History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record", Part 16

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.)
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co.
Number of Pages: 824

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record" > Part 16

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).

Mrs. Catharine Benham died June, 1852, in Sangamon county, and Mr. Benham was married Sept. 7, 1852, to Mrs. Mary Rakestraw, formerly Mrs. Seavers, and whose maiden name was Wallin. She was born July 11, 1816, in Columbiana county, Ohio, and came to Illinois in IS37. Mr. Benham was in the Black Hawk war. Mr. and Mrs. B. reside two and a half miles northeast of Rochester.

BENNETT, WILLIAM A., was born Nov. 5, 1803, near Shepherds- town, Va. His father, Van Bennett, died in Virginia, and his two sons, William A. and Thomas L., with their three sisters, Luranah M., Ann Elizabeth and Mary, with their widowed mother, Mrs. Phæbe Bennett, all left Virginia, Oct. 2, 1833, for Illinois, arriving at Paris on the second of November. The two brothers came on to Springfield, bought land three miles east of the city, and returned to Paris just in time to be present at their mother's death, Dee. 12, 1833. The two brothers and three sisters moved to their farms in Sangamon county in March, 1834. The youngest sister, Mary, who was born Nov. 12, 1815, in Virginia, died April 17,

IS34, near Springfield. William A. Ben- nett was married August 19, 1843, in Morgan county, to Sarah A. Stevenson. She was born Oct. 2, IS19, in Scott coun- ty, Ky., and was taken by her parents in IS29, to that part of Morgan county which is now Cass county. Mr. and Mrs. Ben- nett had three children, namely-

MARY E., born March 1, 1844, in Sangamon county, married May 26, 1869, to Charles F. Mills, who was born May 29, 1843, at Montrose, Pa. They have two children, MINNIE and WILLIAM HENRY, and reside with Mrs. Mills' parents, three miles east of Springfield. Charles F. Mills was attending Shurtleff College, at Alton, Ill., when the rebellion commenced. He enlisted August, 1862, for three years, in Co. C., 114th Ill. Inf. He was soon after appointed by President Lincoln, hospital steward at Camp Butler, and remained there nearly three years, when, at his own request, in -the fall of 1864, he was ordered to Nashville, Tenn. Being in the regular service, his term did not expire with the suppression of the re- bellion, but he continued until the fall of IS66, when he resigned, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn.

WILLIAMI A., Jun., and

CHARLES S. died in infancy.

William A. Bennett and his wife reside on the farm where he settled in 1834, three miles east of Springfield.

BENNETT, LURANAH M., born March 7, 1So7, in Jefferson county, Va., came with her brothers and sisters to Sangamon county, in 1834, re- mained several years, and returned on a visit, in 1842, to her native place, where she was married to Rev. Thomas P. W. Magruder, of the Presbyterian church, who moved with his family to Illinois in the spring of 1844. They have three children --

ALFRED W., resides at Central City, Colorado Territory.

CHARLES V. resides with his par- ents.

LIZZIE C. married Samuel S. Smith. They have two children, a son and a daughter, and reside near Rushville, IIl.

Rev. Thomas P. W. Magruder and wife reside near Rushville, Schuyler coun- ty, Illinois.

BENNETT, THOMAS L., was born July 6, 1Sog, in Jefferson county,

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SANGAMON COUNTY.

Va .- For family history, see the sketch of his brother, William A .- Thomas L. Ben- nett arrived in Sangamon county first in the fall of 1833. He was married Nov. 6, 1842, at Jubilee College, Robins' Nest, Peoria county, Ill., to Jeanetta S. Ingra- ham, a native of New York City. They had four children in Sangamon county- AGNES, the youngest, died at ten years of age.

HENRY, V. S., visited Greenwood county, Kansas, in the autumn of IS6S, where his father and family joined him in the spring of 1869.

SUSAN C. and

SOPHIA went with their parents. The latter was married Oct. 12, 1871, in Kansas, to Alexander F. Crowe. They have one child, THOMAS B., and reside in Kansas, also.

Thomas L. Bennett and family reside near Line Postoffice, Lyon county, Kan- sas.

BENNETT, ANN F., born Dec. 10, 1813, in Jefferson county, Va., came to Sangamon county with her bro- thers and sisters, in 1834, was married in the Episcopal church, at Jacksonville, Ill., to Samuel H. Treat, now Judge of the United States District Court, and resides in Springfield.

