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Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at Morristown

. The first meetings were held in the Fall of 1860, in Edford Township , in what is now known as Weidlein's school-house. The congregation was organized Feb. 9, 1861 , with the following named members : Philip Emmert, Aleman Conrad, John Weidlein, F. W. Smith, S. S. Bjerrum, John J. Whiteline, Fred. Cook, Margaret Emmert, Elizabeth Conrad, Ellennora Weidlein, Caroline Smith, Mary Bjerrum, Doretha Emmert and Sophia Weidlein. F. W. Smith was elected Elder, and John Weidlein, Deacon.

The present church building was erected in the Spring of 1863, at a cost of 81,650, and dedicated Sept. 20 of the same year. F. W. Smith and John Weidlein were the building committee. Rev. F. R. Scherer was the first pastor ; he served from Feb. 9, 1861, to Feb., 1864 ; Rev. Eli Fair, from Feb., 1864 to Feb.,1865 ; Rev. A. M. Tanner, from April, 1866, to April, 1868 ; Rev. G. W. Schaeffer, from April, 1868, to April, 1869 ; Rev. R. B. Whitehill, from July 11, 1869, to March 10, 1872 ; Rev. E. S. Rees, from March 27, 1872, to July 6, 1878; Rev. Lloyd Knight, from July 6, 1873, to April 1, 1875 ; Rev. S. S. Lawson is the present pastor, having served since May 16, 1875.

Sixty-three is the highest number of members at any one time. The present church officers are George S. Emmert and Andrew Weidlein, Elders; F. W. Smith and J. J. Whiteline, Deacons. Philip Emmert has been Treasurer and Secretary since the organization of the church. The Sabbath-school is kept up constantly, has an average attendance of fifty scholars and teachers. and a library of about 300 vols.

Connected with the church is a parsonage, built in the Fall of 1866, during the pastorate of Rev. A. M. Tanner, at a cost, including additions and. repairs, of $1,050. The present pastor, Rev. S. S. Lawson, was born in York Co. Pa., Nov. 24, 1838; is the son of the late Rev. S. B. Lawson, and brother to Rev. J. Smith Lawson, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; was educated at Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pa.; entered the ministry in 1860, at Massillon, Ohio ; served in the army as chief clerk of the Adjutant General's Department of the 4th Army Corps, from Jan. 1, 1864, to the close of the war ; resumed the ministry at Leesburg, Ohio, in 1866 ; came to Illinois in 1870, and served pastorates at Ottawa and Freeport, prior to his present charge

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