Reverend John Henry Fortson

After attending Elberton Male Academy in Elbert County, Georgia, he enrolled at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia in September 1858 and took a literary curriculum for a year and a half and then studied theology. He enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army in 1861; he was six feet two inches tall, weighed 133 pounds, was described as having a feeble constitution, and was discharged after four months because of physical disability. He was ordained in the Baptist church on 29 Nov 1862 and in June 1863 became pastor of Goshen Church in Lincoln County, Georgia and Friendship Church in Wilkes County.

The following excerpts are taken from the book "History of the Baptist denomination in Georgia", compiled for the Christian Index, published 1881:

"Rev. John Henry Fortson is naturally of a feeble constitution, tall and slender in person, being six feet two inches in height, and weighing only 133 pounds...Yet he is a man of such perservering energy in pastoral work that he has built up large and self-sustaining churches out of the most unpromising material, and has acquired for himself, in his section, a reputation for pastoral efficiency rarely excelled. As a minister, he gives himself wholly to his work, studying, visiting, preaching and conversing constantly, with an eye single to the interest of his churches, to the salvation of souls, and to the advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom on earth. He is a strong advocate of Sunday-schools; is a devoted lover of the misson cause, and in all his churches these two grand enterprises are advocated to the utmost of his ability. Indeed, in every good word and work which tends to promote the welfare of Zion, the upbuilding of Christ's Kingdom and the maintainance of his honor, Mr. Fortson's efforts exceed even his physical ability.

"Mr. Fortson was prepared for college in the Elberton Male Academy, by Rev. J. A. Trenchard, and entered the freshman class at Mercer University in September, 1858. He studied in the literary department for one year and a half, and then took a theological course for the same length of time. His studies were then interrupted by the war, and he joined the Confederate army as a private, remaining, however, four months only, on account of physical inability, for we find him returned to Georgia, and being ordained on the 29th of November, 1862.

"ln his youth Mr. Fortson had always been piously inclined, ever cherishing a reverence for God and an esteem for his ministers. He was converted and baptized when about sixteen years old, becoming a member of Falling Creek church, and maintaining a godly walk afterwards. In January, 1863, he took pastoral charge of Goshen church, in Lincoln county, and of Friendship church, in Wilkes county, and from that time to the present he has been a faithful and hard-working pastor of different churches. He is now pastor of Friendship, Fishing Creek, Sharon and Newford churches, in Wilkes and Columbia counties, and has been greatly blessed in his labors, having worked up his churches to a high state of efficiency. As a pastor, he is quite popular."

Additional Comments: [Submitter's notes: John Henry Fortson (1837-1908), son of Jesse Marion Fortson and Frances Mills, married on 31 Mar 1864 to Julia Isabelle Anderson of Wilkes county. They had 13 children. In 1863-64 he kept a diary of his experiences while ministering to Confederate troops and excerpts of that diary are contained in the book "Down on Cooter's Creek and Other Stories" by Jannelle Jones McRee, pub. 1986. The diary also records the deaths of his father Jesse Marion Fortson and his grandmother Nancy Brown Mills (Mrs. William Mills). A monument to his memory stands in front of Fishing Creek Baptist Church in Wilkes county.]

Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson