Knox County, Illinois - The whole text, 1912 (part 17 of 56)

In 1873 the B. & M. railroad in Iowa and the C., B. & Q. were consolidated .:: under the name of the latter, with Robert Harris, president ; Mr. W. B. Strong, v_ general superintendent, and T. J. Porter as superintendent at Burlington, W. Beckwith, superintendent track, bridges and buildings. ;-;.-

The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad's main line has been from time ;' to time changed to double track, the first piece of double track being constructed in 1864 from Chicago to Lyons, now known as Riverside, and from that double ; track has been built in sections as the necessities of the traffic of the road demanded. The double track first built in Knox county was from Center Point to ' ; Galesburg in 1877, Wataga to Center Point, October, 1880, Oneida to Wataga in ; 1886, Altona to Oneida, 1886, Galva to Altona, 1885, and Galesburg west to '^ Cameron in 1879-80, to Monmouth, 1886, Monmouth to Kirkwood, 1885, Kirkwood to Biggsville, 1884, Biggsville to Gladstone, 1883, Gladstone to Burling- ^f: ton, i88i, Burlington Bridge switch to Locust street, Burlington, 1892. There are several pieces of third track, the first being built in July, 1885, and others in 1886-7 and 1890-91. There is also a small mileage of fourth track in Chi- ;' cago. The double track from Galesburg to Saluda was built in 1907 and Saluda ; to Bushnell in 1910. A double track is now under construction between Gales- : burg and Henderson, Galesburg and Knoxville and several other parts of the !; road in Illinois and Missouri. - J -v. V. I- ; ;-'. w ' -s^'-v;;;=V

The new yards at Galesburg opened August 21, 1906. The branch from I. Savanna to Rio was transferred to Galesburg division May i, 1904. For several ; ' years the Burlington, Carthage and Quincy branch belonged to the Galesburg division, but was later transferred to the Burlington division. ',;

In the foregoing presentation we have dealt almost entirely with the physical '}^, and organic part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co., but it is X; desirable to speak something of the personnel of the road.

The development of the road in Knox and adjoining counties is largely due : . to the sagacious and prudent management of Col. C. G. Hammond and Henry --. Hitchcock. Mr. Hitchcock was from old Deerfield, Massachusetts, an agent at \-:

Rutland, Vermont, of the Rutland and Burlington railroad. Later he was in charge of the Michigan Central road's yard in Chicago. He was a man of rare ability, sagacity and good judgment, who thoroughly organized the work and for more than twenty-five years most faithfully and successfully managed its affairs. He retired June, 1881, with a special token of appreciation of his service given him by a vote of the directors of the company. When he assumed the management of the Galesburg division he had with him several men who helped to build the road into Galesburg, of whom we shall speak later.

Col, C. G. Hammond, whose name we have connected with that of Mr. Hitchcock, was general superintendent of the road, and it is doubtful if any man ever acquired the full confidence of his associates and those under him to a greater degree than he. There were associated with Colonel Hammond and Mr. Hitchcock, Mr. C. W. Mead as division superintendent at Quincy, Henry Martin, general freight agent; Samuel Powell, general passenger and ticket agent; W. W. Hawkins, general agent at Aurora; Amos T. Hall of Detroit, treasurer; J. W. Cothren, also of Detroit, and who became local freight agent at Galesburg and who opened all the stations from Galesburg to East Burlington; T. W. Seymore, assistant general agent, and Max Hjortsburg, chief engineer, who later built the Burlington bridge. Among those who helped to build the road from Aurora to Galesburg were James T. Qark, John D. Besler, John Sullivan, E. C. Olin, J. H. Linsley and Samuel Burch. James F. Joy was president of the road. He commenced his railroad career in the Galesburg yards and in 1883 went into the office of the superintendent of the Illinois lines, where ?ie continued until Mr. Besler was promoted to general superintendent, with whom Mr. Byram went to Chicago. Later he returned to Galesburg, then to the Great Northern in the general manager's and vice-president's office, then division superintendent, then to the C., R. I. & P. R. R., later returning to the Burlington as division superintendent of the lines west of the Missouri, and then to Chicago in charge of the employment bureau, and from that position to the position of vice-president, as above stated.

It is a pleasure to refer to some others who are more particularly associated with Knox county and Galesburg and who helped to make the Galesburg division the banner division of the Burlington road and the one from which men, since prominent in railroad affairs, graduated for service in all parts of the United States.

The local chief from the beginning was Henry Hitchcock, assistant superintendent and later division superintendent, who had as his aids men whom he had trained and promoted, B. O. Carr, brother of Hon. Qark E. Carr, and Gen. Eugene Carr, Augustus Sargent, Charles Chappel, who in after years was gen-

:. Cfal manager of the Chicago & Alton road ; Sanford Kingsbury, his office assistant ; John Lass, chief clerk ; H. F. Hawley, train master, who left for the Chicago & Alton as superintendent; James Alexander, train master; Fred Tubbs and J. M. Ballantine of the telegraph department; L. A. Howland, conductor,

; more than A, N. Towne, a brakeman and conductor, chosen by Mr. Hitchcock to be his assistant and who later became assistant general manager and then called to the Central Pacific, now the Southern Pacific, at $5o,cxx3 a year in gold.

Galesburg division. He came to Galesburg in 1859 and was appointed assistant road master and in 1864 general road master. Mr. Clarke had two assistants, S. F. Shanklin, who had charge of the Quincy road, and J. H. Linsley, who had charge of the remainder of the division. The main line from Galesburg to Mendota having been completed, was placed under the supervision of J. D. Besler in 1863, the present live, active advisor of the road. Mr. Clarke continued in charge until aftef the consolidation of the B. & M. of Iowa, when he resigned to accept a call to the Union Pacific as general superintendent. After several jears of service at the most critical time in the life of the Union Pacific, Mr. Clarke left to become the general superintendent of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul road, where he remained for several years. Unfortunately his railroad life was cut short and upon his death his remains were brought to Galesburg, his old home, and deposited in Hope cemetery. I ' ^. '.:

Mr. Besler commenced his railroad life in Illinois in 1853 by working from time to time on what is now the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis road, and in 1855 he first began work for the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co. on track between Mendota and Aurora. In 1856 he went to Galva and the following year became track foreman at Prairie City. In 1859 he was transferred to Augusta and for four years was extra gang foreman in charge of the construction train. In 1863 Mr. Besler came to Galesburg as assistant road master. In 1865 he was appointed road master in charge of the main line from Galesburg to Mendota with the addition of the Galva and New Boston branch and continued to hold that position with great credit to himself until 1873. He was appointed assistant superintendent of track, bridge and buildings. In 1878 he was, in addition to his other position, appointed assistant superintendent of the Galesburg division. In i88i he became superintendent of all the lines in Illinois and in 1885 general superintendent with headquarters in Chicago, which necessitated his move from Galesburg in 1887. In 1902 after serving the company as general superintendent for seventeen years, he left that position and became assistant to the second vice-president, and is still connected with the vice-president's department. -.

Mr. S. T. Shanklin, one of Mr. Qarke's assistants, was a track laborer, then conductor of construction train with headquarters at Abingdon, then road master at Galesburg, from 1864, in charge of the Quincy line. On account of ill health he left the road and accepted a position as division superintendent of the Union Pacific with headquarters at Omaha. Later he left the Union Pacific and became superintendent of the Missouri Pacific, which position he held until at the age of seventy-five he retired to a well earned rest.

Mr. J. H. Linsley, the other assistant of Mr. Clarke, was well known in Galesburg where for many years he resided and where his widow still resides. His daughter, Mrs. G. VV. Thompson and his son Fred, an engineer on the Burlington, also reside in Galesburg. Mr. Linsley was an old C. B. & Q. man, commencing before the road reached Galesburg. In 1848 he came west to Michigan and was engaged in the building department of the Michigan Central railroad, following the construction of that great thoroughfare into Chicago. Later he was with the Michigan Southern until 1854 when he came to the Burlington road and was located at Princeton in codnection with the building department of what was then the Central Military Tract railroad. He helped build the Bureau bridges. In 1859 Mr. Linsley, having the gold fever, left the road for Pike's peak. He returned to Illinois in 1865, entered the track department of the C. B. & Q. railroad as assistant road master under Mr. Clarke and for many years faithfully served the company and retired at a good age to enjoy his remaining days in Galesburg. .-

These four men, James T. Clarke, S. T. Shanklin, James H. Linsley and J. D. Besler, had full charge of the Galesburg division at a time when it required most arduous and strenuous efforts to bring the new roadbed in safe and first class condition and keep it so. "

Associated with these men was Mr. J. B. Scheitlin, who had full charge of the office or inner work of the track department, which then had its own store department. Mr. Scheitlin commenced his railroad work at Abingdon as assistant to the station agent. Soon after (in February, 1856) the first train from Quincy ran through to Galesburg, when the station was first opened. In August, 1856, the agent suddenly left the service. Mr. Scheitlin was given charge of the station. About that time Abingdon had a one stall engine house and turntable and the conductors and firemen of the construction crews made their headquarters there. Mr. Scheitlin gave up the station and came to Galesburg to assume charge of the books of the track department. In 1866, Mr. Scheitlin was selected to go with the pay master, W. E. Gillman, and later C. S. Bartlett, to assist in paying the men, for twelve successive years, making the trip over the whole road, still having charge of the office work. Mr. Scheitlin was a thorough office man and while the outside work was done by the road masters and superintendent, much of their success was due to the efficiency and faithfulness of the inside men looking after the details and keeping the supplies to the front.

