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 77

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 77

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At the date above mentioned, October 31, 1840, the organization now known as " The First Presbyterian Church of Peoria," though at the first named, "The Presby- terian Church of Peoria," had twenty-four communicant members. The officers were : Ruling elders, Clark D. Powell, Joseph Batchelder and Henry Schnebly; deacon, Wil- liam Weis; trustees, Robert Campbell, William Weis, James H. Work, Samuel Smith, John A. McCoy, James Kirkpatrick, Samuel Shepler and George Bernheisel. The Rev. Isaac Kellar was chosen as stated supply by the new organization, and ministered to the people continually till October 1, 1847. On the 16th of April, 1848, the Rev. Addison Coffey, of Coshocton, Ohio, commenced preaching to the congregation as stated supply, and was instituted pastor on the 26th of October following. Mr. Coffey continued pas- tor until his death, April 6, 1855. The next pastor was Rev. Robert Johnston, of Get- tysburg, Pennsylvania, who was installed on the third Sabbath of November, 1856. Mr. Johnston remained pastor until his death, August 19, 1864. The next pastor was Rev. J. H. Morrow, of Rockport. New York, who held the position from April, 1865, until his resignation, August 31, 1870. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D.D., of Baltimore, was in- stalled pastor September 27, 1871. His pastorate terminated by resignation, September 23, 1877. The Rev. Jesse C. Bruce, the present pastor, was installed Jannary 5, 1879.

The building occupied by this congregation as a place of worship, was located on a part of lot No. 1, block No. 1, on the southwest side of Fulton Street, between Adams and Jefferson Streets. It was a brick, and was erected in 1842, at a cost of $3,500, and was forty feet wide by fifty feet long, with a gallery where the choir, and a portion of the congregation, might be comfortably seated. For that early day, it was not only a comfortable, but also a very respectable edifice. In the year 1851. the society erected a new building, on the northwest corner of Main and Madison Streets, at a cost of about $10,000. Some years afterward the building was remodeled and enlarged at a cost of $18,000. It is of brick, two stories high, with a belfry. This church reported to the Presbytery of Peoria, last March, an active membership of 255. The present officers are : Pastor, Rev. Jesse C. Bruce ; ruling elders, William Weis, J. K. Cooper, Charles Fisher, N. B. Love, J. C. Kingsbury, David McKinney, S. O. Loughridge ; clerk of ses- sion, William Weis; treas. of session, David Mckinney ; trustees, Joseph Elder, R. A. Cutter, Henry P. Ayres, Roswell Bliss, Levi B. Gibson, Wm. C. Henry, P. C. Wheeler, Jacob Hepperly and J. Eugene Fisher ; treas. of Board of Trustees, J. Eugene Fisher. The Sabbath school connected with this church was organized in 1842, and its officers at present are : Supt., David McKinney ; asst. supt., Dr. E. J. Greene ; secy. and treas., T. Dick Arthur ; librarian, Miss J. S. Mckinney ; asst. librarians, Harlie Kingsbury and Eddie Bartlett. The membership of the school is 270. It is in excellent condition, and doing a noble work. This congregation gave last year for religious and benevolent purposes, the sum of $4,908.07.

From a membership of twenty-four at its organization, this church has had a steady and healthy growth, and is entitled to be called a " Mother of Churches." The Second Presbyterian Church, now a large and influential congregation, was formed from the First, twenty-eight members having been dismissed by her for that purpose, in December, 1853. She also contributed largely to the membership of other churches - notably to Grace Presbyterian Church, in North Peoria. The total of the member-

476

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

ship of the First Church, from its origin, is 850. Some noted revival seasons have been experienced by this church. During the pastorate of Mr. Morrow, upwards of one hun- dred members were received, during one season, upon profession of their faith; and again, during the pastorate of Dr. Edwards, when upwards of forty more were received.

The Second Presbyterian Church .- After the recovery of Mr. Coffey, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Mr. J. P. Farris, who came to supply the pulpit at that church, was invited to remain and direct his efforts towards the formation of another church. This occurred in 1853. Wednesday evening, December 7th, of that year, a meeting of the presbytery was held in the lecture room of the First Presbyterian church, pursnant to a regular call. The sermon on the occasion was delivered by Rev. W. T. Adams, of Washington. At the conclusion of the sermon, Rev. W. P. Corson, modera- tor on the occasion, took the chair, and the following petition was presented by Mr. J. C. Grier :

" Presbytery of Peoria: The undersigned, desirous to have the privilege of Divine Worship more extended, respectfully petition your venerable body to organize in the city of Peoria, a Second Presbyterian Church."

