CHAPTER 09 JOHN KOBLER

CHAPTER 9 JOHN KOBLER

If we were to hear of a minister of Jesus who had preached the first sermon in what is now the state of Ohio, and spread the first table of the Lord that was ever spread in this wilderness, would it not awaken a thrilling emotion in our hearts and create a romantic interest to hear something of his wonderful history? What adventure could be connected with more stirring incident than the adventures of such a man in braving the perils of the wilderness, and preaching the Gospel, and administering its ordinances in these wilds more than fifty years ago? We have his history, gentle reader, and the incidents connected with his heroic Christian life. The subject of our sketch was born in Culpepper county, Virginia, on the 29th of August, in the year 1768. He was blessed with pious parents, and particularly a pious mother — one of the greatest blessings to mortals; for to the mother more than to any other, and, in fact, all other influences combined, apart from the grace of God, is the child indebted for its character. A mother’s smile, and gentle word, and kind hand do more to mold the character and fix the destiny of the child than all other agencies combined. "Give me," said Madame de Stael, "the first seven years of a child’s life, and I care not who afterward shall have its training." This, as a general principle, will hold good, as the period alluded to constitutes, to a great extent, the forming stage of human character. During that time it receives its bent and direction for time and eternity. Having a mother whom mind and heart were thoroughly imbued with the principles and graces of religion, young Kobler was early trained in the path of virtue, and fortified against the assaults of vice and sin. The example and teachings of that godly mother were accompanied by ardent prayer and the impressive and awakening influence of the Holy Spirit. Thus, at a very early period in his life, he was led to feel the importance of religion. Drawn by the Spirit, and yielding up his young heart to its genial influences, he was led away from the noisy sports of life to the place of retirement, where he would read his Bible and pour out his young affections to the great Father in heaven. Under the influence of such agencies, human and divine, as were at work on his heart, he was soon led into the possession of that regenerating grace which filled his heart with the joys of salvation. In the nineteenth year of his age we find him a professor of religion, and happy in the love of God. This profession he maintained by a consistency of conduct which would do honor to a mature Christian. He was, however, evidently designed for a higher service than that of exemplifying the Gospel of Jesus in the private walks of life; and it could be seen by his peculiar fervency and the train of his thoughts, that the Spirit was calling him to the work of the ministry. Moved by that Spirit in a way he could not mistake for the motions of his own heart, he obeyed the Divine call, and in the twenty-first year, of his age he gave up home, and friends, and earthly comforts and prospects, and entered the rough and rugged field of itinerant life. Shortly after his entrance upon the work of an itinerant, there being a loud call for preachers in the far west, he enlisted as a volunteer and went out as a pioneer to the North-Western territory. Here, in these wilds, he encountered tolls, privations, and hardships incident to the life of a pioneer preacher. He lived and labored in this region amid scenes of danger, and was personally acquainted with many an adventure, and could relate sufferings which had been endured by the early settlers which would seem almost incredible at this day. In Powell’s Valley he became acquainted with a lady who had been captured by the Indians, and who related to him her sufferings, an account of which he gave to Bishop Asbury when on a visit to his circuit. The maiden name of the lady was Dickenson.

She had married a gentleman by the name of Scott, and was living in the valley. On a certain evening, her husband and children being in bed, eight or nine Indians rushed into the house full of threatening and slaughter. Startled by their terrific yells, Mr. Scott sprang from the bed and instantly every gun they had was fired at him. Although badly wounded he broke through them all, and ran out of the house into the woods. Several of them immediately started in pursuit, and soon overtaking him, being faint from loss of blood, they butchered him and took off his scalp. The mother gathered her helpless children in her arms, and, convulsed with fear, awaited the result. Soon they returned, and, wresting her children from her grasp, they cruelly murdered them before her eyes. They then plundered the house and took her prisoner. From the cabin they went out into the depths of the forest, and, kindling a fire, they spent the night in drinking, shouting, and dancing. The next day they divided the plunder among themselves as equally as possible. Among the number of articles taken was one of Mr. Wesley’s hymn-books. For this they had no use, and, no one seeming to care for it, the distracted woman, by signs, desired that it might be given to her. To this they assented, and taking the book, from whose appropriate hymns she had often derived courage and comfort, she opened its pages and began to read. When the Indians saw this they were greatly displeased, and snatching it from her, they gave her to understand that they believed her a conjurer.

After this they started in the direction of the Indian towns, and traveled several days through the wilderness. The grief and sorrow of this afflicted woman were so great that she could scarcely realize the horrid scenes through which she had passed, and thought she was dreaming. To aggravate that grief, if possible, these fiends took the scalps of her husband and children and hung them around her neck. Thus she walked along through tangled thickets and over rugged mountains, almost fainting from fatigue, and worn down with anguish. When they saw her panting for breath, and almost ready to sink from exhaustion in her weary marches, they would laugh at her calamity and mock her feebleness. Every spark of humanity, however was not extinct in this savage band. There was one Indian who, in the hour of her extremity, procured for her some water to quench her burning thirst, and when she was ready to sink made the remainder stop for her to rest. For eleven days they traveled on, and when almost famished with hunger they called a halt, and committing her to the care of an old Indian they started off to hunt for food. After resting awhile the old Indian went to work to dress a deer-skin. Mrs. Scott observing that his mind was wholly absorbed in his employment, walked about from place to place, and watching her opportunity she fled, and was soon out of sight in the forest After running for some time she came to a cane-brake, and entering it was securely hidden. The Indians, on returning at night and finding their prisoner gone, started out in pursuit of her.

It seems that they had taken the direction in which she had gone; for during the night she frequently heard them searching for her, and answering one another with an owl-like hoot. In the darkness of the night, alone in the wilderness, and hunted by the savages like a beast of prey, this poor woman fell upon her knees, and poured out her soul, in supplication to her Father, God. She spent the night in prayer, and the savages not being able to find her hiding-place, left for other parts. In the morning she started in the direction, as she supposed, of Kentucky, almost despairing of ever being permitted to look upon a white face again. One day, while wandering in the wilderness, not knowing whither she was going, almost ready to sink from want of food and rest, having nothing to subsist upon but roots, young grapevines, and sweet cane, she heard, not far from her, a loud yell and a tremendous noise, like the furious tramping of many horses. She instantly secreted herself in a thicket close by, and in a few moments, from her hiding-place, she saw a large company of Indians rush by with a drove of horses, which they had stolen from the whites. When the sound had died away, and all was still, she left her retreat, and journeyed on. After traveling a short distance, she came in sight of a huge bear, who was devouring a deer, and so pressed was she with hunger, that she drew near in hopes of getting some. At her approach the bear looked up and growled hideously. Fearing an attack she hastened away. At length night came on and she laid down, and all through its gloomy hours she dreamed of eating; but morning came, and she was sick and faint with hunger. As she pursued her journey she came to a rocky region, and finding a cave, in which there were some leaves, she concluded, as all hope had nearly deserted her, to go in and he down, and resign herself to her fate. For several hours she occupied this den of wild beasts, and wept and prayed for deliverance from her pain and sorrow. Her whole system was racked with pain, so much so that she could not rest, and she was obliged to rise and pursue her journey. She thought of home, and the dear ones who had been rudely snatched from her embrace and the fountains of her grief were opened afresh, while her moans and lamentation waked the echoes of the wilderness, and reached the ears of her Father in heaven.

Day after day she traveled on, and she finally came to the spot where the Cumberland river breaks through the mountains. She crawled down the cliffs a considerable distance, till the darkening defiles around her filled her with dismay. Far down below her rolled the rapid river. Around her were craggy rocks, and above her the steep, precipitous cliffs, which her insensibility to fear had enabled her to descend, but which her strength would never allow her to scale. She was now on the edge of a frightful precipice, formed by a rook which rose up perpendicularly from the bank of the river. To go back she could not, and to descend that precipice would crush her by the fall. But it was the only alternative; and falling upon her knees she prayed most fervently, and commended her soul to God. Then rising, she seized a bush which grew out of the fissures of the rock, on the very edge, and letting herself down as far as it would reach, she let go, and fell to the bottom on the jagged rock. Wonderful as it was, she was not killed; but bruised and mangled, she lay in a state of insensibility for several hours. When she revived she considered that her end was near, and soon her sufferings would end with her life. But her time had not yet come, and she was immortal till that hour. A sensation of thirst came on her that was insupportable. The waters were before her, dashing their spray almost at her feet, but in her wounded and helpless condition how could she reach them? Feeling that she must drink or die, she made an effort, and by slow and painful progress she at last crawled to the brink, and quenched her burning thirst. This greatly revived her and after a short time she was able to get up and walk. Following along the bank of the river, she came to a path, and, entering it, she pursued it a short distance, when it branched off in two directions. One direction of this path led back into the wilderness; the other to the settlements. Which path to take she knew not. She, however, unfortunately determined to take the one leading to the wilderness. Before proceeding many steps, a little bird, of a dove color, flew close by her face, and fluttered along into the other path. She stopped, and gazed upon it, when it flew toward her, and then returned to the path a second time. Taking this to be a Providential interference, she took the path of the bird, which flew on before her, and was at length among the abodes of humanity and civilization.

Soon after, under the preaching of the Gospel pioneer, she embraced religion, led a consistent life, and died in the triumphs of the Christian faith. Brother Kobler preached her funeral discourse, in which he related the wonderful trials and deliverances of this pioneer mother.

There being a field open in the region north-west of the Ohio, and laborers being wanted, Kobler went over to travel the wilderness where we now live, and preached the Gospel of Jesus to the scattered inhabitants. A sketch, furnished by him for the Western Historical Society, in August 1841, we will insert, as it will serve to show, in his own language, what was the state and condition of the country upward of fifty years ago. It begins as follows: "In the year 1798, the writer of this article was sent by Bishop Asbury, as a missionary to this region of country, then called the North-Western territory, now Ohio state, to form a new circuit, and to plant the first principles of the Gospel. In passing through the country he found it almost in its native, rude, and uncultivated state. The inhabitants were settled in small neighborhoods, and few and far between; and little or no improvement about them. No sound of the everlasting Gospel had as yet broken upon their ears, or gladdened their hearts; no house of worship was erected wherein Jehovah’s name was recorded; no joining the assembly of the saints, or those who keep the holy day; but the whole might, with strict propriety, be called ’a land of darkness, and the shadow of death,’

’Where the sound of a church-going bell, Those vales and rocks never heard Ne’er sighed at the sound of a knell Nor smiled when a Sabbath appeared.’

"The site on which Cincinnati now stands, was nearly a dense and uncultivated forest. No improvement was to be seen but Fort Washington, which was built on the brow of the hill, and extended down to the margin of the river; around which was built a number of cabins, in which resided the first settlers of the place. This fortress was then under the command of General Harrison, and was the great place of rendezvous for the federal troops, which were sent by the government to guard the frontiers, or to go forth to war with the Indians. In this state of things the writer left this country forty years ago, and never saw or visited the state of Ohio till the third day of July last, at which time he came from aboard the steamboat Bristol, and walked through a considerable part of the city of Cincinnati; but he has no language to express his reflections, and the peculiarity of thoughts which rushed upon his mind, while comparing the past state of things with the present. After passing from street to street, and from square to square for more than half a mile, he came to the conclusion that no city in the Union could vie with it in beauty and magnitude, considering its short growth. Having, since arriving in Cincinnati, traveled over many parts of his old missionary ground, he finds a most astonishing change and improvement has taken place. Where formerly there were indistinct paths, sometimes only trees being blazed to direct our course from one house or settlement to another, now there are highly-improved roads, and turnpikes, and every facility for public conveyance. And where there stood unbroken forests, now there are numerous villages and large towns, numbering their thousands. The farms and farm houses are equal in convenience, beauty, and taste to any in the Union. But the best and most encouraging of all is, to see a large proportion of the inhabitants of the country, both in villages and cities, truly religious; men and women who fear God, and work righteousness. The writer of this article can not help here adverting to the time when he spread the first table for the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, that was spread north-west of the Ohio. When the communicants were called to approach the table, the number did not exceed twenty-five or thirty; this was the sum total of all that were in the country. Now the Minutes of the annual conferences of Ohio return one hundred thousand regular Church members; so mightily hath the word of God run and prevailed! Where we once preached in log-cabins, we now see stately churches erected, whose spires point toward heaven, and whose solemn bells announce the arrival of the Christian Sabbath, and call the attention of the multitude to the house of God. This is indeed the Lord’s doing, and a circumstance of the deepest regard to its original founder; and he would pray that this land may continue to be greatly blessed of the Lord, and continue to be a people with whom God may delight to dwell. I should judge from the locality of the country, the richness of the soil, salubrity of climate, and the industry of the inhabitants, that in a few years this state will be equal in wealth and number, if not superior to any of the eastern states. The Church, in her present onward course, is spreading a divine influence which deeply affects all states and conditions, sects and orders of men. Look in any direction and you will see her rising up in all the power and majesty of divine grace, the righteousness thereof going forth with brightness, and the salvation thereof like unto a lamp that burneth. Our Congress and legislative halls have in them their Obadiahs — a number who are not ashamed to confess ’that they fear the Lord greatly;’ and while they sit at the helm of government, and guide the destinies of our wide spreading republic, we see them fully awake to the interests of the Church, under the conviction that ’righteousness exalteth a nation, while sin is a reproach to any people.’ But whence is this divine knowledge derived? Certainly from the Bible; that book which is sending forth a flood of divine light and truth into every department of Church and state. While we as ministers and members of the Church enjoy those invaluable privileges, it is our duty to lay them deeply to heart, that we may duly appreciate and wisely improve them. Your aged servant, the writer of this article, has been standing on the walls of our Zion for fifty-five years; and while, with unwearied vigilance, he has been guarding and laboring for the interests of the Church, he has been making strict observations on circumstances and things connected with the Church; and from long observation he has been fully convinced, and, of late, more so than ever, that it is the doctrine which we preach, the discipline which we have exercised, and the system by which, as a Church, we are regulated, that have produced those happy results, in the conversion and sanctification of so many thousands. Our doctrines are: First, a free salvation; so that wherever the minister meets his congregation, be they many or few, he feels no hesitancy in offering salvation to every soul present, and accordingly tells them, ’that Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man.’ Secondly, we preach a present salvation; which is salvation by faith alone, as the condition, and the only condition, of our justification before God. Thirdly, the doctrine of holiness, as the Christian’s highest privilege, and most indispensable duty. St. Paul terms it, ’The mark and prize of our high calling, which is of God in Christ Jesus,’ and exhorts all believers to press to its attainment. To the doctrines of the everlasting Gospel we owe all our spiritual achievements; and, as a people, all that we have and are. Our system of doctrine and discipline has been well and long tried. It has stood the fiery ordeal of one century, and has come forth as gold and as ’silver tried in a furnace of earth, and purified seven times.’ Here, then, I would say to our ministers and to the Church, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule; let us mind the same things; never lose sight of the spirit and practice of Gospel holiness in all its heights and depths, as the leading and essential qualification for the Christian ministry. The herald of mercy and grace may speak with the tongue of angelic eloquence rather than men; but if he lacks love — the constraining principle, 2 Cor. v, l4 — he will be only as ’sounding brass, or as a tinkling cymbal.’ St. Paul saith, ’The love of Christ, constraineth us.’ O, who can tell the force, the power, and the eloquence of constraining love! This alone can carry fire to frozen hearts, and make the terrified sinner to cry, ’What must I do to be saved?’ When one of those master-spirits, from the sacred desk, draws the Gospel bow at a venture, his arm is nerved with an almighty energy; the arrows of the Almighty will be sharp and powerful in the hearts of the King’s enemies, whereby the people will fall under Him.

