Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 31

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

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The First Baptist church has had during the seventy-seven years of its history twenty-four pastors, including stated supplies, and it is a notable fact that this chapter furnishes the only complete roll of pastors ever compiled. T. F. Hopkins, a trustee of the church since 1880, and clerk from 1882 to his death in 1914, bequeathed $20,000 to the society, which will be utilized in providing a more modern house of worship. A. W. Woodward has been a deacon from 1884 to date.

The State Street Baptist Church was organ- ized in 1858. During Rev. Ichabod Clark's pastorate of the First Baptist Church, letters were granted to thirty-four members who wished to organize a society on the east side of the river. This purpose had its origin in the prayer- meetings lield by the Baptist women in that part of the city.

The' organization of the churchi was formally completed in the vestry of Westminster Pres- byterian Church, August 17, 1858, with the following constituent members: C. E. Buswell, A. S. Buswell, Eliza Barker, Charles Barker, possessed strong individuality and was an able . Sophia C. Chamberlain, Brewster H. Chamber- lain, Susan Cram (Mrs. P. Mesick), Armina Cram, Ruhanna Compton, Amanda Crane, Abby M. Dennis, James T. Dunn, Jane L. Dunn, Ann A. Dunn, Thompson Dunn, Stephen Gilbert, Sarah Gilbert, Maria Gilbert, Jacob Hazlett, Jane Hazlett, Catherine Hazlett, Margaret Haz- lett (Mrs. J. P. Largent), James B. Howell, Cardina M. Hathaway, H. H. Guthrie, Ellen Miles, George Mills. Susan Mills, Chichester Mills, Elizabeth M. Mills, Erastus B. Perry, E. R. Riggs, Charlotte A. Riggs, Sarah A. Stearns. Mrs. Largent is the only survivor.

Rev. Edward C. Mitchell was called to the pastorate August 31. The terms were three Indred dollars in cash, an equal amount in board for himself and wife, and two hundred dollars additional if circumstances permitted. One of the first steps was the engagement of Prof. D. N. Hood to conduct the music. A little chapel was erected on the corner of Mar- ket, State and North Fifth streets, which is still standing, and used as a Jewish synagogue. This chapel was dedicated February 2, 1SC0. The organization was first called the Second Baptist Church of Rockford, but on the choice of a permanent location, the name was changed to

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

indicate its relationship to the city, to the State Street Baptist Church, October 26, 1858. The present house of worship was dedicated Novem- ber 18, 1868.

Dr. Mitchell, the first pastor, died in New Orleans, in February, 1900. He held positions of influence in his denomination. He was professor of Biblical literature at Shurtleff College; held the chair of Hebrew and Old Testament interpretation in the Baptist Union Theological Seminary ; professor of Hebrew in Regent's Park College, London ; president of a Baptist theological school in Paris; acting president of Roger Williams University, at Nashville, Tenn .; president of Leland Univer- sity, New Orleans.

Dr. Mitchell's successors in the pastorate have been : S. F. Holt, February, 1863-May, 1869; H. C. Mabie, October, 1869-June, 1873; E. K. Chandler, September, 1873-December, 1878; A. R. Medbury, March, 1879-June, 1880; C. R. Lathrop, February, 1881-April, 1883; J. T. Bur- hoe, September, 1SS3-February, 1892; R. F. Y. Pierce, October, 1892-June, 1896; L. B. Sears, October, 1896-August, 1898; J. T. Burhoe, November, 1898-March, 1905; R. R. Perkins, April, 1905-July, 1906; J. P. Abbott, February, 1907-November, 1912; Mahlon H. Day, April, 1913 -.

Mr. Burhoe died March 14, 1905. As an ag- gressive moral force he has never been surpassed in this city.

The Swedish Baptist Church was organized September 11, 1880, with ten members, in the State Street Baptist Church. Rev. L. J. Ahl- strom was the first pastor, and remained one year. He was succeeded by Rev. C. Silene, who remained from May, 1882, to May, 1884. The society meanwhile had purchased church prop- erty. The third pastor was Rev. J. P. Forsell, who served from May, 1885, to March, 1887. Rev. U. N. Brauer took up the work in July, and his ministry was so successful that a larger house of worship became necessary. A church was erected at the corner of Seventh street and Fourth avenue åt a cost of $8,000, and was dedi- cated January 13, 1889.

