USA > Ohio > Shakers of Ohio; fugitive papers concerning the Shakers of Ohio, with unpublished manuscripts > Part 23
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wisely run wild at their meetings for want of a guide." August 2nd the Believers were threatened by a mob who desired to take away Peggy Knox and Anna Carr. On the 3Ist a meeting of about 100 was addressed by Bates and John Davis. John Edg- ington and wife, (recently reconverted) sang in the service. Preaching and visiting on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of September, con- verts being Nancy and Jane Gallagher. December 9th, David Darrow, Solomon King, Bates and McNemar set out for Eagle Creek and returned to Union Village the 25th. January 15th, 1807, Worley, Spinning and John Wallace went to Eagle Creek. April 25, 1808, Worley, Matthew Houston, James Hodge and Francis Whyte set out for Eagle Creek and from there, with John Dunlavy, to South Union. May 23rd, McNemar, Spinning and Samuel Rollins to Eagle Creek. Youngs and Houston were at Straight Creek the 26th of April, 1809; on the 29th at Eagle Creek, where they held services in a log meeting house and addressed 90 Believers. As they staid May Ist with John Dun- lavy, that person must have been still in charge of the congrega- tion. Worley, Wallace, Peggy Houston and Jenny McNemar, September 3, went to Eagle Creek and returned the 20th. Youngs and Daniel Mosely visited Straight Creek January 26th, 1810, and hold meeting at John Sharp's; 27th, visit Thomas Vance, Nicholas Devoe and Edward Hall; 28th, preach to about 100, of whom 27 are Believers, and Nancy Scott confesses; 30th at Eagle Creek; visit William Gallagher and Elijah Hall; 3Ist at Richard Naylor's, J. Painter's and John Miller's ; consult George Legier and William Gallagher respecting a final gathering, as the time had come for something to be done; February Ist, at Legier's, Joseph Johnson's, John Johnston's, David Eddie's, Da- vid, Alexander and Jerry Burn's; 2, at Daniel Rankin's; 3, at John Naylor's, Thomas Kallaghan's, Andrew Dragoo's, John Dunlavy's and John Edgington's; 4, about 220 people at meet- ing, 120 of whom were Believers; 5th, at Reuben Morris's, James Bromfield's, Knox's, -addressed 70 school children; 7th, per- mission given to George Legier and William Gallagher to pur- chase 1,000 acres of land half way between Eagle and Straight Creek ; thence 12 miles to Baltashazzar Dragoo's and from that to John Sharp's on Straight Creek; 9th, confession of William and
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Jenny White, and James Hodkin's children. "After two more visits, one in April and another in May - and taking Ruth Dar- row and Hortency Goodrich in the April visit - Elder Benjamin thus- sums up the matter. He says: It is most evident that the people have run thro' and are at a full stop in this place - and also that their general and particular feelings are to be up and gone out of it. - After a trial of about 5 years every endeavor to find an opening for a foundation has failed - tho' the present opening proposed for consideration, meets the feel- ings of the greater part and finds a weighty objection in none." May IIth, at Union Village there was a consultation with John Dunlavy relative to removing the Eagle Creek Believers to Busro (West Union). On the 28th, Youngs and King start for Eagle and Straight Creeks "to ascertain more particularly the minds of the people respecting their continuance in those parts. Their removal to Busro proposed." June 2Ist, there arrived at Union Village from Eagle Creek, William Gallagher, George Legier, David and Peggie Eddie, Alexander Hughye, and Sally McGe- han, and on the 23rd George Legier, William Gallagher and Robert Gill and John Stover set out for Busro. December 26th Youngs and Archibald Meacham arrived at Straight Creek and put up at John Sharp's ; on 3Ist, at Amos Moore's, spoke to the Believers on "their condition; unless they turn about they are lost - Elijah Halls gone- but profess faith - Edward Halls they are also turned as a dog to his vomit - Reuben Watts still faithful - Devoes halting - A most pernicious & destructive has prevailed among some (Eld. & John H are the movers) which is setting up a political school among the youth, who have been sincere - a very flattering & certain way to ruin - & dis- grace added."
