Maxey

CHAMBURS I. MAXEY, Ohio County, was born in Warren County, Ky., July 15, 1851; he is a son of John J. and Elizabeth Maxey, both natives of Warren County. John Maxey, the father of our subject, was first married to Polly Bellar, in the year 1833; to them were born four sons; Calvin and Wilson (who died at an early age), William W., and John M., who enlisted in the civil war of 1861. William was killed in the battle of Shiloh, Tenn., in 1862. John J. Maxey's second marriage was with Miss Elizabeth Hudnall, April 2, 1844. Their union was blessed with thirteen children, nine of whom lived to be grown and married, eight of whom are living (1885): Prudence A., Ann H., Althea M., Julie E., Hesser C., Willie W., Chamburs I., and Warren W.  Edward Maxey, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, where he married Judy White, and removed to Kentucky in an early day. Chamburs I. Maxey, in 1872, began to work for himself; raised a crop of corn, and in the autumn of that year married Fannie R., daughter of Joseph Hudnall, of Ohio County. After marriage, Mr. Maxey rented land for one year, and in 1873, removed to Ohio County, and settled on his father-in-law's land, where he now resides. He has opened a nice little farm, well fenced and improved, and gives his entire attention to farming, in which he is successful, and is one of the rising young farmers of Ohio county. Mr. and Mrs. Maxey are the parents of three children: Joseph J., Minnie M., and Ida Pearl. Mr. Maxey and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Maxey is a Republican.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  Chamburs Irwin Maxey died 8 Jun 1933 in Akron, Ohio and is buried in Tallmadge Cemetery, Summit County, Ohio.

And his brother:

REV. MILBURN A. MAXEY was born March 7, 1848, and died November 6, 1884, aged thirty-six years seven months and twenty-nine days. He died of liver disease. He joined the Logan Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at Cavena, Hart Co., Ky., October 1869. He went to Cumberland University in February, 1870. He was licensed to preach at Rockfield, Warren Co., Ky., on the 12th day of August, 1871, in his twenty-fourth year, and was ordained in 1872. He preached in Arkansas County, Ark., during the summer of 1872, and witnessed fifty conversions. He graduated in theology, in Cumberland University, in June, 1875, and began his active labors as a pastor in Christian County, Ky., where he continued to labor incessantly and with great acceptance and efficiency until he left there, nearly three years ago, and removed to Columbia, Tenn., where he labored until his death. In Columbia he was universally beloved by his church, and not only by his own church but by other denominations, and by outsiders generally. He had won a strong hold upon the affections of the people, both inside and outside of his church. He was a favorite with all classes. He was the friend of the poor man as well as the rich. He made no distinctions, and wherever suffering humanity called for assistance, like his blessed Master, he was ready to go and render any aid in his power. He was an uncompromising advocate of the truth, and it is believed that he would sooner have suffered martyrdom than to have sacrificed his conscientious convictions of truth and duty. He was sympathetic, tender and kind toward all with whom he came in contact. He was affable in his intercourse with men, and by his genial disposition won the affections of all he chanced to meet. But Brother Maxey's race is run. He has fought the last battle, and though he fell in the fight, yet he has triumphed over death, and has ascended to be forever with the Lord. He conversed freely before his death about his future prospects. On Tuesday afternoon, November 4, the substance of the following conversation took place: I said to him: "Brother Maxey, I did not get to go to our last meeting of Presbytery. You preached the opening sermon: what was your text?" "I preached twice. My text on Friday was John III, 30: 'He must increase, but I must decrease.' My text on Sabbath was 2 Cor. III, 18: 'But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.'"

The Rev. T. J. Duncan (Methodist) said: "Brother Maxey, if you have anything to say to your wife, children, father, sister, or friends, you might say it now. We do not wish to alarm you, but the chances are against your getting well, and you should make any arrangements you might want to make now while you can." To this he replied: "This does not excite me. I am prepared for it." Then, addressing his father, he spoke of his life insurance policy, to the amount of $5,000, which he had carried until within a few months past, when he had to drop it on account of financial pressure. This, of course, is lost. What a warning to others, with a slight hint to churches to carry a policy on the life of their pastor for the benefit of his helpless family. Brother Maxey said, however, "I have been young, and though not yet very old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

Turning to the writer, he said, "Do you remember those sweet little songs we sang when your little Willie lay dying? Then you know the song 'Nearer, Dearer,' " and in a clear and very distinct voice he sang the chorus:

Nearer, dearer, I long to feel my Saviour,

Nearer, dearer, hour by hour.

His wife said, "If it should come to the worst, where do you want to be laid to rest?" He replied, "On that grand old hillside where I used to play in childhood, if it suits you all." Brother Duncan said, "But Brother Maxey, would you not like it better, if it suited all around, to be buried here in the midst of your flock, where they could watch over your grave and do you honor?" Finally he said, "I only wanted to honor my father and mother, but if agreeable, let it be as Ida wishes it." His wife asked him for his favorite hymn. He replied, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' name." She then asked him for his favorite chapter. He said, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.” He then quoted many passages of Scripture and favorite verses of poetry. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee," was repeated frequently. Referring to his church, he said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." And with many other words did he exhort us that evening. He lay quietly for some time repeating the precious Scripture promises, sach as, “In my Father's house are many mansions," etc., "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." At one time he said, "I wish that you all knew how easy it is to die." Then he said, "He will never leave me nor forsake me." Just before he died, his wife, bending over him, anxious to know if he were still conscious, and if he still recognized her, said, "Who is this talking to you?" He said, "It is my own sweet Ida." Then at last he said, "Farewell, farewell to all." We knew that his last moments were near, and we asked, “Is Jesus with you yet?" "O yes; he is with me all the time." "Do you suffer any pain?" "None at all. All is well with me forever." He then spoke of his dear departed loved ones, and said, "They have gone on before me, but I shall soon overtake them." And then with rapture he said, "I can almost hear the music of the angels on the other shore.”

The burial services were conducted by the Rev. J. S. Grider, of Bowling Green, Ky., who gave a brief sketch of his life, and called our attention to 2 Tim. IV, 6-8: "For I am now ready to be offered," etc. The discourse was a masterly effort, eliciting the warmest expressions of commendation. Brother Grider was assisted by the Rev. T. J. Duncan, former pastor here of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and co-laborer here with Brother Maxey, who delivered an earnest and impressive address, indorsing Brother Maxey's work, and giving a brief history of his life since his coming to Columbia. He was followed by the Rev. W. C. Grace, pastor of the Baptist Church, who passed a high eulogy upon the deceased, and spoke in touching words also of his private relation to Brothey Maxey, and of his intercourse with him. The burial was at Rose Hill Cemetery, where he was interred by the K. of P. and the Masonic order. Here he sweetly sleeps beneath the waving pine and the vine-covered earth, waiting for the resurrection of the just. The fallen soldier sleeps on the field of battle, in companionship, with the mighty dead-— the Rev. S. G. Caruthers, the Rev. B. C. Chapman, and hosts of others eminent for piety. We can scarcely realize the fact that our comrade has fallen from our side, but it is so; Milburn A. Maxey is gone. He was our friend, our brother; true in life and faithful in death. Farewell, my true yoke-fellow. The bonds that bound us together in life shall not be sundered by death, for in the "bright forever," “the summer land of song," we expect to meet thee agajn. “Though lost to sight, to memory thou art dear," and we know that thou art only gone before, withdrawn for the present from our view, as the stars of night disappear from our view before the light of day. Yet we know that thou art not lost, but only gone before.

Gone, but not lost, our brother dear!

Gone home to glory and to God.

We meet today, and drop a tear

Where rests his body 'neath the sod.

Gone, but not lost; O no, not lost!

Although he fell in battle strife.

He fell a soldier at his post,

And now he wears a crown of life.

Gone, but not lost! just gone before.

Where Jesus and the angels dwell;

He rests in peace, his labor's o'er,

And we today his triumph tell.

Brother Maxey leaves a wife and three children to mourn their loss, one little daughter — Maud, by his first wife, and two little boys — Milburn and Herschel, by the last.  O! thou God of the widow and fatherless, draw near to these, and comfort and protect them in this great loss! And may the father's fallen mantle fall eventually upon one or both of these dear little boys, and may they fill the vacancy made in the ranks of the ministry, and at last gather together with their sainted father in the realms of eternal day.

Source: J. H. BATTLE, W H. PERRIN, & G. C. KNIFFIN 1895

Note:  Milburn Adalbert Maxey is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Columbia, TN.