c s Qy ONE GEMERATION WBgesmmitammm wu miiiMuuuuuu \H\ st.MKt) I PHILIP LANGDON. Hnni in Yorkshire. Kng. Was a Mariner and scitU'*! in Mostnn. Mass., in 1640. riiii.ir ha Sakaii I'iikij'S, lorn, May 1, i/gj; cli«.-. Dec. 8. 18J9; d. Nov i) iS. l-.nwix .Mattoon, h. Dec. 20. 1834: (/. Jul; -• .•^ l.nwARits, Dec. I. 1875. Henry E. ^^Jokkju.. Jr., b. May 24, 1844; d. May 24. 1844. A.NNIE Elizabeth, b. Feb. 13. 1856; ;;;. June 9. 1880, Dr. Hugh M. Smith, who d. Aug. 30. 1897. [Tharles Langdon, b. June 29, 1853; ui. i May 5. 1880. Ida Stoner, who d. March 6. 1894- Sar.mi, b. Sept. 2. 1857: (/. Sept. 27- i857 Edwin Morrill, b. Aug. 13. i860: ;/;. June j 27. 1889. Mary Idella Dungan. 'j Henry Archer, b. Dec. 4. 1864; m. Nov. 24, ! 1837. Elizabeth Lorena Thomas. j Pxizabeth Langdon, b. April 1(1. 1886. Eugene Dungan, /'. Jan. 13. 1891. Paul Langdon, /'. April 16. 1894. Florence Porterfield, b. Sept. 5. 1896. Martha Lucile, b. March 20. 1901. Morris Holliday, /;. Sept. 10. 1895. Langdon Thomas, /'. July 10. i8;)8. Gordon Early, b. June 6. 1901. James Williams, b. [March 29. 1857; ;;;. | Alice Davenport, b. Dec. 16. 1882. Oct. 15. 1879. Lyde L. Durham. ' John Bruce, b. March 8. 18S6. J\Lnnie Belle, /'. June 25, i860; d. April 7, 1884. Allen Langdon, b. Feb. 21. 1893. Leonora Snow, /'. Aug. 3. 1862; d. March ,- \ •, /- o T- 17 Louise, b. Aug. 25. ibjo 12. 1906; in. April 16, 1891. Ernest E. -\ ^_ ^ t„„.,. ;. Baker. Archer Allen, /'. July iS. 1S71 ; d. Jan. 21. 1872. H.vrriet Nash. /'. .\pril 2^^, 1873. Ernestine Leonard, b. Jan. 6, 1902; d. Sept. 3. 1904. Chester Stebbins, /'. Sept. 5. 1S67; (/. July 20. 1868. Clara, b. May 5, 1869; d. Dec. 7. 1874. Annie Dawson, b. Sept. 9, 1870; d. Oct. 20. 1874. Thomas McDonald, /'. June 22. 1874; d. Oct. 4. 1874. William Carson, b. June 22. 1874; ;». Feb. \ Henry Harlan, b. Nov. 5. 1896. 6. 1896, Lillian ALay Wilkins. ( Sydnie Elizabeth, b. Aug. 14. 1901. g>tcbbina CiintraUigy Rowland "Stebbing" was born near Cambridge, in England, in 1594, and Sarah, his wife, in 1591. They came to Roxbury, Mass.. in 1634, with fonr children: Thomas, born in 1620: Sarah, in 1623; John, in 1626; Elizabeth, in 1628. Thomas married Hannah Wright in November. 1645. and had seven children: Samuel, Thomas, Joseph, Sarah, Edward, Benjamin and Hannah. Samuel, born September 19. 1646. married Joanna Lamb, Jnly 22, 1679. and had several children. Samuel, their second son. born May 13, 1683. married Hannah Hitchcock, January 30. 1707, and had eleven chil- dren. Moses, their fifth son. born December 4. 1718, married Dorcas Hale. June 27, 1749. and had ten children. Esther, their third child, born January 26, 1755. died August 26, 1827, married James Langdon, son of John and Eunice Langdon. (Unrrru druralngiT Eunice Torrey, wife of John Langdon, born Jnly 2. 1731. was the daughter of John Torrey, bom April 6, 1692; died. 1740 or 1741. who was the son of JosiAH Torrey, born about 1645; died. October 30. 1732. who was the son of Capt. Wm. Torrey, born. 1608; died. June 10. 1690, who was the son of Phillip Torrey, died. June. 1621. who was the son of William Torrey, birth and death unknown, who was the son of Phillip Torrey, birth and death unknown, who was the son of William Torrey, who died, June, 1557, and Thomasyne. his wife. Capt. Wm. Torrey, who was born in Combe St. Nicholas. Som- ersetshire, England, was a citizen of Weymouth, Mass., and died at Weymouth, June 10. 1690. His services were notable in the American Colonial Wars. 5Pbrl^ts ©ruraUigit Sarah Phelps, wife of James D. Langdon, was the daughter of Ebenezer Phelps, born at Salem. Mass.. November 7. 1768; died. October 17. 1831. and Sarah Brown Phelps, born at Salem. Mass.. March 17. 1769; died. February 26. 1847. Sarah Brown, wife of Ebenezer Phelps, was the daughter of Benjamin Brown, born April 15. 1733. in Salem. Mass.; died, April 24, 1785, and Hannah Archer Brown, born September 16, 1736, in Salem, Mass.; died, March 5, 1824. iFrom w^ (3ixv 3mxx\i\\ PRilMTED FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION DECEMBER 20TH, 1906 TO COMMEMORATE THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OVERLAND FROM VERSHIRE. VERMONT OF THE LANGDON FAMILY AT COLUMBIA, AFTERWARD CINCINNATI, OHIO Edited and published by HARRIET NASH LANGDON AND ANNIE MORRILL SMITH 78 ORANGE STREET. BROOKLYN NEW YORK H.^ - J.-,, -,-. ^,,. .i . > . , iFrnm fo ) Win iFamtIg (Ellitrdt^a Antits^in^ittH Suaiia mxh l^t^liuiaga Q\tt A JVc hair had much pleasure duriiii^ the past four or tii'c years in carryiui:; on a eorrespoudeuce relatiii^i^ to the eireu!nsfaiu'es and ei'eiits of our childhood. It has been with the hope that our children wdl be interested in these reniiniseences that a compilation of our letters lias becji niade and printed. Of our ozcn family 7cc are the only remaining repre- sentatives to form a link icith the generations gone. To those ■Ziho care to listen to a talc of former days ■zee dedicate these pages. infenite ijrease and mercy would be plese Lon}.;er that the .i;reate j^^od niay be the .Streni^th of oner harts and portion of oner Sols for Lver. for 1 have thought of the ditTecolty of [liveing) in y \ / -.t ■ AC< //yfck. .^ ,•=1 ) (/ ^- <, C/^^ i-f (/ ^ /> ^V- .-<<■»/• V '&ir at Xatchez of the "Mississippian," the official orjjan of the State. Subsequently returning north he was editor and pul)lisher of several papers, the last being: the "Lickinfj X'alley Register." in Covington, Kentucky. In an obituary notice recounting the events of his life and his personal characteristics, we read that "charity and hospitality were his most striking virtues, and that as a politician he was truthful and patriotic." I'.laiu Potter Langdon. the youngest son, also left the farm at an early age and engaged in business success- fully in Cincinnati, where he became a prominent figure in business centers, in the post office, in .Masonic circles, and in the e.oo. Iweuty niaiU per week were then despatched, ten of which were carried l>y sta^e. the remainder <>ii horseliack. The nnmher of mails kept steadily increasinK. In 1H40 it is .itated tliat sixty mails a week were received. 10 MRS. ELAM POTTER LANGDON. fancy, all the rest living to matnrity and leaving descend- ants, some to carry on the family name. His wife was Ann Cromwell, a native of Baltimore, Maryland. In a collection of family letters which have been preserved and have fallen into onr hands in recent years, are several written to his brother Richard by Elam P. Langdon. We shall qnote a few sentences to indicate further his excellent characteristics. "I am always pleased to hear from you and I was truly glad to find in your letter that you have not broken through those moral restraints that seem so fully to har- monize with nature and providence, and which certainly accord with reason and experience and are productive of the greatest possible good to man — the whole society of man — in every stage of his existence from the cradle 17 to llu- pravc. TIk'sc facts — the free agency oi man. his ac- couiUahility. the «hviiie revelation of (IchI to man thnnij^h the Scriptures ami the continual exercise and (j|)eration of his spirit upon our hearts with his unboune accredite«l for their truth and happy tendencies and not because they were told us by our parents and ^grandparents. The preat cause of infidelity is owing^ to the absurdities preached and practiced by professing Christians. There is now an universal excitement in the Christian world — not as formerly where <>uv sect or denominatictn was arrayed against anotlier, but those of the same church or society arc rising up against each other. This state of affairs is not pleasant to a looker-on like myself and must be much more unpleasant to those who are zealous or interested in keeping things as they are. 15ut still I think good will grow out of it. .Men will reflect and reason for themselves. It is very unwise and impolitic to try to weaken those restraining intluences that make us good members of .society. .And I am sure there is nothing in the whole Christian system that is calculated to make us had or iinhaf>f>y, but on the contrary it ct»mes to us fraught with the choicest and best of blessings." The two sisters. Joanna and Lorenda. married at an early age and the home place was kept by the second son, our father. James Davenport l.angdon. with whom his mother lived until lur (Kalli. in a letter dated October 2i;. i8it hand- some." ( )ur father was tall and well proportioned, digni- fied ctnd of commanding i)resence. ( )ur grandmother was an exceedingly energetic woman. The family traditions all |)oint to the fact that she was a remarkably strong character, i^he rose early and worked through the long hours of the day. 1 ler loom might have bien heard late in the night. ( )ne custom of hers was so |)eculiar as to be somewhat distinctive in those days of stremious living — she was accustomed always to .'dlow herself the indulgence of a short nap in the middle of the day. This lost hour was atoned for by her absorption in the task of the evening. ( )ur own mother in later days shortly before (iraud- mother's death, would often say to I'atber. '*you would better speak to your mother. It is time she was in bed." In appearance Grandmother was tall and slender, and had light hair and blue eyes. In the neighborhood she was known as "Aunt Esther" ( Aunt "Easter" it was then pronounced.) Her practical Christianity was demon- strated in deeds of kindness to her neighbors. It is said that she knew the condition of the families of the poor for niiles around her home. When weaving she often added a little more to the warp and woof for a garment to be given to some poor woman or child. After Grandfather's death she conducted family worship herself. When con- versing with Father at on.e time on the subject of prayer she said. "It is better to have the form of prayer tlian nothing at all." Domestic and charitable duties never kept Grandmother from attendance at "meeting." She often rode horseback to a church service miles away. Her piety was respected by all, and her death was greatly mourned. Our father by patient thrift which seems wonderful to contemplate, was able in liis young manhood to buy from his uncle the tract of land Vvdiich is our family inher- itance today. Eather's marriage occurred in the year 1818. Mother v\as of Xew England birth. Her maternal grand- father, Benjamin Brown, lived in Salem, Mass., was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was also an officer in the Revolutionary War. ( We have as a keepsake a little elass tumbler that he obtained while in the wzr, that at one time belonged to a British officer. This keepsake was a gift to us l)y his daughter, our grandmother). Mother was born in Hollowell, Maine, though brought up in Eairfield, Maine, the family removing to that place 21 when she was a \ear old. She was horn May ist. ijvj. and emigrated with her j)arents. IChenczer and Sarah ! 'helps, to liainilton County, ( )liio. in the year 1817, and settled near Colunihia. There were six sons and three dauj^hters horn to make ii|) our family circle. Little Sarah, the eldest dauj^hter. died in infancy. James, the eldest son. «hed in early manhood wluii hut a few months more than 22 years of afjc lie lived a sh(jrl hut useful life with a hrifi:ht endini;. When a child he was called "little James" hecause he hoPe latJiers name, lie went to our country school imtil he hccame sufficiently advanced to enter an academy for hoys in Cincinnati, lie stayed in the home of our Uncle IClani in the city and went to school with some of our cousins. Our hrothers James and Joiin re- semhled each other in appearance aufl in a certain char- acteristic liveliness of disposition. James was a frientl to every one. havini; the rather unconnnon ahility of speakinj:: his mind in plain words without s^ivint; the least oftense. He hecame interested in the suhject of relii^ion durinjj a .series of revival meetintj held in Madisonville. and after- wards l)ecame a memher of the Methodist Church in Columhia. lie was a teacher in the Sunday School and a few luonths hefore his death he was made class-leader, an honor ni>t C(»mmonly JLjiviM to one of his years. .\ jijreat many friends came to visit him in his last sickness and he had a i.;o<)(l word for all. Me was «;reatly missed in his place. ( )ur sister Cynthia had married hut a short time hefore James died and had j^one to her new home in the I'-ast. The twt) losses from the home made us feel sad and desolate. I'Mwin. the ne.