USA > Illinois > Madison County > Alton > Gazetteer of Madison County : containing historical and descriptive sketches of Alton City, Upper Alton, Edwardsvile, Collinsville, Highland, Troy, Monticello, Mairne, Bethalto, and other towns, including some account of the resources of the various townships, to which is added a directory of the Altons,. > Part 13
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It is worth while to observe that the deed by which the property is held, ha> incorporated in it thic Articles of Faith of the Church, with the provision that if the Church depart from said Articles, the property goes into possession of the nearest Baptist Church of the prescribed faith, to be held until another Church of The same faith be formed in Alton.
Ilome and Mission Sunday Schools .- From the beginning the Baptist Church of Alton has taken a lively interest in the cause of Sunday Schools. In th : letters to the Association, written many years ago, may be found paragraphs urging on the several Churches faithful attention to this department of Christian labor. There has always been a good attendance at the Home School, compared with the membership of the Church. During the past year 230 names have been upon the roll, but the usual attendance has been about 170, including twenty-five regular teachers. Mr. George Emery is at present Superintendent.
A Mission School, in connection with the African Baptist Church, was com- menced about the year 1849, and has been maintained ever since. For the past fifteen years it has been under the superintendence of Mr. D. D. Ryrie. The num- ber of teachers is eleven, and of scholars an average attendance of from 80 to 90.
In the Summer of 1860 the Middletown Mission School was started, and in 1863 an eligible location was secured and a convenient Mission House erected at an expense of $100, the title being vested in the Trustees of the Church. This School has an attendance of about forty scholars, with a Superintendent, Mr. J. L. Blair, and seven teachers.
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was prospered, afterwards for many months only the School was main- tained. But during the past winter (1866) the cause has been revived and very important additions have been received. The Church now numbers about 70 members, and has a settled Pastor, Rev. John J. W. Place.
Licentiates .- During its existence, this Church has granted license to preach the gospel to four of its members, viz: Horace Clark, 1841, Judson Benjamin, 1843, George P. Guild, 1854, and F. B. Cressey, 1864.
Associational Connection .- From the first the Baptist Church of Alton has been connected with the Edwardsville Baptist Association, composed of Churches in Madison, Macoupin, Montgomery and Bond Counties. Its last anniversary was the thirty-sixth.
FIRST M. E. CHURCH .- From the settlement of Lower Alton, and for a number of years, Methodist preachers from the adjacent circuit (first called Illinois, afterwards Lebanon, and finally Alton circuit, ) visited and preach- ed in the place repeatedly, but not regularly.
In the fall of 1831, John Dew and W. D. R. Trotter were appointed to Lebanon circuit. Some time before that Wm. Miller, a Methodist, settled in Lower Alton, and had preaching in his house; and a class was organ- ized, of which he was appointed leader, and Bro. Trotter embraced it in the circuit; after which there was regular preaching here.
In 1832, Alton circuit was formed, with Asahel E. Phelps preacher in charge, who was succeeded in 1833 by James Hadley. In 1834, Barton Randle was placed in charge of the Altous-the country appointments de- tached. He re-organized the class in Lower Town, and appointed Wm. G. Pinekard leader. Failing in health, a part of the year was madeout by S. H. Thompson. Bro. Job Lawrence was probably leader after Father Pinckard, and Rev. A. L. Risley, finding the class without a leader in 1836, appointed James M. Morgan.
Lower Alton was connected with Upper Alton, or the circuit: until Sep- tember, 1843, except two years, from 1837 to 1839, during which time N. P. Cunningham had charge of the City alone as missionary. In 1843 Alton City was inade a station, with N. S. Bastion pastor, who had been in charge of all the Altons the year before, with C. J. Houts as assistant preacher.
Since then the following preachers in the order named have had pastoral charge of the City :
Wm. M. Grubbs, Dr. Culver, (a supply), G. J. Barrett, James Leaton, John Borland, W. W. Mitchel, Charles M. Holiday, R. H. Harrison, James 1. Robinson, J. W. Miller, Joseph Earp, James B. Corrington, J. P. Davis, J. T. Hough, Joseph Harris, J. A. Robinson (a second time), Ephraim Joy (present incumbent).
