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 5
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Miss Patsy Odell started one afternoon on horse- back to go from one settlement to another some nine miles distant. Night coming on before she reached her destination, she lost the path upon which she was traveling. The night was dark, and the undergrowth in the woods was so closely matted that it was difficult for her to make any headway. After striving for some time to regain the path, finding herself completely bewildered she gave it up as a hopeless case; she hallooed at the top of her voice for a long time, but she was too far from any human habitation to be heard. At last she was brought to realize that she was lost in the wild woods, and would have to spend the night alone. Wolves were howling around her in every direction. Her greatest care now was to find, if possible, some place where she might be secure from them. After wandering about in the dark- ness for a time she came upon a high log; she suc- ceeded in getting from her horse to the top of it, where she sat, holding him by the reins till morn- ing. When morning came she could determine nothing as to her whereabouts or what course to
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steer to find a settlement. She sat upon the log ruminating on her forlorn condition till the sun had mounted high in the heavens. At length she con- cluded to try her horse, and see if he would take her out of the wilderness. Accordingly she re- mounted and gave him the rein. He wandered about for some time, appearing to be in a maze. At last he struck upon a course, and after traveling some miles brought her out safely at her father's cabin.
Some persons when lost in the woods soon be- comne so frightened as not to be able for a time to recognize their most intimate friends. Those who have never suffered the experience can scarcely form an idea of the terrible feeling, the dreadful fright that comes upon a person when lost in the wilderness. In some instances the lost one has be- come partially wild in a short space of time. In 1810 a lady on the frontier, in what is now Wayne county, had her cabin on the outside of the settle- ment, near the land belonging to the Indians. She had been to a neighbor's cabin on an errand and started for home a little before sundown. Night closed in, however, before she was in sight of her home, and the darkness became so dense that she could not follow the path. In a short time she became so confused that she knew not which way to go. This caused her great alarm. She com- menced calling for help, her terror increasing every moment. Her husband, who had grown uneasy at
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her stay, started out on the path with a torch to meet her. Hearing her calling at some distance from the path, he answered her, but she was so much alarmed that she did not recognize his voice, and made off in an opposite direction, thinking the voice she heard was that of an Indian. Her hus- band pursued her as rapidly as possible, still call- ing. He could hear her running through the bushes, which enabled him to follow her. The flight and pursuit having been thus continued for some distance, her husband overtook her, when she gave up, supposing she was captured by an Indian. So frightened was she that she was trembling from head to foot, and did not recognize her husband till he took hold of her. Her alarm at finding herself lost deprived her of self-possession.
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CHAPTER X.
CHRISTOPHER RODDY.
WE do not present the subject of this sketch as a pious man, nor because of his great worthiness, but to show the sternness of character possessed by some of the men who first settled Indiana. Chris- topher Roddy was a very wicked man, but having been a Revolutionary soldier was honored and treated with respect by the people. He sometimes drank spirituous liquor to excess, and he had indulged in profanity and other wicked practices till he was hardened in sin. He had fought through the whole seven years of the Revolutionary war. During his long service in that war he had contracted his habits of profanity and intemperance. He was so wicked the pious had but little hope of his ever becoming religious, of his salvation. The most of them gave him up as a hopeless case.
The writer will never forget the impression made upon his mind in his boyhood when, while some pious acquaintances were conversing with Mr. Roddy and endeavoring to persuade him to cease sinning and to seek God in the pardon of his sins, he exclaimed : "It is of no use; there is no salvation for me. I believe my damnation sealed as surely
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as if I was now in hell." This startled the men who were talking with him. They inquired the reason of his so expressing himself. He answered : " Time was when I had a desire to be saved-when I went to the place of worship; I loved to go there- when my heart was melted under the preaching of the Gospel-when I could shed tears at human sor- row and woe-when I felt the drawings of God's spirit and desired to get to heaven; but, for ten long years I have had no desire to be religious; for ten long years I have not visited the place of worship, and have no desire to do so; for ten long years I have had no tender emotion, no tears have dropped from my eyes, however great the sorrow of those around me, nor have I felt the drawings of God's spirit. I don't want to go to heaven. God knows the flames of hell will be a refuge for me if they will but hide me from his presence." While the old man uttered these fearful declarations his eyes seemed to flash fire, and every muscle in his body quivered.
