Sketches of western Methodism : biographical, historical, and miscellaneous. Illustrative of pioneer life.

Preface

Our book explains itself, so far as the object we had in view in getting it up is concerned. To supply a desideratum in the history of western Methodism, at least, so far as taking the incipient steps in that work is concerned, has prompted our endeavors. We have been at a great deal of labor in furnishing our readers with memorials of the past, connected with the lives of our early itinerant preachers, and collateral incidents in the history of the west, and we hope our labor has not been in vain.

Our readers will here find, as they turn over these pages, much, we trust, that is interesting and valuable in reference to olden time ; and while they shall trace the life and labors of the pioneer Methodist preachers, in planting the standard of the cross in these western wilds before many of them were born, we hope they may be induced to engage with like zeal and devotion, to sustain the interests of the Church, and hand down to posterity, unimpaired and unadulterated, what our fathers have so nobly contended for in the well-fought field of itinerant life.

The noble examples furnished in these sketches, of untiring labor and self-sacrificing devotion of those who cheerfully gave up all for Christ and the advancement of his cause, should stir up every impulse of our nature to emulate their virtues and strive to imitate their truly-heroic deeds. We

^ PKEFAOE.

would that our materials had been more ample for the work we had undertaken, that the sketches we have given of the pioneers might have been more satisfactory. Much had already perished, and the waves of oblivion were rapidly washing out the lew traces that remained; but we have gathered up what we could, and have presented them in a form, not only sufficiently reliable for all purposes of reference for the future historian, but, we flatter ourselves, sufficiently attractive to render the book one of interest to all.

Should our life be spared, we intend to prosecute this work still further; and as the materials will prove more abundant as we advance to the preachers of the present day, we hope to give increasing interest to our memorials of western Methodism. We have already promises from brethren in various conferences, spread over what was. in the days of our fathers, the "Western conference, to warrant the expectation that a full and reliable history of our Church, and the many interesting incidents connected with its rise and progress in the great valley of the west, can be gathered up, that will prove a source of instruction and deep, powerful interest in rousing to higher activity, in promoting the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom.

(JincmnaU, May 1, 1854.

Chapter I. Introduction Of Methodism Into The West

Condition of the country in the early days of Methodism— History of Methodism unwritten — Privations of pioneer backwoodsmen — Pioneer preachers— Fathers of Methodism— Examples of heroism — Reminiscences—Introduction Page 17

Chapter II. Autobiography Of Rev- William Burke

His birth and ancestry — His baptism — Hears the first Methodist sermon—Fashions of that day— Philip Cox— Francis Poythress — Thomas Vasey — Education in those days — Conversion — Begins to exhort — Travels a circuit — Returns home — Preaches during the week — Admitted on trial and starts for the west, and travels West New River circuit — First preachers in the west — Remarkable circumstance — Alarm on account of the war — Inhabitants fled from their homes — First General conference in the United States — Start to the annual conference — Mr. Asbury's plan of travel in the wilderness — Indians discovered — Preachers at conference — Danville circuit — Crossing the wilderness — Conference — Hinkston circuit — Wayne's campaign — Bethel Academy — Limestone circuit — Conference at Earnest's — Cumberland district — O'Kelly — Controversy — Mairies — Bishop Asbury's opinion — Attends second General conference — Chartered fund — ■ Simon Carlisle — Holston circuit— J. A. Grenade — Hard times — Controversy with the Baptists — Change of preachers 22

Chapter III. Autobiography Continued

A new era in the history of Methodism — Description of the men and means employed in the establishment and progress of Methodism — Local preachers — Talented young preachers — Settlement of Kentucky — First preachers — State of religion — Great revival — Account of by James Haw — Western conference— Beginning of the great revival at Cane Ridge — Description of— Revival in Tennessee— Attends the Legislature of Kentucky—Builds a cabin — Sent to Ohio to form a new district — Labors in Ohio — Number of circuits in the Western conference — Sickness — Salt River

district— Salary— End of his labors 57

1* 5

Chapter IV Michael Ellis

His place of birth unknown— Converted through the instrumentality of Wesley's missionaries — Commences to preach — Appointed o y Baltimore— Fairfax, Virginia— Obliged, from want of support, to locate— Duty of the Church-Trials of a preacher-Removes to Belmont county, Ohio-Re-enters the itinerant field-Appointed to West Wheeling circuit- His popularity as a preacher-Character of many preachers-Bishop Asbury's advice to young preachers-His style of preaching— Refutation of Arianism-Our colleagup-Hard circuit-Father Walker-Pickaway circuit—Superannuated—His death— Personal appearance Page 93

