James B. Fields facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James B. Fields
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| Born | March 1, 1850 |
| Died | August 1, 1896 (aged 46) |
| Occupation | Minister |
| Political party | Republican, Democratic |
| Religion | Baptist |
James B. Fields (born March 1, 1850 – died August 1, 1896) was a well-known Baptist minister and speaker. He lived and worked in Illinois and Denver, Colorado. He was famous for his speeches that argued against the ideas of agnostic Robert G. Ingersoll. An agnostic is someone who believes we cannot know if God exists.
Early Life: James B. Fields' Journey
James B. Fields was born into slavery on March 1, 1850. This happened in a place called Prairieville, Missouri. His parents, Henry and Minnie Fields, were originally from Virginia. In 1862, his family bravely escaped slavery. They found freedom in Quincy, Illinois.
In Quincy, James went to school for two years. During this time, he joined the Baptist church. In 1866, he moved to Macomb, Illinois. There, he began to learn the skill of being a barber. In October 1869, he married Missouri Carr in Palmyra, Missouri. They had three sons together.
By 1870, while still working as a barber, James started studying theology. Theology is the study of religious faith and practice. In 1875, he started a church specifically for Black people in Macomb. Later, James moved to Denver, Colorado. His parents also moved there to be with him. His father passed away on August 27, 1883, at 91 years old.
James B. Fields' Speaking Career
On September 25, 1878, James Fields became an ordained minister in Macomb. This meant he was officially recognized to lead religious services. In September 1879, he became famous across the country. This happened after he gave a powerful speech in Galesburg, Illinois.
In January 1881, he was asked to lead the Zion Baptist church in Denver. He was very successful there. He helped build a new church building and made the church community much larger. By January 1885, Fields decided to leave his church role. He wanted to work as a public speaker instead. His speeches had become very popular.
That year, he traveled all over the country. He gave many speeches that mainly aimed to challenge Robert G. Ingersoll's ideas. Ingersoll was a famous agnostic during that time. Fields continued his tours in 1886. After that, he returned to work in Denver.
Early in his career, Fields was part of the Republican Party. This is one of the main political groups in the United States. However, shortly before he died, he joined the Democratic Party. In late September 1896, Fields went to Salt Lake City, Utah. He planned to speak and raise money for the Baptist Missionary Society of North America. But his trip ended sooner than expected. On August 1, 1896, while in Salt Lake City, James B. Fields passed away from heart disease.
