REV. PAUL HENKEL'S JOURNAL.1
HIS MISSIONARY
JOURNEY TO THE STATE OF OHIO IN 1806.
Translated from the
German by Rev. F. E. Cooper, of Milwaukee, Wis., and
edited by Clement
L. Martzolff, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
NEW MARKET,
SHENANDOAH COUNTY, VIRGINIA.2
Monday, July 7th.
To-day, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, I
started on my first
journey as travelling preacher. As the
affairs of my household
were in such shape that my wife could
leave home for a time,
and as we had some reason to believe
that her bodily health
1 Paul Henkel was commissioned to
undertake this missionary journey by the
Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania, which had examined,
licensed and finally
ordained him in 1792. At this time
(1806) he was located at New Market, Va., and
undertook this missionary journey from
that point. The Ministerium of Pennsyl-
vania paid him $40.00 a month for the
actual time that he was engaged on this
journey and on the similar journey which
he made to North Carolina three weeks
after his return to New Market, from the
journey to Ohio.
Mention might be made of the fact that
General Peter Muhlenberg, according
to a tradition in the Henkel family,
personally presented to Paul Henkel the clerical
gown which Muhlenberg had worn in the
pulpit at Woodstock in 1775, when after
preaching his sermon, he threw off his
gown and revealed his colonel's uniform.
This gown is now preserved in the Krauth
Memorial Library of the Lutheran Theo-
logical Seminary, at Mt. Airy,
Philadelphia.
The Journal was sent in by Henkel to the
Ministerium of Pennsylvania as a
part of his official report and has
remained in the custody of the Ministerium ever
since, together with a great deal of
similar material. It is now in the care of Dr.
Luther F. Reed, Archivarius of the
Ministerium, the Archives also being kept in the
Library of the Seminary.
The English translation of the Journal
is the work of the Rev. F. E. Cooper,
formerly of Lima, Ohio, and now of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is through the
courtesy of Dr. Reed that I am permitted
to present this substantial contribution to
the early religious history of Ohio.
My personal thanks are due Prof. B. F.
Prince, Springfield. Ohio; Geo. F.
Bareis, Canal Winchester, Ohio; Rev. A.
Beck, Thornville, Ohio; Rev. J. H. Schnei-
der, Columbus, Ohio; Theo. D. Jervey,
Charleston, S. C.; Hon. D. W. Williams,
Jackson, Ohio, and Mrs. Lydia S.
Poffenberger, Point Pleasant, W. Va., for valuable
assistance in furnishing me with
important data.
CLEMENT L. MARTZOLFF,
Ohio University, Athens, Ohio.
March 4, 1914.
162
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 163
would be benefited thereby, matters were
so arranged that she
went along. We secured, in addition, the
company of an excel-
lent man, George Ruddall by name, who is
travelling from here
to Kentucky, where he resides. He
travels 250 miles of our
way. As he has two horses, he is a great
help to us, in that he
carries fodder for the horses, and we
carry provisions for our-
selves in our chaise. The day is very
warm; we travelled only
14 miles; found good entertainment at
the house of friend I.
Kratzer, in Rockingham County.
Tuesday, the 8th.
We took up our journey early; the day is
very warm.
After we had gone 6 miles, we took
breakfast with an acquaint-
ance in Harrisonburg.3 We
continued our journey. We were
well entertained by an old friend,
Michael Scheurer, whom we
met on the street just at the right
time, and who took us from
there to his house, which is near at
hand; we did not know where
we could find entertainment, nor did we
know that this friend was
living here. This friend served me for 12 years as
overseer,
as an honest man; we were very welcome.
The man rejoiced when he heard what our
plans were.
During the whole day my wife was unwell,
but felt better after
supper and was well entertained in
conversation by the man and
his wife, which pleased us well, so I
began to write up my diary.
After evening prayer, we retired, rested
well; travelled 26 miles
to-day.
Wednesday, the 9th.
We started on our way, just as soon as
we could get ready;
whatever we needed in the way of fodder,
the man provided us
with. To-day we again found to be very
warm. The way, also,
is becoming rough, in that the mountains
already begin.4 We
came out of Augusta5 County
to-day, and were entertained in
Bath6 County by an innkeeper
who called to mind that he had
not heard English preaching for 12 years. We again
travelled
only 30 miles. As it was still daylight
when we arrived, my
wife prepared supper herself, which was
very satisfactory to
our hostess, as she could not have
gotten ready very well, be-
cause she was very much indisposed. The
host engaged with me
164
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
in conversation, which was very
agreeable to me, and at bed-
time he called together the household,
and I conducted the usual
evening service.
Thursday, the 10th.
We started on our way as early as
possible. It began to
rain, and continued until about 2
o'clock. We travelled over
the so-called Warm Spring Mountain. Here
I had to go about
2 miles on foot, and could not avoid
getting wet. At about 2
o'clock, we arrived at the Warm Spring
(Bad7). Here we gave
our horses fodder, and went into the
watering place, and it was
greatly to our advantage that we found
David Rothenhefer,
hatter, living here, whose wife we had
known in Staunton as a
girl. They were rejoiced, and the wife
prepared coffee. Preached
here in the year 1794, to a good
assembly; but at this time there
was no longer an opportunity found to
preach the Gospel. We left
at 4 o'clock, and found the way rough;
reached the Jackson
River8 at twilight; here we
took up our quarters; travelled 30
miles again to-day. Here we found
stabling and fodder for our
horses, also a bed, but no opportunity
to give any one instruction.
As far as I could learn, the people had
been drawn into the
Presbyterian church, but of this no one
in the house pretends
to know anything. The innkeeper departed
this life some years
ago. The old widow, her son and his
wife, live as if they were to
live here forever. We retired in good
time, but we rested lit-
tle-the working of the Warm Spring
disturbed us through the
whole night; nevertheless, day came at
last.
Friday, the 11th.
At 5 o'clock we were already on our way.
As soon as we
had started, we began to ascend a high
mountain.9 I had to go
on foot. My wife feels so weak that she
can hardly sit, and I
suffer too. Our way lies on the eastern
side, and the sun breaks
forth hot. The way is so uneven that I
must lead the horse,
which is also one of the
difficulties-but the journey has been
made so far, and we will go still
farther-hitherto hath the Lord
brought us, He will also bring us
farther.
We met a man with whom I became
acquainted as an Eng-
lish schoolmaster in the year 1782. This
man, at that time al-
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 165
ready an ardent friend of the Christian
religion, also travelled
with me for several days through
Greenbrier10 County; in return
for breakfast, we received from him some
corn for the horses,
but actually, we could have had nothing
more; as rich as he had
appeared 11 years ago, just so poor and
ragged he appeared now.
His former wife was no longer to be
seen-a young wife with
several children. My wife lies down on
the bed, and I am
about to make the coffee, but the woman
wishes to save me the
trouble, as she wants to do it herself.
I give her as much as I
think necessary, but she made me believe
that it is not sufficient
to make it good. I give her more-but she
has other use for
it. She carries it into the kitchen, and
is careful that it is not
made too strong. We did not get the
fourth part of it. Thus
it happened to us this time; in the
future I shall know this
hostess. After I had made full inquiry,
it appeared that he had
become a wicked man, the former wife had
to leave him after
he had taken up with another, but he is
now on the first way to
receive the reward of his foolishness.
We do not tarry long
here, it may cost us more than the
coffee. We continue our
journey. The day becomes warmer and
warmer. To-day we
travel through the mountainous region,
drive 12 miles without
seeing a house; come upon an old
Presbyterian, where we feed
our horses. It is just at the time of
harvest among the people
here. The householder and other of his
neighbors, who per-
haps were somewhat drunken, wish to know
my calling; soon
finding this out, they proved desirous
of discussing certain dog-
mas with me, out of mere curiosity. I
therefore pointed out
their duty to them, as old householders,
carefully to observe
the same according to the precept of the
Bible, and not to trouble
themselves about such matters,
concerning which they know
nothing-and thereupon, again on the way.
We arrive at Lewis-
burg,11 three miles on the other side of
the Greenbrier river, at
about twilight, having covered 37 miles
to-day; find good enter-
tainment with George Spats, trustee of
the congregation. Here,
and at various other points of this
country I preached in August,
1794, and until the end of the year
1795, I gave instruction, con-
firmed the young people, and
administered the Lord's Supper
in the courthouse. For 7 or 8 years the
congregation has been
166 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
served by Pastor Flohr,12 who
visits them 6 or 8 times a year.
We are welcome visitors to these people,
but the time at our
disposition is short.
Saturday, the 12th.
We are visited by various persons from
this place, who had
previously made themselves acquainted
with me. I have rea-
son, also, to think that my work in this
region was not altogether
in vain. There was at least a foundation
laid, upon which
others have since built. We drive into
the country to secure
pasture for our horses; our travelling
companion is seeking an-
other acquaintance. This is a very warm
day; nevertheless, at
2 o'clock
a heavy rain fell.
We are being very well entertained. The
host, his wife and
he thought his children, had heard me
preach sometime in the
past, in Rockingham County, but they
were also acquainted with
my wife, which is a source of mutual
pleasure to them. I write
a letter home.
Sunday, the 13th.
To-day, a beautiful day. We find a large
congregation.
The Presbyterians permit us to preach in
their church. The
English also desire to hear a sermon,
but they must wait until
the Germans have been preached to. My
sermon was on 2
Timothy, 4:8. The congregation showed
itself very attentive.
Several appeared as if they had gotten
something of it. I must
believe that neither did Mr. Flohr labor
here in vain. After
dinner I delivered an English sermon and
only because the
Germans had promised it to them.13 I
found opportunity to
speak something about the right meaning
of reformation and
conversion, which, to be sure, was
something strange to the
people, although the doctrine in itself
may not have been so
strange; yet the manner in which this is
to be secured, this was
certainly strange, and also attracted
some attention; yet as
many may have thought that I did not
understand the matter
any better (as is to be feared) few were
converted thereby.
After the sermon was ended I baptized
various children. We go
home with Abraham Roder, whose parents
regard themselves
as the first seal of my calling. These
are living on the Ohio,
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 167
whom we shall see too, and learn in how
far they are living
in accord with their confession. The
young man and his wife
show themselves very ready to serve. I
find something partic-
ularly praiseworthy in him; although
both his parents are Ger-
man, and so brought up, the foolishness
of others led them to
bring up their children in the English
language; but this one,
although he has an English wife, was so
anxious to learn his
mother language that he can speak it
very well. We lodged
with him.
Monday, the 14th.
Yesterday the people who are acquainted
with the road
from here to Point Pleasant, assured us
that we would not be
able to continue with our chaise,
therefore we resolved to travel
on horseback. Friend Roder and Martin
Scheurer, who is
trustee of the congregation in this
place, ride along to one of my
old acquaintances, Michael Hofman, who
lends us a horse; we
visit my old friend Hazenbiller, whose
wife has for a long time
been laid up with the gout. I served her
as well as I could
with my ministrations. She lends her
saddle to my wife.
Friend Hazenbiller attends to the
shoeing of the horses. We
return home with Friend Roder, and again
spend the night
there.
Tuesday, the 15th.
This morning early it begins to rain
heavily. Friend Mar-
tin Scheurer desires to witness our
departure, brings us a large
sack full of corn. Friend Roder lends me
his saddle; his wife
provided us with fresh bread, meat and a
large cheese and
now we were ready for the journey which
we were to make on
horseback. We did not start until 11 o'clock,
when it stopped
raining, and then it became clear. At
about sunset we arrived
at the home of Peter Beyer, who formerly
lived in Lewisburg,
and whose wife with others, received
instruction and was con-
firmed in the year 1795. He receives us
in a very friendly man-
ner. He requested me to preach there on
our return, which I
promised to do. His wife, although she
has had little oppor-
tunity to obtain proper instruction, and
cannot read, seems to
us nevertheless, to have retained
something of what she has
168
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
heard. I would gladly have ministered to
this large household,
but all were so busily engaged with the
travellers who arrived
the same evening that it had to be
dispensed with. We travelled
24 miles.
Wednesday, the 16th.
This morning we start early, but it is
again very warm. We
ascend the so-called Sulivan Mountain,
certainly a very high
mountain. After going about 6 miles, we
find a house at the
top. We stop here; my wife makes
breakfast. The host, a
German, who troubles himself about
nothing less than about the
Christian religion, whose wife however,
informed us that she
had been raised in our Shenandoah
County, and was a regular
member of our German church. She also
speaks German well.
She laments with tears that she is cut
off from all opportunity
to attend any regular service. She adds
to this that she has 3
children, who were still unbaptized, and
has no hope that it
will be done, since their father is
altogether unwilling to permit
such a thing. She showed us as much
kindness as was in her
power. I admonished her as well as I
could. After breakfast
we continue our journey. It is a hard
day for us. It becomes
exceedingly warm, and at the New River
we meet with very
high mountains. We had set out to go as
far as the beginning of
the great Kanaway, which is said to be
36 miles, but we fell 9
miles short of it. We had to take up our
quarters in a miserable
hut alongside of the path. Here there is
neither field nor stall.
We build a little palisade of rails and
to it we tie the horses.
They receive some corn, and with that
they must be satisfied.
But as it is still sometime before
sunset my wife is able to pre-
pare a good supper for us, wherewith we
fully refresh ourselves,
and raise our spirits. At about
twilight, another traveller comes
along, with whom I was acquainted. The
man of the house asks
me to conduct the usual evening service,
in addition to which
everything fully indicates that the man
is of Presbyterian stock,
and therefore so trained. I secured a
bed, on which we lay,
and poor and narrow as it was, and
little room as we had, never-
theless we had more than a hundred
bed-fellows, who found
room enough alongside of us. These were
not as sleepy as we
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 169
were, but so much the more hungry. They
took care that we
did not sleep too soundly, and that we
could rise early. The
others of our party had lain themselves
on the floor-and neither
did they suffer for lack of the
companionship of the same peo-
ple. Yesterday we travelled only 27
miles. This morning we
started early, so we may make better
progress.
Thursday, the 17th.
We all rise early. I complain to the
host concerning his
domestics, and in a cool manner, with a
cold heart, he laments
that they are so rude, but with warm14
accepts a shilling for
the bed, while we continue our journey.
Now we have left
"Fleaburg," but we must find
our way and the road is still very
dark. We continue our journey until
after sunrise-then we
allow our horses to pasture by the
wayside for half an hour,
and then we find that we have another
high mountain to ascend.
I am inclined to think that if one were
to climb the mountain
every morning before breakfast it would
surely preserve him
from the podagra.15 We again
ascend the eastern slope, which
begins another very warm day for us. Our
condition is like
that of Jonathan and his armor-bearers,
who climbed up on
hands and feet. When we have made an
ascent-then there
comes a descent. After we had struggled
along in this way for
a mile we reached the top. After we had
rested for awhile we
looked for the road down the mountain.
Luckily we missed
it-we found the steepest place-as slowly
as we had ascended
the mountain, just so rapidly could we
have descended-we
would only have had to slide. I
forthwith made a start and
would have reached the level long before
my horse, had I let the
bridle go out of my hand. When I had
disclosed the character
of the track, neither my wife nor Mr.
Ruddall were willing to
follow me, but took a round about way.
After we had ridden
about 3 miles farther we arrived at the
first hut below, at the
falls of the above mentioned New River.
From here to its
mouth, which is a distance of 90 miles,
it is known as the Kana-
way. Here we find a large fire under a
great shade tree along-
side of the hut; also a trough; here we
feed our horses, and my
wife again made us some good coffee. We
also get some but-
170 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
ter, and in addition to our bread we
have some meat, so that
we get along very well. The old
housewife inquired about my
calling, whereupon she complained that
she could not have the
advantage of a congregation. Her nearest
neighbor is 4 miles
off. She says she was also raised as a
regular member of the
Christian church. She asked me to preach
there on my way
home. She said the most of the
inhabitants along the stream were
members of the English Baptist church,
but they had no preacher.
We rode on and came upon a man with whom
I had been well
acquainted in my youth; he also is of
German descent, but was
raised altogether in the English
language. To-day we travelled
30 miles. It was a warm day. We are glad
to find quarters.
I had not seen this man since the year
1774. I pitied the poor
fellow-he received very little
instruction in his youth, has a
very ill-bred wife and children, several
of whom are now
grown up,-he is master nowhere except in
the field and forest.
Some years ago both he and his wife were
members of the
Baptist church. He seemed very much
pleased when I told him
who I was. He has no lack of the
necessaries of life; but, oh
misery! what a female for kitchen or
chamber. The previous
night we quartered in
"Fleaburg"-tonight we find bugs here.
It is a very warm night; the house is
small. My wife, who is
somewhat tired and did not have her
usual supper, retired early,
and fell asleep. After I had had some
conversation with the
man, I also retired but was soon
awakened by the brown crea-
tures.
The man had sent his sons out fishing,
and they came into
the house again about midnight with a
torch burning brightly,
by which she was awakened. I had lain
down on the floor
near the bed, and, covered with my
overcoat, I used my saddle
as a pillow. When my wife awoke, she
perceived what had
driven me out of bed, and was likewise
forced to get up and
lie down with me; there we passed the
night.
Friday, the 18th.
This morning we are out early again, and
are about to start
on our journey; but as the man of the
house seems very much
displeased that we desire to leave in
this way, we remain until
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 171
after breakfast. It seemed to me this
man desired to become
better acquainted with me. I had him
assemble his family, read
a psalm; we sang a hymn and prayed, but
oh, how out of place
it all seemed in these surroundings, so
wild and shy. Neverthe-
less these exercises made such an
impression, upon the children
in particular, that they were moved
thereby. Then my wife
went along into the kitchen and made us
a good coffee. The
sons caught some fish, which were then
prepared, and then we
all became more cheerful. The man and
the children entreated
us to stop again on our way home; also
to preach there, which I
would have done, but circumstances
prevented. We continue
our journey, and after we had ridden 16
miles we arrived at
the home of widow Rufener, whom I had
known well in former
times, when her husband was still
living. She is a member of
the Mennonite congregation. Her youngest
son, a married
man, is living with her. As his wife is
a member of our church,
and has a great inclination for divine
truth, we were persuaded
to stay here until Sunday, and to preach
in the courthouse, one
and one-half miles from here. We are
well quartered.
Saturday, the 19th.
To-day we rest ourselves. I write up my
diary. It is a
beautiful day. We are visited by the
sons of the widow, who
live near by.
Sunday, the 2oth.
At the time appointed for the service,
I, with others, ap-
peared at the courthouse. Here there
were assembled as many
as I had expected. I preached with much
disinclination as I
soon saw how most of them were disposed.
Nevertheless, by
an effort of my mind, I was at last able
to propound something
on the words of our Saviour, John 14:6.
When I saw how
much high-mindedness there was among the
people, I permitted
myself to make several digressions, in
order to make them at-
tentive. In doing this I soon got into
difficulty with one of the
audience, a rather old man, somewhat
intoxicated, sitting in the
doorway. I was remarking that they as
listeners need not
expect to be entertained by a discourse
in which the teaching
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Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
of one or the other of the religious
parties would be maintained
or opposed, as is the custom of some
preachers, and the delight
of many people, of which class in my
opinion they formed a
part. My grey-haired hearer interrupted
me; he spoke out
aloud: "You do me an injustice, I
did not come for this pur-
pose, I am not a man of that sort."
I told him to cause no
disturbance. I did not refer to him
above the others; if he were
not the man, he should leave it to
others. He said: "You
did mean me, at the time you looked
directly at me." This dis-
turbed the whole congregation. But the
man continued to mur-
mur until one of the congregation led
him away, and quieted
him with soft words. He came in again,
sat down in his seat,
and was quiet and attentive until the
sermon was ended. Then
he came to me, and endeavored partly to
excuse and partly to
justify himself, as the drunken will do.
If my sermon was
blessed in proportion to my belief, then
the blessing was indeed
small. I conversed with a man who
belongs to the Methodist
communion, who spoke very sensibly with
me, and told me that
most of the audience were corrupted
Baptists.
Monday, the 21st.
We again take up our way, and ride down
along the Kana-
way River. We have no mountains or hills
to climb, but very
deep water trenches, which are dangerous
as well as difficult
to pass through. To-day we travelled 30
miles. We could have
gone a little farther, but we had to
stop because of our quar-
ters. We find Daniel Gomer, who, with
his wife is a member
of our church, and formerly belonged to
one of my congrega-
tions. Ten years ago this couple settled
here in the wilderness,
and by hard labor have acquired so much
property that they
are beyond want. They are delighted at
our arrival and remind
me that they were married by me; they
also tell their oldest
children that I am the preacher who
baptized them, who also
seemed pleased with this; but it is a
pity that their children
are not brought up in their mother
tongue. The same evening
the boys caught several fish with which
to serve us. For the
sake of the children, I was obliged to
conduct the evening
prayer in the English language. I lament
that such people must
live in this way!
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 173
The wife showed us the hand of one of
her sons, which
through the bite of a snake had been
made almost useless. She
said that five of her children had been
bitten by snakes, and
twice it had fallen to her lot. Although
there are few inhabi-
tants about here, nevertheless they
frequently make provision for
an English school.
Tuesday, the 22nd.
Yesterday was a beautiful day, but this
morning it is raining
hard. We are unable to start as early as
we would like, never-
theless we reach Point Pleasant at the
mouth of the great
Kanaway, and find our old friend
Johannes Rausch and his wife,
both in good health, and highly
delighted to see us with them.
This good man became one of the best
friends we ever had.
To-day we again travelled 32 miles.
Wednesday, the 23rd.
To-day we visit various acquaintances in
the place. Friend
Rausch consults with the same concerning
a German sermon,
which (as the first) is to be held
there. There are indeed as
yet very few Germans in the whole
neighborhood. Everything
was soon arranged. In the afternoon he
rode with us to his
brother Jacob's, who lives 9 miles
above, on the other side of
the Ohio in Galia16 County,
in the State of Ohio. Now we
are here with another friend and lover
of the Word. There
are several former members of my
congregation here. The
young people who expected me to preach
here and begin in-
structions with them on the first Sunday
of last May, heard
(some of them) of our arrival, and came
together the same
evening with their hymn books and
catechisms. Then instruc-
tion was begun, and with it, the first
exercise of my office in
the State of Ohio. To-morrow further
appointments will be
made.
Thursday, the 24th.
It is very warm to-day again. In the
morning I write in
my diary and in the afternoon we visit
Philip Rausch,17 who con-
sults with me concerning the
continuation of the instruction of
the young. This man served me as a
prudent trustee in the
174 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
year 1783. This evening all of the
household who were about
assembled, and I detained them for half
an hour with an exhor-
tation, and gave the young people
further advice. Neverthe-
less I do not feel well.
Friday, the 25th.
I preached in the house of Jacob Rausch.
He had made
a special effort to announce the fact to
all his English neighbors
that there would be preaching in the
English language, and for
the reason that they were Baptists,
requested it of him on the
pretext that they would either induce me
to present my system
of religion according to their
conviction or they would convince
me of my error-but neither of these
happened, for few of them
attended, and these came, made no
comments, and I knew
nothing of the matter until afterwards,
which left everything in
peace. I preached according to the best
of my ability on Ps.
119:18,
baptized several children for Germans and English, and
gave instructions in German in the
wholesome doctrine of the
Gospel, as well as I could. Towards
evening we visited Peter
Beck at his request. This evening will
be well occupied. His
wife, two sons and a daughter will
accompany him to instruc-
tions. The case of this woman is
somewhat remarkable. Her
parents were Reformed people, who clung
closely to their
church, and although all her brothers
and sisters became mem-
bers of the church, from youth up she
refused to be confirmed
in that communion, and before her
marriage already, she would
have been confirmed in the Lutheran
church.
After her marriage, she gave fuller
expression to her desire,
but which only now has come to pass.
Saturday, the 26th.
To-day I continue the instruction of the
young. The num-
ber is still small and most of them are
still very ignorant and
timid; several also are kept away
because of sickness.
Sunday, the 27th.
This day I shall remember. It is very
warm. At 11 o'clock
the house is filled with Germans. The
sermon came first, on
Matt. 21:3. Here are many of my former
members, whom I
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 175
always treasure as those who know their
Saviour. These are
greatly rejoiced at my visit-both for
the sake of their chil-
dren in that I am able to be of service
to them, and because
of their own edification. After the
German sermon was ended,
I was obliged likewise to deliver one in
English, yet certain
ones attend, and to them I must preach,
to keep them in peace
with the Germans. Here f0.12.0 was handed to
me for the
treasury. As I must preach to-morrow in
another small Ger-
man neighborhood 15 miles down the Ohio
River, and must give
instruction for several days in
addition, because most of the
young people are to be found there, we
with others get into a
canoe soon after the conclusion of the
service, and take to the
river. There were other canoes in
company with us which had
come to the service. There were two
experienced young men
to navigate us. After we had gone about
10 miles, I wished to
help the young men, but as this
occupation was a strange one
to me, and the boat was very narrow, it
came to pass that I
fell out; but the water was only deep
enough to come up to my
arms. But I had learned how to swim very
well in my youth,
and my hands were now stretched out for
this purpose, so that
I did not even lose my hat. I had taken
off my shoes. I found
a marshy bottom, mingled with twigs, in
which my feet became
entangled, and my stockings were very
much torn by the time
I reached land. The boat with its load
went some distance
before it could be gotten into control,
but was quite at the shore
by the time I got out. I feared another
attack of fever, espe-
cially as it would be night before we
could reach our destination.
I wrapped my overcoat about me, and
suffered no harm. We
found our old friend Daniel Rausch, who
had always shown
himself a true friend of divine truth,
and also his wife, so that
we were well provided with all that was
necessary. We rested
very well.
Monday, the 28th.
The appointed time for the young people
was early, but
they were there still earlier. At 8
o'clock I began the instruc-
tion in a barn, but by 10 o'clock the
room was too small. All
the Germans in the neighborhood are
assembled, and many Eng-
176 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
lish mingle with them. They all declare
that they were informed
that I would preach in English also. Oh
perverse people! If
you are invited you will not come, and
now we are overrun
with you. Nevertheless I must preach to
you, too, so as to get
room to continue my instruction of the
young. I am, in ad-
dition to this, under obligations
thereto as a missionary, by order
of the Synod. To be sure, I went at it
with much unwillingness.
But as I saw among others an old man,
blinded in both eyes
by the smallpox, who seemed so friendlly
at the beginning of
the service, that it attracted my
attention and aroused me to
more pleasure in the exercise of my
office, and gained for me
better self-command, so that I was able
to make my sermon
more to the point. But scarcely was this
the case when every-
thing was interrupted by a terrible wind
and rain storm. We
lost almost 2 hours. After I had spoken
a full half hour, and it
was now late, I thought everyone would
let it pass at that for
to-day, but the English declared that
they knew that I had pre-
pared more for them, and this they
wished to hear, so I had to
go at it again, and fulfil their
request. I concluded then when it
was almost dark, with the promise that I
could preach to them
again before I would leave this
neighborhood. The poor blind
man cried out in a loud voice,
"Good, good, very good, for this
let us be thankful." With this the
day ended. But we went
a mile farther, and visited another old
acquaintance who form-
erly paid very little attention to
divine service, but whose wife,
although born and raised in the English
language, speaks Ger-
man well. She was much benefited by our
visit. After supper,
we again returned to our quarters and
rested well.
Tuesday, the 29th.
We started early to visit another German
family, who
would like to be English, if they only
had the necessary gifts
and ability. The man and his wife were
in youth confirmed
in the German Reformed church, and
already in the year 1783
appeared as if they had changed their
opinions, and were very
hopeful. But as the wife was ever filled
with the love of pride,
the same drew her to the English. As
they considered them-
selves the first seal of my office I had
to visit them, and leave
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 177
them as they are. But by 9 o'clock we
were again at our barn,
and the instruction continued throughout
the day until night,
when we visited another family, 2 miles down the
Ohio from
where we were staying.
Wednesday, the 30th.
Early in the morning our young men came
with the boat,
and as we were quartered on the bank of
the river, we could
enter immediately. We go down stream
with almost my whole
school. As we are riding with the stream
we go far in a short
time. We again arrive at Jacob Rausch's
and the instruction
is continued. I have now 22 in my class,
2 married men, and
4 women. It is again a very warm day.
The day is another
hard one for me. I am very much
indisposed; nevertheless the
circumstances of my pupils demand that I
shall devote every
moment to their instruction.
Thursday, the 31st.
Last evening I examined carefully into
the condition of
these young people. I find that
according to appearance, most
of them are eager to learn, but very
much neglected by their
parents, notwithstanding that they
themselves have gotten so
much comfort out of the simple
instruction. Can I permit such
light-mindedness to go unpunished? The
married women can-
not read well. They are ashamed to bring
in their requests.
One in particular expressed herself in
such a manner, that
I had to regard her as properly
concerned about the salvation
of her soul. The matter was so plain to
my wife that she was
moved to take charge of the women and
maidens, led them
to the other room, instructed them from
the catechism, spoke
simply, and out of her own experience in
connection with the
explanations. Thus the burden upon me
was made somewhat
lighter. I had to follow the same plan
with the boys. It did
them much good. I continued the
instruction until sunset.
Friday, August 1st.
This is another very warm day. The
Carolina fever18 is
beginning to make itself strongly felt
in me, and I hold out until
sunset with great difficulty. Then we
cross the Ohio to visit
Vol. XXIII--12.
178 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
a friend. He lives on the river, and by
the time we are across
I feel somewhat better. We spend the
night here.
Saturday, the 2nd.
Instruction to-day again. With pleasure
I see that the
young people begin to comprehend the
instruction better. At
2 o'clock
we are obliged to stop for to-day. To-morrow I am
to preach at Point Pleasant, 9 miles
from here. We have com-
pany who will go with us down the river.
Riding with the
stream goes well. But we are overtaken
by a heavy rain, ac-
companied by a strong wind, so that we
get wet, which is not
very good for me. Here with our old
friend John Rausch, we
find others to spend the night with us
who arranged for our
journey to Chillicothe, and the great
Miami. Friend John Rausch
expressed his willingness to be our
travelling companion.
Sunday, the 3rd.
This is a hard day for me. It becomes
very warm. The
people come together from afar. A large
dwelling must serve
as our church. All the rooms are filled,
and many stand outside.
I am also to preach English here. I take
my place at the door,
in order to take advantage of the air. I
first preached to the
Germans on Isaiah 45:22. As this is the
first German sermon
at this place, it received much
attention, and aroused much
curiosity, particularly on the part of
the young people. The
Germans were very quiet and
well-behaved, but it was very
difficult for the English to remain in
order. The sermon had
considerable effect upon many of the
Germans. I was astonished
that the young were so moved. As soon as
the German ser-
mon was finished, I turned to the
English. But here I had first
to perform the duties of a church
officer, by putting the Ger-
mans in a row in order to make room for
the others. Many
would rather stand outside than get into
line. With their bad
habits and wild nature, those in the
house are unable to sit still,
and much less those outside. After much
talking, I finally suc-
ceeded in making a beginning, but I had
to permit myself to
engage in digressions and droll speeches
in order to make them
attentive. I succeeded in so far that
all became quiet and at-
tentive. The most light-minded were
drawn from the street to
f
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 179
the house. Many appeared as if they were
listening earnestly.
Some seemed to lay it to heart and to be
affected by it. My
discourse was on Prov. I :23. The sermon
lasted a full hour and
a half. It is true, the sermon was not
approved by all, nor was
it openly condemned by anyone. It seemed
as if many were un-
accustomed to hear the plan of salvation
explained in this way.
A friend informed me, that different
ones had been listeners
who had threatened to attack me when
opportunity should offer,
because of infant baptism. But
everything was quiet after the
sermon was ended, and I came away in
peace. After the ser-
mon I baptized a child. Here I
received£.0.13.6. Many of
the Germans had had their children
baptized the previous year
by Mr. Forster19 when he
preached at Mr. Rausch's. Here my
work for the day ended. God be praised,
I find that I am not
so very tired, even though I preached
two long sermons, and
helped to row the 9 miles against
stream, in order to bring us
here. May He add His blessing to the
work. I did according
to the best of my knowledge and
understanding.
Monday, the 4th.
To-day we go on horseback to the home of
our Daniel
Rausch, in order to give instruction in
his barn again-a dis-
tance of 10 miles across country. It is
about noon when we
arrive. I spend the afternoon writing.
This evening, by re-
quest, I must deliver another sermon, as
a small crowd has
again assembled. This night I have to
suffer somewhat because
of my getting wet-from an attack of
colic. But by means of
what I used at the advice of the
hostess, I got so much relief
that about midnight I fell asleep.
Tuesday, the 5th.
I arise very tired, but without pain. I
am up early; and
this was necessary, for my school
children show that it is of
importance for them to receive as much
instruction as possible.
Instruction continues until noon, when
the barn again becomes
filled with Germans to hear a sermon.
Although it had not been
so appointed, they knew how to make the
appointment them-
selves. After dinner I delivered another
short sermon, bap-
tized a German and 4 children. This man,
Adam Richert by
180
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
name, was formerly my neighbor in New
Market. He gave
me a dollar. Then I continued the
instruction until about half-
past five. Then we rode with Henry
Rausch to the house of a
former good neighbor, 4 miles up the
Ohio, at his request,
for the purpose and in the hope of so
far instructing his son's
wife (who is English), that she would
permit herself to be
baptized with her children. But all
without the desired result.
Wednesday, the 6th.
This morning early we take to the river,
and as quickly as
possible arrive at the barn again. The
instruction continues
until evening. The day was again very
warm, and it would
have been most difficult for me to
perform my duties if I had not
perceived that my flock was so eager to
grasp the saving doc-
trine. This aided me much, and helped me
through. But why
should I trouble myself?
Michael Sechrist, who married the widow
of my deceased
brother Benjamin, now also desires to
become acquainted with
us; we must go home with him. His wife,
while a single
woman, was led to the Lord by my first
sermon, and God be
praised, I find her still so disposed.
Her present husband is
very kind to us. On this short night's
journey, I baptized 5
children for a poor and very ignorant
man. Under the circum-
stances I had doubt as to what to do.
Both father and mother
were extremely ignorant. But I thought
this: "I can't bestow
wisdom upon either one or the other. The
oldest of the children
are in a way already fit for
instruction, and expose their desire
to be baptized. I will give them the
very simplest instruction."
The sight of the poor children, as they
stood there side by
side, in coarse but clean clothing,
showing themselves so devout
and attentive, moved us all,
exceedingly. They all knelt down,
and I baptized them. We returned home
with friend Sechrist.
Thursday, the 7th.
Our host brought us in his canoe, early
to our barn-church.
I gave instruction until noon. Today I
must fulfil my promise
to the English. They let me know that
they were not satisfied
with the previous sermon which I
delivered to them here. They
had informed all the neighbors and
consequently the assembly
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 181
was large. The poor blind man, already
mentioned, was again
led to a place from where he could hear, and seemed
very much
delighted. Our Germans were very much
pleased that their
English neighbors conducted themselves
in such an attentive and
grateful manner, for they gathered
among themselves £1.1.0.
Here I found better order among the
English than I had ever
before experienced. Every one said
"It was a blessed sermon."
The blind man said, "It was good;
God be praised, very good;
thanks be to God."
This afternoon we break up here, and
again go back across
the country to his house with Peter
Beck, who lives near Jacob
Rausch, where instruction is to be
given. The young people
come by water for this purpose.
Friday, the 8th.
It is again a very warm day. I give
instruction all day long.
I am disturbed at various times by
visits from the English, who
wish to have their children baptized. I
would not have believed
that there were so many English who
approve of infant baptism,
as I have already met here. I am very
tired. In the evening I
am to go two miles to baptize children.
I was already on the
way with others but I must give up the
journey because of weak-
ness. I put it off until tomorrow. I
make arrangements this
evening yet, for the duties of the
morrow.
Saturday, the 9th.
Early in the morning my host goes with
me to where the
children are to be baptized. There I
baptized 5 children for I.
Watkins, and 2 for his neighbor. At
this place £0.5.o was
handed in to me. After breakfast we go
to the house where
confirmation is to be held. In the
first place, two men were
elected as trustees of the
congregation, namely; Daniel Rausch
and George Schwitzer, and installed at
the request of the con-
gregation. After this, I delivered an
address, and confirmed
those whom I had instructed. Everything
was done in such a
manner that it proved a truly festival
occasion, everything was
conducted in good and proper order. I
was astonished at certain
English men, who, although they rarely
understood a word of
182
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
what I said, were silent observers of
the exercises of the whole
day, and showed much devotion.
We went home with the newly installed
trustee and the
heads of different households favored us
this evening with their
society until bed time. We were very
much edified by this in-
tercourse with them, who by the guidance
of God, because of our
previous acquaintance, took the liberty
to speak the more frankly.
Sunday, the 10th.
I arise early. Last night I was very
restless and had
frightful dreams. But by the time I am
fully dressed, Daniel
Rausch, the other trustee is with me,
with the news that I must
go with him this morning before service
to a house and baptize
4 children of a neighboring English
family. Although I do
not do it willingly, yet I dare not
refuse. Mr. Rausch himself,
urges the matter, since he has known the
man for 9 years as
one who governs his house well and seeks
to bring up his chil-
dren in accordance with his duty.
Therefore, says he, it must be
done. Well then, so be it!
I went along, and performed the rite
before the sermon. I
receive one dollar from this man. At 10
o'clock we find a large
assembly gathered for the exercises of
today. Alas, had I only
been duly prepared for it in soul and
body. I am without any
self-command. I am uneasy. To me the
sermon seemed weary,
to the hearers it seemed light. My
German sermon was based
on Isaiah 12: 3. Many as are
here assembled, they are all quiet.
I administered the Lord's Supper to 50
communicants. In the
afternoon I preached the English sermon,
with which they de-
clared themselves well satisfied,
because much concerning the
Holy Communion had been explained to
them. But they were
not convinced thereby that they stood in
need of the same. After
the sermon was ended, I baptized three
more children. Today
I received £. 10. 8. 6. And now so much
is done in this neighbor-
hood. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
We put up at the next house. The Germans
besought me
urgently to provide for future
visitation. Tomorrow we continue
our journey.
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 183
Monday, the 11th.
We rode to Point Pleasant. Upon our
arrival we find a
letter in the post office from our
children, which tells us that all
is well at home. God be praised! so we
had hoped. Now tomor-
row we take up our journey to
Chillicothe and that neighbor-
hood in order to hunt up more Germans.
Tuesday, the 12th.
Today at 10 o'clock we leave Point
Pleasant. Friend
Rausch has provided fresh horses for us,
and he himself will be
our travelling companion. We were
detained by a heavy rain
in Galliapollis,20 a little
city belonging to the French. With these,
however, I cannot speak, much less
preach to them. This place
is situated 4 miles from Point Pleasant.
Today we travelled 26
miles21. We are obliged to
take up our quarters in a hut by
the roadside, an hour before sunset, as
the next house is 16 miles
ahead of us. Mr. Rausch was acquainted
with the inhabitants
of the same, in previous years. The
people made us very wel-
come to all that they have. The man has
his father living with
him. He is 84 years old. He was
originally from Ireland. He
had much to say concerning the religion
of his fathers who were
Presbyterians, to which denomination the
whole household be-
longs. But they are well fitted for this
wilderness, the mistress
of the house in particular, who is
acquainted with all kinds of
work, and has the experience which fits
her for life in the wilds.
Yet there was no lack of living
provision. I had opportunity to
speak much of experimental Christianity,
little as they them-
selves knew of the subject. At their
request, I read several
passages of Scripture, made comments
upon them, sang a psalm,
and offered prayer. We had a bed, with
which no fault was to be
found, after we had laid it on the
floor, in order to have less
company. We rested well, and the next
morning were ready for
the journey.
Wednesday, the 13th.
My wife prepared the breakfast as soon
as possible so that
we might be on our way. Last night it rained,
but this morn-
ing at 8 o'clock it becomes clear. We
travel 16 miles through a
forest, arrive at the salt springs22
about noon, fodder our horses
184
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
here, continue our journey and find
quarters with Widow Mof-
fet,23 from North Carolina.
To-day we travelled 34 miles. As
we found here a considerable household
of grown up persons,
I thought I would exercise the functions
of my office here too;
but this did not happen. The old lady
was troubled about the
change. The young folks got out of the
way. She belonged to
the so-called Quaker congregation. They
gave us what we
asked. To-day we rode 34 miles.
Thursday, the 14th.
We started early, and rode into the town
of Chillicothe,
Ross County, before breakfast. It is
again very warm. Here
we have our breakfast prepared at the
hotel. Friend Rausch
goes through the town to find Germans. I
do the same. But
we find only some few, who do not
willingly acknowledge it.
They have little inclination for
religion. No one is able to in-
form us about the way to Lebanon or any
other place where Ger-
mans are living. We begin to think that
we will have to set
out on our homeward journey, but just at
this time it turned
out that there was a German here from
Brush Creek,24 32 miles
from here, who was on his way home from
Lancaster. When
he heard my name, he was highly
delighted. "Oh," said he, "this
is the man about whom my brother Jacob
has spoken so much,
that he heard him preach in North
Carolina, 18 years ago.
After this testimony, I have often
wished to become acquainted
myself with this man. But enough. There
is a small neigh-
borhood of Germans with me, so go along
home with us. I will
soon have them all assembled." As I
knew his brother in North
Carolina, to be one of the most
prominent men in the advance-
ment of the church and school, yes, who
in all points lived ac-
cording to the Gospel, above all whom I
knew, we soon fell in
with this plan. At 11 o'clock we ride
away from Chillicothe,
and at 10 o'clock at night we reach his
dwelling. A hard day
for my wife. Travelled 42 miles to-day,
though so long de-
layed in the town.
The man lives on the road to Kentucky,25
and keeps the
public house in Highland County. The
house was full of people
who were on their way to a Campmeeting.
We immediately re-
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 185
tire, I am obliged to sleep with an old
rusty Methodist preacher,26
and my wife with an old sister,
concerning whom my wife had
doubts as to whether she did not have
the itch, which she would
not admit. But be that as it may, we
both caught it, and then
it soon broke out on both of us. These
got up very early the
next morning, and prepared themselves
for their affair.
Friday, the 15th.
Our friend Rausch rode off after
breakfast to New Mar-
ket,27 Highland Courthouse,
18 miles from here, to make an ap-
pointment for me to preach there next
Sunday. When the man
of the house informed us that there was
a small neighborhood
of Germans here, my wife and I rode 2
miles farther, across the
Brush Creek, where we learned that our
old friend Abraham
Roth, and his estimable wife live there,
whom the Lord, already
in the year 1783, had given as the first
seal of my office.
Through the whole course of years, under
many difficulties,
these have remained faithful. The
thought that we should meet
them here, in such a wilderness, is
delightful. The man of
the house sends out messages and has the
time for the sermon
set for to-morrow. We find our friends
living in their new
dwelling, very much surprised and highly
delighted at our un-
expected arrival. How fortunate it is
that Providence has led
us hither, for my wife is very unwell,
and it would be difficult
for her to travel farther. We rest here
for to-day. I get to
work at writing. Here we passed the time
pleasantly together.
The household seems to take pleasure in
the conversation, but
how soon was the pleasure disturbed by
the housewife! She
is called from us to serve as midwife at
a house 4 miles away,
where they have much sickness, and where
the man of the house
was drunk during the whole night, and
had others like him in
his company, who joined in with him, and
helped to (pass)
the night. Oh, what an ungodly people
has the old State of
Virginia28 already delivered
into this newly settled state! This
evening already, we were visited by
former acquaintances, whom
we treasure as believing Christians.
186
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
Saturday, the 16th.
This is a beautiful day. As several
neighbors are here very
early, together with those who spent
last night here, we have a
small gathering of people who induce me
to devote an hour to
edification. Soon after breakfast, to
our astonishment, Mrs.
Roth comes back home on foot. The
monster, who should have
accompanied her home, was still drunk
from last night. When
they were still a mile from home he fell
from his horse, and so
frightened the horse of the good woman
that she was soon
thrown. Although at first the fall hurt
her severely, she walked
home. Because of the fright it gave her,
she was quite be-
wildered when she arrived, so that she
could give no accurate ac-
count of the accident. A number of
fainting fits followed, one
after the other, until it seemed to us
as if she were about to die.
I bled her a little, my wife hunted a
certain herb, drew its
strength with boiling water, and
administered it to her. She was
better soon. In the meantime the people
were assembled. Our
service was to have been held in a barn,
a mile from here; but
this accident led us to transfer it
hither. The young men erected
a hut of leaves before the door, placed
boards for seats, while
others were in the house. I took my
place in the house at the
door and preached to the great
satisfaction of Germans and
English. As I noticed much attentiveness
on the part of the
assembly in general, everything seemed
very much revived. I
baptized 8 children, and installed two
men as trustees, Samuel
Schuhmacher and Philip Roth, the latter
a nephew of the host.
He was still a young householder, who
had received much instruc-
tion from Rev. Mr. Streit,29 had
been confirmed by him, and
through him in great measure had come to
a knowledge of him-
self - for to become really pious, is a
right serious matter. He
is a highly gifted man, who was the
choice of the assembled con-
gregation.
Here I entered the names of all the
heads of German fam-
ilies, numbering 29. The most of them
had been former members
of mine, and likewise the most of them
had settled here just
the previous year. They collected £ I.
0. 3. It is late by the time
everything is done, but my tasks are not
altogether ended for
today with the customary benediction.
One of my audience and
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 187
his wife come to me again about
twilight. About three weeks be-
fore, the man was suddenly struck down
as by lightning, and on
recovering consciousness was thrown into
the greatest trouble and
perplexity. He said that doubt had taken
so strong a hold on him,
that he was strongly tempted to commit
suicide. An English-
man, his neighbor, did much for him in
his circumstances and
would probably have done more for him if
he had spoken the
same language. He said most
particularly, that today's sermon
had been a guide to him, to reveal the
way and means by which
to be saved. To him I preached, who
knows how long, in an
altogether evangelical manner. He
returned to his dwelling fully
delighted, in order to get ready the
same night to ride to ser-
vice the next day. With this I finally
closed the day. Tomorrow
I am to preach 16 miles from here.
Different ones have prom-
ised to go along. We are obliged to rise
early. I shall no doubt
have to preach twice. Friend Rausch
would so arrange, and if
I had forbidden him a hundred times.
Sunday, the 17.
This morning we leave the household of
Friend Roth. He
himself goes with us to service. His
wife very much lamented
her fate that she could not go with us.
Within the first three
miles all who had promised to go along,
besides others, joined us.
Our company is composed of 7 persons who
are going along to
service. We must ride through a forest a
distance of 13 miles.
It is half past ten by the time we
arrive at the place. The al-
ready mentioned man, who visited me last
evening, entered into
conversation with my wife, with which he
declared himself well
contented. Upon our arrival, we find all
the Germans assembled,
who are living in the whole
neighborhood, as well as many En-
glish. Here we again meet out friend
Rausch. As this place has
just newly been settled, and as it has
as yet mostly small houses,
there is none large enough. The wind
blows very strongly, or we
would use the forest for this purpose.
Nevertheless we secured
a frame inn, into which as many gathered
as could. Yesterday I
was the first German preacher who had
been at the Brush Creek,
and so here today, in this place. The
first sermon was for the
Germans, during which all were quiet and
very attentive. Cer-
188
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
tainly several must have been touched by
it. I baptized eight chil-
dren here. After this followed an
English sermon. But what
shall I say to this assembly? Several of
them are even drunk,
and the others look very dissolute. What
more could I wish
than that the sermon would fall as
heavily upon them; as it was
for me to preach. But I do my duty. They
are not all drunk.
The Germans understand some of it. Yes,
in fact, it goes better
than was expected, but what the fruits
thereof may be, the Lord
alone knows. I installed two men as
trustees of the congrega-
tion, Andreas Schafer, who is from the
congregation at Hagers-
town, and Philip Wilkin, who is from
Shenandoah County, Vir-
ginia. Here I received £. I. 5. o. The
Germans were delighted
to hear that such good preparations had
been made for the spread
of the Gospel, in which they hoped to
have part, in the future.
After the conclusion of the service, I
rode home with a German,
one and one-half miles away, and
baptized his child. I reproved
him that he held his and his wife's
mother tongue in such little
esteem, and did not teach it to their
children. Here I received
£. 0. 3. 0. I rode home with Friend
Wilkin, a distance of three
miles. Upon our arrival, which was at
twilight, we found the
house full, and to these I had to speak,
at their request. Here
I again recorded all the German
households, to the number of
thirty-five, but most of them just
lately settled here. A number
of households were from my former
congregation; some from
Pastor Schmucker's, who were delighted
to hear that we were
also acquainted with him. At 10 o'clock
we broke up; the work
for today is ended, and I am glad that I
can go to rest. To-
morrow, God willing, we intend to go to
the Little Miami.
Monday, the 18th.
We start as early as possible, in order
to make as long a
day's journey as we can. Today we first
ride through a forest,
a distance of nine miles, through a very
marshy bottom,30 find a
house, and then go twenty miles more
before we reach the next
house. This is also a very heavy road,
so many wet places, and
such a marshy bottom. We have difficulty
to find the right path.
We get across the Little Miami and
quarter there. Today, ac-
cording to our reckoning, we rode
thirty-four miles.
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 189
Tuesday, the 19th.
For certain reasons, we got no supper
last night, and this
morning we get nothing again, so we ride
seven miles to Augustin
Preis', a mile beyond Lebanon in Warren
County. Our yester-
day's dinner could have been better,
too. So this morning it
tastes good to us, when at 9 o'clock we
get something to eat.
Friend Rausch is acquainted with this
householder. He informs
us where our acquaintances live, shows
us the way to Pastor
Christman's,31 a Reformed preacher, who
was well known to me
in North Carolina. We arrived there at 2
o'clock, and now, God
be praised, we again found a home. The
man and his children,
who are all grown up, are very glad for
our visit. His good wife
left this world seven years ago. He told
us that his colleague,
Jacob Laros,32 a worthy man,
also a Reformed preacher, whom
we knew in North Carolina, was living
only ten miles from here.
I was very glad to hear this. Our
journey today was about four-
teen miles. We rest here today. In the
evening we were visited
by a young man and his married sister,
whose father had served
for a numbr of years as trustee in one
of my congregations. How
glad these are to find us here in this
wilderness! for they thought
they would never again see their
well-known pastor. I, of a
truth, am delighted myself, and the more
as I learn from Mr.
Christman that they lead upright lives.
Mr. Christman makes the
arrangements for me to preach.
Wednesday, the 20th.
This morning I write a letter to Pastor
Schmucker,33 in
Hagerstown. Mr. Rausch makes himself
well acquainted with
Mr. Christman. After breakfast we rode
to Lebanon. Provided
certain necessary things for the journey
home; visited David
Mauger, four miles from this place. I
ought really to have
preached here this evening, but through
misunderstanding, it was
neglected. The man's son and his wife
visited us. I conversed
much with them about whatever I thought
necessary. The young
wife had been baptized by me soon after
her marriage, the recol-
lection of which added to her freedom in
speaking with me.
190
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
Thursday, the 21st.
I preach in a house that was
advantageously built for hold-
ing divine service, at the so-called
Clear Creek.34 This is the first
house that I came across in the whole
State that was built for a
church. It is large enough to hold a
numerous assembly. Mr.
Christman, through much diligence, had
brought this to pass.
It was built in common by the two
denominations. Here I also
found trustees in office on both sides.
The one on the side of the
Lutheran Church, Adam Zerfass, an
estimable young house-
holder, was instructed and confirmed by
me thirteen years ago,
which according to his testimony was a
source of blessing to him.
I found much pleasure in conversation
with him. Mr. Christman
bore witness that he lived well in
accord with his profession.
Here I preach both German and English.
Although I had to
speak in English without any
preparation, this sermon received
the greater approbation, from both
Germans and English. Here
I baptized no children. But Mr.
Christman recorded all the Ger-
man households, numbering thirty-three.
The trustee handed
£. o. 11. 3. in to me. We rode from here to Mr. Laros'. Mr.
Christman and Friend Rausch, go to one
of his neighbors to se-
cure quarters. But oh, how rejoiced was
not this estimable man
at our arrival! He only complained that
he had done so little
for the Kingdom of Jesus, since he came
here. He had begun
housekeeping here in the forest only two
years ago. His young-
est son, who was almost fully grown, who
did the farming, had
been taken from him by an early death,
some weeks before; his
horse had fallen upon him so that he
could not ride out anywhere,
etc.
He had gathered a very small
congregation in this neighbor-
hood, which he had arranged for me to
preach to. He preaches
every Sunday, but more he cannot do. I
have to pity the poor
man.
Friday, the 22nd.
We go afoot to the place appointed for
the service, to the
house of Michael Ungerer. Here we found
almost all the Ger-
mans, who live in the neighborhood. As
the house is too small,
we arrange a place under shade trees. I
preach, according to my
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 191
custom, on Eph. 4:21. The most of my hearers are from Pas-
tor Schulze's35 congregation
in Pennsylvania. The people were
attentive and pleased at the
opportunity. £. 0. 18. 0. was col-
lected here from the congregation. My
colleagues Christman
and Laros were present, helped lead the
singing, etc. The man
of the house had dinner prepared for us,
of which we partook in
the midst of edifying intercourse. We
again went home with
Mr. Laros. Towards evening we were
visited by a trustee and
some other persons, who gave me the
names of the householders
while I recorded them. There are
twenty-two of them.
Saturday, the 23rd.
I write a letter to Pastor Mann,36 who
is living only a day's
journey from here. This afternoon we
ride across the Great Mi-
ami with Mr. Christman. Mr. Rausch goes
with others to a place
where he wants to hear the service of
the quite lately established
congregation of the so-called Shakers,37
and to see their practice,
which is for the whole congregation to
dance. This odd custom I
also desired to witness, but I dare not
interrupt the duties of my
office on this account. We are quartered
with Michael Ermerrich
at the Twin Creek38 in
Montgomery County. A number of his
neighbors visited us this evening, with
whom we had opportunity
to consult much about what concerns the
spread of the Gospel,
and the planting of congregations.39
The people report that they
once had the pleasure of a visit from
their former minister, Mr.
Illian.
Sunday, the 24th.
Today I preach in a large new house of
Adam (?) which has
just been put under roof, and which is
very roomy. The house
is filled, and many are unable to find
place in it. The youngsters
climb upon the rafters and sit on
boards. There are many present
whom I knew elsewhere. I speak on Isaiah
61 :1. I baptized
seven children. The Lord was certainly
in our midst today. Old
and young are unable to hide the fact
that they are experiencing
the truth. They are all devotion, and
attentiveness characterizes
everyone. May the Lord, through His
Spirit imprint it deep into
the hearts of all. Both my colleagues,
Christman and Laros, re-
192 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
joice from the heart on this occasion.
Oh, yes, I believe that
through their praying, the Lord added
increased blessing. I know
they would sing with me:
Herr Jesu, pflanz Erkenntniss fort,
Auf Kind und Kindes Kinder,
Gib Kraft und Nachdruck deinem Wort,
Beleb die toten Sunder,
Lass rufen die verlorne Schaff,
Erwach sie von dem Sunden Schlaf,
Bring sie zu deiner Herde.40
There were but few English here,
nevertheless I must ad-
monish them likewise. I informed them
concerning the prepa-
rations of the Synod for the training of
young preachers, and the
spread of the Gospel, which the
congregation highly approved.
Both my colleagues added a word, to
remind them of their duty
at least to advance this good beginning
with their cheerful sup-
port. Mr. Christman himself caught up
the small plate from off
the table, and gave it to one of his
trusted friends with the com-
mand: "Go through the whole
congregation, and ask something
from each one." The man obeyed the
order, and collected £. 3.
18. 0. A certain justice of the peace,
I. Conkel, wrote down all
the German householders, and gave me the
list after the sermon.
There were 102 of them
counted, the farthest off, living seven
miles. We have now gone as far as we
dare. From now on, our
appointments lie on the way home. Alas,
we lament to hear of
regions which lie farther on, settled by
Germans. Had we
known this, we would have set our
appointments for the journey
home at a later date -but
it is also necessary that I should be at
home. Certain people, altogether
strangers, part from us with
tears. The man of the house had dinner
prepared; as soon as we
had eaten, we took our departure and
rode home again with Mr.
Christman, a distance of twelve miles.
On this evening's journey
we meet with a house, the owner of which
was known to me in
childhood already, and whose wife's
brother was one of my
school companions. These and other
acquaintances awaited us
at the house, where they, as they had
learned a few hours before,
that I was in the neighborhood. They
entreated me earnestly to
remain longer in order to preach in
English also. Mr. Christman
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 193
preached English in this house, at
times. Gladly would I have
gratified their desire, but it could not
be done this time. Dear
Friends, should it fall to my lot to
come into this country in the
future, I shall preach in all parts, to
all who care to hear. We
arrived at Mr. Christman's about 8
o'clock in the evening. Put
up here again.
Monday, the 25th.
This morning we ride away from this
household. The daugh-
ter prepared as much bread and boiled
meat as we needed. We
regret our separation from them. They
weep at the departure of
my wife as if they were being separated
from their mother. Mr.
Christman accompanied us for three
miles, until he felt sure that
we were on the right road, then he
committed us to the Lord and
let us go. We ride the whole morning
through a well-settled
stretch, but where mostly the so-called
Quakers41 are to be found.
Mr. Christman had informed us that we
would find no oppor-
tunity to teach among them, so we must
let them alone. About
noon we stop with a German who was
raised in the Evangelical
Lutheran Church. He is still able to
speak his mother tongue,
but since he settled here among the
heathen, he has acquired many
of their habits, so that he had almost
forgotten the customs as
well as the religion of his fathers, and
brings up his children ac-
cordingly. It may be said of him: By
birth and education, a
Christian, by disposition and habit, a
heathen. But enough of
him. We continue our journey from here
through a forest,
which lasts for ten miles. Here we again
come upon a hut. We
secure stabling and fodder for the
horses. My wife makes the
supper herself -but
we first wash all the dishes with hot water.
The tea cups are pitched together, as it
were, with old grease.
We obtained a bed too, but we found that
the hungry bed-fel-
lows were so numerous here, that in the
middle of the night we
were driven out, and made our escape to
a hay stable. We took
some clothing and covers with us, in
which many of them stuck.
Through the whole night we were unable
to kill all of them. But
we had this advantage that by as many as
we killed, by so many
was the number of them noticeably
decreased, which was not the
case in the house. Yesterday we rode
thirty-five miles. We
Vol. XXIII-- 13.
194 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
would rather have rested better.
Nevertheless we slept some be-
fore day came. My wife prepared
breakfast and we left.
Tuesday, the 26th.
We now ride away again from this
"Fleaburg" into the wil-
derness. I do not know the name of the
county into which we
went. From here we again ride twenty
miles through a wilder-
ness, with no house to be seen.
Frequently we are scarcely able
to keep the path. At 3 o'clock we again
find a house, where we
obtain fodder for the horses. The man
and his wife were both
known to me from youth up. They also
gave us something to eat.
Here we met some other households with
which we were ac-
quainted. I should have preached here,
too, had I known about
it. We are now fifteen miles from
Chillicothe. There I am to
preach tomorrow. We came upon a German,
by the name of I.
Pontius, a respectable man, about three
miles from Chillicothe.
Here we were very well accommodated. We
rest well, this night.
Today we traveled forty-two miles.
Wednesday, the 27th.
I preached in the court house in the
town. I do not know the
reason, but there were very few present.
Whether they had not
heard about it, or whether they did not
care for it, I cannot say.
But this we learned: that the German
inhabitants of the place are
prejudiced against the German
pastors. They are probably
possessed with what many others are
possessed, stupid pride and
lightmindedness! They brought serious
charges of evil conduct
against two Reformed preachers, who were
among them. I do
not remember what their names were -they
were both strange
to, me. We hurried away as we did not
want to hear their alle-
gorical, mocking speeches. We rode
sixteen miles yet during the
afternoon and found quarters with one of
my boyhood acquaint-
ances. This man has a large household.
Here it was my in-
tention to exercise some of the duties
of my calling. But the man
did not come home until night, he also
appeared to be drunk, and
besides is very ignorant and
light-minded. He had company with
him, of his own stamp. There was simply
nothing to be done
here. We traveled nineteen miles.
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 195
Thursday, the 28th.
It looks like rain this morning. It is
already cool. We start
as early as possible, and continue
almost the whole day. It is a
hard day for the horses for they must go
almost the whole day
without water. We found several high
hills to climb. We rode
forty-two miles today and arrived at
Christian Seler's, where I
am to preach tomorrow.
Friday, the 29th.
I preach in the barn. There are as yet
few Germans here.
These were attached to the congregation
on the Ohio, but the
assembly is somewhat augmented by the
attendance of the
newly confirmed from the Ohio. I also
delivered an English
address, but everything moves in a slow,
cold, dead manner.
Here I again baptized 7 children. I
received £.0.7.6. After
the sermon we rode quite to Point
Pleasant. We find Mrs.
Rausch well. Now we are in a good home,
and what gives us
more pleasure, we find in the
postoffice, near Mr. Rausch's, a
letter from our household, which informs
us that all is well
and in good shape. We thank the Lord for
it.
Saturday, the 30th.
I preached at Point Pleasant, baptized 2 children,
received
one dollar. In the afternoon I baptized
5 children of an English
man. In the evening, outside of the
town, I baptized 2 other
children. Received 2 dollars.
Sunday, the 31st.
To-day we, with some others, again made
a trip up the
Ohio. A young man did the rowing. We
arrived at the ap-
pointed place about half past ten. Here
we found our Ger-
mans already assembled. The first sermon
was delivered to the
English, and after the German sermon was
ended we parted
from our friends and again returned by
water to Point Pleasant,
to Mr. Rausch, as it was already 9
o'clock and we had the
company of a woman on this evening
journey, who is closely
related to me. Twenty years ago, by the
grace of God, she
had been brought properly to take
thought for herself. But as
she could get to hear no other preachers
than Methodists, Bap-
196
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society
Publications.
tists, etc., by such her progress had to
be furthered. But this
was bound up with so much imagination,
that she was unable
to grasp any right exposition of the
order of salvation, for which
purpose none of the books which she had
were of any value,
although the reading of certain books
could have been bene-
ficial. But as she was living a short
day's journey up the Ohio,
and had been informed of this
opportunity, she and her husband
started out to hear to-day's sermon. But
as they lost their way,
they did not arrive until at the
conclusion of my last sermon.
But in order to speak with me on the
subject, she goes with us
down the river while her husband goes
across country with Mrs.
Rausch. Alas, it is to be lamented that
perplexed people ever
must listen to such fanatics as their
pastors. I had to contend
with much, in making the matter plain to
her; but in vain. Al-
though I did not doubt her sincerity,
yet I see that my effort
is fruitless for the time being. But the
Lord doeth all things
well. I commit her to His grace. At 11
o'clock we start on
the journey we have to make. To-morrow
we wish to begin
our journey home.
Monday, Sept. 1st.
We ride away from here. Mr. Rausch
accompanies us 12
miles. It is raining somewhat, and we
also become somewhat
wet. It clears up at 2 o'clock, and the
sun shines warmly so
that we feel no ill effects. We are
again well entertained by
Daniel Gomer. Here we stayed on our way
out. There are
very few households settled here. We
rode 32 miles to-day.
Tuesday, the 2nd.
We rode 30 miles more. We find quarters
at the house of
Rufner, where we stayed on our way out.
Wednesday, the 3rd.
Here there was some talk of my staying
over to preach a
German sermon, but matters did not suit
at all for this.
We do not leave until 9 o'clock. Our way
leads up along
the great Kanaway. This section is
settled entirely by English
people, who belong to the Baptist
denomination. I had intended
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 197
to preach here also, on my way home, but
had no opportunity
to make an appointment, and now it is
too late, because of other
appointments which are still before me.
To-day we travel 30
miles. We find a very rough way, and are
obliged to go 4 or
5 miles through a dark forest, by night.
We found our quarters
as good as we had expected.
Thursday, the 4th.
This morning we start early. Our host
goes with us as
far as the Kanaway river, and points out
the ford to us. The
river is no where very deep, but flows
very rapidly. It is like-
wise very broad (a good quarter mile).
My wife became some-
what frightened when she saw that the
river was both deeper
and much broader than it appeared from
the shore. We passed
over safely. After riding 5 miles we
again arrived at the house
which stands at the head of the Kanaway.
We found the fire
under the shade tree, as we had on our
way out. My wife
again made coffee over it, and after we
had eaten we continued
our journey. The day is a hard one for
us. It is very warm,
and we are again in the midst of the
mountains. I had overfed
my horse somewhat, so that toward
evening he became stiff-
so that we did not reach our intended
stopping place by 7 miles.
It became dark, and the horse could
hardly go any more. We
began to think we would have to stay in
the forest. But finally
we found a hut by the road, but no field
and no stable. We
build a little palisade of rails, and fed
the horses there. The
host is a young man, who is very
light-minded. Here there were
some young men, hunters, and some
travellers. The hut was
filled. Some of them were already
intoxicated and asked for
more. It seemed as if the end of it
would be a wild time, but
I remained quiet until I would see what
more would take place.
In the meanwhile, there came a traveller
from Point Pleasant
who had heard me preach there, and knew
me well. He asked
me whether I was not the man. Now that I
was betrayed, all of
them changed their behaviour, and their
society became endur-
able. They all appeared very willing to
take part in the evening
prayer, and listened attentively to the
address I made. We also
secured a much better bed than we had
expected. The others
198 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
all lay down on the floor. Here we
rested better than at "Flea-
burg or "Bugtown."
Friday, the 5th.
This morning I wish to speak somewhat
more intimately
with my company; but I am disappointed,
for as soon as it is
day, each one sets out on his way, and
we are left almost alone.
But I am well satisfied that I am able
to attend to the horses
and that my wife can prepare the
breakfast. We do not hurry,
for we have only 12 miles to travel
to-day. So we take time
to do what is most necessary; fodder the
horses properly, which
is very necessary at such an inn. We
reach our quarters at
Peter Bair's, about 12 o'clock. It
is a beautiful day. We rest,
and I write up my diary.
Saturday, the 6th.
By about noon there assembles an orderly
gathering of Eng-
lish people, who prove themselves
earnest listeners. The ser-
mon moved some very considerably. I
preached on Rom. 2:4.
During this sermon I saw that a young
maiden, of about 15
years of age, was under the influence of
the so-called "Jerks"42
(as the English call it). As there is so
much (?) of all kinds
among the English people, I was always
of the opinion that it
could be prevented by the people
themselves. But in the case
of this weak little creature, I was
convinced that the influence
was contrary to her will. All the
circumstances connected
therewith gave me convincing proof of
this.
We have 24 miles to Greenbrier Courthouse,
where I am to
preach to-morrow, 19 of them we had
ridden by 8 o'clock in the
evening. We put up with Mr. Hazenbiller,
from whose wife my
wife had borrowed the saddle. We will
soon come again to
where our chaise is. This afternoon the
way was rough. We
reach our destination at night. We are
glad, and retire early.
Sunday, the 7th.
My wife stays here to-day and keeps
company with the lady
of the house, who is lying so ill with
the gout. Mr. Hazen-
biller's son rides with me to town, to
the meeting. Here we
find the largest assembly (so the people
say) which has ever
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 199
been seen, almost, at a German service.
They wanted to have
an opportunity to hear an English sermon
this afternoon, but
for certain reasons I refused it.
Monday, the 8th.
For the sake of his wife, I preached in
the house of Mr.
Hazenbiller. The house was filled. The
discourse had an effect
upon many as I took advantage of the
opportunity because of
the sad circumstances, to remind them of
the frailty of man.
After the sermon I returned my borrowed
horse, and paid the
owner of it. Here I baptized 4 children
for the English. We
rode home with Abraham Roder, where we
again found our
chaise.
Tuesday, the 9th.
We again pack up our chaise and drive
off. We go 8 miles
to I. Kessler's. Here I deliver another
German sermon in his
large house. We must tarry here to-day
in order to have my
horse shod at the smithy.
Wednesday, the 10th.
We continue our journey, travelled
through the Aloganey
Mountains, but put only 28 miles behind
us because of the rough
way. We must also take up our quarters a
little before dark,
because of the opportunity we have to
stay here, which will
not occur again within the next 10
miles. This is a young
household. The man seems willing to
speak about Christianity,
but his wife is very ignorant, and can
talk neither German nor
English. My wife made an effort to draw
her out, but it was
plainly fruitless. There are no Germans
living near this man;
on the whole there are very few people
in these mountains. I
enquire of him concerning places where
Germans may be living.
He informs me that several small German
congregations were
gathered at the Jackson river, by a
pastor Wagener, a Lutheran
preacher, but who seldom preached there.
He says that the
nearest are 8 or 9 miles from his place.
We should have paid
these a visit too, but because of
appointment there is not time
enough for it now.
200
Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
Thursday, the 11th.
We start early in the hope of getting
out of the mountains
altogether to-day. But our intention was
disappointed, for
when we were still a mile from the Hot
Spring, the ferrule of
one of the wheels of our chaise became
altogether loose. I have
to go on foot and tie the wheel with
(?). It was 3 o'clock
When we reached the Hot Spring. We did
not reach the house
until sunset, and were obliged to stay
there until the next day.
I took advantage of the opportunity to
inform ourselves through
our host Rothenhafer and his wife, who
showed us so much
love and friendship as their
circumstances allowed. By them
information was given concerning our
route.
Friday, the 12th.
We could not drive off as early as we
should have liked;
we had to wait until our chaise was
ready. To-day we travelled
only eighteen miles. We found it
necessary to go to Hot
Springs the last night. From it I find
myself sick to-day. We
sojourn at Cowpaster43 river;
here we had also been on our
former journey. This hotel is not to be
endured; the people
give you what they have for the money,
and let you to yourself
to prepare what one has, which my wife
had to do for us. We
have a good rest, and by the next day I
am again quite well.
Saturday, the 13th.
The day begins with a heavy rain, and so
continues until
noon. We managed to keep from getting
wet by means of my
wife's umbrella, as driving was somewhat
better than yesterday.
We reach our friend Michael Schurer (?).
Here I am to
preach German and English to-morrow. The
man was much
pleased with our former journey, as well
as with the expecta-
tion of my preaching in his house on my
return; and he was
much distressed because my letter of
information had not ar-
rived, though it had been sent in good
time; it had been per-
niciously neglected by one of his German
neighbors. Moreover,
one of his grown sons had been buried
only yesterday; and
four weeks ago, his grown daughter. We find
it necessary to
bring to the mind of these people much
from the Scriptures, to
give them proper consolation. To-day we
travelled 35 miles.
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 201
Sunday, the 14th.
We are now again in Augusta County, and
I am sorry that on
this beautiful day no arrangements had
been made for me. We
start on our journey with a view of
getting nearly to our home.
Inasmuch, however, as a so-called
camp-meeting hindered us,
of which we had known nothing until we
came to it about 3
o'clock, there we were detained by many
acquaintances we met.
Some of them wanted to hear my opinion
concerning it; but
as I did not care to give it, we were
only detained the longer.
We sojourned at (?)burg in Rockingham
County.
Monday, the 15th.
We reached home about 3 o'clock, and
found everything
well.
Remarks: This journey lasted from the
7th of July until
the 14th of September. Four days,
however, are to be de-
ducted because I preached for Pastor
Flohr.
The following is a short account of the
journey I made
as travelling preacher, from home to the
State of Ohio, as well
as of the German churches and schools,
which I found there,
and then of the distance from one place
to another.
From New Market to the Genesis Gap in
Augusta County
is 50 miles. There are many German
schools and churches
which are always cared for. From here to
Lewisburg, Green-
brier Courthouse is 100 miles; but
little settled because of the
mountains. There are no Germans to be
found, except one
household, which has already degenerated
greatly. I was told
of a small German neighborhood on the
Jackson river, situated
about 10 miles out of the way, but of
which I learned nothing
until I had passed it.
About Lewisburg there are several German
congregations,
but which have built no church, but they
have German schools.
Pastor Flohr serves them every six
weeks. From Lewisburg to
Peter Bair's, near Sullivan Mountain, is
24 miles. There I
preached to his neighbors in his house,
who, however, are all
English.
From there to the head of the Great
Kanaway is about 45
miles-nothing but high mountains and
little settled. From
202 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
there it is 90 miles to the mouth of the
Great Kanaway, at
Point Pleasant. On the way we found two
households which are
of German origin, but raise their
children in the English lan-
guage. The English Anabaptists, formerly
had a preacher here,
and also built a church, but at present
everything is much de-
cayed. I found opportunity to preach in
the Kanaway Court-
house.
At Point Pleasant,44 in Mason County,
there are also few
Germans to be found as yet-neither
churches nor schools.
In Grayham Station,45 18
miles up the Ohio, is a little Ger-
man congregation, but they formerly had
a good German school.
The schoolmaster was a (?) man and a
good singer, and
did the young people much good, in that
he gave them good in-
struction in the same. But he has moved
away.
From Point Pleasant to the salt works in
Ross County is
36 miles, 16 miles of which is untouched
forest, and the rest of
the way, little settled. About the salt
works there live but few.
Those who own or run the works are all
English. They don't
care to spend any time listening to
preaching.
From there it is 30 miles to
Chillicothe. There, too, are
few Germans living who are provided with
churches or schools.
From thence there are none either. From
there to Brush Creek
is 34 miles. There, there is a regular
German congregation,
but they have as yet built no church,
nor organized a school.
From Brush Creek to Highland Courthouse
is 18 miles,
almost all of which distance is nothing
but forest. About the
Courthouse there are enough Germans to
make up a fair con-
gregation. They also have a German
school, but have built no
church as yet. (Highland Courthouse is
called New Market.)
From New Market to the Little Miami is
36 miles. The
road runs through a forest for 9 miles.
Then again, through
another for a distance of 18 miles. The
rest of the road is little
settled. From the Little Miami, it is 6
miles to Lebanon, War-
ren County. The way is settled by
Quakers. Very few Ger-
mans live about Lebanon.
At Clear Creek, 9 miles from Lebanon,
there is a German
church built, which is quite
serviceable. The people were en-
gaged in establishing a German school.
Mr. Christman, a Re-
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 203
formed preacher, is serving there. At
the Great Miami, in
Montgomery County, 12 miles from Clear Creek, is also a
small German congregation, which is
served by Mr. Jacob Laros,
a Reformed preacher, where they also
have a German school,
but no church built. Across the Great
Miami on the Twin
Creek, there is a strong congregation,
but as yet no church
built. There is also a German school
there.
The following heads of families are living
on the Ohio,
about Point Pleasant, part in the State
of Ohio, part in Mason
County, State of Virginia:
Johannes Rausch, Nicklaus Jager, Georg
Rifel, Matheis
Rifel, Peter Jager, Michael Will,
Andreas Eckert, Peter Beck,
John Schmit, Michael Sechrist, Georg
Wolf, Michael Roder,
Jonas Rausch, Daniel Rausch, Georg
Rausch, Abraham Zirkel,
Adam
Roder, I. Sebril, Abraham
Hazenbiller, David Durst,
Henrich Rausch, Henrich Rausch, Peter
Wolf, Peter Lorenz,
Daniel Jendes, Michael Zirkel, Henrich
Nehs, Jacob Rausch,
Georg Schweitzer, Nickolaus Zin, Philip
Rausch, Abraham Losly,
Christian Seeler, Philip Schweitzer,
Henrich Seeler, I. Rother-
mel, Walter Newman.
The following heads of families live in
Highland County,
Brush Creek Township: Adam Kehler, Peter
Stolz, Jacob
Stolz, Johannes Stolz, Johannes Herter,
Johannes Countryman,
Michael Stolz, Samuel Denner, Jacob
Miller, Johannes Fischer,
Johannes Miller, Simion Schuhmacher,
Martin Schuhmacher,
Immanuel Moser, Samuel Schuhmacher,
Heinrich Countryman,
Philip Roth, Johannes Roth, Friedrich
Braucher, Jacob Hies-
tand, Willhelm Ritschi, Jacob Blatter,
Peter Blatter, Michael
Schnebly, Abraham Roth, Wilhelm
Rebbinger, I. Weber, I.
Wahrheim.
In Highland County, New Market,46 are
the following heads
of German families: Philip Wilkin,
Andreas Schafer, Adam
Arnold, Johannes Rausch, Heinrich
Rausch, Isaac Lehman, Peter
Hup, Johannes Bar, Andreas Carl, Peter
Schneider, Wilhelm
Boyd, Anthon Straub, Christian Blum,
Johan Bernhart, M.
Bernhart, M. Boyd, Michael Straub, Jacob
Ebersohl, Jacob
Kaufman, Georg Bartin, Adam Lenz, Georg
Fender, Johannes
Hup, Gottfried Wilkin, Georg Wolf,
Ludwig Kubler, M. Metz-
204 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
ger, Adam Lingerman, M. Lingerman, M.
Preis, M. Preis, Jacob
Brim.
In Warren County, Franklin Township, on
the Clear Creek,
are the following heads of households:
Jacob Zeller, Michael
Engel, Dieter Kiesling, Henrich Konig,
Wendel Eir, Christian
Noll, Adam Blin, Heinrich Noll, Franz
Eir, Philip Schwarzel,
Johan Agi, Johannes Stehr, Samuel
Eberman, Adam Noll, Hein-
rich Zeller, Johanes Brill, Johanes
Asias, Johanes Fuchs, Carl
Noll, David Mauger, Peter Zeller,
Christian Zeller, Johanes
Zeller, Adam Zerfas, Heinrich Hebner,
Adam Herman, Johanes
Bair, Peter Herschman, Martin Erhart,
Johanes Lingel, Johanes
Lang, J. Dotro, Martin Kirschner.
In Montgomery County, Washington
Township, near the
Great Miami, are the following heads of
German households
Georg Gebhart, Sr., Georg Gebhart, Jr.,
Valentin Gebhart, Jacob
Lang, Heinrich Streiter, Michael
Ungerer, Johanes Gebhart,
Tobias Wirzel, Jacob Gebhart, Philip
Laros, Johanes Stehr,
David Scherer, Wilhelm Lang, Isaac
Meyer, Friedrich Notz,
Georg Meyer, David Graul, Philip
Gebhart, Jacob Kercher, An-
dreas Gebhart, Jacob Bahm, Georg Ulrich.
A list of the German inhabitants of
German Township, in
the County of Montgomery, and State of Ohio,
taken the 23rd
day of August, in the year of our Lord,
1806.
Philip Gunckel, John Enrich, Christopher
Enrich, Wilhelm
Enrich, Sr., Wilhelm Enrich, Jr.,
Michael Enrich, Martin Shuy,
John Pouly, Ant. Rigerd, Jacob Swenk,
Adam Stiver, Henry
Huble, Henry Christ, Georg Kern, Daniel
Kemp, Jacob Kemp,
John Kemp, Philip Kemp, John Gebhard,
Georg Kahrel, Sr.,
Georg Kahrel, Jr., John Kahrel, George
Morgenstare, John Loy,
George Loy, Peter Loy, Gabrial Thomas,
Peter Ketrow, Charles
Ketrow, John Rum, Fridrich Reed, John
Anspach, George Tem-
pel, Michael Temple, Leonhard Stump,
Jacob Alwein, Konrad
Eisly, Valentin Good, Johothan
Lindenmut, Georg Genger, John
Wagner, Jacob Brower, John Brower,
George Kister, Jacob
Henry, John Reisinger, George Boyer,
Henry Bumershim, Jacob
Koleman, Henry Swartzly, Abraham
Swartzly, Jacob Hell, Georg
Tittel, George Ramberger, Abraham Neff,
John Stiver, Chasper
Stiver, Sr., Chasper Stiver, Jr., Androw
Zeller, Peter Wile, John
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 205
Zeiler, Fredrich Woolf, Sr., Fredrich
Woolf, Jr., Jacob Bouer,
Peter Shefer, John Houhrer, Philip
Woolf, George Moyer, John
Shupherd, Christopher Shupherd, John
Adam Boss, Doct.,
Mathias Regel, Henry Gephard, Daniel
Manbule, George Stetler,
Henry Stetler, William Stetler, Abraham
Pontine, John Berlod,
George Gephard, Jr., George Gephard,
Sr., Henry Apel, Jacob
Wuver, Peter Kritner, Androw Kreitrer,
John Nein, Jacob
Smith, Christian Fogelrong, John Keck,
David Miller, Daniel
Stetler, Nicholaus Cook, Jacob Stetler,
John Lengel, Henry Fall,
John Gephard, John Gumkee, Peter Reger,
John Seiber, Henry
Oler.
On this journey I served 72 days,
collected £.18.16., bap-
tized 96 children.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
1. A sketch of Rev. Paul Henkel was
written by his grandson,
Rev. Socrates Henkel, and is published
in the History of the Lutheran
Tennessee Synod.
A more complete biographical account
prepared by his son, Rev.
Andrew Henkel, appears in Sprague's
Annals of the American Pulpit
and is here appended.
GERMANTOWN, O., February 21, 1863.
MY DEAR BROTHER: I cheerfully
comply with your request
for some notices of the life and
character of my venerable father.
What I shall write will be drawn chiefly
from my own memory,
but I think you may rely on its
authenticity, as far as it goes.
My father, Paul Henkel, was the eldest
son of Jacob Henkel,
and a great grandson of the Rev. Gerhard
Henkel, who emigrated
from Germany at an early period, being
one of the first Lutheran
ministers who came to this country.
Nearly all that is now known
of his history is gathered from his
Diary, which was found, some
forty-five years ago, in the hands of
his granddaughter, then living
in Philadelphia, at the age of more than
fourscore years. From
this Diary it is ascertained that he had
been a Court Preacher in
Germany, and had preached a sermon which
had greatly offended
his Sovereign: and, in order to avoid
difficulty, he sent in his
resignation and came to America.
My father was born in the Forks of the
Yadkin, in Rowan
County, N. C., on the 15th of December,
1754. While he was yet
a youth, his father's family and other
families in the neighborhood
were obliged to take refuge in the
mountains of Western Virginia,
in consequence of a bloody war which was
waged by the Catawba
206 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
Indians against the whites of that
country. Here, for a time, they
had to live in forts and blockhouses,
guarding themselves, as best
they could, against savage cruelty.
Under the circumstances, he
often had to perform the arduous and
dangerous duties of sen-
tinel or spy, and soon became expert in
the use of the rifle and
familiar with hunting. In short, he was
trained to, and became
fond of, a backwoods life.
About the year 1776 my father and his younger
brother Moses
had their attention directed to the
subject of religion as a personal
concern, and consecrated themselves, as
they believed, to the ser-
vice and glory of their Redeemer. Moses
soon became a Metho-
dist, and was ultimately a distinguished
minister in that connection.
But the elder brother, believing that a
more thorough course of
theological training was necessary,
placed himself under the in-
struction of the Rev. Krug, then Pastor
of the Evangelical Luth-
eran Church at Fredericktown, Md. Here
he acquired consider-
able knowledge of the Latin and Greek
languages, and other
branches of learning, having a bearing
upon his future calling.
With this preparation he applied to the
Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of Pennsylvania and the adjacent
States, (then the only
Lutheran Synod in this country,) and by
that Body he was exam-
ined and licensed to preach. Having
received a call from several
vacant congregations in and about New
Market, Va., he settled at
that place, though he extended his
labours into the Counties of
Augusta, Madison, Pendleton and Wythe,
where he laid the founda-
tions of a goodly number of churches. On
the 6th of June, 1792,
he was solemnly set apart to the holy
ministry, in the city of
Philadelphia, the ordaining service
being performed by the Rev.
John Frederick Schmidt, Pastor of a
church in that city.
After labouring for some time among the
churches to which
he was first introduced, he removed to
Staunton, in Augusta County,
and took charge of several churches in
that neighborhood; and,
having served them three years, he
returned to New Market, and
resumed his labours among his former
people. In 1800 he re-
ceived a call from several churches in
Rowan (his native) County;
but, though he accepted it, yet here, as
in Virginia, he did not
confine his labours to his immediate
charge, but extended them to
other places in the surrounding country,
where they were espe-
cially needed. Whilst living in Rowan,
he contracted friendly re-
lations with several of the Moravian
Clergy, who lived in and about
Salem, often interchanging visits with
them; and, as a special
token of their regard, they dedicated
his newly-built house in an
appropriate manner, and gave to this
fine limpid spring the name,
-"Golden Spring,"--little
dreaming, at the time, of the fact that
has since been discovered, that there
was actually gold there. The
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 207
region in which he now resided proved
unhealthy, and his family
were much afflicted by the fever and
ague; in consequence of which,
in 1805, he returned again to New
Market. Having no inclination
to confine himself to any single charge,
he resolved to become an
independent missionary, not depending
for his support upon any
missionary fund, but upon the good-will
of those he might serve.