Dear brethren in the ministry, let us press on to a higher state of holiness; let us be men of one Book, studying closely the Bible — men mighty in prayer, having deep communion with God; let us go from our knees into the pulpit, and there, with enlarged hearts and open mouths, and losing all sight of self, and every shadow of self, preach as a dying man to dying men, holding up the Lord Jesus Christ as the Great Expedient for a lost and ruined world. Let holiness be in every composition, and make a part of every sermon. Blessed is that minister that shall be found so doing. Though his preaching abilities may be small and lightly esteemed by a misjudging world, yet, clad in Gospel panoply complete, and having on the armor of righteousness, on the right hand and on the left, he will ’turn many to righteousness,’ and shine as the stars forever and ever. Let us not only teach our Church publicly, but from house to house, visiting their families, and encouraging and praying with them; by which means they will be strengthened, and made to walk in the fear of God, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. By this means you will be instruments in ’strengthening the weak, binding up that which was broken; and bringing back that which was driven away.’ Meet the class, if possible, after preaching. In the early stage, of Methodism the class meeting was our bond of union. O, with what warm hearts did the dear people go to the class-room; and there, with sobbing hearts and flowing eyes, would tell over their trials, and what God had done for their souls; and all this in such a melting strain that the hardest heart could not remain unmoved. O, let us take heed to ourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made us overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. As the dew upon Mount Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the . . . . .

Though Kobler was possessed of a constitution naturally or more than ordinary strength, the privation and toil, accompanied with the necessary exposure of a Methodist missionary at that early day in the history of our country and the Church, gave to that constitution a shock from which it never recovered. Endowed with abilities, as a preacher, above mediocrity, and fired with a zeal worthy his high vocation, for a period of eighteen years he labored with great success in the itinerant field, and many souls were converted through his instrumentality. Being completely prostrated by disease, in the year 1809 he was induced to locate, and settled in the neighborhood in which he was born.

Unsought by himself, in the year 1836 the Baltimore annual conference placed his name on the list of its superannuated ministers. Fond of meeting with the redeemed or the Lord, as age grew upon him, and as he was unable to visit distant circuit appointments, he sought for a residence in a place where he could assemble with the people of God, and be useful and hence he removed to Fredericksburg, Virginia. In that place his saint-like spirit, exhibited in Christian conversation, his dignified ministerial bearing, and his untiring labors in preaching, exhorting, praying, visiting the sick and imprisoned, did more, under God, to give character and permanency to Methodism in that place than any other human agency. The Church in Fredericksburg was small and poor, and the house in which the members worshiped was dilapidated and situated in an out of the way place. The membership resolved to better their condition, and thereby increase their facilities for doing good by building a new church. To aid them in this undertaking, father Kobler was not only one of the most liberal subscribers, but he started out, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, on an excursion, appealing to the Churches of the west, the early field of his itinerant toil, for assistance. During this tour he visited the Ohio conference, and met with success in his undertaking.

He seemed, like good old Simeon, to wait for the completion and dedication of this house of the Lord; and when the day at length arrived and the Lord was invoked to take possession of the newly erected temple, while all the lovers of Methodism were joyful, the old patriarch was transported. The object for which he had ardently prayed and labored was accomplished, and he was ready to say, "Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." His days, however, were lengthened, and he was permitted to witness one of the most interesting and powerful revivals in that church. The glorious work had hardly abated ere disease laid its destroying h and upon him. During his affliction he was perfectly happy, and the light of heaven beamed on his happy countenance. Without a murmur he suffered the will of his Master. Often was he heard to say, "Living or dying, I am the Lord’s." On his friends asking him if he had any thing he desired them to pray for, he replied, "Pray for the Church, that God would abundantly pour out his Spirit upon it, and take it into close keeping with himself." On one occasion he said, "I have dug deep, and brought all the evidence to bear, and I find I have a strong confidence, which nothing can shake; but all is through the infinite merits of my Lord and Savior. I wish it to be known to all, that the principles which I have believed, and taught, and practiced in life, I cling to in death, and find they sustain me. I have tried all my life to make my ministry and life consistent." About half an hour before he died he was asked, "Is Jesus precious?" "O, yes, very precious!" and then he uttered, as his last words on earth, "Come, Lord Jesus; come in power, come quickly!" In a few minutes he was no more; the spirit had gone to heaven. Having left the tabernacle which it had occupied for three quarters of a century, it went to its building of God above.