Mr. Brauer resigned in January, 1889, and was succeeded by Rev. P. Swartz, who remained until May, 1894. During his pastorate of five

years 246 members were added to the church. The next pastor was Rev. C. F. Levin, who served only a year and a half. Rev. Magnus Larson assumed the pastorate in January, 1897, and his ministry of six years was eminently suc- cessful. Rev. C. W. Sundmark succeeded in April, 1903, and his work made another house of worship necessary. A building was erected on the corner of Fourth avenue and Ninth street at a cost of $28,000, and was dedicated in 1909. Mr. Sundmark left the church in February, 1910, and was succeeded by Rev. J. Alfred Erickson, who remained three and one-half years. His successor was Rev. Erick Carlson, who remained only eleven months. The present pastor is Rev. P. Alfred Peterson, who accepted the charge in July, 1915. The church has given five of her young men to the ministry, and for years has supported a missionary in India. The church has a membership of 360 and is free from debt.

BRETHREN.

The Dunkard Brethren's mission began its work in this city under the care of the mission board of northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Miss C. Tempie Souble of Maryland was first placed in charge and remained until the services of Henry J. Neff and wife of Indiana were secured and took charge March 4, 1904.

CATHOLIC.

Information concerning the early history of St. James' Roman Catholic Church is very meager. The records are said to have been destroyed in the Chicago fire of 1871. Mass was celebrated in the homes of Catholic settlers of Rockford by priests located at New Dublin and Freeport, previous to 1850. Father Gueguen said mass and baptized children in 1840. The permanent organization dates from 1850. John McAnarney is said to be the oldest resident Catholic in the city, In 1851 Artemas Hitcli- cock and wife conveyed to Rt. Rev. James Oliver Van de Velde, second bishop of Chicago, for $150, lot one in block twenty-six, as found in Duncan Ferguson's map of the village. A second con- veyance was from John Lee and wife to Anthony O'Regan, third bishop of Chicago, of lot two in the same block, for $400. Rev. John A. Hamp- ston was appointed pastor of the parish Novem-

CENTENNIAL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ROCKFORD

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH, ROCKFORD

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

ROCKFORD CHURCHES

B'nai Israel Congregation Swedish Methodist

First Baptist St. Paul's Lutheran Evangelical

Brethren St. Mary's, Catholic

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

ber 9, 1851, by Bishop Van de Velde. He was the first resident pastor, and built the first church in 1852. It was a small-one-story frame structure, with a seating capacity for 200 people. The citizens of the towns contributed a portion of the money with which the church was erected. Father Hampston died while in charge of the parish, and is buried under the present church. He was a man of studious habits, modest and retiring in manner, and highly respected by the citizens.

The present St. James' Church was begun in 1866, and dedicated the following year, under the pastorate of Rev. J. S. O'Neill, who was buried in Rockford, April 29, 1890. The pastors of St. James' Church have been as follows: Revs. John Hampston, George Hamilton, Wil- liam Lambert, J. Bulger, John P. Donelan, J. S. O'Neill, Joseph McMahon, T. J. Butler, James J. Flaherty, Thomas Finn. Father Donelan died July 15, 1866, at the age of fifty-three years, and is buried under the church. He was born in New York City and came to Rockford in 1859. He was a gifted orator.

Dean Butler was a priest of more than local reputation. He was born in Limerick, Ireland. He completed his education in the College of the Propaganda, in Rome. He possessed un- usual musical ability ; and while in Rome was a member of the pope's choir. It is said Dean Butler was the papal ambassador at the baptism of the Prince Imperial, son of Napoleon III and Eugenie. During the Civil war, Dean Butler was chaplain of the Irish Brigade. He was a man of literary tastes, and for some years was a member of the Rockford public library board. The parochial residence was erected in 1878. Dean Butler died at Rome in July, 1897, when about to be consecrated Bishop of Concordia, Kansas.

Father Flaherty was priest twenty-two years, from 1885 to 1907. He founded the parochial school in 1886, and in 1891 completed the present brick structure. The school is in charge of the Dominican Sisters. Father Flaherty was suc- ceeded by Father Finn, who came from Rochelle in July, 1907. When Bishop Muldoon made St. James' Church the pro-cathedral, Father Finn undertook the renovation of the church.

St. Mary's parish was established in May, 1885, and comprised all of Rockford west of Rock River and adjacent territory, which had formerly belonged to St. James' parish. The

corner-stone of the church was laid in the summer of 1885, with an imposing ceremony, in which a large number of priests from Chicago officiated. The first pastor was Rev. E. A. Murphy, who subsequently removed to Chicago, where he died in September, 1903. The second pastor was Rev. M. Mclaughlin, who came in 1889. The present pastor is Rev. P. A. Mc- Mahon, who came in May, 1892. During his pastorate the present school was built and the convent purchased.

