USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
Father Fegers entered upon his sacred calling after a long and thorough study in the seminaries of the church, and is a gentleman of varied culture. A lover of old books. Among his treasures are the Meditations of St. Ignatius, Antwerp, 1620. Another and rarer is Coloquia oder Tischreden Doctor Mart. Luther, Frankfurt am Mayne, 1568. Father Fegers celebrated the 39th anni- versary of his ordination to the priesthood in 1907, and is the dean of the clergy in both Rock Falls and Sterling.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before ! -Baring Gould.
The first meeting, conducted by Knowles Shaw, was held June 18, 1875 in a tent in Central Park. The members living in Sterling and Rock Falls were Mr. and Mrs. E. Brookfield, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Detweiler, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Nance, George Nance, W. F. Eastman, and Florence Burgess. The church was organized June 27, 1875, and the first trustees were W. F. East- man, R. B. Colcord, and E. Brookfield. The first elders, George Nance, R. B." Colcord, J. S. Detweiler. The first deacons, E. Brookfield, J. D. Nance, W. H. Shepperd, David Grubb. The superintendent of the Sunday school was W. F. Eastman. The pastor was J. N. Smith. The first meeting after that in the park was held in Wallace Hall, the next Sunday in Boynton Hall, and in Aug. 15, 1875, in Colcord Hall. The first of the little band to pass away was Ephraim Brookfield, Jan. 10, 1876. Rev. J. H. Wright became pastor in October, 1876, and remained three years. The first church was dedicated Feb. 1, 1880. It stands on Locust street, and is now, after being remodeled, used as the armory. T. W. Grafton was the next pastor. Desiring a change of situation and better facilities for their work, the society in 1888 purchased the brick building formerly occupied by St. Patrick's congregation, on Sixth street and Second avenue. Smaller rooms were formed from the main audi- torium, and various changes made to adapt it to the needs of the church. Besides the pastors mentioned have been F. L. Moffet, Silas Jones, W. E. Spicer. Silas Jones is now professor in Eureka College. Two promising young members were nurtured in the society, Stephen Zendt and Louis O.
365
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Lehman. A missionary in India, Miss Mary Kingsbury. The present pastor is Ira L. Parvin. The superintendent of the Sunday school is W. J. Moore, the marble mason. The usual societies. There are 200 members in the church, and 110 pupils in Sunday school.
THE REFORMED MENNONITE.
This was formed in 1868 with 65 members, and the plain white frame church stands on the north-western corner of Riverside cemetery. Services are held every Sunday. Many of the congregation live in the country, and sheds are provided for shelter of teams in inclement weather. Preaching by one of their own members, who serves without compensation. The present pastor is William Miller, who lives on his farm north of Sterling. The so- ciety maintains the dress, customs, and doctrines of the founders in Ger- many, three hundred years ago.
THE GERMAN LUTHERAN.
This is one of our later societies. Of the three original movers, all are gone, the last being Charles Behrens and Albert J. Alberts. Their first preacher was Rev. C. Sewel, from Lyons, Iowa, for a year. Rev. F. Lussky came in 1874, and had in his care, this charge and one at Round Grove, since independent with its own minister. In 1904 a neat brick church was built on Third avenue, Sterling. Rev. Louis Gressens, pastor for thirteen years, was educated at Milwaukee, Wis., and Springfield, Illinois. There are 48 members. The church belongs to the Missouri Synod. Above the door is · the name, Ev. Lutherische Kirche.
ST. PAUL'S GERMAN LUTHERAN.
On First avenue is this chaste white frame building, the Swedish Luth- eran remodeled. The membership of fifty families withdrew from the Rock Falls church as they lived on the Sterling side of the river, and decided to have their own house of worship. A few families live in the country. A small Sunday school of which L. Janssen is superintendent. Rev. Adolph Kurtz, who accepted the charge in 1908, is a young gentleman of scholarly attainments and preaches very fluently in both German and English. He was born in Berlin, Germany, educated in this country, was formerly a pastor of the German Lutheran church at Geneva, Ill., and for the past four years has been connected with the Lutheran church at Mineola, Iowa. There are the usual ladies' aid and young people's societies.
THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The first services of this society were held in the old courthouse, then in the third story of the hearse factory, until a small house was bought and moved to the site of the present church on Fifth street and Fifth avenue, about 1870. In 1873-4 the new church was erected, during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Keller. An extended list of ministers, none of them remaining long, Dingle, Eller, Burkhardt, Mohr, Hafele, Thoren, Shultz, Dinen, Knapp, Kadel. About 1890 a controversy arose between the bishops, which nat-
363
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
urally was taken up by the friends of the opposing wings, and there was a secession, like the Free Kirk in Scotland in 1843 led by Thomas Chalmers. The society remaining in possession of the original building call themselves the Evangelical Association, and their local church, Zion. Rev. I. H. Haupt- fuehrer, the pastor, was born in Ohio, studied at Naperville, and after due theological course, entered the ministry, and before his present charge, la- bored in Kansas and Missouri. This is his second year. There are 80 men- bers, 68 in the Sunday school, twenty in the Christian Endeavor. There is also a mission band, ladies' aid, and a woman's home and foreign missionary society.
The seceders were organized into the United Evangelical church, and in 1891 erected à chaste frame edifice, corner Third street and Fifth avenue, where they have since maintained regular service. With its two porches, Trinity church has a pleasant rustic effect, no suggestion of the spire or pointed arch. The pastor, Rev. Samuel Carson, born in Belfast, Ireland, studied at Moody Bible Institute and Northwestern University, and was pastor of Garden City Mission, Chicago. His third year here. In the ministry since 1898. There are 100 members, a Sunday school of seventy, and Endeavor league, a mission band, and a woman's missionary society. According to Dr. Carroll's table of the numerical strength of the various denominations for 1907, the Evangelical Association in the United States has 103,525 members. The Catholics head the list with eleven millions, and the Methodists come second with over three millions.
In March, 1908, Mr. Carson of Trinity Evangelical church, accepted a call to South Haven, Mich., and a farewell reception was tendered to Rev. and Mrs. S. Carson at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wise and at the same time a reception was tendered to Rev. Lindenmyer, the new pastor of Trinity church. The double reception was attended by a very large number of peo- ple and the evening was delightfully spent.
GERMAN BAPTIST BRETHREN CHURCH. By H. S. Hoak.
The first successful mission work done in Sterling by the German Baptist Brethren was in a series of meetings held during the winter of 1888 in an empty store room on the south side of Third street between First and Sec- ond avenue, by George Zollers of Mt. Carroll and Daniel M. Miller of Mil- ledgeville, who came here by the request of H. S. Hoak, who was a firm believer in the faith of the Brethren church. His son, I. F. Hoak, was the first convert during that series of meetings, and the first member of the Ster- ling Brethren church baptized in Rock river at the foot of Sixth avenue by Elder George Zollers.
Meetings continued for about a week and ended with four converts.
H. S. Hoak, with the assistance of the elders of Franklin Grove congre- gation kept up the meetings weekly in different localities in the city until finally through the kindness of the Lutheran congregation, a lease of their church was given, to be used every Sunday afternoon by the brethren.
367
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
March 15, 1890, H. S. Iloak began soliciting funds for a Brethren church in Sterling and it is sufficient to say he met with great success. On April 29, 1890, he made his report to the mission board, who decided to furnish all that was lacking to build the church. A lot, known as the Mana- han lot, located on the west side of Sixth avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets was secured, and the church built thereon, Samuel Horning of Mal- vern, Ill., was the contractor and builder. June 29, 1889, the church was finished and occupied. July 28, 1891, Rev. P. R. Keltner of Lena, Ill., was secured to take charge of the mission. July 16, 1892, a committee of elders, appointed by the Mission Board of Northern Illinois, met in council at church with the members. Said committee was composed of Edmond For- ney, Levi Trostle, and George D. Zollers with Edmond Torney as moderator and Levi Trostle as secretary. As a final result of said council, the organiza- tion was completed with Elder Daniel Dierdorff of Franklin Grove as pre- siding elder; Rev. P. R. Keltner of Lena, Ill., as pastor; Ira F. Hoak, Ster- ling, Ill., clerk; and Della Keltner, treasurer. The new organization was called the Sterling Brethren church.
The congregation increased until it outgrew its quarters. May 23, 1901, it was decided to move the house to its present location and build an addition, which was done. The dedicatory services were held Nov. 10, 1901.
The Sterling church being declared self-supporting, Elder P. R. Keltner resigned his eldership Aug. 25, 1905, and took charge of a mission in Rock- ford, Ill. Dec. 31, 1906, Rev. Ezra Flory of Southern Ohio was chosen pastor of the Sterling church with Rev. John Heckman of Polo as presiding elder. Between March 25, 1907, and July 1, 1907, a fine parsonage was built on the church property. The present value of the Sterling Brethren church property is about ten thousand dollars and without any incumbrance. It is on Sixth avenue.
