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Chapter 45: The Narrative of John Eudaly, First Section |
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Foreword. This narrative was written by John Eudaly, an early settler on upper Cane Creek, later known as the Shiloh Community. It is the only first-hand written report we have found concerning a pioneer settlement in Butler County. It is a great privilege to place it in print for permanent preservation. To preserve its savor it is printed as written. In common with many other writings of the period it has very littler punctuation or capitalization. Some of the spelling is original but perhaps more in keeping with "English as she is spoke" than some of the present day standard spelling. The author expresses himself clearly. With a little practice the sentences and phrases will fall into place for the present day reader.
"John Eudaly was born in Pytsylvanai County Virginia the 17 day November 1810 when about 3 years old his parents moved across the state line in Caswell County North Carolina when about 12 years old they moved to Jefferson County Tennessee when about 14 years old there was a great Revival of Religion when his brother David Eudaly and Payton Carter brother-in-law and several of his sisters professed religion and joined the Methodist Church about this time I became deeply concerned about my soul I took a secret pray and for some month I become deeply interested so much so while one night out at secret prayer I had the evidence that my prayer was herd and I could have religion then if I wanted it I paused for moment then said to the Lord I was young if I was to take it now I might loose it so I concluded to wait longer there was nothing of importance in my case my father was living at this time and was a very strict observer of the sabath me and a younger brother thought he was rather tite on us not allowed to do he was a great scriptorian was able to hold his hand in an argument on the scriptures I herd him tell about professing religion quit young how light he felt, like he could almost fly away he died the 18 day of November 1827.
In the fall of 1828 brother David and mother moved to beaver creek to keep Reed Cox's mill mother family consisted of 4 Lucy John William and herself we rented land of Cox to farm now we were at a fresh nighborhood and of course were forming new acquaintances and amongst others my axquaintance and attachement for Orlena Cox becom the greatest and on the18 day of September 1832 we were united in marriage Thomas Wilkerson officiated a very old minister who had in former years served as preacher under Francis Asbury but now a local precher about ten days after our marriage we went to a camp meeting about 25 miles from home at Old Sulpher Spring camp ground where I joined the church in 1834 in the month of May I was babtised in our church by the same minister that married me. This year William G. Brownlaw was our circuit preacher he got Reed Cox Dudley Cox and myself to build a camp at Shady Grove camp ground a cross bays mountain the nearest wagon way 14 miles as Reed Cox had saw mill we sawed our lumber and hauled it over and put up a large and very comfortable camp as we were taking the Arkansas and Missouri fever.
this year 1839 being 100 years of the Methodists and the 25 day of October being the noted day meetings were appointed at the principal churches and ministers arranged to preach on centenial day which was Friday the preacher com on a good congregation Saturday the preacher to left to fill som other engagement during the meeting so far the power of the Lord was made manifest in the conversion of souls and a mong who was som of the most prominent young men in our midst Dudley Cox who was exorter and whol soul man was urged up to continue the meeting til Sunday night as prayer meeting Sunday night about 9 o'clock the (they) brok at the church then it was proposed to go down about ? mile to Reed Cox house to see if there could not be some more good don or rejoice more over what was al redy don I went with the croud the meeting was opened morners called for I went for one while at the morners bench which I had visited very regular for the 7 years and had bin trying to get religion by my own good works thinking over the past I becom willing as the only hope to give the case to the Lord when I made this decision the Lord took the case the work was instantly don this was about 11 o'clock Sunday night Oct. 27-1839.
now about the close of the year 1839 nothing of importance transpired only the western feaver began to increase Reed Cox sold our his persesion for moving and 1840 was spent in making preparation for moving after crops were made getting our boat gunnels and preparing plank and building boats were the order of the day the company built 2 boats 50 feet long and 12 feet wide these were for the familys also built one 60 feet long and 20 feet wide to carry wagons horses and feed and other lumber. about the first of January 1841 we began to move into the boats Reed Cox Dudley Cox Ellot Cox Nathan Davis John Eudaly James Eudaly and James D. Franklin was our crew beside these there was Waitman Summers John Shell and their familys with them John Wisecarver and John A. Walton familys had them a boat on the 8 day of January 1841 the last boat was let luse from the mouth of Beaver creek to move off for a new county when we got to Louisville in blount county there we stoped long enough for Shields King to move his plunder and family into the boats then we were all abord nothing unusual happened on our voyage when we reached Cairo at the mouth of the Ohio River we landed thinking we would take land when we made inquire we found our that we could not cross the swamp with our wagon we were advised to go New Madrid so we left Cairo and landed at New Madrid the first day of March 1841 there we stayed about one week sold our boats riged up our teams and started up the county and in the neighborhood of old Jackson we all found places to rent and make som crops"
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