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Gc 977.7 H86p 1839438
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1
E ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00829 4180
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/presbyterianchur00pres
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
IN IOWA
1837 -- 1900
HISTORY
Prepared by Committee of Synod of lowa
JOSEPH W. HUBBARD, D. D. CHAIRMAN
JONES & WELLS THE SUPERIOR PRESS CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 1 9 40 J 7
1839438
1
1
JOSEPH WELTON HUBBARD, D. D.
INTRODUCTION
It is customary when a new book is born into the world for its "Next Friend" to indulge in a few words ex- planatory-an effort to excuse if he cannot justify its appearance. This is my present task. This book had its being on this wise: Just on his way to the hospital in August, 1901, the author was notified by our beloved and now lamented Dr. McClintock that he was chairman of a committee of ten to report to the coming Synod on a matter of Presbyterian History. Lying on his back, bedewing his pillow with tears while our martyr Mckinley was dying, the chairman penciled a report which was unanimously approved by the committee, presented to Synod, and adopted. By it a committee consisting of the Stated Clerk and a minister and elder from each Presbytery were to secure and utilize the material for our work in the state from the earliest time till 1900. The theory was that the Stated Clerks would jump at the chance of pouring their well selected materials into the hands of the chairman, who would send out a book full of information and edification. Rev. J. W. Hubbard was made chairman.
Scores of geniuses have invented the perpetual motion-in each instance faultless in every respect but one, it would not go. Such was our machine-made history. One Stated Clerk, Brother Nicholas of Iowa, sent me valuable material. Two others sent me interesting items. Weary of trying to make "bricks without straw," we turned to the General Assembly Minutes of 1837 to 1900 for light. All material facts were before us. Then came a vision of hard work. What plan should we adopt best to serve the church? To have selected a hundred of our best churches and most successful ministers might have insured a readable book. The story of the 200 churches dead, and of their worn out pastors would not have been cheerful reading. We determined to tell briefly the story of all. We found enrolled, between 1837 and 1900, 750 churches and 1200 ministers. The 750 churches had shrunk to 416 by 1900. The 334 were not all dead. Many had changed names.
Having been chosen to write "The History of the Presbyterian Church in Iowa, from 1837 to 1900," we have attempted to tell briefly the story of every work and worker. We found, after sifting, twelve hundred ministers who had rendered service. Our plan was formed deliberately, with the purpose of giving the most information in the most convenient form about every interest or person.
We have attempted a dictionary of our Churches and our ministers, in order that the reader could in a few glances see what each of the 750 churches, living or dead, had accomplished; and as readily see what each of the 1200 ministers who have toiled and triumphed or toiled and fallen had tried to do for the cause. As The New School record for a time was presented only once in three years, full credit is not done their churches or ministers. Again we are unable to give full credit to many brethren who labored without the bounds of their Presbyteries, and appear merely as unknown Stated Supplies.
Our Statistical tables tell the story of every church, living or dead, of its every addition and every dollar raised; and largely what the ministers have done.
Our Historical section will give enough to show what each church in its place did for the Master; and in con- nection with its pastorates rekindle the memories of vanished years.
Our Biographical section will trace a minister from the school to his life work-often from the cradle to the grave. Between lines the reader will often see the man he knew and admired and loved.
Our Colleges will present themselves to the eyes of parents and children who will consider, and weigh and choose.
Our Picture Gallery of 112 pages will have a greeting for old and young alike. It will not lose its value as the years go by.
We have treated the most wonderful 63 years in history. An age of miracles in the physical world, it has been no less an age of miracles in the religious world.
Our territory starting with a few hundred has passed the two million mark.
Our one little church had grown to 416 with 42,977 members.
Let us glance at the Religious Statistics of the state in 1905.
DENOMINATION
CHURCHES
MEMBERS
Baptist.
312
35,197
Brethren-Dunkard
9
695
Catholic
395
143,639
Christian.
216
37,443
Christian Science
18. 1,520
Congregational.
238
33,739
Episcopal.
45
6,813
Free Baptists.
20
1,357
Free Methodists
30
828
Friends.
64
8,604
German Baptist-Dunkard
46
2,586
Jewish .
8
746
Latter Day Saints.
50
7,544
Lutheran.
419.
83,536
Methodist
1139
149,682
Presbyterian
433
44,365
Cumberland Presbyterian.
10
846
Salvation Army
8. 1,924
Unitarian
10
1,881
United Brethren
155
11,133
United Church of God.
3.
241
United Presbyterian.
68
8,442
The Cumberland flock has already been folded with ours. All interested parties are hoping and expecting the United Presbyterians to be with us soon.
