Lawrenceville Meeting Room, IL

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Since 1917, there has continually been a meeting room of Tunbridge Wells exclusives in Lawrence County, Illinois, meeting initially in Lawrenceville, and relocating in 1949 to St. Francisville, and returning to Lawrenceville after 1985, most likely in 1992, where it meets to this day. The pioneer settlers of this assembly were of the Buchanan family, which are also among the earliest farming pioneers of the county, starting with Victor Buchanan, born in Pennsylvania, relocating initially to Kentucky, and arriving in Lawrence County in 1819, two years prior to its naming.

It is presently outside this editor's knowledge how the Buchanan family was introduced to the PB, but they have held a lasting testimony in the area, originally as Presbyterians in honor of their earlier roots in the 18th century in Scotland, but eventually as those meeting simply around the Lord Jesus, and it would be surprising if there are not also likely brethren serving in leadership in most of the other evangelical fellowships in present day, with exemplary character.

Lawrence County history

According to Wikipedia, Lawrence County, Illinois was formed in 1821 out of Crawford and Edwards counties, named for Capt. Lawrence, who was killed in action during the War of 1812 while commanding the full-rigged warship USS Chesapeake, and his final order to his men after being mortally wounded was, "Don't give up the ship".

In a 1910 biographical volume of Lawrence County, part of a series on Illinois history, there is a five page section dedicated to the Buchanan family, which it credits as being among the oldest families in the history of that area, although the French were actually the first white settlers. The first American settlement was prior to 1812 in Russellville, and another at Centerville by members of the Christian Church. A settlement of Shakers resulted in Charlottesville. Some of the early settlers constructed forts to defend against invasion, the most popular known as the Allison Fort, in the northern part of Russellville, built in 1812. Some attempted to introduce slavery in the county, but many of the earliest white inhabitants left the Southern U.S. to extricate themselves from that culture, and so it was denied entry.

Schools

The first regular school in the county was within a fort built in Dennison township, the teacher being George Godfrey, in 1817. A school was taught in a small log cabin by Larkin Ryle in 1818, which was originally built by John Bray as a residence until his wife died and he relocated to Indiana. Charles Martin taught in 1826 in the first built schoolhouse. The first Normal Institute was held in 1880. The Lawrenceville District High School was built about 1890.

Denominations

Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ & Independent Christian

The first church in Lawrence County was established in 1817 by the Church of Christ denomination, holding services in the old Center schoolhouse, later building a small log church. Their next location, the Spring Hill church, was built as early as 1820, the first preacher being D. Travis. The Lawrenceville Christian Church (now D.O.C.) was started in 1833 by pioneer preacher Maurice R. Trimble, with 41 charter members.

Other "Christian" churches were subsequently planted in the area named Bethlehem (1840), Gard's Point, and Sumner (1860). The historically related Disciples of Christ (D.O.C.) denomination started eleven churches in the county prior to 1910: Rising Sun of Russellville, Pleasant Ridge, Hillsboro, Prairie Hall, Sumner, Bridgeport, Pleasant Hill, Mount Zion, Centerville, St. Francisville & Lawrenceville. The first "Church of Christ" was in Bridgeport in 1866.

There is presently (2022) a Central Christian Church that somewhat resembles an open brethren assembly with elected elders and deacons, versus pastors, that may be rather of the "independent Christian" network. Others include New Hope, New Life, Pleasant Ridge, and others.

Methodists

The Methodist Episcopal church in Lawrenceville was founded in 1819 near the "present" site (1910) of Bethel Church. Other churches of that denom in the county included: Dollahan Chapel, Bridgeport, Sumner & Lawrenceville, as well as a Black M.E. church in Lawrenceville started in 1881. The Methodist Protestant church was organized as the Chauncey Circuit at the Munn schoolhouse in 1853. Others followed at Pleasant Hill, Bird's Station, Cochran, St. Paul's Meeting House, and the Oblong Mission. The United Brethren (later merged with the UMC) church in Lawrenceville was organized in 1909 founded by S.O. Stoltz.

There are presently Methodist-style churches in Lawrenceville (UMC & Free), Bridgeport (2 UMC, 1 Wesleyan & 1 Free), St. Francisville (2 UMC & 1 Free), Sumner (3 UMC & 2 Free), Pinkstaff (UMC) & Birds (Free) of Flat Rock, Allendale (UMC). The Free Methodists were meeting as early as 1910.

Presbyterians

The first two Presbyterian churches of the county was in Pisgah in 1835, and in Lawrenceville in 1848, both with Isaac Bennett presiding as their first pastor. Others included Shiloh of Charlottesville, Union (1854), Hopewell (1858), Bridgeport (organized by John Crozier, John Mack and Thomas Buchanan), Gilead (1870), and Sumner (1878). Current area churches include in Lawrenceville, Bridgeport & Allendale.

