Madison County History and Genealogy

History and Genealogy



Somerford Township Churches

From History of Madison County, W. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1883

The political philosopher recognizes our schools and free school system as the bulwark of the nation, but the young mind, as well as the more mature, must be molded and tempered by the Divine Instructor, in order that the great power given by the acquired intelligence obtained by our grand educational institutions may be rightly directed, so as to promote the greatest interests of our people and nation, to make them truly great and happy. And from the earliest dawn of our nation, created by the wisdom, courage and intellect of our forefathers, has been recognized the value and imperative necessity of churches, that their benign power and influence may go hand in hand with all intelligence and progress; being to the intellect as the governor to an engine, or the rudder to the vessel, to direct and control. The pioneers of this township realized this fact, and they early proceeded to organize churches.

The first church organized in this township was by the Methodists, about 1828, at the house of Charles Soward, by Rev. James B. Austin, with the following members: Sutton Potee, Charles Soward, Joshua Davis and Samuel Wilson, with their wives, with Sutton Potee as Class-Leader About 1834, the organization changed the place of holding their meetings to Somerford, and their services were held in private houses and in the schoolhouses till about 1843-44, when a brick house was erected in the east part of the town. There services were held till in the fall of 1873 when they tore down the church, and the brick were used to help build the present house, which is located in the western part of the village, at a cost of about $1,700. This house was dedicated to service by Rev. Granville Moody on October 25, 1874. This church has had its times of prosperity and its times of waning. At the present time it is enjoying a fair degree of prosperity, and the prospects for its future growth and usefulness are quite promising. The membership is now about fifty, with Rev. J. F. Lewis as their minister, and Mr. Hughs as Class-Leader.

Fletcher East or Tradersville M. E. Church was organized in the schoolhouse it is believed about 1838. Among the first members who organized a class were Moses Bales, Rev. Eli Adams, Mr. Geer, Isaac Newman, Charles Rigdon, William Davidson, and their wives; also Edwin West and his wife, Margaret, and daughter. About 1843-44, they erected a frame house, in which services were held for many years. In 1873, the present house—frame—was erected, at a cost of about $2,200. The church at one time was quite large in membership, and prosperous, but in later years has decreased very much by many moving away, and others by death. Its membership now numbers about seventeen, with Reason Lauck as Class-Leader, and J. H. Davis as minister. Some of the first or early ministers of this church were Revs Eli Adams, George Boucher, Cherry, Conrey, Ellsworth, Williams, Keck, Jackson, Fiddler, Hull, Havens and Smith.

The Christian Church at Somerford.—This church was organized May 1, 1847, by Daniel Summers and John Simmerman, with six members, as follows: Daniel Sommers and his wife, Rachel Sommers; John Simmerman and his wife, Martha Simmerman; John Bradley and his wife, Judy Bradley, who covenanted to take the Holy Scriptures as a sufficient rule of faith and practice, and Christian as the only name for the followers of Christ. The church, since its organization, has been administered to by the following ministers: Daniel Sommers and John Simmerman officiated jointly for two years, with but three additions to the church. The second to fill the pastoral office was Samuel Wilson, who filled the pulpit for four years, and under whose services there were added to the church sixty-five members. The third to preach to this people was C. A. Morse, who labored three years, and received thirty-five members. Daniel Griffin was the fourth pastor, who served the church eight years, during which period were added to the church 125. The next to administer to the church was William S. Manville, who filled the pulpit two years, and added forty-two. The sixth and last, who has faithfully labored for a period of sixteen years to shed abroad the light of the Gospel to this people is Rev. W. M. Overturf, and who has during this time been permitted to extend the hand of fellowship to 320, and welcome them to the household of faith. Thus, since the organization of the church, there have been added about six hundred members. Although the church, when organized, was weak in numbers, and for two or three years labored under discouraging circumstances, having no place to meet but in the schoolhouse, yet their faith was strong, believing the promise of the Divine Master that "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them." The promise was verified. In 1850, their church edifice was erected, and the little band had a home and a place to worship. The light of divine truth began to prevail, and, under the earnest labors of Rev. Samuel Wilson, many were added to the church; and since that time the lights and shades have come and gone, and, like all organizations, they have had their seasons of prosperity and discouragements, but its growth has been steady and substantial, and at the present time (1882) the church has enrolled 135 members.

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