USA > Illinois > Edwards County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 48
USA > Illinois > Wabash County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 48
USA > Illinois > Lawrence County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 48
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Rev. Isaac Bennet was the next to enter this field as a settled minister. One freezing night in March, 1831, he came to Mr. Bliss. From this time on, these two good soldiers of Jesus Christ were indissolubly joined as father and son in the Gospel. He took the field in Law- rence county and labored there with great success for 17 years. He was a truly great preacher, mighty in the Scriptures, of a logical mind, a good scholar, a close student, a man of remarkable piety, given to the word of God and prayer. His zeal, his unselfishness, his devo- tion to Gospel work were remarkable, but it was all of grace-Nobody owes as much to Christ Jesus as I do-
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
he often said. For a full estimate of this minister, see " Life of Rev. Stephen Bliss and his colaborers."
Rev. Joseph Butler, A. M., appeared in this field in the spring of 1838. In 1832, when Mr. Bliss surrendered Lawrence county to Bennet the Evangelist, a colony was coming into Edwards county. They were from Massachusetts. They had gone first into West Virginia and bought land on the Cheat river, a fine, enterprising people. Some years after, some one disputed their titles, and their smiling farms and villages were wrested away from them. Some bought their lands again, but the most fled to the West and finally settled in Edwards county, 17 miles southwest of Mr. Bliss. In 1833 they invited him to preach for them, and in 1835 the Shiloh Presbyterian church was organized there. They flourish- ed under his ministry, until in 1838 they were able to employ Mr. Butler. This gentleman was of a most vehement temperament, of strong convictions, of utter fearlessness, of great honesty of speech, and void of all tact. He knew no way of opening a door, but beating it in with a sledge. He was one of the most solemn preachers. He could drive his hearersto despair, but he could not persuade. He had no gifts for the pastorate. And yet he was a very pious and able minister and la- bored incessantly over much of southern Illinois, and not without blessed fruit. Oh solemn, stern, single- eyed, holy brother, thou canst never be forgotten.
Rev. Robert H. Lilly came to Mt. Carmel in 1839. He came on the call of the church. From the time the town was made the county seat, there had been Presby- terian families. In 1838, the State scheme of " Internal improvement" being in operation, Mt. Carmel was made a terminus of the railroad running across the State to Alton. The town sprang into new life, immigrants poured in, and among them families of Presbyterians. In 1838, they erected a brick church edifice, the finest one, at that time, in southern Illinois. May, 1839, Mr. Bliss, who had supplied them for years occasionally, and Mr. Bennet organized a church of eleven members, who soon called Rev. Mr. Lilly, of Kentucky, who was in- stalled Pastor June, 1840. He was a sound theologian, a fine sermonizer, but eccentric. He resembled the cel- ebrated Mr. Finney of Oberlin. Mr. L. went into busi- ness in central Illinois, and became wealthy. He gave freely to benevolent objects.
Rev. P. W. Thompson took this combined work in 1848. The first revival in the immediate vicinity of Wabash church was under his ministry. There had come iuto that neighborhood families from New England, England and Tennessee. This revival in 1851 did much to fuse these elements and enlist them, and some valuable additions were made to the church. Rev. Mr. Butler was the preacher in these meetings, and bold, searching and terrible were the sermons.
Rev. John L. Hawkius took charge of the Mt. Car- · mel church in 1852, and as Wabash church was vacant, he visited them occasionally. He was a very able preacher, presenting the doctrines of the Bible with
great power and faithfulness. He was tall, slender, nervous, pale, dignified, scholarly-a " gentleman of the old school." There was a sensitiveness, a shy courtli- ness, a constraint about him that awed a stranger. If Lilly had been too familiar and inquisitive, and Leffler and Thompson " too unclerical," here was one came into their pulpit precise enough, fastidious, deliberate, " sicklied over with the pale cast of thought," with ser- mons of a high, antique mold, with an odor of midnight vigils about them, but marked with a robustness of thought and clear, close-knit speech that enthralled his auditory. His morning sermons were impressive with his pale visage set in whitest hair, and lit with eyes blazing with fervor, and his whole person electrical with enthu- siasm. A "Master in Israel " still, he has just retired -1882-from the Pastorate of the Carbondale church, at the age of 82 years.