It seems wonderful that 682,799 of our 2,200,000 should be reckoned as church members. This is explained by the fact that the Catholic and some other churches count all their baptized children. We have about one-fifteenth of the entire membership in our church, and presumably about one hundred and fifty-five thousand in our con- gregations.
We fear that in distribution of space some brethren may feel themselves not fairly dealt with. In a book covering so wide a range with 750 churches and 1200 ministers space is precious. Yet some may feel surprised to see how small they look in so large a crowd. It does seem strange for one of the masters to settle down and hold a church 20, 30, 40, years, and fill only a few lines, while another sheds light on half a dozen states and a half score of churches, and fills a half page. But remember, dear Brother in thy feathered nest, thou hast had thy good things in this life. Let the wandering stars shine.
A few words about our task. It was a sin of ignorance that took us into it. Early words of encourage- ment led us on. Then it became a labor of love. Apparent indifference discouraged and delayed the work. We never received a hundred subscriptions. Ill health at one time led us to get the pledge of a valued friend to take up the work if it fell from our hands. Finally we determined to publish even if we had to bear one-half the expense ourselves. We ought to pay for our luxuries.
We trust that among our 377 ministers, 1468 elders, and 45426 members there there may be found interest enough, and means enough, to take a considerable portion of an edition of 800. You will believe me when I say that this book has cost four thousand hours of labor. Not infrequently, with aid of the gray head and nimble fingers across the study table, have twenty hours of labor been crowded into a day. It is a family secret that the gray head and nimble fingers have made the work possible.
Possibly, some may find that we have omitted their well-earned titles. If so, we beg pardon. Will try to do better in the next edition. With varying names we have wrestled hard now and then to keep some man from becoming two. How many times we have condensed two into one we cannot tell. Dates will get mixed: figures will sometimes lie.
In looking back, we find that we commenced our task with two qualifications: 1. leisure. 2. Love for the church and the men whose story we were to recount. Thanks to the friends who have waited so patiently. We trust they will find the work a convenient book of reference, long after the hand that wrote has lost its cunning.
Had we known at the outset the seriousness of the task offered the Synod would have been looking elsewhere for its History. But the pleasures of walking and talking with two generations of Christian workers, entering into their sorrows and their joys, their defeats and their victories, of seeing our church grow from the handful to the 44,000; and then the hope of enabling the church that is and the church that is to be to see more clearly the things we saw- these have paid for the years of strenuous labor. And could I have known years ago what a privilege this was to be, and had I been permitted to choose the final labor in which I should serve the church for which I began pulpit service on my 29th birthday, I would have asked the privilege of writing The History of the Presbyterian Church in Iowa, and subscribing its Introduction.
MOUNT VERNON, IOWA, May 11, 1907.
Yours for the Cause, JOSEPH WELTON HUBBARD.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IOWA
Part I. Its Founding, its Presbyteries and Synods.
In our early geographies "The Great American Desert" was as real as "The Sahara." If memory serves aright, that desert commenced between the great rivers and reached well out toward the Rocky Mountains. It is a fact at least, that the impression of early settlers was that a con- siderable strip along the Mississippi was fertile and that beyond that the land was worthless.
This is the desert that doth blossom as the rose. Iowa, the multi-voweled, the Red Man's home and his legacy, is the land of our story.
This Geographical Jewel, three hundred miles by two hundred miles in extent, set between the two great rivers, its western border nearly midway between Portland, Maine, and Portland, Orgeon, was the hunting ground of the savage till the coming of a sturdier race. Our God had kept the land for the "sifted seed" that should develop into a Na- tion of power and freedom, and a Church of intelligence and spiritual power.
In 1776 a new-born Nation astonished the world. Three millions of freemen stood before the world, at the close of a long and bitter struggle, as a Nation with a right to be. But, with independence achieved, their prospects were not bright. Small in numbers, nationally and personally bank- rupt, geographically with narrow boundaries, what could be expected ? Canada, lately wrested by the Mother Country from France, shut us in on the north; Spain, the great Discoverer and Colonizer, bounded us on the south and west; the French, by right of discovery and occupancy, held the entire upper Mississippi Valley, the wonders of which were to astound the centuries.
Those little states had before them the question that has troubled many in our day-the question of expansion. It became a burning question, a necessity and a duty. Our Church, whose birth as a completed organization bears the same date as the completed nation, had forced upon it the duty of expansion. And Nation and Church have moved forward in the discharge of the duty. Both have expa nd
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HISTORY
The Spaniard faded out from Florida. Napoleon had bought the Lower Mississippi region from Spain. In good time the Mississippi Valley was bought from Napoleon at a ridiculously small price. It was a good bargain for both parties. The territory was everything to us. The money was worth more than the land to the Meteor of Sovereigns, the Majestic Prisoner of St. Helena.
