History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 55

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 55

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Rev. Joshua Dunham, pastor of the United Brethren church in Blandins- ville, is a native of Ohio, having been

born in Harrison county, September 16, 1820: His parents were William and Mary (Chanly) Dunham, both of whom are deceased. Joshua is the youngest of a family of 11 children, only three of whom are now living. His father was a farmer and Joshua remained at home and attended school until he was 14 years of age, when he went to learn the tailor's trade, and continued in this oc- cupation until he was 23 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and set- tled in Pike county, near Pittsfield, and worked at his trade in connection with farming. In April, 1845, he was licensed to preach, and in 1847 he joined the an- nual conference; in 1852 was ordained. In 1854 he sold his possessions in Pike county and moved to Blandinsville, and bought some town property and entered the field as an itinerant minister of the gospel, which profession he has contin- ued to follow to the present time. He has always enjoyed a large share of the confidence and esteem of his church, and has been honored with many trusts. He has been presiding elder at different times,' agent of the Blandinsville semi- nary, and has been elected three times to general conference, appointed to cir- cuits and districts which have necessi- tated much travel in his ministerial la- bor all over the Military Tract as well as central and eastern portion of the state of Illinois. In the fall of 1858, he again bought a farm in Pike county, and moved back, where he remained until the spring of 1863, when he was travel- ing as presiding elder east of the Illinois river. Sold his farm in Pike county, Illinois, and moved to Blandinsville. In the fall of 1864, his health failing,

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

he discontinued preaching and engaged in merchandising in the village of Blan- dinsville, which he continued for two years. During this time he was elected police magistrate and served four years. Before his term as magistrate expired, he resumed preaching on Blandinsville circuit, and was again elected presiding elder. In 1872 he went to southwest Kansas and entered the cattle trade, thinking to improve his health. Upon his return he was again elected presid- ing elder, but was in poor healthi. In 1884, he was again called to the Blan- dinsville circuit, and, although in fail- ing health continues his good and noble work.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, OF HIRE TOWNSHIP.

This society erected a fine church edi- fice, 26x36 feet in ground area, on the northwest corner of the southeast quar- ter of section 15, during the summer of 1867. The building, when completed, cost about $1,400. Israel Null, with his characteristic generosity, donated 10 acres for a church lot. Isaac Null, and family, were among the first members of the organization. The church was quite thriving and prosperous, and at one time had a membership of about 70, although at present the membership numbers only about 20,-some sleeping the sleep that knows no wakening, while others have gone to the land of the setting sun. The first pastor of the church was John Wyatt, who presided over the little flock for a year. The church has had a number of pastors since, but is without an ex- pounder of biblical doctrine at present. A Sabbath school has been conducted

during the summer months, since the erection of the church building, in which considerable interest has been manifested, and generally has a good attendance. Israel Null was the pioneer superintendent of the school.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, OF SCOTLAND TOWNSHIP.

This society was organized in 1860, in a school house, which formerly stood near the present site of the church, on section 13, Scotland township. Rev. John Wyatt was the organizer. The first members were, Solomon Walker and wife, James M. Rexroat and wife, Mrs. M. Rexroat, Martha Isaacs, Jane Bear, and Steven Tolen, Meetings were held in the school house mentioned for some time, Rev. John Wyatt serving as pastor for two years. The church edi- fice was erected in the spring of 1881, at a cost of $1,800. It is 36x44 feet in ground area. The present pastor is Rev. E. O. Norvel, who resides at Adair, Illi- nois.

PILOT GROVE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, OF NEW SALEM TOWNSHIP.

The building used by this society was erected in 1868, on the northwest corner of section 11. It is 34x46 feet in dimen- sions, and cost $1,000. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Davis. The first trustees were C. P. McDonald, William Nebergall, and William Ritter. William G. Wilkins . and James Wil- son were added to this list in 1883. The present pastor is Rev. E. O. Norvel.

BUSHNELL REFORMED CHURCH.

This church was organized, October 19, 1856, by a committee, consisting of

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Rev. A. Wilson and S. B. Ayers. The original members were Frederick Cruser, Thomas Plotts and wife, Aaron Sper- ling, and D. M. Wyckoff. The church edifice was erected in 1860 or '61, and dedicated May 1, 1861. It is a good frame building, and is on the corner of Church and Crafford streets. It is val- ued at $5,000, and the parsonage at $1,600. The first meetings of the society were held in a school liouse, and after- ward in a carpenter shop, which was purchased and fitted up as a chapel. The present resident membership is 104. The first consistory was composed of Elders John Wyckoff, Thomas Plotts, and Frederick K. Cruser; Deacons D. M. Wyckoff, and Aaron Sperling. The church has lately been newly papered, painted, etc., and is now one of the neat- est in the place. It also sustains one of the best choirs in the county.

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL BUSHNELL.

CHURCH,

This congregation was organized on the 27th of April, 1883, by Rev. John W. Elliott, with the following members: Charles A. Dickinson, Mrs. G. J. Spooks, and Mrs. W. Z. Boyington. After about three months' service, Rev. Elliott, the rector, left, and was succeeded by Rev. J. M. D. Davidson, the present incum- bent. There are now some 40 commun- icants in the church, and it is a very popular one, and is growing as rapidly as a healthy growth will permit. The officers of the society are the following mentioned gentlemen: Rector, J. M. D. Davidson; T. J. Sparks, senior warden; J. W. Z. Boyington, junior warden and secretary; C. A. Dickinson, treasurer; J.

C. Young, J. C. McGowan, C. A. Dick- inson, M. Cassidy, S. T. Henry, and C. T. Gram, vestrymen. They occupy, for a place of worship, what was formerly known as Union hall, which they liave fitted up in an elegant manner.

CATHOLIC CHURCH, MCDONOUGH COUNTY. [By Rev. Father John Larmer, Montello, Marquette county, Wisconsin.]

The history of the Catholic church in McDonough county is inseparable from from its social and political history, as will appear further on in these pages. As early as 1832, Catholic settlers immi- grated into McDonough county-some from Maryland, others from Kentucky, and a few from Ireland, almost direct. Among the earliest settlers was the Mc- Kay family, from Baltimore; the pa- rents, however, were born in Ireland. This family located in the northern portion of the county, and their hum- ble home became the regular place where the Catholic priests period- ically held divine services. In the west- ern portion of the county, Joseph Reilly and others settled, they coming from Kentucky. Joseph Reilly proba- bly came in 1833, and at his home and Mr. John Hardesty's, Catholic priests from Missouri, for years, ministered to the spiritual wants of the Catholics in their neighborhoods. In the southeast portion of the county, a family by the name of Carlin settled not far from Table Grove; this family was subsequently joined by other brothers and relations; these Carlins originally came from Ire- land.

Nauvoo, on the Mississippi river, was the residence of the priests who at-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

tended the Catholics in the northern, middle and southern portions of McDon- ough county. The Catholics, as above stated, of the western portion, were at- tended principally by priests from Mis- souri. It probably will surprise the present generation of young Catholics, and others, that the now second city in Illinois, Peoria, less than 40 years ago was of so little importance that it re- ceived just the same spiritual attendance from the priests stationed at Nauvoo, in its turn, that the few Catholics received at the home of John McKay, in the northern portion of McDonough county. The writer had this fact from the Rev. Thomas Kennedy, who was one of the first resident pastors of Nauvoo. He stated it was his custom to start on horse- back from Nauvoo monthly; visit the Catholic settlers in the territory, includ- ing Hancock and Henderson counties, and reach Mckay's, in McDonough county, say mass, rest, and change his horses, then proceed to St. Augustine, Fulton county, hold Catholic services there, then, with occasional stops, go to Peoria, do the same, and return by the end of the month to Nauvoo. This was the usual routine for years, of other priests, until the development of the country. made other arrangements neces- sary, by placing resident pastors at Peoria and elsewhere. The citizens as well as the Catholics, need not blush, but may be proud of the Catholic priests who early ministered spiritually in Mc- Donough county; some of them were distinguished for learning and piety, and, to a man, were zealous for the spread of the gospel, and by their presence and counsel, quietly given without fee or re-

ward, assisted in the development and material prosperity, not only of McDon- ough, but neighboring counties. Some of them, as will be seen further on, be- came distinguished, and will live in the history of Missouri, Illinois, principally the great city of Chicago, and the state of Michigan.

First Missionaries, or Early Priests.

As I am limited in space in this chap- . ter, I will partly dispense with dates, for to be accurate to a month or year, in some instances, would require much more research, probably without re- sult, than the writer can spare time. But this will not impair the accuracy of any statement set down in this work. The writer was well acquainted with nearly all the priests set down here, and had what he writes from their own lips, indeed, some of the priests were dear friends; such friendship, strange as it may seem, arises between the old and the young. The first priest who minis- tered in McDonough county since its settlement, in this century, whom there is any tradition or record of, was Rev. Peter Paul LeFevere. There is certain evidence that he officiated in McDon- ough county, on his way to the church of St. Augustine, in Fulton county, in 1834. Father LeFevere's residence was in Missouri. There 'is, however, no doubt but that earlier than that year he visited the scattered Catholics in Mc- Donough and neighboring counties. This priest was a very distinguished man, humble and learned. He was con- secrated Catholic bishop of the state of Michigan, November 21, 1841, and died March 4, 1869.

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

The next was Rev. John George Alle- man. Father Alleman is still remem- bered by the oldest settlers. He was a most learned and pious, but funny man. Although a Frenchman, the writer never met an Irishman who could excel him in wit and practical good humor. He loved the writer as a son, and the mis- sionary spirit he infused into him in early years by example and instruction braced him up against every impedi- ment to develop the good work he and others began. Father Alleman's resi- dence was at Fort Madison, Iowa, and his labors in McDonough and neighbor- ing counties covered the time the Mor- mons were in Nauvoo. Strange to re- late, Joseph Smith and the leading Mor- mons, at all times professed the greatest respect and friendship for the big French priest, as they called him. Father Alleman once related to the writer that he had no means of getting across the Mississippi river to attend a sick Catho- lic in McDonough county, but the Mor- mons, having made known to Joseph Smith that the priest wished to cross, the latter not only had him ferried over, but furnished him a conveyance to the sick man. Smith telling Father Alle- man that next to the Mormons, the Catholics were the best of all religions. "For," continued Smith, "the priests at- tend to their people faithfully and mind their own business, whereas the other preachers are continually bothering the Latter Day Saints." Father Alleman wittily remarked with thanks, "there was a diversity of opinion on that sub- ject." Father Alleman died of apo- plexy in the Sisters' hospital in St. Louis, September 10, 1866.

After the Mormons left, the French philosophical sect, socialists, Monsieur Cabat being their founder and leader, took possession of Nauvoo. This sect has no affinity to latter day socialism. Cabat's system consisted in a commu- nity of goods and social perfectionism. He and his community were mere theo- rists, unpractical in all that concerns daily life; therefore, when an attempt was made to reduce these theories to practice, the community failed hope- lessly and broke up; some remaining at Nauvoo, others going to Warsaw, in Hancock county, and a few went to Iowa, and established the village of Arcadia. These circumstances strange as it may appear, brought about the better develop- ment of the Catholic church in McDon- ough and the neighboring counties. The eyes of the civilized world were on Cabat's system, as he had taught it in colleges in France, and was a writer of marked ability, and when it fell hope- lessly through, the members being French and ought to be Catholics, the serious attention of the archbishop of St. Louis, and others were directed to save and reclaim Cabat's deluded, but honest dupes. Rev. John St. Cyr, who had been the first priest who said mass in the city of Chicago, and who built the first church in it. After successful pastoral labors in that city, had been recalled to Missouri; and from Northern Missouri, from time to time, crossed over the Mississippi to Warsaw, in Han- cock county, Illinois, and organized a Catholic congregation, bringing back to the Catholic church nearly all of the disbanded socialists he found in that sec- tion. Father St. Cyr, also, extended for

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

a time regularly, his pastoral labors to the western portion of McDonough county. Father St. Cyr will be men- tioned again in the chapter on Tennes- see congregation. He died at the Sisters' convent, in St. Louis, of which he had been chaplain for years, on February 21, 1882, being over 80 years of age. He was a mild and scholarly man, gentle as a lamb, as the old settlers used to say, and full of zeal for the spread of the gospel of Christ. Sketches, if not a full history of him, have been published by the Historical Society, of Chicago.

A house being purchased in Nauvoo, which formerly been a residence and a store of a Mormon, Father Thomas Ken- nedy was located there, he using the store for a church and the other portion of the building as a residence. This then was the first attempt on the east side of the Mississippi to locate a perma- nent resident priest and give McDonough county, and the county east of it, includ- ing Peoria, a permanent pastor, to, at least, visit the principal stations once a month, Mckay's in the northern portion of McDonough county being looked on as the center of Father Kennedy's dis- trict. Rev. Thomas Kennedy was not what could be called a learned man, yet he was a fine classical scholar and a mathematician of no mean repute, but he was better than a scholar, he was an humble but vigorous servant of Christ. In his zeal in preaching the word of God he would frequently weep, hence the irreverent called him "the crying priest," but he had enough of the Irishman about him, which he was, to correct with a heavy hand, and even his boot, those who dared insult the priesthood in his

person. After nearly 30 years arduous labor in the ministry in Illinois, he died in Hyde Park, Cook county, Illinois, in 1873.

Rev. Father Griffin probably succeed- ed Rev. Thomas Kennedy. Little of his history is known to the writer. He was carried off in the prime of life, a martyr to his Master's cause, he wishing to give double service at distant points, caught malarial fever, on Christmas day and died suddenly. Certain it is he was a faithful clergyman and beloved by his people, as they had, we think, a praise- worthy rivalry which congregation would have the honor of his body in their midst. Nauvoo people wanted and did bury him there, but the members of St. Augustine's congregation and others from McDonough county went, and by force, disinterred his body, and brought it to St. Augustine, Fulton county, and there his remains lie buried.

The building of the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy railroad forced a change on the ecclesiastical authorities as to the manner of attending the spiritual wants of the Catholics in McDonough county.

In the preceding lines it was a pleas- ure to the writer to give the facts stated and preserve from oblivion the labors of worthy pioneer clergymen who suffered untold hardships in those early days for Christ's sake. Some things will now be related with great reluctance, but if the history of a locality is worth writing it should be done well and frankly or not at all. To omit facts which had a direct bearing on the future would be to give an egg shell without the meat. A his- torian is not a respecter of persons, their feelings or their prejudices, but a narra-

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

tive of facts for the information and in- struction of posterity.

Before the building of railroads through McDonough county the Catho- lics, nearly to a man, were farmers, who, with their families, as a rule squared their lives with the maxims of the gos- pel. The priests had only to instruct, exhort, aud rarely correct, for evil doers were few, consequently between the priests and the farmers, making up their religious assemblies, an affection existed between them which conferred happi- ness on the people, and had the most consoling and beneficial effect on the priests. With the advent of railroads some farmers, it is true, came, but an- other and not desirable class, either as citizens or church members, spread them- selves over the incipient towns growing up on such railroads. The Catholic church, being the mother of all her chil- dren, never neglects recalling the erring, if they give her half a chance, therefore to look after this class the bishop of Chi- cago, who had at that period the super- vision of the Catholic church of all Illi- nois, located a pastor at Galesburg, with McDonough county within his pastoral jurisdiction. Rev. Fra. Fitnam was, probably, the first appointed priest under the change. Father Fitnam attended the Catholics in Macomb and its vicinity in halls or private houses. With this clergyman came the first trouble and sor- row to the Catholics. . The writer will now clear up the circumstances of his case, really known to the community for the first time, as Fra. Fitnam kept his own counsel first and last. Everybody seemed to know all about his case, yet no one of the people really knew what they

were talking about. Father Fitnam had simply a misunderstanding with Anthony O'Regan, tlicn bishop of Chicago, about some business transactions of Fitnam's beyond the church. Fitnam claimed the bishop had no business to meddle in his private business transactions, and Bishop O'Regan, instanter, branded him as "contumacious," and removed him from the active ministry. This, then, was all there was in this scandal. Subsequent events had nothing to do with the matter further than making the breach wider. Father Fitnam had hopes of the bishop relenting, but he then did not know the manner of man the bishop was. He at- tended mass, kneeling at the door, the last, as it were, of his people, when his successor was officiating, and he only stopped going to church when the rude- ness and babbling of his former mem- bers became unbearable. The writer has this fact from a trustworthy and in- telligent witness. Such is the world. The Jews spread their garments and palm branches in the way for Jesus, cry- ing hosannas, and three days afterwards changed their tune, and shouted " Cru- cify him," "The disciples cannot expect better treatment than the Master.".

I dwell on this case because to-day, even, it is not forgotten in McDonough and neighboring counties. Bishop O'Re- gan, who removed Father Fitnam, had been only a few years from an ancient but rural college in Ireland; he had no experience in missionary life; knew little about America, and treated priests as if they were school boys. These things being presented to Cardinal Barnabo and Pius IX., he was called to Rome and received a most terrible castigating

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HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

from the pope, and ordered to resign. The writer had it officially from Bishop O'Regan's successor that if Father Fit- nam had presented himself with the proper dispositions he would have been restored. Whether it was the ingrati- tude and cruelty of the people, and feel- ing the injustice done him, made him lose the spirit of his priesthood, certain it is, he drifted, from step to step, further away from the Catholic church, and after a long time became tired of a secular life and retirement, joined the Protestant Episcopal church, and is now in that communion, serving a church in South- ern Minnesota.

Next came Father O'Neil, the elder, as he was called. This clergyman did not stay long. He had been a professor in Fordham College, New York, under the famous Archbishop Hughes, therefore roughing it on the prairies, among a rural people, was too much of a change for him, and he was removed to St. Patrick's church, Chicago, where he died. This Father O'Neil had a national reputation as a scholar, and on account of his exten- sive erudition and wonderful memory, was nicknamed the "walking library."

Father O'Neil, the younger, succeeded the elder priest at Galesburg. He was no relation of his predecessor. He had been educated in Ireland and Canada, and was an innocent and good man. He brought his mother and two sisters to live with him at Galesburg, which, as as subsequent events proved, was a great misfortune to them. They sold their little patrimony in Canada, supposing they would have protection and a per- manent home with their brother, the priest. The priest's sisters were very

young and thoroughly educated; the writer knows them well; but the average Catholic, then, of a railroad town, being only the dregs of their countrymen and church, soon began to create disturb- ance, and could see no merit, only vice, in education and respectability, even in a priest's family. Then, as the hand car of the railroaders was, as the saying is, a free horse, and on the go Sundays, the meddling of such people, who would kiss the priest's hand, and slander him and his nearest relatives when his back was turned, spread their idle tales that his family was getting rich at their expense, etc., over the whole section of the country, impairing Father O'Neil's usefulness. Father O'Neil was a zeal- ous missionary priest, and the frequent exposure on the prairies in McDonough and Warren counties, brought on a fit of sickness which impaired his physical strength and mental faculties. He was a very sensative man and not calculated to wrestle with the habits of low char- acters which it were necessary to cor- rect, and therefore never recovered his mental balance. and, of course, had to be replaced. With Father O'Neil, the pastoral relation of McDonough county terminated with that of Galesburg. His insanity, if it can be called such, con- sisted in the belief that he was unworthy to exercise the sacred ministry, and that all drinking of intoxicating liquor, for he was strictly temperate himself, was a sin. Poor O'Neil, were you now in America instead of old Ireland, many would call you a wise man, and your mania, if reduced to practice, would save the country from acrimonious re- criminations on the temperance ques-

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tion, and a great deal of oxpensive leg- islation in the northwest. Father O'Neil's mother and sisters, of course, now had no home, beggary and worthlessness always takes pleasure in the sorrows and humiliations of the virtuous and respectable, so in this case; the people turned on them, but Bishop Duggan, of Chicago, to his honor, saw justice done these lone and afflicted females, as far as was in his power. Here is a lesson for afflicted women, in the future in Mc- Donough county. These sisters of the priest, who was no longer able to pro- tect them, after their first sorrow, did not repine and throw themselves on others. Well educated as they were, genteel, Irish girls, no other course was open for them but service; they went where they were not known and to large towns, where people were not afflicted with detestable curiosity, and quietly worked for a living, faithfully attending to their duties as christians, until they settled down in life. The writer being in Ireland during the summer of 1875, met Father O'Neil and was able to ren- der him an incalculable service; he is now living on the charity of his poor friends, in his native country, Kilkenny, Ireland, which is a lasting reproach to the Catholic church of Illinois, as the canon law of the church provides for the respectable support of invalid, as well as unfortunate priests.

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History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 55

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150