INDIAN BOTTOM ASSOCIATION
Old Regular Baptist of Jesus Christ
Held with Sandlick Church
Whitesburg, Kentucky, Letcher County

Submitted by J B Francis

Amburgey, Howard- I will try to write a sketch of my dear father, Howard Amburgey, he was born May 3, 1869. His age 69 years 7 months and 21 days, deceased February 24, 1939.  He was married to Aggie Jane Hall and to this union was born eight children, seven boys and one girl, all living except one to mourn the loss of dear father. He joined the Old Regular Baptist Church of Mallet Fork and lived a faithful member unto death before he went to take his departure. He called all his children to his bed and ask them to be better children and meet him in Heaven. Brother Henry Blair was there and held prayer for him when he called his children to his bedside and asked them to give their hands that they would be better boys. Now boys are you doing what you promised him? He said before he went to take his departure from this world that he would like to be at the Old Mallet Fork Church and shake hands with them again. But God thought it best and taken him away where there is no sickness and pains to bear. The loss of dear father, we hope are Heaven's gain and the troubles and woes of this world cannot go. Now children if you want to see father again, put your trust in the Lord and meet with dear father over on the Golden Shore, where we can sign and praise the Lord. It has been lonesome with me since father went away, but I have a hope to believe that I will meet him again. But love ones has to part from this world.  Written by Irvin Amburgey

Boggs, W. B. - was born March 7, 1866 and fell asleep in Jesus care, December 4, 1940 at 5:30 p.m. at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 27 days.  He was married to Nancy Jane Sturgill on November 1, 1888.  To this happy union was born, nine children, Benton, Laura, Allie, Leonard, Irvin, Bertha, Millard, Elmer and Edgar all  living except Edgar who preceded him to glory on April 22, 1939.  He became a member of the Oven Fork Church in 1897 and was ordained a minister of the Old Regular Baptist Church on Aug. 10, 1903.  He was ever faithful to his duty, not filing to obey his call as long as his health permitted him to go. He had been moderator of the Indian bottom Association for several years and until the time of his death as long as he were able to talk eh would advise his brethren to have peace and love among them and to keep the old time Doctrine and practice. Like Paul he kept the faith and fought a good fight.  We do not doubt but what he is wearing a crown of glory. He would often pray for his change from this world into Heaven, telling us all not to weep for him. It would be a happy exchange. His suffering would be over. He would not be afflicted either blind. One morning he called to us and said he could see.  Said everything was bright and pretty, we believe that he was viewing his Heavenly home. He told us how he wanted to buried , his songs he wanted sung and who to preach his funeral sometime before he died.  Besides his family he leaves to  mourn his loss 3 brothers and 1 sister, Benton, Enoch, Henry M. and Minervia Maggard. Though we are broken hearted to have father leaves us, we are glad his sufferings are over and to feel and know he has a better home waiting for him than we could ever give him here. We hope to meet him again where there will be no sufferings or pain to bear and where we will never part again.  Written by his wife and children

Collins, Sally-With a said heart that I try by the help of God to write a short sketch of a life, mother Sally Collins. She was the daughter of John and Mary Stacy born April 9, 1863, died April 8, 1941 being 77 years, 11 months and 29 days of age. She was married to John D. Collins about the year of 1884 and to this union was born 10 children, 6 boys and 4 girls. Three preceded her in death. She joined the Regular Baptist Church and lived a faithful member until death. She was bedfast about 10 days and she told us anything in her way. She would say, Oh, these pains in my body, if I could just clap my hands and go on. She said I don't see why I have to suffer so, but I want to do all my suffering here. I asked her the night before she died if she wanted any more water, She said "I can't drink it now but I will soon be to that fountain that never runs dry then I can drink all that I want. Then just about day light she looked out through the window up at the sky and said, well I lived through to see day light one more time. So children when we march up the little mound where mother now sleeps, lets think of that sad morning when we stood around her bedside and had to see the last breath go and don't forget Pap, in his lonesome hours for his hair is blooming with frost of many winters. So to her children and grand children if you ever want to see mother again you must pick up the cross and get ready to wear the crown.
Sleep on  Mother, Sleep on Mother
Till I lay my burden down
Then I'll meet you up in Heaven
Where we'll wear a starry crown
Written by her daughter Rosa Thomas

