Cook County, Illinois - The whole text, 1884 (part 14 of 61)

" Father ! take pity on me ; let me return u ill) thee, to accompany thee and lead ihce to my village: my meeting with thee to-day will Ik- fatal to me unless I * profit by it. Thou nearest to us the gospel and the prayer; if I lose the occasion of hearing thee. 1 shall be punished by the loss of my nephew*, w hom thou sees.1 so numerous, but w ho will assuredly be defeated by the enemy. F.mbark Ihen wilh us that I may profit by thy coming into our iand."

Father Ailouez. unfortunately, fails to mention who it was that thus addressed him; and thus the name of the orator who delivered this, the first reception speech in this locality, and the first to allude to "the gospel and prayer " within the limits of Chicago, is lost forever. The father and the chief at once embarked and soon reached the village of the latter.

Father Claudius Dablon. who was Superior-Ceneral of the Missions c if the Society of Jesus, who founded Sault Sle. Marie and visited Green bay, came as far as the Wisconsin with Ailouez, but does not appear to have reached Chicago. ( »f Father Louis Hennepin it may also be said that he probably never visited Chicago, although in 1679, in company with I.aSalle, he perhaps sailetl along the western shore of the lake on the way to St. Joseph, Mich. It is not easy to determine who was the next after Ailouez to visit Chicago, but it seems credible that it was one or both of the Rev. Fathers l'inet and Itincteau. This appears from the journal of Rev. John Francis buisson de St. Cosme, who was a member of the party which, in 1699, under the leadership of M. de Montigny, visited Chicago on their way to the Mississippi. This party disembarked half a league from Chicago, and a few of them, M. de Montigny, St. Cosine and Uavion, went by land to the house of the Jesuit fathers. St. Cosine says: who had recently come in from Illinois, and were slightly sick. 1 cannot explain to you. Monseigneiir. wilh what cordiality and marks of esteem these reverend Jesuit fathers received and caressed us during the lime that we had the consolation of staying with them. Their house is built on the Kinks of the small lake, having the lake on one side and a line large prairie on the other. The Indian village "f over one hundred and fifty cabins, and one league on the river there is another v illage almost as large. They are both of the Miainis. Kev. Father l'inet rnakesit his ordinary residence, except in the winter, when the Indians all go hunting, and which he goes and spends at the Illinois."

From this extract it would appear that Father l'inet, at least, had been in this part of the country some years, as it had become his custom " to make his ordinary rcsi- dcncc" with the Miamis, aiul "to spend his winters with the Illinois." And, as in 1685. at the time when it is alleged De la Durantayc erected a tort at the mouth of the Chicago River, which became a kmcl of depot, Father Alluuez revisited the place, there can have been no long time when the Indians were without the presence of some zealous Jesuit among them during the latter part of the seventeenth century. Besides those already mentioned as accompanying M. de Montignv on his journey to the Mississippi, there were the Rev. Fathers de la Ribourde, Meinbre, ( <ravierand LaSoorce, nil of whom may have ministered to tin- spiritual necessities of the Indians, though what was the nature of their religious exercises and duties, or how long thev were continued, is not known.

There now occurs an hiatus in the religious history of tins vicinity of nearly one hundred vears. The next name to be found is that of Rev. Stephen D. Badin, who first visited Chicago in 1796. He was ordained in 1793. at Haiti more, and was the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States, lie d< les not appear to have become a resident priest. But in 1K22 he again visited Chicago, and during his visit baptized Alexander Beaubicn, in Fort Dearborn, which was the first baptism in Chicago of which there is any definite knowledge. The above mentioned missionaries were all Catholics.

The next to arrive, and the first Protestant to preach a sermon in Chicago, was the Rev. Isaac McCoy, a Baptist clergyman, who had established and was conducting the mission school at Carev, near Xilcs, Mich U itli reference to this first sermon his own language is as follows:

" In the fore part of October I attended, at <hii-ago the moment of an annuity by |lr. ttolcott. tnited Slati-s Indian Ami anil, through his politeness adore,*.-,! Hie Indians <m the subject » ,Ke9thof (>,tolxrr. 1*25. I preached in fen- (Jli-h, which, as am informed, was the first sermon ever delivered at or near that place.

Rev. Jesse Walker, who was at the time superintendent of the h,x River Methodist mission, came up on his boat front Feorir. to Chicago, in the spring of 1826, for he purpose of preaching. It is not known that he preached, but, as he remained some time, it is probable hat he did. On the way up from Peoria, according to he l ev. .Stephen R I eggs, -He had all the hands on board cease work till they could attend pravers and ill joined in smgmg then a fervent prayer' was offered up in heir behalf. asking the merciful protection of a divine Providence throughout the day -

In 1838 Rev. Jesse Walker was succeeded as luperm tent ent by the Rev. Isaac: Scarritt. About mids ,mmer of that year Mr. Scarntt, as he says in a letter to Mr.

my residence at Miller's, who, with laudable generosity, nadtftook li> administer to my comfort and further my views, 'fhe next n» was the Sabbath, anil I sent word to the Lieutenant thai if it w<Tihis wish ihe superintendent of the Indian mission would preach 10 the soldiers ami olhers. at such place and hour as lie might appoint Answer was returned that he should not forbid the preaching but 1h.1t he should neither authorize nor make anv arrangement* for i; Not to be outdone by the honorable Lieutenant on the point of independence, I declined going lo the garrison under such circumstances, and made an appointment for preaching at Miller'j at night. Most of the citizens and some of the soldiers were present, and gave respectful attention; but in the matter of congrcgatiixi we m ined rather more than we bargained for. huring religious services a gang of Ixjatmcn, with their vociferous ' yo-hes.' commenced landing and rolling up barrels, etc., near the door. This was a trick of Kiniie's. so Miller said, out of spite to him for hav. ing the honor of entertaining the missionary, and for the agency he took in promoting the religion of the place!"

Jesse Walker was appointed to this mission as its superintendent; and in June, 1831, accompanied by Ret". Stephen R. Beggs. set out on horse-back from Plainfield to Chic ago. forty miles distant. With reference [0 this visit Mr. Beggs writes:

*" When we arrived. Brother Walker gave out an appointment for me to preach in the garrison, in old |h\ Harmon's loom. After the sermon was over, he gave it out that I was to preach again next morning at nine o'clock: and this was the beginning «( .1 happy time here. I opened the door for the reception, and I think ten joined the church."

These t « . 1 sermons were preached, the one on the evening of the 15th, the other on the morning of the 16th of June. 1851. Among the number of those who joined this, the first, church society or class organized in Chicago, were: Rev. William See and wife, Elijah Wentwortb) Jr., his mother and two sisters, and Mis. Dr. Elijah D. Harmon. Rev. William See, a regularly ordained clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the absence of other clergymen, preached as occasion offeretl or required. He was by trade a blacksmith and poor in purse, but of good moral character and highly esteemed. Rev. Jesse Walker, being superintendent of the mission work from Peoria to Chicago, could preach in the latter place only a few times a year, and so, at bis request, Bishop R. R. Roberts, in the fall of 1831, appointed Rev. Stephen R. Beggs tu the mission at Chicago. Probably in October, Mr. Beggs came to this field, ami found awaiting him the small class he had formed the preceding June. So house of worship having been as yet erected, religious services were generally conducted in the fort. In January, 1832, the first quarterly meeting was held: and an ox-team was employed, and driven by T. B. Clark, to draw provisions from Plainfield to assist in sustaining the people during the continuance of the meeting. Mr. Hcggs says:

'* The netting commenced with power, and increased in inlerrst till Sunday morning. Mv first sermon was preached «n Sabbath morning, at ten o'clock." after which Brother Walker invite*! the people around the sacramental board. Il was a season long to be remembered. Even- one seemed to be baptised and consecrated anew to ihe great work to be accomplished in the village that was destined to Income a mighty city."

Mr. Beggs brought Mrs. Beggs to Chicago in May, 18.52, and made the village his home, nearly or quite a year. A number of additions was made to the membership of his class or society; six in the early winter of

Catholicism

1 S3 1 - 3 2 . A portion of the time meetings were held in the log school-house. In the year 1S32, Rev. Jesse Walker was appointed to the Chicago mission to sueteed Mr. Beggs \- soon as prai tii able he moved to Chicago, and entered upon his labors. His first quarterly meeting was held in a log building, subsequently known as " Father Walker s " log cabin. It stood on the West Side, near the bank of the river where the North and South branc hes meet, near what is now the southwest corner of Kinzie and Canal streets. This building was used by Mr. Walker as a parsonage, parlor, kitchen and church. At his first quarterly meeting, held in the fall of 1833, there were present, besides himself, Rev. John Sinclair, presiding elder, Rev. William See, local elder, Henry Whitehead, who was licensed to preach at that meeting, Charles Wisencraft, Mrs. R. J. Hamilton, and Mrs. Harmon. Mr. Whitehead was the first minister licensed in Chicago to preach. Mr. Walker became superannuated in 1.S34 and died in 1835.

Asitle from the religious services outlined above, and in connection with a debating society, a religious meeting was held generally once a week at the house of Mark Noble, Sr., who had arrived in Chicago in August, 1831, and moved into the old cabin of the Kinzies'. These meetings were held to provide for those who had no taste for literary matters and dancing then indulged in at Fort Dearborn, and were the first prayer meetings in Chicago. In conducting them Mr. Noblewas assisted by his wife and two daughters, and Mrs. R. J. Hamilton, all of them being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Hamilton contributed very largely to the interest and success of the meetings, being a' lady of great intelligence, comprehensive views and devoted piety. She was for many years among the first in all religious and benevolent enterprises, and furnished the first pulpit in Chicago with necessary articles. Mr. Noble also, was very zealous in his piety, and was the principal speaker at these meetings. He was a man of lar>;c experience, and of yreat practical common sense. Thus it will be seen that the Methodists, when continued effort is considered, were the pioneers in Christian work, though they did not have the first completely organized society, nor erect the first church edifice.

