Church History: Townships
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Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Volume I, pages 191-201, submitted by Janine Crandell
CHILLICOTHE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Some of the records of this church having been destroyed it is not possible to
ascertain to a certainty the earliest date at which Methodist ministers preached
at Chillicothe, but September 29, 1851, John Chandler was appointed presiding
elder and R. H. Moffitt pastor of the circuit to which Chillicothe was attached
and it is said there was then quite a flourishing class, and that the church
organization was formed about 1850 with about twenty members. Services were at
first held in a schoolhouse. In 1852 the congregation purchased a lot on the
corner of Beech and Fourth streets upon which a parsonage was at once erected.
Later they erected a church, which was dedicated December 28, 1856, Rev. Milton
L. Haney preaching the dedicatory sermon. The parsonage continued to be used in
its original form until 1892, when it was remodeled. The first church building
continued in use until 1898, when during the pastorate of Rev. D. B. Johnson,
the present church was built on the corner of Chestnut and Sixth streets, at a
cost of about $8,000 and at the time of building, was the largest and finest
church in the city.
While it is uncertain as to just when the earliest services were held, and
consequently the names of pastors prior to September, 1851, cannot be
ascertained, since that time the following have served in that capacity: R. H.
Moffitt, William Atchison, I. B. Craig, James Cowden, A. J. Jones, J. S.
Millsap, D. S. Main, S. L. Hamilton, Benjamin Applebee, J. A. Windsor, J. C.
Price, W. B. Frazelle, M. H. Shepherd, G. I. Bailey, J. H. Sanders, H. I. Brown,
J. A. Windsor, Thos. Chipperfield, E. N. Bentley, G. M. Webber, R. W. Ames, Wm.
Crapp, A. R. Jones, A. M. Lumkin, O. M. Dunlevy, B. E. Kaufman, D. B. Johnson,
T. A. Beal, John Rogers, B. F. Eckly and the present pastor W. D. Benjamin, who
is now, January, 1912, serving his second year.
The church is in a prosperous condition, the number of members reported to the
conference of 1911 being one hundred eighty-five; Sunday school officers and
teachers sixteen and scholars, two hundred seventy-eight, with an Epworth League
of fifty members, and a Junior League of fifty members.
In connection with the Chillicothe church and served by the same pastor is the...[next
section]
HALLOCK TOWNSHIP, BLUE RIDGE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This is probably the most peculiar church in the Central Illinois conference. To
the conference session of 1911, it was reported as having eight members with a
Sunday school consisting of ten officers and teachers and forty scholars.
Nevertheless, it is an old organization which has been maintained for more than
seventy years. In 1841, a schoolhouse was built in the north part of Hallock
township, a short distance southeast of Lawn Ridge, and a revival service was
held in it, which resulted in forming a Methodist class, and Blue Ridge has been
an appointment in the conference ever since.
On April 14, 1849, John Ferguson, Isaiah Nurse, Jacob Booth, George Nurse and
William R. Will were elected trustees and empowered to secure funds and build a
church. They secured in cash and labor $787.80 and the church was enclosed and
used for worship, but was not completed and dedicated until 1856, when it was
dedicated by John Chandler, P. E. This structure served the people more than
forty years when on February 22, 1898, a farewell service was held
and the time worn and weather beaten old building was torn down. A new structure
was built by the combined energy of Rev. D. C. Martin and the loyal people and
was dedicated September 4th, 1898, by F. W. Merrill, P. E., now of the Rock
River conference. John Chandler was the first preacher and W. D. Benjamin the
present pastor.
In the summer of 1856, a church was built on the land of David Shane, Sr., about
three miles south of Lawn Ridge, and was dedicated under the name of Mount
Hedding Methodist Episcopal church, by Rev. Henry Summers. The principal movers
in this project were, David Shane, Sr., Isaac Weidman, and John Ferguson. Some
years later it was decided to move the building to Lawn Ridge, which was done in
the spring of 1871, and it was re-dedicated July 22d of that year, and was
afterward known as the Lawn Ridge Methodist church. For some reason this church
seems to have ceased to exist, as no mention is now made of it in the conference
minutes. (Excerpt from the Peoria, City and
County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NORTHAMPTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This church is in Hallock township at the village of Northampton a few miles
west of north from the city of Chillicothe. A Methodist class was organized
here in 1851 and services held in a schoolhouse until 1871, when a church was
built. The circuit relations of the church were changed quite often and no
records are available.