Associated with Mr. Scheitlin for a time was Henry Moore and upon his being transferred in 1867 to the position of special agent, Mr. John Lass became assistant to Mr. Scheitlin, in charge of the office and track supplies and stores. Mr. Lass after five years' service in office of Mercer and Edwards, solicitors and lawyers, in England, commenced his work on the Burlington, in November, 1866, in the building department headquarters, which then was a larger department, where he had the pleasure of doing a pleasant service to the clerk of that office, the editor of this history, our esteemed friend Mr. Albert J. Perry, by relieving him from his duty when he responded to a call from his bride-to-be in the east. Mr. Lass was for four months in a position as assistant to the treasurer of Knox county. In the fall of 1867, he again entered the service of the "Q" in the track department, where he remained until the year 1872, when Superintendent Hitchcock called him to his office, where he was associated with Mr. Samuel Charles and others. After the consolidation of the C., B. & Q. with the B. & M., changes were made in the division superintendent's office. Mr. Sanford Kingsburv, for many years Mr. Hitchcock's chief deck, was transferred to the position of train master and later left for the Central Pacific with Mr. A. N. Towne. Mr. Lass then became chief clerk and continued with Mr. Hitchcock until he retired from the service of the Burlington, in i88i. The office work of the assistant superintendent, Mr. Besler. was also under his charge. In 1890, Mr. Lass was appointed superintendent of the Galesburg division which then included the main line Mendota to Burlington as well as the Burlington to Quincy branch, and all the present division with the exception of the Savanna

Mr. Lass has been continuously in the service from 1866 to the present time, closely associated with the first superintendent, Mr. Hitchcock, as well as with Mr. Besler, and all the other superintendents and the track, bridge and building department men. ^'--, ' f- - c- .

Mr. Samuel Burch was also one of the first men in the service and had charge of the bridge department. Another old employe was E. C. Olin. In 1853, Mr. Olin, a carpenter, came west from New York, and for some time worked for the Chicago Northwestern railroad. In 1885, he began work for the Burlington, at Aurora. He moved to Galesburg, in 1873, where he was . in charge of the bridge department for many years, until he retired to his farm in Iowa, where he died at an advanced age. His daughter, Mrs. George W. ': Bridge, still resides here. \'^i ' / - - - ^ ; '-^- . I ' .'^ i!'^

There is now in the service of the company, Mr. John Sullivan, a thorough .' going track man, none better in that line of work. He is another of the old stock. /

When Mr. Sullivan came west upon his arrival upon these shores from Ire- ^ land, the land of the green and beauty, he began to work on the track of the - Burlington at Somonauk, in 1857. In May. 1860, he came to Galesburg, when, '- after three years he was appointed track foreman at Kewanee, and five years-; later at Hinsdale, Illinois, where he remained until 1868, where he was foreman . of an extra gang at Sandwich. This position he held until 1871, when he was V promoted to the position of division road master with headquarters at Aurora, from whence he was transferred to Galesburg. He had charge of all the main '. line from Mendota to Burlington, including the Galesburg yard, also the Galva :; and Gladstone branch. Mr. Sullivan's home has been in Galesburg from the > time he became road master on this division and he and his family are well ', known and respected. '

There were two other men in the track department associated with Mr. - . Clarke. Succeeding Mr. Shanklin was Archer Bracey from New York, and Mr. -- C. H. Cuyler, who commenced work on the track on the Quincy branch in .' 1857. Later he became section foreman, then in charge of an extra gang and ' for years he was also assistant road master. ;-

Mr. C. P. Stringham was also road master and was a good track man. His daughters are still living in Galesburg. When Mr. Shanklin went to the Union Pacific he was followed, in 1871, by Mr. Stringham, Isaac Kennedy and Michael V Carey, and others.

The water department was in charge of James V. Pangburn until 1891, whea he was succeeded by William Harrison, who is now in charge. . -J - ;;^ ;

The building department had charge of the erection of all the stations and other buildings on all the new branches which were opened from time to time. Mr. Abe H. Huntington was at the head of this department. In 1874, he went . to Denver, where he died some years later. With Mr. Huntington, from 1865 . to 1873, was Albert J. Perry, who as chief clerk had charge of the office. ^.

Mr. Perry resigned January i, 1873, and in July of that year entered the cir- :r cuit clerk's office, where he remained for nine years, when he was elected county ' clerk for two terms. He is well known to all people of Knox county and will V further be known as the editor of this history. He was elected treasurer of Knox college in 1891, and still holds that office. He was also president of the Second National bank from January, 1891, to February, 1903, when he entered into the loan and investment business, which he has followed to the present time, and is still conducting a nice business in that line.

Mr. W. A. Boydstun succeeded Mr. Huntington and was foreman of the building department and continued in charge until he retired. Mr. Boydstun's son, J. F. Boydstun, was for a time assistant train master and has been for many years one of the best engineers in the road's service. Mr. Boydstun's wife, family and brother, C. O. Boydstun, formerly a "Q" man, still reside in Galesburg.

Mr. Fred H. Tubbs was superintendent of the telegraph of the Galesburg division for a time, but left to be general superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph office in Chicago.

Another employe most closely connected with the Galesburg division was Fletcher C. Rice, who commenced his railroad career as an operator at Monmoutli, Kirkwood, and other stations, when he came to Galesburg as train dispatcher, in 1867. He was made chief dispatcher and chief operator in 1878, and train master in i88i. He was appointed superintendent of the Galesburg division in 1888, superintendent of Illinois lines in 1902, general superintendent in 1904. Later he became general inspector of transportation on the vice-president's staflf. Mr. Rice always had the confidence and respect of the men who were under his supervision while on the Galesburg and Illinois divisions.

Mr. C. F. Jaureiet, a Canadian Frenchman, was for a long time in the early operation of the road master mechanic of the C., B. & Q. lines at Aurora, with Mr. Cheney, in charge of the locomotive department at Galesburg.

Mr. Cheney was killed at Canton in a train accident. Mr. William Wilson succeeded Mr. Cheney and after several years he was called by the general manager, Chappell, of the Chicago & Alton road to be head of the locomotive department of that road. Mr. Chappell, who was Mr. Hitchcock's assistant, while on the Burlington, recognized Mr. Wilson's' ability. Mr. Wilson was succeeded by Mr. Geo. Hackney, who afterwards became superintendent of motive power of the A. T. & S. F. road.

There were others connected with the locomotive and car departments, one for many years, Mr. John Bassler, whose family still reside in Galesburg. Mr. Bassler had charge of the car department and was a competent man, who later went to Burlington to take charge of the shops there and afterwards resigned and was in business in Galesburg for many years.

Robert W. Colville, one of the old employes, a Galesburg boy, for many years was in charge of the locomotive and car departments at Galesburg. He was well known to all the men as "Bob." Under his jurisdiction the departments were well handled. Mr. Colville and the men worked as a unit in good service. But unfortunately the life of Mr. Colville was instantly terminated December 28, 1909, by an accident which spread a gloom over the whole C. B. & Q. road. Men from all parts of the road attended the funeral services. Mr. ColviUe's family are residing in Galesburg. .-..:.; f- j v ' '-

Mr. J. T. Bassett was also in the old car department and still is in the service of the company. He had charge of this department for many years, was known and respected by all. He and his family make their home in Galesburg.

In connection with the C. B. & Q. and Knox county, more particularly Galeshurg, it may be interesting to know of the number of young men who have practically had their start in the offices or departments of the C. B. & Q. at Galesburg.

Another Galesburg boy, W. G. Besler, entered the assistant superintendent's office in April, 1880. From there he was called to the office of superintendent of Illinois lines. He went to Chicago in 1886 with his father, Mr. J. D. Besler, where he entered the general manager's office. He took a course in the Boston School of Technology. Returning to Chicago, he was appointed train master at Fulton, then became division superintendent of the St. Louis division and from there he went to the Reading railroad as general manager and is now vicepresident and general manager of the Central railroad of New Jersey. ,

C. J. Balch, former clerk, is now on western railroads. - '^ ;i. I - :v - : A. T. Lindgren, clerk of division superintendent, was promoted to chief clerk, then to general superintendent's office in Chicago with Mr. Besler and later left the service and is and has been for many years secretary of the large Scandinavian Loan association.

C. S. Belden, clerk to assistant contractor of construction work, is now in Minneapolis connected with the wholesale exportation of flour and flour expert.

Will Van Schaak, general agent of the St. M. & Pere Marquette railroad, W. A. Armstrong, cashier P. T. & S. bank; C. K. Armstrong, assistant passenger agent of Central railroad of New Jersey; P. N. Granville, Cashier of the Bank of Galesburg; C. M. Hunt, court stenographer; Fay Scudder of the C. B. & Q. railroad office and Geo. L. Price, now of Galesburg Furnishing Co., have all been efficient and active employes.

