USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Past and present of Shelby County, Iowa, Vol. 2 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
Gc 977.701 Sh4w v.2 1613375
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Gc
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00863 3593
m
E
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/pastpresentofshe02whit
PAST AND PRESENT
OF
SHELBY COUNTY
IOWA .
Vol. 2
By EDWARD S. WIJITE, B.A., LL. B. 1
-1 :
Marco 1-788 -
ILLUSTRATED
1915 B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana
1
.
.
1613375
SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA. 395
dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Herron, of Atlantic. assisted by Rev. Bailey, synodical superintendent. Rev. D. Shenton was at that time pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also assisted in the service.
Mr. Lewis concluded his services with the church early in 1888, and the pulpit was not regularly supplied until the call of Rev. J. H. Carpenter. who began his work June 1. 1888. and was installed July 10, 1889. Mr. Carpenter remained the leader of the church until July 27. 1895. this being the longest that any minister has been pastor of this church.
On the first of January. 1896, Rev. Albert Aston became the pastor in charge, and continued until January 1, 1901. exactly five years. During his ministry the church made the greatest growth it had made up to that time. The seed that had been faithfully sown was bringing forth its fruit. During the seven years following the work of Mr. Aston the church was served by Rev. Walter Irwin, May 1. 1901. to November 1. 1903: Rev. Thomas W. Leard, January 1, 1904, to February 25, 1906; and Rev. R. S. Weinland. May 1, 1906, to August 1, 1908.
Rev. W. B. Lampe first supplied Shelby about four months during the summer of 1909. and returned as pastor on September 1. 1910. At that time' there were ninety-eight active members on the roll. The attendance at the services of the church gradually increased, and soon a movement was started by the Young Ladies' Guild to remodel the church and build on an addition. During the winters of 1910 and 1911 this organization worked hard. and finally had seven hundred dollars as a start for this project. At a meeting of the church in the following spring the trustees were authorized to canvass the members of the church for subscriptions, and so liberal was the response to their active efforts that it was decided to start the work at once. The fact that the project was carried through and the building occupied by October I was due to the untiring efforts of the pastor and the efficient board of trustees. Rev. Lampe resigned August 1, 1913.
Rev. O. C. Carden has been with the church since December 1, 1913, being ordained and installed as pastor May 5, 1914, on graduating from the Omaha Theological Seminary.
The present officers of the church are: Rev. O. C. Carden, moderator : elders, R. M. Pomeroy, Benjamin Von Eschen, Thomas Norman. Peter Mortensen, W. R. Pomeroy, clerk; trustees. Thomas Norman, president. James Kern. Ura B. Slaughter.
.
396
SHELBY COUNTY, IOW.1.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF HARLAN.
[This is the only Congregational church in Shelby county. The author is indebted to the research work of Rev. Clifford L. Snowden, pastor of the Harlan Congregational church from October. 1896, to March, 1899. for most of the following history of the Congregational church, the first part of this sketch being in the language of Mr. Snowden and. therefore, quoted. ]
"The original compact from which the present church organization grew was made in July. 1871, by the following persons: James Harvey, Mrs. Lucy Harvey, Miss Cordelia Holcomb, Mrs. Mary A. Wood, Mrs. Anna Closson and Mrs. Sarah Redfield. Meetings of this self-instituted mission were held in various places, ranging from public halls to private parlors. For seven years the pastoral services of the Rev. Mr. Wright, of Avoca, were procured at irregular intervals. The organization grew but slowly. Finally, November 10. 1878, the church was regularly and congregationally organized and recognized by the council of the Council Bluffs association with the fol- lowing membership: C. Will Fisher. Mrs. Rachel Fisher, B. B. Griffith, Sr .. and family, Fred Gooding, Mrs. L. M. Gooding. A. G. Hard. Mrs. Mary Hard, Miss Cordelia Holcomb, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey. M. E. Campbell. Mrs. Sarah Redfield and Mrs. Anna Closson. The following month a large num- ber were received, both by letter and by profession of faith.
