CHURCHES.
The Congregational church was organized November 15, 1851, at the school house in what was then District No. 2. Rev. J. Blanchard, of Knox College, Galesburg, presided, and Rev. L. E. Sikes was clerk.
There were eleven charter members: William Dilley, Mary Dilley, Phoebe Dilley, David Tuttle, Elizabeth Tuttle, Ruth Tuttle, Eunice Robinson, Elizabeth Axtell, Stephen Dilley, Clarinda Cole, and Caroline Axtell. William Dilley was elected the first clerk of the church. The church worshipped in the school house where organized, with the Rev. Asa Martin as the first pastor. He remained until December, 1852, and the church had no regular pastor, but occasional services by Rev. L. H. Parker and Rev. Homer Penfield, until 1854, when Rev. Mr. Luddin served as pastor for three months, then Revs. Parker and Penfield supplying again until March, 1856.
The church building was commenced in 1855, and completed and dedicated March 4 and 5, 1856. The building cost $2,500. The first settled pastor was Rev. J. A. Rogers, who became pastor in March, 1856. Those who succeeded him were: A. R. Mitchell, L. S. Morgan, Alfred Morse, Cyrus H. Baton, during whose pastorate a parsonage was purchased at a cost of $1,200, Arthur E. Arnold in 1867, A. J. Drake the same year, James D. Wycoff in 1869, R. A. Wood in 1877, S. B. Goodenow, R. B. Guild in 1881, F. C. Cochran, George Peebles in 1885, Rev. J. W. Johnson, D. D., in 1891, C. B. Riggs, O. M. VanSwearingen, W. W. Bolt in 1S98, L. H. Ruge, and the present pastor. Rev. Franklin W. Keagey, called in April. 1902.
During the latter part of 1901 the church building underwent a complete remodeling, and is practically a new structure of colonial design, with modern furnishings, furnace and electric lights. Two thousand dollars were spent in improvements, and the church was rededicated February 23, 1902. It seemed very appropriate that the dedicatory sermon should be preached by the president of Knox College, Dr. McClelland, as a little over a half century ago the president of the same institution presided at the organization of the church. The church is now located on the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Chamberlain street, having been moved from its former site in 1895.
ROSEVILLE CHRISTIAN
The Roseville Christian church was organized about 1845 at the Downey school house in Swan Township, with a membership of about thirty, of whom none are now known to be living. John E. Murphy and Milton Dodge were the preachers, and after them were John Reynolds, who yet lives in Macomb, and Smith Wallace. About 1867 the organization was moved to the Taylor school house, in Rosevill? Township, and in 1871 to Roseville, six or eight new members coming then from Ellison. Rev. C. E. Aids commenced the services at Roseville in the Methodist church, but in two
or three days it was locked against them. J. C. Reynolds then held meetings in the old school house, and the society was reorganized there in May, 1871, with twenty-eight members, of whom three yet remain in its connection, J. T. Lathrop, G. W. Nisely, and Susan Lieu- ranee. A frame church building was erected in 1871 at a cost of $1,500, and before it was. plastered J. F. Leek held a meeting with thirty or thirty-five additions. Mr. Leek served as pastor two years, and was succeeded by G. L. Brokaw, now editor of the Christian Index at Des Moines, Iowa. Following him have been the following pastors: Elders Royal, M. Jones, B. C. Stevens, Wm. Kellaway, A. J. Carrick, T. A. Williams, C. G. Blakeslee, W. H. Coleman, and E. E. Violett. The church is just now without a pastor. One minister has arisen from the membership of this sor-ietv, S. M. Perkins, present pastor at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The church building has been enlarjrad, well furnished, and made to compare favorably with other church edifices throughout the country. The membership of the church is 173.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Tire First Baptist church of Roseville was organized as the Hat Grove Baptist church by a council called for that purpose February 18, 1852. Rev. Georgs S. Minor presided at the council, and the society started with twenty- five members, and Eliphalet Mitchell and Eirdsey W. Smith as deacons. Rev. Joseph Elliott was the first pastor, coming in 1853 arid remaining eighteen months. He was succeeded by Rev. William T. 31y, through whose efforts a very successful revival was carried on, re sulting in a large addition to the membership of the church. Pastors who followed him are: Revs. William Morse, Joseph Elliott (second term), Daniel Delano, Henry B. Jobnstofl, Daniel B. Gunn, W'illiam Storrs, A. Jones, Jr., Elijah Russ, George D. Kent, E. C. Cady, J. E. Todd, Isaac Fallis.. J. M. Titterinsrton, A. H. Rhodes, R. J. Church, E. D. Hoyt, and the pres ent pastor, 0. J. Terrell, who came to the church in 1897. The church met in school houses until 1863, when a building was erected opposite the cemetery, east of the railroad, 30x40 feet in size, without tower or vestibule, and costing $1,700. It was dedicated March 14, 1864. In 1893 the church building had liecome too small, besides being inconveniently located, and a new brick church costing $10,000 was erected near the center of the village. It was dedicated October 29 of that year, by Rev. M. E. Broaddus, D. D., of Burlington. The present membership of the church is 190.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL
The Methodist Episcopal church is the outgrowth of a class of some half dozen members organized in 1839. Among these were Solomon. Sovereign and wife, John Jared, Sr., and wife. They held their first meeting in Jared's school house, about three miles southeast of Roseville, and later met at the home of Josiah Kirkpatrick, about two and one-half miles from Roseville. Meetings were also held in the house of Solomon Sovereign, then when the first school house in Roseville was built, it was used as a meeting place. The church building was erected in 1867, at a cost of $3,500, and it was dedicated by Dr. Munsell, president of Illinois Wesleyan University, at Bloomington. It was remodeled in 1881. The parsonage is on a lot adjoining the church.
EVANGELICAL SWEDISH LUTHERAN
The Evangelical Swedish Lutheran church was organized February 26, 1876, by Rev. Charles Anderson, and with twenty-six members. A church building was erected the same year on Chamberlain street, at a cost of $1,200, and dedicated October 29. The pastors have been Rev. George Wiberg, Rev. Charles J. Lundell, Rev. Charles Bargstrum, Rev. J. W. Carlson, and Rev. N. A. Bloomstrand. The society has been disorganized for a number of years
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