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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
5
GEN
"
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02413 0525
J. Montulin Brown. Linden , Und 1902.
REV. JOHN L. SMITH, D. D.
-
.
INDIANA METHODISM
A SERIES OF SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS, GRAVE AND HUMOROUS CONCERNING PREACHERS AND PEOPLE OF THE WEST WITH AN
APPENDIX
CONTAINING PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS PUBLIC ADDRESSES AND OTHER MISCELLANY
-
-
-BY
JOHN L. SMITH, D. D.
OF THE NORTHWEST INDIANA CONFERENCE,
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
For Fifty-five Years a Methodist Preacher.
VALPARAISO, IND. 1892.
Copyright, 1892. By JOHN L. SMITH. All rights reserved.
1196555
Pulsen'
REV. R. D. UTTER, A. M.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
THE NORTHWEST INDIANA CONFERENCE, at South Bend, Indiana, (1891) requested me "to pre- pare a history of Indiana Methodism."
While in my deliberate judgment, I dared not at- tempt to assume the dignity of the historian, yet, in loyal respect to the wishes of my brethren, I have "done what I could."
Four years' service in the Indiana Conference, eight years in the North Indiana, and forty years in the Northwest Indiana Conference-having never transferred-I have endeavored, in the following pages ; wherever my lot fell, to speak of revivals, sketch character, and dot down incidents by the way-among both people and preachers.
In all I have written, it has been my studied aim, not only to be just, but generous to all.
And now, so near life's "sunset," I would rather be "dull, than bitter," and so, if in the characteriza- tion of any brother, my ideal in this respect has not been reached, I am still happy in the reflection that even my "failings leaned to virtue's side."
J. L. S.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS,
REV. JOHN L. SMITH, D. D, FRONTISPIECE.
REV. R. D. UTTER, A. M.,
Page
I
REV. BISHOP E. R. AMES, D. P.,
IO
REV. S. T. COOPER, 264
REV. BISHOP MATTHEW SIMPSON, D. D. LI . D.,
37
REV. J. W. T. MCMULLEN, D. D.,
-
390
REV. J. H. HULL, 448
REV. C. C. MCCABE, D. D.,
-
454
REV. CHARLES N. SIMS, D. D. LL. D.,
-
III
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Virginia-Childhood-Birth and parentage -Grandparents - Rise of Methodism in the old dominion - Robert Williams-Preachers at Norfolk - Mob-Grandfather commands the peace-Press gang - Grandfather converted-Liberates slaves-First class formed-Bishop Asbury - Brunswick county - Ohio -Conversion-Call to preach- Mother teaching theology-License to exhort-First public service -- Thomas Owen-John Loyd-G. B. Owen reclaimed-Rev. J. B. Finley - Licensed to preach-Wilmington circuit-Father Babby -- Mother Fortner-Boy converted.
Pages 13 to 28
CHAPTER II.
Ohio Campmeeting -- 1837-1840-Preaches as an exhorter-Uncle Billy Rowe -- Moses Trader-Samuel Clarke-Pulpit failure-Brother Rowe exhorts-Effect on the people.
. Pages 28 to 35
CHAPTER III.
Local preacher -- Reaches Indiana-1840 - Horseback - Mississin- awa river - Meets John H. Hull - Presiding elder Burns - Brother Hull's assistant - Muncie town, now Muncey - Old settlers - Moors school house-Political excitement -John Life -- two days meeting- Conversion of Mrs. Life-Half-way Creek-Campbells Creek-Camp meeting-Preachers in attendance-Rowdies-Climbs a tree-Fourth quarterly conference - Junior preacher recommended - Missionary tour-Singular case of immersion-Bluffton-Limberloss and Loblolly -Camp meeting - Right hand road - A surprise - The old farm- Half-breed squaw - Husband tells his story - Meeting at brother Jackson's-Letter postage-Cash reported-The people did well.
Pages 35 to 54
.
IV
CHAPTER IV.
Bishop Soule- Presiding elders-Admission on trial-Allen Wiley -Young Preacher finds a home-John Foudray-Joshua Soule, jun- ior-Twelve presiding elders-Appointments-Young preachers -- J. H. Bruce.
Pages 54 to 66
CHAPTER V.
