History of Macon County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 28

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : Brink, McDonough & Co.
Number of Pages: 340


USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 28


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The session of the Church as now constituted consists of Ruling Elders H. E. Kent, John Lyons, and Anderson Franklin, Mr. Kent being the clerk of session. The Church is free from debt, and reported to the last General Assembly a membership of one hundred and nine persons.


FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MACON.


The third Presbyterian Church in the county was organized by Rev. D. C. Marquis, at Macon, on the 12th of June, 1865, and was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Sangamon, (O. S.), on the 3d of October of the same year.


The organization took place at the school-house in the village, at which time twenty-six persons enrolled their names as members of the Church. Twenty of these were received by letter and six on profession of their faith and examination. Among the former were William W. Johnston and Marcia R. his wife, from Scaffold Prairie, Ind., William Gibson and Lucinda his wife from Cumber- land, Ohio, Mrs. Berthinda Kirkendall and her daughters, Glo- vinia and Rachel, from Corinth, Ohio, Patrick Gibson, Margaret his wife, and Mary A. their daughter, Mrs. Jane Highley from Logan, Ohio, Henry Highley and Mrs. Jane Collins from Buffalo, Ohio, George Gibson and Lucinda his wife from Hebron, Ohio, Mrs. Mary J. Royse from Putnam, Ohio, Mrs. Mary Cook from Little Valley, Pa., William A. Cochran and Julia his wife from Towanda, Ill., and Harvey Bray from Iowa. Among those who uni- tedon profession and examination were William Fish, Mrs. Frances Ruby, Mrs. Maria Hardcastle, Mrs. Catharine M. Conaughey and her daughter Mary, and Phoebe Murphy.


Of these members of the Church, Messrs. W. W. Johnston and William Gibson were elected Ruling Elders. The ordination and installation of these persons seem, from the records, to have been deferred until April thirteenth, 1866, when special services were held in the M. E. church at Macon for this purpose, and these persons were ordained and duly installed in office, and W. W. Johnston was made clerk of Session.


The first minister who served this Church was Rev. S. W. Mitchell, whose labors among thein began in the spring of 1866 and contin-


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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.


ucd until the summer of the year following. Under his ministry the Church enjoyed a good degree of prosperity; twenty-four persons having been added to the membership of the Church ; and the number of elders being increased by the clection and installation of Mr. S. H. Wilson. The congregation for want of a church edi- fice of their own were compelled to meet in various public places, and sometimes in the M. E. church in order to worship ; but steps were in the meantime taken to erect a building of their own, which we find them occupying in the autumn of 1867. Rev. Clarke Lowdon, about this time, entered into an arrangement to supply the Church, and remained as supply pastor for two years and some months. During his ministry Messrs. John D. Peter and John C. Baldridge were elected, ordained and installed Ruling Elders. It was about this time (March cighteenth, 1868,) that the Church was subject to very great loss in the destruction of their church building; which was wrecked during the prevalence of a very severe storm ; but instead of despairing they proceeded to make good their loss, and in a very short time we find them again occupying their own church edifice, though not finished till December, 1876, and dedicated September, 1877. The Church enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity while Rev. Lowdon ministered as their stated supply, some twenty- one members having been added to the Church. In 1871, S. D. Schoolfield was elected and installed Ruling Elder. The first in- stalled pastor of the Church was Rev. J. D. Jenkins ; his installation taking place on the sixth day of December, 1872. This pastoral relation was not of long duration, being dissolved at a meeting of Presbytery, on the ninth of September, to take effect on the first day of December, 1873. During this pastorate ten persons were added to the membership of the Church.


