USA > Indiana > Indiana miscellany : consisting of sketches of Indian life, the early settlement, customs, and hardships of the people, and the introduction of the gospel and of schools ; together with biographical notices of the pioneer Methodist preachers of the state > Part 11
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Allen Wiley was born in Frederick county, Vir- ginia, 1789. When he was some nine years old his father emigrated to the State of Kentucky. In the Fall of 1804 his father removed to the Territory of Indiana and settled in the Whitewater country, not far from where the town of Harrison now stands. Here he grew up to manhood and married a wife. He was awakened to the subject of salva- tion in family prayer, led by a brother of his wife.
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In 1810, in the twenty-second year of his age, under the ministry of Rev. Moses Crume, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and was con- verted in a love-feast meeting a few months after- ward. It was not long after that he was licensed to exhort, for it was soon discovered that he had talents for great usefulness if they were cultivated. July, 1813, he was licensed to preach.
In December, 1816, he was employed by the pre- siding elder to travel Lawrenceburg circuit with Rev. Russel Bigelow, who was in charge. This cir- cuit embraced the neighborhood where Mr. Wiley resided. Here, where he had reached his manhood, where he had married, and where he had his home, he commenced his itinerant labors. At the close of this Conference year, in the Summer of 1817, he was admitted on trial into the Ohio Annual Confer- ence. Having labored with so much acceptability to the people on Lawrenceburg circuit, he was ap- pointed to that circuit as junior preacher, with Samuel West as preacher in charge. In those days it was a rare thing to put a man in charge the first year he was admitted into the traveling connection. They were generally placed as junior preachers, with some man of experience in charge, to teach them how to do the work of an itinerant preacher; how to meet the classes, hold prayer meetings, visit the families, and administer the Discipline of the Church.
Mr. Wiley traveled large and laborious circuits
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for several years, which subjected him to great toil, exposure, and privation. He served the Church many years as presiding elder, and filled the most important stations in Indiana. His last appoint- ment was to Centenary station, New Albany.
His early opportunities for securing an education were not good, his early boyhood and youth, from the time he was about nine years of age, being spent in the backwoods of Kentucky and in the wilds of Indiana. Up to manhood, though his thirst for knowledge was great, he had not been able to do more than learn to read and write, and study com- mon arithmetic. Colleges and high schools were not in the country, and his father did not possess the means to send him to the old States to go to school. After his conversion, and particularly after he was licensed to preach, his thirst for an educa- tion was greatly increased; and though he had com- menced opening a farm in the dense forest, with a young and increasing family around him, he determ- ined to cultivate his mind and increase his informa- tion in science and literature. He procured what books he could, and commenced anew his studies without a teacher. Having his land to clear, fence, and cultivate, in order to procure sustenance for his family, he had no time to devote to study except during the hours of early morn, and the night after he had finished his daily toil, and during those in- tervals when it was necessary to take some relax- ation from labor. His rule was to carry his
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book with him, and when he found it necessary to sit down a moment to rest, he would take it up and apply his mind with all the energy he possessed. In this way he spent something more than two years, not allowing one moment to run to waste, taking no more time for sleep than was absolutely necessary. In the course of one Spring and Sum- mer he cleared several acres of ground, made the rails and fenced it, and cultivated his fields, and studied the English grammar thoroughly.
After he entered the itinerancy he pursued his studies with increased energy. The circuits being large, and having as a general thing to preach every day through the week and twice on the Sabbath, be- sides meeting the classes, with much traveling to do between his appointments, he had no time for study, except when riding on horseback, or at night, and in the morning before he started on his way. These opportunities he improved to the best advantage. In this way, while traveling circuits and districts, without an instructor, he acquired a knowledge of the Latin, the Greek, and Hebrew languages. There were few, if any, better Latin, Greek, or He- brew scholars in the West than Mr. Wiley. On one occasion, while he was presiding elder, he met, by invitation, several ladies and gentlemen in a so- cial circle. Among the number present was a young M. D. who had just entered upon his profession. He, knowing that Mr. Wiley was a Greek scholar, was very loquacious on the subject of Greek litera-
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ture, professing to be an adept himself. The con- versation had not proceeded far till Mr. Wiley was impressed that this young M. D.'s knowledge of Greek was very superficial. He determined to test him. Accordingly, he drew from his pocket a Greek Testament, and, handing it to the doctor, requested him to read a portion and give his translation of it. Perceiving the doctor was much embarrassed, Mr. Wiley requested him to read a particular text. The young M. D., with increased embar- rassment, remarked that "he was, indeed, very rusty in Greek," and asked to be excused. Mr. Wiley excused him, and there the conversation ended on the subject of the Greek classics.
