W. R. Chaffin (1840–1916)

He obeyed the gospel in August, 1859, at Antioch, in Jackson County. William and Garland Kuykendall were in a series of meetings at this place at that time. Old Brother Garland Kuykendall baptized him in the beautiful little stream, Flynn's Creek, a tributary of the Cumberland River. This clear, limpid stream flows by the church house at Antioch. He began preaching the gospel in 1865.

At the beginning of the Civil War he was drafted into the Confederate Army. He was not in sympathy with secession and was bitterly opposed to slavery. He served out the time of his draft and then enlisted in the Federal Army and served in it until the war closed. He did not believe in carnal warfare; but since he saw no way of escaping service as a soldier, he determined, if he had to fight, that he would fight on the right side. So soon as he got out of the army he went to work helping his county back to normal conditions. He was a lover of peace and a peacemaker among his fellows. He saw the great need of building up the churches and strengthening them for their mission. Most of his work as a preacher of the gospel was done in Jackson and Putnam counties.