UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 ILLINOIS L!Pf?*HY 
 
 AT URB/UiA-GHAi^TAIGN 
 
 ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY 
 
 LIBRARY OF THE 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 Gift of 
 Library 
 Friends
 
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 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 I UST I 
 
 3ST OI S , 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and 
 Synods; also a History of Missions, Pub- 
 lication and Education. 
 
 BY J. B. LOGAN, D.D., 
 
 Author of "Alice McDonald," "Carrie Holmes," "Tract on Baptism," &c. 
 
 ALTON, ILL.: 
 Pen-in & Smith, Book and Job Printers and Newspaper Publishers, State Street opposite Third. 
 
 1878.
 
 TO ALL MINISTERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ILLINOIS, 
 
 Who have labored and sacrificed fur 
 
 their love of her, 
 Tins VOLUME is FRATERNALLY DEDICATED.
 
 DEATH knocks with certain footsteps alike at the palace of the rich and 
 the hut of the poor; at the counting-room of the merchant and the study of 
 the man of God. His knock is imperative; and the rich and the poor, the 
 merchant and the man of God, must as certainly answer. On the 14th of 
 September, 1878, the Editor of this History threw down the gauntlet and 
 gave up life's struggle. The course for him then ended; the race for him was 
 run. Sad as every visitation of the dark messenger is, it is infinitely more so 
 when a useful man is stricken down in his usefulness. 
 
 On account of the unexpected death of the Editor, the foregoing volume is 
 imperfect in some respects. Just what his intention was in reference to this 
 work is not fully known ; but it has been carried out so far as ascertained. 
 He evidently intended to prepare a full statistical table for the entire State, 
 showing the numerical and financial strength of the denomination. Other 
 matters of great interest he may have also intended to include in the volume. 
 But he has gone, and there is no means of discovering the intended scope of 
 tlu! work. What is published is just as he left it, with no material altera- 
 tions."' The work is sent out with the hope that it may strengthen the bonds 
 of the Church of God, re-animate and stimulate it, and glorify Him whose 
 humble messenger the Editor was. May the blessings of Heaven go with it! 
 
 PUBLISHERS.
 
 Preface, . . . ... . . . 5 
 
 Introduction, ........ 8 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 First Preachers, First Congregation, First Camp-Meeting, etc., . 13 
 
 CHAPTER n. 
 
 First Presbytery When, Where, and by Whom Organized; Its Subse- 
 quent History for Several Years, . . . . .26 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Sangamon Presbytery, ...... 45 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 The Third Presbytery Vandalia, ..... 52 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Organization of the First Synod, ..... 67 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Sangamon Synod, ....... 72 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Central Illinois Synod, ...... 83 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Sketches of Some of the Oldest Churches in the State, . . 86 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Letters from Various Brethren in Reference to the Early Times of the 
 Church in Illinois, ...... 96 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 Missions and Publication, . . ' . . .109 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 Educational Efforts, . . . . . . . 121 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Mothers in Israel Old Mother Barnes, Mrs. Ann Foster, and Mrs. Mary 
 Ann Wilson, ....... 132 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Biographical Revs. John Barber, Sen., D. W. McLin, J. M. Berry, A. W. 
 Lansden, Joel Knight Samuel McAdow, James Ashmore and William 
 Finley, . .... .140 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Biographical, continued Revs. Gilbert Dodds, David Foster, W. M. 
 Hamilton, J. R. Lowrance, Cyrus Haynes, John Barter, Jr., Isaac 
 Hill, John M. Cameron, Thomas Campbell, Nicholas Carper, and 
 James McDowell, ... . . 181
 
 THE origin and progress of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been 
 not unlike a poor man who settles in the dense forest, a vast wilderness all 
 around him. He first moves in on "government land,'' fells the trees, clears 
 the ground of brush, builds his "log cabin," and gets in his little patch of 
 corn. But all is on government soil not a foot of the land is his. But. 
 through the forbearance of government he remains, and adds a little to his 
 farm and flocks yearly. By slow and patient labor he gathers together 
 finally enough money to "enter 1 ' his home at "a dollar and a quarter per 
 acre." And it is a great day with him when he comes home to his family 
 with a certificate from the land office for "a quarter section'' of land. But 
 watch him now a few years and you see the "little patch" of corn gives way 
 to the large and broad farm; the "log cabin'' has a large two-story frame or 
 brick in front, with plenty of "out houses." and his flocks and herds fill large 
 pastures. Prosperity smiles everywhere, and he begins to be regarded as one 
 among the foremost farmers of his county. To look back forty years ago, 
 it would seem impossible for him to have ever gained this high position. 
 
 So with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Never in the history of 
 Christian churches did a denomination begin house-keeping with less facil- 
 ities for the work, and darker prospects of success, than our fathers. We arc 
 aware that we have among us some who seem to see even yet nothing in the 
 work and progress of our Church encouraging. We are not of the number. 
 Kvcry time we make a review, we leave on with a deeper impression and 
 higher estimation of the marvelous work and sacrifices of our early fathers 
 and people. That they succeeded at all, that they did not within the first ten 
 years yield to surrounding embarrassments and give up all hope of perpetu- 
 ating their organization, is to be accounted for simply and only that the hand 
 of (iod was in the movement. It u as never intended to be given up. And it' 
 Cumberland Presbyterian- -liouUl bptray their trust, and God in his ang;T
 
 VI 1'KKFACJ;. 
 
 should forsake u-. n-st a-surcd the principles which originated and have thus 
 far perpetuated this Church, will he crystalizcd in some form and he pcr- 
 petuatcd hy some organ i/.ation to the cud of time. At the birth of this 
 Church the Protestant world was divided and arrayed into two antagonistic 
 parties Calvini.sts and Arminians. Each party was strong in numbers and 
 wealth, and hoary with age. Each party agreed that if their side was not 
 right that the other side must be, and therefore demanded that all men should 
 receive one or the other theory as necessarily the truth. Cumberland Presby- 
 terians were the first people on earth whose history is on record who under- 
 took to plant their feet on "middle ground," and slum the extremes of both 
 these systems. Of course they were ridiculed and laughed at, and treated 
 like the builders of Jerusalem under Xehemiah. "What do these feeble 
 Jews?" ''Even that which they build if a fox go up it shall even break down 
 their stone wall." Neh. iv. 2, 3. But without prestige, or institutions of 
 learning, books, papers, wealth, numbers, or fame to lean upon like the 
 woman with the ointment they have done what they could and to-day we 
 find both these great parties modifying gradually their preaching, if not their 
 systems of divinity until AVC find no scarcity of endorsers among all the Cal- 
 vinistic and Arminian bodies of the peculiar doctrines of Cumberland Pres- 
 byterians, while sixty-eight years have worked a wonderful change in the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church itself. This period has given us strong 
 colleges, and, therefore, men in the front ranks of educated society. We are 
 also beginning to have a literature not to be despised. From working at h'rst 
 in private houses and country school houses, we have gradually but surely 
 found a permanent footing in some three or four hundred villages, towns and 
 cities in the Mississippi Valley. 
 
 Beginning with church property of less than ten thousand dollars all told 
 we have, according to the last statistics. *l.<>s:!.7:50. with twenty-one l'n>- 
 byteries not reporting the property of which will swell these figures to tens 
 of thousands more. Nor does this estimate include our college property, 
 which, if added, would make the figures at least $2.000,000. This is small 
 compared with larger, older and much richer bodies; but from almost nothing 
 sixty-eight years ago. it is not to be despised. Our membership is put down 
 at 100.H12. with ten Proliyterie- reported at the figures of former years, and 
 other* detective. One hundred and twenty-five thousand communicants i-, 
 pot an extravagant estimate. And the amount contributed to ( lin.^t v ( .m-;
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 in the past year is put down at $;i01,589, with thirty Presbyteries not re- 
 porting this item. The denomination has 458 probationers for the ministry, 
 1,283 ministers, 2,251 congregations. Well may we say, ''What lias God 
 wrought ?" With these facts before us, and the additional truth admitted 
 by nearly all, that on those points of doctrine and practice which, at first, 
 made the Cumberland Presbyterian Church distinctive, the theological 
 changes of the last decade have invariably been a convergence toward these 
 points, surely we have sufficient to stimulate to increased efforts and to sat- 
 isfy us with our present and prospective position among the denominations of 
 the great Protestant Church. Yet nothing would be more fatal than to rest 
 here on our supposed laurels. We should only be inspired to greater faith, 
 humility, zeal and consecration to the great work of the salvation of the race. 
 While we "strengthen the stakes,'' we should "lerfgthen the cords'' also. 
 There is no success there can be none without constant, persistent effort, and 
 unreserved trust in God and his truth. While Paul "thanked God and took 
 courage," it was not to sit down supinely, but his great soul was nerved for 
 more vigorous labor, so may the mercies of God to us only inspire us with 
 stronger confidence in the truth, and greater zeal in its promulgation.
 
 I AM not insensible to the magnitude and delicacy of the 
 task I have undertaken. It is one, however, which I have 
 considered of great importance to the cause of Christ, and 
 to Cumberland Presbyterians in particular. A true history 
 of the Church is but a record of God's providences and 
 dealings with men, in the kingdom of His grace. Not an un- 
 important portion of these special dealings and providences 
 has God communicated to the world through the medium of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. I know of no branch 
 of the Church, for the time it has existed, which has been 
 attended with greater marks of approbation from the great 
 Head and King of Zion, than has been vouchsafed to us as a 
 people. Wonderful seasons of refreshing and salvation, 
 scarcely excelled by the day of Pentecost, attended the early 
 ministrations of our fathers, and with some modifications, 
 have continued with their sons in the ministry to the present 
 time. At a very early day after the organization of the de- 
 nomination in Dixon county, Tennessee, February 4, 1810, 
 our ministers visited Illinois and planted the germ of the 
 present Church on the soil of the great "Prairie State." 
 This germ, though small and struggling for life for many 
 years, has, with God's blessing, acquired finally a name and 
 position among the permanent institutions of the country. 
 Beginning here, as everywhere, poor in all things commonly 
 regarded by the world as essential to success, yet a degree of 
 prosperity has been attained by their labors not to be despised, 
 even by those to whom greater facilities have been available.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE. " 
 
 Illinois was constituted a State in 1818, December 3. At 
 that time the whole population of the State amounted to only 
 a little over 35,000 persons. And yet, three years before this 
 period, Cumberland Presbyterians had entered the territory 
 and carried the glad tidings of salvation to its scattered inhab- 
 itants. Among the earliest ministrations the people of the 
 State had from any source, were those from ministers of this 
 then infant Church. And had it not been for the scarcity of 
 ministers, the vast field to be cultivated, the want of minis- 
 terial support, and the poverty of the Church, in all human 
 probability the Cumberland Presbyterian Church would have 
 been to-day one of the leading denominations in this great 
 State, if not entirely in the lead. 
 
 For long years she struggled against fearful difficulties. 
 The Mother Church strongly opposed her efforts. Thous- 
 ands found Christ under her ministrations and united with 
 other sects, because they saw no prospect of permanency to 
 our branch of Zion. Many meetings were held and souls 
 converted where no opportunity was given to join our Church, 
 because those holding the meetings did not expect to be there 
 again and they had no prospect of a supply for the new 
 members should they be willing to unite with them. The writer 
 has held such meetings himself, and knows whereof he writes. 
 Then the population for twenty or thirty years was more fluctu- 
 ating, perhaps, than in any other of the new States or ter- 
 ritories. A congregation might be organized this year, and 
 two-thirds of its members gone before another year. The 
 country was also regarded as uncommonly sickly, and al- 
 though its rich soil w r as exceedingly inviting, yet but few, 
 after shaking with ague, and burning with fever for months 
 at a time, would not be anxious to get away where health 
 could be enjoyed, even if other blessings were denied. 
 
 Another drawback to our Church in Illinois arose from the 
 slavery question. The denomination originated in a slave
 
 IO INTRODUCTION 
 
 State, and although this question had nothing whatever to do 
 in causing the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to be organ- 
 ized, nor was it mooted in the Confession of Faith, nor was 
 the Church ever, in any proper sense, a ^pro-slavery church ; 
 yet many of our early ministers and members were neces- 
 sarily connected with the institution, and Illinois being a free 
 State, after the question came to be agitated, the emigration 
 from the older parts of the Church flowed more freely into 
 Missouri, Arkansas and Texas than into Illinois, for the 
 obvious reason that any one holding slaves could carry them 
 to any of the States named, but could not bring them to this 
 State. However, such has been the success of Cumberland 
 Presbyterians in this State that we feel justified in placing on 
 permanent record such incidents of their history as are within 
 reach, and as, we trust, will honor the Master and be useful 
 to future generations. 
 
 We regret exceedingly that the task has not been under- 
 taken by an abler pen, and before so many of the incidents 
 of our early operations in the State had passed from memory. 
 The most of the older brethren have passed away from earth, 
 and nearly all of the remainder are removed to some other 
 countries. For these reasons our history, especially of the 
 early days of the Church, must necessarily be defective. 
 Still, we feel like doing our best with the material within 
 reach ; and we are the more anxious to do this, when we re- 
 member that Illinois contains the ashes of one of that immor- 
 tal trio who composed the first Presbytery, and who had the 
 independence and the resolution to stand out before the world, 
 even though it was at the expense of ecclesiastical ostracism, 
 and declare that truth was better than worldly honor, that the 
 approval of God was more to be coveted than the applause of 
 men. We refer to Rev. Samuel McAdow, whose remains 
 lie sleeping in the church-yard at old Mount Gilead, in Bond 
 count}'. Scarcely less important is the fact that Rev. David 
 Foster, also connected with the first Presbytery held, lived
 
 INTRODUCTION. II 
 
 for years in Illinois, and whose remains are resting in Madi- 
 son county. He was one of the immortal five licensed 
 preachers, who was present at the organization of the Church 
 in 1810, and who had been dealt with so summarily by the 
 commission of Kentucky Synod. We never read the history 
 of that event without feeling proud of those five young men 
 who had the moral backbone to resist such an unwarrantable 
 intrusion upon their rights. He spent several years of the 
 latter part of his life in planting and watering the early 
 churches in Illinois. A more detailed notice of these godly 
 men will be found in the body of the work. David W. Mc- 
 Lin, who was a candidate before the old Cumberland Presby- 
 tery, and who was an attendant at the first meeting of the new 
 Cumberland Presbytery in March, 1810, was likewise a very 
 successful minister in an early period in this State. Many, 
 many will rise up in the great day and call him blessed. 
 His labors were numerous and unceasing until death called 
 him home. He, too, lies sleeping in the soil of Illinois. 
 
 Seeing, then, we have in the providence of God, the watch 
 care over the dust of three of the fathers of the Church, who 
 spent the prime of their days preaching Christ and establish- 
 ing churches in this country, we feel we would be greatly re- 
 creant to our trust not to place in a permanent form some- 
 thing of the trials, labors, sufferings and successes of these 
 men and their co-workers in this part of the Master's vine- 
 yard. 
 
 In the pages that follow, we are indebted for many items of 
 history, and many interesting incidents, to a large number of 
 brethren whose names it would be too tedious to mention. 
 We may allude to the help derived from the "Biographical 
 Sketches" by Dr. Beard, Dr. Crisman's "Origin and Doc- 
 trines," from the sketch of the life of Rev. Joel Knight in 
 Our Faith, from other sketches from him in the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian ; but to none are we indebted more than to that 
 old patriarch in the Church, Rev. Neill Johnson, of McMinn-
 
 12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ville, Oregon. He has taken a deep interest in our work 
 from the start, and has rendered us invaluable service. His 
 long And active life in the early days of the Church in 
 Illinois, made him familiar with all the men and measures of 
 the Church for many of the early years of its history. We 
 shall let him speak largely in his own language in the proper 
 place.
 
 FIRST PREACHERS FIRST CONGREGATION FIRST CAMP-MEET- 
 ING, ETC. 
 
 ALL who have ever attempted any thing in the historical 
 line, know how difficult it is .to get at precise dates for any 
 event which has transpired half a century ago, unless the 
 dates were penned at the time the events transpired and 
 have been preserved. We have found it exceedingly difficult 
 to get satisfactory data about the first Cumberland Presbyterian 
 minister who preached in the State where and when he 
 preached. Also equally difficult to be sure that we have 
 found the organization of the first Cumberland Presbyterian 
 congregation, and at what time and place. We have deter- 
 mined, however, to let the brethren whose recollection seems 
 to differ about the matter speak for themselves, believing that 
 this, upon the whole, will be more satisfactory to the reader. 
 It will be seen from these papers that it was only four or five 
 years at most from the time of the organization of the first 
 Presbytery (Cumberland) in Tennessee, till some of these 
 " Cumberlands" visited the Territory of Illinois, and preached 
 Christ and a free and full salvation to the people. It will be 
 seen that Rev. John Crawford, himself a pioneer, gives the 
 honor of preaching the first sermon in the Territory of Illi- 
 nois to Rev. John Barnett, in the year 1815, near Golconda ; 
 and that the first Cumberland Presbyterian family that ever 
 crossed the Ohio River to reside in Illinois was the Tagert 
 family, in 1813. It will be seen that this goes back to within 
 three years of the constitution of the first Presbyter}'. We 
 have little doubt but this is a correct statement. We have no 
 other, reliable one which antedates it, and therefore we shall
 
 14 FIRST I'KKACIIJCKS, KTC. 
 
 assume this as the beginning corner of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church in Illinois. It will also be seen from the 
 statement of Mr. Crawford that the first seed was planted by 
 a true son of the Church. Dr. Beard, in his biography of Mr. 
 Barnett, says he was " licensed to preach by Logan Presby- 
 tery, August 31, 1813, and ordained August n, 1815." And 
 as Mr. Crawford dates Mr. Barnett's first visit across the 
 Ohio in the same year, it must have been but a short time 
 after his ordination. It would seem from this that the new- 
 kind of Presbyterians was introduced into Illinois prior to 
 its entering Missouri. The first Cumberland Presbyterian 
 minister who removed to, and settled in, Illinois, or, indeed, 
 any where north of the Ohio River, seems to have been Rev. 
 Green P. Rice. 
 
 Judge R. C. Ewing, in "Historical Memoirs," says (page 
 ii ), " The most accurate information to which I have access 
 is to the effect that Rev. Green P. Rice moved to Western 
 Illinois as early as 1817. He came to St. Louis and preached 
 in the then small French village, and was frequently in Mis- 
 souri attending the Presbyteries during the first years of the 
 Church." When McGee Presbytery, in Missouri, was formed 
 it contained the western part of Illinois, and all of Missouri 
 and Arkansas, and at its first meeting (1820) the only minis- 
 ter recorded or belonging to it in Illinois was Mr. Rice, who 
 was present. This meeting was held in Pike county, Mis- 
 souri, in the spring of that year, and was composed of Re\>. 
 Daniel Buie and R. D. Morrow, of Missouri, Rev. Green P. 
 Rice, of Illinois, and Rev. John Carnahan, of Arkansas. 
 Mr. Rice resided in what is now Bond, but was then Madison 
 count)', for several years, and when Bond county was stricken 
 off and organized, its countv scat is said to have been named 
 for him or in honor of his first name, and hence is called 
 Greenville. Mr. Rice came to Illinois from the Southern 
 States, and rinallv returned to the South, and rumor said, be- 
 came somewhat dissipated in the latter part of his life. When 
 or where he died is unknown to the writer.
 
 FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. 15 
 
 The next minister who became a resident of the State was 
 Rev. David W. McLin. In the life of Rev. Joel Knight, as 
 written by himself, we find the following passage: "Rev. 
 David W. McLin had settled during the preceding fall at 
 Seven Mile Prairie, White county, Illinois. There I selected 
 a place, and in the spring of 1819 I reached the place with my 
 family." [Our Faith, May, 1876. This would say that 
 Mr. McLin's settlement was in the fall of 1818. Mr. Knight 
 also records a " communion meeting" in August of the same 
 year (1819) he does not say a camp-meeting "at Hope- 
 well," which was in his neighborhood, at which he says, 
 " Revs. William Barnett, John Barnett, William Henry, 
 Dr. Johnson, a licentiate, and Aaron Shelby attended." The 
 meeting lasted several days, and in all probability was a camp- 
 meeting, for a several days' meeting was never held in those 
 days without a portion of the people remaining in tents or 
 camps on the ground. 
 
 FIRST CAMP-MEETING. 
 
 From a variety of somewhat conflicting accounts, I am, how- 
 ever, persuaded that ihejirst camp-meeting ever held in the 
 State was near where Edwardsville now stands, in Madison 
 county. I get this information from W. P. B. Paisley, of 
 Emporia, Kansas, whose father camped on the ground, and 
 indeed was the means of the meeting being held. I will let 
 Mr. Paisley speak for himself. His letter is dated Emporia, 
 Kansas, November 28,1876. He says: " The first camp- 
 meeting held by Cumberland Presbyterians in Illinois was 
 held in Madison county, two miles south of Edwardsville, at 
 the old Ebenezer Camp Ground, in September of the year 
 1817. Ministers, Revs. William Barnett and Green Prior 
 Rice. The second camp-meeting (in this part of the State) 
 was held in June, 1819, in the timber, about two miles south- 
 west of the place now called Elm Point, in Bond count}'. 
 Ministers, G. P. Rice, Robert Morrow and John Carnahan.
 
 l6 FIRST 1'RKACHKRS, ETC. 
 
 The third camp-meeting was in the full of 1820, about one 
 mile northeast of where the second was held. Ministers, 
 Rice, Morrow and William Long." That Mr. Paisley is 
 correct about thejirst camp-meeting, and perhaps the second, 
 there can be little doubt. We have none else reported as 
 being held so early. But the third meeting is called in 
 question by Mr. Knight. 
 
 A very interesting and reliable paper has also been fur- 
 nished us, already alluded to, from a very venerable father 
 in Israel who still lingers on the shores of time, and whose 
 memory goes back with vividness to the beginning of our 
 efforts in this Territory, as it then was. We refer to Rev. 
 John Crawford, Ridgeway, 111., now more than three score 
 and ten. W 7 e will let him speak for himself: 
 
 " In presenting a condensed sketch of the introduction of 
 Cumberland Presbyterians into that part of Southern Illinois 
 now occupied by Illinois Presbytery, I will first state that I 
 was born in South Carolina, January 3ist, 1804, and that my 
 father, John Crawford, with Grandfather Glass and other 
 families, all Presbyterians, emigrated to the bank of the Ohio 
 River, on the Kentucky shore, nearly opposite the present 
 site of Golconda, in the fall of 1805. My father crossed 
 into Illinois Territory, and located at the mouth of Grandpear 
 Creek, in sight of an Indian encampment of about thirty, a 
 hunting party, in the year 1808. Shortly after Francis Glass, 
 an elder, crossed to Illinois and located two miles northwest 
 of present site of Golconda; his daughter, Elizabeth, having 
 married Robert Tagert, near Clarksville, Tenn., they were 
 both converted and inducted into the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church under the administration of Finis Ewing, by whom 
 their first born, Nancy R., was bapti/ed. Mr. Tagert, being a 
 surveyor, removed to Illinois to engage in that business, in the 
 year 1813. I think they were the first Cumberland Presby- 
 terians that crossed the Ohio River. He died at Mr. Glass' 
 the same year, where the first sermon by a Cumberland
 
 FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. I 7 
 
 Presbyterian minister, the Rev. John Barn ett, "was preached 
 in that part of Illinois in the year 1815. As Mr. Glass' sym- 
 pathies were with the revival measures, his house was a stand 
 for Cumberland Presbyterian preaching to his death, and all 
 the younger members of his family were converted under 
 their efforts. 
 
 " The Rev. Darrow, an Old School divine, had breathed 
 the spirit of Craighead into my father's house by warning 
 them of the danger of the Cumberland Presbyterians. About 
 this time, in the year 1816, Dr. James Johnson, at the request 
 of my oldest brother, who had been converted under his 
 preaching in Kentucky, sent an appointment to my father's 
 house, which was received with some fearful apprehensions. 
 When the sermon closed the Doctor began to sing praise to 
 God with much feeling, and to extend a warm hand to his 
 audience, when my parents fled and signaled their numerous 
 household to imitate, which was done. The Doctor didn't 
 leave any appointment to preach again. It is due my parents 
 to state that, when the power of God, through the preaching 
 of these men, had brought several of their children to Christ 
 and to membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 the spirit of Craighead departed from them. I heard Ewing 
 at Golconda, on his way to Missouri, date not known. 
 
 k " The first camp-meeting was held at Sugar Creek, Pope 
 county, by Revs. John Barnett, Aaron Shelby and James 
 Johnson, September, 1821. At this meeting Nancy Tagert, 
 Joseph Glass and others were converted and a church organ- 
 ized Elders, Joseph Wilson, Israel Boazarth, Rob- 
 inson and James Crawford. 
 
 " 1 heard Thomas Campbell, of Kentucky, as he passed to 
 Sangamon county, in the summer of 1822. This was the be- 
 ginning of my serious impressions. I was in great trouble 
 until Sabbath night of a camp-meeting at Sugar Creek, same 
 fall, when Christ appeared to me as one altogether lovely. 
 Ministers in attendance, Aaron Shelbv, William Henry and
 
 l8 FIRST PREACIIFRS, ETC. 
 
 Hiram McDaniel. About this time Revs. Thomas Long and 
 Frank Braley, in passing from Tennessee to Missouri, 
 preached in Union county. A circuit was also formed, em- 
 bracing all the river counties, and supplied from Kentucky by 
 Gilbert Dodds, Thomas Boan and William McClusky ; after- 
 wards from Illinois Presbytery by Nimrod G. Ferguson and 
 James S. Alexander. For many years this has been a mis- 
 sionary field affording but little support to the laborer. It has 
 been partially cultivated by other faithful ministers who have 
 gone to their reward, of whom were D. W. McLin, Jesse 
 Pearce, W. M. Hamilton, John Porter, Richard Harris and 
 William Davis. At one time, when no minister lived in said 
 boundary, J. S. Alexander and I volunteered a joint effort of 
 fourteen days and nights. Result: over TOO professions and 
 the organization of two congregations that remain permanent. 
 That field is now occupied by a class of self-sacrificing, de- 
 vout men, of whom are Revs. Wells, Eldridge, Jordan, 
 Simpson, Mangrum and Thompson, with several young men 
 coming up to the work." 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 Rev. Joel Knight says (Sketches of Early History of the 
 Church in Illinois, C. P., 1873,) "that Rev. David W. Mc- 
 Lin settled at Seven Mile Prairie, White county, Illinois, in 
 1818." This would make Mr. Rice's settlement in Madison 
 (now Bond) county, according to " Historical Memoirs," at 
 least one year previous. So it seems we have from Rev. Mr. 
 Crawford that the first sermon preached on Illinois soil by a 
 Cumberland Presbyterian, was preached as early as 1815, by 
 Rev. John Barnett at the house of Francis Glass, near the 
 present site of Golconda and the first Cumberland Presby- 
 terian family which entered the Territory to reside was Mr. 
 and Mrs. Tagert, the son-in-law and daughter of Mr. Glass. 
 That was in 1813, just three years after the Cumberland 
 Presbytery was organized. And Mr, Paisley tells us that the
 
 FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. I 
 
 first camp-meeting ever held in the State was at the old 
 Methodist camp-ground, called Ebenezer, a short distance 
 southwest of Edwardsville, county seat of Madison county, 
 .by Revs. William Barnett and G. P. Rice, in September, 
 1817. There was no organization of a congregation at this 
 meeting. 
 
 FIRST CONGREGATION. 
 
 The first congregation organized in the State seems to have 
 been Hopewell, now Enfield, in White county* by Rev. D. 
 W. McLin, June 8, 1819. This is taken from their own 
 records. Mr. Knight, in his "Sketches," says a camp- 
 meeting was held there (Hopewell) in August of that same 
 year "which was truly a success to many, and myself, one of 
 that number. I came to the State under great distress of 
 mind, but at that meeting a soul-satisfying view of the plan of 
 salvation, brought that peace which Jesus alone by the Spirit 
 can communicate. At this meeting Mr. McLin had the 
 assistance of Revs. John Barnett, William Henry, Dr. John- 
 son, a licentiate, and Aaron Shelby, a candidate." He also 
 tells us that Mr. McLin and his people " had built a large log 
 meeting-house here, previous to their camp-meeting. The 
 house was covered but not floored." In all probability this 
 was the first church-house built by our people in Illinois. It 
 is pleasing to know that this congregation, after an ex- 
 istence of more than half a century, is still in a flourishing 
 condition, having our estimable brother, Rev. J. M. Miller, 
 as pastor. He is the son of James Miller, who held the 
 office of Ruling Elder from the day of his appointment 
 at the organization of the congregation to the day of his 
 death about forty years ago. His son, Rev. J. M. Miller, 
 has been the successful pastor of this congregation for more 
 than thirty-two years. 
 
 At its organization, the following were set apart to the 
 office of Eldership : James Mays, Samuel Craig and James
 
 2O FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. 
 
 Miller. Soon alter, Lawrence Rolofson, J. C. Goudy 
 and Robert Goudy were added. Later, William Orr 
 (yet living but super-annuated 82 years old), William 
 Goudy (dead), D. W. Jamison (dead), J. M. Fields 
 (dead). The present Board of Elders are M. A. 
 Miller, P. M. Orr, P. A. Orr, J. M. Miller, Jr., and 
 John Tarrentine. They have a good church building out 
 of debt, a congregation in good working order, with a live 
 Sabbath school ; and, indeed, they are exhibiting all the 
 symptoms of life and vigor. It is exceedingly pleasant to be 
 permitted to note such a fact, after the fluctuations of half a 
 century in this exceedingly fluctuating country, that on the 
 spot where our fathers organized the first church in Illinois, 
 and set the wheels in motion, they are found running on with 
 ease and in harmony sixty years afterward. 
 
 The reader will also remember that the first sermon was 
 preached near the present town of Golconda, and that in 
 that community, likewise, Cumberland Presbyterians still 
 hold a respectable influence after the lapse of three score 
 years. The results of the first camp-meeting, too, are visible 
 to the present day. Our informant, Mr. Paisley, says there 
 was only one conversion at the meeting, and that "a colored 
 man;" no church organized or attempted to be organized ; 
 but yet such were the seed sown and the happy influences 
 resulting therefrom, that the}' are plainly visible to-day. The 
 causes which brought about this first camp-meeting near 
 Edwardsville I will let Mr. Paisley tell in his own language, 
 merely stating that the writer has been on the spot of ground 
 many a time, and the old church and a remnant of the camp- 
 ground are still standing on the same spot. It is about eight 
 miles south-east of the city of Alton, which was our field of 
 labor for more than nineteen years. Mr. Paisley says : 
 
 "When my father first moved to Illinois he stopped at or 
 near Edwardsville, Madison county, where the Robinsons, 
 Barbers, and others of the Old Presbvterians, as thev were
 
 FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. 21 
 
 then called, and a few Methodists had settled. - Nearly all of 
 them were subjects of the revival of 1800, but were not of 
 the same country. There was none of them but a few of 
 the Methodists that knew anything of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterians, but they were religious, and they soon started a 
 prayer-meeting. While at the prayer-meeting, in view of 
 the destitution of the means of grace, they entered into a 
 covenant verbally to pray for a revival of religion, and for 
 some one to break to them the bread of life, agreeing to 
 receive and sustain the first one that should come. Father, 
 knowing that he could not be satisfied with any but a Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian, as soon as he could, sat down and 
 wrote to Rev. Wm. Barnett just the situation he was in, and 
 his great anxiety to have Cumberland Presbyterian preaching. 
 He never told any one what he had done. In some three or 
 four weeks he got notice that Mr. Barnett would be there, 
 and that in three or four days, and would hold a camp- 
 meeting. He urged father to be ready. That is why the 
 meeting was at the Methodist camp-ground near Edwardsville. 
 There was a strong prejudice against them by those that 
 knew nothing of them, but it was not long till the most of it 
 was gone. Father Barber and the two Robinson families, 
 Joseph's and David's, were reconciled and converted to 
 Cumberlandism. I have heard quite a number of anecdotes 
 of their fears and prejudices, and how they got clear of them. 
 Some of them are r*eal amusing. There was no church 
 organized there at that time, though there was material 
 enough if they had stuck together. I think there was one 
 profession of religion at that meeting a colored man. Rev. 
 Rice was a man of considerable ability as a preacher, but he 
 let the world get the upper hand of him, and his usefulness 
 was lost to the church. He was at the camp-meeting above 
 named." 
 
 At the risk of repeating somewhat, we will give the version 
 of this camp-meeting as related in the "Sketches" of Rev.
 
 22 FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. 
 
 Joel Knight, as it throws additional light upon an incident 
 which must be of great interest to all who love to read of 
 God's guidance of, and care for, his true disciples. Mr. 
 Knight says ("Sketches," August 8, 1873) : 
 
 "Some time previous to the time that Mr. McLin settled 
 in White county, Mr. Robert Paisley, a Cumberland Presby- 
 terian from Rev. Finis Ewing's congregation in Kentucky, 
 had settled, with his family, in Madison county, 111. John Bar- 
 ber, Joseph Robinson, and some other families of revival 
 Presbyterians, lived in the same vicinity. They all united 
 in forming a prayer-meeting, which became quite interesting 
 Revival Christians in those days could talk, exhort, encourage 
 Christians, warn sinners, urge them to flee from the wrath to 
 come, call them forward to be prayed for, instruct and labor 
 for their salvation. Well, they agreed that if a Cumberland 
 Presbyterian minister should be the first that came to preach 
 to them that they would all join, &c. That was a matter of 
 great interest with Mr. Paisley, in view of the religious 
 situation of that community. He wrote to Rev. Wm. 
 Burnett, of Kentucky, expressing the ardent feelings of his 
 very heart, and requested him to attend a meeting with them, 
 appoint a camp-meeting, and give them one meeting at the 
 least. Mr. Barnett told Rev. Finis Ewing of this letter, 
 expressed the feelings he had on the subject, and said if he 
 had a suitable horse and rigging he felt like he would go. 
 Mr. Ewing told him if he would furnish him with that letter 
 he would fit him out. He furnished it. The next Sabbath, 
 after preaching, Mr. Ewing read the letter to the congrega- 
 tion, and told them the object was to raise means to fit out 
 Mr. Barnett with a good horse and equipage, so that he 
 might meet the request. The money was promptly raised, 
 and Mr. Ewing had Mr. Barnett completely fitted out for the 
 trip, and in due time he accomplished it. In those days 
 Cumberland preachers did not ride in buggies. But we see 
 that through the influence of Mr. Paisley, Rev. Mr. Barnett
 
 FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. 23 
 
 was induced to appoint and attend a camp-meeting in that 
 part of the then new West. The meeting was a success in 
 the new country, and out of its influence grew up the Goshen 
 congregation (now Columbia). Mr. Barber's family, and 
 two of the Messrs. Robinson families, constituted the pillars 
 of that congregation, but the other Presbyterians never 
 joined. 
 
 "After that Rev. Green P. Rice moved into that region of 
 the country and preached to them a short time ; subsequently 
 to St. Louis, and finally to Bond county, and settled where 
 the county seat was located, and it was called Greenville for 
 him. 
 
 "Mr. Paisley also moved and settled on the north side of 
 Bond county. Here Mr. Rice organized a congregation by 
 the name of Bear Creek. Robert Paisley and John Kirk- 
 patrick were the first ruling elders. Part of the membership 
 was in Bond and part in Montgomery counties." 
 
 THE SECOND CHURCH. 
 
 The writer is satisfied that this was the second congrega- 
 tion of Cumberland Presbyterians organized in what is now 
 the State of Illinois, and Mr. Paisley says it was organized 
 out of the persons who attended that prayer-meeting, and 
 was the result of the first camp-meeting already referred to. 
 He further says, in a letter to the writer, that this congrega- 
 tion was organized by Rev. Mr. Rice "at the house of 
 William Robinson, some three miles north of Greenville. 
 The first members were father and mother, Jonathan Berry 
 and wife, William Young and wife just six in all. Mr. 
 Thomas Elison and wife joined soon after. In the course of 
 twelve or eighteen months Mr. Joseph Williams and wife, 
 John Kirkpatrick and family joined. This organization was 
 in 1818 or 1819, and was the start of Bear Creek church, 
 now at Donnellson, Montgomery county, 111." 
 
 I feel sure that this organization was in 1819. This
 
 24 FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. 
 
 congregation for some years embraced the membership of 
 what is now Madison, Bond and Montgomery counties. 
 
 EARLY DAYS AN INCIDENT. 
 
 In looking over the early days of the Church of Christ in 
 this country, and of the efforts of Presbyterianism in par- 
 ticular, a friend has called my attention to the following 
 item, found in the "Life and Times of Rev. Stephen Bliss," 
 a pioneer minister of the Presbyterian Church. We are 
 sure all Cumberland Presbyterians will be interested in it. 
 It says : "In 1810 or 1811 the Rev. James McGready, of 
 the Muhlenberg Presbytery, Ky., made missionary tours into 
 Southern Indiana, and having penetrated into Illinois as far 
 as White county to a settlement of emigrants from the 
 Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky, he organized 
 the Sharon church in 1816. This is the oldest Presbyterian, 
 and, so far as known, the oldest Protestant church in the 
 State." 
 
 Two points in this statement are of intense interest to us, 
 if true: First, that the "mother Church" entered the 
 territory of Illinois and organized a church but one year in 
 advance of the cast-off daughter. Second, that this first 
 Presbyterian church was the result of the labors of Rev. Mr. 
 McGready, who, under God, was the main instrument of the 
 revival influences out of which grew the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. So the strong and powerful Presbyterian 
 Church in Illinois is indebted, for their first organized church 
 in the State, to the enterprise of that man whom Kentucky 
 Synod suspended from the ministry for endorsing the revival 
 measures, and sympathizing with the fathers, doctrines and 
 measures of the Cumberland Presbyterians. 
 
 From these two small beginnings Hopewell in White 
 county and Bear Creek in Madison (now Bond) county 
 have sprung, in less than sixty years, the ten Presbyteries, 
 three Synods, and more than a hundred and fifty congrega-
 
 FIRST PREACHERS, ETC. 25 
 
 tions which are now scattered over the State.- Mr. Knight 
 refers to Goshen congregation, and to the fact that "a part of 
 the membership" of this Bear Creek congregation "was in 
 Bond and a part in Montgomery counties." The part of 
 them near Edwardsville was organized, not long after this, 
 into the old Goshen church ; and the first meeting the writer 
 ever attended in the State of Illinois was at this old church 
 house. It stood about three miles south-east of the town. 
 This was in the Spring or Summer of 1853. Removals and 
 deaths have greatly thinned their numbers, but the congre- 
 gation still exists, holding its place of worship a few miles 
 east of Edwardsville, where they have a neat and comfortable 
 chapel. The congregation includes some of the leading and 
 most influential citizens in the county. 
 
 It is a pleasing fact to record, that at all the points where 
 Cumberland Presbyterians first organized their work in the 
 Territory or State, they have held their ground and made 
 creditable advancement.
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY WHEN, WHERE, AND BY WHOM ORGAN- 
 IZED ITS SUBSEQUENT HISTORY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. 
 
 IT must be remembered that a part of Illinois the West- 
 ern part was, by action of the old Cumberland Synod, made 
 a part of McGee Presbytery. This Presbytery, therefore, 
 held Rev. Mr. Rice as a member, while Mr. McLin still 
 held his membership in Logan Presbytery (until Anderson 
 was stricken off), which at one time covered all Indian? and 
 the east half of Illinois, as well as all Kentucky. 
 
 MC'GEE PRESBYTERY, 
 
 the first Presbytery west of the Mississippi, was organized 
 in Pike county, Mo., in the Spring of 1820. "The first mem- 
 bers were Rice, of Illinois, Morrow (R. D.) and Buie, of 
 Missouri, and John Carnahan, of Arkansas." Historical 
 Sketches, page 12. Three years after this the Presbytery of 
 Illinois was organized, according to a previous order of Synod. 
 We will let Mr. Knight tell the story in his own words, as he 
 was present as a licensed preacher. He wrote in 1873 : 
 
 "In the Fall of 1822, the Synod passed an order for the 
 State of Illinois to be stricken off from Anderson Presbytery,* 
 and for Illinois Presbytery to be formed the succeeding 
 Spring, in May, in Mr. Rice's congregation (Bear Creek). 
 Mr. Rice was to be the first Moderator, and, in case he 
 
 * Father Knight is mistaken about the entire State of Illinois being in 
 Anderson 1'ivsbytery. A part \\;i> in AlrCcr Presbytery, as the order for the 
 or-.uii/.-.ition of the ii'-w Presbytery will show. | E.
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC., 27 
 
 should be absent, then Mr. McLin. Mr. Rice was at that 
 time on a visit South with his family, and never returned. 
 
 "A camp-meeting was appointed to immediately precede 
 the organization of the Presbytery. The ordained ministers, 
 except Mr. Rice, all attended. The writer was a licentiate 
 and also attended. Vandalia, then a mere village on the 
 bank of Oakaw (Kaskaskia) river, was then the seat of 
 government in the State of Illinois. Messrs. McLin, Hamil- 
 ton, I think, one or two elders and myself, traveled from 
 White county. When we got to the bottom land of the river, 
 it was all covered with water so deep as to be dangerous for 
 strangers to cross. We hired a pilot. When we got to the 
 bed of the river there was a little dry land on the bank where 
 we could dismount, take off our rigging, then swim our 
 horses across, one at a time, by the side of a skiff, and then 
 we were in Vandalia. 
 
 "The meeting in this wild country in the Spring of the 
 year was a good one. Many professed religion who became 
 church members. When the meeting closed, on Tuesday 
 morning we repaired across the prairie about three miles to 
 the house of John Kirkpatrick, and there constituted and 
 organized Illinois Presbytery in May, 1823. Rev. Messrs. 
 David W. McLin, John M. Berry and Woods M. Hamilton, 
 being all the ministers then in the State, were all present. 
 When the first meeting of Illinois Presbytery closed, it 
 adjourned to meet in a congregation a short distance north of 
 Shawneetown, Gallatin county, 111. But before it closed, an 
 order was passed for the ordination of Jesse Pearce, and an 
 intermediate Presbytery to meet in Hopewell congregation at 
 the camp-meeting in August for that purpose. When the 
 time came Mr. Pearce was ordained. Besides other business, 
 the writer was ordered to form a circuit, including Bear 
 Creek in the eastern part, and to extend as far west as 
 Edwardsville, in Madison county. A camp-meeting was also 
 appointed to be held in Bond county, some four miles north-
 
 28 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 west of Greenville, and I was directed to collect what material 
 I could and have them ready for organization at the camp- 
 meeting, which was done to the best of my ability. At the 
 meeting the congregation was organized, bearing the name 
 of Mt. Gilead." 
 
 I have been kindly furnished the minutes of this Presbytery 
 for all the years until it was divided. I deem it of sufficient 
 interest to copy the first minutes entire. The book in which 
 these minutes are kept is in excellent preservation. The 
 first minutes are in a clear, bold, plain hand, and are just as 
 the Clerk left them more than fifty-five years since. I have 
 had an inexpressibly sad and strange pleasure in handling 
 these pages, and reading after the venerable and godly men 
 whose acts are herein recorded. Every one of those taking 
 any part in that Presbyterial meeting, so far as I know, have 
 gone to their reward. How little did they dream that, when 
 they met in that unpretending log cabin on that beautiful May 
 morning in that then wild, wilderness country, they were 
 setting in motion an agency which, notwithstanding their 
 poverty and lack of worldly fame, would, in half a century, 
 be multiplied more than ten fold in the membership of the 
 Church, and a hundred fold in other elements of power and 
 influences for good, as will be seen in the sequel. 
 
 Before proceeding to quote from the records of the Pres- 
 bytery, I must say a few words about Rev. J. M. Berry and 
 his work. We have already seen that Rev. Messrs. McLin 
 and Hamilton had settled in White county, in the south- 
 eastern portion of the State, and Rev. Mr. Rice in the 
 south-western portion, in Madison, and afterwards in Bond 
 county. Rev. John M. Berry, when he came into the State, 
 settled in what was called the Sangamon country, in the 
 northern part of the settled portion of the State, not far from 
 Springfield, the present Capital. He was an active, ener- 
 getic, and very successful minister. Soon large and flour- 
 ishing churches sprang up all over his territory of operations.
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 29 
 
 THE FIRST CHURCH NORTH. 
 
 Among the first, if not the first organized congregation in 
 the Sangamon country, was Sugar Creek church, which is 
 still in existence, about ten miles south of Springfield. The 
 old-time church house has been replaced by a beautiful, 
 large, and commodious buildipg of modern shape and finish, 
 which has a large, intelligent, and pious membership sur- 
 rounding, filling it to overflowing at the regular periods for 
 worship. It has been my privilege to worship with them on 
 several occasions, and therefore I can speak from personal 
 knowledge. But to the Presbytery. 
 
 I find on the record of this Presbytery for many years, 
 beginning with its organization, a notice of "elders" present, 
 and also of "representatives" present. Knowing that all 
 "representatives" were elders, I have been puzzled to know 
 just why "elders" who were not "representatives" should be 
 taken notice of at all. I have surmised, but do not know, 
 that, being young and weak, they welcomed the presence and 
 counsel of all elders who might attend, but did not regard 
 them as actual members. If this is not the solution of this 
 matter, then the reader must solve it for himself. 
 
 ORGANIZING THE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 "Whereas, the Cumberland Synod of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, at the session of 1822, ordered a Pres- 
 bytery to be stricken off from Anderson and McGee 
 Presbyteries, to be known by the name of Illinois Presbytery, 
 including the State of Illinois ; 
 
 "Agreeable to the order of Synod, the Illinois Presbytery 
 met on the first Tuesday in May, 1823, at the house of John 
 Kirkpatrick, Montgomery county, State of Illinois. Opened 
 by a sermon delivered by Rev. David W. McLin, from 
 second epistle to Timothy, 4th chapter and 2d verse. Con- 
 stituted by prayer. Members present: the Revs. Messrs. 
 David W. McLin, John M. Berry and Woods M. Hamilton.
 
 3O FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 Absent: Green P. Rice. Elders: John Hamilton, John 
 Kirkpatrick and John M. Cameron. 
 
 "John M. Berry was chosen Moderator, and Woods M. 
 Hamilton Clerk. 
 
 "Gilbert Dodds, Thomas Bone, Nimrod G. Ferguson, 
 Joel Knight, Jesse Pearce, and John Porter, licentiates, and 
 Benjamin Bruce, John Files, and John Pearce, candidates, 
 having been dismissed from the Anderson Presbytery,* and 
 by them recommended to the care of the Illinois Presbytery, 
 
 " Resolved, That the above named licentiates and candi- 
 dates be considered under the care of Presbytery. 
 
 "Ordered that each licentiate and candidate attend Pres- 
 bytery from time to time, to be examined on English 
 Grammar and Divinity. 
 
 "Synod having passed an order that each Presbytery report 
 to Synod on the state of religion annually, therefore, to possess 
 this Presbytery of the information necessary to compose their 
 report, Resolved, that each ordained preacher and licentiate 
 keep a journal, and make a report of the state of religion 
 within the bounds where he preaches to each Presbytery. 
 
 "Robert Paisley, representative from Bear Creek society, 
 attended and took his seat. 
 
 ''Resolved) That the following Preamble and Constitution 
 be recommended to the societies under the care of this 
 Presbytery : 
 
 "The Illinois Presbytery, taking into view the necessity of 
 missionary labors, recommend to the organized, enrolled 
 societies under her care to form missionary societies, the 
 object of which is to raise funds for the support of mission- 
 aries within the bounds of this Presbytery. 
 
 "FORM OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION. 
 
 "ARTICLE I. We, the undersigned, agree to form our- 
 selves into a society, to be known as Missionary 
 
 Society.
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 3! 
 