Crusenberry, Jane- As I undertake to write a short sketch of sister Jane Crusenberry who was born August 12, 1887. She was the daughter of Edward C. and Deanor Woodward and married Charlie Crusenberry and to this union had 8 children.  She joined the Old Regular Baptist Church at Meadow Fork, August 2, 1933. We feel that it is our loss but heaven's gain in her last days she wanted the Brothers to sing and pray through much pains we feel she is at rest. Note: name was listed as Jane Cloud in minutes.  Written by a Brother in Christ   Elder Evon Cloud

Franklin, Matilda- It is with sadness that I attempt to write an obituary of a dear step-mother Matilda Franklin. She was born January 13, 1855, age 86 years, 2 months and 7 days, departed this life March 20th, 1941.  She joined the Carr's Fork Church of Old Regular Baptist May 4, 1892 and lived a faithful member until death. She was first to married to Tommy Hale and to this union 4 children was born: Alex Hale, J. D. Hale, Sarah Combs and Mary Jane Hall, all living except Sarah Combs, who preceded her in death. Next she was married to my father Elijah Sparkman. They lived together about 13 years. After his death she was married to Kelly Franklin who preceded her in death several years. I certainly hope that each of her children will remember her life and walk in her footsteps, surely her steps will only lead you to Christ and eternal glory. I must say she was a good mother and was loved by all who knew her. She had many friends and always met you with a smile. She is badly missed by her children and a host of friends and in the church. I believe that all who has been cleansed of their sins by the bread of the everlasting covenant, will see Sister Franklin again in the beautiful city where we do not have to part anymore, but will be able to sit down with Moses and the prophets and sing the song of Moses and the lamb forever.   Written by her stepson, John Sparkman

Halcomb, Bertha-Bitha Halcomb was born October 23, 1855 and died July 11, 1937.  She was married to Elinza Halcomb December 12, 1875 and to this union was born 10 children, seven girls and 3 boys which her husband, four girls and 1 boy preceded her in death. She leave Ida, Lizzie, Maudie, Lee and Stephen and a host of friends to mourn her loss. She joined the Big Leatherwood church of old Regular Baptist was baptized November 2nd Saturday in 1909. She was faithful to her church as long as she lived and her conversations prove she was faithful to God. We believe our loss is Heaven's gain. So children and friends if you want to go where mother is gone, you must take mother's God for your God. Deny yourself, take up the cross and follow Jesus. If you don't bare the cross you can't wear the crown.
Written by your unworthy friend J. W. Pratt

Logan, Emma- With much sadness, I try to write a short sketch of our dear daughter Emma Logan. She was born August 16, 1922 and died February 6, 1940, age 17 years 5 months and 10 days. She was the daughter of Bob Logan and Ily Logan. She lived a quiet and peaceable life and was dearly loved by her playmates. She took sick Saturday morning, died Tuesday night. She prayed all during her sickness. She said I am praying and I am not going to the hospital by myself, the Lord is going with me. While in the hospital, she clapped her hands and tells Mother what a beautiful home she saw. She asked me if I was going to stay here and let her go there by herself. She said Bro. Dixon Ison loves that pretty place he will go with me, said listen mother, are you through praying. Yes, I think mother and daddy too is through praying for our sins and how we have put our lights on a candle stick, that they may give light to all that are in the house. So friends and relations you too will have to pray in this life, if you ever see that pretty home little Emma was talking about. I hope when Jesus comes again he will receive us unto himself without the loss of one.  Your unworthy Bro, and sister Bob and Ily Logan

Patrick, Andy- It is with some what sad feelings that I try to write a short sketch of the life of my father-in-law to-wit. Andy Patrick was born 1856, died November 24, 1939. He was married to Mary Jane Creech and to this union was born 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys. His wife and 3 of the girls preceded him in death. His wife Mary Jane and Elizabeth Short and Sallie Dobson, both of his daughters belonged to the Regular Baptist Church who we have a hope fell asleep in the Lord. Andy also joined the Regular Baptist Church about 15 years ago and lived a faithful member until death, when we was feeble, could hardly go, so he would start on Friday in order that he might be at meeting on Saturday. Four of his children joined the church, 3 of the girls and one of the boys. I want to say to the other two children if you have not been regenerated and born of the spirit of God you had better close in with the offer of God before it is too late. Without changing you can't be saved you must be born again.  Written by Harrison Williams

