USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 67
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The Business Men's Association originated the carnivai during Fair Week, and have maintained it since, and its influence is hringing people to the Fair and inducing them to stay over night, in my opinion, caunot he overestimated.
They have maintained a daily hulietin and a credit rating system for some years, which has heen of material assistance in protecting . the financial interests of the husiness community.
I am not attempting to teil you of all the things the Business Men's Association has ac- compiished, hut only those few things which I know of my own knowiedge, and it is marvelous to me that, in this age of organized city pro- inotion, they have heen so successful with the very insufficient funds they have always had.
BEGINNINO OF AD MEN'S CLUB .- The Ad Men's Cluh, of which the Chamber of Commerce was an outgrowth, was formed February 14, 1906,
iu the ordinary of the St. Nicholas Hotel. At this meeting uineteeu men were present, ail of whom, in one way or another, were interested in pointed to select officers for the ensuing year.
The first civic movements which the Ad Men's Cluh attempted were the "Made in Springfield Fair," which, I think I can say, was most suc- cessful, and the Subway problem which, not- withstanding the repeated entreaties of the State Board of Agriculture for hetter transportation facilities to the Fair Ground, had heen delayed for years. The huilding of the subway was accomplished hy hearing from all sides inter- ested, and putting them on record hefore iarge audiences of representative business men. The movement was hegun on November 27, 1907, and was pushed until it was successfully accom- plished.
NAME CHANGED TO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE .- On February 26, 1908, the Ad Men's Ciub inad grown until it had ahout five hundred members and, as advertising had now hecome a popular custom, hut of secondary importance as a new policy, a large meeting was heid in tile diuing room of the Leland Hotel and the name of the organization was changed to the "Chamber of Commerce."
On March 18, 1908. the first election of offi- cers was held with three tickets in the field, of which the following were elected :
President-Nicholas Roherts.
Vice-President-P. B. Warren.
Second Vice-President-Owsley Brown. Secretary-J. II. Sikes.
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
1
Treasurer-J. II. Holbrook.
In May of that year I came to the conclusion I could no longer afford to neglect my own business for the work of the Association, which became heavier and more varled as the member- ship grew, and I. therefore, resigned and the Board of Directors elected Mr. E. A. Hall, President, and engaged me at a salary to de- vote all of my time to the work which I did for three years.
I want here to enumerate some of the things which the Chamber of Commerce has accom- plished or undertaken to do :
Made iu Springfield Falr.
Secured Subway to Fair Ground.
Participated in organizing the Lincoln Cen- tennlal Association.
Located Fetzer Factory.
Hold a public meeting In the height of the rlot where resolutions were passed and money ap- propriated to assist the State's Attorney in prosecuting suspects.
Established a Free Public Information Bureau for the benefit of Leland fire sufferers.
Led the fight against Peoria's State Fair Bill. Organized the Springfieid Hotel Company and raised $500,000 for building the new Leland Ilotel.
Located Mine Rescue Statlon.
Located Pickie Factory.
Fought and killed blll for removal of State Fair.
Established a permanent free Information Bureau for State Fair visitors, taking care of over 10,000 people during each Fair week.
Settled Vredenburgh Strike.
Extended courtesies to thousands of conven- tion visitors.
Inaugurated Trade Excursions.
Conducted campaign of Commission Form of Government.
Raised half of funds to pay Business Men's Association factory debts.
During the last year of Its work the reputa- tion and standing of the Chamber of Commerce had grown to such an extent that they were ealied on dally to take up every sort of a proposition. They could not handle one-half of the matters brought to their attention, and it took a great deai of the Secretary's time merely to investigate these varlous propositions and to separate the chaff from the wheat. It might Interest you to know that we get letters ad-
dressed to the "Chamber of Commerce of Spring- fieid, Iil.," from organizations of llke character from every corner of the world.
CONSOLIDATION OF ALL COMMERCIAL CLUBS AS THE SPRINGFIELD COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION .- It had been suggested to the Boards of Direc- tors of the Chamber of Commerce and the Busi- ness Men's Association, that these two organi- zations should unlte and give Springfield one stroug organization.
Accordingly a committee from the Chamber of Commerce, consisting of H. M. Merriam, George Pasfield, Jr., and Nicholas Roberts, and a committee from the Business Men's Associa- tion, consisting of Adolph Kunz, Charies H. Robinson and E. L. Chapin, were appointed to take up negotiations with a view of effecting consolidatiou.
To give the members the fuliest opportunity to express themselves the following question was submitted to every member of both organiza- tlons by mail referendum vote on August 1, 1910. (1.) "Shall the Business Men's Association and the Chamber of Commerce of Springfield, Illinois, be consolidated?"
