Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 69

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1 > Part 69

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FARMINGDALE .- This Church was organized in 1833 by a colony that emigrated from near Pots- dam, N. Y., and settied in Gardner Township, about nlne mlles west of Springfield. The origi- nal membership numbered thirty. The first eiders were Asci Lyman, ileraldus Estabrook

and Luther N. Ransom. The Church was furn- ished with occasional supplies tlil 1836 when Rev. Thomas Gait was ordained and installed as pastor. The subsequent pastors up to 1865 were: Rev. Bilious Poud, Mr. Plummer, C. E. Barton, E. Jenney, C. E. Blood, C. L. Watson, George C. Wood.

In 1865, Venter Presbyterian Church, and the Church of Farmingdale were united under the name of Farmington. Since this union the Church has had the following pastors: Revs. J. D. Kerr, Alien McFarlaud, A. S. Peck, Asa Leard, J. M. Ross, Thomas G. Pearce, H. G. McCool, George C. Flett, Eliis M. Steeu. The present pastor is Rev. William O. Taibott.

SMYRNA .- This Church belonged to the Cum- berland Presbyterian denomination until the re- union with the Presbyterlan Church in 1906. As early as 1832 there was occasional preaching in Loamui Township by Rev. Thomas Campbeli, a Cumberland ·Presbyterian minister. In 1835 Rev. Abner W. Lansdeu settied in that section. and preached iu the groves and school houses Ile gathered a congregation of Cumberiand Pres- byterians, but there was no formai organization until May 6, 1848, when a church was organized at Sulphur Spring, near the preseut town of Loami, and named Smyrna. There were twenty- one members. Three elders were elected, Dr. John B. Abel, E. D. Burton and John Mahard,

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

and W. W. Jarrett was elected deacon. The following ministers have served as pastors or supplies : Revs. J. V. VanPatten, N. C. Bell, Barnahas Lyman, Wiley Knowles, Thomas Potter, J. M. Johnson, W. R. Cremeans, and others. In addition to those elected at the or- ganization, the following have served as elders : J. G. Park, W. W. Jarrett, A. Short, William Oats, T. Jarrett, W. H. H. Harris, J. G. Short, D. Staley, W. C. Park, H. A. Park, William McClain, G. W. Madwith, J. W. Park, C. S. Park. The deacons have been W. W. Jarrett, W. K. Mahard, Walter Bowenne, N. Park, T. Jarrett and A. V. Staley. Two members of the original organization, Millicent Jarrett and Angeline McElvane, were living in 1910. The building is on the southeast corner of the north- west quarter of Section 9, Township 14 North, Range 7 West, of the Third Principal meridian in Maxwell Township. It Is known as Lick Creek Chapel, and was built jointly by the Methodist and Cumberland Presbyterians in 1870.

PROVIDENCE .- This Church is situated in Max- well Township. It has forty members, but no complete report of its history is at hand.

PLEASANT PLAINS .- About the year 1865, when the Center Presbyterian Church was united with the Church at Farmingdale, the building was removed and reconstructed in the town of Pleasant PlaIns. It has usually beeu supplied in connection with the Farmingdale Church as part of the same pastoral charge, but at times has had separate pastors. Rev. George E. Sanderson supplied the church for three years from 1898 to 1901. In 1906, under the pastorate of Rev. Ellis M. Steen, the church was increased and strengthened to such an ex- tent that it employed him for the full time of his services. It is now supplied by Rev. W. C. Shaffer.

WILLIAMSVILLE .- This Church, situated in the town of Williamsville, was organized August 26, 1857, with eight members. Bryant Purcell was the first elder. The Church was without a regn- lar supply till 1862, when Rev. D. R. Todd be- came the supply for half his time until February, 1867. The following pastors and supplies have served, viz: Revs. A. Bartholomew, W. G. Keady, B. E. Mayo, M. M. Cooper, S. B. Ayers, Simon Benson, John Roberts, and Elmer P. Loose. The congregation owns a substantial brick building and a parsonage.

BUFFALO HART .- Several Presbyterian Churches were organized in the eastern part of the county which are not now in existence. One of these was at Illiopolis organized in 1868 and another at Buffalo, organized in 1865. A Church had been organized at Dawson on January 23, 1857, with twelve members. James Wilson was the first elder. The following ministers supplied the Daw- son church : Revs. J. G. Bergen, D. R. Todd, E. W. Thayer, A. Bartholomew, W. G. Keady and B. E. Mayo. In July, 1886, the Church was united with the Williamsville Church, being known as the "Union Presbyterian Church of Williams- ville." The services in that part of the fieid were conducted in a building owned jointly by the Presbyterians and three other denomina- tions, and situated a mile and a half south of Buffalo Hart Station on the Illinois Centrai Railroad. In 1898, a separate organization was effected, and shortly after a church building, entirely under the control of the Presbyteriaus, was erected at Buffalo Hart Station. Revs. John Roberts, Elmer P. Loose. C. E. Kalb, Paul HellIgman and other ministers have supplied the pulpit.