In the year 1900 there was a gigantic struggle for the possession of the C. . B. & Q. between the Great Northern Railroad Co., represented by J. H. Hill and '^',, the Union Pacific, represented by E. H. Harriman, terminating as all know in '.A , the control of the C. B. & Q. passing out of the hands of the men of Boston -; : and the east and into the hands of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific and finally terminating with the Great Northern practically in full control. This struggle was so fierce that stocks went soaring to unheard of heights and for a time railroad managers generally feared a most disastrous result. Nevertheless, things settled down and no one outside of the parties interested realized that anything had happened. All that is known or felt today is that James J. Hill ; ..^ became one of the greatest of railroad kings and if anything happens to interfere |; . ' with the great property concentrated by him, it will probably some day become ,.. . the greatest factor in existence in the transportation problem of the United :'. States and the world. Northwestern Canada is nowhere near developed, no one can make accurate prediction of the importance of Alaska, there is a constant growth in the products and productive power of the great west as well as the east and there is yet to be a greater interchange of the products of the two sections of this country than one can imagine and this enormous system of rail- . ways must perform the bulk of this work. The great growth in the population -; of the United States was the first cause that called this system into being. Millions of men and women have made up the constructive force and it is now proper to group a few of the commanding figures that have guided the great mass in its constructive work, all of whom at some time have been prominent in ., , C. B. & Q. matters and many of them residents of Knox county. ->; A. M. Towne, president Southern Pacific; E. P. Ripley, president A. T. & -,, S. F. R. R. Co.; F. A. Delano, president Erie railway; H. B. Stone, general . .: manager C. B. & Q. ; W. C. Brown, president New York Central & H. R. R. ; G. H. Ross, vice-president Alton ; J. D. Besler, C. B. & Q., of Chicago ; W. G. Besler, vice-president and general manager Central of New Jersey; Chas. Chap- . pell, president Chicago & Alton ; J. T. Clarke, general superintendent Union Pacific and later C. M. & St. P. ; S. T. Shanklin, division superintendent Northern Pacific; Daniel Willard, president Erie railroad; Robert Mather, president Rock Island system; C. H. Hudson, Chicago and C. & O. L. ; C. H. Smith, traffic manager C. & O.

vM So intimate has been the relation between the Michig^an Central railroad and the C. B. & Q. railroad that a history of the latter does not seem complete without a brief account of the former. Three men, whom we have already mentioned, deserve a little further notice before taking up this part of our subject, viz, : John W. Brooks, James F. Joy, and John Murray Forbes, who may be credited with the organization, consolidation and building of the Michigan Central and all of whom have been prominent in one way and another with the Burlington system.

John M. Forbes from 1846 to i88i was a great power in the financial world, who provided funds for the completion and successful operation of the Michigan Central and who did very much the same thing for the C. B. & Q. He was a man of strict and unswerving financial integrity and thereby established a credit for these roads upon a firm basis with moneyed interests of the east. Well known in London and the orient, his word became good for any needed amount of money.

John W. Brooks at the age of twenty-six came west and saw the condition of the Michigan Central road. He returned to Boston and New York in the hope of interesting financial men in his scheme. He met John M. Forbes, who had already some experience in matters of this kind, and presented the subject to him. The Michigan Central had been built westward from Detroit one hundred and forty miles to Kalamazoo. It had been backed by the state of Michigan and had cost $3,500,000. State aid, however, failed at this period and the road was put up for market. Mr. Forbes had faith in the scheme and undertook to furnish money for the purchase of the road. He employed the great lawyer, Daniel Webster, to draft a charter of the Michigan Central railroad embodying the best features of What had been learned from eastern railroad experience and sent Mr. Brooks back to Michigan to secure the passage of the charter by the legislature, In 1846 after much discussion and predictions of dire results, the charter was granted and by the act of incorporation the Michigan Central was granted the property of the road forever with the proviso that after twenty years the state might repurchase and after thirty years might alter, amend or repeal the charter. The purchase was made for $2,000,000.

Mr. James F. Joy was a graduate of Dartmouth college and the Harvard Law school. He came to Detroit and while waiting for his practice to grow, he was called into this scheme. It was Brooks and Joy who presented this matter to Forbes and they naturally became active in the work of bringing order out of the chaos into which the road had fallen. Forbes was made president of the road. Brooks of Detroit was to have charge of the operating. The Michigan Central company took possession of the property on the 23rd of September, 1846, and when the directors held the first annual meeting in Detroit, June, 1847, the road had already prospered enough to justify immediate preparations for a forward march toward Lake Michigan. Funds were easily found to complete this work and soon these men began to look for opportunities west of Chicago and by a series of negotiations heretofore mentioned in this work, they became interested in the Btirlington road.

At the time these men took hold of the Michigan Central road, it ran through a section of country which was practically a wilderness, but the moment that efficient management was substituted for the previous bad management, traffic increased to such a degree that the road was shortly built to Chicago and transportation from Buffalo to Chicago was reduced from four days to a few hours.

The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway company, which has a valuable plant in Galesburg, operates in thirteen states. These Santa Fe states are Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California. This territory generally is known as the Great Southwest. If the thirteen states named were isolated from the rest of the world, the inhabitants would lack neither necessities nor luxuries in all the time to come, for in this section everything that mankind desires is produced in abundance.

The Santa Fe has been a pioneer in the development of the territory described. Starting in Kansas when the buffalo ran wild and Indians were on the war path, it pushed its way steadily westward and southward, across plains and through mountains, toward the Pacific ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Having obtained an outlet to tide waters on the west and south, to obtain a definite eastern terminus at once became a problem for the Santa Fe management to solve.

Southern California was, in the late eighties, beginning to boom its products eastward ; the mines of New Mexico and Colorado were contributing a heavy traffic ; the plains of western Kansas, Indian Territory and Texas were shipping vast and increasing numbers of cattle to eastern markets, and the grain fields of Kansas were developing at a remarkable rate. The enormous volume of traffic which the then 5,300 miles of the Santa Fe system was creating and handling demanded an eastern outlet beyond the Missouri river.

Chicago, the traffic center of the great lakes and the Mississippi valley, was then, as today, the central market. It was, furthermore, the center of westward traffic operations, and the great homeseeker movement, occasioned by cheap lands and booming conditions in the west focused in that city. Chicago was, in short, the logical eastern terminus for the Santa Fe system.

To do full justice to its traffic requirements and to fulfill its ambition for a line from the lakes to the gu\i and Pacific coast points, the Santa Fe must, then, strike directly from Kansas City to Chicago, and, under the indomitable leadership of President William B. Strong, the dream of building into Chicago became a splendid reality in the year 1887.

To carry out this project, the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railway company was incorporated under the laws of the state of Illinois on December 3, 1886.

In the month of January, 1887, according to information furnished by G. D. Bradley of the Santa Fe's accounting department at Topeka, the stock markets of Boston, New York and London announced the sale of $15,000,000 gold bonds of the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railway company. These bonds, which were payable semi-annually in each of the above mentioned cities, were guaranteed by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad company and were secured by a first mortgage on the entire new road as projected subject only to $1,500,000 of prior lien bonds. In consideration of this guarantee, the Santa Fe was to receive the entire $30,000,000 stock issue of the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railway company, thereby gaining control through a direct ownership of two-thirds of its $45,000,000 capital.

Several plans were proposed for getting into Chicago, but the one adopted was to construct as much of a direct line as necessary, and to purchase such minor lines as could be used to advantage in covering the distance. By this plan it was found possible to reduce the amount of main line construction about one hundred miles through the purchase of a small road leading into Chicago from Pekin, Illinois. Shortly after its incorporation, in December, 1886, the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railway company acquired the road and other properties of the Chicago & St. Louis Railway company, which extended from Chicago to Pekin, about 158 miles, including a short spur from Streator to Coalville. By the terms of its charter the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railway Company was authorized to build an extension from Streator, Illinois, to Fort Madison, Iowa, connecting at the latter point with an extension of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe from Kansas City. It was authorized, further, to construct a line from Pekin to Springfield, Illinois.

The Chicago & St. Louis Railway company, which the Santa Fe absorbed, was known originally in railroad circles as the "Hinckley road." About the year 1869, a Chicago promoter, named Francis C. Hinckley, associated with Philip B. Shumway and Colonel Ralph Plumb, and backed largely by Moses Taylor, president of the National City Bank of New York, had built a line from Streator to Pekin, a distance of about sixty-four miles. This was called the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern railroad. In 1876 this road was extended northward about thirty miles to Maxon creek, near Coal City, the enterprise having been conducted under the name of the Cliicago & St. Louis Railway Company. In i88i these roads became involved in financial difficulties and, on May lo, 1882, both properties were reorganized under the name of the Chicago, St. Louis & Westera Railroad company. On January i, 1884, this line was completed from Mazon bridge to Chicago, nearly seventy miles. More financial troubles ensued, and another reorganization took place, this time under the name of the Chicago & St. Louis Railway company, on January i, 1885. The property of the Chicago, St. Louis & Western was transferred to the Chicago & St. Louis Railway company on May i, 1885, and the latter named road was formally opened for traffic on December 21, 1885, only to pass to the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railway company a year later.

In February, 1887, A. A. Robinson, chief engineer of the Santa Fe system, received orders from President Strong to push the line through and have it ready for operation by January i, 1888. This order was literally carried into effect, work being started all along the line with tremendous energy.

The grading and bridge building were let to private contractors, and approximately five thousand men were employed along the entire route, this force being increased later by about two thousand railroad employes engaged in track and structural work. The organization of the engineering staff and this body of

.workmen was not unlike that of an .army in the field. Over the entire enterprise, with headquarters in Topeka, but everywhere present, was A. A. Robinson, chief engineer. At one time five hundred men were employed on Santa Fe work in Knox county. .

Mr. Robinson, who now resides in Topeka, having retired from active railroad work, told the writer that he negotiated the arrangement for building the Santa Fe through Galesburg with a committee of which Mr. W. Selden Gale was chairman. Mr. Gale was the son of George W. Gale, founder of Galesburg. When news was received in Galesburg that the Santa Fe would build east of the Missouri river, the people of Galesburg promptly organized to capture the new line. Galesburg's proposition was to furnish a right of way through the city without expense to the Santa Fe. A guaranty, signed by many leading citizens, was telegraphed by Colonel Clark E. Carr to the directors of the Santa Fe, in session in Boston, and they accepted it. The money to pay for the right of way was afterwards raised by subscription. The road was built through Knox county late in the summer of 1887. When the work was started in Galesburg, Mr. Robinson submitted all matters pertaining to grades, crossings, depot site, etc., to Chairman Gale and the other committeemen, who put them through the council.

An important feature of the line from Chicago to Kansas City is that, while the Santa Fe crosses thirty-four railroads in the total distance of 458 miles, there are only four grade crossings. The Santa Fe goes over or under these railroads at all the other points. This feature prevents danger and saves time.

