USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume II > Part 45
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MISSIONS AND EARLY CHURCHES .- With the earliest white settlers of Illinois came the Cath- olic religion. The French settlers would im-
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mediately form a settlement, build chapels and begin missionary work among the Indians. In St. Clair County these pioneers of the Catho- lic religion had as their centers of work Kas- kaskia, Cahokia and Prairie du Pont. The con- gregation at Cahokia was the oldest Catholic congregation in the West. The missionaries who taught here were educated at a seminary founded in Quebec for the conversion of Indi- ans by Bishop Laval. The first missionary who came to Cahokia (it has been claimed as early as 1694) was Father John Bergier, a man of merit and austere life, who got into trouble with the medicine men and died soon after his arrival here. Then came Father Dominic Mary Varlet, about 1712, who labored here for about six years, with his contemporary, Father Boucher, who died in 1719.
Of the other missionaries up to 1721 we know nothing, as no record of their labors was kept. In Cahokia and elsewhere, the Christians con- stituted the elite and were highly esteemed for their piety and purity of morals. And as many Indian women were converted and few white women were then in this region, the French settlers chose wives from the Indian villages. In 1721, when Father Charlevoix vis- ited the Cahokia mission, it was composed of two tribes who formed one large town. The two priests in that place then were Father Dominic Thaumure de la Source and L. Mercier. The Cahokia mission was attended by these priests in the order named: In 1740, Father Lawrent; 1754, Forget; 1784, Bernard; 1787, Devrins; 1790, Gibault; 1792, Ledu; 1793, Lava- doux; 1797, Lusson; 1799, Olivier; 1805, Dona- tian Oliver; 1807, J. B. Didier; 1810, Joseph Durand; 1810, Urbain Gillet; 1812, Savine; 1826, Dom. Lambier; 1827, J. A. Lutz; 1828, Saussoir. About 1830 it had 160 families and about 800 souls.
When Louisiana was formed into a colony, Illinois became subject to its government; hence missionaries came from New Orleans; but Cahokia, by exception, still received mis- sionaries from Quebec. Prairie du Rocher also had a pastor, who sometimes lived in Kaskas- kia. From 1770 to 1833, these places were under the administrations of the following: Rev. Gibault, who was Vicar General of the Bishop of Quebec and resided at Cahokia until 1790; Rev. de la Valiniere, in 1790; Rev. Leva- dout, in 1793; after the appointment of the
first American Bishops at Baltimore, Rev. Ga- briel Richard and Rev. John Janin in 1799; the Very Rev. Donatius Oliver, as Vicar General of Bishop Carroll, took charge until 1827.
In 1833, the Episcopal See of Detroit was es- tablished, and its jurisdiction embraced all Illinois. Soon afterward the See of Vincennes was established and included all of Northeast- ern Illinois until the See of Chicago was es- tablished. The Right Reverend James Oliver Van de Velde, the second Bishop of Chicago, in 1849 visited Prairie du Rocher, Cahokia. Belleville, Kaskaskia, and other places in St. Clair County. A new See at Quincy was ere- ated for Southern Illinois. In 1857, the See of Quincy was transferred to Alton, and the first Bishop of Alton was the Right Rev. Henry Da- mian Juncker, who died in 1868. Under his administration, great improvements were made. The number of priests was increased from eighteen to 100; of churches, from twenty-three to 123; there were established fifty-six paro- chial schools, two colleges for boys, six acade- mies for girls, two hospitals, and an orphan asylum. Bishop Juncker was succeeded by the Right Rev. Peter Joseph Baltes.
Before and after the creation of the Episco- pal See of Chicago, the priests from St. Louis often crossed the river to conduct services in Illinois, especially in St. Clair County. The last priest from Quebec residing in Cahokia, as pastor, was Father Savine, who departed about 1823. After him came in succession Fa- thers Lambier, Lutz and Saussoir. Then came, in the order named, Fathers Dontreligne from Missouri; Loisel, who died; then Dontreligne again, who built a new church in Centerville Station and a small parochial residence, and in 1873 retired to the House of Lazarists in Missouri, where he died; Landry, from Canada, Jacque, who died in 1878; and Father Kempen, who lived in Centerville Station in the priest's house that had been built by Father Dontre- ligne.
