James Moses and America Jolly


Material obtained from the Campbell County Historical Society
Alexandria Kentucky
Minutes of 75th Annual Session of the Campbell County Baptist Association held with the Licking Valley Baptist Church August 21 and 22, 1901
Article compiled by William R Stevens July 10, 1985
 

James Moses Jolly the oldest child and son of John and Martha Mackey Jolly born December 13 1817 at Sallisboro in Lewis County Kentucky where the first seven of the children were born. By 1835 we find the family in Jamestown (now Dayton Ky.) where the eight and ninth children of the family were born.

When James Moses was nine his parents located near Point Pleasant Clermont County Ohio, where they lived seven years, then returned to Campbell County near Truesdale's Mill on Wells Creek (now twelve mile) and where the First Twelve Mile Baptist Church was formed at the home of Samuel Bellville September 18 1818.

From here James Moses returned to Clermont County Oh, and served three years learning brick-masonry and the plastering trade, while working under William Shaw. On his return to Campbell County the family moved to Alexandria Ky., where on October 12 1841 he married America Vickers the daughter of Rev James and Catherine Stanley Vickers.

James Moses, with his marriage to Rev James Vickers daughter,  professed conversion and united with the Mouth of Licking Baptist Church (now Cold Springs Baptist) Feb. 1842. At a meeting conducted by Elders James and Moses Vickers, James Moses Jolly was baptized by Rev James Vickers his father-in-law in a pond opposite the Old Caldwell place near
Newport turnpike (Opposite the entrance to Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights). After uniting  with the Licking Church, he was licensed to preach and h had exercised his gift as opportunity offered from that time to the time of his ordination.

In 1843 James Moses and America Vickers moved to Newport Ky. residing there nearly two years during  which time he worked some of his trade, and by contract graded and paved York Street from Front to Sixth Streets.  The second street of this kind in the city of Newport Ky. From here they moved to Stepstone (now Carntown) in Pendleton County for a short time. Here he engaged in business of merchandising.  From Stepstone the family moved to near Second Twelve Mile (Peach Grove) for a short time. By April 1849 in California, their first four sons were born William Thomas, John Aren, James Moses Jr. and James Vickers.

While here he worked at his trade, operated a Saw and Grist Mill.  In the first election, he ran in for Justice of the peace and was elected by popular vote and served for four years. The people desired him to be re-elected, but his Brethren requested him to decline. As they were determined to at once ordain him a regular Minister of the Gospel. Which was done by Flagg Spring Baptist Church at a regular meeting in March 1885 by Ministers William J Morin, Jesse Beagle and James Vickers.

 By this time the fifth son, Edward M was born, but the third son passed to the great beyond.  The family then settled on a small farm 1 1/2 mile west of Flagg Spring Church where Rev J M Jolly is shown on the south side of what is now Schababerle Hill Road on the 1883 Gubsers Mill Prescient.  By now the only son at home was John Aaren who passed away July 23, 1892.  John in 1880 was boarding with Calvin DeMoss for they were in business at California as DeMoss and Jolly General Merchandise.  John was also postmaster at Flagg Spring in May 1870.  The J V Jolly home was behind the store and the Post Office on Washington Trace where it enters the Alexandria Flagg Springs Turnpike at the Post Office and the Nelsons Saw and Grist Mill.

James Vickers Jolly May 19 1888 succeeded his brother John Aren as Post Master at F1agg Springs. James V shows in the 1880 Census at Gubsers Mill which would be the residence on Washington Trace, with his wife Amanda with a daughter and three sons.  His occupation shown as Magistrate probably succeeded his father when he did not run for re-election.  In 1900 I find James V. Jolly at 511 4th Avenue Dayton Ky. His wife is now Sarah; his occupation is Stone Mason; there are three sons and a daughter who appear to be from Amanda and three daughters and a son appear from Sarah.

William Thomas Jolly their oldest son shows in the 1860 Census in Alexandria his wife Catherine married Cir, 1852. Their oldest child Mary 7 years old Bn:1853 William married the second time February 25 1875 Ida Geary; but I only find him in the 1860 Census. William Thomas like his father also ordained as a Minister of the Baptist Church, died in Richmond Virginia March 1898.

