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 40
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Since the organization of this church with forty-five members, there have been added on examination fifteen, and on certificate four-making a total of sixty-four members; of which thirteen have received letters of dismission, ten have left without letters, and removed without the bounds of this church; and there are about ten who do not attend to any of the church meetings or take any part in the support of the gospel of this church-leay- ing the present membership to be nominally thirty-one. Of these only a few are active members, and only one elder, to bear the most of the expense of the church, viz: J. E Brittan, who has ever been faithful to the Master's cause
Sabbath-school has been maintained in this church pretty regularly since its organization, except in some of the winter seasons, and has proved to be a benefit to the neighborhood, as we find that accessions have been made from its unmber to the church. The ministers who have served this church are : Reys. S. V. McKee, J. W. McDonald, S. A. Stevenson, W. W. Faris, and A. H. Bates. These have spent a part of their time with this church and the church at Waynesville, except Rev. W. W. Faris, who was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Clinton and supplied the pulpit about once a month. The church at present is without a supply, but arrangements are being made for a supply soon.
Present elders : J. E. Brittan and S. A. Graham ; although Mr. Graham is really outside the bounds, but has not changed his membership.
The first Presbyterian Church ever organized in what is now De Witt county, was organized at Waynesville, June 25, 1836, ( Waynesville then being a part of MeLean county, ) by a com-
mittee appointed by the Presbytery of Sangamon, Rev. Lemuel Foster ; Rev. Flavel Bascom beiog absent. The following per- sons being received by letters from other churches, viz. : Joshua Cantrill and Rachel, his wife, Samuel Baker and Margaret, his wife, Zebulon G. Cantrill and Sarah, his wife, Zebulon Cantrill and Polly, his wife, Wm. Dye and Nancy, his wife, John Robb and Barbara, his wife, William Cintrill and Nancy, his wife, John S. Polk, Mary M. Polk, Mrs. Mary Dunham, Mrs. Minerva MeIntire, Mrs. Mary Atchison, Mrs. Eliza Dunham, Zebulon P. Cantrill, Levi Cantrill, Polly Cantrill, Nancy Cantrill and Mrs Mahala ITull. The above named persons adopted the fol- lowing as their Covenant: " Yon do now in the presence of God his holy angels and this assembly avouch, the Lord Jehovah to be your God. God the Father to be your Father and preserver. God the Son to be your intercessor and Saviour. God the Holy Ghost to be your sanctifier and comforter, and the word of God to be your only rule of Faith and practice. And you do now solemnly dedicate and give up yourselves and all you have to him, confessing that your sins deserve his wrath and trusting solely in his mercy through Christ for pardon and salvation. You cheerfully promise that you will rely on the proffered and needful aids of his Spirit for the discharge of every duty, and lead a life of piety and devotion toward God, of sobriety and watchfulness towards yourselves and of uprightness and benevu- Jence toward men ; that you will seek the glory of God, and the prosperity of the Redeemer's Kingdom as your supreme object, and that you will take Christ for your example, and walk with his people all the days of your life. And since he has appointed spiritual administrations such as sacraments to seal, signify and exhibit the benefits of his death and purchase ; also administra- tions for the disorderly, censures for offenders, consolation for the penitent ; teaching quickenings, exhortations, brotherly watch- fulness and church discipline for the perfecting of the saints ; you faithfully covenant that you will yield your influence and support, and cheerfully submit to the regular dispensation of all these in the church of Christ ; that you will walk in love and charity with its members and conscienciously lahor to promote its purity, peace, unity and edification till in the providence of God your relation with it shall be dissolved."
With an affecting belief that your vows are recorded on high and will be reviewed in the day of final judgment, to this cove- nant you give your cordial assent.
Joshua Cantrill, Samuel Baker were then elected elders and on Sabbath, June 26, Mr. Baker was ordained and these two brothers installed into the office of ruling elders. The Lord's Supper was administered. It was a solemn, precious season, and the appearance and feelings of many seemed to say that God was there. Thus was organized the first Presby- terian church in central Illinois. The church was organized in a log barn, about one and a half miles west of the village of Waynesville. Worship was maintained in private houses until the spring of 1839, when a small frame house 22x28 was built on the lot where the present building now stands, which served its purpose until 1<54, when the present building was erected, 36x54, at a cost of 82,200. This money was raised on subscrip- tion except $100, which was received from the treasurer of the Presbyterian Church Erection Fund. The church went with the new school branch of the church in 1837, and returned to the old school branch in the fall of 1851. The following ministers have served the church : 1st, Rev. Lemuel Foster, who organized the church and preached a few times; 2d, Rev. Cyrus L. Watson, one year, one-third of his time ; 3d, Rev. Josiah Porter, who
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HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
commenced in March, 1839, serving the church for six years and six mooths; 4th, Rev. Adam Johnston, Jan. 1, 1846, served three years ; 5th, Rev. James Walker, October, 1850, served six months ; 6th, Rev. Amos M. Rogers, served four years and six months. During this time he lost his health and was compelled to resign ; 7th Rev. Wm. P. Carson who served three months in the winter of 1854-55 ; 8th, Rev. John V. Dodge served four months in the summer and fall of 1856; 9th, Rev Thomas M. Newel commenced October 1856, served the church eight years and six months. He died suddenly May 10th, 1865, while getting ready to attend the Welnes lay evening prayer meeting ; 10th, Rev. Samuel Hart, Jan. 1st, 1866 served two years and four months ; 11th, Rev. Samuel V. McKee Sept, 1868, served three years and six months ; 12th, Rev. B. E. Mayo, Jan 1873, served one year aod three months ; 13th, Rev. J. M. C McDonald, Sept. 1874, served four years aod six months ; 14th, Rev. A. H. Bates, Nov. 1880, served ten months Rev. Macomb is their minister now. The following are the names of the ruling elders : 1st, Joshua Cautrill, Sr., and 211, Samuel Baker, Sr., who was elected at the organization; 3d, Zebulon Cantrill, March 4, 1839 ; 4th, Levi Cantrill ; 5th, James R. Robb Dec. 4th, 1841; 6th, A. B. Lewis, Feb. 7, 1848; 7th, Elijah Hull; 8th, Dr. J. B. Hunt, March 17, 1852; 9th, Peter Lauterman, June 16th, 1854. April 2, 1857, Zebulon Cantrill agreed to be dismissed to go into a new organization at Atlanta, Ill., to serve as clder, Dr. John B. Hunt having moved to Clinton and returned again was re-elected elder June 6th, 1857; Zebulon Cantrill having returned his membership from the church of Atlanta was re-elected elder Feb 5th, 1859; 10th, Col. Smith Minturn ; 11th, Dr. J. C. Ross was elected Feb. 5th, 1859 ; Dr. J. B. Hunt having moved to Atlanta and returned was re-elected elder Oct. 5th, 1861; 12th Zebulon B. Caotrill; 13th, Eber Davenport ; 14th, John Robb was elected Sept. 4th, 1869, mak- ing the whole number fourteen. Of this number eight have died and are buried here. Three have been dismissed to other churches and three remain and are the present elders, viz : Levi Cantrill, Eher Davenport and John Robb. Levi Cantrill, who has been an elder for forty years and one of the original twenty- five, has only been absent from the meetings of his session but once in forty years' active service. Truly this is a faithful ser- vice for his church, and not often does it occur in the history of any church.
The record does not give a full list of the deacons and trustees, the present deacons are Wm. Whiteman and Wm. M. Sampson, and trustees are Eber Davenport, Wm. H. Cantrill and George Robb. Of the original twenty-five only four are now living, Mr. Wm. Cantrill, M. Cantrill, Mr. Levi Cantrill and Mrs. Nancy Robb, the last named being a member of the Presbyterian church of Heyworth, Ill. Since the organization of this church, forty- five years ago, there have been many precious times when the Lord has visited this branch of his vineyard and most graciously blessed his church by various additions that have been made to its membership. There have been added to the original twenty- five on examination 278, and on certificate 139, making the total nuniber 442, or a little over nine for an average of each year. Of these 442 about 110 have died, 243 have removed with letters of dismission, 30 have left without letters and 14 are unaccounted for ; the remaining 45 are still with us and are faithful. The ordinance of baptism has been admistered to 100 adults and 140 infants.
* THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF FARMER CITY
Was organized on the 21st day of Nov. 1868, by a committee appointed by the Presbytery of Bloomington, consisting of Rev. R A. Creswell, then of Normal, and Elder H. Crosley, of Clin- ton, who met at the M. E. Church, Farmer City, and organized the following named persons :- O. T. Scott, Mrs. Margaret A. Scott, Samuel II. Scott, John T. Scott, Miss Naney L. Scott, Miss Margaret Scott, Mrs. Margaret Rogers, Miss Sylvana Rogers, Miss Anna Rogers, Miss Ada Rogers, Mr. James White, Mrs. Mary J. White, Mr. Joseph Jackson, Mrs. Hannah Jackson and Mrs. Alice Mean, 15 iu number, who came by letter from other churches. Messrs. O. T. Scott and James White were elected elders.
Since the organization there have been added on examination 59; on certificates, 80; No. at organization, 15; making a total of 154.
There have been dismissed by letter, 73; have left irregularly, 13; died, 10 ; total, 96 ; leaving present No. of members, 58.
The following ministers have served the church. Rev. J. O. Hongh, Jame+ Stiekel, Mr. Winn, D. R. Love, L. P. Crawford, and J. P. Coyle.
The following have been the elders. O. T. Scott, James White, David Newell, R. H. Kineaid, Thomas McBride, J. B. Hunt, Wm. Haynie, W. G. Cochran, and W. W. Alder.
The Sabbath School was organized in 1870, and has been maintained up to the present time and is in a flourishing condi- tion. The church building was erected in 1871, at a cost of about $3,500.
There have been paid out for minister's salary and other expen- ses, about $1,000 per year, or about $14,000 in all. At present the church iswithout a minister, but the congregation is endeavor- ing to seenre one.
THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.
BY REV. J. L. COUDON.
The society known as the United Brethren in Christ, was founded in America by Philip William Otterbein, about the year 1774. Mr. Otterbein was a native of Germany, brought up under the influence of the German Reformed Church. Ile gradu- ated in his native country, in literature and theology, and came to America after he was ordained a minister of the gospel. When he began his pastoral labors, his religion was formal, until at one of his meetings an awakened sinner came to him for advice iu reference to his salvation. This circumstance led the preacher to self examination, by which he learned that he lacked the spirituality of religion. Under this impression he sought, and found God's pardoning mercy in the regeneration of his soul. He was then prepared to impart proper instructions to those who came to him for advice in reference to the new life in Christ and was enabled to preach the gospel in its purity. He was present at the ordination of Mr. Asbury, the first Bishop of the M. E. Church, in America, and indeed assisted in his ordination. Asbury and Otterbein, were intimate friends. The services of the U. B. Church for the first fifty years, were exclusively in the German language; hence the progress of the church was very much retarded, as the majority of the people spoke and read the English language. Since that time services have been conducted in both languages, with a marked difference in the progress of the church. The founder of this church, and those associated
* For data on church of Farmer City, we are indebted to W. W. Alder.
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HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
with him in forming a church government, looked upon slavery as a sin against God and humanity, and consequently passed a law, prohibiting the reception of any person holding slaves, or iu any way connected with slavery, into church fellowship. They also considered oath bound secrecy as being a violation of the law of God, and passed a law which forbids the reception into membership of all persons belonging to secret societies. This church has now about 160,000 members in its communion. It has a publishing house and book room in Dayton, Ohio; besides the publication of books, it publishes a sixteen page paper, weekly, called the " Religious Telescope." It has about 13,000 circulation. There is also a weekly paper published in the German language, two Sabbath-school papers, and a paper pub- lished in the interest of the frontier and foreign missionary society of the church. There is also a magazine published by the Woman's Missionary Society. This church has done much toward the advancement of civilization and transfusion of know- ledge, and its influence upon the institutions of polygamy and slavery has been felt. It has one native born African, who was educated in this country and ordained a minister of the gospel. He married in Dayton, Ohio, and was sent to teach and preach to his people, where he is doing a good work. The church has 49 annual conferences besides two district conferences, one in Africa and one in Germany. It also has nine colleges and a number of seminaries and academies.
This denomination has a house of worship in this county, situ- ated about two and a balf miles south-west of Farmer City, which was erected under the administration of Rev. John Blake, who was placed in charge of what is now Farmer City circuit. He served the charge two years. The building is frame, 30x40 feet, and cost about $1,500. The first trustees were John Jones, Andrew J. Kreps, W. P. Riggs, Preston Jones and Samuel
Johnson. John Jones, an old and much respected Christian gen- tleman, and one of the first trustees, is still living The church was dedicated with the usual ceremony, by Bishop David Edwards, who died a few years ago in the city of Baltimore. There are about five acres of land belonging to the church pro- perty, and a neat and convenient parsonage stands on the west end of the lot, and a cemetery just north of the church. The society was first organized east of its present location under the administration of Rev. M. T. Chew. Among the first members were Esquire H. K. Gillespie and wife, William Lake and wife, John Johnson and wife, Mary Thomas and others. They first worshipped in a school house for a few years until Greenleaf chapel was erected. Rev. Chew was succeeded by Rev. George Wenner, who was successful, and added considerably to the mem- bership. Rev. H. Stoddard served the charge Que year, after which Rev. F. Gorslin was appointed, and the charge has since been served alternately by Rev's. Washington Crandle, Joel Corley, James Herbert, William Turguson, J. Blake, D. McLean, Peter Flack, D. II. Gobin, F. P. Peas, and C. C. Bruner. The following ministers have served the charge as elders. Revs. J. C' Ross, M. Ambrose, S. P. Hoy, A. B. Pomel, Isaac Kietzinger, A. L. Best, and W. W. Knipple. There are at present forty-six members, with William P. Riggs, class leader, and John John- son, class steward, Rev. A. B. Pomel presiding elder, and the writer of this sketch, pastor.
There is another class about six miles west of Farmer City, called the Vance class, and was so named from the fact that it holds its services in the Wood school-house. This society was or- ganized by Rev. William Turguson, in the year, 1863, and is a part of the Farmer City circuit, and was served by the ministers named above. It has about twenty members.
CITY OF CLINTON AND CLINTONIA TOWNSHIP.
HE capital of the county is situated in this township. It is mainly prairie, with small belts of timber hugging the creek bottoms. A retrospection of a little more than a half century, carries us back to the first settle- ments. At that time this territory was but a dreary expanse, inhabited only by Indians, wolves, and wild deer. The white man came, and lo the transition : civilization and thrift took the place of barbarism and the abodes of the wild game of the prairies. The pioneers were few, but made of that material, which knew how to combat with every obstacle. It was no enviahle task to clear the timbers or break the prairies, and undergo the hardships and privations of pioneer life. But these hardy few never flinched, or became discouraged in the part they had to perform. Indeed, to talk with them to-day of the olden times, one would come to the conclusion that it was among the happiest recollections of their lives. Many a time have we in gleaning history, stood at the door at parting with these early settlers, and they urging us to remain, as they desired to talk longer about the scenes and incidents of early times. Blessings on their worthy, gray hairs; they will certainly reap a fitting reward in the unknown beyond.
In 1859, at the time of townsbip organization, it was first named Clinton, but subsequently changed to Clintonia. It is somewhat centrally situated, and bounded as follows: On the north by Wapella township, on the east by Harp, on the south by Texas, and west by Barnett, and contains 30 sections of land, one tier of sections on the north being annexed to Wapella, therefore lacking this much in order to constitute a full congres- sional township. The surface is a gently undulating prairie, and contains some of the best land in central Illinois. Ten Mile Creek enters the township in the northeast corner of section 12, and meanders in a southwesterly direction and passes out in the southwest corner of section 31. Various small streams empty into it from the east. Coon Creek cnts across the corner of the sontheast part of the township. It enters in the south of section 25, flows south and west, and passes out in section 34. Several perennial springs abound, among the most prominent of which is the public spring, sitnated in the highway on the premises of R. S. Smith, in section 22. The railroad facilities are unsur- passed. The Illinois Central passes through the entire township from north to sonth. The Springfield Division of the Central, crosses the former at Clinton, and takes a northeast and south- west course through the southern part of the township. A branch of the Wabash road takes a diagonal conrse through the south- ern part, crossing the Central near the southern limits of the city of Clinton.
FIRST SETTLEMENT -.
The first to settle within the limits of this township, were two brothers, Benjamin and Landers Slatten, natives of Kentucky. Their father, Joseph Slatten, came to Illinois in a very early day and settled in Sangamon county. Iu the winter of 1828-9, Ben- jamin and Landers left the parental roof, (then siogle men), and squatted in section 34, Clintonia township. They built a small cabin where they remained nntil the summer of 1830, cultivating a small patch of ground in corn and garden vegetables. In the above year Josiah Clifton bought out their little improvement right, and proceeded to break the prairie and improve quite an extensive farm for those days. Thomas Davenport, now residing in Texas township, drove the cattle to break the first prairie on this farm. This was the first farm improved in the township, and is now owned by Hickman Mills, and is situated a little west of Clinton. Benjamin and Landers afterwards married in the county and brought up families. The former married Miss Henrietta Lane of Waynesville, in 1832. But one child was born of this union, Eliza, now deceased. Mrs. Slatten lived but a few years after the birth of their child. Benjamin afterwards married again, and moved to MeLean county. A few years ago he moved to Missouri, where he died. Landers lived some years in the county, and subsequently moved to Kansas, where he yet resides. None of the family are now living in De Witt county.
Alexander Barnett is the oldest pioneer citizen of Clintonia. He is a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and came to the county in the fall of 1831. He first stopped in what was known as the Hall and Bowles settlement, Barnett township. He remain- ed here but a short time, when he returned to his native State. The next year, 1832, he came back to this county, where he has remained a citizen ever since. In the fall of 1834, he entered the land for his present farm in the extreme western part of ('lintonia township. At that time Mr. Barnett, Josiah Clifton and Samuel Curtright were the only citizens. In the same year Mr. Barnett married Miss Elizabeth H. Hall, and early the following spring they went to house-keeping in a pole cabin previously built by Mr. Barnett on his premises in section 30. His cabin was euphoniously called the " House that Jack built," from the fact that a man by the name of Jack Brunner superintended the eon- struction of it. It was a rude affair, filled in with chinkings, but not daubed up with mnd as were some of the most aristocratic of those times. Soon after moving in a heavy snow storm prevail- ed, Mr. Barnett was away from home, and when he returned he found his wife sitting, desolate and alone, in the middle of the room, muffled up in a cloak, and the floor covered with snow. He made a rousing fire, swept out the snow, stuffed up the cracks with rags the best he could, and for a time they were compara- tively comfortable. The next morning, however, Mr. Barnett
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HISTORY OF DE WITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
was obliged to wade through several inches of snow before he could reach his clothes to dress. Many years have passed, and Mr Barnett is now one of the prominent farmers and representative citizens of De Witt county. He has been a very active man all his life, and although gray haired, and somewhat bent with age, he is yet active and capable of more endurance than many of the rising generation. He was elected the first surveyor after the county was organized in 1839, served in the office for twenty successive years, aud is now the present incumbent.
James McAboy was born in Virginia, and moved with his father's family to Ohio, and from thence to Clintonia late in 1834, and located on the farm now owned by Henry Ziegler, a little southeast of Clintonia. But two of the family are now residing in the county, W. W. and John, The former is a successful florist in the city of Clinton.
Another pioneer of the township was Thomas J. Rogers, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky. IIe came with his family in the fall of 1835, and settled in section 28. The summer prior he entered the west half of the southwest quarter of the aforesaid section. Ilis wife's maiden name was Mary Hickman. They had but two children, Asa and Martha J. Their nearest neighbors were Samuel Curtwright, Mrs. Catharine Mills, John Warfield, Samuel Duucan, Alfred and Richard Murphy, Alex. Barnett, Lewis Hickman, and Solomon Weaver. Some of these, however, were not living in what is now Clintonia, but were scat- tered around in various parts of this section of De Witt county. Mr. Rogers then owned the only pair of steel-yards in the county, and were thus the property of the pioneers for miles around. He moved with his family to Kansas several years ago, and is yet living.
Among other early settlers were Jacob Brown, Samuel Curt- right, Wm. Anderson, Josiah Davenport, N. Mills, John Warner, C. HI Moore, J. J. McGraw, and a few others.
By lo king in the County Atlas of De Witt, Clintonia towu- ship, the observer will discover the engraving of a tree, situated in the north-west corner of section fourteen. This landmark has a history, without a brief mention of which this volume would be incomplete. It is a "lone elm," aud receives its name from being situated on the prairie, solitary and alone, about three miles from any timber. It is about five feet in diameter, and is located near Ten Mile Creek, a few miles north of Clinton. Fifty-one years ago, Tilman Lane, Benjamin Liseuby, Matthew K. Martin, William Lane, and Juo. J. McGraw passed under its branches, then a small tree, aud halted to rest and refresh them- selves. They had come from Waynesville, and were hunting suitable locations, All were afterward old citizens of the county, and except Judge MeGraw, have passed away years ago, he being the only one left to tell the story of their sojourn.
The first land entries of Clintonia were as follows: November 29th, 1830-Josiah Clifton entered the east half of the north- east quarter of section 33. At the same date Samuel Curtright entered the south-east quarter of section 31. Jobu Clifton en- tered the west half of the north-east quarter of section 33, De- cember 6th, 1830. The next entry was not made until April Ist, 1834, which was the north half of the north-east quarter of section 34 which was by J. Allen and J. W. F. Clinton. Oc- tober Ist, 1834, J. Downen entered the north-east quarter of the south-east quarter of the same section. Alfred Murphy entered the east half of the south-east quarter in the same section, November 4th, 1834. In the same year, November 17th, Wil- liam and Josiah Davenport entered the north-west quarter of the same section. Alexander L Barnett entered December 26th
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