The result of the vote was as follows :
For
Against
Chamber of Commerce. 514
12
Business Men's Association. 216 12
-
Total 730 24
A constitutiou was accordingly submitted and was adopted by a maii referendum vote, and in accordance with its provisions an election of Directors was held on April 18, 1911. There were forty-one candidates for. Directors, of which the following were elected: George Pasfield, Jr., J. H. Holbrook, Hai M. Smith, Charles H. Robli- son, James A. Easley, Edward W. Payne, H. M. Merriam, Ira B. Blackstock, Louis M. Myers, J. K. Payton, W. H. Conkiing, Harry M. Snape, E. L. Chapln, Edward F. Irwin, C. W. II. Schuck.
On April 25, 1911, the Board of Directors met and elected the following officers :
President-George Pasfieid, Jr.
Vice-President-J. H. Holbrook.
Vice-President-Hai M. Smith.
Treasurer-Chas. H. Robinson.
Secretary-Nicholas Roberts.
The Association was then incorporated under the laws of Illinois with the following gentle- meu as incorporators : George Pasfieid, Sr., John
856
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
W. Bunn, William Ridgely, George Reisch, John Bressmer, Howard K. Weber, B. R. Hieronymus, Edgar S. Scott, Edward W. Payne, Edward D. Keys.
At the time of the consolidation of the two organizations the Chamber of Commerce had about eight hundred members and the Business Men's Association about four hundred, but as the membership was to some extent coincident, the new Association has about one thousand members, consisting of manufacturers, bankers, business and professional men-in fact, meu in all the walks of life-are interested in the commercial and industrial development of Springfield.
Between 1900 and 1910, according to the cen- sus of these years, the population of Springfield increased fifty-one and oue-half per cent, which is a remarkable showing for a city ninety years old, and it must be remembered that it stands by itself as a city, and not as the suburb of any great metropolis.
With a strong united business and social or- ganization; with great deposits of bituminous coal, clays and shales ; with excelleut transpor- tation facilities; with a location rendering it accessible to all markets; with a beautiful park system and a splendid class of citizens, making it a desirable place of residence-Springfield should, and will, become a great manufacturing center.
CHAPTER XL.
CHURCH HISTORY.
SANOAMON COUNTY CHURCHES-METHODIST EVAN- OELISTS OF 1819-20-SUBSEQUENT M. E. CHURCH OROANIZATIONS IN SPRINOFIELD AND SANOAMON COUNTY-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN SPRINOFIELD ESTABLISHED IN 1828-LATER OR- OANIZATIONS IN CITY AND COUNTRY DISTRICTS, WITH LIST OF PASTORS-SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH JUBILEE OF 1910-FIRST CELEBRATION OF CATHOLIC MASS ON SUGAR CREEK IN 1829 -PRESENT CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN SPRINGFIELD AND SANOAMON COUNTY-URSULINE CONVENT AND SACRED HEART ACADEMY-FIRST BAPTIST OR-
GANIZATION IN 1830-PATRIOTISM OF THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD- CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOUNDED IN 1833-CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CELEBRATION IN 1901-EPISCOPAL CHURCHES, RECTORS AND PRES- ENT MEMBERSHIP-LUTHERAN CHURCHES, CON- GREGATIONAL AND UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH OROANIZATIONS.
The following chapter is made up of contribu- tions from the heads or representatives of differ- ent Christian denominations in Sangamou County, arranged in chronological order as to date of organization, giving a general history of church organizations in the county, with lists of individual churches and pastors of each, and other important facts of local church history :
METHODISM IN SANGAMON COUNTY.
(By Rev. William N. McElroy, D. D.)