Subsequent to the resignation of Rev. Mr. Jenkins, the Church was only occasionally supplied with preaching. From the records we learn that on July seventeenth, 1875, the Church adopted the " term service eldership." Messrs. S. D. Schoolfield, S. H. Wilson, J. D. Peter and J. C. Baldridge were elected Ruling Elders-to serve in the order of their names ; the first, one year, and the last, four years. These persons were duly installed in office. From this date till January, 1878, the pulpit was supplied occasionally, when Rev .-- Thomas, of Normal, engaged to supply the Church for the next two or three months. After the termination of this engagement nothing permanent was done in the way of obtaining either pastor or stated supply until in the spring of the year 1879. Rev. J. W. Cecil took charge of the congregation as the stated sup- ply, and during the year the Church has been blessed with a good degree of prosperity ; there having been added to the Church, under his ministrations, seventeen persons; the greater number of whom are by profession of faith and examination. That his labors with this Church have been appreciated was manifested at a late meeting of the Presbytery at that place, when a unanimous call was presented to him by the members of the Church to become their pastor. This call he accepted, and he was duly installed pastor on the fourth day of July, of the present year. The Church reports a member- ship of sixty persons. The members of the Session are as follows : Messrs. J. C. Baldridge, J. D. Peter, S. S. Lewis, J. Gibson, W. H. Highly. J. C. Baldridge is the clerk of Session.


SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DECATUR.


This Church, (the fourth organization of a Presbyterian Church in the county, as to time) was organized in Decatur, January eighteenth, 1868, by Drs. D. H. Hamilton and W. D. Sanders, in Powers' Hall, where the Church subsequently continued to worship. This Church was organized in connection with the "New School General Assembly," and was composed of forty-two members from the First


Presbyterian Church of Decatur, two from the Ninth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, three from the Congregational Church, and two on profession of their faith in Christ. The term service of the eldership was adopted, and Messrs. Hazen Presscy, J. II. Lewis and George E. Morehouse were elected Ruling Elders. Messrs. J. S. Clark and W. M. Barrett were clceted Deacons. These persons were regularly inducted into their respective offices on the following Sabbath. This church was taken under the earc of the Presbytery of Illinois (N. S.) on the sixteenth day of April, 1868, and at the same meeting of the Presbytery presented a call to the Rev. A. L. Brooks to become their pastor. This call was accepted by him, and he was duly installed pastor of the church, Wednesday, May fifth, the same year. This pastorate continued until near the close of the year 1870-when, in view of the union of the Old and New School Branches of the Presbyterian Church it was concluded that the interests of Presbyterianism would be better conserved in Decatur by the union of the First and Second Churches, and Rev. Brooks resigned the pastorate of this church. This union being consum- mated December twenty-eighth, 1870, the sessions of the two churches became the session of the united church.


The Second Church under the pastoral care of Rev. A. L. Brooks enjoyed a good degree of prosperity ; there having been added to the membership of this church during his ministry of nearly two years, fifty-six persons.


THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


BY REV. WM. S. CRISSEY .*


At the Illinois Annual Conference, held at Edwardsville, Sept. 18th, 1829, the Rev. W. L. Denneen, a young man of promise and enterprise, was appointed to the newly formed Salt Creek Circuit in the Sangamon District, and Rev. Peter Cartwright, P. E. As the pioneer, he soon found the newly formed neighborhoods ; and in the fall of 1829, in the Stevens' Creek settlement, he organized the first class in Macon county, at the house of David Owen, near where the brick school-house on the Pulaski road now stands, two miles N. W. of Decatur, as the center of the society ; consisting of Buel, Luther, and Dorus Stevens and their wives, Joseph and James Stevens, David Owen and wife, and John Frazee and wife. During the fall and following year others were added ; as Jolın Miller and family, Isaac and Jonathan Miller and families. In 1830, the Rev. Alonzo Lapham and Margaret Lapham his wife, Doctor William T. Crissey and Margaret his wife, moved from Ed- gar county and joined the society. These were the first two local preachers in the county, and the latter the first resident physician.


The first Methodist camp-meeting was held in the fall of 1830, about where Esq. George Goodman now lives, and continued for several years ; thence was moved to what was called Mt. Gilead, near John Wilson's residence. In the fall of 1831, under Rev. Wilson Pitner, the society and regular preaching was transferred from Stevens' Creek neighborhood to Decatur. So far as is now known, the first sermon by a Methodist preacher in Decatur was in May, 1831, by Rev. W. S. Crissey, who came from Paoli Circuit, Ind., on a visit to his uncle, Dr. William T. Crissey. During the conference year of Rev. Mr. Denneen and that of Rev. A. E. Phelps, his successor, a young man of great worth and energy,


* I visited Decatur and Stevens' Creek in May, 1831, preaching at both places ; also in fall of 1831, and once or oftener every year, as the rule, till in 1839 I came to reside in Decatur. I have also consulted the old settlers now living, and documents and other authorities, that statements may be reliable.


