Stark County, Illinois - Chapter 15: Church History, 1916

Chapter 15: Church History

THE METHODISTS PEORIA MISSION THE BAPTISTS THE PRESBYTERIANS THE CONGREGATIONALISTS LATTER DAY SAINTS CHRISTIANS OR DISCIPLES THE UNIVEKSALISTS UNITED BRETHREN

Miscellaneous Religious Organizations

To write a complete and correct history of the cluirch organizations of a county is perhaps the most difficult task that could be assigned to the local historian. The founders of the churches have jjassed away, the early records have been poorly kept in some instances and in many cases have been lost, pastors come and go. and few people can be found who can give any clear account of the congregation.

Long before any effort was made by white men to found settlements in the ^Mississippi Valley, Jesuit missionaries visited the region with a view to converting the Indians to the Catholic faith. Father Jaques Marquette jjassed up the Illinois River as early as 1673. ]Missionaries Allouez, Dablon and Zenobe Membre worked among the Indians about the head of Lake Michigan and the Illinois Valley before the close of the seventeenth century, and it is possible that some of tliem visited the territory now included in Stark County.

The Methodists

After the white men began to settle in the Illinois Valley, the ^Methodists were the first to organize classes in the territory. Jesse Walker, the first ^Methodist preacher in Illinois, appointed Isaac B. Essex teacher to the Indians. Just where Essex's school was located is not certain, but it was somewhere near the present City of Peoria. When he settled in Stark County in 1829 he was still an earnest believer in the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and as soon as a few neighbors had located around him he endeavored to interest tliciii in tlie formation of a class of chuTch. In 18;5.) Rev. ^Villianl C. Cuniniing's was appointed by Eisliop Roberts from the Illinois conference to the "Peoria ^Mission," which embraced the present counties of Peoria, Fulton. Knox, Stark and ^Marshall. In writing of his experiences as a missionary, INlr. Cummings says: '"I preached at Father Fraker's, whose name is of precious memory in the churches, and rode from there over the ground where Toulon and Lafayette now stand, though they probably iuid not then been thought of. Not far I'roni the jjresent site of Toulon lived Adam Perry, whom I ap- ])ointed class leader of a small society in the Essex Settlement, where we held a quarterly meeting in 18.'J.5, at which ^V. 13. ^lack and Stephen R. Beggs Avere present."

In the class thus organized by Mr. Cummings were : Gen. Samuel Thomas, James Holgate, J. W. Agard and their wives, George SjKirr, Adam Day, Mrs. Perry, Ann Carney and Elizabeth Essex. It was undoubtedly the beginning of church organization in Stark County. Adam Perry afterward joined the ]Mormon Church and J. W. Agard became the leader of the class.

In 18.'3() ]Mr. Cummings organized a society at Wyoming, which was the beginning of the ^Vyoming Methodist Church. The meeting was held at the house of General Thomas. Most of those included in the class of the previo\is year transferred their membershii) to Wyoming. jNIr. Cummings also orgam'zed a class at Dexter Wall's, of which AViJliam Hall was made leader. ]Mr. and ^Nlrs. James Ilolgate became members of this class, along with ]Mr. and ]Mrs. Phenix, JNIrs. Wall, ]\[rs. Asher Smith, Mrs. AVilliam Hall and Miss ]\Iary Hall.

About the time these classes were formed Rev. Jesse Heath, father of the first county recorder, preached for the society at Wyoming, and he was followed by Rev. Zadoc Hall and Rev. L. C. Walker. Services were held at the residences of the members, in ^Vhitney Smith's store and in the schoolhouse until 18.50, when a house of worship was Iniilt on ground donated by General Thomas. In 1837 (iencral Thomas gave the church one and a half acres of land. u\nn\ which George Sparr built a parsonage in 1838. The old church building was sold to C. S. Payne in 1882 and the present edifice, a neat frame building, was erected.

William Hall contiimed as leader of the class at Wall's for about ten years. He was succeeded by John Drawyer. In 18.32 this class was divided, j\Ir. Drawyer taking charge of a ucav class at Seeley's Point. When the Chicago, Btu'lington & Quincy Railroad was completed through the county members of these two classes united in the organizing of the Methodist Church of Castleton. Among them were, the Miners, Drawyers, Norrises, Pryors, Holgates, Browns, Fosters, Bunnclls and other leading families of Penn Township.

The ^Methodist P^piscopal Churcli of Toulon had its beginning in the year 1841, when a class was formed just south of the town, with Caleb B. Flint as leader. The next year the meetings were held at the cabin of John Prior, the pioneer chairmaker. His house and the meetings held there arc thus described by INlrs. Shallcnberger: "This structure, which was of hewn logs and but partly finished, never having the loft more than half floored, was very serviceable to the first comers here, serving them alternately as church and schoolhouse. The fireplace was rough and large, into which good sized logs could be thrown when occasion required ; a pole, the dimensions of a connnon handsiJike, served as poker, or lever, and an old saw inverted ])layed shovel. Then, as a pointed illustration of the proverb, 'shoemakers' wives always go barefoot,' there never was a whole chair seen in this establishment. A number of chair frames with shingles laid on them accommodated the adult listeners, while a turning lathe in the corner afforded perching places for the little folks. Thus the people gathered, the men wearing patches without shame, and the girls in sunl)onnets and coarse shoes, or the little ones without any, and listened to the Powells. Blakes, Wilkinsons and Boyers of old: but \\hat our memory still retains of those meetings with peculiar pleasure is tlie rich, full tenor of Caleb Flint, which, when wedded to some of ^Yesley's glowing lines, bore all hearts aloft and made a sanctuary of the rough dwelling where we met."

