Some one has very truly said that great men plant their influence in the heart of humanity and pass on to higher spheres of service. This is applicable to J. D. Floyd. He stamped his impress upon the minds and hearts of man in Middle Tennessee. There are but few, if any, congregations in Middle Tennessee that have not felt the influence Of this great and good man.

John D. Floyd was born On September 1, 1839, in Tennessee. He grew to manhood in his native county. He had small opportunities for an education. He had an inquiring mind and strong intellectual powers. He was possessed of a very genial disposition. He enlisted in the Confederate Army, Seventeenth Tennessee Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, in 1861. He was soon promoted to the position of lieutenant, and served with bravery and gallantry until the close of the war in 1865. He suffered much during these four years. They were years of wickedness and had a very unwholesome effect upon his mind and body. The preaching that he had heard before the war beclouded and confused his mind in regard to religion. He was reared under the influence of the Baptist Church. He was in doubt as to whether he was one of the elect. During the four years that he was in the war he thought much about his eternal salvation, and when the war closed he had drifted into infidelity. Soon after the war he learned that Dr. T. W. Brents, an eminent physician and preacher of the gospel, was to preach at Lynchburg, Tenn., about seven miles from his home, and he planned to hear him.

He had attended school for a short time before the war at New Hope Academy, in Marshall County, Tennessee. While attending this school he had heard Dr. Brents lecture, and he remembered him as being a very prominent and logical speaker. He went to Lynchburg, and when he arrived he was greatly disappointed upon learning that Dr. Brents would not be there, but that he had sent another preacher in his stead. J. D. Floyd was so disappointed that he came near turning around and riding back home. However, he decided to remain and learn something if he could. Old Brother R. B. Trimble was the preacher sent by Brother Brents. When he arose, he announced that he would preach from Acts 2:38 and Acts 8:22. Young Floyd did not know what these Scriptures were, so they arrested his attention at once. Brother Trimble showed from these Scriptures the law of pardon to the alien sinner and the law of pardon to the erring child of God. This was new to young Floyd. He had never heard any one make such a division of the word of God, and it had never occurred to him before that there were two classes addressed in the Bible. He soon became interested in the sermon, for it was a complete revelation to him and cleared up many points over which he had been confused for some time. Young Floyd saw for the first time in life the beauty and fitness in the Bible. This was a turning point in his life. Little did the preacher think that he was having part in an exercise or service that would determine the destiny of at least one man, and that this one man would affect the destiny of thousands. Young Floyd began at once a very close, careful, and honest study of the Bible. A few months after he began studying the Bible he was baptized into Christ upon his confession of faith in him as his Lord and Master. Soon after he became a Christian he began preaching in his own community.

J. D. Floyd was a man of one book. He studied the Bible. He read the Bible daily to know the will of God and to be able to teach it to others. He preached for the church at Flat Creek and built up a strong congregation there. The church at Flat Creek was organized in 1868. J. D. Floyd began preaching regularly for the church there in 1871, and continued his labors with that church for about fifty years. Much of this time he was an elder in this congregation. This congregation developed and sent out many preachers of the gospel. Among those sent out were K. J. Pearson, E. P. Couch, Charles Bearden, Herbert Patterson, W. F. Reagor, J. M. Philputt, A. B. Philputt, B. S. Gowen, and George Gowen. Brother Floyd had much to do with the development of all these preachers. He taught them and encouraged them to preach the gospel. His work with the congregation at Flat Creek prepared him for the work of teaching and encouraging congregations. While he was a splendid evangelist and brought many into the church, yet his strongest efforts were given to the teaching of the church.

At the close of the year 1880 he wrote to the Gospel Advocate and gave a report of his work during that year. In this report he says that he saw the need of teaching the church. Many congregations throughout Middle Tennessee had been established, but they were weak and untaught. Brother Floyd was an apt teacher and did much to strengthen these churches. Many of them would not be in existence today had not Brother Floyd taught and encouraged them. He traveled on horseback and went into the rural sections and preached the gospel to aliens and taught and confirmed the children of God.

