USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 19
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The building site for the church, consisting of two choice lots, was given by the Kincaid
Land Association August 20, 1915. The corner- stone of the new church building was laid October 17, 1915, with appropriate ceremonies. The building is made of pressed brick and is modern in every respect. It was erected at a cost of $10,000 and is a credit to men who con- ceived the idea and carried it to a successful consummation and the community in which it stands. Hon. J. E. Richardson, E. J. Quinn and Justus E. Jeisy constituted the building com- mittee which had charge of the work. The church was dedicated July 2, 1916, Bishop Thomas Nicholson preaching the sermon. The first pastor was Rev. Coleman, who organized the ' church, while pastor of the Taylorville Methodist Episcopal Church. A Ladies' Aid Society, the first woman's organization of the village, was organized January 14, 1915.
PRESBYTERIAN.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN TAYLORVILLE. The union of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Presbyterian Church U. S. A., through their respective Presbyteries and general as- semblies forming one church to be known as the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was followed by proceedings of the local Presbyterian churches in Taylorville to unite. On June 24, 1906, the congregations, with very few dissenting votes in either, de- cided to unite as one church, to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Taylorville, Ill. All details of the union of the local churches were satisfactorily arranged, the sessions and trustees of the two former bodies to remain in office until the election of the new board. Rev. H. C. Temple, pastor of the former Cumberland Presbyterian Church, remained as pastor of the united church until January 1, 1907, when he resigned, and May 21, 1907, Rev. Clarence E. Campbell, a student in McCormick Theological Seminary of Chicago, became pastor. On Sep- tember 22, 1907, a congregational meeting was held and elders and trustees for the now united church were elected, the elders being O. L. Hammond, Minor Coplin, D. K. Cornell, Samuel Anderson and H. M. Powel. The trustees were Fred Wheeler, D. D. Shumway, Thomas H. Johnson, Walter M. Provine and Rollo W. Herdman. The first meeting of this session was held on September 30, 1907. The church prospered under the administration of Rev. C. E. Campbell which continued until August 1.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
1909, when he resigned. On November 7, 1909, Rev. E. C. Pires, formerly pastor of the church at Divernon, Ill., was called as pastor and begau his work December 1, 1909. Many mem- bers of the church and congregation believing that a new church edifice should be erected, with modern facilities for church work, a con- gregational meeting was held February 27, 1911, at which it was decided to build a new house of worship, to be located upon a site to be there- after selected. An executive committee was appointed to receive subscriptions and proceed with the work. This committee at the beginning consisted of P. S. Haner, chairman; C. E. Evans, secretary ; William M. Provine, W. D. Hardy, D. D. Shumway, M. A. Coplin, H. M. Johnson, O. L. Hammond and Samuel Ander- son. Reverend Pires, the new pastor, was heartily in accord with the sentiment favoring the building of a new edifice and greatly assisted the committees in the inception of the enterprise. Liberal subscriptions were made, a site was selected, being two lots in the north- east corner of what is known as the Walnut Block, and plans for the building were adopted. These were furnished by Liese & Ludwick of Danville, Ill., architects, and the contract for the building was let to E. S. Moore of Dan- ville, Ill. Rev. E. C. Pires resigned as pastor, his resignation taking effect on September 1, 1913. The cornerstone of the new building was laid with appropriate ceremonies November 1, 1913, Rev. S. M. Morton, D. D., officiating. Rev. Charles W. Estes, formerly of Neoga, Ill., was called to the pastorate November 29, 1913, and began his work here on December 21, 1913. The beautiful new church edifice was dedicated September 3, 1914. At this time the officers of the church were: Rev. Charles W. Estes, pastor, and H. M. Powel, Samuel Anderson, D. K. Cornell, M. D .; W. E. Turner, O. L. Ham- mond, and H. M. Johnson constituted the ses- sion. Walter M. Provine, R. W. Herdman, E. A. Purcell, W. E. Deming, J. W. Bowdich, and C. W. Morton were the trustees. The building committee as it existed at the time of the dedication and prior thereto consisted of C. W. Morton, chairman; W. E. Deming, treasurer ; Walter M. Provine; R. W. Herdman; Samuel Anderson; C. E. Evans; O. L. Ilåmmond; P. S. Haner; M. A. Coplin ; E. A. Purcell; W. D. Hardy ; and William M. Provine. Assisting the pastor in the dedicatory exercises were Rev. S. M. Morton, D. D .; Rev. W. J. Darby, D. D .;
and Rev. W. H. Penhallegon, D. D. Mr. William M. Jenkins, organist at the Second Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, presided at the organ. The dedicatory services throughout were most happy and began on Thursday evening, Sep- tember 3, 1914, and concluded on Sabbatlı evening, September 6. Subscriptions in amount in excess of the deficit in the cost of the build- ing and grounds were quickly made. The cost of the lots, building and equipment was slightly in excess of $50,000. This fund was provided by sale of the properties of the former Presby- terian and Cumberland Presbyterian churches, respectively, together with subscriptions by members of the congregation, the different societies of the church, the Ladies' Guild being especially liberal, and public spirited citizens of the city of Taylorville and vicinity. Rev. C. W. Estes resigned as pastor October 7, 1914, and on November 29, 1914, Rev. John Rugh, D. D., formerly of White Hall, Ill., was called to the pastorate and began his labors December 1, 1914. The church is well organized in all its departments, has a constantly growing member- ship and is ministering to the spiritual well- being of the community. The union of the two former local Presbyterian churches seems to be amply justified by the results already achieved. The former Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Taylorville originated from an organ- ization formed in the spring of 1841 near Palmer, Ill., which was constituted as a church on December 8, 1844, and known as the Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This organ- ization was transferred to Taylorville and a house of worship erected there in the fall of 1848 and the name of the church was changed to the Taylorville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This organization afterward built a handsome brick church edifice, which was dedicated on May 3. 1873, Rev. J. B. Logan then being pastor. The Presbyterian Church was organized by the Rev. J. G. Borgen, D. D., of Springfield, Ill., July 26, 1857, and in the fall of 1869 purchased lots and erected a church building at the corner of Main Cross and Wal- nut streets. Upon completion of the union of the two church organizations in 1906, under the name of First Presbyterian Church of Taylor- ville, III., the united congrezation worshipet. in the former Cumberland Presbyterian Church edifice until the completion and dedication of the new church building at the corner of Franklin and Walnut streets. This brief his-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
tory tells results of the consecrated labors of true and loyal souls, many of whom have long since passed to their eternal reward .- William M. Provine.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PANA. The first sermon ever preached in Pana was de- livered on a fine Sunday morning in October, 1855. The meeting place was a box car, and the preacher a Presbyterian. In April of the following year, the few Presbyterians then in town secured Rev. Joseph Gordon of Vandalia to preach for them every second Sunday. The first sermon under this arrangement was preached on April 23, 1856. John M. Patton and Milan S. Beckwith were instrumental in the success of the plan. A loosely built house used on week days as a wareroom was used as a meeting place. Immediately after the preachi- ing of the first sermon a fund was started for the building of a house of worship. On May 21, 1856, the First Presbyterian Church was organized with the following members: Frank- lin S. Saunders, Mrs. F. S. Saunders, Mary J. Pryce, Caroline Tunison, Mary Alexander, Mrs. Martha Patton, Miss Martha Patton, Robert Alexander. A lot on Locust Street was donated by the proprietor of the town, David A. Neal, and a frame building 34x50 feet, to cost $2,100, was commenced in the fall. When about ready for occupancy, a tornado wrecked the building, causing considerable loss. How- ever, the people were not discouraged, but re- paired and furnished the building which was occupied and dedicated the following Septem- ber. This building seemed ample in its accom- modations until 1876, when a new church was erected on the corner of Second and Elm streets. A newspaper clipping of that time states, "The society (Presbyterian), notwithstanding the de- pression of the times, erected a beautiful brick structure, built in the most modern style, suit- able to the wants of the congregation, at a cost of $12,000, which is an honor to the church and a credit to the citizens of Pana." The membership at that time was 126 and the Sun- day school ninety-three. In 1916, forty years later, after months of discussion, committees were appointed to begin arrangements for the erection of a new church. On the morning of December 23, 1916, the church was destroyed by fire. This disaster hastened the completion of the plans for a new editice. The contract was let in April, 1917, for a brick building. modern in every way and with accommodation
