John Uriah Vining, New Zion Pastor, St. Helena Parish, La.
File submitted by Bonnie Bridges McMillan
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Many thanks goes to Bonnie Bridges McMillan, author of "New
Zion Baptist Church, 1869-1994" from which this file was taken.

JOHN URIAH VINING
(August 16, 1861 - May 14, 1928)

     Rev. Vining pastored our church during the year of 1901.  The
following information as well as the picture was obtained from his
daughter, Mrs. Catherine V. Thompson on April 19, 1994.  The above
picture was made at the old Vining homestead east of Amite, Louisi-
ana, at Chapapula community.  Rev. Vining was first married to
Fannie E. Spring.  To this union was born two daughters, Florence
Ethel and Lela Alma.  The second marriage was to Amelia Estelle
Dillan, and they were the parents of eight children: Marguerite,
Elva, James, Gordon, Edwin, Ruth, John Tillman, and Aubrey Elliott.
While pastoring First Baptist, Hammond, he met and married Miss
Annie Elizabeth Morgan.  They are the parents of Mrs. Thompson
and her brother, Thomas.  Mrs. Thompson recalls her Father sup-
plying at Macedonia, near Holden and Montpelier.  He rode the
train and "dummy-line" to preach in rural St. Helena and Hammond.
Rev. Vining's father left to serve in the Confederate Army before
his son was born.  He died of dysentary while stationed in Vir-
ginia and is buried there.