Services are not now held in the church building, which is controlled by the
trustees of Chillicothe church, and the people probably worship with the
members of that church. (Excerpt from the
Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Seventh-Day Baptist Church, West Hallock
Atlas of Peoria County, Illinois (1873)
submitted by Janine Crandell
PRINCEVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
From the days of the early '30s Princeville had the preaching of the circuit
riders. In those days, known as Prince's Grove, it was on the Peoria circuit,
which extended to Lafayette, Princeton, and near to La Salle and back to Peoria.
Stephen R. Beggs states that the first preaching service was in 1833 by T. Hall.
However, there must be an error in the name and it must have been Zadoc Hall who
was on the Peoria circuit at that time. However there was no class formed at
that time.
On the 2d of April, 1838, Rev. John Hill came from the state of New York to
Illinois and arrived at Princeville. At the time of his arrival he found but one
Methodist sister in the neighborhood. He found here a great opening for
ministerial work and commenced work in good earnest and preaching in the
neighborhood, he soon formed a class of nine persons.
In 1841, William Pitner was appointed to Peoria circuit and held a camp meeting
at Princeville. At the first the circuit riders preached in Aunt Jane Morrow's
fine log cabin, on the northwest quarter of section 30, of Akron township;
then in the old log schoolhouse; then in the stone schoolhouse. In March, 1842,
at a two days' meeting in the house of Ebenezer Russell, a boy a little less
than ten years old was converted. That boy matured into the grand old minister
Joseph S. Cumming, now, January, 1912, pastor of the Second Methodist Episcopal
church, Moline, Illinois, at the age of about eighty-one.
The first Methodist church building was commenced in 1853 and completed the
following year on lots 1 and 2 block 16 and was later sold to the Seventh Day
Adventists. The next church was built in 1867 on lots 7 and 8, block 24 (Edward
Anten's Academy building) and used until the erection of the edifice corner of
South and Clark streets in 1889.
The preachers, many of whom were circuit riders, have been Z. Hall, J. Hill,
Pitner, Whitman, William C. Cumming, Beggs, Chandler, B. C. Swartz, T. F. Royal,
J. W. Stogdill, John Luccock, U. J. Giddings, J. B. Craig, H. N. Gregg,
C. B. Couch, P. T. Rhodes, J. B. Mills, J. S. Millsap, Ahab Keller, W. J. Beck,
G. W. Brown, S. B. Smith, John Cavett, M. Spurlock, G. W. Havermale, E. Wasmuth,
J. Collins, W. B. Carithers, W. D. H. Young, Stephen Brink, J. S. Millsap, M. V.
B. White, H. M. Laney, F. W. Merrill, Alexander Smith, R. B. Seaman, J. D.
Smith, J. E. Conner, J. Rogers, R. L. Vivian, L. F. Cullom, N. J. Brown, T. A.
Beal and the present pastor J. W. Pruen. Princeville was made a station in 1889.
The membership of the church September 1st, 1911, was two hundred eleven; of
Sunday school, eighteen officers and teachers, and one hundred thirty-five
scholars; Epworth League, thirty. (Excerpt from
the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
Brimfield Episcopalian Church
Submitted by Sandy MacDonald
BRIMFIELD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
On November 1st, 1836, Rev. Zadoc Hall organized the first Methodist class in
the village of Brimfield. The members of the first class were: L. L. Guyer, who
remained a member of the church continuously until his death a few years ago,
Isaac Harrison, Francis J. Hoyt, Ephraim Hoyt, Benjamin F. Berry and Polly W.
Berry, Sarah Harrison, David Stansberry, Susanah Stansberry and Susan Stansberry,
Martha Johnston, Margaret Johnston, Catherine Johnston, Jacob Snider, Catherine
Snider, Samuel Snider, Eliza Martin and Susan Wills. Samuel Snider was chosen
class leader.
At this time the circuit was called Kickapoo Mission with twenty-eight preaching
points, and embracing the entire northern part of the state requiring three
hundred miles' travel to get over it, which traveling was usually done on
horseback. In consequence, Rev. Hall reached this place once in four weeks.
