Reminiscences of Nathan T. Frame and Esther G. Frame

Chapter I. Pace

Pioneers — Pioneer Ministers 21

Salem, Iowa — Ancestors Esther I'ranie 25

Esther's Conversion 26

Esther Joins M. E. Church 27

Ministry — Married . 29

CHAPTER H.

PAGE.

The Hand of the Lord — The Quakers — Estlur Goes to Indiana for Her Health 35

At Sea — An ( )asis 37

Esther Talks With M. E. Minister 38

Friends Considering Esther's Application for Membership. . 40 Another Committee .Appointed — I-^sthcr Consecrates Herself

— Home .Associations — Home Sold 43

On Train for Ricliir.ond. Indiana 46

CHAPTER III. Esther at Yearly Meeting — Seeking Employment — Friends

and their Meetings 50

Our Work Commenced — Outcroppings ."id

.•\rk .Atkinson — Closing the Door 110

Summer of 18G8 — Visit to Anderson, Indiana — Saloon and

Street Meetings 62

The Great Physician 63

Great Revival at Walnut Ridge — Some of the Workers. ... 64

Chapter IV. Page

Trials — Second \'isit to Anderson — Street Meeting at Anflerson — Winter — Chester — Death of Minnie Hiatt — Old

Friends 67

Chester Revival — Personal Friends 69

.Anna and John Haisley — Great Revival at Richmond — Ministers and the Friends Church 80

We .Are Recorded Ministers — Muncie, Indiana — First Visit

to Ohio— Londonderry, Ohio 86

A Xew Church — Quakers and Women 90

A Sad Ending 95

Martinsville, Ohio— Oak Grove, Ohio— Last Sabbath 100

II Index.

Chapter V. Page

Our Home, New Vienna, Ohio — Meetings at Preston's Hall

— Doan and Mills — Wilmington College 103

Newspaper Correspondents 105

New Burlington, O. — The Hawkins Family 108

Friends Meeting Established 109

We Return to Richmond, Indiana — Visit to Columbus, Ohio

— Ohio Penitentiary 114

Visit to Iowa — Newport, Indiana — Pastors at New Burlington, Ohio 118

A New Coat — Pastors at Harveysburg 127

Chapter VI. Page

Vs/'inchester, Indiana — Farmington, N. Y. — Brooklyn, N. Y. 130

Plymouth Church — Quaker Meetings 136

Glens Falls, N. Y.— Severely Tested 138

Spring Valley, Ohio — Centerville, Ohio — Bell Brook, Ohio —

Marvelous Meeting 142

The Drunkard Saved — Trophies of Grace 144

Joseph Baines' Letter — The Wayside 140

Answered Prayer — Howard Lake, Minn 148

Healing From Sickness — Meetings Xenia, Ohio — Meetings

at London, Ohio 154

Mrs. Sparks Saved — When the Quakers Came to London

— Camp Meeting at Dayton, Ohio — The Lord Leadeth. , 167

Chapter VII. Page

From Ohio to North Carolina — Historic Meeting-house — Visit to Libby Prison — At Richmond, Va. — Esther Stricken With Paralysis — Face to Face with Death. 172, 176

Newspaper Correspondence — Esther Frame — A Beautiful

Poem to Her Memory — Washington C. H 180

Jamestown, Ohio — The Lord No Respecter of Persons — Excitement in Meetings 189

North High Street, Columbus, Ohio — Churches Want Us as

Pastors — Fairfield, Ohio 194

April 3, 1876— Letter From Maxwell P. Gaddcs 195

Cedarville, Ohio — Two Meeting-houses Occupied — Remarkable Conversion 198

Many Meetings — Power of the Spirit — Sabina, Ohio — Middlctown and Cincinnati — The Woman in Black — Scene at a Railway Station 199

Index. ill

Chapter VIII. Page

Chillicotljc. Oliio — CJood Resolutions Only — Midnight Serenade— God's Time 205

Fashionable Woman Saved — judjje Thompson Converted. . . 209

Mr. and Mrs. I'rame. ICvanijilists '..'lO

Esther .Stricken With Paralysis 212

Hillsboro. Ohio — L'nsccn Dan.i^crs 211

CH.XPTER IX.

I'AGE.

