REV. GEORGE CROFFORD STOCKARD, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Stockard, was born one mile and a half west of Mount Pleasant, Maury county, Tennessee, on December 25, 1812. His father and mine were elders in Salem Church (now Mount Pleasant), Old School Presbyterian. He professed religion in 1832 at a Methodist camp-meeting, at Smith's Chapel, one mile and a half south of Mount Pleasant, and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Mount Joy, four miles west of Mount Pleasant, in 1833. He attended the country schools of his neighborhood, until the fall of 1833, when he, Sam. A. Nelson, and myself entered the "Manual Labor Academy: a Presbyterian School" (afterward Jackson College), located about three miles east of Spring Hill, Maury county. From there in September same year, we all, with some others, went to a meeting of Elk Presbytery, at a camp-meeting at Harpeth Lick Church, in Williamson county, and were taken under its care as probationers for the gospel ministry. On account of bad health, Brother Stockard and I left this school during 1834. He spent a portion of his time until next spring with some preacher on a circuit. By order of Columbia Synod, Elk Presbytery consenting, a new presbytery, called Richland, was constituted in the spring of 1835, at the plains of Shinar Church (since known as Mount Ararat), in Lawrence county. This presbytery was composed of the western territory of Elk. At its first meeting Brother Stockard was enrolled as a candidate, and licensed to preach the gospel. At the next fall meeting he was ordered to supply Buffalo circuit. Next March he was assigned to Florence circuit. He was ordained to the ministry in March, 1837, at Hopewell Church (afterward united with Mount Moriah Church), in Giles county. Rev. James Calhoun preached the ordination sermon, from Mark xvi. 15, and Rev. John Wray presided and gave the charge.
In the early years of his ministry new churches were being organized almost annually, and the demand for preachers exceeded the supply. Preachers not supplying circuits usually had charge of four or more churches. Brother Stockard's time after he ceased to itinerate was generally so employed much of the remaining portion of his life.
On January 30, 1838, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth E. Thompson, near Bigbyville, in Maury county, who was a genial helpmeet, and contributed much to his happiness and success in his long and useful ministry. To them were born seven daughters--two of whom are spared to minister to their aged mother in her affliction and sorrow, all that loving hearts and willing hands can bestow to make her remnant of days as free from care and as happy as possible.
Brother Stockard was a devoted husband, a loving father, a good citizen, a Christian gentleman, a Master Mason, a popular, able, successful minister and pastor. As a presbyter he was wise in council, had the courage of his convictions, shrunk from no responsibilities; took great interest in the young men coming into the ministry, and the enterprises of the church; was a sound and able theologian, and in expounding and defending the "medium system of doctrine" he was a tower of strength. While he was an acknowledged leader in his presbytery, he was modest and unassuming. From the beginning to the close of his ministry he was a member of Richland Presbytery.
We have not a full list of churches of which he was pastor at different times, but name the following, viz. In Maury county--McCains, Evergreen, Ebenezer, and Hebron (now Pleasant Mount); in Wayne county--Clifton and Pinhook; and in Hardin county--Bethlehem, Indian Creek, Ross, Savannah and Oak Grove. He attended ninety-three meetings of his presbytery, and served as Moderator seven times, and as Commissioner to the General Assembly ten times.
Having just finished fifty-six years in the Master's vineyard, on the 25th of April, 1891, aged seventy-nine years and four months, "in a good old age, like as a ripe shock cometh in his season," he "departed to be with Christ," and no doubt "received from the Chief Shepherd the crown of righteousness which fadeth not away." Doubtless in eternity many, many will acknowledge him as the blessed instrument of their salvation. I am confident that I voice the unanimous sentiment of this presbytery, its congregations, and all his friends and acquaintances, in the following requiem:
Servant of God, well done!
Rest from thy loved employ:
Thy battle fought, thy victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy!The pains of death are past,
Labor and sorrow cease;
And life's long warfare closed at last,
Thy soul is found in peace.Soldier of Christ, well done!
Praise be thy new employ;
And while eternal ages run,
Rest in thy Savior's joy!
[Source: Minutes of Richland Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 27, 1891, pages 12-14]
Stockard.--Rev. George C. Stockard (son of Joseph, was born near Mt. Pleasant, Maury county, Tenn., on the 25th December, 1812, and there grew up to manhood. He professed religion at a Methodist camp-meeting near his home in the fall of 1832, and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church in 1833. In September soon after, he and I and twelve others joined Elk Presbytery as candidates for the ministry. Richland Presbytery, including the western territory of Elk, was constituted at Plains of Shinar (since, Mt. Ararat), Lawrence county, Tenn., in April, 1835, at which time he was received under its care and licensed to preach. He was ordained at Hopewell, Giles county, March, 1837. Rev. James B. Porter, one of the fathers of our church presided and gave the charge. Brother Stockard and Miss E. E. Thompson were married Jan. 30, 1838 in Maury county. They had seven daughters, two of whom still live to comfort their venerable and beloved mother. Brother Stockard was a devoted husband, a loving father, a Christian gentleman, a Master Mason, and an able, successful minister. As a presbyter he was wise in counsel, had the courage of his convictions, and for many years was an acknowledged leader in his presbytery. He was a sound theologian, and an able expounder and defender of the "medium" system of theology; and always took a great interest in the young men coming into the ministry. From the time he began his ministry he lived and labored in the bounds of Richland Presbytery. In those days many new churches were annually organized, consequently the demand for preaching exceeded the supply. Consequently, besides those supplying circuits, most of the preachers supplied four or more churches at the same time. Before his ordination Brother Stockard was employed on the circuit, afterward in pastoral supplies of churches, among which we mention in Maury county, McCains, Ever Green, Ebenezer, and Hebron (since Pleasant Mount); in Wayne county, Indian Creek, Clifton, and Bethlehem; and in Hardin county, Savannah and Ross. He served his presbytery, as moderator, seven times; as commissioner to the General Assembly, ten times; and attended ninety-three meetings of Richland Presbytery. Brother Stockard's labors were greatly blessed in winning souls to Christ. Doubtless many in heaven will proclaim him the blessed instrument of their salvation. Having just finished fifty-six years of work in the vineyard of the Lord, "he came to his grave in a good old age," April 25, 1891, aged seventy-nine years and four months, "like a ripe shock cometh in his season" and "the chief Shepherd has given him the crown of glory that fadeth not away."
Servant of God, well done!
Rest from thy loved employ:
Thy battle fought, thy victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy!The pains of death are past,
Labor and sorrow cease;
And life's long warfare closed at last,
Thy soul is found in peace.Soldier of Christ, well done!
Praise be thy new employ;
And while eternal ages run,
Rest in thy Savior's joy!Wales, Tenn. G. W. MITCHELL.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, October 1, 1891, page 191]