\t youngest child of the familv. died when a verv voimij lad. of an exceedinj^ly painful illness which he bore with remarkable patience. He was a bright amiable boy, with dark brown eyes and a round full face. He was of a social nature and used to visit the neighbors often especially our good friends the Bassetts. (The family of Rev. A. H. Bassett. brother of Mrs. Oliver Langdon.) When his case was known to be hopeless Father talked with him about dying. The child with perfect faith replied, 'T often pray to the Savior and if I die I shall go to Heaven." Brother Cyrus lived longer than the two brothers of whom we have just written, but left us when his young manhood was barely spent. He too was of a social dis- position and had a large circle of friends. He enjoyed life in its truest meaning, all its innocent pleasures, all its beauties and moreover at all times he was faithful to his convictions of duty. Father said of Cyrus, "He does not confer with flesh and blood alone." After a long busy day of farm work he used often to walk the several miles down to the church at Columbia to attend the prayer service. He united with this church at a class- meeting when he was onlv thirteen vears old. As he grew to manhood he engaged actively in the work of the Church. He was especially successful in Sunday school work and was superintendent at dilTerent times of several schools. His talks in this mission work were always bright, short and apt. Cyrus was very con- scientious and at one period of his life he accustomed himself to say 'T guess so" or 'T think so" for fear of uttering an untruth were he to make the bold statement of a fact. Later after reading that sin is in the intention, he was led to a somewdiat different view but he was always scrupulously exact in speech. The Christian faith 28 (if his hovliood susiaiiK-d hiin to the ciid of hie. Ihiring; the (lay on which he left us he asked to have f'ather come to him. \\ lien Father apiiroached the bedside Cvrus said, "I want to put my arms close around you," and Father leaned over him that he might have his last wish. It seems unnecessary in these reminiscences to speak in particular of the other brothers and sisters, all of whom have had descendants whose minds and affections we trust hold memorials of their lives and characters. '21 (iitr Jatlirr For assistance in the preparation of an historical sketch of our family to be inchided in a work which was pubHshed in 1881, our Father, Janies Davenport Lang- don, wrote the following notes relative to his life-exper- ience. It is fitting to give in this personal narrative these words of his. v.ritten at the close of his long life. The handwriting of the original copy is in places somewhat difficult to read, the shaky, wavering lines having been traced apparently with great efifort. "Dear Son : — At your request I note a few incidents of my life. I was born in \>rmont State, Orange County, Vershire, June 13th, 1792. Aly parents moved into the county when it was new. Of course the advantages of education were poor. ]\Iy parents with others formed the first Methodist Episcopal Church in the place. Through early instruction my mind was impressed with the importance of religion, also against profane swearing, drunkenness. Sabbath breaking and gambling, which instruction I have observed through life. In 1804 my Father died. In 1806 my Mother moved to this state, Ohio. My I\Iother soon united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbia, the first Methodist Epis- copal Church formed here. My Mother was a con- sistent and conscientious Christian, attending to all of the means of grace, family prayers, reading the Scrip- 25 JAMES DAVENI'ORT I.AN(;iK)N. turcs. aticMnlatico at Cluirch aiiut 1S15. we had preachini; at our house every two weeks l»\ the circuit preachers of the Methodist j-'piscopal Ihurch and praver- meetinjj; almost every week. 1 used fre(|uently to lead in the sinj^nnj.j. in 1S17. at the (Quarterly Conference of the Methodist l'".piscopal Ihurch two members of our class, local preachers, were tried and expelled from the Church I'll MRS. JAMES DAVENPORT LANGDON. without any real cause and left the class and appointment altogether. The local preachers now preached every Sabbath. Soon the Lord made bare His arm. Alany were converted and made happy. I now made a covenant with God if He would have mercy (for I thought His mercy almost gone) I would seek Him all the days of my life and I would make it known (for I never wanted any one to know this till T was converted). I was soon called upon to pray but I did not. [Then] I saw I had violated my pledge but [I resolved] if I had religion I would [obey] the promise, Come, seek and find. From this time on 1 was determined to perform every known duty, but it was sometime before I had full evidence that I was a child of God. After I had the assurance I was very happv. I wanted others also made partakers of the same 27 grace. I soon bcj^aii to talk to others and to hoUl prayer- meetinjjs in ^ed to preach almost every Sabbath and to attend many fun- erals. .After his death as there was no minister anywhere near. I was frequently called upon. 1 suppose in the course of the next twenty years I attended more funerals in the surrounding neighborhood than all other ministers. In 1S30 the Lord visited us with manifestations of grace and mercy. ( )tn- numbers increased to between thirty and forty. As we had no minister to administer the or- dinances, in 1S32 we united with the Methodist IVotest- ;iiit ( "hurch of the Cincinnati Circuit. I was .soon licensed to preach. ( )n September "th. iSy). I was ordained deacon, to perform baptisms and marriage ceremonies. On August 21. St. 1842. I was ordaine«l an elder. On November 6lh, 1848, 1 was appointed superiiUendent of '2s the Cincinnati Circuit of the Methodist Protestant Church. This appointment made me a member of the Annual Con- ference, of which T remained a member for eight years. I was a niember of the first Temperance Society formed in Cohmibia Township. In 1833 I was made their presi- dent. In the same year I formed a TeiMperance Society in Columbia which continued for a number of years until the Sons of Temperance took the ground." Our Father whom while living we so dearly loved and whose memory is to us something sacred, seems in his personality, character and work, very different from the men of his time, so philanthropic, so