Winchester circuit-Judge Goodrich - Zebedee Cantrell-Spartan- burg-Praying for the preachers-The poor family-The bacon hams Ten dollar gold piece-Watch night --- Frozen heels-Arnold Buffom -- Conference year closes-Increase in Membership.
. Pages 66 to 78
CHAPTER VI.
Muncytown Station-Indian Chief-Rev. Robert Irvin-Contro- versy -Irvin preaches-Sailors experience Preachers from the North-Stay over Sunday-Conference at Centerville.
Pages 78 tu 84
CHAPTER ยท VII.
Bishop Morris-E. S., afterwards Bishop Janes-J. B. Finley- His sermon-James Havens-Death of Indian squaw-Chief, Be- tween-the-logs-Appointed to Cambridge and Dublin.
. Pages 84 to 89
CHAPTER VIII.
Elder S. K. Hoshour-People of Cambridge-At Dublin-Lewis- ville-Plan of Circuit-Remarkable meeting -- Conversion of Joseph Paul-Over forty of his people-Paul's trial for heresy-His triumph. Pages 89 to 104
CHAPTER IX.
Bishop Andrews-Crawfordsville conference-Itinerant horsemen -Jamestown -- Brother Leach-His overthrow-Nightfall-Matthew Simpson-Ruter and J. C. Smith-Dividing the conference-Dele- gates elected -Death of Bishop Roberts -Appointments-Returns to
V
Cambridge City-Church built-Funeral at Dublin-Mr. McCune- Charles Wesley's hymn.
. Pages 104 to 114
CHAPTER X.
North Indiana Conference-Ft. Wayne 1844-Bishop Waugh- Matthew Simpson-Allen Wiley-Appointed to Indianapolis-Un- finished church-Prayer meeting-Polk's election-Whigs and Dem- ocrats-Preachers in the court house-Great revival-John Foudray, senior-Judge McClain-Church basement occupied-Upper room finished-Dedicated -- Paid for-Off for conference.
Pages 114 to 130
CHAPTER XI.
LaFayette 1845 -- Bishop Hamlin and Dr. Elliot-Spend Sunday at Indianapolis-Bishop preaches at Roberts Chapel-Monday morning -Start for conference-Dinner at Rosses'-Kirklin-Dr. Elliott preaches-Bishop Quinn-Gentle admonition-Bishop H. laughs- Semi-sentennial-1873-Address-Answer to prayer.
. Pages 130 to 146
CHAPTER XII.
LaPorte-Bishop Morris-Ft. Wayne Female college-College agent-Moves to Dublin-Revival-F. A. Hardin converted-Godly women-Mighty in prayer-Beswick preaches-Webb exhorts-Tansy and Wheeler sing-The good work goes forward.
Pages 146 to 149
CHAPTER XIII.
Indianapolis 1847-Sermon by Bishop Janes-Appointment to Terre Haute-Salaries of Bishops-Church trial-William H. Goode, presiding elder.
Pages 149 to 152
CHAPTER XIV.
Presiding eldership-Office elective-Objectively-Strike the epis- copacy-Let the office alone. . Pages 152 to 156
VI
CHAPTER XV.
Terre Ilaute camp-meetings-One above, one below-Little girl talks-Rev. Thomas Files- Robber killed.
. . . Pages 156 to 161
CHAPTER XVI.
French Dancing Master-Sermon on dancing-Hon. Thomas Dow- ling-Rev. Mr. Jewett-Hon. R. W. Thompson-Honored laymen- Godly women.
Pages 161 to 182
CHAPTER XVII.
Appointed presiding elder-1848-First quarterly meeting-Big Pine church-Medsker family-Jacob Medsker and J. B. Finley- Scene witnessed in Xenia, Ohio, in writer's boyhood-Newport cir- cuit-Old church at Eugene.
. Pages 182 to 189
CHAPTER XVIII.
Cambridge City conference-1850-John Daniel-LaFayette- Brother Joseph Marcee-Dread of Lake winds-Writer goes to La- Porte district-old Virginians-Many good people.
Pages 189 to 196
CHAPTER XIX.
South Bend-Church dedicated 1851-L. W. Berry-I. M. Stagg located-General conference-Boston 1852-Visit to Plymouth-The sailor and wife-Hanover street Boston-Big rooster -- Unitarian preacher.
. Pages 196 to 213
CHAPTER XX.
