IN MEMORIAM. - Wake Forest University

IN MEMORIAM.

EDMUND LILLIE DAVIS was born in Anson county, N. C., February 19, 1813, and

died at his home in Union county, N. C., June 6th, 1896. He was the fifth or sixth

of ten brothers, sons of Isham Davis, who came from Virginia to North Carolina in

1790. He had also two sisters.

At eighteen he was gloriously converted, his conviction of sin having been

so deep that he never knew where he spent the night before he was brought (as he

so often said) "from darkness into the glorious light and liberty of the gospel."

He was baptized into the fellowship of Lawyer Springs Primitive Baptist church

on the first Sunday in September, 1830, by Rev. John Culpepper, Jr.

Soon afterward he felt impressed to preach the gospel; but, scarcely knowing

the alphabet and being unable to read, he shrank from the work. Deepening con­

victions of duty, however, led him to enter, in April, 1831, that active ministerial

life which covered more than threescore years.

When division occurred among the Primitive Baptists he joined the Missionary

Baptists and became a thoroughly aggressive and evangelical worker. He served,

as pastor, quite a number of churches, mostly in the counties of Union and Anson.

His longest and most successful pastorate was that of the Meadow Branch church,

which lasted almost continuously for over 40 years. During that time he baptized

about 500 persons into the fellowship of that church. Many other churches were

largely built up, and several established through his labors.

He was also an evangelist of great power. In 1856 nearly 400 people were brought

into the churches under his ministry. In 1871 he preached a sermon that moved 120 persons

to ask for prayer, and 60 of these afterward joining the church, attributed their

conviction to that sermon. In the same year he preached a sermon on the Prodigal Son,

and there were 11 conversions while he was preaching. Many other such instances might

be cited.

In 1870 he was elected Moderator of the Brown Creek (now the Union) Association,

(continued next page)

EDMUND LILLIE DAVIS - 2

which position he held, with two exceptions, for 14 consecutive years. For several

years he was a member of the State Mission Board of the North Carolina Baptist

Convention, performing faithfully the duties thereof.

He was married four times: first to Miss Mary Newsom, then to Mrs. Susan

Gaddy, nee Bennett, a sister to Hon. R. T. Bennett; then to Mrs. Martha Grady,

nee Gaddy; and last to Mrs. Sarah Yarbrough, nee Hamilton, with whom he lived

23 years, and who died only two months before he himself was called away. He was

the father of 12 children, 9 of whom preceded him to the grave. Among those

living is Rev. A. C. Davis, a prominent minister of the Union Association.

Unquestionably he was a great man. His oratory, though rugged, was direct

and effectual, once in 1865 evoking a spontaneous shout from Rev. John Monroe

at the Pee Dee Association; and in 1872, calling forth at the Baptist State

Convention, the unqualified admiration of Drs. C. T. Bailey, T. H. Pritchard

and Jho. A. Broadus.

He was a man of deep, decided convictions and immense force of character.

Of unshaken honesty, unwavering integrity and unsullied honor, he commanded uni­

versal respect. He was a born leader; brave, determined, aggressive and wise.

While his keep sympathies made him the champion of the poor and down trodden,

he was also an ardent hater of wrong, and his scathing invectives, uttered on the

spur of the moment, are scarcely paralleled in denunciatory eloquence.

He was a close observer and industrious student of men and things, of nature

and the Bible. Above all, he was a devout and humble Christian, liberal to a fault,

sincere in his inner life and faithful in the discharge of his ministerial duties.

Having fought a good fight and kept the faith and finished his course, he

entered into that rest that remaineth to the people of God. A revered citizen,

an upright neighbor, an affectionate husband and parent, a bold patriot, an

aggressive leader, a fearless preacher, a faithful pastor, a genuine man, "He rests

from his labors, and his works do follow him." UNION BAPTIST ASSOC. MINUTES, 1896, Page: 18-19

