USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 35
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Viola became the head of the charge in 1892, at which time the parsonage was purchased. An addition was built to this in 1895. At the annual conference held in 1902, Viola was made a separate charge from New Windsor. In the summer of 1904 a new house of worship was erected, the same being dedicated August 14th of that year. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Matt S. Hughes, D. D., pastor of the Independence Avenue Methodist Church at Kansas City, Missouri. Other ministers who participated in the service were M. B. V. White, of New Boston; W. W. Carlton, Mason City, Iowa; J. Wellington Frizzelle, presiding elder; G. D. Hensel, of Preemption, and the pastor of the church, Rev. S. P. Archer. The church now has a membership of some two hundred, while the enrollment in the Sunday school is about two hundred and twenty-five.
Pastors who have served the congregation from the time of the organization are : 1857, Reverend Pitner ; 1858, James Sheldon ; 1859, U. J. Giddings ; 1860, D. A. Faulkenburg; 1861, J. N. Bartels; 1862, A. C. Frick ; 1863, Reverend Welsh; 1864, W. W. Browning; 1865-67, J. J. Fleharty ; 1867-68, G. W. Martin; 1868-69, P. S. Garretson; 1869-70, W. B. Caruthers; 1870-72, Theodore Hoagland; 1872-74, W. Leeber; 1874-75, U. Z. Gilmer; 1876-77, G. W. Miller; 1877-78,
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J. E. Taylor; 1879-80, J. W. McCord; 1880-81, J. D. Calhoun; 1882-84, G. B. Snedaker; 1884-85, W. G. Miller; 1885-86, D. A. Perrin; 1886-87, J. B. Dille; 1887-89, C. T. Cady; 1889-92, J. H. Scott; 1892-94, H. J. Boatman; 1894-85, M. B. V. White; 1895-98, R. T. Ballew; 1898-1901, G. D. Hensel; 1901-04, S. P. Archer.
The United Presbyterian Church at Viola was organized in 1855 by Rev. Mathew Bigger and at first was called the Twin Grove congregation. The first trustees were John Mitchell, W. P. Collins, S. E. Russell, J. B. Mitchell. The membership was twenty-eight. The first regular pastor was Rev. D. C. Cochran, in 1857. At one time the membership was 130; in 1882 it was 110. A Sabbath school was organized at an early date. The church building was erected in 1857 and was improved in 1876.
The Congregational Society was organized in 1857 by Rev. C. H. Eaton and the building was erected the same year. The first pastor was Mr. Eaton and the first trustees B. C. Perkins, Joseph Schofield, George Bolton, Thomas Merriman and John A. Hoffman. The society ran down in 1865-6 and became almost extinct.
The Presbyterian Society at Viola was organized April 22, 1872, in the former Congregational Church building. Many of the mem- bers of the old Congregational Church and of the Edwards River congregation joined the new church. The first pastor was Rev. E. Robb and the first elders were Russell Park and Hopkins Boone. They built a church in 1878 at a cost of $2,700.
In 1854 Bethel Free Presbyterian Church was organized about four miles west of Viola and at first had a membership of about twenty. The first pastor was Rev. J. R. Whittim, and the first trustees were John Carnahan, W. M. Carnahan and James McClure. Since the war it has been known as the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1858 in Richland Grove with a membership of about fifty. Rev. Jonas Swanson had charge of the congregation. The next year a church was built. In time this society became the largest in the county, having over five hundred communicants.
A Swedish Methodist Episcopal Society was organized in 1856 and at first there was a small membership, but later the membership was large and the congregation prosperous. Their church was built in 1860.
In 1871-2 an American Society of United Brethren was organized by Rev. Abner Norman. At first the membership was about thirty ; a church was erected in 1873.