BATES .- This Church was organized at the statlon of the same name on the Wabash Rail- road, May 29, 1869, with eleven members. The first elders were David A. Brown and Alexander A. Patteson. A suItable building was erected and an interest secured in another bullding at New Berlin, three miles farther west. Services have been held at both these stations. The fol- lowing ministers have supplied the pulpit : Revs. John H. Brown, D. D., E. W. Thayer, G. W. F. Birch, J. G. Bergen, D. D., Allen McFariand, H. V. D. Nevius, D. D., A. H. Bates, Reuben S. Smith, II. A. Stinson. C. E. Kalb, D. G. Brad- ford and others.

DIVERNON .- This Church, originally known as Brush Creek Church, was organized April 12, 1871, with fifteen members. R. S. Brown was the first elder. The following ministers have served as pastors and supplies : Revs. John II. Harris, H. G. Pollock, John D. Jones, E. W. I .. Tarbet, Aaron Thompson, W. II. Dunning, D. L. Temple, M. H. Ambrose, E. M. Snook, E. I .. Dresser and E. C. Pires. In the summer of 1887 the church edifice was removed to Divernon. about a mlle distant, and a parsonage was built. The building has since been remodeied and en- iarged and adapted to the needs of a modern church.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

PAWNEE .- In the sunumer of 1896, Rev. Johu H. Rose, an evangelist working under the dirce- tion of the Committee on Home Missions of the Synod of Illinols, held a serles of meetings which resulted in much religions interest, and in a movement to organize a church. This was effected November 18. 1897, with a membership of twenty-five. The following have served as elders : Harry Fnrry, W. W. Wells, J. H. Colean, F. A. Partridge, T. W. Smith, Thomas Carswell, S. D. Vangleson, C. W. Kessler. The following ministers have served the Churell: Revs. E. B. Miuer, A. J. Ross, Walter | Whallon (student), F. J. Beyson, Robert Carson, Edward I. Stearns (student), H. D. Trickcy. The present pastor is Rev. A. R. Allison. The membership in 1910 is 104. The church bni'ding was ereeted in 1901 at a cost of $4,500 an dedicated December 2, 1901.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES. (By Hon. James M. Graham.)

One of the earliest if not the very earliest) Catholie settlements within the present limits of Sangamon County was lu Ball Township, near the present village of Glenarm, at St. Bernard's Church, but which is now better known as the Sugar Creek Church.

Eight years after Illinois was admitted to the Union as a State (that is, in 1826), a num- ber of families migrated from Kentucky to what is now' Ball Towns',,D. They came originally from Maryland to Kentucky, and after sojourn- ing in that State for muore thau a generation, pushed their way to the falr prairles of the Sangamon. Among them were the Burtles, Gattons, Simpsons, and Logsdons.

William Burtle, the plonecr of his family, was born in Maryland, in 1780, and came with his parents to Kentucky when he was a boy. He marrled Sarah Ogden there, and when forty-six years old. he at 1 his wife and their nine children moved from their Kentucky home to the fertile prairie on Sngar Creek, settling In Bali Town- slip about 200 yards east of where St. Bernard's Cimrch now stands. Here he built a commodious log house into which he moved his family in the spring of 1828.

In 1828, James Simpson followed Mr. Burtle from Kentucky, and two years later his brother Richard Simpson came. In 1827 Josephus

Gatton eamc, later bringing with him from Kentucky his widowed mother, Mrs. Ruth Gat- ton. Mr. Joseph Logsdon however seems to have been the earliest of them ali, he having come in 1824. In 1829 they were so lonesome for the comfort and consolation which the sacra- ments of the church afford, that they determined to obtain a visit from a priest, and so Mr. William Burtle and Mr. James Simpson joined in a re- quest to the church authorities at St. Louis, to send a priest to minister to the spiritual wants of the little colouy on Sugar Creek. In re- sponse to the request, Father Dusnawas eame to them, and mass was by him celebrated in the home of Joseph Logsdon. This, so far as known, was the first time mass was ever celebrated in Sangamon County. Mr. Burtle has said that at that time there were ouly two Catholie familles in Springfield.

