USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 16
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On November 1, 1866, Rev. D. L. Hughes accepted a call and began his labors, and on November 28th he was regularly installed. Fourteen members of the church, including one ruling elder, were dismissed May 27, 1867, to form another Presbyterian organization at New York Prairie, leaving a membership in the church at Tipton of seventy-eight, including three ruling elders, viz., John Ferguson, Wm. Kettell and Dr. C. L. Chambers.
The Hebron church was organized October, 1870, continuing to exist until April, 1878.
Rev. E. L. Dodder succeeded Mr. Hughes, being installed November 8, 1870. In September, 1873, James Newcom, P. W. Neiman, and J. B. Piatt were or-
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
dained elders in place of Kettell, Shearer, and Chambers, resigned. Rev. Chas. Axtell came to the pastorate January, 1874, and the present house of worship was built in 1876, at a cost of $4,000. In February, 1880, the old elders, Shearer, Chambers and Kettell, were restored. Under Mr. Hughes the largest number of the church roll was 85; under Mr. Dodder, 82; under Mr. Axtell, 117.149
Rev. A. C. Brown became pastor in 1882, who served the church until Jan- uary, 1888, when O. D. Langfitt was appointed by the Presbytery to fill the pulpit until a pastor was called. In April of this year R. C. Townsend became the pastor and it was during his pastorate that the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. At that time a brief historical address was given of the half century which had elapsed since the Red Oak organization. This pastor re- mained until 1892, and not until 1894 was a regular minister again in charge, when W. W. Johnson was chosen. He resigned in 1900. Rev. Conybeare was called to this charge in 1900 and served until succeeded by Rev. McCaslin in 1904.
At the anniversary celebration referred to above the former pastors were in- vited to be present and several responded. One of the first members of the church in Red Oak, Mrs. Carl, was an interested listener.
In 1896 the church building was rebuilt in its present form, the improve- ments costing about four thousand dollars. A pipe organ became the property of the congregation in 1904.
The first movement of the Presbyterians to form an organization is set forth here verbatim:
"Public notice having been given three weeks previous, a number of members of the Presbyterian church met in Red Oak Grove for the purpose of taking into consideration the practicability of forming a Presbyterian church in the county. After much conversation and deliberation on the subject it was unani- mously
"Resolved, that a church be now organized in this place according to direc- tions in the form of government of the Presbyterian church in the United States of America, to be denominated the Presbyterian Church of Red Oak Grove.
"The following named persons then presented letters, and gave satisfactory evidence of their being members of this church in good and regular standing, viz .: Robert Dallas, Miss Sarah Dallas, John Ferguson, Mrs. Isabella Fergu- son, John Safley, John Chappell, Robert Pirie, Mrs. Elizabeth Pirie, Samuel Yule, and Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Charles Dallas. John Safley and John Fer- guson were unanimously elected ruling elders in this church and were accord- ingly ordained and installed. Session then met and was constituted with prayer, and received on examination Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of John Safley. The session was then closed with prayer. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was admin- istered on the Sabbath by Rev. M. Mummer, itinerant missionary.
"(Signed) M. HUMMER, Clerk of the Session.
"Red Oak Grove, Cedar County, March Ist, 1841."
The articles of incorporation of the Presbyterian Church of Tipton were filed for record on the sixteenth day of October, 1860, at 12 m., and recorded in Book A (record blurred) of deeds, at page, 408, Samuel Wampler, Recorder.
These were acknowledged by C. Curtiss, Notary and Attorney at Law.
189
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
A church was organized at the New York school house in January, 1867, which continued until it disbanded in 1877 at the request of its membership. There are no minutes of this church after 1874. It had at one time a member- ship of thirty-two.150
More than fifty years ago there was a little aggregation of houses in the western extremity of the territory, now the seat of Mechanicsville, and the sur- rounding prairies were dotted with dwellings few and far between. Church privileges were rare. The Methodists had established the church of Pioneer Grove, which had been transferred to Mechanicsville.
