The Bethel Church

Because the Bond County Presbyterian Churches are the center of the McCord community, the following summary is quoted from Warren E. McCaslin, Editor.  Illinois Historical:  Bond County Biographical.  Chicago:  Munsell Publishing Company, 1915, pp.646-47.

Shoal Creek

The Town(ship) of Shoal Creek is in the northwestern corner of Bond County, and is bounded on the north by Montgomery County, on the east by the Town of LaGrange, on the south by the Town of Old Ripley, and on the west by Madison and Montgomery counties.  It is watered principally by Shoal and Dorris creeks.  Alexander Robinson of Tennessee settled here about 1816, but there were white men here before that, although he is the first of whom there is authentic mention.  He was accompanied by Robert and Daniel McCord (Samuel Dixon) of Virginia.  They made their first camping place where Bethel cemetery now stands and named it Bethel.  About 1825 a church was built on the spot.  James Wafer was an early pioneer, who located northwest of Bethel in 1819, as were James Denny, George Donnell, George and John Denny, William and Lawrence Stewart, Jesse Margraves and Newton Coffee.

It is impossible to say anything about this town without mentioning the churches for they played a very important part in the community.  Old Shoal Creek Church is regarded as the mother of all the Presbyterian churches in this section. It was organized by Rev. Solomon Gidings of St. Louis, Mo., on March 30, 1819, and was located on the present site of Union Grove Church in La Grange.  So much of the history of this town centers about Bethel Church, that we give it considerable space, and are indebted for the history to Miss Lucy Dressor, an active member, who is a daughter of Francis Dressor, one of the early pioneers and a member and supporter of the Bethel Church. 

"On the 15th day of September, 1825, 'Shoal Creek' Church was divided into three churches, known as Bethel, Shoal Creek and Greenville.  The Bethel Church began its separate existence on the 15th day of September, 1825, on the site where Alexander Robinson and Robert and Daniel McCord took a general view of the surrounding territory and decided to cast their lot, drove a stake in the fertile soil, and said 'this shall be the central point of our neighborhood,' knelt upon the green sward and consecrated the place and prairie to God, and gave the place the name which it so fittingly bears to this date.  Thomas A. Spillman was the first pastor. The first church was a log structure with no fireplace or stove.  The only warmth was obtained from charcoal, furnished by the members, and placed upon a mound of earth in the center of the building, the smoke escaping through a hole in the roof above the mound.  All of the sixty-two members with which the church was organized have gone to their reward....

It is needless to say that a church organized with such fearless and devoted Christians was sure to prosper.  In the first thirty years of its existence it was necessary to rebuild on a larger scale each time, until the third church was erected in 1855.  In connection with this church was a schoolroom and dormitory for the accommodation of pupils from a distance who had come to attend the academy.  During the pastorate of Rev. Albert Hale, a Yale graduate, the importance of education for the people was pressed by him, and some time between 1832 and 1836 the academy was built a short distance north of the present Bethel Church.  It flourished for a quarter of a century under such leaders as Rev. Hale, Rev. Lemuel Foster, Prof. Jacob Clark, David A. McCord, J. N. McCord, James Hall McCord, Mr. Floyd, Rev. Smith Howell, T. H. Holmes, Smiley Denny, Miss Margaret Andrews, Mrs. Melinda Potter and Rev. N. A. Hunt.  Many of the relatives of these pioneer teachers are now numbered among the leading citizens of the community and are still devoted to the mother church, Bethel....   

Village of Augusta

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Early in the history of the Town of Shoal Creek, it is said, someone built a sod fence, from which sprouted a beautiful grove of cottonwood trees, hence the name given to the little village which was surveyed on June 9, 1836, by Ashahel Enloe, for John Mitchell & Co. proprietors.  It, like many other villages of the county has had its metamorphosis.  It was settled as Bethel, nicknamed Cottonwood Grove, for the reason heretofore given, and platted as Augusta.

The Village of Reno

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On the coming of the Jacksonville & Southeastern Railroad, the present village of Reno was platted by John Kingsbury for Julian H. McCord and D. B. Harned.  The plat was recorded April 3, 1883.  According to the records of plats, the village of Reno is directly east of the old village of Augusta....

Bethel Church Records, Book #1, 1825-1859

Pursuant to a petition from the congregation of Shoal Creek, a commis­sion of the Presbytery of Missouri consisting of the Rev. Gidings & Rev. Lacy and Mr. Collins met at Shoal Creek on the 15 day of Sept. 1825 to take into consideration the expediency of a division of said Congregation.  After mature deliberation on the subject it was resol­ved to erect three congregations out of the then existing congregation of Shoal Creek and ? the following members were separated as con­stituting a new church by the name of Bethel.

Names of the members of Bethel church

1. Robert McCord         8. James B. McCord     15. John Margrave

2. Samuel Dickson        9. Robert McCord       16. George Denny

3. David McCord         10. James Robinson      17. James Wafer

4. Alex Robertson       11. Robert W. Denny     18. Alex Denny

5. John D. Alexander    12. Isaac Robinson      19. John H. McCord

6. Elihu R. McCord      13. James Denny         20. Samuel Patterson

7. James Scott McCord   14. Robert McCord       21. Fanny Alexander

Page 2

22. Jane McCord         40. Eliza A. McCord     58. Margaret C. McCord

23. Rebecca McCord      41. Joseph Paisley      59. Elenor Short

24. Sally Robinson      42. Samuel W. Denny     60. Ann Robb

25. Ann McCord          43. Alvin M. Dickson    61. Nancy Barr

26. Martha White        44. Ephraim Rosin       62. Nancy Ross

27. Polly Denny         45. James Armstrong

28. Jane Robinson       46. John Short

29. Lucinda McCord      47. Henry Briggs

30. Mary S. McCord      48. John W. Barr

31. Sally Patterson     49. Hannah McCord

32. Sally Denny         50. Nancy Margrave

33. Betsey B. Denny     51. Sally Wafer

34. Margaret Dickson    52. Polly Paisley

35. Fanny Dickson       53. Betsy Rosin

36. Cynthia White       54. Lettitia White

37. Mary Denny          55. Ann Demma McCord

38. R.? E. McCord       56. Polly Armstrong

39. Polly Alexander     57. Tabitha W. McCord

Infant Baptisms

Date         Given Name          Parent              By Whom

18 Sep 1825   James Henry        George Denny    Rev. B.T. Spilman

Wm. Edward ?       Alex Denny      

Franklin Spilman   James Denny    

Polly              James Wafer

Nancy                "    "

Katharine Loreno ?   "    "

Jean                 "    "

Patsy                "    "

25 May 1826   Lucinda            Ephraim Rosin   Rev. B. T. Spilman

Wm. Franklin         "       "

Demas McCord       John D. Alexander

John Newton        John McCord

Elizabeth Jane     Samuel Dickson

Franklin Spilman   Robert McCord

Delilah Elizabeth  James Armstrong

Annabel ? Jane       "      

4 Aug 1827    Jediah Franklin    Fanny Alexander  Rev John M. Ellis

William Robinson   James B. McCord  (born 5 Mar 1827)

James Hall         James S. McCord

Branden ? McKibbon Polly White

30 Sep 1827   Emily Jane         Alex. Denny      Rev. B.T. Spilman

Thomas Black       Robert McCord Jr. (born 28 Aug 1827)

