ORIGIN, RISE,
PROGRESS AND DECLINE OF THE
WHITEWATER
COMMUNITY OF SHAKERS
LOCATED IN HAMILTON
COUNTY,
OHIO.
BY J. P. MAC LEAN.
While engaged in collecting the material
for the article on
West Union, I engaged in a
correspondence with Elder Charles
H. Sturr, general manager of the
Whitewater community. He
invited me to make him a visit, and I
should have the freedom
of all the archives of the society. I
determined at once to accept
the invitation, and although the
distance is about forty miles I
decided to drive through. The route took
me diagonally across
Butler county from northeast to
southwest, which was quite hilly,
and the greater part of the distance the
roads were muddy. The
worst mudhole I struck was Hamilton, the
streets being full
of chuckholes. The lower road from
Hamilton to Millville was
so out of repair I had difficulty passing
over. Early on the morn-
ing of May 30, 1903, I started on my
journey.
Fifteen years before, I was familiar
with every nook and
corner of the county. I had geologized
all its fossil beds, and
searched out all its archaeological
remains. Either I or the gen-
eral aspect had changed, for the views
did not have the same
appearance. There was a wornout air
almost everywhere. The
roads were in the worst condition I ever
saw them, and the
poorest I had seen in years.
Although I had never seen the Shaker
lands, the moment
I struck them I knew I was on their
possessions. The fences
were in good condition, the lands cared
for, and there was the
general aspect of thriftiness. When I
caught sight of the first
house, my opinion was confirmed that
I was on the lands of the
Shakers, for the same style of
architecture, solid appearance, and
want of decorative art were before me. I
knocked at the door,
which was opened by a small lady. I
asked her name, and she
26 Vol. XIII.
(401)
402 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
replied "Adaline Wells." I was
astonished. I had supposed she
was no more. She is eighty years old but
could pass for sixty.
She is spry, animated, and possessed of
a clear mind. I passed
on to the Center family, and was there
greeted by Elder Sturr,
who made me feel at home without any
ceremony. I was as-
signed quarters in what is called the
Office. My lodgings con-
sisted of two rooms, of three beds, with
good furnishings. I was
here under the care of Eldress Julia Ann
Bear, who has been a
member since 1846. My meals were
furnished me separately,
and as I partook of the viands, two
ladies engaged me in con-
versation.
The Shaker lands are situated on the Dry
Forks of the
Whitewater, in the northwest part of
Hamilton county, with
400 acres in Butler county. The farms,
for the most part, are
level, composed of black soil, with a
circular ridge of hills sur-
rounding them. The view is pleasing to
the eye and furnishes
ample material for a beautiful landscape
painting. The posses-
sions comprised, in one body, are 1457
acres. In 1825, there
was purchased on Dry Fork Creek, 215 acres at $6.50 per acre;
in 1827, 40 acres at $1.26 per acre; 305
acres of Congress land
at $1.20 per acre; in 1829, 135 acres for $2,000; 1835, 137 acres
for $3,000; 1838, 197 acres for $7,000;
1847, 30 acres for
$1,000; 1850, 200 acres for $10,000. In 1827 Joseph Boggett, a
member, deeded his farm of 160 acres.
During the daytime, Elder Sturr was with
me the greater
part of the time, conducting me over the
premises and through
the buildings. He showed me all their
collections of books, with
the invitation "If you see anything
here you want, take it." I
obeyed the mandate. I was not invited to
the services on Sun-
day, and knowing that public meetings
were no longer held, I
did not seek admittance, although I
should have been present
otherwise. I staid in Elder Sturr's room
during the service,
examining old documents. I could hear
the singing and noted
there were excellent voices among the
young sisters. After
services Eldress Amanda Rubush and
Matilda A. Butler, called
on me, and engaged in conversation.
Eldress Amanda's private
room is handsomely decorated and her
collection of china shows
off to advantage. In the afternoon I
called on the venerable
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 403
Henry Bear, now in his 91st year. He
joined the society during
the Miller excitement in 1846, and from
that time till 1901 was
an officer in continuous service. He is
still hale and hearty, and
ever ready with a reason for the hope
that is within him. He
undertook to make a Shaker out of me,
but his efforts fell on
unfruitful soil. However I enjoyed my
little visit with him.
The Society has forty-three members,
including minors. The
Society takes children out of orphan
asylums and rears them;
but few become permanent members. Elder
Sturr has been a
member of this Society since he was
three weeks old, and for
twenty years was a trustee, and during
the last two years has
filled the office of Elder, succeeding
Elder Bear. He is sociable,
well-informed, and utterly devoid of all
ostentation. If it were
not for his "yea," and
"nay" you would not suspect his creed.
This, however, is true of nearly all of
the Ohio Shakers.
My visit to Whitewater will be
remembered as one of the
most pleasant incidents in my life.
MANUSCRIPTS.
There are comparatively few MSS. at
Whitewater. Elder
Sturr found the church record in parts,
thrown into the coal bin,
ready for the furnace. The scattered
pages he carefully ar-
ranged in their proper places, and then
copied the same into a
separate book. Into the same book he has
copied from other
MSS., especially the diaries of Ebenezer
Rice, Stephen Ball and
Henry Rice. The early church records are
made up from the
MS. of Calvin Morrell. 1884, Elder Sturr
commenced a jour-
nal which he has continued down to the
present. After consoli-
dating the various MSS., Elder Sturr has
taken the pains to
classify some of the important
transactions. But owing to the
loss of a great part of the church
records, his consolidated MS.
is neccessarily incomplete. What
follows, in this article is almost
wholly taken from the Sturr MS.
DARBY PLAINS.
In 1801
a movement commenced in Lyndon, Vt., which
gave
rise to the Christian (New Light) Church
in New England. Be-
lievers of this order from Connecticut
and Rhode Island settled
404
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
on Darby Plains, Union township, Union
county, Ohio, seventy
miles northeast of Union village. Their
leader was Douglass
Farnum, but known among his adherents as
Elder Farnum.
There was also a young preacher, by name
of Nathan Burlin-
game. In the year 1818 the work of
confession of sins broke
out among them, which was blown into an
excitement, and
within ten days, several hundred were
drawn into the movement,
all of whom set about to right their
wrongs. Unfortunately some
of these confessions were made in the
presence of those who were
destitute of that charity that covereth
a multitude of sins. This
resulted in many forsaking their good
resolutions and turning
against their former friends.
The work among the people at Darby
Plains became known
at Union Village. Continued reports
finally caused David Dar-
row to send forth messengers of inquiry.
During the month
of June 1820, Richard McNemar and Calvin
Morrell were dis-
patched, with instructions to find out
their state without com-
mitting themselves. Elder Farnum
received them with an af-
fectionate embrace and saluted them with
a kiss. There was an
interchange of good feeling, during
which Elder Farnum gave
an account of the revival work they were
engaged in. On the
following day, in presence of some of
the neighbors, the nature
of confession was under discussion. In
the afternoon, in an
adjacent grove, a public meeting was
held, addressed by both
McNemar and Morrell. The third day the
messengers returned
to Union Village.
On August 5, Douglass Farnum, Samuel
Rice, Sr., and
Elijah Bacon, arrived at Union Village
from Darby Plains, and
next day (Sunday), Farnum spoke in
public meeting. On the
9th, Ebenezer Rice and others from the Plains arrived.
Darrow
was greatly pleased with Farnum and
declared him to be "the
weightiest man that ever came to the
Village." He "appeared to
be a man of great government over
himself, and notwithstanding
great plainness of speech was frequently
used towards him, he
remained a mild, quiet spirit, and in
all things behaved himself
discreetly. He acknowledged the weight
of our testimony and
did not venture to contradict in a
single instance." Two years
later he died on the Plains of Sandusky.
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 405
Samuel Rice made a most excellent
impression on all who
saw him, "His unfeigned simplicity
and honesty created in all
who conversed with him universal esteem
and good will. He
drank deep of the living waters, and
appeared to be perfectly
satisfied with our testimony."
Late, in the same summer, another visit
was made to the
Plains, and in return, (probably August
9), a wagon load came
to Union Village, consisting of Ebenezer
Rice (son of Samuel),
Archibald Bates and their wives, and
Almira Burnham. Early in
the spring of 1821 another visit was
made to Darby Plains, but
as all the preachers were absent, except
Bates, "who was a quib-
bler, we found it would be of very
little use to continue our
visits."
Calvin Morrell "never felt released
in relation to the people"
on Darby Plains, and as "some
circumstances took place which
brought the Darby people once more into
remembrance," it was
decided by Darrow that he and Samuel
Sering should make
another effort. On October 3, 1822, they proceeded on
their
journey. Upon their arrival at the
Plains they learned that
Nathan Burlingame had started that day
on a preaching tour and
would not return for two weeks.
"Nathan, being warned of
God in a dream, returned next day, and
was greatly pleased with
the Shakers' visit and
conversation." After laboring a few weeks,
with fair prospects of success, the two
brethren returned home,
bringing a good report. While discussing
the feasibility of an-
other mission, a letter was received
from Samuel Rice, Sr., stat-
ing that many of the people were sick of
fever. The next morn-
ing the same two brethren started
posthaste for the Plains.
"When we arrived there all was
gloomy indeed. Many who a
few weeks before were rugged and
cheerful, were now reduced
to skeletons, and felt weak in soul and
body. We made the best
of the situation. The sickness had begun
to abate and the people
looked and felt much better every way,
when we had discharged
our duty." After an absence of
three weeks they returned home.
On November 23, 1822, Nathan Burlingame
made his first
visit to Union Village, and with him
came Samuel Rice, William
and Zilpha Burnham and others. They were
kindly received,
and anxious for the decision of Nathan,
knowing that his people
406
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
were waiting to see what course he would
pursue. He keenly felt
the responsibility of his position, but
after due deliberation, he
cast his lot with the Shakers, and was
followed by all who came
with him.
On January 8, 1823, Issachar Bates and
Richard McNemar
started to Darby Plains, and returned
the 24th. No farther rec-
ord of this trip.
In March, William Burnham and Nathan
Burlingame and
his wife were at Union Village.
"This was a profitable visit
to Nathan, for he received much counsel
from us, especially in
relation to the order of gathering young
believers together."
Nathan returned and gave his whole time,
with great devotion,
to the work. Within a few weeks he had
converted several
families. It was now decided to form a
community on Darby
Plains, and the plantation of Samuel
Rice was selected as the
most eligible for a beginning. Nathan
was instructed to give
up his land, with all that might accrue
from it, to Martin Sim-
mons and Gideon Brownell, who were very
poor, and move
to the new gathering order.
On April 23, 1823, Calvin Morrell, James
McNemar, Nancy
Rollins, Phoebe Seely and Samuel Sering
set out for Darby,
-four in a carriage and one on
horseback. Owing to the con-
dition of the roads the journey was very
tedious. Some places
the mud was knee deep to the horses, and
this continued for
a mile at a stretch. On the fourth day
the party reached
its destiny, and found the people in
high spirits, and determ-
ined to work in union and obedience. The
visitors held public
meetings, and bore "a heavy
testimony to the world; so that
persecution was stirred up and the
wicked did some mischief
to our wagon and stoned us with
stones." The missionaries
extended their labors to the Scioto,
where they visited John
Sell. The party returned to Union
Village, May 29th. The
Darby people were left making every
arrangement for laying
the foundation of a society and village,
with bright prospects
of success.
On August 5th, Calvin Morrell, Samuel
Sering, Charity
(Peggy) Houston and Thankful Stewart set
out for the Plains.
The people were found to be doing well,
and the brethren as-
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 407
sisted them in building a meeting house.
Also a second mis-
sionary trip was extended to the Scioto.
The believers on Darby
now numbered forty. Having completed the
work allotted, the
party returned to Union Village on the 29th.
INTEREST IN WHITEWATER.
Whilst the energies were being devoted
to Darby Plains,
a woman by name of Miriam, wife of
Joseph Agnew, in the
spring of 1823, visited Union Village.
She came from the dry
fork of the Whitewater, and reported
that some time previously
a great revival of religion broke out
among the Methodists,
and that the work was now on the decline
and likely to leave
the subjects of it short of the object
desired. Her story was
affecting, and produced intense interest
in all who heard it.
She united with the Shakers, and then
returned to her family,
after extending a very pressing
invitation for a visit to her
neighborhood. Soon after Richard Pelham
and George Black-
leach were dispatched to the new field,
who opened the testi-
mony, and among those who believed were
Joseph and Brant
Agnew. Several other visits were
afterwards made. Samuel
Sering and George Blackleach set out
July 10th and returned
the 16th. By autumn the number of
believers, including their
children, amounted to about thirty.
ORGANIZING AT WHITEWATER.
The Darby settlement was an enterprise
that required pro-
found attention. By the fall of 1823 it
was realized that the
location was a sickly one, and that the
district was held by
military claims, and that the rights in
many cases proved a
source of litigation. The Shakers were
fearful that if they made
extensive improvements their labors
might be lost. On the
other hand the country about Whitewater
was not only a good
locality, but the rights were
indisputable. By combining the
two settlements into one, a good
foundation would be laid for
a strong Society. These considerations
decided the authorities
at Union Village to remove the Darby
people to the White-
water.
408 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
According to previous arrangements, on December 2nd,
Calvin Morrell and Stephen Williams set
out for the Plains in
order to give notice and administer the
gift felt for them. On
the way they met Nathan Burlingame and
James Thompson.
The gift was cordially received at
Darby, and the party re-
turned on the 9th, bringing Martin
Simmons and Jefferson Rice
along with them. On the 10th, the whole
party started for the
Whitewater with the addition of Matthew
Houston. All put
up with Brant Agnew, who received them
cordially.
Almost immediately persecution showed
itself. One of
their horses had one ear cut off and the
other partly so; the
curtains of the wagon were nearly all
cut away and the inside
defiled; the gears were injured, and the
doubletrees thrown
into the creek, and were not recovered
until months afterward.
Nothing daunted, the brethren were
called together and the
object of the visit presented. The news
was received with
every manifestation of good feeling and
satisfaction. Having
surveyed the field and visited the
several families the party re-
turned to Union Village.
On January 1st, 1824, Calvin
Morrell set out alone for
Darby Plains. He found the people in
high spirits. He dis-
patched Martin Simmons to Whitewater in
order to procure a
small place for a temporary residence
for the people. The money
was principally furnished by Samuel
Rice, Sr., yet such was
the zeal manifested by all, that every
one cast in their money
that they might have an interest in the
joint investment.
Having completed the necessary
arrangements for the re-
moval, Calvin and Nathan started for the
Plains of Sandusky
in search of widow Susan Farnum and
Polly Clark. On their
arrival they learned that both had
removed to Kingston, forty
miles distant. Thither the brethren went
and after much serious
labor with them, gained their consent to
move to Whitewater.
The first move appears to have been made
in February,
by Nathan's family. He hired a team, and with a two-horse
wagon moved the most valuable part of
his property, and set-
tled on the forty-acre lot that had been
purchased by Martin
Simmons on the Whitewater. This property
cost $200 and the
deed made to the trustees for the good
of the whole. The party
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 409
proceeded by way of Watervliet, near
Dayton, where it received
much kindness and help. Another part of
the Darby people
began to move on February 9th. They
proceeded by way of
Union Village, where a four-horse wagon
load of provisions
joined them. In the meantime (January
22) Richard Pelham
and George Blackleach had been
dispatched to Whitewater as
advance assistants.
At Union Village the Darby people were
joined by Thomas
Hunt, who went with them to Whitewater,
where all arrived in
safety. They first stopped with Anthony
McKee, but after ten
days got possession of their new land,
and moved into a
cabin eighteen feet square, with a
lean-to in the rear. Necessity
compelled them to use this until larger
quarters could be ob-
tained.
Calvin was now dispatched to the Plains
again to super-
intend the removal of other families,
mostly poor people who
had to be helped. For this purpose
several teams from Union
Village were sent. "Nothing worth
mentioning took place until
they were all landed at the place of
destination, where homes
were provided for them as speedily as
possible. Some crowd-
ing and scolding naturally took place,
but no one was materially
injured in soul or body. Most of the
people seemed pleased
with their new situation, and seemed in
high spirits. The mov-
ing continued throughout the summer, and
near a year had
elapsed before all got down." The
following are the names of
those who moved from Darby Plains, and
who remained faith-
ful to their cause: Nathan and Emma
Burlingame, Samuel,
Sr., Samuel, Jr., Jefferson, Ebenezer,
Caleb, Lucy and Mariah
Rice; John and Lucy Easterbrooks, James
and Dorcas Wells;
Zilpha and Polly Burnham, Polly and
Susan Champlain,
Susannah Farnham, Sarepta Henman, and
Martin and Char-
lotte Simmons, with their children. Those who believed at
Whitewater were Joseph Brant, Caty and
Miriam Agnew, Jo-
seph and Peggy Boggett, Sarah McKee and
Samuel B. Crane,
with their children. There were others
who finally seceded, but
their names are not preserved.
410 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
DISCOURAGEMENTS.
In the early history of this community
there were a number
of circumstances that produced
discouragements and other un-
comfortable feelings, all of which, by
due perseverance, were
overcome. Those who came from Darby
Plains were subjected
to the same fever that afflicted them
formerly, which made them
feel that their constitutions were
broken down. For the most
part, these people were poor and the
land procured for them
was thin and not calculated for raising
grain, and only of that
three acres cleared. The land rented did
not produce well, prin-
cipally owing to sickness, the brethren
were not able properly to
cultivate it. Added to this, they were
destitute of proper nourish-
ment for the sick. None, however died.
What little they had
was husbanded for the winter. They had
no hogs and no money
to purchase meat. The help they received
from Union Village,
and what could be spared by those
previously on the ground,
in a measure tended materially to
relieve their wants. Calvin
Morrell has preserved the following:
"Meat with them was
scarce. Sugar they had little or none,
and milk but seldom.
Bread was greatly lacking, while tea and
coffee were out of
the question. It was Lent with them
nearly all the year round.
Their common manner was to buy a side of
bacon and make
sop for their johnny cake. The sop was
made by mixing a
sufficient quantity of milk and water
with enough meat cut in
small pieces to make the composition
somewhat greasy, and the
whole was fried together until the meat
had nearly vanished.
This was used morning and noon. For
breakfast they had herb
tea. For dinner potatoes and sauce. For
supper milk porridge,
but more commonly water porridge. When
wheat could be pro-
cured it was mixed with Indian meal,
with rye mixed with
the Indian corn for a change.
In the summer of 1825 a spirit of
infidelity crept in among
the believers, which caused confusion
and distress. Under the
labors of Calvin Morrell, Phoebe Seely
and Mary Bedle-sent
from Union Village-this reign was ended
by a portion with-
drawing and others restored to the
faith.
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 411
LANDS PURCHASED.
It was a matter of great anxiety to have
a sufficient num-
ber of acres lying contiguous in order
that the colony might
have proper support. Calvin Morrell,
Nathan Burlingame and
Ebenezer Rice traversed the surrounding
country in search of
suitable lands. There were offers of
land, but none seemed de-
sirable.
It was finally decided to purchase the
lands of Mull and
McCance lying on the dry fork of
Whitewater, which pre-
sented a good mill site. Union Village
purchased the 100 acres
lying on the west side of the creek of
William McCance at $6.50
per acre. The Whitewater believers
bought the land on the
east side of George Mull for $1,200. It contained 115
acres.
These purchases put new zest into the
hearts of the be-
lievers. The winter of 1825-6 found the
people making prep-
arations to take possession of their new
farms. Many thou-
sand rails were made and hauled. The
fences, on the little
place they were about to leave, were put
in good repair. Im-
provements were first made on the west
side of the creek, for
there the settlement was to be made. The
crops were put in,
and two of the sisters came to cook.
Then the cabins were
moved and some new ones put up. In June
some of the Union
Village brethren arrived, in order to
assist in building the
houses. Just as fast as the cabins were
constructed they were
occupied, and this was continued until
all had been moved.
They found the soil favorable to
agriculture, and their crops
were abundant, and their gardens
produced beyond expectations.
Apples were plenty and peaches abundant.
The corn averaged
sixty bushels to the acre. Of broom corn
they planted eight
acres. Hogs were also raised.
During the month of July the children
were gathered in
the school order, and over them were
placed James Wells and
Susannah Farnum.
The records are silent as to the first
officers. It may be
inferred that Calvin Morrell had general
oversight, with Wil-
liam Davis as farm deacon and Phoebe
Seely and Mary Bedle
in charge of the sisters. Nathan
Burlingame was the preacher.
412
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
It was he, with Polly Burnham and Susannah Farnum, that
furnished the money to pay for the Mull
farm.
In 1827 a lot of 40 acres, adjoining the first purchased lot,
was bought at $1.26 per acre, after
first buying off the parties
who made claim to it. In September, 305
acres of Congress
land, lying near New Haven (Preston P.
0.) was entered at
$1.25 per acre.
During the month of March, the principal
part of the young
believers of West Union arrived for the
purpose of making
Whitewater their home. This was done
because, owing to the
fever-stricken locality, West Union was
broken up, and the
members scattered among all the western
societies, save that at
North Union.
This year the brick meeting-house was
constructed, 45 x 35
feet and two stories high. The time
occupied from its com-
mencement to its being finished was four
months. The first ser-
vice held in it was December 2, 1827.
OFFICERS APPOINTED.
The first specific reference to officers
occurs both in the Union
Village and Whitewater records for May 24th,
1828. The lat-
ter states that "E. Archibald and
Sister Eunice moved to White-
water, and with them came Joanna
Wallace. From this time
the Society was considered under the
care of the two first-named
persons. Calvin still continued
here."
On account of ill health Phoebe Seely
went back to Union
Village, and Mary Hopkins-late of West
Union, on April 19th,
1827, was sent to take her place.
The eternal fitness of things was not
always-perhaps rarely
-observed in the appointment of
officers. Elder Archibald
Meacham was now appointed at the head of
affairs, although
he was a conspicuous failure at West
Union. His appointment
and that of John Meacham, as first at
Pleasant Hill, Ky., and
David Meacham as first in the Ministry
at Union Village, in
1835, must be ascribed to a gross abuse
of favoritism. All the
documents that have come under my
inspection have led me to
infer that these three men were
mediocre. Certainly they per-
414
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
formed no service of value to Shakerism
in the West. Back of
all this, we find that Joseph Meacham
was among the early con-
verts of Ann Lee, and was the senior
Elder after the death
of Ann Lee and the first Elder, and it
was he who began the
organization of the several Societies.
He brought his wife and
entire family into the Shaker fold.
John, Archibald and David
were the sons of Joseph, and thereby
hangs the tale.
The same day Eldress Eunice Sering
started for Whitewater
to take first charge of the sisters,
having removed out of the Min-
istry's order at Union Village.
On September 18, 1828,
"Mary Bedle moved back to Union
Village, having lived here three years
as one of the Elder Sis-
ters."
On October 30, 1828, Archibald Meacham,
Calvin Morrell,
Eunice Sering, Mary Hopkins, Susannah
Stout and Joanna Wal-
lace moved into the upper part of the
meeting house which indi-
cates that they were in the Ministry
order.
During this year a large frame building
was erected for
the family. Assistance, in the way of
artisans, was rendered
from Union Village. The village at
Whitewater, at this time
was what now constitutes the North
Family. The Center Fam-
ily then had no existence.
IMPROVEMENTS AND EXTENSIONS.
During the month of September, 1828, a
dam was commenced
across the creek and timbers prepared
for a saw mill, in which
work the brethren generally
participated. As the race was long
several interruptions occurred before
its completion. By April
29, 1829,
the work had sufficiently advanced as to enable them
to commence sawing. On November 5th a
grist mill, 30 x 36
feet was framed.
Brant and Joseph Agnew sold their farm
of 160 acres for
$1,000. Samuel Rice, Sr., also sold his
farm, on Darby Plains,
for $800. Eli, a brother of Ezra
Sherman, who was a West
Union believer, sent word he had sold
his farm, fifty miles up
the Muskingum river, and desired to move
to Whitewater. Cal-
vin Morrell and Ezra Sherman were sent
to assist Eli. They
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 415
tarried in the neighborhood some days
and held a public meet-
ing. When they started on their return
many of the friends
and relatives collected and set up a
general wailing and uttered
threats against the Shakers for ruining
Eli's family, and for
two miles followed the wagons. Thirty
miles down the river
they stopped at Josiah Sherman's, who
also wanted to join the
Shakers. They built a boat and in it the
two families descended
the river. All were kindly received at
Whitewater.
The farm of Joseph Sater, comprising 135
acres, was next
purchased for $2,000. In April,
Brant Agnew moved on this
land. It proved productive and there was
a good yield of corn,
oats and potatoes.
During the year (1829) the Shakers
continued selling
brooms and garden seeds; and during the
winter made mats
in sufficient quantity to pay for all
the meat purchased by the
Society. These mats sold for from $2.25
to $2.35 per dozen,
the same price received for their
brooms.
LEGAL AND MILITARY TROUBLES.
At Union Village, October 22, 1829, just
as he was ready
to start to Whitewater, Elder Archibald
was arrested by a con-
stable for a claim of $99.99, made by an
apostate, James Wal-
lace, for work done at Whitewater, while
he (Wallace) was a
member at Union Village. The justice
allowed the claim.
As the Shakers were always averse to
war, the militia offi-
cers caused a lot of oats to be seized
and sold for failure in
military duty. In turn the Shakers
prosecuted the constable and
captain in action for trespass and
damages. On the day of
trial the justice called to his
assistance another squire, who was
major of the regiment. The testimony of
the Shakers was set
aside and the decision was, "No
cause for action." An appeal
was taken but never brought to trial.
On April 19th, 1830, another
military order was received
demanding fines. This being refused, all
their hogs were driven
off. The next day Ebenezer Rice, one of
the trustees, went to
Cincinnati to consult a lawyer. The
upshot was the Shakers
416 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
paid $20 to have the suit withdrawn.
This would indicate that
the Shakers - Quakers also- had no
redress in law.*
THE COVENANT.
For some reason unexplained the Covenant
had never been
signed by the Believers at Whitewater,
although all the deeds
had been made to the trustees; though
the names of the first
trustees are not given. On February 9th, 1830, Richard Mc-
*The militia officers did not always
have their own way. The
Quakers often outwitted them.
Springboro, Ohio, has long been known as
a Quaker community. The colonel of
militia was one Sweeny, who lived
at Ridgeville, and he was particularly
severe on the Quakers for not mus-
tering. Among the Quakers were three
rollicking brothers, young and
full of mischief, viz., Alfred, Hanse
and - Thomas. Sweeny had the
regiment drawn up in a large field,
armed with cornstalks, broom handles
and other makeshifts. He straddled a
small horse possessed of a spike
tail. At the proper time the three
brothers, well mounted, leaped the
fence, two of whom galloped up on either
side the doughty colonel, and
the third in the rear. At the same
instant all plied their whips to the
spike-tailed steed, which gave a bound,
with the lashes descending thick
and fast. Around the entire field three
times the racers ran, and then
the boys spurred their horses over the
fence and were soon out of reach.
Military dignity must be upheld. As the
reins of justice in Clearcreek
township was in the hands of the
Quakers, redress must be sought else-
where. Sweeny went before a justice in
Lebanon and swore out a war-
rant charging the boys with riot. The
father retained Tom Corwin, who
had even then gained a national reputation.
The trial was held in the
court house which was packed with
interested spectators. Evidence all
in, at the proper time Corwin arose, all
eager to hear what he might have
to say, for the case was plain against
the boys. The speaker paid a glowing
compliment to the militia, and in the
very midst of his panegyric, he
stopped, waited a moment, and then in
his inimitable way, described
the race around the field, which brought
roars of laughter from the au-
dience. Then he resumed his laudatory
praise of the militia, pictured it
in glowing terms as the arm of defense
of our homes and native land.
Again he stopped short and gave another
description of he race around
the field. Once more he launched into an
eulogium of the valiant militia,
described their uniforms, their gallant
bearing and redoubtable courage.
Suddenly, with the gravest of faces he
again pictured the race around the
field which brought forth another storm
of applause. Corwin saw that
the crowd and migistrate were with him,
and he rested his case. The
boys were immediately discharged.
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 417
Nemar arrived, who had been instructed
by the Mount Lebanon
Ministry to visit all the western
communities in the interests
of the new covenant that had been
recently adopted. In this
mission Richard devoted all his time
while sojourning at White-
water. This was not fully accomplished
until March 1st, when
he returned to Watervliet, Ohio. No
record is preserved of
those who signed the Covenant.
CONFLAGRATION.
The brethren, when time could be spared,
devoted their
energies towards buildings and other
improvements. On May
17th (1830) they began to frame a barn
which was raised June
14th,
its dimensions being 70 x 35 feet.
At 11 o'clock on the night of June 19th,
a fire broke out
in the kitchen, in the building occupied
by the children, and
in less than twenty minutes three of the
buildings were com-
pletely wrapt in flames. Nearly all the
household goods and
clothing were consumed. Happily no lives
were lost. Evidence
pointed out that it was the work of an
incendiary.
On July 13th, Abner Bedle and three
sisters arrived from
Union Village in order to inquire into
the extent of the loss.
Having obtained an inventory of the
same, after two days they
returned. On the 21st Joshua Worley
arrived from Union Vil-
lage with a wagon-load of property,
consisting mostly of cloth-
ing and provisions, to the amount of
$157.00.
The school family being left without a
home, the brethren,
on August 30th, laid the foundation of a
Tapia house, 40 x 20
feet, on the land purchased of Sater. By
September 21st about
half the second story was
completed. On a dark night, the
wicked tore down the four corners level
with the ground. The
season becoming late for such kinds of
buildings, the work was
covered and left for the ensuing summer.
This necessitated
the removing of cabins and fitting them
up for winter usage.
CHRONICLES.
In 1831 it was concluded to put in two
run of stone in
the grist mill. Ezra Sherman and Edward
Burnham were sent
Vol. XIII-27.
418 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
on October 1st to West Union, with a
yoke of oxen for a pair
of stones that had been abandoned here
in 1827. They were
gone a month. During the fall the first
land purchased (40
acres) by the Darby people, was sold for
$225. May 27th, on
his personal request, Calvin Morrell
returned to Union Village,
having been with the Whitewater people
from the fall of 1825,
zealously devoting his time and talents
in building up the little
colony. On November 11th, previous,
Daniel Sering had been
sent as aid to Elder Archibald, and he
remained till January
16, 1838. After the departure of Calvin,
Richard McNemar
remained for several days, arranging
matters for the permanent
security of the estate. On the 30th the
trustees named were
Samuel Rice, Ebenezer Rice and Brant
Agnew. Deeds of trust
were made and subscribed to by Ebenezer
Rice and Ezra Sher-
man.
In February a frame house for the South
family was com-
menced, 18 x 40 feet, with a stone
cellar. The first account of it
was in the year 1824 when it was a
log cabin 18 x 18 with a
lean to; in 1826, there were other log
cabins, but number and
dimensions not stated; the meeting
house, 45 x 35, erected in
1827; in 1829 the first saw and grist
mill; in 1830, a barn
70x 35; in 1830 a frame house 40x 20,
afterwards used for
the boys' residence.
In 1832, August 8th, commenced
constructing a brewery.
September 1st, commenced a dwelling 30 x
52 feet. The brick
house was finshed in April 1833.
In January 1834, a frame barn, 30 x 60
feet was commenced
at the South family, -carpenter work
contracted for $65, and
oak shingles made and put on $40, all
material furnished on the
ground. The barn was finished in July; August
25th commenced
building a brick work house 24 x 40.
September 28th, Rachel
Hall was appointed to succeed Mary
Hopkins, the latter being
recalled to Union Village.
March 1st, 1835, the farm of Aaron
Atherton, consisting of
175 acres was purchased for $3,000,
payable in three installments.
It was decided to raise the money by
fattening hogs; so all hands
assisted in raising corn. At Center
family, June 18th, a horse
stable 28 x 45 was raised; August 27th,
a brick kitchen 20 x 38
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline, Etc. 419
was built at South family. On December 20th, 75 hogs
sold for
$1,425. The amount owed on Atherton farm was deposited in
bank, so successful had the society been during the
year. This
left no outstanding debts.
For this year (1835), we first have a list
of members, and
also the information that a new covenant had been
signed. The
list of inhabitants, with ages, is thus given:
CENTER FAMILY.
BRETHREN. SISTERS.
Archibald Meacham
.......... 58 Eunice Sering ............... 42
Daniel Sering ............... 45 Rachel
Hall ................. 32
Ebenzer Rice ................ 43 Sarepta
Hinman .......... 31
Ezra Sherman, Jr............. 32 Emeline
Jackson ............ 21
Samuel Rice ................. 74 Peggy
Boggett .............. 70
Joseph Boggett .............. 77 Sarah
McKee ............... 72
Joseph L. Carson............. 65 Lyda Woodward ............ 53
Ezra Sherman, Sr ........... 72 Lucy
Easterbrooks .......... 42
John Easterbrooks .......... 50 Anna Sherman .............. 41
Thomas Ganes .............. 55 Polly
Burnham ............. 43
Nathaniel Massie ........... 32 Zilpha Burnham ............. 68
William
Easterbrooks ........ 20 Minerva McGuire ........... 46
James Callahan ............. 24 Susanna Champlain ......... 45
Edwin Burnham ............ 22 Sally Tucker ................ 39
William Agnew ............. 20 Elizabeth Callahan .......... 25
Fisis Jackson ................ 16 Nancy
McKee ............... 25
Samuel Easterbrooks ........ 16 Louisa
Farnham ............. 21
Samuel Agnew
.............. 15 Eliza McGuire .............. 19
George Gray ................ 15 Phoebe
Agnew .......... .... 18
Jacob Brown ................ 15 Hortincy
Brown ........... 18
Theodore Agnew ............ 9 Lyda
Gray .................. 17
William
Herington .......... 11 Hannah Boggett ............ 29
Benjamin Hill .............. 18 Emma
Burlingame .......... 17
Moses Alien ................ 42
Micajah Banze
............. 34
SOUTH FAMILY.
BRETHREN. SISTERS.
Joseph B. Agnew............. 49 Amanda
Agnew ............. 12
Manly Sherman ............. 37 Saloma
Brown .............. 12
James A. Agnew ............. 32 Rachel
Tucker ............... 7
Aaron Stroud ............... 16 Phoebe
Howard ............. 7
Josiah Burnham
............ 15 Ann Hall ................... 31
420 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
SOUTH
FAMILY-Concluded.
BRETHREN. SISTERS.
William
Agnew ............. 15 Susannah Farnum ........... 51
John Whitney
............... 15 Polly
Champlain ............ 40
Calvin
Easterbrooks ......... 14 Louisa Jackson .............. 24
George
Woodward .......... 12 Susan Easterbrooks ......... 19
Isaac
Sherman .............. 10 Louisiana Stroud ............ 19
Marietta
Agnew ............. 18
Rebecca
McGuire ........... 17
Lucy
Woodward ............ 16
Rhoda
Hinman ............. 15
Adaline Wells
.............. 14
Eunice
McGuire ............ 12
Jane Sherman
............... 11
Martha
Tucker .............. 6
Total
males 35, females 42; or in all 77.
The
records of Union Village for May 25, 1837, speak
of
Ebenezer Rice, Ezra Sherman, Sarepta Hinman and Emaline
Jackson
"of the deaconship of Whitewater" being on a visit. If
they
were "office deacons," then their office possibly was that of
trustees.
January
24, 1838, Edwin Burnham moved into the Elder's
lot,
having succeeded Daniel Sering. A little later Louisa Far-
num
moved into the lot with Eldress Eunice Sering.
December
20, 1838, the farm of Daniel Long, comprising 197
acres
was purchastd for $7,000.
In
the fall of 1839, a horse stable, 45 x 28 was built at the
South
Family. Same year 17 acres of broom corn was raised and
made
into brooms. This had already become one of the regular
sources
of revenue.
ARRESTS
EXTRAORDINARY.
As
late as 1840, the great mass of mankind, even those sup-
posed
to know the general policy of the Shakers, were ready to
believe
incredible stories concerning them, and even mob vio-
lence
feared. In the fall of 1839, a widow, named Mary Black,
with
her two boys, aged respectively 14 and 9, and a girl stil
younger,
left the Whitewater Believers and went to Kentucky.
In
March 1840, the officers of Bracken county notified the au-
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 421
thorities in Cincinnati that the county
was in a great uproar on
account of two boys who had been
emasculated by the Shakers.
The boys were ordered sent to Cincinnati
and there examined
by Drs. Hiram and Jackson, who
pronounced the report to be a
fact. On the 25th of March the marshal
of Cincinnati came with
a state's warrant, and the deputy
sheriff with a capias for Elder
Archibald Meacham, Joseph Agnew, Manley
Sherman, William
A. Agnew and John S. Whitney, who were
arrested and that night
at five o'clock were incarcerated in the
jail at Cincinnati. So
great was the excitement that the
prisoners were hurried through
the streets as privately as possible on
account of the multitude.
No food was given them and they were
locked in filthy cells,
where emanated such odors as almost
suffocated them. For bed-
ding one small dirty blanket was
furnished. On Thursday morn-
ing the 26th, they were let out of the
cells after spending a wake-
ful night, and about 8 o'clock breakfast
was served them in small
black dirty tin pans, on each of which
were very hard pieces of
coarse cold cornbread, about four inches
square and a piece of
cold boiled beef's heart. All declined
eating. At 2 o'clock, came
bread with soup. Some eat a little of
it, but others refused. A
little later, Mr. Brook, the inn-keeper,
on Main street, who had
always been a friend of the prisoners,
sent in a good dinner, for
which all felt very grateful. That night
all were again locked up
in cells. Friday morning Mr. Brook sent
them a good breakfast,
and soon after Ebenezer Rice came and
conversed with them
through the grates, and handed a letter
to Elder Archibald from
Eldress Mary Hopkins, who wrote words of
comfort to the dis-
tressed and persecuted brethren. But the
brethren were not cast
down, for they believed that God would
open a way for their
deliverance. At noon they were visited
by a number of the
brethren and sisters, and some of the
neighbors called, shook
hands through the grates while tears
coursed down their cheeks.
At four o'clock, the afternoon of the
27th, the brethren were con-
ducted to the court house where their
trial was already in pro-
gress, and witnesses testifying. The
room was crowded. At
sunset the brethren were hurried to the
jail followed by the
rabble venting out their curses and
reproaches, and yelling that
hanging was too good for them.
Supperless they were again
422
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
thrust into their reeking cells. On the
morning of the 28th,
Ebenezer Rice and James Agnew furnished
them with an ample
breakfast. At 9 o'clock, by a different
route they were again
conducted to the court house, but in
going up stairs, the rush
of the multitude was so great that the
party was kept together
with difficulty. They were surrounded by
officers for protection.
Ezra Sherman had not been idle all this
time. He had
retained Bellamy Storer for the defense.
He labored hard with
the mayor and marshall to have the boys
examined by other
physicians. After a great amount of
pleading and intercession
the marshall finally agreed that the
boys might be examined by
Drs. Groce and Lakey. These physicians
soon saw that the boys
labored under a natural deformity, and
no privileges had ever
been taken with them. While the trial
was going on they entered
the court room and stated to the mayor
the true status of the case.
All the officials and lawyers arose and
shook hands with the
brethren individually, and with tears in
their eyes dismissed them
with congratulations of joy. The
brethren embraced each other
on their happy deliverance. Storer
declared publicly that it was
a manifestation of the power of God.
But the trial was not yet over. The two
boys and their
cousin, who appeared to be their
guardian and the principal in the
prosecution, were examined, and then
sent to jail. The brethren,
with the other believers, fourteen in
all, immediately set out for
Whitewater, where they arrived at 5 P.
M., greatly to the delight
of the entire community.
I have been informed by members who had
lived at White-
water, that there was great distress of
mind in all the community
during the incarceration of the
brethren; that even the hoary
head of Elder Archibald was not
respected by his tormentors.
Anxious to know what the Cincinnati
papers of that period
had to say on this outrageous
persecution, I wrote to Mr. Eugene
H. MacLean to look up the matter. He
replied. "I looked up
the back files of the Chronicle and
Gazette for March 1840, and
can find no mention of any such
occurrence as you mention, al-
though I went over the papers column by
column. Indeed there
was no local news at all, save brief
mention of ward meetings."
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 423
I have seen accounts of this in some
books relating to Cincinnati,
but I am unable to give the titles. I
think "Bench and Bar"
is one of them.
The Union Village records, in commenting
upon the affair
adds, "As if to add injury to
insult, the greedy cats charged $300
for fees; besides incidental expenses
that would of course accrue
in the prosecution."
The Whitewater records contain no
farther information for
1840, and nothing for 1841, save a few
changes in members.
The Union Village Records give accounts
of visits between the
two communities, and also of certain
members going to White-
water to instruct and assist in making
brick.
IMPORTANT CHANGES IN OFFICERS.
The Union Village Ministry, on a visit
to Whitewater,
August 11th, 1842, announced the
following changes: Elder
Archibald Meacham should be released
from his office and re-
turn to Mount Lebanon, and Eunice Sering
is also released and
to return to Union Village. The
eldership and trustees to be
reorganized and composed entirely of
their own members.
Edwin Burnham was appointed first elder
and Ebenezer Rice
second. Joseph Agnew was released from
the care of the South
Family and moved to the Center to act as
a trustee. Ezra Sher-
man was released as a trustee, and moved
to the South Family
as first Elder, and Allen Agnew as
second. Hannah Boggett
succeeded as first elder, and Louisa
Farnum as second. Polly
Champlain as Eldress with Susan
Easterbrooks at the South.
The weeding out of all the officers does
not in itself im-
ply that circumstances demanded it,
nevertheless such was
sometimes a necessity. Sometimes it was simply expedient,
sometimes the abuse of arbitrary power.
In the present in-
stance it was probably felt that a
general change would be in-
the best interests of the society. Elder Archibald "did not
wish to be removed, but it was thought
best, although it was
regretted by many."
424 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
CHRONICLES, RESUMED.
In 1842 a shop 40 x 18 feet was built;
also a two-story
house 24 x 17, with a porch on one side,
now called the Nurse
House.
In 1843-4 the large dwelling house was
built 54 x 44, with
an extension 60 x 30 feet,-.the first
three stories high and the
second two stories. On April 1, 1844,
twenty-eight of the Un-
ion Village brethren arrived to assist
in raising the house.
August 22, 1844, Joseph Agnew released
as a trustee and
moved to South Family as First Elder
with Ezra Sherman sec-
ond; Edwin Burnham was transferred to
Union Village and
went November 27th. On December 3d Moses Eastwood arrived
from Union Village to become Second
Elder at South Family,-
Ezra Sherman removing to the Center
Family. The Union
Village records state that on October
29th Philip F. Antes was
established as Elder Brother. This would make him Burn-
ham's successor. He continued in office
until September 11,
1847. March 15, 1845, Ezra Sherman
became trustee in place
of Philander Banister. A general move in
the families took
place October 1st. Harvesting lasted
forty days,--the acreage
for the year was, rye 3, oats 30, grass
80, broom corn 25, pota-
toes 5, pumpkins 4, corn not stated.
Commenced doctoring by
the water cure method which proved a
great success. Previous
to this the botanic or Thompsonian
system was used to great
satisfaction. This last was introduced
by Calvin Morrell who
gave much time to its study.
March 4, 1846 the use of tea, coffee,
tobacco and intoxicat-
ing liquors were renounced. Built a new
saw mill.
SECOND ADVENTISM.
While the doctrine of the second
visible, personal coming
of Christ is no new doctrine in the
Christian Church, yet it re-
mained for William Miller to create a
wonderful excitement
on that subject during the nineteenth
century. The earliest
date fixed upon for the advent was
February 10, 1843, and the
next was the 15th, and then April 14th. The disappointment
426 Ohio Arch. and
Hist. Society Publications.
in not realizing the
promised event did not relax the zeal of the
preachers engaged in
this promulgation. In all parts of the
country the cry of
warning was raised. Farmers left
their
crops unharvested, and
mechanics forsook their tools.*
A commotion such as that of Miller and his
followers
would elicit the
Shakers' attention. Four Second
Adven-
tists visited
Whitewater in March, 1846, and on the 6th
Joseph Agnew went to
Cincinnati with them. Their meetings
in Cincinnati were
attended by Joseph Agnew, Ebenezer Rice
and Ezra Sherman, and
several were brought to Whitewater
by the brethren.
Joseph went to Rising Sun, Ind., to see some
of the Adventists
there. On the 18th, Joseph brought home
with him, their
principal preacher, Enoch Jacobs. The inter-
est manifested by the
Shakers brought numbers of the Advent-
ists to Whitewater.
Meetings were held in union and both sides
took an active part.
At one time twenty persons came. These
sojourners became
quite a tax on the Shakers, and it became a
question of what to do
with the visitors. Among them was Henry
B. Bear and his wife,
Julia Ann, both having expressed a deter-
mination to give up all
for God. In 1846, there were 200 of the
Adventists gained to
the Shakers of Union Village and White-
water, most of whom
were assigned to the latter place. Eldress
Julia Ann Bear
informed me that she never had seen any of
the reputed
"white robes" in which to be clothed to receive
Christ, nor did she
ever hear of such a thing until some time
* During the month of
February, 1869, I heard two Second Advent
preachers holding
forth at East Jaffrey, N. H. They were uncouth looking
men, but gave every
evidence of sincerity. Their whole burden was to
prove that we were
living in the last day. One took his argument from
Nahum II. The
"flaming torches" (v. 3) were the head-lights on loco-
motives; the
"chariots" (v. 4) were passenger coaches; "they shall jostle
the one against
another," refers to cars coming together while trying to
stop them; "they
shall run like the lightnings," means their great speed;
also a train on the N.
Y. Central called "the Lightning Express:" "He
shall recount his
worthies" (v. 5), means the conductor collecting the
tickets; "they
shall stumble in their walk," refers to the inability to walk
straight in cars when
in motion; "they shall make haste to the wall there-
of," refers to
passengers entering their seats and leaning against the
side of the car;
"the gates of the rivers shall be opened," means draw-
bridges.
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 427
after she had become a Shaker. The new
members proved to
be zealous workers. A list of the names
of those Adventists
who became Shakers was made out and
placed in the archives,
but cannot now be found.
SPIRITUALISM.*
Strict orders had been given out by the
Mount Lebanon
Ministry that the revelations made
during the reign of spirit-
ualism should be kept. Nothing is mentioned of these manifes-
*On October 19, 1903, I came into
possession of the archives of
North Union and Watervliet. Among the
loose papers I found a brief
record of Whitewater Spiritualism, of
which the following is an exact
copy, taken from first leaves detached
from a book:
"Where as, We have lately received
in structions from the Ministry
of Union Village that it was the will
and in structions of our heavenly
Parrents, that all of those Sacred
Communications which had been
given Through our Heavenly parrents and
there Ministering angels,
for a few years past, should be
carefully recorded and as far as it is
is in our power we will labor to it as
we had heard By letters from New
labanon that there was a powerful Work
of God going on among the be-
lievers in the Eastern Societys and that
the work was very hart touching
and a wakening and Many Promises given
through Visions and inspired
Instruments, that our Heavenly Mother
wold thougraly purch and purify
her children on Earth and fit and
prepare them for the in crease of the
gospel. Also that Mother wold Visset
every Sosiety of believers both
East and West.
"The above information from the
East, Caused us to Look and wait
with great anxiety for the fulfilment of
those pretious Promises which
we firmly believed wold certainly corn
to pas as Mother had promised,
and our earnest prayers was that our
Blessed Mother wold pour out her
Spirit upon us at White water for we
fealt poor and needy and so our
prayers cotinnued without much
mannifestation, of the fulfilment of the
promises which we had received, Until the 16 of August in the
year one thousand Eight hundred and
thirty Eight At which time the
power of God was showered down upon the
boddy of believers at this
place like a mighty rushing wind, it
being Sabbath Day while attending
publick Meeting and Many Spekaters
present, That remarcable Manne-
fest of the power of God Seamed to Seaze
the greates Dart of the as-
sembly of believers, Such Mighty Shaking
we never will before it wold
Seam Sometimes that some individuals
wold be Shaken all to peascis, This
Mighty Shaking continued till the Close
of the Meeting and with a num-
ber much longer, and for this Notice of
the power of God we fealt ex-
ceeding thankful and that our blessed
Mothers hand now began herewith
428 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
tations until 1847, or after the marked
decline had commenced.
All of the Western Societies had been
favored by the angelic
in every deed, and from this time the
good work gradually increased,
and there soon began to be chosen
Insrements who ware inspired to deliver
the Council and instructions of our
Hevenly Parrents, through whom we
received Many Pretious gifts from the
Spiritual world, which to us has
fealt to one of the greatest Blessings
that was ever given since Man dwelt
on Earth. Thease blessings finally
became so frequent and in such a
bundance, that for Sumtime we kept no
correct record of those wonder-
ful communications, But we labored to
treasure them up in our harts as
Much as we was able, and We can truly
say that we have from the first
commencement of our Blessed Mothers good
Work, fealt thankful with all
our Souls for the kind notice of the
Many blessings which we have re-
ceived from our Heavenly parrents, All
of which has been calkulated
to purge and purify our souls by an
honest confesson and bring us dow
in to a Spirit of humiliaty and
simplicyly and true obedience so that we
could larn to fear god and walk humbly
and gain true love and union
with one a nother and Larn to set a good
examble before all people, and
thus this blessed work continued to
progress in till the latter part of the
year 1839 at which time we began to
receive books and litters through
Mothers chosen and in Spired
instruments, but it was some time before
there was any gift for thease books
letters to be read and written by
Mortal power. But in January in the year
1840 we received a gift from
the Ministry at union Village to have
those Spiritual B'oks and leters
written by mortal power. And after we
received the gift to have them
read, we received a great many written
communications from our Heav-
enly parrent and others. Ministering
Spirits, which we hace Mostly com-
mitted to record. Nearly every
individual through the Sosiety has been
blesst with some written communication
to Strengthen and in courrage
them to be faithful and truly obedient
to their Vissible lead.
