Early that spring the Antioch church licensed us to do the work of an evangelist, and we did considerable preaching in the vicinity of home. We then bought a forty acre tract of land in Macon Co., and the next two years we cultivated our five acres of tobacco, and during that time spread out somewhat as a preacher. We now determined to give our entire time to the work of an evangelist, and that we might be the better prepared, we determined to go to school. The Kirksville Normal had been established, and Professor Baldwin offered us inducements to move to that place. Our efforts to carry out our purpose were all thwarted, for the Lord had a schooling in reservation for us that we knew not of.
I had often expressed the wish that I could be situated so that I could support myself, and preach in destitute parts, for in boyhood I abhorred a hireling clergy, wanted to be a missionary, and had, I suppose, a feeling akin to that of Paul, when he spake of building on another's foundation. I continually, and earnestly, took all things to the Lord in prayer. My prayers, however, up to that time seemed to be answered by adversity.
The spring of 1869 was now opening. I was seated one night to look over my mail, and, as was usually the case, the A. C. Review was the first to examine. Under the head of "Correspondence" was a letter from the south-west, giving an account of the destitution there, spiritually, and praying that some one might come there and break to the perishing ones the bread of life. I said, "Mollie, here is a call for us. If we can sell our land here we can get us a good stock ranch there, and I can superintend it and preach to the benighted. We are needed there, here we are not needed."
After due consultation we decided to make the change. Providence seemed to favor the change, for in a few days all was in readiness to start. My sister had married and settled in that neighborhood, and was very much grieved over the idea of our being again separated. I told her that it was from a religious sense of duty that I purposed making the change. And while the change would be for the upbuilding of the cause of Christ it would evidently be beneficial to my wife; for, as she knew, my wife had overworked herself, her health had become poor, and a change would be beneficial. She had not only made a good hand in the tobacco crop, but also made the cloth for our winter ware. We now had four children- three girls and one boy.
Our trip to the south-west was without let or hindrance. Soon we were settled on the head waters of Yokum Creek, Carroll Co., Ark., and as nicely situated for raising cattle and hogs as heart could wish. Having settled the next thing was to look after the prospects for a church home. We learned that there were three or four families a few
