The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-04-19
THEBAPTIST CHURCH
Corner Stone Laying of the New
Church Last Sunday.
4 COMPLETE HISTORICAL SKETCH
The Religious Ceremonies winch 100"
Place ON sunday Evening and on
Monday.
HISTORICAL FACTS.

The history of the First BAPTIST
church in Ottawa dates back to Octo-
Der. ls4l. In that month a meeting
of Christians was held in Mechanics
Hall and it was decided TO organize a
church. The next month the church
was formed, and delegates from the
churches at Paw Paw, Nermillion,
Plaintield and Bristol were present.
Elder Chas. Harding was the first pas
tor and filled the position from Novem-
Der +, 1871, until his death, February
3, lS43. The members OF the church
at this time were Christopher Champ
lin, Randolph Sizer, Matthias Trum-
DO, Chas. NJ Dickinson, Emeline Cav
erly, Elizabeth c. Morey, Marinda X.
Sizer, Rebecca TrumbO, - Shaver and
- Groves. G. Champlin, John Shuler,
Geo. f. Weaver, r.. Sizer and NJ.
Trumbo were elected trustees in 1872.
and in June of that year the church
joined the Illinois River Baptist Asso-
citation. Between January and May
of 1912 thirty-siX Joined the church.
In March, 1912, a lot was purchased
on the.cOrner of La Sale and Jefferson
streets, where the post Office now
stands, and small frame building to
W. uSctl dS Il CuultIl, NiVNeNh 'hieSA
the death of Elder Harding, from Feb
ruary 3, lS43, to August, 1874, the
church was without pastor. Elder
Samuel Laid was then called 10 the
pastorate. Few persons were Daptlzed
during the two years he had charge, as
every meeting was held for discipline,
and thus the small congregation. IN
stead of growing greater in numbers
became stronger in point OF prOm-
nence. After the death Of Elder
Laid, Elder John Highly was made
pastor, and served until the fall OF
1850.
In lS4S the church united with other
churches to form the Ottawa AsSocla-
ton.
A prOtractcd meeting was con-
Quoted in January, 1850, by the evan
gelical elder. Jacob Knapp.
Up to this time total of seventy
eight persons had been baptized.
Shortly after the pastorate Of Mr..
Highly closed, a Sunday school was
organized, with Newton futile as
superintendent, and in the spring of
the next year Elder Chas. Thompson,
Of Winchester, became pastor, at a
salary of $3.50 per year. All business
of the church was left in the hands of
the Prudential Committee, which con-
sisted Of the pastor. officers and three
other brethren. The State Baptist
Association met here in October of
the same year and Justus Buckley
preached the opeLin sermon. The
number Of haptisms reported for that
year was l,917, and the total member
ship was ,O63. Elder Thompson re-
signed withina year. and for two years
and nine months the church was with
out pastor. The next pastor was
Elder VIM. Clark, and he served just
one year. In April, 1854, a committee
was appointed to assist the people liv-
ing in the TrumbO settlement in the
formation of church.
Rev. John Coggshall became pastor
in January, 1850, at "a salary or 5000
per year. The following year a meet
ing of the trustees was held, and 1t
was decided to use the "PSalmiSt' as
the church hymn book and the dull
elmer as the musical instrument. The
same year seats were sold at auction
in order to raise needed funds. Various
minor Improvements, such as building
sidewalks, introducing gas as light,
etc, were made in this year. Some
difficulty arising from the political
elections at this time. caused the res
ignatOn of Rev. COggshall. in March,
1857. The question of erecting new
church building was discussed the
same year. The congregation was
gradually increasing and it became
evident that larger and more sub
Stantial structure was needed.
nxrf
man, of Rochester, Mich. He took
charge in 1857 at a salary OF $500 a
year. The old lot could not he
sold without the permission of the
state, but this was finally obtained
in 1864. a building committee, con
ssting of Messrs. Coleman. lIosSack
and Hay, recommended that IA brick
structure 45Xsj be built. The matter
rested for several years and was
brought up again when the state
granted leave to sell the old lot.
Many of the business meetings Of
those times Were occupied in discus
SionS regarding the delinquenceS of
members and the art Of conducting
church finances. The seats were rented
and certain number OF the best ones
reserved for strangers.
Pastor Coleman urged upon lie
members the necessity Of Il thorough
and systematic LAYING by of money for
church purposes and general heneNo-
lent objects. \ vote to adopt weekly
giving for church support was carried.
Mr.. Mills was treasurer eight years.
In 1865 work was commenced on the
new church, and in 1867 the building
was dedicated. Mr.. Coleman was pas
tor until April Of the next year Dur
ing the eleven years he was pastor the
church grew rapidly and became more
firmly established. This was due to
the wise management Of the pastor.
Rev. 4. CleghOrn took charge in
1865. at a salary of 81 800 year.
The second meeting Of the Ottawa
Association was held in 1871, and the
new Baptist Hymnal was adopted.
The Ladies Missionary Circle was or
ganized in 1873. Resolutions were adj
opted at the annual meeting to the
effect that they support the Bible
and Publication Society, American
Baptist Missionary Union" "Ameri-
can Baptist Home Mission Society"
and the society for Ministerial Edu-
cation" During the paStorate Of Rev.