Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 50

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 50

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The pastors were as follows: Revs. H. P. Tandy, George Bremster, J. A. Seaton, H. C. Patterson, H. C. Littleton, S. A. Enefer, K. C. Ventress, C. A. Burton, D. J. Elsea, J. E. Thomas, W. H. Williard, L. G. Huff, E. A. Jordan, B. E. Youtz, H. F. Keltch and S. A. Cook.

The original church was erected in 1883-84 at a cost of $3,000, and an addition built on in 1901-02 at a cost of $2,500. The present value is about $8,000.

THE DALLAS CITY CHURCH was organized in 1889 by L. B. Myers. The charter members of this church were as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dickson, Mrs. Dr. Wimmer, Mrs. John Mitchell, Mrs. Ollie Mitchell-Snyder, Mrs. Ellen

Feasley, Mrs. Saralı Wright, Mrs. Mary Byers, Prof. and Mrs. Fairfax, Mrs. Dave Lionberger, William Blakesly, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Siens, Mrs. Terry, Mrs. Dr. Scott, Mrs. Congrove, Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Hewitt, Mrs. Tilton Potter and Mrs. C. Richart. The present membership of this church is about 310.

The pastors having served here are as fol- lows: Elders Carr, Blakesly, Bluebaugh, A. J. Carrick, E. F. Sergisson, Telford, George Nicol, Elam, C. L. McKim, Slick, Rupert, G. Knight, Stauffer, Hawkins, W. H. Hampton.

The first church building cost $3,000, and the last improvement was an addition to the old one costing $12,000.

Mrs. Ollie Mitchell-Snyder writes of this church as follows: "Just thirty years ago Brother L. B. Myers of Knoxville, Ill., began the first Christian meeting in the old Methodist Church of Dallas City. The plastering was all off, several of us brought cheese-cloth, pasted over the worst places and began business. The first church was erected in 1890, and on May 25 of that year it was dedicated. The minis- ters present were L. B. Meyers of Knoxville, Charles J. Scofield of Carthage and Mr. Royal of Vermont, Ill."

THE BOWEN CHURCH was organized in Feb- ruary, 1890. The charter members were: O. P. Johnson and wife, Amos James and wife, J. E. Funk and wife, W. T. Houph and wife, S. M. Nesterhode and wife, J. T. Sterrett and wife, John Barnett and wife, Ella Brunson, Lue Bron- son, Mrs. Kirkpatrick and Mrs. Jennie Willis. The present membership is about 335. The Sunday school has an enrollment of about 225.

The list of pastors is as follows: Revs. Sam- uel Magee, W. D. McAully, S. W. May, W. G. Vandivoorh, George F. Chandler, William Price, Ray Ressic, P. G. Reavis, W. H. Taylor, C. R. Gaines, Charles Roland and L. H. Hooe.

In 1907 a brick church was built at a cost of $14,000, but its present value is about $20,000. It was incorporated in December, 1890.

THE HAMILTON CHURCH was organized in 1893 by Samuel McGee. At first meetings were held in the hall belonging to the city, but dur- ing Pastor Blakeslee's administration in 1894, a church was completed. The present membership is about 250; the value of the church property is $7,000, and the Bible-study class organized 1893, has an enrollment of upwards of one hundred.

THE ADRAIN CHURCH has a membership of

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

over 100. The church property is valued at $1,500. The Bible school enrollment is about 128.

THE FERRIS CHURCH was organized in 1896 by Charles J. Scofield, assisted by Elder Sham- hart. The first meeting was held by J. A. Brooks. The charter members of this church were: T. B. Long, Mrs. T. B. Long, Mrs. Sarah Long, G. T. Garrett, Mrs. G. T. Garrett, Mrs. Jane Gannon, James Morris, Mrs. James Mor- ris, Mrs. Tom Furnas, James Howell, Mrs. James Howell, Henry Webber, Mrs. Henry Webber, A. J. Brown and Mrs. A. J. Brown.

