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Book Two - Pages 191-201
[[190/191]] to countenance so base a proceeding. The men however who had undertaken it, accomplished their purpose <(his removal.)> But what most afflicted Bro,, Ruter was the fact, that the principal movers in the business were members of the M. E. Church men to whom he had preached, with whom he had worshiped for years past, and who had ever professed the fullest confidence in & even friendship for him. And the reflection that such men to gratify a little political party feeling, would try to injure the character of a Brother, in the Church, and Minister of the Gospel, and one too, who had never taken part in their Political strife, grieved him more than the loss of a tenfold more valuable office would have done. Those men, probably, did not know that he had intended to retire in the fall, and seemed to have thought that the only way to get the office, would be <by> the too common method of, abusing & slandering the incumbent, in order to procure his removal. He (however deeply he regretted their course), felt no disposition [[191/192]] to retaliate, but left them to their own reflections hoping & praying that they might repent of their wrongdoing, and perhaps they have done so. His friends however promptly contradicted & refuted their false representations, And many friends were raised up to assist him, whom he probably would have not known, but for these proceedings. (37)
U.S. Senator James Whitcomb graciously insisted that the
Ruter family live in his home while Calvin Ruter served as
the
presiding elder for the Indianapolis district and
Whitcomb was
in Washington, D.C.
(portrait courtesy of the Indiana Historical Society)
October 19 th 1849, Conference met in Rising Sun Ohio County Ia Bishop Janes Presiding. Bro Ruter reported his health as still improving, and the Conference at his request changed his relation to effective, and he was appointed to the Rising Sun Station. J. A. Brouse P. E. This was a pleasant year, although <no> very intensive revival, there was a gradual growth, the church was in a healthy condition, good congregations, some conversions, and the year at its close showed an increase in the membership of a little more than fifty. His health still improving. (37)
On the 9 th of October 1850 Conference met at Jeffersonville. Ia Bishop Morris Presiding. At this Conference Bro.. Ruter was appointed to the [[192/193]] charge of the Indianapolis District, and immediately removed his family to that City. He visited Indianapolis, however, previous to removing his family, to procure a comfortable residence for them if practicable, which it was thought would be a difficult matter, at that season of the year. Soon after his arrival in town however, and before having made any effort to procure a dwelling, He met unexpectedly, with Ex-Governor Jas. Whitcomb then U, S, Senator from Ia who had just returned from the East to Indianapolis, which he still considered as his home. After the first salutations, he said to Bro. Ruter, I understand that, being appointed to this District, you are coming to this town to reside.
Residence of Indiana governors from 1839-1865 located at the
northwest corner of Market and Illinois Streets, Indianapolis; James
Whitcomb lived here until his election to the United States
Senate in 1849. The house he allowed Calvin Ruter to live in was
at another location.
Bro. Ruter replied, I design doing so, if I can procure a comfortable residence for my family, and my business here now, is to try and engage one,
They walked a square or more together in company with Bro— Hanneman (at whose <house> Bro Ruter was invited to tarry, while he remained in the City) when the Governor taking his arm, said ‘Bro. Hanneman will excuse you a little, he can <take> in your carpetbag [[193/194]] But I wish you to walk a little further with me.’
In his will, Senator Whitcomb gave his extensive personal
library to Indiana Asbury University where it exists today in
DePauw University's Roy O. West Library
They walked up Illinois Street, till they came to a good, substantial, two story Brick dwelling,
Said the Governor, as he opened the gate, we will stop in here a minute, I want to show you my Library, and unlocking the door, they went in, and in one of the upper rooms was the Library consisting of some five or six thousand Volumes, many of them the most rare & valuable works in the State, After looking at the Books a little they went down. Said the Gov, wait a little I want to show you the house,
They went through the rooms, looked at the well, Stable &c.
Now said the Gov, how would this suit you for your family residence?
Why said Bro R. with some surprise, there is more room than is needed, and it is a much better residence than I had thought of trying to procure.
The Gov. replied If this House will suit, you need look no farther, I wish you to occupy it, take care of the premises, & of the Library, peruse the Volumes at pleasure, only let none be taken out of the [[194/195]] house, and the property you will have, free of rent, while you may wish to occupy it.
Bro— Ruter, being now greatly surprised, began to stammer out his acknowledgements, when the Gov. checked him, saying, ‘never mind, its all right, I am under many obligations to you, am glad of an opportunity to make some little return, When I am here, should it be convenient, I shall be glad to board on your family, but for that I shall pay the customary price. I take nothing for the rent of the property, so you can Just bring your family here, this matter is all settled,
Thus Bro.. R.. found himself & family provided with a comfortable residence without even asking, by a man, to whom <though> he had preached in the earlier days of Methodism in Inda, yet with whom he had but little personal acquaintance Such a man was the Ex-Governor. Jas Whitcomb and it is a pleasure to record such acts of kindness and liberality. May Heaven bless the man doubtless he shall not lose his reward! The house [[195/196]] could have been rented for one hundred and fifty dollars pr annum, and application had been made for it <by letter> sometime before he returned from the East, and the Gentleman was only awaiting for liberty to move into the house.
Bro- Ruter immediately removed his family, and entered on his labours. The Preachers of the District laboured faithfully & harmoniously, and it was a year of peace and general prosperity in the District.
