The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc., Part 75

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company
Number of Pages: 932

USA > Illinois > Peoria County > The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc. > Part 75

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The pastors of the church who succeeded Mr. Carey were as follows :

Rev. Wilbur McKaig, called November 2, 1860 ; resigned June 2, 1862.

Rev. Samuel Wyckoff, called November 24, 1862 ; resigned October 3, 1864.

Rev. Asahel H. Brooks, called July 3, 1865; resigned March 4, 1868.

Rev. Horace C. Ilovey, called January 5, 1869 ; resigned April 13, 1873.

Rev. Robert A. Condit, called October 27, 1873; resigned November 10, 1874.

In the latter part of the year 1874, committees were appointed by both the Congre- gational and Fulton Street Presbyterian churches with a view to the re-union of the two. At a meeting of these committees held Tuesday evening, December 22, 1874, the follow- ing preambles and resolutions were adopted and presented for approval and ratification as a basis of union :

WHEREAS, Believing that a union of the two churches would be for mutual benefit, and that the growth of Christ's kingdom in our city would be greatly strengthened by a more consolidated effort and concentrated use of Christian means and influence ; and,

WHEREAS, We, as churches, hold the same views of all essential doctrines of Christianity as taught by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is expedient for the Main Street Congregational and Fulton Street l'resbyterian Churches lo unite.

Resolved, That the name of the United church be called the First Congregational Church of l'coria.

Resolved, That the present pastor of the Main Street Congregational Church shall be the pastor of the United Church.

Resolved, That the property of both churches be the property of the United church.

Resolved. That immediate steps be taken toward the erection of a new and commodious church edifice, and that the present church property belonging to each shall be sold as soon as practicable, and the proceeds applied for that purpose.

Resolved, That until such new church edifice is ready lo be occupied, services on Sabbath and week days to be held in each church alternately.

Committee Fulton Street Presbyterian Church - Wm. Truesdale. Lucius 1 .. Day, Thomas Wood, W. II. Robin- son, N. K. Beasley.

Committee Main Street Congregational Church - Moses Pettengill, Benj. Foster, Jas. T. Rogers, Horace Clark. JJenry Binnian.

This formal union, under the title of the " First Congregational Church of Peoria," was accomplished in connection with publie Sabbath exercises, January 31, 1875.

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

After the split, and previous to the re-union, the Main Street church had for pas- tors :

Rev. J. Steiner, from December, 1855, to July, 1856.

Rev. A. A. Stevens, from December, 1856, to June, 1866.

Rev. G. W. Phinney, from June, 1866, to June, 1867.

Rev. J. A. Mack, from April 1, 1868, to June 8, 1870.

Rev. A. A. Stevens was re-called, and commenced his labors September 21, 1870. In October, 1879, after nearly twenty years service in the church, Mr. Stevens, by reason of old age and the increased labors connected with the pastorate, asked for an assistant.

In 1875, the erection of a splendid church edifice was commenced. It is of stone, and is surmounted by a stone spire, the only one in the city. The auditorium is not yet completed (1879). The vestry rooms, etc., in the basement, are completed, and have been in use since the Spring of 1878, when the society sold their Main Street property to Mr. W. R. Bush for $7,000. The Fulton Street church property was sold for about $5,000. Both these sums, however, were but a drop in the bucket toward the sum re- quired for the completion of the new building. The cost of the building thus far has been $87,544. It is estimated that to complete the auditorium will require about $15,000. Added to this will be the expense of an organ, about $4,000, and a chime of seven or nine bells, which will be put in the tower. This will be, when completed, decidedly the finest church structure in the city. It is located on the corner of Monroe and Hamilton Streets.

The membership in 1879 was three hundred. In connection with the church is a large and successful Sabbath school, of which Mr. L. L. Day is superintendent. Ply- mouth Mission Sunday school, corner of Fourth and Spencer Streets, of which Mr. Benja- min Foster is superintendent, is in charge of this church. The two schools have a com- bined membership of six hundred and fifty.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church .- St. Paul's Parish was organized in the year 1848, under the Rev. J. S. Chamberlaine, deacon, as minister in charge, and the following gen- tlemen as vestry : Thos. Squires, senior warden ; Henry Rugg, junior warden ; and Washington Cockle, Geo. Stewardson, Henry A. Foster, E. G. Sanger, B. L. T. Bourland, William Weidenham, and Dr. E. Andrews, vestrymen. In the ensuing month, namely on April 10, 1848, Mr. Rugg and Dr. Andrews resigned their positions, and thereupon Wm. Mitchell and Dr. Rudolphus Rouse were made vestrymen. In the Autumn of the same year, the parish accepted a plot of ground with deed of trust, from Dr. Philander Chase, Bishop of the Diocese of Illinois, for the purpose of the erection and constant maintenance of a church edifice. On May 14, 1849, Bishop Chase instrumentally con- veyed to the parish, as a gift from some person not named, a valuable lot of books of the- ology -52 in number - " for the benefit of the said parish and minister forever."

