John Clark Bayless
John Clark Bayless [1]
a Presbyterian minister, was born at Louisville, Ky., Jan. 7, 1819. His mother died while he was an infant, but he was sedulously trained by a pious grandmother in the precepts and practices of gospel truth. He was graduated from Centre College, Ky., in 1836. While a student he was converted during a revival in Danville, united with the Church there, and was baptized by the Rev. Dr. John C. Young. He entered Princeton Seminary in June, 1837, and remained until September, 1838, when the state of his health compelled him to leave. He returned, however, in August, 1839, and remained until he had completed his course in the spring of 1841. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Louisville, Sept. 23, 1841, and spent his first year of ministerial labor at Cloverport, Ky., and vicinity. At the end of this time he became pastor of the church at Jeffersonville, Ind., for two years, and, in addition, was for one year chaplain to the penitentiary. In 1844 or 1845 he removed to Covington, Ky., where he succeeded in building up a flourishing church, and sent out a colony to organize a second church (now North Street) in that growing city. In 1852 he removed to north-eastern Kentucky, and took charge, for a part of his time, of Bethesda Church (now Ashland Church), in Boyd County. Here began that great evangelistic work,in which he spent the last twenty years of his life, and which extended not only through north-eastern Kentucky, but all contiguous parts of West Virginia. On this wide and needy field preaching, points and Sabbath-schools were established. Iron-furnaces were made centres of work. New churches were organized wherever practicable. Thus he soon had five or six organized churches under his care, and each wasa centre of extended mission work. In April, 1866, he severed his connection with Ashland Church, still continuing his work as an evangelist. In 1867 he bought a mountain farm, near Grayson, Carter Co., Ky., anmd heniceforth resided there, still, however, earnestly continuing his missionary labors. But his health grew more and more feeble, and for four or five years before his death he was able to travel very little, especially in winter. He died May 23, 1875. Dr. Bayless espoused the Southern side during the civil war, and at the time of his death was in connection with the Presbytery of Ebenezer, of the Southern Assembly. He was a man of great ability, and of strong and clear views on all subjects to which he gave his attention. He was an earnest, effective, and instructive preacher. He was especially fond of children, and gave much time and labor to'efforts to instruct and benefit them in every way. His end was full of Christian joy and even of triumph. See Necrological Report of Princeton Theol. Sem. 1876, p. 23. (W. P. S.)
