CHAPTER 6:
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF REV. CHARLES COFFIN HART

I was born in my father's house, three and one-half miles northeast of Maryville, Blount County, East Tennessee, March 29, 1820. I was named for Rev. Charles Coffin, D. D., who came from Newberyport Mass., to East Tennessee in the early history of that colony. I was baptized by Rev. Isaac Anderson, D. D. My parents, Joseph and Mary (Means) Hart, were godly people, seeking for themselves and their children, first of all, "The kingdom of God and His righteousness."

In September, 1821, the family emigrated to Bartholomew County, Indiana, where my father purchased from the government 160 acres of land, five miles east of Columbus, and built a cabin in which we lived six years. The country was almost a wilderness. Here I learned the names of all the forest trees in that part of the country and how to tell the points of the compass, when in the woods on a cloudy day, by the moss on the north side of certain trees. I also learned the names and habits of the birds and wild animals that were common in the country. As I was the youngest in the family, I spent much of the time in the cabin with my mother. Among my earliest recollections is seeing my mother spinning flax on the "little wheel," brought from the old home in Tennessee. Mentally, I can now see the big Bible lying open on a chair at her left hand. As she was spinning she would read and commit to memory verses of the Bible. Here she taught me to commit to memory the hymn, "There Is a Land of Pure Delight," the first thirteen verses of the fifth chapter of Matthew and other verses of Scripture, long before I knew the alphabet. In the evenings, by the firelight, while mother would spin or knit, the boys, under father's direction, committed to memory the questions and answers of the Shorter Catechism, or verses of scripture. After which father would sing hymns from memory. And when he sang, "Awake, my soul, by Sinai's sound, my soul in bonds of guilt I found," etc., I often trembled. I knew I was a sinner and had need to be "born again." Thus early did the Holy Spirit, by means of divine truth contained in this hymn, awaken my conscience to my condition as a sinner, when I was not four years old. And from that time on the consciousness of sin and the need of a Savior was ever present with me. When about five years old the question, "Will God hear my prayer?" came before my mind. I went away alone and asked God that a certain thing--which I thought very uncertain--should happen within three days. To my surprise it occurred just as I had asked. Since that time I have never for a moment doubted that God would hear and answer prayer. When I was six years old my brother William was drowned in Clifty creek. I had never seen a dead body. I do not remember that I had even heard of death. This event awakened in me a new field of thought, and gave me still greater anxiety about my condition as a sinner. When I was seven years old my mother died. A short time before her death she called me to her bedside, and laying her hand on my head, told me she was going to die. She then gave me a most affectionate parting message, and in less than half an hour she entered into rest. And now, seventy-four years after her death, I cannot remember any act or words that have so constantly followed me through life to restrain me from acts of wickedness and to encourage me to a life of obedience to my heavenly Father as that mother's hand laid on my childish head, and that faithful message of my dying mother. In scenes of wickedness these things were ever before me. Hence I have always regarded a Christian mother as the greatest earthly blessing my heavenly Father could bestow upon me. After the death of my mother I lived five years with my brother Gideon on the Sand Hill farm, working on the farm and going to school in the winter, until Nov. 10, 1832, when Rev. W. W. Woods, of Greenwood, twelve miles south of Indianapolis, arranged with my father for me to live with him two years. I was to work on his farm nine months and go to school three months each year. He was to board and clothe me. I worked the eighteen months faithfully, got four months' schooling by working morning and evening and half the day Saturday to pay for my board. I saw no prospect for more schooling, and returned to brother Gideon's September, 1834. In February 1836, 1 went to Salem, Washington County, Indiana, to learn the cabinet maker's trade. In May my father came to see me. He then carefully prepared the papers of indenture which bound me to four years' faithful service, for which I was to receive board and clothing. I loved my boss and served him faithfully. He was patient, kind and generous to me. During the last year of service I agreed to furnish my clothes and washing and mending for $50, but when my service closed I found myself in debt $159. During my apprenticeship I hid my Bible, a gift of my father, in the bottom of my chest. I very seldom went to church, but that message of my mother was ever with me. Rev. S. K. Sneed, a friend of my father and pastor in New Albany, Ind., came to see me soon after I was out of my apprenticeship and invited me to attend the camp meeting at Mt. Tabor, three miles from New Albany, in the following August. I then secured work for six months at Livonia, a village twelve miles west of Salem. On the 30th of July, 1840, I went to the Mt. Tabor camp meeting. For several days I was under deep conviction for sin. On the 10th of August, in the forest alone with God, a half a mile from camp, I gave myself unreservedly to the Lord, and Jesus revealed, himself to me as my savior. Two days later, while riding home, alone and in the forest, contemplating the great work God had done for my soul, the question came up, Why has God done this work for such a sinner? Ask, ask. And while praying, the answer came, clear and satisfying, You must preach. That settled it. If I was ever called to the work of the ministry it was then and there. In a very few minutes the whole plan of my life was changed. I had planned, as soon as I could pay my debts and get money enough, and I supposed I could do this in two years, to go into business in Burlington, Ia.