In the year 1848, a new church building was commenced and the corner stone was
laid in August of that year, the Rev. A. E. Phelps officiating. The following
year the building was completed and paid for. This building was of brick, 28 by
44 feet in size, well finished and seated, being a very great improvement over
the log cabins and barns which had previously served the people as places of
worship.
In the year 1876 an addition of brick was built, new pews and furniture
procured, and the church carpeted, at an outlay of about $2,200. Thus improved
and enlarged, the building satisfied the needs of the church until the year
1910, when it was torn down and a new and modern church edifice erected, with
modern conveniences, and carpeted throughout, at a cost of $7,000. Within the
year ending September, 1911, $1,417 had been expended in betterments and
improvements, so that with the lot the church property was valued at $10,500,
while the congregation also own a parsonage valued at $3,500.
Owing to the loss of certain records, it is not possible to give fully and
correctly the succession of preachers, but commencing with the fall of 1857 the
following is practically correct, the dates being from conference session to
conference session.
J. S. Millsap, 1857-58; John Luccock, 1859-61; S. G. J. Worthington, 1862-65;
Peter Warner, 1865-68; A. Bower, 1868-70; 1870-74, no record; Rev. F. Smith,
1874-77; William E. Stevens, 1877-78; T. J. Wood, 1878-79; W. K. Collins,
1879-81; Stephen Brink, 1881-83; James Ferguson, 1883-86; G. W. Arnold, 1886-88;
D. S. McCown, 1888-90; W. J. Minium, 1890-92; C. L. Davenport, 1893-95; W. H.
Clark, part of 1895; John W. Denning, 1895-98; J. E. Mercer, 1898-1903; G. F.
Snedaker, 1903-05; M. P. Lackland, 1905-09; R. W. Ames, 1909-10; and E. J.
Sellard, present pastor from 1910.
This church was made a separate station at the session of the Central Illinois
conference held in Peoria, September, 1911.
Membership, two hundred; Sunday school officers and teachers, twenty-eight;
scholars, two hundred twenty-four; members of Epworth League, seventy-four.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
Other Brimfield Churches
click on thumbnails... | |
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Baptist Church and Parsonage | Congregational Church |
submitted by Sandy MacDonald | |
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Brimfield United Methodist Church
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ELMWOOD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Like almost every other Methodist church, in early days, this church began with
a class, organized some time prior to the year 1850, in the home of Absalom
Kent, who then lived a short distance to the southwest of the present location
of Elmwood near a grove known as Harkness' Grove. In this vicinity most of the
early comers had settled and here were located the homes, and probably a shop
and store.
Of the first members of the first Methodist class, there is record of Absalom
Kent and wife, Abner Smith and wife, Eliza Smith, David Morey and wife, John
Jordan and wife, and Rufus Kent and wife. This preaching point seems to have
been at first designated as Kent, and was connected with the Canton circuit.
Later it was in the Farmington circuit. At first, the people here, as elsewhere,
worshiped in private homes; afterwards in an upper room over Mr. Snyder's store.
David Morey was the first class leader.
In September, 1854, such an adjustment was made of circuits as to form the
Elmwood circuit, with Jervis G. Evans assigned as preacher in charge, the
preaching place having been removed, the previous spring to the village of
Elmwood, then consisting of but few houses. The circuit at that time had the
following points, or preaching places: Elmwood, Gould's about where Yates City
now is, Remington's school house, near Maquon, the Stone house, near Spoon
river, north of Elmwood and French creek. Rev. Jervis G. Evans was later, for
some years, president of Hedding College.
In the spring of 1855 the congregation began the erection of a church building
on Silock street which was completed and dedicated in the fall of the same year
by Rev. Silas Bolles, of Chicago, who had recently been for two years, pastor of
the First church in Peoria.
This first church building served the people until 1893 when a new building was
erected on Main street at a cost of $10,000.
The first distinctively Methodist Sunday school was organized in the first
church building shortly after its erection, with Francis Minor as its first
superintendent.