Chapter V Origin- And Peogbess Of Methodism In Cincinnati

Early settlement of Cincinnati— Presbyterian Church— First meeting-house—Baptist Church— John Kobler visits Fort Washington— His description—Rev. John Collins— Preaching at Mr. Carter's house, on Front-street — Class formed — Rev. John Sale — Accessions from abroad— Character of Methodism in those days— An incident— First love-feast — Old Stone — Old Brick— Wesley Chapel— Ninth-street— Morris Chapel— Asbury Chapel- Christie— York-street— M'Kendree— Bethel— Walnut Hills— Mount Auburn—Union Chapel— Methodist enterprise— Other Methodist churches- German Methodism— Wesleyan Female College— Preliminary meetings- Organization — The Wesleyan Cemetery 102

Chapter VI. Francis Poythress

Early life not known — Received on trial 1776 — Conversations with Mr. Wesley — Appointed to Carolina circuit — Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church — Presiding elder of a district — Supernumerary — Again made effective — Presiding elder — Mind affected — Desists from preaching, and returns home — An account written by Rev. T. Scott for the Western Christian Advocate — Notes by Samuel Williams, Esq., of Mt. Auburn- • 129

CHAPTER VII. BAENABAS m'eKHKT

Among the first Methodist preachers in the west — Contempt for the Church — Caricatures — Specimen — Admitted into the traveling connection, and appointed to Yadkin circuit — No missionary society at that time — Bascom's description — Thanksgiving sermon — Opposition from the Baptists on Danville circuit — Persecution — Methodist preacher goes every-where— Success of his labors — Exclusive devotion — Presiding elder of

Holston district — Labors increase— Active in the Cane Ridge revival ■

Took a local relation — Re-entered the traveling connection — Attacked with cholera — Dies — His character as a preacher — Worthy of imitation 143

CONTENTS. f

Chapter VIII. Thomas Scott

The oldest living preacher now in the west— His birth and ancestry- Conversion— Enters the traveling connection at sixteen years of age- Appointed to Gloucester circuit— Ohio circuit— Sent to the Kentucky conference—Dangers— Danville circuit— Located— Lexington circuit— Studies law— Enters upon the practice— Appointed prosecuting attorney— Removes to Chilicothe— Clerk in the territorial Legislature— Justice of the Peace- Secretary of the senate— Ono of the Judges of the Supreme Court— Representative of Ross county in the Legislature of Ohio— Register of the Land-Office— His legal and ministerial qualifications Page 154

Chapter IX. John Kobiek

Preached the first Methodist sermon in the state of Ohio— His birth and early religious training — Conversion and call to the ministry — Pioneer in the North-Western territory— Remarkable account of a lady captured by the Indians— Her sufferings— Escape— Kobler crosses the Ohio, and enters the uorth-western wilderness — His account written for the Historical Society— The present compared with the past — His abilities as a preacher — Locates — Superannuated — Removed to Fredericksburg, Virginia — His spirit — Dignified bearing — His labors — Powerful revival — Sickness — Happy state of mind — Death * 163

Chapter X. Benjamin Lakin

His birth and early training — Seeks and obtains religion — Call to the ministry — Life of an itinerant — Thoughts upon the ministry — Character of early preachers — Qualifications necessary — Lakin enters the itinerancy— Marries — Locates — No provision made for the wife — Free Gospel — Re-enters the traveling connection — Our acquaintance with Lakin — His mode of traveling — Travels various circuits — Becomes supernumerary — Superannuated — Preaches regularly every Sabbath — Sickness — Sudden death 178

