USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 23
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sawed walnut siding by hand from the trees of the grove and hewed the dimen- sion timbers and erected the building by volunteer labor.
These were days of devoted self-denial on the part of both ministers and people. The Princeville pulpit was occupied in the early days by Rev. C. W. Babbit, George D. Sill, Robert Breese, and Robert Campbell, all able, consecrated men, and they have had their successors of like attainments and consecration, who have proved themselves by their service to Christ and the church. To this church such men as Dr. Robert Henry. George Rowcliff, Lemuel Auten, B. H. Weir have devoted themselves in the ruling eldership, serving in an unstinted and loyal way the church of their love. This church celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary, and the historical sermon preached by the present pastor, the Rev. Max B. Wiles, is replete with interesting reminiscences and may be found in the "Princeville Telephone" of August 19, 1909.
The first Protestant church founded in Peoria was what is now known as the First Presbyterian church. It owed its existence largely to the devotion and determination of one Samuel Lowry, who was its earliest ruling elder, with con- siderable emphasis on the adjective. But neither his rugged faith nor unflinching adherence to what he saw fit to call "principle" are to be spoken of lightly. That he was intensely human, an active member of the church militant, there is no doubt, and from his appearance as shown in a daguerreotype one might conclude that had he lived a little earlier, he would not have been an unequal antagonist of the rather famous, or infamous, Claverhouse, but making due allowance for his fighting spirit, when it is known that it was his privilege to have been born on Londonderry battlefield, much might be said to his credit. Mr. Lowry, co- operating with the Rev. John Birch, gathered in Peoria a congregation and on the 22d of December, 1834, the First church was organized by Mr. Birch, as "The Ohio Missionary." in Mr. Lowry's home, and it was in all probability the last church organized by this devoted and heroic soldier of the Cross, for he perished on Delavan prairie the night of the awful Friday, December 16, 1836, when the temperature fell rapidly without warning and he was overtaken by the storm while making his way on horseback to his appointment in Peoria, and was found next day frozen to death.
Succeeding him, came the Rev. Isaac Kellar from Hagerstown, Maryland. who served and brought faithfully in this church-encountered the opposition of the world-the flesh, and Elder Lowry. But all the mistakes made that became steps leading up or down to unhappy contentions over church property-litigation in the church courts-could not have been all on one side, and it is quite possible that Samuel Lowry was about half right and half wrong, the other contending parties dividing the burden with him in about the same proportion. However, time, changing circumstances, and the coming of new people affected changes in the church life, and out of controversey and division, and by the dissolution of a sporadic organization, the First church persisting came to inherit "all the rights and privileges to the title appertaining." and is therefore the "First Church in Peoria" with its Presbyterian complexion, historically and continuously since 1834 to the present.
The Rev. Isaac Kellar was first in the succession of such able, scholarly and worthy pastors as Addison Coffey, Robert Johnston, Jonathan Edwards-all of whom "wrought nobly in the work of the Master," and have been called to meet their reward. Surviving in this succession are John H. Morron, Jesse C. Bruce, Newell D. Hillis, Thomas A. McCurdy, Chauncey T. Edwards and Hugh Jack, each of whom has contributed his particular part in building this Zion, having had the earnest cooperation of the people of the First church, who have always had "a mind to work," and from their ranks have furnished such able men and women as Christian workers as the Weises, the Griswolds, McCoys, Powells. Reynolds, Schneblys, Batchelders, Johnstons, Louckes, McIlvaines, McKin- neys, Fishers, and others whose names are in the Book of Life.
The First church has been the mother of churches. Through her activity
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from her membership the Second, Calvary, Grace, Arcadia and Westminster churches of Peoria and the Pottstown church were formed, each in succession being developed from a mission Sabbath school established and conducted by active and devoted men and women from the First church. This church has given to the Presbyterian ministry eight of her sons, namely : John V. C. Nellis, James M. Batchelder, Wellington E. Loucks, Charles M. and Herbert H. Fisher. Charles E. and Chauncey T. Edwards and A. W. McCurdy, who all have done, and the surviving members of this band are still doing faithful and fruitful work for and in the church in which they were reared and to which they have devoted their lives.