After the completion of the Chicago-Kansas City line, Mr. Robinson became vice-president and general manager of the Santa Fe, and later went to the Mexican Central railroad as its president. -:

Reaching Chicago, in 1888, the Santa Fe began spreading its network of rails into a system now aggregating approximately ii,cxx) miles of lines which serve this vast empire of the southwest, its wealth-yielding farms and ranches, its extensive mines, and its growing cities teeming with factories and the marts of trade.':..;,:;; --./-"--:; . '>. -^'' --,;-'

The manufacturing industries in the thirteen states served by the Santa Fe have increased in number and output more than lOO per cent in ten years. All of the states produce lumber for the market, except two. Ten of the states are coal producers. Petroleum and natural gas are found in nine. The wool industry is important in twelve. Stone for the market is produced in four, salt in four, lead and zinc in seven, gj'psum in eight, lime in three, cement in nine, sand and gravel in ten. clay in eight, precious metals in six, copper in five, iron in six, the fishing industry is extensive in six, and every state is rich in products from the farm, orchard, ranch and garden. -; , .V -

The rapid development of the southwest has made it necessary for the Santa Fe to have a two-track railroad from Chicago to the Pacific. It now has two tracks from Chicago to Belen, New Mexico, a distance of 1,400 miles, and by the end of 1912 additional double tracking for 400 miles will have been finished west of Belen. From Chicago to Kansas City the tracks are side by side. From Kansas City the main line runs through central Kansas, southeastern Colorado and New Mexico, another line through southern Kansas, northwestern Oklahoma, the panhandle of Texas and central New Mexico, the two lines meeting at Belen, making a two-track way. In addition the Santa Fe has double tracked its main line in Kansas City to Newton, a distance of 201 miles. It also has two tracks through the Arkansas valley, from Holly to La Junta, in Colorado. The tracks west of Belen are side by side. The double tracking from Chicago to Kansas City was completed in 1911. The double tracking in Knox county was done in the summer of that year. "-"' ;.:--:

The Santa Fe of to-day, under the guidance of President E. P. Ripley, is / : recognized as one of the great railway systems of the world, at once conservative and progressive. The Ripley policy for team work in all branches of the service and for maintaining a cordial relationship between officials and the company's patrons has been a strong factor in the success of the Santa Fe. :-;"'-/'-.---/

The Presbyterian church in Knox county is represented by five churches - ^ o Altona, Galesburg, Knoxville, Oneida and Yates City. Formerly there was a :M.!, church in Copley township, known as Knox church, which is now closed. These /. .^ churches form an integral part of the religious body known officially as "the : ';' , Presbyterian church in the United States of America." This body is for the :;.". most part limited to the northern part of the "^Jnited States, the similar body . ;" Vin the south being separately incorporated under the name of "The Presby- ; .; terian Church in the United States." To these two branches of the Presby- ': :,;^. f terian family must be added all the groups following the Presbyterial fonn of .; , government - such as the Dutch Reformed, the Reformed Church in America, '^': . the United Presbyterian, the Cumberland Presbyterian and others. In all it is ; ;---.';/ estimated that 23,000,000 people confess allegiance to the Presbj-terian system, .; ' and they are found scattered throughout the world.

The Presbyterian church in America dates from 1705, when the first presbytery was formed in Philadelphia. In 1788 the general assembly was first organized. There have been a number of breaks in the development of the church, owing to divergent views on matters of government and discipline. In 1870 there was a union consummated between the "old school" and "new school" branches, and more recently there has been consummated a union with the Cumberland branch. The membership of the national church is now 1,354,000, with 1,200,000 scholars in Bible schools. The name Presbyterian is the adaptation of the Greek word for "elder" or "bishop." It signifies government by elders, who are chosen to represent the people. It has always been a purely democratic church, and its form of government has been so highly satisfactory that many other institutions have been planned upon the same representative idea. Each local church in the Presbyterian system is governed by a board of elders, who are chosen by the congregation; the churches within a certain area constitute a

"presbytery" ; all the churches in a state form a "synod" ; and delegates from the presbyteries (equal clergy and laity) form the "general assembly," which meets annually, and which is the highest court of the church.

The Presbyterian church carries on an immense amount of work in this and other lands. She has been the friend of the common people, the nurse of liberty, the mother of democracy, the builder of schools and colleges. Such colleges as Princeton and Knox have been planted by her sons, and she continues her great work, planting schools and extending her influence in all lands. Her missionary labors are extensive and permanent. She has now over i,ooo missionaries in the foreign field and has distributed this past year about $1,70x3,000 in these lands. In all that makes for the uplift of the world the church has been a great contributor; and the dignity of her worship, with the freedom of her government, have combined to make her service far-reaching and significant.

In matters of doctrine the Presbyterian church follows what is known as the Augiistinian or Calvinistic system. These doctrines were formulated more elaborately by John Calvin (1509-1564). Briefly the Calvinistic churches emphasize the sovereignty of God, especially in matters of grace. The sovereign recognition of God has given to Presbyterianism a peculiar strength, and the history of the denomination is full of tragedy. While following what seems like a rigid system, no church surpasses the Presbjterian in the simplicity of her methods, and members are welcomed into her communion on the simplest terms. Her conceptions of the Bible, and of the revelation of God in Christ, have given to her a solidity and steadfastness that remains unchanged throughout the centuries, and her people are planting the work with the certainty of future achievements and progress. Combining thus the rootage necessary to growth and the fruitage which is the sign of health, the church has become the true liberal church, and she is filled with happiness.

A committee from Schuyler presbytery, composed of Isaac H. Candee, D. D., of Galesburg, Rev. Thomas S. Vail of Knoxville and Rev. Jas. T. Bliss of Walnut Grove, met a portion of the citizens of this place at their schoolhouse to organize a Presbyterian church, as had been before publicly announced. Rev. Thomas S. Vail preached a sermon from Luke ii, 34:35. The committee having been duly organized for the transaction of business, twenty-one names were given : Richard S. Stuckey and Joseph Finley, first elders ; Joseph Stuckey, first deacon. Attest: I. H. Candee, D. D., Rev. T. S. Vail, Rev. J. T. Bliss, committee of presbytery.

First examination and approving of minutes at Galesburg, April ii, 1860. C. Levenworth, moderator. The following pastors have served since the church building was erected: Rev. C. Levenworth, who resided in Galesburg; Rev. Giffin and Rev. Jimison, who resided in Monmouth ; I. G. Scott lived in Galesburg; Rev. Moore, Rev. Harvey, Rev. Ayers, who resided in Galesburg; Rev. Thos. Watson, Rev. Wm. Parker, Rev. John Rugh, now of White Hall; Rev. C. W. Crofts of Morrison, Rev. J. N. Strain of Afton, Iowa ; Rev. W. B. Smith, St. Louis, Mo. Revs. Bliss and Vance were itinerant ministers before house was built. Rev. S. A. League, formerly of Yates City, was elected pastor and took charge of work March i, 1912.

Elders : Thos. Andrews, Chas. Austin and J. W. McQueen, clerk. Trustees : A. A. Scott, James McGaan, F. H. Olson, Ed Main and Harry McGaan. Membership about loo; Sunday school, 45. House, eight roomed modern building. V-..-.... : ;. -- / ... J. W. McQueen, Clerk.

The Presbyterian church in Galesburg has a history parallel with that of the town and of Knox college, all of which were founded together. The group that came from Whitesboro, N. Y., to establish the town and college were a group of church-going people, and soon after arriving here they met to organize as a church. On February 26, 1837, the first Sunday service was held, with the Rev. Geo. W. Gale as preacher. Sixty- four persons united by letter and eighteen by confession of faith - eighty-two ip all. On April 5th it was agreed that the church should be organized fully as Presbyterian, and very soon thereafter it was received into the presbytery of Schuyler, the corporate name being "The Presbyterian Church of Galesburg." The first elders chosen were Nehemiah West, Nehemiah H. Losey and John Kendall. The deacons chosen were Thomas Simmons and Abel Goodell. The church continued its service until 1845, when a change occurred in its policy. The Congregational element had been growing strong in the young church, and this group wished some compromise that they might have recognition. The compromise was arranged in 1843 3"d continued until 1851, when a group of Presbyterians withdrew and organized a church of their own faith, known as the Second Presbyterian church. In the service of the First church were Rev. Geo. W. Gale, 1836; Rev. John Thomas A very, 1836-7; Rev. John Waters, 1837-39; Rev. Horatio Foote, 1839-40; Rev. Geo. W. Gale, 1840-41; Rev. Hiram Huntington Kellogg, 1841-43 ; Rev. J. Waters, Rev. Edward Hollester or Rev. Hiram Marsh, 1843-44; Rev. Lucius H. Parker, 1844-45; Rev. H. H. Kellogg, 1845-47; Rev. Jonothan Blanchard, 1847-49; Rev. Flavel Bascom, 1849-50.

The first service of the new Presbyterian congregation was held in Knox academy June 29, 1851. AJter worshipping in a small building on South street the congregation in i8)p moved into a new building at the corner of Kellogg and Main streets. In a short time there was a movement for a more suitable building, and after some delays, incident in part to the war, the new edifice on South Cherry street was proceeded with and occupied May 7, 1864. This building was destroyed by fire Nov. 31. 1891. The ministers serving this church were : Rev. Geo. W. Gale to 1852, Rev. John W. Bailey to 1858, Rev. Harvey Curtis, D. D., and Rev. Charles E. Stebbins to 1862. After a group of supplies, the Rev. George Duffield became pastor in 1865, continuing until 1869. Dr. Duf- buildinj:: was erected: Rev. C. Levenworth. who resided in Galesburg; Rev. Giffin and Rev. Jimison, who resided in Monmouth ; I. G. Scott lived in Galeshurij; Rev. Moore, Rev. Harvey, Rev. Avers, who resided in Galesburg; Rev. Thos. \\'atson. Rev. \\'m. Parker, Rev. John Rugh, now of White Hall : Rev. C. W. Crofts of .Morrison, Rev. J. X. Strain of Afton, Iowa ; Rev. W. B. Smith, St. Louis, Mo. Revs. Bliss and \'ance were itinerant ministers before house was built. Rev. S. A. League, formerly of Yates City, was elected pastor and took charge of work ^larch i, 1912.

