Peoria City Township (part 1 of 3)

Peoria City Township

Near the lower end of the expansion of the Illinois river denominated Lake Peoria, and on its north-western margin, midway between the two great cities of the We.st, in latitude 40°40' north and longitude 12 10' west from Wiu-^hington. upon a sandy plateau, nestles the beautiful, tlirifty city of Peoria. Were a person to ascend to the brow of the bluff three-fourths of a mile back from the margin of the lake and there leisurely survey the magnificent landscape spread out before him ; the busy city four or five miles in lengtli. witli its broad avenues, lined hy superb business blocks or palatial jirivate dwellings, nestling at its feet, semi-girdled beyond l)y T^ake Peoria and the Illinois river - a great silver mirror, upon whose surface the sunbeams dance in joyous glee - ; the many miles of fertile valley skirting their borders ; and in the distance the variegated declivities of the bluff - the frame to the picture ; and in addition to this inspiring spectacle the beholder contemplates the practical advantages of natural drainages of this gently sloping gravelly plateau ; and the furtlier grand fact tliat the country within a radius of a hunilred miles of Peoria is prf>l)ably uiiequaled by a like area in the world for productiveness, he at once recognizes a Divine handiwork in shaping this as a site for a great commercial metropolis. The observer is not surprise that tlie Indians selected it as their favorite camping ground, nor that those heroic French explorers. Father P. Manjuette, M. Joliel, Father Ilcnntpin, and M. De LaSalle, fell in love with this diarming spot and resolved to plant the first seeds of civilization here more than two luindred years ago.

The site upon which the most populous portion of the city of I'eoria is built rises from the lake and river bank with a gradual slope to the height of s:'. feet at the liase of the bluff above the low water horizon ; and varies in widtli from le.ss than three-fourths of a mile at the upper end of the city to a mile and a half al the lower end. The bluffs rise from a hundreil to a luindred and twenty feet above the plateau. On the top of the bluffs are situatccl numerous priin'dy n.-sidences, surrounilfd liy amph- and ricldy decorated grounds, commanding a view of many miles of tiie city, lake, river and valley below. Farther back also rise church edifices and imposing school buildings, among which are interspersed dwellings and business houses, constituting a city of several thousand inhabitants on the highlands. The conntiy beyond presents a gently undulating surface of fertile prairie and woodland, which is converted into finely improved farms of rare productiveness. About four miles up the lake from the Court-house is Prospect Hill, which rises nearly a thousand feet above the lake, and from its summit is presented one of the most extended and charming landscape views in tlie West. Tlie upper end of Lake Peoria, some fifteen miles away, is plainly visible, as are the city of Chiliicothe still beyond and the villages of Rome and Mossville along its border. Wlien the atmosphere is veiy clear the city of Lacon, on the opposite shore of the river, twenty-five miles distant, can be seen. In 1850 a hotel costing if .5, 000 was erected there, covering an area of 53x76 feet, containing a fine ball room and other attractions for visitors. It was called Prospect Hill Pavillion, and was kept by Mason Gass. It was destroj^ed by fire some years ago, and was never rebuilt.

Lake Peoria is simply an expansion of the Illinois river, about "20 miles long and varying in width from a half a mile to a mile and a half in common stage of water. At the narrows, three miles above the cit3% the river is compressed into its usual width of channel, thus virtually dividing the lake into two. The lake formerly abounded with a variety of water fowls, such as swans, white and blue cranes, wild geese, ducks and brants ; and fish in great quantities and variety iidiabited its waters. But now the wild fowls are greatl}^ reduced in number, and fish are not nearh' so plentiful as of yore.

The early history of the city of Peoria is really the history of the county, as the first settlement and the only improvements made within the present boundaries of the county for many years was on the ground now occupied by the city. Hence the important facts and incidents connected with the first exploration, the establishment of the French colony, the building and destruction of the several forts in the vicinity, and the settlement of the village of Fort Clark by native Americans in the early part of the present century have all been previously narrated as an essential part of the county history ; and will only be briefly alluded to here, as links in the chain, otherwise disconnected.

The first white men known to have set toot on the site of Peoria were Father James Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary, and Louis Joliet, a native of Quebec, from which city they started in the Spring of 1673 accompanied with five Canadian assistants, on an exploring expedition, under the authority and in behalf of the French Government. Going across by the way of the Wisconsin river to the Mississippi, they followed down the " Great River " in their canoes. Wiieii nearly opposite to Peoria, they landed one day, and seeing the tracks of men upon the sand, which led off across a meadow - prairie - Marquette and Joliet instructed their comrades to remain with the canoes, and the}' resolved to follow tlie path to see where it led. Marquette says in his memoranda of the expedition, that they traveled about " ten leagues from thence when they came to a village on the bank of the river and two other villages on a hill a half a league from the former." This was on Sunday, the 2.5th day of June 1673. The}' spent Sunday and part of Monday with the Peorias, a branch of the lUini Confederacy, and then pursued their journey, promising to return at the end of four moons. After descending the Mississijjpi to the mouth of the Arkansas, and thus satisfying themselves that it emptied into the Gulf of Mexico, they returned to the mouth of the Illinois and ascended to the village of the Peorias, where they arrived about the first of August, and after remaining some time, during which Father Marquette preached to tliem, the companj- continued their journey, arriving at Green Bay in September.

Tlie next white adventurers to visit Peoria were Robert de LaSalle, Fatlier Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan monk, and Chevalier de Toiiti, the liistorian of tlie expedition, who with some thirty companions, left Quebec about the middle of the Summer of 1679, and passing down the line of the present canal, landed their nine canoes near wiiere the bridge now spans the Illinois river, on Tuesday, Jannarvl, 1680. They were hospitahly received at first, l)at after a few days discontent hejan to he manifest among LaSiille's men, and some contention arose with Indians, and fearing trouble, he crossed over the river where they erected Fort Crevecieur - broken heart - at the biise of tlie bluff between two and three miles east of the present city, where the old foundations were explored and measured in 1848 or 1840 by S. De Wit Drower and several other gentlemen. Before the fort was fairly completed LaSalle returned to Canada, leaving Father Hennepin and a portion of his men in charge of it. A few months later it was al)andoned entirely by the French and only served as a halting point for subsequent expeditions while it remained.

In 1698 an Englishman by the name of Daniel Cox, passed down the Illinois river, and in the memoirs of his explorations entitled "Cox's Carolina" he speaks of the beautiful lake and adjacent country. He named the river Chicagou and the lake Pinkatori. P. de Charlevoix visited the site of Peoria, from Canada, on Fridav, October 3, 1721.

From the formal declaration of LaSalle of the French possession of the Mississippi valley, after his descent to the mouth of that river, on April 9, 1682, until the year 1763 France hehl dominion over the country. In the latter year it was ceded to England, but that Government did not take formal possession till two years later, and wa,s forced to abandon it in 1778 ; when the State of Virginia assumed control of all the country west of the (^hio river and organized the county of Illinois. The following year a French colony named La Ville de Mnillet was established bv M. Hypolite Maillet, on the border of the lake, a mile and a half above the outlet, on land that was afterwards a part of the farm of .lohn Berket. The location being considered unhealthy, the colony removed to New Peoria - Fort Clark - down at the lower extremity of the lake, near Liberty street. This was the original French settlement, and out of it grew the celebrated " French Claims, " which were so fruitful of litigation in the establishment of titles to real estate among the Amei-ican settlers in the early jiart of this century, and which were finally set aside by the indefatigable labors of Charles Ballance. The French erected their cabins near the lake shore, and occupied long narrow lots extending back toward the bluff, the size varying with the industry of the occupant. They were almost entirely devoid of education, and lived chiefly by hunting and fishing. About \l>i\ the inhabitants became alarmed ami abandoned the settlement, but returned twi> yeai-s after. At the time Ca]it. Thomas E. Craig burned the village in the earlv part of November, 1813, it consisted of not more than twenty-five families, who were without a church or a school, and had less than 200 acres of land under cultivation. Their dwellings were mere hovels. The first residence was built in 1778 or 1779. By the year 179t)the old village had been entirely abandoned and removeil to New Peoria. Neither the old nor new village was ever laid out, and the inhal)itants held no other title but possession, the lands were only made valuable in ])roportion to the labor thev expended upon them.

On the third day of August, ITOo, the Indian title was extinguished by a treaty in which, with other lands ceded, wius included "one piece six miles square at the (dd Peoria Fort a village near the south end of the Illinois Lake on said Illinois river." The a(i.joining lands were not surrendered until 1804.

During the war with England an expedition defeated the Indians in the Fall of 1813, and ('a[>t. Thomas (^raig believing the Fiench settlers to be in collusion with the reil men, burned their villa'.,'e. While the troops were quartered here they built Fort Clark, at the intersection of Liberty an<l Water streets, on the lake shore. It was thus named in honor of Ca>\. Gcortxe Rogers Clark, of Virginia, who commanded the fii-st expedition against the Western Indians, then the allies of Great Brilain. In .lune. 18l!>;. the fort was evacuated and, in the Fall of the same year the Indians mI fire (o it. which con-

From the time the French village was destroj-ed, in the Fall of 1813, till the Spring of 1819, no white man lived at Fort Clark, as the place was called after the erection of the fort of that name. The former occupants all left, never to return.

On Monday, the 19th of April, in the 19th year of the 19th century, T. Russell, of Kentucky, Joseph Hersey, of New York, Abner Eads, Josiah Fulton, Seth Fulton, S. Dougherty and J. Davis reached Peoria. On the 10th of June Capt. J. Warner arrived with a keel boat, from St. Louis, with a company consisting of Isaac De Boice, James Goff, William Blanchard, David Barnes and Charles and Theodore Seargent, for the purpose of catching and packing fish. Several of this party afterwards settled in this vicinity. During the following Winter two men, Lyman Andrews, of New York, and John Barker, of Ohio, arrived with their families. In the Spring of 1821, John Hamlin, of Massachusetts, came here, and in 1822 established an Indian trading post, as clerk of the American Fur Compan)% In 1825 he shipped the first produce to Chicago in boats.