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In 1914 there were in Sherrard, also, a United Brethren Church, a Swedish Lutheran Church, a Swedish Free Mission and a Free Methodist Church. All were new, active and prosperous, with large memberships. Several new church buildings have gone up there recently.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Swedona was organized by Rev. Asa McMurtry in 1837, and among the first members were Chauncey Stanard, Mrs. Stanard, William and Mrs. Lewis, Lucius Dimmock, Alvin and Mrs. Arrasmith, Thomas and Mrs. Chires, Thomas Chires, Jr., Ann and Sarah Chires, Mary Love, Stephen and Mrs. Smith, Thomas and Mrs. Brittingham, Mrs. William Smith, John Rhodenbaugh, Irvin and Mrs. Stone, four of the Stower family, Mr. Consider, Mrs. Barney, Sr., Joseph Crawford and a few others. The first services were held in residences and later in school- houses and finally in the church, which was built in 1848. This society continued in active service for many years, but does not exist at present.
Religious services were held in Rivoli Township at the cabin of James Bridger early in the forties by Rev. Samuel T. Burr of the Methodist Episcopal Church. About the same time the Hard Shell Baptists, represented by Elder Joseph Jones, held occasional services at the cabins of the settlers. No doubt other denominations were represented here at an early date.
The first religious class formed was that of the Wesleyan Metho- dists at Hopewell in the spring of 1848, probably by Rev. C. H. Drake. It was first a part of the Farmington circuit and later of the Abingdon circuit. Still later the Oxford circuit included this society. Among the early pastors were C. H. Drake, B. F. Haskins, R. F. Markham, and J. M. Snyder. In 1865 the society was placed in the Hopewell circuit. Among the early members were Govert S. Fle- harty, Margaret Fleharty, James Durston, Philadelphia Durston, Nelson and Rebecca Chidester, Anna Smith, Martha K. Bridger, W. D. Fleharty, Nancy Goodman, Mary T. Underwood, Harriet Woodhams, Martha Shaw, Maria Smith, Laird and Melinda Bean, Walter Goodrich, John Greenman, Catherine Braught, Erastus and Eliza Smith, Margaret J. Fleharty and Margaret E. Roberts. In 1870 their church near Hopewell was erected at a cost of $2,700; it was dedicated in September, 1871.
The United Brethren formed an organization at Oak Ridge in 1856 under the leadership of Rev. George Weaver. They met in the schoolhouse. Among the members were James Meadows, Henry Birdwell, John and Jane Meadows, John and Mary Shroyer, Asa
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and Atlanta Streeter, Samuel Young, Julia Stevens, Addison Buckley, Cynthia Birdwell and Rebecca Meadows.
A class of the Zion Methodists was formed in 1858. It was small, but they built a church on section 29, in 1870. Christian Harsh- barger was first class leader ; he continued to serve as such until 1879 when he was succeeded by J. A. Garret.
In 1865 the Church of Christ of Oak Ridge was organized, among the first members being James and Martha Marford, Rebecca Shoyer, Thomas and Matilda Hill, Louisa Braught, Edna Watson, Mary J. Bunyan, Martha J. Thompson, James and Mary A. Meadows, Mary A. Miller, Levi and Margaret J. Spencer and Mary Roosa. Thomas Hill was the first deacon, and James Meadows and James Marford the first elders. In 1873 this society went to New Windsor and was there reorganized by Rev. T. J. Burton. Soon afterward the society passed out of existence.
The First Congregational Church of New Windsor was organ- ized October 11, 1870, and among the first members were W. W. Allen, Sarah A. Allen, W. D. Fleharty, Mary C. Fleharty, Alice Barnes, Mary A. Mayo, Florence C. Barnes, Delia A. Hammond, and Charlotte Goold. Among the ministers who assisted at the time of organization were L. F. Waldo, W. J. Beecher, R. B. Guild, B. F. Haskins and A. R. Mitchell. W. W. Allen was first deacon and W. D. Fleharty, first treasurer. Rev. Cyrus H. Eaton was first pastor. In 1872 they built their church at a cost of $2,381. The society has been prosperous ever since, after many changes.
