Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Stocks, Thomas 1786 - unknown ************************************************ 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, 4:02 pm Author: J. H. Campbell HON. THOMAS STOCKS. At the earnest solicitation of the author of this work, Judge Stocks (as he is generally called,) furnished the following reminiscences of his own life and times, which the reader will find deeply interesting. Though not a minister of the gospel, his name is so identified with the history of our denomination in the State for the last forty-five years, as to render this sketch not only desirable, but necessary. He says: "I was born the 1st of February, 1786, in an Indian fort, near my present residence, in Greene county. The Oconee river was then the line between the whites and the Creek Indians, who were so troublesome as frequently to drive the whites into forts. Every neighborhood, from Skull Shoals to Montpelier, below Milledgeville, was protected by moving into these forts. The men worked in squads, a few days on each farm, and had to put out sentinels to protect them from surprise while at work. While most of the men were thus employed, the Indians frequently attacked the forts, but were invariably repulsed, a few prudent men and the women defending them successfully. Some of the women were good marksmen, and as brave as Julius Caesar. This state of things continued until the lands lying between the Oconee and Apalachee rivers were ceded to the United States government. "During such intervals as the Indians were not particularly-troublesome, Colonel Jonas Fauche, with sixty dragoons, was stationed at our fort, and every day spies were sent out to look for Indian signs; for, in those days, you could not travel without leaving signs that could be followed on horseback. In those times, there were no schools in the country, and not one child in ten knew the alphabet at ten years of age. One of Colonel Fauche's men took a liking to me and taught me my letters, and to spell a little. Very few men were able to send their sons off to school, and but few got any education whatever. My father died in 1796. I was brought up by my uncle Heard, who took good care of what little property was left me, but neglected my education. " In 1807, I married and settled where I now live. In 1813, I was elected to the State Legislature, and served in the House of Representatives eight years, and in the Senate twelve years, consecutively—eight years of which time I acted as President of the Senate. In 1815, I was elected one of the Judges of the Inferior Court of Greene county, which office I held thirty-two years in succession. "In 1826, I was convicted of sin, under Jack Lumpkin's preaching. My wife, had been a member of the church several years. After passing through many and sore conflicts, it pleased God to reveal His Son in me as my Saviour. No one who has never experienced that feeling can ever be made fully to understand it, but he that has felt it in his heart knows that it is God's work, and not man's. In 1829, I attended the Baptist State Convention at Milledgeville, when Rev. H. O. Wyer informed that body that Josiah Penfield, a deacon of his church in Savannah, had bequeathed to the Convention the sum of $2,500 00 for the education of young men having the ministry in view: Provided, said Convention would raise an equal amount, which was done by those in attendance, thus securing Penfield's legacy. An executive committee was appointed to carry this object into effect, of which I was one. It was determined to start a Manual Labor School at the village of Penfield, which went into operation under Rev. B. M. Sanders, and I am gratified to say no institution within my knowledge, with the same means, has turned out so many useful men. The pulpit, the bar and the bench show this. "When the project for a college at Washington, Wilkes county, failed, I was opposed to the elevation of Mercer Institute to a University, because I feared the original object, theological education, would be lost sight of. When, however, the executive committee had decided on that step, brother Sanders and myself saw the importance of purchasing the Malone tract of land adjoining Penfield, which we did for $2,500 00. When the Trustees of the University took charge, we tendered them the land below cost, which they gladly accepted. The village was enlarged, and about $5,000 00 was raised by the first sale of town lots from the Malone tract, leaving three hundred acres unsold, which was afterwards sold at fine prices. "You ask me to give you my recollections of the Baptists in former days. I knew only one Baptist preacher till I was twelve years old—an old brother Heflin. He was then the pastor of Shiloh church, not far from where Penfield is now located. He preached monthly. At least half the congregation walked to church. I have seen from thirty to forty rifles brought to church, and when preaching commenced the men stood sentry, for fear of Indians, till the services closed. My recollection is that Mr. Heflin was a model preacher. He continued in charge there till his death, after which Mercer, Marshall and James Matthews visited the church. The Baptists of those days were singular in one respect: they hardly ever had churches in villages or towns, the church in Washington, Wilkes county, being the first that I knew of. The custom was to have preaching once a month, and two sermons in succession were always expected, if there was more than one preacher present. I never heard of a Sabbath-school till I was grown, and never was in one till brother Sherwood was pastor in Greensboro. " In 1830, I withdrew from public life and moved to Greensboro, for the purpose of winding up the affairs of a bank that had been there. I continued there four years. Brother Vincent Sanford subsequently moved into the place, and a church was organized. But the Presbyterians occupied nearly all the villages and towns in those days." 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/gbs724stocks.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.6 Kb