8 Mar 1828    David Calvin       John McCord      Rev. Solomon Hardy                                       

Wm. Samuel         Elihu R. McCord      

15 Jun 1828   Robert Paris       John Short       Rev. Solomon Hardy

David Jediah       Robert E. McCord     

Matilda Jane       Polly White

17 Aug 1828   James I.A. Tillson Samuel Dickson   Rev. Solomon Hardy

Melancthon Hill    John D. Alexander    

28 Sep 1828   Silas McGrady      John Margrave    Rev. Solomon Hardy

Polly Hardy        George Denny         

John White         James Denny

Sarah Jane         James Wafer

30 Nov 1828   Joseph B. Newton   James B. McCord  Rev. T.A. Spilman

21 Dec 1828   John Matelon ?     James Armstrong        "     "

27 May 1829   Margaret Elmiry    Ephraim Rosin          "     "

9 Aug 1829    John Barber        Alex. Denny            "     "

Elizabeth Jane     John H. McCord   

15 Nov 1829   Alastair ? Domino  James Alexander  (born 11 Oct 1829)

Hannah Katharine   James S. McCord  Rev. T.A. Spilman

20 Dec 1829   Harriet Orindo     Elihu R. McCord  Rev. T.A. Spilman

Mary Minerva       John Short

17 Jan 1830   Mary Ann           Robert McCord Jr. (born 3 Dec 1829)

29 Jun 1830   George Leonuell    George Denny     (born 12 Nov 1829)

4 Sep 1830    Silas Newton       Walker Barr      (born 18 Aug 1825)

William Harris       "     "        (born 30 Nov 1829)

Mary Letitia       Polly White      (born 2 Oct 1829)

25 Sep 1830   Robert Weeks       Elias W. Alexander (born 5 Jan 1827)

Elias Jasper         "        "     (born 5 Mar 1830)

15 Aug 1830   Olive Clinton      James Denny      Rev. T.A. Spilman

12 Sep 1830   Susannah           Henry Briggs           "      "

26 Sep 1830   John Milton        John Margraves   (born 7 Mar 1830)

Nancy Malissa        "        "     (born 7 Mar 1830)

Hannah Elizabeth   Isaac Robinson   (born 7 Aug 1830)

Mary Joanna        Robert E. McCord (born 3 Sep 1830)

Robert Leeper      James B. McCord  (born 7 Aug 1830)

James Hervey       Polly Johnston   (born 24 Sug 1830)

3 July 1831   Harriet Clotilda ? James Armstrong  Rev. Tho. Lippincot

Ninian Alphonso    James S. McCord        "      "

John Lafayette     John Alexander         "      "

Alfred Nelson      John Denny             "      "

Hilton James       John McClain           "      "

21 Sep 1831  Wallace           Elihu  R. McCord Rev. Wm.J.Lanceford

James ? Smith      Samuel Denny           "      "

Nancy Olive        John McCord            "      "

?     ?          Pleasant  ?            "      "

Mary Eleanor       Alexander Denny        "      "

Elias John Calvin  Josiah Alexander       "      "

Sarah ? Jane ? Harvey ? "    "            "      "

Rufus Newel        Rufus Beach            "      "

James Cameron      James Alexander        "      "

22 Apr 1832   Nathaniel Douglas  Ephraim Brawly   Rev. Albert Hale

John Milton           "      "            "      "

James Dennison        "      "            "      "

Wm. Houston           "      "            "      "

Elizabeth Ann         "      "            "      "

Sarah Pamela          "      "            "      "

22 Sep 1832   Theron Baldwin     James B. McCord  Rev. Albert Hale

James Edwards      James Denny            "      "

James Hamilton     Polly White            "      "

Hannah Almira      Elihu R. McCord        "      "

Nancy Minerva      Matthew M. Wright      "      "

Mary McFinney ?                           "      "

Rebekah ? Ann                             "      "

3 Oct 1832    Joshua Harvey      Mrs. Ruth Young  Rev. Albert Hale

Robert Rufus            "     "           "      "

Mary Elizabeth          "     "           "      "

4 Oct 1832    Mary Elizabeth     James Lingo      Rev. Albert Hale

Tyra Miles              "     "           "      "

Archibald Alexander     "     "           "      "

Martha Jane             "     "           "      "

Hartly Jehoiada         "     "           "      "

Catharine Malvina       "     "           "      "

America Cynthia Ann     "     "           "      "

9 Dec 1832    Narcissa Jane      Deborah Baker    Rev. Albert Hale

Apr 1833    Albert Hale        Nathaniel Douglas Rev. Albert Hale

Margaret           John Laughlin ?        "      "

2 Jun 1833    James Elder        James McClung ?  Rev. Albert Hale

Ruth McCracken       "      "             "      "

Harriet Newel        "      "             "      "

