USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 19
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The church building is 60x40 feet, well furnished and in good condition. The Elders are C. Jennings, A. L. Campbell and William P. Moore. Trustees. J. HI. Ewing, David Thomp- son, Dr. S. D. Culbertson, M. S. Erskine, J. P. McDaniel. The Sabbath school numbers about seventy scholars. It is in fine working order. There have been 143 baptisms and twenty deaths, of those in full membership.
Catholic Church at Piper City. t-This parish was organized July, 1880, out of that part of Chatsworth parish, east of Living- ston County line, and that part of Gilman parish, west of La Hogue, with the Rev. William O'Horra, of Chatsworth, as pastor. There was about 81,000 subscription list to commence with, much of which was lost by bad management. In July, 1880, Matthew Soran went to Chicago and purchased the lot, 200x150 feet, of Samuel Cross. The lumber was purchased of Chase & Pate, of Chicago, the bill being secured by Mr. Soran till such times as the church could pay off the debt. The building is a frame, 66x 82 feet, posts resting on a stone foundation three feet high. It was inclosed by November 1, 1880, and remained in that condi- tion till the next spring. In February, 1881, Rev. William O'Horra was removed and Rev. Van der Hagen took his place as
"By Rev. W. C. Neely. tBy Clars K. Culbertson. :By Matthew Soran.
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pastor of Chatsworth, with Piper City as an outside mission. In May, 1881, the following committee was appointed to finish the building, to wit: John O'Connell, Peter Mister, Peter Galla- hue, Thomas McDermatt and Matthew Soran. On July 4, 1881, the ladies of the church gave a dinner for the benefit of the church, which netted $240. In September of the same year, they held a fair in Clark's Hall which netted $1,300. The balance of the money was raised by subscription. The debt is all paid but $260. Total cost of building and lot, 84,000; present mem- bership, 400. Rev. Dennis O'Dunavan, assistant to Rev. Van der Ilagen, of Chatsworth, says mass every second Sunday at 10 o'clock A. M. in summer, and 11 o'clock A. M. in winter.
ROBERTS.
Congregational Church of Roberts .*- Until 1875, there was no Congregational Church in Lyman Township. Rev. Wilcox, father of M. II. Wilcox, preached at stated times in the Smith Schoolhouse in the northern part of Lyman Township, and the people generally attended the services regardless of denomination- al differences, but no organization existed.
The Congregational Church of Roberts was organized October 24, 1875, with the following exercises : Sermon and reading of covenant by the Rev. J. E. Ray. D. D. ; prayer by A. D. Wyckoff, and right hand of fellowship by Rev. J. J. Weage.
The membership at the time of organization was very small, consisting of only ten persons: A. D. Wyckoff, George H. Thompson, Mary E. Thompson, W. S. Larkin, Elizabeth Lar- kin, John Hummel, Sarah M. Hummel, Frank Butler, Lucy Larkin and Olive Larkin. Six of these are yet members of the church, and the other four have gone to seek homes in other parts of our great land.
George H. Thompson and his wife, Mary E. Thompson, are now in Kansas, where they are engaged in church and Sunday school work as earnestly as was their wont in the old home.
A. D. Wyckoff now labors in the Lord's moral vineyard in Nebraska, and Frank Butler has moved to La Salle County, III., where he, too, no doubt, has also found his work.
The first business meeting of the church was held at the house of G. H. Thompson October 31, 1875. At this meeting G. H. Thompson and John Hummel were elected Deacons. W. S. Larkin was elected Trustee of the church for three years, and W. A. Kearney and J. B. Meserve, respectively two and one years, were elected Trustees of the Congregational society. Frank Butler was elected Clerk. John Hummel has been a Deacon of the church since his first election.
On the 6th of November, 1875, C. Manton, who the following year removed to Texas, united with the church on profession of faith. This was the first accession of the church.
This small body, in connection with the Congregational Church at Thawville, struggled on as best it could, receiving annually Home Missionary aid.