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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.


(which included the winter of the deep snow,) all available places were visited, and preaching places and classes established, thus laying the foundation for all future work in the county. The first four years made a part of "Salt Creek Circuit ;" next five years, a part of " Athens Circuit," a village in Sangamon county. In 1838, Rev. David Coulson was appointed to " Decatur Cir- cuit." The whole county (and at first other territory) was included under this name, till 1854, when Decatur was made a station, be- ing twenty-five years in all.


The first Methodist church built in the county was under the ad- ministration of Rev. Moses Clampit, in the fall of 1834, in Decatur, a frame 25x30; it was used several years in an unfinished state, with słabs and benches for seats. The lot was donated by James Renshaw and a bond given, but the deed was not executed till June 25th, 1839, with the following names as the first board of trustees for M. E. C. in the county, to wit : Buel Stevens, Luther Stevens, James F. Montgomery, William Greenfield, J. M. Fordice, Daniel Stickel, Alonzo Lapham. When the writer came to reside in De- catur, September 20th, 1839, by special effort the church was fin- ished and seated. Prior to the erection of this, the first building for church purposes in Decatur, the old "Log Court-house " was used as the place for all preaching. The circuit for many years was very large-three hundred miles around it ; it was gradually curtailed, till in 1842 it was mostly confined to the county, with eight and ten regular appointments, Decatur having every other Sabbatlı, and Long Creek and some other place the other Sabbath. The other places were all visited during the week. During thesc years there was a regular growth with the population, till in 1854 Decatur was made a station. "Sabbath preaching," instead of the " week-day," was gradually introduced, necessitating new divisions, as indicated by the new names mentioned. Of the several revivals, the one special for Decatur, with its few hundred population, was during the year of the Rev. W. S. Crissey's labors-a protracted mecting, beginning February 3d, and continuing six weeks. Some seventy professed conversion, and about the same number were added to the church. A bright star, as the fruit of this meeting, were the families and persons converted of Baptist parentage, who aided all through the meeting ; and, after its close, wisely followed early proclivities in calling to their aid Elder H. W. Dodge, of Springfield, for membership : and in due time the organization of the Baptist Church, thus born in a revival. May it ever so continue Amen.


NAMES OF THE PREACHERS FOR THIS WORK FOR 25 YEARS.


* 1829, Wm. L. Denneen ; 1830, Asabel E. Phelps ; 1831, Wilson Pitner ; 1832, Levi Springer ; 1833, James H. Dickens; Emanuel Metcalf; 1834, Moses Clampit ; 1835, Moses Clampit and S. P. Burr ; 1836, Richard Bird and Moses Wood ; 1837, Levi Springer; 1838, David Coulson ; 1839, Elijah Knox; 1840, Arthur Brad- shaw ; 1841, Norman Allin; 1842, W. S. Crissey ; 1843, John Mathers ; 1844, Michael Shunk ; 1845-6, Richard Bird ; 1847-8, Calvin W. Lewis; 1849, Joel Goodrich the 1st } year, Reuben Andrus, last 3 of the year ; 1850, Thomas A. Eaton ; 1851-2, James C. Rucker ; 1853, S. T. Sterrett and D. Bardrick.


For convenience we will, of necessity, very briefly, allude to the farther progress of the M. E. Church in Decatur. In 1853, under the labors of Rev. J. C. Rucker, a new and commodious brick church was erected, 40 by 60 ft., with a basement story, built under the supervision of E. O. Smith, the contractor, costing lot


and all $10,000. It was dedicated in 1854 by Rev. Jonathan Stamper and Rev. - Wilson of Springfield. The first sta- tioned minister was Rev. Reuben Andrus ; he found 84 members, and returned 120 and 20 probationers.


There were two special revivals in this Church. The first under Rev. J. Montgomery in the winter of 1855-6. The second, a very marked revival under Rev. Levi Pitner's first year, in the winter of 1866-7. The Church becoming too small, in the Centennial efforts of 1866, the present edifice was projected and erected in 1868, worshiping at first in the basement, finally finished, costing in all, with the lot, $65,000, and formally dedicated, Sunday, January 14th, 1872, by Rev. T. M. Eddy, D. D., of Baltimore. Outside dimensions 84 by 120 ft., audience room 60 by 87 ft. Lo- cation corner of Water and William streets.


Pastors of First M. E. Church in Decatur from 1854 to 1880- 26 years .- 1854, Reuben Andrus; 1855-6, J. Montgomery ; 1857, Robt. E. Guthrie; 1858, Jonathan Stamper; 1859-60, R. W. Travis; 1861, Jesse A. Moore ; 1862-3, Robert Hyner ; 1864-5, Hiram Buck; 1866-7, Levi C. Pitner; 1868, J. I. Davidson ; 1869-71, J. H. Noble ; 1872, N. P. Heath ; 1873, W. N. McElroy ; 1874-5, W. H. Reed; 1876-7, James Leaton; 1878-9, W. R. Goodwin.


Stapp's Chapel Society was organized Dec., 1866, at the Franklin Street Church, formerly used by the Protestant Methodist Church. The Rev. A. Bradshaw and Rev. A. B. Cochran serving as their pastors till the session of the Annual Conference of 1867, when L. B. Carpenter was their minister. Stapp's Chapel was erected on corner of Franklin and Eldorado sts., 48 by 90 feet, at a cost of, including lot, $30,000, and dedicated June, 1868, by Rev. H. Buck, D. D.


Pastors at Stapp's Chapel from 1867 to 1880 .- 1867-9, L. B. Carpenter; 1870-1, H. O. Hoffman; 1872-4, W. Stevenson; 1875-6, W. D. Best; 1877-8, S. McBurney ; 1878-9, G. W. Miller.


Jayne's Chapel Society was organized Oct., 1876, in West Mission Church. The building was removed to W. Main st., and remodeled, costing, with lot, $2000, and dedicated February 25, 1877, by Bishop Thomas Bowman. First pastor, Rev. J. R. Locke.


The German M. E. Church of Decatur was organized in the spring of 1856, with the following members, to wit; I. I. Shobe, C. Muller, George Buhner, Louis Hoffman, Anton Holderback, F. Kochahues, John Ritter, local preacher, and George Simon, class- leader. The Church was built in 1862. Dedicated by Rev. H. F. Koeneke. The Sunday-school organized in the summer of 1856. Pastors from 1856 to 1880 .-- 1856, R. Shobe ; 1856-7, F. W. Neid- ermeyer; 1858-9, C. Holtkamp; 1860-1, Henry Naumann ; 1862-3, Philip Naumann; 1864, George Buehner ; 1865-6, John Ritter ; 1867-9, Louis Harmel ; 1870, Jacob Tanner ; 1871, J. H. Hilmes; 1872-3, J. Baumgarten ; 1874-6, George J. Kellar; 1877-9, Wm. Schultz. $850 given this Conference yearly for benevolent purposes ; and during the two years a good brick parsonage has been built at a cost of $1500.


For convenience we will here include the Boody German M. E. Church, which was organized in October, 1855, at the house of Wm. Sleeter, by Rev. Philip Kuhl. It was connected in the same charge with Decatur till 1871. First members were Frederick Neintker and wife, Wm. Sleeter and wife, J. H. Fahrenhorst and wife, A. Jahn, Wmn. Heide, Herman Dingworth, H. Muller, Fred- erick Behle, John Pistorious, H. Sothmann, H. Dillbrugge.


The Church was built in 1865, and dedicated by Rev. H. Lahrmann.


* NOTE .- The Conference year dates from September (about the middle of the month) till September of the year following; this must always be kept in mind, to avoid the error of including 2 of the year with the figures given.


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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.


Pastors for Boody Church .- 1871, I. Tanner; 1872-3, Frederick Heinz; 1874, Charles Schlinger; 1875, Philip Naumann ; 1876-7, Philip Hehner ; 1878, E. R. Ernscher; 1879, E. W. Simon.


The following have been the presiding elders, first for Quincy district, and then the Belleville district, to wit : Philip Kuhl, H. F. Koenekc, H. Larhmann, G. Timken, Philip Naumau, John Schlagenhouf, William Kocneke and Charles Rodenberg.


The African M. E. Church of Decatur was organized in 1863 by El- der F. Myers, with six members, and has increased largely by emigra- tion from the South to its present membership of seventy. The church was erected in 1865, at a cost of $1,000. Sunday-school began in '66, with Isaac Rogan as the first superintendent.


