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 76

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 76

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The most fruitful source of conversions to the faith, even in that early day, was the eamp meeting. The first one held in the vicinity of Peoria was in the Summer of 1826. The ground selected was about one mile above the Court-house. The second was held on the banks of Farm creek, opposite Peoria. One of the distinguished visitors at that meeting was the Governor of the State, Ninian Edwards. Rev. Jesse Walker was suc- eeeded by William Sec, the first class leader in the Chicago circuit.

In the year 1827, Smith L. Robinson preached the Word, as circuit rider. We find the name of no other eirenit rider until 1830, when the name of Rev. S. R. Beggs ap- pears, who remained one year. At that time it required four weeks time and three hundred miles travel to make the rounds of the eirenit. Mr. Beggs was succeeded in 1831 by Rev. William Crissay; in 1832 by Rev. Zadoe Hall, who is still living. Rev. Joel Arlington was the circuit rider in 1833. In 1834, Rev. Leander S. Walker. In 1836, Rev. J. W. Dunahay. W. C. Cumming rode the circuit for two years (now living in Kansas), '35, '37. In 1837, Rev. A. E. Phelps, then quite a young man, was appointed to the work. During his time a spirited religious controversy sprang up between him and a Unitarian minister numed Calhoun.

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On account of his youth the Methodist people feared the result, but Mr. Phelps bravely and successfully maintained his ground in that and many subsequent contests of like character.

In 1839 Rev. S. R. Beggs was returned. This veteran Methodist preacher is still spared from the hand of death, and is now living at Plainfield, in Will county. The history of the Methodist church in Peoria really commences from this year. Previous to this time no steps had been taken to build a church edifice. In 1840 Asahel Hale and Mark M. Aiken donated a lot for church purposes. Then through the energy of Mr. Beggs, the minister, and the good-will of the people, a house of worship, 31x46 feet, was erected. The cash used in its erection amounted to $70 only. An invitation was ex- tended from the pulpit to all who were willing and could use an auger or a chisel to be ou hand the following Monday morning to lend a helping hand. The response was lib- eral. Nearly all the timber was donated, and most of the work was done gratuitously. Between 1840 and 1847 the growth of the town and of Methodism was so great that this church edifice became too small to accommodate the pressure, and steps were taken to build a larger and more commodious one, which resulted in the present First Method- ist church building. It was completed in 1849, and must have been a gigantic undertaking for that day, for it still stands one of the largest and most commodious church edifices in the city. The original cost of construction was about $6,000.

About the year 1841 Bishop Waugh visited Peoria and preached in the then new church, but he wrote a letter to the New York Christian Advocate that the Methodists had built a church half a mile out of town.

To return to Methodist preachers: From 1841 to 1843, Rev. N. Cunningham officiated. Then came, from 1843 to 1844, Rev. Chauncy Hobart, than whom there never was a more tireless, energetic, persevering pioneer Methodist circuit rider. Hobart was one of twin brothers, both of whom were Methodist preachers, and members of the old Rock River con- ference, and commenced preaching about 1832, '33. Soon after the Black Hawk purchase in Iowa was opened to white settlement, Rev. Chauncy Hobart was sent over there as a missionary laborer among the settlers, and labored from one end of the Black Hawk purchase to the other. He planned the first Methodist circuits of the eastern portion of Iowa, and remained in that territory until about 1839 or 1840, when he was returned to Illinois, and as already stated, was assigned to Peoria in 1843 and 1844. When Minne- sota began to be settled and called for preachers, the old pioneer was transferred to that field, where he still remains, and is a resident of Red Wing, in Goodhue county, in that State. A part of the time during the War of the rebellion he was chaplain to a Minne- sota regiment. In 1878 he was chosen chaplain of the Minnesota House of Representa- tives. The infirmities of old age incapacitated him for active circuit work, and he is held in reserve for urgent calls, to which he is ever ready to respond. Although his head is whitened with the frosts of many winters, and nearly half a century constant work in the Methodist harness, his heart is as full of zeal as when he first commenced as a missionary laborer in the Master's vineyard.

From 1844 to 1845, Richard Haney was pastor.

For two years, from 1845 to 1847, Rev. John Chandler.

In 1847 Freeborn Haney was appointed but was rejected, and F. A. McNeill received the appointment.

From 1848 to 1849, Rev. N. P. Heath was in charge.

