USA > Illinois > Warren County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Warren County, Volume II > Part 39
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The Ladies' Advisory Board was appointed first in 1874. The first members were Mrs. A. C. Harding, president; Mrs. Mary Beckwith, secretary; Mrs. J. H. Reed, Mrs. J. J. Glenn, Mrs. D. M. Ure, Mrs. M. D. Sterrett, Mrs. R. W. McClaughry, Mrs. J. G. Barnes, Mrs. C. Hardin.
In April, 1897, the Old Students' Association was organized with Hugh R. Moffet as presi- dent. The Alumni Association was organized in 1867 witn the following officers: S. Findley '64, president; Miss E. A. Herdman '63, secretary; D. D. Johnson '61, corresponding secretary.
The college adopted the group system of study June 14, 1897.
A summer school was conducted at Keiths- burg in 1897.
In the spring of 1856, when the trustees were seeking their first president, the position was tendered to Prof. James Woodburn of Blooming- ton, Indiana, father of Miss Grace Woodburn, who is now associate professor of Latin in the college, and of Mrs. J. H. McMillan, wife of the vice president.
The college athletic grounds on East Broad- way, just outside the city limits, were bought
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in September, 1893. They contained ten acres at first, but a few building lots nave been sold off the north side since.
The Senior class first appeared in cap and gown in 1895.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Sketches of all the Churches, Past and Pres- ent, in the City-The Methodists were First on the Ground-United Presbyterians now in the Lead, with Three Prosperous Con- gregations.
Presbyterianism in this county began with the organization of the First Presbyterian church of Warren county, located about nine miles northwest of Monmouth, in 1836. Rev. Cyrus Riggs officiated at the organization, act- ing under appointment of Schuyler presbytery, and reporting the organization to that body at its September meeting, 1836. John Hopkins was the first elder. In October, 1839, the con- gregation took the name of Fall Creek Presby- terian church. Its membership ran down to seven or eight, and August 26, 1873, it was dis- solved by order of the presbytery. The First Presbyterian church of Monmouth was or- ganized September 2, 1837, by Rev. L. G. Bell, with sixteen members. They were Nancy Jun- kins, Margaret Montgomery, Margaret Hogue, Margaret Roney, Jane Brazelton, Martha A. Mauck, Lydia 'I'albert, Mary Ann Hogue, Eliza Andrews, Thomas G. Hogue, Benjamin Roney, Hercules Roney, George P. Hogue, Hamilton Roney and James P. Hogue. The two last named were installed as ruling elders. The congregation was supplied by Revs. L. G. Bell, Michael Hummer, James Stafford, Wm. K. Stewart and Joseph J. Gray, until September, 1839. Rev. Samuel Wilson, formerly of Rush- ville, was the first installed pastor of the church coming in October, 1839, and serving the con- gregation until his death August 15, 1847. Rev. William F. Ferguson succeeded Mr. Wilson in 1848, remaining until the close of 1851. Rev. R. C. Matthews preached for the congregation
December 20, 1851, in the court house, and the next day at a congregational meeting he was invited to remain as supply for three months, dividing his time between Monmouth, Fall Creek and North Henderson. He did so, and at the close of the time specified was called as pastor of the Monmouth church. The call was signed by Ruling Elders Robert Grant, James Dickson, Porter Phelps, A. C. Gregg and Hiram Norcross. Dr. Matthews accepted the call, but on account of sickness was not installed until December 2, 1852. He continued as pastor of the church until his death November 15, 1881. Few pastors were ever loved more than he, and few ever left a deeper impression upon the church and the community in which they lived. Dr. Matthews was succeeded by Rev. A. H. Dean, D. D., coming from a charge at Joliet in April, 1882, and being installed May 11 following. He resigned his charge in July, 1902, on account of impaired health, and ac- cepted a call to a church at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. After the organization of the church, it met in various places for worship. A store room which stood on the east side of the square just north of Broadway, the present site of the National Bank of Monmouth, was used; also the old American Hotel, of which Elder Hogue was part owner, and the court house. It was in the latter building that the first