This petition was signed by twenty-eight as members of the church and by twenty- four as members of the congregation. It was ordered that the church be formed in ac- cordance with the prayer.

The session of the church was constituted by the election of John L. Griswold and J. C. Grier, ruling elders. The first and only deacons elected were William Stettenius and George Porter. Both of these parties have long since left the city and transferred their membership, so that the deaconate is and has long been vacant.

The first trustees were John L. Griswold, N. B. Curtiss, N. I. Rngg, W. A. Herron, R. A. Smith, William F. Bryan, J. C. Grier, A. G. Curtenius, and John A. McCoy.

For a time after the organization, services were held in Haskell's Hall, a room on the southwest corner of Main and Madison Streets. In the year 1854, the lot on the corner of Madison and Jackson Streets was purchased and the contract let for the main building of the present church. It was completed in June, 1855, with the exception of the tower and spire. The first sermon was preached in the new building by the pastor, Sunday, July 1st, and the dedication sermon the Sunday following. October 25, 1858, Dr. Farris resigned the pastorate on account of failing health. From that time until June 8, 1859, there was no regular pastor, but at the date last named Rev. Samnel Hib- ben was elected. Ile was duly installed, and continued in charge until impaired health compelled him to resign and seek rest from his labors. His resignation was received the 6th and accepted the 8th of February, 1862. He entered the 4th Illinois Cavalry regi- ment as chaplain. In change of habits and scenery he hoped to regain his lost vigor, but disease laid him low, and he was returned to his friends and home in this city to end his days. He died June 10, 1862, in the twenty-ninth year of his age.

For more than a year from the time of the resignation of Mr. Hibben, the church remained without a pastor. The pulpit was supplied by different divines until October 14, 1863, when Dr. W. E. MeLaren was elected to the pastorate. Ilis installation took place May 8, 1864, and he continued to preach until April, 1867, although he had re- signed and his resignation had been accepted in October, 1866. Dr. McLaren has since joined the Episcopalian church, and has been elected a bishop.

The next pastor of the Second Church was Rev. HI. V. D. Nevins, who was first engaged as stated supply June 10, 1867. In October of the same year he was elected pastor. His labors extended over a period of five years, nt the end of which time he resigned.

Rev. W. L. Green commenced his services as stated supply February 16, 1873. The 28th day of January following he was elected pastor, but was not installed until October 25, 1874. His resignation was tendered and accepted in February, 1875.

477

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

In 1872, an organ was put into the church at an expense of $1,808, and during the Summer of 1874, a lecture room was added to the church, the spire and tower were put up, and other improvements were made at a cost of upwards of $7,000.

Rev. Lewis O. Thompson, the present pastor, was called January 5, 1876, and was duly installed Thursday, May 4, 1876.

The Sabbath school connected with the church was organized January 1, 1854, with ten teachers and thirty-one scholars in attendance. The first officers were: John L. Griswold, superintendent; John A. McCoy, assistant; David W. Heron, secretary and treasurer ; and R. J. Swancoat, librarian.

The present membership of the church is 180. The elders in 1879 were J. C. Grier, John A. McCoy, D. McCulloch and A. H. Rugg. The Board of Trustees for the same year were : J. D. McClure, chairman, J. M. Rice, R. C. Grier, J. A. Chalmers, E. C. Ely, D. L. Bigham.

The Sunday school included 225 members, with Mr. A. H. Rugg as superintendent, and Mr. L. S. Winn as assistant, in 1879.

In connection with the Sabbath school, the ladies of the church have organized an Industrial school. It was commenced in 1870 and formally organized in 1871. It has for its objects the supplying of clothing to the destitute children connected with the Sabbath school and the teaching of the children to make their own garments. A good work has been accomplished by this school.

In January of 1876 a Mission Band was organized from the scholars of the Sabbath school. Its meetings are held monthly and its object is to learn by investigation the needs of the missionary world, to educate the children to take an interest in sending the gospel to the heathen, and by contributions to help the missionary work. The officers at its organization were Mrs. R. C. Grier, president ; Miss Maria L. Thrush, Miss Jessie L. Perry, Edward D. McCulloch and James Miles, vice presidents; Miss Annie Walker, secretary ; Norman Smith, corresponding secretary, and J. G. Hibben, treasurer.

