Ironton Register, August 31, 1899
Editor Register.
I write to tell of my experiences during my last visit to old Lawrence. I left home in Illinois on the 14th; turned up in Ironton on the 15th, where I met quite a number of old-timers; got to the Register office at 9 a.m., where Rev. J. M. Kelly was waiting for me.
No man in Ohio is as near and dear to me as J. M. Kelly. Under his ministrations, I began my religious experiences in the old barn, as I described in my sketches some months ago. He started that wave of religious fervor that took in so many of us over fifty years ago. Capt. Marcum, whom I met on my trip, said he was there at the time I referred to. When the invitation came, he lifted both hands high up, so he was the third man living at the glorious meeting in the barn long before Ironton was dreamed of.
On the 16th, I went to Waterloo, where I visited the old and afflicted; saw Grandma Armstrong, who is 92 years old; went over into Gallia and spent the night with Andrew Wiseman, a brother-in-law; at Camp Meeting on the 17th and 18th; went to Uncle Abner Dilley’s on the 19th; both he and Aunt Dilley are sorely afflicted, but spend their lives without a murmur. Aunt Jane Nelson was out picking beans when I got there; she is 89 years old and remembers rocking me in a sugar trough, so, you see, I had a good start to hardihood.
Back to the camp meeting on the 20th. There I saw so many that I can mention only a few. Thomas Neal is 82 years old. He is the man who jumped over the plow when he was converted. He was plowing corn and can still jump when he gets happy. William Hall is also 82 or 83 years old. He was present when I was converted over half a century ago. Levi Smith from Rio Grande was there. He is about 80. There were four of the Cooper brothers that measure up well in years. With these and other kind friends, I had a glorious time.
On the 21st, my daughter and I started home; we stayed all night at Dr. S. V. Wiseman’s in Cincinnati and reached home the next day. While in Ironton, I got one of editor Wilson’s books, Keynotes of Education, and in my judgment, it is the best book I have ever read, except the Bible. No one can read it without being greatly benefited.
JOHN T. IRWIN Camargo, Ill., Aug. 26.
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