About 1787 the New Design Baptist Church was established in Monroe County, near the St. Clair County line, from which sprang the Richland Creek and the Canteen Creek (later called Bethel) churches, in St. Clair County. Among the early settlers interested in founding pioneer churches were James Lemen and his five sons from Virginia, Rev. John Clark, a Baptist minister from Scotland, Rev. Joseph
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Chance, Rev. David Badgley and Rev. John Baugh-all Baptist ministers. These men were all noted for their anti-slavery and reli- gious liberty doctrines. In association with the Rev. Joseph Chance, the Rev. David Badgley, Baptist, who settled in St. Clair County in 1802 organized the first Protestant church in Illinois Territory.
The history of Shiloh Methodist Episcopal church, in St. Clair County, dates back to about 1795. A class was organized then at Shiloh, which, about 1805, became the Shiloh Church. The old log church there is said to have been the first Methodist church building in the State. Among early members of the Shiloh church were Revs. John and Robert Thomas and the Scott families. The second church, a brick structure, was built in 1819, and the money necessary to pay for it was - raised by subscription. In November, 1875, a handsome brick building, thirty-five by fifty- seven feet, was erected at a cost of $6,700, by Bishop Bowman. One of the foremost pioneers of the Methodist Episcopal church in Illinois was Capt. Joseph Ogle, who came here in 1785. The first Methodist preacher here, Rev. Jo- seph Lilliard, came in 1763, formed a class in St. Clair County and appointed Captain Ogle its leader. The next preacher was Rev. John Clarke, who had been a circuit rider in South Carolina, but left there on account of slavery. He was the first man to preach the gospel west of the Mississippi, in 1798. Rev. Hosea Riggs settled in the Turkey Hill neighborhood in 1796 and reorganized the class formed by Lil- liard, which had disbanded. Through his influ- ence, Rev. Benjamin Young came from Ken- tucky as the first Protestant missionary to Illinois. He died in 1841. Other early minis- ters came as follows: In 1804, Dr. Charles Oglesby; in 1805, Charles R. Matheny; in 1807, Bishop William McKendree, who lived at Shi- loh for awhile and exercised a tremendous in- fluence among the people.
Prominent among the early members of this church were the Mitchells and the Wests, who had lately come from Virginia. Camp meetings were a prominent feature of church life, and resulted in many conversions and much inspira- tion.
The O'Fallon church grew out of the Red- mond class, connected with the Shiloh Class. It met first at Redmond's, then at Ogle's,
and then at the Vernon school-house. Henry Mace and the families of Redmond, Ogle, and Teter made up this class. When O'Fal- lon was founded this class met in the school-house, and was called O'Fallon Class. In 1864 the Methodists there built a $7,500 church. The Shiloh and O'Fallon churches are still in existence.
About 1798, in the American Bottom, meet- ings were held at the houses of the worship- ers, especially at Deacon Josiah Crocker's. Among these worshipers were William Scott, Samuel Shook and Franklin Jarvis.
The first Presbyterian minister to preach the gospel in the Illinois country was Rev. John Evans Finley, of Chester County, who landed in Kaskaskia in 1797. After a short time he removed to Kentucky. Later came the young licentiates, John F. Schimmerhorn, of New York, and Samuel J. Mills, of Connecticut, in 1812, on a missionary exploring expedition, in- cluding New Orleans and the Southwest. In 1814, Mr. Mills and Daniel Smith, of Vermont, revisited the Southwest, then published in East- ern papers accounts of the spiritual destitution of the country, thus arousing in Eastern minds a desire to evangelize the West. In 1815, Salmon Giddings, from Connecticut, was commissioned as missionary to the Southwest, with headquar- ters in St. Louis. He visited towns in Illinois, especially Kaskaskia, where he baptized Col. James L. D. Morrison in 1816. Mr. Giddings organized ten churches in Illinois, including the Turkey Hill Church in 1820.
Richland Creek Baptist Church, the first Baptist organization in St. Clair County, met for the first time June 14, 1806, at the house of William Lot Whiteside, northeast of Belle- ville. Joseph Chance was moderator, and Ben- jamin Ogle clerk. At first it styled itself the "Richland Arm of the New Design Church." In 1807, at a meeting at the house of Isaac Enochs, it became a separate organization; in February, 1808, at a meeting held at the house of Jacob Ogle, it took a stand against slavery. In 1809, the people built a meeting house on Richland Creek, three miles northeast of Belle- ville. The congregation, about forty in all, in- cluded Benjamin Ogle, James Lemen, Sr., Wil- liam Lot Whiteside, William Kinney, Isaac Enochs, Larken Rutherford, Rev. Joseph Le- men, Robert Lemen, Polly K. Lemen, Cather- ine, Hetty and Ann Lemen, Ann Simpson, Ann
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Whiteside, Sallie Whiteside, Elizabeth Badg- ley, Mary Kinney and others. In 1809 the con- gregation disagreed on the slavery question; hence some of the members left and estab- lished the Bethel Church. Later the Richland Church became extinct.
Bethel Baptist Church was built two-and-a- half miles southeast of Collinsville in St. Clair County. The society was constituted Decem- ber 10, 1809. The constituent members were James, Sr., Catherine, Robert, Hetty, Joseph and Polly L'emen and Benjamin Ogle. These took their stand against "union and commun- ion with all persons holding the doctrine of per- petual, involuntary, hereditary slavery." With the organization of this church began the con- test over slavery views in Illinois, and from it sprang the Baptist churches in Belleville, Troy, Collinsville, Pleasant Hill, Oak Hill, and O'Fal- lon.
In 1810, this church called itself "Canteen Creek Church," and was known as "The Bap- tist Church of Christ, Friends to Humanity, at Canteen Creek," until 1825, when the members completed a $4,000 meeting-house and named it "Bethel." From then on, it was called the "Bethel Church." From 1809 to 1825, service had been held at the farm-houses of the con- gregation. Prominent among the members of the congregation were the Lemens and Benja- min Ogle (mentioned before), Joshua Begole, Merlin Jones, Samuel Seybold, John Cook, Sam- uel Beedle, Samuel Simpson, William Hart, Peter Bowler, Warren Beedle, Samuel Baird, David Lawrence, James Hogan, Sylvester Le- men and others. In 1840, Rev. John M. Peck dedicated the church. Some of the pastors have been Revs. John M. Peck, Joseph and James Lemen, Moses Lemen, D. M. Howell, J. H. Heigh, E. J. Palmer, H. S. Deppe, J. M. Coch- ran, W. S. Post, L. C. Carr, W. Wright, W. R. Andereck. Among the men who have been deacons in the Bethel Church were: Stephen Terry, Gideon Scanland, Samuel McClain, John Hart, Elisha Freeman, William Hart, George C. Hart, Samuel Baird, Benjamin Scott, Warren Beedle, James B. Lyons, Augustus Beedle, Samuel Simpson, Levi Piggott, F. B. Lemen. Among the ministers of the gospel who have gone out from that church were Revs. Joseph and James Lemen, Sr., Benjamin Ogle and Joel Terry. Bethel Church has always been nota- bly missionary in spirit and has contributed lib-
erally to help struggling churches and to the furtherance of other missionary work. It is still a working church.
Summerfield Methodist Episcopal Church is a continuation of old Union Grove Church, about two miles south of Summerfield, with Union Grove Camp-ground. In this settlement lived the families of Rev. Samuel H. Thomp- son, Rev. John Dew, Rev. Thornton Peeples, Dr. Casad, and James and Thomas Johnson. The class was organized probably in 1810 or 1811. The first church was built in Summer- field between 1855 and 1860, on lots donated by Bishop Cavanaugh and his brother. The next church was built about 1873. The Meth- odist Episcopal church in Summerfield sur- vives.
CHURCHES ESTABLISHED 1810-30 .- The Old Silver Creek Baptist Church was organized March 21, 1811, and included among its early members Abraham and Mary Teter, Peter and Hannah Mitchell, Mary Radcliff and Barbara Shook. The following were some of its pas- tors: Revs. Ross, Gaskill; Joseph, Moses and James Lemen; Harris, Howell, Stilwell, Ar- nott, Keele, Brown and Huggins. In 1856, the congregation of 159 people built a church. By 1864 the number had sunk to sixty-two; and, as many members had joined other churches, this church eventually passed out of existence.
