The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 65

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Illinois > Adams County > The history of Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 65

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).

Joseph Alus

(DECEASED) QUINCY

461

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

will cost $60,000. The Rev. Horace Reed is the present pastor. He came to Quincy from Decatur in October, 1876. The church numbers three hundred and fifty members. Mr. J. W. Bomgardner is the superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has three hundred and fifty scholars.

THE TRINITY M. E. CHURCH.

The Trinity M. E. Church was organized in 1850 as a mission church, the Rev. Mr. Elliott, being the first pastor. The . society purchased a small frame building, 30x40 feet, on the corner of Jersey and Fifth streets, which had been erected by the Free Will Baptists. In 1851 the Rev. J. L. Crane assumed the pastorate, and during his ministry of three years the society purchased a lot and built a church, 30x60 feet, on the cor- ner of York and Fifth streets. They worshiped in this building until 1873, when they purchased the church now occupied by them on the corner of Jersey and Fifth streets of the Congregationalists, paying $11,000 for it. The Rev. I. B. Henry, who has until recently been located at Pittsfield, Ill., is now the officiating clergyman at the Trinity church. There are at present two hundred and fifty scholars in the Sunday-school, Clark Ander- son being superintendent, and two hundred in the church.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

St. Paul's Church was organized at the last session of the state confer- ence. It includes a number of the leading members of the denomination in Quincy, and there is every indication that it will become one of the leading Methodist churches of the city at no distant day. The society has leased the old Westminster Presbyterian Church for the present, but steps will be taken in the spring to secure a permanent place of worship. St. Paul's has a present membership of nearly fifty, the Rev. G. R. S. McEl- fresh, of Carlinville, being the pastor.

THE ARTUS CHAPEL SOCIETY.

The Artu's Chapel Society was organized in April, 1874, the deeds for the land on which the building stands-which was donated to the association by Messrs. Artus and Webster-being delivered on the 29th of that month. The property was conveyed to the incorporators, Messrs. Beard, Sinnock, Parsons, Hill and Weber, for the M. E. church. One condition of the gift was that the chapel should be erected immediately. Accordingly, the Rev. Peter Wallace, who was presiding elder of the district at that time, went to work, raised money, and had the handsome building com- pleted and ready for occupancy on the 13th of September of the same year. An effort was made to have it dedicated on that date, but this failed because it was not fully paid for. But it was immediately turned over to the Methodist Episcopal conference, which has provided a minister a part of the time since until recently ; but all of the time it has been kept np as a mission Sunday-school. Within the past month the bishop of this confer- ence has authorized the Rev. Peter Wallace to discharge the duties of min- ister at the chapel at such times as his other duties will permit him to do so. The ground occupied by Artus Chapel is on Twentieth, between Hampshire and Vermont streets, 100x400 feet. The building cost abont $2,000.

462

THE GERMAN M. E. CHURCH.

In 1845 a few of the German members of the Vermont street M. E. church organized the German M. E. church, the original members num- bering but seven, all of whom have since died or moved away from the city. Mr. George Schultheis and Mr. J. Kinkel and others joined soon after the organization, however, and in 1846 a small brick meeting-house, forty feet square, was built on Jersey street, between Fifth and Sixth, where the present church is situated. The Rev. Philip Barth, the first minister, remained but two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Wm. Schreck. The Rev. Mr. Huebner, the Rev. S. Barth, and a number of others have occupied the pulpit, the Rev. E. C. Magaret, who came here in 1875, now being the minister. The present brick church, which is 40x60 feet in size, was built in 1854, at a cost of $6,000. During the present year it has been enlarged and improved to the amount of $1,700.

THE BETIIEL MISSION.

The congregation worshiping in the Bethel Mission chapel, at Jeffer- son and Twelfth streets, was organized seven years ago. The Rev. Henry Thomas was the first minister, remaining for three years, followed by the Rev. Jacob Feisel, for one year ; and last fall came the Rev. Mr. Talenhorst, the present pastor. Among the prominent and well-known members are Jno. Fischer, C. Brante, Adam Fick, A. H. Schroeder, and Chris. Weiss. The church is of brick, and when first put up cost $3,500 ; but since then an addition worth $1,500, and a parsonage costing $1,400, have been added. The ground is worth $2,000. The Bethel Mission has a large Sunday- school.

THE PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCH.