The various pastors serving this church were: Elders W. P. Shamhart, G. A. Hendrickson, L. G. Barnum, J. Webb, C. C. Redgrave, A. D. Rich- ards, Jonathan Crow, C. G. Haskell, L. R. Sher- man, W. G. Alcorn, Elder, Pierce, Ralph Segel, Steven Owings, Dr. J. Wesley, W. T. King, J. W. Porter. The membership of the church is about ninety-five, and the Sunday school enrollment is about 100. The frame church still used was dedicated in October, 1894.

THE STILLWELL CHURCH in St. Albans Town- ship is another Disciple church with a member- ship of about 110. The property is valued at $3,000. The Bible school enrollment is ninety- seven.

OAK GROVE CHURCH is located ten miles east of Carthage, and was the home of Dr. William Booz. For many years he made it a practice to preach a sermon here on New Year's Day. The membership is about seventy, and the church property is valued at $1,000.

LA CROSSE CHURCH has a membership of over . ninety. The Bible class enrollment is about ninety. The property valued at about $2,000.

THE BRECKENRIDGE CHURCH is another Chris- tian congregation with a membership of about sixty ; church property valued at about $1,500; and a Bible school enrollment of about eighty- three.

THE GOLDEN POINT CHURCH has a member- ship of nearly 100, and a Bible school enroll- ment of about ninety-eight. The value of the church property is $4,500.

THE EAST DURHAM (COLUSA) CHURCH has a membership of about fifty members and prop- erty valued at about $2,250.

CONGREGATIONAL

There was a Congregational Church at Car- thage in early days, but the history of its or-

ganization and development is not readily to be had. A few facts are obtainable. The records of the County Commissioners' Court show an order made on September 9, 1847, that a re- duction of $275.00 be made on the valuation on Lot 5, in Block 16, in the Town of Carthage, for so much thereof as was exempt by law from taxation, being a strip across the north end thereof of forty-five feet even width, used for school purposes. This strip was on the north end of the lot where the Christian Church now stands. On February 24, 1849, there was re- corded in the recorder's office of Hancock county, a deed from Asahel Smith and Mary, his wife, for the consideration of $330.00, con- veying a strip off of the north end of this lot, eighty-eight feet east and west and forty-five feet north and south, to Frederick W. Symonds, U. C. Taylor and Lowell Mitchell, as trustees of the Congregational Church of Carthage. At an early day there was a small brick building on this tract, with the entrance on the west, which was used for school purposes, and was also used as the place of worship of the Con- gregational Church. It would seem from the foregoing facts that this building was on the tract in 1847 when the order of the County Commissioners' Court was made reducing the valuation of the whole lot for taxation by the sum of $275.00, because the north part was ex- empt, for, if the tract had been without any building, a valuation of $275.00 for about one- fourth of the entire lot, would have made the entire lot at that time worth $1,100.00, when its real value without a building would have been merely nominal. And so when the tract was deeded in 1849 to the trustees of the Con- gregational Church, for $330.00, if the tract had been vacant, the whole lot, at the same valua- tion, would have been worth $1,320.00, an im- possible value at that day. is probable, therefore, that the building referred to stood on the north end of the lot in 1847 and was used for school purposes, and that it passed to the Congregational Church in 1849 and was thereafter used for church and school purposes. In the Carthage Republican, November, 1855, ap- peared the following item : "The Congregational Church of Carthage secured the services of Rev. Mr. Atkinson." When the Presbyterian Church was organized, the leading members of the Con- gregational Church went into the Presbyterian Church, and the Congregational Church ceased to exist as a separate organization.

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LA HARPE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was or- ganized in 1836 at the home of L. C. Maynard with sixteen members. The record names the following: L. C. Maynard and wife, Marvin Tryon and wife, Benjamin Rice and wife and R. C. Jerome and wife. The church was re- organized in 1848 under the ministry of Rev. Warren Nicholas. The members were Samuel Hutton, Henry Comstock and wife, H. H. Bliss and wife, William Seaville and wife, Mrs. War- ren Nichols and Mrs. S. W. Nudd.