Brother Floyd was a clear, accurate thinker, and had the ability to express himself with clearness and force. He wrote a splendid book, " The Word of Reconciliation." This book has been considered by many as the best work on first principles for general distribution that has been published. Any young preacher could read this book with great profit today. It is written in simple language, and the thoughts are supported by Scriptural quotations. This book alone has been a great factor in the conversion of many people.

Brother Floyd was a preacher of the gospel for fifty years. Very few men have done more work or better work for the church than did he. The number of churches that he planted or served can testify of his faithfulness and his efficiency. In his old age he derived much pleasure and satisfaction from the memory of the work he had done and the number of faithful servants of the Lord that he had encouraged. Brother Floyd was a strong man, mentally, morally, and spiritually. He lived a clean life and had an influence for good over all whom he met. In his extensive work his life touched the lives of many, and all could bear witness that his influence over them was a benediction. He loved peace, and he always endeavored to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Brother Floyd died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. H. Mitchell, at Tullahoma, Tenn., November 30, 1919. He was a little more than eighty years old when he died. Funeral services were held by two of his lifelong friends and coworkers in the Lord, T. C. Little and B. F. Hart. So passed from earth into a higher realm an honest man, a good citizen, a devoted father, a faithful husband, and a Christian.

-Biographical Sketches Of Gospel Preacher, H. Leo Boles, GA, pages 301-304

Location of The Grave Of J.D. Floyd

J.D. Floyd is buried just outside of Lynchburg, Tennessee in the community of Flat Creek. He is buried in the Rose Bank Cemetery on New Herman Road. From I-24 at Tullahoma, Tennessee, take Hwy 55 toward Lynchburg. Just as you enter Lynchburg you will see a store on the right that corners on Flat Creek Rd. (Hwy 82). Travel out Flat Creek Rd. 6.8 miles and come into the unincorporated village of Cane Creek. At the crossroads you will see the Cane Creek Church of Christ on the left. Turn left by the church building and then turn back to the left on New Herman Rd. Go 4/10 mile on New Herman Rd. and the cemetery is on the left. Go to the second entrance and as you enter, bear to the left, and count in about 12 rows, the top of the first little rise. From the road driveway it will be about 4 stones in where you'll see the "Floyd" stone which is about 4ft square in size.

While visiting this grave, be sure to travel further out New Herman Road another 3.6 miles and the old New Herman Church of Christ located on the left. It was established in 1830, and in the old graveyard behind is the grave of Joshua K. Speer. 

Other Preachers buried In The Area:

Thomas K. Shaw - 7 miles
B.F. Hart - Petersburg - 15 miles
W.H. Dixon - 17 miles

More About The Flat Creek Church of Christ

The church at Flat Creek, Tennessee is perhaps one of the most remarkable in the brotherhood for the large number of preachers it has sent out. It was only organized in 1868, yet nearly half-dozen churches have swarmed from the parent hive, and more than a dozen preachers have gone out either from this church or because of influences emanating with or impressions received in it. Among these are J.D. Floyd, K.J. Pearson and Wat Gowen, of Flat Creek, E.P. Couch, of Mt Byrd, Ky., Charles Bearden, of Wylie, and Herbert Patterson, of Bazette, Texas, W.F. Reagor, of Sacramento, Cal., J.M. Philputt, of Buffalo, N.Y., A.B. Philputt, of Indianapolis, Ind.; B.S. Gowen, of New Haven, Conn., Geo. Gowan, of Louisville, Ky. J.D. Floyd, one of the elders, has preached more or less regularly for the church since 1871. To his efforts is due, more than to any one else, the marvelous work done by this church, and to his encouragement the large numbers of preachers which she has sent out. He is the author of what is considered by many the best work on first principles for general distribution yet published by us - "The Word Of Reconciliation" He preaches in the regions round about, and wields the most powerful influence for good of any man in a large section of Middle Tennessee. The church has always been noted for its excellent congregational singing, A.D. Fillmore, the father of the Fillmore brothers, of Cincinnati, doing the last music teaching of his life in this church in 1869.

-Churches Of Christ, John T. Brown, 1904, page 626