 4 'ARTICLE 2. Each member shall contribute the sum 
 annexed to his or her name, respectively, twice a year. 
 
 "ARTICLE 3. This Society shall, at their first meeting, 
 choose a Treasurer, whose duty it shall be to receive all 
 moneys of the Society, and transmit the same to Presbytery 
 at each session. 
 
 "ARTICLE 4. The Illinois Presbytery is hereby constituted 
 a Board of Missions, and shall distribute the moneys received 
 from this Society to her missionaries at discretion. 
 
 "ARTICLE 5. Any member may withdraw at pleasure, 
 paying arrearages. < 
 
 "The Synod having passed an order requiring each 
 Presbytery to adopt some measure to coerce the attendance 
 of elders at Synod ; therefore Resolved, that each ordained 
 preacher, in the Society or Societies where he preaches, 
 shall appoint two elders, who shall hold themselves in readiness 
 to attend Synod, one of whom shall be first named, on whom 
 the duty shall devolve, unless providentially prevented. In 
 such case the duty shall devolve on the other ; and if either 
 should refuse, he shall be dealt with as contumacious. 
 
 "Ordered that Nimrod G. Ferguson ride and preach the 
 whole of his time on the Golconda district until our next 
 Presbytery ; Thomas Bone the whole of his time on the 
 Shawneetown district ; and Joel Knight three months on the 
 Shoal Creek district. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Saturday before the first Sabbath in 
 June next be observed throughout the bounds of the Illinois 
 Presbytery as a day of fasting and prayer, the object of 
 which is, that the Lord may revive his work, and call and 
 send forth laborers into his vineyard. 
 
 "Presbytery adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 
 seven o'clock. Concluded with prayer. 
 
 "Wednesday morning, Presbytery met agreeable to ad- 
 journment. Constituted by prayer. Members present as on 
 yesterday, except Robert Paisley.
 
 32 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 * 
 
 "Benjamin Bruce read a discourse from a text previously 
 assigned him by the Anderson Presbytery, which was sus- 
 tained as a part of trial. Ordered that Benjamin Bruce 
 prepare a written discourse from John, 3d chapter and 7th 
 verse ; John Files from ist Peter, 4th chapter, i8th verse ; 
 and John Pearce from Luke, I3th chapter, 5th verse, to be 
 read at our next Presbytery. 
 
 "Presbytery examined John M. Cameron and Josiah Kirk- 
 patrick on their knowledge of experimental religion, and 
 their internal call and motives to the ministry ; which 
 examinations were sustained. Their moral characters stand- 
 ing fair, and they being in communion of the Church, were 
 received as candidates for the work of the ministry. Or- 
 dered that John M. Cameron prepare a written discourse 
 from Amos, 4th chapter, last part of I2th verse, and Josiah 
 Kirkpatrick from John, pth chapter, last part of the 25th 
 verse, to be read at our next Presbytery. 
 
 "Robert Paisley attended and took his seat, whose excuse 
 for absence was sustained. 
 
 "Ordered that John M. Berry, David W. McLin and 
 Woods M. Hamilton meet at Hopewell meeting-house, White 
 county, State of Illinois, on the Friday before the first 
 Sabbath in August next, and constitute an intermediate 
 Presbytery for the purpose of ordaining Jesse Pearce, and 
 that he deliver a discourse from Romans, zoth chapter, 4th 
 verse, and prepare to be examined on the different branches 
 required by Discipline preparatory to ordination ; that John 
 M. Berry preach the ordination sermon, and David W. 
 McLin preside and give the charge. 
 
 "Ordered that Woods M. Hamilton be, and he is hereby 
 appointed Stated Clerk. 
 
 "Ordered that each ordained preacher attend to public 
 examinations in the organized Societies within our bounds 
 once a year. 
 
 "Presbytery adjourned to meet at New Salem meeting
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 33 
 
 house, Gallatin county, State of Illinois, on the second 
 Tuesday in October, 1823. Concluded with prayer. 
 
 "JOHN M. BERRY, Moderator. 
 " WOODS M. HAMILTON, Clerk." 
 
 We have given this minute entire and "verbatim , that the 
 reader may see the spirit of the men who, under God, first 
 planted the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the State of 
 Illinois. With two of the ordained ministers comprising this 
 Presbytery it was my pleasure to be acquainted personally ; 
 to-wit, Mr. Berry and Mr. Hamilton. Mr. McLin died before 
 my acquaintance in the State. Mr. Berry was a strong-minded, 
 resolute, bold, and very successful minister, whose praise 
 was in all the churches. Mr. Hamilton was a man univers- 
 ally beloved, and in the first part of his ministry, as well as 
 in the latter part, he was greatly useful. For a few years at 
 one time he was suspended from the ministry ; but such was 
 his humble walk and Godly conversation during this season 
 that he won the confidence of even his enemies ; and his 
 neighbors members of different churches and the outside 
 world all joined in. an urgent petition to Presbytery to 
 remove the suspension. It was done ; and to the close of a 
 long life he never gave any one cause to regret the confidence 
 thus reposed in him. Mr. McLin was not inferior to either 
 of the others mentioned. He seems to have been a man of 
 strong convictions, great resolution, and constant devotion to 
 his Master's cause. He was greatly successful. We shall 
 have more to record in another place of all these noble men. 
 
 I may mention, also, that the place where this organization 
 and meeting was held is now about the geographical center 
 of Vandalia Presbytery, the field where God in his providence 
 has placed the writer for more than twenty years ; and it is 
 pleasing to note that around that spot of ground in all 
 directions are Cumberland Presbyterian churches : our 
 people being more numerous in that county than in any other
 
 34 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 in the State, with, perhaps, one exception. It has been my 
 privilege to preach at old Bear Creek church many a time. 
 It is one of the strongest in the Presbytery, having a good 
 brick church house, a worthy pastor, and an efficient Sunday- 
 school and membership. 
 
 Of all who attended this Presbytery, either as ministers, 
 elders, or candidates, not one is living, except Rev. J. M. 
 Cameron, who, as we have seen, became a candidate for the 
 ministry at this Presbytery. At last accounts he was living 
 at Sebastopol, California, a very old man.* 
 
 All these were pre-eminently self-sacrificing men. They 
 loved souls, and did an immense amount of labor for very 
 little pay in the treasures of this world. But they were men 
 "rich in faith," "strong in the Lord and in the power of his 
 might." 
 
 FIRST MINISTER ORDAINED. 
 
 As we have seen, an intermediate Presbytery was ap- 
 pointed, at which Rev. Jesse Pearce was ordained. He was, 
 therefore, the first man set apart by Cumberland Presbyte- 
 rians to the whole work of the ministry on the soil of 
 Illinois. The session was at old Hopewell, White county. 
 John M. Berry was Moderator, Woods M. Hamilton Clerk ; 
 and the ordination took place August I, 1823. 
 
 SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS. 
 
 The next regular meeting was held at New Salem meeting 
 house, Gallatin county, Illinois, on October I4th, 1823. 
 Members present : Berry, McLin, and Hamilton ; Absent : 
 G. P. Rice. The opening sermon was preached by Mr. 
 McLin. Elders present: Payton Mitchell, James Miller and 
 John Files. Representatives : John Kirkpatrick from Bear 
 Creek, Joseph M. Street from New Salem, John Barber 
 from Mt. Gilead, and Richard Harris from Village Society. 
 
 r. Cameron ha> <lic-l >in<-r tli<- a I ( \\as written. V.\>.
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 35 
 
 Mr. Berry was Moderator and Mr. Hamilton Clerk. Jesse 
 Pearce was invited and took a seat for the first time as a 
 member. At this meeting John Barber, Payton Mitchell, 
 James E. Davis and James T. Alexander were received as 
 candidates for the ministry. Green P. Rice, by letter, re- 
 quested a letter of dismission and recommendation to some 
 Presbytery South, which was granted. Benjamin Bruce, 
 John M. Cameron and John Files read discourses, which 
 were sustained as parts of trial. At this meeting we find 
 Rev. David Foster present from Nashville Presbytery, and 
 invited to a seat in counsel. Jesse Pearce was ordered to 
 ride and preach the whole of his time in the Golconda dis- 
 trict. On the last day of Presbytery two more candidates 
 were received John W. McCord and Richard Harris. An 
 order was passed for the ordination of Joel Knight at next 
 session of Presbytery. Thomas Bone, licentiate, was dis- 
 missed by letter at his request. Joel Knight and Thomas 
 Bone had filled the missions assigned, and Nimrod G. Fer- 
 guson had ridden but two months, on account of sickness. 
 His excuse was sustained. A committee was appointed to draft 
 a circular letter to all the churches ; but we are not told who 
 the committee were, nor is a copy of the letter retained. 
 
 The next meeting was at the house of James Johnson, 
 Bond county, April 6, 1824. Ministers present: McLin, 
 Hamilton, Pearce and Berry. Elders : James Miller, Samuel 
 Hill, Henry Grimes and John M. Cameron. Representatives : 
 Richard Harris from Village, John Files from Shiloh, Robert 
 Paisley from Bear Creek, and Thomas Hunter from Mt. 
 Gilead Societies. Mr. Pearce was Moderator and Mr. Berry 
 Clerk. Joel Knight and Nimrod G. Ferguson were set 
 apart to the whole work of the ministry. Mr. Hamilton 
 preached the ordination sermon, and Mr. McLin gave the 
 charge. John Knight and Thomas Hunter were received as 
 candidates for the ministry. John Barber and John W. 
 McCord were licensed to preach the gospel. Mr. Fer-
 
 36 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 guson was to preach all his time in the Golconda district ; 
 Mr. McCord three months in the Shawneetown district ; Mr. 
 Barber four months in the Shoal Creek district ; and Mr. 
 Porter two months in the Sangamon district. The second 
 Saturdays in June and August were set apart as days of 
 fasting and prayer. 
 
 The next meeting was at Hopewell meeting house, White 
 county, October 5th, 1824. Ministers present: McLin, 
 Hamilton, Berry, Pearce, Knight and Ferguson. Six elders 
 were present, and three representatives. Mr. Knight was 
 Moderator, and Mr. Ferguson Clerk both placed in office 
 at the first meeting of Presbytery after their ordination. 
 Eight candidates read discourses, which were sustained as 
 parts of trial. Thomas Campbell, a licentiate from the An- 
 derson Presbytery, was received by letter and his name 
 placed on the roll. Alexander F. Trousdale, Marmaduke 
 S. Ferguson and William Davis were received as candidates. 
 Mr. Pearce was ordered to ride and preach two months in 
 the Golconda district, and Mr. Hamilton two months in the 
 Shawneetown district. 
 
 The Spring session of 1825 met at Bear Creek church, 
 Montgomery county. Ministers present : McLin, Hamilton, 
 Berry, Pearce, Knight, and Ferguson ; elders, five; repre- 
 sentatives, four. Mr. Ferguson was the Moderator and Mr. 
 Knight Clerk. An intermediate Presbytery had been ap- 
 pointed for the purpose of ordaining Thomas Campbell, but 
 it failed of a quorum, and Mr. Campbell was ordained at 
 this session. Mr. McLin preached the ordination sermon 
 and gave the charge also. Neill Johnson was received as a 
 candidate for the ministry at this session. Inquiry was made 
 if the order had been complied with about catechising or 
 holding public examinations on the Shorter Catechism. All 
 reported compliance but one, and his excuse was sustained. 
 Benjamin Bruce, James T. Alexander and John Knight were 
 licensed to preach the gospel, and all put upon circuits.
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 37 
 
 1 
 
 The Fall session of Presbytery met October u, 1824, at 
 Village church, White county. Present: McLin, Berry, 
 Hamilton and Knight. Absent : Ferguson and Campbell. 
 Elders five and representatives five. Mr. Berry was Mod- 
 erator and Hamilton Clerk. John W. McCord was granted 
 a letter of dismission and recommendation. Here came up 
 the first reference of a trial case upon which the advice of 
 the Presbytery was asked. It was from Hopewell society, 
 and about a man charged with "perjury." The Presbytery 
 decided, from the evidence submitted, that the man was 
 guilty, and advised the church to act toward him accordingly. 
 John Files, a candidate, is here kindly dismissed, the Pres- 
 bytery believing his calling and gifts were only to "exhort;" 
 and they tenderly advise him accordingly, 
 
 SHALL THERE BE A GENERAL ASSEMBLY ? 
 
 At this session we find the Presbytery acting upon what 
 form of government the Church should have in the future, as 
 the question had been sent down to them from Cumberland 
 Synod, "Whether they desire a continuation of the present 
 form of government, or form a delegated Synod, or divide 
 the Synod and form a General Assembly." The reader will 
 see the question was three-sided. The Presbytery answered 
 as follows : 
 
 "Resolved, Therefore, that this Presbytery is of opinion 
 that the state and interest of the Church require a division of 
 the Synod and the formation of a General Assembly." 
 
 Another important action was the examination into and 
 acquital of James T. Alexander of a "scandalous report" 
 against his character. They pronounced him "not guilty." 
 Ezekiel Porter and James S. Smith were received as candi- 
 dates. James E. Davis, Alexander F. Trousdale, Marma- 
 duke S. Ferguson and Richard Harris were licensed to 
 preach.
 
 38 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC- 
 
 TEMPERANCE PLEDGE. 
 
 We find the Presbytery at this session placing itself on 
 record in favor of temperance, and against the "evils result- 
 ing from the use of ardent spirits," and forming themselves 
 into a temperance society. We very much regret that they 
 did not spread their constitution and pledge upon their 
 records. But it is cheering to find the Cumberland Presby- 
 terians in the front rank of the temperance cause, from its 
 first initiation into the State to the present day. Indeed, we 
 may go further and say, as a denomination they have always 
 been in the front. Their voice, though comparatively feeble, 
 has always been distinct, and by no means uncertain. It has 
 been as common and natural for our preachers to preach 
 temperance as to preach any other Bible truth. Our judica- 
 tories everywhere have spoken out in no uncertain sounds on 
 this question. 
 
 The Spring session of Presbytery met at the house of 
 Joseph Robinson, in Madison county, the first Tuesday in 
 April, 1826. Present: Berry, McLin, Pearce, Knight. 
 Absent : Hamilton, Ferguson and Campbell. Elders present, 
 two. Rev. Robert Sloan, a member of Arkansas Presbytery, 
 was present and took part as an advisory member. William 
 Finley was received as a candidate for the ministry. Josiah 
 Kirkpatrick, a candidate, was discontinued. "The Presby- 
 tery, in examining his case, from the best evidence obtained, 
 were led to conclude that his gift and call were not to 
 preach, and in the spirit of brotherly love" discontinued him. 
 Likewise Thomas Hunter, at his own request, was also dis- 
 continued as a candidate. John M. Cameron was licensed, 
 in the usual form, to preach the gospel. John Barber and 
 Gilbert Dodds were ordained to the whole work of the 
 ministry, Mr. McLin preaching the ordination sermon and 
 Mr. Berry presiding and giving the charge. We find the 
 following on this minute, which we transcribe : "Whereas, 
 Synod having passed a resolution that each Presbytery be
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 39 
 
 recommended to request the preachers and sessions to appoint 
 special meetings for the purpose of examining seekers o'f 
 religion, and others, on the state of their souls, Resolved, 
 That each preacher appoint and attend such meetings occa- 
 sionally, where and when he may think proper." At this 
 session Mr. Knight was Moderator and Mr. Pearce Clerk. 
 
 The Fall session of 1826 was held at Hopewell, in White 
 county. Present : McLin, Hamilton, Knight, Barber and 
 Ferguson. Absent : Berry, Campbell, (three times,) Dodds 
 and Pearce. Elders, three. Representatives, four. Mr. 
 Barber was Moderator and Mr. Ferguson Clerk. Rev. 
 David M. Kirkpatrick, a member of McGee Presbytery, 
 being present, took part as an advisory member. David 
 Miller, John Crawford, Anthony L. Hamilton and Samuel 
 Abbott were received as candidates, James S. Smith and 
 Ezekiel Porter, for "satisfactory evidence, were dismissed 
 from under the care of Presbytery.'" 
 
 The Spring session of Presbytery met at Mt. Gilead meet- 
 ing house, in Bond county, first Monday in March, 1827. 
 Present : McLin, Berry, Hamilton, Knight, Campbell, Barber 
 and Dodds. Absent: Pearce and Ferguson. Represen- 
 tatives, seven. Mr. Berry was Moderator and Mr. Dodds 
 Clerk. At this session John Porter was set apart to the whole 
 work of the ministry. Mr. Berry preached the ordination 
 sermon, Mr. McLin presided, and Mr. Hamilton gave the 
 charge. Stringent rules were adopted to secure prompt at- 
 tendance of the members, licentiates and candidates. 
 
 The Fall session of Presbytery, 1827, met at Hopewell. 
 Present : McLin, Berry, Pearce, Knight, Campbell, Barber 
 and Dodds. Absent: Ferguson and Porter. Representa- 
 tives, ten. Mr. Campbell was Moderator and Mr. Barber 
 Clerk. At this meeting Rev. David Foster united by letter 
 from Nashville Presbytery. 
 
 Here we find the "free, full and open confession" of 
 Woods M. Hamilton to that sin that cast a shadow over all
 
 40 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 his after-life ; and, although he showed signs of deep contri- 
 tion, he was suspended from exercising any of the functions 
 of the ministry until the Spring session of 1829. This la- 
 mentable occurrence was a severe stroke upon the Presbytery 
 and infant denomination, and yet we scarcely know which to 
 admire more the honesty and frankness of the confession, 
 or the promptness and unanimity with which the Presbytery 
 acted in the case. It was one of those unfortunate mis-steps 
 that good men are sometimes betrayed into making. And 
 yet Mr. Hamilton, in a great measure perhaps as much so 
 as any person on earth could do outlived the evil influence 
 of this great wrong, and restored himself to the complete 
 confidence of all who knew him, both in and out of the 
 Church. It was my privilege to have a personal acquaintance 
 with Mr. Hamilton during the later years of his life. I 
 never knew a more humble, unobtrusive, devoted man than 
 he. Never was there anything, not even a shadow, upon his 
 character, covering over a long life, but this one single mis- 
 take. He lived and died beloved by all who knew him, and 
 by none more than those who knew him best. There were 
 few, if any, who would have accused him of this wrong, had 
 he not made it known by his own confession. Let, therefore, 
 the broad mantle of charity cover this fault ; and let him who 
 would be censorious take care lest he also be tempted. 
 
 Jesse Pearce was appointed Stated Clerk instead of .Woods 
 M. Hamilton. Mr. Abbott was discontinued as a candidate, 
 because he had joined the "Arian Church." Neill Johnson 
 was licensed to preach the gospel. Archibald Johnson and 
 Samuel Parr were received as candidates for the ministry. 
 Here we find for the first time an attempt at something like a 
 pastoral relation between a congregation and a minister. We 
 quote the action in full. All ministerial work, prior to this, 
 had been done by the simple "order" of Presbytery, which 
 was to ride and preach so many months in such a "district." 
 We find these "districts" increasing as we advance. There
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 4! 
 
 were Shoal Creek, Shawneetown, Golconda, and Sangamon 
 districts, and even the old preachers were all, up to this time, 
 riding and preaching on these and like districts. Messrs. 
 McLin, Berry, Pearce and others all engaged in this traveling 
 work alike with the younger men. But to the record referred 
 to : "Whereas, Gilbert Dodds, a member of this Presbytery, 
 and William Drennon, a representative from Sugar Creek 
 society, have made known to this Presbytery that there is a 
 contract existing between said parties, which binds the said 
 Dodds to spend one-half of his time in the discharge of his 
 duties as their regular pastor, and that the society is bound, 
 on her part, to liberally contribute for the support of said 
 Dodds, during the existence of said contract. Resolved, 
 Therefore, that this Presbytery do hereby approve of said 
 contract." 
 
 The Spring session of 1828 convened at William Drennon's, 
 Sugar Creek church, Sangamon county, April 8th, 1828. 
 Present : Foster, Berry, Pearce, Knight, Ferguson, Camp- 
 bell, Dodds, Barber and Porter. Absent: McLin. Six 
 representatives present. Mr. Dodds was chosen Moderator, 
 and Mr. Campbell Clerk. 
 
 At this session Rev. Nimrod G. Ferguson was suspended 
 from all the functions of the ministry. The crime being 
 "buying, removing and selling a person of color, contrary to 
 the laws and statutes of this State in that case made and pro- 
 vided." The proof was "his own voluntary confession." 
 
 William McCord, a licentiate from Anderson Presbytery, 
 was received by letter and his name enrolled. We find the 
 following rather strange question acted upon by the Pres- 
 bytery, which had been referred to them by the Synod : 
 "Whether licentiates and candidates should have a seat in 
 Presbytery and Synod." The answer was, as we would ex- 
 pect : "The Presbytery were unanimously of the opinion that 
 they should not." Contracts were sanctioned for Rev. John 
 Porter to become pastor of Bethel society for one-half his
 
 42 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 time, and also between Rev. Thomas Campbell and the 
 Spring Creek church for a like proportion of his time as 
 pastor. Joseph Howard and Andrew Finley were received 
 as candidates for the ministry, and William Finley was 
 licensed to preach the gospel of Christ. 
 
 The Fall session was held at Shiloh church, in White 
 county, October pth, 1828. Present : Berry, Pearce, 
 Campbell, Barber, Dodds and Porter. Absent : Foster, 
 McLin and Knight. Eight representatives present. Mr. 
 Porter was Moderator and Mr. Dodds Clerk. William Davis 
 was licensed to preach the gospel. John Barber, Jr., was 
 received as a candidate from under the care of Anderson 
 Presbytery. Daniel Kinchalo was received as a candidate 
 for the ministry. 
 
 The Spring session of 1829 met at Bear Creek church, 
 April 1 4th. Present: McLin, Foster, Berry, Pearce, Camp- 
 bell and Barber. Absent : Knight, Dodds and Porter. Only 
 three representatives present. Mr. McLin was chosen 
 Moderator and Mr. Barber Clerk. An intermediate Presby- 
 tery had been held to license John Barber, Jr., but Mr. 
 Barber had conscientious scruples, and it was not done. 
 Benjamin Bruce, for intoxication, upon his own confession, 
 was suspended from preaching until the next Presbytery. 
 Nimrod G. Ferguson was "restored" to the functions of the 
 ministry. Marmaduke F. Ferguson, a licentiate, obtained a 
 letter of dismission and recommendation. 
 
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
 Here we find the-first intimation of the existence of the 
 General Assembly. The record is as follows: "David W. 
 McLin was appointed a commissioner to the General Assem- 
 bly, which is to be held in Princeton, Caldwell count}', 
 Kentucky, on the third Tuesday in May next." The elder 
 delegate was to be appointed as follows : "Ordered that the 
 church sessions of Hope-well and Village societies appoint an
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 43 
 
 elder from one of said societies to the General Assembly, as 
 mentioned in the last section." 
 
 It apperars that this was to be the last session in which this 
 noble band of brethren were all to meet together. Cumber- 
 land Synod, at its last meeting, had passed an order for the 
 division of Illinois Presbytery, and the formation of a new 
 Presbytery to embrace the more northern part of the State. 
 It was to be called Sangamon, and "John M. Berry, David 
 Foster, Thomas Campbell, Gilbert Dodds and John Porter 
 were appointed to constitute the new Presbytery." It also 
 took the following licentiates under its jurisdiction : John M. 
 Cameron, William McCord and Neill Johnson, together with 
 Pay ton Mitchell and Archibald Johnson, candidates. John 
 Barber, Jr., was licensed to preach the gospel. 
 
 The Fall session of 1829 was held atWestShiloh meeting- 
 house, Jefferson county, August 27th. Present: McLin, 
 Knight and Barber. Absent : Pearce and Ferguson. Rep- 
 resentatives two. Mr. Knight was Moderator, and Mr. 
 Barber Clerk. Mr. McLin reported that he had attended the 
 meeting of the General Assembly, and that an elder had also 
 gone with him as by appointment. Benjamin Bruce was 
 restored to the privilege of preaching again. John Barber, 
 Jr., Benjamin Bruce and William Davis were ordered to ride 
 and preach. Ministers and church sessions were directed to 
 examine the children of the church on the shorter catechism. 
 The Spring session of 1830 met at Hopewell. Present : 
 McLin, Pearce, Barber and Knight. Absent : Ferguson. 
 Four representatives present. Mr. Pearce was Moderator, 
 and Mr. Knight Clerk. John Barber was the commissioner 
 to the next General Assembly. James S. Alexander was set 
 apart to the whole work of the ministry. The ordination 
 sermon by John Barber, Mr. McLin giving the charge, while 
 Mr. Pearce presided. 
 
 The Fall session of 1830 was held in Madison county, on 
 the i4th day of October, at the house of Washington Parki-
 
 44 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 son. Present: Pearce, Knight and Barber. Absent: Fer- 
 guson, McLin and Alexander. Four representatives present. 
 Andrew Finley was discontinued as a candidate. 
 
 We must now, for a while, take our leave of this old Presby- 
 tery. It is much to be regretted, that up to this time we find 
 no report of the state of religion, nor table of statistics. We 
 cannot tell the number of congregations, only as they are 
 represented in the Presbytery. The sessions seem to have 
 been lengthy, but their records are brief. They have had their 
 drawbacks their dark hours, as we have seen and yet we 
 can see they have made commendable progress. Already a 
 swarm has gone off to work in another hive, which will be as 
 vigorous as the old one from whence they came. In passing 
 over these pages we are impressed with the following con- 
 clusions : 
 
 First, The church in Illinois was planted by the fathers 
 of the church some of them from old Cumberland Presby- 
 tery. , 
 
 Second, They were humble, devoted, self-sacrificing, poor 
 men men who took delight in serving God, not for mere 
 worldly gain, but to please the Master and advance his 
 cause. Hundreds of miles had to be traversed in attending 
 their camp-meetings and the judicatories of the church, over 
 a sparsely settled country, often with no roads but the open 
 prairies, across swollen streams which had neither ferries nor 
 bridges, and in a country regarded as unusually sickly ; and 
 at that period it was not misrepresented in this particular. 
 Often did they swim the streams to get to their appointments. 
 Sometimes a canoe or raft extemporized would bear them over 
 the rushing flood, while their horses were swimming at its side. 
 For the first ten years they had but a few church-houses, 
 preaching mostly in the log cabins of the people, and in the 
 groves of timber in Summertime. What church-houses they 
 had were only small log houses : a brick or a frame building 
 in those days was out of the question.
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 43 
 
 Third, They were men of prayer every day, constant 
 prayer, full of faith and the Holy Ghost. They did not court 
 or expect worldly applause. They did not attempt to please 
 the people in their sermons. They were plain, pointed, un- 
 varnished. They did not labor for, or expect much reward 
 from men they evidently looked for their reward from 
 above, and they were not disappointed. Here let me say a 
 word in vindication of the fathers of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church, from the charge often made against them for 
 shunning the towns and inclining only to labor among the 
 country people. It was an absolute necessity on their part. 
 They could not do better. Nor, in point of fact, did they 
 shun the towns. They often preached in them, and were 
 well received, but their facilities, at that day, for building up 
 churches in the towns were so slender, that nine times out of 
 ten it was labor lost if attempted ; hence they preferred to labor 
 in the country, where their congregations could live without 
 such close oversight and constant care as a congregation in 
 town would require. As the denomination has grown older 
 and stronger, they have been occupying the towns success- 
 fully for years past, and now have flourishing congregations 
 in many towns and smaller cities, and in a few of the great 
 centers of influence and commerce. Let it not be put down 
 as cowardice or conscious personal weakness on their part, 
 that they did not rush into the towns and labor. What were 
 the use of a general, with a mere handful of men, undertak- 
 ing to storm Gibraltar? He would show his folly, not his 
 wisdom, by the undertaking. Let him wait until his forces 
 are so strengthened that he can successfully make the assault. 
 Nor does it prove anything against his cause that he may, 
 for the time being, be somewhat chary of such fortified 
 places. 
 
 Fourth, It will appear that Cumberland Presbyterian 
 preachers first came to Illinois at the earnest invitation of 
 members of the Church who had moved into the country.
 
 44 FIRST PRESBYTERY, ETC. 
 
 Here we find a noble example worthy of imitation by all those 
 similarly situated. Instead of plunging out into the wilder- 
 ness and leaving the church and its blessings behind them, or 
 satisfying themselves with uniting with some other Church, 
 these Cumberland Presbyterian pioneers carried their Church 
 with them, in their hearts, and they never rested until they 
 wrote back, and their earnest pleadings brought the Barnetts, 
 Johnson, McLin, Berry and others to the new country with 
 the story of the cross, which fell from their lips with such 
 power and zeal, that soon they had church privileges in their 
 new homes as they had had in their old ones. More, they 
 were thus the means, under God, of the salvation of thousands 
 upon thousands of immortal souls, many of which, in all 
 human probability, never would have been saved otherwise. 
 Mr. Paisley, who settled near Edwardsville, is a noted ex- 
 ample. He had abundant opportunity to have gone into the 
 "mother Church," under the specious plea now often made, 
 that there is "little difference" between us ; and, in so doing, 
 might have gone into comparative obscurity. But he wrote 
 an urgent letter to Rev. William Barnett, calling for help, and 
 he gave it to Rev. Finis Evving, who read it to his congrega- 
 tion in Kentucky, and they made up the means on the spot to 
 furnish Mr. Barnett ahorse to make the trip. He came, and 
 although there was much opposition and misrepresentation 
 from the "mother Church," yet they held a camp-meeting, at 
 which at least one soul was converted, and a train of in- 
 fluences started which resulted in the organization of the old 
 Bear Creek church, which is in successful operation to this 
 day, having been the mother of not less than eight other 
 tlourshing congregations, which are still in existence, sus- 
 taining the means of grace, having neat and comfortable 
 houses of worship, all out of debt, and a membership of four 
 to five hundred, while hundreds, who have found Christ 
 here, are in other lands, and hundreds more have gone up to 
 join the church triumphant,
 
 SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 
 
 REV. MR. BERRY HIS LABORS FIRST CONGREGATION ORGAN- 
 IZED IN THE SANGAMON COUNTRY OLD SUGAR 
 
 CREEK INTERESTING SCENE. 
 
 WE have already seen that Rev. Mr. McLin settled in 
 White county, in the southeastern part of the State, and that 
 Rev. Mr. Rice settled in what was Madison, but now Bond 
 count}', and Rev. Mr. Berry went up into the interior of the 
 State and settled near Springfield, the present capital. Thus 
 these three preachers organized three nucleuses 'around which 
 churches grew up, and an influence for good spread out in 
 all directions. The first congregation organized in this upper 
 country was, without much doubt, old Sugar Creek, which is 
 still in working order, and has an active, intelligent member- 
 ship. . Its house of worship stands about ten miles south of 
 the city of Springfield, and about five miles southeast of 
 Chatham. It is in a rich and thriving community of farmers. 
 
 Just when Mr. Berry first settled is unknown to the writer, 
 but we have already seen that Presbytery has met twice at 
 old Sugar Creek, so that, in point of time, its organization 
 was but little behind Hopewell and Bear Creek. 
 
 Mr. Knight says: "Rev. John M. Berry occupied the 
 northern extremity of our operations in the State. He being 
 an energetic and efficient minister, soon had quite a religious 
 interest in that section of country. * * The 
 
 Sangamon country was a very popular part of Illinois, and
 
 4 SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 
 
 emigrants from Kentucky and other States were attracted 
 there. * * * * But the attractions of the Sangamon 
 country not only drew some of our people, but also some of 
 our preachers from other States. Gilbert Dodds and Thomas 
 Campbell from Kentucky, I believe, were the first. They 
 were only licentiates when they came, and were both ordained 
 by Illinois Presbytery." 
 
 The wisdom of the selection of this part of the State, by 
 Mr. Berry and his compeers, as a home and field of labor, 
 could not be called in question by any who have ever traveled 
 over it. A more beautiful, fertile and well-improved country 
 would be hard to find on the continent. And it must be a 
 matter of gratitude to all true Cumberland Presbyterians, that 
 in this grand country, where Messrs. Berry, Dodds, Camp- 
 bell and others sowed the first seeds of the Church, Cumber- 
 land Presbyterians are strong and firmly rooted, having 
 numerous churches well established, and the general interests 
 of the church sustained, perhaps equal to any portion of our 
 entire Church territory. 
 
 SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 
 
 Having given a sample of the doings of the first Pres- 
 bytery organized, we pass on to introduce to the reader 
 to the organization of the second Presbytery in the State. 
 The Great Head of the Church had so blessed the labors 
 of the fathers Rev. Messrs. Berry, Dodds, Campbell and 
 others that several societies had been organized in San- 
 gamon and adjacent counties, and several ministers were 
 now wholly engaged within their bounds. The following 
 is the order of Synod for the organization of this Presby- 
 tery : 
 
 * 'Sangamon Presbytery met agreeable to an order of 
 Synod, (old Cumberland Synod,) viz: Resolved, That a 
 Presbytery be stricken off the Illinois Presbytery, bounded 
 as follows beginning at the mouth of the Illinos river, thence
 
 SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 47 
 
 up said river to the north line of town ten, thence with said 
 line east to the little Wabash, thence down said stream to 
 the south line of town seven, thence east with said line to the 
 State line, thence north so as to include all the bounds north 
 of the aforesaid lines, to be known by the name of Sangamon 
 Presbytery ; composed of the following members, viz : Rev. 
 Messrs. David Foster, John M. Berry, Thomas Campbell, 
 Gilbert Dodds and John Porter ; to meet at the house of 
 William Drennon, Sugar Creek, Sangamon county, State of 
 Illinois, on the 2oth of April, 1829, John M. Berry to be 
 Modarator, and in case of his failure, Thomas Campbell. 
 "HIRAM A. HUNTER, Moderator. 
 " RICHARD BEARD, Clerk." 
 
 This Moderator and Clerk are both still living, and are as 
 familiar to Cumberland Presbyterians as household words. 
 The former resides in the city of Louisville, Kentucky, the 
 latter in Lebanon, Tennessee. Father Drennon, at whose 
 house this Presbytery met, was still living a few years ago, 
 and the writer has more than once shared the hospitality of the 
 family. 
 
 The record goes on: "Sangamon Presbytery was opened 
 by a sermon delivered by the Rev. J. M. Berry, from Mark 
 xvi. 15. Constituted by prayer. The above named members, 
 appointed by Synod, were present, except John Porter, who 
 was absent. Elder Joseph Dodds, representatives John Ham- 
 ilton from Bethel, and Samuel Berry from Concord and Leba- 
 non societies. John M. Berry, having been appointed by the 
 last Synod first Moderator of this Presbytery, Gilbert Dodds 
 was chosen Clerk. John M. Cameron, William McCord 
 and Neill Johnson, licentiates, Pay ton Mitchell and Archibald 
 Johnson, candidates, produced a regular dismission from 
 the Illinois Presbytery, and they were therefore accordingly 
 received. Needham Roach, a licentiate, formerly under care 
 of the Nashville Presbytery, produced satisfactory testimony,
 
 48 SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 
 
 and thereby was received under the care of this Presbyter)*. 
 Payton Mitchell read a discourse from a text previously as- 
 signed him. Presbytery, after considering his case, thought 
 proper not to continue him as a candidate. Thomas Camp- 
 bell was chosen Stated Clerk for the Presbytery. Rev. David 
 Foster was appointed the commissioner to the General Assem- 
 bly, and furnished with suitable testimonials ; and in case of 
 his failure, Thomas Campbell. The societies of Concord and 
 Lebanon were appointed to furnish an elder as commissioner 
 to the General Assembly, and in case of their failure, Sugar 
 Creek society one. Whereas, Thomas Campbell and the 
 society of Spring Creek had previously entered into a con- 
 tract (viz. :) that he was to preach one-half his time to them, 
 and he giving satisfactory reasons to the Presbytery for wish- 
 ing the contract dissolved, the Presbytery did, therefore, 
 dissolve the contract. Gilbert Dodds and Sugar Creek 
 society having previously entered into a contract (viz.: ) that 
 lie was to preach to them one-fourth of his time, for which 
 they were to contribute something for his support, and they 
 failing on their part, the Presbytery do, therefore, dissolve 
 the said contract at his request. 
 
 " Resolved, That the Presbytery do hereby recommend to 
 the ordained preachers that they attend to examinations in the 
 different societies within their bounds, at least once a year. 
 
 "Whereas, It is impossible to supply the numerous calls in 
 neighborhoods with preaching, from the cramped circum- 
 stances of ministers in the bounds of the Presbytery ; Resol- 
 ved, That it be and is hereby recommended to the societies 
 and neighborhoods, destitute of preaching within the bounds 
 of Sangamon Presbyter}', that they unite and raise in each 
 neighborhood or society, so destitute, such funds as they are 
 able by voluntary contributions, place said funds in the hands 
 of a suitable person, chosen by the neighborhood or society, 
 to act as treasurer for them, whose duty it shall be to remu- 
 nerate those preachers that may be sent by Presbyter}- to
 
 SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 49 
 
 preach to them say $1.00 per day. By this means the 
 Presbytery can feel herself justifiable in sending such neigh- 
 borhoods and societies as good supplies as may be in her 
 power. Presbytery adjourned to meet at Lebanon meeting- 
 house, Sangamon county, State of Illinois, on the second 
 Tuesday of September next. Concluded with prayer. 
 
 "JOHN M. BERRY, Moderator. 
 "GILBERT DODDS, Clerk." 
 
 Thus we see the second Presbytery started on its way. 
 The men who composed it are all gone to their reward. Of 
 the licentiates present John M. Cameron and Neill Johnson 
 only remain, both quite old, the former more than four-score 
 years. Of the candidates, Archibald Johnson died in Kansas 
 a few years since, and it is believed that Mr. Mitchell has 
 been dead for many years. 
 
 Of the ministers who composed this Presbytery, Mr. 
 Berry and Mr. Dodd are all with whom the writer formed 
 any acquaintance. These latter continued to a good old age 
 useful and worthy. Suitable sketches of their lives will be 
 found in this volume in the proper place. The others had 
 fallen at their posts and had gone to their rewards before my 
 acquaintance in the State. It is to be greatly regretted that 
 neither in this Presbytery, nor that of Illinois, do we find any 
 list of the churches organized and under their care. It seems 
 astonishing how such an important item was omitted. We 
 see from the record that at the time of its organization, San- 
 gamon Presbytery had at least five congregations under her 
 care Sugar Creek, Spring Creek, Concord, Lebanon and 
 Bethel. Whether there were others it is impossible to tell 
 from the record. All these, with possibly one exception, 
 were in Sangamon county : for this county, at this period, 
 covered an immense territory. It is worthy of note that all 
 these societies are stilt in existence, with' good houses of 
 worship and the regular means of grace well sustained.
 
 5O SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 
 
 Thus, in six years, from three ministers, we find the little 
 band had multiplied to nine, and are divided into two Pres- 
 byteries. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAL MEETINGS. 
 
 We find the Fall Session of 1829 meeting at Lebanon, 
 promptly. All the members present. Sermon by Mr. Berry. 
 Neill Johnson was ordered to prepare for ordination at the 
 next session. After some other routine business, adjourned 
 to meet in the spring at Bethel meeting-house, in Morgan 
 county. At this session Mr. Dodds was Moderator, and Mr. 
 Campbell Clerk. 
 
 The Spring Session of 1830, on account of the church 
 being repaired, was held at the house of Needham Roach. 
 Sermon by Mr. Dodds. Four members present, one absent. 
 The order for the ordination of Neill Johnson was extended 
 until the next session. Archibald Johnson read a discourse 
 from a text previously assigned him, which was not sustained, 
 but another text was assigned. 
 
 The Fall Session of 1830 met September 2pth, in the school- 
 house near Robert Smith's, in Macon county. Sermon by 
 Mr. Campbell. They adjourned to meet next day at Mt. 
 Zion camp-ground ; and here we first find the name of Andrew 
 Wilson as representative from Mt. Zion congregation a 
 congregation which still stands as a noble monument of God's 
 grace, from which a whole bevy of congregations have gone 
 forth, she being the fruitful mother of nearly all the congrega- 
 tions now comprising Decatur Presbytery. Andrew Wilson 
 will be recognized at once as the father of three Cumberland 
 Presbyterian ministers Rev. T. B. Wilson, D.D., late of 
 Marshall, Texas ; Rev. James Wilson, who died while at 
 Cumberland College a few years ago ; and Rev. A. M. Wil- 
 son, now of Fredonia, Kansas. Mr. Wilson, the father, had 
 gone home to heaven before my acquaintance in the neighbor- 
 hood, (1853,) but his worthy companion "old Aunt Polly," 
 

 
 SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 5 I 
 
 as everybody called her was living, and remained to a good 
 old age, and went down to the grave as full of honors and the 
 love of the people as she was full of years. Never have I 
 known a more noble Christian mother than she. At this Pres- 
 bytery Neill Johnson was ordained. He preached his trial 
 sermon from I. Peter iii. 18. Mr. Campbell preached the 
 ordination sermon and Mr. Foster presided and gave the 
 charge. At this session, also, A. M. Wilson was received 
 as a candidate for the ministry. 
 
 The Spring Session of 1831 was held in the' school- 
 house in Concord congregation, April yth. Sermon by Mr. 
 Campbell. All the members present but Mr. Porter. Rev. 
 James McDowell presented a letter from Logan Presbytery, 
 and was thereby received as a member. The following 
 pungent resolution passed by this session, we copy entire : 
 "Resolved^ That this Presbytery require the punctual attend- 
 ance of each of her members at every subsequent meeting of 
 Missouri Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church ; and 
 each delinquent member shall render his excuse or excuses at 
 the next meeting of Presbytery, and if his excuse or excuses 
 are not judged providential, he shall be dealt with according 
 'to the magnitude of his offense, by rebuking and exhorting 
 him to punctual attendance thereafter ; and if such delinquent 
 member or members shall continue negligent or obstinate, 
 the Presbytery shall proceed to suspend or Depose him 
 or them as contumacious." From another resolution we 
 learn that there were nine congregations on the roll, viz : 
 Sugar Creek, Bethel, Spring Creek, Mackinaw, Jacksonville, 
 Mount Zion, Lebanon, Mount Pleasant and Rock Creek. 
 When these congregations were organized, or by whom, and 
 when they were taken under the care of the Presbytery, the 
 records show absolutely nothing. Illinois Presbytery had 
 practiced this way, and the younger sister seems to love to 
 walk in the ways of the older. We are reminded of the 
 story of the boy who carried the stone in one end of the
 
 52 SANGAMON PRESBYTERY. 
 
 bag and the grain in the other, because his father had done 
 so. At this session Archibald Johnson was licensed to 
 preach. 
 
 The Fall Session of 1831 was held at Stout's Grove, in 
 McLean county, Sept. 6th. Mr. Berry preached the opening 
 sermon. Isaac Hill, a licentiate formerly under the care of 
 Indiana Presbytery, and James M. Gladen, also a licentirte 
 from Lebanon Presbytery, were received under the care of 
 this Presbytery. John McCabe was received as a candidate 
 for the ministry. We find the following, which shows very 
 clearly how these brethren stood on these questions: "Or- 
 dered that each ordained and licentiate minister of this Pres- 
 bytery use his influence to advance the interest of Sabbath- 
 Schools, Bible, Tract and Temperance societies, and report 
 at the next Presbytery. 
 
 We have followed the history of this young Presbytery, 
 and find her growing stronger every session stretching ou.t 
 her arms in all directions. We must now turn attention to 
 the third Presbytery in the series, taking them in the order 
 of their organization. Before leaving this Presbytery we 
 wish to say, that we very much desired a more comprehensive 
 and detailed statement of its history under the pen of the 
 Stated Clerk, but failed to secure it. No Presbytery in the 
 State has had more useful and prominent men connected with 
 it ; nor has any one acted a more conspicuous part in our 
 Church affairs in Illinois. Identified with her history are the 
 names of Berry, Campbell, Porter, Foster, the Johnsons, 
 McDonells, Lansden, Reynolds, Dodds, Cameron, Potter, 
 Haynes, the Lowrances, the Whites, the Bells, and many other 
 noble men, who would be ornaments to any Church. We are 
 happy to record that her present list of ministers are able and 
 efficient men, and are doing a good work for Christ and man- 
 kind. In their proper place will be found sketches of several 
 of her first ministers,
 
 <> 
 
 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY VANDALIA. 
 
 THE third Presbytery organized was Vandalia, of which 
 the writer is at present a member. It was formed originally 
 out of the southern part of Sangamon and the northern part 
 of Illinois. To her territory belongs the ground where the 
 first Presbytery in the State was organized. Old Bear Creek 
 church is hers, and on her ground also lies sleeping the two 
 Barbers, Foster, the two Knights, and Father McAdow. 
 
 The following succinct but very satisfactory and reliable 
 historical synopsis of this Presbytery has been prepared by 
 our present worthy Stated Clerk, Rev. W. W. M. Barber, 
 esteemed pastor of the church at Windsor, 111., which we are 
 happy to give to our readers, verbatim: 
 
 "Vandalia Presbytery was constituted by order of Missouri 
 Synod, October, 1831, while in session at New Lebanon 
 church, Cooper county, Missouri. A resolution was passed, 
 signed by Samuel King, as Moderator, and John R. Browne, 
 Clerk, authorizing the formation of a Presbytery out of a 
 part of Sangamon and a part of Illinois Presbyteries, to be 
 known as Vandalia Presbytery of the C. P. Church. The 
 name taken from what was then the capital of the State, and 
 I suppose the largest town in the bounds of the Presbytery. 
 In compliance with said resolution, on the first Tuesday in 
 April, 1832, at the house of Rev. Joel Knight, in Montgomery 
 county, Illinois, Revs. David Foster, John Barber, Sr., Joel 
 Knight and John Barber, Jr., and Robert Paisley, a represen-
 
 54 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 
 
 tative from Bear Creek congregation, met and constituted the 
 Presbytery, Rev. David Foster acting as Moderator by ap- 
 pointment of Synod, who was also elected Moderator, and 
 John Barber, Jr., was elected Clerk, and he was also elected 
 Stated Clerk. John Knight, A. F. Trousdale, Wm. Finley, 
 Joseph Howard and Isaac Hill were licentiates, and Mathew 
 Gillespie, Samuel Parr and John McKabe were candidates, 
 under the care of the Presbytery at her first session. 
 
 "There is no record of the congregations at the first, 
 nor several of the following meetings, so we are left with- 
 out that valuable part of our history. The meeting was then 
 composed, so far as we can gather from the records, of four 
 ordained mjnisters, one representative, five licentiates and 
 three candidates. Rev. David Foster was the first commis- 
 sioner to the General Assembly, with John Barber, Sr., as 
 alternate, and William Young, of New Lebanon, on the part 
 of the eldership, with Mathew Gillespie, of Mt. Pisgah, as 
 alternate. At the first session, Isaac Baird was received -as a 
 candidate for the ministry. Some resolutions were passed 
 upon the subject of education, thus identifying Vandalia 
 Presbytery, in her incipiency, with the great subject of edu- 
 cation, atid also agreeing to co-operate with the American 
 Sunday-school Union. 
 
 "The second meeting was at the house of Hugh Watson, 
 Bond county, October, 1832. All the ordained ministers 
 were present. There is no record showing that the candi- 
 dates and licentiates were present, but during the business 
 William Finley, John Knight and Isaac Hill were ordered to 
 prepare for ordination at next meeting. Vhere were present 
 as representatives from congregations : James Law, Mt. 
 Zion, Michael Walker, Bear Creek, William Young, New 
 Lebanon, and Henry S. Grove, Big Creek. Since the consti- 
 tution, this Presbytery has held (1876) about ninety-live 
 sessions. There are records of ninety in the hands of the 
 Stated Clerk, and it is supposed that there are five missing
 
 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 55 
 
 records. Some of these meetings have been called, or special 
 meetings. In the forty-four years of the Presbytery's ex- 
 istence, there has been but two or three failures to meet on 
 adjournment. 
 
