The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-02-20

II was in the thirties of this century
that number of families from my con
gregations in Stark County emigrated to
the State of Indiana and settled in the
counties of Huntington and Miami.
Among the heads Of families were two
who had held tho office of deacon in the
church. Some of them we're able to pur-
chase land that had previously been cul
tivated others had to be content with F
space of woodland, which with severe
toll they cleared and made arabic. Theirs
were all the hardships of pioneers.
The saddest deprivation of these peo-
pie, however, was the absence of the
church. In their former home they had
been privileged to attend public services
at least once a month to celebrate the
Lords Supper twice year ito have their
children baptized and words Of comfort
spoken at the graves of departed friends
All this was wanting in the first years of
their soiourn in the wilderness, and it
made their hearts sore. Repeatedly did
these whilom parishioners write to me
and urgently pray that | might visit them
preach TO them, hold communion in
their midst and baptize their children.
1t was impossible for me to grant that
petition at once. In the first place my
time was fully occupied in serving ten
different congregations. Itwould not do
to leave them for weeks without the
preaching of the word, end again the
money necessary to pay travelling ex'
renses was wanting. 1t was not until
the year 1910 that l felt prepared to ful-
I'll the wishes of these churChless peo-
pie.
An intimate friend offered to accom-
pany me on this journey, aud, of course,
was very welcome. A number of friends
advised me to carry pistol. They said
Indiana is but thinly settled, frequently
no house is to be seen in six or eight
miles, and it has often occurred that
travellers have been stabbed there. A
relative of my wife related how $500 and
q pistol had been stolen from under his
pillow year previous Despite all this
could not be persuaded to carry pistol.
Ny friend, however, borrowed Two, a
single and double barreled one.
On lovely Summer morning in the
month of August we left Canton for the
neighboring village of MassiNlon, whence
we departed for Cleveland per canal
boat. The romantic experience we had
on this ride reminded US very much of
Horace's famous trip to Brundusium.
From Cevelend we took a steamer across
Lake Erie to Toledo. (Railroads were
then unknown) On the steamer | be-
came acquainted with Catholic priest,
a Frenchman, who held position in
Fort Wayne, and was just returningfrom
a visit to his native land. This priest
was an obiging and polite man. His
personality and conduct were such as to
inspire confidence in him. l could not
desire better travelling companion. On
arriving at Toledo he conducted us to
tavern where we dined, and where we
also discovered that the canal from Toledo
to Defiance was not yet navigable, andin
consequence we would have to take the
stage coach. At this point the priest fa-
vored us with good advice, saying:
"No we will not do that, we can reach
Defiance in q cheaper way"
He disappeared, with the remark that
he would be back soon. Before long he
returned accompanied by an Irishman
who had pair of mud colored mules
hitched to Carryall. After brief par
ley an agreement was made, stipulating
that he was to transport US and our bag
gage to Defiance and have us there by IL
O'Clock the next day 80 as to make con
nection with the packet boat for Fort
Wayne. In consideration of which we
promised to pay him 81.
Between the hours Of three and four
in the afternoon, we departed from To-
ledo. The Irishman was an excellent
driver, a very Jehu, and space Was rap.
idly laid behind, have since Conclu.
ded he must be relative of the coach
man who took Greeley on his famous ride
to PaCerville. After about Is miles of
the journey had been made, we halted at
a diIapidated log cabin, standing almost
concealed in the woods aud over the door
of which hung a sign with the "strsnge
device" travellers Rest" The orders
were to remain there over night since
the next tavern could not be reached be-
fore dusk The priest said:
"If we remain here you will not be
able to get us to Defiance by IL to-mor-
row"
"Be unconcerned;" replied the Irish
man, L will have you there in due time,
but you must getup when awake you
in the morning"
We remained. At about one O'clock
the next morning we arose in answer to
the ringing of cracked old hell, paid
the landlord and continued the journey.
To leave our beds 80 early was not |
pleasant to any of us and especially not |
to the priest. 1t made him dro Esy. His |
eye.lids dropped. Occasionally he fell in.
to dozs, and as the wagon passed over
a stone or tree stump it w0nd startle
him out of his f1rtive nap. He sat upon
q seat with me.
I'VE must do something to keep me
awake" he said 1--WE must sing"
The proposition was qnite acceptable |
to all, but there was one hindrsnce TO ita
being carried out, and that was the diff.
ferencein nationality and language, There
were two Teutons, a Gadl and Celt and |
none of us Mezzofauti. We could not
sing together. 1t WAS agreed that the |
first song should be French, the next
German and the next Irish. The priest
opened the concert. What he sung |
knew not It was evidently not 1s
Deum. Yet can remember that he had
q strong voice and sang sEeet melody. |
After he had concluded the call was for
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