Muncic, Indiana — Mcct:i;;:> < vcr Saloon — Churches Anxious

for .Members — Evanu^clists — God Culled Evangelists. . . . 209

The Young Infidel— The liible Message 212

Pastors at .Muncic — Camp -Meetings 218

God Rules the Storm — .Many .Meetings 223

Meetings Lancaster. ( )hio — Dr. Nessie Converted — Transfigured 230

The Golden Pillar — Jennie Smith 234

Tipton. Indiana — The Spirit and the Word 236

Tabernacle Meetings — Barn Meetings 239

On the Wing — Cesars Creek Meetings 240

Greetings and Farewells 242

Among Home Friends — \ an Wert — A Strange Thing — A

True Friend — Mcchanicsburg. Ohio 245

Chapter X. Pace

Minister .Abandons Tobacco — The Woman Preacher — Cesars

Creek 255

New Vienna, Ohio^Lillie Niger — Walter Malone — Press

Notice 260

Sabina, Ohio. Our Home Town — Springboro, Ohio — Answer

to Prayer 269

Londonderry. Ohio — Shout of Children — Jamestown. (Ohio — Effect of Meetings on Community — Letter to Daniel Hill — Our Home, Jamestown. Ohio ... 2T0

Chapter XI. P.\ge

Portland, Indiana — The Word of the I^rd — Paralvtic Healed

—Cleveland. Ohio '. 275

Minute of Endorsement 279

James Farmer — Garfield's Home. Mentor, Ohio— We Are

Pastors at Cleveland, Ohio 281

IV Index.

PAGE.

Dublin, Indiana — Waynesville, Ohio — A Murderous Man —

The Old Church Tower— Ash Grove 285

"A Horse Meetin' " — Church Dedication 288

Topeka. Kansas — Remarkable Letter 294

Lawrence, Kansas — Don't Preach Hell 296

Great Children's Meeting 297

CHAPTER Xn.

PAGE.

Tennessee Mountains — General Wheeler 300

Come and Help Us — Memorial Sermon by Esther Frame for

General Grant 303

Last Sabbath at Cleveland 307

Fifteenth Street, Richmond, Indiana — Portland, Indiana —

Many Conversions 312

Chapter XIII. Page

Cherokee, Alabama — Listens to Woman 315

Florence, Alabama — Plantation Melodies 317

Master of the Situation — Tuscumbia — Des Moines, Iowa —

Park Wilson 319

Burning the Cards — Ft. Wayne, Indiana 321

Great Crowds at Music Hall 327

Press Comments — Personality of 330

The Evangelists — Old Landmarks 331

Windy Jim — Visiting the Jail 334

Chapter XIV. Page

Down the Ohio — Gadsden, Ala., Mountaineers— Southern

Hospitality — Attalla. Ala. — Springville, Ala 339

Colonel Crandall — Mountain People 343

A Warm Welcome — Athens. Ala 346

The Women of the South — Athens Station 348

Elkmont, Ala.— Times of Refreshing— Great Demonstrations. 351

At Elkmot Station the Work Goes On— Galatan, Tenn 350

Chapter XV

The Land of Dixie— Columbia— An Ovation— To the Uttermost—A Last Call 3gQ

Resolutions of Approval— Calling a Halt. ... 3^1

Council Bluffs. Iowa 'nrr

Inuex. V

I'AGt.

The Sunny South — Lorenzo Dow 367

Mulberry, Tcnntssir 368

Mt. I'liasanl. Tcnnisscc 369

The Negro and the Mule ;^ 1

Chapter XVI. Page

Lawrcnccburp. Tcnn. — Anti-Tobacco ricdRC — Moulton. Ala.

376, 378

Bloomington. Ind. — Danville. Ind. — Vermillion Grove, 111. — N'cw Castle. Ind.— /\t Home. April, 188'J.— West Manchester. Ohio— Linden, Tenn.. June. 1889 3K9

Tennessee River 396

Savannah. Tenn. — Clifton. Tenn. — Down the Tennessee 399

Chapter XVII. Page

Iowa Yearly Meetinfr — Church Extension — Greenfield. Ind.