Does not this case show that there is a point in sin beyond which one may go whence there is no return ? Yes, there is danger of judicial abandon- ment. This man's great wickedness consisted in his profanity and intemperance-in having slighted of- fered mercy and resisted the strivings of the Holy Spirit, and in "Treasuring up unto himself wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of God's righteous judgment."
Mr. Roddy emigrated with his family to the Ter-
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ritory of Indiana, and settled in what is now Wayne county in the year 1810 or 1811. He was considered an honest man, though, as before stated, a very wicked one. He was capable of enduring a great amount of fatigue-was far removed from cowardice-was never known to quail before an enemy or danger-was somewhat eccentric, and al- ways accomplished what he undertook if it was within the range of possibility.
While Roddy was a non-commissioned officer in the army of the Revolution, on one occasion he gave a mortal affront to a second lieutenant who chal- lenged him to fight a duel. By the "code of honor" the challenged party had the right to choose the weapons, the place, and mode of fight- ing. Roddy accepted the challenge, and chose a heavy cavalry saber for his antagonist and a shoe- maker's pegging awl for himself. The place of fight- ing was to be a large brick oven. The fight was not to commence till both were fairly in the oven. The idea was so novel and ridiculous that his an- tagonist withdrew the challenge, abandoned the fight, and there the matter ended.
Not long after the county-scat of Wayne county had been removed from Salisbury to Centerville, a colored man by the name of Pitt was convicted for murder and condemned to be hung. After sentence was pronounced Pitt engaged another colored man, by giving him his horse, to take charge of his body after he was executed, he seeing that it was decently
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interred. This colored man secured possession of Pitt's horse, and then, in advance of the execution, sold his body for ten dollars to two physicians for the purpose of dissection, and left the country. This fact came to the knowledge of Pitt while con- fined in prison. He sent for Roddy and requested him to take charge of his body after execution, and not to let the physicians have it. Roddy agreed to do so, and pledged himself to Pitt that his wishes should be faithfully and sacredly regarded. When the day of execution arrived Roddy was on hand with a coffin, upon a sled, and the physicians were on hand with a wagon, without a coffin. When Pitt's dead body was cut down from the gallows by the sheriff, Roddy seized hold of it and so did the physicians. A long and hard struggle ensued, but Roddy triumphed. He took the body away from the physicians, put it in the coffin upon his sled, and conveyed it to his home in Salisbury, where he guarded it through the night. The next day he buried it. Fearing the physicians would find out where the interment had taken place, he disinterred the body the next night, removed it from the coffin and carried it on his shoulder some seven miles and buried it in the woods. The next day he cut down all the forest trees he could make fall on the grave, and left it under that mass of timber. He kept his word, and the physicians never obtained possession of the body. Such was Roddy's determined char- acter; such his perseverance in whatever he under-
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took. Had he embraced religion in his youth and lived a pious life he might have accomplished good, and might have died in peace, but his life was a stormy one, his old age melancholy, and the day of his death dark.
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CHAPTER XI.
THREE FRIENDS.
W. C., J. J., and T. C. were pioneers in Indiana, and settled contiguous to each other. Having been born and brought up in the same neighborhood, in one of the old States, they formed an attachment for each other in boyhood, which continued through life. Unfortunately all three grew up to manhood without religious training or restraint. They were taught to be honest and industrious, nothing more; the truths of Christianity were spoken of by their asso- ciates in youth only in derision; hence, in riper years, they had respect neither for religion nor religious people. They were men of rugged physical frames, brave and daring, kind and accommodating to their frontier neighbors. Not allowing themselves to be brought under religious restraint, they had no rev- erence for the Divine Being. The race of these men was short. The youngest of the three, T. C., was called first to struggle, single-handed and alone, with the grim monster. His attack was sud- den, the disease malignant and rapid in its progress. He was soon brought down to death's door. When eternity, with all its dread realities, was just before him, he was awakened to a sense of his condition.
