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John T. Brown, ed.
Churches of Christ (1904)

S. COLLIER.

Portrait of Stephen Collier
S. COLLIER.

      Eld. S. Collier was born March 15, 1821, in Rockcastle county, Ky. Educated in the winter schools of three months, during winter, until twenty years of age, then entered the Academy at Crab Orchard, and soon became an assistant. While thus teaching he came into the church of Christ under the preaching of Carroll Kendrick and Jacob Creath, Sr., and was baptized by Sandie Jones, father of A. B. Jones, of Missouri, and immediately organized a young men's prayer-meeting. While thus engaged, Bro. Kendrick persuaded him to enter Bacon College at Harrodsburg, Ky., on 1st of September, 1844, from which he graduated in June, 1849.

      Was made principal of the preparatory, September, 1849, but his health failing, resigned, and for two years lived on a farm preaching to country churches.

      Regaining his health, he with James Burdette organized Home College at Bradfordsville, Marion county, Ky., where they built up a prosperous school, having students from seven Southern States. Burdette becoming dissatisfied, he bought him out and became entire owner and controller of the college. While teaching in this institution he received the A. M. degree from Kentucky University. He continued to teach in his college until broken up by the Civil War.

      He then took charge of Mt. Mary Academy, of Rich Grove, Barren county, Ky., and preached for the churches at Glasgow and Salem, near the academy. Continued here three years until the war spirit grew so high that he gave up the school and accepted the principalship of the Female College at New Castle, Henry county, Ky., where he continued until his health failed. He then bade adieu to the college life and devoted his time to preaching the gospel, which he made a success, bringing into the church 5,000 souls during his fifty years' ministry in Kentucky. His longest ministry at one place was thirty-nine years; his greatest number coming forward at one invitation and one song was sixty-one.

      His labors were confined to thirty counties on the L. & N. railroad, Lexington & Frankfort and Lexington & Cumberland Gap roads, and was kept so busy that he seldom found time to attend the State and National Conventions. Among his converts he is glad to enumerate several good preachers--Joseph Richardson, J. W. Lowber, of Austin, Texas, G. L. Surber, W. G. Surber, of Missouri, together with a mighty host of worthy men in various positions of honor.

      His marital relations were pleasant, having married the daughter of Philip T. and Jane Randolph Allen, of Harrodsburg, Ky. Mrs. Allen was the daughter of Col. Joseph Cabell, of Henderson, Ky., and sister to the wife of Governor Dixon. and to the mother of I. C. Breckenridge. Mr. Collier, after spending the prime of his life in his native State, moved to Sparta, Bell county, Texas, with all his children save one, to spend in that Empire State quietly his declining years, where he could enjoy the sunshine and the flowers of the Sunny South until called to the enjoyment of the company of his many friends who have gone before him to the rest in Heaven. He remembers vividly a prophecy of his mother on hearing the first sermon from a Christian preacher. When asked how she liked it, by her husband, she said, "That man preached the everlasting truth to-day, and the doctrine he preached will take this world." S. Collier, her son, believes with all his heart that if the world is taken for Christ it will be by those who are Christians only.

[COC 459]


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Churches of Christ (1904)

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