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REV. JOHN R. (J.R.) EADS PASTOR AT GOLDEN'S METHODIST CHURCH, 1878 - 1879. |
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| Early Years... Rev. John R. Eads was born near Cynthiana in Harrison County, Kentucky, on January 20, 1820. John R. was the son of John and Ellen (McMillen) Eads. Rev. Eads father had come to Kentucky from Virginia when quite young and died when John R. was a boy. Ellen was a daughter of Major Robert McMillen, a Revolutionary War soldier and an early settler of Clark County, Kentucky.1 John R. Eads grew up in a farming environment in Harrison and Bourbon counties. He received education at College Hill, Ohio and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois.1 | |
| Early Ministries... After attending Illinois Wesleyan, Rev. John R. Eads bacame a member of the Kentucky Conference of the Methodist-Episcopal Church.1 Rev. Eads was appointed Chaplain to the Fourth Kentucky Infantry on February 27, 1862. Ill-health forced Eads to resign in June, 1863, and he returned to Danville, Kentucky where he re-entered ministerial work.1 John R. was an irregular student at the Theological Seminary in Danville for several years.1 From 1863 to 1865, Rev. Eads was the Presiding Elder of the Harrodsburg District of the Kentucky Conference. Later he would serve three years in Illinois, two years in Eastern Tennessee, and seven years in Colorado.1 | |
Golden Ministries...
Rev. John R. Eads was appointed pastor at the Golden Methodist-Episcopal
Church in June, 1878. Eads wrote in the church records
"...the church was not marked with any great work but that there were some who grew in grace and Christian experience. There were a few who, through the deceitfulness of riches or political entanglements, declined in their zeal for God and in spiritual enjoyment. Several of the church families who were best able to render financial aid to the church, removed from the city." 2The result was that the estimated salary for the pastor was not paid in full. Unfortunately, the specific amount was not stated in the record.2 The church records note that morning services were not usually full, while the evening service was usually full up. Prayer meetings were small but strong, and the Sunday School improved through the 1878-1879 church year.2 The church records also indicate that Rev. Eads was appointed President of the Board of Trustees of what would become the Colorado School of Mines. This apparently took a good deal more of his time than he had expected, and Rev. Eads was most apologetic for this.2 Rev. John R. Eads was reappointed to Golden in June, 1879. However, Rev. Eads was called to a church in Kansas City and left on November 25, 1879.3 He was replaced by Rev. Charles S. Uzzell. |
| Other Ministries... | Rev. Eads would spend one year in Kansas City.1 In 1881, Rev. Eads was appointed to Augusta, Kentucky, where he was also employed as a teacher in Augusta Collegiate Institute.1 |
| In 1884, Rev. Eads was assigned to Ashland, Kentucky, where he founded the Ashland Collegiate Institute. Eads would also serve as President of the educational institution. |
| Other Information... John R. Eads married Georgia Proctor of Garrard County, Kentucky, in 1854. Georgia passed away on August 3, 1868. However, four children blessed their fourteen year marraige.1 Rev. Eads second marraige was to Maria Louisa Ross of Danville, Kentucky, in 1870. John and Maria would have one child.1 Eads was a Knight Templar and an Odd Fellow.1 Rev. John R. Eads died December 25, 1891 at his home in Ashland, Kentucky. At the time he was minister of the First Congregational Church. 4 |
| Bibliography | ||
| 1 | Kentucky: A History of the State | |
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Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin Ed. 8-B, Boyd County |
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| 2 | Before Organization to 1880 | |
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Rev. Vern L. Klingman Archives, Golden First United Methodist Church September 18, 1949. see 1878-1879. |
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| 3 | ibid, see 1879-1880. | |
| 4 | Death Notices | |
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Ironton Register January 7, 1891 |
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