323 – The Pulpit Again

Mark Jarvis

In 1837, after eight years at home, Shadrach Cheney felt the call once more. He had resigned from itinerant ministry in 1829 to raise a growing family with Mary Taylor Squires in Salt Lick Bridge, (West) Virginia.

But the pulpit beckoned again—and this time, it would take Shadrach and his family on a 22-year journey across the rugged circuits of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Methodist camp meeting

It’s 1837. Shadrach and Mary Squires are living in Salt Lick Bridge, (West) Virginia. They’re living near Mary’s parents Asa and Sarah Squires.

The Squires had over 1,000 acres of land. Much was wooded hills and valleys. There were some parcels of arable land.

In 1836, Braxton County was created from parts of Lewis, Kanawha and Nicholas Counties. The Squires farm, Salt Lick Bridge, and Flatwoods were now part of Braxton County, Virginia. (West Virginia wasn’t created until 1863, so Braxton County was still in Virginia.)

Squires Cemetery

There is a Squires cemetery on the highest hill of the farm. Several generations of Squires and their neighbors now rest there.

Squires Cemetery

The first burial there is Asa’s mother, Elizabeth Taylor Squires, in 1840. Asa and Sarah Squires and numerous other family members are interred in Squires Cemetery.

From I-79 at Flatwoods, travel left onto Rt 19/4 north 5.9 miles to the State Road Maintenance Shop. The driveway to the cemetery is about 100 yds further on just past the house on the right and through a farm gate. At the top of the driveway around the gas storage tank, walk through the steep meadow to the top of the knoll. No signage.

Find A Grave – Squires Cemetery

Postmaster

In 1832, Shadrach Cheney was appointed postmaster of Flatwoods at an annual salary of 500 dollars.

Appointment of Postmasters – Lewis County, Virginia – 1832-1844

The family

Shadrach had located (resigned) as a traveling preacher in 1829.

By 1837, he had stayed home for eight years.

Shadrach was age 41. Mary was 33. They had seven children, ages newborn to 11.

The calling

In 1837, Shadrach felt the calling. He was readmitted and began his itinerant preaching again.

By 1837, with seven children and a settled life, Shadrach felt the stirrings of his original calling. He was readmitted to the Methodist ministry and assigned to Middlebourne, Tyler County. It meant uprooting the family again. It meant long absences. It meant sacrifice. But for Shadrach, it also meant purpose.

Middlebourne

In 1837, Shadrach was assigned to Middlebourne, in Tyler County, (West) Virginia. It was about 60 miles north of Flatwoods and Salt Lick Bridge.

Shadrach and Mary and their children moved to Tyler County. They probably found a place to rent, or perhaps found a charitable host who housed them.

Shadrach began riding his circuit, and was gone from home most of the time.

Kingwood

In 1838, Shadrach was assigned to Kingwood, in Preston County, (West) Virginia.

The family moved again.

William Thomas Cheney was born on Sunday, April 8, 1838, in Harrison County, (West) Virginia. He was Shadrach and Mary’s eighth child.

William Cheney is our 3rd great grandparent.

Etc. etc. etc.

Let’s not write about every assignment. Shadrach and his family were in for the long term. He continued his itinerant preaching for 22 more years, from 1837 to 1859. Here are his 15 district assignments during this period.

Shadrach Cheney – Methodist Assignments – 1837-1859

Lifestyle – the preacher

The Circuit Preacher

The circuit rider led a difficult and spartan life.

I can’t imagine the grind it must have been. He was on horseback every day, no matter the weather. Heat, cold, fording streams. Rain, snow, and mud.

All the belongings he needed were with him. His Bible and books, his clothes, and warm and waterproof coat, hat and boots, etc.

After each appointment, he’d find someone who would offer him some food and a place to stay. He was lucky if they had a spare bed to offer, otherwise sleeping on the floor.

Bathing? Probably not often.

Lifestyle – the family

As difficult as the preacher’s daily life could be, his family suffered far more.

When the preacher received an assignment each year or two, his family would move with him. They would find a house to rent, or accept charity of a congregant who could offer them housing. The family would make do with very little.

Can you imagine Mary Cheney with eight children, most still very young? Mary’s life must have been exhausting. And Mary was going to be pregnant over the next few years for the birth of four more children. I can’t imagine.

Neither the preacher nor his family had much money.

In 1816 the Church increased the salary for both the itinerant and his wife to one hundred dollars and in 1836 it was raised to two hundred dollars per year. Church members in many instances provided ministers with food, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities.

Methodist circuit-riders in America, 1766-1844 – William A Powell, Jr.

A Methodist minister’s home life suffered severely while he traveled. It was financially difficult for ministers to support a family as they remained in the ministry. Many married men were forced to locate, but a number attempted to remain in the traveling connection.

The married circuit-rider’s family was neglected in order that he might preach the gospel. He suffered in the ministry, but it was a “heap harder” for the family. The preacher’s wife considered her situation and made arrangements to “live accordingly.” She kept house, educated the children and prayed for her husband as he journeyed. The family moved frequently and learned to possess a “good degree of faithful missionary spirit.” A husband and his wife agreed to sacrifice a settled marriage for Christ.

Methodist circuit-riders in America, 1766-1844 – William A Powell, Jr.

More children

From 1840 to 1847, Shadrach and Mary had four more children.

Margaret Belle Cheney was born Saturday, September 19, 1840, in Harrison County, (West) Virginia.

Benjamin Franklin Cheney was born Thursday, March 31, 1842, in Green County, Pennsylvania.

John Emory Cheney was born Tuesday, August 12, 1845, in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Charles Wesley Cheney was born Tuesday, March 28, 1848, in Marshall County, (West) Virginia.

By the birth of their last child Charles in 1848, Shadrach and Mary had 12 children, ages newborn to 23. Shadrach was age 52, Mary was 44.

Shadrach was still preaching, now mostly on circuits in Ohio. He would continue for 11 more years.

Shadrach located in 1860

Shadrach located in 1860. He quit his traveling ministry. He was age 63. He had been traveling and preaching for the last 22 years, since 1837. In all, he’d been a circuit rider for 30 of the last 40 years, beginning in 1820.

Shadrach and Mary’s life story is one of endurance, and faith. From Salt Lick Bridge to Uhrichsville, from postmaster to preacher, from frontier to farmland, Shadrach and Mary lived a life of constant relocation.

Shadrach and Mary did not return to Braxton County. Instead, they moved west—perhaps seeking rest, perhaps seeking new beginnings.

They packed up and moved to Christian County, Illinois.

Timeline

Sources:

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