USA > Ohio > Highland County > Hillsboro > Hillsboro crusade sketches and family records > Part 11
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"Certainly I can," she replied in her usual quick manner. "Him" or "he," she said, without further hesitancy. Mrs. Stowe clasped her hands with joy
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as she exclaimed: "Good. That is worth a hundred dollars to me !" And so it would seem that the realistic school and its methods began many years ago.
Other reminiscences of these days are of unique interest. Among these she related that she and one of her brothers rode on horseback from Hillsboro to Chillicothe to visit at "Fruithill," when she was about seventeen years of age. Governor McArthur was a host of good and cheerful conversational powers. He said, addressing Miss Trimble, "What do the girls up in Highland County do to get such roses in their cheeks? Can you not give my daughters some ideas on the subject?" "Buy Durham cows, and for each one a churn," quickly replied Eliza Jane Trimble. "Good!" exclaimed the governor ; and ever afterward Duncan McArthur was a fast friend of the daughter of his contemporary, Allen Trimble.
Of course, the most thrilling event of the girlhood of Mrs. Thompson is related by her daughter, Mrs. Tuttle, in the Family Records, pages 21, 22, 23.
As a young woman she accompanied her father and one of her brothers to the East at the time the first railroad train was run over the primitive Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, the first link of what is now the New York Central Railway system. Governor De Witt Clinton invited the governors of other States to visit New York or old Schenectady at this time, and as Governor Trimble was always a progressive man he decided to take his young daughter and one of his sons to witness what the dear old grandmother at home called "tempting Providence." And she was
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the woman, Jane Allen Trimble, who had swam Clinch River in company with three hundred emigrants, and had been called General Knox's aid-de-camp. But Mrs. Trimble, the beautiful Quakeress mother, aided the daughter in preparation for this trip. Young Eliza wore a bottle-green silk traveling dress; for she was not allowed to carry much luggage, and had to be dressed in a manner becoming any occasion. Gov- ernor Clinton had been a guest at her father's house in Hillsboro in 1825, when the ceremonies of inaugu- rating work on the construction of the Ohio Canal brought Governor Clinton to the State.
The visiting card of General Van Rensselaer is still hoarded away with other interesting souvenirs of this Schenectady trip in Governor Trimble's old State secretary. They also went to Saratoga at this time, as the governor wished to attend the first Tem- perance Convention. When they reached the hall, young Eliza drew back and said, "There are no women present ; I do not want to go in."
He took her gently by the hand, and said "Come right along ; never be ashamed to be alone in a good cause." Mr. William H. Dodge, of New York City, was presiding.
They also went to Boston on this trip, where they were handsomely entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Fairbanks. Mr. Fairbanks and Governor Trimble corresponded for years, and also Miss Caroline and Miss Eliza (Mrs. Thompson). "Suppose I should have a chance to go to England, will you accompany me?" Miss Fairbanks inquires of her friend Eliza in
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1837. "Believe me, my dear friend," she continues, "I have never met any one away from my own fire- side whom I so truly love. I had so long wished for a traveling companion, and I found it all in you."
WRITINGS FOUND AMONG MRS. THOMPSON'S PAPERS.
The following from the pen of Mrs. Thompson, "A New-Year's Day in 1839," and printed afterward, not only gives us a lively picture of early social cus- toms in a Western city, but finely illustrates Mrs. Thompson's enthusiasm for temperance and her abil- ity to make an innovation and courageously stand for it:
"How slow, and yet how sure, are the develop- ments of God's eternal purpose! So I thought, as I read in the Cincinnati Commercial-Gazette an account from 'Washington Special' of the hospitality of the National Capital on January 1, 1892, with this closing sentence :
" 'Not so many years gone by, the bowl of egg- nog was seldom, if ever, omitted from the list of re- freshments in every home upon hospitality bent. Yet to-day one is rarely tempted to indulge. Intoxicants of all kinds have been superseded in both official and private houses by the advent of bouillon and coffee and chocolate, as fancy may dictate or fashion ordain.'
"Vividly comes before me, as I read the above notice, a scene of our first domicile in Cincinnati, Ohio-on Fourth Street, near Pike-surrounded by charming homes, whose inmates were 'my own and
PORTRAIT OF MRS. THOMPSON ABOUT THIS TIME.
