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TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE WEST.
E. MANFORD.
M.L.
REFERENCE
AMER
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
GEN
3 1833 00825 8250
Gc 977 M31T MANFORD, E. 1815-1884. TWENTY -FIVE YEARS IN THE WEST
Mary Milliman Born 1803 frullary 16 in the
Erasmus Hanford
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
IN
THE WEST.
BY ERASMUS MANFORD.
Revised Edition.
WITH
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
MRS. H. B. MANFORD.
BY REV. G. S. WEAVER, D. D.
CHICAGO: MRS. H. B. MANFORD, PUBLISHER. 1885.
.
. Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
Entered According to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, BY E. MANFORD, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
1232306
TO MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS
IN THE WEST,
WITH WHOM I HAVE LIVED AND LABORED MANY YEARS, THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS:
CHAPTER I.
PAGE 9.
Parentage and Childhood ; "Lord " Timothy Dexter ; At School ; In Haverhill ; Shoemaking; Early Aspirations ; Converted ; Must be a Minister ; On a Plank ; Attend School ; A Long Walk ; Studies with J. C. Waldo and Dr. Cobb ; First Preaching ; With WV. S. Balch ; First Tour ; First Debate ; Came out Second Best ; Talk with an Englishman about American Coarseness ; Conver- sation on Slavery ; In Maryland ; Talk with an Episcopal Cler- gyman concerning Endless Woe not being Taught in the Old Testament ; Traveling and Preaching on the Eastern Shore ; Return to Baltimore ; A Storm ; Where Truth Flourishes and Where it Does Not ; Another Location ; Self and Faith Abused ; Preach in Harper's Ferry, Charleston, Winchester, Va .; A Hard Battle ; Cross the Alleghany Mountains.
CHAPTER II.
PAGE 33.
In Pittsburgh ; S. A. Davis, Wife and Daughter ; The West ; Preach in Pennsylvania aud Ohio; Western Reserve ; Talk with a Bigot ; Conversation on a Steamboat ; Forbidden to Preach ; Grave Creek : A Mound ; My Study ; What is Salvation ? Proceedings in Bainbridge ; Mud; In Cincinnati ; General Harrison ; In Rising Sun ; Patriot ; Preach in Louisville, Ky .; E. M. Pingree ; On the Mississippi River ; Preach in a Steamboat ; In New Orleans ; Battle Ground.
CHAPTER III.
PAGE 47.
A Sea Voyage ; A Meeting at Sea ; Tornado ; Strange Vessel ; In Texas ; Travel to Houston ; Hard Fare ; The Country ; Sleeping on the Ground ; Very Thirsty ; Must Have Water ; Colorado River ; Sound Asleep on its Banks ; Cross the River on Logs ; Corn Cake ; A Surprise ; In Houston ; General Houston ; The Attorney-General of Texas ; San Jacinto Battle Cround ; A Pan- demonium; Buckwheat Cakes; Embark for New Orleans ; A Condemned Vessel ; On Allowance ; In New Orleans ; A Con- trast ; Ague and Fever ; Up the Mississippi.
CHAPTER IV.
PAGE 56.
Labors of E. B. Mann ; N. Wadsworth ; Owner of a Horse ; Preach in Indiana and Kentucky ; A Profane Life ; General Clarke ; Atheism ; The Eyeless Fish ; A Presbyterian Minister's Wisdom ;
IV
CONTENTS.
No Hell, No Heaven ; Travel in Ohio; Another Preacher Re- plies ; Labors in Dayton ; D. R. Biddlecom ; George Messenger ; R. Smith's Somersault ; J, A. Gurley ; George Rogers ; Start for Indiana ; Battle in Harrison ; Universalism an Old Doctrine, and of God; Partialism an Old Doctrine, but of Satan ; Grove Meet- ing ; Father St. John ; Badly Treated ; John O'Kane on his Creed ; In Indianapolis ; A. Longley ; A Horse ; Questioned by a Methodist ; In Terre Haute ; Very Unpopular.
CHAPTER V.
PAGE 76.
