History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 41

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

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 41

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).

Rev. L. P. Crawford, who had been for a number of years pastor of a church at Somonauk, Illinois, was called to this pulpit October 1, 1870. At that time the church had but few, if any, more than forty members, a number which was increased under Mr. Craw- ford's earnest and well-directed labors to about 120. Mr. Crawford remained with the church till January 1, 1878, and then removed to Farmer City. Rev. William Omelvena began his ministry April 28, 1878, and left in November, 1880. Dr. S. T. Wilson was here from September, 1880, to February, 1882. Rev. Albert H. Trick served from June, 1882, to July, 1884, and in October of the last-named year Rev. Alonzo Michael took charge.

The membership of the church is not far from 100. The elders are: William Hungerford, Jesse Denman, James Gillespie and David Gillespie; Trustees: Jabez Pierce, Minor David and James Gillespie.

The Sunday-school is attended by about seventy-five pupils, and is officered by Jabez Pierce, Superintendent; Minor David, As- sistant Superintendent; Louis Atkins, Secretary.

Universalist .- The Universalist church was organized during the latter part of the war, among the first members being Nancy

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A. Blout, S. Doten, Charles H. Geer, Mrs. A. H. Miller, Mrs. C. H. Couch, Chet B. Jackson, Elizabeth Corwin and M. L. Mathes. C. C. Brackett was among those who aided in founding and sus- taining the society, but never became a member. Prominent among the earliest and most earnest working members were Charles H. Geer, Sorell Doten, Hiram Wilson, A. H. Miller, Hiram Simon- ton and Mrs. C. B. Shriver. About the close of the war Joseph Ream and wife and D. L. Braucher and wife united themselves with the church. Meetings were held in the Christian church, in Musick's Hall and at other places until the autumn of 1867. The records show that a meeting was held on the 1st day of Septem- ber in that year to make arrangements for completing the furnish- ing of the house and for its dedication. The date fixed upon for that ceremony was Wednesday, September 11, at 2 o'clock P. M., and at that time the church was duly dedicated, the services being conducted by Rev. H. R. Nye, assisted by Rev. D. P. Bunn. At various times before and after this date members were added to the congregation, and among them were Mary Doten, Jane E. Miller, William H. Derby, Mrs. Ruth A. Lacey, Elizabeth Brackett, Mrs. Caroline Wilson, W. S. Chenoweth, S. C. Nash and others. The first Board of Trustees chosen consisted of Hiram Wilson, Joseph Ream and Ruth A. Lacey. Mrs. Lacey resigned and Sorell Doten was elected in her place. D. L. Braucher was chosen Treas- urer and Mrs. H. C. Braucher, Clerk.

The first minister was Rev. Mr. Chapin. The next was Rev. A. H. Sweetser, who served until May 3, 1868, when he resigned. In the autumn of that year Rev. Sumner Ellis preached two or three times. No regular services were held until the succeeding January, though Rev. J. M. Garner officiated part of the time. At the date mentioned Rev. N. Crarey and Rev. J. P. Chaplain began a series of meetings, which continued through the month of January and a part of February. Several members were added to the church as the fruits of these efforts. After this Revs. J. M. Garner, W. J. Chaplain and Hudson Chase preached for the con- gregation in the order named. In April Rev. J. P. Chaplain was engaged for pastor for one year and entered upon his work From April, 1870, to February, 1872, there were no regular services. On the 12th of the latter month Rev. Samuel Ashton was engaged for one year, at a salary of $1,500, to preach to the church at Lin- coln and the one at Mt. Pulaski, he allowing the two societies $300 per year for the use of the churches whenever he might see . fit to occupy them outside of regular services.

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In the autumn of that year a parsonage was built on the grounds adjoining the church. When it was almost completed and ready for occupation it burned to the ground. As there had been no fire about the building the conflagration must have been the work of an incendiary, though no clue to the perpetrator of the outrage has ever been discovered. The work was immediately begun again and the house rebuilt, but the double cost threw the society into debt. The church is a very substantial brick edifice, located at 67 Kickapoo street, and cost, with the parsonage, about $8,000.

