Pastor: Salisbury First Baptist Church in 1918.
l:r.e. 5~~-'-. /fff b, c, Ancestry Starr's Baptist Bibliography gives dates: 1879-1941 Z/~ a.-~~ - /U-<- /if'-
Bistnriral O!nmmissinu iiuptist ~tat.e <!tnnu.entinn NORTH CAROLINA DATA FOR FILES Give (for.the printer) your full namedf._~:! "';1 tf.?:r.f..??..,. Date of birth-month, day, year------------------------~---------------- ----_/_<] Your father's name ~)---~-~-~----a. (/)_~-------------------------- ------------------ '4 :11J...:_.:/,"'.~' Your mother's maiden name.:o. Cl,,)i-.",.. Wher: y~u ~ere educated ~J;;;. 1fi!f Ji 1.~ Ji;:;:;;;;,~-; :_ Degrees 1 eceived and the source.722.<?s:..-4'r... O]ff ~ ~;:; -'/ Where and when ordained When and where you were marrie --~'. ~--~ :.::~--~!.t'.'l// 2-:_J,!_'i 9 1.~-~ q!z~-~--'---------------~--------- Give wife's maiden name in full.i... _ - : L/1 f - -------------------------------------- ----- Give date of her birth-month, day, year --------------------~-~ /_ --~-: _ Her parents' names 71Jv_ v: ~-~-----;//_~_(f : 1}J ~--~------------------------------------ (If a second marriage, give like information)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ~~ ~~;~~~~:~~;J;:~;;,, r;;s;;;;;~ ;~;_:;~ 2i:~: : ~~.,,;~:;~:~ ~~~~-:_: :::~~:~ :::~ :: ::~:::,::_::: ~t:f!l~f(;}_:~f-&);~~~~14 J;!tl';.~:g~:~~=-~--E :~-~-~]:A-,-::rt1b) v~i:~:t~l::::;r:!:!:~~;~~~:;;~;~~::::;,~,=;~~; aid _!n ~Lreplf tion of a personal ~ketch ~;'fi.,/.qt:~--- ~!f.~~~:: ~; ~= ~:~;:Z: ~~'!±::~~~::;~~::: ;; :~,,~::;::-:~ industrial engagements and other items of interest. The information here sought is for use in the preparation of a Biographical Work of the North Carolina Baptist leaders. We hope no name will be omitted. A personal sketch written by yourself or some friend will be greatly appreciated. Fill and send this blank now; the sketch may come later. Mail to J. T. ALDERMAN, Chairman, Henderson, N. C.
BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY, VOLUME 1 - B.J.W. Graham, Editor 286 BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY CLIFFORD ANDERSON OWENS. Clifford Anderson Owens is the young. est son of the late Rev. Thomas A.. Owens. He was born near Cartersville, Georgia, October 5th, 1879. He ceived his education at Piedmont Institute, Rockmart, Georgia, Hearn Acade-. my, Cave Spring, Georgia, and Mercer University, Macon, Georgia. After lesring college, he taught for a short period in the public schools of Bartow county, and, by tact and thoroughness, won the confidence of his patrons, and proved himself one "apt to teach." He was converted to Christ in the Summer of 1896, and w baptized at TaylorsYille, Georgia, by Rev. J. J. Bennett. From the day of his conyersion he has been active in church work, and was licensed to preach at the age of seyenteen. In April, 1899, he was called to the pastorate of the Baptist church of Carlisle, Arkansas, succeeding a cousin, Rev. 0. TI. Owens, who had died a few months previous. Before leaving for bis first pastorate he was ordained to the ministry by Macedonia church in Bartow county, Rev. T. R. Morgan being chairman of the ordaining council. In connection with the Carlisle pastorate, he also served Hazen, \\'" alnut Grove, and New Bethel churches. A this last named church he conducted one of the most successful revivals ever held in that section of the State, there being about one hundred additions to the church by baptism. On December 27, 1899, he was married to Miss Eunice McGri!, of Atlanta, Georgia. This happy union grew out of a love affair dating back to school days. Mrs. Owens has proved herself worthy helpmeet, and by her culture of mind, kindness of hea.rl, and consecration of life has made friends wherever they have gon not only for herself but for the cause to which her husband ha! dedicated his life. 1 n - l \ :.111 ' \
BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY 287 In June, 1900, Mr. Owens returned to Georgia to accept the pastorate of Kirkwood and East End churches, Atlanta. This pastorate was brief, but the work was important and the results permanent. One year later he became pastor of the old historic Baptist church of Crawfordville, Georgia, where he remained for five years. In connection with this pastorate he also served, at different times, the churches at Woodville ancl Union Point. These were fruitful years, not only for these churches, but for a score of other churches in the surrounding country. In revivals ancl special meetings his ministry was felt in nearly half the churches of the olcl Georgia Association. He also led in a successful campaign for prohibition in Taliaferro county. This will be remembered as one of the most strenuous fights ever waged against saloons in the State under the local option law. During this period of his ministry he made two trips abroad; the first to the West Indies, visiting the islands of St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, Martinique, St: Vincent, Jamaica, Cuba, and ~ew Providence. Later he