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JOSEPH JANEWAY, PIONEER BAPTIST PREACHER Reprinted with Permission from Dallas Bogan.The following account is taken from J.J. Burnett‘s, “Sketches of Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers“ by J.J. Burnett, dated 1919. Joseph Janeway was born in Claiborne County, Tenn., June 28, 1831. He was the son of a minister and farmer, and was brought up to farm life in his native county, enjoying such educational advantages as his part of the country afforded in his day. Later he took a literary course in Mossy Creek College, now Carson and Newman, Jefferson City, Tenn. February 12, 1852, he was married to Jane Helms, of Claiborne County, a cousin of Editor John Helms, of Morristown, Tenn. To this union were born nine children, six sons and three daughters. Soon after his marriage he moved to Loudon County. In 1855 he located in McMinn County. The second Saturday of July, 1859, he was ordained to the ministry by the Mt. Harmony Church. He was the beloved pastor of many of our strongest and most influential churches, among others the following: Cedar Fork, Post Oak, Stockton's Valley, Providence (Roane County), Prospect, Philadelphia, Loudon, Blair's Cross Roads and Mars Hill, in Knox County, Union, in McMinn, Goodfield, Decatur, Sewell, Mt. Harmony, County Line, Eastanallee, Hiwassee, and New Friendship. Elder Janeway was a benediction wherever he went, was greatly admired for his even temper and smooth disposition, and enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him. He retired from the active ministry at the age of 70, not wanting to stand in the way of the progress of the churches. He passed to his reward June 16, 1913 , having read his Bible through more than fifty times, and having served the Lord and the Baptists, by the will of God, as a faithful minister of the Word for more than fifty years. He leaves a large connection of kindred and a host of friends to mourn his loss. Blessed be his memory
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