Chapter XI. John Sale

The philosophy of history — Interest attaching to narratives of human life — Birth of Sale— His early life and religious training — Temptations — His integrity — His call to the ministry — His first circuit — A difficult field of labor — North-Western territory — Organizes the first Methodist society in Cincinnati — Extent of the fields of labor— Preachers — Miami district — Our first license to preach — Camp meeting on Paint creek — Recollections of the past — Kentucky — Ohio — Superannuates — Re-enters the traveling connection— Enjoyments— Last sufferings — Death— His personal appearance— His preaching talents— Ability as an administrator of Discipline—His descendants • Page 185

Chapter XII. The First Methodist Churches In Ohio

Associations connected with the first churches— Sketch from the pen of Eev. Henry Smith— Sketch from the pen of Rev. John Meek— Hopewell log meeting-house— Holmes meeting-house— Log meeting-house atOdler's—

Pioneers of Miami 193

Chapter XIII. Samuel Parker

Born in the state of New Jersey— Parents religious— Basis of moral character— His conversion to God— Society— A general favorite — Fine singer— Abandoned his wicked associates— Private member of the Church- Exercises about a call to the ministry — Obeys the call, and is. admitted into the local connection — His studies preparatory to entering the itinerancy— Enters the Western conference — Appointed to Lexington circuit— His success in the ministry — His musical talent — An incident — His- eloquence as a preacher — The surprise of the Dutchman — Large district in. the west — Meeting at the Lower Market Space in Cincinnati— Great camp meeting — Miami district — Sent by the bishops to the Mississippi conference— Separation — Sickness — Death — The personal appearance of Parker 202

Chapter XIV Learner Blackman

Born in New Jersey — The date of our acquaintance— Brother-in-law of Rev. John Collins — Personal appearance — Different classes of Methodist preachers — Style of the present day— Blackman enters the itinerant field — Sent to Kent circuit— Sent a missionary to Natchez — Travels through a wilderness — Character of the inhabitants — An incident. — Stranger in a strange land — Presiding elder of the Mississippi district — Holston — Marries— Visits his relatives in Qhio-i-Returns as far as Cincinnati— Attempt ing to cross the river he is drowned 215

Chapter XV

iost child; or, the gamp of lydia,

Lost children in the city— Lost in the woods— The Osborn family, north-east of Cincinnati — Little girl's sent out in search of the cows Lydia

lost — Alarm and excitement — Neighbons start out in every direction No

tidings — Night spent in fruitless search — Her tracks discovered Washburn—Large collection of people — Divided into companies— Washburn discovers where she had slept— Great excitement — Sixteen days pass

CONTENTS.

away in fruitless search— A thousand persons on the search— Fourteenth day tracks found— A little cabin built by the child found near a blackberry patch— Excitement produced by the sight of it— Her bonnet found — Tracks of horses— An Indian camp— Company disband — Father continued the search as long as he lived Page 223

Chapter XVI. James Axley

Meager materials for a biography of Methodist preachers — Bishop Morris's personal recollections — Axley's early fields of labor — Bishop Morris's first interview with — A natural genius — Colloquy— His power of song — Pleasantry about voting — His personal appearance — Well versed in human nature — An incident — His courtship and marriage — Opposition to slavery and whisky — Quaint sermon — An incident in the pulpit — The opinion of a judge — A preacher for the times 231

Chapter XVII. Joseph Oglesby

The first pioneer preacher of Illinois — Jesse Walker — His labors in Tennessee and Indiana — Location — Engages in the practice of medicine — His zeal and industry — Re-enters the traveling connection — Superannuates— Indiana conference memoir 247

Chapter XVIII. William "beauchahp

Early life and education — Literary attainments — Essays on the Truth of the Christian Religion — Editor of a religious periodical — Sketch of Beauchamp, written by Rev. T. S. Hinde — Removal to Mount Carmel — Occupation and labors at — School teaching — Anecdote of a preacher who went to teaching — Beauchamp retires to a farm — Loss of his son — Re-enters the itinerant ranks — Travels Indiana district — Member of General conference — Sickness and death — Description of his personal appearance — Character as a preacher 250

