Moses E. Lard 1818-1880
In December 1863, Moses E. Lard published an article called “My First Meeting.” The article is a wonderfully told, both sad and joyful, of the area where Lard grew up in western Missouri and where he later returned to hold his first meeting.
According to Lard, after the meeting took place (about 1842), a little town sprang up called Haynesville. Haynesville thrived until the railroad came through west of town, after which the town moved a little west and came to be called Holt, as it is known today (Holt, MO is on I-35 about thirty miles northeast of Kansas City, MO). Nothing remains of Haynesville but a road by that name near Holt. Lard is buried in Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, MO, about 45 miles northwest of Holt.
Lard’s article is a masterful work of character description and plot development that rivals any 19th century short story you might read in a college literature course. It is a classic of Restoration writing. I hope my reading is worthy of its quality and hope that you enjoy listening.
My First Meeting, 1863
Restoration Audio Books 