REV. THOMAS GALLAHER; NO. 28 “NEW LONDON RECORD” SEPTEMBER 27, 1901 Among the oldest settlers now in Ralls county is the Rev. Thomas Gallaher, of Rensselaer, in Clay Township. He is a native of East Tennessee and was born April 26, 1832. He comes of a preacher family: has two sons in the ministry and has stood behind the sacred desk pointing the upward and better way for thirty-three years. His father, Rev. Allen G. Gallaher, came to the state in October 1833, and taught in Marion College at Philadelphia, in Marion County, up to the year 1839. In March of the latter year the elder Gallaher and family moved to Ralls County and began teaching near Hydesburg. Among the larger boys who attended were Parker Tapley, William Cleaver, William Feagle, Tent Clayton and John Hornback. Among the larger girls were Catherine and Susan Clayton, Ann, Mariah and Jane Neale, Clemency and Ann Hornback, nearly all of whom are now dead. In 1841, Rev. A.G. Gallaher moved to a farm he had purchased on the frontier of Ralls County, four and a half miles southeast of where the enterprising town of Perry now stands. It was indeed then a frontier country, for south and southeast of his farm not a house or any improvements were to be seen for 25 miles away. On the east the nearest neighbor was seven miles distant. On the north and west a few plain, old-fashioned homes had been established. John Muldrow and Joshua Ely were the nearest neighbors. Game was plenty. The prairies and strips of timber were literally alive with deer, wolves, turkey, skunks, opossums, minks, wild cats and groundhogs. Rattlesnakes both of the timber and prairie varieties, were abundant and some of enormous size. On the hill near the center of the present little city, our friend Thomas Gallaher found a rattlesnake that had swallowed three full grown rats and was after more. Whitfield McCormack killed the monster. The green head prairie flies ruled and run everything from about June 15 to frost. “Eternal vigilance” and early rising was demanded of all who would make a crop or raise sheep, pigs or poultry. Honey was plentiful. The industrious bee put into any kind of box or “gum” would soon fill it with the best of honey. In the woods everywhere bee trees were to be found. All in simple contrast with the hum of industry and enlightened progress that now abound in and about our neighbor town. There among the native wilds and simple ways of pioneer life the young man Thomas spent his boyhood. He worked on the farm during spring and summer and in the winter attended such schools in the district as the pioneer fathers could afford their children. With the assistance of his younger brother, James A. Gallaher, he kept up the fires in the large fireplaces, fed and took care of the stock and went to mill. “Going to mill” was one of the biggest and hardest items in a boy’s life in those early days. When but 12 years of age he crossed the trackless prairie when the cold was extreme to Crosswait’s mill at Madisonville. On one occasion his “turn” wouldn’t come until the next day and he returned through the biting cold to his home and then back again next day, thus making four trips in terribly cold weather for one sack of meal. More than forty miles in order that the family might have a supply of corn cakes baked in the ashes! My, what hardships surrounded the life of the pioneer! We of today with the advantages everywhere about us to render life a thousand times more comfortable hardly prize the situation. Out in the clearing the boy Tom fought the deadly rattler, the odoriferous striped cat, wolves and on the prairie edge the every present flies: between times attended school when possible, and he made it possible where other boys discovered Alpine barriers in the way and faltered. Many a time gathering corn or hauling wood till far in the night in order to get to go to school the next day. William and Hiram Hurley often went home with him at night to help on such occasions. But with all the drawbacks and things in the way of his opportunity to study, still his accustomed place in the class was at the head and proudly sought to get ahead of his teachers. In spelling he allowed no one to excel him except his own little sister, Maggie, now the worthy wife of Robert K. Phillips, of West Hartford, this county. Thus he grew to manhood and laid the foundation that has made him one of the able and faithful watchers on the walls of Zion. Out of these early privations had come the sturdy character of the ancient cavalier and which still beautify and ennoble his declining years. “A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country,” says Holy Writ, but there are exceptions to the rule. So well had the young man applied himself and won the esteem of his people, that John Muldrow, James Ely and James Quinn, the directors of the neighborhood school, insisted on his teaching the school where he’d been attending as a pupil for two years, to R.J. Johnson, afterwards a successful physician at Florida, Mo. He did not want to teach; preferred to go to school, but the directors insisted and he taught his first school at $20 per month. Most of the pupils who had attended with him came to his teaching and learned of him. Thus the young man made his first $100. Mr. G. was all through his boyhood an untiring reader. Newspapers were few and always very old when they came to hand. His father took the New York Observer, the Christian Observer, the Palmyra Whig, published by Jacob Sosey, and other papers of the day. All these papers were carefully read and every book worth reading eagerly devoured. He had read the great debate between Alexander Campbell and Dr. Nathan L. Rice three times through before he was 15 years old. Tallow candles, and sometimes only firelight made from hickory bark, furnished