Matthew Hillsman was born on this day (August 7th) 1814. His Father had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. After the war he moved west and taught school in the village of Cumberland, Tennessee (later known as Nashville). Then about 1793 he moved east and built house and store in what was to become Knoxville. In 1825 John Hillsman was baptized in the Tennessee River by missionary John Rogers, while more than 3,000 people watched. Among the witnesses was John’s son, Matthew.
Matthew was eventually born again, and was baptized by Elder Sam Love, joining the Third Creek Baptist Church. For a while he attended East Tennessee College (later renamed the University of Tennessee). He became a farmer, merchant and part-time preacher. After his marriage, he moved to Talladega, Alabama where he helped a struggling Baptist Church, but then he moved his family to “Ross’s Landing,” now known as Chattanooga, where he opened a general store. It took some time, but he slowly learned that God had not called him to be a rich merchant. The community had built a good sized log schoolhouse and occasionally visiting ministers would come by and preach there. The few Baptists in town encouraged Brother Hillsman to preach as well. The Lord began to bless, and through the authority of the First Baptist Church in Nashville, a church in Chattanooga was organized. Over time, Bro. Hillsman forsook his mercantile business, devoting himself entirely to the ministry. It was said that “as a preacher he was sound in doctrine, clear in exposition, and entirely free from sensationalism. His style was plain, practical and direct…”
Matthew Hillsman pastored in Chattanooga, Murfreesboro and several other Tennessee communities. He edited the “Baptist Watchman,” was president and professor at Massy Creek College and even Postmaster of Trenton, Tennessee, where he pastored for a while.
He departed to be with his Saviour on October 2, 1892 at the age of 78.