Freed-Hardeman Connections
Researching the Restoration Movement in Mississippi and West Tennessee
Milton
Hatley Armor
September 14,1855 - May 13, 1940
His father, J. B. Armor, is buried in the Old Hickory Flat Cemetery, Hickory Flat, MS
1860 Tippah County Census - M. H. Armour is 4 years old.
1259 James B. Armour 31 M Blacksmith 750/8000 TENN.
Elizabeth 46 F MD.
Milton H. 4 M MISS.
Kentucky University Graduate
Milton Hatley Armor, Hickory Flat, Ms, graduated from Kentucky University June 13, 1878 with an A. B. degree.
http://books.google.com/books?id=S2EiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=%22hatley+armor%22
MILTON HATLEY ARMOR
While not an evangelist in the strict sense of the word, yet M. H. Armor has held many meetings in Mississippi, and has devoted his entire life to the state that gave him birth. And that too, within a radius of not much over fifty miles of the spot where he was born. While not an evangelist, I feel like this book would be incomplete without mention of a man who has done so much for the cause of Christ as has Hatley Armor. He was educated in Kentucky University, long before it became Transylvania, and quite a time before he anticipated entering the ministry. He got a thorough education for his life work, let it be whatever it might. Stevens used to call him "old Greek," because of both his looks and his familiarity with the Greek language, I suppose. But for some years after coming from College, Bro. Armor was engaged in the railroad business. All at once he became obsessed with the idea of preaching. But he was getting a fine salary for that day, $100. per month. And there were no strong churches of Christ wanting a preacher and ready to give him a better salary than the Railroad was paying. In fact there were few churches of his choice to be found anywhere close to him to call him at all. But he gave up the fat job he had and found four poor country churches that would all told pay him just half what the railroad was paying. Brother Armor lived here in Aberdeen for nearly ten years, and then lived in Columbus for several years, and then in Tupelo for a number of years. His home for some years was with the church at Baldwyn, and from there he moved back to New Albany, close to where he was born, to spend the rest of his days. No man in the North East District has done more for the upbuilding of the Kingdom than has Hatley Armor.
Cf. HIstory of Chritan Churches in Miss., B. F. Harmon
This is the building where Armor preached for many years located in Amory, Miss. It is now used by Christian Free Will Baptist.
Burial
M. H. Armor is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Amory, MS.
Latitude: 33.988NLongitude: -88.503W
M. H. Armor’s grave is behind the Gilmore monument.
M. H. Armor is buried in section VII near the center. Note the row of Magnolia trees to the right.
These photos were taken by Tom L. Childers on June 13, 2008.
In 1892 M. H. Armor appeared on a lectureship at the West Tennessee Christian College, along with David Lipscomb, and several other preachers. During the 2008 FHU lectureship, I asked J. A. Thornton from Booneville, MS if he had ever heard of M. H. Armor. He said, "I sure have. I was named after him. That is what the 'A' in J. A. stands for.
So, a new search begins to find where M. H. Armor is buried. Here is what I have found about him so far. His name appears several times in History of The Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in Mississippi by M. F. Harmon.
1. M. H. Armor was the preacher for the Aberdeen, MS Christian Church for about 8-10 years. The building was erected in 1893 while Armor was the preacher.
2. Armor held meetings for the New Hope Christian Church.
3. Armor preached in the Baptist church in New Albany in 1888 or 89. He reorganized the church in February 1921, in the home of sister J. T. Armor. They met in the court house and also the home of C. F. Work. The membership was about 56 and Armor served as one of the elders.
4. Armor preached once a month in 1915-16 at the Rienzi Christian Church. On August 7, 1921, Armon preached the first sermon in the new church building. His topic was "The Word of God."
5. Here is what Harman writes about the West Point Christian Church: "From Bro. N. B. Patterson, one of the Elders of the church in West Point, and who has lived there for more than forty years, we get the following: "The congregation is about 67 years old, and has had pastors as follows: J. B. Inman, 3 years, one fourth time, A. G. Fried, I year, one fourth time, R. P. Meek, three years, one half time, N. B. Patterson, one year full time, W. G. Harbin, three years full time, A. P. Finley, 2 years full time, J. L. Greenwell, four years full time, Wynne Stout, one year full time, J. W. McGarvey, one year full time, I. J. Omer, one year full time, C. E. Moore, seven years full time, N. B. Patterson and E. J. Stanley one year as supply, Sam J. White, two years full time, W. T. Young, one year full time, J. Will, Walters, two years full time, W. T. Donaldson, six months supply, and the present pastor, L. E. Sellers who has been with the church for two years. During this time the church has been served by the following evangelists: J. B. Inman, James Sharp W. B. Howe, T. B. Larimore, Morgan Morgans, R. P. Meek and N. B.Patterson, John A. Stevens, M. H. Armor, S. M. Martin, Hugh McCleland, T. L. Cooksie, J. A. Crossfield, I. J. Spencer, I. M. Boswell, C. E. Moore, W. T. Donaldson, E. S. Baker, Will Sheffer, J. T. Brown, Will Tinsley, 0. P. Spiegel, J. W. Walters, C. C. Cole, J. W. Caubel, Virgil Wallace, Frank K. Dunn and Roger Fife."
