Logan County, Illinois - Chapter 29: Ecclesiastical, 1911 (part 2 of 2)

MetHopist PRoTESTANT CHURCH, Lincotn: What is known in Lincoln as the Fourth Ward or Postville Church, was organized in the fourth ward, March 3, 1866, by Rev. Sterling Turner, a preacher of the Methodist Protestant denomination, this denomination being an offshoot of the Methodist Episcopal Church upon the question of episcopacy. The organizers of the church were William Watson, Henry Beach, J. H. Kelso, H. Ingram, J. M. Garner, L. McAfee, J. Altic, J. G. Melton, D. Bateman, David A. Reed and James Robinson. Services were held in the fourth ward school house until 1873, when a church building was erected on the corner of Sixth and Jackson streets, at a cost of $1,250. Among the pastors of the church were Sterling Turner, D. McCormick, William Ross, J. L. Barton, J. Altic, D. Ackerman, A. H. Goodpasture, S. B. Guiberson, William H. Woods and D. B. Turney. No regular services have been held in the church for a number of years and the society is now inactive.

Presbyterian

First PRESBYTERIAN CHuRCcH, LincoLtn: The First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln represents the union of two congregations which occurred Sept. 10, 1906, following the merger of the general denomination of the Presbyterian Church of the United States with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The latter denomination had its origin in a doctrinal controversy which arose in Tennessee in 1805. By 1906, the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination had grown until it had a membership of nearly 200,000. In 1903, the doctrinal differences having to a great extent been eliminated, a movement began which resulted in a declaration of the general assembly of the C. P. Church at Decatur, in 1906, that "a reunion" of the C. P. Church with the Presbyterian Church had been established and the C. P. general assembly thereupon adjourned sine die.

The first of these two church societies in the Lincoln field was the Cumberland Presbyterian society which was organized by Rev. Thornton K. Hedges, Feb. 7, 1857, at the old First Ward school house on Clinton street, facing the South park. The original membership consisted of Mr. and Mrs. George D. Edgar, Mr. and Mrs. John Howser, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton K. Hedges, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Metcalf, Mr. and Mrs. John Crang, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Duff, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Horney, James M. Duff and Sarah Duff. George W. Edgar, John S. Metcalf and John Howser were the first elders and Rev. Mr. Hedges was the first pastor. Two lots were purchased by the society Oct. 1, 1856, on the corner of McLean and Clinton streets, facing the South park, for $300, and upon these lots a small frame church was soon after erected. The official board at the time of the building of the church was composed of John Howser, James Gilchrist, Daniel B. Bryan, George W. Edgar and John Kirkpatrick. The church was dedicated in June, 1857. This building was occupied by the society until 1866, when it was decided to build a new church in a locality nearer Lincoln university, work upon which had been begun Sept. 14, 1865. The old building and lots were therefore sold to the society of St. John's Lutheran Church and lots were purchased at the corner of Pekin and Ottawa streets, the present church site, the consideration being $600. Here the new edifice was erected at a cost of about $6,000 and the same was dedicated June 9, 1867, by Rev. J. R. Brown, of Abingdon. The members of official board at the time of the erection of this structure were A. C. Boyd, H. T. Stryker, John Howser, George H. Campbell and George W. Edgar. A parsonage was erected on Pekin street, a half block from the church, in 1873. In the spring of 1877, an addition was made to the church and other alterations made to accommodate the general assembly of the denomination which met in Lincoln that year.

In 1895, under the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Hubbert, D. D., a new church was erected on the old site, at a cost of about $21,000. The contract was let in July, 1895, ground was first broken Aug. 2, and the corner stone was laid Sept. 17th. The officers of the Illinois Grand Lodge of Masons conducted the ceremonies, Rev. E. G. McLean, of Evansville, Ind., delivered the address and a chorus of 40 voices, under Prof. Turner, rendered music. The church was dedicated May 17, 1896, the sermon being delivered by Rev. B. P. Fullerton, D. D. The church is of the Romanesque style of architecture, has a spire 108 feet high, has an auditorium, Sunday school room, class room and pastor's study on first floor, with parlors and social rooms above. The auditorium seats 600, but when all of the rooms are thrown together, the edifice seats nearly 1,000. The pastors of the church down to the date of the union of the churches in 1906 have been as follows: Thornton K. Hedges, 1857-66; R. G. Cardon, 1866-67; W. M. Metcalf, 1867-69; J. C. Van Patton, 1869-71; E. J. Gillespie, 1871-73; Dr. J. W. Poindexter, S. Richards, Dr. Bowden and Dr. Harris, 1873-78; Dr. J. M. Hubbert, 1878-87; W. S. Danley, 1887-92; Dr. R. M. Tinnon, 1892-1902; T. B. McAmis, 1902-06.

