USA > Illinois > Church of the Brethren in southern Illinois > Part 6
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In this congregation two ministers were elected: J. C. Demy in 1873 and Philip Siders in 1874.
The Edgar County church was represented at district meeting in 1873 by J. C. Demy and George Hess; the last representation, in 1875, was by letter. Then most of the members moved away and the church was disorganized, but we have no record of the exact date.
MULBERRY GROVE (1876)
When the Hurricane Creek church territory was divided in 1875 the northern part was given the name, Mulberry Grove. A meetinghouse had been built in 1874, four and a half miles northwest of the town of Mulberry Grove, near which most of the members were living. At the time of the organization of the Mulberry Grove church, William Elam was elder-in-charge and William Mahle was a minister. Later, other ministers were elected: Henry Lilligh in 1877, George Stauffer in 1890, and Elmer J. Stauffer in 1906. After William Elam, a number of elders were in charge of the church: Daniel Vaniman, John Goodman, John Wise, D. B. Gibson, D. B. Sturgis, Henry Lilligh and M. L. Hahn.
In 1905 a church house was built in the town of Mul- berry Grove by J. P. Lilligh at his own expense. This house
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was dedicated on December 3, 1905, by Elder J. W. Lear. At that time the church of forty members had two meet- inghouses and conducted two Sunday schools. Elder C. M. Yearout was secured as pastor and elder-in-charge, but re- mained there only a short time. Other elders-in-charge were: M. Flory, I. D. Heckman, and N. H. Miller.
Then for several years the church was not represented at district meeting, and in 1939 a petition signed by fifteen members came to district meeting, asking for disorganiza- tion; the request was granted and the work of disorganiza- tion carried out. Later, a meeting was called for and the matter of disorganization was reconsidered. The church unanimously decided to continue as an organization and D. J. Blickenstaff was chosen elder-in-charge. But little progress was made by the few members. The church houses were disposed of and the active members are worshiping and working with the Hurricane Creek church, of which they were originally a part.
PLEASANT HILL (1876-1912)
The Pleasant Hill church with a membership of about one hundred was the central part of the Otter Creek church territory when the division was made in 1876. A schoolhouse of the same name was near by, in which meetings and even funerals were held before the church house was built. The Pleasant Hill church house was erected in 1867 at a place three miles southwest of Virden, on a three-and-a-half-acre plot, part of which was laid out for a cemetery. A rock- walled pool was made near the church for baptismal pur- poses. Elders John Metzger and David Frantz were present at the organization; the resident ministers were C. C. Gib- son, J. W. Harshbarger and Jonathan Brubaker.
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John Neher wrote for the Primitive Christian of Feb- ruary 22, 1867:
. . I give a little news from Otter Creek church, Macoupin Co., Ill. Brethren Martin Meyers and Samuel Peck from Carroll County, Ill. visited our church. They arrived here on Jan. 29th, and had their first meeting on the same day, Saturday, at 11 o'clock; and we continued day and night for one week, and two more night meet- ings, Saturday and Sunday nights. They had sixteen meetings in all, and all at the Pleasant Hill meeting house. Eleven persons . were baptized in the pool near by the meeting-house, after taking the ice off the water. Two were baptized on Monday, four on Wed- nesday and after that some every meeting until Friday night. Four were baptized in the night, after meetings, it being the request of the applicants; having moonlight and four inches of snow on the ground made it quite light. When the meeting commenced it was not expected to continue so long as it did; but the interest mani- fested in the meeting, and also on Wednesday night after the serv- ices had commenced old Brother John Metzger walked into the meetinghouse and took his seat behind the table, and stayed with us until Friday evening .... The meetings were well attended considering the rough roads and cold weather most of the time . . .
A Sunday school was organized in 1880. The member- ship in 1890 was one hundred thirteen. We have the fol- lowing correspondence in the Gospel Messenger of Novem- ber 25, 1890:
In looking at the history of this church for the past eight years, we see constant changes in its membership. Many have been dis- missed by letter, exceeding in number those who now hold their membership here. The Sunday School work here has been steadily growing in interest, especially among the young. Average attend- ance during the last year was eighty-two. During the last year the social meetings have been well sustained by all. This has given us a wide field of culture in gospel faith and practice.
A series of meetings held in November 1894 by I. Ben- nett Trout resulted in twenty-nine baptisms, and in 1895 a report stated that the Sunday school and the social meet- ings continued with unabated interest.