for all the various departments and activities of the church. The entire cost is estimated at $30,000. The pastors of the church have been as follows: Revs. Joseph Gordon, 1856-58 ; James P. Walton, 1858-59; Joseph Gordon, 1859- 63; E. W. Taylor, 1863-64 ; Joseph Gordon, 1864- 66,; W. P. Gibson, 1866-70; John Kidd, 1870-73 ; R. M. Roberts, 1873-81; W. F. Ringland, 1881- 82; B. A. Williamison, 1882-84; E. W. Clarke, D. D., 1884-94; F. W. Cadwell, 1894-95; Gerrit Snyder, 1895-99; F. P. Miller, 1899-1913; H. B. Foster, 1913-16; A. F. Ferris, L. L. D., 1916-17. The ruling elders have been as follows : Frank- lin S Saunders, Eli T. Chittenden, Chas. W. Sibley, Alfred McClure, Andrew W. Grailey, S. P. Johns, R. C. Coyner, D. A. Gilbert, S. W. Bird, J. S. Veeder, T. W. Lippencott, M. S. Kimball, O. H. Paddock, D. C. McLeod, J. A. Southard, L. S. Hamm, A. K. Tate, P. L. Dodge, Louis Schlierbach. The present board of elders consists of: Dr. G. N. Gilbert, clerk; J. S. Veeder, W. E. Andrews, C. O. Paddock, C. H. Moore, E. M. Hybarger, Mr. Chambers, A. H. Owens, A. IL. Wilson. The board of deacons : Dr. J. D. Reid, J. II. Seiler, C. B. Phelps, F. J. Pierce, F. A. Cutler, C. E. Rogers. At an early
date both Ilome and Foreign Missionary socie- ties were organized and carried on, unitl 1917, with a marked degree of success. In March, 1917, these two societies were merged into one organization known as The Woman's Missionary Society of the First Presbyterian Church of Pana. A successful Sunday school has kept pace with the growth of the church. The pres- ent membership of the church is 309; the Sun- day school, 275.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ASSUMPTION was organized with twenty-four charter mem- bers on May 7, 1859, in the home of Marcus Barrett under the leadership of Rev. H. R. Lewis. The fiftieth anniversary of the organ- ization of this church was celebrated on Fri- day, May 7, 1909, during the pastorate of Rev. J. F. Rogers. At that time there were 192 members. At this time P. L. Myers and Wil- liam Wallace presented the church with a new piano and Miss Mattie Johnson gave $250 which was used in frescoing the church. The church now enrolls 288 members. Rev. W. A. Sears has served this church as its pastor since Jan- uary 1, 1914, and lives in a comfortable eight- room manse adjacent to the church. Since this church was organized seventeen clergymen have served the congregation as pastor or stated sup-
Fletcher Haines
Lydia A Haines
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
ply. Their names are as follows: Rev. H. R. Lewis, who was instrumental in organizing the church, and Revs. Louden, Mayo, Maynard, Lafferty, Neal, O. P. Galloway, L. B. Dye, A. M. Elliott, L. M. Coffman, William Mackay, J. N. Strain, J. F. Fetterolf, C. H. Ticknor, J. F. Rogers, H. G. Dusenberger and W. A. Sears, the present incumbent. The officers of this church at the present time are as follows : Elders : Zodock Lanham, John W. Moore, J. H. Clair, F. B. Mitchel, F. P. Myers and Rolland H. Lambert. Trustees: Leo 'Johnson, A. L. Moore, Fred Maxmeyer, Doviel Ridge, William Wallace, J. F. Lambert and Edward Ramsey. Deacons: F. L. Taylor, W. O. Ridge, Henry Voss. F. L. Clark, H. H. Tripp and Ira Hinkle.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MOR- RISONVILLE was organized with eleven members in January, 1871. The charter members were all from families that came from Jersey County, Ill., as early settlers on this prairie. Among them were the Anderson, Potts, Wyckoff, Clen- denin, Van Dike, McReynolds and Clickener families. A church building was begun by the congregation in the fall of 1871, and finished in the spring of the next year at the cost of $5,000. It was an attractive building, seating about 300 people, and was the first Protestant church erected in the village. The present pastor be- came the pastor of the church in May, 1872, as a licentiate of the Presbytery of Elizabeth, N. J. He was ordained at Morrisonville, Ill., by action of the Presbytery of Mattoon, in No- vember, 1872. A heavy debt encumbered the young church, but by unsurpassed labors and sacrifices in the course of eight years it was fully paid. In September, 1877, the pastor married Miss Bettie Scales of New Jersey and brought her as his bride to the fellowship of the church. At the close of this pastorate in September, 1884, the church building was in good repair and free from debt. A parsonage had been built on adjoining lots at a cost of $1,600 and the membership of the church was about 160. The church building stood on lots donated by Col. J. L. D. Morrison, after whom the village was named, he furnishing the very choicest sites in town for this purpose. It is only right too to mention that $500 towards the parsonage was given by Mrs. Fairchild, of Mendhorn, N. J., who was one of the heirs of the D'Arcy estate, consisting of several sec- tions of valuable land just west of Morrison- ville. The next pastor of the church was Rev.
