Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Ansley, Marlin 11802 - 1850 ************************************************ 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 4, 2005, 4:42 pm Author: J. H. Campbell MARLIN ANSLEY Was born in Warren county, in this State, in 1802, where he grew up to manhood. In his twentieth year he was baptised into the church at Union, by Rev. Winder Hillsman. Though impressed with the duty of preaching from the dawn of his religious life, owing to excessive timidity and a deep sense of his unfitness for the sacred calling, he was restrained from participating in the work for several years. In the meantime, he had married a Miss Johnson, and had removed to Crawford county. Here he was soon licensed to preach, and continued to labor as a licentiate for ton years. In 1835 he was called to ordination by Salem church, of which he was a member, and was set apart by a presbytery consisting of Jonathan Neal and Joshua Rowe. The mission question, or, rather, opposition to the cause of missions, produced much dissension and division among the churches in those days. The Salem church, of which Mr. Ansley was a member, separated into two parties, the anti-missionaries being in the majority. He took sides with the minority, and, though the meeting-house was on his own land, to which he held a legal title, he peaceably withdrew with the minority and joined with others in constituting a new church known as Liberty Grove, which was subsequently removed to Knoxville, the county site. Of this church he continued a member until his death, which occurred in August, 1850. Mr. Ansley took an active and prominent part in the formation of the Rehoboth Association, one of the most liberal and efficient bodies in the State. In this connection he co-operated heartily with Jacob King, John H. Clark and Hiram Powell, now deceased; and with Tharp, Wilkes and others still living, in prosecuting missions both at home and abroad. His talents were not above mediocrity, and he was but little known beyond the bounds of his own Association; yet it is confidently believed he was "a chosen vessel" for bearing richer supplies of grace than many whose fame has spread throughout the land. No man ever maintained a reputation freer from reproach, and none, perhaps, ever adorned their profession by a more godly and pious life. His death was, of course, peaceful. He sunk into the grave like "a shock of corn fully ripe," leaving all who were permitted to witness his departure exclaiming, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" 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/gbs743ansley.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 3.3 Kb