McCUTCHEN.--Rev. John Fielder McCutchen was the second son of James McCutchen and Hannah Hopkins. His grandfather, William McCutchen, moved, at an early day, from Virginia, and settled near Franklin, Williamson County, Tenn. The subject of this notice was born ten miles south of Nashville, April 22, 1805.
He had three brothers and one sister. The eldest, David C., was a Methodist preacher and a member of the Memphis Conference. Jason went to Mexico in 1829 and was lost to the family. James Hopkins reared a large family and moved to Texas. His sister married J. D. Hill and died at Trenton, Tenn.
Brother McCutchen was married in 1827 to Pracilla, daughter of Charles and Sarah McLean, whose maiden name was Vance. To them were born twelve children, three of whom survive, Hugh, living in Los Angeles, Cal; John F., in Missouri, and a widowed daughter, Mrs. _________, near Martin, Tenn., whose privilege it was to be present at his funeral service, by the writer at his home, near Whiteville, on Sabbath evening, Dec. 22, 1895.
From a record made by Brother McCutchen in March last we learn that he professed religion at Shelbyville, Aug. 12, 1829, and assisted in the organization of a Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he was made a ruling elder. He at once became active in exhortation and holding religious service. Being impressed to the work of the ministry he was induced to write a discourse, which he read at the meeting of the Elk Presbytery, Sept. 16, 1837, and at same was licensed to preach.
Being far below the educational requirements of his church, the way, as he records it, seemed dark. A wife and four children to support by his trade, a tailor; but moved by that indomitable courage that characterized his subsequent labors, and from a desire faithfully to discharge the duties to which he had been called, he for six years worked at his trade, with his book propped open before him on his tailor board--never asking for ordination at the hands of his brethren, at the sacrifice of the standard of literary qualifications of our Confession of Faith.
After his ordination he gave himself entirely to the work of the ministry, serving and organizing various congregations--Three Forks, Newhope, Bellmont and others--and though the salary was meagre, God increased it as the "widow's meal," so that his family was sustained.
For two years, while traveling and preaching, he acted as colporteur for the American Tract Society.
In 1851, '52 and '53 he travelled in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, as agent, collecting funds for the Board of Missions under Isaac Shook as corresponding secretary. In 1854 he moved to Coffee County, serving as supply Hillsborough and Elk River congregations, preaching once a month at Manchester, holding a meeting in July which resulted in the organization of a church of fifty members to which he preached two Sabbaths in the month for six years.
In 1861 he was appointed missionary to the Choctaw Indians. While making preparations our civil war came on, and at the call of his State volunteered and was elected Captain of his company. Upon the reorganization he received the appointment of chaplain to the Twenty-fourth Regiment of Tennessee troops, which position he held until February, 1865. He records that he shared with the boys the hardships and privations of a Confederate soldier. While he often, with a sad heart, spoke of the carnage and destruction of life and property, yet he loved to talk of the good meetings they had in camp, when hundreds were converted. One of his sons, Robert A., was killed in battle near Marietta, Ga., June 23, '64, and James, near Atlanta, July 22.
After the war he preached half his time at Chapel Hill and to other congregations adjacent for some years. He then moved to West Tennessee, laboring in Hopewell and Obion Presbyteries. About sixteen years ago he came into the bounds of Madison Presbytery and took charge of the church at Bolivar. Fourteen years ago he was married to Mrs. Cooper, his formed wife having died some years previous, at Union City. Since then he has lived on her farm near Whitesville [sic: Whiteville], supplying various congregations in Memphis and Madison Presbyteries. I can truly say that Brother McCutchen had endeared himself to the entire community among whom his last years were spent. Always ready to lead the penitents to Christ and to build up and sustain the church. When not preaching to organize congregations. He had appointments every Sabbath at school-houses or wherever the people would come together, saying he would rather wear out then rust out, and though past 90 years, he was active in attending and holding protracted meetings up to October last, when he contracted a cold, from which he never recovered.