Among these early settlers were a number of Presbyterians from Pennsyl- vania and Ohio. Through their persuasion the Rev. Geo. D. Porter began preaching about 1853 in the school house which occupied the present site of Wm. Johnson's residence, on the corner where one turns to the cemetery. Rev. Porter came from the Tipton charge, which had been first established at Red Oak. After holding services here for two years the Presbytery of Cedar organ- ized in that school house the eighteenth of November, 1855, the Presbyterian church of Mechanicsville, with twenty-four members. Andrew Elliott and Will- iam Potter were the first elders. Of the original members two only remained at the fortieth anniversary-Mrs. Mary Bardue and Mrs. Mary Jordan.
Rev. Porter preached here until 1857, but remained for ten years in the county. Rev. A. S. Thorne followed Mr. Porter, and he served this appoint- ment in connection with that of Lisbon. Later he went as a missionary to the Indians and when heard from at the fortieth anniversary of the church he was at Forest City, S. D. During the ministry of Mr. Thorne the church grew to forty members and a building was erected on Main street, just north of the present location of the school building. This was used about nine years. In 1858 the Rev. Robert Boag, a Scotch-Irishman fresh from Canada, succeeded Rev. Thorne. For ten years he served this church in connection with Red Oak and Lisbon. This was during the trying period of the war, when he stood bravely for his adopted county. Under his ministry the people built a new house of worship in 1866.
In 1868 J. W. Knott came from the seminary to the work of the church here, and he was followed in 1871 by E. R. Brown, who sent a letter full of enthusiasm to the congregation at the time of their observance of their fortieth anniversary. In the letters of these pastors to the charge they formerly served they make mention of the faithful friends of former years, among whom are mentioned the names of Mr. Sharp, Maj. Jones, and Dr. Keith. In the years following the pastors were Revs. Ward, Wells, Henry McMeekin, the latter of whom, it is said, "will long be remembered for his abstracted manner, his decided opinions, and the eloquence of the sermons in which he always gave good meas- ure, heaped up, pressed down and running over."
Rev. N. H. Downing, who had served Clarence, and who was again there in the nineties, was pastor here from 1883-1886. For a short period following him Rev. Moffat, and then for a single year the Rev. J. H. Cooper, who helped to build the parsonage, occupied the pulpit. J. W. Hubbard came in 1889, and it was during his pastorate that the history of the church was brought down to date, and it is from that discourse and data furnished by the present pastor,
190
HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Rev. A. P. Cooper, that these facts are gathered. The years from 1897 to the present time have been under the pastorates of Revs. Sears, Triem, and Cooper, as mentioned.
The new church was built in 1906, the corner stone being laid on July 4 of that year, and the dedication occurring in October. The cost then was about $11,000 and the total property value to date is $13,000. Rev. A. P. Cooper became pastor in 1905 and therefore has seen these improvements and had charge of their completion. An interesting fact in connection with the church building is that every dollar was subscribed, the last one three days before dedication. The members of committees not mentioned include the names of J. W. Thomas, Howard Elliott, S. T. Buell, and Alexander Moffit.
At the anniversary celebration held in 1895, a letter was read from the widow of the first pastor, 1853-7, Mrs. Porter, whose name is associated with the Pres- byterian churches in this county, not only in one locality.151
During the period of building the congregation used the opera hall, which continued until October, 1906, when the exercises of dedication were fully de- scribed in the papers of the county. Two former pastors were present at this time, Revs. Hubbard of Mount Vernon and Triem of Woodbine, Iowa. 152
The church building of the present is one of the most substantial in the county and is a fine structure both in appearance and accommodation, having all modern improvements. The present membership numbers one hundred and twenty-eight. The elders are William Thomas, August H. Pieper, William Henderson, Sr., Alexander Robertson, and Benjamin Hill.
The Presbyterian Church of West Branch, Iowa, was organized May 8, 1877, by a committee of Iowa City Presbytery, composed of Rev. C. P. Spinning, Rev. A. Porter, and Elder Z. King.