6. Armor served as one of the preachers for the Okolona (Miss) Christian Church.
7. From Harman's history of the Hickory Flat, MS Christian Church, we learn that the M.H. stands for Milton Hatly and his father was J. B. Armor. The Armors and the Crums were closely related. Here is an account of their conversion to New Testament Christianity:
John Smith was a Primitive Baptist who lived in Indiana. He heard a gospel preacher speak about the importance of "Rightly Dividing the World of Truth." After hearing the sermon, he and his wife became "Christians only."
The Smiths had five daughters who were taught diligently by their fireside to read, understand, and obey the scriptures. They later moved to Hickory Flat, Benton County, Mississippi. Having five young daughters, they became the center of attention of the young men in the community. But before marriage the girls brought each man to the New Testament faith.
One daughter, Rachel, said to her boy friend: "Let us read the Bible together, hear our ministers fairly, pray while we study, and do what we believe to be God's will as revealed to us in his word." After a few months of reading, learning, and praying J. B. Armor became a Christian. He became a gospel preacher, as did his son Milton Hatley Armor who went to school under J. W. McGarvey. Both the father and son did much to bring the gospel to people in north Mississippi.
Brother M. H. Armor spoke on a lectureship, along with David Lipscomb in Henderson, Tennessee in 1892. Brother J. A. Thornton, a long-time gospel preacher and father-in-law of Ralph Gilmore who teaches at Freed-Hardeman, is named in honor of M. H. Armor.
The youngest daughter of John Smith, Mary Malvina, married W. A. Crum. They had no discussion of religious issues until the first baby was born. Eli Crum, father of W. A. Crum and a devout elder of the Presbyterian Church, urged his son to have the babe baptized. Mollie's reply was, "If God so teaches, I am willing. I have heard that there is neither command nor example for baptizing infants; but show me the scriptures for it and I will consent at once."
Eli went to his Presbyterian preacher for help in finding biblical authorization. In the meantime, William Crum began to study the Bible for himself, which lead to his obeying the gospel. He became one of the strongest preachers in the state of Mississippi during his time.
His son, William Eli Crum, was the first gospel preacher for the Beech Hill church of Christ, Benton County, Mississippi.
8. Armor served as the pastor for the Baldwyn, MS Christian Church which was established by J. B. Trimble. Knowles Shaw preached in the largest meeting every assembled at the church.
9. Harmon gives the following short biography of Armor: "MILTON HATLEY ARMOR. While not an evangelist in the strict sense of the word, yet M. H. Armor has held many meetings in Mississippi, and has devoted his entire life to the state that gave him birth. And that too, within a radius of not much over fifty miles of the spot where he was born. While not an evangelist, I feel like this book would be incomplete without mention of a man who has done so much for the cause of Christ as has Hatley Armor. He was educated in Kentucky University, long before it became Transylvania, and quite a time before he anticipated entering the ministry. He got a thorough education for his life work, let it be whatever it might. Stevens used to call him "old Greek," because of both his looks and his familiarity with the Greek language, I suppose. But for some years after coming from College, Bro. Armor was engaged in the railroad business. All at once he became obsessed with the idea of preaching. But he was getting a fine salary for that day, $100. per month. And there were no strong churches of Christ wanting a preacher and ready to give him a better salary than the Railroad was paying. In fact there were few churches of his choice to be found anywhere close to him to call him at all. But he gave up the fat job he had and found four poor country churches that would all told pay him just half what the railroad was paying. Brother Armor lived here in Aberdeen for nearly ten years, and then lived in Columbus for several years, and then in Tupelo for a number of years. His home for some years was with the church at Baldwyn, and from there he moved back to New Albany, close to where he was born, to spend the rest of his days. No man in the North East District has done more for the upbuilding of the Kingdom than has Hatley Armor.