The pastors who served Elmwood circuit were: J. G. Evans, 1854; A. Magee, 1856;
A. Magee and George R. Palmer, 1857; Milton L. Haney and J. W. Stewart, 1858; M.
L. Haney and P. Spurlock, 1860; B. C. Swartz and George W. Gue, 1861; A. Magee
and C. B. Couch, 1862; William Watson, 1863. In 1865 Yates City was joined with
Elmwood with J. H. Sanders as pastor. Martin D. Heckard was appointed in 1866;
T. C. Workman, 1868; T. E. Webb, 1869; W. B. Frazelle, 1871, T. S. Falkner,
1873; James Ferguson, 1876; J. T. McFarland, 1879; R. B. Williams, 1880; E. P.
Hall, 1882; R. R. Pierce, 1883; W. B. Alexander, 1884; J. W. Denning, 1885; H.
K. Metcalf, 1888; O. T. Dwinell, 1893; M. A. Head, 1898; J. A. Riason, 1899; J.
S. Gumming, 1900; N. J. Brown, 1903; J. B. Bartle, 1906, and A. E. Ioder the
present pastor in 1910. This church has been served by some of the best
preachers in the conference.
Rev. J. B. Dille, for many years an honored member of Central Illinois
conference, passed away at his home in Elmwood, November 30, 1911.
Rev. H. K. Metcalf was pastor when the church was built and under the pastorate
of O. T. Dwinell the following year a new parsonage was built.
Membership total, one hundred ninety-six; Sunday school officers and teachers,
twenty-one; and scholars, two hundred forty-nine; Epworth League, forty; Junior
League, fifty members. (Excerpt from the Peoria,
City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
TRIVOLI METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Trivoli work is known as Trivoli circuit, Wrigley Chapel and Graham Chapel,
both in Rosefield township being connected with the Trivoli church and served by
the same pastor.
In 1838, in a newly built schoolhouse, a Methodist class was organized. The
first church was built in 1851. The first pastor was a Rev. Mr. Emery. The
pastors of which there is any record, following the first were Revs. Smith,
Milton L. Haney, Richard Haney in 1860, H. I. Brown in 1863. Rev. R. H. Figgins
is the present pastor.
The membership on the circuit is given as one hundred sixty-one; Sunday school
officers and teachers, forty; and scholars, one hundred fifty; with one Epworth
League with forty-two members. There are three churches and one parsonage. A new
church was built in Trivoli in 1910, at a cost of $10,000.
There is another Methodist Episcopal church in Trivoli township located on the
northeast quarter of section 30. It is known as the Concord church, and is on a
circuit with two churches in Fulton county. It has a small membership, and
maintains a Sunday school. The circuit is at present served by Ernest Shult as a
supply. (Excerpt from the Peoria, City and
County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
Trivoli United Methodist Church
submitted by Janine Crandell
ROSEFIELD TOWNSHIP, ON TEXAS PRAIRIE; WRIGLEY CHAPEL
was organized in 1854 with a membership of ten. Joseph Dunn was class leader. Robert Wrigley and Henry Robins were first trustees and Rev. J. M. Snyder first pastor. They worshipped in a schoolhouse until 1860, when they built a frame house of worship at a cost of about $1,600. One of the early preachers was Rev. Mr. Wyckoff, father of Professor Wyckoff, now of Bradley institute.
was organized in 1860. Rev. Richard Haney was the first circuit preacher to
serve this church. Statistics of membership and Sunday schools are included with
Trivoli church. Rev. R. H. Figgins is the present pastor.
A Methodist church which has been known as the Rosefield church was organized
about the year 1844, with twelve members, located about three miles north of
Hanna City. The first house of worship was built in 1844 but in 1874 it was
abandoned and a new church erected across the road at a cost of $1,650. This
church is now familiarly known as the Cottonwood church. In its churchyard many
of the early settlers are buried. Among these are Thomas Edwards and wife, Dr.
J. H. Wilkinson and wife, Ed Edwards and wife, David Harper and wife and
Sylvester Edwards and wife. (Excerpt from the
Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
Cottonwood Church
(1874-1921)
Picture taken Oct. 23, 2004
Another church of the denomination was organized in 1837 and erected a building
known as the Combs meeting house on section 14, which appears to have been the
first church organized in the township. It has long since been abandoned.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
This society was organized in 1845. The congregation held their meetings in a
schoolhouse until 1858, when they erected a church building, the congregation
then numbering sixty. The building cost about $1,200.