In addition to the efforts made to improve the religious characters of adults, the moral and religious training of the children was not neglected. A Sunday school, the first in Chicago, was organized on the 19th of August. 183a, by Luther Childs, Mrs. Scth Johnson, Mrs. Charles Taylor, the Misses Noble and Philo Carpenter. 'The school first assembled in a small frame building then latelv erected on the Reservation, near Mr. Noble's house! by Mark Heaubien. At this lime the building was not completed; it Inula floor, was sided up. and had on some of the roof-boards, but it was not shingled and had neither windows nor doors. The school afterward met in the fort, at the house of Rufus Brown, at Rev. Jesse Walker's cabin, and in the upper storv of P. F. W. Feck's store. as occasion offered. Since that 19th of August, 1S32, few Sundays have passed without witnessing the assembling of children for religions ami moral instruction. The library of this first Sunday school contained about twenty small volumes.

but as there were only thirteen children in the school, each scholar and teacher could have a book. John S. Wright acted as secretary and librarian, and was accustomed to carry the library to anil from the temporary place of meeting in his pocket handkerchief. 'The poverty of the library in volumes was observed by two gentlemen from New York, Charles Butler and Arthur Bronson, visiting in Chicago, who upon their return home sent two hundred volumes as a donation.

Having thus traced the religious movements of Chicago from the time of the noble and self-sacrificing Jacques Marquette, in 1673. down to that of the equally zealous and laborious " Pathfinder," Rev. Jesse Walker, in 1833, it will now be our province to trace, with such attention to detail as the nature of this work will admit of, the inception of the original religious societies in Chicago, leaving the local societies to be described in their appropriate places in the histories of the towns of which they form an essential part.

In 1833, the first year in which regular church organizations existed in Chicago, three churches were formed - a Catholic, a Presbyterian and a llaptist.in the order named; the first in May, the second in June, anil the third in October.

St. M akv's Chikch. - 'This was the first Catholic society organized in Chicago. Its first priest was Father John Mary Irenaeus St. ( yr, who was born at Lyons. France, November 2. 1803, and educated in that country. He left France in June. 1831, reached St. Louis August 1, of the same year, and was there made a subdeacon. He was ordained at St. Mary's the Barrens by Bishop Rosatti in 1S32, and on April 6, 1833, was by the same Bishop ordained priest. The period between these two dates was spent by St. Cyr in studying the English language. In the meantime Catholics were increasing in numbers in Chicago, and were becoming desirous of receiving the ministrations of a resident Catholic priest. To accomplish their desires they prepared and forwarded to St. Louis the following petition:

"Wc. Oh- Catholics of Chicago, Cook Co., 111,. lay licforc voti the necessity there csists U> have a paslor in this new and flourishing city. There arc here several families of French dcsvent, born ami brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, anil others quite witling i>> aid us in supporting a paslor. who ought to be sent here before other sects obtain the upper hand, which very likely they will try to do. We have heard several persons say were there a priest here ihev would join our religion in preference to any other. We count ahout 'one hundred Catholics in this town. We will not cease to pray until you have laken our important request in consideration!"

This petition was signed by the following persons for themselves and their families, the number of members in each individual's family being appended to his name: Thomas J. V. Owen, 9; J. lit. Beaubien, 14; Joseph Laframboise, 7; Jean Pothier, 5; Alexander Robinson, 8; Pierre LeClerc, 3: Alexis Laframboise, 4; Claude Laframboise, 4; Jacques Chassut, 5; An- - s. toine Ottilmet; Leon Bourassa, 3; Charles Taylor, / 2; I. lit. Miranda and sisters, 3; Louis Chevalier, / 3 ; Patrick Walsh, 2; John Mann, 4; B. Caldwell, 1; Bill Saver. 1; Mark Beaubien. 12; Hill Vaughn, 1 ; James Vaughn, 1 ; I. Bt. Rabbie, 1; J. Bt. Roulx ; J. Bt. Tabeau.v, 1; J. Bt. Dovim her, 1; J. Bt. Brodctir, 1; Mathias Smith, 1; Antoine St Ours, t; Bazille 1 >eplat, 1; Charles Monselle. 1; John Hondorf, 1; Dexter Assgood. 1; Nelson Peter Perry, 1; John S. C. Hogan, 1; Anson H. Taylor, 1; and Louis

Frortt the date of this appointment, Catholics consider that the organization, or establishment, of their church in Chicago should be reckoned, although St. Cyr did not reach the city until Wednesday. May 1, accomplishing the journey part of the way on horseback and part of the way on foot. Having made the necessary arrangement*, St. Cyr collected together the Catholic sand celebrated his first mass, in a little log cabin, twelve feet square, belonging to Mark Heaubien, <m Sunday. May 5, 183.1. On the aid of May occurred his first baptism, the subject being (ieorge IScauhicn. son of Mr. ami Mrs. Mark Heaubien. Father St. Cyr immediately commenced preparations for building a church.

The first site selected was on Street, near Market, upon which stood the log cabin above referred to. This lot was promised St. Cyr by Colonel J. R Beaubien for the nominal sum Of $.»oo, but being unable to raise th.it amount among the one hundred Catholics who [>riitioned for his appointment, and others, he was obliged to look for another location. About a year afterward the same lot was sold by Colonel Beaubien for $.?oo, 10 Dr. W illiam 15. I'.gan, who, in sold it to Tertius

Wadsworth, of Hartford, Connecticut, for §60,000. According to the advice of Colonel Heaubien and Thomas |. V, Owen. St. Cyr selected a canal lot near the Southwest comer of l^tke and State streets, near the military reservation, where now 18.S3 stands the print ing establishment of Cameron. Amlierg & t o. The privilege was accorded St. Cyr of buying this lot at the canal commissioners' valuation ; but when that price was announced it was still farther beyond the reach at the Catholics than was that first selected, and it was purchased by I >e.\ter < i raves for $10,000. In the meantime, not anticipating the high price at which the lot would be appraised, they erected thereon a church building, twenty-five by thirty-five feet in size. The lumber for this building' was brought in a scow across the lake from St. Joseph, Mich., where it cost per thousand. The (umber having arrived. Anson T'aylur, a brother of Augustine Deodat Taylor, with his own team, hauled it from the schooner to the site of the prospective church. Augustine D. Taylor was the architect and builder, The total cost of the edifice was about $400, but tin nigh small and inexpensive it was not completed sufficiently for occupancy and dedication until in October, Catholic Indians assisted at the first mass celebrated therein. Indian women had cleaned anil prepared the modest building for the celebration of the sacred rite, and Deacon John Wright, a strong supporter of Rev. Jeremiah Porter, pastor of the First Tiesbytcrian Church, had. in August, assisted in raising the frame of the building. At this dedication-service there were present about one hundred persons. The church itself was not plastered, it had only rough benches for |*ws and the simplest of tables for altar and pulpit. The outside of the building was not painted and u had neither steeple nor tower. Some time afterwards, it was surmounted by a low, open tower, in which a small bed was hang, being the first bell used in Chicago to call the pious together for religious worship. 1* was about the size of an ordinarv locomotive bell of the present, and could lie heard only for a short distance It was of no use for sounding an alarm in case of «*> and nearly ten years elapsed before the first one which could be used for that purpose was hung in the steeple of the Unitarian church. The church building stuoil on this lot until sometime during the priesthood of Father O'Meara, when it was removed by him to a lot at the southwest comer of Michigan Avenue and Madison Street. Here it was enlarged and soon afterward, was moved to the southwest corner of Wabash Avenue and

St, Marv'S Church

Mad Ron Street When the new St. Mary's, a brick building, was erected the frame church was again moved, this time to the westward in the Mine block. The removal from the comer of Lake and State streets to Michigan Avenue ami Madison Street, by Lather ( )'Meara, together with the circumstances of the removal, caused great dissatisfaction to a portion of the Catholics. The dissatisfied ones refused to accompany the church to its new location, and engaged a room of Charles Chapman, in the second story of a building standing at the corner of Randolph and Wells streets, in which mass was celebrated (hiring the summer by Rev. Maurice de St. l'alais. Among those who thus separated themselves from the church under Father O'Meara were Augustine I >. Taylor. A. M. Talley, Samuel Parry and John Davlin. After the trouble caused by father O'Meara's course bad l>een overcome, the two portions of the church were re-united, under Rev. de St. l'alais.

St. Xavier Academy, at 131 Wabash Avenue, stood on the adjoining lot south of the church. St. l'alais, in 1843, commenced the erection of St. Mary's brick church, corner of Madison Street and Wabash Avenue. This edifice had a substantial stone foundation, and was lifty-fivc feet wide by one hundred and twelve feet long, including a portico twelve feet wide, sup|w>rted by four Ionic columns, anil cost $4,000. The brick work was done by Peter I'age, and the wood work by Augustine D. Taylor. This church was o|>ened for divine service December 35. 184.?. It was consecrated by Bishop Quarter, December 5, 1845. In September, 1845. Felix Inglesby. a wealthy merchant of New Vork City, donated a bell to this church worth $185.

went to St. Louis, From the latter part of October, 1836, he was assisted by Rev. I.eander Schaffcr, who attended the German Catholics. He was himself succeeded for the F.nglish-spcaking Catholics by Rev. Father O'Meara, who was succeeded, in 1840. bv Rev. Maurice de St. l'alais. St. l'alais was succeeded. May 5. 1S44, by Rt. Rev. William Quarter, Chicago's first Catholic Bishop, who died April 10, 1848. According to his desire his remains were deposited in the cathedral he hail consecrated, which ceremony had occurred October 5. 1845. Bishop Quarter was eminently successful in the management of the affairs of his diocese. Cnder him its growth was remarkable. When he arrived at Chicago there were less than twenty priests in the State of Illinois, and only two priests in Chicago - Rev. Maurice de St. Palais and Rev. Mr. Fischer, anil only two seminarians - Patrick McMahon and B. MeOorish. These two students were immediately ordained and raiseil to the priesthood May 16, 1844. Two years later there were present at the first diocesan synod thirty-two priests, and nine others from sickness and other causes, were unable to attend. In 1844 there was but one Catholic church in Chicago ; in 1846 three new Catholic churches were erected - St. Patrick's, St. Peter's and St. Joseph's, the last two for the Germans. In 1848, when the bishop died, thirty new churches had been erected in the diocese, ten of them being either brick or stone, making a total number of sixty-eight. 'These were presided over by fifty-three priests.

'To Bishop Quarter is also due the credit of establishing the University of St. Mary's of the Lake, the germ of which, the college, was established within thirty days from the time of his arrival in Chicago, and for which a charter was granted in December of the same year. The university building, with seminary attachment, was completed in June, 1845. and was opened with appropriate ceremonies July 4, following. This was the first institution for higher learning in the city.

Bishop Quarter also instituted the first community of nuns. 'This community was established with six Sisters of Mercy, whose names will be elsewhere found, who came from Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1848 from the first house of the Sisters of Mercy opened in the United States.

'To Bishop Quarter is due the credit of having secured the passage of the law under which the Catholic Bishop of Chicago was incorporated as a "Corporation Sole," with |>owcr to "hold real and other property in trust for religious purposes."

Bishop Quarter wassucceeded in 184H. by the Rl. Rev. James Oliver Van de Velde. who was formally installed as Bishop of the See. in the Cathedral of St. Mary's, in 1849. Bishop Van lie Vcldc was a member of the Society of Jesus, in which he held many important positions. He was a man of great learning and zeal, but the active duties of the bishopric were not congenial to his tastes and he constantly yearned after the quiet ami seclusion of a religious life. His adminstration, moreover, of the affairs of the diocese was troubled with dissensions and difficulties, which were in part the reason of his resignation and of his assignment to another field - the See of Natchez, where his labors were less arduous, and where he could devote himself entirely to study and preaching. He left Chicago for his new field of labor November 4. 1S53. and died in 1S55.

Bishop Van de Velde was succeeded in Chicago by the Rt. Rev. Anthony O'Regan, who was consecrated Bishop of Chicago July 25, 1854. Bishop O'Regan, like his immediate predecessor, found the administration of the affairs of the diocese an arduous task. His labors constantly increased. Resides the care of the diocese of Chicago, he was charged with the administration of the new See of Quincv. erected in 185;. but which continued to be administered by the Ordinary of Chicago, until the erection of the See of Alton, in 1 S57, His administration of the affairs of the diocese of Chicago was soon marred by difficulties with some of the leading Catholic priests of the city, in consequence of which Rev. Fathers Kinsella. Clowry and Breen left the diocese. But the troubles continuing, Bishop O'Regan sought peace by following the example of his predecessor. He resigned, and was assigned to a See. /. />. /., in Ireland with which he had been connected in his early days, and where he spent the remainder of his life, dvingin London, England, in 1X65. He was succeeded by Rev. Matthew I lillon, an amiable and popular clergyman, who filled the post of administrator until succeeded by the Rt. Rev. Clement I. Smythc. Bishop of Dubuque, who remained until 1K50, when he gave place to the Rt. Rev. lames Dugg.m.aii account of whose lalmrs will lie found in the succeeding volume of this History,

Besides the bishops and priests already mentioned as being connected with the parish of St. Mary's, were the following, each of whom officiated for a time : Fathers Hel'ontevieux, Quequew and Uwrence II oev in 1H44; Father I*. T, McElheame. with the occasional assistance of Father Fitzgerald, from 1852 to July o, 1854. In 1854 Rev. Matthew Dillon was assisted by Fathers Michael Hurley, l-'iugibbon and Carrol; in 1855 Fathers Patrick Sherry. Magan, and McCi 11 ire officiated, in 1856 Fathers John Waldron, 'Herman, ami Bolger, and in 185; Fathers T. I). Butler and Thomas Burke.

The Catholic Church in its earlier davs had a more serious difficulty to contend with than ativ of those incidentally referred to in connection with the names of some of its bishops, Cupidity appears to have taken possession of one of its early priests. Rev. Father OMeara. Rev. Father St. Cyr refers to Father 0 1 Meara, in a letter to Henry H. Hurlbut. under date of February 8. 1875, in the following not verv complimentary terms: "I was succeeded lor the English speaking congregation by Father O'Mcara. who proved to be a notorious scoundrel. May Cod preserve Chicago from such a priest."

The following extract from the pen of Hon I S Buckingham, Member of the English Parliament, who was 1.1 (. hicago at the time 1840 gives an account of the troubles with their result : eluding by warning them that if they offered the slightest resistance to any public ceremony enjoined by the Church, thev would thems*lve% incur the guilt of sacrilege, and be accordingly subjected to the very pains and ixnaities of excommunication which thev wished to avert from another. t his hail the effect of calming them into submission, anil the priest, learning this, consented to assign out to his superiors the property of the Church which he had unlawfully withheld from it, anil to leave the town on the following day, so thai all proceedings were stayed against him."

Rkiht Rev. William Qcarter, D.D.. the first Chi cago, was born at Killurine, Kings County, Ireland, lanuary 21, iRoti. Ills father's name was Michael (Quarter, and his mot maiden name Ann Dennett, who were the parents of four

