Untitled Document

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first Methodist society in the township of Preemption was organized in the year 1841, at the house of Mr. Benjamin Clarke, with six members, viz : Benjamin Clarke (leader) and wife, David Little and wife, Andrew Gilmore, and Margaret Gilmore. They held their meetings at this place until 1846, when a house of worship was built, under the following circumstances : Judge Savage, who had been in this section looting after his real estate interests, observing the lack of means for the development of 'either or both educational and religious interests, and believing, as do all intelligent men, that through these mediums only come true prosperity and the successful building up of a new country, he deposited in Rock Island $50 to be used in building a house for church and school purposes.

This fact Mr. Savage communicated to John Whitsitt, who soon after conferred with Mr. C. A. Spring, an agent of the American Sunday School Union of New York, who was then here in the interest of that society. Through Mr. Spring's influence Mr. Lemuel Brewster, a benevolent gentleman in New York, was induced to build three houses here, one at Farlow's Grove in section 34, one at Preemption Corners in section 11, and one in Rock Island county ; the $50 donated by Judge Savage was finally used in improving and fencing the Union cemetery at Farlow's Grove. In this house at Preemption the Methodists worshiped until they erected their present commodious church edifice on the southwest corner of David Little's farm in section 2, adjoining the village of Preemption, in 1867. The old building is still (and may it for many years to come) standing as a memorial to the memory of its benevolent builder.

The perusal of the following pages will be the evidence of how the All-wise Ruler of all things crowned these early, yet feeble, efforts with success. Reverting in the history of the Methodist Episcopal. church to 1865, we find it in charge of Rev. Amos Morey as pastor, with 101 members and fourteen probationers.

Rev. Mr. Morey filled this position up to 1868, when he reported three preaching places, 123 members and nineteen probationers, a church worth $3,000, and comfortable parsonage. The pastors succeeding him were : M. P. Armstrong, W. M. Sedore, and J. E. Rutledge (each one year), J. Q. Adams (three years), Thomas Watson (two years), Charles Atherton (two years), who was assisted in his last year by Frank Doran. At the close of the conference year of 1878, the charge was divided, Reynolds taking all the other appointments, leaving Preemption alone, tacitly a station without any outside appointments, ninety-six members and three church buildings going to the Reynolds circuit, while fifty-nine members, one church and the parsonage were left with Preemption.

.In 1879 Rev. Thomas Watson was for the second time appointed to this charge. He died the May following, and his time was filled out by W. C. Knapp and the Rev. B. C. Dennis. In 1880 brother B. C. Dennis became pastor in charge, retaining the same three years, which is the full extent of time allowed by the conference on one charge. During the broken year above referred to no change numeriically was made, but during the last three years of Brother Dennis' labors the membership has grown from fifty-nine to eighty-six.

The Sunday school is in a specially flourishing condition, and at the present time (1882) larger than any ever before held in the township. The charge is one of the best patrons. per member, of the missionary.and other benevolent societies of any church in the bounds of the conference, if not of the state. Their missionary collections for the year 1881 were $3.000. and during the last two years the benevo lent collections of the charge have averaged considerably over $11 per member, while home expenses are all paid up promptly in advance, all of which grows out of the fact that a few of the leading liberal and wealthy men in the community appreciate the value of the church and the benefits of its benign influence.

Of the church history from 1845 to 1865 nothing authentic could be obtained, as there are no records earlier than the latter date, and the only party now living who could give any reliable information stubbornly refused to do so.

History of Henderson and Mercer Counties

Illinois Ancestors