The Osceola times. [volume] (Osceola, Ark.) 1870-current, 1888-07-21
AT REST.
Death Of Rev. Jos. H. Borum.
A Brief Estimate of His Char
acter.

While the people IN and around
Osceola were still deeply absorbed
in the triflling affairs of county pol
itics, word came that Rev. Joseph
II. Borum had just departed this life
at Dyersburg, Tenn, on the 18th. of
this month, 1883, in the seventy
fourth year of his age, and the fifty
first of his labors and sacrifices in the
ministry. lie was no ordinary man.
The striking fact that for more than
half century, he lived and labored
in the christian ministry with re-
markable success, being, in his own
conduct, an example of the religion
he preached, will render even an
imperfec, sketch of his life and char
acter interesting.
lie was born in Prince Edward
county, Virgini,, July Goth, 1916.
He came from a family of l;aptists.
His father and mother were very SUI
perior people, intelligent, refined
and deeply religious. They were
not able to give their son, Joseph,
the advantage Of a finished educa-
ton, but they could, and did, give
him the training Of christian home,
according to the old-time Virginia
model, which, IN the outcome of a
mans life, will prove of greater ad-
vantage than collegiate education.
From the achievements of later years,
it is PLAIN to be seen that the son
became an educated man in the best
sense of the word. If his means of
self.improvement was limited, ne
made good use Of such as he could
command. No one who ever had
the pleasure of hearing Mr.. Borum
preach, or converse IN the social CIR
Gle, could detect the least trace of
ilhteracy, IN his mind or conversation.
Like the celebrated Virginia orator,
John Randolph, who was II familiar
figure to Mr.. Borum when boy, he
sometimes lamentcd his lack of a
better education, when in fact, his
mental equipment was superior to
that OF most collegians. While still
"A boy, his father removed with his
family to Upton county, Tennessee.
Then, from the age of seventeen, we
find young Borum clcrking at the
different stores in Covington, then
becoming partner in business with
w. b. Hill, and again with his bro
Their, James ii. Borum. 1t was pre-
cisely such experiences as these, the
opportunity to study human nature
in country store, that educated
Patrick Henry, and suggested to him
his wonderful career as an orator.
1t was while engaged in the study
Of human nature at country store,
that the most important event of the
young mans life took place. On the
10Th. of September 1896, while at
tending Methodist camp-meeting
near Covington, he, Tor the first time,
made public profession of religion.
In the natural course OF things, we
would have expected him to have
become a Methodist. The truth is,
he could not accept their views on
the subject of Baptism. Besides, he
came from family Of Virginia Bap-
lists, which means much more than
the words convey TO an average
reader. In Virginia, at an early day,
the storm of religious persecution
had fallen with fury upon that de-
nomination. "The ministers were
imprisoned and the disciples buffet
ed" For time, their treatment was
harsh in the extreme; mobs attacked
their congregations and preachers.
Many were beaten and imprisoned.
On one occasion, a snake and hor-
nets nest were thrown into their
meeting, and even firearms were
brought to dispense them. John
Walker, celebrated in the early an
mails OF Virginia l}aptists, and who
died in 1903, had been a minister
for 30 years, and In that time had
been in four different jails Ii days,
being in the meantime, treated to a
liberal allowance of abuse, beatings
and stripes. These events must
have made deep impression upon
the minds Of the Virginia Borums.
People actuatcl by principle, love a
cause for which, either they, or their
friends, are made to suffer. Young
Borum could no. have been ignorant
of these events. He must have Of
ten heard of the fiery ordeal through
which the church of his ancestors
had passed in the dark days Of rolf
gious intolerance. twas therefore
to be expected that he should gravi-
tate towards the church " his father
and mother, consecrated as 1t had
been, by so much of uumerted sui
fering. Accordingly, on the Eth.
day Of August, 1897, Elder Peter 5,
Iagle, near Covlngton, "buried him
with christian baptism" Then came
the promptings Of that inward voice,
distinctively known as the 'call to
preach. Joseph II. Borum without
hesitancy, obeyci Il. On the third
SUNDAY % September, 1887 at I 10.
eriy School and Meeting hoase, Tp
ton Coaoty, Tenn, he pr ashed hs'
ara. sermon. That was mare thar