In March, 1877, the church received its second accession of membership, consisting of the following persons : G. B. Mahaf- fey, Walter Davis, E. M. Mahaffey, Nellie D. Mahaffey, Helen L. Wyckoff, Amanda Emmons, F. G. Lohman and Louisa Tapp. From this small beginning the church has grown to a mem- bership of sixty, and since 1882 has been self-supporting, no longer requiring the aid of the Home Missionary Society.
During the first four years of its existence, the society had no house of worship, but the services were held in the town hall. In the fall of 1879, a church building, 40x55 feet, was begun. This building was completed in May, 1880, and dedicated to the worship of God May 16, 1880, free from all incumbrances.
Since its organization, the church has been blessed with earnest, efficient pastors, who considered the work of saving souls paramount to everything else.
Below we give the names of pastors and the time of their re- spective services :
Rev. J. J. Weage, two years; Rev. Breads, one year; Rev. F. J. Brobst, two years ; Rev. J. B. Johnston, two years, and the present pastor, Rev. W. Wilson. At the last annual meeting, June 17, 1884, the following officers were elected :
E. Lyman and John Olsen, Deacons ; L. E. Bressie, Trustee for one year; F. G. Lohman, Trustee for three years; C. Anderson, Clerk and Treasurer for one year.
The report of Treasurer at this annual meeting showed & cash balance, 818.11. Credits other than cash, 859.50, with all past claims against the church settled. .
Zion Methodist Episcopal Church (German). t-The Method- ist Episcopal Church organized German missions as early as 1868, with headquarters at Odell, Livingston County ; later at Buckley, Iroquois County. Services were held at private houses, and then, as the membership increased, in the public schoolhouses. When the village of Roberts came to be, it was resolved to build a church. The first Board of Trustees, consisting of John Grube, Frank Bastian, Henry Michaelis, John Wieting and Fred Haug, with their pastor, Rev. Fr. Meier, as Chairman, on the 18th day of February, 1878, passed a resolution to that ef- fect, and acted upon it accordingly, building a church, with spire, that cost nearly $2,400, being the first house of worship erected in the village of Roberts. But its old and trusted members have left-emigrated to Dakota, Iowa and Texas.
The Methodist Episcopal Church has a flourishing German society at Melvin, with a neat and commodious church, erected in 1882, the original members then being Teis Arends, George O. Arends, Fr. Steinmann, Ger. Defries and H. Duringer.
The German membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church
*By F. G. Lobman. tBy Ker. Peter Rech.
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
in Ford County at present is fifty-eight members ; in the adjoin- ing county of Iroquois, thirty-eight members.
The following ministers have served : Revs. W. Meier, A. Miller, E. J. Funk, September, 1870, to September 20, 1871 ; Frederich Meyer, September 20, 1871, to September 24, 1874 ; Gustav Zollmann, September 24, 1874, to September 24, 1875; Peter Rech, September 24, 1875 to September 21, 1876 ; William Meier, September 21, 1876, to September 20, 1877; Ferdinand Wirth, September 20, 1877, to September 25, 1879; Florentin Firstborn, HI. D. Kamp (supply), September 25, 1879, to Octo- ber 6, 1880; C. F. Allert, October 6, 1880, to October 5, 1882 ; Peter Rech, October 5, 1882, present pastor.
The Board of Trustees for 1884 consists of Fr. Steinmann, Teis Arends, Ger. Defries, George O. Arends and George T. Arends.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Roberts .*- This church was formerly a part of Pierce's Mission as described in the account of the Methodist Church at Melvin. The first preaching place was Graham's Schoolhouse, and was changed to Roberts in 1871. The members of the first class were Ole Johnson, Leader ; Anna Johnson, Edward Van Steenbergh, Emily Van Steenberglı, Jennie Van Steenbergh, J. H. Sedore, Mrs. A. A. Sedore, Abraham Sedore, George P. Lyman. Helen Lyman, Alfred Smith, Julis Smith, Horace Lester, Hannab Lester, John Ken- ward, Nancy Kenward, William Kenward, Julius Walker, Joel Westbrook, Patience Westbrook, Horace Snelling, Jane Snelling, Robert Hawthorn, Sarah Arnold, Thomas Darg, James English, Charles Koon, John Kenward, Jr., Hamilton Darg and Caroline Guise. They held their meetings in the public schoolhouse at Roberts until January 6, 1882, when they completed a very neat church at a cost of $2,800. This church was dedicated by G. W. Gue, Presiding Elder. The first board of trustees con- sisted of Thomas Wakelin, M. II. Rice, G. B. Gordon, G. P. Ly- man and E. Van Steenbergh.
