USA > Iowa > Monroe County > An illustrated history of Monroe County, Iowa > Part 21
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The Bloomfield Mission was created in 1844, and Bloom- field. Davis County, was the headquarters of this mission. Jesse L. Bennett and Jas. F. New were sent ont as preachers, but Bennett did not remain in the work long in this mission. but chose other fields of labor in the cause of Christianity.
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TCE SE & CO.
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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ALBIA, IOWA.
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OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
New continued in his charge alone, and his field of labors embraced all the settlements west of the Des Moines River from the old base line, where Troy now is, northwest to the White-breast Creek, 100 miles. There was neither ferry nor bridge to accommodate the traveler, and the mission was about 300 miles in circumference.
As Mr. New's territory was rather too extensive for one minister, Rev. Allan W. Johnson, of the Eddyville Mission, was directed by the presiding elder, Rev. Milton Jameson, to supply the gap made by the retirement of Bennett. Rev. Johnson took the territory west of Eddyville, and filled the field for one quarter, preaching monthly.
In 1844 Johnson formed a class at Boggs', near Albia. The members were John Lower, leader, Prudence Lower, Jas. R. Boggs, Jerusha Boggs, Josiah C. Boggs, William Scott, and Abiathar Newton and wife.
The next year another class was formed south of Albia, at the house of David Rowles. Of this class Rebecca Rowles, the wife of David Rowles, Oliver P. Rowles, Miranda Smith, Andrew Elswick and wife, John and Matilda Massey. Nancy Mock, and Hillah Hayes and wife were original members. Of this number, John Massey and Oliver P. Rowles are still living in Monroe County. Nancy Mock lives in Oregon, and Hillah Hayes and wife are residing near Ness City, Kansas.
For his three months' service west of the river Rev. Johnson received 75 cents in money. After this. a minister named M. S. Frame assisted New in his mission work, and that year 263 members were reported to the Conference.
In the fall of 1845 the mission was divided, and the upper part, including Monroe County, was called the Upper White- breast Mission. New was continued in this part of the field, and occupied a cabin four or five miles west of Ottumwa, on a farm owned by John Kirkpatrick ; later he lived near Albia. and also resided on English Creek, in Marion County, for a short time. New afterwards went to Missouri, and then to Arkansas, where he was shot down by some desperado. who had robbed his post-office and stolen some horses in the neigh- borhood, and whom he and others were attempting to cap- ture. He is described as a "sledge-hammer" type of clergy- man. and was an active and zealous Christian.
In the fall of 1846 the field was called simply the White- breast Mission, and Michael IL. Hare and W. W. Knight were the preachers. That fall, the county seat having been lo-
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cated at Albia, Hare formed the first class in the town by consolidating the two country classes at Boggs' and Rowles'. This new class comprised substantially the membership of the two old classes, with the addition of A. C. Wilson and wife, John Webb, Sr., and wife, S. B. Gossage and wife, Arvine White and wife, W. L. and Celia Knight, Thos. Myers, A. C. Barnes and wife, John Phillips and wife, Geo. W. Noble and wife, Jas. Tate, Riley Wescoatt, Thos. Guinn and A. C. Johnson.
The services in those days were, for the most part, held in the little log court-house on the east side of the Square.
Rev. Knight died in 1847, and Hare was left with the entire supervision of the charge. He afterwards became a presiding elder of the Albia District, and in 1862 enlisted in the army and served as chaplain in the Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry. He died at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, July 27, 1868.
In 1847 Revs. Hugh Gibson and Joseph Ockerman were assigned to the mission. Gibson afterwards went to Cali- fornia, and died there, a member of the Conference.
Ockerman's health having finally failed in 1847, the pre- siding elder, Rev. O. O. Stewart, for want of a licensed preacher, appointed a private member of the church to take charge of the local work. This young man's name was Strange Brooks. He was licensed to exhort, and began his labors in 1848. Brooks was in time licensed to preach, and later engaged in church work in Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, southern Illinois, and Colorado, where he now resides.
In 1848 the Conference records first mention the name of Albia. In that year the upper part of the White-breast Mission was set off to the Knoxville Circuit and the remain- der was constituted the Albia Mission; and it remained a mission nntil 1851, receiving more or less support from the Missionary Society. For eight years this aid was expended for the support of the church, and towards maintaining its pastors.