The Carey Family ; Journey in Ohio ; Intemperence ; General Bald- win ; In Columbus ; Death Penalty ; How to Deal with Offend- ers ; Preach in Newark and Zanesville ; Hell Discussed ; Mrs. Francis D. Gage ; Invited to Settle in Marietta ; W. H. Jolly ; In Chillicothe ; Opposition in Richmond ; - Webber ; In Kentucky ; Dr. Chamberlin ; Opposition in Lexington ; Is Universalism Infi- delity ? A Slanderous Story by a D. D .; In Paris ; Excursion to Patriot ; A Discussion ; Daniel Parker ; Cure the Ague; Good Health.
CHAPTER VI.
PAGE 91.
A Journey East ; Talk with a Baptist Minister ; Preach in Dela- ware and Centerville, Ohio ; W. Y. Emmett ; Doors Closed ; A Bond ; A. B. Grosh ; In New England ; On the Sea ; A Storm ; Methodist Preacher Frightened ; Blow the Trumpet ; In Phila- delphia ; In Delaware ; In Pittsburgh ; Return to Cincinnati ; Go to Chicago ; Bad Roads ; In Richmond ; Talk with a Quaker ; A Spirit Returns to Earth ; A Spirit Out of the Body ; A Strange Sight ; Preach in God's Temple ; Preach in Chicago; Preach in Joliet ; Aaron Kinney, an Early Preacher ; Bill of Fare ; Hard Luck in Magnolia ; Why Preach ; In Hennepin ; Political Hum- bugs ; Opposition in Washington ; Justice of God ; In Pekin and Tremont ; Frozen ; A Preacher Replies.
CHAPTER VII.
PAGE IOS.
Locate in Lafayette; The Christian Teacher Commenced ; A Circuit ; Society Organized ; Meeting-house Built ; All Alone ; Conflict in Frankfort ; Old Testament Doctrine of Punishment , Debate Proposed in Frankfort ; Discussion in Independence ; Character of my Sermons ; Slander Refuted ; Debate in Burling- ton ; Endless Woe ; Some Voting ; The Use of Discussion ; A Traveler.
CHAPTER VIII.
' PAGE 124.
Debate in Lafayette ; Die in Adam ; Alive in Christ ; This World and World to Come ; Battle Ground ; In Monticello ; A Reply ; A
V
CONTENTS.
Preacher Whipped ; D. Vines ; S. Oyler ; I. M. Westfall ; B. F. Foster in Indiana; Revival Poetry ; Ladoga Camp-Meeting ; Worship ; In Michigan City ; An Episcopal Preacher ; A Wet Ride ; Debate in Dayton ; Discussion in Jefferson ; Everlasting Punishment ; End of the World ; Second Coming of Christ ; Eter- nal Life ; Meaning of Everlasting.
CHAPTER IX.
PAGE 146.
Questioned J. O'Kane in Dayton ; He Beat a Retreat ; He Replied in Crawfordsville ; Three Resurrections, National, Moral, and Immortal ; Conversation in West Lebanon ; Everlasting, For- ever ; Kingdom of God : Sin, Error, Suffering not Endless ; In Southern Indiana ; Why Live a Christian Life? Bigotry in Breck- enridge ; Discussion with :Mr. Dickerson ; Calvinism ; Armin- ianism ; Universalism ; Debate in Chambersburg.
CHAPTER X.
PAGE 167.
Move to Terre Haute ; Lecture in Fort Wayne ; A Discussion There ; Dr. Thompson ; Visit Illinois ; Opposition ; Discussion in Charleston ; Prayed For; Called Infidel ; Debate in Green Castle ; Conditions of Salvation ; God's Will ; All are Spirits ; Form of The Teacher Changed ; J. Burt and J. H. Jordan, Editors ; Oliver Cromwell ; Foundation of Character ; In Many Places ; A Celebration ; Meeting in the Rain ; Fourth of July Celebration ; Debate in Martinsville.
CHAPTER XI.
PAGE 178.
Journey into Northern Illinois ; Temperance Lecture ; Result of Temperate Drinking ; Married ; Homeward Bound ; High Wa- ters ; Difficult Traveling ; Trouble in Crossing Streams ; A Cold Bath ; End of the " Bridal Tour ;" A Hard Ride ; Debate with E. Kingsbury ; In Northern Indiana; Conversation with an Indian ; Dark Man and Dark Night ; Explanation of Hebrews ix, 27, 28 ; End of the World ; The Earth and Man.
CHAPTER XII.