The United Presbyterian Church at New Windsor was organized in Henry County in August, 1866, and among the first members were Joseph M. and Nancy H. Christy, Thomas R., Catherine and Eliza- beth McMiller, Margaret A. Hogue, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Thomas H. and Sarah Brown, William H. and Margaret Kerr, Sarah Surpluss, Nancy Epperson, Thomas and Eliza M. Ramsey, John M. and Sarah A. Christy and Stephen and Isabella Woodburn. Their church was built in 1867. Soon afterward it passed out of existence.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church at New Windsor was organized May 24, 1869. Rev. Gustav Andreen was chairman of the meeting and J. A. Falk, secretary. Previous to this date and before the town was laid out services were held in the residence of Mr. Falk between Christmas and New Years. Rev. S. P. A. Lindahl made occasional visits after the society was organized. There were about thirty members at the start. The first deacons were Carl N. Johnson, C. Bjorkengren, Carl A. Falk and Carl Falk. The trustees Vol. 1-23
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were Carl A. Johnson, Piter Falk and John M. Blad. At the time of organization a subscription list was started to raise funds for a church building. All helped, the money was raised, the church was built and was dedicated on New Years day, 1869-70, although at that time the building was not quite finished. The cost was about forty-eight hundred dollars. A little later the Gregg house was bought and converted into a parsonage. In 1869 a parochial school was started with seventy-eight pupils; it has been maintained nearly all the time since. In 1905 a new parsonage was built at a cost of about three thousand dollars, largely through the efforts of the Ladies' Aid Society. The church has a cemetery of its own. The church society is now large and prosperous.
The Congregational Church Society was formed June 29, 1895, and was duly incorporated on July 4th. It was formally recognized by Congregational ministers on September 3d, of the same year. Work on their first church building was commenced in the spring of 1896, and the structure was almost completed when it was pros- trated by a severe storm on May 16th. It was rebuilt the following fall and was dedicated in the spring of 1897 by Rev. David E. Evans who was pastor at the date of organization. The officers were as follows: Deacons, Matthew Williams, Matthew Stanley and Henry Hughes; trustees, W. H. Williams, G. M. Jones, Seth Crossland, M. Pritchard and Dan Thomas; clerk, Seth Crasstard; treasurer, G. M. Jones. The members were Matthew Williams, Mrs. Matthew Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Stanley, Jane A. Stanley, Seth Crossland, W. H. Williams, Ruth Brown, Mrs. Dan Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Jones, Mrs. Pritchard, John L. Haddick, Albert Pasco, Cordelia Pasco, Shed Roberts, Mrs. Celia Spargo, David T. Jones, Elizabeth Jones, Hiram Jones, R. R. Lloyd, John Hughes, M. M. Stringer, Jessie Hughes, Mrs. Hughes, Deborah Hughes, Matilda Hughes. At present the church has sixty members.
In 1913 Windsor was put on the same circuit as Alpha, the par- sonage being at the latter place. The present membership is about fifty. Among the present officers are Mrs. A. C. Anderson, Edgar Pearson, Glen Anderson and Mrs. Minerva Rathbun.
The first Methodist Society at New Windsor was organized in 1868 by Rev. Peter S. Garretson. The first members were John Coleman, Elizabeth Coleman, Lovina Coleman, Samuel Coleman, Rev. John Abbott, Alice Abbott, W. A. Buckley and Mary Buckley. Rev. W. B. Crithers was first pastor. In 1869 a building that had been built for a school was purchased and converted into a church. Rev. T. Hoagland took charge of the class in 1870.
