,: ..■•■■ 
 
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285.877344 
 C760 
 1836 
 
 125th ANNIVERSARY 
 
 1961 
 
 THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
 OF PAYSON, ILLINOIS 
 
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY 
 
 PASTOR A. H. BISPING 
 
 Pastor Bisping was asked to supply the pulpit on Worldwide Communion Sunday, 
 October 4, 1959. He was secured immediately as interim pastor by the pulpit supply 
 committee and the church. Pastor Bisping had retired from active ministry, having 
 celebrated the golden anniversary of his ordination to the ministry in 1958. In 1961 
 he was granted full membership and standing in the Congregational Christian church 
 by vote of the committee on ordination and licensure, and the association delegates. 
 Both Pastor and Mrs. Bisping take active, participating roles in church and community 
 activities. They maintain their home in Quincy, driving to Payson several times weekly 
 for meetings, services and pastoral calling. 
 
 MINISTERS WHO HAVE SERVED THE CHURCH 
 
 1836- 
 
 1837-1841 
 1841-1842 
 1843-1851 
 1851-1855 
 
 1856-1865 
 1865- 
 
 1867-1870 
 1870-1883 
 1884-1891 
 1892-1896 
 1897-1899 
 
 Rev. Anson Hubbard (resi- 
 dent minister at the time 
 of organization) 
 Rev. Thomas Cole 
 Rev. Z. K. Hawley 
 Rev. J. H. Prentiss 
 Rev. Z. K. Hawley 
 recalled to church 
 Rev. Cephas Leach 
 Short pastorate of Rev. 
 Parmalee. Church without 
 regular minister until 1 867. 
 Rev. R. F. Shinn 
 Rev. Stryker Wallace 
 Rev. A. E. Allaben 
 Rev. L. R. Royce 
 Rev. Wm. Huelster 
 
 1899-1909 Rev. David E.Todd 
 
 1909-1919 Rev. Frank J. Brown 
 
 1920-1923 Rev. Jonas G. Brooks 
 
 1923-1930 Dr. Henry W. Tuttle 
 
 1931-1933 Rev. Leland W. Porter* 
 
 1933-1936 Rev. Elmer E. Hoats* 
 
 1936-1940 Dr. James Robert Smith 
 
 1940-1943 Rev. Arthur E. Bomers* 
 
 1944-1946 Rev. C. L Dierlam* 
 
 1947-1948 Rev. Clark L Thomas 
 
 1949-1952 Rev. Ernest Akin 
 
 1952-1955 Rev. Calvin C. H. Bremer' 
 
 1955-1959 Rev. Hilding E. Peterson* 
 
 1959- Rev. A. H. Bisping,* 
 interim pastor 
 
 *Living Ministers 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
 Wishing to acknowledge all sources of information used in com- 
 piling this history I gratefully recognize the works of the late Dr. 
 Mary Leach, and the data she had gathered for the Centennial cele- 
 bration in 1936 — much of it her own reminiscing; the material studied 
 in the thesis written by Joel W. Scarborough; to all the clerks who 
 recorded the happenings of the church in the record books ; papers 
 from the estate of the late Miss Edith A. Robbins ; the many, many 
 conversations I have enjoyed with older members in our church, and 
 to papers of the late Mrs. Henry Seymour which I have read. The 
 names of those who appear in this writing relate specifically to tasks 
 they have performed, or events within the church to which they were 
 intimately related. I have tried to carry the earliest families through, 
 since many of their entire lives were spent within the church. It was 
 impossible to continue thus with every family, because of a lack of 
 space and incomplete records. This does not indicate an indifference 
 or inaccuracy toward certain events or individuals on the part of 
 the writer. I only wish it could all have been viewed "first hand." 
 There are names throughout the church history which must be 
 mentioned. There were the Rankins, the Scrantons, the Kays, the 
 Beilsteins, the Manns — Deacon Jacob Mann, in particular — the 
 Elliotts, the Armolds, the Bakers, all the Spencers, the Pottles, 
 Harrises, Grubbs, Schnellbechers, Fishers, Blausers, Longs, Cooks, 
 Wheelocks, Rubys, Krapps, Reinebachs, Thompsons, Whartons, 
 Bryants, Perrys, Seymours, Princes, Scarboroughs, Albsmeyers, 
 Robbins, Mahers, Forgys, Shorts, Chapmans, Lawrences, Morrises, 
 Inmans, and many more. Many played the leading roles in the drama; 
 others just as vitally important served faithfully in the background to 
 keep the church alive. These rightfully are given full recognition 
 and honor. 
 
 This history and all material contained in this booklet has been 
 the work of Helen Shepherd Shelton, with the approval and accept- 
 ance of the anniversary committee. 
 
 Bearing these thoughts in mind and asking your indulgence for 
 any shortcomings or errors, I commend to you this history, written 
 with sincere love and humility. 
 
 Helen Shepherd Shelton 
 
PROLOGUE 
 
 The year was 1833, the man 37 years of age; a tall man, he towered 
 above six feet in height. Possessed of a stern, homely countenance, he 
 was dark-eyed and thin-lipped. Underneath such a formidable appear- 
 ance, the real character of the man manifested itself in traits of dili- 
 gence, sobriety, and honesty. Many words can be used to describe 
 this man, Albigence Scarborough. He was industrious, taking well- 
 earned prizes in his New England farming ventures, and his raising 
 of prize Merino sheep. He had a love for neatness and order ; he was 
 a kindly man, with courtesy and consideration of his fellow man an 
 integral part of his make-up. But the one most dominant trait in this 
 rugged New Englander was his reverence for God and his deep, 
 religious convictions that influenced and directed all other character- 
 istics in the man. This, then, and because of his lifetime affiliation 
 with church and religious works, was the reason he was accorded the 
 title "Deacon." 
 
 There were two primary reasons for the young man to consider 
 the West as a new home for himself and his family. Certainly it took 
 courage to leave the old, established, familiar life in Connecticut 
 with all his relation living nearby, but even this could not outweigh 
 the promise the rich lands of the west held for the New Englanders 
 who were gradually being "squeezed" out by the combination of small 
 farms, poor, rocky soil, and no chance to increase their holdings 
 because of a lack of available land. The western lands were un- 
 bounded, and being sold for only a few dollars an acre. The land 
 problem, then, was a major deciding factor, but another one also 
 guided Albigence Scarborough on his first trip west. He wanted to 
 get away from the rough, raw, New England climate, to escape the 
 probable consumption that was prevalent in his family. The promise 
 of such a healthful climate as was boasted for the West, was indeed 
 very alluring to the man whose health wasn't too good. Thus, the 
 setting of the stage for the trip west was made. Bidding his wife and 
 two small children farewell, he set out April 10, 1833, from West 
 Hartford. 
 
 By steamboat from New Haven to New York, and then by boat 
 again, he went on to Philadelphia, where he met many fellow New 
 Englanders who were going west. At South Amboy, New Jersey, on 
 their way to Philadelphia, the party abandoned the boat and con- 
 tinued to the city of Brotherly Love by rail. By stagecoach, horse- 
 drawn railroad cart, and steamboats, the trip which eventually 
 brought him to Quincy was finished on May 7, 1833. No sooner had 
 the eager man arrived, then he was off again to explore the surround- 
 ing countryside. He traveled to Rushville, to Lewistown, Canton, 
 on to Macomb, and to Mendon (then called Fairfield), walking most 
 of the way, where he was an overnight guest of Deacon John 
 Chittendon, founder of that town, and also organizer of the first 
 Congregational church in the state of Illinois in 1833. In his letters 
 
Ziz-otisTj mJl. tiui£. J*^ 
 
 to his wife, Scarborough's enthusiasm for the wonderful, verdant 
 country was not carried over into his descriptions of the inhabitants. 
 He was disappointed in the quality of the settlers for the most part. 
 Describing them as lazy, ignorant, indolent, slovenly, and content 
 to live from hand to mouth without necessities of life, he found them 
 highly prejudiced against Yankees and Presbyterians. 
 
 Before making a final decision, Scarborough returned to the East 
 to consult with his wife, Electa. It was a difficult decision to make, 
 but the promise of the new land won over their ties with the old, fami- 
 liar life. It was a full year later before the family, having sold their 
 farm, was able to start west by wagon. Their party included the 
 deacon, his wife, their two small children, Albigence, Jr., aged 5, and 
 Elizabeth, aged 1, and Miss Mary Woodruff. They left on September 
 1st, the overland route taking them through Ohio, Indiana, crossing 
 the Wabash river at Clinton, then on to Springfield, 111., Jacksonville, 
 arriving in Quincy on October 11, 1834 where they spent the first 
 winter. 
 
 Deacon Scarborough was busy that winter buying up all the land 
 nearby, hoping to keep it out of the hands of speculators and non- 
 residenters, in an effort to encourage good Yankees who would be 
 willing to come and help build a church and a desirable society. His 
 holdings purchased that winter totaled about 1500 acres, which he 
 acquired for approximately $Z775. This land is where the village of 
 Payson now stands, and all the immediate vicinity. In the spring he 
 moved his family to Payson, and built the first log cabin in the 
 village, on the site slightly northeast of the present site of the 
 parsonage. Early records reveal the possibility that this cabin might 
 have been moved in from another location, rebuilt and renovated for 
 the Deacon's family. From the moment that the cabin was 
 finished, Deacon Scarborough invited all settlers who could walk or 
 ride in, to attend religious services in his home. Because he was such 
 an admirer of an eastern minister, Reverend Edward Payson, D.D., 
 he named his town Paysonville, later calling it just Payson. Many 
 of the deacon's services were based on sermons found in little religious 
 tracts written by Dr. Payson. In 1835 with the help of two other 
 early settlers, Philo E. Thompson and J. C. Bernard, he platted 
 and recorded lots for the village. Instead of advertising or selling the 
 lots to any willing buyer, they were held at $100 apiece, and sold only 
 to men of good character whom they cared to admit. When a group 
 of disgruntled men withdrew from the village and made plans to plat 
 another town 1 mile north of Payson, calling their spot West Union, 
 the Payson men were made to realize that the breach was serious and 
 that two small towns so close to each other could not survive. A truce 
 was called, and a more liberal outlook in regard to the selling of lots in 
 the village was shown by Deacon Scarborough and the others. With 
 the sale of the first lots, however, Deacon Scarborough set aside 20% 
 of the sale for the building of a public school to promote education in 
 the new village and he also gave 4 acres of ground for the location 
 of the proposed school. Many subscription schools were held first, 
 however, in the village, with the earliest of these located on the corner 
 
of Fulton and Edwards street, the property now owned by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Lowell B. House, and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Loy and 
 family. This school house was a log cabin with puncheon floors and 
 benches for the children. The teacher was Miss Emily Scarborough, 
 who was also the first teacher in the public school to come later, 
 and the year was 1836. This first log school building was also the 
 center for community gatherings, and it is believed that the 20 men 
 and women who founded the Congregational church met there to 
 organize. 
 
 CHURCH HISTORY 
 
 From the old church minutes : 
 
 May 6, 1836 : Individuals, members of different and distant churches 
 now residing in this place and vicinity held a meeting this day 
 p.m. for the transaction of business preparatory to the organization of 
 a church. There was present in council Rev. Asa Turner and delegates 
 J. Burns and W. Keyes from the Congregational church in Quincy 
 and the Rev. Anson Hubbard, resident. The meetings of the after- 
 noon and evening were occupied in devotional exercises. 
 
 May 7, 2 p.m. Meeting was opened for examination of letters and 
 of candidates for admission to church fellowship, the following indi- 
 viduals were approved and accepted by the council viz : Abner Perry 
 and his wife, Adeline, by letter from church in Quincy; Joseph J. 
 Fielding and his wife, Clarissa, by letter from church in West Hart- 
 ford, Conn. ; A Scarborough and his wife, Electa, by letter from 
 church in West Hartford, Conn. ; David Prince and his wife, Sophia, by 
 letter from church in East Bloomfield, New York ; Thomas Rand and 
 his wife, Mary Susan, by letter from church in Quincy ; Joseph Badger 
 and his wife, Frances, by letter from church in Quincy; Bracket Pottle 
 by profession and his wife, Mary, by letter from church in West 
 Hartford; Daniel E. Scarborough by letter from church in West 
 Hartford ; Charles Whitman, by letter from church in West Hartford ; 
 Mrs. Nancy Scarborough, by letter from church in West Hartford ; 
 Miss Emily Scarborough, by letter from church in West Hartford ; 
 Miss Eliza Eells, by letter from church in Gustavus, Ohio ; and Miss 
 Louisa Pond. 
 
 Brother David Prince was elected deacon. Deacon Prince had 
 opened the first store in Payson, bringing his stock of goods here in 
 1835. He built the home where Theodore G. House now lives, and 
 lived there with his family all his life. 
 
 May 8, the Sabbath service of the afternoon was devoted to the 
 solemn act of constituting the church, consecrating the deacon by 
 prayer and the imposition of hands and celebrating the Lord's Supper. 
 A number of brethren from other churches were present and united 
 with the newly-formed Congregational church in celebrating this 
 ordinance. Anson Hubbard was the first minister, and his salary was 
 to be $400 per year, with $200 to be supplied by the American Home 
 Missionary Society and the remainder by the new congregation. The 
 
articles of faith and covenant of some of the brethren were thought 
 by the council to be "too prolix" and therefore "deemed inexpedient/' 
 The following were used in organizing this church: 
 
 We believe there is one God, self-existent, eternal, perfectly holy, 
 the Creator and rightful disposer of all things, subsisting in a manner 
 mysterious to us, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that 
 the Bible is the revealed will of God to mankind, and was given by 
 inspiration as the only unerring rule of faith and practice. We believe 
 that mankind are fallen from their original rectitudes and are while 
 in a state of nature wholly destitute of that holiness which is required 
 by the divine law. We believe that Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word 
 was made flesh or in a mysterious manner became man and by his 
 obedience, sufferings and death made full satisfaction for the sins of 
 the world and opened a way by which all who believe in Him with 
 repentance for their sins, may be saved without an impeachment of 
 the divine justice and truth. We believe that God has appointed a 
 day in which He will judge the world when there will be a resurrection 
 of the dead, and when all the righteous will enter on eternal happiness 
 and all the wicked will be condemned to eternal misery. 
 
 COVENANT 
 
 Humbly hoping that we are united to Christ by faith, feeling our- 
 selves under indispensable obligations to acknowledge Him before 
 men and unite with his visible church, we solemnly vouch Jehovah 
 to be our God ; the Lord Jesus Christ to be our ruler, teacher and 
 Saviour; the Holy Spirit our guide and Sanctifier, the Holy Scriptures 
 our rule of faith and practice. We make an unreserved surrender of 
 ourselves and whatever belongs to us to the service of God ; promising 
 to promote with all our powers the interests of the religion of Christ 
 and to recommend it by presenting in our conduct a constant example 
 of justice, temperance, charity and godliness. We further promise to 
 walk together with the members of this church, as becomes those of 
 the same redeemed household ; in the exercise of Christian affection 
 in the discharge of Christian duty, and in submission to its watch 
 and discipline. Relying for assistance on the Holy Spirit, we make 
 these solemn declarations and promises in the presence of this assem- 
 bly, in the presence of Angels, in the presence of God, the Creator, 
 and the Judge of all. 
 
 Thus was the beginning of our church, and the foundation upon 
 which our fathers built. 
 
 The early church records go on to state that on September 19, 
 1836, the church met at the school house, with Brother Badger in 
 the chair. Thomas Rand was elected the first clerk of the church. 
 It was noted that all the male members were present, and it was 
 resolved as a standing rule of the church that all business matters 
 shall be introduced by a motion before being discussed. It was 
 also resolved that the mover of any question should put the same 
 in writing if requested. Probably the most important item of 
 
business at this meeting was the decision of the church that they were 
 not of duty bound to invite Rev. Anson Hubbard to continue as 
 minister after the expiration of the present year. With 4 members in 
 favor of the decision, and 4 against, it was necessary for Mr. Badger 
 to cast the deciding vote, terminating the pastorate of Rev. Hubbard. 
 It must have been a cold winter for Rev. Hubbard, who was dismissed 
 by the church, but unable to leave the community until the spring 
 thaws opened the river for transportation. On September 21, 1836, the 
 church voted that Thomas Rand, J. J. Fielding and Albigence Scar- 
 borough be a committee to draft rules or by-laws for the church. 
 Several pages of the early record book are devoted to these by-laws. 
 
 In May, 1837, Reverend Thomas Cole arrived from Kentucky and 
 the church voted to invite him to become their minister for the en- 
 suing year. Rev. Cole took up his residency in the home directly 
 north of the New Cemetery, on the site of the present Harry SchafTer 
 home. This house (later the Moses Spencer home) has in the past 
 few years, been moved into the village and is the Robert Bunte home. 
 Two more deacons were elected by the church in February, 1838, 
 Lewis Roe and Albigence Scarborough. The church was growing. 
 Letters for new members were received from as far off as Scotland, 
 New Orleans, and points in between. Several members who had 
 settled in and about Newtown felt the expediency of establishing a 
 church closer to them. In those days there were no real roads, and 
 transportation was a major problem. It wasn't only the length of 
 the trails, such as the roads were, but the depth of them also, that 
 proved a real obstacle to the pioneers. In 1839, 20 members were 
 given their letters, at their request, to form a sister church in New- 
 town. These people were Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Roe, Warren Miller, 
 Phebe Ann Miller, William Wells, Phebe Wells, Elizabeth Jane 
 Wells, Amy Ann Wells, Catherine Wells, Samuel Reed, James Stobie, 
 Elvira Stobie, Alexander Stobie, Janet Stobie, and Samuel Reed. This 
 left 29 members in the Payson church. Among them, was the name of 
 Martin Seymour, who, having left West Hartford in April of 1836, 
 reached Quincy May 28 of that same year, and came on to settle at 
 Payson. He had joined the church in a company of others on May 27, 
 1837. Mary Abbott Prince (who later married Daniel Robbins), 
 Prudence Ann Prince, daughter of D. and S. Prince, and Mary Halsey 
 Strong (Mrs. Daniel Scarborough) were received into church mem- 
 bership November 4, 1837. The Moses Spencer family came in 1840. 
 
 From the beginning of the church, its stand on the temperance 
 question was adamant. Drinking was regarded as one of the worst 
 sins of all by the good people and was to be shunned completely. 
 The "Temperance Journal" was subscribed to by many in Payson, as 
 early as 1836, and in 1840 a movement called the "Washington Tem- 
 perance Society," founded in Baltimore by 6 drunkards, (less than 
 10 years before that), had reached Payson, and was reported to have 
 "wrought" wonders here, and in the whole country. With such strong 
 advocates for the society, it is little wonder that the first saloon-keeper 
 here in the village a Mr. Hardin, had to send to Quincy for men to 
 help put up his building. The church itself, expressed the sentiments 
 
of its members by a rule adopted in May, 1837, namely: "No person 
 shall be admitted into this church who will not agree habitually to 
 abstain from the use and traffic in all intoxicating liquors, except for 
 mechanical, medicinal, chemical and sacrificial purposes." 
 
 And equally impressive today is the early church's stand on mis- 
 sions, both home and foreign. Years later, in 1866, the church's bud- 
 get for benevolences was higher than for home expenses. Many 
 pioneer Yankees left in their wills large legacies of money toward 
 the furtherance of missions. Some members of the church were even 
 known to have borrowed money to be able to contribute substantially 
 to foreign missions. Daniel E. Robbins, the father of the late Edith 
 A. Robbins, was one of these. 
 
 On May 25, 1839, the church voted that the Sabbath School would 
 be held between services. Mr. Abner Perry was elected the first 
 superintendent. The early fathers took their faith and religious con- 
 victions far more conscientiously than we often do today. Their 
 services weren't limited to one hour in length, often just one day a 
 week. Records of our church show the preparatory service, held each 
 month before communion on a Saturday afternoon, plus mid-week 
 prayer services, two services on Sunday, with Sunday School sand- 
 wiched between. The Sunday services were all day affairs, with the 
 families living some distance bringing their basket dinners. The old 
 parsonage was a favorite spot for the children who ate their lunches 
 on the south porch, drinking from the old oaken bucket at the well 
 on the porch. And, of course, in these days of our church's infancy, 
 countless business meetings were held to determine the church's 
 course of action in the many decisions to be made. 
 
 In April of 1838, Rev. Cole announced at a business meeting after 
 church, that he had received a letter from the Quincy church, asking 
 the church to join in the Quincy Association of churches. This church 
 thereupon took action to become a member of the Association on 
 April 22, 1838. 
 
 Several names to be prominent throughout the history of the 
 church were added to the membership roles in 1849. Included were 
 Philo E. Thompson, Edward Seymour, Evalina Seymour, Frances 
 Seymour, David Prince, Jr., and others. 
 
 Three years after being organized, the Payson church was ready 
 to build a sanctuary. Mr. Lesley Garnett was the contractor, with 
 David Prince, Joseph Fielding, and Charles H. Winn the church 
 committee. The building contract specified a building 55 feet by 
 38 feet, two storey, 7]/ 2 foot basement, main storey 17 feet high, base- 
 ment wall of stone, with the entrance to the east. The auditorium, 
 much as in our present building, except that there was a gallery over 
 the vestibule with circular front and the gallery was to have two 
 flights of closed stairs, with a paneled door at each flight. The pew 
 doors and fronts were to be pine paneled and molded, the backs plain 
 and sloping, capped with cherry with a cherry scroll on the end next 
 the aisle. The pulpit was to be built in a neat and handsome style 
 of the Ionic order. The ceiling was to be finished with stucco cornice 
 and centerpiece. The frontispiece was to be of the Ionic order with 
 
pilasters, the steps and platform were to be of walnut, carried up be- 
 tween two pedestals, paneled in front and on each side. There were 
 to be two chimneys, also a cast iron grate inserted in the floor of 
 each side aisle. The plan was to heat the auditorium by stoves in the 
 basement, placed directly under the iron grating, and surrounded by 
 a tin drum. All the construction was to be in a good style with the 
 usual specifications as to material and workmanship, at a cost of 
 $4750. The building was accepted with the basement unfinished, and 
 the cost of the building was given to be $4400 at the 50th anniversary 
 celebration. Of this sum, $2,000 was borrowed from a Colonel Golding 
 of Worcester, Massachusetts. 
 
 The new church was dedicated on March 24, 1841. Rev. H. Brown 
 gave a dedicatory prayer, with the sermon given by Rev. Horatio 
 Foot, and a dedication prayer by Rev. Mr. Kirby. The committee for 
 the dedication was Nelson Pitkin, Milus Gay, Abner Perry, David 
 Prince and Charles Winn. The church was said to be the best church 
 building in this vicinity. 
 
 During the spring, when the question of Rev. Cole's salary arose, 
 there was much difficulty in raising the $500 he felt he needed to live 
 on. Subsequently, Rev. Cole resigned in May, after he had been in- 
 stalled, and it was necessary to call a council to dissolve the pastoral 
 relation. The next minister to be called was the Rev. Z. K. Hawley, 
 at a salary of $500. It is very unusual to note here that Mrs. Nancy 
 Scarborough and Mrs. E. Trimble are recorded as voting. This was 
 beyond the ordinary procedure, because the women of the church 
 did not vote at the business meetings, but the reason for their action 
 is not known. The solicitors of the church could not raise even $400 
 toward the minister's salary. It was decided that the church would 
 raise what it could, and Rev. Hawley would stay as long as the money 
 would support him, on a basis of $400 per year. It is interesting to 
 note at this time the Sabbath schedule. A record of November 12, 
 1842, lists prayer meeting at "I0y 2 a.m.; public services at 11^ a.m.; 
 prayer during intermission; public preaching at \y 2 p.m.; prayer 
 meeting Sy 2 p.m. ; preaching at 6 T / 2 p.m." 
 
 On November 18, 1842 a revival had been in progress for several 
 days. About midnight, flames were seen bursting from the windows 
 of the church. The alarm was given, but it was too late to save the 
 church. All was consumed in the fury of the fire, leaving nothing but 
 the steps and the basement walls. Hugh Morrow had conducted a 
 school in the basement, and there was a quantity of school books, 
 school room furniture, lumber and building materials, as well as the 
 tools of 3 carpenters in part destroyed. A strong west wind blew 
 and the weather was very cold for the season. As Deacon Scar- 
 borough tried to enter the burning church to save the Bible and some 
 of the furniture, the entire floor fell in. In the brightness of the light 
 from the flames, his face reflected streaming tears. And as the next 
 day dawned, there was still further sadness to be felt by the church 
 and the village. Martin Seymour died after a lingering illness. 
 
 As great as the loss of the church was to the pioneering fathers, 
 they did not let time elapse without finding a new church home. Two 
 
 8 
 
days after the fire, the members met in Deacon Scarborough's home 
 and made plans for securing a new church home, and continuing 
 services. For a time, worship services were held in the school house, 
 and in the homes, and finally a wagon shop was fitted up for the 
 members to use as a temporary church. In the meantime, the little 
 group was soliciting help from the other churches in the village, the 
 Quincy church, the Home Missionary Society, and the Rev. Hawley, 
 who had left the church earlier, was soliciting aid from Eastern 
 sources where he was then located. Rev. Hawley, in his solicitations 
 for funds for the rebuilding of the little mid-western church, met with 
 much indifference, and little cash donations. It was painfully evident 
 to the members that if they were to have another sanctuary, they 
 would have to be mainly responsible for the building of it. There 
 were 62 members now, 29 men and 33 women. There are in the 
 records of the village and the church, proof that some of the members 
 mortgaged their homes and land to support the building and sustain- 
 ing of the young church and the second sanctuary. One such name 
 on record is that of Joseph J. Fielding and his wife, whose home farm 
 is now the Mrs. Olive Spencer farm. 
 
 On July 31, in a business meeting, it was voted that the new House 
 be built on the west corner of the old foundation, and that it would 
 be 30 by 36 feet. The building committee named to serve included 
 J. J. Fielding, T. B. Warren, Deacon Prince, Moses R. Spencer, 
 Daniel E. Scarborough and Milus Gay. In September of 1843, Rev. 
 J. H. Prentiss arrived from Naperville, 111., to take up his pastorate 
 here. His salary, after much struggling by the congregation to raise 
 it, was $300 plus fuel (wood), transportation and any possible aid 
 from the Home Missionary Society. 
 
 The new church building was completed in 1844 and was in use 
 for about 20 years. This same two-storied building is still standing 
 in the village, having been moved to the southwest corner of the park, 
 and made into a two-family home. It is now the property and home 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Meatheringham, members of the church today. 
 
