the Board of Directors of the Christian Evangelizing Association of Tennessee for 1852 and 1853. Reports of his work in Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, appeared in the pages of the Gospel Advocate. He planted the church in Jackson, Tennessee and preached regularly throughout the hills of south-central and East Tennessee. His name is inscribed in granite among many others great names of preachers who often preached at the Old Philadelphia Meetinghouse in Viola, Tennessee. John Eichbaum shared his father's love for the printed page. In 1846, Tolbert Fanning began a journal called The Naturalist. John had not long previous joined the staff of Franklin College. The paper was meant to be devoted to science, agriculture, and knowledge. John became editor of the Literary Department. In the paper he would review current books of importance. He would include articles on such items as Affinities of Language, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, and the Origin of the English Language. He would contribute articles in the Science section on the geology of Palestine, the Egyptian delta, and fossils and geology in Tennessee. In the late 1840s John became enamored, as did so many, at the influence of Jesse B. Ferguson. When Ferguson took over Tolbert Fanning's paper, The Christian Review (1844-1847) in 1848, he changed the name to The Christian Magazine (January 1848-December 1853). John served as associated editor between 1850 and 1851. When the April, 1852 issue came out with a feature article teaching the possibility of repentance after death, it lit a firestorm that ultimately led to Ferguson's departure from churches of Christ. His demise took its toll on Eichbaum, as well as many other Christians, including another young preacher by the name of David Lipscomb. John's love for the truth never kept him long from what he enjoyed most, preaching the gospel. For years he was a confirmed bachelor, ever committed to the work of the Lord. However, in his 52nd year, he wedded Martha S. Grigg, June 20, 1877. Late in life he became the father of two girls who would later attend Nashville Bible School. His Martha passed away about a year before his departure on March 26, 1897. James A. Harding preached her funeral, and she was buried next to her mother-in-law in the family plot at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville (See GA Obituary below). A little over a year later the seventy-four year old preacher followed his wife into the eternal realm June 4, 1898. Robert H. Boll, a fellow student with the daughters of John and Martha Eichbaum at Nashville Bible School (now Lipscomb University), wrote an article on John's life, that appeared in a journal edited by James A. Harding called The Way. In it was a good description of the man. He was described as being of, "small stature, dark-complexion, quick and fiery in his movements, and a great walker. Often did he walk all day long to get to some poor little backwoods schoolhouse to preach to the eager crowds that assembled there to hear him. (The Way, 05.20.1899, p.74-76.) The article went on to explain that he had a unique way of speaking. "Brother Eichbaum was wonderfully eloquent. When he first began his sermons his eyes were cast down, he seemed timid and nervous. For a while his remarks were dry and tiresome; the audience thought they would be bored. Suddenly his eyes lighted up, a flush came over his face, and from that moment unsurpassed eloquence poured from his lips and thrilled to their innermost depths the hearts of the spellbound hearers. Many a sinful soul trembled as he thus reasoned of righteousness and temperance and judgment to come; many a sinner saw for the first time the horror of his condition; many a sectarian, the error of his way." The fuller text of the article is available here. Special thanks to Dr. Hans Rollman for transcribing the text and providing other information on Eichbaum's life. John D. Eichbaum was a great force for the Kingdom of Christ in the early years of the Restoration Movement. It is a pleasure to have this site dedicated to his life and work.
Sources - Much of the source information in this sketch is mentioned in the text. However, other sites on the web as well as information from the Gospel Advocate, Millennial Harbinger, Franklin College and its Influences, etc. were sited in its preparation. For more info, go to www.therestorationmovement.com
the Board of Directors of the Christian Evangelizing Association of Tennessee for 1852 and 1853. Reports of his work in Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, appeared in the pages of the Gospel Advocate. He planted the church in Jackson, Tennessee and preached regularly throughout the hills of south-central and East Tennessee. His name is inscribed in granite among many others great names of preachers who often preached at the Old Philadelphia Meetinghouse in Viola, Tennessee. John Eichbaum shared his father's love for the printed page. In 1846, Tolbert Fanning began a journal called The Naturalist. John had not long previous joined the staff of Franklin College. The paper was meant to be devoted to science, agriculture, and knowledge. John became editor of the Literary Department. In the paper he would review current books of importance. He would include articles on such items as Affinities of Language, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, and the Origin of the English Language. He would contribute articles in the Science section on the geology of Palestine, the Egyptian delta, and fossils and geology in Tennessee. In the late 1840s John became enamored, as did so many, at the influence of Jesse B. Ferguson. When Ferguson took over Tolbert Fanning's paper, The Christian Review (1844-1847) in 1848, he changed the name to The Christian Magazine (January 1848-December 1853). John served as associated editor between 1850 and 1851. When the April, 1852 issue came out with a feature article teaching the possibility of repentance after death, it lit a firestorm that ultimately led to Ferguson's departure from churches of Christ. His demise took its toll on Eichbaum, as well as many other Christians, including another young preacher by the name of David Lipscomb. John's love for the truth never kept him long from what he enjoyed most, preaching the gospel. For years he was a confirmed bachelor, ever committed to the work of the Lord. However, in his 52nd year, he wedded Martha S. Grigg, June 20, 1877. Late in life he became the father of two girls who would later attend Nashville Bible School. His Martha passed away about a year before his departure on March 26, 1897. James A. Harding preached her funeral, and she was buried next to her mother-in-law in the family plot at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville (See GA Obituary below). A little over a year later the seventy-four year old preacher followed his wife into the eternal realm June 4, 1898. Robert H. Boll, a fellow student with the daughters of John and Martha Eichbaum at Nashville Bible School (now Lipscomb University), wrote an article on John's life, that appeared in a journal edited by James A. Harding called The Way. In it was a good description of the man. He was described as being of, "small stature, dark-complexion, quick and fiery in his movements, and a great walker. Often did he walk all day long to get to some poor little backwoods schoolhouse to preach to the eager crowds that assembled there to hear him. (The Way, 05.20.1899, p.74-76.) The article went on to explain that he had a unique way of speaking. "Brother Eichbaum was wonderfully eloquent. When he first began his sermons his eyes were cast down, he seemed timid and nervous. For a while his remarks were dry and tiresome; the audience thought they would be bored. Suddenly his eyes lighted up, a flush came over his face, and from that moment unsurpassed eloquence poured from his lips and thrilled to their innermost depths the hearts of the spellbound hearers. Many a sinful soul trembled as he thus reasoned of righteousness and temperance and judgment to come; many a sinner saw for the first time the horror of his condition; many a sectarian, the error of his way." The fuller text of the article is available here. Special thanks to Dr. Hans Rollman for transcribing the text and providing other information on Eichbaum's life. John D. Eichbaum was a great force for the Kingdom of Christ in the early years of the Restoration Movement. It is a pleasure to have this site dedicated to his life and work.
Sources - Much of the source information in this sketch is mentioned in the text. However, other sites on the web as well as information from the Gospel Advocate, Millennial Harbinger, Franklin College and its Influences, etc. were sited in its preparation. For more info, go to www.therestorationmovement.com
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