pastor, Rev. Samuel Wilson, was installed. In April, 1842, Theodore Coburn and wife gave the church Lot 6, Block 32, on South Main street between Second and Third avenues, for a site for a church building. A small brick building was erected here soon afterward at a cost of $800, and used until 1851, when it was torn down to make room for the frame build- in which the congregation worshipped until the erection of its present church home on East First avenue and Third street. While the frame church was under course of erection ser- vices were held in the Methodist church on al- ternate Sabbaths. The basement was finished so that it could be used along in 1852, but the building was not completed and ready for de- dication until 1853. It cost $3,000, and the lumber was hauled by wagons from Oquawka. The church was remodeled and enlarged in 1863 at an additional cost of $1,500. The hand- some brick edifice now used by the congrega- tion was erected in 1881 and 1882 and dedicated May 7, 1882. Rev. A. H. Dean, preached the dedicatory sermon. The church cost about
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$22,000, including the furnishings. It is 100 feet long by forty-eight wide, with a tower nearly 100 feet high. It has Sabbath school rooms in the basement. The church has a fine pipe organ. The seating capacity is about 800. A gallery was added and other improvements made to the building recently. The congrega- tion has a membership of 548, a large Sabbath school and all the other accessories of a work- ing church. it has charge of a mission Sab- bath school conducted in the Swedish Lutheran church. It was started December 6, 1896, with W. B. Rhodes as superintendent.
The Christian church of Monmouth was or- ganized March 31, 1839, by Elders Pliny and Levi Hatchett and James R. Ross. Nineteen persons had their names on the charter roll, viz .: Elijah Davidson and Mary, his wife; Hezekiah Davidson and Eleanor, his wife; Alex- ander Davidson and Rachel, his wife; Nancy Davidson, Amelia Ann Davidson, Solomon S. Davidson, William B. Davidson, Elizabeth Dav- idson, Thomas H. Davidson, William C. Hall and Ann, his wife; William C. Butler and Re- becca, his wife; Jacob L. Buzan and Nancy, his wife; and James Hodgens. Elijah Davidson was chosen clerk of the organization, and Alex- ander Davidson elder. May 25, 1840, Solomon S. Davidson, Cornelius Deweest and William C. Butler filed a certificate with the county recorder announcing hat on the 19th day of that month they had been elected trustees of the church and that the society "assumed the name and style of The Church of Christ of Mon- mouth." At this time the society worshipped in the court house and in a hall. January 16 following Elijah Davidson deeded to the church Lot 1, Block 12, where Co. H's armory now stands, on which to erect a house of worship. A frame building was erected at a cost of about $800, and this was used for church purposes, and also as a school house part of the time, un- til 1860. This building was the possessor of the first church bell in the town, the gift of N. A. Rankin. It was hung in a small addition built at the rear of the church. In 186J a frame church was built on the corner of East Sec- ond avenue and South First street, where the congregation's present church home is. K. A. Davies was the builder, and the contract price of the building was $4,700. The bunding was 40x60 feet in size, with a tower. It was com- pleted the following winter and dedicated March 10, 1861, with a sermon by Rev. Isaac
Errett, for many years editor of The Christian Standard of Cincinnati. The present house of worship was erected in 1893, and dedicated December 31 of that year with appropriate ser- vices. Rev. H. O. Breeden, of Des Moines, Iowa, preached the dedicatory sermon. The building is of brick and cut stone, the main auditorium being 53x53 feet, and the lecture room 31x36 feet. Class rooms adjoin the latter and below it are kitchen and dining rooms. The building cost about $13,000, E. L. Gibler & Co., of St. Louis, were the contractors, and C. G. Bartholomew was superintendent of con- struction. Pastors of the Christian church have been: Pliny and Levi Hatchett, James R. Ross, Alexander Davidson, A. J. Kane, J. E. Gaston, T. J. Matlock, John Errett, L. S. Wal- lace, John LaGrange, J. M. Williams, A. P. Aten, F. M. Bruner, N. E. Corey, J. W. Kelsey, M. Stevenson, W. A. Meloan, C. H. Stearns and D. E. Hughes, the present pastor. The church now has a membership of about 400.
