The Fairview church was fifty years old yesterday and in honor of the event a program was given appropriate to the occasion. Among other numbers on the program was the following paper on “Fairview Church History:”

In presenting to you a short history of Fairview church, we feel it would be of interest to give “From the Personal Memories of Mr. D. S. Crum” something of the early history and settlement of the country, as bearing on the “formation’ and growth of the Methodist society in this part of the country.” The first settlers had many difficulties to contend with, and long distances to drive, (and we must recollect they did not have automobiles to go in) in order to attend church; as the nearest place was Selma, but in the fall of 1854, a Methodist class had been formed at the “Isam Moore school house” in Indian grove, and they attended there. The preacher lived at Pontiac and would preach one Sunday at the court house in Pontiac, and at Eppards Point, and the next Sunday at Avoca and Indian Grove. For about two years they attended church at that place.

About the year 1856 the country being more settled a school house was built just west of this church, and arrangements were made with the preacher from Pontiac to preach at the school house on Monday evening following the service at the Moore school house but this arrangement was soon changed, and the services were held on Sunday. There were several local preachers among the early settlers, namely Rev. Geo. Freshcorn, a young man by the name of Baldfinch, and Stephen Alford who would officiate when the regular preacher was not there.

This was the only place of worship in this immediate vicinity for several years. The school house served for both school and church. As the country became more settled there was preaching at several different points, and a circuit was formed, known as the “Fairbury Circuit” of the Central Illinois Conference. There were five appointments, namely Fairview, Cropsey — Ridge, Indian Grove, Union, and Liberty. At the annual conference of 1863 the Rev. A. P. Hull was sent to this charge. The presiding elder of the district was the Rev. P. T. Rhodes. The first quarterly conference was held December 20, 1863, and the preacher’s salary was fixed at $330.00 and $7.00 for traveling expenses for the year, but at the end of the year they paid him $120.00 more, making him $450.00 salary. The first official board were D. S. Crum, Benjamin Walton, S. A. Stoddard, J. Davis, F. P. Beach, Isam Moore, B. Maxwell, Joseph Elmore and James Wilson.

At the quarterly conference in February 1864, action was taken towards building a new church at this place, and a subscription was started for that purpose. A building committee composed of Benjamin Walton, D. S. Crum and S. P. Alford were appointed. There was raised by subscription $997.00, one-third of the amount to be paid April 1st, 1864, one-third when the frame of the building was enclosed. The building committee contracted with the Rev. P. T. Rhodes, the presiding elder, to complete the building and give it two coats of paint, inside and outside, for the sum of $1550, the committee to make the foundation and haul the lumber from Fairbury. The contract price for the building was $1,550.00 but there were stoves to buy, and some extra lumber and paint for finishing, which brought the total cost up to $1799.00. The church was built in 1864, but was not completely finished and dedicated till June 18th, 1865. At the annual conference of 1854 [sic], a new preacher, the Rev. S. A. Atherton, was assigned to this charge, and was the minister at the time the church was dedicated. At the dedication $653.00 was raised, which made the total of $1650.00. This left a debt of $149.00, which was paid later. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Flowers. His text was taken from First Kings, eighth chapter and 27th verse, and reads as follows: “But will God indeed dwell on earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this home that I have builded.”

During the year 1864 the appointment at Liberty was dropped from the work.

Early in the year 1875 at a meeting of the trustees action was taken to incorporate under the laws of the state of Illinois, and a board of seven trustees were appointed. Four of said trustees must belong at Fairview. In the articles of incorporation, the name “Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church” was the name given this appointment. In the year 1875 and 1876 a new parsonage was built on the school house lot west of the church. The old parsonage having stood on the south side of the road in what is now Mr. Crumbaker’s pasture, just east of the Grove. In the year 1876 the name of the charge was changed from “Fairbury Circuit” to “Potosi Charge,” which was again changed in 1881 to “Cropsey Charge,” its present name.

From 1874 till 1881 Prairie Chapel formed part of the charge. In 1875 Union, and Indian Grove were dropped from the charge. From 1881 till the present time there has been just two appointments, Cropsey and Fairview. During the pastorate of Rev. M. M. McCreight, a revival meeting was held at Liberty school house, and a large number of people were converted and the Epworth league was organized and since that time has been one of the main supports of the church.

“Dear Old Fairview Church.” For fifty years it has stood as a beacon light in the community. Within its walls many have been led to a better life. Winter or summer, wet or dry, hot or cold, unless the weather was too extremely bad, its doors have been open for service. During the 50 years the following have officiated as district superintendents:
P. T. Rhodes, J. S. Cummings, Rev. George Palmer, Rev. R. G. Pierce, Rev. J. B. Dille, Rev. F. M. Chaffee, B. W. Bawer, Thomas Doney, J. W. Haney, W. R. Wiley, Richard Srews, R. B. Williams, (and) John H. Ryan.

The pastors who have served this charge are twenty-six in number and are as follows:
A. P. Hull, A. S. Atherton, H. H. Crosier, T. J. W. Sullivan, Matthew Evans, S. R. Deach, A. A. Beeler, J. H. Sanders, J. S. Torpin, J. F. James, C. W. Whorrell, T. C. Moots, M. M. McCreight, J. W. Corr, J. F. Foreman, J. H. Hobbs, M. H. Miller, Rev. Puffer, Herman Collidge, M. P. Lackland, W. J. Minnium, H. W. Bell, G. R. Snedaker, A. F. Rowson, A. A. Waters, (and) Geo. Vandettum.

The sixty-fifth anniversary of the Fairview M. E. church, northeast of Colfax, was observed last Sunday with an interesting program and there was a large crowd present during the sessions. The program was carried out practically as announced. The morning sermon was delivered by Rev. Della B. Stretch of the Shiloh church, a rural church near Champaign. A basket dinner was served cafeteria style at noon under the trees in the church yard, on new tables provided for that purpose.

A feature of the afternoon program was the presentation of an official board meeting of the church as it was held 54 years ago. More than a dozen young people took parts of well known members of the old official board, answering questions peculiar to that day, voting to receive certain members into full connection and extending the license of a local preacher. The girls wore the dresses and hats of fifty years ago. They attracted much attention.

The principal talks were tributes to the builders of this church. Oliver M. Crumbaker, the oldest living member of the church, spoke feelingly of the class meetings, revivals and faithful and successful labors of the early members. Mrs. Edna Decker Miller of Chicago, who spent most of her life in that vicinity, told of personal incidents of several members who figured in the early days of the church. She spoke of the influence of the farm and home and of this church on her life and the life of the community, and emphasized the responsibility of the young people to carry on this work as well as their parents and grandparents had done.

A unique feature of the afternoon program was the method of raising funds to build a new chimney in the north end of the church. Pieces of red cardboard were distributed among the audience. These represented bricks in the chimney. As they were purchased Miss Muriel Taylor sketched out each brick on the proposed chimney in red until every brick had been provided for.

The Fairbury business men’s quartet sang three selection. William Stickler, of Lexington, a charter member of the old church, addressed the audience with recollections of the old days. Prof. L. W. Hacker of Normal university spoke briefly of the place of the rural church in the life of the community. Rev. D. K. Sailor, the pastor, was in charge of the program throughout the day.

At night the Cropsey orchestra gave several numbers and the Epworth League dealt with a subject taken from 20 years ago.

On Monday Bert Taylor with a number of men hauled gravel for a new gravel parkway at the church.

Wednesday morning twenty-four men with five mowing machines, six scythes, rakes, forks, and other tools cleaned the church lawn in preparation for the anniversary celebration.

The membership of the church is about fifty-five. This number has remained about the same through sixty-five years even though there are a number of larger churches and good roads and better methods of conveyances.

Two hundred former and present members and their friends attended the 75th anniversity [sic] of the Fairview church seven miles northeast of Colfax June 23.

The meeting opened at 9:30 a. m. and following the organ prelude hymns were sung and prayer offered by the present pastor, Rev. Charles Smith. The sermon was given by Rev. Dight [sic] D. Sailor, a former pastor now located at McLean. Walter Decker sang, “A Dream of Paradice.” Misses Myla and Bernice Decker sang a duet.

A basket dinner was served by the ladies of the church at noon.

The afternoon session opened at 2 p. m. with a quartet from Cropsey composed of Harry and Harvey Meeker, Clarence Thomas and Ray Ward singing several selections.

Many greetings were given and read from former pastors and members who were unable attend and from visiting guests.

Mrs. D. Alford of LaFayette, Ind., the only surviving child of D. S. Crum was present, Sunday. William Weeks, John Weeks, of Colfax; and Mrs. Seth Alford of Cropsey, who attended the dedication of the church were also present.

Mrs. Edna Miller, of Chicago, read the history of the church for the past 75 years.

She recalled that at the 50th anniversary on October 7, 1915, it was cold and rainy. Men wore their overcoats and the ladies and children their winter wraps at the chatauqua in August. Threshing was still in progress on October 6th.

She wore a pin which was presented to her mother, Mrs. Mary Austin Decker at the 50th anniversary in 1915 and a ribbon which was presented to her in 1865 for faithful work. Mrs. Sarah Stikler [sic] Crumbaker was also given a pin at the same time.