In this growing congregation the membership had reached nearly two hundred fifty in 1912. A large per cent of the members were living in the towns of Virden and Girard; so it seemed better to have a congregation in each
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of these two towns. This was mutually agreed upon and was effected on July 29, 1912.
Ministers elected in the Pleasant Hill church were: J. H. Brubaker, 1887; James Wirt, 1892; I. J. Harshbarger, 1893; E. H. Brubaker, 1906. The following were elders-in- charge: Isaac Neff, J. W. Harshbarger, M. J. McClure, J. H. Brubaker, and W. H. Shull.
MACOUPIN CREEK (1876-1923)
Macoupin Creek was the east part of the Sugar Creek church when the division was made in 1876. A large part of the fifty-nine members, including one minister, Daniel Vaniman, and four deacons, lived in Montgomery County, about six miles southeast of Girard. The church name, Ma- coupin Creek, was chosen at the first council meeting, which was held at the Lake schoolhouse on April 29, 1876.
The first communion was held in the barn of Cassius J. Brown, June 16-17, 1876, at which Elders John Metzger and David Frantz were present. An election was held for a minister and a deacon. The result being a tie for minister, the church unanimously decided to accept both Samuel F. Brubaker and Daniel Studebaker; they were installed into the ministry and Samuel Stutsman into the office of deacon.
John Heckman of Polo, Illinois, who spent part of his boyhood in the Pleasant Hill community, was present at the first love feast held in the Macoupin Creek church in 1876. His account of an election of ministers follows:
On Saturday afternoon an election for a minister and deacon was going on. The ministers present were Johnny Metzger and David Frantz. Metzger drove down from Cerro Gordo with his white ponies. I remember David Frantz mostly by his slow speech, but Johnny Metzger I remember most vividly for his unique ex- pressions and fervor of spirit. He stood erect, of medium height, full chested, kindly face, large nose, thin graying beard with thin,
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slightly gray hair reaching somewhat short of his coat collar. He wore a black cutaway frock coat with band collar which lay flat and unbuttoned on his chest. His slightly trembly voice was clear and sympathetic.
During the afternoon the election was conducted for the minis- ter and deacon in the usual manner. About mid-afternoon the members were called together by singing. Instead of being out playing with the other boys . .. I was on the barn floor to hear who was elected. I knew most of the brethren and wondered whom it would "hit." Brother Metzger said there was a tie-vote for minister . . . . He asked the members to stand and asked each one directly if he or she were agreed to accept the two. On answering, they took their seats. The vote was unanimous in favor. Before the names were announced, extended instructions were given . . . then the names of the brethren were announced. After some delay and hesitancy, even considerable pleading and urging, the brethren and their wives were arranged standing before Brother Metzger. Then all the members went around and received them with the right hand of fellowship and the salutation, with many words of sympathy and eyes filled with tears . ... The two ministers elected were Samuel F. Brubaker and Daniel B. Stude- baker; Samuel Stutsman was the deacon.
As they had no meetinghouse, services were held in schoolhouses and a Sunday school was organized at the Lake schoolhouse in 1879. In 1881 a church house was built on the Brubaker farm, about six miles southeast of Girard; the first love feast held in it was on October 6, 1881.
The church treasury, general and home mission work were supported by liberal contributions made at council meetings. The Macoupin Creek church had an active Chris- tian Workers' meeting as early as 1906.
Ministers elected in this congregation were: G. W. Gibson, 1883; I. M. Gibson, 1886; J. M. Masterson, 1897; J. W. Lear, 1899.
Daniel Vaniman was elder-in-charge from the time of organization until 1888, when he moved to Kansas. Other elders have been: M. J. McClure, M. Flory, D. B. Gibson, I. J. Harshbarger, I. H. Crist, and J. A. Smeltzer.
The church unanimously requested the district meet- ing of 1923 for disorganization; the request was granted and
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the membership was transferred to the Girard congrega- tion. The church property was disposed of and the pro- ceeds were given to the General Mission Board.
The largest membership was one hundred four, in 1894.
