Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-08-01
A VERY BRAVE OLD PIONEER.
How a Voyage to New Orleans by
the Hero Helped Worthy Minis.
ter and Relieved an Entire Com.
munity.


old frontier devotion the writer has
gathered the incidents of this story.
1t is a tale of simple self-Offering, one
of the kind to be put in choice scrap
book and read when ones affairs go
awry and discouragement is creep
ing in.
In 1880 the Rev. Joseph Smith was
settled over the Presbyterian congre-
cations at Cross Creek and Upper
Buffalo, in Washington county, Penn
sylvania He was a man of great
learning and piety, and won a posi-.
tion in the hearts OF the hardy from
tiersmen such as few men are eve-
able to conquer. The Wetzels, Bradys
and Poes, and others as famous in
border annals were among his hear
those who signed the call sent to him
and were his regular supporters. AS
the promised salary was not large
the good minister had to buy farm
on credit. support himself by it's pro-
duce, and promise to pay for it with
the salary which he was to receive.
Under such stern conditions did his
labors begin.
Mr.. Smith was a minister fitted to
the place in which he found himself,
loved man in that portion of the bor-
der But love could not meet fnan-
cial demands. and finally he found
himself in critical situation. Indian
wars and other evils had so dsorgan-
ized frontier society that the people
were three years in arrears with his
salary. and he was served with no.
tice to give up his farm or pay for T.
by certain time. This became known
to his people, who realized that il
their minister lost his farm they
would have to lose him. meeting
was held at which the evil condition
was fully discussed. Many plans fo-
relief were suggested, but none cOul1
be carried out. The people had no
money. and could not put their plans
into execution. In despair the gath
ering dispersed, with the agreement
that another meeting would be held
in a week.
There was a miller in that part of
Washington county whose name was
Moore. He promised that he would
grind free Of cost all wheat which the
settlers would give to relieve the situ-
alton. This became known and the
grain began to pour in. About
month later the flour was ready for
market. Then really serious prob
lem presented itself. The nearest
profitable market was New Orleans,
then farther away in difficulty of ac-
cess than any Chinese city is today
The people assembled and took up
the question. Who would take the
-four to market? This meant a tedi-
GUS journey in a flathoat through the
hostile Indian country to the Spanish
possessions at the mouth of the Mis-.
sissippi. 1t would now be hard to
find any place in the world journey
so taxing and SO. dangerous as the
one proposed After long discussion
the people sadly realized that the
whole project must fail at this point
for lack of man, when one William
Smiley, a revered elder in the Upper
Buffalo church, well up toward 10
years Of age, arose and declared that
to serve the church and retain their
minister among them he would under
take the perilOus journey.
h,,f
cepted the :elf-sacrificing offer. BY
promises of liberal payment two young
men were persuaded to go with the
old man. On the appointed day nearly
the entire congregation. led by the
minister. walked through the forest
IS miles to the Ohio. On the shore 4
prayer was made, a hymn was sung,
and then the old elder cried: Unite
the cable and let us see what the
Lord will do for u.s." The boat with
Of sight. and the people returned
homeward. wondering what the out
come would be. Slowly the time
passed. with of course no word Of
good or evil from the church's mes
senger. At last, when from out the
silent western forests no tidings had
come for more than nine months, the
settlers began to feel sure that Elder
Smiley had been lost.
One Sunday morning soon after
they found the brave old man in his
accustomed place at worship, and a
meeting was appointed for the hear
ing of his report. There he told them
how he had made the journey in
safety and had sold the -four at New
Orleans for $27 a barrel. Then he
poured out before them such heap
Of good gold coins as had never be-
fore been seen among so frugal peo-
pie. The minister's four years ar
rearage was paid up and one years
salary was advanced to him. Elder
Smiley was paid $500 and the two
young men each received 500. There
yet remained goodly balance. This
was divided tairly among the men
whose gifts Of wheat had made this
remarkable enterprise possible. Thus
Dy the kindliness of all and the noble
spirit of one the threatened loss of
pastoral care and the consequent de-
struction of their religious privileges
was averted The gulf of their dark
est period was thus bridged, and the
more prosperous years which followed
enabled the hardy pioneers to enjoy
the fruitage of their greater toll and
sacrifice. This story reads like a