Jonathan Walden, Baptist

Jonathan Walden’s obituary, written by H. Adams, extolled the virtuous life of Walden as a Baptist.

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Death of Jonathan Walden

Jonathan Walden died in 1857 “after a protracted illness of some weeks”. He was described as bearing the “consumption of the lungs” with “christian fortitude and resignation”, and “utmost patience”. At the time of his death, he was living in Lick Township of Jackson County, Ohio. He was buried in Mather’s Cemetery which was deeded to the town by W. W. Mather.

Follow the road northwest of Jackson to the fork in the road in Section 7. Charles Walden is marked as owning sections of land immediately south of the fork, and Pierce is marked north of the fork. A zoomed in excerpt is shown below. Pierce bought the land from Mather and is the location of the cemetery.

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Church Founding

Both W. W. Mather and Jonathan Walden were founding members of the Baptist Church in Jackson County, Ohio.

On July 19, 1841, men met to organize the Regular Baptist Church because “there were a number of persons who had belonged to the denomination elsewhere and taken up their permanent residence here.” Mather was chosen as secretary and served as a part of the committee that wrote the creed. A few days later, the resolution was signed by Jonathan Walden and members of the Mather, Gillespie, and Tyson families.

By 1846, a church and parsonage were built. The church was located at the corner of Church and Pearl Street. The church was moved to another location around 1868 and the old building was repurposed.

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Conversion

He became a Baptist when his parents died “when I was quite young and left without earthly parents”. He was living in Virginia (born in Campbell County, Virginia) and “connected himself with the Regular Baptist Church and enjoyed great peace of mind”.

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Obituary

Reminiscence

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Pages 533 & 534 of History of Lower Scioto Valley, Ohio describe the founding of the Baptist Church.

Page 172 & 173 of History of Jackson County describe the Mather Cemetery.