USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
The first Church Society formed in Virginia was by the Protestant Methodists. They built a church edifice upon the site of Traph- agan's horse barn, in the rear of Mrs. Free- man's. It was a frame structure about 30x50 feet, and without any of the modern improve- ments. The Protestant Methodist organiza- tion has been extinct in Virginia for a num- ber of years.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was the next organized in Virginia. It was form- ed of members principally from Shiloh church, by Rev. Thomas Campbell, February 26, 1842. Among the original members were: William Naylor, Benjamin Beasley, William Shilly, Harvey O'Ncil, William Blair, David Blair, Daniel Cornell, Louise O'Neil, Susan Beasley, Melville Blair, Mary A. Cornell, Margaret Weaver, Mary A. Lindsley, Mary Lorance, and Elizabeth Biddlecome. The first elders were William Naylor, Benjamin Beasley, and William Shilly. Their first place of worship was the old court house, which stood where the public school building now stands. In 1843, they built a frame church on Job street, opposite Dr. Tates, which would seat about 250 persons. The new church, which stands in the eastern part of the city, was built in the summer of 1879, by J. F. Black, and cost about 84,600. It is a handsome brick edifice of modern architec- ture, and will seat some fifteen hundred peo- ple. Rev. J. E. Roach is the present pastor, and the membership is perhaps fifty. A Sun- day school of some fifty or sixty children is maintained, under the superintendence of Mr. S. A. Gould.
The Church of Christ, of Virginia, was re- organized in 1875 (of its previous history we were unable to learn anything definite), by electing C. W. Elder and J. E. Turner as church elders, and C. W. Black and J. B.
98
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Black, deacons. These officers resigned in 1877, and C. W. Elder, J. F. Black, and F. A. Wade were elected elders; C. W. Black, I). D. Wilson, J. B. Black and T. J. Kemper, deacons. M. Graves, Joseph F. Black, T. J. Kemper and J. E. Turner were elected trus- tees, John Wear holding over, making five trustees. The church began holding Sunday meetings in 1873, without electing officers, elder C. W. Elder preaching occasionally un- til the organization was perfected. He was then employed by the church, and preached until 1878, when elder J. L. Richardson was employed, remaining two years, when he re- signed, and accepted a call to Europe. He preached there one year, and then returned and resumed his charge here in 1881, and is now pastor of the church. During the time Elder Richardson was - in Europe, Elder James McGuire was engaged as pastor. Up to the fall of 1879, services were held in the old church building in the west end of the town. The house was then torn down, the material removed, and a new church erected (in 1879) on the corner of Cass and Beardstown streets, at a cost of about $4,000, including furniture. It was dedicated by El- der B. J. Radford, president of Eureka Col- lege, in Woodford County. J. F. Black was architect and builder of the new church edi- fice, and displayed much taste in the design. The church now has 142 members.
The Sunday school was organized contempo- rancously with the re-organization of the church, and has continued ever since. The present superintendent is Charles Martin; Dr. D. G. Smith, assistant, with an average at- tendance of about 85 children.
The Ladies' Christian Missionary Society of this church, was organized November 7, 1880, with eleven members, of whom Mrs. J. A. McGuire was elected President; Mrs. James Black, Vice-president; Mrs. Mattie Rummel, Secretary, and Mrs. A. A. Leeper, Treasurer.
The contributions of the society for the first year, were twenty-three dollars. Its present officers are Mrs. Charles Black, President; Mrs. James Black, Vice-president, and the Secretary and Treasurer as above given. The society is growing in strength and increasing in usefulness. Its contributions will probably reach near thirty dollars the present year.
The Catholics have had a partial organiza- tion in Virginia since about 1840. For a number of years mass was said in the houses of catholic families, until something like or- ganization was effected, when they used as a church an old building which stood on the south side of the square, in the west end, and in which the present St. Luke's Catholic church was fully organized. The present handsome church was commenced in 1880, and is about 40×90 feet. When finished, its cost will be near $10,000, and it is by far the most elegant church edifice in the city. The painting and frescoing is just finished, and reflects great credit on Messrs. Peters & Son, the firm who did it. Rev. Father Michael Ryan has been pastor of St. Luke's church since 1876. About 45 families compose the present membership of the church, and a Sunday school of abont 50 children is regularly maintained.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Virginia was organized about 1836, as a part of the Petersburg circuit, under the Presiding Elder- ship of Rev. Peter Cartwright. Among the first members were Rev. Levi Springer, a local preacher, and his wife, P. S. Oughten and wife, M. H. Beadles, G. W. Harris, and his wife and daughters, and others not now re- membered. Rev. Enoch Faulkner was one of the first pastors, and when this church was a part of a circuit, large in extent. For some time the society held its meetings in the old Protestant Methodist Church, already fre- quently alluded to in these pages, and after- ward the court house in the West End was used as a place of meeting. The present
/
.
