The Rev. Robert G. McLeskey was born January 6, 1837, and at
the age of nine or ten years attached himself to the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church at Green Hill, Weakley County, Tenn. He was educated at Bethel College,
McLemoresville, Tenn. It is said of him that his boyhood days were well and
usefully spent; that his example was good, and that his early life was one
continued ray of sunshine.
In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army; performed all
the duties required of him as a soldier tothe end of that unhappy contect; and
was wounded at the battler of Shiloh, and never fully recovered from the
effects of the injury.
His father and two brothers were all ministers of the Gospel
in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He followed the example set before him
and was taken under the care of Hopewell Presbytery at Rutherford, Tenn., March
31, 1866; was licensed at Humboldt, Tenn., October 6, 1867. He ministered for
several years to congregations in Tennessee and for a short time in Paducah. On
January 1, 1877, he was employed by the congregation at Caseyville. In 1878 he
purchased property and removed his family to Caseyville. His labors were
divided between Caseyville, Mt. Ephriam, Madisonville and Greenville, Ky.,
until 1883, when, on account of declining health he gave up all but Caseyville
and Mt. Ephraim. In the spring of 1884 his health became so bad that he gave up
preaching, and, in company with his wife, made a trip to Mississippi, returned
to Madisonville in September and died of consumption on the 15th of October,
1884.
He joined the Masons in early life, and the Knights of Honor
in 1877. Being a Knight Templar, that order, together with the Knights of
Honor, performed the funeral service, assisted by Rev. A. B. Buchanan, of
Madisonville, Ky.
His culture and rare attainments had won for him the
admiration and esteem of all who knew him, and he was always ready to help in
the discharge of the duties due his Master. His light has enabled many
wandering feet to turn from destruction to Christ. He was a shining star among
us. Death came with his sickle and the true pastor and kind friend peacefully
folded his hands and closed his eyes to earth, but has ere this opened them on
eternal bliss.
