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Stephenson County
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Stephenson County
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WADDAM'S GROVE
CHURCH Of The BRETHREN
Its Beginning
The Waddams Grove Church had its beginning in its sister church to the south; the Yellow Creek Church. From the beginning date, 1843, to 1859, there was but one church, known as the Yellow Creek Church. The history of the Waddams Grove Church and the history of the Yellow Creek Church is therefore the same during this period.
The first permanent settlement in Stephenson County, Ill., so far as is known was made in the early part of the year 1832, by William Waddams and his sons Hiram and Nelson. They were not Brethren, however. As far as known no Brethren were here permanently, at least, until about 1843, when Brethren William Miller of Ohio and Joseph Rush of Pennsylvania came and located in the county.
During the early summer of the year 1846 two wagon trains of settlers came to Stephenson County, from Pennsylvania; one train going to Kent, Ill., to settle and the other coming to West Point, Ill. Among the number were eleven members of the Church of the Brethren. They were John Lauver and his wife, Christina; their son, Michael Lauver, and his wife, Catherine; Joseph Sausman and his wife, Hannah; Dr. Frederick Voight and his wife, Wilhelmena; Allen Boyer and wife, Leah; and Leah Boyer’s mother, Lydia Jourdan. Of this number John Lauver was a German minister of some ability, it is said, and was the first minister of the Church of the Brethren to locate in Stephenson County; and Allen Boyer was a deacon, the first deacon to locate in the county. These eleven members, with the two before names, stand as the charter members of what was afterwards the Yellow Creek Church.
In the year 1848 a number of Brethren came from Ohio and Pennsylvania. In this party were Brethren Daniel Fry, an ordained elder, the first elder of the church to locate in Stephenson County; Jacob Delp, a deacon, and Benjamin H. Kepner, and their wives.
In the fall of 1848, the above named brethren and sisters, numbering at this time about thirty, were organized into a church, the first Church of the Brethren in Stephenson and Jo Daviess Counties. The name given to the church which they organized themselves into was Yellow Creek, taking the name from the creek of the same name which flows through Stephenson and Jo Daviess Counties. Brother Daniel Fry was chosen elder in charge of the church.
The territory included in the Yellow Creek Church at this time is not definitely known. It took in all of Stephenson and Jo Daviess Counties, with possibly more to the east and north.
These pioneer Brethren for a number of years had no meetinghouse in which to worship. Their services were held during these years at their homes; sometimes in their new house, sometimes in barns or in the open, as the occasion dictated.
The first persons to receive the sacred rite of baptism were John Wales and Eliza Derr, wife of Reuben Derr. This was April, 1849.
The first love feast was held July 1, 1849. It was held at the home of Brother Michael Reber (where Mr. Ernest Look now resides, near the Waddams Grove, or Louisa Church). The number of attendants and their names can not be give. The subscription paper for the purpose of defraying the expenses of this first love feast is still in existence and may prove interesting. It reads as follows:
Names Cash Butter Coffee Candles Sugar Wine John Royer $--- 10 lbs. 2 lbs. --- --- --- Daniel Fry --- 6 lbs. 3 lbs. 6 --- --- John Girl 1.00 6 lbs. --- 6 4 lbs. --- Jos. Sausman .50 10 lbs. 4 lbs. 6 --- --- John Wales .40 6 lbs. --- 12 --- --- Allen Boyer --- 5 lbs. --- --- --- --- David Erwin --- 6 lbs. 3 lbs. 6 --- --- Henry Hader --- 3 lbs. --- --- --- --- Joseph Rush --- --- 4 lbs. 12 --- --- Benj. Kepner .25 --- --- --- 5 lbs. --- Fred’k Voight 1.00 --- --- --- --- --- Michael Lauver 1.50 --- --- --- --- --- Abraham Groff .50 --- --- --- --- 2 qts. John Lauver --- --- --- --- --- --- $5.15 52 lbs. 16 lbs. 48 9 lbs. 2 qts. Cost 5.00
The first minister elected was Brother Benjamin H. Kepner, in 1850.
