USA > Ohio > Highland County > Hillsboro > Hillsboro crusade sketches and family records > Part 3
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Her marriage to the Hon. James H. Thomp- son, September 21, 1837, brought her union with one of intellectual tastes and of unusual mental gifts. The heart of her husband has proudly trusted in her, and most lovingly have her sons and daughters risen up to call her blessed. Early in life she confessed Christ as her Savior; and by Bible study and prayer and gospel obedience, she sought to closely walk with God ; and she dwelt among her own people, greatly
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SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF
beloved by many, honored and respected by all, fitted by social standing, by training, by native gifts, and by rare personal influence to be a leader; yet, withal, modest and self-distrusting, she waited unconsciously for the call of the Lord.
The writer of this Introduction, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first pertaining to this "Crusade" work, believes that he ought to say for Mrs. Thomp- son, and all the good women associated with her in this undertaking, that they went out in faith, not knowing whither they went; not boldly, but modestly; not recklessly, but con- sciously constrained of the Lord. They never thought of the publicity and honor that future years might bring them, but in a prayerful spirit they tried to meet the present duty.
He also adds that some two or three weeks after the "Crusade" began, it came to him as an overpowering conviction that we were in the beginning of a great movement, which would be spoken of in future years like the "Reforma- tion," or the religious movement in the time of Wesley. He so publicly expressed himself then , and has never seen any reason to reverse his opinion.
These sketches of the "Crusade," written in the quaint and readable style so characteristic
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MRS. ELIZA. J. THOMPSON.
of Mrs. Thompson, are most heartily commended to the friends of temperance, and to its enemies as well, as an important contribution to the his- tory of the temperance cause.
W. J. McSURELY, Pastor Crusade Church.
PRESBYTERIAN PARSONAGE, 1 HILLSBORO, OHIO, 1894.
HILLSBORO CRUSADE SKETCHES.
I.
V JOLUMES have been written, and speeches without number made, setting forth most graphically the "Crusade of Woman against Rum." Vet strange to say, the call comes with greater and still greater earnestness to the leader of the little "band of seventy:" "Tell us more about the beginning of the Crusade in Hillsboro, and give us all the incidents connected with it, for the story must not die with the veter- ans of 1873 and 1874." As the shadows lengthen, and the number of that band counts fewer, I am reminded that what I do, I must do quickly.
Many years ago a friend wrote to me for a brief but plain account of the facts in connec- tion with the starting of the Crusade in our town, and of my relation to it. Supposing at the time that it was for her own personal interest merely, I wrote freely, withholding no part of the truth as it occurred.
That narrative was adopted by Miss Willard in her work, "Woman and Temperance," and has become the "old, old story." After all these years I could not change the "facts and
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figures," and might not change the diction to profit; therefore, with slight additions, I furnish it as the first of the promised series of Crusade sketches from the "Old Fort."
On the evening of December 22, 1873, Dio Lewis, a Boston physician and lyceum lecturer, delivered in Music Hall, Hillsboro, Ohio, a lecture on "Our Girls." He had been engaged by the Lecture Association, some months before, to fill one place in the winter course of lectures, merely for the entertainment of the people; but finding that he could remain another evening, and still reach his next appointment (Washing- ton Court-house), he consented to give another lecture on the evening of the 23d. At the sug- gestion of Judge Albert Matthews, an old-line temperance man and Democrat, a free lecture on temperance became the order of the evening.
Dr. Lewis was our guest until the morning of the 23d, when my brother, Colonel Wm. H. Trimble, took him to his beautiful "Woodland" home, intending to send him across the country to Washington Court-house in his own carriage on the morning of the 24th.