Rev. Jefferson C. Thornton had charge of Mt. Carmel congregation in 1860 to 1863. Besides these no minis- ter retained that pulpit more than a year, although among the " supplies " have been gentlemen of unusal worth of talents, such as Charles L. Spinning, 1858, the faithful and gifted Wm. S. Heindel, 1875, and Thomas C. Winn, now a missionary in Japan, who spent a vaca- tion there in 1876. In 1877, June 4th, the church edifice was destroyed by a cyclone which devastated the city
Thomas E. Green, Licentiate, took charge of the con- gregation in 1879. Plans were soon on foot for build- ing a church. The current of sympathy was . very strong in town and country, for the popular pastor and struggling people. Liberal subscriptions were received, and the enterprise started finely. No congregation ever had a fairer path open before them in which to walk with God right on to success. In an evil hour those having the business in hand planned too ambitiously, and the old story was repeated-debt, di sension, discourage- ment, and at last the fine property with the thousands of dollars expended on it was given to the Episcopalians on conditions that they would pay the debt and finish the building. Whether this sad outcome will disorgan- ize the church, for the time, remains to be seen.
We return now to " Wabash church," which em- braced all the Presbyterians in the county outside of Mt. Carmel. In May, 1853, by invitation of the ses- sion, Samuel C. Baldridge, a Licentiate of Madison Presbytery, and just graduated at the New Albany Theological Seminary, visited the congregation. The church engaged him to supply them for one year, at a salary of $400. The communicants were reported to the General Assembly that year as numbering 60, but practically there were 35. But the congregations were large, and God gave the church great favor among the people. In 1865 a revival of much power at Friendsville brought in so much strength, that in Aug. 29, 1857, the Presbyterian church was organized with 27 members. This church has been very useful. In the 26 years since it was organized about 200 members
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
have been added, almost all of them by " profession of faith." It has been conspicuous for its enterprise, and liberality. Its members have been prominent in Sab- bath-school, temperance and educational work in the county.
The gap made at Wabash, by the dismission of the 27 members to form Friendsville church, was soon filled up by revivals. In 1862, the undersigned received a commission as Chaplain of the 11th Regiment Missouri Volunteers, through the nomination of the staff officers, and entered the Federal army. 1863, the Wabash and Friendsville churches made out a call to the pastoral office, while he was still in the field, and forwarded to him. He resigned, came home and was installed pastor in April. In 1866, he resigned Wabash church, but re- tained the pastorate at Friendsville until July, 1882, when he accepted a call from the Cobden Presbyterian church, Cobden, Illinois. . So closed a ministry in Wabash county, of more than 29 arduous, but happy years. In this long period more than 300 members were added to churches under his charge. He preached more than 4,500 sermons, assisted at the or- ganization of the churches of Olney, Allendale, Sumner and Gilead, and did much missionary and evangelistic work in southern Illinois.
In reviewing the history of the ministers of the Pres- byterian church in Wabash county for now 60 years, it seems strange that two pastorates-Bliss and Bald- ridge's, should have covered 53 years. They have been periods of peace and growth. Neither of these pastors ever had dissension in his session, or had a ruling elder to resign because of divisions. The first " true yoke-fellows " were the last. (See table of ministers.)
It is to the immortal honor of Wabash church that the first Sabbath school in the State of Illinois, was or- ganized in Mr. Bliss' cabin, April 11, 1819. This school has been full of the spirit of Sabbath-school mis- sions. It has been blessed with leaders of unusual gifts and zeal. For years they went out to start and keep Sabbath-school in the neighborhoods around, when there was none else to thus care for souls. It will be enough to mention the names and self-denying labor of John A. Dods, Samuel Woods, Bliss and Thompson, at Wabash ; Father Danforth, John F. Younken, J. P. McNair, &c., at Friendsville, and Father Gould, at Timberville, with their fellow laborers. These schools were earnest Bible schools, so far as they could make them so. For years these were the only Sabbath-schools in the county, and were carried forward in the midst of neglect, prejudice, and in many cases of opposition and ridicule by religious people, but now the tide has turned, and their heroic work is honored, and their names are precious.
