LARCHLAND.

Larchland was laid out under the name of Lenox January 10, 1870, by J. B. McCullough, county surveyor, and was the first of the War­ ren county towns on the Rock Island and St. Louis division of the Chicago. Burlington and Quiney railroad. It is on the southeast quar­ ter of Section 30 and the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of Section 31 in Lenox township. The land was owned by C. C. Dick- son. He came to the township in 1834. when there was but one house between his and Monmouth.

The postoffice at Lenox was established July 1, 1856, with John 0. Sherwin as postmaster. The next summer the name was changed to Cane Run, but soon afterward was made Lenox again. For the past several years both town and postoffice have been known as Larchland.

The Larchland Camp No. 5641, Modern Woodmen of America, was organized August 23, 1898, with twelve members. The officers were: E. L. Fernald, Venerable Consul; D. A Holgate, Worthy Adviser; Oscar Ewan, Banker; G. 0. Killey, Clerk; C. E. Moore, Watchman; S. Fernald, Escort; J. Lee. Sentry

CHURCHES.

A Presbyterian church was organized in Larchland in December, 1859, seventeen members bringing letters from the First Presby­ terian church of Monmouth in order to get it started. In 1863 or 1864 a comfortable house of worship was erected, largely through the efforts of the Dicksons, who donated a lot, and at one time there was quite a prosperous congregation. Owing to removals and other causes the church became weakened, and was disbanded early in the '70s. The Methodists now occupy their church building.

The Methodist Protestant church at Larchland known as Grace Chapel, grew out of a successful series of revival meetings held there in 1876. The society bought the old Presbyterian church after that organization disbanded, for $300. It belongs to the Liberty Chapel charge in Tompkins township. Rev. R. E. Fox is the present pastor.

A class of the Methodist Episcopal church was formed in the latter part of 1856 at the residence of Joseph Aimie under the direction of Rev. Franklin Chaffee. Members of the class were Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Aimie, John Shelton, and Mr. and Mrs. Evan Ewan. In 1863 a house of worship was erected on the southwest quarter of Section 27 at a cost of about $2,000, and dedicated by Rev. Henderson Ritchie, Warren county's first born child. The church is known as the West Prairie ctmrch. Mr. Chaffee was the first pastor.

There is also a United Brethren church known as the Fairview church at the southeast corner of Section 20.

 

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