The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-03-22
Letter From an Old rrieud.

We have been permitted 10 make
the following extracts from letter
received last week by Mrs. DR., Pul.
len from Rev. O. O. Hart. former
pastor Of the Presbyterian church
this city now residing in Webster
Grove, Missouri, which we think will
be of interest to many Of our read
ers:
WEBSTER GROVE, Mo-, March. s.
MY DEAR FRIEND-I cannot tell
you how glad l was to receive your
excellent letter OF February 10Th. 1t
was kind In you to remember the old
pastor on the auspicious occasion OF
leaving the old house to 60 into the
new. 1t wakes up hundred memo
ries. Well do l remember the day /
first entered Logan, March, h,,29th, 1855,
the day was 86 years old. had
just left Mississippi because Of the
intense slavery feeling against all
northern men. I had been away
from Ohio six years, 80 that 1 felt I
was a stranger. went to Columbus
head quarters OF the New School
Presbyterian Committee Of Home
missions. / had letter Of introduc-
tion to Mr.. Walker, cashier OF the
state bank. The committee said 90
to Logan and spend two weeks and
and strengthen the things that re-
main lest they de-" Come back and
we will put you in good field. Mr..
Rochester superintendent OF the Sun.
day school. Mr.. Walker led the
singing. No instrument.
stayed three weeks, and received
into the church by letter, Mr.. Walk
er, A. Steinman, j. w. Work and
their wives, and eleven young people.
l did not return to the ommittee
at Columbus. but went to St. Louis
got my wife and baby Eddy, took
steam boat to Cincinnati, railroad to
Is ncaster and Andy Sickle's hack to
Logan, and began house keeping In
the John Rochester house. May 1st,
1855, 27 years, the best and the hap.
piest years Of my life, spent with
the church at Logan. In few years
our audience room 40 K 40 was crowd
ed. The first enlargement consist cd
in moving the pulpit from the front
to the rear Of the room, make the
platform low and narrow, bring the
old straight back seats near the plat.
form and closer together, and seat
the choir between the doors. This
gave US more seat room. But in O
few years we were crowded again.
then drew up this plan. Move the
house back to WI in SIX feet of the
alley. front ter leet from Market
street. Take out the rear end of the
house, build on sixteen feet and VIC
will have room enough tor the pres
ent and clear front for new build
ing wnen we need it, I showed tn,
plan to father Rochester. He ap
proved it but saw it would cost $120(
and one man ought not to do it.
said it would cost $500 and wan
the congregation to do 1t. not on,
man. l thought l would call john
meeting Of elders, deacons and trus
tees. and lay the plan before them
Just then the small pox broke out
fifty.five cases, five deaths in Logan
DIR. Jan Little died. All bushes
was paraly zed, no school, no meet
ings OF any kind for four or fiv
weeks. The darkest time for Logal
ever saw, and 1 said nothing can b.
done for this work this year. Yo,
cannot raise $50 for this work now.
| had not mentioned the matter t.
any one but father Rochester. Abou
April 10th went to McCon nelsvill
and was gone week. When l re
turned father Rochester called m,
out in the alley and said. The churcl
is going to remodel the old house
but don't you say word" The,
are to have meeting this evening
May I attend the meetings2 Yes
but don t you say word. I went
They had $500 subscribed but sal
they must make it $250O. I was an
azed, but said nothing. The thin
! grew. Churchill plead for pipe Of
, gan, some body else for q new fence
wider pavement on the Marke
street side. Behold. before Chris,
mas we dedicated the remodele
) house, new fence, new pavement /
, front Of the parsonage, new pave
ment on Market street. The entir
} cost $4040, all pre- vided for. Halle
lujsh. Now 1 see the old house is &C
vertised for sale. Good bye oil
house, you and l have kept com pan
many day. Your walls have wi
I, messed the happy baptism of man
children (l3 at time,) you have wi
3 messed the solemn vow of conseorl
tion to Christ of many converts, yo
have witnessed the happy vow OF 10,