BENNETT., REV. WM. T., was born Nov. 30, 1805, in or near Shep- herdstown, Jefferson county, Va. He united with the M. E. church in Shepherds- town, in 1828, was soon after licensed to exhort, came to Springfield, Ill., in com- pany with his brother, Van S. Bennett, in Dec., 1834. Ile was married June 6, IS36, in Ottawa, Ill., to Rebecca J. Rob- erts, who was born Oct. 5, IS11, in Vir- ginia. When she was an infant her father liberated his slaves and moved to Wash- ington county, Pa. She came with the family of her uncle, Dr. James Roberts, to Jacksonville, III., in 1833, and from there to Ottawa in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett made their home in Springfield. He was licensed as a local preacher, and in 1849 was appointed to take charge of the M. E. church in Springfield, to fill a vacancy. In 1850 he entered the travel- ing connection. They had seven children, all born in Sangamon county, namely-

EDWARD W., born August 5, 1837, in Springfield, enlisted at Danville, in April, 1861, on the first call for 75,000

men, in Co. E., 12th Ill. Inf., and served nearly six months. He enlisted June 24, IS62, at Mechanicsburg, for three years, in Co. A., 73d Ill. Inf .; was commissioned as Ist Lieutenant. After the battle of Stone's river he was transferred, Jan. S, 1863, and promoted to Capt. of Co. F, same regi- ment. He served as such to the end of the rebellion, and was mustered out with the regiment at Springfield, June 15, 1865. He was married at Mechanicsburg, Dec. 23, 1869, to Harriet N. Fullinwider. They have two children, ANNA N. and JACOB H., and reside near Mechanics- burg.

EMMA R., born Dec. 18, 1838, in Springfield, married August 14, 1861, to Stephen A. Short, who was born Oct. 7, 1836, in Pickaway county, Ohio. He en- listed a few days before his marriage, for three years, in Co. A, 73d Ill. Inf .; was appointed Sergeant, and was wounded July 20, 1864, at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ga., which terminated in the am- putation of his right leg, above the knee. Mr. and Mrs. Short have two children, LULU and EDITH L., and reside in Mechanicsburg.

ANN T., born Dec. 16, 1841, died in her second year.

ANNA L., born Nov. 13, 1842, in Springfield, died suddenly, Oct. 28, 1866, in Mechanicsburg.

JOHN A., born Dec. 28, 1844, in Springfield, enlisted Dec., 1863, in Co. F, 73d Ill. Inf., for three years. He was killed June 24, 1864, at Kennesaw moun- tain, Ga., by a stray shot, while sitting in his tent writing a letter. His remains were brought home in 1866, and interred at Mechanicsburg.

GULIA A. died Feb. 5, 1849, in her second year.

REBIE H., born in Sangamon coun- ty, June 30, 1850, resides with her parents.

Rev. Wm. T. Bennett continued in the effective work of the ministry until 1867, when he assumed the superannuated re- lation to Ill. Conf., and in 1871 was super- annuated, and now resides in Mechanics- burg.

Edward Bennett, the father of Rev. Wm. T. Bennett, liberated his slaves and sold his land, with the intention of mov- ing west, but died in Virginia in 1833. Edward was brother to Van S., who was the father of Wm. A. Bennett. See his

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name. It will thus be seen that Rev. WVm. T. Bennett and Mr. Wm. A. Ben- nett are cousins.

BENNETT, VAN S., was born Dec. 9, 1802, near' Shepherdstown, Va., came to Springfield in 1834, with his bro- ther, Rev. Wm. T. He never married, and died in Sangamon county, Aug., 1873. BENNETT, MARGARET E., sister to Rev. Wm. T. Bennett, was born Dec. 24, 1800, near Sheperdstown, Va., came to Springfield, Ill., in 1836, re- mained five years, returned to Virginia, and came back to Sangamon county in IS41. She never married, and resides with her sister, Mrs. Kalb.

BENNETT, ELIZA, (sister of Rev. Wm. T. Bennett,) was born Dec. 27, ISIo, near Hagerstown, Md. Her par- ents moved, when she was five years old, to Shepherdstown, Va., where they had previously resided. She was there mar- ricd, May 20, 1832, to George W. Shutt. They had one child born in Shepherds- town, and Mr. Shutt died there in 1835. Mrs. Shutt, with her child, moved to Springfield, Ill., arriving in May, 1836. After a residence of five years in Spring- field, she returned to Shepherdstown, Va., and was there married, Jan. 17, IS41, to Daniel G. Kalb, who was born Dec. 4, 1815, in Frederick City, Md. They had two children in Shepherdstown, and moved to Washington county, Md., where they had one child; thence to Loudon county, Va., where they had one child, and from there to Springfield, Ill., arriv- ing in October, 1849, where one child was born, and in 1856 moved to Round Prairie, four miles east by south of Springfield. Of her children by her first marriage-