Caroline Baldwin   James McCord           "      "

15 Jun 1833   Alexander Seals    James Robinson   Rev. Albert Hale

16 Jun 1833   Albert Hale        John A. McClain        "      "

John Alexander     George Denny           "      "

7 Aug 1833    Sally Stephenson   James D. Armstrong  Rev. Wm. S....

(born 11 Dec 1832)

20 Oct 1833   Alvin Beecher      James M. Douglas  Rev. Albert Hale

27 Oct 1833   Amelia Josephine   John D. Alexander      "      "

Michael Van Buren  Samuel Denny           "      "

John Thomas Clelland ? James Black        "      "

30 Mar 1834   Henrietta          Roxana Baker      Rev. Albert Hale

Charles              "      "             "      "

James                "      "             "      "

Harriet              "      "             "      "

Carolina             "      "             "      "

8 Jun  1834   Robt. Littleton    Unreadable        Rev. Albert Hale

John Blackburn         "                  "      "

Thomas Henderson       "                  "      "

Nancy Jane             "                  "      "

Margaret Samantha  Samuel Dickson         "      "

Mary Caledonia     James Y. Davis         "      "

Rebeckah Hess ?    Elihu R. McCord        "      "

Elizabeth Caroline Alexander Patterson    "      "

Washington Ewing   John Denny             "      "

Nancy Rebekah      James C. Multon ?      "      "

William Russell    Hannah Moore           "      "

David Sylvester       "    "              "      "

31 Aug 1834   John F. Brooks     James S. Alexander Rev. Albert Hale

21 Sep 1834   Nancy Alzira ?     Polly White        Rev. Albert Hale

21 Oct 1834   William Alphonse   John McClean       Rev. Albert Hale

John Davis         James B. McCord        "      "

Leonidas Dwight    John H. Black          "      "

17 May 1835   Samuel Bloomfield  Nathaniel Douglas  Rev. Albert Hale

Ann Scott ? Hopkins John H. McCord        "      "

Julia Hastings     James Denny            "      "

29 May 1835   Cynthia Catharine  James D. Armstrong Rev. Albert Hale

14 Jun 1835   Aaron Hill ?       Matthew M. Wright  Rev. Albert Hale

21 Feb 1836   Mary Catharine     Isaac W. Robinson  Rev. Albert Hale

4 Apr 1836    Naomi              Ira B. Davis       Rev. Albert Hale

14 Apr 1836   Lucinda            Thomas Cunningham  Rev. Albert Hale

Nancy Eliza           "       "           "      "

17 Apr 1836   Mary Jane          Elihu R. McCord    Rev. Albert Hale

William Joseph     Matthew M. Wright      "      "

18 Sep 1836   Armina ? Matilda   James Y. Davis     Rev. Albert Hale

Sarah Ann          James Douglas          "      "

Samuel James       Robert Stephenson      "      "

Mary Catharine        "      "            "      "

Alexander Robinson Jane Forest            "      "

Polly Ann Dudly    William Ross           "      "

James Watts        Alexander Patterson    "      "

Lucinda Evelina    James Lingo            "      "

29 Jan ? 1837 Joseph Albert      Ephraim Rosin      Rev. Albert Hale

19 Mar 1837   Elizabeth Jane     Edward B. ? Dickinson  Rev. A. Hale

Edwin Kimball      James B. McCord    Rev. Albert Hale

Lucy Jane          John Douglas           "      "

20 Mar 1837   Mary Jane          Milton Armstron    Rev. Albert Hale

27 May 1837   Elmer Wilson       James Denny   Rev. Thos. Lippincott

Theron Lovejoy       "     "           "         "

William Thomas     Wm. H. King ?       "         "

John Kimball       Matthew M. Wright   "         "

Julien Hale        James S. McCord     "         "

28 May 1837   Amos Huntington    James B. Davis  Rev. E. L. Huntington

Ruth Larane ?      Nathaniel Douglas Rev. T. Lippincott

1 Sep 1837    Vilet ? Amanda     John A. McLain  Rev. E. L. Huntington

James Burton       Fanny Blizzard      "         "

