J H Spencer, History of Kentucky Baptists 1769 to 1885 (Copyright 1885), 
Section on Jeremiah Vardeman on pages 232-241, transcribed by Garril Kueber
(GaryDottyKueber@alum.mit.edu)

Jeremiah Vardeman was the second pastor of Crab Orchard Church. He was probably the
most effective pulpit orator, and the most successful preacher that ever lived in
Kentucky. His father was a Swede, his mother a native of Wales. John Vardeman, sr.,
with his young family emigrated from Sweden to South Carolina in the early part of the
18th century. He was a member of the Lutheran church, but joined the Episcopal church,
in South Carolina, and was esteemed for his piety and moral worth. His descendants
reported that he died at the age of one hundred and twenty-five years. His son, John
Vardeman, jr., was also born in Sweden. He came with his parents to South Carolina when
he was seven years old. He married Elizabeth Morgan, a native of Wales, in South
Carolina. Soon after his marriage, he moved to Bedford county, Virginia. While living
here, he and his wife professed religion and united with a Baptist church. About 1767,
he moved further west, and settled on New river, and ten years later, pushed still
farther into the south-west corner of Virginia, and settled on Clinch river in what is
now Russell county. Here he was compelled to move into a fort to protect his family
from the Indians. But he did not long remain here. Again he moved on westward, and, in
the fall of 1779, settled in Lincoln county, Kentucky, near the present town of Crab
Orchard. This was two years before Lewis Craig settled on Gilberts creek, with his
traveling church. Here John Vardeman and his older sons were compelled to take part in
the numerous wars with the Indians, that gave exciting and hazardous employment to the
early settlers, for a period of nearly twenty years after his settlement in
Kentucky. But he did not become indifferent to his religion. He kept up family worship,
and, when a church was organized near him, he became a member of it. He and his wife
were probably members of old Gilberts Creek church, and it is certain that they were at
an early period, members of the church at Crab Orchard, where many of their children
afterwards became members. The old pioneer remained near Crab Orchard, till 1812, when
the country became too thickly settled to suit his habits of life, and he became
restless and discontented, and again turned his face towards the setting sun.  In
October of that year, the church at Crab Orchard entered on its book of records an
order, "that old John Vardeman have a letter of dismission." The term "old" was
designed to distinguish him from his son, of the same name. With this evidence of his
fellowship with the children of God, he moved to Missouri, where he died at the age of
109 years. Jeremiah Vardeman was the youngest of twelve children born to John and
Elizabeth Vardeman, and was born in Wythe county, Virginia, July 8, 1775. He came with
his parents to Lincoln county, Ky, in the fall of 1779. Here he was raised up to
manhood, in "the deep tangled wildwood," amid the constant dangers and privations of a
frontier settlement, receiving barely education enough to enable him to read, write,
and exercise in the simplest elements of arithmetic. After long continued and pungent
convictions of sin, during which period his father and mother were his principal
comforters and instructors, he obtained hope in Christ, about the year 1792. He
immediately united with the church at Crab Orchard, and was baptized, probably by
William Bledsoe, who was then pastor of that chruch. This was during the revival
referred to above conducted by the Bledsoes, John Bailey and Peyton Nowlen. Mr.
Vardeman always asserted that the preaching of these men had nothing to do with the
awakening of his conscience. He was under conviction three months, during which the
instructions of his parents, the prayers of his father, and his own reading of the
Bible deeply impressed him. When Mr. Vardeman, then about seventeen years of age
realized the joys of salvation, he felt strongly impressed with the duty of warning
sinners of their danger, and exhorting them to flee the wrath to come. This feeling
preyed on his mind till he felt that he must preach. But many apparently insurmountable
obstacles appeared in his way. He was young, timid, had not the gift of speech, and was
uneducated. Still the subject bore heavily on his conscience. But he continued to
resist the impressions till they measurable wore off. He continued very comfortable in
the church, about two years, during which time he habitually prayed in secret, but did
not attempt to pray or exhort in public. This was doubtless more the fault to the
church and its unfaithful pastor, than of the young convert. It is a sad truth, that
many of our churches lose the talent, zeal, and influence of a large number of their
best young members, by giving them nothing to do, in the Master's service. Every young
church member should be proved, to ascertain his gifts, as soon as he becomes a member,
and then be diligently employed in the work of the Lord, in accordance with his
gifts. The pastor that fails to do this, is either incompetent to fill is position, or
unfaithful to his charge. Had young Vardeman been prudently brought forward in public
prayer and exhortation, immediately after he joined the church, it would, no doubt,
have saved five years of his invaluable services to the cause of Christ, and himself
from piercing his own soul through with many bitter sorrows. But this was neglected,
and he gradually wandered off into sin, and brought reproach on himself and the cause
of Christ. Some of his young associates made persistent efforts to draw him into the
circles of frivolity. They finally succeeded by a misapplication of Scripture language,
in convincing him that it was "no harm to dance," so far as to induce him to attend a
"a frolic,' "just one time." He went once. Then again, and again, and finally engaged
in the giddy dance. About this time Col. William Whitley, the well known pioneer and
daring Indian fighter, permitted a dancing school to be taught in a large ball room,
