1915 Disciples of Christ
Gibson
Organized 1872, by G. W. Campbell; present membership, 430; value of
property, including parsonage, $27,500; Bible school enrollment, 448.
There was occasional preaching for three years in neighboring schoolhouses
and the town previous to the organization of the church.
There were nineteen charter members. H. N. Karr and A. E. Pirkey were the
first elders, with Andrew Jordan, John Dillingham, A. Canterbury and J. B.
Lott, the first deacons. For six years the meetings were held in Union Hall
and the church was served by Mins. Clark Braden, W. S. Campbell, F. Collins,
J. F. Smith and Samuel Lowe.
By reason of the death of Mr. Lott and financial reverses of Mr. Jordon, the
principal financial supports, the congregation ceased to meet. This was in
1880. For ten years following, the local C. W. B. M. kept going. So in 1890
the State Board of Missions sent Min. J. E. Jewett to revive the church.
This he did. Mrs. O. H. Damon (nee Mrs. J. H. Lott) gave the lot and Mr.
Jordon donated the brick. The building was erected and the congregation
began work again with about twenty-five members.
The pastors who followed were M. P. Hayden, C. C. Rowlison, R. F. Thrapp, W.
W. Sniff, S. E. Fisher, John R. Golden, and L. O. Lehman, who is the present
minister.
The building has been much enlarged and modernized. The church has in its
membership a superior class of Christian men and women.
Mt. Olivet (Paxton)
Organized 1857, by Marston Dudley; present membership, 84; value of
property, $1,500; Bible school began 1860; present enrollment, 52.
This is the oldest church in Ford County and has contributed of its members
to many other congregations. Jacob Straxer and wife, Marston Dudley and
wife, and J. P. Botton and wife began this work. Besides Mr. Dudley, Rolla
M. Martin and J. L. Canada ministered to the congregation in its early
years. Mr. Botton was the Bible school superintendent fifty years ago and
one of the most useful members. Elmer Higdon and Ernest Higdon were given to
the ministry.
Paxton
Present membership, 150; value of property, including parsonage, $7,000;
Bible school enrollment, 160.
This church was formed in the seventies. It has given Glen Mills and Jay
Bonham to the ministry.
Extracted 04 Feb 2019 by Norma Hass from History of the Disciples of Christ in Illinois 1819-1914, by Nathaniel S. Haynes, published in 1915, pages 200-201.