For two years, from 1849 to 1851, Rev. S. Boles was the pastor.

In 1851, a man by the name of Parks was appointed, but for some reason he did not remain through that year.

Rev. C. C. Best was appointed to fill out Park's unexpired term. He remained until 1853.

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

The next in the order of succession was J. W. Flowers, who took charge in 1853 and remained until 1855.

Caleb Foster preached from 1855 to 1856.

For two years, from 1856 to 1858, Rev. W. H. Hunter had charge of the church. Mr. Hunter has grown old in the service. He is tall, ereet, and very commanding in appearance, and is a power in the church. He is an elder and resides in Peoria.

From 1858 to 1860, J. C. Rowley served as pastor. For some reason not noted in the minutes from which our information is drawn, he fell under a cloud and has been expelled.

From 1860 to 1862, Rev. S. G. J. Worthington.

Rev. J. S. Cummings was next in order, and served two years, until 1864.

Then came Mr. Richard Henry for a second time after a lapse of twenty years. served until 1865.

Mr. C. C. Knowlton was appointed in 1865 and reappointed for the next year. Be- fore the expiration of the second year, however, he resigned.

In 1867 Rev. A. Magee was appointed who continued in the position until 1869.

At the Conference in 1869 Rev. J. P. Brooks was assigned to the place and continued in it one year.

After an absence of eight years Rev. J. S. Cumming was returned to the First Church in 1870 and continued there three years, the longest time that any one minister had, up to that time, preached to that church.

In 1873 Rev. E. Wasmuth was assigned to this church and continued in the work there for two years.

The next was Rev. A. R. Morgan, who took charge in 1875, and continued as pastor three years, the full length of time allowable by Methodist law.

The present pastor is Rev. Selah W. Brown, who was first appointed in 1878, and at the last meeting of the Conference in 1879, was sent back for another year.

In membership the church has increased from the eight who entered at the start to 250, besides the numerous other churches in the city and vicinity, whose numbers in former years were wont to attend services at the First church.

A Sunday school was organized in connection with the church in 1835, but the movement, for some reason, had about died out, when, November 22, 1837, it was re- organized, with Daniel Bristol as superintendent. The number of members in the Sabbath school in 1869 is 326 and Mr. Homer C. Lines is superintendent. Miss Jessie S. Benton is secretary.

The Revs. Beggs, Chauncy Hobart and Zadoc Hall are, perhaps, the only ones of the old time Methodist preachers at Peoria, whom we have thus far named, who are left. The rest have gone

" Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet Their Savior and brethren transported to greet ;

While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll And the smile of the Lord is the life of the soul."

The Second Methodist Church .- In the year 1856 Rev. M. L. Hayney, with a large following, went out from the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and organized a separate church, which was called the Peoria Mission. There were, about the time of the organi- zation, eighty-five members in the society. The first house of worship was a small frame structure capable of accommodating about 250 people. It was built on the southwest corner of Monroe and Eaton Streets. Mr. Hayney was n man full of zeal, and his powers of description were wonderful. His pictures of the torments of the damned in hell, will still be remembered by some Peoria people with fear and trembling. In view of the demonstrative charneter of the services nt about that time the church was called by some

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

the " Howling Methodists," a name which clung to it for many years after the character- istic that occasioned it had ceased.

When first organized the society was known in the conference as the Peoria Mission. It was but a short time, however, until the name was changed to the "Second Charge." In the year 1862, so indifferent for some time previous had been the support given the minister, that this church was put into a circuit with other weak societies in the vicinity, and Rev. A. J. Jones was the circuit rider.

At about this time in the history of the church the building was moved from Mon- roe to Perry Street, at the then head of Eaton Street. For a time then the church was known as the Perry Street Church.

In the year 1869 the church building was again removed. For a time it was located on North Jefferson Street, near the Fourth district school-house. During its stay there it was called in the minutes of conference the "North Jefferson Street Church." Its stay on Jefferson Street was short, however. Within four years' time it was moved again to its present site, northeast corner of Madison and Morgan Streets. From the above brief sketch it will be seen that the Second Church has fairly earned the title of " The Itinerant Church." It is now known as the Second Methodist Church. A brief glance at its history from the organization down to the present time shows that it has retrograded. True it is, the present membership is about the same as at the organization, yet so greatly has the interest fallen off, that it would be hard for the founders to step in and realize that the seed they planted years before had brought forth such indifferent fruit. Every thing then promised the upbuilding of a splendid church. The member- ship was uncommonly large, the enthusiasm was great, and for some time the building was not large enough to hold the crowds that attended. Now there is always room for more auditors. About the time of the removal of the church to its present site a debt of $1,000 was contracted. It is not a very large sum, but it has hung like a millstone about the neck of this weak and struggling society. About half the amount has been canceled, but the remaining $500 is a serious impediment that continued to interfere with the welfare of the church and retard its progress.