In 1846 a quarterly meeting was held at the house of Samuel Beatty, with Rev. A. E. Phelps, presiding elder: Rev. John G. Whitcomb, minister in charge. Rev. ^Y. C. Cummings, the first missionarj^ on the Peoria JNIission was also present. Like the Wyoming INIethodist Church, the society met in the homes of the members and variotis other places for a number of years. On June "2, 18.53, a meeting was called to discuss the advisability of erecting a church. Rev. C. Lazenbec presided and Samuel Beatty acted as secretary. Joseph Catterlin, who had been class leader for several years, Joseph H. Riddle, Charles N. Johnson, Bushrod Tapp and Samuel Beatty were elected trustees and authorized to build a church. Subsequently W. F. Thomas and T. J. Wright were appointed a building committee. Early in 18.54 a frame house of worship Avas com])leted and formally dedicated.

(Ircd dollars were expended in repairs and alterations, and again in 1870 several hundred dollars were spent in making the huilding e(iual to the demands of the congregation. On October 1, 1884, Rev. W. W. Carr came to the church as pastor and soon afterward started a movement for a new building. In :May, 1885, he reported that $4,000 had been subscribed. The trustees then bought the lot at the northeast corner of "Slam and Henderson streets, the corner-stone was laid on August 0, 188.J. and before the close of the year the congregation took possession of the new structure. The first sessions of the Toulon Academy Mere held in the old frame ^lethodist Church, and it is a rather singular coincidence that the building should have been sold to the same man (H. C. Bradley) who bought the old seminary, using the latter for a residence and the old church edifice for a workshop.

In 1846, while Rev. A. E. Phelps was presiding elder, a series of meetings were conducted at Lafayette lasting nearly three weeks. Previous to that time meetings had been held in the village and a camp meeting had been held there in 1842 - the second in the county, the first having been held at Wyoming in 1840. The result of the "revival" was the organization of the ^Methodist society. The early history of the Lafayette 31ethodist Church is shrouded in obscurity, but it is believed that Rev. George C. Holmes, a "circuit rider." was the first to serve as regular pastor. Early in the '.)0s Rev. John ]Morey came. He founded the Methodist Church at Galva, which with Lafayette and West Jersey constituted a circuit.

Rev. Amos ]Morey took charge of the circuit in 18.57 and during his first year granted about thirty letters to members of the congregation who wanted to go West, chiefly to Kansas. This weakened the church somewhat, but a revival toward the close of the year added about one hundred new members. Amos ^Nlorey died on January 14, 18it2, at the home of his daughter, INIrs. Rhoda M. Jackson, in Abingdon. 111. He was then seventy-nine years of age and had spent about fifty years in active work as a minister. INIrs. Jackson now lives in liafayette.

The first church erected by the Lafayette INIethodists was a frame structure, which stood where the present church now stands. On July 31. 1873. the church was incorporated with James ^Martin. Edward G. Hill. .lohii Williams, .Tames Thomson and P^mcry Buffum as trustees. The ])resent house of worshij), a handsome brick building, was erected in 11)00. at a cost of about eight thousand dollars.

ings were held here until the Methodist Church at West Jersey was destroyed by fire, when the Starwano building was removed to West Jersey and used in the construction of a new house of worshi]). the two congregations then becoming consolidated.

Among the early settlers in Osceola Grove were a few who be- O longed to the jNIethodist Episcopal Church and meetings were held at an early date. In 18.51 the "Osceola Class" was holding regular meetings in the schoolhouse, with Caleli B. Flint as class leader. Among the members of this class were William and Ann Hall, Diana Flint, \Villiam H. and Hannah Jones, the Stidhams, the Curriers and a few others. About the close of the Civil war a regular church was organized and a house of worship erected. For several years the congregation prospered. Then death and removals thinned the ranks and meetings were held onlj' at irregiilar intervals for a time. This church received a handsome bequest from Winthrop E. Lyford. mIio in his will gave the trustees six acres of land where he lived and the income from the proceeds of the sale of 107 acres of land, on condition that they would erect a church, to cost at least five thousand dollars. His will is dated December .5, 1912.

About 18.51 or 18.52 a ]Methodist class of some twenty-five or thirty members was organized at the Indian Creek schoolhouse, in Goshen Township. Charles Howater was the class leader. Xo church building was ever erected and after a time the members united with other convenient INIethodist societies.

Soon after the first settlements were made in what is no^v AVest Jersey Township, meetings were held by JMethodist ministers who visited that part of the county at intervals. The West Jersey INIethodist Church is the outgrowth of a class organized at Hazen's schoolhouse. The class at Finch's schoolhouse, near the east line of the township, developed into the Starwano INIethodist Church ])reviously mentioned. Isaac jNI. AVitter of the latter class was a local preacher. There was also a class organized at Trickle's schoolhouse, which in time united with the class at Hazen's in the formation of the West Jersey JNIethodist Episcopal Church. This was about 18.52. and a few years later a neat frame house of worship was erected in the village. It was destroyed by fire a few years ago, when the Starwano church building was removed to the village and used in the erection of a new building as above stated.

The jNIethodists living at Elmira and in the vicinity organized a class early in the '.50s, Avhich included the Fuller, Clark, Ferris and Hudson families and a few of their neighbors. In 18.59 a series of revival meetings weix- held by Rev. W. J. Smith and at the close of the revival a movement was started for the erection of a ehnrch. W. INI. Fnller, JNIatthew Rell and Elislm Clark were appointed a bnilding committee; ^I. G. Rrace donated a site; funds were solicited, and in the fall of 1859 a neat frame house of worship was dedicated. The society prospered for several years, when death and removals weakened the connregation. The surviving members tlien united with other churches and the Klmira church went down.

Soon after the Town of Bradford was surveyed in the spring of 18.)4 and a few people had settled there, some of the JMethodists belonging to the classes at \Vairs schoolhouse and Seeley's Point began to discuss the advisability of uniting and organizing a church at Bradford. Several years elapsed before the movement took definite shape, but the early records of the congregation cannot be found, hence the history of the church prior to about 1875 is uncertain. In that year a frame house of worship was erected at a cost of -$.'$, 500. It was dedicated on March 12. 187(>, and ten years later it was extensively altered and repaired. This church is now known as the "Leet Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church." Tln-ough the generosity of AVilliani Leet, Bradford's first banker, a new building was erected and dedicated on June 11. 18!)!), giving the Bradford ^lethodists one of the l)est houses of worship in the county. It is located on the north side of Main Street, a short distance east of Peoria Street.

About 1849 several members of the ^Methodist Protestant Church settled in the Snare iieighborhood in the eastern part of the county. A class was soon afterward organized by Rev. JMoses .Tared, of Canton. 'I'he next year a parsonage was purchased, but it was sold in 1882 and the church was removed to Castleton. Among the early members of this ehurch were' the Snare. Holmes. i\dams. Ackley. Morris and Smith families, Alexander and Rhoda Ballentine, Ilemy and Cynthia Newton, Laura and Ella Dixon and the Fultons.

A Methodist Protestant Church was organized at Wady Petra in February, 1868. The old record shows that the first members were: 'Weldon and Sarah Reagan, Richard and j\mi I light. Daniel S. and Clarinda Tiiurston, John C. and Rachel Wright. Thomas and iVnn Haywood, John and INIary Haines, Joseph and Rebecca Essex, INIaria Luper, Emma Pilgrim, Viola Keeling, Elizabeth Pettit and Elizabeth Simms. During the next twenty years the cliurch prospered, but the old members have nearly all died or are unable to attend regularly, and in recent years the church has lost some of its former prestige.

l^art of Essex Township, in the settlement known as "Stringtown." ^ It was established many j^ears ago, but little can be learned of its history.

The Baptists

Close behind the JNIethodists came the Baptists. On June 1j, 183U, when Stark County was but about three months old, the Society of Baptists known as the Fahrenheit Church, was organized in Goshen o Township, in what was called the ^liner Settlement. Among the early members were Charles H. jNIiner and his wife, Selden ]Miner and wife, Elisha Gill and wife, jNlrs. Parrish, J. M. Stickney and wife, and Susan ]\I. Eastman. Elder Jonathan INIiner, who was aetiv e in organizing the church, served as pastor until 1844. ^Meetings were held at ^Nlrs. Chas. H. ^Miner's until about 18.50, when the church bm'lding at Lafayette was completed.

In 1848 a Baptist Church was organized at Toulon. J. ]\I. Stickney, Elisha Gill and H. T. Ives were chosen delegates to the Illinois River Association. Stickney and Gill had withdrawn from the Fahrenheit Clun-ch, as had a number of others, to assist in the organization of the Toulon BajJtist Church. Up to 1851 meetings were generally held in the courthouse. A revival in November, 18.51, added several new members to the congregation and early in 18.5'J a movement was started to build a clun-ch. Nothing definite was done, however, vmtil in October, when the pastor was requested to confer with an architect regarding plans and a campaign was started to raise funds. The chinrh building was completed and was dedicated in April, 18j.5.

Early in 1868 a number of the members withdrew, owing to dissensions over the ownership and management of the churcli j)roperty, which dissensions dated back for nearly ten years. Those who withdrew then organized the Second Baptist Clun-ch of Toulon. They ])(n-chased a lot at the northwest corner of jNIain and Olive streets, and bef(u-e the close of the year 1868 dedicated a frame church edifice, which had been erected at a cost of $2,37j. Rev. W. A. Welsher was the first regular pastor.

In the meantime the remaining members of the old church tried to effect a reconciliation. In February. 1868. they adojited a resolution ])lacing the church property in the bands of trustees, to be held for a new church organization, and on July 8, 1868. they again met and passed resolutions of a conciliatory nature, but the withdrawing meml)ers Avere not to be ajipeased. and for more than ten years Toulon had two weak Baptist churches instead of one strong one. In 1877 the old contentions were happily adjusted, the two churches again united and the building erected by the Second Church was sold to tiie Catholics.

Among- those who signed the constitution of the consolidated ciiurches in September, 1877, were: JMartha and Sarah Berfield, Andrew and Julia Baldwin, Abram Bowers and wife, Albert Bowers and wife. Harriet Hall, I^ettie and Sarah Sillinian. Frank ^Villiams and wife, l>uther, Avery and Kate Cieer, J. C. Hart and wife, JNlrs. A. (iill. Flora Gill, and a number of others. Benjamin Packer, Owen Thomas, Hugh Y. Godfrey, N. F. Winans and S. W. Eastman \\eie elected trustees and the name adopted was "The Ba]3tist Church of Toulon." The following April the old church property was sold and witliin a short time afterward the present church edifice, located on the southeast corner of Jefferson and ^Vashington streets, was erected. This building was thoi'onghly remodeled in the summer and fall of 11)1.5. making one of the best houses of worship in the county.

