The Nashville community and the people of Tennessee generally were shocked and saddened by the announcement that Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley had suddenly died at his home in Nashville, about 4 p.m., December 7. On the previous Saturday night a fire occurred in the building adjoining Dr. Lindsley's home, and his death from heart failure was the ultimate result of excitement and suffocation by smoke. He had apparently almost recovered from the illness thus caused, however, and within three hours of his death he was able to converse about business matters with the president of the Tennessee State Board of Health, with which Board Dr. Lindsley has been connected either as secretary or otherwise for twenty years. Death came to him very suddenly and unexpectedly. His funeral, which was largely attended, occurred December 9, M. B. DeWitt, D.D., Rev. I. D. Steele, and Rev. James I. Vance officiating.

To Cumberland Presbyterians Dr. Lindsley was known as a minister in our church and a gifted writer, especially of historical articles. He was, however, also eminent as a physician, educator and lecturer. Dr. Lindsley was born at Princeton, N. J., when he father, Dr. Philip Lindsley, was president of Princeton College. When his son was but three years old President Philip Lindsley resigned at Princeton to accept the position of chancellor of the University of Nashville, where Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley has ever since resided, and where he received a large part of his extensive education. He studied theology, medicine and chemistry in Eastern cities and abroad. In 1850 he was chiefly instrumental in founding the medial college of the University of Nashville, in which institution he was for 22 years professor of chemistry, for six years dean of the faculty, and for a number of years chancellor of the entire university, the position his father had honored. In 1867 he organized Montgomery Bell Academy, a high grade school for boys. In the same year he suggested the idea out of which grew the great Peabody Normal College. Since 1889, in addition to his arduous work at State Health Officer and Secretary of the State Board of Heath, he has been professor chemistry in the medical college of the University of Tennessee. In spite of his advanced age of more than seventy-five years, he was recently unanimously re-elected by the legislature to the position of secretary and executive officer of the State Board of Health.

Dr. Lindsley has all along been a leader in the educational circles of this city of schools and culture. He was the author of several books, a member of numerous literary and scientific organizations, and a man who made his wide reading and extraordinary learning do the fullest service to the community and the world.

His relations with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church began in the years immediately succeeding the war. Prior to that time and up the sectional division of that body he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Princeton College had in 1856 conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. When the war closed he felt that a great mistake had been made in the separate organization of the Northern and Southern Presbyterian Churches. This action and his own doctrinal views caused him to seek for and obtain membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian ministry. It was his habit to interpret our church's initials, C. P, as Comprehensive Presbyterian, by which, he explained, was meant that doctrinally and in government the Cumberland Presbyterian Church embraced all that was essential in Presbyterianism. When Dr. DeWitt was the editor of the "Theological Medium," Dr. Lindsley contributed to that review many valuable articles, among them a series of eighteen laboriously prepared papers on "Sources and Sketches of Cumberland Presbyterian History," a work which has been of untold value to subsequent historians. As a lecturer he often spoke to the students of Cumberland University, in which institution he declared himself greatly interested. He often preached in our churches, but was not regularly engaged in pastoral work.

Dr. Lindsley's wife, who survives him, is a granddaughter of Fexlix Grundy. Five of their six children are living. N. Lawrence Lindsley, LL.D., a member of the first faculty of Cumberland University and afterward the founder and president of Greenwood Seminary for Young Ladies, was Dr. J. B. Lindsley's brother. Several members of the Lindsley family are still active workers in our church.

