REV. HIRAM M'DANIEL.*

1824-1850.

HIRAM MCDANIEL was born August 13, 1785, in Caswell county, North Carolina. His parents were William and Jane McDaniel. His father was a plain, unpretending man, a farmer, and a member of the Methodist Church. His mother, it seems, was not a professor of religion. They raised seven children, of whom Hiram was the fourth in age. His constitution was delicate from childhood; he was regarded with great tenderness by his parents, and was thought to possess promising talents. Under such impressions in relation to his promise, and taking into consideration also his delicate health, they determined to give him a liberal education. He was accordingly sent to one of the best schools in the country, and made rapid progress in the study of the ordinary branches of science, and also in Mathematics. His father and his teacher united in urging him to study the languages. He commenced the study of Latin, but made up his mind that he would never enter one of the learned

* Manuscript of Miss Jane McDaniel. Minutes of Logan and Anderson Presbyteries.

professions, and that therefore such a course of studies would be useless. Of course he abandoned the course of education which had been urged upon him-a step which he regretted as long as he lived.

Soon after he left school, he engaged as a clerk with a Mr. McCain, a merchant who had some reputation as a book-keeper. It seems that one object of young Mr. McDaniel in this engagement was to acquire a knowledge of book-keeping. He remained in the employment of Mr. McCain until he was about twenty-one. He and his father then made a journey to Kentucky, with a view of buying land, and ultimately settling in that country. He remained in Kentucky, and his father returned to North Carolina, intending to move his family to the West. Something, however, occurred to derange the plan, and the father and family still remained in Carolina. Mr. McDaniel then took charge of a school, in what at that time was Centerville, the county-seat of Livingston county. After teaching a while, he again engaged as a clerk in a store.

On the second of April, 1807, he was married to Miss Catharine Leeper, of Livingston county. Soon after his marriage, the merchant with whom he was engaged dying, he purchased a farm and commenced the business of farming. He soon found himself, however, but poorly adapted to the drudgery of a farm, from his feeble health; and having no assistance, he moved back to Centerville, and engaged in merchandising, at the same time keeping a small tavern, mainly for the accommoda

tion of travelers, as Centerville was situated on the great road leading from Kentucky and Tennessee to the North-west, and the tide of emigration in that direction was just setting in.

In process of time the seat of justice was removed from Centerville to Salem, and Mr. McDaniel fell back to the business of farming, with the assistance of some negroes that he acquired, perhaps through his wife. About this time Mr. McGready began to preach at what was afterward called "Livingston Church." A small congregation of Presbyterians had been organized there, of which old Mr. Leeper was a leading member and an elder. Mr. McDaniel and his wife became deeply concerned on the subject of religion, and in a short time the wife made profession of religion and joined the Presbyterian Church. Mr. McDaniel himself seems to have been a seeker a number of years, and to have pro- . fessed religion at a Cumberland Presbyterian campmeeting at Bethlehem, in Caldwell county-à place which God still honors with his presence and grace. Some time previous to his profession of religion, he commenced the practice of family prayer, which he kept up to his death. Very soon after he professed religion his mind began to be exercised on the subject of the ministry. But he had a family, was comparatively poor, and his education did not fill up the measure which he himself had prescribed as a necessary ministerial qualification. He endeavored, of course, to quiet his feelings and excuse himself from the work. He felt, however, that the

vows of God were upon him; and after much hesitation, and seeking private counsel from his brethren, he placed himself, as a candidate for the ministry, under the care of the Logan Presbytery. This occurred on the 18th of November, 1819. The sessions of the Presbytery were held at Antioch, in Christian county, Kentucky. By the same Presbytery, at Red River Meeting-house, in Logan county, Kentucky, he was licensed on the 12th day of October, 1820. The discourse which he read was from Phil. ii. 12, 13. At the spring sessions of the Presbytery in 1821, he "was ordered to ride as a missionary in the Christian District. At the fall sessions. he was ordered, in conjunction with James Y. Barnett," to ride as a missionary in the same district. In 1822 the Anderson Presbytery was constituted, and Mr. McDaniel, living within its bounds, was transferred to that Presbytery. At Henderson, Kentucky, on the 7th of April, 1824, he was ordained by the Anderson Presbytery. Rev. David Lowry preached the ordination-sermon, and Rev. John Barnett presided and gave the charge.

The winter after he was licensed, Mr. McDaniel visited his father, in North Carolina. He spent most of the winter there, and preached a great deal from house to house. His ministry seems to have been abundantly blessed. A good work commenced at his first appointment, and continued through the winter. My informant says, "He had reason to believe that there were many seals to his ministry," and that "numbers during the winter found peace

and joy in believing." He often alluded to this winter as the most happy period of his life. On his return from North Carolina, he preached and attended camp-meetings according to the custom of his fellow-ministers, as he was able.

Two or three years after his licensure, he went as a missionary to Arkansas, and spent a winter there. According to his journal, he visited nearly all the white settlements in the territory, often preaching three times a day. The country was new; his hearers frequently attended preaching with their guns in their hands, and in their buckskin huntingshirts. The winter was mild for some time, and traveling was agreeable, but suddenly a violent change occurred. He was compelled to cross the Arkansas River. There was no boat sufficient to convey his horse. He crossed, however, by some means, and swam his horse. When he reached the opposite bank the horse was covered with ice. He mounted and set off for his appointment, but soon found that the horse had the blind-staggers. Of course he stopped, and in a few minutes the horse fell in the road and died. He started for his destination with his saddle, saddle-bags, and bridle upon his shoulder. He soon, however, met with a stranger who assisted him forward. He reached his appointment; the people made up twenty-five dollars and bought him a pony, with which he was enabled to consummate his mission.

On his return from Arkansas he found his last negro man declining with the consumption. The