![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tngenweb.org\/perry\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Elkanah_Anderson_Land1.jpg\" "\\"Elkanah")
<\/a>\nPicture from Buffalo River Review Wednesday August 13, 1980,<\/em>
\n taken from The Gospel Advocate in 1930<\/em><\/p>\n
The following is a list of various sources about E.A. Land’s life<\/p>\n
A note from Rachel:<\/p>\n
My Grandfather lived on the “Cane” Land farm when he and my grandmother first married.\u00a0 Some called him “Kanner” but we always called him Squire Land or Cane Land.\u00a0 Their first born child a little girl is buried in this cemetary.\u00a0 We have erected a little wooden marker with her name – Lula Mamie Rodgers.\u00a0 Boyd Warren did most of the write up for EA Land and some was taken out of books.\u00a0 In later years, my brother Argel Harper purchased the house where Mr. Land lived.\u00a0 His widow still owns the farm.<\/p>\n
BLACKSMITH and ordained minister and father, (E.A. as he was known) was born March 28, 1827 in Hickman County, Tennessee, son of Cooper B. and Hannah Anderson Land and died April 07, 1915 in Perry County, Tennessee. He married Nancy Barber June 06, 1844 in Hickman County. She was born October 02, 1830 in Tennessee and died December 31, 1907 in Perry County, Tennessee. Nancy died first and is buried with an individual stone in the Old Barham Cemetery on lower Brush Creek, Perry County, Tn. E.A. has a larger stone.\u00a0 The death date is not chiseled in the stone, but from ground depression, he is buried here.<\/p>\n
Many researchers have been involved in writing about the life of E.A. (Kaner), a Preacher known to put the fear of Damnation in such terms, as to be easily understood, by every person in his following!….<\/p>\n
Preacher Land’s final days were spent at the home of his daughter Nancy Donnie Land Downey and her husband Thomas James Downey until his death. His stone reflects very well this man’s travel amongst his faithful following. The last line on the stone…Read 2nd Tim C4 v 1 through 9. This is the way he wanted it.<\/p>\n
Please read article from tne “Gospel Advocate” in 1930. CLICK the following URL http:\/\/www.myfamily.com\/exec?c=Content&htx=View&siteid=ealB& From Lest We Forget. . . Churches of Christ in Hickman County, Tennessee Across 150 Years, by Edward Dotson and Paul Rogers, 1986: Pages 7-9: \u00a0 “Early Congregations: \u00a0 In October 1868, Theodrick W. Miller deeded one acre of land on Piney Fork of Beaverdam Creek. \u00a0 ‘For the love I entertain for the Church of Christ and interest I feel for education of the young of this vicinity I give to the Christian Church to erect a house of worship and schoolhouse. \u00a0 Said house to be under the supervision of the Elders of a congregation of disciples of Christ which is to be organized in said house, and said house is to be free to the various surrounding denominations when not otherwise in use by the Christians.’ . . . Many of the denominational churches experienced division and frustration during the Civil War period and as a result lost many of their members. \u00a0 The Churches of Christ did not suffer this division due to the fact that the New Testament Church is based on local congregational rule. \u00a0 As a result, the Churches of Christ in this county experienced even greater growth in the period immediately following the war. . .Several of the earlier churches in the county used what was called ‘Union Houses.’ \u00a0 In 1890, Liberty Church on lower Beaverdam was built as a union house by members of the Church of Christ and Primitive Baptists. . .As the population in that area shifted from Whitfield to Coble, the members of the church built a new two-story building at Coble in 1905-06 and abounded their claim to the Liberty Church. . .Gospel Preachers: \u00a0 E.A. ‘Cane’ Land, who was born on Cane Creek in either Hickman or Perry County, was a great preacher during the Civil War Period.”