During the year 1856, although the people of the village were but few, the place having but just started, still there were some that wanted to found a church of this denomination. After some discussion, in that year, a class was formed of the following members: J. Cole and wife, E. Aller and wife, Herman Diltz and wife, Jacob Miller and wife, and Isaac Tharke and wife. This little knot of christians formed a nucleus around which gathered quite a congregation. They worshipped for a time in the building erected by the German Methodists, in harmony with that body, but in 1863, they felt convinced that they should have a house of their own, so set to work and built one of frame, 36x56 in ground area, at a cost of $3,000. This they used until the spring of 1883, when it was demolished, and on its site was erected the present stately edifice they use for worship. This beautiful building is brick, 58x70 feet in dimension, well and substantially fitted up. Its cost was about $12,000, and it was dedicated to sacred uses in May, 1884. The present membership is about 250.

History of McDonough County, Illinois, 1885, Continental Historical Co., Springfield, Illinois
Transcribed by Robin 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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