At the time of the removal of the Believers from Eagle and Straight Creeks they numbered 150 souls, of which 70 moved to Union Village and 80 to Busro. The following minute of those to Union Village is made : April 1, 1811, Garner McNemar and family, Reuben Morris and family and Reuben Wate and family ; 3, John Sharp and John Naylor and family from Straight Creek ; 4, John Dunlavy and family, Betty Dragoo and Jenny Burns, and the remaining, whose names are not recorded.
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No plausible excuse is recorded why the 150 Believers should have been removed from Adams County, and the majority taken to the Indian frontier. Shakers must exist by converts made from outside their communion; and if placed on the edge of civilization, the existence must necessarily be precarious. The numbers and wealth of the Adams County Shakers gave every encouragement for a prosperous community within their own vi- cinity. Issachar Bates did not approve of a permanent settle- ment at Busro, and plainly told David Darrow that it would "take the wisest man on earth to lead that Society." He farther rec- ords that "the Busero Society of themselves was a mixed multi- tude, white, black and yellow," and the mixing with these the Believers from Eagle Creek and Red Bank (Ky.) would be at- tended with difficulties ; that while the country was beautiful to the eye, yet it was "naturally sickly," besides being on the extreme frontier, and upon the eve of a war with the Indians. But those in authority looked with favor upon the country, and the rich soil and extensive range for pasture bid fair for a community that might obtain great wealth. As early as 1809 the 30 Believers at Red Bank, Ky., had taken up their abode at Busro.
BUSRO, OR WEST UNION.
The name of the Indiana Society of Shakers I find variously spelled, in the earlier documents, Busro, Busroe, and Buserow, and in the later documents the name of West Union universally occurs. Union Village was the center or home church of the Western Shakers, and there was a tendency to name the societies with respect to the parent. Hence the Society near Cleveland was called North Union, being north from Union Village; that on the Gasper, in Logan County, Ky., received the name of South Union, and by the same logic the Busro Community was called West Union. The Community was first called West Union in 1816, as I learn from the Church Record of South Union. In that year, under July 21, is the following memorandum: "This morning Elder Benjamin starts on a journey to Busro or West Union as it is now called."
The West Union Community was located in the northwest- ern corner of Knox County, Indiana, in Busseron Township, on
ELDRESS NAOMI LEGIER.
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Busseron Creek, and about sixteen miles north of Vincennes. In July, 1813, the main body of land was entered by William Davis, Adam Gallagher and Nathan Pegg, as trustees for the Shakers. The entire tract owned by the community embraced about 1,300 acres, all tillable and of deep rich soil. Here, for a while, the people were very prosperous. On Busseron Creek they built a saw mill and a grist mill. and manufactured many kinds of lum- ber, and out of walnut and cedar made various cooper ware ; they had carding and fulling machines and a tannery; there was a cocoonery, and silk was manufactured; cattle and sheep were raised extensively. The village proper consisted of several build- ings used for dwellings, various industries, and a house of wor- ship. The meeting house was a frame structure 48 x 50 feet, two stories high, with a floored attic. The ground floor was all in one room, with seats, of walnut planks, extending around the walls. The second story, reached by two flights of stairs, was divided into nine rooms, and used as a place of residence by the Ministry. The ground floor had no heating accommodations, but the second floor was warmed by four fire places. This struc- ture, as well as all the other residences, was finished with wal- nut, and displayed remarkable mechanical skill.
ORIGIN OF WEST UNION.
