Rev. John S. Lish
SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889
Contributed by Michael Brown
18 Oct 1998
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FRANKLIN COUNTY
page 1254
Rev. John S. Lish was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., January 16, 1844, and
is a son of William and Elizabeth (Watson) Lish. The father was born in
Hanover County, Va., in 1822, and when a child was left an orphan, and bound
to John Kimbro to learn the brick-mason's trade. He went to Tennessee when but
seven years of age, but before completing his trade left Mr. Kimbro, and began
farming. He settled in Rutherford County, and there lived until his death, in
1857. In politics he was a Democrat. The mother was born in 1823, and was a
daughter of William and Elizabeth Watson, natives of North Carolina, who went
to Tennessee in an early day. They located upon a farm in the center of the
State, and there lived until their deaths, in 1842 and 1856, respectively. They
were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and reared a large family of
children, of whom the mother of our subject was the youngest. She was also a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in 1858. Four of her five
children are now living: John S., David, Susan F., William [p.1254] R. and
Sarah E. (deceased). John S. was educated in Tennessee, and in 1858 was
converted. Ten years later he took an active part in church work, and in
March, 1880, placed himself under the care of King Presbytery as a candidate
for the ministry, and was licensed October following. He was ordained a
minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in April, 1882. In 1869 he left
Tennessee, and located in Howell County, Mo. Fourteen months later he went to
Sharpe County, and after eleven months' residence there spent four years in
Izard County. He afterward returned to Howell County for three years. In 1879
he located in Mill Creek Township, Ark., upon a farm, but has always given the
greater part of his attention to the ministry. He has charge of three churches
in this county and two in Sebastian County, and is an active worker for all
worthy objects. January 22, 1863, he married Mary J., daughter of Robert N.
and Tabitha Lynch, natives of Virginia. Mrs. Lish was born in Tennessee in
1841, and is the mother of four children: Tabitha (wife of S. F. Clark),
William H., Mary S. I. and Samuel L. A. Mr. Lish belongs to Lowe's Creek Lodge
No. 327, A. F. & A. M., and is also an I. O. O. F.