J.K. Mendenhall attended the Princeton Theological Seminary 1850-1852 and the Theological School, New Brunswick, N.J. He was ordained a Baptist in 1852 and was first a pastor at Camden, S.C. 1852-60. Mendenhall then took a church in Fernandina, Fla. 1860-62, followed by Bush River, S.C., Mt. Zion, S.C., and Enoree, S.C. Mendenhall served on the Furman University Board of Trustees 1866-78. He was an agent raising funds for the Furman University endowment 1870-71, then a pastor at Columbia, S.C. 1872-73. Mendenhall was District Secretary of the Home Mission Bard of the Southern Baptist Convention 1875-76 and then an evangelist living in Greenville, S.C. 1877 until he retired. He passed away on 31 July 1896. Both he and his wife, Hester Elizabeth “Hettie” Nettles (1834-1910) are buried in Springwood Cemetery in Greenville.