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- "OBITUARY
"Died in Fabius township, in this county at about 2 o'clock on Sunday last, 21st inst., Elder Jeremiah Taylor, in the 76th year of his age. Of him it may truly be said, "a noble spirit has fallen," than which we have not a nobler one left amongst us." The writer of this enjoyed his acquaintance for about a quarter of a century, and for most of that time, his association with him was of the most intimate and confidential character, and never did he hear him utter a mean, low or sordid sentiment. All his teachings, both public and private were of that ennobling character, calculated to elevate the standard of virtue and piety. It is true his mind had not that polish which the fine arts and sciences can give,--reared in the mountains of North Carolina, in the morning of life he had not the advantages of education,--but nature's God had endowed him with that, without which the sciences can never shine,--a strong vigorous, native intellect. He emigrated from North Carolina about 27 years since to this, then a wilderness country--without churches, but few professors of religion,--for a time he was almost the only Minister of any denomination. Nothing terrified by the darkness which surrounded him, he lifted up the "Banner of the Cross of Christ, and under that he fought the powers of darkness, and never ceased to fight, until arrested by the hand of disease. And indeed he waged a successful warfare,--"the pleasure of the Lord prospered in his hands--he gathered "the scattered ones" together, built up churches, and baptized hundreds, great numbers of whom are yet living in this region of the country and can bear testimony to his untiring zeal and energy in the cause of God. But he is no more; his remains sleep in the silent grave, by the side of his loved wife, who preceded him some twelve or fifteen years. He died as he lived, reposing an unwavering confidence in the promises of the Savior. He had none of those bright ecstasies in his last moments which some enjoy, but his faith never failed him for a moment. Calm and collected, but rather anxious than otherwise, he encountered the "monster death." But truly with him, 'Death had no sting, and the grave no victory.' He has left a large family of children and grand children, and many warm friends to mourn his death; but 'they sorrow not as those who have no hope.' 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; yea, with the Spirit, for they cease from their labors, and their works do follow them.'
"May 23, 1848"--Verbatim transcription from a photocopy of rather poor quality. The source is probably a Palmyra news paper. Is the Spectator that old?
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It is very curious that neither Holcombe nor the Portrait and Biographical Record... have articles on Jeremiah. Why? Were they subscription publications printing biographies only of those who paid for them? Gene Taylor believes that families wrote articles submitted to these publications and, when solicitations for articles came in the 1870's, the Taylors were so distraught with the death of Emily Virginia Compton Taylor that they failed to submit anything.
Holcombe notes that Jeremiah was among the earliest settlers of the township and that he officiated at the first weddings in two townships. --op. cit., pp 774-775
"All accounts agree that Elder Jeremiah Taylor (Baptist) was the first minister to settle in the township. He held the first public religious service May 18, 1823, in a little log school house, which stood near Bethel church, on section 33_59_6. The first church building was a log structure put up in 1824, near Bethel church. Old Bethel church (Baptist) was a brick [structure], and stood near the site of the preset Bethel church, .... Bethel cemetery was laid out in 1830. It comprises near three acres." --Holcombe. op. cit., p 776
Jeremiah must have been a most energetic person with exceptional leadership skills. Besides starting the Bethel Church and churches in North Carolina, he helped organize 9 other churches in Missouri: Providence, 1824; Wyaconda, 1829 or 1831; Gilead, Lewis Co., 1833; Little Union, 1833; Pleasant Run, Newark; Mt. Zion, Shelby Co., 1838; Sandhill, Shelby Co., 1842; and South River 1826. In addition he was the pastor at Bethel from its organization to his death in 1848. The church paid for his funeral, passing the following resolution:
"'DEATH OF ELDER JEREMIAH TAYLOR'
"At a special meeting of the Baptist Church at Bethel, Marion County Missouri held on Monday the 22nd day of May 1848, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:
"Whereas our venerable and beloved Pastor Elder Jeremiah Taylor departed this life yesterday; and whereas he was the leading and most active member of our organization of this church, and was the affectionate, zealous, and efficient Pastor of the same from its organization up to the period of his death, that is for a quarter of a century -- Therefore as a mark of respect for his long and useful services, and as an evidence of the high estimation in which we held him as our beloved Pastor, and in all the relations of life be it
"1st Resolved that as a church with the concurrence of his children and relatives, we set apart our next meeting on the 3rd Sabbath of June, for his funeral, and that our Pulpet which he has so long and so usefully occupied, be decked with the usual habiliments of mourning on that occasion.
"2nd Resolved, that all the clergy and members generally of our (Bethel) Association are hereby respectfully invited to be present at the funeral.
"3rd Resolved, that the proceedings of this meeting be entered upon the records of the church.
