Smith, Isaac (1)

Smith, Isaac (1), an eminent early minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in New Kent Co., Va., Aug. 17, 1758. He had few early educational advantages; and at the age of thirteen was apprenticed to a house carpenter. Previous to the Declaration of Independence he enlisted as a volunteer, and was for more than four years in active service; and received an honorable discharge at Goshen, N.Y., in August, 1779. At the age of twenty-five he made a public profession of faith, and immediately began to labor as exhorter; and in April, 1784, he was admitted to the travelling connection, on trial, in Virginia, and traveled that year the Salisbury Circuit, N.C.; Tar River Circuit in 1785; Charleston, S.C., in 1786; Santee Circuit in 1787; Edisto Circuit in 1789; Charleston in 1790; Broad River in 1791; Santee Circuit in 1792. He was presiding elder from 1793 to 1795. In 1796 he retired from active work on account of ill health, took a location, and went into the mercantile business. He made his residence at Camden, S.C., where he remained twenty-four years, when (1820) he was readmitted to the Conference. In 1822 he was appointed missionary to the Creek Indians, and remained among them five years. He took a superannuated relation in 1827, left the Creek Nation in February, 1828, and went to Mississippi, where he labored two or three years. He died in Monroe County, Ga., Jul 20, 1834. Mr. Smith was a man of sterling Christian character, and of a sweet and loving disposition. Believing every word of God, meek above the reach of provocation, and thoroughly imbued with the spirit of love and devotion, he was a saint indeed. As a preacher he was earnest in manner, and concise and energetic in language. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 7, 102; Minutes of Annual Conferences, 2, 346; Stevens, Hist. of the M.E. Church, 2, 140; 3, 57, 384; Simpson, Cyclop. of Methodism, s.v.