— Kniphtstown, Ind. — Lebanon. Tenn 412

The Xegro Trader — The Woman IVcachcr — Alexander,

Tenn. — Keokuk. Iowa 421

Salem. Iowa — liarly Recollections 424

West Point. Tcnn. — Hirminj:;[ham, Ala 430

Quaker Evangelists — Richmond. Ind. — Columbus, Ind 437

Chapter XVIII. Page

Deputy Camp Meeting — Western Yearly Meeting — Brownstown, Ind. — Xoblesvillc, Ind 449

SejTnour, Ind. — An Immense Throng — Tabernacle Meetings

— Thorntown, Ind 462

Kansas City. Mo. — Lawrence. Kas 472

Emporia. Kas. — Columbia, Tenn. — Greencastle, Ind. — South

Bend, Ind 484

New Mexico and Texas. 1S9! — Odesi^a. Texas 490

Ligonii r Iml. — DegrafT, Ohio — Traverse City. Mich 500

Chapter XIX. Page

Jamestown. Ohio. 1895 — Liberty. Ind. — Women's Meeting —

Winchester, Ind 510

Esther G. Frame — The Friends — Rushville, Ind,, January 3,

18:i7— Fowler. Ind 517

VI Index.

PAGE.

Jeffersonville, Ind. — Ashwood, Tenn, — At Home October and

September 525

Bloomingdale, Ind. — Albia, iowa 530

Chapter XX. Page

Penn College, 1898— Central M. E. Church, Oskaloosa, la.— Great Revival — Wichita, Kansas, Cleveland, Ohio, January, 1899 542, 544

The Quakers in Cleveland — Wilmington, Ohio — Chesterton, Ind. — Grant, Tenn. — Portland, Maine — Lvnn, Ind., January 12, 1900— Carmel, Ind.— Paoli, 'ind.— Tent

Meeting — Byhalia, Ohio — Spencerville, Ohio

549, 558, 565, 567

CHAPTER XXL

PAGE.

Turning Aside — Messilla Park, N. M. — Sand Storm — Summer of 1901 — California — Enroute for Oregon 571

Denver, Col., to Salt Lake City 573

Salt Lake City, Utah — The Mormons — Newberg, Ore. —

Portland, Ore 579

Berkeley, Cal. — San Jose, Cal. — Pasadena, Cal 590

A Day's Outing — Nathan and Esther Frame 591

San Diego, Cal. — Las Cruces, N. M. — Pasadena, Cal. —

El Paso. Texas — Messilla Park 595

St. Petersburg, Fla.— Manitee, Fla 598

CHAPTER XXIL

PAGE.

Key West, Florida, 1903 — Rock Road Church — On Ocean

Steamer — Meetings at Fricndsville, Tenn 616

Richmond, Ind. — Ottawa, I. T. — Miami, I. T. — At Friends

University 623

Wichita, Kas.— Boulder, Col 626

Messilla Park, N. M.— Cherokee, Okla.— Lowell, Kas 632

Spring River Quarterly Meeting 634

CHAPTER XXIII.

PAGE.

Haviland, Kas. — New Mexico — Union Meetings, Shawnee

Mission 644

Yearly Meeting — Mt. Ayre, Kas 653

Laharp, Kas.— Conclusion, 1906 660

Sometime — A Poem by N. T. Frame 661

Esther G. Frames Notes

Index To Photographs

Nathan and Esther Frame *i, T

Elwood Ozhun 10

Nathan and Esther Frame -'^O

Jane Jones 62

Fifth Street Friends Meetinghouse, Richmond. . 76

Robert W. Dou.ixhis 100

Nathan and Esther Frame 108

Massa Hawkins 110

Frances W. Thomas 132

Trophies of Grace 146

North ( \arnlina Yearly Meetinghouse 168

Nathan and Esther Frame 198

Caesar Creek Meetinghouse 242

Mar\' A. Malone 258

Home of Nathan and p]sther Frame 270

W. J. and Emma B. Malone 276, 277

William and Docia Wooton 298, 299

Oenei-al Jose])h AMieeler 300

George and Leonore 472

Adobe Church, Jaurez, Mexico 489

Natlian and Estlier Frame 518, 519

A. Rosenberger and Penn College 531, 532

Ttasra F. Wooton, and Esllier 596, 597

Fii*st Friends Church, Cleveland 545

Wilmington College 547

Luther Gordon 587

Edmmid Stanley and TTuiversity 622, 621

Shawnee ^fission, Oklahoma 600

Robert Kelley and Earlhani College 660

Nathan T. Fi;a,mi-;

I^sTni:i: ( i. 1''i:a.mi;

i^rcface.