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In March, 1853, the first steps to organize the Presbyterian Church in Suez Township were taken at a meeting held in the school- house on section 29. At this meeting R. C. Mathews was chairman and J. D. Porter, secretary. A postponement was taken to the spring of 1854 when a church building was commenced and completed in the spring of 1855 at a cost of $2,100. The building committee were F. Postlewaite, S. R. Boggs and Thomas Likely. The society was duly organized in the spring of 1855. Forty names were enrolled. J. R. Boggs, R. W. Porter and S. R. Boggs were chosen elders and Thomas Likely, M. T. Postlewaite and T. S. Robb, trustees. In June, 1856, Rev. J. H. Nevius became the first pastor; he was suc- ceeded by George Norcross in 1863. The pastors later were Revs. J. H. Moore, E. B. Miner and I. T. Whitmore. In 1880 the name of the church was changed from North Henderson to Norwood. In 1882 the membership was 206. The new church was dedicated in February, 1903. R. E. Fleming was pastor. The society is prosperous.
In 1842 Rev. James G. Bruce organized the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church at the house of S. L. Brownlee, about one mile west of Norwood. The first members were James, Elizabeth and Nancy Imbrie, Robert and Mary Caldwell, John Humphreys and wife, S. L. and Sarah Brownlee, William and Mary J. Caldwell, John W. and Sarah A. Caldwell and Samuel and Margaret Graham. The first elders were James Imbrie and Robert Caldwell. Rev. R. W. French became pastor in 1844; he was a young man and was ordained at this time by James and William Bruce. In 1846 their church was erected southwest of Norwood. This congregation was called North Henderson; about 1847 it was united with the South Creek and Bethel congregations and Rev. Nathaniel McDowel was chosen pastor. In 1866 Rev. J. A. Edie took charge of the con- gregation.
On May 12, 1856, Rev. M. M. Bigger organized the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of North Henderson with an initial membership of twenty-one. The meeting was held at Spring Grove and at once the Spring Grove congregation and the newly formed North Henderson congregation extended a joint call for Rev. J. C. McKnight. On June 14, 1858, the Associate and the Associate Re- formed congregations united and became known as the United Presbyterian Church. In 1859 their large church building west of Norwood was built at a cost of about five thousand dollars. Rev. J. A. Edie was pastor during the Civil war and the church as a whole did much to encourage enlistments. Mr. Edie served the congrega-
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tion from 1858 to 1869, during which time 338 persons were added to the membership. He was succeeded by Rev. J. M. French. In 1876 Rev. J. T. McCrory took charge of the congregation. Rev. J. A. Spalding became pastor in 1881. From the start a Sunday school has been conducted. David Molar donated the land where the church stands. Thomas Likely donated the land a mile to the south- ward for the parsonage.
A United Brethren Church was organized in Suez Township in December, 1873, by Rev. P. R. Adams. Their church building was erected in 1875 on section 10. The first trustees were H. R. Peters, George W. Sedwick and John Mclaughlin. Rev. N. A. Walker dedicated the building.
In 1875 the Methodists erected a church house two miles west of Suez postoffice on section 8. The congregation was small and at first had no regular pastor.
The Suez Universalist Church was established about the year 1850. At that time William McGreenwood, Harrison Brown, Benja- min Brown, John Greenwood, Notley Scott and Jesse Scott and their wives and the younger members of their families, desiring to have Universalist preaching in Suez and North Henderson townships, formed an association and with the help of the Bartletts and others of Rio Township, Knox County asked Lombard College to supply them with a regular minister at least once a month, the meetings to be held at the White Lily and Mann schoolhouses. John Greenwood, who owned a fine natural grove, trimmed it up, placed seats and a platform therein and there summer meetings were held usually in the mornings and afternoons with a basket dinner. Large numbers of people, in fact the whole neighborhood, attended and much good to the morals of the community resulted. Rev. William Westfall and Rev. John Hughs were the first ministers and the latter, though a very old man, is still living at Table Grove, Illinois.
In 1855 a parish was organized with thirty-five members and this society conducted two services every two weeks and an active Sunday school was established with regular services.