The Baptist Church at Lafayette, which was also an offspring of the old Falu'cnheit Church, continued for a number of years, when the congregation became so weakened that it was forced to disband. The church l)uilding was sold to E. G. Hill, who converted it into a planing mill.

On August 15, 18.>3, the Stark Predestinarian Baptist Society was oi'ganized at JNIodena by a number of members of the old Sandy Creek Association, who changed the name to the Spoon River Predestinarian Ba])tist Association. Among the founders of this society were the \"an(likes, Chenoweths, Fillinghams, Isaac Babbitt. George Beall. Benjamin and Jane Newton, David Potter and Elder Robert F. Haynes, several of whom lived in Henry County. On October 1, 18.50, the new meeting house at ]Modena was opened, the meetings prior to that time having been held in the Franklin schoolhouse. The record of this church closes in 1877. though a few of the members continued to hold meetings for some time after that date.

The Baptist Church of Osceola was organized on February 10, 1800, in the schoolhouse, Dr. E. R. Boardman presiding and J. G. Boardman acting as secretary. The little society continued to meet in the schoolhouse until the following year. On January 12, 1801, Isaac Spencer, E. R. Boardman, M. H. Weaver, Otis Gardner and M. J. Weaver were appointed a building committee, but the w^ork went slowly and the building was not ready for occupancy until in 180.3. This society is one of the active Baptist congregations of the county.

One of the early Rajjtist organizations was the Free Will Baptist Society of Khnira, Avliich was organized several years before the heginning of the Civil war, though little can be learned of its history. Among the members were John Leason and his family, the Winslows, ihe Berrys, Adaline Condell, Charles Bolt, the Fairbanks family and the Griswolds, of Boyd's Grove. Xo house of worship was ever erected and after a number of years the society went down. The descendants of some of the early members now belong to the Baptist Society that holds meetings in a schoolhouse on Jug Run.

Elder Dodge, of Toulon, A. J. Wright, of Saxon, and J. ^I. Stickney visited Wyoming in August, 18G7, and organized a Baptist Church witli the following members. J. INI. Stickney. who was the first pastor, Ephraim and Eliza jNI. Holton, JMargaret A. Conover, Sarah and ^Martha E. Wilson, ]Mary Butler, Josephine Holton. Rachel Eong, Adelaide Cole, Lucy Timmons, Louisa Hearse and Rachel Davis. Francis Walker Mas also a member at an early date in the society's history. INIeetings Avere held in such quarters as could be obtained until July 10. 1872, w'hen the frame church on Galena Avenue was dedicated and the Baptists moved into their new home out of debt. For more than forty years this house stood and meetings were held there regularly for many years, but in the summer of 191.5 it was torn down and nuned away, nearly all the original members having died and the church grew so weak that it was unal)le to emi)loy a pastor.

On December 12, 1809. Elder Stickney, upon invitation of some of the Baptists living in Bradford, attended a meeting in that village and presented articles of association providing for the formation of a Baptist Church, which articles were signed by J. ]\L Stickney, Andrew and Eunice Britton. Annie Prout, John R. and Sarah Hatch. John and 3Iary Winslow, William F. and ]Madge J. Patt. Hannah S. Fulkerson and perhaps one or tAvo others. The first services were held by Elder Stickney on January 23. 1870. and on the first day of ]May following, the Bradford Baptist Church was formally organized. The society adopted the name of the "First Regidar Baptist Church of Bradford" at a meeting a little later and Rev. F. B. Ives preached occasionally during the first year. The first regular pastor was Rev. G. D. Kent, who came to Bradford in February. 1871, and the following ^Vpril the church became connected Avith the Ottawa Baptist Association.

On July 21, 1871, AndreAv Leslie Avas aAvarded the contract to erect a church building for -'^2,27.5. The first services Avere held in the ncAv house the day before Christmas, 1871. The building is still occu- pied l)y the congregation, anil, although the oldest church edifice in Bradford, it is in good repair. It is the most centrally located of any of the churches, being on the south side of ^lain Street, only a short distance east of the Chicago, Burlingtt)n ilk Quincy Railroad.

The Presbytekians

The first Presbyterian organization in Stark County was the Osceola Society, which was organized on June 8, 1839, though a meeting had been called on the 25th of JMay, at which the prelhuinary steps were taken for the establishment of a church. On that date five members of the Davis family - John, Polly, JNIargaret, Frances and Rosanna - Helen Rrydon. Thomas and IMargaret Oliver, Calvin and Betsey Winslow, John and ^largaret Turnbull, William and Agnes Parks, IMary Wiseman, Sarah Spencer, Robert and JNIargaret Turnhull, Hannah Pike, Magaret INIoore, Adam Oliver and Hannah Fuller, all were admitted to membership "on certificate."

The record shows that "William Parks, who had been ordained an elder in A'irginia, was duly elected with John Davis, ruling elders in this church: that they declared their acceptance of the office, and covenanted to discharge the duties thereof, according to the Confession of Faith and the Book of Discipline of the Presbyterian Church in the United States."

Says ]Mrs. Shallenberger: "We doubt if any other religious organization within our borders sprang into life with such an array of names as this - and we mean no play u]X)n the frequent recurrence of the name '^largaret,' although that is singular - but whether con- .sidered numerically, or as to character and standing, it was a strongchurch for the time when it was formed; and it was no child's play, but a solemn compact of mature men and women to make their influence felt for good in forming the opinions and habits of the new county."