Chapter XIX. Goveeuob Tiffin

His birth and education — Studies medicine — Hears Rev. Thomas Scott preach — Joins the Church — Call to the ministry — His trials — Is made a deacon at sight by Bishop Asbury — Practice of his profession— Elected a member of the territorial Legislature— Mr. Sibley— Debates— Delegate to the convention to form the Constitution of the state — First Governor of Ohio — Letter to President Jefferson — Reply — Senator in Congress — Representative in state Legislature — Scene in the Capitol of the state — Resumes the practice of his profession — His skill as a surgeon — Commissioner of the General Land-Office at "Washington — Residence in Washington— War in 1814 — Surveyor-General of public lands — Sickness — Death Obituary— His wife and children Page 260

Chapter XX

JOHN A. GRENADE.

Sketch of Grenade by Rev. Dr. Baker— Preliminary remarks— Description of early preachers in the south-west— Grenade a son of thunder- Nothing known of his parentage and early life— His person— A physician and poet— Despondency of mind— The exercises of his mind— Poetry- Returns to the ministry— His labors in different fields— His great zeal- Incident — His character as a poet 288

Chapter XXI. Western Methodist Book Concern

Concern first established in Philadelphia — Branch in Cincinnati — Dr. Ruter first Agent — Wholesale establishment— First book published — Agent ineligible to re-election — Rev. C. Holliday — Removal — Rev. J. F. Wright — Demand for books — Western Christian Advocate — Discipline changed in regard to election of Agents — Purchase of a lot of ground, and erection of buildings — First original publication — Subsequent works — German publications— Charter — Ladies' Repository — Authority to publish certain books — German Apologist — Other buildings — Description of the establishment— The Editors — The Agents — Amount of business 297

Chapter XXII. John Collins

Our first acquaintance with Rev. John Collins — Prepossessing in his manners — Preaching in Hillsboro — Preached the first Methodist sermon in Cincinnati — Admitted into the traveling connection — Appointed to Miami circuit — Extent of his field of labor — Other appointments — White Brown's camp-ground — Story of the lost child — Effects of his eloquence — His peculiarities — Incident at camp meeting — Conversion of a young man — Another incident — Personal appearance — Revival at Lebanon, Ohio — Dayton, Ohio — Delegate to General conference — Great desire to hear him preach — Licident at camp meeting — Close of itinerant career 317

Chapter XXIII. Nathan Emery

Memories of our fathers passing away — Birth and early training of

Nathan Emery — Leads a class — Licensed to preach — First circuits His

pious and devoted consort — Excessive labors — Location — Removes to the

west — Sent as a supply on Columbus circuit — Re-enters the itinerancy

Stationed in Zanesville — Radical controversy.— Opposition — Revival Incident— Strange tilings — Sent to Cincinnati — Chaplain to the Ohio Penitentiary— Delaware circuit— Declining health — Last sickness — Death-. . 330

Chapter XXIV. The Conversion Of A Family

Quarterly meeting on Knox circuit — Sermon on duties of husbands and fathers — Conviction — Fashion of the world — Incident — Interview of the father with his family — Affecting scene — Family prayer — Family join the Church Page 339

Chapter XXV John Crane

Place of his birth — Savage wilderness — Early Methodist preachers — Importance of early religious training — Incidents — Crane admitted into the traveling connection — Sent to the Holston circuit — Hardships — Missouri— Vast extent of field of labor — Broken down with excessive labors- Peace and joynn believing — Happy death 347

Chapter XXVI. William Young

Brother of Rev. David Young — Native of Virginia — Called to preach — Sent to Mad River circuit — Cincinnati circuit — Means of travel — Personal appearance of Young — His manners — Exposure in riding to North Bend — Attacked with consumption — Visit to camp-ground — Early dead 35G

Chapter XXVII. The Conversion Of An Infidel

Wonderful manifestation of divine grace — Infidel of the French school — Influence — Sophistical reasoning — Universalist — Representative in the Legislature of Ohio — Family of the infidel — The daughter — Her education— Goes to Methodist meeting — Surprise — First sermon— Mother's reproof— Trial — Conversion — Banished from home — Awakening and conversion of the father — Eliza's return — Conversion of the mother 360

Chapter XXVIII. Alexander Cummins

Preaches in the beginning of the nineteenth century — His birth and education— Conversion— Call to the ministry— Admitted on trial, and sent to Brush Creek circuit — A man of one work — Privations and hardships- Left without an appointment on account of ill-health — The drudgery of teaching school— Again effective— Stationed at Cincinnati— Kentucky district—Returns to Ohio— Sketch of his life and labors, written by Rev. Russel Bigelow V 372

Chapter XXIX. The Conversion Of A Cruel Master

A kind master — Relations existing between master and slave — Cuff a valuable servant — Professor of religion — Exhortation — Wicked masters —

A change— Cuff sold— Whipped for going to meeting— Intercession of the mistress— Master convicted— Sends for Cuff to pray for him— Is converted— Cuff freed and made chaplain of the plantation PaSe 379

Chapter XXX. Marcus Lindsey

Born in Ireland— Protestant parents— Young Lindsey comes to this country— Hears Methodist preaching— Conversion and call to the ministry—Sent to Kentucky to travel a circuit— Big Sandy— Neutral ground- Marietta circuit— John Stewart, the colored preacher— His conversion- Goes to the Wyandott Indians as a missionary— His success— Further labors of Lindsey— Attacked with cholera— Decease— His character as a

preacher °°°

Chapter XXXI. The Dutchman S Experience

German character— Effect of religion on the German mind— Love-feast — Experience 395

Chapter XXXII. John Strange

A native of Virginia— Emigrated to Ohio— Embraced religion— Called to enter the ministry — His first circuit — Cincinnati— Faithful and eloquent preacher — False view of a preacher's life — Fare of Methodist preachers — Beautiful tribute 399

Chapter XXXIII. William P Pinlet

Third son of Rev. Robert W. Finley — Childhood and youth of— Active mind — Circumstances connected with his conversion — Wonderful change in his habits and disposition — Call to the ministry — Ways of Providence — Enters the itinerancy — Meets with an accident — Great affliction — Surgical operation — Restored to reason — Fatal termination — His character as a preacher — Death of one of his daughters — Reflections 406

Chapter XXXIV. Russel Bigelow

History of his early life — Conversion — Travels Hinkston circuit — A marked character — Early associations — Successive fields of labor — Mission among the Wyandotts — Superannuated — Appointed chaplain of the Ohio Penitentiary — Success of his labors — Visits Ridgeville — Melancholy state of mind — Incident — Work done — Last sickness and death — Sketch of his life and labors by Dr. Thomson 411

Chapter XXXV

HE'NRY B. BASCOM.

A western man — Early life — Master spirits in Church and state — Remarkable youth — Quarterly meeting at Franklin — Excites the wonder of the people — His father removes to Ohio — His manual labor — Licensed to preach — Talents early developed — Saying of a grave divine — Father Taylor, of Boston — Extraordinary powers — Sources of eloquence — Blessings of poverty--First circuits — Scenes with panthers — Fame of the young preacher — Description of his power as an orator — Incident with boatmen — Opinion of Bascom — Effect of his preaching — Colleges and books — Irish orator — Traits of character — Independence — Force of character — A slight

tribute Page 428

Chapter XXXVI. Samuel Hamilton

Diversity of character among ministers of the Gospel — The father of Samuel Hamilton — The conversion — His call to the ministry — Brush Colleges— An adventure of a Methodist preacher — Hamilton's first lessons — His peculiar talents as a preacher — Ludicrous anecdote — Sketch written by him of Methodism in Washington county — Traits of character — Adaptation to circumstances — Personal appearance — Last sickness — Closing scene 445

Chapter XXXVII

WILLIAM H. KAPEE.

