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fourteen voting members, that is to say male members above the age of 21. In 1864 church was contracted and built by Joseph Mueller, of Peoria, $1480.75. Ph. Pflueger, A. Strathman and Ad. Metzger were the first elders. Church was remodeled in '75 by McAlden for $1300. Parsonage was purchased in October, '71, for $475 and an addition in '82 for $700. In it is a school room with capacity for thirty-five children. Besides those in the earliest commencements the following pastors have served the congregation: Rev. H. Sieving at time of organization, A. G. Jansen from '64 to '66; from '67 to '69 H. Sieving again had charge, from '70 to '71 J. J. Kern. After him B. Burfein accepted the call. On his departure in '78, Th. Benson took his place; in '81 B. J. Ansorge, in '87, H. Pflug and in '90 C. G. Schroeder entered upon the duties of the charge.
The total of 102 voting members has by emigration, death, change of faith, and discipline peculiar to church been reduced to twenty-seven, the present standing. Upwards of forty have moved away, while quite a number are residents in this vicinity but disconnected with the church. Of the early members Mrs. B. Kreidner and Mrs. E. Hoefler are still with the church, as is also Mrs. Ad. Metzger, now Mrs. C. Hagemeyer, but living at Carlock. The records are preserved since '67: Baptisms, 321; confirmations, 125; funerals, 94; marriages, 50. During the past season the church expended something in the neighborhood of $400 on interior refinish and on steeple and outside painting.
SCIENTIST--For a few years past a number of people of this city, believers in the Truth as taught and practiced by Christain Scientists, have held regular meetings at the homes of the several members. At present regular Sunday morning meetings are held and the lessons in the Christian Science quarterly studied in connection with the explanations from Mrs. Eddy's "Key to the Sciptures. " Meetings and Bible readings are also held each Thursday afternoon.
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