A. N. Thompson, who stayed for two years and afterwards filled important pulpits in St. Louis, Indianapolis, Seattle and Brooklyn, N. Y. After him for several years there were frequent changes in the pulpit, until in May, 1901, the first pastor, then at Shawano, Wis., received and accepted a call to return to the church and is pastor at the present time in the sixteenth year. The church has had faithful and devoted pas- tors, some of them talented men, and its his- tory has been marked by harmony and unity of action, and by loyalty to its leadership. It has stood as a leading power in the community for all things good in educational, social and business life, as well as in morals and religion. The great event of the present pastorate is the building of a new church. The first church after nearly forty years of use was outgrown for the purposes of the congregation and was aging badly. The congregation responded nobly to the appeal, "Let us arise and build." Sub- scriptions began to be taken in the spring of 1910. The contract was let in July of that year and the church, finished and accepted, was dedicated in February, 1911.
The church is a substantial, handsome brick building, with Bedford stone trimmings. It has separate apartments for church and Sab- bath school, with a seating capacity altogether of 500. It has a fine pipe organ. The base- ment is well equipped for all the social needs of the congregation, and the entire cost of the church, amounting to about $17,000, has been paid. The outstanding fact in the history of this church is the unusual circumstance that our pastor has been in charge of the church for so long a time. His first term beginning with the history of the church was for twelve years, and his second term is now in the six- teenth year. In such a pastorate, very strong and tender affections and very close and sym- pathetic relations are established. Truly can we say, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us," "Blessed be the name of the Lord."
THE STONINGTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The organization of the Stonington Presbyterian Church took place on June 22, 1914, the follow- ing committee from the Springfield presbytery being in charge: Rev. L. H. Davis, D.D., of Jacksonville, Rev. S. M. Morton, D.D., of Tay- lorville, Rev. C. W. Estes of Taylorville. The Springfield presbytery had accepted the ap- plication of the Reform Church of Stonington to be received as a Presbyterian Church and had
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
appointed the above committee to organize the church. The following applicants appeared be- fore this committee on June 22, 1914, for mem- bership in the Stonington Presbyterian Church : M. A. Holben, Mrs. M. A. Holben, Miss Venus Holben, Miss Mary Gragg, J. P. Lind, Mrs. J. P. Lind, Mrs. Lena Durham, Mrs. F. F. Weiser, P. A. Collenberger, Mrs. P. A. Collenberger, Mrs. David Sim, Agnes Sim, Mr. and Mrs. Ottis Lind, Mrs. W. D. Allen, Cleta Allen, W. R. Allen, Deborah Solliday, Dr. W. J. Saling, Mrs. W. J. Saling, Angeline Saling, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sailsberry, HIazel Sailsberry, Fern Sailsberry. M. A. Hol- ben and Dr. W. J. Saling were duly elected elders, and P. A. Collenberger and R. J. Solli- day were elected as deacons. These elders and deacons were installed at this meeting by the members of the committee. Rev. A. W. Denny was the Stonington Presbyterian Church's first pastor. On July 12, 1914, at the beginning of the services, a session meeting was held and J. P. Lind and A. B. Hoffman were elected as elders. At the close of the evening service the follow- ing persons were received as members: Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Denny, Evelyn Denny, Fred Allen, Mrs. R. J. Solliday, Ruby Solliday, Hor- ace Solliday, R. J. Solliday, Monroe Solliday, Mrs. William Graham, Robert Graham, Mrs. Lon Ebert, Mrs. William Crist, Mrs. Ella Gragg, Mrs. Laura Emerson, J. P. Lind and A. B. Hoffman were installed as elders July 25, 1914. The first Presbyterian trustees were elected September 10, 1914, and they were as follows : C. T. Moore, R. J. Solliday and M. A. Holben. On October 4, 1914, the following members were received into the church: C. T. Moore, Mrs. O. T. Moore, Mrs. Hackenberg, Howard Gragg, J. P. Lind, Jr., Mrs. Mattie Dechert, Merle Dechert and F. F. Weiser. F. F. Weiser was elected as elder and installed on October 11, 1914. November 12, 1914, F. K. Weiser, Lu- cille Weiser, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Smith, Merle Hackenberg were enrolled as members. On December 13, 1914, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Grant and Tilden Davis were received as members. On December 27, 1914, William Kols was re- ceived as a member. On January 18, 1915, at a joint session of the Stonington Presbyterian and Mt. Zion Presbyterian churches, there was an agreement made for alternating services through the summer montlis, and their pastor was to receive $1,000 for that year. On October 10, 1915, John and Mrs. Myrtle Sckowska were
accepted as members of the church. On Sep- tember 10, 1915, E. F. Gastineau was employed as student pastor and is still in charge of the work.
REFORMED.
