BIOGRAPHY: John R. Daily
Born: May 21, 1854 (to Peter & Zelia Nettie Daily, Clinton County, Indiana)
Obtained a hope: Feb. 28, 1870
Baptized: Feb. 5, 1871 (by Eld. John T. Oliphant, Little Flock Church)
Married: 1873 (to Mary C. Laughner, who died 11 weeks later); Sep. 10, 1874 (to Caroline Laymon; ten children born to this union)
Began preaching: Jan. 1875
Licensed to public ministry of the word: Aug. 1876
Ordained to full work of ministry: Sep. 3, 1881
Primary fields of labor: Indiana, Virginia
Some churches served: Virginia: Mt. Carmel, Alma, Hawksbill, Naked Creek; Indiana: Salem, Lebanon, Mt. Summit, Little Flock, Village Creek
Deceased: Aug. 11, 1920 (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Some publications of note: editor & publisher, Zion’s Advocate (1898-1906); Pilgrimage of a Stranger (1905); 1904 reprint of Wm. Rushton’s A Defence of Particular Redemption (1831); A Loving Appeal to the Primitive Baptists (1906); Hymn and Tune Book (1918); numerous notable hymns, including “Preservation” (“Cast down but not destroyed”).
Some public debates of note (primarily disputing tenets of Campbellism, Missionism, and Universalism): Messrs. Walker (1891), Weatherford (1894), Williams (1894 & 1898), Denney (1895), Ballard (1895), Hutson (1908), Hughes (1908), Boles (1909), Throgmorton (1911).
ELDER JOHN R. DAILY was an eminent scholar of the Bible and was perhaps as near to being a scholar of the Greek language as any minister of the Primitive Baptist faith in America. He was a highly esteemed preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was a
staunch defender of the Faith.
— S.T. Tolley, Preface to Pilgrimage of a Stranger (2nd ed., 1978)
THIS KIND-HEARTED, affectionate and gifted preacher… is not only a sweet singer, gifted preacher, strong and forceful writer, but is also an able debater, and has had
several discussions with leading representatives of the Disciple, Universalist and other denominations in which his brethren were well pleased and the truths of the Old School
Baptists’ position in doctrine and practice forcibly vindicated.
— Eld. R.H. Pittman’s Biographical History of Primitive or Old School Baptist Ministers of the United States
ELDER JOHN R. DAILY was recognized everywhere as one of the ablest debaters we have ever had. He knew our doctrine and was able to defend it against all comers. He had many public discussions and by all his opponents was recognized as a foe worthy of their steel.
— William H. Crouse, Regeneration, or The New Birth ch.II (1925)
OUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER was a native of Ireland, and located in New Jersey in an early day. Two of his sons… went to North Carolina, and afterward to Southern Indiana, where they both reared large families. Our father, Peter Daily, married Zelia Nettie Gray, whose parents were natives of Connecticut. In 1857 our parents became members of the Baptist Church, and continued faithful until death released them from the warfare. Mother died April 15, 1879, and father, March 3, 1880. We were the youngest but one of seven children, all the others dying in early childhood or infancy except the oldest, who died March 22, 1880…
— John R. Daily, Autobiographical sketch in Zion’s Advocate vol.38 no.7 (Jul. 1899)
HIS PARENTS were poor people, but were industrious and upright, providing well for their family; were members of the Little Flock Church of Regular or Primitive Baptists and strict attendants at their church services, and taking their children with them to the house of God.
Elder Daily had poor opportunities to procure an education, but this disadvantage did not hinder him from gaining quite a proficiency in the common school branches of learning and many of the higher branches, as he was very fond of books from early life and made rapid progress in whatever he undertook.
He entered upon the profession of teaching in the common schools at the age of eighteen, which he followed for twenty-two years, studying hard all the while to advance himself in the higher branches and especially in languages. After many months of conviction, he obtained a hope in the Saviour on the 28th day of February, 1870…
— Pittman’s Biographical History
IN 1870 we were made to rejoice, in trust, in a Saviour’s redeeming love, and the night of the 23d of January 1871, were received for baptism by the Little Flock Baptist Church, situated in Clinton County, Indiana.
— John R. Daily, Autobiographical sketch (Jul. 1899)
FROM THE BEGINNING of [his] public profession he exercised in public prayer, also leading in the singing services of which he was very fond.
