The next meeting of the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society will be Tuesday, August 12th at 7 PM. John Ackerman will present a program about Tazewell County Centennial Farms. Meetings are free and open to the public.

All history is local until it is woven together with other stories to become part of the National fabric, and there is no aspect of National history that doesn’t touch Tazewell County, including the pioneer pastors that launched the local churches. 

Rev. Gilbert Stephan Bailey, Pioneer Minister
One of those pioneer pastors was the Reverend Gilbert S. Bailey, who, along with Mr. & Mrs. Lemuel Allen, Jonathan P. Hall, and Catherine Haas, organized the First Baptist Church of Pekin in 1850. The congregation grew and prospered such that in 1855, they were able to begin building their house of worship. It was a fine brick building, 40 by 70 feet, with a basement, located at Fifth and Elizabeth streets.

Gilbert Stephen Bailey was born 17 October 1822 in Dalton, Pennsylvania, to George Anson and Elizabeth Barnes Bailey. He was married to Sarah E. Bunnell, a daughter of David and Parthenia Kellam Bunnell. Sarah was born 11 December 1819 in Bethany, Pennsylvania. The couple had six children: E. Alice Brink (1849-1940), Gilbert (1852-1924), Wayland (1857-1943), Howard (1858-1899), Charles (1860-1939), and William (1863-1950).

Bailey had been ministering to a flock in Springfield before moving to Tremont and then on to Pekin. He happened to be in Springfield while fundraising for the Pekin church when he met with Lincoln, who it is said, pledged $10 toward the building fund.

The first baptism for the fledgling church was held at the river’s edge on December 7, 1850. The temperature was near freezing, but the sky was a beautiful blue, and the scene was serene.

In 1857, Rev. G. S. Bailey wrote “History of the Illinois River Baptist Association, and of Its Churches.”  Bailey and his family eventually moved to Pomona, CA, where he passed away 28 Sep 1891.

When the Association was formed in 1836, it was composed of only Princeton, Pleasant Grove, Peoria, Round Prairie, and Vermilionville. Pleasant Grove was both the earliest to form and the largest congregation in this area, with 20 members. It was formed in 1833 at the house of Mr. Lucas, near Pleasant Grove and three miles west of the present town of Tremont. This congregation would eventually move to Tremont in about 1847. Pekin was formally received by the association in 1852, and counted among their members was none other than Dr. D. A. Cheever. Baptist congregations were also formed in Morton and Washington. 

A Letter from Mary Gaither in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the church in 1900.
Mary was a long-time member of the Baptist church and in 1900 wrote in part, “Of the many names on our roll during these fifty years, a fair portion have been brought into the church through the faithful efforts of Sunday school and pulpit instruction. Many, however, have come to us, and gone again, after a shorter or longer stay in the city, leaving behind many pleasant memories, and taking with them, let us hope, memories as pleasant, and with a lesson of truth, to bear fruit in other churches of our land. From here to California and the western coast, to Colorado and the mountain towns, scattered over the prairies of Kansas and the middle west, to the far south of Louisiana, to the eastern states, and to the large cities – have gone these missives bearing the names of those who moved among us, and worked with us for a time. Let us pause a moment and reflect upon the possible extent of influence this little circle of Christians has had – and may have – and as the thought deepens within our hearts, may our purpose be strengthened that this influence shall be more and more for good. And when their earthly strivings and cross-bearings, these trials and temptations are over, may our prayers be answered that – this may be a church accepted of the Lord.”

– Mary E Gaither

Mission Statement
It is clear that Mary held the Pekin First Baptist church mission statement in her heart. It asks the church, “To produce fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who love God and people.” 

Pekin First Baptist Church Celebrates its 175th
Although there were many other pastors between them, the next most influential was Rev. Jesse Powers, who served from late 1937 until about 1947. It was he who first invited Youth for Christ to the area. When Torrey Johnson couldn’t make it, a young student from Wheaton College, Billy Graham, came in his place. 

The church operated from the original location for a century, but having outgrown the space, they arranged to erect a larger building at 700 S Capitol, dedicated in 1953, where the congregation is still located today. 

When the church celebrated its 125th anniversary, Col. James Irwin, Apollo 15 astronaut, brought in a record 1200 attendees!

Over the years, the church has engaged in missionary work around the world as well as at home. They launched the radio station WBNH from a room in the church, but today the station is located on Route 9 between Pekin and Tremont.

The church grew and changed with the times, introducing new programs. In celebration of the 175th, the congregation plans to pack 3000 Samaritan Purse Christmas boxes along with several other community outreach events. They will soon be announcing plans for a celebration in October.

The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society is an award-winning 501c3, all-volunteer organization that has been in continuous service to our members and the public for 47 years. TCGHS operates an archive, library, and research facility at 719 N. 11th St., Pekin. Visit our website at www.tcghs.org to learn more about us. If you have any point of interest that you would like to know more about, stop in at TCGHS or drop us a line.