Publisher's Synopsis
"Faith and Fury by Riley B. Case tells the fascinating story of Eli Farmer (1794-1881) who moved to Monroe County, Indiana, in 1820 and became a Methodist circuit rider. Over nine years, he visited 33 different preaching locations and covered over 300 square miles in southern and central Indiana. Farmer was also a War of 1812 veteran, farmer, businessman, newspaper editor, Civil War chaplain, freemason, and state senator. Throughout his life, he was fascinated by the personal journey of faith and concerned himself with the spread of religion on the frontier. He wrote prolifically, including editorials and journals from the viewpoint of an "outsider" who rejected the institutionalization of churches with set doctrines, paid ministries, and lavish buildings. Farmer was a primary organizer of the Methodist circuit until his break with the denomination in 1839. This study by Case draws heavily on Eli Farmer's vivid memoirs, which he dictate
