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of Following the first service in the Asa Crook home on Christmas Day, 1835, by a minister passing through Prophetstown, arrangements were made to hold mid-week services in the home of N.G. Reynolds. In 1836 the First Methodist Society was formed and meetings were held in various home, with the first church structure erected in 1864 and a parsonage built in about 1892. A larger building was erected in 1896 and Sunday School was organized about 1923 with Church services and Sunday school held in country schools as mission projects during some pastorates. An addition was made in 1919 and an entirely new structure erected around two sides of the old church in 1859, along with a new parsonage in 1974. Lutherans in the Tampico, Lyndon and Prophetstown areas traveled to Tampico by horse, bobsled, and later by hand-car on the railroad, to the first Lutheran built in the area in 1868. The church was built in partnership with the Baptists and services were alternated. During 1879 and until the completion of a church in Prophetstown Lutheran members hosted services in their homes. In 1897 a Young People's Society was formed, and in 1900 a parsonage was added at a cost of $1,500. Swedish services were continued until 1930. The first service in the new edifice was held on Easter, 1959, following the dismantling of the former Albert Field home on the lot. Carol O. Swanson is the oldest living member.  The First Congregational Church
The First congregational Church was organized in 1895 with services held in Sholes Hall until a church was built in 1895 at a cost of $3,778. The manse was dedicated in 1899. An addition was dedicated in 1913 wiht the cost of the improvements $8,000.
Five years later, the church building was destroyed by fire and whiel the church was being rebuilt, services were held int he Dudley Auditorium. The present church building was dedicated in 1919 at a cost of $40,000.
The early missionaries who ministered to the needs of the Catholics were French, with Catholics in Illinois under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Quebeck until the year 1874, when the US was established as a separate ecclestiastical division under Rev. John Carroll. In 1843 a ciocese was established in Chicago, with missionaries serving the area. When the John Murphy family moved here in 1875, they attended mass in Tampico, going by hand car, leaving on Saturday night and staying with friends to attend mass on Sunday afternoon. Later, the Tampico parish priest offered mass in the Murphy home, and later in the Elicabeth Leahy home, until a chjurch was built in 1917, with a rectory built afterwards and an addition to the original structure in 1959.
The Advent Christian Church members attended services in Mineral before the construction of a church basement and parsonage in 1948 and completion of the building in 1961.
The Leon Church observed their centennial in 1975 with the early members constructing the original "Meeting House" in 1880 after meeting in the Leon community members home. Property for the church and cemetery was donated by S.L. Ackley, who resided on the Lane farm, with a formal dedication for a new and larger church held in 1899. The original building is still used as a garage (1976). In 1904, the parsonage was added, and in 1959 the dedication for an addition to he church was held.
The Church of Christ members organized in February, 1960 with their first services held in the original Lutheran Church building and purchased the Jessie Mathis home and property in September 1962. Their new church was dedicated on December 1, 1968 with the Mathis home now used as the parsonage.
The Daily Gazette July 1, 1976 written by Marge Sommes, Gazette Correspondent
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