On Sept. 3, 1906, the official board of the society extended an invitation to the local Presbyterian church of Lincoln to unite with them in one society, which invitation was accepted and at a joint session of the official boards of the two churches held Sept. roth, it was resolved that "Elders David Gillespie, James Gillespie, William Hungerford, Jabez Pierce and J. P. Stone, of the First Presbyterian Church and Elders E. Burton, G. I. Harry, William Houston, C. S. Ogilvie, H. E. Starkey, P. B. Wymer and E. G. White of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church shall constitute the session of the united church.'"' Soon after the union, Rev. T. B. McAmis resigned as pastor and his successor is the present pastor, Rey. J. Otis Smith, D. D.

The First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, above referred to, had been organized Oct. 5, 1866, by Rev. Mr. Conover, of Bloomington, Rev. Mr. Love, of Lexington and Alexander Downey, of Atlanta, with twentyseven members as follows: Oliver Goltra, Jane Goltra, Abbie T. Goltra, David Gillespie, Henry Owsley, Mary Owsley, Kate Owsley, Yardly Canby, Mary E. Canby, J. B. McCord, Dr. J. C. Ross, Mary E. Ross, Jesse Denman, Maria Denman, David M. Pierson, Samuel Miller, Lizzie H. Miller, Henry T. Stryker, C. C. Stryker, Elvira Davidson, Annie M. Sims, Mary Montague, Mary Pettus, Mary Moore, Mary G. Hawley, Catherine Pegram, Kate Jordan, No regular services were held by the society until March 3, 1867, when Rev. A. J. Layenberger was called as first pastor. Services were held temporarily in Brewer's hall and in the

Methodist Church, the latter church being located on the corner of McLean and Pekin streets, the site of the present Library building. This church the Presbyterian society purchased of the Methodists in 1868, the latter society having decided to build a new church on Logan street. The consideration was $4,500 and the trustees at the time were Oliver Goltra, George W. Hawley and N. E. Pegram. Here the society held services until 1885, when it purchased from the Congregationalists a church building which they had erected in 1876 on the corner of Broadway and Ottawa streets, known as "Pilgrim Chapel." The old church on Pekin street was unused until 1887 when it was purchased by the local organization of the W. C. T. U., moved to Logan street and used as a tabernacle.

Rev. A. J. Layenberger served as pastor of the society until Oct. 1, 1870, and the succeeding pastors to the time of the union with the C. P. congregation were as follows: L. P. Crawford, 1870-78; William Omelvena, 1878-80; S. T. Wilson, 1880-82; Albert H. Trick, 1882-84; Alonzo Michael, 1884-88; Charles E, Schaible, 1888-91; Keith Ruthven, 1891- 92; William C. Snider, 1892-99; Charles W. Whorral, 1899-1902; J. R. Kaye, 1902-06. During the later years of this society, Mrs. Ella W. Brainerd was one of the chief supporters of this society and has been prominent in the missionary work of the denomination. As before stated the union of this society with the Cumberland Presbyterian society, under the name of the "First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln," occurred Sept. 10, 1906, and the present pastor of the church is Rev. J. Otis Smith, D. D. The joint society now own two church buildings and two parsonages.

First CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LINCOLN: The movement begun in 1903 to reunite the Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Presbyterian Church was opposed, throughout the various stages of the movement, by a portion of the membership of the former church. When the general assembly of the C. P. Church at Decatur, in 1906, declared the reunion established and adjourned sine die, the delegates in the assembly opposed to the union met in another building, organized, rescinded the act of union and declared the same invalid and claimed to be the lawfully constituted assembly of the C. P. Church, which they still claimed continued as a separate denomination. A portion of the congregation of the local C. P. Church sympathized with what were called the "loyalists" as against the "unionists" and refused to accede to the union of the C. P. and Presbyterian Churches of Lincoln as effected at the joint session of Sept. 10, 1906, above noted. These met at the Baptist Church, Oct. 15, 1906, and elected the following trustees of the "First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Lincoln': E. G. White, Arthur Quisenberry, W. L. Park, Calvin Wasson and Emily O'Hara. Subsequently this society leased the W. C. T. U. tabernacle on Logan, where they have since held church services continuously and regularly. The pastor is Rev. William Murray.

MiIppLETOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: The First Presbyterian Church organization of Middletown is not only the oldest Presbyterian organization in the county but one of the oldest continuous church organizations of any denomination in the county. Middletown is the oldest town in the county, having been platted in 1832 and in 1835 a Presbyterian society was organized and a brick church building erected. In this structure the society held services until about 1867, when the depletion of members, by death and removal, caused the congregation to select a site at Irish Grove, across the county line in Menard county to which point the church building was moved. In 1904, a movement was inaugurated looking to the return of the church to Middletown and this movement resulted in the re-establishment of the church at Middletown, Feb. 25, 1905.