Born in troublous times— His father and mother — Removed to Ohio in early life — Enlisted in the army — Promoted to office — Battle of the Thames— Change of prisoners — Mutiny — A fearful crisis — Delivered the prisoners at the Newport Barracks — Offered a commission in the regular army — Reply of his mother — Is converted and joins the Church — Enters the traveling connection — Meets one of the prisoners, then a Methodist— Exposed to danger — Hardships and privations — A mother's prayers— His abilities as a preacher — Last scenes in his life 466

Chapter Xxxviii. John 0lin

Born and reared in the wilds of Virginia — Ulin's leap — John's early life — Conversion — Enters the traveling connection — First appointment — Description of his preaching — Gallipolis — Piketon and Waverly — Last field of labor— Cholera — Affecting scene — Triumphant death — Care for the children — The ways of Providence inscrutable 476

Chapter XXXIX. William Phillips

His birth and parentage— Early training — Spends his evenings in literary exercises— His poetry—" The hypocrite unmasked "—Poetic satire on hog-stealing— Poem entitled "Alexander the Great; or, The Learned Camel "—Specimen of political life — Reads infidel books — Is awakened by the question of his little son— Seeks religion, and joins the Church— Enters the traveling connection— His labors— Appointed Assistant Editor of the Western Christian Advocate— A serial entitled " Campbellism Exposed "—Character of that work— Sketch of his life and labors by the Editors of the Advocate — His personal appearance 485

Chapter XL. The Intrepid Missiouakt

Daniel Poe-Converted under the ministry of Rev. Abner (Joff— Attended an academy at Worthington-Goes- to Augusta-Licensed to preach, and enters the conference— First labors— Sent as a missionary to the Indians— Perilous adventure on the iee-Brothertown Indians-Mrs. Ingram-Visits the Illinois conference— Volunteers as a missionary to Texas— Labors- Returns to the Ohio conference-Receives a letter from his wife-Conversion of an infidel-Founds an institution of learning in Texas-Preaches and teaches— Is taken sick-Dies, and he and his faithful wife are buried in the same grave Page 495

Chapter XLI. Thomas Dbuiiiioud

Born in Manchester, England— Father emigrates to the west— Youth- Early piety— Enters the work of the ministry— His first appointment- Sent to Pittsburg— Gifts— Talents— Morgantown — His labors and usefulness— Volunteers for Missouri, and is stationed at St. Louis — Attacked with cholera — Closing scene — Last words — Touching and beautiful lines — Rev. William Hunter's sketch — Pleasant reminiscences 510

Chapter XLII. Indian Camp Meeting

Christian Indians of the Wyandott mission — Indian characteristics — Chiefs and queens — Faith of the Indian — Religious exercises — Cruel husband— Conversion of the wife — Inhuman conduct — Visits the camp — Is awakened and converted — His confession — Speech of Mononcue — Other incidents 517

Chapter XLIII. Conversion Of An Inspector-general

A Christian lady — Her relation to the Indians — Her husband — Inspector- General — His character — Short history of Mrs. Long — Other members of the family — Death of a beautiful girl — General Long at camp meeting — State of his mind— Leaves for the muster-field — Is convicted — Returns to the encampment- — His conversion — Mononcue — Leaves again for the muster-field—Plot of the officers— Unyielding firmness— Result of— Converts at the camp meeting. « • 523

Chapter XLIV. Pioneer Women

Patriotic women of olden time— Heroism of pioneer mothers of the west— An incident related by the Rev. B. Maxey— Two devoted Christian females— Their meetings in the woods— Surprised by a hunter— Hold meetings on Sabbath— Large congregations— Conversions through their instrumentality—Arrivnl of the prenrliov -Result of the revival— Reflections—

Another incident — The old log meeting-house — Pious old lady — Visits the old church every Sabbath — Two wicked young men — Their awakening and conversion — Waste-places of Zion restored Page 531

Chapter XLV Ehok-yan-ness

The oldest chief in the Wyandott nation — Among the first to make a profession of Christianity — Great hunter and brave man — The encounter of Adam Poe with Big Foot Indian and his brother — Loss sustained by the Wyandott nation — Determination of revenge — Rhon-yan-ness selected for this purpose — His visit to the cabin of Poe — Kind reception — Purpose changed — Leaves Poe in peace and safety — His awakening and conversion— Burning and sbining light among his nation — Relation of Christian experience — Triumphant death. 540

SKETCHES

OF

WESTERN METHODISM.