The First Baptist church of Monmouth was organized in January, 1841, by Rev. Gordon Bartlett of Knoxville, an evangelist and mis- sionary who had been holding preaching ser- vices in the city for a few weeks previous to that time. January 21 an Ecclesiastical Coun- cil was held in the Presbyterian church, com- posed of Rev. John M. Clark of New Boston, Rev. Robert M. Wilbur of Berwick, and Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Wilbur being moderator and Mr. Bartlett clerk. On call of the moderator, Wm. F. Smith, John L. Fryer, Sally Fryer, Henry C. Howard, Cynthia Howard, Matilda Lanphere, Sarah M. Hord and Nancy Smith presented their church letters on which they had banded together in church capacity; and the summary of the "Articles of Faith" adopted by the church were read. The church was then recog- nized by the council under the name of the United Baptist Church of Monmouth, the mod- erator giving the right hand of fellowship in behalf of the council. After the adjournment the church held a business meeting, with Rev. Gordon Bartlett in the chair. Wm. F. Smith was chosen clerk. Benjamin C. Hord was re- ceived as a candidate for baptism and member- ship in the church on confession of his faith. He was baptized January 24 by Mr. Bartlett, being the first person to receive the ordinance in the new organization. The following autumn the church united with the Salem Association at its session at the New Hope church in the
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south part of the county. Mr. Bartlett re- mained with the congregation for some three months after its organization, after which time it was without a pastor for a while. For a vear following August, 1842, Rev. R. M. Wil- bur served the church half of his time, being followed by Rev. James Hovey, who gave them half of his time for a year. Rev. Erastus Miner was then pastor at half time for a year and a half. During his pastorate, in the spring of 1847, the midweek prayermeeting was inaugur- ated at the home of E. C. Babcock. The first pastor to give his full time to the congregation was Rev. Walter Levisee, who came in the fall of 1847, remaining a few months. The pastors following him were: Rev. R. W. Monroe, in 1848 and 1849; Rev. Joseph Elliott, who came in the spring of 1851; Rev. Adolphus Weston, in 1852; Rev. Joseph Elliott again in 1853; Rev. Robert Newton in 1854 and 1855; Rev. Anson Tucker, who commenced work in April, 1856, and served the congregation faithfully un- til his death April 23, 1858; Rev. R. L. Whit- man, who came in the fall of 1858, remaining two years; Rev. H. H. Northrup, from Septem- ber, 1861, to August, 1862; Rev. J. Christian Miller, from December, 1862, to January, 1865; Rev. J. N. Tolman, who came in the fall of 1865 and remained one year; W. B. Bolton, who was pastor nearly two years; Rev. H. B. Foskett, whose pastorate was one of the long- est in the history of the congregation, extend- ing over a period of six years from October. 1869, and only closing then because of his fail- ing health; Rev. Harry Taylor, who came from Sacramento, Cal., exchanging places with Mr. Foskett and remaining here three years; Rev. W. J. Walker, who stayed a little less than two years; Rev. Joel Barr, for about two years, and after whom the congregation was without a pastor for a year; Rev. W. J. Watson. from September, 1883, to June 1. 1890; Rev. G. J. Johnson, from June 15, 1890, to 1893; Rev. J. H. Delano, from 1893 to July, 1897; and Rev. W. J. Sanborn, the present pastor, who came in September, 1897.