"The first prayer meeting was held Wednesday evening, February 26, 1879, and the Sunday school was organized July 6 of the same year.
"For several years the church worshipped at the Masonic hall, court room and similar places. Finally, however. it was resolved to build and E. W. Davis, of Avoca, presented a parcel of ground for that purpose.
"On July 23. 1882, the building was dedicated free of debt. The Rev. Dr. T. O. Douglass. Rev. Dr. E. S. Hill, of Atlantic, and the local ministers assisted on this occasion. Among those who were early preachers and organizers of this church were Rev. E. Adams, of Waterloo, of the famous 'Iowa Band' from Andover Seminary, Massachusetts, and the Rev. Dr. Pickett, whom many old residents will remember.
"Since the church has been a separate parish it has been served by the following ministers: Rev. Joel G. Sabin, July, 1879, to December, 1881; Rev. E. L. Sherman, January. 1882, ty December. 1884: Rev. C. N. Sinnett, January, 1885. to November, 1886; Rev. J. W. Geiger, August, 1887, to December, 1889: Rev. G. L. Shull, March, 1890, to June. 1891: Rev. J. Bruce Mather. August, 1892, to August, 1896: Rev. Clifford L. Snowden,
397
SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
October. 1896, to March. 1899. In September, 1898, the Tinsley Memorial chapel was built."
In February, 1899. Rev. E. W. Childs was chosen pastor and on Septen- ber 1, 1900, Rev. James Parsons became pastor of the church, which pas- torate was held by him until the calling of Rev. Frank G. Beardsley, on March 27, 190.4.
On August 30, 1908. Rev. Mr. Beardsley resigned to take charge of the theological department of Talladega College of Alabama. On October 7. 1908. a call was extended to Rev. Franklin W. Keagy, of Lewis, Iowa. He held the pastorate until the call of Rev. J. L. Blanchard, in November. 1909. On April 21. 1912, Rev. J. L. Blanchard tendered his resignation to accept a call to Clinton, Iowa, and on June 23. 1912, Rev. Frederick W. Long, ex- president of Tabor College, was called to the pastorate. He resigned Octo- ber 1, 1913. whereupon, a few weeks later, Rev. H. Jeptha Sealey, the present minister, became pastor of the church.
In 1908 the church received a legacy of five hundred dollars from Mrs. Anna Snowden Weeks, one of the devoted members of the church and a former leader of the choir. On Sunday, October 4. 1914. the church was re-dedicated. the occasion being the completion of extensive improvements to the church, including new hardwood floors, new furnace and new church parlors. On this occasion Rev. Frank G. Beardsley, of Keokuk, Iowa, and Rev. Frederick W. Long, of Glenwood, Iowa, returned to Harlan to assist in the exercises. In the afternoon of October 4, 1914. there was a good fel- lowship meeting in the church, participated in by former pastors and by the pastors of other Harlan churches. Rev. Mr. Sealey. the present minister, responded to these greetings.
HARLAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The present trustees of the church are Fred Louis, chairman, J. B. Whitney. W. H. Lemke, C. D. Booth and G. E. Stewart. J. W. Miller is clerk, B. B. McPheeters, treasurer, and A. McNeil, assistant treasurer.
THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH IN SHELBY COUNTY.
[The author is under obligations to/L. J. Smith, of Harlan, for the facts contained in the following sketch. Mr. Smith took great pains and spent much time in getting the necessary data. ]
The first Evangelical missionary that preached in Shelby county was
٠٠
398
SIIELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
Rev. William Newman, who took up the work at the Joseph Gardner school house No. 4. Lincoln township, in April. 1879. also at the Pioneer school house in Cass township and in the Byam school house, cast of what is now Tennant. In 1888 the Pleasant Mount church was built by Rev. V. Urbino. The people worshiped in the Gardner school house until 1888, when the Union church was built, whereupon the congregation worshiped there until 1909. Rev. E. P. Lenard commenced to preach at the Pleasant Valley school house in 1884 and preaching was continued there until 1897. The next appointment was at the Hillside school house, one and a half miles east of Kirkman, some time in the early eighties, and this continued until 1908. Rev. W. J. Hahn commenced to preach in "Rabbit Hollow" school house in 1891 and continued services there for three years, at the end of which time this appointment was discontinued. Pleasant Mount church was moved to Audubon county in 1897. Besides the church at Harlan there is now an Evangelical church in Earling and one at Defiance. Cuppy's Grove was looked after by Rev. W. J. Hahn in 1891 and this church continued until 1894. (Mrs. J. Malick informs me that Rev. A. Johnson, a Methodist mis- sionary, preached at Cuppy's Grove so early as 1865.)