benevolent and in education and religion so broadminded and clear sighted in that age of narrow views and superstition. He prac- ticed in his daily life the teachings of Jesus and kept in mind the divine precept ''Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." Religion with Father was a reality. He v^as always doing a good turn for somebody. No vaga- bond or beggar however degraded ever left his door with- out some assistance. The drunkard, the fugitive, the homeless, the downtrodden and oppressed of earth, were given not onlv a temporary kindness but a help calculated to elevate and improve their pitiable condition. He hired idle men to work for him and gave a log cabin and a garden to the homeless wanderer. We remember dis- tinctly the log cabin where so many shiftless ones lived rent free, except possibly the return of the little work Father could get out of them. There was also anothei little house where a certain old man lived for years on Father's bounty. This man had, too, a little cornpatch in the bottoms. 29 leather would j;o to the home of a sick ncij^hhor and cut wood in order to keej) the family comfortable. ( )iie time he helped a ixx>r family who wanted to move til Indiana, and took his own team to carry their house- hold poods. < )n returnin}.j he was t>vertaken by a severe snowstorm. It was in the depth of winter, lie stoppe died from the dread disease, but when bather was asked to ^o he never refused, lie preached a mnnber of funeral ser- mons in Columbia and the vicinity durinj; the cholera times, lie believed as lohn Wesley did. that man is 30 immortal until his work is done. It is impossible to tell as there was no record kept, how many sermons Father preached during his ministry. His preaching was differ- ent in many ways from the preaching of the itinerant minister who was continually changing his field and his congregation. It was remarked by persons of intelligence that his sermons were of so varied a character and of such peculiar earnestness that people did not tire of his preaching. His discourses were never of the sensational kind but were instructive and full of practical lessons. The denomination to which he belonged, the Methodist Protestant Church, the Radical Alethodist it was some- times called, permitted the rites of baptism to be perform- ed in three dift'erent modes — immersion, pouring and sprinkling. All of these methods were familiar to us. Baptisms in Columbia were usually administered by im- mersion in the Ohio River. Along the riverside the rite was performed by the method of pouring — a method probably obsolete in these days. Sprinkling was the method used in the church or in the house of the parish- ioner. Eternity "that other life" alone can tell how many souls Father has helped into the Kingdom of Heaven. Persons laborine: under relisfious convictions in sfreat distress of mind — some almost in despair — have sent for him to pray and talk with them, showing in their requests their confidence in his ability to help them. His own re- ligious experience was of such a kind that he could sym- pathize with and help those of a similar nature. When persons came to him in a doubtful state of mind for ad- vice or counsel, he endeavored to enlighten and aid them, but not against their own convictions of duty. Regard, he thought must be taken of early teachings, associations 31 ami traiiiinj^. 'riusc. in rclij^iun as in politics an4:h tin- 'Ijox of Keepsakes" given to her when she left Maine. an nnich to do in moldinj^ the cliiMreiis character, so to our Mother much praise is due. "ller children rise up and call her blessed." To say that our Mother was a fclih in a pail up tliis hill, ll is almost unucccssary to add the conuneiit that conveniences in those days were not of the labor-savinj; kind. Our vard e.Mended to the Duck Creek, and c«)ntained many fruit trees and rose bushes. A small j^ate t)pened to the path that led down to the foot-hriili^c, one end of which rested «m the hank of the creek and the other on a notch cut in a sycamore tree on the opposite shore. The bridp^e, a thick plank two feet wide |)erhaps, we little cliildren used t(^ creep across, much afraid of fallinj^ otT into the water below. At nit,du when peo|)le crossed the foot- l)rid.u:e gC'^Mnp^ to and from meeting? or on other errands, they carried lanterns to p^uide their steps, and timorously held one another's hands. The younj]^ person of this twentieth century who has no experience of the moiles of livinj^ in the early part y the touch of a button, one may now have a lig^ht many times the power of the candle f(jrmerly used for illuminatiiMi. The pro- cess of candle-makinj^ was well-known in each old-time family. It included the meltinir of the tallow, a product of waste materials saved liy the liousewife. and the dip- pin*? of the wick into this melted candle-fat. or else the shaping of the caiulle in (|ueer old molds. The manufac- ture of candles involved the expenditure of much time and labor. If at niijht-fall a family had the misfortune to be destitute of a candle, some one must «?o to betj or borrow one from a neighbor, or else all must sit throujjh the evening,' hours with the firelij^ht alone to brii;hten the j?l(M»m of till- house. Manv articles were manufactured in the home in 8U THE OLD HOME. those far-off days. I'.csiical instruments, such as jews- hari)s. I->ench harps and horns, etc. In the e.xcitinp days when the slave f|uestion was heinp hotly discussed, the law forhade harhorinp or helj)- inp runaway slaves. ( )iu- dark niplu after the family had pone to hed. h'atlur was awakened 1)\ a knock at our front door. ['\)in\ o|)eninp the door he saw standinp on the steps a man and woman, both neproes. The man. wlK)m I'ather recopnized as a free man. who lived in the city. e.