The place named in this table, is where the minister is buried. The original table also shows the year they were admitted as a minister, or
"Admitted on Trial", the number of years they preached in the conference and the number of churches they served.

Crismond, John M.               d. April 27, 1875                  Liberty Hill, TN

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John M. Crismond was born and reared in the city of Baltimore.  When he was quite a small boy playing on the streets of Balitmore where he was picked up one beautiful Sunday Morning, taken to Sunday School, and placed in a class of little boys under a male teacher who felt a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of his pupils.  Through influecnces brought to bear upon him in the Sunday School, he was powerfully converted in the old Methodist style.  After reaching a maturity he plied his trade as a tailor till clearly convinced that God had called him to preach.  He came to Abingdon, Va., in 1836 and was licensed to preach.  He was admitted into the Holston Conference at Madisonville in October, 1837.  He traveled and did effective work for thirty seven years, including one year on the Wytheville District as presiding elder.  He was married to Miss Elizabeth Shannon.  The fruit of this union was nine children, two of whom preceded him to paradise.  Mr. Crismond was a man of correct eductation and mediocre preaching talent.  He united the emotional type of religion with a severe morality.  He preached with fire and emotion, and often sat down shouting the praise of God.  He made no compromises with the world.  He was reserved in conversation on general topics, but always ready to converse prudently on religion.  He professed the blessing of perfect love as taught by Wesley and believed by early Methodists.  But although he preached the doctorine of perfect love, he was not a sanctification crank.

     He did not possess the sunshiny disposition of Father Haskew.  He was rather demure, and his resentments were strong; but all was restrained and mellowed by the grace of God.  He died while in charge of Morristown Circuit.  At first he was confined at the residence of Mr Morelock, some two miles east of Morristown; but was removed to the home of Mr. T. D. Murf, a pious member of the Methodist Church in Morristown, for better medical attention.  Here he closed his earthly career, April 27, 1875.  His last words were: “I have peace.”  He was buried at Liberty Hill, near Morristown.

    One fact of his life is perhaps worthy of special mention.  His wife remained on her farm, in Burk’s Garden, Va., and never accompanied him to his pastoral charges.  This arrangement was agreed upon when they wedded.  No correspondence passed between them except in cases of sickness and death.  He visited his home as often as he could consistenly with his duties to his pastoral charges, and, so far as I know, their marriage life was a life of love.  His entanglement with a family did not interfere with his devotion to the itinerancy;  But he was just as punctual and useful on his charges as if he were a bachelor, and perhaps more so.  His social demeanor was of the most prudent character.

Holston Conference, 1875

Held at Knoxville, Tn, October 20-26, 1875

Pg 155?

John M Crismond was born and reared in the city of Baltimore, Md.  The precise time of his birth is not known.  When he was quite a small boy, playing on the streets of Baltimore, he was picked up one beautiful Sabbath morning, and led to the Sunday-school, and placed in a class of little boys, under a male teacher who felt a deep interest in the spiritual and temporal welfare of his pupils.  In that school good impressions were made upon the mind of young Crismond, whose sentiments were corrected, habits formed, character molded, and destiny shaped, not only for this short life, but for the eternal future.  This teaching resulted, under the heavenly influences of the Holy Spirit, in a sound, clear, and powerful conversion to God.  He was a taiolor by trade, and continued his occupation until he was clearly convinced that God had called him to preach the gospel.  In the spring of 1836, he came to Abingdon, Va., was licensed to preach june 27 following and was recommened to the Holston Annual Conference, for admission on trial, by the Quarterly Conference of the Agingdon Station, Oct 2, 1837; was admitted at Madisonville, in the same month, and appointed to the Athens Circuit.  The follwing were his fields of labor to the end of his useful life:  Jonesville Circuit, 1838; Knowville, 1839; Pearisburg, 1840; Marion, 1841; Wytheville, 1842; Abingdon, 1843; Marion, 1844; Pearisburg, 1845; Grayson, 1846-7; Lebanon, 1848; Jeffersonville, 1849; Abingdon 1850; Rogersville, 1851; Lebanon, 1852; Jonesboro, 1853; Jeffersonville, 1854; Pearisburg, 1855; Abingdon 1856; Jonesboro 1857; Estillville, 1858; Lebanon, 1859; Rheatown, 1860; Princeton, 1861; Presiding Elder of Wytheville District, 1862;Wytheville Circuit, 1863;Grayson, 1864;Abingdon, 1865;Jeffersonville, 1866; Pearisburg, 1867;Estillville, 1868; Dickinsonville, 1869-1870; Abindon, 1871; Blountville, 1872; Sedden, 1873; Morristown, 1874.  he was ordained deacon, Nov. 15, 1840, at la Fayette, Ga; by Bishop Morris and was ordained elder, Oct 8, 1843, at Abingdon, Va., by Bishop ????.  He was married to Miss Elizabeth Shannon, June 18, 1841, with whom he lived happily nearly thirty-four years.  Nine children were the fruit of this union, two of whom preceeded him to the Chrisitian’s home.  This faithful worker served his generation, by the will of God, for nearly thirty-eight years, having cultivated twenty different fields of labor for his Master – nineteen circuits and one District.  Nine of these he traveled on year, five of them two years, three of them three years, one of them four years, and one of them five years.  These demonstrate the faithfulness of the laborer-most appreciated where best know, and most beloved where he stayed the longest.  His piety was of the best type-deep, solid, scriptural, unaffected.  He made no comprimise with the world, the flesh, and the devil.  He was very select in his reading; the Bible was his first book, his constant companion and study; after that he was fond of reading other good books which led to the knowledge and love of God.  He was reserved in conversation on general topics, but always ready to converse with the most exalted or the most humble persons on the subject of religion.  He professed to love God perfectly, and gave continual evidence of the fact; he preached it, prayed it, lived it.  During his sickness he was frequently visited by different brethren and friends, with whom he conversed freely, and gave entire satisfaction at all times as to his spiritual state, often rejoicing, and exclaiming, “Salvation to God and the Lamb!”  For better medical attention he was removed from the country to Morristown, to the house of Brother T.D. Murph, at which place he closed his eartly career, in the full possession of his intellectual powers, and in the rich enjoyment of the consolation of our holy religion, April 27, 1875.  In his last utterances he had the rich legacy which Jesus bequeaths to all his faithful servants; said he, “I have peace.”  When speech had failed, at the request of a brother he lifted his hand in token of victory.  Ordinarily he was not above mediocrity as a preacher, but always sensible, solid, edifying and at times overwhelming.