USA > Illinois > Woodford County > Washburn > History of Methodist Episcopal Church of Washburn > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02346 473 5
Gc 977.302 W265
History of Methodist Episcopal Church of Washburn
1
History of Methodist Episcopal Church of Washburn
The Oldest Bank In Woodford County
44 years Service thru good times and bad --- thru depress- ions and crises WITHOUT A LOSS TO ANY PA- TRON
It Was A Good Place For Your Father's Money ---
It is a good place for yours.
Age is not a potent recommenda- tion except when backed by SERVICE
Investigate the keeper of your valuables
THE WASHBURN BANK CHAS. H. IRELAND & CO. Washburn, Illinois
Tw 25 15
A. C. MARTINI "The Big Corner Store"
Headquarters for Everything Up-To-Date.
Men's Douglas Shoes Famous the World Over.
Ladies Miller Shoes
That Have a reputation of their own.
American Beauty Parisiana Madame Grace
Corsets
WE are always glad to show anything in the line of
Dry Goods or Wearing Apparel
because we know we have just what you want. £ We buy to please our customers.
Groceries
OUR immense Grocery stock includes the well-known
Heinz, Snider, Van Camp Ideal, Kaiser Inn, Riteway, Blue Ribbon, Wilson, and Topmost brands of canned goods.
Fresh Vegetables Every Day
HIGHEST PRICES PAID FOR PRODUCE Phone No. 15
.
+
For Your
FURNITURE
NEEDS
GO TO
Ehringers
The House of Good Furniture
DAY PHONE No.'9 NIGHT PHONE No. 17-29
Full Line of Nyal's
Family Remedies
-the best the world produces,
A Remedy for every ill.
-We personally recom- mend Nyal's , remedies and toilet articles
FULTON'S DRUG STORE
DO YOU
Spend 5c a day foolishly ?
Listen! That sum will more than furnish your home with telephone service.
Why use your neighbor's phone,
When you may have one in your own home at so little cost?
DO IT NOW.
WASHBURN TELEPHONE CO.
O. E Shepard, Pres. C. E. Spangler, Secy.
THE LADIES HAT SHOP
Martha Hinck Washburn
Farmers!
Come to the Up-to-date Blacksmith-
J. E. STRAUCH
W. E. TAYLOR CASH MARKET
Meats,
Ice,
Fruits,
Vegetables,
1
Market
.36
Telephones:
Residence 55
Packing House 107 Red.
1
1
Washburn, Illinois
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
The Peoples Bank of Washburn
Financial Strength Begets Confidence
The vast amount of wealth belonging to the owners of this bank, makes it a financial pier with unquestioned financial strength.
Depositors at this bank have every pro- tection known to safe and prudent banking. They know it is the bank of GOOD SERVICE.
Borrowers enjoy the privilege of a large fund of our money to borrow from in time of need. They too know it is the bank of GOOD SER- VICE.
We invite deposits of any size from $1.00 up. There is no account too large for us to han- dle and none too small to receive our usual cour- teous treatment.
If you are not already a patron of this large and steadily growing bank we invite you to open an account with us at once.
You will find with us a pleasant bank home and a SAFE PLACE FOR YOUR MONEY.
The Peoples Bank of Washburn
CESS
TO THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE AND TO THE OFFICIAL BOARD OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WASHBURN, ILLINOIS 1914
PRESS OF THE WASHBURN LEADER WASHBURN, ILL.
PREFACE.
Good and accurate records should be the aim of the business man, and surely is, as evidenced by the army of bookkeepers, stenographers, etc., we find in the secular world.
There is need for this accuracy in the Church, for, to our inexpressible sorrow, we find that the poorest kind of bookkeeping is tolerated, and in some cases there are no books to keep.
It is with a view to rousing sentiment along this line, that we present this little work of love.
It is to be feared that the meagerness of the in- formation it contains will provoke criticism, but the almost entire absence of written records compels us to use the "personal memory" of those who asso- ciated with the preachers of long ago.
Therefore, if the details are not full enough to please everyone, let it be attributed to the failure of these persons to remember each thing that trans- pired-a humanly impossible task.
I am indebted to the courtesy of the Historical Committee, F. N. Ireland and others, for specific information contained herein.
Washburn, Ill., May 12, 1914.
THE REV. BISHOP W. F. McDOWELL, D.D., LL. D.
REV. R. B WILLIAMS, D. D. DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
HISTORY OF METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF WASHBURN, ILLINOIS
T' HE earliest record extant is that of "Marshall Circuit," which embraced the territory in which Washburn is now situated.
The first notation we find, is that of the baptism of Lucinda, daughter of James and Mary Harris, resi- dence Round Prairie, date 1843. The earliest mar- riage was that of George Willie and Catharine Justis in 1859. In the list of membership we find "James Harris taken in on probation, Aug. 6th, 1837."
The Society was divided into "Classes" in those days, meeting at different places throughout the charge.
The Class Leaders were Robert and James D. Barnes, grandfather and father, respectively, of J. E. Barnes of this village; Timothy Owen, Hartley Ma- lone and James Hall.
Glancing over the membership list, we find the familiar family names of Iliff, Boys, Hoover, Barnes, Hollenbach, Shugart, Perry and Combes.
From 1843 to 1856 there is no definite record, ex- cept as we get it from the Baptismal and Marriage Registers. The old "circuit riders" are in evidence visiting from point to point, leaving their signatures upon the various registers.
5
Definite records begin in 1856, so we leave the realm of uncertainty and are ready for REAL history.
Washburn was laid out by Hiram Echols and was mostly situated in Marshall county, comprising what is now north of the Woodford county line of the present Village of Washburn. The lots were 50 by 150 feet and were sold at auction at prices ranging from three to fifteen dollars each. The original name was Uniontown: later it was changed to Man- tua, then to Washburn.
The first postmaster was William Maxwell, the first store was kept by Americus Pogue, the first residence was built by Dr. Thomas.
The village numbered but twelve homes in 1856. These were:
1. The Eckels house, Now the Vaughn place.
2. The schoolhouse, Now the Greber place.
3. A house southwest of the school lot occupied as a grocery store and kept by Tilton Howard.
4. A small building on the opposite corner, used as a general store by Cushing and Jenkins.
5. The Dr. Thomas residence, known Now as the Schroeder home.
6. D. P. Smith's place, Now the home of Mrs. August Iunker.
7. A log cabin occupied by Burgess Smith, situ- ated where the Immel house now stands.
S. A shop used by George Bigsby, Now known as the Iunker blacksmithy.
6
.9. The Baptist Church, erected in 1853, Now the German Lutheran.
10. £ The house of James Toy, on the present site of the Rankin home.
11. Elder Merritt's home, where Newton Lewis now lives.
12. The Toy wagon shop on the lot south of the Rankin home. This building was moved and converted into a house, now stands across the street west of the Iunker blacksmith shop. It was in this shop that the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Society of Washburn took place.
Outside of the village proper were several farms. The home of Tilton Howard on the lot where the Gilbert Combes residence stands. The Alex. Carrithers place, now known as the Thomas farm. The Stephen Howard farm, NOW the Wil- liam Schafer place. The Robert Sweet farm south of the Baptist Church, where Mrs. Mary Shugart lives. Phillip Jenkins lived where Mrs. Ruth Watt resides. Lansing Howard lived where John Ehringer resides. The Baird Sweet farm was on what is now called the Peachy place, later purchased by Jacob Hatton. The Solon Sweet farm was situated where Samuel Robinson now lives. All this part of the country was called "Stringtown."
It was in this community of small proportions and scattered locations that Methodism pitched its "Tent."
7
What the years have wrought! The new Village of Washburn was laid out in 1870, adjoining the old town when the railroad became a certainty.
Its growth during the passing years has been most gratifying. The church and the school have been factors of no little power in the making of the vil- lage, and we accord them the place of honor as we survey our beautiful, happy, prosperous homes. Vol- umes might be filled with an account of the personal sacrifice made by the fathers and mothers of the past years in order that we, the present generation might enjoy the fruit of their toil and labor. May we cherish our inheritance.
The organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church took place in the "Toy Wagon Shop" carly in the year 1856. A little group of men and women knelt in that humble place and banded themselves into a "Class," which with its "Leader" now became a part of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the World.
