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Rev. James E Davies is my great-great-great grandfather. Rev. Archibald Johnson (author of this memorium) married Rev. Davies' daughter, Sarah "Sally" Nelson Davies. I am descended from their son Elihu "Hugh" Nelson Johnson.
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DAVIES, JAMES E -- Was born in Mechlenberg County, NC, October 20, 1787. He was a child of pious parents and received the benefit of early religious training, and during the great revival of 1800 he became coverted and made a profession of religion.
REV. ARCHIBALD JOHNSON, of Atlanta, Illinois, furnishes the following record:--" His way to the ministry at that time was quite difficult. To come up to the standard of the Presbyterian Church was almost impossible, and such as were licensed or ordained without the literary qualifications required by the Confession of Faith, were licensed and ordained under protest by the most orthodox members of Presbytery, and even those who voted for such licensures and ordinations had no thought of changing the policy of the Church, or continuing to practice longer than obvious necessity required it. On April 20, 1809, he married Miss Mary Taylor, of Wilson County, Tennessee, whither he had removed with his father some years before. This circumstance made it more difficult for him to prepare for the ministry than ever. Even after the modifications of the Confession of Faith by the Cumberland Presbyterians, a poor man with a dependant family could not well take the time to obtain what was made indispensible. It was also expected that each candidate would intinerate for some years, and thus learn to preach by practice. This was impracticable by a man with a family. Then the Churches lacked faith as to the success of such, and many would do all they could to discourage them. Invidious distinctions would sometimes be made between the married and umarried. Bunyan's Giant Grim has crippled some, and conquired others of this class. In 1818 Father Davies removed from Tennessee to Jefferson County, Illinois, where he resided for eleven years. During this time he was licensed to preach by the Illinois Presbytery, which was erected by the General Synod in 1822. About this time I became aquainted with him, and have known and loved him ever since. I was present when he made his first effort after he joined Presbytery. His remarks were based on the words of Nicodemus, 'How can these things be?' He was quite short, yet the congregation pronounced it a success. In 1829 he removed to Tazewill County, Illinois, where he has resided ever since. He was ordained by the Sangamon Presbytery some twenty-seven or twenty-eight years ago, and he lived in the bounds and was made a member of Mackinaw Presbytery, when it was formed in 1836. He was very punctual in attending the judicatures of the Church, and spent much time in preaching until age and hard labor so enfeebled him that, at his own request, both Synod and Presbytery excused him from attending their sessions, only at his own discretion. He was not what might be called a great preacher, but was emphatically a good man, a man of much prayer."
He died at his residence, at Hopedale, Illinois, October 22, 1862. His end was peace.
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From "The Presbyterian Historical Almanac and Annual Rememberance of the Church, for 1863"
by Joesph M Wilson
Volume Five
Philadelphia:
Joseph M Wilson
No. 111 South Tenth Street, below Chestnut Street
1863
Page 414
(Original at the University of Michigan, Digitized Oct. 1, 2007)
(Found this piece at Google Books)
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