The church never had a regular pastor. Services were held at intervals by Revs. R. B. Dobbins, W. J. Frazer, E. S. High, and William F. Vail. In the organization all but four of the members voted for the adoption of the Old School form of worship, which method was followed as long as the church existed. After the removal of the postotfice to Elmira and the establishment of the Presbyterian Church there, the Osceola Society went down, the last records bearing date of August 14, 18.).).

(the earliest records preserved) were James llulsizer, S. G. W'riglit, James Ferguson, Francis Anthony, Wesley Heath, Newton Matthews, Rev. A. C. Miller, the Mclntoshes, JMcKinstrys, Eatons, Bodines, Yomigs and other pioneer families whose names are familiar in the early history of the coimty. The last regular pastor was Rev. J. C. Hannah, who preached there in 1877. Not long after that the church disbanded.

The Presbyterian Church of Lafayette dates its beginning from 1841, when Rev. S. G. ^^'right, afterward school commissioner, preached in the village and several persons expressed their desire to oroanize a church. No house of worship was ever erected and when in 1846 some of the members withdrew to join the Congregational Church at Toulon, the Lafayette Society passed out of existence.

3Irs. Shallenberger, whose book was published in 1876, says of the United Presbyterian Church of Elmira: "This church was originally known as the 'Associate Reformed Congregation of Osceola,' changed in 1852 from Osceola to Elmira to correspond with the name of the nearest postotfice. And the Associate and Associate Refoi-m churches of the United States being formally united in May, 1858, the congregation became known by that union as 'The United Presbyterian Church of Elmira,' l)y which name it is still recognized."

Although the formal organization of the church dates from 1852, Rev. N. C. Weede, a Presbyterian minister of ^Marshall County, had held meetings and preached in Elmira as early as 1849. Among the early members of this church were the Turnbulls, Olivers and some others who had been identified with the Presbyterian Church at Osceola. Then there were the ]Murchisons, Grieves, Murrays. Jacksons, Scotts, ^NlcLennans and other well known families who were atfiliated with this congregation at an early day and active in its support. In 1853 an acre of land was bought from Clinton Fuller and a frame church. 30 by 40 feet, was built for $1,275.

To quote again from ]Mrs. Shallenberger: "In the spring of 18(54 a considerable number left this congregation (the United Presbyterian of Elmira) to constitute the 'Knox Church of Elmira,' which is in connection with the Canada Presbyterian Church. ]Much interest attaches to this Knox Church, partly because its communicants are mainly Scotch Highlanders, or Gaelic people, and services have usually been performed in the Gaelic tongue."

As early as 1856 some of the Scotch Presbyterians in and about Elmira applied to the Canada Synod of the Presbyterian Church to send a minister who could preach in eitlier Gaelic or English. Not long after that, Rev. Duncan JMcUerniid came and jji-eached two sermons, and in 18(>'2 Rev. Adam JNlcKay visited them for two successive Sundays. In 18(34. l{ev. Loehhn Cameron, of Acton, Ontario, came and remained for ahout six weeks. It was under his ministrations that the church was formally organized. He was succeeded hy Rev. Archibald McDermid, and" on September 27, 1804., John ^McLennan, Donald ^IcDonald and James Armstrong were elected elders. JNIeetings were held in the homes of the members or in the jNIethodist Church until 18(JG, when a house of worship was erected.

A third Presbyterian Church was oi-ganized at Elmira on May 8, 1881. by Revs. T. G. Scott and John Weston. While several members of this society were Scotch, a large number were English speaking people, who could not understand the Gaelic language. At a meeting held on December 20, 1881, to consider the question of building a church, a majority decided in favor of the pro])osition and John Roberts, John Fowler, John G. Turnbull, George Armstrong, Joseph Cliapman, Daniel Dodd, \Villiam Reattie, George E. Holmes, John Ilindmarsh, Henry Scott, James Cinnamon, Alexander Buchanan and William Stevenson were appointed a committee to take charge of the movement. About a week later Clinton Fuller donated a lot and in the fall of 1882 the church edifice was completed at a cost of $j,()0(). The first services were held in the new house on December 15, 1882. A parsonage was erected in 1885 at a cost of $2,500. It is located on the Toulon road, a little southwest of the village.

I^eeson's History of Stark County, published in 1887, says: "It is notable that the three Presbyterian churches of Elmira Township pay $3,000 as salaries annually, and about the same amount for other church purposes."

A society of Cumberland Presbyterians, known as the "^lound Church," Avas organized at !Modena some time in the '4.0s. It was never ])rosi:)erous and after a few years it went down. The house of worshi]) erected by this church became the property of the Old School Raptists, who in turn disbanded.

The Coxcjregatioxalists

A year or two after Stark County was organized, a few persons living in the southern ])art, near the Peoria County line, held meetings and Avorshiped according to the Congregational faith. There is a tradition that a church was organized there, but none of its records have been preserved. There was an effort made to oi-ganize a Con-

It is therefore (luite probable tliat the Congregational Church of Toulon is entitled to recognition as the first society of tliat denomination in the county. In November, 1840, Rev. S. G. Wright, Rev. L. II. Parker, Hugh Rhodes and a few others met in the court room at Toulon and took the necessary steps to organize a church by adopting the confession of faith covenant recognized by the Congregational i-itual. The charter members were Hugh and Jonatlian Rhodes and their wives, Giles C. Dana and wife, ]Mrs. Elizabeth Rhodes, Franklin and Eliza Rhodes. Of the nine original members, seven belonged to the Rhodes family, and the little society became known as the "Rhodes Church."

