On leaving school, he entered the Mexican War and remained in Texas and Mexico till war closed.  Returning, he engaged in ministerial work in West Florida.  Here his labors were successful; and many warm friends were made.  Affectionately remembered among them, till his last day, were Thomas and Christiana Barnes, and Porter and Barnetta Everette.

He was married August 14, 1838 to Miss Mary Stanley Thompson of Georgia, who was then visiting the above friends, at Orange Hill, Florida.  She was the daughter of  a devout Methodist Exhorter, said to be "full of faith and the Holy Goast".  His name is notably used in the History of Methodism in Georgia.  Here he was engaged in active and successful ministerial work and also taught large schools; but frequently sacrificed splendid schools in order to press the Lord's work.  His heat went earnestly out after the salvation on souls, yet with pure and mobil noble motives, for a greater part of his life, he combined teaching and other secular pursuits with preaching.  His thus dividing his time seemed not to please the Lord.  He never suffered him to prosper any length of time.

He was a man of broad culture, his learning covering a wide range of subjects.  In his young days he was considered a natural linquist.  He had a strong intellect, an extraordinary memory, was a natural orator, had an unusually strong and rotunant voice, was ___iotly an extemporaneous speaker, in his active days, he found no difficulty in speaking or preaching upon nearly any subject, without a moments preparation.  Eternity alone will reveal the good he accomplished, through these long years of service.  Only God and his immediate family, know the sacrifices he made to preach to the poor.

Despite his business engagements, whole years have passed without finding him hardly a sabbath at home, preaching both Saturday and Sunday, and his Churches being widely distant from each other, often times more than half a week was spent in filling these appointments.  It was his deepest enjoyment to go into new fields of labor.  As long as he was able, he would go in to destitute places, establish Churches, accept new calls without consideration of earthly reward.  Laboring for his Redeemer, was to him a glorious priviledge.  His service was freely, loving and uncomprimisingly given.  Not even in the privacy of the home was he ever heard to utter a word of complaint regarding this work.  Heat and rain, distance and feebleness were cheerfully endured by him.  He was one of the organizers and first moderator of Elim Association of Florida.  The same was true of Shelby County Association of Texas.  In early life he had many controversies with anti-Missionary Baptist, which led him earnestly study election and predestination.  In 1870, he believed God gave him special light on the subject.  And thousands were delighted to hear these original ideas.  Years after his removal to Texas, at the age of 73, he yeilded to the earnest solicitations of friends and ministers and wrote a book on the sugject, which many have expressed themselves as being satisfied and well pleased.  Others have said, "It is a light and blessing to mankind."

The wife before mentioned lived to be the Mother of  12 children, seven survived her, five of whom are still living; all are zealous Christians, his eldest son, his namesake has been an earnest preacher seventeen years.

He was married again in 1865.  This faithful companion, with four of the ten children given to them, survive him.  All claim Christ as their Savior, except the youngest, and we believe that earnest prayers of the father for him will ere long be answered.

Being liberal in his views of Christianity, he had many warm friends in other denominations.  His kindness, unselfishness, and self sacrificing spirit will never be forgotten by those who mourn his death.  This kindness extended not to dear ones, friends and aquaintnaqces, but to strangers, travelers, widows, and orphans, the lowly and needy of earth; yes down through the brute creation.  Under the heaviest affliction, his perfect submission to the will of God and his abiding faith and consecration caused him recently to exclaim: "I have not found so great faith, no not in this life."  His Heart yearning to be filled with all the goodness of God, Eph. 3:14-20    Gal. 2:20; 6:14  Mat. 16:24, 25, he was thus lifted up not only spiritually, but physically also, and felt that he would be spared to preach several years longer.  Only last summer he went on a long missionary tour, to destitute fields.   Soon after his return, he wrote praising God-for-strength-to-travel-about-500-miles and preach about 40 sermons, resulting in the settlement of difficulties between brethren and salvation of souls.  Then added: "The burden of my prayers is first for the salvation of my kindred friends, my heart like a great river overflows, and covers all the human family."  In another deeply letter of about the same time, his explanations through-out were: "Praise the Lord!"  "Hallelujah"

--Though not dead; but gone to be with the Lord, Awaiting his final and Glorious reward.