USA > Illinois > De Witt County > History of De Witt county, Illinois. With illustrations descriptive of the scenery, and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 36
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boro, captured 2 guns, killing and wound- ing 67, and taking 200 prisoners. Was at the battle of Antietam, Martinsburg, Fredericksburg Loss up to February 17th, 1863, 27 killed, 71 wounded, and 20 missing. Was in many engagements dur- ing 1863, losing 23 killed, 116 wounded, and 37 missing. Was mustered out July 17th, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY B. Q. M. Sergeant. J. J. Woodruff, disch'd Oct. 14, 1862; diability. Privates.
Bailey, William, mustered out Sept. 28, 1864. Bell, James M., vet., mustered out, July 17, 1865. Fancher, Martin, disch'd April 6, 1864; wounds. llerrick, William, mustered ont Sept. 28, 1864. ITill, Ilenry, mustere I ont Sept. 28, 1864. Thomas, Julius O., mustered ont Sept. 28, 1864. Wales, John, discharged, May 15, 1862.
Recruits.
Pereival, Judson, inustered out July 17, 1865. Percival Stephen, mustered out July 17, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY K.
Veteran.
Willard William, mastered ont July 17, 1865. Unassigned Recruit.
Barry, John.
NINTH CAVALRY REGIMENT. (Three Years' Service.)
This regiment was mustered into the United States service since November 30, 1861, at Chicago, Illinois. It participated in several battles aud skirmishes, losing heavily. The regiment served out its full time, and was mustered out at Selma, Ala- bana, Oct. 31, 1865, and ordered to Spring- field, where it received final payment and discharge.
MUSTER ROLL COMFANY M.
Recruits.
Bigelow, Ilenry A., mustered out Oet. 13, 1865, to date Oct. 2, 1865.
Fuller, Adelbert, died at Gainesville, Oct. 14, '65. Reed, Charles, mustered out Oct. 13, 1865. Wait, Percival.
Unassigned Recruit. Bush, Ralph, rejected by board.
TENTH CAVALRY. (THREE YEARS' SERVICE.)
The organization of this regiment was effected at Camp Butler, Ill, November 25th, 1861. Dudley Wickersham was ap- pointed Colonel, May 15th, 1862. Spent the winter at Quincy, Ill., and March 13th, 1862, reported at Benton Barracks, Mis- souri. During the remainder of the year it operated in the States of Missouri and Arkansas. The remainder was spent in the south-west, doing frontier skirmishing. It was mnstered out of service November 22d, 1865, at San Antonio, Texas, and or- dered to Springfield, Illinois, for final pay- ment. and discharge. Below are the names credited to De Witt county.
132
HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
TENTH CAVALRY REGIMENT. (THREE YEARS' SERVICE.)
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY L. Corporal.
Enoch, Thornley, vet., must. out Nov. 22, '65, Recruit.
Waldron, Allen, must. out June 13, '65.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY M. Recruits.
Able, James C., deserted from ; absent in hands of the enemy Feb. 12, '65.
Able, Thomas, deserted fiom ; absent in hands of the enemy Feb. 12, '65. East, Edward H., must. out Nov. 22, '65. Mastin, James W., must. out Nov. 22, '65. Mulky, Wm. A., must. out Sept. 6, '65. Mulky, Philip E., must. ont Nov. 22, '65. Ross, John E , must. out Nov. 22, '65. Stone, Elijah B., disch'd Feb. 25, 65; disability. Fibbs, Jackson, must. out Nov. 22, '65. Wimer, Thomas R., must. out Aug. 24, '65. Wilson. Alfred, must. out Nov. 12, '65.
FOURTEENTH CAVALRY. (THREE YEARS' SERVICE.) MUSTER ROLL COMPANY F. Privates.
Ryan George W., deserted Feb. 21, '63.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H. Nudler.
Nathaniel P. Harris, disch'd May 16, '63; dis- ability.
Prirates.
Brooks, W'm., must. out July 31, '65.
Hayes, Charles, must. out July 31, '65, as serg't. Odell, Delos, must. out July 31, '65, as serg't. Polen, Joseph R., must. out July 31, '65.
SIXTEENTH CAVALRY. (THREE YEARS' SERVICE. ) MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H. Privates.
Meeyer, August, must. out Aug. 19, '65. Meyer, Fritz, deserted March 21, '64.
SEVENTEENTH CAVALRY. (THREE YEARS SERVICE.)
