In the early twenties religious and educational organizations commenced to spring up, almost simultaneously, in Fulton County. Often the same building was used for church and school, or a few persons would gather together for religious services in the rude cabin of some devout pioneer, and the Gospel would be expounded by a traveling missionary or a local exhort. Probably the Methodists of Lewistown were the first sect in the country to effect a regular organization, commencing worship soon after the completion of the first log courthouse in 1823. There they held their meetings under the leadership of Rev. Jacob Ellis and others. The first church in the town, however, was built by the Presbyterians, under the lead of William Proctor, the details of which, with the history of the organization of the regular religious bodies of that pioneer town, will be found in other pages.

In 1824 Rev. Jesse Walker, that tireless Methodist missionary, organized a society at what afterward became the town of Canton, and a full history of the churches of the city is given elsewhere.

Joshua Moore located in Joshua Township in 1824 as its first settler, and some of the first religious meetings of the county were held in his house by the Methodists, who listened to such noted exhorters as Peter Cartwright, Father Fraker, John Owens and Smith L. Robinson, the one-eyed preacher. Class meetings, love feasts and merry makings, all had a part at Brother Moore's hospital home.

The first church in Buckheart Township was organized by the regular Baptist in 1825 The Methodists did not formally organize until 1846, when they formed a society in the schoolhouse at the northeast corner of Section32.

There is a dispute between the Methodists and Christians as to who preached the first sermon in Cass Township. The Antioch, or New Light Christians, were among the first to organize in this region, but the pioneer church building was erected by the Methodists on the farm of Jesse Tate, near Smithfield, in 1849. There was preaching by traveling missionaries of these two sects as early as 1825, and the Pleasant Valley congregation of Christians was organized at the home of John Laswell by Dr. John Scott, July 21,1838.

As early as 1827 the Methodists organized in Bernadotte Township. Rev. Asa D. West, of that denomination, the first permanent settler in Farmington Township, preached its pioneer sermon in Jonah Marchant's cabin during the winter of 1827-28. The Congregational Church was the first to be organized in the town of Farmington, as will be seen in later pages of this narrative.

Not long afterward Ozias Hale, the first settler of Orion Township, and an earnest Baptist, preached the first sermon within its limits at John Wolf's house on Section 18. At this time he was in charge of the Duck Creek Baptist Church, which subsequently became the first Baptist of Canton.

Rev. Mr. Betson, one of the first to locate in Union Township in 1829, settling on Section 12, preached the first sermon there. Melinda Babbit was the first to be baptized (in 1832). The first church at Avon was organized by the Methodists in 1849 by Rev. Uri J. Giddings

The Salem Baptist Church, the first regular religious organization of Liverpool Township, was organized August 10,1830, at the house of Jeremiah Farris on the northwest quarter of Section 10. In 1834 a church was built on the land of John Farris, just over the line in Buckheart Township, but in 1857 another edifice was erected on Section 8, Liverpool Township, on the property of Captain Elijah Willcoxen.

In the early '30s Peter Cartwright and other Methodist missionaries came to the old town of Washington, and afterward to Astoria, holding services in the schoolhouse and in the cabins of the settlers. Henry Summers was on of the earliest local preachers in that section of the county. In 1835 Elder John Rigdon, a Christian minister, preached the first sermon in Lee Township at the home of his brother, Stephen Rigdon. The First Baptist Church was organized there in 1849. The Baptists organized a church in Farmers Township in June, 1835, and afterward erected a log house, which was used for both church and school for many years. At Table Grove the Christians founded a church in 1857. The early settlers of Vermont Township assembled for worship in the town schoolhouse ,built on the public square in 1836, and the Protestant Methodists organized a church and erected a separate edifice in 1843. About the same time Deacon Abraham F. Brown was preaching the first sermon at the funeral of Mrs. John Kerton, wife of the pioneer settler, who gave his name to Kerton Township. In 1837 the Fairview Dutch Reformed Church was founded, being the first in the township, and as it was the pioneer of that sect west of the Alleghany Mountains, further details of its establishment and growth are to be found elsewhere.

