The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-04-29
A Touching Incident.

b. All dccouuJ WTltteH ny Tue heN
er james Miller, and quoted by tn
k author of "Old Redstone," will Civ
ID the reader some idea Of the pecuni
ss ary endorsements Of early Minis
~ ~ ters, and Of the general state Of tn
10 Western country, and also of the re
'e markable interposition of Divin
= Providence for the relief OF thos
* Minister'S:
sour story" says Mr.. Miller
"will carry the reader back to tn
Q period when all North Of the Obi,
Q river wac almost an unbroken wild
It erness - the mysterious red man
- home. On the other side, bold
. hardy hand from beyond the mount
y aims, had built their log cabins, anc
t were trying to subdue the wilderness
Y To them every hour was full of peril
!, The Indians would often cross the
river, steal their children and horses
y kill and scalp any victim that came
r in their way. They worked in the
field with weapons at their side, and
r on Sabbath met in the grove or rude
log church to hear the word of God,
with rifles in their hands.
"To preach to these settlers. Mr..
Joseph Smith, a Presbyterian Min.
lister, had lett his parental homo,
East Of the mountains. He, it is
said, was the second Minister who
crossed the Monongahela. He Set
tied in Washington county, Penn.
I isylvanla, aud became the Pastor of
Cross Greek and Upper Buffalo con-
gregations, dividing his time between
them. He found them a willing and
united people, but still unable to
pay him salary which wonld sup
port his family. He, in common
with all tho early Ministers, must
cultivate farm. He purchased one
on credit, promising to pay for it
with the salary pledged to him by
his people. Years passed away
The Pastor was unpaid. Little or
no money was in circulation. -
Wheat was abundant, but there was
no market. 1t could not hs sold for
more than twelve and half cents
per bushel in caplr. Even their salt,
which had been brought across the
mountains on pack horses, was
worth eight dollars per bushel, and
twenty bushels of wheat had
often to be given for one of salt
The time came when the paymen,
must be made, and Mr.. Smith was
told he must pay or leave the farm.
Three years salary WAS now due
from his People. For the want Of
this, his land, his improvements up
on it, and his hopes OF remaining
among beloved people must be
abandoned. The people were called
together, the case laid before them,
and they were greatly moved; coun.
sci from on high was sought; plan
after plan was proposed and aban-
doned; the congregation was unable
to pay tithe of their debts, and no
money could be borrowed. In de-
spair, they adjourned to meet again
the following week. In the mean
time, it was asccrtained that Mr..
Moore, who owned the only mill in
the county, would grind Tor them on
reasonable terms. At the next meet.
ing. it was resolved to carry their
wheat to Mr.. Moorc's mill; some
gave fifty bushels. some more. This
was carried iroin fifteen to twenty
miles on horses to the mill. In
month, word came that the -four WAS
ready to go TO the market. Again
the people were called together =
After an earnest prayer, the question
was asked, who will run the -four to
New Orleans!' This WAS startling
question. Tho work was perilous in
the extreme; months must pass be
fore the adventurer could hope TO
return, even though his journey
should be fortunate; nearly all the
way was Wilderness. and gloomy
tales were told of the Indians.
"More than one boats crew had
gone on that journey, and had come
back no more. Who, then, could
endure the toll and brave the dan
ger9 None volunteered, the young
shrank back, and the middle. aged
had their excuse. At length,
hoary- headed man, an Elder in the
church, sixty-four years OF age, rose,
and, to the astonishment of the as
sembly, said: Here | am; send me-
The deepest feeling at once pervadeI
the whole assembly. To see their
venerated- old Elder thus devote him
self for their good, melted them all
to tears. They gathered around
Father Smiley to learn that his re-
solution was indeed taken; that,
rather than loose their Pastor, he
would brave danger. toll, and even
death. After some delay and trouble,
two young men were induced, by
hope OF large reward, to 60 as his
assistants. A day was appointed
for starting. The young and old,
from far and near, from love to
Father Smiley, and deep interest in
the object of his mission, gathered
together. and, with their Pastor at
their head, came down from the
church, fifteen miles away, to the
bank OF the river, to bid the old man
farewell. Then q prayer was offer
ed up by their Pastor, and a parting
} hymn was sung. Then said the old
Scotchman. "untie the cable, ard let
us see what the Lord will do for us.