Baptists

Shiloh Baptist Church, located 1 1/2 mi. SW of Bridgeport was organized at Spring Hill with 13 charter members in late 1839, with James Highsmith as acting moderator, and William T. Young as clerk of the council. The first Bible School was organized in 1854 by W.S. Bishop. The Lawrenceville Baptist Church was organized in 1903.

Others

There have been three Catholic churches, in St. Francisville, Bridgeport and Lawrenceville.

Buchanan history

The Buchanan clan is a Highlands Scottish Clan whose origins are said, according to Wikipedia, to have "a strong DNA link to the Clan Gregor, which seems to indicate a common ancestor around the year 400 C.E.", and has allegedly been in Scotland for multiple millennia, particularly in Stirlingshire and on the shores of Loch Lomond. There are DNA lines in Loch Lomond, in the Auld Kingdom of Alba, well before the year 1000 C.E.

In a forementioned history of Lawrence County, in a biographical piece on Aaron B. Buchanan (1835-1910), it references a Scotch family named Boahahan, whose family coat of arms included a sprig of birch. It was theorized that when members of the Scotch clan wedded with Irish, the surname was changed to Buchanan.

Famous Buchanans

  • George Buchanan (1506-1582) - Scottish reformer
  • James Buchanan (1791-1868) - 15th president of the U.S. (1857-1861) & Secretary of State (1845-1849). His father, James Buchanan Sr. (1761-1821) emigrated from Ramelton, Ireland in 1783. Last U.S. president born in the 18th century, only president to remain a lifelong bachelor. Buried in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where he had lived for 60 years.
  • John Buchanan (1759-1832) - co-founder of Nashville, Tennessee

Also see Buchanan (surname) wiki which includes mathematicians, scientists, scholars, philosophers, educators, physicists, artists, writers, soldiers, musicians, clergy, engineers, attorneys, and ambassadors.

Emigration

Pennsylvania

Kentucky

Lawrence Co., Illinois

Thomas Buchanan was among the initial crew overseeing the revenue directed at building highways, then forming a militia, and licensing taverns. James H. Buchanan is noted as an early settler of Dennison Township. Victor Buchanan was the 2nd, 4th & 6th supervisor of Denison Twp. William T. Buchanan was the 10th.

Lawrence County Meeting Room

In 1917, Gertrude Minnie Beckwith Buchanan (b. 1884 East St. Louis, St. Clair, IL - d. 1957 St. Francisville, IL) was listed in a TW meeting list as being in fellowship, while living in Lawrenceville. She was a daughter of Milan Beckwith and Minnie Putnam Beckwith. Her siblings included Forest Beckwith (East St. Louis, IL) & Mrs. Guy Stelle (Fort Worth, TX. Paul Geveden (KY) officiated her memorial service in 1957.

By 1923, Gertrude's husband Ralph Ernest Buchanan (b. 1883 Denison Twp., Lawrence, IL - d. 1959 Lawrenceville, IL) was listed as the correspondent. Son of Clarence Buchanan & Phebe Irwin Buchanan.

In 1927, Harley Ernest Adams (b. 1882 - d. 1929 Lawrenceville, IL) was added as a secondary correspondent of the meeting room, alongside Ralph Buchanan, serving until his death in 1929. Ancestry:

  • John Calvin Adams (b. 1853 Hadley, Lawrence, IL - d. 1934 Cadet, Washington, MO) & Laura Belle Payne Adams (b. 1858 Cape Girardeau, MO - d. 1931 Lawrenceville, IL). Florence Serene Booze Adams (b. 1853 PA - d. 1923 Hopkins, MO)
    • Dr. John Quincy Adams (b. 1831 Perry Co., KY - d. 1904 Hopkins, Nodaway, MO). 1860 @ Hadley, Lawrence, IL.

In 1944, Ralph Buchanan was still serving as a correspondent, with his eldest son Ernest assisting, and Ralph (likely) upheld until his homegoing in 1959.

By 1949, the meeting room had relocated to St. Francisville, with Ralph & Ernest Buchanan, and Ralph's second son Clement, the latter replaced by his third son Warner in 1951. In 1962, the correspondents were Ernest Buchanan, and Thomas Van Holstyn. In 1966, it was Ernest, and his brothers Clement and Warner, and by 1973, Joe Sanford had been added, replaced by Edward F. Dear in 1985.

By 1999, the meeting room had returned to Lawrenceville, and the contacts were Ralph E., Arthur and Clement Buchanan. Clement was replaced by Daniel Buchanan in 2005, and Chuck Henricks, and the correspondents in more recent years are four Buchanans.

Also See

Sources

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