Typewritten by himself 1892, published in Texas Historical Biographical Magazine, edited rigorously by his greatgreatgranddaughter Helen Glenn Court
Rev. Jacob Manly Cantey Breaker was born in the Kershaw district, near Camden, South Carolina, July 25, 1824, the youngest son of L. F. Breaker, who was a merchant in Camden, and had a plantation and summer residence fourteen miles from the city. The family removed to Key West, Florida in 1828. In April 1840, JMCB was sent to Camden to enjoy better school facilities and be placed under better social influences. There he lived for a time with his cousin, Rev. C.M. Breaker, pastor of the Baptist church there, by whom he was baptized June 14, 1840. Soon after this, his mind became deeply exercised on the question of the proper business of life. Though so young, only a little more than 16 years old and only a few months a member of the church, he could not resist the conviction that he must devote his life in the ministry. With some assistance, he entered the Furman Literary and Theological Institute, near Winnsboro, S.C., January 1, 1841, where he remained five years and a half, graduating in June 1846. Ordained July 5, 1846, he was married to Miss Emma J. Juhan on October 11, 1848. She had recently graduated at the Barhamville Collegiate Institute, near Columbia and was a relative of Dr. W. B. Johnson of Agefield and Dr. Geo. Howe, of Columbia.
In January 1849, he accepted the pastorate of the church at Newbern, N.C., and two years later became principal of the Newbern Female Seminary, which he held for the next two years. A pastorate at Beaufort continued six years, and was in a high degree satisfactory and successful. It was here that he baptized 223 persons, mostly colored, at one time, and in 65 minutes, a fact which was noticed and published in many secular as well as religious papers throughout the country, under the heading, "A Long Controversy Settled," alluding to the proof thus furnished of the ease with which the 3,000 could have been immersed by the 12 apostles on the day of Pentecost. Here he wrote his "Prize Essay on Communion," which won the prize of $100 from the Southwestern Publishing House, of J, R, Graves & Co., a book which has brought a number of Pseudo-baptists into the Baptist fold, and made many Baptists strong in faith.
At the beginning of his second year in Columbia the war came on, and a large number of persons went to Columbia, as refugees from Charleston and other parts of the State. During this pastorate a great revival occured at the Saluda Cotton Factory, three miles from Columbia, where, in a little more than two years, sixty-six of the employes were baptized, forming a branch of the Columbia church. But the burning of Columbia, by the Federal army, near the close of the war in 1865, terminated Mr. Breaker's six years pastorate there. In the summer of 1865, he removed his family to Laurens District, where he had been preaching once a month the last year of the war, and whence he obtained the most of his supplies during that trying time.
Encouraged by letters from leading pastors in St. Louis, Mr. Breaker removed with his family to that city in January 1868. The main object of the movement in St. Louis failed. Mr. Breaker's pastorate at St. Joseph continued a little more than six years, and resulted in about 100 additions to the church by baptism. One of the leading features was his delivery of 16 lectures, on consecutive Sunday nights, on Romanism, examining in the light of Scripture, reason and history, all its distinctive doctrines and practices. The lectures were published in the city papers at their own request, and they may yet be published in book form. There is need for some such convenient handbook on Romanism. It was while in St. Joseph, in June, 1875, that Mr. Breaker received from LaGrange College, Mo., the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. In March 1877, he visited Houston, Texas, by request, and soon received and accepted the call of the First church to become their pastor, which position he held for nearly ten years, resigning at the end of 1886. The church, which had been without a regular pastor for a year or more, was in a divided condition, with a dilapidated church edifice, and with but little expectation of getting a better one for many years to come. The pastor's attention and efforts were largely directed to this one object, until it was accomplished, which was only a short time before his resignation. The plan of the new church, which is considered a model of completeness and elegance was drawn by the pastor, and adopted in almost every particular by the architect and the church. One hundred and thirty-four were baptized during this pastorate. Leaving Houston the last of December 1887, he tendered to the Olivet church his resignation, advising their dissolution, under the circumstances, and their union with some existing church whose fellowship they could enjoy, which was accordingly done.
Though now quite well matured in years, Dr. Breaker, has still all the physical and mental vigor and energy of youth, and, with most excellent health, has the prospect of years of continued activity in the cause of Christ and truth. While much interested in all enterprises looking to the advancement of religion and sound culture, at home and abroad, his prevailing disposition is retiring, and his chosen field of labor is that of home, the study, and the pulpit. His private library, chiefly time theological, is perhaps the largest in Texas. Up to the present time, he has baptized over 1690 persons, including all of his eight children, married 305 couples, and performed 491 funeral services.
Breaker Rev. J.M.C., was born near Camden Kershaw District, S.C., July 25, 1824; graduated from Furman Literary and Theological Institution, Fairfield, S. C., June, 1846; ordained to the ministry July.3, 1846; has been pastor of Greenville, Grahamville, Beaufort, Columbia, Spartansburg, S.C., Newbern, N.C.; Park Avenue, St Louis, Liberty, First church, St. Joseph, Mo.; and has been pastor at Houston, Texas, since April, 1877, where he is excelled by no other city minister in ability and influence; for several years was secretary of the South Carolina Baptist State Convention; founded and edited at Columbia, S. C., during the war, a weekly paper called The Confederate Baptist,. received the degree of D.D. from LaGrange Col1ege, Mo.; is a life-member of the American Baptist Missionary Union, American Baptist Publication Society and the American Bible Society; has baptized 1520 persons; is author of a prize essay "Communion," published in 1859, and has contributed a number of articles to the Christian Review and other periodicals.
[pages 131 & 132] The Baptist Encyclopaedia, By William Cathcart, Volumes 1 & 2, 1881 & 1883
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