WEST OTTER CREEK (1876-1912)
The Otter Creek church, in 1870, was divided into two parts; the east part was called Bear Creek and the west part Sugar Creek. By 1876 the Sugar Creek congregation had grown inconveniently large and was divided into three parts. The east part was named Macoupin Creek; the central part was called Pleasant Hill; the name of the west part was changed from Otter Creek to West Otter Creek, with its house of worship about six miles southwest of Virden. The membership numbered one hundred, among which were three ministers, D. R. C. Nead, Javan Gibson and David Vaniman. At the time of organization, D. R. C. Nead was ordained elder and given charge of the West Otter Creek church.
The next year, 1877, D. B. Gibson held an interesting meeting with the house well filled at each service. Thirteen were baptized. His account of these meetings was published in the Brethren at Work of March 13, 1879.
. . I held a series of meetings in the West Otter Creek
. congregation, my old home church. Memory ran over a period of thirty-three years. When my father located in the neighborhood of the meeting-house, not a member but he and mother lived nearer than eight miles. Perhaps the number of members in Morgan, Sangamon, and Macoupin counties were, in all, eighteen to twenty- five .... Now, by immigration and conversion there are not less than five hundred members. They are divided into four districts, if I mistake not. Here I used the Bible that was used by my father. Old Brother John Beanblossom, J. Heckman, and John Crist are all now sleeping the long last sleep . ... I labored here during the holidays, and although the weather was very cold, the congrega-
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tions were large and the interest good. Some came out and were baptized, though the ice was thick and the water cold . . . . .
There was an active Sunday school which began in 1878.
Brother Daniel Vaniman held a series of meetings in the Hazelgreen schoolhouse in 1882. In that year, D. R. C. Nead died and John Harshbarger was chosen elder, serving until November 12, 1883, when Javan Gibson was ordained elder and given charge of the church. In 1890 the district meeting of Southern Illinois was held there and T. D. Lyon reported it as being the largest meeting of the kind he had ever attended and one of the best.1
This congregation continued under the leadership of Elders Solomon Bucklew, J. H. Baker, and I. J. Harsh- barger. In 1907 W. H. Shull was ordained and made elder- in-charge of the church; he retained this position until the church was disorganized in 1912, the membership at that time being transferred to the Virden congregation. The church house and its furnishings were sold, netting $420.00, which was given to the Virden church building committee.
During the years the following ministers were elected in this church: Javan Gibson, 1876; David Vaniman, 1876; Charles C. Gibson, 1881; Ira E. Brubaker, 1893; W. H. Shull, 1901.
BEAR CREEK, Hancock County (-1877)
The name of the Bear Creek church in Hancock County appears but once among the list of churches-in the district meeting minutes of 1877. Of the church there, Daniel Vani- man wrote in the Brethren at Work of December 20, 1877:
Bro. Strickler and I went to Hancock Co., where there had once been a church fully organized, but since left in a helpless condition. Here we began a series of meetings in the town hall, to
1 Gospel Messenger, November 11, 1890
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be met again in a few days by brethren Hendricks and Wolfe to labor with this church, as instructed by District Meeting. Met most of the members here in council. Were pained to learn from them that most of them had rallied around a standard held up to them by an expelled minister who had come among them, and had com- muned with him and were satisfied with what they had done, trust- ing in vain in the hope of serving God more acceptably out of the church than in it, and therefore desired to be no longer considered members of the Church of the Brethren. Eleven of them met us in council, and all expressed themselves thus, except one sister, who seemed more than ever confirmed in the good old way of serving the Lord in the Brethren's church, instead of out of it.
Reference is made to the same in the account of the Bear Creek, Christian County, church, as the two churches with the name of Bear Creek had been confused.
There were scattered members in Hancock County even later, as reported from the Mill Creek church by H. W. Strickler in the Brethren at Work of September 28, 1880: "We are scattered over a large part of four counties: Pike, Brown, Hancock, and Adams."
PIKE CREEK-CHENOA (1878-1897)
The Pike Creek church was formerly a part of the Ver- million church, which in 1878 "saw fit to divide this con- gregation into two branches on account of the membership living so scattered. The south end is now called Pike Creek church, having one speaker and two deacons." The above was reported by N. S. Dale in the Brethren at Work, Novem- ber 28, 1878. The Pike Creek church then numbered twenty- seven members. A communion meeting was held at the home of William Lehman, two miles north and one mile west of Chenoa. At that same place they held a council meeting on March 15, 1879, and elected Frederick Shultz to the ministry; he was "installed into his office by G. W. Gish in English and repeated in German by D. Mast," as
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reported by T. D. Lyon in the Brethren at Work of April 10, 1879.
It was when the members of the Pike Creek church began to move into Chenoa that there was talk of building a church in this town. In the Gospel Messenger, October 25, 1887, P. W. Stuckman wrote that there was not one member in Chenoa; but there must have been considerable growing sentiment toward a church in the town, for in 1888 the district mission treasurer's report showed that a contribution of three hundred fifty dollars was made for the building of a church house in Chenoa. In 1889 there was a representa- tion of Chenoa at the district meeting, reporting two min- isters, seventeen members, and Elder T. D. Lyon in charge; in 1890 there was one baptism, and twenty-one members were reported. M. J. McClure held a series of meetings in Chenoa in September of 1890 and a communion was held on the twenty-fifth of that month- ". .. the first communion ever held in the city of Chenoa ... ," according to an ac- count in the Gospel Messenger, October 21, 1890.
The name, Pike Creek, appears in the list of churches in the district meeting minutes until 1890, when the name, Chenoa, appears in the alphabetical list under the letter P, taking the place of Pike Creek. The Chenoa church is listed until 1897. Elder T. D. Lyon was elder from 1888 to 1897, with the highest number of members reported as twenty-one.
BLUE RIDGE (1878-1928)
The Blue Ridge church was located near the town of Mansfield, in the extreme northeastern part of Piatt County, with part of the church district in Champaign County. In the Brethren at Work, June 13, 1878, is an article en- titled "Another Candlestick," written by T. D. Lyon:
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May 3rd, had been appointed for organizing a church in Brother Barnhart's neighborhood, Piatt County, Illinois, and according to appointment I met Brother John Metzger at the house of John Barnhart. By ten o'clock the brethren and sisters had come to- gether and proceeded to hold a choice for deacon, which choice fell upon Brother John Horsh, who accepted the position and was duly installed into office. The organization stands as follows: John Barnhart, minister in the second degree; Christian Barnhart, in the first degree; John Horsh, deacon. This congregation is to be known as the Blue Ridge church, Piatt County, Illinois.
The ten charter members were: Elder John and Artie Barnhart, Christian and Betty Barnhart, John and Anna Hershy, Daniel and Barbara Hershy, Christian and Annette Gish. Elder T. D. Lyon was chosen overseer of the church.
The membership was small and very much scattered, a drawback to the growth and progress of the church at that place.1 However, in May of 1880 the Sunday school was organized and prospered. The first church house was four miles east of the county line bordering Champaign County, but later was abandoned when the members be- gan locating in Mansfield; in 1883 a church house was built in Mansfield.
Love feasts of almost every year are reported in the church paper, and occasionally a successful series of meet- ings, as that of November 1887, with eighteen additions to the church. The membership grew to the number of ninety- five, in 1892. The church was quite active during the min- istry of T. A. Robinson, who worked there from 1900 to 1907; he was especially successful in his work with the young people, interesting them in the Bible study class and in the Sunday school.
Through members moving away and through other losses, the membership decreased in number until 1928, when they petitioned district meeting for disorganization. The request was granted.
The following elders had charge of the Blue Ridge
1 Primitive Christian and Pilgrim, November 18, 1879
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church: T. D. Lyon, John Barnhart, D. B. Gibson, S. Heitz, S. G. Nickey and W. T. Heckman. Ministers elected were: John F. Burton in 1906 and J. C. Lightcap at a later date.
CAMP CREEK (1879-)
When the territory of the Bushnell church was divided in 1879, the south part was called Camp Creek. It had a membership of thirty-five. A. G. Black was the elder-in- charge; John L. Meyers was a resident minister, and three ministers were elected: Henry C. Lucas in 1879, S. S. Hum- mer in 1890, and Sherman Stuckey in 1893.
The location of the Camp Creek church house was six miles south of Colchester, in McDonough County.
Under the date of October 26, 1882, D. B. Gibson wrote in the Brethren at Work of good meetings in the Camp Creek church. The new meetinghouse was dedicated on October 15; a communion meeting was held on October 23, and at that time John L. Meyers was ordained to the eldership. The meetings were extraordinarily well attended and, at times, the large new church house did not hold half the people. Ten were baptized, varying in ages from fourteen to eighty-five.