On the first day of April, 1850, the following officers were elected to serve for the ensu- ing year : Alex. G. Tyng and James L. Riggs, wardens ; and John Birkett, Rudolphus Rouse, Geo. C. Bestor, Jacob Schaffner, Matthew Griswold, E, T. Sanger and Washing- ton Cockle, vestrymen.

In 1850 the erection of a brick church was begun, Mr. Chas. Ulricson being architect and builder. The edifice with its square tower was greatly admired, and for many years regarded as the most attractive object in the city. Its walls and tower covered with ivy, formed a pleasant picture, that still lingers in the memory of the older inhabitants of Peoria and the surrounding country. This building stood for about thirty years, when it was pulled down, in order that it might give place to a larger and more costly edifice of stone. But at this period, an almost unparalleled misfortune befell the church com- munity, through the desertion of a number of the members. A schism was created in the body, and the defecting members proceeded to organize themselves into a congregation,

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within the communion of a society termed " The Reformed Episcopal Church," which had recently been formed by Rev. Dr. Cummings and Rev. Mr. Cheney. Hence it is hardly necessary to state that the proposed stone church has not been built, and that the part of the congregation which remained faithful to the church has had to pay the cost of the destruction of the former building, and is at present holding service in a frame structure, which now stands upon the old site. This church seats about 500 persons, is neat, churchly, and plain as to the exterior, while its interior has been made, at very small cost, to present the most pleasing aspect, in ecclesiastical arrangement and decoration, of any church in Peoria. In the past three years the congregation has experienced a remarkable growth ; the Sunday school is strong again ; and the parish is not without hope that even yet - in a very few years - there shall be erected a handsome, costly and enduring edifice of stone, that shall be an ornament to the city. At last Easter the entire debt of the parish - over 86,000 - was discharged by the congregation, and the present income is equal to the annual expenses. There are five active societies in the parish, working under the direction of the Rector : The Ladies Aid Society, The Church Guild (young men), The Altar Society. The Young Peoples' Benevolent Society (for the care of the poor), and The Helpers. The present number of communicants is about 150.

The following is the succession of Rectors after Rev. Mr. Chamberlaine : Revs. J. W. Cracraft, Henry N. Strong, D. D., Joseph M. Wait, Warren H. Roberts, J. W. Bonham, I. L. Townsend, S. T. D., Wm. J. Johnson, and Rev. Wm. Bryce Morrow, the present incumbent.

St. Paul's Parish owes much of its prosperity, if not indeed its continued existence through its hard trials, to the patient courage and unfailing liberality of Matthew Gris- wold, Esq., who has been an officer of the vestry from almost the first inception of the church, and still remains in the position of senior warden.

The Reformed Episcopal Christ Church .- When information of the organization of the Reformed Episcopal Church in New York city, Dee. 2, 1873, reached Peoria. sev- eral persons, at that time members of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, decided to organize a Reformed Episcopal Church in Peoria. As soon as the proposed action be- came known much sympathy for the proposed organization was manifested, not only by Protestant Episcopalians, but also by Christians of other denominations. This action was induced by a growing inclination on the part of the old church to adopt high church forms and ritual. This tendency had been vigorously opposed by some of the best men in the church, but finding their opposition futile, the Reformed Church offered a refuge that they were glad to accept. Among the prominent members of the old church in this city who opposed the high church dogmas was Mr. A. G. Tyng, at whose invitation Bishop George D. Cummins, of the Reformed Church, visited Peoria. A meeting was held at the Second Presbyterian church, which was largely attended and quite enthusi- astic. Addresses were delivered by Bishop Cummins, Col. Ayerigg and Mr. A. G. Tyng. Subscriptions were commenced for a rector's support, and so liberal was the response that Bishop Cummins was authorized to secure a rector immediately.

Rev. Joseph D. Wilson, rector of Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church, Pittsburg, was called Feb. 4, 1874, and the call was accepted. Feb. 17th, Ash Wednesday, he arrived in the city and commenced his labors. Previous to his coming services were held in the various churches of the city. Rev. Mason Gallagher officiated at the first services of the new church, held the first Sabbath in January, 1874.

