Axley, James

Axley, James a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born on New River, Va., in 1776, but shortly afterwards removed with his parents to Livingston County, Ky., where he spent his early years in farming and hunting. He made a profession of religion in 1801 or 1802, and in 1805 his name appears in the Minutes of the Western Conference as on trial. His appointments were: 1805, Red River Circuit; 1806, Hockhocking; 1807, French Broad; 1808, Appalousas; 1809, Power's Valley; 1810, Holston; 1811, Elk; 1812, presiding elder of Wabash District; 1813-16, Holston District; 1817-18, Green River District; 1819-21, French Broad District; in 1822 he located, settling on a farm near Madisonville, Tenn. He became a very thrifty farmer, and did much. successful work as a local preacher. 'He was afterwards reduced to poverty by endorsing for an acquaintance who failed. He maintained an unspotted character till the close of his life. He died Feb. 22, 1838. Mr. Axley was a highly acceptable and effective preacher, a man of great power over the masses. See. Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 7:414; Simpson, Cyclop. of Methodism,: s.v.; Stevens, History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 4:336, 372, 375, 405, 406, 430, 451.