 In 1843 a library was given by Abram Martin of Philadelphia to 
 the church. Edward Seymour was the librarian of the church. On 
 November 26, 1843, Joel K. Scarborough was received into church 
 membership. It is worthy of note to record this, because Joel Scar- 
 borough was elected church clerk at the annual meeting in May, 1844, 
 and served in this office until his death May 3. 1915 — 71 years of 
 continuous service. He was married first to Julia Seymour, a daughter 
 of Martin Seymour, in 1849. Upon her death in 1856, he later married 
 Miss Harriet Spencer, daughter of Moses Spencer. The Congregational 
 Association of Illinois held its semi-annual meeting with the Payson 
 church in April, 1845. Friends in the east of Harriet Spencer presented 
 the church with a valuable set of communion furniture. The church ten- 
 dered its appreciation for the gift January 4, 1846. In 1848 a new 
 roof was put on the meeting house, and the project was financed by 
 subscriptions. In the annual meeting of 1849, it was decided that the 
 choice of slips (pews) to be occupied for one year be offered to 
 the highest bidder. This was done after prayer meeting on Friday 
 
evening, June 2, 1849, and a price was fixed on the remaining ones, 
 so that anyone wishing to could obtain one by the payment of the 
 fixed price. This same practice was followed the next year for the 
 purpose of repairing the church. Rev. Prentiss terminated his pas- 
 torate of the church in the fall of 1851, having served 8 years. The 
 church then voted a recall to Rev. Z. K. Hawley, who began his second 
 pastorate in December, 1851. When Rev. Hawley returned to Payson, 
 he built a seminary — a boarding school in the southeast part of the 
 village — employing teachers of the highest caliber. On May 28, 
 1852, the church passed a resolution that allowed no person to occupy 
 the church who would charge admissions. Mr. Ames was to have the 
 charge of "telling" (renting) the lower room, but he was to exclude 
 all business of a hazardous nature. Later, on December 1, the first 
 motion was amended to say "except for the purpose of instruction 
 in sacred music/' 
 
 At the annual meeting in 1853, held Dec. 3, a resolution was 
 passed instructing the American Home Missionary Society and the 
 American Board of Commissioners for foreign missions not to use 
 the monthly contributions of this church in the support of ministers 
 who were slaveholders, or in support of a missionary over a church 
 who received into their communion slaveholders unrebuked. Thus the 
 church had taken a direct stand in regard to the slavery question in the 
 darkening years before the Civil War. Rev. Hawley closed his second 
 pastorate in 1855 and the church called Rev. Cephas Leach, of Car- 
 linville, Illinois, who began his pastorate in 1856 and whose salary, 
 beginning January 1, 1857, was to be $600 per year. (Rev. Leach 
 married Mary Scarborough, a sister of Joel K. Scarborough). At this 
 time, as at each annual meeting, a caretaker was named, after men 
 submitted bids for furnishing lights and fuel for the church on a 
 yearly basis. The lowest bid made this particular year (1857) was 
 $70 and made by David Thompson (a son of Philo Thompson). On 
 September 17, Joel Scarborough was appointed a delegate from the 
 church to the Triennial Convention of Congregational churches to 
 meet in Chicago for the purpose of electing officers and inaugurating 
 professors for the Theological Seminary of Chicago. On November 
 20, Daniel Scarborough represented the church as a delegate to Han- 
 nibal for the purpose of establishing a Congregational church there. 
 At the Annual meeting of 1859, it was recorded that the church 
 attempt to establish or raise $700 to defray current expenses, and a 
 resolution was adopted stating : "Whereas we regard gambling as 
 an atrocious fraud, a most destructive vice, and lotteries as one of 
 the most insidious and dangerous forms of this vice and gift enter- 
 prises as the most specious and seductive of lotteries and as deriving 
 their chief sustenance from the periodical press, therefore we urgently 
 request the religious papers circulating in our midst not to introduce 
 this temptation into our families. Believing that in this we express the 
 sentiments of every Christian church, we respectfully request its in- 
 sertion in the religious papers circulating among us, namely : The 
 Congregational Herald, The New York Independent ; the Puritan 
 Recorder ; The Congregational Journal ; the New York Evangelist ; 
 
 10 
 
and the Sunday School Times." At this same time, the church went 
 on record to support and approve of financial aid to the Congrega- 
 tional Union for building churches, the fund for the support of 
 widows of ministers, Father Cinaquy's mission at Kankakee, the 
 Chicago Theological Seminary and the Missionary Association. 
 
 On Sunday, February 9, Deacon David Prince offered his resig- 
 nation from the deaconship of the church because of his advanced age 
 and infirmities. The church set another date for the following Satur- 
 day to consider the matter. At that time, refusing to terminate the 
 aged man's duties he had so faithfully executed for 26 years, the 
 church voted him a deacon emeritus, and elected a third deacon, 
 Daniel Robbins, a son-in-law of Deacon Prince, to serve as active 
 deacon. 
 
 At the annual meeting of December 12, 1863, Deacon Prince intro- 
 duced the matter of building a new house of worship, and it was 
 decided that Rev. Leach should call upon all members present to ex- 
 press their opinion of the expendiency of the matter. There were some 
 differences of opinion expressed, but at length it was resolved that a 
 committee of two be appointed by the pastor to prepare and circulate 
 a subscription paper for the purpose of planning a new church build- 
 ing. Deacon Prince and Samual M. Spencer were appointed to the 
 committee. On Monday, April 4, 1864, the church met to hear the 
 report of the committee. They reported that about $4,000 had been 
 subscribed, whereupon following a desultory discussion and debate, 
 a committee of 3 was appointed to devise some plan of a house with 
 some probable estimate of the expense involved. Named to serve as 
 this special committee were Edward Seymour, Joseph Elliott and J. 
 K. Scarborough. After further learning of the approximate size and 
 plan for the new building from conversations of those present at the 
 meeting, the church adjourned to meet again April 16. When the 
 church convened for this meeting, each of the committee members 
 presented a plan for the consideration of the church. After much dis- 
 cussion, the members selected the plan of Mr. Joseph Elliott, with the 
 addition of a basement and such modifications as the building com- 
 mittee might see fit to make. The building committee was then 
 appointed and Mr. Elliott, Deacon Daniel Robbins and Deacon David 
 Prince were named. Meetings were held, and the subscription fund 
 was increased as time went on. On May 16, the proposal of Mr. Elliott 
 to build the house for $6,000 was finally agreed upon. Edward 
 Seymour and J. K. Scarborough were added to the building committee. 
 
 On March 29, 1865 Deacon Scarborough (Albigence) died, and Mr. 
 George Hunter was appointed to fill the vacancy as deacon. On July 
 1, 1865, the church met to elect trustees to fill vacancies caused by the 
 deaths of 3 members of the board. It was at this meeting that Joel 
 K. Scarborough announced that he had been informally entrusted 
 with $722 for the purchase of a bell for the church and that he had 
 purchased a bell from West Troy, New York at a cost of $725. Of 
 this sum, $425 was contributed by Mrs. Electa Scarborough and fam- 
 ily. Reverend Leach expressed a desire to retire, and terminated his 
 ministry Dec. 30, 1865, but he agreed to supply the pulpit as needed, 
 
 11 
 
until a new pastor could be obtained. Joseph Elliott was extended 
 a vote of thanks upon completion of the sanctuary, which today re- 
 mains a tribute to his skill and craftsmanship. In the church clerk's 
 book is the following commendation : May 26, 1866 — In accordance 
 with the action of the church at our last annual meeting, Rev. Leach 
 presented the following resolution which was adopted : Resolved, 
 that the thanks of this church and congregation are due and are 
 hereby tendered to Brother Joseph Elliott for the manner in which he 
 has fulfilled and surpassed his contract in building our house of wor- 
 ship — for the massive solidarity of the frame for the excellence of 
 materials and thoroughness of workmanship, and care in finishing 
 throughout and for the patience and cheerfulness with which he has 
 accepted numerous changes in the plans and striven to carry out our 
 wishes and provide us so fine, commodious and beautiful a House in 
 which to worship God. 
 
 Reverend Parmalee was called from Michigan and his salary was 
 set at $1,000 plus expenses in moving. However, his connection with 
 the church was of short duration and he returned to Michigan to 
 reunite with his former faith — the United Brethren Church. Despite 
 the fact the minutes book records the refusal of the church to accept 
 his resignation, he did leave, and a Rev. Foot was called to supply the 
 pulpit until a regular minister could be obtained. 
 
 On Monday, October 14, 1867, the church met to consider hiring 
 Rev. Mr. Shinn, who had supplied the pulpit the week before. They 
 voted to extend a call to Rev. Shinn for 6 months, providing the church 
 could raise the salary he expected — $1,000 per year. When it was 
 learned that the agreement was mutually acceptable, Mr. Philo 
 Thompson, as solicitor for the church, was requested to circulate 
 his paper and obtain pledges. The following meeting held the next 
 Sunday, October 20, Mr. Thompson reported there was a deficiency 
 in the subscription paper, but the church voted again to extend an 
 invitation to Rev. Shinn to preach for 6 months and Mr. Thompson 
 was to continue his efforts to raise the money. The 6 months' period 
 stipulated for the ministry of Mr. Shinn extended into a 3 year pas- 
 torate, constantly plagued by periods of financial deficits in the 
 struggling church. It was largely due to the shaky financial picture 
 that Rev. Shinn tendered his resignation on Sept. 3, 1870, after a 
 Saturday preparatory lecture. The church then offered a call to Rev. 
 Stryker Wallace, who had upon several previous occasions occupied 
 the pulpit while visiting in this community. Stryker Wallace had 
 a personal interest in Payson, having married Mary F. Scarborough, 
 a daughter of Daniel Scarborough. He refused the church's offer to 
 come at a salary of $1,000 stating he desired $1,600 a year. This 
 amount must have staggered the struggling congregation. After 
 much deliberating and efforts at raising the budget, the people voted 
 to extend to Rev. Wallace a limited pastorate, based on 10 months 
 duration at $1,000, with the agreement they would make every effort 
 to increase the budget and subscription paper to the desired $1600 
 level. The church was repainted in 1871, and the bell had to be recast. 
 The bell was now rung for services one-half hour before time, instead 
 
 12 
 
of 15 minutes as had previously been done. In December of 1872, 
 the church assumed for the first time, the responsibility of paying 
 for Sunday School supplies. In 1875 a rule was adopted stating — 
 "All persons uniting with this church shall be required to present 
 themselves at some regular meeting of the church on the Sabbath 
 and publicly, both give their assent to the articles of faith and enter 
 into covenant with the church. The Association meeting in 1875 was 
 held in Rockford with Dr. Maximilian Shepherd, physician of Payson, 
 elected to be the delegate. 
 
 At the end of the church service on July 11, 1875, Rev. Wallace 
 tendered his resignation effective Aug. 31, but upon reaching a finan- 
 cial agreement of $1400 for his salary, he agreed to remain. 
 
 The church, up to this point, had had no official parsonage for its 
 minister to occupy. Various homes about town had housed the dif- 
 ferent pastoral families, but in June of 1877, a committee was ap- 
 pointed to solicit subscriptions for erecting a parsonage, or to 
 purchase a building suitable for one. The property suggested at this 
 time as a possible parsonage was the Samuel E. Hewes place (now 
 the Gillhouse property) but Rev. Wallace was very much opposed 
 to this particular property. He had in mind a much more expensive 
 plan he wished the church to consider as a parsonage solution — but 
 the early minutes do not go any further into details, except to shelve 
 the minister's idea. Nothing more is said of the parsonage question 
 until many years later, when in the minutes it is recorded that the 
 property was taxed and the people wondered if it was a legal right 
 of the county to tax the church property. Evidently the church over- 
 rode any possible objections and eventually purchased the property. 
 
 In 1878 new hymnals were purchased and funds raised to purchase 
 an organ. At the annual meeting of that year, a petition was pre- 
 sented the church signed by some of the women in the church, 
 urging the church to take into consideration the "propriety" (pos- 
 sibility) of building a room as an addition to the church building for 
 Sunday School supplies, prayer meetings, etc. The petition was re- 
 ferred to the trustees, who later returned the verdict that they thought 
 it unwise to add to the burdens already borne by the church ("which 
 burdens are felt by many of the brethren to be now too heavy") to 
 build that which was not absolutely necessary and which they felt 
 they could do very well without. 
 
 Stryker Wallace closed his pastorate with his farewell sermon 
 Oct. 28, 1883. The church voted that for the interim between minis- 
 ters, when no supply was available for the services, Joel K. Scar- 
 borough would read a sermon on Sundays. Rev. A. E. Allaben, coming 
 from Crystal Lake, 111., accepted the call of the church and preached 
 his first sermon as the new minister on the first Sunday in October, 
 1884. With the beginning of his pastorate, the church abolished the 
 custom of employing a minister from year to year, and he was invited 
 to serve as pastor for one year at least, and as long thereafter as was 
 agreeable to both parties and until 3 months' notice be given by one 
 of the parties to the other. J. K. Scarborough was commended by the 
 church for his years of faithfulness as Sunday School superintendent 
 
 13 
 
and the commendation was recorded in the clerk's books as a part 
 of the record. He had served at this time 17 years as superintendent, 
 but he was to return to the role in 1886 and serve then until 1911, 
 when he was named superintendent emeritus. Thus, this man served 
 a total of 42 years of his lifetime as superintendent of the church 
 school. During the year of 1886, it was necessary to paint the church 
 building, and re-shingle the roof. The cost of the painting was $170, 
 and the shingling was estimated to be $130. To put a third coat of 
 paint on the spire would have been $185. It is interesting to compare 
 these figures with the cost of the painting of the church in 1958, 
 figured at $709. The ladies of the church re-carpeted and repapered 
 the church during 1888, making other interior improvements also. 
 1890 saw the installation of a new furnace in the basement and the 
 purchasing of the property directly east of the church — the Gillhouse 
 property. The only record of the cost of the property is referred to 
 in the minutes of the annual meeting of 1889, when the Rev. Allaben 
 reported that he had raised $1446 with the possibility of more to come 
 in, toward the purchasing of a parsonage. New Hymnals were pur- 
 chased for the church, "Laudes Domini" upon the recommendation of 
 the organist, W. D. Perry, and his wife who was the chorister and 
 leading soprano of the choir. (W. D. Perry was the son of Abner 
 Perry. For many years he was the editor and publisher of the "Adams 
 County News," a gazette which was published every three weeks in 
 Quincy, although he maintained his home at Payson always.) 
 
 Rev. Allaben left early in October, to be with his family who had 
 gone to Oberlin, Ohio. Rev. L. R. Royce began his new pastorate in 
 Payson the first Sunday in January, 1892. Rev. Royce was an elderly 
 man, placid and smiling, who called on the members faithfully, riding 
 in his horse and buggy. His sermons were called devout and thought- 
 ful. At one of the earliest business meetings after Rev. Royce came, 
 Edward Seymour offered the following resolution on January 24, 
 1892: "Resolved, that the treasurer of the Payson Congregational 
 church be the custodian of all moneys belonging to the church ; that 
 all gifts and bequests to the church shall be entered upon the treas- 
 urer's books and called by the name of the giver. Such funds coming 
 into the treasurer's hands shall be loaned in the name of the trustees 
 of the church at the usual rate of interest and the income therefrom 
 shall be applied to the support of the gospel and current expenses of 
 the church. 2. That the treasurer shall be required to give bond to 
 be approved by the trustees of the church. The trustees may allow 
 the treasurer a reasonable compensation for his services." This reso- 
 lution was adopted by the church. 
 