Oak Hill and Cottonwood churches are now in Kickapoo circuit, and with the other
churches are being served by F. W. Appleby as a supply.
About 1865 a camp ground comprising a beautiful grove, with good spring water,
and but a short distance northeast of the village, was purchased and since then
a camp meeting has been held here each summer, where thousands of people have
gathered for religious services and a week of relief from business cares.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
KICKAPOO METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The first services by a Methodist minister were conducted by Rev. Whitman about
the year 1843, in the house of William Young. A church organization must have
been formed shortly after.
This charge has always been in connection with a circuit, and Rev. U. J.
Giddings was the circuit rider in 1851 and 1852. At that time there was quite a
large membership, and they soon began the erection of a church edifice which was
completed in 1855 under the pastorate of Rev. P. T. Rhodes. The church cost
$1,662. A parsonage was built about the same time and both have been in use ever
since.
The pastors on Kickapoo circuit have been: Rev. U. J. Giddings, 1851 to 1852;
John Luccock, 1852-53; C. B. Couch, 1853-54; P. T. Rhodes, 1854-56; J. B. Mills,
1856-58; G. R. Palmer, 1858-59; Robert Cowan, 1859-61; Ahab Keller 1861-64; John
Cavett, 1864-66; S. S. Gruber, 1866-69; D. M. Hill, 1869-70; J. H. Scott,
1870-72; T. F. Sanders, 1872-74; Amos Morey, 1874-75; T. J. Wood, 1875-77; H.
Stahl, 1877-78; C. W. Green, 1878-80; J. A. Riason, 1880-81; D. S. Main,
1881-82; G. M. Webber, 1882-85; J. Jones and William Rowcliff, 1885-86; J. L.
Reid, 1886-87; A. P. Rolen, 1887-89; A. Smith, 1889-90; J. W. Moles, 1890-93; J.
C. Zeller, 1893-95; J. Ferguson, 1895-96; B. Rist, H. M. McCoy and H. Manship,
1896-97, each serving part of the time; E. O. Johnson, 1897-98; John Gimson,
1898-99; J. H. Wood and L. J. Blough, 1899-1901; J. D. Johnson, 1901-02; George
Browne, 1902-03; H. M. Blout, 1903-05; C. W. Green, 1905-06; Thomas Bartram,
1906-07; H. T. Russell, 1907-08; W. B. Carr, 1908-09; L. J. Blough, 1909-10; C.
E. Dunlevy, 1910-11; and F. W. Appleby, 1911-12. Several of these serving in
later years have been students.
The latest statistics give the number of members on the circuit at fifty-five;
Sunday school officers and teachers twenty; and scholars one hundred and
thirty-three, with three churches valued at $4,000 and one parsonage valued at
$2,000.
The church at Edwards on this circuit has had an organization for many years,
but had no church building until recently. The services were held at whatsoever
convenient place might be had, with sometimes the circuit preacher to minister
to them, and sometimes a local preacher. We are informed that Daniel Taylor, is,
or has been a local preacher and superintendent of the Sunday school, and that
he has been an active and efficient worker for a long time. Unfortunately the
old records of the church were burned, and we are unable to learn the date of
the first organization or the names of the first pastor, or of members of the
first official board, except that James Greenough was one member of it. In the
year 1866, James Greenough and his daughter Mary J. Greenough, with a few
others, were seeking better things, and better conditions for themselves and
neighbors, and organized a Sunday school in the schoolhouse, with E. Y. Forney
as superintendent. Mr. Greenough was a quiet, unobtrusive man, but it was very
largely through his efforts that the Methodist church was organized at Edwards.
This charge has been and is connected with the Kickapoo circuit.
