Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 9

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

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vention of guns and cannon that shoot twenty- five miles with as much accuracy as a target rifle does at twenty steps. They have wit- nessed the invention of the aeroplane which buzzes over peaceful lands, dropping its deadly bomb upon inoffensive women and children. They have seen it do scout work upon battle- fields and between commanding armies directing, while poised a mile above the earth and the aim of the gunners that man the batteries. They have seen the deadly dirigible balloons brought into practicable use and have witnessed tbe es- tablishment of aerial routes of travel over which passengers go from one city to another.

"The sewing machine, one of the most useful inventions of the age, did not come into general use until many who are present at this reunion were grown men and women. It has been only seventy-four years since Elias Howe, a poor mechanic of Massachusetts, surrounded by a young family for whom he was compelled to labor during the day, was compelled by dire necessity to invent the sewing machine as a labor saving device. Now this machine is as necessary a part of a household outfit as a din- ing table. Most of the middle aged men present have seen the invention of the twine binder, tbe gasoline engine, and the score of agricultural appliances that have made farming a pleasant pastime instead of a life of back breaking drudg- ery.

"The automobile and the wireless telegraph are among the more modern inventions of tbis age. There are pupils now in tbe high schools who can remember when the whole town would flock to the street to see an automobile go by, and only within the last few years has the wire -. less telegraph, tbe seaman's best friend, been invented and put into practical operation. The thousands of lives it has saved testify to its value. Many of those present at this reunion have seen the great west developed ; bave learned that tbe great Alaskan empire is a great min- ing and industrial and farming district; bave witnessed the wonderful change in the civil rights accorded to women ; have seen tbe enact- inent of laws that ameliorate the condition of labor and have for their object tbe elevation of humanity and bettering their condition in life. All who are participating in this reunion have seen the beginning of the greatest war in all history, a war that shall result in the downfall of kingdoms and empires, the destruction of

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

despotism, the passing away of royal preroga- tives, and, please God, the enthronement of the rights of the common people."

CLEAR SPRINGS SETTLEMENT.

"What is ealled by the older settlers the Street Settlement or Clear Springs Settlement, was begun, so far as our knowledge goes, in 1817. During that year and the following one, the following persons emigrated mainly from Tennessee and located in the southwest part of Hillsboro Township and began the making of homes for the bettering of their condition by the development of the uncultivated and unsur- veyed lands. William Clark, Jarvis Forehand, Rolland Shepherd, David McCoy. Alexander Me- Williams, Hugh Kirkpatrick, Nieholas Locker- man, William Griffeth, John McPhail, Melchoir Fogelman, Joseph McAdams, Luke L. Steel, David Killpatrick, and others. These joined my grandfather, who eame about the same time, in the home making, the community receiving his name because of his activity in building a church and schoolhouse. Rev. James Street preached the first sermon ever preached in Montgomery County in this community, though the Rev. James Sears succeeded in building a house for worship in the Hurricane Settlement a little before the Clear Springs Church materialized. The exact date of the construction of Clear Springs Church is not quite sure, but we think that it was sometime in 1822. The material was of lewn logs, the best and only building ma- terial then available. The pulpit was of the same material, and when the second house was built, the pulpit was transferred to it, as a relic of their first efforts in providing for wor- ship. Some years afterwards, however, it was taken down and the present one installed. It is, and has been often said that Grandfather Street built the church, but that is not true, as the people of the community all aided and assisted in the work, in the interest of their families for both worship and sehool purposes.

"The first school taught in the Street Settle- ment was during the winter of 1818-1819, by a man named Brazzelton, in an empty cabin owned by William Griffeth. The first school taught in the church was by Mrs. Townsend, we think in the fall of 1822. We have said that Rev. Sears built the first church, as a matter of fact, my grandafther aided Sears in the work, as lie preached in the Hurricane Settlement at that

time a portion of the time. These two early ministers were hoth Baptists and co-workers in the cause of religious dissemination. The Clear Springs Church was the Jerusalem of Mont- gomery County to the early settlers of that day. Here the Feast of the Passover was celebrated and the annual May meeting was an event of wide notoriety as far as the limited settlers could make it such. A year or two later, other ministers eame there to preach in association with Grandfather Street. Some of their uames as I recall them, were A. J. Williforce, Peter Long, Larkin Craig, James Sears and others. The Rev. Larkin Craig represented this district in the state Legislature for two or more terms. Among the first members were: William Clark, Roland Shipperd, Alexander McWilliams, Nich- olas Lockerman, John McPhail, Joseph Mc- Adams, David Kirkpatrick, and their families, largely, James Forehand, David McCoy, Hugh Kirkpatrick, William Griffeth, Melchoir Fogel- man, Luke Lee Steel, Rev. James Street.

"The old church still stands, and the ceme- tery, the oldest in the county, is still receiving the bodies of our worthy ancestors, and the anuual May meeting is still held, though there are but few of the Primitive Baptist people to be found now in the county."

THE HILLSBORO WOOLEN MILLS.

Few of the younger people of this county know that Hillsboro onee had a woolen manufacturing plant, doing hoth a retail and wholesale busi- ness. employing about forty hands and running day and night. The plaut was built in about 1855 by Frank Huber, and Al. Brown, and run by them, with others, such as Haskell Harris & Co. aiding for several years, then selling out to Isaac H. Shimer, who continued to con- duct it until about 1878, or 1880, when it ceased to be operated. It was located in South Hills- boro, near where Vandalia road diverges from Main street. It was first run in a two-story frame building and afterwards this huilding was torn down and a one-story long hrick building erected for the purpose. It manufactured blankets, jeans, lindseys, yarns and other mer- chantable woolen fabrics of the day. Its spindle jack was of eighty spool capacity, and it ran from four to five looms day and night in shifts of twelve hours. A mau named Bodman, was one of its promoters, and leading foreman. Mr. J. C. Traylor, formerly of this eity, was for

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

many years one of its leading foremen. This plant was of great value to the community. It induced the farmers to go into sheep raising business and gave them a market for their wool. It also gave them a market for cord wood as they used wood as fuel and consumed quite a quantity of it. It carded well for the farmers for a toll. It could easily card 2,000 pounds of wool in twenty-four hours. Yes, and it made "shoddy." The ravelings and wool and thread fragments were carefully swept up and made into cheaper quality of cloth for the cheaper trade and this was known as "shoddy" but it did not try to make a cheap or "shoddy" cloth out of good yarns, merely for the purpose of cheapening the output of the plant. Alas, the vicissitudes of time have wrought their usual havoc and the "Hillsboro Woolen Mills" are now only a reminiscence.

HURRICANE AND CLEAR SPRING CHURCHES.

Each church and denomination has done its share in the noble cause, and the work of each is appreciated; but we have data at hand to mention only a few. We have said in another place that Rev. James Street, a Baptist min- ister preached the first sermon in this county. The honor of organizing the first church and becoming the first pastor of a church, must be conceded to Rev. Henry Sears, a Baptist pioneer preacher, who organized a church and built a house of worship on the farm of Mr. Whitten, on the Hurricane in Fillmore Township. The Hurricane Settlement was made principally from 1815 to 1818, and the church was built in 1820. The structure was of logs with split logs for benches. This was soon after followed by the establishment of the Clear Springs Church in the southwest portion of Hillsboro Township, with Rev. James Street, as organizer and preacher in charge.

The Hurricane Church was probably organized a year or two before 1820. Rev. James Street, who had been chosen pastor of the Hurricane Church with several Clear Springs settlers, united with the Hurricane Church, but in 1822, according to the records of the Hurricane Church, the same parties were dismissed for the purpose of organizing a church at Clear Springs.

The Clear Springs Church, the second one in the county, was probably built during 1822. though there is some controversy as to the year.

THE HILLSBORO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro was or- ganized by Rev. S. M. Ellis in 1828. This was the first church in Hillsboro, and, as we think, the third one to be organized in the county. Mrs. Margaret Seward and Mr. John Tillson were the first female and male members enrolled and were largely the promoters of the church. In 1830 the report made to the Presbytery showed only seven members, and they met for worship either at private houses or in the jail which was the all-purpose building for the village. In 1831 their first house for worship was built. This was an unpretentious affair, but answered the purpose until 1880, when under the leader- ship of Joseph Eccles, Judge E. Y. Rice and others, the commodious brick structure recently torn down, was erected. This church was con- sidered a very fine building and for many years was the best church building in the county. For over fifty years this house was the constant gathering place of a large and devoted member ship, ably shepherded by some of the best preachers in Illinois. The good influences emi- nating here, were not only felt here, but ex- tended to the building of churches in several other communities, such as Waveland, and the seed of gospel truth here sown was wafted to foreign lands, by earnest missionaries, so that the good done by this organization eternity alone will tell in loud acclaim.