 "The bounds are not so large as when first organized, and 
 I am not prepared to give the boundary lines. Other Presby- 
 teries have portions of territory that once belonged to Vanda- 
 lia. There were three candidates under the care of Presbytery 
 at the beginning ; there have been fifty-seven received since, 
 making sixty in all. The following named persons are re- 
 ported to have been received as candidates for the ministry 
 since the first : Isaac Baird, Joseph Barlow, James Ashmore, 
 
 E. Alexander, J. M. Bone, Ministre Jones, Joseph Gorden, 
 John W. Woods, Levi Beals, Edwin Owens, Robert Hill, A. 
 M. Wilson, E. Canaday, A. N. Ashmore, Thomas M. Davis, 
 T. M. Finley, W. B. Rice, T. K. Hedges, Thomas Gwinn, 
 William Blizzard, Jefferson Fruit, T. A, Bone, W. C. Harris, 
 J. S. Freeland, James M. Wooseley, A. W. Smith, C. G. 
 Keown, E. R. Rodgers, J. C. Crowder, J. M. Lackey, A. 
 Keown, E. S. Carr, C. T. Linxwiler, W. W. M. Barber, 
 W. L. Bankson, J. A. Slaughter, J. B. Hunter, W. B. Poland, 
 Isaac Chapman, J. A. Foulks, R. B. Grossman, T. W. 
 McDavid, D. H. Starkey, A. W. Hawkins, G. F. Berry, S. 
 
 F. Minor, A. B. McDavid, Lafayette Starkey, Bruce Buley 
 W. J. McDavid, F. H. Culley, A. C. Biddle, I. N. Petlijohn, 
 R. H. McHenry, G. L. Hunter. Of this number twenty- 
 two have been discontinued as candidates ; two are reported 
 as having died, viz., Ministre Jones and E. S. Carr : two have 
 been dismissed by letter, viz., J. B. Hunter, who entered the 
 ministry in the U. B. Church, and A. W. Hawkins, mission- 
 ary (1876) at Logansport, Indiana. It is likely that some of 
 the brethren have been stricken off by action of Synod in the 
 change of Presbyterial lines, or have been transferred in some 
 other way, as some are in the ministry who have been received 
 as candidates by Vandalia Presbytery, of whom the records
 
 56 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 
 
 give no account, or it may be the missing records give the ac- 
 count. 
 
 "There have been, according to record, twenty-two licen- 
 sures performed, and the reception of eleven from other 
 Presbyteries and other denominations. The following are 
 the names of those licensed by the Presbytery : Joseph Bar- 
 low, James Ashmore, J. M. Bone, Joseph Gorden, John W. 
 Woods, A. M. Williams, T. A. Bone, C. G. Keown, E. R. 
 Rodgers, A. Keown, C. T. Linxwiler, W. W. M. Barber, W. 
 L. Bankson, W B. Poland, T. W. McDavid, D. H. Starkey, 
 S. F. Minor, A. B. McDavid, W. J. McDavid, F. H. Culley, 
 G. L. Hunter, R. H. McHenry. Those received as licenti- 
 ates : Cyrus Haynes, Ben. Smith, T. K. Hedges, S. Y. An- 
 derson, R. Knoll, Geo. O'Bannon,S. H. Haire, A. Ripetoe, 
 X. G. McDowell, A. J. Huffman, C. L. McLain. These 
 all make thirty-three licentiates having been under the care 
 of the Presbytery. There may have been more, as the record 
 is defective. Of these, the licensure of the five following 
 named have been revoked, viz : A. Keown, S. Y. Anderson, 
 S. H. Haire, S. F. Minor, A. J. Huffman ; and the license 
 of A. F. Trousdale, after a long conflict, was also revoked. 
 Six licentiates have been dismissed regularly, either by letter 
 or by change of Presbyterial lines, viz : J. W. Woods, A. 
 W. Smith, C. G. Keown, X. G. McDowell, D. H. Starkey, 
 C. L. McLain. 
 
 * 'There have been twenty-five ordinations by the Presby- 
 tery, viz : John Knight, Wm. Finley, Isaac Hill, J. Barlow, 
 James Ashmore, J. M. Bone, Joseph Gorden, C. Haynes, A. 
 M. Wilson, Ben. A- Smith, T. K. Hedges, T. A. Bone, E. 
 R. Rodgers. R. Knoll, W. W. M. Barker, C. T. Linxwiler, 
 W. L. Bankson, W. B. Poland, A. Rippetoe, Geo. O'Ban- 
 nan, T. W. McDavid, F. H. Culley, A. B. McDavid, W r . J. 
 McDavid, G. L. Hunter; and there have been thirty-five 
 ordained ministers received, viz : David Campbell, Neill 
 Johnson, Daniel Traughber, S. McAdow, (by resolution,
 
 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY 57 
 
 October 4th, 1838,) N. Carper, (colored,) T. W. B. Dawson. 
 J. S. Freeland, W. T. Hutchison, C. G. Keown, T. H. 
 Hardwick, S. W. Goodnight, J. B. Logan, W. W. Brown, 
 John Bennet, W. Turner, R. J. P. Lemmon, G. W. Montgom- 
 ery, A. Finley, A. Johnson, W. P. Baker, L. P. Deatherage, 
 (three times, twice by letter and once by action of Central 
 Illinois Synod,) C. Y. Hudson, A. F. Hutchison, E. Canaday, 
 J. C. Hamilton, J, R. Brown, D. R. Bell, J. M. Galloway, S. 
 B. Redman, J. W. Blosser, (twice,) H. Melville J. T. May, J. 
 H. Hendrick, E. B. Crisman, R. J. Beard; which number 
 added to those ordained by Presbytery, and the four original 
 members, would make sixty-four ordained ministers who have 
 had a connection with the Presbytery. Of this number, one 
 (T. W. B. Dawson) has been solemnly deposed from the 
 ministry, who, I think, entered the ministry in the Baptist 
 denomination. Five have been dropped from the roll, viz : 
 R. Knoll, who was received from the Lutheran church and 
 returned to the same ; Joseph Barlow, who was for a while 
 suspended, then restored, and finally discontinued as a 
 minister he is now dead ; E. Canaday was received on a 
 letter from the Rushville Presbytery, and afterward his name 
 was dropped from the roll of ordained ministers, at his 
 request where he is or what he is doing I do not know ; F. 
 H. Culley, who is now suspended from the ministry ; and S. 
 B. Redman, having entered the United Brethren church 
 before asking a dismission from Presbytery, his name was 
 1 stricken from the roll. Thirty have been regularly dismissed, 
 either by letter or change of Presbyterial lines. Twelve have 
 died, the first of which was Rev. David Foster, who died 
 and was buried near Silver creek, Madison count}', in the 
 bounds of the Presbytery, and upon his tomb is the following 
 inscription : 'In memory of the Rev. David Foster, who was 
 born May 4th, 1780, joined Presbytery in 1804, was licensed 
 in 1805, was ordained in 1810, and died May 9th, 1833, aged 
 53 years and 5 days. He was a good man, Acts xi. 2^.'
 
 58 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 
 
 "On the I4th of June, 1833, the Presbytery met in regular 
 session, and on the I5th passed the following resolutions : 
 
 "WHEREAS, It has pleased the Great Head of the Church 
 to remove, by death, the Rev. David Foster from the councils 
 and labors of this Presbytery ; 
 
 "Resolved, That she feels deeply afflicted at the loss oc- 
 casioned by his death. 
 
 "Resolved, That this Presbytery cherish, with unfeigned 
 respect, the memory of the Rev. David Foster ; and 
 
 "Resolved, Further, that the Stated Clerk of the Presby- 
 tery forward for publication in the Revivalist a copy of the 
 foregoing preamble and resolutions, together with an account 
 of the life of the Rev. David Foster, so far as he may be 
 able to collect facts on that subject. 
 
 "The second minister that died was Rev. John Barber, Jr., 
 and upon the records of the Presbytery in October 4th, 1838, 
 we find the following : 'The Presbytery would desire to feel 
 submissive to the dispensation of divine providence, while 
 with strange sensation she records her inexpressable loss in 
 the removal of one of her beloved members by death, name- 
 ly, Bro. John Barber, Jr., who departed this life on the 22d 
 day of April, 1838.' His remains are buried in Madison 
 county, south of Edwardsville. 
 
 "The third that died was Rev. N. Carper, (colored,) and 
 upon the records of October 2d, 1840, we have this : 
 
 "WHEREAS, It has pleased the Great Head of the Church 
 to remove Bro. Nicholas Carper by death, from his earthly 
 labors, Presbytery would hereby express her high sense of 
 the moral worth of Bro. Carper and the loss she has sustained 
 in the removal of such an esteemed fellow-laborer. 
 
 "The fourth that died was old Father McAdow, and in re- 
 gard to his death, we have the following: 'It has been the 
 privilege of this Presbytery, for a number of years past, to 
 have the name of Samuel McAdow, one of their fathers, 
 which first organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
 
 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 59 
 
 enrolled among her ministers, and although he had been laid 
 aside, by infirmity, from active labors for a time, yet, in his 
 meekness, humility and other personal virtues, as also his 
 agreeable manners, his instructive counsels, his ardent, unaf- 
 fected piety, had endeared him to us all, who knew him 
 personally ; riot only as one of the Fathers of the Church, but 
 also a great support to the Church' ; and, 
 
 "WHEREAS, It has pleased the sovereign disposer of all 
 events to remove said Father McAdowon the 3Othof March, 
 184^ , from the scenes of his toils and labors below to his rest 
 above, and as the name of McAdow must be embalmed in 
 every heart of all real Cumberland Presbyterians to the 
 members of Vandalia Presbytery is that name particularly 
 dear, and his removal is felt as a severe loss, and the chasm 
 there made will doubtless continue long unfilled. 
 
 "Resolved, Therefore, that this Presbytery hereby ex- 
 presses her high sense of Father McAdow's real worth, and 
 deeply sympathizes with the bereaved friends of the deceased, 
 and appoint that a funeral sermon be preached on the oc- 
 casion (to-morrow) by Bro. John Barber, a member of this 
 Presbytery. 
 
 "He is buried at Mt. Gilead, Bond county, Illinois. The 
 above action was had by Presbytery at Mt. Gilead, April 6th, 
 1844. 
 
 "There is something a little peculiar in the reception of 
 Father McAdow, to which I wish to call attention. The re- 
 cord is found in the minutes of October, 1838. 
 
 "WHEREAS, Father McAdow is living in the bounds of 
 Vandalia Presbytery, and has not, for a number of years, 
 been noticed on her records, nor on any other records of the 
 church : and, 
 
 "WHEREAS, It is truly desirable that he should not go out 
 of notice, but that he should be kept in view, so that his name 
 and his character may be properly appreciated, and his death, 
 when it shall take place, duly and officially recorded.
 
 6O THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 
 
 "Resolved, Therefore, that his name be placed on the re- 
 cords of this Presbytery as a member, who is always to be 
 present or absent at discretion. 
 
 "The fifth minister, belonging to the Presbytery, that died, 
 was Rev. T. A. Bone ; but as the records of the Presbytery 
 are lost from the fall of 1852 to the fall of 1853 two sessions 
 missing here the record of his death does not appear on 
 the minutes. He is buried at Marrowbone, Illinois. 
 
 "The sixth minister that died was Rev. John Barber, Sr., 
 who died September ipth, 1855. On the record of the 
 Presbytery, while in session at Union Grove, Bond county, 
 Illinois, April 25th, 1856, the following was adopted: 
 
 'WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God to remove from 
 our midst, since the last session of the Presbytery, Rev. John 
 Barber, the oldest and one of the most zealous, active, devoted 
 and efficient ministers of this Presbytery a man universally 
 beloved for his public and private virtues, and one of the 
 pioneers of the C. P. Church in Southern Illinois ; therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That while we bow with submission to this 
 afflictive dispensation of Divine providence, we would recog- 
 nize the warning voice of God to be also ready to render up 
 our account with joy and not with regret. 
 
 i**- Resolved, That we sincerely lament the loss of Father 
 Barber, not only as a pastor and evangelist, but also in the 
 councils of the Church. 
 
 ''i- Resolved, That we sincerely sympathize with his bereaved 
 family, numerous friends and the whole Church in this Pres- 
 bytery, in this sad bereavement. 
 
 "Resolved, That as a suitable testimony of our esteem for 
 his memory, that Rev. Joel Knight be requested to preach 
 his funeral on nexth Sabbath, at n o'clock, at this place. 
 
 "Resolved, That we will strive, as a Presbytery, to emu- 
 late his high example in his self-sacriiicing labors to win souls 
 to Christ, and to build up the Redeemer's kingdom and like 
 him endeavor to die at our post.
 
 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY 6 1 
 
 "Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolutions 
 be presented to the family of the deceased, and also a copy be 
 sent to the Missouri Cumberland Presbyterian for publication. 
 
 "He was buried at old Bear Creek, Montgomery county, 
 Illinois. 
 
 "The seventh minister that died was Rev. J. S. Freeland, 
 and on the fall minutes, October 2Oth, 1856, is the following: 
 
 "WHEREAS, It has pleased the Great Head of the Church 
 to call from his labors on earth to his reward in heaven, our 
 beloved brother and fellow-laborer, Rev. J. S. Freeland, 
 during our last session of Presbytery; therefore, 
 
 " Resolved, That we feel greatly afflicted and stricken under 
 this sore bereavement, being called suddenly to part with one 
 in the bloom of youth and in the midst of great usefulness. 
 
 "Resolved, That we, as ministers and people, feel solemnly 
 admonished by this dispensation of divine providence, to live 
 more faithful and devoted to our work, that we may be found 
 standing at our post when the messenger comes. 
 
 "Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with his bereaved 
 family, his afflicted congregations to whom he preached, and 
 also with the pupils and friends of Sullivan Academy, over 
 which he has presided with such acceptance, in this sudden 
 bereavement. 
 
 "Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented 
 to the widow of the deceased, and the Missouri Cumberland 
 Presbyterian for publication, and that a committee be ap- 
 pointed to prepare a suitable obituary of the deceased for 
 publication in the church papers. 
 
 "He is buried at Marrowbone, Illinois. 
 
 "The eighth minister that died was Rev. John Knight, and 
 on the minutes of the session of October 3d, 1859, we h ave 
 the following : 
 
 "WHEREAS, Almighty God, in his allwise providence, has 
 removed from our midst, by death, since our last session, 
 from his labors on earth to his reward on high, Rev. John
 
 62 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 
 
 Knight, one of our oldest and most experienced members ; 
 therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That in the death of Bro. Knight, the Presby- 
 tery has lost one of its most exemplary and devoted members, 
 a safe and wise counsellor, and the Church a zealous, spiritual 
 and able minister of the gospel. 
 
 "Resolved, That we will endeavor to imitate his example 
 of humility and devotedness to the service of God, and his 
 self-sacrificing spirit. 
 
 "Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the aged widow 
 and bereaved family, also with the Union congregation. 
 
 "He is buried in Fayette county, Illinois. 
 
 "The ninth minister that died was Rev. W. T. Hutchison, 
 and on the records of Presbytery, at her session at Bethalto, 
 March, 1868, we have the following: 
 
 "Resolved, ist. That in the death of Bro. Hutchison, this 
 Presbytery has lost one of her oldest ministers, one who was 
 a safe counsellor and a useful preacher, an affectionate father 
 and husband, and citizen beloved by all who knew him. 
 
 "2d. That we view, in this providence of God, a loud 
 warning to all the remaining members of this body, 'to be up 
 and doing while it is day, for the time is at hand when no 
 man can work longer.' 
 
 "3d. That Rev. J. M. Bone be requested to prepare a 
 suitable obituary for publication, embodying the most promi- 
 nent events connected with his life, and that his funeral be 
 preached at the next regular session of this Presbytery, by 
 some one appointed by the Moderator. 
 
 "4th. That having been assured 'that his name is entered 
 in the Lamb's book of life, and he has entered into the full 
 enjoyment of fellowship of the saints in light,' that his 
 name, therefore, be discontinued on the roll. 
 
 "Rev. Joel Knight preached his funeral at the next session 
 of the Presbytery. He is buried at Union Grove, Bond 
 county, Illinois,
 
 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 63 
 
 "The tenth and eleventh ministers that died were Revs. A. 
 Finley and W. B. Poland, and on the records of Presbytery 
 while in session at Windsor, April, 1870, we have the follow- 
 ing action : 
 
 "We feel that in the death of these brethren, especially 
 Bro. Poland, our Heavenly Father has sent us an admonition 
 that we should heed as a Presbytery, 'that our time is short 
 and uncertain, and what we do in the great vineyard of the 
 Master must be done quickly;' therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That in the loss of these beloved ministers this 
 Presbytery recognizes the voice of the Great Head of the 
 Church, calling us to greater diligence, humility and consecra- 
 tion to our work, 'for the night cometh when no man can work. ' 
 
 "Resolved, That in the death of these, especially in that 
 of Bro. Poland, cut down as it were in the midst of useful- 
 ness, this Presbytery has lost worthy laborers and counsellors, 
 and the congregations to whom they ministered have lost suc- 
 cessful under-shepherds. 
 
 " Resolved, That we, as a Presbytery, do deeply sympathize 
 with the bereaved congregations and relatives of the deceased, 
 and pray that the Great Head of the Church may overrule 
 this deep affliction for the good of Presbytery and the glory 
 of his name. 
 
 "Rev. A. Finley is buried at Mt. Pleasant, and W. B. 
 Poland at McDavid's Point. Both places are in Montgomery 
 county, Illinois. 
 
 "The twelfth minister that died was Rev. Joel Knight, and 
 on the minutes of Presbytery, in session March 27th, 1876, 
 Sullivan, Illinois, we have the following: 
 
 "Rev. Joel Knight, the oldest member of this Presbytery, 
 and one of the oldest ministers, at his death, in our denomi- 
 nation, departed this life at his residence in Donnellson, Illi- 
 nois, February 2d, 1876, wanting 20 days of being 80 years 
 of age. 
 
 "Resolved, That in the departure of Father Knight, this
 
 64 THE THIRD PRESBYTERV. 
 
 Presbytery has lost a safe and wise counsellor, his family a 
 kind husband and father, the country a worthy citizen, and 
 the Church at large a faithful and efficient minister of the 
 gospel for more than fifty years. 
 
 "Resolved 2d, That in the character of Father Knight, we 
 have an example of diligence in the discharge of duty, 
 punctuality in all his engagements, and a long life which are 
 unblemished and consecrated, worthy of our highest emula- 
 tion, and is a treasure left to the Church far more precious 
 than gold and rubies. 
 
 "Resolved jd, That we deeply sympathize with his be 
 reaved wife, children, and relatives, and the entire Church, in 
 this bereavement, and we will receive his sudden and unex- 
 pected departure as an admonition to us all, 'to be fathful to 
 our vows, and to stand with our loins girt about and our 
 lamps burning and ready for the coming of the bridegroom.' 
 
 "Resolved 4-th, That in memory of the worth of our de- 
 parted father in Israel, his funeral be preached at next meeting 
 of Presbytery, and that a copy of this action be given to the 
 widow of the deceased, also that it be published in the papers 
 of the Church. 
 
 "Rev. J. B. Logan preached his funeral. He is buried 
 near Old Union, Montgomery county, Illinois. 
 
 "There are now r sixteen ordained ministers belonging to 
 the Presbytery, and one licentiate. Of the congregations I 
 cannot speak definitely. There are, according to my infor- 
 mation, the names of fifty-three some names have been 
 changed, and are counted twice. The following are the 
 names: Bear Creek, New Lebanon, Mt. Pisgah, Mt. Zion, 
 Big Creek, Mt. Carmel, Bethany, Beaver Creek, Mt. Gilead, 
 Silver Creek, Smyrna, Hickory Creek, South Fork, Good 
 Prospect, Union, Locust Grove, Zion, New Salem, New 
 Providence, Shiloh, Columbia, Goshen, Brushy Hill, Antioch, 
 Pleasant Prairie, Omphghent, East Fork, Taylorville, Sulli- 
 van, Lake Fork, Pleasant Grove, Mt. Pleasant, Union Grove,
 
 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 65 
 
 Alton, Hurricane, Windsor, McDavid's Point, Ml. Tabor, 
 Irving, Maple Grove, Walshville, Bethalto, Friendship, 
 Audubon, Hillsboro, Palmer, Morrisonville, Upper Alton, 
 Union, American Bottom, Pleasant Mound, New Hope, Witt 
 andMattoon. Some are extinct, others are in the bounds of 
 other Presbyteries, so that there are but twenty-two now on 
 the roll." 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 I will add a few words of my own. In the Spring of 1854, 
 I first visited this Presbytery. It was then in session with old 
 Bear Creek Church. The Presbytery was held in a school- 
 house, the old church being occupied with preaching. It 
 was a frame, with split boards nailed on as weather-boarding. 
 It would seat, perhaps, 150 persons. This was nearly as good 
 a church-house as was in the bounds anywhere. There were 
 not more than five or six houses of worship all of this qual- 
 ity, or no better in the Presbytery. All told they were not 
 worth $10,000 perhaps not the half of that sum. There 
 were at this session, the two Knights, Hutchison, Barlow, 
 Barber, Sr., Wilson, J. M. Bone, Hodges, Freelin and Hard- 
 wick. I was a visitor. Great harmony prevailed. But I 
 was much impressed with the labor done and pay received. 
 All these ministers did not receive $500 per annum for their 
 services, and now that the field had been occupied, after a 
 fashion, for thirty years, very little had been done of a. per- 
 manent character. There was not a self-sustaining congre- 
 gation in the Presbytery. I do not remember that there was in 
 the entire State. By self-sustaining, I mean one that sustained 
 the means of grace regularly in their midst. All these 
 preachers had to depend upon their own physical or mental 
 labor, outside the ministry, for a part of their support. 
 These were devoted, but poor men, and had to struggle 
 against fearful difficulties to preach at all ; but they preached 
 on as best they could, and God was with them. One reason 
 why churches were not permanent, was the fluctuating nature
 
 66 THE THIRD PRESBYTERY. 
 
 of society. People were moving here and there, and per- 
 manent no where, The country, as already stated, was 
 regarded as very sickly, and many who came out from the 
 older states, would get discouraged and go back, or move 
 some where else. Congregations did not increase in num- 
 bers much indeed it was hard work to hold their own. 
 These congregations, with perhaps two exceptions, were all 
 in the country. But a better day soon began to dawn upon 
 us. Railroads entered and crossed the state in all direc- 
 tions ; enterprise started up as by magic everywhere ; leagues 
 of unimproved lands were bought up and became valuable ; 
 towns and cities began to grow ; where before had been 
 nought but the howling wilderness, now the entire country 
 is inclosed in cultivated farms or in pastures. The health has 
 greatly improved, society become settled, and Illinois has be- 
 come the great "Prairie State," only third in the Union in 
 point of resources, while our young Presbytery has lengthened 
 her cords and strengthened her stakes, until she has twenty 
 good church-houses, twelve of them being in towns or vil- 
 lages, and these houses are estimated at $67,860 in the 
 statistical table of the General Assembly for 1877. 
 
 All these ministers named are gone to heaven, except two, 
 Revs. J. M. Bone and A. M. Wilson, who are laboring in the 
 State of Kansas. The churches still continue to sustain an 
 annual drain by an immense emigration to the farther west, 
 but still our numbers are not diminished but gradually in- 
 creased. The same table puts down the amount paid last 
 year, to pastors and supplies, at $4,542 full nine times the 
 amount received twenty-four years ago. We have at least 
 eight ministers who are wholly consecrated to their work, and 
 follow no secular calling. The full statistics will be found in 
 their proper place. Meanwhile we record this great advance 
 with profound gratitude to God, especially as this is the 
 ground first largely occupied by Cumberland Presbyterians, 
 and where the first Presbytery in the State was organized.
 
 *ofr 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST SYNOD. 
 
 HAVING given a brief history of the organization of the 
 first three Presbyteries in the State, we come now to notice 
 the organization of the first Synod. From a small handfull 
 the Church has grown and multiplied until she has become 
 a power in the land. At the General Assembly at Nashville, 
 Tennessee, May lyth, 1832, the following was passed : 
 
 "jRcsolvcd, That a new Synod be constituted consisting of 
 the following Presbyteries Illinois, Sangamon, St. Louis and 
 Vandalia, (now belonging to the Missouri Synod,) to be called 
 the Illinois Synod ; and that the first meeting be held at Mount 
 Gilead meeting-house, Bond county, Illinois, on the second 
 Thursday in October, 1832, and that the Rev. David Foster 
 be the first Moderator, and in case of his absence, the Rev. 
 David McLin. 
 
 "SAMUEL KING, Moderator. 
 
 "A copy test: WM. H. BINGHAM, Clerk." 
 
 The Synod met according to this appointment, at Mount 
 Gilead church. Sermon by Mr. Foster from Mark xvi. 20. 
 Mr. Foster was elected Moderator, and John R. Browne, 
 Clerk. 
 
 Members present: From Illinois Presbytery, Revs. D. W. 
 McLin and Jas. S. Alexander; from Sangamon Presbytery, 
 Revs. Gilbert Dodds, James McDowell and Thos. Campbell ; 
 from Vandalia Presbytery, Revs. David Foster, Joel Knight, 
 John Barber, Sr., and John Barber, Jr. ; from St. Louis Pres- 
 bytery, Revs. Frank M, Braly, John Linville, Robert
 
 68 ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST SYNOD. 
 
 Rennick and John R. Browne. Absentees : There were two 
 from Illinois Presbytery, from Sangamon Presbytery three, 
 from St. Louis Presbytery three. 
 
 There were elders present: From Illinois Presbytery, 
 Law r rence Rollefson ; from Vandalia Presbytery, James Low, 
 Lewis Kear, James Johnston and Robert W. Denny ; from 
 Sangamon Presbytery, John Hamilton ; from St. Louis Pres- 
 bytery, Dr. John Young, Benjamin Bennett, James Kincnid 
 and George W. Rennick. 
 
 Ministers thirteen, and elders ten, making a Synod of 
 twenty-three in all. This ought to shame our present Synod- 
 ical meetings, for many times we do not have this number 
 now, when there are_/br times the number of ministers and 
 churches to be represented in Synod. The report on the 
 State of Religion at this meeting, was in substance, that 
 within the last year there had been "4 congregations 
 organized, adult baptisms 86, infant baptisms 102, pro- 
 fessions of religion 443, accessions 219. The temperance 
 cause and Sunday-schools are prospering, and the opposi- 
 tion to them is giving way among the people under your 
 influence. Harmony and brotherly love seem to abound 
 among your churches generally." We submit if that is not 
 an encouraging report, under the circumstances. We take 
 great pleasure in quoting, verbatim, the following action of 
 this first Synod. It shows the animus of the people repre- 
 sented there : 
 
 SUNDAY-SCHOOLS . 
 
 "Resolved, Unanimously, as the opinion of this Synod, 
 that Sabbath-schools are an excellent means for the religious 
 instruction and salvation of the rising generation, and as 
 especially adapted to the necessities of the Valley of the 
 Mississippi ; and further, that this Synod approve of the 
 'American Sunday-school Union' as a great concentration of 
 benevolent wisdom and energy for the accomplishment of the
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST SYNOD. 69 
 
 work of Sabbath-schools, and this Synod hereby recommends 
 the general measures of that Union, while conducted on the 
 broad and liberal principles which have hitherto distinguished 
 their progress, to the ardent prayers and active co-operation 
 of the different churches under her care." 
 
 OTHER BENEVOLENT OBJECTS. 
 
 They further recommended to the Presbyteries and churches 
 under their care, "that they use all diligence in promoting and 
 encouraging the establishment of Bible, Tract and Temper- 
 ance societies within the sphere of their influence, as a means 
 in the hand of God, of christianizing, and as a consequence 
 of moralizing, the human family." Minutes pp. 4, 5. 
 
 Thus we see how the denomination stood on these great 
 questions, of the Bible Society, Tract Society, Sunday- 
 schools and Temperance, when taking their ecclesiastical 
 position before the \\Qr\Aforty years ago. No denomination 
 of Christians in the land have been more uniform and positive 
 in their testimony on these questions than have Cumberland 
 Presbyterians. 
 
 The second session of Synod was held at Pisgah meeting- 
 house, St. Louis county, Missouri, October, lyth, 1833. 
 Prior to this meeting Rev. David Foster, the Moderator, had 
 been called to his final home. A sketch of his life will be 
 found at the proper place in this work. He was in the State 
 about six years, but he did a great and good work before he 
 fell. Rev. John M. Berry preached the opening sermon from 
 Acts xx. 28. Ministers present: John M. Berry, John Bar- 
 ber, Sr., John Barber, Jr., Joel Knight, William Finley, 
 Robert Rennick, John Linville, John R. Browne, Jacob 
 Clark, Frank M. Braly, John H. Garvin. Rev. John Barber, 
 Sr., was Moderator, and Frank M Braly, Clerk. 
 
 As an evidence of the divine approval upon their work, we 
 quote from their report on the state of religion, that during 
 the past year there had been in the bounds of the Synod, and
 
 7O ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST SYNOD. 
 
 under the ministrations of her ministers, "760 conversions, 
 147 adult baptisms, 119 infant baptisms, accessions to the 
 Church 324, and one Presbytery (Illinois) did not report her 
 accessions and four new congregations." 
 
 RUSHVILLE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 At the meeting of Synod in Sugar Creek church, Sangamon 
 county, Illinois, October 2ist, 1835, we ^ n ^ tne following 
 action recorded minutes, pp. 16, 17 : 
 
 "Rcsolv-ed, That a Presbytery be stricken off the Sanga- 
 mon Presbytery, to be composed of the following ministers, 
 John M. Berry, Benjamin Conley, James M. Stockton and 
 Cyrus Haynes, to be known by the name of Rushville Pres- 
 bytery then comes the boundaries, which we deem not 
 important to insert said Presbytery to hold its first meeting 
 at Rushville, on the second Thursday in March, 1836, John 
 M. Berry to be its first Moderator, and in case of his failure, 
 Benjamin Conley." 
 
 At this meeting of Synod, Rev. Neill Johnson was Moder- 
 ator, and Cyrus Haynes Clerk. Thus the fourth Presbytery 
 comes into being, and is started on its way to do good. It is 
 scarcely needful to say that it is still in existence, doing good 
 work for the Master ; being, perhaps, better manned with able 
 and efficient ministers, than at any former period. 
 
 MACKINAW PRESBYTERY. 
 
 Just one year from the passage of the order originating 
 Rushville Presbytery, we find the Synod in session at Rush- 
 ville, Illinois, October 2oth, 1836, at which time and place 
 the following resolution prevailed Minutes p. 19: 
 
 " Resolved, That a new Presbyter}' be stricken from San- 
 gamon Presbytery, to be composed of the following members, 
 Neill Johnson, James McDowell. James E. Davis and Archi- 
 bald Johnson. * * * * That Neill Johnson be the 
 first Moderater, and in case of his failure, James McDowell.
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST SYNOD. Jl 
 
 Thus the fifth daughter came into being, namcfcss so far 
 as the record is concerned. It is recorded on the next session 
 of the Synod as Mackinaw Presbytery, and its being not thus 
 recorded in the resolution we suppose to be an omission in 
 the transcribing clerk. 
 
 FOSTER PRESBYTERY. 
 
 At the meeting of the Synod at Mount Carmel meeting- 
 house, Montgomery county, Illinois, October i2th, 1837, 
 Foster Presbytery was originated by the following action, 
 found on minutes, page 22. 
 
 "On motion, resolved that a new Presbytery, to be known 
 by the name of Foster Presbytery, be stricken off from Van- 
 dalia Presbytery, to be constituted 
 
 by the following members, Brothers Isaac Hill, David Camp- 
 bell and James Ashmore ; and that Brother William Finley 
 be attached to said Presbytery until such time as she shall 
 have strength to do without him ; and that all the licentiates 
 and candidates, in said bounds, be under the care of said 
 Presbytery, and that said Presbytery hold its first session on 
 Thursday before the first Sabbath in April, 1838, in Char- 
 leston, Coles county, Illinois: and that Brother William 
 Finley be the first Moderator, and in case of his absence, 
 Brother Isaac Hill." 
 
 After the meeting of Synod in 1834, we ^ nc ^ no more r c~ 
 cord of St. Louis Presbytery, and we presume she had been 
 stricken off by the action of the Assembly, in 1835, an< ^ 
 joined to Missouri Synod. At the meeting of the General 
 Assembly, in 1838, Sangamon Synod was organized by 
 striking off Rushville, Sangamon and Mackinaw Presbyteries, 
 leaving Illinois, Vandalia and Foster comprising the Synod 
 of Illinois.
 
 SANGAMON SYNOD. 
 
 
 
 THIS was the second Synod founded in the State. The 
 population, especially in the middle and more northern 
 counties, had rapidly increased, and the distance over which 
 members of Synod had to travel from the extreme bounds of 
 their territory, was such that it was deemed advisable to ask 
 the General Assembly to divide Illinois Synod, and organize 
 a new Synod out of the northern part of her territory. The 
 Stated Clerk, Rev. W. S. Campbell, D.D., has kindly fur- 
 nished us the following copy of the organization of the new 
 Synod, which will tell its own story : 
 
 "Sangamon (alias Mehaca) Synod of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, met in Rushville, Illinois, October 
 i8th, 1838, agreeably to the order of the General Assembly 
 requiring its constitution. Brother John M. Berry, being 
 present, presided. The Synod was constituted by prayer. 
 The following members were present : From Sangamon 
 Presbytery, John M. Berry, Thomas Campbell, with his 
 elder, Richard Matthews ; absent, Gilbert Dodds, Benjamin 
 Conley, Abner W. Lansden and George W. Reynolds. From 
 Rushville Presbyter)*, Abner McDowell, with his elder Mi- 
 caiah Warren ; Peter Downey, with his elder Joel Hargrove ; 
 Cyrus Haynes, with his elder John L. Ewing : absent, Sam- 
 uel B. F. Caldvvell and James M. Stockton. From Macki- 
 naw Presbytery, James McDowell, with his elder Archy 
 Bryant ; James E. Davis, with his elder John Dickey : 
 absent, Neill Johnson, Archibald Johnson and R. D. Taylor.
 
 SANGAMON SYNOD. 73 
 
 Bro. John Berry was chosen Moderator, and Cyrus Haymes 
 Clerk. 
 
 "On motion, the Synod proceeded to the election of Stated 
 Clerk, whereupon Cyrus Haynes was chosen Stated Clerk 
 of this Synod." 
 
 It will thus be seen that this Synod has been in existence 
 thirty-nine years. It was constituted with thirteen members 
 present, six of them elders. It occupies about the same ter- 
 ritory still, and comprises the same Presbyteries she did then. 
 There is no finer farming country on the globe, perhaps, than 
 is occupied by this Synod. For ten or fifteen years after its 
 organization, the churches in this Synod seemed to gain more 
 rapidly in numbers than did those of the Synod of Illinois. 
 But after the slavery question began to be a constant bone 
 of contention, the emigration from the older parts of the 
 Church ceased almost entirely to come to Illinois, and turned 
 into Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. What did come into 
 this State, lodged, for the most part, in the counties more 
 southern ; and the membership, being yearly decreased by 
 many removals and deaths, Sangamon Synod for another 
 period of ten or fifteen years did not gain much in member- 
 ship. But since the close of the war and the amicable set- 
 tlement of the questions connected with it, and especially 
 since the establishment and successful operation of Lincoln 
 University, which is within the bounds of this Synod, the 
 churches have advanced in membership and all the elements 
 of progress. Indeed, in the darkest period of the Church, 
 in this Synod, even when small progress was being made in 
 additions to the membership, there was substantial progress 
 all the time, in building church-houses, neat and comfort- 
 able. Cumberland Presbyterians have church-houses in the 
 following towns among others : Girard, Auburn, Lincoln, 
 Atlanta, Gibson, Tallula, Greenview, Virginia, LeRoy, 
 Abingdon, and others not remembered. 
 
 It will be seen that this Synod had, at its organization, only
 
 74 SANGAMON SYNOD. 
 
 sixteen ministers, all told. All of these have gone lo their 
 long homes but two, Rev. Neill Johnson, of McMinnville, 
 Oregon, and Rev. Geo. W. Reynolds, of Carrollton, Illinois. 
 These brethren are both "old and well stricken in years," 
 and will soon join their fellow-laborers on the other happy 
 shore. This Synod has now on its roll fifty -three ordained 
 ministers and eleven probationers. The county which con- 
 tains the largest number of churches and members is 
 Menard. It is doubtful whether any denomination has a 
 stronger hold in this county than Cumberland Presbyterians. 
 In this Synod, as well as the other two, it is to be regretted 
 that a portion of the ministry are almost wholly secularized. 
 They have their farms and cultivate them as other people do, 
 therefore the churches are not well trained under their min- 
 istry ; and, in our judgment, never can be trained to regular 
 systematic work, while the chief time of the pastor or supply 
 is engaged with his own secular affairs. We are met with the 
 oft repeated reply, "that the churches do not sustain the min- 
 istry, and this secular work is a necessity''' We are not sure 
 of this. It was necessity thirty years ago. but we do not 
 believe there is any necessity now for a secularized ministry 
 in as old and well-furnished country as Illinois. After a 
 country gets able to support the gospel, for ministers to keep 
 on supporting themselves on the farm, is like a man keeping 
 on with his torch-light after the sun has risen. The time 
 is upon us when this way of living ought not to be tolerated by 
 the Presbyteries in the old and established portions of the 
 Church. No Church can advance and make progress with 
 such a ministry, however talented, and learned, and able 
 otherwise they may be. Their time, attention and abilities 
 must be given to the Church and not to their farms. A consc- 
 cratcd ministry is what we, as a Church, need above all other 
 things. If all the one hundred and thirtv-three ordained min- 
 
 O * 
 
 isters, now in the State, were every day devoted to the work 
 of the ministry, our numbers would be doubled in three years
 
 SANGAMON SYNOD. 75 
 
 or less, and perhaps our financial resources also. The 
 churches are much to blame, we know, but all of the cen- 
 sure does not belong to them. There are ministers among 
 us who have never thrown themselves on the Church for a 
 year and tested the matter of a support. They really do not 
 know whether they can be sustained of the gospel or not. 
 But progress has been made, even in this matter, and we ex- 
 pect greater advancement still. 
 
 DECATUR PRESBYTERY. 
 
 We are very glad to submit to the reader the following in- 
 teresting summan' of the organization and work of this 
 Presbytery from the pen of the Stated Clerk, Rev. N. M. 
 Baker. It is full and interesting, and will supercede much 
 being added by the writer. 
 
 " At a meeting of the Sangamon Synod of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, October, 1858, the following resolution 
 was adopted : 
 
 "WHEREAS, Certain ministers and churches in the bounds 
 of Sangamon and Mackinaw Presbyteries, collectively and 
 mutually pray that Sangamon Synod cut off all that part of 
 Sangamon Presbytery being and lying north and east of the 
 south fork of Sangamon River ; thence from the mouth of the 
 Sangamon River to the rock ford of Salt Creek ; thence with 
 said creek to the third principal meridian ; thence to the 
 northwest corner of Macon county ; thence east to the Foster 
 Presbytery ; thence with the line of Illinois Synod to the 
 place of beginning ; and constitute the same as a Presbytery 
 to be known as the Decatur Presbytery of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. Therefore, 
 
 "Resolved, That this Synod grant the prayer of said min- 
 isters and churches, and that the ordained ministers, viz : D. 
 Traughber, J. C. Smith, J. B. Lowrance, G. W. Kinsolving 
 and John Bennett, together with all the licentiates, candidates 
 and churches under their care in said bounds be and they are
 
 76 SAN (JAM ON SYNOD. 
 
 hereby constituted u Presbytery, to be known as the Decatur 
 Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to hold its 
 first session at Mt. Zion, Macon county, 111., on Thursday 
 next preceding the second Sabbath in April, A. D. 1859, at 
 7 o'clock P. M., and that Rev. D. Traughber be the first 
 Moderator, or in case of his absence, that the Rev. G. W. 
 Kinsolving act as Moderator. 
 
 ''The first meeting of the Presbytery was held at Mt. 
 Zion, according to the above order. All the ordained minis- 
 ters were present. The licentiates in the bounds of the 
 Presbytery, when first formed, were A. W. Smith, John R. 
 Smith and Thomas Montgomery. W. P. Smith was also re- 
 ceived from the Methodist Church as a licentiate, either at 
 the first or second session the records do not show which. 
 The candidates were M. Dillow, W. P. Baker and N. M. 
 Baker ; and Bro. W. C. Russell was received as a candidate 
 at the first session on a letter of recommendation from Penn- 
 sylvania Presbytery. Since the organization of the Pres- 
 bytery it has never failed to meet on its own adjournment 
 twice a year. It has had one called session and two adjourned 
 sessions. It has received as candidates for the ministry twelve 
 persons ten by experience, viz : J. B. Dickey. T. L. Davis, 
 James Galford, M. K. Demotte, John Elder, J. N. Shelton, 
 John Berg, A. K. Bone, James A. Bone, J. M. Moore ; and 
 two by letter, namely, J. B. Hunter and William Sprouse. 
 Of these J. B. Hunter, William Sprouse, T. L. Davis and 
 John Berg were discontinued, and James Galford dismissed 
 by letter. 
 
 "There have been nine persons licensed to preach, name- 
 ly, M. Dillow, W. P. Baker, N. M. Baker, W. C. Russell, j. 
 B. Dickey, M. K. Demotte, J. W. Elder, J. N. Shelton and 
 A. K. Bone. Of these, W. C. Russell was dismissed by 
 letter, and J. B. Dickey died while a licentiate. A. W. 
 Smith, who was a licentiate at the organization, also died 
 without being advanced farther,
 
 SANGAMON SYNOD. 77 
 
 "There have been nine persons ordained by the Presby- 
 tery, namely, W. P. Smith, John R. Smith, Thomas Mont- 
 gomery, W. P. Baker, N. M. Baker. M. Dillow, T. G. 
 Stansberry, M. K. Demotte and John Elder. T. G. Stans- 
 berry was a licentiate when he united with the Presbytery by 
 letter. 
 
 "There were live ordained ministers in the Presbytery at 
 its organization. Nine have been added by ordination, as we 
 have just seen, and fifteen by letter and one by a change in 
 Presbyterial lines* making thirty in all, namely, D. Traughber, 
 J. C. Smith, G. W. Kinsolving, J. B. Lowrance, John Ben- 
 nett (original members), W. P. Smith, John R. Smith, 
 Thomas Montgomery, W. P. Baker, N. M. Baker, M. Dil- 
 low, T. G. Stansberry, M. K. Demotte, John Elder (by 
 ordination), C. Y. Hudson (by a change in lines), and by 
 letter J. D. Cowan, A. J. McGlumphy, William M. Taylor, 
 J. T. A. Henderson, R. G. Garden, *R. T. Marlow, J. B. 
 Lowrance, W. L. Bankson, D. R. Bell, James Ashmore, J. 
 M. Bone, H. W. Bryant, Jesse Beals, P. H. Crider and John 
 Crisman. Of this number sixteen have been dismissed by 
 letter, viz. : J. B. Lowrance (twice), G. W. Kinsolving, 
 John Bennett, J. T. A. Henderson, Wm. M. Taylor, R. T. 
 Marlow, Thomas Montgomery, W. P. Baker, A. J. Mc- 
 Glumphy, D. R. Bell, James Ashmore, T. G. Stansberry, 
 R. G. Garden, D. Traughber, J. M. Bone, and H. W. 
 Bryant. Rev. Jesse Beals was transferred to the Hill Pres- 
 bytery at its organization. Revs. J. R. Smith, J. D. Cowan, 
 W. P. Smith and J. C. Smith have died, and M. K. Demotte 
 has been deposed for immoral conduct. The whole number 
 appears to be thirty, but as Rev. J. B. Lowrance appears 
 both as an original member and as received by letter, it 
 makes the actual total membership twenty-nine. The pres- 
 ent roll of the Presbytery is : Ordained ministers, M. 
 Dillow, C. Y. Hudson, W. L. Bankson, P. H. Crider, John 
 Elder, John Crisman, and N. M. Baker : licentiates, J. N.
 
 7 SANGAMON SYNOD. 
 
 Shelton, A. K. Bone ; candidates, J. M. Moore and James A. 
 Bone. 
 
 "There are eleven organized churches now under the care 
 of the Presbytery, viz. : Mt. Zion, Bethany, New Hope, 
 Prairie Hall, Shady Grove, Bethlehem, Madison, Blue 
 Mound, North Fork, Friends Creek, and Dry Ridge. All 
 these congregations have church houses, except Blue Mound 
 and Dry Ridge. The Mt. Zion congregation was organized 
 by Rev. David Foster on the 24th of April, 1830 ; and the 
 first Sabbath-school in Macon county was organized here in 
 1831. The church now has about 175 members, and a 
 Sabbath-school of about 70. Bethlehem congregation was 
 organized in 1850 by Rev. J. C. Smith, from members be- 
 longing formerly to Mt. Zion and Mt. Carmel congregations. 
 At present it numbers about 100 members, with 60 in 
 Sabbath-school. North Fork was organized by Rev. J. C. 
 Smith in April, 1855, with fifty-four members, all but six of 
 whom had formerly been members at Mt. Zion. Present 
 membership, 52, with 66 in Sabbath-school. Pleasant Grove 
 was organized Oct. 16, 1870, by Rev. W. L. Bankson. 
 Present membership, 78 ; Sabbath-school. 40. New Hope 
 was organized July 2, 1871, by Rev. C. Y. Hudson. Pres- 
 ent membership, 117; Sabbath-school, 40." 
 
 EWING PRESBYTERY. 
 
 The following, from Rev. J. L. Riley, explains itself. We 
 are sorry not to have secured a more detailed history of this 
 large and flourishing Presbytery. 
 
 "Ewing Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church was formed by the action of the Illinois Synod in the 
 Fall of 1844. Rev. Jesse Pearce was appointed Moderator. 
 Its first meeting was held at Village, White county, 111., in 
 March, 1845. Its ministers were : Revs. Jesse Pearce, John 
 Porter, Richard Harris, John Crawford, Benjamin Bruce, 
 and Moses J. Pearce. Its congregations (several, at least,)
 
 SANGAMON SYNOD. 79 
 
 were among the first organized in the State. Its probationers 
 were : J. M. Miller, Thos. Joyner, John Brinkley, R. M. 
 Davis, J. A. Porter, Orison Melvin, A. R. Barlow, etc. E. 
 B. Pearce and the writer joined at this meeting. Revs. Jesse 
 Pearce and John Crawford, in particular, were among the 
 laborious itinerants in the early settlement of the country in 
 Southern Illinois. The other four were a little more secular- 
 ized, but, nevertheless, did much faithful work. Five of 
 them have finished their work and gone to their reward. 
 Rev. John Crawford still lives, and is able to do some 
 preaching and pastoral work. The Barnetts, McLin, and 
 their co-laborers, were instrumental, under God, in introduc- 
 ing Cumberlandism in Southern Illinois. Nearly all the early 
 preachers in this part of the State were probationers under 
 the care of the Anderson Presbytery, in Kentucky, before 
 the organization of the Illinois Presbytery. Rev. David 
 McLin organized the first congregation s in this part of the 
 State in 1819. I think their order was as follows : Hope- 
 well, White county ; Village, White county; New Pleasant, 
 Gallatin county ; and Union Ridge, White county. Village 
 held its first camp-meeting in the fall of 1819, and its last one 
 in 1869, making fifty camp-meetings on that consecrated 
 ground. It is estimated that fifteen hundred souls have 
 embraced religion there ; and that not less than twenty-five to 
 thirty of these have gone out from that place to preach the 
 unsearchable riches of Christ. 
 