DEATHS

DAVIS--Rev. E. L. Davis, the subject of this sketch, was born in Anson county,

N. C., February 19th, 1813. His childhood was spent on the farm without any

educational advantages or religious instruction except what his mother gave him. In

his 18th year he was converted. About 9 o'clock in the morning of his conversion he

found himself at the house of one of his brothers, but never knew where he spent the

preceding night, so great was his conviction. He cut three notches in the yard

paling and bade his brother bood bye, saying that he was lost and that he was

going home to tell his father and mother goodbye, and that he was going to die and

was lost. As he was going the Lord of Glory blessed him in the pardon of his sins,

and instead of telling his parents that he was doomed to eternal woe, he returned

shouting the praise of God. At the time of his conversion he was impressed to

preach the gospel, but thought he could never do so, as he could not read and

scarcely knew the alphabet. About three months after this he was walking along

near the place of his conversion and a voice as if some one had spoken to him

saying, "Behold the people as sheep without a shepherd," and in connection a voice

saying "Go preach my gospel." From that time he began to try to learn to read. On

the first Sunday in September, 1830, he was baptized into the fellowship of Lawyers'

Spring church, Anson county, by Rev. John Culpepper, Sr. In April, 1831, he began

preaching and continued in the active ministry for sixty years. For about five

years he had been unable to do much work.

During the long period of his ministry and under his labors thousands were

brought to Christ. As a preacher he had but few equals in reaching the hearts of men.

He was not learned in the wisdom of men, but he was in the wisdom of God. His

natural endowments were above the average, and by hard study he had acquired a

good general knowledge of history and of men. Judge Ashe once said of him, "Had he been

educated he would have been the first man in North Carolina". As an orator he

had no superior in this part of the State. His labors were confined mostly to Union

and Anson counties. He was a fearless man. He never sought popularity. The one

thing with him in all cases was to find out the right; when convinced as to what was

EDMUND L. DAVIS - 2

right he took a stand without consulting public opinion. He had the courage of his

convictions. He was generous to a fault. He gave more to the cause of Christ than

he ever received. His heart was as big as the sufferings of men. In many instances

he has been known to give the last cent to poor women and children. In the fall

of 1865 he was traveling in Anson county and met a poor woman with four children,

all with bare feet. The ground was covered with frost. Her husband had been killed

in the civil war and she left destitute. He had only ten dollars; this he gave her to

buy shoes for herself and children. About four miles from that point he met a

man with whom he had a short conversation, and as he was leaving the man called

him saying, "Something tells me that I ought to give you something." and gave him

ten dollars. As a neighbor and husband he was among the best of earth, as a father

he was indulgent and kind, as a pastor he was faithful to his trust.

There were some remarkable periods in his history. In 1856 there were between

three and four hundred persons brought into the church under his ministry. On one

occasion he offered fourteen public prayers and there were seventeen professions of

faith. In 1871 I heard him preach a sermon that moved one hundred and twenty people

to ask for prayer, sixty of whom joined the church and dated their conviction to

that sermon. On another occasion, in the same year, he preached a sermon on the

return of the prodigal son, that there were eleven conversions while he was preach­

ing. At the close of a sermon of great power in 1887, he remarked that some one

was convicted, and I baptized several persons afterwards who dated their conviction

to that sermon. He never preached without going to the Cross. Like Paul he

determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. In 1872 he attended

the Baptist State Convention at Warrenton. There for the first time he met and

heard Dr. J. A. Broadus, who spoke on the subject of Education. Rev. E. L. Davis

followed, taking as a theme "Covet earnestly the best gift". Many of those who

heard it, among them were Drs. Broadus, Pritchard and Bailey, said it was the

most powerful speech they ever heard. At a sermon preached before the Pee Dee

EDMUND L. DAVIS - 3

Association, in 1865 or 66, Rev. John Monroe, of precious memory, was present

and took his seat in front of the stand. He had not been preaching long before

Monroe, who had never heard him before, stood upon his feet, and for a few minutes

a great shout went up to heaven.

It would take a volume to tell the story of his life. The amount of good

he has done will never be known in this world. Like Abel, though dead he yet

speaketh, and his influence will go on down the ages, gathering momentum and power.

His brethren confided in him, and for a long time he served the Brown Creek

Association as Moderator, and for everal years was a member of the State Mission

Board. During the late war he gave away hundreds of dollars to the wives and

children of soldiers. At the close of the war he was financially ruined, and was

forced to do some things that he always regretted that he had to do.

He was married four times. His first wife was Mary Newsome, and to them were

born seven children, all of whom proceeded them to the Spirit world. His second

wife was the widow of the late David Grady, of Anson county. Her maiden name was

Bennett; she was sister to W.O., A. E., and R. T. Bennett, and others. As a result

of this marriage five children were born, three of whom are yet living. His third

wife was the widow Grady, of Anson county, whose maiden name was Graddy; and the

fourth wife the widow S. L. Yarbrough, nee Hamilton, with whom he lived twenty-three

years, and who preceded him to the spirit land ollly one month and twenty eight days.