At 8 o'clock in the evening, in the Friends' Meeting-house, Rev. C. P. Spin- ning preached a sermon from the text found in Matt. 13: 33; after which the church was organized with the following charter members: Mr. Wm. Brown, Mrs. Harriet Brown, Miss Ella Brown, Mr. John Brown, Miss Mary Brown, Miss Emma Brown, Mrs. Eleanor Brown, Mr. Robert Brown, Miss Mary Ann Brown, Mr. Robert H. Smith, Mrs. Francis A. Smith, Mr. James McClister, Mrs. Elizabeth McClister, Miss Anna Jamison, Miss M. E. Bray, Mrs. A. Win- terbottom, Mrs. Mary A. Crosland, Mr. Willis Atkins, Mr. Samuel Wood, Mr. D. E. McClelland, Mrs. Cornelia P. McClellan, Mrs. John H. Crosland, twenty- two in all.
William Brown, D. E. McClellan, and Willis Atkins were elected the first ruling elders, and were ordained and installed May 20, 1877, by Rev. J. P. Schell, pastor of Scott Church in Johnson County, who had previously signified his willingness to serve the young church until more satisfactory arrangements could be made.
Steps were immediately taken toward the erection of a house of worship, which was built during the summer, and dedicated November 11, 1877, Rev. F. A. Shearer, of West Liberty, preaching the sermon. The total cost of build- ing and lot was a little over $2,000. The same building, having been repaired from time to time, is still in use by the congregation.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MECHANICSVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MECHANICSVILLE
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Early in 1878 Rev. J. P. Schell notified the congregation that he could not continue to serve them, and steps were taken to group West Branch with Fair- view Church. Rev. A. M. Heizer took charge of this double field in October, 1878.
The following ministers have served the church :
James P. Schell, May 8, 1877-1878.
A. M. Heizer, October 1, 1878-September, 1880.
George B. Smith, January, 1881-July 1, 1885.
Joseph R. Cheeseman, November 15, 1885-September 11, 1889.
G. H. Hemingway, November 1, 1889-1892.
Geo. Furniss, November 1, 1892-1902.
D. Wallace McMillan, 1902-1903.
David Brown, 1903-1905.
Alexander Gilmore, 1905-1907.
William A. Montgomery, 1907.
The following persons have served as ruling elders :
William Brown, 1877-1898.
D. E. McClellan, 1877-1909.
Willis Atkins, 1877-1886.
J. M. Lindsley, 1888-1903.
Benjamin Yetter, 1888-1889:
J. E. Myers, 1890-1901.
H. J. Forsyth, 1896-1901.
D. M. Dixon, 1898.
William Bremner, 1898-1904.
O. C. Pennock, 1905.
Jas. A. Cochran, 1910.
F. H. Battey, 1910.153
Upon the solicitation of numerous residents who had previously been mem- bers of the Presbyterian body elsewhere, the Rev. George D. Porter of Tipton, Iowa, had held preaching services at intervals for some time prior to the spring of 1855 at the Sugar Creek school house and at other places in Sugar Creek township, Cedar County, Iowa. These meetings had been well attended and considerable interest had been manifested.
Accordingly a committee consisting of Rev. George D. Porter, Rev. John Hudson, and Elder Starr was appointed by Presbytery to take into considera- tion the organization of a church. This committee had an appointed meeting at Sugar Creek school house on June 10, 1855, and proceeded to organize a church to be known as the Sugar Creek Presbyterian church. The original member- ship consisted of the following persons to-wit: Gibson Agnew, Eleanor Agnew, Amanda Agnew, Alexander Morgan, Jane Morgan, Thomas Johnson, James Cooper, Amanda Cooper, and Sarah Mason. Gibson Agnew, James Cooper and Alexander Morgan were the first ruling elders. To these have since been elected as successors, R. A. McIntyre, William A. Leech, David Moore, Leander Lodge, William S. Agnew, David G. Agnew, Alexander Mayes, James Whitmer, C. F. Port, W. H. Kiser, John S. Agnew, William Kiser, Charles D. Kiser.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
The Rev. John Hudson served the church for some time after its organization in the pulpit as a stated supply. In 1858, Rev. Wm. P. Mason of Davenport acted in the same capacity for a period of six consecutive months. In 1859 Rev. Jacob Pentzer began acting as stated supply in connection with the same class of work in the embryo church at Wilton. From this time on the two pastorates have been merged into one and the succession of pastors is the same as that to be hereafter given in our account of the Wilton church. In 1866 the neat and substantial frame church which is now in use was erected at a cost of $2,200, much of the cost being contributed by the members in labor and material.
