This society was organized in the spring of 1854, at the residence of E. Dyer, with the following original members: Edward Dyer and wife, Edward Mitchell and wife, James E. Fleming and wife, Andrew J. Fleming and wife, C. M. Melvin, Elizabeth Melvin. Meetings were held at the house of Edward Dyer until the following summer, when the school house known as the "Old sixteen" was built, and services were then held there until the erection of a church building in 1869, which is located on section 22. It is a good, substantial frame structure, 36x40 feet in size, and was completed at a cost of $1,200. On Christmas day, 1869, it was dedicated by Rev. Andrews, of Quincy, assisted by William Rutledge and B. E. Kaufman, the latter gentleman being pastor of the church at the time. The lot on which the church stands consists of one acre, and was sold to the society by A. J. Fleming for $50. The present officers of the church are John W. Sheely, class leader; J. W. Swartzbaugh and A. J. Fleming, stewards; W. A. Anderson, J. W. Sheely, Joseph Melvin, J. W. Swartzbaugh and A. J. Fleming, trustees. At the same time the society was formed a Sunday school was organized with Edward Dyer, superintendent, and C. M. Melvin, chorister, which has been continued ever since.

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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