USA > Illinois > Coles County > The History of Coles County, Illinois map of Coles County; history of Illinois history of Northwest Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c., &c > Part 36
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The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in the summer of 1857. In the spring of that year. Rev. Joel Knight, a minister in this denomination, began preaching in Mattoon, one Sabbath in each month, in the Baptist Church. On the 23d of August, twenty-seven persons, professing adherence to the doctrines of this Church, met and organized themselves into a congregation, and signed articles of confederation. The following is the original roll of membership :
Alexander Montgomery, H. Clay Warthon, James S. Cunningham, Edw. W. Cartmell, Sarah A. Mount, M. Craig, R. D. Montgomery,* J. W. Rankin, Washington Engle, Mrs. Lucinda Montgomery, Mrs. Sarah Montgomery, Mrs. Eliza Craig. Edw. Hall, W. H. K. Pile,* Mrs. N. I. Pile,* Mrs. Scintha Mount, John J. Walkup. Mrs. Margaret A. Montgomery, Mrs. Mary E. Mont- gomery, Jefferson M. Hall,* Mrs. Amanda J. HIall,* James Kelley,* Mrs. Mercy Kelley, Rev. Peter Duncan, Mrs. Manning Duncan and Mrs. Nancy E. Morrison. Of these, but six are now connected with the congregation. Thirteen have removed, and eight have died.
On the 27th, the congregation met and elected Alexander Montgomery, H .. Clay Warthon and Edw. Hall, Elders, and W. H. K. Pile, Clerk.
* Still a member.
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
At the fall session of this Presbytery, the congregation was taken under its care, and Rev. Joel Knight employed to preach one-fourth of his time, and, for two years, services were held, most of the time, in Cartmell Hall.
On February 27. 1858, James T. Cunningham, H. Clay Warthon and W. H. K. Pile, were chosen Trustees, and during the following spring, Rev. George O. Bannon, from Kentucky, preached for the congregation. Rev. Peter Duncan was also employed, and while here, in 1860, his death occurred.
On November 1, 1859, Rev. J. W. Wood began his work in this church, preaching each alternate Sabbath. He remained one year, and was succeeded by Rev. James Ashmore, who filled the pulpit until the fall of 1861.
In the spring of that year, preparations were made to build a house of worship, and in June. the corner-stone was laid. The address on this occasion was delivered by Rev. J. W. Wood, assisted in the ceremony by the two minis- ters who had succeeded him here. The church was not completed, owing to the breaking-out of the war, and other matters, until 1865. It was dedicated in 1867, by J. B. Logan. D. D.
In the summer of 1862. Rev. S. R. Roseboro was called, remaining eight months. The records of the congregation do not show any progress from this time until the close of the war (1865), nor the names of the ministers. In March of this latter year. Rev. Mr. Wood was again called, and remained until March. 1866. In June, 1857, Rev. T. K. Hodges began preaching, remain- ing one year. In December, 1868, Rev. W. S. Langdon came. On the 12th day of October, 1869. he died, in his room in the basement of the church. He was taken to St. Louis, Mo., for interment. Rev. E. J. Gillespie was called to the vacancy, and remained two years. He was followed by R. W. Hooker, who stayed nine months. In April, 1875, Rev. A. B. MeDaniel came. He remained one year. In June. 1876, Rev. R. J. Beard was called. He remained two vears and three months. In November, 1878, the present Pastor, Rev. E. M. Johnson, began his ministry.
From the time the congregation was organized until February 17, 1879, there have been 348 members received. Of these, 35 have died. 168 have been dismissed and gone, and 145 remain.
The church is a convenient brick structure, on East Broadway, and has been in continual use ever since its erection.
The Christian Church was organized in March, 1859, with seventeen mem- bers, of whom one only, Mr. Zack Robertson, is now connected here. The organi- zation was effected by Elder John Mathes, of Bedford, Ind. Services were held in halls and the members' houses. until 1860, when they erected their present church. The growth of the congregation continued uninterrupted until 1870, when between thirty and forty members. living principally on the West Side, withdrew from the church and established a congregation there. They erected a small frame church, and continued as a separate body until 1878, when they re-united with the old church. from which time there has been one organization.