The following deserved tribute is taken from the editorial columns of the Nashville "Daily American" of December 8:

"The death of Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley, at the ripe age of 75 years, closes a long, honorable and useful life. Dr. Lindsley had occupied many positions of importance in the scientific and educational world, and was a member of societies of learning, both here and in Europe. Like many men of studious habits and of an investigating turn of mind, he was of quiet tastes and modest demeanor, and was consequently not widely known by the younger generation. From the time of his graduation from the University of Nashville, sixty years ago, to the day of his death, he had been a laborer in his chosen field of science and education. He dedicated his life to this work, not for his own aggrandizement, but for the good of his fellowmen, and the results of his well-directed energy must be felt for many years to come. Dr. Lindsley was one of Nashville's oldest landmarks, and he was fond of reverting to days of the long ago, and would tell most interesting reminiscences of the famous Dr. Gerard Troost, who was once a professor in the faculty of the University of Nashville, and other men of renown. Dr. Lindsley deserves honorable mention in the annals of Tennessee history, and now in the hour of his death it is mete to call attention to the record of his well spent life.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 6, 1897, page 3-4]

Dr. J. Berrien Lindsley was born in Princeton, N. J., 1822. When three years old he removed to Nashville with his father, who came to accept the position of chancellor of the University of Nashville, where Dr. J. B. Lindsley resided until his death, which occurred December 7, 1897. He received his literary education in Nashville. Studied theology, medicine and chemistry in Eastern cities and abroad. As an educator he stood preeminent. He was chiefly instrumental in founding the Medical College of the University of Nashville, in which he was 22 years professor chemistry, six years dean of faculty, and for a number of years chancellor of the University. Dr. Lindsley was a leader in all of the educational interest of the country. As a physician and health officer in the State, perhaps no man was better known or ranked higher. Dr. Lindsley had the title of D.D. conferred on him by Princeton College, 1856. His relations with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church began about the close of the late war. He was never a regular pastor, but often preached in our churches and lectured frequently to the students in Cumberland University. His writings are very strong, and valuable to our church. The Church sustains great loss in the death of Dr. Lindsley, but the country at large a greater one, because of his relations to the State Board of Health, he being secretary.
[Source: Minutes of Lebanon Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, March 15, 1898, page 12]

1869
J. B. Lindsley - Portland, Oregon
Nashville Presbytery - Synod of Nashville
[Source: Minutes of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, 1869, page 1045]

Changes denominations in 1870.

1870
Rev. J. B. Lindsley, D.D. received as a member of Nashville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church upon receiving a letter of dismission and recommendation from the Nashville Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of the United States [Southern Presbyterian].
[Source: Minutes of Nashville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 30, 1870, page 24]

1871
J B. Lindsley, DD, Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery [Middle Tennessee Synod]
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1871, page 80]

1872
Lindsley, DD, J B, Nashville Tenn 60-Nashville Presbytery [Middle Tennessee Synod]
Minister
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1872, page 123]

1873
Lindsley DD J B, Nashville Tenn 59-Nashville Presbytery [Middle Tennessee Synod]
Minister
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1873, page 99]

1874
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn., 61-Nashville Presbytery [Middle Tennessee Synod]
Minister
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1874, page 99]

1875
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1875, page 81]

1876
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1876, page 92]

1877
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1877, page 87]

1878
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1878, page 95]

1879
No Report for 1879

1880
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1880, page 118]

1881
Lindsley, J. B., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1881, page 90]

1882
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1882, page 120]

1883
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Nashville Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1883, page 128]

1884
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1884, page 115]

1885
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1885, page 130]

1886
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1886, page 158]

1887
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1887, page 155]

1888
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Middle Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1888, page 168]

1889
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1889, page 176]

1890
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1890, page 123]

1891
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1891,page 137]

1892
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1892, page 144]

1893
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1893, page 146]

1894
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1894, page 161]

1895
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1895, page 168]

1896
Lindsley, J. B., D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1896, page 154]

1897
Lindsley, J. B., D.D. (without charge), Nashville, Tenn.
Minister - Lebanon Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1897, page 275]

1898
Ordained Ministers Deceased
Name: Lindsley, J. B, D.D.
Occupation: without charge
Presbytery: Lebanon
Place of Residence: Nashville, Tenn.
Date: Dec. 7, 1897
Age: 75
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1898, page 163]