Places of worship occupied by this church were first, the county court house, a small and insignificant building: then the First church building in Peoria county at the corner of Adams and Jackson streets; then a frame building on Fulton street, between Adams and Jefferson; the brick building now standing at the corner of Main and Madison; and the present commodious structure on Hamilton boulevard and Crescent avenue.
This church celebrated its seventy-fifth or "Diamond Anniversary," December. 1909, with attractive, appropriate and impressive services, participated in or con- tributed to by all the former living pastors, and with greetings from the children of the church unable to be present, a full account of which may be found in a booklet called the "Diamond Anniversary" of the First Presbyterian church. Peoria, Illinois, and which may be consulted at the Peoria library.
It appears that from 1849 to 1854 a number of churches were formed in the county, namely: La Marsh, Rochester, Orange Prairie, West Jersey, etc .. all of which served a good purpose, flourished for a time and because of the incoming of the railroads and the shifting of the population to the new towns erected on these highways, were abandoned and became physically and legally extinct.
An early church was that of Brunswick, organized by the Classis of the Reformed Dutch church, September 19, 1840, and was then known as the Protestant Dutch church of Copperas. After the establishment of the Bruns- wick postoffice, the name of the church was changed to Brunswick and in 1844 the church was admitted to Presbytery, and is still connected therewith and maintains stated services and a Sabbath school.
The location is beautiful for situation, commanding a view of some of the best farms in Peoria county and magnificent scenery for miles around in either direction. Among the early workers and later laborers in this old church are to be found the names of the Ramseys, Wellses, Fahnestock, Erford, Love, Graham, Wilson and Eslinger, and it has had as its ministers the Revs. Sill, Fraser, Marquis, McFarland, Ferguson, Johnston, Scott, McMillan, Keiry, Mul- len and Smith.
The influence of the church on the community life was for years very marked and its fragrance lingers still. On the east slope between the highway and the church lies one of the most-cared-for country cemeteries and in it sleeps the dust of former pastors of the church and members of the Brunswick flock. Once a year the Cemetery Association of Brunswick holds a reunion, at which the ancient traditions are discussed and the holy memories of the things done by the fathers and mothers are revived and the fund replenished, and serv- ice of grateful love goes on in care bestowed on the grounds that enclose those beds of green, beneath which rest the mortal part of those who "served till set of sun" and entered into the "rest that remaineth."
After Brunswick comes the Salem church, organized in 1849 by Revs. S. C. McCune and William McCandlish, William Stewart and James H. Patterson, were its first elders, and their successors have been such men as John L. Clark, R. W. Francis. C. H. Northrup. This church has been ministered to by the Revs. McFarland, Hanna, Cameron, Marquis, Johnston, Scott, McMillan, Flem- ming. Keiry, Mullen and Smith. In the removal of the church to Hanna City,
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and the building of a new and attractive house of worship, steps were taken to change the name to the Hanna City church, by which name with Presbyterial and legal sanction that church has become the successor of all the historical and ecclesiastical rights and prerogatives of the old Salem church.
Since its removal to Hanna City the church has taken on new life and activity and gives good promise of ministering successfully to the spiritual and social needs of its community.
The Prospect church was organized by the Revs, Addison, Coffee and R. F. Breese in 1850, its first ruling elder being Joseph Yates. "The Prospectors' who knew the meaning of the family altar and the worth of worship came from West Virginia, near Wheeling, and were of that thrifty sort who made farming a business and a success, and they built their first "church house" on a hill in the year 1854, near what is now Prospect cemetery on "a parcel of ground" belonging to Adam Yates. In that building they worshipped until the church was removed to Dunlap, one mile east, after the completion of the Peoria and Rock Island railroad, where they dedicated the present building in 1877.
Prospect church has been served by the following ministers in succession, viz .: Revs. Hervey, Turbit, F. F. Smith, Cairns, Simpson, Gardiner, Winn, Cooke, Nevius, H. Smith, Townsend, Randall, Thomas, Jones, Campbell, and the present, the Benjamin of the band, L. H. McCormick.
Serving as ruling elders we have such names as Yates, White, Dunlap, Hervey, Jones, Berry, Hitchcock, Harker, Gray, and of noble women not a few, Kelly, Parks, Dunlap, and such church workers as the Keadys, Parks and others. Prospect gave also of her sons to the Presbyterian ministry-George Dunlap, Thomas C. Winn, William Jones and Frank F. Brown.
Prospect celebrated its Jubilee in 1900 with fitting services, and a souvenir of the occasion may be found in the homes of many of the older members.
FRENCHI GROVE CHURCH
French Grove church was organized in October, 1851, by the minister who performed the same services for Prospect. Its early ruling elders were William Reed, and George S. Pursell, and after them came the Alwards, McDonald, Warner, Moore, Coe, Todd, Slocum, MeRill, McCune and the Reeds, either as elders or as church workers-devoted, self-sacrificing and efficient.
The ministers serving the French church were the Revs. McFarland, Fraser, Smith, Carruthers, Boyd, Hillman, McClelland, Butter, Jones, Sturm, McCluer and others. The days of its early history were days of prosperity and for years it gave out an increasing and helpful influence to its community that made for its moral and spiritual betterment, but removals westward and heavenward. coupled with the changing racial and religious character of the population have depleted this old church, which still stands a silent reminder of the better things, while near by in the beautiful little cemetery, so well kept and cared for, repose the mortal remains of former ministers, elders and members of the French Grove church.
Among the churches planted in the county, flourishing for a time but now extinct, are New Scotland, Brimfield, Valley Ridge, and Elba Center, which were in their time once the soul and life of their communities.
SECOND CHURCH, PEORIA
Upon the petition of parties for the most part connected with the First church, and evidently with the concurrence of the pastor and session of that church, the Presbytery organized the Second church of Peoria, December 7, 1853, with a membership of twenty-eight, and John L. Griswold and John C. Grier were elected elders. The Rev. Robert P. Farris was their first minister. Contrary to the usual order here, the Second church was first and the Sabbath
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second, in point of organization. The first house of worship erected by this congregation was built on the present site, corner of Madison and Jackson streets and dedicated in 1855, and here Mr. Farris was installed. He continued to serve the Second church until failing health compelled him to relinquish the charge in 1858 and the remainder of the life of this devoted servant of Christ and the church, was spent in educational and editorial work, largely in connection with the publications of the Presbyterian church in the United States (Southern Presbyterian), of which body he was from its beginning till his death, the per- manent clerk of its general assembly and once or twice its moderator.
The Rev. Samuel Hibben came next, succeeding Dr. Farris in 1859 and was installed pastor December 4th, the sermon on that occasion being preached by that stalwart and versatile scholar and eloquent biblical preacher, the famous Nathan L. Rice, then professor of theology in the Seminary of the Northwest (now McCormick ). Under his leadership the church prospered, for Mr. Hibben was an exceptional man and minister, scholarly and saintly, modest and frank, gentle and faithful. Here he married Miss Elizabeth Grier, the daughter of that worthy elder, John C. Grier, a man thrice honored by the Presbytery of Peoria with a commission to the general assembly. To this worthy couple was born a son, John Grier Hibben, president of Princeton University. Declining health led Mr. Hibben to resign his charge and in the hope of recruiting it by outdoor life, he accepted the chaplaincy of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, but he continued to decline and returned to Peoria, where he died in 1862. His successor was the Rev. W. E. McLaren, afterwards bishop of the Episcopal church, who was in- stalled pastor May 8, 1864, and remained in this pastorate upwards of two years.
The Rev. Henry Van Dyke Nevius, succeeded Bishop McLaren, in 1867, and served this charge until 1872. He was a preacher of power and a man of God. Of him one has written, "Few men were better equipped mentally for their work and hence he was a workman that needed not to be ashamed; few men lived more in sympathy with God's word and Son-hence his spiritual power." After him the Rev. William L. Green came to this pastorate and remained until 1875. Mr. Green, like his predecessors, was a well furnished man, of strong mental calibre, clear in his conceptions of related truth, versatile and virile in his statement of it.
He was followed by the Rev. Lewis O. Thompson, who was pastor from 1876 to 1882. Mr. Thompson was an able man, a painstaking scholar-a his- torian of no mean ability, who did the church great and good service in many ways through his books, "Nineteen Christian Centuries," "The Prayer Meeting," etc. He met a tragic death by drowning at Henry, where he was pastor of the First Presbyterian church.
The Rev. Thomas X. Orr came to this pastorate and served for ten years, when impaired health led him to seek rest for a season. During his administra- tion the present unique, churchly and commodious house of worship was erected. Since his retirement from the pastorate of the Second church, Dr. Orr has resided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his services are continually called for, he being always an acceptable preacher, a genuine man, genial, kindly, oblig- ing, "a man greatly beloved."
Dr. Orr was succeeded for a brief time by the Rev. Samuel M. Moore, a large man in many ways and whose pastorate, though brief, was not unmarked with interest.
The present pastor the Rev. Arthur MI. Little, Ph. D. D. D., came on in the apostolic succession, being installed in May, 1900, and after twelve years of service continues to hold the affection of his people of the Second church and is named among the progressive men of the city.
This church has been served through the over half century of its life by such able men and church workers as the Griers, the McCoys, the Ruggs, the Clarkes, the McCullochs, the Rices, and by noble women, not a few, whose names are set down in the "Impartial Record," kept at present from mortal eyes.
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This church celebrated with appropriate services its semi-centennial in 1903. The "Semi-Centennial" of the Second church of Peoria, a pamphlet attractively arranged, contains matter of special interest to all connected with this congrega- tion and to any others who would know just in what manner the Second church has been used of God, for the good of men, and it may be found in the homes of the members of the Second church and should be also found in our city library.
ELMWOOD CHURCHI
The Elmwood church was organized June 5. 1856, with fourteen members. John Rodgers served as its first elder. Its first church building was purchased from the Congregational church and removed from its then country site to the town of Elmwood. During the ministry of the Rev: William H. Mason the present building was erected at a cost of something over $6,000, and in architec- tural effect and adaptability for its purposes it is a model.
Among the men who have served in the eldership of this church we find the names of J. B. Stewart, N. B. Love, S. M. Coe, Castor Patterson, and after them the present efficient elders. The ministers serving Elmwood church have been J. A. Marquis, J. 11. Smith, J. R. Reasoner, Wilson, Duncan, and the present scholarly and able pastor, the Rev. Benjamin Y. George. Messrs. Reasoner, Mason and George cach served the church for a period of upwards of ten years. The present incumbent has served faithfully and acceptably since 1895 in this pastorate.
LIMESTONE CHURCHI
The Limestone church was founded in 1859 with fifteen members, with John Cameron and William Jones as ruling elders. It has had as its ministers such men as Dr. T. G. Scott and John Fleming, and is at present served by one of the younger men of the Presbytery, the Rev. II. L. Todd. Names appearing among its ruling elders are C. Greenwood, William Cameron and William Taylor. This church has stood as a beacon on a hill, a perpetual invitation to worship the Lord God Almighty. and a constant reminder that "It is not the whole of Life to live, nor all of Death to die."
CALVARY CHURCH
Calvary church was organized in 1867 and had as its first minister the Rev. John Weston, D. D., who after years of service was called to other fields, and again recalled to the pastorate at Calvary church. Its successful pastor, whole- souled, kind-hearted and helpful preacher, the flexible, sympathetic and generous friend of every member of the flock, passed from the scene of labor to his eternal reward while still pastor of Calvary church. Dr. Weston has had follow him in this pastorate such men as Dr. A. Z. McGogney, Andrew Christy Brown, D. D., and after the latter's death, for a time, Dr. A. I. Howard. The churchi is now ministered to by the resourceful, active and modest Alexander Lewis.
Its eldership has been adorned by such men as that efficient Sabbath school worker, William R. Reynolds, William Schroeder, William Guyer. A. Water- house. T. J. Love, Peter Hulsibus, James McGill, and the younger men who now constitute the present efficient session.
GRACE CHURCH
Grace church was organized in 1868, with George H. Mellvaine and Theodore Higbie ruling elders. Among the devoted workers in this church from the be- ginning of the enterprise we find the names of Bush, Lyons, Linsey, Baldwin, Coe, Voorhees. Angier, Andrews, Isele, and Eakin.
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Grace church has had among its ministers Levi C. Littell, Dr. Farris, A. F. Erwin, and the sainted James Alvin Sankey, whose successor, Rev. Walter MI. Elliott, gives promise of doing a great and good work in its congregation and the city of Peoria.
BETHEL
This church was organized September 29, 1887, by a committee of Presby- tery, composed of Revs. I. A. Cornelison, Rev. A. F. Irwin and Elder David Mckinney. The organization started with fifty-nine members and elected Henry Marmine and Ireneus E. White, elders. Mr. White has remained in continuous service ever since and has rendered the church devoted and self-sacrificing serv- ice in almost every capacity, in which one might serve his church. The church has been ministered to by the Revs. Andrew Christy Brown, D. D., C. W. Whorrall, George A. Phlug. W. W. Tait, D. W. McMillan, W. E. Edmonds, but is at present without a pastor. The church has always maintained an interesting and growing Sabbath school and has been of great help to many in its vicinity. Being situated in a growing part of the city, it has a mission to perform in that neighborhood, ministering moral and spiritual help and comfort to the coming generation.
ARCADIA AVENUE CHURCHI
The Arcadia Avenue church was organized October 6. 1896, with twenty- three members, with Isaac Kellar and Robert E. Lauren, elders.
This church grew out of a flourishing mission Sabbath school instituted and conducted largely by members of the First church, and in 1897 called as its pastor, the Rev. James Benson, who has continued to serve the church with signal ability and devotion. The harmony of mind and action in this congrega- tion is witnessed by the beautiful and serviceable building at the corner of Ar- cadia and Bigelow, by the flourishing condition of both Sabbath school and church and last but by no means least, the growing liberality of the members shown in the increased offerings to the boards of the church and in general benevolence. Situated as it is, in a beautiful and growing residential district of the city and meeting as it does the religious needs of its vicinity, Arcadia church may be expected to grow in influence as well as in numbers and continue to be an important factor in the moral and social life of the city.
WESTMINSTER CHURCH
Out of Westminster chapel and the Sabbath school meeting there grew West- minster church. It was organized by the Presbytery June 1, 1897, with twenty- four members, who elected Messrs. P. W. Petrie, Theodore Higbie and C. R. Kuhn, elders. The Rev. William Parsons, the first pastor, has been followed by Revs. J. B. Farrell, Theodore H. Allen, D. D., and the present minister the Rev. Clinton J. Greene, a young man, who enters upon the work in Westminster under circumstances that augur success. While still in the active service of this church, Dr. Allen was suddenly called to higher service in the Church Trium- phant, leaving behind a precious legacy to his children, in a life of devoted service, even that of "a good minister of Jesus Christ." With a splendidly equipped and beautiful house of worship, situated on the West Bluff on Moss avenue, with a growing Sabbath school and a devoted membership, Westminster should "make good" to its constituency and do excellent work for God and men.
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TWO FEATURES OF THE GENERAL WORK OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ACCREDITED TO THE CHURCH IN PEORIA COUNTY
The first of these was the meeting of the general assembly in the First church Peoria, in 1863, amid the stirring and critical scenes of the civil strife. This meeting was presided over by that justly celebrated, scholarly and devoted pioneer missionary to India, John Hunter Morrison, D. D., of the Presbytery of Lodiana. The assembly listened to stirring debate and united in earnest prayer over the questions that were uppermost in both the civil and religious life of the country and besought the God of our fathers for his special favor in those trying times and that he would most graciously bring an early end to the awful strife and send peace and prosperity throughout all our borders. In many respects this was a most remarkable assembly and a recital of some of its deliberations and conclusions might properly be made here did space admit or judicious selection of matter out of such a mass of good things were an easy task.
The second, that of administration, which after an overture sent up to the general assembly from the Presbytery of Peoria, relative to the erection of the standing committees of the general assembly, was adopted and known as "The Peoria Plan."
THE PEORIA PLAN
To that worthy Presbyterian elder. James Montgomery Rice, whose connec- tion as editor-in-chief of this history of the county of Peoria, and whose sudden departure for "Home" has left this part of it to less capable hands to finish that task, together with the justly esteemed Isaac A. Cornelison, D. D., pertains the honor of the conceiving and inaugurating the above named plan. It may be said that the plan was made necessary because of the large number and import- ance of the standing committees of the general assembly, which the new moder- ator was called upon to appoint immediately after taking the chair, and being neither ubiquitous nor infallible, could not by any possibility have personal ac- quaintance with or knowledge of the fitness of all commissioners for the tasks to be assigned them; and besides, it was thought the principle of representation began to be threatened because too much power was found reposing in the hands of one or two officers of the general assembly.
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