The Methodist Episcopal Church

The congregation at first met for some time in a school-house, about one mile east of Kewanee, in a hall over the store of J. D. Schriver, and in private houses. Some of the members had been connected with the same religious body in Wethersfield, but desirous of building up a church in Kewanee, came here to worship. They organized a class of thirty persons December 15, 1855. in the school-house referred to; being then under the pastoral care of Rev. J. O. Gilbert. The principal members were: A. Thornton, William King, J. Shipley. Erastus Johnson, W. S. Oliver, William Bowen, W. C. Kent, and John Sehriver.

The corner stone of their church was laid October 23, 1856. The day was made " one of gladness " by the members. In the stone the following articles were deposited: A bible, hymn book, and description of the church ; a paper on which the following was written : " John Morley, Presiding Elder of Kewanee District,Peoria Conference,Illinois; Joseph O. Gilbert, pastor of Kewanee; Arthur Thornton, William C. Kent, Erastus Johnson, Joshua Shipley, William S. Oliver, William Bowen and William King, Trustees. The first Methodist Church built in Kewanee, October 23, 1856. Number of inhabitants in town, 1,500." There were also placed in this stone two copies of the Kewanee Advertiser, one number of the Fourth of July preceding, which gave an account of a great celebration of that day ; one number of the Henry County Dial; one number of the N. W. C. Advocate : a copy of the Missionary Advocate ; a map of Kewanee, given by R. A. Tenney ; one fifty cent piece in silver; one ten cent piece; one three cent piece, and one five cent piece.

This building lias become old and inadequate to the growing demands of the congregation, and during the coming Summer a new one will be constructed, which will cost $10,000. The parsonage was purchased in 1856. June following the organization of the church a Sunday-school was organized. There were sixty pupils in attendance.

The pastors of this church have been:

Rev. J. O. Gilbert, from organization until 1858

Rev. John Chandler, one year

Rev. E. Ransom, one year

Rev. J. S. Cummings, two years

Rev. W. P. Graves, one year. During his ministry the congregation became self-supporting

Rev. IT. J. Giddings was next, remaining two years

Rev. W. J. Beck, two years

Rev. Benj. Applebee, two years

Rev. John P. Brooks, one year

Rev. M. P. Armstrong, one year

Rev. G. W. Arnold, two years

Rev. B.C. Dennis, two years

Rev. G. W. Arnold, again two years, when the present pastor, Rev. M. Spinlock, was assigned to the pulpit, and is now serving his first year.

There are now three hundred and twenty members, and a Sunday-school of two hundred and fifty scholars. Dining the month of January, 1877, over eighty persons united with this church.

History of Henry County

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