In the year 1883 John Meyers was the only minister and the elder of the Camp Creek church, with five regular preaching appointments to fill. One of these places was the New Hope church, where the Brethren preached once every four weeks. In 1884 the church organized a missionary board.
S. S. Hummer of the Camp Creek church wrote in the Gospel Messenger of November 15, 1887: ". .. We enjoyed a visit from our old and respected Brother John Wolfe ac- companied by his wife and daughter. Brother John is as
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zealous as ever though past his three score and ten. He is a son of Brother George Wolfe, one of the ablest pioneer ministers of Illinois."
In October of the next year, the same correspondent wrote of an unusual baptismal service:
. .. We have had recently, one addition to the church under somewhat peculiar circumstances. A young man from Colchester, having been under conviction for some time, said he could not eat nor sleep . . . . He drove to Elder J. L. Meyers' and demanded baptism at once. This was in the evening or at night, and Bro. Meyers was going away the next morning . . .. He was apprehen- sive of being censured by the church if he complied with the re- quest, but the young man was firm and insisted on being baptized that night .... So, finally, Bro. Meyers consented to perform the rite, after required formalities had been complied with . . . ."
About 1890 the Camp Creek church had sixteen addi- tions to the membership and the future looked bright for the church, then under the leadership of Elder D. B. Gib- son. A report of a quarterly council and the "annual visit,"
CAMP CREEK CHURCH
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which appeared in the Gospel Messenger for August 12, 1890, follows, a report which was very typical of Brethren activi- ties in those days:
Our quarterly council-meeting, held July 26, passed off very pleasantly, and with good attendance, nearly all the members being present. Previous to the meeting, the annual visit was made and reported to the meeting. Not a single case of dissatisfaction was found in all the visit. All expressed themselves as being in love and union, and desirous of continuing in the service of our Master
The following elders have served this church: A. G. Black, John L. Meyers, John Pool, D. B. Gibson, C. Fitz, J. H. Baker, D. M. Brubaker, M. L. Hahn, Granville Nevinger, C. A. Gruber, C. Walters, A. H. Lind, D. E. Eshelman, I. J. Gibson, Charles Dumond, and D. B. Cave.
The maximum membership was sixty-five in 1885; at present (1948) twenty-nine. Clinton Kessler was pastor in 1947-1948.
SPRING RUN (1879-1899; 1906-1927)
Spring Run was the northern part of the Bushnell church when a division was made in 1879. The first minis- ters were A. G. Black and John Pool, Jr. A. G. Black, the first elder, served from the time of organization until 1882; John Pool was elder for the next ten years, followed by Solomon Bucklew until 1895; then J. H. Baker served as elder until 1899, when the church was disorganized.
Thomas D. Lyon visited the Spring Run church in 1883; the Gospel Messenger of January 8, 1884, carries his account as follows:
my first visit to Spring Run church, Fulton Co., on the 15th of December, 1883. I had quite an interview with Brother John Pool and his wife, who are about seventy-eight years of age, but strong in the faith. Their son, John Pool, the resident minister of the Spring Run church, and Sister Amanda, his wife, occupy quite
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a conspicuous place in the hearts of the people, who look upon them as their spiritual instructors.
They have quite a prosperous Sunday School that does not freeze out on those bleak prairies, at the approach of winter, super- intended by Brother Henry Zuck, a deacon, whose family is a model of Christian decorum. Had six meetings in their commodious meeting-house; the meetings were not very well attended, perhaps on account of the cold weather. The members are scattered over a large territory, and it requires some exertion and self-denial to get together when the weather is inclement. Any effective min- ister would be welcomed here, either on a visit or to move among them. This is a good country and a good little church . .
Some preaching was done in Ellisville but most of the services were held in the church two miles west of town. The church house was dedicated November 27, 1889, by D. B. Gibson.
After the church was disorganized by request in 1899, it was retained for several years as a mission point with D. E. Eshelman in charge. On November 9, 1906, the Spring Run church was reorganized with M. L. Hahn as elder and D. E. Eshelman as pastor; the latter received partial sup- port from the church. With but a few members, the church continued with Urias Blough then serving as pastor for four years, followed by Granville Nevinger.
The district meeting minutes list as elders: M. L. Hahn, C. A. Gruber, and C. Walters, who was in charge until 1927. Then the church was disorganized; letters were granted to the few members for transfer elsewhere and the church property was disposed of.
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