John, the eldest of the four; Walter Ti^eph. Vicar-Gcncral of the diocese of Chicago, and administrator of the diocese after the death of his brother William; William, the subject of this nirnwi-, and lames. The » hiarter family was a most respectable one. the maternal branch of it especially having given many priests ami bishops to the Church. Mrs. Quarter devoted herself to the earlv training of her children in the path in which she desired them ti> walk; and besides the principles and precepts she continuously instilled into their minds, her life itself was a continual precept, and her virtuous example, pious life and tender love made a deepara) iticffairable impression upon the hearts of her children. Hishop ciuartcr was frequently heard to say, -- f owe all torn* mother; I should never have been a priest, never have lieen a bishop, but for her." Mrs. Quarter, hai ing received an excellent education in the schools of a religious community, assumed the task of instructing young William, believing 1 hat the common schools were to the moral like a SilK-rian desert to the tender plain, transplanted thither from a sunny clime, lie was as assiduous in his studies as she was camcft and industrious in her teaching, and he overcame the difficulties he found in his way with an case that indicated the possession ol a high order of mind. At the age of eight years he was prepared in enter a boarding school at Tullamore. Before leaving home to cnterthis school he partook of his first communion, and at llie same lime expressed his determination to live henceforth for God alone, and t< 1 enter t he hoi y order of t he priest hood. 1 1 e immediately left home for Tullamore, and there entered the academy of Key. Mr. Ilcran, a retired Presbyterian clergyman, one of the lw«t classical scholars in Ireland. Here he commenced his mathematical and classical studies, anil after spending about two years with Mr. I>eran. he entered (he academy John and Thomas lit/gcrald in the simc town With the Messrs. Kit/gcrald lie completed his course of study preparatory to entering the college of Maynooth. and in his sixteenth vcar satisfactorily passed his examination with this purpose in view. I >uring his preparatory course his demeanor had been so remarkable that his companions slyled him the " little bishop." During the vacation lx-twcen his examination preparatory to entering MayniHiih College and bis proposed entry therein, ihe Kcv. Mr. Mc- Aulcy. brother of County McAuley, of Krankford. Kings County. Ireland, returned to Ireland from the United States. This gentleman spent much time at Michael Quarter's house, and there young William heard given a full description of the condition of the Catholic missions in America, of the thousands of Catholic chil. dren growing up in a land where Mammon was the deity mr»l generally worshiped - of the wandering away from the sheenfold of so many that had liccn sealed to the one holy church at the baptismal font in their native land - of the extent of the harvest and the paucity of the gleaners, and Hi- at once determined to forego his contemplated course of study at Maynooth College, to forsake his mother, and all in his native' country' he so dearly loved, and in devote his life in America to the salvation of souls from eternal |Mfdiii..n. He therefore embarked for North America, April 10. IK32. The vessel landed him at Quebec. To the ISishop of Quebec, he immediately applied for reception as an ecclesiastical si udeni. but was rejected on account of his youth. The same fate awaited him at Montreal; but at Kmmelsburg. Mil., (he reason that caused his rejection in Canada proved his first and I<es1 recommendation. The Rev. Mr. Dubois, President of St. Mary's (.ollege at Kmmctsburg, himself an exile, received young Quarter as a father would receive a son. Mr. Dubois at once placed him in the seminary, which he entered September 8, l»32. So thorough was found his scholarship that he was given charge of the classes in Creek . I jtin and algebra, and the second year of his residence there he was appointed professor of the Greek and lain" languages. On (he aoth or October, I&16. the Rt. Rer. Dr. Dubois was consecrated Bishop of New York, and in I Sao on the completion by young Quarter of his theological studies. Dr. I» bois called him to New York xs his assistant priest. On the 14th of September he left the retirement of his mountain home and started to New York, reaching there on Wednesday evening the 10th of the same month On Thursday morning the ijlli, he reson* of the Church: and conceived at the hands of Hishop Dubois the Clerical Tonsure. Orders and Sub-Deaconship, and on Saturday morning he *as raised to the dignity of the priesthood. The next morning Bishop Dubois started for Europe, leaving his diocese in charge of the Very Rev. Dr. Power, p. Mr, at St, Peter's, of which parish Rev. William Quarter was appointed assistant pastor. During the ravages of the cholera which visited New York with great severity in 1I32, Rev. Mr. Quarter devoted himself, almost day and night, to relieving as much as was practicable the sufferings of its victims, and he gathered together the children of the dead members of his Church, placing them under the charge of the Sisters of Mercy, ami contributing nil of his own means to their support. St, Mary's new church building was dedicated June <), t S33, by the Kt. Rev. Dr. Dubois, and at the close of the service the Bishop announced the appointment of Rev. William Quarter as pastor of the Church. He remained pastor of this Church until his consecration to the new See of Chicago. St. Mary's Church in New York is indebted to him for the introduction among them of the daughters of St, Vincent and St. Peter's in New York for the establishment there of the first colony of the Sisters of Charity. One of the most remarkable results of his labors in that citv was the conversion from the Lutheran Church to Catholicism of" the Kev. James Maximilian Ocrtel. The Provincial Council which met at Baltimore, in May 1643, found it necessary, on account of the great spread of Catholicism, to increase the number of bishops, and passed a degree recommending the formation of the Sees of Chicago, Little K<xk, Hartford and Milwaukee, and the Apostolic Vicaratc of Oregon Territory. The Court of Rome immediately acted upon the recommendation of the council. Apostolic letters for the consecration of three new bishops arrived in New York early in 1844, and on the 10th of March, three new bishops were consecrated in St. Patrick"* Cathedral, hy the Rt. Rev. John Hughes. Bishop of New York. The three newly consecrated bishops were Rt. Rev. Willi.im t Quarter for the Diocese of Chicago; Rt. Rev. Andrew Ilyrne, for the Diocese of Little Rock, and Kt. Rev. John McCloskey, Coadjutor Bishop of New York. Ilishop Quarter, not however without many a regret, left his parish, St. Mary's in New York, for his new rield of labor, the Diocese of Chicago, in which St. Man's was the principal church, and the only one within the city limits. On lite iSth of April, accompanied by his brother. Very Rev. Waller J. Quarter, he left New York for Chicago, arriving there on Sunday, May 5, 1844. On the day of his arrival he said mass in the old church and preached in the new one, then unfinished and afterward the cathedral. Not only was the church building unfinished, but worse than all. the congregation was burdened with a drlu, on their church of Sj.ooo, on an adjoining lot, w here afterward stood the Convent of Mercy, of $t,noo. and on the graveyard of $400. thus making an aggregate indebtedness of nearly $5,01x1. upon some of which from ten to twelve per cent interest was being paid. Then the congregation was very poor, and it seemed impossible for them to pay off this indebtedness and to finish the church. Therefore Bishop Quarter ar>d h'5 brother, the Very Rev. Walter J. Quarter, united their funds and paid all the debt with their private means. The Bishop's noble example was not without its effect upon his congregation, for so harmoniously and successfully did they labor that within a year thev had the satisfaction of kneeling before their new altar in their finished church, whose glittering spire and golden cross reflected the first r-iys of the morning sun as it rose from the bosom of Lake Michigan, and which was the lim and then the only steeple in Chicago. After the departure of the two priests. Rev.' Maurice de St. Palais and Rev. Mr. Fischer, at the peremptory command of the Hishop of Yincennes. Ilishop Ouartcr was without a priest to watch over the district. However, before the end of June he ordained three, Rev. Jeremiah A. Kin. sella being one iif them. By the close of the year 1844. the cathedral was finished, and the college and seminary were commenced. Upon the completion of the latter, he next set about furnishing facilities for the education of the female portion of his flock. He was deeply impressed with the necessity of a proper training of young women, knowing that upon them, as wives anil mothers, depends in great measure the character of the people. In order to supply this want. Bishop Ouartcr applied to Bishop O'Connor, of Pittsburgh, for the establishment in Chicago of a branch of the order of the Sisters of Mercy. In response to this appeal, five members of the order, accompanied by their superioress, Sister Mary Francis Ward, and Very Rev. Waller J. Ouartcr, arrived in Chicago on the 23d of September, 1846. On the day of their arrival the bishop conducted them to his own residence, a low, one-story, frame house, which, with many fears as to their satisfaction with it. he resigned to them as their convent, retiring himself to an abode, compared with which, the one abandoned by him was a palace. On the nth of .November he established the Theological conferences, the first in America. In order to enhance the spiritual welfare of his (lock, he directed the Sisters of Mercy to establish a sodalitv of the Blessed Virgin, hy means of which the female children might the more thoroughly be intruded in their rcligous duties. He also directed the instructors in the Academy of St. Joseph to form among the male children a St. Joseph's Society, that the members of it might be taught to emulate the exalted virtues of St. Joseph. He originated the Chicago Hibernian Benevolent Emigrant Society, the object of the association being to welcome the Irish immigrant to his new home, to furnish him, if need be, with timely assistance, to advise and direct him. and guard him against imposition by sharpers who were ever ready to plunder him the moment he set foot upon our shores. In this way was the life of Bishop Quarter spent, in establishing and furthering works of charity, benevolence, improvement and progress even up tu the day before his death, which occurred April to, 1S4S. During Lent he was engaged in delivering a scries of lectures on the " Marks of the True Church." and on Passion Sunday he lectured at last mass at the cathedral on the Apostolicity of the True Church. This was his Inst lecture. On leaving the pulpit he was much fatigued, and at vespers his voice wanted its usual fullness of tone. About two o'clock next morning, Mr. McFlhcarne. who resided in the house with him. was awakened by his mnans. and hurrying to his apartment, found him silting on I he edge of his bed. and complaining of a severe pain in his head. Although medical aid was immediately summoned, his strength rapidly failed, and having received the consolations of religion, he sank into what seemed to those around him a deep sleep, littering as his last words. "Lord have mercy on my poor soul. " From this sleep he did not awaken, Inn died of cerebral congestion about three o'clock in the morning of the loth. For two days his remains, dressed in full pontificals, lav exposed at his residence, where they were visited and viewed by Catholic and Protestant alike. At two o'clock on the 12th, they were removed to the Cathedral and placed immediately without the sanctuary in front of the altar. At three o'clock on Friday, the feast of the Seven Dolors, the funeral ceremonies commenced and concluded about five o'clock, the funrral oration being delivered be Rev. Mr. Feely, of Peoria. The body was deposited at the rear of the church in a tomb prepared for it, beneath "he sanctuary and in front of the altar he himself had reared. The body of the Bishop was embalmed bv Prof. John E. Mcliirr of the Criiversity of S:. Mary's of the l.ake, and inclosed in three conins. The inner one was black walnut with a silver cr»-s upon it, bearing the following inscription : " Rt. Rev. Will, tan Quarter. D. D.. First Kishop of Chicago. Consecrated March to. 1S44. Died April 10, r*4A A'.yui<uat in Paa." Over the vault, which was of brick and lined with waterproof cement, was a beautiful white marble cross about six feet high, with engravings in bas-relief of the Bible. Missal, t 'rosier, and Miter on the top . on the horizontal part the same inscription as was on the cofhn, except the "fitfuiftmf in P<ne," which was on the lower part. On the riser of the marble step leading to the altar was a sctoII bearing the inscription : " FrttioM ill Cvnsfwln Domini, wort Sain tor- 11m fjtis" Within the cathedra] was erected to his memory a beautiful cenotaph, to defray the expense of which Protestants contributed liberally, as did the Catholics. A young Protestant poetess of rare talents, Miss Mary A. Merritt, gave a volume of her poems, the proceeds from the sale ol which was added to the

It is, impracticable to follow the history of CatMotiMM in Chicago to the present time within the limits prescribed here. Those readers who desire to know more of the growth of this denomination in the nietmpolis of the West arc referred to the History al t Imago, the hrst volume of which is now ready, and the remaining iwo volumes of which will Ik published within two years. The history ol societies outside of the tily will be fuund in ihe several town sketches.

Protestant Denominations

The earliest Protestant religious work in Conk County was done in Chicago, Tin- following page* of general history contain ;t narration of tin- struggles and triumphs of the pioneers in this field ot noble endeavor, l'hc germ of all ureal effort* hi Cook County was implanted there, and it is necessary to relate as much of local experience as supplies a foundation for the subsequent development of religions interest in the county. We leave the record of what is strietlv Chicago historv of a later dale to he given in the volume* devoted exclusively to the city.

Chicago became a city in i8.»;. and that year is chosen as the proper one at which to leave the municipal locality and continue the general history in another form. In the History of Chicago, issued by the publisher of this volume, may be found the most exhaustive record of religious events in the city that has ever been collected in book form.

Thk Kiksi Pkksbytkkian fni Kj m was organized June 26. 1833, by Rev. Jeremiah l'orier. This gentleman had been appointed Chaplain of the garrison at Fori Brady in the fall of 1X31 In the soring of is.;,), the troops at Fort llratly were transferred to Fort Dearborn. As there was a Uapttst mission at the Sault Sie. Marie, sufficient to meet the wants of the people at that place. Mr. Porter accepted the invitation of the soldiers to accompany them to Chicago - the more readily, as quite a number of them were members ot his Church at Fort Brady, anil as the Home Mission Society at Boston had requested him to explore the shores of Ijke Michigan lo see if there were any settlements where the Gospel might be preached." Mr. Porter, therefore, in company wilh the troops under command of Major John Fowie, arrived off Fort Dearborn Sunday. May u, 1833, but on account of the rutighness of the lake did not land until next dav.

Major Kowle had come to relieve Captain Seth Johnson, and the little le.tlv of Christians in the fort were mm* cast down over the departure of the Captain, who was a devout Christian and a warm-hearted man. They knew what ibex were to lose, but did not know what they were to gain : hence it was natural lhat they should feel impatience and auxietv as to the religious character of those on board the schooner. <>n Monday, the waters of the lake being sufficiently smooth, the troops ami others on the vessel landed. The surprise of Most in the village of Chicago was very great and agreeable to find that the schooner brought not only a mints er but also the nucleus of a chim b organisation; and a verv warm welcome was extended to the strangers, (ohn Wright, one of the praying men in the village, taking hand of Rev. lercmiah Porter, said: -- Well, I do rejoice, for yesterday was the oanw dav 1 ever saw. Captain John**, who had aided in our meetings, was to leave us, and I was almost alone I have been talking about and writing for a minister months in vain, and yesterday as we prayed °* Christians about to 'leave us. 1 was almost ream t despair, as I feared the troops coming m would a <* careless about religion. The fact that you ami a W* Church were, at the hour of our meeting, riding at . chor within gunshot of the fort, is like the bursting out of the sun from behind the darkest clouds.