DALLAS CITY CHURCH was organized January 17, 1859, by Rev. William Salter, D.D., Burling- ton, Iowa, Rev. Penoyer, of La Harpe, assisting. The charter members were: George H. Ames, Henry F. Black, Thomas C. Patterson, John Thomas, Stephen Jackson, John D. Jackson, Lyman B. Rand, Mrs. Diantha McMullen, Miss Rachel A. Sayers, Mrs. Julian M. Bryan, Mrs. Francis Ames, Mrs. Mary M. Black, Mrs. Cath- erine Patterson, Mrs. Jane Thomas, Mrs. Mari- ella Rollosson, Mrs. Sarah Jackson, Mrs. Eliz- abeth Jackson, Miss Amanda Sayers, Miss Stoops.

The various ministers who have served the churches from beginning cannot all be secured, as they were lost when the record books were burned. Those known to have served are Revs. Purdue, Sinninger, J. Barr King, L. W. Witt- berger. The present membership is about 129. The cost of the church was $2,500; it was built of brick in 1861. The Sunday school has a mem- bership of about 166.

THE BOWEN CHURCH was organized at what is now Bowen, May 24, 1856, by Rev. L. M. John- son, A. P. Coltrin, G. D. Young and Dr. Cook. The charter members were: Geo. A. Crowley, Sarah Crowley, Dudley B. Eells, Cornelia Eells, Levi W. Pomeroy, George W. Shinkle, Clarrissa R. Pomeroy, Thankful King, Anna W. Pomeroy, D. A. Pomeroy, Sophia Pomeroy, David P. Robi- son and Theresa Robison. The present member- ship is about 145.

The following ministers have served this church as pastor: Revs. Samuel Dilley, 1858- 63; James D. Parker, 1865-66; A. R. Mitchell, 1866-69; Samuel Dilley, 1869-70; E. P. Whiting, 1870-72; Samuel Dilley, 1872-73; Thomas G. Owen, 1873-76; Austin A. McConaughey, 1877- 80; T. J. West, 1880-81; J. J. Weage, 1881; T. S. Hubbard, 1882; Acquila Warner, 1883-87 ; Edwin Hobbs, 1888-95; Charles R. Westfall, 1895-99; S. A. Wallace, 1899-1902; Roy Eckerson, 1902- 05; Carl D. Borton, 1905-07; George Williams,

1907-10; A. B. Book, 1910-12; Rev. Pauley, 1912- 15; John Porter, 1915 and still pastor.

This society first met for worship in Bethel school house, and the first church building was erected in 1867-S. This was dedicated June 21, 1868. The present church was built in 1903. It is a frame building valued at $7,000. The society also owns its parsonage. At first this church was known as Cedron, was later called the First Congregational Church of Chili, bear- ing that name from March 2, 1863, until April 19, 1869, when it was changed to the present one of the Bowen Congregational Church.

THE DENVER CHURCH was organized October 16, 1894, by Rev. Edwin Hobbs, of Bowen, with charter members as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Wilson, A. T. Graham and wife, C. M. Mc- Millan and wife, G. W. Shinkle and wife, James Fleming and wife, John A. Fleming and wife, J. C. Fleming, H. T. Bunnell, J. H. Hendricks and wife, E. E. Bunnell and wife, Arby Bunnell and wife, Mrs. Serepta Slater, J. A. Russell, Mrs. J. A. Russell, Mrs. Emily Clark, Mrs. Ellen Scott, Mrs. E. O'Brien, Emma C. Bunnell, Lulu Earls, Minnie Hartman. The present membership is about seventy-eight.

This church was organized in what is known as the old Graham church, which formerly be- longed to the Free-will Baptist organization, and was located in the southeast corner of Bear Creek Township. In June, 1896, the church building in Denver, which formerly belonged to the Adventists, was purchased at a cost of $500 and all services were transferred to Den- ver. The old Baptist Church was sold at auc- tion and the proceeds used to fix up the Denver Church. Later on a parsonage was built at a cost of about $1,500.

