USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
USA > Illinois > Moultrie County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 40
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The congregation feeling that their church house was uncom- fortable, and not such as suited, determined to build a new one, which was completed and dedicated to the service of God by Rev. J. B. Logan, D. D., pastor of Taylorville congregation, and editor of Our Faith, on the 21st of Nov., 1875, costing $2,000.
The new house is on a different lot from the old one, and the congregation elected a new board of trustees, which was done the 18th of August, 1875, and R. C. Russell, E. M. Mooberry, and J. H. Gilpin were elected, and constitute the Board at present. C. H. Brunk and R. C. Russell are the only elders at present. Thos. . Cavins and W. H. Rodgers are deacons; the latter not serving at present. E. M. Mooberry was elected deacon on the 19th of Sept , 1877, but has never been ordaincd. Rev. W. W. M. Barber is still pastor.
Services are held twice a month-Sabbath-school every Sun- day-and prayer meeting Wednesday evening. The church has the elements of success, and in time will stand among the first for its good works.
Richland Congregation .- For a number of years there have been Cumberland Presbyterians living in Richland township, aud holding church connection with the Windsor congregation. Most of the ministers who have had charge at Windsor have preached in Rich- land, and there has been regular preaching there by Cumberland Presbyterians for the last twenty-five years, more or less.
The place of worship was a school-house, until the neighbor- hood built a union church-house about the year 1867, and Samuel Renner, an clder in the Windsor congregation, was elected by the builders of the house, as one of the trustees, to secure the interest of Cumberland Presbyterians in the house, and they were given one- fourth interest. The house cost about $200.
Rev. W. W. M. Barber has kept an appointment there most of the time, within the last fifteen years. The members of the church feeling that they could accomplish more by having a separate or- gauization there, their desires were granted, and Rev. W. W. M. Barber organized the following named persons into a congregation, on the 18th of August, 1878, viz : Samuel Renner, Elvina Renner, Lizzie Barker, Henry Linebaugh, Saralı Linebaugh, Phil. Hawk, Emma Hawk, Michael Hawk, Elizabeth Hawk, Mag. Hawk, Belle Hawk, A. Richman, Lucinda Galino, Jacob Durst. Mary A. Durst, Mary A. Gill, Elizabeth Balch, and Susan Stewardson- 18 in all. Samuel Renner, Phillip Hawk, and Henry Linebaugh, were chosen elders, and the two latter ordained ; the former having been an elder. The congregation now numbers 26. The name they assume is Richland Congregation of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. Rev. W. W. M. Barber is pastor, and preaches one Sabbath in the month for them.
The church is surrounded with difficulties, but with Divine guidance good can be effected. The interest the congregation has in the Union house, is perhaps worth $300 or $400.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
There were, doubtless, persons among the first settlers of Shelby- ville and of the vicinity, who held to the faith and practice of the Protestant Episcopal Church ; but this class, if it existed in the pioneer community, had no visibility till thirty-seven years after the first formation of the county.
In the year 1864 an organization was made in the town, accord- ing to the prescribed order and customs of the Protestant Episcopal Church. This organization, according to the information given by W. W. Thornton, Esq., one of the wardens, was called "Trinity
1
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HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Parish," while a prominent and devoted lady communicant has given me the information that "Grace Church " was the style adopted. I conjecture that the name first mentioned was the first assumed, and that the other was substituted at a later day.
The organization was made with the Rev. John Baptiste Pede- lupe as Rector ; Matthias Riffle, Esq., was senior warden ; W. W. Thornton, Esq., was junior warden.
The Vestrymen were as follows : Hon. Anthony Thornton, T. M. Thornton, and M. Chittenden, Esqs.
I have been able to obtain only meagre notices of the parochial and pulpit labors of Mr. Pedelupe. He seems to have kept on the even tenor of his way, doing good as he had opportunity, laboring in his sacred vocation with fitting zeal and fidelity. All the reports of his ministrations and teachings which have been preserved are creditable to him as a true teacher of the beneficent Gospel. Doubt- Icss, his heart was sometimes animated with a lively hope that the congregation to which he ministered would prove true branches of the vine of which our Father is the husbandman. For a time, twenty-two communicants were on his list of parishioners. For a period of three years he toiled on ; but it appears that the time had not yet come for the establishment of a stable and prosperous Pro- testant Episcopal Church in Shelbyville In 1867, Mr. Pedelupe left for some other field of labor. Inability to sustain the worthy rector is the only reason which I have heard the worthy Episcopal worshipers assign for permitting his departure. In connection with this cause, it was stated that some of the most reliable and efficient supporters of the church had been lost by removal. It will be remembered, morcover, that the year 1867 was distinguished as a year of drought in many portions of the state ; and the suppo- sition that the failure of the staple crops of the adjoining country was one cause, and not a slight one, of the temporary failure of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Shelbyville, is a very reasonable one.