Bishop Baker at Terre Haute-Fears the ague-Northwest Indiana conference organized-L. W. Berry preaches at 10:30 a. m. on Sun- day-R. Hargrave at 3 p m .- 1853-Conference at Attica-Bishop Ames-Jack Stinson-Church trial-A. B. expelled-W. P. Watkins -Spiritualism.
Pages 213 to 234
VII
CHAPTER XXI.
Bishop Janes-1856-Crawfordsville conference-Thorntown Acad- emy-Miss oner; committee-Ratification -Speeches-Conference in India-Dr. Butler-Joel, first convert-Service in sheep pen.
.Pages 234 to 247
CHAPTER XXII.
General Conference 1860 -S. T. Cooper-Bishop Waugh-C. N. Sims-R. Hargrave in 1840-Conference at Valparaiso in 1858- Bishop Ames-Westville to Valparaiso by horsepower-J. H. Hull -Deaths of Brothers Wheeler and Crawford.
.Pages 247 to 276
CHAPTER XXIII.
-General conference 1864-President Lincoln-Visit to Washington -Lincoln's speech-Hoosier impudence-Bishop Simpson-His ser- mon at the Capitol-South Bend 1861-Annual conference-A distin- guished visitor-Wants preachers in the army located-The confer- ence takes a different view.
.Pages 276 to 298
CHAPTER XXIV.
Conference at Delphi in 1864-Judge White's funeral-B. Winans killed-Preachers aid society-Swisher bequest to Asbury university -H. G. Jackson shot at New Orleans-General conference at Chi- cago-Bishop Ames and Dr. Puncheon-Dr. True and Peter Cart- wright-Dr. Cartwright's memoir.
. Pages 298 to 322 . .
CHAPTER XXV.
Annual conference 1869-Bishop Clark-Law question-College Agent-Williamsport circuit-New churches-Camp-meeting-Daniel DeMotte-Dog and baby-Terre Haute 1870-Bishop Simpson- Crawfordsville district.
322 to 355
CHAPTER XVI.
General conference 1876-Book committee-Law question-Bat- tle Ground-Bishop Simpson-1877-LaPorte conference-Death of
T. S. Webb-Brazil-Bishop Peck-Trustee for thirty consecutive years-South Bend 1879-Death of R. H.irgrave-Delegates elected -Death of Bishops Ames, Janes, and Harris-Bishop Bowman- Frankfort 18So-Danville 1881-Bishop Andrews-Bishop Peck at Michigan City 1882-Terre Haute 1883-Bishop Harris-Delegates elected-General conference 1884-Attica-Annual conference-Bish- op Foster-Valparais > 1885-Bishop Foss-Frankfort-Bishop Mer- ril 1886-Appointed P. E. Valparaiso> district-Greencastle confer- ence-Delegates elected.
Pages 355 to 371
CHAPTER XXVII.
General conference ISSS-Bishops present-Deceased Bishops -- Bishops elected-Women delegates-A remarkable paper-Confer- ence at Rochester-Bishop Andrews presides-Death of J. C. Reed- II. B. Ball-R. H. Calvert-Brazil conferen .c 1839-Bishop Hurst -Deaths of L. Nebeker and E. B. Woodson-Crawfordsville 1890- Bishop Fowler-Conference at South Bend 1891-Fortieth session- Bishop Ninde -Delegates elected-Fifty-one years of active service- Superannuation comes at last-Statistics-Appointments-Closing five ycars on Valparaiso district-Successor-J. II. Wilson.
Pages 371 to 385
APPENDIX.
Dr. J. W. T. McMullen, Portrait and sketch-Seven letters on the Apocalypse - J. II. Hull, Portrait and sketch - Chaplain McCabe. Sketch and portrait-Dr. C. N. Sims, Portrait and sketch by J. L .. Smith-Reminiscences of J. L. Smith by Dr. Sims-Recollections of J. L. Smith by F. A. Hardin, D. D .- Northern Indiana by author.
Pages 385 to 483
REV. BISHOP E. R. AMES, D. D. The great Church Statesman.
XI
INTRODUCTION.