"The Lot of Elders at this place
have received Many pretious com-
munications, in the form of book and
litters and a number of theas
comunications seamed to be of a publick
nature, and a number of others
seamed to be to us as individuals, so
that we feal at los to now how to
make the right Selection, not fealing
our Selves to be competent judges
in this matter. Therefore we have
concluded to coppy all those that
appear to be the Most of a publick Naure
and such as we have received
nearly as we received them, and leave
the matter to the judgment and de-
sisson of that gift and authority that
is apointed in the East for that pur-
pose, as we do not wish to hide our one
tillant.
"We feal that we have been Noticed
and blest by our heavenly
parrents for more than we felt that we
was worthy of, yet we can testify
with thankful harts that the believers
at White water have been greatly
Blest with Many heavenly Blessings fead
our Souls"
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 429
hosts, before visitations were made at
Union Village. There
the heavenly messengers were anxiously
looked for and when
they came it was like a
"whirlwind." According to the Church
Record there, the break-out commenced on
William Moore
August 8, 1838. So the influence must
have been felt at White-
water ere that date. All that I find is
under date of Septem-
ber 26, 1847, as follows:
"Sabbath was announced by Mother
(The Holy Spirit),
through two witnesses, Rhoda Hinman and
Aletha Percel that
four mighty Angels of judgment would
make us a visit shortly to
help every honest soul to awake and
prepare for an increase in
the work of God, by putting away all
sin, and laboring for
an increase in the true fear and love of
God and for each
other. Every soul in this part of Zion
that would not hear and
obey would be cut off. 30th. was announced through four
witnesses that the Angels of judgment
had come according
to promise. The instruments were commanded to not sleep
until the Angels had made their visit in
the different room
and done their work. At 12 midnight the
Angels and Mother
Ann visited every children and all. Ezra
Sherman was chosen
to speak for the Angel of Light the other
three to be witnesses.
Stephen Ball, Aletha Percel and Rhoda
Hinman witnesses. The
same Angels and witnesses went to the
North Family and the
same testimony was to them to prepare
for a great increase in
the work of God, by confessing all sin
and laboring for love and
union, to be prepared to gather in souls
who would shortly
come. Had a meeting admitting outsiders.
As many as 200
came and was present to hear the
instruments proclaim from the
Then follow six pages of narratives of
Spirit doings, giving a daily
record for January, March, April and May
1839. I give some extracts.:
"Sabbath evening while Eldress
Eunice was sitting in the Room
there was a light seen to encircle her
around for a number of minutes
And in that time, she could not move, a
number more lights seen in the
Room that evening, and musick
heard."
"There was singing heard in the
kitchen, it moved from place to
place Around the room, it was very
heavenly."
January 17. "A good many different
operations, and lively exercise.
A voice was heard, saying, good spirits
dwell with you all the Time. Some
lights seen, resting on the people, all
manifesting That mother's spirit was
with us."
430
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
mighty Angels the same testimony. the
meeting lasted over
three hours causing many to fear and
tremble."
So far As I have pursued any inquiries,
I find that Spiritual-
ism has a stronger hold at Whitewater
than in Union Village.
Still, there may be more of it in the
latter place than I conjecture.
JUDICIAL PERSECUTION.
The free exercise of religion is
guaranteed by the Constitu-
tion of the United States. What the Constitution
of Ohio was
from 1811 to 1847 I have not taken
occasion to examine. But
whatever that constitution was, or
whatever laws might have
been enacted, all must conform to the
Constitution of the United
States, and the judiciary is sworn to
obey the principles of the
General Government.
Stephen W. Ball,-still a member at
Whitewater-de-
sired the possession of his two
daughters, - his wife being dead,
and children with their maternal
grandparents. On October 6,
1847, Judge Moore decided that Stephen
could not have his
minor children because "the law of
Ohio was if a man joined
the Shakers, he forfeited all right and
title to his children." The
case was carried to the full bench, and
set for the 9th, then the
23d, and finally November 5th,
when the bench was equally di-
vided, two for and two against. Case was
again assigned for
February 4, 1848, and again for the
26th, when judge Johnson
decided that Stephen could not have his
children unless he would
leave the Shakers. An appeal was taken
to the State Supreme
Court, where on April 19th,
five judges decided "that any person
joining the Shakers, deprived them of
their natural right to their
children." Two judges dissented. Comment is unnecessary.
The record does not state why the case
was not carried into the
Federal Courts. In after years one of
Stephen W. Ball's daugh-
ters joined the Shakers. Fannie became a
very successful teacher
at Wateryliet. While teaching there she
consented to marry
Ephraim Frost, and on June 12, 1872, both
withdrew from the
Society. Later, with their son, they
re-united at Whitewater.
Ephraim desired again to leave, though
Fannie was satisfied to
stay, but under threat of having her son
taken from her if she
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 431
did not comply, she left the Society
once more to accompany her
husband. She is now a widow.
GARDEN SEED ENTERPRISE.
It was in 1847 that the Whitewater
brethren started on
a successful career of raising garden
seeds for the markets. Trips
for selling the seeds were made in
different parts of the country.
One trip was called the Northern,
another the Missouri River,
another the Western Land, another the
Kentucky, etc. The
greatest amount received for one year -if
I correctly notice,-
was in 1857, when $5,704 was realized,
with a total traveling
expense of $416. This enterprise came to
an end in 1873, be-
cause many firms began to put out garden
and flower seeds in
fancy colored papers and boxes, also in
different size packages.
"That our seeds did not take, as
they were put up in a brown col-
ored paper and a plain stained box. It
was conclusive we must
keep up with the times or step down and
out, which we did."
CHRONICLES RESUMED.
In 1847 the floods in the Miami and
Whitewater were the
highest ever known and attended with
great damage to property.
In consequence, on February 1st, the
Shakers commenced grind-
ing breadstuffs for the public, because
other mills were either
destroyed or damaged. During the year a
two-story brick wash
house 30 x 60 feet was built. Bought of
Michael Shuck 30 acres
for $1,000. August 20th, Phillip Antes
was released from the
First Eldership and Ebenezer Rice was
appointed to succeed him.
December 25th, it was decided to give up
the eating of pork,
which has been maintained to the
present. However pork is set
before visitors. I was favored with it
at every meal while at
Whitewater.
In 1848 a horse-power shed, a wagon shed
and a dye house
were built.
In 1849 a two-story wood house, 20 x 60
(for Center Fam-
ily), milk house with cellar (North
Family), and sheep barn
30x 120 feet were built. Spinning machines started. Julia-Ann
Bear, on June 23d, became Eldress in
place of Susan Ann Easter-
brooks. December 26th, small-pox broke
out.
432 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
A farm of 200 acres, containing a brick
house and barn
was purchased of William Walker for
$10,000 on February 1st,
1850.
During the high water of March 6th, the stone dam was
washed out and fences gone. August 24th,
thirty brethren from
Union Village came to help rebuild the
mill dam. November
19th, George Rubush was appointed first
Elder and Lewis Gor-
don second at the North Family.
In 1851, burned 140,000 brick, and
December 11th, for
first time used a circular saw.
DEATH OF AN EASTERN MINISTER.
The only notice I have seen of the death
of one of the
Mount Lebanon Ministry is that of Rufus
Bishop, at Whitewater,
August 2, 1852. The Mount Lebanon
Ministry, then consisting
of Rufus Bishop, Amos Stewart, Eliza A.
Taylor and Asenath
Clark, arrived at Whitewater, July 30th,
from Pleasant Hill and
South Union, Ky. "August 3d,
at half-past two in the afternoon,
the funeral began, attended by this
Society generally, and some
20,
mostly Elders from Union Village. The meeting continued
some two hours, -first by singing some
verses composed by
Elder Harvey (H. L. Eads), and Elder
Oliver Hampton. Elder
John Martin (first in the ministry at
Union Village), spoke some
very appropriate remarks for the
occasion, followed by the East-
ern Ministry. Two verses given by
inspiration was sung of El-
der Rufus' welcome into the company of
the Redeemed, fol-
lowed by testimonies from the Elders of
the different families,-
first Union Village, then Whitewater.
Several messages were
given out by inspiration. More verses
were read, - other speak-
ing. Elder John Martin made the closing
remarks. All moved
to the grave: Western brethren going
before the carriage, four
at the sides. Western Ministry followed
the carriage containing
the corpse; Eastern Ministry followed
next; the Elders of
Whitewater, then Union Village Elders
next, then the elders
from the different families; then all
the folks, old and young, fol-
lowed, marching four abreast. After the
corpse was buried, the
singers sang a hymn; a message given by
inspiration through
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 433
Elder Oliver Hampton. All returned home
in the same order as
they went. Several hymns were sung on
the return to the house.
"The order in the East at this time
was to appoint some
twelve or more brethren to go before the
corpse. These were the
persons that performed the duties at the
grave. Since that time,
owing to lack of members, that plan has
been abandoned." On
the following day the Eastern and
Western Ministry started for
Union Village.
CHRONICLES RESUMED.
During the year 1862, a house for drying
fruit, 20 x 28,
and a cowbarn 40 x 168, were built. On
January 1st, commenced
making broom handles, and in February
commenced running the
saw mill day and night. December 23,
Louisa Farnum became
Elder Sister at Center Family and Julia
Ann Bear, Eldress at the
North, with Elizabeth Gass as second.
December 24th mill dam
and fences carried away.
In 1853, a brick school house 20 x 30, and a two-story
brick
house 18 x 36 were built. On January 3d,
it was decided to aban-
don water power at the mill, and
introduce steam. The cost of
the change was $2,000. Had $87 worth of
sheep killed by dogs,
for which damages were received. A
McCormick reaper was
purchased. August 4th, a
company of sixteen went to Lawrence-
burg, Ind., to see the telegraph and
railroad trains.
In 1854, a brick henhouse 17 x 44 and 14
feet high was built.
Bought the Mering mill lot of 70 acres
for $1,300. Purchased
twenty China chickens ranging from $1
to $20 each; also a bull
and heifer for $1,OOO; two cider mills
for $80; barn burned by
lightning and another unroofed at South
Family.
