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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY

CHAPTER XIV

THE FIRST CHURCHES
 

MACON county was more fortunate in one respect than many others of the early day counties.  The early settlers as a rule were of a high class of people.  Many of them were law-abiding citizens of Scotch-Irish stock and brought with them to their new home their strong religious convictions.  The strongest churches in the county today are monuments to the men and women who established them nearly a hundred years ago.

The first religious services were held in homes, as a matter of necessity.  Occasionally a preacher would drop into the neighborhood and then a sermon could be heard, but more often the worship consisted of prayer, song and testimony.  Services could not be held regularly because of bad roads.  In summer the big events were the camp meetings.

METHODISTS ORGANIZE

In the Stevens creek settlement were a number of adherents to the Methodist faith.  That fact came to the attention of Rev. Peter Cartwright, militant leader of Methodism in Illinois, who was the presiding elder of the Sangamon district.  In the fall of 1829 he started the first Methodist "society" in Macon county. 

The meeting for organization was held in the home of David Owen, on the west side of Stevens Creek.  The following persons were present:  Buel Stevens and wife, Luther Stevens and wife, Dorus Stevens, Joseph Stevens, Mr. Hollenbeck, David Owen and wife, and John Frazee and wife.  The new society became a part of the Salt Creek circuit, of which Rev. W. L. Deneen was named pastor.

FIRST METHODIST CHURCH BUILDING

The next year there were several additions to the society from the families of Jonathan and Isaac Miller; also Rev. Alonzo Lapham and wife, Margaret, and Dr. William T. Crissey and wife Margaret, who had come here from Edgar county.  In the fall of 1831 the preaching service was moved in to Decatur.

Rev. William S. Crissey of Paoli Circuit, Inc., had come to Decatur in the spring of 1831 to visit his uncle, Dr. William T. Crissey, and he preached for the Methodists in Decatur and also in the Stevens Creek settlement while here.  He came back in the fall of 1831 and again preached for them, after the services had been established in Decatur.  Mr. Crissey moved to Decatur in 1839 to make his home here, and for years was an active church leader.

By 1834 the Methodists had decided they needed a church building and one was started, but it was not finally completed until 1839.  The church stood in a dense hazel thicket on the east side of Church street, between Main and Prairie streets.

James Renshaw donated the lot for the building.  The structure was of hewn oaks logs, and was 38 by 40 feet in size.  Slabs and benches were used for seats.  There were two rows of seats, and men occupying those on one side of the building and the women those on the other side.  Candles furnished the light.

In May, 1839, in a town meeting trustees for the church were elected.  Following is an extract from a court record, Book H, Page 188:

"According to previous notice the inhabitants of Decatur were convened on the 31st of May 1839, to appoint trustees for the Methodist Episcopal church in said town, when the following persons were elected, to-wit:  Buel Stevens, Luther Stevens, F. Montgomery, William Greenfield, J. M. Fordice, Daniel Stickle, and A. Lapham, who shall hold the office during life, unless they move away or resign, according to the discipline of said church, which said trustees assume the name of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Decatur.

"In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed and set our hands and seals this 31st day of May, 1839.

BLUE MOUND SOCIETY

Another early Methodist society organized was the Blue Mound society, started probably late in 1829 or early in 1830, and also in charge of Rev. W. L. Deneen.  It was organized at the home of Benjamin Wilson.  Rev. H. A. Pasley moved from Kentucky here in 1834 and became the Sunday school superintendent.  He was the third local preacher in this locality.

The Long Creek Methodist society was started in the '30s.  Official records show the first minister was appointed in 1838.

The Mt. Gilead society was formed about 1836 or 1837, and held services for many years in the log school house near John Wilson's.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The first sermon by a minister of the Presbyterian faith in Macon county was preached by Rev. John Berry in a log school house three and one-half miles southwest of Decatur, on a farm which for many years was owned by P. M. Wikoff.

HOME OF REV. DAVID L. FOSTER
Log cabin in which C. P. church at Mt. Zion was organized.

