Untitled Document

CHURCHES

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The United Presbyterian church of Alexis was organized by Rev. J. M. Henderson June 19, 1871, with twenty-five members,—Marve McClanahan, Mrs. Belle McClanahan, Mrs. Elizabeth Hogue, Francis Hogue, Thomas Ferguson, Mrs. Mary J. Ferguson, Alonzo A. Elder, Mrs. Sarah E. Elder, R. J. Laughead, Mrs. M. J laughead, C. C. Graham, Mrs. Mary J. Graham, Dr. J. F. MeCutehan, Mrs. M. J. Salina McCutchan, Thomas A. Laughead, Mrs. Mary Laughead, Samuel Laughead, Mrs. Anna Laughead, Wiliam A. Elder, Mrs. A. J. Elder, Seaman Graham, Mrs. Emma J. Graham, Sarah A. Laughead, J. C. Graham, Mrs. Elizabeth Graham. Dr. McCutchan and William A. Elder
were the ruling elders.

Mr. Henderson supplied the church for a year, and was followed in turn by Dr. A. M. Black, and Dr. James I. Doig. Rev. M. F. McKirahan, now of Topeka,Kansas, was the first regular pastor, and those serving in that capacity since are Rev. J. D.Palmer, 1884-88; Rev. Andrew Renwick, 1888-94; Rev. J. P. Gibson, 1895-97; and Rev. S. Y.Kyle, the present pastor, who was installed in January, 1898. The congregation held its earlymeetings in a school house near the village

.A pleasant house of worship was erected in
1873 at a cost of $3,100, but this gave place in1900 to a handsome and modern edifice, built at a cost of $7,000. The congregation also ownsa parsonage. The present membership of the congregation is 148.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Presbyterian church was organized May 29, 1883, by Rev. J. T. Whittemore, with 65 members. The meeting was held in the United Brethren church. Soon after organizing the congregation purchased the building formerly used by the Baptist church, which had been dissolved, paying $1,200 for it and expending $800 additional in remodeling it so as better to suit their needs. In 1894 the building was again remodeled, and is a very attractive place of worship. Rev. W. J. Palm was the first settled pastor, and since him there have been Rev. R. G. Williams, Rev. M. R. Baer, and Rev. J. T. Fulton, the present pastor. The church now has a membership of 205.

CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN

The Church of the United Brethren in Christ was organized at the Mohler School house, southwest of town, in the winter of 1859, by Rev. David F. Baer. with about forty members. Some of the first members were A. J. Ritchey, Mary Ritchey, David Swiler. Catherine Swiler, John Line, Mary Line, and others. Of these only Mary Ritchey and Mary Line re main. In the spring of 1871. after the town of Alexis was laid out, this society was transferred to Alexis, and worshiped for a while in the little school house.

In 1872 they erected the first house of worship in the village at a cost of $2,250. In 1892 the present neat and commodious house of worship was erected at a cost of about $3.500. The following ministers have served the congregation as pastor: Rev. D. F. Baer, P. R. Adams, J. P. Warnum, W.B. Shinn, G. H. Varce. ------- Stahl, ------ Spurlock, Orrin Dllley, D. P. Baer (second time), H. F. Kline, B. W. Bowman, E. H. Shuey, M. H. Sly, D. E. Baer, J. B. King, Nettie Moore, D. C. Westfall, J. E. Barr, D. C. Warren, W. L. Tyler, and J. M. Poulton, the present pastor, who took charge in September, 1901. The present membership of the church is 167.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The Christian church of Alexis, was the result of a six weeks' meeting under the auspices of the state board of the Christian Church, held by Knox P. Taylor and Rev. J. T. Alsup. The organization was perfected in March, 1897, with about forty-five members, the first meetings being held in the opera house. A handsome church of modern design was erected the fol lowing season and dedicated May 1, 1898, by Professor Harding of Eureka College. It cost about $3,500. Rev. A. M. Hale served as pastor of the church two years from its organization; Rev. C. C. Spencer following him for about the same length of time, then Rev. G. E. Scherrer eerving for about nine months. At the pres ent time the church is without a regular pastor. E. C. Pettit is president of the official board, and Mrs. Lucy Jackson of North Henderson is clerk. The church has a membership of sixty.

BAPTIST

The Baptist church was organized July 4, 1868, at Spring Grove school house, and afterwards removed to Alexis, where in 1875 a neat church was built at a cost of $3,000. The members were few at the start, consisting of the family of Thomas Dunn, L. A. Palmer and a few others. In 1883 they sold their church building to the Presbyterians and disbanded their organization.

METHODIST

The first meetings of the Methodist society were held in a grove in 1871, and afterwards meetings were held in a hall, then in the build ings of sister church organizations. Meetings were kept up for a number of years, and the society at one time had as high as 35 or 40 members. It disbanded a number of years ago, the members generally going into other church organizations.

CATHOLIC

Soon after the establishing of the town, the Catholics began holding services in Alexis. In 1877 they erected a neat frame building at a cost of about $3,000, and it is still used as a place of worship by these people. It is known as St. Theresa's church, and belongs to the Monmouth charge. A priest from that city conducts services here regularly.

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

Submitted by W. Caudell

Illinois Ancestors

111206BMKF