Friendsville Male and Female Seminary, opened in the brick church September, 1860, and maintained with more or less success ever since, is the far-reaching work of the Wabash and Friendsville churches. The semi- mary now has a property that has cost about $4,500, and
a partial endowment of $1,400, and has educated, in whole or in part, some 1,400 students. It was started in the interests of higher education, and Christianity. It has been successful. It has trained multitudes of teachers for the public schools and Christian workers in the various denominations. The seminary is well rep- resented in the eldership of the Presbyterian churches of southern Illinois. One student is now pastor of the church in Boulder city, Colorad ), another graduates in the Theological Seminary of the N. W, this spring, two others are candidates for the ministry, others are en- gaged in the various pursuits of life, and in offices of honor and trust, and one was a professor in the Illinois State Normal University, Normal, Illinois, at his death in 1878, and one is a member of the Legislature of In- diana. In no other way could these humble churches have helped and blessed the country so efficiently. (See table of teachers.)
WABASH, 1823.
Ministers.
S. Bliss, 1823-1845.
Isaac Bennet, 1831, occasional.
Jos. Butler, 1839, 1/4 of time.
B. Leffler, 1847, 1% of time
P. W. Thompson, 1850-1852, 1% of time.
S. C. Baldridge, 1853-1857.
S. C. Baldridge, 1837-1866, 12 of time. W. H. Smith, 1866-1869.
S. C. Baldridge, 1860-1878, 16 of time.
J. S. Davis, 1878-1881, 1/4 of time.
S. C. Baldridge, 1881-1882, 12 of time. R. Rutherford, 1882.
MT. CARMEL, 1839.
Ministers.
S. Bliss, occasional. R. H. Lilly, 18 19-1844. Jam s Stafford, 1816. Leffler, 1817, 16 his time.
Thompson, 1818-1830.
J. L. Hawkins, 1852-1858.
C. Spining, 1859. J. C. Thornton, 1860-1863.
W. S. Heindel, 1875.
T. C. Winn, 1876.
T. E. Green, 1879
FRIENDSVILLE, 1857.
Ministers.
S. C. Baldridge, 1857-1882.
TEACHERS OF FRIENDSVILLE SEMINARY.
Friendsville seminary was opened September, 1860, in the Presbyterian church, Friendsville :
Principal, Wm. S. Coulton, A. B .; Miss Mollie Gil- pin. Broken up by war, 1862.
1863, Principal, Thomas W. McClain.
1864, Principal, A. S. Seward, 1st term; Rev. S. C. Baldridge, 21 and 31; Mise Kate Finley, assistant, 3d term.
1865 to 1870, Principal, Lieut. John C. K. Young- ken ; assistant, Miss K. Finley.
1870 to 1874, Principal, Rev. Wm. H. Smith ; assist- ant, Miss K. Finley.
1875, Principal, Rev. Wm. H. Smith; Prof. S. re- signed in March, 1875, and the seminary was closed.
1876 to 1877, Principal, Rev. S. C. Baldridge; assist- ant, Miss K. Finley.
1878 to 1880, Principal, Rev. S. C. Baldridge; assist- ant, Mrs. Sarah A. Irwin.
1881 to 1882, Principal, Prof. W. Beaty Davis; as- sistant, Miss Hattie Davis.
The seminary building was erected 1866-1868. The " Endowment Fund " was secured in 1870.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
BY REV. G. H. ALBRIGHT.
In writing this short sketch it may be necessary to say a word, as to the particular part of the Lutheran Church to which these congregations belong.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The Lutheran Church in this country is represented by the following General Bodies.
The General Synod, The General Council, The General Synod, South, The Synodical Conference, and Synods Independent.
These different representative bodies, all Lutheran, and holding to the great fundamental doctrines of the Reformation, differ somewhat as to general church government and dicipline.
The congregations, of which this sketch will speak, belong to the General Synod. This is generally re- garded the progressive branch of the Lutheran Church. It accepts and holds the Augsburg Confession as a cor- rect exhibition of the fundamental doctrines of the Divine Word.
