River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-12-01
GERRIT SMITHS GUESTS.
Mixed Company-HOW One Who
stayed Too Long Was Moved
to Take His Departure.

Beneath the roof of Gerrit Smiths
home some of the strangest charac-
tiers in the world congr gated. He was
d peculiar magnet and drew people
from all parts of the country. \ gen
tleman who was for long time mem
Der of the family relates how he has
seen eating in peace at one time in his
house an Irish Catholic priest, a
Hicksite Quakeress minister, a Calvan-
istic Presbyterian deacon of the Jon
athan Edwards school, two abolition
lecturers, a Seventh Day Baptist,
shouting Methodist, a whig pro-slavery
member of congress, democratic Off
cal of the Sam Young school, south
ern eX-slaveholder, a runaway slave,
his wife and two children, a colored
woman they called Aunt Betsey a
Dutchman and an Indian chief who ate
six dishes of soupand nothing else. Mr..
Smith managed them all. He did the
Donors of his table, carving his meats,
conversing with each m such a sweet
way as to disarm all criticism and max
ing all feel that they would rather be
Gerrit Smith than any other living man.
II is said that at times it took 100
pounds of meat u day to supply his
table.
His diary, which he kept for so years,
reveals some peculiar facts. 1t seems
in 1887 he was IN straitened circum-
stances and was threatened with disas-
ter. He borrowed of John Jacob Astor
S250.000 and gave all his property in
Oswego as security. 1t was at that time
Mr. Smith closed his mansion in the
village and moved about two miles
south in the country. refusing to see
all visitors. He remained but "A short
time, and then moved back to the vii
lage and the old scenes were again en-
acted
In his diary of December 80, 1910, is
this entry: I'VE have had with US this
evening 50 persons. Elder Maddox
made the prayer and Henry Clay, run
away slave, talked interestingly In
March, 1885, this decree was in his
diary that nothing was to be used on
his table that was produced by Slave
labor. At this time he gave up the use
of tea and coffee, and shortly after
Iu6dl, Oul uSeu llSll MI. Ollll III was iOl
a member of any church in his early
days. About 1890 he lost a child, whose
death affected Mr.. Smith seriously. The
death Of this child is mentioned in his
diary in places 20 years after it oc-
Cured, and it was the loss of this child
that led him and his wife to the Pres
byterian church of Peterboro.
IL
times by strange characters. He had
visitor once who hung on for month,
aud his presence became rather un-
pleasant to the family. Mrs. Smith had
a niece, young lady 1G years old, from
Oswego, who was living in the family.
During the day this gentleman in
formed Mr.. Smith he intended leaving
the next day for home. That evening
al prayers Mr.. Smith referred to his de-
parture and hoped Providence would
see him safely home The young lady
when she heard these words was SO de-
lighted she clapped her hands and said
"Amen." The prayer stopped short
aud Mr. Smith arose and walked out
81 the room, and, it is said, he could be
sc en- to smile clear o the back part of
his head. The girl was frightened and
Mrs. Smith called her to her room TO
talk with her about her rudeness, but
ended by saying: at was very cum
ming | won't say anything. Utica
Daily Press.