Chapter I: Introduction

The incidents, manners and customs of frontier life in the country once called the “Far West,”--now the valley of the Mississippi, are interesting to all classes. The religious events and labors of good men in “works of faith and labors of love” among the early pioneers of this valley, cannot fail to attract the attention of young persons in the family circle, and children in Sabbath schools.

The author of this work, as the commencement of a series of PIONEER BOOKS, has chosen for a theme a man of singularly benevolent and philanthropic feelings; peculiarly amiable in manners and social intercourse; with habits of great self-denial; unusually disinterested in his labors, and the first preacher of the gospel who ventured to carry the “glad tidings” into the Spanish country on the western side of the GREAT RIVER.[1]

The writer was intimately acquainted with this venerable man, who, by all classes, was familiarly called “FATHER CLARK,” and induced him to commence sketches for his own biography. His tremulous hand and enfeebled powers failed him soon after he had gotten to the period of his conversion, while a teacher in the back settlements, and he was unable to finish the work.

By correspondence and personal interviews with many who knew Father Clark, and from his verbal narratives in our interviews for many years, the writer has been enabled to give a truthful sketch of the most important incidents of his life.

While seriously disposed persons of every age and station may derive pleasure and profit in contemplating the moral portraiture given, _it is to the young reader, more especially, the author dedicates the memoir of_ FATHER CLARK.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

Birth--Ancestry--Misfortune of Becoming Suddenly Rich--A
Religious Mother--Fate of an Elder Brother--Mathematics--
Purposes of Life--Deportment in Youth--Views of War. 9

CHAPTER II.

Clark becomes a Sailor--Privateering--His Subsequent Reflections
--Last Visit to his Parents--Sails as Mate to the West Indies--
Pressed on Board the Man-of-War Tobago--A Fight and Death of the
Gunner--Admiral Rodney--Escapes from the Tobago--Visits his
Brother--Ships for England--Taken by the Spaniards--Obtains
his Freedom, and again Pressed on Board the Narcissus--Deserts a
Second Time, and Swims Ashore on James’ Island, off Charleston, at
Great Risk. 16

CHAPTER III.

Mr. Clark arrives at Charleston--Meets with Friends--Interview
with John Scott--The Story and Fate of Duncan--Alarmed, and
Relieved by an Old Shipmate--Stationed on Cooper River--
Returns to Charleston--Protected by Three Scotch Tailors--
They all Escape--Adventures in a Swamp--Reach Gen. Marion’s
Army--Clark Proceeds to Georgetown--Enters a Row-galley and
reaches Savannah--Sails to St. Thomas--Voyage to New York--
Proclamation of Peace--Returns to the West Indies--Shipwreck--
Various Voyages--Distress of Mind--Forsakes a Sea-faring Life. 37

CHAPTER IV.

Retires to the Back Settlements in South Carolina--Teaches a School
--Self-righteousness--His Experience for Twelve Months--
Despondency--Reads Russell’s Seven Sermons--Conversion and firm
Hope--Removes to Georgia and Becomes a Teacher there--First
Methodist Preachers in that Quarter--Mr. Clark joins the
Society. 51

CHAPTER V.

Appointed Class Leader--Desires to Visit his Native Country--
Takes a Berth on the Royal George--Singular Notions on Board--A
Storm--Interview with Tom Halyard--His Conversion--Arrival in
London--Sabbath Morning--Visits the Foundry and hears Rev. John
Wesley--Parting with Halyard--Sails for Inverness. 60

CHAPTER VI.

At Moorfield in London--Returns to Georgia--Received as a
Preacher on Trial--Richmond Circuit--Testimonials--Character
as a Preacher--Walked the Circuit--Views on the Methodist
Episcopal Government--Views on Slavery--Blameless Habits--
Thoughts on Marriage--Love Cured by Prayer--Gradual change
of Views--Contemplates a New Field--Quarterly Conference--
Conscientious Scruples--Philanthropy to Negroes--Withdraws from
the Conference--Parting Scene. 86

CHAPTER VII.

Clark Journies towards Kentucky--His Dress and Appearance--
Colloquy--Hospitality of Mr. Wells--Recognized by a former
Convert--Description of a “Big Meeting”--Persuaded to Stop and
Preach--Effects Produced--Mr. Wells Converted--A Revival--
Shouting--Family Religion--Departs--The Wells Family turn
Baptists. 105

CHAPTER VIII.

Mountain Range--Manners of an Itinerant--Preaching in a
Tavern-house--How to avoid Insults--Hospitality--Reaches
Crab-Orchard--Preachers in Kentucky--Baptists, “Regulars” and
“Separatists”--Principles of Doctrine--School-Teaching--
Master O’Cafferty and His Qualities. 134

CHAPTER IX.

Schoolmaster Equity in 1796--New Customs introduced--Mr. Birch
Discarded--Enrolment--Books Used--New ones Procured--
Astonishing Effects--Colloquy with Uncle Jesse--The New
School-House--A Christmas Frolic--Shocking Affair by the Irish
Master--A Political Convention--Young Democracy--A Stump
Speech--New Customs--A True Missionary--Trouble about Money
--Mr. Clark leaves Kentucky. 152

CHAPTER X.

Journey to Illinois--Story of the Gilham family, captured by
Indians--Hard fare--Mr. Gilham attempts to recover them--
Indian War--Peace made--The Family Redeemed--Removes to
Illinois with Mr. Clark--Navigation of Western Rivers--Story
of Fort Massac--Terrible sickness--Settlement of New Design
--An ungodly race--First Preacher in Illinois--A Stranger in
meeting--First Baptisms--Other Preachers--First Church Formed
--Manners and customs of the French--Indian War--Stations or
Forts Described--PIONEER BOOKS projected. 179

CHAPTER XI.

Religious families noticed--Capt. Joseph Ogle--James Lemen, Sen.,
--The three associates--Upper Louisiana--Attack on St. Louis
--The Governor a Traitor--The assailants retire--American
Emigration encouraged--Baptists and Methodists go there. 208

CHAPTER XII.

Forms a Methodist Class in Illinois--Gradual change of Views--
Mode of Inquiry--Circumstances of his Baptism--Practical
progress in Baptist Principles--Zeal and influence in promoting
education--Early Schools in the Illinois country--A formidable
obstruction to a pupil--Three fellows in the way--Want of books
--A whiskey-loving teacher rightly served--Effects of Father
Clark’s teaching--Visits Kentucky again--Visits to West Florida
--Interview with a Sick man--Efficacy of Prayer--A
Revolution. 235

CHAPTER XIII.

Baptists, “Friends to Humanity”--Their Anti-slavery position--Mr.
Clark joins them--Manner of his reception--His Views of African
Slavery--Views of African Colonization--Made Life-member of a
Colonization Society--Circulars on Slavery--Personal behavior
--Conversational Gifts--Writes Family Records. 256

CHAPTER XIV.

His mode of Traveling--Excursion in Missouri, 1820--His monthly
circuit in Missouri and Illinois--A night Adventure--A
Horseback Excursion--Origin of Carrollton Church--Faith and
Prayer--Interview with Rev. J. Going--A “Standard” Sermon--
An Affectionate Embrace--Comforts of Old Age--Last Illness and
Death. 268

SKETCHES OF “FATHER CLARK.”