Baptist papers and sold books and tracts. Whatever profits were realized from these sales he used to foster other work in the denomination. At one time Dr. Coleman was in excellent financial circumstances. He owned several hundred acres of land in Ohio County. A railroad company offered him $40,000 for this land. He refused and later the vast tract of land was sold off in small parcels and the proceeds went to Baptist Churches and Baptist Institutions. Because of such generosity he died without means. The Churches he served as a rule were all country churches. He was invited to the Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville with a view to the pastorate but he declined. He also received a call from Sacramento, California, but declined. His superior ability could have secured him almost any church but he preferred to remain in the Green River country and work with the small churches. In the years 1867-1870 he was appointed and sent out as an evangelist by the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky. During that time he organized the Baptist Church at Madisonville in 1870. He later served this Church as has been noted. It was on May 6, 1846, that he married Miss Rachel Chapman. To the union eleven children were born. As far as is known only four are still living at this date (1943). All of the children were well educated and became members of Baptist Churches. Dr. S. H. Ford, a life-long friend of Dr. Coleman's said: "His first wife was an angel in human form." After the death of his first wife he was married on December 24, 1877, to Mrs. Josephine Field, of Owensboro, Ky. No children were born to this union. His second wife was a princess among preacher's wives, honored and loved by all who enjoyed her acquaintance. As a revivalist Dr. Coleman was without a peer. Some of the largest gatherings in the history of the churches occurred during his ministry. Three revivals conducted at the Whitesville Church saw 132, 105, and 75 additions to the church respectively. In the year 1878 a revival of eleven weeks in the city of Owensboro saw between 250 and 300 conversions. This meeting began in the Wood and Turpin Tobacco Factory and concluded in the First Baptist Church. As a result the Ash Valley Church moved from the country to town and became the Walnut Street Baptist Church. Dr. Coleman suffered a stroke of paralysis which left him an invalid for one year. He resigned the care of the First Baptist Church but later returned in 1880 and accepted the care of the Walnut Street Church and served it for four years, during which time there was built an elegant brick house of worship. A revival in the Hartford Church in 1880 saw over 100 persons profess faith in Christ. The smallest number ever baptized as the result of a meeting held by him was twelve. Among the many young men who entered the ministry under him may be mentioned Dr. J. M. Peay, Dr. W. Pope Yeaman, I. T. Bruner, A. B. Miller, A. J. Miller, D. E. Yeiser, B. Y. Cundiff, and A. G. Davis. There were many others who became leaders in their respective fields but space forbids their being enumerated. He received two honorary degrees during his lifetime. Bethel College gave him the Doctor of Divinity degree and Hartford College gave him the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The dates he received these degrees are not known by the author. It was Dr. Coleman who introduced the first resolution in the Southern Baptist Convention suggesting that the Whitsitt matter be looked into, and in consequence he was made the Chairman of the investigating committee. It was he who introduced in the General Association that memorable resolution which brought on that great discussion on the floor of the Association that brought about the downfall of Whitsitt and later caused him to resign. As a result Dr. Coleman was dreaded by Whitsitt and his followers as but few men were. Dr. Coleman was blessed with perfect physical manhood and a most commanding personal appearance. His voice was deep and powerful. Under favorable circumstances it could be heard for a distance of two miles. But to this was added an overwhelming tenderness of feeling for lost souls and as a result he moved audiences like a great wave at sea. Many men excelled him in oratorical ability but none excelled him in that mysterious something called "Power." After fifty years in the ministry the "Old War Horse," as he was affectionately called in his latter days, finally collapsed from nervous exhaustion brought about by strenuous labor for the cause he loved so well. After an illness of about two years he passed to his reward on the morning of March 29, 1904. The constitution which, in early life, was thought to be invulnerable, was at last wrecked. His funeral was preached in the historic old Beaver Dam Church by that prince of preachers Thomas Treadwell Eaton, D.D., pastor of the Walnut Street Church in Louisville, Ky., Editor of the Western Recorder, and a lifelong friend of Dr. Coleman. The largest assembly every [sic] gathered on such an occasion in Ohio County came to bid farewell to the deceased leader. All knew that a prince and a great man had fallen. As long as Baptists in Kentucky and particularly those of this section, have an existence, the name of James Smith Coleman, D.D., will be held in sacred memory. Coleman Kohlmann Maddox Griffin Taylor Bennett O'Bannon Austin Tichenor Kaskey Yeaman Maple Chapman Ford Field Peay Bruner Miller Yeiser Cundiff Davis Whitsitt Eaton = Butler McLean Daviess Muhlenberg Jefferson http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/ohio/coleman.js.txt