Samuel Carroll       "      "          "         "

Wm. Alfred           "      "          "         "

Jane Gould         Esther McLaughlin ? "         "

Wm. T. Caldwell      "      "          "         "                  

4 Oct 1837    Rebecca Jane       ?  L. Young     Rev. E. L. Huntington

Martha Ann           "      "          "         "

18 Mar 1838   Julien Henry       John H. McCord    Rev. A. Hale                                              

Addison Pease      J. T. Davis          "        "

15 Sep 1838   Thomas Beacher     Mary White        Rev. T. Lippincott

Robert Jasper      Elizabeth Moore        "      "

Samuel Punch ? Lovejoy  E. W. Robinson    "      "

14 Oct 1838   Samuel Emery       A. C. Jackson     Rev. T. Lippincott

Ruth ? Matropia ?  J. M. Douglas          "      "

3 Jan 1839    Wm. ? Tyler ?      Milton Armstrong  Rev. A. Hale

Roxeley ? Cynthelia Robert C. Jackson     "      "

Emil ? D. Nose     George Clark           "      "

Ruth Amanda        Rob Stephenson         "      "

Lander ? Shields    "      "              "      "

James Halifax      James Black            "      "

6 Oct 1839    John Lanning       Amasa ? M. Davis  Rev. Lemuel Foster

William Harmes     Mary Hamilton          "      "

Samuel Stebbins      "     "              "      "

James                "     "              "      "

Charlotte Augustus John C. Gray ?         "      "

1 Dec 1839    Louisa Ann         John Douglas      Rev. L. Foster

1 Mar 1840    Martha Jane        James W. Robinson Rev. L. Foster

12 Nov 1840   William Caswell    Robert C. Dickson Rev. L. Foster

12 Apr 1841   Nancy Evaline      Edward W. Robinson     "      "

William Bloomfield Ira B. Davis           "      "

James Robinson     Milton Armstrong       "      "

Mary Avia          Amsi G. Dickson        "      "

John Thomas        James Barber           "      "

Agnes Rosanna      Elihu R. McCord        "      "

Malinds              "       "            "      "

5 Sep 1841    Morris Pleasant Foster Joseph B. McCord Rev. L. Foster

11 Sep 1841   Lucinda Harrington Joel H. Morse ?    Rev. L. Foster

3 Oct 1841    Daniel Douglas     James Black        Rev. L. Foster

Jul 1844    Mary Albina        Ira B. Davis       Rev. L. Foster

21 Apr 1845   Mary Louisa        William Hamilton       "      "

Rebeca Emeline     David A. McCord        "      "

Aletha Rosetta     Isaac Robinson         "      "

Mary Elizabeth     Nathaniel McLain       "      "

Jan 1846   Josef ? Cannon    Demas Alexander   Rev. Charles Barton

William Alfonso    Nathaniel McLain       "      "

Aug 1846     John Francis       David A. McCord  Rev. Charles Barton       

Sarah A. Hesseltine ?  Mary Wafer         "      "

Oct 1846     James Silvester    Elizabeth  ?     Rev. John Gibson

Sarah Eveline

Charles            TORN AREA

Albert Dale

Thomas Hale

4 Aug 1849    Lorreta ? Janetta Nathaniel McLain Rev. E. B. Orrestat ?

Hannah Jane        Ira B. Davis           "      "

Jul 1850    Charles Clonso ?   Franklin McCord ?      "      "

Margaret Jane      Koderil ? Morris       "      "

John Kermit           "       "           "      "

William Erwin         "       "           "      "

Mar 1852    Julia Alice        John N. Adams    Rev. S. Wandt ?

Sarah Janeta       John H. ? Ross         "      "

Cornelia Hananda   Nathaniel McLain       "      "

Charles Louis      Thomas Wafer           "      "

Alexander Theodore Thisnac ? Stephenson   "      "

Louis Clark        Franklin McCord        "      "

Louis Foster       J. B. Saars ?          "      "

Apr 1852    Sarah Sophia       TORN AREA

Josiah McCord

Holdelia Flora

Carl Archibald

Robert Elam