 "There are, within the bounds of this Presbytery, some 
 thirteen ordained ministers, six or eight probationers, some- 
 thing over thirty congregations, and probably a membership 
 of fifteen or eighteen hundred. The sentiments and sympa- 
 thies of the public, within the operations of our people in this 
 Presbytery, are strongly with us ; and if there was more of 
 the spirit of consecration and co-operation upon the part of 
 both preachers and people, our cause might soon become 
 very strong."
 
 8O SANGAMON SYNOD. 
 
 PRESBYTERY. 
 
 This body was organized at the same time that Ewing 
 Presbytery was, by dividing the old Illinois Presbytery into 
 three. The action of Synod was had in 1844. Accordingly, 
 this Presbytery met on the first Thursday in April, 1845, at 
 Monmouth meeting-house. Rev. Felix G. Trousdale was to 
 be Moderator, and, in case of his absence, Rev. A. L. 
 Hamilton. The Presbytery seems to have been composed of 
 the following ministers: A. L. Hamilton, B. A. Smith, F. 
 G. Trousdale, Woods M. Hamilton, and Wm. Finley. Of 
 these we do not know of one now living. Certainly there 
 are none of them living in the bounds of this Presbyter}-. 
 All are gone. This Presbytery has churches in the following, 
 among other towns : Salem, Flora, Fairfield, luka, Albion, 
 and Kinmundy. It occupies important ground and has a 
 good membership. In our statistical report will be found 
 further definite information concerning this body. 
 
 RUSHVILLE PRESBYTERY. 
 
 The following brief sketch has been kindly furnished us by 
 Rev. J. D. Foster, the worthy Stated Clerk. It is very- 
 brief, but yet contains items of great interest about some of 
 the early ministers of this Presbytery which we have been 
 able to acquire nowhere else. While we could wish the 
 sketch was more nearly complete, yet we are compelled to 
 give it as the best we have been able to secure. 
 
 "Rushville Presbytery was organized March 10, 1836, in 
 the town of Rushville, Schuyler county, 111., by Revs. John 
 M. Berry, Benjamin Canby, James M. Stockton, and Cyrus 
 Haynes ; and elders John M. Barton, William Travers, and 
 Micaiah Warren. The principal actors were John M. Berry, 
 Cyrus Haynes, Abner McDowell, Peter Downey, John 
 Crawford, and Wm. C. McKamy. I know almost nothing 
 of them, having been a member of Presbyter}- but a few years. 
 
 "Cherry Grove Seminary was commenced as a high
 
 SANGAMON SYNOD. 8 1 
 
 school at a very early date, I think.- As early, perhaps, as 
 1840. Presbytery seems to have labored continuously to 
 make it a success up to the time it was given up as a school, 
 in 1866, to make a concentrated effort on Lincoln University. 
 
 "As to missions, there have been, it would seem, but two 
 Peoria and Macomb both of which are defunct. Having 
 started on the down-grade during the war, they struggled on 
 a few years and then died out. 
 
 "As to the old men, Cyrus Haynes, who lived for a 
 number of years in this place (Abingdon), and afterwards at 
 Cherry Grove, preached all over the Presbytery until the 
 year 1849, when he took his letter and, I am informed, 
 located in Iowa. About the time of the war he was in 
 Missouri awhile, and finally died out there about the year 
 1867 or 1868. Whatever else may be said of him, no one 
 can look over the minutes of the Presbytery during the thir- 
 teen years in which he was connected with it, and not feel 
 that he was an earnest, efficient minister. In his 'report' in 
 1848, he says that he has traveled on foot to reach his ap- 
 pointments about 200 miles. Besides being a preacher, he 
 was an able and successful teacher in the Seminary for a 
 number of years. 
 
 "John M. Berry, I doubt not, is known to you as a great 
 preacher, but he does not appear to have continued with the 
 Presbytery long. 
 
 "Abner McDowell seems to have been one of their best 
 preachers and most pious men. He died in 1845. He 
 seems to have lived at Rushville from about the time of the 
 organization till his death. In relation to his death the Pres- 
 bytery resolved, that they had been bereaved of one of iheir 
 most worthy, active, and much beloved members, one of 
 their wisest counsellors, and one who had endeared himself 
 to them 'by his uniform, upright and consistent conduct, as 
 well as by his burning zeal, his heavenly mindedness, and 
 deep-toned piety. All of these he exhibited not only by his
 
 82 SAXGAMON SYNOD. 
 
 fervent prayers, his pointed and glowing exhortations, his 
 instructive, powerful, and eloquent sermons, but also in his 
 daily walk and common deportment.' This is the view that 
 is almost universal among the older people as to this worthy 
 though somewhat obscure minister. 
 
 "Peter Downey was also one of the most able, devoted, 
 and efficient members. He came to the Presbytery about 
 1837 or T 838, and labored continuously and efficiently until 
 his death in the Spring of 1850. The Presbytery says of 
 him : | 'Bro. Downey was a good man, and full of the Holy 
 Ghost, having a burning'zeal for his Master's cause, and an 
 untiring energy devoted to the peace and prosperity of the 
 Church of God. * Your Committee have learned, 
 
 with great satisfaction, that Bro. Downey died in the peace 
 of God. He took his departure to the home of the blest at 
 the same house that your reverend bod}', at its last session, 
 was holding precious communion, in handling the broken 
 body and shed blood of the Son of God.' 
 
 "W. S. Campbell, D. D., joined Presbytery about 1844, 
 was licensed in 1845, and ordained in 1846. He has never 
 been connected with any other Presbytery. 
 
 "Rev. W. C. McKamy, now the oldest member of Pres- 
 bytery, has been a member almost ever since its organization."
 
 o> 
 
 CENTRAL ILLINOIS SYNOD. 
 
 THIS Synod was composed of two Presbyteries of Illinois 
 Synod and one of Sangamon, and occupies the central part 
 of the State. The General Assembly of 1859, at Evansville, 
 Ind., after a lengthy preamble, setting forth that the two 
 Synods occupied such a large territory that it was incon- 
 venient for the members to attend, adopted the following : 
 
 ^'Resolved, That the Presbyteries of Decatur, Vandalia, 
 and Foster, be, and they are hereby constituted a Synod, to 
 be known as Central Illinois Synod ; that it hold its first 
 session in the town of Sullivan, Moultrie county, 111., on 
 Thursday, at n o'clock, A. M., before the third Sabbath in 
 October, 1859 '> an( ^ tnat R CV - J- B. Logan be the first 
 Moderator, and, in case of his absence, Rev. Daniel 
 Traughber." 
 
 We regret to say that the records of this and several sub- 
 sequent sessions of Synod were destroyed in a fire, which 
 consumed the residence of the Stated Clerk some years since. 
 The writer remembers distinctly that the Synod met, accord- 
 ing to appointment, in the Cumberland Presbyterian church 
 at Sullivan. The opening sermon was preached by the 
 appointed Moderator, who presided until the Synod was 
 organized by the election of Rev. Daniel Traughber as 
 Moderator. The name of the temporary Clerk is forgotten, 
 but Rev. J. C. Smith was elected Stated Clerk. This
 
 84 CKNTRAL ILLINOIS SYNOD. 
 
 Synod, although the youngest in the State, has never failed 
 to meet and have a quorum for business. 
 
 In 1875 tne Foster Presbytery was divided, and the South- 
 ern portion, with certain congregations and ministers, was 
 henceforth to be called the Hill Presbytery, in honor of Rev. 
 Isaac Hill, one of the first and most useful of our ministers. 
 The St. Louis & Indianapolis railroad is the dividing line 
 between Foster and Hill Presbyteries. The latter Presbytery 
 is weak, but occupies an important country and is making 
 progress. The Church all over this Synod is in a good, 
 healthy state, with some local exceptions. Revs. J. W. 
 Woods, Jesse Beals, Thomas Bailiff, S. W. Goodknight, J. 
 Groves, R. C. Hill, Samuel Landrous, and Barnabas Lyman 
 comprise Hill Presbytery. Licentiate, David Hall. Many 
 of the old members of the Synod have finished their course 
 and gone home, others have moved away, and but few of 
 those remain who bore the burdens and heat of the day in 
 planting our standards in this country. Of those who 
 remain, we mention with a just pride Rev. James Ashmore. 
 Few men in the Church, taking into the account his oppor- 
 tunities, have done more to win souls to Jesus and build up 
 the Church than has this old veteran of the cross. He still 
 enjoys good health, although age and infirmities are gradually 
 creeping upon him. He preaches Christ still with much of 
 his youthful vim and energy, and with good success. Over 
 a large portion of this Synod the names of Ashmore, Knight, 
 and Traughber are household words in the churches. Knight 
 and Traughber have gone home, and Ashmore alone of the 
 three remains in his old territory, to preach the gospel to 
 dying men. Long may he yet be spared to blow the gospel 
 trumpet ! A brief sketch of these worthy brethren will be 
 found in another part of this work. 
 
 Central Illinois Svnod, from her organization, took bold 
 ground in favor of all the enterprises of the Church, and 
 expressed an unequivocal sympathy with all the great moral
 
 CENTRAL ILLINOIS SYNOD. 85 
 
 movements of the country and age. The writer believes 
 that no part of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in 
 proportion to numbers and ability, has done, or is now doing, 
 more for missions, education, Sabbath-schools, &c., than the 
 membership of this Synod. They are ever ready to respond 
 to any department of the work of the Church, when convinced 
 that the work proposed is of God and promises success. 
 They are harmonious in their plans and work, and occupy 
 an important portion of the State running across its entire 
 territory, from the Wabash to the Mississippi river. 
 
 The following are the. statistics of tftis Synod, as reported 
 at its session in Georgetown, Vermillion county, Oct., 1877 : 
 Ministers, 43 ; licentiates, 5 ; congregations, 62 ; elders, 203 ; 
 deacons, 67 ; additions for the year, 525 ; communicants, 
 3,706; persons in Sabbath-school, 2,734; total contributions 
 for the year, $17,161 ; value of church property, $127,160. 
 This is evidently under, rather than over, the true figures. 
 
 Since its organization in 1859 tne Church in this Synod 
 has more than doubled the value of its church property, and 
 largely increased the membership, while it is no exaggeration 
 to say that thousands of the membership have emigrated to 
 other countries. Their places could only be filled by new 
 recruits from the ranks of the enemy, there being but com- 
 paratively little emigration of membership from other parts 
 to this portion of Illinois. Churches are found in the cities 
 of Mattoon, Alton, Fairmount, Georgetown, Taylorville, and 
 many other towns and villages, and the membership will 
 compare favorably in point of intelligence and enterprise with 
 any people in the West. In the bounds of the Synod there 
 are fifty-four houses of worship, neat and comfortable, and 
 but few of them embarrassed bv debt.
 
 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES IN THE STATE 
 MT. PISGAH CONGREGATION, FOSTER PRESBYTERY. 
 
 The following is from the pen of Rev. H. J. VanDuyn : 
 "This congregation was organized by Rev. James Ash- 
 more in the house of Alexander McDonald, three and 
 one-half miles south-west of Georgetown, 111., March ist, 
 1840. The first ruling elders were Richard Swank, Alex. 
 McDonald, and Charles Canaday. The two former have 
 passed from labor to reward ; the latter is now a ruling elder 
 in Georgetown congregation 
 
 "For a period of about two years this congregation had no 
 regular place of worship. They met in each other's houses 
 and in school houses (though these were extremely scarce) 
 as opportunity afforded. The good Lord often met with 
 them, and many seasons of refreshing from his presence did 
 they enjoy. In the Summer or Fall of 1842 they built 
 themselves a house of worship on what was then known as 
 the old 'camp-ground,' located on the farm of Mr. McDonald 
 near where the church was organized. This was a hewn 
 log structure, and served admirably the purpose for which 
 it was designed. In it they had many precious revivals, and 
 the Lord added to their numbers many, very many such as 
 should be saved. The good results of the efforts here put 
 forth by that devoted band of faithful workers are being felt 
 and seen by the present rising generation, and doubtless will
 
 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 87 
 
 be felt and seen by many who are yet unborn. But time 
 only reveals, as it were, the shadow. Eternity alone can 
 and will sever the veil, and reveal all the good done here. 
 They continued to occupy this house until the Summer of 
 1854, when they built themselves a new and, for that day, 
 very commodious frame house, two miles west of George- 
 town, on one of the most beautiful sites in the State of 
 Illinois. This house was considered a great credit to the 
 congregation and to the community at large. The site was 
 the gift of ruling elders R. Swank and L. Long. The 
 congregation worshiped here, 'beneath their own vine and 
 fig tree,' through various degrees of prosperity and adversity, 
 until the Summer of 1876, when the old house, that had 
 served so good a purpose for twenty-two years, needing 
 repairs, it was decided to tear it down, build a new one on 
 the same site, and call it by the same name. The new 
 house is a beautiful edifice built in modern style, and speaks 
 well for our cause and people in this part of the country. 
 
 "The following ministers have furnished them with 'the 
 word' from the date of organization to the present time : 
 Rev. James Ashmore, from organization until March 8, 1869, 
 a period of 29 years; Rev. W. O. Smith, from March 10, 
 1869, until April 10, 1870 ; Rev. G. W. Jordan, from April 
 24, 1870, until Nov. 8, 1870; Rev. W. O. Smith again, 
 from Dec. 4, 1870, until Oct. 22, 1871. By order of Presby- 
 tery Rev. James Ashmore took charge again Oct. 24, 1871, 
 and continued one year, making in all 30 years that he had 
 preached to this congregation. Rev. H. H. Ashmore, a son 
 of James Ashmore, now took charge, and continued until 
 April i, 1876. A part of the time he had associated with 
 him Rev. Thomas Whitlock. Since April i, 1876, your 
 humble servant has had charge of the congregation, and is 
 now their pastor. 
 
 "Names of elders since organization : L. Long, Emanuel 
 Snider, Samuel Hinton, Richard Swank, Jr., J. S. Long,
 
 88 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 
 
 (now a licensed preacher), J. G. Thompson, and John L. 
 Jones (who was licensed to preach, but died during the 
 war). The first three of the above are the present 
 incumbents." 
 
 OLD BEAR CREEK CHURCH. 
 
 Rev. E. M. Johnson has kindly furnished the following 
 sketch of this organization : 
 
 "In the month of February or March, a few families from 
 the Church in Kentucky and Tennessee agreed to associate 
 themselves together, with a view to the organization of a 
 Cumberland Presbyterian church at some future time. This 
 was in response to a proposition made by Mr. Rice, and 
 took place at the house of Mr. William Robertson, a 
 Presbyterian, who lived about one and one-half 
 miles north of Greenville, Bond county. These are the 
 the names : Robert Paisley, Elizabeth Paisley, Jonathan 
 Berry, Polly Berry, William and Phenly Young. The date 
 of the permanent organization is not given in the old church 
 book, but the name, Bear Creek, was given to the church at 
 the organization or constitution of the first Presbytery in the 
 State, which took place at the house of John Kirkpatrick in 
 Montgomery county, May, 1823. 
 
 "The first elders were Robert Paisley, Jonathan Berry 
 and John Kirkpatrick. Mr. Paisley was from a church in 
 Christian county, Ky. ; Mr. Berry from Giles county, and 
 Mr. Kirkpatrick from Sugg's creek congregation, Williamson 
 county, Tenn. Joseph McAdams was ordained ruling elder 
 in this congregation in the fall of 1822 the first elder 
 ordained in the congregation. June 21, 1828, R. W. Denny 
 and Michael H. Walker, and May 9, 1830, Thomas Johnson, 
 were ordained. The present board of elders is five in 
 number. In all, this church has had twenty-live ruling 
 elders up to July, 1877. 
 
 "This church has had many acting deacons, but it has
 
 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 89 
 
 never had but five ordained deacons. Four of these are 
 now acting; the other (an old man) is not. 
 
 "The church has now about one hundred and fifty mem- 
 bers. Green P. Rice had charge of this church four years ; 
 Joel Knight for an unknown but a long time ; John Barber 
 supplied it frequently and for a long time ; A. M. Wilson 
 one year ; Joseph Gordon one year : T. K. Hedges one 
 year; J. M. Bone fourteen years ; B. H. Blackwell nearly 
 one year ; J. W. Blosser nearly six months ; D. R. Bell one 
 year, E. R. Rodgers a short time; J. H. Hendrick nearly 
 two years ; and the writer has been here nearly one year. 
 Some of the most influential churches in this country am 
 off-shoots of this congregation. We mention Maple Grove, 
 McDavid's Point, Pleasant Prairie, Goshen, and many 
 others. Many churches in the far West have found that 
 their best workers were from the membership of this church." 
 
 BETHANY CONGREGATION. 
 
 This interesting sketch was kindly furnished by ruling 
 elder J. F. Knight: 
 
 "In the year 1828 Bro. Andrew M. Bone, the father of 
 Rev. J. M. Bone, settled near Shelbyville, Shelby county, 
 111. Shelbyville at that time had but one log cabin for a 
 store house. Rev. David Foster, having heard of his having 
 settled here, visited him, and preached in Shelbyville for the 
 people. It is supposed this was the first Cumberland Presby- 
 terian sermon ever preached in all this country. Father 
 Andrew Bone, having only stopped at Shelbyville for a short 
 time, moved to what is now Moultrie county, 111., in 1829. 
 Rev. David Foster then lived near Decatur, 111., and father 
 Bone sent for him to come to his neighborhood and preach 
 for the people. There were no mails in this part of the 
 country then ; hence, when friend wanted to see friend, or 
 ask for favors, they had to go in person, or send, to make 
 known their wishes. Out of father Bone's and Rev. Foster's
 
 90 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 
 
 labors grew what is now known as Bethany congregation of 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Moultrie county, 111. 
 There is but one of the original members of this congregation 
 now living, sister Emaline Ashmore, who is waiting patiently 
 to pass over to the promised inheritance. 
 
 "This church was organized out of three families, Bone, 
 Kennedy, and Lansden, in the fall of 1832. These families 
 concluded to have a camp-meeting. It was a new thing, and 
 those who were members of the church and those who were 
 not were interested in the matter, and all turned out to make 
 preparation for the meeting. Some one wanted to know who 
 would keep a boarding camp. One good old brother told 
 the man that everybody who came to meeting would be 
 taken care of without pay. The camp-meeting came on, 
 with only one minister, and that was Bro. Foster. The Lord 
 blessed his and the few brethren's labor, and nearly ever}' 
 body in the country professed religion. After this a church 
 grew into being, as stated above. After the church was 
 organized, father Bone said he had been praying for the 
 Lord to send a few good people into the country, that he 
 and his family might have the benefit of . church privileges ; 
 but the Lord knew better how to make a church than he 
 did, for he had now taken the material already at hand, and 
 made a church for him. 
 
 "In the Fall of 1830 Thomas D. Lansden, an elder of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church, came from Tennessee, 
 and settled in the bounds of this congregation ; and he, in 
 connection with other lovers of the Lord Jesus, was deter- 
 mined that the cause of the Redeemer should go forward. 
 Lansden, Bone and Kennedy were the first elders of Bethany 
 congregation. Camp-meetings were held annually every 
 Fall until the Fall of i8Co, as nearly as is remembered. On 
 one occasion, in an early day when the brethren were clear- 
 ing the ground for a camp-meeting, a dear sinner, about 
 seventy years old, was seen with his implements preparing a
 
 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 9! 
 
 place for a camp also. One brother says to another, 'Do 
 you see that old sinner preparing to camp, too? The Lord 
 will pay him.' So he did ; for he sought the Lord and 
 found him precious to his soul that very meeting. 
 
 "It was not uncommon for persons to separate in small 
 companies in the morning and evening, and go to the woods 
 for prayer ; and not unfrequently songs and praises to God 
 could be heard in every direction around the camp-ground. 
 Some rejoiced on account of having just been born again, 
 and others over the great deliverance. Thus it is that they 
 that sow to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 
 At one of those early camp-meetings every sinner on the 
 ground professed religion, except one, and he left the ground. 
 It is true, however, that the people were not so numerous as 
 at present, but there were enough to hold a camp-meeting. 
 
 "In the year 1838 the brethren said they must have a church 
 house. So they met and decided what kind of a house they 
 would have, and, when they had decided, they started to the 
 woods with axes, broad-axes, and prongs, to get out logs and 
 boards for the erection of a church. The church was built 
 with a door in the east, and a plain pulpit in the west end, 
 and a small window at the back of the pulpit. The people 
 had no stoves in those days, but the church must have fire in 
 Winter; so the brethren made what old fogies call hearths. 
 There were two, about four feet square, on which they 
 placed charcoal and put fire to it. A fire made of this 
 material does not create much smoke, but what was created 
 went where it pleased. This house, with some improvement, 
 remained for a church until 1856, when the church now 
 standing was built. Father Robert Crowder, who is a mem- 
 ber of our church, and, at that time, was an elder, took the 
 contract for building it at a cost of $2,100, and waited kindly 
 on the church until paid, he and his sons giving liberally for 
 its. completion. By the grace of God we are a self-made 
 people, never having had a collection made for us from
 
 9- SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 
 
 abroad. God. having been so good and so kind to us, has 
 enabled us to give thousands of dollars to build up Christ's 
 kingdom in other localities. 
 
 The preachers who officiated in building up the cause of 
 Christ in this country were as follows : The two Barbers 
 (father John Barber and his son John), the two Bones, the 
 two Knights. Daniel Traughber. Mr. Wilson, and others, the 
 most of whom have gone to their reward in heaven. In the 
 year 1832 young Barber came and organized a Sunday- 
 school, and there has been one in operation ever since. The 
 number of ministers gone out from this congregation is four : 
 Revs. J. M. Bone, Thomas Bone (dead), Wm. Bankson, 
 and James Freeland. Bro. Freeland was a graduate of Leb- 
 anon University. Tenn." 
 
 MT. ziox. 
 
 Rev. P. H. Crider furnishes this sketch of Mt. Zion con- 
 gregation : 
 
 Mt. Zion congregation. Macon county. 111., was first 
 organized by Rev. David Foster at his own private dwelling 
 about three miles from Mt. Zion. The organization took 
 place on the 24th day of April, 1830, and soon was taken 
 under the care of Sangamon Presbyter}-. The following are 
 the names of the charter members : Andrew Wilson, Mary 
 Ann Wilson, Alexander Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Catherine 
 Wilson, Allen Travis, Margaret Travis, Alexander W. Bell. 
 Nancy Jane Bell, James D. Campbell, Lavina Campbell. 
 Andrew Davidson, Assenath R. Davidson, John Davidson, 
 Rhoda Davidson, Samuel Davidson, Elizabeth Davidson, 
 Nancy Davidson. Ellen Davidson Black. John Smith, Marga- 
 ret Smith, Rebecca Travis, David Davis, Polly M. Davis, 
 Wm. D. Baker, Marilla Baker, Robert Smith. Nancy Smith 
 < Traughber), David Foster. Anna Foster, Robert Foster. 
 Margaret Foster. Wm. C. Foster, Isabella Foster. Nancy 
 Allen Foster. Thirty-six names were taken at the organiza-
 
 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 93 
 
 don, April 24, 1830. On the 1510 day of June, 1830, the 
 enrolled members met at the house of Rev. David Foster, 
 and selected the following brethren as ruling elders of the 
 congregation : Andrew Wilson, Allen Travis, Robert Smith 
 and Samuel Davidson. On the 3Oth of April, 1831. Mr. 
 James Scott was chosen ruling elder. In October, 1832. 
 Mr. James Law became a ruling elder. At about the same 
 time John Smith became a ruling elder of this congregation. 
 In June. 1833. Mr. William M. Young was chosen ruling 
 elder. 
 
 After the death of Rev. David Foster, in May, 1833, ^ e 
 congregation was without a pastor or supply for more than a 
 year. During this time the congregation declined in spiritu- 
 ality, which resulted in neglecting the Sabbath-school and 
 the means of grace. After this the labors of Rev. Xeill 
 Johnson were secured, who preached for the congregation 
 for one year and six months. The congregation was then 
 without regular preaching until the last of November, 1836. 
 when Rev. Daniel Traughber, of Kentucky Presbytery, set- 
 tled in the community and supplied the congregation with 
 preaching at the request of the session. In June, 1837, he 
 joined Vandalia Presbytery, and was appointed to supply 
 Mt. Zion congregation, which had. at that time, one hundred 
 and eight members. The session met March 27th, 1856, for 
 the purpose of properly arranging their congregational 
 records, as two new congregations had been stricken off 
 from the membership of Mt. Zion congregation, Bethlehem 
 and North Fork. In fact, about all the congregations in the 
 bounds of Decatur Presbytery have had their origin from the 
 old Mt. Zion congregation. This is one of the places where 
 camp-meetings were kept up for manv vears. and the results 
 can never be fully known until the revelation of all things at 
 the last day. Thousands will rise up in that day and testify 
 that they were born again at the consecrated altar of old 
 Mt. Zion. This has been a prolific fountain, from whence
 
 94 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 
 
 a stream of Christian influence has gone out in every direc- 
 tion. Her sons and daughters are not confined to the limits 
 of this Presbytery, but many of them have gone to Missouri, 
 Kansas, and other States, and are at work in the Master's 
 cause. But the greater number of those who have been 
 begotten in the gospel at this place have finished their work 
 on earth, and have gone to our Father's house in heaven. 
 Such brethren as the Smiths, Davidson, Wilson, and many 
 others, toiled long and hard at Mt. Zion, and at last died at 
 their post. Many other good brethren and sisters are linger- 
 ing on the same ground, and, having been 'faithful over a 
 few things,' are watching and waiting for the heavenly 
 welcome. 
 
 "The following are the names of the ministers of the 
 gospel who have been pastors and supplies of this congrega- 
 tion since its organization : David Foster (died 1833), Neill 
 Johnson, Daniel Traughber (dead), Samuel Aston (died here 
 Nov. 1856), John T. A. Henderson, R. T. Marlow, T. R. 
 Lester, R. G. Garden (died here July, 1874), N. M. Baker, 
 P. H. Crider. The above have all been pastors and sup- 
 plies, besides the following, who supplied the pulpit for a 
 few months each at intervening times: J. C. Smith, Abner 
 Lansden, Joseph B. Lowrance, J. D. Cowan, and M. Dillow. 
 During the centennial year of 1876 the congregation repaired 
 their church property to an amount considerably over four 
 hundred dollars. They support the pastor for all his time, 
 and regularly attend to the monthly contribution for missions. 
 Although the congregation has suffered much by removals 
 and deaths, there is a manifest willingness and desire to 
 work for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom. The 
 church has, at present, about one hundred and seventy-five 
 members, and a Sabbath-school of about seventy-five pu- 
 pils, with eight teachers. The first Sabbath-school in this 
 (Macon) county was organized at this place by Rev. David 
 Foster in 1831. The first superintendent was James Scott,
 
 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES. 95 
 
 and the assistant was Andrew Wilson. The first sermon in 
 this county by a Cumberland Presbyterian was preached by 
 Rev. John M. Berry in an old log school house three and a 
 half miles southwest of Decatur."
 
 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN IN REFERENCE TO THE 
 EARLY TIMES OF THE CHURCH IN ILLINOIS. 
 
 WE think it best, at the risk of some repetition in relation 
 to some things in the first years of the Church, to let the 
 following brethren speak for themselves, in their own lan- 
 guage and in their own style. We feel sure these letters will 
 repay a careful reading and re-reading. The writers were 
 eye-witnesses of much of which they write, and, being now 
 far advanced in life, they were themselves actors, in large 
 part, in the scenes so vividly described. First, we introduce 
 to the reader the very interesting letter of Rev. Neill Johnson, 
 of McMinnville, Oregon, to whom we are largely indebted 
 for many facts already referred to in the fore part of this 
 volume, and who, in a ripe old age, still lives to work for the 
 Master with marked vigor. What is here recorded from his 
 pen was sent at different times, but we shall publish his 
 letters as one continued narrative. 
 
 "God, in his providence, overruled that roving, restless 
 disposition, said to be peculiar to the American people, for 
 building up his cause and lengthening the cords of his 
 Church ; and the first stakes in nearly every place where we 
 subsequently formed an organization were set by one or more 
 ruling elders or prominent church members. These sent 
 pressing and earnest calls back to their former pastors or 
 ministers for the preaching of the word and the ordinances 
 of the Church. These calls never failed to touch a tender
 
 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 97 
 
 cord in the heart of the called minister, who, in that day, did 
 not wait to learn how much could be raised to sustain him, 
 or whether anything could be even promised. Had they 
 done this, many places that now have well paid pastors and 
 church houses \vould still be a barren waste, at least so far as 
 Cumberland Presbyterians are concerned. Of these promi- 
 nent members and ruling elders I will name John Hamilton 
 and Judge Taylor, who settled first near Golconda, in the 
 extreme southern part of the State, and, after an organization 
 had been effected there, they both removed the former to 
 Morgan county and the latter to Sangamon. Mr. Hamilton 
 was a well informed theologian, and very able in prayer and 
 exhortation. I doubt not many stars will be in his crown in 
 that great day. On the Mauvaisterre, where he settled, a 
 flourishing congregation was built. We had several very 
 interesting camp-meetings there, but owing to removals, and 
 other causes, I think to-day we have no organization near 
 there. Mr. Hamilton died in a good old age, and was 
 gathered to his people. Bro. Taylor aided in building up a 
 church on Spring Creek. Subsequently he removed to 
 Rushville, where he again witnessed a revival and saw a 
 flourishing congregation built up. There he remained till 
 his Master called him. 
 
 "At Golconda, or near there, where we first noticed these 
 brethren, we have still an organization. Bro. Thomas 
 Campbell first settled there when a licentiate, and removed 
 with Judge Taylor. They settled near each other on Spring 
 Creek, where Bro. Campbell remained till his death, which 
 took place very suddenly over twenty-five years ago. Here 
 I will relate an incident which I learned from Francis Dodds, 
 of Kentucky. At an early day, when the cry for ministers 
 and ministerial labors were very pressing, the Synod ap- 
 pointed a day of fasting and prayer for the special purpose 
 of asking God to send more laborers into his vineyard. The 
 congregation met at Bethlehem meeting house, and a solemn
 
 98 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 
 
 time it was, said my informant. Many fervent prayers were 
 offered that God would send men of his own choosing to 
 proclaim salvation to a dying world. Says he, 'I had in my 
 mind young men, educated men, and men at a distance ; but 
 there was my neighbor, Thomas Campbell, a very devoted, 
 pious man, somewhat advanced in life, with a large family. 
 I never once thought of his being called ; but when Presby- 
 ter}' met, some half dozen or more came forward, Bro. 
 Campbell among the rest, and there was not a man among 
 them that proved to be more humble, holy, or useful than he 
 became.' 
 
 STOUTS GROVE. 
 
 "The first attempt at an organization in all the region now 
 embraced in Mackinaw and Decatur Presbyteries, was in the 
 Fall of 1829. At the time of which I write there were a few 
 families of our church settled in Stouts Grove, then Taze- 
 well county, now McLean county. These were the McClure 
 connections and Peyton Mitchell. They desired a camp- 
 meeting, which was held by Rev. J. M. Berry, Thomas 
 Campbell and Gilbert Dodds. My brother, Archibald John- 
 son, and I were also present I a licentiate and my brother a 
 candidate. The meeting was an interesting one. At its 
 close there was a universal petition for an immediate 
 organization. Accordingly, Bro. Berry led in the matter, 
 and members were received who were scattered over a 
 territory more than fifty miles in diameter, and elders chosen 
 and ordained, such as had not been previously ordained. 
 They lived so remote from each other that it was not 
 expected they would all get together more than once a year. 
 They were expected and charged individually to watch over 
 the members in their several regions. All of these elders, 
 with one exception, have gone to their eternal reward. No 
 two of them lived nearer each other than ten or fifteen miles. 
 All of them, however, lived in important neighborhoods, and 
 were calling urgently for preaching. At that time, however,
 
 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 99 
 
 there was not an ordained preacher living in the entire 
 bounds of what we then called Stouts Grove congregation. 
 There was one licentiate (myself), and two candidates, 
 Peyton Mitchell and my brother, Archibald Johnson. Bro. 
 Mitchell was, at the time of which we are writing, about 
 forty years of age. He was of a very intelligent, high- 
 minded family, a son of Col. Mitchell, of the revolution, and 
 a brother of the late professor, Gen. Mitchell, of the Union 
 army. All his family connections were of Presbyterian 
 parentage, and he was a member of McGready's congrega- 
 tion in Kentucky. He himself, however, I think, was the 
 only one of his father's family that ever united with the 
 Cumberland Presbyterians." 
 
 PEYTON MITCHELL. 
 
 "Here I will relate an incident which I got from father 
 Roleofson : It is a matter of history that Mr. McGready, 
 on his death-bed or near the time of his death, advised his 
 people to unite with the Cumberland Presbyterians; and, 
 accordingly, they held a camp-meeting in the Roleofson set- 
 tlement, near where Mr. Mitchell lived. He had never had 
 any acquaintance with our Church at this time, and his 
 prejudices were all against us. Being well acquainted with 
 father Roleofson, and knowing him to be warm, and as he 
 considered, enthusiastic, he took him to one side before there 
 had been any preaching, and warned him that they should 
 be careful and not readily fall in with a people that were 
 considered disorderly. The first man that occupied the stand 
 was Rev. Robert Morrow. As he said afterwards, he 
 looked upon him as contemptible, young, beardless, stoop- 
 shouldered, and hump-backed ; but when Mr. Morrow 
 began, his voice was clear and melodious, his arguments 
 logical and exactly to the point. Mr. Mitchell drew nearer 
 and nearer, till, at the close of the sermon, he was standing- 
 near and facing Mr. Morrow with mouth open and eyes
 
 IOO LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 
 
 streaming with tears. The whole congregation, saints and 
 sinners, were moved in a manner which cannot be described 
 intelligibly to one who has not witnessed something similar. 
 From that time Mr. Mitchell was a Cumberland Presbyterian. 
 He became a candidate for the ministry at the first meeting 
 of the Illinois Presbytery. Few, if any, of the ministry 
 believed that he had preaching talents, and yet he exerted 
 an influence in that direction that did much in opening the 
 way for others to do good. He was of an agreeable, social 
 turn of mind, and possessed conversational powers seldom sur- 
 passed by our best preachers. He was finally licensed, but 
 never ordained. He was the first one to introduce Cumber- 
 land Presbyterians in what was afterwards Sandy Creek 
 congregation, and perhaps in some other places." 
 
 ARCHIBALD JOHNSON.* 
 
 'I now pass to give a brief sketch of the life and labors 
 of my own dear brother, Archibald Johnson. He was the 
 youngest of eight children. His grandfather emigrated 
 from Tyrone county, Ireland, early in the eighteenth century, 
 and settled in the bounds of Barbacas congregation, Cum- 
 berland county, N. C. Our mother was a native of Jura, 
 Scotland, and came to America about the same time. Her 
 maiden name was McDuffer. Our parents w r ere married in 
 the aforesaid congregation, and there all the children of our 
 family were born, but the subject of this notice. He was 
 born in Christian county, Ky., on the 26th of April, 1.807. 
 In his childhood he had severe fits, but they left him at about 
 three }-ears of age. Till about seven years of age he was 
 remarkably careless. He had neither taste nor inclination 
 for books, and, although he never was given to falsehood or 
 profanity, he had no inclination to religion. At about the 
 
 *We could not extract these sketdio and place them with other sketches 
 without marrinir. somewhat, the symmetry of the letter. Hence, they arc 
 found here.
 
 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. IOI 
 
 age of seven years he suddenly became as remarkable for 
 his love of books and study as he had before been careless 
 and inattentive ; and this followed him to the last of life. 
 
 "The first lasting religious impression made upon him was 
 at a public examination (common in that day), at which the 
 adult members of the church were examined on theological 
 questions predicated on some one or more questions in the 
 Catechism, and the children of the church were examined 
 on the Catechism at large. My brother readily answered all 
 the questions asked him on the Catechism. At the close the 
 minister, Rev. Wm. Barnett, propounded a personal ques- 
 tion to each child, and then there followed a powerful 
 exhortation. The question put to my brother was : 'Do 
 you ever pray?' He dropped his head. He said afterwards : 
 'I felt that I dared not tell a lie.' He answered, 'No, sir.' 
 Then followed an exhortation of a powerful character, fas- 
 tening conviction, from which he never got clear till it 
 terminated in a sound conversion. His conversion took place 
 at a camp-meeting in Illinois in 1822. While many were 
 down crying for mercy, a friend in whom he had confidence 
 went to him and asked him to bow in prayer. This he did, 
 and there made a vow that he would never leave that spot 
 until he got an evidence of pardon, or became satisfied there 
 was no pardon for him. In after life he seriously condemned 
 this course as rash and unauthorized. He remained there, 
 however, till the congregation dispersed, and he was re- 
 moved, unwillingly, into a camp. There the tempter 
 suggested to him .he had now broken his vow, and, like 
 Annanias and Sapphira, he had lied to God, and now there 
 was no mercy for him. Here he sank into the most gloomy 
 depair. He told a friend there was no use in praying for 
 him or in his praying : that his damnation was forever sealed. 
 His friend told him, no ; that the very fact of his being alive 
 and out of hell was evidence that God had not yet cut him 
 off from his mercy ; and quoted to him that not a sparrow
 
 102 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 
 
 can fall without his notice or permission. At this he seemed 
 to catch. His mind was directed in this wise : if God 
 catches the falling, worthless sparrow, will he not catch and 
 save the falling sinner for whom Christ died, who casts 
 himself wholly upon him? Yes, he will. 'Here,' said he, 
 'I was enabled to put my trust wholly on him who watches 
 over even a worthless, helpless sparrow, and more particu- 
 larly a worthless, helpless, falling sinner.' He was now 
 fifteen years old. He seemed to be impressed to warn 
 sinners of their danger, and began without delay to urge 
 those of his own age and younger to come to Christ. 
 
 "He joined Illinois Presbytery in the Fall of 1827. He 
 made rapid progress in study until April, 1830, when he and 
 his friends expected he would be licensed and placed on a 
 circuit. But, contrary to this expectation, the Presbytery, 
 on a close vote, did not sustain his piece, and ordered him 
 to write again from the same text. He returned home very 
 gloomy and cast down, thinking the Presbytery had no con- 
 fidence in him. In this, however, he was mistaken. For a 
 while he gave up the idea of preaching, went to farming, and 
 made an engagement to get married. He did not attend 
 Presbytery in the Fall, but in the Spring of 1831, at the 
 earnest solicitation of a friend who had always exercised a 
 great influence over him, he attended, and was licensed. 
 
 "In the Fall of 1830, 
 
 JAMES E. DAVIS, 
 
 a licentiate, moved from Southern Illinois, and settled near 
 what is now Hopedale. He professed religion early in life, 
 and had deep impressions that it was his duty to preach, but 
 never joined Presbytery till the Fall of 1823, the second 
 meeting of Illinois Presbytery. He was then some forty 
 years of age, had but little education, had a large family, 
 and pecuniarily was only in moderate circumstances. He was 
 licensed in 1825, and was ordained by the Sangamon Pres- 
 bytery in 1834. He was able in prayer and exhortation, and
 
 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 103 
 
 had a few discourses that he preached acceptably and ably. 
 He went several times to the General Assembly. He lived 
 to a good old age, raised a respectable family, several of 
 whom died before he did." 
 
 A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE ELDERSHIP OF STOUTS GROVE 
 CONGREGATION. 
 
 "The first congregation, as I have said, in the bounds of 
 what subsequently became Mackinaw Presbytery, was or- 
 ganized by Rev. J. M. Berry in the Fall of 1829, at the close 
 of a camp-meeting in Stouts Grove. All the first elders, 
 with the exception of Joel Hargrove, have been removed by 
 death, some of them many years ago. Bro. Hargrove, how- 
 ever, has resided on the Pacific Coast over twenty years. 
 He is now eighty-two years old. I saw him at the meeting 
 of Oregon Synod in November last, as a member from 
 Cascades Presbytery. He is hale and hearty, and, to all 
 appearances, bids fair for twenty or more years. He has 
 resided in several localities, both on this coast and in the 
 Atlantic States, and has been active, pecuniarily, in organi- 
 zation and in maintaining doctrine and discipline in a half 
 dozen or more congregations. Few, if any, have done more 
 pecuniarily to sustain an evangelical ministry than Bro. 
 Hargrove. While in the Atlantic States he was a represen- 
 tative in the General Assembly several times. 
 
 "Thomas McClure and Robert Bird were considerably 
 advanced in life at the time of which I now write. Both 
 were converted in the celebrated revival of 1800. Neither 
 of them possessed advantages of more than a common 
 education, such as could be obtained in the back woods of 
 Kentucky at any early day. They were men, however, of 
 good common sense and of undoubted piety, and had the 
 entire confidence of the community where they lived. One 
 instance of Bro. Bird's ready wit: A Universalist minister 
 was boasting to him of the progress his church was making,
 
 TO4 . LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 
 
 and their increase in numbers. 4 I believe,' said Mr. Bird, 
 'the devil himself was a Universalist preacher, and the first 
 sermon that we have an account of him preaching was in the 
 Garden of Eden. His text was : 'For God doth know that 
 in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt not surely die.' 
 He began by denying what God had said, and all the 
 ministers of your church follow in his footsteps.' Father 
 Bird and his aged companion both died in Oregon several 
 years ago. Father McClure died on his old homestead near 
 where our first organization in this region was made. His 
 aged companion, a true mother in Israel, survived him 
 several years. I believe all their children were pious. A 
 few were living, at the last account, but most of them were 
 gone. The church in and around Stouts Grove still lives, 
 and I believe prospers ; and when God writes up his people 
 it shall be said, as of Zion of old, 'This and that man was 
 born there.' 
 
 "James McClure, much like his father, lived a pious life 
 and died a happy death. His widow survived him, but he 
 left no children. 
 
 "Archie Bryan was an elder brother of Dr. Alfred Bryan. 
 He was a very useful, pious man, and lived to see a congre- 
 gation organized near him. Lincoln University is in the 
 vicinity where he lived and died. 'He, being dead, yet 
 speaketh.' 
 
 "Ebenezer Craig lived long enough to see two or three 
 congregations not far distant from where he lived and died ; 
 but his labors ended many years since. 
 
 "Mr. Guthrie is now the only elder above named whose 
 history remains to be noticed. He lived in a sparsely settled 
 region at that time, and I am not sure that he was ever visited 
 by any of our ministers. He stood nominally attached to 
 our Church for several years, attending, with his family, our 
 annual camp-meeting in Stouts Grove. They, however,
 
 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. IO5 
 
 finally joined the Methodist Church, and one or two of his 
 sons became prominent ministers in that denomination. 
 
 "With the exception of the last elder named, all of those 
 embraced in the organization of Stouts Grove lived to see 
 organizations in their immediate vicinities. Some of them 
 remain to the present day. One only (Sand Prairie), where 
 we had several camp-meetings and saw som'e lasting good 
 done, has since ceased to be. Deaths, removals, and other 
 causes, combined to remove the candlestick. But still, in 
 other places besides these, God blessed the self-denying 
 efforts of a few toiling, mostly unremunerated, self-denying 
 ministers in planting our standard in what was then a new r 
 country. A few in Oregon, the writer among the number, 
 are duplicating what we experienced in that early day. 
 Reader, compare the condition of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church at the time of which I am now writing with 
 the present, and then exclaim: 'What hath God wrought !' 
 But we still have faith that God will bless the poor labors of 
 his poor servants in Oregon as he has done in Illinois ; and 
 to all eternity he shall have the glory." 
 
 LETTER FROM REV. J. W. WOODS. 
 
 "I think it was in the year 1821 that Richard Armstrong, 
 who was a convert during the great revival under McGready's 
 preaching, moved into Clark county, this State, and became 
 a nucleus around which gathered one of .the most useful 
 congregations of this State. In 1825 there were eleven 
 church members in the family, embracing two sons-in-law r . 
 At that time my father moved in, and the next year there 
 was an organization, Rev. John M. Berry officiating. Sev- 
 eral ministers had visited them before this Maryweather, 
 one or two of the Downeys, and perhaps Hunter and others. 
 
 "There should be more than a passing notice of Richard 
 Armstrong, for he withstood an unusually strong tide of 
 persecution from the old church. No occurrence of the
 
 IO6 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 
 
 kind, as given in Alice McDonald, surpasses it. There was 
 a strong organization there, embracing nearly all the intelli- 
 gence of the country, when he came in. I recollect him 
 making this remark at one time to my father : 'I shall have 
 no more trouble from these people. The Lord has bridled 
 them. They must stop. The Lord will give me triupmh 
 over them.' I was then a little boy, but a decided impres- 
 sion was made on my mind, and I looked on and remembered 
 as the years rolled away. It \vas realized to the letter. 
 Some died ; some removed to Coles county and there 
 acknowledged our doctrines ; and some who remained 
 became convinced they were of God, and a few came into 
 the Church. Nearly all of their children became converts in 
 the end. Richard Armstrong lived to see a strong church 
 built up, and five or six more organized, in whole or in part 
 the outgrowth of old Big Creek church. As an elder he 
 traveled into Vermillion, Coles, Macon, Fayette, Shelby, 
 Bond, and other counties." 
 
 LETTER FROM REV. R. D. TAYLOR. 
 
 "Revs. Neill and Archibald Johnson, James E. Davis, 
 James McDowell, and Peyton Mitchell (licentiate) were 
 here when I came to the State of Illinois in 1836. They 
 were all faithful servants of the Church, laboring day and 
 night for the salvation of sinners, and God greatly blessed 
 their labors, "\yell do I remember with what zeal and power 
 they preached the gospel. In those early days there were- 
 but few church houses. We had generally to depend upon 
 log school houses, barns, and the shady groves. Camp- 
 meetings were the order of the day from the month of 
 August to the last of October. Scores were converted at 
 these meetings. Hundreds came from a distance of forty 
 and fifty miles. They generally commenced on Friday and 
 closed on the following Tuesday morning. Out of the labors 
 of these faithful men of God congregations were organized
 
 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. IO*J 
 
 over many portions of what Is now known as Mackinaw 
 Presbytery. Most of the old ministers and elders of those 
 days have gone to their reward in heaven. Truly it may be 
 said of them, 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord 
 from henceforth ; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
 from their labors, and their works do follow them.' 
 
 "My father and mother were both members of the Beech 
 congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
 Sumner county,' Tenn. They were converts of the revival 
 of 1800. My father, Robert Taylor, was a ruling elder of 
 the above-named congregation, in which capacity he served 
 until the day of his death. My mother's maiden name was 
 Margaret Kirkpatrick, sister of the Rev. Hugh Kirkpatrick. 
 My father was born in Pennsylvania ; my mother in South 
 Carolina. They died full of years, in hope of a blessed 
 immortality and eternal life beyond the grave. They were 
 buried in the Beech cemetery, near the old Beech stone 
 church, of precious memory. I have often heard my father 
 speak of the organization of our church : how he had en- 
 tertained all the first ministers around his table at the same 
 time. He had a good opportunity to be conversant with 
 their trials and discouragements. But never did I hear him 
 intimate that our fathers in the ministry ever made any prop- 
 osition to unite with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as 
 related by Dr. Cartwright. If there had ever been such a 
 proposition my father certainly would have known something 
 about it, and I would most certainly have heard him speak 
 of it. I was born in Sumner county, Tenn., Feb. 17, 1814. 
 I professed religion about the year 1826 under the labors of 
 Revs. Francis Johnson and Eli Guthrie, at a camp-meeting 
 at Mt. Moriah. No instrumentality was more efficient, 
 under God, in my salvation than the prayers of my father. 
 At an early day after my conversion I was strongly impressed 
 with the duty of preaching the gospel, but, being unwilling 
 to enter upon that duty, I chose the profession of medicine.
 