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
The small house of worship on the West Side is now used as a mission chapel.
Since the establishment of the Christian Church in Mattoon, fully five hundred members have belonged to it. Many of them are now, however, removed to other places, some are dead, and some fallen away. There are now nearly two hundred members.
The principal Pastors have been Revs. Black, Frazier, Adams, Streater, Lucas, Stewart, Roberts and Mason. The present minister is Rev. E. J. Hart.
The German Evangelical Association was organized in 1868, with seven members, by Rev. Matthew Keiber. For the first three years, they met in a hall in the west part of town, and were supplied by ministers from other parts of the circuit. In 1870, they began the erection of their present house of worship, which was completed and occupied the next year. It is a small frame structure in the southwest part of Mattoon, convenient for the members.
The congregation has increased but little in its membership, the removals and deaths equalizing the accessions. They are yet unable to support a regu- lar ministry, and are supplied every other week by Rev. M. Kahl, the minister in charge of this circuit.
The Unitarian Church was organized December 22, 1867. After holding meeting in the members' houses and in halls, for a few years, the church dis- banded and services were discontinued. In 1872, another effort was made and a new organization effected, mainly through the efforts of Rev. J. L. Douthit, of Shelbyville, and a few of the old members who still adhered to the principles of this denomination. They began the erection of a very neat brick church on West- ern avenue, which structure they completed the next year. Their first regular minister was Rev. George A. Dennison, who came in the spring of 1873, and re- mained two years. Since his departure, they have been supplied occasionally only, and have not maintained regular services. They are at present without a pastor, but an effort is being made to revive the work here and build up the church.
The colored residents of Mattoon sustain two churches, the oldest of which is the Methodist. This was organized in the spring of 1866, with about a dozen members, by Rev. Smith Nichols, the present Pastor. That summer, a frame building was purchased, remodeled, and made into a comfortable church, and is vet used. The membership has more than doubled, and the prospects of this congregation are good. Rev. Nichols remained with the church from 1866 to 1868. He was succeeded by Revs. Alexander, Knight, De Pugh, Hand and J. T. Neace. He is now serving his second pastorate.
The Colored Baptist Church was organized in 1871 or 1872. It, not long after, obtained a small frame building, which it has since used as a church. It is in the western part of town, where most of the people dwell. Regular services are now held, both colored churches supporting good Sunday schools.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception-the Catholic-stands in the north- west part of Mattoon, and is the only one of that denomination in the. city. It
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
was organized soon after the building of the railroad began, and has since been sustained. The membership is quite large, as it includes all baptized persons in the Church, of whatever age. Following the policy of the Catholic Church at large, this congregation established a parochial school soon after it was organ- ized. Their present school-building, contiguous to the church, was erected in 1865. The school is under the charge of the Ursuline Sisters, and draws many children from the public schools. This is clearly evidenced in the reports of the Superintendent of the West Side schools.
The Presbyterian Church was organized on May 27, 1860, with twenty members. They were Mrs. Mary E. Bridges, Mrs. Martha M. Bridges, Mrs. Betty Johnson, W. E. Smith, John A. Forline, David Forline, Mrs. Betty Dora, Rae M. Bridges, Mrs. Rebecca Boyd, Miss Frances A. Boyd, Miss Orphio E. Boyd, James Boyd, D. T. McIntyre. Miss Cyntha Vanzant, Robert Campbell. Mrs. Robert Campbell, Mrs. Margaret Keely, Mrs. Martha A. Smith, Mrs. Martha J. Vanzant and Mrs. Mary E. Boyd. The meeting to organize was held in the old Methodist Church, in the northeast part of town. Rev. J. W. Allison and Rev. - McFarland appear to have been the first preachers here. both of whom. with Rev. Samuel Newell, of Paris, and Rev. R. Mitchell, Afterward,
of Charleston. assisted at the organization of the congregation. Dr. A. Hamilton was elected Pastor, and the erection of a church determined. Prior to the organization of this Church, the New-School Presbyterians had effected an organization, and were using halls, or churches of other denomina- tions in which to hold their meetings. The Old-School Presbyterians com- pleted their house of worship in 1864, dedicating it Sabbath, July 31. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Dr. Hamilton, the Pastor. In the after- noon, Rev. - Venable preached, and in the evening, Rev. - Hendricks. The congregation grew well during Dr. A. IIamilton's pastorate, extending till January, 1866, when, owing to failing health, he resigned. The pulpit was filled by supplies till September, 1870, when Rev. W. B. Noble was called as Pastor. He remained till April, 1872, when he resigned, and was succeeded, the following January, by Rev. Henry W. Woods, who was installed May 6, 1873. He occupied the pulpit till the spring of 1875, when he was succeeded by the present Pastor, Rev. James L. McNair. A short time after the erection of the church, in 1864, the New-School Presbyterians built a house of worship on the East Side-the Old-School being in the West-and continued worshiping there. In the autumn of 1871, these two branches of the church were united-hav- ing been separate over forty years-and one congregation in Mattoon was the result. At first, both houses of worship were used, but, a vote being taken, it was decided to use only the West Side house, and, soon after, the East Side church was sold to the Congregationalists, who now use it. The West Side house of worship was used without any alteration until two or three years ago, when owing to the increased growth of the congregation. an addition was built to the east end, and the seating capacity very much enlarged.