In the spring of 1860 a committee consisting of Rev. John M. Jones and Rev. E. L. Belding was appointed by the Presbytery of Iowa City to consider the feasibility of forming from the members of the Sugar Creek church who lived at or near Wilton, and from others who desired it, another church body at the town of Wilton. This committee at an appointed meeting held in the school house at Wilton on May 14, 1860, effected the organization of a church to be known as the Presbyterian Church at Wilton, Iowa.154
The First Presbyterian Church of Clarence was first organized at Onion Grove as the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton from its taking the name of the township. This occurred in November, 1860, before the name Clarence was applied to the place. The committee in charge of these services came from the presbytery at Iowa City and consisted of the Revs. Daniel Clark, Geo. D. Young, and Samuel J. Mills. The church originally consisted of six members whose names are:' Wm. Cassie, Mrs. Esther Munro, Mr. Walter and Mrs. Euphemia Shearer, Mrs. Emily Basham and George Stone.
The Rev. Mills had preached in the vicinity for some weeks and was instru- mental in forming the organization. Since that time several pastors have served the congregation, some of them for a long period, returning in two cases for the second period of service.
Rev. Mills served the charge from '60 to '63; C. W. Treadwell from '63 to '67 and from '69 to '75; A. K. Baird, '67-'68; E. B. Cousins, '76-'77; T. H. Candor, '78-'79; N. H. Downing, '80-'83 and '89 to '93; Wm. Gage, '84-'85 ; Thos. G. Pearce, '86-'89; Geo. M. Cummings, '93-'98; J. K. Hall, '99 to 1901 ; D. M. Ogilvie, 1901-'07; J. L. Cotton, 1907-'08; and the present pastor, Rev. Bach.
The present building was erected in 1882. The former one, built in 1861, was disposed of for useful purposes and part of it now stands on the west of the elevator near the railroad track in Clarence.155
"Pleasant Hill" congregation of Cumberland Presbyterian church was located at Pedee. Organized in December, 1849. Here in 1866-67 Rev. R. A. Ferguson held a meeting and their number was increased by one hundred or more members. The membership gradually became fewer until its discontin- uance. They had a church building of some pretensions at one time. This church had an organization known as the "Union Valley Church," with Rev. Milo Hobart as pastor. It was established in 1871 with a membership of twenty-three.
The history of the Methodist church begins very early. In the latter part of June, 1837, Rev. Barton H. Cartwright, a nephew of the famous Peter Cart-
SCATTERGOOD MEETING HOUSE
-
ST. PAUL CHURCH, DURANT
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
wright, preached the first sermon delivered in the Cedar River country. The place was in the cabin of Col. Henry Hardman. About twenty persons were present. There was a common candle stand behind which he stood to preach. As there was no organ or choir he led the singing, lining out the hymns.
During 1838-9 Chauncey and Norris Hobart preached in Washington A. Rigby's house. In 1840 Rev. M. Brace preached at Benjamin Fraseur's, about two miles west of the present site of Tipton.
Rev. Uriah Ferree was the first regular preacher of Spring Rock Mission, as it was first named. This was in 1841. The same year he organized the first Methodist class, of which the following named were members: George Carl and wife, Solomon Aldrich and wife, Washington A. Rigby, Margaret Culbert- son, Martha Friend and Flavia Huff. Soon after Callahan Dwigans and wife, Patterson Fleming and wife, and others were added.
October 17, 1841, the first Quarterly Conference was held at Rochester. Bartholomew Weed was Presiding Elder; Uriah Ferree, Preacher in Charge. For the sake of brevity the letters only will be used hereafter. The estimating committee reported $48 table expenses and twelve for house rent. No doubt a large part of the first named sum had its equivalent in produce and other articles which were more plentiful than money.
January 15, 1842, the second Quarterly Conference was held at Col. Hard- man's. At the Quarterly meeting in 1857-61 Rev. Samuel Pancoast became P. E.
W. W. Bailey remained as pastor one year, and was followed by E. S. Stout. He had a discussion with Col. Sanford, the Universalist champion. The Metho- dists thought the former came off victorious, but the Universalists did not think so. This was in 1858. Wm. Lee and A. H. Ames entered the traveling con- nection.
J. T. Coleman was pastor one year and was followed by S. C. Freer. This brings us to 1861, when Tipton, Bethel and Red Oak were united; Henry Reed, P. E .; Rev. Fellows, as pastor. . In 1862 J. G. Dimmit became P. E. About this time the Bethel Sabbath School was organized. In 1863 Rev. Samuel Pan- coast became pastor. Wm. Lee was appointed assistant. Wm. Moorhead's name appears as. exhorter in 1864.
In 1865 George Clifford, P. E .; Elias Skinner, P. C.156 The members of Rochester were attached to the Tipton charge. It is now Iowa City District. J. K. Fuller followed Rev. Clifford as P. E.
December 20, 1866, thirty-one persons were received into full membership, and six by letter. In 1867-69, J. M. Rankin became P. C.
August 28, 1868, the first movement toward building the second church home was made by the purchase of two lots, one from Wm. H. Tuthill for $50, and another from F. W. Hirschfelt for $125. Plans were secured like the Waverly church.
Rev. C. G. Truesdell became P. E. in the fall of 1868. About this time Tipton asked to be again a station by itself. In 1869 J. M. Rankin became P. E. At the same time Uriah Eberhart was made P. C. The Official Board was or- ganized October 18, 1869.
At a meeting of the Board held March 16, 1870, a motion was made and carried that we forthwith proceed to build a church according to the plan speci-
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
fied with the addition of a basement. Rev. Eberhart was instructed to procure plans. Five days later he reported three plans from Henry Hatch, one from S. Bossert, and one from W. W. Sanborn of Clinton. One of the plans fur- nished by Mr. Hatch was chosen. It was after the style of a church in Maine, having a plain front and a center tower. Building committee, John Culbertson, J. W. Bull, and Henry Horn. In 1870 the name of the district was changed from the Iowa City to the Davenport District. J. S. Anderson, P. E .; W. H. Brocksome, P. C. A special meeting of the Official Board was held in the base- ment of the new church on December 29, 1871, to plan for dedication day. There were present at that meeting W. H. Brocksome, Wm. Lee, J. H. Reigart, S. Aldrich, B. Wildhelm, Henry Horn, J. Culbertson, H. D. Brown, J. W. Bull and J. H. Rothrock. C. L. Longley and C. W. Rollins were appointed secre- taries for the day. L. D. Ingman was to act as usher for the south aisle; J. H. Rothrock, W. H. Alden and S. V. Landt for the center aisle; J. O. Westcott and J. W. Bull for the north aisle. For the gallery, B. Wilhelm. Mrs. Martha Culbertson and Mrs. J. H. Rothrock were solicitors at the center door, Mrs. J. W. Westcott at the north and Mrs. Whan at the south door. Rev. A. B. Kendig dedicated the building to sacred uses.
Expended on the building, including furnaces and windows $8,455.77
Furnishings and chairs
388.25
Accrued interest
225.00
Insurance on building 60.00
Expenses of dedication 60.00
Two lots
175.00
Total $9,364.02
The first bill, five hundred dollars for lumber, was paid by the women of the church. September 9, 1872, the old church was ordered sold to the highest bidder. Mr. D. K. Deardorf became the owner. The name of the district was changed again and was called Mt. Vernon District.