The ministers during this time sent to the mission were: 1848, A. G. Pierce, Joseph Ockerman ; 1849, James Q. Ham- mond; 1850, Robert L. Cock. Of these, Pierce is still living. Cock's name was changed by the Legislature into Cole; and under that name he preached at Chariton until his death.
In 1851 the Albia Mission became the Albia Circuit. by which name is meant, that it assumed its own support, and it continued such down to 1865. During this period it had the
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following preachers: 1855, Chas. Woolsey; 1856-7, F. W. Evans; 1858, I. P. Teter; 1859, Thos. Andras; 1860, J. W. Latham; 1861, Jas. Haynes; 1862-3, W. C. Shippen; 1864, Annie H. Schafer. Of these, Johnson, Woolsey, Latham, and Schafer are dead.
During this period the ministerial work became more and more restricted. In 1851 the appointments throughout the circuit were as follows: Albia-Rev. Knight, three miles northwest of Albia; Rev. Woolsey, still further north; Rev. Davis, northeast of Albia, down in the "Hairy Nation," east of the Allen school-house, Chillicothe, then on Keokuk Prai- rie opposite Ottumwa, Milburn's school-house, Blakesburg, at a grove southwest of Blakesburg, and at Potts', eleven miles southwest of Albia.
In 1852 the appointments south of the river in Wapello County were placed in the newly formed Chillicothe Circuit. In 1844 the old quarterly conference shows the preaching places were: Albia, Hinton's, Knight's, Hamilton, Sumner's, Bluff Creek, Noe's, Davis', Shields', Potts', Ingham's, Hayes', and Newcomers' Point.
In 1854 a circuit was formed called the South Grove Circuit, with John Jay as preacher, which took in all the county appointments except Knight's, Hayes', and Ingham's, and in that year a new appointment was added-viz., Sut- cliff's. The next year this South Grove Circuit took the name of Hamilton Circuit.
In 1865 Albia was first designated as a station, although it still retained one outside appointment-viz., Reitzel's School-house. Since then, the appointments to the station have been as follows: 1865-6, F. W. Evans; 1867, Joshua B. Hardy; 1868, Jesse Craig; 1869, R. B. Allender; 1870, John Harris; 1871, E. H. Winans; 1872-3, Thos. Stephenson; 1874-5. Ira O. Kemball; 1876, John Haynes; 1877, C. L. Stať- ford; 1878-9, W. G. Wilson; 1SS0, B. F. Karns; 1881-2, C. B. Clark; 1883, I. P. Teter again; 1884, G. II. Power; 1885, W. F. Cowles; 1886-7. J. A. Boatman; 1888-92. D. C. Smith; 1893-4, W. R. Stryker; 1895-6, E. L. Schreiner.
Of these. Rev. Karns resigned after 18 months of in . cumbeney, and his place was filled by Miss Annie Downy. C. B. Clark, on account of family afffiction, filled only six months of the year, and his place was taken by Rev. Groome. Harris, Haynes, and Power are dead.
16-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
From authentic sources it appears that at least 13,000 persons have been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church since its beginning in 1846.
In 1843 the Des Moines District was formed, with Rev. Henry Summers, the pioneer presiding elder, in charge of it. The next year Rev. Milton Jameson was sent to it, and since then the districts embracing Albia and vicinity and the pre- siding elders have been as follows:
Des Moines District-1844-6, Milton Jameson; 1847-8, I. I. Stewart; 1849-50, Andrew Coleman; 1851-3, John Hayden.
Ottumwa District-1854, Joseph Brooks.
Albia District-1855-58, James Q. Hammond; 1859-62, M. H. Hare; 1862-65, Jas. Haynes.
Ottumwa District -- 1866, W. C. Shippen.
Albia District-1867-69, John Burgess; 1870-71, R. B. Allender.
Ottumwa District-1872-3, R. B. Allender; 1874-5,G. N. Power; 1876-9, Banner Mark; 1880-3, W. G. Wilson; 1884-7, I. P. Teter; 18SS-93, J. W. McDonald; 1893, D. C. Smith.
Haynes took Hare's place when the latter entered the army, and D. C. Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of McDonald in 1893.