The first class of the Evangelical church in Harlan was organized in 1892, with Ben Fisher. Jonathan Roland and L. J. Smith, trustees. The congregation worshiped in the Beh Hall and had preaching by Rev. W. J. Hahn, and later moved to the Overholt Hall. Ben Fisher was Sunday school superintendent. This organization was maintained until 1895. On Novem- ber 18, 1897. a reorganization occurred, at which time three trustees were elected, as follows: E. E. Hoover, president : Ben Fisher, secretary, and William Blakely, treasurer. At this time a building committee was ap- pointed, consisting of the following: L. J. Smith. C. D. O'Neal and J. Roland. The present site of the Harlan church, at the corner of Eighth and Willow streets, was selected. and the present building, together with the par- sonage, erected, the church being built in the winter of 1897-8. It was dedi- cated on June 2, 1898, by Bishop R. Dubs. The present board of trustees of the Harlan church are William Blakley, president : E. E. Hoover, seere- tary : L. J. Smith, treasurer. The present membership is fifty-two. The Sunday school has had an average attendance of forty scholars for the last nine months. The officers of the Sunday school are L. J. Smith, superin- tendent : Mrs. L. J. Smith, assistant superintendent : Arch Blakely, treasurer. The following is the list of pastors, together with the years of their pastor- ates : William Newman. 1879: Jacob Wirth, 1880-1881: J. F. Yerger, 1882-1883: E. P. Lenard. 1884-1885: V. Urbino. 1886-1887-1888: Charles
399
SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
Knoll, 1889-1890; W. J. Hahn, 1891-1892-1893: W. E. Robinson, 1894; S. H. Streyfeller. 1895-1896-1897 ; D. C. Busenburg, 1898-1899: V. Urbino, 1900; Charles Pickford, 1901-1902-1903; J. H. Freedline, 1904-1905 : Thomas Evans, 1906; G. N. Thompson, 1907-1908: G. L. Springer, 1909- 1910-1911-1912: Clarence Weston, 1913-1914.
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HARLAN.
The members of the Protestant Episcopal church in Harlan have had occasional services since 1881. Regular services of St. Paul's church began in July, 1896. The church was organized as a mission July 24, 1896, and was organized as a parish May 24, 1897. The erection of the church build- ing was begun April 12, 1899, the corner stone was laid May 13, 1899, and the church building opened for services by Bishop Morrison of lowa, on January 7, 1900. The first missionary was Rev. R. L. Knox. The rectors of the church, together with the beginning of their respective service as such, have been: Rev. George Benson Hewitson, 1897: Rev. G. Taylor Griffith, 1900; Rev. Robert W. Hewitt, 1901 ; Rev. S. R. J. Hoyt, 1904; Rev. Alvin S. Hock, 1910. The present rector of the church is Rev. George R. Cham- bers, who began his pastorate in 1913. The rectory was built in 1904-5. The present membership of the church is seventy-six, and the membership of the Sunday school about forty-five.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF IIARLAN.
