USA > Illinois > Pages from the early history of the West and Northwest: embracing reminiscences and incidents of settlement and growth, and sketches of the material and religious progress of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri > Part 18
USA > Indiana > Pages from the early history of the West and Northwest: embracing reminiscences and incidents of settlement and growth, and sketches of the material and religious progress of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri > Part 18
USA > Missouri > Pages from the early history of the West and Northwest: embracing reminiscences and incidents of settlement and growth, and sketches of the material and religious progress of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri > Part 18
USA > Ohio > Pages from the early history of the West and Northwest: embracing reminiscences and incidents of settlement and growth, and sketches of the material and religious progress of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri > Part 18
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die at home! . Doubtless he desired to die without lingering; but, sudden as was his death, he was not unprepared. But a short time since he said to his family and friends, and especially his wife, "Don't weep for me when I go away." What an idea was that of death! "Do n't weep for me when I Go AWAY !" We think about it as death. He did not see it. He looked on the shore of immortality. To him. it was going away; it was falling asleep. Jesus said, "He that keepeth my saying shall not see death." "Do n't," said he, "put on mourning; it seems to me that it is very improper to mourn for a minister who has gone to so good a place as heaven!" This was his dying request. Death found him ready, no doubt. All the time he was ready.
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE first session of the Rock River Conference was held on the camp-ground near the Seminary. There were sixty-four large regular tents, besides many small temporary ones. We had heavy rains at the beginning of the meeting, but no one seemed inclined to leave the ground on account of it, and so graciously were they preserved that no case of sickness originated on the ground, and those who were sick recovered in the course of the meeting. The congregations were large, and very attentive, and many were brought from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. It was esti- mated that about four thousand persons were pres- ent on the Sabbath, who listened with eagerness to the sermon preached by the bishop. It is worthy of note that no guard was necessary, and that no disturbance took place during the meeting. The closing exercises of the Conference, which were de- livered in the presence of the congregation, were short, but deeply impressive. An address was deliv- ered by the superintendent, and the appointments read off. Our Conference room was an inclosure of twenty feet square, which consisted of logs hastily thrown up. The large cracks between the logs were badly chinked, and the earth was strewn with straw
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE
as a floor or carpeting. A large canvas tent was erected and filled with beds for the accommodation of the preachers who boarded with the tent-holders. Bishop Waugh, who was President of the Confer- ence, took up his lodging with a private family. There had already been held three Conferences in this State where the preachers were accommodated in the same manner-the two first at Shiloh, and the last at Padfield's and another, also, in Missouri. The minutes of this Conference are very imperfect, in consequence of the reports which have been mis- laid, such as the report of the stewards, and, also, those of the missionary, centenary, and temperance questions.
Among those who were admitted on trial were P. Richardson, C. N. Wagar, H. Hubbard, N. Swift, W. B. Cooley, S. Wood, A. White, M. F. Shinn, D. Worthington, H. Whitehead, James Ash, R. A. Blanchard, A. M. Early, E. P. Wood, C. Campbell, P. Judson, H. P. Chase, H. Hadley. Those who remained on trial were S. Spater, A. Haddleston, George Copway-an Indian-William Vallette, John Johnson, J. W. Whipple, O. H. Walker, J. G. Whiteford. Those who were admitted into full con- nection were J. L. Bennett, N. Jewett, J. Hodges, J. M. Snow, R. Brown, H. J. Brace, M. M'Murtry, D. King, S. Bolles-all of whom were ordained this year, besides others-Jesse Halstead and Joseph L. Kirkpatrick-who were not ordained. The dea- cons were H. W. Frink, William Simpson, T. M.
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
Kirkpatrick, M. Bourne, William Gaddis, B. H. Cart- wright. Those elected and ordained elders were J. Crummer, J. Pillsberry, J. J. Stewart, E. Springer, J. Halstead, J. L. Kirkpatrick. Located-F. O. Chenoweth. Supernumerary preachers-none. Su- perannuated, or worn-out preachers-A. Brunson, Robert Delap, T. Pope: None were expelled from the connection. None had withdrawn.
The eleventh question, "Were all the preachers' characters examined ?" was strictly attended to by calling over their names before the Conference. None had died this year. Total number of mem- bers, 6,154.
The fourteenth question, "What amounts are necessary for the superannuated preachers, the wid- ows and orphans of preachers, and to make up the deficiencies of those who have not obtained the reg- ular allowance on the circuits?" was not answered.
Question 15th-" What has been collected on the foregoing accounts, and how has it been applied?" Stewards' report, not found among Conference papers.
Question 16th-" What has been contributed for the support of missions, what for the publication of Bibles, tracts, and Sunday school books?" Not answered.