The growth of this settlement was slow until 1825, when it had attained a population of 1,236. That year Peoria county was oi-ganized. It embraced thirty-two or thirty-three of the present counties of the State, extending from the Mississippi on the west, to the Indiana line on the east, and to Wisconsin on the north. It included Chicago and Galena in its limits Fort Dearborn, a trading house of the American Fur Company, being the extent of the former city. Peoria was the county seat, and the first election for County Commissioners was held March 7th, 1825. The whole number of votes cast was sixtysix. Nathan Dillon, Josepli Smith and William Holland were chosen as Commissioners ; Norman Hyde, Clerk ; Samuel Fulton, Sheriff ; Aaron Hawley, Treasurer, and William E. Phillips, Coroner. The county was organized the next day and a Court-house ordered built. It was erected of hewed logs, and was 14x16 feet in size. It stood on the bank of the river, south of old Fort Clark, on block 51. It had a cellar beneath it which was used alternately as a jail and a stable. Religious service was held in the Court room on Sundays, and it served as a lodging room at night for those in attendance upon Court. It was pulled down in 1843 and a steam flouring mill, afterwards known as tlie '' Old Red Mill," built b\- Orrin Hamlin upon its site.

Peoria was first laid out by William S. Hamilton on the 10th of July, 1826. On March 1st, 1831, the legislature passed an act under which the Town of Peoria was finally incorporated, but owing to dispute concerning the land title, the people did not avail themselves of the law until the 18th of July, 1835, on which day a vote was taken and it was duly incorporated as a town ; and Rudolphus Rouse, Chester Hamlin, Rufus P. Burlingame, Charles W. McClallen and Isaac Evans were elected trustees. The board met the same day and chose Mr. Rouse president. On the 23d of the same month they met at the store of Rufus Burlingame and elected Cj'rus Leland as clerk and Mr. Burlingame treasurer ; and passed a resolution that the town should embrace an area of one square mile. In the meantime Charles Ballance had resurveyed the town site on May 27, 1834. This plat did not interfere much with the " French Claims."

During the Black Hawk War in 1832, many of the settlers in the northern and western portions of the county came to Peoria for protection ; and that year Fort (^lark was rebuilt on the old site, but never occupied. A company numbering twenty-five persons was organized and called the Peoria Guards. There were then fifteen to twentj^ logcabins and two frame houses in the village. The next j'ear five new frame houses were erected. There was but one l)uilding west of Washington street, and lots sold on that street for forty dollars.

The first flouring mill in this section of the State was erected in 1830, by Jolm Hamlin and John Sharp, on tiie Kiukapoo, three miles west of the cit}-. It liad two run of stones and made about .50 barrels of flour per day, much of which was shipped by flat boats to

New Orleans and sold at S1.37A and 81. nO per harrel. In 1833 the mill was bought by Joshua Aiken, and the following October Mark M. Aiken, of Hillsborough Co.. New Hampshire, arrived here and became interested in the mill. On the l.^th of October, 183", William and Asahel Hale and fieorge G. Greenwood be<ran to build another mill, further up on tlie Kickapoo. This mill did a lar<,'e business for years, and wa* widely known as Hale's mill. In 18.")0 there were lour mills in operation in the city, and the amount of Hour exported. aside from home consumption. wa833,7.53, barrels valued at flol,- 877.50. Five years later the value of the flour manufactured was estimated at fi6."i0,000. In 18.")*^, with six mills in upt-ration, 08,000 barrels were manufactured. In 1870 flour was the leading nuinufacturing interest, and there were eight first-cla.ss mills, with a capacity to tonsunie daily 1"_',G00 bushels of wheat, jiroducing i.SOO barrels of flour and eighty-five tons of mill feed. This flour was sliij)pe(l South and East and even to European markets. The capital invested was A602,000. They employed about one hundred and thirty hands at an annual cost of $91,200. They consunietl <J03,00<l bushels of coal, at a cost of $.')0,(i00 ; consuujed 2,7Go.'200 bushels of ;,'rain. valued at --j3,2o.5,t>12 ; used 573, .')00 empty barrels, costing and manufac;tured the .same number of liarrels of flour, which, with 16,407 tons of mill feed, was valued at $3,907,485. From that date the milling interests began to decline, owing to various causes.

Jn January, 1834, the County Commissioners' Court ordered proposals for building a new Court-house. The l)ids accepted at the next meeting were those of Charles W. McCallen for the masonry and George B. Macy for the carpenter work. This Courthouse cost al)out #15,000, and was completed in 1836. Previous to this time, during warm weather the Grand Jury held its sessions under a crab apple tree, and the petit jury deliberated in a potato hole, as it was humorously called, a circular excavation, probably for a cellar, at some previous period, located near the old log Court-house. A log jail was built al)out the same time on the alley between Monroe and Perry streets. It stood on the lot now owned by B. F. Ellis, and was sixteen feet scjuare and fourteen feet high. It cost about a thousand dollars. A new jail was built in 1849, of brick and stone, at a cost of about fll,000. The building is still standing on the corner of North Washington and Fayette streets in the Fourth Ward. Isaac Walters was clerk of the Court in 1834 and had his oflSee and residence in a log cabin on the site of Toby & Anderson's plow factory, now occupied bj- H. & J. Schwabacher. At this time there were only two jiracticing attorneys in Peoria, Hon. Lewis Bigelow and Col. Chas. Hallance.

There were no schools in the |)lace until about the time it was incorporated, nor no commodious place of worship, although a Methodist church was organized in the Fall of 1833. Prior to that time the religious and intellectual culture was embodied in the domestic circle.

Peoria was governed as a town, by a Board of Trustees, which had been gradually increased to nine members, until the 5th of May, 1845, when it assumed the city form of government.

The town having attained a population of l,t>19 souls, Jispired to become at-ity ; and the Legislature having piusse<l -' An act to incorporate the city of Peoria," an election was held at the Court-house on the 21st day of April, 1845, and of the one hundred and ninety -seven votes cast, one hundred and sixty-two favored the adoption of the city charter, entitled an act incorporating the city of Peoria. An election was held on the of April, 1845, for the purpose of choosing a Mayor anil eigiit Ablernien, which resulted in selecting William Hall, Mavor, and for Ahfermen. Jesse L. Knowlton, Peter

Sweat, Charles Kettelle, C. Cleveland, Chester Hamlin, John Hamlin, Hervey Lightuer and A. P. Bartlett. On May 5th, 1845, the oath of office was administered to the Mayor and Aldermen, and Peoria started out on her career as a city. Jesse L. Knowlton was appointed clerk. Since that time the following gentlemen have filled the position of Mayor for the terms opposite their names :

It will be observed that from 1868 the term of office was extended to two years, which was owing to a change in the laws by the session of the Legislature that year.

During the early years of the city government the Mayors exercised jiidicial authority, but after the adoption of the new State Constitution in 1848, the Supreme Court decided that it prohibited them from exercising that power. For some years the Mayor received no salary ; later he was allowed $500 a year, and since it has been increased.

The city of Peoria is now divided into nine wards, each of which is entitled to two Aldermen, making eighteen in all, half of whom are elected each year, for a term of two years. The present Board of Aldermen, '79, is composed of the following members:

Under the law termed the Mayors' Bill, enacted by the General Assembly in 1872, the mayor had the appointing of all the city officers, save the City Treasurer. This law was repealed at the last session of the legislature in 1878-9 ; and now the Board of Alder- men elect the city officei"s except the Mayor ami Treasurer wlioare chosen by the people; and the Police Force wjiich is appointed Ijy the Mayoi-, and the members of the Fire Department except tlie Chief who is chosen by the Council.

Since Peoria was incorporated as a city its growth has been substantial and progressive, each year witnessing an increase in the magnitude of its business and the erection of sightly and permanent new buildings. It can boast of one of the most elegant court-houses and one of the best jail buildings in the State, and its (^hamber of Commerce is not surpassed b}* any similar building in the West, outside of Chicago and St. Louis. Numerous fine l)usiness blocks of imposing and pleasing architectural appearance grace its several leading busine.ss thoroughfares. One public building wliich the city very much needs and well deserves is a U. S. custom house and post-office. An eflfort is being made by some enterprising citizens to procure an appropriation by Congress for this purpose which will probably result in another edifice wliich will be an ornament to the place. Tlie principal manufactories are located along the river and in the lower end of the cit}', while many of its palatial residences crown tlie crest of the l)luff.

Tiie streets and avenues arc broad, and though, in numerous instances not intersecting each other at right angles, they usually slope gently toward the lake and river with suflBcient fall for easy and ample drainage.

Peoria being near the geographical center of the State, and in a beautiful and healthy location, it was deemed by many people the most befitting place for the State capitol. Aijcordingly an effort was made in tlie Legislature in 184-"? to that end. In 1847 the subject was again broiigiit before the General Assembly, liut without any satisfactory results to the agitators. Hut when the question for building a new State house came up in 1867, the city of Peoria determined to make a formidable eflfort to secure the removal of the seat of government from Springfield to this city. The city ofifered -^400,000 and a beautiful site of twenty acres upon the bluff overlooking the city and lake. Tiie press of the entire State was enlisted upon one side or the other, although a large majority of the papers were in favor of Peoria. If an election had Ik-cii held by the citizens of the State, Peoria would undoubtedly have been chosen. The citizens brought tiie entire Legislature to Peoria in palace sleeping cars. They arrived on a beautiful morning in March, and for the entire day were feted and dined to their heart's content. Carriages were placed at their disposal to ride around and view liie city and its surroundings. A steamboat was ciiartered and steamed out upon the surface of Lake Peoria so as to give the party a fine view of the city and the proposed site for the new building. Even its strongest opponents were forced to acknowledge the great natural advantages Peoria possessed for the new Capitol building. When the Legislature returned to Springfield there was a hard fight over the removal, but money finally won, and the appropriation for the building was voted for Sjn-ingfield.