From time to time after this, a priest visited the settlement, celebrated mass and admistered tie sacraments. The Rev. Father Joseph A. Lutz was the next priest to attend to them, and after him eame the Rev. Father Von Quicken- bon. About 1831 or '32, Mr. Logsdon moved to Missouri, and from that time until 1849, services were conducted at the home of Mr. Burtle with more or less regularity. In 1849 a church was built - on the spot where St. Bernard's now stands, but in 1865 this was sold and the present building erected, so that the descendants of many of these old pioneers continue to worship God on the very spot where the zeal of their pioneer ancestors ereeted an altar under such adverse and trying eircumstances. Among those who stili live in the old neighborhood and cling to the old faith is John T. Burtle (son of Thomas) and his family, Mrs. Burtle being a descendant of James Simpson.

SPRINGFIELD "PARISII OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION."-There is a petition on file in the archives at Rome, dated 1830, asking that Springfield be given a Bishop, but evidently the petition was considered premature. The Rev. Irenaeus St. Cyr tells, in a letter dated January 11, 1834, of coming from Chicago to visit Catho- lic missions at Sugar Creek, Springfield, and other points in the Sangamon country. This was the first time that a priest had visited Spring- field so far as known. Father Grabo, a mis- sionary priest, attended Springfield in 1842, and the records of the Immaculate Conception parish show that he administered the saerament of

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

haptism there ou August 6th of that year. The same record shows that three days earlier (August 3) Father Allen, S. J., administered haptism, and on January 4, 1843, Rev. J. Timon, who was afterwards Bishop of Buffalo, N. Y., visited there. It is helleved these priests cele- hrated mass at the residence of a Creole uamed Willian Schovelle, hut better knowu as "Billy the harber." It is also pretty certain that ahout this time mass was celebrated in the court house.

On March 10, 1844, the Diocese of Chicago was established, with Right Rev. Willlam Quarter as its first Bishop, aud Sangamon County was at- tached to the new diocese.

A few days before. on February 18, 1844, Father George A. Hamilton was installed as the first resideut pastor of Springfield. The next year (1845) he succeeded iu erecting a little church on the south side of East Adams Street, between Eighth aud Ninth Streets, known as the church of "St. John the Baptist." That his position was not a sinecure Is apparent, from the fact he attended Sugar Creek, Horse Creek, Bear Creek, South Fork, Taylorville, Jacksonville, Postvllle, Turkey Prairie and Virginia iu addl- tion to Springfield, aud it is safe to assume he didn't ride on electric interurhan cars or In an automobile to any of these points.

There are over twenty resident priests in that territory now. In May, 1846, he went east, and died there. He was succeeded by Father Phillp Conlon, who continued in charge till 1850, and was In turn succeeded hy Father Gifford, a Scotchman. Father Gifford died In 1853, at the O'Hara settlement In Randolph County. Father Nicholas Stelle then had charge for a short time, and was succeeded in 1854 by Father M. Preuder- gast. Father Prendergast's pastorate was hotlı short and stormy. He was followed by Father Michael Henley, who was later appointed the first Bishop of Peoria, hut declined to serve.

The next pastor, the Rev. H. Quigley, a writer of some reputation, took charge in 1855. He secured the lot on which the Church of the Immaculate Conception now stands and hegan the erection of a church hullding there. He got the foundation lald, hut, probably on account of difficulties with some of the members of the congregation, he left hefore the hullding was coupleted. Ile was followed in rapid succession by Fathers Muller and McElhearn, and they in turn, hy Father James Fitzglhhon, in 1858.

Father Fitz, as he was familiarly called, devoted mnuch of his great euergy to completing the uew church. He discarded the plans adopted by Father Quigley, and employed a local architect whose name was Dennis. It was probably not hls uame which caused it, hut the result was disastrous. The floor gave way ou the day the church was dedicated and the overhanglug roof had to be taken down. A parochial residence was soon erected adjoining the church, and a small frame school house was huilt in the yard nearby. The boys attended this school, which was taught hy the Brothers of the Holy Cross from Notre Dame, Iud. The girls attended St. Joseph's Convent. An event of much local slg- nificance occurred on St. Patrick's day 1860, when Goveruor Bissell dled a Catholic and was huried from the Church of the Immaculate Con- ception. The famous Jesuit Missionary priest, Father Smarius, preached the funeral sermon, and it is even yet referred to as a discourse of extraordinary eloquence and power.

Father Fitzgibbon left the parish in January, 1864. From January till the end of May there was no regular pastor, and the religious wants of the congregation were attended to hy the Rev. F. H. Zahel, D. D., now of Bunker Hill, Ili., and the Rev. Fatlier Stick, then a young man, just ordained.