Deerfield Township was among the first to form religious organizations, E. Wiley donating land for both school and church purpose in 1839. In 1879 the Methodists and Lutherans built the Wiley Union Church.

The first church erected in Marietta, Harris Township, was by the Methodists in 1841, but it is said that Rev. James Haney preached a sermon to an audience of four persons in 1834 at the log cabin of Isaac Sennett. Elder J. Logan had the honor of delivering the first sermon to perhaps a little larger congregation in the cabin of J. France, Pleasant Township, but the pioneer church was organized by A.M. Smith in 1842 on Section 14.

In 1853 a German Baptist (or Dunkard) Church was founded at Summum, Woodland Township, services being conducted by John Fitz. The first religious building was erected in 1867.

In Young Hickory Township the Christians (New Lights) had an early organization, which finally disbanded, and in 1836 the Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Church of Midway was founded with twelve members. A building was erected in 1851 which was sold (after a split in the church) in 1864, and q new edifice erected in 1869. In 1864 the seceding Methodists founded a congregation under the name of Christian Union, two years later styling themselves Episcopal Methodists. They erected a house of worship in 1868 and their organization became known as the Midway Episcopal Methodist Church.

The above paragraphs by no means present a complete history of the early efforts of religious men and women to plant the seeds of the gospel in Fulton County; they do, however, indicate some of the most important works in the establishment of religion in this section of the State, outside of the larger centers of population. This latter phase of the subject is developed more in detail in pages which follow.

As has already been shown, the pioneers of Fulton County lost no time in providing religious advantages for themselves and children, and their descendents to the present generation have continued the good work, establishing throughout the county churches of every denomination, many of them flourishing and all of them creditable; so that now there is scarcely a section in any township for which ample religious provision has not been made by thoughtful and earnest Christians, but in the necessarily limited space devoted to any one topic it is manifestly impossible to mention all the churches in detail, and attention must be confined chiefly to the large centers of population, such as Canton, Lewistown and Farmington, and the early church organizations of the county.

CHURCHES of CANTON.--The Methodists claim to be the first denomination to establish a church organization in Canton, the Rev. Jesse Walker, a famous missionary, whose labors covered the country between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, being the first regularly to preach to the pioneers of this section. This was in 1824, when Mr. Walker effected the first organization. It is said, however, that one Jesse Williams, another Methodist, delivered several sermons to the good people of Canton prior to 1824, and it is known the he afterward located near Canton and conducted services in various houses until 1832. Canton was regularly supplied by traveling ministers also from 1824 to 1832. Rev. Peter R. Baring was the first regular pastor of the Canton circuit, and during the administration of Rev. H. Summers the Methodists built their first church. For this purpose a small building, afterward occupied as a residence by Mr. Babcock. was reconstructed on the corner of the block diagonally from the the present magnificent structure of the Methodist Episcopal Church, on the northwest corner of Avenue A and West Chestnut Street. The list of the pastors of the First Methodist Church from the date of its founding in 1824 to the present time is as follows: Jesse Walker, William See, B. L. Robinson, H. Tarkington, Asa D. West, James Bankston, David B. Carter, Peter Baring, H. Summers, O. F. Curtis, Wilson Pitner, Austin F. Rogers, Newton G. Benjamin, Rufus L. Limmery, William Clark, Richard Henry, S. R. Beggs, John Morey, William Justice, Joseph Kelly, J. F. Devore, J. McDowell, M. L. Haney, Isaac Pool, John Luccock, B. C. Swartz, R. C. Rowley, Caleb Foster, Joseph O. Gilbert, A. Magee, L. P. Grouch, C. Springer, J. S. Cummings, J. C. Evans, J. H. Rhea, E. Wasmuth, A Bower, M. P. Armstrong, H. I. Brown, Peter Warner, Peter A. Cool, Eli McClish, Samuel VanPelt, James W. Haney, E. S. Wilson, Alexander Smith, Thomas Doney, A. R. Morgan and Robert A. Brown.