The Protestant Methodist was one of the earliest churches formed in Quincy, its organization dating back to the year 1836. There were but eight original members, Mr. Joel Rice being the only one now living. Ser- vices were held for a short time in a small frame building on the south side of Maine street, between Third and Fourth, and also on Jersey street, east of Fifth. The Rev. William Miller was the first minister, and during his pastorate the society met in the school-house on Fifth street, where the old court-house is now located. About the year 1839 the society built a frame church, 30x50 feet in size, on Broadway, between Sixth and Seventh, at a cost of about $1,500. The membership was materially increased, and for a number of years this church occupied a prominent place among the religi- ous organizations of the city. In 1865 the numbers had become so much reduced by death and the removal of the members from Quiney that the society was disbanded and the church building removed.

THE SOUTHERN METHODIST SOCIETY.

The Southern Methodist Society, which passed out of existence as a church nearly twenty-five years ago, was organized in 1847, by Bishop Mar- vin. Among the early members were Mr. E. W. Clowes, Mr. Best, Mr. Price and wife, and others, nearly all of whom have since died. Services were held for a short time in the Free Will Baptist church, on Fifth street, but the society afterwards built a small brick church on the east side of Fourth street, between Jersey and York, which was afterward occupied by

463

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

the Christian society, and is now used as a dwelling. At the end of five or six years, the church had become so much reduced by death and the removal of the members from the city that the society was disbanded.

THE AFRICAN M. 'E. CHURCH.

The first church organized by the colored people in Quincy was the African Methodist Episcopal, which was formed in 1850. Meetings were held in a small frame building on the corner of Fifth and Jersey streets, but the society was small and not very prosperous. In 1853 the church was reorganized, however; soon after, the lot where the present church is located, on Oak street, between Ninth and Tenth, was purchased, and a small frame building put up at a cost of about $1,000. In 1863, during the pastorate of the Rev. Henry Brown, of Springfield, an addition was built, and the society received a large number of new members. A day school was car- ried on in connection with the church. In 1866 the building was destroyed by fire and services were held for a time in the old First Baptist Church until the completion of the building now occupied by the society. It is built of brick, is eighty feet long by forty feet wide, the value of the prop- erty being $4,000. The Rev. Mr. Derrick is now pastor, the church hav- ing a membership of one hundred and sixty.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Last winter the First Presbyterian society lost by fire their new church building which stood on the corner of Eighth street and Broadway. It was completed and just ready for occupancy when the calamity occurred. It is to be rebuilt on the old plan, and it is hoped will be completed within the year. The foundation was laid during the fall of 1876. It was of gothic architecture, and was built entirely of stone. The extreme dimen- sions are 11Sx69 feet, the stone spire being 156 feet in height. The audi- torium is 64x76 feet in size, and had a seating capacity of over 800. In the arrangement of seats care was taken to have them all face the pulpit, and the floor rises gradually from the pulpit to a point near the front of the church, where the ascent becomes more abrupt, the last few rows of pews being over the vestibule. By this arrangement all of the space in the interior of the church as far back as the front wall was made available for seats. The lecture-room, which was on the first floor, was 58 feet long by 43 feet wide; the church parlors and pastor's study were also on this floor. Steam was used for heating the building. The cost of the church completed was $50,000, and the total value of the church property was $65,000. The history of the First Presbyterian society has been marked by steady progress and uninterrupted prosperity. The preliminary meeting for organization was held at the old land office of Mr. Hoffman, Dec. 17, 1839. On the 13th of the following January another meeting was held at the same place, when twelve persons banded themselves together, taking the name of the First Presbyterian Church, Messrs. A. M. Hoffman, Levi Wells, and Phillip Skinner being elected elders. Of the original members six are now living: Mr. Samuel P. Church, Mr. Robert Tillson, Mr. and Mrs. Clark B. Church, Mrs. J. K. Webster and Mrs. Anna Wells. Jan. 19, 1840, the church was publicly instituted in the old court-honse, the Rev. Mr. Cole, of Payson, and the Rev. Mr. Nichols, of Columbus, offici- ating. Services were held for a time in the old court-house, and afterward 30

464

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

in the basement of the First Baptist Church. on Fourth street, the Rev. Mr. Marks having assumed the pastorate, March 4, 1840. It was during this year that the brick church now occupied by the society was commenced, the Rev. Dr. Nelson assisting in laying the corner-stone. The church was not completed until two years later, however. At the time the view from the porch in front of the church to the public square was unobstructed, and soon after the trustees considered measures to prevent the erection of a building on Maine street, between Fifth and Sixth, which would shut out the view of the square. In 1851 the building was enlarged by an addition of thirty feet, and has remained as it was then finished until the present time, the property being worth about $15,000.

