John Smith (Restoration movement)
| John Smith | |
|---|---|
"Raccoon John" Smith
|
|
| Born | 1784 Sullivan County, Tennessee |
| Died | February 28, 1868 Mexico, Missouri |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Self educated |
| Occupation | American Christian minister |
| Years active | 1808–1868 |
| Known for | Helping unite the Campbell and Stone Restoration movements |
| Spouse(s) |
|
"Raccoon" John Smith (1784 – February 28, 1868) was an early leader in the Restoration Movement. His father, George Smith (originally Schmidt) was of German ancestry, and may have been born in Germany, while his mother, Rebecca Bowen Smith, was of Welsh and Irish ancestry. He played a critical role uniting the movement led by Thomas and Alexander Campbell with the similar movement led by Barton W. Stone and in spreading the message of the movement over much of Kentucky.
Smith was born in what is now Sullivan County, Tennessee, in 1784 to a family of Regular Baptists. His nickname, "Raccoon", reportedly resulted from him saying he lived in such a remote location that his only neighbors were raccoons. Smith moved with his family to what is now Clinton County, Kentucky. He was largely self-educated, with no more than six months of formal schooling. He was baptized in 1804, and ordained as a minister in 1808. Smith married Anna Townsend in 1806. They lost two children to a cabin fire, and Anna died from shock shortly afterward in 1815. Smith remarried in December of the same year to Nancy Hurt.
As a preacher, Smith began to wrestle with the Calvinist teachings of predestination and total depravity as taught in The Philadelphia Confession of Faith. His doubts regarding these doctrines meant that when he met Alexander Campbell in 1824 he was open to the Restoration Movement themes that salvation is open to all based on faith in Christ, repentance from sin and baptism by immersion.
...
Wikipedia