The corner-stone of the present beautiful edifice occupied by the First Methodist Church of Canton was laid in 1895 and the building was completed at a cost of about $40,000. The edifice is of white stone and forms an attractive architectural feature of the city. The present membership of the society embraces611 full members and 48 probationers.

The first Presbyterian Church of the county was organized at Lewistown September 13, 1828, but on November 11th of the same year Rev. Solomon Hardy preached at Canton. For several years thereafter meetings were held alternately at Canton and Lewistown, but in 1833, under Rev. Romulus Barnes, a church was erected at Canton. Rev. Robert Stewart, who followed him, occupied the local pulpit from 1834 until the fall of1838,or the division into Presbyterians and Congregationalists. Since then the society has constantly increased and now numbers 400 members. Of the pastors who have occupied the pulpit of this organization mention should also be made of Rev. A. R. Mathes, now of Knoxville, Ill., who held the pulpit consecutively for twenty-three years prior to 1903. The present pastor, Rev. Alfred O. Elliot, who succeeded him, is a graduate of the McCormick Theological Seminary, of Chicago, and this is his first charge. The edifice now occupied on West Walnut near Main Street was completed in 1905 at a cost of $20,000 and took the place of the former church on East Pine Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues.

The Congregational Church of Canton was formed in September, 1838, as the result of a division of the old Presbyterian organization, the Rev. Robert Stewart, of Canton, being in sympathy with the so-called New Church. The document which marked the division and the founding of the society in Canton was issued at the date mentioned and is as follows:

"Whereas, Our church has become large and infected with some of the prevailing heresies and disorders of the times, which are maintained and practiced in our midst; and,

"Whereas, Errors are taught and received which are at variance with the Bible and our Confession of Faith, and persons are received to membership from other denominations with all their prejudices alive against our doctrines and order, and without being required to renounce them; and,

"Whereas, These disorders are becoming every day more glaring and barefaced, and our church as a body has virtually rejected its own system of doctrines and orders; therefore

"Resolved, That we, the undersigned, elders and members of this church, will continue to revere and maintain the doctrines and order of our church in this place as the Presbyterian Church."

On May22,1841, Rev. L. Spencer began his labors with the church, which was organized as the New School Presbyterian Church of Canton. A building was erected in 1842 and was replaced in 1858 by the structure now occupied on the corner of Second Avenue and Liberty Place. Within the past two years the building has been reconstructed and increased in size so that it is commodious and comfortable in every way. Since its organization in 1841 the pastors of the church have been as follows: Rev. L. Spencer, 1841-44; Rev. D. Chapman, 1844-46; Rev. Williston Jones, 1846-48; Rev. George Hubbard, 1849-50; Rev Edward Marsh, 1850-65; Rev. Henry Mills, 1865-66; Rev. Henry Bates, 1967-72; Rev. Henry Mills (recalled), 1872-81; Rev. W. E. Smith, 1882-83; Rev. H. K. Painter, 1883-89; Rev. William Burgess, 1890-91; Rev. T. J. Collier, 1891-94; Rev. Edwin Hobbs, 1895-1904; Rev. H. D. French, 1904 (present pastor).