Decatur circuit is now (A. D. 1880) composed of four Sabbath appointments : First, Blue Mound Society ; this was the second class, formed by the Rev. W. L. Denneen, either in the fall of 1829 or early in 1830, at the house of Ben- jamin Wilson, the same location as is now occupied by F. A. Brown, Esq., with the following members: Benjamin Wil- son, Jane Wilson, Jemima Hill, Nancy Hill, Elizabeth Aun Hill, Jemima R. Hill, Hannah Blankinship, Rachel Hill, Eleanor Warnick and Temperance Stanfield. Rev. Henry A. Pasley moved from Kentucky to this county, May 25th, 1834; he was the third local preacher in the county, and became superintendent of their Sunday-school soon afterwards. Circuit preaching was at his house for many years.


The Blue Mound Chapel was erected in 1863 at a cost of $1,848, and dedicated by Rev. H. Buck, D. D. The trustees were Robert A. Pasley, John Myers, F. A. Brown, J. W. Burke, C E. Conard, F. A. Bowdle, and F. Neintker. Second. Long Creek Society was in all probability the third class formed in the county, about 1830 or 1831. Jacob Myers and wife were among the first members ; either then or soon afterwards were Israel Flora and wife, James Wallace and family, Philip Turpin and wife; and in 1837, John Stickel, Sen. and family. Their church was built under the labors of C. W. Lewis, their pastor, in 1848, dedicated by Rev. J. S. Barger. It was burned on the night before Thanksgiving, 1863. The present church was built in 1865, and dedicated by Rev. H. Buck, D. D. Third. Mount Gilead Society was formed in 1836 or '37. Preaching was for many years in the log school-house, near the residence of John Wilson. Members : Robert Montgomery, Sr. and family, Benjamin Wilson and wife, John Wilson and wife, with others then and soon afterwards. Their church, like " Long Creek," was erected under the administration of Rev. C. W. Lewis, in 1848, and removed from Gilead to Elwin in 1874, under the labors of Rev. T. D. M. Weems, pastor. Fourth. Mt. Zion, or as at first called, "Sulphur Spring Society," is mentioned in the records of the quarterly conference, for the first time, Saturday, January 3d, 1857, as a separate appointment, its membership before in Mt. Gilead Society. This was under the labors of Rev. R. C. Norton and S. S. Russel. Increased prosperity led to the erection of their church in 1865, under the labors of Rev. W. Johnson, and dedicated his second year, September, 1866, by Rev. Peter Wallace. Removed from Sulphur Springs to Mt. Zion in 1874, under the labors of their pastor, Rev. T. D. M. Weems.


Pastors of Decatur Circuit from September, 1854, to September 15th, 1880-26 years .- 1854, Alexander Semple ; 1855, C. W. Munsell ; 1856, R. C. Norton and S. S. Russel ; 1857, R. C. Norton and J. F. Everly ; 1858, Preston Wood and W. C. Lacy ; 1859, James Shaw and T. C. Lapham ; 1860, A. Bradshaw and W. C. Lacy ; 1861, A. Bradshaw ; 1862-'63, J. A. Dimmitt ; 1864, J. Montgom- ery ; 1865-'66, W. E. Johnson ; 1867-'69, J. R. Locke and R. W.


Travis, (sup'y ) ; 1870-'71, Ira Emmerson ; 1872, J. H. Kabrick ; 1873-'75, T. D. Weems; 1876, P. L. Turner ; 1877, J. A. Dim- mitt ; 1878-'79, A. C. Armentrout.


Maroa circuit formed from the N. E. part of Decatur Circuit in 1858 ; Rev. J. F. Everly their first preacher. Maroa Society or- ganized first in Bell Prairie, in 1857, under Rev. R. C. Norton, and moved to Maroa in 1860. Services were held in the school- house till 1867, when the present church was erected at a cost of $2,000, under the labors of the Rev. H. Tryon ; dedicated by Rev. R. W. Travis, P. E. John Orr, Joseph Joncs, Sr., Josephi Joncs, Jr., J. C. Beatty and B. F. Ives were the trustecs ; Edward Jones their first Sunday-school superintendent.


Pustors from 1858 to September 1880-22 years .- 1858, J. F. Everly ; 1859, C. G. Bradshaw ; 1860, W. B. Anderson ; 1861, S. S. Meginnis ; 1862, G. H. Adams ; 1863, W. H. Smith and T. S. Johnson ; 1864, T. S. Johnson ; 1865, M. A. Rice; 1866, H. S. Tryon ; 1867, N. S. Buckner ; 1868, A. Semple ; 1869-'70, J. Pel- latt; 1871, S. H. Whitlock ; 1872, J. W. Crane; 1873-'74, T. D. N. Simmons ; 1875-'77, T. Hines ; 1878-'79, W. R. Howard.


Summit, first as a class of Stevens' Creek Society, and then for several years as a separate preaching place till moved to Harris- town, appears on the quarterly conference record for the first time, December 12th, 1857, as having $45 apportioned as its amount to raise for the support of their preachers, Revs. R C. Norton and S. S. Russel.


The first members were D. S. Allen, D. Masters, Luther Tolbert, A. C. Willard, W. C. Bullard, and their families.


The Harristown circuit was organized in 1863, from the west part of Decatur county, north of the river. The appointments on the Quarterly Record were: Harristown, Stevens' Creek, Niantic, Illiopolis and Morgan's ; Rev. John Staples their first preacher. The church was erected in 1863, at a cost of $1,600 ; dedicated by Rev. Robert Hyner, of Decatur; Sunday-school organized the first Sabbath in August, 1863; David Masters, superintendent. Sharon Chapel is now (1880) the only other appointment in the circuit ; under the name of Stevens' Creek, it was the first class formed in the county, but changed to Decatur. In 1848, under the labors of the Rev. J. C. Rucker, it was re-organized as the fruit of a special revival. Building at first a small church, now a very commodious chapel.


First board trustees Glenn Church, S. W. Cox, Ira A. Stockton, Peter Troutman and Jacob Kaylor.


Pastors .- John Staples, 1863-4; William T. Bennett, 1865 ; J. R. Locke, 1866; J. C. Dayley, 1867-8; R. Gregg, 1869-71 ; J. B. Colwell, 1872-74; D. E. May, 1875-77; W. Murphy, 1878; E. B. Randle, 1878.


Macon Society was organized in 1860, with eight members ; Rev. S. S. Russel, pastor ; soon building a good church and parsonage. Other appointments are included in the circuit. From 1860 to 1865 Macon was included in the Moawequa charge.


Pastors .- Peter Wallace, 1865-6; A. Semple, 1867; I. Barber, 1868; Leonard Smith, 1869-70 ; J. Villars, 1871-72: P. C. Car- roll, 1873-74; J. H. Dimmitt, 1875; J. B. Colwell, 1876-78 ; D. E. May, 1879.


The Blue Mound charge consist of, (1st). Blue Mound Society, organized in the winter of 1871, by the Rev. J. W. Warfield, with Joshua Barrick, class leader ; Jane Barrick, Samuel Henchie, Hannah Bergie, J. K. Hardy, Maria Hardy, Emily Davis, M. Ramsburg, Mary Thompson, A. J. Bowen, Lucretia Bowen, E. B. Eicholtz, L. E. Eicholtz, as members. The church was built in 1877;


14


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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.


dedicated by Rev. H. Buck, D. D .; the Sunday-school organized in 1877, J. W. Warfield, superintendent.


(2d). Of Bethel Society, two miles north of Blue Mound ; or- ganized in 1870 by Rev. J. W. Warfield ; the first members, Wm. White, class-leader; Annie White, A. C. Stevens, Steward Mit- chell, Smith Steward, Sarah Smith, Samuel Terry, Elizabeth Terry, M. V. Robins, Emily Robins, John Robins, Nancy Robins, Sarah Black, Harriet Wilson, R. Demery, Mary Demery, W. L. Nichols Mary Nichols, Thomas Gabriel, Jane Gabriel, George Demery, R. Payne, E. E. Lemon, E. Lemon. The church was built in 1870, at a cost of $2,500, and dedicated by Rev. Peter Wallace ; the Sunday-school organized in 1870, W. L. Nichols, superintendent. Rev. G. D. Furber served as pastor, 1876, 1877 and 1878-three years; Rev. J. K. Crawford in 1879.




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