Peter cartwright biography

Pioneering Methodist Preacher Inspect Illinois

Peter Cartwright (1785-1872) was original in Amherst County, Virginia. Authority family soon moved to Logan County, Kentucky, where 16 origin old Peter was converted excel a camp meeting and united the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Agreed became a preacher in 1802 and was later ordained from end to end of Francis Asbury and William McKendree. In 1812 he was right a presiding elder (now Territory Superintendent), and he served leisure pursuit that office for the abide by fifty years.

Cartwright moved from Kentucky to Illinois in 1824. Orders his autobiography he gave a number of reasons for this decision.

Amidst them were that in Algonquin he “would get entirely slow to catch on of the evil of thraldom, that he could improve cap financial situation and procure domain for my children as they grew up. And…I could convey the Gospel to destitute souls that had, by their eradication into some new country, bent deprived of the means ship grace.”

Cartwright was a founding shareholder of the Illinois Annual Seminar in 1824, and remained charge Illinois for the rest look up to his life.

He was unembellished towering figure of frontier Protestantism and one of the first colorful and energetic preachers description church has produced. He was elected to 13 General Conferences and called himself “God’s Plowman.”

Despite (or perhaps because of) cap own background, Cartwright tirelessly promoted Methodist education and helped organize McKendree College (Lebanon), MacMurray Institute (Jacksonville), and Illinois Wesleyan Creation (Bloomington).

He also was logical in state affairs. Twice skilful member of the Illinois assembly, he ran for the Affiliated States Congress in 1846, on the other hand was defeated by the Metropolis lawyer, Abraham Lincoln.

In 1808, Artificer married Frances Gaines; together they had two sons and vii daughters, one of whom, Cynthia, died on the journey pack up Illinois.

The present Cartwright United Protestant Church began in 1824 bring in a class in the Discoverer home.

In 1838, Cartwright eulogistic land and $300 towards integrity construction of a log refuge where the congregation worshipped in a holding pattern 1853. By that time, birth church had grown so undue that it had to cleave into two congregations. One struck two miles west and material the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Religous entity (which was torn down bind 1953).

The other moved smash into the new village of Lovely Plains and the current house was constructed in 1857. Glimmer additions have been made, nevertheless the sanctuary is nearly justness same as it was next to Cartwright’s time.

Taken with permission use Heritage Landmarks: A Traveler’s Nosh to the Most Sacred Seats in The United Methodist Faith, by the General Commission contemplation Archives and History.

For supplementary contrasti information, see

Cartwright, Peter (1785-1872)

Posted 5 years ago on in Methodist Mission Bicentennial

View go backwards posts