The Christian church of Harlan was organized in 1876 by C. W. Sher- wood and was incorporated November 26, 1879. by Peter Noble, W. P. Chance and John Stanley. The first church board was composed of the fol- lowing named persons: Thomas J. Stanley, William Tibbetts and John Flaugher, elders: John Stanley and Ephraim Douglas, deacons. The charter members were Mrs. Nance, Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Potter. Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Taylor, Mrs. Campbell. Miss Kate Campbell. Thomas J. Stanley, Rachael Stanley, John Stanley, Lucinda Stanley. Mrs. W. W. Wyland, Malinda Porter, Mr. and Mrs. Riley Cass, William Tibbetts, John Flaugher, Amanda Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Douglas and William Barnhill. The present church board is composed of the following named persons: L. S. Taylor and J. W. Robinson, elders : George H. Miller, I. C. Steele and W. A. Les- senger. deacons ; J. C. Steele, George H. Miller and J. W. Robinson, trustees ; W. A. Lessenger, clerk : George H. Miller, treasurer.
400
SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
The pastors of this church during the years of its history would include the following names : Revs. Berry, Adair. King. Lovell. Howe, Picket, James Ellis, Nystram, Hampton, Littleton. Denton, Sarvis, Johnson, McIn- tyre, McCormick, Ball, Bailer, Aylesworth and McConnell.
ELK HORN DANISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The pioncer Lutheran church of Shelby county and the largest Lutheran church in the county today is the Danish Evangelical Lutheran church at Elk Horn. The church congregation was organized April 25. 1875, and its church building finished February 15, 1882. The first pastor was Rev. O. L. Kirkeberg, who began his pastorate April 6, 1876. The names of the suc- ceeding pastors to date and the respective periods of their pastorates are as follows: O. L. Kirkeberg. 1876-ISSO; H. J. Petersen, 1880-1882; Mr. Anker, 1882-1897: P. L. C. Hansen, 1897-1899: P. S. Vig. 1899-1903 : Th. Jersild, 1903-1914: C. C. Kloth. 1914.
The present officers of the church are Thomas Christensen, chairman ; Jorgen Madsen, secretary : W. Rattenborg, treasurer : Christ Larsen, Andreas Aagaard, Laurits Petersen, trustees : John Johansen, Madsen Petersen, Sven Larsen, Martin Nielson, Thor Madsen, deacons.
This great church, numbering eight hundred and eighty-two baptized members, is located in the largest Danish settlement of the United States. It has throughout its history taken a deep interest in, and has been closely connected with, Elk Horn College, which at the present time is the property of this congregation and is now conducted by it as a rural high school. This church has wielded a great influence for good citizenship, and for the best interests of the community in which it is situated. The church building stands on a beautiful ridge overlooking an agricultural landscape as beautiful as any in Iowa.
IMMANUEL DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HARLAN.
For the past ten to twelve years Danish Lutheran pastors have been coming to Harlan to hold religious services. These have been held usually in the church building of the Latter-day Saints or in that of the Evangelical in the church building of the Latter-Day Saints or in that of the Evangelical son township. Among these earlier pastors were Revs. P. S. Vig, A. C. Weisman, N. P. J. Nielsen and A. M. Nelson. The present pastor, Rev. James C. Petersen, was assigned to this parish by the United Danish Evan-
1.8
:
٢
لا طـ
Evangelical Church, Harlan
+ هاتف -أتديد جاوريع جاج سيرا حا جيهر بالزواج والاتحاجي ( بكرة".
Congregational Church, Harlat
401
SHIELBY COUNTY, IOW.A.
gelical Lutheran church of America, soon after finishing college and seminary work at Blair, Nebraska, and at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He came here in 1912 and soon united the scattered members of the Lutheran faith residing in this community. The church was formerly organized on February 16. 1914, at a mass meeting called by Rev. Mr. Petersen. The congregation soon asked for affiliation with the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran church of America, which request was unanimous, and was granted by the church au- thorities in June, 1914, at their meeting at Greenville, Michigan. The first members of the Harlan church are: Messrs. Soren Carlsen. John Thimm, Paul Sorenson, N. C. Larsen, Andrew Klitgaard. P. H. Jespersen. C. H. Hess, J. J. Norgaard, James C. Olsen, L. P. Sorenson, Albert Hansen, Nels Klitgaard, S. M. Smith, Magnus Larsen. E. C. Boel, Chris Thogersen, Johan Nissen, Peter H. Lauritzen, J. S. Vig, Nels H. Christensen, L. HI. Savereide, George H. Hess. Thomas C. Jensen. H. A. Hansen, Chris Jensen, Soren Jen- sen. M. C. Sorensen, Charles Nissen, Andrew Jensen, Niels N. Vendelboe, Chris Jolinson, Peter Clausen. Karsten Clausen. Chris Sorensen, J. C. Christensen, Ole Olesen, Hans N. Hansen. P. W. Christiansen ; Mesdames J. M. Kringel, J. Thimm. N. Nielsen, M. C. Sorensen, J. J. Norgaard. G. H. Hess, C. H. Hess, Kristine Nielsen, J. C. Christensen, Ana C. Hansen, Christine L. Hansen, Hanne Smith, S. Jensen, P. Lauritzen. J. C. Olsen and the Misses Alma Nielsen. Dora Christensen, Else M. Nielsen, Janna Marie Jensen.