Scott, W. M. - On the 20th day of October, Elder W. M. Scott of Cumberland, Ky., departed from this life. elder Scott had been ill for several years, and heart failure was given as the cause of death. For some years recently he had told his wife and Elder Caleb Creech and others, that while he was yet doing work and attending his churches, that he had been warned of his approaching death. He had been recognized as one of the ablest speakers in the Indian bottom Association for many years. About 28 years ago he joined the Regular church and began preaching shortly thereafter. He was moderator of the Clover Fork, the Oven Fork and the Maple Grove churches and assistant moderator of the Big Cowan Church at the time of his death. He had many friends in Harlan and Letcher counties and there is no doubt but that he will be greatly missed. He had reached the age of sixty-two. He leaves a wife and a large family to mourn his loss. After services at the church house conducted by Elder Caleb Creech, Riley Fouts and F. G. Fields, the body was laid to rest in the Maggard cemetery to await the resurrection of the body. We realize our loss is his eternal gain.  Written by his Brothers in Christ F. G. Fields and W. E. Brown

Stidham, Sallie- It is with much grief that I try to write a sketch of the life my dear wife (better known as Sallie Stidham.) she was born October 17, 1859, died April 4, 1940, age 80 years, 6 months and 13 days. She professed a hope in Christ when she was bout 22 years old she was married to E. H. Stidham at the age of 23 years old. After many years she joined the Old Regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, Oven Fork For, June 15, 1902 baptized July 13, 1902 by Elder Charles Blair. She served the Oven Fork Church as deaconess for about 36 years and performed her duty as deaconess in sister churches of the Indian Bottom and Union Associations always rejoicing in the hope of her salvation. In the last four years of her life she often said that she was ready and willing to meet her Savior. She often said she will know that she was near the end of her race and she would soon leave me. She had a stroke that brought her death after a little more than four days at the time of her death she was a true Christian. In every sense of the word, her pious walks and godly conversations showed beyond doubt that she was serving the true and living God in this faith and practice. He had set forth in his holy write. She is now sleeping beneath the sod waiting to receive that glorious body that God has promised to give his true followers and I am sure she will be one in that number, a thing I cannot doubt. I have nothing to grieve over only the loss of her whish is great. But I have a hope that I will soon meet her again. We now assemble at this place to mediate upon the human race, her flesh lies sleeping in the ground to wake by Gabriel's trumpet sound.   E. H. Stidham (Deacon)

Woodward, Dezzie- By request of the brothers and sisters to write the obituary of Dezzie Woodward born April 1909, died September 9, 1940. To this mother was born 3 children. She joined the Old Regular Baptist Church at Meadow Fork  on the 2nd Saturday in August 1933.
Written by Elder Evon Cloud

Woodward, W. E.-With a sad heart, I will try to write a sketch of the life of our father.  He was born February 18, 1874, died December 5, 1940 age 66 years 9 months and 21 days.  He was the son of Daniel T. And Dianah Woodward. He was married to Nancy R. Sprinkle, February 2, 1896. To this union was born one son. Later in December 29, 1900 he was married to Martha Jane Hall and to this union was born 13 children 3 of them preceding him in death. He leaves a wife and 10 children, two sisters, 28 grandchildren and many friends to mourn their loss, but we feel our loss was Heaven's gain. Papa professed a hope in Christ at an early age. He joined the Old Regular Baptist Church on the 4th Saturday in August 1932 and was baptized on Sunday. There was nothing he enjoyed better than being in a big meeting. he would walk across Big Mountains to church when we would think he would drop dead before he got there for he suffered many years before he died. A few days before he died he sang, "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone." he prayed for the sinner people until a little while before he died for he has some children in sin. So brothers and sisters remember papa's prayers and lets all strive to meet him where there will be no more parting. 
Written by a Daughter  Virgie Cloud