Congregational Church. This church was originally organized in the country, south of the village. Prior to 1866, they moved into town, :and were supplied by Rev. Mr. Lyman, of Sheffield, who remained till the church was built in 1867, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Allen, who was followed by Rev. Mr. Howard, the preacher in charge at Atkinson. There was no regular pastor from that time till 1876, when Rev. John A. Griffin, of Atkinson, who still supplies the church, commenced. preaching. The church is small, consisting of eleven members, and. has no organized Sunday-school. It supports preaching in connection with the Atkinson Church.

The Annawan Baptist Church was organized in September, 1843, at Wethersfield, but was removed to its present location in 1854. Its original membership was eight, whose names were Rev. Edw. Otis, Hannah Otis, Edw. Otis, Merril Otis, Hileman Otis, Sarah Otis, Chas. B. Miner .and Mary G. Miner.

The present church was built in 1856, at a cost of 81,000. Its pastors have been Rev. Chas. E. Tinker, who served five years; Wm. McDermond, six years R. Turner, two years ; D. S. Dean, three years; R. Everts, one year ; Wm. Storrs supplied six months ; David Heagle, one .year ; J. D. Cromwell, supplied three months ; Harvey Kingsbury, four years ; G. A. Hogeboom supplied eight months ; Edward Jones, one year ; "Wm. Archer one year.

G. W. Lewis, the present pastor, commenced his labors Nov. 12, 1876.

The present membership is 123, with a Sunday-school of 100.

The Church of the United Brethren in Christ. This church, now located three miles south of Annawan, at Fairview Chapel, was organized in the village of Annawan in May, 1854, by Almond Baker and. others, with a total membership of eight persons. The first meetings were held in private houses and in unfinished or unoccupied. buildings, and not until 1858 did the society build a church, which was dedicated by Rev. Wm. Rinekart, Dec. 15 of the same year, and cost, complete, nearly fourteen hundred. dollars.

The following are the names of its pastors and their respective terms of service :

First services by Almond Baker, Julia Baker and Jared Sexton.; William C. Romine preached one year ; John Cubbage, two years ; B. Wagner, two years St. Clair Ross, two years ; J. R. Evans, one year ; David F. Bear, two years ; M. Bonnet, one year ; J. L. Condon, one year ; David F. Bair, one year ; Elisha Godfrey, one year ; Amos Worman, one year ; Kretzinger, one year ; Seth Coats, two years ; William Hankins and J. Edwards, one year; B. Wagner has served two years and is its present pastor.

The membership is one hundred and twenty-four, with a Sunday-school attendance of sixty.

The Congregational Church of South Grove was organized in May, 1854, at King's school-house, near the present residence of J. G. Heaps, .at which place the earliest meetings had. been held. prior to organization..

The original membership was ten persons, as follows : Elijah Bene­diet, wife and son, Thomas J. Hunt and wife, Asa Prescott and wife, A. B. Noyes and wife and Mrs. J. McConney.

The society built their present church at Annawan in 1866, and has been under the charge of the following pastors : Rev. Asa Prescott, four years ; Rev. A. Lyman, three years ; Rev. Jno. Allen, one year ; Rev. Alva Hurd, six months ; Rev. 0. Howard, one year ; Rev. Jno. G. Griffin, present pastor, who has a membership of fifteen.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1854, and held its earliest meetings at the old school-house in Annawan, and at the house of G. W. King. Among the first who composed its membership were John Hays, Jacob Hodges, Isaac Shelinberger, G. W. King, Almon Woodruff, Jno. P. Bassett, Wm. Benson, Solomon Minard, William Barber and their wives.

The church was built in 1858 at a cost of 82,000. The pastors who have officiated and their respective terms of service are the Revs. White, Pollard J. Moulton, Lynthecum, G. M. Morey, G. C. Woodruff, two years each W. Odell, W. M. Sedore, one year each ; G. W. Brown and R. L. W. Jameson, two years each ; S. S. Gruber and W. E. Williamson, one year each, and A. E. Day, two years. Present pastor, G. C. Woodruff. Present membership forty-two, with an attendance of thirty at Sunday-school.

 

History of Henry County

Submitted by the Webmaster

 

©Wini Caudell and Contributors

All Rights Reserved

Illinois Ancestors