LYMAN TOWNSHIP.
- Zion German Evangelical Church .- Report of the Evangel- ical Association Mission work in Ford County : In the year of our Lord, 1865, the Illinois Conference of this denomination met at Washington, Tazewell County, Ill. This conference, at this session, created s new mission in the counties of Livingston, Mc- Lean and Ford. Rev. F. C. Stuewig was the first missionary, in this important mission, to carry on the Lord's work. He settled down with his family in the little station, Chatworth, Livingston County, Ill. The mission in Ford County began on the 7th day of June, 1865. The first visit was made at Brother Peter Pfaad's. Brother Pfaad came here with his family in the year 1858, from Lyons, N. Y. Mr. Stuewig then began to hold service every three weeks in the P. Russell Schoolhouse, and also in the house of Kathrine Althen. On his second visit he became ac- quainted with the following persons: Kathrine Althen and family, Christian Moser, Annie Wilcoxson and other German people, who lived in that community. The following winter he held a protracted meeting with good success. On the 13th of February, 1866, he organized the first German class in this new mission, with the following persons as members : Peter Pfand, Margret Pfaad, Kathrine Althen, Margret Leber, George Bar- reck, Louisa Barreck, Lydia Barreck, Cathrene Barreck, Chris- tian Moser, Annie Wilcoxson. Peter Pfaad was the first Class Leader. German people came to see the country, and being pleased with the prairie land, many bought homes and settled here. This was a help to the small society, its membership grew rapidly, and by the help of God they were able to build a church in the year of our Lord, 1873. The size of the church building is 82x50 feet, 20 feet high ; the steeple is 65 feet ; cost of building, $3,000. The church was dedicated by Bishop J. J. Esher.
The preacher in charge at this time was Rev. J. Kurts. The first officers of Zion Church Evangelical Association were the following : Rev. Henry Baker, Daniel Raabe, Abraham Shaffer, Christian Stutzman, Peter Pfaad. The officers at pres- ent are : Daniel Waldschmidt, President; Charles Fellwock, Carl Burkhardt ; Jacob Zahn, Treasurer ; Rev. F. C. Stuewig, Secretary. The present missionary is Rev. C. F. Diessmeier ; Presiding Elder, Rev. Augest Fesele. The present membership is ninety to one hundred
DIX TOWNSHIP.
Union Methodist Protestant Church. t-This society began its existence in Champaign County about one half mile south of where the church building now stands on the southeast corner of the north half of Section 31. The first services held in this county were in the Union Schoolhouse, one-half mile north of the church, under the pastorate of Rev. J. Krapps, in 1874. Among the original members were J. Cranston and wife, Mrs. J. Daniels, Mrs. J. Barker, Mrs. D. Metcalf and Mrs. G. Waggoner. After the pastoral term of Rev. Krapps, the Annual Conferencesent Rev. R. E. Fox, who is the present pastor, and is serving his sixth year. The present membership is thirty-one. The erection of the church building commenced in the fall of 1881, and was com- pleted and dedicated in the summer of 1882. The building cost about $1,200, and stands as a monument to the generosity of the entire community. The first Trustees elected August 30, 1881, were M. W. Scott, J. G. Barker, Henry Shields, J. Dan- iels and William Day. The Trustees, elected October 13, 1882, were J. Cranston, J. G. Barker, J. H. Green, Mrs. J. Daniels and Mrs. G. Waggoner, all now serving except J. H. Green, whose place was filled May 31, 1884, by the election of James Barnes. This society holds its regular preaching services
*By T. D. Thompson.
tBy Rev. R. E. Fox.
every two weeks at 11 o'clock A. M., and Sabbath school every Sunday at 10 A. M.
