Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers

Sketches Of

Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers

F. M. (FRAZIER MADISON) OTEY

(pages 399 - 400)

Frazier Madison, son of Frazier Otey, was born in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1818. He was married to Miss Syrena K. Newlee, of Christiansburg, Virginia, in 1841. To this union were born eight children, five sons and three daughters. In September, 1842, he made a profession of religion, and was baptized by Absalom Dempsey, uniting with Mill Creek Baptist Church, Bottetourt County, Virginia. In 1851 he came to Tennessee, settling at Cumberland Gap, Claiborne County. Here he united with Salem Baptist Church, and was ordained by the same to the full work of the ministry, about the year 1865. Thus Brother Otey began his ministry rather late in life. But he was a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He preached the truth as he saw it, giving himself to the ministry of the Word, mostly among the mountain people of East Tennessee. "Few of us can appreciate the hardships and privations these early ministers and their families endured in carrying the gospel to the people of the mountains, especially during the trying time just after the war. If there be a seat of honor at the right hand of the Father, I doubt not it is occupied by the old soldiers who never feared or failed to declare the whole counsel of God in times that tried meal's souls."

Brother Otey was a good man and a useful preacher. He lived his religion, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. F. M. Otey passed to his reward, September 8, 1908, and his body rests in Greenwood cemetery at Knoxville, awaiting the resurrection of the just.

Elder Otey reared a large and respectable family. Those who survive him not only revere his memory, but honor him for his integrity and his work's sake.

One of his sons, Brother J. M. Otey, of near Jefferson City, is one of our most useful Baptist preachers.

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

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