Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 33

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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Four of the nine pastors of the church were sons of clergymen-a real apostolic succession. Three pastors were graduates of Williams College. Three pastorates covered a period of forty years. Members of the church tendered long-continued services. Benjamin Blakeman served as deacon fifty years; G. A. Sanford was a trustee thirty years; Thomas D. Robertson was treasurer thirty-six years; Mrs. Chandler Starr was organist twenty-seven years, and W. B. Taylor, the incumbent, has been clerk twenty-six years.

EPISCOPAL.

The Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, D. D., first bishop of the diocese of Illinois, made his first episcopal visitation to Rockford, August 28, 1841. Prior to this time there had been no public services of the Episcopal church held in the

county. There had been only a very few families of the faith who had settled in Rockford. Levi Moulthrop, M. D., was the first churchman who came into this county. Dr. Moulthrop arrived in the autumn of 1835. He brought the first American Prayer Book, which was a highly prized heirloom owned by his son, the late Levi Moulthrop, the dry goods merchant.

The first church family to settle in the county was that of Sampson George, who came from Yorkshire, England. They arrived' in the set- tlement of Rockford September 24, 1836. Mr. George was accompanied by his wife Ann, and five children, two daughters and three sons. The children had received baptism in England. Mr. George brought a letter from their parish priest, commending the family to the spiritual care of any clergyman of the American church into whose jurisdiction they might come. They also brought two English Prayer Books. The death of Mr. George occurred five weeks after the ar- rival of the family in Rockford. There was no priest nearer than the missionary at Galena, and he could not be definitely located, owing to the extent of territory under his charge. Thus the first churchman was buried without the offices of the church. During the next few years sev- eral other families of this faith settled in the county. Among these were Jonathan Weldon, Chauncy Ray, and John W. Taylor. The former two settled on farms about six miles southwest of the town, and the latter remained in the village, and engaged in the dry goods business.

At Bishop Chase's first visitation the serv- ices were held in the old courthouse on North First street, when the holy eucharist was cele- brated for the first time in the county, and holy baptism administered. The bishop preached and John Wadleigh Taylor, infant son of John W. and Jane P. Taylor, was baptized. On August 4, 1842, the bishop made a second visitation to Rockford. The services morning and afternoon were held in the same building as in the pre- ceding year. The sacraments of the holy eucha- rist, baptism and confirmation were administered. One of the baptisms was that of Levi, infant son of Mrs. Margaret Moulthrop. Those who received confirmation were : Miss M. E. Weldon, Mrs. Margaret Moulthrop, Salmon R. and Spen- cer S. Weldon, Aside from these yearly visita- tions by the bishop, the few church families in and around Rockford were without the sacra- ments of the church, except an occasional serv-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

ice by some missionary priest from a distant point. In 1845 the Rev. Alfred Lauderback, of New York state, was appointed by the domestic board of missions to the missionary field of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, with Belvidere and Rockford as chief points of loca- tion. This fact meant more regular and fre- quent services for Rockford. The new mission- ary's first service was held August 10, 1845. Father Lauderback ministered in this section two years, when he was sent to take charge of the parish which had been recently organized at Galena, Ill. From this time for several years occasional services were held in the village by the Rev. Dudley Chase, a son of the bishop, and the Revs. Humphrey and Millett, of Beloit, Wis. ; Pulford, of Belvidere; Johnston, of Pekin, and Miller, of Bonus, Ill., the father of Orrin Miller, an early Rockford attorney. Services were gen- erally held in the new courthouse.

The present parish at Rockford was organized May 1, 1849. A meeting of the parishioners, both men and women, was convened, at which the Rev. Dudley Chase presided, and the pa- rochial organization was effected in accordance with the prescribed canonical form. The articles of association were signed by Chauncy Ray, Jonathan Weldon, Horace Starkey, Duncan J. Stewart, John Conrad, S. R. Weldon, and Spen- cer S. Weldon. Upon the organization of the parish, the parishioners proceeded to the elec- tion of a vestry. Those elected were: senior warden, Horace Starkey; junior warden, Chauncy Ray ; vestrymen, John Conrad, Dun- can J. Stewart, S. R. Weldon. The Rev. Dud- ley Chase was called to be the first rector. He accepted the call, but afterward declined, as he preferred to accept a charge in Chicago, where · he organized the Parish of the Atonement, which was afterward merged into Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. On November 15, 1852, the Rev. Charles Reighley, of Chicago, was called to the rectorship of the Rockford parish. With the consent of the new bishop, Rt. Rev. Henry John Whitehouse, the call was accepted, and the first rector entered at once upon his work. Bishop Chase had died September 27, 1852, and had been succeeded by Bishop Whitehouse. A lot was purchased on the corner of North Church and North streets, for $200, and a church build- ing erected at a cost of $1,900. The new church was consecrated by Bishop Whitehouse, August

23, 1853, "by the name of Emmanuel Church, Rockford."

Succeeding the Rev. - Charles Reighley have been the following rectors in the order named : Revs. Anson Clark, Michael Schofield, William T. Smithett, Thomas Smith, S. B. Duffield, J. E. Walton, S. D. Day, C. S. Percival, F. W. Adams, A. W. Snyder, D. C. Peabody, Wyllys Rede, and N. B. Clinch. The Rev. D. C. Peabody became rector March 1, 1886. During his rectorship the present rectory was purchased, and the Fairfield Memorial Parish House erected, at a cost of $40,000. The latter was the gift of one parish- ioner, Mrs. Eleanor G. Fairfield, and was erected as a memorial to her husband, W. W. Fair- field. An additional 30 feet of land adjoining the church lot on the west was purchased, at a cost of $1,600, and many other permanent improve- ments made in the parish. Emmanuel church, like the Episcopal churches all over America, has calmly pursued the even tenor of its way. Centuries ago the forefathers, in iconoclastic zeal, discarded the beauty and sublimity of her ritual. With a sort of reversion to type instinct, non-conformist churches have from time to time since then incorporated portions of her ritual into their service. Like air and sunshine, it appeals to the great universal, and will ever maintain its place in public worship. Four of the greatest spiritual forces of the centuries, Frederick W. Robertson, Frances Ridley Haver- gal, Phillips Brooks and Archdeacon Farrar, have found in this venerable church a congenial atmosphere for the highest development of the religious nature.

JEWISH.

The orthodox Jewish population of Rockford worships in a synagogue on North Fifth street, which was purchased and remodeled at the personal expense of Israel Rubin. Services have been held since 1900, but it was not until 1911 that a formal organization was effected. I. Miller is the rabbi now in charge. There is a membership of fifty. The Salvation Army

LUTHERAN.

The First Swedish Lutheran Church was organized January 15, 1854, with seventy-seven communicants and thirty-two children. S. A. Johnson is the only surviving charter member.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

Late in the summer of 1855 it was decided to build a church. The original estimate of cost was $775. Its actual cost, however, was $1,600. This church was erected on the corner of North First street and what is now Fafayette aveuue. It was a frame structure, 45 by 38 feet, and 28 feet high. It had a seating capacity for 300 persons. The dedication occurred November 23, 1856. Dr. Hasselquist preached the dedicatory sermon. The first pastor was Rev. A. Andren, who was called in the spring of 1856, and eutered upon his duties in August of the same year. Mr. Andren built a parsouage on the church lot at his own expense, with the understanding that at the termination of his pastorate the church should buy the building at its original eost. Rev. Andreen's pastorate continued until the close of 1860, when he removed to Attica, Ind. In May, 1860, the church decided to with- draw from the synod of Northern Illinois, and join the Augustana synod. At that time the church had 115 communicants.

The present church was built in 1883, at a cost of about sixty thousand dollars. It is the largest auditorium in the city, with a seating capacity for 2,000. Its membership is 1,800, with a communicant list of 1,363. The church had at one time the largest membership of auy Swedish Lutheran church in America. The church owns Luther hall, a parochial school on Kishwaukee street, and another on Fourteenth avenue. It also owns a parsonage on South Third street. The pastors have been: Revs. A. Andreen, A. W. Dahlsten, G. Peters, L. A. Johnston, E. C. Jessup, assistant ; Joel Haaf, and J. F. Seedoff, who came in 1896.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church was organized as a Swedish congregation in the general synod July 20, 1882, with eighty-five members. A lot was purchased on the corner of Third avenue and Sixth street, and the church was dedicated October 14, 1883. The general synod pastors have been: C. Anderson, 18S2-84; C. Hansen, 1884-88; C. Roos, 1888-90. The church with- drew from the general synod and entered Augustana synod in 1890. While yet a Swedish congregation it employed the following August- ana pastors: A. P. Fors, 1890-91; G. Juhlin, 1892-95.

