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2 J ostarr B. Sor.oxrox, Dr. Solomon was born in Franklin County,?\ orth Caro Iina, J anuary 18th, 182.f, was prepared for college in Louisburg, and graduated }.f. A. from Wake Forest Co11ege. He received the degree of D. D. in 1810 from Bethel College and a1so from the Southwestern University in He was licensed to preach hy Haywood Church in the Tar River Association in 1844, and ordained by the same church in He \1':1S missionary of the State Board in 1850 and pastor in Warrento~ from 1852 to He accepted a call to Leigh Street Church, Richmond, Virginia, in 1860, and continued there until From 1865 to 1869, he taught school in \I,' arrenton and other sections. From 1870 through 1873, he 'ms Professor of English in the University of \Vest \.. irginia and supplied the Baptist Church in Uorgantown.. From 1873 through 1875 he was pastor at Jefferson, from 1875 through 1880 he served the church at Sharon. He served various other churches in Kentucky and Indiana, until 1899, when he retired from the active ministry and spent the remainder of his life with his sons in Owensboro, Kentucky, and Chicago, Illinois. He was the author of a small book on the "Terms of Communion," and another volume entitled, "The Inspiration of the Scriptures." Dr. Solomon was a very ab1e preacher, drew large congregations and baptized many converts. hof'vi A H1s+orj cl +he-~ R1veV \0~7:)t- Assoc..1a..+tc"' 1<g3o- 1q:z._1 b.j Thomas :J. Ta.'llof 1 ff?>oq-3)6

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6 JOSIAH B. SOLOMON Dr. Solomon was born January 18, 1824 in Frankl in County, North Carolina. He attended college at Louisburg, and graduated M. A. from Wake Forest College. He received the degree of D. D. in 1870 from Bethel College, and also from the South-Western University in He was I icensed to preach by Haywood Church in the Tar River Association in 1844 and ordained by the same church in He was missionary of the State Board in 1850 and 1851, pastor in Warrenton from 1852 to I 860. It was during this pastorate that he began to preach at Sharon Church becoming its first pastor from 1858 to In 1860 he accepted a cal I to the Leigh Street Church, Richmond, Va. and was there unt i I Then he returned to Warrenton and taught schoo I there, and in other sections from 1865 to From 1870 through 1873 he was professor of English at the University of West Virginia and supplied the Baptist Church in Morgantown. He was pastor at Jefferson from 1873 to At this time he became the pastor again at Sharon Church on a part-time basis, or rather in a field with other churches of the locality to He served various other churches in Kentucky and Indiana, unti I 1899, at which time he retired from active ministry. The remainder of his I ife was spent with his sons in Owensboro, Ke~tucky and Chicago, I I I i no is. Pastor Solomon was an able preacher, drew large crowds to his services, and baptized many converts. He was the author of two books, "Terms of Communion" and "The Inspiration of the Scripture". HISTORY OF SHARON AND WISE BAPTIST CHURCH, page B/ /T37

7 SOLOMON, Josiah Bridges, 234 E. 47th St., Chicago, I I I.--Born, Frankl in Co., N. C., Jan. 18, 1824; Prep. Sch.; W. F. C., M.A., '71; So. Wn. U., D. D., 170; Beth. C., D. D., ; Lie. '44, Ord. Sept., '48 Haywoods Ch., N. C.; My ; P. Warrenton, ; Leigh St. Ch., Richmond, Va., '65-73; taught Sch., '70-73; Prof. Eng. U., W. Va. and S. Ch., Morgantown, 73-75; P. Jefferson, ; Sharon, '80-85; Owensboro, Ky., '85-87; Zion Ch., '89-92; Huntington, Ind., ; Hawesville and Lewisport, Ky., and Cannellton, Ind., THE BAPTIST MINISTERIAL DIRECTORY - Page 684 Geo. Lasher, ed. B/920/L33

8 R66 HISTORY OF THE DAYIES&-McLEAN BAPTis~~c By: Wendell H. Rone... ~~~Lu' Tn'Y~~----,~ JOSIAH BRIDGES SOLOMON, D.D. The subject of this sketch was a native of North Carolina. He was the first son and third child born to Jeremiah and Elizabeth Bridges Solomon, natives also of North Carolina. The date of his birth was J anuary 18, Our subject was reared on a farm. At the age of eighteen he was converted and baptized into the fellowship of a Baptist Church by Elder P. H. Smith. He obtained a good academic education and then attended Wake Forest College where he received the M.A. degree in Sometime previous to this he had been licensed to preach, in 1844, and, in 1848, was ordained by the Haywood Church in his native state. During the years he did mission work under the auspices of the S.tate Mission Board of North Carolina. From his labors in this field grew four churches directly, and indirectly a number of others. His health failed him in this work and he returned to the farm for two years. In January, 1854, he accepted the JOSIAH BRIDGES SOLOl\lON D.D. care of the church at Warrenton. N. C., remaining six years, the member ship in the meantime, increasing from twenty-five to 150. While here he engaged in a debate with a Methodist preacher and the result was that he baptized a large number of Methodists into the fellowship of his church. In 1860 he became pastor of the Eighth Street Church, in Richmond, Va., where he remained until the close of the Civil War. He spent the years on the farm again and in 1867 entered into the educational field. This was during the period of reconstruction and the work proved to be hard, especially from a pecuniary standpoint. From the year 1870 to 1875 he served as Professor of English in West Virginia State University and in the latter period as President of Monongahelia College in Pennsylvania. In October, 1875, he accepted the care of the First Church in Sharon, Pa., remaining there until the close of January, 1880, when he came to Owensboro, Ky., to pastor the First Baptist Church. While here the property of the Church was improved to the extent of several thousand dollars. Brother Solomon preached the Annual Sermon before the Daviess County Association in The only history of the First Baptist Church ever published, up until that time, was written by him and printed in the minutes of the Association in From Owensboro he 'vent to Huntington, Indiana, where he remained [ 348] Elde in Louis Kentuc College, attend in Church Brot March, lege the by the and Joh and Col In t Owensb counties in , 192 Bro br the conside and tim

