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 29
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Warrensburg Society organized by Rev. T. J. N. Simmons, March 7, 1874, with twenty-seven members; their church, built at a cost of $3,000, dedicated by Bishop Thomas Bowman, July 19, 1874, with P. F. Lehman, John A. Conely, Alonzo Disbrow, Josiah P. Sibthorp, Thomas Sterret, Jacob Major, D. N. Dunlap, William Ritchie and Z. Boughn, as trustees. The Sunday-school organized in the spring of 1874, J. Conely, superintendent.
Forsyth Society which was before in the Maroa charge, but is now a part of the Warrensburg work, has a respectable member- ship and a church building.
Oakley has a small class, first organized in 1858, by Rev. J. F. Everly, and is still hoping for a brighter future history.
Wesley Chapel Society, on Friends' Creek, was organized by Rev. C. W. Lewis, in June, 1849; first members, Hiram Warner, class-leader; Archibald Lowry, Sarah Lowry, Mary Corn, Josialı W. Kyle, Mary Kyle; Sunday-school organized by their pastor, C. W. Lewis, with Archibald Lowry, superintendent; church built in the fall of 1859 ; cost $1,430; dedicated by Rev. Jonathan Stamper ; trustees, James Rhineheart, O. L. Stewart, Samuel Miles, J. W. Kizer, Olmer Osborn.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
No. of
Churches.
Probable
value.
Parsonages.
Probable
No. of Church
Probationers.
No. of Sunday-
schools.
Officers and
Teachers.
No. of Scholars.
Decatur Ist Church
1
$55,000
432
12
1
41
385
Decatur Stapp's Chapel.
1
30,000.
1 $2500
190
16
1
28
200
Decatur Jayne's Chapel.
1
2500
1 2500
2×7
10
4
300
Maroa Circuit.
2000
144
18
3
26
200
Harristown Circuit.
2
3000
1 1000
105
......
2
15
80
Macon Circuit
1
2200
1
800
280
28
3
52
323
Blue Mound Circuit
2
3700
5000
1 1000
140
12
2
16
146
Oakley. .
1
1430
80
1
14
80
Decatur, German.
1
1509
1 1500
72
7
1
14
45
Boody, German M. E. C.
1
1500
1
1000
85
10
- 1
16
85
Decatur African M. E. C.
1
1000
70
1
9
50
19 $116,330 7 £10,300
2061
113 23 293
2103
19 Churches, 25 preaching places, 13 pastors and 13 local preachers.
There have been raised in the county, during the preceding ten years, for the support of the Gospel; for salary of pastors, presid- ing Elders, Bishops, superannuate and necessitous, $95,615.00. For Missions, $8159. General objects, as Bible, tract, Sunday-schools, education, church extension, frecdmen, &c., $5880. Total, $109,654.
Presiding Elders having oversight of the work in Macon county and other territory from Sept. 18, 1829, to Sept. 15, 1880-51 years.
Sangamon District. Peter Cartwright. 1829-31
Sangamon District. .Simon Peter. 1832-33
Chicago District.
John Sinclair 1834
Sangamon District.
.John Sinclair. 1835
Sangamon District ..
. Peter Cartwright 1836-38
Bloomington District.
S. W. D. Chase ... 1839
Springfield District
Peter Akers
1840-43
Bloomington District
Peter Cartwright
1844-46
Bloomington District.
John S. Barger 1847-50
Bloomington District
.C. D. James 1851-52
Bloomington District
Geo. W. Fairbank 1853-54
Bloomington District
Hiram Buck
1855-57
Decatur District.
Hiram Buck
1858-60
Decatur District
R. W. Travis 1861-64
Decatur District ...
Jesse H. Moore. 1865-67
Decatur District.
H. Buck
1868
Decatur District
James I. Davidson 1869
Decatur District.
C. P. Baldwin
1870-71
Decatur District
W. S. Prentice 1872-75
Decatur District.
Hiram Buck
1876-79
CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
BY N. S. HAYNES.
When the American heroes of 1776 were about to declare the colonies free and independent states, they said that a decent regard for the opinions of mankind should lead them to give the reasons for such a step. So an enlightened public sentiment is demanding of every religious body the reasons for its existence. If it is not doing a work that is essentially peculiar and distinctive-and necessary for the good of human kind as well-then common sense dictates that such a religious body should cease to exist ; for, why multiply agencies for the accomplishment of a certain end when such a multiplication only defeats the purpose by weakening the means employed? If, therefore, this body of Christians cannot answer well at the bar of enlightened public sentiment and honest reason, it ought to die. What then are its positions, principles and purposes ? While this church holds much truth in common with others, yet it has its distinctive features that give it its right to live. With others it holds the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures; the revelation of God's will and character in them; the Divinity and Christhood of Jesus ; forgiveness of sins through his atonement; faith in the Christ and obedience to his authority as the necessary human agencies in the formation of Christian char- acter; the resurrection of the dead; and the doctrine of future retribution. The peculiar features of this church are these :- that while believing the Old Testament is the word of God and neces- sary in order to a right understanding of the New, yet the Old is not our rule in life, because it was never given, as such, to us Gentiles, and because it has been supplanted by the New Testa- ment; that the Scriptures are all-sufficient to make the man of God perfect, and hence the rejection of all human creeds as schismatical and sinful; that in religious teaching we hold the "form of sound words," rejecting all unscriptural terms, as Trinity, et id omne genus, and all unbiblical names; hence, the nickname "Campbell- ite" is unauthorized and offensive; that conversion is not the mysterious and direct impact of the Holy Spirit on the sinner's soul, but his turning from sin to the Saviour, the proof of conversion being a Christian life; and that an inquirer after salvation must always be answered, according to his condition, in the exact words of the inspired oracles for such cases made and provided : that the ordinances, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, must be observed as given by the Christ and his apostles without change; that all of God's people should be united in " one body," as in the primi- tive and apostolic church, in order that they may the more effi-
2
20
150
Warrensburg Circuit
9
7200
41
1
10
65
Decatur Circuit ...
4
value.
members.
118
18
Wesley Chapel.
107
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ciently do their Master's work and turn the world in faith to Him. " Where the Bible speaks we speak, and where the Bible is silent we are silent," is a cardinal maxim. To go back to "the begin- ning" of the church, to make our teaching and practice, in all matters essential, coincide with that of the inspired apostles, is the aim of this religious body. This, our plea, has made wonderful progress in the past fifty years. From a very feeble folk we have grown to 500,000 in the United States, besides large and flourish- ing churches in Australia and New Zealand. Our missionaries are at work in Jamaica, England, Denmark, Norway, France and Turkey. As many were added to this church in the United States as to the Methodist Episcopal church in the same territory in the year 1879. The influence of this divine plea has reached all classes of society, and this denomination has two members in the United States Senate and twelve in the House of Representatives, besides other names with a national reputation. It publishes fif- teen papers and periodicals and a large number of tracts and books. Its members have under their control thirty-eight schools of all classes, one-half of which are academies, colleges and univer- sities of a good grade. The history of this church in Macon county is as follows :-
DECATUR CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The writer has never been able to find the old records of this society, but these facts have been gathered with care from authen- tic sources. With two exceptions this is the oldest religious body in Macon county. It was organized in the fall of the year 1834 by Joseph Hostetler, a minister of the gospel, and the first of this denomination to preach in this county. He was a man of great faith and energy, and earnestly devoted to the cause of truth. A biography of this man of God may be seen in a book entitled "The Pioneer Preachers of Indiana." He conveyed, by deed, to the church that he organized here two acres of land where our court-house now stands. The charter members were the following :- Thomas Cowan and wife, Warren G. Strickland and wife, Stephen Shepperd and wife, Harry Snyder and wife, Charlotte Turpin and Elizabeth Howell. These have all passed from earth. Among the first added to the infant church were Dr. J. G. Spear and wife, Henry Wheeler aud Elizabeth Cantrell, a former wife of William Cantrell, one of our old remaining landmarks. The first name of this or- ganization was " Christian Baptist Church," but it soon afterward as- sumed a name more in harmony with its aims and ends. This church was constituted in the old court-house that then stood on the spot of ground now occupied by The Herald office. The year following its formation it built a house for public worship. That it was a substantial building is evident from the fact that it still remains. It was made of logs, puncheons and clapboards, and is now, as at the first, located on the north-east corner of Wood and Water streets, and is owned and used by Samuel Powers as a stable for horses. For twenty-one years did that old style house do splendid service for the Lord's people. There Joseph Hostetler, J. W. Tyler, H. Bowles, G. A. Patterson and others made "the old Jerusalem gospel" ring out in stentorian tones from as earnest and loyal hearts as ever throbbed. There Aunt Judy Oglesby-of blessed memory - Mrs. J. W. Tyler, Sr., and scores of others, publicly confessed the Saviour and began to follow him. Those were the days of primitive simplicity. But as the years went railroads came. Decatur, awakened out of her long sleep, shook herself and began to grow. Hence, in 1855 the old house was abandoned for a brick, which as compared with the old, was both commodious and elegant. It stood on the north-east corner of North-Main and North streets. At the end of twenty years it had
Chambers, E. C. Weckley, S. B. Lindsley. J. Hall and A. P. Cobb, become old, dingy, uninviting and out of style; hence it was removed, and the present neat and comfortable building took its place. The property is valued at $10,000. The following are the names of the preachers that have ministered to this congregation and the order in which they came :- Joseph Hostetler, J. W. Tyler, B. W. Henry, Robert Foster, J. P. Lancaster, James Fan- ning, G. W. Patterson, W. P. Bowles, William Morrow, H. Bowles, Tobias Grider, A. J. Kanc, W. B. Happy, William Ebert, Dr. John Hughes, W. C. Dawson, P. D. Vermillion, Ira Mitchell, Lucius Ames, A. D. Northcutt, and N. S. Haynes. The annals of the struggles and labors of many of these, though perished from the memory of man, are written in the book of life. There have sprung from this church the Antioch, and a section of the Harris- town congregations. In the forty-six years of its life hundreds have removed and found religious homes elsewhere. In June, 1855, E. McNabb, very soon after his settling here, organized the first Sunday-school under the direction of this church in the county, with sixty attendants. The present membership is about two hundred. It pays $75 per year for current expenses and $10 or more for missions. The present membership of the church is two hundred and sixty, which includes the regulars and the irregu- lars. Current expenses are $1,000, with $100 for missions and systematic benevolences. Three preachers, the pastor excepted, hold membership here, namely, Dr. L. A. Engle, P. W. Hum- phrey, and E. C. Weekley. These have all done good service for the Master. The lady' members have a missionary society that is doing a good work. The official board now consists of the pastor, N. S. Haynes ; Elders, W. E. Nelson, M. Glove, E. McNabb, and J. W. Rogers ; Deacons, B. O. McReynolds, R. L. Evans, Jesse Leforgee, J. T. Gates, and P. F. Bell. The great need of this con- gregation now is a scriptural and business-like administration of its affairs.
LONG POINT CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This congregation, two miles south of Niantic, was organized November 21st, 1850, by John Powell, an Evangelist, with fourteen members, seven of whom are still living. Its first officers were, Nathan G. Averett, Elder, and James Sanders, Deacon. Its reg- ular preachers have been W. A. Mallory, A. J. Kane, William Springer, John Hughes, A. D. Northcutt, Prof. B. J. Radford, Dr. L. A. Engle and John L. England, the last of whom is the present minister, and has been serving this church regularly for twelve years. About four hundred persons have been connected with this church since its formation. Its present membership in full fel- lowship is sixty-nine. The house of worship was built in 1856, and cost $800, but is now in bad condition. There is no Sunday-school connected with.this congregation, and never has been; all the other churches of this faith have schools. Current church expenses are an unknown quantity. The present officers are Thomas Lawton, as Elder, and A. C. Hawks, as Deacon. The man who has exerted a wide influence for good in this congregation, and to whom it is, perhaps, more indebted than any other, is James Dingman. He is one of the most substantial and actively reliable men of the com- munity or county.
ANTIOCH CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This congregation is located five miles east of Decatur on the line of the I. D. & S. Ry. It was organized in October, 1859, by Elder J. W. Tyler, with twenty-six members. The officers chosen were, James C. Rucker and J. W. Tyler for Elders, and Daniel Harmon and Theodore Tyler for Deacons. The following named preachers have served this church : J. W. Tyler, John Sconse, G. B.
108
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the present preacher. The organization was made in a public school-house, but iu the following year the present house was built at a cost of $1000, which is its present value. A Sunday-school was begun about the same time with near fifty attendants, which continues, except iu the bad weather of winter, with about the same number. This church and Suuday-school have lost heavily for a country place by deaths and removals. The membership of the church is now fifty, with current expenses of $200. One hundred aud twenty persons have belonged here. This little church has the honor of giving to our time two of its most useful ministers, name- ly, B. B. Tyler, pastor Fourth and Waluut street Christian church, Louisville, Ky., and J. Z. Tyler, pastor of the Seventh street Christian church, Richmond, Va.
OREANA CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church was organized at Zion school-house, three miles north-east of the village of Orcana, iu 1860, by Dr. J. W. Thayer and J. S. Clough, Elders. The charter members were sixteen in number, as follows: William Boyer, Lydia Boyer, A. A. Hooker, Emily J. Hooker, James Munns, Pansey Munns, Elvira Scamon, Benson Green, Sarah Green, James Allen, William Bowman, Castila Duvall, John Myers, Lovina Myers, Caleb Jones, and Elizabeth Jones. These persons had previously held 'membership in a church at Newburg, which had disbanded through removals. The officers chosen were, for Ellers, William Boyer and William Bowman; for Deacon, John Myers. The congregation continued to worship at the school-house until 1874, when it built the house of worship iu the village of Oreaua which it now occupies, moving into it November 29th, of that year. The following preachers have preached for this church : Dr. J. B. Millison for eight years; Joseph Cain in 1869; William Bowman from 1870-3; E. C. Weekley 1874-5; G. W. Thompson in 1876; and J. W. Tyler, the present preacher, began his work there in February, 1878. A Sunday- school was organized in April, 1875, with fifty-two attendants. It continues its work steadily with an attendance now of sixty-five, paying its current expenses, which are $15. J. J. McCarrihan is the superintendent. The whole number connected with this church since it was established is one hundred and twenty-five. The pres- ent membership is eighty. Its current expenses are $225, besides $11 for missions, which is a good indication. The value of the church property is $1500. Sixty families attend worship here. The offi- cers are, Elders, William Boyer, J. J. McCarrihan, and Andrew Moothart; Deacons, Benjamiu Speucer and Paul Noble. This church has a large number of substantial men and women, and its futurc is full of hope.
HARRISTOWN CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
On March 15th, 1861, W. A. Mallory, a minister, organized the following named persons into the above-named church, viz. : Geo. Campbell, J. C. Hamilton, Martha D. Egman, Isaac Egman, Joseph D. McGuire, A. G. Herrcll, A. J. Miller, Lewis J. Egman, J. H. Pickrell, Nancy C. Anderson, A. C. Willard, R. M. Hamilton, Nancy H. Hobbs, Samuel H. Anderson, Reuben Mallory, J. M. Egman, Catherine McGuire, Ellenor F. Averett, Jacob Hobbs, and John F. Averett. Onc part of these had previously met for public worship at a school-house, two miles north of where Harristown now stands, and the other part at a point three miles south-east of the same village. Lewis J. Egmau and Reuben Mallory were chosen elders, and Jos. D. McGuire and Jos. C. Hamilton deacons of the new church. The following have been its pastors: W. A. Mal- lory, one year ; A. J. Kane, three years ; N. S. Bastiau, one year ; W. T. Maupin began in May, 1867, and served five years ; J. G.
Waggoner, began in June, 1872, and served five aud a half years ; and G. M. Goode, the present minister, whose services began in January, 1878. These were all prudent and faithful men, highly esteemed aud greatly beloved by their people ; and the church has had a coutinuous and healthy growth under their very efficient labors. Revivals, or rather protracted meetings, in this church have been conducted by these preachers: J. H. Hughes in 1861, B. B. Tyler in September, 1862, at which meeting sixty-six persons were added to the church in fourteen days, also at a ten-days' meet- ing held by him in the same month of the next year thirty were, added; C. F. Short in November, 1865 ; W. R. Jewell in November; 1866; A. D. Northcutt in October, 1871, twenty-four were added ; aud by D. P. Henderson in November 1876. The first house of public worship occupied by this congregation was removed from a point three miles south-east of the village, and its value was about $300. The building now in use was completed and first occupied in the spring of 1865. The property is valued at $4,000. In 1872 a neat and convenient parsonage was bought at a cost of $2,000. The Sunday-school of this church was begun at the same date as the formation of the church in 1861, and has continued in uninterrupted efforts, except during two or three winters, until the present. It began with thirty per- sous, aud now numbers one hundred. It officers are W. D. Cham- berlain, superiutendeut, and Miss A. W. Pickrell, secretary and treasurer. It contributes to missions in the way of work in the surrounding neighborhood and of sending money away from home, besides paying $65 as its own current expense. The whole number of persons having held membership in this church from its orgaui- zation to date is five hundred and sixty. Many members have re- moved, but they are aiding in the upbuilding of the cause iu other communities both uear and far, while a goodly company have ceased from their labor and entered into their rest. The present member- ship is one hundred and sixty-four, representing eighty families, to all of which, and even more, this church ministers in righteous- ness, love, and hope. For the current year it is paying for home work $1,200, for missious $120, exclusive of private contributious, which aggregate a handsome sum. The lady members carry on a missionary society among themselves, which is auxiliary to a foreign society. The present officers are the pastor, G. M. Goode ; elders, J. G. Willard, J. M. Egman, and J. H. Pickrell ; deacous, Joseph D. McGuire, I. F. Peck, R. T. Cann, T. J. Scroggins, and John D. McGuire. The management of this church has always been scrip- tural, wise, and just ; hence it has enjoyed a vigorous growth and exerted a wide influence for good. To-day, counting among her membership many of the leading families of the community, it is a tower of strength and a potent factor for good.
MAROA CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The society here was formed May 4th, 1862, by A. N. Page, a minister, at the residence of Dr. J. W. Thayer, with twenty-four members, as follows : J. S. Clough, Samuel Potter, Hannah Potter, Oliver J Harlin, A. J. Metlin, J. A. C. Rose, Helen Rose, A. J. Taudy, Sarah J. Taudy, John W. Thayer, Catherine M. Thayer, Miss M. J. Williams, Elizabeth Armstrong, A. D. Wysong, M. M. Thomas, Emily Thomas, Thomas Hedger, Jane Hedger, Mary J. Hedger, Miss Harriet Hedger, Miss Annie E. Williams, and B. W. Campbell. Nearly all of these previously held their membership in the Texas church in De Witt county. J. S. Clough and M. M. Thomas were chosen elders, and O. J. Harlin and Samuel Potter deacons. Meetings were conducted by the members at their differ- cnt residences on Lord's-days and Wednesday evenings for a year. In 1863 J. W. Tyler was engaged to preach for the young church oue-fourth of the time. About this time meetings began to be held
109
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
in the public school-house. The following named preachers have ministered to this congregation : John L. Wilson in 1864, G. B. Chambers in 1865, J. W. Tyler in 1866, T. W. Dunkerson in 1867, George Owens in 1868-9, J. Q. A. Houston in 1870, who died at his place of duty in September of that year ; J. V. Beckman began his pastorate in May, 1871, and continued (with some interruptions) for five years, during which time many were added to the congre- gation ; E. J. Hart in 1877, L. M. Robinson in 1878, and J. V. Beckman, although not living here, is now preaching for the church one Lord's-day in each month. Profitable and successful meetings have been held by Charles Roe, H. W. Everest, President of Eureka College, and G. W. Sweeny. In May, 1868, the first steps were taken toward building a house of worship. The house was raised and enclosed, but not finished, in which condition it was used for two years ; it was then plastered, seated, and painted, but not completed, and still remains unfinished. Its value is $3,000, with an indebtedness of $900. A Sunday-school was organized in 1868, with fifty attendants. It has continued without cessation to the present time, paying its own expenses, which for the current year are $45. The number having been connected with this church since its formation is about four hundred and forty ; the present membership is two hundred, but having been without a pastor for some time the condition of many is indifferent. It is estimated that one hundred and fifty families are directly benefited by the ministra- tions of this Church when it has a settled pastor. Its expense for the current year is only $350, with nothing for missions. The officers are Samuel Potter, Tyler Conover, M. M. Thomas, and J. M. Lyons, elders ; Dr. L. Tozer, William Potter, Samuel Hamilton, and B. W. Campbell, deacons. The opportunities of this church are great, and by the exercise of a liberal spirit on the part of every individual member, the services of an efficient and earnest pastor could readily be obtained.
CENTER RIDGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This congregation meets for public worship in the south-west part of Maroa township. It was organized by Drs. L. A. Engle and J. B. Millison, the third Lord's day in December, 1867, with nineteen members, whose names were these: Jordan Simpson, Peter W. Wykoff, J. M. Shockey, J. D. Ross, Sarah A. Ross, Nancy E. Ross, A. F. Ross, J. M. Ross, Charlotte M. Wykoff, Augusta D. Shockey, Clarissa Simpson, J. W. Simpson, Darius Jones, Nancy E. Jones, Elizabeth Blackerby, Louisa Shockey, W. W. Shockey, Elizabeth Shockey, and Sallie Shockey. P. W. Wykoff and Jordan Simpson were chosen Elders, and J. M. Shockey and J. D. Ross Deacons. Notwithstanding this society was small in its beginning, of limited means, and without ministerial help or care for a good part of its life, yet it has held steadily on its way. Dr. L. A. Engle preached for it two years, John L. Wilson two years, and G. W. Ross, one of the products of this church, and its present minister, three years. The meetings were from the first, and are yet, held in a public school-house. In 1875 a Sunday-school of thirty-five persons was formed, which continues its work with fifty attendants now ; current expenses, thirteen dollars. Sixty-seven persons now hold member- ship in this church, while the attendants upon its ministrations represent twenty-eight families. Its expenses for the current year are one hundred and fifty dollars. The present officers are P. W. Wykoff and J. D. Ross Elders, and Jesse Fisher and J. M. Shockey Deacons. This congregation is situated in one of the best farming districts in the county or state, and has a useful and prosperous future.
NIANTIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
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