There are but three congregations in this county, and these three in their early history, composed one charge, and were generally served by the same pastors.
The earliest date in the history of these congregations that can be given is 1836. It was during this year that Rev. C. F. Heyer, a missionary in the Lutheran Church and afterwards the founder of our mission in India, first came to ;this county, and preached within the bounds of these congregations. Considerable Lutheran material was at different times scattered about the county, and many were glad to hear of the arrival of a Lutheran minister, who might soon begin work among them. His work, however, was but to investigate the state of affairs, and he soon left, and was followed in the same year by Rev. H. Haverstick.
Under the direction of Rev. Haverstick, the Jordan creek congregation was organized and entered upon the work of erecting a church building. It was a work of earnest toil. There was not much wealth among them, but a will to work. By their own toil and industry they bought the brick and did most of the work on the build- ing. This took time, and it was several years before the church was dedicated to God's service. The Jordan creek church was northwest from Mt. Carmel about twelve miles, and quite a number of Lutherans had settled there, coming, mostly from the state of Penn- sylvania. Here Rev. Haverstick also instructed a class of catechumens, and on the return of missionary Heyer, these were confirmed. This was the first confirmation in the Lutheran Church of this county. Very soon after this both Revs. Heyer and Haverstick left this part of the country. Not long after this, Rev. Henry Grow, a German Reformed minister, came to this county and preached in the Jordan crcek congregation, and also in the town of Mt. Carmel. During his endeavor to or- ganize a German Reformed congregation out of nearly all Lutheran material, there came to the county Rev. Daniel Kohler, a missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church sent by the Synod of East Pennsylvania. He visited Jordan creek and Mt. Carmel. During his stay the Jordan creek church was dedicated, and on the 11th of March, 1838, he preached in Mt. Carmel ; German in the morning and English at night.
On the 27th of March, 1838, according to previous announcement, all concerned met in the court house at Mt. Carmel, to organize a congregation. The object was to organize a union society composed of Evangelical Lutheran, and German Reformed members. The build- ing of a union church at Mt. Carmel was also considered, but as no union could be effected between the members of different names, a constitution was presented by Rev. Kohler, which with little alteration was adopted.
In the first article of this constitution the name "Zion's congregation " was incorporated, and that the congregation shall belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The following trustees and officers of the church were elected : Trustees-Dr. Jacob Lescher, Messrs. Samuel Fisher and Adam Schafer. Elders-Adam Schafer and Frederic Seiler. Deacons-Samuel Fisher and Thomas Glick.
On Saturday, March 31st, 1838, Rev. Kohler held pre- paratory services, and on Sunday, April 1st, distributed the elements of the Lord's Supper to twenty communi- cants. Very soon after this he traveled further west, . and Rev. Grow again went on with operations, but soon he also removed from this county. Rev. Barthol next came to this county and took charge of these congre- gations. Under his influence the Mt. Carmel congrega- tion laid aside their constitution, accepted a new one and dissolved the connection with any general syn- odical body. This new constitution was subscribed by fifteen male members. During the ministry of Rev. Barthol, the lot upon which the Lutheran Church at Mt. Carmel now stands, was purchased, and with it an old brick blacksmith shop, and a frame house. This blacksmith shop was repaired and used for church ser- vices, but a fire having broken out in another house right by it, the little church was torn down in part and the ruins were afterward sold. About the close of the year 1839, Rev. Barthol removed to a place near Peoria, Illinois.
Rev. Sauer, from near Evansville, Indiana, now visited the congregations, and also baptized some chil- dren among the members of the Mt. Carmel congrega- tion.
Rev. Hennig, next settled here, but only for a short time. He was not acquainted with the German lan- guage, and as there were many Germans among our people, he could but partly supply the wants of the con- gregation. It was during his stay that many of the German members dissatisfied, without German preaching and influenced by others of greater zeal than knowledge, withdrew from the Lutheran Church, and became a nucleus for the present existing Albright (Evangelical Association) Church of this county.