Indeed, it was comforting and encouraging to hear that good, faithful old servant recount, with thanksgivings and praise, the goodness of God, and to hear the shout of triumph in full hope of a crown when the end should come, which came as peaceful as the slumbers of an infant on the evening of Dec. 21. As we stood at the bedside our heart said amen--his work is done.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, March 5, 1896, page 543]
1850
J. F. McCutchen
Minister - Elk
Presbytery - Columbia
Synod
Commissioner to General Assembly
in Clarksville, Tennessee, May 21-27, 1850.
Chair
of the Committee on the Records of Green River Synod.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1850, pages 4 & 7]
1854 is the first year ministerial directories are included in the General Assembly Minutes.
1854
J. F. McCutchen,
Manchester, Tenn.
Minister - Elk
Presbytery - Columbia
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1854, page 87]
1855
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1856
Incomplete
Ministerial Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1857
J. F. McCutchan,
Manchester, Tenn.
Minister - Elk
Presbytery - Columbia
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1857, page 67]
1858
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1859
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1860
Incomplete
Ministerial Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1861
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1862
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1863
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1864
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1865
Incomplete
Ministerial Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1866
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1867
No Ministerial
Directories in General Assembly Minutes.
1868
J. F. McCutchan,
Chapel Hill, Tenn.
Minister - Elk
Presbytery - Columbia
Synod
Commissioner to General Assembly
in Lincoln, Illinois, May 21-29, 1868.
Served on
the Committee on Records of the Synod of Texas.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1868, pages 6, 12 & 102]
1869
J. F. Mucutchen,
College Grove, Tenn.
Minister - Elk
Presbytery - Columbia
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1869, page 78]
1870
J. F. McCutchen,
Jordan's Valley, Tennessee
Minister - Elk
Presbytery - Columbia
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1870, page 74]
1871
J. F. McCutchan,
Jordan's Store, Tennessee
Minister - Elk
Presbytery - Columbia
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1871, page 75]
1872
McCutchan,
J. F., Fayetteville, Tenn.
Minister - Elk
Presbytery - Columbia
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1872, page 123]
1873
McCutcheon,
J. F., Gardner, Tenn.
Minister - Obion
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1873, page 100]
1874
Repeated
ministerial directory from 1873. Stated Clerk did not send in
report.
1875
McCutcham,
J. F., [sic], Union City, Tenn.
Minister - Obion
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1875, page 82]
1876
Repeated
ministerial directory from 1875. Stated Clerk did not send in
report.
1877
McCutchan,
J. F., Friendship, Tenn.
Minister - Obion
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1877, page 88]
1878
McCutchan,
J. F., Rutherford, Tenn.
Minister - Obion
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1878, page 96]
1879
McCutchan,
J. F., Rutherford, Tenn.
Minister - Obion
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1879, page 92]
1880
McCutchan,
J. F., Bolivar, Tenn.
Minister - Obion
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1880, page 119]
1881
McCutchan,
J. F., Bolivar, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1881, page 88]
1882
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1882, page 118]
1883
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1883, page 127]
1884
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1884, page 116]
1885
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1885, page 131]
1886
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1886, page 160]
1887
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1887, page 157]
1888
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - West
Tennessee Synod
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1888, page 169]
1889
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - Tennessee
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1889, page 178]
1890
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - Tennessee
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1890, page 124]
1891
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - Tennessee
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1891, page 138]
1892
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - Tennessee
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1892, page 145]
1893
McCutchan,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - Tennessee
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1893, page 147]
1894
McCutchen,
J. F., Whiteville, Tenn.
Minister - Madison
Presbytery - Tennessee
Synod
[Source: Minutes
of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
1894, page 162]
1895
Mortuary
List
Name: J. F. McCutchen
Presbytery:
Madison
Date: Dec. 1895
[Source:
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, 1895, page 45]