Religious services were held in private houses until 1834, when Wm. G. Pinckard rented for church purposes a hall on Second street known as Lyceum Hall. In 1836, a frame church was purchased on the north-east corner of Third and Alby, which was occupied until 1840 or 1841. A stone
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church was erected on the north-east corner of Fourth and Belle, and dedi- cated in the spring of 1844. This was enlarged in 1855, and with a parson- age honse adjoining, was burned April 15, 1857. The present church, a stone and brick building, on the south- east corner of Sixth and Market, was soon after commenced, and was ready for use in the autumn of 1858, but not finished until 1859. The church property at present in the City is valued at $21,200. The present membership is over one hundred.
Connected with the church is a flourishing Sunday-school, with books and apparatus, with one hundred and fifty scholars, and averaging more than one hundred in regular attendance.
The ministers appointed to "Illinois Circuit" for the first ten years were for 1803, Benjamin Young; 1804, Joseph Oglesby; 1805, Charles B. Matheny; 1806 and 1808, Jesse Walker: 1807, John Clingan; 1809, Abraham Amos; 1810. Daniel Fraley; 1811, Jesse Walker and George A. Colbert; 1812, James Dixon.
The Western Conference sat in the fall, usually in September or October. And when Jesse Walker was first appointed to Illinois Circuit, Wm. M'Kendree was presiding elder of the Cumberland district, which embrac- ed Illinois. He visited Illinois in the summer of 1807 as presiding elder.
ST. PAULS PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH-Was organized in 1836, with the following members : John Bailliache, Charles Trumbull, --- Kimball, Henry Tanner, A. B. Rotf, and J. W. Chickering, all now dead except the last named.
The Rev. Mr. Depuy was the first Rector. He removed to Galena in the fall of 1837, after which Owen Lovejoy was lay reader for several months. Rev. A. S. Bledsoe officiated for six months in 1839. The next minister was Rev. Mr. Brittain, who left about the year 1842, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Douglass. Up to this time, the Church had no regular place of worship. In 1843, the vestry purchased the building and ground, where their Church now stands, but they had no regular services until some- time in 1844, when the Rev. S. Y. McMasters became the Rector. He con- tinued until about 1847, when he accepted a Professorship in the College at Drennon Springs, Kentucky, where he remained two years, and then re- turned to Alton. During his absence, there was no settled clergyman. After his return the vestry determined to remove the old building, and the present Church edifice was the result of their labors. The new build- ing cost over $13,000. In August 1858 Dr. McMasters was elected Presi- dent of St. Paul's College, Palmyra, Mo., and resigned the Rectorship of the Church. In the spring of 1859 the Rev. C. A. Bruce became Rector, and resigned early in 1861.
In the month of June, 1860, the City was visited by a terrible tornado. It swept the tower off of the Church, and ruined the whole of the roof and other parts of the building, causing damages of at least $5,000.
In the summer of 1861 the Rev. John Foster became Rector of the Church
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and remained two years, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. Dr. McCulloch, who has been Rector of the Church since 1863.
The present number of communicants is about seventy. S. R. Dolbee, Senior Warden, J. Machin, Junior Warden, M. M. Dutro, Secretary, G. Paddock, Treasurer. There is also a flourishing Sunday-school of about one hundred and twenty-five scholars.
This Church occupies a large and substantially built stone edifice on the north-east corner of Market and Third streets, neatly finished within and supplied with an organ. -
STS. PETER'S AND PAUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH .- It may not be uninteresting to the Catholics of Southern Illinois to learn something of the founding and rising of this Church, which, like the mustard seed men- tioned in the Gospel, has grown from a very slender beginning to its pres- ent condition, namely, from a small frame building in Upper Alton to that which it has now attained, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Alton.
The frame building in Upper Alton was dedicated to the honor and glory of God, A. D. 1838, its pastor being the Rev. George Hamilton, now of Boston, Mass. He was' succeeded by the Rev. Michael Carroll, who, filled with zeal and fervor for the honor and glory of God, commenced a new church under the most unfavorable and trying circumstances, having no more than a dozen Catholics (and those not in the best circumstances) to assist him in this important work; the greater part of these gentlemen have gone to receive the reward of their charity, amongst whom are Se- bastian Wise, Andrew Clifford and Thomas Clifford. Amongst the being are Peter Wise, James McArdle, John Althoff and others. The church, undertaken by this worthy pastor, (who is now no more,) was completed A. D. 1844. It was built on the corner of Third and Alby streets, com- manding a full view of the Mississippi, and of the entire city.