At the end of May, 1864, the Rev. Joseph Costa took charge as rector, and remained till the eud of 1866. He was succeeded hy the Rev. Louis Hinssen, who died a few years ago inl Springfield, after a splendid administration as Spiritual Director of St. John's Hospital. During Father Hinssen's pastorate the old St. John's hullding, wlilch had heen abandoned hy the German Catholics for the uew Sts. Peter and Paul church, was obtained as a school for girls, and Sisters of Notre Dame, from Milwau- kee, secured as teachers.

Father John Sullivan succeeded Father Hinssen hut died after a service of a little more than a year, aud is buried in Calvary Cemetery. After his death Father Hinssen temporarily ad- ministered to the spiritual wants of the people till near the end of 1869, when Father P. Brady was taken from Cairo, Ill., and placed in charge, where he continued uninterruptedly and success- fully for twenty years. In 1889 Father Brady was removed to and made irremovable rector at Jacksonville, where he dled and was buried in 1892, and the Very Rev. Timothy Hickey, Vicar

CHURCH OF THIE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, SPRINGFIELD

ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD

INTERIOR, ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD

2441

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

869

General of the Diocesc, was transferred from Jacksonville to the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.

During Father Brady's long service the church was greatly increased in size, a fine two story brick school house has been built, and many other improvements made which go to show the great increase in the numbers and wealth of the congregation.

Vicar General Ilckey is an irremovable rector, and is, of course, still in charge, full of strength and zeal, and in the natural course of events, destined for very many years to see his people multiply and prosper, growing in wealth and in grace ; his parish, paradoxical as it may seem, continually growing smaller geographically and greater numerically as time passes. Under Father Hickey's administration an elegant resi- dence has been built, the church reconstructed, and newly furnished thronghout. He installed the Dominican Sisters in the parochial school and placed it on a basis which makes it the equal of any graded school in a city noted for its schools. It is attended by nearly 500 boys and girls.

As indicative of the growth of the Catholic Church In Springfield, it may be mentioned that, from the little wooden structure on East Adams Street, in 1845, have sprung seven fine parish churches and three very fine chapels, some of the buildings being now so crowded with worshippers that at least two more must be provided in the near future.

SS. PETER AND PAUL'S .- SS. Peter and Paul's was the first German Catholic, and the second Catholle congregation to be organized in Springfield. There was a considerable German Catholic population in the city, many of whom understood and spoke English Imperfectly. The necessity for a priest who conld speak German and the great detriment to the church for lack of such a man are very apparent from an entry made by Bishop Van de Velde in his diary, on the occasion of an official visit to the city in the fall of 1849.

Ile writes :- "On October 14, 1849 (Sun- day) sald first mass and preached at the last, no choir now, no first communion or con- firmnations, the children not being sufficiently instructed. No vespers. No evening ser- vice. And this is the Capital of the State. Low frame church St. John the Baptist 60 by 27. Spent the whole evening and part of the

next evening to hear the confessions of the Germans."

"October 15. At 9 o'clock said mass for the Germans; forty of them received communion, most of whom for the want of a German priest had not approached the sacrament for the last few years."

In spite of these unfavorable conditions, how- ever, the whole Catholle population had to wor- ship in old St. John's, till the erectiou of the new church of the Immaculate Conception. When it was dedicated the English speaking members of the congregation moved into it, the Germans re- maining in the old church, they having bonght all other interests in it for the sum of $900. A new German congregation was then organized, with Rev. John Janssen as pastor. Father Jans- sen, who is now Bishop of the new diocese of Belleville, remained in Springfield many years, and by his many excellent qualities of head and heart endeared himself greatly to the people.

In 1863 Father William Busch, who succeeded Father Janssen, purchased three lots at the corner of Sixth and Reynolds Streets, where the church now stands, and at once set about the erection of a uew building. On September 27, 1865, the corner stone was laid, and in less than one year the building was completed and occu- pied. Two years later, on July 13, 1867, Father Busch died. Ilis remains lle iu Calvary Ceme- tery.

He was sncceeded by Rev. G. Lueken. Father Lueken bought the lot next south of those already owned by the congregation, at a cost of $2,500, and erected the front portion of the present parochial residence. He remained till the fall of 1875, and was succeeded by Rev. G. Leve. Father Leve continued in the parish till 1882. During his Incumbency the congregation bouglit the remaining portion of the half block south to Mason Street, from the Ursuline Sisters, paying them $4,000 for it. In 1882 his health failed, he gave up his charge, and returned to Germany, Iris native land.

