more to do with founding Monticello than had Dr. Savage himself. Monticello was founded by Capt. Benjamin Godfrey, an elder in the First Presbyterian church of Alton. Not only did the conception of the institution originate with him, but he donated the broad acres on which the institution stands and erected the original buildings, in 1837, at a cost of $53,000, all out of his own pocket. Dr. Baldwin was made the first principal and occupied that position for several years. He was a cousin of the late Rev. Dr. A. T. Norton, and I am familiar with the facts. Dr. Baldwin came to Illinois in 1829, with the "Yale Band," as Dr. Savage relates, and as a Congregational minister, but there being no organization of his denomination in the State, became connected with the Presbyterians, and, in 1831, was a delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly from the Presbytery of Kaskaskia. Subsequently he was a member of Alton Presbytery and later reverted to the Congregational denomination. These ecclesiastical facts are of no special historical importance, but the statement of Dr. Savage that Dr. Baldwin was the founder of Monticello is the one I wish to correct. To Capt. Benjamin Godfrey, and no one else, belongs that high honor. (2) As to Rev. Thomas Lippincott. Dr. Savage says that Mr. Lippincott was one of three Congregational ministers who came to Illinois in 1828. On the contrary, Mr. Lippincott was never a Congregational minister. He was born in New Jersey in 1791, of Quaker parentage. In 1817 he moved to Illinois. He was, at that time, he himself writes, "a Godless young man with Universalist tendencies," but was converted through the instrumentality of his wife. He landed at Shawneetown Dec. 30, 1817. He engaged in various lines of business; was secretary of the State Senate in 1822; was later an elder in the Presbyterian church at Edwardsville. In 1818-19 he was a resident of Milton, on Wood river, four miles east of Alton, where his wife organized the first Protestant Sun day school in Illinois. That settlement is long since extinct. In 1829 he was ordained to preach by Center Presbytery, and was always, thereafter, a member of that denomination. He was the father of the late Gen. Charles E. Lippincott. (3) As to Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy, the martyr. Dr. Savage claims him as a Congregational minister, but he was never a member of that denomination, although his father, Rev. Daniel Lovejoy, was a Congregational minister. Elijah P. was born at Albion, Maine, Nov. 8, 1802. Was graduated at Waterville College, Me., and soon after removed to St. Louis, where he taught school for several years and engaged in editorial work. He was then something of a skeptic, but in 1832 was converted and then entered Princeton Theological Seminary. After completing his studies there he was licensed to preach by the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia. He returned to St. Louis where he again took up editorial work, subsequently removing his paper to Alton, Ill., where he published the Alton Observer and became connected with Alton's Presbytery. His tragic death at the hands of a pro-slavery mob, on Nov. 7, 1837, is a matter of history. At the time of his death he was Moderator of Alton Presbytery. His brother, Owen Lovejoy, subsequently renowned as the Abolition Congressman, was a Congregational minister and was often a visitor at my father's house. I might mention other instances, in Dr. Savage's article, where he was misinformed, but these must suffice. I make these corrections in the interest of historical accuracy. That the pioneer Congregational ministers of Illinois did a glorious work, in their self-denying missionary labors on the frontier, I gratefully admit, but so did ministers of other denominations and all are entitled to our honor and reverence. W. T. NORTON. THE COLLINS FAMILY HISTORY. Collins, William H."-The Collins Family." Genealogical Record (in part) of the descendants of John Collins, Sr., from 1640 to 1760. A complete record of the descendants of William Collins and Esther Morris from 1760 to 1897. 184 p. Quincy, Illinois. 1897. Press of Volk, Jones & McMein. A gift to the Illinois State Historical Library by Mrs. W. H. Collins. HISTORY OF AN ILLINOIS REGIMENT. Eby, Henry H.-"Observations of an Illinois Boy in Battle, Camp and Prisons, 1861-1865." 284 p. 12mo. Mendota, Illinois. 1910. Published by the author. WAR RECORDS OF NEW JERSEY. "New Jersey"-- Adjutant-General State of New Jersey comp. Records of Officers and Men of New Jersey in Wars, 1791-1815. 286 p. quarto. Trenton, N. J. 1909. Published by authority of the Legislature. 1898-1903. A gift to the Illinois State Historical Library. New York State Education Department-Sixth Annual Report. Supplemental Volume, "The American Flag." 110 p. 8vo. Albany, N. Y. 1910. Horner, Harlan Hoyt, Comp. A gift to the Illinois State Historical Library. |