Later on, "That man of blood and iron, Marcus Whit- man," saved for us our own Oregon, at a time when a United States Senator publicly declared, "I would not give a pinch of snuff for all that lies beyond the Rocky Mountains." He evidently placed a high value on his snuff.
Then came our trouble with Mexico; and, by a liberal purchase, we completed our broad belt to the Pacific. Later we bought Alaska for about the price of a season's catch of salmon-not to speak of seals and gold. And so we made a field for Sheldon Jackson and his lieutenants to plant the gospel of civilization and of Christianity under the midnight sun.
Our Church has worthily kept pace with the Country; and gospel privileges have traveled with the hardy pioneers.
In 1837 our General Assembly, after years of strife, not creditable to either party, "excinded" a considerable
part of the Church, and inaugurated the lamentable breach which took thirty-three years to heal. For a generation the unbrotherly struggle between brethren of the same name and faith went on. It is at the outset of this bitter struggle that our history begins.
Settlers from the older states, seeking broader farms, had moved westward, and brought the Church with them. Iowa was especially favored in the character of its pioneers. Dubuque had been a French Post, and the Roman Catholic Church was there, of course. As a rule, people seeking new homes follow isothermal lines. So our early settlers came from New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, with a sprinkling from Virginia and Kentucky. And through these states had flowed the tides from abroad. Either directly or in- directly the Scotch and the Irish had come. Among them not a few of those who had the misfortune to be born out of their native country, and were, therefore, called Scotch- Irish. That mixture leavened the early population. The Presbyterian Church for them was a necessity. In 1834 it was first made lawful for white men to settle in our terri- tory. The liberty was eagerly used; and by hundreds the pioneers began to stake their claims and build their cabins. They naturally first entered along our southern border.
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PRESBYTERIES AND SYNODS
The story of the peripatetic life of our state is worthy of note. In 1803 it was not in the United States, but was a French possession. At the Louisiana Purchase, 1803, it became a part of the Indiana Territory.
In 1804 it was in Iowa Territory. In 1812 it was in Missouri Territory. In 1834 it was in Michigan Territory. In 1836-8 it was in Wisconsin Territory. In 1838 it was Iowa Territory. In 1846 it became a state.
Story of the Old School, 1837-'70
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
In response to petition, the Presbyterian Church of West Point was organized June 24, 1837, by Revs. Samuel Wilson and Launcelot G. Bell, representatives of the Pres- bytery of Schuyler, Illinois, lying across the river. Of the eleven who were organized into the church we have the names of but ten: Alexander H. Walker, Isabella Walker, Ambrose Stone, William Patterson, Eleanor Patterson, David Walker, Nancy Walker, Cyrus Poage, Mary Poage, Malinda Taylor. The elders chosen were Alexander H. Walker, Cyrus Poage and William Patterson. This Church was followed by Round Prairie (Kossuth), with thirteen members, August 14, 1839, and Mount Pleasant in 1840, with six members. By the fall of 1840 Burlington, Fort
Madison, Davenport, Iowa City, Spring Creek and Rocking- ham had been added to the roll, making nine.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERY-IOWA
In the fall of 1840 these nine churches were set off from Schuyler Presbytery, and the Presbytery of Iowa was formed. The Presbytery met as directed, at Bloomington (Muscatine) and organized, November 6, 1840.
Roll: L. G. Bell, who preached the opening sermon; Michael Hummer, first Moderator; John Mark Fulton, Enoch Mead.
Received by Certificate: John Stocker and Salmon Cowles. Churches enrolled, nine, as before named.
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HISTORY
THE FIRST SYNOD -IOWA
In 185I to pave the way for a new Synod the Synod of Illinois divided the Presbytery, making three: Iowa, Cedar, Des Moines. In 1852 the General Assembly created The Synod of Iowa.
This Synod met and organized at Muscatine, October 14, 1852, Father Bell, Moderator.
ROLL OF SYNOD.
PRESBYTERY OF IOWA. Ministers: Salmon Cowles, J. C. Sharon, Thos. H. Dinsmore, Joshua Phelps, Joseph Rogers, O. J. King. Absent: F. B. Dinsmore. Elders: Hamilton Brown, Wm. McClure, Thomas Cherry, David Walker, Wm. Patterson, L. Cook, J. E. Law.
