rev. william spot~wood fontaine
TRANSCRIPT
-6-1882
~52-1904 ?12-1919
."l-1957
1876-1882
REV. WILLIAM SPOT~WOOD FONTAINE
\ Rev. Fontaine was born in "Yellow House", Hanover County, Virginia
November 7, 1810. Rev. Fontaine married Sarah Shelton Aylett, granddaughter of Patrick
Henry of "Fairfield", King William County, Virginia July 2, l 832. Rev. Fontaine died at the home of his son, Rev. Patrick Henry
Fontaine, in Reidsville, North Carolina July l 3, 1882. He was a man of varied interests and well read. In his early years he
studied and practiced medicine and afterwards obtained a license to practice Jaw. Living the life of a country gentleman. he owned a large plantation ("Fontainebleau", King William County, Virginia), slaves and a library containing over 5,000 volumes. In the l 830's he served two terms in the Virginia Assembly. In 1844 he was ordained a Baptist minister. Financi ally ruined by the Civil War (his plantation was over-run in 1863 by Union forces), he moved with his family to Greensboro, N. C. to preach. In 1866 he returned to Virginia to become President of Atlantic Female College. For the next 10 years he held various positions with colleges in North Caro lina, Mississippi, and Texas. In 1876 he retired and returned to North Caro lina to make his home with his son. Patrick Henry Fontaine.
Rev. Fontaine's contributions to our church were many. He led us in joining the Beaulah Association at the August meeting in 1877 in Greens boro. It was suggested by him that we name our church, Sharon. We know that his son. Patrick Henry Fontaine, was baptized in 1855 at the age of fourteen at Sharon Baptist Church in King William County, Virginia. It is worthy to note that Rev. W. S. Fontaine's son, Patrick Henry, later became a minister and served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Reidsville. N. C. from 1870 to 1882.
Rev. W. S. Fontaine was a strong advocate in the value of the Sunday School to the church. In the Biblical Recorder, we find him laying down the criteria for the Sunday School Superintendent and teachers. The Biblical Recorder tells us that Sharon had 33 members in 1878 and 30 were enrolled in Sunday School.
1882-1904 1912 - 1919 v REV. WILLIAM HENRY WILSON
Rev, Wilson was born in Summerfield, Guilford County. North Carolina in July. 1856. He died in Greensboro. North Carolina November 5. 1928.
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Rev. Wilson married Annie Lewellyn. Their children were Lizzie (Wilson) Troxler and Broadus. After the death of Mrs. Annie Wilson, he married Mrs. Jennie Cummings Sullivan.
Rev. Wilson was educated at Hill Academy, Summerfield Academy, Wake Forest College, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was licensed to preach in 1878 and ordained in 1881. In addition to being a minister, he served as principal of Madison High School for a short time. Rev. Wilson served as a pastor throughout the Beulah, Pilot Mountain. and Piedmont Associates; also, in the states of Virginia and Florida.
Rev. Wilson served as our pastor twice. The first time he served was for a period of over twenty-two years, and the second time was for a period of seven years. So, the pulpit at Sharon has been occupied for about thirty of the church's one hundred years by Rev. Wilson.
Rev. Wilson was devoted and faithful in his service to country churches, plodding the muddy road, through rain and snow to perform his pastoral duties.
It was during his tenure at Sharon that the new church of Fairview was created. Thus displaying one of the missionary acts performed under his guidance.
Rev. Wilson had often made the comment that he "Wanted to go in harness". So he did. After preaching his last sermon with the Holy Bible under his arm, he suffered a stroke. Never recovering, he died five months later. Another interesting aspect is that he preached his first sermon ·at Flat Rock Baptist Church in Ellisboro, North Carolina. The title of this sermon was "And We Shall See Jesus". He concluded his life as a pastor by preaching at North Winston Baptist Church. The title of his last sermon was "And We Shall See Jesus".
Rev. Wilson was known for his ability as a speaker. He had complete command of the English language, and was able to express his thoughts in an excellent manner while speaking. His prayers were of note, too, by the sincere expression of thoughts and, again, the eloquence of language. In the next paragraph, we tell the story of one of his prayers.