The first officers of the church were: J. J. Norgaard, president : James C. Olsen, secretary : E. C. Boel, treasurer : Albert Hansen, H. N. Hansen and Soren Carlsen, trustees. This church congregation has a beautiful new church building almost completed. It is eighty-four feet long, forty-four feet wide. with a spire eighty-four feet in height.
The church maintains a parochial school, which is in session for three months during the summer, three times per week and on each Saturday during the rest of the year. Each year it has a confirmation class, which begins in the winter and meets until April or May.
The second Danish Lutheran church to be established in Shelby county was that of Jackson township, near the village of Jacksonville. This church congregation was formed of Danish Lutherans living in the west and south- west parts of Jackson township in and about "Copenhagen." The church building was erected in 1885. Another Lutheran church, built about the same time, was the Norwegian Lutheran church of Polk township. Both of these churches still maintain their organizations and have preaching services. (26)
.
402
SHIELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL FRIEDENS CHURCH OF SHELBY.
The above named church was organized in January, 1883, under the name of the German Evangelical Lutheran Friedens congregation. The char- ter members of the church were: Ed. Eden, Hans Nissen, Carl Lutt, Joachim Nave, William Johnson, H. William Leback and Jurgen Stump. This church belongs to the German Evangelical Synod of Nord Amerika. with headquarters at St. Louis, Missouri. The church and school house with it were erected in 1882, the cost thereof being defrayed by Christian Red- delin, of Hamburg, Germany. The pastors, in order of service and to date, are: Revs. J. Kammiski. G. Petersen, H. Kloeckner, A. Kern, J. Bizer, F. Leonhard, A. Dettmann and P. Ott, the present pastor.
DANISH ADVENTIST CHURCHES.
There are at least two Danish Adventist churches in Shelby county, one in Clay township, which was established in 1873, and another in Jackson township about 1877. The first Danish Adventists to reside in Shelby county were Fredrickson. Chris Johnson, Ole Johnson, Hans Larsen, Jacob Broder- son, Rasmus Broderson, Ole Hansen.
-
CHAPTER XVII.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES, MISSIONS AND PRIESTS.
THE MISSIONS OF EARLING, PORTSMOUTH, PANAMA AND DEFIANCE UNDER THE PASTORATE OF THE REV. JOSEPH B. HUMMERT.
A letter bearing the date of October 19, 1885, came to a newly ordained priest at Marengo, Iowa, from his bishop, the Rt. Rev. H. Cosgrove, of Davenport, who had ordained him the 20th of the previous September, that he was appointed to the missions of Earling, Portsmouth and Panama, Shelby county, Iowa. Portsmouth had been an outmission of Neola. This out- mission had a frame church, one and one-half miles from town, and a seven hundred dollars deposit in the bank. The congregation was very anxious to have the young pastor make his residence in their town, and, since his health had been seriously impaired by seminary studies and the cruel blast of winter had begun. he concluded to make his first home in Portsmouth. The John Birks residence was purchased and furnished. A fair was held, in which everyone became interested, and one thousand eight hundred dollars was cleared, which, with the bank deposit and subscription list that had been raised, were sufficient to purchase five acres from the Milwaukee Land Company, move the church to town, put on an addition of twenty feet and a tower, and pay all indebtedness on the parsonage; and so Portsmouth was happy with its first resident pastor.
