The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-09-23
Rev. Flemming David Crumley.


The subject of this sketch, son of
Daniel W. and Stacy Crumley, was g
1orn in Sullivan county, Tenn, near u
Campground in - 1929. c
he was converted at Rockhold's Camp i
ground when 10 or ID years old Was
licensed to preach -- {
He was married to Miss Mariah
Snodgrass, near Blountville, Tenn,
OF this marriage there were
six children, of whom five are living,
four daughters and one son. The wild
owed mother still survives,
Brother Crumley was admitted on
trial in Holston Conference, at Ashe-
vile, N. c., October 1874, 1860, Bishop
Paine presiding.
His first appointment was to Buchan-
an Mission, Abingdon district. This
was hard and trying appointment on
which to learn the initial lessons of the ,
Methodist Itinerant life, as this writer
can testify, being then in charge of the
district. Full of Christian courage and
zeal and faith, however, he gave him
self earnestly to his difficult work with
out hesitation or murmuring.
He wrought diligently for the Master
amidst the gorges and coves and ridges
of Buchanan's innumerable mountains.
Then there were but few members,
scattered here and there, without
churches, and but few school houses.
1t was veritable wilderness in many
respects, with sparse and unlsttered
population, no roads save the highway
down the Levisa Fork of the Sandy
river, but steep and narrow trails, and
rugged and dangerous riding-passes
over the mountains little and great.
The people, however, in their rustic
simplicity, accorded him as they have
done others, provervial hospitality.
They would divide their last platter of
bread Or dish of jerked venison, or
bowl of Lind-tree honey. One years
experience and living in the midst of
such environments may we'll be regard
ed as an epoch in anybody's history,
and duplicated nowhere else.
: His subsequent appointments were
as follows:
In 1861 and 80, Fall Branch circuit.
In 1884, Kingsport circuit, In 1865,
name not in the published minutes. In
1866-7-S, Bristol circuit. In 1S89-7O,
Estellville circuit. In 1912, Jeffer.
son circuit. In 1878. Jonesboro circuit
In 1S74-5-6, Fall Branch and Horse
Greek Mission. In 1878, Independ
ence circuit. In 1879-80, Madisonvillt
circuit. In 1872, st. Clair circuit. II
1884, Newport circuit. In 1856
Jonesboro circuit. In 1887, Charles
ton circuit. In 1888, Cedar Bluff cir
cult. In 1889, Fall Branch circuit. Ii
1890, Erwin Mission. In 1891, Super
- numerary or Supernumerated. In 1892
1856, Supernumerated till his death
DIR. r. N. Price, who has the Confer
ence Journal, informs me that IN 1865
Brother Crumley is reported as havini
withdrawn from the church, (from tn
conference, suppose) and as readmii
ted in 1866.
Brother Crumley, was, we believe
consecrated and faithful servant of on
" Lord Jesus Christ. The writer was nc
thrown much into association an
companionship with the deceased aftt
the war.
Having cast his lot among us, b
cheerfully accepted the appointment
q given him, and shrank from no hare
ships incident to the Itenerant's lif
He doubtless found in his wife valu
= BILE helpmeet in managing and carir
for a large family, and on a meag
salary. He lived to see all his childrt
4 grown and married, and settled in lif
with some one Cor other of whom
spent the latter years of his life
peace and comfort.
For four or five years past, his heal
has been poor, and his body very fra
Partial paralysis greatly increased b
bodily infrmites, SO that for the Ia
eight months of his life he was almC
helpless.
He bore his sufferings in great r
tience, never repining or fretting.
was full of gratitude to the neighbo
and friends who were 80 kind and I
tentive to him in his last sickness.
Brother Crumley was good man,
A faithful preacher, sound in Method
ys theology, loyal to the church aud /
government, and devoted to his bret
rem in the ministry, His minister
life extending through 81 years, v
never beclouded by wrong doing,
vulnerable to just censure, so for as Il
@ witness knows.
He has left us the rich legacy of
untarnished name. He fell on sle
Sept. 4th 1897, at Fall Branch, Wa
ington county, Tenn. He was co
\ pletely resigned, and passed to the I
II per heavens in peaceful and gloric
triumph.
We have every reason to believe Il
our departed brother chad finished
- crown in glory, and he couldn't st
. away from the coronation. !"
JAS. s. KENNEDY