Friday, September 11, 2009

Thomas Jefferson Zumwalt 1840-1927

Biography of Thomas J. Zumwalt, Pioneer Baptist Preacher

Thomas J. Zummwalt, pioneer Baptist preacher and leader of men in the Ozarks was born in Franklin county, Missouri November 11, 1840.

His father of German descent, his mother of Welch, but each was born in Missouri.

Bro. Zumwalt was a man of supreme simplicity, a man very humble in turn and very persistent in his beliefs. Through always very courteous and pleasant toward his adversaries.

He always commanded the good will and respect of all with whom he came in contact. He always tried to speak plain in his remarks so as to be distinctly understood, but never in the least offensive, and always ready to give his opposer the right of his opinions without the slightest feeling of indifference.

He was converted to the Christian religion when he was 19 years of age and joined the Baptist Church at Old Friendship. Soon after joining the Church
He felt the call to preach and was licensed to preach about 1860, but the Civil war broke out in 1861 hindering all progress in Church works until it’s close in 1865.

He joined the Confederate army under General Price and served with him until captured as prisoner of war and held in prison until the end of the war. When released from prison he returned to Pulaski County, Missouri and was ordained to preach in February, 1866, from that time on until his death…
…June, 1927 was continuously…
…to preach the Gospel. Just two weeks to the day from the time he preached his last sermon, he was laid to rest in the cemetery where he had preached his last sermon.

It has been said that he traveled more miles, preached more sermons, and baptized more people than any man who ever lived in this county.

He was married to Sarah Ma__ May 9, 1869. She passed away September 5, 1896. He was firm…his family discipline, but earnest and loving in his home government. A man who was devoted to his entire family, every struggled in every way to provide for them the greatest needs and pleasures of life.

His father died when he was___ years of age. Soon after his father’s death, his mother moved to Tennessee and lived there about three years. Then about 1853 they came back to Missouri. He spent the remainder of his life here in the Ozarks.

After a long and useful life, he passed on to his reward on June 18, 1927 making his life span __ years, seven months and 7 days.

This biography was written in long hand by John Zumwalt ,…..
…of Thomas J. Zumwalt. The biography was given to Dotson Sutton. Thomas J. was the first preacher Mr. Sutton ever heard in Pulaski County. The meeting…..held in a little log cabin at Sutton home in the South part of Pulaski County, Missouri in 18___. Dotson knew Uncle Tommy until his death. Dotson never heard a criticism about Uncle Tommy.- DOTSON SUTTON


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