The enrollment, which at date of organization, was twenty-cight, has increased to about one hundred and fifty. Officers at present time are as follows: F. H. Slater, John Baker, George Whisler, trustees; Rev. John Heckman, presiding elder; Rev. Ezra Flory, pastor; George Whisler, Ira F. Hoak, Oliver Shumaker, F.II. Slater, Harvey Myers, John Gerdes, Samuel Myers, deacons; George Whisler, church clerk; F. H. Slater, treasurer.
The present officers of the Sunday school, organized in 1897, are: Ira F. Hoak, superintendent ; Samuel Myers, assistant superintendent; John Baker, secretary; Oliver Shumaker, treasurer; Jennic Hoak, chorister; Clara Wolf, assistant chorister; Katie Shumaker, Sunday school missionary ; enroll- ment about one hundred and twenty-five. Tributary to the Sunday school is the Home Department, membership fifty, with Mrs. Geo. Whisler as presi- dent and Katie Shumaker as assistant.
Jan. 1, 1905, a Christian Workers' society was organized with Jennie Hoak as president ; Bertha Dutchers, secretary; Sadie Buckley, treasurer; and Clara Wolf, chorister. Present officers are: Mrs. Alice Suter, president ; Jennie Hoak, secretary ; Clara Hoak, treasuer; Clara Wolf, chorister. Enroll- ment at present time, fifty.
368
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
STERLING CHURCHES IN 1875.
Nothing shows so vividly the changes of time as old newspapers. They have history just as it happened day by day. A scmi-weekly Gazette of 1875 has the following : .
-CHURCH DIRECTORY.
Baptist Church .- Market-st., north of Central Park. Rev. J. T. Mason, Pastor. Services Sunday at 10:30 a. m. and 7 p. m. Prayer meeting at 6:30 p. m. Sunday school at 12 m .; J. T. Mason, Superintendent. Young people's prayer meeting Monday at 7 p. m. General prayer meeting Thursday at 7 p. m.
Congregational Church .- Spruce, between Third and Fourth-sts. Rev. S. D. Belt, Pastor. Services Sunday at 10:30 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday school at 12 m .; R. B. Witmer, Superintendent. Young people's prayer meet- ing Sunday at 6 p. m. General prayer mecting Thursday at 7 p. m.
Fourth-st. M. E. Church .- Corner of Fourth and A-sts. Rev. J. H. More, Pastor. Services Sunday at 10:45 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday school at 12 m .; M. S. Bowman, Superintendent. Prayer mceting Thursday evening at 7 o'clock. Young people's meeting Monday at 7 p. m.
Broadway M. E. Church .- Corner Broadway and Fourth-sts. Rev. J. Bush, Pastor. Services Sunday at 10:30 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday school at 12:20 p. m .; J. H. Lamb, Superintendent. Prayer meeting Thursday evening at 7.
Presbyterian Church .- Corner Fourth and Pine-sts. Rev. N. H. G. Fifc, Pastor. Services Sunday at 10:45 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday school at 9:30 a. m .; T. A. Slaymaker, Superintendent. Prayer meeting Thursday at 7 p. m.
Church of the Sacred Heart (German Catholic) .- Corner Seventh and Mulberry-sts. Rev. A. Urban, Pastor. Services Sunday at 8 and 10:30 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday instruction at 2:30 p. m. Mass each day at 8 a. m.
Lutheran Church .- Seventh-st., between Spruce and Market-sts. Rev. E. Brown, Pastor. Services Sunday at 10:30 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday school at 12 m. Prayer meeting Thursday evening at 7 o'clock.
Evangelical Association (German) .- Rev. M. Eller, Pastor. Services Sunday at 10:30 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday school at 12 m .; C. Eisele, Super- intendent. Prayer meeting Wednesday at 7 p. m.
Grace Church (Episcopal) .- Corner Mulberry and Fourth-sts. Rev. Her- bert Root, Pastor. Services Sunday at 10:30 a. m. and 7 p. m. Sunday school at 12 m., superintended by the pastor.
St. Patrick's Church (Irish Catholic) .- Corner Spruce and Sixth-sts. J. Daly, Pastor. Services Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 a. m. Vespers at 7 p. m. Mass every morning at 8 o'clock.