Besides carrying forward her municipal imiirovements. Peoria hus subscribed more than six iiundred thousand dollars towanl building the railroads wliich center here and contribute so largely to her commerce and prosperity, and has paid it all up but one hundred thousand dollars. The total bonded iudeiitedness of the city now aggregates ii!G8;),50<). The total valuation of the projierty of the city as listed and asse.ssetl for 1879 Wius 798,1^7. The muiiiciiial tax for tiial year was |::2.17, and tlie aggregate tax, including county and State levy, as ecjualized by the State Hoard of Knualizalion, wa.s !j<4.'J7 on the iiundred dollars valuation. The population of the city is estimated at

Of churches there are thirty-five in Peoria, divided n[i as follows: One Apostolic Christian, four Hajitist, one Ciiristian, one (Jongregatioiial, one Kpiscopal.one lieformed

Episcopal, oue German Evangelical, two Lutheran, one Friends, one Latter Day Saints (Mormon), six Methodists, one Swedenhorgian, four Presbyterian, one German Reformed, four Catholic, one Universalist and two Hebrew.

The Apostolic Christian Church. This church was organized in Peoria, b}- Johannes Kreienl)iel, in the year 1852. with about six members, and the first sermon was preached by Joseph Werker, of New York State. From that time up till 1874 their meetings were held in the houses of the members, but in the latter year their present church on Green Street was built at the cost of about $1,000, and services in the German language are held there twice every Sunday. The present officers of the church are Messrs. G. Boesig, John Schneider and W. Schmidt, trustees. There are about sixty members, and the church property is valued at about $25,000.

The First Baptist Church. In the year 1836 the first steps were taken looking to the establislunent of a Baptist church in Peoria. At tliat time there were ten members of that order who united together for the worship of God according to the tenets of their faith. August 14, of the year above named, the church was constituted with Henry Headly, J. R. Stanton, A. M. Gardner, Adam Gardner, William Swinerton, Alplieus Richardson, Ruth Chichester, Mary Stanton, Mary Frve and Malinda Harrison. Of this number Alpheus Richardson was some years after excommunicated on account of heresy. He had adopted the doctrines of Swedenborg.

In 1837 the church reported one baptism and twenty members. Aliout this time Henry Headly was ordained to the work of the niinistrj'. In the Fall of that year Rev. Alexander Ridler took charge of the church. From November, 1839 until June, 1842, Rev. A. M. Gardner was pastor. In 1839 there were thirty-three members on the cliurch roll. The year following it fell off to twenty-six, the next \ea.v to twenty-two, but in 1842 there were twenty-eight meraliers. In the Fall of 1843, Elder I. D. Newell became pastor. Saturday, August 24, 1844, a resolution was adopted tliat an effort be made to build a church. Up to this time the society had no regular place of worship. At a meeting held the 12th of September following an organization was effected under the law. Benjamin Frye, George W. Willard and Smith Frj'e were elected trustees, and it was resolved to purchase a lot in Block 9, from Mr. T. L. Mayne, at $200. At the same meeting Elder Newell was authorized to make a trip East to solicit funds to aid in the construction of a "meeting house." His trip was successful and he raised between $1,700 and $1,800.

At that time it was expected that such a sum was amply sufficient for the construction of a fine edifice. The result was a structure of which for years the congregation had reason to be proud. It was a brick witli basement, fine audience-room, steeple, and every thing nicely finished. In the hurricane of 1858 the steeple was carried away and was never rebuilt. The building still stands on Hamilton Street, adjacent to the jail. But to what base uses has the house dedicated to God been put. It has been occupied as a beer saloon and billiard hall, and again as a variety theater. Subsequently it was occupied by Mr. A. J. Cole as a business college. Now it is occupied by the society of Union Turners.

The first revival of religion enio3'ed by the church followed soon after the completion of the building. The dedication took place October 17, 184fi. April 7, 1844, tiie first Sabbath school connected with this church was organized, with Elder Newell as superintendent and Theodore Adams as assistant.

November 7, 1846, Rev. H. G. Weston was called by tiie church. For about twelve years' time he continued pastor. Those were stormy years in the history of the church. There were charges and counter charges, and even excommunication was a matter of frequent occurrence.

" Whereas we learn wiih deep regret thai some of the members of this church have attended the circtis ; Kcsohtd, That attending the circus, promenade concerts, or the drinking or using spirituous or mall liquors, by any member uf this church, will render the person so offending a proper subject of discipline."

From lN.")l until l><.')t3, the memhership increased from 100 to 16G. From <V-tober, 184;S to November 1847, the church received aid from the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, but since that time it has not only been .self-sustaining hut has frequently aided weaker sister churches.

May 1, 1847, tlie basement ot the church just completed was leased for two years for a female seminary. In 18.51 this school, which was called the " Peoria Institute," was in a flourishing condition. Mr. C. C. Bonney, now an attorney in Chicago, was principal ; Miss Adeline Walker, assistant ; and Prof. C. W. Van Meter, who has since achieved a world wide reputation as a philanthropist, was teacher of music.

December ol. 1858, Rev. H. G. Weston di.ssolved his connection with tlie church. From that time until April 29, 1869, there was no regular pastor in charge. On that date Rev. Mr. Sayer was called and soon signified his acceptance.

As a tree grown top-heavj* is sometimes seen, through disturbing causes, to part with a limb, so with a chinch. When the membership becomes numerous and the interests various and conflicting, it sometimes occurs that there is a split in the church. This happened to the Baptist church June 10, 18")9, when letters were taken out by Mr. and Mrs. L. Holland, Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart, Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd, Mr. and Mi-s. Thomas Petherbridge, Sarah and Pha?be Bastow. Mr. and Mrs. Vaun. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Mudgett and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Randall, Mrs. Buslmell, Sanderson, Bacon, and Mayne, Mr. and Mrs. Garrett, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, and Miss McKiver. These parties split off from the First Church and established themselves under the mime of the Tabernacle Churcii. The 9th of October, 186.'{, they knocked once more at the door of the mother church and were graciously admitted.

March -7, 1800 Rev. Mr. Ketchum was hired to succeed Mr. Sayer, but in November of the same year Rev. J. H. Hazen was called. He served until September 6, 1861, when he resigned to accept a chaplaincy in a regiment then organizing for the war of the rebellion.

January I."), 186"2, Rev. D. E. Holmes was called. May 14 he was duly ordained and August 7, 186:!, his resignation was accepted. From that time until 1869 the pulpit was occupied by Rev. D. Stowell and Rev. Jones, the time being about equally

July .'i, 1872, Rev. Alexander McArthur was called and served for one year. For some months no regular [lastor was secured but April 1, 1874, a call was extended to Rev. C. J. Thonij)s()n, who is still (_1879) the shepherd of the flock. But one other man in the history of the church has occupied the position so niaiij' yeara in succession. Tiiis however has not been done altogether by smooth sailing.

Septemlx'r 9, 1H7H, Messrs. Norris Pitt, Tliomas Petherbridge and William 1). Bastow were exciiuleii from ("ellowsliip on account of non-eonrnrniity to the covenant. The controversy was occasioned by the unwillingne.ss of the parties to lie boitnd by the total abstinence clause in the covenant.

September 13, four days later, twenty-six members withdrew from the chureh by letter and Joined their fates with those of the excluded brethren in the fornuition of a new church which they named the Peoria Baptist Church.

Hamilton Street for their present church buildinrr lot 7, block 25 Underhill's addition, corner of Fayette and Madison Streets. The building was erected by the Unitarian Society, but as the membership of that church had been gradually swallowed up by other churches, chiefly by the Universalists, the church became extinct and Mr. Isaac Underbill became the owner of the old church on Hamilton Street. Since purchasing the building on Madison Street, a Sunday-school room has been added, a baptistry put in and other improvements made.

Adams Street Baptist Church - In May, 1854, the Rev. Henry Weston of the First Baptist church, and Mr. Thomas Powell of the Home Mission Board, first conceived the idea of building up another church interest in the lower portion of the city, and commenced meetings in a school-house on Adams Street, belonging to Miss L. Wright, and during the Fall of this year they secured the services of Rev. John Edminston, who labored in that part of the city. In consequence of the earnest efforts of these gentlemen, sufiBcient interest was aroused to justify them in calling a meeting on December 12, 1854, for the purpose of organizing a church, which was duly accomplished. Subsequently the Sabbath School was organized with twenty-five scholars. In the following year through the personal efforts of Rev. Mr. Weston, a lot was secured, and a house of worship was erected, 30 x 40 feet in size, and seating 250 persons, at a cost of $1,000. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. John Edminston, the pastor of the congregation. The other officers of the Society were Richard Denby and William F. Kinsey, deacons,

The society has at present no pastor, but is otherwise officered by the following gentlemen. Job Whitimer, John Herschberger, and C. Loquist, deacons ; John Herschberger, C. Loquist and Geo. W. Martin, trustees. The present membership is forty, and that of the Sunday School sixty. The value of the church property is about $3,000.

The Peoria Baptist Church. - The history of this church, though brief, is eventful. Three of its constituent members had been driven from their former church home (which home they had been largely instrumental in securing), for refusing to stand up to a total abstinence pledge in a new covenant (said covenant having been passed in direct violation of all Baptist principles and usage), the church putting upon their records at the same time tlie fact that these three men were without reproach as consistent Christians and members. Twenty-seven other leading members of the same church directly applied for their letters, refusing to longer fellowship a body that would do so great a wrong. Immediately after tlie split occurred, these thirty persons held a meeting on the evening of September 11, 1878, and decided to organize a church on purely Baptist principles, as laid down in the word of God, allowing liberty of conscience in all matters non-essential (namely), on all points in which the Bible lays down no laws or commands. They named their organization " The Peoria Baptist Church," and adopted the following creed and covenant :

Creed. - We believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and that these three are one. That God the Son was manifest in the flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ, the example of the perfect man who died for our transgressions, bore the full penalty of our sins, rose from the dead, and ever lives our friend and intercessor. That God the Holy Spirit manifests Himself in the use of the word of God, drawing to Christ, changing the heart from sinfulness to righteousness, by inducing therein faith in Christ, and comforting, enlightening, and directing the spirit of those who are Christ's.