PRESBYTERY OF CEDAR. Ministers: Charles Cummins, D.D., John Hudson, Silas H. Hazard, Geo. D. Porter, James Gallatin, Jas. S. Fullerton, J. D. Mason, J. B. Hadden, J. G. Wilson, Justus T. Umsted, Wm. C. Mason. Absent: J. L. Lyon. Elders: B. B. Hutton, Thompson Bell, J. S. Horton, M.D., S. V. Rippey.
PRESBYTERY OF DES MOINES. Ministers: L. G. Bell, Daniel Hider, S. C. MeCune, R. S. Dinsmore, R. MeGuigan, George M. Swan, W. J. Frazer. Elder: J. Beattie.
1855.
The Presbytery of Dubuque was formed from the nor- thern half of Cedar. The Presbytery of Minnesota (later St. Paul) was attached to Synod of Iowa.
[In our history we omit the records and statistics of all the outside Presbyteries.]
1856.
The Presbytery of Council Bluffs was formed of the western half of Des Moines.
1857.
The Assembly divided the Synod. Iowa was left with Presbyteries of Cedar, Dubuque, St. Paul and Sioux City. Iowa Southern Synod consisted of the Presbyteries of Iowa, Des Moines, Council Bluffs.
1858.
The Presbytery of Nebraska (later Omaha) was added to Synod of Iowa South.
1859.
The Presbytery of Iowa was divided by the creation of the Presbytery of Fairfield. The Presbyteries remained
5
PRESBYTERIES AND SYNODS
till the reunion in 1870: Iowa, Fairfield, Des Moines, Mis- souri River, and Colorado.
1860.
The Presbytery of St. Paul was absorbed by the new Synod of St. Paul. The Presbytery of Toledo was organized. Six years later its name was changed to Vinton.
1865. The Presbytery of Sioux City became Fort Dodge. 1867.
The Presbytery of Frankville was organized. So at the reunion of 1870. the Synod North consisted of these Presby- teries: Cedar, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Frankville, Vinton.
Story of the New School, 1838-'70
With the zeal born of the troublous times, the New School were little behind the Old. They worked largely under a Union Board, along with the Congregationalists. That American Home Missionary Society had proved a source of irritation before the division of the Church, and sometimes troubled its best friends in the New School fold.
1838.
Fort Madison Church was organized by Rev. Jas. A Clark in the employ of the A. H. M. Society.
November 25, 1838, a church was organized in Burling- ton. In 1843 it passed into the Congregational fold, and enjoyed the life long ministration of Dr. William Salter.
1840.
The Church of Yellow- Springs was organized September 12, by Rev. J. A. Carnahan.
1840-41.
The Churches of Keosauqua, Troy, Bloomington, (Mus- catine) were organized.
1842.
Toolsboro Church was organized by Rev. Wm. Rankin.
FIRST PRESBYTERY
April 12. 1842, met at Yellow Springs (now Kossuth) a number of Ministers and Elders in sympathy with the New School party, and organized the Presbytery of Des
6
HISTORY
Moines. The next year they were connected with the Synod of Illinois. At the organization there were present: Ministers: W. W. Woods, Wm. C. Rankin, Chas. R. Fisk, James A. Clark. Elders: A. C. H. White, Samuel Fullen- weider, Samuel Lucas. Rev. A. L. Rankin was received from the Presbytery of Cincinnati.
1852.
Preparatory to the creation of a Synod, the Synod of Illinois divided the Presbytery of Des Moines, making the Presbyteries of Des Moines, Iowa City and Keokuk.
1853. FIRST SYNOD
The General Assembly having created the Synod of Iowa, it was duly organized at Yellow Springs (Kossuth) September 1, 1853. Sermon by Rev. W. W. Woods.
ROLL.
PRESBYTERY OF DES MOINES. Ministers: Thompson Bird, John C. Ewing, Asa Martin. Absent: Jas. H. Shields.
PRESBYTERY OF IOWA CITY. Ministers: W. W. Woods, Samuel Storrs Howe, Williston Jones, John Summers, John D. Strong.
PRESBYTERY OF KEOKUK. Ministers: S. K. Sneed. Wm. H. Williams, Gamaliel C. Beaman, James M. Phillips, Edmund D. Holt. Absent: Glen Wood, Moses G. Cass. Elder: Thomas Blair from Church of Yellow Springs.
1855-59.
The Presbytery of Dubuque was organized in 1855, Cedar Valley in 1857. In 1859 Chariton was constituted from the Western territory of Keokuk. The Presbytery of Kansas appears for the single year, 1859.
1865.
The Presbytery of Cedar Rapids was formed; and that of Cedar Valley was merged into that of Dubuque.
1867.