PAGE 200.
Discussion in Franklin ; Justice of God ; What the Gospel Is ; So- ciety Organized ; Discourse on Total Depravity ; Conversation with a Presbyterian Minister on Christian Rewards : Talk with a Catholic; A Methodist ; A Preabyterian ; A Disciple ; Salvation ; A Mormon Sermon ; Reply to it: A Journey to Louisville and Cincinnati.
VI
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
PAGE 219.
Move to Indianapolis ; Extensive Traveling ; Henry Ward Beecher; A Fossiled Calvinist ; Supposed to be an Orthodox Preacher ; Debate in New Philadelphia ; Strife Between the North and South ; The Old Convention Dead ; The New Convention Or- ganized ; Discussion in Springfield, Ill .; Abraham Lincoln ; God is Love ; Is Merciful ; Is Just ; Is Holy ; Travel in Illinois ; Conversation with a Presbyterian Clergyman on the Origin of Hell; In Iowa City, and Other Places in Iowa ; Home Again ; W. J. Chaplin ; Discussion with Benjamin Franklin ; Debate in Covington ; Discussion with Mr. Russel ; Publish the " One Hundred and Fifty Reasons"; Review of " Universalism Against Itself"; Publish Another Book; Olive Branch Discontinued , Travel Far and Near.
CHAPTER XIV.
PAGE 239.
Conclude to go to St. Louis ; Commence the Golden Era ; Associa- tion in Crawfordsville ; Debate in Dayton ; Man in God's Image; God the Father of All ; Man Immortal; Man a Spirit ; High Waters ; In St. Louis ; Why Moved to St. Louis; But Few Friends ; First Journey in Missouri ; Wet, Hungry, Out in the Cold ; In Troy ; In Ashley ; Four Brothers ; In Louisiana ; Op- position in London ; In Hannibal ; Good Friends ; Questioned In Palmyra About Slavery ; Conversation on Judgment ; In Memphis ; Questioned ; A Presbyterian Preacher Replied ; Was to Debate in Newark ; Covered with Ice ; Missouri River ; Dis- cussion in Georgetown ; In Southern Missouri ; Questioned in ยท Warsaw ; In Jefferson City ; Hard Work in Danville ; Return to St. Louis.
CHAPTER XV.
PAGE 259.
The Golden Era Issued Semi-Monthly: The Missourians ; Slave Holders ; Travel in Southern Missouri ; If Endless Woe is True all Nature would Weep ; Region of Iron ; Dunkers in Miller- ville ; In Southern Illinois ; Philosophy of Christ Being the Sa- vior of the World ; Refuse to Debate; Discussion in Carlyle ; Inspiration ; Our Name : Partialism Approaches Infidelity ; Three Downward Steps ; Reply to a Sermon ; Hayne's Sermon ; Mr. Lewis Debating on his Knees; Written Discussions with two Methodist Ministers ; In Northern Missouri ; A Preacher Replies ; A Log Cabin ; Talk with a Slave ; Thomas Abbott ; Negroes Hung ; The Golden Era; Mrs. Manford Lecturing : Let Women Work; A Circuit in Missouri; Travel in Cold Weather : Debate in Quincy.
.
VII
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVI.
PAGE 258.
The Golden Era ; Extensive Traveling ; In Missouri and Kansas ; Talk with a Deist in Jefferson City ; Moses ; The Prophets ; Replied to in Pisgah; Talk with a Rum-seller ; In Kansas City ; In Wyandotte ; Conversation with a Clergyman Concern- ing Christ and His Work ; Lectured in Leavenworth ; Destruc- . tion of Man's Enemies ; In St. Joseph ; The Mercy of God ; In Kingston ; Rich Man and Lazarus.
CHAPTER XVII.
PAGE 301.
The Rebellion Commenced ; What Senator Douglas Said ; De- fenders of our Country ; Camp Jackson ; Rebel Flag ; Great Expectations ; Subscribers Lost ; Money Lost ; All but Two of the Religious Journals Stopped ; Could do but Little in Missouri; Society in St. Louis ; G. S. Weaver Left ; The Unitarian So- ciety ; Published Pamphlet on Water Baptism ; Discussion with B. H. Smith ; Extracts from the Discussion.
CHAPTER XVIII.
PAGE 322.
