----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Simmons" <jeff.simmons5@insightbb.com> Made it to the Knox College library in the snow today, and was able to learn a little bit about the Abingdon Christian Church. Abingdon Christian(or Church of Christ at Abingdon) had supported the Abingdon College, and even held their services in one of their buildings. In 1874, a furor occurred over the presidency of Abingdon College, which resulted in about 1/4 of the membership of the Christian Church leaving. This group formed what was known as the "Jefferson St. Congregation". I do not know how long this group survived. This schism ended up causing the demise of Abingdon College-it merged with Eureka College in 1885. There had been a point in between 1874 and 1885 where the college had actually closed up. I am currently working at finding a membership list for Abingdon Christian Church for that period, but meanwhile, I have a letter from what appers to be members of the "Jefferson Congregation", trying to reach a peaceable agreement, and to apparently rejoin the church. They had all been excluded by the mother church, although there was considerable dispute over who was in the right, what was considered as correct procedure, etc. There were even several newspaper articles, mention of someone being knocked down some stairs by a blow from a fist(by the president, I believe), and even severe vandalism of the college president's house! It basically boiled down to, as I see it, whether the church would be able to keep control of the college. It appears they lost control, which led to a stop in their supporting the school, which led to the demise of the college. The group that wished to rejoin the Christian Church sent them this letter: Abingdon, ILL June 13th 1874 To the Church of Christ at Abingdon Dear Brethren: We the undersigned members of the Church of Christ at Abingdon, feeling aggrieved at the proceedings of a majority of the Congregation on the 26th day of April last, and believing that the Church will not prosper under existing circumstances, and earnestly desiring that the alienation now existing among us, may be speedily removed; Would therefore request that you appoint a committee to confer with a committee which may be appointed by us looking to an amicable adjustment of the differences between us. Names of Members Names of Members Jonathon Price W.H. Gillaspie Eli Patrick J.W. Trout A. Thatcher A.D.W. Gillaspie Jordan Dodge Mrs. Adelia Dawdy Joseph Harris Emma Veatch Delos Cutler Mary E. Bishop C.C. Lewis Nancy Richy P.J. Murphy Strawther Givens Harriet Price Parasatin Thatcher H. Lewis Mrs. W.A. Oldfather Julia A. Lewis George Oldfather Mary Lewis Mrs. Carrie Veatch Ella J. Oldfather F.B. Snyder S.J. Smith D.F. Givens L.M. Downs M.C. Harris Belle Murphy Emma Harris J.D. Irons J.J. Harris Mary A. Irons Laura Givens Mollie Hendrickson Wm. S. Boydstun M.A. Cutler Amanda Patrick Mrs. B. Gillaspie Latina Patrick Mrs. E. Allton Clarissa C. Graham Lizzie H. Lutz Kattie Graham D. N. Graham Lizzie C. Linn T.H. Givens M.D. Vaill G.W. Scott Alice Vaill E.R. Scott Dellie Ribble Richard Davis M.F. Ribble Mary Davis De Witt Harris C. W. Patrick Mary Harris E. H. Burnett N.S. Pearson Ellie Garrison Mellie Carter Myra Patrick D.M. Beaver Jettie Pearson Mattie Rogers George Price T.E. Givens Mary C. Price Mary A. Wyatt H. Aldula Price Milford Bishop J.P. Oldfather J.M. Morris L. C. Brunson R. M. Gray Albert Linn Jacob Fall Livy Hatchitt Junr. J. B. Shawgo Mary J. Heller Zenia Scott Mrs. Carrie Wagoner A. A. Graham T. W. Murdock, not aggrieved but in favor of the committee Day Graham T. J. Mansfield Kattie Wagoner S.A. Mansfield Cristene Anderson A. W. Mansfield J. M. Downs Anthony Kitchen Florence Givens T. W. Dunkeson Mary E. Smith D. C. Dunkeson Mary H. Givens S. A. Brock J. W. Carson John M. Brock Joseph Murphy Milton D. Burner A.E. Murphy Clark Allen P. A. Murphy Zipphora Allen Julia Murphy A. J. Cameron John Courson Julia Cameron Sarah F. Courson J. G. Mansfield Mary Dodge Theda Dodge S. B. Dodge Elizabeth Carson Mrs. Alfraetta Holden A. W. Harris, Sr. This is the end of the list. Would someone on the Knox County list please forward this, as I'm sure they'd be interested, as well. Jeff Simmons ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ILWARREN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

