The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-03-26
WHOLE NO. 2S4.
ParsOn BrOwnlOw.

AS tnc name Vi tUl5 cCccHIr1C pItaCueI
has been frequently introduced Of late,
to the public, and as little is known Of
him at the north, we publish the following
description Of him, an ancc1otc which
gives very good idea Of the individual:
Brownlow is man Of medium height
and rather slim, with a round, "bullet"
head, quie:, pleasing countenancc, and
good address; is an excellent logical and
persuasive speaker, and is as little in per-
sonal hearing and appearance like the
blackguard he likes to make himself appear
as one can well imagine.
A characteristic story is told Of him that
is worth recording Upon the borders Of
Virginia, there was settlement Of rough,
''hard she'll Baptists. The Methodsts
had long essay ed to affect a lodgment in
this quarter, but were summarily defeated
by the decisive mole of turning their mis-
sionaries neck and heels out of the place
and this in no very tender or "do as you
would be done by" style Of Christian treat
ment. With such vigor did the Baptists
hold this tower Of the Lord, that the Nc
thedists, with all their zeal for propagating
the Gospel, and their resolute devotion to
the great duty, paused before this Baptist
Gibraltcr. The task seemed u hopeless
one, and not one of the faithful could be
found to encounter the inevitable risk of
personal violence-espccially as coat of
tar and feathers had been designated as the
fate Of any new warrior Of the cross who
should appear in that region in Methodist
garb. At last, however, Parson Brownlow
was appointed to the duty Of converting
these heathens from the errors Of their
ways.
Parson Brownlow was much younger
and less celebrated than he is now, but the
same fiery and reckless spirit animated him
then that has since extended his reputation
so widely. He knew the risk he was cho-
sen to encounter, and rather relished the
novelty and excitement of this new field
Accordingly, mounted upon his horse, with
the inevitable saddle-bags Of the Southern
horseback traveller, he entered the enemy's
camp, one Saturday morning, and announc
cd his purpose to give the barbarians Of
that locality "creed Of the true doctrine
on the holy day to follow" The result
was that his horse and saddle bags were
taken as spoils, his person roughly NAL
treated, and he vas turned loose in the
outskirts Of the place and ordered, at his
peril, never to study daylight in that quar-
ter again. The parson footed it home as
best he might, but soon after re rcappcared
at the scene Of contest, and conflict, with
another horse and another pair Of saddle.
bags, to commence his labors. His treat
ment was commensurate with the hearty
and religious indignation Of his foes, and
once more the parson footed it home, sore
and horseless.
A third time the irrcprcsSible Brownlow
appeared upon the field, to be served about
as before only his pertinacity and cour.
age had worked upon the curiosity
as well as the fancy of a portion Of the
good people Of the region. Some were for
hearing what the cuss was after" but he
was finally again unhorsed and unsaddle-
bagged, and he started home afoot; but he
had effected lodgmcnt among those rude
people, who loved pluck and grit if they
did not love Methodism. or course he
was expelled again. And sure enough the
fourth time, with the fourth horse ans
fourth pair of saddle bags, appeared the
pcrsevering Parson Brownlow. By this time
there had arisen decided curiosity to hear
what the 'cuss' had to say, and the parson al
last was allowed to preach Well suited in
tastes and impulses to the rude con.
grcgation before him, he soon won their
confidence, and closed decidedly popular
man. A dozen invitations pressed him to
dinner-a universal request that he would
come again as soon as he could, and full
restoration of the value Of lost horses and
saddle-bags proved the final triumph Of
the 'irrepressble Methodist" The final
result was, the place became the most in
vincible of Methodist strongholds, and
Parson Brownlow one Of the most popular
preachcrs-among them.