The Shaker missionaries not only made it a point to be present at camp-meetings, but also visited the Christian (New Light) ministers, hoping in them to find encouragement. Fam- ilies were visited in expectations of making converts. Many of the converts had friends whom they desired to be of the same faith, and the missionaries would search these parties out. It was on such an errand that Issachar Bates, Mathew Houston, John Dunlavy, Malcolm Worley and James Hodge, arrived at the Busseron country, from Gasper, South Union, Ky., on June 3rd, 1808, where they remained until the 26th. They had been urged on this expedition by Jesse McComb, because his half brother, John McComb, had recently moved to the Wabash. Jesse McComb was the largest land holder that embraced the faith at South Union.
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The following memorandum of the meetings on the Wa -- bash is preserved in the South Union Record :
"June 8. Robert Gills - Confession - Mary Shaw to John Dun- lavy - James Shaw to Malcham.
"Tuesday, 9. Confession - Nancy Boyles to Malcham Worley.
"Wednesday, 10. Confession - Nancy Gill to Malcham.
"Thursday, 11. Confession - Wm. and Betsy Hill and Nancy Jenkins to Malcham.
"Sab. 12. Robt. Houston's - Great meeting- 4 or 500 spectators. Jno. Dunlavy and Matthew preach - Confession - Sally Jenkins to Mal- cham.
"Monday, 13. Over the Wabash River - Meeting at Enoch Davis'. "Wednesday, 15. At Robert Gills.
"Friday, 17. Confession - Rachel Duncan to Malcham - at R. Hous- tons.
"Sab. 19. Wm. Price's - large meeting - Jno. Dunlavy preached."
"Sab. 26. Confession - John Hadden and Thos. Beard to Malcham."
On September 19th, Issachar Bates, Matthew Houston, Malcholm Worley and James Hodge left Union Village for Busro; and on the 27th William and Betsy Houston confessed; on January 16, 1809, Issachar Bates, Benjamin S. Youngs and Richard McNamar set out for Busro. Their journey was a perilous one, the particulars of which I have re- lated in a sketch of Issachar Bates. The missionaries did not return to Union Village until April 30th. On January 16th, the party arrived at Robert Gill's.
Thus the journal is continued :
"Feb. 4. At Robt. Gills - a number of the Believers came to see us.
"Thursday. 2. At Nancy Jenkins - thence to Robt. Houston's held meeting.
"Friday, 3. At Leonard McReynolds, late from Red Banks, Ky. "At Matthew Neelys and Wm. Berrys.
"At Robt. Houston's held another meeting. About 30 souls.
"Tuesday, 7. At Robt. Gills - made ourselves a pair of Moccasins each-
"Wednesday, 8. Wm. Brazzleton goes with us across the river thence to Joseph and Sally Shaws - thence to James Shaws - Wm. Wal- drups - thence to Jas. Evans where believers assembled 40 in number - thence to Enoch Davis's.
"Sab. 12. At Robt. Gills - held meeting - 100 spectators. Believers went forth and labored 2 songs -
"Monday, 13. Wm. Price's - A number of world came in, we ad- dressed them - thence to Smith Hansburys.
"Wednesday, 15. At John Youngmans - thence to Robt. Gills.
"Thursday, 16. Meeting - About half the Believers assembled in or under great death and stupidity -went to Matthew Neelys.
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"Friday, 17. All at Robt Gills.
"Sab. 19. At Robt. Houstons - Held meeting, 'mockers and scoffers walking after their own lusts' attended -
"Tuesday, 21. At Harry Prices a sensible Black man-
"Wednesday, 22. At Robt. Houston's - old and young John Slover and Nelly his wife from Red Banks came here -
* Famous Indian fighters.
"Thursday, 23. Meeting at R. Houstons - in the afternoon at Wm. Brazzletons - having left Richd at Roberts in order that he might start Saturday morning for Red Banks, Ky., to visit Believers there and counsel them respecting their removal to Busro -John Slover and Abm Jones to accompany him.
"Friday, 24. At Joseph Shaws - evening at James and Polly Shaws. "Saturday, 25. At Wm. Waldrups and James Evans.
"Sabbath, 26. At Enoch Davis' - Held meeting - Two visitors ex- ercised Wm. Hoag and wife-
"Monday, 27. At Jas. Duncans- John Fowlies or Fowlgers thence back to Charles Boyles' - Gabriel Burches to Anthony Tamis, east bank of Wabash - thence Jas. Duncans.
"March. At Jas. Hopkins - John Slovers - Nancy Jenkins.
"Saturday, 4. Robt. Gills.
"Sabbath, 5. Meeting at Robt. Gills.
"Wednesday, 8. Indians (Creek) at Robt. Houstons, were on their · way to visit the Shawnee Prophet to find out if he was of God -
"Thursday, 9. Confession - Leoden Naulin opened his mind.
"Friday, 10. At Matthew Neelys-
"Saturday, 11. Crossed the Bayou on a raft - Went to Roberts thence to Leonard McReynolds-
"Sabbath 12. Meeting at Robt. Houstons - The waters of the Wabash overflowed its banks - Believers on the west side came as they could - some 4 or 5 miles - in canoes - on horses and wagons - After meeting to Robt. Gills.
"Wednesday, 15. One hundred and ten believers - assembled at Robt. Houstons and we made our last labors in this visit - Benj. and Issachar staid at Roberts' Richd at Matthew Neelys -
'Thursday, 16. We met at Nancy Jenkins - Thence to Robt Gills. "Friday, 17. Wrote to J. McComb and the Brethren coming from Red Banks, Ky. - Having finished our labors here all things prepared - A number of Believers met with us at Robt. Gills, where we took our leave of them for Ohio - Having traveled here in Indiana abt 186 miles."
The missionaries left Busro on Saturday, the 18th, and arrived at Union Village, Wednesday, the 3Ist.
The prospects at Busro were now so brilliant that on August
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29, Elder David Darrow, Arichbald Meecham, Solomon Henson, Ruth Darrow and Rachel Johnson, set out on horseback, from Union Village, to Busro and returned Sept. 24th. On Aug. 31, William and Rebecca Brazzleton and David Price, and on Octo- ber 7, Joseph Shaw, Smith Hansborough, Leaden Noulen, James Neeley, James Price, Jenny Houston, Sarah Jenkins and Rachel Duncan arrived at Union Village from Busro on a visit, and started on their return the 17th. On December 12th, Issachar Bates, Richard McNemar and John Hancock leave Union Vil- lage for Busro, the last named to make his home there; January 27th, 1810, Archibald Meecham and Richard McNemar set out for Busro, and on May 10, to Union Village, accompanied by Jolın Slover; June 12, Robt. Gill, Sarah Jenkins and Anne Hill arrived at Union Village from Busro. On September 13, Ben- jamin S. Youngs, Archibald Meacham and Calvin Morrell left Union Village for Busro and arrived at Robt. Gill's on the 18th ; on the 19th visited the families of John Hancock, James Duncan, James Evans, James Shaw, Nancy Jenkins, Robert Houston, Joseph Shaw, Joseph Worthington, Charles Boyles, William Har- ris and Anthony Tanns; 20th, visited the residence of Benjamin, David, William and James Price, Smith Hansbury, Thomas An- derson and Zecharia Bowles; 24th, received the confession of Davis Hadden, a black man; 30th, spoke to about 20 spectators at William Brazzleton's ; and on October Ist all were startled by rumors that they were to be expelled by a mob before the end of the month.
The journal again is continued :
"October 12. Robert Gill and Wm. Harris arrived from Ohio with 7 men and boys from Eagle Creek - some sheep and cattle - They lost in the wilderness 40 sheep and 5 head of cattle. They left Wm. Gal- lagher and John Edginton to hunt them.
"14. Wm. Gallagher and John Edginton arrived, bringing 53 sheep and two head of cattle.
"Thursday, 18. Rumors of war with the Indians is very great, they have forbidden the surveyors from further operations - Unless a kind providence interferes, the time is nigh at hand when we will undoubtedly see trouble.
