07 Visit to Churches and Move

07. Visit to Churches and Move Autobigraphy - James H. Oliphant

CHAPTER VII. In 1876, I visited churches west of Worthington, Indiana, near Linton, Dugger, Alum Cave and Pimento. I formed the acquaintance of two elders, Moss and Hamilton Burge. I preached at Samaria, Good Hope, Little Flock, and Hartford church near Pimento. I frequently visited these churches and many delightful visits I had with them. Elder W. Thompson lived at Pimento, and served the church there as pastor till his death. He constituted that church. About 1879 I was called by the church to assist him, which I did till his death. I was then called to pastor the church and have done so till now. All the elders above referred to are dead, but others fill the vacancies.

I moved from Buena Vista to near Linden in March, 1890, and spent a very unhappy year. Afterwards I moved to Crawfordsville, and in November, 1892, I moved to Pimento, Indiana, where I lived on a farm near there for seven years, and then moved to my present home in Crawfordsville, Indiana. During all these moves I was pastor at Pimento. The Pimento Church first called Wm. Thompson as pastor in 1867. When he was too old and infirm to serve I was called to assist him and after his death I was called to pastor and still serve it. It has never had but two pastors during its history. Brother I. N. Kester was first called to serve as moderator, and still serves. He has been a faithful, good officer all these forty-four years. It is said, "they that love will labor and suffer." I felt drawn to Pimento church on my first visit there, and it seemed that the church was drawn to me, and so we still are united as church and pastor. There has been no division in the church, no strife, nor confusion. We have had coldness and barrenness at times, but these can be borne when the members love each other. Three of my children, Ollos W., Jacob T., and Irene, belong, also one son-in-law, P. L. Combs, and my oldest son’s wife, and Walter’s wife. His first wife was the daughter of Deacon L. H. Weeks. She died in August, 1906, leaving two little girls, Ethel and Edith, who kept house with their father till April, 1910, when he married Sister Mabel Wible. We had six children and have never had a death in our flock till the death of our dear daughter-in-law. We have been greatly blessed in these things, but we know the time is not far away when we shall have our share of the doings of death. Our church at Pimento has been well attended all the time I have attended it. I have been with these people at all seasons, in sickness and death, and have gone with them to the grave a great many times. A generation has passed away since I first went there. In November, 1893, Fairbanks church was constituted, mostly members lettered out of Pimento, which reduced our membership at Pimento. I attended Fairbanks church fourteen years, and I enjoyed the church a great deal. It is truly a Primitive Baptist church. There is a strong Baptist sentiment at Pimento. I have four children living near there, and things on this account favor my continuance there as pastor.