Elders: Thos. Andrews, Chas. Austin and J. W. McQueen, clerk. Trustees: A. A. Scott, James McGaan, F. H. Olson, Ed Main and Harry McGaan. Membership about loo; Sunday school, 45. House, eight roomed modern building.

The Presbyterian church in Galesburg has a history parallel with that of the town and of Knox college, all of which were founded together. The group that came from \\'hitcsboro, X. Y., to establish the town and college were a group of church-going people, and soon after arriving here they met to organize as a church. On February 26, 1837, the first Sunday service was held, with the Rev. Geo. \\'. Gale as preacher. Sixty-four persons united by letter and eighteen by confession of faith - eighty-two in all. On A])ril 5th it was agreed that the church should be organized fully as Presbyterian, and very soon thereafter it was received into the presbytery of Schuyler, the corporate name being "The Presbyterian Church of Galesburg." The first elders chosen were Xehemiah West, Xehemiah H. Losey and John Kendall. The deacons chosen were Thomas Simmons and Abel Goodell. The churcli continued its service until 1845, \vhen a change occurred in its jwlicy. The Congregational element had been growing strong in the >oung church, and this grou]) wished some compromise that they might have recognition. The compromise was arranged in 1843 3"fl continued until 1851, when a grou]) of Presbyterians withdrew and organized a church of their own faith, known as the Second Presbyterian church. In the service of the First church were Rev. Geo. \\'. Gale, 1836; Rev. John Thomas Avery, 1836-7; Rev. John \\'aters, 1837-39; Rev. Horatio l-'oote, 1839-40: Rev. Geo. \\'. Gale. 1840-41: Rev. Hiram Huntington Kellogg, 1841-43: Rev. J. \\'aters. Rev. Edward Hollester or Rev. Hiram Marsh, 1843-44; Rev. Lucius H. Parker, 1844-45; Rev. H. H. Kellogg, 1845-47; Rev. Jonothan Blanchard, 1847-49; Rev. Flavel Bascom, 1849-50.

The first service of the ncu- Presbyterian congregation was held in Knox academy June 29, 1851. ^\iter worshi])i)ing in a small building on South street the congregation in i8jo moved into a new building at the corner of Kellogg and ^lain streets. In a short time there was a movement for a more suitable building, and after some delays, incident in part to the war, the new edifice on .South Cherry street was proceeded with and occupied May 7, 1864. This building was destroyed by fire X(n-. 31, 1891. The ministers serving this church were : Rev. Geo. W. Gale to 1852, Rev. John \\'. Bailey to 1858, Rev. Harvey Curtis, D. D., and Rev. Charles E. Stebbins to 1862. After a group of supplies, the Rev. George Duffield became pastor in 1865, continuing until 1869. Dr. Duf- field's pastorate has been memorized by a window in the present church, recalling his authorship of the stately hymn, "Stand up, stand up for Jesus." In 1869 Prof. Llewellyn Pratt became stated supply.

In 1854 there was organized in Galesburg an "old school" Presbyterian church. This was a national movement and was based upon questions of discipline. This body worshipped in a building on North Cedar street, which was occupied in 1857. This building was removed to Simmons street in 1865, where the work continued until 1870. The pastors were Rev. T. S. Vail to 1855, Rev. I. N. Candee to 1866, Rev. George Norcross to 1868, Rev. S. T. Wilson to 1870.

In 1869 and 1870 the question of the union of Presbyterian interests was taken up and on March i, 1870, the presbytery of Knox and Warren gave official sanction to the union. Prof. Pratt was stated supply for a short time of the united church, and in the fall of 1872 the Rev. Matthew B. Lourie became pastor. He was succeeded in the fall of 1885 by Rev. John B. Worrall, who remained until 1889. Rev. John Hood, D. D., was pastor until the congregation called the Rev. Hamilton W. Spence, Lit. D., who retired in 1906. In the summer of 1907 the Rev. Stuart M. Campbell, D. D., a graduate of Knox College, class of 1888, became pastor, and remains in that office at the date of this writing.

In the pastorate of Rev. Dr. John Hood the present splendid stone edifice was erected on the corner of North Prairie and East Ferris streets, at a total cost of about $70,000. -'-'-'::-

The church to-day reports about 550 members. The Bible school has a total enrollment of 350. There are flourishing societies of women and young people and a brotherhood of the men. In its board of trustees are Mr. Geo. C. Lescher, chairman ; Mr. W. L. Steele, secretary, and Messrs. L. F. Wertman, Geo. E. Sipherd, C. W. Hoyt, Geo. W. Kirby, Fred A. Dean, W. S. McQanahan, W. J. Hayward, R. O. Housh, R. G. Sinclair and J. H. Waterman. The church session is made up as follows : The pastor, moderator ; Mr. G. T. Sellew, clerk, and Messrs. J. H. Losey, J. C. Fahnestock, J. N. Irwin, A. F. McComack, A. W. Snyder, A. A. Sigsbee and R. N. Shaw.

In 1910 the congregation bought for a manse the property at the corner of Losey and Prairie streets. It is a beautiful and permanent minister's home and a valuable property.

The congregation has had in its ranks many of the leading educators, merchants and business men of Galesburg, and it has contributed very largely to the building of a lovely and substantial city. , .^ . - .

A very large interest attaches to the history of a church in Copley township which was known by the name of John Knox church. By referring to the .. article on "The Scotch in Knox County" some facts concerning this church ', will be found, and to those who cherish its memory these words will have the ' deepest interest. It was indeed a "Scotch" church, as will be realized in the list of names of the founders given in the article just referred to. This church was organized under the direction of a committee of Schuyler presbytery, on April 28, 1855, and for the church immortality was fondly predicted. Along -' with many other country churches, it was abandoned some years ago, the official close of its history occurring in 1900. The church was organized with twenty-five members from the church at Knoxville. The ruling elders chosen at the time were : Mr. Samuel McCornack, Mr. Lockhart Leighton, and Mr. Richard S. Stuckey. The trusteees were: Mr. Peter McClymont, Mr. Peter Gordon, Mr. William McCornack, Mr. James McCornack. From the records it seems that Rev. I. T. Bliss was first pastor, serving about four years from January, 1857. Rev. S. E. Vance was chosen pastor in 1863, and served about five years, and Rev. W. S. Dool from 1873. In 1886, Rev. John Rugh was chosen pastor, and continued in the field eleven years. There is much affection shown by the descendants of the original families for this church, which is now history rapidly becoming forgotten. - . - ; . , .- ' .-

The Presbyterian church at Knoxville was organized on the fourth of July, 1835, by a committee of Schuyler presbytery, consisting of Rev. Romulus Barnes and Rev. Robert Stewart. The organization comprised only seven members at this meeting, but others soon united. David Hugg^ns and Parnach Owen were elected to the office of ruling elders. The church, after a varied experience of two generations, is now housed in a very neat and commodious building. It is well adapted to the needs of the congregation in all its departments. It is valued at $16,000. A modern manse has just been completed, in which the pastor and family are happily domiciled. The value of this home is about $6,000. V;

The list of ministers who have served this people for 77 years is as follows: E. P. Noel, J. J. Miter, Thomas Cole, L. K. Hawley, W. F. Fraser, G. W. Gale, T. S. Vail, W. Y. Miller, C. Waterbury, James Bassett, N. Barrett, Samuel Wyckoff, G. N. Johnson, D. G. Bradford, J. D. Fitzgerald, John M. Waddle, W. H. Mason. The present pastor is Alvin R. Mathes, who is doing a strong work, and is greatly appreciated by his people and the community. The session of the church is now composed of Horace L. Bailey, Thomas C. Love, Dr. Lewis Becker, Charles T. Chase, Frank Y. Harmony, T. B. Park, Nathan Anderson and Ira J. Lewis. The board of trustees is : Ira J. Lewis, Nathan Anderson, F. G. Shermeyer, Enos R. Lacy and William W. McBride. The Sunday-school officers are : Nathan Anderson, superintendent ; Ira J. Lewis, assistant ; William W. McBride, treasurer ; John Sanders, assistant secretary ; Harry A. Parmenter, secretary ; Miss Amanda C. Lightner, superintendent of the home department. Six missionary organizations - for men, women and young people, together with a Christian endeavor society, also help make a most efficient church.

May 4, 1863, a committee appointed by Schuyler presbytery, consisting of schoolhouse No. 3, in Ontario, Knox county, to organize a Presbyterian church Rev. I. N. Candee, Rev. C. B. Bristol and Elder Alexander Milroy, met in in answer to a petition signed by many of the citizens of that town.

to organize the church, receiving from the Presbyterian church of Altona some 14 members and from Heathland, 4 more. The congregation then elected 'as elders the following men, Joseph Findley and James B. Ralston, who were formally installed. The name of the church was to be the First Presbyterian Church of Ontario, Illinois. .' \

The first pastor was Rev. S. C. Vance, who continued with this church four years. At a meeting of Warren presbytery, which was held at the John Knox church, September, 1865. the name of the church was changed to the -'- First Presbyterian Church of Oneida, ->

IV' The first church building was probably built in the year 1865, as the congregational expense of that year is given as $3,627, and no other account is given of building, until December, 1869, a note in the minutes of the session gives thanks that the church destroyed by a storm on May 5, 1868, had been replaced by a better and larger one. The names of many stated supplies are given in the records, but no name seems to be retained longer than that of Rev. '.''?- ]. Reed Stuart, who seems to have been pastor about five years. In 1871, there .'--- is an account of a memorial bell being put in place at a cost of $290.