In March. 184.7, at a meeting held at the house of Hugh Rhodes, nine new members were received into the church. They were S. G. Wright, Robert Nicholson and wife, Orrin Rhodes" and wife, John Pollock, Jane Bradley, JMrs. 3Iatilda Hall and ^Nliss Eliza Hall. Rev. S. G. Wriglit was the first pastor. He was identified witli the society until December, 1854.

The first movement toward the erection of a house of worship was made on August 24, 1849, when James Flint, Charles F. White and Hugh Rhodes were appointed a committee to confer with tlie ^lethodist congregation with a view of effecting some arrangement by wliich the two societies could be united in the erection of a house of worship to be used by both. But the ^Methodists declined to co-operate. Mr. "Wright then started out with a subscription paper, secured pledges or subscriptions amounting to a little over one lumdred dollars, went to Henry County and made arrangements for lumber, and finally borrowed $700 from a Fulton County man. He also "drafted" men to go to the quarry, and teams to havd stone for the foundation, and on September 21, 18.31, the congregation worshiped for the first time in the "new Congregational Churcli on Henderson Street," tliough the house Avas not fully completed until some months later.

In July, 1882. James H. JSIiller and R. J. Dickinson were appointed a committee to inquire into and report on the cost of rejxiiring the old cluu-ch or building a new one. Their report, which favored a new building, was adopted by the congregation and on August 8, 1882. a majority of the members voted in favor of erecting the new cliui-cli upon tlie site of the old one. The building committee at the same time was instructed to sell the old church and on October 1.5, 1882, it was sold to Charles S. Payne, of Wyoming, for $175. A little later JNIr. Pajne purchased the old JNlethodist Churcli of Wyoming and out of the two lie built the Wyoniing ()])era House. Tlie new Congregational Church was dedicated on January 3, ISS^, and was used by the society until 1914, when the present niagniticent house of worship was dedicated. It is located at the southeast corner of Thomas and Henderson streets and was erected at a cost of about thirty thousand dollars.

The Congregational Church of Bradford was organized on November 28, 1869, by Rev. B. jM. Hoy, but none of the church records can be found. ^Meetings were held in a hall or in the Baptist Church until about ISTJ-, when the few members grew discouraged, disbanded their organization and united with churches elsewhere.

On April 3, 1873, fourteen Congregationalists living in \V^y()ming got together and organized the Wyoming Congregational Church. The next Sunday Rev. A. A. Stevens, of Peoria, preached for the little society and a little later Rev. W. Walters took charge as pastor. lie remained with the church until 1883, when he was called to the church at Lacon. 111. The original fourteen members of this church were Dr. John C. and Sarah C. Copestake, John and Prudence Rockhold, lleiu-y V. and Charlotte Turner, Jolin and Augusta Hawks, James and Susannah Buckley, William and ]Mary A. Walters, JNIary C. Scott and Ann Wrigley.

On July 1.5, 1874, the pastor, John Hawks and Henry F. Turner were appointed a l)uilding committee. A lot on INIain Street was ])urchased for .$100 from W. F. Thomas, who donated the adjoininglot, and the cliurch edifice was built thereon at a cost of $3, .585. At the time it was completed and dedicated (May 4, 1875), it was considered the finest church building in Stark County. The society is still an active power for good in Wyoming and in 191.3 was under the pastoral charge of Rev. ^Villiam JMoore.

In 1880 a few Congregationalists living in the little Village of Stark and the adjacent country organized a small society and for a time held meetings in Simpson & Smith's warehouse. Later the abandoned cheese factory was obtained as a place of holding services, and here a Sunday school was organized in the spring of 1883. The persons who kept up the Sunday school and the religious meetings did not claim to be a regular church, and it was not initil February 19, 188.). that a meeting was called for the purpose of effecting a formal organization. Then the Stark Congregational Church was founded and M. S. Smith, H. F. Blood, W. F. Speer, L. Dixon and Charles Hampson were appointed a finance committee, to solicit aid for tlie building of a church.

The organization of the cliurch was finally completed on April 19, 1885, when eighteen members signed the articles of association. The work of erecting a church was pushed with vigor and on September 20, 188.5, the house of worship was dedicated. Its cost was -$2,000. ]{cv. J. K. Tomkins, of Chicago, preached the sermon on that occasion.

Latter Day Saints

For some five or six years following tlie organization of Stark County the 3Iormons, or Latter Day Saints, were (juite active in the Spoon River Valley. Mormon elders and evangelists visited every settlement and wherever given an opportunity exjiounded the peculiar doctrines of their church. And they made some converts in quarters Avhere such a thing coidd hardly have been expected, a few of the pioneers selling all they had to follow the fortunes of the "saints." Walnut Creek is referred to in Rev. S. G. Wright's diary as "the heart of the ]Mormon settlement," though no organized church was ever established in the county. The elders operated about West Jersey, in Essex Township and in the vicinity of Lafayette. Among their converts were Adam Perry and some members of the Essex family.