Methodism was introduced into Sangamon County with its earliest settlement. In 1819 and 1821 several Methodist families came into the uewly formed county. Joseph Dixon settled on Horse Creek, in what is now Chatham Township, William and Joseph Drennan on Sugar Creek, and John Cooper in what became Cooper Town- ship. The latter was a prominent man and local preacher, and a society or class was formed in his house in 1820. Joseph Dixon, who was a man of some wealth, built the first Meth- odist church erected in the county, known as Zion Chapel, and used until 1843, when it was burned. In 1821 the Rev. Charles R. Matheny came and settled in Springfield. He had been the third Methodist missionary appointed for service in the Territory of Illinois in 1805, and built the first Methodist Episcopal church erected in the State, near the present city of Edwards- ville. It was a small log house, known as Bethel church, and was in the Goshen Settlement, now iu Madison County, but then a part of St. Clair County. Mr. Matheny was an itinerant in Illi- nois but oue year, when he located, studied law, and married Miss Jemima Ogle, a daughter of Captain Joseph Ogle, who led the Colony brought to Illinois by Gen. James Moore, from Virginia in 1780, and became the first Methodist in Illinois. Mr. Matheny was a representative from St. Clair County in the Territorial General As- sembly, and also in the Second General Assem- bly after the admission of Illinois in 1818. On coming to Sangamon County he became the first
DOUGLAS AVENUE M. E. CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD
SECOND M. E. CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD
ELLIOTT AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD
SOUTH SPRINGFIELD BAPTIST MISSION
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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
County Clerk, also served as Circuit Clerk, Re- corder and Probate Judge for some years, and later was President of the Board of Trustees of the village of Springfield. The first Methodist Society of Springfield (now the First M. E. Church), was organized in Mr. Matbeny's house In 1821, and services were held there and in his office until a school house was built.
The Carpenter family also came to Springfield In 1820. Daniel Riddle came to the county in 1819, settling some mlies east of Springfield, and in 1821 a class was organized in his house. Reuben Harrison and W. B. Renshaw came in 1820 and settled on the head of Richland Creek, and a year or two later John Smith settled a few ulles southwest of Springfield. Captain James N. Brown, In hls day one of the most prominent citizens of Sangamon, settled in Island Grove, In 1833, and a society was organized in hls house in 1835. Rev. Peter Cartwright came In 1824, and settled near the location of the present village of Pleasant Piains. Many other prominent Methodist families came into the Connty about the same time, or a little later. The McCoys of Rochester, the McDaniels of Buf- falo, the FullInwiders and Halls of Mechanics- burg Township, Husseys of Fancy Creek, Shep- berds of Woodside Township, Smiths of Island Grove, and others too numerous to meutlon. -
The first M. E. Circult, formed in 1820, was known as tbe Sangamon Circuit, sometimes spelled "Sangamo," and sometimes "Sanga- maugh," In the early days. It embraced the county from a few inlles north of Carlinville to the limitiess north, and from the IllInols River on the west to an unmeasured distance east. The first preacher appointed to the circult was the Rev. James Sims. Hls circuit embraced hoth sldes of the Sangamon River and Its tribn- tarles, and there was not, at that time, a single Methodist society or orgaulzation, let alone a church building, in ali its area. It was virgin soll. pure and simple, in which the itinerant minister was to plant the gospel seed. He preached the first sermon in Rochester, Clear Lake, Cooper, Mechanlesburg. Cartwright, Talk- Ington, Salisbury, Chatham and Springfield Townships, or in what afterward became these townships. Mr. Sims was born in Virginia and reared in South Carolina, and In the spring of 1820 settled on Sugar Creek and there built a horse mill. Upon the organization of Sangamon County he was appointed Treasurer of the
County, but declined, and Instead became the first member elected to the Legislature from Sangamon County. He was an itinerant min- ister but one year later removing to Morgan County, when he assisted in the organization of the Protestant Methodist church in the State of Illinois. He dled in 1843. He was followed on the Sangamon cirenit in 1821 by Rev. John Glan- ville, who organized the first Socletles in what is uow Rochester, at Davld Riddle's, at John Cooper's, at Springfield, and various other piaces in the county. After this general Intro- duction the following will embrace the organ- Izatlon, bistory and growth of Methodism In the varions localities from Its beginning until the present time.
SPRINGFIELD CHURCHES .- The first Methodist Society in Springfield was organized by Rev. John Glanville, in the home of Charles R. Ma- theny, in 1821, services being held In Mr. Matheny's bouse and office until the schoolhouse was erected, and there until 1830, when the first Methodist Episcopal church In Springfield was built. This church was an oblong frame hulld- ing, located on the northeast corner of Monroe and Fifth streets, where the Franklin bniiding now stands. The lot was deeded to the society by Mr. Enos. This house was enlarged In 1842 by bullding transepts on both sides In the rear of the building, Dr. Jonathan Stamper then heing pastor. The building became too small for the congregation, and in 1852 it was removed and a brick building, with a basement and a spire, erected in Its place. This hullding served the First church congregation until 1885, when the present stone church was built on the southeast corner of the same block, on Fifth Street and Capitol Avenue, at a cost of $80,000. The church has had many great revivals, one in 1833 under the ministry of the Rev. Smith L. Robinson ; one under the ministry of the Rev. Hooper Crews, D. D .; in 1842, under the ministry of Dr. Jon- athan Stamper; in 1848, while Rev. James F. Jaquess was pastor ; in 1852, nnder the pastorate of Rev. Thomas Magee; and the greatest of all In 1886, under the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Mus- grove aud Rev. Thomas Harrison, Evangelist, In wblch over two thousand souls professed con- version.