The Norwegian Lutheran Church .- The first Norwegians to settle in this county were Chr. Reierson and Henry Halvorson. They came hero from Otter Creek, La Salle Co., Ill., and located some four or five miles northwest from Elliott, where they now live, the happy owners of a half section of land cach. Our best information is that they came here about 1866. They were fol- lowed by Abel Hanson in 1871. Mr. Hanson formerly lived in or near Lisbon, Kendall Co., Ill. He at first rented lands, but, having succeeded reasonably well, he bought eighty acres one mile south of Elliott, where he is now enjoying the remainder of his life in comparative ease.
Tolleff Thompson, also from Lisbon, is the next in order. Like Mr. Hanson. he also rented lands to begin with, but a few years of hard work finds him the contented possessor of a fine farm four miles southeast from Elliott.
John A. Hatteberg and Ole Natterstad bought land, and set- tled some three miles southeast from Elliott, in the year 1875. They are both well to do, and the first is especially the soul of every undertaking of a religious nature among this people.
These two were followed in turn by Thomas Pederson, Osmon Osmonson and ITalward Osmonson.
Ford County had by this time become famous to the people around Lisbon, Ill., and a general " exodus " to this county took place in the years that followed. Most of the Norwegians round about Elliott, numbering some 500, are from Kendall and Grun- dy Counties, in this State. Perhaps one-fourth came direct from Norway. The Norwegians are of a very pious turn of mind. They are strictly honest, industrious and thriving. One of their number says that " with them the all-absorbing topics when they meet are religion, the weather and the crops." Their prosperity is surprising to a native American of the caxy-going sort.
They had not been here long before they organized themselves into a congregation. The first step in this direction was made in 1876. Rev. Iverson gathered a flock of the faithful, and con- tinned to preach for them at intervals for a portion of the years 1876 and 1877. He was succeeded by Rev. G. J. Oinland, a graduate from the Norwegian Lutheran Evangelical Theological Seminary at Minneapolis, Minn., to which denomination this congregation belongs. Rev. Omland was their pastor from 1877 to 1881. He was followed by Rev. B. P. Strand, who is their minister at present. Their place of meeting had been, previous to 1881, in what are known as the Kleppa and Bunch School- houses, Districts 6 and 7.
But in the year 1881 they built a modest structure on Section 25, Town 23 (Dix), which has since been their customary place of worship. The building is 56 feet long, 36 feet wide, and 18 feet high, with a steeple towering 70 feet into the sky. The work was chiefly done by members of the congregation, gratis of course, superintended by Charles Johnson, Thor O. Thorson and the Seim Brothers. The total cost was $3,000, two thirds of which was raised immediately by voluntary subscription ; 1883 witnessed the erection of a neat and snug building for the pastor's residence. Total cost of this, including ten acres of land, was 81,200. The parsonage is one-half mile west of the church, on Section 26. The congregation is about $1,600 in debt, and has a membership of 350. Trustees for 1880 were Christian Volden, John H. Thompson and Gunder Stouge. We are greatly in- debted to Halward S. Peterson for the foregoing facts.
Other Churches .- At Farmersville, in the midst of a remarka- bly flourishing settlement of Swedes, is a prosperous church of Swedish Lutherans. The church building located on Section 30. Patton Township, is a commodious structure. There is also a well built parsonage. This church is in a very satisfactory condition.
At Gibson are two Swedish churches, one of them being of the Swedish Lutheran and the other of the Swedish Mission. These societies have houses of worship, but no resident pastors at this time. As the Swedes settle in and about Gibson, as they are doing, these churches will be rapidly strengthened.
BUTTON TOWNSHIP.
Mt. Olivet Christian Church .*- From the earliest settlement of the locality now included in Button Township, the Christian denomination had its ministers early on the ground. In fact, some of these ministers were among the pioneer settlers. A brief sketch is given by Harmon Strayer in the chapter of remi- niscences. The several organizations or societies of this denomi- nation were in 1871 re-organized and united under the name given at the head of this article.