September 14,1855 - May 13, 1940
His father, J. B. Armor, is buried in the Old Hickory Flat Cemetery, Hickory Flat, MS
1860 Tippah County Census - M. H. Armour is 4 years old.
1259 James B. Armour 31 M Blacksmith 750/8000 TENN.
Elizabeth 46 F MD.
Milton H. 4 M MISS.
Kentucky University Graduate
Milton Hatley Armor, Hickory Flat, Ms, graduated from Kentucky University June 13, 1878 with an A. B. degree.
http://books.google.com/books?id=S2EiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=%22hatley+armor%22
MILTON HATLEY ARMOR
While not an evangelist in the strict sense of the word, yet M. H. Armor has held many meetings in Mississippi, and has devoted his entire life to the state that gave him birth. And that too, within a radius of not much over fifty miles of the spot where he was born. While not an evangelist, I feel like this book would be incomplete without mention of a man who has done so much for the cause of Christ as has Hatley Armor. He was educated in Kentucky University, long before it became Transylvania, and quite a time before he anticipated entering the ministry. He got a thorough education for his life work, let it be whatever it might. Stevens used to call him "old Greek," because of both his looks and his familiarity with the Greek language, I suppose. But for some years after coming from College, Bro. Armor was engaged in the railroad business. All at once he became obsessed with the idea of preaching. But he was getting a fine salary for that day, $100. per month. And there were no strong churches of Christ wanting a preacher and ready to give him a better salary than the Railroad was paying. In fact there were few churches of his choice to be found anywhere close to him to call him at all. But he gave up the fat job he had and found four poor country churches that would all told pay him just half what the railroad was paying. Brother Armor lived here in Aberdeen for nearly ten years, and then lived in Columbus for several years, and then in Tupelo for a number of years. His home for some years was with the church at Baldwyn, and from there he moved back to New Albany, close to where he was born, to spend the rest of his days. No man in the North East District has done more for the upbuilding of the Kingdom than has Hatley Armor.
Cf. HIstory of Chritan Churches in Miss., B. F. Harmon
This is the building where Armor preached for many years located in Amory, Miss. It is now used by Christian Free Will Baptist.
Burial
M. H. Armor is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Amory, MS.
Latitude: 33.988NLongitude: -88.503W
M. H. Armor’s grave is behind the Gilmore monument.
M. H. Armor is buried in section VII near the center. Note the row of Magnolia trees to the right.
These photos were taken by Tom L. Childers on June 13, 2008.
In 1892 M. H. Armor appeared on a lectureship at the West Tennessee Christian College, along with David Lipscomb, and several other preachers. During the 2008 FHU lectureship, I asked J. A. Thornton from Booneville, MS if he had ever heard of M. H. Armor. He said, "I sure have. I was named after him. That is what the 'A' in J. A. stands for.
So, a new search begins to find where M. H. Armor is buried. Here is what I have found about him so far. His name appears several times in History of The Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) in Mississippi by M. F. Harmon.
1. M. H. Armor was the preacher for the Aberdeen, MS Christian Church for about 8-10 years. The building was erected in 1893 while Armor was the preacher.
2. Armor held meetings for the New Hope Christian Church.
3. Armor preached in the Baptist church in New Albany in 1888 or 89. He reorganized the church in February 1921, in the home of sister J. T. Armor. They met in the court house and also the home of C. F. Work. The membership was about 56 and Armor served as one of the elders.
4. Armor preached once a month in 1915-16 at the Rienzi Christian Church. On August 7, 1921, Armon preached the first sermon in the new church building. His topic was "The Word of God."
5. Here is what Harman writes about the West Point Christian Church: "From Bro. N. B. Patterson, one of the Elders of the church in West Point, and who has lived there for more than forty years, we get the following: "The congregation is about 67 years old, and has had pastors as follows: J. B. Inman, 3 years, one fourth time, A. G. Fried, I year, one fourth time, R. P. Meek, three years, one half time, N. B. Patterson, one year full time, W. G. Harbin, three years full time, A. P. Finley, 2 years full time, J. L. Greenwell, four years full time, Wynne Stout, one year full time, J. W. McGarvey, one year full time, I. J. Omer, one year full time, C. E. Moore, seven years full time, N. B. Patterson and E. J. Stanley one year as supply, Sam J. White, two years full time, W. T. Young, one year full time, J. Will, Walters, two years full time, W. T. Donaldson, six months supply, and the present pastor, L. E. Sellers who has been with the church for two years. During this time the church has been served by the following evangelists: J. B. Inman, James Sharp W. B. Howe, T. B. Larimore, Morgan Morgans, R. P. Meek and N. B.Patterson, John A. Stevens, M. H. Armor, S. M. Martin, Hugh McCleland, T. L. Cooksie, J. A. Crossfield, I. J. Spencer, I. M. Boswell, C. E. Moore, W. T. Donaldson, E. S. Baker, Will Sheffer, J. T. Brown, Will Tinsley, 0. P. Spiegel, J. W. Walters, C. C. Cole, J. W. Caubel, Virgil Wallace, Frank K. Dunn and Roger Fife."
