CHURCHES.

In 1853 the first movement was made to establish a Presbyterian church, and it was finally located at what is now known as Norwood. The Rev. J. H. Nevius was the first pastor and remained until 1863. The first name given this church was North Henderson, but in 1S80 it was changed to Norwood. This society has a large membership and is in a prosperous conditioa. The Rev. R. E. Fleming, the present pastor, formerly presided over the Penial congregation in Millersburg township.

 

The United, Presbyterian Church

Contributed by Rev. Albert N. Porter

This congregation has retained the name, "North Henderson," by which it was christened at its birth thirteen years before North Henderson township was organized and twenty-nine years before the village was born. It Is one of the oldest religious organizations in the county, not over four or five others having an earlier history. The church is a direct descendant of the Covenanters and Associated Presbyterians of Scotland—descendants of the first Christians who suffered from the persecutions of Papal Rome, and those who stood out against the errors and immorality of the State church. Various unions and secessions In the history of the denomination took place up to May, 1858, when the Associate and Associate Reformed Presbyterians united, taking the name "United Presbyterian." Though not the same as the United Presbyterian church of Scotland, they are descended from the same original branches of the Reformation church.

The Associate Presbyterian was the first branch of the denomination organized in Mercer county, and the North Henderson congregation dates back to 1842. In that year the formalities of organizing the congregation were completed in a small log house at the crossing of the roads one mile west of Norwood. Seven families and fifteen persons entered into the organization. These charter members are all gone—so far as known none of them are liv­ ing. Some of them sleep in the "old cemetery" where the church used to stand. For perhaps four years the congregation met in this log house (then the home of S. L. Brownlee), ex­ cept in pleasant weather, when they wor­ shipped in the grove a few rods west of the present church building. In lumber wagons drawn by oxen, then the only conveyance, the men in checkered shirts and the women in plain calicoes or homespun, gathered to hear the preached word. In those days the people of the church were never "too tired" to attend divine worship on the Sabbath, even if they did have two long, dry sermons with an inter­ mission. On communion occasions the whole congregation was present at each service, begin­ ning with "fast day" on Thursday and ending on Monday.

The session records of the first three years of the congregation's history having been acci­ dentally destroyed, we only know that James Imbrie and Robert Caldwell were elected elders on the day of organization, and, three years later, James and Samuel Graham became their successors. For two years the congregation seems to have had only "supplies" or traveling preachers. Some time during this period they were united in pastoral charge with Liberty and Rock Island—both probably unorganized "preaching stations." Liberty seems to have passed from the knowledge of people of the Norwood neighborhood, as no one knows its location, unless it may have been in the locality of Viola.

On October 26, 1844, Rev. R. W. French was ordained and installed pastor in the same log dwelling in which the church was organized. The young pastor entered upon the work with courage and good cheer, in spite of an insignificant salary and the fact that the house in which he lived afforded poor shelter for his wife and little ones. The second year after his coming James Graham donated a lot from his farm, and a number of ablebodied men turned out and erected a "parsonage"—a log house— which stood four miles west of Norwood on the farm now owned by Moses Anderson. During the second year of Mr. French's pastorate a church building was erected two miles west and one mile south of Norwood. The place is still marked by the old "Seceder cemetery," on the Elmer F. Brownlee farm. In April, 1849, Mr. French was released from the pastorate, meanwhile the membership having about doubled. Mr. French afterward served other congregations and lived to a good old age, dying in Chicago February 23, 1902, aged nearly eighty-eight years.

North Henderson was then united in pas­ toral charge with Smith Creek, near Reid Post- office, and Bethel, near Olena, both in Hender­ son county. Rev. N. McDowell was installed pastor of the Smith Creek church October 24, 1S49, and served the united charge almost five years, his pastoral relation being dissolved April 26, 1854. He lived near Bethel, compel­ling him to travel a distance of thirty miles or more to North Henderson. During his pas­ torate the membership was increased to about fifty. Mr. McDowell was a brother of Mrs. E. Graham, who lives with her son three miles west of Norwood. He died at Indianola, Iowa, some twelve or fifteen years ago. The congre­ gation was then without a pastor nearly three years, but the rising current of immigration brought with it prosperity to the church, and the new pastor found 135 loyal and earnest supporters when he entered upon his work, eighty-seven names having been added to the roll during the vacancy.