The First Baptist Church of Canton is the pioneer of the old Illinois River Baptist Association, being organized June 14, 1833, at the house of William Spencer, three miles east of the present city. In September, 1834, Rev. Nathan West was ordained as its first minister. The meetings of the church were held in private houses until July, 1837, when the society assumed the name of the Canton Church (its original name being the United Baptist Church of Duck Creek). It then(1837) numbered thirty-seven members. In November, 1838, Dr. Gideon B. Perry became its first regular pastor and continued in that relation for three years. During the first two years the members met at the Methodist Church, in private houses and at Canton College, the first house of worship being dedicated on the fourth Sunday of October,1839. At that time it was the finest house of worship in the Military Tract. This building was outgrown in a few years and in February, 1853, a large brick structure was erected on the present site, corner of East Elm Street and Third Street. In 1902 and 1903 the church rebuilt and furnished with a large organ, costing some $14,000. This building now accommodates the large and growing membership of the church, which is at present 625. The rebuilt structure was dedicated February 22, 1903, and a remarkable feature of the exercises was the preaching of the sermon by Dr. Henry G. Weston, who had performed the same service at the time the first church was dedicated, February 19, 1853. An additional fact of interest was that of those who attended this fiftieth anniversary twenty-six had been present at the dedicatory services in 1853.

The pastors of the First Baptist Church have been as follows: Rev. G. B. Perry, 1837-40; Rev. Isaac Newell, 1840-44; Rev. Alba Gross, 1844-46; Rev. Erastus Miner,1847-48; Rev. Simon G. Miner, 1848-60 (with the exception of one year); Rev. A. B. Bolton, 1861-64; Rev. W. R. Webb, 1865-70; Dr. D. H. Cooley, 1871-78; Dr. Charles Whiting, 1879 until his death , April 26, 1893; Dr. Fred Chatworthy, 1893-96; Dr. J. W. Stewart,1897-1901; Rev. Joseph H. Sowerby, 1901 to date.

Catholic worship was established in Canton about 1862. The members of the church worshiped in private houses until the first small edifice of St. Mary's Catholic Church was built on the corner of South Fifth Avenue and Anderson Place. The grounds for this purpose were dedicated by the faithful Anderson family. This church building was moved away and a new church building now occupied by the society was completed in 1905. It is of red brick, with stone trimmings, is located on the northwest corner of East Chestnut Street and Second Avenue and is valued at about $20,000, the entire property being placed at $30,000. The church comprises a membership of ninety-five families and its pastor is Rev. J. G. Libert.

In addition to the above religious organizations may be mentioned the Christian Church, corner of White Court and East Walnut Street, established in 1879, and whose present pastor is Rev. J. G. Waggoner; the United Brethren Church on East Locust Street, near First Avenue, established in 1869, of which the Rev. W. T. Kessinger is pastor; the German Baptist Brethren Church, on South Second Avenue; the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, on South Fifth Avenue; St. Peter's Episcopal, on North First Avenue; South Park Methodist Protestant, corner Hickory Street and First Avenue; Swedenborgian, at the corner of East Chestnut and Third Avenue; the Christian Science Society have a strong organization and the Latter-Day Saints hold regular services.

CHURCHES OF FARMINGTON.--The early history of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches of Fulton County is especially associated with Lewistown and Canton, the circuit preachers holding services alternately at these places. In 1838 occurred the division between the "Old" (Presbyterian) and the "New" (Congregational) Churches, and about a decade afterward local societies were firmly established at Farmington, Although the Presbyterians of Farmington claim a separate organization since the year 1836, when the Canton and Lewistown members formed societies of their own. The present church has a membership of over 200and its pastor is Rev. W. H. Kendall.