In 1913, this church realized that its house of worship was in an unsafe condition, was un- sightly from the modern viewpoint, and was also constructed so as to be unsuitable for the needs of the congregation. Under the leadership of Rev. R. B. Wilson, the old house was razed and the present elegant and commodious structure erected in its stead. Here it would be interest- ing to give a list of the leading members and ministers that have helped make this church a power for good here and elsewhere, but our space must be used for historical rather than personal items.

The completion of the first Presbyterian Church in Hillsboro was contemporary with the organizing of the first Presbyterian synod of Illinois. The synod of Illinois was established by the general assembly of the church in 1831. At that time there were but three Presbyterian presbyteries in Illinois and one presbytery in Missouri co-operating with the Illinois churches. The Hillsboro church house having been com-

BENJAMIN B. CASSEDAY AND FAMILY

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

pleted, the first meeting of the synod of Illinois was held September 15, 1831, in the Hillsboro Church. At that meeting there were fourteeu ministers and eleveu elders present representing churches and six members representing presby- teries. At that time there were in Illinois twenty Presbyterian churches. This small gathering in the modest church house in the ob- scure village of Hillsboro, some eighty-five years ago was an auspicious event for the welfare of the moral interests of our community.

We now move forward fifty years when an- other gathering of more than local interest was held in Hillsboro. This was in 1SS.1. The new brick church had been completed only a few years and the church was then in active condi- tion. From twenty ministers in the state, fifty years before, the church had grown till there were churches and ministers in every county in the state and the enrollment of membership in the state had few larger ones of any denomina- tiou. In that meeting in 1SS1, Judge E. Y. Rice delivered an address of welcome full of valuable history and inspiring reminiscences. This ad- dress was responded to by Rev. Dimond, D. D., of Brighton. Rev. Rankin of Warsaw and Rev. Sickles of Alton. The address of Rev. Sickles was so inspiring and optimistic that the thirty and more years that have elapsed since then has made it prophetic of the present, the fulfil- ment of which is so marked, that we reproduce here a portion of it. After the opening of his address and such local references as seemed appropriate Mr. Sickles used the following re- markable language on the condition of the age, and prophetic of the future.

"Turn we now to the contemplation of our moral and religious interests. Do they keep pace with the onward march of the material? There is a class of persons who see little good in the present and are always sighing for the past. The good old times are present to their views. With such persons I have no sympathy whatever. I believe that today we are living in the grandest and best times that the country ever saw. Whether you take in view public morals or religious interests. The old times upon comparison, will not bear inspection. It was the wise man who said, 'Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou doest not inquire wisely concerning this.'

"I believe the progress of the people, in morals and religion have not only run parallel with, but

iu advauce of the progress of material things. The time was when in New England, church trustees boldly advertised their lotteries for building and repairing the church of God. And pastors piously gave thanks for the providence that enabled them to draw the prize. Then there is the temperance reform. We get discouraged sometimes and think that it is not making progress. I venture to say that there is not a Presbyterian Church in Illinois that would call Rev. Thomas Chalmers the prince of preachers, as pastor, having first seeu him dispose of his four glasses of brandy after dinner. Less than fifty years ago the minister was in more danger of coming home drunk from his pastoral calls, than from his evenings at the taverns, aud was often forced to be the hardest drinker in the parish to keep up with the social demands of the parishioners.

"This is a terrible diatribe ou the old time ministry, and the old time church and yet it was true that the church then led the people in morality and as a whole led them conscien- tiously and wisely. Well do I remember when in 1863, the minister made a pastoral call at my father's house while whiling away a few mo- ments, while my mother was out in the kitchen getting our frugal meal, that the minister got up and examined a bottle on the mantel, which proved to be camphor, and then asking me if father didn't have something to drink before dinner ?"

