Tom's Prairie

Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Northeast of Fairfield, Wayne County, Illinois

We Need a Photograph and Church Records


1890
Name of the Congregation: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Pastor: J. W. Borah
Total Membership: 67
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1890, page 166]

1891
Name of the Congregation: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Pastor: J. W. Borah
Total Membership: 122
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1891, page 180]

1892
Name of the Congregation: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Pastor: J. W. Borah
Total Membership: 106
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1892, page 190]

1893
Name of the Congregation: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Pastor: J. W. Borah
Total Membership: 60
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1893, page 190]

1894
Name of the Congregation: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. R. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Pastor: J. W. Borah
Total Membership: 65
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1894, page 204]

1895
Name of the Congregation: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Pastor: J. W. Borah
Total Membership: 73
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1895, page 212]

1896
Name of Congregation: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Pastor: J. W. Borah
No. Communicants: 104
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1896, page 197]

1897
Name of Congregation: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: Darr, T. H., Fairfield, Ill.
Pastor: Borah, J. W.
No. Communicants: 103
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1897, page 163]

1898
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister: J. W. Borah
No. Communicants: 93
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1898, page 184]

1899
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister: J. W. Borah
No. Communicants: 90
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1899, page 78a]

1900
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister: J. W. Borah
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1900, page 97a]

1901
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Darr, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister: none listed
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1901, page 124a]

1902
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Daw, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister: none listed
Albion Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1902, page 114a]

1903
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: T. H. Daw, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister Now In Charge: G. M. Abney
Mt. Vernon Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1903, page 102a]

1904
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: W. M. Monroe, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister Now In Charge: Joseph Wood
Mt. Vernon Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1904, page 86a]

1905
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: B. F. Cunningham, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister Now In Charge: J. M. Borah [sic: J. W. Borah]
Mt. Vernon Presbytery - Synod of Illinois
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1905, page 67a]

1906
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: Joe B. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister Now in Charge: W. M. Freeze
Total Number of Members: 145
Mt. Vernon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1906, page 58a]

1907
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Postoffice: Joe B. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister Now in Charge: H. C. Sharp
Total Number of Members: 55
Mt. Vernon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1907, page 19a]

1908
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Postoffice: Joe B. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister Now in Charge: none listed
Total Number of Members: 50
Mt. Vernon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1908, page 22a]

1909
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Postoffice: Jos. B. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister Now in Charge: none listed
Total Number of Members: 60
Mt. Vernon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1909, page 46a]

1910
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Postoffice: Jos. B. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister now in Charge: none listed
Mt. Vernon Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1910, page 171]

1911
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. B. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister in Charge: none listed
Supt. of S.S.: none listed
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1911, page 145]

1912
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. B. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister in Charge: none listed
Total Number of Members: 24
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1912, page 175]

1913
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. R. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister in Charge: none listed
Total Members: 24
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1913, page 252]

1914
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. R. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Minister in Charge: none listed
Total Members: 24
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1914, page 208]

1915
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Minister in Charge: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. R. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Total Members: no statistics
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1915, page 171]

1916
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Minister in Charge: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. R. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Total Members: no statistics
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1916, page 188]

1917
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Minister in Charge: none listed
Clerk of Session and Post Office: L. P. Borah, pro tem, Fairfield, Ill.
Total Number of Members: 24
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1917, page 154]

1918
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Minister in Charge: none listed
Clerk of Session and Post Office: none listed
Total Number of Members: no statistics
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1918, page 127]

1919
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Minister in Charge: J. A. McLane
Clerk of Session and Post Office: L. P. Borah, Fairfield, Ill
Total Number of Members: 42
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1919, page 127]

1920
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Minister in Charge: none listed
Clerk of Session and Post Office: L. P. Borah, Fairfield, Ill.
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1920, page 142]

1930
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Minister in Charge: none listed
Clerk of Session and Post Office: none listed
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1930, page 163]

1940
Name of Church: Toms Prairie
Minister in Charge: none listed
Clerk of Session and Post Office: W. M. Monroe, Fairfield, Ill.
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1940, page 183]

1946
This is the last year it appears in the GA Minutes.
Name of Church: Tom's Prairie
Minister in Charge: none listed
Clerk of Session and Post Office: Maude Graham, Fairfield, Ill.
Ewing-McLin Presbytery - Illinois Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1946, page 170

1946
Aug. 20, 1946 is the last time it is listed in roll of congregations of Ewing-McLin Presbytery.
[Source: Minutes of the Ewing-McLin Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, August 20, 1946, page 225]

 

In 1950 the Presbytery attempted to reorganize this congregation under the name South Tom's Prairie.

1959
We, your Board of Missions and Evangelism, report that we are in process of making definite efforts toward Revival and re-organization of Tom's Prairie Church, northeast of Fairfield.
[Source: Minutes of the Ewing-McLin Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, March 17, 1959, page 5]

1960
Committee on Board of Missions and Evangelism
We have had before us Reverend Frank Sanders, who has served as director of mission work at Tom's Prairie Church. He reports that the work there was going forward nicely, and with increasing interest by the people there was James Frueh, a Licentiate of Lincoln-Decatur Presbytery. However, the Church building there was destroyed by fire recently. Fortunately all the furniture was saved, and is stored in a school building near-by.

Reverend Sanders reports that there was no insurance, but that the congregation has something over $500.00 in cash, and with this nucleus, is desirous of replacing their church building; either through purchase and removal of the school house, or erection of a small building. Many people have expressed a desire to contribute toward replacing this historical old church.

Therefore; we recommend that this Presbytery express its approval of plans to restore this church, and that, in event program of rehabilitation in untaken, the $100.00 be given them from Mission Funds of the Presbytery. Further; we recommend that each church of the Presbytery support this effort with special offering when progress of plans become definite.
[Source: Minutes of the Ewing-McLin Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, March 23, 1960, page 8]


Toms Prairie Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1823-1923

(dissolved), RFD. 3, Fairfield, Wayne County

Organized in 1823 by Rev. David McLin with 8 members. Meetings held in open air until 1863 when the first church edifice was erected; a small plain frame structure. In 1903 a frame structure was erected and dedicated. Became inactive in 1920; unsuccessful attempt made by Ewing McLin Presbytery to re-establish in 1923. First settled pastor, Rev. David McLin, 1823-(?). Last pastor, Rev. J. W. Borah, 1918-20.

Session Minutes: 1896-1920, 1 v. hdw., in custody of Session Clerk, William Monroe, RFD. 3, Fairfield.

Register: (baptisms, marriages, members, communicants, deaths), 1896-1920 incluced in Session Minutes.

[Source of information: Inventory of the Church Archives of Illinois. Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Prepared by Illinois Historical Records Survey. Division of community service programs. Work Projects Administration. Feb. 1942, page 70.]


Updated November 19, 2009

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