The South District Baptist Association com- prises the several Baptist churches in the dis- trict. It was organized in 1820. The officers were to be chosen annually; and the meetings, to be held on the Thursday before the first Sunday in September, were to have as their object the discussion of the general interests of religious and educational missions.
The Turkey Hill Presbyterian Church was organized April 20, 1820, by Rev. Salmon Gid- dings, with eight members, including Deacons Nathan Jones and Josiah Crocker. In 1824 the church had fourteen members; in 1825 only seven, a falling off that was due to deaths and removals. The church never had a regular minister, but was visited occasionally by trav- eling missionaries. About 1828 it went out of existence.
LEBANON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. - The first class at Lebanon was organized about 1825, and met in an old log school-house that
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
stood north of the public square, on the prem- ises later occupied by the German Methodist Episcopal Church. Later it met in a frame school-house on the northwest quarter of the square; in 1828-29, in the chapel of Lebanon Seminary; 1829-52, in McKendree College Chapel. In 1852, the first brick church was built on the premises later occupied by the Presbyterian church. It cost $7,500. The base- ment was used as a ladies' seminary. In 1860, fire destroyed the building. From 1860-67 the college chapel was used again. In 1867, a fine building was begun, which was completed and furnished in 1870, at a cost of $17,000. The heavy debt thus incurred was removed by the efforts of Rev. T. H. Herdman. In 1900 a new church edifice was built. In 1873, a $3,600 two- story brick parsonage was erected. Connected with the church is a thriving Sunday-school.
The following pastors have served the church: Revs. John Dew, Asahel Phelps, S. M. Otwell, W. L. Deneen, W. D. R. Trotter, Smith L. Robinson, N. S. Bastian, Samuel H. Thompson, John Van Cleve, W. W. Mitchell, J. H. Benson, G. G. Worthington, Norman Allyn, W. C. Cummings, J. S. Barger, W. S. McMurray, L. D. Bragg, James Edmonson, E. Gentry, James Hadley, C. M. Holliday, N. E. Cobleigh, J. A. Scarritt, T. F. Houts, Joseph Earp, T. A. Eaton, Robert Allyn, T. O. Spencer, J. A. Robinson, John Frazer, G. W. Hughey, J. M. Green, J. W. Phillips, T. H. Herdman, D. D., D. W. Phillips, E. A. Hoyt, A. M., S. Adams, D. D., F. M. Van Treese, D. D., J. I. Pender, F. L. West, Ph. D., Samuel Crump, A. M., J. W. Locke, D. D., M. N. Powers, D. D., F. W. Loy, L. W. Terrall, D. D., and J. G. Harmon.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Belleville was organized in 1825 or 1826. The first class comprised the following named mem- bers: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Randle, James and Annie Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. James Harrison, Susan Dennis, and Caroline E. Blackwell (later Mitchell). Some years before, there was a class which met at Mr. Stanley's, one mile northwest. The first church building was erected in 1831. Before then, the congregation, when it was too large for a hall, had to meet in the woods. One member, Miss Caroline E. Blackwell, asked her brother in Hagerstown, Md., to solicit money for a church here, and as a result, about $50 was sent by Mr. Black- well. More money was raised here by sub-
scription, and the church was built. The old- est records found are dated in 1836. In 1849, the present building was erected at a cost of about $9,000, and in 1875 it was remodeled and improved at a cost of $11,000, through the ef- forts of Rev. G. W. Hughey. The Sunday school was organized in 1832, probably as a union Sunday school. In 1838, however, it was a Methodist Sunday school. Following is a par- tial list of pastors of this church: Rev. John Dew, S. H. Thompson, John Miller, John Ho- gan, J. W. York, Joseph Edmonson, L. D. Bragg, W. L. Deneen, N. P. Cunningham, C. Hobart, W. W. Mitchell, R. Ridgway, Christo- pher J. Houts, Samuel Elliott, William J. Rut- ledge, John Borland, John Van Cleve, James Knapp, Isaiah W. Thomas, N. Howley, J. W. Caldwell, J. A. Scarritt, J. P. Davis, A. B. Nes- bit, J. A. Robinson, W. H. Covington, J. B. Cor- rington, G. W. Hughey, F. W. Van Treese and J. D. Gillham, the latter 1880-82.