The first church organized was the Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian church, which had its beginning April 24, 1830.  The meeting was held at the home of the preacher, Rev. David L. Foster, three miles north of the present village.  Rev. David L. Foster organized the first Sunday school in the county at this church in 1831.  James Scott was the first superintendent.

The first house of worship erected by the congregation was the first church building in the county.  It stood on the lot where the Mt. Zion church stands today.  It was of logs, and was about 30 feet square.  The only floor was the earth.  Seats were of slabs.  This building had one luxury - the windows were of glass.

For a year the church was without a pastor, and made no progress.  Then Rev. N. Johnson preached for the church for a time.

Rev. Daniel Traughber of the Kentucky presbytery settled in the community in November, 1836, and preached for the congregation.  In June, 1837, he was appointed as the pastor, continuing in that capacity for twenty-five years.  Other Presbyterian churches which are the outgrowth of this organization are the Bethlehem, North Fork and Madison churches.

REV. JOHN W. TYLER

The Christian church had its start in Macon county in 1833 with a protracted meeting conducted by Rev. Joseph Hostetler, which resulted in the organization of a church in 1834.  The members used the log court house for their service until they erected a building in 1835.  The new church stood on the present site of the Hotel Orlando.  It was on a tract of two acres of ground which was donated by Mr. Hostetler.  This building, also of logs, was about 20 feet square.²  It was used by the congregation for about twenty years.  Among the early members of this church were "Aunt Judy" Oglesby and Dr. J. G. Speer.  In 1836 Rev. John W. Tyler and his wife came.³  They, with Mr. Hostetler, are credited with the progress of the church in the early days.

BAPTIST CHURCH

The Baptist church had its beginnings in the county Sept. 14, 1843, when a meeting was held in the home of Captain David L. Allen, and a church was organized with twelve charter members.  Elder H. W. Dodge was in charge of the organization.  Members conducted the meetings the first year.  In 1844 Elder Moses Lenion was named pastor, but he stayed only six months.  The first building erected by this congregation was at the northeast corner of Water and William streets and it was dedicated Dec. 27, 1857.

The Salem Separate Baptist church, five miles southwest of Decatur, was organized in 1846 with nine charter members.  It flourished for a time but later disbanded.  The cemetery nearby this church is probably the oldest in the county.  It was started about 1829 or 1830.

UNITED BRETHREN

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH BUILDING

The United Brethren church began its work in the county in 1848 with preaching services by Rev. James Parks.  They were held at the home of Rev. M. T. Chew, five miles southwest of Decatur, who became the first pastor.  There was no regular church organization at this time.  The neighborhood contained only three families and often only two or three persons could attend the meetings.  It was not until about eight years later that a church of this denomination was organized in Decatur.

Most of the other denominations now represented in the county started work in the '50 or later.

MEN OF ENDURANCE

The preachers of the early day were men of endurance.  It must be said that their hearers had to be persons of endurance also, for the preacher of that day did not stop at a twenty-minute discourse.  He talked as long as he had anything to say, and he usually had a good deal to say.  Maybe the people needed a long sermon to last them until the next chance to hear one.

Preachers were bold and fearless in what they said.  They did not mince words.

The circuit rider had to be a man of courage.  Peter Cartwright was a fighter as well as leader.  He met men and nature without fear, and if occasion demanded it he could fight with fists or weapons.  For forty-four years he rode a circuit of 300 miles, his salary being $80 a year "when and if he could collect it."

It took men like Peter Cartwright and his contemporaries to make the church what it was in those days, an influence that has lasted down to the present day.

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1 The old Methodist first church building was used for years as a carpenter and wagon making shop after the new building was erected.  In 1862 it was rented to the Hospital Aid society and one time about forty refugees from the south were housed in it for several months.

2 The old Christian church building on Wood street was used afterwards by Samuel Powers as a breeding stable for fine horses.

3 Mrs. Sue T. Odor, daughter of John W. Tyler, and the honor of having the record in years of membership in the Christian church of Decatur.  She united with the church in 1856 and continued active until her death in 1930.

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