9 He was r child born to 1, -th Bridges 'Jf ;\orth C:uo- 1i:, birth was Jani 011 r subject was " [arm At the age of C.,0, ertcd and bap- 1\ ( llo,1 ship of a Baptist 1, EIJa P. H. Sm!th. ~e roo1j academic education ;ittcnjed \Vake Forest Col,. he received the M.A. de- 1 I "i I. Sometime previous to h:«! been licensed to pre~ch, -!, and, in 1848, was ordai~ed Haywood Church in his native ring the years he ission work under the auspices State Mission Board of. Nort~ From his labors m na. this d rew four churches directly, an. tly a number of others. His failed him in this work and he ed to the farm for two years. nuarv 1854, he accepted the f the- ~hurch at Warrenton. N. maining six years, the memberty-five to 150. While here he cher and the result was that he o the fellowship of his church. h Street Church, in Richmond, Civil War. He spent the years 7 entered into the educat10nal struction and the work proved andpoint. From the year ~870 in West Virginia State Umve: it of Monongahelia College ''.1 ted the care of the First Chur~h lose of January, 1880, ''.'hen e rst Baptist Church. While here to the extent of several thousand nual Sermon before the Daviess tory of the First Baptist C~urch ritten by him and printed in the ton, Indiana, where he remained for several years. He then returned to Kentucky and pastored the churches at Hawesville and Lewisport, in Kentucky, and Cannelton, in Indiana, making his home with his daughter in Henderson, Ky., where he died on November L 1906, in his eighty-third year. Dr. Solomon was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Burges, a native of Warrenton, N. C., in October, Seven children were born to this - union. Five of them were living while he served as pastor in Owensboro. Dr. Solomon was a Christian gentleman in every respect and was rarely excelled as a preacher. He was logical and systematic, yet with a fine sense of imagery. It could truly be said of him that he was a man of God and served his generation well. He received the Degree of D.D. from Southwestern University in Jackson, Tenn., in 1870, and the same degree from Bethel College in THO:YIAS C. STACKHOUSE Elder Thomas C. S.tackhouse, was of French extraction, and was born in Louisiana, July 2, After losing his parents by death he came to Kentucky at the age of fifteen. He received his education at Georgetown College, where he graduated in He professed faith in Christ while attending college and was baptized into the fellowship of the Georgetown Church by Elder A. W. LaRue, in March, Brother Stackhouse was licensed to preach by the Stanford Church in March, He entered the Theology department of Georgetown College the following fall and was ordained to the ministry two years later by the Mt. Gilead Church in Greene County by' Elders Henry McDonald and John James. He served Mt. Gilead and Greensburg in Greene County, and Columbia in Adair County from 1862 to In the year 1873 he accepted the care of the First Baptist Church in Owensboro and remained until the latter part of While in this Association he preached the Annual Sermon in 1874 at Chestnut Grove Church. After 1876 he moved to Fayette County. He declined a call to the First Baptist Church in Lexington on account of the church's tolerating its members in selling whisker. From the time he moved to Fayette County until the year 1919 he continued to serve churches in that and adjoining counties. From there he went to West Blockton, Alabama, only to return in 1921 to Lexington, remaining there until his death on September 12, Brother Stackhouse was an excellent pulpit orator and was much loved by the people to whom he ministered. Thomas Marshall of Kentucky considered him one of the three greatest orators in the state in his day and time. WILLIA:\-! ]. STEVENS The subject of this sketch was born in the state of Tennessee on July 4, When converted he united with the l\iethodists and soon began to preach. After preaching ;n the Iethodist denomination for over ten years. at about the age of 47, he was led to a more careful study of the subject of baptism by the request of his sixteen-year-old daughter, who had [ 349]