In 1850 a second church was organized under . the ministry of Rev. W. E. Johnson, who (hegin- ning without a single member) gathered in one year 104 members, and raised a subscription to
858
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
erect a church. He conducted a revival, or out- door meeting, on the ground where the State House now stands. He was followed by the Rev. L. C. Pitner under whose ministry a church was secured, and the congregation seemingly es- tahlished, hut contention arising, the church was dishanded and the bullding sold.
KUMLER CHURCH .- In 1865 the present Kumler church was organized as the Second M. E. church of Springfield, with eighty-three members, among whom were the late William M. Springer, then Member of Congress from the Springfield dis- trict, and Mrs. Springer, Mr. and Mrs. Noah Matheny, Colonel and Mrs. Dudley Wickersham, Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Staly. Each of these fam- ilies contributed $200 to the pastor's salary. William S. Prentice, D. D., hecame pastor. They bought and remodeled the Third Presbyterian church building, which stood on North Fifth Street hut is now used as offices of the Culver Construction Company. In 1887 the present Kumler church was built, and hecame the home of the Second Church congregation. It is an elegant stone structure located on North Fifth and Carpenter streets, and cost $40,000. It had quite a struggle with deht for a time, hut Is now free from deht and In a prosperous condition. Rev. R. L. Hobbs was the pastor when the church was huiit.
THE DOUGLAS AVENUE M. E. CHURCH was or- ganized in 1896 by the writer, then Presiding Eider of the Springfield District, with thirteen members. The huilding of the dishanded Cum- herland Presbyterian Church was rented and later purchased and used until 1903, when the present church edifice, located on the cor- ner of Douglas Avenue and Governor Street, was erected at a cost of $16,000. It is now (1910) heing enlarged at an additional cost of $9.000. Its membership has grown from thir- teen to nearly 500, and It is one of the most prosperous churches in the city.
THIE LAUREL M. E. CHURCHI was organized hy Rev. W. A. Smith, D. D., In 1898. A small edi- fice was erected in 1900 on Pine and College Streets. In 1907 a good hrlek church was huilt on South Grand Avenue West and College Streets, one of the finest locations in the city, costing $25,000. The church is prosperous, and numbers now (1910) over 300 members, and is constantly growing. .
NAST MEMORIAL GERMAN M. E. CHURCHI was organized as a Mission in 1849. The Rev. Henry
Lasham was the first pastor. A small hrick church was huilt or bought on North Eighth" Street and the soclety worshipped there until 1888, where the present stone church was.erected on the corner of West Adams and First Streets. The Rev. Philip Barth, one of the earliest Ger- mau Methodist preachers, was pastor at the time. The church is prosperous and has in it many of the best German families of Springfield.
GRACE M. E. CHURCH (Colored) was organized In 1893. It is located in the southeast part of the city. They hought a small frame church from the Protestant Episcopal church, and moved it to Its present location. The congregation Is small numerically, hut Is dolng good work among the colored people in its vleinity.
THE MAYFLOWER M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH (rather a strange name for a Southern church) is also located in the southeast part of the city. It was organized in 1904. It is not a very strong organization hut is dolng a good work in that part of Springfield.
SAINT PAUL'S AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH is lo- cated on the corner of Mason and Seventh Streets. We have not the date of its organiza- tion, but it was at least fifty years ago. It is a strong and rather aristocratic hody-numbers over 300 members, and worships in a large hrick church, huilt in 1905. It is a prosperous church and has in its membership many of the hest colored people in Springfield.
AUBURN TOWNSHIP .- In 1828 a soclety was organized at Harlan's Grove in Auburn Town- ship at the house of John French, and was the beginning of the M. E. church in that townshlp. In 1841 the meeting place hecame old Auburn, and in 1855 a church building was erected in what is now Auhurn. In 1863 a hetter church was huilt, which in 1903 was remodeled and en- larged. The church Is prosperous and has done good work for eighty-two years.
THE THAYER SOCIETY was organized and a church huilt In 1904, costing perhaps $3,000. The town has one of the largest mining industries In Sangamon County, and the church has grown through several fine revivals.
BUFFALO HART TOWNSHIP .- The first sermon preached in Buffalo Hart Township was preached hy the Rev. James Lynan, to four persons in 1836. A society was then organized and pros- pered for many years, hut is now extinct, the towns on the railways absorbing it.
THE BUFFALO SOCIETY was formed in the early
859
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
sixties. The first church building was erected In 1867 and dedicated by the Rev. Hiram Buck, D. D. A fine, new and modern hrick edifice, cost- ing ueariy $16,000, was dedicated in February, 1910, by Bishop Spellmeyer, which takes the place of the one built In 1867. The Buffalo church is a prosperous organization.
CARTWRIGHT TOWNSHIP .- The first sermon preached in Cartwright Township was dellvered hy the Rev. James Sims in 1820, at the home of Absalom Baker, and a society was formed there, but ceased to be, or was merged iong years since.
THE CHURCH. OF PLEASANT PLAINS Was organ- ized as early as 1825. Rev. Peter Cartwright io- cated there in 1824, and Pleasant Plalns was the home church of the Cartwright family. A Sem- inary was established there, in the early 'thirties. and continued for several years as a school of higher learning. We have not the date of the erectlon of the first church building, hut the present church was erected iu 1855, at a cost of $6.000, helng a very large church for that time. The present fine parsonage was enlarged and re- modeied from an oid one huilt about the same time as the church, in 1902. A great revival took place at Pleasant Plains in 1856, in which ninety souis were added to the church.
CHATHAM CHURCHI .- We are without date as to the organization of the church In Chatham, hut it was early. At first it was an appointment location on the Sulphur Spring circuit, then the head of a circuit in 1853 embracing the country south of Springfield as far west as Loami, and east to Zlon church and Pawnee. The church was huiit ahout 1852 or '53, and the present fine parsouage in 1894.
WESLEY CHAPEL in Curran Township, three miles south of Curran, and was huiit in 1866. It was first known as College Corner. The So- ciety was of a very early date.
MT. ZION CHURCH, three miles east of Wesley Chapel, was huilt in 1868, at a cost of $3.000. It was the home church of John Smith, one of the earliest settlers, and took the piace of an earlier one, concerning which we have no dates.
THE SOCIETY IN CURRAN was organized in 1894, and a church, costing about $2,500 was erected the same year and dedicated hy the writer. Dr. and Mrs. Peter Akers were the leading members, and Mr. Samuel Dunn was the largest contributor. Curran that year hecame the head of a circuit and a little later a good parsonage was bullt.
NEW SALEM CHURCH is located eight miles west of Springfield and was probably huilt ahout 1860. It is a good building and a flourishing society worships in It. A noted camp ground was near their church for many years, where many great camp meetings were held. It was on the Saiem camp ground that Dr. Peter Akers preached that great sermon predicting the civil war (some years before it came), and at which Mr. Lincoin was present, and the latter said that, somehow, while Dr. Akers was pre- dicting the coming struggle, he could not shake off the impression that in some way he would be strongly mixed up in it all ! Both Dr. Akers and Mr. Lincoln were gifted with the prophetic spirit and saw things ahead of them.
THE STRODES CLASS, southwest of Cantrall, in Fancy Township, was organized in 1831, and kept up its organization and preaching service until the close of the century, hut never huilt a church. It finaily disbanded five or six years ago, after having existed for more than seventy years.
THE CANTRALL CHURCH was organized in 1886, and the present church huilding erected in 1887. The corner stone was laid hy Rev. Wm. J. Rutledge, and he and the writer delivered addresses at the time.
FARMINGTON CHURCH, located one and a haif miles southwest of Farmingdale station, was huilt before the Civil War, and was the home church of the Watts, McMurry, Carson and Mor- ris families, prominent citizens of the iocallty as weil as Methodists.
THE ISLAND GROVE CHURCH was organized in 1825, and for eighty-five years has not ceased Its service. It was largely supported hy the Brown and Smith families, prominent and wealthy peopie. Capt. James N. Brown, the leading mem- ber, was a member of the General Assembly of the State, the first President of the State Agricultural Society, the introducer of the short- horn cattle into Iiiinois, and was a warm per- sonal friend of Abraham Lincoln. A little church was erccted, and is stlli in use.
THE LOAMI CHURCH was first known as Sul- phur Springs, and the society is of a very early date. The present church edifice was huilt more than forty years ago. There is a large con- gregation. a flourishing church and a good par- sonage.
SOUTH FORK CHURCH Is located four miles southeast of Loami, and connected with it for
.
860
HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY
preaching purposes. It also bas a flourishing society, with a good church built about 1865 or 1870.
THE LOWDER CHURCH was built in 1873 and tbe society was organized a few years earlier. It is an appointment in the Waverly circuit.
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