The following account of the church organiza- tions which led up to the Denver Congregational Church is interesting. On July 7, 1849, a Free- will Baptist Church was organized in a log schoolhouse which was in the northeast corner of St. Albans Township, by Rev. C. M. Sewall. The charter members were Thomas Graham and wife, Joseph Kinney and wife and William Owens. It was called the St. Albans Free-will Baptist Church. In 1851 a church building was erected and for many years this was a live church in the community. Rev. C. M. Sewall was its pastor for more than thirty years. He then lived at Livingston, Adams County, com- ing over thirty miles once each month to hold services which usually began on Friday evening,

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continuing over the Sabbath. At that time there were no bridges over the creeks which he often forded by swimming his horse across. During his entire ministry he missed only one service. When the railroads were built on both sides of this country church interests were divided, and no preaching services were held there for some years, although a weekly prayer meeting was sustained for more than forty years. A good Sunday school was maintained for some years when there was no preaching services. This Sunday school was supported by Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, United Presbyterians and Adventists, who finally decided that they should organize a church. It was on a Sunday in 1894 that a meeting was called for that pur- pose, and it was agreed that all would enter heartily into whatever church the majority favored. The community church at that time had not been thought of, else, no doubt, that name would have been adopted. It was decided to call the proposed society the St. Albans Con- gregational Church, and Rev. Edwin Hobbs of Bowen was sent for to organize the same. On moving the organization to Denver the "St. Albans" was left off and "Denver" substituted. The Denver Congregational Church works for the general up-lift of the community-spiritu- ally, intellectually, socially and morally. The Sunday school has a membership of about ninety, with Mrs. H. R. Graham as its superin- tendent.

The pastors who have served this church are: Revs. Edward Hobbs, C. K. Westfall, H. W. Hoover, W. T. Williams, George Keeling, F. Forth, Evan Wiggle, Walter Schlaroetizki, and J. C. Spencer.

EPISCOPAL

ST. PAUL'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Warsaw was organized in 1840. It now has a membership of about eighty-five. In 1885 the present edifice was built of brick and stone. The following have served as rectors of the parish : Revs. S. R. Child, L. N. Freeman, R. E. MacClure, William L. Bostwick, William M. Reynolds, Thomas K. Coleman, Walter F. Lloyd, John Wood Elliott, William Bordon, L. J. Jen- ner, H. J. Gunn, Francis H. Smith, Francis A. Gould, Thomas Hines, J. Forbes Mitchell, George Long.

ST. TITUS EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized at Hamilton where services were held in a

frame churchi building, for a number of years. The membership was finally transferred to War- saw to which parish it is now attached. The pastors who served at Hamilton were: Revs. William Budens, L. J. Jenner, H. J. Gunn, Francis H. Smith, F. A. Gould, Thomas Hines, J. Forbes Mitchell and George Long.

ST. CYPRIANS PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF CARTHAGE was established May 12, 1877. The first officers were: David Greenleaf, J. M. Davidson, Edward Cherrill, J. M. D. Davidson, the first two named being the Senior and Junior Wardens. Upon a petition signed by twenty- nine members, Bishop McLaren organized the parish. It now has a membership of about thirty. The church building, a frame structure, was erected in 1897 at a cost of $1865. Mrs. Elizabeth A. U. Cherrill bequeathed to the church $500. Those of the Episcopal faith are not numerous in the vicinity of Carthage, hence the growthi has never been great in this society.

LATTER DAY SAINTS

What is styled the Re-organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, established by Joseph Smith, Jr., son of the Mormon Prophet, has had several branches, as this sect call their societies, within the county at differ- ent times, but at present only one exists and this located in section 18, township 6, range 7, in Rock Creek Township, three miles directly west from the village of Adrian. It was organ- ized in 1863 and the members worshiped in private houses and in school buildings until they dedicated a frame church edifice of their own, August 8, 1875. The present membership is about 115, but many of this number reside outside the township and county and some in distant States, and may be called non-resident members.

The first president of this branch was Thomas Pitt, who was succeeded by others until W. L. Lambert, now residing in Carthage, became the president and lie served about a quarter of a century. There are many branches of this church in Northern Illinois and Southwestern Iowa, where their large publishing house is situated. The creed of this church is not unlike the Mormon Church, except in the matter of polygamy to which the re-organized church is bitterly opposed.