Joseph Brooks served for four years as editor of the Christian Advocate at St. Louis, and afterwards was an officer in the army, and later in the reconstruction troubles in Arkansas, where he acquired national note as one of the principals in the Brooks-Baxter gubernatorial embroglio at Little Rock, some years ago. Each party claimed to have been elected governor under a varying construction of the State constitution, and as neither would yield, the contestants each rallied an armed force, and the affair assumed a martial aspect. Baxter held the executive office.
Of these sixteen presiding elders, nine are dead-viz .: Jameson, Stewart, Coleman, Hayden, Brooks, Hammond, Hare, Power, and McDonald.
Within the fifty years of the church organization, 53 ministers have served in the vicinity,, as pastors and presiding elders.
In the early years of the Church, its financial support was very meager. For instance, in 1846-7 the amount raised for ministerial support, outside the regular missionary fund, was $57.75. In 1852-3 the circuit paid the elder $36.00 and
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the pastor $300.00; in 1853-4 the elder received $37.50 and the pastor $350.50; in 1854-5 the elder got $72.50, the preacher in charge $408.13, and the junior preacher an even $100. In 1858-9 Rev. Teter received $346.08. The station started out with an estimate for the pastor for $800, but the records credit only $674.10 collected that year for all purposes. Since that time, with the increase of numbers and ability. there has been a marked improvement in this regard.
The Towa Conference held its twenty-seventh session with this church, commencing September 28, 1870, under the presidency of Bishop E. R. Ames, with Rev. E. H. Waring as secretary. The roll at the opening session contained just 100 names. Since then 38 of this number have died, and 37 are still members of the Conference, but 10 only are in active work.
In 1850 the first church was completed in Albia. It was a frame structure, about 30x45 feet in size, with one door facing the east; large windows filled with small-sized panes of glass, and seats and pulpit to correspond with the general plain style of architecture. It stood one block north from the northwest corner of the Square, where two lots were pur- chased for the edifice at a cost of $18.00. The first trustees were Oliver P. Rowles, Michael Lower, John Webb, Jr., D. J. Moore, Jas. Tate, Andrew Elswick, and John Lower. In 1867 this frame building gave way to a one-story brick structure, with an addition on the west, which was added by Rev. Ira O. Kemble, at his own expense, during his pastorate.
During the war, several colored parties, then known as "contrabands," made their way across the southern border, and, being Methodists, were assigned to the "amen corner" in the old frame church. The colored brethren were fond of running in and out during services, and to prevent this con- fusion they were invited to occupy seats in the rear near the door. when the new church was ready for services. One old colored brother refused to occupy the new place in the church, and when invited to do so, he and his followers arose and filed out and never returned to the church.
At length, the old brick church could not accommo- date the increasing membership, and the lots and edifice were sold and the present handsome edifice erected one block south of the southwest corner of the Square, at a cost of $13,000. This edifice was formally dedicated by Dr. J. W. Clinton on February 28, 1892.
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The Presbyterian Church.
On the 23d day of August, 1851, after a sermon by Rev. L. J. Bell, a missionary of the Assembly Board, the initial steps were taken in Albia towards the organization of a Presbyterian church. David Wills and his wife Sarah, Martha Wills and Eveline Wills, Samuel Noble, Margaret Casey, David Burnside and his wife Emily, John Young and his wife Rachel, David H. Scott and his wife Mary were the charter members of the church. They presented certificates and other satisfactory evidence of having been members of the Presbyterian Church elsewhere. An election was then had, and David Wills and John Young were unanimously chosen elders. It was resolved that the organization be called the "First Presbyterian Church of Albia."
December 20, 1851, at a session of the board, David Wills and John Young were "moderated" by Rev. W. J. Frazier. At this session Mrs. Mary Noble, wife of Samuel Noble, was received to the communion. The ordinance of baptism was then administered to her and her infant son, Alvis Emmett. Rev. W. J. Frazier administered the Lord's supper.
At the next session, May 1, 1852, the ordinance of bap- tism was administered to Margaret Ann, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Scott.