THE EDINBURG REFORMED CHURCH. A congre- gation of the Reformed Church in the United States was organized in Buckhart Township, Illinois Classis, Synod of the Interior, known as the Buckhart Reformed Church, in 1867. The church had a very flourishing and prosper- ous time for many years, ministering as it did to a well settled community with many and large families. On September 24, 1894, a number of the members of Buckhart organized themselves into the Edinburg Reformed Church, to be lo- cated in Edinburg. This second organization seemed needful because of the large number who had retired to Edinburg and found it dif- ficult to attend the Buckhart services with any regularity. Regular worship is still maintained at the Edinburg Church but the services have been discontinued at Buckhart, for the follow- ing reasons : There are not enough children of Sunday school age to keep up a Sunday school, and all the members of Buckhart have cars and would rather attend in Edinburg than in the country church of Buckhart. Here follows a register of pastors with the years of service. Both congregations have always been served by the same pastor : Revs. William Gilpin, April, 1867-April, 1871 ; II. H. Sandoe, September, 1871- March, 1873; I. Naille, May, 1873-May, 1877; R. F. Oplinger, May, 1878-May, 1882; J. A. Seitz, February, 1883-April, 1885; R. F. Oplinger, A.M., May, 1885-May, 1889; D. N. Franz, June, 1889-September, 1894. Joint pastorate: C. F. Althouse, September, 1894-December, 1896; G. S. Gill, August, 1897-August, 1902; J. M. Bechtel, April, 1904-April, 1907; J. A. Noble, May, 1907-July, 1908; A. J. Naly, March, 1909- March, 1910; A. A. Hartman, May, 1910-April, 1913; S. W. H. Sauerwein, September, 1914- October, 1915; C. Edward Holyoke, December, 1915 (present incumbent ).
UNITED BRETHREN.
THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST CHURCH Was organized at the Valley schoolhouse in 1872, by M. B. Chew. In 1874 the present church edifice was erected, and in 1911 another room was added
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
to the original structure. It is the only organ- ization of this denomination at Mt. Auburn.
CHAPTER XV.
AGRICULTURE.
CONTRASTING CONDITIONS-CORN GROWING-OTHER GRAINS-OTHER PRODUCE-INCREASE IN VALUES- LOCATION-COUNTY SEAT-POPULATION-TOWN- SHIPS - AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS - VALUES - CROPS.
CONTRASTING CONDITIONS.
In the early days the farmer had none of the advantages offered him today. He generally cul- tivated his land as had his father before him, and felt content if he made a bare living from his land, and was able to meet his payments upon it, for the majority bought their farms on time. Today the agriculturalist is as much a business man as his brother the merchant or banker, and as much a professional man as his preacher, physician or lawyer, for no calling requires more careful training, executive ability, and real expert knowledge than does that of farming if the one engaged in it expects to make a success of his life work. The more progressive men, especially those of the younger generation, are taking practical courses in agriculture ; while the older ones are aiding the intelligent educa- tors in giving the pupils in school a knowledge of agriculture. These farmers are spending for- tunes in the aggregate in buying labor-saving ma- chinery for their field and house work, and the majority own automobiles. They subscribe for one or more farm journals, and follow intelli- gently the results obtained at the experimental stations maintained by the state and federal governments. At the county and state fairs, they meet the leaders in agricultural work, and ex- change personal experiences for new and ap- proved methods. In no other avenue of endeavor has such progress been made as that of farm- ing, and this impetus has come during the past quarter of a century.
CORN GROWING.
As Christian County lies in the corn belt, the growing of corn is the leading agricultural in- dustry of this section, and the average yield per acre has been very materially raised during re- cent years because of the better understanding on the part of the farmers of the value of nour- ishing the soil, and the occasional resting of it through rotation of crops.
OTHER GRAINS.
In addition to corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye and other small grains are grown to a consider- able extent, while hay is produced in large quan- tities. Alfalfa is raised to a certain extent, and there are indications that more of it will be put in each year, the experiments proving that it is suited to this locality.
OTHER PRODUCE.
Market gardening is carried on to a consid- erable extent by some of the farmers who prefer to operate a few acres as a garden for vege- tables, to growing grain upon many acres. The transportation facilities are so excellent as to give the people of this locality ready and rapid access to the markets of both Chicago and St. Louis, so that labor and money expended in the production of market stuff, yields good profits. Fruit growing is another industry that has at- tracted some very intelligent workers to it, and as the climatic conditions are such as to favor the growing of nearly all the small fruits, and many of the larger varieties, Christian County has some very valuable orchards and fruit beds.
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