In 1868 the gospel career of Nathan T. and Ksihcr Ci. Frame bei;an anmnu; the Frieniis and has continued to grow in iruittiiiness until their lal)oi*s have now been crowned with the richness of a golden harvest. Their star of usefulness seemed ever to l)e in the ascendant and, like the great apostle, they were "in labor (dt," for before the conclusion of cue series of services the Macedonian cry, *'C'ome over and hel]) us." was heard from many places.

Tiieir lal)«)rs in the tield of evangelism have met with remarkable success, not only among Friends, but in many otlier churches also. Being among the tirst heralds of a religious awakening that has, in extent and consequences, become world wide, their eyes have beheld marvelous miracles of saving grace and transforming ])ower. The iron fetters of a dead fonnalism that had long held captive the Church of Christ were broken in sunder by the mighty hand <>f God and the vitalized gospel of life and power became again dominant in the church universal.

Their travels "in the love of the gospel" have been confined to no section of the coimtry but the East, West, North, and South have all alike rejoiced under the glad tidings of their ministry. The rich graces of ehxjuent utterance and high intellectual endowments bestowed by the Heavenly Father in bounteous measure were fully consecrated by them to the Master's service. Thousands have yielded to the "heavenly vision" under the ])ersuasive ehxiuence of their messages and tens of thousands have rejoiced under their proclamation of a fidl gospel.

10 Preface.

Too intent about their ''Father's business" to listen to the voice of Mammon, they are nevertheless rich in the eternal treasures laid up beyond the reach of the * * rust ' ' and the ' ' thieves ' ' of time. Every step now taken by them toward the golden sunset of life is an upward step towards Pisgah's height whence they can view the charming prospect, the "land of promise." God alone can number the multitude of the redeemed that shall rise up in the last day to call them ''blessed."

Their "Reminiscences" abound in examples taken from the "Journals" and copied from the public "Press" where their great meetings were held. We call especial attention to that connected with their gospel work at Penn College and in the city of Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1898. Night after night the Penn College Chapel was filled to overflowing and saving grace abounded in a wonderful manner. The flood tide of salvation swept everything before it. Immediately afterwards they held a series of remarkable meetings in the M. E. Church in Oskaloosa. The house, with a seating capacity of fifteen himdred, was often crowded to its utmost capacity and hundreds found their way to the altar for forgiveness of sins.

This published account of some of the labors of these widely known and eminent evangelists, is a source of great satisfaction to their many friends and will be, we believe, a great blessing to the Church of Christ. It is the recorded narrative of two worthy and gifted workers for the evangelization of the world.

A. ROSENBERGER,

Pres. of Penn Colleqe, Oskaloosa, Iowa.

A. D. 1906.

Intntductioit. 13

Introduction

As there are niystorious moments in the lives of individuals, so there have been in the j^rowth and activities of the ( Miurch. S])iritual awakenings havf come at varied intervals; and each has followed a period of depjeneraey, in which false teaehin^ had led astray some of the very elect, and the cause of Truth had suffered greatly. The revi\al that f<3llowed in each ease was but a sequel to the irrational teachinir and dei^enerate practices which were the outi^rowth of ske])ticism and doubt that overshadowed the world in these times of bondage and servitude. How true to human experience the dearth of living, ])ractical Christianity which was so manifest in th<» days of rest and (piiet and security that followed the period of restlessness and national insecurity and pei*secution of dissenters in the days of Yox and his contemi)oraries. The j^ospel of the Friends to the world was— Corn jdfte deliverance — frccdoii} from the hondmje of sin— the priesthood of believers. The English cinircli of Fox's time had retained so nuich of mediaeval tradition, and had accepted so many eomj)romises th;it a revolution ])ecame a necessity for the restoration of the Truth. The overthrow of Catholicism had freed Flngland from the domini<m of the Pope, but there was that in the Liturgy tliat bound men's cons(uences and hung heavy w(Mghts upon them. Many bodies of dis.sentei*s sought relief from tliese burdens. Sects, and orders, and societies were formed, all seeking for light, but none seemed to enjoy the freedom claimed by the early Friends. Almost all the various seets of dissenters soon passed

14 Introduction.

under some ecclesiastical authority, or else became extinct for want of organization and living principle or life-force.

