The Presbyterian church of Hamlet was organized in 1870 previous to the organization here the members of this faith held their membership in the societies of the surrounding country, the greater part at Millersburg. The first members that constituted the church were thirty-two in number. The society was organized by Thomas M. Wilson, W. S. Dool, and T. R. Johnson. Previous to the organization they had preaching in the school-house one mile west of the village, but not regularly.

Those present at the organization were : F. A. Sherer, moderator; William S. Dool, C. B. Bristol, Daniel Kelly, T. R. Johnson, and William W. Morehead. The elders were : Thomas Candor and J. M. Gilmore. .Of the thirty-two members who constituted the organization in the beginning, fifteen were dismissed from the society at Edgington Mills, Rock Island county ; thirteen from the Millersburg society ; the remaining four were not members of any particular society here at that time.

The first elders appointed were : Cornelius Swartwout, J. S. Gilmore, and John Montgomery. The present elders . are : William H. Wheaton, D. M. Candor, and. John Montgomery. The present membership is eighty-five. The society has a very neat frame church, 36x 50, erected at a cost of $3,000. Since its organization it has supported and kept in operation a live Sunday school. The ministers who have labored here are T. M.Wilson and H. W. Fisk, since the organization ; the former from 1870 to 1872 ; the latter from 1873, and is at this time pastor of this charge. The membership of this society represents most of the first families in this community. This is the only church organization in the village.

 

 

History of Henderson and Mercer Counties

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