Five Years in the Alleghanies

On the invitation of several leading men, I visited L----, east of the mountains. The evening I got there the Rev. Mr. N---- called on me to “hold forth the word of life” for hi...

While on this tour I visited the town of L----, near the centre of Western Virginia, and made arrangements to remove there in a few weeks. There are few towns of the size which...

The latter part of the year 1848 was spent laboring in South-western Virginia. I visited several towns as a colporteur, taking with me some applicant for this service, to give h...

After one night’s rest at home, I left the next morning for C----, thirty miles distant, to meet my friend Rev. Mr. D----, who was with us at the commencement of the meetings at...

As, in the providence of God, I have been brought into contact with thousands of persons who have told me with much candor the history of their own minds, and conversed freely i...

Calling one day at a fine country-house in Western Pennsylvania, I found a prosperous Irish family of more than ordinary intelligence. I inquired if they wanted some good religi...

At the earnest request of Mr. H----, I promised to meet him on the next Sabbath at one of his country churches, about six miles from town, in one of the most densely populated a...

On my way on horseback I came alongside of a young gentleman of very fine appearance. We immediately entered into conversation about the beautiful farms and fine improvements we...

April 1, 1845, I commenced my labors in the town of F----, in Western Virginia. As soon as the object of my visit to that region was known, I received a cordial welcome from a l...

There was a Mr. G----, a coal-digger, of desperate character, that I had been warned not to visit. I was told that he was such an abandoned character that he was hopeless; that...

Another case that seemed more threatening than the last mentioned, occurred soon after in the county of G----. I was on my way to meet a Sabbath appointment. About two o’clock I...

“It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” In all my connection with the scenes here truthfully described, as in the training and discipline of earlier years through w...

About this time I held a Colporteur Convention in C----, in which a number of colporteurs were present. The meeting was one of deep interest. Many facts were brought out in rela...

Travelling in a mountainous region at nightfall of a tempestuous day, and having lost my road, I was directed for a lodging to “Squire D----’s, who keeps the ferry.” After suppe...

During my labors in this region I was frequently requested to visit G----, a town that had been laid out about the close of the Revolutionary war, and is noticed in the history...

I made an arrangement with Mr. M----, a very intelligent gentleman whom I had employed a few months before as a colporteur, to accompany me. The whole tour required us to travel...

About this time an incident of peculiar interest took place. The Rev. Mr. Q---- had invited me to visit the town of C----, and I had set a day to be at his house. Late in the ev...

I visited an old woman, who told me that soon after she was married some one lent her Doddridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, and that it was the means of the con...

I had now been about ten months in the colporteur work, and seeing the great necessity for scores of men to engage in it, I thought I could raise the salaries, and employ one or...