In 1855 a brick office, front three
stories 45 x 30, kitchen
part two-story, 43 x 22, a milk and
loom house at South Family
12 x 16, and a frame at the South Family house 18x 36 were
built. The Society now numbered seventy
persons. The Gath-
ering Order was removed on May 17th,
from the North to the
South, and the children to the North.
Elders and Eldresses at
the South, George Rubush, John Hobart,
Elizabeth Gass and
Polly McClain, and at the North, Matthew
Carter, E. Frost,
Julia A. Bear and Hester Frost.
Vol. XIII-28.
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 435
In 1856 a wood house at the Office, 24 x
18, a house for
dyeing cloth, and a one-story frame at
North were built. Pur-
chased near Cleveland 2,500 evergreen
trees at two cents each.
The Union Village Ministry arrived on
September 17th, and de-
cided that a part of Whitewater people
should remove to Water-
vliet. Those selected were Ebenezer
Rice, Matthew B. Carter,
Ezra Sherman, Lewis Packer, William
Adams, Thomas Streets,
Francis Vaun, Charles King, Matthew
Traver, Mary, Rebecca
and Emily Adams, Adaline Wells, Matilda
A. Butler, Mary Ellen
Stroud, Sally McBride, Hester Ann
ReVoux, Mary J. Lewis and
Berthany Williams. All left on the 23d
September. The Union
Village records add the name of Ramuth
G. Bunting. This re-
moval necessitated certain changes.
Stephen Ball was made first
Elder, and with him John S. Hobart
second. Josiah Burnham
and Frederick Faulhaber, Trustees. On
October 12th Frederick
Faulhaber, Joseph Agnew, Louisiana
Stroud, Lucy Woodward,
Susan Rubush and Polly Burnham moved
into the Office. On
December 1st commenced to weave bonnets.
In 1857, built a two-story addition of
brick to the nurse
house. Bought 944 acres of land for $15,000, in Clinton
County,
Ohio, adjoining that purchased by Union
Village. In April, Jo-
siah Burnham and Marion Moss took cattle
there to pasture.
April 3, 1858, grain barn was burned by
an incendiary, losing
threshing machine and 120 bushels barley.
On 17th, a robber
entered the office, threatened one of
the sisters and Joseph Agnew,
broke open the desk, scattered the
contents on the floor, and
escaped, securing but little booty.
October 1st, Henry Bear trans-
ferred to the Center as Elder and
Stephen Ball to the South as
Elder.
March 3, 1859, Louisa Farnum was
released as first Eldress
at Center and Lucy Woodward took her
place. Lewis Gordon
moved from the North to the South and
Stephen Ball from the
South to the North, changing places as
Elders.
April 14, 1860, John S. Hobart became
crazy and on 28th
was taken by sheriff. June 4th,
he entered suit against the So-
ciety, for $10,000 damages, alleging
that he was injured by being
dragged through the streets of Cincinnati,
and also for false
imprisonment. June 25th, had Henry Bear
and Stephen Ball
436 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
arrested by the U. S. Marshall and taken
before the U. S. Com-
missioner at Cincinnati on the
accusation of opening and detain-
ing his letters, but being unable to
prove his charges, the case
was dismissed. The suit for damages was
heard November 16th,
and decided in favor of the Shakers.
During March, set out 165
apple and 200 pear trees. .
December 21, 1861, "Stephen Ball
released from Elder at the
North, George Rubush first. Josiah
Burnham at the North,
Ebenezer Rice as second at Center with
Elder, H. B. Bear."
NAMES OF MEMBERS IN 1862.
The Ministry from Union Village arrived
October 16, 1862,
and changed the three families into two;
the South, Gathering
Order, changed to the North, and the
South to be a part of the
Center. George Rubush, Ezra Sherman,
Elizabeth Gass and
Amanda 9Rubush, Elders at the
North; Stephen Banll and Man-
ley Sherman, Polly Burnham, Mary
Middleton, Lucy Devolve,
Margaret Nickles, Molly Dupler and Eliza
Cook to live with the
boys at the South.
At Center with the South- Elders Henry
Bear, Ebenezer
Rice: John Easterbrooks, Joseph Agnew,
Lewis Gordon, John
Clark, George King, John Atcheson, John
Wisenborn, Charles
Wortman, Charles Faraday, Josiah
Burnham, Frederick Faul-
haber, Elmer Butler, Washington Rubush,
Oliver Atchison, Isa-
iah King, William Burnet, Edward
McBride.
Brethren and boys at South: Elder
Stephen Ball and Manley
Sherman, with following boys, Elijah,
Ora and Daniel Starkey,
Thomas Andrews, Charles Brock, Charles
Almon and George
Merrick. Boys under Ann Vann at Center
near Office: Charles
Sturr, Robert Morrison, Edward
Donaldson, Lafayette Packer
and Alfred Doyle. Sisters: Eldress Lucy
Woodward, Nancy
McKee, Susanna Farnum, Minerva McGuire,
Susan and Polly
Champlain, Lucy and Susan A.
Eastabrooks, Susan and Martha
Rubush, Elizabeth Sharp, Ann Vann,
Louisianna Stroud, Eliza
McGuire, May A. Wheeler, Rachel Hall, Julia A. Bear, Julia
Middleton, Harriet Thompson, Lucinda
Packer, Jane Starkey,
Matilda Butler, Susanna and Marietta
Faraday, Emily Flagg,
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 437
Sarah E. and Hannah J. Bryant, Fanny
Ball, Amelia Dobson,
Josephine Deming, Polly McClain, Lottie
Wheeler, Sisters at
South, seven, previously given. Girls at
Center: Caty Walker,
Ovanda Brock, Arecia Columbia, Olive
Flagg, Lamora Brooks,
Betsey Allman, Luella Carpenter, Aurilla
Lacy, Antonette King.
These two families were under one
interest of the Center.
Of the North Family,--Elder George
Rubush and Elder
Ezra Sherman, John S. Hobart, Dennis and
William McBride,
Alexander Butler, Wilson Davis, John
Freeman, James Starkey,
William
Merrick, Nelson Atchison.
Eldress Elizabeth Gass
and Eldress Amanda Rubush. Eliza Carter,
Mary Faraday, Pris-
cilla Rubush, Isabella and Mary E.
Merrick, Mary Donaldson,
Rebecca Clark, Melissa and Catherine
Carpenter, Lydia Brock,
Albina Kilgore, Jane Allman, Mary Gass,
Rosetta Worts, Rhoda
Gray, Catherine Sturr, Emaline Brooks,
Eliza Hobart, Marinda
and Lotta Sirk, and Adelia Doyle. The
total population at this
time embraced 118 persons.
THE MORGAN'S RAID.
On July 13, 1863, "one of the boys
was at the mill at Harri-
son and saw Morgan's raiders coming down
the hill west of town.
He came home and reported the news.
Frederick Faulhaber, on
a fleet horse, rode out until he came in
sight of them, and then
hurried back as fast as he could,
-receiving the fire of the
enemy, but was soon out of sight. He
spread the alarm, warn-
ing the neighbors to hide their horses.
Several heeded the warn-
ing and took their horses above the
North Family and there
hid them. They took from the South
Family two horses, but
this was the extent of their damage to
us, save a few meals and
hindering us in the harvest. The main
army encamped on the
main road between Harrison and New Haven
(Preston, P. O.),
but extending their pickets and horse
thieves for several miles
each way, searching the cornfields and
thickets for horses, rob-
bing private residences of such things
as they wanted, and if any
refused they were roughly treated. At
Harrison they entered all
kinds of shops and stores, taking
whatever they chose. At Leon-
ard's store they took $4,200 in money besides $6,000 worth of
438
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
goods. At Davison's about $6,000 all
told. The loss in Harrison
was about $50,000. At New Haven they
cleaned out both the
stores. At Frost's $300 and Thompson's
some $500, and in the
vicinity 100 horses. They treated our
folks very respectfully,
and did not enter our buildings. They
departed towards New
Baltimore, and burned the big covered
bridge across the Miami.
"After the aiders had departed we
supposed our troubles had
come to an end. But the next day the
Union Army, some 500 or
600 on horses,-Home Guards of
Indianapolis-headed by John
S. Hobart, claiming to be authorized by
the Government, to take
all the horses he could find. John
threatened to burn and kill
if we did not bring in our horses from
where we had hid them.
Elder George Rubush ordered his horses
brought to the house,
where John and his companions selected
the two best, as he
agreed only to take two, if they were
brought in.
"This time of excitement continued
for days, owing to false
reports being received that more of
Morgan's men were coming,
-then it was the Union men."
CHRONICLES RESUMED.
February 29, 1864, Henry B. Bear, Ezra
Sherman and Fred-
erick Faulhaber were appointed trustees.
In 1865 sold brooms at $6 and $7 per
dozen, and 200 bushels
of strawberries ranging between $6 and
$7.50 per bushel.
December 31, 1868, Ezra Sherman became
Elder at Gath-
ering Order and Stephen Ball succeeded
him as trustee.
February 7, 1870, Stephen Ball was
removed to Watervliet,
and Matthew B. Carter removed from
Watervliet to Whitewater
to take first charge as trustee. In 1871
steam laundry was put in
at both the Center and North Families.
In April, 1872, Ebenezer Rice
was released from second
Eldership, and George B. Amery appointed
in his place to live
with Henry Bear. Alexander Butler from
the South moved into
Office to act with Matthew B. Carter.
December 23, 1873, Eliza McGuire was
appointed Eldress at
South Family in place of Polly Burnham.
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 439
March 23, 1874, George King appointed
Elder at South in
place of George Rubush. October 29,
Matthew Carter trans-
ferred to Union Village to act as
trustee there. November 4th,
George Amery removed to Office to act as
trustee; Alexander
Butler becomes first Elder at North;
Ezra Sherman removes to
Center, and Charles H. Sturr becomes
deacon.
In 1875, bank grain barns were built,
both at the Center and
North. March 6th, donated $r,ooo to
Mount Lebanon to assist
them in the great loss the Society there
had sustained by fire.
June 1st, Amanda Rubush becomes second
Eldress at South and
Amelia Dobson becomes second at Center.