In December,1849, the Congregational Church of Farmington was founded by the appointment of a committee consisting of George W. Little, Richmond Bristol and Amos B. Thomas, who were to report on Rules of Church Action and Articles of Faith. This they did, and both rules and articles were subscribed to by the following. who therefore constitute the charter members of the society: Seth B. Bristol, George W. Little, Richard Bristol, Lucius Parrish, Luther Birge, Asa D. Reed, Phineas Chapman, Joseph Cone, Horatio N. Field, William Field, Nancy Birge, Julia A. Cone, E Clarinda Reed, Elizabeth Cone, Louisa L. Little, E. L. Parrish, Maria A. Bristol, Margaret A. Hart and Emily S. Hatch. On the first Sabbath of January, 1850, Rev. William E. Holyoke, a licentiate of the New York and Brooklyn Congregational Association, preached the first sermon to the society, was ordained to the ministry in 1851 and continued to serve the church for several years thereafter. In October, 1855, he was followed by Rev. John W. Williams, who was succeeded through the intervening years by Revs. L. Taylor, John B. Fairbank, J. P. Bartlett, Charles Hollinger, Mr. Drew, John Henderson and Rev. O. D. Moon. The latter, who is the present incumbent, has occupied the pulpit for about three years. The church membership is 134 and, with various improvements and additions, the present edifice is the original structure erected soon after the organization of the church in 1849.

The Baptist Church of Farmington was organized August 5, 1857, and J.C. Baker, James Harper, John S. Stetson and Hosea Woodruff served as the first Board of Trustees. The society rented quarters in the old opera house and Wesleyan Church up to 1872, when the latter structure was bought by the Baptists and torn down, the material being used in the construction of the building which is still occupied by that denomination. The successive pastors have been as follows; Rev. Mr. Casler, Rev. A. R. Newton (nine years), Revs. Allison, Evans, Carr, Hunt, Newton, Hutchinson, Donnellson, Douglas, B. H. Cox (five years), and E. K. Reynolds. The society numbers about 100 members.

Although the famous Methodist missionary, Rev. Jesse Walker, included Farmington in his circuit as early as 1833, the society here was not established as a station until the fall of 1866, when Rev. C. Springer became its settled pastor. Within the succeeding fifteen years Revs. W. I. Black, I. B. Craig, S. Harshbarger, D. Pershing, B. C. Kaufman, B. Applebee, Joseph Hart and J. T. Wood served the church, and from 1881 to date the pastors have been as follows; James Ferguson, 1881-82; R. E. Buckey, 1883-85; James Ferguson (recalled), 1886;David Tasker, 1887; W. J. Minium, 1888-89; V. C. Randolph, 1890-91; J. B. Diller, 1892-95; G. W. Kling. 1896-97; B. F. Eckley, 1898-1906, and L. F. Cullom, from the latter year to date. the church now has 175 full members. The original building, erected in 1865, was torn down and the present very handsome church erected in 1903. Much of the material of the old church was utilized, notwithstanding which the cost of the present edifice was about $9,500. In 1905 the church was cleared of debt and is now perhaps the most flourishing religious body in Farmington.

The above are the leading churches of Farmington, although the Catholics, Free Methodists, Episcopalians and Seventh-Day Adventists have earnest growing congregations.

