W. Y. Jordan
Georgia - Crawford County - February 25, 1935
By request of some of my people, I will endeavor with feeble
hand and with much weakness, to try to give a biographical sketch of my past
life.
According to the records, I was "born on the twenty-sixth day
of November, in the year 1860, in Crawford County. My father, Richard Jordan,
was called to the front in the War Between the States in l86l. I was told that
he came home once when I was first sitting alone, but I don't remember anything
about him. It was reported that he went through the four years without getting
wounded up until the last battle. That was at Bentonville, North Carolina, where
he was killed.
My mother, Martha Rachel Thames Jordan, was left with nothing
but myself and a few household possessions. I well remember her going from home
to Grandfather's, crying, trying to hear from him. She was almost thrown upon
the mercy of the world. It was extremely hard for her. She spun and wove cloth,
for people and picked cotton in the fall. She lived with some of her brothers
and sisters until 1869, when she married Robert Stripling. I am sorry to say it,
but the truth was that he was so cruel and high-strung that there was a
separation of about three months.
During this time, my aunt asked my mother for me, and she
gave her consent. She took me home with her when I was about ten years old. No
poor orphan boy ever had a better home than this one did after that. She showed
no difference between me and her own children. My aunt was Epsy Thames Hartley,
wife of J. D. Hartley. I gave them no trouble. I always tried to obey and to be
an obedient boy. I lived with them until I was twenty years old. Well do I
remember what she said when she knew that I was about to leave them, "'I will
never raise another Yancy." That statement has been a lot of comfort to me all
through life. I have tried to let honesty and truthfulness be my motto.
During my twentieth year, on the fifth day of December in the
year l880, I was joined in matrimony to Miss Laura Emma Arnold, to which union
was born twelve children. Five of them died in infancy and seven lived to have
families. Two of them died leaving families, and five still live. After living
happily with her for twenty-two years and two months, the good Lord called her
home to rest, as I hope. She died on January 31, 1903, leaving me four children.
On the twenty-seventh day of October, 1903, I was united in
matrimony to Miss Mary U. Sanders, which union lasted until July 1, 1925, when
the good Lord called her from my bosom and left me to mourn and grieve for her.
I was left alone to fight the battle of life. The stroke is heavy, but through
the mercy of grace and a loving Heavenly Father, I have been able to go along
with it somehow. While my trials have been many, yet many times have I been made
to rejoice. While my afflictions and trials of life were sore, and trying with
the blessed hope and grace that I
feel to hope, that was implanted within my poor bosom in 1886.
My conviction started with me in the Spring of 1883, when I
saw myself the greatest sinner that ever lived. It seemed to me that I was
doomed for Hell. I could look at all nature, and it was looking on me with a
frown. I could reflect back to my home, and it seemed that I could see my dear
companion poking the lip of derision and the finger of scorn at me. I felt
myself one alone in the world, without God and without hope. Here I began to beg
God for mercy, if there was any in store for one poor sinner, as I felt that I
must be about the worst one in the world. Here I began to make vows and promises
that I would be a better man, but, oh! how often have I broken them!. Sometimes
I would get along very well, and then again my burden of sin would come upon me.
It would seem to crush me to the ground, and I would beg for mercy with briney
tears running down my cheeks. At night I would turn my back to my
dear companion to keep her from hearing my sobs. Thus I went for three long
years, begging and pleading for mercy.
It was in the Spring of l886 that my suffering was so great
that I tried every way to get relief. I could not possibly
have lived in that fire. There seemed to be a lump that had risen in my throat
and was choking me to death. I tried every possible way to get rid of it, but to
no avail. I had about given up all hope. Seemingly I was sinking down into
eternal misery when all of a sudden something overshadowed me, and my burden was
removed. And as it rolled off and passed my poor heart, my heart seemed to leap
with joy. There was light and gay in my poor soul, rejoicing and
praising God for rich and redeeming grace. Any language fails to express that
feeling. I thought all my troubles were gone after being burdened for so long.