The late Dr. J. H. Wilkinson had land at Edwards, and after his death and that
of his wife, a part of the land fell to Sylvester Edwards, and we are informed
that he donated to the church at Edwards an acre of land upon which they erected
a building in 1905, at a cost of about $1,500, with a seating capacity of two
hundred fifty. The present membership is twelve; membership of Sunday school,
eighty-five. The pastor is F. W. Appleby.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
The only Methodist church in this township, is the German Methodist Episcopal Mission church. This church was organized in the year 1870. It is located in the village of Jubilee. It has always been a Mission church, and served by the pastors in charge of the Sanger Saint Mission in Peoria. The first pastor was Henry Thomas with Phillip Gruenewald as assistant. Succeeding the first two, the following pastors have served this church: G. Timken, M. Roeder, J. Lemkan, J. C. Rapp, Henry Balcke, C. H. Becker, E. S. Havighorst, G. Schuh, C. W. Hartzler, L. Harmel, J. Gisler, H. J. Petersen, L. E Kettlekamp, Herman Kasiski, G. L. Zocher, Karl Buch and H. Schlueter. (Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
HANNA CITY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This church was organized in 1880 with seven members, the first pastor being
Rev. Humphreys. The first church building was erected at Smithville in 1854, but
in 1888 the location was removed to Hanna City, where a new church building was
erected at a cost of $2,000 and a parsonage costing $1,200.
The pastors since 1886 have been J. A. Windsor, H. Coolidge, Wm. Crapp, Daniel
Cool, P. S. Garretson, J. N. Fawcett, J. W. Moles, H. C. Birch, Hugh C. Gibson,
A. C. Kelley, Charles Fitzhenry, B. R. Nesbit, George Shepherd, W. R. Warner and
R. W. Stocking, the present pastor.
There is another Methodist Episcopal church in Logan township known as Pleasant
Grove church, located two miles southwest of the village of Eden. This church
was organized about 1840, with eighteen members. The first pastor was William
Pitner. The members first worshipped in the homes and cabins, and then in a
schoolhouse in the vicinity. In the year 1848, the first church was built, which
was used until 1869, when a more comfortable and commodious building was
erected.
Limestone church is also on the same circuit. The statistics given in the
minutes of the conference of 1911 show one hundred sixty-eight members
including twelve probationers; thirty Sunday school officers and teachers and
one hundred fifty scholars; one Epworth League with twelve members. The circuit
has three churches valued at $5,300 and one parsonage, value $1,500.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
LIMESTONE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was organized in 1849 with twenty-seven members. The first church building was
located on section 4 on the Farmington road, and was built in 1860 at a cost of
$1,000. It was dedicated by the noted, venerable Rev. Peter Cartwright, December
21, 1860. Rev, John Borland was preacher in charge.
Being on the Hanna City circuit this church has been served by the same pastors,
and its statistics of membership, etc., are included with that charge.
Bartonville Methodist Episcopal church is in the southeast part of Limestone
township and adjoining the city of Peoria. It is served by a pastor in
connection with the Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, Peoria.
Before the village was known as Bartonville although the Barton family lived in
that vicinity, the people worshipped at the brick schoolhouse, known as South
Limestone school, one mile west of where the church now stands, having a Sunday
school and preaching services; (as early as 1857, M. L. Haney, preached there).
The old brick building finally became so dilapidated, that a new school-house
was built one-half mile east of the former location in the year 1862, and the
people worshipped in it for about twenty years, being called the South
Limestone church.
About thirty years ago, that is, about 1882, the people built the present church
building, which is located one half mile further east than the second
school-house, referred to, and across the street from the splendid new school
building which the town of Bartonville now affords. Continuing the numbers from
South Peoria on Adams street, the church is located at 6019 South Adams street,
Bartonville.
John A. Riason, now of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, was the pastor of the
Bartonville and Madison avenue, Peoria, churches, when the Bartonville
Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1882. Present pastor, Rev. W. D. Evans,
now in his third year. Number of members, fifty; a fine Sunday school of one
hundred twenty, average attendance seventy-five; A. E. Scheidel, superintendent
and an Epworth league of forty members; Miss Audra Wright, president.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
ELMORE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In the year 1836 the first Methodist organization was formed at Rochester, near
the extreme northwest corner of the township and county. Rev. William Gumming,
who was then the station preacher at Peoria, preached the first sermon, in the
house of John Smith. The original members were John Smith and wife, Therrygood
Smith and wife, William Metcalf, and an unmarried daughter of John Smith, and
John Smith, Sr., was chosen class leader.