On September 15, 1850, the Brethren held their love feast at Brother John Royer’s home, in present Waddams Grove territory.
On June 22, 1851, a love feast was held at Brother Daniel Fry’s home, in present Yellow Creek territory.
In the year 1852, on June 22, the love feast was held at Brother Michael Reber’s residence, in present Waddams Grove territory.
On July 2, 1853, a love feast was held at Brother Daniel Fry’s home.
In the year 1854 the Brethren held two love feasts. On June 17 and 18 at Brother Daniel Fry’s home, and on October 7 and 8 at Brother Michael Reber’s home.
In 1855 there were two love feasts held; the first on June 23 and 24 at Brother Michael Reber’s home; the second on October 6 and 7 at Brother Philip Young’s home, in present Waddams Grove territory.
In the year 1855 Brother Enoch Eby and fifteen or more members came from the Aughwick Church, Huntingdon County, Pa.; Enoch Eby being a minister in the first degree. They handed their certificates of membership to the Yellow Creek Church.
Other ministers and deacons moving into the church from time to time were David Barklow (date unknown) and Robert Badger, 1858, ministers; and Henry Haines, John Fry and David Erwin, deacons (dates unknown).
Those elected to office other than already named were John Wales, to the office of deacon, and Michael Lauver, to the ministry, the latter failing to serve, however.
The Yellow Creek Church, having made application for the Annual Meeting and the request being granted, the Annual Meeting was held in Stephenson County for the first and only time, on May 10 to 14, 1856. The meeting was held at Brother Michael Reber’s place of residence. An account of this meeting appears in chapter 5 of this book.
In 1856 the Brethren held two love feasts: on June 21 and 22 at Brother Emanuel Mishler’s home, in present Yellow Creek territory and on October 9 and 10 at Brother Jacob Eby’s home (Jacob Eby, Sr.) in present Waddams Grove territory.
Two love feasts were held in 1857: on June 18 and 19 at Brother Michael Lauver’s home, in present Waddams Grove territory, and on October 16 and 17 at Brother Michael Reber’s home.
In 1858 there were two love feasts held: on June 5 and 6 at Brother Enoch Eby’s home, in present Waddams Grove territory, and October 16 and 17 at Brother Michael Reber’s home.
We thus see that to this time there had been fifteen love feasts held by the Yellow Creek Church at the homes of different members. In the years 1849, 1850,1851,1852,1853, one love feast each year was held; while in 1854, 1855, 1856, 1857, and 1858 there were two love feasts each year. Of the fifteen, five were held with Brother Michael Reber, four with Brother Daniel Fry, one with Brother John Royer, one with Brother Emanuel Mishler, one with Brother Philip Young, one with Brother Jacob Eby, Sr., and one with Brother Enoch Eby. Nine of them were held in what is new the territory of the Waddams Grove Church. The other six were held in the Yellow Creek Church District as it is at the present time.
The advantages of a house of worship and also a division of the district were soon discussed by the church at Yellow Creek. In the year 1858 the Yellow Creek meetinghouse was built (40 by 60). It was built with the understanding that if a division of the district was effected the Yellow Creek Church should aid the new district in building a meetinghouse in the near future.
The first love feast was held in the Yellow Creek meetinghouse on June 11 and 12, 1859.
In 1859 the division of the district was unanimously agreed upon and a new organization was effected, calling it the Waddams Grove Church. The line between Kent and West Point Townships made the line between the two churches.
Here we leave the Yellow Creek Church, and take up the work of the Waddams Grove Church as a separate organization.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Its Beginning
Waddams Grove Church
Ministers and Deacons
A List of the Members of the Church
The Annual Meeting of 1856
Enoch Eby and Daniel Fry’s Mission to Denmark in 1877
District Meeting Preceedings for 1862,
1871 and 1882
Every Name List
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
The Yellow Creek Meeting house in 1910
Waddams Grove Meeting house in 1910
Chelsea Meeting house in 1910
Where the Annual Meeting of 1856 Was Held
Brother Enoch Eby’s Photograph
