Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-25
Pnrnr cnrrHrIrht.

The Rev. DR.. CARTwRIGHT. tamllarly known
as the "B3ck-woOds Preacher" has life and
character filing an important chapter in the
religious snd moral history Of the Great West
He was born in Amherst County, on the James
River, in the State Of YirgiAia.
Just after the close of the Revolutionary War,
in which Peters father had served for over two
years, two hundred families set out for Ken
tucky, to seek homeB in a new country. The
Cartwright family was among the lumber
Their way lay through an almost unbroken
wilderness, filled with thousands of hostile
Indians who had msrcisssy murdered numer>
Gus parties of emigrants, and appeared deter
mined to resist the tide of western emigration.
One hundred young men, well armed, &C.
companied the train as guards. Scarcely day
passed without their witnessing the bodies of
white men who had been murdered and scalped
BY the Indians, while going to or returning
from Kentucky.
After many days Of fatiguing travel, hard
ship and danger, they arrived safely al their
wild western home. The subject Of our sketch
at this time was little boy less than eight
years Of age. Thus in early life he was Injured
to all the privstions, hardships and rOugh-and>
tumble Of bsck-wood life In his autobiogrs-
ply be says of himself: 81 was naturally a
wild, wicked boy, and delighted in rse-raeing,
card playing and dancing. My father restrained
me but little, though my mother often tllked
to me and prayed for me, often drawing tears
from my eyes"
In these circumstances attending his early
history, we have the index to his great and
svsntful life. HIS surroundings impaired to
him rough exterior, and would have made
him bad man but for the mOlding influence of
his Christian mother. While yet a youth he
embraced religion, and at the early age of
eighteen, he commenced the work Of an timer
ant Minister of the Gospel in the II. E. Church,
and has continued in this relation for ffty-seven
years Numerous anecdotes Sre related of
Dr. Cartwright. Among the many we viii
relate one which is strikingiy CHARACTERISTIC Of
the man: In the days of President Jackson
he was spending q Sabbath in Louisville, KY,
and was invited BY young pastor to preach in
his church in the evening. lie accepted the
invitation and appeared in the pulpit. While
going through with the Introductory exercises,
General Jackson came into the church andtOok
his seat. The young preacher, whose notions
OF respectability were somewhat fasddious,
began to exhibit considerable uneasiDess for
fear the rough and eccentric Cartwright might
offend the President At length he whispered
to the uncouth old stranger, - Gen. Jaeks0n is
IN the congregation p but the individual ad.
dressed paid no attention to the hint Again
the sentence &" Gen. Jaeks0n IS IN the cOagTs-
Patioz - fell upon his ear with greater distInct-
mes than before. The patience of the back
woods preacher" was exhausted, and turning
to his whispering tOlmentOr, exclaimed in
tone that the entire congregation heard, g WhGt
do care for Gen. Jackson God 15iH damn
kim as quick as he t0iH any Rsggsr IN Kentucky,
If he doesn't rePent!"
The mortified young man afterwards tried TO
apologize to Gen. Jackson foT the roughness of
Mr.. Cartwright. Jackson replied" You need
not apologize for that man if l had reei>
ment Of such men could conquer old England"
The Rev. Mr.. Cartwright is to lecture in this
city at the MelOdeOn on Friday and Saturday
evenings, the 9th and 2sth. He lectured in
Cincinnati Tuesday evening, and the CONNER
cial says ''the attendance was good, and the
audience were highly entertained" His sub
jects in Cleveland will be-" The Early Histo
ry of the Great West" and Incidents con-
nectsd with his ffty>seven years ItineracY."