That those who have faith in Christ are heirs of eternal salvation, and should be baptized by immersion and may come to the table of the Lord ; that these two ordinances should be maintained in the foregoing order of the church, which consists of a body of believers in Christ, banded together for the worship and service of God.

That there will be a resurrection of those who have done well to eternal life, and of those who have finally rejected Christ to eternal condemnation.

That the word of God is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, and is the supreme rule of faith and practice in matters of religion.

We seek by the faithful use of all Christian methods as sanctioned in God's holy word, for blameless and devout lives, for abundant faithfulness in Christ, for the salvation of souls, and for the complete kini;dom of God.

We covenant to tolerate charity in belief and usa^e in things not essential, and to cherish Christian liberty, moderated by Christian charily, and we consecrate ourselves, our property, our time, and our talents to the glory of God the Father, through Jesus Christ our L/Ord. "

The following gentlemen, W. Bastow sen., Mr Sedgewick, Mr. Rohinson, Mr. Petherbridge, Mr. Carson, and Mr. Hall, were regularly chosen trustees of the cliureh and empowered to purchase a lot, on which to erect a liouse of worship. They selected a lot on Fifth Street, and within eight weeks from the time that the first shovelful of earth was thrown out for the foundation, the l)uilding was completed and ready for dedication. The house is of wood with block front, clieerful, commodious and inviting, capable of seating 300. On Nov. "24, the cliurcli was opened for divine service in the morning, a Sabbath School was organized with sixt^'-three scholars in the afternoon. Rev. M. Card of Somanauk, preached the dedication service to a crowded house from the words, '- I beseech of thee show me thy glor}-." Up to this time not a dollar had been asked for to defray the expenses of building. Something less than one hundred dollars had been given in voluntary contributions, the members themselves paying for the house as tiie building progressed. At its dedication about *400 debt remained. An ajipeal was made to the congregation and sometliing like $200 subscribed. Every Sabbath morning and evening services were regularly held, and sermons preached by two of the members alternately, till the following February when tlie church was fortunate enough to secure the services of the Rev. Dr. Post of Southern Illinois as their pastor. Since tlien tiic Sunday School has increased to 125 and tiie ciiurcii memliersliip to double its original numlicr. At the date of this sketch the church is prospering beyond the utmost expectation of its meml)ers. Happj', harmonious, and united, witli a pastor wiiose zeal and knowledge is only equaled by his kindly interest in every meml)er of his flock, and whose able sermons are building up good congregations, and a steadily increasing membership.

The German Baptixt Church. - In the 3ear 18ol Rev. John H. Krueger was sent to Peoria by the Baptist Home Mi.ssionary Society. For about a year he preaclied as missionary, sometimes in the Court-hiuse, but oftener in liis own residence, until August 8, 1852, when the church was duly constituted with eight members. Mr. Krueger was elected pastor and served faithfully and well for about ten j'ears, until his voice failed on account of an aflfection of the throat, when he was compelled to quit preaching. Since that time he lias resided in the city and for several years has sat upon his shoemaker's bencli in his shop on the Knoxviile road just north of Main street.

After a time, as tiie ciiurcIi began to grow in niiml>ers, they sought and obtained permission from the First Baptist society to hold meetings in tlie basement of their church. Here they continued to make tiieir abiding place until in 1802. That year a lot was leased on tlie corner of Soutii Jefferson and Maple streets and a small frame church was built with parsonage attached at a cost of aliout 8000.

About this tiiiR', a few months after Mr. Krueger's resignation. Dr. (t. D. Menger was chosen pastor, which p(jsition lit- occupied for about five years. Then followed a lapse of a few months, after which Rev. Mr. Merz wtus ordained pastor. Tliis relation continued during a period of about two yeare.

The next pastor chosen was Mr. L. H. Donner, who continued in the place about nine years. During the pastorate of this gentleman the parsonage was found too small, and ii couj)le of rooms were added. .Mr. Donner resigned iiis place October 1, 1878. Soon afterward Rev. H. L. Dietz, the present iiHiinibeni, was chosen.

In the year 1875 the society purchased a brick building on the southwesterly side of Mon.son Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, for iH,St)0. It had been built for what was known as the Cumberland Presliyterian church some yeare before, but for some time previous to its purchase by the German Baptists it had been allowed to run to decay. It had been a fair looking and comfortable building for a small sized congregation. The German Baptists as soon as thej^ came into possession of it went to work to improve it. A Sunday-school room was built on in rear of the church and the building was thoroughly repaired and made better than when new.

The Sabbath-school in connection with this church was organized in November, 1859, with Henry Hoklas as superintendent. About twenty-five scholars were enrolled at the first meeting, The present membership is about eighty, and Mr. Charles Haman is the superintendent.

The Catholic Church in Peoria. - In the year 1673 the illustrious Father Marquette, a Jesuit missionary, ascended the Mississippi, passing the Missouri, and, entering the Illinois, met the Indians called Peorias on its banks, most probably where the city of Peoria now exists, or in its neighborhood. He spent three days preaching in all their cabins. He there baptized a child that died in a few days afterwards - the first fruits of Catholicity in Peoria.

LaSalle descended the Illinois river in the year 1680. He was accompanied by missionaries of the order of St. Fi-ancis, called Recollects. Of these Father Gabriel, Rebourde, and Father Membre, visited the Peorias.

Father Gi-avier, Jesuit, labored as a missionary with the Peorians in the years 1693 and 1694. There were among them some fervent Christians. Even in the absence of the missionary the men assembled in the chapel for morning and evening prayers, and after they had left an old chief went through the village to call the women aud children to the same duty.

About the year 1700 Father Gravier returned to Peoria and renewed his labors there ; but the medicine men excited a sedition in which the missionary was dangerously wounded, and narrowly escaped with his life.

Father Marest occupied the station for some time after Father Gravier, and the mission, then becoming vacant, the Indians, in punishment for their cruelty to their late missionary, were cut off from the French trade. Father Marest again visited them in 1711 and found them humbled and conscious of their fault. On his return to Kaskaskia he sent from there Father DeVille to renew the faith among the Peorians.

However, comparatively few of the Peorians had bowed to the cross, and after Father Louis DeVille had left, the village was again without a missionary and it became almost entirely pagan.

Yet it presented hopes. The great chief wore on his breast a cross and figure of the Blessed Virgin. He had found the latter and wore it with confidence when told that it represented the mother of God.

At the time of Father Charlevoix's visit to the mission in 1721, this chief's little daughter was dying and he brought her to the missionary to be baptized.

In course of time, from many causes not necessary to mention here, the Indian mission of Peoria, like all the otlier Illinois Indian missions, ceased to exist.

About the year 1839, Father Reho, an Italian, visited the few Catholics then in the village of Peoria and its surroundings for many miles distant.

As a Catholic center in those early days, Kickapoo was regarded as of more importance than Peoria, for Father Reho built a stone church there in 1840, while Peoria had not one until 1847, the old brick building long since taken down.

After Father Reho, several priests, Parodi, Stehle, Rinaldi and others, had charge of the Peoria mission up to the time of Father Montuori, wlio built the present St. Mary's brick church. It was dedicated by Archbishop Kenrick, of St. Louis, on the 17th of April, 1853. About tiiat time the German Catholic congregation was organized. They had service for some time in St. Mary's church, until their own church edifice, St. Josepli's frame building, was dedicated in the Fall of the year 18o4. The first pastor was Rev. Father Gipperich.

The pastor of St. Mary's, Father Coyle, built St. Patrick's frame church in the south-west district of Peoria, in the year 1862. The wants of the congregation there were attended to from St. Mary's church until the 1st of March, 1868, when Rev. M. Hurley took charge of it as pastor. The congregation is now building a beautiful brick church, at a cost of $2ij,000. It is expected to be completed in the course of the present year li>80. Father Hurley is still pastor of that congregation.

The St. Joseph's congregation is also building a fine brick church, at a cost of '$26, - 000. It also is expected to be read}- for dedication before the present year will come to an end. Father Baak is the pastor.

On the lltii of January of this year, 1880, the new church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Spalding. It is situated on Madison Street, near Main. It makes tiie fourth Catholic churcii in Peoria. Tiie congregation is German, and was organized in 1878. The pastor is very Rev. Titus Steiner, O. M. C.

The diocese of Peoria was erected by Papal Brief on the 12th of February, 1875, and the first and present bishop, Right Rev. John Lancaster Sj)alding, D.D., wiis consecrated in New York by Cardinal McClosky, on the 1st of May, 1877. His cathedral is St. Mary's cliurch. tlie present pastor of which is Rev. B. J. Spalding.

The total number of Catholics of every nationality in the city of Peoria can not be less than 7,000. The Catholic education of the children of the respective congregations is carefully attended to, parochial schools being attached to each church. Tlie total number of children in regular attendance is over 1,100. The teachers, for the most part, are ladies of religious orders ; the School Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's churches ; the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Mary's, and the Ursulines at the churcli of the Sacred Heart.

The Sisters of St. Joseph own a fine, sjjacious l)uilding on Madison Street. It is called the Academy of the Sacred Heart. Here young ladies, both boarders and day scholars, receive a finished education in the higher branches of learning.

On tlie East bluff one of the most consjiicuous and handsome buildings is the Bradley Hospital. It is owned and conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis, wlio were exiled from Germany a few years ago. It was establislied in 1878.

