DWCGQ: Winter 1982 Vol. III No. 2 Page 107 A HISTORY OF OLD UNION CHURCH AND HALLSVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH The following historical sketch was taken from the 1910 History of DeWitt County, PP. 305 307: Old Union church was organized (in September 1833), seventeen persons entering into the organization. The first officers were Hugh Bowles and Mahlon Hall, elders; Joseph Bowles and Darius Hall deacons. The following were some of the early pastors who served the church: Hugh Bowles, James Scott, Abner Peales, Alfred Lindsey, William Ryan, W. P. Bowles, Isaac Martin., John England, John G. Campbell, Isaac Stout, Dudley Downs, C. P. Short, William Knight, R. B. Roberts, Samuel Low, E. C. Craig, L. M. Robinson and T. T. Holton. In addition to these regular preachers, noted protracted meetings were held by John Q. Houston, Elder Crain, George F Adams and Simpson Ely. At these meet- ings large additions were made to the church. This congregation had no house of worship until 1838, when the old church was built. The first house of worship was a union church, occupied part of the time by the Baptists and Methodists. Prior to the building of this church, ser- vices were held in the groves and in private homes. In 1864 a church was erected near the site of the old one. It is situated ten miles southwest of Clinton on a hill near Salt creek and back of the church is a cemetery, where many of the early settlers lie buried. The cost of the second church was $13,000, with a seating capacity of 600. This is the oldest church of the Christian denomination in the county and among those who contributed much to its prosperity in an early day was Rev. Hugh Bowles. He was born in Virginia, in 1786, and spent the early part of his life in Kentucky. His educational opportunities were limited but he was a great reader and an original thinker and was well read in both ancient and modern history. His greatest textbook was the Bible, espe- cially the New Testament, of which he could repeat the greater portion. He removed to Illinois in 1830 and to De Witt county in 1831. Besides Old Union, he organized churches at Rock Creek and Long Point, in this county, and at other points in Sangamon and Logan counties. He labored upon the farm during the week, preaching on Saturdays and Sundays and often riding on horseback from twenty to fifty miles to reach his ap- pointments. The largest sum of money ever received by, him for preaching was $10. This he gave the lady who was hurt by being thrown from her horse while on her way to attend one of his meetings. He spent the later years of his life in preaching to various congregations he had founded, and in December, 1846, at the age of sixty years, was called to reap the reward of his labors. Upon the building of the railroad and the new towns of Hallsville and Midland City, many of the members of Old Union church living near these new-towns, decided it would be more convenient to have houses of worship in the towns. About 150 members became engaged in building a new house of worship at Hallsville in the summer of 1882. The remain- ing members of Old Union continued to worship in the old church for a time but finally decided to move the building to Midland, which they accomplished in 1893. The last revival meeting held in the church was in January and February, 1885, by T. T. Holton, with an addition of seventy- three members. The number of additions in the old church before it was moved to Midland City, and the number baptized in Bowles ford was over 1,300 from the time of the organization of the church in 1833. The last funeral preached was that of Anderson Bowles, one-of the charter members of the old church. Here about seventy-five members continued church ser- vices a few years but many of the leading members transferred their mem- bership to Clinton, Kenny and Hallsville. After a time regular church services were abandoned and at the present time only a Sunday school and prayer meetings are conducted. At the new Hallsville church several revival meetings have been conducted. One was conducted by James Barnett, a young minister, who was reared in DeWitt county. He succeeded in adding 101 members to the church. Other meetings were held by William Bowles, T. T. Holton and others. The present pastor is T. T. Holton, who holds services every alternate Sunday. He has preached in this community for twenty-two years...... A different account of the history of Old Union Church was taken from an 1891 issue of the Kenny Gazette and was provided by John V. Kirby, 1004 Shurts, Urbana, IL I 01: "Old Union Church" was organized in Sept. 1833 with 17 charter mem- bers. Under a large oak tree that now marks the southeast corner of the graveyard, eight of the charter members sleep beneath the sod where the Christian work began almost 59 years ago. Only 3 remain to tell us of the long time ago. Charter members were Hugh and Elizabeth Bowles, Mahlon and Hannah Hall, Darius and Polly Hall, Joseph and Rebecca Bowles, Anderson and Peggy Bowles, Ambrose and Nancy Hall, Henry and Betsy Hall, Walter Bowles, Betsy Hall and Elizabeth and Eliza Hildreth. With grandfather Hugh Bowles in the chair, a stand with an oak board between two oak trees made the pulpit, while a few oak boards and some logs furnished them with seats. Here they continued to meet and worship in the summertime and meet in private houses in the wintertime for a few years until 1838 or 1839 when the first church was built. Among the pioneers who preached at "Old Union" were Hugh Bowles, Abner Fasley, James Scott, Father Lingey, William Ryan, Saul Kingert, William Morrow, and others. Here they continued to meet until 1665 when a new church was built by William Hunter just west of the site of the old church. Among the many that reoccupied the pulpit were Elder T. T. Holton of Lincoln preached for the congregation nearly 17 years. The congregation continued to meet in this house until Dec. 31, 1887, when on account of the two Congregations on either side -- Kenney and Hallsville it was, thought best to disband at “Old Union” as an organization, sell the building, pay off the existing indebtedness and place the remainder in the hands of a Committee of 7 men, to be used when and wherever in their judgment it would do the most good for the Church work. The building was sold at auction on March 17, 1888. In 1891 Mrs. Dora Black first proposed to move "Old Union" to Midland City. The subscriptions were circulated and on March 179 1891 the long and tedious journey of moving the building began. The con- tract was taken by John Miller of Lincoln, Ill. Superintended by him, the building was safely landed on its present site May 6, 1891, after a long and hard struggle. The building was then remodeled inside and out for Church purposes at a cost of about $1400.00. May 8 being the date set for the rededication of "Old Union" at Midland City, people began to come in all directions, both far and near. From 9:30 to 11:30 a. m. about 500 people had gathered at the Church. At 11:30 services were opened with singing by the Congregation of "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name." The lesson was read by Rev. Harry Barnett of Eureka, prayer was offered by Rev. Hartz of Waynesville. Rev. pearl of Peoria then conducted the dedication service and about $400.00 was raised. There are three charter members living, two being present for the dedication, Rebecca Bowles and Peggy Bowles, and Betsy Barrentt (1) not being able to come. (1) Betsy Elizabeth Hall married-Alexander L. Barnett and was listed as Betsy Hall at the time "Old Union" was organized. Bob Halsey [email protected] Viera, FL