USA > Illinois > Pages from the early history of the West and Northwest: embracing reminiscences and incidents of settlement and growth, and sketches of the material and religious progress of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri > Part 14
USA > Indiana > Pages from the early history of the West and Northwest: embracing reminiscences and incidents of settlement and growth, and sketches of the material and religious progress of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri > Part 14
USA > Missouri > Pages from the early history of the West and Northwest: embracing reminiscences and incidents of settlement and growth, and sketches of the material and religious progress of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri > Part 14
USA > Ohio > Pages from the early history of the West and Northwest: embracing reminiscences and incidents of settlement and growth, and sketches of the material and religious progress of the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri > Part 14
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Aggregate Capital.
Net Capital.
1789,
$600 00
1799.
... 4,000 00
$1,000 00
1808.
45,000 00
1816.
147,133 99
80,000 00
1824
270,002 28
221,459 78
1832.
448,745 70
413,566 98
1845 ..
.645,879 46
641,283 32
1856 ...
738,977 36
568,272 65
1860 ....
714,963 63
540,721 80
1863
526,650 02
496,968 14
1867.
645,324 14
590,571 70
"The reduction in the capital at New York since 1856 has resulted, as we understand, from the heavy payments made to the Church South, and the sale of old stock at reduced values, rather than from any real falling off in the business of the Concern.
"Respecting the early condition of the Western Book Concern I have no information. The agents reported in 1856 that if it had not been for the re- duction of their assets by the dividends paid to the Church South, and by other payments, they would have had at that time a net capital of $250,816.62. Their report for that year was:
Aggregate Capital. Net Capital.
1856.
.$234,026 84
$150,405 74
1863.
329,398 10
263,112 24
1867
571,989 32 460,374 47
240
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
"According to the above showing the aggregate capital of the two Concerns amounted, January, 1868, to $1,217,313.46, and the net capital to $1,050,946.17.
"The reports show that the sales of books and periodicals have amounted, during the quadrennial terms specified, to the following amounts:
New York Book Concern. Western Book Concern,
1844-1848
$487,222 04 $125,413 65
1848-1852
653,190 78
200,829 53
1852-1856
1,000,734 18
649,840 73
1856-1860
1,175,867 29
1,127,851 00
Total since 1844. $3,317,014 29 $2,203,932 91
Total Sales of both Concerns from 1844 to 1860 .. $5,520,947 20
"The above showings are significant as exhibiting, first, the steady growth of the business as a whole, and, second, its large proportionate increase in the West. A few years more at the same rate of prog- ress and the old New York Book Concern will have to yield the palm to her enterprising daughter of the West. So mote it be."
241
WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE first Baptist Church in Plainfield was organ- ized in October, 1834. A list of the persons form- ing the Church, and officers, is here given: Rev. Joshua E. Ambrose, Moderator; members-Leonard Morse, Elizabeth Morse, Rebecca Carmon, Thomas Rickey, (elected Clerk,) Jane Rickey, Alfred B. Hubbard. The first church edifice was built in 1836. Elder and deacon Ashley came to this place in 1837. The new church, which was built in 1857 and dedicated in 1858, cost $4,100. The member- ship was one hundred and twenty-five. There was a defect in the Church management in supplying the pulpit, which prevented a greater prosperity. When the Church became dissatisfied with their preacher, or the preacher sought for a more congenial place of usefulness, this Church would be without a preacher sometimes for several months, and they were obliged to depend on a preacher from some other denomina- tion-some transient one-or do without any; and our Congregational brethren were oftentimes sub- mitted to a like inconvenience.
The pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal Church has always been continually supplied, so that there was no break or want of a preacher to promulgate our doctrine of a full and a free salvation. This,
21
242
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
together with our excellent Church government, and a membership that are to be co-workers together with God, has greatly contributed to the building up of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Plainfield, so that it almost doubles every other denomination at the present time.
A few months since a Baptist deacon from Joliet inquired of me how the Baptist cause was prosper- ing in Plainfield. I replied that I did not know exactly, but that I had understood they were with- out a preacher, and, of course, they could not expect to flourish under such circumstances. After speak- ing rather despondingly of their want of zeal and derangement, he abruptly changed the subject, and asked how the Methodists were prospering with their new stone church. I replied that they had got the main building up so that it would soon be ready for the roof. He paused for a moment, and then said, in a very emphatic way, "What the Methodists can not do no one else needs try."
I think that there are but few places of the same age and population in the State that have had so many powerful conversions as Plainfield. Some have gone home to heaven, many have gone widely astray, yet on our Church records are now two hundred and fifty names. In 1820 the Methodists of America were 13,000 less in the number of communicants than its elder sister, the Baptist. Church, which dates its American origin a hundred and twenty- five years earlier than ours. Ten years later the
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
Methodists were nearly one hundred thousand in advance of them. Great as that success appears, it is small compared with the statistics of the Cente- nary jubilee in 1866, when the Church numbered & full million of communicants, and her congregations a little less than four millions.
The Church is now divided into several bands, yet all identical, save in some points of Church govern- ment. Our design is to reach all of our population, from the northernmost inhabitant of Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and thence, by missionary effort, to plant the stand- ard of the Cross and the liberty of the Gospel, as Methodism interprets it, to the uttermost verge of our green earth. These different bands of the Church - number now about two million communi- cants. We probably owe the success of the Church, in a great measure, to its Arminian doctrines of re- generation, the witness of the Spirit, and sanctifica- tion, together with its systematic organization of a Church government, so perfectly adapted to the wants of a ruined world; and, above all, added to this is the blessing of God which we so earnestly seek to have bestowed upon all our labors. In no other sense can we accept the saying of the Baptist deacon, "What the Methodist Episcopal Church can not do no one else needs try."
In the growth of our village, as with all other Western towns, there came a time when the temper- ance cause needed greatly to be agitated. So a time
244
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
was fixed upon, about the year 1833-34, I think. Our circuit preacher was William Cravens, and Sam- uel Hamilton our presiding elder. It was decided that there should be a pitched battle against whisky. The habit of using it in the harvest field and in all places of public gathering had become so prevalent that many of our members had been led off by its baneful influence. So it was resolved that at a cer- tain quarterly meeting in the region of the Wabash William Cravens was to begin the attack, and Rev. S. Hamilton was to follow. William Cravens was not easily beaten in his strong arguments against the use of intoxicating drinks, and always went in for the teetotal system. When it came the turn for the presiding elder to speak the ground had been so well covered by the first speaker, and so well-toned and convincing were all his arguments that there seemed but little left for him to say, yet his happy and mas- terly descriptive powers were such that he soon held the attention of the congregation while he portrayed the drunkard's god and its worshipers. He said the god dwelt a long way up in a great hollow, with a bald head, and a long, crooked nose, and its wor- shipers would come and sacrifice their corn, their rye, and their barley, and by and by would come and drink down of his spirits, and become so lost that their hats would fly in the air, and they would shout like devils. The faithful, fearless, unflinching testimony that the preachers gave that day could not but have a salutary effect.
245
WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
But-to come from this to personal matters-I also had it to contend with, though not in quite so dignified a way. In an early day I rented my farm to a Mr. B., and was obliged, for a time, to reside in the same house with him. I was, of course, necessarily away from home a great deal while trav- eling on my circuit. Mr. B. had hands at work for him who loved a dram as well as himself. It was very annoying to the women, both Mrs. B. and my wife, that during my absence the jug of whisky was kept in the house and handed round freely before them. Immediately on my return it was concealed in the barn, and our tenant would become suddenly quite religious in his talk and professions. The women resolved to put a stop to this, and, taking their own way, recourse was had to a large dose of salts. Mrs. B. hesitated, but Mrs. Beggs, who had faced the dangers of Indian warfare, told Mrs. B. that the responsibility might rest on her shoulders. So one day just before the men came in at noon for their regular dram a large dose of salts was put into the jug. It had the desired effect, and the jug was removed to the barn for the remainder of our stay.
The new stone church in Plainfield was com- menced in 1867, and completed the next year. It cost about $14,000. It was a great undertaking for Plainfield, but, all lending a helping hand, it came to a completion. The building committee were John Sheffler, E. I. Wood, and E. M'Closky. John Sheff- ler was superintendent. He paid more than any two
246
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
of us, besides the use of his team and hired man. It is a beautiful church, fifty-two feet by seventy, the tower and spire together one hundred and twenty feet high. It is handsomely and tastefully finished off, with a singers' gallery, large enough for twelve or fifteen persons, in the rear of the pulpit. In the basement we have three class-rooms, besides a con- venient lecture-room, with its door entering through the tower. There have been partly or wholly built this Summer, three or four other churches-the Baptist, Congregational, Evangelical, and Univer- salist. I think I am safe in saying that there are more persons in Plainfield, in proportion to its in- habitants, who come out on the Sabbath than in any other town in the State. As to the Evangelical Church in Plainfield, it now ranks second in the number of members in this place. The first class was formed by Rev. George H. Blank, and Simon Tolies presiding elder, Peter Burket class-leader. There were twenty-nine members, one local preacher- George Motuger-and one exhorter-J. Dillman. They have been favored with a number of revivals, and many powerful conversions. They have, per- haps, never had a more powerful revival and gen- eral ingathering than when under the two years' pastoral and ministerial care of Rev. Daniel D. Byers. They now number one hundred and fifty members. They have a good church and bell. It was commenced in 1854, and finished and dedicated the next year. This denomination has here located
247
WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
its college, and it has been in successful operation, with President Smith at its head, and an able fac- ulty to assist him.
The following notice of the life and death of my wife, Elizabeth L. Beggs, is from the pen of Rev. W. F. Stewart :
"She was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, De- cember 27, 1813, and died in Plainfield, Ill., August 7, 1866. She was the daughter of William and Susan Heath; was converted, and joined the Meth- odist Episcopal Church in Zanesville, Ohio, under the labors of Rev. Joseph Carper, in the year 1827. In the year 1830 she removed, with her parents, to the vicinity of Washington, in Tazewell county, Ill. In the year 1831 she was married to Rev. S. R. Beggs. To marry a Methodist traveling preacher, in that day, in Illinois, gave but little promise of ease or temporal comfort. True, their first appoint- ment after marriage was to the 'eye of the North- West,' the embryo city of Chicago. But Chicago was a frontier mission station, from which the wild Indian had hardly taken his departure. There was no richly endowed Church corporation on Clark- street, or any wealthy membership to welcome and support the preacher and his family. They, how- ever, endured hardness as good soldiers, did the work of evangelists, and had the honor of making to the next session of the Illinois Conference the first return of members from Chicago. For years they did emphatically pioneer work, and, when
1
248
EARLY HISTORY OF THE .
there was no prospect of support from the Church, sister Beggs would say to her husband, 'Go and preach, and I will manage to provide for the chil- dren.' With excellent talent for domestic economy, and great energy and perseverance, she always man- aged to keep the wolf from the door, and to extend hospitality to the itinerant and the emigrant who might call upon them. By the blessing of God, in after years, when they were compelled to retire from the regular work, they had a very comfortable home at Plainfield. Here, resting from their labors, they rejoiced to watch the growth and prosperity of the Church which they had assisted to plant.
"For a year previous to her death, as sister Beggs approached the confines of the other world, she showed how calmly and cheerfully a Christian can march forward to meet the last enemy. She made all her arrangements, temporal and spiritual, and when, at last, the summons came, she fell asleep in Jesus without a struggle or a groan. A large concourse of friends and neighbors followed her re- mains to the grave, weeping on account of their loss, but inspired with the hope of meeting her again in the resurrection of the just."
249
WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A SHORT sketch of Methodism in Lockport, Ill., may not come amiss in this work. Lockport was laid out in 1830, and a sale of lots in the Fall of 1837 paved the way for the settlement of the town. In 1838 William Crissey was appointed to the Joliet circuit, at the Illinois Conference, with John Clark presiding elder. This circuit embraced Lockport. In the Winter of 1838 William Crissey formed the first class, consisting of the following members: Brother G. L. Works, class-leader, and wife, D. Breesee and wife, M. Brooks, R. Lowrie, Polly M'Millen, Dira Manning, A. Heath, and Julia Reed, with some others not known. Brother S. Vandecar was second class-leader. In the Spring of 1842 Colonel Joel Manning joined on probation, and was appointed class-leader, and continued in this office for nearly fifteen years. It is due to his labors, together with the aid of Dr. Wicks and other brethren, that Methodism lives and now numbers more than any other denomination in Lockport. In 1839 William Crissey and A. Chenoweth, with S. R. Beggs, supernumerary for the Lockport district. In Ottowa district, John Sinclair presiding elder, a good year, with a number of conversions. In 1840 W. Wigley. This year Rock River Conference was
250
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
formed, and Lockport was left in Joliet circuit. In 1841 W. Wigley; he left, however, before the year closed, and brother Bachelor was supplied. In 1842, Joliet circuit, E. Springer. In -1843 S. R. Beggs, Levi Jenks, and James Leckenby. In 1844 brother Minord, and S. Stocking presiding elder. In 1845 O. H. Walker and E. R. Thomas. In 1846 O. H. Walker and brother Ellis. In 1847 John Nason. In 1848. O. A. Munger. In 1849 L. F. Dering, and the same in 1850. In 1851 A. L. Adams. In 1852 brother Stockdale, and Lockport was made a station. In 1853 brother Roe. In 1854 O. H. Walker and M. Read, Plainfield and Lockport being united. In 1855 M. Read. In 1856 brother Wright. In 1857 brother Williams. In 1858-59 brother Baume. In 1861 S. Davidson. In 1852 B. T. Stover. In 1863 J. Vincent. In 1864-65 J. Line- berger. In 1866-67 J. L. Harris. In 1868 W. H. Fisher.
In the year 1854-55, during M. Read's adminis- tration, the Lockport church was commenced and finished at a cost of about $7,000, which, perhaps, all things considered, no other minister in the Con- ference could have done. When all other resources failed, he pressed some of the most able brethren to the utmost of their ability, as he seemed determined to complete the church before he left the station. The church has proved one of the greatest blessings to the membership, and, no doubt, will continue to do so to generations yet unborn. A second parsonage
251
WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
was also built in 1867, costing about $3,000, on a beautiful lot opposite the church, well arranged and well finished, with the preacher and his family set- tled in it. The cost of this, as well as of the church, fell on a few of the more wealthy members. The Methodists are now the leading denomination of Lockport.
.
On Tazewell circuit, in 1830, it took four weeks to make the round. Peter Cartwright was presid- ing elder. The first quarterly meeting was held at George Hand's, December 17th. The brethren pres- ent were Jesse Frankebarger, Thomas Savery-local preachers-and myself. The exhorters were William Goodhart and John Dixon, stewards, and George Hand. The usual questions being asked and an- swered, at last came that, "What has been collected for quarterage?" The answer, eleven dollars; trav- eling expenses, one dollar. The second quarterly meeting was held at Eads' school-house, March 19, 1831. The following brethren were present: S. R. Beggs, preacher in charge; exhorter, William Heath; steward, John Johnston; class-leaders, William Eads, R. Wixam. Quarterage received, sixteen dollars and ten cents.
The third quarterly meeting was held at Dillen's settlement, and a camp meeting was also held on June 15, 1831. Members present: Peter Cart- wright, presiding elder; S. R. Beggs, preacher in charge; William Brown, local preacher; stewards, Gideon Holly, John Johnston, Thomas Snell, Abner
252
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
Carpenter, R. Wixam, and James Latty. Quarter- age, nine dollars and seventy-five cents; traveling expenses, fifty cents for Peter Cartwright, and one dollar and thirty-three and one-third cents for S. R. Beggs. The fourth quarterly meeting, and also a camp meeting, were held at Randolph's Grove, on the 10th of September, 1831. Preachers, Peter Cart- wright and S. R. Beggs. The following brethren were examined and approved: Jesse Frankebarger, T. Savery, William Brown, Gabriel Watt, Thomas Davis, C. M'Cord, S. Stringfield, and J. Lathy. Exhorters: William Goodhart, John Dixon, William Heath, Robert Coper, Dudley Richards, and David Trimmer. The stewards were John Johnston, John Dixon, William Heath, George Hand, William Hodge, and William Eads. Gideon Holly, record- ing steward; James Lathy, secretary. After all, expenses deducted, there was left for me as quarter- age fifty-five dollars and sixteen cents.
On the Tazewell circuit, in 1831, there was no church, nor towns, save Peoria and Pekin. There were four American families in the former, and six in the latter, and a membership of two hundred and fifty-two in all its boundaries. Look now at the cities and towns, its population and institutions of learning, its internal improvements, the number of preachers and presiding elders, its churches and comfortable parsonages, its thousands of member- ship, and their multiplied conversions annually.
The first class and first quarterly meeting in
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
South Ottowa was formed and held by myself. In 1833 I formed the class, and in the Winter of 1834 we held our first quarterly meeting at sister Pem- brook's, John Sinclair presiding elder. The breth- ren and sisters from a distance came in-sister Pitzer from about eight miles up Fox River, and brother Olmstead nearly the same. distance up the Illinois River. They were strangers, having but just moved into the country. I have given a particular account of this meeting elsewhere.
At our Conference in Rockford, in 1849, where Bishop Janes presided, business was dispatched with great rapidity, and very much to the satisfaction of the Conference. When the time came for fixing a place to hold the next Conference, several preach- ers claimed that their stations had the preference. James Stoten presented Plainfield as being the most desirable. To this it was objected that it would not be possible to accommodate all the preachers. This, of course, called forth a short speech from myself. I said that all those whom the brethren and friends could not entertain could find accommodations at the hotels, there being two excellent ones in the place, and I would foot the bills myself. As the result, when the vote was put Plainfield was fixed upon, July 17, 1850.
The time soon rolled round, and our little village witnessed its first Conference. The weather was extremely warm, and Bishop Hamline, who presided, felt its effects very much in his feeble state of health.
254
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
Still he labored unremittingly, and preached a pow- erful sermon on the Sabbath, which came near pros- trating him. Our love-feast, as usual, was appointed at nine o'clock on Sabbath morning. All wished to enjoy it, and the consequence was that the church was very much crowded, and when it was time for love-feast to commence the Bishop asked the pastor if our rules had been obeyed in admitting persons into love-feast that morning. He said they had not. The Bishop then said, "I can not consent to relate my experience before this mixed assemblage, and we will change it into a social meeting of singing and prayer." During this Conference I boarded ten preachers, and one day while at dinner one of the brethren wondered why it was that I succeeded in gaining so much more of this world's goods than the rest of the preachers. Brother R. Haney said, "I can tell you. While you are roasting your shins around the fire he has been at work." At that time brother L. Swormstedt was Book Agent, and not finding a suitable room for settling up his periodical accounts, he inquired after that man who had promised at the Rockford Conference to furnish suitable accommodations or foot the bill. As I had a small account to settle with him, I made my way up, and told him my errand, and gave him my name. He looked astonished, and asked if I,was the man who was to foot the bill. I told him that I was, and he replied, "When I heard of you down in Cin- cinnati, and of your promise, I took you to be some
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WEST AND NORTH-WEST.
old Revolutionary soldier." I said no, but that I had been in the Black Hawk War, and that my house had been made a fort where fifty men were stationed.
It was at this Conference that we resolved to re- move the remains of Jesse Walker from their obscure resting-place, one mile south of our cemetery. I .think it was in the Fall of 1834 that I performed the marriage ceremony which united him to his sec- ond wife. He had then served two years in the Chicago mission station, after which he sustained a superannuated relation, and settled on a small farm about twelve miles west of Chicago, on the Des- plaines River, and there he remained till he changed the cross for the crown, and earth for heaven, on the 5th of October, 1835. He was buried in Plain- field, and there rested till his sons in the Gospel re- solved to remove his remains to their present resting- place. When the hour arrived for the interment the Conference adjourned, and marched in solemn procession to the grave. The remains of his first wife had also been disinterred, and brought to be buried with him. In one large coffin the bones were placed, and laid as nearly in their natural order as possible.
It was a season of great solemnity, both to our village and to the members of Conference. It had been arranged that there should be several speakers to bear testimony to the zeal of this untiring serv- ant in the work of the Lord before the coffin was
256
EARLY HISTORY OF THE
concealed forever from our sight. As I had known him personally longer than any other one present, I was to lead in the remarks. After singing and prayer, I proceeded to give a concise history of his arrival in this State as missionary, in the Fall of 1805, his extensive and different fields of labor, and especially our labors in the Central and Rock River Conferences. When I recounted our labors and suf- ferings in this new and uncultivated region together in the Lord's vineyard, my heart was too full for utterance, and I closed by adding, "For all this I shall be well rewarded if, at last, I can lie down by his side in this beautiful resting-place of the dead." Rev. J. Scarritt, who followed, was very happy in his remarks in portraying the untiring labors, great usefulness, and happy death of this unexcelled mis- sionary. There were several others who made a few remarks, and upon our memories were forever en- graved the solemnities of the occasion. The Confer- ence proceeded forthwith to raise a subscription, that a suitable headstone might be placed to mark his sainted grave. I was appointed as a committee to procure it, and have made mention of it elsewhere.
In 1831, or near this time, there was a call made for missionaries to go to Oregon, among the Flat- heads. By some means this tribe heard that the white man toward the setting sun had a big book that told all about the Great Spirit, and their anxi- ety to hear of him was so great that they called a council, and dispatched a delegation of six Indians
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