In 1838 a house of worship was commenced, but was completely destroyed by a
hurricane on May 8th of the same year. Through deaths and removals, the church
at one time became almost extinct but later another building was secured which
had belonged to the Congregationalists (see picture below), and though the legitimate successor of
the first church it is known as Elmore church, the name of the post-office being
Elmore. This church is now connected with the West Jersey church in Stark
county. The present pastor is E. L. Fahnestock.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
Built in 1866
Currently the Elmore United Methodist Church
Picture taken by J. Crandell in 2005
LAURA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The church at Laura was built in the summer of 1889 at a cost of $1,300 and
furnished at a further outlay of about $200. The first pastor was Rev. D. S.
McCown, now pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Moline, Illinois.
For quite a long time this church was served in connection with the church at
Monica, but is now in connection with the church at Williamsfield, Knox county.
Rev. Stanley Ward is pastor. The statistics give for the two charges, one
hundred forty-nine members, twelve Sunday school officers and teachers and one
hundred forty scholars; with one Epworth League with forty members; two churches
valued at $5,000 and one parsonage of a value of $1,500.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
MONICA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In 1856 or 1857, West Princeville near the west side of Princeville township,
was started by the erection of a manufacturing plant, on the south side of the
road between sections 19 and 30.
In 1858, Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal church was organized in the same
neighborhood, the members holding their first meetings in the Nelson
school-house. In 1867 the society built a church in the southwest corner of
section 20, a little east of West Princeville. This was a frame building 32 by
45 feet and cost $2,200.
The starting of Cornwell now Monica occasioned by the construction of the
Cincinnati, Burlington & Quincy railroad, spelled disaster for West Princeville,
nearly all of the buildings, including the church being moved to the new town.
This transfer occurred in 1877. This church was in connection with the
Princeville charge until 1894, when it was re-organized and with the church at
Laura, Millbrook township, became the Monica charge. Rev. Thomas J. Wood was the
first pastor after re-organization and was followed in succession by P. S.
Garretson, 1895; O. M. Dunlevy, 1896; H. C. Birch, 1898; H. C. Gibson, 1900;
and James G. Blair, 1901. The church connection is now with Duncan. The present
pastor is J. T. Bliss. The membership of the charge is eighty-seven;
Sunday school officers and teachers, ten; scholars ninety-two. Two churches
valued $4,000; one parsonage $1,600. (Excerpt
from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
The Methodist churches in this township have existed under varied and rather
peculiar conditions. As early as 1840 the missionaries and circuit riders held
services in the homes of the people, before there were even any school-houses.
Their first church was organized and a building erected in the year 1860, though
no doubt they had class meetings prior to that date. This first church was
located about one mile west of where the village of Alta now is. Its principal
members and supporters were George Divelbiss, at one time sheriff of the county
and Wesley Smalley, farmers. The church was named the Glendale church. In its
pastoral relations, it was then connected with Kickapoo church and Mt. Hedding,
in Hallock township, with the pastoral residence at Kickapoo. After the village
of Alta was laid out, Glendale church was moved to that village, which is in
Medina township, the pastor still residing at Kickapoo.
In 1884, a church was organized at Dunlap, and the next year a church was built,
under the pastorate of Rev. George M. Webber, and the pastoral residence changed
to Dunlap and the Alta church connected with Dunlap.
In the year 1865, the Methodists built a church called the Salem church on the
northwest quarter of section 16 near the schoolhouse, some five miles northwest
of Alta. The leading members of this church organization were prominent farmers:
A. J. Gordon, John Jackson and Wesley Strain. After a number of years, removals
and deaths having weakened the membership, the organization was abandoned for
lack of support. The building was sold and another erected on section 18, some
two miles west, and near the line of Jubilee township. This church was called
Zion church and its pastoral relations were in connection with Kickapoo. The
principal men in the church were William Rowcliffe and Daniel Corbett. The
membership was small, and this church seems also to have been abandoned, as no
mention is made of it in the conference minutes of 1911.
