USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial, Volume I > Part 27
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Of the original building committee those now alive are: John Wilson, Chris- topher R. Aden and H. T. Richardson.
The present membership of the church is about 120, and its pastor is Rev. J. W. Porter, who began his pastorate in June, 1910. At his coming the church people purchased a neat parsonage, costing $2,000, which is about five blocks northeast of the church building. Since the organization of this church the pas- Vol. 1-15
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tors have been the Revs. R. A. Omer, Dr. Jesse H. Smith, J. W. Knight, Rev. Purlee, Seymour Smith, J. H. Applegate, E. O. Sharpe, W. West, J. M. Bowe and F. H. Cumming.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF VIRDEN.
The above church was organized on the 21st of August, 1882, the meeting for the purpose being called by one of the elders of the church at Girard. David Metcalf was chosen temporary chairman, and James A. Bronaugh, secretary. The meeting was addressed by Rev. Black, who preached a helpful sermon, after which the following persons presented themselves and became charter members of the newly formed congregation: James A. Bronaugh, Mrs. Amelia Bronaugh, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Williams, J. D. Alderson, Mrs. Louisa Spaulding, Mrs. Anna Kable, Mrs. Newton Allen, Mrs. Sue Plowman, Mrs. Lottie Plowman, Mrs. Eva Strang, Mrs. Ann Henderson, Mrs. Maxie Henderson, Mrs. Nancy J. Mc- Knight, Mrs. Lizzie Rice, Mrs. D. M. Williams, Jacob Groves, Mrs. Candace Groves, Mrs. Dempsey Solomon, Mrs. Lucy J. Solomon, Henry M. Gates, Mrs. Flora Gates, Mrs. Laura Piper, Mrs. M. J. Wigginton, L. N. Roland.
On the third Sunday of the same month a church building was dedicated by Rev. W. F. Black, of Chicago. The building cost $4,000, and was dedicated free from debt.
In the early struggles of the church Rev. Jesse Smith of Chatham supplied the pulpit until a regular pastor could be secured. Later on Rev. Samuel M. Conner, of Normal, became the first regular pastor of the congregation. The present membership numbers 252, and with a large and growing Bible school and young peoples societies it became necessary to erect a larger church building. So at the close of 1911 a new edifice will have taken the place of the old one, at a cost of about $30,000. The ceremony of laying the corner stone was an im- pressive one and took place Sunday, July 30th.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, STAUNTON.
The Christian church was organized at this place many years ago and it was quite strong at one time in its membership, but of later years the organization has lost in strength and for some time past this congregation has had no regular pastor.
CHURCH OF CHRIST, GIRARD.
During the '50s there was occasional preaching by itinerant ministers pass- ing through Girard. At this time Mesdames Turman, Moore, Eastham, Deck, Mrs. Alfred Mayfield, Mrs. Dr. Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. John Ewing and Misses Fannie and Kate Eastham, having been members of the Christian church elsewhere, determined upon an organization of their own in Girard, and through their efforts the state board sent Elder Alexander Johnstone to effect an or- ganization, which was done July 15, 1860. The charter members were. Mes- dames Thurman, Moore, Nathan, Belle Woods, Grandma Eastham, Misses Kate and Fannie Eastham and John Ewing and wife. The elders chosen were John Ewing and James Duncan. At this time there were but two churches in Girard, one being a union church used by the Presbyterians, Methodists and
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Baptists, which stood where the Presbyterian church is now located, and the other a Universalist church. Soon after the organization of the church Messrs. Thurman and Jacob Deck became active members.
For a time the members met in a frame building on the site now occupied by the brick building in which Donaldson's jewelry store is located. Later they met in private homes, preaching services being held once a month, the minister being paid $12 a month. For a time the Universalist church was rented and meetings were held there.