fitted up in the third story of his fine new residence. (In 1879 the author visited
this ancient residence, which was still in a good state of preservation. It was located
one and one-half miles west of Crab Orchard, and was occupied by the aged and pious
Widow Penington, once a ward of Morgan Vardeman, brother of Jere.) "The young people
were crazy about the dancing school." Young Vardeman was induced to subscribe himself a
scholar, though, as he acknowledged, with a trembling hand and a smitten conscience. He
was, of course excluded from the church. He soon afterward bought a violin, and having
a taste for music, became "a good fiddler." During this period, he became enamored with
Miss Elizabeth James, daughter of Richard James, and, became engaged to her. Her
parents were pious members of Cedar Creek church, and, regarding Vardeman as a vain,
frivolous young man, opposed the match. The result was an elopement and marriage. The
young wife had made no profession of religion. Her parents had the good judgment to
perceive that further opposition would be useless; they forgave the delinquents, and,
with young Vardeman, moved to Pulaski county, on the waters of Cumberland river. There
Vardeman became the leader of the young people in every species of mirth and
amusement. None could sing and play on the violin so enchantingly, none so jovial and
full of hilarity as Jeremiah Vardeman.  He was the life and soul of every dance and
country frolic, and his young wife, much to the grief of her father and mother, joined
him in all these recreations. Thus nearly three years of his life passed away to no
useful purpose. In a worldly sense he was not immoral. He never swore profanely, was
temperate in drink; kind-hearted, generous and honorable in all his dealings with his
fellow-men; his duty to God was wholly neglected, and he lived after the course of this
world. Yet he was not a happy man. In the midst of his associates, in gayety, music and
dancing, he was full of enjoyment; but conscience was then stifled. There were seasons
of mental disquietude which none can realize, but those who have drunk the wormwood and
gall, after a season of backsliding. Conviction of his sin and folly often drove him
back to sinful pleasures for temporary relief. His religious friends with the exception
of his mother, had given him up, believing he would go on the downward course to the
end. She continued in persevering prayer and unwavering faith, saying with deep
emotion: "I know Jerry will be reclaimed; God is faithful, and I feel assured that he
is a prayer hearing God." There lived in Pulaski county a plain, illiterate preacher of
the name of Thomas Hansford. He was an earnest, self-sacrificing man, and had the
confidence of the people. Mr.  Vardeman sometimes attended his meetings with his
wife. On one of these occasions, Mr.  Hansford preached from 2 Pet. 2:22: "But it is
happened to them according to the true proverb. The dog is turned to his own vomit
again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." He applied the test to
those who had professed religion and afterwards apostatized. The Spirit of God directed
the truth with great pungency, to the conscience of Mr. Vardeman. He was deeply
convicted of his backslidings. In speaking of it to Mr. Peck, many years afterwards, he
said: "If brother Hansford had poured coals of fire on my naked body, it would not have
burned me worse that that sermon did." His wife was convicted of her sins at the same
time. They both went home with heavy hearts. Mr.  Vardeman could not labor. For several
days he spent most of his time in the woods, some times on his knees, and sometimes
prostrated on his face, confessing his sins and crying to God for mercy. He repented
bitterly of all his sinful frivolity, but his deepest conviction was for that sin which
caused him to turn back to the world and commit all his other sins, his refusal to
follow the impression of the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel, to call sinners to
repentance. In his penitent anguish he cried out" "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?
I will do anything the Lord requires, if it kills me. He obtained some relief in
reading and meditating on Malachi 4:2. "But unto you that fear my name, shall the sun
of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and he shall go forth and grow up as
calves of the stall." He now vowed to the Lord that he would forsake all vain and
worldly amusements and preach the gospel to his fellow-men. A prayer meeting had been
appointed at the cabin of one of Mr. Vardeman's neighbors. He with his wife attended
this meeting the night after he had made the solemn vow just recorded. There was no
preacher present, but there was so much interest felt that the people attended for
several miles distant. It had been extensively rumored, without his knowledge, that
Vardeman would preach. Before the meeting closed, one of Mr. Vardeman's neighbors, who
was aware of his recent seriousness on the subject of religion, invited him to
speak. He arose and commenced talking, but retained nothing of what he said, in his
memory. He only recollected that the people of all classes were weeping and sobbing
around him. Another social meeting was appointed for the next Sabbath. Mr.  Vardeman
again attended. He waited for older persons to take the lead, after which he rose up
and with deep feeling and tears gushing from his eyes, delivered an exhortation,
mingled with confessions of his own backslidings, and calling on his young associates
to forsake their sinful amusements and follow Christ, and assuring them that they would
then feel what he now felt-peace of conscience, and salvation through the blood and
righteousness of Jesus Christ. To his surprise and amazement, young and old were
crowding forward to give him their hand, and crying out: " Oh Mr. Vardeman pray for me,
for I am a heap bigger sinner than you ever was." There were probably a score of people
standing around him, and begging him to pray for them. He had never attempted to pray
in public, but he thought of the vow he had recently made to the Lord, and he attempted
to pray, for the first time in the hearing of others. These social meetings were
continued in a similar manner on each succeeding Sabbath, and two or three times in the
week, except that Mr. Vardeman began to invite the people forward for prayer. Soon many
of his former associates in sin gave evidence of conversion, and among the first was
his wife. News of the revival, of Mr. Vardeman's change, and of his preaching, as the
people called it, soon reached Lincoln county. His parents, brothers and friends urged
him to visit them. His first discourse there was solemn and effective. He seemed to
want neither words nor matter. The church at Cedar Creek restored him to membership,
and licensed him to preach. He preached several times in the neighborhood of Crab
Orchard. The multitudes came out to hear him. In a short time upwards of twenty of his
former associates in Lincoln county, and members of the dancing school that led him
astray, professed conversion. Mr. Vardeman was probably ordained in 1801, and the next
year, moved back from Pulaski to Lincoln county, where he became pastor of four
churches. He remained in this region of the State about eight years. Few particulars of
his labors of this period have been preserved. But it is known that he was active in
the ministry, traveled extensively, and was very popular and successful. The late Isaac
Goodnight, Esq., of Warren county, who "cropped" with Mr. Vardeman in 1804, informed
Mr. Peck that he was, at that period, pastor of four churches, and that during the year
he made a preaching tour to Lexington, Maysville and several other places. In February,
1810, he was called to the oversight of David's Fork church in Fayette county, and in
the same year resigned the care of, and took a letter of dismission from Crab Orchard
church, and moved on a farm within the bounds of David's Fork. Under his ministry a
revival soon visited his new charge and "within six months one hundred and seventy
souls were added to the church." During another revival during his pastorate here in
1827-8 "upwards of two hundred precious souls were added to the church." He was pastor
of this church twenty years and five months. He was three years pastor of Lulbegrud and
Grassy Lick churches, both in Montgomery county. During this period he baptized for the
fellowship of the former, one hundred and sixty-five, and for that of the latter,
ninety. In 1811, he accepted a call to the pastorate of the missionary Baptist church
at Bryant's Station, and occupied the position till 1830. Besides his pastoral labors,
Mr. Vardeman was a very active and wonderfully successful evangelist in Kentucky and
several of the adjoining states, for a period of nearly thirty years before he moved to
the West. In 1815, he visited Bardstown, where "Priest Baden was unwise enough to enter
the list against him and lost several of his members. Next year he held meetings in
Lexington and Louisville. In 1820, he visited Nashville, Tennessee, and through his
labors the first Baptist church in that city was constituted, and attained membership
of one hundred and fifty by the first of the following October. In June, 1828, Mr.
Vardeman held a series of meetings in Cincinnati, Ohio, which resulted in the baptism
of 118 souls, in three weeks. These are only specimens of his abundant labors. In the
fall of 1830, he resigned the charge of all his churches and moved to Ralls county,
Missouri. Here also, though advanced in years and grown corpulent, he did good service
for the Master for a number of years. With the assistance of Elder Spencer Clack, who
had recently moved from Bloomfield, Kentucky, he constituted a church in
Palmyra. Several other churches grew up under his ministry. In 1834, he presided in a
meeting, convened for the purpose of organizing a system of domestic missions in the
State. This organization grew in to the General Association of Missouri Baptists. But
soon the infirmities of old age began to creep upon him. Still he labored on up to the
measure of his strength. For two years before his death, he was unable to stand up to
preach, but sat in a large arm-chair. Only two weeks before he was called from earth,
in company with another preacher, he visited the Sulphur Springs, at Elk Lick, for the
benefit of his health. Before they left they constituted a church. On this occasion,
Mr. Vardeman baptized five candidates for that ordinance. This was the last service of
the kind he ever performed. "He had then," says Mr. Peck, "baptized more Christian
professors than any [other] man in the United States. As he kept no register of these
and other labors, the accurate number can never be ascertained; probably not less than
eight thousand converts." The last Sunday he spent on earth, he attended the
appointment of another preacher, not far from his residence. After the sermon he spoke
a half hour from the words: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation." He
was, at that time free from pain, but during the week he grew worse, though little
alarm was felt by his family. But on Saturday morning, May 28, 1842, he called his
family around him, gave them some directions, bade them farewell, and gently fell
asleep in Jesus, all within fifteen minutes. He was in the sixty-seventh year of his
age. In person Jeremiah Vardeman was handsome, commanding and attractive. Mr. Peck says
of him, in his latter years: "His usual weight was three hundred pounds, yet his
muscular frame was well proportioned and his personal appearance graceful and
commanding. His voice was powerful, sonorous and clear, his enunciation distinct, and
he could be heard in the open air for a great distance." In doctrine he agreed with
Andrew Fuller. In preaching, he was plain, simple and unaffected, yet wonderfully
charming and attractive, pleasing alike the learned and illiterate. He was not what is
termed a doctrinal preacher, and still less a controversialist. His descriptive powers
were unrivaled, and in the force and power of is exhortation, he was probably never
surpassed. In the whole manner of his preaching, he probably resembled the famous
George Whitfield more than any other known orator.