Elbert County GaArchives Biography of Rev. Asa Chandler 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Chandler Eavenson
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294

Biography
Rev. Asa Chandler

The following excerpts are taken from the long biography
of Rev. Asa Chandler which appeared in the book "History of
the Baptist Denomination in Georgia", compiled for the 
Christian Index, published 1881:

"In the graveyard of the Baptist church at Elberton, Georgia,
stands an Italian marble tombstone, on which a hand is carved
with the index finger pointing heavenward. It is the monument
in memory of Rev. Asa Chandler, erected by the ladies of 
Falling Creek church, with the aid of contributions from the
other churches of the Sarepta Association. Thus was manifested
the respect and esteem in which Mr. Chandler was held, by those
among whom he had lived and labored as a Christian minister for
nearly forty years.....

"It is said of him that in knowledge of the Bible and in the 
true spirit of it's teaching, he was not one whit behind the
foremost preachers of Georgia; yet, at the age of twenty-one,
when he had accepted the pastorate of the Van's Creek church,
in Elbert county, that church, to supply his lack of education,
gave him one year's instruction under Mr. Willis Jones, a fine
classical teacher. In the end he obtained a splendid English
education, and less perfect one in the dead languages. But the
result, in regard to Mr. Jones, was remarkable; at that time
he was an infidel; but afterwards he became a convert, and
studied theology under the very man he had instructed - Rev. 
Asa Chandler.......

"Rev. Asa Chandler was born on the 22d of August, 1808, in 
Franklin county, Georgia. He made a public profession of faith
in Christ in his 14th year, and joined the Poplar Spring church
in his native county. He was ordained in his 21st year, and in
1834 acceptd the pastorate of the Van's Creek church in Elbert
county, and moved to Ruckersville. He served that church as 
pastor for the long period of thirty-seven years, and was it's
pastor when he died.....

"Above the medium size, he had blue eyes, an open, cheerful 
countenance, and a very pleasant smile. In manners he was 
gentle, affable and Christian-like, and in disposition he was
kind, affectionate, mild and retiring. He was married three
times, his last wife and seven children - four sons and three
daughters - surviving him. He died June 6, 1874, in his 66th
year. His life was a success, and his death the end of a long
and arduous Christian career. The words used as text of the
sermon preached at his funeral may be considered a fitting 
epitaph for him: 'He was a good man.'"

[Submitter's notes: Rev. Asa Chandler is buried in Elmhurst
cemetery, Elberton, Georgia along with Lauriet Hamilton 
Chandler (1816-1871), identified as his 2nd wife. His first
wife is buried at Van's Creek Baptist church.]

Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson