by Laura Chase Smith, Dutton Press 1903 CHAPTER XIV ORGANIZING PARISHES AND FARM Arrived at Windsor, Mr. Chase met with a warm welcome from Judge Solomon Griswold, a brother of Bishop Griswold. This good man was from West Windsor, Connecticut, and with a few families had come to northern Ohio when it was an entire wilderness. "I am rejoiced " said he, "to see a Church clergyman, ................ ................... While in Windsor there was a consultation of persons from various townships near as to the expediency of holding a Convention, at the beginning of the coming year, at Columbus. This was agreed upon with "great unanimity and zeal." Thus the earnest and high-souled missionary inaugurated his great work. To go back to the injured leg; before he arrived at Judge Griswold's it was so swollen that the boot could not be drawn off until the next day. Imagine his discomfort while holding service! After this, Mr. Chase was obliged to travel entirely on horseback, leaving his trunk at Windsor, with the intention of buying a horse as soon as possible. Here, however, he was spared the necessity, for a friend volunteered his horse for use during the use of the whole journey, and he joyfully says: "There are some names in Sardis whose garments are not defiled with covetness." (???) After this he spent a month organizing parishes at Ravenna, Middleburg, Zanesville, and Columbus. Grass did not grow under the feet of his horse in these days of early spring, neither did this robust missionary forget his duty to his family, for he wrote to his wife to come to Buffalo in the spring, send their household goods to Sandusky, and come herself to Cleveland by the middle of June, where she might expect to meet her husband, He must have taken a great deal for granted in making such arrangements, which he himself acknowledges, for there were then no canals, no railways, no steamboats on the Great Lakes. The only packet of any kind that sailed Lake Erie was the brig "Michigan", and even she was a trading vessel, not intended for passengers. Meantime, great uncertainty attended his appointments. He had fixed on no place for his home; he knew not whiter he should travel; where he should make his visits was unknown to him; and yet he had given directions for the removal of his family and effects, as if all were a certainty. this was done in May, and from the centre of Ohio he went to Cincinnati, officiating as he passed through Springfield and Dayton, and arriving in Cincinnati late on Saturday. Dr. Drake received him kindly and made provisions that he should preach "in the brick meeting-house with two steeples, " the next day. The congregation was large and attentive, and at the close of forming a parish attached to the Episcopal Church, Mr. Chase would meet them at Dr. Drake's immediately after the service. At this meeting a goodly number of the "most respectable citizens" were present, among them General William Henry Harrison. Mr. Chase does not give any further information in regard to the founding of the first parish in Cincinnati. It is supposed to have been St. Paul's parish, now the cathedral of that city. Up to this time the story of Mr. Chase's missionary work has been taken, in part, from the "Reminiscences", which was written by him from memory. In the following letter to his son George, he describes his wife's arrival at Cleveland, and their journey to Worthington, where he had bought a small farm, and where he intended to make his future home: "Worthington, Ohio, July 10, 1817. My dear son George: Yesterday your mother and I took a ride from this place to Columbus, where, at the post-office, I found a letter from you dated the 30th of May. If you had known the abundance of mercies which the good God was pouring upon us, almost to a miracle, to your father, mother, uncle and aunt, and little brother on their journey hither, you might have spared yourself the trouble of that part of your letter which related to them. While at Columbus, before my visit to Cincinnati, I addressed your mother at Clarence near Buffalo. My letter, dated the 12th of May, just said; 'Send the goods to Sandusky, yourself be at Cleveland a month hence' This done, I went on my journey by way of Dayton, Lebanon, Cincinnati, Willamsburg, Newmarket, Chillcothe, Circleville, Lancaster, and thence to Columbus. At Worthington I held service the first Sunday in June, and the same week I promised to become the rector of St. John's Church, Worthington, Trinity Church, Columbus and St. Peter's Church. Delaware, fifteen miles north, bought five lots in this village and a farm of one hundred and fifty acres on the way to Columbus, --- good land, sixty acres under cultivation, good apple and peach orchard, fruit plenty, no buildings. I received from the trustees of Worthington Academy the appointment of Principal. Monday, the 9th, I set