USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 29
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 29
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The next report, April 1, 1831, was made to the Presbytery of Sangamon, holding its ses- sion at Springfield, when the membership had again doubled, being twenty-eight ; $3 was given to the Commissioner's fund. In 1832,
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CITY OF HILLSBORO.
the membership was fifty-three, and $3 was contributed for Assembly's fund. According to the report made April, 1837, the member- ship was sixty-four, $3 was given to the Com- missioner's fund, and $41 to education. These $41 are the first given by the church to any benevolent cause, and shows that the fathers were wise in providing for future pupils of the church.
During the ministry of Mr. Spilman, 138 persons were received to the member- ship, forty on examination, and ninety-nine by certificate ; thirty-three died, and sixteen were dismissed. The church under this minis- try contributed $215 to missions, $60 for edu- cation and $39 for Commissioner's fund. No report of contributions for the last two years of Mr. Spilman's ministry is recorded, though no doubt collections were taken as usual. What was paid for salary and congregational expenses is not recorded. The average yearly additions to the church under his labors were fourteen. Mr. Spilman was a faithful pastor, and did much toward laying a good foundation for build- ing up a successful church. Under his minis- try the Sabbath school was a union one, and usually all denominations worshiped with his congregation. The first house of worship was built during this time. Rev. T. E. Spilman, of Butler, and Rev. J. H. Spilman, of Bethel, lionored and useful ministers of Jesus Christ, are his sons. During the fall of 1841, and the win- ter of 1842, Rev. James Stafford, pastor of the Greenville church, is recorded as having mod- erated the session several times, when twenty- three persons were received into the church. Mr. Stafford supplied the pulpit for a few Sabbaths and held a protracted meeting during this time, when the Spirit was poured out upon the peo- ple.
Rev. Archibald C. Allen received a nnani- mous call to the pastorate of the church, March 24, 1842, at a salary of $500. Ile was installed pastor by the Kaskaskia Presbytery, June 11, 1842. Rev. James Stafford presided, put the
the constitutional questions, and delivered the charges to pastor and people. Rev. Thomas A. Spilman preached the installation sermon. During Mr. Allen's ministry of two years, fifty persons were added to the church, forty-two on examination and eight by letter ; fifteen were dismissed and six died. In these years the church gave for benevolent work, $56-$28 per year. The average yearly increase during this pastorate was twenty-five. The church was vacant from May, 1844, until March, 1846. During this time Rev. C. C. Riggs supplied the pulpit a Sabbath or two, and was invited to be- come pastor. The records for this period, near- ly two years, are meager. John Tillson and wife, and five other persons, were dismissed. John Paisley and Margaret W. Paden died, and Benjamin S. McCord was received into the church on profession of his faith in Christ. Rev. Alexander Ewing moderating the session.
February, 21, 1846, Rev. T. W. Hynes, for some time a Professor in IIanover College, In- diana, was unanimously chosen to supply the pulpit, at a salary of $400. He accepted and entered upon his work in the spring of 1846. The report to Presbytery from April, 1845, to March, 1846, gives the total in communion as one hundred and one, five having died and nine having been dismissed. Mr. Hynes' name appears upon the records as Moderator of ses- sions up to August 3, 1851, a period of about five and a half years. During his pastorate, forty-one persons were received into the church, and sixteen were dismissed. Robert Paisley, Henry Tibbets, William Brown, Joseph T. Ec- cles, Thomas Sturtevant, were elected and in- stalled Ruling Elders. From September, 1851, to August, 1853, the church seems to have been without a pastor. September 24, 1851, the ses- sion was moderated by Rev. J. Smith, D. D., and six persons were received on examination to the fellowship of the church. June 21, 1852, Rev. Mr. Hamilton presided over the session, and two names were enrolled, one by letter and one on examination.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
On the 12th of August, 1853, Rev. R. M. Roberts was called to the pastorate of the church, at a salary of $400. IFe accepted the call, and continued to sustain this relation un- til it was dissolved at his request, and the church declared vaeant, October 30, 1859. Mr. Roberts served the church a little more than six years. During his ministry, one hundred and sixteen persons were received, an average of nineteen per year. Resolutions highly com- plimentary to Mr. Roberts, and indorsing him as a Christian gentleman, and commending the fidelity of his labors, were passed by the con- gregation at the time of his withdrawal. No- vember 12, 1859, twenty-one persons were dis- missed to form the Hillsboro Congregational Church. Rev. William L. Mitchell acting as Moderator of the session.
