Barren County KyArchives History .....Memoir Of Rev. F. C. CHILDRESS November 1875
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sandi Gorin http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00002.html#0000404 March 22, 2005, 6:42 pm

Book Title: 

"Rev. F. C. Childress was born in Hanover county, Virginia, 
on the 2nd day of September, 1814, the son of John G. and 
Margaret Childress. When ten years of age his father died, 
leaving him to the care of his widowed mother. His mother 
was poor, financially, but rich in genius and native ability. It is needless
to speak of her toils and distresses while rearing her children and fitting
them for all the duties of life, for no widow can cross "the stormy seas of
life" without a bleeding heart.

"Opportunities for an education in those days were far from excellent, and
in consequence of this, Fleming C. Childress received only three months'
schooling, which was a feeble companion to start with in searach of the
"paradise of fame."

"From the year 1820 to the year 1835 a tide of emigration to Kentucky flowed
from Virginia. Among that throng of emigrants the subject of this sketch
cast his fortune, and parted with his mother at the age of sixteen,
faithfully promising to return in four years. Thus early was he made
dependent upon his own energy and exertions. With nothing but courage and an

iron will he began his own career in a strange land, where the savage yell
of the Indian had scarcely died away! Civilization had just entered the
"dark and bloody ground."

"Churches were scarce, and education was little cared for then, except in
the little villages that were scattered many miles apart. Such was the state
of affairs when F. C. Childress 
arrived in Barren County.

"It is recorded of him, and truthfully too, that, when a young man, a spirit
of infidelity grew upon him, and that he was, in fact, a confirmed infidel.
WIth boldness and earnestness, he almost denied the existence of a God,
while christianity was nothing more to him than an idle dream. In an evil
hour he had forgotten the lessons that his sainted mother had taught him,
and hast cast beneath his feet the sacred volume which was ever her dearest
idol. Such was a youthful life of my father. But, perhaps 'twas the
circumstances that surrounded him which moulded, in some degree, his boyish
character, for little circumstances very often change the breeze in this
world.

"On the 2nd of October, 1839, he was married to Nancy W. Glover, of Barren
county. He immediately settled himself down as an humble farmer, clearing
away the thick forest and earning his bread by the sweat of his brow,
believing that to be an honorable and a worthy occupation.

After considering himself an infidel, it appears perhaps he became sick and
started studying the Bible and later felt the call to the ministry. He was
ordained June 1852 by the following ministers: Thomas SCRIVNER, John H
BAKER, Willis M TURNER, William K MORGAN, W G W GILLOCK and William F
SPILLMAN. He preached in Barren and Monroe Counties primarily.

The rest of his memoir is a sermon on the book of Revelations that he was
asked to preach again before the Barren River Association. 

 Fleming is buried at Poplar Log Cemetery; his stone shows 1814-1889. Some
family tradition states that he asked not to have a stone (per a
granddaughter unknown to me). Nancy W Chldress is buried there with her
stone reading 1818-1879.



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