During a long hot, dry summer on Nubbin' Ridge (Sharon Com munity), Rev. Wilson was conducting services. The story is told that Rev. Wilson had tied his horse to a tree in the Sharon Church yard. He then proceeded to take the saddle off his horse. As he placed his saddle beneath the steps of the Church, Rev. Wilson was asked by one of the brethren of the Church as to why he was taking such precautions with his saddle. Rev. Wilson looked the good brother in the eyes and said, "We came to pray for rain, didn't we?" So, they had come for this purpose. And, before the services were concluded that evening, the rains camel
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1] 91· -...,,;-) WILSON-On November 7, ~928,
t •?' we laid to rest Rev. IV. H. Wilson, ';t , one of God's most faithful and true iiµ servants, in the Summerfield Baptist
l -~tl Cemetery, Summerfield, N. C. ' 1 Brother Wilson had been in declin- ;; ing health for sometime, being
, I U stricken with paralysis,_ July ? 9,
l ·J from which he never rallied, passing • ; away peacefully at his home in
~1 Greensboro, November 5, 1928. There · i',i! was a short funeral service at the
1 j ·~ home conducted by Dr. J. Clyde , · · Turn~r pastor of the First Baptist -~1 • , t d
l , .'f Church, Gree:isbor~, _N. C., assrs e ~; by the followmg ministers: Rev Mr.
j , J Hinkle, Rev. Fred N. Day and Rev. I .id S. F. Morton.
l J '*~ Brother Wilson's life had been a_ .
11 very active and faithful one; build- '' Ing churches and serving them as
I ; pastor throughout the Pilot Moun-
1 •1& tain and Piedmont ~ssociations, als~
. ,., serving churches m other states. '. '( Virginia and Florida. Many of the ·U obscure country churches were served
·€11 bythis able soldier of the Lord; plod- (,, ding over the muddy road, through ·~t rain a~d snow, on foot for many miles
• ~ to reach them, often times.
l' ~ ~ · Brother Vv uson was holding his 'I membership with the Summerfield I ~ Baptist Church at the time of bis
f ~ death, wlier e he will be greatly (. missed. He was a great help to our
i 11 church in a financial way, having
l i donated largely to the repair and im- f ·I~ provements on the church building. j '.~ He was. always mindful_ of t~e sup- 1 a port of his pastor, giving liberally
i towards his salary each year and for '; the- spread of the Gospel to the ut
termost part of the earth. Brother Wilson leaves man Y
friends throughout the country who will long remember him and feel his uplifting influence.
E. A. LONG, Pastor.
OBITUARIES ObltuarlM, slxty wor da lone- are lnaerted tr•• of ch&rK"•· When they exceed thi1
nurnbe r, one cent for ea.ch additional word abould be pa.Id in advance.
CULLEN-Brother E. W. Cullen quietly slipped away at the home of his daughter in Winston-Salem on November· 7, 1928. He was born in Surry County, November 29, 1845, was married to Louise Boyles Decem ber 20, 1870. This union was blessed with four children, two daughters and one son now living.
He lived in the village of Pinnacle for forty years. He then moved to Winston-Salem. About four years ago he was separated from his be loved wife by the hand of death.
While they lived at Pinnacle they kept an open house and entertained h ..
the Master wtl l say to him "Well done." "Friend after friend departs.
Wbo has lost a friend? There is no union here of hearts,
That has not here an-end. If this were our final rest, Then Jiving or dying have men blest,
To the Christian, death does not end.
It is but the entrance to a larger life.
Oh the hope the blessed hope, Which Jesus' grace has given,
The hope when the days and years have passed,
We shall meet in Heaven. -II. A. BROWN,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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Stortes for All the Year By Sarah Ward Stockwell. Jud
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The Life and 'Vritings of John Bunyan
By Harold E. B. Speight. Pub lished by Har per Brothers. $2.00. This is a very interesting life of Bunyan, witb many striking quota tions from Pilgrim's Progress and bis other works. An account is given of his imprisonment and the things that led up to it. Of course, Bunyan is now in the eye of the Christian world as this is the ter-centenary of his birth.
John Bunyan, the :Man By Austin Kennedy de Blois. Jud
son Press. $1.50. Dr. de Blois has given a very careful study to the life of Bunyan and presents it in a strik ing way. The question has been raised as to whether Bunyan was a Baptist. Dr. de Blois answers this question, in the affirmative and gives strong reasons for his helief concern ing Bunyan's church affiliation.
George ,\.hitc ;\lcDanicl By his wife, Douglas Scarborough
McDaniel. Published by the Sunday School Board, Price $2.00. .Thi:; intimate biography is splendidly writ ten and deserves a place in the library of every Baptist nuuister in th e
RECORDER l° ~ • 1
The approach and study of the sub ject is different and will be found he lpfu l and suggestive to our people.
The Ambassador By Bishnp James E. Freeman. l\Iac
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Biblical Allusions in Poe By W. M. Forrest, Professor of
Biblical Literature in the Univernity of Virgiuia. IITacMillan Company_ $2.50. We think of Poe as the last of the peots to open the Bible. How ever, Professor Forrest lets Poe's own words present his knowledge and use of the Bible. Every lover of Poe will be indebted to Professor Forrest for this splendid contribution to the life and work of Poe.