I did not hear Dio Lewis lecture because of home cares that required my presence; but my son, a youth of seventeen, and my daughter were there, and they came to me upon their re- turn home, and in a most earnest manner related
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the thrilling incidents of the evening; how Dr. Lewis told of his own mother, and several of her good Christian friends, uniting in prayer with and for the liquor-sellers of his native town, until they gave up their soul-destroying busi- ness. Dr. Lewis said, "Ladies, you might do the same thing in Hillsboro, if you had the same faith," and then turning to the ministers and temperance men who were upon the platform, added: "Suppose I ask the women of this audi- ence to signify their opinions upon the subject?" They all bowed their consent, and fifty or more women stood up in token of approval. He then asked the men how many of them would stand as "backers," should the women undertake the work. Sixty or seventy arose. "And," con- tinued my son, "you are on some committees to do work at the Presbyterian church in the morn- ing, and the ladies expect you to go out with them to the saloons!"
My husband, who had returned from Adams County Court that evening and was feeling very tired, seemed asleep as he rested upon the sofa, while my children in an undertone had given me all the above facts; but as the last sentence was uttered, he raised himself up upon his elbow and said: "What tomfoolery is all that?" My dear children slipped out of the room quietly, and I betook myself to the task of consoling their
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father, with the promise that I should not be led into any foolish act by Dio Lewis, or any asso- ciation of human beings, but added: "If the Lord should show me that it was his will for the women to visit places where liquors were sold and drunk, I should not shrink from it."
After some time my husband relaxed into a milder mood, continuing to call the whole plan, as he understood it, "tomfoolery." I ventured to remind him that the men had been in the "tomfoolery" business a long time, and sug- gested that it might be God's will that the women should now take their part.
Nothing farther was said upon the subject until the next morning after breakfast. "Are you going to the church this morning?" asked the children. I hesitated, and doubtless showed in my countenance the burden upon my spirit. My husband walked the length of the room sev- eral times, and finally said: "Children, you know where your mother goes to settle all vexed ques- tions. Instead of family prayers this morning, let her alone to make her decision." I went to my room, kneeling before God and his Holy Word, to see what would be sent me, when I heard a step at the door, and upon opening it, my daughter stood there. With tearful eyes she handed me her small, open Bible and said with with trembling voice: "See what my eyes fell
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A DOOR LEADING FROM MRS. THOMPSON'S ROOM.
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upon. It must be for you." She immediately left the room, and I sat down to read the wonderful message of the great "I Am" con- tained in the 146th Psalm. And as I read, new meaning seemed to attach to those promises (so often read before), and the Spirit said: "This is the way, walk ye in it." No longer doubting, I quickly repaired to the Presbyterian Church, and took my seat near the door. Several of my friends came, and urged me to go up to the front. While hesitating, I was unanimously chosen as president or leader, Mrs. General McDowell vice-president, and Mrs. D. K. Fenner secretary of the strange work that was to follow.
Appeals were drawn up to druggists, saloon- keepers, and hotel proprietors. Then the pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. McSurely, who had up to this time occupied the chair, called upon the chairman-elect to "come forward to the post of honor." But your humble servant could not; her limbs refused to bear her. The dear ladies offered me assistance, but it was not God's time. My brother, Colonel Trimble, observing my embarrassed situation, said to Dr.'McSurely: "I believe the ladies will do nothing until the gentlemen of the audience leave the house!"
After some moments, Dr. McSurely said: "I believe Colonel Trimble is right. Brethren, let
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us adjourn, and leave this work with God and the women."
As the last man closed the door after him, strength before unknown came to me, and with- out any hesitation or consultation I walked for- ward to the minister's table, and opened the large Bible, explained the incidents of the morning; then read, and briefly (as my tears would allow) commented upon its new meaning to me.
I then called upon Mrs. McDowell to lead in prayer; and such a prayer! It seemed as though the angel had brought down "live coals" from off the altar and touched her lips-she who, by her own confession, had never before heard her own voice in prayer!
As we arose from our knees (for all were kneeling that morning), I asked Mrs. Cowden, the Methodist Episcopal minister's wife, a grand singer of the "olden style," to start my favor- ite hymn, "Give to the winds thy fears," to the familiar tune of St. Thomas, and turning to the dear women, I said: "As we all join in singing this hymn, let us form in line, two and two, and let us at once proceed to our sacred mission, trusting alone in the 'God of Jacob." '
It was all done in less time than it takes to write it. Every heart was throbbing and every woman's countenance betrayed her solemn re-
INTERIOR OF OLD CRUSADE CHURCH.
