The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-10-18
PERSONAL RECULLECTIoNs.
By THE EDITOR.

Last week | published letter received
from my old hieDd J. A. Bingham. ]
FIRST heard OF Mr.. Bingham about forty
SIX years ago. lie was a native OF the
State Of New York About fihy years
ago he came to Portsmouth, and edited
paper there. think it was in the latter
part OF the year lS3I that he came to
Oak Hill and opened little store, the
first store perhaps opened in Jackson
county south of the towh of Jackson =
There was very little money in that poor
Region OF country, but he bought mtple
sugar, ginsrng. coon skins, hume made
linen, feathers, rags, and such other ar
ticles as the poor squatiers had to sell.
lie entered 80 acres of Congress, or pub
l.c lands, aud laid out the village OF Oak
llill in the year 1882 lie farmrd some.
occasionally practicrd medicine, was elec-
ted Justice OF the Peace for Madison
township, aud sometimes preached. i
heard him ono Sabbath afternoon preach
quite an able sermon at the residence OF
oil John Shoemaker, where Thomas
MeNeal now resides.
A great part OF the territory now EN-.
braced within the corporate limits OF the
village of Oak Hill, WAS then a forest OF
large oak trees. Just east Of the old
grave yard. now entirely abandoned. in q
dense forest Of oak trees, the Ohio Bap-
tist Association held session IN August,
1924. and again in August 1880 The
tough pulpit, or stand. and the rude seats.
still remained Julius A Bingham was n
Pr-Sby tprian, and he corceived the idea
of organizing Sabbath School IN the
woods, among these rude settlers. lie.
got small library OF books, published
by the American 5 s Union. Part OF
these books were neatly bound In paper
covers. aud part were unbound Every
sabbath mornina Mr. Bingham would 20
down TO abe old Association ground, with
bis library IN basket. and a hundred or
more green. awkward children iroui the
country for three or four miles around.
wonld meet Tor instruction. aud among
them was the writer oi this Mr. Bing-
ham would sing and pray, and instruct
the children. Those who committed TO
memory the most verses in the New
Testament. eot choice ol books. ! never
had any difficulty in committing I" mem
ory and reciting accurately in week,
from loo 20 300 verses, and | invariably
got my choice Of the book ] wanted. J
we'll re- rtmember many OF the books read.
One was a history OF the Ceylon Mission,
one history of the Delaware and lro-
quois Indians, and the fret instruction ]
ever received in astronomy was from one
Of these S. ). books. 1t was entitled
" Elrments OF Astronomy, and had Illus
trations of the Solar System, with plain
and simple instructions.
Mr. Bingham took quite an interest in
all of US little awkward, bashfnl boys.
aud thought he was rather partial to-
wards me. Nearly every Sabbath he
would announce the number of verses
committed To memory. and he would
generally say that one boy, naming me-
had txcelled the rest having commItted
So many verses, naming the number.
Que day ! was at the store, and Mr..
Bingham asked me If ] would like to read
"a fine poem. OF course ] would. and he
loaned me copy Of Thompson Seasons.
Oh with what avidity | read that fine
poem remember just so well how that
little book looked-how it was bound.
and how it had the name on the hy leaf,
written in a plain. bold hand, John c
Burnell, New York 1" Mr.. Burnell was
Mr. BiDghsm's step-father.