Grace Presbyterian Church .- Grace Presbyterian Church is the outgrowth of a Sun- day school organized March 1, 1862, in a railroad car, on Water Street, near the foot of Clay. Mr. D. W. McWilliams, then a resident of Peoria and a prominent railroad man as well as a Sunday-school worker, was elected superintendent. At first there were about 20 scholars, but the number increased in a few Sundays so that two cars were re- quired. At the end of two months, by the aid of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, a building was erected on the corner of Green and Clay Streets. It was a one-story frame structure, 28x40 feet, and cost $800.

Two years later Mr. H. G. Marquand, of New York, donated $300 for the purpose of building an addition to be used as an infant class room. In 1866 the main building was extended and a room was built for the bible class, the whole improvement costing about $1,200. At this time the membership of the school was 400 pupils and 28 teachers.

December 1, 1866, Mr. Mc Williams removed to New York city, and Mr. G. H. Mc- Ilvaine was elected superintendent. Up to this date nothing but Sunday-school work had been attempted. The organization was known as the Fourth ward Mission Sunday school. It was in fact a mission school, for the teachers were from the various Christian churches in the city. In 1863 evening services were commenced in the Sunday-school room, conducted by the teachers and officers of the school. In the same year Rev. Mr. Doane accepted a call to preach in the embryo church. He had officiated but a short time when he was chosen chaplain of the 47th regiment, and left for the war. He after- wards died in hospital. The next five years' services were conducted by the officers and teachers. May 1, 1868, the church was duly organized. There were about twenty members who joined at the time of organization. Messrs. G. H. Mellvaine and Theodore

478

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

Higbie were elected elders. Rev. George N. Johnston, of Knoxville, was called to preach, but after a stay of three months declined the call.

In 1870 Rev. L. C. Littell preached to the church for three months, but for some reason at the end of that time severed his connection with the church.

The next pastor was Rev. W. D. Thomas, who first took charge as stated supply for six months. £ In 1873 he was formally elected pastor. He was never installed nor or-

dained, and finally resigned in February, 1874. An avowed discrepancy between the doctrines held by him and the tenets held by the Presbyterian Church had something to do with the failure to ordain this gentleman, and consequently with his resignation.

In the years 1873 and 1874 the present church building, corner of Wayne and Mad- ison Streets, was constructed. To this end Mr. Mc Williams donated 83,000; Mr. McIl- vaine donated the lot. The building is a very neat and commodious structure, built of wood. Besides the auditorium, there is a large Sunday-school room in the rear. The Sunday-school room is part of the old Clay Street church. There is an organ in the au- ditorium, and a good portion of the seats are raised. The cost of this improvement was about 810,000. After the society commenced worship in the new house, as it was no longer in the Fourth ward, it was decided to change the name to Grace Mission Church.

In the year 1875, Rev. W. W. Faris accepted a call to preach, and continued pastor of the church for two years, when he resigned to accept a call to go to Clinton, Illinois.

October 1, 1877. Rev. H. S. Beavis, the present incumbent, was called. Soon after his coming, as it was thought inappropriate to call a church that was self-sustaining a " Mis- sion," that portion of the name was dropped, and the church is now called " Grace Pres- byterian." There are at the present writing one hundred and fifty members in the church. Messrs. T. Higbie, George M. Bush, J. C. Lindsay, C. C. Lines and G. H. Mc- Ilvaine are the elders.

In the struggles of Grace church, from its humble beginning in a railroad car to the present, its faithful friends and constant supporters have been the present elders. Of these, Mr. Mellvaine being most gifted in speech, often preached during the early days when the church was without a pastor. So successful were his efforts in this direction, that many preferred to have him rather than to employ a regular minister. The support of these men has not consisted in words alone. It has taken a more substantial form, as the result will indicate.