Mr. Wiley had a most cordial dislike to a pedant- to one who professed to be more learned than he really was. His ambition was to be thorough in every study he commenced, and not allow himself to be superficial in any thing. Of every subject he took hold he endeavored to search it to the bottom. Theology was his main study. In that he took great and constant delight. All his other studies were for the purpose of aiding him in his theolog- ical studies. He was a profound theologian.
If universities and colleges had been as lavish in conferring the degrees of A. M. and D. D. in the days of Mr. Wiley as now, he would doubtless have received both the degrees, for no man in Indiana was more worthy.
He was of medium hight, agile, with a well-set
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physical frame, walked erect, with quick step, and to the end of his life eschewed the use of a walking- cane. It was a source of much annoyance to him to see young ministers, in the full vigor of manhood, carrying a walking-stick.
His hair was dark, and quite thin on his head. In his latter years he became bald. His head was small, but well proportioned, with a finely-devel- oped forehead. His mouth was finely curved, a dimple in his chin, his complexion fair, and when pleased he wore a very prepossessing smile. Per- haps he was never known to laugh aloud during the whole course of his ministerial life.
His countenance, when in the pulpit, was solemn, showing to all who looked upon him that he had a sense of the Divine presence, and felt that to God he should give an account for every word he ut- tered. He never while preaching allowed himself to say a light or foolish thing. It has often been remarked that the solemn countenance and manner of Allen Wiley in the pulpit made a deeper impres- sion for good than the sermons of some ministers.
His voice was pleasant when in conversation, and was not unpleasant when he was preaching, though it was somewhat monotonous-sometimes rather heavy. There were inflections, but they were usually the same, rising to a certain pitch and continuing for a sentence or two, then falling to a lower key. In his tones, however, there was something peculiarly solemn.
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As a pastor he was most indefatigable-faithfully visiting all the members of his flock, paying special attention to the sick, aged, and poor. He was punctual in filling all his engagements-seldom be- hind the hour to fill a private appointment, or meet a public congregation. He never allowed himself to be "behind the time." He was for many years one of the leading men of the Indiana Conference, always taking great interest and an active part in all the business of the Conference, always in his place, usually occupying the same seat during the entire session. It seldom, if ever, occurred that Allen Wiley was out of his place and had to be sent for when any thing was before the Conference in connection with which he was needed.
As a preacher he was systematic in the arrange- ment of his sermons. He was an expounder of the Holy Scriptures. He never indulged in fancy, nor made an effort to embellish his discourses-seldom relating an anecdote. He did not so much charm his hearers as he impressed them with a sense of the importance of his subject, fixing the text firmly in the mind. His utterances were distinct. He always spoke with earnestness, exhibiting that he felt fully all he said, and that the truths he was presenting were vital to the salvation of souls. No one ever thought that Allen Wiley preached merely to fill his appointment, or to make a display of his knowledge.
In 1818, when he traveled the Whitewater cir-
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cuit, he held a two days' meeting in Salisbury, which was then the county seat of Wayne. The services were held in the court house, commencing on Saturday. Mr. Wiley being a great favorite with the people they came in from all the surround- ing country, some a distance of twenty miles. He preached an impressive sermon Saturday. On Sun- day, when the hour for preaching arrived, the court-house was crowded to its utmost capacity. Mr. Wiley came in, walked up to the judge's bench, and kneeled a short time in silent prayer. When he arose, on turning round, facing the audience, he discovered upon the hand-board the following note: "Preach from this text to-day and I will hear you : 'And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM ; and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.'" Exodus iii, 14. He stood for a moment, the audience per- ceiving that something was moving his soul. He again kneeled down and remained some time in silent prayer. When he arose he announced his hymn; the congregation joined in singing; after which he made the opening prayer. In that prayer most earnestly did he plead for Divine help while he should that day stand as an "em- bassador for Christ," and that the Holy Spirit might carry the Word with power to the heart of some one in the congregation unknown to him, yet known to God.
Divine power rested upon the audience while
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he was praying. Many hearts were touched. After prayer he read the note he had found upon the hand-board, then opened his Bible and an- nounced his text, as requested. For about the space of two hours he unfolded the text with a pathos and power that told upon the congregation. In those days Arianism was rife in that region, but on this occasion it received a blow from which it never recovered. Many who heard that sermon, and continued to hear Mr. Wiley for many years afterward, considered it the great sermon of his life. He was often, afterward, heard to say that he had never, on any other occasion, felt so sensibly "the power of Christ resting upon him." It was ascertained that the note was written by a young lawyer whose name was Dally. He soon after that left the country and went to New Orleans.
Mr. Wiley was considered one of the ablest preachers of the West, and will be remembered as long as those live who had the privilege of hearing him. Eleven years he traveled laborious circuits, five years he was stationed in the most important towns in Indiana, fourteen years he faithfully dis- charged the duties of presiding elder. He was elected delegate to the General Conference four times in succession. He served one term as a member of the Western Book Committee at Cincin- nati, and was for several years one of the Trustees of Indiana Asbury University. He died in Ve- vay, Indiana, July 23, 1848. His death was
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caused by an injury which he received while per- forming some manual labor about the premises of a new residence he was preparing. His injury was not thought at first to be serious, but in a short time it proved fatal. When the fact was made known to him it did not alarm him. He im- mediately arranged all his temporal affairs, and on the holy Sabbath he quietly fell asleep in Jesus, in the fifty-ninth year of his age, and the thirty-fifth of his ministry.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
REV. NEHEMIAH B. GRIFFITH.
MR. GRIFFITH was born in Whitehall, Washing- ton county, New York, 1798. In the eighteenthı year of his age, with his father's family, he emi- grated to the State of Ohio. His surroundings in youth were such as led him into the gayest and most fashionable circles of society. Being of ready wit, of active mind, and lively temperament, he was charmed by the giddy mazes of the dance, and became exceedingly fond of the terpsichorean art. He was a great favorite in the circle in which he moved. After he became pious he greatly lamented the follies of his youth, and bore constant testimony to the pernicious influences of the ball-room.
When about twenty-one years of age, through the instrumentality of Rev. William H. Raper, he was awakened, converted, and brought into the Method- ist Episcopal Church. In a few months afterward, he received the blessing of entire sanctification. From this time to the close of his life he was wholly consecrated to the Lord. His talents, piety, and zeal were such, that the Church soon licensed him to preach, and in the Fall of 1822 he was ad- mitted on trial into the Ohio Conference.
All his itinerant life, except one year, was spent
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in Indiana. His first field of labor was Madison cir- cuit, as junior preacher. His second, Wilmington circuit, in Ohio. Here he was in charge and alone. His third appointment was to Whitewater circuit as junior preacher. This brought him back into Indi- ana. His fourth field of labor was Connersville cir- cuit, where he was in charge with a colleague. His fifth appointment was to Rushville, where he labored alone. His sixth was to Indianapolis, alone. His seventh was to Lawrenceburg, with E. G. Wood for a colleague. His eighth returned him in charge of Lawrenceburg circuit, with R. S. Robinson for a colleague.
In the Fall of 1830 he was sent as the first mis- sionary to Fort Wayne. This place was remote from any other field of labor. It was connected with the Madison district, and the presiding elder, Rev. Allen Wiley, in visiting Fort Wayne this year to hold a quarterly meeting, had to travel through a wilderness of some thirty miles, which was in- habited by Indians. This was a hard field for Mr. Griffith to cultivate, subjecting him to many perils and privations.