In this way he made several tours
through Western Virginia,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio;
gathering the scattered
members of the Church; administering to
them the Word and
Sacraments; instructing and confirming
the youth, and, so far as
practicable, organizing new
congregations. During the War of
1812-1815, he took up his residence at
Point Pleasant, Mason
County, Va., and organized several
congregations in that region,
but, at the close of the War, returned
to his old residence at New
Market, and resumed his missionary
labours.
In 1803, whilst living in North
Carolina, he, with several other
ministers, formerly belonging to the
Synod of Pennsylvania, formed
the Synod of North Carolina. In October,
1812, while he had his
residence at Point Pleasant, about ten
of the brethren, all of whom
then belonged to the Old Synod of
Pennsylvania, held their first
special Conference West of the Alleghany
Mountains, in Washing-
ton County, Pa. To this conference he
was invited, but for certain
reasons was unable to attend. But at the
Conference of the
next year, which was held at Clear
Creek, Fairfield County, Ohio,
he was present, and was recognized as
one of their Body, though
he still belonged to the Synod of North
Carolina. Thus matters
stood until September, 1817, when the
brethren, having met in
conference at New Philadelphia, passed
Resolutions relative to
forming themselves into an independent
Body. This measure was
strongly urged by several of the younger
brethren, but equally
opposed by the elder. There being but
three ordained ministers
present, (one of whom was my father),
and their consent being
indispensable to carry out the design,
strong efforts were made to
overcome their objections; and they
finally did yield, and the de-
sired object was accomplished. Thus it
appears that he was not
only one of the founders of the Synod of
North Carolina, but
also of the joint Synod of Ohio.
From some of his earlier publications it
would appear that
he favored some of the alterations in
the Augsburg Confession
made by Melanchthon; but, after having
more fully studied the
views of the great Reformer, Luther, he
became a zealous advocate
of the original Confession, and had the
twenty-one doctrinal
articles published in pamphlet form for
the benefit of the Church.
In 1809 he published a small work in the
German language,
which was afterwards translated into
English, on Christian Bap--
208 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
tism and the Lord's Supper, in which he
defends Infant Baptism
and the Mode by Sprinkling, in
preference to that of Immersion,
In 1810 he published a German Hymn Book
for the benefit of the
Church, containing two hundred and
forty-six Hymns; and in
1816 another, in the English language,
which has since been en-
larged and improved, and, at this time,
contains four hundred and
seventy-six Hymns, a portion of which
are adapted to the Epistles
and Gospels of the Ecclesiastical Year.
A considerable number of
these Hymns, both German and English,
were composed by himself.
In 1814 he published his German, and,
not long afterwards, his
English Catechism, for the special
benefit of the young, -not
changing the substance of the old
Lutheran Catechism, but only
dividing the long questions into shorter
ones for the accommoda-
tions of the learner. To the Catechisms
he appended an explana-
tion of all the Fast and Festival days
observed in the Church.
About this time, his little German work,
written in rhyme, en-
titled Zeitvertreib (Past-time) made its
appearance, to the amuse-
ment of some and the annoyance of
others-it was a satirical re-
buke to fanaticism and superstition,
vice and folly.
My father was a large man; within half
an inch of six feet
in height; with physical organs well
developed; with a keen, black
eye; as erect as an Indian; somewhat
inclined to corpulency, and
yet athletic and rapid in his movements.
Though his health was
not always good, yet he was almost
constantly employed either in
reading, writing, preaching or
traveling; and, when necessary, he
did not hesitate to labour with his
hands. He had no desire for
this world's goods beyond what was
wanting for daily use-what-
ever savoured of ostentation was foreign
to his nature. His man-
ner of living was frugal, and his dress
plain, and yet, in perform-
ing the services of the sanctuary, he
uniformly wore a gown of
rich black silk. He had great equanimity
and serenity of temper,
and his friendships were sincere and
constant, and his friends
numerous. In the social circle he always
rendered himself agree-
able, and often communicated important
instruction by means of
some pertinent, and sometimes humorous
anecdote.
As a Preacher, he possessed much more
than ordinary power.
In the commencement of his discourse he
was slow and somewhat
blundering, but, as his subject opened
before him, he would be-
come animated and eloquent, with a full
flow of appropriate thought
and glowing language. His illustrations
were lucid and forcible,
simple and natural. He assisted in
training a goodly number of
young men for the ministry, some of whom
have occupied re-
sponsible stations with great fidelity
and usefulness.
After faithfully serving his generation
for a long course of
years, it pleased the Great Master to
call him from his labours to
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 209
his reward. A stroke of palsy rendered
him almost helpless for
a time before his departure. He died on
the 17th of November,
1825, when he had nearly completed his
seventy-first year. His re-
mains are deposited in front of the
Lutheran Church in the town
of New Market.
On the 20th of November, 1776, he was
married to Elizabeth
Negley, who, with her father's family,
had emigrated from New
Jersey to Western Virginia. They became
the parents of nine
children,--six sons and three daughters.
The eldest son became
a Physician, and the other five,
Ministers of the Gospel in the
Lutheran Church-two of whom yet survive
in the exercise of
their ministry.
I have the honor of subscribing myself
Your humble servant in Christ,
ANDREW HENKEL.
NOTE.
The five sons of Rev. Paul Henkel who
became ministers in
the Lutheran Church are:
1. Andrew Henkel.
2. Charles Henkel, 1798-1841. He died at
Somerset, Perry
County, Ohio, and is buried in the old
Lutheran Cemetery there.
3. David Henkel, 1795-1831.
4. Philip Henkel, 1779-1833.
5. Ambrose Henkel, 1786-1870.
ADDENDA.
Rev. Charles Henkel was licensed as a
"catechist" at Somerset,
Ohio, in 1818. Immediately he took
charge of the station at Point
Pleasant, Virginia, where his father had
visited in 1806. Return-
ing a few years later to Ohio, he first
took charge of congrega-
tions about Columbus. From here he came
to Somerset, Ohio,
in 1827, where he finally served a
parish of nine congregations.
He died of consumption February, 1841,
at the early age of 43
years.
2. About the beginning of the eighteenth
century a great tide of
Lutheran emigration to America set
in. Beginning in Pennsylvania,
their settlements extending through
Maryland, reached up the Shenan-
doah, into the heart of Western
Virginia. New Market is about fifteen
miles from Woodstock, where General
Peter Muhlenberg performed the
highly patriotic act as narrated in the
note above. This event is the
occasion of T. Buchanan Read's poem,
"The Rising." Shenandoah
Vol. XXIII--14.
210 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
County (formerly Dunmore County),
Virginia, seems to have been one
of the very strong centers of
Lutheranism in the Virginia Valley.
3. Harrisonburg is the county seat of
Rockingham County.
4. The Mountains refer to the Shenandoah
range which divides
Augusta County and Bath County.
5. Augusta County lies in the central
part of the Shenandoah
Valley. Staunton is the county seat.
6. Bath County lies between the
Shenandoah and the Allegheny
range of mountains. It is noted for its
many mineral springs.
7. Warm Springs is the county seat of
Bath County.
8. Jackson river flows along the western
side of Bath County.
9. The high mountain is the Allegheny
Range, separating Bath
County from Greenbrier County. The
latter is now in West Virginia.
10. Greenbrier County is traversed by
the river of the same name.
11. Lewisburg is the county seat of
Greenbrier County.
12. Rev. George Daniel Flohr was born in
Germany, in 1759. In
1793 he is found studying Medicine with
his uncle in Paris.
Here he saw the appalling scenes of the
French Revolution and
mingled in the crowd that witnessed the
execution of Louis XVI. On
this occasion the accidental but
terrible death of an individual in the
crowd affected him most deeply and led
to a complete change in the
plans and purposes of his life.
Giving up the idea of entering the
medical profession, he shortly
after migrated to the United States and
began the study of theology in
Madison County, Virginia, under the Rev.
William Carpenter. Before
he was licensed to preach, he taught
school for a season. His first min-
isterial labors were in the missionary
service in Southwestern Pennsyl-
vania.
In 1799 he accepted a call in Wythe
County, Virginia, where he
labored with great diligence for many
years. His congregations were
widely separated, one of them being
forty-seven miles from his home.
In what was then the frontier section of
Virginia, Pastor Flohr not
only acted as minister, but frequently
had to be lawyer, jury, and judge
in the adjustment of neighborhood
difficulties.
He died in 1826, in his sixty-seventh
year.
13. The reader cannot help but see how
partial Rev. Henkel is
toward the German language. He is truly
representative of an ultra
type, altogether too common, who
stubbornly persisted in adhering to
the German language when the youth were
steadily acquiring the English.
The language question has been the
source of more injury to the influ-
ence of Lutheranism in America than any
other. It has swept the youth
out of the church by the tens of
thousands.
14. The word omitted is evidently
"thanks."
15. Podagra, the poetic name for gout.
16. Misspelled name of Gallia.
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 211
17. The name Rausch is yet a familiar
name in the counties of
Meigs and Gallia, in Ohio, and Mason
County, W. Va. They came to
this section from the Shenandoah County,
where there was a large
family of boys, many of whom saw service
in the Revolutionary War.
It is difficult to locate the different
places at which Pastor Henkel
preached. One of them was evidently at
Cheshire, Gallia County, where
there was originally quite a settlement
of Germans.
18. Malarial fever.
19. The Rev. William Forster (Foster)
was one of the best known
of Ohio Lutheran pioneer missionaries.
Of course he was a German,
educated in the orphanage at Halle. In
1798 he made application for
license to preach from the Ministerium
of Pennsylvania. He came to
Ohio from Virginia in 1805 or 1806,
settling at Lancaster. He had come
to this state it seems through the
representations of Rev. Father Stauch,
who had made a visit in the German
settlement about Lancaster. Father
Stauch preached a few times, baptized a
few children, collected all the
names of Lutherans obtainable and sent
them to Foster. The scene of
Foster's activities was in what is now
the counties of Ross, Pickaway,
Fairfield, Muskingum and Perry.
In the latter county (1805) he organized
the first Lutheran congre-
gation in Ohio, at New Reading. A few
months later in 1806 he estab-
lished the Zion congregation in what is
now Thorn township, that county.
After remaining about two years he
returned to Virginia only to
bring his family (fifteen children) with
him. Purchasing a large tract
of land where Thornville now stands, he
devoted the remainder of his
life to upbuilding the congregations he
had established. Steps were
taken to erect a two-story log church
for the Zion congregation. From
a history of this pioneer church,
written by Rev. A. Beck, the present
pastor, we quote the following:
"It stood in the southwest corner
of the cemetery, and was about
34 x 36 and about 18 feet high.
This building had two entrances, one on
the southeast side for
the women and the other on the northeast
side for the men. The pulpit
was to the northwest. From the ladies'
entrance there was an aisle
leading direct to the altar. The younger
women occupied the seats to
the right and left of this aisle. At the
sides of the pulpit the seats
stood lengthwise. The older women
occupied those to the right. The
church officers occupied the first seats
on the left, and those in the rear
of them were occupied by the older men.
At the men's entrance, imme-
diately to the left, was the stairway to
the gallery. This gallery was
on three sides of the building. This was
occupied by the younger men
and the choir. The stove stood nearly in
the center, or at the end of
the aisle of the ladies' entrance.
At first it had no floor nor pews. The
worshippers sat on the
sleepers with their feet on the ground,
while a carpenter's work-bench
212 Ohio Arch. and
Hist. Society Publications.
served as the pulpit. The church was
completed and furnished as fast
as means permitted, and was dedicated
about 1820. A school house,
teachers' residence and a stable had
also been built on the ground at
this early date."
Rev. Foster continued in the service of
pastor and missionary in
that section of the state until his
death, which occurred July 11, 1815,
at the age of sixty. It is said he met
his death as the result of a fall
from his horse. He is buried in the
Foster Cemetery, not far from
where he established his first
congregation. Many of his descendants
are living in the same vicinity yet.
20. Gallipolis.
21. The road taken by Rev. Henkel was no
doubt the one provided
for in 1804, to connect Gallipolis and
Chillicothe by way of Jackson.
22. The salt springs, of course, refer
to the celebrated ones located
where Jackson, Ohio, now stands. The
springs were so abundant that
the national government made a
reservation of the land for the ex-
clusive purpose of manufacturing
salt. The Indians had previously
utilized the brine as did the forest
animals. It was the most celebrated
salt-lick in the state. When Pastor
Henkel passed through the region,
salt boiling was at its height.
23. The Moffetts located where Richmond
Dale, Ross County, now
stands. A large grist mill had been
erected by them in the first decade
of the Nineteenth Century. They had come
from North Carolina in 1798.
24. Brush Creek Township, situated on
the headwaters of the
stream by that name, which flows into
the Ohio river, is in the south-
eastern corner of Highland County.
25. The "Road to Kentucky," of
course, refers to Zane's Trace,
which had been blazed from Wheeling to
Maysville, by way of Chilli-
cothe in 1796-7. Pastor Henkel followed
this road, which passes through
Brush Creek Township, on its way to the
Ohio.
26. One can not help but notice the
strong sectarianism prevailing
in several parts of the Journal. One
might wish that Pastor Henkel had
not delivered himself of these little
prejudices, but they certainly picture
the religious feeling of the times when
men's sectarian feelings often
outweighed their religion.
27. New Market was the county-seat of
Highland County from
the organization of the county in 1805
until 1807, when it was removed
to Hillsboro. The first settlement in
the county was made in the vicinity
of New Market in 1801. This village is
located south of Hillsboro on
the Norfolk and Western Railroad, and
received its name from New
Market in the Shenandoah Valley. A
census taken of New Market in
1807, and found in a History of Highland
County, contains many of the
names mentioned by Pastor Henkel.
28. The Virginia Military Lands lying
between the Scioto and
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 213
Little Miami Rivers would naturally be
settled by emigrants from Vir-
ginia.
29. Rev. Christian Streit was of Swiss
descent, born in the state
of New Jersey in 1749. He graduated at
the College of Philadelphia,
now the University of Pennsylvania, in
1768. He pursued his theolog-
ical studies under the direction of Dr.
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, and
was licensed to preach by the Synod of
Pennsylvania in 1769.
