USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, together with historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 70
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ELWOOD TOWNSHIP.
In discipline they are more nearly in accord with other denomina- tions. The children of parents who are members are considered as members until they arrive at years of discretion, when they may exer- eise their right to withdraw or remain. An erring brother or sister is visited and labored with, and the committee thus visiting reports to the meeting. In aggravated cases, where repentance does not follow, ex- pulsion might ; but in ordinary cases, if the person disciplined desires his "right," - desires to withdraw from the meeting, - that right would be granted, and is not deemed expulsion. Conversion is recog- nized as essential to uniting with the body of believers. When the offer to unite comes from a candidate, he is asked his reasons for want- ing to become a member at the preparative meeting. The reasons are received, and the ease is carried by a committee to the monthly meet- ing, where a committee is appointed to examine the candidate, and if that committee is satisfied of his conversion, he is received upon their report. Getting into debt without reasonable expectation of being able to pay is considered good grounds for discipline, but in seasons of great depression due allowance is made for nnexpected shrinkage of values. No member can appeal to the law until all other means are exhausted, and then only by permission of the meeting. In all the deliberations of the society in its meetings, the poorest or humblest has the same opportunity to be heard, and has just as much influence as the richest or most active. The amount of money required to carry on the church work is inconsiderable, but small as it is, it must be raised in regular ways. The yearly meeting apportions to each the amount expected, through the quarterly and monthly meetings. A committee is then appointed to assess the amount according to the wealth of the members. Ministers can change their relation from one monthly meet- ing to another on certificate, but elders cannot as such. Two or more preparative meetings constitute a monthly meeting, several of which constitute a quarterly meeting, an indefinite number of which are within the jurisdiction of the yearly meeting. Eight preparatives belong to the quarterly meeting at Vermilion Grove, namely : Ver- milion, Elwood, Pilot Grove, Georgetown, Hopewell, Ridge Farm, Fairfield and Champaign. The yearly meeting is located at Plainfield, Indiana, and embraces twelve quarterly meetings. For a long time it was the custom to build the meeting-houses with partitions in them for separate meeting-rooms for the men and women. Just what the necessity was for the separation of the two is not now very evident, but it has been the custom till a very late day to build the houses in that form, and to conduct the business meetings separately. These meeting-houses in Elwood are built in that way, having very narrow
37
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
folding-doors between the rooms, and openings in the partitions which are closed by boards, which hang upon ropes run over pulleys, so that as the upper one is pulled down the lower is raised, thus closing the aperture. The yearly meeting is the highest authority in the society, and has jurisdiction over all matters which come up from the quarterly meetings, and has the work of missions and of the Bible canse in charge. In the book of discipline certain questions are found which must be asked by the clerk of every monthly meeting, and answers in writing must be sent up. Among these questions are such as pertain to the religious condition of the membership. One of these questions is: Have the Friends consistently protested against slavery, against visiting circus shows and kindred things, and against paying salaries to preachers ?
There are in Elwood five preparative meetings of the society : Ver- milion, Elwood, Hopewell, Pilot Grove and Ridge Farm, which have been "set np" in point of time in that order. Vermilion, which was first, very soon became the monthly meeting, and in 1863 the quarterly. The meeting at Elwood, which is about two or three miles east of Ver- milion, followed soon after, and was named from a leading man in the society, which in turn gave name to the township. That at Hopewell is in the extreme southeastern part of the county. Around these three centers the Friends who settled here early collected, taking up land, making farms, and holding their meetings with great punctuality two days of the week. Around the first the Haworths, the Canadays, the Mendenhalls and others settled; around Elwood were the Folgers, Hendersons, Newlins, Zimri Lewis, Wright Cook, and many others.
The first log meeting-house at Elwood was built abont 1830. It had in it a fire-place built on legs, so arranged as to burn charcoal. This would be an oddity as an appurtenance to a house of worship now, and would hardly answer the purpose. The present meeting- house was built in 1846. It is 30 x 55, frame, with stone foundation. It has the partition between the two apartments, like all the old houses of that denomination. The present meeting-house at Vermilion was built in 1850, and is very similar in construction to the others. In those early days George Haworth usually took part in the religions meetings, and they soon after had visiting preachers coming among them. Charles Osborne, who lived near Richmond, was the first, and after him John Folk, from Pennsylvania, spent some time with them. Elizabeth Robinson, from England, a most excellent lady, was here one winter. The meeting-honse at Pilot Grove was built in 1848, and is about 30 x 48, and the one at Hopewell was built abont the same time. The house at Ridge Farm is more modern. Sabbath-schools are main- tained at all of these meetings, the old and young alike joining in the
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service as they do at church. With the exception of a lack of formality in opening and closing, they are conducted in the same way the schools of other denominations are.