6. Armor served as one of the preachers for the Okolona (Miss) Christian Church.
7. From Harman's history of the Hickory Flat, MS Christian Church, we learn that the M.H. stands for Milton Hatly and his father was J. B. Armor. The Armors and the Crums were closely related. Here is an account of their conversion to New Testament Christianity:
John Smith was a Primitive Baptist who lived in Indiana. He heard a gospel preacher speak about the importance of "Rightly Dividing the World of Truth." After hearing the sermon, he and his wife became "Christians only."
The Smiths had five daughters who were taught diligently by their fireside to read, understand, and obey the scriptures. They later moved to Hickory Flat, Benton County, Mississippi. Having five young daughters, they became the center of attention of the young men in the community. But before marriage the girls brought each man to the New Testament faith.
One daughter, Rachel, said to her boy friend: "Let us read the Bible together, hear our ministers fairly, pray while we study, and do what we believe to be God's will as revealed to us in his word." After a few months of reading, learning, and praying J. B. Armor became a Christian. He became a gospel preacher, as did his son Milton Hatley Armor who went to school under J. W. McGarvey. Both the father and son did much to bring the gospel to people in north Mississippi.
Brother M. H. Armor spoke on a lectureship, along with David Lipscomb in Henderson, Tennessee in 1892. Brother J. A. Thornton, a long-time gospel preacher and father-in-law of Ralph Gilmore who teaches at Freed-Hardeman, is named in honor of M. H. Armor.
The youngest daughter of John Smith, Mary Malvina, married W. A. Crum. They had no discussion of religious issues until the first baby was born. Eli Crum, father of W. A. Crum and a devout elder of the Presbyterian Church, urged his son to have the babe baptized. Mollie's reply was, "If God so teaches, I am willing. I have heard that there is neither command nor example for baptizing infants; but show me the scriptures for it and I will consent at once."
Eli went to his Presbyterian preacher for help in finding biblical authorization. In the meantime, William Crum began to study the Bible for himself, which lead to his obeying the gospel. He became one of the strongest preachers in the state of Mississippi during his time.
His son, William Eli Crum, was the first gospel preacher for the Beech Hill church of Christ, Benton County, Mississippi.
8. Armor served as the pastor for the Baldwyn, MS Christian Church which was established by J. B. Trimble. Knowles Shaw preached in the largest meeting every assembled at the church.
9. Harmon gives the following short biography of Armor: "MILTON HATLEY ARMOR. While not an evangelist in the strict sense of the word, yet M. H. Armor has held many meetings in Mississippi, and has devoted his entire life to the state that gave him birth. And that too, within a radius of not much over fifty miles of the spot where he was born. While not an evangelist, I feel like this book would be incomplete without mention of a man who has done so much for the cause of Christ as has Hatley Armor. He was educated in Kentucky University, long before it became Transylvania, and quite a time before he anticipated entering the ministry. He got a thorough education for his life work, let it be whatever it might. Stevens used to call him "old Greek," because of both his looks and his familiarity with the Greek language, I suppose. But for some years after coming from College, Bro. Armor was engaged in the railroad business. All at once he became obsessed with the idea of preaching. But he was getting a fine salary for that day, $100. per month. And there were no strong churches of Christ wanting a preacher and ready to give him a better salary than the Railroad was paying. In fact there were few churches of his choice to be found anywhere close to him to call him at all. But he gave up the fat job he had and found four poor country churches that would all told pay him just half what the railroad was paying. Brother Armor lived here in Aberdeen for nearly ten years, and then lived in Columbus for several years, and then in Tupelo for a number of years. His home for some years was with the church at Baldwyn, and from there he moved back to New Albany, close to where he was born, to spend the rest of his days. No man in the North East District has done more for the upbuilding of the Kingdom than has Hatley Armor.