Rev. Ashton resigned his charge in April, 1873, since which time no pastor has been employed, and but few services have been held since 1874. During 1883 and 1884 Rev. L. G. Powers now of Minneapolis, but then of Chicago, preached here monthly. The Trustees are: S. C. Nash (Chairman), D. L. Braucher (Clerk), Abel H. Miller, Mrs. M. C. Miller and Joseph Ream.

Episcopal .- The first movement to organize a parish of the Episcopal denomination in Lincoln was set on foot July 3, 1871. At this date, a meeting of those interested in the matter was held at the Universalist church on Kickapoo street. Rev. F. M. Gregg, Rector of St. Paul's Church, Springfield, presided over the small assembly, and there were present the following named residents of this city: S. A. Foley, J. A. Niles, William Rhea, Thomas H. Phillips, Charles Moore, George S. Dana, Mrs. J. C. Congdon and Mrs. William B. Mann. An organization was entered into and Stephen A. Foley was chosen Senior Warden; J. A. Niles, Junior Warden; Thomas H. Phillips, William Rhea, Charles Moore and George S. Dana, Vestrymen.

The parish was then without a rector until May, 1873, though during this interval of nearly two years occasional services were held by Rev. F. M. Gregg, of Springfield, and on two occasions services were conducted by the Rt .- Rev. Bishop Whitehouse. On the date mentioned, Rev. William Wilson entered upon the duties of the rectorship. The society having as yet no church, Gillett's Hall was secured to be used for church purposes, a temporary chan- cel was arranged and the congregation worshiped there until the 12th of the following September. On the 13th of May preceding this last date, ground had been broken for a new church edifice, the one in use at present, and it was now ready .for occupation. Not long after this time Rev. Wilson returned East, to the great regret of his parishioners, and Rev. George H. Higgins was next called to the rectorship, entering upon his duties October 1, 1874.

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Mr. Higgins remained one year, and from October 1, 1875, to May 1, 1877, the parish was without a minister. Occasional services were held by visiting clergymen, but most of the time the church was closed.

The Sunday-school, which had been organized at some previous time by Mrs. Foley and Miss Mary Tunnel, was disbanded. Jan- uary 1, 1877, however, it was re-organized by John Scully and the ladies of the church. During Lent of this same year, Rev. Joseph E. Martin, M. A., then rector of St. John's Church, Peoria, held weekly services. May 1, 1877, Mr. Martin became rector of this parish. At this time there were twenty-seven communicants. At the close of one year's ministration his report showed eighty-four communicants. He remained until June, 1881, and then Rev. William Wilson was here for one year. Rev. J. E. Hall was in charge from the summer of 1882 to November, 1884, since when no rector has been engaged.

The church has a membership of seventy five. The present vestry includes: S. A. Foley (rector's warden), R. N. Lawrance (people's warden), R. B. Latham, John Scully, J. B. Hudson, Henry W. Dana (secretary and treasurer), T. B. Perry and William M. Prince. Dr. R. N. Lawrance is superintendent of the Sunday- school, which is attended by from forty to fifty pupils.

African Methodist Episcopal .- Spencer Donnegan came to Lincoln in 1866. At that time there was no church of colored people in Lincoln, nor was there for some three or four years after- ward. He, however, organized a mission in 1866. It was a very small body at first, consisting of but three persons-himself and wife and Mrs. Lucinda Allen. The little mission grew slowly for some years, for there were not many colored people in Lincoln at that period, and hence there was but little material out of which to form a church. Mr. Donnegan persevered, however, holding the services of the mission at his dwelling house during about four years. At the expiration of this time, the membership had in- creased from three to twelve, and it was thought expedient to or- ganize the body into a church and procure a house of worship. Ac- cordingly the church was organized at the dwelling house where the meetings had been held. This took place probably in the autumn of the year 1870. Elder A. T. Hall, then of Springfield, was present and directed the erection of a mission into a church. At first the congregation had no house, but by persistent effort the old high school building, located on the corner of Broadway and

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Sherman streets, was purchased from the city for $800 and titted up as a church. Its total cost was $918. A new church was built in 1881, at a cost of about $1,000; but it is not paid for, and the society is financially embarrassed.