HISTORIC FAIRVIEW CHURCH,--The Dutch Reformed Church of Fairview is the Western Father of that denomination in the United States, the present organization being the oldest in the country west of the Alleghany Mountains. It was founded August 19,1837, a few months after the laying out of the town. Upon that date a meeting was held at the house of Daniel Groenendyke, of which Peter Pumyea was president and John S. Wyckoff secretary, and its result was the application to the synod of the Reformed Church for a preacher. lots had already been set apart for religious purposes and as Rev. A. D. Wilson. of New Brunswick, N.J., was sent as a missionary of the church in October of that year, the adherents to the Dutch Reformed Church were able to secure their choice of locations. On the 16th of October, 1837, they organized a society of eight members, with John S. Wyckoff and Clarkson Van Nostrand as Elders and Aaron D. Addis as Deacon. Rev. Wilson and Peter Pumyea were selected to return East and solicit donations for the support of this pioneer church. It appeared that Mr. Pumyea collected about $450, mostly in small amounts, and through his efforts, supplemented by those of Mr. Wilson, Cornelius Wyckoff, Sr., John G. Voorhees, Richard Davis and others, sufficient funds were raised to fairly place the church on its feet. For nearly a year the little band of earnest religionists assembled for prayer and praise , sometimes in the houses of the members and later in a rude log cabin, formerly a blacksmith shop, and at this time not only used for church purposes, but as a schoolhouse and for all public meetings. In the summer of 1838 Rev. Wilson who had organized the church, left his flourishing charge at North Branch, N. J., and with noble self-sacrifices, started for this little congregation planted in the western wilderness. He arrived at Fairview in July and immediately entered into his long, faithful and beneficent service here. In the fall of that year(1838) the old academy building was begun. It was a two-story structure, with a belfry, and took the place of the log shanty. the upper room of the new building being designed for religious services. Here the church continued to hold its religious services while its house of worship was slowly and laboriously being constructed. In the fall of 1838 the foundation of the church was begun and on November 26th the corner-stone was laid. At length the framework of the building was ready to be raised. This required the assistance of all the men in the village and surrounding country, together with aid from Ellisville and Farmington. For three years the people struggled on in the erection of this building before it was ready for dedication, and aid was required from the East to finally complete it. On October 3, 1841, these faithful labors came to an end, for upon that date the completed building was turned over to the congregation by its contractor, Cornelius Wyckoff, Sr. On the 11th of April, 1856, Rev. A. D. Wilson, whose fine personality, and successful pastorate went so far to found the church, resigned his charge. during his services no parsonage was furnished, and he not only provided his own home, but received what salary the congregation were able or disposed pay. Rev. William Anderson served three years thereafter, and during this period the church purchased five acres and built thereon a large and beautiful parsonage--the largest dwelling in the village.. Besides the parsonage and church, a commodious and pleasant lecture hall was erected on the site of the old academy.

The Dutch Reformed Church of Fairview is naturally one of the historic institutions of the county. Although its communicants now number over 250, those who love the church and its memories are loath to reconstruct their old house of worship. Modern pews have been substituted for the less comfortable ones of the old times, but the building as a whole stands as it did sixty-six years ago, when it was pronounced complete by Cornelius Wyckoff. The present pastor of the church is Rev. Jacob Vander Muellen.

LEWISTOWN CHURCHES.--The religious history of Lewistown has its opening chapter in the organization of seven Presbyterians of the county into a church by Rev. John M. Ellis, these charter members, who came together for this purpose September 13, 1828, being: Nathan Jones, William Procter, Samuel Mallory, Robert Grant, Jane Grant, Matilda Jones and Elizabeth Jacobs. The three first named were appointed elders and appear to have been the most prominent members of the early society, Mr. Proctor building a house of worship for the Lewistown branch about 1833 and Nathan Jones taking charge of the erection of a church for the Canton people. The membership of both churches increased in a creditable ratio, meetings being held alternately in Lewistown and Canton. At a meeting held in the former place August 6, 1831, it was, "after some deliberation, thought desirable and expedient that Rev. Messrs. Barnes and Farnum labor the current year in this county," and provision was made for their support in money and produce. Up to January, 1836, Lewistown and Canton were each included in the boundaries of the Fulton County Presbyterian Church, but on the 10th of that month the session granted the request of the following persons for letters of dismissal in order to form a church at Lewistown: William Proctor, Benjamin A. Miles, James Gilson, Christopher B. Miles, Thalia N. Rice, Juliet E. Warren, Eugenia E. Madison, Rhoda Osborne, Isabel T. Miles, Laura Proctor, Erasmus D. Rice, Asaph Rice, Abigal Rice and Jane Rice. At the next session William Elliot, Jr.; Julia Phelps and Adelia Rice were added to the membership. In 1838, as stated elsewhere, occurred the division onto "Old" and "New School" organizations, and nearly all of the early members of the body in Canton joined the ranks of Congregationalism, led by their old pastor, Rev. Robert Stewart. The Lewistown people stood solidly by the Old Church and continued to so grow in strength and influence that in 1855-56 they erected what was then considered a very metropolitan house of worship. Ossian M. Ross deeded the ground opposite the courthouse which formed its site. The church had a nucleus for the building fund in a donation bequeathed from the estate of William B. Kelly, who had died in 1851. E. J. Brown was general overseer of the carpenter work, Samuel Evans constructed the stone foundation and John Tompkins did the brick work. Everything was done by hand--even the windows, door-casings and seats--and , according to Mr. Proctor, it was the best work ever done on a public building in the county. The church was first occupied for worship August 10, 1856, and the dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. William Fleming, of Farmington (afterward pastor of the church) on Saturday afternoon, October 25, 1856 Rev. Mr. Templeton was the first pastor of the new church, and in a few years was followed by Rev. J. F. Magill, who served about twenty years. After occupied about fifty years, the church building having naturally become somewhat dilapidated, it was thoroughly reconstructed in 1907. As the Presbyterian Church is the oldest organized religious body in Lewistown, it is still the strongest, numbering, as it does, some 300 members, under pastorate of Rev. T. D. Atcheson.

