William Royal's Account of Meeting William Holland

Taken from the Royal Family Association newsletter, August 1992, contributed by David & Marsha Markas.  It is an excerpt of  William Royal's account of his first Methodist ministry in Illinois and, specifically in this case, his experience with William Holland.  First-hand accounts of William Holland are precious, so any fraternizations, no matter how small, will help us paint a picture of our founder. 

"Illinois Annual Conference met in Indianapolis, Indiana in October A.D. 1831, at which time I was admitted on trial in said conference. and was appointed to the Fort Clark mission. I did not attend the Conference, but shortly after its adjournment I received the information that I had been admitted on trial and appointed to the Fort Clark Mission, but was not informed where this field of labor was, but in order that I might be correctly instructed in regard to this matter, I rode about 15 miles to the Rev. Peter Cartwright, who was then Presiding Elder of the Sangamon District. I was cordially received by this brother and enjoyed the hospitalities of himself and family for the night ~ and he informed me that my work was on the Illinois River, commencing at Fort Clark (now Peoria) and running up the river he knew not how far, but told me that if I would go to Hollands Grove I would there find Bro. Holland who was the first settler in that part of the country and he would tell me where my work was.  I then returned home and made arrangements with all speed for moving, but as that was my first appointment it consumed perhaps two or three weeks of time before I could start with my family on a journey of near 100 miles.

November finds us all ready for an onward move, packed up in two wagons, but before starting out our excellent brethren and sisters and friends came in and about filled my house, and we had an excellent prayer meeting, and they commended us to God and the word of His grace. Oh, what a happy weeping time we had, never shall we forget those friends!  Now we take the parting hand of this large circle of weeping friends.  Now we go, not knowing what may befall us, having a wife and five little boys to care for, on we go, and in a few days got to Holland's. At this time there was a little snow on the ground. Bro. Holland was out in the field. I went out to see him -- told him my name and what my business was and that Bro. Cartwright had recommended me to him as the most suitable person to give me the desired information. Bro. then told me that the principal part of my work was about 30 miles farther up the river, but said he,

'Your load is heavy, and the roads very bad, so that you cannot get there; neither can you get a house if you were there, for every house is full; also provisions are scarce and dear.'

He then inquired how much missionary money I was allowed. I answered '$100.00.' He said,

'Your call (meaning my allowance) is too small. You cannot live on that.'

I gave him to understand I would risk that. I asked him if he would give me a yoke of cattle. This he refused to do. He also told me that I could not get feed for my team on the way, and as he had a pretty good supply of corn, I asked him if he would sell me a little, but he would not. My good wife sitting by and hearing the conversation, began to weep. I said to her,

'Weep not. You know that during the session of the Conference, we made it a subject of earnest prayer to God that He would direct the Conference in my reception and if received that He would direct my appointment. Now I have been received and been appointed to this work, and God will take care of me and mine.'

Bro. H. tried to persuade me not to go to my work, but I told him that I had been appointed to that field of labor and I must go. He then said that if I was determined to go, I had better unload my wagons in a school house nearby and let my family remain there until I could go up and see what could be done. We then for a moment harkened to the counsel of the ungodly and drove down to the schoolhouse and unloaded one wagon. Before retiring to rest, my wife and I decided we were doing wrong and determined to load up our wagon again and start on our way in the morning and if roads proved to be as represented, we would leave part of our goods on the way in the wide prairie.

Accordingly ~ started on our way in the morning and after traveling all day without any house, we got safe to Low Point that night. Here I got some fodder for my team. I also bought a few potatoes for family use and for some reason I hardly know why, I threw a few of them into the trough where my horses were eating, and to my astonishment they ate them readily. I here for the first time learned that horses would eat potatoes. I then bought some more and fed my team -- and they had a feast. There was only one family living in this grove, and they in a very small cabin -- no room for us, so we camped out, but after both man and beast had been refreshed and the evening sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God had been offered, we laid us down and slept secure.

William Royal first settled into his new job near Sandy Creek, near Magnolia, Illinois, and was basically in charge of the area north of Peoria, which contained sparse white settlement at the time.  He moved frequently with his assignments and ended up in the state of Oregon.