USA > Iowa > Cedar County > A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 18
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At this service $595.63 were received in subscriptions, to complete the pay- ment of the building, the total cost being $2,500.00. This offering was $100.00 more than was needed, but the church had then neither spire, bell nor organ, and a carpet had not been thought of.
The first session of the Sunday School was held October 28, 1866, at the close of the morning service. The officers were: Supt., S. W. Neiman, Asst. Supt., Rev. J. Riale, Treas. and librarian, Jacob Sweinhart. At the first session of the school there were sixteen scholars and five teachers.
In April, 1868, an effort was made to complete the building. At a congrega- tional meeting held on Good Friday, April 10, a committee was appointed to over- see the work; $210.00 was subscribed, but this was not sufficient and $57.00 was loaned by individuals "until the spire is finished."
Up to this time aid had been received from the Board of Missions, but in 1868 it was taken from the roll of missions and became self-supporting. In the fall of that year the new bell, weighing 650 lbs., was placed in the tower at a cost of $135.70.
December 27, 1868, a Missionary festival was held, in which Revs. D. S. Fouse, F. C. Bauman, Geo. Rettig, Cyrus Cort and the pastor took part. The day preceding this meeting Rev. Joshua Riale was installed pastor of the charge by Rev. D. S. Fouse.
Mr. Riale had been missionary supply for almost three years, pastor, but not installed for four years, and regular pastor for three years, making a total of active service of ten years. After these years of faithful service, he preached his farewell sermon May 7, 1871, and left the field to take charge of an academy at Blairstown, Iowa, then conducted in the interests of the Reformed church.
The same year a call was extended to Rev. J. B. Shontz, who came and preached his first sermon July 2. This new pastoral relation extended over a period of a little more than two years, or until Nov. 30, 1873, when the charge was reconstructed. Tipton, Hebron, Lisbon and Olin were constituted one field, while Wilton and Clifton comprised another. The latter one extended a call to Rev. Shontz which was accepted.
Rev. D. S. Fouse was extended a call to become pastor of the charge, which he accepted in June, 1874, and continued in this field until April, 1887.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
Since that time the following ministers have served the charge: Revs. G. D. Gurley 1887-1893, Samuel Shaw 1893-1895, J. A. Hunsicker '95-1900, and J. N. Naly from 1901 to the present time.
During the last eight years the church building has been remodeled and a parsonage erected at a cost of $5,000.00.163
The following account of the pioneer preacher tells something of the expe- riences of all who undertook to follow the work of the pastor among a scattered people. Dr. Kuhl, who left this record, was a missionary minister of the Lu- theran church and his widow, Mrs. Conrad Kuhl, is a resident of Tipton, with her daughter, Mrs. J. Kent Rizer.
"On Monday, Dec. 9, 1850, rode in a keen wind to Squash Bend (West Lib- erty) to a settlement of Pennsylvania Lutherans and made an appointment for night preaching. Had a crowded house and many asked me to return and do something permanent for them. The next day filled my Communion appointment at Iowa City, thirteen having communed in basement room of M. E. church. Wednesday started toward Cedar Rapids, dining with a brother Fuhrmeister, sixteen miles on my way.
"Tipton, Iowa; reached here Thursday, December 21, 1850, and took dinner with Rev. Keith, a congregationalist who introduced me to Bossert and Shanver, the former from Holidaysburg, Pa. Rode out to Mr. Klock's two miles and a half west of here, then to Mr. Maurer's and after supper to Laubscher's to make appointments for Sunday preaching in the neighborhood, German at II and English at I o'clock. Returned to Bro. Bossert's where I rested and corre- sponded. Held our services on Sunday as announced; in driving out missed the right school house a mile and a half; returned to Tipton in the afternoon and preached in Methodist church in the evening to a full house."
Then followed a trip to Davenport and Western Illinois. At Beardstown Dr. Kuhl preached the dedication sermon for the new Lutheran church, then returned to Iowa and after preaching at a number of points on Sunday and dur- ing the week came again to Tipton, Feb. 22, 1851. His record reads :
"Leaving Moscow, I rode to Bro. Dale's near Rochester, but found my ap- pointment to preach there had not been received so came on to Tipton. Was kindly received by Bro. Bossert and Saturday rode to German settlement west of town stopping on my way at old Mr. Klock's. Found him lying a corpse. Ar- ranged to conduct service for him later and after visiting in the neighborhood stopped over night at Father Laubscher's and son-in-law Pfaff's. Sunday, Feb. 23, weather was bad, roads muddy. Rode to Klock's. Found casket had not yet arrived. Preached in German and again in English. In afternoon went to Dale's and preached in school house and again in evening at Bro. Kline's.
