USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present > Part 35
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Chickadee Sitta Carolinensis, White-bellied
Nuthatch
LATIN NAME.
ENGLISH NAME.
Eremophila Alpestris, __ Horned
Lark, & 9*
Protonotaria Citrea, __ Prothonotary
Warbler
Deudroeca Coronata,
- Yellow-
rumped Warbler
Pyranga Rubra, __ Scarlet Tanager, ¿ ? Vireo Olivaceus, Red-eyed Vireo Collurio Ludovicianus, - - White-
rumped Shrike
* Male and female.
347
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
LATIN NAME. ENGLISH NAME.
Coturniculus Passerimus, ___ Yellow-
winged Sparrow
Spizella Monticola, True Sparrow
Spizella Pusilla, Field Sparrow
Spizella Socialis, Chippy Sparrow
Zonotrichia Albicollis, White-'
throated Sparrow
Euspiza Americana, __ Black-throated
Bunting
Goniaphea Ludoviciana, .__ Rose-
breasted Grosbeak
Cardinalis Virginianus, ____ Cardinal
Grosbeak
Junco Hyemalis, Snow Bird . Pipilo Erythropthalmus, Marsh Robin ? Galeoscoptes Carolinensis, . Cat
Bird, ¿ ?
Chrysomitris Tristis,
Goldfinch
Quiscalus Purpureus,_ _ Crow-Black-
bird, ¿ ?
Agelaeus Phoeniceus, __ Red-winged Blackbird, ¿ ?
Icterus Baltimore,
.Baltimore Oriole
Sturnella Magna,
Meadow Lark
Cyanospiza Cyanea,
Indigo Bird
Molothrus Ater,
Cow Bird
Cyanurus Cristatus,
Blue Jay
Corvus Americanus,
Crow
Tyrannus Carolinensis,
King Bird
Myiarchus Crinitus, __ Great-crested
Fly-catcher
Lophophanes Bicolor_ Tufted Titmouse
ORDER PICARIAE.
Chordeiles Virginianus, __ Night Hawk Chaetura Pelagica, Chimney Swift Trochilus Colubris, ___ Humming Bird Colaptes Auratus, _ Yellow Hammer Melanerpes Erythrocephalus, __ Red- headed Woodpecker
Picus Pubescens, __ Downy Woodpecker Picus Villosus, - Hairy Woodpecker Hylotomus Pileatus,_ Pileated Wood-
pecker
Ceryle Alcyon, Belted Kingfisher Coccygus Americanus .. Yellow-billed Cuckoo
ORDER RAPTORES.
Nyctea Scandiaca, Snowy Owl Otus Vulgaris. Var. Wilsonianus, __ Long-eared Owl Scops Asio, Screech Owl Aquila Chrysaetus, Grey Eagle Pandion Haliaetus, Osprey
LATIN NAME. ENGLISH NAME. Nauclerus Furcatus, __ Swallow-tailed
Accipiter Cooperi, ____ Cooper's Hawk Kite
Buteo Borealis,. Red-tailed Hawk
Archibuteo Lagopus, Black Hawk Falco Columbarius, Pigeon Hawk
Falco Sparverius,
Sparrow Hawk
ORDER LIMICOLAE
Tringa Maculata, __ Pectoral Sandpiper Gallinago Wilsoni,. Wilson's Snipe Philolula Minor,American Woodcock Totanus Solitarius, Solitary Tatler Limosa Hudsonica, Godwit Aegialitis Vociferus, . Kildeer Plover
Tringa Maculata,
Jack Snipe
ORDER GALLINAE.
Pavo Cristatus,
Peacock
Cupidonia Cupido, Prairie Chicken, ¿ ? Bonasa Umbellus, Pheasant, ¿ ?
Ortyx Virginianus,
Quail
ORDER LAMELLIROSTRES.
Cygnus Americanus, __ American Swan Anas Boschas, . Mallard Duck, ¿ ? Dafila Acuta, Sprig-tail Duck, ¿
Querquedula Discors, __ Blue-winged Teal, ¿ ?