visited the Holy Land, Egypt, and parts of Europe. He resigned the work at Crawfordville to 'become pastor of the First Baptist church of Lake City, Florida. While there he was active in the founding of Columbia College, making the presentation address and turning over to the President the deeds to its splendid property and the city's check for $15,000.00. He was elected by popular ballot in Convention to membership on the board of trustees of the new institution. On account of the prolonged illness and death of his wife's father, he found it necessary to sever his relation with the Lake City church, so as to be near Atlanta to assist in business affairs. He accepted a call to the First Baptist church of Toccoa, Georgia, where he labored heroically, giving to the church a new vision and leading them in the doing of greater things. From this place he went to DeLand, Fl~rida, to become pastor of the First Baptist church, where he remained for four years. DeLand is the seat of Stetson Uni versity, and while there he found time to do pecial work in the institution. He served as a member of the Foreign :\Iission Board
288 BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY of the Southern Baptist Convention, and was otherwise active and prominent in denominational work. While in DeLand he served acceptably one Summer as supply pastor of the Eutaw Place church, Baltimore, Maryland. He also engaged in literary work, editing and publishing a beautiful edition of the "Economy of Life." His present pastorate is the First Baptist church, of Humboldt, Tennessee. Upon his removal to Tennessee, Dr. A. J. Holt, of Kissimmee, Florida, wrote the following letter of introduction which appeared in the "Baptist and Reflector:" "Please allow me to introduce to you, and through you to the Baptists of Tennessee, my good friend, ReY. C. A. Owens, now of Humboldt and formerly of DeLand, Florida. It is with a mingled feeling of sadness and gladness that I commend Bro. Owens to the Baptists of Tennessee. He has been identified with every Baptist interest in Florida since before my coming into the state. I was first pastor at Lake City, where Bro. Owens had been pastor. l found it difficult, if not impossible, to keep up the pace set by my distinguished predecessor in pastoral work. His praise was on every lip. On my removal to Wekiva Association, I found Bro. Owens strongly intrenched in the hearts of the people. The Baptists of Tennessee will find in him a noble and trustworthy brother in the Lord, kind of heart, gentle of spirit, courageous in conduct, pure in life, brotherly in demeanor, and strong in pulpit power. Bro. Owens will be an honor and an ornament to the Baptist ministry of the State. To you, my dear friends, I commend him as a brother well beloved, and loving him as I do, I know that for my sake you will love him, until his own merits become known, after which you will love him for his many excellencies of char- acter." In June, 1915, Union UniYersity, Jackson, Tennessee, conierred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, he being one of the youngest men upon whom this old conservative institution hal bestowed this honor. He is in great demand for revival meetings and special ad
BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY 289 ve an 1 serv.«! Pia wor imv dresses, and is always heard with pleasure and profit. He preached the annual sermon before the Tennessee Baptist Convention at :Morristown in 1916. ubold. olt,,,t' luction to rl. now iinglc-l to th" Bapti-t I w.itor. by : va- 1 B Ba: irorh- - 1n1l11 '. l l Pl tat :" ch.ir- 1frr:! of :' ) I1 al :1 L RUSSELL JOHNSON PIRKEY. ~Ir. Russell Johnson Pirkey was born in Winchester, Virginia, September 8, 1883. His father, Stephen Pirkey, and his mother, Mrs, Fannie M. Johnson Pirkey, brought him as a child from Virginia to Missouri, where they lived until Russell was nineteen years of age, when they moved to Kentucky. Mr. Stephen Pirkey was educated for the ministry, but did not enter upon it. He became a very successful business man, for many years being one of the general managers of the ~ ew York Life Insurance Company. He died in 1915. His widow is now living in Louisville, Kentucky, where she is an honored member of the Walnut Street Baptist church. She is a talented musician, and Russell inherited much of his mother's musical ability. Mr. Pirkey is one of a family of four brothers, two of whom are practicing physicians in Louisville, Kentucky, while the youngest is studying for the same profession. These four sons are gifted young men and are an honor to!heir parents. After Mr. Pirkey's graduation from the high school of Sedalia, Missouri, he studied music under William H. Sherwood, of Chicago, Illinois. Under the tutorage of this distinguished musician he developed his musical talent to a very high degree. After his course in music he spent one year in Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, where he made a good record. The greater