A Sabbath school was organized soon after the establishment of the church. Its success has varied with the ups and downs of the church. In 1869 the membership was 164. Mr. A. S. Proctor, quite an active Sunday school worker, is superintendent, and Mrs. J. W. Jenkins is assistant.

From the time the church was organized down to 1869, the pastors in charge of this church have been as follows :

First, Rev. Milton L. Hayney, who effected the organization of the society. As we have noted before, he had charge in 1856 and 1857.

In 1858, R. N. Morse was the pastor, and he was reappointed and served during 1859.

The next year, Rev. N. C. Lewis had charge.

In 1861, Rev. A. W. Stewart was the pastor in charge.

The next year, 1862, it was thought that the church was too weak to support a min- ister unaided and alone, so it was put in a circuit, with Rev. A. J. Jones as circuit rider.

In 1864, Rev. Henry Apple was appointed pastor, and continued during that year to preach, but the next year the church was without a pastor.

Mr. P. A. Crist was appointed and preached in 1866.

During the year 1867, Rev. Henry I. Brown was the pastor.

The next year, 1868, the church was once more without a pastor. No appointment seems to have been made.

Rev. Henry Apple officiated the second time, during the year 1869. While in his charge the church building was removed from Perry Street to North Jefferson, near the Fourth district school. Mr. Apple, who is jolly, genial, goodnatured man, still lives

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

within a few miles of Peoria, on a farm. It is not with him a matter of necessity to preach, but for years he has been a sort of missionary, preaching to congregations almost too feeble to think of employing a minister.

In 1870, Mr. W. B. Frazell was the pastor.

In 1871 Mr. P. A. Crist was, for the second time, put in charge of the church. This year the North Jefferson Street and the Colesville churches were constituted a circuit, over which Mr. Crist was established as pastor.

In the year 1872, Mr. H. M. Laney was appointed to the pastoral care of the church, and his support was to come from it, while his labors were undivided.

The next two years, 1873 and 1874, Rev. P. A. Cool was the pastor. The church was about that time removed from Jefferson to Madison Street, and was located where it now is.

For the years 1875 and 1876, Rev. G. F. Meredith was the pastor. He is a young man, but is a talented speaker, and did much to sustain the flagging destinies of this church. During his ministry there was a good attendance at the Sunday services, and considerable interest was manifested. By the end of his term there had arisen in the church some differences that his longer continuance in the office of pastor might have worked to the disadvantage of the church.

In the year 1877, Rev. E. B. England was appointed. He served one year, and was re-appointed for another. Being a man far above the mediocrity in ability, he succeeded well in his charge, but the returns were inadequate for his labor. Near the close of his second year Mr. England resigned the pastorate of the Second Methodist Church, to accept a call to preach in " Christ Church," Reformed Episcopal, in Peoria.

The Conference, at its session in 1879, appointed Rev. Frank Cumming as pastor for the ensuing year.

Hale Chapel. - Asahel Hale was born December 1, 1791, in the State of Vermont. In the year 1831 he came to Peoria. The place was then in its infancy. Where the best part of the city now stands were fields of Indian corn. Little did the inhabitants then dream that the land they were tilling would some day sell for more per square foot than it then brought per acre. Soon after coming here Mr. Hale bought of John Hamlin eighty acres of land extending over the brow of the bluff and about Main Street. He paid five dollars per acre, which was then thought a good price. In the year 1840 he became a member of the Methodist church. Four years later he donated the lot where the First Methodist church now stands. In his last will and testament he bequeathed a lot on the corner of Main and High Streets as a site for a church. He also bequeathed $12,000 in money to be expended in the construction of the church. Laura Hale, his widow, and Mr. J. L. Knowlton, were named as executors of the will, and William Giles, Ira E. Benton and Columbus Dunham, were named as trustees of the fund bequeathed to the church, to see that the bequests made in the will were carried ont. Many of the details in regard to the building were provided for by the will. June 22, 1868, the cor- ner-stone was laid. January 14, 1869, the building was dedicated. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Hatfield, of Chicago.

Much of the labor of superintending the construction of the building devolved upon Mr. Ira E. Benton, who gave much of his time to the matter during the Summer the building was being erected. In memory of the testator the church is called Hale Chapel. The site is the most commanding occupied by any publie building in the city. From its position near the brow of the bluff and near the heart of the city, it is a grand central figure, with its comely outlines, its towering spire surmounted by a large copper ball gilded and glistening in the sunlight, its town clock, the only one in any Methodist church in the conference, and its clear-toned bell ringing out the merry tidings, " Come to Christ." It is built of brick and is forty feet front by seventy feet deep. From the

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

ground to the top of the spire is ninety-four feet. The foundation walls are four feet in thickness, and the whole structure is built in a most substantial manner.

As soon as the building was completed the church was organized with ninety-eight members. The membership in 1879 is 161.

About two years previous to the building of the church a Sabbath school was or- ganized with Mr. D. B. Allen as superintendent and Mr. Ira E. Benton secretary and treasurer. The first few meetings were held in the building on the corner of Elizabeth and Main Streets. Later the school was removed to the plow shop on Elizabeth Street south of Main. Upon the completion of the church, the school, with a membership of about 125, was transferred there. In 1879 the membership numbers 175. Mr. Benja- min Wookey is the superintendent.

The first pastor was Rev. W. A. Spencer, who was appointed in 1869, and at the conference in 1870 was re-appointed for another year.

Rev. W. C. Knapp was next sent to Hale Chapel in 1871, and was sent back in 1872 and again in 1873.

The next pastor was Rev. C. C. Knowlton, who served until his successor was ap- pointed.

Rev. C. W. Ayling was appointed pastor in 1876, and again in 1877.

In 1878 Rev. R. G. Pearce received the appointment and served until his successor, Rev. Mr. McPheters, the present incumbent, was appointed.

German M. E. Church .- This church was organized in September, 1851, by Rev. H. F. Koenike, with as small a number of members as sixteen, but the membership increased so rapidly within the next three years that it was found necessary to build a church. It was located on the corner of Monson and Fifth Streets ; was built while the Rev. F. Tigenbaum was pastor, and was dedicated in 1854 ; the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. G. L. Mulfinger. The first officers of the society were D. Bristol, P. C. Shelly, J. Buehner, M. Oechsle, and William Vennemann. In 1852 the Sabbath school was organized with fifteen scholars, and as a result of the faithful and earnest labor bestowed upon it, shared the prosperity of the church. About twelve years later, in order to meet the growing wants of the congregation, it became necessary to build a new and larger church, and accordingly they erected their present edifice on the corner of Adams and Chestnut Streets, and at the same time bought a parsonage, costing together about $10,- 000. The new church was dedicated in 1867, the Rev. William Nash, D.D., editor of the German Christliche Apologete, of Cincinnati, O., preaching the dedication sermon. Since then the membership has steadily increased, and the list number now .is 125. The ministers who have preached from the beginning of this church till now, are the follow- ing : Rev. H. F. Kenicke, F. Fiegenbaum, J. M. Winkler, R. Fickensher, J. Yung, C. Hull, H. F. Kænicke, J. Haas, A. Korfhage, Charles Schneider, Charles Holtkamp, William Zuppan, H. Thomas, H. Lahrmann, J. Franz, G. Timken, and the present pastor, Rev. M. Roeder, who came to it in Septerber, 1879. In addition to the pastor the officers of the church are, J. Buchner, and A. Voshage, local preachers ; William Venne- mann, J. Oechsle, and H. B. Wiechmann, class-leaders ; Charles Schneider, H. J. Ehlen, H. Albrecht, C. Westmeier, J. Oechsle, William Paul, and A. Lapp, trustees and stewards. The church property is valued at about $12,500, and the annual contributions for religious and other purposes about $1,050.

The society has within the last few years grown so strong that the project of estab- lishing a mission in some district of the city, yet to be fixed upon, has now taken definite shape and donations to the amount of 8700 have been received towards that end. A young minister, Rev. A. Lemkan, has acted as assistant to the pastor, doing earnest work and preparing the way for the proposed mission.