But, alas! the tempter came up before me saying, "This is nothing. You have been
mistaken. It all availeth nothing." But could I give it up? No, never!. With the
evidence He gave me, I always believed that Jesus Christ died for His people,
but now, I hope I can truly say, "He not only died for His people, but He died
for me." It was during one morning while I was plowing, and my wife was sick,
that my mother came to cook for me. I went home to dinner, and as I went in, my
mother discovered that something had come over me and asked me what was the
matter. I told her that I had met with Jesus and that I could claim Him for my
Savior. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks. There was one happy meeting. Then
trouble rose again; the fight had just begun -- there was the watery grave.
Well, He says, Take up thy cross and follow Me and you shall find rest for your
soul. I saw I could not follow Him without going there too, and in all my life,
I have tried to be an obedient son.
On the first Sunday in March l836, I united with the church
at Beaver Creek Church in Houston County, and on the first Sunday in April I was
baptised by Elder R. E. Story in Mossy Creek at the old Houston Factory. Then I
knew all my troubles were over, and I could go on rejoicing. It went well for a
while, but not long after this, my mind became troubled in some way, but I could
not understand what it was all about. The Scriptures would arrest my mind and
begin to unfold. Well, I knew I could not preach. No, not me, poor sinner with
but little education. Nothing but a
stammer would bring all the excuses I could render, but still no relief. What
must I do? I thought of talking with some of the brethren, but decided that that
wouldn't do. I wouldn't betray myself. I had no notion that anyone even thought
about me preaching.
One day while I was in Knoxville at Court, one of the
brothers called me out to one side and asked me if I felt like
exercising. I was stunned al most speechless, wondering where did he get that
thought. I could not lie. I told him that there was something impressing my
mind. He then told me that he and Sister Giles had been talking it over; that it
would work out all right. So I heard no more of it until the weight seemingly
became so heavy that I could go no longer. Then on one Saturday of our meeting,
Brother Herring went home with me and everything worked smoothly until next
morning. Then my wife said to me "You can go with Mr. Herring. Me and the
children will come on in our r
buggy." This was something she never had spoken before. I was proud to get the
opportunity, so I accepted.
We had not gone far before I spoke and asked him if all
Baptists had Scriptures to come up before them and unfold themselves. I hadn't
gotten the words out of my mouth before he said, "You and I are one." There I
saw the cat was out of the wallet. He then told me that he had a dream last
night -- that he was going along and found a hand full of silver and a little
farther along he found a hand full of gold. He put them both in the same pocket
and when he reached down into his pocket and pulled it out, you could not tell
one from the other. "So we are one," he told me. He told that same incident to
some of the brethren.
I think that was on Saturday before the
fourth Sunday in March of 1901, and on the fourth Saturday in April following I
was liberated. I had fought it since 1886. So I went on till I was licensed. I
think that was in the same year. Then in 1910, Fellowship Church of Houston
County called for my ordination. Therefore, on Friday of our Association, the
16th day of September in 1910, I was ordained by the Presbytery composed of J.
W. Herin, J. P. Barrs and J. H. Smith.
So since 1910 I have tried to preach the Word so far as God
would permit me to go. Also since 1910, I have been trying to serve from one to
four churches, and at this writing I am serving three. My mind has not changed
as to the way and plan of salvation by grace alone. I have been through with
many sore trials and afflictions; many obstacles have been thrown in the way and
many a thern and thistle have pricked my way. When I look back, it was my own
brethren, but God's merciful hand has led me through all of them, and I have
come out more than victorious through Him that loved me with an ever lasting
love, as I hope. I do not feel that I have offended anyone with a desire to hurt
or try to mislead anyone through my persuasion, letting everyone be persuaded by
one mind, hoping to be found walking in wisdom's way, found earnestly contending
for the faith once delivered to the saints.
I will close by asking all of God's people to
remember this poor worm of the dust at the throne of God's grace, that his faith
will not fail and supply me grace and mercy through the remainder of my days.
When the time of my departure comes, may I be ready to answer the call, to lay
my arms by and be mustered out with an honerable discharge, with my diploma.
Hoping that this may comfort some poor saint of God, as ever,
your unworthy servant, praying God's blessing on all of you.
Prayerfully submitted,
W. Y. Jordan
A big thanks goes out to Carolina Anita Rucks ← for submitting this information!
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