Elder A. T. Hall and Elder Daniel Winslow had made occasional visits to the church here, but the first regular minister in charge was Rev. J. W. H. Jackson, who came at some time in the year 1870. Since his ministration there have been in charge, at various times, Revs. W. M. Beckley, Charles Holmes, W. R. Alexander, E. C. Joiner, J. H. De Pugh, J. B. Dawson, S. M. McDowell and W. J. Davis, the present pastor. The superintendent of the Sunday-school is Albert Dyer.

The membership of the society is about sixty.

There is also a colored Baptist church organized, but no history of it can be satisfactorily obtained.

German Evangelical Lutheran. - Sometime in the year 1869, Rev. I. I. Kerrn, a Lutheran minister, at that time pastor of a church at Mt. Pulaski, came to the Rothschild school-house in West Lincoln Township, four miles northwest of Lincoln, to organ- ize a church of his denomination; but, owing to his removal to El Paso, in Woodford County, soon after, he did not affect the or- ganization. The next year, however, Rev. I. T. Boetticher, who had taken his place at Mt. Pulaski, preached at the school-house frequently and in the spring of 1871 formed a church at that place. Some of the members who entered the organization were persons who had belonged to the United Lutheran and Reformed Congre- gation, known as the Evangelical St. John's Church, the history of which has been given; but as they desired to belong to a congre- gation that was wholly Lutheran, and under charge of a Lutheran minister, Rev. Boetticher wrote to a friend of his, Rev. H. Meyer, then residing in Hanover, Germany, to come and take charge of the new congregation. He arrived in July, 1871, and on the 19th of that month preached his first sermon at the Rothschild school- house and organized a church with twelve members-Chris Loh- rens, Fred Schroeder, Fred Wittcopf, John Werth, John Bure, Chris. Krueger, W. Krusemark, Ad. Schroeder, Ch. Struebing, H. Jentzen, Ch. Boelk and Charles Jarchow. The young church took the ample name of " The German Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, of West Lin- coln, Logan County, Ill." Chris. Lohrens, Fred. Schroeder and John Bure were chosen trustees.

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In compliance with the wishes of many German Lutherans at Lincoln, Rev. Meyer came to the city and held services occasion- ally, first in the school-house in Postville and afterward in Mr. Tibbett's store. Finally, May 15, 1872, a church was organized, consisting of nine members, who were: John Schall, G. Drobisch, P. Ebel, John Feuerbacher, W. Koeneke, G. T. Wolf, John Schroeder, Mrs. Rosa Feuerbacher and Mrs. C. Geissler. The name of this church was the same as the other, with the omission of the word " West " before "Lincoln." John Schall, G. Dro- bisch and G. T. Wolf were chosen trustees. The first named of the three was selected as treasurer, and the last as secretary.

Not long after the organization of the latter congregation, the two churches were united and it was found necessary to procure & house of worship. The Congregational church at the corner of Kankakee and Pulaski streets being for sale at this time, was pur- chased by them for $3,000 and thoroughly fitted for occupancy, and on the 20th of October they held their first service in that church, which they have used continuously ever since. The next year they purchased an adjoining house and two lots from Mr. Andrews to be used by the minister as a parsonage, paying there- for the sum of $2, 600, and they also erected a neat and commodi- ous school-house on the premises at a cost of about $700.

The congregation includes 615 persons, of whom seventy are vot- ing members. The trustees are: August Berger, Chris. Max and Conrad Gehrs; Secretary, J. Feuerbacher; Treasurer, Adam Bucke; Elders, Chris. Lohrens, Henry Werth, Fred Wittkopf, William Krusemark and John Dahns. The pastor is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has seventy to seventy-five attendants, and teaches the day school, which includes twenty-five to thirty pupils.

Hebrew Congregation .--- The Hebrews of Lincoln organized a congregation in August, 1884, with eight or ten families, and are now attended by Rev. Cotten, of Bloomington, the first and third Sundays of each month. They rent the Universalist church. Louis Rosenthal is president of the organization and S. Stern, vice- president.

SOCIETIES.

Lincoln Lodge, No. 210, A. F. & A. M., was chartered October 7, 1856, the petitioners being Robert B. Latham, Joseph F. Ben- ner, Robert Leslie, Solomon Kahn, John T. Jenkins, S. Roths- child and D. M. Jackson. The lodge now has seventy-two members

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and meets at Masonic Hall the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month. The present officers are: Robert Goebel, Worthy Master; Joseph Schott, Senior Warden; W. S. Tandy, Junior Warden; I. Altman, Treasurer; L. C. Schwerdtfeger, Secretary; R. N. Lawrance, Chaplain; H. A. Wallace, Tyler.

Logan Lodge, No. 480, A. F. & A. M., was chartered October 3, 1866, with fourteen members. The present officers are: James Gillespie, Worthy Master; John Johnson, Senior Warden; Frank Cottle, Junior Warden; David Gillespie, Senior Deacon; Sam. Evans, Junior Deacon; S. M. Guttery, Secretary; Sam. Stern, Treasurer; Henry Wallace, Tyler.

Lincoln Chapter, No. 147, R. A. M., was chartered in October, 1871. There are now about 100 members, and meetings are held the fourth Tuesday evening of each month. The officers for 1886 are: I. Altman, High Priest; M. S. Wilkinson, Scribe; H. S. Stan- cill, King; D. Gillespie, C. of H .; F. S. Selley, Permanent Secretary; Joseph Schott, R. A. C .; J. Gillespie, M. 3d V .; Levi Forbis, M. 2d V .; Charles Schott, M. 1st V .; Henry Wallace, Tyler; L. C. Schwerdtfeger, Secretary; Sam. Stern, Treasurer.

Constantine Commandery, No. 51, K. T., was chartered with the following first members: James W. Poindexter, A. Mayfield, James E. Hill, Minor David, Wilbur F. Bromfield, James T. Hoblit, George H. Campbell, Theodore F. La Due, John A. Miles, John T. Boyden, George Skinner, Lewis B. Davis, Charles T. Wil- bur, William E. Seip, E. G. Hudson and Lucian L. Leeds. The commandery has eighty members, and meets the first Thursday evening of each month at Masonic Hall. The officers for 1886 are: M. S. Wilkinson, Eminent Commander; L. C. Schwerdtfeger, General; R. N. Lawrance, Commanding General; T. A. Parker, Prelate; D. Gillespie, Senior Warden; Joseph Schott, Junior Warden; Henry Brown, Treasurer; W. F. Bromfield, Recorder; George I. Harry, St. B .; James Gillespie, Sw. B .; J. B. Hudson, Warden; Charles Skinner, C. of G.

Lincoln Lodge, No. 204, I. O. O. F., was chartered October 17, 1856, the first members being D. H. Cox, James H. Lee, H. P. Kelso, Levi M. Reber and T. J. Haughey. The present officers are: P. H. Hirth, Noble Grand; W. S. Tandy, Vice-Grand; Wm. McMasters, Corresponding Secretary; C. Hoskins, Permanent Sec- retary; Trustees, C. M. Knapp, J. Q. Smith, L. C. Schwerdtfeger, Louis Rosenthal, Adam Denger. The lodge meets Friday at Odd Fellows' Hall.

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Mozart Lodge, No. 345, I. O. O. F., wae chartered October 9, 1867, the first members being J. N. Lipp, Fred. Herkman, George Sechleiter, Felix Kahn, David Aner, Chris. Kerkhoff, John G. Fox, Henry Roach, Gottlieb Zimmerman and E. Myers. The lodge has fifty-cight members, and meets every Thursday at Odd Fellows' Hall. The present officers are : V. Cherney, Noble Grand ; O. Gans, Vice-Grand ; R. Schweihert, Secretary ; A. Goebel, Treas- urer.

Les W. Myers Post, No. 182, G. A. R., was organized February 6, 1883, with forty-two charter members. The first officers were : James Hill, Commander; J. B. Paisley, Senior Vice-Commander; J. C. Wallace, Junior Vice-Commander; Sol. R. Smith, Adjutant; J. Q. Smith, Quartermaster; William J. Petit, Officer of the Day; J. C. Young, Officer of the Guard ; Jerry Simpson, Chaplain ; C. H. Norred, Surgeon. The present officers are : R. N. Lawrance, Commander; F. Fisk, Senior Vice-Commander ; R. H. Kinman, Junior Vice-Commander ; Joel B. Paisley, Quartermaster ; J. C. Wallace, Surgeon; Albert Ritter, Chaplain; James Hill, Officer of the Day; J. R. Gillen, Officer of the Guard; J. C. Hoover, Adju- tant; Sol. R. Smith, Sergeant-Major; S. J. Woland, Quartermas- ter-Sergeant. There were forty-two charter members, and forty- two have been mustered by initiation, or eighty-four in all, of whom sixty are now active members. The post meets at G. A. R. Hall the first and third Tuesday evenings in each month.

Glendower Lodge, No. 45, K. P., was chartered Ang. 11, 1876, the first members being G. F. McAllister, R. B. Fryer, C. M. Cos- sitt, H. G. Mowrer, J. W. Hesser, G. H. Snell, A. M. Hahn, C. H. Newkirk, A. Denger and C. F. Hawkins. The lodge now has abont twenty members, and meets the first and third Tuesday even- ings of each month at Odd Fellows' Hall. The present officers are: C. M. Knapp, C. C .; A. H. Wiltz, V. C .; C. W. McMasters, Prelate; R. C. Maxwell, Knight of R. & S .; George D. Corwin, M. of F. and M. of Ex.

Orientul Lodge, No. 521, K. of H., was organized March 21, 1877. The present officers are : Vincent Cherney, Dictator; G. W. Webb, Vice-Dictator; S. Stern, Treasurer; M. Greisheim, Re- porter; L. Rosenthal, Finance Reporter. The lodge has forty-one members, and meets the second and fourth Monday evenings of each month.

Cook Lodge, No. 109, A. O. U. W., was chartered March 20, 1878, with thirty-seven members. The first officers were : T. F.

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La Due, P. M. W .; C. M. Knapp, M. W .; A. H. Wiltz, Foreman; W. A. Coons, Overseer; George F. McAllister, Recorder; William N. Bock, Financier; James G. Gillespie, Receiver; E. S. Hukill, Guide; Levi M. Coons, I. W .; Cyrus P. Green, O. W. The lodge has now sixty-five members in good standing, and meets the second and fourth Wednesday evenings of each month, at Odd Fellows' Hall. The present officers are ; John E. Reed, M. W .; E. D. Shackleford, Foreman; E. B. Maltby, Overseer; A. H. Wiltz, Recorder; T. P. Joseph, Receiver; W. O. Jones, Financier; George W. Esders, Guide; W. R. Lewis, I. W .; Levi Forbis, O. W.

Liberty Lodge, No. 294, I. O. B. B., was organized in 1878, with twenty-two members. There are now twenty members. The present officers are : Sam Stern, President; S. Rosenthal, Vice-President ; 1. Altman, Secretary ; L. Rosenthal, Treasurer. The lodge meets the first and third Sundays of each month. Be- nevolence and charity are the purposes of this organization.

Division 1, A. O. H., was organized April 5, 1881, with twelve members, which number is now increased to seventy. The present officers are : John Deiley, Co. Del. ; Walter Birmingham, President; James McNulty, Vice-President; Thomas Holmes, Re- cording Secretary; Henry Bushell, Financial Secretary; Patrick Lynn, Treasurer. The division meets twice a month at Lynn's Hall.