In the year 1854 by some accident or other a neighboring house took fire and communicated its devouring flames to the church, which in a very short time was entirely consumed and the labor of years lost. At this period the Catholic population was vastly increasing, so that the pastor considered it necessary to erect a larger church for his congregation, hence he commenced the present Cathedral on a larger and grander scale, and by his incessant labor and by the co-operation of the faithful, he was enabled to cover it in a few years and celebrate the Divine Mysteries within its walls.
In the year 1857 the Archbishops and Bishops of the United States of America petitioned Rome to raise Alton to an Episcopal See, and recom- mended the Rt. Rev. Henry D. Juncker as first Bishop, which was granted. He was consecrated in the Cathedral of Cincinnati on the 26th of April, 1857, by the Most Rev. John Baptist Purcel, Archbishop of Cincinnati. One of the first works of our zealous prelate was to complete the interior of the Cathedral, which is decorated in a manner second to none in the
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United States. On the arrival of our worthy Bishop the Catholic popula- tion of Alton numbered no more than one thousand souls, but now, thanks be to God and to the zeal and energy of our zealous prelate, it numbers from four to five thousand.
There was also a German Catholic Church built under his direction and a beautiful Conyent, presided over by the pious Nuns of the Ursaline Order, who keep a boarding and day school attached to the Convent, both of which are numerously attended.
The present Cathedral is 135x64 feet, built of solid stone masonry and adorned with a fine tower, just being completed.
Services on Sunday commence at 7 o'clock A. M., also at 10 A. M. and 3 o'clock P. M. The clergymen who attend to the spiritual duties of the congregation are the Rt. Rev. Henry Damian Juncker, assisted by the Rev. John Yansen, Chancelor and Secretary of the Diocese, Rev. James Harty, Pastor, and Rev. John O'Sullivan.
THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH, free of sectarianism, was estab- lished in 1850. The ministers are elected by the Church members. The names of those who have officiated as pastors of this Church are-Rev. C. E. Zobel, chosen Feb. Ist, 1850, to 1851; Rev. G. A. Detharding, Feb. 1st, 1851, until his death which occurred in 1853; Rev. S. P. Stibolt, Jan. 30th, 1853, resigned in 1854; Rev. C. A. Munter, April 1st, 1854, resigned in 1862; Rev. Ernst Guntrum, August 1st, 1862, resigned in 1865; Rev. Paulus Lorenzen, present incumbent, chosen May Ist, 1865.
This congregation, numbering over one hundred and twenty members, owns a moderate sized brick church edifice, situated on Henry street, in one of the most pleasant portions of the city. The basement is occupied during the week by a day school of about one hundred and twenty-five scholars. It is under the charge of Mr. J. Goetz, as principal, who in- structs in both the German and English languages.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY,-[ Unitarian.]-This Society was or- ganized in 1853. Rev. W. D. Hayley was the first Pastor. The Church building is a neat stone edifice, standing on the north-west corner of Third street and Court Square, and commands one of the finest views of the Mississippi river and the mouth of the Missouri, to be found in Alton. The walls of this building are those erected for the first Catholic Church in the City,-the interior part of the building having been destroyed by fire in February 1854. The first Congregational Society soon after pur- chased the grounds and walls, and rebuilt the Church.
The pews will accommodate an audience of about two hundred, and are arranged in a semi-circular form, the whole being cushioned and floors taste- fully carpeted. But few Churches in the State present a more pleasing in- terior arrangement. The organ is large and fine toned, being one of Messrs. Hook & Co.'s manufacture, of Boston, Mass.
Rev Mr. Hayley occupied the pulpit of this Church till 1856, when on
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account of ill health, he went to Europe. He was succeeded by Rev. J. G. Forman, who continued to be the pastor till 1861, when he became a Chaplain in the Army, and subsequently Secretary to the Western San- itary Commission.
After Mr. Forman left, this Church was without a regular pastor, till the fall of 1865. Rev. J. Mason officiated as pastor for several months, and there was occasional preaching by clergymen from the Eastern States. Rev. D. H. Clark was settled as pastor in September 1865.
There is a large and flourishing Sabbath School attached to the Church, under the superintendence of Mr. Wm. Eliot Smith. The members of this Church profess their faith in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God and the Savior of men; and acknowledge the Bible as the Divinely authorized Rule, both of Faith and Practice. Baptism is performed either by immer- sion or sprinkling.
