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Alfred Taylor was born in Warren County, Ky., July 19, 1808, and was the son of Elder
Joseph Taylor. He became the leading preacher of Gasper River Association and of all the
Green River country in his generation. A resolution before the Gasper River Association in
1875 asking his son, W. C. Taylor, to write his biography says, "We remember with
gratitude the laborious, self-sacrificing, and useful life of Elder Alfred Taylor, who
labored so long and so successfully as a minister and Moderator of this body." In
consequence a biographic volume of 123 pages was published. Full account of his useful
life is given in that book. Much of the information in this account is taken from that
book.
Though his thirst for knowledge was great, because of the poor advantages-of the schools
in those days he could hardly read intelligibly or write his name legibly at the age of
twenty. He "borrowed a grammar, the only one in his reach, copied it, and there from
learned the rudiments of his mother tongue." Entering the ministry in Butler County,
he removed to Warren County and went to school to Elder David Mansfield and later to Elder
William Warder, a prominent Baptist preacher of that day in Logan County. Alfred read many
books after his school days were over and often gave a synopsis of the same in his
journal. His mind was analytical, dividing his subjects into their divisions and
subdivisions, and he often penciled his thoughts when he was at work on his farm.
His conviction of sin began at eleven years of age, but his conversion came in his
twenty-second year, in October, 1829. His journal refers to indulgence in "many
practices," but he rejoiced that his "career in sin was short." A changed
life followed his baptism into Sandy Creek Church, Butler County, Ky., by Elder Benjamin
Tolbert, in November, 1829.
Licensed by Sandy Creek Church in May, 1831, Elder Taylor's progress
was slow until his ordination by the same church in May, 1834, by his father, Elder Joseph
Taylor, and Elders David J. Kelley, and William Childress. His powers, under God, soon
brought him to the front, and those who knew him in his prime could scarcely believe that
he ever had such a slow start.
Even though his stipulation from the work of the ministry was small he
tithed, often preached without remuneration, did not confine his preaching to church
houses, and broke his health preaching. Dr. J. M. Pendleton his warm friend and
contemporary, said, "Few ministers in his day spent more time in preaching,
sacrificed more for the cause of Christ, and received smaller compensation for faithful
work." Elder J. F. Austin, his son in the ministry, wrote: "Bro. Taylor died as
a martyr to the cause of Christ." His son, W. C. Taylor, wrote, "Before he
reached the age of thirty the providence of God placed him as the acknowledged leader of
His Spiritual Israel" in three counties, Ohio, Muhlenberg, and Butler.
The first regular protracted meeting ever held in Ohio County was held
by Elder Alfred Taylor at Walton's Creek Church in December 1837. Much opposition arose to
this new fad but the Lord triumphed and over 180 people professed conversion. The revival
spread all over the Green River Country and Elder Taylor himself baptized between 600 and
800 people in about two years time, with over 1,000 professions. From this period the
popularity of Alfred Taylor rose and demands for his services came from every quarter but
he could not fulfill them all. Dr. J. S. Coleman, another son in the ministry and one of
Kentucky Baptists' leading preachers in the last century, affirmed, "For twenty years
after this gathering his word was as good authority among Baptists, upon all questions, as
Webster's Dictionary is in determining the meaning of words." And remember, Kentucky
Baptists were in those days still shaking off those two deadly foes: the legalism of
Campbellism and the Antinomianism of Hardshellism.
Alfred Taylor strongly preached Baptist Doctrine, baptized many from other denominations,
and held four public debates. In 1841 he debated with Elder Young, and with a Methodist.
T. C. Frogge, in 1854. The forces of Campbellism concentrated in the Green River country,
and Alfred Taylor often skillfully exposed the fallacies of this group and beheld their
decline in that section.
Gasper River Association had no more prominent preacher than Alfred Taylor. He led in the
organization of the Green River Bible Society in 1837, and was a member of the building
committee, a trustee, and the agent to secure the funds for a seminary in Rochester, Ky.,
which burned soon after construction. He had a large part in fostering the missionary
spirit in that section, serving as Associational missionary and also as Missionary for the
General Association. He served his Association, Gasper River, eight years as treasurer,
thirteen years as moderator, and as preacher of the introductory sermon on nine different
occasions. He preached the Sabbath sermon before that body on thirteen different times. He
attended the annual gatherings of the Association every year except one from 1831 to 1865.
He was also a Corresponding Messenger to the Daviess County Association from Gasper River
Association on several occasions.
Elder Taylor baptized thirty odd ministers, among these were such leading preachers as J.
M. Peay, J. S. Coleman, A. B. Miller, J. F. Austin, B. F. Jenkins, and many others. He
laid his hands on about thirty preachers in his lifetime. He led the first temperance
reform ever inaugurated in Butler County.
He was pastor from first to last of the following churches: Sandy Creek, Morgantown, and
Salem in Butler County: Providence in Warren County; Mt. Carmel and Nelson's Creek in
Muhlenberg County; Pond Run, Beaver Dam, Walton's Creek, Green River, Cool Spring,
Hartford, and West Providence in Ohio County; Owensboro in Daviess County; and some in
Christian County.
Elder Taylor died on October 9, 1865, near Bowling Green, Ky. at the home of Charles
Asher, after eleven days illness of remittent fever and congestive chills attending
tuberculosis. He had gone to assist his son, Judson S. Taylor in a protracted meeting at
Providence Church, Warren County, Ky. Elder J. F. Austin, his son in the ministry,
preached his funeral at Green River Church, Ohio County, and he was buried in the family
cemetery nearby where Slaty Creek Church now stands. A monument was erected to his memory
and on it are to be found these words: "A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE."
Prior to 1842 Elder Taylor had preached in and about Owensboro on both
sides of the Ohio River. The success of some meetings in Indiana laid the basis for his
call to the church at Owensboro in May, 1843, though he had been preaching for this church
sometime before along with Elder John G. Howard. He remained until October, 1844, when he
resigned. In June, 1847, he was called again. The church had made some advancement since
his first pastorate and called him for half of his time. In all he labored in five,
revivals here with over 100 baptisms. Bro. George N. McKay, a constituent member of this
church, in speaking of his labors, says "He preached Christ with a great deal of zeal
and earnestness, and the Lord always blessed his labors. The entire church was much
attached to him. We always liked to have him with us and were fond of hearing him
preach." He remained with the church until May, 1848, when he resigned. He preached
for the church on several occasions after this but never served again as pastor.
He helped to gather several of the churches he pastored and many others that he never
pastored. Owensboro Church was the only church he served directly in connection with
Daviess County Association but he also served Beaver Dam, West Providence, and Walton's
Creek Churches which later belonged to this body.
"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 1844-1943"
by Wendell H. Rone, Probably published in 1944 by Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc.,
Owensboro, Kentucky. Used by permission. p. 278-280. Daviess Co.
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