John D Floyd (1839 - 1919)

Born 1 Sep 1839 in Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Susan (Motlow) Floyd — married 28 Dec 1865 in Lincoln, Tennessee, United States

Died 30 Nov 1919 at age 80 in Tullahoma, Coffee County, Tennessee, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Ron Floyd [send private message] and Hans Nielsen [send private message]

Biography

Biographical Sketch Of The Life Of J.D. Floyd

Some one has very truly said that great men plant their influence in the heart of humanity and pass on to higher spheres of service. This is applicable to J. D. Floyd. He stamped his impress upon the minds and hearts of man in Middle Tennessee. There are but few, if any, congregations in Middle Tennessee that have not felt the influence Of this great and good man.

John D. Floyd was born On September 1, 1839, in Tennessee. He grew to manhood in his native county. He had small opportunities for an education. He had an inquiring mind and strong intellectual powers. He was possessed of a very genial disposition. He enlisted in the Confederate Army, Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, in 1861. He was soon promoted to the position of lieutenant, and served with bravery and gallantry until the close of the war in 1865. He suffered much during these four years. They were years of wickedness and had a very unwholesome effect upon his mind and body. The preaching that he had heard before the war beclouded and confused his mind in regard to religion. He was reared under the influence of the Baptist Church. He was in doubt as to whether he was one of the elect. During the four years that he was in the war he thought much about his eternal salvation, and when the war closed he had drifted into infidelity. Soon after the war he learned that Dr. T. W. Brents, an eminent physician and preacher of the gospel, was to preach at Lynchburg, Tenn., about seven miles from his home, and he planned to hear him.

He had attended school for a short time before the war at New Hope Academy, in Marshall County, Tennessee. While attending this school he had heard Dr. Brents lecture, and he remembered him as being a very prominent and logical speaker. He went to Lynchburg, and when he arrived he was greatly disappointed upon learning that Dr. Brents would not be there, but that he had sent another preacher in his stead. J. D. Floyd was so disappointed that he came near turning around and riding back home. However, he decided to remain and learn something if he could. Old Brother R. B. Trimble was the preacher sent by Brother Brents. When he arose, he announced that he would preach from Acts 2:38 and Acts 8:22. Young Floyd did not know what these Scriptures were, so they arrested his attention at once. Brother Trimble showed from these Scriptures the law of pardon to the alien sinner and the law of pardon to the erring child of God. This was new to young Floyd. He had never heard any one make such a division of the word of God, and it had never occurred to him before that there were two classes addressed in the Bible. He soon became interested in the sermon, for it was a complete revelation to him and cleared up many points over which he had been confused for some time. Young Floyd saw for the first time in life the beauty and fitness in the Bible. This was a turning point in his life. Little did the preacher think that he was having part in an exercise or service that would determine the destiny of at least one man, and that this one man would affect the destiny of thousands. Young Floyd began at once a very close, careful, and honest study of the Bible. A few months after he began studying the Bible he was baptized into Christ upon his confession of faith in him as his Lord and Master. Soon after he became a Christian he began preaching in his own community.

J. D. Floyd was a man of one book. He studied the Bible. He read the Bible daily to know the will of God and to be able to teach it to others. He preached for the church at Flat Creek and built up a strong congregation there. The church at Flat Creek was organized in 1868. J. D. Floyd began preaching regularly for the church there in 1871, and continued his labors with that church for about fifty years. Much of this time he was an elder in this congregation. This congregation developed and sent out many preachers of the gospel. Among those sent out were K. J. Pearson, E. P. Couch, Charles Bearden, Herbert Patterson, W. F. Reagor, J. M. Philputt, A. B. Philputt, B. S. Gowen, and George Gowen. Brother Floyd had much to do with the development of all these preachers. He taught them and encouraged them to preach the gospel. His work with the congregation at Flat Creek prepared him for the work of teaching and encouraging congregations. While he was a splendid evangelist and brought many into the church, yet his strongest efforts were given to the teaching of the church.

At the close of the year 1880 he wrote to the Gospel Advocate and gave a report of his work during that year. In this report he says that he saw the need of teaching the church. Many congregations throughout Middle Tennessee had been established, but they were weak and untaught. Brother Floyd was an apt teacher and did much to strengthen these churches. Many of them would not be in existence today had not Brother Floyd taught and encouraged them. He traveled on horseback and went into the rural sections and preached the gospel to aliens and taught and confirmed the children of God.

Brother Floyd was a clear, accurate thinker, and had the ability to express himself with clearness and force. He wrote a splendid book, " The Word of Reconciliation." This book has been considered by many as the best work on first principles for general distribution that has been published. Any young preacher could read this book with great profit today. It is written in simple language, and the thoughts are supported by Scriptural quotations. This book alone has been a great factor in the conversion of many people.

Brother Floyd was a preacher of the gospel for fifty years. Very few men have done more work or better work for the church than did he. The number of churches that he planted or served can testify of his faithfulness and his efficiency. In his old age he derived much pleasure and satisfaction from the memory of the work he had done and the number of faithful servants of the Lord that he had encouraged. Brother Floyd was a strong man, mentally, morally, and spiritually. He lived a clean life and had an influence for good over all whom he met. In his extensive work his life touched the lives of many, and all could bear witness that his influence over them was a benediction. He loved peace, and he always endeavored to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Brother Floyd died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. H. Mitchell, at Tullahoma, Tenn., November 30, 1919. He was a little more than eighty years old when he died. Funeral services were held by two of his lifelong friends and coworkers in the Lord, T. C. Little and B. F. Hart. So passed from earth into a higher realm an honest man, a good citizen, a devoted father, a faithful husband, and a Christian.

-Biographical Sketches Of Gospel Preacher, H. Leo Boles, GA, pages 301-304

Parents: Elijah Thomas Floyd 1798–1876 Sarah Watson Floyd 1799–1891

Siblings: Watson Floyd 1822–1864 Elizabeth Floyd Boone 1824–1900 William Floyd 1829–1906 Sidney Jane Floyd Gowen 1829–1896 George W Floyd 1832–1870

Children: Emma Floyd 1866–1919 Mary Florence Floyd Mitchell 1869–1955

Spouse: Susan Motlow Floyd 1840–1919

Military

Civil War Confederate Lt., Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1865.

Sources

• Dodd, Jordan R comp.. Tennessee, Marriages, 1851-1900.
• Year: 1870; Census Place: District 24, Bedford, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1514; Page: 408A
• Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 24, Bedford, Tennessee; Roll: 1558; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0020; FHL microfilm: 1241558
• "Tennessee Deaths and Burials, 1874–1955." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2010
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29068057/john-david-floyd: accessed 02 January 2023), memorial page for John David Floyd (1 Sep 1839–30 Nov 1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 29068057, citing Rosebank Cemetery, Flat Creek, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Tom Childers (contributor 46515204).
• Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.