Going, Jonathan, 1786-1844

19th century Baptist clergyman, missionary and educator, Granville, Ohio.

Jonathan Going (Mar. 7, 1786- Nov. 9, 1844), Baptist clergyman, missionary secretary, and educator, was born in Reading, Windsor County, Vt. He was educated at the academy in New Salem and attended college at Brown University from 1805 to 1809. Going was converted to the Baptist faith his freshman year. Following his graduation from Brown, he stayed on to study theology under University President Messer and then returned home to convert his family. He and his three brothers entered the Baptist ministry. At his ordination in May of 1811, Jonathan Going became the first college educated Baptist minister in Vermont. Going married Lucy Thorndike in September of 1811 and thereafter served four years as pastor in Cavandish. He and his family then moved to Worcester where he served as pastor for sixteen years. During this tenure, Going helped establish the Worcester Academy and the Newton Theological Institution and was trustee at both Brown University and Amherst College. He also organized the Massachusetts Baptist State Convention and founded the American Baptist Home Mission Society with Rev. John M. Peck in 1831. In 1837 Going was offered the presidency of two colleges, the Literary and Theological Institute at Granville, Ohio and the Shuntlief College at Alton, Illinois. These offers constituted a staunch testimony to the high regard in which Going was held by those committed to religious education. He had a reputation as an excellent organizer and fundraiser, skills that served him well in the seven years he served as president of the college at Granville.