\|)lained that the woman with him was a slave who had Hvcd on a plantation in Kentucky and had been sold to a slave-dealer who was going to take her to a plantation in Louisiana. In those days such a fate as this was dreaded by the negro living on the borderland be- tween the North and South, not only on account of the severity of the work on the sugar plantation, but also on account of his utter loss of a chance of gaining freedom. Father was not a member of the Underground Railroad, then existing, which was conducted mainly by the Quakers, but he believed in justice, and said: "In the North we know no slavery." The man wished Father to conceal the slave-woman till the next night, when he purposed to come to take her to a friendly station. Father granted the request and showed the woman to a bed in the garret. No one of the family knew that this strange guest was in the house next day except Father, Mother and the servant. The man failed to come accordinsr to his promise. After a day or two, the two sisters of the household began to notice Julia, the maid, carrying food upstairs and to ask questions about her errands. Mother told them then about the slave-woman and instructed them not to tell anvone about her, even though some strano-er should come inquiring about a runaway slave. Adver- tisements descriptive of these poor runaways made vivid bv cuts of the slaves, carrving bundles on their backs, were commonly seen in newspapers in those ante-bellum days. Brother Cyrus also had his curiosity excited. He fancied there was something mysterious up in the garret and one dav he decided to make an investigation on his own account. Suddenly the family heard Cyrus scream- ing with fright, and saw him come tumbling down the stairway. The slave-woman said that she was lying on 41 till- IriI. wiili Ikt hack to the door and hcdrinjj a noise, she had turned over just as Cyrus, looking in. saw her face Uxjiniiij^ t called "'\'hc W'ashin^tonians." .\ meetin.c: was held in the old stone school house in Columbia to establish its orjxani;'ation. b'ather took an active pari in the work from its inception, and enj?a.e;eil speakers to come out from the city to help carry forward the campai.i;n. The pledge advocated was not so strict as to prohibit the drinkinijj of beer or cider. A lar<.;e nnnii.er siu^ned the pledge at this first meeting of the Society. I'ather had in charge the papers containing the signatures. The sisters. Cynthia and Harriet. wi>hed their names enrtilled. 42 being fully persuaded that they had seen sufficiently the evils of intemperance. So their names were added to the list to their great satisfaction. A few days later their courage was tested. They went to call upon ]\Irs. May- nard, a dear old lady of whom the little girls were fond. During their visit the hostess offered them some "sling," a drink concocted of wdiiskey mixed with sugar and water. The virtuous disciples of temperance refused the proff'ered refreshment, saying that they had signed the pledge and that they could not permit themselves to accept this hospitality. Mrs. Maynard insisted that the drink was not harmful, but the little guests were tenacious of principle. On their return they were very eager to tell the home folks of their victory over tempation ! The two little sisters had an especial fondness for visiting the old ladies of the neighborhood. They used to go to see old yirs. Peters, who lived on the hill, and old ]\Irs. Jenks, who lived down the road. Airs. Jenks did them the honor often to get "tea" for their entertainment. \'ery strong it was with just a few drops of cream in it. But the warm biscuits and honey were delicious — these were customarily served with tea in those days. Columbia Township in former times comprehended the villages of Columbia and Aladison, the voting place being in the latter corporation. On election days the men went by in wagons going to Madison to exercise their rights as American citizens. Often returning at night after the day's excitement, they were frequently verv noisy and boisterous. Father was for many years one of the judges of elections. "Training-day," as well as election day was notable in our world. Mr. Hezekiah Stites, who lived next to us, was captain of a militia com- 43 pans that utiit lu Madisonvillc for tlrill at siaiinl limes. W luM) Mr. Stitcs drcssi-d in military costume, with a red and white cockade hriUiantly wavinfj aloft, rode out on his horse to pive orders for the maneuvers of his men. we thoutjht his appearance very fine indeed. A tiny red feather dropped from this porj^eous cockade adorned for many days a dolls honnet belonp^inj; to one (^f the little sisters. ( )ur I'ather and Mother, both of Puritan descent, governed their f.imily with that characteristic I'uritan strictness as ohl fashioned now as are many other cus- toms of their <;eneration. Sunday to them was a sacred day. All work was suspended from .Saturday ni>i lead plummets. The master set the copy in these bot)ks for our little tiuijers to imitate. Quill ])ens. which were made for us by the teacher, were used for writiui^. Duriuii- winter terms the school was nearly always controlleil by men teachers. The summer schools fre- <|ueutly held for fj:irls and small children were i it ri.^ht near the school •18 house door. The children gathered round the big shaggy animal after he was dead, eying him with great curiosity. All through the years Mr. Lee is remembered as a mild kind gentleman, well liked by his pupils. His successor, a Mr. Selby, was in striking contrast — so irritable that the little girl in mortal terror of his ill-temper kept her spelling book open in front of her constantly as though she were always studying. Probably next in order of succession was Mr. Grey, who came from Bangor, Maine. He was an acquaintance of the Wilsons, in Cincinnati, friends of our family. It was probably through an in- troduction by Oliver Wilson, who w^as for many years a teacher in the public schools in the city, that Mr. Grey came to our house, and became better acquainted with our family than many of the other teachers. After quit- ting our school Mr. Grey taught in the Cincinnati schools for a few years and later went to Mobile, Alabama. While in Cincinnati he gave little Harriet a book which bears the date of December 25th, 1837. 'Sir. Percy Hosbrook, whose son and grandsons have been prominent in the city as surveyors and civil engi- neers, and Mr. Eri Jewett, whose descendants are so well known, were among the first teachers of our school. There was one teacher, a ^Ir. Mason, who was eccentric in dress. He wore a great quantity of jewelry and kept his hair long. Children are by instinct imitative. During Mr. Mason's term the boys began to adorn themselves in the style of the teacher as far as it was possible. This was displeasing to the master's dignity, and was the means of curing his bad taste. Mr. Mason came from the East and in later years studied and practiced law in Cincinnati. 