Ohio History Journal


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JOSEPH BADGER, THE FIRST MISSIONARY TO THE

WESTERN RESERVE.

 

BY BYRON R. LONG.

 

A preliminary word to the writing of this document is not

unlike that which I wrote to the last article furnished for pub-

lication in this historical record.

In the sketch of Isaac N. Walter, printed in the April num-

ber of 1915, I dwelt at some length on the story of the Chris-

tian denomination with which he labored for many years as a

minister. My own personal connection with that people through

the early portion of my life made me familiar with the men and

women who were prominent in it from the beginning and up to

very recent years.

Among their leaders was Joseph Badger. The biography

of this man fell into my hands while I was yet a boy, and I read

it with great interest. It consisted largely of his autobiography,

which made it all the more lively and impressive to a boy seeking

knowledge and susceptible to inspiration from the personal ex-

periences of youth and manhood that had gone before. E. G.

Holland, a writer of considerable note in the middle of the last

century, prepared the volume, and in addition to the story told

by Mr. Badger himself, presents a history of the man and his

work that makes the book worthy a place in the choicest library.

 

The childhood of Mr. Badger was lived in the midst of

scenes and circumstances characteristic of New England in the

Vol. XXVI-1            (1)