James Gwin was a preacher whose talents and usefulness were well known to a good many yet living in Middle Tennessee. We were associated when we were but young men. He was a native of North Carolina, embraced religion and married there. Shortly after his marriage, he emigrated to Cumberland, which was in the year 1791; stopped at Hamilton station, Sumner County; attached himself to the society I belonged to, on Drake's Creek, a few miles from the station. He was an active, sprightly young man, a fine soldier, and rendered excellent service in fighting the Indians. There was no man among us more brave than James Gwin. He was with Lieut. Snoddy at the memorable battle fought with the Indians at Rock Island, on Caney Fork. He was out on various scouting-parties, and at the taking of Nickajack, in 1794; and at the close of the Indian war, he settled on Long Creek. Throughout all of his scouting and Indian scrapes he held firm to his religious profession; and in 1800, when the great revival took place, he became greatly stirred up; commenced exhorting and holding prayer-meetings throughout the neighborhood. Many a happy hour have I spent with him at prayer meetings, for the Lord powerfully converted many precious souls. He soon afterwards commenced preaching. He was one of the sweet singers of Israel, and was remarkably gifted in prayer. He had the most extraordinary preaching talents from the time he commenced, and soon became a great favorite with the people, and crowds flocked to hear him, and his labors were greatly blessed. Many were added to the Church; and, in 1802, at the Annual Conference held in Sumner county, he joined the Conference, at the same time that Jesse Walker did, whom I have before spoken of. He filled many very important stations in the Church. He was presiding elder. He formed the Barren Circuit, and, in 1807, he went, in company with William McKendree, who was then presiding elder in this country, to cultivate the gospel seed sown by Jesse Walker and Benjamin Young in Illinois and Missouri, and held camp meetings in that country, which was but thinly settled.
Their visit to that country was kindly received and their labors greatly blessed, and many were added to the Church. He resided a while in Nashville and then went to Mississippi, and was in the traveling connection there. The exact date 0£ his death I do not know, but I believe it was in 1839 or 1840. Thus ended the life and labors of a great man of God. He had brought up a family, and, I believe, one of his sons, Dr. William Gwin, is now living in California. I have noticed in the papers that he has been a member of Congress from that State. His wife was living a few years after his death, but I believe she is now dead. She was an excellent woman.