my face toward Cleveland, to fulfill my appointment with your mother. The week previous I went to Delaware, Thursday to Norton on the frontier. Returned to Delaware, and on Sunday held divine service and administered the Communion in Berkshire, where this is a parish to which I shall minister until it can be otherwise supplied. After starting for Cleveland on Monday, my course was northeast, travelled twenty-two miles on a bad road to Frederick, a settlement on the head-waters of the Licking River. Thursday, rode through a fine dry chestnut and oak country, thirty-six miles, to the Lake Fork of the Mchicken, which empties into the White Woman at Coshocton. On Wednesday, rode northerly direction through a country just beginning to be settled, soil very rich and roads muddy. Next day went twelve mile to Medina --- be the county seat, soil very rich, beautifully situated. Next day, Friday, held divine service in Medina and rode on to Liverpool, eight miles, where I held service again the same day. Saturday it rained all day, rode only two miles to another lodging place. Sunday, rode in the morning four miles to Columbia, where the brothers of the Rev. A. Bronson, of Vermont. Here I preached, morning and evening, and was much cheered by the prospects of the Church. Monday, June 16, 1817, a day marked in my calendar, I mounted my horse for Cleveland, now twenty miles off. I was in company with Esq.. Bronson. Crossing the Rocky River twice without any accident though the water was deep and no bridge, I found we were on the ridge road which is all along the lake sandy, and very good. My horse somehow or other kept the lead and went very fast. "What's the matter?' said Mr. Bronson. 'Are you riding for a wager?' 'Something more important, 'said I.' 'I can guess what that is, ' said he. At half-past one I dismounted from my horse at the mouth of the Cuyahoag River, opposite Cleveland. Safe in the boat. 'Pray Mr. Boatman have you any late arrivals from Buffalo?' 'Yes, there were two, who, with a young gentleman, had charge of a child. They have just gone up town.' 'Pray, Landlord, ' said I as I entered an inn, 'do you know or can you tell me who -- where --- I can find ---' Your family, Mr. Chase. Yes, we know you and them; they are in a tavern safe and sound waiting for you.' It seems my arrival had been known from one end of the village to the other. Soon had I your dear mother and little brother in my arms, blessing God in one breath and asking a thousand questions in another. Tuesday I had service at Cleveland. Wednesday I left your mother to return my horse, which through all my journeying was a borrowed one. The owner (God bless him!) lived sixty miles east of Cleveland at Windsor, which you will remember was where I organized my first parish in Ohio. thither, then I went, leaving your mother and her precious charge, to steer her course in the first inland navigation wagon, of which there are many of great convenience and safety, passing from Cleveland to Canton. Next day, Friday, mounted my horse with a prospect of twelve miles through a mere forest to Windsor. In half an hour it began to rain in sheets through the whole distance. Oh! if you could have seen me plunging through the deepest mire, midrib to my horse, wet the blessed while as water could make me. but the trouble is over, I arrived safely among my loving Christian friends and all is well. .................... Monday, with a man carrying my trunk which I had left in Windsor, I went over my old route to Parkman and Ravena, the county seat where the court was in session. I had service at Ravenna, --- the congregation very large, church much increased. Here I saw Mr. B of Vermont. He told me (will you believe it?) that he left Mrs. Chase and family safe and well in Canton. What news for me! At least four days sooner than I expected. On Wednesday night I was with them again, rejoicing. "The same evening I hired a wagon, good and new, with two fine horses, and Tuesday morning started with bag and baggage. Here we cut a figure. Good roads and luck though Kendall senteen miles, stayed at a mere hut. On Friday started in good spirits, but what? Never were such roads, the horses 'stalled.' this is the term given to that very pleasant position moving people are in, who get stuck in the mud an have to get oxen to draw them out. And we got on but twelve miles the whole blessed day, and even that would not have been accomplished had I not hired the third horse. At Worster I entered upon my old track,but there had been so much rain that it could not be followed by reason of an unadated prairie. A Mr. Skinner said that he would go with us and help us to get over the Lake Fork of the Mehicken, at a place three miles before we came to his house, where some of the party at least might stay over night. (Letter continued immediately to follow in #20)