49 ^??s ^ f j <■ 4^ ELAM CHESTER I.ANCDOX. A Mr. (.urtis lives in iiiciiKjry because of his marked appreciation df his pupil's proj^ress. At the end «>f the term each hoy and i^irl received a small story book for a prize. IClam. then a small lad of ei^ht. became the joyful owmr of the classic talc "Old Mother lluhbard." Mr, Curtis was an amiable man. hii^hly esteemed by all his frienils. lie came west from North IViitieM. near Rochester, New ^'ork. on account t)f his health. After the close of school he returned to his home, and we re- ceived letters from him for a tiiue. 60 HARRIET LANGDON WILLIAMS. Our teachers, followino- the s:eiieral custom of the times, "boarded round" with the famiHes of the pupils. Many of them were frequent guests in our home. One teacher whose name it would be unkind to record after so many years, went away very suddenly from our house. The simultaneous disappearance of Father's best horse forced us to draw conclusions unfavorable to the memory of this schoolmaster. There was another teacher who combined several kinds of business profitably, but by altogether honorable methods. Air. Whitcomb, during 61 ihc suniiiicr vacation, while relieved uf the task of "teach- ing the young idea liow to shoot." maiiUainetl a nursery on Uncle Oliver's farm, where he cultivated choice fruit trees. ( )ne winter of .Mr. W'hitcomb's reign was espec- ially nieinorahle because of a great snowfall, followed by sleet. .Mr. W'hitconil). our master, joined with the boys in their sports, coasting and skating on the thick crusts of snow and ice which covered the fields and roads in every direction. Several teachers who stayed in our home wc knew intimately, and remember their peculiarities dis- tinctly, riure was a .Mr. C'haiming. an old bachelor, whom we children thought very "fussy" at the table, lit always displayed great anxiety in selecting the choicest bits of food to please his palate and to gratify his appetite. It is strange how such ()ersonal character- istics will remain a part of one's memory when iiupurtant facts are often completely lost. Another teacher. IC/.ra Snow, a relative of ours, met with an unfortunate accident in our home. One day when starling on his way to the apple barrel in the cellar, he slip|)ed and fell down the cellar stairs. Mis hand was badly lamed, but school duties were neverthe- less given strict attention by our cousin. .Alexander Scott, another master of ilu- school, was a carpenter by trade, and subse(|uently was employed in the construction of bridges on tlu- I.itlli- .Miami Railroail. Joseph Zenas keeder. a \\\\v |)enman and an excellent sign paitUer. taught the boys the printing of letters, a form of writing commonly neglected. ( )nce a month .Mr. Keeder gave each pupil a card bearing the pupil's name in beautifully sh.'ided letters. .Another teacher was .Mr. (Ireen. a proud high-spirited man. the son of a \ irginia planter. There was a custom in those days called "barring out." If school kept during the Christmas season, the boy-pupils contrived to gain possession of the school house and would lock the teacher out until he was ready to treat them to cider and apples or else give them the monev to provide the feast. The boys at Red Bank tried this bit of sport on Mr. Green. He grew very angry and refused this demand on his generosity. Our home was his stop- ping place at the time. So he discussed the matter with Father. How it ended is forgotten, but it is very probable that the boys won the victory. Some of the women teachers who had charge of the school in summer terms left pleasant memories. In the summer of 1834, Miss Sarah Morrison taught the child- ren. The date and her own age were worked in little Harriet's sampler, a work of this period. Miss Morrison was an excellent teacher, well educated, so refined and gentle that the little girls loved her dearly. Miss Emily Clason and Miss Bowers were favorite teachers whose names it is a pleasure to recall. Cousin Caroline Lang- don. Uncle Oliver's daughter, taught our school for several terms, both winter and summer. We thought her a good teacher and have remembered her kindness in giving her pupils "rewards of merit." A little volume of the New Testament still in existence was given to Master Elam Langdon as a prize for excellence in spelling. There were many funny happenings to relieve the dullness and monotony of our school life. One time during Mr. Hosbrook's term a mischievous cousin of ours at home for a vacation from the Cincinnati schools, came to our school merely for the purpose of having some 53 amusement. He "stood up"" witli the little chihlrcn as we jjathcrcd in line to spell words of two syllables and pre- tended inability to recite correctly. His conduct was sjcb that the school was thrown int«) preat disorder. Mr. Ilosbrook after a slight skirmish with him put him out «»f the room and locked the door. Oliver then stationed himself at a broken window. ICvery time the word came round to his place in the spelling class he made an attempt at spellinjr it. Not satisfied with this bit of mockery lu- climbed upon the buildinj:^ to put a board over the stove pipe which emcrg^cd at the side of the house. The incorriijible boy was tryinj^f to "smoke us out."' I )uriii<4" .Mr. I Insbrouk's term there were in at- tendance at school a large class of older i)Uj)ils — young men and women. The boys spent the time in "ciphering." Sometimes they transferred sums from their slates to small blankbooks. It may be that they considered this record a method of book-keeping. The girls delighted in reading lessons un at a time — this was cr'.lled "lining ou.t the hymn" — antl tiic people sang with spirit, if not with ihe undersianding. .