People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1895 — George and Mary Kannal. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

George and Mary Kannal.

George Kannal WftS born in Columbiana fiouhty, Ohio, March 13, 1813, being the eldest of thirteen children. His parents came from Penneylvanit), being of theold “Pennsylvania Dutch” blood. The father, Joseph Kannal, served in the war of 1812. Mary (McCoy) Kannal was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 10, 1815. The subjects of this sketch Avere reared in the same neighborhood and married November 8, 1835. After seven years residence in the family of the groom, they to the home of Thomas McCoy, a brother of the Avife. W 7 hile here, on duly I. 1838, a daughter, Elizabeth, Avas born. They soon afterward removed to New Lisbon, Ohio, where George Kannal was engaged, during their seven years stay, in banking with Thomas McCoy. In 1847 they returned to live on a farm in their native country.

Walker, Hefren indicated a choice of the bowie knife as the weapon to be used. That he (Milroy) promptly told Col. Walker, Hefren’s Second, that in view of the great disparity in size between Hefren and Moody, which disparity was against Moody, he (Milroy) would lake the responsibility without consulting Mr. Moody, to say that he (Moody) should not tight Hefren with such a weapon; and that he (Milroy) requested Col. Walker to inform Mr. Hefren that if he (Hefren) insisted upon bowie knife he (Milroy) would take Moody’s place and fight him (Hefren) with that weapon. That he (Milroy) did not at the time believe Hefren would fight him, but that if he had consented to do so he does not think he (Milroy) would have “backed out.” That he (Milroy) remained with Moody in Kentucky till at length, through the mediation of other persons, the difference was arranged, after the parties had arrived upon the ground designated as the place for their “hostile meeting.” That he (Milroy) did not act as Moody’s second, strictly speaking, but that he did carry several notes from Moody to Hefren's while there existed any prospect of arranging the matter without a fight, and before a challenge passed. That he be lieves duelling to be immoral, but that there seemed to be a necessity for. his engaging in it. That in the future he hoped he would, under like circumstances, act differently; that he would, under advise any one either to fight a duel or otherwise retaliate by violence. 2d. Mr. Milroy also made to the session at the same time the following voluntary statement, to-wit: That for sometime past his mind had been undergoing a change upon the doctrine of

June 20, 1849, their only son. Emmet Kannal. was born. They continued to reside in Columbina county until the spring of 1865, when they came to Jasper county, Ind. With them came their son, Emmet Kaunel, and daughter, Elizabeth Hollingsworth, her husband, Thomas, and their son, Fmmet L. Hollingsworth, a baby one year old. They settled in Rensselaer Avhere they haA r e hab continuous residence. George Kannal died June 10, 1885, being stricken with heart trouble while attending to his daily business duties. He was a man of modest and unpretentious habits, lived an extremely simple and busy life, accumulating a fair competence, and gaining the respect of the tyThe avuloav, Mary Kannal, survives. spending the declining years of her life in the old home amohg her grand children and friends.

deem the statements' of Bro. R. H. Milroy. upon either of the foregoing matters, as sufficient to require his suspension from the privileges of the church. 2d. Resolved, That Bro. Robert 11. J/ilroy is hereby suspended from the sacraments of the church, till he give satisfactory evidence of the sincerity of his repentance. 3d, Resolved, That the moderator is hereby directed to pub--1 sh to the church from the pul pit the foregoing action of the session on the next Sabbath.” Several years after this episode General Milroy was again received into the church of his vouth.

A somewhat amusing incident to the older members was the church trial of Dr. Joshua Clark for alleged slandering of the Ladies’ Sewing Society. The trial commenced April 7th, 1852, and occupied about fifty pages of the minute book. It seems that Dr. Clark had taken exception to certain exercises which occured at the sewing society which met at Col. Work’s residence, on the farm now occupied by Mr. James Matheson, and wrote and circulated a paper, the substance of which is as follows :

“Whereas. The present sewing society was principally got ten up for the purpose of procuring funds for the completion of the Presbyterain church. “And, whereas, certain gymnastic exercises are to a certain and proper extent to be desired, and are promoters of the health of the members; “And, whereas, in the conduct of these exercises certain small improprieties have of late crept out to the just scandal of the good name and fair fame of said society; “And, whereas, it is apprehended that unless these indis-

j cretions are corrected some of (tie strictest may be disposed to withdraw their connection and support from us. which must inaI teriaily hinder success. Thero- , fore, be it resolved, by the Laj dies’ Sewing Society, of Rensselaer, that hereafter, in the exerjcises of the meeting, there shall | aot be more than one polka dance j of an evening, and such dance no I member shall raise her foot more ! man so high, etc.” The evidence shows that a lady member had edified the society with a polka step, a dance which was then new. and had sung the song “Ben Bolt.” Rev. Thomas Whallon Avas pastor from 1855 to 1859. and Rev. H. A. J/ayhew from 1856 to 1865, then occurred one year pastorates of Revs. L. T). Wells, J. S. Patterson, Win, A. Patton, and Mr. Goodeson. Then for a long period of seventeen years the church Avas-without a pastor struggling for life. During this time came the trouble involving Cicero H. Tatman and Gen. R. H. Milroy, and Avhich affected Ezra Wright financially; and John Keller, Stephen Donaldson, and Fletcher Monnett, moved atvay. During this period the spiritual life and corporate existence of this society rested entirely upon the two Miss Smiths and Elder .John Coen. Within the last twenty years Mr. Coen has carried Avood from his residence on the outskirts of town to warm the church for Sunday-school on cold Sunday mornings. All hail to these spirits who, through the chaos attendant upon the closing of the war and other troubles, carried our church ship through and landed her safely in the harbor. Who will doubt that a charitable Jehovah watched over the

Simon P. Thompson is the seventh of ten children of David and Eliza (McCoy) Thompson, and was born in Hancock county, Ohio, May 8, I*sß. Three of his brothers, David, yVlfred and Thomas are citizens of this county. When four years old he began attending county school in the winter. He first taught, boarding round, in 1853. His father died February 1(5, 1854. In 1.85 j Simon began his selfsupporting campaign for an education teaching in mid-win-ter, farming in mid summer, and attending school in spring and autumn. Hisdip lo rn a fro mt h e normal school is dated July 18, 18(50. He entered Oberlin college, classical class, in the fall of that year. In 1861 sickness of his mother, sisters and brothers called him home. The mother died September 20, 1861. In August, 1862, the school voters of Rensselaer, Indiana, elected him as principal at forty dollars, per month , In 1868 a school house was built and Mr. Thompson was re-elected at sixty dollars per month. He was also selected as school examiner and served most of the time until 1872. Afterwards he served as school trustee and prepared the regulations and rules for the first union school of Rensselaer authorized to graduate its pupils. The system of school management in the county was changed under Mr. Thompson’s administration. and the present excellent system has grown from the beginnings of 1862. In 1864 Mr Thompson was employed as clerk in the McCoy bank. In 1865 he selected the business of real estate broker and began the study of law. He commenced buying lands of nonresidents aßd selling them to actual settlers. At his instance

: many of the winding narrow roads were changed to broad highways, constructed of better material. In the town corporate action was invoked, railroads were invited and public improve* j ments were advocated as an auxilary to business. The mill dams were purchased and removed and the water channels shortened, straightened and deepened by private and public proceedings. October 10, 1878, lie married May Foltz, at Oxford. Indiana, and they have two daughters, Grace aged 16, and Edna aged 13; also two boys, Firman aged . 9 and Simon Jr. aged 2. The family lias a happy home in south-east Rensselaer. Mr. Thompson cast his first vote for the Lincoln electors at Harveysburg,Ohio, in 1860. He has acted as committeman for town, township and county. Without a convention his name went on the republican ticket for prosecuting attorney in 1872 and 1874, and being elected all official duties were performed without assistance. He was voted for candidate in the republican congressional conventions of 1876 and 1880; and in 1886 he was nominated for the first and last time in a political convention for state senator, and was elected. His service as delegate to district and state conventions has often been called for by his party associates. In 187(5 he was an alternate and in 1884 a delegate to the national convention. Since 1886 Mr. Thompson has freely assisted his friends to political preferment, but has discouraged the use of his own name in any convention.

