Union Grove Village

Union Grove Village

Chamberlain is the present incumbent, is worth, together with the rent of the handsome parsonage, $1,000. The present officers are Messrs. Benjamin Smith, John Sumpter and Dr. H. D. Adams, Trustees, and J. S. Blakey, Clerk. The members, on July 4, 1878, numbered 148 ; but the total number, who have united with the Church since its organization, is 292. In addition to other property, it contains an exceedingly good cabinet organ, which cost J200.

The Methodist Episcopal Church edifice was built in 1861, though organized some time prior to that date, at which time the meetings were held in the old schoolhouse. It is a fine frame building, and cost, with the parsonage, ^3,500. For the first two years, it was in " circuit ; ** but the pulpit was soon after filled, by the Rev. S. Lug, who came from England in 1863, and remained two years. The living of which the Rev. J. J. Howard is the present incumbent, is worth ^800 per year. There are now about eighty-five members, although the congregation numbers 250 persons. The organ - a large pipe - was purchased in Racine, and cost 8350. The present officers are : Trustees, J. W. B. Crane, Joseph Motley, John Willmore, Thomas Whitley, N. M. Clarke, Charles Schofield, David Huron, 0. L. Crabb and William Morey ; Stewards, J. W. B. Crane, John Martin, Jacob Dunkirk and George W^illmore ; Class Leader, Joseph Motley ; Sunday-school Superintendent, George Willmore.

The Danish Baptist Church was built in December, 1872, there being then thirty members. The Rev. Ole Jansen took charge, and remained until after Christmas. It is a very nice frame building, and will seat 150. The Trustees are Mars Petersen, J. Rasmussen, Jens Anderson, Peter Jesperson, Clerk. At the time of writing, the congregation had no regular Pastor, the Rev. Lars Petersen and the Rev. Welse Jorgeson filling the pulpit by turns. Their organization now numbers forty-eight members.

Miscellaneous

Secret Societies are a prominent feature ; of these, the most important are the Ma.sons, who? in 1865, to the number of eight, banded themselves together under the Mastership of Mr. B. R. Clark, the Wardens being T. H. Carlyon and Garn Hulett. Their Lodge has increased wonderfully, and now numbers thirty-five members ; their officers being Messrs. J. T. Asby, W. M.; D. Worrell, S. W. ; A. H. ELulett, J. W. ; 0. L. Crabb, Secretary ; J. H. Wendser, S. D. ; and James Meyer, J. D. They own a very serviceable hall on Main street.

Nfext in importance are the Odd Fellows, whose Lodge, now numbering twenty-seven members, was organized June 8, 1875, with a membership of seven. Their first officers were : J. E. Dickson, N. G. ; G. N. Wilson, V. G. Their present officers are : R. W. Smith, N. G. ; James Bell, V. G. ; J. T. Asby, Secretary. They meet in the Masonic Hall.

The temperance societies claim attention next. They consist of the Temple of Honor and the Good Templars. Both of these organizations are in a flourishing condition, and number sixtyfive and forty-five members respectively. Of the former, Mr. Charles McEachron is the Worthy Chief, and Mr. A. P. Colby holds undivided authority over the latter.

The Manufacturing Interests are represented by a grist and flax mill. The former was erected in 1864-6'), by Mr. James Jones, who subsequently, in 1872, failed, and the latter, in 1876, by the Lawrence family. The grist-mill was run by the former proprietor, Mr. Jones, until he failed, when Messrs. Box & Robertson, the present proprietors, took possession of it. It has a capacity of 400 bushels of corn and 150 bushels of wheat per day. The flax-mill was run by its projectors until they failed, when Mr. Sands purchased it, when, after some few changes, it passed into the hands of Messrs. Humphrey & Coleman, who ran it until one year ago, when it was destroyed by fire. It has since been purchased and rebuilt by Messrs. Peter Dunkirk & Co., who now run it to the extent of nine tons of tow per day. Business, however, probably owing to the smallness of the population in the vicinity, is not very good, for whatever work is done, is done well.

The Press, that Archimedean lever which moves the world, is well represented by the Union Grove JSnterprise, an independent paper which was established in September, 1877, by Mr. A. P. Colby, the present proprietor, who is also the editor. It is a weekly, and has a circulation of about 500. It is well gotten up and is well received.

The Schools are prosperous. The first opened in the village was during 1861, Mr. C- J. White being the Principal. The school was maintained, meeting with a varied, and, in some instances, discouraging experience, until some months ago, when Mr. Maynard, the present Principal, took charge and worked it up to its present high standard of excellence and good attendance.

The village has suffered severely by fire within the past few years. In 1873, a hotel, two houses (the latter owned by Mr. William Emmett) and some stock were burned, entailing a loss of about ^4,000. The ruins were rebuilt, and for a long time the fire fiend .«^lumbered, but in the month of May, of the present year, again devoted its energies to the destruction of this "little city of the pioneers " with a success as complete as it was discouraging. The buildings were severally the property of D. Wovall, Nicholas Weater and William Langley, became almost a total loss. But this calamity occasioned no disastrous effects. The buildings were rebuilt without delay, and the conflagration had the effect of inspiring the inhabitants to greater diligence than producing the discouragement that would ordinarily follow. The result is to be found in a village pleasant and prosperous, and if not promising extravagantly, the promise held out is sure of realization.