He never recovered from the shock of her death.

On the nineteenth of May, 1896, he was confined to his bed. A few days later

his condition improved to some extent, but on the 28th of May he began to sink, and

continued to do so until the morning of the 6th of June, when his long imprisoned

soul took its flight to God, to join the unnumerable host of the just made perfect.

His last end was peace. In the name of all that is glorious ,and grand, I bless and

cherish the recollections of his name, life and influence. In the name of his

great host of friends and brethren the Lord, God be praised for such a life as was his.

"I heard a voice from heaven saying write blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from

EDMUND L. DAVIS - 4

henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their

works to follow them."

Servant of God, well done, Rest from thy loved employ,

The battle fought, the victory won, Enter thy Master's joy."

A. C. DAVIS.

BIBLICAL RECORDER, June 24, 1896, p. 11:2-3

Tribute of Respect

Meadow Branch church is in mourning. Her pastor for about 40 years has

passed over the mystic river and is at rest, as we believe, under the shade of

the trees. Rev. Edmund L. Davis, the subject of these resolutions, fell asleep

on the 6th of June, 1896. He was a man of unusual strength of character and might

in the Lord. A man full of the Holy Ghost, loved and honored by the entire church

and all who knew him; loved because of the Christian graces exhibited throughout

his life, and the fortitude with which he always battled against sin, his life

is a living monument for God, and his labors and sacrifices will go on bearing

the fruits of righteousness until the nations of earth are brought to Christ, I

and in the judgment many shall rise up and call him blessed. Therefore be in ,

Resolved, That we, through our county papers, and the BIBLICAL RECORDER, and

on our church record, thus express our sorrow in this stroke of Pro~idence, but

above our sorrow would thank God for the life of such a man.

Resolved further, That a sketch of his life be attached to our church records.

Done by order of the church in conference, June 13, 1896.

H. E. COPPLE H. C. MOORE, JNO. C. WILLIAMS, HENRY BIVENS, E. W. GRIFFEN,

Committee.

BIBLICAL RECORDER, July 8, 1896, p. 7:3

Wake Forest University Library " Winston-Salem North Carolina 27587

Dear Sirs:

Re: Baptist Church Records

I understand that some of the earlier records of North Carolina Baptist Churches have been deposited with you for safe-keeping. As I am gathering information for a Family Tree Search, I am interested in knowing if you might have any records on my ancestor, Rev. Edmund L. Davis.

Rev. Davis was born in 1813, probably in Anson County, but later resided in Union County (possibly as a result of Union being created from part of Anson County). He died in 1896 and is buried in the Edmund Davis Cemete1y, near Marshville (Union County), North Carolina. I do not know if he was a full 'time Minister, but I understand that he conducted a Revival at Olive Branch Baptist Church, Marshville, North Carolina, about 1880. '

I am interested in any information you might have, especially names of Rev. Davis's parents, children, wives (he was married several times). Any ass[stance will be appreciated. I am enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope for your reply.

Sincerely,

,:/"., ~ Jc.(!. " '

Cecilia G. SC iller 441 Buckingham Circle Marietta, Georgia 30066

5 December 1979

Encl.

P. S. I will be happy to pay a fee for photostatic copies of any available information;

TRUBUTES OF RESPECT

WHEREAS, It has pleased the Lord of the Harvest to call from earth to heaven on the 8th day of April, 1896, our dear sister Sarah E. Davis, wife of our beloved pastor, Rev. E. L. Davis; be it

Resolved, 1. That in her death the Meadow Branch Church has lost one of its most beloved and most highly esteemed members. Her presence at church, accompany­ing her aged husband, was an inspiration to us all.

2. That the church extend its heartfelt sympathy to all her relatives and friends in this time of bereavement, and especially to her husband who is thus separated for a season from his bosom companion, praying God to comfort, cherish and sustain him in his loneliness, and to enable him to feel that the Lord doeth all things will (sic).

3. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved husband, and to the county paper and BIBLICAL RECORDER for publication, and spread upon the church record.

\, Done by order of the church in conference, April 11, 1896. Signed by H. E.

Copple, H. C. Moore, Jno. C. Williams, Henry Williams, E. W. ·G~iffin.