struggling congregation with a pitying glance? In 1885 Rev. Gilbert Small was pastor, and after him Rev. Aug. Taylor. And then many students came from McCormick seminary which terminatedinthe installation of Rev. M. L. Tressler as pastor in 1889. Mr. Tress - ler was the first installed pastor of the church. He remained about 18 months and after him Rev. I. 1. Gorby was our pastor for 18 months. Then came Rev. Edward Beach for one year, and after a short period Rev. M. R. Paradis, our present pastor. Mr. Paradis has proven himself a conscientious man, an agreeable and social gen Jem an, and a hard and aggressive worker in the Lord’s cause. It is probably due to his.efforts more than any One else that we are enabled to have a new church building. The Misses Smith were received J uly 21,1860. Rev. May hew received 40 members and dismissed 18. Rev. Goodison received 6 members and dismissed 3. Rev. R. L. Adams received 11 members and dismissed 2. Rev. G. Small received 34 members and dismissed Rev. Aug. Taylor received 8 members and dismissed 2. Rev. M. L. Tresslei received 47 members and dismissed 5. Rev. I. I. Gorby received 38 members and dismissed 7. Rev. Edward Beach received 13 members and dismissod.lo. Rev. M R. Paradis received 37 members and dismissed 8.

The old church building was erected in 1851-2, at a cost of SI2OO. on ground donated by John C. Van Rensselaer and has done its duty long and well. It was parted with many, pangs of, regret, for the old house protected us during infancy, childhood and manhood. Here was the cradle of Presbyterianism in this county; here were baptized as infants and adults representatives of almost every family in town and surrounding country; and from this alter have been carried the remains of many of those who have gone “to that undiscovered country, from w T hose bourne no traveler returns.” The old church has passed from our sight, but not from our memory. To many of us some of the fondest and sweetest memories of childhood and youth are entwined with this old building The childish Sunday school songs, “Come to Tesus,” “Climbing up Zion’s Hill, and many others were first taught us within these walls. The songs, the Sunday school, the Christ as entertainments { the festiv

the harvest homes, the choir practices, the installations, have so engraven themselves that the lapse of years will not eradicate them. All hail to the old church; all hail to its bell and pulpit; and the fact that it is supplanted by a grander edifice does not detract one whit from our honor and reverence for the old build ing. It is but oue way which God has provided that His cause goes marching on that we should pull down our old church and build a grander, larger one. The church began to build up in 188 G and is now on a fair footing, spiritually and financially. There is to some extent a feeling of buoyancy within us at the thought of the new church building. “There is a reason for this. All religion all science, all wisdom of history, and all noble present energies are centered upon the future, not upon the past. Piety, patriotism, and progress are not so much concerned about the “From whence’ as with the ‘Whereunlo' of the world and the people thereof.” Nature repeats, and progress is a perpeaial pioneer. Onward and upward are her imperative commands, and have been from the day when man turned the barred gates of Eden, until he shall come again redeemed and rejoicing through the wide open gates of the Eternal City. We welcome the new church with open arms; we will lie proud of it. it.-5 modern seats, pulpit, windows, towers, conveniences, and its magnificent pipe organ, (for we doubt not we wili have one). We will be proud to show it to our friends as the offspring of the present generation, and it will prove a blessing to the town and county.

William Greenfield, familiarly known as ‘•Uncle Billy.” was bon; in Chester county, Penn., in 1829. One year later his parents moved to Muskingum county, Ohio He moved to this county in 1851. and was married the same year. He resided on a farm about four mi es north of Rensselaer and at that time his nearest neighbor was three miles away. The country north of Rensselaer was then open and there were not more than two dozen houses in the entire town. In 1892 Mr. Greenfield moved to Rensselaer, where he has resided ■ever since, honored and respected by all who know him. In April, 1888, he was elected township trustee, in which office he faithfully served until August, 1895.

Simon P. Thompson.

William Greenfield.