This regiment was organized under special authority from the War Depart- ment, issued August 12th, 1863, to IIon. John F. Farnsworth. The Colonelcy of the regiment was offered to John L. Bev- eridge, then Major in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, who assumed the work of organi- zation, November 15th, 1863 The regi- ment was completed February 12th, 1864. May 3d, 1864, the regiment moved under orders from the General-in-Chief, to report to Maj. Gen. Rosecrans, commanding the department of Missouri, at St. Louis, Mo. The three battalions of this regiment were for the most time separated, and it would be difficult to give an account of the move- ments of the companies or parts of com- panies that are given below, or those that went from De Witt county. The service of the regiment was wholly within the de- partment of Missouri, commanded respec- tively by Generals Rosecrans, Dodge and Pope. Reconnoissance, skirmishing and
guarding was its principal duty. Muster- ed ont November and December, 1865.
MUSTER NOLL COMPANY A.
Privates. Wilkie, Calvin, detached at mus. out of regiment.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY D.
First Lieutenants.
Israel II. Eldridge, mustered ont March 16, 1865. Henry S. Chappelear, mistered out Dec. 20, '65.
Sergeants.
John M. Osborne, m. o. Dec. 20, '65, as private. John F. T. J. Mckinney, dis. as priv. Oct. 29, '64. Harrison S. Andrews, m. o. Dec. 20, '65, wagoner.
Corporals.
Geo. W. Garrett, in confinement at m. o. of reg't. Wm. B. Waller, dis. Nov. 30, '65 ; disability.
Privates.
Cuquiogham, Jobo, mustered out Sep. 15, 1865. Field, Robert, mus. out Dec. 20, '65, as Sergeant. Lillard, Joseph E., “
Ledbetter, Job F.,
=
Lillard, Wm. E .. =
Morse, Wm. H.,
Polan. Samuel, =
=
Wimer, John R.
16 Co.Q. M. Serg't.
Williams, Lewis, = as Corporal.
Recruit Clemens, Albert J., m. o. Dec. 20, '65, as Serg't.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY H.
Private.
Tours, John, mustered out Dec. 1865.
MUSTER ROLL COMPANY M. Privates.
Deets, Sylvanns, mustered out Nov. 23, 1865.
Murphy, John, deserted Sep. 7, 1864.
Moore, Calvin, mustered out Nov. 23, 1865.
Rust, John J., mustered out May 15, 1865. Ray, Charles, mustered out Nov. 23, 1865.
FIRST REGIMENT LIGHT ANTILLERY. (THREE YEARS' SERVICE ) MUSTER ROLL BATTERY H. Privates.
Kyler, George, vet., mustered out Aug. 10, '65.
MUSTER ROLL BATTREY K.
Second Lieutenant.
William L. Williams, mustered out Ang. 15, 65. Privates.
Armstrong, William, must. out June 19, '65. Barngrover, Geo. W., ai'd out June 19 '65 as ep'l. Butterworth, James, m'd out June 19, '65 as bugler. Bowles, Peter H., must. out June 19, '65. Cross, Benjamin, must'd out June 19, 65 as serg't. Coppenbarger, David, must'd out June 19, '65. Cromer, William H., must'd out April 19, '65. Clark. Lake, must'd out June 19, '65.
Campbell. William, must. out July 15, '65. Davis, Walter, must'd out June 19, 65.
Early, William, died near Knoxville, Tenn. Feb. 16, '64.
Farris, Amos G., mustered out July 13, '65. Freeze, Andrew, mustered out June 19, '65. Fenueran, Michael,
Gilson, George E., =
Hoyt, Orin A., must. ont June 19, '65 as serg't, Knobbs, Charles, mustered ont June 19, '65. Luna, Richard, must'd out June 19, 65 as corp'l. Luck, William, discharged.
McKinley, Josepb, must, ont June 19, '65 as Q. M Sergeant. McGowan. Parker S., deserted Oct. --- , '65 ar- rested and confined ; escaped April 15, '65. Page, William, must. out as corp'l June 19, '65. Pollock, Samuel M., mu-t. ont June 19, '65. Petticord, Thomas J., = Page, Alfred, 11
Reed, Willis G., must. out June 19, '65 as serg't. Russell, Jesse,
Rateliff; Daniel,
Rooker, William, =
Smith, John A., =
Simpson, John H.,
Spenser, James H., 44
Schenck, Obadiab,
Scott, Augustus, deserted Aug. 31, '63.
Wise, Reuben, must. out June 19,'65 as corp'l. Wise, Israel F.,
Williams, John F., «
Williams, W. L., promoted.
Watt, Levi, mustered out June 19, '65.
Williams, Frank E., deserted July 19, '65.
Recruits.
Bowles, Henry H., mustered out July 15, 1865. Lafferty, Isaac C., mustered out July 15, 1865.
SECOND REGIMENT, LIGHT ARTILLERY. (THREE YEARS' SERVICE.) HISTORY OF BATTERY F.
This Battery was organized at Cape Girardeau, Mo., by Capt John W. Powell, and was mustered in, December 11, 1861. March 14th, 1862, moved to Pittsburg Landing with six 6 pound guns, and was assigned to Gen. W. H. L. Wallace's Bri- gade, sixth division. April 6th, engaged the enemy near Shiloh Church ; engaged in the siege of Corinth October 3d and 4th, 1862; at the siege of Vicksburg; in the Meridian campaign ; one section fighting on the Hatchie; at Kenesaw Mountain ; heavily engaged before Atlanta and in the siege of Atlanta and Jonesboro; and at Nashville. It was ordered to Springfield, Illinois, for muster out July 9th, 1865, and was mustered out July 27th, 1865.
MUSTER ROLL BATTERY F. First Lieutenant.
Richard Osborne, mustered out (as fr. 2d lieut.) July 27, 1865.
Second Lieutenant.
Israel II. Eldridge, resigned Feb. 13, 1863.
Recruits.
Anderson, John J., must'd out July 27, 1865, as wagoner.
Beatty, James, must'd out July 27, '65, as corp'l. Brooks, Leonard F., mustered out July 27, 1865. Blaylock, Robert G., mustered out July 27, 1865. Burns, De Witt C., =
Beatty, Henry G.,
Bock, Theodore
Clemons, Clayton C., promoted reg't. com. serg't. mustered out July 27, 1865.
Curry, Domink, mustered out July 27, 1865.
Collins. Daniel,
Curl, John W.,
Crawford, Smith, died at Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 25, 1865. Clemons, Albert
Donavan, John, must'd out July 27, 1865. 66
Eaton John A.,
Eaton Jeremiah,
Fitzpatrick, Isaac N.,
Fitzpatrick, Robert G., "
66
Gaines, Samuel B.,
Harvey, Thomas G., must'd out July 27, 1865, as 1st sergeant.
Hankenson, Benjamin, must'd out July 27, 1865. JIill, William C., 16
Ilall, Peter C., =
Hinkle, Abraham,
66 Lillard, Joseph.
=
McCaffrey, Francis, mustered out July 27, 1865. McFarland, Alva C.,
Mor-e, Joseph B., prisoner of war since July 22, 1864, not mustered with battery.
as corp'l.
44
=
.. as Corporal.
133
HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
McAbny, Arthur J., mustered out July 27, 1865. Reaston, Francis, corp'l pris, of war since July 22, 1864, not mustered with battery. Sumpter, Jo-eph, muslered out July 27, 1865. Smith, Augustus L., must'd out May 23, 1865. Seeley, Samuel D., mustered out July 27, 1865. Smith, Chas, died at Marietta, Ga., July 30, 1864. Thomas, James L., prisoner of war since July 22, 1864, not mustered with battery.
Winslow, Orlando R., must'd out July 27, 1865. Yarzell, William R., ..
Yeamons, John W.,
MUSTER ROLL BATTERY G. Sergeant.
Charles Greenwood, dis. Oet. 16, '63. disability. Corporal.
Sam'I E. Curtis, died at Goodrich Land'g La Sep.2.
Recruits.
Atkinson, Edmund T., mustered out Sep. 4, '65. Shafer, Thomas, mustered out Sep. 4, '65.
Privates. Anstiss, Frank D., deserted Jan. 31, 1863. Brown, William, died at Memphis June 29, '63. Davis, Jesse W., died at Vicksburg Oct. 15, '63. Dusenbury, Albert A., vet., mus. ont Ang. 2, '65. Hlager, John Wesley, m. o. Dec 3, '64 : term ex. Ilemingway, Hanniah W , m.o Dee.3, '64, ter. ex. Loveridge, Jefferson S., veteran, dis Aug. 7, '65, Corporal ; superannuated.