BIBLICAL RECORDER, May 6, 1896, p. 7:3

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Mr. John R. Woodard, Director Baptist Historical Collection z. Smith Reynolds Library Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC 27109

Dear Mr. Woodard:

In 1979, you very kindly sent me copies of information from your files concerning the Reverend Edmund Lo Davis, a Baptist minister from the Anson/Union counties in North Carolina . This information included "Tributes of Respect" from the BIBLICAL RECORDER, following the death of both Rev. Davis and his wife, Sarah Davis.

Could you please check your collection for a similar tribute, or other informa­tion about the daughter of Rev. Davis, information as follows:

),Name: Elizabeth DAVIS Griffin (Mrs. Jacob Kindley Griffin)

Born: 11 Oct 1832, Anson Coo, NC

Died: 7 August 1893, Union Co o, NC

Any information you have on hand will be most helpful, and I would be most delighted to reimburse you for coping and research fees. I am enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope for your reply. Thank you. '

Sincerely,

aC!.IA Ac/cA.·d~Cecilia G. Schiller 441 Buckingham Circle Marietta, Georgia 30066

15 May 1981

Encl.

'286 llISTOllY OF 'l'llE BnOWN CHEEK

ene rgy . o f rharackr, his motto \\'as "wear out, but never

ru st out." Previous to the division of the Sandy Creek Baptist

,\5 ociation Elder Culpepper \\as, for a nlllllber of years, one of the most efficient miniskrs ot the .\ 5sociation, ,\fterward he was a leading mil\ister in the l'ee Dee Asso­

'ciation, Tn the seventy-sixth year of his age, in the strong exer- ,

i ~ c of an ullwavering faith, at the hOllse of his SOil, Elder luhn Culpepper, Jr., in Darlillg-ton District, S, C, Elder Culpepper died, amI \\'as buried iil till' g'ra\'cyard at So­

iet}' 11ill. ;\t the head of hi~ gr:lVe may be seen a plain l'lIt nice marble slab, with a SUil:lble inscription.

ELDERF, L. D .\\'IS,

1813-1 96.

Elder E, L. Davis , the ' lI lljcct o i this sketch, was born in ;\Ilson COllllty, N. C, FelJ fLlary 19, 1813, His child­Ituud \\';1 S o. )1 t:.l\t on the farm without any e.ducational ad­\' ;lllta~' L'';, or rdig-iolls instrtll.' ti 0ll, excep t what his mothe.r

'gaye him, I II his eighkenth ye;H he was conve rted, Abollt ,) o'clock on the day of his cL)I\VerSiOIl he ioullu himself at the house C!lf olle of- his brothers, but never knew where he spellt the preceding night, SLl great was his conviction, He

'cut three notches in the yard palillg' anel hade his brother g ( ad-hye, 5 ;1 .\' in~' he \\'as going to die, and th:1t he was lost. . \ :; h· W::IS g ,)illg the Lord o f Clary blest him in the par­r .I I I of his s ins, and instead of l<,!Iing hi" parents that he

\ :\j doomed to eternal woe he rdllr!1l' r1 shouting' the praises

UNION BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. 287

ELDER E. L. DAVIS.

uf God. At the time of his conversion he felt impressed to preach the gospel, but thought that he never could do so, as he could not read, and scarcely knew his letters. About three months after this he was walking near where ·

HISTORY Ob' TIn: BHOWN Cm:EK288

h· was converted, a great darkness came o\'er him, and he 11I':lnl a \"l ic(' a s if some OIil ' had spoki'll to him, saying: .. L:c! li lId he people as ~hcl'p \\' i thou t a. shepherd," and in lhl! same connection, "Go preach my gospe\." From that I ill1e he began to try to \eam Lv rcat!, On tIle first Sl1nday ill Septemuer, 1830, he was haptizl'lt into tl Ie fenowship of

-Lawyer Springs Church, : \lI S()tl County, by Elder John Culpepper, Sr. In April, 1t-\3 1, he began preaching, and c ut illucd in the active milli t ry it)r I;ixty YC:lrs. He was 1I 11:1hl~ to clo much work for about fiVI: years before his deaHl, but lip until this time he was one of the most active preachers in this State.

