ANSELM ANTHONY

Anselm Anthony was born on the 9th of June 1778,
in Campbell county, Virginia. He was the son of Joseph
Anthony and his wife, Ann Clark, daughter of Colonel
Clark, an officer in the Revolutionary war. Shortly after
that war Joseph Anthony moved to Georgia, and settled
in Wilkes county. Here Anselm obtained such educational
advantages only as were afforded by county schools; but
being fond of books, he devoted all his leisure hours to
reading, and amassed a great fund of information. Even
at that age, he was calm and dignified in his deportment,
and gentle and courteous toward his associates.
He began to preach about 1810 or 1812, and was
licensed by the Fishing Creek church, Wilkes county,
Georgia, in 1814, and for a while, had charge of that church.
Then he became pastor of the Baptist church at Madison,
Georgia, and for several years resided in that place, serving,
also, other churches in Morgan County. In 1824, he moved
to Gwinnett county, where he served various churches. He
was married in 1806 to Sarah Menzies, of North Carolina,
who died in 1830. Eight children, three sons and five
daughters, were the result of this union. After remaining
a widower five years, he was united in matrimony to Miss
Catharine Blakely, of Wilkes county, Georgia. About six
years after his second marriage, a stroke of paralysis, which
affected on entire side of his frame, and from which he never
fully recovered, put an end to his ministerial work.
In 1843 his second wife died, and he lived alone until 1858,
when he was induced to break up house-keeping and reside
with his son, in Meriwether county. While on a visit to his
daughter in Polk county, in January 1859, he became helpless
and remained so until January 1868 when he died, in the
eighty-ninth year of his age. When informed that his
departure was near at hand, he said, "I know it; but I feel that
the Lord is with me, and that he will never leave me nor forsake
me." Calm and peaceful was his departure from earth. Never
did evening set more softly and gently, than this way-worn
pilgrim fell asleep in Jesus. Without a struggle, without a sigh,
he closed his eyes in death__
His body was taken to Gwinnet county, and rests in the
grave-yard at old Bethabara church, beside the remains of his
wives and daughters...

Ref: HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION IN GEORGIA:
WITH BIOGRAPHICAL COMPENDIUM AND PORTRAIT
GALLERY OF BAPTIST MINISTERS AND OTHER GEORGIA
BAPTISTS, 1881, Jas. P. Harrison & Co., Atlanta, pp. 08-09
Thanks to contributor, Roxie for this history.