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Saturday, August 14, 2021
Harrison News-Herald Area
Teresa’s Tales
Dickerson Church reshaped Bishop Matthew Simpson, friend of Abraham Lincoln BY TERESA DULAC
Simpson’s way of life and assistance to President Lincoln was sparked by the faith of the people of Cadiz. The people of the Methodist Church in Cadiz held a special place in Simpson’s journey, as they supported him in giving his life to the Lord and the beginning of his story. Simpson is remembered and honored by way of a monument that reads: “Matthew Simpson. Born Cadiz, Ohio, June 21, 1811. Died Philadelphia, June 18, 1884. Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Coun-
On top of a small hill in Cadiz, Ohio, lies a worn stone monument tucked between a smattering of tall trees. The monument stands next to the Dickerson Church, and it holds a special place in Harrison County’s history; it’s cared for and maintained by current church trustees as a memorial to Bishop Matthew Simpson. Perhaps the name is unfamiliar, but Simpson is a Cadiz man-turnedbishop that went on to minister outside of the county during the Civil War. Simpson was born and raised in Cadiz — but more importantly, it’s also where his life changed forever. At 17 years old, Simpson gave his life to the Lord, and he was born again. But what Simpson didn’t know at that time was the incredible path he had just started walking. “As a young man, he [Simpson] was at an outdoor revival service, and he felt compelled to give his life to the Lord,” explained Dickerson Church caretaker Carole Spiker. “He went on to become a very successful, very famous bishop at the time of the Civil War. Whenever he spoke, he had great crowds, and so this church has a monument to him.” During his humble beginnings, Simpson became a preacher, reBill and Carole Spiker are the caretakers of the Dickerson maining in Cadiz as he Church. And they keep an eye on the Bishop Matthew taught. Simpson was Simpson monument erected nearby. Simpson is a significant quickly elected as an historical figure with Cadiz origins; he’s honored at the church (as mentioned) and also in the town square with a plaque out American bishop of the front of the courthouse. ? Methodist Episcopal Church in 1852, one of the youngest to achieve the rank. But with selor of Lincoln. Peerless Orator. Ardent Pathat advancement, he was ultimately called triot. Converted at a camp meeting held a to minister outside the county. And that’s short distance southeast of this church. From what he did. “After he [Simpson] left Cadiz, Bishop Simpson’s oration at Lincoln’s tomb: he would come back sometimes,” mentioned Hushed is thy voice, but its echoes of liberSpiker. “He would come back to Cadiz, to ty are ringing throughout the world, and the the Methodist Church, and speak, and all sons of bondage listen with joy. We crown these great crowds would follow him.” thee as our martyr, and humanity enthrones As Simpson rose into prominence, he thee as her triumphant son. Hero, martyr, earned a reputation as an orator and gained acclaim for his defense of the Union. He friend, farewell.” Bill Spiker and his wife Carole, both 88, made many new friends in his travels, one have been trustees of Dickerson Church since of them quite renowned: Abraham Lincoln. 1968. This past year was the Spiker’s last year “He was considered a friend of [President as chairman and secretary of the trustees. The Abraham] Lincoln,” stated Spiker, “and was Spikers have served the church for more than then asked to speak in Illinois at Lincoln’s 60 years, and Carole Spiker said the two have funeral.” Simpson was a trusted friend of “young blood taking over”. Dickerson Church President Lincoln and gave him advice and no longer hosts weekly services, but since 1949, counsel. In 1865, Simpson preached at the funer- has held a yearly reunion service on the second al oratory for Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Sunday of August each year.
Thank you to Mayor John Migliore for the new sign. It doesn’t take much to be considerate to our veterans. The sign is located on Court Street next to the Harrison County Veterans Service Office. Veterans will now have easier access to the courthouse. -Ron Romshak, Veterans Service Commission
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PART 2
A walk through time: Henry Law Farm completes catalog of 10,000 antiques BY SHAWN DIGITY twitter@DIGITYnodoubt After exiting the parlor, the tour doubled back toward the staircase, which was nestled just inside the front door, and it wrapped up and around into the second story. And the stairs were steep. Kencik even offered a forewarning before heading up. As the stairs rotated up into the next level, they became almost nonexistent on the inside track, a prime pitfall for slipping. After safely navigating the stairs, the second story opened up to reveal a hallway and several bedrooms. The tour veered left into the first available room: the master bedroom. Its setup was rather plain, with a closet, bookcase, and a bed tucked into the far corner. The room had a fireplace, though. It was a shallow one that would’ve been used for coal fires. Attached to the master bedroom was a bathroom. It had a more modern feel to it. That’s because it was more modernized than most other rooms. Kencik explained that the bathroom had most likely been a nursery originally but had taken its new form in the 1990s during a renovation project; Kencik added that running water and plumbing improvements drove waves of bathroom renovations during the 20th century. This specific bathroom possessed an iron claw-foot bathtub, and it was big enough that Kencik stated that it took four men to move. Additionally, the bathroom also featured a washstand and drawers full of early 20th-century bric-a-brac, as Kencik called it. One drawer kept a random collection of antique toiletries: early Norelcos, straight-edge razors, replacement blades, one of the very first safety razor models, and a pigskin strop, which is a leather strap used for sharpening. Wash tables weren’t held exclusively in the bathroom, though. Sometimes they were used as makeshift nightstands in bedrooms, precisely the case in the master bedroom.
It allowed residents to clean up in a washbasin before getting some shut-eye. While not always, many of the stands had towel racks for drying off, too. In the master bedroom (and many others), one matter that almost immediately emerged was a stout waft of cedarwood. And the explanation for the aroma is simple: cedar chests and closets. They were used to discourage moths and other insects from eating or nesting in clothing. Cedar, specifically, offered strong defense against any uninvited insects, but the smell was its tradeoff. Without running the risk of redundancy, it can’t be emphasized enough how in-you r-face the natural pungency of the cedar was. There was another shelf of books just inside the door of the master bedroom; this one was more peculiar, though. The broad scope of topics covered in this bookcase was dizzying, yet it was a perfect microcosm for the Henry Law Farm’s historical haberdashery. The first shelf was nothing but National Geographic magazines from the early 1900s; even from a distance, they were easy to recognize with their traditionally yellow spines. The second shelf offered advanced Biblical encyclopedias, tomes full of Christian analysis, and children’s storybooks of popular Bible tales. Farm newsletters and almanac-style pamphlets on the lower shelves discussed several topics: prototype pesticides, horse care recommendations, seeds, technology upgrades, and even one for beekeeping. Venturing through the other bedrooms, they each held unique pieces or histories that made them stand out. For example, one of the smaller bedrooms displayed a large sign recognizing a renowned Percheron draft horse: Laet Sir. A third room had a stand dedicated to holding the family Bible. And a fourth room held another interesting oddity: a unique rocking chair that had taken inspiration from the downstairs parlor table. The rocker was more than meets the eye; it was also a sewing chair that housed a spring-loaded drawer beneath the seat that could pop out one side. That drawer was a perfect craft cache for holding spools of thread, pincushions, or other notions. In every bedroom — and even some of the other rooms — there were hand-crafted quilts. Some of them were double-sided, and some were single-sided, but they were all hand-stitched, nonetheless. As the tour followed the hallway toward the back, a servant staircase snuck down to the ground floor. And that led to the dining room.
