Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2023 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Davidson County, Tennessee by W. Woodford Clayton pub. January 1, 1880 pg 262 DANIEL WILLIAM PHILLIPS was born June 7, 1809, at Crown Miles, Miles' Vale, parish of Kilmacnllwyd, Carmarthenshire, Wales, Great Britain. His parents were in humble circum- stances, but more than ordinarily intelligent. They were both members of the Baptist Church at Rhydwilim before he was born. He cannot remember the time when he could not read the Welsh Bible with ease. His mother, when he was a very small child, used to take him upon her knees and read Bible stories to him, pointing out the words as she pro- nounced them. He thus learned to read himself without learning to spell, or even the names of the letters. He had an aunt MARY, whom Jesus loved, with whom he spent considerable of his early childhood. One rainy day, when he was about four years old, he was alone with her in the house, and she talked to him about Jesus in a way that strongly influenced his understanding and affections. He greatly wondered at the tears that streamed down her face as she related the marvelous story of Jesus and his love. The impressions made then on his heart never faded away, but grew stronger with his years. He has no remem- brance of himself when the bent of his mind was not reli- gious. When yet a child he became very familiar with the Bible, especially the historical parts. There was the sharpest contradiction between the longing of his soul and his circumstances. He had the strongest thirst for knowledge, but his opportunities for learning were of the poorest sort. There were no public schools in the princi- pality at that time. Occasionally some man who had no other means to gain his bread would open a private school, professing to teach English when he did not understand the language himself. He attended several of these and learned a little. When about seventeen years old he united with the Baptist Church, of which his parents were members. His one great desire from early youth was to preach. The few preachers whom he knew were men of superior excellence and greatly respected. Though not higly learned, they were skilled expounders of the Bible. He was much in their company, and they delighted to open the Scriptures to his eager mind. He had not much time to spare, for from about his tenth year he had to work for his living. There were a few good schools in the country, but they were beyond his means. He made a stren- uous effort to enter the Baptist Academy in Bradford, England, but failed to accomplish his object. Just then a deacon of the church was leaving for America, and per- suaded the young man to accompany him. The sole motive that induced him to go was the hope that somehow he might be able to acquire the English language. His purpose was after a few years to return to his native land and spend his life there. He borrowed money to pay for his passage, and after completing his preparatory studies returned it all with compound interest. When he left his home he had no plan, but a merciful Providence did far better for him than he ever dared to hope. He first went to the province of New Brunswick, where he remained about a year and a half, working at his trade part of the time, and attend- ing school the remainder. In the summer of 1831 it became more and more apparent that the object for which he had left all on earth that was dear to him could not be secured in the provinces. He left for the United States with only thirty dollars and a letter of recommendation in his pocket. After a very tempestuous passage of a week's duration, he arrived in Boston on a Saturday in November. By the direction of the gentleman to whom the letter was addressed, - Rev. EBENEZER THRESHER, who is still living at Dayton, Ohio, he entered an academy on the following Monday. He kept steadily at his books two years. For months he and his room-mate, who is now a missionary in Burmah, lived on thirty cents a week. By practicing the utmost economy and industry, at the end of his academical course he had within one dollar as much as he had at the begin- ning. In September, 1833, he entered Brown University. Students were required to pay the amount of the first quarter's bill in advance. He was able to pay not quite half of it. He was generously trusted. It was the fame of Dr. WAYLAND that led him to Brown University. He saw the renowned president for the first time the day be- fore he was matriculated, presiding over the annual commencement of the college. The day after, Friday, as he was standing in the college-yard, the president came to him and addressed him by name, though he had never been introduced to him. After inquiring minutely into his circumstances and expectations, he said: "My son, if you should ever be in need of money to meet your necessary expenses, come to me, and I will en- deavor to help you." The poor Welshman was so con- founded and confused that he failed to utter a word. Though he never had occasion to apply to him, the gracious offer did help the poor friendless stranger wondrously. By preaching almost every Sabbath during both term-time and vacation, though he received but small pay, he graduated free from debt. From Brown University he went to Newton Theological Institution. In October, 1838, he was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church in Medfield, Mass., where he remained twelve and a half years. The church was small, thus affording grand opportunities for study, which were diligently improved. From Medfield he removed to Wakefield, Mass., where he remained the same length of time. Both of these churches grew while he was pastor of them, and were left in a good condition. From the very commencement of the war it was his strong expectation that the hostilities would end in the entire removal of their cause. As the war pro- gressed the conviction took deeper and deeper hold of his mind that when peace would be established there would be very great work for true patriots - and especially for Christians - to do among the freedmen to fit them for the many responsibilities of freedom. He felt that the Baptists would be under particular obligations, because such a multitude of the colored people professed to be of their faith. Gradually it came over him that he must give himself to the work. He came to Tennessee in the summer of 1864. He preached for some months to a white congregation in Nashville. In the mean time he surveyed the field, and taught a class of young colored men at his own house. After forming a plan he went to New England and collected money to begin a school for preachers and teachers. A large wooden building belonging to the government was bought at auction and moved to a lot near where Jubilee Hall now is. There he taught till the summer of 1876, when the institute was moved to its present location. The school has wonderfully grown and prospered. This prosperity, under God, he ascribes mainly to the very faithful and competent helpers with whom it has been his happiness to be associated. ===============================================================================