Rockford diocese was created September 23, 190S. It comprises the counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Car- roll, Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, Whiteside, Lee and Kendall. The diocese has an area of 6,867 square miles, and a Catholic population of 56,000. This diocese was formerly a part of Chicago diocese. Outside of Rockford, in Winnebago County, there were three Catholic churches. These were located at Durand, Pecatonica and Seward, and were attended by priests who successively re- sided at Pecatonica, Durand and Davis. All of these churches, however, comprised one parish. They were first served by. priests from Freeport and Galena, beginning in the early forties. After the creation of Rockford diocese these parishes were divided, the resident pastor of Pecatonica attending Seward, and the resi- dent pastor of Durand attending Irish Grove, in Stephenson County.

The Right Reverend Bishop Peter James Muldoon was appointed the first bishop of Rockford, and took possession of his see Decem- ber 15, 1908. Bishop Muldoon was born in Columbia, Cal., in 1863, and was ordained priest in 1886. He was consecrated auxiliary bishop of Chicago July 25, 1901. One of the first acts of Bishop Muldoon in Winnebago County was the erection of a parish, St. Peter's, at South Beloit, which comprises the towns of South Beloit, Roscoe and Rockton. The first mass was said in the South Beloit Church August 15, 1909.

St. Anthony's Church has been developed in the past seven years. The presence of a large number of Italians in Rockford made a separate parish necessary for their use, and at Easter, 1909, Rev. Father Marchesano began the work of organization. Ground was broken in Sep- tember of the same year at the corner of Fergu- son and Kent streets. At the present time an excellent church and school, a parochial resi-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

dence and a convent for the school sisters are the property of the parish, which numbers con- siderably over 3,500, with 280 children in the school.

In July, 1911, Bishop Muldoon dedicated another church for a portion of the foreign population of Rockford, and the church of St. Peter and Paul (Lithuanian) was erected at the corner of Lincoln avenue and South West street. There is a parochial residence on the property also, which is occupied by the pastor, Rev. V. Taskunas.

St. Stanislaus Kostka Church was dedicated August 15, 1912. The Poles were the last of the foreign-born Catholics of Rockford to be provided with a church, and is under the pastorship of Rev. Julian Burzynski. A twelve- room parish house was purchased at the corner of Buckbee and Magnolia streets, near the church, and there the pastor makes his home.

Three portions of old St. James' parish were made into missions and attended from the pro- cathedral, with the result that in the summer of 1914 St. Rita's Church at Cherry Valley was begun, and in the fall of the same year the church of St. Peter, at Davis Junction, was dedicated. The latter mission is now attended from Genoa.

The latest acquisition to the Catholic churches of Rockford and of Winnebago County is the church of St. William, at the corner of Grant avenne and Auburn street, which was dedicated December 12. 1915. The Rev. J. J. Flanagan attends this church from the Pro-cathedral.

When Bishop Muldoon arrived in Rockford in 1908 there were but five Catholic churches in Winnebago County and two parochial schools. In the county now, outside of Rockford, there are six Catholic churches, and in Rockford itself there are six churches, three parochial schools, one Catholic high school, St. Thomas, and four convents. St. Elizabeth's social center on South Main street and the Knights of Columbus club house in North Main street are also institutions whose inspiration is traceable to Bishop Muldoon. Rev. J. J. Flanagan is private secretary to Bishop Muldoon.

CHRISTIAN (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST).

The Christian Church, also known as the Disciples of Christ, was organized by Elder William Hayden, March 18, 1856, with twenty-

five charter members. Services were held in the old courthouse. A frame edifice was com- pleted in 1856. It stood on North First street, and served the people many years. The first elder, or pastor, was Isaac Shaver, who served one year. He was succeeded by L. J. Correll, who remained two years. Lorenzo D. Waldo, who came to Rockford in 1845, was for thirty- two years an elder ot this church, and an honored and faithful minister of the gospel. Mr. Waldo died July 12, 1SSS. His successors were Revs. M. H. Wilson, W. B. Gallaher, H. D. Dennis and M. P. Hayden. During the pastorate of Mr. Dennis a brick building was erected and dedicated January 19, 1890. The church was allowed to discontinue through removals, and the property was sold to the Trinity Lutheran Church in 1898 for $3,400.