When I returned to Livonia, with the consent of the family I boarded with, I conducted family worship. I united with the New Salem Presbyterian Church, under the care of Rev. Alexander McPherson, pastor at Salem, and continued work until November, when I discovered that my employer had cheated me out of a large part of my wages. In November I returned to Salem. My education was limited to the meager opportunities I had before I was sixteen. At Salem I went to the County Seminary, taught by the beloved and faithful Zebulon B. Stergus. There I put in six months in classes with boys and girls of 14 and 15, and worked at my trade to pay for board, clothing and school expenses. During that winter Salem was blessed with a gracious revival of religion, in which all the churches shared. This gave me an opportunity to labor with my associates, which I did faithfully, and had the joy of seeing a number of them turn to the Lord. Our beloved teacher was converted and at once began reading the Scripture and prayer at the opening of school each day. This had a most salutary effect upon the school. The year 1841-2 I was in the same school, but taught by the eccentric and able educator, Rev. Benjamin M. Nyce, and his sister. I owe much to these three teachers. What they did not know about teaching I have as yet seen but few that did. In November, 1842, I was employed to teach a country school in Jackson County, twenty miles north of Salem. My salary was $12.50 per month of twenty-four days and "board around." At the end of four months the directors paid me $50 in silver and unanimously "voted it the best school ever taught in the district." During these four months my only outlay in money was fifty cents. For what was this enormous expenditure? For halfsoling my shoes. As there was no preaching within four miles, I invited my scholars and their parents to come to the school house Sabbath morning and I would preach to them. This I did several times, and always had a full house. By May 1, 1843, 1 had paid all my debts and had $65 in silver. With this and my tool chest, I started to Marietta, O., to get a college education. This college was organized as a "manual labor institution." They had a large two-story building that had been used for a barrel and broom factory, now unoccupied. When I reached Marietta I left my tool chest and other baggage on the wharfboat, went to the college, saw one of the professors, who received me kindly, assigned me a room in the dormitory and told me I could occupy any part of the broom factory-that suited me for a shop, free of rent. I first prepared to board myself in my room. I then selected a corner on the second floor of the factory, bought pine boards and partitioned off 16x18 feet for a shop; borrowed a small stove and a bench, bought some seasoned lumber, glue, varnish, nails, etc. I then went to the families of the professor and others nearby and solicited work in cleaning, varnishing, repairing or making furniture. All this before I began studying. I then began studying Greek grammar alone. As there was no Presbyterian Church in Marietta, I united with the Congregational Church. After a month's waiting, lonely, homesick, no work offered, my little stock of money slipping away, I went to the principal cabinetmaker in town an asked him to give me the material for a fancy bureau, let me make it in my shop, keep it a month and then I would put it in his wareroom and when sold he could pay me what he thought was right. The bureau was veneered with bird's eye maple scroll columns, scroll feet, double ogee drawer at the top and polished like a piano case. I then invited the professors and others to inspect this specimen of my work. Presto! My fortune was made. From that time on I had all the work I desired, and at fair prices. As work increased I put a second bench into my shop and frequently hired a fellow-student at ten cents per hour. At the beginning of my sophomore year I took in a partner, H. N. Pierce, a lad of sixteen, the only son of his mother, and she a widow. His mother furnished him $50 per year. We worked together, kept bachelor hall at a cost of fifty cents each per week. One winter we took in a student to board at seventy-five cents per week. We contracted no debts, paid all our bills promptly and graduated honorably, I in the class of '48 and he in that of '49. He studied theology privately and for thirty years was a most useful minister, most of the time in Minnesota, when the Master called him home. During my college course I taught two classes of girls in Sabbath Schools, at one and three in the afternoons. These were all converted during this period except one. She married, went to Iowa, was converted and her only son is now a useful Presbyterian minister, honoring the title of D. D. In my sophomore year the college was blessed with a revival of religion, in which all the students were deeply affected, and almost all the impenitent were converted.

After I graduated I went to Columbus, Ind., and worked at my trade for $7.50 and board per week for one month. My brother Samuel visited us and gave me $50. With this and my month's wages I entered Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, September, 1848. Here I opened a little shop and supported myself with the aid of $20 per quarter, granted by the Committee of Education. just at the close of the seminary year, June 8, 1849, I was attacked with cholera, from, which about 200 per day were dying in Cincinnati and suburbs. After two days of great suffering I was so weak that it was difficult for me to walk across my room, and I did not regain my strength until October. I entered my second year in the Seminary in debt, occasioned by sickness and inability to work. I carried this debt through the winter. In the spring of 1850, to relieve myself of debt, I left the Seminary before the close of the term and opened a private school in Columbus, Ind. The first week I had seven scholars, fourteen the second, thirty the third, and soon had seventy-five, when I employed an assistant. On the 10th of September, 1850, the Presbytery of Madison held a special meeting at Columbus, at which I was examined and licensed. I continued my school for ten months, with the hope of making $600. But I could collect less than $500. Out of this I paid all my debts and my board bill of $1.25 per week. April 1, 1851, I started to Carrollton, Miss., to visit my brother Samuel intending to return in six weeks. I stopped at Shawneetown, Ill., to see my brother, J. H. Hart. Here I found a town of 800 souls, Presbyterian and M. E. churches, but no preaching. I reported myself to Elder John Kirkpatrick and offered to preach. He said I could preach Sabbath morning. On Sabbath morning I found a Sabbath School of thirty. I told Elder K. I would be in town for a week and asked how much preaching they wanted. After a moment's reflection he said: "I will tell you after preaching." I had about thirty hearers. After preaching, Elder K. requested me to make any appointments I desired. I announced preaching for this evening, for Wednesday and Saturday evenings, and twice next Sabbath. I held my thirty hearers until Saturday evening, when we had a heavy rain, and I had nine men for hearers. I read a Scripture lesson, offered prayer, preached from Prov 28: 13, and dismissed the congregation. No singing. The second Sabbath I had a full house, morning and evening. At the morning service Elder K. said they would take up a collection. After preaching, I announced the collection, the hat was passed and the congregation dismissed, when the good elder, without comment, emptied the hat into my hands. I thanked him. When alone I counted my treasures, $3.75, my first money for preaching.

On Monday I continued my journey to Memphis, Tenn. Here I was delayed one day waiting for the stage. Reached Coffeeville Saturday, at 8 p.m. Stayed over the Sabbath. Preached for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Pastor absent. When I reached Carrollton three weeks of my allotted outing was gone. I was invited to stay and preach a few Sabbaths. About the middle of May I was asked to go to Madison County, on the Big Black river, and preach to a country church three months. I made this journey, seventy-five miles, on horseback, in two days. Found a good church in the midst of cotton planters, with from ten to a hundred slaves on each plantation. Everything was made ready for my coming. I was to make my home with Elder John Smith and preach each Sabbath morning. After a few Sabbaths I made an arrangement with Major Bowman to preach on alternate Sabbaths in the afternoon on his plantation to one hundred slaves, for which I received $5 in gold for each sermon. Thus I passed the summer in the midst of slavery. The church paid me $80 in gold and invited me to become their pastor, which I declined. I returned to Carrollton and was offered a field of labor, which I agreed to accept, after spending another term in the Seminary. I reached Lane Seminary early in October, after an absence of eighteen months. I was invited to preach at Cleves, General William Henry Harrison's old home, on alternate Sabbaths during term time, which I accepted. On the alternate Sabbaths I was almost always engaged in preaching. I graduated in the class of 1852, and soon after returned to Mississippi, and by direction of Presbytery, took charge of the churches of Carrollton and Middleton. In September I went to Greenwood, twenty miles west of Carrollton, to assist in a union evangelistic meeting. It was agreed that I should preach every night and the Presbyterian and M. E. pastors should conduct all other services. One evening when I had preached from II Thess. 5: 19, "Quench not the Spirit," the house was crowded. The M. E. pastor made an earnest exhortation and asked those who would not quench the Spirit to come forward. Not a soul moved. We dropped on our knees and earnest prayer was offered, and when we arose from our knees every one in the house not a church member, except two, came to the front, some pleading for mercy. The two, finding themselves alone, left the house. This meeting lasted ten days, and much good was done. Thirty professed Christ. In December Rev. C. M. Atkinson and I went to Shongalo to assist Rev. Robert Morrison in evangelistic services. We had preaching daily, morning and afternoon; lunch at the church. Bro. A. and I preached alternately for ten days. A large number, some colored people, were added to the church.

January 1, 1853, the Presbytery of Lexington met in special session in Carrollton. E. M. Richardson and myself were examined, and on Sabbath, Jan. 2, we were ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. On the same day, in the presence of the Presbytery, I baptized several adults and also some children. My labors in the churches of Carroll County took me from home from ninety to one hundred days each year and required me to travel about 2,000 miles in the saddle.

In May, 1853, 1 became acquainted with Miss Olivia P. Studley, a young lady from Boston, who was teaching in Bascom College in Grenada, twenty-five miles from Carrollton. We were married. Sept. 6, 1853, in the First Congregational Church of St. Louis, Mo., by Rev. T. M. Post, D. D., in the presence of the Studley brothers and a few invited guests, and returned to Carrollton. To this union six-children were born., which will be noticed later on.

NOTE---In my diary I find this record: Aug. 3, 1853. It is one year this morning since I arrived in Carrollton. I have not failed to fill any appointments nor lost a meal's victuals for want of health. I have preached 156 times, traveled in the saddle mostly 2,497 miles, conducted thirty prayer meetings, made thirty-two sermons, wrote 108 letters, spent sixty days in protracted meetings, in which sixty-three persons made profession of religion, was ordained, received ten persons to church membership, baptized ten, married one couple, attended three funerals, made one hundred pastoral visits and about one hundred and fifty social ones, engaged to be married and built a new pulpit of black walnut and mahogany. An eventful year! This pulpit, in a new church, is still in use (1900).

In August, 1854, the church at Greenwood being without a pastor, Rev. E. M. Richardson and I, by invitation, held an, evangelistic meeting of ten days, which resulted in nineteen conversions; and a few months after this I became Stated Supply of this church, and Rev. R. Morrison supplied Middleton. Besides supplying these churches regularly, I often preached in private houses and in the only country school house in Carroll County. We had frequent additions to the churches. During the summer and fall of 1855 the politicians were discussing plans and candidates for the presidential campaign of 1856. In the interest of slavery Congress had revoked the "Missouri Compromise" of 1820. The slave holders claimed the right to carry their slaves into any territory of the United States. A desperate effort was made to make Kansas a slave State, but failed. The subject of slavery became so prominent in all the affairs of daily life that it became very disagreeable to me. When questioned, in private, I always expressed my views of the evils of slavery, but I dared not utter a word in public. I tried to be faithful to all, black and white, without making myself offensive to any. But I found I could not live in peace without evading or compromising my convictions. I determined to leave the South and seek a field of labor in a free State. In September, 1855, the yellow fever broke out in Greenwood, and in less than six weeks sixty, out of a population of 600 were in their graves. Of course, we could hold no meetings. I filled my appointment for November and December. While in Mississippi I preached, in six counties, 450 sermons and traveled 8,500 miles, mostly in the saddle.

On the 20th of January, 1856, we left Carrollton, drove to Greenwood, thence by Yazoo river steamboat to Vicksburg, where we spent the Sabbath. On Monday, January 26, we proceeded to St. Louis. This journey occupied eleven days.

After spending a few weeks in resting and correspondence, I left my wife and baby boy in St. Louis and went to Georgetown, 0., and engaged in evangelistic work for ten days. I had been greatly harassed with the idea that in leaving Mississippi I had run away from the Lord's work. But when I began to preach sinners were awakened and converted, the cloud was lifted and the joy of the Lord was mine. I next went to Columbus to consult the committee for Home Missions for Southern Ohio. The committee requested me to visit the church at Logan, fifty miles southeast of Columbus, "strengthen the things that remain lest they die," and return and they would put me in a good field. At Logan I found a church reporting eighty-nine members, but not more than fifty could be found. It soon became plain to me, and to the church also, that this was the field that God designed for me to labor in. After three weeks the church gave me a unanimous invitation to become their stated supply, which I accepted. I brought my family from St. Louis and we began housekeeping in Logan, May 1, 1856.

At our first communion service we received eleven young people on profession, some of whom abide, a strength to the church, after forty-six years. We also received three men and their wives by letter, two of whom served the church in the eldership for forty years, and the third for the same time as trustee, and all until their death. Two of the women abide to this day faithful to the church. As this was supposed to be a malarious district the church advised me to leave the place for four or five weeks in the fall. I, with my family, spent the latter part of August and the month of September in New England. This was my first vacation. My next was the month of August, 1885.

In April, 1857, 1 attended the meeting of the Presbytery of Athens at Amesville. Present, two ministers, moderator and stated clerk and nine elders. We spent two days preaching, asked the moderator to call a meeting ten days later to transact whatever business might come before them. This meeting, April 25, was at Pomeroy. Present, two ministers, stated clerk and one other, and nine elders. Spent two days in preaching, waiting for a third minister. None came. It was then agreed that my name should be put upon the roll, constitute Presbyter and proceed to business. The Presbytery then examined and ordained Israel S. Twombly, a licentiate from the Presbytery of Cincinnati, and elected commissioners to the General Assembly, to meet in Cleveland, 0., in May. I was the only minister that could go, and as I had recently come from Mississippi, they were afraid of me on the slavery question. I was asked my reasons for leaving the South. I told them I knew of but two. First, I wanted to; and second, one of the churches to which I preached wanted me to. That satisfied them. I was unanimously elected commissioner. Twenty Presbyteries sent overtures to this Assembly on the subject of slavery, some of them asking that steps be taken to discipline those who were voluntarily holding slaves for profit. The report of the Committee on Bills and Overtures was made on Monday, May 25, and its consideration made the order of the day on the 26th. This subject was discussed from day to day, as other business permitted, until Monday, June 3, when a substitute, rehearsing previous acts of the Assembly on this subject and recommending that the Assembly reaffirm and emphasize these acts, was presented. The Southern members demanded that the Assembly retract all previous acts. The vote on the substitute was taken June 4. Affirmative, 169; negative, 26. When the vote was announced, the Southern members rose in a body and left the house. In about an hour all returned and took their seats, when Rev. James G. Hammer, D. D., Baltimore, Md., presented a protest in behalf of those voting in the negative, which was read, ordered to be placed on record and a committee appointed to make answer. The Southern members then left the house. A few months after my name was enrolled in the irregular manner noted above, the Presbytery held a special meeting. Rumor had charged a member of Presbytery, engaged in business and not in preaching, with unchristian conduct in business, when he was put on trial. I was made prosecutor. On the morning of the third day of trial the accused presented the following:

"Whereas, Rev. C. C. Hart's name was put upon the roll at a meeting when there were but two ministers present, therefore be it "Resolved, That he is not a member of this Presbytery."

And moved its adoption. Carried, 5 to 4. Presto! My ecclesiastic head was off by a resolution. The thing was so bold, done so quickly, that no one seemed to realize what was being done. The Stated Clerk had my letter, acted upon five months before, presented it, and by vote of 7 to 2, the accused and prosecutor not voting, I was made member of the Presbytery. Moral: Do no crookedness.

This trial lasted seven days and resulted in sustaining the charges. An appeal to Synod was made. The dwelling of the Stated Clerk was destroyed by fire and our records burned. The Presbytery of Athens has no records previous to April, 1858, when I was made Stated Clerk and Treasurer. Within a year from this trial the accused committed suicide.

The winter of 1857-8 is memorable for union prayer meeting. Our session, with class leaders of the M. E. church, appointed a committee to arrange for union meetings on Tuesday and Friday evenings of each week. These meetings were conducted by laymen and largely attended for about fifteen weeks. At the close we received about fifty members.

About the first of November, 1858, 1 went to Amesville to assist Bro. Merwin in evangelistic meetings. I preached every night and twice on each Sabbath for nearly forty days. They had the largest ingathering that church has ever had at one time. Beginning in the latter part of January, 1859, I conducted evangelistic meetings in Logan almost daily until the 10th of March. The Lord gave us more than two score souls at this time. In November, 1859, I again assisted Bro. Merwin ten days and preached thirteen sermons. It rained much of the time, roads almost. impassable, but few women at the meeting. About a dozen, nearly all men, came into the church.

In 1860 there was great political excitement in the country and but little interest in the Lord's service. The presidential campaign and election and the secession of South Carolina completely absorbed public attention. A year previous to this our congregation crowded the audience room. By making some internal changes we gained forty sittings, which were soon filled. Before leaving his home to assume the duties of President, Mr. Lincoln asked his fellow-citizens to pray for him, that God would guide him in the discharge of his public duties. I prepared a sermon on the duty of praying for our rulers. I Tim. 2: 1, 2. This sermon I preached probably a dozen times in four counties. After the opening of the civil war (1861) 1 find this record: "Preached at a war recruiting massmeeting from Deut. 31 : 6. Be strong and of good courage, fear not nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." At another time I preached from Josh. 5: 13. There were some among us who said I had left off preaching the gospel and was preaching politics. They ceased to come to church or to contribute to my salary. When I heard of sickness or trouble in any of their families I visited them, as I had done before, but said nothing of their absence. Our congregation was depleted in this way, and by a large number of our men who enlisted in the army. By vote of the church I was granted leave of absence on the fourth Sabbath of each month, they agreeing to assemble as usual and listen to a sermon read, by one appointed the Sabbath previous. I then arranged to preach at Bremen, twelve miles distant, and at Cross Roads Church, six miles from Bremen, My plan was to preach at Bremen Saturday evening and Sabbath morning; at Cross Roads in the afternoon and at Bremen in the evening again. This arrangement was continued until September, 1865, when those who had absented themselves all returned. In October, 1863, I conducted evangelistic services ten days at Cross Roads. On Saturday afternoon we had a meeting for prayer; about twenty present. We sang a hymn, I read a passage of Scripture and offered prayer. I announced a familiar hymn---no one could sing. After a minute of silence I asked Elder Hasson to pray. We fell upon. our knees, but not a word was uttered. After perhaps five minutes we arose. I was awed with the feeling: God is here, God is in this house. We sat in silent awe, and finally left the house without saying a word. Four hours after that house was crowded. The whole neighborhood seemed to have heard of that meeting of silent awe. I preached from the words "Quench not the Spirit," offered prayer, pronounced the benediction and the people all sat down. Then the Spirit seemed to be poured out. Souls were converted there that night; others the next day. Eighteen members were added to the little church of twenty-five. Soon after this additions were made to the church at Bremen. We maintained regular church services in Logan, but during the two years 1862 and 1863 I do not believe there was a soul converted in Logan. The pastor of the M. E. church expressed the same.

