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of my own poverty and sinfulness, and yet I experienced the
peace of God in my soul in a way which I cannot in words
describe. An ineffable feeling of love and gratitude to
Him who could bless and forgive one so unworthy as myself,
filled my soul. Now, everything was bright within me; I
had passed from death to life. In this blessed frame of
mind I remained for a long time, but I had passed from death
to life. In this blessed frame of mind I remained for a
long time, but I had yet many things to learn, and in spite of
many alternations in my spiritual life, the Savior was ever my
helper and consoler. The total loss of my hearing
occasioned me much pain, and I had a severe struggle before I
could resign myself implicity to this deprivation. The
thought that this trial came from the Lord and was intended
for my advancement in the heavenly life, has now entirely
reconciled me to it.
"A review of my experience fills me
with grateful love to Him whose leadings have been so gracious
and wise. I know myself to be nothing. Through
grace alone I am what I am.
The loss of her hearing prevented
Miss Heckewelder from devoting her future to the object chosen
- the education of young women for useful occupations in life.
From 1806 she resided at Bethlehem; up to 1823 in the family
of her father, and afterward with the sisters of the Church.
She was obliged to use a slate in conversation. Her
habits were those of a pious, industrious woman. Her
acts of benevolence and charity were frequent and
disinterested. She abounded in good works. Old age
curtailed her deeds of kindness and her "missions of love."
Her latter days were spent in meekness and quietness - waiting
the coming of her time. Her last illness was short, and
her end was peace. She died in the assurance of a
blessed immortality. September 19th, 1868, aged
eighty-seven years, five months, and two days. Her
remains were deposited by those of her father in the Moravian
cemetery, at Bethlehem.
We here leave our first inquiry, and
give the reader a brief sketch of the first white person born
in Ohio, after the settlement made at Marietta, on the Ohio,
in 1788. That person was Leicester G. Converse. He
was born at Marrietta, February 7th, 1789, and resided there
for many years. In 1834 he located in Morgan county,
engaging in mercantile operations, from which, in 1846, he
retired to his farm, situated on the west bank of Muskingum,
about five miles above McConnelsville. There he
continued to reside until his death, which occurred February
14th, 1859. Mr. Converse was a man of character and
ability, an exemplary Christian, and a citizen of great
usefulness. He was passionately fond of farming, and for
several years before his death was interested in the
operations of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture.
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