01 Early Experiences and upbringing

01 Early Experiences and upbringing Autobigraphy - James H. Oliphant :-

Chapter I My great-grandfather’s name was William Oliphant. He was born in Ireland, and brought to North Carolina when a youth. He was a Primitive Baptist, and I heard Elder Gideon Potter tell of preaching at the church of which he was a member, about 1815. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. My grandfather’s name was Thomas Oliphant. He began preaching for the Primitive Baptists when nineteen years of age. His son, my Uncle Harvey, began preaching for the Primitive Baptists before grandfather died, and preached five years after grandfather’s death, and died. Grandfather died in September before Lincoln’s first election in 1860. Uncle Harvey died at the close of the war in April, 1865. My cousin, John T. Oliphant, began preaching before Uncle Harvey’s death, and he is still preaching. So grandfather Oliphant and his sons have now been preaching for the Primitive Baptists over a century, and holding the same doctrine and views generally.

I remember grandfather well, and of hearing him preach. He wrote a circular letter for the association which still exists, and which shows his views. He was born in 1781, and began preaching in the year 1800, so he and his son and grandson have now (in 1923) been preaching for the Primitive Baptists 123 years. My father’s name was Thomas. He was born in October; 1818, in North Carolina, and died in August, 1889. He joined the church, when a youth, and lived a consistent life all the way. He was a farmer and a hard working man. My mother’s maiden name was Carmichael. Archibald Carmichael, her grandfather, was a Primitive Baptist in North Carolina, and was in the Revolutionary war. Grandfather Carmichael’s name was Richard, was born in North Carolina, and was neighbor there of Grandfather Oliphant, and they were members of the same church. About 1820 they moved to Indiana and settled not far from Harrodsburg. Here they lived neighbors, and were members of the same church, which was old Hebron, in Greene county, and of which grandfather was long the pastor, and "Uncle Richard" Carmichael, as he was called, was a zealous member. My father and mother were married about 1839, and soon settled on a farm near Hebron church. The farm was in Monroe county. I was born four years before they went on the farm referred to. They lived on that farm until 1881, nearly thirty-five years. Then they spent one year in Nodaway county, Missouri, after which they returned to Indiana where they ended their days. Mother died in April, 1885, and father lived until in August, 1889. They were both members at Hebron church, and were faithful and helpful in every way to it. To them were born fourteen children, three of whom died in infancy, and eleven are yet living, except Richard, who was killed by a runaway team near Ravenwood, Missouri, in December, 1910. Mother died cheerfully and in full possession of her understanding. Her last words were whispered, "You will all come soon." Father died willingly and cheerfully. His last words were, "When I am dead I want my sons to stand around my bed and sing, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me."

He died about 1 o’clock p. m., and finished a life full of evidences that he was a sincere and noble man, and we sang the hymn in cheerful, solemn tones as he requested. Mother was contented about the three babes, and said, "I feel less uneasiness about the dead than about the living." Father was not a gifted man in public. I never heard him pray in the church, but he often returned thanks at the table. They were deeply interested in the church in every way. The White River association was a large body. There were over one thousand members, as I remember. About 1860 there came trouble into the association, and it continued and grew worse, until in 1865 division came. I was an observer and interested in all. Good people went on both sides. There were preachers who tired of the "old paths" and doctrine, who believed in progression. Protracted meetings were held by them at which a hundred joined, and things looked discouraging for those who loved the old ways. Elder E. D. Thomas, of the Danville association, rendered good help, and all the sister associations continued their correspondence with our tried people. As time went by the house of Saul grew weaker, and the house of David grew stronger. The Progressives seemed to think there was room between us and the Missionaries to stand, but experience and time demonstrated that there was not. This fact has often been shown since.

I was born March 10, 1846, and was brought up to work on the farm. My chances for school were poor, such as the common schools afforded. I wish to notice the interest my parents took in my religious and moral training. They sought to fix in our minds a love for honesty, integrity, fair dealing and justice among men. They took us to church, and encouraged us to go when we grew older. Mother talked to us more than father, and she would often tell us her experience, of which I have a vivid recollection yet. She often told us that we needed a blessing that she could not bestow on us. The preachers came often to our home, but when they tried to talk to me I shunned them. But often they would talk of divine things in our presence, and I loved to hear them. In the fall of 1863 I taught my first school. During the school term I got acquainted with Catherine Tague, and at once was interested in her, and we were married September 4, 1864. Her father, Jacob Tague, was a Dutchman, who was born in North Carolina. Her great-grandfather, Michael Tague, was perhaps born in the old country, but her father, Jacob Tague, was brought to Indiana about the time my father was, and they were neighbors. The Tagues were Methodists as far back as I have heard. When we were married we settled in a Baptist neighborhood, where we attended their meetings, but we both felt unconcerned as to our own interests.

Elders Gustin Carmichael. L. G. Burch, Jesse Burch, Mordecai Hatfield, Gideon Potter, Louis Walden and Gilbert Hayse were the home preachers, I believe, of the association. Elder E. D. Thomas was a frequent and welcome visitor in the community, and we attended as we had opportunity, though with no special interest until in 1867.