October 8 th 1851 Conference met in Indianapolis Bishop Waugh Presiding. Here it was thought best to ask for another division of the Conference. It was found that the North Ia Conf- at its recent session had voted for a division of that Conference and [it was del] after some discussion on the subject <it was voted> to ask a division, so that the State should be divided into four Conferences. Which was done at the General Conf.. held in Boston May 1852. There were some (& Bro R,, among them) who doubted the necessity or wisdom of this division, yet finding a majority of the members in favour of it they yielded, and set about arranging the lines [[196/197]] which were finally settled as may be seen by reference to the Discipline. (85) The West half of our Conference retaining the name of Ia and the East half called South Eastern Ia – Bro R- had been but one year on the Indianapolis District. He had been Cordially recieved + by Preachers & people, and his prospects were flattering for usefulness, But one or two wealthy individuals of Indianapolis, to whom he had not bowed with as much obsequiousness as they, probably desired, and who wished another man better suited to their taste, went to the Bishop, and made such representations as induced him to think there had better be a change, this he mentioned to Bro. Ruter and proposed his taking charge of the Madison District, to which ([he del] not knowing the extent of the opposition, nor from where it originated) he consented, and the change was made, which however he afterwards regreted +, and not that he disliked the Madison District, But he found that influences had been brought to bear in the matter which perhaps had better not be named, [[197/198]] And then it was inconvenient for him to remove from Indianapolis that Season, and would have been at considerable pecuniary loss. And then there were some parts of the District, where loud complaints were made at the change. Bro- R-. however used his influence to allay all excitement, choosing rather to suffer wrong <in silence> than that the church should be injured by dissension and opposition to the appointment <then> made. He did not, however, remove his family that season, but continued to reside in Indianapolis in the same house, as he could reach the Madison Dist by a few hours ride on R. Road: This he was induced to do more especially, as he wished to aid his Son, who was attending the Medical College in Indianapolis, and would not graduate till the ensuing Spring and while he remained there, he wished to remain with the family, as being more pleasant, and less expensive.
In the latter part of March 1851 Gov. Whitcomb returned from Washington and spent some three months, boarding in his family, They found him to be indeed a [[198/199]] kind & courteous Christian Gentleman. The Gov.. was in bad health, suffering from a chronic disease, which was destined soon, alas! To terminate in death, The Gov, left in June to go on to the East hoping to obtain relief from Medical aid, Saying, if health permitted, he would return & visit us again before the meeting of Congress, and requesting us still to remain in the occupancy of his dwelling, on the same terms as first proposed. He however left us to return no more, He went to Ohio to visit his little Daughter, from thence to some of the eastern Cities, untill + the meeting of Congress, When he went & took his place in the U. S. Senate. This was a long session, and some of the time, so severe was his affliction that he could not be in the Senate Chamber. After the adjournment of Congress <sometime in August> he went to the City of N. York for medical treatment, his disease still increasing in violence untill + the forepart of Oct- 1852 he sank under it, and died in full hope of a blessed immortality. He left the greater part of his extensive & Valuable <Library> [[199/200]] indeed all (except five hundred Vols left to his Bro, Rev David Whitcomb) To the Indiana Asbury University, This magnificent bequest, clearly exhibits his love for the Church of his choice, (The M. E. Church,) and her institutions, and his willingness to aid in her educational enterprise. His remains were brought to Indianapolis for interment. and were intered + on Sunday the 10 th of October in the Cemetery South West of the City. (37)
October 6 th 1852 the South East Indiana Conf- met in Rushville Ia Bishop Baker Presiding Bishop Morris present & aiding. It was during the session of this Conference that the deceased body of Gov. Whitcomb was brought to Indianapolis & intered +(37)
Bro Ruter was reappointed to the Madison District & contemplated removing his family this fall to Madison, But on returning home, at the suggestion of Rev D. Whitcomb who was the Executor of his Brothers estate he concluded to <have his family> remain in Indianapolis untill the ensuing Spring. [[200/201]] Having purchased a Lot of some four or five acres of ground about one mile from Madison on the Michigan Hill, he removed his family there in April 1853. This year the District was well man’d +, (as it was indeed the preceding year) to West Madison W. Chapel – H. Gibson, Third street – W m M. Daily, St Johns + – Jas Cotton, North Madison J. G. Chafee, Canaan – B. R, Rather, Versailles – A. G. Perkins, Moorfield – O. Bruner, Mt. Sterling J. B. Sparks, W. W. Bailey, Vevay, J. B. Lathrop Patriot – E. W. Burrus, Walnut Street – To be supplied. The Preachers laboured faithfully, On some of the charges, there [was partially alt. to were] pleasing revivals, and the Preachers were well supported, there being no deficiency reported on any charge, all came up to the estimates, yet in many instances, as is often the case, the estimates were at too low a figure, yet all were paid up, & on the whole it was a pleasant year, and the Church generally in a prosperous condition [[201 end; for 202, see above]]
[211: rectangular scrap of paper]
[first hand] Dear Lou – be very careful please of these resolutions – I would not lose them for the world – it is the only copy we have. [second hand] (Dear Sister R, I believe that I have fulfilled your request to the latter, as no child could be more zealous of a father’s memory, to preserve all details to his honor than myself, Lou.