Trivoli Township

Trivoli Township

is situated in the township of Trivoli, eighteen miles due west of the city of Peoria, and hius about two hundred inhabitants. The town was laid out about 1840 or '41. The business men at tiie present writing are as follows: Blacksmiths, J. K. Bourne, John Fletcher and John Grecnhalgh ; boot and shoemaker, Sharron Schilling; carpenter, James Callahan ; harness and collars, Jacob Linck ; justices of the peace, James Johnson and James Tyler; grist mill, Geo. Briber; physicians, A.J. Graham and W. C. Bonvard ; one newspaper, Trivoli S., James Johnson, editor; two general stores, one M. E. church and one school building. It does a considerable local trade, and to make it a place of prominence it only needs raihoad facilities, which are now contemplated and undoubtedly a year or two will bring.

Brunnwiuk Presbyterian Church, of Trivoli Toiniship. - About the year 1833, there came from Virginia a few families of Presbyterian parentage and training by the name of Ramsay, and located in the southwest part of Trivoli township, in the timber skirting the beautiful luit then neglected and despised prairie lanti. These were after a short time followed by other friends from tlieir native .State.

These people had plain homes, plain food, plain clothing and plain preaching. By 1840 other families having moved into the community, a missionary, then in the employ of the Old School Presbyterian Church, came into the community iluly pursuing his calling, and was encouraged to gather tiie.se people into one organization, which was effecteil on September lit, 1840, by the mi.'^sionary. Rev. Geo. G. Sill and Rev. Abraham I). Wilson, of the i'roteslant Dutch t'liurch, and tlie church was known as the Protestant Dutch Church of Coperas.

The place of organization was the house of Robert Ramsey, and ten persons composed the church as organized. Thomas liamsey and George Walls were chosen to the eldership and duly installed. In the two following years several more members were added. The services were mostly held in a school-house on the farm now owned by John Yerion. The erection of the present and only church ])ui]ding was begun by laying the corner stone on November 23, 1844, by Rev. George G. Sill, and it appears that it was ready for occupancy the same year, the basement being stone, the second story frame, and valued at $2,000"with grounds.

In 1844 a post office was established and named Brunswick and the name of the church was changed accordingly. This church has for many years joined with the Salem Presbyterian Church in the support of the same minister. The present membership is eighty. A Sabbath school has been sustained here since 1842. A prayer meeting and Woman's Foreign Mission Society are in existence. Their present pastor is Wm. King, who has labored with them for some years.

Evangelical Lutheran St. Johns Church. - The constitution was adopted and signed October 27, 1849, with seventeen original members. Jacob Scherer, pastor. On the 27th day of May, 1855, the name of the church was changed to Zion Evangelical Church of Trivol.

The first officers of the church were as follows : Henry Frank, elder, and Patrick Gilbrath, as deacon, who were inaugurated October 28, 1849. On the 2tith of June, 1850, the following brothers were elected : Henry Erford, as elder, and Christian Shirk, as deacon, and was inaugurated June 30, 1850. They have a comfortable frame building, 30x44 feet, and cost about $1,500.