Question 17th-" Where are the preachers sta- tioned this year?"
CHICAGO DISTRICT, J. T. Mitchell, P. E .- Chicago, to be supplied, H. Crews, William Gaddis. Wheeling, J. Nason, one to be supplied. Elgin, Sims Bolles .*
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE
Crystalville, O. H. Walker. Roscoe and Belvidere, M. Bourne. Rockford, S. H. Stocking .* Sycamore, L. S. Walker,* N. Swift. Dupage, William Kimball .* Napierville, C. Lamb .*
OTTOWA DISTRICT, J. Sinclair, P. E .- Ottowa, Jesse L. Bennett. Milford, E. Springer. Wilming- ton, R. Lunnery. Joliet, W. Weigley .* Lockport, W. Bachelor .* Indian Creek, A. White. Princeton, J. M. Snow. Bristol, H. Hadley. .
MT. MORRIS DISTRICT, John Clark, P. E., and A. M' Murtry, Superintendent .- Buffalo Grove, R. H. Blanchard .* Dixon, L. Hitchcock .* Portland, William Vallette .* Stephenson, C. N. Wager. Sa- vannah, P. Judson .* Galena, J. W. Whipple. Apple River, E. P. Wood .* Freeport, S. Pillsberry .*
T. T. Hitt, agent for Rock River Seminary. Dr. Hitchcock, a member of the Oneida Conference, located and came among us this year. He was a supply at Dixon till February, 1841, and then he was elected agent of the Mt. Morris Seminary, and R. A. Blanchard supplied Dixon the remainder of the year.
BURLINGTON DISTRICT, A. Sommers,* P. E .- Bur- lington, J. J. Stewart .* Mt. Pleasant, T. M. Kirk- patrick .* Richland mission, M. F. Shinn. Fox River mission, to be supplied. Philadelphia, Joel Arrington. Fort Madison, Moses H. M'Murtry, William B. Cooley. Bloomington, Nathan Jewett .* Crawfordsville, Joseph L. Kirkpatrick .*
IOWA DISTRICT, Bartholomew Weed, P. E .- Iowa
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
mission, Garrett G. Worthington .* Rockingham, Chester Campbell .* Camanche, Barton H. Cart- wright .* Marion, John Hodges .* Bellview, Phi- lander S. Richardson. Clarksville, Henry Hubbard. Dubuque, Washington Wilcox.
INDIAN MISSION, Benjamin T. Kavanaugh, Su- perintendent .- St. Peter's and Sioux mission, one to be supplied, David King. Chippewa mission, Henry J. Brace, George Copway, Henry P. Chase, Allen Huddleston, John Johnson. Sandy Lake, Samuel Spates.
PLATTEVILLE DISTRICT, William H. Reed,* P. E .- Platteville, to be supplied. Lancaster and Prairie du Chien, William Simpson, Alfred M. Early .* Mineral Point and Wiota, James G. Whitford, one to be sup- plied. Monroe, James Ash. Madison, to be supplied. Fort Winnebago, Stephen P. Keys .* Fon du Lac, Jesse Halstead. Green Bay, to be supplied. Oneida, Henry R. Coleman.
MILWAUKEE DISTRICT, Julius Field,* P. E .- Milwaukee, John Crummer .* 'Racine, Leonard F. Malthrop .* Root River, Henry Whitehead .* South- port mission, Solomon Stebbins .* Burlington and Rochester, D. Worthington. Troy, James M'Kean. Watertown, Sidney Wood. Summit, Hiram W. Frink .*
Austin F. Rogers, transferred to the Illinois Con- ference.
The next Conference was held at Platteville, Au- gust 25, 1841
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE
Those whose names are marked with a star are yet living. There were three Indians laboring as preachers among us-George Copway, H. P. Chase, and John Johnson.
Our Conference district then embraced Iowa, Wis- consin, and Minnesota, besides our own, the Rock River Conference. At that time there were 71 min- isters stationed, and now we have 781. Its mem- bership then was 6,154, now 79,405. What was then embraced in one Conference now is ground enough for eight. In the place of six churches, we now, in seventeen years, have increased to 801.
INCREASE UP TO 1867.
CONFERENCES.
Members. 17,234
96
7
150
Value. $251,975
Iowa
Upper Iowa.
14,540
'97
7 106
322,700
Minnesota
7,193
75
7
59
174,800
Wisconsin
10,712
130
5
132
427,050
Rock River
.18,859
171
6
180
1,447,100
Des Moines.
11,159
85
6
63
154,905
West Wisconsin
6,932
79
5
86
161,650
North-West Wisconsin ...
2,796
48
3
25
54,700
Total.
89,425
781
46
801
$2,994,880
Prenchem. Dist.
