Brenda
Lee Beulah Kriegeskotte born 01 Aug 1944, to Louis Henry & Laura Emma
(Rirchhorfer) Kriegeskotte, 130 N. 40th St., Salem, Ill., baptized 24 Nov 1946
Source: FamilySearch "Illinois, Church Records, 1837-1995" collection
Organized 1867, by John Ross; present membership, 50; value of property,
$2,500; Bible school began 1867; present enrollment, 83.
There were
fifteen charter members. The church grew steadily for a time. It, like many
others, came under the reactionary spirit of the early seventies, by which
the numerical growth and spirituality were crippled for years.
Organized 1866, by W. C. Hill; present membership, 35; value of property,
$2,400; Bible school began 1866; present enrollment, 36.
The Cartter
Church is the outgrowth of the Harvey's Point congregation. In 1808, Captain
Harvey and his companion overtook two horse-thieves on the road leading from
Salem to Old Foxville, and captured them. In order to get some water,
Captain Harvey left his companion in charge of the outlaws. But he left his
gun, and when he returned one of the thieves fired upon the captain and
killed him. So in his honor the place was named Harvey's Point. This church,
in the early years of its life, built a large frame house on the spot where
Harvey died. Mins. William C. Hill, J. M. Mulkey and James Snow did much for
the church in its earlier years.
G. W. Stevenson came from this
congregation to the ministry.
The church grew feeble by removals, so
in September, 1911, it was reorganized by Min. J. F. Rosboro in Cartter, the
near-by railway town.
Organized 1856, by John A. Williams; present membership, 675; value of
property, $35,000; Bible-school enrollment, 835.
This church was
formed at Central City. It soon became apparent that the center of business
would be moved to Centralia, and hence the church was transferred to that
place. The eight charter members were the following: Jacob, Harriet and
Simpson Frazier; Daniel Meyers, James and Jane McCarthy, Margeret Whitton
and Louisa Hawkins. A lot was bought and a commodious frame building erected
thereon. In 1866 this building was burned. Thereafter, for several years,
the meetings were held in rented halls. As a consequence, the church
continued to become weaker and weaker. In 1872 another frame chapel, costing
$2,400, was erected. This gave place in 1909 to a new, modern and beautiful
edifice, costing $32,000. This was during the pastorate of J. F. Rosboro.
During the Civil War and for years following, the church sustained
serious injury from the bitter political feeling that then existed. The
church is alive to all good works.
Organized 1898, by C. A. Burton; present membership, 100; value of
property, $1,000; Bible school began 1898; present enrollment, 100.
About 1850 a congregation was formed and met for worship in the residence of
John Hill, Sr. As the years passed and churches were organized in that
section, many of these members united with them. Through the work of W. C.
Hill and others, the remnant of the old church was gathered up and a new
start was made. The chapel was finished in 1899. The Church Extension Board
loaned this country congregation $250, which has been paid. There were
sixteen charter members. S. S. Turley, S. C. and Isaac Hill are elders, and
the last named is clerk also.
Organized 1884, by J. H. G. Brinkerhoff; present membership, 89; value of
property, $900; Bible school began 1887; present enrollment, 46.
A
meeting was held in the Huff Schoolhouse in 1886 by Minister Brinkerhoff and
was followed up by a year's work. There were forty-two charter members, most
of whom came from the Mt. Moriah and Harvey's Point Churches. The site was
selected and the Gaston Grove chapel was built. Like most country churches,
there have been many losses by removals, but the work is maintained.
This church has given A. Leroy Huff to the ministry. Bessie Huff is
clerk.
Organized 1896, by J. F. Rosboro; present membership, 15; value of
property, $1,200; Bible school began 1895; present membership, 30.
The preachers having served the church were C. A. Burton, Clark Braden, W.
J. Simer, R. M. Philips, F. O. Fannon and George Foley.
Organized 1899, by J. H. Smart; present membership, 110; value of
property, $5,000; Bible school began 1899; present enrollment, 134.
E. C. Bargh and his family, with a few other Disciples, had held meeting
irregularly for thirteen years. Min. J. H. Smart, then the pastor of the
church in Centralia, was engaged by the mission board of the district to
hold a series of meetings and organize a church. This was done in the summer
of 1899. These meetings were held in the M. E. Church South, and in a public
hall. There were fifty charter members. A lot was bought and a good building
finished the next year. The church has continued to grow in members and
influence.
Present membership, 60; value of property, $1,050; Bibleschool
enrollment, 34.
This church is about one mile south of the village
of Omega. In the early fifties this congregation met in a log house about
two miles south of the present chapel. It was known as Bee Branch Church. A
nice, up-to-date country chapel was built in 1880. In the earlier years, H.
A. Vandusen, John A. Williams, John Tinkler, Rolla B. Henry, William T.
Williams, H. A. Harrell and William Chaffin ministered to the people. All
these have gone to their reward. W. J. Simer has served the church for the
past thirty years. What better proof could be given of a genuine preacher
and a fine people?
From this church there came to the ministry H. A.
Vandusen, F. M. Philips, John Tinkler, W. J. Simer and A. A. Millican.
Organized 1829; present membership, 135; value of property, $500;
Bible-school enrollment, 134.
This is the oldest church in Marion
County. It was organized as a Free Will Baptist church and held this name
until 1837. In that year it renounced this name for "Church of Christ" and
came into full accord with the principles of the Restoration movement. Among
the consecrated leaders in the early years there were William Chaffin, David
R. Chance, Samuel Shook and Charles Drennen. They were pioneer preachers who
underwent hardships and dangers uncomplainingly for the truth's sake.