FIRST CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- This congregation was organized in June, 1855, with seventeen members, five males and twelve females; William Blair, Benjamin Rose, Stephen A. Lufkin as elders, and Rev. J. B. Logan as supply, who is now pastor. The congregation had no house of worship, but proceeded to take steps to build one, which was so far completed that worship could be held in the basement story on the first Sabbath of the next January. On the second Sunday in January, 1856, a Sunday-school was organized, which has continued in successful operation ever since. In June, 1856, the house was finished and dedicated to the service of God by a sermon from Rev. Jacob Clark, of Missouri. For several years this congregation was aided by the Board of Home Mis- sions. But when the war came on this supply was cut off, and since then the congregation have been self sustaining. A heavy debt on the church property was paid off some two years ago, and the house of worship is now unincumbered by debt and is in good repair.
The building is situated on Twelfth street near Henry, in a beautiful and thriving part of the city, is 50x35 feet, two stories high, with a commodious porch in front. The congregation now numbers about two hundred mem- bers. They have three weekly prayer meetings, two of them well attended, a flourishing Sunday-school, and the congregation at peace among them- selves.
They have never had but one minister-the present incumbent organized the church and has preached to the congregation since its beginning. Over three hundred persons have professed to find peace with God in con- nection with the religious services of this congregation.
The GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH was organized eight or nine years since. It has now about fifty members, with a Sunday-school in connec- tion. The building is located on Union street. Rev. Jacob Muller, pastor.
ST. MARY'S GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH .- The German Catholics of
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Alton becoming sufficiently numerous to support a Priest and Church or- ganization, erected a building for religious services May, 1859. The Rev. F. A. Ostrop, their first and present Pastor, labored with zeal and success to establish the Church with flourishing prospects. The tornado of June 2d, 1860, destroyed not only the Church edifice, but also the school house and Priest's residence adjoining. The Priest himself was buried for more than an hour amid the ruins, and was saved in a miraculous way. There was a debt of some $5,000 on the ruins and the lot. By the liberal- ity of the Church and by collections made by the Priest, the debt has since been paid, and a new, larger and finer building erected, which was dedi- cated Dec. 8, 1861. Adjoining it a comfortable residence has been built for the Priest, also a neat little building for the day school, all free of debt. The Church is built in a plain Gothic style, 104x50 fect, surmounted by a cupola. There are about two hundred families connected with this Church.
THE ALTON UNION MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOL Was organized in the spring of 1858, under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association. It convened at its first session in what was then known as the German Meth- odist Church, and had nine pupils in attendance. It grew rapidly in members, and after a few Sabbaths, having been compelled to leave the German Methodist Church, it held its meetings for several months in an upper chamber in the building known as Hunter's Tavern. At this time, the summer and autumn of 1858, there were about one hundred pupils in attendance. This building was then the property of the Catholics, but was furnished to the Sabbath-school by Mrs. Sheppard, a worthy member of the Episcopal Church, whose influence was great in gathering the school, and who was an efficient teacher in the school while she remained in the city. The officers of the school having ascertained that Mrs. S. must leave her house unless the Mission School was removed, accepted quarters offer- ed by Maj. Chas. W. Hunter in one of the stores then vacant on the south side of Second near Henry streets. Here the school was continued until the completion of Weigler's Hall, which it now occupies, on the corner of Second and Henry streets. During its first year the school was regarded as inviting all who would to attend, and through the influence of the cliil- dren, who performed most of the recruiting work, all colors and condi- tions were gathered in. This fact was used by enemies of the school to arouse prejudices in regard to color, and many white parents withdrew their children from the school. Afterwards the prejudice reacted, and the colored children withdrew almost in a body. As nothing had been done by the school to raise the prejudice, so nothing was done to influence it, the motto being faithfully observed in accordance with the divine invita- tion, "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." This school has been greatly blessed. Its members for the last two years have been about three hundred. Its teachers have been volunteers from all the Evangelical denominations in the city. It has led a life of trust for
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temporal supplies, and in many instances the apparent interpositions for its supply have been marked. Its aim is to afford religious instruction for the children and youth in that portion of the city mainly occupied by our German fellow citizens, and these people have done much to co-oper- ate in the good work. There is reason to believe that many souls have been converted through its influence, and all the Church Sabbath-schools have doubtless been partially supplied with pupils from its primary training. To make it accomplish all to which it seems appointed it surely needs a home that it can call its own, and there are encouraging indica- tions that the good Providence that has hitherto opened the way before it is moving good men who have the means to supply that want.
THE UNION (African) BAPTIST CHURCH was organized about 1840. The building is located on the corner of George and Seventh. There are about 120 members, with a Sunday School of eighty to ninety scholars.
THE AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH situated on Third street in Hunterstown, has one hundred members; Rev. Joiner pastor. The Sunday School in connection with this Church has from sixty to seventy Scholars. .
SCHOOLS.
Section 12 of the Charter adopted by the City of Alton in 1837, provides for the establishment and maintenance of Free Schools .* The first action of the City Council, under the provisions of this section, appears to have been on the 15th of September, 1842, when Messrs. Wm. Martin, Dr. B. F. Edwards, and B. B. Barker, were appointed a School committee.t
*For the accompanying historical sketch of the Schools of Alton, we are prin- cipaliy indepted to the First Annual Report of the Public Schools for 1860, by the late George S. Kelle nberger Superintendent; who in his report acknowledged his indebtedness, for many of the facts, to M. G. Atwood Esq.
+PRIVATE AND SELECT SCHOOLS .- In November of the year 1831, it appears, a Preparatory School was opened by Mr. H. D'avis, in a room over the store of S. E. Moore & Co., on Second Street, between Market and Alby streets, on the north side; in January, 1832, this school seems to have been amplified into the "Alton Seminary," and, as such, was removed In January, 1833, to the new two story brick building, on Main, (Second?) near Alton street. This is the same building now oc- cupied, as store and residence by Jesse Walton. The plan of this schooi embraced four distinct and well-defined departments, and is believed, to have been the first school in Alton.
Mr. Davis died in 1833, or 1834.
On the 4th of September, 1832, an institution of the same name, "Alton Semin- ary," was opened in Upper Alton, under the care of Rev. Hubbel Loomis. This institution was the foundation of Shurtieff College.
In 1833, or '34, Abel R. Cobbin kept a school in a log building, that stood at the junetion of Second and Third streets, below Henry, on block No. 3. He after- wards removed to St. Louls.
About the same perlod, J. M. Krum, Esq., (now Judye Krum, of St. Louis,) opened a school in "Lyceum Hall," at the corner of Second and Alby streets.
A Mr. Boswell, (or, Bosworth,) succeeded Mr. Krum, at Lyceum Hall; and be- tween 1833 and 1838, a Mr. Hollister kept a school in the Methodist Church, on Third street, between Alby and Court square.
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The records of school matters are, for several years, very unsatisfactory and meagre, showing that a very small measure of interest was felt in their success, or that the enterprise was prematurely undertaken. There is enough, however, to show that the funds failed, that the free schools, consequently, languished, and finally fell through, and the teachers were not paid in full.
On the 3d of July, 1843, the City Council, on motion of Dr. B. K. Hart, appropriated One Hundred Dollars, (an item for Real Estate men!) for the purchase of block 19, Pope and others' addition. The entire block was considered worth $200, but Judge Pope very liberally deeded it to the City,
Mr. D. V. Wainright, also, taught a school at the corner of Market and Second streets, in the year 1838.
In 1838-9, Mrs. Mary D. Bruner taught a school in the stone building that stood on the present site of Dr. Hez. Williams' residence, and was destroyed by fire in 1858.
In 1837, Miss Sophia Loomis, (now, Mrs. Cyrus Edwards,) taught in the one story frame building, now belonging to L. Kellenberger, Esq., on the N. W. corner of Grove and Common streets in Edwards' addition.
In the same year, a Mr. Warner kept a school in a building that stood north of Salu street, in Stanton's addition.
In 1889, Miss Relief V. Everett, (now, Mrs. J. W. Buffum, of California,) taught a few scholars, in a house still standing in block No. 5, Edwards' addition.
In 1840, Miss Caroline Loomis, (now Mrs. Z. Newman) taught a flourishing school in the same building.
In 1841, Mr. D. A. Richardson, from Maine, commenced a school, (or, rather con- tinued the same school,) in the same house, and, subsequently removed it to the large three story frame dwelling, immediately north of the residence of Hon: Robert Smith. This school was continued about two years.
Between the years 1842 and 1845, a Mr. Haylay taught a school in the northern part of the Fourth Ward. He died in Alton, a few years ago.
About the same time, Miss Anna Gay, (now Mrs. Jesse Ketchum), taught a school in a frame house standing on the land of M. G. Atwood, Esq., just north of his present residence.
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