 Mrs. Harlow (Olive) Spencer brought her letter from the Methodist 
 church on Feb. 21, 1892, being received into membership on March 
 6, 1892. Two years later, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer took their member- 
 ship to the Methodist chapel at Spencer's Switch (Pike County) 
 where they were very active in the Church there until 1904 when 
 they returned to Payson. Miss Reba Wharton was propounded for 
 admission into church membership on August 21, of that same year, 
 and received into membership on August 28. They are the two earliest 
 
 14 
 
surviving members of the church today, but each has held member- 
 ship in other churches. 
 
 Joseph Elliott, who had built the church, as well as the beautiful 
 stone bridge over the Gorge at Fall Creek, died March 31, 1892, at 
 the age of 89. Joseph Elliott was indeed a master builder of his day. 
 The first record of a Christian Endeavor society in our church is 
 found concerning a 3 days' meeting held with the church by the dis- 
 trict association of Christian Endeavor societies. And in 1892, upon 
 the death of John Reisner, the church was made the beneficiary of a 
 $1,000 bequest, providing the church was legally incorporated. The 
 necessary steps were taken, and the incorporation of the church is 
 on file in the recorder's office. It was voted that the legal name of 
 the church should be the Congregational Church of Payson ; secondly, 
 the following persons were elected trustees of the church : Edward 
 Seymour, Philo Thompson, William D. Perry, Thomas Elliott, and 
 Joel K. Scarborough. 
 
 On Friday morning, January 13, 1893, Bracket Pottle, last sur- 
 viving member of the 20 original organizers of our church residing 
 here, died in his 89th year. Mrs. Mary Rand Pitkin, widow of Thomas 
 Rand, had remarried and lived in Quincy, but had been long absent 
 from the church. Bracket Pottle was followed in April by Philo 
 E. Thompson, who dropped dead on the street between his home and 
 Main Street of Payson. At that time he (Thompson) was the oldest 
 remaining male member of the church, 82 years of age, and having 
 united with the church in 1840. Mrs. Frances Seymour Ames (a 
 daughter of Martin) who, with her husband had been largely instru- 
 mental in organizing the Congregational church in Dallas City, 111., 
 had returned to Payson to make her home after his death, died April 
 24. Thus, 3 of the older members of the church had passed away 
 within a short period of each other. 
 
 At a business meeting held Nov. 4, the names of various members 
 who were no longer attending church were voted upon individually 
 and dropped from the church role. There were 17 in all; some had 
 moved from the community and were no longer heard from ; others 
 were dropped because of unchristianlike behavior. In the case of 
 the latter, there are many instances recorded where the church sent 
 committees to call on the wayward members and to plead with them 
 to give up their sinful ways. 
 
 The salary paid Rev. Royce in 1894 was $900. In April, he and 
 another delegate represented our church in council to ordain the Rev. 
 S. E. Lynd as pastor of the Congregational church at Beverly and also 
 as the minister of a newly organized church at South Prairie. The year 
 1895 is to be especially noted here, too, because in April of that year, 
 several persons were received into church membership who are still 
 active members today and therefore our oldest members today in 
 years of constant membership in the church. They are Mrs. Anna 
 May Groce, Mr. Frank Scranton, and Mr. Stanley Mann. 
 
 William D. Perry, for 43 years a member of the church, and for 
 nearly all of those years the organist, died in February of 1896. Rev. 
 Royce ended his pastorate Dec. 27 of that year. At this time is 
 
 15 
 
mentioned for the first time, the "Sunday School convention," a union 
 meeting held on the 4th evening of the month. This union meeting 
 of the churches was continued for many years. Rev. William 
 Huelster, North Ontario, California, came to Payson to begin his 
 pastorate May 2, 1897. In 1898 the church was repaired and re- 
 decorated, inside and outside. The cost for shingling the roof and 
 painting the church was reported in the clerk's minutes as having 
 cost about $246, or, including the hitching posts along the east side 
 of the park, about $260. The women of the Ladies Aid Society at- 
 tended to the papering and painting of the auditorium, and secured 
 a new carpet for the room. Rev. Huelster accepted a call to the 
 Congregational church at Malta, 111., and terminated his pastorate 
 here July 1, 1899. 
 
 Rev. David Todd, of Peoria, preached on July 30, 1899, and on 
 Sunday, Aug. 13, the church voted to extend a call to Rev. Todd, 
 which he accepted. Prudence Ann Prince, a daughter of David 
 Prince, who united with the church Nov. 4, 1837, died Oct. 10, 1899. 
 Upon her death, she willed the church a legacy of $1,000. On Chil- 
 dren's Day, at the evening service (June 10, 1900), the first gift of 
 a Bible to a child reaching the age of 7 was made to Loren Gillhouse. 
 Late in that fall, Nov. 28, 1900, Rev. Todd married Mrs. Mary King 
 of Payson. 
 
 Through the combined efforts of Rev. Todd and Mr. L. K. Sey- 
 mour, Miss Lulu Nicholson of the village was engaged to train the 
 choir. A series of evangelistic meetings was conducted by a Rev. 
 Coad of Galesburg. Deacon Samuel Moses Spencer, who was a deacon 
 for more than 20 years in the church, and a church member for 63 
 years, died Dec. 9, 1903. Deacon Spencer sang in the choir, his bass 
 voice a rich, vibrant and outstanding contribution to the church 
 services. Edward Seymour, who had united with the church in 1840, 
 died in 1904 at the age of nearly 86. He had served the church faith- 
 fully in many capacities, for all 64 years of his membership. At his 
 death he, too, bequeathed the church $1,000. 
 
 In 1905 it was decided to do away with the custom of holding a 
 morning session on the annual meeting day, and to enter into the 
 business meeting after dinner. In 1906, Henry M. and Lyman K. 
 Seymour erected an addition to the church, a room designed and 
 suited for prayer meetings, Sunday School classes, etc., the room to 
 be a memorial to their Uncle Edward Seymour. The church thank- 
 fully accepted the generous gift and a special committee of ladies, 
 the trustees of the church, and the Seymour brothers were named to 
 act upon the project. At the annual meeting, it was ruled that the 
 young members of the church must have reached the age of 16 years 
 before they would be entitled to vote. And at this annual meeting 
 of 1906, the following resolution of thanks to the Seymour brothers 
 was unanimously voted and recorded in the church's records : 
 
 "Whereas the Seymour brothers, H. M. and L. K. Seymour, have 
 of their own motion caused to be erected a beautiful and substantial 
 addition to our church building, consisting of a room designed and 
 suitable for prayer meetings, primary Sunday School class, etc., and 
 
 16 
 
so connected with our audience room, that it can readily be used as 
 an addition thereto, while underneath in the basement is a commo- 
 dious, well-lighted room to be used as a kitchen, the whole building 
 being erected, finished, furnished and paid for by the said Seymour 
 brothers and their families and presented by them as a free gift to 
 the church in memory of their deceased Uncle, our brother, Edward 
 Seymour, now therefore : 
 
 Resolved, that we, the members of this church do very highly 
 appreciate the above described gift and the kindly, generous spirit 
 of the donors and we desire that this feeble expression of our grati- 
 tude should be embodied in the records of our church." 
 
 A new communion set was purchased by the church in 1907. At 
 the annual meeting, during dinner, it was noted that Miss Lizzie 
 Scarborough, who lived alone in her family home was missing from 
 the assembled members, and upon inquiry it seemed that she had 
 not been seen the day before. After the dinner, Airs. Henry Seymour 
 and Mrs. H. F. Scarborough decided to investigate and upon finding 
 the doors locked, gained entrance through a window. They found 
 Miss Elizabeth partially dressed and lying upon her bed, dead. It 
 was a great shock to the church people, but as it was necessary to 
 call the coroner, it was thought best to hold the annual meeting as 
 announced. Miss Lizzie, as she was affectionately called, had devoted 
 much of her life to the church and the community. 
 
 Rev. Todd closed his pastorate May 30, 1909, and the next minister 
 to serve the church was Rev. Frank J. Brown, who came to Pay son 
 from East Chicago, Indiana. His pastorate began Sunday, Sept. 5, 
 1909. Today, Rev. Brown's daughter, Mrs. O. Ralph Baker, Sr., 
 (Lois) is still an active member, in regular attendance with her 
 family. At the annual meeting of 1911, Joel K. Scarborough, who 
 because of old age and enfeeblement, was unable to continue as 
 Sunday School Superintendent. Recognizing the grand old man's 
 lifetime of faithful service, the church elected him superintendent 
 emeritus for life. L. K. Seymour was then elected active Sunday 
 School superintendent. 
 
 Following the death of Lizzie Scarborough in 1907, her home had 
 been left as a haven for retired missionaries and/or ministers. This 
 proved to be an unsuitable arrangement, and in 1912 the trustees of 
 her estate and the trustees of the church affected an exchange of pro- 
 perties, and the Scarborough home became the Congregational par- 
 sonage. The change of properties provided for the exchange of lots 
 7 and 8 on which the home was located, and lots 145 and 146 lying 
 directly east, for the two lots and the home directly east of the church. 
 The interior of the Scarborough home was altered and repaired at an 
 expense of $1200, and the Brown family became the first minister's 
 family to live in the large parsonage. 
 
 Joel K. Scarborough asked to be relieved of his duties as church 
 clerk, because of his advanced age. The church refused to accept his 
 resignation, but elected his son, H. F. Scarborough, as assistant clerk 
 in 1913. The elderly man served 71 years as church clerk. At the 
 annual meeting in 1914 he was absent, his failing health making it 
 
 17 
 
impossible for him to attend the annual meeting — the first he had 
 missed in over 70 years. He died in May, 1915, a man whose entire 
 mature life had been devoted to the service of his Master and the 
 little church he loved so well. 
 
 Within the church, as well as this entire area, a great tragedy 
 occurred in 1915. Charles W. Seymour only son of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Henry M. Seymour, was intantly killed when struck by a pitched ball, 
 while playing with the high school team. He had taken an active 
 part in the young people's work in the church and was well-liked by 
 all who knew him. Today the beautiful stone school building is a 
 memorial to his name and is a constant source of pride to the 
 community. 
 
 The church received into membership under unique circumstances 
 the family of Mr. and Mrs. George Wickancamp, whose home east of 
 town is now the Emil House residence. It was 1915, and because of 
 the serious illness of one of the daughters, and the physical impossi- 
 bility of another of the family to enter the church, the minister, the 
 standing committee and a few friends met in the home with the 
 Wickancamps to make it possible for them to be received into church 
 membership and to partake of Communion. In the records of the 
 church, this is the only time such action has been recorded. 
 
 Committees were named to solicit funds in 1916 for redecorating 
 the church and to install electric lights in the church. While these im- 
 provements were being made, services were held in the red brick bank 
 building. In July of the same year services in the church were re- 
 sumed. The "Marion Lawrence" loving cup was presented to our 
 Sunday School in 1917 in recognition as a banner Sunday School in 
 the state among Congregational churches. Julia Pottle Larimore, 
 daughter of Bracket Pottle, died at Plainville. She had retained her 
 membership in the church throughout her lifetime. 
 
 1918 saw the dreaded influenza epidemic sweep the country, with 
 the Payson community struck by it also. Church services were dis- 
 continued for 5 Sundays during October and November because of 
 the raging epidemic. The clerk's books have recorded the deaths of 
 two members who were victims of the disease that year. 
 
 L. K. Seymour tendered his resignation as church treasurer at 
 the annual meeting of 1918. He planned to spend the winter away 
 from Payson. On July 21, 1919, the church was saddened by the 
 death of this man who had served faithfully as church treasurer for 
 26 years, and as assistant superintendent, and superintendent of the 
 Sunday School for an equally long time. October 5, 1919, Rev. Brown 
 offered his resignation and requested speedy action thereon. His 
 pastorate of 10 years duration was closed on Nov. 16, and in March, 
 1920, Rev. Jonas Brooks, D.D., began his pastorate here. Dr. Brooks 
 was a large man, who had had a career in uniform as chaplain during 
 World War I. His preaching was in an emotional, evangelistic manner. 
 
 A hot and cold water system and bathroom facilities were installed 
 in the parsonage in 1920 at an estimated cost of $800. 
 
 Thomas S. Elliott, one of the oldest members died, having served 
 the church honorably and faithfully as trustee since 1889. He was a 
 son of Joseph Elliott, the builder. 
 
 18 
 
Dr. Brooks tendered his resignation at the morning service Sept. 
 23, 1923, to be effective Oct. 15. The next minister to be called also 
 held a doctor of divinity degree — Dr. Henry Tuttle, a well-educated 
 man who had been formerly associated with Kingfisher College in 
 Oklahoma, as its president. Dr. Tuttle was well trained, and used 
 his great ability and good judgment for the benefit of the church and 
 its members. He was keenly interested in the youth of the church. 
 The Sunday school classes were reorganized, the hymnals of American 
 Youth were purchased, junior church organized, and Mrs. Tuttle took 
 charge of the primary department. On October 25, 1925, the entire 
 board of trustees of the church signed a resolution recommending that 
 the church instruct the board to sell lots 145 and 146 (east of the par- 
 sonage grounds) to the trustees of the Elizabeth Scarborough estate 
 for the sum of $500. The resolution further stated that the described 
 grounds with adjoining property, were to be used as a community 
 athletic field. (This money from the sale of the lots was later used 
 to purchase two pianos for the church and Sunday school.) 
 
 May 7 through May 9, 1926, the church celebrated its 90th anni- 
 versary. Three former ministers attended and Dr. Merrill, then state 
 superintendent of the Congregational Conference was the guest 
 speaker on Sunday. 
 
