Hall, Rev. S. M., pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church at Warrior, Ala., is one of our most robust, handsome and spotless young men. He was born in Walker county, Ala., October 26, 1867. Attended the public schools of his community for five years. In October, 1885, he joined the Oak Grove Church in Walker county, receiving baptism the same month. He has attended the Birmingham Institute two years, and has given three years to the work of teaching. He is one of those jovial, happy, friendly souls which one always enjoys. His hard work in the study of books shows that he sees and appreciates the value of knowledge, and recognizes that there is no easy, lazy road to learning, to culture and refinement.
Miss Ella Knapp, Missionary, Birmingham, Ala.
Hawthorne, Rev. Lambert, of Evergreen, was born March 15, 1859, in Pine Apple, Wilcox county, Ala. When he was only six years of age his mother, Mrs. Sarah Hawthorne, died and left him and two other sons to such cold charities as might chance to fall in their way. From the time of his mother’s death till he was 18 or 20 he was an apprentice to Col. J. R. Hawthorne, of his native county. This gentleman sent him to school, sometimes paying $2 per month to his teacher, thus enabling him in his early years to lay an educational foundation upon which he has continued to build. As might be expected of any person possessing his native talent and industrious turn of mind, he has successfully drawn upon every literary opportunity that has fallen in his way, to increase and beautify his store of knowledge and wisdom. He studied in Talladega College, entering that institution 1875 and leaving in 1879.
In 1879 he was induced, doubtless by denominational influences, to enter Selma University.
Both as teacher and as preacher he has been a very busy man. At different times he has been principal of the city schools of Opelika and Union Springs, and now he presides over the Evergreen High School. His most prominent pastorates have been the First Church, Union Springs, and the Bethel Church, Evergreen. For the latter church Mr. Hawthorne is now completing a good church edifice. In 1873 he was baptized at Pine Apple by Rev. W. Allen. In 1883 he was ordained to the ministry in Opelika by Revs. Thomas Glenn, H. Clark, N. B. Robie, D. D. (white), and others. In 1880 he was wedded to Miss Laura E. Drake, of Opelika, an affable lady, by whom he has six children. Mr. Hawthorne is energetic, sociable and full of work.
Holloway, Rev. W. H., who spent two years in the Presbyterian Theological School at Tuscaloosa, is preaching and teaching at Thomas. Affable and industrious, he is making friends and followers.
Hunter, Rev. Henry, of Faunsdale, son of Reuben and Abigail Hunter, is now (June, 1892) about 77 years of age. He was baptized by Rev. James Caldwell since the close of the war, and in 1866 he was set apart to the work of the gospel ministry in a council of which the Rev. James Caldwell was chairman. Speaking of his education Brother Hunter says: “By chance I learned to read the Bible.” He is one of the pioneers of Marengo county in the work of the colored Baptists. He is naturally talented, is unassuming, deeply pious, and is known by his brethren as being sober, upright and honorable. He has property worth about $1,000. He is quietly expecting a peaceable end to his earthly career, and like Abraham, has his eyes upon another country where the wicked shall cease from troubling and the weary shall be at rest.
Hutchins, Rev. P. S. L., of Gallion, son of Reuben and Sylvia Hutchins, was born October 13, 1862, in Barbour county, Alabama. In 1879 he was baptized into the Eufaula Baptist Church by the Rev. Jerry Shorter. He, in youth, was a person of observing, active mind, and hence by the time he came to early manhood he had fairly prepared himself for the position of school teacher. He took the college course in Selma University, from which institution he graduated with the degree of A. B. in May, 1890. On May the 31st, of the same year, he was publicly and officially set apart to the work of the gospel ministry, Revs. M. Tyler, C. L. Puree, C. L. Fisher, J. Q. A. Wilhite, R. T. Pollard, L. J. Green, A. N. McEwen and the writer, officiating as presbytery. At the time of this writing Mr. Hutchins is pastor at Gallion and also at Newberne. At both these points he has succeeded in leading his flocks to the erection of good church edifices. He is full of energy and pluck as well as of literary aspiration. Like O’Bryant and other rising men among us, he is a moving man, and has muscles as well as brains.
He is physically as well as mentally strong, and so, if wisdom, prudence and Providence shall continue to be his companions, a long life, a growing life, a useful life, an honorable life is to be his.