Oakley Brick

(Cerro Gordo)

(1856-)

The Gospel Messenger November 23, 1912 p 739 Vol. 61 No. 47

 OAKLEY CHURCH, ILLINOIS.

In the early fifties a few brethren from Pennsylvania and Indiana settled in the Sangamon Valley, Macon Co., III. In May, 1856, they were organized into a working body. The first official was Bro, John Metzger, an elder. Bro. Leonard Blickenstaff was a minister in the second degree, and Bro. Jonas Wolf, a deacon. In 1866 they had increased, and spread out sufficiently to be divided into three churches,—Cerro Gordo, Milmine and Okaw. In 1867 a church was built for the East Branch, three miles from Milmine, and one for the West Branch, three miles west of Cerro Gordo, called the Cerro Gordo church. This grew until it was again divided in 1884. The east half having erected a churchhouse in the town of Cerro Gordo, retained the old name, while the west branch, worshiping in the old church, herewith

shown, was called the Oakley church. The first official body consisted of Bro. David Frantz as elder; Brethren A. L. Bingaman and A. J. Nickey as assistant ministers; Brethren John Blickenstaff, Solomon Hufford and Leonard Blickenstaff, deacons. The present elder is Bro. D. J. Blickenstaff, with Brethren W. T. Heckman and I. D. Heckman as assistants in the ministry.