 Henry Scarborough was named a committee of one to care for the 
 church property at the annual meeting of 1925. During the year of 
 1926, it was found that major improvements and repairs to the church 
 property were badly needed, and in 1927 the following renovations 
 were made : All the basement floors were removed, a line of drain tile 
 laid diagonally from outside the basement entrance to the northeast 
 corner of the building and then to the street gutter, making a well- 
 drained system. Concrete at a thickness of about 6 inches was poured 
 over the entire basement floor ; a concrete wall was built acrosss the 
 basement to take the place of the old lath and plaster partition and 
 situated about 10 feet west of the old one, thus enlarging the dining 
 room to this extent. The cost of this work, mostly out of sight, was 
 $1062. Creosote joists were laid in the concrete and on these cross 
 joists were placed, upon which was placed a double floor for the 
 dining room, making a very durable floor. The heating of the several 
 rooms had to be decided by an architect who declared a steam heating 
 plant impracticable and recommended two hot air furnaces. New 
 plastering was done in the dining room, the rock walls of the furnace 
 room were plastered, while the partitions that divide the old furnace 
 room in three rooms, and the ceilings of these rooms were made as 
 nearly fireproof as asbestos roofing and metal ceiling would do it. 
 This remodeling did much to remove the fire hazard that had been 
 present in the basement for years. Small class rooms were made in 
 the dining room by sliding curtains of velour. The buffet was installed 
 in the concrete wall of the dining room and table cupboard space built 
 in the kitchen. A steeplejack was found (after 15 months) who would 
 name an acceptable price, the steeple was given two coats of paint 
 and the tin work was given a coat of especially adapted paint. These 
 improvements were made to the church at a cost of $3500, given by 
 
 19 
 
Henry F. Scarborough. During this year the two pianos were pur- 
 chased. The new Constitution of the church had been prepared by 
 a committee appointed to serve in that capacity and was adopted 
 by section and in its entirety. 
 
 The year 1928 records the deaths of several of the oldest members, 
 among them Mrs. Harriet S. Kay, whose membership in the church 
 was 75 years, 5 months and 15 days. Mrs. Kay was secretary of the 
 Women's Missionary Society for over 30 years, a teacher in the day 
 school and a Sunday school teacher for many years. Mr. Amos 
 Scranton, father of H. J. and Frank Scranton died in 1928, as did 
 Deacon Daniel E. Robbins and John F. Spencer. These names rep- 
 resent families who served many years in many capacities with 
 the church. 
 
 The annual meeting of 1929 was held the second Sunday of Jan- 
 uary, in conformity with the newly adopted constitution. August 31, 
 1930, Dr. Tuttle tendered his resignation after seven years of service 
 to the church. The next minister to come to Payson was Rev. Leland 
 Porter, who arrived in Payson Feb. 1, 1931. Of all the ministers in 
 the history of the church, it is believed that Rev. Porter was the only 
 one whose wife was also an ordained minister. Depression times 
 were evident in the church's financial status as well as all over the 
 nation. The treasury showed a deficit of $450, with a salary owed to 
 Rev. Porter of $205. Rev. Porter announced his resignation in August, 
 to be effective Oct. 16. At that later date, however, he expressed a 
 desire to stay and continue his pastoral work, even being willing to 
 stay for expenses only. The church voted then to pay Brother Porter 
 in full to date for his services but because the treasurer reported no 
 funds with which to meet the obligation, the trustees of the Elizabeth 
 Scarborough estate offered to loan to the trustees of the church an 
 amount equal to the reported shortage. The members of the church 
 thereby requested the church trustees to borrow the needed amount, 
 providing the loan could be repaid as quickly as outstanding pledges 
 became due and could be collected by the treasurer, and that the 
 treasurer could retain from the collections an amount sufficient to 
 defray the minor expenses of the church, such as janitor, fuel and 
 lights. Upon the voting of the congregation in favor of this proposal, 
 Rev. Porter was asked to continue his services until the first of Jan- 
 uary. He closed his pastorate on Dec. 25, 1932. 
 
 After several meetings and deliberating to straighten matters out, 
 the church extended a call to Rev. Elmer E. Hoats of Clifton, 111., to 
 become their pastor at a salary of $900 per year, parsonage and 
 moving expenses also included. Rev. Hoats began his pastorate Feb. 
 5, 1933. In July of that same year, at the close of a morning worship 
 service, a delegation from Griggsville, headed by Mr. Lee Butler, 
 whose parents had been members of our church some 68 years ago, 
 offered our church their pipe organ if we could make a place for it. 
 A committee was appointed to consider and investigate this amazing 
 offer. The next Sunday, July 23, the church met again with Mrs. 
 Seymour reporting for the committee. They were convinced that it 
 was an extraordinary opportunity to secure a pipe organ. The church 
 
 20 
 
then voted to accept this very fine and generous gift and a committee 
 was appointed to solicit funds for installing the organ. The clerk was 
 instructed to extend to the Griggsville people the sincere gratitude of 
 the church for this beautiful, melodious and lasting gift. The church 
 voted to place the organ in what was then the choir space. An organ 
 builder from Alton, 111., was willing to take down and rebuild the 
 organ for $120. On Sept. 10, 1933, a special religious and musical 
 program was given, dedicating the pipe organ in the church. Many 
 members from the Griggsville church were in attendance. 
 
 Rev. Hoats had many plans for the church. His youthfulness and 
 pleasing appearance combined to give the church renewed interest. 
 The young people were again brought into the church work, and 
 he urged a greater interest in missionary work and ideals. The church 
 cabinet presented several recommendations to the church, which were 
 subsequently voted upon and adopted by the congregation. These 
 recommendations included a joining with the other churches of the 
 village and Bluff Hall in Sunday night union services to be held in 
 the village park ; the church school would begin at 9:30 and the morn- 
 ing worship at 10:30, instead of the half-hour later schedule. These 
 were to be summer changes, effective during July and August. That 
 same summer, Rev. Hoats was granted increase in salary from $900 
 per year to $1500. 
 
 Rev. Hoats tendered his resignation Sunday, Dec. 15, 1935, having 
 accepted a call to a church at Somonauk, 111. After the church had 
 been without a regular pastor, but had heard several candidates, the 
 names of four were placed before the church and voted upon, elimi- 
 nating the one with least votes until one candidate was to be extended 
 a call by the church. This candidate was a Rev. Bartholomew, but the 
 church received a further communication from him that he had al- 
 ready accepted a call to a church in Iowa. Dr. James Robert Smith 
 was then extended a call, and he came to Payson in May of 1936. Dr. 
 Smith was a man of advanced years, gentle-natured and highly re- 
 spected. He had served in Quincy in 1904. Mrs. Smith was many 
 years his junior, interested in the youth of the church and among 
 her many activities was the organization of the Candlelight Choir. 
 Its members were young girls in the church of junior high and high 
 school age, who sang every Sunday evening and at special services — 
 particularly the 6:00 a.m. Christmas morning worship service. 
 
 The most outstanding event in the years of Dr. Smith's pastorate 
 was the celebration in 1936 of the Centennial of the Church. A foremost 
 contributor of the historical information in the booklet published 
 then was Dr. Mary Leach, with other church members taking active 
 parts in the celebration plans. Contributing to the overall success 
 of that great event were Mrs. Clarence Fisher, Mrs. O. M. Long, Mrs. 
 W. K. (Grace) Elliott, Mrs. Henry (Lucy) Seymour, Miss Carolyn 
 Fisher, Miss Reba Wharton, Miss Edith A. Robbins, Mrs. E. A. 
 House, Mrs. Harl Wharton, Dr. and Mrs. H. C. Fortune, Mrs. Harry 
 Inman, Mrs. Howard Deterding, Mrs. Carl Weisenger, Mr. and Mrs. 
 C. J. Hyer, Mrs. D. J. Blauser (grandmother of our present Sunday 
 school superintendent, David Blauser) Mrs. Cuyler Totsch, Miss 
 
 21 
 
Helen Loos (now Mrs. Wendelin Peter), A. F. Morris, Harold Reine- 
 bach, Mrs. Irvin Reinebach, Mrs. J. B. Thompson, Mrs. Roger 
 Wharton, Mrs. Frederick Hyer, Henry F. Scarborough, Mrs. Esther 
 Scarborough (Dornacher), and others. It is with sadness that we note, 
 in 1961, the deaths of so many of the older members who were active 
 in the church work then. 
 
 Dr. Mary Leach, daughter of Rev. Cephas Leach, died Easter 
 Sunday, 1939. Dr. Leach was a brilliant woman, an individualist in 
 an era when women's opportunities to assert themselves were rare. 
 She was well-educated, holding several degrees. On April 16, in a 
 special service conducted by the Woman's Fellowship, Mary Seymour 
 House (Mrs. E. A.) gave a special tribute in memoriam to Dr. Leach. 
 
 In December of 1939 the church decided to discontinue Sunday 
 evening services. Attendance was very low, and the church felt the 
 financial drain of the added expenses involved. Dr. Smith tendered 
 his resignation March 10, 1940, to take effect May 18. Dr. Smith's 
 health was failing and he wished the pastoral relations with the 
 church brought to a close. A resolution ''sorrowfully accepting the 
 resignation" and wishing the Smith's "heaven's richest blessings 
 wherever their new work takes them," the church accepted the resig- 
 nation. 
 
 Rev. Arthur Bomers was given a call to the church at a business 
 meeting held June 23, 1940. The church again united with the other 
 churches of the community in the Sunday evening services during the 
 months of July and August. The church steeple was found to be in 
 need of repair and repainting and this was done at a cost of $135, 
 a gift from Mrs. Henry Seymour, as there was no money in the 
 treasury to meet the amount. The church gave the Seymour family 
 a vote of thanks for the generous gesture. The evening union services 
 during the months of July and August had been so successful that 
 Paul Reinebach presented a resolution calling for the continuance 
 of the union services, to be held in the different churches each week, 
 with each minister in charge of the service from his church. Our 
 pastor was to be the agent for our church in promoting, performing 
 and conducting affairs necessary to the continuation of such union 
 services. At the end of the year in summing up the vital statistics it 
 was recorded that Joseph Kingsbury Scarborough, only son of H. F. 
 Scarborough died September 4, after a long illness. 
 
 A beautiful new pulpit Bible was dedicated March 9, 1941, in an 
 impressive service. It was another of many gifts from Mrs. Henry 
 Seymour to the church she loved and served so faithfully. Later, in 
 August of that same year, C. L. Hyer reported for the trustees that 
 the Congregational church of Quincy in their remodeling, had offered 
 as a gift to our church certain light fixtures. Mr. and Mrs. Seymour 
 gave the installation of the fixtures as a gift to the church. The 
 church voted to accept both gifts, and extended their thanks of 
 appreciation. William K. Elliott, a faithful member for 58 years, 
 serving as a deacon, trustee, and in other capacities died in September. 
 1941. He was the last male descendant to bear the Elliott name on 
 the church roll. 
 
 On May 3, 1942, in commemoration of the 106th year of the 
 
 22 
 
founding of our church, an all-day celebration was held. Morning 
 worship, followed by a carry-in dinner at noon, consecration and 
 Communion service at 3 :00 p.m., and an evening service was the order 
 of the day. At the noon business meeting after the dinner, a com- 
 mittee named to study plans for redecorating the sanctuary, gave 
 their report. The project was to include the painting of the walls, 
 and ceiling in the sanctuary, the vestibule and the south room. The 
 pews, woodwork and organ were also to be painted in harmony with 
 the rest of the church. In the front of the church, a rearrangement 
 to make a beautiful chancel was planned with the communion table 
 in front of a large velour drape, as the center of interest. Subscriptions 
 were solicited for the project. By September, a little more than $700 
 had been raised, with the Elizabeth Scarborough estate trustees 
 doubling this amount. In October, during the Sunday school hour, 
 new flags were presented by the All-Round Workers class in a special 
 dedication service. On October 18, Rev. Bomers was ordained in the 
 church with representative ministers present from the Ouincy Asso- 
 ciation. Christmas gifts were given all the young men and young 
 women in the armed services by the church at the holiday season. A 
 service flag was dedicated by the All-Round Workers class and in- 
 cluded a star for each young person from the church in service. At 
 that time there were 17, with more to be added later. The annual 
 Christmas treat in 1942 was limited to candy for the children only, 
 with the rest of the money turned over to the Mercy fund for 
 war victims. 
 
 Four junior deacons were elected in 1943 to serve a term of one 
 year each. Communion dates were again changed to 6 times a year, 
 every other month beginning with January. 
 
 The redecoration project proposed by the committee in 1942 was 
 still in the uncompleted stage. Bids were received from at least two 
 competitors, with several major changes proposed. The trustees 
 stated that they would contribute $500 from the E. Scarborough 
 estate, instead of matching dollar for dollar. It seemed an unfavorable 
 time for making changes, except those which were most urgent. 
 Eventually the church voted to award the contract and pay for same 
 upon completion and approval of the job. Another canvas of the 
 church to secure additional funds was made and the contract awarded 
 to T. B. Kemner of Quincy. 
 
 The unified service plan was recommended to the church by the 
 standing committee and tried for several months. Rev. Bomers ten- 
 dered his resignation on Nov, 7, 1943. The Christmas Eve program 
 was held in the Sanctuary after several weeks' services had been 
 held in the basement during the redecoration. 
 
 The church felt keenly the loss of Samuel M. Spencer, son of Mr. 
 and Mrs. S. Glenn Spencer who was killed in action in World War II. 
 He was the only casualty from the church during that conflict. 
 
 Rev. C. L. Dierlam came to Payson and began his pastorate in 
 April, 1944. And, again in the records is the report of the Elizabeth 
 Scarborough estate coming to the aid of the church in regard to a 
 new furnace for the front of the church and the dining room. In- 
 
 23 
 
eluded in the minutes of the annual meeting for January 14, 1945 is 
 a tribute by Miss Reba Wharton, to the memory of Elizabeth 
 Scarborough : 
 
 "Since the work of Miss Scarborough and later, of the Elizabeth 
 Scarborough trustees (Henry Seymour and Henry Scarborough) has 
 been done so quietly that many of the members of the church do not 
 realize how great a debt of gratitude we, the present members of 
 the church, owe — I take this opportunity of telling more fully of this 
 work and of the indebtedness to "Miss Lizzie" and her trustees. 
 