In October, 1867, I visited my brother in Shawneetown, Ill. The pastor and elders requested me to hold a series of evangelistic meetings. I consented, as the object of my visit was the conversion of my brother, now past fifty years of age. I had no manuscript sermons with me suitable for such work and preached extemporary. Early in the meeting the Spirit was at work., among the unconverted. On Wednesday of the second week of the meeting, after making preparation for the evening meeting, and just before I started to the church, my subject, sermon and text all passed from me. I could not remember in what part of the Bible the text was. I was in great agony. The devil seemed to say, "You ought to have gone home; your church needs you; you can't do any good here; you can't preach to-night." I replied, "Lord help me. I will go into Thy house and stand before the people--dumb if that is Thy will; only let the Spirit work." I went to the church not knowing what the Lord would do with me. But as I entered the door the text, subject, sermon, all came to me as clear as the light. I could have shouted for joy. I never preached the Word more clearly. My brother and others entered the Kingdom that night. We continued the meetings until Sabbath evening. I returned home on Monday. The church sanctioned my absence.

During the winter and spring of 1867-8 we had additions to our church, and in August, 1868, I received a unanimous call from the church of Shawneetown to become their pastor. I accepted the call and reached that place on the first day of October, and two weeks later was installed as pastor. Previous to this I had been stated supply. At my request the trustees built an annex in the rear of the church, which gave us two rooms, one for the primary class, the other for an adult Bible class and prayer meeting room. In January and February, 1869, we received twenty or twenty-five members, and during August and September we had the most memorable meeting in the history of the church. The brethren had for several years conducted Sabbath Schools in the country. They determined to make a grand rally. "Gallatin County for Jesus" was the motto. The owners of a large tobacco stemmery were the prime movers, and granted free use of the building. The tobacco racks were removed, a platform for fifty, singers and others, was made, and seats for 1,000 were extemporized. D. L. Moody, then engaged in Y. M. C. A. work, was engaged. Philip Philips, of New York, was employed to conduct the music. The people from the country were invited to come in. Day after day our church was filled from 8:30 to 10 a. m. and sometimes till almost 12 m. About sunset 500 to 600 people would gather at Bank corner, Mr. Moody or Robert Reid, our efficient elder at Saline Mines, would preach a short sermon, when the people, four abreast singing "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" marched to the tobacco stemmery, and by the time the meeting was open all seats would be filled. Here Mr. Moody had control of the meeting. Forty minutes for singing, reading the Scriptures and short prayers. Mr. Moody would address the congregation in his earnest spiritual manner, after which a personal work was done throughout the congregation. The power of the Holy Spirit was manifest in all these meetings. Mr. Moody and Mr. Philips remained with us about ten days, but the meetings were continued, conducted by the laymen, almost daily for several weeks. I did no extra preaching. We received fifty members, and perhaps more than that number, living in different parts of the county, were converted. Robert Reid had conducted Sabbath School and weekly prayer meeting, with occasional preaching, for several years, at Saline Mines, seven miles from Shawneetown.

In November, 1869, we held a four days' meeting at Saline Mines, and organized a church of fourteen members, as a branch of the church at Shawneetown. I then returned home, and after two days' rest, and by permission of the Session I went to McC. to conduct a ten days' meeting. We had much rain, mud and dark nights; few attended the meetings. Two young women professed Christ, and have shown their faith by their works.

In the meantime Elder Reid, with the help of six or eight who went from Shawneetown, continued the meetings at Saline Mines for four weeks, in which thirty-seven professed conversion and were examined by the Session. I visited them, baptized thirty-two and administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The church elected elders and trustees, and Elder Reid became de facto their faithful and efficient pastor, and is so to this day (1900). Three years later the Presbytery insisted on ordaining him, so that he might administer the ordinances of the church. He had for several years preached as a layman. I doubt, whether that Presbytery has ever had a man, taking him through: the period of his eldership and ministry, that has accomplished more for the church of Christ than has Robert Reid.

In the early months of 1870 we had additions to our church, and in the summer and fall we made a campaign similar to that of the previous year. The evangelist was Elder William Reynolds, of Peoria, Ill. He spent a week with us, when there were several conversions. The work under his management, assisted by several members of our church, was carried to the country and into several adjoining counties.

About this time I had a long spell of typhoid fever, followed by sciatic and other troubles. With much suffering and weakness, I often preached sitting. My mind was clear, voice firm, but my sciatic troubles would not permit me to stand long enough to preach. This condition continued, more or less, until September, 1871, when, having lost all hope of regaining health in that locality, I resigned the pastorate. In the meantime the church at Logan, 0., became vacant, and I received a call to become their pastor, which I accepted, and began work the first of November, 1871, and two weeks later was installed pastor.

