Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers

Sketches Of

Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers

GEORGE JONES

(pages 266 - 267)

Elder George Jones was born, October 3, 1830, in Roane County, Tenn., where he has lived and labored almost his entire life. He made a profession of religion in 1858, united with flee Baptists, and entered at once upon an active Christian life. He was ordained to the work of the ministry in 1870, and has been pastor of a number of churches.

He is in many respects an exceptional man. For accuracy of judgment, industry and executive ability he outclasses most of his ministerial brethren. Prosperity seems to follow his steps and fortune smiles upon whatever he turns his attention to or touches. He is broad-minded and progressive in his ideas and plans. He has no children, but is interested in the education of the youth. He has contributed many hundreds of dollars out of his limited and hard-earned means to the founding and support of Roane College (near Wheat), an institution which may be justly considered his own legitimate offspring.

Another monument to the Christian spirit and self-sacrificing devotion of this man of God to the Baptist cause is "The George Jones Memorial Missionary Baptist Church," a magnificent church edifice, toward the building of which he contributed $3,000, and much labor besides. The church and college, in which he has invested himself as well as his means, located as it is in a good community, are destined to bear fruit to the honor of Baptists and the glory of their Lord when the founder and builder lies beneath the sod.

Elder Jones' generous contributions to various public enterprises, religious and educational, have so nearly exhausted his humble fortune it is very doubtful whether he has enough left to guarantee him a comfortable maintenance during his declining years. Yet he withholds not his hands from giving.

Brother George Jones, living in the country, a tiller of the soil, pious, zealous, liberal with his means - may his tribe increase! - is one of God's noblemen, satisfied only to "live in the country," where he ever recognizes the voice of God mingling with the melody of nature.

Burnett, J .J. Sketches of Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers. Nashville, Tenn.: Press of Marshall & Bruce Company, 1919.

URL: http://www.knoxcotn.org/tnbaptists/index.html

[ Return to Index ]