This church has had but four pastors. The Rev. Mr. Marks closed his labors in 1855, and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. King, who occupied the pulpit until July 1, 1867. After him came the Rev. Dr. Priest, who remained until May 1, 1875, when the present pastor, the Rev. Newman Smyth, came to Quincy from Bangor, Maine. Since the organization over 900 persons have been connected with this church. The present member- ship is 350. Mr. J. W. Stewart is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which numbers 300 scholars.

WESTMINSTER CHURCH.

Westminster Church was organized in 1853, there being at that time about twenty members. Services were first held in the old Episcopal Church, where Col. Morton's residence now stands. In 1854 the building was moved to Sixth street, near the corner of Maine, and reconstructed and repaired. The Rev. William MeCandish was the first minister, his con- nection with the church terminating in 1858. After he left, the society had no regular pastor for some time, Dr. Warren being the next to occupy the pulpit. He remained four years and was followed by the Rev. James A. Piper. The society built the church on Hampshire street, between Ninth and Tenth, at a cost of $3,500, the Hon. O. H. Browning donating the lot. The Rev. S. B. Holmes, the last regular pastor, came to Quincy in 1873 and remained two years. In 1875 the society was reunited with the First Presbyterian Church, and the church property reverted to that organization.

SPRUCE STREET CHURCH.

Spruce Street Church, which was organized in the old Sixth Street Temple, has removed from its temporary location and built a neat and com- fortable little church on Spruce street, between Sixth and Seventh. The building will hold about 300 people, and is built with a view to adding a transept in the near future, which will about double its capacity. The first public service at the new church was held Nov. 18, 1877. The Rev. J. P. Dawson is the pastor.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

July 4, 1835, the first meeting of the residents of Quincy of the Bap- tist denomination was held for the purpose of organizing a church. The initial steps were then taken, but the church was not fully organized until the 29th of the following month, at a meeting held at the residence of Mr. R. Turner. There were three ministers present at this meeting, the Revs. John Clark, Alvin Baily and C. Greenleaf. The persons constituting the

465

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

church were Ebenezer Turner, Reuben Turner, Henry Burrell, J. T. Os- good, A. C. Lightfoot, Eliza A. Lightfoot, Mary T. Turner, and Charlotte Burrell. The following soon after united with those already named: Sam- nel Davis, Abigail Davis, the Rev. Ezra Fisher, Lucy Fisher, Mary Turner, Andrews Seger, Ann Seger, Mary Pease, and Rebecca Pease. Mr. Ebe- nezer Turner and John Brown were ordained deacons. Meetings were held for a time at the old Safford school-house, corner Fifth and Jersey streets, and at the residences of the members of the church, the Rev. E. Fisher being the first pastor. Aug. 13, 1836, the church was admitted to the Salem association. In 1837 the lot on Fourth street, between Hamp- shire and Vermont, where Hauworth, Orr & Hodgdon's planing mill now stands, was purchased and a small frame church was built. Great sacrifices were made to complete the church, as none of the members were wealthy, but many of them gave nearly all they possessed to finish the building. It is said that Mr. Ebenezer Turner donated $500 in cash-a large amount in those early days-which was all the money he had. The Rev. Mr. Fisher remained with the church until 1840, when the Rev. E. C. Brown accepted a aell. his ministry continuing for five years. He was succeeded by the Rev. S. S. Parr, who remained two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Aaron Jackson. In 1848 the Rev. W. W. Keep accepted the pastorate, and during that year the church was enlarged and greatly improved. He remained until 1855, and for nearly three years after his resignation the church was without a regular minister. In 1858 the Rev. J. V. Scofield became pastor, and he was succeeded in 1863 by the Rev. C. E. Bristol, who joined the army as chaplain in 1864. The church was again without a pastor for a short time, but in 1865 the Rev. John Kelly was called, and in 1866 the Rev. S. A. Taft became pastor. In 1870 the pulpit was filled by the Rev. A. B. Miller, who was followed by the Rev. W. D. Clark. In the winter of 1872 the society purchased the church now occupied by them of the Congregationalists, paying $26,000 for it. The present pastor, the Rev. Charles Whiting, D. D., came to Quincy in January, 1874, from Ft. Scott, Kas. The church at the present time has a membership of 200. The Sun- day-school has 300 scholars, Mr. F. A. Everett being superintendent.

