Some Congregational Church History

 

--History of Ford County, Illinois:  From its Earliest Settlement to 1908.  Ernest Arthur Gardner.  1908.

 



--"Memories of Roberts" 1995 Calendar. Roberts Woman's Club.

The Evangelical Church & an 1876 Map

The Evangelical Church which was located two miles south and two miles east of Roberts was founded by the people living in that area who felt the need for a place of worship.  The exact date of its beginning is unknown because the early records cannot be found.  In the family records of the wedding of Fred Rueck, Sr. and Rosa Drechsel, it is noted that they were married on May 27, 1886, by Rev. Weir, pastor of the Evangelical Church, at the home of Mrs. Ebert near Roberts.  Due to this information, it can be assumed that this church was in existence before that time.
The congregation was made up of many farm families that lived in the area; however, some members lived in the village of Roberts and came out to the country to attend services.
Although not large in numbers, this group was very active, having an active Young People's League, Sunday school classes for all ages, and the Women's Missionary Society.
Many dedicated and talented ministers served this parish.  Large crowds gathered to worship and to attend the many special programs that were held throughout the years.  Some of the Pastors were:  Rev. E. Nichols, Rev. Ralph Weyrick, Rev. J. Wesley Siebert, Rev. William Graham and Rev. C. L.Shriver.
Names still familiar today were those of the members who attended this church.  Such family names as Zahn, Ebert, Houtzel, Drechsel, Dietterle, Rueck, Steinman, Eppelheimer, Roeder, Stutzman, Wagner, Conner, McCorkle, Walters, Taylor, Brown, Dodd, Lackey, Berlet, and Thomas were on the church roll of membership.
When the depression came in the thirties, it became necessary for this congregation to share a pastor with the Evangelical congregation in Danforth, Illinois.
Many of the farmers who were members began moving to other areas too far from the church to make it possible to continue worshiping there so it became necessary for the congregation to disband and to join other church groups.
One of the last events held in the church was the wedding of Geneva Walters to Clarence Brinkman of Melvin on December 19, 1936.
The building was purchased by the late Henry Tjarks of Gibson City and was torn down.

--Roberts Area Centennial,  100 Years of Plowing, Planting, Progressing.  1872-1972.  1972

 

1876

 

 

1884

 

2016

 

--Posted to the Roberts Illinois History Group Page by Daniel Flora.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1724425851108326/  19 September 2016.

 

 

--From my GG Grandfather Johann Roeder's ledger. Subscriptions to the German Zion Ev Church in Roberts. Johann gave 30$.  Daniel Flora.





St. Paul's Lutheran Church

Congregational Church

A church in 1876 in Section 34.

I believe the middle small building is a church . . . located on section 34 in Lyman Township from this 1876 atlas.

Congregational Church, Roberts, Ill.

The Roberts Congregational Church was organized October 24, 1875 with ten members. They were Frank Butler, W.S. Larkin, Elizabeth Larkin, Lucy Larkin, John Hummel, Sarah Hummel, G.H. and M.W. Thompson, A.D. Wycoff. Church services were first held in a schoolhouse and later in the town hall.
Rev. R. Weage was the first pastor. Since the Roberts Church was an offspring from the Thawville Church, the first fourteen years the churches had the minister together.
On December 9, 1879 the church was incorporated and a building 40' by 55' was begun. The building was completed in 1880 and dedicated free from debt May 16 of that year. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. James Tompkins. In December 1880 the Sabbath School was organized.
Rev. Weage was followed by Rev. Brobst. It was during the the time Rev. Brobst was here that the church was built. Rev. Brobst was followed by Rev. J.B. Johnson. He held the first revival services and many new members were added to the church.
Rev. W. Wilson was a small man and full of energy. One winter day with snow several feet deep, he walked from Thawville to Roberts in the morning to hold services and in the afternoon on his way back stopped at the Woodward home to preach a funeral service.
In 1894 Rev. Richardson came here from Iowa. He had not finished school but said he was called to G.P.C. "Go Preach Christ" but some of his critics said it probably meant to "Go Plant Corn."
In 1897 Rev. J.H. Runnals came and served the church for four years.
In July new manuals and rules were adopted. The first two rules were (1) that services should be held twice each Sunday, morning and evening, a prayer meeting be held each Tuesday; (2) any member who was absent from the meetings of the church for one year and failed to reply to the official letter of the clerk, shall be liable to have fellowship withdrawn. In 1898 four members were dropped.
It was decided an incidental collection should be taken at each morning and evening service. In 1897, $776 was raised in this way. The average attendance in 1898 was 60 for the morning service, 74 for evening and prayer meeting, 11.
In 1890 the bell was purchased from a church at Ludlow. Chris Anderson and F.G. Lohman brought it to Roberts. The steeple was built the same year and dedicated, free from debt, having paid for it by giving entertainment in the Old National Hall. It cost $1 per foot, 75 feet -- $75. In 1907 the sanctuary to the south was added.
Stained glass windows were put in this part in 1914, by the H.M. Hooker Co. from Springfield, Illinois. In 1948 the basement was enlarged and finished.
Due to mergers the church has had four names, The First Congregational Church 1875-1932, The Congregational Church 1932-1961, United Church of Christ 1961-1979, The Congregational Christian Church 1979.

-- History of Ford County Illinois 1985. Page 74.