Standing as Quakerism did for freedom of conscience, freedom of action in the worship of Almighty God, one need not seek long for a cause for Friends becoming reformers— so long as reforms touched human interests and tended to lift man from degradation toward the divine image that was his in Creation. That Friends were able to avoid the threatening breakers that beset them on every hand in their f onnative period, is marvelous and it can be accounted for only by the acknowledgement of the fact, that they had discovered a living Truth to which they adhered with a firmness and boldness that staggered all other dissenters and even the adherents to the established Church themselves. And that they had for a leader, a man that was in every sense a religious genius,— s, man that took rank with the greatest religious teachers of modem times. It has been said that he was the first real prophet of the English Reformation; and to him the world owes much for the reformation that grew out of the unrest, the political, moral and social upheaval of the seventeenth century, and for the religious liberty that characterizes our day. That the branch of the church that accepted his interpretation of di\ine Truth should so soon lapse into a state of rest and inactivity seems to us passing strange ; and it is difficult to ascribe a satisfactory reason for the change. In the early history of the Friends they were an aggressive, evangelizing force in the world that promulgated their doctrines among the English speaking people of two continents, and they were known and respected by almost all the nations of Europe. The awakening in the Society of Friends that began about the middle of the past century, seems to have been impelled by the

Introduction. 15

spirit of the early Church ; ami in fact it was fostered and encouraged with a hope that the Friends shoidd become again the aggressive people they liad been in fonner times in the sj)read of the Truth, the pronmlgation of the Ciosj>el of Christ in its reiil spiritual significance. The deep convictions that rested upon the leadei*s of this important movement, tlie sacrifices they were recjuired to make, the obstacles to overcome, the criticisms and censure that fell to their lot because of a failure to understand their motive and jmrpose, and because of the conduct and jiractices of designing men, j)ei*sons possessing zeal without kn envied ge— these can better be narrated by the participants in the great conflict, of whom there are a few yet alive and able to tell the story.

The history of the Friends will not be complete without a record of this period of reformation within its owii organization ; and doubly imiiortant is it that the story of the transition be written by those who were eye-witnesses to the scenes, and who had a part in the incidents and experiences of the time. Space will not admit of a record of the names of all who rendered effective service for the preserj'ation of the church in this time of re-formation that seemed often to threaten its veiy existence. To us it is a source of sincere gratification that our dear friends, Nathan T. and Esther G. Frame, have been drawn to record some of their experiences, and make mention of some of their labors among Friends and others as they have followed the Spirit in their remarkably fruitful sersice for the Master. Drawn to Friends from a con\incement of the truth of their doctrines, they at once entered the ministry with a firai conviction of the truths they promulgated; and with an abiding tnist in God for leading, for support in the hours of necessity and trial, they manifested a willingness to give their lives and the exercise of their gifts to the

16 Introduction,

Church of their choice. Such was their devotion to the cause of their divine Lord and Master.

The results of their protracted services, and the blessing they have been to miknown thousands who have sat under their ministration of the Gospel, can only be told by those who have been drawn into the light through the instrumentality of their teaching. Sound in the Faith, logical in argument, persuasive in manner, and eloquent in presentation of the great plan of salvation, they have moved concourses of people as few are able ; and multitudes have found it impossible to resist the call to accept the truth, to seek reconciliation and rest in the name of a living Baviour.

f To these dear friends who came to us in the hour of our greatest need, and at once took their place along-side the leaders in what seemed then an unpromising and unpopular movement, and who have, without flinching and without murmur, home their full share of the burden, the Friends owe a debt of gratitude. How zealously they have worked, how earnestly they have pressed the Truth upon their hearers, how eloquently yet reverently they have proclaimed the message of love to a lost world, how untiringly they labored wdth those who w^ere seeking to know the way of Life, will be revealed when our Lord shall come to make up his jewels.

