Jones, Sam P. (Sam Porter), 1847-1906

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Samuel Porter Jones, evangelist, was born 16 October 1847, in Oak Bowery, Alabama, and died 15 October 1906, near Little Rock, Arkansas. He grew up in Cartersville, Georgia, was admitted to the bar (1866) but abandoned law and converted to Methodism; he married Laura McElwain (1868). He began to evangelize after his appointment as agent for the Methodist Orphan's Home in Decatur, Georgia (1880) and became a national figure by the mid-1880s. After 1893 Jones devoted all his time to evangelistic work, publishing volumes of his sermons, and writing a weekly column for the Atlanta JOURNAL. A critic of most social activities and an ardent prohibitionist, he became the first prominent evangelist in the United States.

From the description of Sam P. Jones papers, 1859-1961. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122385927

Reverend Samuel Porter Jones (1847-1906), Methodist preacher, author, philanthropist, prohibitionist, evangelist, resided in Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia.

From the description of Sam P. Jones papers, 1863-1950. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 38478201

Samuel Porter Jones (1847 October 16 - 1906 October 15), Methodist evangelist, was born in Oak Bowery, Chambers County, Alabama, the son of John J. Jones and Nancy (Porter) Jones. In 1855, he and his siblings went to live with their grandparents in Cartersville, Georgia after their mother died. His grandfather, Samuel G. Jones was a Methodist preacher. In 1859, John Jones married Jennie Skinner and settled permanently in Cartersville, Georgia. Samuel studied law and was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1868. Also in 1868, he married Laura McElwain of Kentucky, where he had spent the last days of the Civil War. Samuel and Laura had seven children: Beulah, Mary, Annie, Sam Paul, Robert W., Laura, and Julia. In 1872, Samuel felt compelled to enter the ministry after a promise to his father on his deathbed. Samuel had fallen on hard times, due to excessive drinking, and made a pledge to his father he would reform himself. He was accepted by the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and began preaching as a circuit minister covering four counties. Samuel had a natural talent for preaching and before long he assisted other preachers with revival work. He had a plain and simple theology, "quit your meanness". In 1880, the conference appointed him as the fundraising agent for the Methodist Orphan Home in Decatur, Georgia. In time, Samuel spent most of his time traveling around the country preaching at revival services. He estimated from September 1885 to September 1886 that he preached 1000 sermons to three million people. Samuel Jones died October 15, 1906 on a return trip from a revival in Oklahoma City. Several thousand people came to view him as he lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol in Atlanta and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cartersville, Georgia.

From the description of Samuel P. Jones Papers, 1880-1925. (Atlanta History Center). WorldCat record id: 318453535

Sam P. Jones (1847-1906) was a nationally prominent Methodist evangelist. Jones married Laura McElrain of Henry County, Kentucky in 1869 and started his ministry in Van Wert, Georgia in 1872.

From the description of Sam P. Jones family papers, 1875, 1891, 1896 [microform]. (Shorter University, Livingston Library). WorldCat record id: 38727649

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Jones, Sam P. (Sam Porter), 1847-1906. Sam P. Jones family papers, 1875, 1891, 1896 [microform]. Shorter University, Livingston Library, Rome Livingston Library
referencedIn Physician's ledger and Georgia woman's scrapbook, 1848-1864 and 1885-1896. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Jones, Sam P. (Sam Porter), 1847-1906. Sam P. Jones papers, 1863-1950. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Jones, Sam P. (Sam Porter), 1847-1906. Letter, 1887 Jun. 25, Camp Ground [n.p.] to Bro. [DeWitt] Miller [Philadelphia] University of Michigan
referencedIn Greene, H. Diary, 1886-1887 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Jones, Sam P. (Sam Porter), 1847-1906. Samuel P. Jones Papers, 1880-1925. Atlanta History Center, Kenan Research Center / Cherokee Garden Library
referencedIn Anna Maria Evans Papers, 1835-1914, (bulk 1855-1895) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Jones, Sam P. (Sam Porter), 1847-1906. Sam P. Jones papers, 1859-1961. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bok, William J. person
associatedWith Carr, Julian Shakespeare. person
associatedWith Cunninggim, J. L. person
associatedWith Dixon, Thomas, 1864-1946. person
associatedWith Evans, Anna Maria, ca. 1828-ca. 1905. person
associatedWith Graves, John Temple, 1892-1961. person
associatedWith Greene, H. person
associatedWith Holcomb, Julia Baxter Jones, b. 1885. person
associatedWith Jones Family. family
associatedWith Jones, Laura McElrain. person
associatedWith Jones, Laura McElwain. person
associatedWith Jones, Laura McElwain. person
associatedWith McElwain Family. family
associatedWith Methodist Episcopal Church. corporateBody
associatedWith Methodist Episcopal Church, South. corporateBody
associatedWith Methodist Episcopal Church, South. North Georgia Conference. corporateBody
associatedWith Miller, Dewitt, 1857-1911. person
associatedWith Rankin, George Castle, 1860-1882. person
associatedWith Rice, DeLong. person
associatedWith Roselawn (Dwelling : Cartersville, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Skinner Family. family
associatedWith Sloan, Laura Jones, b. 1881. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Georgia--Decatur
Georgia
Georgia
Georgia
Cartersville (Ga.)
Cartersville (Ga.)
United States
Bartow County (Ga.)
Cartersville (Ga.)
United States
Subject
Church work with orphans
Clergy
Clergy
Evangelistic sermons
Evangelistic work
Evangelists
Methodist Church
Methodist Church
Methodists
Prohibition
Prohibitionist
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Revivals
Sermons, American
Spouses of clergy
Women
Women in the Methodist Church
Occupation
Evangelist
Activity

Person

Birth 1847-10-16

Death 1906-10-15

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