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http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/books/results/image?urn=urn:proquest:US;glhbooks;Genealogy-glh36348592;184;-1;&polarity=&scale=
Anonymous [View Citation] [Table of Contents] [Page Numbers]
Notable men of Alabama : personal and genealogical, with portraits
Spartanburg, S.C.: Reprint Co., 1976, 944 pgs.
NOTABLE MEN
PHOTOGRAPH OF REV. JAMES WATTS SHOAFF, D.D., of Opelika, AL, was born April 28, 1852, near Blue Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, WV. His father was Rev. David Shoaff, of the Baltimore conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, who affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1866, in the memorable conference over which Bishop Early presided, making the last address immediately before the vote was taken. His mother was Margaret Ann Watts, daughter of Rev. James Watts, one of the earliest pioneers of ht eBaltimore conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was related by blood to Dr. Isaac Watts, the great hymnologist. She and her father inherited something of the kindred poetic genious. Owing to the Methodist itinerant system changes of school followed in natural order the changes of pastorate, so that the youthful Jams W. was educated as follows: at Frostburg, Allegany county, MD, under Frev. Frank Mason, a local preacher who did not "spare the rod to spoil the child," but James W. happily escaped punishment; in York, Pa., under Prof. Hefelfinger, where his father's profound Southern sympathies created natural alienation between James W. and other boys; at Abingdon, Hartford county, MD, under Prof. Robert Henry, a noted educator, in an academy builty on a part of the campus of Cokesburg college, the first institution of learning built by Methodism in America, now in ashes; at Great FAlls, under Prof. Tucker; at Hereford, Baltimore county, MD, under Prof. Parrish; at Hedgesville, under Prof. Valerius Wilson, an eductor of great genius and skill; at Leesburg academy, Loudon county, VA, under Prof. Thomas Williams; two years under private tutorship of Prof. James Baker in the special study of mathematics and the languages; at Randolph-Macon college during the presidency of the great pulpit orator, Rev. James A. Duncan. HIs father died in 1871. Though licensed to preach, his delicate health kept himi from the regular ministry, and with his sister he took charge of a school in Newton, now Stephens City. About this time he was in the first of three terrible railroad wrecks; this one on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad; the second, the "Garland disaster" in 1896 on the Louisville & Nashville between Montgomery and Mobile; and the third on Dec. 16, 1901, one the Rome and Selma division of the Southern railroad, when he and Mrs. Shoaff were both severely injured. Escape from terrible death in t hese wrecks he believes to be granted by the divine interposition of Almight Providence, who makes "man immortal till his work is done." He was junior preacher with Rev. L. G. Martin on the Gainesboro circuit, about fifteen miles norwest of Winchester, Va., and Rev. . C. Joyce on Fairfax curcuit, VA; he married Miss R. Nettie Frasher, daughter of John and Catherine Frasher, at Green Hill Mansion, hear Brucetown, Frederick county VA, a lady related to the Bruces, Frashers and Montgomerys, of the Schotch Highlands. Four children are the issue of this marriage, two sons and two daughters, viz.: Gertrude Watts, Mabel Bruce, David Earnest and Paul Stevenson. His first appointment, after entering the Baltimroe conference, was to Union, Monroe county, WV, but the climate disagreeing with Mrs. Shoaff he was sent three years to West River charge, on the western shore of the southern peninsula of Maryland; Braddock street church, Winchester, VA, one year; Calvary church, Baltimroe, three years; Salem Station, VA, two years; Emanuel Station, Baltimore, four years; St. Paul's Baltimore whree he became a charter member of (Edmund) Shaftesbury College of Expression, this being a branch of the Martin college at Washington, D. C. of which Edmund Shaftesbury was president. He believes the human voice superior to any instrument of art, and has devoted much effort to the mastery of the art of oratory. Seeking health in the forests of Maine, and caught in a storm on the lower Wilson, he injured his lungs by the great efforts he made to save his son and boatman; was transferred to the Alabama conference, when he was appointed to St. Francis Street church, Mobile, four years, and then to First church, Selma, three years; filled the chair of mental and moral philosphy in the Southern university at Greensboro; upone the death of Dr. H. D. Moore he was appointed to First church, Opelika, where he now serves. Doctor Shoaff has remarkable ability to illlustrate and illuminate any subject he handles. He is genial and modest, and possesses that suavity of manner and old time Southern frankness and simplicity which for long years were the special heritage of the South. He is in touch with man, and to lift him above error and build him home to God is the ambition of this gifted divine.
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