Karleen,
This is wonderful. Thank you for sharing it.
What sort of books are you referring to? I see no copyright infringement in posting only
indexes. I believe Gina can attest to that.
Shirley
----- Original Message -----
From: Karleen Phillips
To: INRANDOL-L(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 4:41 PM
Subject: [INRANDOL] Cantrell/Smith/Goodrich
Genealogy Research Tip: Searching surrounding county histories can turn
up great stuff--even if your ancestor didn't live there. Zebulon
Cantrell lived in Randolph County.
Is it possible to extract book surname indexes and post them on the web?
Following is some of the most interesting info I have found on Zeb.
Through probate records, I have established he probably died in about
April of 1847 in Randolph County. I can find no birth, death, or burial
records for either he or his wife Hannah. Any help would be
appreciated.
The following was found in an article written by J. Walter Fiers about
the history of Jay County, Indiana.
"XCVI - An Eccentric Pioneer - The history of Richland township can not
be fully written or understood unless there be included something of the
people and their life who lived along the Mississinewa. There were the
earliest settlements, the first trading places, the first mills, and the
first churches. The settlements extending several miles north and south
of the river, depended largely for their support, upon the river
settlements. A short distance south of the Mississinewa, there lived an
eccentrick pioneer, who will be remembered by many of our older
citizens. The meeting of this man by the young preacher who was on this
circuit in 1840, will be of interest to many of our citizens.
The Rev. J. L. Smith [one of my ancestors' brothers] had gone to
Winchester to preach in October, 1840. He staid for the night at Judge
Goodrich's. He was received at the Goodrich home with a hearty welcome,
and was entertained according to the generous style of Virginia
hospitality, the heartiness of his welcome was in no way diminishing on
its becoming known that he was a native of the Old Dominion, and that he
was a son of a family classed as one of the F. F. V's. The story is told
in Mr. Smith's own words.
"On making a call at the Judge's store, I was surprised to see among the
many customers present from the surrounding country, an old neighbor
from Ohio, a now aged man, who, at an early day had migrated to Indiana.
I had not seen him for many years, and had almost forgotten that such a
man as Zebedee Cantrall had ever lived. He was a man in good
circumstances and respectably related; but unfortunately, he had
contracted habits of intemperance, and at the time referred to was
evidently, to some extent, under the influence of strong drink. The
unexpected meeting of the man awoke the power of slumbering
recollection. A panorama of forgotten scenes were brought up in rapid
review. I secretly wished that I might not be introduced to the man, and
said to myself, ‘If I am introduced, I hope that I shall not be
recognized.'
"However, before there was time for any formal introduction, the old
pioneer drew nigh and surveying me from head to foot, thus began: ‘I
say, stranger, ain't your name Smith?' Here the Judge interposed with,
‘Yes, Mr. Cantrall, that is our young preacher, Brother Smith: I hope
you will come and hear him preach, and get better acquainted with him.'
‘See here, Jedge, you're nowhere; why, I've knowed this boy from his
childhood; he had the best old Methodist mother in Green county, and he
is the best boy you ever saw. Why, Jedge, this boy once saved me from a
big lickin' at a general muster at Caesarville. You see that I was a
little ‘how come you so' and two strappin' fellows jumped onto me; but
this boy happened to be at hand, and he cleaned them both out in less
than no time and you see, jedge, I've kinder liked him ever since. And I
can tell you more, Jedge, once I was in Xenia when Main street was knee
deep in mud – well it was not exactly what one would call mud, but a
kind o'slushy fritter batter. I was ‘putty well up' swingin' first one
side and t'other side of old gray, when my saddle girth broke, and down
I come kerwhallop in the mud. It was cold and raining and there lay old
Zeb from shoulder to flank in the loblolly. And then the clerks and the
people in the shops and stores all went to laughin' at me. But this here
boy, Jedge, just waded right out in the rain and mud, fixed my saddle
girth, helped me into the saddle, and fixed my hands in old gray's mane,
and I went right straight home. And, Jedge, this is the first time I've
seen the boy since. And now, Jedge, I want to do something for him: so,
if he wants anything out of your store, just let him have it. Old Zeb is
good for it.' Then turning to me he said, ‘Now, my son, anything I've
got is yours. I want you to come to my house up on the Mississinewa and
see me. You know that I'm no Christian; I'm a poor wicked old man, but I
have a big family of boys and girls, and maybe you can do them some
good. I'm a hardened old sinner, but I want you to come and see me.'
"Trading, meanwhile, had ceased. Clerks and customers were all
attention, eager to catch every word of Zeb's speech. Years had passed
since the occurrences that he related. The wonder is that any trace of
them should have remained in his memory, he being, as he was, under the
influence of strong drink when they occured. Even after so many years of
constant inebriation, he was able to relate the facts, including
minutest details in consecutive order, exhibiting a remarkable memory,
despite the whiskey soaked condition of his brain.
"Poor old Zeb! All through the upper Mississinewa country he heralded
the name of the young preacher, preparing a way for the gospel messenger
to the cabins of the people, nor did he fail to give of his substance
for the support of the church. His wife and several of his children made
a profession of religion. The old gentleman became serious but I do not
know whether he ever overcame his appetite, or how he finally left the
world."
Karleen Lenz Phillips
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