The membership of the church in 1880 was 220. Then a decline ensued until 1889, when it reached the lowest point, 125. It rose again until 1895, when it reached the highest point in its history to that time-331. At present there are enrolled upon the church record 260 names, and a drifting membership, if enrolled, would bring the number up to 300. On ac- count of forces over which the church has no control, the congregation and membership is far more changeable in recent years than in the days of its early history.
The following is a list of pastors since Rev. J. D. Gillham: 1883-85, W. F. Davis; 1886-88, O. H. Clark; 1889, S. P. Groves; 1890, R. D. Woodley; 1893, G. W. Shepherd; 1897, J. W. Flint; 1899, C. D. Schumard; 1902, O. H. Clark; 1904, W. H. Pool.
In 1881, under the pastorate of Mr. Gillham, the church building was remodeled at a cost of $6,000. Under the pastorship of Rev. G. W. Shepherd, in 1894, a new pipe organ was in- stalled in the auditorium at a cost of $2,200. About 1898, the church was frescoed, reseated, and refloored, at a cost of $1,050. During the incumbency of Rev. Mr. Schumard, the parson- age was enlarged and remodeled at a cost of $1,150. It has recently been fitted up in a modern way with a bath room, kitchen range, and the like, making it one of the most desira- ble ministerial residences in the Conference. The annual running expenses of the church
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
are approximately $2,500, exclusive of $500 spent in benevolences. The expense claims have uniformly been the same for the past twenty- five years. There has been a considerable in- crease in benevolences in recent years. The valuation of the church property is placed at $12,000; of the parsonage at $2,500.
The church has been helped materially and spiritually by several organizations within her membership. The Elysian Circle has been in existence for more than ten years, and takes the place of a regularly constituted Ladies' Aid Society. This society was organized with Mrs. William Heinzelman as its President. Now it is presided over by Mrs. J. M. Hamill, has a membership of forty, and holds regular meet- ings. It has kept the parsonage in repair and has spent during the last ten years several thousand dollars on the church property.
The Sunday school, which was, for fifteen years, under the superintendency of R. W. Ro- piequet, is now superintended by W. H. Bert- ram. It is in a flourishing condition, has an enrollment of over 400, an average attendance of 300, and contributes annually over $100 to the benevolences of the church. The Epworth League, organized September 5, 1889, has an enrollment of more than one hundred members. It is doing much practical Christian work, and is one of the strongest forces in the church for the uplifting of young people. Its Presi- dent is Miss Mayme Pope. The Woman's For- eign Missionary Society was presided over by Mrs. Elizabeth Majors twenty-four years. It has contributed in recent years over $100 an- nually for missions. Mrs. Pool is now its Pres- ident. Other organizations doing good work that should be noted are the Junior League, Mrs. F. H. Behymer, Superintendent, and the Young Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society.
CHURCH ADVANCEMENT IN THE 'THIRTIES .- The history of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church of Belleville is practically the same as the his- tory of all other Western congregations. A few settlers form the nucleus; then the church in- creases and develops as more people come. It is probable that at first service was held occa- sionally in a private house-often Mr. Penson- eau's-by priests from Cahokia. In 1830, the Catholic families of Hay, Snyder, Chandler and LaCroix moved from Cahokia to Belleville. In 1830, also, German Catholics settled in and
near Belleville, including Hyacinth Munie, An- thony Joffray, Peter Mersinger, G. J. Adam, Peter Fegan and John Kern. Then, two years later, came representatives of the families of Boul, Germain, Robo, Stauder, Priegler, Karls- kind, Pfeiffer, Perrin, Lutz, and Prospor Pournor with his sons Jacob and Leverin-all from Al- sace-Lorraine. In 1832 also many Catholics ar- rived, including some of the following names: Meyer, Froehlich, Mueller, Louis, Wisrock, Hu- ber, Wagner, Gundlach, Steinwasser, Bosch, Sholz, Dahm, Kissel, Stauder, and others. By this time, the Roman Catholics at Belleville had numbers, but not enough money to organize a church. They said mass in different houses, sometimes in the court-house, and, on impor- tant occasions, went to St. Louis to worship.