Rev. J. A. Edie entered upon his work in March, 1857, and on May 7, 1857, was ordained and installed in a pastorate which lasted twelve years and seven months—the longest in the history of the congregation. This was a period of great events. A year later North Henderson church was brought into alliance with the United Presbyterian church. The steps lead­ ing up to this event were as follows: On May 12, 1856, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian was organized in Spring Grove church, Warren county, with twenty-one Church members, John Lafferty and C. S. Hart being chosen elders. So far as known only two of these twenty-one members are living, William L. Stewart, still a member of the North Henderson church, and his sister, Miss Jane Stewart, of Monmouth. Rev. J. C. McKnight was chosen pastor of the Spring Grove church and served till March, 1858. The congregation never had a house of worship, but held its services mostly in the school house one-half mile north of Norwood, and occasionally in the Norwood Presbyterian church. On June 28, 1858, these two churches met in joint session in the Associate church and formally voted to go into the union as

agreed upon by their respective synods a month earlier. The sessions of the two organizations were made the session of the united church, the name North Henderson being retained. At this time Rev. Edie tendered his resignation, but the united congregation voted unanimously against its acceptance, so he continued in the pastorate of North Henderson United Presby­ terian church for more than a decade after­ wards. The congregation at once began plan­ ning a new house of worship, and, in 1859, • the neat and comfortable building in which they still worship was erected at a cost of $5,000. The building, situated one mile west of Norwood, is 45 by 72 feet, with a height of twenty-one feet from floor to ceiling. It was well built and for a long time was probably the best church building in Mercer county. It is still in use and in good repair. The outside has not changed in appearance, but the wor­shipper of the early '60s would scarcely recog­ nize the inside, though even yet it puts on no "city airs."

Soon after this union the great war of the Rebellion began, and the congregation, in accordance with its creed in opposition to slavery, gave its undivided support to the Union cause. Many of its members, bidding farewell to home and friends, went out to battle for their country. "The gray-haired father and mother knelt under the roof of their cottage home and grayed for the success of the flag, while their sons marched forth to the wild music of war and gave up their lives in its defense." The num­ber of those who answered to their country's call is not now known, nor can it be told how many gave up their lives on the field of battle. The names of four soldiers are still on the roll. Rev. Edie, the pastor, spent some time in the army, cheering the soldier boys in camp, ministering to their spiritual needs and aiding and comforting the sick and dying as they lay mangled on the field or in hospital.

Mr. Edie closed his long pastorate October 1, 1S69, to the regret of almost the entire community. During this period 338 persons had been received into the church, the membership then being about 180. Mr. Edie, after doing valiant service in other fields, died in May, 1895, at the age of sixty-eight years. His pas­torate was followed by another long vacancy, during which supplies ministered to the congregation more regularly than might be supposed.

In April, 1872, Rev. J. M. French was called to the pastorate, was ordained and installed June 27 following, and served as pastor till September 14, 1875, during this time adding seventy-five names to the church roll. He died in Oakland, California, December 4. 1889, after a long and painful illness.

Rev. J. T. McCrory was called to -the pas­ torate in June, 1876, but not having completed his studies, supplied the pulpit till April, 1877, when he was ordained and installed, his pastoral relation continuing until July, 1880. Mr. McCrory is now pastor of a large church in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Rev. W. A. Spaulding followed, beginning his labors July 15, 1SS1, and closing them January 1, 1885. He is now pastor of a church in Seattle, Washington. The next pastor, Rev. Thomas H. Brown, served only a few months during the summer of 1885. Being in poor health, the congregation granted him leave of absence, and going to Greeley, Colorado, he died there the follow­ ing autumn.

Others who have since served in the pastoral relation include Rev. James D. Lytle, from July, 1886, to February 4, 1890; Rev. R. J. Da­ vidson, as stated supply until June, 1891, and then as regular pastor to May 1, 1896, and Rev. R. A. Monks, from April 1, 1897, to January 1, 1900. Mr. Lytle is now pastor of a church at Hanover, Indiana, Mr. Davidson at Cherry Fork, Ohio, and Mr. Monks in charge of a mission church at Pueblo, Colorado.

Rev. Albert N. Porter became stated supply July 1, 1900, and is still in the field. Though the congregation has been greatly depleted in numbers from various causes, chiefly from removals to other fields, it is still active in the work. In contributions to missions it is the "banner" church in Rock Island Presbytery. Though composed of only eighty members, $1,300 are raised for all purposes each year. The Sunday-school has an enrollment of eighty- seven, with an average attendance of almost sixty.

 

 

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Illinois Ancestors

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