10 LEIGH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, by William Carey James (also a photo between pages 118 and 119) J.B. SOLo::.rnN The pastor follov;.ir:t; Brother "'il:is was J. B. Solomon of North Carolina, born in Franklin County January 8, 1824, a man of studious habits, of scholarly tastes and attainments, an M.A. Wake Forest College, North Carolina, and twice the recipient of the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was Professor of English and Vice-President of University of \Vest Virginia, President Monongahela College, Jefferson, Pennsylvania and pastor of different churches in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Indiana. He was also an author of two volumes, one of which was Terms of Communion, the other, The Inspiration of the Scriptures. In his early ministry he was pastor in Warrenton, North Carolina eight years , coming in September 1860 to Richmond, Virginia, as pastor of Leigh Street Baptist Church where he served faithfully until Christmas morning, December 25, r 864, at which time "with the capture of Richmond imminent. to safeguard his family, his mother and youngest sister, he felt called upon to resign the pastoral care of a people 'whom I devotedly loved and who had proven their love for me.' " He left for his former home in Warrenton, North Carolina. Dr. Solomon's services while pastor at Leigh Street will fall under the following headings: First, his getting acquainted with the members of the church and getting them acquainted with one another. It will be remembered that the former pastor, Brother Willis, resigned because of a lack of cooperation. Dr. Solomon found that the trouble lay deeper, that it was due to a "state of fraternal alienation," and "after meditation and prayer for divine direction" he planned a get-together meeting far enough ahead for as many as possible to be present. "They came in full force, but with very sober faces." Then the pastor spoke to them about the necessity of their knowing one another. The church in fact had grovm so fast that many of the members did not know one another even by name. Not only should they know one another, but should exercise Christian love toward each other for the Lord's sake, their own sake and for the sake of "the world round about us." Very soon, "as by magic, in a twinkling, the gloom and moroseness which they had brought with them was gone and "such a shaking of hands and fraternal greetings I have never seen." "The effect of this meeting was wonderful." [30]

11 All bitterness and unkindness of f ecling were dead and buried, and from that good hour until I left them, December 25, I 864, there was no more bitterness or strife among them." Surely, a notable achievement! The second phase of pastor Solomon's duties consisted of all those heart-sickening obligations which a state of war always imposes, among them, in this instance, being the thousands of Confederate soldiers sleeping in Oakwood and in Hollywood, a silent yet impressive evidence of the busy time which Richmond ministers had in the burial of the dead. In this connection, there is in the church minutes an action of the church expressing opposition to the "indiscriminate preaching of funeral sermons on Sunday following the burial of the deceased during the week before." Also, it may not be out of place at this point to mention a tradition current on Church Hill that the basement of the church was used as a first aid hospital for wounded soldiers, and Mr. Wortley Dickie, now past four score years, still living and who was brought up in the Leigh Street Sunday School and Church, recalls frequent statements to that effect from his mother who was a teacher in the first Sunday School that began, as some may say, on December 25, This is entirely credible since the Leigh Street basement was so easy of access, and because of the great amount of fighting around Richmond it would be in demand as a hospital for first aid to the wounded. The third phase of Dr. Solomon's pastorate at Leigh Street Baptist Church was taken up with routine duties, which as is generally known, consist of the preparation and delivery of two sermons every Sunday, conducting mid-week prayer meeting once every week, attending church business meetings once every month, visiting all kinds of people and often with a different end in view for each one visited. Yet, with all these duties, there were added to the church 140 members, which is not a poor showing when it is recalled that his pastorate was carried on during the entire period of the Civil War, save the last three months. The various activities in which Dr. Solomon was engaged after leaving Leigh Street Baptist Church were given above and continued until 1899, when he retired from the active ministry, spending the closing years of his life with his sons in Owensboro, Kentucky, and in Chicago, [31]

12 .. Illinois He died?\o\ ember 2, 1906, and was buried at Henderson North Carolina. A. E. DICKINSON A familiar saying, "The right man in the right place," finds an apt illustration in A. E. Dickinson as pastor of Leigh Street Baptist Church in successionto- D.r...J. B. Solomon. He was elected April 24, I 865, and entered upon his duties immediately. Here is a church like so many at that time, particularly in Vir inia, impoverisaed in every way-in money, in morale, and in outloo. Not only have they lost their worldly goods, but many of them have lso lost loved ones who were dearer to them than all cz rthly possessi ns, and there is in addition a fear of severe penalties that the victo ious Federal Government might impose upon them. Imo their midst: a most /dejected group, comes their new pastor, A. E. Dickinson, a man of unbounded optimism and. enthusiasm, a splendid mixer, an unsurpassed story teller, at home and at ease whether with rich or poor, with the educated or uneducated, with the prominent or th obscure, a man who knew how to "walk with kings nor lose the comm touch." He was 35 years of age, an A.B. of Richmond College, a stude t for two sessions at the University of Virginil, pastor of the Charlott sville, Virginia Baptist Church for two years: for nine years Superint ndent of Colportage and Sunday School work for Virginia Baptists, ushing his work among the soldiers during the four years of the war, in one year raising $I 80,000 for the purchase of Bibles and religious iterature for the Army of Northern Virginia, being thus engaged w n the war ended. His coming among them was electric. One thi s of the words of Isaiah to the children of Israel, "Strengthen ye the wea hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, fear not.' " The Israelites may not have responded favorably to the message of Isaiah, but the Leigh Street Baptist Church reacted unanimously to the ministry of pastor Dickinson. His presence among them was like the sunrise in the polar regions following six months of night, or like abundant showers after a prolonged drought. [32 J

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