USA > Illinois > Church of the Brethren in southern Illinois > Part 3
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The following elders have had charge: D. B. Sturgis, William Elam, John Metzger, John Wise, Henry Jones, Dan- iel Vaniman, Henry Lilligh, M. L. Hahn, J. W. Lear, Urias Blough, M. Flory, N. H. Miller, I. D. Heckman, D. J. Blicken- staff, Ausby Swinger and Russell Pepple.
Ministers elected in this congregation were: John Cripe, Joseph Jones, Granville Nevinger, John Clear, John Root, Allen Taylor, Martin Whiteneck, Jacob Root, Joshua Kessler, Ira Beanblossom, Oscar B. Redenbo and Lelland M. Baldwin.
Ausby Swinger was the first pastor, serving during the years 1940-1946. Opal Pence was the summer pastor in 1947. F. A. Oliver has served this church since 1948.
UPPER FULTON-COAL CREEK-CANTON (1845-)
A number of Brethren families from Franklin County, Pennsylvania, moved to Fulton County, Illinois, in the early forties, and in 1845 were organized into a church by Elder George Wolfe. Some of the charter members were the Neg- leys, Martins, Pools, Elliots, and Zooks.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Of these early days, Jacob Negley wrote an account for the Brethren's Almanac of 1877. We quote:
In the fall of 1844, I with my family, came to Fulton Co., Illi- nois not knowing of any members here. In the spring my brother- in-law, David Zuck, and his family came. He was in the second de- gree of the ministry. After settling down, we held social meetings at our homes every two weeks. At first we had small congregations, but after our neighbors heard of it our congregations increased. During our meetings we became acquainted with three or four members from Ohio, of whom were Brother John Markley and wife, who had been here several years when we came. In the fall of 1847, Brother Daniel Martin and his family came. He was an or- dained elder. (We all migrated from Welsh Run, Franklin Co., Pa.) We then commenced holding meetings in the school houses regular- ly. We then had a small organized body of about eight or nine members.
About a year or less afterwards, one Sunday morning, a man by the name of Ensign called at my house to shelter from a storm. After some conversation he asked me to what denomination I belonged. I answered that we belonged to the German Baptists, but we were more commonly known by the name of Dunkards. He said, "Then you belong to the soup people." "Yes," I said, "we have soup at our communion meetings." Then he said, "I know a man by the name of Wolfe, in Adams Co., an able preacher who belongs to your church." I asked his first name and address, but he could give me neither. He, however, said that he had a brother-in-law living in the same county, who also belonged to the same church, whose ad- dress was Liberty, Adams Co., Ill. I made a note of it.
A short time after the above occurred, I wrote to Brother Wolfe, in care of Brother Bashnel. In about two weeks after I wrote Broth- er Bashnel came up to see us . . . . Through that we got Brother Wolfe's name and address. I then opened up a correspondence with him and he gave us several visits . . . . As nearly as I can remem- ber, in the fall of 1849 we appointed our first love feast. Brother Samuel Garber and several brethren from Ogle Co., Ill. were with us. Brother Wolfe also was invited, and he came . . . . Afterwards, Brother Wolfe visited us frequently, and was known in the brother- hood in general.
Our church at present (1877) numbers about sixty members. We have four ministers, two of them are ordained elders, one in the second degree and one in the first degree, and three deacons. Wc have numbered from forty to sixty for the last twenty years, our loss by death and migration being balanced by accessions .- Jacob Neg- ley, Farmington.
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CONGREGATIONS
The first love feast was held in 1845. A meetinghouse was built in 1848, situated about eight miles northwest of Canton. It was known as the Upper Fulton church. Early presiding elders were: David Martin,1 1847; Jacob Negley and David Zook, 1854. John Eshelman was chosen to the ministry about 1862 and Mathias Lingerfelter in 1875.
In the year 1872 the name, Upper Fulton, was changed to Coal Creek. The first Sunday school, organized in 1877, was held weekly in the church, with an attendance of forty to fifty. Jacob Negley wrote of the continual growth of the church, in the Primitive Christian and Pilgrim, Decem- ber 11, 1877:
About the last of August, 1877, there were four young persons baptized. By special invitation, Brother D. B. Gibson came to us the 1st of September and remained ten days and preached. While he was with us seven more united with us and one was reclaimed. After he left, three more were added by baptism. On the 13th and 14th of October we had our love feast. On the 15th and 16th the District Conference convened, making a four days' meeting. During the meeting five were added by baptism, and after the meeting two more, and in a week or ten days after, there were three received by letter; making in all an addition of twenty members . .. we feel encouraged.
In 1884 the Coal Creek church decided to hold a prayer meeting every Saturday evening. I. M. Gibson wrote for the Gospel Messenger: "In quarterly council, June 9, 1888, it was decided that an outpost of the main body of the church could organize into an independent congregation, to be known as the Macedonia church ... . " We have no record of the organization being made, although there were preaching services in the Macedonia schoolhouse.
About the year 1900 the Coal Creek congregation bought a building in the south part of Canton, which served as a church home until in 1920, when a building was purchased at 265 North First Avenue. It was probably in 1920 that
1 Compiled Minutes lists David Martin as elder (see page 17), although Jacob Negley in Brethren's Almanac, 1877, mentions Daniel Martin.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
CANTON CHURCH
the name, Coal Creek, was changed to Canton. Their church house, proving inadequate, was sold and a new modern church was built and dedi- cated in 1947. A new parson- age was also built the same year. The district meeting of 1948 was held in the Canton church. The membership in 1947 was one hundred eighty- nine, with an average attend- CANTON PARSONAGE ance of one hundred four at Sunday school.
As early as 1897 an aid society was organized and the women's work has been quite active since 1910. The men's work has been organized for a number of years. A youth project is the building of a cabin at the camp near Astoria.
Elders of this church, in addition to the early elders named, have been D. B. Gibson, John Pool, Solomon Buck- lew, M. L. Hahn, S. G. Bucher, D. E. Eshelman, S. S. Blough, E. F. Caslow, E. O. Norris, J. J. Johnson, W. A. Deardorff and I. J. Gibson.
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CONGREGATIONS
Ministers and pastors who have served the Canton church were David Martin, Jacob Negley, David Zook, Samuel Tennis, John Eshelman, Mathias Lingenfelter, Samuel Shuck, John Haakie, Solomon Bucklew, D. E. Esh- elman, Harold Rose, E. F. McVay, B. F. Shaffer, S. L. Cover, D. C. Brendlinger, Oscar Wagner, William Hatcher, Grant McGuire, J. J. Johnson, John Whiteneck, Frank A. Myers, Charles Dumond, J. E. Smeltzer and C. H. Cameron.
ASTORIA (1852-)
Formerly part of the Upper Fulton church, Astoria was organized as a congregation in 1852 at the home of Samuel Falkenstein, four miles south of Astoria. Elders Isaac Hershey, John Poole and Abraham Buck assisted with the organization. The seven charter members were John Fitz and wife, Jesse Danner and wife, Samuel Falkenstein and wife and Nancy Stambaugh. John Fitz was elected to the ministry at that time. Although few in number, the members held meetings in barns and in their homes; a number of houses were built with folding partitions to ac- commodate the crowds that came to services. It was not unusual for folks to walk many miles to attend a meeting. Often after the morning service temporary tables were set up. While the men fed their teams the women placed on the tables a generous supply of bread, butter, apple- butter, pie and pickles-and the noon meal was served. After dinner, another service was held. The ministers spoke in German. There are some now living who remember wor- shiping in these homes and barns.1
The first church house was built in 1867, about two
1 Sources: The Argus Searchlight and the history of the Astoria church in the Astoria church directory of 1943. The early records of the Astoria church cannot be found .- Questionnaire
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miles east of Astoria, where the Woodland church now stands. By that time the membership had grown to about one hundred. A second meetinghouse was built two and a half miles south of Astoria and was called the South Ful- ton house. It was dedicated on December 7, 1879, by Elder David Miller. A third church house, called the Walnut church, was built about four miles northwest of Astoria; the exact date of its erection is not known. The Walnut house was sold in 1919 and, although the South Fulton house remains, it is no longer used for services, as the congrega- tion now worships in Astoria.
The first Sunday school was held about 1890, in the South Fulton house, on Sunday afternoons. For a time it was held on alternate Sundays at South Fulton and the Walnut house-first held only during the summer, but later throughout the year.
In 1881 the Astoria territory was divided: the west part
ASTORIA CHURCH
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CONGREGATIONS
with a membership of one hundred thirty-five retained the name, Astoria; the east part with sixty-five members was called Woodland.
A church house was built in the town of Astoria in 1905; J. W. Lear preached the dedicatory sermon. In 1938 a house near the church was bought for use as a parsonage.
Ladies' aid was organized about 1906 and met in various homes or in the church. They now have a complete organiza- tion in line with the women's work program. Mission work is carried on in connection with the pastor's program with live interest. The men have responded to the projects sug- gested by the district. They donated one thousand dollars for a half-carload of wheat for relief. The young people often give programs which are well received by the con- gregation. Much interest is being taken in the development of the new Brethren camp south of Astoria.
These elders have been in charge of the Astoria church: David Miller, Joseph Hollinger, David Hollinger, M. J. McClure, Conrad Fitz, Solomon Bucklew, J. H. Baker, M. L. Hahn, J. W. Lear, D. J. Blickenstaff, A. H. Lind, S. S. Blough, Michael Flory, I. D. Heckman, W. H. Shull, E. F. Caslow, E. O. Norris, J. J. Johnson, W. A. Deardorff, I. J. Gibson, Galen T. Lehman, E. F. Sherfy and Dewey B. Cave.
Ministers and pastors of this church have been: John Fitz, Jesse Danner, S. D. Hamm, Joseph Hollinger, Dan Hol- linger, Conrad Fitz, Jonas Beck, John Demy, Cyrus Bucher, Theodore Price, J. H. Baker, Isaac Myers, S. G. Bucher, C. A. Gruber, R. C. Stambaugh, J. J. Johnson, A. H. Lind, S. S. Blough, A. L. Sellers, E. F. Caslow, E. O. Norris, I. J. Gibson, Lester E. Fike, Benton Rhoades, Pius Gibble and G. G. Canfield. Homer N. Kiracofe is the present pastor.
The membership of the Astoria church in 1948 was two hundred nineteen.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
PANTHER CREEK (1852-)
The Panther Creek church is located near Roanoke in Woodford County. In 1849 Christian Gish and wife, of the Peter's Creek church near Salem, Virginia, moved near to the present site of Roanoke, Illinois. The next year David Moore and wife, also of Salem, Virginia, parents of J. H. Moore, settled in that same vicinity. In 1852 David Martin and Jacob Negley held meetings at that place and baptized eight: James R. Gish and Barbara, his wife; George Gish and wife; Tobias Kindig and wife; P. A. Moore (brother of David) and his wife. The twelve members mentioned, and Lee Anna Brown, were the thirteen charter members who were organized into a church in 1852 by David Martin, Jacob Negley and David Zook.
Of those early days J. H. Moore reminisced in the Pilgrim of January 19, 1875:
I well remember the day-about twenty-four years ago-when my father's house was one of only four to be seen on this then wild and desolate prairie. In those gone by days of childhood, when I walked over this grassy plain to school, or dropped corn after the sod-plow, snakes, wolves, big sloughs and large prairie fires were about the leading features of the country. But when the Virginians began to thickly settle here, they soon changed this wild region into beautiful fertile fields.
A church house was built in 1856, two miles east of Roanoke. George W. Gish wrote for the Gospel Visitor, April 10, 1860, that nine had been added to the church by baptism and it was said by many that the largest crowd was present that they had ever seen at a common meeting.
Some years later, D. M. Holsinger in a letter to the Christian Family Companion of August 16, 1871, told of the Panther Creek church. He said: "Since that time [of organization] several branches were struck off which are supplied with ministers and are in a prosperous condition.
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CONGREGATIONS
At this time the Panther Creek church . . . is said to number about two hundred members, to all appearances in a healthy condition." In that year the district meeting of Southern Illinois was held at the Panther Creek church.
Two years later, at Christmastime in 1873, J. H. Moore visited the Panther Creek church and wrote about it in the Pilgrim of January 13, 1874:
The church has grown to be one of the leading churches in Southern Illinois. The brethren here have been for years under absolute necessity of defending their doctrine against repeated as- saults of a well-disciplined force, and so far have not only held their own but are steadily gaining ground .... The Campbellites have a college not far from here where preachers are trained.
The Campbellites challenged the Brethren to a public debate but would not agree to defend their own practices when the Brethren insisted that the whole debate should be published at the Brethren's expense.
During J. H. Moore's visit, on December 21, 1873, the time to close the Sunday school for that year came-it had been held at the meetinghouse during the summer of that year. With the Bible as their textbook, young and old were
PANTHER CREEK CHURCH
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
much interested and had committed to memory about four- teen thousand verses of Scripture during that summer. In 1877 twenty-four were added to the church, most of them being Sunday-school pupils.
The church has been under the oversight of these elders: James R. Gish, George Gish, Philip A. Moore, John Barn- hart, C. S. Holsinger, S. A. Honberger, J. W. Switzer, S. Bucklew, J. H. Baker, S. W. Garber, M. A. Whisler and J. E. Small.
The following have been called to the ministry in this church: James R. Gish, 1852; George Gish, 1852; John Barn- hart, 1860; Michael Garber, 1863; Philip Moore; J. J. Kin- dig, 1863; C. Barnhart, 1873; W. T. Keiser, 1881; J. W. Gish, 1881; John Reiff, 1884; C. C. Brubaker, 1891; J. K. Eller, 1893; J. W. Switzer, 1899; Amos Yordy, 1907; Joel Yordy, 1907; and E. C. Cawley, 1907.
These other ministers have also given pastoral service: W. D. Calvert, J. H. Neher, Grant McGuire, J. E. Small, and Ira Hiatt.
The women's organization has helped with local church finances, relief work, and other projects.
Men's work was organized in 1948. The men farm the thirty-five acres of land left to the church by Charles Mc- Cauley. The church has given food and clothing for relief, the juniors helping in this work.
Of outstanding significance to the brotherhood was the generosity of Sister Barbara Gish, widow of Elder James R. Gish, who gave assets amounting to approximately fifty thousand dollars to the General Mission Board, making pos- sible the Gish Fund for ministers of the Church of the Brethren.
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CONGREGATIONS
OAKLEY, formerly CERRO GORDO, Macon County (1856-)
Early in the 1850's, when central Illinois was very sparsely settled, the first Brethren families who came to Macon County located within what is now the bounds of the Oakley congregation. Among the earliest settlers were the family of Jonas Wolfe, a deacon who came from Penn- sylvania and settled north of the Sangamon River about four miles northwest of Cerro Gordo, and Daniel Kuns and family from the Middlefork church near Lafayette, Indiana, who settled two and a half miles west of Cerro Gordo. In April of 1856 two ministers came to the locality: Leonard Blickenstaff and family of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and Peter Replogle from Carroll County, Indiana.
The first meetings were held in schoolhouses and in homes. On May 26, 1856, they met in the home of Daniel Kuns and a church was organized with ten charter mem- bers: Peter Replogle and wife, Leonard Blickenstaff and wife, Daniel Kuns and wife, Jonas Wolfe and wife, Brother Stuckey and Sister Baer. This church was known as the Sangamon Valley church. Some time later it was learned that there was another congregation having this name (which was probably later known as the Sugar Creek church). So the name, Cerro Gordo, Macon County, was chosen. From this small beginning sprang the surround- ing congregations: Milmine, La Place, and Cerro Gordo, Piatt County.
Elder John Metzger of Indiana was chosen elder and later he moved to this congregation. The first love feast was held on September 27, 1857, in the new barn of Leonard Blickenstaff, one-fourth mile south of Oakley. Immediately following the communion service, John Blickenstaff and his wife were baptized.
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
The membership grew in numbers through additions by baptism and by Brethren families moving into the ter- ritory. By 1866 the membership being too large and scat- tered for convenience, the territory was divided into three districts. The east part was called Milmine, the dividing line being the road at the east side of Cerro Gordo. The south part was called Okaw (now La Place), the territory south of the William Street road-now Route 105. The ter- ritory north of this road and west of the Milmine line re- tained the name, Cerro Gordo, Macon County.
In 1867 a large brick meetinghouse was built, two and a half miles west of Cerro Gordo. Menno Stauffer, a min- ister living in the congregation, had oversight of the car- pentry work. One large room occupied the entire main floor; there were two long preachers' tables, behind which were seated the ministers, facing the congregation, with the deacons seated on the other side of the tables. A base- tables and benches; in it breakfasts and dinners were served at the two-day love feasts. A stairway led to the attic, which was curtained into rooms, where straw-filled ticks served as beds. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Elder R. H. Miller, Sr., of Indiana. In that same year the district meeting of Southern Illinois was held in this new church house.
In the Christian Family Companion of July 4, 1871, is an account, written by J. H. Moore, of attending a two-day love feast at this church. He wrote: ". .. Here we saw the largest collection of members that we are accustomed to see ... younger members of whom there were quite a number."
The first evangelistic meetings of which we have record were held in schoolhouses. Meetings were also held in the church house in January and February of 1872, by R. H.
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CONGREGATIONS
OAKLEY CHURCH
Miller of Indiana. Judging from the accounts in the diary of D. C. Buckingham, there were twenty baptisms. The entry for January 24, 1872, was: "After meeting by R. H. Miller at the Brick Meeting house, we went to the river where four were baptized. The ice was ten inches thick." Quite a number more were baptized during the months following these meetings. As in many congregations, mem- bers were opposed to protracted meetings, but after all these meetings they realized that this was what they had experienced and that the Lord had been with them in the conversion of many.
In 1879 a church house was built in the town of Cerro Gordo by John Metzger, at his own expense. The church territory was again divided in 1884, for the convenience of the members living in and near Cerro Gordo. The east part took the name, Cerro Gordo, Piatt County, and the west part took the name, Oakley.