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alization of the fact that she was going "about her Father's business."
As this "band of mysterious beings" first encountered the outside gaze, and as they passed from the door of the old church and reached the street beyond the large churchyard, they , were singing these prophetic words:
"Far, far above thy thought His counsel shall appear, When fully He the work hath wrought That caused thy needless fear."
On we marched in solemn silence, looking neither to the right nor left, until we arrived at the drugstore of Dr. Wm. Smith on East Main Street. Mrs. Milton Boyd had been appointed to read "the appeal" on that morning, and pro- ceeded to do so. From the minutes so carefully kept by our secretary, Mrs. D. K. Fenner, we extract the following:
"Dr. Wm. Smith, after much persuasion, signed the ' druggists pledge,' with the understanding that he, as a physician, had a right to prescribe liquor and sell on his own prescription.
"Seybert and Isaman signed very willingly, and assured the ladies of their good wishes.
"Mr. James Brown, Sr., signed also willingly.
" Mr. Wm. H. H. Dunn postponed his decision."
" HILLSBORO, OHIO, December 24, 1873.
Before entering upon the second chapter, I yield to the entreaty of many friends and insert
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my husband's first impressions of this memo- rable morning. The second chapter gives the story of the "Crusade Hymn," and why I chose it as our marching song.
Judge Thompson's account of this move- ment, taken from his History of the County of Highland: "The town of Hillsboro has always been noted for its interest in the encouragement of all systems of education, and few populations have excelled that of Hillsboro in the promotion of female education; the result of which has been to establish a high standard of refinement of both sexes, and an unusually independent order of thought and action between them, as is evidenced by the fact that the Woman's Temperance Cru- sade had its birth in the village, and has already breathed its infant breath throughout Christen -. dom. Books have been written, voluminous reports have been made, and eloquent speeches have been uttered as to the minute details of the origin of the Woman's Temperance Crusade in Hillsboro, and most of them are true in state- ment and in fact; but nowhere has pen ven- tured a description of the band-the cohort, the troupe. No! rather the apparition of sev- enty women in sable black arrayed, and in set- tled line of march, moving as when first seen on the streets of Hillsboro.
"It was a dark, cloudy, cold, and still Decem-
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ber day, no sun shining from above, no wind playing around, a little snow leisurely dropping down, and under the magic command of their own leaders, chosen on the instant at the hurried previous organization at the Presby- terian church, the procession moved with solemn steps, as if each woman had been trained for that day's work from the cradle.
'Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,'
but the poetic mind instantly hummed the 'Ode of Charles Wolfe at the Burial of Sir John Moore.' Husbands saw their wives, sons and daughters their mothers, and neighbors their friends, moving along with the strange appari- tion, and knew not what it meant, until before some liquor saloon or hotel or drugstore, you could hear the singing of some familiar hymn warble through the air in tones of the most ·touching note; and then, solemn silence prevail- ing up and down street, the utterance of a soul- stirring prayer made by some lady, with all others kneeling around on curbstone or pave- ment or door-sill, could be heard ascending to the throne of God to avert the curse of intemperance.
"No crowd of shouting boys followed; no cliques of consulting men on the street corners were gathered; every countryman halted his team in awe; no vociferous angry words were
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heard, and no officer commanded the peace- for it was death-like peace. Throughout the day, songs and prayers were heard at all places kept for the sale of liquors, and at night con- sultation was resumed at the church, from whence the " Phoenix-like body," springing from the ashes of the "funeral pyre" of woman's im- molation, had emerged in the morning; and there, in making reports, prayer, and singing in spirit as never before, was sung on Christmas Eve:
' Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more; Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind.'
"They remained until the moon in the last quarter lighted their pathway to homes, whose inmates as spectators of the troupe when the first curtain was raised, stood around the hearth- stones in as much wonder as if a company of celestial beings had on that day come down from the skies.