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN

CHRIST'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH was organized in 1848 by Rev. C. Veitz of Basel, Switzerland, at Nauvoo. Among the charter members are now recalled the names of G. Wahl, John Grote and G. Bratz. The present member- ship is about 323. A fine Sunday school with an enrollment of about seventy-five is maintained.

The first church building was a wooden struc- ture erected in 1852, known as the "New York Store." This was remodeled for church pur- poses and served the congregation until the present edifice was erected in 1876; it has also been remodeled and improved and is now valued at $7,000.

The following have served as pastors : C. Veitz, O. Merblitz, D. J. Warms, F. Eisehnbach, Kissel C. Kleinlein, 1869-71; Rev. Naboholz, 1871-73; Rev. Oehlert, 1873-75; Rev. W. Hertel, 1875-87; J. Stuermer, 1887-89; P. Bard, 1881-91; A. Blasberg, 1891-1900; D. Boer, 1900-06; C. Gabriel, 1906-07; H. Flentje, 1907-13, and Rev. W. F. Hertel, who came in 1913.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZIONS CHURCH Was organized January 26, 1861, three months before the opening of the Civil War, by Rev. F. W. Eisenbach, for the Germans at Carthage. A brick church building was dedicated September, 1864, and the same still serves the congregation. It stands near the present water tower. Many of the members went into the English speaking Lutheran Church of Carthage, until but few were left in the parent society. It now has a membership of about thirty and services are maintained. The pastors who have served this congregation have been: Revs. F. W. Eisen- bach, F. Oswald, Conrad Kuhl, F. Giese, M. Pinkert, F. Ebert and present pastor Rev. W. Rosenstengel.

ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is represented at Warsaw by a society organized there January 2, 1865, with early members as follows: Louis Becker, Conrad Nagel, Jacob Dross, Wilhelm Brehm, Christian Giesker, Johannes Schaefer, Philipp Brehm, George Bel- lersheim, Peter Berg, Philipp Hedderich, Michael Siller, Samuel Krebs, John Wacker, Christian Frank, Philipp Bruecker, Heinrich Brinkmann, Heinrich Egli. The present mem- bership is about fifty-four souls.

The present brick church building is valued at $4,456. In connection with this church is the Sunday school with an enrollment of about fifty.

The pastors who have been in charge of this congregation since its organization are: Revs. C. Witte, G. Hagwmann, F. Moekli, T. Furrer, T. M. Winkler, F. Baltzer, W. Jung, G. Schulz, T. Winkler, E. Hardt, A. Alexander, E. Mahl- berg and H. Niewoehner.

THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CONGREGATION, U. A. C., is located at the city of Warsaw, and was organized September 5, 1865, emerging from the so-called "United Protestant Church," which was organized September 26, 1853. The "U. A. C." attached to its name stands for Unaltered Audsburg Confession. The church was formed by Rev. Popp and those members of the "U. P. C." who detested false and unionistic ten- dences and longed for strictly Lutheran congre- gations. The first members were: John F. Spitze, Jacob Koch, Adam Ernest, William Schnee, Christian Oberlies, Peter Paar, Adam Behle, C. Loeffler, John Welker, George Spitze, William A. Kattz, C. Maurer and Daniel Ket- ting.

A church building was erected in 1886. It was a brick and. stone edifice costing about $15,000. In the autumn of 1911 there were built a school and parish house of brick and stone, costing about $6,000. The parsonage was built many years ago and at present is valued at $2,500. The house and lot adjoining are valued at $1,800 and are occupied by Prof. Erdmann, teacher and organist.

This is really a model congregation, and con- nected with its other work it has the day and Sunday school, the Ladies' Aid, the Young Peoples' Society, the male chorus, mixed choir, orchestra and other organizations. The follow- ing pastors have served this congregation : Revs. C. Popp, from 1865 to 1867; G. Gruber, from 1867 to 1872; P. Baumgart, from 1872 to 1879; M. Otto, from 1880 to 1882; H. W. Rabe, from 1883 to the present time. The last named faith- ful pastor has been in charge of this congrega- tion uninterruptedly for over thirty-seven years, and served a congregation at Webster City, Iowa, before coming to Warsaw.