Discussion in Pontiac ; The Apostle's Faith ; His Argument in Romans ; Extensive Traveling ; In Kansas and Missouri ; Price's Raid ; In Ohio and Indiana ; Dark Night and Walk near Toledo ; Conversation on Destructionism ; The Victory; The Death ; President Lincoln ; Debate in Milford, Ohio; The Res- titution an old Doctrine; The Sentiment Wide Spread : At Work in Iowa ; Laborers There ; Murderers Saved and the Murdered Lost ; Intellectual and Moral Growth ; What Man Was ; What He is to Be ; The Victory ; Spiritualism ; Immoral Preaching ; Saved Without Repentance ; Preaching a Means of Salvation ; A Methodist Minister Believes ; The Suicide.
CHAPTER XIX.
PAGE 354.
In Galesburg, Ill .; The United States Convention ; Lombard Uni- versity ; Other Schools ; Journey to Missouri ; In Macon City ; In Brookfield ; St. Joseph and Other Cities ; Grove Meeting ; On the Missouri Bottom ; Beautiful Country ; Preach in Fillmore and many other Places ; Return Home ; Anti-Orthodox Preach- ing ; Funeral Sermons ; Death ; Life ; Discussion with Frank Davis ; Two Discussions with J. S. Sweeney ; Discussion with Kelly ; The Great Fire ; Burned Out in Chicago and St. Louis ; Conclusion.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE WEST
CHAPTER I.
Having been often solicited to publish an account of my labor and travels in the West, after much hesitation I have concluded to do so. But preliminary to that, it may not be amiss to say a little concerning my early life. My father was from Denmark, my mother from Amster- dam, Holland, but Newburyport, Mass., is my native place. I have one brother, James, residing in Texas ; Frederick, the youngest, long since passed away. My father was a sailor, and was lost at sea in a terrific storm, when I was seven years old. Have faint recollection of seeing him two or three times, and the only memento I have of him, is a large pitcher he had manufactured in Liverpool, with his name and the picture of a ship on one side, and my mother's maiden name, and a picture rep- resenting Liberty, Peace and Independence, on the op- posite side. Those devices indicate his political charac- ter. Though a foreigner by birth he was an American at. heart - a friend of liberty, peace, and independence. My mother was left in indigent circumstances, without a relative in the New World, save her three helpless boys She married some years after my father's death, and re- sided, till her death, which took place in 1862, chiefly in Princeton, Mass. I then have a brother here, and a father, mother and one brother on the other side of the
IO
Twenty-Five Years
River; and not many years can elapse ere the whole family will be reunited on the Golden Shore. Thank God for the hope of reunion where separation and death are unknown.
I well remember the locality where we lived, though I have not seen Newburyport for thirty years. It was on High street, between the Court- house and the home of "lord " Timothy Dexter., To me that street seemed a par- adise, and it was a magnificent thoroughfare. It is on high ground, runs parallel with the Merrimac river, overlooks the harbor, is bordered with rows of grand trees and fine residences embowered in lawns and flower gardens. In this charming locality I spent the first decade of my life. Here I ran, played and frolicked with my brothers and other little associates. The Mall around the Court- house, the pond in its rear, and a neighboring ceme- tery, were places of frequent resort. On Sunday I at- tended Dr. Morse's church, where, I am told, I was christened by the good doctor, who was an Episcopa- lian. But the bud came near being suddenly blasted. An old-fashioned cent I was playing with, slipped down my throat, and was extracted with much difficulty. When it was taken out blood copiously followed. My dear mother was frightened, and I suffered severely for a short time. If my father had lived, I should probably have been a sailor. He was the second officer of the ship in which he made his last and fatal voyage, and was to have been promoted to the captaincy on his return. I have ever loved the sea, and a ship is a thing of beauty to my eye. But it was written that the solid earth, not the treacherous deep, should be the field of my opera- tions.
My mother by her second marriage had three more
. .
II
In the West.
boys-Samuel, Henry and Danforth Stratton. They re side near Boston, Mass., and are men of means and re- spectability.