"November 7. Surveying - 800 acres on the great Prairee-
Sabbath, : 11. Meeting - Wm. Brazzleton spoke to spectators. It
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is. difficult here to get anything accomplished here, everything is in con- fusion - no lead-no order - every thing behind hand - vast fields of corn lie untouched - winter close at hand - no preparations to meet it."
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This data brings us near the time of the consolidation of the Eagle and Straight Creek Believers with those at Busro, and, hence, we now rely on the journal of Samuel Swan McClelland.
"MEMORANDUM OF REMARKABLE EVENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
"On the first Sabath in August 1805 There was a camp- meeting1 held in John Dunlavy's Congregation, on Eagle Creek, Adams County Ohio To which Elder Benjamin and Elder Issa- char, went from Turtle Creek Warren County Ohio- During the course of the meeting They found an opportunity of opening the Testamony to the people - WHICH THEY DID. - And it was believed and received by a considerable · number - Among the first of whom John Dunlavy was one - And from that period the gathering of a society of Believers .went on with a gradual increas for about five years - During which time the Ministry spent much labour on the subject of makeing a permanent settle- ment in that place and after mature consideration, It was thought to be almost Impracticable .-
In the month of May 1810 Elder Solomon, and Elder Ben- jamin2 - visited the believers at Eagle Creek, and first proposed the Idea of a general move - To Turtle Creek Ohio - Shawney run3 Ky - Bosserun, Indiana and so forth - In June George Legier,4 and William Gallagher, was appointed to go to the Wa- bash country and view the situation - and accordingly they went to the Big Prairie, on Bosserun Creek - and to the houses of Robert Gill - Robert Houston - Joseph Worthington - and others, where the Testamony had been openeed in June 1808 by Elder Issachar - Malcham Worley - John Dunlavy - Matthew Houston and James Hodge, and a society of considerable magni- tude gathered to the faith of the Gospel - And after thus form- ing a short acquaintance with the place and people, They re- turned with a favourable report - It was then concluded and agreed on by all partyes - to rise with one consent and move to
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those several places with the prospect of finding a more per- manent Settlement for life- And accordingly -a part was. distined to move to Union Village - a part to Pleasant Hill Ky. - But far the greater part was distined for Bosseron (or Busro) Indiana -
A company of Brethren was then selected to drive the cattle- and sheep to Busro, a distance of about 300 miles - which they did and mowed Prairy grass for their winters forage - Two of them stayed to feed and take care of the stock- and all the rest returned home - They next, proceeded to sell off their lands. and other immoveable property, which was the principal busi- ness, of the latter part of the summer and fall of 1810. -
Early in the winter of 1811 they began to make calculations and preparations for the journey - The commencement of which was the beginning of the following short
MEMORANDUM OF REMARKABLE EVENTS -
By
SAMUEL SWAN MCCLELLAND.5
"Beginning in January 1811, and Ending in March 1827.
‘A MEMORANDUM OF REMARKABLE EVENTS-1811.
During the month of January boats were prepared and brought from Maysville down to the mouth of Red Oak, where they were har- boured and held in readiness for the reception of the property .-
During the month of February the people were mostly employed in making preparations for the journey - Such as packing up what they intended to take with them, and disposing of other articles to the people of the country - The hauling was chiefly done in about two weeks - altho the distance was from 9 to 11 or 12 miles - All things now ap- peared to be as nearly ready as possible- and on the 4th of March The Keel boat and one flat boat set sail for the mouth of Wabash - They stopped at Jeffersonvile, unloaded and set up the waggons - (the horses having gone by land) so that on the 9th three waggons with seven families started from Jeffersonville for Busro, a distance of 120 miles, where they arrived safe on the 16th -26th Elder Archbald Meacham® and James Hodge arrived on the Big Prairie at Busro.