J. Sseiles
459269
THE NEV .CRX PUBLIC | BARY
Astor Ler van Y Gen For -i bang. 1969
101
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
frame church, standing on Springfield street, west of the court house-was erected in 1856, at a cost of about $2,500. The membership is now 120, and is under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Auer. The Sunday school has a regular attendance of about 100 children; Mr. Henry Berry is the superintendent, and devotes con- siderable attention to its interests, and the moral improvement of its members.
The Presbyterian Church of Virginia .- The following sketch was furnished by Rev. J. P. Dawson, the pastor : Although the present house of worship was erected in 1857, and was occupied as a preaching sta- tion, by stated supplies, there was no regular Presbyterian organization until the year 1863.
On the 12th day of June, 1863, the follow- ing petition was sent to the Presbytery of San- gamon. " Dear Brethren :- We, your petition- ers, members of Providence Church, and others, respectfully ask you to organize us in- to a separate church, to be called the 'Presby- terian Church of Virginia, Illinois,' under your care and supervision, it in your judgment the same should be for the interest of Christ's cause." (Signed) G. W. Goodspeed, Sarah W. Goodspeed, Alice H. Goodspeed, I. N. White, George Wilson, Jane B. Wilson, Be- linda M. Wilson, John N. Wilson, R. M. Wil- son, Wlliam C. Wilson, Rev. J. Dale, N. S. Dale, Eliza J. Dale, G. Clendenin, Helen Clen- denin, Mary H. Stowe, Mary McCawly, Mary E. Haynes, Eliza C. Heslep, D. R. Downing, Mary Downing, N. HI. Downing, A. G. Angier, Eliza A. Angier, Robert Barr, Jane Barr, Hattie Angier, Grace Suffren, Mildred Berry, John J. Bergen, S. S. Bergen, James McAllister, William McAllister, Eliza McAllister, Charles Sloan, and Mary A. Sloan.
In compliance with this petition, the Rev. J. G. Bergen, D. D., as commissioner of San- gamon Presbytery, preached at Virginia, on the 4th day of July, 1863, and afterward pro- ceeded to organize the " Presbyterian Church
of Virginia." George Wilson, Dr. G. W. Goodspeed and David R. Downing, were elected and installed as elders, and Glasgow Clendenin, J. N. Wilson, J. J. Bergen and A. G. Angier, were ordained deacons.
The organization of the church was largely due to the efforts of Rev. Jolin Dale, who as stated supply of Providence Presbyterian Church, had preached at this point for several years. After the organization the church em- ployed Rev. George K. Scott as stated supply, who labored acceptably for nearly two years. After he was called to another field, a young licentiate named David J. Strain, labored here until April, 1865. The people were well pleased, and through the Presbytery extended to him a regular call to become their pastor, which call was accepted, and on the 20th of June, 1865. the Presbytery of Sangamon met in Virginia, and ordained Mr. Strain to the gospel ministry, and installed him as pastor of this church. The blessing of God followed, and he remained the faithful and efficient shepherd of this flock for more than fourteen years. But on account of failing health he was led to resign the charge, and the pastoral relation was dissolved in July, 1880. In Oc- tober of the same year the church, employed Rev. J. P. Dawson as stated supply, and at the end of the year extended to him a regular call, which was by him accepted, and he was duly installed as pastor of the church by a commission of Springfield Presbytery, on the 23d day of October, 1881, and he is now (1882) the pastor of the church.
The church is united and prosperous ; has a comfortable house of worship and parsonage; has about 120 members, and a Sabbath school of about 100 members.
Educational .- Through the medium of the common schools are the rising generation of all nationalities assimilated readily and thor- oughly, forming the great American people. The common shools are alike open to the rich
102
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
and the poor, the citizen and the stranger. It
is the duty of those to whom the administra- tion of the schools is confided, to discharge it with magnanimous liberality and Christian kindness. Diligent care should be taken by instructors, to impress upon the minds of children and youth committed to their care, the principles of morality and justice, and a sa- cred regard for truth, love of their country, humanity and universal benevolence, sobriety, industry and frugality, chastity, moderation and temperance, and all other virtues which ornament society.