Calvary Mission Church (Presbyterian) .- At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Second Presbyterian Church, in the year 1861, the matter of organizing a Mission Sabbath school was discussed, and Wm. Reynolds the present superintendent, and T. G. McCulloch, now living at Kankakce, Ill., agreed that they would endeavor to secure some suitable room, in which to organize a school. They secured a room in the second story of a building on Washington Street, between Walnut and Bridge Streets, and gave notice in the public schools and through the papers, that a Sunday school would be organized there, the next Sabbath. When that day came, the two gentlemen who had the matter in charge, repaired to the room with the expectation of seeing it crowded with children, but judge of their astonishment and disappointment, when they entered the hall, and found but seven children, and twelve teachers. To this humble beginning the Calvary Mission Church of to-day, owes its origin. U'ndiscouraged by the evident lack of interest in their undertaking, the two gentlemen redoubled their efforts to make known the existence of the school, and were rewurded by seeing thirty-six children in the hall on the next Sabbath. The attendance continued to increase until the Spring of 1864, when Mr. Reynolds assumed the entire charge of the school, and its place of meet- ing was changed to Bergan Hall, where they remained for two years. It was then deter- mined to erect a building for the school, securing a lot on the same block, but on Walnut Street, instead of Washington, and the superintendent of the school and Mr. John Wil- son, together united in erecting a building, 10x70, with an additional room, 25x35, for

479

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

an infant class, the whole at a cost of $6,000. Through the kindness of Mr. Chas. Bal- lance, a lease of the ground was given free of expense, for ten years. The house was soon filled with scholars, the number steadily increasing, until in 1875 during the Winter months, the school numbered nearly 500 scholars, twenty-seven teachers, and a most faithful secretary, William Semelroth. The Sunday school being thus prosperous, the superintendent was moved, to hold lay services in the building every Sabbath evening, and during the week. God blessed these labors, and it soon became apparent that a church must be organized in connection with the school. Accordingly the superintend- ent of the school had begun to look about for one, who should become pastor of the church when organized ; and through friends, he became acquainted with the present pastor, the Rev. John Weston, then in Chicago, just about completing his studies, in the " Theological Seminary of the Northwest." This was in 1867 and in April of that year he commenced his labors. Preaching was continued, with prayer-meetings through the week, during the months of April, May, and June, and on June 24, 1867, the Calvary Mission Church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Peoria, appointed at its Spring meeting for that purpose. The committee consisted of Rev. J. H. Morrow, then of the First Church, Peoria, and Rev. T. Stephenson, then of the church at Farm- ington, together with Elders Grier and Harvey. It was organized with twenty members, and has now an active membership of 330. Its growth has far surpassed the expecta- tions of its most devoted friends, and was such as to make the old building in which it originated too small. In view of this fact it was determined, early in the year 1876, to proceed at once to the erection of a new building. Lots were secured, and on the 17th day of April, 1876, ground was broken on the site where now stands their beautiful and commodious structure-a monument to God's faithfulness, and an evidence of the devo- tion, untiring energy and self-denial of the many willing hearts and hands connected with it. The corner-stone of the new church was laid, with appropriate ceremonies, on the afternoon of the 24th of June, 1876, on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the organization of the society. It was expected that the new building would be finished by the next Spring ; but it remained unfinished until the Spring of 1879, when, by the untiring zeal of the Women's Association, the kindness of outside friends, and in many cases the self-sacrifices of members, and last, but not least, the characteristic unselfish devotion of Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, who generously bestowed the silver dollars, given by their many friends on the occasion of their silver wedding, observed in connection with the twelfth anniversary of the organization of the church, and being the first assembly in the new church building, it was dedicated to the service of God on the 29th day of June, free from debt.

The annual contributions of the church for all religious purposes and causes of benevolence, including salary of pastor, expense of church, etc., are about $3,000.

The church has so far had but one pastor and the Sabbath school but one superin- tendent, and they have been signally favored in the choice of both. It is supported entirely by voluntary contributions, and the seats are uniformly free. The present officers of the church are Rev. John Weston, pastor ; William Reynolds, Dr. John Cary, Wm. Schroder, James Hemphill, William Wrigley, and James Waterhouse, elders ; Elijah Cassell, William Cutter, Isaac Coleman, and Chas. Johnson, deacons; Chas. T. Luthy, William Reynolds, Isaac Coleman, J. M. S. White, Thomas Love, and William Cutter, trustees; James A. Waterhouse, treasurer. The officers of the Sunday school are, William Reynolds, superintendent ; Elmer D. Love, secretary and treasurer ; Miss Jennie M. Butler, superintendent of infant class, and Miss Minnie Baum, secretary.