GEORGETTA, born July IS, IS35, in Shepherdstown, Va., was married Jan. 1, 1853, in Springfield, Ill., to Philip L. Shutt, who was born Nov. IS, 1829, in Loudon county, Va. They had cleven children, five of whom died young. The other six, FRANKLIN, MAGGIE, CHARLES, PAUL, HARRY and LAURA, reside with their parents in Paris, Edgar county, Ill.

Children of her second marriage-

MARYABNER, born Dec. 12, 1841, in Shepherdstown, Va., resides with her parents.

ETHIELBERT, born Sept. 18, 1843, in Shepherdstown, Va., brought up in

Sangamon county, and enlisted at Spring- field, August 20, 1861, for three years, in Co. B., 33d Ill. Inf. He served more than his full time, and was honorably dis- charged, Oct. 11, 1864. He is now in business in St. Louis.

WILLIAM E. B., born August 2, 1 846, in Washington county, Md., brought up in Sangamon county, Ill., enlisted at Springfield, March 26, 1864, for three years, in Co. G., 114th Ill. Vol. Inf., and was killed in battle of Guntown, Miss., June 10, 1864.

GEO. BROOK, born Dec. 4, 1848, in Loudon county, Va., is a dealer in musical instruments in Springfield.

JULIA M., born Nov. 16, 1854, in Springfield, died June 10, 1859.

Daniel G. Kalb and wife reside at Wil- low Dale, one mile northeast of Sanga- mon Station. Mr. Kalb was a local preacher in the M. E. church from Feb. 6, 1847, until 1864. His license was signed at eight annual renewals hy Rev. Peter Cartwright, but when it expired in 1864, he declined to have it renewed. He was engaged in teaching from 1837 to 1854. Mr. Kalb enlisted August 11, 1862, in Co. G., 14th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years. Finding it quite oppressive to march with his knapsack and haversack, he obtained a wheelbarrow, and not meeting with op- position from officers, ran it hundreds of miles, and often carried the baggage of sick and disabled comrades. He has the wheelbarrow yet, and it will doubtless be handed down as a memorial of the war to suppress' the rebellion, and the part he acted in it.

BENNETT, JOHN A., (bro- ther to Rev. Wm. T. Bennett,) was born near Shepherdstown, Va., came to Spring- field in 1835, with George R. Weber, and died Dec. 23, 1841.

BENNINGTON, JAS. M., was born May 20, 1826, in Owen county, Ind. His father died in 1838, and in his 13th year, he came to Sangamon county with his half brother, John Hartsock. They arrived Feb. 22, 1839, in what is now Ball township. James M. Benning- ton was married Sept. 30, 1869, to Mrs. Nancy Nuckolls, whose maiden name was Drennan. They have one son, JOHN, and reside four miles west of Pawnee.

John Hartsock, half brother to Mr. Bennington, married Susan Clemons, who

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died, and he married Mrs. Mary A. Pul- liam, whose maiden name was Levi. They reside in Christian county.

Two brothers of Mr. Bennington, Sam- uel and Harrison, came to Sangamon coun- ty with their mother in IS41, and were consequently too late to be included as early settlers.

BEERS, PHILO, was born July 16, 1793, in Woodbury, Conn. When he was about fifteen years old he was put to live with an elder brother, probably on account of the death of his parents. They could not agree, and he ran 'away, and was gone twelve or thirteen years, without his relatives hearing from him. During his ramblings he become acquainted with Doctor Joseph Bennett Stillman, who introduced him to his mother and sisters, at Morganfield, Ky. Mr. Beers always said that he made up his mind, on their first acquaintance, to have Miss Martha Stillman for a wife. The Stillman family moved to Sangamon county, Ill., and Mr. Beers went to Car- lyle, Clinton county, same State. He was first elected a justice of the peace, and after serving for a time, was elected to represent Clinton county in the Legisla- ture of Illinois, when it assembled in Van- dalia. While residing at Carlyle he was married in what is now Williams town- ship, Sangamon county, on the farm of John Poorman. In response to a letter of inquiry, the author of this book received from the clerk of Madison county, Ili., a reply, dated April 29, 1874, in which it is stated that a license was issued at Ed- wardsville, Oct. 27, 1820, for the marriage of Philo Beers and Martha Stillman; that it was returned, endorsed by Elder Stephen England, with the statement that he had solemnized the marriage Nov. 2, 1820. The clerk also stated that it was the 279th license issued from that office. They are believed to have been the first couple ever married north of the Sanga- mon river in the State of Illinois; certainly the first in what is now Sangamon county. The first marriage under a license from Sangamon county was between Wm. Moss and Margaret Sims, April 20, 1821. Mr. Beers took his bride to Carlyle, where they had two children. They moved to Sangamon county, and settled three miles southwest of Williamsville, where one child was born. Of their three children-

-15

JOSEPH B., born and died at Car- lyle in infancy.