 IO8 LETTERS FROM VARIOUS BRETHREN. 
 
 In view of that profession, when about eighteen years old I 
 entered Cumberland College. There, among strangers and 
 in a strang land, I was more and more impressed with the 
 duty of preaching the gospel. Neither time nor place had 
 made any change in my mind. Such \vas my state of mind, 
 in a great measure I lost the enjoyment of religion. I often 
 feared that I had never been converted. I could not pursue 
 my studies in College with any satisfaction ; and, w r ith a 
 mind dark as midnight, I kept my own impressions of duty 
 to myself. I made no man my counsellor, having settled 
 upon my profession before I entered College. I supposed 
 all were in profound ignorance of my state of mind ; and 
 if I did not believe in a special call to the gospel ministry, 
 the whole matter, up to this day, would be to me a profound 
 mystery. Princeton Presbytery having met in College (I 
 cannot definitely mention the date), Dr. Beard came to my 
 room and informed me that he wished to speak to me pri- 
 vately. To my great surprise, he informed me that if I 
 wished to unite with Presbytery I could now have the 
 opportunity. I went with him. After a full relation of my 
 feelings, I was received as a candidate for the ministry under 
 the care of the Princeton Presbytery, and Psalm cxlv. 20 was 
 assigned me as a text to prepare a written discourse upon for 
 next Presbytery. In the Spring of 1836, in the city of 
 Princeton, Ky., I was duly licensed to preach the gospel by 
 Princeton Presbytery, wherever God in his providence might 
 cast my lot. The same Spring I was licensed I came to 
 Illinois, and in 1837 was ordained to the whole work of the 
 ministry by the Presbytery of Mackinaw. My whole life, 
 from the time I united with Presbytery, has been particularly 
 devoted to the interest of the Church. On the 8th of 
 August, 1837, I was united in marriage to Martha A. Rob- 
 bins by Rev. James E. Davis in the town of Marion, 111."
 
 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 
 
 IN an important sense, nearly all the work done in the 
 State, until within a few years, was mission work. When 
 the writer first became acquainted with the Church in Illinois 
 (1853) and his position enabled him to know there was 
 not a congregation in the State wholly sustaining a pastor. 
 The whole field was missionary ground. 
 
 At an early day the Board of Missions, at Lebanon, 
 Tenn., established a mission at Peoria, and not long after 
 sent a missionary to Macomb. Rev. S. T. Stewart was the 
 missionary to the former place for some }^ears. He organ- 
 ized a small congregation, and there was built a house of 
 worship, and for a time there seemed to be a good prospect 
 of success. He finally resigned, and accepted the charge of 
 the church in Pittsburgh, Pa., as pastor. The congregation 
 in Peoria was left for a time without a pastor. Then the 
 war came on and further demoralized the little flock. 
 
 In 1863 the General Assembly appointed a missionary 
 committee at Alton, to act in the place of the Board of 
 Missions located at Lebanon, Tenn., from which the missions 
 in Illinois were now separated by the war. This committee 
 existed two years, and then was organized by the Assembly 
 of 1865 into a regular Board consisting of thirteen members. 
 
 The missions in Illinois, and all north of Tennessee, were 
 turned over to this Board. Peoria had been without a mis- 
 sionary for more than a year before the committee existed. 
 The}' found the little flock scattered and greatly discouraged. 
 To get a man for the place seemed next to impossible. The
 
 110 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION, 
 
 war was raging in all its fury. Finally Rev. L. W. SayerS, 
 of Pennsylvania, was secured. He was a worthy man and a 
 good preacher. Under his labors the mission began to 
 revive, and strong hopes were entertained of its success, 
 when he was prostrated by sickness from which he never 
 recovered. After the death of Mr. Sayers, it seemed 
 impossible to secure a supply. The Board reported to the 
 Assembly in 1865 that the mission had been without a mis- 
 sionary for over two years, and they had despaired of 
 procuring one. In the meantime, deaths and removals had 
 almost annihilated the little band at Peoria. The Sangamon 
 Synod, by whom the enterprise had been started, finally took 
 entire control of the mission, but never succeeded in reviving 
 it. The property was finally sold, and the enterprise aban- 
 doned. Had it not been for the war, we do not doubt 
 success would have crowned the enterprise. 
 
 Macomb mission went in the same way, except that the 
 house is still preserved. It seemed impossible to get suitable 
 men and means for these points at that day. 
 
 Mattoon was also for some time a mission point, receiving 
 counsel and help from the Board. The congregation is still 
 living, with a good house of worship. 
 
 Atlanta is another point which was, for a time, nominally 
 under the Board's care. Rev. J. E. Roach was the mission- 
 ary. He was to receive all the funds contributed by Mack- 
 inaw Presbytery. The congregation is still living, with a 
 good house of worship, but at present is unsupplied. 
 
 Perhaps the mission which engaged most attention, and 
 had the hardest struggle, was the Alton mission. It was 
 started by Vandalia Presbytery. As early as 1848 they 
 formed a Presbyterial Missionary Society, auxiliary to the 
 Assembly's Board. Shortly after, Rev. A. M. Wilson was 
 employed as traveling missionary at $200 per annum. In 
 the Fall of 1850 this Society paid Mr. Wilson and had $36.41 
 left in the treasury. The missionary had traveled and
 
 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION, III 
 
 preached over a large area, and had succeeded well. In 
 closing up the report of the Treasurer the Secretary records : 
 "He also reports a subscription paper for the special pur- 
 pose of raising means for sustaining a missionary in Alton ; 
 that there is on said paper $51.50 subscribed, $5 of which 
 is paid." This seems to have been the beginning of the Alton 
 mission. At this same meeting Mr. Wilson, the missionary, 
 was instructed to take subscription for the Alton enterprise ; 
 and the Secretary, Rev. Joel Knight, was to present the 
 matter to Synod, and try to enlist that body in the enterprise. 
 At every subsequent semi-annual meeting the matter was 
 discussed with increased interest, until the Fall of 1853, 
 when Rev. T. H. Hardwick was employed to go to Alton 
 and begin operations as a missionary. Mr. Wilson was now 
 residing in Upper Alton, and proposed to board any mission- 
 ary gratis for a year. Mr. Hardwick, having no family, 
 was engaged for $300 per annum, exclusive of board. He 
 entered upon his work Dec. i, 1853, and continued one year. 
 During this time he, assisted by others, held a meeting of 
 much interest in the town of Upper Alton, at which there 
 were over thirty professions of religion, and twenty-six per- 
 sons gave their names to form a congregation. But Mr. 
 Hardwick became dissatisfied when the year expired, de- 
 clined a re-engagement, and went to the State of Texas, 
 where, a few years after, he died. 
 
 From the Fall of 1854 to tne Spring of 1855 Rev. A. M. 
 Wilson supplied the mission. In the Spring of 1855 the 
 writer removed his family from St. Louis to lower Alton 
 which is Alton proper in order to secure a more healthy 
 position for his family, while publishing, in St. Louis, the 
 Missouri Cumberland Presbyterian. He was solicited to 
 take charge of the mission, and agreed to do so till some 
 missionary could be obtained, he spending all his Sabbaths 
 and one-half of his week time serving the mission, and 
 to receive for his services $600. The following June he
 
 112 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 
 
 organized a little congregation of eighteen members in the 
 German church on Henry street, with William Blair and 
 Benjamin Rose as elders. Trustees were also elected, a lot 
 bought, and a church house begun, the basement of which 
 was so far completed that the little flock held their first 
 meeting in it the first Sunday in January, 1856. The second 
 Sunday the Sunday-school was organized, with Stephen 
 Lufkin as Superintendent. It had twenty-five to thirty mem- 
 bers. The next Spring the audience room was completed, 
 and was dedicated in June. The whole cost embracing 
 lot, fencing and house was over $5,200. A debt was left 
 on it of full one-half this sum. When the first year expired 
 (we quote from the records of the Presbyterial Society 
 which employed the missionary), "it was found, on examin- 
 ation, that the missionary had received during the last year 
 $282, which was a little short of one-half the salary he 
 proposed to labor for. He, Rev. J. B. Logan, proposed, in 
 order to disembarrass the Board, to make a sacrifice of one 
 half ($300) for his past services." Miss. Soc. records, 
 P a g e 35- That is, the writer gave them, the first year of his 
 services, three hundred dollars to sustain that enterprise. It 
 was do this, or place the whole work done in jeopardy. We 
 may say, also, that we paid this first year for the single item 
 of house rent $250, being within $50 of our entire salary. 
 Besides this, we had already given to the church house 
 fund $100, and supplemented it with $150 more during the 
 second and third years. We record these items, not out of 
 any spirit of egotism, but to show what poor missionaries in 
 our Church have passed through. In making our own we 
 are making, in substance, a record for many others. Better 
 days are upon us now thank God! but it is well not to 
 forget these times of past hardship and trial. 
 
 God blessed the mission with his favor. Souls were con- 
 verted, and a number added each year. But thev were 
 
 J J 
 
 mostly of the poor class ; and while the membership in-
 
 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 113 
 
 creased and the spiritual work went on hopefully and, many 
 times, gloriously, the missionary's salary was never fully 
 paid. He sometimes lacked fifty dollars, sometimes a larger 
 amount. The war, in 1861, found us with a good and 
 increasing membership ; but, cut off, as we were, from the 
 parent Board, from which \ve received quarterly fifty dollars, 
 we had only $300 subscribed by our membership, of which 
 all was not realized. Worse still, our church debt was near 
 $2,300, bearing ten per cent, interest. Five hundred dollars 
 of the money was borrowed in a place, and the missionary's 
 name was to all of the notes. It was a dark day. We shall 
 never forget it. But God heard prayer and sent deliverance. 
 Good brethren in the country, without being asked, sent us 
 wagon loads of provisions ; and we employed R. M. Beard, 
 of Abingdon, then quite a young man, to enlist as agent to 
 get means to pay the church out of debt. In less than a 
 year, with what he raised in the country and we in the city, 
 we got every dollar and paid every note, and that, too, while 
 the war was upon us in all its fury. During the war God 
 poured out his Spirit, and every year witnessed a glorious 
 revival of religion. Up to the year 1870 there had been 
 over seven hundred professions of religion in that church, 
 and between four and five hundred had been received on 
 examination. After the war closed, certain kinds of 
 business which had been flourishing in the city were trans- 
 ferred to St. Louis, and the congregation lost more by 
 removals in a year than were added by examination. In 
 one year over thirty were dismissed by letter, and among 
 them were some of the principal men of means. So the 
 church was destined to another painful trial. Two or three 
 other leading business men died. To complicate the trouble, 
 an improvement was suggested by one or two men, and 
 finally agreed to by the trustees, which necessitated 
 borrowing $2,500 in money. The improvement was 
 made, and the debt has long been an incubus, but,
 
 114 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 
 
 at present writing, seems in a fair wav to be extin 
 guished. 
 
 In 1871 the writer, after serving the congregation from its 
 organization, resigned. His resignation was refused by a 
 unanimous vote, and a written protest addressed him in very 
 strong and affectionate language. But, after supplying them 
 another year, they yielded to his request, and employed 
 another. They have been served a short time by Revs. J. 
 T. May, J. W. Blosser, and J. H. Hendrick respectively. 
 Though much smaller in number than they were once, yet 
 they have a good Sunday-school and prayer-meeting, and 
 are a live people yet. 
 
 ITINERANT WORK. 
 
 Although there is not the missionary work done in the 
 State now in this form that was performed in earlier days, 
 yet several of the Presbyteries do have one or more travel- 
 ing missionaries in the field, and a good work is done 
 thereby. 
 
 BOARD OF MISSIONS. 
 
 As already stated, the General Assembly in 1863 appointed 
 a standing Committee on Missions, which was located at 
 Alton, 111., composed of the following members: F. Lack, 
 St. Louis, Mo. ; D. R. Bell, Otterville, 111. ; J. H. Murphy, 
 Alton, 111. ; R. B. Grossman, Alton ; J. B. Logan, Alton ; 
 J. M. Bone, Donnellson, 111. ; J. H. Nickell, H. W. Eagan, 
 Salem, 111. ; Isham Finch, Otterville, 111. ; James Bellas, 
 Alton; and G. W. Montgomery, Windsor, 111. This Com- 
 mittee organized by electing Rev. F. Lack Chairman, and 
 Rev. J. B. Logan Secretary. J. H. Murphy, Esq., was 
 Treasurer. The General Assembly of 1865 turned this 
 Committee into a regular Board of Missions, composed of 
 the following members: J. B. Logan, S. P. Greenwood, 
 Isham Finch, F. Lack, F. Bridgeman, D. R. Bell, P. G. 
 Rea, J. C. Bowdon, W. B. Fair, S. Richards, H. W.
 
 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 
 
 Eagan, and R. S. Reed. They organized by electing J. B. 
 Logan President, H. W. Eagan Secretary, S. P. Greenwood 
 Treasurer. With slight changes in the membership, this 
 Board continued at Alton until the action of the General 
 Assembly in 1869 consolidated the Boards, and located the 
 united Board at St. Louis. 
 
 Its existence at Alton was, Committee and Board together, 
 for the term of six years. It did not do a great work, and 
 yet it did something to keep alive missions established in the 
 northern part of the Church, and also did something to beget 
 and cultivate the spirit of missions in the churches. Some 
 of its members were still continued as members of the new 
 Board at St. Louis. If the future reader of history does not 
 find its work very extensive and fruitful, he must remember 
 that it operated in times when it was difficult, if not 
 impossible, to get harmony of sentiment and action from the 
 churches on any subject. Men's minds were unduly excited 
 by the war. Political prejudices caused many to array 
 themselves against the Board, and others were indifferent. 
 In some quarters the Board was put down as ''pro slavery," 
 and sympathizing with the rebellion. In other places they 
 were regarded as ultra "radicals," and therefore no help 
 was afforded. But we take great pleasure in here recording 
 that, although there were in the Board men of the most 
 opposite and positive views about the war, these were never 
 introduced into our counsels nor spoken of at our meetings ; 
 and the charges from all sides, respecting the Board being 
 controlled in any degree by political sentiment or bias, were 
 certainly unjust and unfounded. The writer was honored 
 as President throughout the entire six years, and knows 
 whereof he affirms. These men met regularly once a month, 
 and counseled and prayed together as brethren, and parted 
 when the Board was dissolved, without a single word having 
 ever been introduced on these subjects, even remotely, in all 
 our six years' intercourse. Warm, earnest discussions there
 
 Jl6 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 
 
 were, animated debates, wide differences of opinion held 
 and expressed, but these discussions and debates and differ- 
 ences were all pertaining to our missionary work how we 
 could best promote and prosper it. The war, and political 
 issues of any kind, never entered into our conversations or 
 work. As a Board we honestly and faithfully did what we 
 could, and the writer believes that at least the spirit of 
 missions was kept up, and, to a degree, cultivated by this 
 Board as not before, at least in our northern territory. 
 
 PUBLICATION. 
 
 In the Winter of 1855 and 1856, perhaps in the month of 
 February, 1856, the Missouri Cumberland Presbyterian, 
 before published in St. Louis, was removed to Alton, and 
 published there until the following June. This paper was 
 started by the writer in the city of Lexington, Mo., in April 
 of 1852, at the earnest request of leading men all over that 
 State. After publishing in Lexington about one year, we 
 removed to St. Louis in April, 1853, the facilities for such 
 work being every way superior in St. Louis. We resided 
 here two years, during which time constant sickness in the 
 family, resulting in the death of one member, determined us 
 to seek a home for the family out of the city, if possible. 
 Accordingly, on the i5th day of March, 1855, we removed 
 to the city of Alton, after having taken the remains of a dear 
 boy thither to be buried. Seeing the facilities for printing, 
 mailing and transporting a newspaper were just as good in 
 Alton as in St. Louis, and the expense much less, we removed 
 the material and office to Alton in February following. In 
 May, 1857, while at the General Assembly in Huntsvillc, 
 Ala., we sold our list^o A. F. Cox, who was publishing the 
 Watchman and Evangelist in Louisville, Ky. The con- 
 ditions of the trade were, that the two lists were to be united 
 and brought to St. Louis, and that Rev. Dr. Bird was to be 
 editor of the united paper. This was accomplished. Dr.
 
 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 11^ 
 
 Bird remained editor, however, only one year. We 
 published the Missouri Cumberland Presbyterian six years, 
 and when it was turned over to Mr. Cox we were issuing 
 about three thousand copies. Considering the fact that when 
 we began we were totally inexperienced in newspaper editing 
 and publishing, and the entire territory from which we were 
 to receive our patronage was sparsely settled, the churches 
 poor, weak, scattered and untrained, we have always re- 
 garded the success as rather remarkable. 
 
 Shortly after selling the weekly, Rev. W. W. Brown, then 
 residing near Alton, and the writer purchased the list of the' 
 Ladies' Pearl from Rev. W. S. Langdon, at Nashville, and 
 published this ladies' monthly in Alton with encouraging 
 results, until the breaking out of the war in 1861 compelled 
 us to suspend it. It had a good list of subscribers and 
 correspondents, and was gaining ground fast. 
 
 From June, 1861, to June, 1862, the war raged in great fury. 
 The writer was struggling with his mission, then having only 
 a handful of members and they poor. But in the Spring of 
 1862 he was urged by a large number of ministers through- 
 out Illinois, Iowa and elsewhere to publish some sort of a 
 Church paper, as a medium of communication and counsel 
 during those dark and terrible days. We finally consented, 
 although we had not a dollar on earth to start it with, and 
 newspapers by the score had been ceasing all over the coun- 
 try. However, relying on the direction of the "high and 
 holy one," we made the venture, and issued the Western 
 Cumberland Presbyterian in the month of June, 1862. It 
 seemed a necessity at the time ; but the high prices of paper 
 and all kinds of material used for publishing, added to the 
 fact that the proprietor had to borrow money at a high 
 interest to start and support it for two years, and the addi- 
 tional fact, that he had charge of a mission church not 
 rendering even half a support to his family, made it an 
 exceedingly dangerous experiment. Three denominational
 
 Il8 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 
 
 papers in St. Louis had suspended. But a kind Providence 
 seemed to smile upon the new undertaking, and it increased 
 in patronage until, had it not been for the large debt incurred 
 in starting it, it would in two years have paid its way, and a 
 handsome profit besides. 
 
 In 1866 we sold the list and material to T. H. Perrin, 
 retaining the editorship until 1868, when Rev. J. R. Brown, 
 D. D., bought half the interest in it. The writer then 
 bought the list of the Cumberland Presbyterian from A. B. 
 Miller, D. D., and the two lists were united at Alton. 
 Brown, Perrin & Logan were to be the firm. We were to 
 be equal partners, and Mr. Brown and the writer were to be 
 co-editors. This continued but a short time, when the 
 writer sold all his interest in the concern to Brown & Perrin, 
 and retired from the paper. It is but due to truth to say, 
 that we could have sold several times to other parties for a 
 larger price, had we consented to have the paper removed to 
 another part of our Church territory. But believing that we 
 were in duty bound to publish in Alton or St. Louis, as all 
 the subscribers had been obtained with that proposal pub- 
 lished to the world, we could not feel that we had any legal 
 or moral right to transfer this list to any other locality. 
 
 When the two lists were united the term "Western" as a 
 prefix was dropped by mutual consent, and the united paper 
 called simply the Cumberland Presbyterian. Dr. brown 
 continued to edit the paper after the withdrawal of the writer, 
 and Brown & Perrin to publish it, until it had as large, if not 
 the largest list in the denomination. It was enlarged and 
 improved, was a universal favorite with the Church in the 
 Northwest until its removal to Nashville. It served a noble 
 purpose and did a good work. It was the medium of coun- 
 sel and encouragement in planning and setting on foot 
 Lincoln University. It is more than questionable in the mind 
 of the writer whether it was possible ever to have successfully 
 planned and started the University, without the advantages
 
 MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. lip 
 
 of this medium, or another like it. During the dark and 
 exciting years of the war, the writer and some of his corres- 
 pondents may not always have expressed themselves as 
 discreetly as they ought on the troublous questions which 
 were ever agitating the Church and country. No doubt 
 errors and blunders were made ; but he did the best he 
 knew, and hopes yea, believes that, notwithstanding mis- 
 takes, the benefits received from the paper were far in 
 excess of the evils. To the existence of a weekly paper 
 published in our State we trace no little of the advance and 
 improvement everywhere to be seen in church matters during 
 the last twenty years. 
 
 In September, 1875, T. H. Perrin and the writer began 
 the publication of Our Faith, a monthly, which was received 
 with much favor, and, after continuing a year and seven 
 months, was disposed of to the St. Louis Observer. It paid 
 its way from the first issue, and rendered the proprietors 
 some profit besides 
 
 A.S the writer was connected with all these interests, he 
 wishes to record here his gratitude to Almighty God for his 
 help and guidance under all these mighty responsibilities, 
 and especially for his constant blessings during the dark and 
 stormy scenes of the "cruel war" in which our unfortunate 
 country was plunged. Ho~u we managed to publish a 
 weekly paper begin it without a dollar of capital, with no 
 visible aid a day in advance, under such fearful circum- 
 stances -and carry it on successfully during all the war, 
 never lose an issue, never have a note go to protest nor a 
 friend to lose a dollar on our account, with a mission church, 
 fearfully in debt, on hands at the same time, which paid but 
 $300 or $400 to the preacher for his support we say, ho-w 
 all this was done the reader will know as much about as the 
 writer. We can only record that we believe in our inmost 
 soul that "God was our helper;" and to his blessed name 
 be all the honor forever and ever, Wonderful to record !
 
 I2O MISSIONS AND PUBLICATION. 
 
 the paper steadily increased in patronage to the day we 
 separated from it ; and had not our poverty and the debt 
 incurred to start it made it indispensable to sell, in order to 
 pay the debt, we might, perhaps, have still been connected 
 with its interests.
 
 
 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 
 
 THERE is no subject on which Cumberland Presbyterians 
 have been less understood than on the subject of education. 
 For many years it was currently reported and believed, by a 
 large number, that our people were not only destitute of 
 common intelligence, but that they were in favor of an 
 illiterate ministry. I am sorry to have cause for saying that 
 many in the "mother church," for the first twenty-five years 
 of our denominational existence, gave strength to this unjust 
 charge, by repeatedly publishing, in their books and papers, 
 that the main cause for the separation and organization of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church was that they did not 
 believe in an educated ministry, and especially in a ministry 
 classically educated. There never was a shadow of truth in 
 this charge. On the contrary, it is the firm conviction of the 
 writer that no denomination of people on the continent have 
 given stronger evidence of their love for, and high apprecia- 
 tion of, a thoroughly educated ministry than has our infant 
 Church. Of course, in making up our judgment in the case 
 we must lake into the account all the circumstances of their 
 condition : their "deep poverty," their paucity in numbers, 
 their lack of the means and facilities to promote education, 
 the "waste howling wilderness" which surrounded them on 
 all sides for hundreds of miles, inhabited mostly by wild 
 beasts and wild Indians the latter more to be feared than 
 the beasts of prey. 
 
 At the organization, or rather re-organization, of Cumber-
 
 122 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 
 
 land Presbytery in 1810, there was not, west of the 
 Alleghanies, a single school under the control of either 
 Church or State which would now be deemed worthy the 
 name of a college. A collegiate education for the ministry, 
 as required by the old Westminster, was an impossibility. 
 And yet we find our fathers consulting about a college to 
 educate the rising ministry, among the first things to which 
 they turned their attention after their organization as a body. 
 Scarcely had Illinois Presbytery been organized before we 
 find some steps taken to aid candidates for the ministry in 
 securing an education, by a kind of "school of the prophets" 
 organized on a small scale. Rev. David W. McLin who, 
 perhaps more than any other man, gave shape to the early 
 operations of the Church in Illinois founded a school at his- 
 own house or in his neighborhood, where he taught candi- 
 dates for the ministry. Rev. J. M. Miller, pastor of the 
 church at Enfield, where Mr. McLin first settled and taught 
 this school, says: "In early times candidates for the 
 ministry boarded free with families here and were taught by 
 Rev. D. W. McLin. Among these candidates I recollect J. 
 S. Alexander, B. Bruce, A. F. Trousdale, N. G. Furguson, 
 and, I believe, Neiil Johnson; perhaps Joel Knight, too." 
 Mr. Miller adds : "I know that Neill Johnson, a young 
 minister, dressed himself for marriage at my father's house 
 (James Miller), and married Miss Rolofson." Elder 
 Alexander Stewart, of Albion, 111., who is one of the oldest 
 elders now living in the State, says in a letter to the writer, 
 that "in 1824 James Alexander, Duke Furguson, Nimrod 
 Furguson, and Alexander Trousdale studied theology under 
 Mr. McLin that winter." For several years this was all the 
 chance for a school to go to a select school in Winter, and 
 to study theology from the Bible while on the circuit, with 
 the Hory Spirit as teacher, or with some of the older 
 ministers, while active operations in preaching and camp- 
 meetings \vere" kept up.
 
 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 123 
 
 Rev. J. M. Miller informs us that "Ewing Seminary, 
 founded in 1843 under the care of Illinois Presbytery, and 
 afterwards transferred to Illinois Synod, was in active opera- 
 tion but a short time." Where this school was located he 
 does not say. But he adds that "Enfield High School, 
 located at Enfield, 111., chartered in 1873, under the care of 
 Ewing Presbytery, is in successful operation near the close 
 of its fourth year. (The year is now closed. ED.) Prin- 
 cipal, Prof. J. Turrentine ; building, brick ; value, about 
 $6,000.'* There have been also several other Seminaries or 
 High Schools started and operated by our people at different 
 periods and in different places. Since the writer has been a 
 resident of the State (from 1855), h e remembers LeRoy 
 Seminary, at LeRoy ; Stouts Grove Seminary, Stouts Grove ; 
 Cherry Grove Seminary, at Abingdon ; Mt. Zion Seminary, 
 at Mt. Zion ; Sullivan Academy, Sullivan ; and Union Col- 
 lege, at Virginia. None of these are in operation now, 
 except the High School at Enfield. All these seminaries and 
 the college did a good work in their time. But, where the 
 "free school" system becomes so perfect and general over the 
 State, select schools, where tuition has to be paid and no 
 endowment is secured, cannot long hold out in competition 
 with the common schools of the country. LeRoy and Stouts 
 Grove Seminaries were both under the supervision of 
 McAdow Presbytery. Stouts Grove was, perhaps, the first 
 Seminary established by our people in the State, We ap- 
 pend the following from Rev. J. R. Lowrance, who was for 
 years pastor of the church at Stouts Grove, as a reliable 
 statement concerning these schools : 
 
 STOUTS GROVE SEMINARY. 
 
 "In 1849 the citizens of Stouts Grove met and resolved to 
 establish a school of rTigh order, to be under the care of 
 Mackinaw Presbytery, the citizens appointing five trustees 
 and the Presbytery six. These trustees, so appointed, met
 
 124 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 
 
 in the church in Stouts Grove on Friday, 6 o'clock P. M., 
 before the second Sabbath in November, 1849. Thus this 
 school was established, and continued for about three years, 
 having at one time about seventy students. Of this companv 
 of the youth of that school, some are now tilling high places 
 in the Church and State. The present Governor of Illinois, 
 Hon. Shelby M. Cullom, was one of those pupils. This 
 school was under the management of Rev. Cyrus Haynes. 
 Seven of these students were candidates for the ministrv. 
 
 / 
 
 LEROY SEMINARY. 
 
 "This school was a continuation of Stouts Grove Seminary, 
 and was located there in the year 1852, and a charter was 
 obtained in the Winter of 1853; but after a few years of 
 toil and usefulness it closed out and ceased to exist." 
 
 SULLIVAN ACADEMY, 
 
 at Sullivan, the county seat of Moultrie count}-, was founded 
 by Rev. James Freeland, a graduate of Cumberland Univer- 
 sity. He was a young man of great promise, and, in 
 addition to preaching every Sabbath, established this 
 Seminary at Sullivan in the Fall of 1851, which he carried 
 on successfully for five or six years. He died April 27, 
 1856, greatly lamented by all who knew him. The Acad- 
 emy, after his death, fell under influences not favorable to 
 our denomination. But it existed long enough to do a valua- 
 ble work. 
 
 UNION COLLEGE. 
 
 In the Spring of 1851 Sangamon Presbyterv, in session at 
 Concord church, Menard county, took steps towards found- 
 ing an academy or seminary of learning, to be under the 
 control of the Presbytery. They appointed trustees, who 
 were "empowered to receive subscriptions, select the location 
 and erect the house, as soon as they may receive funds 
 sufficient, and do all other matters and things pertaining 
 thereto : and report to the Fall session of this Presbytery of
 
 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 125 
 
 their doings." Minutes of Sangamon Presbytery, page 269. 
 These trustees were John M. Berry, N. H. Downing, A. H. 
 Goodpasture, Elihu Bone, and David Blair. At the Fall 
 session two more trustees were elected, and. those before 
 appointed reported progress : that a sight had been selected 
 at Virginia, 111., and a contract for material for a suitable 
 house had been made. In short, this institution was started 
 and continued with encouraging results for some years. It 
 was then transferred by Sangamon Presbytery to Sangamon 
 Synod, and from this body transferred again to Sangamon 
 and Illinois Synods, each Synod having an equal voice in its 
 control, and also being equal in its responsibilities. A new 
 charter was obtained from the Legislature, and henceforth 
 it was called no longer a seminary, but Union College. For 
 a time its prospects seemed encouraging ; but on account of 
 misunderstandings about the conditions of the last transfer, 
 and perhaps other things, its success was brief. It lived, 
 however, long enough to do a good work. Some able 
 teachers were engaged in its behalf. At one time Rev. S. 
 T. Anderson, late missionary to Trinidad, West Indies, 
 taught there ; and, although it was discontinued and has long 
 since ceased to be used for an institution of learning, it is 
 believed that it, and similar efforts in one or two other 
 places, laid the foundation for the final grand success real- 
 ized in Lincoln University. 
 
 All seeming failures are not failures, after all. An 
 institution of learning is never a failure. Its influences for 
 good can never be unavailing. They are lasting as eternity. 
 The brick, stone or wood comprising the building may dec?y 
 and crumble to atoms ; misfortunes may involve the institution 
 in hopeless confusion and certain death ; but the influence it 
 has exerted, during even a short existence, it is as impossible 
 to blot out as it is to annihilate the sun. At the time, and 
 under the circumstances, the effort to establish Union College 
 was a noble one, the good effects of which, we doubt not,
 
 126 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 
 
 will be seen in eternity, although it did not accomplish all its 
 friends hoped it would. If we mistake not, after paying the 
 debts of the College, the money remaining was given to the 
 University. So the object is still being attained for which 
 the means were originally contributed, they having been 
 transferred to a different locality. 
 
 We append the following brief notice of 
 
 MOUNT ZION SEMINARY 
 
 from the pen of Rev. N. M. Baker, the present worthy 
 Stated Clerk of Decatur Presbytery : 
 
 "Mount Zion Seminary was located at Mount Zion, within 
 the bounds of this (Decatur) Presbytery. It was erected by 
 the subscriptions of private parties, and owned and controlled 
 by them as stock holders for several years. It was then 
 tendered to the Presbytery by the stock holders, and was 
 accepted by it at a called session which met at Mt. Zion Jan. 
 3Oth, 1865. The Presbytery made several attempts to endow 
 this institution, which were unsuccessful, and it finally de- 
 clined and is not now in operation, the buildings being used 
 for district school purposes under a lease from the Presbytery. 
 The decline of this school, I think, was occasioned, not by 
 the establishing of Lincoln University, nor by any want of 
 energy in its movement, but by the improvement in the free 
 school system, by which schools of equal grade were 
 established in almost all the villages and towns, thus cutting 
 off its patronage, and really removing the cause for its 
 existence. While it was needed it accomplished a great 
 work, and many yet live and labor in positions of usefulness 
 who will ever bless the public spirit and liberality of its 
 founders." 
 
 LINCOLN UNIVERSITY. 
 
 The history of education in Illinois would be incomplete 
 indeed without some mention of Lincoln University. Al- 
 though not connected with the very early struggles, it has
 
 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 127 
 
 played no insignificant part in the growth and prosperity 
 of our Church in the State. In lieu of something more 
 definite, we quote from the first number of the Alumni 
 Journal this sketch, written by the facile pen of Dr. D. M. 
 Harris : 
 
 "Great calamities are often attended by great blessings. 
 'It is an ill wind that blows nobody good,' is an adage often 
 verified in the affairs of men. During our great national 
 struggle the causes that led to the origin of Lincoln Univer- 
 sity had their beginning. In those dark and fearful days 
 of our national and political history, the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church in the Northwest passed through a 
 struggle for existence. The fearful tide of war that swept 
 over the South threatened to overthrow and destroy every 
 enterprise of the Church. Our colleges and seminaries 
 suffered in a marked and peculiar manner, resulting in the 
 entire suspension of all active operations. In the Western 
 States the denomination had planted many churches, which 
 were suffering for the want of ministers to supply them. The 
 schools of the Church were unable to meet the demand. 
 Then it was that true and noble men began to reflect upon 
 the future of the Church and her ministry, and tremblingly 
 to enquire, 'What shall we do?' It seemed almost madness 
 to talk of founding and endowing a University. The minds, 
 hearts, lives, and riches of men were staked upon the issues 
 of the war. But genuine faith mocks at failure and laughs 
 at impossibilities. Men were ready to embark in an enter- 
 prise of great moment, with omens unpropitious and fates 
 contrary. Unfaltering trust in the promises of Providence 
 and a firm belief in the mission of the Church were all that 
 rendered the project a possibility, at such an unpropitious 
 time. 
 
 "As far as we are able to learn, the proposition to establish 
 a college for the Church in the Northwest originated in the 
 Synod of Indiana. Revs. James Ritchey and Elam McCord
 
 128 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 
 
 were among the first to advocate the enterprise. There 
 were such men in the Synod as Azel Freeman, D. D., Revs. 
 A. J. Strain and Ephraim Hall, who heartily endorsed the 
 measure. In Illinois, the proposition was hailed with enthu- 
 siasm. Among the most earnest workers in the State were 
 Revs. J. R. Brown, D. D., S. Richards, D. D., A. J. 
 McGlumphy, D. D., J. C. Smith, J. C. Van Patten, J. H. 
 Hughey, James White, J. G. White, and, above all, J. B. 
 Logan. In Iowa, Revs. J. R. Lowrance and W. F. Baird 
 stood among the foremost of all. There were many laymen 
 who did excellent service in and out of the Synods. 
 
 "When the Synods had fully decided to begin the work, a 
 commission of five persons (one from each Synod) was 
 appointed to receive bids for the location of the institution, 
 with power to select the place. The places competing for 
 the location of the institution were Newburgh, Ind. ; Mt. 
 Zion, Cherry Grove, Virginia, and Lincoln, 111. The fol- 
 lowing communication from the citizens of Lincoln will be 
 of interest to many : 
 
 11 'LINCOLN, ILL., October I8tb, 1864. 
 
 " 'WHEREAS, The Cumberland Presbyterian Church purpose founding a 
 college in the State of Illinois; and, for the purpose of securing the location 
 of said college at the town of Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, or within 
 one-half a mile of the corporate limits of the same, we, the undersigned, 
 severally promise and agree to pay to John Howser, George W. Edgar, 
 
 George H. Campbell, Benjamin H. Brainerd and William P. Randolph, all 
 
 citizens of Logan connty, 111., the sum set opposite our respective names, to 
 be applied in the erection of said college buildings, PROVIDED said college is 
 
 located as aforesaid, at or near the town of Lincoln, Logan county, 
 
 Illinois.' 
 
 "Then follows a long list of names, with a subscription 
 amounting to about $25,000, which was subsequently con- 
 siderably increased. 
 
 "The communication then adds: 
 
 " 'The young and flourishing town of Lincoln, as well as the young and 
 prosperous county of Logan, having as yet no institution of learning of a 
 high grade, would hail with joy and pride the location of your college at
 
 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 129 
 
 this place, and would take a lively interest, as well as a commendable pride, 
 in fostering and endowing the institution: and the college would, perhaps, 
 meet with less opposition and competition here than at any other point. 
 GEO. H. CAMPBELL, ) 
 ROBT. B. LATHAM, l Committee.' 
 JAMES WHITE, j 
 
 "It is far from our intention to neglect mentioning any 
 whose sen-ices deserve attention. There are no doubt many 
 whose names are here not recorded, whose zeal and effi- 
 ciency were unsurpassed. It is our misfortune to know but 
 little of the first efforts of the friends of the college. 
 
 "The citizens of Lincoln have done all that they obligated 
 themselves to do : and we feel sure that the sacrifices made 
 by such generous men as Judge G. H. Campbell, George 
 W. Edgar and Abram Mayfield, in superintending the 
 erection of the building and in securing its speedy comple- 
 tion, cannot be too highly appreciated by the friends abroad. 
 
 "The first Faculty consisted of Rev. Azel Freeman, D.D., 
 President; Rev. A. J. McGlumphy, A. M., Vice President 
 and Professor of Mathematics : and Joseph F. Latimer, A. 
 B., Professor of Natural Science. These earnest Christian 
 teachers are entitled to great credit for the high and 
 honorable code of morality and academical character of the 
 students of Lincoln University. To them was committed 
 the important duty of stamping individuality upon the 
 institution. How nobly they accomplished their task, is 
 known to all who have any knowledge of the character and 
 standing of the students of the University. 
 
 "To no man more than to Dr. Freeman is the University 
 indebted for the high sense of honor that prevails amorr^ the 
 students. His generous, broad and liberal spirit; his 
 earnest, constant and childlike simplicity ; his pure, deep 
 and zealous piety ; and his profound and comprehensive 
 learning, won for him the love and esteem of all his pupils 
 and co-laborers. His earnest and deep Christian character 
 so thoroughly impressed itself upon the individuality of the
 
 130 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 
 
 college, that many a decade will not efface it. After serving 
 the institution for four years to the entire satisfaction of all 
 who were officially connected with it, he retired from the 
 Presidency honored and loved. 
 
 "Rev. J. C. Bowdon, D. D., became his successor. 
 During Dr. Bowdon's administration no new policy of anv 
 importance was inaugurated. He found the institution under 
 a good, substantial organization, and was content to work 
 out the plans already in existence. His personal suavity and 
 unbounded generosity made him a universal favorite. He 
 had a heart and a hand for every good cause. He possessed 
 a liberal and general culture that placed him among the 
 foremost scholars of the Church. His uniform kindness, his 
 popular address and his sparkling wit, won for the University 
 many ardent admirers and liberal patrons. A frail body, 
 urged on by a too willing spirit, soon yielded to the pow r er of 
 disease ; and one of the most generous, genial souls that 
 ever animated human dust threw aside its mortality, and 
 joined the ranks of the blessed. 
 
 "Rev. A. J. McGlumphy, D. D., was elected to fill the 
 vacancy occasioned by the death of President Bowdon. Dr. 
 McGlumphy's eminent success as a teacher, and his strict 
 adherence to the conservative policy of our older and more 
 renowned colleges, guarantee his fitness for the responsible 
 station he fills. His positive and vigorous mode of govern- 
 ment : his firm and uncompromising devotion to curriculum, 
 and his fixed determination to maintain a high standard 
 of scholarship, bespeak for him the confidence and the 
 undivided support of the Church. Under his administration, 
 the Church may confidently look for the speedy removal of 
 any imperfections that may exist either in discipline or schol- 
 arship. It is not said to the disparagement of Dr. 
 McGlumphy's predecessors that the college breathes a more 
 healthful air and exhibits a more vigorous spirit now than 
 ever before."
 
 EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS. 131 
 
 It is to be regretted that the unexpected death of the 
 Editor prevents the correction of any inaccuracies which 
 may be in the foregoing statement. Doubtless they exist. 
 There is good reason for thinking that the scheme of found- 
 ing an institution of learning in this State for the education 
 of our rising ministry originated with the Editor himself. 
 It is certain that, when he published the Western Cumberland 
 Presbyterian, the subject was discussed by him editorially, 
 and its importance set forth. Rev. J. R. Brown, D. D,, 
 then in charge of Cherry Grove Seminary at Abingdon, 111., 
 also wrote upon the subject in that paper under the signature 
 "Omicron ;" and to these two men, perhaps more than to 
 any others, is the Church indebted for the origin of the 
 proposition to establish Lincoln University. 
 
 A suitable financial statement is also lacking. It may be 
 well to say, however, that the University is in a sound finan- 
 cial condition, and has an endowment of about $100,000. 
 It has an able and faithful corps of instructors, registers a 
 goodly number of students, and has few superiors in point of 
 scholarship in the West.
 
 MOTHERS IN ISRAEL. 
 
 To Rev. Neill Johnson we are indebted for the following 
 sketch of 
 
 OLD MOTHER BARNES. 
 
 "I lirst became acquainted with this lady about the year 
 1828. She was the wife of a Revolutionary soldier, and 
 was brought into the Church at an advanced age. She and 
 her aged companion were poor, and lived mainly on a pen- 
 sion of $8 per month, which he drew for his Revolutionary 
 services. Unfortunately, like many of those noble old 
 patriots, he was considerably intemperate. Aside from this, 
 he was a patriotic, dignified old man. They lived six miles 
 from the place of my regular appointment, and, notwith- 
 standing her age, she was always present at my appointments, 
 performing the journey on foot. At a certain time she came 
 to me with a silver dollar. 'Here,' says she, 'Bro. J., is a 
 dollar. I am sorry I cannot give you more, but it is all I 
 can do at the present.' I was taken considerably by sur- 
 prise. I said, 'Mother Barnes, excuse me. I am truly 
 thankful to you for your good will, but you need this money 
 far more than I do. Keep it, and lay it out for some of the 
 comforts of this life suitable to your old age.' 'No, Bro. 
 J.,' said she, 'I have already received greater comfort from 
 those precious truths that you preach from time to time than 
 any thing this world can afford.' While I still hesitated in 
 taking it from her, she said, 'I shall really feel hurt, and 
 think hard of you, if you do not lake it. To this last appeal 
 I had to submit.
 
 MOTHERS IN ISRAEL. 133 
 
 "At that day a silver dollar was a greater amount, in many 
 respects, than ten dollars would be to-day, and, considering 
 the person and the circumstance under which it was given, I 
 this day believe that our blessed Savior will reckon it to 
 mother Barnes as being more than the fifties and the hun- 
 dreds that make such a flourish in the receipts of our Boards . 
 What influence the giving this dollar had upon the giver I 
 am not prepared to say ; but the influence it had upon the 
 receiver has never passed away, though it lacks but little of 
 half a century since it took place. It is often felt as follows : 
 Where I am going to preach, Lord, to-day, there are some 
 of thy hungry lambs. I have come entrusted and com- 
 manded to feed them. Shall I disappoint them and send 
 them away hungry? The responsibility has so pressed on 
 me that it tended to drive me to a throne of grace for help. 
 
 "Dear old sister Barnes has long since passed from her 
 poverty, toils and sorrows to a rich inheritance in her 
 heavenly father's mansion, and perhaps not a half dozen that 
 were once associated with her in the Church militant are this 
 side of the river. Her remains lie, I believe, in the burying 
 ground in Stouts Grove, and perhaps not a stone tells where 
 she lies ; but God looks down, and will watch her sleeping 
 dust till he shall bid it rise." 
 
 Richard Beard, D. D., sends this sketch : 
 
 MRS. ANN FOSTER. 
 
 "Mrs. Ann Foster, wife of Rev. David Foster, was, 
 before her marriage, Miss Ann Beard. She was the daugh- 
 ter of Captain David Beard. Her mother's original name 
 was Isabel Carson. Her father and mother were both 
 Virginians. Captain Beard was an officer in the Revolution- 
 ary War, and bore an active part in the battle of Guilford 
 Court House and in the siege of Yorktown. He was, I 
 suppose, a native of Bedford county, in Virginia, as I have 
 learned from the family history that his father lived and died
 
 134 MOTHERS IN ISRAEL. 
 
 in that county, and I have never been able to tiace the 
 lineage of the family farther up. 
 
 "Captain Beard was a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
 and connected in Virginia with one of the congregations of 
 Rev. David Rice, who afterwards became the father of 
 Presbyterianism in Kentucky. The subject of this sketch 
 was born in Virginia, and was doubtless baptized by Mr. 
 Rice. Sometime about 1784 her father moved from Virginia 
 to the West, and made his final settlement in Sumner county, 
 Tennessee, about six miles from where Gallatin now stands. 
 He and his family, as far as they were professors of religion, 
 connected themselves with Shiloh congregation, which was 
 successively under the pastoral care of Revs. Thomas B., 
 Craighead, William McGee. and William Hodge. Shiloh 
 became historical in the old revival of 1800. That work 
 reached the congregation early in the century, and the 
 pastor, Mr. Hodge, became one of its most active supporters. 
 In that revival Captain Beard himself, after a long and ter- 
 rible experience (in the course of which, from despair of his 
 spiritual condition's ever being improved, he was often driven 
 to the borders of suicide), made a second profession of 
 religion. The daughter, Ann, soon became an earnest 
 inquirer for what had come to seem the neiv way. She 
 appears, as tradition represents her, to have been a very 
 thoughtful young woman. She was hard to satisfy with her 
 spiritual condition, and had a long and doubtful struggle for 
 such evidences of a spiritual renewal as she desired. The 
 writer recollects to have heard her say, perhaps more than 
 once, that at one of the camp-meetings at Shiloh, in the early 
 part of the revival, Mr. Craighead conversed with her fre- 
 quently, and tried to convince her that she was a Christian. 
 Her own account of the matter was, that she knew well 
 enough that she was not. The good man was, no doubt, 
 honest, and many persons would have accepted his decision, 
 and acted upon it ; but she was too earnest to be satisfied
 
 MOTHERS IN ISRAEL. 135 
 
 with a shadow. In process of time, however, she passed out 
 from under the cloud. It was a real transition a conversion 
 characteristic of the times. There never was a more earnest 
 Christian woman. Her influence began to be felt immedi- 
 ately, and, considering her social position, it was evidently 
 to a wide extent. 
 
 "Her marriage to Mr. Foster was a marriage, as I used to 
 hear it mentioned in our family, based upon Christian 
 principles. I have heard old Mr. Foster, too, the father of 
 David Foster, speak of it. He was one of the best of old 
 men. David Foster had just fairly entered the ministry. 
 He thought of marrying, but times were stormy. He had 
 taken a stand with what became the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. But their prospects were very dark. There 
 were pressing calls for preaching, but the preachers had no 
 encouragement. He consulted his father on the subject of 
 his thoughts. The good old man admitted the darkness of 
 the prospect, was not sure that a young preacher, under such 
 circumstances, ought to marry, but decided, if his mind was 
 to marry, that there was one woman who would suit him, 
 and that to a marriage with her he could give his cordial 
 consent. That woman was the subject of this sketch. The 
 families were neighbors, and well acquainted. They were 
 in mutual sympathy on the subject of religion. It was a 
 "marriage in the Lord." Rev. William Hodge was the 
 officiating minister. It was the first marriage that the writer 
 ever witnessed. It occurred far back in his early boyhood. 
 Mr. Foster bought a little farm and settled near his father in 
 Sumner county. 
 