the light by night, yet everything readable within reach was read until the young man became a well informed student of the current literature of the times. At the close of his school he entered the Van Rensselaer Academy, then conducted by Rev. J.P. Finley and T. Jeff Priest, the latter the father of Judge H.S. Priest, of St. Louis. He entered the academy in March 1854, and remained till June 1855. Though a young man from the backwoods, he was soon the peer of the best and brightest of the students. G.L. Hays, W.C. Foreman, John N. Lyle, R.J. Bell, E.N. Gerrard and E.W. Ayers were some of the young men in the Academy at the time. In 1855 Mr. Gallaher entered Westminster College at Fulton, Mo., and after taking the regular classical course, was graduated in June 1859. He is thought to be the first Ralls county student that completed the regular classical course and took the degree of A.B. and three years later the degree of A.M. This is no small honor indeed. Following his graduation he taught a select school in Hannibal and then at Strother in Monroe County. These were highly successful efforts on the part of the young teacher and after forty years a large proportion of his pupils are living and have become upright and honorable men and women. During the civil war he taught several terms in or near Perry. These schools were also very successful ones. After the wreck of the schools and almost everything else by the ruthless war, Mr. G. moved to Clay Township and took charge of his father-in-law’s farm. There he raised bountiful crops and times being good and markets ready, in three years by his great industry and intelligent farming he cleared over thirty-seven hundred dollars for himself and father-in-law, John R. Phillips. During 1866 and 1867 he was assistant teacher in the academy under W.C. Foreman. In 1868 he began a special course of study in theology under Rev. J.P. Foreman, then pastor of Big Creek church. From early youth he had been a close student of the Bible and eagerly applied himself under this worthy minister’s instructions. He was ordained in Sept. 1868. In his time he preached in Pike county four years, in Morgan county, Ill., one year, in Lewis county, Mo., ten years, Callaway county five years, at Salisbury, Mo., two years, and has been pastor of Big Creek church for nearly eleven years. Sixty years ago the father preached to the congregation now faithfully served by the son. In 1879 he wrote and published a work on the subject of Baptism, which was so well received by his church that Westminster College, his “Alma Mater” conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In 1899, by the appointment of Palmyra Presbytery, he preached and later published a discourse on the “Future Condition of Children who die in Infancy.” This publication was a strong and learned defense of the doctrines on the subject held by the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Gallaher has made a specialty of studies relating to the subject of baptism and is considered an authority in that department of theology not only in this county, but across the ocean. In 1880 he held a religious discussion with Elder H. McDiarmid at Wharton, Canada. In 1882 he held a debate on baptism and kindred topics with Dr. J.R. Lucas at Canton, Mo., and in June 1891 he had his third religious debate with Elder Leak, at Milford, Texas. In each of these discussions the Dr. has ample evidence to show that he conducted himself and his part of the debate in a manner entirely satisfactory to those who employed him to defend and promote the doctrines they believed to be Bible truth. Dr. G. is a ready writer both in prose and poetry. His published works and press correspondence fully attest the statement. In July 1860 the Dr. was married to Miss Sallie Phillips, fourth daughter of John R. Phillips, one of the best men our good old county ever knew. I knew him well when a boy and looked up to him as he passed before my youthful vision, with veneration and respect. Nearly forty years ago my boyish feet entered his plantation home and from Uncle Johnny and Aunt Polly found always a ready welcome and sweet cake to eat. They are gone to the reward laid up for the good and true but memory loves to linger in grateful cadence about these two good people. Mrs. Gallaher is still by the side of the brave manly heart of her youthful choice and has been to him an (sic) helpmeet in truth and deed. To the union this good couple raised six children, Mrs. B.H. Finley, living in Nebraska, John A., pastor of a large Presbyterian church in Bellville, Ill., Mrs. Ben A. McElroy, living in Saline township, Nellie B., now teaching west of Palmyra, William died in 1896, and Thos. F., pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Nacogdoches, Texas. Learning in early life the use of tools, the Dr. has become skillful in their use, some artistic specimens of his work this line may be seen in the homes of Dr. W.S. Harwood of Rensselaer, and Dr. Fred Walter, of Perry. He makes a specialty of walking sticks made from hickory and Osage orange wood, and since 1886 has sold over $500 worth of fancy walking canes of his own manufacture. With the exception of some trouble in his eyes, Dr. G., is in vigorous health and able to do full work in the pulpit and in his shop. Nearly all his boyhood friends are gone, George W. Martin of Perry, and Joshua Martin Hannibal and his brother, James, are about all who are left of the schoolmates of the forties. Time is gathering the pioneer, but his work remains. Will their places be filled by better men? Hardly so. To our good old friend I render this small meed of tribute while he lives.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 01:33:29 +0000
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