"Monday 24th. Reached Cedar River at Rochester. It was near noon before the ferryman would venture. When we did start, a large ice cake struck our boat, the guide rope broke and we were flung down stream a quarter of a mile, fortunately toward the south side. By much hard work, with poles and by pull- ing on bushes we got his boat to the landing place. At the house of Bro. Thos. Thompson we arranged for a service at night and made announcement at school house, also called on Bro. Larew, a son-in-law of Peter Lang at Squash Bend, and on Widow Whistler whose husband I had buried at Quincy, Ill., during
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cholera season there. In this vicinity, one and a half miles from Rochester, there are about twenty Lutheran members, mostly from Bro. Sloan's charge in Ohio."
Dr. Kuhl in above pioneer work, traveled 1,755 miles, over 1,500 of which were on horse-back; received in collections $51.80 and his expenses were $51.15, leaving surplus of 65 cents for four months' work.
The preliminary work of the founding of the Lutheran church in the county is described in the previous account of the pioneer preacher. The real organi- zation took place a few years later under the direction of Rev. Solomon Ritz, who brought together a small band in the year 1855, August 12.
The incomplete records give the names of the pastors as follows: In addition to the pastorate of the organizer, D. S. Altman served the Tipton congregation from 1866 to 1885, J. B. Bloom, H. H. Hall, A. J. Kissell, 1885-1890, W. H. Noffziger, S. J. Delo, C. A. Gelwicks, 1897-1903, and W. W. Hess 1903-1905. The present pastor, J. Kent Rizer, took charge of the work in 1905.
The church and parsonage buildings are new, the church having been dedi- cated in 1905 and the parsonage completed in 1908.
While by no means the largest congregation in the vicinity the effect upon the community and the service rendered to distant lands has been steady and sure. An event of more than ordinary local interest was the organization in the local church, Trinity, of the society which from that day to this has had the control of the missionary operations of the women of the General Synod of the Lutheran church not only in this country but in foreign lands. It was at Tipton, Aug. 23, 1875, that a band of five women, from five different congregations, met in the home of Mrs. A. J. Hart and formed themselves into a Synodical organ- ization. A local society followed the next year by the same kind of a meeting at Cedar Rapids. At the first convention, which meets annually, there were seventy members present, and thirty-seven dollars sent to the India field. Today the membership is over thirty-six thousand and their biennial contributions amount to the gross sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars.
It is but due to the pastor at that time, Rev. J. B. Bloom, to say that he had a large part in forming this organization through his faith and through his urgent efforts. 164
The German Evangelical Lutheran church of Lowden was organized in 1871. The church building of this congregation was built the same year at an expense of four thousand dollars, the congregation being incorporated in 1871. Im- provements were made in 1881 by the erection of a steeple and inside remodel- ing. It was enlarged and further improved in 1901. The church will seat six hundred persons. The value of the structure, including the pipe organ, is about seven thousand dollars.
The church was organized by the Rev. C. Seuel, of Lyons, Iowa, who served it one year. He was followed by Rev. H. Engelbrecht, of Iowa City, who ac- cepted a call to another appointment in 1873. The present pastor, Rev. J. H. Brammer, was then called from Denver and he has served the charge ever since.
In 1896 the twenty-fifth anniversary was observed and the pastor who or- ganized the congregation preached, as did the second pastor.
The congregation counts at present sixty voting members, four hundred communicants, and in all six hundred thirty. The congregation owns a parson-
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age, a residence for the teacher of the parochial school and a school building, since a school has been connected with the church from the beginning. School is held ten months in the year and a tuition of. fifty cents per month is charged. During the first year the pastor taught the school. In 1882 a teacher was secured and after six years of service he was succeeded by the present teacher, Wm. Schmidt. These teachers perform the duties of organist in the church and in the absence of the pastor may assist in the service.