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my father's friends,' and from whom we drew much of the joy of our early housekeeping experience. However, as the time drew near for the observance of that old and cherished custom, 'New-Year's calls,' and fully realizing that there would be no departures from the eggnog and wine régime, my heart grew anxious, for it had not been so in the dear old home of my girlhood. So I mused on these things quietly in my ov n heart, and having decided to be true to my own convictions and early education, even at the risk of being 'alone in a good cause,' I cheerfully set about planning for the then novel entertainment of coffee and chocolate.
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"First, I invited Mrs. Alexander, a bright, lovable young widow, to receive with me. Mrs. A. was a Miss Anderson, and afterwards married Judge Hall, of Cincinnati. She was not a pronounced temperance woman-indeed few were at that date-but she was a sensible, good woman, and, as she expressed it, 'de- plored the fashion of requiring of our young gentle- men friends the civility of so many drinks the first day of the new year.' Hence, my dear little brides- maid-for such she had been-entered into my plans most cheerfully, much to my delight, and soon our joy was complete to find that there was to be no oppo- sition from the young Kentucky husband, who gener- ously sealed his approval by presenting me with a silver coffee urn as a New-Year's gift, which, with its temperance history, is a favorite heirloom in our family.
"From the dear old paternal home in the High-
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lands, sixty miles away, also came loving tokens of approval, and it did really seem, as that New-Year's morning dawned brightly upon us, that all things were 'working together for good.'
"Many were the calls recorded on that day of new experiences, and our hearts were greatly cheered as friend after friend, departing, left with us their bless- ing for the hot coffee, chocolate, etc.
"About dusk we were surprised by a call from Cincinnati's distinguished citizen, Judge Burnet, ac- companied by a group of young men-about eight in all-and none of them seemed more than twenty years of age. These favored youths, it appeared, were the pets of Judge Burnet, and intrusted to his care by their mothers, who were his special society friends. When the gallant old Judge entered the room, leaving his charge in care of Mrs. Alexander, he approached the table where I was standing near the coffee urn, and, taking my hand in both of his, he said, 'I com- mend you heartily, my dear young friend, for thus bravely standing by the principles of your noble father,' and, casting his eyes towards the hot coffee and choco- late, said, "This is just what I need to have my boys in condition to meet their dear mothers.' Then, offer- ing his arm, he said, 'But let me introduce you to them.' He then graciously presented me to each one in the circle, for Mrs. Alexander, who knew them and their mothers well, had seated them, as she play- fully remarked to Judge Burnet, 'Ready for a High- land County banquet ;' for my dear mother. had sent me country hams, turkeys, butter, and even cream,
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for the occasion, and delicious cake in beautiful vari- ety, made by 'Aunt Patsey,' the favorite cook of my chidhood, who loved me only less than my mother.
"Hot coffee and chocolate had been faithfully served all day, and a fresh supply for the evening visitors was just brought in, as our honored guest and his young friends arrived. They enjoyed it, and so did we; and now, after more than half a century, can you wonder that I rejoice in the report from our 'Washington correspondent ?'
"Then, for the year 1896, we have from the Ohio Messenger the following report from 'Washington Letter :'
"'An interesting feature of the dinner recently given to President and Mrs. Cleveland by Secretary and Mrs. Carlisle was the entire absence of wine and liquors from the table. Mrs. Carlisle says that no wine or liquor of any kind has crossed the threshold of her home since the inauguration of President Cleveland.'"
From the Secretary the World's Congress "Aux- iliary of the World's Columbian Exposition :"
INDIANAPOLIS, May 2, 1893.
"MRS. E. J. THOMPSON : My Dear Madam,-I beg your pardon for not having earlier notified you of the subject which you will be expected to discuss at the World's Congress of Representative Women. My notification would have been made earlier, had the ladies on the program sent in their responses more promptly to my circular letter. I am answering you at the earliest moment possible to make a decision in
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regard to the subjects, and I have up to date received replies only to about thirty per cent of the letters sent out. I state this, not in the spirit of complaint, but to explain the tardiness of my response to yours.
"As the program now stands you are booked to discuss the subject, 'Woman as a Religious Teacher,' on Wednesday morning, May 18, 1893. All partici- pants in this discussion will be limited to five minutes.
"Anticipating with great pleasure the opportunity of meeting you at the Congress, I remain, my dear madam, Yours very sincerely,
"MAY WRIGHT SEWALI.,
"Chairman of Committee of Arrangements for a World's Con- gress of Representative Women."
