Washington County, Maryland, sent the pioneer Brethren to the "Rock River," or "Maryland Settlement," as it was called at the first Among the first, with some others, to come in 1836-38, were Samuel M. Hitt, whose wife Barbara, was a member of the Brethren church, John Friedly, who purchased the Governor Ford cabin and claim for one thousand dollars, Daniel Wolf, Solomon Nalley. Early in the 'forties came Benjamin Swingley, William Young, Daniel, Samuel, Jacob and John Price, Jacob Buck, Isaac Hershey, Daniel Zellers, Daniel Moats, Daniel Long, John Stover and Jacob Long. Nearly all of these were heads of families and brought their children with them. They settled in the vicinities of Mount Morris, Maryland and what is now known as the Pine Creek Church. In 1845-47 several families of the Brethren located at Franklin Grove, Lee County, Illinois. Prominent among these were Joseph Emmert, Christian Lahman, Daniel and Joshua Wingert, Levi Riddlesparger, Levi Trostle, the Dierdorfs and others. In 1845 they organized the Rock River Church with a membership of thirteen. The newly organized church embraced all the territory in Lee and Ogle Counties. Joseph Emmert was chosen as Bishop and the little band prospered and grew. The Rock River Church now numbers over 250 and has sent out hundreds of members to help populate the great West. Bishop Emmert at once started the pro- ject of building a house of worship. Solicitors were appointed, an effort to raise the money was made and $140 secured. When the solicitors reported to the Bishop he said, "Give me the subscription paper." It was handed to him and putting it into his pocket said, "The house shall be built." He at once let the contract for the building and when it was completed at a cost of $700, promptly paid the bill. Much of the labor for the building was donated. The house has always been known as the "Emmert Meeting House." It is located four miles west of Franklin Grove. In 1868 the National Annual Conference of the Brethren church was held at the "Emmert Meeting House." In 1846 the Brethren in Ogle County determined to organize a church and erect a house of worship. Jacob Long was Bishop in charge and the meeting house was built near what is now known as Maryland station. Samuel Garber succeeded Jacob Long in the bishopric. He was accustomed to visit the Brethren churches in Tennessee, and on one of these visits spoke in a guarded manner against human slavery. He was arrested, thrown into prison and heavily fined for thus attacking what was then held to be a divine institution in the South. The Brethren of Ogle and Lee helped pay the fine. From their first organization in America the Brethren opposed every form of slavery and no slave owner could toe recognized as a member of the de- nomination without manumitting his slaves. In 1857 the Pine Creek Church was organized followed in 1868 by Silver Creek, Mount Morris, and, in 1905, by the church in Polo. At the present time the five organizations named have the following membership: Rock River, 260; West Branch, 100 ; Pine Creek, 125 ; Mount Morris, 350 ; Polo, 70, making a total of 905. Of course these figures do not include all those received into church fellowship. Several thousand have gone out to swell the number who have taken an active and prominent part in settling the territory west of the Mississippi River. If a reunion of all these could be held in Ogle County now, there would be a great mul- titude assembled to recount their struggles, temporarily and spiritually, in building up the Western Empire. The Beethben Publishing House. — In 1880 M. M. Eshleman, who had been publishing "The Brethren at Work," a religions paper of the Dunker denomination at Lanark, Illinois, moved the plant to Mount Morris. This, in 1884, was purchased by Elders E. L. Miller and Joseph Amick, of that denomination, who consolidated it with "The Primitive Christian," of Huntingdon, Pa., and changed the name to the "Gospel Messenger." A large and thriving business was established, and a number of church papers, books and tracts were published. In 1896 the business was taken over by the Brethren Church and it has since been known as the Brethren Publishing House. In September, 1899, the plant was moved to Elgin, Illinois. At that time the circulation of the "Gospel Messenger" was about twenty thousand, and the sum of the year's busi- ness approximated $125,000. Among those connected with the success of the work in Mount Morris were Galen B. Royer, Elder J. H. Moore, Elder D. L. Miller, Elder Joseph Amick, L. A. Plate, S. M. Eshleman. A prosperous business has continued to be carried on by the Publishing House in its present location. The Old People's Home. — The Old People's Home of the Brethren Church is supported by the District of Northern Illinois. Elders Joseph Amick, Edmund Forney and Melchior Newcomer were appointed by this division of the church, a committee to incorporate and found a home for aged members of the church and orphans. Mount Morris was selected for the location of this home, and a tract of land containing about thirteen acres, in the southwestern part of the village, was purchased for this purpose. Upon this ground a brick building was at once erected at a cost of $10,000, to which an addition has since been built costing $1,500. The funds for the institution were donated by the different churches in the district. An endowment fund for its maintenance was created by Jacob Petrie, of Polo, who bequeathed his estate to the Church for this purpose. Other bequests and sums have been added to this original amount of $18,000, till at the present time the endowment fund amounts to $22,900, and the addition of a valuable farm of 250 acres near Pontiac, 111., recently bequeathed for this purpose. The building is so arranged that about thirty people can be comfortably taken care of in the home. Ornamental trees and shrubs have been planted around the dwelling, flowers are cultivated during the growing time of the year, and the land has been set out largely with fruit-bearing trees and small fruits, making a very attractive and restful place in which to spend the declining years of life. Mr. Levi Kerns first had charge of this institution, and was succeeded by the present Superin- tendent, Mr. Lewis Miller. Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Ogle Co., IL, Horace G. and Rebecca H. Kaufman, Munsell Publishing Co., 1909 Roger Cramer Peoria, Arizona Roger and Sue Cramer's Genealogy Site http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cramer/ Ogle Co., IL Genealogy Site http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilogle/