ISLAND GROVE METHODIST CHURCH
MINISTERS OF RECORD

See notes below listing.

Elliott, Rev. Samuel	1849-1851		Blair, Rev. W. E.	1894-1895
Barton, Rev. W. D.	1851-1852		Keplinger, Rev. S./A. T.	1895-1896
Finley, Dr. J. C.	1852-1854		Beggs, Rev. S. W.	1896-1900
Newman, Rev. W. J.	1854-1856		Darley, Rev. E. L.	1900-1901
Short, Rev. W. F.	1856-1857		Flagg, Rev. Albert H.	1901-1906
Davis, Dr. A. H.	1858-1859		Hess, Rev. O. B.	1906-1908
James, Rev. C. D.	1859-1860		Selby, Rev. W. L.	1908-1909
Webster, Rev. W. **	1861-1862		Johnson, Rev. N. R.	1909-1915
Robinson, Rev. R.	1862-1863		Lehman, Rev. J. O.	1915-1916
Dickens, Rev. James H.	1863-		Johnson, Rev. D. E.	1916-1917
Guthrie, Rev.	1864-		Betcher, Rev. John A.	1917-1920
Dickens, Rev. James H.	1864-		Cheuvrant, Rev. John R.	1920-1921
Wallace, Rev.	1865-		Graves, Rev. Samuel	1921-1922
McElfresh, Rev. Wm. McK.	1865-1868		Reed, Rev. James D.	1922-1923
Barton, Rev. W. B.	1868-1871		Johnston, Rev. R. N.	1923-1927
Akers/Acres, Rev.	1871-		Smith, Rev. M. O.	1927-1930
Dickens, Rev. James H.	1871-1872		Higgins, Rev. Harry F.	1930-1931
Henry, Rev. Ira B.	1872-1875		Abbott, Rev. Delbert	1931-1932
Whitehead, Rev. N.R.	1875-1876		Woods, Rev. Elmer	1932-1934
Crane, Rev. J.L.	1876-1878		McCumber, Rev. Geo. F.	1934-1942
Rutledge, Rev. Wm. J.	1878-1882		Cory, Rev. E. R.	1942-1944
Dungan, Rev. W.G.	1882-1886		Jefferson, Rev. D. L.	1944-1950
Crane, Rev. J. Frank	1886-1887		Goodell, Rev. Keneth	1950-1951
VanPelt, Rev. J.R.	1887-1888		VanHorn, Rev. Vincent	1951-
Davidson, Rev. M. M.	1888-1890		Maine, Rev. Finiz	1951-1952
Everly, Rev. John	1890-1892		Montgomery, Rev. W. G.	1952-1955
McKown, Rev. Charles T.	1892-1894		Blair, Rev. Dr. McKendree M.	1955-

** - Rev. W. Webster was a single man, and created quite a bit of friction.

- Rev. Dr. McKendree M. Blair is the grandson of Dr. William McKendree McElfresh who was pastor of the Island Grove Church for 3 years following the Civil War. When Dr. Blair came to this church as pastor, the sanctuary was just as it was when his grandfather, Dr. McElfresh served the church.

- Prayer meetings were discontinued in 1864 because of the roughness of the winter.

- Rev. Ira B. Henry stated on his report in 1872 that "Good sister Brown died in May."

- Rev. N. R. Whitehead died June 1, 1876, and was buried near the church where he preached his last sermon.

- J. L. Crane continued to preach until end of conference year, at which time the charge was transferred to the Jacksonville District.

- At the conference held at Paris, Illinois, October 10, 1876, it was confirmed that Island Grove was a part of the North Jacksonville District.

- In 1877-1878, Rev. Crane moved into the parsonage, but due to failing health, he removed to Shelbyville, (Ill.), where he died at peace with the world.

- Rev. S. W. Beggs/Biggs was ordained an Elder at the close of his term as pastor.

- In 1909, the church had to pay taxes on the parsonage.

- In 1914, the Church was completed at Alexander at a cost of $1000.00.

- In 1916, Rev. O. E. Johnson transferred from Nebraska to Island Grove and Alexander.

- Rev. John A. Betcher came from Maine.

Island Grove Methodist Church is a beautiful church, and along with the Woodwreath Cemetery is very well kept. the church has remained steadfast in religious faith and spirituality and continues to be a vital part of the surrounding community.

This resource page can be used by reseachers in their quest for their family history but cannot be reproduced in any format for profit. Š2004