The church building was dedicated December 10, 1871, the dedication sermon being delivered by Elder R. M. Martin, of Danville, Ill. The membership at the organization numbered about forty. We are able to give nearly all of their names, which are as follows: Marston Dudley, Milton Strayer, John M. Strayer, T. B. Strayer, William Walker, David Morchouse, W. H. H. Wood, J. A. Dudley, Henry Correll, John Correll, Joseph Harris, John B. Harris, Daniel Allhands and their wives, also Sarah Button, Elizabeth Strayer, N. B. Spiceard, H. S. Strayer, Elizabeth Strayer, Mary E. Spiceard, F. L. Holloway. M. E. Dudley, S. J. Strayer, Dora Strayer, Mary Strayer, Sarah O. Walker, Oswell H. Walker, Mrs. Glotfelter.
Soon after the dedicatory services, the organization was per- fected with the following officers:
Elder R. M. Martin, Pastor ; Marston Dudley and William Walker, Elders ; Harmon Strayer and T. B. Strayer, Deacons. At the present time, the membership numbers 100, with the following officers:
.By William Walker.
66
Elder Kraft, Pastor; William Walker, Moses Stroup and N. B. Spiceard, Elders; Harmon Strayer, Josephus Martin and F. L. Holloway, Deacons.
The church edifice, which is situated on a handsome knoll in South Button, is of brick. It is 30x40 feet, with 16 feet to ceil- ing.
During the past thirteen years and six months, the following ministers have preached for this congregation : R. M. Martin, C. C. Cassell, M. J. Hodson. John M. Smith, T. L. Stipp, J. L. IIolton, H. W. Robertson, P. F. York.
The services of the present Pastor have just commenced.
Just north of the church and in the same inclosure is a cem- etery. Here are interred several of those whose names are given as the first members.
The forest trees about the church yard cast a pleasant shade, and this site is a handsome one.
The membershsp includes many of the most substantial farm- ers and their families who reside in this vicinity.
The following persons have also served as officers of the church : R. H. Myers and W. J. Benjamin, Elders, and J. A. Dudley, F. D. Spinning and William Beagle, Deacons.
SIBLEY.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church* was organized at Sibley (then Burr Oaks) January 6, 1879.
Nils Polson and Gust Fager were the first Deacons elected. Swen Anderson and C. L. Sesholm were the first Trustees, and Swen Anderson was the first Secretary, which position he still holds.
The congregation was organized under the leadership of Pas- tor O. Tjamsland, and is under and within the Swedish Evangel- ical Lutheran Synod of United States of America.
We have no church building, owing to the members going from here to the Western States every year. We are using the old schoolhouse building, in connection with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, as our place of worship.
We have no pastor at present, Mr. A. Lindahl, a Deacon, from Farmersville, near Elliott, has been preaching the Gospel here from the beginning of 1880 and up to the present time. The present Trustees consist of the following persons : Nils Polson, Nils A. Pearson and John C. Johnson.
ROGERS TOWNSHIP.
Church of God.t-This church was organized September 26, 1869. The names of the original members are D. F. Breneisa, Peter Minich, Samuel Leopold, Joseph Leopold, R. C. Breneiss, Henry Kaufman, Joseph Imhoff, John Geen, Mrs. Susan Min- ich, Miss Emma Minich, Mrs. Sarah A. Leopold, Mrs. Anna Breneisa, Mrs. Catharine Leopold, Mrs. Mary Imhoff, Miss Kate Breneisa, Miss Fannie Breneisa, Mrs. Fred Falter.
The Union Bethel was built in the spring of 1878, at a cost of $500. The house was dedicated by Elder J. M. Cassel.