The first church erected by the congregation stood on the corner of South First street and East First avenue. It was a frame building, erected in 1854, at a cost of $3,300. The church was dedicated January 14, 1855, Rev. Mr. Barry preaching the sermon, Rev. G. J. Johnson, of Burlington, preaching in the afternoon, and Rev. Mr. Cole, agent for the Foreign Mission-
ary Society, speaking in the evening. About. this time difficulties arose in the congregation, and on January 5, 1856, the building committee declining to deed the property to the trustees as had been expected, the congregation by a majority vote decided to disband, hoping through a reorganization to put the church on a more harmonious footing. The meeting to organize the new church was held January 19 following, the organization being perfected by Rev. R. Newton with thirty members. A coun- cil was held a few days later for the purpose of recognizing the church, but by a tie vote t failed to do s The ground of opposition was that the old church had not disbanded, that no church could disband without the affirmative vote of the entire body. Twenty-eight members of the old organization then took their letters and organized the Second Baptist church, which, however, was disbanded after a few years, most of the members returning to the old church. The church building was finally deeded to the trustees in January, 1857. It was remodeled at an expense of about $3,000 in 1868. After the new church was built the old one was sold to Dr. W. S. Holliday, who re- modeled it, and it is now used for business purposes. The present church building was erected in 1895 and dedicated January 19, 1896, Rev. M. W. Haynes of Englewood, Ill., preach- ing both morning and evening. The building is on the corner of South First street and East Second avenue, on the corner south of the old location. It is of brick, with stone trimmings, of modern style and furnishings, and cost $18,500. O. W. Marble of Chicago was the architect and Hoy Bros. of Monmouth the builders. The parsonage stands immedi- ately north of the church and is owned by the congregation. The whole property is valued at $25,000. The church has a membership of 320.
The Second Baptist church was organized in February, 1856, by about twenty-eight members who had been dismissed from the First Bap- tist church. They held meetings for a while in the East Ward school house with Rev. R. Newton as pastor, and in the fall erected a small church building on South Sixth street and East Sixth avenue, and used it as long as the organization lasted. No records of the church are obtainable, but deeds at the court house show that W. F. Smith, C. K. Smith and Wm. Perrine were trustees when the lot was
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purchased for the church. After the church disbanded the building was sold to the First African church.
The Second Baptist church ( colored) was or- ganized in the First Baptist church in 1868 by Rev. A. W. Jackson of Jacksonville with thir- teen members. Among them were Ben Gran- ger, A. McAllister, T. Stevenson, E. Paine, T. Shavers, his wife and mother, Mac Webb, and Mrs. M. Floyd. Only five of them are living and only two are in Monmouth. Their first place of worship was the old East Ward school house, from which place they moved to their own church building at the corner of Ninth avenue and South First street, where they now worship. Among the pastors of this church have been Revs. H. Graves, J. Faulkner, Blay, Philips, Whitehead, J. Bandy, E. Wilson, J. Bell, Carey, Brown, W. Burch, Belton, J. H. Magee, W. Gray, S. P. Moore, A. Madison, J. W. Washington, J. E. Jackson, and the present pastor, Rev. G. C. Mason. The present mem- bership is ninety-nine.