 From earliest childhood until the time of her death in 1907, at 
 the age of 74, Miss Scarborough was one of the most active and de- 
 voted members of our church. She was constant in her attendance 
 at church and of all its various organizations, the Ladies Aid, Mis- 
 sionary Society, the Prayer Meeting and the Sunday school where 
 she taught a class of young men for a number of years and later 
 a class of young women. Many are the letters from these young 
 folks, written after they had gone into larger fields of activity, which 
 Miss Lizzie received and treasured. She was never a woman of 
 wealth but she gave most generously of all she had to the church. 
 
 At her death, her will provided for the creation of a trusteeship 
 of Henry Scarborough and Henry Seymour, who were impowered 
 to manage and control her property and to distribute it or its income, 
 in whatever manner they thought best. Mr. Seymour was treasurer 
 of the trustees and gave much of his time to the management of the 
 farm lands until a few years ago when it seemed wise to sell the 
 farm lands and to give to the state of Illinois the woodland for a state 
 park. (This wooded area has in these past few years reverted to 
 private ownership and is the property of Emmett Hartriek for his 
 home and business, and a portion of the land involved is owned by 
 E. A. House.) 
 
 Although many charities such as temperance, war relief, etc., have 
 been helped by the trustees, the greater part of the income and lately 
 part of the principal, have been given to our church. Every year, 
 our benevolence apportionment has been helped by a gift of $25 for 
 home missions and a like sum for foreign missions and $25 has been 
 given yearly toward the general church expenses. 
 
 Moreover, the church has been kept insured at a high rate of 
 insurance because of its nearness to other buildings and in recent 
 years, both the church and the parsonage have been kept painted 
 by the trustees. 
 
 Recently, the trustees have been forced to dip into the principal 
 in order to give $500 toward the redecorating of the church and we 
 would be sitting in a cold church today had they not recently put in 
 a new furnace and repaired the old one at a cost of more than $200. 
 
 It has been 37 years since Miss Scarborough's death — she was 
 found dead in her home when she had been missed at annual meeting 
 in 1907 — so the yearly donations to our church over this long period 
 of time would amount to a considerably large sum. 
 
 Respectfully submitted and with sincere gratitude, 
 
 Reba G. Wharton, (Jan. 14, 1945) 
 
 24 
 
It is well to recognize also the work of two men named to act as 
 trustees of her estate. Henry Seymour and Henry Scarborough served 
 diligently and faithfully in their trusteeship for 40 years. Even today, 
 there are some who can remember her faithfulness and devotion to 
 the church. Her home, our parsonage, represents to many the sacri- 
 fices she made and the pioneers who went before to make and keep 
 the church through hardships and despairing times. The whole history 
 of the town has passed before the windows of the building which is 
 now the parsonage. 
 
 Rev. Dierlam offered his resignation June 20, which the church 
 accepted, with it taking effect on the following October 31. 
 
 Mrs. Henry (Lucy) Seymour died December 11, 1946. Her kind- 
 liness, gentle spirit and her thoughtfulness of others is remembered by 
 those who knew her. Her generosity with her worldly goods was 
 widespread. Often the deeds and gifts were made anonymously, so 
 the real extent of her giving could never be known. Every day in 
 Payson we are reminded of that generosity of the Seymours when 
 we look at the stone school building, the gymnasium, the athletic 
 field, the band-stand in the park, the numerous gifts to the church in 
 so many forms, their service to the church and community. Mrs. Sey- 
 mour was president of the All-Round Workers class for many years 
 and trustee of the church, eventually being made trustee-emeritus in 
 recognition of her service. 
 
 Rev. Clark S. Thomas, of Springfield, was to be the next minister. 
 Rev. Thomas and his wife maintained their home in Springfield, 
 coming to Payson for week-ends. The church was given a new roof 
 and two coats of paint and the parsonage was redecorated. Rev. and 
 Mrs. Thomas later furnished the parsonage most beautifully for the 
 time spent here. The cost of the redecorating and repair work on the 
 church and parsonage was $2163. 
 
 1947 held the deaths of several prominent men of the church from 
 the earliest families. S. Glenn Spencer, whose faithfulness in the 
 church was commendable, and in the choir his beautiful bass voice, 
 rich and vibrant, has never been approached. Henry M. Seymour who 
 contributed so generously and faithfully of his time, money and ability 
 deserves a special niche in the history of the church. The co-trustee 
 with Mr. Seymour for so many years of the E. Scarborough estate, 
 Henry F. Scarborough died that year also. He had served as church 
 clerk for 20 years and as an assistant to his father, J. K. Scarborough, 
 for two more years, in addition to other church duties. 
 
 In March, 1948, the church voted for the merger of the Congrega- 
 tional churches with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches. The 
 vote, taken twice, resulted in 32 for merging, and 4 opposed. The 
 religious education committee was newly formed in that year. Rev. 
 Thomas sent a letter of resignation to take effect Oct. 31. The church 
 had supply pastors for the remainder of that year. It was not until the 
 next summer that Rev. Ernest Akin came to serve the church. On the 
 same day the Akins' came, the church held a farewell party for Mrs. 
 Grace Kay Elliott who was leaving to make her home at Plymouth 
 Place, LaGrange. Thus the people were given the opportunity of 
 
 25 
 
meeting the Akins' and saying goodby to Mrs. Elliott. Miss Reba 
 Wharton, who had united with the church in 1892, requested the trans- 
 fer of her letter to the Community Church at Claremont, Calif., where 
 she had gone to make her home. The junior choir, under the direction 
 of Mrs. Akin, made its debut in 1950. In the fall, work on the interior 
 decorating of the Sanctuary was begun. Members of the church work- 
 ed to paint the pews white with the top rail walnut, the wainscoting 
 doors and windows were also painted white. The oldest member of 
 the church, then in years of age, was Mr. James Inman, whom the 
 church recognized on his 89th birthday. 
 
 Three amendments were added to the constitution of the church 
 and voted upon by the members at the annual meeting of January 
 14, 1951. They were: 1. Directors of religious education and music, 
 superintendent of Sunday school and the chairman of the social com- 
 mittee were to be elected annually for a one year term. 2. There were 
 to be five members on the Board of Finance with the power to vote. All 
 treasurers were to be members without a vote, unless elected as one 
 of the five on the board, as well as the treasurer. 3. That names of all 
 nominees for office be posted one week before the annual meeting 
 date. At a business meeting of Feb. 4, Edith A. Robbins was given a 
 rising vote of thanks by the church for her 21 years of service as 
 treasurer of the church. The Akins' were responsible for organizing 
 the Couple's club, within the young married circle in the church. Mrs. 
 C. L. Scranton aided them and took the necessary preliminary steps 
 to organize the group. 
 
 The question of the pipe organ was before the church in 1951. 
 Some felt it was too expensive to repair but others felt it could not 
 and should not be destroyed or removed. A Hammond organ was 
 brought out from a music company in Quincy and demonstrated. 
 Funds were raised to later purchase it and it is in use today. Rev. Akin 
 tendered his resignation at the annual meeting in January, 1952. The 
 church accepted it with deep regret. 
 
 On March 16, Calvin C. H. Bremer, a student at the Boston Theo- 
 logical Seminary, was a candidate in our pulpit. The church voted 46 
 to to extend him a call. His acceptance was announced at the close 
 of the March 30 service, and the young Bremer's moved into the 
 parsonage on June 8, 1952. In preparation for their coming, the church 
 had renovated and insulated the old manse, with the work contributed 
 by members for the most part. Cabinet work in the kitchen was done 
 by Harold Jacobson, chairman of the board of trustees at that time. 
 Rev. Bremer's ordination was held on July 20, in the church, with the 
 ministers of the Quincy Association in charge of the services. 
 
 Several times during the years past, the question of the sale of 
 the lot north of the parsonage has been brought up by persons wish- 
 ing to purchase it. The church always tabled such propositions, and 
 in 1952 when it was once again brought up, it was voted that the 
 question of the sale of the lot be dropped. The trustees were in- 
 structed to make plans for keeping the lot clean and free of weeds. 
 
 In June of 1953, the first Vacation Bible School to be held in the 
 church in many years was organized by Rev. and Mrs. Bremer. 59 
 
 26 
 
children enrolled. The Penny circus had its debut in 1952 and has 
 been an annual event of the young choir since, with Mrs. C. L. 
 Scranton continuing the fun-filled day after the Bremer's left Payson. 
 
 On October 7, 1954, the church learned with deep regret the de- 
 cision of the Bremer's to leave Payson. Rev. Bremer had accepted 
 a 3 year call to the Union Church, Manila, Philippine Islands. He 
 terminated his popular pastorate here Feb. 6, 1955. 
 
 Rev. Hilding E. Peterson came to the Payson church from 
 Hyannis, Nebraska. A very intelligent man, his sermons in the pulpit 
 were highly commendable. 
 
 In 1955 the inside restrooms were built in the church and the 
 kitchen enlarged and redecorated. In 1957, the church voted to be- 
 come a part of the Retreat House project at Ursa, and Harold Jacob- 
 son and David Blauser were elected as the first two directors on 
 that board. 1957 also saw the experimental arrangement of combining 
 Sunday School and Church in an hour and a half service. The program 
 was placed on a three month's trial basis, but reverted to the old 
 custom of having both services, separately, by a vote of the congre- 
 gation. Sunday School time was set at 9 :30 for the entire year, and 
 morning worship at 10 :30. Again the matter of the pipe organ was 
 discussed, a vote taken on the subject, and it was voted more than 
 two to one to retain the old organ. The pipes were painted to match the 
 decor of the walls and it stands today in silent majesty and dignity, 
 a reminder to those who can remember the beautiful music Mrs. Emil 
 House, the late Mrs. W. V. Dye, and others played on it. Miss 
 Pauline Beilstein, the oldest member in the entire 125 years' history 
 of the church, in years of membership, died in Methodist Sunset 
 Home in Quincy. She belonged to the church 80 years, a devoutly 
 sincere Christian. 
 
 The church was repainted and a new oil furnace installed in 1958. 
 
 On January 15, 1959, Miss Edith A. Robbins, the last of a pioneer- 
 ing family in Payson, died in St. Mary's Hospital, in Quincy. Her 
 entire life had been spent in the service of the church and organiza- 
 tions within the church. Her deeds in the community and the church 
 will be remembered for many years. She had belonged to the church 
 for 64 years. Mrs. Grace Elliott, whose entire family had always been 
 an integral part of the Payson church, died at Plymouth Place Home 
 at LaGrange, and her ashes brought here for burial. Mrs. Elliott was 
 a woman of wide and varied interests but placed her church first. 
 
 Rev. Peterson tendered his resignation, asking to be relieved of 
 his duties by Sept. 20, 1959, to take up his new duties at Amboy, 111. 
 On October 4, 1959, Rev. A. H. Bisping supplied the pulpit. Follow- 
 ing a recommendation by the pulpit supply committee (Paul Reine- 
 bach, Mrs. David (Helen) Shelton, Sr., C. L. Scranton, and Elmer 
 Kaufmann) the church secured the services of Rev. Bisping for an in- 
 definite time, as interim pastor, so long as there is no resident minister 
 available to the church. Rev. Bisping has in the course of his two 
 year pastorate in Payson, taught two classes of confirmation for 
 the youth with real purposefulness and direction ; several new mem- 
 bers have been welcomed into church membership. In all organi- 
 
 27 
 
zations the Bispings have lent support, cooperation and leadership. 
 
 In the late fall of 1960, the trustees engaged the services of a 
 steeplejack to repair the steeple. The old weatherboarding was cov- 
 ered with masonite after heavy cables had been placed within the 
 tall steeple to reduce the possibility of future damage through wind 
 sway. New weatherboarding covered the masonite and the entire 
 steeple was repainted. The total cost of the repairs to the steeple 
 was $1986. This was a slightly higher figure than the actual final 
 payment cost. 
 
 In the trustees' report at the annual meeting of 1960, they noted 
 major repairs and complete restoration were needed for the par- 
 sonage. The church was faced with the problem of either restoring 
 the beautiful old home, or choosing an alternative to the situation. 
 After many church meetings during which the entire question was 
 thoroughly discussed, the church voted on February 12, 1961 with 
 52 in favor of restoring the parsonage, 17 against, and two not voting. 
 A later meeting listed a goal of $15,000 set by the finance committee 
 for the restoration. Also at the annual meeting, special recognition 
 was given Mrs. Lowell B. House, Miss Rose Scranton, and Mr. and 
 Mrs. William F. Baker for their work in bringing the Constitution 
 up-to-date and having new copies printed. 
 
 In 1961, the General Synod met in Philadelphia. The new Con- 
 stitution for the United Church of Christ was adopted by an over- 
 whelming majority of votes on July 4 at the Synod meeting. In our 
 own church, the youth of the church again enjoyed a week of camp 
 at Retreat House near Ursa, in company with the young people of the 
 Bluff Hall church. This is the fifth year of the camping program for 
 our young people, and the third one they have shared with Bluff Hall. 
 Mrs. C. L. (Dorothy) Scranton has served as general director for 
 the entire time. Many others work closely with her to make the 
 camp-out a success each year. And for the past 3 years, our church 
 has joined in a community cooperative Bible School which has 
 proved very successful. This cooperative effort is in conjunction with 
 the other local churches, and every child in the town and surround- 
 ing community is cordially invited to attend. 
 
 Miss Nelle Armold, grand-daughter of Daniel Scarborough and 
 great-granddaughter of Nancy Scarborough died July 14, 1961 — the 
 last remaining connection of that family on our church roll today. 
 
 Today we look back and rejoice that through the years, the de- 
 termination and faith of the early members kept the church alive. 
 Through hardships and despair they struggled to keep alive their 
 faith. This is our heritage. We sit in the Sanctuary they labored to 
 conceive and then to build ; we pray the same Prayer that they 
 knew ; we know that the same God who watched over them is keeping 
 His watch over us. There are those who serve — diligently, faithfully 
 in every generation. We can, through the kaleidoscope of time, rec- 
 ognize those whose works have made them pillars in the church. But 
 there are also those whose names are not written in the pages so 
 plainly. They are as the mortar between the stones — unostentatious, 
 Dut vital to the support and strength and the very being of the church. 
 