"Such is a dim outline of the first parade of the Woman's Temperance Crusade at Hillsboro; and well may it be said of the 'opening of the heavens' on that memorable day, that 'He who made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning ' will alone limit its effects on the na- tions of the earth."
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II.
STORY OF THE "CRUSADE HYMN."
W HEN David, " the stripling," essayed to go out against the vaunting "Goliath of Gath," his only reason for so daring a feat was that the God of Israel had in the past enabled him to kill both a lion and a bear. "And David said to Saul, the king of Israel," (whose appro- val he must have), "the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. . And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee."
Thus the inspiration of past experiences aided the earnest women in their new departure, and gave to their untrained leader fresh courage and faith, as she remembered how, in the "long ago," her heart had been taught to sing: .
"Give to the winds thy fears."
Early in the winter of 1852, when our chil- dren numbered six, the eldest son away from home at school, and the youngest an infant of a ·few months, the scarlet fever became an epi- demic in our town, and three of our dear chil- dren became victims to it.
About the same time a valued young woman,
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who had been in the family for some years, was taken with quinsy, and was removed by her par- ents to their home, two miles in the country. Thus I was left with an infant, three children con- fined to their beds, and no assistance save a little colored girl about ten years of age, and a stable boy, who, by the way, knew everybody, and was able to serve us a good purpose in searching for needed help. In the evening, however, he re- turned after a fruitless quest, and reported : "Can't get nobody-all fear'd of dat 'zease." So I kept on, and provided for the various needs of my family as best I could, until my husband, who always had a very tender feeling for ladies who were oppressed with work (yet had no native tact to aid), devised a plan by which he might do me essential service. He mounted his horse, and started to the farm, three iniles from town, trusting that the wife of the tenant might be in- duced to come to our rescue in such an emer- gency, as she had no children, and had once lived with us. But there was a stream to cross before reaching the farm, and it was frozen over. Re- gardless of the smooth shoes of his horse, he ventured, and lo! the noble horse fell, crushing the right leg of the rider. The sufferer was gently lifted by a stalwart farmer passing with his sled, laid upon the straw, the poor, limping
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horse tied to the hinder part; and so he was safely, but painfully, brought to our door.
The sight and the history would have done for me what " the last pound " did for the camel's back, but for the gratitude that came welling up in my heart that my poor husband's limb was not broken, neither was our noble family horse killed !
With such addition to my cares, however, it can well be supposed, after nine days and nights of weary, sleepless nursing and toiling, with no change for the better, my heart and strength began to fail, and I reasoned thus with myself about midnight: I have tried since a child to love the Savior ; I have denied myself, taken up my cross, and made an honest effort to follow him-and now I am deserted, and in the town of my nativity I am forsaken ! Quick as thought the enemy said: " I'll tell you what to do: leave the Church; for you are a hypocrite if you keep your name there, feeling as you do."
I at once laid my sleeping infant in its cradle, determined to act promptly, and write a note to our Methodist minister. As I arose to do so, an inward voice seemed to say, "Open that hymn- book first;" and as I looked around, the old book of songs was taken from its place, and carelessly opened, without design or hope on my part, show-
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ing that it was all of love and pity that John Wesley's hymn, "Give to the winds thy fears," was the one that first met my gaze, and caused the instant and complete transformation that fol- lowed. Taking a seat by the cradle, the emotions of my heart found utterance in the song of songs, " How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord !" and forgetting that the poor patients might be aroused, one verse after another was sung, sweeter than ever before it seemed, until from the ad- joining room my husband called out, "Eliza, what do you find to sing about ?"
I said : "I am singing about our holy relig- ion." He reached out his hands to me :
" Wife, I know you are an honest woman; now, tell me, do you find anything in your relig- ion to comfort you-situated as you now are ?"
I answered him honestly that I had never felt happier in my life! With a firm grasp of my hand, he said, emphatically: "Then I must seek it!"
Thus had the "Comforter " not only enabled me to "give to the winds my fears," but had taught my anxious heart to
Leave to His sov'reign sway To choose and to command,"
in the work which had hitherto caused my greatest care. Can it be wondered that this
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blessed hymn, with all its sacred influences, should come to my mind when we were about to step out upon an untried way, and venture across the line of public sentiment-all helpless, save in the strength which God supplies ?