In 1865 the members decided to erect a church of their own. They pur- chased a lot for $300 and on it a building 36x40 feet was erected, and in the '70s a twenty feet addition was made to the building. In 1865 Dr. Jesse Smith held a successful meeting and the following year, 1866, became the first regu- lar pastor of the church. He was followed by Revs. Corwin and Bastion. Then for a time the congregation was without a regular pastor but services were conducted by one of the elders of the church. Eventually Rev. Layman was called to the pastorate and he remained three or four years. He was followed by Rev. Ingram, who remained two years. About this time Rev. Black, an evangelist, conducted a seven weeks' meeting, which resulted in the addition of one hundred members to the church. Rev. J. B. Corwin was then called to the pastorate and he was followed by Revs. Bastion, Puett and Layman. In 1891 Rev. Young was called to the pastorate and he remained for two years, during which time the parsonage was erected. In 1893 Rev. Groves became pastor and remained for two years, being followed by Rev. Peters, who remained a similar period. In 1899 Rev. Sharp came and remained for three years. During his ministry a new church was built, which was dedicated by Rev. Sweeney on the 18th of November, 1900, Rev. Dutt eventually became pastor, remaining two years, and was followed by Rev. Windbigler, who remained with the church two and a half years. Rev. York took charge October 14, 1906, and was followed by Rev. W. F. Kohl, who became the pastor in January, 1909. The church is now in a prosperous condition and it has recently undergone some improvements, which have added much to the beauty and attractiveness of the building.
There is also a Sunday school, Christian Endeavor and Junior Christian Endeavor societies, all of which are prospering.
THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The Formula of Concord, which was drawn up in 1577 by learned men like Jacob Andreae and Martin Chemnitz, was intended to supplement and define the Augsburg confession, 1530, and thus become a specific on every conceivable point of doctrine. This document was accepted as a creed by the churches of several German provinces, but rejected by those in most of the others and proved to be a failure in so far as it was intended to settle all disputes of doc- trine.
For more than two centuries after this the unhappy dissensions and quarrels of various factions of the church of the Reformation-chiefly between the fol- lowers of Luther, who (against his expressed wish), had adopted his name and those of the Swiss leaders, Zwingli and Calvin, who called themselves "Re-
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formed"-made the fundamental saving truth of the Word of God almost as scarce among the German people, as Romish tyranny and superstition had made it before Luther began his work.
This lamentable division and the sad conditions which arose from it, was deeply deplored by large numbers of devout Christians in all parts of Ger- many. So King Frederick William III of Prussia in 1817, the tercentenary of the posting by Luther of his famous ninety-five theses upon the door of the castle of the church at Wittenberg, brought together a number of the most prominent theologians of his kingdom, who succeeded in formulating a book of worship, which was acceptable to the great majority of both Lutheran and Reformed churches. This was the famous Prussian Union, the first successful step toward a union of Protestant churches.
Among those who deeply cherished the ideal of a union of the Protestant churches were many members and friends of the well known missionary socie- ties of Basel and Barmen in Switzerland and Germany. In response to an appeal of Richard Bigelow, of New York city, and other prominent Americans of New York and New England, who saw the need of missionary work among the German immigrants, especially in the west, the Basel Missionary Society, in 1837, sent two young pastors, G. W. Wall and Joseph Rieger, to this coun- try. They in connection with several others of their faith formed in Gravois Settlement, near St. Louis, in 1840, a church union, from which small begin- ning in course of years gradually developed the Evangelical Synod of North America.
The short and simple creed with which they declared their position is as follows :
The German Evangelical church of North America, as a part of the Evan- gelical church abroad, defines the term "Evangelical church" as denoting that branch of the Christian church which acknowledges the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the Word of God, the sole and infallible guide of faith and life, and accepts the interpretation of the Holy Scripture as given in the symbolic books of the Lutheran and the Reformed churches, the most im- portant being the Augsburg Confession, Luther's and the Heidelberg catechisms, in so far as they agree; but where they disagree the German Evangelical church of America adheres strictly to the passages of Holy Scriptures bearing on the subject, and avails itself of the liberty of conscience prevailing in the Evan- gelical church. This church body has now 1,034 ministers and 1,321 churches, with 259,593 communicants and a church property valued at over $13,000,000.
There are only four churches of the Evangelical denomination in Macoupin county, namely: Carlinville, Staunton. Brighton and Mt. Olive, which was first recently organized.
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH AT CARLINVILLE.
The German Evangelical St. Paul's congregation at Carlinville, Illinois, was organized as a "free congregation" (independent church) in the year 1859. The first services were held in the Presbyterian church and the old court house. Several independent pastors devoted their services during the first ten years to
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this congregation. Their names were: Rev. Muenther, Rev. Buechler, Rev. Dr. Riedel and Rev. Ruether. A year after the organization the congregation bought the site and building of the Methodist Episcopal church, situated on South Broad street. This place was later sold to the city and is now used as a part of the Free school campus.
The following gentlemen constituted the board of elders and were charter members: Fred Walthers, Bernhard Lorenz, Martin Rigg, George Schoenherr and George E. Deiss.
Ten years after its organization the St. Paul's congregation affiliated with the German Evangelical Synod of North America and ceased to be an inde- pendent church. Since that time the membership has increased rapidly. Rev. C. Witte was called to the pastorate in 1868 and labored faithfully for two years. He was succeeded by Rev. Philipp Meusch, who remained with the congrega- tion until 1875. In the meantime Rev. Witte was active in editorial work and also instructed a German class in the public school. When Rev. Meusch re- signed his work, the congregation called Rev. George Goebel to the pastorate. He remained for ten years and under his pastorate the present church and parochial school buildings were erected. The new church was dedicated in October, 1878, and the school building in 1882. From that time on the church began to flourish. The new buildings were erected on a large lot 60x330 feet, opposite the imposing courthouse, the site being one of the most desirable. When Rev. Goebel resigned in 1875, Rev. H. J. Dinkmeier was called to succeed him and he remained until 1898. Under his wise administration, the new par- sonage was built and the congregation for the first time during its existence cleared itself of all debts. Rev. F. J. Buschmann took charge of the affairs of the church in 1898 and remained for three years, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. W. Riemeier.
In 1909 the church edifice was enlarged and remodeled at an expense of about $5,000 and there remains only a small sum to be paid and the congrega- tion will be once more clear of all incumbrance. The development has been steady and today this congregation is one of the foremost churches in the county, having about 350 individual members.
Since the organization there has been in connection with the church work a parochial day school, which has done much to educate the young generation for spiritual work. Professor Albert A. Spiegel, W. Riemeier, L. Weiss, F. Kloppe and F. Hermsen have had charge of this department for longer or shorter terms. In 1904 Miss Laura Riemeier took charge of the school and since her death in January, 1911, the school has had no permanent teacher. The enrollment now is thirty pupils. The Sunday school has about 100 children and fourteen teachers. The church choir has sixteen members, the Ladies' Aid about ninety, the Mission Society, fifty-five, the Young People's Society about sixty and the Martha Society some forty members.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION CHURCH.
In 1849 A. Guellmann and family settled about three miles northwest of Carlinville, being the first German family which permanently took up their
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abode in this part of the state. In 1850 immigration of the Germans com- menced and many settled in and near Carlinville, and as they had been taught and educated from childhood in the faith of the Lutheran church, which holds to the verbal inspiration of Holy Writ and to the "sola gratia," i. e., saved alone by Grace, they were anxious to establish a Lutheran congregation in this part of their newly adopted country. The Rev. Besel, of Staunton, Illinois, came here in 1854 and preached several times in the country districts near Carlinville.
In 1856 the Lutherans hereabouts requested the Rev. Professor C. F. W. Walther, of St. Louis, who was then the president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states, to send a Lutheran minister. In May, 1856, the Rev. Buenger, of St. Louis, was sent, and preached in the old court house. The Revs. Strasen and G. Link assisted in holding services. Finally, July 6, 1856, a call was extended to E. Multanowski, who was a grad- uate of Concordia Seminary, located at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He accepted the pastorate of Zion church and was ordained in August, 1856, by the Rev. Rennicke, of Staunton, as the regular pastor of the Lutheran church of Carlin- ville. Regular services were conducted in the old court house until in 1859, ten or twelve voting (active) members bought a lot on South Broad street and built a small brick church, which was dedicated in the fall of 1859, and is still used as a parish school. Rev. Multanowski, in 1860, accepted a call to Wis- consin, and he was succeeded by Rev. C. L. Geyer, of Lebanon, Wisconsin, who began his work in Carlinville in August, 1860, having been installed by the Rev. Professor Schaller, of St. Louis, Missouri. Under his fostering care the mem- bership increased so that the congregation concluded to build a larger, modern brick church, on lots purchased south of the old sanctuary, at a cost of $12,000. It was dedicated in November, 1868, and is still the house of worship for the Lutherans in Carlinville and vicinity.
After a sixteen year pastorate here, Rev. Geyer, in the spring of 1876 accepted a call to Serbin, Texas. During the vacancy which followed, the Rev. Professor H. C. Wyneken, the professor at Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, the now sainted father of the present pastor in charge, served the con- gregation on Sundays, until their newly called pastor, the Rev. B. Miessler, of Palmyra, Missouri, arrived in December, 1876. He was ordained by the Rev. Professor H. C. Wyneken, and remained with the congregation, laboring faith- fully for thirty-two years, until he resigned his charge in 1908. Under his min- istration the large debt on the church was paid, a parsonage bought, also a pipe organ and a church bell, and in the fiftieth anniversary year of the congregation, in 1906, $2,657 was expended for furnace, windows, fresco painting, etc.
The Rev. Ph. Wilhelm, of Staunton, supplied the congregation during the vacancy after Rev. Miessler's resignation was accepted. In January, 1909, the Rev. M. Daib, of Troy, Illinois, was installed as pastor and served the con- gregation most faithfully and was very successful. He introduced English services Sunday evenings, while German services were held Sunday forenoons. In May, 1910, the Rev. Daib resigned and moved to Chicago. Professor L. Wessel, of Springfield, Illinois, also Professor O. Boecler and Professor J. Herzer, of the same place, filled the pulpit during the vacancy, until the newly called pastor, the Rev. F. G. Wyneken, of Corona, Queensborough, New York
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city, arrived and was installed August 21, 1910, by Professor Wessel. The Rev. Wyneken is still pastor of Zion church.
The congregation now numbers 422 members, fifty-eight of which are voting members. Its Sunday school (German and English departments) numbers eighty-one pupils. The parochial school, in which besides all the branches taught in the public school, also religion and German is taught, is still maintained by willing hands and hearts. It numbers twenty-seven scholars. The instructors in the parish school have been the Revs. Multanowski, Geyer, Messrs. N. Haase, G. Karau, K. Teich, K. Duesenberg, E. Just and :W. Joeckel. Professor G. M. Schmidt is the present principal and instructor, also the present organist and choir director.
The Ladies' Aid Society has a membership of sixty-nine and the Young People's Society about sixty-two members. Zion's congregation is at present erecting a new modern frame parsonage at a cost of $4,000, on lots south of the church building.
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, STAUNTON.
This church has been organized about forty years. Previous to its estab- lishment services had been held in Staunton at various places, the minister coming from Mt. Olive. Soon after the organization of this congregation a small church was built, which was converted into a schoolhouse. The second church, a frame building, was dedicated December 16, 1900. It is an imposing structure and a pipe organ has been installed. The church property, including church, parsonage, school and two teachers' residences, is valued at $25,000. The present membership of the church is ninety.
The first resident pastor was G. H. Nollau, who came in 1876, and remained one year; 1877-86, F. Schaer; 1886-94, H. Pfundt; 1894-99, C. F. Stoerker; 1899-1904, C. F. Kneiker .; 1904-07, E. Hugo; 1907, L. Rauch, who is the present pastor.
The school has an attendance of from ninety-five to one hundred pupils. P. C. Seybold is the head instructor, and he has two lady assistants.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH, BRIGHTON.
This society was organized in Brighton in 1870 and the following year a church was built. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Luterman.
ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The first preaching in Staunton by the Lutherans was done by Rev. F. Loehner, of Pleasant Ridge, in 1847. The congregation was organized January I, 1851, and Rev. Fred Reisener was called as its first pastor. For three years prior to this time it had been a mission point under the ministrations of Revs. J. G. Birkmann and K. Schliepsick. The first house of worship was built of logs in 1855, during the pastorate of Rev. Rennecke. One year later the congrega- tion became a member of the Missouri synod. In 1858 the old lots were sold
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and the church and parsonage removed to the grounds now occupied by the present church, which is a substantial brick structure, erected in 1864, and dedicated on the 13th of November of that year, at a cost of $5,000. At this time Rev. R. Vogt was pastor and the building of this church was one of the victories of his work here.
The first teacher employed in the parochial school was Professor C. W. Trettin, who began his work September 1, 1869. A portion of the congregation withdrew in 1877 and formed a nucleus for New Braunschweig. The growth of the home congregation necessitated the formation of a second class in the parochial school and two teachers were employed for it. Professors H. Heise and H. Haas, the latter being succeeded soon after by Professor O. E. Gotsch, who remained a successful teacher of the school until his voluntary retirement in 1903. He was a teacher here for twenty-one years and worked five years in other places.
In August, 1904, the corner stone of the present elegant church building was laid and on the 12th of the following March the building was dedicated with impressive ceremonies. It cost over $20,000 and is one of the most beautiful edifices of this character in this section. The main steeple is 127 feet high and contains a chime of three bells, the largest weighing nearly 1,400 pounds. The foundation is of Grafton stone and the superstructure of pressed brick. The furniture and interior decorations are rich and tasteful. The parochial school has 165 pupils, taught by Professors Guenther and Kowert.
The following is a list of the pastors: F. Reisener, 1851-3; Rev. Besel, 1853; Rev. Rennecke, 1855-60; K. Schliepsick, 1860-3; R. Vogt, 1863-65; J. L. Muckel, 1865, 71; J. M. Hahn, 1871-86; J. G. Goehringer, 1886-90; G. Kehn, 1890-1904; Ph. Wilhelm, 1904-9; J. G. F. Kleinhans, 1909 and the present incumbent.
EVANGELICAL IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, MT. OLIVE.
This church was organized October 2, 1881, its founder being Rev. Herman Weisbrodt. The following is a list of the charter members: H. H. Gehner, C. Whitehouse, M. Manske, C. J. Keiser, L. Kanke, H. Sies, A. Buske, C. Sass- mannshausen, A. Helmbold, J. Meier, H. Hoelmer, C. Mees, F. Pahde, W. Ilsmemann, W. Mehl, J. H. De Werff, H. Renken, W. Gerdes, G. Degler, W. Eggert, H. Pahde, H. Lueking, M. Arkebauer, F. Reuter, Herman Monke, Henry Monke, H. Blanke, W. Hassheider, W. Gust, R. Collmann, F. Hittmeier and F. Falke.
A frame church was erected in 1881 and in 1884 this was replaced by a brick structure, which is a large and commodious building. Adjoining this structure is a brick school building, which was erected in 1895. The school numbers 154 pupils and three teachers employed. The congregation also owns a parsonage and two dwellings for teachers, the value of the entire property being $30,000. The church is conveniently located on Main street near the business center of the town.
The list of pastors follows: Rev. Herman Weisbrodt, 1881-1900; Rev. C. Abel, 1900-II ; Rev. C. J. Broders, who came June 25, 1911 and is the present pastor.
MT. OLIVE PARK
MINE NO. 15, MT. OLIVE
POPULAR STREET, MT. OLIVE
MAIN STREET. MT. OLIVE
EMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH. MT. OLIVE
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION CHURCH, MT. OLIVE.
This society was organized in 1854 by Rev. Henry Mueller, assisted by Rev. Besel. Services were held in private homes until the church was erected in 1866. It is a substantial brick structure and has a pipe organ. In 1886 a parsonage was built, while in 1894 a substantial brick schoolhouse was erected at the rear of the church. Three teachers are employed in the school, which numbers 180 pupils, while the church numbers seven hundred communicants. The value of the buildings which include the church, parsonage, school and two teachers' resi- dences, is about $13,000.
The pastors who have served this church are: Henry Mueller, 1854-7; Rev. Hohmann, 1857-9; Rev. Recker, 1859-64; F. W. Eisenbach, who served from 1864 until his death, August 23, 1872. The church was then supplied by Rev. Schrader until 1873, when H. Weisbrodt came and served until 1881. He was succeeded by H. Holtermann, who remained until 1884, while his successor was Rev. Knoll, who served from 1884 until his death in 1894. In the latter year Rev. E. Nottbohm came and is serving at the present time.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION'S CHURCH, BUNKER HILL.
This society was organized in 1893 but prior to that time the people of this denomination were ministered to by pastors who came from other points and held services in private homes. In the same year, 1893, a church was also erected, which is a small frame building, in the rear of which is a school and adjoining is a neat parsonage, the cost of the buildings being about $4,000. The communi- cants number 225, while the attendance at the school is about 30.
The first resident pastor was Rev. John Holthusen, who came in 1894 and remained one year ; 1895-1900, Charles Fark; 1900-02, Martin Kaeppel; 1902, to the present time, 1911, August Guebert.
CHAPTER XIII.
EDUCATIONAL.
SCHOOLS FOLLOW THE SETTLER-MACOUPIN COUNTY AT A HIGH ALTITUDE IN HER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS-HISTORY OF THE SCHOOLS BY COUNTY SUPERIN- TENDENT ROBERT C. MOORE-BLACKBURN COLLEGE.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, for the historian to determine when and where any institution or historical movement really had its beginning. This is true particularly of education, which has to do with the growth and development of the human mind. Therefore, if we were to attempt to trace the growth and development of the present school system of our county and state to its original germ, we would likely be led back to the earliest historical ages, or to the time when Adam learned a great lesson in character development by suffering the consequences of evil doing.
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