History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 40

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 40

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).

Children from Illinois are supported free of charge; board, tuition and washing are furnished by the State.

Applications from Illinois are so numerous that children from other States can not be admitted.

All children will be received upon trial, and will be expected to come to the institution provided with a supply of neat and sub- stantial clothing. A bond will be required in all cases (excepting children who are county charges) with sureties, to insure the re- moval of the child when required by the superintendent, free of charge to the institution, its officers or agent, and to provide com- fortable and suitable clothing, or to pay for such as may be fur- nished by the institution during the continuance of the child in its care. This bond should be accompanied by a certificate of the county clerk that the sureties are responsible.

Parties making application for the admission of children to the institution will be provided with application blanks, which are to be filled out and returned to the superintendent.

Printed blanks of the bond and the certificates of the county clerk can be had free of charge upon application to the superin- tendent.

Any further information regarding the institution may be ob- tained by addressing the superintendent.

The officers of the institution are: Trustees, Edward D. Blinn (President), Lincoln, Illinois; Graham Lee, Hamlet, Illinois; Ben- son Wood, Effingham, Illinois; Treasurer, John D. Gillett, Elk- hart, Illinois; William B. Fish, M. D., Superintendent.

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CHURCHES.

Methodist Episcopal .- The first Methodist society of the city of Lincoln was organized in the winter of 1853-'4. The first meet- ings were held in the Chicago & Alton Railroad depot and presided over by Father Lewis Anderson, but the organization proper was effected in the First Ward school-house, on Clinton street, midway between Kickapoo and McLean, March 17, 1855, by Dr. A. C. Wood, a class-leader in the church. At that time and for a year or two afterward the society was a part of the Mt. Pulaski mission, at least it received assistance from the mission fund. When it had become stronger, the church was a part of Mt. Pulaski circuit, which embraced almost the whole of Logan County, and was trav- eled by Rev. W. B. M. Colt; this was about the autumn of the year 1856. Up to this time, from the organization in 1853-'4, Revs. Garner and Bird had charge of the mission. The ap- pointments in Mt. Pulaski circuit, at the time of Rev. Colt's charge, were as follows: Lincoln, Zion, Dalbey's, Day's school-house, Two- Mile Grove, Downing's, Hurricane Point, Whiteman's, Lawndale, Mrs. French's, Mrs. Metcalf's, Bateman's, Sugar Creek, Mt. Pleas- ant and Mt. Pulaski-fifteen in all.

Rev. Colt was succeeded in 1857 by Rev. B. Barthalow, and in 1858 and 1859 Rev. Samson Shinn was in charge, assisted the former year by S. D. McGinnis, and the latter by W. C. Pitner. In 1860 Mt. Pulaski circuit was divided and Lincoln circuit formed, including Zion, Sugar Creek and other points, and Rev. Joseph Montgomery was placed in charge. He was returned also in 1861. Rev. J. B. Houts succeeded him in 1862 and '3. Rev. Preston Woud followed in the years 1864-'6. In the second year of his charge, 1865, Lincoln was made a station. Rev. W. R. Goodwin had charge of the rapidly increasing flock in 1867-'8. Rev. J. G. Little came after him in 1869-'70. In 1871 Rev. M. A. Hewes had charge of the church, and he was succeeded the next year by Rev. G. W. Gray, D.D., who held the pastorate for three successive years from that time, 1872-'4. In 1872 the Bloomington district was divided and Decatur district formed. Lincoln Station was in- cluded in the latter. Rev. J. G. Little was returned to the work again in 1875, and Rev. M. D. Hawes followed him in 1876. Rev. George Stevens was appointed to this place in 1877, and remained three years. Rev. J. H. Noble was here the succeeding two years, and Rev. Horace Reed served the society in 1882-'3. Rev. T. A. Parker, the present pastor, closes his third year in 1886.

