pleasure of having this eminent servant of God for our colleague. This was a year of great prosperity and blessing to the Church. The circuit, like all circuits of that day, was large, embracing part of Virginia, and lying on the waters of Duck creek, north-east of Marietta. On it there was no leading road, and nothing by. which we could reach the settlements but a bridle path. The inhabitants, like all backwoods people in those days, lived by the chase; yet we have often seen in their rude logcabins as powerful exhibitions of the power of Christianity as ever we witnessed in the more refined circles of society. The fare on a great portion of this circuit was too rough for an aged man like father Ellis, and we chose to do all the work during the winter, and let him attend the appointments where the fare was better and the traveling more easy. In the spring he greatly desired to go into this wilderness portion, and to gratify him we consented. At breakfast we said, "Eat hearty, father Ellis; we fear you are going into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. You must prepare to eat raccoon, opossum, or bear meat, and, indeed, in some places you may not be able to get that." Nothing intimidated, the old soldier penetrated the wilderness, and, ere he returned, won many trophies for the cross of Jesus.

In the year 1814 he was appointed to the West Wheeling circuit, and the year following to Fairfield, where he continued to do the work of an evangelist, preaching a full and free salvation to all. On this circuit lived old father Walker, the father of Rev. George W. Walker, of the Cincinnati conference; and under the labors of Ellis and his colleague-Samuel Brown-the family were converted to God and joined the Church. The old gentleman was a stanch Roman Catholic, and raised his children in that faith; but there was a power in the pure, unadulterated Gospel, as preached by this venerable her

ald of the cross, that cut its way through the superstitions and dead forms of that corrupt Church, and brought the soul away from all priestly mediation and absolution directly to Jesus Christ, the great high-priest, for pardon and salvation. In the year 1816 he was appointed to Pickaway, and the following year reappointed. In this and all the fields of his toil, he was in labors more abundant, and many souls were gathered into the fold of Christ, being made the happy partakers of saving grace. But his work, as an itinerant, was done. In the year 1819 he received from the conference a superannuated relation, and continued therein, preaching whenever he was able, till his Master summoned him away from the field of his toil and conflict, to that eternal glory and reward he had so often described. He had taken up his abode in the town of Rehoboth, Perry county, Ohio, and there, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, he breathed out his soul into the hands of that Savior whom living he loved, and whom dying he went to embrace forever.

Brother Ellis was a man of fine personal appearance, dignified and courteous in his manners. He was a pleasant speaker, and there was an unction attended his sermons which commended them to every man's conscience in the sight of God. His example and influence will be felt in the Church for many years to come.

9*

CHAPTER V.

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF METHODISM IN

CINCINNATI.

THOUGH Methodism is evidently a pioneer religion, admirably adapted in its economy to the early settlements of the country, and is generally found far enough in advance of all other religious denominations, yet, as it regards the early settlement of Cincinnati, the Presbyterian Church takes precedence. This may be accounted for by the fact that the original proprietors of the town were Presbyterians. In laying out the town they appropriated the south half of the square bounded by Main and Walnut, Fourth and Fifth streets, for the use of said society. In the autumn of 1790 the Rev. James Kemper organized a Presbyterian society, and the congregations met regularly every Sabbath on this square, under the shade of the trees with which it was covered, to listen to the word of God. After a few years on this spot the society erected a stout frame building, forty feet by thirty in dimensions. It was inclosed with clapboards, but neither lathed, plastered, nor ceiled. The floor was made of boat plank, laid loosely on sleepers. The seats were constructed of the same material, supported by blocks of wood. They were, of course, without backs; and here our forefather pioneers worshiped, with their trusty rifles between their knees. On one side of the house a breast-work of unplaned cherry boards was constructed, which was styled the pulpit, behind which the preacher stood on a piece of boat plank, supported by two blocks of wood.

In 1792 the Presbytery of Transylvania was held in this church, and it was the first ecclesiastical body ever held in the place. No other Church was organized in Cincinnati till seven years after the organization of the Presbyterian Church. The next Church was probably the Baptist, which was organized in the town of Columbia, about six miles above Cincinnati, and now forming the eastern suburb. We have seen a sketch of the old house as it stood a few years ago, and as it stands yet, for aught we know, with its clapboards falling off, windows broken, and dilapidated walls and chimney. Here the Baptist denomination, in early times, gathered together, from all parts of the Miami Valley and the adjoining state of Kentucky, to listen to the word of life and witness the celebration of their beloved ordinance in the waters of their western Jordan. For days their solemn associations have been held on this spot; and though the old sanctuary has gone to decay, and the adjoining grove has given place to streets and squares, occupied with dwelling-houses, still it is a green and sunny spot in the memory of every Baptist of the olden time.

In the year 1798 the Rev. John Kobler, a Methodist preacher, and one of the early pioneers, visited Fort Washington. He quaintly describes his first visit to the town of Cincinnati. We are indebted to the Western Historical Society for this description, as it is a reply to said Society in regard to the question, "When and by whom was the first class formed at Fort Washington ?" Without giving any information in regard to the point from whence he started, he says, "I rode down the Miami river thirty-six miles to explore this region of country. I found settlements very sparse indeed, only now and then a solitary family. About four o'clock in the afternoon I came to an old garrison called Fort Wash

ington, situated on the bank of the big river, [Ohio,] which bore very much the appearance of a declining, time-stricken, God-forsaken place. Here are a few log buildings extra of the fortress, and a few families residing together, with a small printing-office just put in operation, and a small store, opened by a gentleman named Snodgrass. This, I was told, was the great place of rendezvous of olden time for the Federal troops when going to war with the Indians. Here, alas! General St. Clair made his last encampment with his troops before he met his lamentable defeat; here I wished very much to preach, but could find no opening or reception of any kind whatever. I left the old garrison to pursue my enterprise, with a full intention to visit it again, and make another effort with them on my next round; but this I did not do for the following reasons; namely, when I had gone a second round on my appointment, and further explored the settlements and circumstances of the country, there were some places where the opening prospects appeared much more promising than what I had seen in Fort Washington; and I was eager to take every advantage of time and things, by collecting what fruit was already apparent, by forming societies and building up those already formed; so that in a few rounds I had nearly lost sight of old Fort Washington, and finally concluded that it would be most proper for me, under existing circumstances, at least for the present, to omit it altogether; so that in this statement I am sorry to say it is not in my power to lay before the honorable Historical Society that information for which they have inquired with so much solicitude, When and by whom was the first class formed at Fort Washington?" The immediate successors of Kobler, the Revs. Lewis Hunt and Elisha Bowman, did venture to visit the old Fort and preach occasionally; with what success, however, history does