Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

646 HISTORY OF STARK COUNT^.
Anderson built the first residence there some years ago. Many cottages
have since been erected, and with the stores, depot grain marehouse,
and stores and shops named, give tile llczi11let n bus~ness-like appearance.
The pensioners residing at Stni-lwille in IS83 were William Peterson,
receiving $10 per month ; Erastus Morrow :anti Aionzo Kingsley,
$8 each ; antl David Martin, $4.
The new depot at Stt~~k, built to rep1;rce the one recently burned,
was completed in October, ISSG.
The Stark Congregatiol~al Aid society, organizeti March 3, 1885, at
the little village of Stark, collected $309.50, anti expentled $982 the
first vear. Mrs. C. T. Newell is secretal*~.
cLngrePtion:~1 church originated il; a selaies ol nl eetings wll i c11
from 1880 to IS85 were llelcl in various places in the vicin~tv. Tlre
first effort to olp,njee a, illeeting ~vas inad6 by lilolcling service; in tile
warehouse of Simpson c! Smith, but s~lbsequeiitly lleld in an unused
cheese factory. Elere a Snntlay-school was started in l8S3, ~vllicll, ill
connection vith regular services, continued until it was plaoposed to
build a church. This enterprise ' was to be kno\rn as the Union
church. Accorclir~gly, on the evening of Feb~uary 19, 1585, inanv
citizens of' Starli: ancl vicinity met to counplete a~~rangelnents.
M. 6. Smith presitled, with W. F. Speers, secretary. A colllinittee
of five, consisting of M. S. Stnith, 11. Blood, W. F. Speers, Cllarles
Hampson and L. Dixon, were elected as a fin:~ncii~l collimittee. 011
Febr~~ary 21st, this couilnittee met ant1 elected M. S. Smith treasurer.
By Februzwy 26t11, $620 mas subscribed, ~~ntl April 19th a ineeting
was calletl to consitler the question of orgnnization, at ~vllicll meeting
M. S. Slnith presided. A coininittee to call a council to organize a
Congregational ch~mll, coinprising II. F. I3lood, 31. S. Smith ant1 L. E.
Brown, was appointed April 2Stl1, ~rith &I. S. Smith, cllairlnan, and
William Simpson, secretary, ant1 a. Cong~aegational cllulcll was organizecl
wit11 the following ~nernbers I~olciing letters Rao1n otller cliurches :
I-I. F. Bloocl, Morris S. Smith, Susan Antierson, Albert Jortlan, E~biltla
Jordan, Louisa Dewey, Willinn1 Peterson. Mary I'eterson, Eunice
Blood, Kate Eloocl, J. M. I:rown, 1,. E. ~ro~vn, Eliznbetlr Sl~eelas, 7,ie
McCowen, ancl Prescott Itloocl, SL'. 011 April 21)tll, 11. F. 13100(1 ;mtl
Morris 8. Smith were electccl tiencons ; Williarrl Siuil~son, clerk ; Sister.
L. E. Brown, treasurer; and Albert Jo~.clan, trustee for one year, 1jresc0t.t
Blood, Sr., for two years, antl J. Antlerson for three years. 011
May 31st, Rev. J. Mitcl~ell, of Wyoming, was called as ])astor to
reach once each Sunday for the con~itlerat~lon of $300 per annum, and
PI. F. Blood, Wi1li;rni Peterson, and Wi1li;tin Sill~lison appointed n
committee to solicit subscriptions. 011 September 20, 1 Y 85, tlre cl~urcll,
mllich in the ~neantime lrad been erected anti finished a,t a cost of
about $2000, was cletiicated, the ser~llo~l being preczcl~ed by Rev. J. R.
Tolnkins of Cllicago. On the day of the detlication, $334.78 w;~s collected
to litpiclate all the inclebtetlness of the cllurcl~. From its
foundation the cllurc11 11as continuetl to grow.
The nalnes of adclitional nle~ubers of St;~~.lc Cllurcll are as foilows :
Prescott Blood, Jr., Olive Blood, Arthur Hull, Geo. Thoinas Garside,