One word about lord Timothy, just referred to. He was an eccentric genius, had many soft spots on his head, but knew enough to accumulate a large fortune. He built a magnificent residence, which he extravagantly decorated with sculpture, pictures, and other works of art. He was very vain of his house and wealth. It is said that a stranger, passing his house, was attentively observing it, when Dexter, who was sitting at a window, . remarked: "Do you not think this is paradise?" I should, " replied the man, "if I did not see the devil at the window." He was dubbed "lord," for his vanity and ostentation ; and the title delighted him as much as "Corsica " prefixed to Boswell, delighted the well-known biographer of that name.
I commenced attending school at an early age, but have no pleasant memories of school-hours in my native town. My teacher would read every morning a chapter in the Bible, make a long prayer, and then whip and pound his pupils till the time for his evening devotions. If I escaped a day without two or three hard thrashings I deemed myself very fortunate, and I think I was as dutiful as school boys generally of my age. He was doubtless a believer in total depravity, and was sure nothing but blows and knocks would make good impres- sions on our corrupt hearts.
From my tenth to my eighteenth year, I resided in Haverhill, Mass., with Simeon George. He was a far- mer and shoemaker-made shoes, winters, and tilled the soil, summers, and I worked on his farm and in his shop, except winters, when I attended school. I remember
12
Twenty-Five Years
my first attempt at horseback riding. Went to live with him in the spring, and he soon put me on a horse to ride when ploughing corn. The beast being contrary and spir- ited, would go Jehu-like a few rods,and then stop short, and I would go headlong to the ground. But being spunky as the horse, I would scramble up, and tell Mr. G. to put me on again. I was always eager to remount the beast, even if he threw me twenty times a day. Since then, I have rode tens of thousands of miles on horseback, and con- sider myself a good horseman.
Have said I worked in Mr. G's shoe shop; yes, and learned to make cheap shoes, but always despised the business, and never more than half learned the trade. My aspirations were to be a merchant. Oh, if I could only be a merchant how happy I would be! I dreamed, and planned, and built air-castles- would weep over my "lapstone" for being doomed to work at that hateful trade. When about sixteen years old, I was induced by the reading of the Boston Trumpet to look into Univer- salism, for up to that time I was totally ignorant of its principles or history. Mr. George's family, and all my associates, attended the Congregational church in the neighborhood, and nobody seemed to call in question the infallibility of the sermons we heard every Sunday. But the Trumpet opened a new world to my view. I thought no more of being a merchant-that seemed a contemptible calling, - but must be a preacher. I de- voured the paper, read the Bible, and had many hard fought battles with my comrades. I loved them, loved the world, and was sure, if I could get the ears of man- kind, I could convert all nations and people. What a pleasant delusion. The world seemed a musical instru- ment, tuning the praises of its almighty Author. Thomas
13
In the West.
G. Farnsworth was then preaching in Haverhill, four miles from where I resided. Called on him several times; he urged me to prepare for the ministry, but I never inti- mated to him that I entertained such a thought. I kept that to myself.
I was always fond of reading, and my new faith quick- ened my love for it. I perused religious books, ro- mance, history, but poetry was my especial delight. I remember with what enthusiasm I read portions of Dr. Young's "Night Thoughts." His grand and solemn thoughts, and sublime diction, stirred my soul to its low- est depths. I even wrote what I called "poetry, " but am thankful none of it survives. Have never attempted the " divine art " since those early days, though phrenol- ogists tell me I ought to be something of a poet, as my " ideality " is large.
When in Haverhill, I came near being drowned. Could never swim, but with a plank three feet long, one end pressing against my body, I would paddle far from shore into deep water, without any fear. On one occa- sion, when indulging in one of my aqueous excursions, while in deep water, a comrade, who was ignorant of my helpless condition when off the plank, took it from me, when down I went, but by the aid of other boys I reached the shore. That was my last adventure in deep water on so frail a craft. In my boyhood, I was subject to vi- olent attacks of colic and sick headache, but was other- wise healthy. My physical frame being small and of fine texture, I was not very strong, and could not cope with boys generally of my age in athletic exercises.
When eighteen years old I left Haverhill, and repaired to Princeton, where I attended school one year, and made considerable progress in English branches. But
14
Twenty-Five Years
my purse being nearly empty, I was obliged to replenish it before I could further prosecute my studies ; and hav- ing no one to aid me, I went to Boston, hoping some- thing there would turn up in my favor. I knew no one in that city, and no one knew me, and soon became sat- isfied I had better try my fortune elsewhere. Seeing in a city paper, that school teachers were wanted in Eastern New York, I resolved to go there and seek a school, though I had only three dollars in my pocket, and it was one hundred and eighty miles to the place of desti- nation; but my empty purse did not prevent my making the journey. On foot and alone I traveled the whole distance. Though my feet were sore, and bones and muscles ached, I pursued my weary march, and finally reached Bethlehem, a little village a few miles west of Alba- ny, N. Y. The villagers were chiefly Germans, of an un- known tongue, and of manners and customs all new to me. I remained there but a few days, became distressingly home- sick, and resolved to return to Boston. Repaired to Al- bany, thence down the Hudson river to New York city, and by sea, back to Boston. This was my first tour ; this was the beginning of my ramblings ; but it was rath- er an unpropitious beginning. When I went on that school-hunting expedition, it was my intention, after se- curing a school, to devote my leisure hours to study, and if opportunity offered, to speak occasionally in public, and thereby prepare myself for what I deemed to be the chief business of my life. But that Dutch Bethlehem broke up all my calculations, and I returned disgusted, but not discouraged.
In a few days I walked out to Lynn, the great shoe manufacturing town of New England, where nearly all the men, women and children are shoemakers, and
15
In the West.
recommenced cobbling, earning enough to defray cur- rent expenses, and continued my studies. J. C. Wal- do was then pastor of the Universalist church in Lynn, to whom I soon introduced myself, and made known my intention of preparing for the ministry, and he kindly of- fered me the use of his books, and such other aid I might need in prosecuting my studies. Remained in L. six months, working, reading and writing, when Mr. Waldo advised me to go to Malden, and study with Syl- vanus Cobb. To Malden I repaired, and made arrange- ments with Mr. C. to reside in his family, and devote all my time to study.
A new era in my life had now opened, and my hopes were buoyant. I could give all my time and thought to study, and I made the best use of my advantages. Mr. Cobb was a prominent man in the denomination, an able minister, a fair scholar, and consequently well qual- ified to give instruction. To that excellent man, and his accomplished lady, I am under great and lasting obliga- tions. "I was a stranger and they took me in." Sub- sequently he resided in Boston and published for many years, the Christian Freeman, a widely circulated relig- ious journal. He also wrote a Commentary on the New Testament, and several other useful books. His son, Sylva- nus Cobb Jr., a well known literary writer, was a boy when I was in Mr. C's family. He had three other students while I was with him - A. P. Cleverly, G. Hastings, and C. S. Hussey. We had fine times ; we talked, read, wrote and declaimed. When we wanted to ventilate our log- ic, we repaired to a neighboring grove, where we made the welkin ring with our eloquence. "The Orthodox, " said A. P. Cleverly, on one of these occasions, "come to you with their creed in one hand, and damnation in the
I6
Twenty-Five Years
other, and say, take this or that, but one you must and shall have." On Monday we generally went to Boston, two miles distant, and at the Trumpet office usually saw Hosea Ballou, H. Ballou, 2d, Walter Balfour, Thomas Whittemore, Sabastian Streeter, Henry Bacon -all now dwellers in the Spirit Land. They did a noble work, and will long be remembered. " Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."
When I had been with Mr. Cobb about three months, he went to a neighboring state, and left me to preach for him one Sabbath. My heart jumped when the first bell on Sunday morning told me to prepare for my first pul- pit services; but I went through the exercises of the day without much embarrassment. My texts were : "God is love"-"They hated me without a cause." When Mr. C. returned, he seemed well satisfied with my effort, for he had heard his friends speak of it, and gave me words of encouragement. While with him, I spoke in Lynn, Haverhill, and other places, but devoted most of my time to hard study.
After being with Mr. Cobb six months, I put myself under the instruction of William S. Balch, then residing in Claremont, N. H., and pastor of the church in that place. I found him to be a noble man, and shall ever remember his kindnesses with gratitude. I was in his family, and had the benefit of his library and instruction, six months, but he would receive no compensation. He now resides in Elgin, Ill., and is as faithfully dis- charging his ministerial duties as in early manhood. When with him, I made my first preaching tour, and had my first debate. Went up the Connecticut river into Canada, and spoke in most of the towns on both sides of the river. I performed the journey on foot, and must
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