It is to be hoped that this volume of interesting reminiscences may lead us to a more practical appreciation of the lives and services of these, and others of our dear Friends, who have stood as the exponents of truth in this period of growth and expansion ; and may we not hope that it will inspire others, of those who have held important places in the like service, to give to Friends of this and coming generations the things that are now fresh in their minds; things which will be full of interest and of great value in the

Introduction. 17

annals of a C^nirrh that has Ix'cn siidi a \v(»n(lerful blessinp to tho world.

Kdmind Stanlky.

Prosidont Friends' Univcrsitv, Wicliita, Kansas. A. I). IfKKi.

Ancestry of Xathan T. Frame.

Chapter 1

It will be sufficient for this narrative to state that my father's and mother's people were Scotch and English and came to America in the early part of the seventeenth century. My father's family consisted of six pei-sons, the i)arcnts, three sons and one daughter. The eldest son was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, was taken prisoner during a naval engagement l)etween the American and English war sloops, Wasp and Frolic, the American capturing the English vessel, but before getting her ])rize secured was recaptured by an English man-of-war and my uncle was taken to England, where he remained a prisoner until peace was dcchired between the two countries.

The other brother of father's was for many years a sea captain, and died in the year 1850 at New Orleans while engaged in piloting ships from *'Tlie Balize" to the City of New Orleans. My father's first name was Miffin, named in honor of General Miffin.

My mother's maiden name was Gregg. Her people came from England about the same time mv father's people came over the ocean. They were, on both sides of the house, good English and Scotch stock. My father and mother and their parents were devout members of the Methodist Church, when, to be a memlxir in good standing, required holy living and an upright walk and goodly conversation.

20 Ancestry of Nathan T. Frame.

My father's ancestors, many of them, were Friends. Grandfather and Grandmother Gregg, though Methodists, always used the plain language. My father was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and much loved ; a part of the time an itinerant, or traveling preacher, in that church.

Early Life of Nathan T. Frame.

My parents emigrated from Pennsylvania to Morgan county, Ohio, when I was a little child. We took nothing with us but our beds and bed clothes, wearing apparel, and a few dishes. Thus equipped, we started to seek a home in the far famed, and then little known, fertile *' Prairies of the West," arriving at our destination in five or six weeks after starting.

A world of new beauty, and of intense interest, unfolded to my young, and impressable mind with each succeeding day's journey, and I thought if heaven, the beautiful home I had so often heard eloquently described by my father, had as much of interest, and beauty in it, as a journey in a two-horse wagon from the State of Ohio to Iowa, it was strange that every one did not immediately start for the happy country.

The sights that I then saw while on that journey, were to me, as awe inspiring, as the heavenly visions were to John on the isle of Patmos.

The world began to assume wonderful proportions, and after we had gone to rest one night, I lay awake and '* wondered/' if any person ever went to the end of the world. I thought the world must have an end, or an edge some place; and when people came to the edge I wondered if there was danger of them falling oft, and where they would go if they did fall, and if Iowa, where we were going, was near the **edge" of the world.

Ancestry of .\<i(h(tn T. Fnimc. 'Jl

Frmn Ohio to lima.

In our travols wi". soon came t<t llic prairies of Illinois, (iod's ^reat, j;ran<l fields, and 1 stood and j::azed far away over thcni, as the wind swej>t the tall ^rass into billowy waves, reminding one nf the great and wide sea. Tlwre was marvelous heanty and i^randeur in these soft })illo\vy waves of the prairie, th(^ prass minj^led with so many beantif\d flowers, and they apjjeared in s(ane ])la<'es, almost like sunset clouds that had been blown from the sky.

On these vast fields there was neither shnib, nor tree, n«>r house, or work of man, or man himself, save the emigrant that we saw, away aeross the waste of land, "covered wagons," ai)])earing like little white clouds hovering on the circle of the horizon; and I have watched them until they grew small, smaller, and tlien disappeared altogether behind a sea of waving grass.