Peotestaxt Episcop.Vl Church

This denomination has never l)een strong in Stark County, the only church being the one at Wyoming. It dates from the year 1848, Avhen Rev. Richard Radley, of Jubilee, Peoria County, came to AVyoming and conducted services at the house of Henry Butler. ]Mr. Radley made monthly visits until 31arch, 18,51, when he left for Xew York. He was succeeded by Rev. Philander Chase, who formally organized the parish in Sejitember, 18.51, as "St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church." The articles of association were signed by H. A. Hoist, Charles S. Payne, Dr. Luther S. :\Iilliken. W. B. :Mcbonald, Thomas B. Whiff en and Henry Butler.

The parish was admitted into union with the diocese on October 18, 185.5, and in ]May, 18.57, a movement was inaugurated for the erection of a church building. In July H. A. Hoist, A. B. Butler and J. H. Hopkins were appointed a building committee, the building was finished in due time and was dedicated on the last day of February, 18.58. The cost of the edifice was $1,020, of whicli the people of Cliicago gave $271 and $172 came from Episcojial clnu'ches in the East. In the course of a few years the business district of Wyoming spread until the location of the church became un(lesiial)le and the conoi-fo-ation accepted the offer of Ur. Alfred Castle to donate a lot on North Cralena xVvenue, to which tlie building was removed in the early part of 1874.

In July, 1883, Rev. Cieorge Moore, then pastor of the Episcopal Church at Wyoming, conducted services in Bradford as a sort of exiX'riment. He had a good audience and twenty-six persons were found in and near the village Avho expressed a desire to become members of the Episcopal Church. Accordingly, at a business meeting Iield on July 2.5. 1883, tlie necessary papers were ])repared and signed to send to Bishop Burgess at Quincy, requesting his approval of and assistance in organizing a mission at Bradford, to be known as St. James. The bishop gave his approval and in December sent Rev. R. C. AVall. of Tiskihva, to take charge of the mission, under instructions to hold services on the second and fourth Sundays of cacli month. A room was rented in which to hold these services and the attendance was fairly good for four or five years. Then it began to fall off and the mission of St. James was soon afterward abandoned.

Chkistiaxs Or Disciples

The first Christian Church to be organized in the county is the one at Toulon, which dates back to July l.>, 1849, when a meeting was held in the old courthouse and the following persons signed the nienibership roll: Elijah and Sarah ]McClenalian, Edward and ^lartha J. AVilson, Davitl and Mary J. INIcCance, Henry Sweet and James Bates. Rev. ^lilton'P. King, who was present at the meeting, was the first pastor of the church. In 185.) a church edifice was erected on the east side of Washington Street, between ^Nlain and Vine. The l)uil(ling. a substantial l)riek structure, is still used by the congi-ega- T tion. though a few years ago it was generally overhauled and remodeled, the walls covered with cement and "penciled" to resemble stone. The property is valued at $.).()00. During an electrical storm in August, 191.), lightning struck the church, tore the top off the chimney and damaged the roof to a small extent.

Prior to the organization of the Toulon chiu'ch. Rev. ]Milton P. King had conducted meetings near the south line of the county, in wh:it was then known as the "Pratz Settlement," and several persons united with the church, but no regular church organization was effected. INIr. King also preached at Wyoming and I^afayette and a Christian Church was finally organized at the latter place on August 1, 1873, under the name of the "Chureh of Christ," with John Boyd, James Ingles and J. H. Quinii, trustees. A building was soon afterward erected and services held regularly for several years, w hen tlie society Avent down and its records have been lost.

The Uxiveesalists

Three Universalist congregations have been organized in Stark County, but none was in existence in 191.). Rev. R. ]M. Bartlett came to Toulon in the winter of 1860-Gl and preached in tlie Odd Fellows' Hall, though ])revious to this time sermons had been i)reached in tlie town by Universalist ministers, whose names have been lost. A small society was organized in Toidon liy Reverend Bartlett. but no house of worsliiiJ was ever built and about 1873 tlie Universalists ceased to hold meetings.

On November 16, 1867, a society of Universalists was organized at Bradford and took the name of the First Universalist Church. Among the meml)ers were Bradford S. Foster, William ]M. and ]Mary E. Pilgrim, Alonzo Abbott, Lydia K. Abbott, B. F. Thompson, ^V. B. Foster, Francis and Nancy Davis, the Curtisses, the Spinneys and several others who were members of the leading families in that part of the county. Soon after the organization of tlie church tlie old schoolhouse was piu'chased and remodeled for a house of worship, and B. F. Thomjison, Willard B. Foster and J. O. H. Spinney were elected trustees. The last board of trustees of which any record can be found was comjjosed of Silas ]Moody, ]Melvin Gage and JMordecai Bevier.

Tlie Universalist Church of Lafayette was organized on November 29, 1873, by Rev. John Hughes. Among the members of this society were: G. H. Redfield and wife, Charles B. and P. H. Smith, A. M. Snyder and wife. Samuel White and wife, !Mrs. T. D. Cliurch, ]Mrs. Sarah Churcli, ]Mrs. A. E. Parker, ]Mrs. Ann Dunl)ar and Julia Lake. In 187.) a neat frame church was erected at the northeast corner of Lafayette and Hodgson streets, at a cost of $3,300. and meetings were held regularly for several years, wlien reverses came and the society went down.

Chuicli" was organized in the southeastern part of Essex Township and numbered anion^y- its uienibers the Fautzes, Springers, Joneses, Colwells. Eekleys, Andrew, Peter and George Sheets and a few others. Tlie ehureh lot and cemetery were platted in August, 1873, in the northeast quarter of section 32, by Edwin Butler, tlien county surveyor. Although this ehureh has fallen off' in numbers in recent years, meetings are still held occasionally.