In 1838 Rev. N. G. Berryman first appeared in Lewistown as the pioneer circuit rider of the Methodist Church, his religious field also embracing Centerville (now Cuba), Bernadotte and the Clark settlement, five miles east of Lewistown. He and his wife first moved into a log house located just west of the present jail. but the new pastor soon bought several acres west of Simms' Addition, where he built a handsome cottage for the family residence. On Mr. Berryman's arrival the society worshiped in a log house which stood on what afterward became Dr. Talbott's grounds, the original twenty-five members of his society being as follows; John McNeil, wife and parents; John Tompkins and wife; Isham G. Davidson and wife; Dr. Roger Veits and wife; John Smith, wife and daughter Nancy; Rev. Barrett and wife; Mrs. John P. Boice; Stephen Dewey and wife; S. H. Pitkin and wife, and Mesdames James Green, William McComb and Triphena Shepardson.

In the spring of 1839 the new courthouse was finished and the Methodists bought the frame building which had served the county after the disappearance of the little log courthouse of 1823. The church people moved the frame structure near the present site of the Methodist Church, a little west of the 1888 edifice. This building, 24x36 feet, was used for just ten years, when it was moved away, and in 1849, under Rev. N. P. Heath's pastorate, a brick structure was erected. In the summer of 1887 this, in turn, was razed to make room for the fine church which is still an ornament to the city, and which was dedicated January 8, 1888. Rev. Peter Akers, who afterward died in Jacksonville, preached the dedicatory sermon. Thus it was that this elegant house of worship commemorated the fiftieth year of the founding of the church. The new edifice, of attractive Gothic style, 40x60 feet in dimensions, cost about $10,000. The pastors from 1838 to the present time have been as follows: Revs. N. G. Berryman, Norris Hobart, George Rutledge, Freeborn Haney, Zadok Hall, William J. Rutledge, Absalom Shinn, N. P. Heath, R. C. Rowley, Milton Haney, J. F Chaffey, William McGronigle, R. C. Rowley (recalled), Mr. Head, H. Ritchie, John P. Brooks, Milton Haney (recalled), William Peterson, Amos McCool, T. R. Boggess, George R. Palmer, E.N. Bently, George R. Palmer (recalled), W. H. D. Young, George M. Morey, R. N. Morse, William Watson, P. A. Cool, C. W. Ayling, E. P. Hall, William Woolley, G. W. Arnold, W. R. Wiley (five years), Richard Crews, Robert A. Brown, Robert Seaman, Mr. Douglas, John Rogers, T. A. Beall and W. S. Welch.

Although the Espiscopalians have no settled pastor in Lewistown, they have a beautiful little church, and their organization goes back to July 19, 1859. Under the name of St. James Church they then organized a society and erected a building in 1869. S. C. Judd was the first Senior Warden, Dr. G. D. McManus, Junior Warden and James M. Davidson, William H. Graham, T. A. Boyd, Henry A. Long, Dewitt C. Bryant and Isaiah C. Worley, Vestrymen.