On April 22, 1895, a bold step was taken; the mother tongue was abandoned and the language

of the laud adopted. Those unable to under- stand the latter quietly withdrew aud others soon began to take their places. As an English- speaking congregation it has employed the fol- lowing laymen and pastors: Edwin Stenholm, 1895; C. A. Wendell, 1895-97 ; Rev. Oscar Nelson, 1897-00; Rev. O. M. Anderson, 1900-01; Rev. C. O. Solberg, 1901-03; Prof. C. J. Sodergren, 1903 (summer months) ; Rev. C. A. Wendell, January 1, 1904, to 1911; Rev. J. W. Johnson, January 21, 1912, to date. The change of language has proven wise and timely, and the work has been highly sueeessful: The church has 473 communicant members, with a total membership of 559.

A Germau Lutheran congregation was orgau- ized in the '70s by Rev. F. N. Richman, of Elgiu, with the name of Emmanuel Lutheran. This church is now extinct. About 1882 dis- sensious arose, and a uumber withdrew and organized the Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's church, U. A. C., which means the Unaltered Augsburg Coufession, as contained iu the Book of Coucord of 1580. Services were conducted by supplies until 1888, when Rev. L. Doru was called. The present faithful pastor is Rev. Otto Gruuer. He has been in charge siuce 1895, and the church is in a prosperous coudition. There are 285 communicant members, and a total membership of 500.

The Swedish Lutheran Ziou Church was organized August 7, 1883, with a communicaut membership of 146. Among the charter mem- bers who are still living and active in the church are: C. F. Anderson, Andrew Kjellgren and John Glans. At first the congregation worshiped in the Chick Hall, East State street, and later in Metropolitan Hall. In October, 1884, the congregation had the pleasure of moving into the new church that it had erected on the southwest corner of Fifth avenue and Sixth street, through tremendous sacrifice by the com- paratively small floek. This is the building that still serves as a house of worship. A layman, Mr. Jonas Larson, served as preacher the first year. In the spring of 1884 a call was extended to Rev. C. G. Lundell to become pastor. The call was accepted. This gentleman served the church to 1SSS, and saw the congregation in-

美零

Loly B Hall

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

crease to communicant membership of 525. Since then the following pastors have served the church: Rev. S. G. Ohman, 1SSS-1894; Rev. J. A. Ekstrom, 1894-1900; Rev. N. P. Sjöstrom, 1900-1911; Rev. G. E. Hemdahl, 1912 to the present time.

In 1910 a parsonage was built at a cost of $10,000, including site. The present communi- cant membership is 1,415, with baptized children within the church 400. The Sunday-school has a membership of 830. The annual income for the support of the work in the local church, and contributions to the missions and charitable institutions of the synod has for some years amounted to $12,000.

Trinity English Lutheran Church was organ- ized by Rev. W. H. Manss, March 10, 1895, with forty members. Services were held in the Y. M. C. A. building and later in the brick building owned by the old Christian church. In 189S the society purchased this property for $3,400. The growth of the membership was rapid, and soon outgrew the small edifice, which was torn down, to make room for a more commodious structure. This house of worship was dedicated December 16, 1900. Mr. Manss was succeeded April 1, 1896, by Rev. H. M. Bannen, to whom the church is indebted for its phenomenal growth. He is an eloquent preacher, and an indefatigable worker, and his magnetic personality has been the inspiration of his people. Mr. Bannen is beloved by all sorts and conditions of men ; by people of every faith and of no faith.

In the spring of 1894, while the pastor was in Palestine, the church purchased the Trowbridge homestead on Lafayette avenue for the parson- age. The church purchased a pipe organ in 1914. The church has S30 communicant meni- bers and a total membership of 1,200.

The Salem Lutheran Church was organized nine years ago. Rev. A. Appell, of Peoria, Ill., was called by the Swedish Lutheran Mission Board of the Illinois conference to begin mis- sionary work in the southeast end of the city. He began the work in November, 1906, and January 6, 1907, the Salem Lutheran Church was organized. Mr. Appell remained until the spring of 1908. Rev. J. A. Benander, of Aurora, Ill., was called and took up the work in the

autumn of 190S. From the beginning the church has made excellent progress and has now 350 communicants, with a total membership, chil- dren included, of 525. The Sunday-school has an enrollment of 350. A beautiful church, with only a nominal debt, has been erected on the corner of Sixth street and Sixteenth avenue at a cost of $40,000. From the beginning the Salem Lutheran Church has been interested in both home and foreign missionary work, and is forging to the front, becoming one of the strong churches of the city.

A Norwegian-Danish church was organized a few years ago and has fitted a small and attractive church on Fourth avenue.

METHODIST.