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
The Congregationalist Church is the outgrowth of the union of the Old and New-School Presbyterians, in 1871. Many members in the New-School branch favoring the Congregational mode of worship and discipline, organized a church of that body, and raised some $800 to aid in the attempt. The building erected by the New School Presbyterians was soon after purchased, and has since been used. The Council of the Congregational Church met on March 10, 1872. and regularly constituted the Church. On the 1st of the following January, Rev. N. J. Morrison, then just released from the Presidency of Olivet College, Mich- igan, was called to the pastorate of the Church. He remained only six months, resigning to accept the Presidency of Drury College, Springfield, Mo. In October, 1873, Rev. A. L. Loomis was called to the pulpit. He remained until May, 1876. During his residence, a revival occurred, greatly increasing the membership. The next Pastor was Rev. P. P. Warner, who came in Jan- uary, 1877, and remained until August 15, 1878, when he resigned. He is now publishing a paper in Aledo, Ill. He was succeeded by the present Pastor, Rev. A. M. Thorne, in October.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1857 with about twelve members. They met at first in dwellings and halls until about 1860, when they erceted a very substantial house of worship in the northeast part of the city. It was then expected the center of the town would be here ; but future revelations dispelled this idea, and in 1870, it was determined to erect a larger house of worship and in a more convenient place. The present church was the result. It cost about $12,000, and is a very neat building. The congrega- tion is now quite large, and sustains an excellent Sunday school.
In addition to the churches enumerated, others, now abandoned, have ex- isted. Some few societies exist, but of so passive a nature, they are omitted.
THE SCHOOLS.
The schools of Mattoon form a chapter in its history equal in its impor- tance to any part or parcel of the city. Cotemporary with the start of the town, a school was provided, and, before the cold of winter came in the year 1855, a small frame schoolhouse was built in the eastern part of town on Broadway. The efforts of the principal proprietors of the infantile village were strenuous, indeed, to secure the center of town there, and built the school- house where the greatest part of the population was expected to be. A school was taught in this small frame, hardly as large as an ordinary country school- house of to-day, during the winter of 1855-56, and so great was the influx of population that the little room was crowded to its utmost. School was taught here but one term, as far as we have been able to find out. The room was too small, and was hardly used longer. The school was, of course, a subscription school. If any public money was obtained it was only a small amount, for the idea of supporting schools in this part of Illinois entirely by taxation, was not yet well entertained. The next year, another similar school was "kept," as
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
we are told in an unoccupied room, and, the following winter. over True's store and in some unfurnished house. The recollection of old persons is not very good on this point ; they were more interested in " corner lots," than to notice very closely just where the schools were (for one room could not contain the pupils, and any one could teach who could get a room and some pupils). The next year-summer of 1857-a very comfortable brick structure was built in the northeast part of town, not far from where the first Methodist Church stood. This second schoolhouse was a decided improvement. It would seat many more pupils than its predecessor. and though " private " schools began to flourish, it held its way. It began to receive considerable aid. enough at least to conduct it through the winter term, from taxation, steadily growing in favor. The private schools, as they were termed, came rapidly into use in the early history of Mattoon, and continued with more or less force until a few years ago. The most noticeable of any of these was started on quite an extensive plan, even going so far as to obtain a charter. We refer to the Male and Female Academy. It was in truth two institutions. known more extensively as Mat- toon Female Academy and Mattoon College. The former was intended for young ladies, the latter for young gentlemen. Referring to the papers for the period of their commencement. we find they were chartered February 21, 1863. On March 24, 1864, the Trustees met and organized, elected a President and chose