But this is not all. No one could be found who was willing, for "love or money," to risk the "plague" and do a day's washing; therefore an airy place had been prepared, our unwashed clothes had been assorted and disinfected, and we were trusting and waiting. Good Katharine had recovered, and had come as an angel of mercy to sit with the children and thus relieve me for other work.
The crisis of the disease had passed safely with our dear little ones, and our hearts were full of grat- itude. The winter seemed gone, for "the singing of birds had come, and the voice of the turtle was heard in the land." New courage took possession of our souls, and although the last word of " kindly command " from my husband-recovered from his lameness, and on the way to county court -- as he drove off was, "See that a bonfire is made of the soiled clothes, below the barn," other plans were in the head of the one who had put so many careful stitches into those little gar- ments; therefore, " with malice toward none," as soon as he was out of sight, " John, the faithful," was quietly directed to make a fire in the laun-
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dry furnace, and fill the boilers. Then, as poor, blind Samson cried to God for strength "this once," before taking hold of the pillars, so did I implore the evidence of strength before acting upon my own judgment.
Well, the answer of approval came, and by two o'clock my clothes-lines in the back lawn were filled with snowy garments and household linen, and I felt none the worse! While poor John, with few words but a fixed expression of amazement, put all things in order for me. A nice appetizing dinner was then prepared for the delicate part of the family, and a hearty one for the laborers. Surely, I could never doubt the promise : " As thy days, so shall thy strength be."
In all this I feared nothing so much as the criticism of my dear father, who came over each day to inquire for the sick and to care for our temporal wants-my good mother being quite unable to leave her room. As the dear old gen- tleman rode up, I cautioned the grown ones of the nursery to keep quiet; but his keen eye spied the large washing upon the lines, and at once congratulated me upon having found a laundress. The smiles that passed told the tale, and with a most reproving look at his only daugh- ter, he said : "My child, I am surprised at you." But with a forgiving kiss, he only added : "It is
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useless to ask you to take care of yourself." And surely he would have been confirmed in his opinion had he lived to witness the Crusade of 1873 and 1874; but his noble heart would have been with us.
III.
STORY OF SALOON VISITATION.
A T the time of the " new departure " on the part of the ladies of Hillsboro, there were four hotels, four drugstores, and thirteen saloons where intoxicating liquors could be obtained, there being little hindrance, save the conscien- tious scruples of individual cases !
When the " Praying Band," as it was called in ridicule, first started out upon its divinely- appointed mission, as the procession of somber- looking beings passed up High Street from the church where their first meeting of consecration had just been held, Dr. Dio Lewis was driven slowly by on his way from Colonel Trimble's home to Washington Court-house.
On the following morning, the 25th, many of the earnest women and quite a goodly number of zealous brethren assembled promptly at nine o'clock in the Presbyterian church to renew their consecration vows. After a season of fervent
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prayer, song, and testimony, it was voted to re- spect a previous appointment for religious serv- ices in the Episcopal church-quite a number of our band being members of that Church, and their rector, Rev. John Ely, one of our loyal supporters. It was also thought wise to give to our families the attention due the established usage of Christmas-day. Therefore, after ad- journment, an informal prayer-meeting was held, which strengthened the hearts of all greatly, and better prepared the women for the services of the following morning.
The cold, clear, crisp morning of the 26th dawned upon us with a sparkling snow upon the ground, but paths were shoveled and swept by new hands that morning, and, as we passed, heads were uncovered and earnest benedictions showered upon us by many a manly heart, which dared to be on the right side. The nine o'clock prayer-meeting was opened by Scripture reading, prayer, and song; earnest exhortations and words of hearty support and encouragement were offered by Dr. McSurely and others.
The Committee of Visitation, after singing a hymn, adjourned to meet at the same time and place the next morning; then, forming in pro- cession, it visited hotels and saloons in the fol- lowing order-quoting from minutes:
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