From Lady Henry Somerset for the book written by "The Mother of us All."
"DEAR MRS. THOMPSON,-One of the most happy experiences of my visits to America has been meeting you. It seems to me that I may count you among my dear friends, for from the first I felt that our hearts were in the strongest sympathy. I had read much about you in the Union Signal, in Miss Willard's books, and elsewhere, and you were prominently in my thoughts when I came. Sometimes, you know, we are disappointed when we meet those in whose praise we have heard much, and it is a comfort to me that in you I found even more than I had hoped. It is among my cherished expectations to see you some day in your own home and with those dear ones to whom you have so earnestly devoted your life, while
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MRS. THOMPSON AS SHE APPEARED AT BALTIMORE CONVENTION WHEN FLOWERS WERE GIVEN HER.
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you of all women have been last to forget the homes by which your own is surrounded, not in Hillsboro alone, but in the Crusade State, the great Republic, and the White Ribbon World.
"Your book of pen-pictures of the Crusade will be most welcome to my study table, and I will do all that I can to make it known among our women in Great Britain. You may be sure it will find a warm welcome at many a genial fireside in the old Home- land.
"Believe me, dear Mrs. Thompson, with a heart full of loyalty and affection, ever yours in the work for God and Home and Every Land,
Frances E. Willard wrote from Chicago Febru- ary 17, 1892:
"MY EVER DEAR SISTER AND FRIEND,-Lady Henry Somerset tells me that she wrote you at once from Boston. The plate for the picture did not come from England. She sat this morning to an excellent pho- tographer, and you will be remembered. I am sending you 'from her a copy of the book 'Eastnor Castle,' edited by herself. It is one of the great 'showplaces' of England, said to be exceeded only by Warwick and Chatsworth. Lady H. holds you in very tender and affectionate remembrance. I think no one at the Convention was more interesting and delightful to her. We are going East, and she will speak at stra- tegic points all along the way to help me-Indian- apolis, Cleveland, Pittsburg, Elmira, Portland, Maine. She wishes to be in Boston when Miss Whitney, the
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sculptor, begins the portrait bust of me which Lady H. has ordered. She sails with her son and his tutor on 13th April for England. She relinquished the trip to Japan, believing it better to postpone that long voy- age until she should go around the world with the Great Petition, which will be within a couple of years (Deo volente). A kiss for your dear self.
"FRANCES."
INVITATIONS.
"LONDON, ENGLAND, "47 Victoria Street, Westminster, "December 16, 1892.
"MY DEAR FRIEND,-A large meeting of welcome is to be given to Miss Willard at Exeter Hall on the 9th January. A cable from you as the author of the 'Crusade' would be a delightful feature. If possible, let me have it the day before. My cable address is Theodora, London.
"Yours always in the best bond,
"ISABEL SOMERSET.
"MRS. JUDGE THOMPSON, "Hillsboro, Ohio."
"THE PRIORY, REIGATE, "April 5, 1895.
"MY DEAR FRIEND,-We desire to send you a very tender and special invitation to be with us, as 'Plat- form Support,' throughout the World's and National B. W. T. U. meetings, of June 14-21, in London.
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Two hundred pulpits have been engaged and the larg- est halls in the city; there is every reason to believe that the 'Demonstration' will be unsurpassed, if not unequaled, in the annals of the temperance movement.
"You would be honored and rejoiced over, as you well know, beyond telling. We should gladly wel- come the Judge, your daughters and sons. May we not urge you, each and all, to 'think on these things?'
"With every tender remembrance and wish, be- lieve us, always, your loyal sisters,
"FRANCES E. WILLARD, "ISABEL SOMERSET."
MISS WILLARD'S LETTER ABOUT OLD CRUSADE CHURCH.
"EASTNOR CASTLE, LEDBURY, . "May 16, 1895.
"DEAR FRIEND,-Since writing you I have been astonished and afflicted to learn that there is talk of tearing down the Crusade church. For my part, I would as soon tear down Bunker Hill monument or St. Paul's Cathedral! How can our people allow it to be torn down-we who have so few memorials or historical remembrances of great things ?
(Then she makes some suggestions.)
"Believe me ever yours,
"FRANCES E. WILLARD."
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Another letter, among the large number addressed to Mrs. Judge Thompson by Miss Willard says she is writing an article for The Homiletic Monthly, which will be read by twenty thousand ministers, and "you are represented in this symposium of temperance workers as the first Crusader."*
OLD CRUSADE CHURCH.
