USA > Illinois > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 46
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After mass, the procession was formed in the following order : A company of papal zuaves, composed of small boys dressed in red uniforms with turbans, tassles, &c., then followed the children of the parochial schools, the day scholars and boarders of the convent, the member of the library association, the young ladies sodality, St. Vincent's orphan society ; the portrait of Pope Pius IX came next in order carried by a young lady representing the Catholic church, and around her were fifteen children bearing emblems, representing their various professions and avocations. A guard of honor with the papal flag escorted them. Next came the clergy in carriages, who were accompanied by mounted escorts. The differ- ent religious societies, together with citizens on foot, horseback and carriages completed the procession, which was certainly one of the largest and most imposing that ever paraded the streets of the city. It is almost impossible to estimate the number of persons who par- ticipated, as counting was entirely out of the question; but the procession was fully one and a half miles in length and occupied at least one hour in passing a given point. Two bands of music dis- coursed music, both in the line of march and at Eimers Hill during the day, where the picnic was held, and after passing the greater part of the day in a most agreeable and pleasant manner the party returned about five o'clock to the city in excellent order. Orations were delivered in the English and German languages, and were listened to with marked attention by the large concourse of people there assembled. Mr. J. A. Kennedy, of Springfield, Ills., former- ly of Waterlooo, Ills., who delivered the English oration, acquitted himself admirably, and as a reward for his excellent effort received frequent and heartfelt applause. The festivities of the day wound up with a large torchlight procession in the evening. The display was truly imposing and was witnessed by thousands of people. The _ Catholics had made extensive preparations for the celebration of the day ; nearly all of them had their residences and places of busi- ness festooned and illuminated in honor of the occasion. The church particularly was brilliantly illuminated. Too much praise cannot be awarded to Rev. Father Hinssen, the pastor of Belleville, for the unremitting zeal displayed by him in getting up the celebration as well as for the successful and orderly manner in which it was carried out. Altogether it was a day which will be long remem- bered by the citizens, and more especially the Catholics of Belle- ville.
In the year 1877, June the 10th, the St. Peter's Catholic Ceme- tery on Green Mount, containing eight and three-fourth acres of land, was consecrated by the Right Reverend P. J. Baltes, who was assisted by the Reverend L. Pommer, Rev. Wirtschoreck, Rev. Zum- busch, and the Rector of St. Peter's Church.
6. Among the sad events in the history of St. Peter's congrega- tion we chronicle the death of Rev. Father Arnold Pinkers, Janu- ary 17th, 1872. He was a Hollander by birth, and came to Belle- ville in the year 1863. After nine years of faithful labor for the cause of religion in the St. Peter's congregation, he died from heart disease in the Sister's Hospital in St. Louis. He was buried in Belleville, in Walnut Hill cemetery. How highly esteemed and
beloved the deceased priest was among the members of the congre- gation, could be seen on the day of burial. His funeral cortage was the largest ever seen in the streets of Belleville.
7. In the year 1875, several attempts were made by unknown parties to burn St. Peters' church. The first fire was laid under the old church. It was extinguished before any harm had been done. The next attempt was made in the large tower of the new church. The stairway, leading from the first to the second story in the tower, had been saturated with coal oil, and fired about a quarter of seven o'clock in the evening of February the 24th, 1875, and in less than two minutes the stairway and wooden ceiling of the first floor of the tower was ablaze. The people were just fiocking into the church for lenton devotion, when the cry of fire was raised, and the bright light of the flames were seen through all the windows of the tower. It is to this circumstance that the fire was extinguished before any serious damage was done. A few minutes later in discovering the fire-a few less hands to quench it, and the splendid church of St. Peter, the pride and ornament of our city-would have been a heap of smouldering ruins! Who the perpetrators of this dastardly outrage were remains a mystery to this day. All we know of them is this, that about three weeks before the fire, they had the courage to write to the Pastor of St. Peter's church, three anonymous letters in which they threatened-that unless we would leave Belleville- he himself would be murdered, or his church burned down ; - so far neither of these threats has been verified.