The early residents of Virginia were alive to the value of education, and opened schools as soon as they could support them. The first school of which we have any reliable ac- count, was taught in the second story or attic of the old Protestant Methodist church, al- ready described. It had been fitted up for a school room, by lathing and plastering to the rafters, making a room about 14x50 feet, and in this unique building the youth of the early town learned the first rudiments of an educa- tion. The first teachers were Miss Ann Jour- dan, a Protestant Methodist preacher, a Miss Williams, Mrs. Blackman Ross, now of Jack- sonville, Miss Mary Ann Lindsley, now Mrs. John Ruckley, of Philadelphia, and others whose names are forgotten. The first school- building owned by the city was the old court house, which was purchased by the county for school purposes after the county seat had been moved back to Beardstown, and was occupied as such ahout 1846. It was used until 1867, when it was torn down and re-built, and has since served the city, until the purchase of the old Cumberland Presbyterian College building, now used by the city for a high- school department, and which will be again referred to further on. The city schools are in a flourishing condition, and compare favor- ably with any other town in this section of the State of a like population.
The High School was organized by Prof. Loomis, the present principal of the city schools, though he has not been principal ever since. Several who have filled the posi- tion have become somewhat distinguished men. Prof. J. A. Johnson, one of these ex- principals, is now a practicing lawyer at Oak- land, Oregon. Another, Prof. R. H. Beggs, is the present Superintendent of the schools at Denver, Colorado. We are unable, how- ever, to sketch each and every one of them, and tell whether they rank as great or small, among the men of the time.
The teachers for the ensuing year are as follows, viz .: Prof. John Loomis, Principal ; Miss Lucy B. Duer, Assistant Principal ; Miss Rachel Berry, teacher 6th, grade ; Geo. J. Kelley, 5th grade ; Miss Monic Tate, 4th grade ; Miss Belle Rodgers, 3rd grade ; Miss Mary Billings, 2nd grade ; Miss Mary E. Wright, 1st grade ; attendance about 350 pupils. Springer School, Edward Missie, teacher ; about 15 in attendance.
Union College .- The history of this insti- tution is brief, and its career was short and unprofitable as a school. When the Sanga- mon Presbytery of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church, concluded to build a Seminary, three different places were des- ignated as the point where the school should be located, and the choice was to fall to the most liberal bidder. In other words, the town, which would extend the most liberal contribution toward building the Seminary, was to become the place of its location. This led to the erection of three buildings at as many different points, viz .: at Virginia, Cass County ; at Mt. Zion, Macon County, and at Lincoln, Logan County. The school at Mt. Zion died an early but natural death, soon passing out of existence.
The school, in the meantime, which had been established at Virginia, was changed into the Union College, but never prospered
103
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
to any extent. It became involved in debt and was finally sold to the city of Virginia, and is now known as the City High School Building. The school at Lincoln flourished in proportion to the decline of the others. It became a college, then a university, and is now known as Lincoln University. The Virginia school was run under denomina- tional rule from its commencement, about 1865. It was sold to the eity about 1870, for $7,500, and the proceeds used to strengthen the Lincoln school, which is still owned by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
War History .- In a work of this kind, it is not intended to write a history of the late civil war, but to allude very briefly to the part Virginia took in the matter. A war of any sort, from a " war of words" to bloody battles between contending armies, is but a sickly detail of horrors, and a civil war is the most deplorable of all. It would be well if we could drop a veil over our late war be- tween the States, and blot out the remem- brance of it forever. It is a species of history better forgotten than perpetuated.
The Nineteenth Illinois Infantry was the first regiment that drew anything like a com- pany from Virginia and vicinity. Company F was from this place, and was officered as follows: Luther S. Allard, Captain; K. H. Chandler, First Lieutenant; and James G. Campbell, Second Lieutenant. Captain Al- lard resigned December 1, 1861, and Lieu- tenant Chandler was promoted to Captain, and afterward killed in battle, when Lieu- tenant Campbell became Captain, who re- mained as such until the expiration of the regiment's term of service. Upon the pro- motion of Lieutenant Campbell, Samuel L. Himilton was promoted to Second Lieuten- ant, and then to First Lieutenant, and mus- tered out with the regiment. John Hill was promoted Second Lieutenant, January 2, 1863, and resigned (says the Adjutant-gen-
eral's Report), " for the good of the service." The same authority makes the same report of Silas W. Kent, who was promoted Second Lieutenant on the 3rd of June, 1863.
Of the service of the Nineteenth, the Ad- jutant-general's report gives no record, fur- ther, than that it was mustered out of the service at the close of its three years term of service.
The Thirty-third Illinois Infantry was the next regiment in which Virginia was repre- sented. In the Thirty-third almost an entire company was enlisted from Virginia and the immediate vicinity. Company K was the Virginia company, and Charles E. Lippincott was its Captain. None of the other commis- sioned officers, however, were from Cass County, except Second Lieutenant William H. Weaver, who was from Beardstown. Lieutenant Weaver resigned March 22, 1862, came home and raised a company for the 100 days' service, of which company he was Cap- tain. Capt. Lippincott was promoted to Lieutenant-colonel, March 1, 1862, and to Colonel on the 5th of September following. he was mustered out of the service with the regiment, and was promoted Brigadier-gen- eral for gallant and meritorious services. We have not space to give the names of the entire company, but from the Adjutant-general's report will give a synopsis of the history of the Thirty-third, of which Company K formed a part.
The Thirty-third Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, in September, 1861, and mustered into the United States service by Capt. T. G. Pitcher, U. S. A. Its first service was in Missouri, where it did little but scout duty, until March, 1832, when it moved into Arkansas, and was engaged in a number of skirmishes, and several rather severe battles. It remained in Arkansas until in the spring of 1863, when it was ordered to St. Genevieve, Mo., from whence it embarked for Milliken's
104
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Bend, La. Attached to the Thirteenth Army Corps, it participated in all its battles-Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, etc. In August it was ordered to New Orleans, where it was engaged in several raids and expedi- tions, and in November was ordered into Texas, where it did considerable manœuvering, if nothing more serious. The regiment re-en- listed in the spring of 1864, and on the 14th of March arrived at Bloomington, III., where they received veteran furlough. It was re- organized in April, 1864, at Camp Butler, and proceeded to New Orleans. It remained in Louisiana on guard duty at different points, and in March, 1865, was ordered to join the Sixteenth Army Corps. On its way the train was thrown from the track, and 9 men killed and 70 wounded. Company K had fortunately remained behind, guarding transportation, and escaped the catastrophe. After the cap- ture of Mobile the regiment moved to Mont- gomery, Ala., where it arrived on the 25th of April, and where it received the news of Lee's surrender. It was mustered out of the service November 24, 1865, at Vicksburg, and was sent home to Camp Butler for final dischare, after more than four years continual service.
The One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry contained two companies from Cass County, one from Virginia and one from Beardstown; the latter company will be writ- ten up in the chapters devoted to Beardstown. Company D. was from Virginia, and was or- ganized with the following commissioned of- ficers: Benj. C. Berry, Captain, Thos. S. Berry, First Lieutenant, and David N. Down- ing, Second Lieutenant. Capt. Berry resigned January 3 ', 1865, and George H. Martin was promoted Captain June 26, 1865, but mustered out as Sergeant August 3, 1865. Lieutenant Thomas S. Berry was honorably discharged May 15, 1865, and Henry D. Freeman was promoted June 26, 1835, to First Lieutenant,
but mustered out as Sergeant with the regi- ment. Second Lieutenant Downing died at Duckport, La., May 22, 1863. The following facts are gleaned from the Adjutant-gen- eral's reports of the movements of the regi- ment to which this company belonged.
The One Hundred and Fourteenth was re- cruited during the summer of 1862, and mus- tered into service on the 18th of Sep- tember at Camp Butler, Illinois. The regi- ment left for Memphis, Tenn., on the Sth of November, arriving on the 26th, and starting at once on the Tallahatchie campaign. Early in 1863 it returned to Memphis. It was or- dered to Louisana, and on the 2nd of May returned to the rear of Vicksburg, and was engaged in the battle of Jackson, Miss., where it lost five men, killed and wounded, and arrived in the rear of Vicksburg on the 18th, participating in the siege, with a loss of twenty in killed and wounded. It did little but scout and guard duty until in June, 1854, when it went against Generals Forrest and Lee at Guntown, Miss. The battle at this place commenced early in the afternoon, and the troops, worn down and exhausted by a double quick march of three miles, were hurried into action, and after fighting five or six hours, were repulsed. The 114th remained as rear guards, and assisted in holding the enemy in check during the whole of the first night's retreat. Out of the 397 men of the 114th engaged, it lost 205 in killed, wounded and missing. Among the wounded was Lieuten- ant T. S. Berry, of Company D.