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At the same time with the organization of the society in the First Ward school-house a Sunday-school was also begun by Rev. I. R. Garner and wife, the former being chosen superintendent. W. P. Wakeman is now superintendent. The average attendance is about 160.

About 1858 a house of worship was built. It stands at the cor- ner of Pekin and McLean streets and is now owned by the Presby- terians, who worshiped in it until 1885. The erection of the present Methodist church at the corner of Broadway and Logan streets was begun July 10, 1863, and it was completed at a cost of $22,000. The society is out of debt and has a parsonage worth $4,000. The present membership is 239. The precise number of members at the time of the organization in 1853 is not definitely known, but among the number were Robert Leslie and wife, Dr. Wood, H. L. Bennett and wife, G. W. Brady, Mrs. G. W. Judy, Henry Johnson and wife, Mrs. S. F. Eager, John D. Leslie and William G. Starkey and wife.

The trustees in 1886 are W. N. Bock, John Evans, W. W. How- ser, Henry Abbott, John Johnson, T. J. Pegram, D. H. Harts, W. P. Randolph and W. P. Wakeman. Uriah Hill is treasurer, and J. J. Friend, R. H. Kinman, F. B. Mills and Uriah Hill are stew- ards.

Baptist .- The congregation occupying the First Baptist Church at the corner of Broadway and Union streets was organized April 19, 1856, probably in the First Ward school-house, with these nine members: J. C. Webster, C. B. Hukill, George F. Stillman, Jane M. C. Stillman, S. Z. Millard, Robert Snow, William Patterson, Margaret A. Patterson and Robert Wilson. Rev. Thomas C. Reese was the organizer of the church and the first pastor, 1856-'7. In the latter year he was succeeded by Rev. S. J. Goodsell, who re- mained in charge for three successive years, or from 1857 to 1860, in which year he was called to his long home. The pulpit was then filled by Rev. C. Garrison for two years, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. M. Bacon, and he by Rev. E. J. Cressey. The former held the pastorate one or two years and the latter an indefinite time. These, with Rev. R. F. Powers, cared for the church up to the year 1867, when Rev. Chauncey Warder, of New York, took charge of the spiritual welfare of the congregation. He remained until 1868 or'9. Then followed Rev. A. B. White, of Ohio, for two years, and Rev. J. W. Icenbarger for three years, reaching up to about 1875. Rev. Portman preached to the congregation occasionally

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CITY OF LINCOLN.

for a time after the termination of Rev. Icenbarger's pastorate. Then Rev. William Anderson, D. D., of Scotland, ministered to the church for about one year. For about six months after the severance of his connection with the society they remained with- out a pastor, when Rev. William Elmer, of St. Louis, accepted a call to Lincoln. In 1880 Rev. E. K. Cressey was here for nine months. After an interim, Rev. J. Primm came and remained two years. Rev. C. J. Banks came January 1, 1885, and served the church ten months.

The first church edifice erected by the congregation was built in 1857. It is a small brick structure, and still stands where it was built, on Fourth street,, being afterward the property of the Ger- man Catholic Society, who purchased it in 1864. It is now used 88 a parochial school. The building occupied at present was erected in 1866-'7 at a cost of $6,000; the lot upon which it stands cost $1,200. The church is commodious, having a seating capacity for about 375 persons.

The Sunday-school was organized by Rev. Mr. Goodsell during his pastorate, which began in 1857 and ended in 1860. S. M. Guttery is now superintendent, and the average attendance is about seventy.

The officers of the church, besides the pastor, are: Secretary and Treasurer, D. B. Montagne; Deacons, I. Acken, E. McCord, D. Fusch and S. M. Guttery; Trustees, John A. Lutz, I. Acken, E. McCord and Charles T. Girard. The church is a branch of the Missionary Baptist denomination, and belongs to the McLean As- sociation, as it has from the first. The present membership is about 100.