The membership of the two churches is one hundred forty-five; two Sunday schools
with twenty-eight officers and teachers and one hundred seventy scholars; one
Epworth League with forty-five members and one Junior League with fifteen
members. Two churches valued at $6,750 and one parsonage, at Dunlap, valued
$2,200; $2,250 were expended during the conference year for building and
improvements. Rev. G. L. Kneebone is pastor.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
MAPLETON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This is the only Methodist church in the township. It was organized in 1886 by Robert Burden, a local preacher, with the following members: Mrs. Wm. Harris, Mrs. Emma Newsam, Mrs. Mary Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. James Bradshaw, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Walker, Mrs. Mona Thrush, Mrs. J. T. Newsam, Mrs. Ann Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. John Scheidel and Miss Kate Jones. They have a small church building which was erected in 1890 and dedicated by Rev. Jervis G. Evans, president of Hedding College, at Abingdon, Illinois, in November of that year. The membership is small, being, September 1, 1911, but thirteen, with a Sunday school of thirty-five scholars and five teachers. Rev. Harry M. Blout since transferred to Bumside, Hancock county, was pastor. (Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
GLASFORD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
About the year 1890, a small church was built at Glasford. At that time Dr.
William A. Brisendine, an old resident and practicing physician, who from his
youth had taken an active interest in religious work made application, and was
licensed as a local preacher in that year, and often thereafter, filled the
pulpit from time to time in his home church and probably in others in the
neighborhood as well.
September 1, 1911, the total membership of the Glasford church was forty-five;
Sunday school enrollment, one hundred two scholars, with eight teachers; an
Epworth League of twelve members. (Excerpt from
the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
KINGSTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
A church was organized at Kingston Mines prior to the year 1885, and about that year they erected a church building which was destroyed by a hurricane about 1896. There is still an organization and a Sunday school maintained. Church membership nine; Sunday school scholars about sixty. (Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
BETHEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In the southwest part of Timber township there was a small Methodist church
built in 1882, and named Bethel. This church has been maintained ever since and
now has a membership of nineteen, with a Sunday school of forty-five scholars
and only five teachers.
These churches in Timber township, together with the one at Mapleton form the
Glasford circuit with pastoral residence at Glasford, with a parsonage located
there valued at $1,500. Pastor, H. M. Blout.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
MOSSVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
About the year 1869, the late G. W. Schnebly acting for the people who were
interested in the Presbyterian church at Mossville, employed the building firm
of James Hazzard & Son of Peoria, who erected for him a neat, comfortable, small
brick church building, seating about two hundred people, at a cost of about
$2,600. A large percentage of the membership residing on High Prairie, in the
vicinity of Alta, found the location at Mossville inconvenient and on October 9,
1875, it was decided to remove to the former place. The church building at
Mossville was sold, and purchased by the late Samuel C. Neal for the Methodists,
and has since been used by them, they having put in a modern hot-water or steam
heating plant. As might be surmised the membership has been small—some fifteen
or twenty, with a Sunday school of about forty members. Under these
circumstances the pastoral service has been either in connection with some
other church, or by a supply appointed by the presiding elder or district
superintendent. The present pastoral service is by Rev. F. E. Ball, pastor of
Wesley Methodist Episcopal church, Peoria.
While the Methodist church at Alta is in Medina township, the early
organization, and location of the church was in Radnor, and as its pastoral
connections and residence are still there, it was thought best to so give its
history. (Excerpt from the Peoria, City and
County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice, Vol. I)
AVERYVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The only Methodist Episcopal church in Richwoods since Grace Methodist Episcopal
church was taken into the city, is the Averyville church. This society was
organized about 1894 by Rev. T. W. McVety when he was pastor of First church,
Peoria. The church was organized in the village hall and its members worshipped
there for a short time. Shortly afterwards lots were purchased on Madison avenue
from Mr. Luthy and the present church building erected at a cost of about
$2,600, beside the cost of the lots.
This church now (January, 1912) has forty-five members with a Sunday school of
seventy-five members and an average attendance of fifty-two.
The Ladies' Aid Society, of which Mrs. Charles Koch is president, has thirty
members. Frank McBridge is Sunday school superintendent.
This church has always been served in connection with some other church. Its
present connection is with the church at Putnam. H. Wakefield is pastor. The
valuation of the church property including furnishings is $3,950.
(Excerpt from the Peoria, City and County, Illinois (1912) by James M. Rice,
Vol. I)
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Updated December 4, 2006