Chapter I. Introduction Op Methodism Into The West

Many years ago, during the -Ke volution ary struggle, and before the bloody scenes of Lexington or Bunker Hill were enacted ; before these states were declared independent, and before there was a President in the chair of the Union ; when all the western country was a waste, howling wilderness, untenanted except by the savage who roamed over its broad prairies, or through its dense forests, or sped his light canoe over the surface of its mighty rivers, the pioneer Methodist preacher might have been seen urging his way along the war-path of the Indian, the trail of the hunter, or the blazed track of the backwoodsman, seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel in these far-off, distant wilds. Before the sun of civilization shone upon these mountains or in these vales, or over these prairies, or on these rivers, the herald of the cross, with his messages of mercy, was seen wending his way to the desolate haunts of savage man. To pursue such in their godlike journey and labors of benevolence, will be the object of our work. History may record the deeds and achievements of mighty warriors of olden time, effected by the sword : be

2* 17 it ours to follow the Christian pilgrim warrior over the fields of his labor, and toil, and sacrifice, and recount the victories achieved by the cross.

The history of Methodism in the western country is, to a great extent, an unwritten history. With the exception of a few biographies and historical sketches, and a few detached and scattered fragments, gleaned from time to time by historical societies, from the pioneers who yet linger among us, but little has been made a matter of permanent record. A thousand hallowed associations start up in the mind at the mention, of venerable names whose voices, as embassadors of Jesus, waked the echoes of these dense and extended forests fifty years ago. What mind is not thrilled and delighted with the adventures and incidents of pioneer life in the wilds of the west ? When we hear them we seem to be listening to the tales of fiction wrought out from a fervid imagination, designed only to please for the while, and then to pass away and leave the mind to the contemplation of life's sober realities; but instead of being the fanciful, overwrought productions of that wonderfully inventive faculty, they are graphic descriptions of a real life, in which the simple narration of truth becomes more strange than the most glowing fiction.

But what, we ask, were the privation and heroic deeds of daring of the pioneer backwoodsman, leveling the forest, or roaming the woods in search of game, when compared with the toils, hardships, and privations of the pioneer preacher of the Gospel ? If the lives of the one are an example to their descendants of an energy and an enterprise which danger and the greatest difficulties could not intimidate or destroy, the self-sacrificing devotion of the other, urged on by a spirit of benevolence as boundless as the wants and woes of humanity, has left to the Church and the world an example of heroism abounding in every thing morally sublime. Their heroic deeds, in bringing to the cabins of the sturdy pioneer, as well as the wigwams of the savage, the blessings and benefits of religion, will be treasured up in memory, if not recorded upon the page of history, and will live as long as one is found to recount them to the generations yet to come. The names of Ellis, Tiffin, M'Henry, and Burke; of M'Cormick, Scott, Kobler, Lakin, Q-atch,^ Sale, Collins, Parker, Axley, and a host of others who planted Methodism in the west, will ever have a place in our memory, and be handed down to future generations as those whose arduous and abundant labors have produced what we so richly enjoy; and though no splendid monuments of brass, or marble, or even rude, simple stones may tell where their ashes rest, yet in the faithful urn of a thousand hearts their memories shall live forever fresh, and the fair fame which they achieved on the well-fought field will be better than the precious ointment which loses its fragrance and departs with the dead. In the language of one, u It is' a homage due to departed worth, whenever it rises to such a hight as to render its possessor an object of general attention, to endeavor to rescue it from oblivion, that, when it is removed from the observation of men, it may still live in their memory, and transmit through the shades of the sepulcher some reflection, however faint, of its living luster. By enlarging the cloud of witnesses with which we are encompassed, it is calculated to give a fresh impulse to the desire of imitation; and even the despair of reaching it is not without its use, by checking the levity and correcting the pride and presumption of the human heart." A few of these early pioneers yet linger among us ; but every year their number grows less, and with their departure perishes to a great extent the history of early Methodism. They came here when all was a wilderness ; when the " Queen of the