1883 Obituary of Elder William Pinkney Smith, a native of Henry County Georgia & resident of Shiloh, Union Parish Louisiana, 1856 - 1883 Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives by Fred Hamilton, 4/2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ================================================================================= ================================================================================= 1883 Obituary of Elder William Pinkney Smith, a native of Henry County Georgia & resident of Shiloh, Union Parish Louisiana, 1856 - 1883 Transcription from a typewritten copy of the original; copy found in the Bible of Mr. Hamilton's grandmother, Emma Smith Hamilton, wife of J. C. Hamilton of Dubach. ================================================================================= ================================================================================= WILLIAM PINKNEY SMITH 1827-1883 Eld William Pinkney Smith was born in Henry County, Georgia, January 20, 1827, and died at his residence near Shiloh, Louisiana, August 25, 1883, at the age of 56 years 7 months and 5 days. He joined the Missionary Baptist Church at Indian Creek, Henry County, Georgia, in 1850. He emigrated and settled near Shiloh, Louisiana, in 1856, and remained an active worker and useful member of Shiloh Baptist Church until his death. He entered the ministry with great zeal and energy, serving Shiloh church six (6) years, Pisgah three (3), Mt. Alrie five (5), Meridean three (3), Mineral Springs (3), Hebron two (2), and Fellowship thirteen (13). Very few ministers had a greater power to impart new life and zeal to their membership or greater success in gathering sinners; in the folds of God; his sermons were searching, exhortatory, and convincing. His only object seemed to be, as I have heard him say, "to preach Christ and Him crucified". All the above churches were greatly increased in membership ;and are today living monuments of his zeal and usefulness. It was through his ministry that the church at Shiloh was repaired and its membership largely increased, maaking it one of the strongest churches in Concord Association. When he was elected pastor of the Shiloh Church, the village was noted as a place of intemperance, but through his continued influence and a few steady supporters, the Demon Intemperance was driven from our midst and today Shiloh stands like an oasis compared with most other villages in Louisiana, as a supporter of education. Brother Smith introduced the first resolution looking to the organization of Concord Institute, and he has ever given it his hearty support. It was my good fortune to be his messmate during the later part of the late war. He was there the same firm supporter of all that was moral and religious. As an officer he was brave always, prompt, and ready for duty. He was very thoughtful kind to his men. There was no better citizen, neighbor, husband, or father. He was kind and affectionate, making many sacrifices for the education and comfort of his family. He was very active during his ministry. Although he was afflicted for many years, yet he warned sinners and continued to fight with the good faith until he fell at his post on the third Sabbath of September in 1882 at Concord Association and he had to be taken home. After this, he was never able to stand before a congregation. Slowly disease crept upon him, yet he bore his affliction with a great patience. Though I was often with him, I heard no complaint, no murmur. His only regret seemed to be that he could not labor more for his Master. He leaves a widow and ten children. He once remarked to me that he thanked God that he had been permitted to see all his children grown to years of maturity, Christians, members of the Baptist Church, and doing well. A Christian, a good and useful man, has gone to reap his reward in Heaven. Shiloh, Louisiana, December 3, 1883, the above obituary was sent to the Baptist Messanger for publicaiton, but owing to its suspension, it did not appear at an earlier date. Written by Dr. Roberts IN MEMORIAM We, your committee appointed to draft resolutions on the life and death of our dear brother, Eld. W.P. Smith, submit the following: Brother Smith was born in Henry County, GA. on the 20 of January AD 1827; was "born again" and baptized into the fellowship of the Missionary Baptist Church at Indian Creek, Henry County, GA., on the 26 September AD 1851. He removed with his family, November 1856, to Union Parish, LA, and settled near Shiloh where he lived until he died August 25 1883. He and his wife were both members of the Shiloh Baptist Church. Shortly after the commencement of the late war, he voluntered and entered the Confederate service, where he remained until peace was made. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by the Shiloh church on the 31st day of Oct. AD 1870, and served the church as Pastor Five years: which relation ceased at his own option. Bro. Smith was a plain practical man. As a citizen, he was upright and unpretending, as a soldier, he was true, unswerving--always at the post of duty. He was a pious, consistent Christian; and his exemplary life gave power to his pulpit ministrations. As a minister of the gospel, he dwelt largely on experimental and practical religion; and many were converted under his ministry. As a pastor, he combined prudence with faithfulness; he rarely ever disappointed his congregation, often greatly exposing himself in crossing streams that were swollen by the floods of rain. His prudence made him a wise conselor. He was an earnest worker and his churches grew in members under his ministry. His work was confined, almost exclusively, to the immediate section of country in which he lived; and his greatest usefulness was where he was best known. Here, he is enshrined in the hearts of a people who will ever cherish his memory. Resolved, 1st: That in the death of Bro. Smith this church has a lost one of its most valuable members; the churches at large, an efficient and useful minister of Christ; and the community, a most valuable and esteemed citizen. Resolved, 2nd: That we heartily commend the action of Concord Association in taking steps to erect over his grave a suitable monument to his memory. Resolved, 3rd: That we deeply sympathize with his bereaved family in their irreparable loss; and with this community in the removal of one whose life was an example Christian piety. Resolved, 4th: That a copy of this be sent to the Baptist Messenger for publication with a copy being furnished the family of the deceased. Respectfully submitted, E.P. Bolton J.J. Booles Com. J.D. Hamilton Attest J.P. Everett J.B. Robinson, Jr. J.B. Robinson, Jr. Chu rch Cle rk ================================================================================================= NOTES: The above "IN MEMORIAM" was copied from the Shiloh Baptist Church Book of Records from a copy located in the Special Collections (Archives) of Prescott Memorial Library, Louisiana Tech University. The above was written in September, 1883. William Pinkney Smith & family listed in the 1880 Union Parish, LA census, Ward 4, #2, page 88. Occupation was clergyman and farmer. A review of birth and marriage records for Georgia at the Potomac Genealogical Library, Church of LDS, Annadale, VA, revealed that William P. Smith married Nancy Thomaston 29 August 1846 in Henry County, GA. ###############################################################