The subject of this sketch was one of those heroes of the gospel who during the early days of the Restoration Movement did much for the cause of primitive Christianity. He has been forgotten by many who are now enjoying the blessings of his labors. Very little has been written about him and he left very little on record.

     Calvin Curlee was born in North Carolina in 1791. He moved with his parents to Middle Tennessee and settled in what is now Cannon County. In 1820 he was living in Cannon County, near Woodbury, the county seat. He married Rebecca Fortenberry, who was born in South Carolina. He reared a large family, and many of his descendants are now living in Cannon County.

     He was reared in the Baptist faith and began preaching for the Baptists, and he continued to preach as a Baptist preacher for fifteen years. When Alexander Campbell came to Nashville, Tenn., to preach, Calvin Curlee came to hear him. He remained several days in Nashville and heard every discourse preached by Mr. Campbell. After returning home he was so disturbed by what he had heard Mr. Campbell preach that he could scarcely eat or sleep for some days. He walked the floor and pondered the Scriptural truths which he had heard, and then he would sit down and read his Bible to justify his conclusion. He continued this for several days, and finally while walking the floor he paused and remarked to his wife: "Becky, somebody is wrong, and I think that we are." He would not accept the new-found truths until he had fully justified them by the Bible; but when he learned that he was in error, he did not hesitate to give up the error and embrace the truth. He soon began to preach and teach the simple gospel as it is revealed in the New Testament. Of course he incurred the enmity of his Baptist friends; however, he retained their respect, for they all knew him to be an honest man and upright in his life. Many who were his enemies at first later saw the truth and praised him for leading them into a fuller knowledge of the gospel.

     He was a very close friend of Tolbert Fanning. They labored much together. Mr. Fanning esteemed him very highly for his native ability and for his zeal in the cause of Christ. They had much in common, as both believed the Bible to be the word of God and the only authority in religious affairs. Again, both of them were very fond of fine horses and took great interest in raising and training them. Curlee was a hard worker and accumulated some wealth. The records of Cannon County show that he was a taxpayer of that county and that his property was assessed at three thousand dollars in 1850. This was a large sum for that day. His property consisted of land and live stock.

     He labored in Cannon County and adjoining counties and established many congregations. He gave five acres of land for a church house and cemetery. The church was established there through his labors. It is known today as Curlee's Church. A strong congregation meets there now, and a grandson, Dr. J. P. Curlee, preaches for the church there frequently.

     When Tolbert Fanning started the publication of the Christian Review in 1844, Calvin Curlee helped him in getting up the first subscription list. In the February issue of the Christian Review (the second issue of that paper), Calvin Curlee wrote as follows to Mr. Fanning:

     I have had the good company of Brother L. N. Murphree some two weeks. We visited the brethren at Philadelphia, Warren County, Tenn.; immersed seven, and one was added from the Baptists. I am going to ride this year as an evangelist in Bedford, Franklin, and Warren Counties." (Christian Review, 1844, page 47.)

     Again, we find the following from his pen, written from Cannon County, September 2, 1844:

For the encouragement of your readers I write to let you know that we have just closed a meeting at my house, the result of which was as follows: Thirty-one persons were immersed, three of whom were from the old Presbyterians, four from the Cumberlands, one from the Methodists, and four from the Baptists. One Methodist lady united who had been immersed. One of our brethren who had been out of the way came back, made a noble confession, and was received. There were many persons in attendance. During the whole of our meeting, to their credit be it told, they honored the Author of the Bible and themselves by hearing what was spoken.

     Brethren R. B. Hall, S. E. Jones, Y. W. McDaniel, B. White, and William Dill labored with us. The gospel is rapidly obtaining in my neighborhood. We have persons from all the sects to hear us and much prejudice is put to rest. On my last circuit, at Flat Creek, Bedford County, Tenn., we immersed eight, and two at Bean's Creek. In all, we added fourteen. (Christian Review, 1844, page 164.)

     In the history of the "Churches of Christ" by John T. Brown we find Calvin Curlee mentioned among the early preachers of Middle Tennessee. He is mentioned together with Jesse L. Sewell, Isaac Sewell, T. Fanning, Sandy E. Jones, J. J. Trott, W. C. Huffman, and Jesse B. Furguson. There are now twenty-two congregations in Cannon County, more than that number in Rutherford County, and a good number in Warren, DeKalb, and Bedford counties, which, either directly or indirectly, are the result of the good seed sown by Calvin Curlee. He was not known very extensively, as he confined his labors to Middle Tennessee. He was a modest man and cared nothing about publicity. He lived and labored before there were many papers published, hence there is but little to be found concerning his work.

    In the Millennial Harbinger of 1852, on page 119, we have a brief obituary of Calvin Curlee, which is given in full here:

Departed this life, on October 23, 1851, in the triumphant hope of the gospel, Elder Calvin Curlee, aged sixty years. Some thirty years since the deceased became a member of the Baptist Church, shortly after which he began to preach; and after continuing in that communion some fifteen years, he united with the Christian Church, and until within a few days of his death continued a most zealous laborer in the good cause of truth, winning many souls to Christ and building up many churches. So forcibly did his example of piety, humanity, and righteousness, joined with the preaching of the word, affect his neighbors, that he was instrumental in building up a large church on his own farm. His labors of love will long be remembered in Middle Tennessee, as well as in other section of the country, where his zealous endeavors to reclaim his fellow creatures from ruin were signally blessed. Blessed are such, "for they rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."

     The church spoken of in this obituary is still in existence as referred to above. Calvin Curlee was buried near the church house. Dr. J. P. Curlee, a grandson of Calvin Curlee, has done much preaching in Cannon County. He is an earnest, faithful gospel preacher who has labored for the churches without any earthly consideration or remuneration. He has helped to keep alive the churches which his grandfather planted. Another grandson of his, Brother E. H. Hoover, of Chattanooga, Tenn., has done much work in the vineyard of the Lord. Brother Hoover preached for several years for the church at Lynnville, Tenn., and has been with Central Church in Chattanooga for about twelve years. I mention these godly men because of their relation to Calvin Curlee.

     We find the obituary of Calvin Curlee's wife in the Gospel Advocate, November, 1857. It is as follows:

     Rebecca Curlee, wife of the late Calvin Curlee, of Cannon County, Tenn., died on October 3, 1856, in the sixty-fifth year of her age. Few women were more devoted than was Sister Curlee, and seldom do we find one more clear in her Christian confidence and experience.

     We find another pioneer preacher, J. K. Speer, writing in the Gospel Advocate, December 27, 1855, and he published in January, 1856, as follows: "Since my last to you, I visited Brawley's Fork (old Brother Calvin Curlee's earthly home), and, in connection with our devoted Brother Murphree, held a meeting of six days, with seventeen additions."

     The records are brief in regard to Brother Calvin Curlee's work. However, tradition has handed down many interesting incidents of his life and events of his labors. When God's roll is called up yonder, we expect Calvin Curlee to answer, and to rejoice with him and others in their love and sacrifice for the Lord.

—From Biographical Sketches Of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo Boles, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee, 1932, pages 57-60

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