idst of them."

Atchison has a congregation now of a hundred times six. Some of whom
are my children in the gospel. I always fell especially proud of
John A. Fletcher and his wife because they are so good, and because I
taught them their letters, baptized them, and married them. This was
at Farmington. And many others at Farmington were mine by teaching,
preaching, marrying and burying. I lived, taught and preached longer
at Farmington than any other place. I had in one family seven
weddings, and almost as many funerals. Over in the Pleasant Grove
neighborhood I had nine wedding in one family. Some, of whom at this
time, are my door neighbors and seem like my own children.

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C H A P T E R S E V E N T E E N

T. B. McCleary. 1888 Sunday schools. Giants. Deaths. John.
Elizabeth. Effingham, 3-1-1885. A fire.

That man I met going to prayer meeting was J. B. McCleary, with whom
I am at the present time associated in the Eldership of the church at
Effingham. We have known each other all these years since. Brother
McCleary is my senior exactly nine years to a day. For many years we
have been eating birth-day dinners together, first at his house and
then at mine, until his good wife died. Since then we have always
tried to have brother Mc. To eat with us. And my good wife has for
nearly forty years prepared a chicken pie for my birthday dinner.

The year 1888 brought to both me and my dear wife a weight of
sadness. My good old mother passed away from the home of here
youngest son in Harper County at the advanced age of four score
years, two months, and twenty-six days.

Zettie's beloved father departed this life at the age of three score
and two years, seven months and ten days, from his home one mile east
of Farmington. Why sadness? These loved parents had lived to good
old ages. Aha! This sadness will work out for us an eternal weight
of gladness someday.

The story of my life would not be complete if I did not add the part
I have taken in the general or union Sunday School work of Atchison
Co. The Atchison Country Sunday School Union Association was
organized at Muscotah in the year 1870. I was present. This
association has held an annual Convention each year since its
organization and I have missed but two meetings. No one has been
more faithful in attendance than that. Then with few exceptions I
have always had a place on the programs. For five terms, or years I
was s