THE HISTORY OF INDIANA METHODISM contains so much of heroism, struggle, self-sacrifice, courage and romantic adventure that the church cannot afford to leave it unrecorded ; and I know of no one better qualified to write it than the author of this book. No other living Methodist has had so long, so wide and so intimate an acquaintance with his church in the state as has Dr. John L. Smith. No other has been a more important figure in shaping its history ; standing amid its memorials he may say truthfully and without egotism, "quorum pars mag- na fui"-"of which I have been a great part."
He was one of its first circuit-riders ; has preach- ed at camp-meetings and in frontier cabins ; has been active in the presiding eldership ; has been closely identified with educational enterprises and has often represented his conference in the general councils of the church.
It is his peculiar good fortune to be able to write the history of Methodism in his state as an eye-wit- ness and a participant from the beginning. He is able to present original pen pictures of noble and strong men, who would not otherwise become known to the general church.
Indiana has given to Methodism great men, who are known throughout all her borders. Simpson, Ames, Bowman and the younger Eddy with others
XII
have occupied so large a place in the whole denom- ination that their record will never be overlooked.
But another class, not less talented and equally wise and heroic, have made their own history and that of their church within the borders of the state. John Strange, Allen Wiley, James Havens, Lucien W. Berry, Augustus Eddy, Aaron and Enoch Wood, Richard Hargrave and a score of others possessed enough talent, courage and pulpit ability to give them church wide recognition, had it not been their fortune to live and labor in a new country before the days of easy and constant inter-state communica- tion.
These were
".Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands, Darkened by shadows of earth, but reflecting an image of heaven."
Equally worthy of record are many splendid lay- men whose zeal and liberality contributed largely to the foundation of Indiana Methodism.
It has not been my privilege to read the book to which I am writing an introduction, but I am sure from my long and intimate acquaintance with its au- thor, it will prove a worthy record of noble men and stirring times ; a contribution to the general history of Methodism which the church will receive with affectionate gratitude. C. N. SIMS.
Syracuse, N. Y.
Sept. 8th., 1892.
CHAPTER I.
VIRGINIA-EARLY LIFE.
The author of these pages, John Lewis Smith,son of Bowlin and Lovewell Smith, was born near Ghol- sonville, Brunswick county, Virginia, on the 24th day of May, ISII. His paternal grandparents were Aaron and Edith Smith. Edith Smith, nee Perry, was a not distant relative of Commodore O. H. Perry, of Rhode Island. His maternal grandparents were William and Mary Owen. Mary Owen's maiden name was Bachelor.
William and Mary Owen were Welch emigrants, who, soon after their marriage, settled near Ports- mouth, Virginia. Having been brought up under its teaching, they were staunch members of the Church of England. How at length they came to be identi- fied with the rise of Methodism in Virginia, is deemed worthy of a brief explanation.
A certain Methodist preacher, in 1772, made a mis- sionary tour through Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. His name was Robert Williams. On ar- riving at Norfolk, Virginia, Mr. Williams mounted the court-house steps, and began singing. A crowd soon gathered about him; but, almost as soon as he began preaching, his audience became boisterous and threatening. Observing the mob rapidly organizing to break up the services, William Owen, one of the associate justices of the county, who happened to be
14
INDIANA METHODISM,
present, urged his way through the crowd, and, tak- ing his stand beside the preacher, commanded the peace. And for thus doing his duty as a magistrate he was rewarded with the unsought privilege of hear- ing an excellent gospel sermon.
The evident piety and earnestness of the preacher impressed Mr. Owen so favorably that he took occa- sion, at the close of the services, to invite Mr. Will- iams home with him for the night. The invitation was of course cheerfully accepted by the almost friendless preacher. As soon, however, as Mrs. Owen discovered that her husband's guest was a Metho- dist preacher, she declared that no such creature should stay in her house. "But I have invited him," said Mr. Owen, "and I cannot turn him away now." "Very well, then," she replied warmly, "if you are determined to have our home disgraced by a bab - bling Methodist preacher, I shall go and stay over night with one of the neighbors." Suffice it to say, the good woman finally yielding a few points, the preacher was permitted to remain. When the hour for evening worship came, Mr. Williams, by request conducted the family prayers, devoutly calling upon God in behalf of the parents, their children and ser- vants. The prayer was not fruitless; for it was dur- ing the progress of this prayer that Mr. Owen awoke to the consciousness that he was an unsaved sinner.