A new organization of the Disciples of Christ was effected November 20, 1898, with twenty- three charter members, under the name of Central Christian Church. The first services were held in the Y. M. C. A. building, with L. E. Prather as evangelist and first preacher. Rev. D. R. Lucas served as pastor from April 7, 1899, to June 15, 1900. Headquarters were removed to W. C. T. U. rooms, and in September, 1900, Rev. O. F. Jordan became pastor. He remained seven years. In 1901 the old Unitarian church was purchased and dedicated April 14. Mr. Jordan was succeeded by Rev. W. D. Ward, who began his ministry July 1, 1907, and served two and one-half years. Efforts were made in 190S to consolidate the First Baptist and Central Christian churches, but it was unsuc- cessful. The same year the old stone church was sold, and a chapel was finished on the corner of North Court and Peach streets.

Rev. William B. Clemmer, the present pastor, began his labors February 6, 1910, and under his leadership a modern and commodious struc- ture has been erected. It was dedicated Feb- /ruary 13, 1916, by Rev. John L. Brandt of St. Louis. The church owns property valued at $38,000, and has a membership of 325.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.

The first informal gathering for the study of Christian Science was held in a home in South Rockford in 1897. An authorized practi- tioner was sent to this field and services were held in a West State street home. A Christian

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Science society was organized in February, 1899, and a hall in the Price Block on South Wyman street was secured for public worship. A Sunday-school was organized in March, 1899, and in January of the following year head- quarters were removed to Knights of Pythias Hall on West State street. The first public lecture on Christian Science was given in July, 1900, and in the same month a tree public reading room was opened. The society was incorporated as a church in 1902, and in the following year the church made, another re- moval to Mendelssohn Hall. The growth of the organization warranted the erection of a church home. The lot, which was secured in 190S, is ideally located on North Main street. The corner-stone of the beautiful church was laid in February, 1910, and the first service was held April 3, 1910. The first readers in turn have been : Mrs. Lillian Weatherwax, E. J. Hollister, G. E. Willis, N. R. Carveth, J. C. Blake.

CHRISTIAN UNION.

The Church of the Christian Union had its origin in the expulsion of Dr. Thomas Kerr from the pastorate of the First Baptist Church. He had become a convert to a more liberal faith, and he and forty-eight sympathizers were obliged to seek other affiliations.

In September, 1870, a religious society was organized by the engagement ot Dr. Kerr as preacher, and the election of temporary execu- tive and finance committees. Public preaching services were immediately begun in Brown's Hall. On October 9, the executive committee presented a report which offered a plan of Christian fellowship. The church was formally organized October 26, 1870. The meeting was held in Haskell's Hall. Duncan Ferguson pre- sided, and James S. Ticknor was secretary. The executive committee again presented its basis of church fellowship, which was read and unanimously adopted. The names received in reply to the public notice of October 9 were called, and 104 persons responded. These con- stituted the charter members of the church.

Dr. Thomas Kerr was called to the pastorate at a salary of $2,000 a year. H. N. Starr was elected clerk of the church, and Duncan Fergu- son, treasurer. The first board of trustees was composed of David G. Sears, William Peters,

Seymour Bronson, J. F. Lander and C. I. Horsman. Regular Sunday services were first held in Brown's Hall. Upon the completion of the new conrthonse, public worship was con- ducted for a time in the circnit courtroom, and later in the opera house. After eighteen years ot successful work the church decided to erect its own house of worship. The corner-stone was laid September 17, 18SS. Addresses were made by Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Dr. H. W. Thomas and Dr. Kerr. Mrs. John H. Sherratt read an original poem. Congratulatory letters were sent by distinguished representatives of liberal Christianity. After thirty-one years of faithful service Dr. Kerr tendered his resigna- tion in the autumn of 1900. He continued as pastor emeritus until his death, January 3, 1904.

Dr. Kerr was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, May 24, 1824, and was educated at Gordon's College and the University of Aberdeen. He came to America in 1844, and in 1850 he re- ceived the degree of doctor of medicine at the University of Iowa. After seven years of practice at Elgin, Ill., Dr. Kerr was constrained to enter the ministry, and in June, 1857, he was ordained a Baptist clergyman. He began preaching in Dundee. In 1859 he was called to Waukegan, and June 1, 1860, he- began his pastorate of the First Baptist Church in Rockford,

In the Church of the Christian Union Dr. Kerr founded the first independent church of its kind in the country, and preceded by five years a similar movement led by Prof. David Swing in Chicago. With a slight intermission he preached in Rockford nearly forty years. Dr. Kerr was physically the most commanding figure in Rockford ; he was "every inch a king." When he left the Baptist faith he declared he burned all his bridges behind him and launched out into the deep. He threw overboard all creeds, but held to what he considered the essentials of religion. He was a great and kindly soul, and in his last years neighboring pastors would drop in on Sunday morning for his blessing. It was the writer's custom for years to make an occasional Sunday afternoon call on Dr. Kerr. The last visit was one of great solemnity. The venerable pastor was reviewing his life, which he knew was near its close. He arose to a point of great spiritual exaltation. Emotion overcame the power of

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

speech, and, like Moses on Nebo, he seemed to have a clearer vision of two worlds, and exclaimed, "I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness !"

