Update to Mila La Clair Attn: Bernhard

 Text from current chapter in development. 

As I did in volume two of this work, I’ll focus on a narrow geographical area, in this case the States of Kansas and Ohio, a choice driven by available records. Kansas had a significant Barbourite presence. 

Kansas 

            [add barbour era here] There were several Watch Tower evangelists preaching there in the 1880-1886 period and whose ministry produced results. We noted some in volume two – an Advent Christian Clergyman, J. S. Lawver, an anonymous adherent. New to this research is Permilia Jane LaClair called “P.J.” and “Milia” by her family.[1] We know little about her beyond letters sent from her to the editor of the St. Paul, Minnesota, New Era Enterprise. She was, she wrote, one of the first Millennial Dawn colporteurs, evangelizing in Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas. For twelve years – approximately from 1887 to 1899 – with her husband and two children she traveled by covered wagon promoting Watch Tower publications, later recalling: 

we were very poor when I got the Truth and my dear husband had been poorly and it was good for him, but very hard on me, as I often had been wet and cold, slept in wet bedding and every way, for I was so happy over my call to sacrifice, and not much experienced I often did more than reasonable service. Have laid out in rain and thunder and wind storms and went too early in spring and too late in fall; but my zeal was to help “harvest” all I could.[2]

             By mid-year 1884 a Kansas native claimed: “The seed is taking root in Kansas.”[3] Among those rooted to Watch Tower faith was a Baptist elder in Hobart who with one or two others separated himself from traditional denominations.[4] Their work and that of others affected German Brethren adherents. The German Brethren, a pietistic movement, was fractured. In the 1880s there were three main divisions all using similar names, but each displeased with the others.

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[1]               Permilia was the daughter of David Kennedy Farnham and Rachael Jessup. She was born September 1o,1853 in Essex Co, Indiana and died in 1926.

[2]               Mrs. Mila Le Clair, “Old Timer” Longing for Home, New Era Enterprise¸ July 25, 1922. Bernhard Brabenec: Watch Tower Society, International Bible Students Association: Who’s Who in the History of the Movement Before 1920, Self-published, 1921.

[3]               Letter to M. F. Russell, Zion’s Watch Tower, August 1884, page 2. [Not in Reprints]

[4]               Interesting Letters, Zion’s Watch Tower, August 1883, page 3. [Not in Reprints.]