Minnis, James P., vet., mustered out Sep. 4, '65. McDowell, Coryden II., vet., m. o. Sep 4, '65 Cor. MeDowell, William, mustered out Nov. 25, '64. Padgett, Robert M , vet., m. o. Sep. 4, '65; Serg't. Ransom, Amus C., dis. Aug. 14, '62; disability.
Rose, Coryden, died Camp Butler, Ill., Jan. 9, '62. Steel, Joseph M., vet., m. o. Sep. 4, 65, as Corp'l.
MUSTER ROLL BATTERY I.
Privates.
Dibert, Warren, vet., m. o. June 1}, '65, as Corp'l. Dourgan, Robert, vet., mustered out June 14, '65. Finnell, Thomas, vet., mustered out June 14, '65. (rovenor, Nathan, vet., mus. out June 14, '65. llobbs, Allen, vet., mustered out June 14, '65. Lighthall, Robert W., vet., mins. ont June 14, '65. MeGary, Ilugh, vet., died at Chattanooga, Tenn. l'eterson. Marshall, vet., m. o. June 14, '65 ; Bugler Provin, William, mustered out June 14, '65. Smith, Peter A., veteran, mus. ont June 14, '65. Wallace, Stephen, vet., mus. out June 14, '65.
Recruit.
Burns, Jolin, mustered out June 14, 1865.
CHAPTER XIV.
ECCLESIAATICAL IIISTORY.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
BY REV. J. C. RUCKER.
HE Indian tribes, fifty years ago, made their trails, and wild beasts prowled through woods and prairies, when numerous swamps and swelling waters overflowed nearly all the en- - tire country ; when pestilential malaria pros- trated almost every family ; when snows and storms of unparalleled depth and severity made the winters desolate and formidable to a degree before and since unknown, so that starvation was at the door of every settler; even then a few Methodist people met to worship God in their eabins, and Metho- dist preachers went to and from in the wilderness, " seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel." The preachers, were men of strong common sense, earnest convictions, and such ready utterance as to command attention wherever they held divine ; service. Their appointments were commonly from twelve to twenty miles apart, and they usually preached every day in the week, except Monday. Their circuits were often hundreds of miles around them, and were travelled every four weeks. Rarely have people had as their first pastors, ministers of greater moral force to draw the bearers, and mould the minds of men to Christian truth and life, and few pulpit orators since have surpassed the fonnders of Methodism in De Witt county in subduing argument and cultivating eloquence. Peter Cartwright, John Sinclair, S. W. D. Chase, Norman Allyn, and Peter Akers, and others, as leaders in great religions movements, were the peers of any ministers east or west in this broad country : they carried the signs of trne apostolical succes- sors, "in jonrneyings often ; in perils of waters ; in perils of rob- bers ; in perils by the heathen ; in perils by their own country- men; in weariness and painfulness; in hunger; in cold and nakedness, besides that which came npon them daily, the care of all the churches."
Let us now give the names of some of those pioneer settlers who took lessons from such pastors, and those who have known them during the past half century can realize, many of them were worthy of their teachers, and have been solid foundation stones in the Christian temple in this county.
Judge William Lowry, an aged Methodist with a large family emigrated from Kentucky, and stopping a while in Edgar connty in this state, came and settled on the south side of Salt creek timber, one and a half miles east of the present town of Kenney, in 1829. That year, at the Mt. Carmel Conference, Illinois Con- ference was organized ; Rev. W. L. Deneen, an effective and promising young man, was appointed to "Salt creek cirenit," embracing all the country now included in Menard, Logan, Ma- von, and De Witt connties, and all of Sangamon county, north of Sangamon river. Mr. Deneen organized the first Society in De Witt county, at the house of Judge Lowry. The members were William Lowry and wife, and two sons and three dangh- ters : Reuben, Frank, Cecilia, Nancy and Eliza Lowry. Thomas Alsop and wife, widow Alsup and danghter, James Kenney and wife, and son. Daniel Newcomb and wife, his father and sisters Elizabeth and Hannah, were added to the infant church.
In the fall of 1831, Col. Andrew Wallace, from Bourbon connty, Kentucky, came and settled four miles north-west of Lowry's, on the north of Salt creek ; and in 1832, the Colonel's wife and danghter, now widow Hickman, united with the church ; in 1836, Joseph Howard and wife, and Reuben Thornley and wife, Rachel Howard, and Mary Wallace, now widow Reddick, of Clinton. This Society made quite a creditable beginning for Methodist history in the county.
The preaching place continued at Judge Lowry's for several years ; also at Daniel Newcome's ; then it was removed to Joseph Howard's honse where it remained for eighteen years. Col. Wallace's house was also a place of worship for a long period. Though the Col. was not a church member, he was one of nature's noblemen. The preacher in those days held closed door class- meetings after preaching and as many of the congregation like himself were turned out of doors during class hour, he good hu- moredly said he would not stand it; and he built another room for himself and brother outsiders to have accomodations also on class meeting occasions.
After the first years' hardships passed social life was greatly relished and cultivated in home circles ; and plenteous tables were covered with luscious refreshments. The houses where preaching was held often entertained at those tables ten, twenty and even fifty at a time. No famed Virginia hospitality ever snrpassed in generous abundance, so often furnished, to so many who worshiped at those private honses. Mrs. Heta Wallace wife of the Colonel prepared one of these tables ; she is still living at the age of 91.
In 1834 a Methodist society was formed at Waynesville; and one at Marion (now De Witt) and also at Hurlys Grove, Dennis
134
HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Hurly and wife, Richard Kirby and wife, Charles McCone and wife, and some of the Huddleston and Clearwater family, John Weedman and wife ; all of these had large families who afterward united with the church. Abont the same year societies were formed on North fork of Salt Creek at Brittons at Isaac Swishers and in Texas township, but at the last named place Methodism did not succeed very well and is the only township in the county where it has no representation.
After five years the name of Salt Creek Circuit was changed and called " Athens Circuit " after a small town in Sangamon county containing the parsonage : Abraham Lincoln lived there in those days. Clinton Circuit was formed in 1839. The same year De Witt county was organized and Clinton was made the county seat when there were only twelve families in the town, and of these a small Methodist society was formed by Rev. Ga- briel Watt. John J. McGraw was the circuit clerk and his office in the old frame conrt-house was the preaching place. The first board of official members of Clinton Circuit were Reuben Thorn- ley, Joseph Howard, Samuel H. Martin, Nicolas Moore, Wood- ford Taylor, Wm. Cottingham and John Clark, Joseph Howard and S. H. Martin were licensed to preach at the first quarterly conference of that year.
In 1835 Hurly's Grove formed a part of Marion mission and bad Rev. John C. French for their pastor, and at their first quar- terly conference had twelve local preachers, nine stewards, and thirteen class leaders besides the preacher in charge on the official list, and of those in this county were Paxton Cummins, Gabriel Watt, Dudley Richards, Charles MeCone, Benjamin Day, George Lemons, Wm. McPherson (who afterward joined the Baptists), and Richard Kirby. Three years after Clinton Circuit was formed twenty-four members of the quarterly conference were in attendance. Quarterly meetings in those times were seasous of great religious interest, drawing official and private members to- gether from a distance of twenty, forty and sixty miles. The business was performed with order and dispatch ; but temporal business was not then the main object of those assemblages. The presence of the Presiding Elder was utilized by all in atten- dance. The other preachers drew inspiration from his superior wisdom and deeper experience in spiritual realities. His pres- ence became a magnetic stimulent. His preaching was "not in word only but iu power and in the Holy Ghost and in much as- surance." The preachers and elders then could truly say " silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I nnto thee," and many were those whose " feet and ancle bones received strength" and leaping up went through those humble temples "walking and leaping and praising God."
The Pastors and presiding Elders for the first ten years were in 1829, W. L. Deneen; 1830 A. S Phelps; 1831 Wilson Pitner ; 1832 Levi Springer ; 1833 Jas. H. Dickens, Emanuel Metcalf; 1834-5 Moses Clampet, S. P. Burr ; 1836 Richard Bird, Moses Wood ; 1837 Levi Springer; 1838 David Colilsour; 1839 Gabriel Watt. And those on Marion mission were 1835 John C. French; 1836 Richard W. Clark ; 1837 Paxton Cummins ; 1838-9 Horace Maynard, Peter Cartwright, John Sinclair, and S. W. D. Chase, served in the Eldership
The first parsonage was built at Hurly Grove in 1838, of logs and only one room, John Weedman and Richard Kirby donated five acres of ground for the use of the parsonage. The first Meeting house was built in 1843 at Hurly's Grove. Dennis Hurly, John Weedman, R. Kirby, John Danuer, William McCone, James W. McCone and John Day were the trustees. The first camp meeting was held near Col. Wallace's iu 1832.
Camp meetings were soon held at Waynesville and Marion and in 18.10 the camp ground was located for eighteen years at Hurly's Grove and was greatly successful.
The gifted but eccentric Dr. Goddard's preaching produced ex- traordinary emotions among the multitudes in attendance, con- tinuing for two weeks. In 1818, J. C. Rucker and W. J. Newman. One hundred additions were made to the church on the circuit this year, and first Methodist church built in Clinton. 1849, A. Don- carlos ; 1850, Wm. Hindall and T. A. Eaton ; 1851, W. Hindall ; 1852, W. E Johuson ; 1853-4, G. Garner. The Elders presid- ing during these fourteen years were P. Akers, W. D. R. Trot- ter, P. Cartwight, John S. Barger, C. D. James and H. Buck.
For convenience and better arrangement, the history of the several charges in the county will now be given.
CLINTON M. E. CHURCHI.
About 1851, '52 the Illinois Central Railway was completed to Clinton, and a large increase of population soon followed ; and in this way considerable additions were made to the mem- bership of this church by letter. So much, that in 1855 the church bere became self-supporting, and a Statiun was organized securing the services of a minister every Sabbath. The Station ministers were in 1855, '56, A. Semple ; 1857, '58, Wm. McEl- fresh ; 1859, J. Montgomery ; 1860, '61, James Shaw ; 1862, '63, Preston Wood; 1864, A. S. McCoy ; 1865, W. H. H. Moore; 1866, W. II. H. Moore, H. Buck, J. C. Rucker, C. Arnoll. Resig- nations that year being unusually m order. From February and through the month of March during this year, extensive revival influences pervaded the Methodist and Presbyterian churches.
In the winter of 1863, a crusade was made on Clinton by the advocates of modern spiritism. For several months some of their ablest lecturers devoted their energies to establish that system in this community. Publie curiosity become awakened. Large numbers nightly paid entrance fee to hear their addresses and witness their " seances." They affirmed their system was a need- ed substitute for the Bible and Christianity, and challenged all clergymen for controversy ; the ministers in the city declining, about twenty citizens sent a request to the writer of this article to meet one of the spirit champions in debate, which the writer did, for three days in the court-house. Rev. Mr. Franklin, of Cincinnati ; Rev. D. P. Bunn, of Decatur ; Rev. Reuben An- drews, of Bloomington ; and Rev. John S. Barger were present, and lent their moral support to the writer during the discus- sion. On the last day an incident occurred in the debate that revealed to all the true "inwardness " of that system. The Spir- itualist had said the divorce laws of Moses were " immoral and cruel, &c.," as he had it; " whenever a husband felt like aband- oning his wife, by that law he was only required to give her a lit- tle bit of writing called a bill of divorcement, and then send her adrift." His opponent in replying to this charge said, " Spiritual- ism in such cases did not require any notice at all to be given the wife. If a believer in Spiritualism falls in love with another woman it permits him to send his wife adrift, and take another woman to his embrace, without notice or excuse whatever." At this, the Spiritualist became greatly excited, and rising to his feet lustily exclaimed, " no personalities here. You shall not insult," &c. For a while neither moderators nor andience knew what was hurting him The cause was, he had cast away his wife and taken up with a woman, who was then sitting near him in the room. He seemed after this retort to be disabled, fur his thoughts only ram- bled till the debate closed that afternoon. He left town next day, and advocates of that system have not had an audience in Clinton since.
135
HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
In 1867, Rev. S. S. Meginnis, a young man of uncommon force of character, was appointed to Clinton station and continued for three years ; and while he was not a first-class preacher, he had superior abilities in administration. He was able to awaken an interest in church building till then not dreamed of by the peo- ple he was serving. A ten or twelve thousand dollar house of worship had been talked of for several years, and Mr. Meginnis managed to enlist all classes of citizens so strongly for the enter- prise that many were " provoked to good works," and a geber- ous desire to exceed in liberality pervaded the community.
The plans were made, and the present elaborate and beautiful edifice was erected, and the basement was opened for religious services during Mr. Meginnis' pastoral term ; costing when com- pleted 832,000. After serving four years ns Presiding Elder of Mattoon district Mr. Meginnis died, lamented by all who knew him best. Ifis monument is the church in Clinton.
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