Colchester Methodist Church


 
A church society of this denomination was first organized at this place on the 1st of February, 1858, under the direction and through the instrumentality of the Revs. H. Presson and B. E. Kaufman, with 21 members, whose names were as follows: Joseph Taylor, Mary Taylor, Abraham Pearson, Elizabeth Pearson, Richard Musson, Rebecca Musson, James Roberts, Cecilia Roberts, A. B. Doan, Sarah Doan, Mary Bechtel, Margaret Musson, John Pearson, Abraham Newland, Jr., Thomas Pearson, William Cowan, David Sherbine, Mary A. Sherbine, Sarah E. Biell, Philip Lawrence and John Level. Meetings were held in school houses and other buildings until the year 1861, when a neat brick edifice was erected, at a cost of $1,200. It is 32x46 feet in ground area, and has a good seating capacity. Among those prominent in this church, have been Abraham Newland, Jr., James Roberts, John Pearson, Richard Williams, James Underhill, William Hulson, David Reece, John Parnell, Richard Musson and John James. The growth of the church was for many years very great, but of late has decreased in numbers on account of so many removals and numerous deaths; but still they are prosperous, and have a good active membership. The value of church property is $2,000. A most excellent Sabbath school is attached to this church, which is well attended. The present pastor is Rev. Charles T. Cady, who has occupied the pulpit since October, 1884.

Rev. Charles T. Cady is the son of Curtis and Abegail Cady, and was born April 30, 1855, in Brimfield, Peoria county, Illinois. His early education was received at the Brimfield high school. At the age of 18 he taught school, continuing in this occupation for two years. In the fall of 1876 he was enrolled as a student at Hedding college, Abingdon, Illinois, and graduated in the spring of 1881, receiving the degree of A. B., and three years later the degree of A. M. He was married to Eunice A. Hiner, of Abingdon, Illinois, on the 9th of March, 1881. One child, George Raymond, is the fruit of this union, born February 6, 1884, at Raritan, Henderson county, Illinois. Mr. Cady was admitted on trial as a minister in the central Illinois conference, in the fall of 1881, and was stationed at Vermont, Fulton county, Illinois. The following year he removed to Raritan, Henderson county, Illinois, where he remained two years. In the month of October, 1884, he was appointed to the church at Colchester, Illinois, where he is now in charge as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church.

History of McDonough County, Illinois, 1885, Centinental Historical Co., Springfield, Illinois
Transcribed by Karl A. Petersen for McDonough County ILGenWeb

Copyright 1999, 2000 Robin L. W. Petersen; all rights reserved. For personal use only. Commercial use of the information contained in these pages is strictly prohibited without prior permission. If copied, this copyright must appear with the information.
 
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