 "In the course of a very few years two or three, perhaps 
 he was called to the charge of some congregations in Wilson 
 county. He moved and settled in Suggs' Creek congrega- 
 tion. Here the real work of his life and of that of his wife 
 commenced. He preached to three congregations about nine 
 months in the year, and the other three months were spent,
 
 136 MOTHERS IN ISRAEL. 
 
 according to the custom of the times, in attending camp- 
 meetings. These often took him far from home, and 
 sometimes three or four weeks in succession. The wife had 
 the burden of the home to bear. She was always frail, yet 
 she administered the affairs of her household with a patience, 
 an earnestness and a heroism which deserved the crown of 
 martyrdom. I was accustomed occasionally to spend 
 months in succession at her house, and I have no recollection 
 of ever seeing a hired female domestic in her family. Indeed, 
 for some years her house was a sort of second home, and 
 she was a sort of second mother to me. I was, therefore, 
 well acquainted with her burdens, and the manner in which 
 she bore them. At one time, in the latter part of 1824, I 
 was in an almost hopeless state of health, and retreated to 
 Mr. Foster's for rest and recuperation for a while. In the 
 time under medical direction, a portion of calomel brought 
 on one of the worst cases of salivation that I ever witnessed. 
 My good aunt was my nurse, and she was indefatigable in 
 her attentions. By day or by night, when necessary, she 
 was at my bed-side, ready to afford what relief was possible. 
 All this, too, was in addition to her own household cares. 
 
 "After Mr. Foster moved to Illinois, I think I never saw 
 his wife. In addition to his removal my own line of life 
 changed. From being a traveling preacher I was driven, by 
 a failure of health, to the school room, and of course was 
 very much confined. Of her latter days, therefore, I knew 
 nothing. I have no doubt, however, that they were the days 
 of an earnest Christian woman. It could scarcely have been 
 otherwise. 
 
 "There was one feature in Mrs. Foster's religious life which 
 was too prominent and too distinctly marked to be overlooked 
 in a sketch like this. She sometimes, as long as I knew 
 her, under the influence of high religious exciterr.ent, would 
 break silence, and not merely shout aloud, but exhort her 
 friends and by-standers. Her exhortations, too, were not
 
 MOTHERS IN IRSAEL. 137 
 
 the mere incoherent ravings of an unbridled imagination, but 
 they were conceived and expressed with an astonishing 
 degree of correctness. Ordinarily she was a woman of few 
 words, and her intelligence was not above what might have 
 been expected in a woman raised as she was, and having the 
 limited advantages in future life which she had ; but on the 
 occasions of which I speak she always transcended herself. 
 The people sometimes said that when she threw aside her 
 respect for the rules of order she was a better preacher than 
 her husband. The hearer involuntarily lost sight of the 
 irregularity of the proceeding under the influence of tender 
 and powerful appeals in behalf of the truth. Her case, how- 
 ever, was not an isolated one. We had other mothers in 
 Israel who threw themselves as earnestly and as decidely 
 into the great work of the times. We witnessed without 
 offiense these outpourings of earnest hearts, which, we were 
 satisfied from other sources, were right in the sight of God. 
 I suppose myself that the Savior accepted them upon the 
 same principle that led him to the acceptance of the hosan- 
 nahs of the multitude at the descent of the Mount of Olives, 
 when he replied to the murmuring Pharisees, 'I tell you that 
 if these should hold their peace, the very stones would 
 immediately cry out.' 
 
 "Let it not be said that I have become an advocate for 
 irregularities and disorders in the house of God. I acknow- 
 ledge the authority of Paul in its fullest sense. We all 
 acknowledge the necessity and authority of general rules ; 
 yet it sometimes happens that the very interest and 
 expressiveness of a proceeding arise, in a great measure, 
 from its departure from all rules, and from its overlooking 
 all precedents. I place the proceedings which I have men- 
 tioned in this category. 
 
 "It affords me great satisfaction to be thus able, even at 
 this late day, to render a tribute, however imperfect, to the 
 memory of one of the best Christian women that I ever
 
 1.-P M^' HERS IN ISRAEL. 
 
 knew, and of one of the best and sincerest friends of my 
 youth and early manhood." 
 
 We are indebted to the kindness of Rev. P. H. Crider for 
 this sketch of 
 
 MRS. MARY ANN WILSON. 
 
 "Mary Ann Wilson was born January 3Oth, 1788. She 
 removed from East Tennessee to Macon county, Illinois, 
 about the year 1830. Mrs. Wilson was an exemplary and 
 faithful Christian, and a devoted friend and member of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church to the day of her death. 
 I am told by her daughter, Mrs. Nancy Wilson, who lives 
 near Decatur, that she, during the latter years of her life, 
 could not be satisfied without going back occasionally to 
 attend meeting at Mt. Zion, her early church home, although 
 she lived several miles away. An excellent sister living in Mt 
 Zion tells me that Aunt 'Polly Wilson,' as she was generally 
 known, told her, a short time before her death, that she had 
 never failed to attend the camp and protracted meetings at 
 
 Mt. Zion for forty-one years, except in on single instance. 
 
 * ~fy-'' "'" -'? " 
 
 This, of course, embraced every year in the history of the 
 
 church from its organization. 
 
 "The following are the names of her chil'dren : i. Thos. 
 B. Wilson, D. D., was born July 26th, 1807, an ^ died July, 
 1873. He went from Tennessee to Alabama, and from there 
 to Texas. He was pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 church at Marshall, Texas, at the time of his death. 2. 
 Alexander McClure Wilson was born May 6ih, 1809, and is 
 still living and preaching in Kansas. 3. Eliza D. Wilson 
 was born April i5th, 1811, and died Sept. 13, 1815. 4. 
 Katherine Wilson was born in 1816, and died Jan. 7, 1855. 
 5. Nancy Wilson, now living. 6. John A. Wilson was born 
 Jan. 9, 1819, and died Dec. 18, 1821. 7. James J. Wilson 
 was born November 12, 1822, and died April 28th, 1854, at 
 Princeton, Ky., only a few weeks before he was to graduate
 
 MOTHERS IN ISRAEL. 139 
 
 in Cumberland College. One son died in infancy, and all 
 the other sons became ministers of the gospel. 
 
 "This excellent mother in Israel, Mrs. Mary Ann Wilson, 
 died September 17, 1872, being 84 years, 7 months and 17 
 days old. Her remains were deposited by the side of her 
 huiband in the cemetery at Mt. Zion. While we say, Peace 
 to her ashes, her memory will not be forgotten by many of 
 the present generation living in the community of Mt. Zion. 
 She formerly lived at Mt. Zion, and the ground on which the 
 church, the cemetery, and the academy building were 
 located, was obtained from the tract of land that belonged to 
 her husband, but is now owned by S. K. Smith."
 
 *ofr 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 REV. W. W. M. BARBER, of Windsor, 111., has furnished 
 this sketch of his father, 
 
 REV. JOHN BARBER, SEN. 
 
 "Rev. John Barber, Sen., was born in Lincoln county, 
 N. C., Jan. i5th, 1780. His father was a Colonel in the 
 Revolutionary War. His name was also John, which ap 
 peared to be a favorite name, as it has been perpetuated in 
 the family. His mother's name is not now remembered. 
 Mr. Barber's parents were members of the Presbyterian 
 Church, and he was raised up in that faith and became a 
 member in his i6th year. He was the subject of the revival 
 that began in North Carolina in 1796, and culminated so 
 powerfully in 1800, out of which the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church emanated. 
 
 "In early life he became greatly exercised for the salva- 
 tion of sinners ; was active in religious meetings, and would 
 frequently give public exhortations. He was thus early in 
 life impressed with reference to preaching the gospel. His 
 way seemed hedged up in the Presbyterian Church from 
 two considerations : First, his education was limited, though 
 he possessed some advantages over many others. He had a 
 good common education, and when only sixteen years of age 
 was employed in teaching school. While he made no 
 pretention to much education, yet he had given some 
 attention to Latin, besides the common branches of the day. 
 He also had serious objections to the doctrine of fatality, as
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 14! 
 
 taught in the Westminster Confession, and, being poor, he 
 did not feel that he could obtain that amount of educa- 
 tion that would commend him to the Presbyterian pulpit. 
 He settled down, and, when quite young, married. But this 
 did not relieve his mind on the subject of preaching the 
 gospel. He tried to stifle his feelings ; and in this state of 
 mind in the year 1815 he came to Illinois, and settled in 
 Madison county, near Edwardsville, the county seat. In the 
 neighborhood where he settled there were, including himself , 
 three elders, and about twenty members of the Presbyterian 
 Church. Mr. Barber had been ordained an elder before 
 leaving North Carolina. His impressions to preach became 
 more intense, and, finding that the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Confession of Faith only made a good English education 
 indispensable in order to enter the ministry, he, in the forty- 
 fourth year of his age, was sent as a representative from Mt. 
 Gilead society to the second session of Illinois Presbytery, 
 which met at New Salem, Gallatin county, 111., Oct. i4th, 
 1823, at which meeting he became a candidate for the 
 ministry. Mr. Barber was licensed to preach the gospel as 
 a probationer for the holy ministry April pth, 1824, at the 
 house of James Johnson, Mt. Gilead, Bond county, 111. He 
 was ordained to the whole work of the gospel ministry at the 
 house of Joseph Robison, Madison county, 111., Thursday 
 after the first Tuesday in April, 1826, having been a licentiate 
 two years. Mr. Barber was respected as a good Christian 
 man and citizen, a man of considerable reading and extensive 
 knowledge. He had been called by his fellow citizens to fill 
 civil offices, and for a number of years filled the office of 
 Justice of the Peace. 
 
 "Possessing a strong mind and having some ambition, 
 after joining Presbytery he made rapid progress in scientific 
 pursuits, so that in six months after his reception as a candi- 
 date he was licensed to preach, and went heartily into the 
 work. From his journal we learn that he had occasional
 
 142 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 seasons of gloom and discouragements. The remarks, after 
 telling where and from what text he had preached, were very 
 dissimilar from each other on different occasions. At one 
 time he said, 'I had light, liberty, power ; people feeling ;' at 
 another time he said, 'I had no light, no liberty, no heat, no 
 power; dull myself; people dull.' At one time large con- 
 gregations, again few or none, were present. At one time 
 he was much encouraged ; at other times discouraged, and 
 tempted to quit preaching. 
 
 "What he received for preaching, and from whom and 
 when, were faithfully kept in his journal. His report to the 
 Fall Presbytery of 1830 will show something of the work 
 performed and the amount received. He says, 'I would beg 
 leave to report to Presbytery, that I have preached one hun- 
 dred and two sermons since last Presbytery ; have baptized 
 one adult and twelve infants. I have organized one church 
 with thirteen members, which were received by letter, and 
 have received four or five members by experience in the 
 bounds of my particular labors. I have spent one hundred 
 and eight week days, including the time spent in attending 
 the judicatures of the Church, and have received $4.50, $3 
 of which were given by the ministers to defray my expenses 
 to the General Assembly. I have attended six camp- 
 meetings and twelve two-days' meetings. At our 
 camp-meetings, and other places where I have labored, 
 I have an account of fifty-three who have professed religion. 
 The calls for ministerial labor are increasing, and many of 
 them come from persons who are members of our Church, 
 but are now living far from where they can hear a Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian voice. I cannot see how these calls are to 
 be met, unless we have itinerant preachers. But preachers 
 cannot'live on the wind, and there appears to be but little 
 prospect of any measures by which they can be supported. 
 There is a fault among Cumberland Presbyterians on this 
 subject, and if there is not something done soon, if the
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 143 
 
 gospel does not sink, Cumberland Presbyterianism must and 
 will sink. But I desist.' 
 
 "In a report prior to this the amount of work was some- 
 thing similar, the amount received was one dollar, and the 
 distance traveled about eighty miles per month. About this 
 time was a gloomy period in the history of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church, and one who left it boasted that there 
 would be a general stampede. While there were induce- 
 ments held out, none but poor Ogden left with him (Smith). 
 
 "Mr. Barber was a strong advocate of temperance, and 
 was the first in his neighborhood to dispense with the use of 
 liquor at meetings for work. When he invited his friends to 
 assist him in his work, he informed them that he was not 
 going to furnish ardent spirits on the occasion. Many said 
 they would not help ; but they had respect for his conscien- 
 tious convictions, and he experienced no difficulty. By his 
 boldness he set an example that was followed by his neigh- 
 bors. He often lectured on temperance, and made overtures 
 in private to such as he considered in danger of being injured 
 by strong drink. Once, three or four young men, that he 
 had admonished to quit drinking, agreed that they would 
 quit if he would quit the use of tobacco. On mature and 
 prayerful reflection he accepted the proposition. In a few 
 months afterwards they inquired how he got along. He 
 confessed that it went hard with him to do without his 
 tobacco. They proposed to mutually withdraw from their 
 pledges. He declined their offer. Those young men lived 
 orderly and sober lives. 
 
 "Mr. Barber had an ardent love for souls, and up to within 
 a short period before his death he traveled some forty miles 
 or more to visit churches that he had planted. His last visit 
 to Madison county, where he first settled, was attended with 
 difficulty, from an affliction in his limbs affecting him to such 
 an extent that he sometimes sat and preached. He 
 preached six times during this visit, and spoke of it with
 
 144 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 tears as his last visit. A short time after this, in a letter to 
 his son, Dr. Barber, he says : 'I have kept up my regular 
 appointments, but feel like giving them up. I am always 
 extremely tired on Sabbath evenings. 
 
 I look forward with joy to that sweet rest which is just before 
 me, and will be given me, when the toils of life are over, by 
 my blessed Redeemer. These thoughts cheer my soul often 
 in view of my final end. The thought of that rest makes me 
 feel that no affliction here is worth a thought when compared 
 with the glory that shall be revealed ; and the thought of 
 winning souls to Jesus seems more than all my toils. I have 
 frequently thought that, if I had my choice when and where 
 to die, it would be to die in the pulpit entreating sinners to 
 come to Jesus. But I will leave the when, and the where, 
 and the how I shall bid the world adieu, to him who has 
 bought me with his own blood, and who, I hope, will be 
 glorified in me, whether by life or death. As long as I can 
 speak intelligently, and can reach the assembly who meet to 
 worship God, I will endeavor to preach Jesus and him cruci- 
 fied, the way, the truth and the life.' 
 
 "In another letter to the same, he alludes to the infirmities 
 of old age in strains of a true Christian philosopher. He 
 says : 'I suppose that you feel by this time somewhat as I 
 did before I received yours of the ipth of December : that I 
 am either dead, sick, careless, lazy, busy, or something else. 
 The first two and the last of the above charges have not 
 befallen me yet, but the other two, I fear, stick as close as 
 the skin. You will doubtless perceive by my awkward 
 letters that the old fingers are beginning to threaten disobe- 
 dience, and if they refuse partial or total obedience, I have 
 no remedy. All the old joints seem to threaten the same, 
 and if they combine they will certainly conquer, for the last 
 seventy-four years' wear and tear will much facilitate the 
 conquest. But what will be conquered? Blood, bones, 
 sinews, flesh and nerves are not me. Life what is it?
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 145 
 
 where is it? 'T is not in the head and heart alone, but it is 
 in the end of every finger and toe, and every other part of 
 my system ; and yet I cannot fully describe or understand it. 
 With the Psalmist I must exclaim : I am fearfully and won- 
 derfully made.' Ps. clix. 14. 
 
 "Mr. Barber was married four times twice before 
 leaving North Carolina and twice in Illinois. He had four 
 children by his first wife and four by the last. Of the first 
 family all are dead. Each, however, lived to have a family 
 of his own. 
 
 "The last sermon Mr. Barber preached was at old Mount 
 Pleasant church, about six weeks previous to his death. 
 The text was Romans iii. 20. He died Sept. 19, 1855, in 
 his ydth year. He is buried in Bear Creek graveyard, 
 Montgomery county, 111." 
 
 It was our privilege to see Mr. Barber and hear him 
 preach several times. He was a man of extraordinary 
 strength of mind, and had the happy faculty of stating his 
 views clearly and in few words. We visited him and passed 
 a night with him during his last sickness. He was calm and 
 resigned, and looking out momentarily for the Master to call 
 for him. He was unusually beloved, and his death greatly 
 lamented. 
 
 REV. DAVID WILSON M'LIN. 
 
 No iran connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church in Illinois, all things considered, acted the part 
 which this father did in establishing the Church on Illinois 
 soil. It is strange, and sad, too, that a fitting tribute to his 
 memory has not been long since published. We feel that 
 the data now within reach is so defective, that it is impossible 
 to do justice to the self-sacrificing toil of this indomitable 
 and successful minister of Jesus. It was not our privilege to 
 meet with him, but, what is perhaps better, we have met 
 with his mighty influence, or rather the influence of our holy 
 religion through his instrumentality, over all our Church
 
 146 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 territory in Illinois. Everywhere we meet the saving influ- 
 ence of his life and noble character. Whether we traverse 
 the country and talk with the "old settlers," or read the 
 records of Presbyteries and Synods, the name of D. W. 
 McLin stands pre-eminent over all others. We are, there- 
 fore, glad of the privilege to do at least a little toward 
 redeeming from oblivion a character and life that ought to be 
 ever held sacred by all Cumberland Presbyterians. The 
 following touching letter from his youngest daughter in 
 Sherman, Texas, will be read with interest: 
 
 "I, being the youngest of the family, have no recollection 
 of ever seeing my father, and can only very indistinctly re- 
 member my mother ; but I do revere and love their names, 
 and feel to ask the blessing of God upon any one who may 
 wish to perpetuate the memory of my sainted father. I will 
 give a few items in reference to his early history, which may 
 be of some importance. Having lived the greater part of 
 my life away from my older sisters and brothers, I have had 
 but little chance to know much of my parents' history. 
 
 "My father, David Wilson McLin, was born in North 
 Carolina, December 24th, 1785. He was of Scotch-Irish 
 descent. His parents, James and Catherine McLin, moved 
 from North Carolina to Middle Tennessee when he was 
 quite young. They were of the Presbyterian faith. Father 
 was a. convert of the revival of 1800. His early education, I 
 think, was limited, but, from what I have been told, he was 
 a life student. He learned the tailor's trade, and at times 
 during his whole life worked at his trade, when in need of 
 means of support for his family. He often came home after 
 being away preaching for days, and sat up all night working 
 so as to leave the means of subsistence for his family while 
 on another missionary tour, though never neglecting the work 
 of his Master. He was received as a candidate for the min- 
 istry March 10, 1810, with Robert Donnell, Robert McCorkle, 
 William Bumpass and William Barnett.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 147 
 
 "He remained in Tennessee, riding and preaching, until 
 the division of Cumberland Presbytery ; then he joined 
 Logan Presbytery. He preached in Kentucky and Tennessee 
 until sent out as a missionary to Illinois by the Western Mis- 
 sionary Board, of Kentucky, which, from his journal, seems 
 to have been in either 1819 or 1820. 
 
 "He was married in 1812 near Hopkinsville, Ky., to 
 Nancy Johnson Porter, daughter of William and Sarah 
 Porter. She was born in Virginia. Her parents moved to 
 Kentucky when she was a child, and settled near Hopkins- 
 ville. They were Baptists, but she was not a member of any 
 Church at the time of their marriage. She professed 
 religion soon afterwards and joined the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. 
 
 "Father died in Fairfield, 111., in the Fall of 1836. His 
 disease was dyspepsia. He was a great sufferer a long 
 while before he died, but continued to ride and preach as 
 long as he could sit on his horse, and even after he had to 
 be helped into his saddle from weakness. Just before his 
 death he was making preparations to attend a camp-meeting 
 a few miles from where he lived. He directed all arrange- 
 ments himself. He had his camp built near the pulpit where 
 he could lie in his bed and enjoy the meeting ; but before 
 the time for the meeting came on he grew worse. As death 
 approached, he called his wife and children around him ; 
 bade each one an affectionate farewell ; advised the older 
 ones in reference to their spiritual interest and their mother's 
 welfare ; and then, as might have been expected from the 
 life he had lived, had nothing to do but to calmly fall asleep 
 in Jesus. After his death it was soon ascertained that com- 
 paratively nothing was left for the support of his family. 
 The church then bought a place near Fairfield, and gave it 
 to mother, at which she remained till her death, she and her 
 older daughters supporting themselves and the younger 
 children by their own exertions,
 
 148 HIO<;KAPHK AI.. 
 
 "Mother died hi the Winter of IN^S ol pneumonia. She 
 
 in unassuming quiet Christian, of a sweet, gentle dispo- 
 sition. She h;ul a tirni and abiding faith in her Savior, and 
 just before her death expressed the belief that her children 
 would be taken eare of. Since then we have been a broken, 
 scattered family, yet the Lord of the orphan, whom our 
 parents loved and trusted, has kindly provided for and taken 
 care of each and every one of us. Although we, as a 
 familv, have been separated the greater part of our lives, we 
 have the blessed hope of meeting again a happv, unbroken. 
 re-united family in heaven. Only four of us are living now. 
 All the rest have passed through the 'pearly gates,' and are 
 now waiting and watching for those of us left behind." 
 
 The following sketch is from our worthy brother, Rev. 
 J. M. Miller, pastor of the church at Enfield, 111., and who 
 knows whereof he writes : 
 
 "In 1815 he was examining committee when John Provine 
 \\.is licensed. He organized Dry Fork church, Middle 
 Tennessee, in the Winter of 1817, where, on October 7th, 
 1850, his youngest daughter, N. L. McLin, was converted 
 to God. He organi/ed Milage church, White county. 111., 
 in the Fall of 1819; Shiloh church at Burnt Prairie. Nov. 
 22, 1821 ; the church at McLeansboro, I think : one near 
 Shawneetovvn : think he organized Union church in White 
 county : Fairlield and Thorn's Prairie churches in Wayne 
 county : and New Pleasant congregation in (lallatin county. 
 About 1829 he moved to Kquality, (jallatin county : in 1831 
 to Burnt Prairie, White county: in 1832 to Fairlield. Wayne 
 county. 
 
 "At his death he left a \\ite, six living daughters and three 
 vons. one son (Finis Kwing) having died July i^. 1^25, at 
 the age of 1.4 months and .'5 davs. All his children who 
 grew to adult years became members of the Cumberland 
 Preshvterian Church, except, perhaps, one. His fameua* 
 not only in all the churches, but in all this countn . Mr. A.
 
 I |0 
 
 Stcuart, an a^nl elder in the Cumberland IVesln u-rian 
 
 church in Albion, 111.! soon alter his arrival froin Scotland) 
 
 heard him preach in Carmi, White county . While the youni; 
 Scotchman inueh admired the speaker and the sermon, he 
 thought it strange to see a minister in a mixed jeans suit ! 
 With salety it may In- said, the 1'ruit ot' early labor is not only 
 abundant here, but main , tollo\\in;; the tide ot emigration, 
 went North ami West iij this State, ami into lo\va, Oregon, 
 Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, some to Missouri, and some to 
 
 Texas, 
 
 Kev. McLin \vas present at the first meeting ot Illinois 
 Synod, Mt. (iilead church, liond county, 111., Oct. 11, i 
 At that time he, J. S. Alexander, Jesse IVarce and Riehanl 
 Harris were the members ot Illinois lYeslnterv. Within the 
 same ten itoi \ are Illinois, ICwiiii; and MeLin Presbyteries, 
 with about 30 ordiined ministers, and 85 or 90 or^ar 
 churches. The Presbyterian Church was or<;ani/.ed here 
 lu-toie Mr. McLin came. Two ot my uncles wen- elders. 
 My father, James Miller, ami one uncle, James M\s, became 
 elders in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, both possess- 
 ing about equal chances. The growth ot the Cumberlaiul 
 Presbyterian Church in the same territory, numericalK , is 
 about ten fold greater, indicating /eal, and doctrine that 
 commends itself. 
 
 "His mission work, I think, often look him to Shoal 
 Creek, Hi-;- Muddy ami Silver Creek, as the names became 
 quite tamiliar to me by hearing him so often speak of them. 
 
 Travel then was on foot or horseback) and oiti-n in the ni^iit, 
 
 to avoid Hies. 
 
 "The e\idence ol lasting- work mi^ht be given at great 
 
 length. Multitudes will trace their sakation to his instru- 
 mentality. His n-mains rest near Kail field, 111." 
 
 The lollowin^- inti-restino letter is horn Kev. J. T. Borah, 
 now o! Kien/.i, Miss. Mr. liorah was tor years a minister 
 in Illinois :
 
 15 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 "Rev. David McLin was ordained to the ministry by Cum- 
 berland Presbytery in the month of February, 1813, in the 
 neighborhood of Mr. McGhee on Three Forks of Duck 
 River. Some time after his removal to Illinois he and Rev. 
 Nimrod Furguson bought the freedom of a negro preacher. 
 Their object was good. At the time of the purchase, it was 
 believed that the negro might accomplish good as a preacher. 
 But the manumitted slave turned out -badly : proved wicked 
 and ungrateful. The former owner exacted rigidly the pay- 
 ment of the purchase money. The conduct of the negro had 
 destroyed all confidence and sympathy. The purchasers had 
 expected assistance ; but the whole amount fell upon McLin 
 and Furguson. With that amount to pay, and a large family 
 to support, McLin was pressed for years. Poor Furguson ! 
 he fell upon breakers, and finally stranded among the quick- 
 sands of infidelity. 
 
 "Mr. McLin was a tailor by trade, and had the reputation 
 of being a good one. But he abandoned 'the bench,' entered 
 upon the practice of medicine, and was a successful physi- 
 cian. During all these changes, and under all these trials 
 which fell thick and hard upon him, he faltered not, but was 
 indefatigable in his efforts in the ministry. That great and 
 pressing work seemed ever to absorb his heart and sympa- 
 thies, notwithstanding the demands upon his energy in 
 supporting his family. He had appointments far and near, 
 in church houses, school houses, and very often at private 
 residences. He possessed the happy art of presenting the 
 beauties of religion, and impressing them upon heart and 
 mind, when out of the pulpit, as well as when in it. Espec- 
 ially among the children did he reign, and his scepter was 
 love. The writer has often sat upon the knees of that sainted 
 man, and listened to the story of a Savior's love, that seemed 
 ever on the lips of the loving, faithful disciple. Whether in 
 the pulpit, at the bedside of the suffering, in the social 
 circle, or amongst romping children, he turned all to
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 account for the advancement of the cause so near his heart, 
 He was a charming preacher, with a clear, ringing voice, 
 pleasant gestures, and eyes that became luminous when 
 excited or enthused with his subject. In stature he was 
 rather low, and somewhat inclined to corpulence ; had a bald 
 head, but was exceedingly fine looking, and the neatest man 
 I ever saw. Mr. McLin was once preaching at Shiloh 
 (Burnt Prairie neighborhood), on the old camp-ground. 
 His theme was : 'The Pure River and the Tree of Life.' 
 The effort was truly grand. He was exceedingly brilliant in 
 his descriptions, and carried his hearers onward and upward 
 until it seemed that the preacher stood upon the radiant shore 
 hard by the throne, and the audience were gazing upon the 
 rapt scene. There was a shout sent up by that large con- 
 course, the refrain of which I expect angels took up, and 
 carried to the 'most excellent glory.' The preacher sprang 
 from the pulpit and burst into loud hallelujahs. Many were 
 converted and made happy on that occasion, who, with the 
 grand old preacher, have crossed the dark river and have 
 entered the heavenly city through gates of pearl. 
 
 "Dr. McLin preached his last sermon in July or August of 
 the year he died. The meeting was at the residence of 
 Daniel Kinchello in Wayne county, five miles southwest from 
 Fairfield. His text was Isaiah xxviii. 20: 'For the bed is 
 shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it, and the 
 covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.' 
 The writer was only a youth, yet the scene will never be 
 forgotten. There stood the old warrior, worn and feeble, 
 trembling under the weight of years and toil, with pale brow, 
 sunken eye, body all emaciated, but the shadow of a man of 
 a few years ago. While elaborating the doctrines of the text 
 he was solemn, pointed, earnest; but when he came to the 
 peroration he was almost fearful in the grandeur of his 
 appeals to the dying sinner without a covering to shelter his 
 suffering soul. It was the last struggle. The work of Rev,
 
 152 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 David McLin was done, his warfare ended. He went home, 
 and laid by his armor, calmly and sweetly to die amidst his 
 loved and loving family. His wife and some of his sons and 
 daughters have followed, and are now with him resting under 
 the shadow of a throne white and glorious." 
 
 REV. JOHN M'CUTCHEN BERRY. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Virginia, March 
 22, 1788. Of his parentage and early life tnit little is now 
 known. His education was necessarily limited. He moved 
 to Tennessee in his fourteenth year, and professed religion 
 among the Cumberland Presbyterians in his twentieth year. 
 His convictions were long and severe, at times bordering on 
 despair. His mind was troubled with the old doctrine of 
 election and reprobation taught in the Westminster Confes- 
 sion. He got to believe that he was eternally reprobated, 
 and that therefore there was no mercy for him. The writer 
 knows from experience something of the terrible anxieties 
 this doctrine can produce when once it gets a lodgment in 
 the mind (For what is here narrated we are mainly indebted 
 to Rev. A. Johnson's letters as published in 1864 in the 
 Western Cumberland Presbyterian, of which the writer was 
 then Editor, and to Dr. Beard's "Second Series" of bio- 
 graphical sketches.) When at last the light broke into his 
 soul, he described it as "the sun arising at midnight." 
 Through all his ministerial course he had a great aversion, 
 amounting almost to abhorrence of this terrible doctrine, that 
 man's destiny is fixed from eternity, irrespective of any 
 conditions. 
 
 Soon after his conversion he felt it to be his duty to preach 
 the gospel, but strove against the impressions with great 
 resolution. But the impressions followed him, and in order 
 to get away from this duty, and the darkness of mind pro- 
 duced by his rebellion against God, he w r as greatly tempted 
 to commit suicide, and at one time went out into the darkness
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 153 
 
 to end his existence. Some influence, however, kept him 
 from committing the deed. To drown these feelings he 
 married, and married one who, li'.;e himself, was sternly 
 opposed to his trying to be a preacher. He also joined the 
 army in 1812 under Col. Young Ewing. The expedition 
 was against the Indians in Illinois. The regiment marched 
 to Fort Clark, found no Indians, and returned to Kentucky 
 nearly starved for food. Col. Ewing was brother to Rev. 
 Finis Ewing, one of the fathers of the Cumberland Presby- 
 terian Church. Finis EvVing was himself in the regiment as 
 soldier and chaplain. Mr. Berry again entered the army, 
 and was in the celebrated battle of New Orleans, fought on 
 the 8th of January, 1815. It was in this battle, exposed to 
 instant death, with men falling all around him, that Mr. 
 Berry promised God, if spared to return home, he would 
 serve him to the best of his ability in any position he called 
 him. His soul at that time was filled with inexpressible de- 
 light and joy. 
 
 In 1817 Mr. Berry was received as a candidate under the 
 care of Logan Presbytery. In the Fall of 1819 he was 
 licensed to preach the gospel, and in 1822 he was ordained 
 to the whole work of the gospel ministry. In 1820 he 
 removed to the State of Indiana, where, like all other poor 
 people, he labored on a farm to support his family and 
 preached what he could. Shortly after his ordination he 
 came to Illinois, and was one of the three members who 
 formed the first Presbytery, as recorded elsewhere. He 
 settled in Sangamon county (at that day but sparsely settled), 
 and he was the only preacher of our people in all the northern 
 part of the State. He continued a member of Illinois Pres- 
 bytery until, in the Spring of 1829, Sangamon Presbytery 
 held its first meeting, and he was one of its five ministers 
 present. He lived and labored in this field for many years 
 with wonderful success. In the latter part of his life he was 
 a member, we think, of Mackinaw Presbytery, and remained
 
 154 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 so till his death, which occurred in the Winter of 1856 and 
 1857, at his residence in Clinton, DeWitt county. His last 
 sermon was delivered at old Sugar Creek, in Logan county, 
 some ten miles north of Lincoln, from Rom viii. 28. He 
 died as he had lived: with his armor on, and in the field of 
 battle. 
 
 Mr. Berry was a very positive man. His opinions were 
 very decided, and his preaching was bold, frank, unvar- 
 nished. The writer first met him in the town of Greenfield, 
 at the session of Sangamon Presbytery in 1854, on ty a little 
 over two years before his death. He was very impressive as 
 a speaker. His points were made clear and strong, and he 
 was a man of large influence over the entire State. We had 
 the impression that no man of his day, if we may except 
 Rev. Mr. McLin, had as much to do in forming the character 
 and establishing the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 
 Illinois as had Mr. Berry. 
 
 In the latter part of his life he entertained extreme views 
 on the subject of baptism, which crippled his influence w r ith 
 a portion of the Church. In his early ministry he was in the 
 habit of baptizing often by immersion, if the subject preferred 
 this mode. This, indeed, was the common practice thirty 
 years ago. Mr. Berry had a case of this kind. It was a 
 lady. The season was dry, and sufficient water was hard to 
 procure. The baptism was delayed some hours, certain 
 parties having to dam up a little stream so as to accumulate 
 water enough to immerse the body. Mr. Berry felt that he 
 and the entire audience were placed under very embarrass- 
 ing circumstances. It led him to a careful examination of the 
 subject as to whether God required a mode which, many 
 times, places the subject and administrator under embarrass- 
 ments like those under which they were laboring. His mind 
 underwent a great revolution on this question, and he came 
 to the firm conviction that immersion is not baptism at all : 
 that all who are immersed are yet unbaptized, and conse-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 155 
 
 quently are not in the Church at all baptism, as he viewed 
 it, being the door into the visible Church. Mr. Berry was 
 not a man to believe strongly in the necessity and importance 
 of a dogma, and not preach it. Accordingly, he preached 
 and argued his new doctrine far and near, producing at the 
 time quite a sensation among the churches of his Presbytery 
 and Synod. So far did he carry his view that he refused to 
 administer the sacrament of the Supper to those who had 
 been immersed, alleging that they were unbaptized, and 
 therefore had no right lo partake of the Lord's Supper. 
 About this time he published his book entitled, ''The Cove- 
 nants," in which the doctrine just mentioned is strongly urged. 
 Before the close of his life he seemed to lose sight, 
 somewhat, of this theme, and go back to the themes of his 
 younger days in the ministry ; and the excitement over his 
 theory had well nigh died out. 
 
 Mr. Berry was very prompt in his attendance upon the 
 judicalories of the Church. He was never absent unless 
 positively hindered by sickness or death, often riding from 
 one hundred to five hundred miles to get there, and that, too, 
 over swollen streams and through mud and almost boundless 
 prairies, many times without any road as a guide to the place 
 of destination. He was a man of great courage and perse- 
 verance, of unquestioned integrity and of spotless character. 
 There was one thing which seemed to trouble him more than 
 all else, and that was a son, who became dissipated. Mr. 
 Berry was much from home, and it appears that while not 
 under the immediate eye of his father, the son acquired a 
 taste for strong drink. This, with its attendant evils, gave 
 the parents much anxiety, and even anguish of mind. Dr. 
 Beard relates an incident connected with this son's case, 
 which we think worthy of repeating here. We may here 
 state, that no man could have been more opposed to intem- 
 perance, or a stronger advocate of total abstinence from 
 all intoxicating drinks as a beverage, than was Mr. Ben"Y
 
 156 HIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 His was an uncompromising war upon the enemy at all times. 
 But to the incident: "Abraham Lincoln and Mr. Berry's 
 prodigal son were at one time partners in a little store. It is 
 not so stated, but we should infer from the narrative that 
 they probably sold whisky. Although Mr. Berry could not 
 overcome the obstinacy of his son, he seems to have suc- 
 ceeded with the partner. On one occasion afterward, when 
 Mr. Lincoln had risen to some eminence as a lawyer, a grog 
 shop in a particular neighborhood was exerting a bad influence 
 upon some husbands. The wives of these men united their 
 forces, assailed the establishment, knocked the heads out of 
 the barrels, broke the bottles, and smashed up things 
 generally. The women were prosecuted, and Mr. Lincoln 
 volunteered his services in their defense. In the course of a 
 powerful argument upon the evils of the use of, and of the 
 traffic in, ardent spirits, whilst many in the crowded court 
 room were bathed in tears, the speaker turned, and, pointing 
 his bony finger towards Mr. Berry, who was standing near 
 him, said : k There is the man who, years ago, was instru- 
 mental in convincing me of the evils of trafticing in and using 
 ardent spirits. I am glad that I ever saw him. I am glad 
 that I ever heard his testimony on this terrible subject. '' 
 Several years ago, while traveling in that part of the State in 
 company with another minister, he pointed out to the writer 
 the spot by the roadside where stood the little store referred 
 to by Dr. Beard. Mr. Lincoln is not the only great man in 
 political circles who has received some good influences from 
 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Dr. Beard concludes 
 this incident by saying, that Mr. Bern "was more honored 
 that day than he would have been afterwards had he been 
 made Mr. Lincoln's Secretary of State." And so he was. 
 
 We did not meet with Mr. Berry but two or three times 
 prior to his death. The last time v\ e saw him was at the 
 meeting of Sangamon Synod the \ear before his death. He 
 preached on the occasion a goodj strong sermon, attended
 
 157 
 
 with warmth ami energy. The impression made upon the 
 mind of the writer was, that Mr. Berry was a plain, pointed, 
 gospel preacher, seeking no display, desiring no applause 
 from men. And when he was hilly enlisted in his subject, 
 he was powerful, and sometimes almost irresistihle. He did 
 a great and glorious work, and has gone to his rest and 
 toward. 
 
 KK\ . AHNKR WAYNK LANSDEN. 
 
 Mr. Lansden was born in Iredell county, North Carolina, 
 October ist, 1794 \ removed with his lather's family to Wilson 
 county, Tennessee, in 1807; professed religion in 1820; 
 joined Presbytery with George Donnell and Samuel Aston 
 April 5th, 1821, at old Moriah church, where the family 
 worshiped. He was licensed in the Fall of 1822 ; ordained 
 in the Spring of 1825. He married Mary M. Gallaher, sister 
 of Revs. James, Allen, and William Gallaher, of the Presby- 
 terian Church, in 1828. lie resided in Blount county, 
 Tennessee, till near 1835, when he removed to Sangamon 
 county, Illinois, where he lived thirty-four years. He lived 
 twenty-nine years in one neighborhood, organized and built 
 up the Smyrna congregation. lie removed to Saline county, 
 Missouri, in 1869, where his two daughters had gone, and 
 where he breathed his last. 
 
 In 1843 his wife died, leaving him with five children, the 
 youngest live and the oldest thirteen years of age. He was 
 married again in 1855 to Miss Sarah L. Lowrance, who 
 survives him. He preached to Smyrna congregation a part, 
 or the whole of his time for twenty-nine years, and after 
 removing to Missouri labored for the most part in the Mount 
 Olivet congregation in New Lebanon Presbytery. 
 
 On the last Sabbath in August he preached his last sermon 
 from the text, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal 
 life?" Mark x. 17. His sermon was delivered with unusual 
 earnestness. lie was a faithful messenger of Christ to dying- 
 men for fifty-three years. What a testimony to leave behind !
 
 158 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 He lived to see all his children members of the Church, and, 
 we trust, heirs of eternal life. 
 
 Mr. Lansden was one of the first ministers the writer 
 remembers to have heard preach. My father's house was a 
 preaching place for the "circuit riders" in East Tennessee 
 for many years. Lansden or George Donnell, I cannot now 
 tell which, came round first, and the other soon followed. 
 He was one of the most efficient instruments in God's hands 
 of establishing the Cumberland Presbyterian Church through 
 all East Tennessee. Many and many a time have I seen him 
 exhort, sing, pray, and labor at camp-meetings till nearly if 
 not quite the break of day. He was a man of whom any 
 Church may well feel proud, for, in his long ministerial life 
 of over fifty-three years, he never had the slightest stain upon 
 his moral character. He ever adorned his calling and 
 brought honor to his Church. In later years I have heard 
 him say the first couple he married was at my father's house, 
 at the close of preaching at one of his monthly appointments. 
 The couple were cousins of mine ; and although they were 
 not members of the Church, they named their first-born for 
 him who married them. He left that country when I was 
 but a boy, and when we met, after long years of separation, 
 my heart was too full for utterance. 
 
 In all my acquaintance in the Church I never have known 
 a better man. He was a good preacher. His strong points 
 were the doctrines of the gospel, on which he dwelt with 
 great clearness, pathos, and power. His appeals to the un- 
 converted were often almost irresistible. His tender pleadings 
 with them, while tears coursed down his cheeks, were enough 
 to melt, and often under God did melt, hearts of stone. He 
 spent no time in frivolous talking and jesting after service 
 was over. As a father, husband, neighbor, and citizen, he 
 met his responsibilities so that he commanded universal love 
 and esteem. Hundreds, it may be thousands, will rise up 
 and call him blessed as the instrument of their salvation.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 59 
 
 Unostentatious, gentle as the dove, he was -as firm to his 
 principles as the everlasting hills. He never neglected family 
 religion, was a close observer of the Sabbath, was a total 
 abstainer from all intoxicants. He was faithful to all his 
 Church vows. He was always present at Presbytery and 
 Synod, unless Providentially detained and that, with him, 
 meant death or serious sickness. He died in great peace at his 
 home in Saline county, Missouri, Sept. 8th, 1875, lacking 
 but twenty-two days of being eighty-two years of age. 
 Shortly before he breathed his last, his two daughters being 
 by his bed, he raised his hand and, pointing upward, said, 
 "It is all light, and no darkness at all." And thus his sun, 
 instead of setting in eternal night, has arisen "no more to go 
 down." 
 
 We take pleasure in appending the following letter, written 
 by Rev. Jesse S. Grider to the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 shortly after the death of Mr. Lansden. Mr. Grider was 
 then a resident of Illinois, and was traveling in the interests 
 of Lincoln University. 
 
 "I was with Bro. Wiley KnovVles at his appointment near 
 Auburn, Illinois, on the Sabbath immediately succeeding the 
 announcement in the Cumberland Presbyterian of the death 
 of the venerable Abner Lansden. The members of that 
 congregation (Smyrna) had not heard of that sad event, and 
 at the close of the sermon Bro. Knowles arose and said, 'I 
 have a sad announcement to make. Your old pastor, and 
 one long beloved, Father Lansden, is no more.' Immedi- 
 ately the whole congregation broke into tears. The people 
 literally 'lifted up their voices and wept.' An old sister 
 exclaimed, 'My spiritual father has gone to heaven.' An old 
 brother (Jannett) arose from his seat and said, with tears, 
 'He is not only my spiritual father, but of my whole family. 
 He led us all to Jesus.' I do not remember to have ever 
 witnessed such a scene as this. It has been often said that a 
 monument erected in the affections of a people is more en-
 
 l6o BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 during than brass. Father Lansden has certainly one of 
 these heart-monuments erected to his memory. 
 
 "I do not think the poet spoke truly when he said, 'The 
 evil that men do lives after them ; the. good is oft interred 
 with their bones.' Let us prefer the sentiment, 'He, being 
 dead, yet speaketh.' 
 
 "Now, Mr. Editor, would you not prefer such a monument 
 as the one erected in the hearts of these people to that of the 
 costliest marble, or the most imperishable brass? This 
 modest, unpretending minister of Christ has left a record 
 behind, in which the most gifted and honored might rejoice. 
 
 " 'Servant of God, well done ! 
 
 Rest from thy blest employ ; 
 The battle fought, the victory won, 
 
 Enter thy Master's joy.' " 
 
 As said elsewhere, Mr. Lansden was one of the first, if 
 not the first, preacher I can remember to have heard. After 
 years of separation we met in the Fall of 1853 or 1854 at 
 Mount Zion camp-ground, in Macon county. That was a 
 memorable occasion ; for not only was Mr. Lansden present, 
 but his old East Tennessee comrade, Rev. Samuel Aston, 
 who had just come West, and these two met at this meeting for 
 the first time in many years. Mr. Aston took charge of this 
 church, and in a year or two thereafter died, and was buried 
 in the graveyard close by the church. 
 
 Mr. Lansden was for several years pastor of old Sugar 
 Creek church, in Sangamon county. During his pastorate 
 there the writer assisted him in a meeting of much interest, 
 His labors extended over a large territory of the State. For 
 a short time, also, he was pastor of Bethany church, in 
 Moultrie county, and may have supplied other churches. 
 But his great work was at old Smyrna. There he lived and 
 labored for a great many years, and left universally beloved. 
 
 Mr. Lansden belonged to a generation past. He. was 
 remarkable for his simplicity, modesty, and retiring manner,
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. l6l 
 
 chaste language and dignified demeanor in the pulpit. He 
 never, on any occasion, indulged in light and frivolous con- 
 versation in private circles. You could not be with him long 
 without feeling that his conversation was in heaven ; that he 
 lived in a holy and pure atmosphere, and that, while he did 
 not seem conscious of it, he occupied a much higher moral 
 plane than the great mass of professed Christians. The one 
 trait of character more prominent than all others was his 
 great humility. He never aspired to be great in the world's 
 estimation. He only wished to be useful. He was willing 
 to take the lowest seat and occupy the humblest place, if only 
 the Master's cause was served. He was rather under the 
 average stature, lean and thin, and possessed of a clear, 
 silvery voice which, once heaijd for half an hour, could never 
 be forgotten by an attentive listener. Like the most of the 
 fathers of Cumberland Presbyterianism, he had a mind well 
 stored with Bible knowledge, and was well qualified to ex- 
 pound and defend' the doctrines of our Church against the 
 extremes of Arminianism and Calvinism. Few men in any 
 Church have lived longer or to a better purpose than did he. 
 One son resides in Cairo, Illinois, another in Kansas ; two 
 married daughters and the widow have their homes in 
 Missouri. 
 
 REV. JOEL KNIGHT. 
 
 For the historical facts in this sketch we are mainly in- 
 debted to the autobiographical sketch which Mr. Knight left 
 for publication at his death, and which was published in 
 consecutive numbers of Our Faith. We have, however, 
 gained some additional information from the minutes of 
 Illinois and Vandalia Presbyteries. 
 
