OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 47 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 05 : Issue 47 Today's Topics: #1 Fw: Tid Bits - part 29 A ["Ohio Archives EV1" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0bf201c54ece$64064850$0300a8c0@margaret> Subject: Fw: Tid Bits - part 29 A Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darlene & Kathi kelley" To: Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 5:49 PM Subject: Tid Bits - part 29 A Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley April 4, 2005 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley Tid Bits - Part 29 A Notes of S.Kelly +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 29 A Shakers of Ohio Needle Station was the first fontrier settlement in Warren County, Ohio after the signing of the Greenville Indian Treaty in 1795. All the territory south of the Greenville ( Ohio ) Treaty Line was now open to European settlement. William Beedle and his wife Esther and their five adult children and their families were the first pioneers to settle in Warren County. They moved north from Cincinnati with a survey company led by Captain John Dunlap. In late 1795, they moved to an area which was four miles west of Lebanon, Ohio and approximately two miles south of Union Village. Because of fear of the renewed tension with the Indians, a blockhouse was built. The early pioneers were all related to one another, and those who came later bonded with the Beedles into a close knit group. They all belonged to the Turtle Creek Presbyterian Church which was built in 1798, just north of the blockhouse. In 1798, Rev. James Kemper and his wife came to tend his flock of Presbyterians. He stayed for a while and in 1802 he was replaced by Rev Richard McNemar. Rev McNemar was a well educated man and was well respected. He had been at one time intensely involved in the Kentucky Revival ( the second Great Awakiening .) After a trumultuous time, He and other later Presyterian ministers left the church and became what they called " New Lights." The " New Light " movement eventually became known as the Baxton Stone-Alexander Campbell Restoration Movement, which is the parent movement to the Christian Church and the Disciples of Christ. In June of 1804, the entire Presbyterian Congregation at Turtle Creek, following Rev. Richard McNemar, joined the " New Light " movement. Then 9 months later, Rev McNemar and his family was to join another religious movement, the Shakers. The majority of the Turtle Creek church again followed their pastor. But there were some who did not. The animosity of this division was to live on for many generations. The Beedle family was severly divided. William and Esther Beedle did not embrace the Shaker faith. Among Beedle's immediate family who became Shakers were: James Beedle, William Beedle's son ( who eventually left and became an intractable enemy of the Shakers). Francis Beedle and his wife. Francis was William Beedle's brother. Elijah Davis, one of William Beedle's son-in-law. + William Davis, Grandchild of William Beedle. + Jonathon Davis, Grandchild of William Beedle. Jonathon Davis, another son-in-law of William Beedle. + John Davis ( who left the Shakers and was violently opposed to the Shakers as his uncle, James.) [ Elijah Davis and Jonathan mentioned above who had married the two Beedle daughters.] ++++++++++++++ In order to understand the Shaker movement is to see what the Shaker movement was--- Their prayer; ' Tis the gift to be simple, ' Tis the gift to be free, ' Tis the gift to come down, Where you ought to be, And when we find ourselves In the place just right, ' Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, To bow and to bend we shan't be ashambed, To turn , turn will be our delight, 'Til by turning, turning we come round right. " The Shakers, a member of the United Society of Believers in Christ's second appearing, was founded by the Mother, Ann Lee in 1784, her successor, James Whittaker, began the process of "gathering " believers " into Gospel Order." After his death in 1787, this process was continued by Joseph Meacham & Lucy Wright. Joseph Meacham first gathered believer's into community at New Lebanon, N.Y. in 1787. New Lebanon, called Mt.Lebanon after 1861, became the ecclesiastical and spiritual center of Shakerdom. It was the home of the Parent Ministry, also refered to as " The Ministry or The Lead Ministry," New Lebanon, N.Y. and it became the model for all other Shaker villages and towns. The plan of a Shaker village is a combination of practical frontier realism, deep religious faith and an innovative solution to the demands of communial living. In the hands of the Elder Meacham. these qualities emerged to create a style of communial life of the Shaker village or town. After their initial conversion, believers at first lived and worshiped in their own homes scattered throughout the larger communities. These clusters of charismatic Shakers in the east were eventually called to worship in Meetinghouses built