The pastorate of Rev. C. F. Wilson began in July, 1909, and continues at this writing. The congregation is a substantial one. The church officers are ^ as follows: ; ^-"^ :.;'"-"...'- s;-;,

- Henry, Illinois, on October 20, 1866. The committee consisted of Rev. J. H. .;^- Smith, Rev. Thos. Stevenson and Elder John Marshall of Farmington, Illinois. ;- This committee was to visit Yates City and if the way be clear was to organize

.:, a church, and said committee was authorized to make application to the board of "domestic missions" through the standing committee for the sum of $200 ,\. to support, for one year, such missionary as the committee may send to the field. : -- The following is the committee's report :

The session records recite that the committee met in the schoolhouse on the evening of November i6, 1866, in Yates City and after a sermon by Rev. Thomas Stevenson, of the committee, an enrollment was made of those desiring a church organization and the following named persons were enrolled as charter members : Mr. Robert Mathews (he is now 96 years old and comes to church occasionally), Mrs. Clarinda Mathews, Mr. Joseph Cunningham, Mrs. Sarah Cunningham, Mrs. C. A. McKissick, Mrs. Sarah E. Bryson, Mr. W. B. Mathews, Mrs. Esther Mathews, John Mathews, W. W. Mathews, Joseph Mooney, Mrs. Susan Mooney, John Graver, Mrs. Mary Graver. . i .>:..:..

Nelson Cunningham and Mrs. Lizzie Cunningham and Theodore Cunningham were from the Presbyterian church at French Grove, Illinois. All were admitted by letter. - --'--.'--;.' i ---':..>/- Joseph Cunningham and W. B. Mathews were elected, ordained and installed as elders. And John C. Bryson, John D. Huey and Elder W. B. Mathews were elected trustees. The meeting closed with prayer.

The church, which cost something more than $3,000, was dedicated December 6, 1867. Rev. J. H. Smith was the first pastor and entered upon his labor with the organization November i6, 1866, and continued with the church till May, 1870. Other ministers have served the church as follows :

The Sabbath school was organized in 1867, by G. N. Pierce and was by him superintended for one year, when W. B. Mathews was chosen and continued in this office till his death, December, 1890. Leslie McKeighan is the present (January, 1912) superintendent, having served in this capacity for three years. In December, 1910, the church session assumed full control of the Sunday school. The result is a well organized school, there being nine working organized classes.

The Ladies' Missionary society was organized in May, 1875. The first officers were: President, Mrs. Ella B. Smith; vice president, Miss Nannie Smith; secretary, Mrs. Mary Broadfield; treasurer, Mrs. W. B. Mathews.

The Y. P. S. C. E. was organized May 5, 1886, and during these 26 years has been a strong and active society of Christian workers. Will Allen, ? the present president, has held this position for nearly three years. The society has 44 members.

The Bethany chapter of the Westminster guild was organized in May, 1909, with eight charter members. Miss Ethel Mathews was elected president and Mrs. Teague, leader. A course of study was adopted and has been pursued during these three years with much interest and profit. The society now has 36 members and has met regularly since its organization. This was the third like society to be organized in Peoria presbytery.

The Westminster circle was organized in August, 1911, with 9 charter members. Mrs. Teague was elected leader and Mrs. Leslie McKeighan and Miss Ethel Mathews, patronesses. A course of study was adopted and they met bi-weekly. There are now 14 members. . :. .'.''.V:-^ V

James McKeighan, just before his death in 1885, made the church a present of a manse valued at $i,ooo. In 1890, this property was sold and a new manse built on a lot adjoining the church. The building cost $1,865.

In February, 1900, Mrs. Elizabeth McKeighan, the wife of James Mc- Keighan, bequeathed to the church $1,500, to be appropriated to the building of a new church, which was completed in 1903, at a cost of $8,500 in cash and about $1,200 in work of laborers.

The country along the Cumberland river, just to the north and east of Nashville, Tennessee, was in an early day called Cumberland. This region lay in both Tennessee and Kentucky, and was in extent equal to several large counties. Some of the earliest settlements of middle Tennessee were in this part of the state. The people were largely of Scotch-Irish descent and were also largely of the Presbyterian faith. The churches of this Cumberland country were in what was called the Cumberland presbytery of the Presbyterian church. About the beginning of the nineteenth century, when a great revival of religion was prevailing in that country, this presbytery ordanied to preach several men who were allowed to make exception to certain parts of the Westminster confession of faith, so called Hyper Calvinistic, which they thought taught the doctrine of Fatalism. They accepted the book, however, for "substance" of doctrine. The higher church courts in reviewing the action of the presbytery refused to concur in what the presbytery had done. After all efforts to harmonize the differences between the parties had failed, the general assembly dissolved Cumberland presbytery. The men who had been ordained with the reservation as above given, organized themselves into what they again called Cumberland presbytery. This was done on the 4th of February, i8io. The new presbytery grew rapidly. Other presbyteries were soon organized, and they together took the name "Cumberland Presbyterian church." In a few years, the new church spread into nearly all the adjoining states. These men were stanchly evangelical and strong, forceful preachers. In the earlier days especially, they lived close to the people, sharing with them the self-denials and hardship, incident to pioneer life. This helped to give them great influence with the people. The church buildings of the time would not hold the people that came together to hear them preach. It was during this period and under these conditions that the practice of holding camp meetings was first started.

These preachers followed with the tide of emigration into the newer states and aided, not only in establishing churches, but also in starting common schools. And as soon as it was at all practicable, schools also were established where young men and young women who were growing up in such vast numbers might have the advantages of a better education than could be had at the common schools. Later they founded colleges in many of the states, v r . <:

In the year 1905, almost exactly a century after the separation, these two Presbyterian churches were reunited into one body, not, however, until in the year 1902, the mother church had modified or qualified her declaration of belief on the points that had been the cause of the separation.

In the year 1831, Joseph Latimer, ST., with some of his family came to Knox county, settling on section 29, Cedar township. In 1832, his son, Jonathan Latimer, and family came, settling on section 28. In 1834, Alexander Latimer, another son, and family came to the same township and settled on section 21. Mrs. Sarah Boren, a widowed daughter of Joseph Latimer, came with him and settled on section 29, near her father. George G. Latimer, who also came with his father, was married in 1832, and settled on section 29. Urbin D. Coy married, in 1833, Susan Latimer, Joseph Latimer's youngest daughter. They settled a little later on section 21. These people came here from the "Cumberland country," in Tennessee and Kentucky, and were most of them members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In 1835, nearly all of them, together with others of like faith, were organized into the Cherry Grove Cumberland Presbyterian church in the house of Joseph Latimer, by the Rev. James Stockton. They worshipped for a time in a log schoolhouse situated near where is located the Cherry Grove cemetery. In 1836, a frame church was built about eighty rods to the northeast of this first schoolhouse, in a beautiful walnut and ' sugar maple grove just at the edge of the prairie. The following are the names of the charter members of the Cherry Grove Cumberland Presbyterian church, organized June 20, 1835 : Mrs. Susan Coy, John Crawford, Mrs. Elizabeth Crawford, Joseph Latimer, Mrs. Ann Latimer, George G. Latimer, Mrs. Rebecca

It has been difficult to fix definitely the date when Cherry Grove seminary was started. The early records have been lost. But fortunately there are still living those who have aided greatly in determining the date. J. W. Stephens is clear in his memory that "there was a boarding school" at Cherry Grove when he came to the neighborhood in 1838 and that it was called "Cherry Grove seminary." Others recall the names of a Mr. Seymoure and Elias Byram, who taught the school at about this time. This agrees also with the judgment and traditions of the older people who have had the best opportunity to know, that the school was started in this newly erected church building in 1837.

A charter was obtained from the state legislature in 1840. In 1841, November 1st, Rev. Cyrus Haynes, a college graduate and an experienced and capable teacher, took charge as principal of Cherry Grove seminary. For eight years under Mr. Haynes' management the school prospered. In his time a considerable addition was built adjoining the church to afford more room for the school. In 1849 another advance step was taken. A large substantial two-story frame building, 40x56 feet, was erected, the lower story for a chapel and church purposes, the upper story arranged for recitation and other school purposes. Mr. Haynes was followed by a succession of strong, wide-awake teachers, among them Rev. J. M. B. Roach, O. H. Baker, Rev. J. C. Wagamon and others, all of whom did good work and under whose management the school continued to prosper. There came to the school a fine class of young people, earnest and enthusiastic, and always loyal to the school. There was a successful literary society - the Upsilon - and a semi-monthly paper, the Cherry Leaf, edited by the students. Also in later years music was taught. . - . >

The school was in a sense under the advice and patronage of the Rushville presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Many young men studying for the ministry were encouraged to come here. There were students from a large part of Western Illinois, and they came also from Iowa, Missouri and Kentucky. Some fitted themselves here for college, entering the best colleges of the time in the sophomore and sometimes the junior classes. A larger number prepared for teaching, others for entering upon the study of law or medicine, and all were inspired with the hope of a successful and useful life. A very large per cent of those who were students here made a good record in after life. Some indeed remarkably so.

There were grouped about Cherry Grove seminary grounds and within a half mile ten or twelve houses where these students were boarded, or, as was sometimes the case, boarded themselves. Besides these, homes from a mile to a mile and a half away took students to board when it was necessary.