Father Meyer, from Prairie du Long, was the first German priest to visit Belleville. He visited O'Fallon and Shiloh also. In 1839, a priest came from Cahokia to Belleville regular- ly. In 1842, Fatner Kuenster came as the first regular pastor. Through his efforts, about 1843, a church was built on the site of the present St. Peter's Cathedral. In 1845, Rev. Father Ostlangenberg, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, suc- ceeded him. He cleared the church from debt, and established a Catholic school, and his con- gregation built a church for him.
Father Ostlangenberg was succeeded by Rev. Father P. J. Baltes, a German, from Oswego, N. Y. He brought about several noteworthy im- provements, namely: fresco-painting in the church, the purchase of a bell, the building of a convent, and in 1863 the building of a new church, which was completed in 1866, at a cost of $87,000.
In 1870, Rev. Father Louis Hinssen suc- ceeded Father Baltes. Through his influence the following advantages were gained: Reduc- tion of the church debt by one-half, erection of spires on the cathedral, an altar, St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery in Green Mount, St. Eliza- beth's Hospital, and several church societies organized, namely: St. Peter's Altar Society, the St. Cecilian Society, Sodalities of the Blessed Virgin, the Library and Reading So- ciety, St. Aloysius' Debating Club, the St. Aloy- sius and St. Rosa Society, St. Peter's Benev- olent Society and the Catholic Casino. For the Casino, a building was erected at a cost of $15,000, with store rooms, reading rooms, school rooms, and a concert hall. This was
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organized in 1873, with 142 members. The first officers were: Dr. Julius Kohl, President; Henry Reiss, Secretary. The St. Agnes Orphan Asylum was also founded.
From 1873 to 1888, the congregation was in charge of Benedictine Fathers from St. Mein- rad, Ind. In 1888, Belleville became the seat of a bishopric, and Bishop J. Janssen was con- secrated first Bishop of the new diocese April 25 of that year. In 1888, Rev. C. Zwiesler was appointed rector; in 1889, Rev. F. H. Budde; and in 1895, Very Rev. H. J. Hagen. St. Peter's Cathedral is the largest in the diocese, and its congregation counts 600 families. Its paro- chial school has 612 pupils.
The Right Rev. John Janssen, Bishop of Belleville, was born in Keppelin, Rhenish Prus- sia, Germany, March 3, 1835. He was edu- cated in the college at Gaesdonck and Muen- ster, and was ordained priest November 19, 1858. He came to America and affiliated with the diocese of Alton, then was sent to Spring- field. In 1863, he was called to Alton to act as Secretary and Chancellor of the diocese. Later Bishop P. J. Baltes gave him the posi- tion as Vicar-General. When Bishop Baltes died, Father Janssen was appointed adminis- trator of the diocese, and continued in that of- fice until the diocese was divided and the dio- cese of Belleville established, whereupon he was appointed the first Bishop, February 28, 1888. He still holds that position.
The Right Rev. H. J. Hagen was born at Germantown, Ill., May 21, 1861. He was edu- cated at the parochial school, then at St. Jo- seph's College at Teutopolis, Ill., conducted by the Franciscan Fathers, from which he gradu- ated in 1878. He then studied in the Salesia- num at St. Francis, near Milwaukee, and finally at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. He was ordained priest at Alton, Ill., by Bishop Baltes, September 23, 1883, and appointed rec- tor of the church at Mt. Vernon, Ill., and the neighboring missions of Okawville and Mc- Leansboro. In 1889, he was called to Belleville to be assistant at the cathedral; in 1890, he was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of Belleville, which office he still holds, and in 1895 was promoted to the rectorship of the ca- thedral. Revs. Henry Frueke and Louis Meyer are assistants at the cathedral.
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