by Moses Johnson under the direction of James Whittaker. The first meetinghouse was built at New Lebanon, N.Y. in 1785. It became the prototype for ten other indentical Shaker meetinghouses throughout New England. Whittaker also introduced a severity and legalism into Shakerism which had been unknown under the Mother Ann Lee and her brother, James Lee. Whittaker died, however, before the actual gathering into community could begin. John Meacham insisted on a dual order of leadership ( separate but equal ) between men ( Elders ) and women (Eldresses). His lead mother was Mother Lucy Wright, who had been a close companion of Mother Ann Lee. Both John Meacham and Lucy Wright strove to mold a religious society where the Spirit of Christ could freely inspire a people who were highly disciplined and hard working. It was under the guidance of Mother Lucy Wright, that the Shaker mission to the West was undertaken and thrived. The Lead Ministry at New Lebanon, N.Y. , after hearing about the spiritual exercises of the Kentucky Revival, sent three missionaries, John Meacham, Benjamin S. Youngs and Issachar Bates, to the west in 1805 with the Shaker gospel message. They first stopped at the home of Malcolm Worley, on Friday evening, March 22nd. His house was located on the site of the later center family at Union Village, Ohio. The following day they sought out the famous New light minister, Rev. Richard McNemar of the Turtle Creek Church. His log cabin was located a half a mile east of Worley's house. Their farms were adjoining. Later, the Shaker East Family, was established around the McNemar cabin on the land he donated to the Shaker Church. Turtle Creek New Light Presbyterian Church was loacted a short distance north of Beedle Station, an outpost with a blockhouse ( four miles west of the present day Lebanon, Ohio, approximately a mile south of Lebanon Pike). The first western conversion to Shakerism was Malcolm Worley, the second was Anna Middleton, a slave, followed by Richard McNemar, his wife, Jenny, and his seven children, and Francis Beedle and his wife Polly. Eventually, the majority of the Turtle Creek Church congregation followed McNemar into the Shaker faith. The first meeting of Believers was held on May 23, 1805 at the home of David Hill, about a mile southwest of Union Village. Meetings were also held at the home of Richard McNemar. His cabin was a double cabin with a porch between two sections. It was broad enough to gather together in worship and the dance. Later, during the Era of Manifestations, the garden was chosen as the area for the Holy Mount and Fountain Stone at Union Village. During 1805 about 370 persons were gathered into the Shaker fold. When the numbers became too great to dance at the McNemar cabin, a dancing platform with a hand rail around the circumference was built at the center of the village. Elder David Darrow, Daniel Mosely and Solomon King were sent by The Ministry at New Lebanon, N.Y., to lead and nurture Union Village and other budding western communities. They arrived at Malcolm Worley's house on June 29, 1805. The Eldress sent to co-minister with David Darrow was Eldress Ruth Farrington. New Lebanon also sent Prudence Farrington, Lucy Smith, Martha Sanford, Molly Goodrich, Ruth Darrow ( David Darrow's daughter ), Peter Pease, Samuel Turner, Constant Mosely and John Wright. They arrived May 31, 1806 and moved into Worley House. They eventually moved out of Worley's house into a cluster of log cabins on a farm purchased from Timothy Sewell. It became known as the South Family. Father David Darrow and Mother Ruth Farrington oversaw the transition from log cabins to framed buildings at Union Village. The first building erected was a saw mill in 1807 and the second one in 1808. The Meetinghouse was built in 1809 The first written Covenent in Ohio was signed 1810, and a second Meetinghouse built in 1818. The western Meetinghouses were of gable construction unlike the eastern Meetinghouses which had gable roofs. The ground floor of the second Meetinghouse at Union Village was a large room 60x44 feet. The upstairs was the living quarters of the Village Ministry. The Center, East, and West frame and the South Dwellinghouses and families were established by 1820. The population had grown to approximately 600. " Gathering into Gospel Order " required Believers to turn away from the spirit of the world and to turn away from " fleshy" or natural relationships and embrace the order of the New Creation. Shakers believe that the life, mission, and death of Jesus Christ was initiated the promised New Creation. Shakers also believe that the Christ Spirit in these latter days has returned in Mother Ann Lee and continues to return in the community of Believers. The presence of the Christ Spirit signals the final epoch of Light which heralds the progressive fulfillment of the New Creation. The " harvesting of the world " ( referred to in Rev 14, 15ff ) has already commenced. Those who are spiritually baptized are " regenerated" ( reborn, made a new