The present pastor has baptized 969 children, confirmed 462, married 204 couples, and buried 256 persons.165
St. John's German Evangelical church of Clarence dates its organization from 1882. Rev. J. Schwartz of Lowden had charge at that time, and the first mem- bership included sixteen families. Heinrich Pruess, Heinrich Goldschmidt, and S. C. Kintzel were the first trustees.
The corner stone of the present building was laid in 1885. The congregation has grown to a membership of ninety families. The present pastor is Emil Han- sen, who has endeavored to furnish its history with a limited record.166
About the year 1875 Rev. Brammer, the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Lowden for thirty-seven years at the present time, called the German settlers in the vicinity of Mechanicsville together for religious services. They met in private houses or places rented by the congregation for temporary quar- ters. For some seventeen years the meetings were held in this locality until death and removal reduced the membership to so small a number that it was de- cided to move the congregation, so far as services were concerned, to Stanwood. This action was completed in 1892 and was to accommodate a number of German families who had lately settled near Stanwood. The public school building fur- nished a meeting place until the present church building was completed in 1893 and dedicated the same year. During these years Rev. Brammer was the pastor, there being no resident minister in this vicinity. In 1908 the present pastor, Rev. W. G. Nagler, was ordained and installed as pastor of this church and placed in charge of the parochial school. This pastor has studied in his native land, Germany, and also in the German seminary of this country and hence is well prepared to conduct the congregation to right ways of thinking and living. They have abundant faith in his ability. The school building was erected in 1908 and the church refinished in the following year. A very excellent parsonage belongs to this congregation and the membership has doubled since the year 1908.167
The old Methodist Protestant church which stood south of. Bennett was moved to that town by the founders of the place and afterwards was sold to the present German Evangelical church people. The lot on which it stands formerly was the property of Mrs. Bennett, wife of the man for whom the town 'was named. The membership of this church now is something over thirty. The pastor, Rev. Bennigkeit.
In 1855 under the direction of Rev. Philip Laurent of St. Matthias church, Muscatine, the organization of St. Mary's Parish was begun. During the first year of St. Mary's history Father Laurent said mass in the house of John Mad- den, who lived in the west end of the town of Tipton.
After the first year the congregation decided to build a small church. This was to be of brick and the contract was given to a Mr. Hill. Owing to his failure
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, STANWOOD
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, STANWOOD
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
to meet the conditions of his contract the work was not accepted and it was never completed nor used as a church, some two years later being torn down and re- moved by John Bireley. From this date Rev. Wm. Edmonds of St. Mary's at Iowa City served this congregation. He at once began to find a way for a church and let the contract for a frame building which was completed in due time. This was used for a number of years, when the congregation grew to demand better accommodations. On this occasion the decision was made to build farther to the east for a more central location, under the direction of the pastor then, Rev. Patrick McCabe. The site was purchased and the building committee consisting of Bernard Lang, Patrick Carlin, M. C. Kirby, Matthew Thiel, and John Miehan, appointed.
Not long after the church was completed by the builder, John Werling, Father McCabe was called elsewhere and was succeeded by Rev. John Daly, who was soon followed by Rev. Kissane. The building erected at this time served the congregation for a period of about twenty years.
In the year nineteen hundred Father Galligan became the pastor and began at once to find means to enlarge the church or build another. Consultation of pastor and people led to the purchase of the vacant building belonging to the Congregational church and adjoining lots. A committee of three, W. J. Gilmore, Mike Hiegel and T. J. Mahoney, were appointed to make this exchange, which resulted in the present church property of St. Mary's today.
In 1903 the residence property south of the church was purchased of Mr. Russell, remodeled and made to serve as the parochial residence. A committee to attend to this consisted of Wm. Burk, Fred Siepman, Peter Graham, and Mr. Wandeshout.
After ten years of service with the parish Father T. F. Galligan was called to a larger field in Burlington to care for St. Paul's church in that city. His successor, Rev. H. A. Knebel, took charge of the parish in October, 1909.
During the time from 1855 to 1900 St. Mary's church was attended only as a mission, consequently many different pastors served the charge, although during most of the time it was attended by the Mechanicsville church.
The pastors who attended here and have not been mentioned in the previous pages are: Revs. J. Quigley, F. Walsh, Patrick Sullivan, B. Downey, J. F. Kemper.
The services in Tipton are regular, two masses on the first Sunday and one at other times, with afternoon services in Sunday school and instruction in Chris- tian doctrine twice each month.