In the time between Jan. I and June, 1871, a lot on Jefferson Street, near Fayette, was leased, and a fine, commodious church edifice was erected at n cost, including vestry and Sunday-school rooms, of about 813,000. In addition to this a $3,500 organ was put in, and the building was nicely carpeted and furnished at an expense of about $2,000. The funds necessary for the purchase of the organ were raised through the efforts of Mrs. F. B. M. Brotherson.

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

June 9, 1879, Mr. Wilson resigned the rectorship, after five years successful ministry. He accepted a call from St. John's Church, Chicago.

In a few weeks thereafter, a call was extended to Rev. E. B. England, of the Second Methodist Episcopal Church of Peoria. The call was accepted, and Mr. England preached his first sermon Aug. 3, 1879.

At its organization there were about fifty members in the society. This number was soon increased to one hundred, and there are now two hundred and fifty regular communicants.

Monday evening, January 12, the first parish meeting of the society was held. Then it was decided to take the name, "Christ Church." At the same meeting the following named were chosen officers of the church: Mr. A. G. Tyng, senior warden ; Charles F. Bacon, junior warden. Vestrymen were chosen as follows: H. B. Hopkins, P. R. K. Brotherson, H. B. Dox, C. A. Jameson, Charles H. Kellogg, John S. Stevens, Walter B. Hotchkiss, B. F. Ellis, R. F. Seabury, jr., and Walter P. Colburn. Of the above named, Walter P. Colburn was elected secretary and Walter B. Hotchkiss, treasurer.

In 1879, the officers were : A. G. Tyng, senior warden; Thomas S. Weddle, junior warden. The vestrymen were: C. F. Bacon, C. A. Jameson, W. A. Beasley, W. F. Bryan, W. G. Sloan, W. T. Hanna, J. J. Steiger, John S. Stevens and John Birks.

The Sunday-school on the corner of High and Cedar Streets, which had been for some time previously to the establishment of the church organized by Mr. Tyng, was placed under the control of Christ Church, with Mr. A. G. Tyng as superintendent.

A Sunday-school had been organized on the east bluff by Mrs. George C. Bestor, the meetings being held in the parlors of her residence until a new building was erected on the Knoxville road, when it was removed there. After the organization of the church, this school was also placed under its charge. Mr. Wm. H. Robinson became superinten- dent, which place he held until Easter, 1879, when Mr. Chas. A. Jameson took charge.

After the church building was completed, a Sunday-school was organized with Mr. John S. Stevens as superintendent. It continued under his charge until 1878, when Mr. Thomas S. Weddle became superintendent. The membership of the three Sunday-schools is over 600.

The Society of Friends have no regular organization in the city, but through the efforts of Mrs. Ely the nucleus of what may in time be a large congregation meet regu- larly, on the first day of the week, at 303 Sanford Street. Quite a number of families in the city were brought up under the influences of the Friends, but owing to the lack of facilities for meeting, and other causes, have of late identified themselves with other religious bodies.

First German Evan. Luth. St. Paul's Church. - This is one of the oldest German con- gregations in the city, having been organized by the Rev. Mr. Kopmann, afterwards their first pastor, in the year 1851. The first trustees of the church were H. Harms, W. Schroeder, and E. Brants. A few years after the organization, they built a small church on Sixth Street, but that, in time, proving too small for their increasing numbers, they moved about ten years age to their present place of worship, corner of First and Good- win Streets, adding to it at the same time a school-house and parsonage. The present officers of the church are Rev. Frederick B. Bess, pastor, and Messrs. P. Becker, C. Schmidt, F. Dwehus and D. Tjarks, trustees ; the membership consists of thirty-five families. The value of the church property, including parsonage and school-house, is about $5,000 ; the annual contributions for religious and other purposes aggregate about $675. Their Sabbath-school is at present very prosperous, having an attendance of from 60 to 70 children.

The congregation had a very auspicious beginning, but some years after fell on troublous times, and was almost reduced to dissolution. Two years ago, however,

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

a fresh start was taken and renewed efforts made, and it is now again in a promising con- dition.