Since the departure of the first pastor, Trinity Church has been without a rector. A few of the communicants and worshipers have sought membership in Christian congregations of another name; but it is understood that these will return to their first love whenever a fitting occasion shall present itself. Others stand aloof from any open affiliation with other denominations of Christians, waiting for the happy day which shall witness a revival of their own organization, under more favorable auspices than any previous ones, with a permanent establishment of divine service under forms and according to an order which they so highly prize.
Meanwhile, they are not without a prospect of the fruition of their hopes at an early day. In the summer of 1880 the Rt. Rev. George F. Seymour, D. D., Bishop of the diocese of central Illinois, conceiving a lively interest in the cause of the church at Shelby- ville, through his intervention the services of the Rev. Mr. Tom- lins, rector of the Episcopal church at Mattoon, werc secured for the benefit of the congregation in the above city, the Mattoon min- ister making weekly visits to Shelbyville, and performing divine service at night. These ministrations afforded great satisfaction to the faithful band of communicants, and to others who attended them. The main hall of the old Seminary was the place engaged and occupied as the place of worship.
Signs of interest appeared ; and on the night of the 28th of July, pursuant to previous notice, the right worthy bishop, assisted by the minister in charge, performed divine service in the Presbyterian church, the use of which had been kindly tendered and gratefully accepted for the purpose. After the performance of the liturgical service the bishop delivered an animated evangelical discourse, which was listened to by a good audience, including numbers of the
leading citizens, and appeared to afford rich satisfaction. At the close, the bishop administered the rite of confirmation to two candi- dates, sons of W. W. Thornton, Esq., the presentation being made by the minister in charge. He made a most solemn and impressive address to these youths, which, it is to be hoped, they will remem- ber with gratitude and benefit throughout their lives.
I understand that the Episcopalians of the county capital cherish the purpose of building a church in the city at an early day. The number of their adherents is not large; but it comprises a fair portion of the solid men and noble women of Shelbyville. As auxiliary to the piety with which we must credit them, they can command pecuniary resources, business talent, and social influences not inferior to those possessed by any other class of religionists in the community.
Last, but not least, we are told that the good bishop has his heart set on the object of establishing an Episcopal church in the city ; and he will give his zealous and powerful aid in accomplishing the work. With good reason, then, it may be hoped that success will crown the effort.
There is no other Protestant Episcopal church in the county than that at Shelbyville.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
Windsor. This church wasorganized Aug. 19th, 1880, with the fol- lowing membership: Moderator, J. L. B. Turner, and W. C. Simper, and T. P. Frazer, deacons. Clerk, T. P. Frazer, and Mrs. L. S. Bald- win, treasurer. The membership is as follows : T. P. Frazer, Mrs. Sarah E. Frazer, Ella Frazer, J. L. B. Turner, Mrs. Hannah Tur- ner, Nettie Turner, Mrs. M. J. Laughlin, Mrs. L. S. Baldwin, Mrs. J. B. Brisben, Mrs. H. H. Aldridge, Hattie Aldridge, Geo. M. Moore, W. C. Smyser, Mattie Carney and Francis Rochie.
There are services every fourth Sunday, Rev. S. F. Gibb officiat- ing. The society propose to build a church during this year, when they will stand on a footing with the surrounding church societies in the county. The church, as yet, is in its infancy ; but hopes to be, in time, among the first for good in the community.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH. MOULTRIE COUNTY.
BY ELDER H. Y. KELLAR.
In the organization of the Lovington Congregation, first called Okaw Church, the following is a true copy of the covenant.