The Sunday school is in a flourishing condition and has an attendance of 150 children. Mr. C. Westmeier is the superintendent.

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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

African M. E. Church .- This church was organized in 1846, by Rev. Philip Ward, of Bloomington, Ill., with ten members, comprising the following names : G. Hill, Julia Mason, Ellen Neal, Mary Winslow, Hannah Gilbert. Julia Wright, Anna Titus, Mrs. Brown and William Grey, who was a local preacher, class-leader and steward. For some time meetings were held from house to house, but the congregation increasing rapidly, it became necessary to secure a place in which all could assemble. so in the same year they rented for this purpose, the old school-house on Walnut Street, but they soon had to move from there, and in 1848 they met in what was then known as the Himnon School- house, on Monson Street near Fifth ; and which is now used as a residence. In 1850 the little Zion was again deprived of its meeting place, and the members were forced to return to their primitive meetings in each other's houses, under the leadership of Rev. Mr. Brooks, who had succeeded the pastor under whom they had organized. This was then a preaching point on the Bloomington, Peoria, and Galesburg Circuit, and William Grey was the only class-leader and steward. In 1853, Rev. Win. J. Davis was appointed to this charge, and during his administration the society bought a little frame church on Chestnut Street, which they occupied until 1866. Mr. Davis was very popular with all classes, and his ministrations were attended with great success. In 1856 the church was under the supervision of Rev. A. T. Hall. and during his stay it was visited with a great revival, and many were brought to the knowledge of Christ, among whom were Thos. A. Cheek, now a minister of the Gospel, and pastor of the African M. E. Church in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. In 1857, Rev. J. Mitchem was pastor, and in the following year Rev. Wmn. J. Dove ; Mr. Mitchem was re-appointed to the charge in 1859 and 1860. During 1866 and while Rev. Mr. Myers was pastor, the society bought the German Methodist Church building, corner of Fifth and Monson Streets, which they still con- tinue to occupy, and the church received much help from their white brethren, until they had paid up the contract price of $2,600.

The following gentlemen have been pastors of the church since the acquisition of their church building : Revs. A. T. Hall, Nathan Mitchem, J. Perkins, James Semis, J. M. Derrick, H. Brown, M. M. Beckley, and their present pastor, Rev. Geo. II. Hann, who took charge in September, 1878, and who is much beloved. The church has now forty-nine members, is self-supporting, absolutely free from debt, and in a generally prosperous condition. Services are held twice every Sunday with an average attendance of 200. Their property is valued at about 83,000, and the members contributed last year for religious and other purposes 8$50. Mr. Daniel Rayner is supt. of the Sun- day school, and Mrs. Hann, asst. supt., about forty-five children attend it.

The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has a small following in the city. Traveling Elder Hiram C. Bronson in June, 1873, preached a sermon to the few seattered adherents of this church in Peoria, who shortly afterwards organized a con- gregation with nine original members. They adhere to the doctrines of the original Mormon Church as interpreted by Joseph Smith, and hate polygamy and other innova- tions of the Mormon Church in Utah with a bitter hatred. The officers of the church at present ure John A. Robinson, elder; J. B. Farr, priest, and R. R. Gaither, deacon. They rent for church purposes n building on the corner of Elm and South Jefferson Streets, where they hold service on Sunday, and where their Sunday school meets. The present membership of the church is twenty-nine, and the average attendance at Sunday school, fifteen. Since organization thirty-one adults hinve been received into the church by baptism.

The First Presbyterian Church. - The society now known as " The First Presby- terian Church of Peoria," was organized by a committee of the synod of Illinois, October 31, 1840. Prior to this, however, Presbyterianism had a corporate existence here. So enrly as December 22, 1834. u religious society was organized under the title - "The First Presbyterian Church of Peoria." Soon after this enme the great debates in the

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denomination, issuing in the division into the "Old School " and "New School " bodies. Owing to this general cause, and also to others of a different and local character, the his- tory of Presbyterianism in Peoria, between the years 1834 and 1840, was a rather check- ered one - there being, during that period, several organizations known as Presbyterian. Those who are interested in this part of the history, will find the facts in an excellent paper entitled "The History of the First Presbyterian Church of Peoria, Illinois," writ- ten by the late Hugh W. Reynolds, Esq., and pulished in the Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1864.

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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 76

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