Since the above was said by Reverend Sickles, over thirty years have passed, and the church as well as the ministry have progressed toward higher conceptions, and ideals, and the influence of the church and its true adherents have left their impress on the communities in which they ' are located. My earliest recollections of the ministers that I knew, is that about every one of them carried his pipe and tobacco, but so far as I know, not a minister within my knowl- edge smokes today. I hope and pray that the time will come when the church members will rise to the present day standing of total absti- nence. May the church continue to rise in its aspirations and teachings and its followers con- tinue to adjust themselves to the higher plane that we are tending toward, and the world continue to rise higher in its efforts toward better things, is my heartfelt wish.

In relating the important events that have beeu instrumental in making Montgomery County the splendid habitation that we boast of, the

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power and influence of the church must not be overlooked. The moral growth and civic force of any community is measured by, and in proportion, to the devotion of its people to the church and its principles. Whenever and wherever you find a people actuated and guided by the Christian church, you find a people who are optimistic in spirit, cooperative in business, homebuilding and loving in practice, and in- tensely patriotic in their aspirations. In such a community pessimism obtains but little foothold, saloonism and gambling are limited in extent and power, so-called socialism, or chronic kick- ing, is well curbed; and the great unrest among, the masses that we hear so much about, has but little lodging. We speak of the church here, not in the denominational sense, but in the broader and inclusive sense of embracing all evangelical church organizations.

THE HILLSBORO LUTHERAN CHURCH.

In 1832, Rev. Daniel Scherer came to Hills- boro as a missionary from North Carolina, and by 1834, he had gathered strength enough to erect a church house. It was located just north of where the Lutheran Church now stands, and was a frame structure, being the first Lutheran frame church in Illinois. This was a gigantic task, and so well did he accomplish his work, that at the general synod of the Lutheran Church following the building of the Hillsboro church the following resolution was adopted: "that we express our approbation of the laudable efforts of Rev. Daniel Scherer in collecting and or- ganizing the Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, Ill."

This house of worship served the membership until 1857, when, under the leadership of Rev. Jeremiah Livengood, a new and better house of worship, was erected. This house answered the purpose until 1896 and 1897 when it was found that the house was insufficient for the church's needs, and under the leadership of Rev. Ezra Keller, the dean of the Hillsboro ministers, the present beautiful structure was erected, being at the time of its completion the best structure of its kind in the city. Special mention must be made of the early work of the Lutheran ministers and followers, in the work of educa- tion. Its early ministers seemed actuated with a vision of making Hillsboro a great educational center of the new western development, and well did they lay tbe foundation for the realization

of their ambitions. The Hillsboro College and the Hillsboro Academy, as well as the female academy, were essentially Lutheran, though well supported by other denominations. Hillsboro became recognized as the leading educational center of this portion of the west, and promi- lent men from long distances, sent their chil- dren here, or moved here themselves, to secure the advantages of the higher education here ob- tainable. Such men as Judge Thornton, General Casey and many others were patrons of the college.

The college was fully empowered to confer de- grees and men like Doctor Bowers were proud to own degrees, D. D.'s or A. M.'s, from Hills- boro College. Men like Harry Wilton, John Kitchell and the Haywards and others came here with no otber motive, than the education of their children, and became worthy citizens of tbc early days. Educators like Doctor Wyman, Doctor Trimper, Doctor Springer, and others worked and sacrificed much, and while it would be unfair to ascribe to them all the educational impulse that the college gave to Hillsboro it must be admitted that these men and the Lutheran Church are entitled to the honor of being pioneers in this commendable work.

Among the men who have preached for the Lutheran Church, the following list may be given, which we think is approximately correct. Beginning with Daniel Scherer in 1832, we bave the following: Rev. Daniel Scherer, twelve years; Rev. A. A. Trimper, two years; Rev. Francis Springer, D. D., five years; Rev. Elias Swarta, one year; Rev. Jeremiah Livengood, six years; Rev. Geo. A. Bowers, D. D., nine years ; Rev. J. M. Cromer, two years ; Rev. C. A. Gelwicks, two years; Rev. W. H. Lilly, tbree years; Rev. A. J. Turkle, four years; Rev. J. W. Thomas, two years; Rev. E. B. Killinger, D. D., two years; and Rev. Ezra Keller, for the past twenty years or over.

Much more might be said of this denomina- tion, such as the work in building other churches at Litchfield, at Bost Hill, in Butler Grove and other places, but the main object of this review is to sbow the effect of the church on the growth of the moral and uplifting forces of the county and community. Those familiar with the church need not be told that it has ever stood for a high standard of righteousness, and its people have done much for the welfare, ethically, of this county.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

THE WAVELAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The death of Eliza Brown on November 27, 1915, at the ripe age of ninety-four, recalls the fact that she was one of the twenty-five original members and founders of the Wave- land Presbyterian Church. Her father was Matthew Brown, whose family, together with her uncle, John Brown and family and some others, as will be seen, were among its founders. The Waveland Presbyterian Church in connec- tion with the presbytery of Alton and synod of Illinois south, is situated in Montgomery County, Ill., five and one-half miles south and one-half mile west of Hillsboro, Ill., the county seat. The organization and original member- ship are given briefly, in the records of the ses- sion, as follows: "Montgomery County, Ill., July 28, 1843-The Rev. A. Cameron Allen, met a part of the members of the Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro at the house of William P. Brown and organized them into a society called, The Waveland Presbyterian Church. A short sermon was preached on the occasion from the text Matt. 5 : 16, 'Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.' The following names constituted the society: John Brown, Sarah Brown, Leeve Brown, William P. Brown, Newton G. Brown, Elizabeth Brown, Nancy Brown, Eliza Brown, Rufus P. Brown, William P. Brown, Jr., Margaret Craig, Jesse D. Wood, Minerva J. Wood, Sarah D. Black- wood, Emaline Blackwood, Levi H. Thom, Mar- garet A. Thom, George Nicholson, George L. Clotfelter, Jemima Clotfelter, Elizabeth Barry, Joseph McLean, Abigael McLean, Enos Clot- felter, Elizabeth Brown. The society proceeded to the choice of ruling elders, John Brown, Levi H. Thom, and Dr. Jesse D. Wood were elected. These persons having signified willingness to accept the call to the office, were ordained in the manner prescribed in the form of govern- ment of the Presbyterian Church. Rev. A. C. Allen, clerk pro tem."

After the organization the church was for many years a sort of post of the Hillsboro Church of which it was an offshoot. During many years it was supplied by the ministers of that church. The ministerial supplies of the church have been as follows: A. Cameron Allen till 1844; Thomas W. Hynes, 1846-51; Robert M. Roberts, 1852-59; William Hamilton, 1859-61; John S. Howell, 1861-66; James H. Spillman,

1869-75 ; Thos. W. Hynes, 1876. For many years the church had no house of worship, during which time public services were held in the grove in pleasant weather and in the residences of Maj. William Brown, Levi H. Thom, Joseph McLain, or Doctor William P. Brown.

On October 5, 1847, the church obtained a gift from John Brown and his brother, William Brown, of a deed for six acres of ground on which they built a plain house of worship. The building was begun in 1847 and finished in 184S. The people were generally poor and the times were hard, and the house was built mainly by day's work by the members of the congregation. Very little money was contributed or needed for the erection. This house was used as the meet- ing house of the congregation for about twenty- four years. In the summer of 1872 the present house succeeded it and cost $1,600, the most of which was raised at home without drawing on the general funds of the church. When the second house was built the church was still without large numbers or much wealth but the members took hold of the work earnestly and the Lord blessed them and gave success to their efforts. While some contributed largely and were embarrassed from their liberality, the pastor, Rev. J. H. Spillman, was most active and zealous in pushing the work forward, and to his faith and energy under the blessings of God, we are largely indebted for the success attained. The elders of the church from the beginning have been: John Brown, Levi H. Thom, Jesse D. Wood, elected at its organiza- tion and composing the board till May, 1851. At that time Rufus P. Brown, and Joseph McLain were added to the session. On November 4, 1871, Alvin A. McLain and David A. Clotfelter were added as ruling elders. In the summer of 1848 the church established a parochial school and sustained it for three years. It was taught in the old meeting house with Mary Wait of Bond County, and afterward Miss Eloise Powers of Vermont as the teachers, and was success- ful and useful beyond the expectation of the church members and its friends. It was dis- tinctly Christian rather than sectarian, and ac- complished much good among the youth of the congregation and neighborhood, giving them moral, literary and religious instruction. The old church is still active, and efficient, which speaks well for the community, as most country churches become innocuous as the near town or village churches grow. The cemetery nearby

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 9

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810