The first Sunday school held in the Brick church was in 1886, although as early as 1874 a union Sunday school
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
was held in a schoolhouse only one-half mile east of the church; some of the Brethren took part in this.
A. J. Nickey wrote in the Gospel Messenger of Novem- ber 11, 1890, that the fall communion held in the Oakley church was the largest ever held there and many failed to gain admittance.
Social meetings and teachers' meetings were held in the church and in homes at an early date. An aid society was organized in 1905 and has been functioning ever since. The women's work is now fully organized. At various times a young people's organization has been active. A prayer meeting was organized in 1908.
Six of her sons and daughters, reared in the community and baptized in the Oakley church, have served as foreign missionaries: B. F. Heckman in China; Flora Nickey Ross Bjorklund, Dr. Barbara Nickey, Ellen Heckman Wagoner Forney and Verna Blickenstaff in India; and Ida Bucking- ham in Sweden.
The progress of the Oakley church has been largely due to the strong ministerial leadership. Elected to the ministry were: A. J. Nickey, A. L. Bingaman, D. J. Blickenstaff, W. T. Heckman, I. D. Heckman, Leland Templeton, Leo Blicken- staff, Joseph Hamm, Bennett Stutsman, J. O. Barnhart and Dan L. Blickenstaff.
Resident ministers have been: Leonard Blickenstaff, Peter Replogle, John Metzger, Joseph Hendricks, Menno Stauffer, David Frantz, A. J. Nickey, A. L. Bingaman, Daniel Mohler, Henry Troxel, D. J. Blickenstaff, W. T. Heckman, J. H. Hudson, S. G. Nickey, M. J. McClure, I. D. Heckman, Leland Templeton, Leo Blickenstaff, Joseph Hamm, G. O. Stutsman, Bennett Stutsman, J. O. Barnhart and Dan L. Blickenstaff.
Summer pastors serving this church have been: David Ensign, 1942; Robert Richards, 1946; Guy Buch, 1947; and
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CONGREGATIONS
Glenn Stauffer, 1948. A par- sonage was built in 1948 by the donated labor of the men of the church and community. It was dedicated June 5, 1949, by Roy B. Teach, and at that time Delmar Moyer was in- stalled as pastor. At the pres- ent time the membership is OAKLEY PARSONAGE one hundred thirty-six. Elders who have served this congre- gation: John Metzger, David Frantz, M. J. McClure, W. T. Heckman, and D. J. Blickenstaff. W. T. Heckman is the present elder.
The Oakley church has been active in the Brethren service program and in relief work.
BIG CREEK-now WALNUT GROVE (1859-)
The Big Creek church, located three and one-half miles southeast of Parkersburg, in Richland County, Illinois, is now known as the Walnut Grove church. The name was not changed until 1931; by that time walnut trees had been planted around the church and Big Creek seemed quite a distance away.
A very early account of the Big Creek church was written by Michael Forney for the Christian Family Com- panion of November 20, 1870. We quote:
. . Here I will give you a short history of the church in south- ern Illinois. Myself and family settled here in October, 1857, only two members. After I was here a while, I thought I passed a broth- er on the road; and afterwards I saw him working by the roadside. I asked him how he was getting along and where he was from. He told me he was from Ohio, and located here in June, but did not think he would stay here for there were no meetings of ours here. I asked what kind. He answered, "The old Dunkards." I asked him,
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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
"Do you belong?" "Yes," was the reply. Upon this I gave him the right hand of fellowship and a kiss and told him, "That is my faith."
After this we met together to hold worship, till the summer of 1858, when I was requested to hold public worship. In the spring of 1859, we were visited by Elder David Rittenhouse, and John Forney. They held meetings at different places and requested me to go on in the discharge of my duties. We found four more members, who had lived here for thirteen years without any knowledge of Brethren living in this country. They soon became lively members. In Octo- ber, 1859, we held our first lovefeast. Twenty-seven members com- muned; and six were baptized. We organized and elected one speak- er and two visiting brethren, having a territory of six or seven counties before us .
It was at the home of Michael Forney that this church was organized on September 24, 1859, with Elders Joseph Emmert of Franklin Grove, Illinois, and John Forney of Polo, Illinois, together with David Summers and George Long of Owen County, Indiana. The charter members were: Michael Forney, Rachel Forney, Samuel M. Forney, Sally Forney, John Hart, Maria Hart, John Glathart and wife, John Sanger and wife, William Tamsett, Rebecca Tamsett, Jacob Secrist, Rachel Secrist, Jacob Studebaker and wife, Samuel and Barbara Studebaker, Barnett Losh and his mother, Susan Nesbit, Philip Bible and wife, David Roth- rock and wife, and Daniel Trump and wife.
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