Prior to this a series of meetings had been held in Buchner's hall by Rev. A. R. Allison, of Memphis, Tenn., and Rev. Edgar A. Williams, D. D., synodical superintendent. The reorganization of the Middletown Church was effected by the latter assisted by Rev. Dr. Rogers, of Springfield, on the date above mentioned. Louis A. Buchner was chosen clerk and Jonathan C. Lloyd, Louis A. Buchner and Harmon Kaiser trustees. In May of 1905, the erection of a new church was begun. The brick from the Irish Grove Church (the old Middletown Church) was used as far as possible in the new structure. The new building, including the lot, cost $9,000. It was dedicated Jan. 6, 1907, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. J. T. May, of Wichita, Kan. The building has an auditorium, 36 by 38 feet in dimensions, a commodious Sunday school room, which can be opened into the auditorium, a primary room, pastor's study and basement. Later a lot was purchased adjoining the church and a parsonage erected thereon. In a building which formerly occupied the parsonage site, Abraham Lincoln tried a law suit before a local justice. The present membership of the church is 175. Rev. A. R. Allison was pastor of the church from April 1, 1905 to April 1, 1906. He was succeeded by Rev. W. N. Connolley, who served until September of 1908, The present pastor, Rev. William J. Rainey, came to the charge Dec. 1, 1908.

Lincotn Hitt PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LINcoLN: The Lincoln Hill Presbyterian Church was organized as a mission Cumberland Presbyterian Church for the Fourth ward of Lincoln, under the direction and management of the trustees of the First C. P., now the First Presbyterian Church, of Lincoln. A lot was purchased July 24, 1883, at the corner of Seventh and College streets, or what is known as Lincoln Hill, from which the church receives its name, and a commodious chapel was erected soon .after, upon this site. For a number of years services were conducted in this church by the students of Lincoln college. A formal organization of a church society occurred in 1904, the first trustees being Mabel Wilson, Hugh Huff and Bert Walsh. On July 6, of that year the trustees of the C. P. Church of Lincoln, deeded the church building and lot to the new society. The first regular pastor was T. F. Kerr. He has been succeeded by R. B. Fisher, H. B. Tuttle and A. N. Moore. The present pastor is T. H. Adkins. The church went with the union into the Presbyterian denomination.

BEASON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: The Presbyterian Church at Beason was organized in 1868 as the New Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The church building was completed and dedicated in September of that year and was located where the North Bethel school now stands five miles southwest of Waynesville. Rev. S. Richards was the first pastor and Joseph Sumners and W. S. Curry the first elders. In the fall of 1876, the church building was moved to its present location in Beason, that town having been platted in the meantime. The following pastors have served the church: S. Richards, W. C. Bell, J. S. Long, J. H. Hughy, Samuel W. Garvin, W. S. Baits, William Howe, James Brown, W. M. Murray, B. F. Lawrance, R. H. McHenry, J. W. Derr, J. E. Ennis, George D. Humphrey and the present pastor, W. R. Cremeans. The present official board consists of J. W. Haas, George Miller, W. B. Curry and David Earl.

New Hotranp C. P. Courcw: This church organization is a continuation of what was known as the Richmond Grove C. P. Church. It was organized May 3, 1873, and held services in the Richmond Grove M. E. church for a number of years on alternate Sundays with the Methodists. The church building was located a mile and half southwest of the present site of New Holland. New Holland was platted in 1875. When the Methodist society decided to build a new church in New Holland, it sold the Richmond Grove church building to the Cumberland Presbyterians, who moved it to New Holland in 1883 and located it on lots donated the society by Oliver Holland. The present pastor is Rev. William Murray.

Union

The new interurban station of Union derived its name from what is known as the Union Church, which is located on section seven of Eminence township adjacent to the new station. The church derived its name from the fact that the society which erected it was composed of Methodists, Cumberland Presbyterians, Regular Baptists and Free Will Baptists and the same was organized during the !atter part of the war. The land on which the church was built was donated to the society by Arthur and H. C. Quisenberry. Services are held in the church at the present time by the Presbyterians and Methodists.

United Brethren

A church society of the United Brethren in Christ was organized in the Pleasant Grove school house in Chester township, by Rev. Lewis D. Ambrose, in 1856. In 1867, the society erected a brick church on the

Lincoln-Mt. Pulaski road on section 26, of Chester township, at a cost of $3,000. The trustees at that time were Lewis D. Ambrose, D. D. James, Zimri Lawrence, Reubin Bowers, W. H. Kretzinger and G. W. James. Among the ministers who have had charge of this church have been Lewis B. Ambrose, Mathias Ambrose, George Keller, P. Brandenburg, John Watson, David O. Griffin, W. W. Nipple, William Mosier, James Young and B. F. Thrasher.

Universalist

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, LiNcoLN: A Universalist society was organized in Lincoln sometime during the latter part of the war. The first trustees were Joseph Ream, Hiram Wilson and Ruth A. Lacey, D. L. Braucher was treasurer and Mrs. H. C. Braucher, clerk. A church building was erected on Kickapoo street, facing Latham park in 1867, the same being dedicated in September of that year. In 1872, a parsonage was built which when completed and before occupancy in some mysterious manner caught fire and burned to the ground. It was immediately rebuilt. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Chapin. Succeeding him were A. H. Sweetser, J. M. Garner, N. Crarey, J. P. Chaplain, Hudson Chase, Samuel Ashton, D. P. Bunn and L. G. Powers. No regular service has been held since 1884, the building having been occupied for years by the Lincoln Business college. The building is now unoccupied.