Yes, Chuck, I now see Westerville in Google Map.  It is about 100 miles from where my Quaker ancestors were in Washington County, Ohio.

Have you studied the history of Friends in Ohio?  I am trying to understand what happened to my ancestors' Quaker faith in the period 1840-1880.  It seems there was much tumult in the Quaker community in Ohio.

My Great Great Grandfather was a fervant abolitionist who operated a "Station" on the Little Hocking to Putnam branch of the Underground Railroad.  He was at Bartlett.  I believe he was a member of the Plymouth (Bartlett) Meeting or the Southland Meeting but also had ties to the Chesterhill Quaker Community north of Barlett.

By the early 1900's, none of my Great Great Grandfather's descendants appeared to be practicing Quakers.  Could it be the Hicksite/Wilburite/Gurnseyite rifts?  Could it be the impact of the Civil War?  Did Westward migration dilute their beliefs?  I am not sure and am trying to understand.

It appears that the Plymouth Meeting (present Bartlett) was started in 1842 and the Southland Meeting grew out of it.  I would love to know the history of these meetings and find out what happened to my ancestors' faith.  One 1881 history book says Daniel Mott was the "minister" of these "Quaker churches."  He was a distant relative of Lucretia Mott.

My interest in Ohio Quaker history is not academic.  I hope you will not think me strange, but I feel that my Great Great Grandfather's faith is reaching out to me across the ages.  I would like to understand the spirituality of his times.  Very odd to have this passion when I am working in contemporary Shanghai.

Thanks for any guidance you can supply.

Hello, Chuck,

I am a fan of both as well, and have had the good fortune to hear them speak. As a result, in my role as a member of the library committee, I purchased books they had written, and we now have them in our library.

I also like Lloyd Lee Wilson, who comes out of North Carolina (Conservative). He is a bit more intense and more Christ-based than the others, but if you like Gulley, Lloyd Lee might speak to you as well.

We are a community of seekers of Truth. Do you feel like you might have come home when you read Quaker authors?

Yours in the Light, Paula

Hello, Chuck!

I don't know if we've met yet? I am a member of North Columbus Friends Meeting and live in Worthington. There are a bunch of us from NCFM on Quakerquaker--the more Convergent-type Friends. I hope we will meet soon. (I have been out of meeting recently because of illness, so maybe you have attended and I just don't know.)

Yours in the Light, Paula