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He saw hell opening to receive him, his sins rising like mountains to heaven, and calling loudly for Divine vengeance, while the frowns of the Al- mighty, red with wrath, were poured upon him. He was greatly alarmed. The agony of his mind was such as to cause him to lose all sensibility of his physical sufferings. His whole care was how he might "escape the death that never, never dies."
Though unused to prayer, he called mightily upon God for mercy. One or two pious women pointed him to the Savior, as well as they could, and poured out their souls in earnest supplication to God that he would have mercy upon him and save him from dropping into the bottomless pit.
This dying man now warned his two friends, who were with him to administer to his bodily comfort, that their infidel notions were false, that their course in life would not do, and besought them to lead new lives and prepare for death.
Struggling in deep penitency and earnest prayer for some hours, a great change was wrought. Sud- denly he commenced praising the Lord, declaring that he felt his sins forgiven, and was now ready to depart. Though his sufferings had been such as to reduce him to great weakness, when this change took place his strength revived. He arose from his bed, despite the efforts of his friends to prevent him, and walked the room, praising God, declaring what great things he had done for him, exhorting all in the room to prepare for death. When his
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strength failed, and he could continue no longer, he laid down upon his bed again, and in a few moments his voice was hushed in death.
This made some impression upon the two surviv- ing friends. They were much astonished at the closing hours of their departed companion, but did not change their course in life nor renounce their infidelity.
A short time after the death of T. C., one of the other two, J. J., was suddenly taken ill, and in a few days closed his eyes in death. After he was attacked with disease he was much disturbed in mind. When he saw himself just on the bank of the river that separates time and eternity, he had feelings such as he had not experienced before. His sentiments in regard to man's accountability to his Maker underwent a great change. He re- nounced his infidelity, and sent word to his friend, W. C., that "Paine's Age of Reason," and other infi- del writings, had been his ruin, and besought him to cease reading them. He died, however, without making any profession of religion, leaving to his friends no well-grounded hope of his future bliss.
It was not long after the death of J. J. till the other friend, W. C., was attacked with a lingering disease, which brought him slowly down to the grave. During his long-continued suffering he had much time for reflection. He dwelt much upon the death of his two former friends, the strange change wrought upon one, his rejoicing in a dying hour,
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and the last solemn message sent him by the other. It was a hard struggle for him to give up his infi- del principles; it was hard for him to consent to die-to pass into a world to him unknown, one about which he had thought but little during the whole course of his life. But death was inexora- ble. Step by step he was brought down to the cold stream. When standing upon the margin, just ready to dip his feet in Jordan's waters, he gave up his cherished principles, and acknowledged man's responsibility to his Maker. He manifested a de- sire to converse on the subject of religion. On one Sabbath day several persons had called to see him, among them Mr. B., who had been an associate of his for some years. In their conversation the sick and dying man informed his friend of the strug- gle of mind he had passed through, and that he had renounced his former principles, assuring him that he now believed man was an accountable being, and would have to give an account to God for all his actions in this life. Mr. B. still contended for their old infidel notions. The conversation contin- ued till Mr. C., finding his strength failing, and per- ceiving he had made little or no impression upon his friend, with deep emotion said: "Well, my friend, when you are brought low down upon a death-bed, you will then know who rules; you will not think then as you do now." Here the conversation ended.
Mr. W. C. lingered about one year from the time he was taken ill. He made no profession of Chris-
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tianity before his death. In the prime of life these three friends were taken away, each leaving a young family. Some of their children are yet liv- ing, respected. A son of one of them is now in the Congress of the United States.