The fifth child and son Edward M, married April 29 1879 Anna Elizabeth Smith the daughter of Isaac and Mary E. Williams Smith. Anna's father Isaac Smith in 1872 acquired 62 acres from Jeremiah William; his wife Mary's grandfather in the settlement of Isaac Smith's estate, his daughter Anna Elizabeth Jolly received Lot #4 of 20 acres.

1. Nina B Jolly-4 Sep 1880 d-9 Oct 1886
2. Andrew James Jolly-15 May 1882 m-1-Mary B Wyatt; m-2-Nelle Leah Jordan; d-5 Aug 1925
3. Adda Florence Jolly-7 Sep 1886 m-James Dallas Jolly
4. Edna May Jolly-7 Nov 1888 in Dayton; m-William Corbin
5. Ada Fay Jolly-11 Sep 1890 m-Houston Johnston
6. Dora Marie Jolly-27 Oct 1892 m-Warren Kennedy
7. Lucille Burns Jolly-13 Dec 1896 m-Moreland
8. William Curtis Jolly-19 Dec 1898
9. Mary America Jolly-25 May 1901 m-Wesley Columbus Dickens

 In 1882 A. E. Jolly and husband convey the Right of Way to the Licking Valley Railroad. In 1887 Anna Elizabeth Jolly conveys to her father-in-law James Moses Jolly 1 1/4 acres of her 20 acres and the balance laid out in lots that became the Jolly addition of the town of Mentor. In 1887 James Moses (Monroe) Jolly sold his farm and built his home on the 1 1/4 Acres in Mentor, or it may be that his son Edward M. with his father built the home in Mentor for in the 1900 Census James Moses is living with Edward M. and Anna Elizabeth.  March 23, 1900 America Vickers passed to her reward and September 15, 1900 James Moses Monroe Jolly followed her to his reward.

 J. M. JOLLY served as Pastor for the churches below;
Second Twelve Mile-Pendleton Co-32 years
Flagg Spring-Campbell Co-27 years
Bank Lick-Kenton Co-9 years
Persimmon Grove-Campbell Co-12 years
Florence-Boone Co-2 years
Pleasant Ridge-Campbell Co-22 years
Grants Lick-Campbell Co-11 years
Grants Creek-Indiana-1 year
Grassy Creek-Pendleton Co-1 year
Demossvi11e-Pendleton Co-1 year
Licking Valley-Campbell Co-4 years
Alexandria-Campbell Co-4 years
First Twelve Mile-Campbell Co-9 years

He served as moderator of the Campbell County Baptist Association 32 years.  It is estimated the number of people he baptized at 1500; number of couples married 500; preached over 3500 funeral services.  Thomas J McDaniel was the first person baptized by him; first couple married was John B Otton and Harriet Hampton in November 1855; last couple at his son's home in March 1900, Sydney G Daniels and Gertie Williams. His first funeral was a daughter of Ira Clift near California.

During his Pastorate he was instrumental in the erection of church buildings at Bank Link in Kenton County, Grants Lick and First Twelve Mile.  He also contracted for and built the following public buildings; M E Church South, Christian Church at California, Second Twelve Mile Baptist at Peach Grove, Wesley Chapel, M E Baptist Church, Court House and jail at Alexandria, St. Peter and Paul original brick church at Gubser Mill, Flagg Spring Baptist Church, Beach Grove School house, and the Seminary at Cold Spring.

James Moses Jolly's education was obtained in the common schools in his boyhood days and during his early years of his Pastorates.  Having no horse, he walked to his appointments, even in his latter days, when infirm with age, he has often been known to mount his horse, face snow storms to Grants Lick or some other place as distant, attend a funeral, or marriage then return to his home in Mentor the same day.  After the age of 78, one day he attended a funeral at the Old Twelve Mile Church at 11 am, leaving there after 12 noon, traveling to Pribble Cross Roads in Pendleton County, where that afternoon he married a couple at Thomas Green's residence.  Then that same day at 7 pm, married Joseph Baynum and Jennie Isles at the bride's residence near California and at 8pm was at his home in Mentor.  His grandson, A J Jolly drove him in his buggy. 
 

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