by Laura Chase Smith, Dutton Press, 1903 Chapter XIII PIONEER MISSION WORK IN OHIO (for those keeping apt attention Chapter XII has been omitted , though perhaps a bit interesting has little to no bearing of historical or genealogical significance) (this will describe how the journey was made from Hartford, CT to Buffalo, New York. Mr. Chase met his flock (in Hartford) for the last time on the 2n of March, 1817, and administered to them the Holy Communion. He had delivered no farewell sermon on that sad day, yet all present were in tears and all went silently away, praying that God would watch and protect their friend and pastor; and one may believe that these prayers were heard by Him who hath all things in His hand. The rector walked from the church to his home on Burr Street alone; "cold blew the night wind, drifting fast the snow." One may imagine how his heart was chilled, how drear the prospect seemed, when early next morning the stage called for him, the farewell words were spoken to wife and child, and he began his melancholy journey to "the Ohio." Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island, refers to this in a commemorative sermon preached in Christ Church in 1879. "some of you can recall the ministry of the ardent and energetic Bishop Chase; and perhaps you now remember that wintry afternoon when he held his farewell service, while the snow was beating against the windows in the plain, old wooden biding where you then went to worship. You may have seen him starting the next morning in the storm, as he went forth, relinquishing the comforts and refinements of the place where , he declared, he passed the sunniest portion of his eventful life, to discharge the rough work of a pioneer of the Church in what was then a western wilderness. I do not know that any of those whom I address to-day can recall the scene, for it was now more than sixty years since he laid down his rectorship of this church, to become, two years afterward, the first Bishop of Ohio, and, in 1835, the first Bishop of Illinois. And as an indication of the estimate that was placed upon his labors here, I quote from a long letter addressed by the wardens and vestry, 1818, to the standing committees of New Jersey and Pennsylvania: 'When he entered upon his parochial duties here he found the parish weak and containing scarcely thirty communicants, and when he quitted it he left it augmented in members and in attachment, and with communicants increased to about one hundred and ten.' As there was very little of commonplace in the life of Bishop Chase, so there were no neutral tints in his character; the lines were sharply drawn and the coloring deep and strong. Right or wrong, he was not to be easily diverted from his course, and his own strong conviction that he was sure to be right was one of the secrets of his power. He was never ashamed of his Divine Master, and did not seem to know what the fear of man meant." The four hundred miles from Hartford to Buffalo on Lake Erie made the beginning of the journey to Ohio. Coach-bodies set on runners were the means of winter travel in those days. The snow held until Mr. Chase reached Canadaigua, (New York, if I remember correctly), from thence the coach went on wheels. This caused much suffering in body and mind, as he feared that a trouble caused by a long residence in a hot climate would unfit him for the laborious life before him. However, he comforted himself with prayer and patience, two words that go very well together and proved a panacea for pains of many kinds. Mr. Chase preached on Sunday at Batavia and also at Buffalo, where he found a few houses, and fewer hopes of "getting on." There was no coach and no other means of conveyance on the southern shore of Lake Erie, and it might be a month before the ice would give way. "to an ardent mind, " says Mr. Chase, "bent upon progress, these were circumstances most unpleasant." Travel on a frozen lake, though considered dangerous, was still continued. While looking over this rather chilly prospect, Mr. Chase espied a man standing upright on his sled with his horses facing the lake. "Will you kindly inform me whither you are going? " said Mr. Chase. "Up the lake," replied the man. "And will you allow a stranger to ride with you for a reasonable compensation?" "I am only going twelve miles, but if you wish, jump in." Mr. Chase obeyed, and as he afterward remembered this incident, was amazed at his temerity in view of the dangers he encountered farther on. He always felt a loving Father guided and protected him, hiding from him step by step the way, and bringing him safely to the end through all. This twelve miles was soon over, a mere beginning. The ice on the lake reached only to Erie; the spring winds and the waves of Lake Erie on the Pennsylvania shore had rendered the ice unsafe, and the spring floods and absence of bridges rendered a journey by land impossible. The settlements through the new country were few and far between; in short, the outlook was almost disheartening. Mr. Chase had thought when the chance offered for "getting on" twelve miles, that would be something gained; and as he with his luggage, jumped into the farmer's sleigh, he was cheered by the presence of a fellow-traveler, a Mr. Hibbard, who just at that moment asked the same privilege. Hardly had this little trip ended when an opportunity presented of engaging another man , to take both gentlemen twenty-five miles farther on to Cattaraugus Creek. The ice up to this time seemed strong. It was not cold, and the sleigh with no friction glided swiftly along. propelled by a fine pair of horses; before dark they were at Cattaraugus Creek. It was a dismal scene. No human habitation on this side of the dark, muddy stream, pouring its overflowing waters, upon the ice, far and wide over the lake. There were houses on the other side, to which it was understood they were to be carried for the money agreed upon. The stream could not be forded, it was now too deep and rapid. "What shall we do?" was asked the driver. "I have brought you to Cattaraugus Creek, " said the man, "and I want my money, "throwing out Mr. Chase's trunk and coat and Mr. Hibbard's valise upon the beach. "But you do no intend to leave us here, where there I snow house to perish?" "I agreed to bring you to Cattaraugus Creek, and here you be." "And my money is in my pocket, which is another fact!" said Mr. Chase. "Now hark you! if you leave us here, as the night is coming on, where there is no shelter, we shall die; this was no part of the contract between us. But there is no use in further parley; as this obstruction was unexpected and may cause you some delay, we are willing to pay you extra for helping us out of this trouble. Now! turn your horses out upon the ice till you get beyond the part weakened by the warm, muddy water of the creek and then cross the stream and take us to yonder house, which we saw before dark." By this time the sun was down and dark clouds covered the nothereast horizon. The man surely but immediately obeyed, and lashing his horses, took them out to what seemed a safe distance. "Now turn to the left." said Mr. Chase. And he adds: "It was terrible to hear the water pour over the runners as they crossed over this muddy stream in dark, so far from the shore. But it was done, and the man, well rewarded, went his way; and ourselves, tired and hungry, found shelter and refreshment in Mack's Log Tavern." Chapter XIII To be Continued Harriet M. Chase hatchase@uswest.net