THE "TOY WAGON SHOP"
The members of this first "Class" consisted of James Toy and wife, Leander Jones and wife, Garrison DeBolt and wife, and others of whom we have no knowledge. These noble few have passed to their reward, with the exception of Mrs. Toy and Mrs. Jones, who still wait the summons to join the "in- numerable caravan."
A Rev. Morse of the Metamora circuit was asked by this "Class" to preach to them. He did so, and con- tinued to come to them, preaching in the evenings during the winter, and in the afternoons during the summer. He was followed by a regular appointee of the Bishop-a preacher of "Marshall Circuit" who had orders to "include Washburn" in his list of ap- pointments. This was in the fall of 1856 and is the first of a continuous record of ministers at this point.
1856-7.
John Grundy was sent to the circuit; John Luc- cock was Presiding Elder. The charge was in Wash- ington district and the year inaugurated the first session of the Central Illinois conference, Bishop Janes presiding.
1857-9.
Bishop Scott appointed A. C. Price, under the di- rection of Frank Smith, Presiding Elder. He was re- turned for another year.
. 9
1859-60. We find two preachers on the cir- cuit: W. A. Prepon and H. M. Connell. More preaching places are added and the record is filled with names of per- sons living in widely scattered communi- ties. For a few years we find the following locations named:
FRANK SMITH, P. E. 1858-9
Places of meeting, Phelps schoolhouse, Marshall Chapel; Harris schoolhouse, Phelps Chapel; Belle Plain schoolhouse. The homes of the members are
thus designated : Round Prairie, on Crow Creek; Minonk, Hopewell township; Pattonsburg, Crow Creek bottom; Shaws Point, on prairie near Wenona; East Lacon, Ox Bow Prairie; Half Moon Prairie, Cherry Grove.
1860-1.
B. P. Wheat, preacher; F. J. Flowers, Presiding Elder. We learn nothing of this brother except that he is an "old time" preacher of righteousness. The circuit is now in the La Salle district.
3 1833 02346 473 5
1861-2.
W. J. Stubbles, preacher in charge; Henderson Ritchie, Presiding Elder. Brother Stubbles' name ap- pears in the record frequently as administering bap- tism to forty persons through the years of 1862-3, though he stayed but one year. This is explained by the fact that there were few ordained men, and in all probability he was the senior preacher. Quite a few members were added to the So- ciety in this pas- torate. Up to this time there was no church building proper. The little "Class" met where it was most conven- ient. Sometimes in "The wagon shop," HENDERSON RITCHIE, P. E. 1861-5 sometimes in the Baptist Church. They used the old schoolhouse, now known as the "Greber" home, and situated southwest of the Reform Church.
When this was moved off the school lot to make room for the new building, they met in private homes, then when the "New Schoolhouse" was com- pleted they worshipped there till they were installed
11
in a church of their own. This second schoolhouse is now known as the "Stevens" place, and is situated near the primary school.
THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE-1856
Here we digress to show the development of our educational institution. We are proud of our present building, and rightly, too, when we consider the beginning of things. A steady growth in educational facilities is to be seen. A more thoroughly equipped, up-to-date school is to be found in few villages the size of Washburn.
THE SECOND SCHOOL HOUSE
12
THE PRESENT SCHOOL HOUSE - 1876
1862-4.
G. M. Irwin, preacher in charge. He stayed two years. During the year of 1863 "New Chapel" was erected, the first church building of the Methodist Episcopal Society in the Village of Washburn. A Brother Holoway, a local preacher, was living here at that time, and it was owing to his efforts that this work was consummated. He worked on the build ing with his own hands, and assisted to furnish its
FIRST M. E. CHURCH-1863
13
equipment. He and his wife seem to have been saintly people, ever active in the service of their Master.
Nothing showy or elegant was seen there-just a plain room 30 by 48 feet, simply furnished. The picture above shows it shorn of its steeple, which was the pride of its builders. It cost $2,000.00, and occupies its original site, corner of Main and Wood- ford streets, being occupied and used as a primary school.
1864-5.
J. W. Haney, senior preacher.
1865-7.
Joseph Hart, pastor; S. C. G. Worthington, Pre- Eiding elder. The "circuit" is now in Wenona distriet.
Brother Hart stayed two full years and did a mighty work. The greatest revival this village has ever seen, was held under his direction. Numbers were converted and the results of his work have come down to us.
The personal tes- timony of those who knew him, places him in the front rank of evangelistie preachers.
JOSEPH HART 1865-7
14
1867-8.
A. K. Tullis comes on the circuit. 1868-9.
For the first time we read, "Washburn, Thomas Cotton, pastor." This arrangement continued for one year only.
1869-70.
The next record that meets our eye is, "Lacon and Washburn," A. K. Tullis and M. C. Eignus,
A. K. TULLIS 1869-70
preachers; F. M. Chaffee, Presiding Elder.
1870-3. G. P. Snedaker and one "supply." M. H. Shepherd.
Washburn was at this time an out appointment con- nected with the Belle Plain and Phelps Chapel
charges. The parsonage was at old Phelps chapel. Evidences of a good work are on record in additions to the church and improvements to the extent of a thousand dollars.
1873-4.
W. A. Cumming was appointed, Richard Haney, Presiding Elder. Building operations continue. There are four churches on the charge, with one hundred and fifty members.
15
1874-5. E. B. England, pastor. Under this administra- tion some revival efiort is noted. The salary is recorded as $900.00, and $916.00 for the circuit. The "Chap- el" is "painted and papered on the in- side, and painted on the outside."
1875-7. V. B. Denning, pastor. Washburn and Lowpoint aro put together and form what is called
G. B. SNEDAKER 1870-3
"Washburn charge." The probationers' record tells the story of good pastoral work done and spe- cial meetings held.
1877-8.
Benjamin Apple- bee, pastor.
A very successful vear is reported.
January 14, 1878. the "Red Ribbon
E. B. ENGLAND 1874-5
RICHARD HANEY, P. E. 1873-7 1878-9.
Temperance Reform Movement" was in- augurated. The Rev S. Brink and other speakers held a meet- ing in the public hall and succeeded in obtaining signa- tures to one thou- sand pledges. Ex- citement ran high and "no license" gained the day.
J. Borland, pastor. Nothing much can be obtained of this administration, as the records are missing. 1879-81.
G. W. Burns, ap- pointed; J. D. Smith, Presiding Elder. The year before this, was a poor one financial- ly, the salary being but $421.00, but this year it comes up to $850.00 including house ront.
V. B DENNING 1875-7
17
1
J. D. SMITH, P. E. 1877-8
1881-4.
J. G. Blair was ap- pointed, R. D. Rus- sell, Presiding Elder. Washburn seems to have had a stirring up, for many con- versions are noted. The charge is now in Streator district. 1884-5.
J. F. James, pas- tor. No notation of
any special work. Membership 81, salary $584.00. 1885-6.
Our record says, "Washburn to be supplied," but we are told that no preacher came to the village that year.
1886-90.
O. T. Dwinnell, pastor; B. W. Baker, Presiding Elder. These are years of hard work. Organization is the order of the
B. APPLEBEE 1877-8
18
day. Thirty adult baptisms attest the pastoral work done. 1889-90.
J. H. Ryan, pas- tor; Thomas Doney, Presiding Elder. This was a year of dis- cussion as to the building of a new church. The preced- ing year many new families had moved into the village and the accessions were large. Then when
J F. JAMES 1884-5 .
J. G. BLAIR 1881-4
Brother Ryan came, the question was thoroughly discussed. The first meeting of the board of trustees did not accomplish much, but finally it was decided to sell the church building to the school board. On July 14, 1890, it was sold for $500.00. On the 21st of July operations were
19
started on the new building, the lot being given by Ja- cob Hollenbach. This new building was sit- uated on the site of the present church. Charles Boys had large credit for the new enterprise. The building committee consisted of Lewis O. T. DWINELL 1886-9 Younger, Robert McCulloch, J. E. Barnes and Charles Boys. It was a frame building and cost about $500.00.
1890-4.