In the Fall of 1831 he was sent to South Bend mission. Again he was called upon to break up new ground. That portion of Indiana was then be- ing rapidly settled. The people generally lived in log-cabins. Mr. Griffith, being the first itinerant preacher sent among them, he had to form his circuit and do all his preaching in the cabins of the settlers.
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In the Fall of 1832 he was sent to Lafayette, with Richard Hargrave for his colleague. The next year he was returned to Lafayette, with H. Vreden- burg as junior preacher. This was his last field of labor. Here he closed up his itinerancy, and was transferred to the New Jerusalem above, not to preach, but to join in the song of the redeemed, and swell louder the anthem of praise, "Unto Him that loved us, and hath washed us from our sins in his own blood."
On the twenty-second day of August, 1834, at his father's house in St. Joseph county, Indiana, he died in holy triumph, shouting with his expiring breath, "Glory ! glory ! glory ! sweet heaven! I am coming!" Thus passed away one of the most deeply- pious and zealous ministers of the Lord Jesus that ever labored in Indiana. Mr. Griffith was a close student, and made great proficiency in his theolog- ical studies. He dearly loved the doctrine and Dis- cipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He de- voted all his energies, physical and mental, to the cause of his Master. He made no compromise with sin-never allowing any one to transgress the Di- vine law in his presence unreproved. If, in the day of judgment, there are any ministers whose skirts are found clear of the blood of souls, Nehemiah B. Griffith will be among them.
In 1829, when traveling the Lawrenceburg circuit, as he was on his way to his appointment one Sab- bath morning, he saw a young man fishing in Hogan.
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Mr. Griffith turned aside to where he was and faithfully reproved him, warning him of the conse- quences of Sabbath desecration, and tenderly and kindly invited him to lay aside his fishing-rod and go with him to the house of worship and give his heart to God. The young man declined, saying he would risk the consequences. Mr. Griffith left him and rode on to his appointment with a sad heart, feel- ing that the judgments of the Almighty might soon overtake him. Before nine o'clock the next morning that young man's soul was in the eternal world. He undertook to drive a span of fractious, fiery horses in the town of Lawrenceburg. They ran off with the vehicle and threw him against the curb-stone, dashing out his brains, and killing him instantly. Mr. Griffith gave him the last warning he ever re- ceived, improving the last opportunity to do so.
Mr. Griffith had a pleasant voice, and was a fluent speaker. His sermons were well arranged, logical, and seldom failed to make a deep impression upon those who heard them. He had great power with God in prayer. Revival influence attended his labors wherever he went. He brought many souls to Christ, and will have many stars in the crown of his rejoicing. He was a holy man of God-a burn- ing, and shining light. His sun went down in the meridian of life, but it sat in a clear sky. Servant of God! though years have passed away since thy voice was hushed in death, thou art still remem- bered in Indiana!
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE YOUNG LAWYER.
J. H. was born in one of the eastern counties of
· Indiana when the country was new. During his early boyhood the sources of information and op- portunities for cultivating his mind were very lim- ited. These being used to the best advantage he soon learned to read, and exhibited quite a fondness for books. As he advanced toward manhood, and his intellect began to be developed, he occasionally had thoughts of future greatness. He had a fond- ness for disputation, and evinced considerable skill in managing a controversy with his juvenile asso- ciates. By close application and the improvement of the opportunities afforded him, as well as he could, by the time of his arrival at manhood, he had ac- quired, for those days, a fair English education. After some deliberation as to his course in life he determined to devote himself to the study and pro- fession of the law. Accordingly some law-books were procured, a preceptor engaged, and young H. entered upon the study of the law. Devoting all his energies to his studies he made rapid progress, and was, as soon as could reasonably have been ex- pected, licensed to practice and admitted to the bar.
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His thoughts now turned upon where he could locate himself and enter upon his profession. He placed what few articles of apparel he possessed in a knapsack, took that upon his back and set out on foot in search of a location. Directing his steps westward he, after several days' travel, late in the afternoon arrived at the town of N. and took lodgings at the hotel. N. was the county seat of H. county, and was situated on one of the finest rivers in Indiana. The town had but few inhabit- ants, the county having just been organized. When morning came he went forth to reconnoiter the
place and to see what the prospect was.
