Rev M.J. McNeill, 1852-1928

Matthew James

“M.J.” McNeill

8th Pastor

at Herrin FBC

1887-1888

Early Family Life:

Rev. McNeill was born in Williamson County, Illinois, in 1852.  He was

one of nine children born to John Alexander and Weltha Jane (Walker)

McNeill. When M.J. was 10 years old, his brother George (then 17 years

old) joined the Union Army and fought in the Civil War.  Later, George

went on to be a co-founder of the town of Carterville.

Married Life:

At age 21, in 1873, M.J. married Susan Pauline Keaster.  They had three

known children (one died in infancy). Susan is listed in the 1880 census

as being “sick with dropsy”.  Dropsy is an old term for fluid retention. 

Sadly, Susan passed away 10 days after the census was taken. Earlier

that year, Susan’s sister Celinda had become a widow.  In December

1880, M.J. and Celinda were married.  They had three known children.

three of the McNeill children

Occupations on the Census:

1870 - Farm Laborer

1880 - Farmer

1900 - Farmer

1910 - Mail Carrier

1920 - Minister

His parents:

Father John Alexander McNeill was born in 1823, North Carolina. 

His parents moved the family to Robertson County, Tennessee in 1838

and spent about one year there.  In 1839 or 1840, they left Tennessee and

arrived in Williamson County, Illinois.  They settled in the Cambria/

Carterville area.  He joined the Hurricane Church in1843 and remained

a member there until his death in 1892. Another former Herrin FBC

pastor (John A. Rodman) wrote his funeral notice and preached at his

funeral, held at the Hurricane Church.  

Mother Weltha (or Wealthy) Walker was born in 1824, Tennessee. 

Her parents moved the family in an ox drawn wagon to Williamson

County, Illinois, in 1834.  They purchased land along Hurricane Creek. 

She married John McNeill in 1844, and remained in Williamson County

until her death in 1905.

His grandparents:

Mathew and Hester (Moore) Walker… They moved from TN

to Williamson Co IL in 1834, and in July 1837, the Hurricane

Church was organized in their home. He was a farmer,

originally from North Carolina. He may have been a Veteran of

the War of 1812… There is one Matthew Walker in a NC

Regiment, but we don’t know if it’s the same person.

Malcolm and Christiana (Northington) McNeill… They moved

from TN to Williamson Co IL in 1839. A family story about

Malcolm, is that he stood about 5’4” and always wore a top

hat.  He had a “fiery disposition”, and would stand out in the

road in front of his home and dare anyone who came down the

road to engage in a fist fight.  Malcolm was a gunsmith, and

originally from North Carolina.

Burial:

Rev. McNeill, his wives, parents, and dozens of relatives are

all buried in the old Hurricane Church Cemetery.

Other churches (that we know of):

1877 – Delivered his first sermon at Pigeon Creek Baptist, Williamson

county IL

1885 – Pastor of Lake Creek Baptist Church, Williamson County IL

1889 – Organized the first Sunday School at Williams Prairie Baptist

Church, Williamson County IL; Organized the Union Baptist Church

(which later became the Johnston City FBC)

1904 – Elected Moderator of the Williamson Baptist Association

1907 – Helped organize the Grand Tower Baptist Church

Fun tidbit:

David Harrison (the first church clerk of what became Herrin FBC) married Julia Walker (a sister of Rev. McNeill’s mother).  David and Julia had a son, George Harrison… George had a daughter, Julia Harrison.  Julia married Carl Bruce…  becoming our very own Julia Harrison Bruce.  This makes Julia and Rev. McNeill… first cousins, once removed! Think about them the next time you go into the Harrison Room!

Harrison Room at Herrin FBC, 2024

Rev Paul A. McCasland, 1902-1957

 Paul Alexander McCasland

22nd Pastor of Herrin FBC, 1939-1950

Born: July 10, 1902 in Hunt County, Texas

Died: August 28, 1957 in Portland, Oregon

Rev. McCasland was born in 1902, the 8th child of John Albert Francis and Nancy Mary Ann (Webb) McCasland.  Both of his parents had been raised on farms, and his father became a farmer, as well.  His father passed away when Paul was just shy of turning 13 years old.  In the 1920 census, his mother is listed as head of household with the occupation of farmer.  In the 1930 census, his mother is living with Paul’s brother Charles, and both are listed as proprietors of a beauty parlor.

Timeline:

1920 - listed as a Laborer in Hunt County, TX

1927 - Ordained by the First Baptist Church in Royce City, TX

1928 - Married Bettie Fay Watson in Brown County, TX

1930 - listed as a High school teacher in Brown County, TX...his wife is a grade school teacher

1931 - Graduated from Howard Payne College, with a Bachelor of Arts degree

1937 - Graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, with a Masters of Religious Education and Theological degree. While in school, he served at two small churches.

1938 - Pastored a church in Wilson, TX

1939 - Pastored at Herrin FBC in Herrin, IL. Served there from 1939 to 1950

This is the building that McCasland served at

1942 - Described on a WW2 draft card as being 5'8" tall, 160 lbs, brown eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion. Also mentioned is a scar on his lower calf of left leg.

1950 - Left Herrin on a leave of absence to attend SW Baptist Theological Seminary to pursue a Doctor of Religious Education degree

1951 - Joined the Oregon-Washington convention as Secretary of the Dept. of Evangelism and Missions. This organization later became the Northwest Baptist Convention.

1957 - Buried at the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Portland, OR

Things that happened while Rev. McCasland was in Herrin:

1. Conducted a VBS under a tent on Bryan Street.  Later a revival was held there and a mission was established.  The church constructed a building and it became the Bryan Street Baptist Church.

2. After the Bryan Street church came into existence, McCasland started a mission in the west part of town, which became the Hurricane Memorial Baptist Church on South 22nd St.

3.  The church purchased the Margrave building and lots.  It was remodeled for the use of Sunday School classrooms, and was later renamed “The McCasland Building” in memory of Rev. McCasland.

4. Added 940 new members

5. Served twice as President of the Herrin Ministerial Alliance

6. Was a member of the Herrin Rotary Club, Lions Club, and Masonic Lodge 693

7. Served 9 years on the Illinois Baptist State Association

Philoreta Slater, 1691

 One of my 7th Great Grandmothers was born this week, 335 years ago.  Philoreta Slater was born Feb. 23, 1690, in Piscataway NJ, to Edward and Elizabeth (Bonham) Slater.  She was actually the second daughter with that name.  Edward and Elizabeth had a daughter in 1685 and named her Philoreta.  Sadly, she and another baby died in 1687.  Our Philoreta was the next child born to the couple. I did find some interesting writings about Philoreta’s father Edward, who got in repeated trouble with the law for speaking out against the British, about 100 years before the Revolutionary War.  I’ll save the details for his own story some day.

Philoreta spent her entire life in or near Piscataway.  At the time of her birth, the town was only 24 years old (Her future Grandfather-in-law was one of the town founders, in 1666).  At the age of 17, she married Benjamin Martin.  He was five years older than her.  Benjamin and Philoreta had 7 proven children.  Five of them are found in the town’s birth registry transcription, and two others are found named in Benjamin’s 1755 will.  The will also mentions their “homefarm on the Mill Brook in Woodbridge.”  The town of Woodbridge is just a short distance from Piscataway.

Benjamin passed away in 1756/7, and Philoreta is named in the will.  After that, I haven’t been able to locate any record of her.  Online, the majority of family trees say she either died in 1757 (I think those people think her husband’s will is actually hers?)... or 1787 (I have yet to figure out how anyone came up with that year). 

We may not know that many details of Philoreta’s life, but the important thing is that she is remembered.

Note:  This relationship is up through our Rosan family line.  

Malinda Rousey, 1799-1851

226 years ago this Valentine’s Day, one of my 4th Great Grandmothers was born.  Malinda Rousey was born in Amherst County, Virginia, on Feb. 14, 1799.  Her parents were Leonard and Elizabeth (Goode) Rousey.  Her father died when Malinda was around 10 years old, and her mother remarried.  She was one of 6 known children born to her parents.  And she had 3 known half-siblings from her mother’s second marriage.