Another United Brethren Church was established at Wyoming in 1872 and continued in existence for about ten years. Samuel and Eorina Farden, Jesse and Cynthia Redding, the Bogards. Baldwin.s, Beavers, Samuel Bishoj). Sanuiel and Lucretia Redding. Henry Curfman and wife and ^lalinda O'Vanda were the tirst members. The last services here were conducted by Rev. J. S. Smith on October 28, 1882. The church building was sold to Thomas Dugdale, who converted it into a residence.

The Catholics

Among the first settlers around Bradford were a few Catholic families and some years after the town was laid out others were added to the pojjulation. Priests came there at intervals and said mass in the homes of some of the believers, and early in the "7()s steps were taken to organize a parish. Among the leaders in the movement may be mentioned Owen Sharkey, ^Michael Real, John Hickey, Thomas Powers, Edward Ilarty and Walter Ilennebury, \\ho were appointed as a building committee in 187-5. Then there were the Codes, Gormans, O'Briens, ]Mahaneys. ^Valshes, Cooneys, Caseys, JNIcSherrys and some others who had been brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, and \\ho were active supporters of the new church, which was given the name of St. John's Parish.

The first church edifice was dedicated on January 8, 1870. the priest at that time being Father O'Gara. The present pastor, Rev. P. H. IMcCarron, came to the j)arish in 1893. Under his ministrations a magnificent new church has been erected at a cost of $.)0.000 and the old frame building has l)een converted into a public hall, sometimes called the "Bradford Opera House." In October, 191.5, the parish numbered 115 families.

St. Dominic's Catholic Church, at Wyoming, Avas organized in 1880 and the chin-ch building was dedicated on July 27, 1881. Bishop T Spalding officiating. It is located in the northeastern part of the city, on a lot that was donated by Dr. Alfred Castle. John Colgan, John Seibold and INIichael Colgan were the building committee and the edifice cost about thirty-five hundred dollars. For some time before the parish was established the Catholic families were visited bj' priests from Peoria, Lacon and other convenient points. Father iNIoynihan was the first resident priest. In 191.5 the parish was under the charge of Father JM. A. Humphreys.

As early as 1840 the Nowlans, Drinnins and a few other Catholic families settled in the neighborhood of the pi'esent City of Toulon and priests came here at times and said mass in the homes. About 18G7 a mission was established at Toulon and was attended by priests from Bradford, Kewanee and other places for several years. Rev, John ]Moore said mass in the Second Baptist Church on December 30, 1877, shortly after the two Baptist congregations had agreed to consolidate, and the following March the building formerly occupied by the Second Ba])tist Church was sold to the Catholics. This is still a mission and in 191.5 Avas attended by Father Richard D. O'Loughlin, of Galva.

Miscellaneous

About the close of the war some of the citizens of Goshen Township imited with some of the people living in Henry County in building a Union Church at Saxon. Here ministers of various deuon)inations have held services. The Union Church was dedicated on August 31, 186.5.

St. Timothy's German Evangelical Lutheran Church at Castleton was organized in 1878, by Rev. F. R. Bess, of Peoria. Here the Conrads. Dunkelmanns, Brinkmanns, \Vagners, Bm-meisters, Schwartzes, Zinunermans and other German families of Penn Township have since worshiped according to the tenets of the faith in which they were brought up. Rev. Carl Proehl was the first pastor and the house of Avorshij), a modest frame, was dedicated on December 8, 1878.

A Young Men's Christian Association was organized at Toulon in ]March, 188.5, with nineteen members. Charles II. Christy was the first ])resident and W. F. Nicholson the first secretary. The association continued for some time, but for want of a suitable home was finally disbanded.

The Wyoming Camp ^Meeting dissociation was formed in 1883, although camp meetings had been held there nearly every year since 1840. The second camp meeting in the county was held at Lafayette in 1842, as previously stated. In 1883 James :M. Rogers, B. G. Hall and K. J. Edwards Mere appointed an executive committee for the Wyoming Camj) ^Meeting Association and made several needed im-

The Starlv County liible Society was organized in 18.5(> with Norman Hutler. president; C. M. Johnson, vice president; T. IJ. Starrett, secretary; Davis Lowman, treasurer; Rev. R. C. Dunn, chairman of the executive committee; Samuel ITalsted. Benjamin Packer and Hopkins Shivvers, local agents; Mrs. Norman Butler and ^liss Sarah iVi-mstrong, collectors. It continued in existence for several years and was influential ill placing copies of the Bible in the homes of several families throughout the county.

The Elmira Bihle Society was organized on June "J-t, 18.37. with John Turnbull, president; W. M. Fuller and Joseph Blanchard, vice presidents; M. G. Brace, secretary; Dr. E. M. Boardman, treasurer. Liberal contributions were made by this society to the American Bible Society for several years, in fact for some time after regular meetings ceased.

The Stark County Sunday School Union was formed in 1866 and held its first meeting in James Holgate's grove that year. Davis Uowman was the first president and W. W. Wright the first secretary. INIeetings or conventions have been held annually since that time. The fiftieth annual convention was held in the ^Methodist Church at Bradford on October 28-29, 1915. At that time the officers of the union were: H. D. D. ISIartin, president; George C. Strattan, vice president; ^Nlrs. INI. L. Earhart, secretary and treasurer.

In connection with several of the Stark County churches are ladies' aid societies, auxiliary missionary circles, etc., so that the church work is carried on systematically and without friction.