8. On November the third, 1875, there arrived from Munster, Westphalia, Germany, four Franciscan Siters of Charity, with Sis- ter Jovita, as Superioress-victims of Bismarks celebrated May- Laws. They were received with open arms by the people of Belle- ville. They took their provisory abode in the old school house, which had been prepared for their residenee. Ever since they have been working faithfully and zealously among the sick and suffering of Belleville, irrespective of religion or nationality, and it is in acknowledgment of their many services to suffering humanity-as a just tribute of thanks, that the members of St. Peter's congrega- tion, and many liberal citizens of Belleville, have built for them a new house, "St. Elizabeth Hospital." It is a three-story brick building, of sixty feet front, forty feet deep, and thirty-eight feet high, containing twenty two rooms for patients, drug-store, operat- ing-room, etc.
9. In the year 1878, July 13th, the Rev. Father Diekmann Assistant-priest at St. Peter's church, died of congestive fever. He was born in Borkum, Westphalia, in the year 1853-came to this country about a year before his death-was first pastor of Grafton, Jersey county, Illinois, and for about four months Assistant in Belleville. He was a man of kind and amiable disposition, and a great friend of children. He was beloved by all, and will be long remembered by those who knew him.
10. September 28th, 1879, St. Peter's congregation witnessed an- other great ceremony-the dedication of the St. Agnes Orphan Asylum, by the Right Reverend P. J. Baltes. This charitable in- stitution owes it origin to the liberality of a young Catholic lady, Miss Katie Agnes Germain, who, before her death, which took place May 28th, 1879, willed to the Right Reverend Bishop Baltes eighty acres of land for the purpose of building a home for orphans. Although the relatives of the worthy donator have succeeded so far in preventing the execution of that will, yet the intention of the deceased benefactress has been executed. The Orphan Asylum has been built, and shelters at present 26 orphans, under the man- agement of the Franciscan Sisters. It has a front of 110 feet and is two-story high. It contains sixteen rooms for the Orphan Asylum proper, four large school-rooms, and one large hall 67x32 feet.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
It is an ornament of the city and a lasting monument of the piety and liberality of Katie Agnes Germain.
Fayettville .- First Church was built in 1851. It was a frame building 25x35. In the year 1866 the congregation became too large, and a new church was built of brick in handsome Gothic style ; size, 50x80. The old church is now used for a school-house. The number of families belonging to the congregation, which is called after St Pancratius, are seventy ; present pastor, Rev. Froh- böse. Father Turk was first resident pastor, and he built the first church. The number of children attending the Catholic school varies between 50 and 60.
Lebanon. St. Joseph's congregation numbers about 60 families. Rev. Father Reineke, of Breese, Ills., built the first church in the year 1863. It is a frame building 30x52. A school-house, 24x86 · is near the church. The late Rev. Father Francis Trojan was pastor up to his death in April, 1881.
Mascoutah .- Congregation of Holy Childhood in Jesus was visited as before mentioned by the priests from Belleville. Mass was cele- brated in the houses of Messrs. Philipp Roehrig, Mathias Brentrel, Joham Friederich, Jacob Schmidt, and Mr. Mathias Roehrig. Father Ostlangenberg induced the people in the year 1852 to buy a piece of prairie land containing two acres, from a negro named Nelson, for the sum of $175. In the year 1856 an affort was made to build a church. Prominent among the donators we find Jacob Schmidt, Amand Meyer, John Vollmer, Francis Perrin, Joseph Meyer, Vincent Moeller, P. Roehrig, I. G. Meyer, D. Schaeffer, M. Hatt, P. Baumgaetre, N. Schofra, P. M. Speiser, and later others. In the year 1857 the foundation was laid for a brick church 40x60. It was completed the same year. The first resident priest was Rev. F. Bloesinger. His successor Rev. Father Frohbose. The latter established a Catholic school, and bought a lot for a grave-yard two miles west of Mascoutah. In the year 1859 the celebrated Father Wemiger gave a mission. The present pastor is Rev. Th. Anton Pieke. He came to Mascoutah in the year 1875, and built. a house for the school sisters. In the year 1879, November, he commenced the building of a new church. On Feb 9th, 1880, Right Rev. Bishop P. J. Baltes laid the corner-stone. On Dec. 18th, 1880 the church was completed. It is a fine building of stone, built in Gothic style, 64x147, 34 feet high, steeple 170 feet high. When completed it will cost $30,000. It will be an orna- ment for Mascoutah years to come. Number of families, 130; number of school children, 119.
CENTERVILLE STATION.
On September 6th, 1863, the corner-stone to the church was laid by Rev. Ragan. C. M., in the presence of Rev. Dontreligne, C. M. Rev. P. J. Baltes, of Belleville, many ecclesiastical students and a large concourse of people from St. Louis and vicinity. The build- ing is a fine brick structure, Roman style of architecture, and the dimensions are about 30x80 feet. Rev. Dontreligne read the first mass in the church on August 20th 1865. On August 5th, 1866, the church was dedicated by right Rev. Bishop H. D. Juncker of Alton, assisted by Rev. Dontreligne, the resident priest, and Rev. P. J. Baltes. The first bell was consecrated by Very Rev. P. J. Baltes, Vicar-General, on Jan. 1th, 1868.
The money for the building of the church was mainly collected by the saintly Father Dontreligne. He traveled over the greater part of the United States on his collecting tour ; he went to Canada, Cuba and South America. He also donated six thousand dollars of his father's estate in Belgium for the purpose of getting the church out of debt. Father Dontreligne, after working hard at Cahokia, Centreville Station, nay, at nearly every point in Southern Illinois,
for more than forty years, in the year 1872 retired to St. Vincent, St. Lous, Mo., to die among the beloved of his order, the Lazarists.
Rev. Londry succeeded him from 1872 to 1875 as Rector of Ca- hokia and Centreville Station. Rev. J. J. Jaques was the next successor from 1875 to 1878. The present Rector is Rev. P. J. Kempen. Number of families, 100; of different nationalities.
Freeburg .- The congregation of St. Joseph was attended to by a priest from Belleville, Mascoutah and Mud Creek. Rev. Dominick Niederkorn, L. I., from St. Louis, read the first mass at Freeburg. In the year 1856 the first church was built. It is a brick building 40x67 feet. Rev. Barthol. Bartels was the first resident priest. He remained from 1859 to 1861. He was succeeded by Revs. Rosen- dahl, Hoffmann, and Busch from 1861 to 1862. From 1862 to 1863 Rev. F. Bergmeir was pastor, from 1863 to 1865 Father Elshoff. He paid off all of the church debt, and died of consump- tion, caused by cold contracted during a sick call. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Trogan from 1865 to 1868. From 1868 to 1873 Father Oberbrantacher was pastor of the congregation. Father Merbach, of Fayetteville, attended to the congregation from 1873 to 1874. On June 16th, 1874, the present Rector, Rev. A. Wirts- choreck took charge of the congregation He added to the church a fine steeple 118 feet high, in the year 1876. It contains three bells, the only belfry with three bells in St. Clair county. The church contains a beautiful large pipe organ. A good two-story priest house and a large school-house situated opposite the church. The congregation numbers seventy families, and about as many children attend the parish school.
The church of St. John the. Baptist, Georgetown, was built in 1867. Priests from Belleville, Paderborn and Freeburg, attended to the congregation. At present the congregation is visited regularly by Rev. Wirtschoreck, of Freeburg. There was a fine school and priest house built in 1877. Number of families, 45; number of school children, about 60. .
St. Agatha, New Athens, is a small congregation. The church, however, is large and of fine proportions. It was built in the year 1870, by Rev. Oberbrantacher of Freeburgh. It is of brick, with a large steeple, standing on an elevated part of the city ; the whole forming an imposing ornament to the city of New Athens. Father Wirtschoreck, of Freeburgh, visits the congregation regularly.
There are large Catholic congregations at East St. Louis, Mill- stadt, French village, Paderborn, St. Lihory, and O'Fallon, but details could not be obtained.
THE BAPTIST CHURCHES OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. BY JOSEPH B. LEMEN.
" THE groves were God's first temples," says Bryant in his Thana- topsis; and the groves were where the first act of worship was offered by the Baptists in St. Clair county. In 1787, James Le- men, Sr., and a few of his Baptist friends who were seeking homes in the west, were prospecting for lands in this region. They camped for the Sabbath in a grove near the present city of Belle- ville ; songs and prayers were offered and the Scriptures read. This was probably the first act of associated worship performed by the Baptists in what is now St. Clair county.
This event preceded by some years, the organization of the Bap- tist cause in St Clair. At that time a few early settlers had lo- cated in Monroe county, who shortly afterwards organized a church called the New Design Baptist church ; and from which eventu- ally sprang the Richland Creek and the Canteen Creek Baptist churches, located in St. Clair county ; this latter church is now called Bethel church.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Among the supporters of the New Design church who interested themselves in organizing a Baptist church in St. Clair county, was James Lemen, Sr., five of whose sons became active laborers in the Baptist cause, four of thein becoming ministers. This old pioneer was born in Berkley county, Virginia November 20, 1760. : Was a soldier in the American army at Yorktown, when Cornwallis sur- rendered to the American and French allies. Married Catherine Ogle, in Virginia, 1782. Came with his wife and family to the Illinois country in 1786, and settled at New Design, near the pres- ent site of Waterloo, in Monroe county. Was waited upon in a confidential capacity by Aaron Burr, and offered large rewards for his influence in aiding Burr to found his south-western empire, but denounced the scheme as treasonable. Reared eight children, seven of whom became consistent, devoted members of the Baptist church. Was the first person baptized by immersion in Illinois, and became a minister of the gospel He died at his residence near Waterloo, January 8, 1822, aged 61 years.
The labors of this pioneer, with a few other faithful members of the Baptist faith in Monroe county, gave much encouragement to the first Baptists who settled in St. Clair county, when they were organizing their first church here.
Rev. John Clark, a native of Scotland, and a Baptist minister, gave the Baptists of St. Clair county much encouragement in or- ganizing their first churches. He died in St. Louis county, Mo., October 11, 1833, aged 75 years.
Rev. Joseph Chance, a pioneer Baptist minister of much zeal, also gave active aid in organizing tue Baptist cause in this county ; he died in 1840, aged 75 years. Rev. David Badgley and Rev. John Baugh, pioneer Baptist ministers here, were also faithful workers with those other devoted men at that early day. They were men of large influence, and were successful laborers in their Master's cause.
The anti-slavery sentiment was prominent with these people, al- though they were mostly southern men, or their immediate descend- ants. This sentiment was probably intensified by the logical re- sults of that grand achievement of the Baptists in 1789, which preceded this period but a few years. The denomination had but recently pressed Washington to insist upon the adoption of an ar- ticle in the amendments to the constitution which should declare for religious liberty, and he had complied; and it was probable that when the Baptists had succeeded iu assisting to plant the sublime doctrine of religious liberty in the constitution by the declaration that " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting a free exercise thereof." It gave the feelings of these pioneer Baptists an impetus in the direction of freedom for the limbs as well as liberty for the conscience of men.
The popular sentiment at that day favored a complete separa- tion of church and state, and it was an opportune period, while the great republic was yet in its infancy, to plant the grand truth of religious liberty behind the strong towers of its constitution, and that some of these pioneers in common with their brethren else- where demanded the recognition of this truth in the constitution will ever remain to their credit. It is not unlikely that such an event stirred the minds of some of those early Baptist leaders with a sentiment for universal freedom.
In church government, the first Baptist churches here, as well as their later ones, were in harmony with the theory and practice of the denomination in general. It was founded on the plan of a pure democracy, representing in religion the exact application of that grand principle which in true political science should, and accord- ing to our theory of government, does control the state. In their
views on baptism and communion, these Baptists were a unit with their faith elsewhere.
RICHLAND CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Richland Creek Baptist church was the first Baptist church constituted in St. Clair county. The record of its first proceedings is dated June 14, 1806 Its first meeting, according to this record, occurred at Wm. Lot Whiteside's residence, a few miles north-east of the present city of Belleville. Rev. Joseph Chance was modera- tor, and Benjamin Ogle clerk. At that time that church was an arm of the Baptist church at New Design, in Monroe county, and the style of their minutes ran-" Richland Arm of the church of Christ at New Design." In 1807, September 12, this church met at the house of Isaac Enochs, and voted to form itself into a sepa- rate organization under the name of " The Baptist church of Christ at Richland Creek ; " and this is the style of their minutes at their next church meeting. In church session at the house of Jacob Ogle, in Ridge Prairie, St. Clair county, February 13, 1808, the church adopted resolutions declaring the faith of the church against the belief and practice of slavery. In 1809, these people built a meeting-house on Richland Creek, some three miles north-east of Belleville; and at that time had a membership of about forty. Among the members were Benjamin Ogle, James Lemen, Sr., Wm. Lot Whiteside, William Kinney, Isaac Enochs, Larken Ruther- ford, Rev. Joseph Lemen, Robert Lemen, Polly K. Lemen, Cathe- rine Lemen, Ann Simpson, Hetty Lemen, Ann Whiteside, Sallie Whiteside, Ann Lemen, Elizabeth Badgley, Mary Kinney, and others-a band of noble men and women, whose pious lives and la- bors did much in moulding the destinies of the young state.
This church was in session July 8, 1809, when Rev. James Le- men, Sr., who had been licensed to preach July 9, 1808, arose and denounced the practice of slavery as something with which he could not fellowship. To this declaration a portion of the church objected; and several church conferences were subsequently called to com- promise the difference in opinion, but without results. Within the church each wing of opinion sent delegates to the association of the several Baptist churches, which had then been organized in South- ern Illinois, but the association refused admission to both sets of messengers ; but finally, itself divided on the issue here presented. However, both schools of opinion in this church met afterwards in friendly conference, and talked over their views, and agreed that an amicable separation would be the better course to pursue. In pur- suance of this end, at a regular session of this church, December 9, 1809, it was voted that as many as wished to withdraw by reason of this difference of views on slavery, and organize another church, should have the privilege to do so ; and five members sig- nified their purpose to form a new organization. This was the first act in the origin of Bethel church. After this division in Richland Baptist church, it continued for many years, and numbered among its members many men and women of much influence, and greatly esteemed by all who knew them. Many of their descendants yet survive, and are found in Illinois and elsewhere. At a later period this church became extinct, its members having died or joined other churches.
THE BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church is located two and a half miles south-east of Collins- ville, in St. Clair county, in a beautiful and fertile farming dis- trict. It was constituted December 10, 1809. The five members who had formally withdrawn from Richland church on the day previous, with two others, composed this church, and were consti- tuted by Elders James Lemen, Jr. and John Baugh, under the name of " The Baptized Church of Christ, Friends to Humanity."
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The names of the constituent members were James Lemen, Sr., Catherine Lemen, Robert Lemen, Hetty Lemen, Joseph Lemen, Polly K. Lemen, and Benjamin Ogle. The declared faith of this church were the Old and New Testaments; and for its good will toward men, its constitution declared it to be, " The friends to hu- manity, denying union and communion with all persons holding the doctrine of perpetual, involuntary, hereditary slavery."
With the organization of this church began the contest of slavery and anti-slavery views in Illinois. The birth of Bethel church was among the first notes in that contest which ended at Appomattox, more than half a century later ; and as some of the early members of this church were officers under the territorial and state govern- ments of Illinois, it was undoubtedly a potent factor in shaping the destinies of the young state, and in bringing it into the brotherhood of the states as a free commonwealth.
This church, while it exercised at an early day a considerable influence on the policies of the state, was not idle in propagating its faith : at Belleville, Troy, Collinsville, Pleasant Ridge, Oak Hill, and O'Fallon, are Baptist churches which acknowledge their ma- ternity largely to Bethel church.
Of the constituent members of this church we have given a brief sketch of Rev. James Lemen, Sr. From its organization until his death, this old pioneer minister often preached to its congregation. His wife, Catherine Lemen, was a devoted, pious member of the Baptist faith. They reared eight children. Catherine Lemen lived to a ripe old age, and when death found her she was in the full possession of all her faculties. She died at her residence in Monroe county. Their son, Joseph, preached her funeral sermon, James having preached their father's.
Robert Lemen was born in Berkley county, Virginia, September 25, 1783, and was the son of Rev. James Lemen, Sr. and Catherine, nee Ogle. He came with his parents to Illinois in 1786. Married Hester Tolin in 1805, settled in St. Clair county, and reared a large .. family, who were all believers, and three of whom are yet living and are active members of the Baptist church. Robert Lemen held a magistrate's commission for many years, and at one time was marshal of the state, under John Quincy Adams. In every posi- tion he was a faithful, popular officer, and was a man of liberal reading. He united with Richland Baptist church, December 9, 1808, and was clerk of that church until he assisted in constituting Bethel church, in which he was clerk until 1845, and with his brothers, Elders Joseph, James, Moses and Josiah, was an active and successful supporter of the cause of religion. He died at his residence in Ridge Prairie, St. Clair county, August 24, 1860, aged 77 years. Hester Lemen, wife of Robert Lemen, was a devoted Christian mother. In early life she united with the Baptist faith, and was an earnest supporter of the interests of religion. She died at the family residence, November 2, 1849, aged nearly 61 years.
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