We have introduced these three men as a warn- ing to parents and young men. They were honest, industrious citizens, but wicked men, and wielded a bad influence upon those with whom they associ- ated. Had they been trained religiously-had good seed been sown in their hearts in early life, and had they shunned infidel authors, the probabilities are they would have lived useful lives, died happy deaths, and found a home in heaven. The happy death of the one is but a manifestation of God's amazing mercy, and not to be taken as an encour- agement to procrastinate repentance to a dying hour.
Parents, "train your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Young men, avoid reading infidel books as you would deadly poison.
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CHAPTER XII.
GEORGE JULIAN.
THE subject of this sketch was a native of Vir- ginia, born and brought up among the mountains. His education was limited. Having been reared among the mountains, accustomed to much physical exercise, he was, when in his prime, a man of great muscular power. He was early trained to hunting, and became so skilled in taking game that none surpassed him in that department of a mountaineer's life. No man loved adventure more than he. He was always in his element when in the woods with his gun and hunting apparatus. We have heard him say, the happiest days of his life and the best living he ever enjoyed were, when all alone among the mountains of Virginia he was bear-hunting. He would take his knapsack filled with corn-meal, a little salt, his gun, tomahawk, and hunting-knife, go into the mountains and spend two weeks alone. He would kill a fat bear, bring it in to his camp in the evening, take off the skin, spread it upon the ground with the flesh side up, pour some corn-meal upon it, put in some salt, mix the meal with the oil upon the skin without the use of water, then put
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the dough in the fire and bake it. While his bread was baking he would cut out some of the choice pieces of the bear, salt them well, put them upon sticks, and place them before the fire to roast. When his bread was sufficiently baked he would take it from the fire. Upon this and his roasted bear-meat he made his supper. This, he said, "was the best dish any man ever partook of." He was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church when a youth, and lived and died a faithful member. He emigrated to the Territory of Indiana in 1809, and settled in what is now Wayne county. He was advanced in life when he emigrated. He was of great service to the inhabitants of the fort built in the neighborhood where he settled. Though all the men were good hunters, he was chief among the chiefest. He seldom failed to bring down his game when he fired his faithful rifle.
He was a sweet singer, able in prayer, and a good class-leader. On funeral occasions, Grand- father Julian, as he was familiarly called, frequently officiated-there being no minister residing within many miles. The usual services on such an occasion were singing and prayer at the house before start- ing to the grave, and as the procession marched to the place of interment, an appropriate hymn was sung, and at the grave another hymn, in which all joined, followed by prayer. On one occasion, at the funeral of a child, Mr. Julian sung a hymn so exceedingly appropriate that some Friend-Quakers
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who were present thought he composed it by inspi- ration as he proceeded.
Some years after the close of the war, a circum- stance occurred which involved the old man in deep sorrow, and compelled him to give up his little home, where he had fondly hoped to have spent the remnant of his days. A son, an only child by his second wife, grew up a bad boy, indulging in many vicious habits. When this son was about seventeen years of age, three of his associates were spending a Sunday afternoon with him at his father's house, his parents being from home. Young Julian left the three boys standing in the yard and entered the house, closing the door after him. In a few moments one of the boys, whose name was Owens, left the others and started to pass through an open space between the house young Julian had entered, and another which stood near by. As he was en- tering the open space he saw young Julian with a gun presented-the door being partly open-as if about to shoot. Before he could say "don't shoot," the gun discharged, and he fell pierced by a ball which entered his side, passing into his bowels. As soon as the gun fired, young Julian pitched it into the loft of the cabin, and ran out, saying: "I thought it was nothing but a wad." Young Owens lived till the next morning, when he expired. Young Julian was arrested and thrown into jail. When court came on he was indicted for murder. The father employed General James Noble, one of
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the ablest lawyers in the State, to defend his son. The State's attorney was James B. Ray, then in his prime, who was afterward Governor of Indiana. The case was ably conducted on the part of the prosecution and the defense. The plea of "acci- dental shooting" was put in on the part of the defense, and on that ground the jury acquitted young Julian. The old gentleman had to sell his home to pay the fees of his lawyer and other incidental expenses attending the trial. He then moved to Flat Rock, in Rush county, where he ended his days. He did not long survive this af- fair, which brought his gray hairs down to the grave with sorrow. He was a good man, respected by all who knew him.