Cumberland Presbyterian .- The Cumberland Presbyterian de- nomination came into existence February 4, 1810. Its birthplace was the residence of Rev. Samuel McAdow, in Dickson County, Tennessee, a picturesque old double log house of the primitive pattern, with wide stick chimneys and without window glass. In the short space of sixty-eight years the denomination has grown to its present proportions, with its fine churches, schools and colleges scattered all over the land.

The Cumberland Presbyterian church of Lincoln is a branch of that denomination, and was organized on Saturday, February 7, 1857, by Rev. Thornton K. Hedges, in what was known as Boren's Hall, on Pulaski street, or in the First Ward school-house. There were fifteen persons besides Rev. Hedges who joined in the or-

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ganization. Their names are: George W. Edgar, Mrs. Mary M. Edgar, John Howser, Mrs. Litha J. Howser, Mrs. Mary J. Hedges, J. S. Metcalf, Mre. Meldonnette Metcalf, John Crang, Mrs. Eliza- beth Crang, Abraham Duff, Mrs. Sarah J. Duff, J. C. Horney, Mrs. Elizabeth Horney, James M. Duff and Miss Sarah Duff.

George W. Edgar, John S. Metcalf and John Howser were chosen elders, and Rev. Hedges ministered to the congregation. He gave them half his time for the succeeding three years, and after that all of his time to June 1, 1862. Then Rev. James White served the congregation until September 1, 1866, and Rev. R. G. Carden the following year. Next, Rev. W. M. Metcalf had pas- toral charge until in May, 1869, and after him Rev. J. C. Van Patten from September, 1869, to August, 1870, and Rev. E. J. Gil- lespie from October, 1871, to the next spring. In August, 1872, Rev. J. W. Poindexter, D. D., was engaged to have care of the church, and also as professor of pastoral theology in Lincoln Uni- versity. At various times, while the church was temporarily without a pastor, the pupit was filled by Rev. S. Richards, Rev. Dr. Bowden and others, of Lincoln University. The present pas- tor, Rev. J. M. Hubbert, has served the congregation since May, 1878.

The Elders of the church are: A. C. Boyd, L. Barnard, E. Bur- ton, G. W. Edgar, G. I. Harry, and A. H. Mckenzie; Deacons, E. N. Davis, J. W. Miller and Mrs. E. R. Harrington; Trustees, G. W. Edgar, A. C. Boyd, E. Burton and E. N. Davis. The pres- ent membership is about 400.

During the pastorate of Rev. James White the question of founding a university was agitated by the denomination, and through the efforts of the aforementioned pastor, the Cumberland Presbyterian congregation at this place, as well as the other citi- zens of Lincoln, became warmly interested in having their city chosen as the site of the institution. The necessary meetings were held, money was subscribed, the advantages of Lincoln as a loca- tion for an institution of learning were duly set forth, and finally the decision was made in its favor. The erection of the building was begun September 14, 1865, and it was opened for the admis- sion of students in the fall of 1866, since which time it has added in a great measure to the strength of the Cumberland Presby- terian congregation, and it has also been of immense value to the city.

The Sunday-school was organized some time before the church.

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Rev. A. J. McGlumphy, D. D., was superintendent of this school for ten consecutive years; A. H. Mckenzie now holds the position. The attendance is 300 to 400.

Some of the earliest meetings of this society were held in that cradle of Lincoln churches, the First Ward school-house. The first members received into the church were James Kelso, David Conardon, Theophilus Chowning, Henry Horney and Griselda Blackburn, by experience, and Sarah Chowning and Eliza J. Black- barn by letter. Their first church edifice, dedicated in June, 1857, was built on the corner of McLean and Clinton streets, and was occupied until 1866, when it was sold to the congregation of the Evangelical St. John's Church. The present house of worship, corner of Pekin and Ottawa streets, was then built at a cost of $10,000; the lot cost $600. In the spring of 1877 an addition to the house and several alterations were made, in order to better ac- commodate the members of the General Assembly of the Cumber- land Presbyterian churches, which met here that year. The parsonage belonging to this society is situated on Pekin street, near the church. It is a large and handsome residence. The total value of the church property is about $18,000.

Christian, or Disciples .- The house occupied by the congregation of the denomination of Christians, or Disciples of Christ, stands on Pekin street, between Kickapoo and McLean. Its erection was begun in the year 1855, the contract being let to David Blane, but it was not completed until about two years afterward. Rev. William Brown, of Springfield, was the first minister of this denomination who labored in Lincoln. Under his ministration a temporary or- ganization was entered into in the antumn of 1855, a meeting for that purpose being held in a warehouse. The meetings for religious service, before the church was completed and ready for occupancy, were held in the Methodist Episcopal church and in Boren's Hall on Pulaski street.

A permanent organization was effected in the autumn of 1856 by choosing T. H. Denny, Sr., and Hopkins C. Judy as Elders and J. M. Edwards and C. H. Miller as Deacons. The early records of the church have unfortunately been lost, but it is thought that about thirty persons formed the original congregation. The min- isters who have had charge of and labored with this church to the present time are: Revs. William Brown, Dr. J. M. Allen, J. S. Sweeney, Alexander Johnson, Allen Rice, Charles J. Berry, George Owens, B. W. Johnson, Richard Johnson, T. V. Berry,

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H. D. Clark, G. W. Minier, S. C. Humphrey, R. A. Gilchrist, S. H. Bundy and T. T. Holton.

At the time of the temporary organization, a subscription paper was circulated and about two-thirds of the amount necessary to build a church was pledged; but when the house was completed it rested under a considerable debt, which was not cleared away until the expiration of five or six years. The total cost of preparing the honse for worship was about $3,500. The cost would have been greater, but the lot upon which the house stands was donated to the society by Messrs. Latham, Gillett and Hickox, the proprietors and founders of the original town of Lincoln. The value of the church property at present is something near $4.000.

A Sunday-school was begun at about the same time with the church. It numbers at present about sixty-five pupils and is under charge of Elmer Martin.

The elders of the church are: Abram Enlows, R. C. Maxwell, T. T. Holton and J. A. Campbell; Deacons, John Simpson, J. B. Gaines and J. W. Irey.

Congregational .- A church of the Congregational denomination was organized in the city of Lincoln on the 12th day of March, 1859. A preliminary meeting had been held at the residence of S. F. Eager on the 14th of the preceding month, which meeting was attended by John Crang, Stephen Barnum, William Hunger- ford, Mrs. S. M. Hungerford, Mrs. Elizabeth Crang, Mrs. Mary W. Carpenter, Mrs. Priscilla G. Barnum and Miss Helen C. Bar- num, besides Mr. Eager, and Mrs. Elizabeth C. Eager-eleven persons in all. On the date first mentioned, these same persons met at the Cumberland Presbyterian church and entered into an organization under the direction of Rev. H. W. Cobb. During the ensuing year there were added to the church Beaumont Parks, C. H. Ormsby, John F. Adams, William P. Bates and Misses E. J. and H. M. Bates.

As the congregation had not erected a house of worship, they rented Musick's Hall, which at that time stood at the corner of Kickapoo and Pulaski streets. Here religious services were held once in two weeks by Rev. H. W. Cobb, their organizer, who re- mained their pastor until the fall of 1861, something over two and a half years. At the close of his pastorate, Rev. Robert L. McCord was engaged to minister to the spiritual welfare of the congregation, and remained until the spring of 1868. It was dur- ing his stay in Lincoln that the first church owned by this society

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was built. The contract for its erection was let to William Hun- gerford in August, 1863, and it was finished about January 1, 1864. The location chosen for the house was on West Pulaski street, near the corner of Kankakee, on lots donated to the society by Latham, Gillett and Hickox.

