OBITUARY OF JEHU CHASTAIN
From the Minutes of the Bentonville Baptist Association Held with Spring Creek Baptist, Bloomington, Post Office October 2nd, 1868
(Found in an old issue of the Benton County Pioneer)
Brother Chastain was born December the 30th 1801, joined the Baptist Church in the year 1823, commenced the great work of the Ministry the next October; was ordained while a minister of the Stechoey Church, Raburn County, Ga., by Umphrey Posey, Benjamin Stiles and Robert McMin (Presbytery). Brother Chastain labored long and with an untiring zeal as a Minister in Western North Carolina and Georgia. He was long Moderator of the Association to which he belonged; was several times chairman of the General Convention of North Carolina and was instrumental in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the Truth. He was several times a correspondent from the General Convention of N. Carolina to the General Association of East Tennessee, and was instrumental in keeping that Union. He was also a messenger from the General Convention of North Carolina to the Great General Southern convention, which was composed of nearly all the Southern States. He was one of the primary instruments in building up and establishing the great Missionary enterprise. Brother Chastain came to this country in the year 1851, where he continued his untiring work in the Ministry up to the time of his death, with the exception of a few months spent in Texas. He departed this life on the 20th day of July 1862. He fell while engaged in a fight with a portion of the Northern army near the head of Flint creek, leaving a wife and several children, also many warm and devoted friends.
Resolved. That in the death of bro. John Chastain, this association has lost one of her strongest, ablest and most efficient Ministers; but we would say to his much esteemed widow and Orphans, not to sorrow as those without hope, but let us look forward to the time when we shall meet him in that General Association above, where congregations never break up and Sabbaths never end.
I’m so proud to be a descendant of this fine family. His memory lives on in each and every one of his descendants.
I am also a descendant of Jehu Chastain through his daughter Hannah Chastain Anderson. I had the honor of visiting Fairmount cemetery several years ago and paid my respects to my ancestors.