— Pittman’s Biographical History
ELDER JOHN T. OLIPHANT, now a resident of Ft. Branch, Indiana, an able and very zealous minister of the gospel, …we have ever regarded as a father to us in the Master’s cause.
— John R. Daily, Autobiographical sketch (Jul. 1899)
ELDER DAILY made his first effort at preaching in January, 1875; was soon ordained and has since had the care of churches to which he has closely and faithfully applied himself.
In June, 1898, he moved to Luray, Va. and took the position of editor and publisher of Zion’s Advocate, which position he held eight years, at the same time serving Hawksbill, Naked Creek, Mt. Carmel and Alma churches, and traveling extensively among churches in Virginia and other states.
— Pittman’s Biographical History
THE MOST DIFFICULT and painful task we have ever undertaken was to resign our churches in Indiana and bid adieu to our friends there, in order to locate in Virginia and enter upon the new field of labor here. How very dear they were to us, and how sad the parting!
— John R. Daily, “Our Change,” Zion’s Advocate vol.37 no.6 (Jun. 1898)
THE MAIDEN NAME of my devoted wife was Caroline Laymon. She was born in Owen Co., Ind., Feb. 19, 1856. Her father was a prominent minister of the Separate Baptist denomination. We were married at her father’s home, near Michigantown, Clinton Co., Ind., September 10, 1874. She joined the church of my membership the first Sunday in June 1880, and was baptized the following Monday.
…I am fully convinced that a more faithful companion or a nobler type of true womanhood cannot be found. For twenty-nine years we have been trudging along life’s pathway together, more than twenty-seven of which has been chiefly devoted by me to the ministry of the word. Together we have wept when sorrow’s cloud cast the shadow, together we have looked up with fresh hope at the rainbow of God’s promise, and rejoiced together at the return of light.
— John R. Daily, “Picture of Editor and Wife,” Zion’s Advocate vol.42 no.10 (Oct. 1903)
LITTLE PEARL, our twin baby was taken with a severe illness the next spring, which greatly puzzled the physicians. We did all that we could do to effect her restoration, but all in vain. On the 18th day of March, 1888, her spirit took its flight from the little form and we were compelled to lay the lifeless body in the silent grave. How sweet it has been to know that one of our dear offspring is forever at rest in the presence of its Creator and Saviour!
— John R. Daily, The Pilgrimage of a Stranger (1905)
WE HAVE SIX SONS and three daughters. All except the youngest, a little boy ten years old, are members of the Old Baptist church with us. I baptized the wives of our two married sons since their marriage. So twelve of my household have fellowship together in the church of Christ. Two of my sons are now exercising in the ministry. God has greatly blessed us and I praise him for it.
— John R. Daily, "Picture of Editor and Wife” (Oct. 1903)
CAROLINE LAYMON… is still his faithful companion. This union has been blessed with ten children, — one dying in infancy, — one – Elder O.L. Daily – was killed in train wreck near Washington, D.C., 1906; the others all members of their parents’ church.
— Pittman’s Biographical History
FOUR OF ELDER DAILY’S SONS followed him in the ministry, all of them being men of good ability andreputation.
— S.T. Tolley, Preface to Pilgrimage of a Stranger (2nd ed., 1978)
IN APRIL, 1906, he moved to Indianapolis, Ind., where he now resides, and is serving as pastor of the church in that city and three others near, where also in connection with his sons he runs a publishing house, doing job work, book printing, binding, etc. Elder Daily has published an interesting history of himself and family entitled, Pilgrimage of a Stranger. Has also published a very acceptable Hymn and Tune Book that has passed the ten thousand edition.
— Pittman’s Biographical History
[T]HOUSANDS OF PRAYERS have gone up in thanksgiving to God for such a man as Elder Daily to so ably present and defend our faith, as he did in that [Daily-Throgmorton] discussion; …thousands of volumes of that published discussion have been circulated in the interests of our cause.
— William H. Crouse, Regeneration, or The New Birth ch.III (1925)
ALTHOUGH THIS FAMILY was stricken with the faults of humanity, as all men are, they will long be regarded as an outstanding example of Christianity.
— S.T. Tolley, Preface to Pilgrimage of a Stranger (2nd ed., 1978) |