J. E. Connor, pas- tor; J. W. Haney, Presiding Elder. He found the new church in the course of con- struction and during the fall and winter months preached in the Evangelical Church, the present home of F. A. Combes. The build- ing was completed
J. H. RYAN, D. D. 1889-90
20
some time in December, and on the 28th of that month it was dedicated bythe Rev. T. W. Mc- Vety, D. D., assisted by two former pastors, the Rev. O. T. Dwinnell, D. D., and the Rev.J. H. Ryan D. D. Brother Conners' fourth year was filled out by Brother N. W. Atkins. Many accessions.
SECOND CHURCH (M.E.) 1890
1894-6. F. M. Boner, pastor. "Circuit" moved into Normal district. During this administration, the first par-
21
J. W. HANEY, P. E. 1892-8
sonage was built at a cost of $1,200. The present building is the old one im- proved by porch and additional rooms.
A splendid work was done this year in material and spir- itual matters.
1896-9.
D. F. Wilson, pas- tor; R. Wiley. Prcsi-
ding Elder.
Membership is increasing, but the salary has de- A good spiritual harvest is The church seems
creased to $700.00.
reaped during these years. spiritually alive.
1899-03
G. L. Taylor comes on the charge. These are great "benevo- lence" years. The missionary collections run up into the hun- dreds. Salary is raised and a pros- perous condition is seen. Accessions this year.
J E. CONNOR 1860-4
1903-8. G. M. Boswell, pas- tor; Richard Crewes, D. D., District Sup- erintendent. There were years .of hard work. On Decem- ber 13, 1905, the church took fire and burned to the ground. Hardly had the N. W. ATKINS 1894 flames died away when a meeting was held by the Trustees and steps were taken to build another church.
A building com- mittee was elected, consisting of the fol- lowing persons: J.
E. Barnes, F. A. Ehringer, J. G. Mc- Whinney, John Good- ell, J. T. Powell.
Plans for a new building were soon under way, and with F. A. Ehringer as superintendent of
F. M. BONER 1894-6
23
construction, on December 9, 1906, the third and present building was dedicated by the Rev. Thomas
D. E. WILSON 1896-9
credit for the heroic effort of these years, rearing out of the ashes, the beautiful edifice they now oc- cupy.
Iliff, and three days of festivities en- sued. The cost of the building was $9,135.00. The con- gregation worshipped in the village hall till the basement was fin- ished and held meet- ings there till the structure was erect- ed. Preacher and people deserve large
G. L. TAYLOR 1899-03
THE SECOND CHURCH IN FLAMES
DECEMBER 13, 1905
25
1908-12.
J. L. Miller, pas- tor; R. B. Williams, D. D., Superinten- dent, Pontiac Dis- trict. Again we have material improve- ment a prominent feature. During this administration the Belle Plain church and parsonage are G. M. BOSWELL 1903-8 sold, and the pro- ceeds immediately invested in an addition to the parsonage at Washburn. At the Fourth Quarterly Conference held at Washburn, August 12, 1911, three trustees of the Belle Plain Methodist Episcopal
THIRD AND PRESENT CHURCH-1906
J L. MILLER 1908-12
Church, Bros. Thos.
Kerrick, John W.
Combes, Jacob Hol-
lenbeck, were elected and authorized to
sell the property. This was done at a net price of $874.76. This sum was ex- per ded on Washburn church and parson- age in much needed improvements. Of at Pattonsburg, no- which now hangs in
this old and historic church thing remains save the bell, the steeple of the Washburn church. A fine pipe organ was purchased and installed at a cost of
BONER-MILLER PARSONAGE 1894-1911
27
RICHARD CREWES 1904-10
$650.00. Some ac- cessions to the church.
The monetary val- ue of the property at Washburn is now: Church, $10,500, Parsonage, $3,500, a total for the village of $14,000. Then the church building at Lowpoint is valued at $1,500. This
makes a grand total of $15,500 in church and par- sonage valuation.
28
ARTHUR J. JOLLY, Ph D. 1912-
INTERIOR OF PRESENT CHURCH
29
WASHBURN SUNDAY SCHOOL.
There may have been a meeting for the children of the earliest members of our church, but we have no record of such before the year 1863.
It is probable that with the building of their church, our people whould inaugurate a Sunday School. So we find that Brother S. S. Holoway was the first superintendent and organizer.