The Christian Church of Lewistown was organized in 1875, when the society erected the building now occupied. Rev. Walter Kline is the present pastor and the church has a membership of about 150.

FULTON COUNTY SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.-- Probably from the inspiration of the great Sunday-school movement in London during 1856, John G. Piper, of Canton, with a few other great-souled men interested in this line of religious work, originated the Fulton County Sunday-school Association. In the fall of that year several workers met in Lewistown or Canton and planned a more formal gathering, dignified by the name of a convention, for the succeeding year. It was a small gathering which then met at the Lewistown Presbyterian Church, but the movement progressed, and in 1858 a constitution and plan of work were adopted. The county was divided into townships and a Vice-President for each was chosen. Through these officials an effort was made to reach the individual schools and, by securing statistical reports from them, find the needs of the schools. Thus the schools in existence were strengthened and new ones organized in destitute districts. In 1861, the first year book of information was printed, which indicated fifty Sunday-schools in the county. Thus the association worked until 1865, when Stephen Paxton, a gifted missionary of the American Sunday-School Union, visited this field. His inspiring labors led the Fulton County Association to develop its work during 1865-79 along three simple and effective lines--efforts to reach every home in the county; to organize a Sunday-school within reach of every child therein, and to make the school "evergreen," i.e., open all winter. In 1863 the association employed an American Sunday-School missionary, P. B. Camden, whose labors of a few months resulted in the organization of twenty-three new schools (seven of them still living), five of which developed into churches. In 1867 Rev. W. W. Farris, formerly of Vermont village, was employed in the same work, and besides organizing twenty new schools, held institutes in various townships. The latter innovation was the beginning of the township conventions. Within the following four years, from 1867 to 1871, the fifty schools in fourteen townships increased to 148 schools in twenty-six townships. From 1871 to 1880 there was a substantial growth in both the individual schools and the township organizations. Regular quarterly or yearly township conventions were held and the uniform International Sunday-School Lessons, adopted by the International Convention held in Indianapolis in 1872, were introduced to all the schools of Fulton County during the period mentioned. The period from 1880 to 1892 has been denominated the Period of Education, and the development of Sunday-school work was along four lines--teacher training, or normal work; temperance work; primary work, and the work in the homes through the Home Department and Cradle Roll. This distinct epoch of splendid progress originated in the earnest work and personal inspiration of Miss Lucy J. Rider, of Chicago, in 1880, sent by the State Association to the county. For five years she continued the good work of instructing teachers and was followed by Dr. H. M. Hamill, of Jacksonville, pronounced a "marvelous teacher of teachers." In 1890 special work was prepared to assist the primary teachers, and since 1897 a special worker has attended each convention to present primary methods. In the latter year Miss Jennie Kelley, of Buckheart Township, was elected County Primary Superintendent, organizing the work on its present basis. The first normal class in the county held its graduating exercises during the Astoria convention, Dr. Hamill delivering the address.

In 1872 thirty-seven Sunday-schools were given special attention to temperance, but it was not until 1882 that the subject was deemed of enough importance for a place on the program. Only gradually has been developed the effective temperance department of the association. Since 1896, when W. B. Jacobs, the General Secretary of the State Association, met with the workers of the Fulton County Association, the Home Department, with its infant auxiliary, the Cradle Roll, has become a notable feature of the Sunday-school work. In 1902 the work having outgrown the resources of the Executive Committee, Miss Lulu M. Davidson, of Lewistown, was employed as a field worker, and her earnest and efficient labors resulted in the stimulation of interest and the entrance upon a more prosperous career. After two years of efficient service in this capacity Miss Davidson was succeeded by Miss E. L. Spear, of Chicago.

The following table presents a list of places where conventions have been held on different years since the organization of the association in 1857, covering a period of fifty years, with the principal officers (Presidents and Secretaries) for the same period: