USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 26
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Revs. Peter Long, Joseph Lemen, James Lemen, Moses Lemen, Josiah
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Lemen, Austin Sims, Joseph Chance, Wm. Birge, Elijah Dodson, Larkin Craig, Lewis Solomon, Sr., Reuben Kline, Z. Waters, Stephen Conrad, Wm. Fitzgerald, Wm. Rodgers, Wm. Jones, A. Conlee, - Stuteville, Abner Hill, Thomas Lee, S. D. Spainouer, John Barnett, Pleasant Lamar, Isaac Conlee, James Solomon, John Wilton, Wm. Craig, David Gimlin, A. Brownlee, Meshach Browning, Thomas Moore, H. H. Witt, James Mitchell, Thomas Corr, Samuel B. Culp, Samuel Haycraft, John Record, S. B. Redman, H. T. Chilton, Wm. Hill, Aaron Trabue, John Stephens, - Moreland, - Hicks, and Mrs. Middy Hubbard, (now Mrs. M. King.)
ADDENDA .- The church at Staunton was overlooked, however, no data received from it; it belongs to the Edwardsville Association, and in 1875, according to the minutes had a membership of twenty-six.
Bethlehem Baptist Church was also omitted in the regular order ; it belongs to the association last mentioned; it is located in what is now called Center- ville in this county, and was organized on the sixth day of March, 1851, at the house of Mrs. Bullman near Coops Creek. The council was composed of elders Elijah Dodson, Luke Dillard, and Jacob V. Hopper, with brethren N. H. Flanagan, Dow Dillard of Bunker Hill church, and Isaac Long, Jonathan Huggins and A. J. Coats of Woodburn church. Noah H. Flanagan, moderator, elder J. V. Hopper, clerk. The organization con- sisted of thirteen members. First pastor elder L. Dillard .- Present mem- bership ten.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
BY REV. JOSEPH WINTERBOTTOM.
The Carlinville Methodist Episcopal Church is the representative of what was probably the first organized effort at Christian labor in Macoupin county. There may have been preaching by ministers of other denomi- nations previous to 1831, but it seems that there is no history of any attempt to organize a church until the fall of 1831, when the Rev. S. M. Otwell was sent as a missionary to what was called "Macoupin Mission," which embraced besides Macoupin county, the eastern part of Jersey, Greene and the southern part of Morgan counties; it became known as the Carlin- ville Circuit. The first sermon was preached by the above-named minister in the fall of 1831, at a tavern kept by Mr. Lewis English. Afterward meetings were held in the log court-house, which stood on the south-east side of the square.
The first members were Rev. S. M. Otwell and wife (now Mrs. Mary B. Wright of Carlinville), Mother Tennis, Thomas E. Kendall, Wm. Brown, N. R. Brown and their wives.
In the spring of 1832, Bro. Otwell established the following preaching places ; at James Cave's (now Palmyra), Jesse Peebles' (now Chesterfield), Samuel Kellar's (named Forks of Macoupin, near Road's Point), Otter Creek (now Girard). Services were held at the home of Mr. Bird England.
"Dry Point," preaching at Wm. Hunddleson's house. "Sugar Creek" (now Virden) preaching at the home of Titus England. At Staunton, preaching was commenced at the residence of Hosea Snell. Afterward services were held at the school-house.
The first camp meeting held in this county was in the month of August, 1832, in the woods belonging to James Cave, near where the village of Palmyra now stands. The whole neighborhood assisted in preparing the ground; they cut down the trees, split the logs for seats, and made a stand for the ministers from the same rude material. The camp meeting began on Friday, and continued five days. Revs. Peter Cartwright, N. Cloud and Owens assisted.
The first year Rev. Otwell received $100 for his work, which was paid by the mission. With this amount he was expected to live and keep his family.
The second year he was paid by the members, and received $20,00. During second year a part of the time he was engaged in keeping a store. In 1833, Elihu Springer was appointed preacher in charge, and Peter Cartwright Presiding elder.
In 1834, E. G. Falkner was appointed pastor. N. P. Heath was pastor in 1835 and J. B. Woodland for 1836-7.
Carlinville society built their first church edifice in 1834. In 1845 they bought a brick church from the Baptists.