" We, whose names are underwritten, having met together at the house of Nathan Stevens, in Macon county, Illinois, for the purpose of entering into a social compact as a church of God ; mutually declare and agree to take the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as it stands in the general connection, as the only in- fallible rule of our faith and practice, according to which we mutu- ally agree to try to live, and wish finally to die. On the above being mutually agreed to this seventeenth day of November, Anno Domini, eighteen hundred and thirty-two, we sign it with our respective names. B. R. H. Kellar, Joseph Hostetier, Solomon Hostetler, chosen Elders ; James Carter, Abram Souther, Catha- rine Souther, Rebecca Stevens, Elizabeth Hostetler, Mary Hostet- ler, Nancy J. Kellar, Elizabeth Stuart, Mary Snyder, Jacob Hart- man, George Baxter, Louisa C. Baxter, Mary Carter, Katie Black."
The three elders named were all preachers of more or less ability. B. R. H. Kellar was from the regular Baptist, Joseph and Solomon Hostetler from the Dunkers, or German Baptists. There do not often occur cases where the number of persons incidentally thrown together in an association have the peculiar characteristics that manifest themselves in this congregation. There were three
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HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
preachers, two of whom practiced medicine, and all were farmers with large families. Elizabeth Stuart, another member, was a descendant of the Stuart family who once ruled the realm of Great Britain. Katie Black, as shown on the record, was a manumitted negro woman who had been a slave for forty years. Joseph Hos- tetler, was a preacher of rather more than ordinary ability, and established the Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois, and in many other places in the state, beside having labored largely in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. From the year 1832 to 1835 there were several additions to the church, mostly under tlie labors of Elder Joseph Hostetler. All except two of the charter members had been members of the church before they came to Illinois. During the winter, spring, and summer, following the organization of the church, there were several added from the neighborhood, viz., George, Richard, and Joseph Thomason. Up to 1835 the number had more than doubled itself. Joseph and Solomon Hostetler had moved away with their families. From 1835 to the close of 1840, there were forty additions.
Froni 1840 to 1850 there were 120 additions.
1850 to 1860 66 165
66 1860 to 1864
41
66 1864 to 1870 66 190
1870 to 1880 237
Making a total of additions 812+17=829.
In 48 years there had been eight hundred and twelve added to the congregation, making an average of 1612 per year. These have been added through the labors of the following preachers. Joseph Hostetler, B. W. Henry, J. W. Tyler, A. D. Northcutt, W. P. Bowles, Christian Hostetler, Wm. Black, J. W. C. Covey, Wm. Patterson, S. B. Lindsley, J. J. Lockhart, J. W. Perkins and H. Y. Kellar. The elders of the churchi at its organization were A. H. Kellar, Joseph and Solomon Hostetler, Deacon Abram Souther. A. H. Kellar was elder of the church to the close of his life. The Hostetlers having moved away, the care of the church was in his hands until 1841, when William Wood and James Roney were elected to assist in the work, and Allen Clore was elected deacon. In 1848, James H. Kellar was chosen elder, and E. J. Hikes and WVm. R. Lec deacons. In 1849, John H. Wood, John H. Kellar, and A. B. Lee were appointed deacons. September 1, 1850, H. Y. Kellar was ordained evangelist. In 1853, John Rhodes and Mark Newlan were elected elders, and F. M. Porter and E. Wingate deacons. In 1855, H. Y. Kellar and F. M. Porter elders. In 1856, the church was reorganized, A. H. Kellar being dead and H. Y. Kellar having moved to Sullivan to take charge of the Moultrie county academy. In the new order of things, Christian Hostetler, John Rhodes, Mark Newlan and F. M. Porter were elected as elders. Abram Souther and Wm. Underwood deacons. In 1858, H. Y. Kellar having returned to the church, was re-elected elder. In 1864, the congregation revised its eldership, and H. Y. Kellar, A. Thomason and Wm. Rhodes were chosen elders. Wm. Under- wood, G. W. Lockhart and J. Simons deacons. The present elder- ship, 1880, are Christian Hostetler, Arnold Thomason, M. Porter, J. Clore and C. M. L. Hostetler ; deacons, F. L. Hostetler, Wm. Weakly and Joseph Newlan ; deaconess, Mrs. S. L. Hostetler. The congregation has ordained four evangelists : H. Y. Kellar, Wm. Rhodes, A. H. Carter and R. M. Houck. Since the organization, the church has at no time been without a minister, and sometimes has three or four. The pastoral work of the congregation has been done by the resident preachers and elders, excepting the work of S. B. Lindsley one year, J. J. Lockhart five months, and J. W. Per- kins for half the time for nine months, in the years 1878, '79, '80.
The only trouble, of any importance, that the church has had to contend with, was that arising from the inroads of Mormonism. The story of the Golden Plate revelation had been known and dis- cussed as early as 1833. These ideas generated contempt in the minds of the more enlightened against the Mormon faith. The people had seen enough of the Mormons in their transits to and from Missouri, in the years 1833 and 1834, to form some ideas of their vagaries. Not until 1842 did they get any hold in the Loving- ton congregation. It is true there was a family or two who had stopped in the neighborhood and remained a short time, who were believers in the doctrine, but being rather illiterate they commanded no attention. In 1843, one of their preachers stopped at the house of Andrew Love over night, and being zealous in the faith, he en- gaged Love's attention to such a degree that hopes were entertained of his early conversion, as also of Geo. Best, Wm. Cazier and family, Charles Bryant and wife, most of whom were members of the Christian Church. These having embraced the new faith, became zealous defenders of its dogmas.
The consequence was the unsettling of the minds of many and the actual conversion to the faith of the persons named above. (For further description of Mormonism see note A.) The church has
NOTE A .- The excitement created by the Mormons in separating husband and wife, and the incidents connected therewith, at the desire of parties, I will give. Andrew Love was a man of considerable intelligence and influence, who had taken up with the new religion from what was believed to be sinister motives. He had traded his property for property in Nauvoo, and had gone there with other families that had embraced the faith, most of whom had left unsettled business in the neighborhood. They had gone in the fall or winter of 1845 and 1846, intending to return in the spring, finish settlement, and take with them some property which they had left behind. Among those who went were John Cazier and wife. Mrs. Cazier wrote to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Lamaster, about the time Love and Cazier started for Moultrie county, that Andrew Love was coming to Moultrie county, and that he said he was going to bring William Souther's wife, and that there were some who would not live long. On the receipt of this letter by Mrs. Lamaster, who lived in Macon county, south of Decatur, she gave it to her father, Uncle Jack Turpin, who came immediately to A. H. Kellar's and showed the letter. Souther was sent for and informed of its contents, but he was incredulous, and did not believe that his wife enter- tained any idea of such an act, as he had not heard her express any desire to go with the Mormons for some time. Since her sister, Mrs. Love, had left he supposed she had abandoned all ideas of Mormonism. He said he would speak to his wife about the matter when he went home, but did not do so, but concluded to arouse the neighborhood and drive the Mormons out. He went through the whole neighborhood to arouse the citizens to aid in driving out the Mormons. When he returned home, to his surprise, his wife informed him of her intention to go with the Latter Day Saints. At his request, his mother came and tried to dissuade her daughter-in-law from such an unwise step; she was, however, unsuccessful in changing her purpose. Mrs. Souther's answer to all entreatics was, " I must go with the Lord's people." Mr. Sonther dc- cided at last to let her have her will, but told her she could not have her child. The child was an infant, a few months old, but so great was the infatuation of the mother that she said, " I will go if I have to leave my child." The child being placed in the care of her mother-in-law, she interposed no objection.
The mother-in-law, taking the child, turned to the mother and said : " Cath- arine, tie the bonnet on Angie's head, and take the last look at your child." She did so without an emotion, while the mother-in-law was almost overcome with grief. It was not that she was wanting in natural affection, for she was both a good wife and an affectionate mother. It was simply the influence of the pernicious teaching she had imbibed that for the time had seemingly ob- literated those noble qualities which she exhibited when not influenced by Mormon fanaticism. The indignation of the people was almost uncontrollable, when it was known that Mrs. Souther had determined to leave him, and it re- quired considerable effort upon the part of the more deliberate to prevent a resort to violence. The citizens met at James H. Kellar's, organized and ap- pointed a committee to give the Mormons notice to quit the country in two days. While these things were transpiring Mrs. Souther had left her husband and was making her way on foot to the house of a Mormon by the name of Abbot, some three miles away, in opposition to the wishes of her husband, who desired her
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HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
about 125 members in full fellowship at the present time. It has from its membership organized several different congregations, or parts of congregations, all of which will appear in proper order. Many preachers have labored for the congregation, beside those already named; among whom were Michael Combs, A. J. Kane, Geo. Owen, John O'Kane, Levi Fleming, J. J. Saddler, A. Brown, W. Osborne, S. T. Calloway, John Wilson and others. The church held its meetings from 1832 to 1846 in private houses and in the school-house on Allen Clore's farm. In 1846 it commenced worship in the new house on A. H. Kellar's farm, where the church had erected a frame-building 24x30. This house, which is still standing, was used until the honse was built in Lovington where the
to remain at John Love's until the Mormons were ready to depart. When he learned of her departure he started in pursuit, carrying a gun and overtaking her west of the Okaw timber. A. H. Kellar, being at the house of E. J. Hikes, near by, first seeing Mrs. Souther pass, and in a short time Souther, he fol- lowed him, fearing that under the excitement of the moment he might do some aet of violence. He saw Souther overtake his wife, saw her stop and step back where the fence screened her from view. He hastened forward and heard Souther say : "Did I not tell you not to go to Abbot's ?" He failed to under- stand her reply, but hastened forward aud aldressed her, saying : "Why, Catharine, is it possible you can believe there is any religion in such conduet ?" She answered abruptly : " You know nothing about it, sir." Seeing her eon- dition of mind, he said nothing more. Her husband then informed her that he had decided she should not go. He commanded her to take her place upon the horse behind him, which she at first refused to do, but finally acceded to his wishes, and they returned to Mr. Souther's father's, where she mauifested no discontent or ill feeling, saying : " She had triel to do her duty, but was pre- vented, and she knew the Lord would accept her." Some three years after she did escape and joined the Mormons.
Her husband visited her at Salt Lake, and she went with him to California, where she died. On Tuesday, the day appointed for the Mormons to leave Moul- trie county, the whole neighborhood for ten miles up and down the timber came to see them depart. The principal part of them were to start from the house of John Love, where the citizens had assembled. Andrew Love was talking to his brother, when Souther came up and spoke to some one in the company, say- ing : " Boys, I want the best gun you've got." William Stevens handed him a gun, assuring him it was as good as could be found in the county. He took the proffered gun, raised it to his face, taking deliberate aim at Love. When John Love saw Souther's act, he said : "See that raseal," which gave his bro- ther the timely warning that saved his life. He sprang behind the house and escaped the intended shot by mounting his horse and riding for dear life.
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J. J. Hudson, brother-in-law of James Cazier, who had left his wife for the new faith, was in the company, and had decided that he would give Cazier a new coat, one that would enable him to get as many new wives as he desired, -said coat to consist of tar and feathers. Cazier, getting word of the honor in- tended him, fled, and, being vigorously pursued, ran into the house of a Ger- man by the name of Westafer, and begged of the good housewife to seerete him, who upon learning the cause of his trouble, refused him any assistance and bade him get out of her house. He was caught by his pursuers and would have received the intended coat had he not begged with tears and many protestations to be spared the punishment, asserting his innocence of any desire to go with the Mormons and promising to return and live with his wife and family. He did return, and remained one night, but proved so disagreeable that his wife was glad to be rid of him. Ile left the next day and returned to the Mormons. Some three years after this he came back, pretending that he had left the Mor- mons and was farming near St. Joe, Mo., and desired his wife and family to go with him. He told his story so well, that his wife believed him and consented to go with him, and also to the selling of the farm, which she had before re- fused, it having been purchased with her means.
He sold the farm to his brother-in-law, who was also deceived in him, and took the money and family and departed. Pen cannot picture the wife's aston- ishment and regret, on reaching her destination, to find he had another wife, and that she must take up her residence in a shed attached to the dwelling oc- cupied by the favored wife. Cazier's treatment of his wife and family was such that she, by the aid of a friend, informed her relatives, who sent two men, L. J. Berry and E. D. Cleveland, and reseued her, and brought her and her chil- dren to their friends. He had accomplished his purpose, and gave no trouble, as the money was his only object.
congregation now meet. The first house was built by contributions of work and material, so that its cost can not be accurately deter- mined. The house in Lovington has cost (including all improve- ments from the time of its construction) over three thousand dollars. The building is 36x54, with belfry, bell and vestibule. A Sunday- school has been associated with the church the greater part of the time since its organization. The connection of the Lovington church with the Moultrie County Academy will be noticed at the close of the chapter.
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