Virginia map showing location of Amherst County

It’s not absolutely certain when the family moved from Virginia to Kentucky, but Malinda would have likely been a toddler at the time (probably between 1800-1803). According to Google, the trek from Amherst County VA to Lincoln County KY is about a 7 hour drive.  Now take that and imagine doing it in wagons, on horseback and on foot… through the mountains, exposed to weather, wildlife and Native Americans.  We can’t even fathom what their experience was like.  No matter, they made it to Kentucky and settled in on land that Leonard had purchased.  In fact, in my research on Malinda, I discovered that some of her father’s original land tract is STILL owned by Rousey descendants.  Malinda’s brother Jordan’s line still lives there and owns the land.  Today the area is a wide spot in the road called Butchertown.

Kentucky map showing location of Lincoln County

When Malinda was 15 years old, she married Edmund Russell (age 28), on March 10, 1814. They would build their life in Lincoln County, Kentucky, and have a large family of 9 known children. That far back, the census records don’t state occupations, and in the 1850 census (the first to have a column for that), Edmund wasn’t working. I would guess they were farmers. In some of the early census records, many of the Russell’s close neighbors were slave owners, however the Russell family was not.

1850 census showing Edmund and Malinda Russell

Malinda died fairly young in 1851, at the age of 52.  Her husband Edmund died 8 years later.  They are buried in the McCormack Church Cemetery, in Lincoln County.  We descend from their daughter Mary Jane Russell, who married John Miles.  Mary would eventually make her way to Hardin County, Illinois, with her second husband.

Sketch of a pioneer log cabin

Some interesting tidbits…  Lincoln County, KY, was on the Wilderness Road.  From 1775-1810, it’s estimated that 300,000 people travelled that road as they moved West.  When the National Road opened in 1818, travel declined on the Wilderness Road.  By 1840, use of the Wilderness Road had almost ceased.

Wilderness Road map

The town of Crab Orchard in Lincoln County…Malinda and her young family are listed on the census there in 1820.  In the late 1820’s, mineral springs were discovered there and a resort was opened.  It was in operation for over 100 years.

Distances and history perspectives… Malinda and her family lived about 40 miles from Daniel Boone’s Fort Boonesboro.  Daniel moved to Louisiana, about the same time that the Rousey’s moved to Kentucky.  Going in the other direction, the Rousey’s lived about 80 miles from Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace.  Malinda was about 10 years old when Lincoln was born.

In researching the Rousey family in Kentucky, I stumbled upon some stories of one of Malinda and Edmund’s children, Martin Russell.  I have flagged him for a future post… seems he was quite the collector of family artifacts and random things… and he liked to talk about them!

Mary Mathis, 1853-1929

Today you meet one of my 2nd Great Grandmothers, Mary Mathis.  Mary was born 171 years ago last week, on March 15, 1853.  She was one of 10 known children born to William and Elizabeth Jane (Ussery) Mathis.  The Mathis family was living near Vienna, in Johnson County IL when Mary was born.  Her parents had married there in 1847, both families having moved from Maury County, TN around 1845.  It’s quite possible that’s how Mary’s parents met… their families may have been traveling together!

Mary grew up in Johnson County, IL. No doubt she and her siblings ran wild in the woods near what we now know as the Shawnee National Forest… at least when their chores were done.  Her father was a farmer, so there would have been lots of responsibilities for her.

At the age of 17, she married Smith Rosan.  We have no idea how they met.  Smith was living in Perry County IL.  He had been a widower for a year when he and Mary were married on July 4, 1870.  Mary’s father had been in the Union army from August 1862 to August 1865.  By the 1870 census, William and Elizabeth Mathis were living in Perry County.  It’s not known exactly when they moved to Perry Co, but it was likely after the War.  Perhaps they attended the same church as Smith Rosan, or they were introduced by mutual friends.  