Sabbath-school was organized in 1836, with Bro. Jarret Dugger as first superintendent.
The following is an alphabetic list of stations and circuits, with some facts
which we have collected. Very little is said of some churches, not because we are partial, nor are the publishers responsible; we have written as often as three times to the proper parties, but no response have we received.
Brighton Circuit. The present pastor is R. Z. Fahs. This circuit comprises the following societies : Miles, Woodburn, Providence and Asbury. Provi- dence is in Jersey county. Asbury church is built on the line between Macoupin and Jersey counties.
The Woodburn Church was built in 1851, and dedicated in 18555 by Dr. Wood, now of Carrollton, Illinois. The present trustees are Thomas King, E. T. Dodson, John Bates, Enoch Hollows. The church has twenty-one members. Miles church is the outgrowth of a class organized by Rev. S. M. Otwell in 1831. During the pastorate of S. W. Waggoner their present church was dedicated, Feb. 12th, 1871, by Robert Allyn, D. D. Trustees : J. R. Miles, J. E. Waggoner, J. B. Andrews, John Montgomery, James Gillham, J. B. Delophian. The following have been pastors: J. W. Lowe, J. W. Caldwell, A. L. Greenlaw, A. L. Hourin.
Brighton and Paradise. J. B. Reynolds has been pastor since the fall of 1878. For statistics see table at the end of this article.
Bunker Hill. In 1841 a Methodist minister named Zimmerman organized a class of five persons, namely, John Rice, Jonathan Squires, Mary A. Squires, Abraham Cramp, Sarah C'ramp. Services were held at first in Mr. Squires' cabin, once in three weeks, afterward in the village school-house. The circuit embraced Mr. Deck's house (near Alton) Highland, and Spanish Needle. In 1845 there was but one family in the place, that of George Sanders. In 1849 the class was reorganized with John Evans as class-leader. Just south of the Town Hall in 1851 was erected their first church, which was sold to the town in 1859.
During the pastorate of G. W. Waggoner, a revival of much power added to the church seventy-five members. This made a demand for a larger building, and a brick edifice was erected at a cost of 87,000. The church was blessed again with an abundant harvest in 1864, while Norman Allen was pastor. They have a flourishing Sabbath-school of two hundred and sixty, and a most regularly attended prayer meeting.
Pastors-J. B. Wollard, James Meldrum, -Meldrum, J. A. Scarritt, Charles Atkinson, C. J. T. Tolle, Joseph Earp, J. W. Caldwell, J. B. Cor- rington, Wm. Jesse Grant, J. W. Lane, John Vancleve, D. D., J. A. Smith, C. B. Holding, J. Gibson, W. S. Sly and W. H. Tyner. Trustees-W. (). Jencks, J. R. Meldrum, B. Fisher, Sumer Cole, J. Moore, J. G. Auer, E. Garrett.
Carlinville Station was established in October, 1852-Pastors-Wm. Stevenson, Wm. S Prentice, Levi C'. Pitner, J. H. Moore, W. M. Gruble, J. H. Barger, Geo. Rutledge, A. S. McCoy, W. F. Short, Preston Hood, James Seaton, G. R. S. McElfresh, M. D. Hawes. Trustees : Miles Graham, Ferdinand Taggart, J. D. Weaver, Geo. W. Woods, J. I. Rinaker, Wm. Phelps, J. M. Valentine, Stephen Womack, A. C. Snyder.
Chesterfield is one of the oldest churches in the county ; it was established during the pastorate of S. M. Otwell in 1831-2. The church was built in 1845, and is still in good condition. The first parsonage was erected in 1850, the second in 1859. Some of the early Local Preachers were Jesse Peebles, Wm. Hart, L. L. Harlow. The early class-leaders were Jesse Peebles, John Peebles, Jesse Reams. Pastors-Otwell, Springer, Blackwell, Woolard, Worthington, N. P. Heath, Robins, Chambers, J. B. Corrington, Faulkner, Holliday, B. Newman, Cassady, A. Bradshaw, Wm. Owen, A. Semple, Sterrit, Jesse Peebles, Baker, I. Emerson, Powers, Paxton, Meginnis, R. Honald, Franklin, Dillon, T. C. Wolfe, J. B. Meigs, Peter Slagle, P. Drake, G. D. Randall, S. T. Hawkins, A. Sloan, Wm. R. Carr.
Gillespie. The earliest record we have of the church at this place was in 1855. At that time it was a mission in the Alton District with an appro- priation of one hundred dollars of missionary money. Rev. R. Randall was the first pastor. In 1856 the church numbered ninety-one members and nine probationers, and property valued at 8450. With J. D. Gilham pastor, the next year, 1857, the church numbered 111 members and 15 on probation ; with church property worth 8600, and T. M. Boyle pastor, the membership continued to increase so that in 1858, the church numbered 193 members, and 24 probationers. That year the church was transferred to the Litchfield district, and T. W. Jones Pastor. The church has continued to grow in use- fulness, members and wealth. A Sabbath-school was early established, which has been doing much good. Those persons who have officiated as pastor in
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
addition to the above are: Revs. Asa Snell, J. S. Morrison, W. F. Davis, Geo. T. Weaver, C. J. Tolle, A. Bliss, S. Walker, N. D. Shackelford, T. A. Eaton, S. C. English, S. P. Grove, and R. H. Massey is the present pastor. At this writing the number of members is 200, and twenty-four probationers, and church property to the value of about $8,300. The pre- sent church edifice was erected in 1864. In 1862 this charge was trans- ferred from the Litchfield to the Alton district.
Girard circuit was organized in 1857. It comprises two appointments, namely, Girard and Everly. The latter was named after the Rev. John Everly, and was built during his pastoral supervision of the circuit. The church at each appointment has a very pleasant house of worship. At Girard there is a very commodious two-story parsonage. Pastors, C. Arn- old, J. H. Dimmit, S. H. Clark, N. Cloud, Leonard Smith, John Everly, H. C. Wallace, J. B. Wolf, J. C. Kellar, V. C. Randolph, A. Waggoner, A. M. Pilcher, who was appointed chaplain of the Joliet Penitentiary, June 1st, 1879. W. M. Johnson was appointed to serve the Girard Circuit, and is now pastor. Among the leading members are Samuel England, A. D. Holliday, John Hagler, J. F. Carter, Geo. Thompson, James Hagler, W. T. Bristow, who has been Recording Steward for more than twenty-one years, Wm. Ronsey, Geo. Holliday, Benjamin Cabal, Bros. Christopher, Smith, Cloud and others.
Nilwood, Bethel, and Rural are the three churches on the Nilwood Cir- cuit that are in this county. The present Nilwood church was organized in Nov. 1857, by Rev. Holding, then stationed at Virden, Ills. The class or church numbered more than twenty members, with John Bennyworth as class leader, who was a most industrious and liberal Christian, at times giving as much as $200 for the pastor, and $150 for the missionary cause per year. In these days of much zeal in walking, it may not be out of place to say that sister Dumville often walked five miles to church, which is but one manifestation of her zeal for the Lord of Hosts.
The church was built in 1864. Revs. W. H. McVey and Adam Wag- goner were launched on the restless sea of itinerancy, from this region. Four camp-meetings have been held within the bounds of this circuit. The pas- tors have been D. Bardwick, A. C. McDougal, W. P. Paxon, G. M. Crays, H. Wilson, W. H. Rayburn, G. B. Goldsmith, G. D. Furber, O H. P. Ash, A. Orr, G. W. West and A. Sloan, the present incumbent. The present Board of Stewards are H. Madison, M. Kellam, B. Boring, L. W. Dugger, W. Atchinson, J. Geberson, R. A. Fuller. A. M. Owens is a local deacon.
Palmyra circuit had its origin in a class formed in the fall of 1831, by James Cave, a local preacher, at his own residence, which then stood on his farm. The square of Palmyra is a part of that farm. The residence stood near the lone cottonwood, directly east of the front of Solomon & Martin's store. This class was united to the Carlinville Circuit, in the spring of 1832, by Rev. Stith Otwell, which consisted of James Cave, James Pocklington and their wives; also, Clara Rice, who lived a faithful member of this class until June, 1878. The circuit now embraces five societies, or churches ; having four church buildings, and a good parsonage at Palmyra. There is a lively interest on this work in the Sabbath-school cause.
Pastors have been S. M. Otwell, Eli and Elihu Springer, J. B. Woolard, Solomon McCall, Wm. Hinder Fairbanks, A. Don Carlos, McMurray, W. B. Barton, Elija Corrington, E. Rutledge, Wm: M. Evans, R. Clark, A. Garner, W. H. McVey, W. S. Clark, J. J. Gardner, D. H. Hatton, W. Stamrer, J. W. Helmick.
The local preachers now connected with the circuit are J. W. Drake, P. B. Solomon, V. E. King, T. J. Steidly. Stewards at present, R. Bram- ley, G. W. John, A. P. Landreth, R. Batty, J. W. Butler, R. H. Dowell and W. Chisholm.
Piasa is a part of the Fidelity circuit ; the latter place is in Jersey county ; the present pastor is J. W. Caldwell.
Shipman M. E. Church was organized in 1834. Rev. Lewis Springer preached the first sermon at the residence of Aaron Arnold. The first church was built in the spring of 1836; the present house of worship was erected in 1858.
The pastors have been G. W. Robbins, R. Randle, T. M. Boyd, F. W. Jones, J. D. Gillham, G. W. Waggoner, N. Allyp, Wm. Mitchell, C. J. Houts, J. B. Corrington, J. W. Thompson, J. P. Drew, D. H. Stublefield, J. S. Morrison, W. S. Sly, C. B. Holding, C. P. Wilson. The present incumbent is G. W. Waggoner.
Official members are as follows : R. Meatyard, E. G. Randle, C. D. Mat-
lack, J. G. Boswell, H. Huskinson, Andrew Boqua, W. E. Matlack, H. Baxter, John Quick, D. E. Flint.
Staunton Circuit has four appointments ; the present pastor is L. C. Eng- lish. Virden's first sermon was preached by the Rev. E. Rutledge, in the parlor of the tavern which was located then, and is now in the Northeast part of the town ; it was in the year 1853. The same year a church was organized, and very soon a commodious house of worship was built, which was used for more than twenty years, when (1874,) the present church was finished, and dedicated by Bishop Thomas Bowman. The new church was erected at a cost of $7,000 ; it is 70x30 feet, has a gallery, library room, and a study. Four or five hundred persons can be very pleasantly accommodated in the church. There is a well-attended Sabbath-school attached to this church, which has a very good library and a faithful corps of officers and teachers. Being pastor at this place, we know of many things that could be said of this church ; we will not say that they are free from faults, but we can truly say according to their ability they do exceedingly well.
The following have been pastors :- E. Rutledge, Wm. Owens-Baker- John Burgess, Robert Holding, W. D. Lemen, T. H. Clark, Jacob Little, D. Bardwick, C. Myers, H. Wilson, M. A. Hewes, C. A. Obenshain, T. J. Bryant, H. L. Parkhurst, W. M. Reed, M. M. Davidson and Jos. Winter- bottom. The following are the present official members : Wm. Emerson, R. C. Brown, Lew Cowen, Wm. Burch, J. H. Shriver, Wm. Steed, F. W. Lilloway, J. A. Campbell, W. Eckman, John Blackburn, Henry Burch, Silas Woods. Lew Cowen is a local preacher. Lowden belongs to Virden charge, but is in Sangamon county.
We have given but an epitome of the planting, early growth and present development of the M. E. Church in this county. We have been forced by the limited space to omit many incidents, and to be very concise, only giving what some will say are the dry facts. To show what God has wrought by this church in this county, look at the figures for the year, from October 1877, to October, 1878.
NAMES OF CIRCUITS, STATIONS, MEMBERS, ETC., AS PER LAST REPORT.
Probationers.
Full Members.
Deaths.
Local Preachers.
Baptisms.
| Churches.
Probable Value.
Parsonages.
Probable Value.
Sabbath-schools.
Officers and Teachers.
Scholars.
Brighton Circuit.
8
134
3
11 3$ 6,000 1$ 500 3
28
164
Brighton and Paradise
13
157 1 1
7
1
4,000 1
1,000 2
19 130
Bunker Hill.
6
167 2 3
8 1
7,000
1 29 255
Carlinville
7
214
1 1
11
7,500 1
2,500
1 26
210
Chesterfield.
12
126
1
2
1
1,000 1
600
27
268
Gillespie .
24
200 4 1
12 4
7,900 1
1,300 4
40
275
Girard
10
160
6 2
5,000 1
1,200
2
10
200
Nilwood
186 1
3
4,900 1
1,000
7
170 1
4 10 4
5,500
1
120 :
6 1
3,000 1 1,000 1
18 130
Staunton
18
154
4
4
5,600 1
1,000 4
31 179
Virden.
6
196
1
3
4
9,000 1
1,000 2
27, 178
Total.
112 1,984 16 19, 71 27
66,400 10 11,100 21 255 1,989
In addition to the above the twelve named charges in the same year gave for our regular organized benevolences $1,137.59, for support of pastors, $8,448, for building and improving churches and parsonages $4,084.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
BY REV. D. W. DRESSER.
The Episcopal Church in Macoupin county is small and weak. There are many individual members of it, scattered about in the various districts -some in almost every neighborhood-but the organized Parishes, or con- gregations, number only four, under the names and titles, following :- St. Paul's Church, Carlinville, Christ Church, Bunker Hill, St. Peter's Church, Chesterfield, and St. John's Church, Gillespie.
As nearly as can be ascertained, the first service in the Episcopal church, held in the county, was by Rev. Mr. F. Southgate, in the Presbyterian church at Carlinville, in the year 1843. This gentleman was a younger brother of the now aged Bishop Southgate, of New York ; at one time Mis-
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Palmyra
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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
sionary to Constantinople. He, Rev. F. Southgate, was traveling through the county, and happening to be in Carlinville over Sunday, was requested to officiate by the two or three Episcopalians, then living in the place ; who procured for his use the church building above mentioned. It is related that he hurriedly conducted the appointed service, and then taking his hat, most unceremoniously left the house and returned to the hotel, without delivering any sermon, or speaking any word of instruction or exhortation, very great- ly to the disappointment and mortification of Messrs Enoch Wall, A. Mc- Kim Dubois, and others who had solicited his service. It is not wonderful that under such circumstances the church grew so slowly, and that the im- pressions made concerning it were not favorable.
In 1844 or 1845, Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, first Bishop of Illinois, in his journeyings through the state, officiated on one or two occasions in Ches- terfield, and Carlinville; but there was no settled minister, nor were there any regular services, until 1849, when the Rev. John Loyd Johnston, was sent by Bishop Chase, to officiate in these two places, which he had himself visited ; and here in the same year the present parishes were organized.
The first congregation in the county, may be considered that of St. Peter's, at Chesterfield. As the Episcopal Church in the United States is derived from the ancient church of England, and so traces its descent from the apos- tles and the primitive church,-through the church of England,-thus it came to pass, that the English people in and about Chesterfield were the first to receive and encourage the ministrations of this church, being members of it in England, and here accordingly, in Chesterfield, the first organization was formed.
Rev. Mr. Johnston, remained but a short time-about nine months,- baptizing, however, many persons, who are now grown up and heads of families. He was an earnest, and self-sacrificing man, worthy of all honor. When he left here, he went south, and died in 1851 or '52, while yet a young man, of yellow fever, in Mississippi, whither he had gone against the remon- strances of friends, to aid the sick and suffering in one of those dreadful epidemics.
So far as known, there were no more services of this church held in the county from 1849 until in the spring of 1856, when Rev. David Walker Dress- er, then a deacon just ordained, was sent to take the charge at Chesterfield in connection with Waverly, Morgan Co., as had been the case with Mr. John- ston, before him.
The Rev. Mr. Dresser, may be said to be the patriarch of the Episcopal Church in the county,-though now only 45 years of age-having continued in the charge with some intermission, up to the present time, and has been connected, in some measure with either the formation or subsequent history of every parish in the county.
His first service in Chesterfield, was held in the upper room of the school- house or " Seminary " building, which still stands and is used, as then for district schools.
In 1858-9 the church building was erected on a lot immediately opposite this school-house, at a cost of about 2,000 dollars, and was consecrated April 28th, 1861, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Whitehouse, successor to Bishop Chase.
In the autumn of 1866, Rev. Robt. Trewartha, became pastor, remaining in charge only till the following spring.
He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Adderly, from the fall of 1867, to some time in 1871. Then Rev. Geo. W. Stickney had charge in connection with Carrollton, Greene Co., for six months in 1872. He is now doing duty in the Island of Edisto, South Carolina. Rev. Mr. Adderly is dead, and Rev. Mr. Trewartha, has been deposed from the ministry.
In October, 1872, Rev. Mr. Dresser, again took charge of St. Peter's, at Chesterfield, in connection with St. Paul's at Carlinville. The parish has no property except the church and the lot, which at present rates, may be said to be worth $1500. There are twenty-five communicants, thirty families and about one hundred individuals connected with the parish, and in the habit of attending the church. The Sunday-school numbers about forty children, and seven teachers. The parish officers are :- Cap. Thos. S. Gelder, Senior Warden ; Robert Oliver, Junior Warden ; (both of whom have these offices for many years); Wm. Touse, Joseph Garlic, Wm. J. Finch, Samuel L. Berrymann, Henry Stamm and John J. Leach, vestrymen.
The St. Paul's Church at Carlinville, was organized in 1849, about the same time as the parish at Chesterfield, and under the same clergyman-as already stated.
After the removal of Rev. Mr. Johnston, there were no services until the fall of 1857, when the present Rector, Rev. D. W. Dresser, having given up Waverly, took charge at Carlinville, in connection with Chesterfield. His
first service here was held in an old school-house, which stood where the present public school building now stands and which was afterwards destroyed by fire. This house was used as a place of worship for some years, and sub- sequently the congregation occupied the "Old Methodist Church," adjoining the school building and just south of the present Methodist Church. The church edifice-St. Paul's, was erected in 1865-6, on lots purchased for the purpose many years before by Samuel Welton, A. McKim Dubois, Thomas Shutt and Drs. Brock and Cook, the two first of whom are still living in Carlinville, and connected with the church. This church was completed at an entire cost of about $ 5000, in 1875. The Rectory or Parsonage was built in 1868.
At present rates the church property would be valued at probably about $2500. This parish has suffered much from removals and financial failures. There are now connected with it twenty families and about ninety individuals. The communicants are forty. The Sunday school has about sixty-five pupils, with six teachers. The officers besides the Rector, are- Dr. M. H. Head, Sen. Warden ; Prof. J. D. Conley, Jun. Warden-who is also licensed, and conducts services in the absence of the minister. A. Mckim Dubois, Wm. Wright, John Plummer, Solomon F. Steidley, and E. K. Smart, vestryman.
Rev. Mr. Dresser, of Carlinville, visited Gillespie, by invitation, and offici- ated in the public school building Jan. 23, 1860. Prior to that date, the only service of the Episcopal church held in Gillespie, so far as is known, was by Rev. Dr. S. Y. MeMasters of Alton, who chanced to be in the village on a visit. For several years the Rev. Dresser had charge of this point as a Missionary station, in addition to his other work, officiating usually on a week- day, about once a month till 1864, when Rev. Thos. W. Mitchell, an able but eccentric man, a native of Scotland, began ministrations, in connection with Bunker Hill. The St. John's Parish was organized in 1863, and the church built during the same year. The corner-stone was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Whitehouse, on June 26,1863. Rev. Mr. Mitchell, removed in 1865, and was succeeded by Rev. John Portmess, who also had charge at Bunker Hill, but remained only a short time. He was succeeded by Rev. Adrian Zimmer- man ; of whom the same can be said. The Rev. Phillip A. Johnson, began ministrations here in 1875, residing in Bunker Hill, and devoting to Gilles- pie, one Sunday in each month. This he has continued to do until near the present time, but now there is no regular service held. The families are few ; many having removed from the place within a few years. The property, which consists only of the church and lot, may be valued at about $ 1000. An interesting Sunday-school is kept up under the direction of W. R. Blair, who with Messrs. B. L. Dorsey and S. H. Burton, constitute the officers of the parish. B. L. Dorsey is Warden.
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