"4th Resolved that the "Whig" at Palmyra and the "Baptist Banner" at Louisville, Ky. be respectfully requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting. -- Done by order of the church.
"William Carson, Clk. John H. Keach, Moderator" -- Bethel Baptist Church; Choice Bits from Old Records, bicentennial edition, 1976. [N.B. "bicentennial" should be "sesquicentennial"]
Obituary from Baptist publication sent to JET in 1998 by Gail Haugan(?)
"Brethren,--In compliance with an appointment by the Moderator of this Association in its last session, I have endeavored to get information in relation to the Baptist Ministers of the Gospel who were former members of this body, who resided in North-eastern Missouri and [are] now dead. I submit the following:
"Elder Jeremiah Taylor was born Feb. 27th 1774, in Rutherford county, North Carolina. He was the son of Caleb Taylor, who died when he was a boy. Brother Taylor joined the first Baptist Church [ ] was constituted in the county in which he was born in 1804; was baptized by Thomas Jones, and commenced preaching very soon after connection with that Church, the name of which is not known. He [was] ordained, and became pastor of French Broad in 1813; he also had [the] pastoral care of the Church at Bulah in 1821. In the fall of 1821 [he] emigrated to Missouri, and settled in Marion county. Soon after settlement the Church called Bethel was constituted, by which he [was] chosen pastor. In this relation he continued until his death which occurred at the residence of his son-in-law, I. Forman, near Bethel, Man, 1848, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He had been afflicted for many years previous to his death with paralysis, which so affected [his] nerves as to injure his articulation; but his general health was good, [his] constitution robust, and his energy and zeal untiring. He was always[?] zealously affected in the good cause, served and built up several Churches in Marion and the adjacent counties. He was a useful pioneer in the settlement of this section of country, a good citizen, a good neighbor and a good pastor, for he fed the flock of Christ, was faithful to the charge, and punctual in all his engagements. He had a good, well-balanced mind, but his acquirements were moderate, and his gift to communicate instruction, though ordinary in sermonizing, was rather extraordinary in the social circle. He was fond of the subject of religion and made the Bible his study, so that his private interviews with his brethren and friends were rendered pleasant and entertaining, and indeed edifying, by his affability and the tender interest he manifested for those with whom he associated; he, therefore, has many seals to his ministry. There are many left behind on their pilgrimage who hold Father Taylor dear in memory."
"Heritage of Rutherford Co. N.C."
"...The Reverend Benjamin King and his brother-in-law, Jeremiah Taylor, were members of the French Broad and Salem Baptist Associations. They established several churches in Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, and other surrounding counties of North Carolina..."
Jeremiah Taylor was pastor at Beulah Baptist Church (near the French Broad River) before migrating to Missouri in 1821--JET According to the Heritage of Henderson Co. N.C., he was the second pastor of this church.
"Bethel Association (N.E.)
"Jeremiah Taylor -- was one of the pioneer preachers of Marion County, having come to Missouri in 1822. He was one of the most useful preachers of his day--not an educated man, but 'his life was a living epistle, known and read of all men' who knew him. His doctrinal views were about those held by the great Andrew Fuller of England. These he would press with great earnestness and zeal.
"He was born in Buncombe County [actually old Tryon, Co.], North Carolina, February 27, 1774, and after a useful life of half a century as a Baptist minister, he died May 21, 1848. He was present and preached the introductory sermon at the organization of Salt River Association in 1823. He also aided in the formation and became a constituent member of the Bethel Association in 1834. 'The strong Baptist influence in and around Palmyra is due, in no small degree, to the foundation laid by this good man. He was not a pleasant speaker, nor was his success due so much to his pulpit labor as to his pastoral work; for as a pastor he greately excelled. He was one of the best pastors I ever knew.' [From the MS. Sketch of Jer. Taylor, by Eld J.F. Smith.]
"He filled the office of pastor in the churches of Bethel and Union in Marion County, for many years, and was very much loved and honored by his churches.
"He was a man of large property in land and negroes, hence would preach without much remuneration, as was common with the pioneer preachers.
"All the ministers of Bethel Association were present, by invitation, on the occasion of his funeral. Two sermons were preached, one by Eld. William Hurley, the other by Eld James F. Smith.
"Eld. C.S. Taylor, now of Bethel Association, is a grandson of his and is a minister of promising and useful talent." Duncan, R. S. A History of the Baptists inb Missouri; embracing an account of the organization and growth of Baptist Churches and associations; biographical sketches of ministers of the gospel and other prominent members of the denomination; the found of Baptist institutions, periodicals, &c. Saint Louis: Scammell & Company, 1882. p. 331
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Taylor Family Genealogy
1774 - 1848 (74 years)