If, as some think, the Sunday School was organ- ized before the "Chapel" was built, then the place where they met would be the second schoolhouse, the "Stevens" place.
As far as possible, we append the names of the superintendents, giving the dates when authentic.
Without date: 1863 S. S. Holoway
Fred Giddings
1865 Joseph Hart
S. W. McCulloch
1875 David Powell
C. B. Johnston 1878 Charles Boys
A. L. Ingle 1879 S. W. McCulloch
E. P. Fishburn
1903-7 Arthur Gill
W. D. Evans
1907-9 Roy Gill
J. H. Schultz
1909-10 F. A. Combes
George Wineteer
1910-13 .J. W. Combes
N. J. Pritchard
1913 John E. Moschel
The present membership numbers one hundred and ninety, including Cradle Roll and Home De- partment.
30
SUNDAY SCHOOL BOARD
John E. Moschel Superintendent J. W. Combes Assistant Superintendent
Marguerite Kerrick
Secretary
George Moschel Sec. S. S. Board
Maimee Sangbush
Treasurer
Leon Beecher.
Librarian
Ina Spangler
Chorister
Allie Combes
Organist
Iva Wendland Teacher
Nellie Furrow Teacher
Hazel Furrow
Teacher
Clara Mc Whinney Teacher
Lenna Gill. Teacher
George Moschel Teacher
Thomas Kerrick.
Teacher
Mrs. C. E. Spangler Teacher
Mrs. F. A. Combes Teacher
Mrs. George Crawford Teacher
Mrs. J. H. Moschel. Teacher
Mrs. A. Sangbush
Teacher
31
OUR EPWORTH LEAGUE
The young people of the church had been organ- ized for some years as the "Methodist Alliance," but in 1889, in accordance with the order of the church, renamed themselves the "Epworth League." The charter reads, "Washburn Chapter of E. L., No. 1046, dated April 8, 1895.
The names in that first chapter were Laura Mc- Culloch, Lizzie Groves, Minnie Boys, Ida Boys, Lottie Stephens and J. G. McWhinney. They were not all here today, two having passed to the great Epworth League above.
The presidents since organization follow in their order:
Lottie Stephens 1895-1899
Laura McCulloch. 1899-1900
Clara Mc Whinney 1900-1902
Josephine Fraser 1902-1906
Laura McCulloch
1906-1907
Lena Gill
1907-1909
C. E. Spangler
1909-1910
George Moschel
1910-1911
Grace Ehringer
1911-1912
F. A. Combes. 1912
The membership has changed from year to year. In 1893 the first record we have, they are credited with 30 members. The largest roll was in 1908, with a membership of 75.
32
In benevolent work the League has always been efficient. In 1902 they joined with the other Leagues in the work of supporting Missionary Truitt, and in 1907 pledged a definite sum each year to build Rangoon church. When our church burned, they offered and paid a subscription of $300.00, and when the pipe organ was put in, gave $100.00, nearly a sixth of its cost. All of our benevolences have been supported, and the Baby Fold at Normal and the Deaconess Hospital at Peoria have found in Wash- burn League one of its warmest friends.
33
THE EPWORTH LEAGUE CABINET 1914.
Epworth League Cabinet, 1914.
President F. A. Combes First Vice-Pres. Lenna Gill Secretary .... Iva Wendland 2nd ViceMaimee Sangbush
Treas .... Clara Mc Whinney 3rd Vice Marguerite Kerrick Junior Supt. Ina Spangler 4th Vice C. B. Quiram Organist. Allie Combes
31
OUR JUNIORS.
The Junior League was organized in 1907 with 30 members. The names of the superintendents follow in their order:
Mrs. Wilson 1897
Mrs. A. Stevenson 1900
Miss Lorine Stephenson 1903
Miss Mamie Sangbush 1906
Miss Grace Ehringer
1912
Miss Ina Spangler 1914
A reorganization took place in 1913 and they are now working under charter as "Jolly" Chapter No. 5762. When the new church was erected they gave $125.00 toward it. They have been forward in every good work of the church, at one time educating a colored girl in one of our Freedman's Aid schools.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.