Pipkin Family Association

Rev. Lewis Pipkin


Contributed by Rosie Guthrie

Rev. Lewis Pipkin

ca 1778-1865

Rev. Lewis Pipkin was born ca 1778 in Wayne County, NC, and he was a son of Stephen Pipkin and Amelia "THOMPSON". [Most early records regarding her father, David, spell the surname as THOMSON.] Lewis Pipkin was in Darlington District, SC, by 1803 when he married Pheraby "BEASLEY" of Darlington District, SC. She was the daughter of John BEASLEY and Margaret P. "SMITH", called Milly, of Darlington District, SC, and one of eleven children. Information is available back to and including Pheraby’s BEASLEY great grandparents. Pheraby was born about 1780 in Darlington District, SC. Some say Lewis was 20 years old, others say he was 22 years old when they married.

Rev. Lewis was ordained a Methodist Minister by Bishop ASHBURY while living in Columbia, SC, and was licensed to preach in the Methodist Church in 1804 in SC, said by some clergy. He was set apart for the office of a deacon by Bishop Francis ASBURY at Columbia, SC, on 25 DEC 1810. It is said that the family moved to Pulaski County, GA in late 1810, later moving to Conecuh County, AL in late 1818.

Lewis Pipkin’s land deeds in Conecuh County, AL:

#475 of 1 MAY 1826, Twp. 5N, Range 9E, E1/2SE of Section 2, 80.0l acres

#476 of 1 MAY 1826, Twp. 5N, Range 9E, W1/2SE of Section 2, 80.0l acres

The Methodist Church kept excellent records and we do have them to thank in order to learn as much as possible about our ancestor Rev. Lewis Pipkin. His parchment for a deacon, given him by Bishop ASBURY is in the hands of the Methodist Order, [where I do not know]. The church at, or near Bellville, was called ‘Sardis’ and was one of the strongest Societies belonging to the Conecuh Circuit. For nearly a quarter of a century or more, Lewis Pipkin, a local preacher and a farmer by secular occupation was a leader and an influential member at Sardis. Perhaps he was a member at it’s organization. It is possible that he gathered the first Methodist Class ever formed at that place. He was abundant in labors as a local preacher in the bounds of the Conecuh Circuit throughout the years he lived at Bellville, and his personal and ministerial influence was extensive and salutary. His character was admired and his example was commended.

The following is extracted from A History of Methodism in Alabama, Chapter 8, pages 195-203

- KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I, Enoch GEORGE, one of the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America, under the protection of Almighty God, and with a single eye to his Glory, by the Imposition of my hand and prayer, have this date set apart Lewis Pipkin for the office of an Elder in the said Methodist Episcopal Church, a man whom I judge to be well qualified for that work; and I do hereby recommend him to all whom it may concern, as a proper person to administer the Sacraments and Ordinances, and to feed the flock of Christ. IN TESTIMONY WHERE OF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 1st day of January in the year of our Lord, one Thousand eight hundred and twenty-two. Enoch GEORGE, Claiborne, Alabama

The family moved to Ouachita County, AR, in the 1840’s, and later their home was contained in Nevada County, AR, although they really lived in the same place, the county boundary line changed. Per the Methodist Church recordings, in Rev. Lewis Pipkin’s mature years he was in height five’10" with erect form, and weighing about 170 pounds, blue eyes, fair complexion, light brown hair and a prominent forehead. He was of sanguine temperament. He was not given to despondency, but was always hopeful and cheerful. He was affable without levity, and dignified and serious without moroseness. He was as meek as Moses, pathetic as Jeremiah, as devout as Cornelius, and as rapturous as Paul. Through his long life, even in his old age, when he was blind and had to be led to the grove by another, he had his regular hours for secret prayer. It was no uncommon thing for him to be overcome in the public worship with emotion, and for his hearty shouts to attest the joy which filled his soul. Often he would break forth in singing the sacred songs which expressed his love for Jesus, and which gave vent to his blissful anticipations. It was no uncommon thing for him to stand and exhort and entreat sinners in persuasive tones and with eyes suffused with tears. His style as a preacher was plain and succinct. His manner was deeply earnest and his preaching was truly edifying. He was familiar with the Scriptures, and understood the literature, doctrines, and policy of the Church.

Rev. Lewis Pipkin died in Nevada County in early 1865, prior to the end of the Civil War, at the age of 87. Pheraby died 29 MAR 1856 in Nevada County, AR, and according to the Pipkin Family Association Newsletter of FEB 1965, they were both buried in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Nevada County, AR. Church records state that she was a woman worthy of Rev. Lewis, an honor and a help to him. She was industrious and discreet. Her personal character was lovely, and her Christian life a benediction. In the dying moment her faith and peace abounded and words of praise to God were on her lips. The Mt. Vernon Methodist Church was there, but many years later the cemetery was renamed Glenville Cemetery.

