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Life and Travels of William Conrad
Chapter XVII - Second Tour to Missouri
I left home on the 8th of October, 1855, in company with sons Jacob S. and Wm. G. Conrad and James. R. Conyers, for Mount Sterling, Brown County, Illinois, and from thence into Missouri. Took the cars on Tuesday morning, the 9th, at 7 o'clock; took dinner at the Galt House, in Indianapolis, at 12 o'clock. From thence, by cars, to Terre Haute City; half after four o'clock, lodged at the Parrarah House for the night; next morning, the 10th, again took the cars for Matteon, passed through Paris and Charleston (Ill.); took dinner at Matteon. Thence, by stage, for Decatur-quite a portion of the way had to alight from stage and walk, over quite swampy, as well as a muddy road; reached Decatur at 4 o'clock on the morning of the llth day of October; after a little rest, took breakfast. Thence on the cars to Naples, by way of Springfield and Jacksonville, seventy-five miles; there took dinner at 2 o'clock; then we obtained passage from there to Mount Sterling; put up for the night at Parker's Tavern. Next morning, being the 12th, from thence, in buggy, to Elder Wm. Hogan's; reached there half after 10 o'clock, and at night, tried to preach at the meeting-house of the Salem Church, near Elder Wm. Hogan's; and on Saturday and Sunday, the 13th and 14th days, with Brother Hogan, at the meeting-house of the church in Walker's Neck, met with Elder Awlsbury on Saturday evening. After preaching on Sunday, the brethren received one sister for baptism. After which, we had preaching again at Salem; the meeting-house near Elder Hogan's; and on the 16th, Elder Wm. Hogan, with our company from Kentucky, all met at Clayton about 10 o'clock. From thence on to Camp Point; from thence, five miles, to Columbus, and stopped with old Brothers James Thomas and Willis Banks; dined at 2 o'clock, and at night preached at candle-lighting in Reform Meeting-house, and after meeting met with Brother Jarvey Jackson, from Kentucky. After a few words with him, we all returned to and rested with Brother and Sister Thomas the remainder of the night; and on the morning of the 17th, alter bidding Brother and Sister Thomas and family adieu, we went on to Joel Skirvin's, him, wife and family (his wife a Baptist) had emigrated from my own neighborhood. Then on to Parris Judey's to dinner; preached at the school-house of John Lawless. Both Brother Hogan and myself enjoyed usual liberty in our efforts to preach Jesus to the congregations with whom we met-declaring Him to be the only way to God, the way to heaven.
After preaching, we went with Sister Lawless and husband home, and after resting the remainder of the night with John Lawless and Sister Lawless, his wife, who, also, were from my neighborhood, from thence, next morning, the 18th, we went to a small village called Burton; that night, at early-candle-lighting, preached in said place; after which, we went with Brother Joseph H. Childers. Next morning, the 19th, we went on to Geo. F. Wheeler's to dinner; spent that evening with him and his wife; he was near blind-could only at first know me by my voice; they were old neighbors of mine. At night we preached again at Ashlin School-house; after which, I went on to George Renecker's, my cousin, for the rest of the night; and thence, on 20th and 21st, Saturday and Sunday, at the Salem Meeting-house again, near Elder Hogan's, and at night preached at Brother Osmus'. After resting with Brother Osmus the remainder of the night, next morning, the 22nd, we took leave of Brother Osmus and dear family. We went in a wagon to Columbus, and again dined with Brother James Thomas and sister, and after bidding them a last farewell, we went on to Coatsburgh; there took the cars from thence to Quincy City, Illinois, which place we reached just after dark; put up at Shepherd's Inn, at which place we lodged for the night. And next day, while waiting for the Keokuk packet boat, and looking at and admiring the quick growth and rise from a very little village in 1832, and even three years later, 1835, the last time the writer had looked on the narrow limits of some half-dozen small and poor little dwellings, then called Quincy; that in the short space of twenty years, it had grown to quite a large city, as well as being laid off, as seemed manifest, to great advantage to travelers, as well as the convenience of the citizens in the use of sufficient width of streets and cross-streets, &c. In the meantime, while walking through the city, we called in at Abraham Jonas' law office; also saw his brother Samuel Jonas; spent some half hour