From Indiana to North Carolina in 1854: The Diary of William Rees

FROM INDIANA TO NORTH CAROLINA IN 1854: THE DIARY OF WILLIAM REES Edited by Opal Thornburg* The manuscript diary' from which these excerpts are taken does not bear the author's name, but he named his fellow-travelers, and inasmuch as it was customary for a yearly meeting to name visitors in its minutes it was possible to determine from the North Carolina Yearly Meeting minutes the one visitor from Indiana Yearly Meeting who is not named in the diary—William Rees. His home meeting is not designated, but the diary states, "Traveled in Cars to Indianapolis , 38 miles, and thence to Richmond," which fits the location of Sugar Plain Monthly Meeting, Thorntown, Boone County, Indiana. Since the diarist attended the Select Meeting for Ministers and Elders, and inasmuch as he makes no reference to speaking in meeting at any time, it could be assumed that he was an elder. Fortunately the Friends Review carried an obituary notice for William Rees which verified the foregoing conclusions.2 He died on the 10th of Tenth Month, 1858, near Thorntown of "pulmonary disease." Although the diary relates in detail the proceedings of the 1854 sessions of Indiana Yearly Meeting, that portion is omitted here since those interested may read the published minutes. It should be said, however, that the 1854 sessions were notable for several reasons. That was the year that the Gurneyite-Wilburite separation divided Ohio Yearly Meeting, presenting Indiana and other yearly meetings with the problem of which to recognize as the authentic meeting. This year brought the request for setting off Western Yearly Meeting from Indiana, finally accomplished four years later. The practice of disownment for marrying out of meeting was being rethought and it was decided, after much deliberation, on a trial basis to modify that portion of the Discipline by a statement that the offenders might later, on application, be received in the "same manner as convinced persons who have not before been members." A new regulation was * Archivist and College Historian at Earlham College 1 The diary is in the Earlham College Archives, a gift of the Fred E. Smith family. 1 Vol. 12, p. 169. 67 68QUAKER HISTORY added: "Members of our society cannot consistently with our religious profession avail themselves of any legal privileges in dissolving the marriage contract; and none in membership can retain their right, nor any be received, while availing themselves of such legal privileges." Immediately following Indiana Yearly Meeting a group of representatives of that meeting left for North Carolina Yearly Meeting. Included were William Rees; Mary Thomas, a minister who frequently was moved to speak, and Francis W. Thomas, both from New Garden Monthly Meeting, Wayne County, Indiana; Daniel Williams and wife; Jonathan Johnson, an elder of Cherry Grove Monthly Meeting, Randolph County, Indiana; Catherine Elliott; and Sarah M. Hiatt. William Rees's observations on conditions of travel at midnineteenth century and on the state of the South under slavery are of uncommon interest, as are his comments on the effects of the Wilburite -Gurneyite controversy. Tenth month 4th. Left Richmond on the Indianapolis and Dayton train. Changed cars at Dayton O. and took the Train by Springfield, Arbanna [Urbana], and changed cars at Forest, about 135 miles from Richmond. Took the cars for Crestline, 41 miles. Here we changed cars again, took the O. & Pennsylvania train and stoped5 at Salem, Columbiana County, about 100 miles, near 10 o'clock at night. Lodged at Thomas & Mary Purkons [Perkins?], she a minister—very kind Friends. 5th, attended their Week-day meeting at Springfield, Damascus village, 5 miles from Salem, in company with Wm. G. Johnson4 who forms part of our company since we left Richmond. Dined at Uncle Joseph Binfords, Uncle Aquilla B.5 and wife present, a satisfactory short visit. Uncle Joseph took me in his buggy to Salem. Left Salem in the 6 o'clock train, arrived at Alligany City 69miles from S[alem], 8 3/4 o'clock] crossed the Alligany River in an omnibus into Pittsburg, 1 mile, 9 o'c. Left Pittsburg 9 1/2 o'c. Got along pretty well till 1 or 2 o'clock, when the locomotive partly failed, so that it was...