Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-05-29
From the Connoton Valley tOhio) Times.
LETTERS FROM the PEOPLE.

COU MllllsdCk Ol oLtuIUWd, aS q sub
scriber. to the Times. This is a name
familiar in the county for the last fit.
ty years. and although fourteen years
has elapsed since he moved from
among us, yet his sympathy and in
terest is still made manifest in the
welfare of our town. For many
years he was citizen of our village
having settled here in 1920 and NOV.
ed to Ottumwa, Ia, in 1864, during
which time an interminable warfare
of discussion took place on the sub.
ject of slavery between Jacob Mill.
sack, almost single-handed and alone
on the one part the church and q
great majority of the outside world
on the other. He, the unconquerinp
enemy Of slavery; they, the silent
and compromising advocates Of the
same. Where ever the subject was to
be discussed there could the voice OF
Jacob be heard in defence of liberty
and mental freedom to all mankind
of every race, kindred and cline
He was the VIM. Lloyd Garrison OF
all Eastern Ohio and Western Penn.
sylvania. When on the 22nd of Sep.
TENDER, 1862, Abraham Lincoln issued
Ms Proclamation declaring the slaves
free in every rebellious State thai
did not lay down their arms and
come back into the Union by the
first of January, 1863, it brought
shouts of JOY and gladness from the
lips Of Jacob. But still his happiness
was rendered. incomplete with the
fear that some plan might yet be in.
vented in the interest Of slavery
whereby a compromise could be eff.
fected and the great sin of the nation
still perpetuated. But the 1st Of Jan
uary, 1868, soon came and his best
hopes were fully realized, and on the
first hour of that happy but cold win.
ter morning, when all of our town
were in slumber at midnight, Jacot
was found in the cupalo of the old
Wesleyan Church-so long dedicated
to the cause of freedom-with bell
rope in hand ready to peal forth the
glad tidings Of liberty proclaimed
throughout the land to all the inhab.
itants thereof. He was not one OF
those popular abolitionists that lined
up in rank after the proclamation
was issued, but an abolitionist in q
day that tried mems souls-when tar,
feathers, brickbats and eggs were
the strong arguments used against
them-when the church barred theil
doors and pulpits against all agi.
tation of the subject and quoted
there divine revelation to prove il
an Institution ordained of God-wher
Garrison was dragged through thu
streets of Boston, and when the cit,
of Philadelphia was fired by mobs
all in the interest of slavery. He ther
was it's irfepressible enemy, cryin.
aloud and sparing not. And whei
the old anti-slavery apostles, CARR
son, Phillips, Pillsbury, Foster, Abb,
Kelley and many others whose name
to-day have been immortalized. wen
forth risking their lives in defense
of the oppressed, whose generou
hand welcomed them-whose protec
tive roof sheltered them who's
bountitul table fed them, and who il
a dark and trying hour encouraged
them? 1t was Jacob, while tn
church and most of the outside worl,
pointed to him with scorn and con
tempt for his fearless and independ.
ent course in (what we all believe nov
to beg righteous cause. An,
through his undaunted voice and un
flinching efforts for freedom we hav
to-day secured to us our beautiful
and commodious hall, the pride O
our town, dedicated to the cause o
free thought and free religion, wher
we can meet every Sabbath at
o'clock and listen to sermons rea,
and preached by such men as B.
Underwood, r. G. Eckles, r. G. In
gersoll, NJ. j. Lavace and others an,
frequently orthodox sermons of tn
hottest kind, to all of which we listel
and find it profitable, pleasant an
instructive to be there. He has live
to his present age an exemplary life
and established character for virtu
and uprightness that no one can o
, dare assail, the consequence of whic
is that to-day he is living in his sever
ty-ninth year physically and mental
strong with conscience void of OF
fence and a happy, happy man. An
vet he has not outlived his usefulnes
in the city of Ottumwa, with popr
lation of ten thousand inhabitantt
He is known as the great humanits
rian of the city, whose soul is cor
stantly going out after the distressed
oppressed and unfortunate of hi
race. But in the nature of things b
work Will soon be done-the chang
that awaits him is not far distant
and when it does come that happ
band of spirit friends with whom b
has so long held communion in h
family circle, will welcome him wit
joy and gladness to that bright Ian
that awaits us all.
AN OLD CITIZEN.