In 1856 Ahab Keller visited Wenona and made arrangements for
regular preaching in the village. He organized a class of six,
of which Solomon Wise was appointed leader. For about two years
the Methodists, by the courtesy of the Presbyterian brethren,
were permitted to hold their services in the Presbyterian
Church.
In the spring of 1859, under the administration of B. P. Wheat,
the erection of a church was planned. The enterprise was
difficult, as the Society was small and weak financially. During
the summer the building was enclosed. In the fall the Society
was connected with Tonica. J. G. Evans was in charge of the
work. The building was plastered in the fall, used in an
unfinished state during the winter, completed in the spring and
dedicated in April by O. S. Munsell, D. D., President of the
Illinois Wesleyan University.
In 1865 Wenona was made a station, and the Sandy M. E. Church
became the center of a new charge, under the name of Wenona
circuit. Since then the two charges have been maintained
separately, each supporting its own pastor. There is an
aggregate membership connected with the two churches of about
two hundred, being perhaps more than double the membership of
any other denomination represented in the Township. The
congregations at both churches are large, the Sunday Schools
good, and the societies prospering under the administration of
the present pastors.
Extracted 23 Feb 2014 from Records of the Olden Time
| Bureau Putnam La Salle | |||
| Stark |
 |
||
| Peoria | Woodford | ||
