CHARLES HARRISON FARRIS.
Brother Farris was a son of James and Martha Allison Farris, and was born in Wythe County, Virginia, October 27, 1842, and died in Pulaski county, Virginia, November 17, 1909, at the age of 67 years and 21 days.
Brother Farris was twice married.
His first marriage was to Virginia Sarah Jennings, daughter
of William and Ruth Bolt Jennings of Carroll County, Virginia. Her father was
familiarly known among Primitive Baptists as "Old Uncle' Billy
Jennings." To this union were born five sons (one long since deceased) and
two daughters. The names of the living are: Frank and Hulbert Harris, of
His second marriage was to Miss Louvenie
Kemp, daughter of John and Mary J. Reece Kemp, of
Brother Farris lived happily with his first companion for
more than thirty-nine years. He was married, by the writer, to his second wife,
just forty years from the date of his first marriage. Be was blessed with two
good companions, who looked well to their household and ate not the bread of
idleness. He, himself, was a very industrious man, and was blessed with a great
deal of this world's goods. Be owned fine real estate on
He was a soldier of the Civil war, loyal and true to his country, and never abandoned his post of duty, and was widely known in the business circles of life.
Brother Ferris lived for about fifty-seven years in sin and
rebellion against God, apparently unmindful of a future state. The writer well
remembers passing his home and viewing his residence, without any anticipation
of its ever becoming a home for the Primitive
Baptists. But God, who works all things after the counsel of his own will, for the good of his children and to his own
declarative glory. in the year 1901, arrested him, by
some supernatural power, and caused him to become exceedingly distressed on
account of his sins. During that year the writer and Elders G. A. Reid and Dr.
Hurst had some appointments in his neighborhood. The dear old brother was
always on hand and manifested great interest in the meetings. In, September, if
I am not, mistaken, I received a note from Miss Josie, stating that her father
requested me come to the next meeting. I went, about the second Sunday in September;
and, after preaching on the bank of
But in a few months he began stir, ring the winds of the
brethren about building a house for worship in his neighborhood; and, in a
short time, a site was located on his land where
He was a faithful to attend his church meetings as long as
he lived, and was not one who forsook the assemblage of the saints. He
contended earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to him. And, while
he had his faults, he was ever ready for the correction of his brethren, considering
that open rebuke was better than secret love. After he joined the church his
doors were always open to the brethren; and, as it seemed, he was never satisfied
unless some of them went home with him. The writer can truly say that he was good
to him, and administered to him liberally of his carnal things.
The last church meeting he was ever at was on the third Sunday
in October, l909; and the writer preached the last sermon he ever heard. About
one week later, he took very ill of some fatal disease, and died so suddenly
that I did not get to see him during his illness. He told his nurse that he had
never enjoyed a better meeting in his life, than the last he was ever at. David
said. "Blessed is the people that know the joyful
sound: they shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of thy Countenance."
.And, notwithstanding our dear brother was treated by two
good physicians and a trained nurse, and bad all done for him that loving hands
could do, they could not stay the appointment of God; and, on November 17,
1909, he, as we believe, fell asleep in .Jesus and is now where the wicked
cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. Ii e left a bereaved widow,
four sons, two daughters, (by his first I wife), and aged brothel' land, many
other relatives and friends, and the church, to mourn his los~, but not without
hope.
May God bless his widow and Children, if it be his holy
will, and prepare them to meet death in the triumphs of faith.
The church has lost a useful member, the widow a good
husband, the children a good father, and the community a good citizen, in the
death of our dear brother. "But the Lord giveth and taketh away, and blessed be the name of the Lord.
His funeral was preached. by the
writer, at his home church, on Friday before the third Sunday in November,
1909, to a large and attentive audience. Then his body was laid to rest by the
side of his first wife, to await the resurrection, when God shall descend with
a shout, and the dead in Christ shall arise.
J. W. HURST,