The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-27
For THE CENTRAL PREsBYrER1AN.
"reminiscences of a Pioneer.

"reminiscences OF fl0neer.
Travel on the great rivers of the West
was very different forty years ago from
the present. Steamboats, were few in
number, of small size, and slow in their
progress. The one on which 1 descended
the Ohio and Mississippi from Louisville
had been advertised for several days, and
yet it did not receive more than dozen
of passengers so limited was the inter-
course between the upper and lower Sec
tion Of the Mississippi Valley at that pc
riod. The captain was opposed to having
any religious exercises on his boat. L
perhaps erred in continuing to ask
blessing at our meals. Although l had
obtained his consent, he seldom failed to
grasp his knife and fork, and hold them
in the attitude of carving during the ex-
ercise.
Card-playing then, as now, occupied
large portion of the time of number of
the passengers. As We were under the
necessity of travelling on the Sabbath, l
was distressed on Saturday lest it should
be continued on the Sabbath. In order,
if possible, to prevent this, / took advan-
tage of an interval in the game to request
the ring-leader of the gamblers to use his
influence TO prevent it. He very res
pectfully assured me that he did not think
any one would attempt it on that day. l
rose early on Sabbath morning, and laid
a tract on each chair in the cabin
When the passengers arose, each one laid
hold on tract, and the forenoon was
quietly spent in reading. | took occa-
sion during the day to read tract to the
6remen and deck passengers. Some OF
them ridiculed the subject; but one poor
fellow, who listened with deep interest,
remarked at the conclusion that it was
year since he had heard anything of
religious nature before.
The Mississippi being high, and COW
cred with drift-wOod, the captain con-
cluded to lie by during the night. The
place selected was a woodward, near
which stood a lone cabin, many miles dis
tant from any human habitation. As all
were disengaged, / asked permission of
the captain to preach in the cabin of the
steamboat. He gave me an evasive an
swer, and disappeared until it was too
late. / then went on shore to the woods
mans cabin and conversed with the fam
ily and few of the men from the boat.
In this family l observed sprightly boy,
eight or ten years of age, whom | asked
some questions on religious subjects. 1t
was evident that he had never been taught
the simplest truths of Divine knowledge.
He could not tell by whom he was made.
When asked if he had ever heard of God,
and if he knew where God was, he re-
Piled that he thought he had heard Of
him, and he believed that he lived up in
Kentucky.
Many of the large towns now on the
banks of the Ohio and Mississippi were
either small villages, or not commenced
at that time. Memphis then contained
but few scattered cabins, and was gen.
erally called the Fourth Chickasaw
Bluff" A coupleyears after this time
I preached to all its inhabitants, who
could be expected to attend, in a small
wooden house, on what is now Court
square.
One of the most noted places on the
western bank of the Mississippi was
Montgomery's Point. Here persons
travelling to points farther west were
obliged to land and remain until they
could procure transportation, which was
often very difficult. The proprietor was
celebrated throughout the South as
notorious gambler, and it was seldom
that troop of this class of gentry was
not found at his establishment. Nature,
as we often incorrectly say, had formed
him with gifts and capacities for leader
ship in some department. He was short,
erect, and heavily formed. His head
was large and thickly set with curled hair
which rested on his shoulders. His eye
was large, blue, and of pleasant express
sion, giving vivacity to countenance
which at once disarmed you of prejudice,
and half-won esteem, in spite of former
opinions of him.
Soon after landing learned that l
would be under the necessity of remain
ing near week at this place before l
could obtain conveyance to my destined
place of labor. This intelligence was the
more discouraging as the bank on which
the house stood was completely surround
ed by the swollen waters of the Mississip-
pi, with the exception of few rods, and
this small spot was daily diminishing by
the eneroaching waters. L was thus