The boats went on to the mouth of the Wabash - where the Keel- boat received all that was in the flat boat, except one pair of Millstones
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which was left on the bank, and afterwards was sold-The Keel boat went on up the Wabash to the mouth of Busro - which the French boats- men said was 200 miles - where they arrived safe on the 29th -
As there was but few accounts kept of the journey of the first company that went to Busro-we will now look back to the 20th of March and start with the second company of boats.
March 20th. Eldress Ruth Darrow7 and Saloma Dennis8 with James Price and Samuel McClelland started from Union Village for Cincinnati in order to meet the second company of boats which was to come on from the mouth of redoak - We arrived in the city before night and put up at the Columbian Inn - where we remained till 8 o'clock on the morning of the 22nd when the boats landed, and all went on board - We bought another boat and made some arrangements in the loading - And pushed off late in the afternoon - We landed for the night on the Kentucky shore, just below the mouth of Big Miami -
23rd. We pushed off early - the day quite unpleasant - we landed just about dark at a house on the Indiana shore - The Elder sisters- with a few others stayed in the house - This was the dreadfulest night of wind, thunder, lightning, and rain that we had remembered of see- ing - the river raised eight feet plum water -
24th. We pushed off about 8 o'clock with a fair wind down the. river, but a great bend soon caused the wind to blow quartering up - which drove us violently against the Kentucky shore about 10 o'clock, where we were compelled to stay all day and night - this was Sabbath.
25th. We pushed off about 6 o'clock in the morning - passed the mouth of Kentucky river at one- went on 34 miles below and har- houred all our boats in the mouth of a small creek on the Kentucky shore. The day was clear and pleasant and we had a comfortable night's rest -
26th. We pushed off at 6 and landed at Jeffersonville at 2 - Stayed about two hours and then passed over the falls and landed just below for the night - some rain fell, the boats were crowded and lodging un- comfortable.
27th. Eldress Ruth and Saloma, with James Hodge9 and Wm. Price set off from Jeffersonville for Busro - We lowered our boats to the mouth of Silver Creek - and with our Battau and Pereauger commenced boating the property to a landing 3 miles up the creek where the waggons could receive it - the river very high and the low grounds all covered with water, so that our passage was much obstructed by the drift wood-
28th. Continued boating property up to the landing all day - and as we returned the last time night came on, and it was cloudy and dark. We got lost among the drift wood, and run aground in an old field' where we were obliged to leave our boats and make the best of our way through water and mud, logs and brush to our camp at the mouth of the creek -
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'29th. We found our battau Perogue in the old field and the water had fallen away from them and left them some distance on the land. However we put them off and brought them round to the camp - And in them and two flat boats we loaded up the rest of the plunder, and pushed off about 9 o'clock - The waggons also started from the land- ing on Silver creek for Busro - With two flat boats, battau and Perogue all lashed together we floated along pleasantly - passed the mouth of Salt river at 2 o'clock. Concluded to sail all night - about 3 o'clock in the morning we run on the head of an Island, and were quickly obliged to cut the lashing of our boats, when they immediately parted and one went on either side of the. Island, and could not get together again till after sun rise.
30th. We floated along pleasantly all day and landed for the night seven miles above the yellow banks - This day Eldress Ruth - Saloma - James and William arrived at Busro -
31st, Sabbath. We floated well till about 11 o'clock when the wind raised violently against us, so that we were obliged to land, which was quite difficult on account of the water overflowing so much of the banks - here we lay the balance of the day and night.
April 1st. The wind still blowing some- however we pushed off early passed the mouth of green river about 9-The wind ceased, the river became smooth and we had a fine day - Passed the Red-banks about one o'clock - and, landed for the night just below the Dimond Islands - the bottoms nearly all covered with water --
2nd. Floated on without interruption till about 2 o'clock, when we landed about half a mile above the mouth of Wabash - that spot be- ing the only dry ground within that distance - the bottoms being chiefly covered with water. Here we lay the balance of the day and night -
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