Webb, Rev. George W., of Eufaula, Ala., was born in Russell county, Ala., in 1844. Fortunately for him, Capt. W. H. Redd carried him, while he was still quite young, to Columbus, Ga., where his perceptive mind was permitted to imbibe such ideas of refinement as did not exist on the plantation. Here, under the advice of his parents, he entered upon a sort of irregular course of study, which led to some success in book knowledge. As Gen. Wilson’s army was passing through Georgia, he enlisted as a soldier, remaining in service till he was mustered out in 1866.
He was baptized into the fellowship of the white Baptist church at Abbeville, Ala., by the Rev. L. R. Sims. In 1868 he married Miss Eliza Collins, and in 1869 was among those who led in the organization of a colored Baptist church at Abbeville. In 1870 he assisted in organizing the “East Alabama and West Florida Association.” In 1873 he moved to Eufaula. He was ordained to the gospel ministry about 1874-75. Mr. Webb is a very energetic man and a successful builder of churches. He took a leading part in the organization of the Eufaula District Sunday School Convention, and much of its success is due to his missionary labors. He is a friend of education and missions, and believes in progress on all lines.
Whatley, Rev. W. H., of White Plains, is of Georgia nativity, but came to Alabama while young. Without doubt Mr. Whatley is the most influential man in Calhoun county, and yet no man in the county is more modest, deferential and unassuming. He is a man of power, and yet he does not seem to know anything about it. For years he has been the moderator of the Snow Creek Association, and except something unusual shall occur he will continue to preside for years to come.
I know of no moderator who has better government in his association than Mr. Whatley, and yet there seems to be no effort to command. He exercises an oversight over every branch of his associational work, appearing in all the general meetings, whether the interest at stake pertains to local church work, to missions, to education, or to Sunday School. He is an ex-student of the Georgia school, and attended while it was located at Augusta. And it is a fact, much to the credit of his white brethren, that they made it possible for him to attend school. He lives on his own valuable farm amid his children, who are now maturing, his son Charles being now a young man.
White, Rev. E. C., of Tuscumbia, was born about the year 1842 in Chester county, S. C. In 1859 his master brought him to Alabama, where he has since resided. He was converted the fourth Lord’s day in October, 1869, and in the same month was baptized into the Russellville church by the late Rev. P. Jones.
Brother White says: “In April, 1868, my wife was baptized by the Rev. W. E. Northcross, and her devoted life constrained me to desire peace with God. My wife overthrew all my old ways and lovingly compelled me into the ways of the Lord.” At once he became zealous for the cause of Christ, and soon began to speak as opportunity offered itself, first at Russellville and then at Tuscumbia. At the request of a church which he had built up near Tuscumbia, Rev. W. E. Northcross called a council, and on October 8, 1873, solemnly set him apart to the office of the ministry. He has attained to some knowledge of books, of which he is still an industrious student. Before his whole time was employed in the ministry he taught in the public schools.
The good people of Russellville and Florence have long held to him as pastor.
Brother White owes much to his excellent, Christian wife, who has been a helpmeet for him since 1865. He is a hospitable brother and faithful Christian minister.
White, Rev. J. W., the son of Claburne and Elizabeth Hatcher, was born in Dallas county, Ala., in October, 1839, eleven miles south of Selma, on the Alabama River. He takes his name from the Mr. White who owned his mother. He was baptized into the St. Phillip Street Baptist Church, Selma, by Rev. John Blevins, in September, 1868. He was ordained to the work of the ministry by the above named church, in August, 1875, Revs. J. Dosier, J. Carter, Henry Stevens, and John Blevins, officiating presbytery. Bro. White was at one time moderator of the Uniontown Association; was for some months missionary under the American Baptist Publication Society; was pastor, at different times, of the Mt. Zion, the Summerfield, the St. Paul, and the Providence Churches, near Selma; was pastor at Camden, Ala., and recently retired from the pastorate of the Sixth Avenue Church, Birmingham. He has from the first been officially connected with the Selma University, in which he studied for about three sessions, being the first ministerial student who was enrolled. He is an earnest preacher and a studious man, so that it may be said of him that he is an elevator of the people on all lines. He relates the following story: “During the war, and at a time when things looked rather dark for the South, my stepfather and I were attending a Presbyterian meeting, when he was called on to pray God to ‘drive back our enemies.’ Father prayed: ‘O Lord, drive back our enemies.’ When we were at home alone I told him that I found fault with his prayer, for it was really against the interest of his people. The old man answered: ‘The our meant the colored people, and the word enemies referred to our oppressive chains.’”
At this time, extending from a time long before, there was an organized prayer circle in Selma, which met on every Friday night beneath a great oak tree in the woods to pray to God to bring liberty to the slave. Brethren Alex. Goldsby and Charles White were among the leaders of this meeting. Doubtless Bro. J. W. White knew of this meeting and of its purpose, and hence was hardly prepared to hear a prayer so seemingly contrary to the wishes and needs of his people.