Ohio History Journal

edited by

ALVIN EUSTIS

 

On the Road in 1835: A Journey

of the Reverend James McElroy

 

 

 

The following letters of Rev. James McElroy are addressed to the minister's wife in

Delaware, Ohio, and describe a journey from that town to Lexington, Kentucky, in

1835. The Episcopalian clergyman had taken a leave of absence from the parish of

St. Peter's in Delaware in order to serve for a time as agent for the American Bible

Society.¹

James McElroy was born in Ireland in 1805 and studied there for the Protestant

Episcopal ministry at Trinity College, Dublin. With his bride of a few months, he

came to Gambier, Ohio, in 1828 and was a tutor at Kenyon College until 1830. In

1829 he received an honorary master's degree and was ordained deacon. In 1831

he was ordained priest² by the president, Bishop Philander Chase, and served first at

Trinity Church in Cleveland. In 1832 he moved to Delaware where, except for his

leave of absence, he remained until 1840. Moving his family to Staunton in that year,

he became the general agent of the Bible Society of Virginia. From 1844 to 1847

he was principal of the Virginia Female Institute in Staunton and from 1847 to 1852

the rector of two churches in Botetourt County, Virginia. In the latter year he

returned to Delaware as rector of St. Peter's. Also during this time from 1852 to

1870, McElroy served as a member of the board of trustees of Kenyon College, and

was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1868 from his alma mater. Accepting

in 1863 the position of district secretary of the American Tract Society, he resided

first in Springfield, then in Mansfield. He also served as rector of St. Paul's Church

in Greenville from 1865 to 1867. An 1869 appointment to the Protestant Episcopal

mission in Santa Clara took him West to California, where he remained until his

death on June 21, 1880.³

The historical and evangelical details in his letters are still of interest, as are some

of the personalities mentioned, especially since McElroy was in the first graduation

class at Kenyon on September 9, 1829, and received the first honorary master's

 

1. The American Bible Society is a nondenominational organization established in 1816 to

encourage the wider circulation of the Bible and is principally supported by gifts from individuals

and churches. By 1833 it had distributed 1,533,668 copies of the Bible and Testaments in seven

different languages. "American Bible Society," Methodist Magazine and Quarterly Review, XV

(1833), 480.

2. Catalogue of Kenyon College and of the Theological Seminary of the Diocese of Ohio,

1825 to 1872 (Gambier, 0., 1873), 8, 15, 39.

3. Family history is taken from the family records preserved by James McElroy's great-

granddaughter, Helen Sarah Lathrop Eustis.

 

Mr. Eustis is Professor of French at the University of California, Berkeley.

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degree given by the college. Other classmates mentioned give indication of the pioneer work done by the Kenyon College graduates in establishing Episcopal churches in Ohio and Kentucky. McElroy's sensitivity to places and people and the liveliness of his pen in recording his impressions make his account appealing to the modern reader. Particularly noteworthy are his descriptions of the countryside in western Ohio and northern Kentucky, the vignette of the July Fourth celebration in Troy, the outbreak of "cholera" near Cincinnati, and the conversation with the Kentucky mountaineer. Although this Christian is filled with charity for his fellow beings, he is resentful of ostentation, as is shown in his commentary on the prominent lawyer who, becoming a clergyman, forsook the world in order to "live well" on a plantation. Piqua, July Tuesday 7th 1835. My Dear Maria, I wrote you from Troy on Friday 3rd and hope that you have received my letter-- I embrace an opportunity of sending this to Columbus by Col. Johnston--4 He will reach there by Monday next and you will receive this by tomorrow week at farthest. I hope that you are fast recovering your strength5 and that the children are well-- My health is very fine and my spirits continue good - I enjoy the agency, so far, very much. On Friday evening I met the Miami Co. Bible society at the Baptist church in Troy and we had a good meeting. On Saturday Committees waited on me to unite with Mr. Guion6 who had been appointed chaplain to officiate at two cele-   4. John Johnston (1775-1861), the Indian agent who served with Brigadier General Wayne in his campaign against the Indians in northwestern Ohio in 1792-93. Johnston, too, had emigrated from Ireland. 5. Mrs. McElroy had had her second child on June 20. 6. Alvah Guion, a graduate of Kenyon College and ordained deacon in 1832, served his first parish in Piqua, Ohio; was ordained priest in 1834; served as rector in Greenville in 1837; died 1872.

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Journey of James McElroy                                           223

 

brations of the 4th--one a general celebration and the other a celebration by the

young gentlemen and Ladies of the Village--At the time appointed for the proces-

sion to form a committee for the general celebration came up to wait on us down

to where it was to form - The procession was large and preceded by a good band

of music [.] we marched to the Episcopal church where after prayers by Mr. Guion,

the reading of the declaration of Independence by one appointed for the purpose an

oration was delivered by the orator of the day. An anthem was then performed by

the choir of the church in very good style accompanied by an organ which they have

already procured. After the services we marched in procession to a long arbor in

the centre of the square where a very good dinner was prepared. In the afternoon a

committee from the young gentlemen and ladies waited on us to attend us to their

celebration. It consisted in tea and cake prepared by the benevolent society of the

Episcopal church--forty couple[s] sat down--the young ladies drest [sic] in

white and the gentlemen in their best suit[s]. It was a delightful sight. Mr. Guion

asked the blessing and I returned thanks. After tea the whole party took a walk and

after the walk returned to the house opposite to which the arbor was prepared under

which the tea and cake were served up and spent the evening very innocently and

delightfully - On Saturday evening I preached in the Episcopal church upon the

subject of my mission and fifteen dollars were contributed to be appropriated to

constituting Mr. Guion a life member of the Parent Society--On Sunday I attended

the Episcopal and Presbyterian Sunday Schools in Troy and addressed them--

preached in the Episcopal church Troy in the forenoon and in the afternoon in the

Episcopal church in Piqua. The church in Troy is a truly elegant building--The

congregations were large and attentive - Several who heard me preach in Troy

came up to Piqua to hear me again--On yesterday I attended in the forenoon at the

Presbyterian church and was present and assisted at their monthly concert for prayer.

The pastor is of a most excellent spirit--In the afternoon I met the female Bible

society of Piqua and vicinity and other friends of the Object at the Episcopal

church--The meeting was opened by the Presbyterian Br. [Brother] and closed by

the Baptist Br. I preached and felt happy in the work--a very deep impression was

made. The Presbyterian Br. rose and melted down.⁷ Said he wished that something

should be done and moved that the gentlemen present should make a subscription on

the spot to aid the foreign distribution - Thirty four dollars were immediately

subscribed and gentlemen volunteered to extend it out of the congregation--The

ladies society emptied their treasury into my hands for the same object--gave the

noble gift of 60 dollars--In the afternoon I attended the missionary concert of

prayer in the Episcopal church and made an address--The Episcopal churches of

Troy and Piqua are very flourishing and Mr. Guion is very much beloved--Last

evening we came up to Col. Johnston's and spent the night there--I am now writing

at his brother's a very wealthy & respectable gentleman--On the way up the Col.

told me that he is to be in Columbus on Monday next and I sit down amidst talk and

chat and laugh to scribble this.

I scarcely know what I have written. I am very happy--Every one with whom I

have to do treat me with respect and great attention--The country in all this

region is very healthy--The cholera is in Cincinnati but confined to very few--&

excites scarcely any attention--It was confined in the neighborhood of Warren to

7. An old expression for cashing a check; meaning here that the "Presbyterian Br." made the

first contribution. Eric Partridge, A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (New

York, 1953).

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224                                                            OHIO HISTORY

 

a few men who went out to catch fish in the canal drained of its water. After catching

a great quantity of fish and collecting them in a house near they commenced to frolick

--drank all night and next morning cooked and eat their fish already somewhat

tainted--They frolicked again that day and on their return every one of them was

taken & died with cholera. It had, exclusively, confined itself to that number--

Farewell the Lord be with thee. I now start for Greenville.

Ever your

James--

[On the back:] Mr. McElroy left Piqua last week in good health and spirits for

Greenville, thence to Oxford &c. his visit at Piqua was very satisfactory to himself

his friends and the friends of the Bible cause.

Johnston

Mrs. McElroy.

Columbus, July 13

 

Hamilton, Butler Co. July 11th 1835

My Dear Maria,

You have reced., I hope, my letter from Troy of the 3rd inst. I wrote, at Piqua,

on Tuesday last the 8th inst. and left the letter to be carried to Columbus on Monday

next and mailed on Tuesday by Col. Johnston. In the Piqua letter I gave you a

history of my visit and labors in Troy and Piqua up to the hour I was starting for

Greenville the county seat of Darke Co. I shall now give you my history since

Tuesday morning and promise that my health is excellent, thank God! It has been

improving every hour. My mind is often with you and the children and I hope and

pray that you are fast recovering your strength, & that the children are well--I had

a solitary ride over to Greenville--ten or twelve miles of the road is an unbroken

wilderness and little better than an indian trail--When about half way the report

of a distant huntsman's gun was reviving--It rained which made the way more

gloomy. I reached Greenville about seven in the evening and met with a very cordial

reception from Dr. Briggs⁸ and lady of our church--The secretary of the Co. Bible

society was absent and no appointment was made. But Mr. Sheldon⁹ had been there

three weeks ago and done my work for me--On Wednesday the Episcopalians

requested me to preach for them in the evening which I did with pleasure to a

crowded audience. I preached in the court-house and had hardly room to stand the

room was so full. I preached without notes and for the first time to my satisfaction.

The church people were so pleased after service that they were ready to put green

rushes under my feet.¹⁰ On Thursday I left Greenville for Eton [Eaton] the Co. seat

of the Co. South and stopped halfway at a farm house to feed Charly and if convenient

to get dinner--The house proved clean and neat inside and I had scarcely been

seated when the lady of the house a very tidy and interesting young woman inquired

if I was not a clergyman--Being answered in the affirmative She told me that she

 

8. The Episcopalians in Greenville, Darke County, did not have an organized parish until

Dr. John Briggs and his wife Eliza A. Briggs led in its organization, with missionary aid from

Rev. Alvah Guion, in 1837. In that year Rev. Guion became rector of the newly established

St. Paul's Episcopal Church; their first building was not erected until 1840. Frazer E. Wilson,

History of Darke County, Ohio . . . (Milford, O., 1914), I, 214-216.

9. Unknown.

10. A biblical expression denoting a way of honoring a person. Today we would say "roll out

the red carpet."

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Journey of James McElroy                                             225

 

was raised in the presbyterian church as was also her husband but that they had not

heard a sermon for two years--But one family in ten in her neighborhood had a

Bible--Her husband soon came in--My horse was well taken care of and a good

dinner furnished to me--I told them who and what I was. As I was preparing to

go off she assisted me in holding the tapes & pins to fix my leggins and appeared so

kind that I feel happy in telling you her kindness and when I presented money they

refused--Such disinterested kindness far from home and in the wilderness melts

me and does me good--

Reached Eton about 5 and put up at a Hotel--On enquiry learned that the

Pres. cler. [Presbyterian clergy] to whom I sent my circular had left and that there

was no appointment--I found but two friends of the Bible cause in town a

presbyterian elder and a new light preacher.11  I spent the night at the preacher's--

On Friday left Eton for Oxford the seat of the Miami University and reached it about

four in the afternoon - put up at a hotel and after having shaved and dressed up

called on the president Dr. Bishop^12--found him at home and was most cordially

reced. by him and lady. I spent the night with him - At six met the faculty and

the pastor of the Pres. ch. [Presbyterian Church] in Oxford by appointment of the

President and laid the object of my visit before them. Some interest was excited and

I was requested to meet the the [sic] University next morning after prayers in the

college chapel--Spent a pleasant afternoon--the President took me through the

college and the Prof. of Natural Science showed me their apparatus &c. I was very

much pleased with the professors--Next morning met the University and some of

the townspeople and spoke for 20 minutes on the subject of my mission--I was

to be in Hamilton at 12 to meet the Co. Soc. [Society] and could not spare more time.

An interest seemed to be excited and I reced. a pledge that something handsome

wd. [would] be done. Left Oxford at 1/2 / 0 nine [9:30] and got to this place just in

time for the meeting--Made a speech and a good deal of interest has been excited.

I am to preach tomorrow in the two presbyterian churches and in the evening for the

Episcopalians in either of the Presbyterian churches--The country from Eton to

Oxford 18 miles and from Oxford to this place 12 miles is in a high state of cultivation

and is the most delightful section I have yet seen in the state--The county is very

healthy and the cholera has disappeared from the city--Cincinnati only 25 miles

from this place--I go down on Monday.

I have been greatly disappointed--I expected to find a letter from you in Oxford

but there was no letter there and today I expected certainly to find one here but no

letter. I shall live in hope that tomorrow's mail will bring one. I shall write again

from Cincinnati on Thursday morning next. I hope again that you are fast recovering

and that the children are well--I hope that Mr. Shepherd's¹³ family and all friends

are well--

The great head of the church is giving me acceptance with the people and my

agency so far has been of the most pleasant nature--Excepting the unpleasantness

of being separated from my family I have never enjoyed myself so well--I commend

you all to the care and protection of our Heavenly Father.

James

11. The Baptist and the Christians, or New Lights as they were commonly called, believed

that immersion was the only Scriptural form of baptism, while the Presbyterians and Methodists

approved the traditional form of sprinkling.

12. Robert Hamilton Bishop (1777-1855), president of Miami University from 1824 to 1841

and afterwards a professor there.

13. Unknown.

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226                                                              OHIO HISTORY

 

Lexington, September 23rd. 1835

My Dear Maria,

I reached Lexington yesterday about 4 P.M. in fine health and spirits thank God!

and put up with our old friends Mr. and Mrs. Caswall at the Theological Seminary

of the Diocese of Kentucky.¹⁴ They are most pleasantly and delightfully situated.

Mrs. Caswall was confined of a boy (a second child) about 4 weeks ago. Both Mother

and child are doing very well--They are overflowing with affection and kindness.

I was at the Post office yesterday evening, and this morning in tiptoe expectation of

a letter from you, but no letter from you was there--You are not, however, to blame

as the 27th inst. was the time I specified for Lexington. I crossed the Ohio a few

minutes after I mailed my letter from Portsmouth and proceeded up and down the

high, rough and wild hills or mountains of Greenup Co. Kentucky to fill my appoint-

ment at the Pres. ch. [church] But few attended--I made a short address and

returned two miles on my way to Lewis Co. to dine with a Widow Lawson--15 After

dinner started for Mr. C. [T.] Marshall's¹⁶ 12 miles distant in Lewis Co. Reached

Mr. Marshall's late in the evening and met with a very warm reception from him and

lady-- Mr. Marshall is a nephew [brother] of the late chief justice Marshall and

his lady very nearly related to the great Washington. Wednesday left Mr. Marshall's

for his brother's [nephew's] Martin P. Marshall's of Fleming Co. 40 miles distant--

At 1 stopped at Clarksburg the Co. seat of Lewis Co. and dined and fed my horse--

Clarksburg is a very small place-number of houses about 15 and the population 40.

The inhabitants are a wild people--perfect mountaineers. The high hills in the

neighborhood are full of bear and these Kentuckians often hunt them with hatchet

and knife--We count (said one who dined at the same table with me) the man a

coward who would not attack a bear single handed with a knife. I had a long conver-

sation with these buccaneers the details of which I shall keep for a fire side chat--

Started at 2 and reached Mr. Martin P. Marshall's noble mansion at seven P. M. and

was reced. with great kindness--This gentleman lives in a very fine stile [sic]--a

little slave waits on every child--or rather every one of his children is waited on at

breakfast, dinner &c. by a little slave--His wife is an old acquaintance of Mrs.

Little¹⁷ and spoke very highly of her--Left Mr. Marshall's at 9 next morning for

Rev. Mr. Todd's of the Pres. ch. of Flemingsburg--Found Mr. Todd at home and

was reced. and treated by him and lady with great affection. Spent the day writing

letters and making arrangements for my visitations--I am to be in Flemingsburg

 

14. Henry Caswall (1810-70) was born in England and graduated from Kenyon College in

1830. He graduated from the Kenyon Theological Seminary in 1831 and was ordained deacon

at the same time. His first parish was Portsmouth, Ohio, July 1831. One biography includes the

statement that he was the first minister ordained at Kenyon; this is an error since James McElroy

was also ordained at the same graduation, but with a second order. Caswall was sent to the

newly established Theological Seminary at Lexington in 1834. Henry Caswall, America, and the

American Church (London, 1851), 69, 78-79, 186, 205-206. Appleton's Cyclopaedia of Ameri-

can Biography (New York, 1887), 556, includes many errors in its presentation.

15. Probably the mother of the late physician Leonidas Moreau Lawson, whose father was a

clergyman in Kentucky. If so, her maiden name was Hannah Chancellor.

16. McElroy is a little confused in his reporting of the Marshalls. He apparently first stopped

at General Thomas Marshall's (1793-1853), brother of Chief Justice Marshall. "C" (Charles)

Marshall was father to Martin P. Marshall (1798-1883) and brother to Thomas, making Martin

nephew of Thomas. Since both men were nearly the same age, the confusion is understandable.

Thomas Marshall's estate comprised three thousand acres, and that of Martin P. Marshall,

"Belle-Grove," was also large and was noted for its beauty and "well selected" library. W. M.

Paxton, The Marshall Family (Cincinnati, 1885), 115-117, 125-127.

17. The first letter is addressed, "c/o Wm. Little, Esq., Delaware."

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Journey of James McElroy                                              227

 

again on the 1st Sunday in October--Left Mr. Todd's on Friday morning for

Millersburg in Bourbon Co. 26 miles distant--Stopped on the way with an old

Pres. cler. dined with him and had my horse fed--He was for many years at the

head of the profession of law in Maryland but on his conversion gave up the world

and entered the ministry--He has a large plantation owns slaves and lives well--

Left him at 2 and reached Millersburg at 6--It rained on me the greater part of

the way into Millersburg and rained in such torrents the whole evening that I could

not get a meeting as I had arranged--Spent this night at a tavern. Next morning

after breakfast rode into Paris the Co. seat and 16 miles from Lexington. Called at

the Episco. clergymans [sic] and was reced. most cordially by him and lady--Spent

the afternoon in visiting on my mission--Preached for him on Sunday morning and

at the Pres. ch. in the afternoon for the Bible Society. Reced. $41. Rode from Paris

here yesterday--I shall go tomorrow to Frankfort and return next day and spend

next Sunday and Monday here. I shall hope to find a letter from you on my return

from Frankfort--Greenup and Lewis Counties are but thinly settled--The hills

are so high and steep and the valleys so narrow that the population will always be

few and poor--Part of Fleming Co. is also mountainous, but part very fine--My

ride from Fleming to the Pres. Cler. with whom I dined was across a steeply rolling

country but notwithstanding well settled--From his house to Paris and from Paris

to Lexington is truly delightful--About 3 miles from the clerg. house I struck the

Turnpike from Lexington to Maysville--The road is such another as our best roads

and the country on both sides to Lexington is very rich and extremely well culti-

vated--It looks very like Ireland It may be well called the Ireland of America as to

soil and appearance of the face of the country and somewhat so as to the inhabitants.

Lexington for an american city is very elegant. The inhabitants are up to the ton

of fashion [fashionable]. There is quite an aristocracy here. The Kentuckians in the

region in which I have traveled are not very unlike the southern Ohioans and I do

not think they exceed us in hospitality - I have been entertained with as much

hospitality in Ohio as I have here. I have met with but little true refinement--The

majority of the ladies are in manner very like Sarah Regger [a hometown allu-

sion?]--That is the style but here in Lexington they are quite refined as much so

as in any part of the world--Where ever I have traveled I have been known--I

have met with some one who knew us at Gambier either personally or by report.

How strange this is! Thank God we are known favorably. I am very anxious to know

what is going on at Miami University for us. I am very doubtful as to duty. If I

could procure a livelihood by parochial labor I should prefer it far - You and our

dear charly¹⁸ and babes are constantly with me. I shall hope that my unworthy

prayers for your safey, comfort and salvation will be heard and answered--Write

to Maysville Mason Co. Kentucky - I said by mistake Washington Co. in my

letter from Portsmouth - Write on receipt of this. I shall hope to hear from you

on my return from Frankfort. Mr. and Mrs. Caswall send their love to you--Kiss

the children for me and believe me

Ever your

Jas. McElroy

 

18. The eldest child, Charles Henry (1830-1901).

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