History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

HISTORY OF THE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
By Abel Stevens
CHAPTER VIII
METHODISM IN THE WEST, 1804-1820
Geography of Western Methodism -- Progress In Western Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh Conference
-- Robert R. Roberts' Hardships -- Gruber -- Usefulness of Shewel, a Local Preacher -- Thomas
Branch's Death in the Wilderness -- A Society formed there -- James B. Finley's Character -- A great
Western Camp-meeting -- Finley's Conversion -- His Labors and Sufferings -- Sketch of William
Swayze -- Charles Elliott's Services -- Alfred Brunson -- Quinn in the Northwestern Territory --
Whatcoat's Salutation -- Jane Trimble -- Review of Quinn's Labors -- Primitive Camp-meetings --
Growth of Methodism In Indiana -- In Michigan
Again we turn to the "great West," the scene, in our day, of the greatest triumphs of Methodism.
In the outset (1804) it is still the one "Western Conference," with its four districts: Holston, under
John Wilson; Cumberland, under Lewis Garrett; Kentucky, under McKendree; Ohio, under Burke;
these, besides the ultra-Allegheny districts of Baltimore Conference, the Greenbrier and
Monongahela; while the Philadelphia Conference, by its Genesee District, takes in the Chenango
Circuit, the scene of Robert R. Roberts's early Methodistic life. In 1806 the Mississippi District
appears in the Minutes, under Learner Blackman. The successors of Tobias Gibson, seven
adventurous itinerants, are invading the great Southwest. In 1809 the immense field, of the
Northwestern Territory ceases to be a solitary district; the Ohio District divides into two, Miami and
Muskingum, respectively commanded by Sale and Quinn, and the Indiana District, under Samuel
Parker, is added; the latter has some significant names of circuits, among which are Illinois, traveled
by Jesse Walker alone, and Missouri, by Abraham Amos. In 1810 Green River District, in the
southwest, is added under Burke. In 1812 the title of "Green River" disappears, and we have three
new districts, Nashville, Wabash, and Salt River. Indiana District gives place to that of Illinois, and
Baltimore has another in the West, the Ohio, besides those of Greenbrier and Monongahela.
Chenango passes from the jurisdiction of the Genesee Conference to the Ohio District. In 1813 the
Northwestern Territory becomes an annual Conference, (by order of the General Conference of
1812,) under the title of Ohio. It comprehends much of Kentucky, and has six districts: Ohio, under
Jacob Young; Muskingum, under David Young; Sciota, under Quinn; Miami, under Solomon
Langdon; Kentucky, under Sale; Salt River, under James Ward. The name of the old "Western
Conference" disappears, and that of Tennessee is first recorded, with seven grand districts: Holston,
under James Axley, comprising the early mountain circuits; Nashville, under Blackman;
Cumberland, under James Gwinn; Wabash, under Peter Cartwright; Illinois, under Jesse Walker;
Mississippi, under Samuel Sellers; and Louisiana, under Miles Harper. The next year Green River
District is added, but those of Mississippi and Louisiana disappear, with all their itinerants, hidden
in the clouds of the British war. Their evangelists work on, however, holding informal Conferences
among themselves. In 1815 their two districts reappear, and that of Missouri is recorded, detached
from Illinois District, and commanded by Samuel H. Thompson.