1872-75, Richard Swearingen, P. C. The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was organized in 1874. October 20, 1875, S. H. Henderson, P. E., and F. C. Wolfe, P. C. It became at that time Cedar Rapids District. "
October, 1876, Rev. Emory Miller became P. E. Rev. S. A. Lee served the charge from 1876 to 1879. During that time a large number of men united with the church. R. N. Earhart became P. C. and remained two years. Women became members of the Board of Stewards under his administration. W. B. Frazelle was P. C. from 1881 to 1883. . Eugene May served from 1883 to 1885. There was a revival in the Sabbath School during his pastorate. J. T. Crippen was P. E. from 1885 to 1891. W. F. Barclay succeeded Rev. May and re- mained three years. There was an increase in membership, improvement in the church building and parsonage during his pastorate. Daniel Sheffer was P. C. from 1888 to '91. C. L. Gould was. P. C. from 1891 to 1895. The Woman's Home Missionary Society was organized while he was on the charge. He went to Charles City from this place. J. B. Albrook became P. E. at the ex- piration of J. T. Crippen's term of service. W. W. Carlton P. E. for years. L: U. McKee P. C. from 1895 to 1897. S. W. Heald P. C. from 1897 to 1899.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
He went from Tipton to Cresco, died at Osage, September 7, 1903. F. P. Shaffer, P. C. from 1899 to 1902. J. G. VanNess succeeded W. W. Carlton as P. E .; R. D. Parsons P. C in 1902.
On and after September, 1842, the name Cedar Circuit was used instead of Spring Rock Mission. April 22, 1843, the name Rock River Conference ap- pears on the records. Henry D. Brown was appointed to confer with the Iowa City brethren about holding a union camp meeting. These were held quite often in the early period of the church's history.
In the fall of the year 1843 Rev. Uriah Ferree (his pastorate having come to a close) desired to attend Conference at Chicago. Money was very scarce, but Brother Preston J. Friend proved "a friend indeed" by giving his last five dollar bill to enable him to make the journey. By stopping with brethren on the way he made out to get there.
November II, 1843, Quarterly Conference was held at Tipton; Henry W. Reed, P. E .; S. W. Ingham, P. C. In 1844 the list of classes was as follows: Tipton, Red Oak, Hardman's, Moscow, Mosquito Creek, Rochester, and Blay- lock Settlement. November 23, 1845, George B. Bowman, P. E .; John Hayden, P. C. The following is on record and is of great value and interest :
"Territory of Iowa, Cedar County. We, the subscribers, and our associates, having united ourselves together as a religious society under the name and style of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Cedar Circuit, Iowa Conference, and located said society in Cedar County aforesaid, having chosen as officers of said society the following named persons, to wit: Solomon Aldrich, William Lee, Henry D. Brown, Ethan C. Crippen, Richard Ransford, Mahan, Circuit Stew- ards. Henry Hardman, John Boydston, William Lee, Henry D. Brown, Solo- mon Aldrich, Trustees. Henry D. Brown, Recording Steward.
"Dated this third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and forty-six.
"Attested by Henry D. Brown, Recording Steward."
The recorder of Cedar County, Wm. K. Whitelsey, certifies that the above in- strument of writing was deposited in the office for record on the 19th day of August, A. D. 1846, at twelve o'clock m., and was recorded in book D, page 298, at. Tipton, August 24, 1846."
For want of time and space no adequate history of the Sabbath school can be given. There was a union school organized in Tipton in 1846 by Rev. Ebenezer Alden. Wm. Lee was the first Superintendent. The various com- mittees on missions having failed to report, or having nothing to report, Rev. Hayden was requested to preach a missionary sermon, and take up a collection. This was in 1847. The same year Rev. Joel B. Taylor succeeded Rev. Hayden and. Asbury Collins was assistant.
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