German Evan. Luth. Trinity Church. - This congregation was organized by the Rev. I. Fr. Boeling, who was afterwards its first pastor, and who preached the first sermon in Trinity church in 1857. The original members numbered about 156, and the first officers were Messrs. C. Schmidt, D. Harms, C. Hagemeier, H. E. Harms, and E. Tegtmeier. The Rev. Mr. Boeling was succeeded in the pastorate by the Rev. P. Heid, January 17th, 1861, who officiated till August 20, 1878, when the present pastor, the Rev. Gottlieb Tranb replaced him. The present memberships number about 800, and Messrs. Fr. Meyer, C. Schmidt, F. Zeitz, G. Tjarks and W. Wilhelms are trustees. Divine services are well attended, and the church prosperous. The annual contribution for religious, school and benevolent purposes is about 82,000, and the Sabbath-school has an average attendance of 200 scholars. The church' building is on the corner of Maple and Jefferson Streets, is a handsome one, constructed in pure Gothic style, and the inte- rior is beautifully painted in Gothic frescos ; cost about $8,000. The value of the church property, including school-houses, parsonage, church yard, etc., is about $20,000.

German Reformed Church - Was organized in May, 1869, by a committee of the Classes of Wisconsin of the Reformed Church of America, with thirteen original mem- bers, but failing to secure at that time the ministrations of a pastor, the society praeti- cally dissolved, but was reorganized in the Summer of 1871, when the Rev. John Müller was called to the pastorate, and an inexpensive church built on the corner of Per- simmon and Madison Streets, which is still their religious home. The Rev. Mr. Müller continues the pastor, and the present officers are Messrs. M. Peters and W. Geitz, elders; R. Tessen and E. Ockenga, deacons ; C. Janussen and R. Tessen, trustees. The mem- bership has grown slowly but steadily, notwithstanding many deaths and removals, from 5 in 1871, to 60, at the present time, and the annual contributions of all kinds average $1,500.

In May, 1872, the Sabbath-school was organized with 30 scholars; it gradually in- creased and is now in a flourishing condition, with an attendance of nearly 200. The same year a parochial school-house was built and a competent teacher secured, and the school has done uniformly well since its inception. It is at present under the efficient charge of Mr. J. Kuelling.

German Evangelical Association. - In 1846 the Rev. S. A. Tobias, a missionary of this body, came to Peoria and preached to the scattered adherents of the denomination in various parts of the city, and from that time on regular services have been held. The Church was organized with 15 original members, through the efforts of Rev. W. Kolb, in 1817, and under his charge also was their first meeting-house built. The first sta- tioned preacher was Revd. C. Augenstein, and his successors in the ministry have been Revs. C. Kopp, II. Eitermann, G. Esher. J. Schneider, G. M. Young, H. Lageshulte, C. Spielmann, C. Ott, G. Ramige. W. F. Walter, D. Kraemer, W. Strassberger, E. von Freeden, and the present pastor, Rev. G. Vetter. The other officers of the church are C. Ringel, local preacher ; H. Ringel and L. E. Becker, class-leaders : J. F. Faber, G. M. Green and J. Fay, trustees. The present number of its members is 85.

In 1872 the society built at a cost of 86,000 a good frame church on the corner of State and First Streets, which they now occupy, and also a parsonage in the rear. The total valuation of the property they hold is about $8,000, and their annual contributions for all purposes amount to about 8700.

The organization of the Sunday-school is contemporaneous with that of the church, and it is now in a flourishing condition, with an attendance of 120 children. The church also is moderately prosperous, and has had at times glorious revivals, whereby the num- ber of its members was very largely increased, and although, through deaths and remoy-

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als, the list of members is not so large as it has been in past times, still the prospects for the future are encouraging.

The Jewish Congregation Anshai Emeth .- This congregation was founded in the year 1863, and is the only Jewish congregation at present existing in Peoria county. The pioneers of Judaism in Peoria were Messrs. H. Schwabacher, Henry Ullman, Max New- Inan, I .. Ballenberg, and others, most of whom are still living in the city and distinguished for their wealth, integrity and public-spiritedness. The number of members in the first year were about thirty, but as the city increased in population, the congregation increased in membership, so that at present it contains about sixty paying members, seat-holders not included.

The temple at present occupied by them was purchased at the beginning of its career, and is situated on Fulton Street between Adams and Jefferson, but in the month of October, 1879, it was sold, and a piece of property was bought on Jefferson Street, between Harrison and Liberty Streets, upon which a magnificent structure will be erected before May, 1880.