The first meeting-house was of logs. After its decay three successive
frame buildings have been occupied. The second of these was partly wrecked
by a windstorm, but was repaired and used till 1904, when the present neat
chapel was built. It is located about eight miles southwest of Salem. John
A. Williams was the gift of this church to the ministry a magnificent
contribution.
Organized 1878, by James M. Hawley; present membership, 188; value of
property, $2,000; Bible school began 1878; present enrollment, 113.
There were sixteen charter members. A neat frame church, costing $2,000, was
built and occupied early in 1880. Before that the meetings were held in a
public hall.
This church gave to the ministry R. Leland Brown. He
had served as a deacon and an elder before he was set apart to the ministry
of the Word. He has served a number of strong churches, as well as the
evangelist of the Seventh and Eighth Districts.
Organized 1875, by Samuel Hawley; present membership, 125; value of
property, $2,000; Bible school began 1882; present enrollment, 129.
This church made but little progress for five years. In 1880 it was
reorganized by Min. J. D. Morgan. There were then twenty-nine males and
eleven females composing the membership. The church then began to grow. A
church building was erected in 1882, and in 1905 an addition was built,
making it a very neat structure. A large portion of the membership reside in
the country south of town. They have erected a chapel and maintain a Bible
school there as well as in town. C. M. Ashton is clerk.
Organized 1866, by John A. Williams; present membership, 265; value of
property, $25,000; Bible school began 1867; present enrollment, 310.
This church was formed in the house of John A. Williams. The members
were few in number, but they at once bought a frame building that had been
used by the Cumberland Presbyterians. They repaired and used it until 1879.
The next year a brick chapel was occupied. This gave way in 1906 to a new
and modern building, costing about $22,000. This was during the ministry of
F. O. Fannon.
Mr. Williams preached for this church a long time. In
its earlier years it was also served by John W. Monehan, John Bradley, J. O.
Henry, J. H. G. Brinkerhoff and others.
Organized 1889, by A. Martin; present membership, 320; value of church
property, including parsonage, $6,000; Bible school began 1889; present
enrollment, 144.
The meetings of the congregation were held the
first year in the Congregational Church. In 1890 the building now in use was
erected during the ministry of J. H. G. Brinkerhoff.
Organized 1882, by Joseph D. Morgan; present membership, 25; value of
property, $400; Bible school began 1882; present enrollment, 67.
This church is about seven miles east of Omega. About eighty years ago a log
church stood two miles east of Smith's Grove. It was known as the Bluff
Church because it stood on a high bank of Skillet Fork, by a rock-bottomed
pool that has been used in baptizing through all these years. When the old
log house burned down, some of the members formed the Old Union Church in
Clay County. In the early eighties, J D. Morgan gathered together members
from the Old Union Church, and others living in Krutchfield Prairie, and
formed the Smith's Grove Church. The organization was in a schoolhouse, but
a chapel was soon built which the congregation has outgrown. W. J. Simer has
preached for this church for twenty-five years. Of it he says: "This place
can show more little folks out to Sunday school and church to the square
foot than any place that I have ever been. Nearly all of the young folks are
members of the church."
Organized 1867, by A. Martin.
This is a country church that has
not grown much in work or membership. It is also called Deadman, and is
three miles south of Odin.
Organized 1883, by John A. Williams; present membership, 82; value of
property, $500; Bible school began 1883; present enrollment, 46.
A
country church. Preaching services had been held in a schoolhouse in the
community for forty years, but no organization was made till 1883. There
were about twenty charter members. J. H. G. Brinkerhoff and F. M. Morgan
have served the church.
Little Grove Church was two miles southeast
of Centralia, and formed in the thirties or early forties. It dissolved
about 1870.
]. W. Monnahan was a farmer, teacher and county superintendent of schools
in the sixties and seventies. A good preacher and able debater; an energetic
and useful man.
Samuel Shook resided on his farm three miles
southeast of Centralia. His work was mainly in Marion County in the
thirties. He traveled on horseback, followed by his dog "Trip," that lay
under the pulpit while his master preached.
William Chaffin also
resided on his farm in this county, where he preached in the thirties and
also in Clay and Jefferson Counties. He had a habit of placing his hand upon
his cheek while preaching, and often said: "I would work my finger-nails off
before I would make a price for my preaching." He died before the Civil War.
David R. Chance lived on his farm five miles from Iuka. He was a
forceful and useful man, going all over that region. At the table he would
sometimes say: "You can tell a preacher by the cups of coffee he drinks one,
two or three; I take three."
Richard Huelin's home was near Walnut
Hill in 1840. He was a plain man who knew the Bible and traveled and
preached much.
James Snow resided in the same community. He was a
good man with a gentle disposition and his preaching contrasted with most of
that of his brother ministers. He resided on his farm and traveled widely.
H. A. Vandusen lived on his farm near Omega. He was told that he had
hurt a congregation by serving it for nothing. He replied: "I don't know but
what that is true." He was a conservative, but earnestly opposed any thought
of division on questions of opinion.
It was in this county that an
aged M. E. preacher said: "A man can be a good Christian in any denomination
except the Campbellite or Mormon."
Extracted 15 May 2017 by Norma Hass from History of the Disciples in Illinois 1819-1914, pages 311-318.
The FamilySearch collection, Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1729-1956, has many baptisms, communions, confirmations, marriages, and death record images from Marion parishes. The records are not yet indexed, but are available for browsing at familysearch.org
Extracted 28 Aug 2018 and 01 Dec 2018 from the FamilySearch Collection - Illinois, Diocese of
Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1729-1956, Marion County, at
familysearch.org. Although not yet indexed for searching, the Collection has
many more record images available to browse.