HENRY CLAY, born in 1824, at Carlyle. Philo Beers was the only man living in Carlyle who voted for Henry Clay for President of the United States that year, and the citizens insisted that the babe should be named for his father's can- didate. Henry Clay Beers was married in 1848, in Sangamon county, to Adelaide C. McNabb. They had one child, WM. PHILO, who died, aged two years. H. C. Beers died in 1851, in Springfield. His widow married Adolphus Rogers, and resides near Cincinnati. He is a merchant there.

CAROLINE M., born Feb. 20, 1827, in Sangamon county, married in Spring- field, May 13, 1847, to Elder Andrew J. Kane. See his name.

Mrs. Martha Beers died in 1845, and Philo Beers died March, 1858, both in Springfield. Mr. Beers moved into Spring- field and built a brick dwelling house at the northwest corner of Madison and Fifth streets, about 1830. It was among the first, if not the first, brick dwelling erected in Springfield.

BEERUP, ANDREW, born Dec. 12, 1812, in Canandagua county, N. Y .. and raised in Canada, came to Spring- field, Ill., in 1837 or 'S. He was married July 2, 1840, in Sangamon county, to Mary A. Maltby, who was born Nov. 27, 1819. They had nine children in Sangamon county, five of whom died young. Of the other four-

CHARLES A., born April 27, 1841, married Jan. 14, 1864, to Mary Babcock, who was born Jan. 22, 1844, in Musking- um county, Ohio. They have three children, John R., ALICE J. and LEE C., and reside six miles west of Spring- field.

THOMAS A., born June 27, 1843,

GEORGE E., born Oct. 10, 1854, and WILLIAM H., born June 10, 1858, all reside with their brother, Charles .1.

Andrew Beerup died Nov. 26, 1872, and his widow died Sept. 27, 1873, both in Gardner township.

BEERUP, THOMAS, brother of Margaret, Andrew and William, was born Sept. 17, 1819, in Canandagua coun- ty, N. Y. Came to Springfield June 3, IS40, and witnessed a grand log cabin demonstration of the political campaign of

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that year to elect a President of the United States, as his introduction to the city. He was married July 26, 1843, to Sinai A. Neale. They had seven children born in Sangamon county, namely --

THOMAS N., born Oct. 12, 1844, in Sangamon county, enlisted Aug. 9, IS62, in Co. B, 114 Ill. Inf., at Springfield. He was wounded at the battle of Jackson, Miss., May 14, IS63. A rebel musket ball broke his arm (being the first man in the regiment to receive a wound). He was captured in hospital two days later, paroled at Richmond, Va., a month later, and was honorably discharged at St. Louis, Nov. 17, 1863. He now draws a pension, and resides with his parents.

HALLIE E., born April 15, 1846, in New Castle, Henry county, Ky., married Nov. 30, 1865, to Edward B. Winslow. They have two children, BDWIN M. and PRESTON A., and reside in Girard, III.

GEO. N., born June 20, IS4S, in New Castle, Henry county, Ky., died Sept. 15, IS50.

PRESTON f., born Jan. 21, 1851, in Springfield, Sangamon county, Ill., died March 1, 1872.

EDWIN M., born in Waverly, Mor- gan county, Sept. 13, 1855, died Jan. S, IS64.

MERRIAN E., born Jan. 11, IS5S, in Waverly, Ill., died Oct. S, IS69.

NEVILLE B., born Nov. 3, 1859, in Waverly, Ill., resides with his parents.

Thomas Beerup and wife reside one- half mile south of Chatham.

BEERUP, WILLIAM W., was born Sept. 6, 1822, at Sidney, Cana- da, and came to Sangamon county in IS46 to join his brothers, Andrew and Thomas. lle married Catharine E. Tolley, Sce the Tolley name.

BEERUP, MARGARET, sis- ter of Andrew, Thomas and William W ., was born June IS, IS29, at Beamsville, Can- ada, came to Sangamon county, Il., June, 1844, and was married at Havana, Ill., June IS, 1849, to Levi Harpham, who was born Dec., 1Szt, at Hartford, Ohio coun- ty, Indiana. They have five children, namely --

GÉO. E., ALICE G., CHARLES F., LEE W. and SILAS ELMER, and reside near Havana, Ill.

BEERUP, JANE, sister to An- drew, Thomas and William W. Beerup, and to Mrs. Margaret Harpham. She married Marvin Pond. Sce his name.

BERGEN, REV. JOHN G., D. D., was born Nov. 27, 1790, at Hights- town, Middlesex county, N. J., ten miles east of Princeton, N. J. Of his ancestors the history is preserved for seven genera- tions, which will be found designated by numbers. Ist. Hans Hansen Bergen was born in Bergen, Norway. He was ashipcar- penter, and went to Holland; from there he emigrated to New Amsterdam, now New York city, arriving in 1633. In' 1639 he was married to Sarah Rapalje (now Rapalye). She was born June 9, 1622, about where Albany, N. Y., now stands, and is believed to have been the first child of European parentage born in in the colony of New Netherlands, which then included the present States of New York, New Jersey and part of Connecti- cut. Hans Hansen Bergen and Sarah Rapalje, his wife, had four sons and four daughters. 2nd. Joris, Jores, or George, their fifth child, was baptized in New Amsterdam, July IS, 1649, and married Aug. 11, 167S, to Sara Stryker. They had nine children, and their fourth child. 3rd. Hans Jorise Bergen was baptized Aug. 31, 1684, and married Aug. 16, 1711, to Sytje Evert Van Wicklen. They had five children. Their eldest son (4th), Jores, or George Bergen, married Miss Hoag- land. She had three children, and died. He married a second time, and had nine children. His eldest son (5th), John B. Bergen, born March 27, 1739, married June S, 1763, to Sarah Stryker, who was born August 25, 1745. They had eight children. Their eldest son (6th), George I. Bergen, born June 16, 1764, married in 1789 to Rebecca Combs. They had ten child- ren, all born in New Jersey. Their eldest son was (7th) John G., whose name heads this sketch. Both his parents being con- sistent Christians, he, under their training and example, became a member of the Presbyterian church, at thirteen years of age. He attended Baskingridge Acade- my, and when properly prepared entered the junior class at Princeton College, and graduated at seventeen years of age. Having chosen the ministry, he com- menced a theological course of study un- der Rev. Dr. John Woodhull, who had

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been appointed by the Synod of New York and New Jersey, Professor of The- ology, in the absence of a seminary for that purpose. At 20 years of age he was licensed to preach the gospel. It was his desire to mount his horse, go to the west and commence preaching, but he was in- duced to accept the position of tutor in Princeton College in ISIo. In Sept., 1812, he resigned that position, and in Oct., 1812, accepted a call as pastor of the Pres- byterian Church at Madison, N. J. Rev. John G. Bergen was married Nov. 10, 1812, at Freehold, N. J., to Margaretta M. Henderson, who was born in 1793 in that city. Her father, Dr. Thomas Hen- derson, was a Judge, member of Con- gress, and a ruling Elder in the old Ten- nent church at Freehold. The pastor of that church, Rev. William Tennent, to all human appearance died, and after laying three days in what proved to be a trance, he opened his eyes just as they were clos- ing the coffin for the last time.

Rev. J. G. Bergen was pastor of the church at Madison for about 16 years, during which time his labors were greatly blessed. They had five children born at Madison. George I. Bergen, the father of Rev. J. G. Bergen, was a merchant, and sustained such losses during the war with England, beginning in 1812, that he closed his business, and in the summer of ISIS emigrated to Woodford county, Ky. In 1824 Mr. G. I. Bergen, in company with a married son and daughter and their father-in-law, Major Conover, six persons in all, set out to explore Indiana, and camped near where Indianapolis now stands. They made up their minds to remain there, and one night while they were around their camp-fire, they were startled with the cry of " Who's here!" coming out of the darkness. The words were run together, and seemed like a sin- gle word, " Hoosier," and this circum- stance is believed to have been the origin of that appellation for citizens of that State. The traveler who had thus uncer- emoniously approached them remained all night, and before he left next morning had convinced them that it was better to go and see the prairies of Illinois. The result was that they settled in Jersey prairie, twelve miles north of Jacksonville, in Morgan, now Cass, county, Ill. George I. Bergen died in 1825, and his widow

married Rev. Mr. Kenner, in 1827, and they visited Mrs. Kenner's old home in New Jersey. While there her son, Rev. J. G. Bergen, resigned his pastorate of the church at Madison, Sept. 10, 1828, for the purpose of accompanying his mother to Illinois. The party started Sept. 22, IS2S, going by the way of Lexington and Frankfort, Ky., to visit friends. After a journey of nearly 1,500 miles, they arrived at Springfield, Nov., 1828, bringing their five children, namely-

GANE ELIZA, born 1813, in Madi- son, N. J., came with her parents to Springfield. Soon after their arrival, her father built a house on his own lot at the south side of Washington street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, and in that she taught school in 1829. That was believed to have been the first school taught by a lady in Springfield. She was married in April, 1833 to Col. Robert Allen. See his name.

CATHARINE H., born Sept. 21, 1816, in New Jersey, married in Spring- field to Edward Jones. See his name.

AMELIA M., born July, ISIS, in New Jersey, married in Springfield, May, 1840, to Joshua G. Lamb, a cousin of James L. Lamb. They are without fam- ily, and reside in Alton.

THOMAS H., born Dec. 15, 1820, at Madison, Morris county, N. J., brought up in Springfield, married March 29, 1849, at Trenton, N. J., to Mary G. Cooley. She was born in that city, July 20, IS23. Soon after they were married they left for Springfield, and while on board a small steamboat on the Ohio river, near Wheel- ing, West Va., it blew up, killing 17 per- sons. They escaped with their lives, but lost their entire baggage. They are with- out family, and reside one mile cast of Springfield.

GEORGE, born April 5, 1824, at Madison, Morris county, N. J., brought up in Springfield, Ill., is unmarried, and resides one mile east of Springfield.

Mrs. Margaretta M. Bergen died Oct. 18, 1853, near Springfield, Ill. Dr. Ber- gen was married at the latter place, Nov. 9, 1857, to Mrs. Susan A. Vanhoff. Rev. Dr. J. G. Bergen died Jan. 17, 1872, and his widow resides in Springfield.

Dr. Bergen, describing Springfield as he first saw it, said it was composed of about thirty-five log cabins, two or three

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small frame houses, without a place of divine worship other than a log school house just built. That school house stood in the street at the crossing of Adams and Second streets, in a thicket of hazel and brier bushes, and a few tall oaks. It was built in the street because (he says) the town authorities and owners of the lots were too penurious to donate the land. Rev. J. G. Bergen found a Presbyterian Church that had been organized Jan. 30, 182S, by Rev. John M. Ellis, a missionary from the southern part of the State. Ít was without a house of worship. He took charge of the church, and on the second Sabbath after his arrival he gave notice to the little church and the people generally, that he came to Springfield, not to make an experiment, but to live, labor and die on the field with his armor on, and then said: "Come, let us rise up and build a house for God." A brick house was accordingly built at the east side of Third street, between Washington and Adams. He says that was the first church built in the central part of the State for any Protestant denomination. The Methodists of Springfield were build- ing a frame house of worship at the same time, but they were a few weeks later in finishing it. The original members of the First Presbyterian Church were Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, widow of Rev. John Blair Smith, D. D., mother of Mrs. Dr. John Todd. The Presbyterian Church of Springfield was organized in her house. The other members were John Moore, John N. Moore, Andrew Moore, Mary Moore, Elizabeth Moore, Margaret Moore, Catharine Moore, Phoebe Moore, James White, Elijah Scott, Jane Scott, Samuel Reed, Jane Reed, William Proc- tor, Sarah Stillman, Nancy R. Hum- phreys, Ann Iles and Olive Slater, nine- teen in all; five only lived in Springfield. Some lived forty miles distant. The Ruling Elders were John Moore, John N. Moore, Samuel Reed and Isaiah Still- man. Rev. J. G. Bergen preached, as stated supply, until 1835, when he received a formal call to become Pastor of the church, and was installed Nov. 15 of that year. That was the only Presbyterian Church in the country at that time. Six churches have been organized by colonies from that church (two of them in the city). During the ministry of Rev. Mr.

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History of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Illinois : "centennial record", Part 16

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.) Publication date: 1876 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co. Number of Pages: 824

Author: Power, John Carroll, 1819-1894; Power, S. A. (Sarah A.), 1824-; Old Settlers' Society of Sangamon County (Ill.)
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : E.A. Wilson & Co.
Number of Pages: 824