Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-08-28
easiness and closed the sermon on my

James Jones lived ut Rising Sum-
He was what might be called good,
sound old-fashioncd preacher, who
contributed his aid with all his pow
er to the cause of morality and relig-
ion. / heard him often, and was al
ways one of his attentive listeners.
John Hardy and Father Silyey
were of the class know as ''local
preachers" though they travelled and
preached up and down White Water
at times. They preached directly at
the heart, leaving doctrinal and con-
troversial matters to others; and yet
have often thought that they did
quito rs much good as many others OF
much higher pretensions.
Allen Wiley was q preacher Of a
different cast / have heard him
preach some Of the mostpowerful SER
mons / ever listened to. He COM
menced slow, deliberate, and eau
tious, feeling his way to the hearts OF
his congregation until his feelings
would take charge Of his tongue, and
then he threw his whole soul into the
subject, and closed with appeals to
the congregation as left few dry eyes
at the singing of the closing hymn.
James Conwell was q jealous
preachers, and at times / thought him
strong. His clocution was not very
fluent, but his strong common sense
made him very acceptable to his con-
gregations. He did much good as q
co-worker in the cause of morality
and religion.
John Morrow was much Of the or
der Of JAS. Conwell. He was good
preacher. L had heard him often,
and had but one fault with him, and
that was, he carried no watch, and
sometimes, in a zeal, would forget the
time Of day. While / was a candi-
date for Congress / met Father Nor
row and several other Methodist
preachers at Conwell's store, in De-
catur county. They werc on their
way TO Conference. Our horses were
feeding, dinner not ready, and we
took short walk to the spring, un-
der the shade of some spreading elms.
Father Morrow proposed that /
should make a speech. The motion
was seconded by all the preachers,
and addressed them for about two
hours, with as much sound as if / had
been speaking to thousands. At the
close, father Morrow remarked that
he liked the speech, but it was little
too long. "Ah, father Morrow, /
thought it was my last chance to pun
ish you little for what / have suf.
fered under your long sermons" -
The other preachers smiled, and /
was told the remark was like seed
sown on good ground.
John =. Durbin was n young, ar
dent preacher, but as | may notice
him again, | will pass him by and
come to James Havens, the Napoleon
of the Methodist preachers of eastern
Indiana. i knew him we'll He
seemed to be made for the very work
in which he was engaged. He had a
good person, strong physical for
nation, expanded lungs, a clear and
powerful voice, reaching to the verge
ofthe camp ground, the eye ofan eagle
and both a moraland personal courage
that never quailed. His powers as
preacher were of II very high order.
| never heard but one man that was
like him in his meridian days, and
that was father Newton, who visited
this country years ago from England,
as the delegate to the American con-
ference. The great characteristic of
Mr.. Havens as IL preacher was his
good common sense. lie could dis
tinguish hisaudience so us not to throw
his pearls befoee swine. He conld feed
his babes with the milk of the word, .
and hurl the terrors of the law at old
sinners. He seemed 10 know that old
blood never run in young veins, which
so many preachers and presidents of
colleges too often forget. Mr.. Havcns
was one OF the most powerful preach
crs ever heard, andi have no hesita-
tion in saying that the State Of Indi-
ana owes him u heavier debt of graft
tude, for the efforts Of his long, valu-
able life, to form society upon the ba-
sis ofmorality, education and religion.
than any other man, living or dead.
Aaron Wood was young as a
preacher when / knew him, but he
was ofhigh PROMISE lie had a good
mind, happy elocution, and zeal
without bounds. L thought the last
time that j heard him, in the Court
House in Connersville, that his work
would soon be over, as he preached
with all his power until he tainted
and fell into the arms of brother
The last time | saw him, however, he
was in good health, with a good old
age upon him. 't'
Elijah Written was one OF the most
energetic and ardent preachers that
ever travelled the White Water coun-
try. He was strong in doctrine, but
thought his great forte was in exhor-
tation. No man | ever heard could
bring more mourncrs before the altar
than he could. lie was highly re-
spected as. preacher, and have no
doubt did great good in his day.
/ have now briefly sketchcd our
pioneer itinerant Methodist preach
ers. 1t Is intended to be the best
portrait / can draw, but still, no
doubt, theirrelatives and friends may
be able to discover many defects that
have overlooked in my sketch. 81, /
hope however, that the general phys
iognomy of each may be recognized.
"John Dustin, formerly an inmate
OF the Indiana State Prison; was ar
rested IN Cincinnati on Monday night,
for stealing horse from gentleman
of Lawrenceburg. He confessed his
guilt. We believe Dustin formerly
resided in Jeffersonville-Ledqer.
One of Wizards first acts after no.