Part 4

My school here was very pleasant in almost every respect. Only one incident occurred that was otherwise, and that turned out well. A family of one brother and two grown sisters had only one speller between them. I complained and sent word several times to their father that he ought to get a speller for each of his children. So one day at noon he came over to school and took up a book and sat down by me with the open book and said, "One book is enough for three. I can see and so can you so could another on the other side of me. One book is enough for three, I shall buy no more books." "I see," I said. "Goodbye" he said, and off he went. After that I had the brother sit between the two sisters and all study from the same book. Now at this time McGuffey's spellers were the only spellers used in all the schools. Webster's had been out of use for almost a generation, but, in about a week after this father had called at school, as stated above, he went at Atchison City and somehow and somewhere he found and procured three new Webster's old blue back spelling books, and his children brought them to school to use. When I saw them I said, "Sure, these are the best books ever made,--the very kind I studied when I was a boy. Maybe your father can secure enough for the whole school. And since one is enough for three, it would not take so many." "There is only this trouble. Until we can make the change, you three will have to be in a class by yourselves." So I kept the brother and two sisters in a class, with their blue back spellers, to themselves. But, listen, in about a week more the class of three came to school each with McGuffey's speller.

Sometimes the best way to overcome an adversary is to agree with him.

One Saturday evening I went across to North Cedar to preach and when I got to the school house, while there was a large crowd in the yard waiting to hear me, the door to the school house was locked and the trustees said, it should not be opened for me to preach. An old disciple of Christ, who lived nearby, said that I was welcome to preach in his house. I said to the crowd, "If you will follow me over there, I will preach." Nearly everyone followed. I simply preached the truth, Christ, and in my sermon referred to that text which says something about "These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also."

Well, the next morning the world had the same side up as before only that school house door had turned on its hinges and was wide open for me to come in and preach. Which I did, morning and evening, and was invited back again and again.

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C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N

Holton. Netawaka. All said, "Amen." Farmington. Married. Our home. Little Wiley Warren.

While teaching and preaching here on South Cedar I began preaching on Sundays at Holton. I preached in the school house, court house, or any empty room that might be found that was suitable. I found suitable headquarters for my stay in the hospitable home of an old disciple of Quaker origin whom everybody called Uncle Tommy Adamson. He was a true lover of God.

The Presbyterians kindly offered me their house to occupy when they were not using it. My recollection is, that theirs was the only church in the town at that time. The Methodist, who like we had been preaching in the school house about this time, possibly a little earlier, had erected a new, brick church building. Well, the gospel was preached and a number seemed interested and brother J. H. Bauserman State Evangelist was called to help in a meeting and the results was, as usual, some hearing, believed and were baptized. At the close of the meeting the converts were left pledged to meet on the Lord's Day to worship God. And I promised to meet with them every two weeks to preach to them and worship with them. This I did for a year or two, going afterwards on the Central Branch as far as Netawaka and then across on a public hack. For I soon returned to Pardee Station (Farmington).

Speaking of Netawaka, reminds me of being called there in later life to marry a young Methodist gentleman to a young Mormon lady. And this reminds me that I have married people of nearly all creeds, colors and nationalities. So of funerals. The Mormon preacher was at the Netawaka wedding, but I did not know it until the wedding was over. To this day I do not know why I was called to this wedding. I was never treated more kindly and hospitably at any other wedding. And here let me say that the money I have received for weddings and funerals, I think is more than I ever received for preaching.

In Netawaka on that day, in the afternoon, I attended the Mormon public worship. There were about sixty present, and they, except the groom and his bride, were old people and foreigners. Although the preacher was present there was no preaching. It was a social, song and prayer service, and every man and woman took a part except the newly married couple.

When all had had their turn, an elder, (the father of the bride) looked at me and said, "Brother you have plenty of time, if you have anything to say, say it." This was very unexpected to me, but I stood up and said, "Brethren, if you will allow me to call you brethren, this is the first time I ever attended your services, and I must confess that the service, as it seems to me, is much like the old fashion services of the Methodist and disciples that I attended when a little boy with my mother, and I feel very comfortable and much at home. They all said "Amen."

From South Cedar I returned to Farmington and found a nine month's school waiting for me at fifty dollars per month. So I accepted the work and continued it for five years at an advanced salary of sixty-five dollars per month. In the meantime, June the 28th, 1870, I was married to Miss Rosetta Butler who still lives to bless my life, and is still a true helpmeet in my old age. Shortly after our marriage we begin the erection of a new, farm home for ourselves about one-half mile west of the station. It was not long until we had a home, not a palace, but a home though humble, yet tidy, convenient and good enough for a queen, as in fact, it was occupied by a queen. Nor do I think, boys, could anything but compliments be placed by our old neighbors upon the way things were kept all about our farm when you were there. Do you remember the old Farm? And let me say just here that while God has always been good to me and comparatively my whole life has been a happy one no period of it was more happy, more hopeful and sweet than the few years in our old home where I was the head, your mother the queen and you children were about our knees.

For just twenty-five years we (wife and I) lived at Farmington. This is just half of the life of my man-hood days. Here all our children were born. By us no threshold was ever crossed more than this one. No paths were ever trodden more frequently than the paths to the well, the barn and the post-office, and the church. No neighbors were ever so long ours in kindness and love. No birds ever sang so much and sweetly as those in the very trees that had been planted by our own hands. And no home was ever more truly dedicated day by day to Almighty God upon bended knee and in the reading of His word.

Do you remember the old home, boys? But life is not always sweetness. It cannot be, under the present sin-curst environments. The first bitter experience and great sorrow that came to us, was when death came our way on the 21st day of July 1877, and took away our fourth little boy whom we had called Wiley Warren. He was only 1 year, 6 months and 17 days old.

I had preached the funerals of many little children before the death of our little boy, and had thought that I knew how to sympathize with parents who had to bury their children, but I did not. If I were not an old preacher I would like to say now what I have said often when younger, that everything else being equal, an old preacher is better to preach, and do pastoral work for a congregation than a young one.

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C H A P T E R F O U R T E E N

110 years. 28th of June, 1884. 4 and 3.

Closing school at Farmington in 1873, I quit teaching and took up farming and preaching, as I had teaching and preaching until the year 1907 when I retired at the age of 70. So then I attended school off and on 10 years, taught 15 years, farmed 35 years, preached 50 years, working in the aggregate 110 years in a life of 70. The explanation is that some people can do two things or more at one and the same time.

On the 28th of June, 1884, indicating just exactly fourteen years of our (wife's and my) married life, our youngest child was born. In the meantime during these fourteen years to us (wife and me) were born seven children viz: Harry H. April 3rd, 1871. Paul P. October 22nd, 1872. Otho O. April 8, 1874. Wiley W. January 4th, 1876. Clara C. September 24th, 1877. Edith E. January 31st. 1881, Milo M. June 28th 1884. Do you notice that the above children each has double initials. This happened so with the two first, with the others it was purposed so. All of these children were born in the same home, Farmington, Atchison County, Kansas. But now the parents are together, alone and lonesome. Not a child near, only in memory. Yet the seven are. Four are here-- In St. Louis, Harry. In Prescott, Paul. In Independence, Otho. In New York, Milo. In Heaven three. Little Wiley went on the 21st day of July 1877. Jesus said of him, "Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven." Edith when on the 8th day of November, 1902. Elder H. E. Ballou said of her: "Fallen Asleep."

Miss Edith Hastings, daughter of Elder Z. S. Hastings, granddaughter of Pardee Butler, November 8th, 1902. Age twenty-one years. Was born of water and of the Spirit February 2, 1894. F. M. Hooton, minister of the house at Pardee, in which her father and grandfather preached and which services in memoriam were held. Dear old house, if thy walls could speak how many, how many things thou woulds't say. Thou woulds't tell what we can feel, but cannot speak of or write of. Dear, pure Edith. Ten days of unalarming illness--sudden death. A surprise to all but her. A great shock. Did the Lord tell her "tonsillitis" is something fatal?

"May heaven's blessings rest on the family, noble, useful family. Earthly home is sad now. Heavenly home still nearer and dearer. And on the church she loved, on the Senior C. E.--we will not forget her pure sweet talks there--on the Junior C. E. she organized and superintended until death. On her assistant superintendent and bosom friend, Miss Maude Tucker. On the school she taught, on students of county Normal at Effingham, who loved her, on one noble young student of Drake University who came to sit among the mourners as though he was already one of the family. All love her at Drake--Yes everywhere."

Clara went on the 23rd day of May, 1906. Mrs. Prof. J. W. Wilson said of her:

"A Beautiful Life"

Clara C. Hastings was born at Farmington, Kansas, Sept. 24, 1877. Married June 28th 1905. Died May 20th, 1906. Graduated from the A. C. H. S. in the class of '98 and later completed the teachers' course in Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. Taught nearly two years in primary grades at Maxwell, Iowa. Resigned during the second year to stay with her parents after the death of her sister Edith. Spent one year in Muscotah, Kansa, as primary teacher.

"On June the 28th, 1905 she married Charles G. Sprong, and their married life was one of happiness, with every prospect of happiness and usefulness before them. On May 12, 1906 twin daughters came to bless their home. Four days later little Edith died and on May 23, Clara closed her eyes on all things earthly and her Heavenly Father called he home. A bereaved husband, a father, mother, four brothers and numerous friends mourn her loss. Her life was short but well lived, for she spent it in doing good. A kind smile and a kind word for everyone was characteristic of her. Many evidences of her love and sympathy for others were shown at the funeral by the expressions of sympathy from the little children and aged alike.

When all hope of life was abandoned and it was thought best by friends to tell her the end was near, her husband gently reminded her of little Edith in heaven, and told her she would soon be with her. Although a little surprised for she thought she was better, she said it was all right if it was God's will. Her last hours were spend in comforting those left behind and many loving messages she gave them that will be a comfort to them and a help to lessen the sting of death. Her bright mind was active to the last. She called for paper and pencil and named over many friends to whom she wished messages sent. Repeating with her father the Lord's Prayer, and telling them not to mourn for her, her bright pure life closed. She died as she had lived--a Christian. The funeral services were held at the Potter church, conducted by Rev. Hilton of Atchison. The floral tribute was beautiful. A large number of people were present, but owing to the distance a great many were unable to attend. Those from Effingham were Hiss Speer, Emma Ellis, Ollie Wilson, Mabel Weaver, Nellie Grable, Mrs. J. W. Wilson, Mollie Campbell, J. W. Campbell and Ertel Weaver.

Evangelist Frank Richard wrote of her: "The memory of such a life is as the lingering twilight after the golden sun has set. It is the precious memory of a life service. Service to her was a genuine pleasure. For her Master she served whose guiding hand she trusted. Her life was genuine, sweet and gentle. A deep religious fervor characterized it throughout. Pious, consecrated and devout she was. Her services in the church were highly appreciated. She loved the church. Her splendid counsel and example were of inestimable worth to the young people both in and out of the church. In her home the sweetness of her life was a constant pleasure to her friends and loved ones. To permeate the home with a Christian spirit was to her a high aim."

The weight of sorrow brought on us by the death of these two noble daughters is still so heavy as to bring tears to our eyes and sadness to our hearts. But we hope in God.

Little Ethel, one of the twins, still lives with her father and a kind step-mother. May the mantle of her dear mother's goodness fall upon her and she grow up to be good and happy.

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C H A P T E R F I F T E E N

Places. "Uncle Daniel." Will Price. Visit Ind. 1881. Return. Golden Rule.

But to return a few years in the events of my humble life, I find that I attended my first State Teachers' Association in Kansas in 1869.

After I quit teaching I took up regular farming but kept up Sunday preaching all these many years. Preaching at Farmington, Pardee, Pleasant Grove, Crooked Creek, Lancaster, Wolf River, Holton, Whiting Goff, Round Prairie, Valley Falls, Atchison, Hiawatha, Highland, Netawaka, Corning, Dyke's School House, Topeka, Winthrop, Winchester, Easton, Nortonville, Effingham, Muscotah and Williamstown. Of course I did not preach regularly very long for many of these places but simply made evangelical visits. But for some of them I preached regularly a number of years.

I preached in Wolf River in Brown County for two years. Every preacher likes to have wherever he preaches a place, or home, he can call his headquarters. Well, at Wolf River Daniel Miller's home was my home. Uncle Daniel Miller (everybody called him Uncle Daniel) was a devout disciple, and one of the most charitable and hospitable men I ever knew. Uncle Daniel was a well-to-do farmer and many were the poor who received from his charitable hand wood, hay, corn, meat, potatoes, apples and money. And, if the preacher's sum was lacking he footed the bill.

I remember one Sunday morning after the sermon I had a double wedding which I solemnized in one ceremony, and Uncle Daniel had no bill to augment that day. I usually received for preaching from $5 to $10 per day. But that day I had more than twice that amount.

Many years after the wedding referred to above, I saw a notice in the newspaper that the Hon. Will Price, candidate for the senate, would speak in Woodman Hall. I attended the meeting. The speaker came to me and taking me by the hand said, "Elder, how-do-you-do?" I said, "How do you do? But I do not know you." He said, "Do you remember the double wedding on Wolf River some years ago?" "Yes," I said, "But you are certainly not the young, bashful, scared, Will Price of that event." "I am he" he said, and sure enough he was he. But now, so different, large, handsome, wise and brave. All boys ought to grow to be men, for men are what we need in this old, sinful, abnormal world.

In 1881 after I had been away from old Indiana my native home for about fourteen years, I returned and visited the scenes of my early life. Many were the changes--a passing of the old, and a coming of the new, bringing to me a mingling of sadness and gladness. Sad, that so much I loved before and gone. Glad that so much new had come that was good. Everywhere I had been known I was greeted with much love, respect and honor. So I was constrained to preach again at the old altars. And one young man even persuaded me to marry him to a pretty girl because he said he wanted to marry her and she was willing. So I preached again at old Liberty where I had preached and taught more perhaps than at any other place in the State. I took for my subject "Unbelief." using as a text the prayer of the poor man whose son had a dumb spirit,--"Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief." But, where all may seen to be gladness and joy and faith, sin, or its effect, is always lurking around somewhere nearby.

As I was preaching I recognized in the back part of the audience a man with tears in his eyes. He was a strong intelligent man of the community. He was about my age and fifteen years before this time, when we were both younger I heard him confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and I with by own hands baptized him into Christ.

After the sermon as he came to me, I said, "Sir, what mean these tears, are they tears of joy or tears of sorrow?" He answered, "Tears of sin, I suppose, for while I was listening to you preach I was only wishing that I could have the strong faith which you seem to have." He had lost his faith by forgetting his first love. "He that loves not, obeys not. Not everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father, which is in Heaven, Jesus."

Notwithstanding the many attractions of interest, love and friendship among my relatives, and friends of old Indiana I had not been there four weeks until my heart was fully set to return to Kansas. And why not? Had I not left there a dear wife and five little children? Count, boys, how old you were then. Clara and Edith also. Edith was less than a year old. But I had fondled her so much upon my knees and call her by "Great Blue Eyes" and sang to her so much

"Baby Bunn baby bunn Great Blue Eyes Looking now so merry Now so very wise."

That upon my return home on the night train, when on entering the home in the darkness of the night, that I might not frighten anyone I call out, "Where are my big blue eyes?" Little Edith being awake and hearing me, cried out at once, "Papa, Papa."

Upon my return home I resumed my work. Crooked Creek was one of my regular places for preaching quite a while. I remember preaching there a sermon on the Golden Rule so called. In my discourse I used the same basic principles and words that Christ used in his Sermon on the Mount. But afterwards a certain disciple said, "It is no use to preach that way, for no one can live up to such teaching." But it turned out in a few years afterwards that that disciple made, (and is to this day) one of the most faithful, obedient and sacrificing members of the Church of God. Thus it seems that the Word preached may kill or make alive. In this case it seems to have done both.

In the labors of my life as a preacher, my work was mainly confined to the churches, and not to the world. I knew nothing however but to preach the gospel and teach the word. So I think the gospel is the power of God to salvation to both saints and sinners.

At another place one had heard, believed and wanted to be baptized, but her husband said, "He who baptizes my wife endangers his life." I said to the believer, "I will risk it." I baptized her. In two weeks I preached again and at the end of the sermon that poor man came to me and said, "I have been wrong. I want to confess Jesus and be immersed." I baptized him. Some years after that I preached the funerals of both. Their lives had not been perfect but in their deaths there was hope. We live by hope. We are saved by hope. Let us hope in God. Hope is one of a trio of the greatest principles in the world.

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C H A P T E R S I X T E E N

Politics. Topeka. A vote. A snow storm. Sister Lottie. Whiting. Pleasant Grove. Atchison.

There are many pleasant things connected with preaching and sometimes things are not so pleasant. Of course, the most pleasant of all to the true, conscientious preacher, is turning many from wrong to right, to salvation from sin and all its consequences. To know that you have preached righteousness and lived a life worthy of imitation, fills the cup of joy to overflowing.

While I have been teacher, farmer and preacher for years and years and at one time was elected to a State office, I never was a politician in the first sense of the word. Unfortunately the bad sense of the word has become the first. There is a meaning in politics in which all may be and should be politicians.

After I had taught and stood in the front rank of teachers, I thought I was entitled to be superintendent of schools, but because I would not stand as a politician in its bad sense I was turned down. Turned down because while right prevailed, wrong did much more prevail at that time. It was in the time of the saloons.

But they say it is a poor rule that does not work both ways. So without my seeking or asking for it, in the fall 1875 I was nominated and elected to the office of State Representative: and this because I was a politician in the true and better sense of the word, a Christian gentleman and pure statesman. And yet, it was the time of saloons. And yet, again righteousness did abound but sin did much more abound. I wondered why I was chosen, until a friend explained it was because they wanted to give credibility to the ticket. To this day, I do not know whether it was a compliment or not. But is made no difference, it was at the State Capitol with over a hundred other law-makers in the session of the centennial year, and enjoyed it. For I found many good men and learned gentlemen not a few. And was honored by being placed at the head of the education committee and placed on two or three other committees also. Among the many votes and things I did, I shall always remember with pleasure and pride one. I was one of the six first to case a vote for the first temperance resolutions. I have lived to see temperance prevail and the saloons to go. The above is briefly the political paragraph of my life story and I am willing that it may go up to the Judge of all the earth.

While in Topeka I found but one family who were simply disciples of Christ, but the Baptist disciples of Christ invited me to preach in their house which stood near the Capitol building. Neither the church building nor the Capitol building was completed at that time.