Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-04
DR.. TICHENOR DEAD
AFTER LONG
ILLNESS
SECRETARY OF BAPTIST HOME
MISSION BOARD PASSED
AWAY SHORTLY AFTER
NOON TODAY.

Rev. l. T. Tichenor, DID, secretary en-
eritus of the home missions board of the
Southern Baptist convention and one OF
the best known divines in the south, died
Tuesday afternoon at 1905 at his home
near Decatur.
DR.. Tichenor had been i'll for several
months with a complication of diseases.
dis condition was such that for several
weeks no hope has been entertained for
his recovery. -v
The venerable minister had reached the
age of n years at the time of his death.
He leaves four children, three daughters
and a son, his wife having died many
years ago. The children are Mrs. M. B.
Barnes and Mr.. w. Reynolds Tichenor,
who lived with him; Mrs. Tom Cobb Whit
ner, also of this city, and Mrs. ]. s. Dill,
of Fredericksburg, Va.
Rev. Isaac Taylor Tichenor, DID,, was
born in Spencer county, Kentucky, No
vember 18th, 1925, He descended from one
of the early settlers Of this country. his
ancestor, Daniel Tichenor, having emf
grated from Europe to America in 1914.
His grandfather moved from Morristown.
New Jersey, to Kentucky, during the lat
ter part of the past century: His father,
James Tichenor, was born in Nelson coun-
ty, in that state. Having become Bap-
fist, he named his fourth son. the subject
of this sketch, after his pastor, Isaac
Taylor, possibly with the hope that he
might follow the example of the good
man whose name he bore, and become
a minister of the gospel If so, his wishes
in this respect were gratified. That son
embraced religion and was baptized in
1888, when less than thirteen years of age.
Providentially thrown into Columbus,
Miss, where the church was without
pastor, they requested him to spend the
winter in preaching for them. This was
not in accordance with his plans, but as
this influential body of Christians, torn
to pieces by dissensions, We're unable to
agree upon anyone as pastor, he. con-
sidering their condition, rather than his
own, consented to their request Without
experience, without theological training,
without books other than his pocket
Bible, he began the work of preaching
twice zach Sunday to one of the largest
and most cultivated churches of the
southwest. Before the winter passed they
called him to be their pastor, and though
he was reluctant to accept so grave
responsibility, they would listen to no re-
fusal and he was accordingly ordained
for that purpose in April. 1S48. For more
than two years he preached to them the
gospel of Christ, and had the satisfaction
to see the church united and harmonious
and many added to its numbers.
During the war, which began shortly
after he was for more than two years
connected with the army as chaplain and
missionary. At the battle of Shiloh, when
his regiment began to waver under a
heavy enhlading fire. though himself
wounded. he sprang from the ground and
steadying the faltering ranks, held them
to their post until the enemy were driven
from the field.
In January, 1863 he returned to his for
mer charge in Montgomery; and, through
the perilous times of theslast years of the
war and the more1perilous times of the
years of miscalled peace that followed, he
was not only the spiritual guide of his
flock, but safe and prudent counsellor to
the people of that city. The executive COM
mittee of the Democratic party had select
ed him as their candidate for governor Of
the state at the first election for state
officers under the reconstruction acts, but
in a general council of the leading men of
the state it was deemed best to abstain
from voting altogether.
In 1868 he resigned the care of the
church in Montgomery and retired to his
plantation in Shelby county, Alabama.
While thus employed, the death of. his
wife broke up all his plans. and necessi-
tated his return to the more active duties
of the ministry. He received and accept
ed a call of the First Baptist church, in
Memphis, Tenn. About a year after his
entrance into this new field of labor, ne
was elected president of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Alabama,
which position he held for a number of
years. His work for chronological educa-
ton brought him into great prominence.
DR.. Tichenor was chosen corresponding
secretary of the home mission board of
the Southern Baptist convention in 1881.
He served in that capacity continually
for eighteen years until three years ago,
when on account of failing health he gave
up the position. He was then elected by
the board as secretary emeritus which
position he held up to the time of his
death.