The regiment, from this time until August, was engaged in numerous scouts and expedi- tions, and had many skirmishes with detach- ments of the enemy, in which it did consider- able severe fighting. In August, 1864, it was ordered to Duvall's Bluff, Ark. It left Brownsville, Ark., in pursuit of Gen. Pricc, and marched to Cape Girardeau, Mo., in sev- enteen days on ten days' rations. After long
105
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
and tedious marches, and travel by rail and boat, it reached Kansas City, whence it was ordered to St. Louis, arriving there Novem- ber 15. From St. Louis it was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived in time to take part in the battles of the 15th and 16th of December. The One Hundred and Four- teenth was attached to MeMillan's brigade, MeArthur's division of Gen. A. J. Smith's corps, which brigade was especially compli- mented by Gen. Thomas in his report to the War Department. After the surrender of Mobile, the regiment marched to Montgom- ery, Ala., arriving April 24, 1865, and bridging the Alabama river with pontoons, remained on duty at the bridge until July 17, when it was ordered to Vieksburg, and mustered out of service August 3, 1865. It arrived at Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 7th of August, and on the 15th was paid off and discharged.
These regiments are all that contained any- thing like an organized body of men from Virginia. A number of men from the city and vicinity, were scattered through various other regiments, but none in organized bodies. From the foregoing sketch of the 33d and the 114th, it will be seen that Vir- ginia's gallant sons performed their duty nobly, during those four long and dreary years, and that some of them came not back when the contest ended. From bloody fields of war and carnage, they crossed over the river to join the grand ariny on the other side. They need no mausoleum ! Their fame is a part of the nation's history; their epitaph is engraved upon the hearts of men. In the language of the gallant O'Hara :
"The muffled drum's sad roll has beat The soldier's last tatoo ;
No more on life's parade shall meet The brave and fallen few.
On Fame's eternal camping-ground, Their silent tents are spread ;
And glory guards with solemn round The bivouae of the dead."
Secret and Benevolent Institutions .- Be- nevolent institutions have existed so long, that no records tell of their organization, and they will, doubtless, continue, "until time shall be no more." The history of Free Masonry is veiled and clouded by almost un- written centuries ; yet amidst the political fluctuations of the earth, and the downfall of States and Empires, its traditions have been borne to us on the current of time, and been gathered together by the Masonie student for the meditation and instruction of the Craft. All who have considered the origin of Free Masonry have been convinced that the germ from which it sprang was coeval with that wonderful command of Jehovah: "Let there be light," and from the coincidences found to exist between it and the ancient mysteries, they were very similar in character. We know that the aims of these institutions are good, because the results achieved are so grand and glorious. We believe that the world is better for their existence, secret though they are in their workings, and agree not with those who believe that everything is evil which is veiled in secrecy, and hidden from the eyes of the curious.
Free Masonry is represented in Virginia by the Blue Lodge only. The institution, it seems, has never flourished very vigorously here-the more 's the pity. Like the seed that fell in stony ground, it has probably been choked by the briars and brambles. Virginia Lodge No. 544, was organized under dispen- sation, April 2, A. L. 5867, and was chartered October 1 following. The charter members were G. F. Hellig, W. A. Harding, L. P. R. Yaple, Casper Magel, F. Underwood, H. H. Hall, James Smith, James M. Rodney, William Cox, L. S. Allard, Lee Carpenter and H. Bar- den. The first Master was G. F. Hellig ; the first Senior Warden, William A. Harding ; and the first Junior Warden, L. P. R. Yaple. The lodge now has some thirty members, and
106
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
is officered as follows: G. F. Hellig, Wor- shipful Master; D. G. Smith, Senior Warden; A. A. Leeper, Junior Warden; Thomas Dun- naway, Treasurer; T. M. Hubbard, Secretary; George Davidson, Senior Deacon ; Parker Thompson, Junior Deacon; and Robert Chet- tick, Tiler.
There has never been a Chapter, Council nor Commandery of the order in the town, and, as we remarked above, the institution, from some cause, has never flourished here as in the majority of Illinois towns. With the amount of first-class material at hand, how- ever, the time will come, perhaps, when it will flourish here as it deserves to flourish everywhere.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.