Allen C. Hitch

The following is text from Nathaniel S. Haynes, History of the Disciples in Illinois 1819-1914, pages 277 - 280:

The Restoration Movement in Illinois: McDonough County

In 1832 the first Christian Church was organized in McDonough County at a point about one and a half miles north of Blandinsville, known as the Liberty Christian Church. Here the people of two pioneer settlements met to worship, the one known as the Jobe settlement a few miles to the south, and the other a few miles to the north, composed of a number of families, among whom were the Brightwells, Bradshaws, Cyruses and Hustons. In 1842 the town of Blandinsville was laid out and platted. In 1849 Liberty was abandoned as a meeting-place and the church of Blandinsville was organized by the members of the Jobe settlement. And about the same time the members of the north settlement organized the Bedford Church.

Blandinsville.

Organized 1849; present membership, 384; value of property, $25,000 ; Bible school began 1861; present enrollment, 164. The history of the church at Blandinsville is not materially different from others of like environments. The following have served as preachers or pastors: James K. Knox, Uriah Long, A. J. Kane, James D. Eads, John Rigdon, Milton Dodge, James R. Ross, Cornelius Ades, Patrick Murphy, Bedford Murphy, J. M. Martin, Robert Lieurance, J. H. Coffee, S. K. Hallam, H. R. Trickett, J. F. Leek, T. H. Goodnight, G. F. Adams, M. P. Hayden, J. Carroll Stark, George W. Ross, William Sumpter, J. S. Clements, W. A. Malone, Clarence Townley, Edward Richey, A. M. Hale, M. C. R. Wolford and D. J. Elsla.

The third house of worship was finished in 1911. It is a modern and beautiful structure with a seating capacity of eight hundred. The congregation has held many admirable people in its membership. It has given Allen Hitch and Wm. Enders to the ministry.
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LaGrange, Mo. July 8 - Last night about 10 o'clock, while attempting to cross a stream swollen by a heavy rainstorm Miss Ada Lee Hattie [sic] of Canton, Mo., and Allen C. Hitch of Blandinsville, Ill., were drowned. The bodies were found under some brush at seven o'clock this morning. They had been washed about 250 yards down rtream [sic] the flood of which had subsided till not more than knee deep. The body of the girl was held in Hitch's arms, and his face was marked, showing he had made a gallant struggle to escape the raging water. The horse and buggy were 50 yards upstream from the bodies, the buggy demolished, the horse tangled in the harness, but still alive.

The couple had been at the home of J.B. Taylor, six miles below LaGrange, leaving there in the rain about 8 o'clock against the earnest protest of Mr. Taylor passed through LaGrange at 9 o'clock on their way to Miss Hattie's [sic] home at Canton, six miles north of LaGrange. Nothing more is known of them until found this morning by Henry Hartwig, a farmsr [sic], near whose home the drowning occured [sic]. Hartwig notified people in Canton, who in company with the dead girl's father, Judge J.C. Hattle [sic], were soon on the scene. The bodies were removed to Canton, where Miss Hattie will be buried. The body of Mr. Hitch will be sent to his home in Ill.

The girl is the daughter of Judge J.C. Hattle [sic] of Canton, one of the most prominent families in Lewis county. She was graduated from Christian University, Canton, a year ago, and was prominent in social affairs and church work. The young man was about 25 years old, and was a minister of the Christian church. He has been a t Christian University the past four yrs. He received his A.M. degree this year, was prominent in college life and was president of the Christian University Athletic Association. Rev. Hitch was well known to some of our citzens [sic] having attended Sunday School Convention at this place last August, and was pastor of the Fairview Church near Shelbina. - Ed. (Published in Hunnewell Graphic (Hunnewell, Missouri) - 15 Jul 1940, Fri - Page 5)
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Eld. Allen C. Hitch, a preacher of the Christian church, and well known in this county, was drowned while attempting to cross a swollen branch, 1 1-2 miles south of Canton, last Thursday night, says the Shelbyville Herald. He and Miss Ada Hattel [sic] of Canton spent the day at J.B. Taylor's, 12 miles south of Canton, visiting a friend and attending a picnic, driving there in a buggy. On their return home they were caught in a heavy rain and when the branch was reached it was out of its banks, but they attempted to cross and were carried down stream and both the young man and lady were drowned, their bodies being recovered about 200 yards down stream the next morning and taken to Canton. The first intimation of the accident was the finding of the horse and buggy a short distance from where the road crosses the branch, the horse being tangled in the harness but still alive. Probably no one will every know just how the unfortunate accident occurred. It was probably 10 o'clock at night when they attempted to cross the stream, as they passed through LaGrange about an hour before on their way to Canton. The bodies were found under some brush; the branch had run down until the water was not over knee deep. The body of the young lady was held in Eld. Hitch's arms, and his face and hands were scratched and bruised, showing that he had made a gallant struggle to escape the raging torrent.

Eld. Hitch was serving as pastor of Berea church, near Kirby, where he was highly esteemed. He was employed there last February to serve for a year. He also served as pastor of Fairview church, southeast of town, and the church near Salt river bridge between this city and Shelbina. He was a bright and popular young man, about 21 or 22 years old. Miss Hattel [sic], who shared his fate, was a beautiful and accomplished young woman, both having graduated from the Christian university at Canton last month. (Published in Chariton Courier (Kaytesville, Missouri) - 22 Jul 1904, Fri - Page 6)