Elijah Yager, who came from East Tennessee, a school-teacher in the employ of the families of Friends living around Vermilion Grove, was the first Methodist who held regular meetings of that de- nomination in this township. It is not known what conference he belonged to. The next regular preaching services of the Methodists were held at the house of Samuel Graham in 1828 or 1829. Mr. Graham lived then on the farm at Yankee Point, where Mrs. Whitlock now resides. The preaching was conducted by Rev. James McKain and Rev. John E. French, the former in charge of the Engene circuit at that time, and the latter was his assistant. The eirenit was a four- weeks circuit, the two preachers preaching every day, and thus getting around to each of their appointments once in two weeks. The circuit extended to Big Grove (Urbana). They preached at Georgetown and at Cassady's. A class was formed at Mr. Graham's house, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shires, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Standfield, and Miss Graham. Mr. Shires was the first class- leader. Mr. French was an Englishman, though French in name, and his preaching was of an effective nature, so much so as to convert Miss Graham into a Frenchwoman, for he married her while on this cirenit.
The amount of ministerial work which these early circuit-riders per- formed is almost incredible. Their appointments covered every day of the week, and were filled with a regularity which was wonderful, con- sidering the difficulties of travel which were surmounted. Through all sorts of weather, and withont roads or the conveniences of travel, they made the rounds of their circuit, seldom disappointing those who were anxious to hear the Word. Custom has much to do with what a man can accomplish, or with what he thinks he can accomplish. The rain, high streams without bridges, drifting snow, the intense heat of sum- mer, or the frigid cold of winter, sickness, and the discomfort of the pioneer home, were the continnal trials which the Christian laborer of the present day knows nothing of, except, possibly, by report, and which many of them could illy endure. Their salary was meagre, and their wardrobes scanty. Few knew what it was to have, in these pioneer days, those comforts which are now deemed necessaries. They had no purses, and small need for such a contrivance; their pay was so meagre that it is a mystery how they lived, especially where they had families to support.
Mr. French, after his appointment here ceased, preached at Newport, Cheney's Grove, and at other points west of here. He died at Clinton
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
in 1841. His daughter, Mrs. Reed, lives now at Georgetown. Among the local preachers who kept up the work here were, Joseph Allison, Mr. Cassady, Patrick Cowan, Arthur Jackson and William Stowers; and of the traveling preachers, Mr. Bradshaw, Asa and John McMur- trie, Mr. Anderson and others are remembered. The Ridge Farm M. E. Church grew out of the class which was formed as early as 1849, about a mile south of the present location. In 1852 business began to assume such proportions at Ridge Farm that it seemed likely a village would be the result, and the appointment was moved to Ridge Farm and took that name permanently. At that time Rev. G. W. Fairbanks was presiding elder, Rev. R. C. Norton, preacher in charge, and J. J. Donovan, class-leader. Mr. Norton will be remembered as a man of earnest convictions and strong character. His notions of duty, both on the part of the preacher and of the flock, were old-fashioned, but posi- tive. He seemed to suppose that every Methodist who was " worthy of a name to live," or who had his name on the class-book, ought to attend class-meetings. Finding at the end of the quarter that only seventeen of the thirty-five whose names were on the book were in the habit of attending class-meeting, he set forward only the names of those seventeen, and entered this minute in the class-book: "I have only set forward the names of those members that have been to meet- ing; this is the best that I can do. N.B .- If any more of the members wish to be considered members they must show their wish by their coming forward and claiming their membership, and being Methodists. -NORTON." Many a preacher has felt just as Brother Norton did, who did not have the pluck to lop off the cumberers. At this time Ridge Farm appointment belonged to Georgetown circuit. The first meetings were held in the school-house, which was familiarly known as "Hardscrabble," a name probably derived from the studious habits of those who there sought to travel " up the hill of science." Among the men who are now remembered for their devotion to the interests of the church were, David Ankrum, Israel Patton, Joseph Kuns, Thos. Robinson, William Foster, J. R. Green, Jesse Smith. David Little, Jonah Hole, Thomas Henderson and Cyrus Donglas. Old Father Robinson never failed to be on hand when it was meeting-time, and if there was no one else present he would go through with the service of prayer and song. Some of the boys used to pop beans at him through the knot-holes in the building. He was one of those good old men whom everyone likes to speak well of. He loved the service of the Lord's house, and loved to think of the home in glory which no doubt he is enjoying.
The first church was built in 1856, at which time S. Elliott was
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presiding elder. and Sampson Shinn, preacher in charge. The building was 35×55, and was a very comfortable house. In 1859 Levi C. Peters was presiding elder, and Rev. G. W. Fairbanks, preacher; J. Hole and Thomas Henderson, class-leaders. In 1863 it became Ridge Farm circuit. At this date the church was burned, and the society purchased a store-building and fitted it up to serve temporarily for a house of worship. In 1872 the present neat edifice was erected. It is 35×60, and cost $3,000. The following preachers have served since 1860: Joseph Lane, Mr. Muirhead, Mr. McCastle, Mr. Groves, T. D. Warns, W. W. Curnutt, S. T. Kershner, J. P. Hillerby, James Miller, George Crays, R. Stephens and S. H. Whitlock. The present mem- bership is one hundred and thirty. The Sabbath-school numbers about one hundred; J. H. Southern is superintendent, George A. Dice, as- sistant. The church includes a large number of active and earnest workers, who are alive to the work which they have. It is now known as Georgetown and Ridge Farm appointment. A class was formed at the house of Joseph Allison, who lived on section 25, at "Quaker Point," as early as 1831 or 1832. The preachers of the Danville Cir- enit preached here with considerable regularity, and from it the Bethel church sprung. A log church was built near by the state line in 1842 by Mr. Allison, William Kendall & Sons, Ben Scars, Moses Crouser, Messrs. Moore & Long, and other neighbors. Mr. Galliday wanted to build it farther north, and had some logs hewn for that purpose. The Little Vermilion Baptist church was organized in 1831 by Presbytery, consisting of members of Wabash, Danville and Vermilion churches. The following members were received: John Stark, H. Stark, Henry Cavender, Ann Thompson, Benjamin Cavender, Daniel Shirk, Nicholas Baseley, John Caldwell, Joel Dicken, Robert Elliott, Alexander More- head, Silas Johnson, Benjamin Shaw and Thomas Whitlock. David Shirk was first pastor; Thomas Whitlock was clerk, and served until 1870; David Shirk was moderator until 1861. John Rayburn was pastor for some years, and J. S. Whitlock is the present one; I. C. Whitlock is clerk. The first church. a log one, was built north of the creek. The present neat church edifice standing near the residence of I. C. Whitlock, Esq., was built in 1868. It is 36×48, and cost fifteen hundred dollars. The deed for the land upon which the church stands (donated by the late Thomas Whitlock) provides that when the church shall change its articles of faith, or rules, or time of holding church meetings, the property shall revert. Alfred Parks has been a deacon for many years, and J. M. Handley is at present. The membership is eleven.
The Cumberland Presbyterians, through the untiring efforts of that
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
pioneer preacher, Rev. James Ashmore, early occupied the ground here. Mr. Ashmore now lives in Fairmonnt, and the reader will find a more extended notice of his life and work under that head. After commencing his labors in this eounty he was invited to preach in the northeastern portion of Elwood, north of the Little Vermilion, and organized a church there in 1842, called Liberty Church. Foster Elli- ott and wife, Alexander Campbell and wife, Andrew Davis and wife, Mrs. Kiturah Whitlock, Mrs. Baldwin and James Walls, were among the first members. Messrs. Elliott, Campbell and Davis were the first elders. The old log meeting-house was built on Foster Elliott's land in 1843, and stood abont half a mile southwest of the present church. The present edifice 36 x 42, was built in 1871, and cost twelve hundred and fifty dollars. The membership now numbers sixty-five. Robert Kilgore, Thomas Hepburn and Hogan Campbell are the present elders. The names of those who have served the church as pastor or stated supply are Rev. James Ashmore, Rev. A. Whitlock, Mr. Vandeventer, J. W. Jordan, James McFerren, H. Van Dyn, and again Mr. Ashmore. This church early contained many of those whose names are held in kind remembrance for their manly virtnes and rugged characters ; men and women who struggled to make this town a fit home for themselves and their children, and to make life a growth in grace. It was the pio- neer church of this denomination in this corner of the county, and as such has clustered around it many pleasant recollections and interesting remembrances. Few of those who here plighted their christian vows at that early day are left to enjoy the fruits on earth of well-spent lives, but such as they are, receive the honor and love of those who come after them.
The Yankee Point Cumberland Church was organized by Father Ashmore on the 5th of November, 1853. In the words of the organ- izer: "The devil helped to build up this church." This expression, taken alone withont explanation, would tend to throw discredit upon the church, or give undue importance to his Satanic Majesty in the missionary work. During a time of fervent religious feelings, Mr. Ashmore was holding his meetings in the school-house, and not to in- terrupt the school they were held during the noon hour. One of the directors, in the name of the state, forbade the eontinnance of the meet- ings, but whether at the instigation of the Evil One, this writer at this distance of time, and in the absence of a commission to take evidence as to his bodily presence upon that oceasion, is not exactly prepared to state. The congregation and the evangelist "accepted the situation," and proceeded to the house of James Thompson, which was gladly thrown open to the canse, and the next day Mr. Ashmore had put into
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his hands a deed for a lot upon which to build a house of worship, and a subscription to build it. The people made quick work, both of organ- izing and building. William Shirk, William Golden, Arthur Patter- son and James Long were chosen elders, and Isaac McPherson and William Carmichael, deaeons. The membership was fifty to commence with, and embraced many names of the Thompsons. Pattersons, Gold- ens, Longs, MeClurgs, Hendersons, Walls, Hilyards and others. Of the members, five entered the ministry. Allen Whitlock and his two brothers (James and Thomas), Elam Golden and J. H. Millholland. James Ashmore and Allen Whitlock preached for this church twenty years, and were followed by Revs. W. O. Smith, L. P. Detheridge, Jonathan Cooley, Mr. Groves and G. W. Montgomery. The church numbers seventy. The present elders are, A. H. Thompson, Isaac Emory, John Shires and J. R. Baldwin. The sabbath school numbers thirty-five members and five teachers. Amos Millholland is superin- tendent. Of those who went into the ministry from this church, Rev. Allen Whitlock, after a faithful service of more than twenty years, was called up higher; Rev. James Whitlock lives in Georgetown, and Rev. Thomas Whitlock in Homer - both engaged in the active work of the christian ministry. The church building stands on the south line of section 22, almost in the exact geographical center of the township.
The old Gilead Church, of the same denomination, was organized by Father Ashmore soon after,- probably in 1854,- near the sonth- eastern corner of the township. A log meeting-house was built, and in 1872 the present neat edifice, 40 x 60, was built at a cost of $1,600. This is sometimes known as the Quaker Point Church. The new church was built under the management of J. M. Kendall, Levi Long and J. Hunriehouse. Mr. James Long was one of the leading spirits in building up the early church, and with C. Van Dyn and his son, and Thomas Thompson, was an elder. The church numbers abont fifty, and has always been strong and active. Rev. Henry Van Dyn and Rev. H. H. Ashmore have, in addition to Rev. J. Ashmore, each min- istered to this church very acceptably during seven years each.
The neat frame church on the state road, a mile north of Vermilion Grove station, was built by the Cumberland Presbyterians in 1872, while Rev. Allen Whitlock was pastor. It was organized in 1870, and called "Sharon Church." The church prospered greatly under Mr. Whitlock, who was a man of exemplary, earnest christian character, active in the work of his Master, and free from narrow sectarian- ism. Aaron Glycke, Henry Canaday and Benjamin Hester were active in building up the church. A friendly christian spirit of unison has marked the feeling which has existed between the members and the
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
Friends, who frequently unite in the meetings and often occupy the building for their services. A Sabbath-school has been maintained irregularly.
In looking over the church history, the writer finds that due credit has not been given to the services of Father Hill, who was the first minister of the Cumberland Church here, and who preceded Rev. James Ashmore, and greatly assisted him in the work of organizing this field. His early services are remembered by the older settlers, and he is spoken of by all who remember him as a devoted and active christian worker.
The Cumberland Church, at the village of Ridge Farm, was organ- ized by Rev. H. H. Ashmore in 1854. Jefferson Hilyard, Andrew Page, Samnel Stiles, Wm. Canaday, John Clark and Owen Watson were active members in organizing and building the church, which was ereeted in 1856. The Whitlocks, Smith and the Ashmores have ministered to this church. It is not now in successful spiritual con- dition, and its church edifice looks as though its walls would soon need rebuilding.
The Friends meeting at Ridge Farm was set up in 1873. They occupied the Cumberland Church for worship for a time, and built a neat and commodious brick meeting-house in 1874.
In closing this sketch of the churches of Elwood, the reader who has followed it through must have been struck, as the writer was, with the wonderful religious zeal and christian enterprise which not only actuated the early, but has flown down through inhabitants of a later date. The township is spattered all over with churches, and so great is the unanimity of religious sentiment, so general the disposition to maintain the institutions of religion, that there are none too many. Twelve live churches in a single township, with their religious zeal well maintained, one would judge must have had an abiding influence for good which will last through all time. It will readily be believed that Elwood has not filled the jails or the poor-houses. It has been what those devoted old Quakers who first settled it hoped it would be, - a light set upon a hill. From the very earliest day it has been a bright spot, and no one is in any doubt why.
SCHOOLS.
The first school taught in this township, and indeed in the county, was taught by Reuben Black, who came here from Ohio, a lad of eigh- teen years, in the winter of 1824-5. It was in a log house one mile west of Vermilion station. John Mills sent three sons and one daughter: Ira, Milican, John and Rebecca: Joseph Jackson, an Eng-
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ELWOOD TOWNSHIP.
lishman, sent two children : Nathan and Mary ; Ezekiel Hollings- worth sent four children: Jeremiah, Miles, Mahundry and John ; Henry Canaday sent one: William; John Haworth sent three : Thomas, David and Elvin; fourteen in all. The branches taught were spelling, reading and writing, and some of the older ones were in arithmetie. The second school was taught by Elijah Yager, a Meth- odist minister from East Tennessee, two years later, in a cabin one mile northeast of Vermilion station. He introduced common arithmetic and declamation. He was a talented man for the times, and made very good use of his abilities. The third was taught by Henry Fletcher the following summer. Elisha Hobbs took the school in 1831, and gave a stimulus to education which never lost ground, through many years and their changes, up to 1849, when the citizens found themselves with a school-house sixteen feet square and six feet and a half between joints. The district got up a subscription to build a new house, but could not raise enough. In this juncture, William Canaday, David and Elvin Haworth, put their heads together, and, getting the subscription paper 'with their names on into their possession, destroyed it, and, with their purses and a will, with the generous help of some of the neighbors, they built, in the summer of 1850, the seminary building, 30×52, with two recitation rooms, and supplied with proper desks and furniture. They employed J. M. Davis as principal, and school opened with one hundred and ten students. The following branches were taught: geography, algebra, chemistry, geometry, surveying, history, miner- alogy, philosophy, reading, spelling, elocution, domestic economy and Latin. Mr. Davis continued as principal five years. He was a man of great energy and tact; it is rarely we find a better, even at this day. The standard of education was kept high, and a great work was done where it was most needed. Of the men who founded this school too mneh cannot be said. William Canaday had seven sons who were educated here; David Haworth had eight, seven of whom are active workers in the Christian Church; so that they can feel that they got a rich return for the money they expended. The Vermilion Academy of to-day is really the continuation of the old seminary, which disappeared with the advent of free schools. It was established in 1873. A people's endowment of $10,000 was raised. William Rees, John Henderson, Richard Mendenhall, John Elliott, Jonah M. Davis and Elvin Haworth were constituted trustees. John Henderson was elected president of the board. A building was erected, 46 x 60, two stories, brick, at a cost of $8,000. It is the aim of the trustees to teach all the branches usually taught in any of the high schools of the country. It is a religious school in the sense of being under christian influences, but
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