Church and Family History Research Assistance for Stark County, Illinois

SPOON RIVER

On August 15, 1853, the Spoon River Church of Regular Predestinarian Baptists was organized at Modena, about ten miles east of Toulon. Among the founders of the church were Archibald Vandike, Charles Vandike, Martha Vandike, Eleanor Vandike, William J. Fellingham, George Beall, Benjamin Newton, Jane Newton, David Potter, Robert Sharer, Phoebe Sharer, and Zarah Newton. On October 1, 1856, the new meeting house at Modena was opened, the meetings prior to that time having been held in the Franklin Schoolhouse. The record of the church closes in 1877, although the church continued to hold meetings for several years after that date.

Elder James B. Chenowith served as pastor from 1853 until August 1866. He was followed by Elder William A. Thompson, Elder Dillon, Elder Orin S. Thompson, and Elder Smith Ketchum.

We would like to obtain a photo of the church building of the Spoon River church, in Modena.

SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:

Atherton, Batten, Beall, Bogart, Boggs, Bolt, Booker, Brasel, Case, Chenowith, Collins, Cox, Davis, Dunham, Fellingham, Funderburg, Hilliard, Lane, Mehew, Newton, Potter, Riner, Sharer, Stimson, Taylor, Thompson, Thurston, Vandike, Whybrow, Winchell (incomplete list due to loss of records).

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