Churobes.
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE most remarkable and striking feature distin- guishing Illinois from the other States consists in her extensive prairies, covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, and forming excellent natural meadows, from which circumstance they received their present name, from the early French settlers. They extend from the western part of Indiana more or less to the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Illinois is properly called the Prairie State; as it is, gen- erally speaking, one vast prairie, intersected by strips of woods, chiefly confined to the banks and the valleys of the rivers. Their soil is from one to three feet deep; while nearly all of them possess an inexhaustible fertility, and but few are sterile. The eye sometimes surveys the green prairie without discovering, on the illimitable plain, a tree, bush, or other object save a wilderness of grass and flowers. The charms of a prairie consist in its ex- tension, its green, flowery carpet, its undulating surface, and the skirts of forests whereby it is sur- rounded. The congenial rays of the sun soon ripen the plentiful harvest; and in Autumn the yellow har- vest is gathered into the well-filled garner. Soon the green-carpeted prairie is changed to deep yellow, as Indian Summer dries up the grass, and then
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE
comes on the preparation against the flood of fire that sweeps over the broad surface. Of this I wish to give an idea, as I have seen it, run from it, and fought it till I could hardly stand, covered with sweat and dirt, and my eyes almost sightless amid the black clouds of smoke, to save the scanty crop of the settler's first year's toil, and the little cabin that I had preached in, in the morning of the same day. I will relate an incident that took place in the Missouri Bottom, above Boonville. A few families had settled on a very rich, broad bottom of prairie. The grass was as high as my head when on my horse, and so thick that it was with the utmost difficulty that I could ride through it. There was a heavy body of timber west of the settlers, and the fire had not passed through it for several years; and, of course, a great body of combustible vegeta- ble matter had accumulated upon the ground, to which the last Summer's growth had added greatly. One family had moved into a small house about midway in the prairie. One warm, dry, windy day, one of the girls had started to a neighbor's house, about two miles, on the bluff, and having proceeded about half way, she heard a roaring as of a mighty tempest; and looking west toward the timber, she saw the flickering blaze kindled into a fierce torrent of flames, which curled up and leaped along with re- sistless force. The air was filled with clouds of crimson smoke, while the crashing sounds, like roar- ing cataracts, were almost deafening; danger and
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
death filled the air, and seemed to scream for vic- tims. At such a fearful crisis, one becomes irreso- lute, and almost unable to withdraw or seek refuge. As there was not a moment to lose, the girl fled back to the old domicile. The family had thrown all the household goods into one pile, and covered them as best they could, closing the door and win- dow. The fire hastened in its devouring march, till its far-reaching flames enveloped the house, the in- mates being almost stifled with heat and smoke. It lasted, however, but for a few moments. The green, brown carpet had been consumed, and black destruc- tion sickened the heart. The inmates threw open the door, by which time the fire had began to blaze up through the cracks of the floor. They gathered up all the articles that they could, and threw them out into the yard, where the flames had consumed every thing, and having a well of water, saved most of their household goods; but the old house was soon in ashes, and the inmates left to do as best they might. Some perished in these terrific fires in an early day. It is said that two betrothed lovers perished on the banks of the Kankakee, their crisped forms being found near that of their horse the next day, by a hunter. The river flowed along to lee- ward of them, but the flames had outstripped their fleet charger, upon which both were riding, before they could reach the stream. Why did they not have the presence of mind to set a "back fire" or take refuge on the burned space?
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE
Wirsie seems destined, in a short time, to play a great part in the United States, being entitled to this not only by the vastness of its area-three hundred and seventy-eight miles from Cairo to Wis- consin, from south to north, and its greatest breadth, two hundred and twelve miles-but, also, by the fertility of its easily cultivated soil, the multitude of its rivers, railroads, canals, coal-beds, and its beautiful and abundant stone quarries, its water powers, and the rapid increase of its population, at once enterprising and intelligent. May our moral zeal increase, and our victories multiply in behalf of all that is good, till God shall "make us an hund- red times so many more as we be!"
