| Sources |
- [S84] E-Mail, Bobby Wilhoite [wilhoite84@live.com], 1 Sep 2009.
- [S94] Sevier County, Tennessee Census, 325A, 1880.
Census Place: Fair Garden, Sevier, Tennessee
Source: FHL Film 1255277 National Archives Film T9-1277 Page 325A
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
John RUSSELL Self M M W 64 TN
Occ: Farmer Fa: GA Mo: MD
Nancy RUSSELL Wife F M W 65 TN
Occ: Keeping House Fa: TN Mo: TN
Anna VANN Other F W W 60 TN
Occ: Servant Fa: VA Mo: NC
- [S94] Sevier County, Tennessee Census, Tennessee, Sevier County, District 3, 1860.
347 John RUSSELL 44 Minister, Bapt. 1000 681
Nancy 45
Mary 23
Elizabeth 19
Nancy 15
John 13
Thomas 10
Ann 8
Martha 6
George 11\12
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 3 Jan 2015.
preachers in Sevier County.
Russell was called to Bethel Baptist Church where he was received into full fellowship. Organized in 1804, Bethel was among the oldest churches in Sevier County. With the unfortunate confrontation behind him, the young preacher established a stellar reputation at Bethel.
At the time Russell was growing up, educational advantages were almost non-existent in the area where he lived. But throughout his life, he availed himself of all available materials he could find in order to learn basic reading and writing skills. His reader was the New Testament, and Webster's blue-back dictionary was his spelling book.
During his long career, Russell served as pastor of these Sevier County churches: Bethel, Red Bank, Walnut Grove, Henderson's Chapel, Boyd's Creek, Antioch, Alder Branch, Powder Springs, Pawpaw Hollow, Shady Grove, Millican Grove, Sevierville and Jones Chapel. He served at Antioch, Providence, Dandridge, and Union churches in Jefferson County, as well as Pleasant Grove in Cocke County.
Labeled the poet-preacher, Russell often composed poems that he sometimes delivered as if they were lyrics to old hymns, and sang the words to the tunes of various spirituals. He was known to close his sermons with a spontaneous outburst of poetic fire that moved and thrilled audiences.
In the flyleaf of his Bible, Russell wrote this poem:
This Bible is the book I love,
It points me to a world above.
Where I shall lay my weary head,
When I am numbered with the dead.
It is said that he wrote the words for the benefit of some of his children. He felt they were not living the Christian life he would have liked, and hoped they would read them after he was dead and gone.
Jones Chapel Baptist Church organized in 1848 with 35 members, and Russell became the first pastor the following year. When a new church building was dedicated in 1869, Russell composed and read the following:
It's in this house we meet today,
The place to preach, and sing, and pray;
May many souls in it be found
To hearken the Gospel's sound.
May those who labored here to rear
A house to offer prevent prayer
See all their children and their race
Become the trophies of God's grace.
May love among the brethren dwell,
And oft of Jesus may they tell;
And live in peace and union be,
The happy through eternity,
In "Sketches of Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers," published by Marshall and Bruce Company in 1919, there is this account based on information writer J.J. Burnett gathered in 1901 at the Sevier County Association of Baptists and sent to the periodical Baptist and Reflector:
"As a preacher Elder Russell was always scriptural and methodical, but was a little shrinking, especially at Associations, and on state occasions. If there was talent present, or preachers who knew more than himself, he would always let the other man do the preaching. As he grew older, however, he learned, he said that an educated and sensible audience was more appreciative, and could make allowances better than an ignorant audience.
"The writer heard him preach in his eightieth year. His memory was remarkable. The sermon was fine. It was the essence of the Gospel. It was scripture heaped up, scripture logic, linked and strong. Our greatest pleasure was seeing old Father Russell and hearing him talk and pray. {sic} He has lived above reproach as a minister of sixty odd years. His memory is a benediction for years to come."
After 55 years of marriage, Russell's wife Nancy died Feb. 23, 1888, at age 73. Three months later, Russell married Mary "Polly" Duggan, with whom he shared a home until she died March 20, 1903.
Russell died Jan. 26, 1905, at age 91. He is buried in Sims Cemetery.
Russell lived through the rough times during the Civil War, when many churches disbanded, and the years that a vigilante group of masked men known as the White Caps terrorized innocent citizens throughout the county. Through it all, Russell remained steadfast to his principles as he expressed in the simple couplet:
I want to live a Christian life.
Free from envy, hate and strife.
Carroll McMahan is special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and serves as Sevier County historian.
The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column or have comments, please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or cmcmahan@scoc.org, or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 173.
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