In the year 1866 there was located at Lincoln, Illinois, a college by the Cumberland Presbyterian churches of the state. This school was intended to take the place of two or three schools then in existence similar to the one at Cherry Grove and make of all one strong college. This action, together with the fact that there were at that time two colleges in Galesburg and two in Abingdon and one or two in Knoxville, made it apparent that there was no longer a demand for Cherry Grove seminary, and accordingly in 1866 the school was closed. The library that had been collected was sent to the Lincoln college. Thus after a body from the Cumberland Presbyterian church to that of the Congregational church. This action was taken without any change in belief, they retaining the same articles of faith. It was done for the sake of closer fellowship with the churches in the nearer vicinity.

In maintaining Cherry Grove seminary all the community joined heartily. Many sacrifices were necessary and were made cheerfully. In some respects the ;: :-! burdens fell heaviest on the women who, with meager facilities for doing so, ; and very small pay, had to care for the students and see that they had as comfortable homes as possible while at school. Some of the students were poor and -' some of the young men were studying for the ministry and were to be encouraged in every way possible. Among the many unselfish and devoted women who helped in this one is worthy of especial mention because of her long service and . = her helpful influence. Mrs. George G. Latimer, whose maiden name was Rebecca Drennan, was a native of Kentucky. Her father, William Drennan, who was a native of Pennsylvania, had moved to Sangfamon county, Illinois, from v Kentucky in i8i8 and had settled a few miles south of Springfield, where he ' was living, a man of prominence, in the fall of 1831, when Mr. Latimer chanced to stop over night with Mr. Drennan, when on a business trip to Vandalia, then :/:;!; the capital of the state. The next spring, in June, the soldiers of the Black : - , Hawk war were discharged. Mr. Latimer, who had been serving in this war .: - as lieutenant of the "Knox county rangers," was now free, and in the following >... fall again visited William Drennan's home, this time to bring away with him ^' Mr. Drennan's daughter, Rebecca, as his wife. The wedding trip was a journey ;:-'/ from Sangamon county to Knox county on horseback. Mrs. Latimer was but ':'. eighteen years old at this time. She was of the same religious faith as her hus- .'. band. She entered heartily into his plans for the home building that was al- , ready started on section 29, Cedar township, and also for the new church and >', .' school that was soon to follow. When Cherry Grove seminary was started '-;! George Latimer, with his father and brothers, Jonathan and Alexander, were ^ '-- among the active leaders in the move and gave much of their time and liberally of their means in forwarding the enterprise. George Latimer's home was but about sixty rods from the seminary and church building, and every interest that .1. pertained to either always received a cheerful and hearty support from Mrs. Latimer. She was with the foremost in entertaining comers, and goers and al- - - ways of course without thought of pay. When the school was started and from that time on her home was always full of students and at almost a nominal price V - for board. Her sympathy for and helpfulness to young men were a marked .' . feature of her life. When Dennis Clark, who for eighteen years served so acceptably as judge of the Knox county court, was sixteen years old, an orphan, . ; and living where he had but little chance for advancement, left Sangamon county , /' he came directly to George Latimer's, having known Mrs. Latimer before her -.X marriage. Here for twelve years, or until his marriage in 1845, he found en- : couragement and a congenial home. Judge Clark always held Mrs. Latimer in -.:; grateful esteem and affection. w

In 1848 Mrs. Latimer's first great sorrow came. In the space of two weeks her husband and three children were taken by death, two of the children being buried in one grave. With this crushing bereavement came the exhibition of her strong character. Left with the entire care of a young family, in addition to her household duties, she now took the management of the farm. Her only son was but ten years old. Beside her watchful care and training of her five children her management of the farm and stock upc«i it was equal to that of the best farmers in the neighborhood. Meanwhile she in no degree relaxed her interest in the school. In 1858 Louis Hanback, an orphan boy sixteen or seventeen years old, from Camp Point, Illinois, came to the seminary. He was without money, but he was a wide-awake, ambitious youth. At first he tried selfboarding, but soon Mrs. Latimer learned of his ambition to get an education and took him to her home, where he remained until the beginning of the Civil war, when he enlisted and served until it was over. He then studied law and went west. Later, in 1880, he was elected to congress from a Kansas district. On his way to Washington he stopped to visit with his friend and benefactress and to tell her of his success. She appeared to be as pleased and happy as if he were her own son.

It is fitting to mention here one other life. Mrs. Latimer had but one son, William Drennan Latimer. Aifter attending Cherry Grove seminary he was graduated from Knox College and Albany, New York, Law School. Without coming home from Albany he went directly into his country's service. In the fall of 1864 while on shipboard off Fortress Monroe he died of yellow fever and was buried at sea. .' - ' ' >

-.'... Congregationalism is a term which may be applied either to a method of . ;. church government or to a particular group of Protestant churches. In its '- ; r first and broader significance it describes one of the three main types of the /; ecclesiastical polity, the others being Episcopal and Presbyterian. In Congregational polity authority is vested in the congregation - whence the name - rather , than in bishops or elders; and is thus fundamentally democratic in principle. V This usage of the word Congregationalism appropriately describes the polity of ; various religious bodies, such as the Baptists, the Plymouth Brethren, the

Christians, the Disciples of Christ, the Unitarians, the Universalists and the i: r Hebrew synagogue as well as of the "Congregationalists." -- '

The second and more limited significance of the word is found in its ap- ;. y... plication to this last group of churches. These churches. Congregational in their :- government and "Evangelical" in doctrine, have persisted through a common history, dating from the very origins of Congregational theory during the reign . V of Elizabeth, down through many generations of common hardships, co-operative undertakings, and mutual understanding; and have established a recognized relationship with one another in their various lands, and to some extent in international fraternal union. These are by historical descent and common acceptance the Congregational churches proper.

The covenant is that agreement by which any group of individual Christians may form themselves into a congregation, for worship, sacrament and Christian activity. By this covenant the rights of individuals are acknowledged and each individual at the same time admits his responsibility for the common welfare.

Autonomy is the principle of independent self-government by which any congregation so formed makes itself a complete church, not subject to other ecclesiastical authority outside itself. Such a congregation chooses its own minister, admits its own members and defines its own doctrines.

Fellowship is the bond of obligation which any autonomous congregation or church acknowledges as a basis of co-operation with other churches similarly minded. Examples of such fellowships in the United States today are, local associations, state associations, and, since 1871, the national council, besides mort informal congregational clubs, ordaining councils, and congresses. Such fellowships have no authority save that of persuasion, no power save that of advice, and no restraint over the conduct of any church except in freedom at any time to withdraw fellowship.

The doctrinal position of present day Congregationalism is that common Protestantism known as "Evangelical." This position has been reached, however, by means of a process of many successive modifications of the pure Calvinism of the English reformation from which Anglicanism, Presbyterianism and Congregationalism had their birth. In spite of the liberty given their individual opinions, Congregationalists as a body, have been, on the whole, in general agreement, as they have progressed through these various modifications.

- It is in its history that Congregationalism finds its distinctive feature. It shares its government and its doctrine with many bodies, but it has developed out of a rich past experience peculiar to itself. Common hardships, common enterprises, and common hopes, have served to hold together scattered churches to which common ancestry and traditions have given considerable solidarity. Differences in history are gradually coming to be the only important differences between the Protestant denominations. Such traditions may be more or less valuable in different bodies; but to each, its own past is the most valuable, because it is its own. So long as mutual understanding in doctrine and co-operaz of Elizabeth, down through many generations of common hardships, co-operative undertakings, and mutual understanding; and have established a recognized relationship with one another in their various lands, and to some extent in international fraternal union. These are by historical descent and common acceptance the Congregational churches proper.

The covenant is that agreement by which any group of individual Christians niay form themselves into a congregation, for worship, sacrament and Christian activity. By this covenant the rights of individuals are acknowledged and each individual at the same time admits his responsibility for the common welfare.

Autonomy is the principle of independent self-government by which any congregation so formed makes itself a complete church, not subject to other ecclesiastical authority outside itself. Such a congregation chooses its own minister, admits its own members and defines its own doctrines. j '

Fellowship is the bond of obligation which any autonomous congregation or church acknowledges as a basis of co-operation with other churches similarly minded. Examples of such fellowships in the United States today are, local associations, state associations, and. since 1871, the national council, besides more informal congregational clubs, ordaining councils, and congresses. Such fellowships have no authority save that of persuasion, no power save that of advice, and no restraint over the conduct of any church except in freedom at any time to withdraw fellowship.

The doctrinal position of present day Congregationalism is that common Protestantism known as "Evangelical." This position has been reached, however, by means of a process of many successive modifications of the pure Calvinism of the English reformation from which Anglicanism, Presbyterianism and Congregationalism had their birth. In spite of the liberty given their individual opinions, Congregationalists as a body, have been, on the whole, in general agreement, as they have progressed through these various modifications.

It is in its history that Congregationalism finds its distinctive feature. It shares its government and its doctrine with many bodies, but it has developed out of a rich past experience peculiar to itself. Common hardships, common enterprises, and common hopes, have served to hold together scattered churches to which common ancestry and traditions have given considerable solidarity. Differences in history are gradually coming to be the only important differences between the Protestant denominations. Such traditions may be more or less valuable in different bodies; but to each, its own past is the most valuable, because it is its own. So long as mutual understanding in doctrine and co-opera- tion in Christian work increases, each has the more right to the inspiration of its own peculiar heritage. Congregationalism may rightly take pride in its history.