THE LAST SERVICE BY THE WOMEN BEFORE IT WAS TORN DOWN.
Paper read by Mrs. Thompson in the morning meeting before the church was given up for a new edifice.
"As Aaron was commanded to bear the names of the children of Israel 'in the breast-plate of Judgment' upon his heart when he went into the holy place 'for a memorial before the Lord,' so we 'Crusaders' would come this morning with the names of the 'redeemed ones' since 1873 upon our hearts for a 'Memorial' to this sacred old church, where the pillar of fire and cloud first appeared as our shield and guide. And as we sorrowfully commemorate the passing away of this blessed 'historic' old church, we would join in the spirit of praise and thanksgiving for the prospect- ive temple, so soon to appear. When the prophet Isaiah would comfort the Church with gracious prom- ises, he exclaimed : 'Enlarge the place of thy tent. and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habi-
*Miss Grand Girard, of Hillsboro, gave the name of "Crusaders."
JUDGE THOMPSON.
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tations : spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.' Then, this pillar of cloud and fire is not a fixture, but a movable benediction. It is guided by the command of the great 'I Am,' and He looks through the cloud to lead and bless His trusting ones, and to 'overthrow and confound His enemies.' It will 'hover over' the new temple, which, by the united zeal and liberality of pastor and people, must soon occupy the sacred spot rendered very dear to many hearts who have enjoyed, all these Crusade years, the unin- terrupted hospitality of its sacred walls and the spirit- ual unity of its faithful pastor and wife."
"The earthly calendar of our lives is uncertain and short, We know not when we may be summoned to a Higher Court; But the Heavenly calendar brings eternal life and light ' Resplendent in the glory of our King's power and might."
These lines were written by Lallie Matthews Ferris soon after the death of Judge Thompson, who lived to a beautiful old age. August 6, 1900, James Henry Thompson-a man of large benevolence, of tender spirit, of intense love for wife and children, for rela- tives and friends, and who ever had a smile for his enemies-bade farewell to earthly thoughts.
"He had always been an able defender of woman, and believed in rights and privileges being granted her ; urged his wife to go to the Temperance Conven- tions, while he identified himself, in 1877, with the Murphy movement, and was an avowed public advo- cate of all anti-liquor movements." "He never lay
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down to rest in his beautiful old age without thank- ing his wife and children for the devotion and love bestowed upon him. In 1881 the bar of Hillsboro tendered him a banquet, it being the fiftieth anniver- sary of his professional career." And the bar accom- panied him whom they loved, walking two and two under the hot August sun, to the "Silver Lake" Ceme- tery, and the Memorial and Resolutions of the Court of Highland County, prepared by Judge Huggins and others, were indeed honest and worthy.
See references to Judge Thompson's ancestry, page 38. On theír crest was the motto, "In God we trust."
The picture of Mrs. Thompson walking on the southern porch was taken several months after the death of her husband. She cared more for it than any picture of herself, as she always related to friends, that Mr. Thompson, while resting here one August evening, only a short time before his death, had talked of the immortality of the soul and the heavenly host in a way never to be forgotten by her.
Several years ago the National and State organ- izations set apart the birthday of this distinguished woman, as a day to be observed along with that of Frances Willard, Lady Henry Somerset, Anna Gor- don, Neal Dow, the sainted Jennie Cassaday, and others of fame in the National and the World's Work. The modesty and unpretentious spirit of the woman has protested against the many celebrations of this day, and not one has ever been noticed in Hillsboro except under her protest. "Why I have done nothing," or "I have done my duty in fear and humility under
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MOTHER THOMPSON WALKING ON THE SOUTHERN PORCH.
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God," or "What have I done that hundreds of others have not done whose birthdays ought to be celebrated as well as mine?" were the arguments she would al- ways advance when consulted about it. She has, how- ever, been powerless to stop the spirit of love and de- votion of the adherents, and everywhere the White Ribbon has gone they are celebrating this eighty- seventh anniversary. When we take into consider- ation that it is fully organized in forty-nine countries of the world, the United States alone having almost ten thousand Unions, we can realize what a small af- fair the Hillsboro occasion was, notwithstanding its success. Not until last year was there any measure or joy or satisfaction in the occasion to Mother Thomp- son. Not being strong in health, and jealous as well for others who stood with her in the work, she most vigorously protested against any public demonstration. At one time she said: "I am coming so near to the heavenly kingdom, and my faith in my great Savior is growing so sweet and trusting, just like the faith of a dear little child in its loving mother, that I feel like a tired child going to rest in that mother's arms ; and if I would want to celebrate my birthday at all it would be that I might spend it among little children." Her friends set themselves to gratify this wish of her heart, and at the Children's Home, surrounded by the little ones, she feasted her eyes and her heart while she listened to their sweet voices in song and recitation. She received her wish, and told her friends she "was well paid, for she received an old-fashioned Methodist class-meeting blessing."
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The Hillsboro Dispatch, August 28, 1903, says :
"At the Convention of the Highland County Union in May it was decided to combine their Harvest Home Donation with the birthday celebration, as all the mem- bers expressed a wish to thus show their love and honor for her. On Monday last the County Workers met in the morning for a Conference and short busi- ness meeting. Congratulations and flowers were sent to her from that meeting. After dinner a large crowd gathered at the Home. The meeting was opened by Mrs. H. F. Patterson, of Greenfield, county president. The services were then taken in charge by the matron of the Home and her assistant. For over an hour the audience was entertained by the precious little ones with song, recitation, and responses. Perhaps the greatest compliment that could be paid to them, was the close attention and deep interest taken in every number of the program, although the afternoon was one of intense heat.
"Mother Thompson sat among them like a queen surrounded by loving subjects, happy in her association with the children, her beautiful face smiling upon each one and showing appreciation and enjoyment in every effort of the children. The meeting closed with bene- diction by Rev. Lizzie Larkin, of the Friends Church. Some time was spent in greetings and congratulations, and the assembly scattered to their several homes praying God's blessing upon the Home, the little ones, and Mother Thompson."
On August 24, 1902, Mrs. Thompson's birthday gift, a booklet of Forget-me-Nots, was collected,
THE CRUSADE MEMORIAL ROOM.
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through the energy and kind enthusiasm of Mrs. Cot- ton Mather, Mrs. Margaret Gregg, and others, and pre- sented to Mrs. Thompson. It is tied in white satin ribbon, the blue Forget-me-Not is painted in water- colors on the outside, and the name of the flower in gold letters, the work of the Misses Detwiler, who so often sent charming gifts to Mother Thompson. This particular booklet is kept in the cabinet in the Crusade Memorial Room. It contains some rare sentiments of Hillsboro people and of friends from a distance, and will be treasured for long years with other price- less things stored away among the archives.
SOME INTERESTING LETTERS, 1901-2-3.
Bishop David H. Moore, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, wrote from Shanghai, China, February 16, 1901 :
"How it gladdened my heart and cheered my eyes, the beautiful and unusual picture framed in with trail- ing flowers! It is to me an inspiration in Asia, illum- inating my study table.
"We are pleasantly situated and are well. With three empires in my Diocese I have still hope for four weeks at home during the year. China is wonderful, and is worth all she costs the Church in money and labor and blood. ·,
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"EVANSTON, ILL., October 24, 1902.
"DEAREST MRS. THOMPSON,-May I write to you and your two daughters collectively, just the one line of love I have time to send you to-day in the hurry of the aftermath of our great Convention? We want you to know. that all pronounced it 'perfect,' and it certainly has been a wonderful meeting. Lady Henry Somerset was gracious and charming, as she always is, and spoke to us most delightfully. The panel of roses painted by Mrs. Tuttle, and which was presented to Lady Henry as a joint gift from Mrs. Tuttle and Mrs. Rives, was an exquisite thing, and Lady Henry seemed very greatly pleased to carry home this souve- nir from Hillsboro and your home. It was presented on Tuesday night, when she bade us farewell, and it stood on an easel on the platform in a light that brought out all its beauty. We offered to pack it for Lady Henry and send it to the steamer on which she will return to Liverpool; but she would not listen to any such plan, fearing she might fail in some way to get it; and we therefore carried it to her place of enter- tainment, and it was packed with her personal baggage. Lady Henry has the note so kindly written by Mrs. Rives.
"Again deeply regretting that you could not all be with us, and with a heart full of love from Mrs. Ste- vens and myself, I am,
"Yours affectionately, ANNA A. GORDON."
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The following letter was received by Mrs. Tuttle from Lady Somerset, acknowledging the panel of roses from her brush:
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