Temporary arrangements were made for preau * in ihe fort ; the carpentcr-shop being emptied , cleanc and seated ; and on the next Sunday morning. May £ 183;. Rev. Jeremiah Porter preached Ins first saw"- in Chicago. From the lext. John xv, S. " Hertin i> - Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so stun My disciples." _ uuii-pr '"

Protest A N T Dk N O M I N At Ion S.

"'The school-house was crowded to overflowing ami many went away for want of room to stand within the door*. 1 think I have not preached to such an audience before, onlv at Mackinac, since I left Detroit. There seemed profound ail ntion. Mr. Wright said his eyes filled with tears several limes to see the happy influence of the Major and his fellow-officers on this community.1'

"At six o'clock I had a prayer meeting in the fort. After candle lighting I went to Father Walker's place, where he had given notice that a Methodist minister from New York would preach. Though it was eight when I went in, I found no one but Mr. Walker, and he was grieving that he was disappointed in regard to his preacher, who having an opportunity to gn on to New York that afternoon, had embraced it and left' Mr. Walker to fill the appoinlment. If he had so little regard for the Sabbath, I think it is well he did not stay and preach. At length fifteen persons came in and Mr. Walker addressed them."

Early in the morning of the same day Mr. Porter witnessed a desecration of the Sabbath which greatly shocked him. Quoting still further from his journal:

11 The tirst dreadful spectacle that met my eyes on going to church was a group of Indians sitting on the ground lieforc a miserable French dram house, playing cards, and as many trifling white men standing around to witness the game "

Thus passed Mr. Porter's first Sunday in Chicago. On the next Sunday, May 26, Rev. Mr. Kent, of Galena, paid a visit to Mr. Porter, and preached for him an excellent sermon from Hebrews, xi, 24-26. On June 1 arrangements were made for public worship outside the fort. This was because many of the citizens objected to going into the fort. Father Walker consented to rent to Mr. Porter his house at the Point for one-half of each Sunday, and for some time, commencing with Sunday, June 2, he preached in the fort to the garrison at 10 a, and to the citizens at 2 p. \t., in Father Walker's log house; held prayer meeting at 6 p. m. in the fort, and preached alternately with the Methodists on Sunday evenings at the Point. This arrangement was still unsatisfactory, and, as there was no prospect of having better accommodations, except as they should be provided by those who desired the advantages of them. Mr. Porter advised that the sums subscribed for his support should be appropriated to paying for the erection of a frame and covering it as soon as possible. The citizens interested met in the evening of June 1 1, and appointed a committee to carry this plan into effect, which made it necessary for Mr. Porter to look to the Home Mission Society for support for the year to come.

On Wednesday, June 26, 1833, Mr. Torter organized the First Presbyterian Church with twenty-six members, seventeen of them, including Major Del -afayette Wilcox, having been members of this church at Fort Brady, the remaining nine being citizens of the village. The names of these nine citizens were John Wright, Philo Carpenter. Rufus Brown, John S. Wright, J. II. Poor, Mrs.

F. lizabeth Hrown, Mary Taylor, E. Clark, and Mrs. Cynthia Brown. The names of the seventeen members of the garrison were, Major DeLafayelte Wilcox, Mrs. S.

G. Wilcox, Miss Eliza Chappel, Lieutenant I.. T. Jameson, Sergeant J. Adams, Mrs, H, Adams, Sergeant W, C. Cole, Mrs. Julia Cole, Mrs. Ruth Ward, Richard Burtis, Benjamin Briscoe, Ebenezer Ford, John Guy, Isaac Ingraham, William Johnson, David Lake, and' James Murray. All of these first members were Congrcgationalists, except Philo Carpenter, who was a Presbyterian. John Wright, Philo Carpenter and Major Wilcox were chosen and ordained elders of the church. For some time the society continued to worship in Father Walker's log school-house at the Point. On Sunday, June 3°,

Mr. Porter attempted to re-organize the Sunday-school founded the year before by Philo Carpenter, but was prevented doing so by heavy showers of rain. The first communion held in Chicago was on Sunday, July 7, 1833. The service was supplied by Major Wilcox from his table silver. Twenty-seven sat at this first communion. Mr. Porter's journal reads: " Many witnessed the solemn scene, but a majority were females, as two vessels were unloading in the harbor, causing a wanton abuse of the holy day by many who sin against clear light, and abuse divine compassion and love." The subject of the erection of a church building having agitated the minds of the members for some time, Lot No. 1, Block 34, Original Town, southwest corner of Lake and Clark streets, was chosen and measures taken to build upon the lot, which has been described as being at that time a " lonely spot, almost inaccessible on account of surrounding sloughs and bogs." While preparations were being made for the erection of their temple of worship, they and other citizens of the village were surprised one morning to see the frame of a small building on the l.ake-street front of their lot, which had been raised during the previous night. Work upon this little building was industriously continued during the day. But alas for the hopes of the prospective store-keepers ! Their squatter right of occupancy was not to be recognized, and during the succeeding night, in obedience probably to the suggestion of a member of the society, a number of yokes of oxen were noiselessly marshalled in front of the trespassing store, heavy chains securely fastened to the sills' of the building and to the oxen's yokes, and in the morn- inn away down Lake Street the intruding building was seen standing, to indicate thwarted hopes and to teach the lesson that the rights of property could not with impunity be invaded. Meantime their own preparations proceeded. "The timbers were at length hewed and squared and set up on the prairie. . . . Each one, according as he was able, gave his mite to aid in the construction; one worked at the turners lathe to prepare the columns that adorned the pulpit; some worked in the mortar-bed, and .ill labored who could, for a common desire actuated the members, which was not only to have a house exclusively set apart for worship, but, when done, to be free from that crushing incubus - debt." The church, when built, stood upon the southeast corner of the lot, fronting east; it was built by Joseph Meeker; its size, though not now definitely ascertainable, was about thirty by forty feet, and the cost was $600. It was completed during the late fall or early winter months of 1833, and dedicated January 4, 1834. Notwithstanding the extreme severity of the weather, the mercury being twentv-four degrees below zero, a respectable audience assembled to participate in or witness the dedicatory services. The prayer of consecration was offered by Rev. A. B. Freeman, of the Baptist church, then recently organized, and the sermon was delivered by the pastor. Rev. Jeremiah Porter, from the text i'salm Ixxxiv, 3 : " Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars,

During the following year, fifty-two persons were added to the membership, and by December. 1S54, the church had become self-supporting. The following resolution was passed in that month:

'- Feeling under great obligations to the American Home Missionary Society, for its »:d in sustaining the Rev. lercmiah Porter as pastor of the church, in our infancy, we now gladly assume his support from the is! of June of List 'year."

In the spring of 1S35, Mr. Porter was chosen by the Presbytery of Ottawa its first delegate to the General Assembly which met that spring in Pittsburgh After the adjournment of the Assembly. Mr. Porter was marrted, at Rochester, N. Y.. to Miss Eliza ( happel, then late of Chicago, and with his wife visited his parents who were living in Massachusetts. In the autumn of that year, he accepted a call to the Main-street Church, m Peoria, thus leaving the church without a pastor- but after deciding to leave, made efforts in various directions to supply the approaching vacancy, feeling "as if Chicago should have the In-st minister in the land "

The church had considerable difficulty in finding a successor to Mr. Porter. They corresponded with Edward Humphrey, of Amherst, Rev. Dr. I. W. Adams, of Syracuse, Dr. E. N. Kirk, and Dr. Hall, of Auburn Iheological Seminary, and Dr. Joel Hawes, of Hartford Lonn., all to no avail. The latter gentleman took rC>V. ,C'.Ve 8<H a Iettcr from som<-' Pl«ce out west called Lhickago, asking me to come there and preach Can you tell me where it is?" Upon being informed that it was in a great swamp ,vest of Lake Michigan, he decided to remain ,n Connecticut. Dr. Deric Lansing of Auburn, once preached here, but could not be induced 5L?Tn" . For-Sometime during the year and a half that the church was without a regular twstor Rev Isaac T. Hinton was virtually pasfor of X PreS ! lenan, as well as of hts own, the Baptist Church. Besides these mentioned Rev. Mr. McLain preached a few times. Of this gentleman. Miss Frances 1,. Willard, who was one of the early teachers, wrote as follows in a' letter dated May 25, 1836:

" Mr. McLain arrived in good health - receives much attention - gives good satisfaction thus far - preaches with c!nquenc« and studied argumentative style. I have met him often, and from convernations with him suspect that even Chicago will not meet his ambition. It is plain to me that his heart is. set on New Orleans."

" Religion here - ah ! Look at Alton, and see sister churches suffering from the same cause - worldly cares. Vet Alton is ap. parent ly more spiritual than we are. Your friend lirown (William H ) seems to take the lead among the church. Hut all are asleep. Mr McLain says that in all his travels he never was in a place where money was talked of as here. Ten thousand dollars is considered nothing ! Fifty thousand or one hundred thousand only arc named."

"I like everything here but the low state of religion. Rcr. Mr. McLain has returned to Ohio, ami we are withoiti preaching in the I'rcsbvtcTian sixiely. It was a year last June since the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered here, and it is still neglected."

"We have prospects of a minister at last. Rev. Mr. Blatchford from some town near New York City has received a call, has not accepted it but w ill preach here this winter. Thirty thousand dollars are subscribed for the erection of a meeting house, which is to Ik- built of marble. It is not calculated by the committee, that four meeting houses (Kpi>eo|>al almos't finished) will abundantly occupy the public mind for two years to come." Again under date of October 9, 1837: " 1 intend to continue teaching but the fine promises of public buildings, etc.. made to me before I left Alton, have never been fulfilled, m,r is there now any prospect even of a meeting bouse within two years. Chicago is blest with four spiritual minister*, but the g"d of this world has bl fated the eyes of the inhabitants."