Dr. Kerr was succeeded by Rev. Robert C. Bryant, who began his pastorate in the antumn of 1901. Mr. Bryant came to Rockford from Lisbon, N. H. His divinity conrse was taken at Union Theological Seminary. Mr. Bryant resigned in 1906, and was succeeded by Thorn- ton Anthony Mills, whose pastorate extended from 1907 to 1912. Mr. Mills is a son of B. Fay Mills, and inherits the intellectual vigor and dramatic power of his distinguished father. The present pastor is Rev. Charles Parker Connolly, who came to Rockford in May, 1913, from a Congregational church in Milwaukee. Mr. Connolly is a scholarly gentleman of noble ideals. It can be said of him that he makes his strongest appeal to those who know him best. The church has a membership of 750.

CONGREGATIONAL.

Congregationalism came with the early settlers from New England. This institution was firmly established within three years after the arrival of Mr. Kent and Mr. Blake, and it has main- tained a strong and influential position in Rock- ford until the present time. The First Congre- gational church was organized May 5, 1837, witlı nine members : Rev. Jolin Morrill, Herman B. Potter, Israel Morrill, Richard Morrill, Eliza- beth P. Morrill, Mary J. Morrill, Sophia N. Morrill, Minerva Potter, and Ennice Brown. The church was founded by Rev. John Morrill, at the home of his brother, Israel Morrill, on the west side of the river. It is therefore the oldest church in Rockford, inasmuch as the First Methodist church, formed the previous year, ceased to exist. The three Morrill brothers and their wives constituted just two-thirds of the original membership. Two weeks later, there were five accessions: Edward Cating, Charles Works, Asa Crosby, Mary Crosby, and Mary Danforth. Miss Danforth was a sister of Mrs. Israel Morrill. Their sister Sarah was the wife of D. A. Spaulding, the surveyor. During the year the following were also received into mem- bership: Mary Works, wife of Charles Works, Deborah Barnum, wife of Ezra Barnum, Eleazer H. Potter, Adeline Potter, Samnel D. Preston, and Mary Preston. During its first year the

church had attained a membership of twenty sonls. Israel Morrill and H. B. Potter were the first deacons.

The first confession of faith and form of covenant, adopted temporarily at its organiza- tion, was that recommended by the Watertown presbytery. One year later, May 4, 1838, this was displaced by the articles of faith and covenant of the Rock River Congregational Association. At the first meeting it was unan- imonsly voted that "all persons, before nniting with the church, should sign a pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks as a beverage." Under date of August 11, 1837, there is found the following entry: "The resolution touching the slavery question being agitated, it was resolved that for the present the subject be postponed, to receive the attention and action of the church at some future time." No other record upon this subject, however, has been found.

Rev. John Morrill was the first pastor and served one year from May, 1837. He had come in a farm wagon from New York as a home missionary to this county, where bis brother had previously settled. Mr. Morrill officiated at the organization of the Presbyterian church in Belvidere, March 17, 1839, and was its stated supply until March of the following year. Mrs. Eunice Brown Lyon is anthority for the state- ment that Mr. Morrill received no formal call to the pastorate of the Congregational church, but he was the leading spirit in its organization, and he may have assumed the work with the understanding, explicit or implied, that he should serve as its pastor for a time. Mr. Morrill was a devout man, who labored for the spiritual growth of the people. He placed emphasis npon pecuniary reward only so far as it was necessary for his support. This pioneer minister died at Pecatonica, February 16, 1874.

Soon after its organization the church held services in the "stage barn," built by Daniel S. Haight, near the intersection of State and Third streets. In the summer of 1838 the trustees began the erection of a frame structure on the west side of North First street, on a site near the residence of Philip Atwood. The nnfinished building was abandoned before completion, and was never afterward nsed by this church as a honse of worship. It was, however, devoted to other purposes. In the meanwhile Messrs. Kent and Brinckerhoff had obtained abont $800 from

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 31

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972