Hide Article Text (OCR)
By Mrs. G. W. Allen . First Christian Church of Du Quoin is almost as old as the ity itself, having been founded 96 years ago. the beginning was largely associated with the lives of three Widoed sisters, Grandma Williams, Mrs. McElwain and Mrs. Wells. _ MM. Williams ander sons, Frederick, Daniel, Abner and Willam,and her daughter, Mrs. Lysias Heape, were all actively Interested in the organization of the church in 1857 as were Wil liam, Schwartz, Isaac and Robert J. Wheatley. Until the church was built, meetings were held in the homes of charter members. Elder Lysias Heape. took the contract to build the first church in the new town in 1857. At that time the town consisted of two or three dozen houses scattered over the prairie. The new church cost $1,200 in cluding the furnishings, KEYES DONATED LOT Chester A. Keyes and his wife, Harriett E. donated the lot and $100 toward the building. The lot was located just north of what is now Keyes City Park, on Spring street. There was no street and the addition was not named, al though the deed to the lot was recorded October 14, 1857 and gave the location as Lot 2 in Block 17. Trustees to whom the deed was made were Abner J. Williams, aten Stacey and Isaac Wheat ey. In 1861 a protracted meeting was held by Elder O. A. Burgess. During this meeting P. N. Pope, B. F. Pope, Artemis and Leander Brown, W. G. Heape, H. H. Taylor and Edwin and R. A. Wheatley made a profession of their faith and were baptized in Reese's creek. Some 50 additional mem bers were gained before the meet ing closed. The building was fed for public gatherings, and freely, for lectures, debates and academic classes. For 34 years the church dedicated Host to God and next to our country served its purpose. At the beginning of the Civil War this building was the only one available for gatherings, consequently it was used for re cruiting volunteers. R. A. Wheatley said: “I pre sume that every man who en listed in the Civil War from our town did so in response to im passioned appeals from ‘its (the church's) rostrum that the coun try be saved. ORIGINAL BELL The church bell, the first to be hung in Du Quoin, called the re cruits together. So much did that bell mean to the congregation that it was moved from the original building and rehung in the new church. The inscription cast into it reads: Number 1815, Naylor Vickers and Co., 1860, Sheffield, England, Ripe's Patent Cast Steel.” Pastors came and went, bright days and cark days made up the church history Sometimes there would be no preaching service but there would be the Sunday school, followed by prayer, songs and scripture reading and com munion service. Three ministers who served as early pastors were W. H. Bowles, Dr. A. J. Fishback and J. J. Harriss) Mrs. Harry Dyer (Jennie Bidwell) was church organist for a time in this early church. Under the leadership and faith ful ministry of Rev. J. J. Harriss, a forward step was taken in the building of a new church on East Main street. The lot on which the new church was to be built was bought from Lillie Browning and husband on March 18, 1891. The cost was $1000. Trustees of the church at this time were P. N. Pope, P. D. Mifflin and Wil lam Maclin. F. E. Pope was su perintendent of the Sunday school and his father, B. F. Pope, and R. A. Wheatley were elders. The cost of the building was $22,000. Ministers who served the church during the 34 years this building was its home. In succes sion, were J. J. Harriss, J. C. Stark, E. H. Lorton, William Kern, R. H. Robertson, G. W. Wise, C. E. Smith, Adam J. Adcock, Earl H. Fife and R. A. Harmon. FAITHFUL MEMBERS Many were the loyal and faith ful members who helped to carry on the work during the years the congregation worshipped in this building. To mention only a few there were the Pope families, the T. W. Mifflins, R. A. Wheat leys and sister, Miss Emma, Robert Plumlee, W. E. Baker, A C. Jakle, J. G. Stull, C. C. Hat field, M W. Cox, W. J. Hagler, A.
Newspaper Details
Du Quoin Evening Call
Du Quoin, Illinois, US
Sat, Sep 19, 1953
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Allen C.
NJ, USA 25 Jul 2026
Other Publications Near Du Quoin, Illinois
Du Quoin Evening Call
