USA > Indiana > 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 > Part 12
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At the house of Brother Casto, the pastor's little daughter, seven years of age, and a daughter of Brother Casto, now Mrs. Meredith, with other little girls, were in the habit of holding prayer-meetings among themselves. On one occasion, when the children walked out into the sitting-room, at the close of their prayer-meeting, good Sister Merry had called in, whom the pastor's daughter addressed as follows,-"Sister Merry, are you a Methodist ?" "Yes," said she, "Lizzy, I am a sort of a one." To which the child replied, "I think you are a sort of a one, or else you wouldn't be wearing ear-rings." And it may here be added that jewelry was not so much worn by the members of the Methodist church fifty years ago as now.
The quickening forces growing out of the two camp-meetings before mentioned, were deeply felt through the membership of the Methodist church in the city, resulted in a gracious revival, which continued to the close of the conference year.
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CHAPTER XVII.
APPOINTED P. E .- THE MEDSKER FAMILY.
On the 6th day of September, 1848, the North Indiana conference mnet at Greencastle, with Bishop Hamline in the chair, and S. T. Gilette, as secre- tary. At this conference the pastor of Terre Haute station, who had been elected a member of the board of trustees of the Indiana Asbury University in June of that year, (he has served in that capacity for thirty consecutive years,) was doomed to a great disappointment. He fully expected to be returned to Terre Haute for the second year, but, when the ap- pointments were read out, they stood for the La Fayette district as follows :
John L. Smith, Presiding Elder,
La Fayette, G. M. Boyd.
Pittsburg, Benjamin Winans.
Monticello Mission, Mathew Finemore. Rensselaer, S. N. Campbell.
Harrisonville, James Johnson.
Independence, J. White, N. E. Manville.
Williamsport, Ithimar H. Aldrich.
Perrysville, J. B. DeMotte.
Newport, Rueben D. Robinson.
Clinton, George W. Warner.
As soon as possible after the close of the confer- ence, the new presiding elder removed, and settled his family for the year at Perrysville, in Vermilion county. Here he found excellent people and pleas- ant associations for himself and family ; among whom
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may be mentioned the Jones', the McNeil's, the Brown's, the Blair's, the Dunlap's, the Smith's, the Goldsberry's, the Compton's, and Rev. J. B. De- Motte, the stationed preacher, then in his prime, and at his best. He was genial, modest, discreet, upright, and good as he ever has been. His wife was one of the excellent of the earth, and in their noble son, Professor J. B. DeMotte, the family name con- tinues to be borne on with increasing luster. Most of the people then living, are now (1892) enjoying their reward in Heaven. Brother McNeil, his good wife, and their two sons, yet live and are still faith- ful and on their way to the final reward of the saints.
The first quarterly meeting held by the presiding elder was at what was then called Big Pine Church, now Pine Village. Here he found the Medsker's, who had moved to Indiana from Green County, Ohio. Jacob Medsker, at the time named, though about eighty years of age, was still active in the church. He had owned a little corn-mill on Cae- sar's creek in Ohio, where he formerly lived. To this mill, when a boy, the writer was frequently sent on horseback with a grist of corn. On one occasion, while waiting his turn, which was nearly a whole day, he was invited by the old gentleman to go up to the house with him to dinner. There he found Mother Medsker spinning flax on a little wheel, and, for the first time in his life, heard the story from her, with its signification, of what is known as ground hog day. They were good, honest, German people, and enthusiastic Methodists.
