History of the Restoration Movement


The Owingsville, Kentucky Home Of "Raccoon" John Smith

1835-1848; 1861-1865

"Raccoon" John Smith planted the work of New Testament Christianity in Owingsville, Bath County, Kentucky in 1828. It was one of three churches he planted in the county, the other two being Upper White Oak and Sharpesburg. Between the years of 1835 and 1848, his family lived on a farm near the little town of Owingsville. Though he did much traveling, he continued here through the years.

John and Nancy's oldest daughter, Maria, attended Phillip Fall's Academy for girls in Frankfort, Kentucky. After her graduation she married a young Owingsville businessman and most eligable bachelor, James Andrew Jackson Lee. The two were married March 8, 1838. On March 23rd, another daughter Eliza Ann, married Edgar A. Freeman, a carpenter in Owingsville. Subsequent additions of grandchildren, along with a steady work in the church, made for a good location for the Smiths to continue for several years.

In 1861, when Nancy Smith passed away, John moved to live with his daughter Maria in Owingsville, and over the last several years of his life he floated between children there, and in Mexico, Missouri. The later location was where he died in 1868.

In 2011, it was the privilege of your web editor, along with C. Wayne Kilpatrick and Tom L. Childers to visit Owingsville, Kentucky for the first time. A visit to the library afforded us the opportunity to learn of the location of the Owingsville home of the Lee family, as well as their burial plots in the city cemetery. The photos of the home below reflect one of the last known houses that "Raccoon" John Smith called home. It was owned by the Lee family.

Directions To The Lee's Owingsville Home

East of Lexington, Kentucky, traveling east on I-64, go to exit 121/Hwy.36 and go north on Slate Ave. Head into downtown Owingsville, and turn left on W. Main St. The Lee home will be about four blocks up Hwy. 60 on the right. See photos below.

GPS Location Of Lee Home In Owingsville
38°08'38.2"N 83°46'06.5"W
or D.d. 38.143930, -83.768483


"Upping Stone" - Used To Mount Horses In Earlier Days

Owingsville Christian Church
Founded by "Raccoon" John Smith in 1828


The Christian Church at Owingsville, Kentucky

Directions To The Graves J.A.J. and M.S. Lee

East of Lexington, Kentucky, traveling east on I-64, go to exit 121/Hwy.36 and go north on Slate Ave. Turn right on W. Paul Lewis Dr. Go two blocks and turn right on Cemetery Street. Enter cemetery at end of street. Go left just past the house at the entrance and make your way to the left side of the cemetery and park. Look for tall monument on right. Very close to house/office. See photos below. Also buried in this cemetery is long-time restoration preacher Asa Maxie.(Find-A-Grave)

GPS Location of The Graves of James Andrews Jackson and Maria Smith Lee
38°08'35.6"N 83°45'36.5"W
or D.d. 38.143217, -83.760125


M.M. Lee
J.A.J. Lee


Lellie Lee Walden


A.W. Walden
1856-1934


J. Clay Lee
Born
June 16, 1844
Died
May 14, 1883


J.A.J. Lee
Died
March 26, 1893
Aged 78 years
*Maria M. Lee
Died
January 2, 1889
Aged 69 years
'Till the dawn and
the shadows flee away."

*John and Nancy Smith's daughter

Photos Taken May, 2011
Courtesy of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com

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