Rev. A.S. Ivy.

It becomes our sad duty to announce the death of the Rev. A. S. Ivy, of Green Vale, Tenn., one of the oldest members of McMinnville Presbytery. He died suddenly at his home on July 7, 1885. Brother Ivy was known to many throughout our denomination, having frequently represented his Presbytery in the General Assembly. He had been called recently to take charge of New Hope Congregation, but had not yet begun his labors there. It is a remarkable coincidence that the Rev. D.R. Patterson was some months ago called by this same Church, but died just before the time appointed for him to enter upon his pastoral duties. We extend our sincere sympathy to Brother Ivy's family and to the large circle of his friends.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, July 16, 1885, p. 94]

The Rev. A. S. Ivy

By The Rev. J. T. Barbee.

One by one the old standard-bearers are being discharged from this warfare and called to their reward in heaven.

The Rev. A. S. Ivy, the subject of this sketch, was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., Sept. 15, 1817, of poor but respectable parentage. His father, Thomas Rutlege Ivy, was married to Miss Malinda Scoot, in South Carolina, in the year 1813, and soon after moved to Rutherford County, Tenn., and settled in Murfreesboro, then a small village, where they remained for several years working at the tailoring business.

When A. S. Ivy was about two years old his father died, leaving his mother with four children, himself being the oldest son.

His mother was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and had her children in early life dedicated to God in the ordinance of baptism, by a Presbyterian minister-- Dr. Blackburn. His mother taught her children the necessity of salvation, and required them to repeat their morning and evening prayers, which practice was kept up by her son until the day of his death. The Sabbath evenings were spent in part in the study of the Catechism.

Being poor, and the only son, the burden of providing for the family devolved upon him to a very great extent. Schools were scarce, taught only through the fall and winter months. Such of his time as he could spare from his labors in providing for the family, he was allowed to attend those old field schools, thus learning to read and write a little.

Through the admonition of his mother he often felt the necessity of salvation, but he did not set about that work until the fall of 1837, at a camp-meeting held by the Rev. N. Lyon at Old Thyatira Church, Rutherford County, Tenn. On Monday night of that meeting the Rev. Samuel McSpadden preached one of his peculiar yet convincing sermons. The Holy Spirit directed his words to the hearts of young Ivy and many others, who at the close of the sermon presented themselves at the altar of prayer. At 12 o'clock that night-- August 28, 1837-- he found a sweet peace in believing in Jesus Christ. September 2, of the same year, he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Lytle Creek, Rutherford County, Tenn. Soon after this he felt that God had a work for him to do. He advised with his pastor, The Rev. N. Lyon, and others, and was advised to exercise his gifts in prayer and exhortation, which he did until Oct. 13, 1838, when he attended the Lebanon-- now McMinnville-- Presbytery, which met at Old Moriah Church, Wilson County, Tenn., where he related his troubles to the Presbytery, and was received by that body as a candidate for the ministry. That winter he was ordered by the Presbytery to perform two rounds ont he circuit, in company with the Rev. J. N. Nolen. After the meeting of the spring Presbytery, he spent four months at a country school taught by a Mr. Mitchel Robison, where he made some progress in reading and writing. That fall-- 1839-- he attended several camp-meetings: one at Lebanon, where he found a number of friends-- viz, the Rev. George Donnell, Hon. W. L. Martin, Hon. R. L. Caruthers, Dr. Milas McCorkle, J. S. McClain, Esq., James C. Jones, Thos. J. Munford, and others-- who proposed to extend to him a helping hand in procuring an education. He attended the fall meeting of the Presbytery and laid the proposition of the friends named above before the Presbytery, and was advised by that body to accept said assistance. Accordingly, in November 1839, he entered the school at Lebanon, which was at that time an academy.

For the first two years he boarded in the house of Hon. W. L. Martin. In him and his good wife (he often said) he found a father and mother. He could not devote all his time at school, but had to spend a part of his time at home in the crop, in order to provide a living for his mother and sisters.

At the close of the second year in school Mrs. Martin died. He then boarded a short time with Dr. McCorkle. From there he went to the house of Hon. Thos. J. Munford, and remained until April 16, 1841, when he was licensed to preach the gospel. After much pleading with the Presbytery to be allowed to remain at school, he was permitted to do so on condition that he would make two rounds through the bounds of the entire Presbytery between each meeting of the Presbytery, which would take him two months. At the fall meeting of the Presbytery, October, 1841, he was ordained to the whole work on the ministry.

Aug. 16, 1842, he was married to Miss Arabella K. Donnell, daughter of the Rev. Robert Donnell, of Rutherford County, Tennessee. She proved to be a preachers's good wife-- a real helpmeet, indeed. This circumstance ended his school-days at Lebanon, too often the case with young preachers. Three children was the result of this union, one son and two daughters, all living and members of the Church. The son Robert is a ruling elder in the Cainsville Congregation, his father's home Church.

Brother Ivy was a good man, an earnest and faithful preacher of the gospel. He was a great blessing to his Church and country generally. He had great power as a preacher; every one seemed to have unbounded confidence in him as a man and minister. He preached more funeral-sermons and married more people than any preacher in his section of the country. He was actively engaged in the ministry from 1838 until the day of his death-- 48 years.

He was pastor of Smith Fork Church, Wilson County, Tenn., 27 years in succession, At his own request he was relieved from that work 2 years, and was called back, and served them 5 years longer, making in all 32 years at that one place. Hundreds were, through his instrumentality, led to trust in the Saviour in that one congregation, and many of the flock preceded him to the glory land, and were waiting and watching for him.

He also served as pastor the following Churches, viz, Commerce, Mt. Union, Bethesda, Mt. Zion, Jerusalem, Cave Spring, Lytle Cree, Thyatira, Mt. Carmel, New Hope, and the Presbyterian Church at Milton, Rutherford County, Tennessee.

Even in his old age and in his feeble health he was actively engaged in Sunday-school work in his home Church, serving at the time of his death as superintendent of the school, and preaching whenever his health would permit him. A few days before his death, which was very sudden, he was called again to the pastorate of Smith Fork Church, and I believe he had consented to serve them as supply until they could secure a pastor. He had a good mind, was a good reasoner, and understood the theological questions of the different Churches as well as most any man. He was a good Presbyter, always taking the lead in all the business, and was not absent more than eight meetings in the 48 years of his ministerial life. The McMinnville Presbytery, to which he belonged, will sadly miss him, for the entire Presbytery looked to Brother Ivy for advice.

The writer of this sketch was closely and intimately associated with him from November, 1878, until May, 1885, being the pastor of his home Church. I always found in him a true friend and brother. Never for one moment did I know him to pull back, but always pressing forward. He guarded my character and reputation as a preacher with all the vigilance possible, and did every thing he could to encourage and help me along. (An exception to the general rule of preachers in the pew.) His home was the preachers' home, and many a young man has received assistance from him and his faithful wife in their efforts to obtain an education.

He died at his home in Wilson County, Tennessee, on the 9th day of June last, of heart disease. So sudden and unexpected was his death that no one but his wife and son were there to bid him goodby as he took his departure to his better home. A large concourse of people attended his funeral, conducted by the Rev. A. C. Tatum and the Rev. J. H. Warren.

I was requested to attend the memorial exercises held by his Sunday-school at Cainsville, Wilson County, Tenn., on the fifth Sunday in August, and preached from his favorite text-- 2 Tim. iv. 6-8-- to an immense crowd assembled from all parts of the surrounding country in honor to the great and good man. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."

Caseyville, Ky.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, October 8, 1885, p. 2]