\otwithstand- 68 ing the crudeness and simplicity of the service there was displayed a spirit of sincerity, good heartedness and pious devotion not always to be found in modern, well-equipped churches. There were but few churches excepting in large cities. In the country, meetings were held in private houses and in barns, and in summer outdoor meetings were con- ducted in orchards and in woods. Often meetings were held in our own home and across the creek at Uncle Oliver's. People came from Madisonville and all the neip-hborhood round to attend these services. Our kitchen was often filled with a band of earnest worshipers. We children were sent to INIother's room to stay during the meeting. A visit to a Camp-meeting in old Father Stagg's woods near the Bethesda Church is remembered. The whole family went in the big covered wagon. Before our departure Father nailed down all the windows and made everything secure. Mother prepared a chest full of provisions. She probably overtaxed her strength in the efifort as she became ill on the way to the meeting. The route lay through the river bottoms where the corn was growing high, across the TvMami by fording, and up the steep hills beyond. When we drove up to the camp- s-rounds we saw the white tents gleaming among the trees. At once we made our VN'ay to our tent which we shared with Mv. William Hart's family. The tents were of cloth, and straw was throvv-n upon the ground for beds. Our experience of camp life vsas short for we stayed but one night. All through that night the rain poured without ceasing. We children slept soundly on our straw beds but very likely Mother was not so well 69 pleased as we with this sort of livinp. Xcxt evening we stopped with a irinul who hved a short distance from the camp grounds. Wt- reached home the following day. l*"verything had taken ;hly. There was one called "poison." which was (lan«jerous sj)ort for small, weak children. .\ stake was driven into the ground, and then a riuij^ of chiMren. hi.Lj and little, formed aroimd it. .^pinnini^ round and round the hateful stake, each player made every efl'ort to keep from touchint,' it. at the same time tryinj^ to i)ush .someone else towards it. .Ml hoisterously cried, poison! poison I at the top of their voices. The little p:irls preferred quieter pames usually. They were especially devoted to those which were ac- compained hy a jin^linjj rhyme. .\ much heloved play for little folks had this songful hit of verse to charm the car — " Open the pates .is lii^h as the sky. And let King George and liis army pass by." In the early times of which we are writing, when there was so much to do — homes to huild. farius to cultivate, nearly all of the comforts and necessities of life to manufacture inside the home — wt»rk was the order of the day. from early morning till late at night. Mle- ness was not countenanced, rela.xation and rest were ivi found in a change of employment. A spirit of utilitarian- ism pervaded everything. Reading was nc^t a pastime. Books were few and costly and were read for profit and religious instruction. Work and pleasure were combined and went hand in hand. Among the early settlers on account of the similar circumstances of their lives, their common needs and privations, a kindliness and neighborliness characterized their dealings with each other. Xot only between one family and another did this lovely spirit show itself, but also between one community and another. An unwritten reci])r()citv treat}', a universal law of helpfulness, was established, that developed in social gatherings such as the "log-rollings," "barn-raisings," and "corn-huskings." Women helped each other in special times of need, when the stress of work was uncommonly heavy. Neighbors lent each other a hand in such labor as the picking over of wool, its carding and spinning. The "bees" for quilting and apple-paring approached the nearest to a frolic or a party for the younger people. These were occasions for much hard labor ; however, much they assumed an air of festivity. The working of "samplers" by the girls in the sunmier schools, and the making of patch-work quilts, were the only kinds of fancy-work done by feminine hands in those distant days. A long chapter could be written about the patch-work quilt and its endless variety of patterns — there was the plain blockwork and the picture patterns. Quaint names were given to the various designs — "the flying star," "Job's troubles," "Irish chain," etc. Pieces of different colors were cut to represent flowers, leaves and vines, and sewed on a large foundation-square. This style of 65 (lesij^iiinjj may be the original of the applit|ue-work com- mon nowadays. These patch-work (|uilts were made fmm pieces of dresses helongin}^ to the jjranchnothers, mothers, sisters, cousins and aunts of the family. The (|uilt contained .suppestions of any bits of family history, ant rcfTularly attend school, luich C"a|)tain tried to ijet on his side the hest spellers in order to win the contest, a matter of supreme importance. There was often preat excitement while the match was in projijress. Tin- lioy or ^irl who spelled all the others down and stood lip the lonj^est. was as happy as a crowne«l kint; or queen. < )ur account of the sinewing .schools will he some- what meager, because we were not the musically-gifted members of the family, brother Cyrus and brother John were considered good singers. ( )ne evening in ever\ week for several terms they attended a singing school in Columbia, taught by Mr. Win. Highlands, of Milford,who was thought to be a good musician, and taught the present system of sight-reading. Singing schools were sometimes held at our school house at Red I'.ank on Suntlay afternoons. These sessions were not conducted mainly for instruction, but sim])ly for pastime. There was a music teacher in ilu- neighborln)od at one time who gave lessons according to a new system which be hatl adopted, representing tlu- n-Hi-s by numerals. .\s this method never came into popular u.se, doubtless it wa.- not very practical. \'ears ago there was a public gathering now pa.Nsing into oblivion which deserves mention in these annals of the ])ast~ the celebration of the I'ourth of July or In- dependence Day as the .