November 16th, suit
instituted against George B. Amery for
selling onion seed not as
guaranteed. On the 22d, suit against
Society by Harrison Turn-
pike Company. Action on account of
George King using a road
along and by the side of the turnpike
and toll gate, and striking
the toll-road beyond the gate. The claim
was for $40, for passing
the gate eight times. As nothing further
appears, it is probable
these suits were settled.
In 1876 a shop for making brooms and
carpenter work was
set up. September 6th, Frederick
Faulhaber becomes Elder at
the North and Charles Faraday the same
at the South.
March 25, 1878, George Amery released as
trustee and ap-
pointed second Elder; Wilson Saffin
becomes first Elder at the
North in place of Alexander Butler, and
the latter removes to the
Office as trustee, and Charles H. Sturr
to live with him. Au-
gust 22, George Amery removes to the
South, and succeeded by
Charles Faraday at the Center. October
8, on account of the
secession of Eldress Lucy Woodward,
Amanda Rubush and Su-
sanna Faraday become first and second
Eldress, respectively at
the Center; Julia Ann Bear becomes first
Eldress at North, and
Eliza McGuire moves into the Office;
George Amery having left
the Society, Joseph Usher moves from the
North to the South.
March 25, 1879, Louisa Farnham moved to
Union Village
to become first in the Ministry in the
Sister's Lot. Ezra Sher-
man becomes first and Wilson Saffin
second Elder at the North.
December 29th, Stephen Ball returns from
Watervliet to be-
come first Elder at the Center, with
Henry Bear second. The
440 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
latter also becomes a trustee. As the
Shakers had been schooling
their own children besides paying taxes
they attempted to get a
special school district, but failed. It
was not until April 20, 1891,
that the school board established a
school at the Shaker school
house.
January 27th, 1880, Wilson
Saffin removed from the second
Elder at the North and goes to the
Center. July 2, Nancy McKee
second Eldress at Center in place of
Susanna Faraday, and Kate
Dennis becomes second at the North.
November 2d, Henry Bear
is released as trustee and moves to the
North as first Elder; Ezra
Sherman removes to the Office as
trustee; Charles Faraday be-
comes second Elder at Center, and
Charles Sturr, bookkeeper at
Office.
In December, 1881, the sorghum house was
removed to the
Boggett farm to be used as a dwelling.
January 1st, 1882, the Union Village
Ministry arrived and
made the following changes: Henry Bear
becomes first Elder at
Center and trustee; Stephen Ball becomes
second, and Charles
Faraday first Elder at the North. May 13th,
Julia A. Bear is
released from first Eldress at the North
and moves to Office in
place of Eliza McGuire. Susan Faraday as
first with Carrie
Burk as second at the North.
February 4, 1884, Charles Sturr
succeeded Henry Bear as
deacon and trustee. May 21st, commenced
roofing cow barn. It
took three men twenty-nine days to put
on the 65,000 shingles.
Put up wagon scales. Made two fish
ponds. Dried 54 Barrels of
sweet corn. Began to ship first by
express for stock purposes.
October 24, 1885, raised a new sheep
barn on same spot
where previous one stood. August 19th,
Matthew B. Carter and
Julia Ann Bear appointed trustees for
the Society. A strange
freak of lightning occurred June 13th,
during a heavy storm.
It struck the wash house, going in at
the door on the west side;
thence up through the floors to the
attic, tearing a hole through
the roof by both chimneys; then down the
south end to the
cistern, and on its course it took off
most of the ceiling in the
ironing room, doing damage all the way.
In the upper room were
20,000 silk worms about
ready to spin. The children had just
left the ironing room.
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline,
Etc. 441
November, 1886, Eliza McGuire became
second Eldress at
Center. In August hot air furnaces were
put in at both the Office
and Center dwelling.
During April, 1887, an orchard
containing 400 apple trees
and 200 peach trees was set out north of
the Office. In Septem-
ber a stone walk was placed around the
Office and another con-
necting it with the residence of the
Center family.
June 25, 1889, Louisa Farnham returns
from Union Village,
where she had lived in the Ministry, and
became second Eldress
at Center. The South Family was broken
up and moved to the
North. This is the first acknowledgement
(though indirect) of
the visible decay of the community found
in the Sturr MS.
July 1, 1890, Lafayette
Parker becomes first Elder at the
North, in the room of Charles Faraday.
August 19th, the Mount
Lebanon Ministry arrives and appoints
Mary Gass, Eldress at the
North in place of Elizabeth Sharp, - the
latter moving to the
Center.
In 1891, a new engine house of
corrugated iron was built.
A new boiler and engine for the wash
house at North Family.
March 14th, purchased threshing machine
and traction engine.
In 1893, a new threshing machine and a
traction engine of
15 horse power were purchased. Threshing
was done in the
vicinity. This was carried on for some
years.
June 25th, 1894, another thresher was
purchased, and later
a clover huller, and during the season
threshed 33,461 bushels of
wheat, 9,731 of oats and barley and 355
of clover. The house on
the Williamson farm having been
destroyed by fire, within forty
days a new two-story with kitchen, was
constructed, for the
renter. This is the first indication of
lands rented out. Doubt-
less, owing to age and the paucity of
numbers, the Shakers had
commenced renting out their lands ere
this year.
The Sturr MS. is utterly silent on the
subject of manners,
customs and dress, save two items in the
year 1895; one of which
(January 6th), states "began to
kneel once after meals, after
eating," and the other (July 14th),
"change made of worship,
first stand singing a hymn, then sit
down, speak, sing or read."
As all the manners, customs, etc., are
prescribed by the Mount
Lebanon Ministry, the edict goes out to
all the Societies at the
442
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
same time, and hence Shaker Zion is
supposed to be blessed with
a general uniformity in all things.
During the year, at the
Center a 40-foot steel tank tower,
holding 75 barrels, was put
up to supply house and stock.
February 15, 1896, Lafayette Parker was
released from the
Eldership at the North, and soon after
withdrew, taking his chil-
dren with him. The temporal affairs of
the entire estate were
now assumed by Charles H. Sturr. The year
was one of tribu-
lation, presenting great trouble with
the Ludwig family; all the
boys leaving; all the work and affairs
to be looked after by
Charles Sturr; could not run threshing
machines because none
at home to call on for assistance; sold
one of the machines.
In 1897, steam heating at Center Family
and hot water at
Office were introduced.
September 25, 1898, Charles H. Sturr was
appointed sceond
Elder at Center, Henry B. Bear being
first.
March 21, 1899, the Shakers' suit against
the Birdsell Huller
Company was decided in favor of the
former. Particulars not
given. Under one roof was constructed a
wagon shed and corn
crib. This is the last item of building.
July 5, 1900, John Tyler removes from
Watervliet to live at
the North to take charge of affairs
there. July 8th, Charles H.
Sturr succeeded Henry Bear as first
Elder, and moved into the
building of the Center Family, having
lived in the Office since
March 25, 1878. This closes the Sturr
MS.
The Sturr papers inform us that the
telephone was in use at
the Center Family in 19O1, and the
windows of the dwelling were
enlarged in 1902.
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS.
The Elders of the Center Family take
rank over the North
Family-the South Family extinct. Charles
H. Sturr is first
Elder at Center, likewise Amanda Rubush
first Eldress, with
none standing second. John 0. Tyler is
first Elder at North;
Adaline Wells, first Eldress and Sarah
Smith second. The trus-
tees are Henry B. Bear, Charles H.
Sturr, Amanda Rubush and
Matilda A. Butler. Besides the above,
the Covenant members are
Frederick Faulhaber, Lewis Robbins,
Stephen Ball, Julia A. Bear,
Origin, Rise, Progress and Decline, Etc. 443
Elizabeth Sharp, Mary Middleton, Lucinda Parker, Catherine Sturr, Emaline Brooks, Rebecca Clark, Eliza Cook, Carrie Burk, Susanna Rooney, Louisa Gass and Cora Stevens.
CONCLUSION. In all the documents I have examined I have seen no evi- dence of any defalcations in the community. The affairs appear to have been well managed, and the Society has moved along in harmony. I asked Elder Sturr how the Society es- caped the financial troubles in which Joseph Slingerland in- volved Union Village. In reply I was informed that he had a premonition and immediately saw every Covenant member, and all expressed themselves as being satisfied with the present board of trustees. When Elder Slingerland came to remove Elders Bear and Sturr, he was informed that the present board was satisfactory to all those concerned. The matter was not pressed. Nearly all the lands are rented. Harmony prevails in this com- munity. |
|
ORIGIN, RISE,
PROGRESS AND DECLINE OF THE
WHITEWATER
COMMUNITY OF SHAKERS
LOCATED IN HAMILTON
COUNTY,
OHIO.
BY J. P. MAC LEAN.
While engaged in collecting the material
for the article on
West Union, I engaged in a
correspondence with Elder Charles
H. Sturr, general manager of the
Whitewater community. He
invited me to make him a visit, and I
should have the freedom
of all the archives of the society. I
determined at once to accept
the invitation, and although the
distance is about forty miles I
decided to drive through. The route took
me diagonally across
Butler county from northeast to
southwest, which was quite hilly,
and the greater part of the distance the
roads were muddy. The
worst mudhole I struck was Hamilton, the
streets being full
of chuckholes. The lower road from
Hamilton to Millville was
so out of repair I had difficulty passing
over. Early on the morn-
ing of May 30, 1903, I started on my
journey.
Fifteen years before, I was familiar
with every nook and
corner of the county. I had geologized
all its fossil beds, and
searched out all its archaeological
remains. Either I or the gen-
eral aspect had changed, for the views
did not have the same
appearance. There was a wornout air
almost everywhere. The
roads were in the worst condition I ever
saw them, and the
poorest I had seen in years.
Although I had never seen the Shaker
lands, the moment
I struck them I knew I was on their
possessions. The fences
were in good condition, the lands cared
for, and there was the
general aspect of thriftiness. When I
caught sight of the first
house, my opinion was confirmed that
I was on the lands of the
Shakers, for the same style of
architecture, solid appearance, and
want of decorative art were before me. I
knocked at the door,
which was opened by a small lady. I
asked her name, and she
26 Vol. XIII.
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