Gradually my health improved. Our work went on smoothly. In January, 1874, 1 organized a church at New Cadiz, six miles south of Logan. We had one family in that neighborhood. I had often preached in their school house. In the fall of 1873 I drew up a plan and specifications for a house of worship, seating 200. Mr. J. D. Longstreth gave the lot, and through his money and influence the house was built and dedicated, free of debt, and the church organized. Mr. Longstreth was made an elder. I preached to this church on alternate Sabbath afternoons until they got a stated supply. In the fall of 1873 we remodeled our house of worship, adding fifty per cent to the audience room, put in modern pews, a pipe organ, new chandeliers, new fence and wider pavement, all at a cost of $4,000, paid for and rededicated before Christmas.

In January, 1873, Rev. J. F. Williams, pastor of the M. E. church, and I planned a crusade against the saloons, nineteen of which we had in town. The crusade was already on in several counties. We held several union meetings. Forty-five of the best women in town undertook the work, elected a leader and by arrangement about thirty men and these women assembled in our church and spent a season in prayer, and the women marched out in double file, entered the nearest saloon, presented a paper to the proprietor, asking him to close his saloon and not again engage in selling intoxicating liquors in Logan. They sang hymns and prayed, leaving the pledge with the proprietor, and visited the next one. This crusade marched from saloon to saloon, morning and afternoon, six days in the week, until the 10th of March, when every saloon was closed and every drug store pledged not to sell liquor to be drank. We met in our church each morning at 9 o'clock. The men remained thirty minutes for prayers, and a union meeting was held in the M. E. church every night. Thus the public interest was kept up, and for four months Logan was literally a "dry town." Many intemperate men reformed permanently, and the whole work was done in such a Christian spirit that no ill feeling or strife was engendered. But finally a majority of the saloonkeepers violated their pledge and got back into their diabolical work.

In January, 1875, the evangelist, Rev. H. H. Wells, D. D. conducted a daily meeting for us four weeks. There was great spiritual quickening in the church and about fifty members were added.

In the spring of 1885 it seemed to me that my work in Logan was about done. In April I offered my resignation, requesting to be released in May. A meeting was appointed to consider my request. Adjourned for one week without action. At the second meeting a separation was agreed to, naming October 31 as the time. In July the members of session offered me the month of August, five sabbaths, vacation, the first since 1856. I sent appointments to vacant country churches in the Presbytery for, three and four days' sacramental meetings with each. I prepared a special sermon, Isa. 50: 10, and preached it to each of five churches, endeavoring to comfort them and "strengthen the things that remain." I greatly enjoyed this vacation, and on the last Sabbath of October I preached my last sermon as pastor of this church, and ten days later I was moderator of a meeting of the church, at which they gave a unanimous call to Rev. D. R. Moore to become their pastor. The month of November I spent with the vacant country churches. The month of December I spent at Webster Groves and St. Louis, preaching on each Sabbath. Jan. 1, 1886, I reached New Orleans, and remained ten days. Visited my brother at Carrollton, Miss., and had the great. pleasure of standing in the pulpit I made thirty-two years before, and preaching in the old church. After a visit of two weeks I went to Memphis, Tenn., and engaged in evangelistic work for ten days in Bro. Richardson's church. While in Memphis I was invited to go to Charlestown, Ind., and preach four Sabbaths, which I did. Then went to Columbus, Ind., and preached ten nights and twice Sabbath mornings, and returned to Logan April 1, having been absent four months, during which time I preached seventy times and traveled over 4,000 miles.

At the April meeting of Presbytery I agreed to supply two or three churches at regular intervals and fill up the balance of my time in missionary work among our vacant country churches. This work I continued two and a half years. In one church two were added, in another four, in another six, in another eighteen. But the work seemed to me very unsatisfactory. It was like spreading the butter so thin that it could scarcely be tasted. In September, 1888, the church at North Platte, Neb., invited me to spend six months with them. I consented, and left Ohio. During the thirty years that I had been a member of the Presbytery of Athens I had been their Stated Clerk and Treasurer for more than twenty years. I was chairman of the Committee on education twelve years, chairman of the Committee of Home Missions thirteen years. I was called to prosecute two ministers and one elder, and in each case the charges were sustained. I married people in seven counties. I preached in every church in the Presbytery except two, in some of them from ten to fifty times. I was moderator of the Synod one year. The Presbytery sent me to the General Assembly three times: Cleveland, 1857; St. Louis, 1866; Omaha, 1887.

