Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-08-13
GARNER McCoNioo

C-L-a, - 1k-SoSACk Oclou&i1B W u,
Cumberland sociation, named McConi
co-earner McConico WHO used 70 come
aown now and then to preach among ms,
EVERYBODY admired him very much. . fIe
was large handsome man. His voics
was singularly rich and powerful. and nj;
talents OF the very first order. no %
On one occasion, as I have heard hs
had an appointment to preach under soms
shaey trees on the banks OF the Bio Har,
peth river, but there fell a heavy rain ths
night before, and when he reached tbe
river 1t was past fording, and consequently
ne could not join his congregation. III
spoke to them, however, from where hs
stood on the opposite bank, and told
them 'ff they would seat themselves and
be quiet, they should hear what he had tc
say" This being done, he raised his
voice little above its common pitch,
and preached them fine sermon, every
word OF which was distinctly heard. not.
withstanding the distance, and the dash.
ing OF the swollen stream against IL
banksl Elder Todevine used to saws
Brother McConico has voice like a
trumpet. ~ 80
The following is condensed from an
old record, which is now before me. ]
think you will like il: ,-..-...
Elder McConico was born in l77I. in
Lunenburg county, Virginia, and was the
youngest OF three brothers. His mother
was woman of great piety, from whom
ne received many kind, maternal admo-
nitions. An old Baptist preacher. who
mad belonged to the British army, and
remained in the United States after the
Revolutionary war was over, was instru.
mental in awakening him TO q sense of
his lost condition.
ms old preacher had an appointment
in his mothers neighborhood, and she
requested Garnerto 20 with her IN hear
him. To this he objected. The request
was then changed to a command, with
which ne thought it prudent to comply.
de hated the very name of Enelishman.
having, when boy, been often conpall .
ed by the English and tories to leave his
home and lie out in the woods, when thew
were In that part of the country. and de.
termined, if he had to 60, not TO listen 10
word the preacher said. That was a
thing his mother couldn't make him do
any way. -L-ea . +. =
On reaching the place, however. he
concluded to go near enough to the
preacher to take q look at him. He
proved to be such diminutive, unsightly
dwarf of man, he felt curiosity to hear
MN talk little. He did so, and this set
tied the case with him He never heard
mortal msn speak with such power. He
seemed to bring the very heavens and
earth together, Ito use his expression. !
and when he came to himself, he was
standing near the old preacher, bathed in
tears.
From this time he never rested till he
embraced religion, which was on tie 2Oth
OF September, IT'S, and united with the
Baptist Church at Tusekiah. These good
Old Predestinarians ike for all of their
church to know the very time when. and
the place where, they are converted. }
Soon after this, he was married to Miss
Mary Walker, and commenced irving 10
preach. He was, however, so much dis
gu'ted with his own performances, and
annoyed by the ridicule of his brother.
that ne and his young wife left Virginia.
crossed the mountains, and settled Ia Da-
Vldson county, Tenn, in.1795, hoping TO
get I'D OF the impression that it was his
duty to preach, and having promised
never to do 30 any more, he enioined it
on MS wife, when they reached their new
country, never to tell any one that he had
ever set up for q preacher at all. Here
ne resided two years after his removal, TO
use ms own expression, } in state IF great
darkness.
When in search of his horse that had
strayed off in the spring of the year, as
be was walking, one day, along a narrow
pain, cut through the tall cane, in deep
thought on the subject of preaching, he
saw small, venerable looking man ad
Vancing towards him. The thought
at once came into his mind that
be was just such looking man as the old
Apostle Paul.
When they met, after the usual saluta-
tons, the following dialogue ensued:
MeComco-"What sort OF country is
this we are in2"
Old MANIA very rich, wooded coun-
try"
"Any religious people in liz"
"a few, scattered about here and
there"
Amy Baptist preaching in it2"
There will be Baptist preaching in it
next Lords day."
'And you are the preacherln
Il try to preach here sometimes, for
want of better"
Here they parted. The ole man prov
ed, afterwards, to be Elder DiIlahunty,
pioneer Baptist preacher, well known in
the early times in that part of the coun-
Try.
Young McConico could hardly wait
for the day of preaching TO come round,
30 great was his desire to hear the remark
able old man preach. Punc;ual to the
lime he was there, and when Elder Dilla-
hunty, at the close of his sermon, told the
people that on certain Lords day he
would preach at Richland Westinghouse,
young McOonico, in his excitement rose
up and said:
"And l will be with you there
Sand who are youl" ssys Father Dill
ahunty.
''The man you met in the canebrake -
ga Baptist"
'eYes!" .
'And prescher2"
"Why, yes; have tried to exercise q
title in that way"
And now the great secret he and his
wife were gJing to keep so close, was no
onger secret, and he was in great
rouble on account of what he had done.
At the time and place appointed he at.
ended, but tried hard to beg off from
preaching. Father Dillahunty, though,
leld him to his promise. He had not got
more than half through his sermon before
he good old man rose up, took him in his
rms, wept aloud, and thanked God for
having found 3 young brother on the
frontiers able and willing to assist him in
preading the glad tidings in the wilder
less! ---.
Richland, when this took place, was
he name of the first Baptist Church ON
he south side of the Cumberland river,
n Davidson county. In the fall of 1897
elder McConico removed to the neighbor-
lood of franklin, Williamson county,
tennessee. Here he built up the Big
Iarpeth Church, which was organized in
500. 1t was the third Baptist Church
,lsnted south of Nashville. He was or
Iained to the ministry by this Church in
500. and took the pastoral charge of il