I hope I've done this correctly, but I'm trying to find out why my GGG Grandfather Elder John Wise left the Ten Mile Creek Congregation in Washington County Pennsylvania and settled in the Mulberry Grove/Vandalia area. Later Elder John and his son David Mathias moved to Sumner County Kansas but I haven't been able to identify any reason for the move other than homesteading. I'm assuming that they travelled the Cumberland Road since it passed through western PA and ended in Vandalia. I am also unable to find where David Mathias' first wife, Martha Louise is buried and if Elder John had any involvement in the church in Illinois. I do know that he attended many annual meetings serving as moderator or reader. Any help would be appreciated. Andrea Wise Kidd Colley

On Sun, Dec 8, 2013 at 3:55 PM, Andrea Colley <raggs@cox.net> wrote: ...I'm trying to find out why my GGG Grandfather Elder John Wise left the Ten Mile Creek Congregation in Washington County Pennsylvania and settled in the Mulberry Grove/Vandalia area. --- Hi Andrea, There are several patterns regarding MD to Washington Co PA migrations. In a recent post, I described some of the routes into SW PA, but there were also patterns. Between 1800 to 1820s, for example, numerous Brethren or related families moved from Frederick Co MD to Washington Co PA. Raymond Bell, dec'd, wrote about one of the early Brethren (Arnold & Leatherman marriage, if memory serves) in Fayette Co PA. We also know the Ecklin?? Bros (names are difficult for me to recall today) explored the Greene Co area of Ten Mile Creek abt 1744, were captured by Indians, taken to Canada etc. Histories make it clear that the Congregation of German Baptists (e.g. Ten Mile COB) extended through Washington Co, Greene Co and Fayette Co in the earliest years-- My hypothesis is "Ten Mile" as a congregation likely existed by at least 1760 or before. Yes, that is before Washington Co PA officially became a county, before it officially opened to settlers. But we know Arnold-Leatherman(?) lived on the Fayette side of the river across from Ten Mile, and I feel certain that as more researchers look at their Brethren families in these 3 counties, they will find one or more persons in the family ventured into SW PA very early--at least in some families. The first membership book is labeled "before 1838" (again, going by memory). Though no earlier books exist, we can use deeds and other sources (Tax) to determine when people entered the area... and knowledge about Brethren Affiliations prior to moving. Patterns in Moving 1800-1820 - Influx from Frederick Co MD to Washington Co PA. - Whole families, Single Persons, Married Couples with/without kids Concurrently - Exodus from Washington Co PA.to Ohio lands -- again mixes of Whole families, Single Persons, Married Couples with/without kids By late 1820s early 1830s - Exodus into Indiana / Illinois... and West But, it's important to remember that in migrations, families "split" in strange ways. We'll never know why, except personal / family decisions. For examples in moving: Family A - grandma/grandpa, 2 of 6 adult kids and their families, single adults M/F - rest stayed put Family B - grandparents stay put, and 1 or more Kids with their families move, plus single adults M/F Family C - One or more Adults married w/ Kids -- adults are related, such as cousins -- all others stay put. Family D - One Adult married couple w/ or w/out Kids Family E - A single man, often who just passed age 21. Sometimes, 2 or more single men related or unrelated traveled together. Family F - Some single or married men/with families -- the man just "disappeared" without warning. Later the young man somehow let the family in Washington Co know their whereabouts, often via letter, or for example, Letter to the Editor of The Observer, or The Reporter (depends on year). Some took aliases. In my family, I think we had 3 who "disappeared" -- One concocted a "murder" story about himself. Another took an alias and left his 5 kids/wife. Another just up and left. Reasons to move based on occupations-- top occupations were: Farmer Preacher Teacher Lawyer All others, like Mercantile/Business, Blacksmiths, Millers, Saw Mills, animal herders/driver, etc. NOTE: Back then, everyone had "dual occupations"... Farmer and Preacher; Farmer and Lawyer; etc. Reasons-------- LAND, LAND, LAND--- every farmer needed land, including cattle or sheep farmers.. If a family had 12 kids and half were boys, they couldn't get much by splitting their dad's 100 acres... they HAD to move on. Family Ties - someone else went before them Church ties - others already moved Evangelizing (plus land) - to spread the word of God and take care of "the flock" "support" services--- every farm needed horses/cows/oxen... so a herd driver and blacksmith could earn a living in the new territory Need for schools, education - Schools one of the first buildings to be erected in new locations-- e.g. house--> church--> school With Land transactions plus anywhere people are, the "Law" follows...lawyers. Lastly - the oldest reason, human needs for space, for land ownership, for adventure to "somewhere new"... Of course, most new locations end up being lots like the old location. Westward Expansion -- Land Dealers from Mid-West//West posted "ads" in newspapers even in New England States... the call westward was incessant. "Jobs" is inherent in each of these but instead of "I need a job", it first was "I need land-- I need room". Ways to travel, even with babies / children: on foot on horse with cart / wagon by river travel (later, by train) So we come to Rev. John Wise. To my knowledge, my families are not related but John Wise was so strongly associated with my families that I find him fascinating. Wise was born 1822 (? memory)... 12 years junior to my Rev Daniel Lane, yet...Wise exceeded Lane in many ways. Lane's son, James Polk Lane, was a Ten Mile Deacon. R.J. Lane Sr was also.. Daniel Lane's adult grandchildren also took places in church leadership. Daniel Lane assisted or was assisted by other preachers at Ten Mile. My hypothesis is two fold: 1. John Wise wanted to move, and felt Ten Mile was under strong enough and sound "conservative" (vs Progressives) leadership with Daniel Lane and others. 2. Wise possibly had a calling or a Church (as a body) request to expand the Brethren faith. This was usual among all churches. Wise was always described as a forceful speaker, strong leader, with a steadfast faith and 'zeal'. Daniel Lane was not criticized per se but his obit said something like he never felt the passion to go further with his religious gifts. Wise was a great orator... likely, Lane was sufficient but possibly more average?? Lane could take care of a flock, but Wise seems to have been a driving force in any congregation he associated with. There may also have been tensions at Ten Mile.. in Minutes, Lane with others often went as a Committee to persons who were not behaving well or otherwise weren't measuring up to church standards. For example, the congregation had a male who beat his wife so badly it went to court. Others were dancing or dressing unfavorably. Overall, though, I think Ten Mile was stable enough for Wise to feel he could go to another area and 'expand' his own life and the Brethren faith. Problems at Ten Mile could happen in any congregation. Of course, this is only my opinion from the general 'feel' I got from sources and family stories. I wish they'd kept detailed records... but... back then, paper was better used to fill drafty cracks in houses. I still wish I could have heard sermons from Wise and Lane... Judy Florian