Samuel Porter Jones was born in Oak Bowery, Alabama on October 16, 1847. His father, John, was a lawyer, and he lost his mother when he was only 9 years old. He grew up in Georgia during the Civil War. His valedictorian speech spoke of his generation as one which came about in the ashes of the Southern Confederacy.
Sam became a lawyer, like his father. He was a wonderful lawyer when he was sober. He was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1868. He married Laura McElwain of Eminence, Kentucky one month later. He was "Sam Jones, the lawyer".
Sam had seen much loss during his young life- the loss of his mother, a war ravaged home, and poor health. He thought that alcohol would help with his ailment, but it only led to him becoming an alcoholic.
He was a terrible attorney when drunk, and also obtained a bad habit of gambling. These two things brought Sam to the point of ruin. The only job he could get was a furnace stoker in a factory where for twelve hours a day he shoveled coal.
His wife bore him two children during this time. His daughter, Beulah died before her second birthday. His other daughter, Mary, was born only one month after her passing. None of these blessings or disasters would change "Sam Jones, the drunkard".
The change occurred when news of his father's sickness came to him in August of 1872. He went to his father's bedside and heard his father's deathbed plea, "My poor wicked, wayward, reckless boy. You have broken the heart of your sweet wife and brought me down in sorrow to my grave. Promise me, my boy, to meet me in Heaven." Sam fell to his knees beside his father and promised him that he would quit drinking.
Sam found himself in a bar not long after. He was about to drink when he looked at himself in the mirror behind the bar. He was dismayed at the wretch he saw sitting there. He threw his glass on the floor and cried out to God for mercy.
He dragged himself to the room he was staying in and begged the ladies running it to bring him a pot of black coffee. He stayed in that room for three days battling to overcome his addiction. Not only was he given the victory over alcohol, but he surrendered his life to the Lord.
He bought a suit and got a haircut and went home to the wife he had left beaten and bruised. When she opened the door he said, "Honey, God has given you a new husband and the children a new daddy, and I wonder if you will forgive me and start all over again." Laura was overcome with joy stating that she had been praying for this.
A week later, he walked down the aisle of his grandfather's church and gave his life to the Lord. He preached his first sermon in his grandfather's pulpit. He was licensed to preach in 1872 and was known as "Sam Jones, the Mountain Evangelist". It was said that he "put the fodder down low where the poor folks could reach it."
He travelled around raising money for orphanages, and preaching where ever he was given permission. He even found himself invited to speak to the State Legislature in Tennessee. It is estimated that in his time he was able to preach to around 25 million people and saw at least 500 thousand people saved.
There was once a time in 1899 during a revival in Toledo, Ohio where Sam Jones, the evangelist would meet another Sam Jones- the newly elected mayor. Mayor Jones had won on the platform of "let everything be done with love". Because of this philosophy he allowed 700 bars and 150 gambling outfits to remain open. Evangelist Jones preached that "if the devil were mayor, he would not change a thing."
D L. Moody wrote him a letter after hearing him preach- God has put into your hands the sledge hammer with which to shatter the formalism of the Church and batter down the strongholds of sin, and He is helping you mightily to use it. God bless you.
It was said when Sam Jones preached that liquor stores closed, theaters and jails emptied, and cursing was reduced to whispers.
On her deathbed, his mother said, "Sam, I will never be able to return to you, but you can come to me." Sam never forgot her words. On October 15, 1906, Sam was coming home to Cartersville to celebrate his 59th birthday. He was on a train when he complained of not feeling well and asked for a drink of water. He died after taking a sip, and went to meet his mother, his father, and his Savior in Heaven.