We crossed the great ''Father of Waters,** at the little town of Burlington, which, at that time, consisted of one or two small business houses, and some little log cabins scattered around over the clay hills overlooking the river. But every journey must have an end, and so did this one. Even when a small 1k\v, the works of God as seen in the outward world, I loved and thought of God as the maker of them all! 1 ])elieved in the Saviour and ])rayed to Ilim in my childish way. I spent many hours of my boyhood in the forests, and along the streams of water, and in the o])en country. T made ])ln\Tnates of the trees, and talked t<» them, and knew all of them by name. and what place was most congenial to their nature; T knew where tlie eai'liest and sweetest wild flowei-s grew, watched tlie clouds ]uled round the horizon and peopled them with angels, and sometimes imagined

22 Pioneers.

the whispering wind among the foliage of the trees was the voice of God; I gathered the delicate little flowers so sweetly perfumed, and artistically painted, admired the majesty of hills, and thought )iow great and good God must be.

The first two years we spent in Iowa are very vi\ddly impressed on my memory. The first winter was quite mild, and though our *' Cabin" was very open, and gusts of frosty air came in through the crevices, we kept comfortable from the heat of the fire in the great wide-mouthed fire place.

Early Pioneers.

The conunon vicissitudes of a pioneer life was the lot of my father's family. The settlements which were then being made were composed of men and women of good stock from the best families, from the middle and eastern states, most of them thorough Christians in faith, and many of them pious and Godly in life; and while many were in limited circiunstances financially, they by no means belonged to the class that are called poor in the cities and villages of the United States of North America at this date. They were men and women who had left their homes and friends in the East not only to lay a foundation for financial success by becoming owners of the soil, but they deteraiined that the religious and educational should keep pace with the other improvements of the country. So when the little community was formed and they had erected their log cabins, and brought a few acres of land into cultivation, then followed the school and weeting house. From such beginnings as these grew the galaxy of noble states that now rank foremost in many of the reforms and are strongholds of virtue and intelligence in the nation.

I'iotietr Miniati rs. 23

Pioneer Ministers.

The iiiinister> of the «;o.spol in the tii'st scttloments of J«»\va were of sterling \v«>rth, and devoteii servants of the Lord, who were willing to show their faith hy their W(>rks. Father was a fanner, and by this means supported his family, hut nuich of liis time was taken up for the caiuse of Christ. By his own labor he built most of the fii-st meeting house in the little town of Lowell, where we lirst lived; it was a hewed log house, and did not require mueh mechanical skill; and when the house was finished, father ])reached the word of Life to the little band of believei's who assembled there each Sabbath day.

There was no frescoed ceiling, no elai)orately finished pulpit, encircled with polished rails, no cushioned ))ews, or swelling notes of organ accompanied by a choir of trained singers, or flash of light from burnished chandeliei-s. A little plain "old fashioned" stand table, with the well-worn Bible and hymn book lying on the stand, with a rude splint bottomed chair for the ])reacher's seat, were all that was needed. From here the preacher announced his text, read and lined his hymns, and said ''Let all the people sinfj/' and when this singing by all the ]ieople liad solenmizcd the assembly, tlie ministtM* kneeled down and prayed w4th such fervency and faith that when he arose from his knees, his face was glorified with s])iritual beauty, and the peojde were in a state of mind to listen to the telling in a sim]de manner the beautiful story of Jesus, and his love.

There were no stations in these days of pioneer preaching where a minister remained preaching t^» one ct)ngregation, but often it took four weeks to go around "The Circuit" and fill the appointments, preaching once at a place, and many times I have

24 Pioneer Ministers.

seen my father start from home, on horse-back, with his Bible and hymn book, and a change of linen in his "saddle bags," and his great coat rolled up and strapped on behind the saddle, to be gone for two or three months at a time, and mother and the children were left to manage home affairs until he should return. There were no railroads, and few wagon roads in those days ; the travel was along the '^divides" and across the prairies, and through the streams by the old *' buffalo fords," and *' Indian trails." There were snow storms to face in the winter coming down over the wide sweep of the open prairie, filling the hollows with drifts and hiding the narrow path from view, the air filled with the drifting, whirling particles that made any exposed part of the person tingle as if particles of fine sand was hurled against the naked body, the wind rushing along at the rate of sixty miles an hour; frequently the traveler would lose his way on these wide prairies in the midst of these snow storms and freeze to death. There were swollen streams to cross without bridges, and the traveler was compelled to plunge in and trust the good qualities of his horse as a swimmer to carry him over, or remain where he was for two or three days and sing—