Nettion Carolinensis,_ Green-winged Teal, ¿ ?
Spatula Clypeata,
Spoon-billed
Duck, 6 ?
Aix Sponza,-
Wood Duck, ¿ ?
Bucephala Clangula, __ Golden-eyed Duck, ô
Lophodytes Cucullatus,
Hooded
Merganser, ¿
Mergus Merganser,
Fish Duck, ¿
Bucephala Albeola,
Butter-ball
Duck, ¿ ?
Cinnamon Duck, ¿
ORDER HERODIONES.
Botaurus Mugitans,
Bittern
Herodias Egretta,
White Heron
Nyctherodius Violaceus, _. _ Yellow-
crowned Night Heron
Nyctiardea Grisea, ._ Black-crowned
Night Heron
Butorides Virescens,
Green Heron
ORDER ALECTORIDÆ.
Rallus Virginianus, . Virginia Rail Porzana Carolina, __ Carolina Rail, ? ¿ Rallus Longirostris, - Clapper Rail
348
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
LATIN NAME. ENGLISH NAME. Porphyris Martinica, Gallinule
ORDER LONGIPENNES.
Larus Delawarensis, __ Ring-billed Gull ORDER PYGOPODES.
Colymbus Torquatus, Great Northern Loon
Podilymbus Podiceps, Diedapper, or Grebe
MAMMALIA.
Lynx Rufus,
American Wild Cat
Putorus Ermineus, __ Common Weasel
Putorius Lutreolus, ___ Common Mink
Cariacus Virginianus, __ Antlers of Virginia Deer
Vespertilio Subulatus,_ Little Brown Bat
Scalops Aquaticus,
Common Mole
Sciuropterus Volans,-
Flying Squirrel
Sciurus Cinereus,
Fox Squirrel
Lepus Sylvaticus,
Gray Rabbit
Bos Americanus,
Buffalo Calf
REPTILES.
Tropidonotus Grahami, __ Graham's
Snake
Eutaenia Sirtalis, __ Common Garter Snake
Liopeltis Vernalis,
- Green Snake
Eumeces Fasciatus, __ Blue-tailed
Lizard
Sceloporus Undulatus, Swift
Ophibolus Doliatus
Milk Snake
Bascanium Constrictor, __ Black Snake
Heterodon Platyrhinus, __ Spreading Adder
BATRACHIANS.
Bufo Lentiginosus, American Toad Hyla Versicolor, Tree Toad
Chorophilus Triseriatus, -Tree Frog Amblistoma Tigrinum, __ Tiger Sala- mander
Sperlerpes Longicaudus, Cave Sala- mander
FISHES.
Esox Salmoneus, Little Pickerel Luxilus Cornutus, Silverside
Catostomus Commersonii,. Sucker Dorysoma Cepedianum,_ Hickory Shad Semotilus Corporalis, __ Common Chub
Amiurus Catus,
Cat Fish
Pomotis Auritus,
Sun Fish
INSECTS.
SUB-ORDER HYMENOPTERA.
LATIN NAME. ENGLISH NAME. Bombus Pennsylvanicus, Deg. \ Bumble B. Virginicus, Fab Bees Polistes
Polistes Variabilis
. Common Wasps
Vespa Maculata, L.
Paper Wasp
Ichneumon.
Cimbex
Saw-Fly
SUB-ORDER LEPIDOPTERA.
Danais Archippus, Cram. Archippus
Butterfly
Colias Caesonia, Stoll .. Yellow Butterfly Colias Philodice, Godart. Yellow Butterfly
Catocala Paleogama, Grote. Macrosila Carolina,Tobacco-worm Moth
Deilephila Lineata, Fab .__ Morning Sphinx Agrotis Telifera, Harr .__ Cut-Worm Moth
Limochores Cernes, B. & L. Papilio Turnus, Linn ._ Turnus Butterfly Homoptera Edusa, Dr. Homoptera Lunata, Dr.
Drasteria Erectha, Guen.