http://catalog.knox.edu/archives/local_hist/knox_history.htm Here is the online link to the archives at the Knox College Library. You can do research there. I have good friend who works at the library. Right now can't recall his name Also, I didn't realize the Meridain Church was affiliated with the Abingdon College. and glad Jeff made it out. I live out sixteen miles straight east of Galesburg and we can't even get out of our drive way let alone go to Galesburg today. the snow plows haven't even been out here. Have a nice snowy day & night everyone. Foxie Member of American History & Genealogy Project--Illinois Illinois Saving Graves--State Coordinator http://www.usgennet.org/usa/il/state2/index.htm http://www.usgennet.org/usa/il/county/knox/ http://www.usgennet.org/usa/il/county/warren/ AGHP---Knox & Warren County Coordinator & Now the New Hunter Cemetery Restoration Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilhca/index.html also hosting Warren & Knox @ IL Gene Trails http://www.usgennet.org/usa/il/county/knox/ http://genealogytrails.com/ill/warren/ -------Original Message------- From: FamilySearch Date: 02/13/07 15:37:30 To: ilknox@rootsweb.com Subject: [ILKNOX] Meridian Church records ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Simmons" <jeff.simmons5@insightbb.com> Made it to the Knox College library in the snow today, and was able to learn a little bit about the Abingdon Christian Church. Abingdon Christian(or Church of Christ at Abingdon) had supported the Abingdon College, and even held their services in one of their buildings. In 1874, a furor occurred over the presidency of Abingdon College, which resulted in about 1/4 of the membership of the Christian Church leaving. This group formed what was known as the "Jefferson St. Congregation". I do not know how long this group survived. This schism ended up causing the demise of Abingdon College-it merged with Eureka College in 1885. There had been a point in between 1874 and 1885 where the college had actually closed up. I am currently working at finding a membership list for Abingdon Christian Church for that period, but meanwhile, I have a letter from what appers to be members of the "Jefferson Congregation", trying to reach a peaceable agreement, and to apparently rejoin the church. They had all been excluded by the mother church, although there was considerable dispute over who was in the right, what was considered as correct procedure, etc. There were even several newspaper articles, mention of someone being knocked down some stairs by a blow from a fist(by the president, I believe), and even severe vandalism of the college president's house! It basically boiled down to, as I see it, whether the church would be able to keep control of the college. It appears they lost control, which led to a stop in their supporting the school, which led to the demise of the college. The group that wished to rejoin the Christian Church sent them this letter: Abingdon, ILL June 13th 1874 To the Church of Christ at Abingdon Dear Brethren: We the undersigned members of the Church of Christ at Abingdon, feeling aggrieved at the proceedings of a majority of the Congregation on the 26th day of April last, and believing that the Church will not prosper under existing circumstances, and earnestly desiring that the alienation now existing among us, may be speedily removed; Would therefore request that you appoint a committee to confer with a committee which may be appointed by us looking to an amicable adjustment of the differences between us. Names of Members Names of Members Jonathon Price W.H. Gillaspie Eli Patrick J.W. Trout A. Thatcher A.D.W. Gillaspie Jordan Dodge Mrs. Adelia Dawdy Joseph Harris Emma Veatch Delos Cutler Mary E. Bishop C.C. Lewis Nancy Richy P.J. Murphy Strawther Givens Harriet Price Parasatin Thatcher H. Lewis Mrs. W.A. Oldfather Julia A. Lewis George Oldfather Mary Lewis Mrs. Carrie Veatch Ella J. Oldfather F.B. Snyder S.J. Smith D.F. Givens L.M. Downs M.C. Harris Belle Murphy Emma Harris J.D. Irons J.J. Harris Mary A. Irons Laura Givens Mollie Hendrickson Wm. S. Boydstun M.A. Cutler Amanda Patrick Mrs. B. Gillaspie Latina Patrick Mrs. E. Allton Clarissa C. Graham Lizzie H. Lutz Kattie Graham D. N. Graham Lizzie C. Linn T.H. Givens M.D. Vaill G.W. Scott Alice Vaill E.R. Scott Dellie Ribble Richard Davis M.F. Ribble Mary Davis De Witt Harris C. W. Patrick Mary Harris E. H. Burnett N.S. Pearson Ellie Garrison Mellie Carter Myra Patrick D.M. Beaver Jettie Pearson Mattie Rogers George Price T.E. Givens Mary C. Price Mary A. Wyatt H. Aldula Price Milford Bishop J.P. Oldfather J.M. Morris L. C. Brunson R. M. Gray Albert Linn Jacob Fall Livy Hatchitt Junr. J. B. Shawgo Mary J. Heller Zenia Scott Mrs. Carrie Wagoner A. A. Graham T. W. Murdock, not aggrieved but in favor of the committee Day Graham T. J. Mansfield Kattie Wagoner S.A. Mansfield Cristene Anderson A. W. Mansfield J. M. Downs Anthony Kitchen Florence Givens T. W. Dunkeson Mary E. Smith D. C. Dunkeson Mary H. Givens S. A. Brock J. W. Carson John M. Brock Joseph Murphy Milton D. Burner A.E. Murphy Clark Allen P. A. Murphy Zipphora Allen Julia Murphy A. J. Cameron John Courson Julia Cameron Sarah F. Courson J. G. Mansfield Mary Dodge Theda Dodge S. B. Dodge Elizabeth Carson Mrs. Alfraetta Holden A. W. Harris, Sr. This is the end of the list. Would someone on the Knox County list please forward this, as I'm sure they'd be interested, as well. Jeff Simmons ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ILWARREN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ILKNOX-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message