Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Travis, Jesse 1794 - 1836 ************************************************ 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: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 3, 2005, 10:14 am Author: J. H. Campbell JESSE TRAVIS Was born in Warren county, in this State, September 29th, 1794, and joined the church at the age of fourteen. He resided in Alabama several years, where he was ordained a deacon. In 1829 he was set apart to the ministry at Sharon church, Henry county, where he was pastor several years. He was at times a most powerful preacher, and spake as with the "Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." His conversational powers were of the highest order, and he used them on all occasions for good. Ho boldly opposed the unwarrantable measures of the Flint River Association in 1830 and 1831, etc., infringing upon the rights of the churches. He was a man of retiring manners, and from his unpretending demeanor and appearance one would hardly have taken him for a talented man. Hence, many were greatly and happily surprised when he became warm in the delivery of his message. He was a Christian of unbounded benevolence. At an early period of life he heard Luther Rice on the mission cause, then on his first tour through the United States. Though from hearsay Mr. Travis was strongly prejudiced, yet he hired a horse and rode some twenty miles to meeting, resolved all the way that he would not give one cent. His mind was enlightened, however, and having thrown in all his money, he had to borrow from a friend to bear his expenses home. During the session of the Baptist State Convention in 1833, an urgent appeal being made for aid in behalf of an object upon which the heart of Mr. Travis was much set, he gave all he had and borrowed that he might give more. Rev. Jesse Mercer passed a night with him on his way home, and voluntarily handed the good man an amount larger than all he had contributed during the session. His means were small, but his heart swelled with a charity as large as the world. He made it a matter of conscience to converse personally with his fellow mortals about the interests of their souls. In passing from one of his meetings on a Sunday evening, he fell in with a man who had been spending the Sabbath otherwise than in attendance on the sanctuary. They rode together only a mile or two. This brief period was used to press the subject of religion on the attention of his fellow traveler. The Lord sanctified the truth, and a few months afterwards the author baptized that man, who dated his conviction from the conversation alluded to. In company with the writer, he made his last trip, and then went home and died. Having stopped at an inn for dinner, the lady of the house was induced to listen to the pious exhortation of the stranger, and after prayer by Mr. Travis, followed us to the door, with the earnest request "that her ease should always be remembered at the throne of grace." His case, during a long and painful illness, excited the sympathies of his brethren far and near, especially in the Central Association, with which he was connected. Their kindness mitigated his sufferings, and their liberality supplied his wants. Understanding that he had became somewhat involved during his protracted sickness, his brethren voluntarily and without his knowledge made up an amount sufficient to meet all his liabilities. In the most delicate manner was this contribution conveyed to him only a few days before his death. He received it in the spirit in which it was tendered. His death, which was in correspondence with his character and life, took place in January, 1836. Additional Comments: From: GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL BY J. H. CAMPBELL, PERRY, GEORGIA. MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by J. H. CAMPBELL, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/unknown/bios/gbs712travis.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb