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 9
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 9
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 9
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 9
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In 1859 I visited Aurora, and going to church on Sunday morning discovered brother Sanford in the
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pulpit. He urged me to preach on recognizing me, but I preferred to hear, and enjoyed one of the most charming discourses that I ever heard. Accompa- nying him home to dinner, we received a call from the priest of the parish, who wished to ask some questions if I felt free to answer. He wanted to know, in the first place, whether there was any dif- ference between the Methodism of fifty years ago and the present. I thought I could point out some differences. To begin with, I had traveled nine years before I saw a Methodist preacher use notes in speaking. Moreover, I thought that not one-half, perhaps not one-quarter of the Methodists of those days could have got into love-feast had the sisters then dressed as they do now. Members of both sects could be recognized as such almost as far as they could be seen. I related an anecdote, in illus- tration of this, of a girl under conviction, who, hearing of a Methodist meeting fifteen miles distant, started on foot to go to it. Arriving near the church, she came to where two roads met. Uncer- tain which to take, she concluded to sit down till the people should come along, and follow those wear- ing plain coats and bonnets. I thought that Meth- odists might still be known by their dress, since now they dressed so much finer than many other people. That reminded the priest of a little occur- rence. He took his daughter, a few days before, to a milliner to purchase a bonnet. After looking at several, which were thought too gay, he asked what
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kind of bonnet the Methodist ladies wore. "O," re- plied the milliner, "they are the most fashionable people in Aurora."
When I entered the church in the morning I had noticed that brother Sanford appeared very much puzzled. He explained the matter as follows: "I had," he said, "prepared full notes for one of my best sermons; but to have you in the pulpit and see me use them would spoil all. Not to ask you, an old minister, into the pulpit, I should feel to be unkind. So, after revolving the matter over, I de- termined to ask you, and if you would not preach, I would take a text and preach off-hand." "Bless the Lord !" said brother Jenks, "I have not heard you preach so good a sermon since you have been on the station ; and if brother Beggs's presence will continue to add so much to your efforts, I hope he will favor us with it every Sabbath."
The second quarterly in Ottowa was held in 1833, on which occasion I formed the first class, In the Winter of 1834 our quarterly meeting was held at the house of sister Pembrook. The people came from a distance of ten miles. Brother Olmsted, a new-comer to the State, and living some distance up the Illinois River, heard of the meeting and came; and sister Pittzer came from a distance up Fox River. The love-feast Sunday morning was at- tended with great power. The preachers present were, John Sinclair presiding elder, William Royal, and myself. Sister Pittzer became very happy, and,
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though sixty years of age, seemed to renew her : youth under Divine influences. Her loud shouts of "Glory to God !" alarmed a sister of another de- nomination, who thought a word of caution neces- sary. Taking the arm of the old sister she said, "Do thyself no harm." "Bless the Lord !" ex- claimed the good sister, "religion never harmed any body yet!" Brother Sinclair and I preached alternately ; each taking his turn at exhorting. Brother Royal was mighty in prayer. Brother Olm- stead was so delighted with his first quarterly meet- ing that he told a brother that if he only had brother Beggs to preach, brother Sinclair to exhort-for he was mighty therein-and brother Royal to pray, he wanted no more.
In 1847 Du Page circuit was changed to Naper- ville. I give the subsequent statistics : In 1847 J. S. Best preacher, J. Chandler presiding elder; mem- bers, 276. In 1848 S. R. Beggs and C. Batch- elor preachers, M. Bourne presiding elder; mem- bers, 270. In 1849 O. A. Munger preacher, A. L. Risley presiding elder; members, 270. In 1850 J. C. Stoughton preacher, A. L. Risley presiding elder; members, 186. In 1851 J. L. Jenkins preacher, John Sinclair presiding elder; members, 189. In 1852 J. P. Vance and A. Holcomb preachers, John Sinclair presiding elder; members, 184. In 1853 R. Beatty preacher, S. P. Keyes presiding elder ; members, 273. In 1854 O. House preacher; S. P. Keyes presiding elder; members,
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206. In 1855 O. House preacher, J. Flowers presiding elder; members, 214. In 1856 B. Close preacher, J. W. Agard presiding elder; members, 192. In 1857 both returned; members, 192. In 1858-Downer's Grove embraced-J. Note preacher, J. W. Agood presiding elder; members, 174. In 1859 E. Stone preacher, L. Hitchcock presiding elder; members, 172. In 1860 S. Burdock preacher, E. M. Boring presiding elder; members, 142. In 1861 both returned; members, 144. In 1862 J. T. Hannah preacher, E. M. Boring presiding elder; members, 120. In 1863 both returned; members, 120. Methodism has always had up-hill work on this charge, and so have other denominations, except the Evangelical Germans and the Catholics; nor does the prospect seem more flattering.
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CHAPTER XVI.
THE present chapter contains statistics and remi- niscences of the early days of Methodism in Illinois at large, and especially in Wabash River and middle localities of the State, with a historical sketch of early explorations in localities embraced in the narrative.
The first Methodist preacher in Illinois was Joseph Lillard. He was admitted on trial in Kentucky in 1790, in which year he traveled the Limestone cir- cuit, traveling the Salt River circuit in 1791. The next we hear of him is in 1793, in Illinois. It is claimed that he formed the first class in this State in that year, in New Design settlement, some dis- tance south from Salem meeting-house, Captain Joseph Ogel leader. The next regular preacher was Hosea Riggs. He arrived in 1796, and his useful labors continued uninterrupted till 1841, in which year, at the age of eighty-one years, he died at his home, a few miles east of Belleville.
In the year 1804 Benjamin Young came to Illinois as a traveling preacher on the missionary work. Lewis Garrett was presiding elder. Governor Rey- nolds states, in his history of Illinois, that Young fre- quently preached at his father's house, in Randolph county, and was the first preacher he remembers
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hearing. He traveled over the entire American settlements. Subsequently, in 1805, brother Riggs preached at his father's house. These were the first religious meetings ever held in Randolph county. Rev. Thomas Harrison emigrated to Illinois in 1804, and continued to preach the Gospel, more or less, during the subsequent half century. In 1805 Jo- seph Oglesby traveled the Illinois circuit-a good preacher, who labored with marked success. I heard him in 1820. He stood full six feet, very straight, had dark hair, a penetrating eye beneath a promi- nent forehead, and a thin, tapering face. His man- ner was very dignified, and his gestures very correct, and his whole manner impressive. The effect of his discourse was sometimes overwhelming. He once preached at my camp meeting on the Vincennes cir- cuit, from the text, "The Master is come, and call- eth for thee." The audience, saint and sinner, was completely carried away, and I was so overcome that I did not feel that I could preach for a week afterward.
The first settlement in Edgar county was made in the Spring of 1817, on the arm of Grand Prairie, by John Stratton, Wm. Whitley, Blackman, and a few others. Col. Jonathan. Mayo came in the Fall of the same year. This territory was then within the bounds of Edwards county. Illinois did not be- come a State till the following year. Terre Haute, Indiana, was laid out, and a few lots sold in 1816. Government land was entered at that time at two
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dollars per acre, one-fourth down, and the balance in two, three, and four years. The Vermilion circuit was the first formed in this region, in the Fall of 1823; H. Vredenburg preacher, S. H. Thompson presiding elder. The circuit embraced Edgar, Clark, and Vermilion counties, in Illinois, and Vermilion and Vigo counties in Indiana- that portion of the latter lying west of the Wabash River. The appointments ran thus: Mount Carmel, Wm. M'Reynolds; Wa- bash and Mount Vinnonia, W. H. Smith and C. Riddle; Kaskaskia, T. B. Leach; Illinois, John Dew and O. Fisher; Cash River, Joseph Patterson ; Shoal Creek, John Davis and Jesse Green; Sanga- mon, John Miller; Mississippi, Isaac Piggott; Ver- milion, H. Vredenburg and R. Delap.
The first class formed in this section was in 1819, in the house of Jonathan Mayo, on the north arm of Grand Prairie, by Joseph Curtis, who had just emigrated from Ohio; a worthy and efficient local preacher. The first quarterly meeting conference was on the same prairie, at the house of Rev. John M'Reynolds; Col. J. Mayo was recording steward; H. Vredenburg was preacher in charge; S. H. Thompson presiding elder. The Illinois Conference embraced Indiana also-two districts in each-John Strange and James Armstrong presiding elders in Indiana, and Charles Holliday and S. H. Thompson in Illinois.
These two States had 13,042 members, and forty- four traveling preachers. Not one of these is now
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a member of the Illinois Conference except the noble-hearted, iron-framed pioneer, Peter Cart- wright. Prominent among the preachers of that day was John Fox, of precious memory-neat in person and attire, correct in his preaching, diligent in pastoral visitation, strict in administration of dis- cipline, and powerful in prayer-his labors never failing to result in the salvation of souls. This year closed the labors of Rev. C. Holliday as presiding elder. He was my elder when I was on the Vin- cennes circuit, and few men ever proved a greater blessing to me. The precision and directness of the appeals in his edifying, soul-stirring sermons, pro- duced effects which remained fresh and powerful for weeks. In 1833 James M'Kean and T. Files were appointed to Paris circuit, both men of great service to the Church. Brother Files has a son still living in Clark county, a worthy and efficient steward in the Church. Rev. H. Crews and G. W. Robbins were very successful presiding elders on the Danville district. The latter was somewhat slow of speech, but always paid his hearers for waiting. Brother Crews, now of Rock River Conference-of whom a biography is given in another chapter-is among the most popular and useful of those occupying the same responsible position in his Conference, In Ed- gar county the Methodist Church still maintains its original position in advance of other denominations.
Brother Exum Evans was one of a large family that moved from North Carolina with their father,
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and settled in Clark county in 1812. His parents were Quakers, after the "most straitest" of which sect the children were all raised. They made their home in the midst of a large Quaker settlement near York, not far from the line of Crawford county. They held their meetings in a small log school-house, and strictly forbade their children going to the Meth- odist meetings. Brother Exum did not, therefore, hear a Methodist preacher till he was fifteen years old. When on a visit to his uncle's, Rev. brother Stewart held a two days' meeting, assisted by brother Hearn. Exum Evans heard Stewart here, who, as he describes, preached with such power and assur- ance that his message seemed to come from God. Such preaching he had never heard before. When brother Hearn, whose appearance was not so pre- possessing as some, arose to follow Stewart, Exum was afraid he would spoil all that had been said; but to his astonishment the stream of eloquence deepened and widened, till it became overwhelming and irresistible, and great power of the Spirit at- tended the Word.
The meeting, says Exum, greatly prepossessed us in favor of Methodism. It took place at the log- cabin of brother Isaac Snipes, who was the leader of the first class ever formed in that section. It consisted of brother J. Snipes and Nancy his wife, Archibald Comstock and Charity his wife, and Sally Millard and Elizabeth Park. It was held about three miles south of York.
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Some fifteen years after this, Rev. Wm. Crissey came upon this circuit, and held a protracted meet- ing in a school-house in the same neighborhood. It continued till there were about eighty converted, one-half of whom were Quakers, young and old. Brother Exum was among nine children who em- braced religion and joined our Church, as did also his brother before his death. Mr. Maffitt, in describing the Eastern preachers, spoke of their method as being as a general rule systematic and phlegmatic; but the Western preachers-their voice was like a mountain horn. Our camp meetings were peculiarly the school of this style, in which the appeals had all the freedom of the open air and the winds, and the di- rectness and speed of the lightning. I attended such a meeting at Mount Carmel in 1825, over which S. H. Thompson, presiding elder, presided. The converts in those days were born strong into the kingdom, and entered it shouting. Charles Slocomb, who la- bored in the Wabash region, was such a preacher as I have described-a local preacher, yet his ministra- tions invariably attended with great power.
At the above camp meeting a most hardened sin- ner was forced to cry for mercy, under one of his powerful discourses. He was portraying the misery of the damned, when this man, an old Revolutionary soldier who had been standing on the outskirts of the throng, came rushing toward the altar, crying at the top of his voice, "Quarter! quarter !" Fall- ing on his knees he exclaimed, "I am an old soldier;
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I fought through the Revolutionary war; I have heard the cannon roar in battle, and seen the blood pour forth in streams; but since God made me, I have never heard such cannonading as this. I yield! I yield !"
I add, as appropriate in this connection, brief rem- iniscences of early Methodism in Sangamon county. Sangamon, in the Pottawotamie language, means a plenty to eat; or, expressed in Scripture parlance, a land flowing with milk and honey. But, in fact, about all of Illinois is as good as Sangamon, and equally attractive. In June, 1822, a colony of six families moved into this county from Kentucky, and settled on Nigger Creek. They were Methodists, and brought with them tracts and Testaments. They at once formed a Sabbath school, M. Conover superintendent. It soon numbered thirty-five schol- ars and four teachers, mostly Presbyterians and Baptists-some beginning with the alphabet and learning to read the New Testament.