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE first newspaper printed in Missouri was at St. Louis, in 1808, by Joseph Charles. It was first called the Louisiana Gazette, then the Missouri Gazette; and in 1832, going into the possession.of other parties, it took the name of Missouri Repub- lican. The census taken in 1810 gives 20,845 inhabitants in Missouri. In 1818 St. Louis com- menced a greater progress in its building and com- mercial enterprises. During that year more than three millions of bricks were made, and one hundred buildings erected. The first brick dwelling-house was built in 1813 or '14, by Wm. C. Carr. The first steamboat that ascended the Mississippi, above the mouth of the Ohio, was the "General Pike," which reached St. Louis the 2d of August, 1817. It was commanded by Capt. R. P. Guyard. The country above Cedar Creek, a small stream on the western border of Galloway county, Missouri, which was then regarded as the boundary of the district- afterward the county of St. Charles-was called Boone's Lick, from the time of its first settlement, in 1797, till the organization of the State Govern- ment. In 1808 there was a small village, called Cote Sans Dessein, from a singular oblong hill in its vicinity. In 1810 a few enterprising families struck
28
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE
out into the wilderness, and formed a settlement in what is now known as Howard county. Here were several large salt springs and "Licks," at one of which Daniel Boone had his hunting camp, and where his son, Major Nathan Boone, made salt as early as 1807. This gave name to the "Lick," and, also, to a large district of counties. Boone's Lick settlement, at the commencement of the war with Great Britain, numbered about one hundred and fifty families. In 1815, throughout the county and town of St. Louis, the inhabitants numbered 9,395, the town population alone numbering 2,000.
I add a few more reminiscences of Chicago. Early in the Spring of 1834, brother Henry Whitehead and Mr. Stewart contracted with Jesse Walker to build a small but commodious house of worship, on the north side of the river, on the corner of Water and Clark streets. Father Walker and the local preachers occupied it every Sabbath alternately. In looking over the annals of Methodism found here and there in books, in my own experience, and in the relation of the experience of others to me, it seems as if God had sifted the whole inhabited re- gion of North America, and selected the choice spirits therefrom, with their iron constitutions, to plant and cultivate the tree of Methodism in the West. Stevens says: "We have often been reminded of the adaptation of Methodism, by some of its prov- idential peculiarities, for its self-propagation. Its class and prayer meetings train most if not all its
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
laity to constant practical missionary labors; so that three or four of these, meeting in any distant part of the earth, by emigration, are prepared immedi- ately to become the nucleus of a Church. The lay or local ministry, borne on by the tide of emigra- tion, was almost every-where found prior to the ar- rival of the regular preacher, ready to sustain re- ligious services."
The year 1790 was not the real epoch of Method- ism in the United States. The sainted Barbara Heck, foundress of Methodism in the United States, went with her children, it is probable, into the prov- ince of Canada as early as 1774. Mrs. Heck and her three sons were members of a class at Augusta, under the leadership of Samuel, son of Philip Em- bury. Brother William Smith has truly said that there were many pious women among the early set- tlers who were Christian heroines in the true sense. of the word. Having left their native State to ac- company their husbands to territories where was naught but a howling wilderness, they have proved themselves to be helpmeets for the men who braved the dangers of a frontier life. They were equally brave in every moral conflict in battling for the Lord. In singing, what have they not done in con- gregations? I have often sat and listened till my own eyes, as well as those around me, were suffused with tears, and especially in prayer circles, when the heart of some mother in Israel went out in irresistible pleadings with her Lord and Savior for
N
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE
an only child or an erring husband, as if every word were an inspiration, every utterance an imme- diate communication from above, the language of the heavenly host. Indeed, it has often seemed to me as if woman, as if the mother of the Son of God was nearer the throne in earnest supplications than man can be. And then, like the women of the Bible, she will take no denial. She will not cease her im- portunities till the unclean spirit has gone out, and the soul is made a fit temple for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, after an earnest prayer, I have known them to arise and exhort till it seemed like a visible influence all over the house, as if the powers of darkness had yielded, saints were rejoicing, and heaven had come down to earth, and the whole congregation would be shouting "Glory to God!" The Presbyterian definition of true eloquence- namely, shouting and tears, shouting and tears- may be justly applied to the women of early Meth- odism. But, alas! how few of them remain among us! I have followed one and another of them to their last resting-place, and, standing by their dying beds, have heard them testify "all is well," till their voices were lost in death. A few years more, and none of them will remain; they all will have passed over the swelling tide, and become inmates of the mansion on high. Though it may hardly seem in place here to mention these things, yet it has often seemed to me such a cruel, unjust thing that we have to cast so many unjust slurs upon our
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women. I have often thought of these things-tho use of so many foul sayings which are looked upon as so many witticisms-such, for instance, as the rib out of which mother Eve was formed, denoting her crooked disposition; that woman is "all tongue," be- cause she is gifted in conversation; that Mary Mag- dalene had seven devils cast out of her, while they seem to forget that one of the male sex possessed a legion. We have good authority for that, and we can not estimate how many more possessed the same number, for Paul gives one of the most fearful epit- omes of man's unparalleled wickedness; and, from his summing up, one would think that man pos- sessed not only a legion, but legions. If our State prisons contain more men, will not heaven contain more women? In either case it is a fearful thing to believe in the loss of a soul.
THE END.
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