Leucania Extrania, Guen ... Army Worm Moth
Hæmatopsis Grataria, Fab. Mamistra Trifolii, Esp. Eustrolia Carneola, Guen. Limenitis Ursula, Fab. Platysamia Cecropia, L. __ American Silkworm Moth
Argynnis Aphrodite, Fabr .__ Aphro- dite Butterfly
Grapta Interrogationis, Doubl.
Vanessa Antiopa, Linn.
Vanessa
Butterfly Dryocampa Imperialis, Harr .__ Im- perial Moth
SUB-ORDER DIPTERA.
Trupanea Vertebrata, Say.
Musca Vomitoria, Linn.
- -
Meat Fly
Musca Domestica, Linn ._ Common
House Fly
Tabanus Lineola, Fahr ._
Lined
Horse Fly
Crane Fly.
SUB-ORDER COLEOPTERA. Cincindelidae, or Tiger-Beetle Family. Cincindela 12-Guttata, Deg.
349
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
LATIN NAME. ENGLISH NAME. Carabidae, or Predaceous Ground Beetle Family. Harpalus Pennsylvanicus, Deg.
H. Caliginosus, Fab. Scarites Subterraneus, Fab. Evarthrus Colussus, Lec.
Dytiscidae, or Water Beetle Family.
Coptotomus Interrogatus, Fab. Acilius Ornaticollis, Aube.
Gyrinidae, or Whirligig Beetle Family. Gyrinus Picipes, Aube. Dineutus Assimilus, Aube. Hydrophilidae or Water Beetles.
Hydrophilus Triangularis, Say. : Silphidae or Carrion Beetle Family. Silpha Lapponica, Hbst.
S. Truncata, Say.
Necrophorus Marginatus, Fab. Dermestidae or Skin Beetle Family.
Dermestes Lardarius, L ._ Bacon Beetle Eurotylidae.
Megalodacne Fasciata, Fab. Cyrtotriplax Unicolor, Say.
Lucanidae or Horn-Bug Family.
Passalus Cornutus, Fab. Lucanus Elaphus.
Lucanus Dama. Stag Beetle Scarabaeidae or Scarabaeian Family.
Canthon Laevis, Dr. Tumble Bug
Phanæus Carnifex, L.
Bolbocerus Farctus, Fab.
Ligyrus Relictus, Say.
Euryomia Sepulchralis, Fab.
Pelidnota Punctata, L.
Testegoptera Lanceolata, Say.
Anomala Binotata, Gyll. Cotalpa Lanigera, L. Goldsmith Beetle Trox.
Geotrupes, Earth-Boring Beetle Buprestidæ or Buprestian Family.
Chrysobothris Femorata, Lec. Acmædera Puchella, Hbst.
Elaterida or Spring Beetle Family.
Melanotus Communis, Gyll.
Alaus Oculatus, L. Melanactes Piceus, Deg. Lampyride or Fire Fly Family.
Photuris Pennsylvanica, Deg. Telephorida.
Chauliognathus Pennsylvanicus, Deg. Cerambycidae or Capricorn Beetle Family.
Clytus Robiniæ, Forst. Locust Tree Borer
LATIN NAME. ENGLISH NAME. Orthosoma Brunneum, Forst.
Tetraopes Tetraophthalmus, Forst. Typocerus Velutinus, Oliv. Chrysomelidæ or Chrysomela Family. Chrysomela Multipunctata, Say. C. Exclamationis, Fab. Chrysochus Auratus, Fab. Lachnosterna Fusca, Froch. Diabrotica Vittatta, Fab ... Striped Squash Bug
D. Longicornis, Say. Doryphora 10-Lineata, Say .___ Colo- rado Potato Beetle Cassida Aurichalcea, Fab ... Helmet Beetle
Tenebricnidæ or Meal Worm Family.
Nyctobates Pennsylvanica, Deg. Eleodes Obsoleta, Say.
Meloide or Blistering Beetle Family.
Macrobasis Segmentata, Say. M. Immaculata, Say. Epicauta Pennsylvanica, Deg ._ Black Potato Bug
Curculionidae or Weevil Family.
Ithycerus Noveboracensis, Forst. Sphenophorus Cariosus, Oliv. Ohryastes Vittatus, Say. Coccinellidae or Lady Bug Family.
C. Novemnotata, Harr. SUB-ORDER HEMIPTERA.
Zaitha Fuminea, Say .. Scorpion Bug Euschistus Serva, Say. Doctor Bug Anasa Tristis, Deg. Squash Bug Notonecta Undulata, Say .. Water
Boatman
Ceresa Bubalus, Fab. . Buffalo Tree- hopper
Phymata Erosa, Fab. Calocorus Rapidus, Say .____ Plant Bug Stictocephala Inermis, Fab. Brachytropis Calcarata, Fab. Ischnodemus Falicus, Say.
Enchenopa Binotata, Say. Lygus Lineolaris, Beauv ..__ Plant Bug Cicada Canicularis, Harr. Male 66 66 Female
66
" Chrysalis
Dog Day Fly. OQ Harvest =
Cosmopepla Carnifex, Fab. SUB-ORDER ORTHOPTERA.
Œcanthus Niveus, Serv. White Cricket Phaneroptera Curvicauda, Burm. Katy-Did
I
350
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
LATIN NAME. ENGLISH NAME. Cyrtophyllus Concavus, Scudd. Katy-Did
Oedipoda Carolina, Serv .. Quaker Grasshopper
O. Æqualis, Uhler.
O. Phaenicoptera, Germ. Tomonotus Xantoptherus. Caloptenus Femur-Rubrum, Burm. Pezotettix.
SUB-ORDER NEUROPTERA.
Libellula Semifasciata, Dragon Fly L. Trimaculata, De G.
Aeschna, Dragon Fly Corydalis Cornuta, Linn.
CRUSTACEA.
ORDER DECAPODA. Sub-Order Brachyura.
Gelasimus Pugnax, Sm. _ Fiddler Crab Cancer Irrorratus, Say. ____ Rock Crab Carcinus Granulatus, Say. Grum Crab .? Sub-Order Anomoura.
Hippa Talpoida, Say. __ Sand Bug Eupagurus Longicarpus, Say. Hermit Crab
E. Pubescens, Kroy. Hairy Hermit Crab Sub-Order Macroura.
Cambarus Immunis, Hag. __ River Crawfish, ¿
Cambarus Immunis, Hag. .. - River Crawfish, ?
C. Acutus, Gir. C. Gracilis, Bundy. Hippolyte Spina, Sowe. Palaemonetes Vulgaris, Say. _ Con-
mon Prawn Palaemon Ohionis, Sm. __ Fresh Water Shrimp
Crangon Boreas, Phipps.
ORDER TETRADECAPODA. Sub-Order Amphipoda.
Gammarus Ornatus, Edw. Caprella Robusta, St.
ORDER ENTOMOSTRACA. Sub-Order Cirripedia.
Lepas Fascicularis, El. & Sol. Goose Barnacle
Balanus, Sp .. Acorn Barnacle
Sub-Order Trilobita.
Trilobite.
MOLLUSKS.
ORDER GASTEROPODA.
LATIN NAME. ENGLISH NAME.
Buccinum Undatum, L. Whelk Dentalium Striolatum, St ._ Tooth Shell Acmaea Testudinalis, Muell .__ Limpet
ORDER LAMELLIBRANCHIATA.
Astarte Undata.
ORDER BRACHIOPODA. Terebratula Septentrionalis, Couth. Lamp Shells
ORDER TUNICATA.
Ascidea Callosa, St. Sea Squirt Cynthia Pyriformis, Rath .__ Sea Peach Boltenia Rubra, St.
RADIATES.
ORDER HOLOTHURIOIDEA.
Pentacta Frondosa, Jaeg.Sea Cucumber ORDER ECHINOIDEA. Strongylocentrotos Droebachiensis, Muell. Green Sea Urchin Ditto, without the animal.
Ditto, without the spines. Echinarachnius Parma, Gray ._ Cake- Urchin
ORDER ASTERIOIDEA. Asterias Vulgarias, St., Purple Star-Fish ORDER OPHIURIDIA. Ophiopholis Aculeata, L .__ Brittle Star Astrophyton Agassizii, St ._ Basket Fish ORDER HYDROIDEA.
