A Family Story of a "Split over Religion."

A story my father has often told me, which he learned from his father, is that our branch of the Somers family was involved in a "family split over religion" between two brothers.  I'm not certain which generation this happened during, or if it's just a family story handed down through generations that was elaborated on with little truth left in it. But, as my grandfather was not known to be a liar or inventor of tall tales, I believe it is based on fact. So, please bear with me as I give you my theory as to what might have happened.

Great Grandfather Henry Francis Somers was a popular evangelist around the turn of the 20th century and into the early 1900's. He preached at tent meetings and outdoor revivals in the Southern Missouri and Arkansas area. How far his travels took him, I really don't know except they must have been extensive as Grandpa's half sister, Amanda Tidwell, told my father that Great Grandfather Henry was a circuit rider gone for weeks (perhaps months) at a time and there was much rejoicing and celebration when he came home to the family farm in Stringtown, Butler County, Missouri. All the children, including his stepchildren loved him and flocked around him to hear stories of his travels. (Great Aunt Amanda was a few years older than my grandfather and had come to visit us while in her early 80's. I was perhaps 12 years old during her visit and my memory of her is that of a very alert, youthful senior citizen who had the mind of someone still in her prime. Her family stories have been a comfort and treasure to my father and me down through the years.)

Great Grandfather Henry was reportedly a Baptist and I often wondered what point of doctrine could have been so vital as to facilitate a family split. So, I began researching which Baptist Churches were in the area where our branch originated in America and I found several mentions of the Primitive Baptists in North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. It seems very likely that the Somers family in North Carolina would have been of this denomination. My research also revealed that after the civil war (Henry was born in 1860 in Gainsboro, Tennessee) a more evangelistic and missionary movement began to take hold in the southern states. It seems likely that Henry was part of this movement as an adult.

Then this morning I received the Alabama Pioneers Newsletter with this story: Families were split apart when the Baptist congregations separated over missionary work by Donna R. Causey, which tells the story of families splitting within the Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Here is an excerpt:

It was painful and distressing to see this old Baptist family part company. Sons leaving their fathers daughters leaving their mothers. (It is supposed that the writer is the only person now living that witnessed this separation.) The separation was final and forever. 

From that day there were two separate and distinct Baptist churches, the original old Primitive and the Missionary churches. The Missionary church, from the day of the separation to the present day, have added member to member, church to church, mission to mission, and have spent millions of money in extending the cause of christianity. (sic) They have followed the Bible injunction: “Go ye into all the world and preach my gospel.” 

The original old Primitive family are still in existence; they still hold to the old faith and practice. It is a good old family; they are honest, good citizens and neighbors; straightforward and correct in all their dealings with their fellowman; drink a dram whenever they want to, but never drink to excess. They were the original old soldiers of the cross, and served their day and generation, and have accomplished a good work. 

(The above has been transcribed from a book titled RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, ALABAMA -Original data: Robertson, W. G.. Recollections of the early settlers of Montgomery County, Alabama. Montgomery, Ala.: Society of Pioneers of Montgomery, 1961. *Transcriber note –At times the text has been broken into additional paragraphs to make it easier to read and names were capitalized -additional information about the family follows and is in italics.)
- See more at: http://alabamapioneers.com/baptist-separated-over-missions/

Could the Somers family story of a split between two Baptist brothers be true? I think so, and perhaps it was between Henry and one of his brothers or the previous generation. If so, I'm fairly certain they have been reconciled as they are now in the presence of our great King and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

See also:

• History of the Baptists of Tennessee with Particular Attention to the Primitive Baptists of East Tennessee (.pdf)
• A Primer on Baptist History (The Reformed Reader)