Lincoln Camp, No. 109, M. W. A., was organized August 24, 1885, with seventeen members. There are now twenty- five mem - bers. The present officers are : Robert Humphrey, Consul ; S. L. Wallace, Adviser; J. H. Heald, Clerk ; H. G. Bramwell, Banker ; R. M. Wilson, Physician ;. H. C. Parker, Escort ; E. B. Maltby, Watchman ; E. L. Pegram, Sentry ; J. W. Spellman, F. L. Hutchins and R. N. Lawrance, Managers. The camp meets the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of each month at Odd Fellows' hall.

There are three temperance organizations well maintained-the W. C. T. U., C. T. U., and Y. W. C. T. U. There are also a num- ber of societies connected with the various churches.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Daniel Baldwin was born near Burlington, Boone County, Kentucky, August 27, 1814. His parents, Daniel and Mary Ann (Peek) Baldwin, were natives of Virginia and New Jersey, respect- ively, the former of German and the latter of English descent.

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He was reared on a farm in his native county, remaining there till 1833, when he came to Illinois. He followed farming in Tazewell County till 1850, when he came to Logan County and settled on a farm in Orvil Township, living there till 1870, when he rented his farm and retired from the active duties of life, and has since lived at Lincoln. He was first married to Hulda Ann Allen, of Logan County, March 10, 1841. She died September 10, 1844, leaving one child, David A., who died October 10, 1844, aged eighteen months. Mr. Baldwin was again married February 12, 1846, to Mrs. Sarah (Reed) Allen, daughter of John Reed, who came to Logan County in 1827. To this union were born three children-Catherine R., who died January 5, 1854, aged seven years; Mary Frances, wife of James E. Strode, of Nebraska, and Susan C., who died January 2, 1854, aged eighteen months. Mrs. Baldwin had by her former husband, Obid H. Allen, one child, Ann Eliza, who married Daniel B. Minster. Both are now de- ceased, and from 1862 until 1879 Mr. Baldwin was guardian of their daughter, Sarah A. E. Mr. Baldwin and his wife are mem- bers of the Predestinarian Baptist church of which he has served as deacon abont fifteen years, and for at least twenty years has served as moderator. While living in Orvil Township Mr. Bald- win was school director for twenty years, and eight years of that time also served as school trustee. He was also clerk and treasurer of the Board of Highway Commissioners for one term each. He has served as alderman of Lincoln one term.

George I. Bergen, dealer in books, stationery and musical mer- chandise, Lincoln, Ill., is a native of Menard County, Ill., born in Tallula, July 12, 1859. When he was eight years old his parents, James W. and Lucretia (Curry) Bergen, moved to Logan County and settled on a farm in Sheridan Township, and when he was twelve years old moved to Mason City. When he was thirteen he began clerking for a news stand in Mason City and was thus employed two years. When seventeen years of age he went to New Holland, Illinois, and was employed as clerk in the store of Burchett & Co. four years. In February, 1881, he came to Lin- coln and was employed as clerk in the book and stationery store of James H. Danley till June, 1885, when he became associated with B. H. Brainard in the book and stationery business under the firm name of George I. Bergen & Co. Mr. Bergen is a young man of good business ability and is building up a good trade. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He is a charter

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member of the Young Men's Christian Association, of which he has been secretary since its organization in April, 1884. In politics he is a Republican.

Herman Bollin, proprietor of Bollin's Soda and Mineral Water Bottling Works at Lincoln, was born in Richland, Sangamon County, Illinois, August 12, 1856, a son of John and Agnes (Schoen- dienst) Bollin. He came with his parents to Logan County in 1865, where he was reared on a farm in the vicinity of Lincoln, remaining at home till he grew to manhood. He was given a com- mon-school education, and began life for himself as a farmer in Chester Township, this county. He came to Lincoln in December, 1881, and the following spring he engaged in the grocery business at this place which he followed till October, 1882, since which he has been engaged in manufacturing soda and mineral waters. He was married at Lincoln, June 3, 1880, to Miss Lena Lower, of Spring- field, Illinois, and of the three children born to them only one, Flora, is living. George and Joseph died in infancy. Mr. Bollin is a member of the Catholic church. His wife is a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lincoln.

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 41

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