Elbert-Wilkes-Columbia County GaArchives Biographies.....Fortson, Rev. John Henry 1837 - 1908
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Chandler Eavenson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294 March 12, 2005, 9:14 am

Author: History of the Baptist denomination in Georgia

Biography

Rev. John Henry Fortson

The following excerpts are taken from the book 
"History of the Baptist denomination in Georgia",
compiled for the Christian Index, published 1881: 

"Rev. John Henry Fortson is naturally of a feeble 
constitution, tall and slender in person, being six
feet two inches in height, and weighing only 133 
pounds...Yet he is a man of such perservering energy
in pastoral work that he has built up large and 
self-sustaining churches out of the most unpromising
material, and has acquired for himself, in his section, 
a reputation for pastoral efficiency rarely excelled. 
As a minister, he gives himself wholly to his work, 
studying, visiting, preaching and conversing 
constantly, with an eye single to the interest of his
churches, to the salvation of souls, and to the 
advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom on earth. He is 
a strong advocate of Sunday-schools; is a devoted lover
of the misson cause, and in all his churches these two
grand enterprises are advocated to the utmost of his 
ability. Indeed, in every good word and work which tends 
to promote the welfare of Zion, the upbuilding of Christ's
Kingdom and the maintainance of his honor, Mr. Fortson's
efforts exceed even his physical ability. 

"Mr. Fortson was prepared for college in the Elberton
Male Academy, by Rev. J. A. Trenchard, and entered the
freshman class at Mercer University in September, 1858. 
He studied in the literary department for one year and 
a half, and then took a theological course for the same
length of time. His studies were then interrupted by the
war, and he joined the Confederate army as a private, 
remaining, however, four months only, on account of 
physical inability, for we find him returned to Georgia,
and being ordained on the 29th of November, 1862. 

"ln his youth Mr. Fortson had always been piously 
inclined, ever cherishing a reverence for God and an 
esteem for his ministers. He was converted and baptized
when about sixteen years old, becoming a member of 
Falling Creek church, and maintaining a godly walk
afterwards. In January, 1863, he took pastoral charge of
Goshen church, in Lincoln county, and of Friendship
church, in Wilkes county, and from that time to the 
present he has been a faithful and hard-working pastor
of different churches. He is now pastor of Friendship,
Fishing Creek, Sharon and Newford churches, in Wilkes
and Columbia counties, and has been greatly blessed in 
his labors, having worked up his churches to a high
state of efficiency. As a pastor, he is quite popular."




Additional Comments:
[Submitter's notes: John Henry Fortson (1837-1908), son
of Jesse Marion Fortson and Frances Mills, married on 
31 Mar 1864 to Julia Isabelle Anderson of Wilkes
county. They had 13 children. In 1863-64 he kept a diary of
his experiences while ministering to Confederate troops
and excerpts of that diary are contained in the book 
"Down on Cooter's Creek and Other Stories" by Jannelle
Jones McRee, pub. 1986. The diary also records the 
deaths of his father Jesse Marion Fortson and his 
grandmother Nancy Brown Mills (Mrs. William Mills). 
A monument to his memory stands in front of Fishing
Creek Baptist Church in Wilkes county.]

Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson


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