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The New Windsor Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1868, under the charge of Rev. Peter S. Garretson, this being his first appointment, he having traveled one year previously on the Orion circuit as supply. Rev. W. B. Carithers received his appointment to this circuit in 1869, during which year the class procured a lot and purchased a building 26 x40 feet that had been built for a school-house and converted it into a house of worship. This building the class still uses as its church. Rev. Theodore Hoagland was placed in charge of this class in 1870 and was continued two years. The preachers in charge since Rev. T. Hoagland have been Revs. William Lieber, U. Z. Gilmer, A. Myers, J. E. Taylor, two years ; Geo. Miller, John McCord, and J. D. Calhoun, two years. The class organized in 1868, with a membership of eight, John Coleman, Elizabeth Colemen, Lovina Coleman, Samuel Coleman, Rev. John Abbott, Alice Abbott, W. A. Buckley, and Mary Buckley.

The present membership of the class is forty-five. The church is out of debt and in a flourishing condition.

The Swedish. Evangelical Lutheran Church, of New Windsor

The church was organized May 21, 1869, with Carl A. Johnson, Tetes Falk, and John M. Blad, as trustees, and Carl A. Johnson, C. Bjorkengren, Carl Adolf Falk, and Carl Falk, as deacons. G. A. Falk, secretary. August 23. 1869, the society decided to build a church edifice, which it did that fall, erecting a building 28 x 60 x 20 ft. dimensions, which rests on a stone foundation three and a half feet above the surface of the ground. This building cost $6,726.70. The society has a good commodious parsonage also, which cost about $1,500, and a cemetery where it buries its dead exclusively.

It has had three pastors since its organization : S. T. A. Lindahl, T. N. Sannquist and the present pastor, N. T. Winquist, who has been in charge since April, 1879. The latter gentleman being a fine scholar and a very intelligent man. He was born in Stockholm , Sweden , November 9, 1840 , and received his education there, coming to America in 1867. He took a course at the Swedish Theological Seminary at Paxton. Illinois , since removed to Rock Island , Illinois .

The Fist Congregational Church, of New Windsor,

The church was organized October 11, 1870 , by W. W. Allen, Sarah A. Allen, William D. Fleharty, Mary C. Fleharty, Alice Barnes, Mary Ann Mayo, Florence Byrnes, Delia A. Hammond, and Charlotte Goold, as members, assisted by the Rev. L. F. Waldo, W. J. Beecher, E B. Guild, B. F. Haskins, and A. R Mitchell, pastors respectively of the First Congregational churches of Oneida, Galesburg, Galva, Victoria and Viola, with deacons M. C. Metcalf: and R. C. Sexton, as delegates. Rev. L; F. Waldo, moderator, and Rev. W. J. Beecher, scribe. W. W. Allen was elected clerk.

Since the organization there have been eighty-four members admitted to the church, malthag a total membership of ninety-three during the little more than eleven years since the first organization. October 22, 1870 , W. W . Allen was elected deacon, and William Fleharty, treasurer. Rev. Cyrus H. Eaton, the first pastor, began his labors April 30, 1871 . The society built a small but very nice church during the year 1872, which was completed in the spring of 1873, at a cost of $2,381.64, and dedicated May 25, 1873 . T. B. Mayo, A. J. Streeter, and William D. Fleharty were the building committee.

The pastorate of Rev. C. H. Eaton ceased November 1, 1874 . Rev. B. F. Haskins acted as supply until the Rev. J. A. Waterworth began his labors, May 30, 1875 . He continued to serve as pastor until June 1, 1878 , and was succeeded by the present incumbent. Rev. R. L. McCord, who began his labors in January, 1879.

The United Presbyterian Church of New Windsor

The church was organized in Oxford , Henry county, August 10, 1866 , by Joseph M. and Nancy H. Christy, Thomas R., Catharine and Elisabeth McMiller, Margaret A. Hogue, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Thomas H. and Sarah Brown, William H. and Margaret Kerr, Sarah Surpluss, Nancy Epperson, Thomas and Eliza M. Ramsey, John M. and Sarah A. Christy, and Stephen and Isabella Woodburn. The first elders were Joseph M. Christy and William II. Kerr. In 1867 this society built the first church edifice erected in the township of New Windsor. After a four year& struggle this society was dissolved by the Presbytery, some of its members think unjustly.

History of Mercer and Henderson County

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Illinois Ancestors