Jan. 1, 1879.
The past year has been memorable for the prevalence
of yellow fever in the South. This day begins the resumption of
specie payments after suspension of 18 years.
Jan. 5, 1879.
Mrs. Martin is still growing worse.
Jan. 8, 1879.
Wrote to my sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Johns, Austin,
Texas.
Jan. 31, 1879.
Went to St. Louis yesterday to consult brethren on
the settlement of our church case by a committee. We to select
two and the other side two and the four to choose a fifth man.
We selected Dr. Rutherford and William G. Clark. The Supreme Court
of the State gave us the property by two decisions several years ago.
They have sued us in the Federal Courts and we have offered to compromise
in the above mode rather than have the expense of a suit at law.
It has been an exceedingly expensive and troublesome case, lasting for
12 years. I took dinner with Mr. Clark.
Feb. 4, 1879.
Went to my farm in afternoon. Called at William
Schafer's and was taken through his new house. It is very large
and fine. Ready for plasterers. It is quite an ornament
to that part of the Prairie.
Feb. 9, 1870.
Last night we attended the Silver Wedding of Mr.
Alex Garvin and wife. It was a happy affair and a large company
of friends present.
Feb. 10, 1870.
Went to St. Louis on business about the old church
property. Both parties have agreed to a committee of two on each
side, they to select a fifth man if necessary. We had selected
Dr. E. H. Rutherford and William G. Clark but they objected to Mr. Clark
because he is related to some families in our church. This is
most unreasonable. In Mr. Clark's place we selected Mr. Vietch.
I sincerely hope this old bone of contention will be taken out of the
way. The committees appointed by the two Synods in this State
to consider a plan of cooperation to support Westminster College met
in Judge Breckinridge's office at 4:00 p.m. Present were Drs.
Brank and Rutherford, Mr. Vietch and myself of the Southern Synod.
The Northern Synod brethren expressed themselves as favorable to cooperation
if they were satisfied with the location and financial condition of
the college. They will go up in the spring to look at it.
Feb. 12, 1879.
Yesterday Fred was appointed Physician and Superintendent
of the County Asylum, his being the lowest bid ($240.00) This
will help him and give him a start as a physician. In afternoon
attended old Mrs. Redmon's funeral, 87 years old.
Feb. 27, 1879.
Went to St. Louis today on our church case.
Efforts to compromise it likely to fail. The other side disposed
to back down from their own proposition. This matter has given
me a good deal of trouble and they are acting in very bad faith.
Mar. 1, 1879.
Received a letter from an old friend, R. C. Saunders
in Austin, Texas, whom I haven't seen for 35 years.
Mar. 2, 1879 Sabbath.
County Bible Society meeting tonight at Methodist
Church.
Mar. 3. 1879.
Glover made his first speech at the bar today in
the Blair case. He did very well.
Mar. 5, 1879.
The jury in Blair case gave a verdict in first degree.
Mar. 6 1879.
Oliver Stonebraker died this morning.
Mar. 8, 1879.
Clear and beautiful, very warm, mercury 66° this
morning. Mrs. Martin was thought to be dying last night, she revived.
(Later) Mrs. Martin died this morning at 9 o'clock.
Mar. 9, 1879 Sabbath.
Clear, mild and beautiful. Yesterday the mercury
went up to 80°, Today it is 76°. No service in our church
today on account of Mrs. Martin's death. She is to be buried today
at two o'clock. Mr. Wilkie of Troy is expected to officiate.
Mar. 10, 1879.
Mrs. Martin's funeral in church at two o'clock yesterday
conducted by Reverend Mr. Wilkie of Troy. A very fine sermon on
the text "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints".
Mar. 19, 1879.
Mrs. Glenday came from Sedalia at half past eleven
o'clock last night. Glover took Anna and John Pearce to St. Louis
to put them on the cars to meet their father and mother.
Apr. 3, 1879,
Attended the funeral of Mrs. Oliver Stonebraker.
Apr. 4, 1879.
Rev. Thomas C. Smith and wife came on a visit to
us.
Apr. 6, 1879. Sabbath.
Pleasant morning, milder. Communion in church
today. Mr. Smith preached for us a most precious sermon "By grace
are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the Gift
of God". He spoke with peculiar tenderness and unction.
Apr. 7, 1879.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith left to visit friends in St. Louis.
Apr. 8, 1879.
Glover went to Portage with Joe Lackland today.
I expect to go to St. Louis this evening to meeting of Presbytery.
Apr. 9, 1879.
I was in St. Louis today attending meeting of Presbytery,
staying at Dr. Rutherford's, Pastor of the Pine Street Church.
Took tea with Arthur.
Apr. 10, 1879.
The important matter before the Presbytery is adoption
of the Revised Book of Government and Discipline. The subject
was fully and ably discussed and then adopted, by 23 to 5.
Apr. 11, 1879.
Presbytery adjourned this afternoon. I came
home to Tea. This was a very important and interesting meeting
of Presbytery. I met many old friends and brethren. The
grass around home looks so beautiful and fresh after the rains.
Apr. 16, 1879.
Our cow is giving about two gallons milk at a milking
and about 6 lbs butter per week. Went to Mrs. Durfee's farm this
afternoon. The wheat looks very fine on hill as well as on Prairie.
The ditch carried off the water finely after the heavy rains.
Annie, Fred's wife, gave birth to a daughter between five and six o'clock
this evening (Mary Glenday Johns).
Apr. 20, 1879 Sabbath.
Fine day. In afternoon went to the Episcopal
Church to hear Reverend Mr. Portness preach. Knew him here thirty
years ago as a teacher. He married about that time Eliza Sheppard,
an acquaintance of ours. She died some years ago and her daughter
is to be married on the 22d and the grandmother lives here now.
Apr. 27, 1879 Sabbath.
Reverend Robert Morrison of Potosi preached for us
today. He is agent for Westminster College.
May 4, 1879. Sabbath.
Reverend Dr. Farris preached for us this morning.
May 5, 1879.
Dr. Farris preached a glorious sermon yesterday morning.
Arthur left this morning for St. Louis.
May 11, 1879. Sabbath.
Reverend Mr. Vardeman, Baptist Minister of Wentzville,
preached for us morning and evening. He preached with great power.
May 12, 1879.
Reverend Mr. Vardeman took dinner with us today.
He is a fine talker, a good deal of humor, a man or great courage, of
strong convictions and decided piety.
May 18, 1879. Sabbath.
No preaching in our church today. Went to methodist
Church and heard a funeral sermon on the death of Mrs. Pritchett.
Arthur C. Johns
2632 Locust St. St. Louis, Mo.
A. C. Johns
3211 Pine St., St. Louis Mo. |
May 22, 1879.
Mrs. Glenday went to St. Louis today with Miss Virginia
Fawcett.
May 27, 1879.
Called to see Dr. Overall who is sick and Mrs. Alf
Stonebraker.
June 11, 1879.
A great many farmers are using the self-binder.
It saves all the labor nearly. What wonderful improvements in
farming in 30 years. The old cradles were in operation 30 years
ago and I used one of the first McCormick reapers introduced in the
West in 1849. Then came the self rakes and now the self-binder.
June 14, 1879.
Our Pastor, Mr. Martin, returned home from the East
last night.
June 18, 1879.
Annie, Fred's wife, and baby left this evening for
Boonville on a visit. Mary Kohlman came to us today from St. Peters
as a servant at $6.00 per month.
June 19, 1879
Yesterday and today about 10:00 a.m. I had a paroxysm
producing confused vision and headache lasting several hours.
June 23, 1879.
Went to St. Louis to consult Judge Dryden on our
church case in U.S.C. Court. Exceedingly unpleasant business are
church law suits. We have tried every way to avoid it, but the
other side will drag us into it.
June 27, 1879.
This is 60th Birthday. Mattie and Shirley Borden
came this morning from Philadelphia. George stopped in St. Louis
this evening. George was one of the prize orators at Commencement
at Princeton.
June 30, 1879. Monday.
Henry Gauss and Lizzie came this morning from Sedalia
with the body of their son, Charles Frederic, aged 14 months, to lay
it in the family burying ground here. He died Saturday evening
at 8:00 o'clock of a terrible bowel disease. He was a most lovely
and interesting boy. We all mourn his death, but how sweet the
thought that Jesus said, "Suffer little children to come unto me for
of such is the Kingdom of Heaven".
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