Puritanism, out of which Congregationalism grew, was the indirect product of the reformation in England, and the direct product of the translation of the Bible into English. The reading of the Bible developed during the last half of the sixteenth century a group of spiritually-minded Christians of independent thought who intensely hated the abuses of the Anglican church of the period. The result was Puritanism, a definite, sincere and powerful effort to reform - "purify" - the church from within. At first a reaction against "Romanist" ritual and worldly clergy, etc., it became a systematized opposition to the whole theory of priesthood and to the state control of the church ; in the end it became an arraignment of the English monarchical theory of state. The Puritans had the courage of their convictions. As king-baiters they had good biblical examples in Elijah and Amos ; as church makers they found a simple and democratic model in the early Apostolic church, and right sturdily did they attempt to follow both models. The opposition such men aroused was naturally bitter. Such opposition was primarily political in its animus, but to these Bible-reading, independence-loving, hard-fighting individualists, the whole movement was the cause of God. It was destined to cost Charles the First his head, George the Third his colonies, and was to impose on both English and American constitutions the principle of individual rights ; it must perforce, therefore, have had its birth in intense religious zeal.

Separatism went even farther. It developed early as the radical wing of Puritanism, urging the futility of reform from within, the complete withdrawal of true Christians from the church, and the setting up of autonomous congregations subservient neither to clergy nor state. This group was from the first fiercely persecuted. Those of its adherents who escaped hanging were forced either to meet secretly or to flee to the more tolerant atmosphere of Holland. It was one of these separatist groups, meeting privately in William Brewster's manor at Scrooby, where it had organized as a church about 1608, that had to flee to Amsterdam, in 1609, later removing to Leyden. There was concocted the plan for establishing a new home for themselves in the new world, and after twelve years as sojourners with the Dutch, the congregation of Scrooby, now ."Pilgrims," landed on Plymouth Rock from the Mayflower. . .

The Separatist Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, in 1620, were confronted with a new problem, namely, that of creating a civil government for themselves. Their solution was simple ; they made their church their government, and in so doing, they unconsciously created a much more rigid theory of a church state than that which they had so bitterly hated in England and one which was to prove hospitable to all the evils of such a system - intolerance, bigotry and injustice. Nevertheless, we must not forget that the compact signed in the Mayflower's cabin outlined practically the first pure democracy in the world and that it contained within itself the germs of the coming American republic. For a hundred years the history of Congregationalism is the history of New England.

What was an efficient type of self-government for 102 Rlgrims proved an adequate system as well to the thousands of English colonists who came in during the seventeenth century. The Puritan emigrants who came to Salem, Boston and elsewhere in great numbers, driven out by the persecutions of Archbishop Laud under James the First and Charles the First, did not originally intend to separate from the Church of England. But in a new land, away from all ecclesiastical establishments, and under the influence of the Plymouth settlers, they became independent congregations - first of necessity, then of conviction and choice - and established fellowship with the Plymouth church. Thus after nearly a generation Puritans and Separatists (the Pilgrims) became reunited in New England, and the result is the beginning of Congregationalism proper in America.

Beside its system of government, certain other important features characterized early New England Congregationalism. One was the educational ideal, another the missionary spirit, a third the reforming temperament.

Churches depending on careful interpretation of the Bible demanded carefully trained Bible students as leaders, and colleges for this purpose were essential features of the Congregational plan. Harvard was founded in 1636, Yale in 1701. This ideal has ever since marked all Congregational work and progress. Congregationalists have founded altogether in the United States forty-five colleges, eight theological seminaries and innumerable lesser schools. This principle was applied in the vigorous work prosecuted for the negroes before and after the Civil war by the American Missionary Association. It was the main purpose of the New West Education Commission organized to help pioneer towns in the far west. It has been recognized so thoroughly in the work of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions that this organization alone is responsible for one hundred and thirteen colleges and high schools, thirteen theological seminaries and over twelve hundred lesser schools in all parts of the world. Further, the New England ideal of self-government depended for its best success upon developing intelligent individuals, so school education for everyone was provided. Out of this grew later the American common-school system.

The 'missionary spirit of the New England churches found its most notable embodiment in the work of John Eliot for the Indians. He translated the Bible for them in 1671 and by 1675 there were six Indian churches with four thousand converts. During the next century the missionary spirit was dampened by the controversial and doctrinal questions growing out of the great awakening under Jonathan Edwards and Whitfield, 1734 to 1750, but by the end of the century, when the excitement caused by the Revolution had subsided, Congregationalism entered upon a new period of expansion. After 1791 revival work again became prominent with results that far surpassed the Edwardian period. Meanwhile new settlements were growing up in Vermont, New York and across the Alleghanies. These called forth a new exercise of missionary spirit. Societies were formed for this purpose in 1798, 1800 and 1809. The year i8io saw also the organization of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. As time went on new needs were always provided for by new organizations, whether for work among negroes, Indians and Eskimos or for building churches and schools in frontier towns. - ' ." ' -

The reform temperament found ample opportunity for its expression during colonial times. In the war of Revolution and the events leading thereto it established itself forever as one of the powerful influences of American life. It is in the years following, however, that we find it appearing vigorously in Congregational churches, now as anti-slavery or even abolition movements, and now as temperance propaganda. Later on, in Knox county, we shall find the Congregational churches of Knox county worthily living up to their traditions, in temperance agitation, in the underground railway and, in recent times, as public spirited law enforcement and thoroughgoing opposition to the low and corrupt ; ideals of citizenship all too influential in political life and city government. -

During the early years of the nineteenth century the rapid growth of population and prosperity drew out a corresponding missionary zeal from some of the older established religious bodies. The relations of Congregationalists and Presbyterians during this period are especially interesting for the light they throw on the early church history of Galesburg and Knox county. In all the home missionary enterprises in the newly settled regions of New York, Ohio and the middle states after iScxD, the Congregationalists found themselves working hand in hand with the Presbyterians in friendly and mutual understanding. As a result the "plan of union" of i8oi was drawn up to promote the mutual forbearance and co-operation of the two denominations in all new communities. It was a wholly honorable arrangement, designed to be fair to both parties. Each sacrificed important features of their polities in order that the individual churches aflfected might freely associate with the nearest Presbyterian or Congregational ecclesiastical body, as their local circumstances might make desirable. ;

In its actual workings, however, the plan operated in favor of the Presbyterians. Their organization was better adapted to progressive work. New presbyteries were soon formed in all the missionary districts, but the new Congregational churches, left to themselves, instead of fellowshipping together, allied themselves with these presbyteries under the plan of union and in due time were absorbed into the Presbyterian body. In this way, according to an estimate of one Presbyterian historian, over two thousand churches originally Congregational became Presbyterian between 1815 and 1850. The plan of union was abandoned by the "old style" wing of the Presbyterian church in 1837, and in 1852 by the Congregationalists.

Nothing in the history of Knox county better illustrates the great forces at work in American history than the founding of Galesburg by the famous band of colonists in 1836, fully described elsewhere in this volume. The history of Congregationalism in Knox county begins, paradoxically enough, with a Presbyterian church. The gradual transformation of this Presbyterian church into a Congregational church will appear as the story of the church unfolds itself. '

Those who settled Galesburg came from Oneida county, New York, from a presbytery composed partly of Congregational churches, under the plan of union. The new Galesburg church had 8i original members, of whom 63 came by letter. Of these 35 brought letters from Presbyterian and 25 from Congregational churches. The church established relations under the plan of union with the nearest ecclesiastical body, which was the Schuyler presbytery. Upon its organization, February 25, 1837, it adopted as its name the First Presbyterian church of Galesburg. As a church it was an integral part of the plan of the original founders, which was to establish a Christian community, a Christian church and a Christian college. While there was a strong Congregational element in its membership, the Presbyterians predominated. Certain it is that at that time there was no denominational feeling or ambition, for all such possibilities were swallowed up in the intense and earnest common purpose. The Rev. George W. Gale, the leading spirit in the whole project and a Presbyterian, was its^ first pastor. It is evident from all the testimony that the church at its origin cared less for denominational forms and names than for religion and morals and for the work of education and reform. It can easily be understood that the Congregationalists would feel themselves thoroughly at home both by training and disposition in any pioneer work, in helping to found a college or in planning the prosecution of any reform. The best ideals of both Presbyterianism and Congregationalism went into the first years of this community. Nevertheless it was inevitable that the denominational consciousness, which was rapidly developing in the outside world, should naturally find reflection after a time in the life of the Galesburg church. In all parts of the country the plan of union was becoming unworkable. After 1837 the old school wing of the Presbyterian church, in America, had little sympathy with any rights claimed under the plan. Meanwhile the Congregational element in the Galesburg church increased in numbers and influence. In 1845, to meet their preferences, a compromise was adopted after amicable discussion, giving the church a double ecclesiastical connection both with the Congregational association and with the presbytery. In May, 1849, members of both persuasions were given equal rights according to the usage of their own denominations. This compromise did not prove satisfactory, so on May 29, 1851, thirty-seven of the Presbyterian members withdrew and formed the "Second Presbyterian church," followed later by eleven others. More Congregationalists came in. In the meantime the slavery question was assuming greater importance, and many Presbyterians became Congregationalists on this account, for the Presbyterian connection, because of its large southern relationship, was tolerant to slavery. The Galesburg Congregationalists, as elsewhere, were vigorously anti-slavery, and the unwillingness of the Peoria presbytery to modify its attitude toward the slavery question after several requests caused the church on October 6, 1855, formally to dissolve its connection with the presbytery. A year later, October 8, 1856, the name Presbyterian was dropped and the title "First Church of Christ in Galesburg" adopted. The fellowship established with the Congregational association in 1845 was maintained, and thus the church, though still independent, became practically Congregational. As an autonomous, self-governing congregation, bound together by covenant and acknowledgfing" the obligations of fellowship with other similar churches, it faithfully perpetuated the Separatist principles of two hundred and fifty years before.