I reached North Platte, Neb., on Friday, the latter part of October, 1888. On Sabbath we had thirty-six hearers, and seventy in Sabbath School. We were on the eve of a presidential election, and much political excitement. I began pastoral work from house to house among church members and Sabbath School. scholars. The church reported eighty-seven members, but I could find only about half that number. By the first of January, 1889, our house of worship was well filled, and I began a series of meetings, preaching each night for two weeks, when we received sixteen members, one man sixty years of age and his wife. This man was an old citizen, knew everybody, and labored faithfully to bring his old associates to Christ. Ten days after the close of this meeting he came to me and said: "You closed your meeting too soon; there is more fruit that ought to be gathered in." I then continued meetings every night for ten days, when we received about the same number of members as before, and soon the Sabbath School was doubled in numbers.

My six months' engagement expired April 30, 1889. Two days later I was installed as pastor. The Lord prospered us during the year. Just at the close of December I had a severe attack of la grippe, followed with rheumatism. After a month's silence I began preaching again, but had much suffering, which continued with little relief throughout the year. I did my usual preaching, and we had a few additions to the church, but felt compelled to resign. On the last Sabbath of November we received one member and I baptized one child, and preached my last sermon as a pastor. We then came to Webster Groves, Mo. December,. 1890, where our sons gave us an elegant home for our old age. Within a year I regained my health, and have preached from fifteen to twenty times each year until I passed my eightieth birthday day, since then I have preached but few times. During a ministry of fifty years I have never "candidated" nor asked for a pastorate. I have preached about 6,000 times and have reason to believe 800 souls were converted. I married about 450 couples, and attended about the same number of funerals. I was school director two years, school examiner for the county eight years, trustee of Wooster University five years. I also superintended the public schools of Logan two years during the civil war. I have taken all the degrees of English Freemasonry, and often found it a help among strangers, especially in traveling, and have never felt it to be an injury to me.

As to our family, three sons and three daughters were born to us, viz: Edward Studley, born in Carrollton, Miss., March 9, 1855; Horace Pierce, born in Logan, 0., March 12, 1858, died at seven months; Alice Whipple, born in Logan, 0., July 17, 1859; Mary Pamelia, born in Logan, 0., April 17, 1862; Olivia Rochester, born in Logan, 0., July 10, 1865; Joseph Charles, born in Logan, 0., Nov. 20, 1866. These were all baptized in infancy, and all, except the youngest, united with the Presbyterian church.

Edward S. Hart learned the printer's trade with his uncle, R. P. Studley, in St. Louis, and became a partner with his uncle. At the death of his uncle, November, 1890 he became senior partner in the business. He is a Mason, a member and trustee of the Congregational church. In June, 1881, he was married to Miss Azuba B. Nevins. To them two children were born: Robert Studley and Margaret. The son died at the age of eleven years. The mother died Feb. 22, 1884.

Edward S. Hart was married to Miss Florence May Bate, of Webster Groves, Mo., May 9, 1897. They have one son, Edward Studley Hart, Jr.

Alice Whipple Hart graduated from Logan High School, studied music, privately, under several instructors, and one term in the Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. She was married to Mr. Edward A. Cary, Aug. 22, 1882. To them two sons were born, Edward A., who died in infancy, and Robert Hart Cary. They make their home in North Platte, Neb. Mr. Cary is an elder in the Presbyterian church, and for ten years has been Court Reporter in his judicial district.

Mary P. Hart graduated from the Logan High School and for twelve years was a successful teacher. She is a member of the Congregational church and makes her home with her parents.

Olivia Rochester Hart graduated from the Logan High School. She also graduated from the Western Female Seminary, Oxford, 0., in both literary and music departments, and gave instruction in music in her alma mater one year. She was married to, Mr. Charles B. Todd, of Logan, Sept. 1, 1886. They have eight children, viz: Harold Hart, Seymour Studley, Edward Charlton, Mary Olivia, Charles Brooke, Jr., Vernon Cary, David Latimore who died in infancy, and Marshall Fulton. Their home is in Webster Groves, Mo. They go to the Congregational church. Mr. Todd is employed in the R. P. Studley Company, St. Louis.

Joseph Charles Hart graduated from the Logan High School, learned the printer's trade with his brother, is a printer for the R. P. Studley Company. He is a member of the Congregational church and has his home with his parents.

Who can duplicate this: In St. Louis, Mo., on the 25th of March, 1900 I baptized Robert Braden, Jr., who is the son of Robert Braden, Sr., who is the son of Frank Hart Braden, who is the son of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Braden, who is the daughter of Gideon Blackburn Hart, who is the son of the patriarch, Joseph Hart, who is my father.

Hence Robert Braden, Jr., is in the sixth generation of my father. Representatives of five generations were present.

A true record, made this 29th day of March, 1900, my eightieth birthday.

C. C. HART.
Webster Groves, Mo.