History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 74

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698

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1844-45. George W. Robbins was Presiding Elder, Wm. Willson and Samuel Smith, Circuit preachers. I refer to a former note for particulars of this year. There were thirteen societies or preaching places in the Circuit, viz,: Elwards- ville. Liberty, Salem, Nix's, Widow Gillham's, Ebenezer, Six Mile, Venice, Collinsville, Mount Zion, Troy, Gilead, Ridge Prairie ; also Alton, Upper Alton, Scarritt's Prairie, Highland, Marine, Augusta. There were ten local preach- ers: W. C. Ballard, Thos. Randle, Parham Randle, J. M. S. Smith, E. L. Dwight, T. J. Loftun, Wm. Hadley, Wm.

Gillham. Josse Renfro, James M. Green ; nine Exhorters, viz : HI K Eaton, M Gillespie, Henry Guthrie, John Hem- saker, L. MeD mough Gales, Wm. Mckinley, Calvin Kin- der, Comfort Boben. J. Delaplain, and eighteen class leaders.

1845-46. Rev. Elijah Corrington was on the circuit. He was an elderly man, in poor health, and remained only one year. 1846-47. This year Rev. W. W. Mitchell was sent to this circuit, much to the gratification of the church. At the first quarterly meeting, Jesse Renfro, William Hadley, and H K Eaton, as estimating stewards, reported the sum of 8135.984, as the amount to be raised by the circuit for table expenses for the preacher's family this year-the family consisting of four persons ; traveling expenses, 810 00; quar- terage salary, 8232.60. The presiding elder's elaim on the circuit, 848 33; rents for preacher, 836 60. Whole amount, $463.31}. The number of members of the church was 473. The financial charge was small, and was promptly met, and the societies were prosperous.

1847-48. Rev. Mitchell was returned to the circuit, with Daniel Fairbank, assistant. The salary of Mr. Mitche Il was 8378; Rev. Fairbank, $10); Presiding Elder, $48.33 ; parsonage rent, 842. Total, 8568.38. This year a parson- age for the circuit preacher was purchased in Edwardsville for $300. At the quarterly conference, held in Edwardsville July 26, 1848, there were 29 members present. A plan for a circulating Sunday-school library for the circuit was this year organized under the care of H. K. Eaton and Matthew Gillespie, librarian, which was succes ful. There were 515 Sunday-school scholars.

1848-'49. Rey Collin D. James was the presiding elder, and James Hadley and N. Cleaveland, circuit preachers. The financial charge for ministerial support was $733. It was not a very successful year in the church. There was considerable cholera this year; and such is the nature of our people, that panics and epidemics are unfavorable to religious revivals.

In 1849-50, R. W. Travis and James Hadley were the preachers Mr. Travis was a young man of good mind and studions habits, and became in after years rather a noted man in the ministry in Illinois conference. His wife's health becoming seriously impaired, compelled him to locate about 1870. He was induced to take the traveling agency of the Lamar Insurance Company of Chicago in 1872. This was a swindling institution, gotten up by unprincipled parties, who selected Travis as agent, because of the confidence which the public had in his Christian integrity. Mr Tra- vis was an honest, upright man, and had been grossly de- eeived in the character of the institu ion, which soon exploded. I think his death, which took place two years after its failure, was hastened by that cause.

1851-52. Rev. George Rutledge was appointed elder, and C. F. Jay and James Estep were the circuit preachers. This year the Conference was divided, and that part of Illi. nois south of Jersey, Macoupin and Montgomery counties, and running east to the Wabash, was called "Southern Illi- nois Conference." This year a church was built five miles north of Edwardsville, on land donated by John E:tabrook, called " Liberty M. E. Church."

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

1852 53. This year W. W. Mitchell was presiding elder. Prof S. Matteson, formerly of MeKendree College, and Henry S. Blackwell were the preachers. Prof. Matteson was a man of much culture and fine talent. His health, however, was much broken, and at the close of the year he went north and died the same year. Mr. Blackwell was a young man of fine mind, but a hopeless dyspeptic. Every one who knew him loved him for his excellence of charac- ter and piety. He died a few years after on the bank of the Okaw river, near Carlyle. This year the present brick church in Edwardsville was commenced. John HI. Weir and John A. Prickett were the building committee.

1853 4. Rev. Hiram Scars was the stationed minister at Edwardsville, and Charles A. Kinson and James Hadley were on the circuit. This year the church in Edwardsville was finished and dedicated, as heretofore mentioned. There were at this date the following Methodist churches in Madi- son county : Alton, Upper Alton, Scarritt's Prairie, Liberty, Salem, Elward vill>, Highland, Gilead, Troy, Zion, Six- mile, Collinsville, Troy, Augusta, New Ebenezer ; also, Union churches at Marine, Ridgely, Goshen, Lamb's Point, Greenea-tle, and White Rock, where our preachers had stated religions services. There were over 1000 members of the church in the county.

1854 55 Rey Dr. James B. Corriugton was the presiding elder. These notes would not be complete without some further notice of Dr. Corrington.

James B. Corrington was born in Kentucky, October 24, 1801, and learned a trade at which he worked in the city of Louisville for several years.

On the first of January 1828 he made a profession of reli- gion and joined the church, and two weeks thereafter was made a class leader. So clear were his conceptions of reli- gious life and character, and of his own experience of change of heart with the ability to strengthen and encourage others in faith and practice, that no hesitation was felt as to the propriety of his appointment. At a Quarterly Confer- ence nice ting hekl at Millersburgh, Bourbon Co., Kentucky, he was licensed to preach. In March, 1830, he removed to Jacksonville, Illinois, and at once took position in the church as a local preacher.

In 1832 he removed to Greene county. In 1838 at the annual Conference held at Upper Alton he was made a tray- eling preacher and went to Carrohton Circuit. In 1847 was sent to Jacksonville, then the most important station in the Conference. In 1849 was appointed presiding eller of Lebanon district, in which he remained five years, which were years of great usefulness to the church. In the full strength of a matured manhood, in mind and in person of almost Her- eulean proportions, his preaching was marked by much pa hos and intellectual strength, often rising to true oratory ; he was a field marshal of Methodist cavalry in southern Illinois In 1854 he was appointed to Alton district, which introduced him to Madison county. From this time until 1872, when his health began to fail, Dr. Corrington exercised a wide spread influence as an able minister. Free from all idiosyn- crasies as to doctrine he was a power in whatever depart- ment of the church service he was called, and was a dele-

gate to every general Conference of the church from 1852 to 1868, and until publicly declining a continuance of that service. He died in Dorchester, Maccupin county, in Nov. 1881, full of faith and hope of the future life.

As it might not be especially interesting to the reader to pursue the details or particular history of the M. E church down to the present time I will not attempt it.

There have been great changes in all the societies in the county since 1854. Some have ceased to exist whilst others have become merged into other societies.

These changes have been the result of decease or removal of the members of the societies and a change of population. Most of the lands where the extinct societies then existed are now owned by Germans, wh > belong to other deno mina tions. Very few of the okl settlers reside there.

Yet has the church sustained her high standing as a Christian denomination. There are now thirteen regularly organized societies in the county numbering as heretofore stated, 1165 members with nine regular pa-tors. These pastors are supported by the societies. There are nine par- sonages. The various religious enterprises and benevolences of the church are generously supported. There are thirteen organized Sabbath schools with 144 teachers and officers and 1106 scholars.

In all these societies there is a life, spirit and devotion in their religious services, and a desire to have them in- crease in moral and religious influence.

THE GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

BY REV. WM. SCHWIND.

HIGHLAND.

It was in the year 1836 when some of the leading minds in the Methodist Episcopal church in the United States deemed it practicable to establish a domestic mission among the Germans. The movement, though slow at first in form- ing congregations, met with ultimate success and was carried on by the church with much zeal and activity. From Ohio and Pennsylvania where it began it spread westward.

As early as 1845, the Rev. Wm. Hemminghaus, a Ger- man Methodist preacher, went from Mascoutah, St. Clair county, to Highland, to preach to the Germans then resid- ing there. He was one of the early pioneer preachers among the Germans in Illinois, and died at Beardstown while yet young.

Ile was succeeded in 1846 by Rev. Chas. Koencke, and the first society was organized in that year. Some of the first members were, Michael Mol et, John Zimmerman, Philip Gruen, J. Miller and C. Kluge. As it soon appeared neces-ary to have a house for worship, a deliberative mect- ing of the society was held on the 14th of December, 1846, which decided that a church should be built ; but owing to circumstances it was not accomplished until a few years later.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Rev. Charles Koeneke was succeeded by Rev. Louis Kunz in 1847. Rev Wm. Fiegenbaum followed in 1848. In the fall of the same year the building of a church was com- menced and carried on until it was under roof. Its comple- tion was delayed till the following spring. It was dedicated on the 26th of June, 1849, by Rev. Henry Koeneke, presid- ing elder. The church is 40 by 30 feet, two stories high, with steeple and bell. The lower story was built of rough stone ; the upper story was built in partnership with the American Methodist, which relation it still sustained. Its value is about $2,000. It is still used for public worship and is of interest to many yet living who often went to Highland at those times to attend quarterly meetings which always were of great interest. Some of the first members were, F Kandert, J. Kirsher, Gallus Rutz, Henry B.cker, J. Kaeser, Charles Grundenberg, and C. Britt. The mission at that time already embraced a large territory and many appointments. It included Edwardsville, Fosterburg, Staun- ton. Looking Glass Prairie, Beaver Creek, Blackjack, Smooth Prairie, Silver Creek, Ridge Prairie, The Bluffs, Moro and Upper Alton. The membership in the whole field of labor numbered 67 at the time the church was dedicated. Rev. Wm. Fiegenbaum was in charge of the mission with two assistant preachers. They were Rev. J. Keck and Rev. Herman Koch, who is now President of Central Wesleyan College, Warrenton, Mo. The latter taught school at High- land, besides preaching regularly at several appointments.

Great and exhausting were the labors of those early pio- neer preachers, but they felt themselves equal to almost any emergency. With heroic devotion to their work and self- denying determination, they shared the hardships and diffi- culties of the early German settlers. They were on horse- back almost every day, seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel, preaching in log cabins, school houses, and where ever they could get any hearers, many or few, to teach them the way of righteousness, expecting very little compensation but what the great Shepherd might please to give them at the great day. And their labors were not in vain. Many persons became converted and rejoiced in the experience of a new life.

When in the year 1849 the Cholera broke out, eight to ten persons died almost every day at Highland. Rev. Wm. Fiegenbaum was stopped on his rounds for fear he would spread the disease. But then he went to nurse the sick and dying, often day and night, for two months, administering faithfully to their bodily and spiritual wants. After that he resumed his labors and was eminently successful in building up the societies in Madison county. Several years later a new church was built at Beaver Creek, where a society still exists. Most of the above mentioned appointments are still places for public worship; they are either formed into separate organizations or connected with other charges.

The early history of Highland church is of more special interest. as it was the nucleus from which sprung most other societies in the county. Of its later history I have very little knowledge. Its present membership is 70. It carries on two Sabbath-schools of about 100 scholars, 16 officers and teachers.

EDWARDSVILLE.

It appears that Mis-ionary labor by the German Metho- dist preachers began in the vicinity of Edwardsville, in the year 1847, and had a very small beginning. An assistant preacher residing at Alton, met Mr. John Stullken, and in- quired of him, about the religions condition of the people. He was invited to make an appointment for preaching at the school-house No. 4, now called Progress school-house, three miles north of Edwardsville. Mr. C.Bernrenter, a young man of some education and influence previously held private religious meetings in the neighborhood. Most persons who met there for divine worship were of a marked religious disposition. They were glad to have religious meetings now regularly held among them. And they went even to Highland in those times to attend Quarterly meetings, where at a revival of religion many were converted to God.

Among the first members were; C. Bernreuter, C. P. Smith, J. Stullken, Henry Stullken, and at Pleasant Ridge, Henry Blume and Wm. Blume. In 1852, a camp meeting was held in the neighborhoo I of Progress School-house un- der the supervision of Rev Phil. Kuhl, presiding Elder, who is still living, and one of the oldest preachers in the St. Louis German Conference.

The Society gradually increased. E. H. Kreige and Wm. Kreige became members, and helped greatly to build up the church. The society commenced to hold its meet- ings at Edwardsville, about the year 1855, in the Old School- house on Main Street. Rev. H. D. Schmidt, being then preacher in charge, resided at Highland, with which place the society was still connected. In 1860 Edwardsville was made a separate charge, with a preacher of its own, chiefly by the influence of Dr. Weir, Sr., who felt a great interest in the German work, and gave it his hearty support. Rev. WVm. Koeneke, was the first resident pastor. He was re- turned to Edwardsville in 1866.

In 1861, the Quarterly Conference appointed a committee consisting of C. P. Smith, E. H. Kreige and Wm. Kreige, to see after a suitable lot for a church building and to call a meeting of the society, as soon as convenient to report the results. But as the Baptist church was for rent, it was thought best to rent it and it continued the place of worship until the year 1866, when it no longer answered the pur- pose. The building is at present used for an engine- house. About the same time a house was bought on Main Street for a parsonage, at a cost of $1200, and the Epis- coopal Church near to it was rented and used for divine services until 1869; when it was for sale, on the 11th of September, 1869, the Trustees, who were, C. P. Smith, J. Stullken, Wm. Kreige, C. Ortman, J. Kettelkamp. reported to the Quarterly Conference that they had bought the church in which they worshiped for $1500. This amount besides the cost of repairing and changes necessary, which amounted to $349.34, was raised by the society soon after, some of the trustees paying a large share. The membership was then 140, which is about its present number.

The society carries on two Sabbath-schools of 100 scholars 16 officers and teachers, 230 volumes in the library. They

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

take 65 Sabbath-school papers, 95 Bible Lesson leafs, con- tributed $25.00 for mission, and their annual expenses are $ 8.00.

Wm. Stullken and Herman Engeling are at present their efficient superintendents.

ALTON.

The German M. E. Church at Alton, dates its beginning back to the year 1845, when in the fall of that year, Rev. Lewis Kunz, who preached occasionally at Fosterburg, visit- ed the place, attended by J. H. Appel, a member of the church as a guide. The first services were held in the American M. E. Church, Lower Alton. It then became a regular appointment for preaching, and the place was succes- sively visited even by the presiding Elders of St. Louis District, Rev. Henry Kveneke and Rev. Geo. Boeshenz, whose labors at that time were to a large extent missionary. But it does not appear that an organization took place until 1852. The first members were, J. H. Appel, Val. Miller, J. Miller, J. Wiand.

A Sabbath-school was organized, consisting of about 30 scholars The first Quarterly Conference was held on the 1st of January, 1852. A German Methodist congregation at Alton was now an established fact. In 1854, when the society had gradually increased, a church was built at Hunterstown, Walnut and Third Street, under the adminis- tration of Rev. Jacob Miller. Rev. Miller, labored exten- sively in Madison county. He was several times stationed at Alton, and at Highland aud Staunton. He came to the United States while young, and early joined the M. E. Church. In 1848, he was admitted into the Illinois Confer- ence, and labored with great success until by reason of fail- ing health he was obliged to ask for a superannuated relation. In 1860, he was placed on the active list and again sent to Alton. He was a popular and successful preacher, and died at Bushnell, Illinois, March 7th, 1871.

The size of the first church at Alton, was 40 by 25, and its cost $800. A few years after, however, it became evident that its locality was not the most suitable one for the atten- dants on public worship there, and as opportunity offered it was exchanged for the American M. E. Church, on Union Street, the size of which was 60 by 40. The ministers sta- tioned at this church, from 1854 to 1862, were Thomas Heger, II. Pfaff, H. Hankemeyer, E. Kriege, J Miller, J. Ritter. Most always some other appointments were con- nected with the charge, and occasionally it happened that church members moved away, on account of which progress was more or less retarded.

In April, 1830, the Church on Union Street was destroyed by fire, the cause not being known. The society immedi- ately resolved to build a new church, which was soon after erected on Henry Street. The size of the new church edifice is 67 by 48 feet, and its cost about $10,000. At the same time a parsonage was built, the value of which is $2500. Church and parsonage are built in the very best modern style. The enterprise owed its success largely to the efficient labors of Rev J. J. Hilmes, who is at present the presiding Elder of Belleville District, and the earnest work of the trustees who

were Henry Lehne, J. Lorek, Rud Bierbaum, Louis Unger, Rev. Bilderbeck. The society has at present a membership of 80 persons. It carries on a prosperous Sabbath-school, and stands in regard to his contributions for benevolent ob- jects in the front ranks.

There is also a German M. E. Church at Fosterburg. We have been unable to learn its history, but it has a Church built in the year 1864; its first members, who are still living, were Paul Meissenheimer and Fred. Weber. Its present membership is 70.

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

BY REV. M. W. BECKLY.

The Lower Alton A. M. E. Church was organized by the most venerable elder William Paul Quinn, in the winter of 1839. It is not known which one of the winter months, but, it is certain the organization took place in 1839. He was a regularly ordained elder for many years previous to this period He was duly elected by the General Conference, May 7th, 1844, to fill the office of Bishop. This election took place in Pittsburgh, Pa , which made him the fourth bishop in this connection, who lived many years after he or- gauized the A. M. E. Church in Alton. He came to Alton in the winter of 1839, and found seven persons of our race here who were of the Methodist persuasion, who occasionally went to the M. E. Church to hear the gospel of the Son of God. The names of the seven persons who composed the organization of the first A. M. E. Church, in Madison county, and the second A. M. E. Church of Illinois state, were William Barton, Jane Barton, Loudon Parks, Shad- rach Stewart, Jane Parks, Eliza Ellesworth and Thomas Ellesworth The first sermon preached by this venerable man of God, was iu William Barton's house, in Alton, located between Abby and Easton streets. This house was the preaching place for years afterward. William Bar- ton was also the first local preacher of the A. M. E. Church in Madison county and also in the state; he was licensed the same week as the organization. Shadrach Stewart was the first A. M. E. preacher in charge of the A. M. E. Church, in the state. All the members who composed the first or- ganization are dead but Mrs. Eliza Clarke, who still lives in Alton, and is still a member of the A. M. E. Church.

The second place of worship was in a house now standing on Sixth between Easton and Market streets. The third place of worship, and the first church building owned by the congregation, was a small brick house on Third between Walnut and Vine streets. This house cost at that time about five hundred dollars, and is now converted into a dwelling-house. As the congregation remained small from its organization until 1865, and as there were only a few families previous to this date, this little house

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

answered well. About the middle of the war and im- mediately afterward, our people moved to Alton and the church kept pace with the times, and as the population in- creased our membership increased and the little building was too small for the growing congregation. Consequently we were compelled to seek another locality. We sold out on Third and Walnut and Vine streets and bought a lot on Third between Ridge and Henry, and ereeted a brick building

one story high 40x60, in 1867. It eost between four and five thousand dollars. Brother Henry Depugh was pastor in charge at that time. It was dedieated by Bishop J. P. Campbell, and the church building was named Campbell Chapel. $2,500 was borrowed, mortgage given, aecom- panied with notes drawing ten per cent. interest, 1867, and continued ten per cent. until 1876. Neither the princi- pal nor interest were paid. The membership ran down and the congregation decreased, and what little was accomplished was not done without heroism. In 1876, Mr. William Eliott Smith, the creditor, made a proposition to Rev. H. Depugh and the members, that if they would raise 8500 and pay the interest that year, he would give them cre- dit for $1,400, thus giving the church $900 as a donation. It was not paid that year, but Rev. R. C. Cooper followed Depugh, and in two years he raised the $500, and paid the interest. Mr. Smith gave the credit for $1,400, and this aet of philanthropic charity itself did more to encourage the congregation than anything that had ever been done by any one, and for this beneficent act of Mr. William Eliott Smith, our membership and congregation will always remember him in our devotions, and love him and his family. By that act the success of the church is manifest in many ways, one of the pleasantest of which is the reduction, and I believe the extinction of the church debt will take place this year. The work has moved along in a deep current of religious feeling, making itself felt among those of mature age, who have long stood aloof from the church. Our church value is 85,500. The Sunday-school here was or- ganized by Rev. J. C. Emery, in 1866. It has continued every year since, and the aeting superintendent, Z Crawford, and eight zealous, active, religious teachers are determined to make it a religious power in the church. It numbers 80, and is still increasing. The membership is 175 ; congregation numbers 250 regularly. This congregation has had sinee 1839 to 1882, 20 different ministers. All served two years at a time but two, and these served three years. There are a very few of this number living They have gone to heaven "where the wicked eease from troubling and the weary are at rest." There are six A. M. E. Churches in this county : Lower Alton, Upper Alton, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Ridge Prairie and Rocky Fork. The Edwardsville church build- ing is now being finished ; a one story frame, 30x46. The Collinsville church building is a one story frame; do not know its dimensions. The Ridge Prairie church building is a one story frame. Upper Alton church building, 26x40 ; a one story frame ; all paid for. The membership through- out the county numbers 550. The number of church goers in this county is probably one thousand. We have six churches in the county, and every church has a Sunday-

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 74

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co. Number of Pages: 698

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698