All of these pastors and superintendents are dead or gone, not one left in the city but C. Eisele.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
This is the newest of the societies in the city, dating only from June, 1904. They have no building, but meet in a hall. Different from other
369
1
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
societics in having no pastor. The services consist of scripture reading, prayer, hymns, and selections from the accepted religious books. The principal figures in the services are the readers, a man reading certain passages from the bible, and a woman reading corresponding selections from Science and Health. A quarterly is issued by the publishing house in Boston, containing the bible passages and secular selections for the general use of the church, so that all the societies throughout the world use the same order on the same Sunday. There is a general subject about which the scripture lessons are grouped. For instance, the subject for April 12, 1908, is "Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?" Under this comes for responsive reading Isaiah 56 and 57, and the citations from the bible are 2 Samuel 22, Isaiah 25, Psalm 94, Proverbs 28. In the manual before us for April, May, June, 1908, are given the topics for each Sunday's consideration in the quarter. While some are apparently simple, like "Soul and Body," others suggest a field of profound inquiry, like "Is the Universe, including man, evolved by atomic force?"
The hymnal also issued by the Boston publishing society contains 193 hymns with music. Among them are some of the favorites of the universal church, as "Abide with Me," "Joy to the World," "Nearer, My God, to Thee," "Onward, Christian Soldiers," "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night," "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah." A solo is given at every service.
The membership of the society varies. Not so large as usual just now . on account of the removal of several families from the city. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bencus and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Haskell are prominent members of the society.
The readers are chosen by the society and cannot hold office longer than three years. The present persons in that position are Walter Haskell and Mrs. Nehrhood. The two great sacraments of the church are observed, but not in the usual manner of symbols. No water is used in baptism, no bread and wine in the Lord's supper. These are material, and it is held that these ordinances should have a purely spiritual significance. Members on applica- tion for admission to the church must answer suitable questions, which, as well as other requirements are set forth in a small manual provided for the use of the society.
PERRY'S TRAINING CLASS.
Over twenty years George P. Perry, druggist of Sterling, has conducted a class for the study of the bible and the best methods of teaching. It has generally met in one of the churches. The sessions are held weekly during the winter months, and at the close written examinations are often given. Once Prof. H. M. Hamill was present and made an address. During the winter of 1907-08 the class completed a term's work in Brumbaugh's "The . Making of a Teacher." Sixteen members of the class took a written test, the results of which were highly gratifying to the class leader. After the examination Miss Mary Hey, in the name of the class, presented Mr. Perry with four volumes of Rev. George Matheson's books, to remind him of the appreciation and respect which the class has for their faithful and efficient instructor. Mr. Perry, in his courteous manner, thanked the givers for the pleasant surprise.
370
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
SCIENCE RIDGE MENNONITE CHURCH.
Two or three miles north of Sterling on a cross street between the Free- port and Hoover roads stands a white frame building in which one branch of the followers of Simon Menno worship. The congregation was organized in 1859. Jacob Snavely, John Hendricks, and Jacob Heckler formed the first board of trustees. The first minister was Benjamin Hershey. The present pastor is Rev. Aaron C. Good. The membership is 150. A good Sunday school. Much interest in missions, assisting in the support of the foreign work in India, and at home in Chicago, Kansas City, Fort Wayne, Philadel- phia, and Toronto. Charities are not neglected. An old people's, home in Ohio and at Lancaster, Pa., an orphanage at West Liberty, Ohio, a sani- tariuni at La Punta, California, and a college at Goshen, Indiana. Besides the regular church conference, a Sunday school and bible conference is held each year, and a general conference convenes every two years. A board of missions and charities, and a board of education have full control of the institutions. Hitherto the church literature has been published by private parties, but now a movement is on foot for the church to do its own printing. The old doctrines are maintained that have been peculiar to this denomina- tion for three hundred years. Menno died in 1561. They believe in affirm- ing, not taking an oath. They are opposed to law suits, to performing mili- tary service, to holding public office, to taking life insurance, to secret so- cieties. Baptism only upon confession of faith. Foot washing is observed as a religious rite, and simplicity in dress for men and women. Of all branches of this faith this is most progressive and in harmony with other Protestant bodies. As a people, they love the soil, and the most flourishing farming communities anywhere are controlled by the Mennonites and the Amish. These sects arc the backbone of the agricultural industry of Lan- caster county in Pennsylvania, and are doing their part toward the rural prosperity of Whiteside.
Adjoining the modest church is the graveyard where many of the plain people of early days are resting. They were the grandfathers and mothers of the present generation. Here lies Jacob and Barbara Snavely, the Landis family, Hecklers, Ebersoles, Rutts, Kreiders, Eshlemans, Kehrs, Jacob and Mrs Hendricks, Millers, Royers, Frys, Myers. Many of these were born in Lebanon, Lancaster, and other counties of eastern Pennsylvania, and coming here in middle life, grew old in transforming the virgin prairies into homes of comfort and happiness.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The First National Bank of Sterling, Illinois, was organized in 1870, as No. 1717, with a capital of $100,000. Formal articles of association, as required by law, were adopted September 15, 1870, being signed by William A. Sanborn, Decius O. Coc, Lorenzo Hapgood, James M. Wallace and John S. Miller. On that date the first shareholders' mecting was held, electing as first board of directors the five persons above named. The certificate of final organization bears date October 8, 1870, and was signed by John Jay Knox, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, the capital stock having been previously
371
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
paid in full. The bank's first charter expired September 15, 1890, and was extended for a further period of twenty years, by a certificate of succession, dated August 20, 1890, signed by E. S. Lacey, Comptroller of the Currency.
From the beginning The First National Bank of Sterling met with a favorable reception by the people. The community had outgrown its bank- ing facilities; and there was urgent need of a strong bank with ample capital.
The bank began business in the small building, previously occupied by Mr. Sanborn as a private bank, located on the west half of the lot where the bank now stands. Shortly after, at a meeting of the directors held December 3, 1870, the building, lot and bank furniture, were purchased of Mr. Sanborn.
It soon became apparent that more room was needed to accommodate the rapidly increasing business. Accordingly more ground was purchased on the east, adjoining the lot bought of Mr. Sanborn. And in the fall of 1874 work was begun on a new bank building. While the new bank build- ing was in process of construction, the business of the bank was carried on in the Harvey building, at No. 112 East Third Street. In the latter part of January, 1875, the bank moved into its new quarters, occupying the west half of the new building-the east half having been rented to Hagey & Son for a jewelry store. Later, in December, 1900, the room occupied as a jewelry store was remodeled, and a new safety deposit vault added, thus doubling the space previously occupied by the bank.
Again in 1906, feeling the need of a more modern building, and bet- ter equipped banking rooms, it was decided to remodel and rebuild the old building, which had done good service for over thirty-one years. Accord- ingly, on September 4, 1906, the work of remodeling and rebuilding began. The undertaking was accomplished without seriously interfering with the business of the bank. The new building is an attractive structure architectur- ally, with fine interior finishings, and thoroughly modern equipments. Am- ple provision was made for enlargement of the business of the bank. The vaults are also protected by an electric burglar alarm.
Since its organization, the bank has had but two presidents, and three cashiers. John S. Miller, Sr., was its first president, serving in that capacity until his death, which occurred February 27, 1874. Soon after his death, his son, John S. Miller, was elected president, and has continued to hold that office up to the present time.
Of the three cashiers, William A. Sanborn held the office from the organization of the bank in 1870, until his death, Otcober 24, 1901. On October 29, 1901, Henry Green was elected cashier, holding the office for about a year, when he resigned. He was succeeded by Thomas S. McKin- ney, who died July 1, 1905. Upon the death of Mr. Mckinney, Mr. Green was again elected cashier, and still holds that office. =
The First National Bank of Sterling ranks among thie strongest and most substantial banking institutions of the state; and every effort is made by its officers and directors to keep its standard up to the highest. With its capital stock of $100,000, it has accumulated a surplus of $100,000 and undivided profits of nearly $50,000. .
While the policy of the bank has always been one of conservatism, yet
5
372
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
it has never failed to recognize its duty to the community at large, by a just and liberal accommodation of its patrons, and an ever-courteous desire to deal fairly with all. The fact that it has served the public well, is shown by its rapidly increasing business. Ten years ago its deposits rarely exceeded $400,000, while, during the past five years they frequently have exceeded $1,000,000. And it is but fair to predict, from past prosperity, that the bank's greatest success and influence in the community, is yet to be realized.
THE STERLING NATIONAL BANK.
March 25, 1882, application was made to the Comptroller of the Cur- rency for the authority to organize a national bank. The application was signed by J. H. Lawrence, B. C. Church and Charles A. Reed. James R. Bell, Charles N. Russell, Abijah Powers and E. F. Lawrence were mentioned as associate stockholders with the applicants.
This bank was to be located in Sterling with a capital of $50,000.00 with the privilege of increasing same to $300,000.00.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.