with said friends; they had lived in Williamstown, in Kentucky, and near to me. We left them and repaired to the wharf, to be in readiness to go on board as soon as the boat should land, (we had dined at the Virginia House at noon), and about 3 o'clock on the evening of the 23rd of October, went on board the boat and, after running up the Mississippi to a kind of Landing place, called then by the name of Gregory's Landing, we got off at that place about 8 o'clock, near an old acquaintance. After walking about four miles we all, that is to say, Elder Wm. Hogan, Jas. R. Conyers and myself, (Wm. G. Conrad, Jacob S. Conrad and C. Sechrest parted with us at Quincy, went a little below, crossed at Hamilton and went out the route to Saint Joe, to Wm. Blackburn's) got on safely to Emery Wheeler's; lodged the remainder of the night with Mrs. Wheeler and family. Next morning, Mr. E. Wheeler being from home, and not expected for some time to reach home, we found we could not spare the time to wait for his return, and bidding the kind family and Mrs. Wheeler farewell, we walked five miles to Winchester, a little town, once the county-seat of Clark county, Missouri. We called first at young Wm. Arnold's store, after which, we went up-stairs in said Arnold's dwelling to see his mother, Mrs. Arnold-the mother and children all from near Williamstown, Kentucky.
Winchester is a high, beautiful, and healthily situation. There in that place Elder Hogan and myself tried to preach in their meeting-house at night. After preaching, we went to Lawrence Buskirk's, he and family were also from Kentucky.
Next morning, the 25th, James Norton's son John took us in a spring-wagon to young George Buskirk's, with whom the driver, as well as us, his passengers, lodged all night, partaking of their kind hospitalities. And on the morning of the 20th, after bidding our kind friends adieu, our driver, Mr. John Norton, started with us to Brother Robert Childers', some seven miles beyond Memphis, county-seat of Scotland Co. We all reached the house and family of Brother Childers about noon, and found himself, wife and family in usual heath; tarried with them all night; next day, the 27th, went with Brother Childers, Elder Wm. Hogan, Jacob S. Conrad and S. Sechrest. to a school-house (near Brother Snow's), the place, or house of worship for the Church of Old Baptists, called Mount Parsarah Church, where we kept ourselves as strangers, not giving any intimation that Elder Hogan and myself were, by profession, ministers of Christ, as we had learned from Brother Childers that there was a young preacher by the name of Kettle, and we wished to hear him preach before we made ourselves known; and besides, we thought it would embarrass him, as he had been speaking but a short time, and then we would not get to hear him at all. Hence the young man went on to preach, and after hearing him, we felt favorably impressed with his efforts to preach Jesus, the way, the only way to God.
After he had concluded his discourse, the church then organized and done her business; after which I spoke to the people, whose faces, as well as countenances, were all strange to me, except those brethren of our own company.
After meeting, we went to Brother Snow's to dinner. At night Brother Hogan and myself preached again. After lodging for the night with Brother Snow, Sister Snow and family, the next day, Sunday, the 28th, we tried to preach again at same house of worship. All appeared pleasant; the Lord, I trust, helped us in speaking and the dear congregation to hear with joy, and give glory to God for the opportunity of hearing us poor strangers in the flesh, but kindred in Christ Jesus.
After bidding Brother and Sister Snow a hearty farewell, with our thanks for their kind and hospitable treatment toward us while with them, with the wish that heaven's blessing might attend them in their journey through this life, we then hastened to Brother Robert Childers', and that night met quite a large congregation. Both Brother Hogan and myself talked to the people as best we could, God being our helper. We had a pleasant meeting; many of our old brethren, sisters and friends formerly from Kentucky, then living in striking distance, hearing of our appointment at Brother Childers' that Sunday night, met with us, whose faces the writer had not seen for many years, then, in the far West, had the opportunity of hearing our voice in their midst-that same voice so often heard by them in old Kentucky in past days, when they, with him, went up to the house of God, taking sweet council together; and now both speakers and hearers, doubtless, felt to thank God and take courage.
