Elder Daniel Smith Webb

See: http://www.mdnestor.com/webb/webb441.html

Also from "Biographical History of Primitive or Old School Baptist Ministers of the United States" (1909):

Elder Daniel Smith Webb, of Hillsville, Va., son of Elder Isaac and Malesia Jane Webb, was born in Carroll County, Va., March 5, 1855. The second Sunday morning of June, 1867, he was riding along horseback thinking that some day he would be a rich man, and at a very old age would get religion. Suddenly a very dark object appeared coming directly at him, with a glittering sharp point in front of it, and like lightning it thrust through him and a voice said, "Already too late." he began to pray, was deeply convicted of sin and for five years lamented his condition, and sought the mercy of God, in tears and with groanings which cannot be uttered. One night in June, 1872, while on his bed death seized him. He tried to call his father but could not speak, and felt doomed to the dark pit of destruction. With his last breath he prayed, "Lord, save me." He heard the sweetest sound of music and looking up saw a white cord letting down from heaven and a bud on the end just ready to open. The bud entered into his bosom and took him out of the world. He saw the world a black ball and God fanned it out of existence with one fan of his hand. He then said, "Surely, God can be just and forgive sins for He with one fan of his hand can blot this earth, and now, O Lord, may I return to my body that I may tell others what a dear Saviour I have found." In this vision he returned to his body and felt free from sin and that he would never have any more sorrow. In September, 1873, he married Miss Mary Ellen Edwards, a God-given companion, and in 1875 both joined the Primitive Baptist Church. One night he dreamed he was under a white cloud and a white hand and arm put through and the neck of a phial protruded out of the palm of the hand and anointed him to go and preach, and his wife dreamed the same thing. Later he dreamed of preaching and baptizing the young and old, the rich and poor and hearing the Lord's people shouting, and his wife dreamed the same thing at the same time. Again he dreamed that ten elders met at Harmony Church and ordained him to preach, and said, "Go, and as you go, preach." And he sprang out of bed and exclaimed, "Lord, I'll go," and his wife saw the same vision and told it to him. Confirmed of the heavenly calling, he began preaching in 1886, was ordained in 1887, by the same ten elders that he and his wife saw in the dream four years before. He has often times been warned in dreams of dangers coming to the church, and many times has dreamed of ingatherings at certain churches, and of certain noble people joining, and has lived to see these dreams fulfilled. Elder Webb's service in the ministry has been blessed of the Lord. He has baptized about seven hundred persons into the fellowship of the Baptist Church and in the evening of life writes: "Faith in God is my only staff, hope in Christ my greatest riches and the fellowship of the brethren my sweetest pleasure." His good wife died February 6, 1908, leaving himself, eight sons and three daughters as sorrowing members of the broken family.

From his obituary: Minister for 53 years with the Primitive Baptist Church. Baptized more than 800 people during his ministry. On 6 Feb 1936 he had a dream predicting his death on 9 Apr 1938, and told his family of it. He died at midnight of that date. Afterwards, in his Bible, a full description of the dream in his handwriting was found.