At length, in 1837, the Rev. John Blatchford, who was traveling from New York and unexpectedly detained here, was called and installed pastor in July. Mr. Blatchford remained with the church until August, 1839. During his pastorate the building was removed south of Washington Street. Mr. Blatchford was succeeded by Rev. Flavel Bascom, who commenced his labors in Decemlver, 1S39, and was installed as pastor in November, 1840. Mr. Bascom had preached once in Fort Dearborn, in 1833. at the request of Philo Carpenter, and when shown by Mr. Carpenter the place selected, on Clark Street, near Lake, he said it would bring the church too far out on the prairie. The building, when moved to its second site, was doubled in length, and, in the summer of 1S40, was doubled in width. In 184S the brick church, which stood at the corner of Clark and Washington streets, was so far completed that in the fall religious services were held in the basement, and in September, 1S49, it was completed and dedicated. Mr. Bascom preached the dedicator)' sermon from the text, Haggai. xi. 9: " The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts." At his own request he was dismissed in December, 1849, and was succeeded by Henry Harvey Curtis, who began his ministry August 25.' and was installed pastor on the 13th of October, 1850. After a successful pastorate ol eight years, he retired for the purpose of assuming the presidency of Knox College, Oalesburg, III-, departing from the'ehurch June 8, 1858. His death occurred September 18, 1862. . , .

October, 1849, cost $28,000. In its erection a debt was incurred which, for some years, greatly embarrassed the society. As the city prospered, business houses so encroached upon the residences that surrounded the church, that the people sought more retired localities for homes. The church itself also became inadequate to accommodate the rapidly increasing congregation, and as a result of all these causes it was resolved, in the autumn of 1S55, to sell the lot and the building, pay the outstanding indebtedness, and divide the net proceeds in such manner as to secure the erection of three new church buildings, in the three d ivisions uf the citv. This plan was adopted on the supposition that those members living on the West Side would identify themselves with the Third Presbyterian Church, organized July I, 1S47 ; and that those living on the North Side would affiliate with a new society then in contemplation there, and which was consummated in the organization of the Westminster Presbyterian afterward Fourth Church. The property was sold in November. 1S55, and a lot on Wabash Avenue, between Van Buren and Congress streets, was immediately purchased by the First Presbyterian Church for its own use. A new edifice was erected, of Athens marble, and of the Norman style of architecture, the front highly ornamented with richly-carved work in stone. The main audience room was sixty-three by ninety-seven feet, and fifty feet to the highest point in the vaulted ceiling. This church was dedicated October 15, 1S57. The lot cost $16,000 and the building $115,000.

Hy way of review of the history of the First Presbyterian Church a brief statement as to its work and growth and relations to other Presbyterian churches in Chicago is appropriate. In the early part of 1841, a series of revival meetings was held, which were very sue cessful in its results. The meetings were conducted by Rev. Flavel Bascom, pastor of the church, assisted by Rev. Mr. C.allaher. an itinerant revivalist. As a result of this revival one hundred new members were added. The years 1S43 and 1S45 were likewise distinguished by extensive revivals. In April, 1S46, there were reported to the Presbytery four hundred and fifty-six members. During the next five years the membership declined to two hundred and fifty-four. This was in part owing to the organization of the Third Presbyterian Church ; but only in pan, as during this time the population of the city increased from 10,000 to 25,000, and the First Church should on this account have received considerable accessions to its membership. There was want of harmony within the Church itself. In the winter and spring of 1852, peace having returned, "a gentle but precious season of spiritual refreshing" took place, the Church recovered a portion of what it had lost, and made steady but sure progress until the winter and spring of 1857 and 1858, when in consequence of a powerful revival "about seventy-five were added on profession, and an impulse was imparted to the spiritual activities of the Church," which was especially perceived in the establishment of mission schools.

The first baptism in the First Presbyterian Church occurred Sunday, November 24, 1833, the subject being the infant daughter of Major Wilcox. The ceremony took place in the Major's house in Fort Dearborn, Mrs. Wilcox not being able to go to church. The little child was four months old. With reference to this baptism, Rev. Jeremiah Por cr says in his journal: "The child seemed to smile with joy, after prayer and the application of the water, as though it were conscious of the act, and I hoped as an evidence that the prayer had

Rev. Jeremiah I'uktee was burn in Hadley, Mas-,., In 1S04, where bis ancestors had lived for nearly two centuries. Samuel Porter went to Hid ley in 1039. and the house built by him is still owned by his descendants. the grandfather of Kev. Jeremiah Porter, whose name was also Samuel, married Susanna Edward*. K daughter ol President Jonathan Edwards. His father. William Porter, was a physician and served during the war of 1S12. as sur. geon in the Armv of ihc United Slates, and died in Hadley. Mass.. at the age of eighty-four years, His mother, Charlotte (Williamsl Porter, was a daughter of ilon. William Williams, of Hatfield, Mass. William and Mr*. Porter were the parents of twelve children, sevcral of whom died in infancy. 01 the six who lived to arrive at man's estate, most of whom lived beyond the threescore years and ten, the eldest of whom died at eighty three, Jeremiah' was the youngest. He was educated at Hopkins Academy, under Kev. Dr. Dan Huntington, father of llishop F. D. Huntington, of the diocese of central New York, and in l.ee, Mass., in the family of Alvan Hyde, I*. D. At the age of seventeen he entered W illiams College, at the beginning of the presidency ol l>r. Edward Dorr Griffin. He graduated at the age ol twenty-one. and in the autumn Of thai year, 1825, entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, Mass. At this time he had not decided upon the choice of a profession, but had not a taste for the law or medicine. After two years' study in this seminary, he passed the winter at his father's home. In the spring of 1828, he was induced by Dr. tiriftin to accept the position of principal of the Monitorial High School, in Troy, N. Y., and after spending two pleasant years in thai school, he was induced by the late Henry A. Board man, 1). D., of Philadelphia, to accompany him to Princeton Theological Seminary, N. J. Here lor a year Mr. Porter enjoyed the teaching of Drs. Atexa til - i . Mill..-; .mi I ll'-.ige. and gra I rale. I In m this instituti in In IS31. In the spring of that year he was licensed by the Hampshire Congregational Association to preach the t iospel, and preached in several towns in that county. l!ut previous to his graduating at Princeton, Rev. Dr. Absalom Peters, of New York. Secretary of the A. II. M. Society, visited the seminary in search of ministers for the West. Dr. Peters told Rev. Mr. Porter of a wish sent from port Brady, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., for a minister al that place, and asked him if he would listen to thai call. To ihis Kev. Mr. Porter replied, that if I>r. Peters failed with the gentleman at Andover. to whom he had applied, and considered him a proper man for the place he would go. Dr. Peters soon wrote to Rev. Mr. Porter from New York, to proceed at once to his Massachusetts home to he ordained by the same association that hail licensed him to preach, and goat once to the "Ssoo," as the Sauk Ste. Marie was then usually called. After being ordained lie left by stage toward the West, for a country of which he had heard much, but of which he knew little, leaving all his family and kindred behind, except one brother who lives] at Auburn, N. with whom he spent the first Sabbath of his journey, having reached there from Albany by the newly constructed New York & Erie Canal. By the same means he proceeded to Buffalo, then a city of three thousand inhabitants, and into which new life had been infused by the completed canal, lie then proceeded by steamer to Clevelaiul, a city then containing fifteen hundred inhabitants; thence to Detroit where he waited wvcral davs for a schooner, the last one up that fall, upon which he embarked fur Mackinac. Upon arriving at Mackinac he. was received into and kindly entertained by the charming Christian family of Robert Stuart, of the Astor Fur Company, the company being comi>o*ed of John Jacob Astor. Robert Stuart anil Ramsey Crookes. In the family of Robert Smart. Rev. Mr. Porter awaited an opportunity of going over to the Sault, and while waiting preached at an evening service at Rev. William M. Ferry's church. Un Thanksgiving Day. November 24. a small hark canoe, sent from the Sault by Mr. Schoolcraft for him arrived, with orders " not to return without Mr. Porter." A larger canoe, manned by- Indians, had started previously, but overtaken by a snow-storm, and delavcd until the provisions were eaten up, had returned to report to Sir. Schoolcraft. Hence the sending of this small canoe 111 charge of three French voyageurs with the above orders. Feeling that he could not wait to participate in public Thanksgiving services at Mackinac, he determined to reach the Sault as early as practicable, and so. with the three Frenchmen, and a negro on his way to an armv officer at Fort Brady, and with a mess basket provided by his newly-found friend, Mrs. Robert Stuart, he set out in the morning for liis destination. Something over three davs and nights were occupied in the voyage, forty-live miles coasting on Lake Huron, and forty-five miles ascending St. Mary's River, resting each night by camp fire* on shore, and pitching their tent one of the nights in snow. At the foot of the falls they found the vil. lage and fort, but landed below both, at the United States Indian Agent's beautiful home. Breaking the ice to land, Rev. Mr. Por- carried up the last mad i>( the HUM, and mail was received hut three times during the ensuing live munths. At the S.iuJt, Kcv. Mr. Porter found a Itaptist missi.m to the Indians in charge of Rev. AM llingliam. Kcv. Mr. Hingham with his family lived in the mission house and had a school-room for a place of worship for the fmlians, and such Americans as chose to attend. Invited by Mr. Hingham, Mr. Porter preached in this school-rtxim the first Sunday after reaching the Sault. to Indians, olficcrs and soldiers. This was Sunday. IVcemhcr 4. iSji. Mr. Schoolrraft soon had a store vacated, anil titled up with seats and a pulpit, and this building so transformed was used as a church. A Presbyterian Church was at once organized, composed of three men who had been members of Mr. Kerry's church at Mackinac, Presbyterians; Mrs. Schoolcraft, an Kpe-copalian. two of her sisters received im confession, and one Methodist woman. Mr. Porter and Mr. Itingham co-operated with each other in religious and moral work, and encouraged by the officers at r'ort Brady, enjoyed a revival. Dancing which had been indulged in winlers previous was given up. The Post Commandment with Mr. Schoolcraft took the lead in furthering temperance, and all the officers anil their wives took the temperance pledge, except one family, and before spring all expressed conversion to Christ except this one I.ieulenant and his wife. One oHicer and his wife united with Mr. Ilingham's church. Most of the others united with the Presbyterian Church. In the spring of 1332, this church numbered thirty-three, and the Baptist Church about the same number. On account of the breaking out of the ltlack Hawk War in 1S32, one of the companies of soldiers under Captain J. It. K. Russell, was ordered to join < ieneral Win- Geld Scott's army at Mackinac, on its way to Chicago. The Post Commandant. Major l)c LaFayelte Wilcox, was succeeded by Major John I'owle, who in the spring of iSjt was transferred to Fort Dearborn, Chicago, and Mr. Schoolcraft was transferred to the Indian Agency at Mackinac. Thus Mr. Porter's Fort Brady church was broken up, by the removal of its members in other fields of duly, and Mr. I'ortcr considered it his duty to accept the invitation of Major and Mrs. Fowle to accompany them to Chicago, leaving the few remaining members to unite with Mr. Ilingham's Itaptist Church. On the 4th of Mav, 1*13. Major I'owle with his company and Rev. Jeremiah Porter, left Fort Hradv, and spending one day at Mackinac, proceeded up the west shore of Lake Michigan to Chicago, perceiving on the voyage no human habitation between the iwo points except at Milwaukee, where lived Solomon Juneau, the trader of the American Fur Company, with his Indian wife' On Saturday. May 11, the schooner dropped anchor opposite the mouth or the Chicago River, On Sunday the lake was so rough and Mr. Porter so sea sick, that he remained on board over that day and until atx.ut noon on Monday the nth. when he was rowed in the ship s long-boat to the in mthnf the river, about a mile v.uth of Fort Dearborn, up the stream.and around Fort Dearborn to the junction of the North and South branches of the river and to Wat. tics small tavern on the West Side. Here Mr. Porter met many of the business men of the village, who had come there to dine as it was their boarding house, and among them |ohn Wright, an account of his meeting with whom mav be fotfnd in the history of the First Presbyterian Church. At this time there were about three hundred people ,n Chicago, many of whom had lei from the country .luring the war of 1832. to secure pro- »» »° "Wind Fort Dearborn. Among these was . K W. lock, who invited Mr. Porter to make his temporary lodging place and study ,n the unfinished loft of his tw.i-story store, standing on the southwest comer of South Water and Ul""**' Jhc "2! building in the rear of this store was the JS house of Rufus Itrown. where Mr. Porter found table board. From this .me forward until Mr. Porter left Chicago, in Scptemfeffifr * "'*'»>- ".substantially thai of the Firs, Presbyterian Church for the same period (u, v.). In that month, having accepted father in the church, acting as a shield to the young preacher agamst a pro-slavery mob. When the Synod adjourned many of i s members went to Alton on horseback, where they held T, a ,

.I' e^ ^:V''?,"", for PurPc"*°' sustaining I.ovcjov in wa - fare aga.nst slavery and for the freedom of the Press After m l ing strong resolutions in favor of the objects f oTwhich l" veloy his recovery was doubtful. About the first of January, 183s, he removed to Farmington, III., where he remained two rears, wit. nessing here as at Peoria a revival and numerous accessions to his

< liur. li. During these years he labored in revival work with lOvs John Spalding. Flavel Hascom, and Lucicii Farnham. at Peoria; J. J. Miter, at Knoxvillc, and George W, Gale and Horatio Foot' at Galcsburg. I' pon retiring from the church at Peoria. Mr! Porter preached the sermon at the installation of his succe.snr, Rev. John Spalding. In 1S40 he accepted a call to Green Hay.' W is., where four years In-fore s..mc . f his earlt friends (mm Markinac had been organized into a church. He arrived at Crccn Ruin the summer by way of Chicago and Mackinac. In the succeed, ing winter he was installed and remained pastor of the Prrsbilcrian Church eighteen years. In 1S40 the " Presbyterian and tiongre. galion.il Convention of Wisconsin " was formed, composed of the 1 huri hes of ihr two denominations. In 1 S5S. altera happy pastorate of eighteen years in Green Hay. Mr. I'ortcr asked this convention to dissolve his connection with his church, which request was grained against the wishes of the majority of his church. Attending the General Assembly at Chicago that year he was invited to become pastor of the Kdwards Congregational Church. 1 1 ere he labored until the breaking out of the war in 1SG1, observing the results of the city's progress during its first twenty-five years, as depicted in his historical lecture delivered tx-forc the Chicago Historical Swiety in lS;,q. F'our of Mr. Porter's family, a son and three nephews, entered the Cnion army, and Mrs. Porter said that if she had a hundred sons, ami they prepared to die, she would give them all for the cause of their country and freedom. In March following, Mr. Porter was appointed by ( iovernor R i. hard Vates.C haplain of United StntcsVnluntcers, in Colonel J. D. Webster's regiment. Chicago First Light Artillery, in which his son, Jamrs W, Porter, and one of his nephews had enlisted. Mrs. I'ortcr thinking she could be more useful near the soldier*, left her place in the Chicago Sanitary rooms to Mrs. Hogc and Mrs. Livcrmore and went, in 1(62, with Mr. Porter to Cairo. Here she ministered In the sick from Forts Donclson and Henry after Grant's lirst decided victories, and then tided in caring for the wounded from the battlefields of Pittsburgh I anding and Shiloh ; among the latter one ol her nephews. From Cairo Mr, and Mrs. Porter followed the I'nion army to I'aducah. ky.. to Pittsburgh Landing, Tcnn., 10 Corinth and to .Memphis, where they spent the winter of |86l 63 tWfj spring oi 1S63. A " convalescent camp" was established south of and in sight of the city, on the river bluff. Dr. Fdmund Andrews, surgeon of Colonel Webster's light artillery, was one of the surgeons in charge. With his approbation Mr. and Mrs. Porter opened the first school far frcolmcn on the txirders of the Mississippi River. Fort Pickering was, during that winter, a scene ol much religious interest, Mr. Porter preaching regularly at the convalescent camp and occasionally at the batteries. As the army proceeded southward Mr. Peeler accompanied it to Vicksburg, and after its capture was imnicciately installed chaplain in the city hospital, and being granted by

< Ieneral Logan the use of the Presbyterian church, preached therein until the spring of tStcJ, alternating with Chaplain Joseph Warren. D. D., who had been a missionary in India. He then, by order of I ieneral Webster, followed < ieneral Sherman in his marches toward Atlanta, Mrs. Porter lieing already with that army with sanitary stores and supplies. Mr. Porter joined her at Hig Shinty. From Kent-saw Mountain Mr and Mrs. Porter went with the wounded to Marietta. Ga.. and remained there in the hospital un:i the fall of Atlanta. On the Sunday following Mr. Porter preached to the soldiers in hospital at Marietta from ihc words o[ David, asking so anxiously after his son Absalom, " Is the young man safe?" his own son having participated in the battle before Atlanta, and no word from him having becu received, lie afterward heard of his safety and ol the bravery exhibited by Him in that battle. Chaplain and Mrs. Porter, instead of following Sherman to the sea, returned to Chicago, and in the Winning winter went to Washington to aid in urging President Lincoln W use all his official influence to have the sick and wounded Union soldiers in Southern hospitals sent north to recover or to die anil be buried by their friends. While in Washington Mrs. Porter showed to Miss Dix, the earliest mover in the magnificent Sanitary l ommission. two letters - one signed by five Confederate officers. Ihc other by twenty Confederate soldiers - testifying 10 the iimlorai kindness with which they had been treated by Mrs. Porter, wruie sick in hospital at Marietta, Ga. Mr. and Mrs. Porter then « sail from New York for Savannah, reaching there ten clays MW that city had surrendered to General Sherman. Here they remained until Sherman started for Richmond, when they procccoeo by water with General Webster to Wilmington, N. C, ami tl«n« to Goldsboro by rail, overtaking General Sherman at thai rxxrit. They then went to a hospital on the coast at Ncwbern, rentami K there in attendance upon the sick until the surrender of andria and Washington. Logan's corps was then ordered to I.ouisville, Ky. Chaplain ami Mrs. I'orter. with others of the Sani- Cummissmn. reported for duty at that place, and after short pleasant service once more in Kentucky. Mr. Porter was honorably mustered out at Springfield, III.. July 31, 1S65. After visiting among friends a few months. Mr. and Mrs. I'orter were requested by the Sanitary and Christian Commission 10 proceed with sanitary stores, then at Chicago, to three regiments retained on the horders of Mexico to protect the bonier from any encroachments of France under its Mexican emperor. Maximilian. Arriving oft the coast of Texas, ten miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande, they landed at lirazrw St. lago, and waited lor a small steamer from Brownsville to take them to the Kio Grande and up the river to that city, hi the night a " norther "' struck thin small steamer, and as a measure of safety it was driven ashore on the beach of Mexico. There was so little water on the beach that the yawl could not reach the shore, ami the ladies, on lioard had to be carried to the shore on the backs of the sailors. Such was Mrs. l'orter's entrance into Mexico. This was at Bagdad. Crossing the river to meet the steamer which had succeeded in entering the river's mouth, Mr. I'orter found assembled at Clarksvillc some- United States colored troops, w hom he addressed. From that lir-t religious service on the Kio Grande he proceeded on the steamer up the very crooked river one hundred miles to his destination, Brownsville, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. I'orter and Miss Lizzie Garey. who had accompanied them from Chicago, went into camp at the Soldiers' Hospital, Mr. I'orter preaching, and Mrs. 1'ortcr and Miss Garey teaching the colored soldiers in addition to their sanitary work. Mrs. i'orter soon opened a school under the name of the " Kio urandc Seminary " for boys and girls, which had been started by Miss Matilda Kankin, as 'the Kio Grande Female Institute, some years before the war.

In the spring of iSf>G 1'resident Juarez, having taken and shot Maximilian, United States troops were no longer needed on the border, the Christian and Sanitary eommissionsrecalled their agents, and Mr. and Mrs. I'orter returned to Chicago, where a reception was given them at (he Sherman House. That summer w hile visiting his old parishioners at Green Bav, Mr. I'orter received a call to a vacant church at Prairie 1 it Chicn'. This he desired to make his permanent home, but after different members of his family had located in business in different parts of the country, and his daugh. ter had in ibtiS gone to I'ekin. China, as a missionary, he hintself at the earnest solicitation of friends from Brownsville, Texas, returned thither, accompanied by Mrs. Porter to rebuild the church that had been demolished bv a tornado, and to preach in place of Rev. Hiram Chamberlain, who had died in 1807; taking with them generous donations from Chicago to aid in that and other enterprises. In February i860,, the new brick church was dedicated. Mr. and Mrs. Porter remained in Brownsville except during the summer of 1869, he to preach and she to teach, until 1870. when he was appointed Post Chaplain, at Brownsville. U. S. A., and assigned by General Augur to Fort Brown. In addition to his duties as Post Chaplain Mr. I'orter preached in the afternoon to a church of colored people organized by himself from among the colored people of Brownsville and Matamnras, Mexico, and whose church edifice was built by the Frccdmen's Bureau at a cost of $4,000. Mrs. Porter remained actively engaged in the work of teaching until the school funds of Texas became available, when the schools in Brownsville became public schools, and she severed her connection therewith. In the winter of I.Sjj Mr. Porter was assigned to the Chaplaincy of Fort Sill in the Indian Territory. Here he remained until the winter of 1S7.4. when Mrs Porter, who had here, as elsewhere, engaged in teaching, was suffering from an attack of malarial fever, and in order to regain her health, she. accompanied by Mr. Porter, returned to Chicago, and again visited friends in Green Bav. Mr. Porter then returned to Fort Sill, leaving Mrs. Porter in Chicago, and in the winter of lS7f> was ordered to report to General J.J. Reynolds for service at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming Territory. There in improved health Mrs. Porter joined him from Chicago. For four years Mr. Porter remained in active service at Fort Russell, maintaining regular services on Sunday, a Sunday and a day school for children, and part of the time an evening school for soldiers. In November, 1870, Mr. Porter's daughter, Mary H. Porter, arrived at Fort Russell, from China, after an absence of nearly nine years. She remained at Fort Russell until the following March, when she proceeded to Chicago, her return to the United States being in quest of health, Mr. I'orter obtaining leave of absence from his post, overtook his missionary daughter at Chicago, made visits to various prominent educators ami private person* in the hast, where Miss Porter by her report to the A. li. C. F. M., which ten years before had sent her to China, anil by her representations of the condition and needs of the heathen in China, awakened renewed interest in missionary- labor both in the Fast and the West. A reunion of Mr. PorrarV family occurred in lir'^it. W«». <u the spring of

1879, the first in twelve years. At this reunion were - Miss Mary H. Porter, whose health was sufficiently recovered for her torctiirn to her missionary work in China, and Rev. Henry 1). Porter, M. D.. a son of Kcv. Jeremiah Porter, who had also liecn a missionary to China for six years, and who had returned to America and was at this time married to Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Dr. A. L. Chapin, president of Beloit College. After this reunion Mr. and Mrs. Poner returned to Fort Russell and soon after went to San Francisco on leave nf absence to see Dr. Henry D. Porter and his wife depart therefrom to their missionary labor in China, their daughter haling returned thither three months before. They remained in California fourteen months and in the autumn of '1880 returned to Chicago. Mr. Porter was on a leave of absence from the army until he was retired on the 30th of June, 1882, when all officers over sixty-four years of age were retired. Since then he has been seeking' health, making his home with his son in Detroit. Both Mr. and Mrs. Porter were present at the semi-centennial celebration of the organization of the First Presbyterian Church in Chicago, in quite vigorous health. Rev. Mr. Porter was married Tune - 5. 1*35. at Rochester, X. V.. to Miss Eliza Chappel. They have had nine children, three of w hom died in infancy - one in Peoria, 111., In 1837; two at Green Bay, Wis., one in 1843 and one in 1849 Two others died in Chicago - Robert Otto, September 25, 1859, and Charlotte Klizubeth, Octolier 31, 1851;. The four living are as follows : James \V., Edwards VV., Henry Dwight and Maty Hairiet. Rev. Henry Dwight I'orter. M. D.. has been a missionary in China since 1872. ami Mary Harriet since |8<j8.

RgV. Klavki. BASCOM, D. D., was bom June 8, 1S04. at Lebanon, Conn. His parents were Abiel and Sybil (Roberts) Bascom. His childhood and youth, until he was seventeen vears of age, were spent upon a farm with such advantages for education as were affouled by a rural public school. His preparation for college was under private instruction. He entered Vale College in 1824, anil graduated w ith honor in l8sS. For the next year he was principal of an academy in New Canaan. Conn., and then pursued his theological studies in New Haven, where, in 1831. he was licensed to preach. From 18.51 to 1833 he was tutor in Vale College, and in the latter year cast in his lot with the " Vale Band," who had devoted themselves to Christian education and home evangelization in Illinois. In the summer of 1833 he arrived in Illinois under commission by the American Home Missionary Society, and spent five years in pioneer missionary work, mainly in Tazewell County. He then labored two seasons in northern Illinois, as Home Missionary Agent, exploring new settlements organizing churches and introducing missionaries to new fields of labor. In December. 1839, he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, was installed November n>. 1840, and remained pastor until December,

1S49. He then accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church at Galeslnirg, 111., remaining there until 1856. After spending a year as agent of the American Missionary Association he became pastor of the Congregational Church at Dover. After serving that church seven years, he accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the Congregational Church at Princeton, where he remained until 1669. Thence he removed to Hinsdale, where for several years he was in charge of the Congregalion.il Church. Since relinquishing this charge he has been almost constantly engaged in tilling vacancies and aiding destitute and feeble churches. 1 1 c has been one of the executive committee of the Illinois Home Missionary Society since it became an independent auxiliary to the A. II. M.S. in 1878; was one of die founders of the Chicago Theological Seminary, and is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee ; luis been for twenty-live years a trustee of Knox College, and was one of the founders and one of the charter trustees of Beloit College, which institution in 1869 conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Mr. Bascom has been married three times. His first wife was Ellen P. Clcaveland, daughter of William P. Cleavcland, of New London, Conn. They were married April 30, 1833, and Mrs. Bascom died at I'ekin. III.. December to, 1S37. Mr. Bascom's second wife was Elizabeth It. Sparhawk, daughter of Dr. Jonathan Sparhawk, of Hartford, Conn., to whom he was married August to, 1841. She died March 27, 1851. at Galesburg, III. He was again married on the Stst of June, iSji, to Ruth S. Pomeroy, daughter of Samuel I'omeroy, of Southampton, Mass., and sister of Hon. S. C. Pomeroy, of Kansas. His surviving children arc three sons, two of whom, the children of his second wife, .--re graduates of I;. I .it College, and one ihe son of his present wife, is a physician at Ottawa, 111. Rev. Mr. Bascom, though in his eightieth year, is still able to meet the frequent calls made upon him to supply temporarily vacant pulpits in his vicinity.

Rfcv. John BlATCHPOUD, D. D.. was born May 24, 1796, at NcwfieldCnow Bridgeport), Conn. His father was the Rev. Samuel Blatchford. a clergyman of note in his day, resident pastor in Bridgeport, then pastor of the associated churches of Lansing, burgh, Watcrford and Trov. When John Blatchford was eight years old his father moved to I jinsingburgh, where he spent his childhood. Great interest in his future was manifested by the Kev. J, Komeyn, 1X1)., and through the liberality of William,* who supplied him with |«ia per year, hi* expenses at Cambridge .Vadcmy, Washington Co.. N. V., were paid, lie enteral Union College, at Schenectady, in 1 St 7, and graduated therefrom in iSjo. In the fall of the latter year he entered l'rinccton College, ami after three years' study was licensed to preach by the Troy hresbvlerv. Immediately after being licensed he accepted a call to the l'ittstown Presbyterian Church, in Rensselaer Countv, X. V.. where he remained until the spring of 1835. On the 2oth of April of this year he acce|Med a unanimous call to the Church at Stillwater, Saratoga Co., N. V.. where he remained until 1S20. when he received a call from the Congregational Church at Dridgcport, Conn., to which place he removed in 1S30. In this Church he labored successfully for six years, and at the close of this period, on account of the illness of his wife, he resigned his charge with a view to foreign travel. Instead of carrying out this plan, however, he turned his steps westward, and spent the winter of 1S36-37 . t Jacksonville. 111. In 1837 he received a call to the Kirst l'rcsbyterian Church at Chicago, where he latxired with great success arid satisfaction to the Church until 1840, but his habitually intense application to the duties of his ministry produced brain fevrr, from the effects of which he never full) recovered. After retiring from the pastorate of this Church, he returned to the Last, with the view to permanent residence there, and spmt the winter of 1S40.41 in Wheeling. Va., where he was warmly solicited to remain. From 1S41 to 1844 he was connected with Marion College, hrst as professor of intcl. lerlual and moral philosophy, and afterward as president of the institution. After the purchase of the college bv the Freemasons, he was requested to remain, but preferred to remove to West F.ly! where in imjxaircd health he remained until 1S47, when he removed to nuincy. In his later years lie was engaged in the enterprise of establishing a Presbyterian theological seminarv for the Northwest and at the time of his death was pre i lent of the organization for this purpose. His last discourse m preached in St. I.ouis. about three months prcrious to his death, and about two months before