 Rev. Joel Knight was born at the "Red Banks" (now 
 Henderson) Kentucky, February 22, 1796. His father's 
 name was John Knight, who was born near Baltimore, Md. 
 His mother's maiden name was Ann Roelofson, a native of 
 Pennsylvania. At the time of the birth of Mr. Knight, and
 
 l62 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 for many years after, the Indian wars were frequent and 
 their cruelties horrible. At the time of his birth his oldest 
 brother, Isaac Knight, was a prisoner in the hands of the 
 Indians, where he remained about three years before making 
 his escape. At the age of six years Mr. Knight's father 
 died, leaving his mother a widow with a large family, two 
 children being younger than himself. It is almost needless 
 to say, that at that time and under the circumstances an edu- 
 cation was almost out of the question in this Western country. 
 Mr. Knight was what the world would call a self-made, 
 common English scholar. He went to school but little at 
 any time. He speaks as follows of his first religious convic- 
 tions : "I suppose I was not more than seven years old 
 when I felt that I was a poor sinner, and needed to have my 
 sins pardoned in order to be happy hereafter. I often 
 promised in my own mind, and sometimes publicly, that I 
 would do better and try to become good ;.but again I forgot 
 my promises, neglected private prayer, and was as bad as ever. 
 Sometimes I was even more wild ; but when at meeting I 
 always paid strict attention to preaching and religious exer- 
 cises." At the age of eighteen he was married to Miss 
 Martha Bostick, who was a pious member of the Methodist 
 Church. He seems to have lived on in a semi-careless state 
 for several years. In 1818 he attended a Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian camp-meeting near where Evansville, Ind., now 
 stands, at which a number of his friends and relatives 
 professed religion. Here he seemed to be greatly troubled 
 on account of his sins, but he says, "I left a poor, distressed, 
 helpless sinner/' He wore off somewhat his distress, and 
 engaged in the busy affairs of the world, as usual. Shortly 
 after this he visited Illinois on an exploring trip, and was so 
 pleased with the new country that he determined to remove 
 thither. In the Spring of 1819 he removed to White county, 
 and settled at "Seven Mile Prairie." Here Rev. David W. 
 ha.d previously settled and started a Cumberland
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 163 
 
 Presbyterian church. Mr. Knight had become firmly con- 
 vinced that there was a medium ground which alone was 
 the true ground between the extremes of Calvinism and the 
 current Arminianism of the country ; and when he heard 
 Cumberland Presbyterians preach, their doctrines were just 
 what he believed to be taught in the Holy Scriptures. He 
 became enamored with their theory of the plan of redemp- 
 tion, as alike honoring to God and adapted to the condition 
 of a fallen race. He determined to settle in Mr. McLin's 
 congregation. At this time he had two children. The latter 
 part of the following August a communion meeting was held 
 at Hopewell (now Enfield), where Revs. Wm. Barnett, John 
 Barnett, Wm. Henry, Dr. Johnson and Aaron Shelby were 
 present, besides Mr. McLin. O n Monday of this meeting, 
 under a pungent sermon by Rev. John Barnett from John 
 xix. 4, Mr. Knight was brought to see his sins as he had 
 never seen them before. Dr. Johnson preached at night, 
 called the anxious, and Mr. Knight was among those who 
 responded promptly. We give his own words as to his feel- 
 ings when the great change came. Dr. Johnson was asking 
 him questions while his soul was enveloped in gloom, and 
 almost despair. He says: "He continued to ask until I 
 suppose he saw clearly my state of mind. He then turned 
 my mind to view Christ in his true character, and what he 
 has done as man's security in order to meet and satisfy the 
 law in man's stead. Every word seemed to shed light on 
 the subject. My mind followed him until it was finished. 
 It seemed that a shock of lightning poured through my whole 
 frame, and I thought it was really so (a storm was raging at 
 the time) ; but I saw the plan of salvation complete, full and 
 free. I saw God could be just and save sinners, for what 
 Christ had done." He seems, however, not to have received 
 the idea that he had really any change at this time. He saw 
 how he could be saved, but yet he did not believe he had 
 complied with the terms of the gospel. He continues: "I
 
 164 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 continued in this state of mind some four weeks or more, 
 when, at a camp-meeting in Union county, Ky., such a sense 
 of divine love, mercy, goodness, and glory of God burst upon 
 my view as to overpower me. I broke forth into expressions 
 of wonder, joy, and gladness. For a time I was so com- 
 pletely lost in the love of the Savior thai I knew not what I 
 did." Mr. Knight returned home, immediately erected the 
 family altar, and resolved he would not drink ardent spirits 
 (although at this time there were no temperance organizations 
 in the country). 
 
 He soon began to feel that the Lord had something for 
 him to do in his vineyard which he had not done. He jfelt a 
 burning anxiety for souls. But he was very poor, had a 
 young and increasing family largely dependent on his efforts 
 for their every day support, and it looked like utter folly, he 
 thought, for such an ignorant and poor, man as he was to 
 think of any position in the Church but that of a modest 
 private member. We quote again: "My impressions to 
 warn the unconverted and to try to save sinners continually 
 increased ; but I had no knowledge of anything as a science. 
 I had a little superficial knowledge of reading, writing, arith- 
 metic, and nothing more. I had no proper knowledge of the 
 nature and form of letters, and the proper method of spelling 
 words, nor of forming w^ords into a sentence scientifically. 
 Here was my ignorance, poverty, and the weight of a rising 
 family entirely dependent upon my energies for management 
 and support in their helpless and dependent condition, and 
 last, but not least, the awful responsibility of the work. 
 These, all combined, presented obstacles which, to my mind, 
 seemed insurmountable in my peculiar circumstances." To 
 add to this formidable array of difficulties, his health had 
 declined and he was in debt. To human vision these were 
 enough to appall the mind of any one. But the promised 
 "sufficient grace" can surmount all obstacles and remove all 
 mountains.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 165 
 
 Mr. Knight finally broke the subject to his wife, fearing 
 she would oppose his efforts to preach ; but he was much 
 disappointed in her cheerful willingness for him to do any 
 thing he felt to be duty. Accordingly, in the Spring of 1821 
 he went to Kentucky to attend the meeting of Logan Presby- 
 tery. He was received as a candidate, and from that time 
 Providence seemed to smile on his plans for a living for his 
 family. He set about the study of English Grammar 
 (Murray) without a teacher. He worked hard at manual 
 labor all day, and sat up late and studied his Grammar. 
 Then he arose in the morning before light. He rode on 
 horseback two hundred miles that Fall to attend Presbytery. 
 At the next session (which was a year from his reception as 
 a candidate) he was licensed at Rose Creek, Hopkins 
 county, Ky., with eleven others, to preach the gospel as a 
 probationer. He rode the circuit and preached as much as 
 possible, in his straightened circumstances. Ministers in 
 those days got very little sustenance. Indeed the congrega- 
 tions were few, poor, and scattered over a broad territory. 
 When Cumberland Synod ordered the organization of Illinois 
 Presbytery the first Tuesday in May, 1823, Mr. Knight, with 
 others, was transferred to the care of the new Presbytery. 
 He was present at its organization. We have often heard 
 him describe the occasion. 
 
 It will be seen, therefore, that Mr. Knight, as a minister, 
 began with the beginning of our Church in Illinois. No man 
 was better acquainted with its toils, difficulties, and discour- 
 agements than was he. 
 
 The acquaintance of Mr. Knight with the writer dates back 
 to the Spring of 1849. We then met first in the General 
 Assembly. We had corresponded before. We were placed 
 together on a committee to try to adjust the difficulties arising 
 out of the famous "White and Bonham" case. In 1853 we 
 met again near Edwardsville, at old Goshen church, in a 
 meeting; and shortly after the writer became a member of
 
 1 66 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 the same Presbytery, and our relations were henceforth 
 necessarily intimate. Mr. Knight lived to a good old age, 
 and departed to his long home on the 2nd of February, 1876, 
 at his residence in Donnellson, Montgomery county, where 
 he had resided for some years. His death was very peaceful 
 and quiet, without a struggle or seeming pain. He was not 
 able to speak after he was taken ill, and died in a few min- 
 utes ; but his whole life was a "living epistle," to be known 
 and read by all men. He had lost his first wife several years 
 previous, after having reared a large family. She was a good 
 woman, full of faith, and a help-meet indeed. After being 
 single for a good while Mr. Knight was married to Mrs. 
 Eliza Barber, the widow of Rev. John Barber, Jr., who still 
 survives him. She, too, is a most consecrated, pious lady. 
 His last years were spent free from want, temporal and spirit- 
 ual, and he went down to the grave beloved by the entire 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church throughout the State, and 
 mourned by many others besides. He lived to see one 
 Presbytery spread into ten, and a "handful of corn" in the top of 
 the mountains shake its fruit like Lebanon. At the Fall session 
 of Vandalia Presbytery of 1876, of which he had been a 
 member from its organization, that body, in memory of his 
 long, respected and useful life, ordered a funeral sermon to 
 be preached by the writer, which was done before a large 
 and tearful assembly of people, after suitable resolutions had 
 been placed upon the record in regard to his death. 
 
 We append the following reflections : Mr. Knight in per- 
 sonal appearance was a hearty, stout, robust man, and at the 
 time of his death would probably weigh nearly two hundred 
 pounds. He was rather slow of speech, but always left the 
 impression upon his hearers that he had thought closely on 
 the subject before he spoke. He was not a fluent speaker or 
 an orator, and yet there was something about his appearance 
 which always and everywhere commanded the respect and 
 attention of the people.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 167 
 
 He was a man of very positive convictions. He formed 
 his own opinions regardless of what others might think or not 
 think of the subject in question ; and he had the moral 
 courage to do what he thought was right, if he stood alone. 
 He was not strict in parliamentary rules, but he was a good 
 counsellor in the judicatories of the Church, and spent nearly 
 his entire time in studying ways and means to do good. He 
 was well versed in the Scriptures, and had as clear an idea 
 of the theological position of our Church as any man with 
 whom we ever conversed or read after. He was a man of 
 unusual power in prayer, and many times in the application 
 of his sermon he was powerful and convincing. He always 
 used scrupulously good and chaste language, and we never 
 knew him to descend to the low jesting and joking in private 
 circles which so often injure ministerial character and influ- 
 ence. He was one of the oldest citizens of the country, as 
 he was one of the oldest ministers of any denomination, and 
 he carried with him to the grave a character untainted by a 
 single spot through a long and variously active life. He 
 always took a deep interest and bore an active part in sustain- 
 ing every enterprise of the Church ; and, while he loved and 
 had the confidence of all Christians who knew him, he was a 
 firm and unflinching Cumberland Presbyterian in principle, 
 and believed that the doctrinal standpoint of our Church was 
 the point towards which all Christendom, in its theological 
 changes, is tending. In all the relations of life Mr. Knight 
 acquitted himself with like credit. He was the kind husband, 
 the affectionate father, the friendly neighbor, the good citi- 
 zen, the Christian gentleman, the faithful, successful minister 
 of Christ. 
 
 REV. SAMUEL M'ADOW. 
 
 This name is familiar to all who ever read about Cumber- 
 land Presbyterians, he being one of the immortal three who 
 had the courage to face public opinion and the frowns of the 
 "mother Church," and act out his conscious convictions of
 
 1 68 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 right, regardless of the applause or censure of the world. 
 At his humble home in Dixon county, Tennessee, Feb. 4th, 
 1810, the Cumberland Presbytery was re-organized, and 
 another feeble denomination started in its career in the 
 world for good or ill. 
 
 As the venerable Dr. Beard, in his second series of Bio- 
 graphical Sketches, has already given the Church and the 
 world a sketch of this father in Israel, this would have been 
 deemed sufficient by the writer, but for the fact that Mr. 
 McAdow spent the last years of his life in Illinois, and his 
 body lies sleeping in Illinois soil. We regard any attempt at 
 a history of the Church in this State as defective and incom- 
 plete, without reference to this father also. For the facts of 
 his earlier days herein noted, we are mainly indebted to the 
 sketch by Dr. Beard. 
 
 Mr. McAdow was born April 10, 1760, in Guilford county, 
 North Carolina. His father's name was John, and his 
 mother's maiden name was Ellen Nelson. They were of 
 Scotch-Irish descent, and were Presbyterians, members of 
 Buffalo congregation, of which Rev. David Caldwell was 
 pastor. Mr. McAdow's mother died when he was about ten 
 years of age. When about eleven years of age he professed 
 religion and joined Mr. Caldwell's church. He was living 
 on a farm, but when quite young he was placed at Mr. Cald- 
 well's school for a regular and thorough education. The 
 Revolutionary War broke up the school for a time, but 
 after it was over he resumed his studies and completed an 
 academic course. He afterwards attended for three years 
 the Mecklenburg College, where he finished his education. 
 In the meantime his father died. He returned home to the 
 farm, and on Nov. 24th, 1788, was married to Henrietta 
 Wheatley. Five children were the result of tlrs union, all 
 but one dying in infancy. 
 
 His impressions to preach the gospel began shortly after 
 he professed religion, but he did not begin the preparation
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 169 
 
 till after he was head of a family. He began the study of 
 theology under Dr. Caldwell, and on the 2Oth of September, 
 1794, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Orange, 
 the oldest Presbytery in North Carolina. In this Presbytery 
 at the time of his licensure were Mr. McGready, William 
 McGee, William Hodge, and others, who figured largely in 
 after years in the revival measures and times of the Cumber- 
 land country. He was ordained by the same Presbytery, 
 but the exact time is not known. It was prior to 1799. He 
 was for a time pastor of Hope well congregation, in North 
 Carolina. His wife died April 2Oth, 1799. After this sad 
 event he turned his attention to the Western country, several 
 acquaintances and a number of relatives having already gone 
 to Kentucky. He started in 1799, but stopped one Summer 
 in East Tennessee, during which time he preached to a con- 
 gregation called Big Limestone. This congregation was 
 exceedingly anxious for him to remain their pastor, but his 
 mind was fixed upon Kentucky, and therefore in the Fall he 
 came on to Kentucky, and found the great revival in full 
 blast. He preached to Red River church in Logan county, 
 and Rock Bridge in Christian county. 
 
 He was married the second time to a Miss Catherine Clark, 
 of Logan county, a very pious woman. One child, a daugh- 
 ter, was the fruit of this marriage. On the I7th of May, 
 1804, his second wife died. Committing his two little 
 daughters to the care of a sister, he traveled and preached 
 extensively, and thus continued until he became almost 
 entirely disabled by an affection of the lungs. In July, 1806, 
 he married the third time to Miss Hannah Coke. Two sons 
 resulted from this marriage. He now bought land and settled 
 in Dixon county, Tennessee, and taught school. Here he 
 remained till 1815. He was residing here at the ever memo- 
 rable period of the organization of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. To quote the very appropriate 
 language of Dr. Beard, ^"The house has become historical.
 
 170 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 It was an unpretending building on the bank of Jones Creek, 
 about seven miles frcm Charlotte. The good men who 
 prayed and acted on that occasion had no conception of what 
 the result would be." Beard's Sketches, page n. 
 
 After the year 1815 he lived a short time in Jackson county. 
 In 1828 he removed to Bond county, Illinois. From age and 
 infirmity he seldom preached here, but never failed to throw 
 his influence at all times in favor of religion. On Jure 3d, 
 1839, he lost his third wife. 
 
 He became a member of Vandalia Presb}tery in rather an 
 irregular way. We do not find anywhere on the records 
 when he joined by letter or otherwise. There may be such 
 record, and we have overlooked it. The action of Presbytery 
 making him a member has been recorded elsewhere. Father 
 McAdow had been in the country about ten years, and was 
 in it when the Presbytery was organized ; but there is no 
 mention of his name. Perhaps his age and infirmities pre- 
 vented him from attending, and the meetings of the Presbytery 
 were seldom near his residence. He was sixty-eight years 
 old when he first settled in Illinois. From the time of the 
 death of his last wife he seemed to fall into a rather gloomy 
 and despondent mood, not about the Church or the cause of 
 Christ, but about his own home enjoyments. Still, he occa- 
 sionally preached, and his last sermon was from the text, 
 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no 
 man shall see the Lord." It was published in full in the 
 Theological Medium of 1846. His last words are reported 
 to have been, "All is peace. My work is done. Everything 
 is ready. I have nothing to do but to die. There is no 
 doubt, no fear." Suitable resolutions were passed in relation 
 to his death by the Presbytery at its next session, and a funeral 
 discourse was preached to his memory by Rev. John Barber. 
 His grave is in the cemetery at old Mt. Gile?d church, in 
 Bond county. Many of his grand-children live in that coun- 
 try yet. It has been our good fortune to look upon that little
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 mound of earth several times, and never without the most 
 strange and thrilling emotions. A neat, respectable tomb- 
 stone has been placed at the grave by his relatives. 
 
 Mr. McAdow seems never to have been a "son of thunder," 
 like Ewing and King, yet, while modest and unusually 
 diffident for one of his opportunities and abilities, he was 
 firm and 'steadfast in his convictions of what was right. He 
 was a man of fair abilities as a preacher, pretty well educated 
 for the times in which he lived, and a man of unspotted char- 
 acter. He lacked only a little of eighty-eight years when he 
 died. Had it not been for his decision, the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church might not have existed. Who can read 
 the thrilling statement of his anxious, all-night prayer for 
 light and guidance before the organization, without feeling 
 that he was no ordinary man, and his no ordinary degree of 
 piety. Wherever the "medium theology" shall be known 
 and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church shall be heard of, 
 the name and character of Samuel McAdow will stand out in 
 letters of living light, and, we doubt not, will be handed 
 down to generations yet unborn as one of the great moral 
 heroes of the country and of the Western continent. 
 
 REV. JAMES ASHMORE. 
 
 James Ashmore was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, 
 August 17, 1807. He removed to Illinois at an early day, 
 professed religion in 1831 or 1832 while living on Pigeon 
 Creek, Clark county, and the same Fall united with the 
 church of which Rev. Isaac Hill was pastor. He joined 
 Vandalia Presbytery in June, 1833, at Mount Zion, Macon 
 county, was licensed to preach Oct. 17, 1835, at ^ Union 
 (now Irving) church in Montgomery county by the same 
 Presbytery, and was ordained by the same Presbytery at 
 Beaver Creek church on the roth of October, 1837. Rev. 
 Daniel Traughber preached the ordination sermon from Mai. 
 ii. 7, and Rev. Joel Knight presided and gave the charge.
 
 172 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 When Foster Presbytery was organized Mr. Ashmore 
 became a member, and continues to be a member. His 
 home is in Fairmount, Vermillion county. 
 
 Few men in the church, for his opportunities, have been 
 as useful. When he began operations in that country forty 
 years since, it was a wilderness, spiritually and naturally. 
 Mr. Ashmore has been a great revivalist. He organized the 
 first Cumberland Presbyterian church in that country, from 
 which a large number of other congregations has sprung. 
 Thousands have been converted under his ministrations, and 
 he is still laboring with zeal and success, although he is more 
 than three score and ten years old. 
 
 In a conversation with the writer he said his father was 
 raised up in the Catholic faith, and when he was a boy a 
 Catholic priest visited the family, and urged the parents to 
 let him have James, and he would take him to Rome and 
 educate him for the priesthood. The father consented, but, 
 when the time drew near to start for Italy, Mrs. Ashmore 
 protested so strongly against giving up her boy that the 
 project was finally relinquished by the priest, but evidently 
 with reluctance. He also stated that he was under the power 
 of conviction for sin for five years before relief came to his 
 mind. He had a great desire and a wonderful temptation lo 
 make money and let the ministry go, and only gave it up after 
 he had lost all his property. Another remarkable incident 
 in his history was the conversion of his father under his 
 preaching. The old gentleman became so interested about 
 his soul that he followed up his son's appointments on the 
 circuit, and embraced the Saviour at one of them. 
 
 Mr. Ashmore has been married three times. He was first 
 married to Miss Catherine Armstrong May 15, 1828, at her 
 father's residence. His second wife was Sarah M. Newman, 
 Oakland, Illinois, and his present wife was Rebecca I. 
 Grimes. All of his wives were natives of the State of 
 Tennessee. He has eight living children by the first wife,
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 173 
 
 one by the second, and five by the last fourteen in all. 
 Several are dead. 
 
 Mr. Ashmore rode the circuit four years, and settled in 
 Vermillion county in 1842. He organized Mount Pisgah 
 church, the oldest one of Cumberland Presbyterians in the 
 county, to which he preached twenty-nine years as pastor or 
 supply without any interval ; and at another time three years 
 more, making thirty-two in all that he was the faithful shep- 
 herd of this flock. It is questionable whether there is to be 
 found another connection between pastor and people in the 
 State of equal length. 
 
 Mr. Ashmore has been a man of excellent constitution. 
 For the most part he has enjoyed good health, and has done 
 an immense amount of ministerial labor without being remun- 
 erated for his services as he deserved. He has organized 
 thirty congregations, and about four thousand five hundred 
 souls have professed faith in Christ under the influence 
 of his ministrations. One of his sons, Rev. H. H. Ash- 
 more, is also an esteemed and very useful minister of the 
 gospel. 
 
 Father Ashmore never claimed to be an orator or a man of 
 learning, his opportunities for an education being very limited. 
 But he is claimed by others, and justly, too, as one of the 
 most earnest, industrious, and successful ministers in the 
 State. Though the prime of his life was spent in building 
 up the Church in a new and sparsely settled country, and he 
 received from the Church only a pittance in the way of 
 support, yet God blessed his worldly plans so that he and his 
 family had plenty ; and it is believed that he is in comforta- 
 ble circumstances at this writing. With the exception of his 
 hearing, which is somewhat impaired, he retains his usual 
 health and vigor, although in his seventy-first year. We 
 should have mentioned that at his ordination Rev. Samuel 
 McAdow, one of the original three founders of the denomi- 
 nation, was present and participated in the services.
 
 1 74 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 REV. WILLIAM FINLEY. 
 
 Rev. William Finley was born in Warren county, Ky., on 
 the 3Oth of November, 1800. His parents were pious people 
 and members of the Presbyterian Church. His mother died 
 when he was an infant, and for a few years he was nursed 
 and brought up by Mary Taylor, an aunt. His father in a 
 few years married again, and removed to Robertson county, 
 Tennessee. The reader will remember that these were the 
 times of the great revival of 1800, which originated in this 
 country and swept all over it. Mr. Finley when quite young 
 was the subject of deep and abiding convictions, but seems 
 not to have experienced a change of heart until he was a 
 grown man and married. It is proper to state here that the 
 father of Mr. Finley early became a member of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterian Church, and of course was a decided 
 advocate of the revival measures of that day. 
 
 While quite young but at what period we are not in- 
 formed he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth 
 Hutchings, and soon thereafter removed to Illinois and 
 settled in Bond county. His wife and several brothers and 
 sisters had become deeply pious, and felt and manifested 
 great interest for his salvation. Since a child he had been 
 the constant subject of deep conviction for sin, and often had 
 great wrestlings of soul on the subject. Not until the month 
 of October, 1825, did he make up his mind fully to seek God 
 and cast all his care upon him. It was at old Bethel church, 
 in Bond county, at a sacramental meeting held by Presby- 
 terians, and in which Cumberland Presbyterians also united 
 and labored earnestly, that Mr. Finley found the "pearl of 
 great price." An old memorandum, furnished us by his 
 son, Dr. W. M. Finley, of Salem, 111., tells us that on 
 Sabbath night of that meeting, Oct. 6, 1825, he made a full 
 surrender of all to Christ, after having a very clear and 
 impressive sense of his lost and utterly helpless condition. 
 For some days after he experienced this great change he was
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 175 
 
 not fully satisfied, fearing he had been deceived and the 
 change was not what God in his Word required. He there- 
 fore prayfully read the Bible, and with great searchings of 
 heart wrestled with God for a positive assurance of his safety 
 and peace with God. This blessed assurance finally came 
 so plain and satisfactory that he could no longer doubt. 
 Happy would it be for the Christian Church now, if all young 
 converts would thus carefully examine the foundation of their 
 hopes. To use his own words : "This great question being 
 satisfactorily settled, I at once took up my cross, and en- 
 gaged with trembling anxiety in the discharge of Christian 
 duty." He first erected the family altar, and there offered 
 his morning and evening sacrifice to God for himself and 
 family. He next engaged in active work in whatever way he 
 could do good in the revival which was going on in the 
 neighborhood. In conversation, prayer and exhortation he 
 was very active and very useful. Mr. Finley records that 
 for some years after his conversion he was sometimes the 
 subject of deep gloom and perplexing doubts about the genu- 
 ineness of his change. But searching the Scriptures and 
 fervent prayer enabled him finally to dispel these seasons of 
 gloom, and entertain an unshaken confidence and assurance 
 that he was "accepted in the Beloved." 
 
 Not long after his conversion and union with the Church 
 he felt impressions to preach the gospel. About this time 
 Mr. Finley's mind was greatly agitated with the doctrinal 
 questions so rife in that period. On the one hand, the old 
 system of decrees and election, as taught in the Westminster 
 standards, (which, after a thorough investigation, he decided 
 to mean nothing less than absolute fatality,) he found he 
 must reject if he believed the plain teachings of God's Word. 
 On the other hand, the apostasy plank in the Arminian 
 system seemed to his mind a great discouragement to a peni- 
 tent sinner. Being greatly perplexed with these doctrines on 
 either hand, he says in his memoranda, "My mind found a
 
 176 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 suitable remedy as exhibited in what is sometimes termed the 
 middle- ground system, rejecting the extremes of both the 
 Calvinistic and Arminian systems." He kept on examining 
 and sifting these doctrines until he became thoroughly con- 
 vinced of the truth of the doctrinal stand-point of Cumberland 
 Presbyterians, which position he preached with great zeal, 
 fervor and success for many years afterward. His choosing 
 his Church was wholly from principle, and not merely social 
 circumstances or human policy. 
 
 The following letter from his son, W. M. Finley, M. D., 
 of Salem, 111., is in no respect an exaggeration of the industry 
 and success of this laborious servant of God. It is due to 
 the truth of history, however, to record, that in the latter part 
 of Mr. Finley's life, on account of trouble which arose in his 
 Presbytery, he withdrew from the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church, and was not re-united with it. But all who were 
 conversant with his preaching and his feelings testify that he 
 carried with him to the grave his early attachment to the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church and her doctrines. It was 
 an unfortunate occurrence which severed his connection with 
 us, but of the right or the wrong of his course in this matter 
 we desire to spend no opinion. He was not what the world 
 would call a learned or eloquent preacher, but he was what 
 was perhaps better: a truly spiritual, devoted minister of 
 Jesus one than whom few men have been more successful 
 in winning souls to Christ. To say that he had his weak 
 places and made blunders, is but to acknowledge what is 
 applicable to the best of men. Of Mr. Finley's family we 
 know but little, save that he was married twice. His last 
 companion yet survives. Of the children by the first wife 
 we have no knowledge, except of the very worthy son who 
 furnished the interesting letter mentioned below, and to whom 
 we are indebted for nearly all the information obtained re- 
 specting the life of his father. 
 
 "Rev. Wm. Finley, after he made a profession of religion
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 177 
 
 October 25, 1825, united with the Cumberland Presbyterian 
 Church, and was soon after received under the care of 
 Illinois Presbytery as a probationer to preach the gospel. 
 How long he was a probationer and when he was licensed to 
 preach I know not.* But I have often heard him relate the 
 trials and hardships under which he labored to support his 
 family, and acquire a sufficient knowledge of the various 
 branches of study required by the Bcok of Discipline in 
 order to fit him for ordination. 
 
 "My earliest recollection of my father is, that he was 
 seldom at home. His stay at home was always more like a 
 visit than anything else. He never took much interest in or 
 trouble about the cares pertaining to the small farm on which 
 he resided. My mother always superintended the farm 
 work. If mother had not been one of the most industrious 
 of women, and an extra good manager of farming and finance, 
 father could never have given all his time and talents to the 
 interests of the Church. His compensation was so small that 
 the wants of the family would have compelled him to seek 
 some other means for their support. At this period ( about 
 1840) father traveled and preached all the time. His preach- 
 ing tours generally extended from six weeks to two months, 
 during which time he was never at horr.e. , He was then 
 living in Pleasant Prairie, Bond county, where he resided 
 about ten years. In 1843 he removed to VanBurensburgh, 
 on the old stage road from Vandalia to Hillsboro. Here he 
 taught school during the Winter of 1843-4, and preached 
 every Saturday and Sabbath, and often one or more evenings 
 during the week, in the village and the adjacent neighborhood. 
 
 *For the date of his reception and licensure sec the minutes of Illinois 
 Presbytery, published in the first part of this work. He was ordained with 
 Rev. Isaac Hill by Vandalia Presbytery at Mt. Zion June 18, 1833. Rev. 
 Joel Knight preached the ordination sermon, Rev. John Barber, Jr., presided, 
 and Rev. John Barber, Sr., gave the charge. We quote from the records. 
 EDITOR.
 
 178 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 "In the Spring of 1844 he went to Salem, 111. He had 
 been visiting said place for several years, and preaching in 
 various parts of Marion county. In 1840 I think he organized 
 a congregation called Mt. Carmel (now Kinmundy), the first 
 Cumberland Presbyterian organization ever made in said 
 county. After locating in Salem he soon organized a con- 
 gregation called Bethel, seven miles east of Salem, and in 
 1846 he organized a congregation in Salem, and, through his 
 own labor and exertion, the congregation erected the first 
 house of worship ever put up in Salem. All that the Salem 
 congregation ever was, or now is, is mainly due to his untir- 
 ing efforts in its behalf. He continued to preach in Marion 
 county and the adjoining counties for about twenty years, 
 and by him and his unceasing efforts McLin Presbytery was 
 organized, to supply the field of labor that he had mainly 
 been instrumental in opening up to Cumberland Presbyterian- 
 ism. He organized congregations in Fayette, Clay, Jefferson, 
 Wayne, White and Edwards counties during his ministry, 
 which formed the principal field of his labors, and most of 
 which is included in the bounds of McLin Presbytery. He 
 was untiring in his work, going from house to house and 
 place to place, preaching daily. I think that the statement 
 is strictly true, that for thirty years of his ministry he 
 averaged as much as one sermon per day. He once showed 
 me his memorandum book, kept for five years just preceding 
 his locating in Salem. He had preached on an average one 
 and a half times each day for the five years, traveled twelve 
 miles each day, and had received as remuneration $143 per 
 year. I have often thought that he could visit more families, 
 shake more people by the hand in one day, than any modern 
 politican can on the eve of an important election. Such was 
 his daily life for over forty long, weary years. He devoted 
 all his time and energies both of body and mind, to the cause 
 of the blessed Redeemer. In his early ministry his voice 
 was strong and his zeal unbounded, and as such he was a
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 179 
 
 
 
 successful revivalist. Camp and protracted meetings were 
 never complete in his field of operations, unless 'Uncle Billy 
 Finley,' as he was familiarly called, was there to do much 
 of the preaching. 
 
 "One distinguishing feature in his life was the great influ- 
 ence he had over wicked men. They all respected and 
 loved him. Many of them would loan him money on his 
 own note, or often on his own w r ord. They would defend 
 him on all occasions when necessary, and contribute liberally 
 to his support, even when unsolicited by any one. Though 
 father was always poor financially, and often borrowed 
 money in small sums, he always had good credit, and always 
 paid his debts promptly and according to contract. 
 
 "He continued his ministerial labors until his death. He 
 never, from my earliest recollection, engaged in any business 
 to make money, and seemed not to regard money in any 
 other light than a means to supply pressing wants, get books, 
 and enable him to preach the gospel. He taught school 
 only a few quarter sessions, and that was only to enable him 
 to supply the direst wants of his family, or get the much- 
 coveted books. 
 
 "The last sermon he ever preached was in the Presbyterian 
 church in Salem, a few days before his death. He was on 
 a visit to his children in Salem, having some three years 
 before located in Williamson county, 111. He died on the 
 23d day of November, 1870, being seventy years old lacking 
 but seven days. His last sickness was of short duration. 
 Just before his death it is said by those present that he 
 seemed to be gone for several moments, and then to revive 
 for a short time, and clearly and plainly describe, in glowing 
 terms, the appearance of Moses, Daniel and St. Paul his 
 three favorite Bible characters. He also told of hearing the 
 sweet music of heaven ; and then, after such living testimony 
 to the truth of the religion he had so long preached, he 
 passed away with a sweet smile on his face. And thus my
 
 l8o BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 
 
 father died, in full hope of endless happiness. I was not 
 permitted to be present with him in his last hours, but from 
 the testimony of those present I can but feel that he died a 
 happy and triumphant death, and entered into that rest pre- 
 pared for the redeemed in heaven."
 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 FROM the pen of Rev. W. D. Dodds, of Chilicothe, Mo., 
 we have the following interesting sketch of his father, 
 
 REV. GILBERT DODDS. 
 
 "Rev. Gilbert Dodds was born in Spartinburg District, 
 South Carolina, on the 6th day of June, 1793. He was the 
 seventh son of Francis Dodds. His father's family started 
 on their journey from Carolina to Western Kentucky, but 
 the father sickened and died on the route, and was buried at 
 the foot of Spencer's Hill, a spur of Cumberland mountains. 
 The widow and family continued their journey, and arrived, v 
 without any other misfortune, in the land of their destination. 
 Here, in this then sparsely settled and comparatively wild 
 region, the subject of this sketch was reared to man- 
 hood. 
 
 "In a new country, where the principal attention is given to 
 the erection of dwellings and opening farms, the education 
 of the youth, to a great extent, is lost sight of. Hence, the 
 subject of our sketch enjoyed but few advantages for acquir- 
 ing an education. But being of an aspiring mind, and 
 passionately fond of reading, he left no stone unturned in 
 the pursuit of knowledge. With the aid of a Winter term at 
 the common school of his neighborhood, he obtained a 
 knowledge of the primary branches of an English educa- 
 tion.
 
 l82 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 ''About the time he arrived at the years of manhood, in 
 his eager search for reading matter he fell in with Tom 
 Paine's 'Age of Reason' and Volney's 'Ruins.' The 
 perusal of these infidel works, as he often remarked, came 
 very near ruining his soul. But, in the wise Providence of 
 God, whose inscrutable wisdom had marked him out as 
 one of his chosen vessels, he was thrown under the powerful 
 ministry of the Rev. Finis Ewing. This faithful embassador 
 of Christ, who knew all the lurking-places of the infidel, by 
 his logical reasoning and powerful gospel appeals, soon scat- 
 tered the sophistries of Paine, Volney, and all the hosts of 
 the opposers of our holy religion, to the four winds. The 
 faithful preaching of this man of God led to deep and serious 
 thought, and, after a series of severe mental struggles, he 
 finally yielded himself into the hands of a merciful Re- 
 deemer. Not long after he embraced religion he, to the best 
 of my knowledge, united with the old Bethlehem congregation 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
 
 "In his 22d 3'ear he was united in marriage with Miss 
 Mary Clinton, of Crittenden county, Ky. Their union was 
 in all respects a happy one. They walked the pathway of 
 life together almost fifty-one years, and raised a family of 
 seven sons and five daughters, all of whom they lived to see 
 grow up to manhood and womanhood. The wife and 
 mother departed this life in her sixty-sixth year in the tri- 
 umph of a living faith in Christ, having been a member 
 of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church over forty-three 
 years. 
 
 "At what date the subject of our sketch united with 
 Presbytery and commenced the preparation for the ministry 
 we are not able to say. The name of the Presbytery, how- 
 ever, we are pretty sure was old Logan, the Presbytery in 
 which old father William Harris lived, labored and died. 
 In the year 1824 he removed from Kentucky to Sangamon 
 county, Illinois. Here he united with Revs. John M. Berry
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 183 
 
 and Thomas Campbell in organizing Sangamon Presbytery.* 
 During the early years of his ministry in Illinois he labored 
 extensively in camp-meetings, and assisted in planting a great 
 many congregations in Central Illinois. He often conducted 
 camp-meetings without any ministerial assistance. We have 
 often heard him say he had to travel one hundred miles to 
 camp-meetings and Presbytery. After camp-meetings came 
 into disuse he labored extensively in protracted meetings. 
 His labors in protracted meetings were confined mostly to 
 the counties of Menard and Sangamon. He was always a 
 zealous advocate of temperance, and in the later years of his 
 life he delivered many lectures on the subject, and aided 
 extensively in organizing temperance societies. 
 
 "The last eight or nine years of his life his health became 
 so feeble that his Presbytery (Sangamon) passed an order 
 that he attend its sessions at discretion ; but he always made 
 it a point, although in feeble health, to attend Presbytery, 
 and take part in its deliberations. During the last five years 
 of his life he was threatened with paralysis, which finally 
 terminated his life on the third day of May, 1872, he wanting 
 only one month and three days of being seventy-nine years 
 of age. During the last years of his life he seemed to enjoy 
 much of the comforts of that blessed religion which he had 
 preached to others in the prime of life, and in his last hours 
 gave strong evidence of its power to conquer the last enemy, 
 and administer an abundant entrance into the everlasting 
 kingdom of our Lord and Savior,. Jesus Christ." 
 
 REV. DAVID FOSTER. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Rowan count}', 
 North Carolina, May 4th, 1780. His parents were William 
 and Nancy Foster. They were poor, but pious, and early 
 
 *Mr. Dodds was placed under the care of Illinois Presbytery at its organ- 
 ization as a candidate. For date of ordination see minutes of said Presbytery 
 published elsewhere. EDITOR.
 
 184 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 instructed their son in the principles of Christianity. When 
 quite young David became a member of a Presbyterian 
 church, of which Rev. Dr. McCorkle was pastor. In 1797 
 the family removed to Sumner county, Tennessee, and settled 
 in the neighborhood of old Shiloh church, to which they 
 presented their letters. Rev. William McGee was pastor. 
 They were all parents and son examined as to their exper- 
 imental religion, in addition to their letters. The parents 
 were received, but the son advised to re-examine the founda- 
 tion of his -hope. This he did, with the conclusion that he 
 was not a Christian. He began to seek Christ as never 
 before, and at home, in a quiet way, found peace with God, 
 and soon became prominent in his efforls to win souls tq 
 Jesus. 
 
 He became a candidate under old Cumberland Presbytery, 
 and at old Red River meeting house was licensed to preach 
 the gospel October 2d, 1805. Some time before his licensure 
 he had traveled as a licensed "exhorter," in supplying the 
 great destitutions of that day. Of course he, among others, 
 fell under the ban of the famous "commission" of Kentucky 
 Synod; yet he continued his labors under the "council" 
 which succeeded the dissolution of the Presbytery, and never 
 did he seem to labor with more success than in those dark 
 days. 
 
 In the Summer of 1806 he was married to Miss Ann 
 Beard, of Sumner county, who was a noble Christian woman, 
 full of faith, devoutly consecrated to the Master, and a good 
 help-meet for her husband. In 1808 Mr. Foster moved to 
 Wilson county, and settled in Suggs Creek congregation. 
 Shortly after the re-organization of Cumberland Presbytery 
 he was set apart to the whole work of the ministry July 27, 
 1810, at the Suggs Creek church, and at the same time was 
 installed pastor of that church. He also preached to two 
 other churches a part of the time during his pastorate, until 
 1824. A large portion of his time was spent annually in
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 185 
 
 attending camp and protracted meetings, to which he was 
 appointed by his Presbytery. 
 
 In 1827 he removed to Illinois, where it was little else than 
 a vast wilderness. Dr. Beard says, (Biographical Sketches, 
 vol. i, page 66,) that both he and his wife were anti-slavery 
 in their feelings and views, and gives this as one reason for his 
 removal to Illinois. He first settled in Sangamon county, after- 
 wards in Macon county, and for a time was colporteur for 
 the American Tract Society. He was on a visit to St. Louis 
 May 7th, 1833, tne J ear cholqra first visited that city, to get 
 a fresh supply of books. On his way home the next day he 
 was attacked with cholera and died on Silver Creek, Madison 
 county, the pth of May, 1833. He was buried near by 
 where he died. He was away from home, but he had 
 friends with him who did all in their power to save him. 
 He retained his consciousness to the last, and died resigned 
 and peaceful. His death was a heavy stroke to the few and 
 scattered churches in this country* No man was more 
 beloved by the people than he. 
 
 Mr. Foster has left his mark all over the churches of 
 Illinois. He was first a member of Illinois Presbytery, 
 where his seat was never vacant unless he was hindered by 
 Providence. When Sangamon Presbytery was organized he 
 became a member of that Presbytery ; and when Vandalia 
 was organized he fell within her bounds. He organized the 
 churches at Mt. Zion and Bethany, from which many large 
 and prosperous congregations have gone forth. Many 
 others were fostered by him. It may well be said that his 
 praise was in all the churches. Many are found now who 
 revere his memory. It was never the privilege of the writer 
 to meet with him ; but, what is perhaps better, he has met 
 with his works all over the country. "He, being dead, yet 
 speaketh." Evidently he was a devoted man. He lived 
 every day for the Lord and his cause. Though not a bril- 
 liant preacher, yet he was a preacher of more than ordinary
 
 1 86 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 intelligence, zeal and success. As a worthy testimonial to 
 his memory, Central Illinois Synod Vandalia Presbytery 
 in particular have provided the means to have the old 
 decaying limestone rocks, which were at first placed at his 
 grave, supplanted by respectable modern marble tombstones. 
 It is not known to the writer whether his companion or any 
 of his six children are living ; nor, if living, where they 
 reside. 
 
 The action of Vandalia Presbytery in regard to his death 
 may be found elsewhere. At the session of Illinois Synod 
 which met at Pisgah meeting house, St. Louis county, Mo., 
 October 17, 1833, we find the following appropriate record 
 of Mr. Foster's death : 
 
 " WHEREAS, it has pleased the great Head of the Church 
 to remove by death from the councils and labors of this 
 Synod the Rev. David Foster, the Moderator of the former 
 session, and one of her most aged and useful members ; 
 
 Resolved, therefore, 'that this Synod feel deeply sensible 
 of the bereavement occasioned by this solemn dispensation 
 of divine Providence, and that the Synod cherish with very 
 fond remembrance the memory of her dear departed fellow- 
 laborer." The minute in both instances is short, but is a 
 true expression of what was felt in reference to this good 
 man. The men of those days were men of comparatively 
 few words, but they said nothing they did not mean. 
 
 REV. WOODS M' COWAN HAMILTON. 
 
 His son gives the following : 
 
 "Some time in the year 1790 my grand-parents started to 
 move from Virginia to Kentucky, but, in consequence of 
 troubles with the Cherokee Indians, they stopped on Little 
 Pigeon, in Severe county, East Tennessee, where my father, 
 Woods McCowan Hamilton, was born, on the 3d day of 
 June, 1791. He was the youngest of eight sons and one 
 daughter, there being one daughter younger than he. Grand-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 187 
 
 father died in 1799; and as that part of Kentucky 
 (Livingstone county) was sparsely settled, my father had but 
 little chance of attending school. I think about six months' 
 irregular schooling is about all he ever had. 
 
 "After grand-mother died, my father, a lad of perhaps 
 thirteen or fourteen, came to Illinois to live with an older 
 brother, Patrick Hamilton, who was engaged in making 
 salt on the Saline in Gallatin county. While thus engaged 
 he was sent by his brother, in company with another man, 
 on foot back to his old home in Kentucky. It was ' in the 
 Winter. The waters had been very high and had frozen 
 over. Then it snowed, so that the road could not be seen. 
 They got lost, and were without fire or food for over two 
 days ; and when at last they got to a house my father's feet 
 were frozen so badly that it was over six months before he 
 could stand on them, having lost nearly half his toes, which 
 rendered him a cripple through life. During this affliction 
 he obtained books, and made considerable progress in the 
 elementary branches. So strong was his thirst for know- 
 ledge, that after he got able to work he spent every night in 
 study by the light of a burning pine knot. In a few years he 
 commenced teaching, which afforded him better opportunities 
 of study and improvement. 
 
 "During these years, and while, as he says, he was very 
 wicked, he became acquainted with my mother, Jane M. 
 McCluskey. Through her influence he became deeply con- 
 victed, and after a hard struggle of over six weeks was 
 converted, and joined the Presbyterian Church. Afterward 
 in 1811 he and my mother were married. On the 29th of 
 November, 1812, I was born, and was baptized by the Rev. 
 David Dickey, a Presbyterian minister. In about 1818 
 father, having for a long time been deeply impressed that it was 
 his duty to preach, and, although a pretty thorough English 
 scholar, having no hope of ever being qualified in accordance 
 with the standard of the old Church, withdrew his connection
 
 188 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 and joined the Cumberland Presbyterians. Soon he was 
 admitted as a candidate in Logan Presbytery, and was sent 
 as a missionary to Illinois. I think he must have spent two 
 or three years in this work before he moved his family, 
 which he did in the Spring of 1822. The first Summer the 
 family lived in Thorn's Prairie, on Enoch Beach's Farm, in 
 Wayne count}-. The next Fall we moved to Long Prairie, 
 same county, lived through the Winter and next Summer, 
 and in that Fall moved to Burnt Prairie, in White county, 
 where we lived for over twenty-five years, and where my 
 mother died in 1832. In 1845 or 1846 the family started to 
 move to Jonesboro, Union county, but on account of sickness 
 had to stop over for one year in Williamson county. My 
 father died at his farm two miles north of Jonesboro station, 
 on the Illinois Central railroad, on February 7th, 1865, and 
 was buried at Jonesboro. 
 
 "During his first year as missionary to Illinois I think he 
 was associated with another minister, but I do not know who. 
 Afterward W. H. McCluskey, a cousin of my mother, and 
 James S. Alexander were each sent out with him. After- 
 ward McCluskey went to Indiana, where he labored 
 successfully for many years. In earl}- Spring of 1822, just 
 before we left Kentucky, my father was ordained by Logan 
 Presbytery. Of his missionary labors I can say but little, as 
 I was too young to understand much ; but from what I have 
 since learned I think he was very successful. In fact, I 
 have met with quite a number who became acquainted with 
 him in those days, and they all seemed to think and speak of 
 him in the highest terms. 
 
 "After we moved to Illinois I do not recollect that he spent 
 much of his time in missionary work at least, not after the 
 first three or four years but was always engaged in preach- 
 ing some place on Sunday, and very often the Saturday 
 previous. In thinking back, although it is a good many 
 years, I cannot now remember of my father being idle
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. I) 
 
 On the Sabbath, unless he or some of the family was sick, or 
 there was a meeting in our church at which other ministers 
 were present. In fact, I think I may safely say that during 
 his long life he spent it all in preaching and laboring to save 
 men from sin and death. He was always poor, and had to 
 engage in any pursuit which promised a support for his large 
 family. I recollect during my early years that he made all 
 the shoes for his family. Afterward he obtained a set of 
 tools and worked at the carpenter business during the Fall 
 and Winter. We always lived on a farm, and during the 
 Summer were engaged in farming operations as long as I 
 remained at home, and, in fact, until they moved to Jones- 
 boro. 
 
 "In those days people never thought of, or at least did not 
 give the preacher anything for his services, particularly 
 money. Sometimes a sister would give a pair of socks, the 
 cloth for a vest, a pair of pants, or some other article, which 
 were always very acceptable. I recollect that once a man in 
 Seven Mile Prairie, a Mr. Anderson, I think, made and gave 
 my father a pair of calf boots, which lasted him several years 
 for Sunday wear. 
 
 "I recollect while living at home of seeing and reading 
 quite a number of poems, songs, and other pieces of his 
 composition, only a few of which can now be found. I also 
 remember that I used to think they were very good, and tried 
 to have him get them printed ; but on account of his extreme 
 diffidence he would never consent to do so. Later, he wrote 
 out and had printed a full set of questions and answers on 
 the several branches of examination of licentiates preparatory 
 to ordination, some of which I had, but cannot now find. 
 Several other productions of his I have seen from time to 
 time, but none of them can now be found, except the short 
 sketch of his early life already referred to. My brother tells 
 me that in or about 1856 Bro. Logan, then of Alton, pub- 
 lished, bound, and shipped a box' of hymn books compiled
 
 190 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 and composed by my father.* With the two exceptions, I 
 do not know of my father ever having any of his writings 
 published. He seemed to think or feel that they were not 
 worth preserving or (what is likely the true reason) shrank 
 from publicity. In the short sketch already referred to is 
 found this quotation from Pope : 
 
 " Thus let me live, unseen, unknown; 
 
 Thus unlamented let me die 
 Steal from the world, and not a stone 
 
 To tell where I lie.' " 
 
 The writer had a slight acquaintance with Mr. Hamilton 
 before his death, and had been in his company at the judica- 
 tories of the Church several times. He was a man of sterling 
 worth. He had more than ordinary diffidence in his deport- 
 ment in society. Some of his letters on divinity were 
 published in the Missouri Cumberland Presbyterian, which 
 always denoted more than usual profundity of thought and 
 clearness of statement in his propositions. He was in the 
 General Assembly in 1863 when the war was raging in all its 
 fury, and when the whole country was intensely agitated 
 over the war questions. The Assembly met in Alton, in the 
 church of which the writer was pastor. The questions of 
 slavery and the rebellion were introduced by a memorial 
 from Ohio Synod. A committee was appointed to consider 
 the memorial, consisting of one from each Synod represented 
 there. They made a report, which was adopted with but 
 two dissenting votes. A motion was then made that the 
 Assembly join in prayer, and that the oldest man present 
 lead the devotions. This was done, and Mr. Hamilton led 
 the prayer, which was eloquent, solemn and exceedingly 
 earnest, and seemed to reach the very throne of the Deity. 
 This was the last time we ever met, or that he ever attended 
 the General Assembly. We know that he was greatly es- 
 
 *This is a mistake. The writer while in St. Louis published for the author 
 e questions and answers referred to, but not the latter book. Enmnl.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 19! 
 
 teemed by his neighbors, irrespective of creed or religious 
 opinions. If there was any one mark which distinguished 
 Mr. Hamilton more than another, it was his humility, his 
 self-abasement. He had an exceedingly low opinion of his 
 own efforts. We greatly regret that we have been able to 
 obtain no more satisfactory account of the life and labors of 
 this dear old father in Israel. 
 
 REV. DANIEL TRAUGHBER. 
 
 The following sketch of Mr. Traughber is from the pen 
 of his son-in-law, Mr. R. K. Lansden, of Fredonia, Kansas : 
 
 "The subject of this sketch was born in Logan county, 
 Kentucky, May 18, 1800, and professed religion in July, 
 1821. He was licensed to preach as a minister of the gospel 
 in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in October, 1824 ; 
 and four years thereafter (1828) he was ordained and set 
 apart to the whole office of the Christian ministry in the 
 Church until the close of his life. From the time he was 
 licensed to preach until 1836 he officiated in his native State 
 as an efficient minister, when he moved and settled in Macon 
 county, Illinois. Here he took charge of Mt. Zion church, 
 over which he presided for twenty-five years, when he was 
 compelled to resign on account of ill health. For several 
 years after resigning as pastor of Mt. Zion church he was 
 not engaged in the direct and particular work of the ministry, 
 though he preached much, and was very useful in building 
 up the Church in numbers and spiritual strength. In this 
 way he labored until 1872, when he came to Kansas, where 
 he was active and untiring in his ministerial duties until he 
 passed away. 
 
 "He was married three times. All three of his compan- 
 ions were excellent Christian women, and all preceded him 
 to the glory land. 
 
 "On the evening of the i^th December he and the writer 
 went some five miles from town to hold a temperance meet-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 ing in the interest of the Murphy movement. He spoke 
 about an hour with great earnestness. We had a very 
 enthusiastic time and he was very much elated. He had to 
 go one mile to stay all night, and I suppose took cold, which 
 caused a severe attack of an old disease. The children were 
 sent for about seven o'clock. We called three of the best 
 physicians we could get, but all their efforts were of no avail. 
 After I had been in the room a few minutes he called me to 
 him and said : 'Robert, my poor old frame can't stand this 
 long. I want you to call the friends around, and sing and 
 pray, that I may see my way clear ; and if God says go, I 
 say go, too.' This was the last he said about his own case. 
 He lingered in great pain until two o'clock on Sabbath 
 morning, when he became unconscious, and continued so 
 until half-past one in the evening, when his spirit took its 
 flight to that upper and better world. He has gone to join 
 his co-laborers Lansden, Aston, Knight, Bryan, and many 
 others who have gone before. He is missed in this country, 
 where he was very useful. He leaves six children, all of 
 whom are professors of religion except one, and many sor- 
 rowing friends ; but we mourn not as those having no hope.*' 
 The writer will add a few reflections of his own in regard 
 to the deceased. He first became acquainted with Mr. 
 Traughber on the way to the General Assembly, which met 
 in Princeton, Kentucky, in 1853. He and many other dele- 
 gates were on the same packet which left the warf at St. 
 Louis a few days before the meeting of that body. After 
 arriving at Princeton we were assigned to the same boarding 
 place ; and from that on to the end of his life we knew 
 "Uncle Daniel," as he was familiarly called, and knew him 
 well. Few men of our Illinois ministry have done more to 
 build up the Church than Mr. Traughber. He was a genial, 
 warm-hearted, sunny-spirited man. He was a good speaker, 
 always won the respect and attention of his audience, and, 
 like most of his compeers, lived and died with a character
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL, 193 
 
 untarnished in every particular. He was very successful in 
 getting sinners to act, even when others failed. He was of 
 medium stature, heavily built, and had just enough of the 
 brogue of the foreigner to make his language attractive when 
 speaking. He was a man of unusual energy of character, 
 and while he did a vast amount of preaching he also culti- 
 vated and carried on a large farm, in the management of 
 which he seemed always to prosper. He was always prompt 
 and punctual in attendance upon the judicatories of the Church. 
 He was elected Moderator of the first session of Central 
 Illinois Synod, the sessions of which he always attended 
 until he removed beyond her bounds. He died at the resi- 
 dence of Mr. Green Beasley near Fredonia, Kansas, on 
 December i6th, 1877, of affection of the kidneys, at the 
 advanced age of seventy-seven years and seven months. He 
 leaves thousands over all the West to mourn his departure. 
 
 REV. JOHN CRAWFORD. 
 
 Father Crawford is now one of the oldest living ministers 
 in the State. He says, "I was born in South Carolina Jan. 
 31, 1804." The fore part of his letter relating to his father's 
 removal to Kentucky, and the first Cumberland Presbyterian 
 family ever on Illinois soil, will be found in the first part of the 
 volume. He dates his conviction for sin to a sermon Rev. 
 Thomas Campbell preached near Golconda on his way to 
 the Sangamon country in the early part of 1822 ; professed 
 religion at old Sugar Creek camp-ground the same Fall. 
 We now quote from his manuscript verbatim : 
 
 "On the 2d day of March, 1825, 1 united in marriage with 
 Nancy R. Tagert, and moved to Village church, White 
 county, in the bounds of what is now Ewing Presbytery, in 
 September of the same year. In March, 1826, I joined 
 Illinois Presbytery as a candidate, which then embraced the 
 entire State. My progress was slow, being very deficient in 
 literature and means to acquire it. I was licensed at Bear
 
 194 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 Creek church, Bond county, September 1831, and settled in 
 Gallatin county the same month. I was ordained at Union 
 Ridge church in March, 1834. My time has been mostly 
 spent in efforts to supply destitute points. I have traveled 
 over some fifteen counties in Southern Illinois, officiated in 
 the organization of seven congregations. My attendance at 
 Church courts has been : General Assemblies, seven ; Syn- 
 odical meetings, sixteen ; Presbyteries, one hundred and 
 two ; and camp-meetings, one hundred and twenty-eight. 
 I am now in my seventy-fourth year, and have retired, being 
 prostrated by paralysis. 
 
 4 'The following transpired in the bounds of what is now 
 Evving Presbytery : A camp-meeting was held in the vicinity 
 of Shawneetown at an early date (which I have not) by John 
 Barnett, David Lowry, and others. There were many 
 conversions and a congregation was organized, which was 
 vacated by the removal of General Street, John W. McCord 
 and H. Delaney. Of the remaining members and others the 
 Rev. D. W. McLin organized New Pleasant church in 
 September, 1830, at the present site of New Market. Elders, 
 James Dillard, John Murphy and John V. Sherwood. From 
 this church were stricken off Liberty, Concord, and Walnut 
 Grove, all of which have much declined in the absence of a 
 supply, while the old stand is enfeebled by the change of 
 population." 
 
 REV. J. R. LOWRANCE. 
 
 We copy the following brief sketch of this good brother 
 mainly in his own language : 
 
 "Jacob Lowrance was my grand-father. His ancestors 
 were Dissenters, and fled from persecution from England to 
 Scotland, thence to Holland, from there to the United States, 
 and settled in the Carolinas. Samuel Lowrance was my 
 father. He was born in South Carolina April loth, 1792, 
 immigrated to Georgia in early life with his parents, and then 
 to Tennessee, and with his father settled on Bear Creek,
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 195 
 
 Maury county. There he spent his youthful days. Grand- 
 father and father were elders for years in the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church. My father was a convert of the great 
 revival of 1800. He sleeps in Jerseyville cemetery, Jersey 
 county, Illinois. 
 
 "Rachel Ramsey, my mother, was born near Nashville, 
 Tennessee, 1781, when it was a small French village, and it 
 was said she was the first white child born there. She was 
 a niece of Col. Rev. Joseph Brown and Joseph Porter, who 
 was a brother of James B. Porter. My mother was also a 
 subject of the revival of 1800, and a member of Rev. Craig- 
 head's congregation, but went with the revival party and 
 united with the first Cumberland Presbyterians. She sleeps 
 near Manchester, Morgan county, Illinois. 
 
 "I was born in Maury county, Tennessee, April 14, 1818 ; 
 was baptized by Rev. Robert Donnell (author of 'Donnell's 
 Thought's'). My first serious impressions were received 
 under my father's prayers when he led his fomr boys with 
 him to secret devotion, I being only seven years of age. 
 They were renewed at old Bear Creek camp-ground, under 
 the shouting and exhortation of my grand-father on Tuesday 
 morning as the meeting was closing when I was ten years 
 old. In the Fall of 1830 I with my parents immigrated to 
 Calaway county, Mo., and there, in old Providence congrega- 
 tion, I was again awakened in Sabbath-school under James 
 Nevins, an elder in said church and my Sabbath-school 
 teacher. On September 2, 1833, at night, I was born into 
 the kingdom of Christ during a camp-meeting held at said 
 church by Eli Guthrie and David Kirkpatrick. O, the bliss 
 and glory of that hour ! There my eternal life began, and 
 for over forty years my Savior has led me and kept me, and 
 he will keep me to the end. 
 
 "I was then fifteen years, four months and seventeen days 
 old. In the Spring of 1835 I with my parents immigrated to 
 Illinois, and settled near Manchester in Morgan county.
 
 196 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 Here on a farm I labored for my father. I was received as 
 a candidate for the ministry by Sangamon Presbytery at 
 Sugar Creek, Sangamon county, April 5, 1837, and wrote 
 three discourses : first from Isaiah Iv. 6, then from Romans 
 v. i, and lastly from Hebrews iv. 9. The Presbytery was 
 composed of J. M. Berry, Thomas Campbell, Gilbert Dodds, 
 Benjamin Canby and A. W. Lansden five of the noblest 
 men that ever lived. I was licensed at old Concord near 
 Petersburg on September 23, 1838, at a camp-meeting. 
 Benjamin Canby was Moderator. Then for four years and 
 six months I traveled on a circuit extending from Petersburg 
 on the north to Jerseyville on the south. In this time Rev. 
 J. G. White was licensed and came to me, and for years we 
 labored together. I was ordained in company with Bro. J. 
 G. White on the first day of April, 1843, at Sugar Creek, 
 Sangamon county, Illinois. Father Berry delivered the 
 sermon from I. Timothy, iv. 16. From the Fall of 1843 to 
 1844 I traveled as Synodical missionary and held revival 
 meetings. In the Fall of 1845 I took charge of Stouts Grove 
 and Shiloh congregations, in Mackinaw Presbytery, as 
 supply until the Fall of 1846, on a salary of $160. Then, 
 on the second day of January, 1847, I was, by order of 
 Mackinaw Presbytery, installed pastor of Stouts Grove con- 
 gregation. Bros. Neill and Archibald Johnson officiated. 
 My salary being $200 and board, many happy days I spent 
 in this congregation. At the General Assembly in 1849 I 
 received the appointment as agent to collect funds for the 
 Home and Foreign Missionary Board. In this work I trav- 
 eled in Missouri and Illinois. In the Summer of 1850 I 
 preached for Stouts Grove (now Danvers) congregation, and 
 was married November 3d, 1850, to Miss Eliza J. McClure, 
 a member of my charge and daughter of Samuel and Malinda 
 McClure. She was a convert of my first meeting there, and 
 was received into the congregation and baptized by myself. 
 In 1851 I lived and labored in Bloomington, 111., and but for
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 197 
 
 the want of support there might be to-day a Cumberland 
 Presbyterian church there. In 1853 I removed to Hardin 
 county, Iowa, then on the frontier. In 1857, under the order 
 of Iowa Synod, I located in Oskaloosa. Here I toiled until 
 the Fall of 1866, when I left for Illinois. I stopped a short 
 time at Virginia ; then, in April 1867, ^ located in Lincoln 
 and took charge of Union congregation all my time on a 
 salary of $600. By a request of ministers I left Union con- 
 gregation and took charge of Danvers congregation Dec. i, 
 1867. Here I labored until the Fall of 1870, when I resigned 
 and took charge of Albion congregation, in Edwards county, 
 Illinois. Each of these last congregations gave me $1,000 
 salary. In Albion I labored until August, 1874, when I 
 returned to Lincoln to school my sons, and took charge of 
 Union and Hopedale (old Shiloh) congregations, where I 
 am now serving the Church as best I can, being sixty years 
 of age in April 14, 1878. Here I am on my way home. 
 Soon my work will be over here below. Rest is" near before 
 me." 
 
 We will add, that we have known Bro. Lowrance since 
 the Spring of 1849 > visited his family not long since and 
 enjoyed their hospitalities. He is still in good health, and 
 bids fair for many years' good service for the Master yet. 
 He is a good preacher, sound in the faith, well received, and 
 never was doing more good than at present. 
 
 REV. CYRUS 1IAYNES. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born in Indell county, 
 North Carolina, June 16, 1805. When about two. years old 
 he came to Giles county, near Cornersville, Tennessee. He 
 was converted to God when a youth in that same country 
 while ploughing in the field of his father. The writer 
 greatly regrets that, after repeated efforts to obtain the nec- 
 essary data on which to write a full sketch of this good 
 man's life and labors, he has not been successful. But he
 
 198 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 has determined to pen what he knows, believing that even 
 this will be better than passing over in silence the life and 
 labors of one who bore such an active part in the early work 
 of the Church in Illinois. A letter from Dr. Beard, of Leb- 
 anon, says : 
 
 "My first knowledge of Rev. Cyrus Haynes was as a 
 student of Cumberland College. When I reached that 
 institution in May, 1830, he was there preparing for the 
 ministry. A number of others whose names I call to mind 
 were there engaged in the same way. Elam McCord, Silas 
 N. Davis, F. C. Usher, J. D. Ferryman, John Napier, T. 
 B. Reynolds, were among the number. Mr. Haynes was 
 one of the oldest of those whom I have mentioned. He con- 
 tinued a student to September of that year, when the vacation 
 occurred. The next collegiate year commenced in Novem- 
 ber. Rev. Hiram McDaniel took charge of the farm and 
 boarding house, and employed Bro. Haynes to superintend 
 the farm. He spent one year in that business. In the 
 following year he entered College again, and graduated in 
 December of 1833. His class was one of the largest and 
 best that ever left the institution. Among them were J. F. 
 Ford and W. A. Scott. Both of these with Cyrus Haynes 
 were licentiates when they graduated. Some time after his 
 graduation he went to Illinois, and I only met him casually 
 afterwards, mostly at meetings of the General Assembly. 
 I have no knowledge of his earlier history. He was licensed 
 and ordained, I suppose, by what was then Elk Presbytery, 
 and is now a part of the same under the old name. 
 
 "I entertained a high opinion of Bro. Haynes, not so much 
 on account of his ability as his integrity. I had unbounded 
 confidence in the latter. He would have been considered 
 rather eccentric. And he was inclined to extreme opinions ; 
 but he filled up my ideas of an honest man. I would have 
 trusted him anywhere and to any extent, as far as integrity 
 of purpose was concerned. From the commencement of my
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 199 
 
 acquaintance with him he was more to me than a common 
 friend and brother. The last time he was at my house he 
 came late in the evening. The next morning I asked him to 
 lead us in our family worship. He read an ordinary portion 
 of Scripture, and commenced to lead us in singing the old 
 
 hymn : 
 
 " 'Grace 'tis a charming sound, 
 Harmonious to mine ear.' " 
 
 Before we were half through the hymn, however, he broke 
 down under the force of his feelings, and wept like a child. 
 It was a good morning service, and the last we ever held 
 together in that capacity." 
 
 We find on the minutes of the Spring session of Vandalia 
 Presbytery for 1834, tna * ne was received as a licentiate 
 from Princeton Presbytery, Kentucky. He was immediately 
 placed by order of Presbytery on what was called the ' 'Shel- 
 by ville circuit," on which he rode five months. From the 
 records of this Presbytery we also find he was ordained to 
 the whole work of the ministry at Bethany church, Shelby 
 county, Illinois, on the 4th of October, 1834. Rev. John 
 Barber, Jr., preached the ordination sermon from II. Cor. ii. 
 15, 16, and Rev. Joel Knight presided and gave the charge. 
 At the same session we find an order for Mr. Haynes to ride 
 "six weeks" the Shelbyville circuit ; and near the close of 
 the proceedings the record says he was dismissed by letter. 
 He became a member of Sangamon Presbytery on the 6th of 
 March, 1835, that body being in session at Mount Pleasant 
 church, Morgan county. At this session Mr. Haynes was 
 appointed principal commissioner to the General Assembly. 
 He was also ordered to ride aud preach in what was called 
 "the military tract," and from this on for many years we find 
 the records of this and other Presbyteries abounding with 
 work connected with his name and influence. The following 
 is from the pen of Rev. J. R. Lowrance : 
 
 "Mr. Haynes came to Morgan county, 111., in 1836, and
 
 2OO BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 labored in Sangamon Presbytery. He preached the funeral 
 of a brother of mine the first that ever occurred in my 
 father's family. He traveled extensively in Central Illinois, 
 and labored incessantly for several years. He opened a 
 school in McDonough county, near Macomb. Just before 
 this he was married to a Miss Smith, a most estimable and 
 pious lady. This school was begun about 1837 or 1838. 
 J. G. White and I were pupils in this school about 1839. He 
 then removed his school to Cherry Grove. Here for several 
 years he was quite successful in his school. W. S. Camp- 
 bell, James McDowell, and others of useful lives were among 
 his pupils. For some cause not remembered he quit this 
 school, and about 1847 opened a school in Stouts Grove, 
 McLean county, Illinois. Here his noble wife ended her 
 useful life of toil, and the writer preached her funeral. 
 After a few years of successful teaching he ceased to teach, 
 entered on the active labors of a traveling minister, and went 
 to the State of Iowa. Here he was again married to a Miss 
 E. T. Biddle Dec. 3, 1852, another noble, intelligent, and 
 pious lady. He traveled and preached for years all over 
 Southern Iowa, an indefatigable worker. About 1860 his 
 health gave way, and for a time his mind was somewhat 
 injured. In 1869 or 1870 he removed to Northern Missouri, 
 and there he sleeps in Jesus. He was a fine scholar and a 
 great student. He published a very learned comment on the 
 sixth chapter of Hebrews in or near 1840. A good reasoner, 
 of great zeal and energy of character, he, as all others, had 
 faults. But he loved his Church and his brethren. Above 
 all, he loved his Savior, and was deeply devoted to the 
 ministry." 
 
 We first met with Mr. Haynes at the General Assembly at 
 Princeton in 1849. He was elected Clerk of that body, and 
 it was the lot of the writer to be assigned to the same board- 
 ing place, room and bed with him. *A very kind family of 
 Episcopalians, whose name we have forgotten, entertained
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 2OI 
 
 us very hospitably. For years afterwards, and until near his 
 death, we often met in the Church judicatories, and often 
 corresponded. He certainly was a man of more than 
 ordinary energy, of untiring industry, and undeviating integ- 
 rity. His efforts to afford the Church and the country better 
 educational facilities than they had previously enjoyed were 
 certainly very successful and worthy of all praise. The 
 seminaries of Cherry Grove and Stouts Grove in that day 
 were among the foremost institutions of learning in the State, 
 and quite a number of men who are to-day in the front rank 
 of society received their education, in whole or part, from 
 these valuable schools. 
 
 The last time we met with Mr. Haynes was at the General 
 Assembly in 1863 in the city of Alton. He was only a 
 visitor, and evidently was laboring under some mental aber- 
 ration. The war was then upon us. Darkness and 
 uncertainty, like a universal pall, hung over the land. How 
 much of his seeming mental infirmity might have resulted 
 from brooding over this terrible national calamity, we do not 
 know. We have never heard of any other probable cause. 
 We do know that many strong minds and stout hearts quailed 
 and sank down into the grave under that dreadful ordeal. 
 He was with us in our family circle for some days after the 
 Assembly closed, and, although it was evident that his mind 
 was to some extent impaired, there was nothing in his acts 
 which, in the slightest degree, could be construed into con- 
 duct immoral, or which cast any doubt upon the sincerity 
 and uprightness of his former Christian or ministerial char- 
 acter. We felt relieved when we heard he had gone home, 
 
 'Wliere the wicked cease from troubling, 
 And the weary are at rest?" 
 
 Mr. Haynes left a devoted companion and several children, 
 who are all respectable and respected wherever known. 
 Shortly after his second marriage he removed to Centre-
 
 2O2 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 ville, Iowa, where he remained until 1866, when he removed 
 to Putnam county, Missouri. His health gradually declined, 
 until July, 1871, he gave up all out-door life. He was 
 confined to his room and much of the time to his bed until 
 the loth of December, when, in the language of his bertaved 
 companion, feeling his end drawing near, he exclaimed, "I 
 feel ready and willing to die :" and sinking into a peaceful 
 slumber his soul was wafted to his Father's house on high. 
 
 REV. JOHN BARBER, JR. 
 
 The following is furnished us by the brother of the de- 
 .-d. Rev. W. W. M. Barber, of Windsor, 111. : 
 
 Rev. John Barber, Jr., was born in Lincoln county. 
 North Carolina, July 17, 1805, and immigrated with his 
 father to Illinois in the year 1815. and settled with the family 
 near Edwardsville, Madison countv. He was converted at a 
 
 / 
 
 Cumberland Presbyterian camp-meeting in Bond countv. 
 Illinois, at about the age of fifteen years, in what is now 
 Bear Creek congregation, and soon became a member of the 
 church. His conversion was very palpable and striking. 
 Although he was so young and naturally very diffident, he 
 pasted through the congregation with expressions spontane- 
 ous, bold, clear and powerful, of his joy and happiness under 
 a sense of the pardoning, saving mercy of God through 
 Christ ; and powerfully warning and exhorting others, and 
 finally calling on inanimate nature the trees and all to 
 witness that he then and there dedicated himself to the 
 service of God. He was received as a candidate for the 
 ministry by Illinois Presbyter}- at Shiloh, White county, 111., 
 October loth, 1828, from Anderson Presbytery, he having 
 rirst joined the latter while at college. There was an inter- 
 mediate Presbyter}- appointed to license him. composed of 
 John M. Bern,-. Thomas Campbell, Joel Knight, Gilbert 
 Dodds, and John Barber. Sen. : but he. not having received 
 his letter from the Anderson Presbyter}-, objected to being
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 2O3 
 
 licensed when the intermediate Presbyter}* met, and it was 
 not done till the regular session, which was held at Bear 
 Creek, Montgomery county, Illinois, April i6th, 1829. He 
 was ordained at the house of Joseph McAdams in Bond 
 countji, Illinois, March I2th, 1831, by Illinois Presbyter}'. 
 By his own untiring efforts and what assistance his father 
 could give him he became a respectable Greek scholar, 
 having spent two years at old Princeton in Cumberland 
 College. Soon after he left college he went into the active 
 labors of the ministry, and was soon a spiritual, useful, and 
 popular preacher. At about the age of twenty-five he was 
 married to Miss E. A. Robinson, with whom he lived hap- 
 pily a little over eight years. A part of the time he 
 suffered great bodily affliction, but enjoyed great peace 
 of mind. He at length fell asleep in Jesus, leaving his 
 companion with four children three daughters and one 
 son. 
 
 "Young John Barber, as he was called, was disposed to give 
 himself entirely to the work of the ministry, but, the Church 
 at that time not being able to do a great deal, and not being 
 trained to do what she could, he, like other ministers, had to 
 get a support from some other source. He became a school 
 teacher, and soon became eminent in that calling, as well as 
 in preaching. He possessed a clear, investigating, system- 
 atic mind. His discussions in preaching were thorough, 
 clear, and logical, and with a ready flow of language. His 
 reasonings and arguments were close, and his appeals almost 
 resistless. But he was cut off in the midst of his usefulness. 
 The Church had flattering prospects in him, and doubtless 
 had the Church sustained him she might have enjoyed his 
 labors much longer. 
 
 'While capable of active effort, in order to be as much 
 devoted as possible to his ministerial calling, he became an 
 agent in the Bible cause for a time, and again in the Tract 
 cause as a colporteur. Under these circumstances he was
 
 204 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 strongly urged and temptations offered to him to change his 
 ecclesiastical relations, and become connected with some 
 other branch of the Church. It was urged that the Church 
 to which he belonged did not appreciate his talents, useful- 
 ness, &c., or the\- would sustain him. He would bo well 
 sustained with others, and he would not be required to adopt 
 any other system of theology to join the New School Pres- 
 byterians ; and if he chose to join the Old School, why not? 
 If he should have to adopt their Westminster Confession, he 
 could make such mental reserves as were indispensable in 
 order to meet his views and feelings in regard to doctrines. 
 His father was also tempted in like manner as he was ; but 
 their loyalty to the Church was not measured by dollars and 
 cents, and they therefore could not be bought. They had 
 cast their lot with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and 
 they would stand by her in her difficulties and trials, and 
 co-operate with and assist others in bringing about reforma- 
 tions and improvements. They belonged to the Church. 
 They had joined the army in good faith, and they never 
 would desert it in order to support a family. 
 
 "His companion and four children are still living. The 
 t\vo oldest daughters and the son are married. The oldest 
 is the wife of Rev. T. K. Hedges, who was a Cumberland 
 Presbyterian minister, but is now of the Presbyterian Church. 
 The second daughter married a farmer. All are religious 
 and members of the Church, except the son, David F., who 
 is a well-to-do farmer. 
 
 "John Barber, Jr., died April 22d, 1838, and was buried 
 near Edwardsville, at what is called Ebenezer graveyard.'' 
 
 The action of Presbytery in regard to his death is found 
 elsewhere. Mr. Barber died before our acquaintance in the 
 State, but the universal verdict of the old citizens living who 
 knew him is, that he was a man of more than ordinary talents 
 and usefulness, and the entire people mourned his death.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 205 
 
 REV. ISAAC HILL. 
 
 Rev. J. W. Woods says : 
 
 "Rev. Isaac Hill wa"s born the 22cl day of December, 
 1784, and professed religion when he was thirty-six years of 
 age in the State of Indiana, under the ministration of the first 
 Cumberland Presbyterian ministers who crossed the Ohio 
 river, and immediately joined the Church. He had a great 
 desire to live thirty-six years more, that he might spend as 
 much time in the service of God as he had spent in wander- 
 ing away from him. He very soon began to be impressed 
 with a sense of public duties, and accordingly began to 
 exhort the people to seek salvation in Christ. He had to 
 travel a long distance to meet the Kentucky Presbytery to 
 become a candidate for the ministry. It was indeed with 
 great difficulty and through some dangers that he made his 
 way from Vigo county, Indiana, across the Ohio river when 
 the waters were very high, to where the Presbytery convened. 
 He was licensed to preach by Indiana Presbytery. 
 
 "He made a visit to the State of Illinois in September, 
 1826, and attended the first camp-meeting held in the eastern 
 part of the State. He and Rev. John Knight, who also was 
 a licentiate, were the only ministers present. It was then 
 and there that a revival of religion commenced which diffused 
 its blessings far and wide. Bro. Hill from that time visited 
 that congregation statedly until he removed within its bounds 
 in the Spring of 1828. None of our pioneer ministers were 
 more earnest or zealous in the Master's work. He had a 
 very strong and powerful voice, both in preaching and sing- 
 ing, and was eminently suited to camp-meeting work. 
 
 "He met Vandalia Presbytery at Mount Zion, Illinois, in 
 June, 1833, at which time (June 15) he was ordained to the 
 whole work of the ministry. Rev. Joel Knight preached the 
 ordination sermon, Rev. John Barber, Jr., presided, and 
 Rev. John Barber, Sen., gave the charge. 
 
 "Bro. Hill repeatedly traversed almost all the ground
 
 2O6 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 which now comprises the Presbyteries of Foster and Hill, 
 and parts of Vandalia and Decatur Presbyteries. He laid 
 many foundations on which others have built, as his field of 
 labor was so large. There was no resident minister of the 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church nearer than sixty miles in 
 this State for at least eight years after he began to preach 
 here; and the first within that bound was Rev. James Ash- 
 more, who was converted and brought into the ministry in 
 old Big Creek congregation where Bro. Hill resided and 
 labored so faithfully until the weight of years and constant 
 labor prostrated his manly form. It is not at all likely that 
 so many ministers of the gospel have come out of any other 
 congregation in the State as from the aforesaid congregation ; 
 and for his work's sake we think his memory is entitled to 
 more consideration than any other minister whose field of 
 labor has been within that of his. Emphatically he labored 
 'not for that meat which perisheth,' for the whole amount 
 which he received during the time of his ministry would 
 make but little if any more than a comfortable salary for one 
 year at the present time. Large numbers of souls have been 
 brought to the Savior by the work he has wrought for the 
 gracious Master in his vineyard. Although his labors are 
 ended, and nearly three decades have passed over the little 
 mound which now marks the place where the toil-worn sol- 
 dier's manly form now rests, he 'yet speaketh.' One of his 
 eight sons, Rev. R. C. Hill, is now becoming old in the 
 work of the ministry. Hill Presbytery was named in honor 
 to his memory, and we trust it will become his most bright 
 and enduring monument." 
 
 We regret that the above short letter from Bro. Woods is all 
 we have been able to gather concerning this very useful pioneer 
 minister, except that he was married to Margaret Cunningham 
 April 16, 1807, and that he died February n, 1853. We 
 have been able to learn nothing of his family, save that Rev. 
 R. C. Hill, of Loxa, 111., is a worthy son of the deceased.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 2O7 
 
 REV. JOHN M. CAMERON. 
 
 I had almost despaired of obtaining any reliable account 
 of this old father in Israel, and especially of the latter part 
 of his life, when the following notice from the pen of B. B. 
 Berry appeared in a recent number of the Cumberland Pres- 
 byterian, which we take great pleasure in transferring to our 
 pages : 
 
 "Rev. John Miller Cameron was born in Elbert county, 
 Georgia, on the twelfth day of August, 1791, and died 
 at his residence after a painful and distressing affliction 
 of two months' duration, on the twenty-first day of Feb- 
 ruary, 1878, being eighty-six years, six months and nine 
 days old. 
 
 "The deceased while a youth came with his father and 
 family to Kentucky in the year 1804, and settled near the 
 mouth of Green river, in Henderson county, at which place 
 he was married to Mary Orendorff in the year 1811. From 
 this place he removed to the Territory of Illinois, and settled 
 in what is now White county, in the year 1813 ; removed 
 from there to Belleville in St. Clair county in the year 1816; 
 and from there to Sangamon county in the year 1818. This 
 move was made about the time that Illinois was admitted into 
 the Union. He stopped for a time near Springfield, after 
 which he settled on Rock Creek in the same county, at which 
 place the writer became intimately acquainted with him. 
 He was at that time a candidate for the ministry in the 
 bounds of Sangamon Presbytery, and about the year 1827 
 was licensed to preach. He devoted the principal part of his 
 time to the ministry until 1832, when he removed to Fulton 
 county, Illinois, where he was instrumental in building up 
 several church organizations. He remained there until 
 the year 1836, when he removed to the territory of Iowa, 
 and settled for a time in Jefferson County, where he was an 
 instrument in building up several more church organizations.
 
 2O8 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 "Shortly after the admission of the State into the Union 
 he again removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and at that place built 
 up an organization and erected the first house of worship in 
 the place. He devoted a portion of his time in visiting and 
 preaching in the counties of Mahaska, Wapelo, Van Buren, 
 Jefferson, Keokuk, Henry, Jasper, and others ; was always 
 punctual at the judicatures of the Church, and seldom failed 
 to be at his own appointments. 
 
 "In the Spring of 1849 ^ e started with his family across 
 the plains, a distance of two thousand miles, to California. 
 He arrived at a place now known as Fremont about the first 
 of October of the same year ; remained there but a short 
 time ; then went to Sacramento, where he remained during 
 the Winter. In the Summer of 1850 he removed to Martinez, 
 preaching occasionally until the Fall of 1851, when he re- 
 moved to Sonoma county, near the present town of 
 Sebastopol, where he purchased a farm on which he has ever 
 since resided. He was set apart to the whole work of the 
 ministry by the California Presbytery of the Cumberland 
 Presbyterian Church in 1854. After this his time was mostly 
 spent in visiting destitute places, preaching and organizing 
 churches, and, after the organization, in visiting and supply- 
 ing said churches until prevented by affliction and extreme 
 old age. His wife died after a short illness at her home in 
 Sonoma county, on the 25th day of March, 1876, at the 
 advanced age of eighty-two years. Since this time the de- 
 ceased seemed to be broken down in spirits, disconsolate, 
 lonely, and dejected. 
 
 "Father Cameron was eminently a pioneer at the time of 
 his settlement in Illinois in 1813, in Iowa in 1837, and in 
 California in 1849. These States respectively had not been 
 admitted into the Union. His life has been spent upon the 
 frontier ; and his occupation practically was to clear the way 
 for those who would follow. He was a devoted husband, a 
 kind and affectionate father, and a generous neighbor. He
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 209 
 
 died as he had lived, faithful to every obligation. He was 
 beloved by all who knew him ; and a great many friends 
 and relatives mourn their loss." 
 
 REV. THOMAS CAMPBELL. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in York District, South 
 Carolina, October 31, 1786. While young he immigrated to 
 Caldwell county, Kentucky. His parents were strict Pres- 
 byterians. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Robison 
 March 22, 1810. He was first aroused to a sense of his lost 
 condition under the preaching of Revs. Finis Ewing and 
 William Barnett about the year 1815. He sought and found 
 peace with God at his own home. His daughter, Mrs. Eliza 
 J. Hughes, of Nilwood, Illinois, from whom we have re- 
 ceived much that is herein written, says she has heard her 
 father express himself about this event often, and he said : 
 "It seemed as if all nature was changed to loveliness and 
 praise : even the trees looked more beautiful than ever 
 before." He soon felt it his duty to preach the gospel ; and 
 although he was married, and had a rising family, he placed 
 himself under the care of the Anderson Presbytery, and was 
 licensed by that Presbytery with Woods M. Hamilton and 
 Gilbert Dodds. 
 
 He moved to Illinois in 1820 and settled' temporarily in 
 Pope county, having rented out his farm in Kentucky. He 
 remained there only a year or two, and went back to Ken- 
 tucky, where he stayed but a short time. Then he sold out 
 and removed in 1823 to Sangamon county, Illinois, where he 
 spent the remainder of his life. His home was on what was 
 called "Little Spring Creek." He bought an improvement 
 and entered the land at the first land sales ever opqned in 
 Springfield. 
 
 We find he presented a letter of dismission and recom- 
 mendation from Anderson Presbytery to Illinois Presbytery 
 as a licentiate October 5, 1824, and was received. This
 
 2IO BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 session of Presbytery was held at old Hope well church, in 
 White county. He was ordained lo the whole work of the 
 ministry at Bear Creek church, Montgomery county, in 
 April, 1825. Rev. D. W. McLin preached the ordination 
 sermon, presiding and giving the charge also. 
 
 Like most of the ministers of his day, his opportunities 
 were limited to procure an education, and, the country being 
 new, he had to make his own living on his farm. But he 
 was very industrious and studious, and passed a creditable 
 examination on the English sciences required by the Book of 
 Discipline. In looking over the records of his Presbytery 
 we find him usually present at her meetings, and always tak- 
 ing an active part in her proceedings. He studied the 
 Scriptures. They were emphatically the source from whence 
 he derived most of his information. He was provided, how- 
 ever, with the commentaries both of Clark and Henry. He 
 preached without manuscript : did not use even notes, and 
 always held up Jesus and his cross in every sermon. He 
 was greatly useful, and much beloved by those who knew 
 him. He traveled far and near across the wild prairies to 
 carry the news of salvation to the people, who always heard 
 him gladly. His own house in Sangamon county was a 
 preaching place and a place for Sunday-school. A Sunday- 
 school was organized in his house, with David S. Taylor as 
 superintendent. He and his wife first united with a little 
 society four miles from his home at the house of Abraham 
 Duff, where Mr. Campbell preached for several years. He 
 aided in building up a number of congregations in that and 
 adjoining counties. Of course, when Sangamon Presbytery 
 was stricken off from Illinois Presbytery he was included in 
 the membership of Sangamon. 
 
 Mr. Campbell was the father of thirteen children, five of 
 whom are gone to their final home. He was very strict in 
 the observance of the Sabbath ; was a strong temperance 
 man joined the "American Temperance Society" long be-
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL,. 211 
 
 fore the " Washingtonians" or any other temperance society 
 was known. Says our informant: "He believed in the life 
 and power of religion, preached repentance to sinners and 
 perseverance to Christians, preached in the power and dem- 
 onstration of the Spirit, and usually got hold of the feelings 
 of the people." The same party relates this incident: 
 "Once, when he was preaching at a camp-meeting at Rock 
 Creek, while speaking of the sinner's lost condition, he re- 
 lated a circumstance that happened when he was living in 
 Pope county of a little girl who was lost and never found. 
 A stranger in the audience was so wrought upon that he 
 cried out with alarm at the top of his voice." 
 
 His death was very sudden and unexpected. It occurred 
 oq the nth of May, 1850. His disease was something like 
 cholera, although there was not thought to be any in the 
 country that year. He felt a little unwell in the morning, 
 but ate his breakfast as usual and went out in the field to 
 plant corn. His son saw him fall on his face. He was 
 carried or hauled to the house, a doctor sent for, but before 
 his arrival he was dying, and soon after expired. There 
 was no minister near enough to attend the funeral, but a 
 large concourse of citizens and neighbors followed him to 
 the grave. At the time of his death he was a member of 
 Harris Presbytery, (which only existed a year or two, be- 
 ing a part of Sangamon Presbytery, it was re-attached,) 
 which, at its session in October following, adopted an appro- 
 priate minute respecting the death of Mr. Campbell. He 
 was buried in what is called the "Morgan grave yard." Some 
 years later his companion, a very worthy Christian woman, 
 was laid by his side. His grave has a neat but plain tomb-stone, 
 with his name, birth, death and calling, and then this sentence : 
 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." 
 The death of Mr. Campbell occurred before our acquaintance 
 in the State, but we have found plentiful evidences of his 
 activity and great usefulness all over the interior counties.
 
 212 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 REV. NICHOLAS CARPER. 
 
 One of the earliest ministers of Vandalia Presbytery, and 
 one greatly beloved, was Rev. Nicholas Carper, a colored 
 preacher. Of his early life but little is known to the writer. 
 We find the following reference to his life and e^rly ministrv 
 by Judge Ewing in his "Historical Memoirs," which, per- 
 haps, gives the true account of his origin : "The session of 
 1836 was held at the Bethel church in Boon countv. Among 
 the members of this Synod appears the name of Rev. Nich- 
 olas Caoper," (evidenly a misprint for Carper,) "a colored 
 man of rare endowments as a public speaker. He was a 
 bright mulatto, having a very fine face, and being of large, 
 portly person. I have heard him preach from the same stand 
 at a camp-meeting with Ewing, Morrow, Sloan, and others 
 of the old preachers. I noticed that he was appointed on a 
 committee with S. C. Davis and John M. Foster to examine 
 the minutes of the Barnett Presbyter}-. He had formerly 
 been a slave, and was the property of William Jack, of Lex- 
 ington. He obtained his freedom, and became a minister in 
 the St. Louis Presbytery at least, he appeared from that 
 Presbytery in Synod. I think I never heard a speaker with 
 so fine a voice. It was strong, yet smooth, melodious and 
 musical. When raised to a high key it was like a bugle note 
 from a silver trumpet." Page 19. 
 
 We find his name at an early day on the roll of ministers 
 of Vandalia Presbytery. In the records of the Spring session 
 of 1839 we find Mr. Carper joined by letter, and from other 
 reliable sources we learn that he was then living in the Amer- 
 ican bottom opposite St. Louis, where he remained until his 
 death. Some where near the little village of Brooklyn, 
 between Venice and East St. Louis, was the place of his 
 residence. The writer never met him, but in St. Louis 
 Presbytery, and Vandalia, also, the older brethren speak of 
 him in the highest terms as a man of extraordinary powers 
 of mind and ability as a speaker. Nor were his abilities of
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 213 
 
 mind and powers of speech more noteworthy than his humil- 
 ity and devout piety. 
 
 The following is from Rev. James B. Braly, of Steelville, 
 Mo., who knew Mr. Carper well: "Bro. Carper's educa- 
 tion was limited, but still his language was usually chaste, 
 and frequently elegant. He was not a systematic preacher. 
 When he divided his subject he seldom paid any attention to 
 his divisions, sometimes treating the last division first. He 
 was truly eloquent. His gestures were natural and graceful. 
 His voice was shrill but very musical I think the most 
 musical voice I ever heard. His singing was full of melody. 
 He could always secure the attention of his audience. His 
 preaching was usually very effective. He brought his whole 
 soul into his subject, and his applications were powerful. 
 He was truly a wonderful man. He did not have a great 
 variety. Often he preached from the same text, and would 
 frequently make mistakes, confounding Bible names. But 
 his mistakes were not usually noticed by his hearers, they 
 being carried away by his eloquence. You may think, my 
 brother, that I have overdrawn the picture, he being a man 
 of color ; but if you could have seen and heard him, I think 
 you would agree with me that he was a wonderful man." 
 Mr. Braly gives the following incident of Mr. Carper : "He 
 preached occasionally from a text he called the 'Devil's 
 text:' 'Ye shall not surely die.' At a camp-meeting held 
 by the Methodists, I think in St. Louis county, he was in- 
 vited to preach. It was not long after he came into our 
 bounds. In his preface he told his hearers that there was an 
 old preacher amongst them who had traveled and preached 
 very extensively. He went on to describe him, and said he 
 had done much mischief. There was an old preacher by 
 the name of Heath who lived in St. Louis and had traveled 
 very extensively, and while Carper was talking the preachers 
 all began to whisper and wonder if it was not Heath. But 
 the old man told them after a while that he meant the Devil."
 
 214 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 The following letter from Rev. J. M. Bone, for many 
 years a minister in Vandalia Presbytery, will be of additional 
 interest. Mr. Bone now resides at Pomona, Kansas : 
 
 "I met Bro. Carper but a few tirr.es. Though he was a 
 member of Vandalia Presbytery, yet he never attended any 
 of its sessions. He moved from St. Louis and settled in the 
 American bottom, a few miles above East St. Louis, and 
 soon after he settled there he sent his letter and was received 
 as a member of Vandalia Presbytery. At that time he was 
 preaching to a congregation of colored people in St. Louis, 
 either Congregationalists or New School Presbyterians, I 
 don't know which, and continued to preach to them some 
 time after he settled in Illinois. Congregationalists, Baptists 
 and Presbyterians frequently invited him to assist them in 
 protracted meetings. They loved to have him. He was a 
 good revivalist. 
 
 "I met him at a camp-meeting at Beaver Creek, in the south 
 part of Bond county, Illinois, and there I learned from him 
 all I know of his history. He was born a slave. His futher 
 was one-fourth French. He was married before he pro- 
 fessed religion. He said in a discourse at the camp-meeting, 
 that when he was fourteen years old he knew nothing but to 
 He with his toes in the ashes and run at the call of his master. 
 He had no knowledge of books or their design. When he 
 decided that it was his duty to preach the gospel he devoted 
 himself to the work of preparing for the ministry ; and when 
 he was ordained he stood an examination on all the parts of 
 trial required by our Book. He was licensed and ordained 
 by the Lexington Presbytery. He devoted all his time to 
 the work of the ministry. In the meantime he bought and 
 paid for himself, wife and two daughters. Two sons were 
 sold as slaves and taken South. He never saw or heard 
 from them after. He was a large, portly, good-looking 
 mulatto man. He weighed about two hundred pounds, and 
 when I saw him I suppose he was about sixty years old.
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. 215 
 
 "Bro. Carper was a good, acceptable preacher. He used 
 good language. His manner was solemn. He presented his 
 thoughts clearly and some times impressively. His preach- 
 ing was mostly experimental and practical. He was powerful 
 in exhortation. He knew his place in the society of white 
 people He was modest and retiring, and never intruded 
 himself so as to give offense. But in the pulpit he was at 
 home. There he spoke his mind boldly and independently. 
 He reproved sin sharply, and urged the service of God in 
 Christ tenderly and in love. He died, I think, in the Amer- 
 ican bottom, but I know nothing of the particulars of his 
 death." 
 
 The brief notice of his death by Vandalia Presbytery may 
 be found elsewhere. 
 
 REV. JAMES M'DOWELL. 
 
 The following is furnished us by his son, Joseph W. Mc- 
 Dowell, now residing near Hopedale, Illinois, and is copied 
 mainly from a sketch prepared by his (Mackinaw) Presby- 
 tery, and published in the Cumberland Presbyterian April 
 17, 1849: 
 
 Mr. McDowell departed this life on October 22d, 1846, in 
 the forty-eighth year of his age. He was born in North 
 Carolina of pious parents, who removed to Robison count} 7 , 
 Tennessee, prior to the revival of 1800. His father was an 
 elder in the Presbyterian Church, and took his stand with 
 the revival party. The subject of our notice embraced re- 
 ligion on the 2d of August, 1822. He was received as a 
 candidate for the ministry by Logan Presbytery in the Fall 
 of 1823. He was licensed by the same Presbytery in Octo- 
 ber of 1825, and immediately started on what was called the 
 Green River circuit. From this to April, 1830, his time was 
 mostly spent in riding the circuit and preaching. At the 
 session of Presbytery in April, 1830, he was ordained. 
 From his journal kept during this time we find him a labo-
 
 2l6 BIOGRAPHICAL. 
 
 rious and very successful minister of Christ. As a sample 
 of the work done and privations endured by our first minis- 
 ters, we give this from his journal, the first six month's labor 
 after his licensure, from October, 1825, to April, 1826. He 
 says : "Since last Presbytery forty-seven made profession of 
 religion; twelve joined the Church. I have received $9.25 
 in cash, four vests, three pairs of socks, one pair of panta- 
 loons, and two cravats. My expenses were $5.75." It will 
 be seen that his pay in money was just $3-50. Again he 
 records: "From April 2Oth to November i2th I rode one 
 thousand, seven hundred and thirty-eight miles ; preached 
 one hundred and sixty-one times ; fifty-four professed relig- 
 ion over and above the number who professed at camp- 
 meetings. I received by way of remuneration $27.25 ; my 
 expenses, $3.62." This is a fair sample of after years. 
 
 In September, 1830, he was married, and removed imme- 
 diately to Tazewell county, Illinois. At that time there was 
 but one ordained minister in the present bounds of Mackinaw 
 Presbytery, and but one organized church, and this one em- 
 braced an area about fifty miles in diameter. Mr. McDowell 
 entered at once with great zeal and faithfulness into the 
 work of preaching Christ in this vast and important field. 
 His health failed, however, some years before his death, so 
 that he preached but seldom ; yet he continued greatly useful 
 to the Church. He was a sound and safe counsellor in the 
 judicatures of the Church, and of great help to candidates 
 for the ministry. At one time he took a young man, a Bro. 
 Hutchison, to his house, and kept him under his tuition till 
 he was able to stand a creditable examination on all parts of 
 trial preparatory to ordination. This young man afterwards 
 died in the triumphs of faith, having preached with much 
 acceptance and success for several years. 
 
 The preaching of Mr. McDowell was about equally divided 
 between theology, experience and practice. He was not 
 what the world called a great preacher, but was a man "full
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL. . 217 
 
 of faith and of the Holy Ghost." He is said to have been 
 rather reserved in conversation when not well acquainted, 
 but those who knew him best loved him most. His last ill- 
 ness was long and very severe, but he bore it with great 
 patience and fortitude, and departed without doubt or fear in 
 full assurance of eternal life through that Jesus he had so 
 long and faithfully preached. He was a humble, unostenta- 
 tious man, having no jealous spirit, and always rejoicing in 
 the honor bestowed upon, and the success accomplished by, 
 his ministering brethren. He did much to plant the standard 
 of the cross and of the Cnmberland Presbyterian Church in 
 Mackinaw Presbytery. Many are the reminiscences now all 
 over that country connected with his name and labors.