On the 20th of December, 1859, Rev. William L. Mitchell was called as pastor of the church, at a salary of $500, and on December 23, 1859, was ordained and installed by the Pres- bytery of Hillsboro. He continued this rela- tion with acceptance and snecess, until his la- mented death, February 23, 1864-a period of a little more than five years. During this time seventy-one names were added to the roll, forty- six on examination, and twenty-five by letter- an average of fourteen per year ; twenty-nine were dismissed. Mr. Mitchel's remains are buried in the city cemetery. After Mr. Mitchell's death, Rev. Julius A. Spencer, of St. Louis, supplied the pulpit for several weeks. March 1, 1865, Rev. J. R. Brown was invited to sup- ply the pulpit. He at once entered upon his labors and continued to serve the church until March 22, 1870, a period of five years. Fifty persons were added to the church during his pastorate, on examination, and sixty-five by letter-a total of one hundred and fifteen-an average of twenty-three per year ; twenty-nine persons were dismissed.
From the close of Mr. Brown's labors until the beginning of the next year, about nine
months, the church was vacant. August 24' 1870, Rev. J. H. Spilman acted as Moderator of the session, and Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus David- son were received into the church by letter, and three were dismissed.
Rev. S. A. Whitcomb seems to have com- menced his labors about the beginning of the year 1871. He served the church two years, at a salary of $1,000 per year, and free use of the parsonage. Rev. W. W. Williams was, by a unanimous vote of the congregation, April 27, 1873, invited to supply the church for one year, at a salary of $1,000, to be paid quarter- ly in advance, and also the free use of the par- sonage. Mr. Williams worked with energy and acceptance for nearly nine months, directing his efforts to the completion of the audience room of the house of worship. The first services help therein, still in an incompleted state, was the funeral of the pastor. Resolutions of com- mendation were passed by the congregation, in reference to Mr. Williams, after his death. Af- ter this, the church was vacant for several months. In September, 1874, Rev. Charles Fueller was invited to supply the pulpit at a salary of $1,000, and use of the parsonage. He served the church for three years, during which time fifty-nine persons were added. Mr. Fueller labored earnestly to lift the debt off the house of worship. Under his lead furnaces, at a cost of $346, and cushions, at about the same cost, were placed in the church, besides what was done to lift the encumbrance from the building. He ceased to serve the church October 1, 1877, and Jannary 1, following, Rev. N. S. Dickey, entered upon his work as stated supply. At the present writing (1882) the pastor is Rev. S. C. Dickey, a son of the above, and a young man of rare promise.
During the half century just closed, ten ministers have acted as stated supply or pas- tor. Seven others are recorded as having act- ed as Moderator, once or oftener, of the session, including those who organized the church. The
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CITY OF HILLSBORO.
whole number of members received since the organization is 669-321 on examination, and 348 by letter. This is an average of about fourteen per year, nearly equally divided by letter and on examination.
At a meeting of the congregation, held Au- gust 7, 1859, it was resolved to build a new and larger house of worship, taking down the old one and working the material into the new -provided sufficient funds could be raised. Rev. R. M. Roberts was appointed to canvass the congregation and take subscriptions and report at another meeting. Success did not crown this effort, and the old church was used until 1860, when it gave place to the present edifice, the basement being used in the fall of that year. During construction the congrega- tion worshiped in the Unitarian Church, and in Clotfelter's IIall. According to the report of the building committee, made by Judge J. T. Eccles, the cost of the edifice and furnaces was $13,758.31 ; of this sum the ladies paid $663 .- 43. Furnaces were put in the first year of Mr. Fueller's pastorate, at a cost of $346. Cush- ioning the seats cost nearly $400 more, so that the whole cost of the house in its present state was about $14,500. For some years a debt rested upon the house of worship. April 25, 1875, Judge Eccles donated $2,602.18, prin- cipal and interest due him for money paid up- on the building. This noble example stimulat- ed others ; Mr. James Paden donated several hundred dollars duc him, and under the lead of the pastor, Mr. Fueller, the whole debt was paid except a few hundred dollars, for which the parsonage is held. A united effort and this no doubt could be very easily paid.
October 15, 1857, during the Rev. R. M. Rob- ert's pastorate. at a meeting over which Joseph T. Eccles presided, William Brown, William Witherspoon, D. S. and A. L. Clotfelter, and L. H. Thom were appointed a committee to make estimates of the cost of a parsonage. A lot was bought for $300, and the present house was built at a cost of about $1,200.
The Sabbath school has not been neglected. A number of years before the organization of the church, a school was maintained by the Tillson family, in their residence. In the early years of the church, all denominations repre- sented in the town patronized the school, and, though it was under the supervision of the ses- sion, it was carried on as a union school. In later years, the other denominations drew off and established their own schools. According to rules adopted by the church, the Superinten- dent and Vice Superintendent are to be chosen at a congregational meeting appointed for the purpose, the election to be by ballot, all the members of the church, in good standing, hav- ing a right to vote. The Superintendent thus chosen, with the advice and consent of the ses- sion, is to appoint the teachers ; "keeping al- ways in view Christian character, and aptness to teach." The records of the school, until re- cently, have not been preserved. The interest. for a few months past, has been growing, but many of the officers, and many of the church members, do not attend the school, nor show that interest in it essential to its growth and highest growth and usefulness. Every mem- ber of the church, young or old, should, if practicable, be connected with the Sabbath school, as teacher or learner. That church which does not take care of the spiritual interests of the rising race must, in time, fail of success.
In addition to the church Sabbath school, several interesting neighborhood schools, un- der the supervision of some of our people, have been and are maintained in the country, a few miles from the city.
The Congregational Church .- This church is an offshoot of the Presbyterian Church of Hills- boro, and, as we have seen, was organized by a number of persons, who were dismissed for that purpose. In the fall of 1859, they organized themselves into the Congregational Church of Hillsboro, or became the nucleus of the organ- ization. From Dr. Washburn, who communi- cated to ns the principal facts connected with
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
the history of this church, we learn that there was a large Eastern element here at that time who had not identified themselves with any church, and these, with the twenty-one persons from the Presbyterian Church, formed a mem- bership of about forty. The auspiccs seemed favorable for building up a large church, and up to the civil war everything in connection with it seemed prosperous. At the call for volunteers, a large proportion of its membership and congregation enlisted. Some never returned from the war; some of the members moved away, and others died. In the meantime, the Old and New School Presbyterians united, a fact familiar to all readers of their history.
At the close of the war, in 1865, the present brick church was built, at a cost of over $7,000. Services were continued and good congrega- tions were kept up for several years. A com- fortable parsonage was built in 1878, and the society was free of debt. However, removals, and the death of some of its best members, gradually reduced its strength and its financial ability, and since the beginning of the present year (1882) no services have been held. Its future usefulness and prosperity, at this time, seems somewhat in doubt. "The rapid growth of the town might infuse new life and continue its existence, but at present it would seem as well that they should become associated with the other Protestant churches of the place, rather than drag out a feeble existence." Though no preaching is had now at the church, a Sunday school is maintained.
Lutheran Church .- The early history of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hillsboro is somewhat obscure, and the best cfforts to ob- tain the first written records of the society have proved of no avail. They have disappeared from the archives of the church, when or how, no one seems to know, and hence we are obliged to glean its early history from other and, perhaps, less reliable sources. Mr. Springer furnishes us the following of this church:
The Lutheran denomination was particularly strong in North Carolina, whence had come many of the prominent families of Hillsboro and vicinity. It was one of their first acts to provide themselves a church and a pastor in order to continue in the forms of worship familiar and dear to them. The Rev. David Scherer was the father of the Lutheran Church at Hillsboro, and organized it about the spring of 1833. The society worshiped for the first two years in the old log court house, and then commenced the erection of a comfortable frame church building on the sight of the present edi- fice. "Father Scherer," as he was called, and is now referred to, served the church for six or seven years, and was followed by the Rev. A. A. Trimper, and he, in 1847, by Rev. Francis Springer; he by Rev. J. J. Lovengood, in 1852; he by Rev. George A. Bowen; he by Rev. J. M. Cromer, and he by Rev. C. A. Gelwiek, the present pastor.
The congregation, at a meeting held in Feb- ruary, 1856, resolved to build a new house of worship, and $1,700 were at once subscribed. Work was commenced, and the result was the present building, which was finally completed. It is a brick structure, with basement, and auditorium above, and is handsomely finished and furnished within. Among the officers of the church, as Elders and Deacons, in its ear- lier days, were Jacob W. Scherer, Alfred Miller, Henry Meisenheimer, Caleb T. Sifford, John Ritchie, Simeon Scherer, E. B. Hubbell, Henry Walter, Richard McFarland, Jacob Cress, Sr., Jacob Cress, Jr., and Edmund Miller, about half of whom are yet residents of the county. The church has always been one of great influence for good in the community, having many liberal-hearted workers in its membership, and being favored in general with ministers of energy and high literary attain- ments. The church has long carried on and supported an interesting Sunday school.
The Unitarians were an early religious organ-
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ization of Hillsboro. Their old church build- ing is one of the relics of the past, and few of the rising generation, perhaps, know that such a church ever existed in the city. The old building, now occupied by Mr. Cress as an agrienltural implement depot, south of the American House on the main street, was the temple of worship of the Unitarians thirty or forty years ago. But, as the old and promi- nent members died off, or moved away, the church diminished in numbers, and eventually became extinet. There has been no Unitarian service in the town, we believe, since the war, but the old church building still stands, a mon- nment to their former zeal and influence.
The Cumberland Presbyterians organized a church in Hillsboro, prior to the late civil war. Rev. Mr. Logan, at the time editor of a religious paper at Alton, was chiefly instrumental in its organization, and was present at the time the church was constituted. A number of persons of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith united with the society here, and for several years the organization was kept up. Meetings were held in the old Unitarian Church building for a time, and arrangements were attempted for the erec- tion of a building of their own, but the move- ment was unsuccessful. The membership in- creased but slowly, the effects of the war were experienced, and the " Ship of Zion " was finally abandoned. Some of the members united with the Cumberland Presbyterians at MeDavid's Point, and at other places, while others cast in their lots with some of the churches in the city, mostly with the Presbyterian Church.
The Baptists have an organized society in Hillsboro, but have no church building. The society was organized a few years ago, and arrangements made for occasional preaching, its limited number of members not admitting of its paying a regular pastor. The organiza- tion is still kept up, and administered to now and then by visiting preachers.
The Catholics .- St. Agnes' Roman Catholic
Church represents that denomination in Hills- boro. The first Catholic services in the city were held in private houses from about the year 1854 to 1859, by traveling missionaries, especially by Father T. Cusack, now of Ship- man, Ill. From 1859 to 1870, the Catholics of Hillsboro were attended from Litchfield. It was not until the latter year that the building of a church in Hillsboro was encouraged, and for that purpose a subscription was commenced by Father L. Hinssen, now of Belleville, Ill. The church was placed under the patronage of St. Agnes, and has since been known as the " St. Agnes' Roman Catholic Church." It was built under the supervision and management of R. Il. Stewart, of this city, costing, when completed, about $6,000, and to its construe- tion both Catholics and non-Catholies contrib- uted with equal liberality. The building is 40x60 feet in dimensions, and the membership at present is between fifty and sixty families. The regular pastors of the church have been, since its organization, Rev. Gr. Lohman, from 1871 to 1876, now of Aviston, Clinton County, Ill .; Rev. P. J. Virsink, from 1876 to 1882, now at St. Marie, Jasper County, Ill. Present pastor is Rev. J. Storp, and to him we are in- debted for the above facts.
The colored people, of whom there are quite a number in Ilillsboro, hold services every Sun- day afternoon in the basement of the Lutheran Church. They have no regular pastor, and only enjoy occasional preaching by ministers from abroad.
Secret Orders .- In conclusion of the chapter on the church history of Hillsboro, it is not inappropriate to devote a brief space to those benevolent organizations, which, in their quiet way, exert as widespread influence almost as the church itself. The good accomplished by these institutions cannot be estimated. There is nothing more wonderful in Freemasonry, the most ancient of these honorable and charitable fraternities, than its perpetual youth. Human
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
governments flourish and then disappear, leav- ing only desolation in the places where their glory used to shine. But the institution of Freemasonry, originating so long ago that the oldest history tells nothing of its beginning, has survived the decay of dynasties, and the revolutions of races, and kept pace with the marvelous march of civilization and Chris- tianity. Freemasonry was established in Hills- boro at an early day by the formation of a lodge of the order, and has existed with more or less zeal ever since.
The first lodge organized here was known as Hillsboro Lodge, No. 33, A., F. & A. M., and was formed under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, by which grand body its charter was issued, under date of October 9, 1840. Among the charter members were C. B. Blockberger, H. Kingsley, M. Kingsley and M. l'. Nickerson. Of these, the first three (in the order named), constituted the first Master and Wardens. The lodge continued to work under the Grand Lodge of Missouri until the forma- tion of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, when it was rechartered and re-organized.
Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 51, A., F. & A. M., was chartered October 4, 1848, and was but a re-organization of the original Hillsboro Lodge, under the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Its char- ter members were Ira Millard, Ira Boone, Jer- emiah lIart, John S. Hillis, J. H. Ralston, M. J. Blockberger, M. Turner, Jacob Lingafelter, and their charter was signed by William Lave- ly, Grand Master, and William Mitchell, Grand Secretary. The first officers were Ira Millard; Master ; Ira Boone, Senior Warden, and Jere- iniah Hart, Junior Warden. The lodge has a flourishing membership, and is at present offi- cered as follows : M. W. Miller, Master ; C. L. Bartlett, Senior Warden ; J. B. Atterbury, Junior Warden ; J. W. Edwards, Treasurer ; Benjamin E. Johnson, Secretary ; J. M. Smith, Senior Deacon ; J B. Dreyhur, Junior Deacon, and W. R. Truesdell, Tiler.
The lodge formerly met in the upper story of a building used by Gunning as a blacksmith shop. Afterward, in connection with the Odd Fellows, they built a hall on Main street, near the court house. Finally, they sold out and built their present hall. They own the third story of a large briek building on the Main street, and have it handsomely fitted up and furnished.
Montgomery Chapter, No. 63, Royal Arch Masons, was organized several years ago, by the Grand Royal Areh Chapter of Illinois. For a time it worked zealously, then the mem- bers seemed to become lukewarm, meetings were less frequent, and finally ceased altogether. The charter has been surrendered to the Grand Chapter, and Montgomery Chapter is, for the time at least, extinct. " It is not dead, but sleepeth," and may revive again when the com- panions awake from their present Rip Van Winkle sleep.
Hermon Chapter, No. 46, of the Order of the Eastern Star. was chartered by the Supreme Grand Chapter of Adoptive Masonry of Illi- nois, January 18, 1871. The first officers were Isaac Shimer. a Master Mason, Worthy Pa- tron ; Sister Angusta D. Marshall, Worthy Matron, and Sister Eveline C. Harris, Associ- ate Matron. For several years an active inter- est was taken by the ladies of IIillsboro in the Order of the Eastern Star, and at one time their chapter was one of the most flourishing in the State. But of late their zeal has flagged, and they have suffered it to become almost entirely dormant.
Montgomery Lodge, No. 40. I. O. O. F., was instituted in Hillsboro May 30, 1848, by Will- iam M. Parker, of Belleville, Grand Master. The following persons were initiated into the order on that occasion, viz .: David B. Jackson, A. S. Haskell, ITiram Brown, William K. Jack- son, John Burnap, George Blackman, George J. Brooks, J. L. Whitmore, and John R. Pais- ley. The first officers were : Henry Richmond
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CITY OF HILLSBORO.
(now of Litchfield), Noble Grand ; David B. Jackson, Vice Grand ; William K. Jackson. Secretary, and John Burnap, Treasurer. They met regularly in the hall then owned and oc- cupied by the Masonic lodge, being the second story of Gunning's blacksmith shop. In 1855. in connection with the Masons, they built the hall already referred to. This was completed and dedicated on the 13th day of June, 1856. Afterward they bought out the Masons, and in October, 1867, deemed it advisable to sell their hall and build a new one on the opposite side of the street. The corner-stone of this building was laid ou the 23d of October of that year, and the building completed early in 1868, when the lodge moved into it, and still occupies it. The present officers are: Wilbur B. Ralston, Noble Grand ; J. L. MeHenry, Vice Grand ; William K. Jackson, Secretary ; C. L. Bartlett, Treasurer ; William K. Jackson, District Dep- uty Grand Master.
The Encampment branch of the order was instituted by Charles Trumbull, of Alton, Jan- uary 16, 1857, and the following officers elected
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