creation ) and are called to live the Millennial life-style. The plan of the Shaker Village reflects this belief and reinforces Millennial ( simplicity ) values. Gospel Order creates a new relationship between men and women. The New Creation calls for a " spiritual " relationship between Brothers and Sisters. Shakers live a resurrected or heavenly lifestyle, so consequently, they are celibate. [ For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor or given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven ( Mark 12:25, also see Matthew 22:30 ). ] Through confession of all sin, Shakers have experienced their own inward "apocalypse," a profound death to sin, and a "resurrection," a re-birth out of sin. They are rising out of the effects of the Fall of Humanity and stuggle to live a morally pure life. Shakers are traveling out of sin and seek a moral perfection. They experience a "moral resurrection " unto new life in the New Creation. Shakers believe that they have " died " to sin in this life, they will not have to experience the second death, which is judgement and condemnation, at the fullness of time. [ Blessed and holy is he who shares in the frst resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years.( Rev. 20:6 ). ] The " thousand years," the Millennium, shouls not be interpreted literally. The New Creation is a state of being, or more precisely, a state of soul a person can enter through the confession of all sin. The " Millennium " is also the time of the final epoch. The length of time of the Millenniun is unknown. The Shakers interpet the seven thunders mentioned in Rev. 10:3ff as the seven stages or cycles of Millennial time. The number seven in Revelations is a highly symbolic number which signifies wholeness or completeness. The seven thunders, or cycles of Millennium, symbolizes the ultimate completion of God's work of salvation. Shakers believe God desires the salvation of all people ( Tim. 2: 1-4 and Titus 2: 11 ) and so the Millennium will presumably last long enough to: 1. Invite everyone, living and dead, to realize that the Day of Judgement has already come, that it is present now and from moment to moment, and, 2. to embrace the everlasting gospel amd enter the Regeneration ( see Rev 14:6ff). The 19th century Shakers believed that the tasks of the first cycle of the Millenium had been accomplished theough their "gathering into order" and their embracing of Millennial values. Elder Fredrick Evans listed those Millennial values as : ++ A profound belief in the communion between this world and the Spirit World -- a true Spiritualism. ++ A refusal to take oaths-- no com- promising with the world. ++ Oral Confession to an Elder or Eldress. ++ Celibacy ++ Community Life. ++ Pacifism ++ Health and wholeness of body. Further reforms or values could be revealed during the next stages of the Millennium. An openess to unfolding revelation has always been a strength of Shakerism which encourages them to respect their past history but not to enshrine it as the only response to continuing revelation. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To be contnued in 29 B. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 00:22:36 -0400 From: "Ohio Archives EV1" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0bfa01c54ece$91e72000$0300a8c0@margaret> Subject: Fw: Tid Bits - Part 29 B Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darlene & Kathi kelley" To: Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 1:06 PM Subject: Tid Bits - Part 29 B Contributed for us in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley March 4, 2005 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley Tid Bits- part 29 B. notes from S. Kelly +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 29 B. Shakers in Ohio Part B. Life in the commune The new celebrate relationship between men and women is reflected in Shaker architecture. The large dwellinghouses have double doorways and double stairways. Men and women lived separately in equal housing withing the dwellinghouse; women usually on the left side and men on the right side as one looks at the facade of the dwelling. The Meetinohouse, usually built directly across from the Center family dwelling, also had double doors. Men and women would enter separately and sit opposite each other during meeting ( when not dancing ) Each Shaker family had separate shops for Brothers and Sisters in which they plied their daily trades. In the Children's Order, the caretakers of the girls were always Sisters. Caretakers of the boys were always Brothers. Often the children lived in their own house, which combined a Boys' or Girls' shop on the first floor and living quarters upstairs. The first Covenant was an oral one (1821). It was later published after the death of Mother Lucy Wright ( 1845 ). The Millennial Laws very strictly and minutely regulated the lives of the Sisters and Brothers in an effort, when dealing with so many people, to dimmish temptation. Community members were organized into families