The first officers of the congregation were: A. Frank, president; S. Lyons, vice- president ; M. Newman, secretary ; Henry Ullman, treasurer ; S. Simon, L. Ballenberg, and A. Wachenheimer, trustees. The present officers are : David Ullman, president ; M. Salzenstine, vice-president ; J. Axman, treasurer; L. Lowenthal, secretary ; L. Bal- lenberg, Harry Ullman, and John Korsosky, trustees. Its ministers have been as follows : Rev. M. Moses, from 1863 until 1873; Rev. Dr. E. B. M. Browne, from 1873 until the end of 1875 ; Rev. Mr. H. Bloch, from 1876 until September, 1878; and Rev. Dr. David Stern, who is the present rabbi.

In the year 1874 some members seceded from the congregation on account of some personal misunderstandings, and they erected a nice little temple on Seventh Street. They engaged Rev. Mr. Messing as their minister, and for about two years they were in a very prosperous condition. But in the course of time those personal misunderstandings were forgiven and forgotten by both parties, and there is no doubt that when the new temple will be completed, the Israelites of Peoria will be a united body.

EARLY METHODISM IN PEORIA.

You raised these hallowed walls ; the desert smiled And paradise was opened in these wilds .- Pope.

The first preaching near the site of Peoria was in 1673, when Joliet and Marquette passed np through Lake Peoria, and Marquette preached to the Indians. Again in 1686, when La Salle built Fort Crevecoeur, Father Hennepin, who accompanied him on his travels, preached regularly to the Indians until his departure in March of that year on a tour of discovery in the upper Mississippi country. From that time until 1823 the soli- tudes around Fort Clark were unbroken and undisturbed by songs of prayer and praise, unless the songs the birds sang were offered as tributes of adoration to the Great Archi- tect whose hand unfolded the beautiful prairies and reared the mighty bluffs that, like a cordon of forts, hem in the beantiful river of the Illini.

The credit of holding the first Protestant services is generally ascribed to Rev. Jesse Walker, a man whose name is familiar in the early history of northern and central Illi- nois, and who is remembered by the surviving settlers of 1820 to 1853 with feelings akin to veneration.

The seeds of Methodism were planted in Peoria county in the year 1823, when Wil- liam Eads and his family joined his brother, Abner Eads, and other early settlers at Fort Clark. Rev. Mr. Walker labored among the early settlers in the northern part of Illinois as a missionary of the Methodist church. The Methodist people are noted the world over for their zeal and energy in the prosecution of religious work. Wherever mankind has gone, the Methodists have gone - first, as missionaries to spy out the land ; next as

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY

circuit riders, with bible and hymn book, and an energy, industry, perseverance and faith that never "gave up." singing their songs of praise, shouting choruses of glory to the Great Head of the church, and bidding defiance to the arch enemy and tempter of mankind, they not only followed close on the heels of the pioneers to every part of the "Great West," but have gone wherever humanity has existed that it was possible to reach - to the islands of the sea.

" From Greenland's icy mountains To India's coral strand."

wherever the Master's work was to be done, there have the truths of this branch of the Christian church been carried. And so eame Rev. Mr. Walker to the " flowery plains" around Fort Clark at the date mentioned.

The cabin of William Eads (it is thought) was improvised as a meeting house. There were probably not more than a dozen people present, and they were there with- out regard to fashion or display. Some of them walked from their own eabins to the place of meeting, some rode there in ox wagons, and a few, perhaps, on horseback. The preacher occupied a place behind a common table in one corner of the room. There was neither organ nor organized choir to add social melody to the occasion. The preacher gave ont the hymn two lines at a time, something after the following manner :

Before Jehovah's awful Throne, Ye nations bow with sacred joy ;

then raising his voice the preacher led in singing. When these two lines were rendered, he lined the next two :

Know that the Lord is God alone. He can create and Ile destroy ;

and resuming the last measure of the tune, completed the stanza, and so on to the end of the hymn.

At this meeting the seeds of Methodism were planted in Peoria, and the planting, carefully and industriously cultivated, has ripened into the fullness of a plentiful harvest.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church .- In 1824, Rev. Mr. Walker commenced to organize a eirenit, which embraeed all the white settlements north of the Sangamon river. In that year he organized the first class in Peoria, which consisted of the following named persons : William Early and wife, Rev. Reeves MeCormick. James Walker and wife, Susanna Walker ( wife of Jesse Walker), Mr. William Eads and wife, Mrs. Abner Eads, William Holland and wife, Mrs. Judge Latham, Mrs. John Dixon, Mrs. Hamlin. William Blanchard and Mary Clark.

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The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a history of the Northwest-history of Illinois-history of the county, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc., etc., Part 75

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company Number of Pages: 932

Author: Johnson & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Johnson & Company
Number of Pages: 932