My ancestors were earlier than that as far being ministers -- or even being Methodists. Their name was Clark. They were mostly in Logan County but since they were circuit ministers early on they got around to various counties in Central Illinois. Have you checked with Illinois Great Rivers Conference in Bloomington? They have an archivist who is very helpful. Cheryl Rothwell LoganCty@mindspring.com

I don't think old Benjamin T. was a minister in Illinois. He was in Baltimore and then moved to Philadelphia where he worked the Bedford St. Mission. His book gave a clue that between those two locations he did missionary work on "the canals". He also mentioned that he had a brother who stayed in Baltimore and died there during this period. He and his son, Ruben Sewell enlisted in the Union Army at the same time and he served in the Civil War as a chaplain. After the war they both moved to Gentry County, MO where Benjamin died. Ruben moved on to Chadron, NE and finally wound up in Blackfoot, ID. Benjamin was a member of the church in Albany, Gentry Co, MO but was not listed as the minister. I have been looking for Benjamin T. Sewell's parents for years without much luck. I don't have any indication that they stopped in Illinois on their way through although they spent enough time in Ohio for one of the children to get married. Dottie