A few weeks after the time just mentioned, the writer attended a quarterly meeting in Xenia, Ohio,
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where Rev. James B. Finley was present as presid- ing elder. At this meeting, among many others of the older Methodist people, father Medsker arose and spoke in the love-feast, and, turning to Mr, Fin- ley, he said, "Brother Finley, you remember what times we use to have when we were young men to- gether, drinking, fighting and carousing on Sunday as well as any other time. How well," said he "do I remember when you and John B. had that awful fight at New Market in Highland county"-brother Medsker was not telling how the trouble ended, but the presiding elder spoke out and said, "Yes, I re- member it very well, and I remember another thing about it-I remember I whipped the fellow." At this love-feast another incident occurred of a much more novel and serious character. Hon. John A., ex-member of congress, who had very recently joined the church on probation, whose wife was a most excellent Christian lady, arose and spoke as follows : "politics is ruining the church" (the parties then were Whigs and Democrats.) Mr. A. was a pronounced Democrat, and Rev. J. B: Finley an en- thusiastic Whig. Mr. A. continued,-"for instance, Brother Finley rode into town on Friday afternoon, and refused to put up at my house because I was a Democrat." "That's a lie," responded Finley ; to which Mr. A. replied, "I say it's a fact" ; and Mr. F. rejoined, "I say it is false, and now, sir, if you have any religious experience to tell, let us have it, but as to your lugging politics in this lovefeast, it cannot be done." Mr. A .- "I will talk as I please, sir." Mr. Finley-"Sit down sir." Mr. A .-- "I'll sit down when I get ready." Mr. F. then gathered up a large hickory
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cane and started from the pulpit towards Mr. A., whereupon Mr. A. seated himself, and so ended this strange episode. But stranger still to tell, after all had occurred, of which mention has been made in this connection, the meeting wound up, not only with a shout, but with a general hand-shaking and good feeling ; and none met more cordially to greet each other than the irate ex-congressman and the tender hearted Finley.
Returning to the presiding elder's first quarterly meeting at Big Pine. There were three generations of the Medskers ; besides whom there were the Sales', the Little's, the Anderson's, and many others equally worthy who have passed on before. Time and space would fail to mention Benjamin Whitcomb, with his noble son John ; Esquire Rush and Ryerson, with many others on Clinton circuit ; On Newport circuit were brother Zener and family, brother Sexton, William Hall,and his cultured daughter, who married Rev. Luther T. Woodward, and were transfered to Oregon; the Porter's the Collett's, (the wife of Jose- phus Collett was the daughter of Governor Tiffin, of Ohio,) the Nailor family at Eugene, where the first Methodist church was built above Vincennes, on the Wabash, and dedicated by the Rev. James Armstrong. The father of the Nayler family assist- ed Mr. Armstrong, as the leading member of the church at Eugene, at the dedication. His honored son, Mr. Wilson Nailer, is now one of the wealthy and substantial citizens of the city of Terre Haute, who, with his good wife, stood by the presiding eld- er and the preacher-in-charge,in building the second, and still standing church, to take the place in Eu-
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gene of the first church, as mentioned above.
On Independence circuit lived the grand old Methodist families as follow : the Boyers, the John- sons, the Moores, the Vantattas, tlie Daughertys, Rev. Hackaliah Vredenburg, the Sappingtons, the Fosters. Of the Foster family, is the noble wife of Rev. C. N. Simms D. D., an Indiana boy, now Chan . cellor of Syracuse University, New York.
In the city of LaFayette lived William, Robert, Joshua, and Ralph Heath, and their families, the Fords, the Samples, the Welles, the Stockwells, the Jones, the Seversons, and many others of the faith- ful sons and daughters of the Lord. The wife of the distinguished Rev. Dr. McMullen was the daughter of Robert Heath, and this elect lady still lives, the pride of her husband and a benediction to her noble sons and amiable daughters.
In the fall of 1849 the Annual conference was held in the city of Logansport, Bishop Waugh pre- siding ; and Delphi circuit was added to the charges in LaFayette district, and the presiding elder was reappointed. Soon after conference, he removed his family and settled in LaFayette.
In the summer of 1850 a camp-meeting was held on Poolsville circuit, near the residence of Brother Thomas Boyer. The sweet singer and lovable Brother, William F. Wheeler, was the preacher-in- charge.