Mrs. Miller gave the following history of the Fairview church which were taken from the Memories of D. S. Crum as bearing on the “Formation and growth of the Methodist Society in this part of the country.”

“The first settlers had many difficulties to contend with, and long distances to drive, and we must recollect they did not have automobiles to go to church in. The nearest place was Selma, but in the fall of 1854, a Methodist class had been formed at the "Isam Moore School House" in Indian Grove where they then attended.

The preacher lived in Pontiac and would preach one Sunday at the Court House square there and at Eppards Point, and the next Sunday at Avoca and Indian Grove. For about two years they attended church at that place.

About the year 1856 a school house was built just west of this church and the preacher from Pontiac came here and preached on Monday evenings for a short time and their services were held on Sunday. Among the early settlers were several local preachers, namely: Rev. Geo. Freshcorn, two young men by the name of Baldfinch, and Stephen Alford officiated when the regular preacher was absent.

The school house served as both school and church for several years. Next a circuit was formed, which was known as the Fairbury Circuit of the Central Illinois Conference. There were five appointments, namely Fairview, Cropsey-Ridge, Indian Grove, Union, and Liberty.

At the annual conference in 1863 the Rev. A. P. Hall [sic] was sent to this charge by the presiding elder of the district, Rev. P. T. Rhodes. The first quarterly conference was held Dec. 20, 1863, and the preacher’s salary was fixed at $330 and $7 for traveling expenses for a year. At the close of the year he was paid $120 more than his salary, or $450. The first official board was composed of D. S. Crum, Benjamin Walton, S. A. Stoddard, J. Davis, F. P. Beach, Isam Moore, B. Maxwell, Joseph Elmore and James Wilson.

In February 1864, a committee for building a church was appointed. Composed of Benjamin Walton, D. S. Crum, and S. P. Alford. $997 was raised by subscription, one-third to be paid on April 1, 1864; one-third when the frame of the building was up, and one-third when the building was enclosed.

Rev. P. T. Rhodes, the presiding elder, was given the contract to complete the building, give it two coats of paint, inside and outside, for $1550, the committee to make the foundation and haul the lumber from Fairbury. But there were stoves to buy and some extra lumber and finishings which brought the total up to $1799. The church was dedicated on June 12, 1865.

Rev. S. A. Atherton was the minister in charge at the time of the dedication. $655 was raised the day of the dedication, making a total of $1650, and a debt of $149 which was soon paid.

Rev. John Flowers preached the dedication sermon.
During the year 1864, the appointment at Liberty was dropped from the work.

Early in 1875 the trustees, decided to incorporate under the laws of the state of Illinois and a board of trustees were appointed. Four trustees must belong to Fairview. The name “Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church” was given the appointment. In the years 1875 and 1876 the new parsonage was built on the lot west of the church. In 1876 the name was changed from “Fairbury Circuit” to “Potosi Charge,” which was again changed in 1881 to “Cropsey Charge” the present name. From 1874 to 1881 “Prairie Chapel” formed a part of the Charge. In 1875 Union and Indian Grove were dropped. Since 1881 the appointments have been only Cropsey and Fairview.

During the 75 years there have been 19 District Superintendents as follows: Rev. P. T. Rhodes, Rev. J. S. Cummings, Rev. G. R. Palmer, Rev. R. G. Pierce, Rev. J. B. Dille, Rev. F. M. Chaffee, Rev. R. D. Russell, Rev. Thos. Doney, Rev. J. W. Haney, Rev. G. W. Baker, Rev. W. R. Wiley, Rev. R. Crews, Rev. B. B. Williams, Rev. J. Ryan, Rev. L. O’Hare, Rev. F. Schultz, Rev. A. Smith, Rev. T. W. Thompson, and Rev. H. Chapman. There has been 33 pastors serve the charge, the Reverends A. P. Hull, A. S. Atherton, H. H. Crosier, T. J. W. Sullivan, Matthew Evans, S. B. Deach, A. A. Beeler, J. H. Saunders, J. S. Torpin, J. F. James, C. W. Whorrell, T. C. Moots, M.McCreight, J. W. Corr, J. F. Foreman, J. H. Hobbs, M. L. Miller, T. W. Puffer, Herman Coollidge, M. P. Lockland, W. J. Minium, H. F. Bell, G. R. Snedaker, A. F. Rawson, A. A. Waters, Chas. VanDettum, A. J. Jolly, G. M. Boswell, R. I. Stone, J. L. Bilby, D. K. Sailor, Fletcher DeClark and Charles Smith.”

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