teachers. The Mattoon College does not seem to have been put in very extensive working order. and in a short time appears to drop out of notice. The great obstacle in the way of both these institutions was a lack of means. Neither had any money to work on, and the town was too young and too poor to endow them. They began in 1858 or 1859. and worked some time before receiving their charters. In December, 1861. Prof. W. W. Gill resigned the care of the seminary. which had at all times the largest patronage, and was succeeded by Rev. D. F. McFarland, who leased the Harris Building and opened school on the second day of the month his predecessor left. He con- ducted it some time with reasonable success, but. failing to make it profitable. left. It was afterward under the care of Mrs. C. E. Gill. who continued it some time. Owing to an inability to support the school, and the erection of new and better ward schools, with their increased facilities for education, their free tuition and freedom to all, the academy and all private schools were gradu- ally abandoned, and now none are sustained.
The public school continued along in the brick building referred to, with little change. save the gradually improved methods of education, and the division of the school into two or more grades, as circumstances allowed, until a new house was erected on the West Side, about 1861 or 1862. This divided the schools and assisted greatly in properly classifying them. The building on the West Side was erected by that ward and put under an entirely separate control. The two schools were made independent of each other, and have continued so to this day. The building on the West Side was an improvement on its prede-
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
cessor of the East Side. It was a very commodious brick building, contained four rooms, was supplied with a bell, improved seats, blackboards and all the machinery of the modern schoolroom of the day. It occupied the entire block. affording the children plenty of room in which to play. It was used without alteration until the spring of 1871. By that time, it had become too small for the increased demands of the growing city, and a new one was decided upon. The members of the Board of School Trustees that spring were B. C. Hinkle, J. M. Riddle and J. M. Hall. Under direction of this Board, the present house was erected. The old one was simply remodeled and enlarged, and fitted with still more advanced furniture. It contains five rooms, and a commodious hall in the third story. Here the high school receives instruction, and here are many of the entertainments. When this building was erected, a small one-roomed building was constructed a little west of it, for the use of the colored children : but finding it impracticable to educate them thus, and failing to provide them equal advantages with the others, they were admitted to the graded school, and the building erected for them moved to the school-yard and used for primary scholars.
From the report of the Superintendent of this school, the following facts and items are learned :
Number of persons under twenty-one years of age .. 1,041
Number of school age .. 766
Monthly enrollment for the year. 816
Average attendance for the year .. 256
The small enrollment is to be accounted for in part by the great number of children attending the Catholic school.
The school is divided into four departments, viz, primary, intermediate. grammar and high school. The primary department has three grades. In each of the other departments, the pupils are divided into three classes, desig- nated as Class A, Class B and Class C. The teachers are : P. H. Deardoff, Ph. M., Principal ; Miss Maggie Ewing, Assistant in the high school ; Miss Nannie Myrick, intermediate; Miss Jennie D. Riddle, third primary ; Miss Minnie Jennings, second primary, and Miss Annie Riddle, first primary.
The brick building on the East Side continued in use until the erection of the present one, in 1865. It became apparent, however, before that date that better accommodations would have to be provided, as the house used was by far too small, even when aided by one or two rented rooms. It was decided to borrow $10,000 on city bonds, and an election was ordered to be held October 26, 1864. At that time, there were 421 children in the district of lawful school age. The bonds were voted for by a majority of 80 votes, and soon after the site was selected and work on the new building begun. It was completed in November, 1865, and opened for school on Monday morning, February 5, following. It contains five rooms, and a large hall in the third story, similar to the one on the West Side, and used for similar purposes.
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
The town continuing to grow, this building was found inadequate to supply school room for the increasing school population of the East Side, and another building was erected in the southeast part of town in 1877 and 1878. It con- tains four rooms, and is under the care of the Superintendent at the other building. From his last report, we gather the following statements :
Number of children under twenty-one years of age .. 1,427
Enrollment of school age. 944
Average enrollment. 653
Average attendance. 529
Ten teachers are employed, whose wages, including that of the Superin- tendent and janitor, amount to $4,740. for eight months of school. The teachers are: C. W. Jacobs, Principal; Miss Lizzie Dorland, high school ; Miss Carrie Riddle, Miss Eva Lowe and Miss Lillie Osborn, grammar school, sixth, seventh and eighth grades: Miss Helen Patterson and Miss Lavina Ewing, intermediate department, fourth and fifth grades; Miss Mollie Phillips, primary department, and Miss Julia Pulsifer, Miss Ida Woods and Miss Mary Cushman, same department, in the first, second and third grades. Grouping the school statistics, we have :
Number of children under twenty-one years. 2,468
Enrollment for the year 1,710
Attendance for the year. 785
Assuming the first number given to be one-third; the second, one-fourth, and the third, one-eighth, we have a population of about six thousand in the city.
THE PRESS.
On Saturday, June 7, 1856, Mr. R. W. Houghton issued the first number of the Mattoon Gazette, the initial copy of newspapers in the city. It was a seven-column, four-page paper, one of the original copies of which is now in possession of Mr. Leonidas Chapin, a resident of the western part of town, and who highly prizes this relic of early days. His regret now is that he did not preserve the entire files of the paper.
In glancing over this old copy. many interesting items are gleaned. In his "salutatory." Mr. Houghton says :
"We design publishing a good family newspaper-one whose information can be depended upon as reliable. In politics we are independent-committed to no party."
After giving his reasons for this stand, he says: "There are many matters of vital importance to our moral advancement, our educational system and the agricultural interests of this mighty people which demand the attention of the press, giving a broad field for operation outside the political arena."
He goes on to say that he will give particular attention to commercial and agricultural reports, and adds, "we have now launched our bark, weighed anchor, and hope to accomplish the voyage, even though we have occasion- ally to contend with tides and adverse winds."
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
Speaking of Mattoon in an editorial, he notes its geographical position, its railway facilities, its markets and the good country about it. He says the town is a "stripling of less than a year's growth, and taking into consider- ation the difficulties of procuring building material, and the unusual sickness of the last season, its growth has been rapid. A great many buildings are now in course of erection and many more are projected."
Commenting on the prospects of the village, the paper proceeds : "We know of no place which offers greater inducements for the improvement of capital than this. Houses of all kinds are in demand at the landlord's rates, and everything else demands good prices. No branch of business seems to lack customers. In fact, we have all the elements necessary for the building- up of a good inland town, in conjunction with a firm determination on the part of the inhabitants to make it thrive.
ยท Farther on, he says :
" We have now eight or ten good stores, nearly all kinds of mechanics, several warehouses, two good hotels, a printing office, and a population of from four to five hundred."
Referring to railroads, the editor writes :
" We understand that the Superintendent of the Illinois Central road has decided on the construction of a Y and side-tracks, freight-house, etc., on the east side of the road, north of the T. H. & A. road. The latter company, we are informed, intend laying a side-track on the south side of the road, in the east end of town. The two companies. in conjunction, intend to build a respectable passenger-depot on the opposite side of the track from the T. H. & A. freight-house."
He hopes that this will soon be done, as he intimates there is an urgent necessity for it. The erection of the Essex House, the next year, probably put an end to such intentions.
The editor quotes from the Indianapolis Daily Sentinel the nomination of James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, as President, and Breckenridge, of Ken- tucky, as Vice President, in the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati. He also notices the election of Directors for the T. H. & A. Railroad, as reported by the Paris Blade, and the robbery of the post office at Vincennes, Ind., quoted from the Gazette of that town. After giving a few other general items, he proceeds to fill the balance of the second page with advertise- ments.
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