The ten succeeding years he was in
charge of a Lutheran Church
in eastern Pennsylvania. During the
Revolutionary War, Rev. Streit
served for a time as Chaplain in the
Third Virginia Regiment. Later
he became the pastor of a congregation
in Charleston, South Carolina,
(The St. John's, 1778-1782). When that
city was sacked by the British,
he was taken prisoner but was soon
liberated by exchange.
Returning to Pennsylvania, he took
charge of the congregation at
New Hanover until his removal to
Winchester, Pa., where he served
numerous congregations within a radius
of fifty miles. In this work he
was a sort of Bishop in that he directed
the establishment of numerous
congregations throughout that whole
region. He labored in this field
for twenty-seven years with great
success. His influence in this section
of Virginia was wide-spread, both as a
pastor and a teacher.
For some time he was closely connected
with the Presbyterian
Female Academy, in Winchester. This
institution was well patronized
by the best people in the Valley. He was
a preacher of power and was
passionately fond of music. In the
absence of an organist he frequently
performed on the organ and conducted the
singing.
He was a mechanic of no mean parts, for
he actually constructed
an organ for the use of one of his
congregations.
He died in 1812.
30. The "marshy bottom"
referred to was undoubtedly the head-
waters of the East Fork of the Little
Miami. Pastor Henkel reached
the Little Miami in the neighborhood of
Morrow. The accuracy with
which he computed his distances from
place to place is very marked
throughout the Journal.
31. At a meeting of Synod in Lancaster,
Pa., April 30, 1798, "A
petition was received from six congregations
in North Carolina, asking
that Jacob Christman, from their
vicinity, be ordained as their min-
ister." He was examined and having
rendered satisfaction, was ordained
in the evening of the first of May. He
is the man alluded to by Rev.
Larose in his Autobiography to which the
reader is referred. Dr. Jas.
I. Good, the author from whom I quote above, further says: "He
(Christman) is reputed to have been the
first German Reformed min-
ister in Ohio. He died in 1810, aged 65
years." Rev. Dr. D. Van Home
tells me "that on a farm about two
miles out of Springboro, Ohio,
tradition says Rev. Jacob Christman was
buried. Nothing marks the
spot but several trees which are allowed
to stand." It is not certain.
214 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
it seems, that this is the spot of his
burial. The Springboro church has
erected a modest little monument in
their cemetery to their pastor of
so many years ago. -GEORGE F. BAREIS.
32. "John Jacob Larose was the son
of Lewis and Kunigunda
Larose, his father was descended from a
French family of noble birth,
and his mother's maiden name was
Schadin. They were members of
the Reformed church, and were compelled
to leave France in conse-
quence of religious intolerance and
persecution. They came to America
some time previous to 1740 and settled
in Macungie Township, Lehigh
County, Pa. Here John Jacob was born
early in February, 1755. His
childhood and youth were spent with his
parents on a farm. Subse-
quently he learned the tailoring
business and for some time worked at
his trade.
Late in the fall of 1776, he enlisted in
the Revolutionary Army.
He was in the battle of Trenton December
26, 1776, and assisted in cap-
turing the Hessians. He served his army
faithfully and patriotically
for six months, returning home in the
spring of 1777. During the
summer of the same year he went South
and located in Guilford County,
North Carolina. Here, while working at
his trade, he paid special atten-
tion to religious reading and
meditation. In the year 1780, he was joined
in marriage with Miss Barbara Gifft, or
Gift, by whom he had eight
children, five sons and three daughters.
About this time (1780) he became deeply
impressed that he ought
to preach the Gospel of the grace of
God. He commenced a course of
private reading, and as there was no
Reformed pastor stationed there
at the time, he would occasionally
converse with and recite to a Presby-
terian minister, who encouraged him in
his effort to qualify himself for
the sacred office and work of the
ministry. He pursued his studies in
this private way for several years, and as
he had opportunity, exer-
cised and improved his gift by
occasionally speaking in public. In the
absence of a Reformed Ecclesiastical
Judicatory, he was examined and
licensed to preach by ministers of the
Presbyterian church. The time
when this took place is not definitely
known, but must have been some-
where between 1784 and 1790. It is known
that in 1784 he visited his
home in Pennsylvania to receive his
patrimony, has father having died.
He purchased some books in Philadelphia
on his way back to North
Carolina, and soon after preached to
some congregations in Guilford
County, more or less fully organized,
until his removal to Ohio.
About the 25th of September, 1804, he
started with his family from
North Carolina with a four-horse team,
and after being six weeks on
the way and traveling 700 miles, he
arrived safely on the 4th of No-
vember, in Miami Township, Montgomery
County, Ohio, and settled
there on a section of land previously
"entered" by him. In 1805 he
commenced preaching in private houses,
forming organizations, such as
St. John's, Stettler's, Twin Creek and
others. In 1812 he removed to
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 215
Highland County, Ohio, and served a
charge composed of Brush Creek,
New Market, and Rocky Ford, for three
years. While here his wife
died on Whitsunday, 1813, and was buried
in the graveyard at Brush
Creek. In 1816, having broken up
housekeeping, he made his home with
his son-in-law, Mr. Em. Gebbart, one
mile southeast of Miamisburg,
Ohio, where he remained for the next two
years, preaching irregularly
to a few congregations. During the next
five years he resided with his
children in the vicinity of Eaton,
Preble County, Ohio. While here he
preached for a longer or shorter period
to the following congregations,
viz.: Zion's, Jacob's, and Tom's Run,
Preble County, and Stettler's in
Montgomery, Ohio. He preached for many
years simply as a licentiate,
perhaps for want of opportunity to
become clothed with the full power
and functions of the ministry. Finally,
however, he was regularly or-
dained May 22, 1821, at Canton, Ohio. At
the same time he was advised
to visit the vacant congregations in
Columbiana County, Ohio, and ad-
vised, if called by them, to accept.
During the months of August and
September, 1822, he made a missionary
tour to the states of Indiana and
Kentucky. In 1826 he made his home
permanently with Mr. Em. Geb-
bart; henceforth he preached only
occasionally, and in 1830 he became
superannuated and quit preaching
altogether. The next fifteen years he
spent in retirement, devoting himself to
religious reading, meditation and
prayer. The last few years of his life
were marked by a "second child-
hood" as he did not appear to
recognize clearly either persons or things
around him. He died November 17, 1845,
aged ninety years, nine
months. His remains rest in the
graveyard at Miamisburg, Ohio. He
was a man of irreproachable character,
an humble, devoted and faithful
Christian." -GEORGE F.
BAREIS.
33. Rev. John George Schmucker, D. D.,
was born in Michael-
stadt in the Duchy of Darmstadt,
Germany, on the 18th of August, 1771.
His father migrated to this country in
1785, settling first in Pennsyl-
vania and later moving to the vicinity
of Woodstock, Virginia, where
he made his permanent home.
Under the influence of a lay member of
the Baptist Church, he
formed a purpose to devote himself to
the ministry. He studied under
Rev. Paul Henkel, whom he frequently
accompanied on his mission-
ary tours. Later, he continued his
studies in Philadelphia, and in 1792
became a member of the Synod of
Pennsylvania. His first charge was
in York County, that state, from where
he accepted a call to Hagers-
town, Maryland. He was still a young man
and earned for himself the
cognomen of boy preacher.
In 1809 he returned to York, Pa., and
there continued throughout a
successful period of twenty-six years,
ceasing his work only with the
oncoming of the infirmities of age.
Dr. Schmucker was a man high in the
councils of his church, hold-
216 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
ing many official positions therein. In
the midst of his other duties he
found time to write a number of
publications, no less than seven dif-
ferent ones being to his credit.
He died on the 7th of October, 1854, in
the eighty-fourth year of
his age.
34. Clear Creek flows from the east in
the northern part of War-
ren County, into the Great Miami at
Franklin. Franklin Township, the
scene of Pastor Henkel's labors, is in
the northwest corner of the
county.
35. Rev. Christopher Emanuel Schultze
was born in Brobstrell,
Saxony, January 25th, 1740. After
passing through the usual course of
elementary instruction, he entered the
Frederick College, at Halle. Later
he entered the Orphan House for the
purpose of qualifying himself for
the Christian ministry.
In the summer of 1765 he was ordained
and was immediately sent
to America, where he arrived in
Philadelphia in October of that year.
His first duties were as Assistant
Pastor to Dr. Muhlenberg. His work
was arduous, but he found time to help
organize a new congregation.
During the Revolutionary War, his church
edifice was used as a
hospital. When Cornwallis surrendered at
Yorktown, Congress repaired
in a body to his church, where they
commemorated the event with
thanksgiving.
In 1774 he received and accepted a call
to the Church in Tulpe-
hocken. Here he labored for thirty-eight
years.
Mr. Schultze's wife was the daughter of
Henry Melchior Muhlen-
berg. He died March 9, 1809, in the
sixty-ninth year of his age.
36. Pastor A. S. Mann settled in the
vicinity of Germantown but
was not acceptable to the people as a
preacher and settled down to the
vocation of a school teacher. He did
not, however, lay down the office
of the ministry. In 1818 he participated
in the organization of the Joint
Synod of Ohio.
37. The Congregation of Shakers
evidently refers to the com-
munity at Union Village which was begun
in 1805.
38. Twin Creek is a stream flowing from
the northwest, through
the southwest corner of Montgomery
County. Germantown, in German
Township, is located on this stream and
it was here that Pastor Henkel
completed his missionary journey to
Ohio. Philip Gunckle had built
a saw and grist mill and opened a store
at this place. In 1814 he laid
out the town. His name heads the list of
German householders, given
to Pastor Henkel in 1806.
39. This preaching was done in
Washington Township in the
southeastern corner of Montgomery
County, as it appears from the list
of names appended at the close of the
Journal.
Rev. Paul Henkel's Journal. 217
40.
Lord Jesus, fill with truth the heart
Of all our children's children,
Thy Word with power to all impart
Revive those dead in sinning.
Call back those erring from thy fold
Give life to those whose hearts are
cold,
Bring all to Thy green pastures.
The tune is: "Es ist gewisslich an
der Zeit."
The author is unknown.
41. The return journey of Pastor Henkel
was not entirely along
the same route as he had gone. He seems
to have taken a more direct
course from Warren County to
Chillicothe. That the road was new to
him is evident from the text. His
mention of passing through the com-
munity of the Quakers leads to the
conclusion that his journey lay
through Clinton County, no doubt
following the old road which later
became the Lebanon-Chillicothe Pike.
42. In the Great Kentucky Revival of
1800, among the physical
phenomena accompanying this frenzy of
religious zeal was the "Jerks."
The muscles of the body would twitch,
thus jerking the various parts
much as in St. Vitus Dance. This revival
and its various manifestations
spread into the Ohio Country and it is
not strange that Pastor Henkel
should encounter it. J. P McLean, in
Volume XII of the Ohio His-
torical Quarterlies, has given a full
account of this wonderful Kentucky
Revival and its various accompaniments.
43. This refers to the Cow Pasture
River, which rises in Augusta
County, Virginia, and forms one of the
tributaries of the James.
44. Point Pleasant evidently was not a
very propitious place for
missionary work. Other ministers found
it as difficult to interest the
people as did Pastor Henkel. In fact
there was a tradition that a curse
rested upon the town because of the
murder of Chief Cornstalk in 1777.
The curse, so it was claimed by the
superstitious, would rest upon the
town for one hundred years. Not until the Methodists, about 1835,
succeeded in building a congregation,
was a permanent church established.
45. Graham Station is now a village of
one hundred in Mason
County, West Virginia. It was named for
the Rev. William Graham, a
Presbyterian minister, who founded the
place about 1798. He had been
the head of Liberty Hall Academy in the
East for quite a number of
years. The settlement was made on a
large tract of 6,000 acres known
as the Poulson tract, which had been
surveyed by George Washington
in 1770. A Lutheran church was organized
there by Rev. Henkel and it
continues there.
46. The Ebersohls and Blooms came to New
Market in 1800. The
Wilkins came from Shenandoah County,
Virginia, October, 1802, and
settled two miles south of New Market.
218 Ohio
Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
Michael Straub was the hatter of the
town. He arrived late in the
fall of 1801, a wearied traveler. On his
head he carried an 18 gallon
copper kettle, on his back, a pack of
tools and in his hands, a quantity
of wool. He was compelled to ride to
Kentucky for his wool, but he
soon had a thriving business. Anthony
Straub was his brother.
In March, 1803, Michael Straub was
married to Miss Polly Walker,
who had emigrated to the falls of Paint
with her stepfather and mother
four years before, and to New Market in
the spring of 1801. The cere-
mony was performed by Squire Oliver
Ross. The bride was dressed in
a fine light figured calico, which cost
one dollar a yard, wore a plain cap
on her head, white silk gloves, white
collar, etc. The groom was dressed
in brown dress-coat and pants, white
Marseilles vest, white socks, low
shoes and white kid gloves. The
ceremony, as performed by the old
squire, was an unique one, and deserves
a place in this connection; we
therefore copy it as given in Scott's
history of Highland County:
"Well," said the squire in his
peculiar Irish style, "we have met
today til join tilgither in holy
matrimony, Michael Straub land Polly
Walker-as respectable a couple as iver
the Lord brought tilgither.
Now I do hope that not one of you will
ha ony objection to their get-
tin' married. I think there will be no
objection-join your right hands.
Will, Mr. Mike, will you take Miss
Polly, whom you hold by the right
hand-and as good-looking and virtuous a
young woman as iver the
Virgin Mary was-to be your lawfully
wedded wife? Do you promise
to forsake all others (now by the Lord,
Mike, you must quit running
after the other girls and cleave to her
alone, will ye Mike?)--yes-
yes," says the groom. "Oh!
by--, yes! Will, Miss Polly, will you
take Mike, whom you hold by the right
hand, to be your lawfully wedded
husband (he is worthy, for he is as
sprightly a young man as iver wore
a pair o' buckskin broikns), you promise
to forsake all others (but what
the deil's the use to make a woman
promise that, when you know they
won't keep their promise, but I think
you are an exception), you will
cleave to him til it please the Lord to
Separate you by death, will you,
Polly? I know you will-yes-then I
pronounce you man and wife
-no more two- but
one. The Lord bless you. Now go home and
raise your children for the Lord. The
Lord bless you, ha, ha, ha; take
your seats now, ha-the Lord bless
you."
After the ceremony, the afternoon was
passed in dancing and other
amusements.