The next morning as the minister was about tak- ing his leave, Mr. Owen made bold to say to him: "Can you not leave an appointment to preach at my house on your return from the Carolinas ?" "Certain- ly," said Mr. Williams ; "you may expect me four weeks from to day." On returning to meet this en-
15
SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
gagement Mr. Williams was happily surprised to find Mr. and Mrs. Owen and five of their neighbors glo- riously converted -all boldly witnessing for Christ and rejoicing in the love of God.
These seven, organized as a class by Mr. Williams, constituted, as the family tradition has always claim- ed, the first Methodist society in Virginia. Lednum's History of the Rise of Methodism in America, chap- ter 12, page 78, says : "In the beginning of 1772, Robert Williams went to Norfolk, Virginia. He was the first Methodist preacher in the Old Dominion." The home of Mr. Owen, as long as he remained in the vicinity of Portsmouth was the meeting-place of the new society.
The next day after his conversion Mr. Owen went over to Norfolk, and manumitted his slaves, eighty- three in number. Not long afterwards, he went out into Brunswick county, where land was comparative- ly cheap, to settle his freedmen. And some years later, near the close of the Revolutionary war, on learning that his ex-slaves were being mistreated by the neighboring slaveholders, he moved with his fam- ily to Brunswick county, in order to give better pro- tection to the interests of his freedmen.
Once, while the Owen family remained near Nor- folk, a company of foragers from the British army, or, in the phrase of the times, a "press gang," visited Mr. Owen's plantation in his absence, and drove away every foot of live stock on the place. Soon after the "gang" had gone with their booty, a British officer in regimentals, booted and spurred, rode up to the front gate, and hallowed. Mrs. Owen, on stepping to the door to answer the call, was commanded to pre-
16
INDIANA METHODISM,
pare dinner for him at once. He then dismounted, and deliberately walked into the house. Dinner ready, she invited him to the table, at which she presided with such grace and dignity as readily won his respect. Laying aside the imperious airs at first assumed, he became, in her presence, a courteous gentleman. She made no mention of the "press gang" until he opened the way by saying : "The soldiers raided your plantation, I believe, this morning ?" "Yes, sir," she calmly responded, they drove away all our live stock, they left us nothing." Ile made no further allusions to the subject for the time, but on rising to leave he said : "I am Captain Lovewell, of the British army and have charge of the men that raided your plantation this morning." About five o'clock in the afternoon the "press gang" returned, bringing back every thing they had taken away in the morning.
On returning home at night-fall Mr. Owen listened with eager interest as his wife recounted the incidents of the day, and then added: "In memory of the kind- ness of Captain Lovewell, lam resolved, if the Lord, in his good providence, shall ever favor us with an addition to the number of our children, either boy or girl, that the name of the child, with your consent, shall be Lovewell." At length a daughter was given to inherit the name ; and so Lovewell be- came to the writer the most precious of names,-the name ever dear of his now sainted mother. She pass- ed through the gates of pearl, into the realm of light, in 1852.
One of Mr. Owen's neighbors in Brunswick county was the Rev. Edward Drumgole. Mr. Drumgole was
17
SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
admitted on trial at the conference of 1774. He itin- erated a few years, then married, and located. Lo- cation was a penalty imposed upon many a Method- ist preacher for getting married. There were no wealthy charges to support married men in those early times. The located preachers, however, did not cease to do effective service. They were zealous and efficient minister's of the gospel.
The early Methodists of Virginia were strict ob- servers of the Discipline, always keeping the Friday before quarterly meeting as a day of fasting and prayer "for the prosperity of Zion." Among Mr. Owen's freedmen was a queer old specimen, a native of Guinea, whose name was Quash. On a certain fast-day one of the little darkies came running to the "great house," and reported that Uncle Quash had been eating hominy, contrary to the rules of ole mas- sah. Quash was summoned at once, to account for his misconduct. "Quash,"said Mr. Owen, "is it pos- sible, after all I've done for you, that you've been so wicked as to eat on fast-day? Don't you know, Quash, that I bought you out of a slave-ship? and have you forgotten how I set you free? You were taught, in your native land, to worship the devil and eat fire, but I have tried to teach you the gospel. And is this the way you remember my kindness ?" Quash then made answer for himself, and said : "Well, mas- sah, in de first place, Dick need n't be a runnin' to de great house a tellin' tales on me, sah. Now, in de nex' place, I tells you de God's trufe 'bout de mattah. Cauze you see, massah, dis niggah, when he hab nuthin' to eat all day, gits monsus hongry befo' night, an' so dis mornin' I jes take two pan ob homny so's
18
INDIANA METHODISM,
I mout be able to stan' it better to fass."*
The first American conference of Methodist preachers was held at Philadelphia in June, 1773. Ten preachers were reported, to wit: Thomas Ran- kin, George Shadford, John King, William Waters, Francis Asbury, Robert Strawbridge, Abraham Whitworth, Joseph Yearbry, Richard Wright, and Robert Williams. (The first American-born Methodist preacher was William Waters.)
The report of lay members was as follows : New York, 180; Philadelphia, 180; New Jersey, 200 ; Maryland, 5co ; Virginia, ICO : in all, 1160.
A large majority of those reported from Virginia were credited to Brunswick county, the rest being divided among the cities of Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. The Virginia report of lay members at the conference of 1774 was, Fairfax, 350 ; Norfolk, 125 ; Brunswick, 1611. Evidently Brun- swick county was one of the strongholds of Method- ism.
The Methodist churches or preaching-places in Brunswick county at the time of the writer's earliest recollection, were : Hobb's meeting-house, Drum- gole's or Woolsey's barn, Ellis's chapel, Salem chapel, Rock church, and Pelham's meeting-house.
Rock church was dedicated by the Rev. Alexander Mc Cain. The only Irish woman in the county at the time was a zealous Methodist, and a great shout- er. Mr. Mc Cain, who was an able man in more ways than one, made some remarks in the course of his ser-
#The frying pan of those days with its long handle, was held over an open fire, and might contain from one to four quarts, - cooking stoves were unknown.
61
SKETCHES AND INCIDENTS.
mon that highly offended a certain wicked young man by the name of Tom Washington. Thereupon W. de- termined to insult the preacher. The opportunity came at the close of the service. Preacher and people were making their way towards the door, when W. lingering at a convenient point, accomplished his purpose by spitting in the preacher's face Instantly Mc Cain, who was a powerful left-hander, let drive his double fist against the rowdy's head, knocking the fellow sprawling between the benches. The good Irish woman, shouting along not far behind the preacher, on noticing how handy he was with his fist, suddenly changed her tune, exclaiming in tones of glad surprise: "The Lord bless the dear mon! Why, he can turn his hond to almost inything."
Brunswick was for many years the chief rallying- point of Virginia Methodism. Within the bounds of the circuit lived the great revivalist, John Easter ; as . also the Myricks, the Jameses, the Sewards, the Rain- eys, the Gholson's, the Ellises, the Dentons, the Drum- goles, the Booths, and the Owens. Several Annual conferences were held on Brunswick circuit by Bish- op Asbury. The bishop says in his Journal: "Thurs- day, Nov. 19, 1795, I preached at Richmond, Va., and next day, came, cold and hungry to my affectionate, kind, adopted son, J. Harding's, in Petersburg. Here several of the preachers met me to accompany me to the quarterly meeting in Brunswick. Tuesday, 24, our conference began at Salem chapel; there were present about fifty members and sixteen probation- ers. Sunday, 29, was a great day. I preached on I Tim. iii, 15, 16. There were ten elders and nine deacons ordained. Monday, 30, I had a few people
20
INDIANA METHODISM,
and several preachers at Brother Seward's. The next day at Woolsey's barn (now Drumgole's chap- el I had a few people, they having had short notice. I spent that evening with Brother E. D., whose house is not with the Lord as he prayeth and longeth; yet I trust God hath made an everlasting covenant with the father, well ordered and sure. Wednesday, Dec., 2, I preached at my old friend W. Owen's, whom I first knew at Portsmouth. We had a small house and a good meeting." Lovewell Owen then between ten and eleven years of age was converted at this meet- ing, and received into the church by Bishop Asbury.
The Owen family was large. consisting of the par- ents, William and Mary, and their children,-Soph - ia, Sarah, William, Mary, Thomas, Lovewell, and Nancy.
Of the Smiths, two brothers, Moses and Aaron, set- tled in Brunswick county. Aaron, as already intima- ted, married Edith Perry : to them were born three sons,-John, Lewis, and Bowlin.
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