EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
by Bela Foster
Continuing . . .
In 1875 the Illinois Conference of the Zion German Evangelical Churches created a new mission in the counties of Livingston, McLean and Ford. Rev. F. C. Stuewig was the first missionary assigned to this mission. He made his first visit here at the home of Peter Pfaat in 1865. (Peter Pfaat came here from Lyons, New York in 1858.) The church services were held for several years in the homes of Peter Pfaat and of Katherine Althen. After the Patrick Russell school house was built the meetings were held in that school house. It was built about eight rods east of the present Edward Russell home. Later it was moved to the present school site in the district. The members of this church when organized in 1866 were Peter Pfaat, Margaret Pfaat, Katherine Althen, Margaret Leber, George Barrick, Louisa Barrick, Lydia Barrick, Catherine Barrick, Christian Mosier, Anna Wilcoxson.
Peter Pfaat was the first class leader. Many Germans came to this locality to see how they would like it and being pleased they bought homes and settled here. This added many workers to the society. 1873 they built a new church building on the north east corner of section 34. It was dedicated by Bishop J. J. Escher. The preacher in charge at that time was Rev. J. Kurtz. The officers of the Zion Church Evangelical Association were: Henry Baker, Daniel Raabe, Abraham Shaffer, Christian Stutzman and Peter Pfaat.
This church was divided in the nineties. The rent became wider until one side was forced out. They built a new church one mile east of the old church. This new church stands in the south west corner of section 25. Services are held there regularly and the attendance is better than most of the village churches have at the present time.
The old church was sold and torn down and used in building the Gottlieb Hubner's dwelling in Roberts. The parsonage was brought by J. J. Russell and moved to Roberts. The present pastor of the Evangelical Church is Rev. William C. Graham.
The German Zion Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1873. The church was erected at once in the east part of the village. They raised $2400 with which to put up the building and with much donated work they soon had the only church building in the of town of Lyman. The Evangelical shared that honor with them that same year. The first board of trustees consisted of the following: John Grube, Frank Bastian, Henry Michaels, John Wieting and Fred Haug with their pastor Rev. Frank Meier as chairman. The most of their membership lived in the central part of the township.
Soon most of the members moved to the northwest. Losing so many members, the services ceased. The church building was sold to the Catholic denomination which was increasing in membership at that time. This church was organized in 1886 when the building was purchased. Father J. P. Quinn organized the church with 81 members. One third of these were adults. Services were held each third Sunday.
The church had a steady growth. At first the church was united with the Gilman Parish and later with Gibson City and Melvin. More recently the church has been united with Piper City.
The American Lutheran Church was organized in the an early day and for many years the church held services in the afternoons in the Congregational Church building. This church has been united with the Melvin parish during most of the time since its organization and pastor lives in Melvin.
--Roberts Herald. 25 September 1935. Bela Foster.
Peter Pfaat was the first class leader. Many Germans came to this locality to see how they would like it and being pleased they bought homes and settled here. This added many workers to the society. 1873 they built a new church building on the north east corner of section 34. It was dedicated by Bishop J. J. Escher. The preacher in charge at that time was Rev. J. Kurtz. The officers of the Zion Church Evangelical Association were: Henry Baker, Daniel Raabe, Abraham Shaffer, Christian Stutzman and Peter Pfaat.
This church was divided in the nineties. The rent became wider until one side was forced out. They built a new church one mile east of the old church. This new church stands in the south west corner of section 25. Services are held there regularly and the attendance is better than most of the village churches have at the present time.
The old church was sold and torn down and used in building the Gottlieb Hubner's dwelling in Roberts. The parsonage was brought by J. J. Russell and moved to Roberts. The present pastor of the Evangelical Church is Rev. William C. Graham.
The German Zion Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1873. The church was erected at once in the east part of the village. They raised $2400 with which to put up the building and with much donated work they soon had the only church building in the of town of Lyman. The Evangelical shared that honor with them that same year. The first board of trustees consisted of the following: John Grube, Frank Bastian, Henry Michaels, John Wieting and Fred Haug with their pastor Rev. Frank Meier as chairman. The most of their membership lived in the central part of the township.
Soon most of the members moved to the northwest. Losing so many members, the services ceased. The church building was sold to the Catholic denomination which was increasing in membership at that time. This church was organized in 1886 when the building was purchased. Father J. P. Quinn organized the church with 81 members. One third of these were adults. Services were held each third Sunday.
The church had a steady growth. At first the church was united with the Gilman Parish and later with Gibson City and Melvin. More recently the church has been united with Piper City.
The American Lutheran Church was organized in the an early day and for many years the church held services in the afternoons in the Congregational Church building. This church has been united with the Melvin parish during most of the time since its organization and pastor lives in Melvin.
--Roberts Herald. 25 September 1935. Bela Foster.
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