Thus, after retiring to bed with thankful hearts, as we trust, to repose in sleep the remainder of the night, was our blessed lot; so that we were able, under God's sustaining power, to set forward on our tour next morning, being the 29th (Monday), for Elder Wm. Myers'. We stopped on our way with B. McLin to dinner, after which, we left Mr. McLin and his kind wife, with thanks for their hospitable and kind treatment, and reached Elder Wm. Myers' late in the evening. He was brother-in-law to Elder Hogan (he married Hogan's sister). After resting with him through the night, the next day, the 30th, (Tuesday) a day of rest, giving Elder Hogan opportunity, with his sister and brother-in-law, to converse together, as they seldom had the opportunity for years, while the rest of our company enjoyed themselves as best they could.
At night we both tried to preach to the people that were collected, notwithstanding a portion of the congregation were New School Baptists; yet they seemed to take quite an interest in the preaching.
The next morning (Wednesday, 31st), we bid the kind family farewell. I think Elder Myers went on with us to his son's, Alfred Myers; stopped on the way to see J. C. Collins a few minutes, after which we reached Alfred Myers' to dinner. Then we both made efforts to preach that night, in a school-house in a little village-the name has left my memory-to quite a goodly number for night meeting; Thence home with Sandford Myers; lodged with him all night. Next morning, Thursday, the first day of November, after breakfast, we went over to B. McLin's; spent a portion of the day with him and family; his old father, Joseph McLin, also from Kentucky, was with him-our old acquaintance. After suppering with B. McLin and kind family, we all went to the same school-house again. Elder Sandford Myers preached, after which I followed (Elder Hogan declining to follow, owing to some remarks from Elder Myers), feeling confident, the Lord being my helper, that I could correct without giving offence, some remarks, containing, as I conceived, sentiments not taught in God's word-sentiments opposed to grace-in which effort surely, the Lord gave me grace and words to make the correction plain, and in such humble manner that the brother expressed himself corrected, and felt much gratified that the occurrence had taken place. After which, Brother Hogan concluded the meeting. Altogether, it was a pleasant meeting-all seemed interested, and all appeared to part with us sorrowing, most of all, for the thought that they would see our faces no more in this vale of tears.
And now, while I write, dear reader, allow me to express the sentiment so often rolling up in my poor soul, "O, happy day when saints shall meet to part no more; the thought is sweet, or ever hear the sound farewell!" We went on and lodged with our old friend and acquaintance, John C. Collins; went to rest but little before 12 o'clock that night, so we had but little time for sleep that night; yet it was so the blessed Lord gave us to feel next morning quite refreshed, being Friday, the 2nd of November.
After partaking of the morning meal with our kind host and dear family, we parted under heaven's kind benediction, as we then felt, to meet no more in this world of woe. Thence on with Brother Robert Childers to his house. Quite a large congregation had convened for the last meeting with us in the flesh. Brother Hogan and myself both tried to preach Jesus to the dear, dying friends, with our hearts in love to God and our dear brethren. We remained with Brother and Sister Childers the evening and night, and the next morning we gathered up for our start toward Kentucky, and Brother Hogan for Illinois.
It is proper here to state that C. Sechrest and Jacob S. Conrad had left some six or seven days ago for their homes in Kentucky, so that, at Brother Childers' on Saturday morning, the 3rd, our company to leave Brother Childers' was only Elder Wm. Hogan, Wm. G. Conrad, James R. Conyers and myself. Brother Childers agreed to take us to Canton, a place of boat landing and small village on the Mississippi, some fifteen miles below Keokuk city. Thus the team, wagon and all being ready, we bid Sister Sarah Childers, wife of Brother Robert Childers, and their kind family a last farewell, then got in the two-horse wagon and made our way in time to the Hickory Grove School-house, to fill an appointment at 2 o'clock Saturday evening. Brother Hogan opened meeting by praise and prayer, after which, I tried to preach to the people that had convened with us. After meeting we all went to Brother John W. Kettle's, the young preacher of whom we spoke of hearing at Brother Snow's School-house, (I learned he since joined the New School Baptists), with whom we tarried for the night, being kindly cared for, as his wife, though at that time, she had not made any profession of religion, was kind to us.
Sunday morning, the 4th of November, we, with Brother Kettles' family, went again to the Hickory Grove Schoolhouse. Half after 10 o'clock I that morning opened meeting and tried to preach. First, I felt to be in the presence of a heart-searching God, then a dying man, struggling to preach my last discourse, at least, in that part of Missouri, to my fellow dying men and women present. It was to me a solemn time. After my close, Elder Hogan preached quite an interesting discourse; then Brother Kettle closed the meeting. After dismissed, we parted with the dear congregation, Brother Kettle and wife, with the dear brethren and sisters, imploring heaven's blessing on them.
We then got in Brother Childers' wagon, and he drove on with us through a little village called Aetna, while the air was heavy, sprinkling or misting rain; also passing another village called Fairmount, to Brother Childers' son-in-law's, Mr. W. Wood. After spending the forepart of the night in religious conversation, we retired to bed for rest the remainder of the night, Mr. Wood's wife I had known from birth until nearly grown, when her parents moved, first to Illinois, then to Missouri. I was glad to find her and husband doing well, and in the midst of a beautiful country-good land around Aetna and Fairmount.
Monday morning, the 5th of November, we took our leave of the kind husband, wife and family of Mr. Wood; thence on to Reuben Nichols', a New School Baptist, about 10 o'clock-still, apparently, a good country of land. These, both husband and wife, were our old neighbors in Kentucky. Unexpectedly, we, both Brother Hogan and myself, at the solicitation of our old friends, tried to preach at his house that night. We had quite a pleasant time; the Lord, who hitherto had helped us, I trust, afforded matter and manner. The brother and sister treated us very kindly, and so did their family. But, notwithstanding all, we had to part with them also, on Tuesday morning, the 6th, and reached Canton, on the Mississippi; took dinner with F. F. Robinson, who was keeping a public house there-him and family also from Kentucky-and at 4 o'clock, got on the Great Western Packet Boat, bound for Keokuk City, just below the rapids in the Mississippi; reached said place about 8 o'clock same evening, being some four miles into the State of Iowa-river line. And after said boat unloaded her freight and passengers for that place, and took on freight and passengers for St. Louis, the Western started on her down-stream course, and after stopping at many places to take on freight and passengers, the boat and crew reached Quincy City about daylight on tile morning of the 7th of November. After loading on more freight, taking on more passengers, and a detention for hours, we left Quincy for St. Louis a quarter before 11 o'clock; quite a pleasant day; but did not reach St. Louis until 9 o'clock on the morning of the 8th; stopped at the Planter's House, quite a splendid hotel; bought through tickets to Cincinnati for $12.15, and after dining in Planter's House, paid $1.00 for same, and at 2 o'clock, went on Central Railroad to Cincinnati, by way of Vincennes, at fifteen minutes before 10 o'clock on the morning of the 9th; lodged at Drovers' Inn, kept then by B. Elliston; Covington Next morning took the stage for home; alighted from the stage, half after 12 o'clock at Esau H. Conrad's; there took dinner, on 10th day of November, 1855; that night lodged in my old homestead with wife and family, after an absence of one month and two days. W. G. Conrad and James Conyers got off the bus, or stage, a few miles back, opposite their homes. And, as I failed to mention, Elder Wm. Hogan left us at Canton, the same evening we got on the boat for St. Louis. Elder Hogan crossed the river over into Illinois, feeling he could reach home sooner than by way of Quincy.
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