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Five church edifices grace the village, to wit: The Methodist, Congregational, Universalist, German Evangelical, and Swedish Lutheran. The three first named are handsome and commodious structures, and a credit not only to the societies that worship in them, but to the people in whose midst they are built.

The M. E Church was organized in 1853, Revs. Cortright, Barton and H. N. Irish taking an active part in the work. The names of only eight persons appear'as members of the class or society at the date of its organization. It now numbers one hundred and twenty.

The first meetings were held in a small warehouse. Rev. Mr. Irish was a resident of Pecatonica, and his house was a regular Methodist hotel —a home for every Methodist that came along and claimed his brotherly hospitality. The good old man long since was called to join the innumerable throng around the great white throne.

The society now worships in an $8,500 church, and is in good condition for usefulness. The Sabbath-school numbers about seventy scholars,of which Rev. W. H. Haight, the pastor, (second year) is superintendent.

The Congregational society was organized by Rev. Mr. Johnson, with six members, on the 15th day of February, 1854. The following year

they built a house of worship, at a cost of $3,000. In 1876 this building was reconstructed and remodeled, at a cost of $2,700. -Up to 1857-8, the

society had increased to a membership of seventy, but at the present time ct., 1877,) only numbers about twenty-seven. The Sunday-school is in prosperous condition, Putnam Perley, superintendent. Rev. Mr. McCordle is the present pastor, his pastorate commencing October 1st.

The Swedish Lutheran Church was organized in 1857, and a church edifice built soon after. Their church property is estimated to be worth about $1,000. It has 129 communicants, and fifty members of its Sunday-school. Rev. J. M. Nelson, pastor; A. Kellner, superintendent of Sunday-school.

The Universalist society was organized in 1859, with seven members, by Rev. Dr. R. G. Hamilton, who was for a long time its pastor. The church was built in 1862, when there were eighty persons enrolled as members, at a cost of $2,500. It was refitted in 1875, at a cost of $800. At present there are forty members. Rev. S. F. Gibbs, pastor. Sunday-school membership, fifty. John D. Jackson, superintendent.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized some two or three years since, with a small membership, mostly (we might say wholly) non-residents of the place. The pastor, Rev. C. F. Th. Eisseldt, resides at Belvidere, 1111:, and comes to this place every two weeks, to hold services, A peculiarity of the Sunday-school held in connection with this church is the fact that it is held on Saturday, every other week.

The Catholic society was organized in 1871-2, with fifty members. The number has since increased to about 100. Rev. Dr. O'Callaghan is in charge of the work, and although the society has no church building, services are held regularly at the residence of the Priest, at the corner of Reed and Fifth streets. Arrangements are now being perfected for the erection of a church building.

History of Winnebago County-1877

Illinois Ancestors