Churrh of Chrift. - This congregation was organized in the year 184;") by Elder A. J. Kane, of Springfield, who still lives, honored and respected as a man and i>roclainier of the gospel of Christ. Its first organization had the same number that met with the Savior of men at the last suj)per, in tlie supper clianilier in JerusaJeni. Its first elder was Williaiu Tilford, who served the churcii laithfully until his deutli. on Ajiril :!, 1851. Of the original twelve Mrs. Eliza White, Mr. and Mrs. .1. I'. Brown - Mr. and Mrs. Sampson Shockley, now of Eureka, and who have apostatised - are all known to be living at this writing. P. C. Redding, Esq. united with the church in 1847.

It was at first a despised band. Tiie words of Chillingworth - worthy of being inscribed on the walls of every meeting house in letters of gold - were adopted as a motto, " Where the l}il)le speaks, we speak ; where tlie Bible is silent, we arc silent ; tiie Hii>le, and the Bible alone, tiie religion of Protestants." The feeble band tried to be faithful to God and His word, despite all opposition. They met from week to week for jtrayer and praise, as well as on the Lord's day, for the purpose of exhorting one another to faitiifulness, and to hear a sermon if a preacher was present. Tiie especial object of meeting on every Lord's day, was to commemorate the death, burial and lesiirrection of the Savior in tiie Ivord's supper. Tliey were oliliged for ten years to meet from house to house as a rule, liiit upon extra occasions the fire engine rooms or ('ourt-house was secured. Elder D. P. Henderson immersed the first person (^"Mrs. Nancy Bafl ,) into the church in 1847.

Elders W. H. Davenport, John Lindsay, William Brown, Milton King, D. P. Henderson and A. J. Kane preached at different times for the struggling band. In March, 1853, a reorganization took place, effected by Elder M. P. King ; J. P. Brown was set apart to the office of elder, and Sampson Shockley to that of deacon. The reorganization took place at the residence of Mrs. Eliza White, who still lives at the same place, corner Adams and Greene Streets, At this time their number had increased to twenty-six.

In 1854 the congregation began to consider the necessity of having a house of worship, and by great sacrifice, and a liberalit}' seldom displa3'ed by persons under like circumstances, the chapel on Seventh Street was built and dedicated February 17, 1855, by Elder Wm. Brown, of Springfield, lUinois, and President 0. A. Burgess, now of Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana. The Bible school was organized in that year. From 1855 to 1857 Elder John Lindsay, now of Eureka, labored for the congregation as its pastor, and the church was prosperous. In the latter 3'ear Elder J. A. Carman was called to the pastorate. For several years from 1858, the professors and students of Eureka College filled the pulpit; in 1862 Elder D. R. Howe preached for the church; in 1864 and 1865 his place was filled by Elder John O. Kane, who was one of the mighty men of his day. The singing evangelist. Elder Knowles Shaw, held in August, 1872, a protracted meeting in a tent, resulting in more than fifty accessions. Elder Shaw was one of the most successful Evangelists of this century, having received into the church more than ten thousand persons. He was killed in a railroad accident near Dallas, Texas, in 1877, when in the prime of life and the most successful part of his ministry.

During the month of October, 1872, the church called Elder Ira J. Chase, to act as the under shepherd to the flock. In 1875, the chapel on Seventh Street became too small for the congregation, and through the efforts of the pastor and people, they were able to purchase of the New School Presbyterians their neat brick house of worship, corner of Fulton and Monroe Streets, at a cost of $7,000. During Elder Chase's pastorate, hundreds of persons have united with the church, and the society is in peace, and apparently in love with their minister.

The First Congregational Church. - The Congregational claims to be the first regularly organized church in Peoria, It was organized in the year 1834 b}' Revs. Flavel Bascom and Romulus Barnes. The place was then a village of only about 400 inhabitants, and the church started out with a membership of eight. It was no light task for this handful to undertake the construction even of a primitive house of worship. They determined to make the effort, however, and the result was highly gratifying. They succeeded in A. D. 1835 in erecting a plain wooden building, twenty-eight by fifty feet. At that time, although the majority of the members were Congregationalist in sentiment, the form of church government was Presbyterian. This was the status until October, 1847, when the Congregational polity was formally adopted. From the organization of the church to 1847 the following named ministers had successively occupied the position of pastor : Flavel Bascom, Jeremiah Porter, J. Spaulding, and Mr. Lamb.

This church, actuated by a spirit of reform, took strong anti-slavery grounds. February 13, 1843, when convened with others for the purjjose of organizing an anti-slavery societ}', they were driven from their own house of worship by a mob, which was headed by some of the prominent citizens of the place. Previous to this action by the mob a hostile meeting had been held at the Court-house, where it was

" Resolved to oppose by force, if necessary, the organization of any anti-slavery society in Peoria." The reasons were given as follows : " The doctrines advocated by members of said society, are in direct conflict with the laws and constitution of the United States, and their ultimate, if not direct, tendency is to produce discord and disunion between the Federal States of this Union, with no possibility of a benefit resulting to those in whose favor their sympathies seem to be enlisted, and the organization of such society in the town of Peoria would only tend to disparage and disgrace us as a community, and create domestic and personal difficulties and disorders."

William H. Star was the first pastor. He preached from October, 1847, until October, 1848. In Noveiul)ei' of that year Rev. L. Spencer commenced his labors as pastor of the church. In the year 1852 the Main Street church, for many years the pride of the cit}', was erected at a cost of #8,000. It was surmounted by a fine spire, but in the great tornado of May 13, 1858, it was carried away by the wind and was never rebuilt. In 1878 the cliurch edifice went down before the march of improvement, and a block of stores now occupies its former site.

Mr. Spencer continued as pastor until April 14, 1853, when the relation was severed by death. His successor was Rev. J. W. Marsh, who served as pastor from January *2, 1853, to May 1, 1854. Then Rev. Henry Adams was chosen pastor, and ministered unto the church until November, 1855. In October of that year twenty-two members withdrew from the church and, in connection with others, organized what became the Fulton Street Presbyterian Church. This branch, or shoot, from the old church was first called the Union Congi-egational Church and Society. It was organized December 8, 1857, a New School Presbyterian church, by authority of the Presbytery of Knox. For ten years the organization was thus known, after which time, in view of the prospective re-union of the two churches, the name was changed to the Fulton Sireet Presbyterian Church and society.

Tlie first pastor was Rev. Isaac E. Carey, who was called December 8, 1857, and served until August 29, 1860. A house of worship was built on the corner of Fulton and Monroe Streets, and it was dedicated on Christmas day, 1859. It wius enlarged and improved at considerable expense in 1868, and was re-opened with appropriate services December 27th of that year.

In the latter part of the year 1874, committees were appointed by both the Congregational and Fulton Street Presbyterian churches with a view to the re-union of the two. At a meeting of these committees held Tuesday evening, December 22. 1874, the following preambles and resolutions were adopted and presented for approval and ratification as a basis of union :

Whrreas, Relieving lh.it a union of the two churches would be for mutual benefit. .inJ that the growth of Christ's kini^dum in our city would be greatly strengthened by a more consolidated effort and concentrated use of Christian means and influence ; and,

WiiP.RKAs, We, as churches, hold the same views of all essential doctrines of Christianity as taught by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, be it

Resolved, That immediate steps be taken toward the erection of a new and commodious church edifice, and that the present church property belonging to each shall be sold as soon as practicable, and the procee«ls applied for that purpose.

Resolved, That until such new church edifice is ready to be occupied, services on Sabbath and week days to be held in c.ich church alternately.

Thi-* formal union, under the title of the " First Congregational Church of Peoria," was aocomplisliod in connection with public Sabbath exercises, January 31, 1875.

Rev. A. A. Stevens was re-called, and commenced his labors September 21, 1870. In October, 1879, after nearly twenty years service in the church, Mr. Stevens, by reason of old age and the increased labors connected with the pastorate, asked for an assistant.

In 1875, the erection of a splendid church edifice was commenced. It is of stone, and is surmounted I)y a stone spire, the only one in the city. The auditorium is not yet completed (1879). Tlie vestry rooms, etc., in the basement, are completed, and have been in use since the Spring of 1878, when the society sold their Main Street property to Mr. W. R. Bush for $7,000. The Fulton Street church property was sold for about $5,000. Both these sums, however, were but a drop in the bucket toward the sum required for the completion of the new building. The cost of the building thus far has been $87,514. It is estimated that to complete the auditorium will require about $15,000. Added to this will be the expense of an organ, about $4,000, and a chime of seven or nine bells, which will be put in the tower. This will be, when completed, decidedly the finest church structure in the city. It is located on the corner of Monroe and Hamilton Streets.

The membership in 1879 was three hundred. In connection with the church is a large and successful Sabbath school, of which Mr. L. L. Day is superintendent. Plymouth Mission Sunday school, corner of Fourth and Spencer Streets, of which Mr. Benjamin Foster is superintendent, is in charge of this church. The two schools have a combined membership of six hundred and fifty.

>S'^ Paul's Episcopal Church. - St. Paul's Parish was organized in the year 1848, under the Rev. J. S. Chamberlaine, deacon, as minister in charge, and the following gentlemen as vestry : Thos. Squires, senior warden ; Henry Rugg, junior warden ; and Washington Cockle, Geo. Stewardson, Henry A. Foster, E.G. Sanger, B. L. T. Bourland, William Weidenham, and Dr. E. Andrews, vestrymen. In the ensuing month, namely on April 10, 1848, Mr. Rugg and Dr. Andrews resigned their positions, and thereupon Wm. Mitchell and Dr. Rudolphus Rouse were made vestrymen. In the Autumn of the same year, the parish accepted a plot of ground with deed of trust, from Dr. Philander Chase, Bishop of the Diocese of Illinois, for the purpose of the erection and constant maintenance of a church edifice. On May 14, 1849, Bishop Chase instrumentally conveyed to the parish, as a gift from some person not named, a valuable lot of books of theology - 52 in number - " for the benefit of the said parish and minister forever."