From the parish the pastor serves Cedar Valley, St. Joseph's church, which has always been a mission church. Formerly the pastor at Morse attended here, but for the past ten years it has been attached to the Tipton charge. The Cedar Valley congregation has been organized for more than fifty years and consists of forty families.168 :
The Catholic church at Mechanicsville, in 1872 and '73, was served by Father Downey, mentioned before, who celebrated mass in Helmer's Hall. He was succeeded by Father O'Sullivan, who ministered to the wants of the little hand- ful of Catholics for four years. In 1876 Father McCabe took charge, remaining for two years. Since then there have been four resident pastors-Fathers Daly,
.
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
now of Atlantic, Kissane of Williamsburg, Gillespie of Keokuk, and Father Glenn, the present popular pastor, who has been able to find the facts of the parish thus far, coming to the parish in November, 1909.
At one time the parish included Tipton, Clarence, and Lowden, but owing to the rapid growth of the Tipton charge they petitioned the bishop for a resident pastor. The present parish, therefore, embraces Lowden, Clarence, and Big Rock in Scott County, the latter two having churches.
One of the most interesting facts in the history of St. Mary's, Mechanics- ville, is the parochial residence. It is said to be the real landmark of the place, being the oldest residence in the town. Although thoroughly rebuilt much of the original structure remains.
The church building was erected in 1874. Previous to that time the mass was celebrated sometimes in the homes of the parish, sometimes in the vacant build- ings that might be secured. The first priest to minister to the people was Father Lowry. Beginning in 1867 he held services for the first time in the home of P. Burke. Residing in Cedar Rapids he visited the parish but four times a year. At the present time the parish represents some seventy or eighty families.169
The Congregational church of Tipton was organized May 5, 1844, by Rev. E. Alden, afterwards pastor of the church at Marshfield, Mass. He was the minister of Daniel Webster and preached his funeral sermon. Mr. Alden re- mained pastor of the church for five years, and was succeeded by Rev. W. Keith ; he was followed by the Rev. Mr. Cobb, under whose pastorate the church erected their first house of worship in 1852; this was 20x34 feet. This was soon after nearly doubled in size, and was used by the church for twelve years. After the departure of Mr. Cobb the church enjoyed for ten years the ministrations of Rev. M. K. Cross. Mr. C. S. Harrison succeeded him June 10, 1866. In 1867 a new church 36x60 feet was erected and was neatly finished, having a gallery for the choir. From an old record of this church commencing in 1850 some inter- esting facts are gathered. The standing rules were adopted on Feb. 27, 1850, in ten sections and are transferred to this book, which contains the remainder of the record from '53 until the time of the disposal of the church, Feb. 14, 1895.
The last meeting was called to order by the Secretary of the Iowa Home Mis- sionary Society of the Congregational church, Rev. T. O. Douglass, and a com- mittee, consisting of J. H. Coutts, Henry Britcher, and H. L. Dean, was ap- pointed and authorized to dispose of the property and return the money fur- nished the church from the Church Building Society of New York and to pay in addition one hundred for the use of said money. All the church fixtures, organ, books and property was to be given away or disposed of under the direction of Rev. Douglass.
This building as remodeled is the present Catholic church.
This book of records contains the names of the members, baptisms, marriages, deaths, catalogue of the pastor's library and the records of the business sessions. It is now at the City National Bank.
The first death recorded was in 1856, Wm. W. Laylin, aged fourteen years ; the last one in 1879, H. H. Linsley, aged fifty-seven. -
The first marriage was performed by Rev. M. K. Cross June 1, 1856, the parties being G. W. Logan and Mary A. Clapp. The last one on this record was
LUTHERAN CHURCH, SCHOOL AND PARSONAGE, STANWOOD
Methodist Protestant Church, Downey
Baptist Church, Downey
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
performed by Geo. S. Biscoe, Fred N. Sterling and Sophia G. Daniels being the contracting parties and the date Nov. 1I, 1869.
Attached to an agreement made in 1866, when the loan was made by the Building Society, are two revenue stamps that would be very desirable to the boy collector of the day if he knew they were there. It is signed by P. L. Stryker, N. Fairchild, and S. P. Daniels, Trustees.170
An interesting item to those concerned is a clipping from the Independent in 1866. It is pasted in the old church record at page forty-two. The heading is "Western Correspondence."
CHICAGO, ILL., Dec. 17, 1866.
To the Editor of The Independent :
"When last June the Congregational church of Tipton, Iowa, was calling Rev. C. S. Harrison from this state, I thought it my duty to warn them that such a course would involve the struggle and expense of building a new house of worship. Entering upon this work, sure enough, his first proposition was to substitute an attractive church for the low, narrow, long, nine-pin alley sanctuary, which had become obsolete. Capt. Pound, who had smelt gunpowder, told me that when this suggestion was made its audacity nearly took away his breath. And yet the church has been built-a house 36x60, with a spire and all the ordi- nary appointments. It cost $4,103. The Congregational Union had held out the tempting bait of $400. The ladies had raised $300 for carpets, chandeliers, and other furnishings, besides securing the cabinet organ. On the second Sabbath of this month the house was dedicated with the usual joyfulness of such an occa- sion. A deficit of $880 was raised. A hymn composed by the pastor for the occasion was sung and the prayer of consecration was offered by the Rev. M. K. Cross, of Washington, Iowa, who had been the pastor of this church for ten years. At the second service the communion was administered by the former and the present pastor. I never saw a floor better laid than that which was laid by the minister, who also did the mason work for the furnace room. His own labor at regular wages would amount to almost $300. Tipton is a county seat, and this church was gathered by Mr. Alden, one of the "Andover band," now at Marshfield, Mass. Then came Mr. Keith, H. W. Cobb and M. K. Cross."
No name is signed to this and the writer is not known. It is explanatory of many things otherwise difficult to trace.
On the 26th day of March, 1856, Rev. John Whittlesey, a Congregational minister from New Britain, Conn., commenced preaching in Durant under ap- pointment from the American Home Missionary Society. Service was held in the station house of the R. R. Company for several months. In May, 1856, a house of worship was erected and a church organized May 25th, 1856, which consisted of twenty charter members. The council for organization consisted of Revs. Julius A. Reed, Geo. F. Magoun, David Knowles and Edward Allen, dele- gates from the Congregational church of Davenport. The house of worship was dedicated July 22, 1857. Rev. A. B. Robbins, of Muscatine, preached the sermon from Haggai 2:9. Revs. D. Knowles, of Wilton, S. N. Grout, of Inland, E. B. Turner, of Illinois, and Chapman, assisted in the services.
In 1878 the membership of the church was seventy-nine. As before stated Rev. John Whittlesey preached his first sermon here May 26, 1856. He was
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HISTORY OF CEDAR COUNTY
supported the first year by the A. H. Missionary Society. At the end of that year he was invited to remain another year, which he accepted, but during the year he found a brighter field for more extended labor and asked to be relieved from the charge; preached his farewell sermon Nov. 28, 1858; died May II, 1862. Rev. Erastus Ripley was next engaged to fill the Durant pulpit for the year 1859. Rev. Henry Bullen was the next minister and preached his first ser- mon May 30, 1860; preached his farewell sermon December 29, 1867. Rev. Bullen also taught in the public school here for a number of years, performing the duties of a pastor at the same time. Rev. E. E. Webber was next engaged to fill the pulpit; preached his first sermon January 23, 1868; preached his fare- well discourse February II, 1872. Rev. E. P. Whiting was the next minister ; commenced his labors the first Sunday in May, 1872; ended his work here Jan- uary 3, 1875. Rev. Gibbert was next called and preached his first sermon May 9, 1875; remained only one year. Rev. Douglas was next employed ; delivered his first address June, 1876, and finished his work November 4, 1877. Rev. E. P. Smith followed him.171
The church of the Universalist Society in Tipton was dedicated in October, 1872. At that time it was considered a handsome building in the terms of the one who made record of the occurrence. Now one recognizes it as the head- quarters of the "Tipton Produce Company," and for many years it has not been the scene of Sabbath worship. This building once sheltered a prosperous con- gregation, but now it has almost lost its resemblance to a church edifice. The change came about gradually, as will be noted.
The only Danish Lutheran Church in the county is located at West Branch. It was organized in 1895 with Simon Christensen as president and August Peter- sen as secretary, J. P. Jensen treasurer.
Rev. P. L. Hansen, of Cedar Falls, assisted in the preliminary work and served the congregation for two years from his charge there. The church was built the following year, being dedicated in October, 1896.
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