Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-03-27
Township Correspondence
BURGH i L
r

CHURCHES.
Rev. Joseph Badger e Missionary from
Connecticut was the first Presbyterian
Minister IN this part Of the county. W.
make q few extracts from his private Jour
nal, which We consider q very interesting
and valuable book. In 1900 this man o.
God was on his way to the Reserve in
company with what he calls 'four decent
young men going near to the Western Re-
serve" BE says: 81 started with tbs
young men on Wednesday. We pursued
our journey pleasantly, except two days in
q snow storm, after which, crossing the
Allegheny Mountains, it wa very cold
December 1Ath We left the Pittsburgh
road, and crossed the Monongahela about
twenty miles above. Here 1 parted with
nv company, and found I was within the
bounds of Mr.. Ralston's congregation. ]
was kindly entertained through q severe
rain and snow storm. preached for him
on the Sabbath" he y 81 reached
the Reserve and preschCd in Youngstown
the last Sabbath in December. Thus by
the blessing and daily protecting hand of
God I was brought through . journey Of
six hundred miles, in the most difficult sea-
son for travelling. Thsre was only one
road leading from Beaver to the Reserve,
and that almost impossible. I was directed
to take q bLazed path which led to the
Mahoning river, 8 mile or two east OF
Poland. When I came to the river the
water was high, the current was strong,
and how deep l could not tell. But there
was no alternative. Unjust pass or sleep in
the woods. / ~ventured in; the water soon
came over the tops of my boots, and my
horse beat down stream fast toward
swimming water, but happily reached the
shore in time to escape the deep water; got
on the state line, and arrived at the cabin
4 of Rev. Mr.. Wick about dark. I Wa re-
ceIved by this brother and sister as 8
familiar friend" He a y SI preached
at Youngstown on the Sabbath; the con-
gregation was small. On Monday 1 rode
TO Vienna. where was one family; thence
TO Hartford In which were three families.
Here l rested q day or two and rode to
Vernon. In this place were Eve families.
Here 1 preached on the Sabbath, the
people all collecting with the three families
from Hartford. January 1901. The fire.
quent SHOWS and rains rendered 1t difficult
passing from n settlement TO another
This was the last opening toward the Lake.
Here / tarried two weeks" Mr.. Coe
says: ',during this time Mr.. Badger made
her mother 8 cradle from 8 hollow log, in
which to rock the baby, now Mr.. Havilah
Smith" Mr.. Badger says: "Mr Palmer,
Of Vienna, was taken sick. I was requested
to 90 and see him. There was no doctor
In1he country. I found him very sick,
and stayed and nursed him about eight
days, when he got better. The next place
I visited was Warren; was received cour-
teously by Mr.. John Leavitt and family.
! preached here on the Sabbath. In this
place were eleven families, and one in
Rowland. From this l went to Garfield,
by the salt-springs, where there was one
family employed in making salt, at three
or four dollars q bushel. In Garfield there
were eleven families. Preached here on
the Sabbath; and on Monday rode to
Deerfeld, fifteen miles, and preached 3
lecture; five families, and all attended,
On my way 1 saw q large wolf that follow
ed mt several miles. Crossed the MAhOn-
ing on the ice. and returned the next day.
One family West of this in Atvater ; all
beyond was an unbroken wilderness. From
Garfield / visited Bosrdman and Poland;
five or six families in each place. I now
al SAOo 1CSbAOI4CAG IL LILLE DdLb
of the Reserve, and endsayored 10 encour-
age the people with hopes of q brighter
day. Their hard beginning would soon
pass away. The soil was good and indus
try would soon produce plenty. I found
here and there protesting christians mourn
ing the loss of their former privileges, and
wondering why they had come to this
wilderness, where there was no house of
worship nor gospel ordinances. Iobserved
to them that they had been moved here by
the hand Of God, to plant the churchin this
wilderness. It is 8 land capable of an ex-
tensive and dense population, and in q few
years churches will be erected and minis
tiers breaking the bread of life to them"
April. 1908, he says: "'Whea at Vernon
I met with q neighbor from Austinburg,
who was on his way homo with two COWS.
BY 8 letter from my wife, I learned that
8 COW l had taken in pledge for money
lent, had been redeemed, and my family
would have need Of another; bought one
in this place and drove home in company
with my nelghbor. By this time the
heritage had got M so that cattle began TO
thrive In this tour I have to record the
goodness Of God, that, Notwithstanding
the severity of the cold in the winter sea-
son, and the difficulty of passing from one
settlement 10 another. from six, ten and
fifteen miles, through snow and half frozen
mud, in almost 9 painless wilderness, with
streams Of water 10 ford or swim, I was
carried through safely in good health. In
crossing the Musqueto Creek, the water
being high, 1 found q place where I could
cross on Lockwood; stripped my horse,
drove him into the water, and he swan
out safely. l took my portmanteau and
crossed over; returned and got my saddle,
and passed again on the hood-timber."-
June Size says: "R0de to Vernon,
visited two sick persons, and prayed with
them. June 10.-Rode to Hartford /; con-
versed with several protesting christians
on the subject of forming 4 church. Sat
urday, rode to Vienna; preached on the
Sabbath to about sixty. 1 proposed to
them to meet on the Sabbath, in future,
for religious worship, to which they
agreed by q vote on the subject. The set
tlament is fourishing. Monday 13.-Rode
to Fowler's store, in Poland, the eniy
store On the Reserve at this time; got
some necesssries for my family, and re-
turned to Vernon" Mr.. Badger attends
some meetings in Pa, where he sees the