The Presbytery of Omaha was organized, consisting of Churches bordering along the Missouri River, and extending indefinitely westward.
1870.
At the reunion the Presbyteries of Synod were Cedar Rapids, Chariton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Keo- kuk, and Omaha.
ยท
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PRESBYTERIES AND SYNODS
Reunion Period
1870.
From the two Old School and the one New School Synods were formed the two Synods-lowa North and Iowa South.
The dividing line is the south line of the counties of Clinton, Jones, Greene, Carroll, Crawford, Monona.
IOWA NORTH.
The Synod was organized at Cedar Rapids, July 5, 1870. The field was divided into four Presbyteries: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Fort Dodge and Waterloo, easily located from the names of their principal cities.
IOWA SOUTH.
This was organized at Des Moines July 13, 1870. The Presbyteries were Iowa, lowa City, Des Moines and Mis- souri River.
1872-4.
The Presbytery of Missouri River was so divided as to form three: Council Bluffs, Omaha and Nebraska. The last two in 1874 were set off to the Synod of Nebraska.
STATE WIDE SYNOD
In 1SS1 the General Assembly adopted the idea of Synods bounded by state lines, the act to take effect January 2, 1882. The new Synod was organized at Des Moines, October 19, 1882, Rev. Samuel Storrs Howe as Convener. Rev. A. S. Marshall was chosen Moderator, Rev. D. S. Tap- pan, Stated Clerk, and Rev. H. G. Rice, Permanent Clerk.
The Presbyteries remained as before: Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Iowa City and Waterloo.
The Synod was made a delegate body. Ratio of rep- resentation, a minister and elder for every four ministers. Ratio changed later to one for every six.
In 1890 the Presbytery of Sioux City was set off from Fort Dodge; and in 1891 the Presbytery of Corning was set off from Council Bluffs. The Synodical Map in Souvenir shows the boundaries of Presbyteries. For the years 1903-4 we had the honor of carrying the Presbytery of Porto Rico on our roll; an honor given us in recognition of the valuable service rendered by our own Dr. J. Milton Greene, in the establishment of our work in Porto Rico.
8
HISTORY
Part II. Story of the Pioneers
This naturally follows the story of Presbyteries and Synods. Fully and fitly told it should be of thrilling inter- est. Scores of noble lives were put into the early work of our Church, many of which would make an excellent chap- ter, and some of which would make a noble volume.
It was our hope to secure worthy tributes for these from a number of the Fathers who are still with us; and we had liberal promises from several. But we find that when it comes to sitting down in cold blood (and that cooled by age) to tell the story of early days and vanished companions, the spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak. Time and strength fail. Especially did we look to our Synodical Mis- sionaries for help.
Our unquenchable Dr. Alexander K. Baird took full notes from the Old Assembly Minutes, and was ready to put
his characteristic contribution into shape when he was called on to go to the mountains and enter a winter's campaign for the Master.
Dr. T. S. Bailey has, with painful yet loving labor, paid his tribute to a large number of the men he knew. Dr. W. J. Harsha, several years ago, gave us "The Story of Iowa" so well told as to furnish information for volumes, and inspir- ation for every reader. Dr. F. A. Shearer, in his autobi- ography, gives valuable light. Dr. J. M. McElroy, in his late tribute to "The Men of the Past," has done good service for us all. For our use Dr. George D. Stewart has contrib- uted his "Reminiscences of Iowa." As the story is typical of what scores of others, if living, might have furnished, and for the sake of his tributes to the fathers and brethren, we insert it here:
Reminiscences of Iowa
By REV. GEORGE D. STEWART, D. D., of Fort Madison, Iowa
Of my fifty-five years of ministerial life, forty-five have been spent in Iowa, with the deduction of six and one-half
years, during which I was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Omaha, Nebraska; a part of that time was in con-
9
PIONEERS
nection with the Presbytery of Council Bluffs, Synod of Iowa.
In the spring of 1859, whilst pastor of the First Presby- terian Church of Bath, New York, my health failed, and I resigned my charge and returned to my home near Phila- delphia, to recruit.
On the 22d of October, 1859, I left Philadelphia for Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where former parishioners of mine at Bath, the Whiting family, well known in the annals of Mt. Pleasant, were residing.
My first Sunday, I preached in the Mt. Pleasant Church, which was a large new brick structure, the best Presbyterian Church building, I remember, at that time in Iowa. Rev. Timothy Stearns, a former pastor, was still residing there, and he and the pastor, Rev. Mr. McClelland, gave me a cor- dial welcome to the West. The next Sunday I preached for the Winfield Church. They had no church building, and service was held Sunday morning at a school house, across the creek, about three miles from the town.
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