In 1874 the United Brethren members built a church at Suez and the following year they sold a one-half interest in the structure to the Universalist organization of which John Greenwood was ·made president and James W. Page, clerk.
In 1884, under the pastorate of Rev. George Crum, now of Stockton, Illinois, a new organization was effected with a moderator, board of trustees, secretary and treasurer. Dan W. Sedwick was elected moderator and has held the office ever since-a period of
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thirty years. Under this organization James W. Page was elected secretary ; Thomas G. Brown, treasurer; Lorimer Johnston, John Greenwood and Harrison Brown trustees. Later, upon the death of Mr. Page, Thomas J. Greenwood was chosen secretary.
In 1896 under the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Fisher, now state super- intendent of the Universalist churches of Kentucky, a new church was organized within the parish and the following officers were chosen : Moderator, Dan W. Sedwick; secretary, Edwin E. Sed- wick ; treasurer, Thomas G. Brown; trustees, John Greenwood, Scott Palmer and W. T. Palmer.
About this time the Meekers became interested and although they lived at a considerable distance became regular attendants and many of them became members. New members were taken in from time to time as the years passed, so that the membership of the church remained about the same. The last member received was William D. Cameron. During Reverend Fisher's pastorate more members were taken in than at any other period, among them being Mrs. Wil- liam Meeker, Miss Fannie Sedwick, Edwin E. Sedwick and family, Grant Palmer and family and many others. Among prominent ministers of the faith who occupied the pulpit regularly at stated periods were Rev. E. L. Conger, brother of Hon. Edward Conger, formerly minister to China; Rev. Charles E. Garst, afterward minister to Scotland; Doctor Nash, Doctor Fisher, Doctor White, president of Lombard College; Rev. J. W. Grinner, Rev. George Longbrake, Rev. W. O. Bodell, Rev. George Cramer, Rev. Olaf Tanberg, Rev. Miss Graham, Rev. Mrs. V -; Rev. Wellington Holmes, now pastor at LeRoy, Illinois. During the entire period of its existence the church has been practically free from debt. When the half interest in the building was purchased a debt of $100 was incurred, but was paid at the end of a year. The many who have worshipped within its walls have possessed the blessed faith of brotherly love and universal salvation which are the foundation stones of this church.
The Presbyterians at Burgess organized a class in 1912, and built a fine church the next year at a cost of $5,000. Other religious societies have sprung up there within a year or two.
The Henderson Predestinarian Baptist Church was constituted August 14, 1830, on Spoon River, and a branch was established in North Henderson Township early in the '40s. A Methodist class was established here about 1840 by Rev. Asa McMurtry. The Bruners, Holmes, Vestals and Woods were early members. The United Brethren Society was organized in 1869 and the same year
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they built a church in Section 36, which is called Maple Grove Church. A small class of Methodists was formed in the Mann schoolhouse. The Methodist church building was built at Mount Vernon south of North Henderson at an early day, but was finally moved into the village.
CHAPTER XVI OLD SETTLERS ORGANIZATIONS
Many old settlers of the county assembled at Aledo on March 28, 1867, for the purpose of taking preliminary steps for the formation of an old settlers' society. At this meeting John McKee served as chairman and Elisha Miles secretary. After appointing the neces- sary committees an adjournment was taken to the 6th of July, on which occasion Col. W. I. Nevius served as chairman and H. S. Senter as secretary. Addresses were delivered by Elisha Miles, Ephraim Gilmore and Hopkins Boone. It was agreed that a resi- dence of twenty years in the county should entitle a settler to the right of becoming a member. H. S. Senter, W. I. Nevius and Elisha Miles were appointed a committee to draft by-laws for the society. A committee of two from each township was then appointed to make out a list of all persons residing in their respective town- ships previous to the summer of 1847 and report at the next meeting. At the meeting of August 3d the by-laws submitted by the committee were acted on in detail and adopted. The committee to report the names of old settlers was given more time and an adjournment was taken to October. Apparently the committee did not respond, be- cause no further account of their proceedings can be found. In March, 1869, when the railroad was completed to Aledo the old settlers made an excursion to Galva to celebrate the event.
