Josiah Bridges Solomon

Rev. Josiah Bridges Solomon was born of Baptist parents, in Franklin county, N.C., January 18, 1824. He was brought up on a farm, alternating between the plough and such schools as the neighborhood afforded. In 1843, he professed conversion, and was baptized by P. N. Smith, for the fellowship of Haywood church, in his native county. He soon began to take part in a prayer meeting, and was licensed to exercise his gift, at about the age of 20 years. After this, he entered Wake Forest College, where he spent three years. He was ordained to the ministry, while at college, in November, 1848, by Wm. Hooper, W. T. Brooks, Thomas Crocker and Wm. Biddle. In 1849, he was married to Mary M., daughter of John Burges of Warren county, N.C. In December of the same year, he accepted an appointment to labor as missionary under the patronage of the Baptist State Convention. After filling this position, with good success, two years, he took charge of the church at Warrenton. Here he labored successfully, about seven years, when he was called to Leigh Street church, in Richmond, Va., where he entered upon his labors, in 1860. To this church he ministered four years, during which time it had an increase of 150 members. Being now impoverished by the War, he resorted to teaching, as a means of supporting his family. In 1873, he accepted the presidency of Monongahela College, in Pennsylvania, and occupied the position two years. In 1875, he took charge of the church in Sharon, Pa. Here he remained till 1880, when he accepted a call to the First Church in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he was well received, and labored, much to the satisfaction of the church, till 1885, when he accepted a call to Zion church in Henderson county, Kentucky.

Source: A history of Kentucky Baptists: from 1769 to 1885, Vol. 2. John H. Spencer, Cincinnati, 1886 Courtesy of the Daviess County Bicentennial Committee