It has been said that Jolin Wesley gave thou- sands of dollars to the poor, and at his death left to the world two silver spoons and the Meth- odist church. The latter has proved a splendid legacy. Methodism has always been a pioneer. It received its baptism of divine energy in the days of John and Charles Wesley. George Whitefield caught the holy flame, and came to America to preach the simple gospel to the com- mon people, and Methodism has since kept pace with the course of empire that westward takes its way. Methodism was established in Winne- bago County in 1836, the vanguard of the church militant to enter and possess the land. The only available information concerning the first church organized in Winnebago County is found in a sermon preached by Bishop Vincent fifty years ago, at the time he was pastor of the Court Street Methodist church; and an excellent his- torical address delivered by Rev. G. R. Vanhorne, D. D., August 6, 1882, in the Centennial Meth- odist church.

Galena was the first appointment within the bounds of the present Rock River conference. It was at that time, in 1829, in the Illinois confer- ence, which comprised the states of Indiana and Illinois. The Indiana conference was formed in 1834. After this separation of Indiana from the Illinois conference, the latter still covered a vast region. In the autumn of 1835 Rev. Wil- liam Royal was appointed to the Fox River mis- sion. Rev. Samuel Pillsbury was associated with him. This mission circuit extended northward

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

from Ottawa. In June, 1836, Rev. Pillsbury preached a sermon at the home of Henry Enoch, in Guilford Township, seven and one-half miles east of Rockford. This was the first service in the county conducted by a Methodist clergy- man. On that occasion Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Beers and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Gregory trav- eled six miles in a heavy lumber wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. Verily, these godly pioneers were not carried to the skies, nor even to church, on "flowery beds of ease." The first service was followed during the summer by occasional ser- mons by Rev. Royal at Mr. Enoch's house, and Mrs. Enoch often prepared Sunday dinners for the congregation. On his way to conference at Springfield, in the autumn of 1836, Rev. Royal passed through Rockford, and in September he preached in Samuel Gregory's log house, which stood on what is now block 14 in Gilbert Wood- ruff's Second Addition to Rockford. At the close of the sermon Rev. Royal organized the first Methodist class, which consisted of five persons : Samuel Gregory, Joanna Gregory, Mary Enoch, Daniel Beers and Mary Beers. These pioneer Methodists have been honored by five memorial front windows in Centennial church. Mr. Greg- ory and Mrs. Beers were living when Dr. Van- horne delivered his memorial address. Dr. Vincent, in his sermon, made this reference to that humble beginning: "I visited a few days ago the remains of the old log house, scarcely a mile east of the river, and near the railroad, where this organization of Methodism took place. It was in an humble place, but in the midst of a glorious land and under a benignant heaven that this little germ was planted, and it has grown rapidly, and the five have become nearly a thousand who live under the shadow of Rock- ford Methodism today ; and who can tell of the number who have gone up from the field of conflict into the temple of triumph ?"

At the conference of 1836 Bishop Roberts ap- pointed Dr. Arnold to the Sycamore circuit, of which Rockford was a part. The few Methodists gathered for worship as often as possible at Mr. Gregory's house. In 1837 the conference met at Rushville, when Bishop Roberts sent William Gaddis, with Robert Lane as assistant, to the Rockford circuit. This circuit belonged to the Chicago district, over which John Clark was pre- siding elder. Mr. Lane soon retired from the field, and he was succeeded by Leander S. Walker. At the conference of 1838, at Alton,

Bishop Soule returned Mr. Walker to Rockford as preacher in charge, with Nathan Jewett as assistant. During the early part of Mr. Walker's pastorate he preached in the house of James Boswell, north of the brewery. The Methodists subsequently worshipped in a building erected by Mr. Haight on the site of the American House. This building was used for various purposes. In the summer of 1838 the Methodists built a parsonage on First street, between Prairie street and Lafayette avenue, facing west. This was the first Methodist parsonage built within what is now the Rock River conference. The first quarterly meeting was held late in the summer.

The Rock River conference was organized August 26, 1840, at Mt. Morris. Bishop Waugh presided over this conference, which was held in a grove. Rockford was retained in the Chi- cago district, with John T. Mitchell as presiding elder, and Semphronious H. Stocking as circuit preacher. The next conference was held at Platteville, Wis., when Bishop Morris sent John Crummer to Rockford. The Methodists were then holding services in the brick schoolhouse on the East side public square. The Universal- ists appointed their service at the same hour and place, and differences arose. The Metho- dists withdrew from the schoolhouse ; the pastor removed his family "up-stairs," and finished the lower story of the parsonage as a chapel. On August 3, 1842, the conference met in Chicago, and Bishop Roberts assigned Rockford to the care of Silas Bolles. At this time the Methodist body was worshipping in what was afterward known as the "old seminary building." This structure had been begun as a Congregational church, but was abandoned for the church built on the West side by Kent and Brinckerhoff. In 1842 the Methodists bought this property of the county commissioners, and held it for some years. On September 20, 1842, the First Meth- odist church became an incorporate body, with five trustees : Horace Miller, James B. Martyn, Samuel Gregory. Daniel Beers and Willard Wheeler. At the conference in Dubuque, Iowa, August 30, 1843, Rockford was made a "station," and Bishop Andrews sent Richard Blanchard, In November of that year the trustees of the society purchased of Daniel S. Haight the lot on which the parsonage had been built five years previous. The consideration was $200, In 1849 the trustees sold the property to George Shearer,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

for $300. The lot was later occupied by Thomas Sully's residence.

Nathaniel P. Heath succeeded Mr. Blanchard in 1844. He was sent by Bishop Morris, who presided at the conference in Milwaukee. In August, 1845, the conference met at Peoria, and Bishop Morris sent Charles D. Cahoon to Rockford. He filled this appointment only once, and died September 25th, ' His remains are buried in the Cedar Bluff cemetery. Of the fifty-eight pastors who were assigned to Rock- ford pulpits from 1836 to 1882, Mr. Cahoon is the only one who died among this people while in the pastorate. John Lucock was sent to fill out the term of Mr. Cahoon. During his pas- torate the society resolved to build a church. The quarterly conference appointed John Lu- cock, Willard Wheeler, G. O. Holmes, James B. Martyn, Horace Miller, Samuel Gregory, Ed- ward Fitch, and Eliphalet Gregory as a build- ing committee, to superintend the erection of the edifice, which was to be called "The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Rockford." The amount subseribed was $2,312.

In 1846 Nathaniel P. Heath was re-assigned to this charge, at the request of the society, by Bishop Hamline, who presided over the confer- ence at Galena. In February, 1846, the trustees purehased of William H. Gilman, lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, in the east half of block 31, fronting on South Second street, between Oak and Wal- nut. The consideration was $325. This part of the town was then called the "Barrens," and was a hunting-ground for the boys. These lots, except lot 1, are the same upon which the Centennial church and parsonage now stand, and which were occupied by the First church and parsonage. The contract for building the First church was made with M. H. Regan, in 1846, but it was not completed until 1848. The brick for the church was made by Hiram Rich- ardson; the stone for the foundation was do- nated by Jesse Buckbee. The conference of 1847 was held in August, at Chicago, Bishop Waugh presiding, and James E. Wilson was as- signed to Rockford. The church was completed and dedicated during his pastorate. On March 13, 1848, a second subscription paper was cir- culated. The document contained this proviso : "That the seats in said church shall be free for all, in accordance with the discipline and usages of said church,-if not free these sub- scriptions to be null and void." The amount

pledged was $2,069. The dedieation of the church occurred June 1, 1848. Leander S. Walker preached the dedicatory sermon. The cost of the church was about $7,000. The pul- pit of this sanctuary had an unique history. Several years before, Samuel Gregory had taken careful forethought for his burial, and cut down a stately walnut tree, sawed it into boards and solemnly stored them away for his coffin. Nature seemed to resent the insinua- tion, and the country became so healthy as to render his efforts useless. Before Mr. Gregory had an opportunity to die, William Logue came to Rockford with an abundance of undertaking supplies, and Mr. Gregory relegated the well seasoned boards to the loft of his barn. When the First church needed a pulpit, he brought forth his treasure of walnut and literally laid it on the altar. When the Centennial church was built, the historic desk given by the first class-leader was carefully taken apart, and fashioned into the beautiful piece of furniture upon which the Bible now rests. Mr. Gregory lived more than forty years after this strange preparation for his burial; and that which was intended to encase a dead body, now holds the living word.

Canton was the seat of the conference in 1848, when Bishop Morris sent James C. Parks to Rockford, the first preacher who remained two years on this charge. During his first year, in 1849, the society built a "grout" par- sonage on the corner lot just south of where the present parsonage stands. William Jones and Francis A. Reed succeeded Mr. Parks. It was during the pastorate of Mr. Reed that the Second Methodist Episcopal church was organized. These were successful years for local Methodism. At the end of his term he reported four hundred members and twenty probationers.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 33

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