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Big Saline Church, to Observe 99th Anniversary, Is Part of Historical AreaBig Saline church, organized in 1854 at Somerset, then one of the largest communities in Saline county and the site of the only silver mine ever operated in Saline county, will celebrate its 99th anniversary with a homecoming Sunday, June 7. The homecoming, if the original 12 families coming to Illinois from Airy, Tonn., to settle there are represented, will be like the homecoming of the 12 tribes of Israel, for the members are scattered far and wide.A goodly number, however, do still reside in and near Saline county. They are the Hortons, the Barnes. Jordans, Ewells, Wrights, Kilgores, Moores, Cannons. Kudos, Estes. Biggers, Chisems. and Storys. Chisem Estes was the first of the members of the 12 families to die in Illinois, and his burial was the first in the Coffee cemetery. One of the early United Bap tist ministers in Saline county, was Achilles Coffey.Forced to Camp There First to enter deeds at Somerset were Hankersen Rude and John Wren in 1912. It will be noticed that Wren’s name was not among the first 12 families, so he was ] likely a ‘ Johnny Come Lately’’ ! i then.i None of them intended to settle there but an outbreak of smallpox , among the caravan, headed for Galena, caused them to camp and there they stayed.Indians were still about as late as 1834. when 12 or 15 marauding Shawnees attacked the blockhouse that had been set up in 1814. by 1 Hankersen Rude, who was the first ' postmaster there and probably the 1 only one. *Somerset was one of the first \ five voting precincts organized ‘ when county government was es tablished in Saline, and there was a post office there from 1834 to 1838. with mail being delivered 1 by stage coaches, drawn by four lt;horses. Zodak Aydelotte. a French- lt;man. operated a grist mill and the 1 first mercantile store, dealing in 1 general merchandise in the county, 1 was at Somerset. The two story I building which housed it is still I standing, and the upper floor is i the lodge room for the IOOF lodge ( Takes on New Life The old church still has lettered j over the entrance “Big Saline ( United Baptist, although this church has been in the Big Saline Missionary Baptist association for j , many years. iThe church which reached its ? lowest ebb in attendance and mem- 1 bership about a year ago, is taking ' on new life, as is also the com- ■ munity. Instead of a silver mine. 1 there is a coal mine, a stripping ( operation by Beecher Williams, on -j ly a short way from the church. * Traffic to the Old Stone Face goes ( right by the church and the return ’ of boys and girls from Southern Illinois university, where they 1 came under the influence of the ] Baptist Foundation, has boded well ( for the community.The board of deacons which had j shrunk to one man. Gwin Davis, will be increased as church members demonstrate their worthiness, . the Rev. W. P. Webb, pastor, said , Rev. Webb accepted the call to ' this church last December, and i many who had ceased going to church, or started attending some | other church are again finding his religion of kindness and the Golden Rule an inspiration Program Begins Saturday Evening . | Meetings are held on the first and third Sundays. ,Attendance has increased from , nine to 36 in Sunday school and a ] junior choir is scouting the area I for good voices and w illing workers. Leaders arc all working together, to make it a success.The homecoming will really be-I gin Saturday with the 7:30 p. m. service, at which the Rev. Ray Daniel, Carbondalc, will speak On Sunday there will be Sunday school, morning worship, a basket dinner, and an afternoon program Nearby also is Cave Hill, and not , j far away is Thacker’s Gap. thru . j which all of the early settlers came from Kentucky and Tennessee*. The , I area is full of scenic and historic I | interest, around which the entire i ! program Sunday will center.
Newspaper Details
Harrisburg Daily Register
Harrisburg, Illinois, US
Fri, Jun 05, 1953
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Evan W.
IL, USA 25 Jun 2024
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