The early history of Methodism in Mon- mouth includes also the early history of Meth- odism in Warren county. In the fall of 1831 Rev. Jacob Mills came from the East and rode through Knox and Warren counties, preach- ing wherever opportunity offered. The next year Rev. Barton Randall was sent as circuit preacher in the mission, including both these counties, holding the first quarterly meeting in the mission at Knoxville that fall. At this meeting Thomas Pearce and Daniel McNeil were appointed stewards for Warren county, and the second quarterly meeting was ap- pointed to be held at the home of Mr. Pearce in the extreme northeast corner of Roseville township, March 18, 1833. Bad weather, how- ever kept the people away and no meeting was held. The third quarterly meeting was held at Samuel Jamison's, about five miles south of the Yellow Banks, now Oquawka. Rev. Peter Cartwright, the presiding elder, was pres- ent, and there was a general turnout from all over the county. Seven persons partook of the sacrament, B. H. Cartwright, Robert Bell, Thomas Pearce, Daniel McNeil, Field Jarvis, Elisha Griffith and his wife. Ten were re- ceived into the church on probation, and three children were baptized. Two classes were formed about this time, one at Mr. Pearce's and one at the Jamison settlement. In the fall of 1835 Rev. D. R. Trotter was appointed circuit
preacher, and the following year a class was formed at Monmouth and one at Ellison creek. The conference in 1834 divided the mission, putting Knox and Henry counties in the Knox- ville mission, and Warren and Mercer counties in the Henderson River mission. Rev. Barton H. Cartwright was assigned to the Knoxville mission and Rev. Peter R. Boerin to the other. Mr. Boerin became ill and Mr. Cart- wright was placed in charge of both missions. Mr. Cartwright lived in Berwick township, and was first an exhorter, but was later licensed as a preacher. Rev. Asa D. West settled in Mon- mouth in 1834, being the first regular minister to settle in the county. That year there were eight preaching places in the county, and about fifty members. December 13, 1834, Rev. Asa D. Ward, George Pearce, Field Jarvis, Nathaniel Hopper and Daniel McNeil were chosen trus- tees for the Monmouth church, though at that time there was no property and no immediate prospect of any. In October, 1836, the two mis- sions were discontinued, and in their place was created the Knoxville circuit, in the Quincy district, with Rev. Joel Harrington as preacher. He was followed in 1837 by Rev. Chauncey Ho- bart, and he the next year by Rev. Asa D. West. In October, 1839, a new circuit for War- ren county was established, with Rev. William H. Clark as circuit preacher. The first quar- terly conference of this circuit was held at Ellison creek near New Lancaster Nov. 16 of that year. Among those present were the presiding elder, Rev. N. G. Berryman, Rev. Will- iam H. Clark and Rev. Asa D. West. In 1846 the circuit embraced Monmouth, Oquawka, Olena, Warren, Ellison, Stringtown, Berwick and other preaching places. Two years later not a Sabbath school was reported in the cir- cuit, and in 1849 but one was reported. The next year, however, the number had been in- creased to eleven. In 1851 Berwick and Elli- son were taken from the circuit, and in 1853 Monmouth was made an independent station, with Rev. John P. Brooks in charge. The first church building, which was known as "Mon- mouth Chapel," was erected in 1842 on East First avenue between First and Second streets, and the old building still stands on its original site, being now occupied as a barn by O. W. Christopher's hack line. This building was opened for public worship September 23, 1842, and was used by the congregation until 1858. In the summer of 1857 the congregation pur-
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chased from the city for $500 a lot on the east side of South First street, just south of First avenue, the city reserving the old school house that stood upon it, and removing it to a new location. On this lot the congregation at an expense of nearly $7,000 erected the 45x70 frame building with stone basement now occupied by the Young Men's Christian Association. The church was slow in building and was not dedi- cated until February 28, 1861, when it was opened for worship by Bishop Bowman of Chi- cago. For some time the basement story was used for the public services, while the congre- gation waited for the completion of the build- ing. The first steps toward the erection of the present handsome house of worship were taken in 1888. The Laferty property on the south side of East Broadway, and west of Sec- ond street, was purchased as a site for the building, and on June 20, 1889, ground was broken for the foundation. The cornerstone was laid July 15, and the house was finished and dedicated for public worship January 5, 1890. Dr. (now Bishop) Earl Cranston preached the dedicatory sermon, and also preached in the evening. The next evening Rev. W. H. Millburn, the blind chaplain of the National House of Representatives, preached, and on the evening of the 8th Dr. Richard Haney lectured on "Early Methodism in Illi- nois." The present structure cost about $28,000. The building was designed by Weary & Kramer of Akron, Ohio, and the builder was David Myers of Burlington. The church is of a mild Gothic design, 100x78 feet, with a tower eighty- six feet high. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 600, and the galleries and Sabbath school rooms of about 500 more. In 1901 the congregation completed the erection of a hand- some brick parsonage on the lot just west of the the church at a cost of $4,000. Pastors of this church have been: William H. Clark, William Haney, Zadoc Hall, William Justice, John Morey, Barton H. Cartwright, Joseph O. Gil- bert, James Taylor, B. Applebee, James F. Chaffee, and after the church was made an in- dependent station : John P. Brooks, B. C. Swartz, H. Ritchie, Elijah House, J. Soule, A. D. McCool, Henry Summers, R. C. Rowley, O. C. Price, John P. Brooks, J. Tubbs, C. Springer, J. S. Cummings, E. Wasmuth, A. Ma- gee, P. Warner, J. G. Evans, William Under- wood, S. Jones, John D. Smith, J. S. Cummings, S. W. Barnes, R. G. Pearce, G. R. Palmer, Geo.