Smith and Mary (Mathis) Rosan, 1870's

Smith and Mary had 11 children.  Only 6 of those grew to be adults.  We know 2 of their children died before they were a year old.  The other three, we don’t even have names for. They also raised another child… their daughter Margaret, at age 16, had a child out of wedlock.  The 1900 census lists the child as a granddaughter, with Margaret married and living just a few houses away.

photo circa 1888... Mary and Smith on the front row with daughter Amanda, back row is Mary's mother and possibly Smith's mother, and daughters Rosie and Margaret

Smith died in 1897, and Mary immediately applied for a widow’s pension for Smith’s service in the Civil War.  She states that she has “one house and lot in the vicinity of the Perry County mines.” In looking at old maps, I believe the Rosans lived just north of St. Johns (which is just north of DuQuoin).  She was initially given $8 per month, then it went up to $12 a month in 1908.  By the end of 1926, Mary was begging the U.S. government for more money.  In her letter, she says… “I really need more money, as I am getting along very poorly.  I don’t have enough to keep me going and paying for my doctor bills and my living expenses.  I am a mother of eleven children and have worked hard all my life and now I am old, and have to have more money. If anything should happen to me, I wouldn’t have enough for expenses.  I am unable to do anything, work of any kind… In the winter, I have asthma and am not able to do much any of the time.  I have to stay with my children and they can’t afford to keep me all the time.”  Two months after she sent that letter, they responded… “I have to advise you that pension at the rate of $30 per month, which it appears you are now receiving, is the highest rate to which you are entitled under existing law.  You could have no title to an increase in your pension to $50 per month, for the reason that you were not the wife of the soldier during the period of his service in the Civil War.”

Reproduction of Smith and Mary's marriage certificate in 1897

Mary spent most of the rest of her life visiting and staying with her children and their families.  She died on December 5, 1929, while she was staying with her daughter Amanda.  She is buried in Tilden IL.  Mary was 76 years old.

Mary Mathis-Rosan, 1908

In the 1970’s, my grandma Flossine’s brother Nolan wrote a family history book.  It was typewritten, and photocopies were given to family members.  I am forever grateful that he did this.  His format was to simply write down his personal memories of each family member… grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.  His page about his grandmother Mary, has personal details that we’d never know any other way.  Here are some to highlight…

1. She was called Granny Rosan.

2. “Whenever it was time for her to come to our house for a while, it was my unfortunate lot to have to sleep with her because we had only two bedrooms.  Even then she was an accomplished snorer and would many times wake me up with her snorts, etc.  All I could think of to do as a child was to pull her hair until she woke up enough to stop snoring long enough for me to get back to sleep.”

3. She was an accomplished knitter.

4. She could weave rugs on her loom.

5. She could not read or write, but eventually learned how to write her name, so she could sign her own pension checks.

6. She chewed tobacco… either the brand “Star” or “Horseshoe”.

7. She smoked tobacco… “She crumbled “Granger Twist” to smoke in her small clay pipe with the bamboo stem.”

8. She had a nervous twitch to one of her eyes that “was embarrassing because it made her appear to be winking at people.  She tried most all the patent medicines and gadgets to try to get rid of it, including a violet ray machine, but nothing was successful.”

9. She was just a little more than 5 feet tall.

Mary's gravestone in Tilden, IL

Rev. James Gore, 1865-1954

17th Pastor of Herrin FBC

1916-1919

Rev. James Gore

Born: September 17, 1865… St. Joseph, Missouri

Died: January 22, 1954… Tulsa, Oklahoma

James married Kathryn Hughes on September 2, 1896. 

They had 4 known children.

James was in the Class of 1896 and graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

James was a son of Noah Jackson and Mary C (Fly) Gore.  He had 4 known older siblings, and 4 known younger siblings.  James grew up on a farm in Missouri… his father and grandfathers were all farmers.  However, he felt the pull to go in a different direction with his life, and in 1885, James preached his first sermon.

His obituary states that James’ father Noah, was a Confederate army veteran.  We have not been able to find any military records for Noah at this time.  However, James’ Uncle William Fly (a brother of his mother), served in the Confederate army, as part of the Missouri Cavalry.  Uncle Fly fought at Gettysburg and was taken as a POW in Maryland.  Prior to the Civil War, Uncle Fly went West for the 1849 Gold Rush… but was unsuccessful.