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CHAPTER XIII.
METHODIST EXHORTERS.
AT an early day in Indiana exhorters were of great service to the Church. They held meetings on the holy Sabbath, and often at night during the week. They were remarkably efficient in conduct- ing prayer meetings and in leading the classes. They frequently held two days' meetings. On these occasions no attempts were made to preach, but in- stead, exhortations of live, burning pathos were de- livered that told with marvelous power upon the hearts of the people. Preachers being scarce, the settlers were glad to have the exhorters come among them and lead their devotions. Their usual manner of conducting a two days' meeting was to have two or three stirring exhortations in quick succession, then to set out a "mourner's bench," invite penitents forward and go into a general prayer meeting. Almost always the shouts of new- born souls were heard before these exercises closed. On Sabbath morning a general class meeting was held. These were "times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." At these class meetings, and on love-feast occasions, a door-keeper was ap- pointed who admitted none but members of the
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Church and those who were truly serious on the subject of their salvation. Persons not Methodists were always conversed with at the door by the door-keeper, and if found penitent, and would promise to conform to the rules of the love-feast or general class meeting, were admitted, provided still further that they had not enjoyed the privilege more than two or three times, or if they had would now promise to unite with the Church. These meetings were select. The pious, when thus sepa- rated and shut in from the world, felt at liberty to speak freely of their Christian experience, all being in. sympathy one with another. While one was speaking, fervent prayer was ascending from all in the house. Then were hearts melted, then did their hearts glow and burn with sacred fire. Here the strong were made stronger, the weak were strengthened, and often penitents were converted. Of these times and places many could sing :
" O sacred hour ! O hallowed spot ! Where love divine first found me; Wherever falls my distant lot My heart shall linger round thee."
The exhorters who assisted in building up the Methodist Church in Indiana were a pious and use- ful class of men. They filled their places in Im- manuel's ranks well, and deserve to be remembered.
There were no Church periodicals in those days in which to publish obituary notices of those who fell with their armor on. Many of them now sleep in
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forgotten graves, with no stone to mark the spot where their ashes repose, but their record is on high. We will present brief sketches of a few of them:
Hardy Cain was a fine singer, and did much to move and melt the hearts of the people by his songs. His voice was musical. He was also very able in prayer, successful in laboring with penitents, faithful and gifted in exhortation. He was useful as an exhorter, and in that capacity did much good. In this exercise, as soon as he began to grow warm, he commenced rubbing his face with his hands. As his feelings arose he would grasp his ears with both hands and then pour forth his soul in exhortation in such a way as to affect the whole congregation. In class meeting he was in his element. Few men were more successful in leading than he. After exercising his gifts as an exhorter for a number of years he was licensed to preach, and filled the place of a local preacher, and continued otherwise a faith- ful toiler in his Master's work, till he was called home to receive his reward.
James Honley was a man of fine appearance, and had a voice of trumpet tone. He could be heard at a great distance, and his tones always fell pleas- antly on the ear. His exhortations were uniformly solemn, and produced a deep impression upon the heart and mind. The people hcard him with de- light. He was exemplary in his life, steadfast in piety, respected by the people, and did much good.
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Though but an exhorter, he will, doubtless, have stars in the crown of his rejoicing.
Mr. Miller was a man of small stature, of quick motion, and very zealous in all his religious devo- tions. He had a clear, shrill voice, which some- times seemed to electrify the people. When he prayed, the heavens were opened and streams of salvation came down upon the congregation. His countenance indicated that he was a man that lived near the foot of the cross-one who held constant communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He was pathetic in exhortation, moving his hearers to tears. He has long since crossed the river and entered into rest. His son, Rev. Charles W. Miller, has been an itinerant Methodist preacher for twenty- six years, and is now a member of the North Indi- ana Conference.
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