Floyd County Georgia Biographies - Spencer Bidwell King 1880 - 1954 Submitted by Charlene Parker Sep 2002 ****************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profitor for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ****************************************************************************************** From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller SPENCER B. KING Once in awhile there comes among us a man who is unique, unusual, strong, who is honored by men and leaders of all the people who know him, such a man is Spencer B. King. This earnest preacher of the Gospel was born in Rome, Georgia, January 2, 1880, born again in Rome, May 6, 1893, ordained in Rome March 10, 1907. He was in school in Rome up through the fifth grade, then going to work in a broker's office at twelve years of age. He was night clerk in Armstrong Hotel at the age of sixteen. A non-commissioned officer during the Spanish-American War, third Georgia Regt. serving several months in Cuba. After the war was over he became a traveling salesman in Georgia and Tennessee, in 1899 and 1900. Then he became bookkeeper in commissary department in the big steel works, Ensley, Alabama, 1901-1905. He was ordained as a Deacon at Ensley. At this time his health failed and it became necessary for him to get into the open air and he drove a laundry wagon for a bit more than a year. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Dodson, Americus, Georgia in 1902. There are seven young members of the family, Spencer, Jr., Elizabeth, a junior, Madge, Bernard, Nell, Sara and Dorothy. On account of the ill health it became necessary for Brother King to return to Rome where he spent most of the year 1906 in bed, helpless. The "call to preach" had come to him at the time of his ordination as a Deacon in 1904 and he had been running from it feeling his lack of an education and his inability to secure funds on which to attend school and support his family. New Prospect Church, Floyd County, called him to the pastorate and asked for his ordination. While serving this church four years, he managed the telephone exchange of Cave Springs, "Holding down the board", at night, and doing repair work as was needed. He also served Maple Street Church, (its first pastor) two Sundays each month, Friendship, and, after Maple Street developed into full time, and secured another pastor, Oustanaula and Sugar Valley Churches in the Gordon County Association. By making some adjustments he was also a pastor a part of this four years of Rehoboth and Cedar Creek Churches, Floyd County. He accepted Jonesboro--Hampton Churches in 1911 remaining with them five years. Then to Capital View Church, Atlanta, 1917 for two years; then back to Hampton twice a month for another year 1919. He was Clerk of the Floyd County Association in 1909. His minutes attracted the attention of Dr. H. R. Bernard who had him to come to Atlanta to help in working up tables for the State Convention Minutes, and so began his work with Georgia Baptists. In November 1910 and 1911 he assisted in preparing copy for the Minutes, making forms of records which are yet in use. In 1912 he was given a permanent desk in the Baptist headquarters, and continued there as office secretary and secretary of the committee on cooperation until the 75,000,000 campaign had been launched at the end of 1919. In 1920 he left Georgia for two years to accept the call to Fayette, Alabama. From there he came to Blakely in 1921 and enjoyed a most remarkable pastorate there. The church grew steadily and happily under his leadership. He became active in the Bethel Association and is still using his leadership and ability for the ongoing of the work in that Association. At the end of three years he left Blakely and went to the First Church of Pelham, Georgia. In this pastorate he exhibited his rare tact and good sense in leading that congregation into a deeper devotion to the things of Christ. While at this church he received a request to become the Executive Secretary and Treasurer in the administrative work of the Board, which call to the Executive Board was hearty and unanimous. The reaction of the brotherhood to this call was one of enthusiastic approval of the selection of Brother King for this work, and there he remained until September 1, 1931 when he severed his connection with the board and returned again to the Blakely Church to again assume pastoral duties there. While a member of the Board his work carried him continuously out into all sections of the State. He formed many fine fellowships all over Georgia. He had the privilege of speaking in 948 different churches in Georgia, which is quite a record. During this time, he wrote a book, "Georgia, a Mission Field" which was printed in 1928. It has been used as a mission study book in a thousand of the W. M. U. Societies, having attained a circulation of 10,000 copies. It was the first State Mission Study book ever published, and was the forerunner of many similar volumes. But he is now back at Blakely in the Bethel Association where that church has been revived, and under his leadership is one among the strongest churches of the Bethel Association. Brother King takes an important part in the discussion of the work of the Association and during the year 1932 has made a strong effort to enlist every member of the Association, earnestly in church work. His record is a testimony to his earnest desire to be of the greatest service to the entire world, to his untiring efforts and the great accomplishments and successes attained by him and yet he is just in the prime of life. May many years fall upon him and he continue in his zeal for the spread of the Gospel. Georgia Death Index, 1953-1960 Name: Spencer B King Death Date: 30 Nov 1954 Race: W Gender: M County of Death: Sumter Certificate: 26364 Age: 74 years County of Residence: Sumter 1920 Fayette County Alabama Ed 137 sheet 11a Spencer King 40 m Ga Ga SC Minister Lizzie D. 37 f Ga Ga SC Spencer B. Jr. 15 m Al Ga Ga Jennie B? 13 f GA Ga Ga Emily M. 12 f Ga Ga GA Bernard D. 7 m Ga Ga GA Nellie? M. 5 f Ga Ga GA Sarah 1 f Ga GA Ga 1930 Fulton County Ga page 140 Spencer B. King head 50 m Ga GA SC Clergyman Lizzie D. wife 47 f GA GA SC Elizabeth dau 24 f Ga Ga Ga Bernard A. son 17 m Ga GA GA Nell dau 15 f Ga GA GA Sarah dau 11 f Ga Ga GA Dorothy Dau 8 f Al Al Al Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) 626178 King, Spencer B, Sr. 1880- People in History. An index to U.S. and Canadian biographies in history journals and dissertations. Two volumes. Edited by Susan K. Kinnell. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1988. (PeoHis) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 626179 King, Spencer B, Jr. 1904-1977 People in History. An index to U.S. and Canadian biographies in history journals and dissertations. Two volumes. Edited by Susan K. Kinnell. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 1988. (PeoHis) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 626180 King, Spencer Bidwell, Sr. 1880-1954 Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists. Two volumes. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1958. (EncSoB) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 626181 King, Spencer Bidwell, Jr. 1904- Contemporary Authors, Permanent Series. A bio-bibliographical guide to current authors and their works. Volume 1. Detroit: Gale Research, 1975. (ConAu P-1) Directory of American Scholars. Sixth edition, Volume 1: History. New York: R.R. Bowker Co., 1974. (DrAS 74H) The International Authors and Writers Who's Who. Eighth edition. Edited by Adrian Gaster. Cambridge: International Biographical Centre, 1977. (IntAu&W 77) Who's Who in America. 38th edition, 1974-1975. Wilmette, IL: Marquis Who's Who, 1974. (WhoAm 74) Who's Who in America. 39th edition, 1976-1977. Wilmette, IL: Marquis Who's Who, 1976. (WhoAm 76) Who's Who in America. 40th edition, 1978-1979. Wilmette, IL: Marquis Who's Who, 1978. (WhoAm 78) The Writers Directory. Third edition, 1976-1978. London: St. James Press; New York: St. Martin's Press, 1976. (WrDr 76) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 626182 King, Spencer Bidwell, Jr. 1904-1977 Who Was Who in America. Volume 7, 1977-1981. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1981. (WhAm 7) wife of Spencer B. King Jr. with photo http://www.mercer.edu/publications/mercerian/sum98/sum98_11.htm ""Darien" - The Death and Rebirth of a Southern Town", by Spencer B. King, Jr. for more information on this line check www.google.com for Spencer B. King Ancestors of Jennie Dodd King http://www2.netdoor.com/~cch/Ahnen/JDKB.htm