A building committee had been formed in Panama, who built a frame church on the hill. This property was in later years exchanged for a more desirable location by the present amiable pastor, by whom the magnificent substantial buildings have been erected on the new site.
The Earling people were as anxious for a Catholic school as they were for a church, hence the pastor, with J. C. Heese, made plans for a two-story frame building (thirty-six by sixty-four), that was to serve as a housing for a church, school and parsonage, and which has certainly served its pur- pose well. While this building was being erected, services were held in the present F. W. Wilwerding implement house, and later in Schuettgen's hall,
404
SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
where the school was also commenced in September, 1886, with fifteen chil- dren and Kath. Golobitz as teacher. The new building was completed in February, 1887, so church services were transferred and the school was moved. If the school should be a success, it was necessary that the pastor should change his residence to be near, and so. with his bishop's permission, he did. going from Portsmouth to the new building in Earling; and the people of Earling were happy. This move, however, upset the congregation of Portsmouth, but with the bishop's promise that soon a pastor would be sent for Portsmouth and Panama, the people were fairly reconciled. This pastor came in 1891, and the mission of Defiance, which had been attended from Dunlap, was attached to Earling.
Soon after the transfer had been made. there was some life in the new chapel on a Sunday afternoon, when Franklin Kuhl, Raphael Zenter and four other babies were presented before the communion rail with their sponsors and parents for the sacrament of baptism. They now have families of their own.
A cemetery was needed to bury the dead, and church bells to call the flock to devotions. The pastor successfully found twenty members of the congregation who donated twenty-five dollars each, had their names cast on the bells, and received a lot free in the cemetery, for which purpose five acres had been purchased from the Milwaukee Land Company. To make further improvements, picnics were held in the summer and fairs in the winter, that were well patronized. In this way the entire block, now known as church block, was purchased and improved.
The congregation was growing and there were too many children for one teacher. In the winter of 1888 to 1889, the pastor took up a subscrip- tion for a new parsonage. so that his apartments could be given to the Franciscan sisters. A modest, eight-room, brick veneer building was erected on the southeast corner of the block. This was completed by September I, 1889, so when the sisters arrived they found all in readiness to take up their work of teaching and leading the choir, which work they have ever per- formed with great success.
In a few years the chapel also became entirely too small to accommodate the growing parish, so provisions had to be made for a new church building. A church had recently been built at Breda, Iowa, which was said to be very suitable for Earling. Five members of the parish accompanied the pastor in September. 1891, to inspect this building and thought it just the kind of church needed for Earling. The pastor therefore soon after started a sub-
405
SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA.
scription list, which Michael Wilwerding headed with five hundred dollars; thirteen subscribed three hundred dollars each: there were six of two hundred and fifty dollars each : eight of two hundred dollars each ; twelve of one hun- dred and fifty dollars each : five of one hundred and twenty-five dollars each : nine of one hundred dollars each : ten of seventy-five dollars each ; twenty-two of fifty dollars each ; four of thirty dollars each: thirty-four of twenty-five dollars each ; four of twenty dollars each ; one of fifteen dollars. The total was fourteen thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. Non-Catholics, single men and women helped to swell this subscription, a copy of which was placed in the cornerstone. A building committee was chosen. It was much desired to have J. H. Kuhl a member, but, having so many other important duties, he declined to serve, and the following were named: Nicolaus Gaul, Wenzel Hahn, J. P. Miller and August Schuettgen. The plans were obtained from Matthias Schuell. of Rock Island, Illinois, and in April, 1892, the con- tract was let to him for fifteen thousand dollars, and he sublet the masonry and plastering to William Cockerell, of Harlan, lowa. Ground was soon after broken, excavations for basement and foundations were made by the members of the congregation, who then began the hauling of material from the depot. of which each family hauled one carload. After work had been well started, on May 20th, a shortened blizzard of the previous winter drove the laborers from the work.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.