Rev. M. Wels, the next rector, remahned till 1887; erected the fine belfry, enlarged the sanc- tnary and otherwise Improved the church. He brought the Ursuline Sisters from Alton to take charge of the parish school, also built the front portion of the Sisters' residence.

Father Weis was succeeded by Father Louis Hinssen, already mentioned as pastor of the Im- maculate Conception Church, who remained in

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY

charge nearly a year, when he was appointed Splrituai Director of St. John's Hospital, where he served tiil his death.

The next pastor was Rev. A. J. Pennartz. During Father Pennartz's pastorate a fine parochial school building was erected at a cost of $13,000, and a considerable addition built to the Sisters' residence. He was succeeded in 1896 by Rev. L. Ricsen, the present pastor. Father Riesen huilt a large addition to the pa- rochlal residence, and a fine steam-heating piant, from which aii the parish hnildIngs are heated, the plant costing $10,000.

There are over 300 families in SS. Peter and Paul's parish, and about 350 children attend the parish school, which is in charge of the Ursuline Sisters. Up to the year 1883 this parish em- braced ail the German Catholics of the city, but at that time it hecame inadequate to the needs of the people, and a new German Catholic par- ish was established in the southeast part of the city under the name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

ST. JOSEPH'S .- Following the order of time, St. Joseph's was the next parish organized. This congregation was organized in 1875 under the pastorate of Father Manasses Kane. The church is located in the north end of the city, at time corner of North Sixth Street and Eastman Avenue.

When it was organized as a separate parlsh the Springfield rolling miil and the watch fac- tory, both located in that part of the city, were employing a large number of men, and many of these lived in the neighborhood of their employ- ment and earned liberal wages. But the rolling mili soon began to dwindie away, and finally it entirely disappeared.

Father Kane began the erection of a fine brick church and a two-story brick schoolhouse and fin- Ished both, but failing work made it impossible to pay the iarge debt thus incurred. Father Kane was succeeded in 1881 by Rev. Daniel J. Ryan, a young man of fine vigor and ability, who worked hard to reduce the heavy load of debt under which the congregation staggered. It was only near the end of his pastorate that the con- gregation were enabied to build a parochial resl- dence, the pastor up to that time living in a rented house some distance from the church.

In 1896 Father Ryan went to Mt. Sterling, where he afterwards perished in a fire willch consumed his residence. He was succeeded

in St. Joseph's hy Rev. Michael Clifford, an ad- ministrator of marked ability. Under the man- agement of Father Clifford, St. Joseph's rapidly reduced its hurden of debt, and now has a par- ish property which compares favorably with any of her sisters.

In 1908 Father Clifford died, and is buried In Calvary cemetery. His successor Rev. Father O'Reilly, who came from St. Patrick's, in Alton, Ill., is still in charge, and St. Joseph's, under his guidance, hids fair to be one of the leadiug par- ishes of the city. The parish school is con- ducted by the Ursuline Sisters, who are doing good work. The school building is inadequate for the proper accommodation of the increasing attendance, and they are considering the erection of a new building on the lots owned by the par- ishi fronting on Fifth Street.

THE SACRED HEART .- The congregation of the Sacred Heart was established February 16, 1884, by the Rev. P. J. Baltes, Blshop of Alton, with about 85 families, who at that time formed a part of Saints Peter and Paul's congregation. This step was taken on account of the distance from church and school of those members living in the southeast part of the city near the Wa- hash machine shops and coal mines. The Rev. Carl Krekenhurg, then assistant priest at Saints Peter and Paul's Church, was appointed the first rector of the new congregation. (For a fuller history of this church see "Church of the Sacred Heart," with sketch of Rev. Carl Krekenburg, its present rector, in iater part of this chapter.)

ST. AGNES' PARISHI .- In the year 1888 a new parish was carved out of that fruitful mother of parishes, the Immaculate Conception. In Octo- ber of that year the parish of St. Agnes was or- ganized with the Rev. James Howard, D. D., as its first pastor. This was the first new parish organized in the Diocese under the administra- tlou of Bishop Ryan, and occurred shortly after his consecration in 1888.

The church is located one block west of the State House on West Capitol Avenue, is a fine brick structure and, interioriy, one of the pret- tiest church bulldings in the city. Bishop Thomas O'Gorman of South Dakota preached at the corner-stone laying, and Bishop (now Arcil- bishop) Spaulding, of Peoria, preached at the dedication, Bishop Ryan of Alton officiating on botlı occasions.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 1, Part 69

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864