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- . County Govel'nment in Korth Carolina
By Paul "VVoodford iYagner, Ph.D. Some Time .h.esearch Assistaut in the Institute for Research in Social Serv ice' in the Univers;ty of North Caro lina; Assistant Professor of H ur:ll Social Economics in the Univer~i'Y d North Carolina. University or so-• II Carolina Press. $5.00. The b .. n:.. seeks to acquaint the public >;1th cL·r. ditions prevalent in the admi1!b~r.• tion of county government in .\o:t J Carolina: It explains city le~1- ' tion, suggests other improYen ,•:1:- .:
the interest of economy autl -.: • government. The book is a fJ.r l ro •· entation of the facrs as tlwY "' today. It is an effort 01: twh-1·' the tax-payer and wort11y oi <·: · consideration.
"'bite Oak Farm By Elliott Crayton :.kC:in·
Longmans, Green & Co. Th• is superintea<l~·nt oi sc!:oo!" "1 son South Carolina. 
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.... lt will be recalled that OU the 29th of July last Rev. ·w. H. Wil son was stricken with appoplexy, just after concluding a sermon at the North Winston Baptist Church. The press di~patcbes stated that Mr. Wil son had died after being stricken, and misled by these reports we pub lished in the Recorder the stateme_nt that he had died, but in the next is sue corrected it. We are advised by the Greensboro papers that Brother . Wilson died at his home in Greens boro at six o'clock on the afternoon · of Monday, November 5th. He was seventy one years of age and had been in ill health for the past two or three years. A quartet of preachers alweys comes to mind when we hear the name of orie of them. All of these labored in the Pilot Mountain Ass:iciation for many years. They were Dr. H. A. Brown, of Wi nstou Salem; Rev. C. C. Haymore, of Mount Airy; Rev. W. H. Wilson. who was pastor in the Pilot Mountain; and Rev. S. F. Conrad. Two of these Brethren Haymore and Wilson, have gone to their rewards, while Brethren Brown and Conrad, both past their fourscore, are still with us. Brother Wilson is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. W. R. Troxler, of Greensboro, and one son, Broadus, of Raleigh. The funeral was held at Summerfield Baptist Church, in Guil ford County. Brother Wilson was a true man! a faithful Gospel preacher, and a sincere Christian. We shall often think of him as the years go by.
PROTRACT8) WiEETlr-.GS AN) REVIVALS \~
The first 'protracted meeting" mentioned in the minutes ws from Boverrber
12 to Nov, 18, 1898. W,H. Wi Ison , the pastor of Germanton Baptist GUrch
conducted the meeting, assisted by Rev. F.H. Jones of Reidsvi lie, N.C.
"andn not withstanding the inclemency of the weather we had good congregations
with one conversion and no accessions to the church." Brother Jones was]
paid $9.30 for his services.
paid on the church's debt. Twelve merrbers were also added to the
. PASlffiS ( WI l.SQ\J)
Rev .W.H Wi I son was given a "hot iday from attendance at the August
1898 church meeting.
W.H. Wi Ison was acting under appointment of the Executive
Comnittee of the Pi lot Wountain Baptist Association, preaching at
El Ii sboro, Stonevi 11 e, and Ba Id Hi 11 as we 11 as Germanton. He reported
in 1896 at the annual meeting that he had preached 13 senTX)ns and
baptized 2 persons. According to his report "the prospects [are}
good if the debt. which has been on the church for several years
could be rerooved.11 (8)
The next year W.H. Wilson reported having preached 36 senTX)ns; collected
for State Missions $5.00, Home Missions,.50; for education $3.00; and $150.00
church. [No report in 1898 Ex.c.om.J
BAPT. MINISTERIAL DIRECTORY, Geo. Lasher, ed., p. 801
Wilson, William Henry, Madison, N. C.--Born,Summerfield, N. C.; Stud. Hill. Acad., Summerfield Acad., W.F.C., SBTS; Lie. 1878, Summerfield, N. C.; Ord. '81, Ephesus, N. C.; P. Sharon, '80--; Madison, '81--; Mt. Hermon, '85-99; Providence, '84-94; Bear Island, '81-84; Summerfield, '84-90; Red Banks, '82-85; Walkertown, 97-99;Waughtown, '99
SOU. BAPT. THEO. SEMINARY, 1859-89, p. 213 By: John R. Sampey (B/207/So8s)
WILSON, WILLIAM HENRY
b. Summerfield, Guilford Co., N. C.; Wake Forest College; Sem. (1) '81-82; Ephesus ch., Person Co., N. C.; prin. Madison High School for a short time; p. Red Bank, Mt. Hermon, Providence chs., in Pilot Mt. Assa., N. C., Madison, Summerfield, Beaver Island and Sharon chs., in Beulah Assa., N. C.