C. Wilding, H. D. Clark, R. E. Buckey, J. Well- ington Frizzelle, Dr. Samuel Van Pelt, and Dr. F. W. Merrell. The present membership of the church is 675.
The African Methodist church was organized in 1868 in a hall on South Main street with about a dozen members. Among them were David Crutcherville and wife, Zachariah Price and wife, Mrs. Blair, Mary Bright, Mr. and Mrs. Baber and son Louis, Charles Knight, A. H. Knight and Harriet Lee. In 1870 they erected a church on South Third street and Seventh avenue, which they yet occupy. It was remodeled in 1896 and dedicated July 26 of that year by Presiding Elder F. J. Peterson of Chi- cago. Rev. C. Wright is the present pastor ,and the membership is forty-four.
The Reformed Presbyterian church of Mon- mouth was organized in 1848 by Rev. David J. Patterson with thirty members. These had been connected with the Reformed Presbyterian church in the east, and desired here an organ- ization after their own liking. They were Sam- nel Hogue, John A. Hogue and wife, J. W. Hogue and wife, William Hogue and wife, John W. Paul and wife, Miss Rebecca Paul, Robert K. Mitchell and wife, Mrs. Jane Mitchell, Miss Nancy Mitchell and Mrs. John Rodgers. The first elders of the congregation were John W. Paul and William Hogue. The first house of worship built by the congregation stood on the west side of South Main street, where the Weir Plow shops were for so long a time. They sold this building in 1855 and erected another the same year two and one-half miles south- east of Kirkwood, on the northeast quarter of Section 15, in Tompkins township. Here they worshipped until 1866, when the congregation gave up its organization, the members going in- to the United Presbyterian and Presbyterian churches. Rev. James Scott was the first and only pastor of this congregation. The old church on South Main street was moved by Bar Parker in 1857 to the corner of East Broadway and North First street, where the Kingsbury block now stands, and it was used as a furniture store by Parker & Davies, and later as a gro- cery by McGrew & Turnbull. It was burned in the big fire of 1871.
The beginnings of the First United Presby- terian church of Monmouth are found in the minutes of the First Associate Reformed con- gregation of Monmouth, given thus: "May 9, 1853. James G. Madden and other members in
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
connection with the Associate Reformed church in Monmouth and vicinity met in the Presby- terian church in Monmouth, for the purpose of organizing a congregation. Rev. Robert Ross of the South Henderson congregation was present and presided in the meeting. Twenty- one communicants were present, to-wit: James G. Madden and wife, John Saville and wife, T. W. Smiley, John Gowdy and wife, James S. Gowdy, Isabelle Gowdy, John L. Clark and wife, Robert Kendall and wife, James E. McNair, Edward Kirk and wife, Mrs. Isabelle Wallace, Mrs. Isabelle Young, Julia A. Madden, Susan- nah Madden and Maria S. Madden. On motion a congregation was organized and called the First Associate Reformed Congregation of Mon- mouth." James S. Gowdy and Thomas W. Smil- ey were chosen elders and James G. Madden treasurer of the congregation.
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