Herrin FBC building, 1902-1917

Rev. James Gore, 1917

What happened while Rev. Gore was at Herrin FBC:

• Mrs. Gore reorganized and helped develop a functioning women's organization in the church, which would later be part of the WMU

• During a pastor’s conference and ladies meeting in December of 1917, the church building caught fire and was not able to be saved

• Church services were held at City Hall in a courtroom 

• Rev. Gore led the church in finding a new site and erecting a new building (the brick church that used to be by the hospital)

• From 1917 to 1919, Rev. Gore and many other men of the church, donated their days/months to working on the new church building.  Total cost to build was $50,000.

Rev. Gore resigned from Herrin FBC on September 28, 1919.  He then moved to Oklahoma.

Fun facts:

• In 1893, James ran the Cherokee Strip to find land for his sister.  

• In 1930, James officiated a wedding in an airplane, flying over Tulsa, OK.

Wilhemine "Minnie" Henrietta Ritter, 1873-1945

Wilhemine “Minnie” Henrietta Ritter was born 151 years ago this week. She was one of six known children born to George and Henrietta (Belk) Ritter. She is one of my Great Grandmothers. 

 Minnie was born on March 9, 1873, near Chebanse, IL. Her parents had been born in Germany. Her father George had arrived in New York City in July of 1865. He was a harness maker. Her mother Henrietta arrived in New York City in July of 1867. 

 Growing up in and around Chebanse… Minnie would have witnessed several firsts for the town. She wouldn’t have remembered it, but when she was a year old, Chebanse got their first water tower. She was 7 when they got their first fire department. She was 9 when the first telephone came to town. She was 11 years old when General John. A. Logan (of Southern IL and Civil War fame) came to Chebanse on his campaign for Vice President in 1884. I would imagine she probably remembered that for her whole life (whether or not she was on the grounds)… a crowd of 15,000 people attended the BBQ dinner at Milk’s Grove (due West of Chebanse and Clifton). I bet she also would have remembered the big snowstorm that hit when she was 12 years old. The town had to shovel the roads by hand. When she was 13, a tornado caused total destruction in a 4-mile wide path through Chebanse. 

1884 article about the Logan campaign stop

 Minnie married John D. Offerman on Nov. 23, 1898, when she was 25 years old. They moved to a farm southeast of Irwin (northwest of Chebanse). They would have 3 daughters, the middle one being my Grandmother, Leona. On the evening of July 17, 1903, a tornado hit their area. It did a lot of damage to surrounding farms, as well as their own. I assume they had a storm cellar that the family (John, Minnie, 4 yr old Mildred, 1 ½ yr old Leona) sheltered in that night. When the storm was over, John and Minnie had lost their house, barn, corn cribs, a windmill and their crops. Minnie was about 6 months pregnant at the time, with their 3rd child. 

1903 tornado article

the John Offerman home after they rebuilt

 The Offerman’s rebuilt and by the 1920’s, they owned a steam engine and a threshing machine. They operated a "threshing ring" which was a cooperative arrangement for harvesting grain crops. John's younger brother Henry ran the steam engine for him for several years. There were horse-drawn wagons bringing the cut grain stocks to the threshing machine in the yard behind the house. There were other horse drawn wagons for hauling the grain. There was the sound and smell of the steam engine and a huge stack of fresh hay. Best of all was the good country food prepared by the wives. Each wife in the threshing ring prepared food for the workers in their turn and each tried to outdo the others. I wonder what was Minnie’s favorite food to make? 

1924 John Offerman threshing machine

1924 Minnie doing laundry

 After being a widow for 3 years, Minnie passed away at the age of 72, on December 13, 1945. The state database lists her place of death as Otto Township, Kankakee County. Otto Township includes Irwin, the north side of Chebanse, portions of southern Kankakee, etc. Maybe she died in her own home… or in the home of another family member. I have not been able to locate an obituary yet, that might provide more details. She is buried beside her husband, at Evergreen Cemetery, in Chebanse.

Minnie's grave