 28 
 
To them we pay tribute as surely and truly as to those who are called 
 by name. And so it is today. There are a few descendants from the 
 first families left on the rolls today. There is a deep, abiding sense 
 of belonging to this church of their forefathers. But there is strength 
 renewed in the bringing in of new blood, new ties, new names. The 
 church, to live, must grow ; it must be nourished to remain vitally 
 alive. Whatever the task, whatever the cause, the people must work 
 together in common cause, and walk in His way toward a better, 
 brighter tomorrow. This must be our forward look. 
 
 From 20 founding members, the church has grown to 174 active 
 members. Our potential is great. May it be our lot to continue to 
 grow in stature and wisdom, and may our church be blessed in a 
 continuing way with men, women, and children, who put Him first 
 and self last. 
 
 Helen Shepherd Shelton 
 September 1, 1961 
 
 PARSONAGES THE CHURCH HAS KNOWN 
 
 When the Reverend Thomas Cole came to Payson in 1837 to serve 
 the newly founded church, he lived in the first house north of the 
 New Cemetery. Early records do not substantiate if he built it, 
 bought it, or rented it, but it became his home after he came to 
 Payson. Later it became the Moses Spencer home (father of Samuel 
 Moses Spencer.) This house has in the past few years, been moved 
 into the village and is now occupied by the Robert Bunte family in 
 our church. From the time of Rev. Cole's ministry to the second 
 pastorate of Rev. Z. K. Hawley (1851-1856), there are no known 
 records of the homes in Payson used as parsonages by the various 
 Congregational ministers. When Rev. Cephas Leach was married, 
 he and a group of other men purchased the house now owned by 
 Howard Waack, and this was used through the pastorates of Rev. 
 Shinn and Rev. Stryker Wallace as a parsonage. Rev. Allaben and 
 Rev. Royce with their families, lived in the house west of Baker's 
 grocery — the location of the Harry Thompson home today. About 
 1890, the church acquired the S. E. Hewes property, now the Ed 
 Gillhouse home, and this was the first parsonage owned by the church. 
 
 In 1912 the trustees of the Elizabeth Scarborough estate and the 
 trustees of the church agreed upon an exchange of properties and 
 the Albigence Scarborough home became the parsonage of the church. 
 
 Began in 1838, on almost the same site, but slightly southwest 
 of the original log cabin which the Deacon and his family first occu- 
 pied when they came to Payson, it was finished in 1840. When the 
 Mormons were fleeing persecution in Missouri in 1838, they crossed 
 the Mississippi river in great numbers seeking refuge and employ- 
 ment in Quincy and the surrounding countryside. Some were given 
 employment in laying the foundation of the Deacons' new home ; 
 others built chimneys on early houses in Payson. The masonry and 
 
 29 
 
carpentry work found in the old parsonage is typical of the solidarity 
 with which the early carpenters and masons built. Hand-hewn sills 
 and joists were intended to last. Probably the most outstanding 
 example of early New England architecture in this area, government 
 engineers from Washington, D. C. came to Payson several years ago 
 to sketch and tabulate in detail the parsonage as a typical example of 
 early New England architecture. Their folio of information is said 
 to be preserved on file in the Library of Congress. 
 
 For at least 6 generations the stately parsonage has stood across 
 the road (now route 96) north of the church. There have been three 
 churches built in the past 125 years. The original church from de- 
 scriptions available in the records, must have been very similar to 
 our present structure. The present church matches the New England 
 influence found in the parsonage. If buildings could talk, what fasci- 
 nating tales the old parsonage could tell from 123 years of facing life 
 on Main Street in Payson. 
 
 CONTINUOUS YEARS OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 
 
 Mrs. Anna May Groce 66 years 
 
 Frank Scranton 66 years 
 
 Stanley J. Mann 66 years 
 
 Mrs. Esther Spencer 65 years 
 
 Mrs. Goldie V. Maher 64 years 
 
 Mrs. Myrtle Mann Scranton. .61 years 
 
 Clarence Fisher 61 years 
 
 Mrs. Hattie Cooper Long 61 years 
 
 Miss Reba Wharton 58 years 
 
 a member; past 11 years in California 
 Mrs. Olive B. Spencer 57 years 
 
 OLDEST MEMBERS IN ENTIRE RECORD OF CHURCH 
 
 Miss Pauline Beilstein 80 years 
 
 Mrs. Harriet S. Kay 76 years 
 
 Mrs. Louella Elliott Coburn. .76 years 
 
 Mary T. Elliott 74 years ^^Vu Phil ° f d E ° en 
 
 J J C. W. Thompson) 
 
 Henry F. Scarborough 73 years 
 
 Joel K. Scarborough 72 years 
 
 Emma Dora Schnellbecher . . .72 years 
 
 Ellen Thompson 72 years (D ^ g w e Vhon?sra a ) nd Elle " 
 
 Annie Robbing Arthur 72 years /Brother and sister, children of 
 
 Daniel E. Robbins 70 years Daniel and Mary A. Prince 
 
 J ) Robbins 
 
 John Spencer 70 years 
 
 Mary F. Leach first joined in 1869, but took her membership to 
 Aurora Springs, Mo. for several years. Her total years of 
 membership were 70, but not all of it in this church. 
 
 30 
 
Mrs. Grace Elliott member 67 years, but transferred to Ply- 
 mouth Place the last 9 years — total 76 years. 
 
 CHURCH CLERKS 
 
 1836 — Thomas Rand 
 
 1839— Milus Gay 
 
 184-4 — J. K. Scarborough 
 
 1913 — H. F. Scarborough named to assist J. K. Scarborough 
 
 1915-1935— H. F. Scarborough 
 
 1935-1937— Clarence R. Fisher 
 
 1937-1941— Miss Reba Wharton 
 
 1941-1946— Mrs. O. M. Long (Goldie) 
 
 1946-1948— Mrs. Roger Wharton (Marie) 
 
 1948-1950— Mrs. Carl Weisenger (Dorothy) 
 
 1950-1954— Mrs. Justin Y. Wagy (Bertha) 
 
 1954-1956— Mrs. Arthur Loy (Margaret) 
 
 1956-1957— Merle D. Blauser 
 
 1957-1960— William F. Baker 
 
 1960 —Mrs. David W. Shelton, Sr. (Helen) 
 
 CHURCH TREASURERS 
 
 Deacon David Prince, first treasurer in records, served until 1865 
 
 Daniel Robbins— 1865-1873 
 
 Daniel E. Robbins (son of D. Robbins), 1873-1892 
 
 Lyman K. Seymour, 1893-1918 
 
 Ernest T. Robbins, 1919 
 
 Frank J. Scranton, 1920-1930 
 
 Dec. 10, 1927 — First treasurer of benevolences named — A. Frank 
 
 Morris, 1930 
 
 1931-1939, Frank Scranton, benevolence treasurer 
 Edith A. Robbins, 1930-1951, treasurer of church finances 
 
 1940 — S. Glenn Spencer, benevolence treasurer 
 
 1941 — Mrs. Esther Scarborough (Dornacher) benevolence 
 treasurer 
 
 1942 — Mrs. W. A. Veihl benevolence treasurer 
 
 1945 — Herman Althoff benevolence treasurer 
 
 1950 — First financial secretary named, Mrs. Carl Weisenger, 1954 
 
 1950 — First treasurer of property fund — Roger T. Wharton 
 
 1950 — First Board of finance named, Herman Althoff, Roger 
 Wharton, Mrs. L. B. House (Elizabeth), Charles Hyer, 
 William Dornacher 
 
 1951 — Treasurer of current fund, Paul Reinebach* 
 
 1951 - 1953 — Treasurer of property fund, Emil A. House 
 
 1953 — Treasurer of property fund, Elmer Dodd 
 
 1954-1955 — Financial Secretary, Mrs. Roger (Marie) W T harton 
 
 1956 — Financial Secretary, Mrs. Had Wharton (Edna)* 
 
 1959 — Benevolence treasurer, H. J. Scranton* 
 ^Currently Serving 
 
 31 
 
CHURCH ORGANISTS 
 
 First Organist noted in records: Mr. W. D. Perry, who served 
 over 40 years. 
 
 1896-1901— Mrs. Mary King Todd 
 
 1901-1903 — Mrs. Jennie Robbins Scarborough 
 
 1904 —Mrs. W. K. Elliott 
 
 1905 — Miss Julia King 
 1906-1908— Mrs. W. K. Elliott 
 1908-1911— Miss Carolyn Fisher 
 1911 — Miss Florence Brown 
 1912-1922— Mrs. Harlow M. Spencer (Olive) 
 1923-1924— Mrs. W. K. Elliott 
 1925-1932— Mrs. Harlow M. Spencer 
 
 1933 —Mrs. Walter V. Dye 
 
 1934 — Mrs. Emil House (morning organist) Mrs. W. V. Dye 
 
 (evening organist). 
 
 Mrs. W. V. Dye resigned in 1937 but served as assist- 
 ant organist for the morning services for many years. 
 1938 —Mrs. W. K. Elliott, evening organist 
 
 1943 —Mrs. W. K. Elliott elected to replace Mrs. W. V. Dye, 
 
 who was serving as morning organist. 
 
 1944 — Mrs. W. V. Dye and Mrs. Emil A. House, morning 
 
 organists 
 
 1945 —Mrs. W. V. Dye 
 1947 —Mrs. Emil House 
 
 1949 — Mrs. W. V. Dye (assistants Mrs. Nick Weisenger, 
 
 Mrs. Richard Bowman) 
 
 1950 —Mrs. Ernest Akin 
 
 1951 — Mrs. Nick Weisenger (Evelyn) 
 
 1952 — Music in charge of Mrs. Nick Weisenger and Mary 
 
 Lee Hyer Larimore 
 
 1958 — Mrs. Nick Weisenger and Mrs. Richard Bowman alter- 
 
 nate organists 
 
 1959 — Mrs. Nick Weisenger, Mrs. Richard Bowman, Terry 
 
 Scranton (assistant) 
 
 1960 — Mrs. Nick Weisenger, Mrs. Richard Bowman and 
 
 Terry Scranton elected organists 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS 
 
 1839— Mr. Abner Perry 1851— S. M. Spencer 
 
 1842 — Thomas Rand 1852 — Edward Seymour 
 
 1843 — Daniel E. Scarborough 1855 — S. M. Spencer 
 
 1845 — Moses R. Spencer 1857 — Edward Seymour 
 
 1846 — Albigence Scarborough 1860 — George Hunter 
 
 1847 — David Prince 1862 — Edward Seymour 
 
 1848— Daniel Robbins 1863— George Hunter 
 
 1849— Philo E. Thompson 1868— Toel K. Scarborough 
 
 1850— J. B. Gale 1884— Cephas P. Robbins 
 
 32 
 
1886 — Joel K. Scarborough 1942 — James Melvin Scranton 
 
 1911 — J. K. Scarborough 1946 — Nick Weisenger 
 
 Superintendent Emeritus 1948 — Charles Hyer 
 
 1911 — Lyman K. Seymour 1951 — William Baker 
 
 1919 — A. Frank Morris 1954 — Rose Scranton 
 
 1935 — Harold Reinebach 1955 — Marion Scranton 
 
 1938— Walter Chapman 1956— David J. Blauser 
 1939 — Paul Reinebach (currently serving) 
 
 In the entire history of the Sunday School, only one woman has 
 ever served as superintendent — Miss Rose Scranton. Several have 
 served as assistant superintendent, including the step-grandmother 
 of Rose, Mrs. Mary Betts Scranton. 
 
 ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CHURCH TODAY 
 
 Woman's Fellowship 
 
 Largest of the organizations in the church today is the Woman's 
 Fellowship, active in promoting Christian life in the church and in 
 the home, the Fellowship includes all women of the church. The 
 Fellowship's major projects include the serving of two annual suppers, 
 in addition to other fund-raising dinners and activities. They contrib- 
 ute several hundred dollars yearly to the church budget, and in 1960 
 the organization went on record as prepared to pay the cost of the re- 
 roofing of the parsonage and attending to the interior decoration in the 
 parsonage restoration. Retiring president (1960) was Miss Rose 
 Scranton, with Mrs. Oren Lawrence (1961) now serving as president. 
 Other officers are : vice-president, Mrs. W. A. Veihl ; secretary, Mrs. 
 H. J. Scranton; treasurer, Mrs. Elmer Albsmeyer. Meetings are held 
 monthly in homes and in the church. 
 
 Couple's Club 
 
 Couple's club was organized during the Akin's pastorate and is 
 composed of young married couples in the church. They, too, have 
 taken active participation in church propects, contributing to several 
 worthy needs of the church. Foremost of their recent gifts is the 
 attractive addition of an outside bulletin board. They have an annual 
 auction sale, strawberry festival, soup supper, and other activities 
 as fund-raising means. Officers for this year include Robert Russell, 
 president; Richard Arnsman, vice-president; and Mrs. Robert Russell 
 (Georgiann), secretary. They also enjoy monthly meetings with 
 planned social activities. 
 
 Choirs 
 
 The choirs are under the leadership of Mrs. C. L. Scranton. Senior 
 choir meets each Wednesday evening, and the junior choir meets each 
 Wednesday afternoon at 3 :30. The contribution of the choirs, the 
 organists, and director of music are appreciated by all each Sunday 
 in the worship services. 
 
 33 
 
Ail-Round Workers Class 
 
 This class for the older women of the church was first organized 
 many years ago by Mrs. Henrietta Rankin. Other early teachers in- 
 cluded Mrs. L. K. Seymour and Mrs. William Albsmeyer. At one 
 time enrollment in the class was as high as 30 members. Today there 
 are only five active members — Mrs. Goldie Maher, president; Mrs. 
 E. L. Groce, secretary; Mrs. Edna Wharton, treasurer, who is the 
 teacher of the class ; Mrs. A. H. Loos, and Mrs. Frank Scranton. Mr. 
 A. H. Loos attends Sunday School with the class when Mr. Frank 
 Scranton, the only other member of the men's class of that age, is 
 unable to attend. The class meets several times during the year, but 
 not monthly. Mrs. Wharton has taught the class for the past 10 
 years. Associate members of the class are Mrs. Jacob Beckman, Mrs. 
 Stanley Mann and Mrs. Hattie Long. 
 