Sister Catherine C. Rucker, from whom I re- ceived this information, stated that one old Baptist was so afraid of Sabbath schools that, when solicited to send his children, he replied that he would as soon send them to a horse-race. But he was finally induced to send them; and he was so pleased with their progress that he gave liberally toward the purchase of more books. The first camp meeting in Sangamon county was held in the Fall of 1823, or 1824, at Rock Creek, Gorden Prairie. There were
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about nine tents, and a congregation of perhaps eight hundred on the Sabbath. James Simms con- ducted it. He was a powerful preacher. The meet- ing continued three or four days.
As soon as the State Government was established, emigration began to increase, and there continued to flow in a more wealthy and permanent population. The State purchased land and made better settle- ments, schools were established, and houses of wor- ship were erected in many colonies. The farmers raised a surplus of produce, mills were built, and considerable was exported; commerce began to assume a regularity which is necessary to its per- manence and success. The people were greatly in debt, however, and the dearth of currency retarded the prosperity of the new State in a great measure, yet not entirely. In April, 1829, Abner Eads, J. Hervey, and some others, left St. Clair county, and located in Peoria. This was the first settlement of this city by Americans.
A few years after our Indian agency was estab- lished here, Marquette, and Joliet, of Quebec, with others, in 1671, determined to explore the land to- ward the setting sun and the father of waters, the Mississippi. On the 13th of May, 1673, a little band of seven left with two bark canoes, in which they carried a scanty store of provision, bound they knew not where. After reaching Green Bay they entered Fox River, and in their ascent endured much hard labor and suffering. They reached the
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Kickapoos and Miamies' village, beyond which point no white man had ever traveled. The natives were astonished at their daring and enterprise, and on the 10th of June they left their village with two braves to guide and assist them through the Sac nation and the marshes of that region to a navigable point on Wisconsin River.
After praying fervently to the mother of Jesus for protection, they committed themselves to the vast flowing river, till upon the 17th of June they entered the Mississippi. Marquette says of this, " It is impossible to express the joy which I felt when I first found myself on the bosom of this mighty river. The abundance of birds and fishes and their tameness was astonishing to me. A large fish came near breaking our canoe in pieces." Their voyage was increased in pleasantness in their re- ception, by a tribe of Indians, the Illinois. After many complimentary speeches and presents, a great feast was given to the Europeans, consisting of honey, fish, and roast dog. After the feast they were paraded through the town with great cere- mony and speech-making, and escorted to their canoes by six hundred people.
The rolling tide soon bore them to the Pekitanoni, or Missouri; thence passing a dangerous rock in the river, came to the Ohio, a stream which makes but a small figure in Father Marquette's map. At the mouth of the Arkansas they were attacked by some warriors, and had nearly lost their lives; but
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Marquette resolutely presented the pipe of peace, and this softened the hearts of the old men. They were permitted to go on their journey. After some difficulty they reached the Illinois River, through which they sailed up to the lake. "No where on my journey," says Marquette, "did I see such grounds, meadows, and forests as on this river-the abund- ance of game, buffalo, deer, wild-cats, bustards, swans, ducks, and beavers."
In September the party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay, and reported their discoveries; an important one in that day, but of which we have no record save the brief narrative of M. Joliet. These were the first Europeans that passed through our State. La Salle was their successor.
The Roman Catholics were the first to plant the standard of the Cross in the Mississippi Valley. From Canada to New Orleans they labored to Christianize the savage and the scattered white population; but, after all, what has Jesuitism done to Christianize this great valley compared with the results of evangelical efforts? The State and river takes its name from a tribe of Indians called the Illinois. The word is a mixture of French and Indian.
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CHAPTER XVII.
IN 1828 Jesse Walker was superintendent of Fox River mission, John Dew presiding elder. In 1829 the name changed to Salem mission. Peter Cart- wright was then presiding elder, and Isaac Scarritt preacher in charge. Jesse Walker was sent to Des- plaines mission, and the same year he formed a class at Walker's Grove. This, I think, was the first class in the bounds of the Rock River Conference, but as soon as the mission was abandoned the class was given up. This same year Jesse Walker settled in Walker's Grove, now Plainfield. The names of the above class were as follows: Jesse Walker and Susannah his wife, James Walker and wife, brother Fisk and wife, Timothy B. Clark and wife, brother Weed and wife-about twelve in all.
This same year there was a class formed in Galena by John Dew; yet when I examine closely I have to decide in favor of Plainfield's being the first perma- nent class, In the year 1833 I succeeded Jesse Walker, commencing in the Fall of 1832. I took charge of Desplaines mission, Jesse Walker presiding elder. In the Winter of 1833 the first temperance meeting was held in this upper country. The speak- ers were Mr. Arnold, James Walker, and myself. We made considerable effort, which was productive
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of some good; yet we were partially shorn of our strength, there being a small store in the place, where, among other things, whisky was kept for sale, and as the firm, two of the leading men present, would not sign the pledge, it kept many others back. Yet those who did sign stood firm, and we have con- tinued to battle for the cause of temperance ever since.
We then raised, by the assistance of brother Ross, a permanent fund of $15,000, by means of which we drove the last doggery from Plainfield. These same efforts might be made in other places were they to continue unitedly and perseveringly. May the Lord pity the faint-hearted, and make them more than ever bold and able advocates of this great cause! This year was closed with some conversions; mem- bers returned, thirty-four.
In the Fall of 1833 I was returned to Desplaines mission. This was the year when the tide of specu- lation rolled in upon us of which I have before made mention. The year closed with a membership of fifty-seven, J. Sinclair presiding elder. In the Fall of 1834 David Blackwell was my successor-a fine young preacher and a good pastor. He was on the ground to receive all emigrants, who, by this time, were very numerous, both from the East and South. The year closed with a good camp meeting. The members returned numbered one hundred and sev- enteen, J. Sinclair presiding elder. He was returned in the Fall of 1835, with W. B. Mack presiding
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elder. He had a pleasant year, with some increase; members returned, one hundred and sixty.
. In the Fall of 1836 the name was changed to Joliet circuit, and I was appointed here, with M. Tur- ner for my colleague, W. B. Mack presiding elder. This year hard riding, much labor, and great suc- cess; members returned, two hundred and fifty-three, embracing Plainfield. In this year I got up a sub- scription to build a church in Plainfield. It was soon under way, and finished before the hard times set in, but it was a long time before we paid off its debt. The Baptists built one also, about the same time, and we soon had two churches to worship in, and a glorious revival was the result. In 1837, on my return to Joliet, I got up a subscription, and a church was commenced which William Crissey, my successor, finished the next year. He was a good preacher, a faithful pastor, and possessed a good business tact. He had a good revival, and a return of two hundred and thirty-seven members. The de- crease is accounted for by a division of the work.
Forked Creek circuit was formed in 1838. Wil- liam Crissey, A. Chenoweth, and myself as super- numerary, were the preachers. This year our labors were so successful that our members numbered one hundred and eighty-eight. In 1839 a new circuit was formed called Milford, Elihu Springer preacher in charge, and J. Sinclair presiding elder. This cir- cuit embraced all east of Fox River, with Oswaar and Plainfield. The same preachers and }
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elder were returned in 1840, and a gracious revival was experienced, especially in Plainfield. Such a time of confession and humiliation on the part of the members of all denominations had never been wit- nessed, and the result was the conversion of sinners and the building up of membership of all Churches. Dr. Comstock's labors were greatly blessed. He had but few equals in preaching, and the Word came with power and full of the Holy Ghost. This year he returned two hundred and four members.
In 1841 the Conference appointed Rufus Lum- mery and H. Hadley, with J. Sinclair presiding elder. This year Rufus Lummery became dissatis- fied with Methodist customs and left, taking as many with him as he could persuade to follow his example, and joined the Wesleyans. Members re- turned, two hundred and fifty. In 1842 Wesley Batchelor and R. R. Wood preachers, J. Sinclair presiding elder. A good year and labors blest; members returned, two hundred and sixty-four. In 1843 S. F. Denning, S. H. Stocking presiding elder; faithful in their labors; yet hard work and poor pay. Number returned, two hundred and sixty- four. In 1844 S. R. Beggs and John Hewter, Luke Hitchcock presiding elder. We had at Plainfield a good revival and a number added at other points, embracing Morris, Conger's, and Gleason's Ridge; number returned, three hundred and thirty-five. In 1845 Levi Jenks and James W. Burton, L. Hitch- cock presiding elder. The preachers were much
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