\ew I'ngland people called ;t. The "Celebration" was usually held out of doors in some beautiful grove. A platform w;is built fi-r the speakers and seats were arranged for the people who came from far and near to attend this annual convocation. Mil- itary companies with flying flags and bands of musicians playing strains of our national hymns, helped to invoke the spirit of patriotism. The exercises of the day in- cluded the reading of the Declaration of Independence, an oration by a well known speaker, and the singing by the people of "The Star Spangled Banner" and similar songs of the older times. A dinner was served for tiie distinguished guests of the occasion. This was en- livened by the drinking of toasts. We remember at- tending a Fourth of July celebration at Madisonviilc when I^'ather responded to one of the toasts. ilula^ii au^ lljiuluiuiiiii TIu- old imul-roads, tlu- orij^'iiial tlironj^hfares, fol- lo\vi-tl tin- natural contour of tlu- laiul. uaiKk-rinjij along the bases of tlu* hills ruiuiinj:; between the boundary lines of neis^hborintj fieKls ("cross-lots" when more expedi- tious.) and fnrdinfij creeks and rivers. In the early thirties, the nc-w turn-pike was built — the Cincinnati. Columbus and Wooster I 'ike. It \\a> intended to con- nect the three towns, but never reached beyond (ifishen, a small town about twenty-five miles fn)m Cincinnati. This road. macadaniizeetter facilities for travel. The stacfc coach ilun carried the uiail beiwei-n C'm- cinnali and Columbus three times a week. I'assciiijers traveled in this ancient vehicle, which had a seatinjj capacity of nine, carryinu: some on top like an omnibus. The single fare from cnir house to the city was twenty- five cents. The covered bridge over Duck Creek was built in iS^j. It was not only a great convenience to the travel- ing public, but also an accommodati(Mi to the animals be- Icjuging to the farms near by. < )n stormy nights the poor beasts claimed its shelter, it was not the custom in those days for the farmer to be ovcr-solicitous for the comfort of his cattle. I'A-erything — cows and pigs. THE OLD BRIDGE OVER DUCK CREEK. - ran i"o.sc. hut each carried the mark of its owner. The farmer hai. on the evenin).j heforc the I'ourth of July, pmhahly by some incendiary, who wished to hasten the proj^rcss of modern improvements. In "N'iles Refjister" for .\pril jil. 1823. there was an inttrestinjj^ paraj^raph relatinij tn the hnildint; of railroads in our country: "rhe London Courier, in detailinjij the advnntaj^es of railroads, upon the locomotive steam- en;-,Mne principle, contains a remark relative to Mr. Rush, our present minister in London: "Whatever parliament may do they can not stop the course of knowledj^e ani the company, we are told, then consi.sted of one (.•is^ht- wheeled locomotive, two passenj^jer coaches and ii.i,du freight cars, all nuide in C'incimiati. It was a sini^U- track road and the rail orii^inally used was of the sort known as the "strap-rail. " This was a wooden rail on top of which was spiked the strap of iron. The straps were constantly looseninj.:^ fnun their fasten- ings. .Sometimes strange acciflents resulte«l. Loose eurls THE TOLL-GATE ON WOOSTEK PIKE NEAR THE BRIDGE. f»f straps, called "siiakc-hcads." bccominj,' bciit. reached up al)ove the wheels of a passiujj car and penetrated thnnijjh the floor of the car. Workmen were employed to traverse the road-bed every day to inspect the rails and to make repairs. At first the speed of the railroad trains was very slow, probably about twenty miles an hour, r.ut this was thouj.,du to be fast ridinj.j in those days. .\ j^irl friend of ours, in a letter descriptive of the first railroad trip which she had just been enjovintj. wrote she was much suri)rise(l to find that she couM fjisiinj^uish objects in the landscape as the train pas.sed along. She had expected to be whirled alon.ij as such a cliz/.v rate of speed that si.<,dit wr>uld be extinj^'uished or at least blurred. In .\pril and .May. 1851. a series of letters was written from IJrooklyn to frientls at home by one of us who are giving these reminiscences. These letters are fiescriptivc of a journey betweiii Cincinnati and New N'ork. The young traveler, starling out en lur iri]) to her sister's home in Brooklyn, left Cincinnati on a steamboat about noon oil a certain .Monday in April. 185 1. The boat carried her up ilu- ( )Iiio River to IMttsburg in a little more than two (l.i\>' time, arriving at Pittsburg about ten o'clock W edne>day iveiiiug. Tlu-re are two letters relating the incidents of tlu' lio.u trip, ami describing the scenery and towns along the river. This sort of travel has not changed to any extent in a half century. .Sonu- interesting passages from the third and fourth letters .if tlu- series will be quoted, giv- ing details of the jomiiey beyond Pittsburg: '■ At S o clock Thursday morning, we got into an onmibus and n.dr from ..iir hotel (the Monongahela House, where we had passed the night ) over to the canal, to commence our journey from Pittsburg to Johnstown. 74 SCENE IN FLOOD-TIMES. at the foot of tile mountains, a distance of 103 miles. I eiijoycfl this f)art of my journey very much. The weather was delij^htful. anf the boat the greater part of the time; so I had a fine view of the country. The canal is i\u\:^ at the base of the mountains that border the rivers we followed up. We crossed the .•\llej^hen\ at I'ittsburj^ in an a<|ueduct, anu were aloni; with me. for you would have had time for a few shots while we were jx<»''ij.; throu.i,di the locks. 1 woul here that I saw the nnhlf pines and cedars as larjjc as our largest oaks. There were other beautiful trees, a tree with white blos- soms, called the currant tree. I saw the mountain i i)eai< of the Alle.ijhenies. 1.200 feet from the base of the moun- tains. The mnuiUain air was deli^ditful. .so pure and wh(»lesomc. I low sinj^'ular it looked to me at first as we l)ej.;an t<> descend the mountains on the eastern side to see the rivers nijlini; in an opposite direction (to our Ohio River) towards the j^rcat .Atlantic Ocean. ■■\\\- reached Ilolliday.sburj^. at the foot of the mountains, about vv^hl o'clock in the eveninjj. Here we chan.c:ed cars, and took the nijjht train for Harrisburj?. I .t,'ot but one i.r two little naps. They travel pretty fast oil this road, and have an arranijement like this, for the nij^lit: Watchers are stationed alon^ the road. If the road is smooth ahead, a white lij^ht is held up: if doubt- ful, a blue one. ami if there is daufjer. a red li,i;ht. This ni<,dit a red Vv^hl was seen. Some cars on the other track had run off and had tumbled on (»urs. I'.ut it all happened when I was takiui; a nap. and I knew nothinj; about the occurrence until it was all over. When day- light came, we were passin-.; the I'.lue Ridj^e Mountains, on the banks