The strength of North Alabama churches around the turn of the 20th Century is due greatly to the works of T.B. Larimore through Mars Hill College. In the sixteen years of its running, 1871-1887, there was an unleashing of evangelism that swept the Tennessee Valley area and beyond. One of T.B. Larimore's "boys," as the students were called, is the subject of this sketch.
John T. Underwood entered Mars Hill in 1878 and attended through the 1879-80 school session. These two years of study set him on a course that helped to make churches in Franklin and Colbert Counties, Alabama some of the strongest, and long lasting churches of Christ in that part of the country. According to the brief sketch in Larimore and His Boys, page 163, Brother Underwood worked at Barton, in Colbert County, Alabama. He planted churches around this area for many years. Most of the churches in Franklin And Colbert Counties were small country churches. Even to this day many of those churches still exist. One of these churches, the Spruce Pine Church of Christ, lower Franklin County, holds the cemetery where John T. Underwood and his wife Ira Emma are buried.
His stone bears the inscription that most described his life, "Minister Of The Gospel Of Christ." Many people now in the eternal presence of God, owe much to the teaching of this great old soldier of the cross. Though he died at the end of the first quarter of the 20th century, only eternity itself will bear proof of the good he has done, and still does for the name of Christ. "He being dead, yet speaks."
The strength of North Alabama churches around the turn of the 20th Century is due greatly to the works of T.B. Larimore through Mars Hill College. In the sixteen years of its running, 1871-1887, there was an unleashing of evangelism that swept the Tennessee Valley area and beyond. One of T.B. Larimore's "boys," as the students were called, is the subject of this sketch.
John T. Underwood entered Mars Hill in 1878 and attended through the 1879-80 school session. These two years of study set him on a course that helped to make churches in Franklin and Colbert Counties, Alabama some of the strongest, and long lasting churches of Christ in that part of the country. According to the brief sketch in Larimore and His Boys, page 163, Brother Underwood worked at Barton, in Colbert County, Alabama. He planted churches around this area for many years. Most of the churches in Franklin And Colbert Counties were small country churches. Even to this day many of those churches still exist. One of these churches, the Spruce Pine Church of Christ, lower Franklin County, holds the cemetery where John T. Underwood and his wife Ira Emma are buried.
His stone bears the inscription that most described his life, "Minister Of The Gospel Of Christ." Many people now in the eternal presence of God, owe much to the teaching of this great old soldier of the cross. Though he died at the end of the first quarter of the 20th century, only eternity itself will bear proof of the good he has done, and still does for the name of Christ. "He being dead, yet speaks."
Family Members
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Sarah Ann "Sallie" Underwood Rickard
1845–1905
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James F. Underwood
1845–1918
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Rhoda Emiline "Lina" Underwood Jackson
1849–1909
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William Abner Underwood
1851–1914
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David Pink Underwood
1855–1928
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Joshua Tillman Underwood
1856–1933
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Phillip George Underwood
1861–1929
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Amanda Melvina Underwood Wesson
1862–1929
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Elizabeth Frances "Bettie" Underwood Harris
1864–1938
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George Robert Underwood
1869–1935
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Abigail Adeline "Allie" Underwood Odom
1873 – unknown
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