In those days it was the standing order at camp- meetings for the men and women to sit apart in the congregation. The Sabbath was a beautiful day and thousands gathered on the sacred ground. In the afternoon of that day, and just after the presid-
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ing elder had announced that there should be no intrusion or violation of the order, a certain cele- brated rowdy, C. W. by name, arose, walked across the central aisle, and seated himself on the women's side. The elder, who was busy at the alter services, said to Brother D, "Go and remove that fellow" (refering to the rowdy) Brother D. approached W., spoke to him kindly, requesting him to take a seat on his own side among the men. W. at once opened one side of his vest, and exhibited the handle of a dirk, which he carried in his side pocket ; at this Brother D. was alarmed, and returned to the stand for help. The P. E. said to Brother D. "You re- main here and help with the meeting and I will go and take care of the young man." W., seeing the movement, arose and stood immediately in the rear of several ladies who were dressed in white, and commenced spitting tobacco juice on the folds of their dresses. As the P. E. approached him, he clenched his hands behind him and around the limb of a tree by which he stood. The P. E. laid one arm around his neck and with the other hand loos- ed the hands of the rowdy, took him on his hip and started to go outside of the camp-ground. Mean- while W. commenced plying the heels of his bro- gands against the lower limbs of his antagonist. The P. E. did not intend to strike, or in any way harm him, but, seeing proper to swing himself around with W. under his arm he let him go, and he hap- pened to fall with his head against the end of one of the logs upon which the seats rested. He lay there and trembled for a few moments, in a state of unconsciousness, but soon revived, and, as he arose,
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an officer, who was passing by, arrested him and took him before the Justice of the peace, where he was fined five dollars. His rowdy friends made up a purse and paid the fine ; and united to organize a force for the purpose of an attack at night-fall on the worshipers in camp. In order to prevent fur- ther trouble, the writer, before night, mounted a boy on a horse and dispatched a note to. the sheriff of the county, who arrived on the ground before the time set by the rowdies for the attack. Just as the P. E. had presumed it would be, the presence of the sheriff was all that was needed, to quiet the fellows of the baser sort, and no further disturbance occured. Many precious souls now in Heaven, and others on their way thither, date their conversion to that camp-meeting. It was a grand success. The grand- est revival, however, of that conference year, took place in the city of LaFayette, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas S. Webb, of precious memory, where over three hundred souls were brought to Christ. During the latter part of that year, a lot was pur- chased and the preliminary arrangements made for the organization of the society, and the building of a new house of worship, to be called the Eastern Charge, now Ninth Street.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
MOVES TO LAPORTE .- "OLD VIRGINIANS."
In the fall of 1850 the conference was held at Cambridge City, Bishop Janes presiding. Here the writer was among his old friends and former parishioners, where he had labored two years, from 1842 to 1844. Rev. Joseph Marsee had served four years as presiding elder (a full term) on the Craw- fordsville district; and Rev. John Daniel, for the same time, on the LaPorte district. The bishop felt that the easy and natural thing to do, was to ex- change these two brethern; but Brother Daniel pre- ferred to go into the station work rather than con- tinue as presiding elder. He was therefore ap- pointed to Fifth Street, LaFayette; and Brother Webb, to the Eastern charge. Brother Marsee, who was reared in Southern Kentucky, had a terrible dread of the LaPorte district, on account, as he said, of the Lake winds. This dread worked upon the good man until he became quite despondent at the idea of going to Northern Indiana. The people of LaFayette district, so far as known, expected that, as a matter of course, their P. E. would be returned for the third, and most likely for the fourth year; but his sympathy was fully aroused as a young man for Brother Marsee, who was old and gray headed. And so in a private interview with the bishop, he said to him, "Bishop, if you think it wise or best I might sug- gest a plan which will relieve the case." "How is
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that, Brother Smith?" the bishop asked eagerly. The answer was, "Give Brother Marsee my district, and I will go to LaPorte; for, I assure you, I am not afraid of that hyperborean region, as Brother Marsee thinks it is." The bishop responded, "That certainly is very kind, and I honor any young and strong man like yourself that is willing to give place and preference to an older brother, already beginning to show the infirmities of age. At the next meeting of the cabinet the bishop divulged to the presiding elders the new plan, at which Brother Marsee was deeply affected. He arose from his chair, came around, and with much emotion, spoke as follows : "Oh, Brother Smith, I always did love you, but I never loved you half so well as I do now; it was kind of you to be willing to go to LaPorte, opening the way for me to go to LaFayette, which is just as far north as I ever want to go."
The work in the North for the year, 1850, stood as follows :
LAPORTE DISTRICT. John L. Smith, Presiding Elder.
Laporte, William Graham.
Michigan City Mission, James C. Reed. Crown Point, Abraham Carey.
Valparaiso, Franklin Taylor. Union, Daniel F. Stright. Kingsbury Mission, Levi Moore. Byron, Nicholas E. Manville. Whitehall, Abraham Salisbury.
South Bend, Elam S. Preston. Mishawaka, John R. Tansy. St. Joseph's Mission, Isaac Dean.