On the first day of April, 1850, the following ofiBcers were elected to serve for the ensuing year : Alex. G. Tyng and James L. Riggs, wardens ; and John Birkett, Rudolphus Rouse, Geo. C. Bestor, Jacob Schaffner, Matthew Griswold, E, T. Sanger and Washington Cockle, vestrymen.

In 1850 the erection of a brick church was begun, Mr. Chas. Ulricson being architect and builder. The edifice with its square tower was greatly admired, and for many j^ears regarded as the most attractive object in the city. Its walls and tower covered with ivy, formed a pleasant picture, that still lingers in the luemory of the older inhabitants of Peoria and the surrounding country. This building stood for about thirty years, when it was pulled down, in order that it might give place to a larger and more costly edifice of stone. But at tliis period, an almost unparalleled misfortune befell the church community, through the desertion of a number of the members. A schism was created in the bod}-, and the defecting members proceeded to organize themselves into a congregation, within the communion of a society termed " The Reformed Episcopal Church,"' which had recently been formed by Rev. Dr. Cummings and Rev. Mr. Cheney. Hence it is hardly necessar}- to state that the proposed stone church has not been built, and that the part of the congregation which remained faithful to the church has had to pay the cost of the destruction of the former building, and is at jiresent holding service in a frame structure, which now stands upon the old site. This church seats about .lOO persons, is neat, churchly, and plain as to the exterior, while its interior has been made, at very small cost, to present the most pleasing aspect, in ecclesiastical arrangement and decoration, of any church in Peoria. In the past three yeai-s the congregation has experienced a remarkable growth ; the Sunday school is strong again ; and the parish is not without hope that even yet - in a very few years - there shall be erected a handsome, costly and enduring edifice of stone, that shall be an ornament to the city. At hist Easter the entire debt of the parish - over $6,000 - was discharged by the congregation, and the present income is equal to the annual expenses. There are five active societies in the parish, working under the direction of the Rector : The Ladies Aid Society, The Church Guild (young men). The Altar Society, The Young Peoples' Benevolent Society (for the care of the poor), and The Helpers. The present number of communicants is about loO.

The following is the succession of Rectors after Rev. Mr. Chamberlaine : Revs. J. W. Cracraft, Henry N. Strong, D. D., Joseph M. Wait. Warren H. Roberts, J. W. Bonham, I. L. Townsend, S. T. D., \Vm. J. Johnson, and Rev. Wm. Bryce Morrow, the present incumbent. *

St. Paul's Parish owes much of its prosperity, if not indeed its continued existence through its hard trials, to the patient courage and unfailing liberality of Matthew Griswold, Esq., wlio has been an officer of the vestry from almost the first inception of the church, and still remains in the position of senior warden.

The Reformed Epincopal Christ Church. - When information of the organization of the Reformed Episcopal Church in New York city, Dec. 2, 1873, reached Peoria, several persons, at that time members of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, decided to organize a Reformed Episcopal Church in Peoria. As soon as the proposed action V)ecame known much sympathy for the proposed organization was manifested, not only by Protestant Episcopalians, but al.so by Christians of other denominations. This action was induced by a growing inclination on the part of the old church to adopt high church forms and ritual. This tendency had been vigorously opposed by some of the best men in the church, but finding their opposition futile, the Reformed Church offered a refuge that they were glad to accept. Among the prominent infmbei> of the old church in this city who opposed the high church dogmas was Mr. A. G. Tyng, at whose invitation Bish<q) George I). Cummins, of the Reformed Church, visited Peoria. A meeting was held at the Second Presbyterian church, which was largely attenileil and quite enthusiastic. Addresses were delivered by Bishop Cummins, Col. Aycrigg and .Mr. A. G. Tyng. Subscriptions were commenced for a rector's support, and so liberal was the response that liisliop Cummins was authorized to secure a rector immediately.

Rev. Josejih I). Wilson, rector of Culvary Protestant Episcopal Ciiunli. Pittsburg, was called Feb. 4, 1h74, and the call was accepted. Feb. 17th, Ash Wednesday, he arrived in the city and commenced his labors. I'revious to his coming services were held in the various churches of the city. Rev. Ma.son Gallagher officiated at the first services of the new church, held the first .Sabbath in January, 1H74.

In the time betweiMi Jan. 1 and June, 1K71, a lot on JefTerson Street, near Fayette, was leased, and a fine, CDUunodinus church edifice wa.s erected at a cost, incUuling vestry and Sunday-school rooms, of about $1:5,000. In addition to this a -f;5,.")00 organ was put in, and the building was nicely carpeted and furnished at an expense of about jii.OOO. The funds necessary for the purchase of the organ were raised through the efforts of Mrs. F. B. M. Brothcrson.

In a few weeks thereafter, a call was extended to Rev. E. B. England, of the Second Methodist Episcopal Church of Peoria. The call was accepted, and Mr. England preached his first sermon Aug. 3, 1879.

At its organization there were about fifty members in the society. This number was soon increased to one hundred, and there are now two hundred and fifty regular communicants.

Monday evening, January 12, the first parish meeting of the society was held. Then it was decided to take the name, " Christ Church." At the same meeting the following named were chosen officers of the church : Mr. A. G. Tyng, senior warden ; Charles F. Bacon, junior warden. Vestrymen were chosen as follows : H. B. Hopkins, P. R. K. Brotherson, H. B. Dox, C. A. Jameson, Charles H. Kellogg, John S. Stevens, Walter B. Hotchkiss. B. F. Ellis, R. F. Seabur}', jr., and Walter P. Colburn. Of the above named, Walter P. Colburn was elected secretary and Walter B. Hotchkiss, treasurer.

In 1879, the officers were: A. G. Tyng, senior warden; Thomas S. Weddle, junior warden. The vestrymen were : C. F. Bacon, C. A. Jameson, W. A. Beasley, W. F. Bryan, W. G. Sloan, W. T. Hanna, J. J. Steiger, John S. Stevens and John Birks.

The Sundaj'-school on the corner of High and Cedar Streets, which had been for some time previously to the establishment of the church organized by Mr. Tyng, was placed iinder the control of Christ Church, with Mr. A. G. Tyng as superintendent.

A Sunday-school had been organized on the east bluff by Mrs. George C. Bestor, the meetings being held in the parlors of her residence until a new building was erected on the Knoxville road, when it was removed there. After the organization of the church, this school was also placed under its charge. Mr. Wm. H. Robinson became superintendent, which place he held until Easter, 1879, when Mr. Chas. A. Jameson took charge.

After the church building was completed, a Sunday-school was organized with Mr. John S. Stevens as superintendent. It continued under his charge until 1878, when Mr. Thomas S. Weddle became superintendent. The membership of the three Sunday-schools is over 600.

The Society of Friends have no regular organization in the city, but through the efforts of Mrs. Ely the nucleus of what may in time be a large congregation meet regularly, on the first day of the week, at 303 Sanford Street. Quite a number of families in the city were brought up under the influences of the Friends, but owing to the lack of facilities for meeting, and other causes, have of late identified themselves with other religious bodies.

Fir»t German Evan. Luth. St. PauVs Church. - This is one of the oldest German congregations in the city, having been organized by the Rev. Mr. Kopmann, afterwards their first pastor, in the year 1851. The first trustees of the church were H. Harms, W. Schroeder, and E. Brants. A few years after the organization, they built a small church on Sixth Street, but that, in time, proving too small for their increasing numbers, they moved about ten years age to their present place of worship, corner of First and Goodwin Streets, adding to it at the same time a school-house and parsonage. Tiie present officers of the church are Rev. Frederick B. Bess, pastor, and Messrs. P. Becker, C. Schmidt, F. Dwehus and D. Tjarks, trustees ; the membership consists of thirty-five families. The value of the chui-ch property, including parsonage and school-house, is about $5,000 ; the annual contributions for religious and other purposes aggregate about $675. Their Sabbath-school is at present very prosperous, having an attendance of from 60 to 70 children.

The congregation had a very auspicious beginning, but some years after fell on troublous times, and was almost reduced to dissolution. Two years ago, however,

German Evan. Luth. Trinity Church. - This congregation was organized by the Rev. I. Fr. lioeliiig, who was afterwards its first pastor, and who preached tlie first sermon in Trinity church in 1857. The original members numbered about 156, and the first officers were Messrs. C. Schmidt, D. Harms, C. Hagemeier, H. E. Harms, and E. Tegtmeier. The Kev. Mr. Boeling was succeeded in tlie pasturate by the Rev. P. Heid, January 17th, 1861, who ofiBciated till August 20, 1878, when the present pastor, the Rev. Gottlieb Traub replaced him. The i)resent memberships number about 800, and Messrs. Fr. Meyer, C. Schmidt, F. Zeitz, G. Tjarks and W. Wilhelms are trustees. Divine services are well attended, and the church prosperous. The annual contribution for religious, school and benevolent purposes is about $2,000, and the Sabbath-school has an average attendance of 200 scholars. The church building is on the corner of Maple and Jefferson Streets, is a handsome one, constructed in pure Gothic style, and the interior is beautifully painted in Gothic frescos ; cost about f8,060. The value of the church property, including school-houses, pareonage, church yard, etc., is about $20,000.

German Reformed Chunh - Was organized in May, 1869, by a committee of the Cla,sses of Wisconsin of the Reformed Church of America, with thirteen original members, but failing to secure at that time the ministrations of a pastor, the society practically dissolved, but was reorganized in the Summer of 1871, when the Rev. John Miiller was called to the pastorate, and an inexpensive church built on the corner of Persimmon and Madison Streets, which is still their religious home. The Rev. Mr. Miiller continues the pastor, and the present officers are Messrs. M. Peters and W. Geitz, elders; R. Tessen and E. Ockenga, deacons ; C. Jannssen and R. Tessen, trustees. The membership has grown slowly but steadily, notwithstanding many deaths and removals, from 5 in 1871, to 60, at the present time, and the annual contributions of all kinds average 81,500.