When Rev. McCord had terminated his pastorate, he was sue- ceeded by Rev. H. S. Clark; the latter was followed by Rev. A. E. Baldwin and he by Rev. H. D. Platt. In September, 1872, the society had become numerically weakened. Death had visited the fold and taken of the flock; some of the best workers and most valuable members had removed to other cities, and several of those remaining had suffered severely by the various fires which visited Lincoln shortly before this time. For these reasons it was thought best to sell the church building and place the money at interest until such a time as it should be deemed advisable to resume pub- lic services as an organization. The building was accordingly sold soon afterward to the German Evangelical Lutheran Society, by whom it is still owned, though now unused. In 1875 ground was purchased at the corner of Broadway and Ottawa streets, and Pil- grim Chapel was built upon it at a total cost of $3,956. The build- ing was finished in the early part of 1876. The society found itself too weak to maintain a creditable organization, however, and in 1885 sold this structure to the Presbyterians, who now occupy it.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran .- The German Lutherans held meetings in various places and under a variety of circum- stances for some time before they organized themselves into a so- ciety or procured themselves a church in which to assemble. For a considerable time these meetings were held somewhere in the Fourth Ward. The Congregational church was also rented for one year and meetings were held there. At this time Rev. Stumf was the minister of the congregation. January 15, 1865, a permanent and regular organization was effected. There were twenty-nine persons entering into the organization, of whom the following were officers: Five Elders-Wolrod Kief, John Flick, Adam Bucke, Jacob Kief and Michael Kief; five Trustees, Fr. C. W. Koehnle, Bernard Friesh, Adam Bucke, Michael Kief and Wolrod Kief; & Secretary, Fr. C. W. Koehnle; and a Treasurer, Adam Bucke.

The first church occupied by this society was the one first erected by the Cumberland Presbyterians and sold by them to this con- gregation February 26, 1865, shortly after the organization of the latter. The price paid for the house, which was on the corner of 28

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Clinton and McLean streets, was $2,500. This building is now used for a parochial school. The present fine church, at the cor- ner of Fifth and Union streets, was erected in 1884, at a cost of $10,000. It is a brick structure, 40 x 65 feet, with basement and tower. The auditorium is nicely furnished and will seat 500.

The first minister after the organization was Rev. F. Siegel, who remained in charge two years. After he had severed his connec- tion with this church, Rev. John Wettle became their pastor and served in that capacity for four years and a half. He then gave place to Rev. L. Austman, who ministered to the church two years. Following him came Rev. John G. Ade, the present pastor, in 1877.

The congregation numbers about 300. The officers are: Dea- cons, M. Reinhardt, A. Bree, August Wilmert, Fritz Wilmert, John Lachenmeier and Frank Rimmerman; Trustees, Peter Ob- camp (Treasurer), M. Reinhardt (Secretary), William Rimmer- man, Adolph Rimmerman and Fritz Wilmert.

St. Mary's Catholic Church .- The first Catholic church in Lin- coln was built in 1837 by the German and Irish immigrants who had settled here at an early day. Previous to that time the few Catholics living here were attended by priests from Chicago, Springfield and Bloomington. The first settled pastor was the Rev. Father Thomas Meagher, formerly of Columbus, Ohio, who took charge of the parish in 1858. His successors were the Rev. Father Martin, Hermann and Thomas Burke. As the congrega- tion grew larger Father Burke built the present St. Patrick's Church, and the small brick church was left in the possession of the Ger- man Catholics. The priests who have had charge of the St. Mary's German Congregation since that time have been the Reverend Fathers William Netstratter, Heskemann, Andrew Michels, Anton Schmitz, F. X. Heller, Conrad Rotter, and Bernard Baak. Under the pastorate of Father Rotter, the present brick church and pa- rochial school were built. Rev. Bernard Baak, formerly pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Peoria, took charge of St. Mary's Church in August, 1884, and under his pastorate the church has been pros- pered. The membership numbers about 110 families. The school belonging to St. Mary's Church is under the care of the Ursuline Sisters from Louisville, Kentucky, and gives general satisfaction to its patrons, about 100 pupils being in attendance.

St. Patrick's Irish Catholic .- When the Irish and German congregations separated, Father Thomas Burke remained with the former. Succeeding him there have been, in order, Revs. Patrick

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Dalton, T. P. Hodnett, Joseph Costa, James Tuohy, the present priest.

As soon as the division was made, this congregation set to work to prepare a place of worship, and a house was im mediately erected at the corner of Eleventh and Union streets, on the lots now occupied by the residence of T. H. Stokes. It was completed in the summer of 1867, and remained at that place until the sum- mer of 1874, when, in order to have it in a more convenient situ- ation, the building was moved to the site on which it now stands, 102 Logan street, between Clinton and Decatur. Here it was thoroughly refitted and finished, having been left in an incomplete condition before. A school-house was also built at the rear of the church, and the house of a priest on an adjoining lot. The cost of the church and school-room was about $4,000. The priest's resi- dence and the ground on which it stands is worth $2,000.

There are 140 families in this parish. The parochial school, founded by Father Costa, is attended by about 150 children.

Presbyterian .- Some time about the year 1857 a committee from the Springfield Presbytery, of what was then the Old School Presbyterian church, came to the village of Lincoln to organize a church, but gave up the undertaking because the territory was included in the limits of the Bloomington Presbytery, and 'there- fore beyond their jurisdiction. There is no record of any further attempt to occupy this field until May or June, 1866, when a com- mittee from Bloomington Presbytery came down and held a meeting at what was then the Methodist church, now the Presby- terian. At that time there was a dissension in the Congregational church, and, after considering the situation, the committee con- cluded to postpone the effort to organize lest it might be regarded as an attempt to take advantage of the misfortunes of a sister church. In October of the same year another committee from Bloomington Presbytery, Rev. Mr. Conover of Bloomington, Rev. Mr. Love of Lexington, and Elder Alexander Downey of Atlanta, called the few Presbyterians in the city together, and on the 5th of that month organized a church with twenty-seven members whose names follow: Henry Owsley, Oliver Goltra, Yardly Canby, David Gillespie, J. B. McCord, Dr. J. C. Ross, Jesse Den- man, David M. Pierson, Samuel Miller, Henry T. Stryker, Mrs. Elvira Davidson, Mrs. Annie M. Sims, Mrs. Jane Goltra, Mrs. Mary Montague, Mrs. Mary Pettns, Mrs. Abbie T. Goltra, Mrs. Mary E. Ross, Mrs. Mary Owsley, Mrs. Maria Denman, Mrs.

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Mary Moore, Mrs. Mary G. Hawley, Mrs. Lizzie H. Miller, Mrs. C. C. Stryker, Mrs. Catherine Pegram, Miss Mary E. Canby, Miss Kate Owsley and Miss Kate Jordan.

The little church had no regular services till March 3, 1867, when Rev. A. J. Layenberger, now of Champaign, was called to the pastoral office. Mr. Layenberger, who was just out of theolog- ical seminary, was a young man of decided talent, and possessed of an energy and enthusiasm which soon put the church in work- ing order. A few meetings were held in the Methodist church, and then Brewer's Hall, on Pulaski street (since burned), was rented. Here a live Sunday-school was organized, Mr. Layenberger himself acting as superintendent, leading the singing and pushing every detail of the work with a zeal which made light of all obstacles. December 4, 1867, with a membership of about thirty-five, the society bought of the Methodist Episcopal church for $4,500 the church building, parsonage and grounds, which they used until recently. The only aid received was a grant of $500 from the Board of Church Extension. The sum to be paid was a heavy one, but the little society accomplished its undertaking in three or four years. This building is now unused, as in June, 1885, they purchased the Congregational church at a cost of $2,000.

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 40

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 989

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989