Christopher Columbus Haymore

Christopher Columbus Haymore, born on Stony Creek, Surry County, in 1848, was the fourth son. From birth he was frail in physique, but tall and straight. His feeble health from boyhood prevented his completing his course in college, wherefore his educational advantages were not so good, but whatever was lacking in his intellectual training was accounted for in energy and perseverance. In the beginning of his life he labored as a mechanic and earned his first money in the blacksmith shop.

He began his ministry in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and spent his entire service in Surry and adjoining counties, preaching occasionally in other parts of the state. He was a pioneer Baptist preacher in all that section of the country, possessing unusual executive ability. He was a leader of the people in all his undertakings; his highest ambition was to serve. He knew not himself, no sacrifice was too great or weather too bad for him, often with no remuneration whatever, and never a living unaided by his personal earnings. He was a leader of his flock “de jure.” He knew his people and they knew him.

He first served as pastor at White Plains, Surry County, also at Rocky Shoals, Yadkin County. He organized a church and built a new house of worship at Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, also one at Pinnacle, Stokes County; he organized a church and built a house of worship at King, Stokes County. These are splendid houses of worship. He served as pastor of the church at Westfield, Surry County, also at Peters Creek, Stokes County. He organized a church near the Granite City Rock Quarry, where he served for several years and built a new stone church, which is handsome and commodious, known as the Flat Rock Church. This church is strong in its faith and membership. Before this, however, he had organized a Baptist Church at Mount Airy when there was only five Baptist ladies in the entire town and community. A new church was built and dedicated with the aid of that distinguished divine, A. C. Dixon. Since then a splendid stone building has been erected, at an estimated value of $30,000. The membership of this church in influence and strength for good in the community is among the best. He also organized and built a new church while he served as its pastor at Germanton. He served also as pastor at Redbank Church, Forsyth County. He served many years at the Church of Enon, Yadkin County. This church was greatly enlarged and revived by his services. His last service was in organizing the Second Baptist Church at Mount Airy, composed of a large membership and having repaired the old church building and bought and paid for a new site preparatory to a stone building on Rockford Street. During all this time he was in frail health, thinking that every year would be his last, but on and on the Lord led him in his life of usefulness. As this servant of God looks back over his ministerial life there is one thing that brings peculiar joy, namely: The number of young men whom he has baptized and encouraged to enter the ministry, some of whom are now filling the best pulpits in all the country, and some of them have already crossed over the river to await the coming of their Father in the Gospel.

He married the daughter of James L. Blackwell, a distinguished and well known family of Yadkin County. His wife was a capable and dutiful companion. Her devotion to the cause for which he worked was beautiful. Their home was an open door of hospitality and friendliness for those interested in the cause of religion.

Source: History of North Carolina: North Carolina Biography, by special staff of writers, 1919.

Welcome to The American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP), an unincorporated not-for-profit network of independent sites devoted to History & Genealogy, and covering North American Countries and Territories. For more information about our group, including how you can join us, please see our About page. Webspace for this site is generously provided by     and This page is a free service to all Family Historians who are currently doing research in the Surry County, North Carolina area. It is not intended for commercial use. This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent of the contributor. All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited! This page was last updated Saturday, 22-Dec-2018 23:48:42 EST. Copyright © 2017~2024 by Surry County AHGP