<\/p>\n “Union Congregation” [Beaverdam], pages 11-12: (This church’s minute book was furnished by Marie Stevens, Brownwood, Texas). “Church record of the Union congregation of the Church of Christ who met at the Union meetinghouse on the Piney Fork of Beaverdam, Hickman County, Tennessee. 1. \u00a0 The Church of Christian Union was organized January 31 A.D. 1871, E.A. Land and O.D. Gibson being present acting as Elders, S.F. Halbrook was ordained elder. 2. \u00a0 State of Tennessee, Hickman Co. – To the faithful Brethren in Jesus Christ worshipping upon the Bible alone, ‘Greetings.’ \u00a0 We command unto you our beloved Bro. D.R. Rivers as and Evangelists of Jesus Christ, who was ordained Sept. 14, 1872. \u00a0 Done by order of the Church of Christ at Christian Union. \u00a0 S.F. Halbrook, Elder, S.F. Halbrook, Clerk. 3. \u00a0 The Church at Union on Beaverdam and Flat Rock on Cane Creek were united by mutual consent March 23, 1983. 4. \u00a0 Sept. 9, 1876 – To all whom it may concern, ‘Greetings.’ \u00a0 This is to certify that J.R. Brown is this day set apart by the congregation of Bros. and Sis’s at this place for the work of the ministry. \u00a0 He is in good standing and in full fellowship with the Bro’s and Sis’s at this place. \u00a0 We further state his walk is worthy of imitation. \u00a0 We also recommend his as a Teacher of the Gospel and worthy of being in the Ministerial service. \u00a0 Done by order of the members of the Church of Christ that meet at Union, Hickman Co., Tennessee. \u00a0 S.H. Harder, Elder; C.t. Brown, Deacon. 5. \u00a0 May 12, 1877 – Union, Hickman Co., Tenn. \u00a0 To all whom it may concern ‘Greetings.’ \u00a0 This is to certify that S.H. Harder is this day set apart by the congregation of Bro’s and Sis’s at this place for the work of the ministry. \u00a0 He is a member of Christ Church at this place. \u00a0 He is in good standing and in full Fellowship with the Bro’s and Sis’s at this place. \u00a0 We further state that his walk is worthy of imitation. \u00a0 We also recommend him as a Teacher of the Gospel and worthy of being in the Ministerial service. \u00a0 Done by order of the members of the Church of Christ that meet at Union, Hickman Co., Tennessee. \u00a0 J.R. Brown, Elder; C.T. Brown, Deacon. 6. \u00a0 On March 21st 1880 T.W. Miller, Simon Smith, and W.H. Downey were appointed Treasures of the congregation of the Disciples at Union, Hickman Co., Tennessee. \u00a0 Done by the order of the Congregation. \u00a0 J.R. Brown, Clerk. 7. \u00a0 The Members of the Decibels at Union, Hickman Co., Tenn., moved their membership from Union to Salem in Lewis Co., Tenn., on the 3rd Lord’s Day in March 1884. \u00a0 Said organization being moved form Union to Salem by Mutual consent of members. \u00a0 J.R. Brown, Clerk.<\/p>\n “The Life of E.A. Land,” by H. Leo Boles, pages 45-48: “E.A. Land was born in Hickman County, Tennessee, March 28, 1827. \u00a0 Little is known of his forbears. \u00a0 He grew to manhood in his native county and suffered the hardships incident to that country. \u00a0 He was born in poverty and reared with very meager means of livelihood. \u00a0 There were no advantages for an education in that county at that time. \u00a0 Young Land read such books as he could borrow. \u00a0 Neither he nor his people had money enough to buy books. \u00a0 Few men have been reared with such scant means and so few opportunities as was E.A. Land.<\/p>\n On June 6, 1844, Brother Land was married to Nancy Barber. \u00a0 He was only seventeen years old when he married, and his wife was only fourteen years and eight months old. \u00a0 He assumed the responsibilities of a husband early in life and shouldered the burdens of a husband and father before he grew out of his ‘teens.’ \u00a0 Young Land and his child wife began married life without any money and without any property. \u00a0 Perhaps no other couple ever began housekeeping with fewer material things than did this couple. \u00a0 Brother Land leased a small tract of land and cleared it of all the timber the winter after he married. \u00a0 His young wife helped him in the forest during the daytime and ran the spinning wheel at night to make the garments for both of them to wear. \u00a0 She was skillful with the spinning wheel and the loom, so she spun and wove all the cloth that was needed for their clothes. \u00a0 Both husband and wife were industrious and economical. \u00a0 They had no time for idleness and no worldly goods or money to squander. \u00a0 They learned the valuable lessons of honest toil and frugal living. \u00a0 In after years, Brother Land looked back on these days with pleasure, for he had learned well the lesson of sacrifice and service.<\/p>\n It seems that Brother Land and wife gave but little attention to the spiritual side of their nature at first. \u00a0 They had but little preaching and had not studied the Bible much. \u00a0 In the providence of God, old Brother R.B. Trimble passed through Hickman County and preached the gospel. \u00a0 He was called by the ignorant and prejudiced people ‘a Campbellite preacher.’ \u00a0 Young Land and his wife did not know what this meant. \u00a0 They had never heard of such a preacher before, and through mere curiosity they heard R.b. Trimble preach one sermon. \u00a0 They did not know enough about the Bible to know whether he was preaching the truth or not, and they were not very much concerned about that. \u00a0 Later they heard it talked that this ‘Campbellite preacher’ belonged to the ‘New Lights.’ \u00a0 This was as new to them as was the preacher. \u00a0 The next year old Brother Johnston went into Hickman County and began preaching in the neighborhood where young Land lived. \u00a0 Brother Johnston was preaching on Beaver Dam Creek, in Hickman County. \u00a0 Here E.A. Land and wife heard him, became interested and before the meeting closed both were baptized into Christ. \u00a0 From that time henceforth E.A. Land not only became a humble follower of Christ, but a courageous defender of the faith.<\/p>\n Brother Land began an earnest, prayerful study of the Bible soon after he became a Christian. \u00a0 There were few preachers in that county of any kind, and there were none who preached the simple gospel as revealed in the New Testament. \u00a0 Brother Land felt that he should do all that he could for Christ, since Jesus had died for him. \u00a0 He soon began to take an active part in the little congregation at Beaver Dam. \u00a0 It was not long until his zeal for Christ and his knowledge of the truth were recognized and his services in great demand. \u00a0 He developed into a strong gospel preacher. \u00a0 The prejudice of the denominations was high against him. \u00a0 The religious complexion of his community was strongly Baptistic. \u00a0 The Baptist Church had a strong foothold in Hickman County. \u00a0 Their strongest preacher was Elder S.F. Casey. \u00a0 He was of the Primitive Baptist faith and a strong debater for that country. \u00a0 He challenged Brother Land for a discussion. \u00a0 Brother Land feared no man and was armed with the truth. \u00a0 They met in a debate in 1886 at Enon, in Perry County. \u00a0 This debate was success for the church at that place. \u00a0 He had another debate with a Baptist preacher named ‘Park.’ \u00a0 In July, 1880, he had a debate with W.H. Bailey, a Presbyterian preacher at Mount Carmel, in Benton County. \u00a0 Mr. Bailey claimed to be a Greek scholar and challenged Brother Land for a debate. \u00a0 Brother Land agreed to meet him on the one condition that he confine his arguments to the English language. \u00a0 Mr. Bailey accepted this agreement and signed propositions for an eight-day debate. \u00a0 When the time arrived for the debate to be given, Mr. Bailey asked Mr. Park, the Baptist preacher with whom Brother Land had debated, if Land was a good debater. \u00a0 He asked: \u00a0 ‘What ability has Land as a debater?’ \u00a0 Mr. Park smiled and said to Mr. Bailey: \u00a0 ‘I do not know whether you know anything about farming, but I do know that you are going to tackle the hardest piece of land (Land) you ever undertook.’ \u00a0 The debate began with a very large crowd. \u00a0 It was estimated that there were eight hundred people present the first day. \u00a0 On the third day, at the noon hour, Mr. Bailey said to Brother land, ‘Do you see that farmhouse across the field yonder? \u00a0 I am going over on my horse to get a hot cup of coffee.’ \u00a0 Mr. Bailey rode away, and he never returned to continue his part of the debate. \u00a0 They had agreed to continue the debate eight days and had now engaged in the debate only two and one-half days. \u00a0 This was another great triumph for the truth. \u00a0 Brother Land’s preaching was confined in the most part to Hickman, Perry, Wayne, Lewis, Humphreys, Benton, Lawrence, Hardin, and Maury Counties in Tennessee. \u00a0 He preached some in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Alabama. \u00a0 His travels were all on horseback. \u00a0 He baptized many hundreds of people and encouraged the churches much in the counties where he preached.”<\/p>\n From Glimpses of the Past, 1800-1900, by James E. “Uncle Jim” Chessor: Part Three, Seed-Sowing and Harvest (1865-1900) [regarding the organization of the Sulphur Creek Church of Christ & sister churches in Southwestern Hickman County]: Pages 187-188: \u00a0 “A full list of the preachers who held meetings or services in the old church [Liberty Church on lower Beaverdam?], from its founding up to 1900, is impossible. \u00a0 The church kept no record or history. \u00a0 Below will be found scattered information concerning the ministers, their meetings, baptisms, and a few brief sketches of some of those noble men of God who sowed ‘the seed of the Kingdom’ in that community. . .Early Preachers: \u00a0 Hosea Gibbons (first, so far as tradition gives it), Jackson Blackwell (1816-1909), James Brown (1854-1893), E.A. LAND (1827-1915), Joe Halbrook (see sketch in Boles’ ‘Biographies’), Steven Halbrook, Daniel Rivers, Samuel Chessor, Thomas Cagle, Sr. . . . E.A. LAND and Joe Halbrook: \u00a0 E.A. (‘Cane’) Lane and Joe Halbrook are known to have jointly held a meeting at Liberty soon after the new church house was built there, in the 1890s. \u00a0 Often the ministers held meetings together, especially when one or both were young and inexperienced. \u00a0 On the first Sunday (perhaps in 1897) both ministers (they were now old in the service) spoke from the same text – Rom. 8:1f. \u00a0 No doubt when they had finished, that text in Paul’s sublime letter to the Romans was elucidated so that the simplest could understand it. ” Page 197: \u00a0 “Beaverdam Springs: \u00a0 Thomas Cagle is the planter of this congregation. \u00a0 He preached there often; but it was not until Brother C.N. Hudson came, in the 1920s, that a strong congregation was organized. \u00a0 at the present time [1947] they, jointly with the rural school, have one of the most comfortable houses for worship in the entire county . . . Brushy Fork of Beaverdam: \u00a0 I am of the opinion that the Halbrooks brothers, Joseph and Steven, sowed the good seed which sprang up in after years to form, not only the Brushy Fork congregation, but the congregation at Aetna as well. \u00a0 Associated with them was the beloved Daniel Rivers, who, with the Halbrooks brothers, as young men met together on a night in the week for prayer and the study of God’s word, neither one of three expecting ever to preach. \u00a0 Later each baptized hundreds of converts in various parts of the county. \u00a0 Brother Rivers told this on his last visit to the Sulphur Creek congregation, in 1907, and saying, in addition: \u00a0 ‘I came down here with Brother Joe Halbrooks one Sunday, Uncle Sam Chessor having invited us, to talk. \u00a0 We both made a talk, and there was a conversion. \u00a0 Brother Joe turned round to me – I was sitting in the pulpit behind him – and said, ‘What will we do, Brother Dan?’ \u00a0 ‘Why, baptize the candidate!’ which was done.'” Pages 198-200: \u00a0 “Below will be found a few biographical sketches of some of the evangelists and ministers who held meetings here [Liberty? \u00a0 Southwestern Hickman County?] before 1900, or soon thereafter, and whose labors were for the most part in that period of the church’s greatest growth, from 1885 to 1900. \u00a0 In H. Leo Boles’ book, titled ‘Pioneer Preachers and Biographical Sketches,’ will be found sketches of E.A. LAND, and J.P. Lytton (information furnished the author by H.N. Mann, Riverside, lifelong friend of Brother Boles), and my reader is here referred to that book for better sketches of those he selected in this section. . . E.A. (‘Cane’) LAND, 88: \u00a0 Information here furnished by H.N. Mann. \u00a0 E.A. LAND was born on Cane Creek, in Hickman County, on March 28, 1827; died in Hohenwald on April 7, 1915, age 88 years. \u00a0 He married Nancy Barber on June 6, 1844; she died on October 31, 1907, age 70 years and three months. \u00a0 They were parents of four children. \u00a0 Soon after marriage Brother LAND and brother-in-law worked as partners in a blacksmith shop, and made enough the first year to pay for their tools! \u00a0 Soon he began to preach at Flatwoods, Mill Creek, Cedar Creek, Tom’s Creek, and elsewhere. \u00a0 He subscribed for the Gospel Advocate in 1858, and read the paper weekly the rest of his life. \u00a0 He held debates in 1868 for eight days with Parks, a Baptist minister. \u00a0 When Parks asked a man what sort of fellow was ‘Cane’ LAND, the reply was, ‘I don’t know whether you are a farmer or not, but I say to you that you will find in him the hardest piece of Land that you ever undertook to cultivate.’ \u00a0 Back to his physical labors: \u00a0 He bought out his brother-in-law and cultivated it; Sister Land ran the spinning and loom, worked in the garden, churned, and the two lived frugally and well. \u00a0 She made all the clothing for her family. \u00a0 He heard his first gospel sermon somewhere on Beaverdam; his next sermon in Williamson County. \u00a0 The sermon was delivered by Brother Bob Trimble on ‘The Plan of Salvation.’ \u00a0 Three weeks later he heard the same young man who preached the first gospel sermon he had ever heard, Brother W.A. Johnston, and he accepted the call of the gospel and was immersed. \u00a0 Soon thereafter he began his active ministry, which never lagged – protracted meetings in summer, monthly appointments through the winter, funerals, marriages, debates – which kept him very busy. \u00a0 His faith was strong. \u00a0 He was an able debater. \u00a0 He often preached on Sulphur Creek. \u00a0 For many years he lived on Brush Creek, in Perry County, and the old congregation there is noted because of this fact alone. \u00a0 Brother Lee Downey, elder in the Centerville Church and formerly an elder and leader in the Pleasantville Church, is one his grandsons. \u00a0 For more exact information, see Boles’ ‘Sketch of E.A. LAND.'” Pages 209-211: \u00a0 “E.A. LAND (Additional Information): \u00a0 The following is culled from much material sent me by Brother H.N. Mann, who conducted Brother LAND’s funeral: \u00a0 E.A. LAND was born in Hickman (some say Perry) County, March 28, 1827; \u00a0 died in Hohenwald April 7, 1915, age 88 years. \u00a0 Funeral conducted by H.N. Mann; burial at the old home, Brush Creek, Perry County. \u00a0 At the time of his death he was survived by his wife (Nancy Barber Land), and two children, Mrs. Mary Godwin and Mrs. W.H. Downey. \u00a0 Brother and Sister LAND began married life very young and without money or property. \u00a0 He worked in a shop and on the farm. \u00a0 Sister Land ran the spinning wheel and loom to clothe the family. \u00a0 The obeyed the gospel under the preaching of W.A. Johnson, on Beaverdam Creek, Hickman County. \u00a0 After hearing only two sermons they were convinced – sermons preached by a man who claimed to be only a Christian, although the sectarians called him and his people ‘New Lights.’ \u00a0 Brother LAND and wife and a few others at once began work for the Lord. \u00a0 He developed into a strong preacher and debater, having firm convictions, fearing no man who opposed the truth. \u00a0 As a result of his preaching, he baptized hundreds of people in Perry, Hickman, Wayne, Lewis, Humphreys, Benton and other counties. \u00a0 Among some of those he baptized were the beloved R.W. Pace, who often praised ‘Cane’ LAND, John A. Jones and wife, and Pleas Walker, all of Hickman County. \u00a0 Once a Methodist preacher said to Brother LAND, ‘When you (Land) go into a neighborhood, you get the best material, and leave me the trash!’ \u00a0 He held at least three successful debates. \u00a0 One was at Aenon, Cane Creek, in 1886, with S.F. Cayce. \u00a0 After that, he could never get Cayce to meet him. \u00a0 Another was with a Mr. Park, Baptist. \u00a0 Still another was with a Mr. Bailey, Presbyterian. \u00a0 Mr. Bailey thought Brother LAND a hillside farmer, and so made no preparation. \u00a0 However, as the time approached for the debate, he began to feel a little nervous. \u00a0 He got on his horse and went to see Mr. Park. \u00a0 He wanted to find out, he said, LAND’s strength. \u00a0 Mr. Park then replied in the words quoted in a preceding page. \u00a0 This debate started the people to bring lunches for dinner. \u00a0 There were about 800 people present for the first day. \u00a0 The debate was scheduled to last for eight days. \u00a0 On the fifth days (Friday), Mr. Bailey said to Bro. LAND, ‘I’m going to ride over to that farm house yonder and get a warm cup of coffee.’ \u00a0 Brother LAND never saw him any more! \u00a0 Whether he stopped for the coffee is not known, but he did not return to the debate. \u00a0 Brother LAND heard of him going on through Erin, Tenn., toward other lands. \u00a0 The small wood-and-iron shop which he operated on Brush Creek cleared him $21.00 the first year, enough to buy out his partner. \u00a0 There was very little iron to be had those days, and the timber used in the shop was usually hewn, as sawed timber was not plentiful in times before the coming of saw mills. \u00a0 Yet the preacher hammered and sawed, riveted and bolted the wagon parts together, made the V-harrow, put handles on plows; cleared and fenced land and plowed and cultivated it. \u00a0 Meanwhile, he was developing a spiritual nature and heart that would meet any task. \u00a0 His preaching was strong, his logic good, his reliance upon a ‘Thus saith the Lord’ for everything he taught and practiced in religion and life, rendered him a unique Christian character and preacher. \u00a0 He was respected, if feared by sectarians. \u00a0 His own brethren he would persuade and reprove, as they needed it. \u00a0 Methinks we need more men like him today – blacksmiths and farmers in the pulpit. \u00a0 More men like H.N. Mann, the strict, kind-hearted merchant; like Thomas Cagle, the busy miller. \u00a0 Such men were never evil spoken of. \u00a0 No one could say they preached for ‘hire’ or ‘filthy lucre.’ \u00a0 (J.E.C.) \u00a0 The following was written by W.H. Downey, August 26, 1930. \u00a0 He was born and lived in Perry County the greater part of his life. \u00a0 In his later days he lived in Hohenwald 10 or 12 years. \u00a0 I think he began to preach during the Civil War. \u00a0 He held a debate with the old man S.F. Cayce at Aenon about 1881 or 1882. \u00a0 Brother LAND had four children, three girls and one boy. \u00a0 (W.H. and N.F. Downey.) \u00a0 He died in the faith. \u00a0 May those he turned to righteousness abide therein, and his reward not fail. \u00a0 (1 Cor. 3:14; Dan. 12:3.) \u00a0 The reader is requested to read this following the sketch on page _____ and follow with the better sketch in Brother Boles’ book. \u00a0 Years ago, when I was young, I heard the older church members on Sulphur Creek often speak of the doughty debater and preacher of former days, that giant in the faith, ‘Cane’ Land, who lived on Brush Creek, in Perry. \u00a0 He had often preached on Sulphur Creek. \u00a0 S.L. O’Guin told many anecdotes concerning him. \u00a0 He was then known by every one. \u00a0 At present [1947] only Sidney T. O’Guin, one of the elders, remembers him. \u00a0 Yet his influence abides!”<\/p>\n
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