TRINITY LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH AT CARTHAGE was established in 1873 under David L. Tressler, Ph. D. The charter members were as follows : Miss Clemmie Kuhl, G. W. Albright, D. H. Albright, D. Smith, Mrs. C. W. Smith, Prof. D. L. Tressler, Mrs. Ada J. Tressler, M. L. Tressler, L. F. M. Easterday, Miss H. M. Easter- day, George W. Fraser, J. M. Comer, Jo Nace, F. B. Reinohel, Mrs. Amanda Reinohel and

Eng by E G Williams & Bro NY

Julne Ht. Finlay

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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

Miss Ellen Reinohel. The articles of church in- corporation were signed on May 7, 1873, under the name of the "Trinity English Evangelical Lutheran Church." This continued until 1915 when the word "English" was dropped from the legal name of the church organization.

The present brick church edifice was con- structed in 1873-4. The corner-stone was laid September 13, 1873, and the completed building was dedicated November 24, 1875. The first regular church services were held in the church November 1, 1874, President D. L. Tressler of the Carthage College preaching on that occasion. The cost of the building was $15,000. Some changes have been made since then, and a fine- toned, large pipe organ has long since been in- stalled.

The pastors who have served are: Revs. David L. Tressler, Ph. D., James W. Richard, D. D., Detweiler, E. F. Bartholomew, D. D., Souder, Frederick L. Sigmund, D. D., Jacob H. Yutzy, D. D., and Jacob H. Diehl. The present membership includes about 163 voting members and a total of about 207. The Sunday school enrollment is about 150, with Mrs. C. B. New- comber as superintendent.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL

THE PLYMOUTH CHURCH was organized at Plymouth in 1833, by Rev. Henry Summers. The charter members were: William Edwards and wife, Edward Wade and wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Philips. The present membership is about 165. The church records are very incomplete, many are lost, and no complete chain can be made at this time.

The first church edifice was built in 1847. In 1853 a new church was built from wood 30x40 feet with a seating capacity of less than 200. In 1900 the present edifice was completed, the value of which with the parsonage is $7,200. The Sunday school has an enrollment of about 240 with an average attendance of 110. Evereit Weaver is the efficient superintendent.

THE WARSAW CHURCH was organized in 1833 as the "Fort Edwards Mission." It was formed by Rev. D. B. Carter and Peter Cartwright, pre- siding elder. The church was erected in 1852- 53. Rev. James I. Davidson was the preacher and Peter Cartwright the elder. In 1877 the church building was enlarged and given its pres- ent form, Rev. I. Villars being the pastor. The present membership is about 100. In 1860 the

value of the church building was given as $4,000 and today its value is $6,200. The Sunday school has an enrollment of about 180.

The present pastor is Rev. John W. Kettle. With the passing years this church has been on the alert among other denominations at Warsaw to catch a true vision of what good it was expected to do in the community in which it is located, and then to live up to this con- ception.

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Carthage was organized in 1836 by Rev. Taylor and the following charter members: Col. and Mrs. E. S. Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. David Conk- lin, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Williams, Mr. and Mrs. A. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barnes and Sarah Little. The number on the church roll at present is about 520. The Sunday school has membership of about 400. The number of offi- cers and teachers is thirty. Before going fur- ther into detail concerning the history of this church at Carthage it will be well to insert the subjoined facts which make clear some of the happenings of early-day Methodism in this county.

In 1832-33 Peter Cartwright was presiding elder, and D. B. Carter was missionary at the Ft. Edwards (now Warsaw) Mission. Carter was one of the earliest preachers known in this section, having preached in the county about 1808. Among other preachers of this time were Henry Summers, Peter Cartwright and William D. R. Tetter. In 1833 the first public building was erected in Carthage; it was a log structure and was the first courthouse of the county. In this building the Methodists held their services. Thomas H. Owens built the building, and as he was a preacher, it is a matter of history that he was one of the first, if not the first, to preach in the building. In 1835 a Sunday school was or- ganized in Carthage with Col. E. S. Freeman as superintendent, and his wife as a teacher. These good people succeeded themselves until 1856.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 50

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174