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The town of LaPorte and a considerable portion of Door Prairie, in LaPorte county, was settled by Virginians, most of whom, were from Lynchburg, or Campbell county. Among these was the dis- tinguished Old Virginia gentleman, Gustavus Adolphus Rose, M. D., his most excellent Christian wife and family. Two of the daughters were married respectively to James Walker and his brother Benjamin. David G. Rose, the eldest son, was at that time the wealthiest man in LaPorte county, and was married to a sister of the Walkers above mentioned. Adolphus Rose, junior, died, while a student at Asbury University, in Green- castle. Another son, Landon, became, as was his father, a distinguished physician. Another brother, Heber, who for some time was in college at Green- castle, received training in business as a merchant. For some years he was auditor of LaPorte county; he married a Miss Early of LaPorte-a cultured, Christian young lady, and some years after, removed and settled in Carthage, Mo. They were present during the commencement at DePauw university in June, 1891, where they had the pleasure of witness- ing the graduating exercises of their eldest daugh- ter, who had gone through the regular classical course, and who was said to be a very superior Latin scholar. Miss Early, afterwards Mrs. Rose, was a relative of the celebrated Rev. John Early, of Lynchburg, Virginia, who, after 1844, became a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Dr. Rose, senior, was a great admirer of Rev. Mr. Early. During the year 1851, the Doctor visited his old home at Lynchburg, renewing his former friend-
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ships among his old neighbors, and especially with Rev. Mr. Early. Soon after his return from Virginia to his home in LaPorte, he was taken sick and became quite reduced. During his sickness, the stationed preacher, Rev. William Graham, and the new pre- siding elder of the district, visited the venerable doctor. The sick man commenced speaking in very high terms of his old friend, Bishop Early, and, ad- dressing his callers, said, "Ah! gentlemen, he's a giant oak," when the pastor, Brother Graham, not understanding the doctor distinctly, leaned forward, inquiring, "What did you say doctor, a giant ox?" The doctor, in a quaint, half-sarcastic way, answered, "O a-k, oak, sir. Elder, I presume you havn't had your dinner to-day as your mind seems to be run- ning on the meat question."
Brother Tansy at Mishawaka that year, was blessed with a wonderful revival. Among those converted and brought into the church was a Mrs. Pomroy, a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. She occupied a beautiful home, and, her husband being absent in California, she rented a part of her house to the Methodist pastor and his family. Her rector, learning that she had made a profession of religion among the methodists, called upon her, to inquire why she was attending the meetings of another church, saying, among other things, "I hope you will not disgrace yourself and the church in which you were born and confirmed by leaving and going into the Methodist church?" To all of which the good woman replied: "Mr. W., I have lived in this town for years; you have never called at our house till now; true, I was confirmed in
-
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the Episcopal church, but I have now realized that confirmation is not Scriptural conversion, since, among the Methodists, I have found pardon and peace, and become, in [the language of the New Testament, 'a new creature in Christ Jesus.' My arrangement is to give my hand to Brother Tansy and my name to the Methodist church; for since God has honored the Methodist people, and Metho- dist preaching, as instruments for my conversion, I I will honor God, and myself and family, by uniting with that church on next Sunday." She did so, and became an active worker; and in her changed life, and through her Christian example, accomplished great good, especially among the young people in the community.
At the session of the conference at Cambridge City, South Bend was fixed upon as the place of meeting in 1851. Rev. Elam S. Pr ston, the pastor, was a good man, but, on account of physical weak- ness, was not able to accomplish all that needed to be done. The Methodists of the place then wor- shipped in a little weather-beaten, old frame church, in the north-west quarter of the town, which went by the name of "The Old Saw-mill." In view of the fact that the conference would hold its next session in South Bend, and for other good rea- sons the presiding elder determined to assist Brother Preston, by stirring up the pure minds of the people, to erect a new church for their own better accommo- dation and that of the next conference session. Among the leading people of the church at that time in South Bend were the Brownfields, the Samples, the Tutts, the Monsons, the Stovers, the
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Lewises, the Greenes, the Wilmingtons, the Bakers, the Hackneys, and others equally worthy. The presiding elder spent about two weeks with Brother Preston in working the matter up, and securing subscriptions. The trustees not yet consenting to build a church at all, but finally said that, while they were satisfied a church could not be built, yet, if the preacher and presiding elder would raise a good subscription of five thousand dollars, they would agree then to take hold and help what they could. The church was built. Rev. Dr. Lucien W. Berry, then president of the Indiana Asbury uni- versity, at the united request of preacher, presiding elder, and board of trustees, dedicated the new brick structure on the Sabbath next preceding the opening of the conference session, and every dollar of the remaining debt was fully provided for. The present stately First Methodist church of South Bend, stands to-day on the same lot which the new church occupied. Through the efforts, and under the immediate supervision, of Rev. William Graham, a handsome brick church was also being erected at LaPorte, which, when finished, was the best church in the north. Since that time changes have been made, additions completed; and, through the ef- ficient labors of different pastors, from time to time, the LaPorte church has been much improved; but especially through the skillful management and perseverance of Rev. S. P. Colvin, it has been adorned and beautified within the last year or two, and now stands a commodious and handsome house of worship.
The LaPorte district at that time embraced all
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the territory between the Kankakee river and Lake Michigan, reaching from near Bristol in the east to the Illinois line in the west. At the date refered to there was great excitement among the people of Ohio and Indiana on the one side and the people of Michigan on the other, concerning the State Line dividing the first two from the latter. The trouble between these States was over a strip of land six miles in width, the Michigan people contending that the strip belonged to their State, and the people of Ohio and Indiana fully satisfied that in this their Michigan friends were mistaken. The contest eventually grew so warm that many of the common people believed it would take a bloody war to settle the question. After the question was settled in favor of Ohio and Indiana an amusing incident occurred. At the quarterly meeting held by the presiding elder within the bounds of the disputed territory, he was invited to dine at a farm house during the meeting, and listened with no little interest as the good woman of the house rehearsed her troubles during the war of words between the contending parties for the land. She closed the narration by telling the P. E. how happy she was when the question was finally settled; for, said she, "I tell you, elder, if, in settling that question, the line had been placed south of us, in which case we should have been left in the state of Michigan, I said to my husband, we wouldn't stay on this farm another day." "And why?" asked the elder with great animation. "Because," she said, "I have always hearn that Michigan was such a sickly State!"
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CHAPTER XIX.
BISHOPS ELECTED-THE PEW QUESTION.
The Conference was held in the new church at South Bend in 1851, Bishop Thomas A. Morris pre- siding. At this conference the following persons were admitted on trial, viz : Benjamin Smith, Lucas Nebeker, David Dunham, Charles Ketcham, John O'Neal, Moses Mark, Nelson Gillam, Wiley P. Watkins, Nelson L. Brakeman, Jacob Pearce, John W. Welsh, Moses Wood, William E. Hines, Philip F. Millnor, James Black, Samuel Godfrey, Abram C. Barnhart, William T. Smith, Charles Jones, James Armstrong, William H. Metts, James Spinks, Will- iam Youngker, Evan Snyder, and Thomas Col- clazer.
During the conference a circus show was held in the town and it was reported that one of the young men just admitted on trial. had attended the circus, and otherwise amused himself by playing marbles with the boys on the streets. Dr. Henry C. Benson, now and for some years, of California, on the second or third day of the conference moved that the motion be reconsidered by which that young man was ad- mitted on trial. The presiding elder asked for time to see the young man and talk with him before the conference took action ; other brothers became im- patient and desired to act at once. And had the vote then been taken, it was very evident to the presiding elder that the young man alluded to, would have been then and there discontinued. At
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the earnest solicitation of the presiding elder the further consideration of the subject was postponed until the next day.
The election of delegates to the General confer- ence, the dividing of the North Indiana Conference, setting off the west half of the territory to be called the Northwest Indiana Conference, and other press- ing and important subjects being brought forward for consideration, just as the presiding elder had hoped, the question of disposing of the young man was over- looked and forgotten. And at this writing (1892), of all the twenty-five persons then admitted on trial he is the only one now on the effective list in the Northwest Indiana conference. He has proved him- self to be one of the most logical, eccentric, and el- oquent men in the conference. And to-day, for ar- gument, quick perception, readiness in repartee, and dazzling oratory, is regarded as the peer of any man in any profession in the State of Indiana.
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