Thus far the congregation was very unsettled, and we may add, driven to and fro by various winds of doctrines. A better state of affairs was inaugurated in 1844, when Rev. Daniel Scherer, took charge of these congregations as their regular pastor, September 29th, 1844.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The previous forms of government were laid aside and new ones adopted. The finances of the congregation now began to trouble them. There was now, resting upon the Mt. Carmel congregation, a debt of $1,111.46, small as was her membership. In order to raise this money Rev. Daniel Scherer made two collecting tours, one to the south and east, and the other the west. He returned in the latter part of the year 1846, and by as- sistance from the congregation and people of Mt. Car- mel, the debt was raised. Of Mr. Joshua Beall it is praiseworthy to say, that he relinquished part of his claims at time of payment, $362.22.
These collections from abroad, having been made en- tirely from Lutheran congregations, a promise was given to erect a new church, and that it should be Lutheran. The church, however, when erected was consecrated a union church, 1850, and Rev. Scherer served both Mt. Carmel and Jordan creek congregations and at the same time preached at several other points also.
About the close of 1850, Rev. Scherer moved upon the church grounds of the Jordan creek congregation, · but continued to serve both congregations until April the 4th, 1852, on which day he preached his last sermon in the Jordan creek church, and died that night, in the 62d year of his age. He was buried in the cemetery at Mt. Carmel.
In the same month of Rev. Scherer's death, Rev. G. Wolf, of the " Olive Branch Synod," took charge tem- porarily. About the same time the congregations were also directed by Rev. C. Kuhl, then a missionary in the service of the Illinois Synod.
In July, 1852, the council of Mt. Carmel congregation made application to the Illinois Synod, then in session at Hillsboro, Illinois, for a pastor. This request was granted, and on September 4, 1852, Rev C. Kuhl took charge of both Jordan creek and Mt. Carmel congrega- tions. His labors were successful. He also did much for these congregations by presenting a new constitution and writing a historic sketch of the churches of this county. Rev. Kubl remained pastor for three years, and was followed in 1856 by Rev. I. C. Hiller, who remained a few years, and was followed by Rev. J. Krack, who was pastor from 1858 to 1861.
Rev. J .Harkey took charge in 1861, and served about seven years. During his stay many came into the church, and the organization prospered. But unfortunately, about the close of his pastorship, a general division oc- curred in the Lutheran Church, and the General Coun- cil, referred to at the beginning of this sketch, was formed. The pastor, Rev. Harkey, went with the Gen eral Council, and most of the members of these congre- gations were General Synod in their views. The work he was doing among these people was thus in a measure checked. He left in 1868, and was followed by Rev. G. H. Schur, who remained but about a year, and was again followed by Rev. C. M. Lingle, who in 1871 took charge of Jordan creek and Mt. Carmel congregations, and remained pastor for about three years.
Rev. McDaniel then served the charge as pastor from 1875 to 1876, and, soon after he left, was followed by Rev. H. C. Grossman, who took charge- 1876, and remained until 1879 During his stay the church was much revived and quite a number added. The Jordan creek congregation, being quite large and somewhat scattered, was divided, forming two congregations. The one now called the St. Paul's built a beautiful church in the little village called Lancaster (Post-office Mier), at a cost of $5,000, and owns a fine lot in connection with it.
The people labored harmoniously, and on the 12th of May, 1878, the church was dedicated to the service of God,-one of the finest churches in the county. The other congregation formed by this division is called St. Peter's. They have not yet built a church, but are hoping ere long to have a house of worship also. They now hold their church services in the school-house of that district.
In 1879 Rev. Grossman took his departure, and was followed by Rev. M. L. Heisler in 1879. He served the congregations, St. Paul's, St. Peter's and Zion's at Mt. Carmel, but was the last pastor who served these three as one charge. His stay was short. Having been elected president of Burkittsville Female Seminary, Md., he accepted, and left Mt. Carmel, after a stay of only five months.