Fourteen years after Rev. Lewis Pipkin’s death, the Rev. A. C. RAMSEY wrote the following article and sent it to the Christian Advocate - a Nevada County newspaper

REV. LEWIS Pipkin, DECEASED - "Mr. Editor - Will you allow me space in the ADVOCATE to state a few facts and recollections of an old and venerable local preacher, whose name heads this article? As I am informed by his sons, who live in this county, that no notice was taken of him in our Church papers after his decease, owing to the fact, it is presumed, that his death occurred a few days before the surrender of the Confederate armies, and such was the gloom and despondency that then settled down upon the people, the Church, and the preachers also, that this duty to his memory, and many Christian virtues, was overlooked or forgotten. I think I am correct in saying that I am the only preacher, now living in this State, Mississippi or Alabama, who knew Father Pipkin as far back as 1834 and 1835, except Brother Anthony S. DICKINSON, of the Alabama Conference. Hence the reason why I have been requested by some of his children to give you some items in regard to his life, labors, etc. Brother Pipkin was licensed to preach in South Carolina in 1804, and was ordained by Bishop ASBURY; his parchments he held untarnished and unspotted, as a local preacher in the Methodist Church, 6l years. He was of a preaching family, having two brothers engaged in the same holy calling - Barnabas, formerly of the Mississippi Conference, who died last year, and Richard, a younger brother, at one time, and for several years, a member of the same Conference, who located about 1832, and settled in Allenton, Wilcox County, AL, where he died in 1834, and whose remains now lie in the public graveyard at Oak Hill, in said county. My first acquaintance with this beloved brother, and to me a father, was at a camp outing at SIMPSOM’s Campground in Conecuh County, AL, in the fall of 1834. The next year, 1835, I was appointed by the Alabama Conference (being then in the itinerency) preacher in charge of that, the Conecuh Circuit), in which Brother Pipkin lived, and never shall I forget, or fail to appreciate, the kind, affectionate, and useful counsel, advice and instructions that I received from this holy man, not only in his public ministrations from the pulpit, but also from his Godly example at home, and daily association with the world, and his connection, and attention to his domestic business and labors. He was truly a man of prayer, had regular stated hours for private prayer, and no press of business was ever allowed to hinder him in the observance of those devotions, when the hours of prayer arrived. One instance I will give, as I have it from his own lips. ‘Brother RAMSEY’, said he, ‘I never had been so busy but what I could always find time to pray.’ ‘How do you’, said I, ‘when you are engaged in your crop, plowing or working otherwise?’ ‘Well’, said he, ‘I hitch my horse, let him rest a few minutes, get over the fence, if need be, and ask God’s blessing upon me and mine and I think it pays me, for I can’t expect God to bless me unless I ask him.’ In short, Mr. Editor, I have seen many professing Christians and ministers since that time and I now say I have never seen or - [crease in paper, can’t read] - any that came as near the Bible type of a holy man as Lewis Pipkin. Such was the meek and quiet spirit he possessed, that he was called ‘Moses’, known generally as ‘Uncle Moses’. As a preacher he was plain, practical and forcible, and no doubt in the day of final reckoning many will rise up and call him blessed. I learn that all these traits and virtues of Christian and Ministerial character, he retained and exemplified in his life in this country after he left Alabama, and in death his end was peace. He was happily married. Sister Pipkin, who preceded him to that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, was in every respect a help-mate to him, one who is all the affairs of life was prompt, energetic and efficient, and whose Christian life and character reflected light to all with whom she was associated - in the family circle, the Church, and society.

Her last whispers were ‘Jesus is precious’, or words to that effect. Since I came to this place, on a visit to some of my children, I went out into the country, in Nevada County, to Mount Vernon Church, where I met quite a number of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of this good man and wife, whose remains lie in the graveyard at this church; and while standing, looking at the resting place of those veterans of the cross, my heart filled with emotions, my thoughts inadvertently went back to the olden times, to scenes and reminiscences of my early associations with them, and to the earnest and affectionate appeals which I heard from his lips when I was comparatively a young man; and to the big tears which he often shed while thus engaged in favorite song which he, at such times, would invariably sing ‘I love my Jesus, that I do, Oh glory, Hallelujah!’

At this place I had the pleasure of preaching to a congregation largely made up of his descendants, and of baptizing three children of the fourth generation, his great-grandchildren. From his two sons and two daughters there I obtained the following statistics of his long line of descendants. There are now living of his family in that section of Arkansas, 77; in Texas as near as could be ascertained, 107; making 184 besides those, 35 have died, footing up in all, 219. In this estimate is included sons- in-law and daughters-in-law, who have married into the family. Brother Pipkin’s early labors in the ministry were spent in South Carolina, then in Georgia, where he lived and labored for 26 years - he then moved to Alabama, and spent 30 years and thence to this State, where he ended his labors, and ceased to work and live. So you see, Mr. Editor, his labors were divided between four of the Southern States, in all of which he left his impression as a holy man of God, ‘Whose praise is in all the Churches, and whose presence waste the wicked a rebuke’, often drawing from them the confession - ‘There is one good man, and if Uncle Moses don’t get to heaven, it will be a bad chance for the rest of us.’

He was 87 years old at this death. I am glad to record the fact that his children, and their children are trying to follow in the footsteps of their worthy ancestors. One son, John F. Pipkin is a local preacher in Texas. One grandson (son of Daniel G. Pipkin) is now at the Vanderbilt University, preparing himself for regular work in the ministry And Oh, that he may be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, and may he imbide the spirit, possess the piety, and cultivate the graces of his venerable grandfather; and may the mantle of this old Elijah which has fallen from him, be gathered up and worn by the young Elisha, with honor to himself, to his name, and to the case that he espoused." I close by quoting the words of the Psalmist, which beautifully and appropriately apply to the subject of this notice - ‘Mark the perfect - (not legible) - and of that man at peace’. Yours, A. C. RAMSEY, Camden, AR, 18 FEB 1879

Praise the Lord for this wonderful gentlemen’s rendition of the Christian life of our ancestor. All of the children of Rev. Lewis and Pheraby joined the Methodist Church and honored their parents and their church and lived lives devoted to God.

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