After
spending most of the day in surveying the town, and in conversation with the citizens as to the pros- pects of their new county, he concluded to make an effort to establish himself there as a lawyer. His appearance did not impress the people very favora- bly as to his legal ability. His garments were of rough texture and much worn; he had come to the place a pedestrian, not on horseback nor in a coach. " He does not look much like a lawyer," the people said. Mr. H. discovered that the citi- zens were indisposed to recognize him as an "At- torney." He knew his appearance was not showy, that he was poor and among strangers. Feeling that his success in his profession depended upon his energy and faithfulness to business, he determined not to yield to the discouragements that surrounded him. After having made considerable effort he
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succeeded in obtaining a room for an office. It was necessary to save what little money he had to pay his board, and therefore he could not spend much in furnishing his office. A rough writing-table and one chair constituted his office furniture. One copy of the "Statute Laws of Indiana" constituted his library.
Thus equipped our young lawyer started off in his profession. It was not very long till a case of liti- gation occurred before a justice of the peace. He was employed as attorney for one of the parties. Though in the management of this case he did not show himself to be very learned in the law, he dis- played such tact and skill as to attract the atten- tion of all who attended the trial. When the case was decided it was in favor of Mr. H.'s client, not- withstanding the counsel for the opposite party was considered able. Having gained his cause in this, his debut, his way was open, and the people began to recognize him as a lawyer. In the course of a few months he was pretty well established in the practice of law. He enlarged his library as rapidly as he could procure means. He was a close stu- dent, and gave his undivided attention to every case in which he was employed. In the course of twelve months he had quite an extensive practice.
Unfortunately for Mr. H. his parents were not religious. His moral training had all been wrong. He had been taught to look upon Christianity with disdain, and upon all who made its profession with
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distrust. Thus, in early life, his mind received a strong bias against every thing like piety. When about eighteen years of age his attention was called to the system of Universalism. The funda- mental principle of this system, that "all men will be holy and happy in a future state," delighted him. He commenced reading the Scriptures in order to fortify himself so as to defend that doc- trine. He had not continued this course of reading long till he was convinced that the system was not taught in the Bible-that the Bible clearly taught the doctrine of man's accountability to his Maker ; that it also taught a future general judgment, and the future punishment of the finally impenitent. There was now no alternative left but to embrace " orthodoxy " or renounce the Bible as a reve- lation from God, and espouse infidelity. He chose the latter. From the time he made this choice he boldly avowed himself an infidel.
Being naturally fond of controversy, and his pro- fession leading him into constant debate, in all his leisure hours he sought opportunities to get into a dispute with some one on his favorite, "Infidelity versus Christianity." He delighted greatly in con- founding those who entered into an argument with him. Persons who were not well posted in the Scriptures or in logic could not meet his sophistries or correct his misquotations from the Old and New Testaments, for he, like Voltaire and other infidels, made his quotations from the writings of infidels
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instead of the Bible; hence they were seldom cor- rect. He was bold in declaring the "Bible to be the production of priestcraft, the religion of the Lord Jesus a cunningly-devised fable, and that Christianity would do for weak-minded men and women; but strong-minded, intellectual persons could not be beguiled into its support."
He was so outspoken in his infidelity that his society was shunned by many Christians; but the wicked gathered around him, and some of them were delighted to hear him denounce the Bible, and Christianity, and piety. His success in his profes- sion was such as to bring a large amount of busi- ness into his hands, and he bade fair to take a high position as a lawyer.
The population of the town and country rapidly increased. Some families that came in were from the New England States. Among those latter was a Mr. E., whose wife's sister, Miss A., accompanied them. She had been pretty well educated, but was not pious; she was handsome, proud, of cheerful spirits, and quite attractive. She had not been long in the place till Mr. H. was charmed by her appearance. He sought an opportunity to make her acquaintance. Their acquaintance ripened into at- tachment, and after a few months they were united at Hymen's altar. Their union seemed to be a happy one, and Mr. H. prosecuted his profession with increased energy.
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