Funeral sermon by Rev. James Lemen, Jr. 

LEMEN, James, Rev., Sr.

Born November 20, 1760. James Lemen was a man of fine physical proportions,
standing a little over six feet. He had a head a little above the medium size
for a man of his proportions; had dark blue eyes, slightly auburn curly hair and
slightly Roman nose with a broad, full forehead; in his mental composition he
was quick of perception, kindly disposed, but rather sedate, firm and brave but
not revengeful; while in his moral attributes he was honest, fearless in the
right and thoroughly devoted to his religious duty and faith as he understood
them. He was baptized in Illinois by a visiting Baptist preacher, Rev. Joseph
Dodge. One day in the winter of 1786-87, Rev. Dodge cut the ice in Fountain
Creek near the Lemen home and baptized James and his wife Catherine by immersing
them in the cold waters. He served two years during the Revolution and then went
to the vicinity of Wheeling, VA where he married Catherine Ogle. He came to
Illinois in 1786 his father-in-law having settled there the previous year. There
was a pleasant family tradition that James and his wife at their first meeting
and acquaintance, had the impression that Providence had ordained them for
partners in life, and the happiness and harmony of their married lives afterward
seemed to confirm that conviction. In the spring of 1783, James and his family
floated down the Ohio River to Illinois country, following approximately the
route taken by the Joseph Ogle party the year before. On the second night, Lemen
tied his large boat to the shore where the family spent the night. The river
fell suddenly, the flatboat lodged on a stump, tipped over and sank in the
river. Lemen lost his provisions and almost lost a son Robert, a boy of three,
who was sleeping on the boat. His bed started to float into the current of the
river. Lemen, aroused by the noise of the sinking craft, managed to grab a
corner of the bed to save Robert. The incident did not discourage him. He re
floated the flatboat, obtained more provisions and once again started on the
journey. He floated the full length of the Ohio, then with help cordelled the
flatboat up the Mississippi River to Hull's Landing, in Monroe County, arriving
July 10, 1786. The year before the Joseph Ogle party had abandoned its flatboats
near Fort Massac, in southern Illinois, and had followed the trail blazed by
Goerge Rogers Clark to Kaskaskia. From Kaskaskia it was an easy journey up the
Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail to Piggot's Fort. Members of both the Ogle and Lemen
parties were guests of the fort until they could look around for a place to
build their own homes. The Ogles and Lemens first settled about four miles south
of modern Waterloo, IL. Upon viewing the new home, Lemen, the confidante of
Thomas Jefferson said, "I have a new design for a settlement". He began that day
building a log cabin on a beautiful lake that was to be the first home in a
settlement constructed on the order of Williamsburg, VA. It was called New
Design. Upon suggestion of President Thomas Jefferson, built Richland Creek
Baptist Church, Near Collinsville, which became first anti- slavery church;
President Jefferson gave $20 towards building fund. Both the Ogles and Lemens
had slaves in Virginia, but questioned the institution of slavery. They brought
their slaves to Illinois with the intention of freeing them, which was easier
than trying to free them in Virginia. James Lemen was a factor in extending
Illinois territory northward to include 14 counties & Chicago. He served two
years in the Revolutionary War under General George Washington with Capt. Joseph
Ogle. Both men were descendants of men who served under Oliver Cromwell of
England. 

Submitted by Janet Flynn