of fifty to one hundred brothers and sisters. Often they were not blood related, just related as being part of a community. Two elders amd eldresses headed each family of brothers and sisters. They were regarded as the religious heads of each family. Deacons and deaconesses helped assign work within the family. Shaker families managed their own agriculture and woodworking. Schools, barns and shops were shared among the Shaker families, although eating areas were separated by gender. To raise funds for their village most Shaker villages had trustees who sold to " the worlds people," since they regarded those in the outside world less holy than themselves. The trustees were the only one who normally dealt with the outside world, reducing the exposure of the rest of the community, On Sundays, the whole community worshipped through song and dance. This went on all morning and early afternoon. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and meditating. Again, gender separation made sure that " cohabitatin of the sexes" was minimized. Joining the Shakers had two responsibilities: being free from debt and living with the Shakers rules of celibracy and separateness. Children and partial Shakers lived separately from full Shakers in a group called Novitate Order. The Shakers also accepted orphans and adopted children into their communities. Others joined the Shakers during hard economic times, but many of them left when conditions improved. They were known as winter Shakers or bread and butter Shakers. Once they decided to fulfill all the Shakers requirements for living, they could join the main families. The opportunity to leave the Shakers was often open. many Shakers left quietly at night, when they could not be noticed. Others left normally, where they would be given some money and provisons. Difficulties arose, however, when a comunity member wanted their property back when they left. Refusing to participate in wars , the Shakers were known for pacifism. During the Civil war, settlements in Kentucky were occupied and food and shelter was provided to the Union and Confederate soldiers. Public opinion of the Shakers has been mixed. The separation of genders, breaking up natural families for communal ones, the sharing of property and goods was not liked by some. On the other hand, the equality of all people was well ahead of its time. During a time of black oppression, the Shakers accepted free and former slave African Americans. One of the reasons why the Shakers were so successful were their innovitive inventions which allowed them to work more efficiently. Among their inventions, they created new markets for " the World's people." packaged seeds, dried fruit, and excess fresh foods were sold to outsiders. As a result of their inventiveness, they managed to create surplus of food to sell. The Shakers shared all their labor, and to make lives easier, they made tools which helped them in the field and in the kitchen. For the farm, the Shakers invented the hay rake, mower, and a special plow for working on hills. They also found uses for the circular saw and spinning wheel. They also improved upon the washing machine and clothes pins. The farm was laid out logically, with neatly designed areas for wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, and herbs. Orchards and strawberry fields were in some Shaker communities, as well. Much of the hard labor utilized oxen and horses with their specially designed plow. The animals were treated with great care, as they believed that a person's character was partly based on how well he cared for his animals. The animals were cleaned carefully, provided food and housing, and werenot overworked. All the animals, including the honeybees were made comfortable through a natural air conditioning system which circulated air through the hive. Even the land was well cared for, by rotating crops and controling pests naturally. Packaged seeds is a product for which the Shakers become known for. They were the first to pack seeds in easy-to-plant packets of seeds. The types of seeds were easily recognized from the package, and were highly reliable. The Shaker farm was one of the factors which gave them their recognition and prosperity. High efficency and innovative methods allowed them to be successful as they were. The Shaker home was designed to be functionable and easy to maintain. Cleanliness was their cornerstone to Shaker homelife. The flat broom, another Shaker invention to replace the old round brooms, symbolized Shaker life. The sisters broomed the entire house every morning before breakfast, and the brothers cleaned the workshops in the afternoon. To make sweeping easier, the Shakers put wooden pegs put into wooden strops on the walls. Most of the furniture could be hung on them so that the furniture would not get in the way. Chests and cabinets were often built into the wall so that they wouldn't be able to gather dust. Furniture shared the same mentality, having simple designs that would minimize dust buildup. Desks, tables, and chests had drawers within them to store everything they needed, keeping clutter of the tops. Ventilating the houses was important to Shakers, as they believed fresh air was important for good health. The large windows allowed much light and air to enter into the house. Beginning at four or five o'clock. the Shakers rose early to pray and tidy up their home. Afterwards, the sisters went to prepare breakfast while the brothers performed more chores in the workshop. Once breakfast was ready, everybody meditated and ate silently. Afterward, the children attended school. Boys attended school in the winter, while girls attended school in the summer. After schol was over ( if they had school ), they did chores in the kitchen, garden, laundry, dairy, or worshop. The sisters, along with normal chores, practiced crafts like candlemaking and formulating herbal medicines. The brothers either worked in the fields or worked in the workshop. In the workshops, the brothers created chairs, tables, boxes, brooms, buckets, and tools. Occassionly, there would be a meeting of the Shakers to discuss community matters, such as harvests, disputes, outside news, and other information that the elder and eldress would want the whole family to hear. Brothers and Sisters would sit face to face at a distance of several feet. Dress was unrestricted at first, but dress codes were enabled later to emphasize the equality among members of each Family. Different clothes were used during work, outside-of-work, and on Sundays. The clothing was quite simple, with women wearing plain dresses and the men wearing plain shirts and pants. Shaker life stressed the community and the family. Everybody chose to be celibate while giving up marriage and family. By living as brothers and sisters, the Shakers would be more pious people. The lack of natural growth in population led to the eventual demise of the Shakers. Also, factory-made goods made the Shakers' goods less competitive in the market. In the kitchen, food for the whole community was made three times a daily by a group of cooks. They wanted to get their job done quickly and efficiently, so they devised many apparatus which would save time in the kitchen. Some of ther more ingenious inventions include the apple corer, pea-splitter, cheese press, and the double rolling pin. All their inventions directly help out their cooking. For example, through the use of the apple corer and double rolling pin, they were able to produce sixty apple pies in the time it would usually take a housewife to make two or three. A revolving oven, another adaption of theirs, could bake the sixty pies at once. Many of their goods sold were made from apples. Their canned applesauce became famous all over the country. Also, their packaging was quite unique. Using distinctive buckets and decorative labels, the Shakers produced visually appealing products. >From their apple processing techniques, they were innovators in preserving other fruits and vegetables. The Shakers extracted juices from herbs which were medicinal agents, another product they were famous for. The processing of condensed mill. The Shakers created large quanities of food, but it didn't mean that the food was any less delicious than with a small family. Their special style of cooking was unique to their communities. The Shakers cooked foods without pesticides or chemicals, ensuring the taste of their cooking. Also, the Shakers tend to cook very heavy foods. For the balance of taste, herbs and spices were used to liven up the food subtly. Shaker cooking could be reproduced since they were one of the first to use specific measurements, lengths of time, and temperatures. Their recipes were put together in cookbooks sold to the World's people. Shaker meals were quite smple affairs, without fancy tableware. Before each meal, everybody had about fifteen minutes of quiet time kneeling for silent grace. In the early years of Shaker society, meals were eaten in silence. Later on, the talking ban was lifted. The dining tables were long and simplistic. Food was eaten on plain plates on the table, without any tableclothes or other fancy goods. No food was wasted, as leftover food was used in meals the next day +++++++++++++++++ Shaker Villages >From 1805 until 1912 and even up into the 1020's, the Shakers had a great presence in the Cincinnati-Dayton area. This Shaker Town they founded in 1805 was named Union Village and was the headquarters of the Shaker bishopric in the west. It was the parent village of: ++ Watervliet Shaker Village located in Montgomery & Green Counties -- Dayton, Ohio. ++ White Water Shaker Village located in Hamilton Co., New Haven, Ohio ++ North Union Shaker Village located in Cuyahoga Co., Cleveland, Ohio ( later called Shaker Heights ) ++ Pleasant Hill & South Union Shaker Villages Located in Kentucky. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ to be continued in part 29 C -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V05 Issue #47 ******************************************