PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 

The Presbyterian Church, of Edgington, was the first church organized in the township, and is the oldest Presbyterian Church in the county. It was organized in the fall of 1837, by the Rev. John Montgomery, by the appointment of the Presbytery of Sehuyler. The first sermon was preached by him in the Autumn of 1836 in the log house of Mr. Joseph Dunlap, where he held services occasionally during that year, and subsequently in the house during the winter, and in the summer season meetings were held in the barn—a commodious building—until 1842. This barn is still standing, and is about forty rods west of the residence of Charles Dunlap.

He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. "Woodruff, who occupied the field until 1843.

Afterward Rev. Mr. Church preached to the congregation on alternate Sabbaths for a few months. Rev. Henry U. Davis preached in 1846-7. About this time (1848) Rev. Samuel Cliland purchased a farm within the bounds of the congregation, and his ministerial services were secured as a supply for a few years.

In the Autumn of 1854, Rev. A. W. Loomis, who had been a missionary to China, took charge of the church as stated supply, and continued in the work until the spring of 1859, when he went to California to preach the gospel to the Chinese.

In May, 1860, J. M. Jameison, D.D., returned missionary from India, was employed to preach as stated supply, giving half of his time to the church at Millersburg, Mercer Co. He was succeeded by Rev. T. M. "Wilson, in May, 1862, whose health failing, he felt compelled to leave the field, and did so in December, 1864, very much to the regret of his congregation.

In May, 1865, Rev. T. R. Johnson came to visit the field at the solicitation of his friend, fellow-student, and predecessor, Rev. T. M. "Wilson ; and preached his first sermon on the 28th of the same month. He was then employed, as stated supply, for one year, at a salary of $600. In September, 1866, the congregation presented a call to the Presbytery of Bureau for his pastoral services, which was found in order, put in his hands and accepted ; and he was ordained and installed October 9th, 1866. He still occupies the field, and is very much attached to his people and they to him.

The meeting-house in which the congregation still worships was erected in 1843, at a cost of about $2.000. The lot upon which the building stands consists of three acres of choice prairie adjoining the village of Edgington, and was donated for this purpose bj Daniel Edgington. In 1870 a parsonage was built, at a cost of §1,400. It is handsomely located in the village, on a lot containing two acres, purchased at a cost of $700.

The Sabbath School was organized about the year 1844, and was continued during the summer months only until 1865; since that time it has been kept up during the whole year. Formerly it was supplied with a library, but those active in the support of the school, deeming it a better plan, now furnish the scholars with a sufficient number of religions papers. The average attendance of teachers and scholars is about fifty.

 

 

The Past and Present of Rock Island County

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