Elder William A. Smith preached from October, 1869, to October, 1872 ; Elder J. M. Cassel, preached from October, 1872, to October, 1874; Elder W. B. Allen, preached from Oc- tober, 1874, to October, 1876 ; Elder George Cutler, preached from October, 1876, to October, 1877 ; Elder W. A. Smith, preached from October, 1877, to October, 1878; Elder A. J. Fenton, preached from October, 1878, to October, 1880; Elders John Burnard and Oscar Huston, preached from October, 1880, to October, 1881 ; Elder W. A. Smith, preached from October, 1881, to October, 1884. D. F. Breneisa, Peter Minich and Samuel Leopold are the Trustees.
This society reject infant baptism, and practice immersion, and the literal washing of the saints' feet as appointed ordinances, and believe in the personal reign of Christ. They reject all creeds and take the New Testament for their discipline.
The Church of God has at present over 1,000 ordained min- isters, and a membership of 65,000, and is at the present time building . college at Findlay, Ohio, at a cost of over $100,000.
"By Swen Anderson. +By R. C. Brencies.
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
KEMPTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH*
The organization known as the Sugar Loaf appointment of the Methodist Episcopal Church was first effected in the fall of 1872, in what was called the Bute Schoolhouse, in District No. 8, Mona Township. Previous to this time, there had been occasional preaching in that neighborhood by Rev. Michael Lewis, better known as Father Lewis.
There were but few members at first, but these took hold in earnest, and soon others came in, forming a larger and more firm- ly established organization. The original members of this church were as follows : Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. George Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. James Wade, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Heavisides, Mrs. Jackson Bute, Mrs. David Keighin, Mr. and Mrs. George Evans, Father Lewis and wife.
Until the town hall was built, the society worshiped in the Bute Schoolhouse, but after the completion of the hall in 1877 the meetings were held there. When the village of Kempton sprang up in 1877, the place of worship was transferred to & ball in the village. In the fall of 1881, steps were taken to build a house of worship in Kempton; the following spring the work was commenced, resulting in the erection of s nest and commodious church edifice, costing about $2,000.
The first Pastor of the church was Rev. J. D. Calhoun, who preached one year ; this was his first appointment. He was fol- lowed by Rev. Rutledge, who was in charge a year. The next pastor was Rev. Woodward, who remained one year ; his successor was Rev. J. A. Flowers, whose term lasted two years. Follow- ing him came Rev. Wilson, who preached two years. Rev. Joe Bell succeeded him, and was in charge three years. The present pastor is Rev. Charles David.
Robert Lewin, Thomas Heavisides, Andrew Stuart and Thomas Shaw have acted as stewards at various times, the latter being in office at the present time.
This appointment is in the Onarga Conference, of which Rev. G. W. Que is Presiding Elder. The church at Kempton is now in a flourishing condition.
A large membership was added during the winter of 1883-84.
MELVIN.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Melvin. t-This church was first organized in 1871, November 26. It sprung from what was known as Pierce's Mission. Father Pierce, an old Scotch local preacher living at "Olive Grove," came into Peach Orchard Township and established a regular preaching place at Grand Prairie Schoolhouse in 1869, which, with other similar preaching places in neighboring townships was called Pierce's Mission. When the village of Melvin was started, the Grand Prairie ap- pointment was moved to Melvin. Its name was changed to the Methodist Episcopal Church, with Rev. T. P. Henry as first pastor on a circuit of three appointments, namely, Melvin, Rob- erts and Bell Schoolhouse, Ole Johnson, James Dixon, Charles Phillips and T. D. Thompson being the first board of stewards, Charles Phillips, Mary Phillips, William Thompson, T. D. Thompson, Mrs. T. D. Thompson, Alexander Stevens, Mariah Stevens and Jane Ogden forming the first class at Melvin, with Charles Phillips as Leader. Meetings were held in the school- house and hall until the fall of 1879, when the society began the erection of a church, which was completed in the spring of 1880, at a cost of $2,400, and dedicated June 20, 1880, by W. H. H. Adams, President Wesleyan University of Bloomington, Ill. Thomas Fletcher, Alex Yarbrough, L. S. Heath, Henry Halver- son, J. H. Higgason, W. J. Hunt, J. M. Thompson and T. D. Thompson being the first board of trustees.
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