"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. 324-325.  
Used by permission.  [Ohio]

JAMES NELSON JARNAGIN:  This remarkable man and eminent minister of 
the Gospel was born of humble and godly parents, John M. and Sarah 
Caroline Miller Jarnagin, in Ohio County, Kentucky, on October 3, 
1862.  His mother was a sister of those eminent preachers Elders 
A. B. Miller and A. J. Miller whose sketches appear in this history.  
His parents were not blessed to a great extent with this world's goods 
but they gave the best to their son that could be afforded.  While a 
youth he worked on his father's farm and hired out at fifty cents a 
day to others.  Brother Jarnagin attended the schools of his day and 
later attended Hartford College under Prof. Wayland Alexander.  For 
some time after this he attended Bethel College at Russellville.  For 
a number of years before he entered the ministry he taught school in 
Ohio County.  The subject of our sketch was converted at the age of 
thirteen and was baptized into the fellowship of the Mt. Zion Baptist 
Church by Elder B. F. Jenkins.  By this Church he was licensed to 
preach on Saturday before the First Sunday in February, 1882.  His 
ordination took place at the same church on May 20, 1885.  Elder B. F. 
Jenkins and others formed the council of ordination.  We thus notice 
that he was twenty years [sic] of age when he was ordained.  Thus 
began a ministry which was to last for thirty-eight years, in which 
time he served churches in Ohio, Henderson, Daviess, McLean, Butler, 
and Muhlenberg Counties.  Brother Jarnagin kept a record faithfully 
during his ministry and this same record shows that he preached 3,290 
sermons and baptized over 1,000 persons into the fellowship of Baptist 
Churches.  His last sermon was preached at Macedonia Church in June, 
1922.  His health had at that time given away and he never recovered.  
After being invalid for four years and six months he died at his home 
in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, on March 21, 1927.  His funeral was preached 
from the Beaver Dam Church by his lovable pastor, Elder C. C. Daves.  
His body was interred in the Sunnyside Cemetery at Beaver Dam.
	Brother Jarnagin served the following Churches during his useful 
ministry: Mt. Zion, Green River, Slaty Creek, Cool Spring, Zion, Mt. 
Carmel, Bell's Run, Dundee, and Deanefield in Ohio County; Cedar 
Grove, Bethlehem, Paraside [sic], Mt. Pisgah, Cherry Hill, all in 
Muhlenberg County; Macedonia, Bethabara, in Daviess County; Old Buck 
Creek, in McLean County; Salem, Morgantown, New Harmony, in Butler 
County; and Pellville, in Hancock County.  His salary at each of these 
churches ranged from $14.00 to $250.00 per year.
	An unusual event occurred in his life.  When he was nine years 
old he made a profession of faith and was baptized by Elder James 
Davis, but later, when he felt called to preach, he wanted to be sure 
he was not mistaken in regard to his salvation.  At this time we note 
him asking for baptism at the hands of the church through Brother 
Jenkins.  Many may well ponder this course because we should all know 
"Whom we have believed and be persauded [sic] that He is able to keep 
that which we have committed unto Him against that day."
	On August 11, 1889, he was married to Miss Lillian Fleeter.  One 
daughter was born to this union.  She, with her mother and her husband, 
still live in Beaver Dam, Ky. (1943), and our information in this 
sketch came from them.
	Brother Jarnagin was an able minister of the Gospel and a strong 
defender of the faith.  He was careful, clear and logical in thought, 
and fearless in the presentation of his message.  The world was made 
richer and nobler by his useful life.  In his last illness he longed 
often to go; and he welcomed the summons to come up higher.  For the 
last thirty years of his life he held membership with the historic 
Beaver Dam Church.  At his death "A good man had gone and a prince in 
Israel had fallen."

Jarnagin Miller Alexander Jenkins Daves Davis Fleeter 
=
Russelville-Logan Henderson Daviess McLean Butler Muhlenberg Hancock

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/ohio/jarnagin.jn.txt