The society seems to have died early in the '70s, or at least seems to have become inactive, because nothing further is heard of them until 1884 when they were called to meet at the office of J. C. Pepper for the purposes of reorganization. L. H. Scudder served as chair- man and H. G. Calhoun, secretary. It was provided that all persons who had lived in the county twenty-five years should be entitled to membership. A constitution and by-laws was adopted at this time and the following permanent officers were elected : President, L. H. Scudder; vice presidents, W. M. Carnahan, D. J. Noble, R. J. Ca- been, A. J. Streeter and T. B. Cabeen; secretary, H. G. Calhoun ; treasurer, D. M. Candor. At this meeting over fifty dollars was received in membership fees at $1 each. After this date the society remained in action for a few years and then again became defunct.
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In recent years it has been revived for short periods from time to time.
The society held meetings at New Boston, Joy, Aledo. Viola, New Windsor and Millersburg and they were generally largely at- tended. The meeting at New Boston was large and well attended and the citizens there arranged and entertained the people royally by providing coffee and such things for them. There were two or three meetings of the society in Aledo and they were held in the grove in North Park. Among the speakers at different times were A. P. Petrie, Graham Lee, Hiram W. Thornton, Guy C. Scott, I. N. Bassett and others. At the meeting at Viola R. H. Spicer, Josiah Whitham and others were the speakers. At this meeting William Terry brought part of a suit of clothes he had worn in the very early settlement of the county. At New Windsor Joseph Mc- Coy, E. L. Larkin, John Geiger and others were the speakers. For the last two or three years of the society's existence, I. N. Bassett was president and E. L. Wolff was secretary. The interest in the meetings seemed to grow less and finally they were suspended alto- gether. The records of these meetings cannot be found. Mr. Wolff, who was the last secretary, being dead now, his family cannot find the records.
CHAPTER XVII
MERCER COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
At a massmeeting of the members of the medical profession held at New Boston on March 5, 1861, as per mutual and previous en- gagement, Dr. T. Willits was called to the chair and Dr. J. P. Boyd was appointed secretary. The meeting then resolved itself into an informal committee of the whole, and after due and deliberate con- sideration, made the following report:
"Whereas, The interests of the community and physicians both seem to demand that a more definite understanding should exist as to the amount of fees and proper periods of settlement, and
"Whereas, Frequent adjustments of all credit operations avoid many embarrassments that attend the settlement of old bills, there- fore,
"Resolved, That all above names appearing below deem it respect- ful to their patrons and just to themselves that the sum of each bill be made out and handed over or left at the nearest postoffice twice each year, say, Ist of January and July, and that this be considered notice that payment or settlement is expected, and further that if neglected 10 per cent will be charged until paid.
"Resolved, That the following fee-bill be adopted as the basis on which all charges for professional services will rest: Prescrip- tions in office, $1; visit in town, $1; dressing wounds, $1 to $10; reducing luxations and fractures, $5 to $10; simple accouchement, $5; instrumental accouchement, $10; protracted accouchement, extra per diem, $5; capital operations in surgery, $25 to $50; minor sur- gical operations, $1 to $10; consultations, $5; mileage on the above rates, 50 cents; at night, 50 per cent extra. (Signed) Joseph W. Gaston, T. S. Stanway, Samuel Kelley, W. D. Craig, J. A. Ander- son, C. Kellermann, J. A. Maury, J. V. Frazier and G. Irvin."
At this meeting a committee of three was appointed to effect a permanent organization of the medical fraternity ; they were Maury, Frazier and Stanway. An adjournment was taken to June 15th at Aledo, when and where all members of the fraternity in the county were invited.
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