During the long period 0 f his ministry man)' thousands were brought to Christ. Be was a great evangelist for his day, and if he were living toelay he wOllIII be the equal of ally we know. He was a prc:lcher of the purest gospel. 11 (' was not le;lrlled in hooks, htlt he knew God's word, and \\.1 11' ( a tnid to preach it. TIe llsed it with stich telling d Tcd that he was cail"cl Bruad :\xe Davis. He. hewed to rli e linc wherever it might be. rfis natural endowments \\' cre far above the average man, He was very witty, and kld a wonderflll kno\Vl ed.~"<! of history, and was a great j lldg'c of mcn. Judge Ash once said: "Had he been edu­ca t ·.j he would have been tilt: firs t man in North Carolina." lIe was all eclllcated ll1all~ but not a college man. He was se lf-taught, and his great iilt -'lied, his wonderful oratory, and natl1ral endowment with ;til uncommon amount of good horse sense m?de him one of the leading preachers of his day.

He was very humane. His heart was as big as the suf­r ·rings of men, and yet he was fcarless when it came to the

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UNION BAP'l'IST ASSOCIATION. 289

place where he needed to denounce ~in. He gave it no quar­ters at all. His wonderful oratory with his intense con­viction made it powerful for him to let go at anything he disliked. His voice was as clear as a bell, and he could be heard speaking for a great 'distance. He could see farther into a man than his faults. He would not endorse sin, but was as tender toward an erring brother as a mother when he saw that he was sorry for his wrong. He loved mankind, and especially suffering humanity. In many in­stances he has been known to give the last cent he h~d to poor women and children. In the fall of 1865 he was traveling in Anson C~nt.y, " an~ met a widow with four children with bare feet. ' The grobnd was covered with frost. Her husband had been killed in the " war, and she was left destitute. He ·had just ten dollars. This he gave to her to buy~es....~Qr h1rself and children. " About four miles from there he meta man with whom he had a short conversation; and as they were parting, the man said:'

" "Something .tells ' me 'that I ought to give yOU "something." He gave I?im ten dollars. -He gave more to the gospel than he ever received. Many of his churches paid him no sal­ary at all. , "I

,... _ _ ,r- .,....... .........r ." As a neighb.c:ll::..be-w~s~mon~t~ b\;st tiarth ,affords. He

was married .fQur ctimes,,"and no man was ever a truer hus­band. As a '{ather he was indulg.ent and kind, as a pastor he was .faithful and fatherly. Hedid, noLmake many vis­• its, but had h~r;~gular\ , places to stop. We cannot criticise

"him for this, becau_se this new idea that a preacher must go everywhere and acqua int hims~lf . with all the modern gossip is not biblical.- In many instances it is ruinous to ; a considerablt~-'~egreej '1 • ,..

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290 HIS'l'OUY O~' TI:IIC BROWN CREEK

There were some remarkable periods in his history. In }, 56 there Wl're more than three hundred persons brought

into the churches under his ministry. On one occasion he of-tered fourteen public prayers, .and there were seventeen proiessions of faith. In 1871 he preached a sermon at P olkton that moved One hundrecl and twenty persons to offer themselves for praye.r. Sixty of these joined the church. ) n another Ol:casi,)1l during the same year he preached a sermon on "The lZe tuf1l of the P rodigal," and cleven professed while he was preaching. At the close of a sermon in 1887 he remarked that sOllle one was convicted. Aiterwards several were baptized at that place who dated their conviction to that sermon . He never preached with­uut making a trip to the cross. Like Pan I, he · desired to know nothing but Christ and him crucified. In 1872 he attended the Baptist State Con\'t~ntion at \Varrenton . There f"r the first time he met and heaFJ ~r. Juhti A. Broadus,

. whn spoke on the suhject of " Christian Education." El­da Davis followed, taking for his subject, "Covet Ear­t1l, :,tly the Best Gifts." MallY () f those \l'hu heard it, among \\'lio'l1 were Drs. Broadlls, n a il")' and Prit chard, said it \\' ; (s the IIlm,t powerful spl' ech they ever heard. I-Ie preached before the Pee Dee Association in 1865 and 1866, lZI' . John l'.lollroe was present. E lde r Davis had not been preaching' hut a short tillt(' II IWIl r~ lder .\rol1roc stood upon hi, ket :11111 for a few ,ninill 's a g reat shollt went ltP to • he';' I't' ll .

It wou ld take a large vlllllme tn tell all about him, of tll e good he has done, the wOlt derful revil'al s lIe held, the widows he fed, the orphans he clothed, and !TIany other nCible deeds he performed . In conclusion, let us say, as was said o f Abel of old, tho\l .~·h de-ad, ~-et speaketh.