To promote the work of the church there is also in efficient working order three societies. They are known as -

1. THE YOKE FELLOWS.

2. THE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 3. THE MARYS AND MARTHAS.

480

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

The Yoke Fellows is composed of the young men of the church. The society was organized in 1875. The name, in a measure, indicates what was the primary object of the organization. The members were to go out two by two upon the Sabbath, and with tracts and papers distributed upon the streets, try to induce persons to attend church. Since their organization they have taken hold of the Mission Sunday-school work, and they now conduct four mission schools in the city and vicinity. The schools are known as -

HOPE MISSION, William Semelroth, superintendent.

FAITH MISSION, William Coleman, superintendent.

PLEASANT HILL MISSION, Donat Miller, superintendent.

OLIVET MISSION, James A. Waterhouse, superintendent.

This society also takes charge of the street preaching in connection with the church during the Summer months, and conducts other meetings in connection with their mis- sion schools.

Women's Association. - The Women's Association was organized September 17, 1876. Its object was to devise ways and means to further the erection of a new church building. During the three years of this organization they have collected, through written and verbal appeals and church entertainments, the sum of $5,000. Three thousand of this amount was given in payment for the lots on which the new church stands, and the re- maining two thousand was appropriated toward the building and furniture of the church.

The Marys and Marthas. - This society is composed of the young lady members of the congregation, and was organized in April, 1877. It has for its motto, " For Christ's Sake." The objects of the society are to advance the kingdom of Christ in connection with Calvary Mission Church ; to develop Christian activities and the spiritual growth of its members, and to facilitate the works of benevolence and love toward each other and the members of the church. It has two standing committees appointed annually and known as the Committee on Sociability and the Committee on Missionary Visitation. The care of the sick of the society is also attended to by a committee of two appointed weekly.

The New Church .- The first sermons of the New Church - commonly called Sweden - borgain, for the reason that the doctrines and philosophy by which it is governed, were disclosed from the Word by Emanuel Swedenborg -preached in Peoria, were by the Rev. Dr. Belding, in the Fall of 1841. The next were by the Rev. T. O. Prescott, in December, 1842, and in the following month Rev. George Field delivered a course of six lectures in the court-house, on the first ten chapters of Genesis, and five lectures on the doctrines of the New Church. These were the introduction of the New Church to this city.

The Peoria society of the New Church was first formed as a corporate body, for the purpose of legally holding property, in the Winter or Spring of 1846, with C. P. King, E. N. Powell, and Hervey Lightner, as trustees. At that time there was no place suitable for holding meetings to be had, they therefore erected a house of worship on Jefferson Street, near the corner of Hamilton. On the 3d of January, 1847, a church was organized consisting of fourteen members, and was formally instituted by Rev. Dr. Hibbard, now of Detroit, Mich., who then became its pastor, with John Hamlin, Hervey Lightner, and Dr. E. Dickerson, as executive committee. Since then the following gentlemen have served the society as pastors : Revs. N. C. Burnham, Thomas Storry, Jabez Fox, G. H. Marston, A. J. Bartells, G. F. Stearns, G. N. Smith, C. Hardon, and again the Rev. Dr. Hibbard. They continued to meet in their church on Jefferson Street till 1855, when their present edifice was built. It is located on Hamilton Street, between Jefferson and Madison Streets, and is a plain brick structure capped with stone, capable of seating 150 people. The cost, including lot, was 85,000. The present membership is sixty, but

481

HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY.

little more than half of whom reside in the city. The society has no pastor at the present time. The officers are, W. M. Dodge, president; H. Smith, secretary ; H. Light- ner, C. P. King, H. M. Van Buskirk, and A. Fitton, trustees.

Societies in their growth, like individuals, have various vicissitudes to pass through ; some prosperous, some adverse, and this society is no exception to the rule. For the last few years the removals and deaths have been about the same as the accessions; but the growth of the New Church itself is not to be estimated by the small number who meet in this or that place for instruction and encouragement in the performance of their Christian duties. These meeting places, like the ganglions in the nervous system of the human body, are but centers from which the living principles of the church are dis- tributed to all around them. Hence the general tendency of the sincere, rational, earnest, religious thought of the day, is in the direction of the doctrines of the New Church, and towards the cultivation of the spirit which animates them.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 77

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