In Maj', 1872, the Sabbath-school was organized with 30 scholars; it gradually increased and is now in a flourishing condition, with an attendance of nearly 200. The same year a parfichial school-house was built and a competent teacher secured, and the school has done uiiifoiinly well since its inception. It is at present under the efficient cliarge of Mr. J. Knelling.

German Evangelical Association. - In 1846 the Rev. S. A.Tobias, a mi.ssionary of this body, came to Peoria and preached to the scattered adherents of the denomination in various parts of the city, and from that time on regular services have been held. The Church was organized with 15 original members, through the efforts of Rev. W. Kolb, in 1817, and under iiis cliarge also was their lirst meeting-house built. The first stationed preacher was Uevd. C. Augenstein, and his successors in the ministry have been Revs. C. Kopp, H. Eitermann, (t. Esher. J. Schneider, G. M. Young, H. Lageshulto, C. Spielmann, C. Ott, G. Ramige. W. F. Walter, D. Kraemer, W. Strassberger, E. von Frceden, and the j)resent piustor. Rev. G. Vetter. The other officers of the church are C. Riiigel, local preacher; II. Ringcl and L. E. Becker, clas.s-leiidi is ; J. F. Faber, (t.M. Green and J. Fay, trustees. Tlie present number of its members is 85.

In 1872 the society built at a cost of *6,00U a good frame diureh on the coriu-r of State and First Streets, which they now occupy, and al.so a parsonage in the rear. The total valuation of the property they hold is about f8,000, and their annual contrilmtions for all ]iurpo^es amount to about 8700.

The organization of the Sunday-school is contemporaneous with that of the churelu and it is now in u flourishing condition, with an attendance of 120 children. The church also is moderately prosperous, and has had at times glorious revivals, wiiereby the number of its members was very laiijely increased, ami although, through deaths andremov-

The Jewish Congregation Anshai Emeth. - Tliis congregation was founded in the year 1863, and is the only Jewish congregation at present existing in Peoria county. The pioneers of Judaism in Peoria were Messrs. H. Schwahacher, Henry UUnian, Max Newman, L. Ballenberg, and others, most of whom are still living in the city and distinguished for their wealth, integrity and pul)lic-spiritedness. The number of members in the first year were about thirty, but as the city increased in population, tlie congregation increased in membership, so that at present it contains about sixty paying members, seat-holders not included.

The temple at present occupied by them was purchased at the beginning of its career, and is situated on Fulton Street between Adams and Jefferson, but in the month of October, 1879, it was sold, and a piece of jjroperty was bought on Jefferson Street, between Harrison and Liberty Streets, upon which a magnificent structure wUl be erected before May, 1S80.

The first officers of the congregation were : A. Frank, president ; S. Lyons, vicepresident ; M. Newman, secretary ; Henry Ullman, treasurer ; S. Simon, L. Ballenberg, and A. Wachenheimer, trustees. The present officers are : David Ullman, president ; M. Salzenstine, vice-president; J. Axman, treasurer; L. Lowenthal, secretary ; L. Ballenberg, Harry Ullman, and John Korsosky, trustees. Its ministers have been as follows : Rev. M. Moses, from 1863 until 1873 ; Rev. Dr. E. B. M. Browne, from 1873 until the end of 1875 ; Rev. Mr. H. Bloch, from 1876 until September, 1878 ; and Rev. Dr. David Stern, who is the present rabbi.

In the year 1874 some members seceded from the congregation on account of some personal misunderstandings, and they erected a nice little temple on Seventh Street. They engaged Rev. Mr. Messing as their minister, and for about two years the}" were in a very prosperous condition. But in the course of time those personal misunderstandings were forgiven and forgotten by both parties, and there is no doubt that when the new temple will be completed, the Israelites of Peoria will be a united body.

The first preaching near the site of Peoria was in 1673, when Joliet and Marquette passed up through Lake Peoria, and Marquette preached to the Indians. Again in 1686, when La Salle built Fort CreveccEur, Father Hennepin, who accompanied him on his travels, preached regularly to the Indians until his departure in March of that year on a tour of discovery in the upper Mississippi country. From that time until 1823 the solitudes around Fort Clark were unbroken and undisturbed by songs of prayer and praise, unless the songs the birds sang were offered as tributes of adoration to the Great Architect whose hand unfolded the beautiful prairies and reared the mighty blufi's that, like a cordon of forts, hem in the beantiful river of the Illini.

The credit of holding the first Protestant services is generally ascribed to Rev. Jesse Walker, a man whose name is familiar in the early history of northern and central Illinois, and who is remembered by the surviving settlers of 1820 to 1853 with feelings akin to veneration.

The seeds of Methodism were planted in Peoria county in the year 1823, when William Eads and his family joined his brother, Abner Eads, and other early settlers at Fort Clark. Rev. Mr. Walker labored among the early settlers in tlie northern part of Illinois as a missionary of the Methodist church. The Methodist people are noted the world over for their zeal and energy in the prosecution of religious work. Wherever mankind has gone, the Methodists have gone - first, as missionaries to spy out the land ; next as circuit ridei-s, with Ijible and hymn hook, and an energy, industry, perseverance and faith that never "j^ave up," singing their songs of praise, shouting choruses of glory to the Great Head of the church, and bidding defiance to the arcli enemy and tempter of mankind, they not only followed close on the heels of the pioneers to every part of the " Great West," hut have gone wherever humanity has existed that it was possible to reach - to the islands of the sea.

wherever the Master's work was to be done, there have the truths of this branch of the Christian church l)een carried. And so came Rev. Mr. Walker to the "flowery plains" around Fort Clark at tlie date mentioned.

The cabin of William Eads (it is thought) was improvised as a meeting house. There were probably not more than a dozen people i>resent, and they were there without regard to fashion or display. Some of them walked from their own cabins to the place of meeting, some rode there in ox wagons, and a few, perliaps, on horseback. The preacher occupied a place behind a common table in one corner of the room. There was neither organ nor organized choir to add social melody to the occasion. The preacher gave out the hymn two lines at a time, something after the following manner :

At this meeting the seeds of Methodism were planted in Peoria, and the planting, carefully ami iiidustriutisly cultivated, has ripened into the fullness of a plentiful harvest.

The First Mfthodist Episcopal Church. - In 1824, Rev. Mr. Walker commenced to organize a circuit, which embraced all the white settlements north of the Sangamon river. In that year he organized the first class in Peoria, which consisteil of tiie following named persons : William Early and wife. Rev. Reeves McCormick. .lames Walker and wife, Susanna Walker (wife of .Jesse Walker), Mr. William Eads aiul wife, Mrs. .\bner Eads, William Holland and wife, Mrs. Judge Latham, Mrs. Joim Dixon, Mrs. Hamlin, William Blanchard and Mary Clark.

The most fruitful source of conversions to the faith, even in that early day, wivs the camp meeting. The first one held in the vicinity of Peoria was in the Summer of lSi!(). The ground .selected wius aljout one mile above the Court-house. Tiie second was held on the banks of Farm creek, opposite Peoria. One of the distinguished visitors at that meeting was the CJovernor of the State, Ninian Edwards. Rev. Jesse Walker was succeeded by William See, tlie first class leader in the Chicago circuit.

In the year 1827, Smith L. Robinson preached the Word, as circuit rider. We find the name of no otiicr circuit rider until 18:50, wlien the name of Rev. S. R. Beggs appears, who rcmaineil one year. At tliat time it re(iuired four weeks time and three liundred miles travel to make the rounds of tlie circuit. Mr. Reggs was succeeded in 1831 by Rev. William Crissay ; in 1882 by Rev. Zadoc Hall, who is still living. Rev. Joel Arlington was the circuit rider in 1833. In 1834, Rev. Leander S. Walker. In 1830, Rev. J. W. Dimahay. W. C. Cumming rode the circuit for two years (now living in Kansas), '35, '37. In 1837, Rev. A. E. Plielps, then quite a young man, was ai)pointcd to the work, ntiriiig his time a spirited religious controversy sprang uji between him and a Unitarian minister mimed Calhoun.

On account of his youth the Methodist people feared the result, but Mr. Phelps bravely and successfully maintained his ground in that and many subsequent contests of like character.

In 1839 Rev. S. R. Beggs was returned. This veteran Methodist preacher is still spared from the hand of death, and is now living at Plainfield, in Will county. The history of the Methodist church in Peoria really commences from this year. Previous to this time no steps had been taken to build a church edifice. In 1840 Asahel Hale and Mark M. Aiken donated a lot for church purposes. Then through the energy of Mr. Beggs, the minister, and the good-will of the people, a house of worship, 31x46 feet, was erected. The cash used in its erection amounted to $70 only. An invitation was extended from the pulpit to all who were willing and could use an auger or a chisel to be on hand the following Monday morning to lend a helping hand. The response was liberal. Nearly all the timber was donated, and most of the work was done gratuitously. Between 1840 and 1847 the growth of the town and of Methodism was so great that this church edifice became too small to accommodate the pressure, and steps were taken to build a larger and more commodious one, which resulted in the present First Methodist church building. It was completed in 1849, and must have been a gigantic undertaking for that day, for it still stands one of the largest and most commodious church edifices in the cit}'. The original cost of construction was about $6,000.

About the year 1841 Bishop Waugh visited Peoria and preached in the tlien new church, but he wrote a letter to the New York Christian Advocate that the Methodists had built a church half a mile out of town.

To return to Methodist preachers : From 1841 to 1843, Rev. N. Cunningham officiated. Then came, from 1843 to 1844, Rev. Chauncy Hobart, than whom there never was a more tireless, energetic, persevering pioneer Methodist circuit rider. Hobart was one of twin brotliers, both of whom were Methodist preachers, and members of the old Rock River conference, and commenced preaching about 1832, '33. Soon after the Black Hawk purchase in Iowa was opened to white settlement, Rev. Chauncy Hobart was sent over there as a missionary laborer among the settlers, and labored from one end of the Black Hawk purchase to the other. He planned the first Methodist circuits of the eastern portion of Iowa, and remained in tliat territory until about 1839 or 1840, when he was returned to Illinois, and as already stated, was assigned to Peoria in 1843 and 1844. When Minnesota began to he settled and called for preachers, the old pioneer was transferred to that field, where he still remains, and is a resident of Red Wing, in Goodhue county, in that State. A part of the time during the War of the rebellion he was chaplain to a Minnesota regiment. In 1878 he was chosen chaplain of the Minnesota House of Rej^resentatives. The infirmities of old age incapacitated liim for active circuit work, and he is held in reserve for urgent calls, to whicli he is ever ready to respond. Although his head is whitened with the frosts of many winters, and nearly half a century constant work in the Methodist harness, his heart is as full of zeal as when he first commenced as a missionary laborer in the Master's vinej^ard.

For two years, from 1856 to 1858, Rev. W. H. Hunter had charge of the church. Mr. Hunter has grown old in the service. He is tall, erect, and very commanding in appearance, and is a power in the churcii. He is an elder and resides in Peoria.

From 1858 to 1860, J. C. Rowley served as pastor. For some reason not noted in the minutes from which our information is drawn, he fell under a cloud and has been exDelled.

Mr. C. C. Knowlton was appointed in 1865 and reapjiointed for the next year. Be fore the expiration of the second year, however, he resigned.

After an absence of eight years Rev. J. S. Camming was returned to the First Church in 1870 and continued there three years, the longest time that any one minister had, up to that time, preached to that church.

The next was Rev. A. R. Morgan, who took charge in 1875, and continued as pastor three years, the full length of time allowable by Metliodist law.

The present pastor is Rev. Selah W. Brown, who was firet appointed in 1878, and at the last meeting of the Conference in 1879, was sent back for anotlier vear.

In membership the churcli has increased from the eight wlio entered at the start to 250, besides the numerous other churciies in the city and vicinity, whose numbers in former years were wont to attend services at the First church.

A Sunday school was organized in connection with the church in 1835, but the movement, for some reason, had about died out, when, November 22, 1837, it was reorganized, witii Daniel Bristol as sui)erintendent. Tiie number of members in the Sabbath school in 1869 is 326 and Mr. Homer C. Lines is superintendent. Miss Jessie S. Benton is secretary.

Tlie Revs. Beggs, Chauncy Hobart and Zadoc Hall are, perliaps, tlie only ones of the old time Metliodist preachers at Peoria, whom we have thus far named, who are left. The rest have gone

" Where (he saints of all ages in harmony meet Their Savior and brethren iransi>orlecl to greet ; While the anihcms of rapture unceo-singly roll Anil the smile of the I.oril is the life of the soul."

The Senond Mtthodi»( Church. - In the year 1856 Rev. .M. 1.. llayney, with a large following, went out from the First Metliodist Elpiscopal Church, and organized a sejianito church, which was called tlu^ Peoria Mission. Tliere were, abnut llie time of tlie organization, eighty-five members in the society. The first house of worship wius a small frame strut'liirc capable of ai'eonimodating about 250 people. It was biiiil on the southwest corner of Monroe and Iviton Streets. Mr. Hayney was a man full of zeal, and his jtowers of description were wonderful. His pictures of the torments of tlie damned in hell, will still be remembered by some Peoria people with fear and trembling. In view of the demonstrative charaeti^r of i\w services at about that time the ehurch was called b}' some

When iirst organized the society was known in the conference as the Peoria Mission. it was but a short time, liowever, until the name was changed to the " Second Gliarge." In the year 1862, so indifferent for some time previous had been the support given the minister, that this church was put into a circuit with other weak societies in the vicinity, and Rev. A. J. Jones was the circuit rider.

At about this time in the history of the church the building was moved from Monroe to Perry Street, at the then head of Eaton Street. For a time then the church was known as the Perry Street Cliurch.

In the year 1869 the church building was again removed. For a time it was located on North Jefferson Street, near the Fourth district school-house. During its stay there it was called in the minutes of conference the " North Jefferson Street Church." Its stay on Jefferson Street was short, however. Within four years' time it was moved again to its present site, northeast corner of Madison and Morgan Streets. From the above brief sketch it will be seen that the Second Church has fairly earned the title of " The Itinerant Church." It is now known as the Second Methodist Church. A brief glance at its historj' from the organization down to the present time shows that it has retrograded. True it is, the present membership is about the same as at the organization, yet so greatly has the interest fallen off, that it would be hard for the founders to step in and realize that the seed they planted years before had brought forth sucli indifferent fruit. Every thing then promised the upbuilding of a splendid church. The membership was uncommonly large, the enthusiasm was great, and for some time the building was not large enough to hold the crowds that attended. Now there is always room for more auditors. About the time of the removal of the church to its present site a debt of $1,000 was contracted. It is not a ver}^ large sum, but it has hung like a millstone about the neck of this weak and struggling society. About half the amount has been canceled, but the remaining 'fSOO is a serious impediment that continued to interfere with the welfare of the church and retard its progress.

A Sabbath school was organized soon after the establishment of the church. Its success has varied with the ups and downs of the church. In 1869 the membership was 164. Mr. A. S. Proctor, quite an active Sunday school worker, is superintendent, and Mrs. J. W. Jenkins is assistant.

The next year, 1862, it was thought that the church was too weak to support a minister unaided and alone, so it was put in a circuit, with Rev. A. J. Jones as circuit rider.

In 1864, Rev. Henry Apple was appointed pastor, and continued during that year to preach, but the next year the church was without a pastor.

Rev. Henr}- Apple oiEciated the second time, during the year 1869. While in his charge the church building was removed from Perry Street to North Jefferson, near the Fourth district school. Mr. Apple, who is jolly, genial, goodnatured man, still lives within a few miles of Peoria, on a faiin. It is uot with him a matter of necessity to preacli, but for years he has been a sort of missionary, preacliing to congregations almost too feeble to think of employing a minister.

In 1871 Mr. I'. A. Crist was, for the second time, put in charge of the church. This year the North .Icflerson Street and the Colesville churches were constituted a circuit, over whicii Mr. Crist was established as pastor.

In the year 1872, Mr. H. M. Laney was appointed to the pastoral care of the church, and his sujjport was to come from it, while his labors were undivided.

The next two years, 1873 and 1874, Rev. V. A. Cool was the pastor. The church was aljoul that time removed from Jefferson to Madison Street, and was located where it now is.

For the years 1875 and 1876, Rev. G. F. Meredith was the pastor. He is a young man, but is a talented speaker, and did much to sustain the flagging destinies of this church. During his ministry there was a good attendance at the Sunday services, and considerable interest was manifested. By the end of his term there had arisen in the church some differences that his lunger continuance in the oflBce of pastor might have worked to the disadvantage of the church.

In the year 1877, Rev. E. B. England was appointed. He served one year, and was re-appointed for another. Being a man far above the mediocrity in ability, he succeeded well in his ciiarge, but the returns were inadequate for his labor. Near the close of liis second year Mr. England resigned the pastorate of the Second Methodist Church, to accept a call to preach in " Christ Church," Reformed Episcopal, in Peoria.

Hale Chapel. - Asahel Hale was bom December 1, 1791, in the State of Vermont. In the year 1831 he came to Peoria. The place was then in its infancy. Where the best part of the city now stands were fields of Indian corn. Little did tlie inhabitants then dream that the land they were tilling would some day sell for more per square foot than it tlieu brought per acre. Soon after coming here Mr. Hale bought of John Hamlin eighty acres of land extending over the brow of the blufif and about Main Street. He paid five dollars per acre, whicli was then thought a good price. In the year 1840 he became a member of the Methodist church. Four years later he donated the lot where the First Methodist church now stands. In his last will and tcstanuMit he bequeathed a lot on the corner of Main and High Streets as a site for a cliurcli. He also beiiueathed $12,000 in money to be expended in tlie construction of the church. Laura Hale, his widow, and Mr. J. L. Knowlton, were named as executors of the will, and William (liles, Ira E. Benton and Columbus Dunham, were named as trustees of the fund bequeathed to the church, to see that the bciiuests made in tiie will were carried out. Many of the details in regard to the l)uilding were provideil for by the will. .June 22, 18(58, the corner-stone was laid. January 14, 1869, tlie building was dedicated. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Hatfield, of Chicago.

Much of the labor of superintending tlie construction of tlie building devolved upon Mr. Ira E. Benton, who gave much of his time to the matter during the Suuuner the building was Iteing erected. In memory of the testator the church is called Hale Ciiapel. The site is the most (commanding occupied by any public building in the city. From its ]>osilion near the brow of tin; blufl' and near the heart of the city, it is a grand central figure, witii its comely outlines, its towering spire surmounted by a large copper ball gilded and glistening in the sunliglit, its town clock, the only one in any Methodist church in the conference, and its clear-toned bell ringing (uit the merry tidings, " Come to Christ." It is built of brick and is forty feet front by seventy feet deep. From the ground to the top of the spire is ninety-four feet. The foundation walls are four feet in thickness, and the wliole structure is built in a most substantial manner.

About two years previous to the building of the church a Sabbath school was organized with Mr. D. B. Allen as superintendent and Mr. Ira E. Benton secretary and treasurer. The first few meetings were held in the building on the corner of Elizabeth and Main Streets. Later the school was removed to the plow shop on Elizabeth Street south of Main. Upon the completion of the church, the school, with a membership of about 125, was transferred there. In 1879 the membership numbers 175. Mr. Benjamin Wookey is the superintendent.