Parypha Crocea, Aq. __ Hydroid Polyp Pocillopora Caespitosa, Dana,_ Aca- lephian Coral
ORDER ACTINARIA. Metridium Marginatum, Edw .. _ Sea Anemone ORDER MADREPORARIA. Madrepora Prolifera,_ Madrepore Coral Dendrophyllia, Red Coral
351
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
THE CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Church-From a sermon preached July, 1876, by Rev. S. H. Hyde. At the beginning of the nineteenth century the place we now occupy was uninhabited by man. It was the hunting ground of the aborigines of the country. A few years later there might have been found, at wide intervals in the edges of the timber, the log cabins of the hardy pioneers of civilization. Then followed a few others, who located at wide distances on the prairie.
In 1818, when the State was admitted to the Union, the settlers in this region were few and widely scattered. When the land sales took place in 1820 and '21 a great tide of immigration poured in, and the cabins of the settlers began to dot the prairie in every direction. In 1821 Mr. Carlin, afterward first Governor of the State, offered this plat of ground as the county seat of Greene County, and his offer was accepted and the new town named Carrollton. To meet the necessities of the county busi- ness a court house was soon erected, which is described as being a mere shell of a thing. But the demands of the newly settled country called as loudly for the church as for the state, and here in this newly built Court House was organized the First Presbyterian Church of Greene County, as it was called.
It appears that on the last day of April, 1823, the Rev. Oren Catlin and the Rev, Daniel G. Sprague met at the house of Mr. Zechariah Allen several persons who desired to be organized as a Presbyterian church. After two such meetings of conference upon this subject all those inter- ested met with these ministers at the Court House in Carrollton, May 4, 1823. There, after religious solemnities, they presented the following modest and dignified avowal of their purpose saying, " In order to enjoy the benefits of the ordinances of religion and means of grace, to main- tain divine and public worship, live more to the glory of God and to pro- mote each other's growth in grace and spiritual comfort, we the under- signed mutually unite together in church relation and covenant, known by the name of the First Presbyterian Church in Greene County." A solemn covenant was added and signed by Zechariah Allen, Elizabeth Allen, Ruleff Stevens, Elizabeth Stevens, Anthony Potts, John Allen, Polly Allen, Thos. Allen, Margery Allen, William Morrow, Jean Morrow, John Dee, Frances Bell, Elizabeth Bell, William Allen, Sally Allen, Christian Link, Fanny Painter, Lucretia Brush, Lavinia Bedel, and Lucy Thomas.
To serve as ruling elders in this church Messrs. Zechariah Allen, Ruleff Stevens, Anthony Potts and John Allen were chosen and duly set apart to the duties of this office.
. Thus organized this church became an active center of religious light and life among the people. By its elevating and holy purpose, by its living faith, by its fellowship in Christian work and worship, by its ordinances of divine service, it entered into the forces that were giving form, feature and spirit to the growing community. It was the leaven cast into the gathering mass of humanity, and of humanity struggling with the hard problems of a new and wild country. As a matter of course its own being and prosperity were involved in those struggles. The church took share with all other things in the privations of the situ-
352
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
ation. It went long without a shelter that could be called its own. Min- isters were few and itinerating. Regular Sabbath services were not practicable, yet the church held on its way, having services as frequently as circumstances would permit, sometimes here in the Court House or in the old blacksmith shop near the north-west corner of the village, some- times north of Apple Creek, where a large part of the members resided, and where in 1827 a sacramental meeting was held at which there were additions to the membership. Thus the church went on undisturbed by any remarkable event for a period of eight years. In addition to the ministers instrumental in its organization it was served occasionally dur- ing this time by Rev. John Brich, Rev. John M. Ellis, Rev. Mr. Hawley, Rev. Henry Herrick and Rev. Solomon Hardy. In the year 1831 a change took place. Population had increased, Carrollton had become more im- portant as a social and business center, while it would seem that owing to the preponderance of members north of Apple Creek that region was made rather the center of the operations of the church. In these cir- cumstances the desire arose among those residing in Carrollton for a separate organization here that would more intimately care for the wants of this field. Accordingly at a meeting of the Presbytery of Illinois held in this place in July 23, 1831, a petition for such organization was pre- sented to that body signed by Anthony Potts, Joseph Gerrish, Elizabeth Gerrish, Cornelia H. Leonard, Elizabeth Page, Abigail T. Hopping, Miriam Turner, Sarah Lee, Reuben Page, Morris Lee, Julius A. Willard and Almyra C. Willard, which upon full and fair consideration was granted, and these persons were duly organized under the name of the Carrollton Presbyterian Church. At the same time a form of admission, consisting of an address, confession of faith and covenant, was adopted
of a very thorough going character. Those uniting to form this church were evidently firm believers in full and clearly defined statements of doctrine in harmony with the Westminster confession and of positive cov- enant obligations according to the Form of Government and Book of Discipline as adopted by the Presbyterian Church in the United States. In one particular they went beyond most church covenants, that I have seen, for they incorporated in theirs a pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors as beverages, showing themselves to have been quite in advance of their times on this subject.
As Ruling Elders they chose Messrs. Julius A. Willard, Joseph Gerrish and Anthony Potts. This organization was effected under the ministry of Rev. Henry Herrick. The records immediately subsequent show that the work of the church was carried forward with order and energy. Notable among the things resolved on was the commemoration of the Lord's Supper monthly, to be preceded always by two evening meetings, a regular monthly meeting of the session, and the propound- ing of candidates for membership from the pulpit two weeks previous to communion.
In May, 1832, Rev. Elisha Jenney took Rev. Mr. Herrick's place as stated supply of the pulpit, preaching and doing the work of a pastor until July. In that month as the record states " a protracted meeting was appointed to commence on the 18th, which continued by the assistance of Rev. Thomas Lippincott, through Sabbath the 29th, a term of eleven days, and the Lord was pleased to bless this special means.
353
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
of grace to the salvation of some souls, it is hoped about fifty." At the close of this meeting Rev. Thos. Lippincott, upon invitation, became the stated supply of the church, and there seems to have been reason for great encouragement. The church was greatly revived ; very consider- able accessions were made to their membership so that they were in a fine condition to extend their influence. Under this impulse they had procured a lot and were hoping to build a house of worship on it the following Spring. But their prosperity was the signal for stirring up evil influences against them. Let me give you their own statement of the facts in a letter addressed to the Rev. Absalom Peters, secretary of the American Home Missionary Society. They say "we engaged Mr. Lippincott to supply us, hoping we should be able to furnish much of his support, but party influence crept in and, aided by strong prejudice against Eastern emigrants (of whom the church was then largely com- posed), and against Presbyterianism, drew away many to the Baptist and Campbellite churches, and some who had pledged their word to assist liberally in supporting Mr. Lippincott." This earnest and hopeful church found it difficult to make the desired progress in the midst of these adverse influences. The purpose to build a house of worship could not get itself fulfilled at the time hoped, and was postponed several years. The church went on, however, doing their best, worshiping in what is called the old blacksmith shop, near the northwest corner of the Square, sustaining their Sabbath schools and their meetings, and receiving at successive seasons of communion valuable accessions to their number ; the whole number so received from the organization in 1831 to the close of Mr. Lippincott's labors in the Spring of 1835, was sixty-eight, of whom thirty-one were received upon certificate and thirty-seven upon the profession of their faith. Early in 1834 ten persons were dismissed from the church in order that they might organize a Presbyterian Church in South Greene, now Jersey County. One Elder, Mr. Gerrish, went with them ; another Elder, Mr. Willard, removed to Alton. These re- movals weakened the church no little, especially in view of the severe losses suffered the previous year from the ravages of the cholera, and they were followed by the removal of the two remaining Elders. Happily the organization was preserved and the elderships filled by the election and ordination of Samuel D. Cushing, Alfred L. Shull, and John Evans. After the departure of Rev. Thos. Lippincott in the Spring of 1835, Rev. Hugh Barr accepted an invitation to become the stated supply of the church. His labors extended over a period of ten years, and like those of his predecessors, they were made arduous by the oppositions of prejudice and party spirit ; by the heterogeneous and unmalleable charac- ter of the population, by the spread of deism in certain quarters of the community, and by that supreme devotion to temporal interests too com- mon in a country to which the people have come to better their earthly fortunes.