Rev. Heisler was succeeded on the 18th of July, 1880, by the Rev G. H. Albright, a graduate of Gettysburg Theological Seminary. His call to become pastor was first intended to include the three congregations above named, but a division having been made, because they needed two pastors, the call was given by Zion's congre- gation of Mt. Carmel, where he began his labors on the 18th of July, 1880. On the same day, at the first meet- ing of the congregation, it was decided to rebuild their church, and on the following morning the work was begun, Mr. Adam Stein having been chosen as overseer of the building. The building is newly furnished, and the debt all paid. The church was dedicated on the 6th of September, 1880. Rev. F. Springer, D. D., then president of Central Illinois Synod, assisted the pas- tor at its dedication.
The present membership of Zion's congregation is 112, and the present pastor is Rev. G. H. Albright.
The membership of St. Paul's at Lancaster is 100, and of St. Peter's, near Lancaster, is 30. These two congre- gations last named compose a separate charge since 1880, and are served as pastor by Rev. I. W. Bobst. who came to them from Harper's Ferry, W. Va, having been called as the first pastor of this charge since their separation from Mt. Carmel. He began his labors at Lancaster in Dec., 1880, and his charge, composed of St. Paul's and St. Peter's, comprised the Jordan creek congregation of early times, spoken of so frequently in this sketch.
198
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
CATHOLIC CHURCH .*
It was in the year 1837 when the first Roman Catholic came to Mt. Carmel. His name was Mr. Henry Fuchs. He was by birth an Alsatian ; has been the first emigrant of that part of Germany, who came to Mt. Carmel. Soon after the time that Mr. Fuchs arrived, Mr. John Kaiser, also a native of Alsatia, became an inhabitant of the city of Mt. Carmel. From 1837 to 1839, a few other emigrants arrived at Mt. Carmel. They were Mr. Michael Peter with his family, his brother Nicholas and family, also Mr. J. Keepas and Mr. George Wirth. The four last named persons were natives of Bavaria They were poor, and had to work hard for their daily bread. All the above named persons lived at Mt. Carmel, ex- cept Mr. Michael Peter, who purchased a farm of forty acres, seven miles west of Mt. Carmel. From 1839 42, Mr. Silbertus Kolb, Mr. J. Breivogel, George Fridrich, also George Weissenberger, with families, left the old country, Bavaria, and emigrated to Mt. Carmel, to try to make their fortune in America. The first services were held at Mt. Carmel, by the Rev. K. Muller, on the 20th August, 1840. At the same time several children were baptized. The first child that was baptized was Frances Michael, daughter of Francis Michael, et Regina Roth. At that time there was no church, no priesthouse and no resident priest at Mt. Carmel. From time to time a priest came to keep services for the Catholics of Mt. Carmel. It was not all the time the same priest who took care of the parish. Different priests of divers parts of the country came from 1840-1851 to Mt. Carmel, to celebrate mass and to perform the other priestly functions. So the church book gives the names of Rev. K. Muller. Rev. James Flyn, Rev. G. A. Hamilton, Rev. Fr. Fisher, and Rev. R. Weinzapfley, of St. Wendell, in Indiana. For a time the Catholics had no church, the Services were held in private houses, and sometimes in the public school-house of Mt. Carmel. During the year, 1851, several other emigrants of Bavaria had, come to Mt. Carmel or to the neighborhood of it. The best, known of them are: Simon Keer, Nicholas Goet, Larenz Keppel, Michael Berberich, Larenz Kander, Joseph Fuchs, George Brust, Michael Beyer, Andreas Doell, Robert Leefmann, John Krug, John Scherf, Charles Fleming, Fred Schupp, and several others. So it happened, that about 28 or 30 Catholic familes lived in and around Mt. Carmel, in the year, 1850. These fam- ilies came to the conclusion, that it would be best, to build a church and to get a resident priest. But from where should they get the means, to do it, because nearly all of them were poor. But they did not despair, and com- menced at once. At first they asked the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Chicago for a resident priest, and in 1851, Rev. V. Burgos, a Spaniard, was sent by the Rt. Rev. Bishop, to take charge of the Catholics of Mt. Carmel. Rev. V. Burgos arrived at Mt. Carmel in the month of November, and remained there nbont three years. In these years a church was built, with hard work From data furnished by Father G. Jansen, Rector of St. Mary's church.
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