 Ever Ready Class 
 
 This class is composed of the women of the middle-years in the 
 church. Mrs. Olive Spencer taught for many years until she retired 
 in 1945. The late Miss Edith Robbins taught then, until her death 
 in 1959. Mrs. Harry Hull, Sr., has taught the past two years. The 
 Ever Ready class meets regularly each month and during a part of 
 each meeting they make cancer pads for the Adams County Cancer 
 society. Their officers include: president, Mrs. Edwin (Leila) Steig- 
 horst; vice-president, Mrs. H. J. (Florence) Scranton; secretary- 
 treasurer, Mrs. I. Opal (Alma) Cutforth ; sunshine chairman, Mrs. 
 Elmer (Edna) Dodd. 
 
 Pilgrim Fellowship 
 
 Although the youngest of the organizations (having been organ- 
 ized only this past year) it promises to be one of the most active and 
 interesting groups in the church. They meet every other week during 
 the school year, on Sunday evenings, for constructive programs 
 planned by the members, under the guidance of Rev. and Mrs. Bis- 
 ping. The religious training they receive is inspirational and the 
 social fellowship they enjoy is a further help in life. Officers elected 
 for the first year included : president, Gary Scranton ; vice-president, 
 Terry Scranton ; secretary, Barbara Kaufmann ; treasurer, David 
 Shelton, Jr.; publicity, Nancy Shelton and Dianne Frye; recreation 
 leader, Lynda Scranton. Members are of the junior high and senior 
 high age levels. 
 
 GOLDEN WEDDING YEARS IN OUR CHURCH TODAY 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Loos, 58 years 
 Mr. and Mrs. Frank Scranton, 56 years 
 Mr. and Mrs. E. L. (Ren) Groce, 55 years 
 Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Mann, 55 years 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Kuhn, 54 years 
 Rev. and Mrs. A. H. Bisping, 51 years 
 
 34 
 
80 AND OVER 
 These are the golden years — the sunset years 
 
 Mr. Levi Lawrence, 92 years 
 
 Mrs. Olive Spencer, 90 years 
 
 Mrs. Glenn (Esther) Spencer, 86 years 
 
 Mrs. Jacob (Inez) Beckman, 86 years 
 
 Mrs. E. P. (Goldie) Maher, 83 years 
 
 Mr. Frank Scranton, 82 years 
 
 Mrs. E. L. (Anna May) Groce, 81 years 
 
 Mr. Arthur Loos, 80 years 
 
 MEMORABLIA 
 
 In the early days of the church, the choir sat in the raised pews in 
 the back, with the melodeon in the square enclosure. When the con- 
 gregation rose to sing the hymns, they turned around and faced the 
 choir. 
 
 Samuel Moses Spencer possessed a deep, rich resounding bass 
 voice. In 1840, during a church service, he was reprimanded for 
 singing a hymn at too fast a tempo. The church was strict and 
 Calvinistic in orthodoxy, permitting no deviation from a stern and 
 narrow path. 
 
 Milus Gay, one of the members of the first church's dedication 
 committee, was also the first justice of the peace of Payson township. 
 
 The marriage of Miss Mary Woodruff to Bracket Pottle in 1835, 
 was the first wedding in Payson, occurring in the cabin of Deacon 
 Albigence Scarborough. 
 
 Martin Seymour, who came to Quincy with his nine children, 
 arrived there May 28, 1830. He joined the Congregational church 
 here in a company of others on May 27, 1837. He was the great- 
 grandfather of Mrs. Mary G. Seymour House and Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Seymour House, on the membership rolls today. 
 
 Daniel Scarborough married Mary Halsey Strong, who came to 
 Payson to visit an aunt. He built a large white home north of Payson, 
 patterned similarly to his Uncle's home (the parsonage). This house 
 has in the past years been razed, but was then located across the 
 road near Amos Scranton's home (which is the old Perry home). 
 Deeply religious, the children in the family were not even allowed to 
 crack nuts on the Sabbath, but they could eat them if they had been 
 cracked the day before. It was one of their daughters, Mary F. 
 Scarborough, who was later married to Rev. Stryker Wallace. 
 
 Mrs. Nancy Scarborough, the widow of a brother of Albigence 
 Scarborough (Luther), built the home of W. A. Veihl in 1838. She 
 lived with her daughter, Miss Emily, who was the first public school 
 teacher in Payson. Daniel Scarborough was a son. All three were 
 charter members of the church. 
 
 Mrs. Harriet Strong Scarborough Kay, daughter of Daniel and 
 Mary H. S. Scarborough, was widowed young in life with three small 
 children. She moved to town, built the home on the north edge of 
 
 35 
 
Payson, (now the Shelton home) in 1874. She taught in the day 
 school (the Hawley boarding school) and the Sunday school. Mrs. 
 Kay was the mother of Mrs. Grace Kay Elliott, Elmer Kay, who 
 moved from Payson many years ago, and Mrs. Carrie Kay Robbins, 
 who later married L. Kay Seymour. Mrs. Hattie Kay (Harriet) was 
 a member more than 75 years at the time of her death in 1928. Per- 
 haps the one living person having the most family connections with 
 the church is Mrs. Harriet Moses, of Salina, Kansas. Reared in 
 Payson, in the home of her grandmother, Mrs. Hattie Kay, after the 
 death of her mother, Caroline K. Robbins Seymour, she is a great- 
 granddaughter of Daniel Scarborough, great-great-granddaughter of 
 Mrs. Nancy Scarborough; a granddaughter of Daniel Robbins, great- 
 granddaughter of Deacon and Mrs. David Prince. 
 
 Edward Seymour's home was built on the same site as the present 
 stone house where Mr. and Mrs. Lowell B. House now reside. It was 
 later moved to a location between the homes of L. B. House and 
 Charles House, and divided. Part of the large old home has been 
 moved across the road and is rented. Edward Seymour lived with 
 other members of his family all his life, never marrying. 
 
 Paul Reinebach's home is the former home of Joseph Elliott, 
 builder of the church. This same farm once comprised the holdings 
 of Joseph J. Fielding, and wife, Clarissa. 
 
 The apartment house now owned by Russell Hoskins, the home 
 of Robert Krutmeier, and the house occupied by Mrs. Bessie Cooper, 
 were all at one time the Hawley Boarding school, built in the early 
 1850's by the Congregational minister. Prominent Quincy families 
 sent their children to Payson to receive their schooling, recognizing 
 the superiority of the Payson curriculum. The Hawley school, how- 
 ever, was a financial failure and was sold to Dr. William Corbyn who 
 came here from Palmyra to escape persecution for his political views. 
 Dr. Corbyn later became rector of the Good Shepherd Episcopal 
 church in Quincy (between Main and Hampshire, on 12th, razed 
 recently). 
 
 Descendants in the church today, from original 20 founding mem- 
 bers : 
 
 Mrs. Helen S. Shelton, great-great-granddaughter of David and 
 
 Sophia Prince. 
 Mr. Ray Larimore — great-grandson of Bracket and Mary 
 
 Woodruff Pottle. 
 Mr. Joel W. Scarborough, great-great nephew of Albigence 
 Scarborough. 
 
 Dr. Maximilian Shepherd, beloved physician in Payson, always 
 occupied the front seat in church when his duties permitted him to 
 attend. He was a great-great uncle of Helen Shepherd Shelton. 
 
 The Reverend Thomas Cole was a learned man, but records have 
 it that he could also be sarcastic on occasion. His sermons were in- 
 clined to be quite lengthy, and during one, a member of his congrega- 
 tion fell asleep. Pausing in the delivery, Rev. Cole called the man by 
 name. Hearing his name called, and rousing sleepily, the man arose 
 and believing that he had been called upon to assist in the service, 
 
 36 
 
murmured sleepily, "Let us pray." 
 
 Ralph Lindsay Kay is the last in lineage to bear the Kay name. 
 He is also a great-great-grandson of Joseph Elliott. Mrs. Paul Reine- 
 bach and Miss Ruth Spencer are great-granddaughters of Joseph 
 Elliott. 
 
 Airs. Goldie V. Maher is the only resident in Payson to have lived 
 in the same home for more than 60 years. Coming to Payson as 
 newly-weds from the territory of Oklahoma in 1895, the Mahers 
 founded the Payson Times newspaper in 1896. They bought the home 
 in which Mrs. Maher still resides in 1896. Fond of music, Mr. E. P. 
 Maher often played the violin in church services, accompanying the 
 choir at the time Miss Lu Nicholson was director of music in the 
 church. 
 
 Mrs. Clarence R. Fisher, for many years a member of the church 
 choir, also served as assistant chorister for several years, and as 
 chorister from 1937 to 1944, and again from 1947 to 1950. Do you 
 remember when both Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Oren Law- 
 rence, S. Glenn Spencer, Fred Hoecker, Lawrence Perry, Mrs. Paul 
 Reinebach, Mrs. A. F. Morris, Mrs. Merle (Helen) Blauser, Mrs. 
 Robert (Julia) Kay, Mrs. Grace Griggs, Mrs. Winnie Wheelock, and 
 Emmor Forgy sang every Sunday morning in the big choir? 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOL PERSONNEL 
 
 David J. Blauser, Superintendent 
 
 Richard Fisher — Assistant Superintendent 
 
 I. Opal Cutforth — Treasurer 
 
 David Shelton, Jr., and Coralie Dingerson — Secretaries 
 
 Terry Scranton — pianist 
 
 Lynda Scranton, Marcia Rabe, assistant pianists 
 Barbara Kaufmann — pianist of primary department 
 
 Barbara Ruby — assistant pianist. 
 
 Teachers (not mentioned elsewhere) 
 
 Mrs. Irvin Reinebach — Upper Juniors. Special recognition is paid 
 to Mrs. Reinebach (who has taught continuously for nearly 44 years), 
 She began at the age of 15, as a substitute teacher, taking a steady 
 class in the junior department at the age of 17. Absent from teaching 
 only because of illness, Mary Chapman Reinebach has maintained 
 one of the finest records in teaching in the history of the Sunday 
 School. Throughout these years, she has stressed the importance 
 of missions. 
 
 I. Opal Cutforth has taught the young married class since 1950 
 — 11 years. 
 
 Mrs. Elmer (Mary) Kaufmann has taught a total of 13 years, spend- 
 ing the past 10 years as the leader in the primary department. 40 
 children are enrolled in this department — the leaders of the church 
 tomorrow. 
 
 Mrs. James (Martha) Hale has taught a total of five years in the 
 church school — the past two with the kindergarten group. 
 
 37 
 
Mrs. Robert (Doris) Vahle has taught the cradle-roll children 
 for the past three years. "Bring up a child in the way he should go — 
 and when he is old he will not depart from it." 
 
 Mrs. David (Carolyn) Blauser has a total of six years teaching 
 to her credit — the past two years with the lower juniors. 
 
 Mrs. Wilfred Loos (Norma) is a newcomer this year to the teaching 
 staff of the Church School, assuming the class formerly taught by 
 Lester Reinebach — those of the primary age. 
 
 Miss Rose Scranton has taught a total of nine years, assuming the 
 duties of teaching the junior high group the past two years. Rose 
 Scranton deserves special recognition of all her church work. 
 
 Marion Scranton has taught the High school class for about six 
 years — teaching at intervals when needed. He has taught steadily 
 for the past four years. Both Marion Scranton and David Blauser 
 are leaders of the youth today, in the church and also in outside 
 activities. 
 
 38 
 
125th ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE 
 
 Mrs. Charles House, Mrs. Wendelin Peter, Co-Chairmen 
 
 Pastor Bisping 
 
 Roger Wharton, Church Moderator 
 
 Mrs. David Shelton, Sr., Church Clerk 
 
 Mrs. C. Leslie Scranton, Director of Music 
 
 Mrs. Harold Jacobson, Representative of Couple's Club 
 
 Harold Jacobson, Representative of Couple's Club 
 
 Mrs. William Dornacher, Representative of Woman's Fellowship 
 
 Mrs. Lilia Marshall, Member of Social Committee 
 
 Mrs. Luella Callahan, Member of Social Committee 
 
 Mrs. Richard L. Scranton, Member of Social Committee 
 
 1961 CHURCH OFFICERS 
 
 (Not mentioned above) 
 
 Senior Deacons — Arthur Loy, Carl Weisinger, Charles Hyer, Richard Fisher. 
 
 Junior Deacons — Gale Marshall, Roger Rabe, Robert Vahle, Wilferd Loos. 
 
 Senior Deaconesses — Mrs. Elmer Kaufmann, Mrs. Harriet Sims, Mrs. Irvin Reinebach, 
 Mrs. Leila Geisel 
 
 Junior Deaconesses — Mrs. William F. Baker, Mrs. Gale Marshall, Mrs. Roger Rabe, 
 Mrs. James Albsmeyer 
 
 Trustees — Roger Rabe, Robert Slocum, Richard Stotts, Amos Scranton, 
 Nick Weisinger 
 
 Finance Board — W. A. Veihl, Charles L. Hyer, Elmer Kaufmann, Nick Weisinger, 
 Hiram J. Scranton 
 
 Retreat House Directors— C. L. Scranton, Charles House 
 
 Board of Religious Education — Mrs. Marion Scranton, Mrs. Robert Slocum, 
 
 Miss Rose Scranton, Mrs. Roger Wharton 
 
 Directors of Religious Education — Mrs. Carl Weisinger, Mrs. Nancy Ruby 
 
 Auditors — Mrs. Elmer Albsmeyer, Mrs. Oren Lawrence 
 
 (Note: Officers of Sunday School, treasurers of the church and the Sunday School 
 appear on other pages) 
 
I- 
 
 , 
 
 PARSONAGE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
 

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