He preached not only here at stated times but in all the region round about as opportunity was afforded, with free will rendering service to many a destitute flock out on the prairies.
In 1837, assisted by Dr. Gideon Blackburn in conjunction with the Baptist Church, a protracted meeting was held in the Baptist Meeting House, which resulted in the accession of eleven souls to the church.
354
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
But, sad to say, the harmony of the co-operating denominations was broken, and we find this church going by itself to worship in a small brick building on the southwest corner of the Square. About this time Elders Shull and Cushing having removed, Mr. J. H. Hinton and Mr. Peter Vanarsdale were chosen and inducted into the eldership. And not long after the purpose to erect a house of worship was revived and the work having been determined upon Mr. J. H. Hinton Mr. Peter Vanarsdale and Mr. George Wright were appointed a building com- mittee. They took the work in hand. Though times were hard, and money scarce, and subscriptions were paid in work and wood and farm produce and live stock, they found in Messrs. Lynn and Wright con- tractors, who would receive such pay and so the work was carried through successfully at a cost of about $2,500 and they were thus en- abled to dedicate to God, free of debt, a very commodious house of wor- ship.
Early in 1842, Rev. Mr. Barr, assisted by Rev. Dr. James Gallaher, conducted a protracted meeting, at which time the Holy Spirit was poured out in a remarkable manner. The whole community is said to have been deeply moved ; as one result there was an accession of some fifty persons to the church on the profession of their faith. At this time Mr. Wm. Yates, Lucius Norton and Robert L. Doyle were chosen to the eldership of the church. Some three years after this in 1845, Rev. Mr. Barr concluded his labors with the church, leaving them with a very comfortable house of worship and increased in number by the addition of 103 communicants, 39 by certificate from the other churches and 64 on the profession of their faith. Strange to say the following six years mark a period of apathy and partial disorganization. But ten persons were received into the membership, much of the time they were without the regular preaching of the word, having been supplied only about two years by Rev. James Dunn. By reason of death and removals the elder- ship became vacant, an attempt appears to have been made to change the polity of the church and make it Congregational ; much disorder and lack of discipline and dissatisfaction ensued, wasting the vital forces of the church and dishonoring the Lord. At last it was deemed necessary to invoke the aid of the Presbytery and accordingly the Presbytery of Illinois convened in this place Feb. 25, 1850, and re-organized the church throughout, enrolling those only who chose freely to subscribe the cove- nant anew and act in harmony with the Presbyterian faith and order. Thus the church was started again with thirty-one enrolled communi- cants. Messrs. Alexander W. Lynn, Robert F. Clark, C. Armstrong, M. D. and J. H. Wilson, were chosen and ordained Elders, Rev. E. Jenney supplied the pulpit for one year, during which time nine persons were added to the church. He was succeeded by Rev. J. G. Rankin, who ministered unto the church in faithfulness and acceptability for the following ten years. These were years of quiet, well ordered and patient work, blessed in 1854 and 1857 with gracious revivals and awakenings, in which the church was built up in spirit and in numbers, receiving 61 additional members, rising to the position of self support and independence not hitherto fully realized. They even undertook something additional to their ordinary church work.
Feeling the need of better educational facilities than were then
355
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
afforded in this place, and realizing, according to all the traditions of this church, that sound learning is the handmaid of religion, under the lead- ership of Rev. Mr. Rankin, their minister, they projected, and with the aid of a number of benevolent persons not members of this church, they erected the adjacent academy building, at an expense of over $2,800, making it the property of the church, and placing it under the control and management of a board of directors, consisting of the trustees of the church and three persons, chosen by the subscribers to the building, of which board the minister in charge is understood to be ex-officio chair- man.
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