VERMONT STREET CHURCH.

Vermont Street Church is an outgrowth of the First Baptist Church , and was organized April 27, 1856, with forty-two members. The trustees were Messrs. E. Gove, John Seaman, A. C. Lightfoot, C. M. Pomroy, and J. C. Bernard, and the deacons were Messrs. C. M. Pomroy, J. C. Bernard, H. N. Lewis, and O. J. Fletcher. The church now occupied by the society, cor- ner Vermont and Seventh streets, was completed in the fall of 1857, and was dedicated Oct. 7th, of that year. The Rev. Joseph R. Manton was the first pastor, his labors continuing until July, 1860. Since that. time the church has had but five regular pastors. The Rev. H. M. Gallaher from 1860 to 1864; the Rev. Frank Remington from 1864 to 1866; the Rev. Thomas . W. Goodspeed from 1866 to 1872; the Rev. F. D. Rickerson from 1872 to 1876; the Rev. J. B. English from 1876 to 1877. The present membership is 300. Mr. J. M. Hyman is the superintendent of the Sun- day-school, which numbers 200 scholars. The church and parsonage is valued at $40,000.

SPRUCE STREET CHAPEL.

Spruce Street Chapel was built by the Vermont Street Church in 1869, for a mission school, Mr. Charles H. Spencer being the first superintend-

466

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

ent. It is located on the corner of Spruce and Fifth streets, and cost, with the lot, $3,200. . Mr. R. W. Gardner, who has always manifested a deep. interest in the chapel, is the present superintendent, the school numbering 125 scholars.

THE GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH.

The only German Baptist Church in the city is situated on the corner of Tenth and Washington streets. It is a little brick building, put up in 1873, costing, with the lot, $2,700. The membership numbers only twenty- three. The church was organized in 1849, and first held services in the church on the corner of Jersey and Eighth streets, now used by the colored people, to whom it was sold in 1867. The German Baptists had built it just after forming their society. The first minister which presided over this congregation was the Rev. Mr. Gladfelt. He was here when the original church was erected. The present pastor is the Rev. Charles Ross, who came to Quincy three years since. The church has a flourishing Sun- day-school. Few, if any, of the early members of the church are now con- nected with it, they having nearly all died or removed from the city. Of the dozen who formed the church were Mr. Hintze, Mr. Linke, Mr. Doescher, and Mr. Huksal.

THE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Free Will Baptist Church is known only to the early settlers of Quincy, as it ceased to exist thirty years ago. In the fall of 1843 the society was organized by the Rev. C. M. Sewell, a missionary from the east, there being at that sime twelve members. During the fall and winter of that year the meetings were held in the second story of a small building on Jersey street. In the following spring a frame church, 30x40 feet, was built on the corner of Jersey and Fifth streets, at a cost of $1,500. Among the early members of the society were Deacon Brown, Nicholas and John Bickford, W. Lyford, Mrs. DeCrow, D. G. Stockwell and wife, S. B. Stev- ens and Benjamin Cate. In 184S the society was disbanded, owing to the removal of a number of the leading members from the city.

JERSEY STREET BAPTIST CHURCHI (COLORED).

In 1865 the colored people formed the Jersey Street Baptist Church, with fifty-five members. The Rev. Henry Mosely was the first minister, and services were first held in the building on the corner of Maine and Sixth streets, which was also used during the war by the Needle Pickets. It was afterward removed and is now used by E. M. Miller & Co. In 1866 the church now occupied by the society, corner Jersey and Eighth streets, was purchased for $1,500, and was improved soon after to the amount of $800. The Rev. G. G. Robinson, of Virginia, is the present minister, the church having a membership of 170. There are 110 scholars in the Sun- day-school, Mr. Martin Hammond being superintendent. The church is a frame building, 40x60, and will seat about 400 persons.

EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

St. John's Church, the first Episcopal parish organized in Quincy, was formed in 1837 by Bishop Chase, there then being eight or nine communi- cants, Mr. Seth C. Sherman being one of the original members. Services were held for a time in the old land-office building on the corner of Hamp-

Seguros

QUINCY

467

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

shire and Sixth streets, also at the residence of Mr. DeHaven, and occa- sional meetings were held at the residence of Mr. Avise, and in the build- ing then known as the "Lord's Barn." The first church was built in 1837-38, on Sixth street, between Hampshire and Vermont, on a part of a lot now occupied by Col. Morton's residence. It was a neat little frame building, which would accommodate between 300 and 400 persons. The first rector of the church was the Rev. John Selwood, a missionary; the first rector deriving no support from missions, and succeeding Mr. Sel- wood, was the Rev. Geo. P. Giddinge, D. D., who retained the rectorship for over twenty years. Services were held on Sixth street until the com- pletion of the handsome church, or a part of the church, now occupied by the parish on the corner of Hampshire and Seventh streets, in 1849. It cost $10,000 as first built, but in 1867 it was completed as it now stands, at an additional expense of $10,000. The building is entirely of stone, is of the early English style of architecture, and is one of the most beautiful in the city. The church property, including the fine organ, is valued at $60,000. The Rev. Ritchie is at present priest in charge and superintend- ent of the Sunday-school. The church has 150 communicants, and there are 125 scholars in the Sunday-school.

GOOD SHEPHERD MISSION.

The enterprise which resulted in the formation of the parish of the Good Shepherd, was inaugurated by a few persons as a mission Sunday- school, in June, 1870. Five children and two ladies, together with five teachers, composed the first assembly, which was held in a frame building near the corner of York and Seventh streets, the building being afterward destroyed by fire. The school rapidly increased in numbers, however, and at the end of a few months services were held in the brick building on the southeast corner of York and Seventh streets.

At a meeting held Jan. 23, 1871, the Good Shepherd parish was orga- nized. The church now occupied by the parish, on Twelfth street, between Maine and Hampshire, was commenced during the year, and was consecra- ted (being free from debt) by the late Bishop Whitehouse in the spring of 1872. The church cost $10,500, the lot on which it stands being donated by Mr. John L. Moore. That gentleman afterward purchased and deeded to the bishop of Illinois, the dwelling adjoining on the north, for a par- sonage. The church is a handsome frame building of purely Gothic archi- tecture, and will seat 350 persons. A feature of the building is the mag- nificent memorial windows, painted from original designs by Duremus, there being no finer work of the kind in any church in this country. The chancel window is a memorial to the late Rev. Dr. Giddinge, whose labors so materially advanced the interests of the church. The triple window in the western end is a memorial to the children of Mr. and Mrs. James P. Erskine. The total value of the church property is $17,000. There are at present 121 communicants. The Rev. Dr. Corbyn has been the rector since the organization of the parish, and he is also the superintendent of e Sunday-school.

ST. ALBAN'S CHAPEL.

St. Albans is a neat brick chapel, corner Spruce and Twenty-second stets, and was built and is sustained by Mr. John L. Moore. It was com- pleted Nov. 1, 1875, at a cost of $1,600, and is 20x30 feet in size. Mr.

468

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Moore conducts the chapel services, which are held regularly each Sabbath.

Efforts have been made by the Episcopalians of the State from time to time to effect a division of the diocese of Illinois, as it was considered much too large for the supervision of a single bishop. Until recently, how- ever, the movement has met with indifferent success. During the summer of 1877 the question of a division was again brought before the diocese of Illinois, and the convention at Chicago voted to divide the State into three dioceses, making Quincy, Chicago and Springfield the See cities. At the general convention held in Boston, in October, the action of the State con- vention was ratified. According to this division the Quincy diocese com- prises the territory west of the Illinois river, and south of the southern boundary line of Lee and Whiteside counties. It contains twenty-three parishes, several mission stations and three church institutions, viz .: Lind- say church home, in this city; St. Mary's school for girls, at Knoxville, and Jubilee college, Robins Nest, Peoria county. St. John's parish has deeded St. John's Church to the bishop for a cathedral, and the work of organizing the diocese was perfected by selecting the Rev. Alexander Burgess, of Massachusetts, as the bishop. He delivered his inaugural sermon in the following June.

As the dioceses are now named from the See city, this diocese will for- ever be known as the diocese of Quincy. The formation of this diocese, therefore, marks an important point in the church history of Quincy, as it not only links it to the old, historic cities of the past, but gives assurance that the name will be carried down through the ages as long as the church has a history. Quiney will always be a cathedral city, and the presiding bishop will always be known as the Bishop of Quincy; thus giving the city a prominence in the history of the church to which it could not otherwise attain.

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 Adams County Illinois : containing a history of the county - its cities, towns, etc. a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion; general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 65

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps Number of Pages: 1254

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Murray, Williamson & Phelps
Number of Pages: 1254