On January 2, 1854, the first annual report from March, 1853, to March, 1854, was submitted:
Number communicants received on examination 5
Number communicants received on certificate. 19
Number adults baptized . 1
Number infants baptized. 7
Funds for Commissioner. $ 2.00
Funds for church and religious purposes. 37.50 Funds for Bible cause . 5.00
This report was approved by the Des Moines Presbytery at Libertyville, March 16, 1864, by D. V. Smock, moderator.
In a session held April 5, 1856, the name of Rev. J. M. Bachelor first appears as moderator. Among those received into the church at this session were Mr. James Collins and his wife Sarah. Mr. Collins died at his residence, a few miles south of Albia, early in the spring of 1896.
At a session of the board of March 13, 1857, Samuel Noble and D. H. Scott, having been previously elected elders, were
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duly installed in the office. At this same session Miss Mary Saunders and Mary A. Bachelor, the latter the infant daughter of Rev. Bachelor and wife, were taken into the church by baptism. Rev. P. H. JJacob performed the rite.
The annual report from 1856 to 1857 shows 63 members added, and 1 deceased. Total in communion, S7; and also shows the minister's salary to have been $333.33.
On Saturday evening, February 6, 1858, Charles McClain was summoned to appear before the session to answer the charge of getting drunk. Samuel Noble and David Wills had previously been sent as a committee to expostulate with the erring brother. The charges and specifications were as follows:
"Whereas, It is commonly reported that you, Charles McClain, have been guilty of unchristian conduct in several instances:
"1st. Of being in the habit of using intoxicating liquors.
"2d. Of quarreling with and using profane language while quarreling with the MeMichaels.
"3d. Of a violation of the Sabbath day, as well as of the civil law, in going on the Sabbath and taking and driving off a yoke of oxen that were held under execution.
"4th. Of using scurrilous and vulgar language on the same Sabbath evening towards Carlos Kelsey.
"5th. Of using profane language towards Mr. John Kelly on Saturday, December 30, 1858."
Samuel Noble was appointed prosecutor of the case, and McClain defended himself. All the charges except the fourth specification were sustained, and McClain was suspended.
In 1858 the pastor's salary was raised to $500. There were in communion 95 members that year.
During one or two sessions of July. 1858, Mrs. Esther Boyle prefers charges of falsehood against Brother W. W. Mathias, also against Sister Mathias"for talkingin aslander- ous and unchristianlike manner about me at different times, once at Mr. Duncan's, and once at Mr. David Rowles'," In the case of Mr. Mathias, the session suspended him until he would repent. Sister Mathias was not suspended, but the moderator was directed to administer to her a mild admoni- tion in the presence of the session.
The next year McClain was permanently suspended, he
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manifesting no feelings of repentance. Mr. Mathias, how- ever, repented of his sin, confessed his error, and was rein- stated.
At a session of December, 1859, Miss Mary Welsh was hauled up before the session for dancing. She refused to admit that she committed a sin in dancing, but promised to desist from the amusement in future, since the church con- sidered it wrong. The session took no further cognizance of the charge. However, it seems that the sinful Mary danced again in 1860, for the records show that she again received a "citation" to appear before the session of April 3d. She again acknowledged the charge, again professed deep peni- tence, and again escaped with a reproof and admonition.
At the session of August 22, 1860, Mrs. Eliza Shields submits a paper setting forth that:
"Whereas, Mrs. Eliza Shields feeling aggrieved at certain charges which have been extensively circulated against her in this community by Rev. J. N. Pressley, of the United Presbyterian Church of Albia, which charges are: 1st, that about the first Sabbath of September, 1858, she had ap- plied to him and his session to become a member of his church, and was received on such application, and so was a member of that church at the time of her being received into the Presbyterian Church; 2d, that in support of this charge he had said her name had been read out publicly on commun- ion Sabbath, in company with the names of many others, as having been received; 3d, that Mrs. Shields, in denying the above statements, had accused the Rev. Mr. Pressley of lying; she therefore asks the session to investigate those charges, and requests that the following witnesses be cited to appear, to give testimony in the matter-viz., Mrs. Hannah Robb, Mrs. Jane Robb, Miss Mary Ann Buchanan, and Miss Mary Lyon."
The following persons were also summoned as wit- nesses: Mrs. Samuel Noble, Mr. David Wills, Mr. James Robb, and Mr. David Forcythe. The latter, who was clerk of the United Presbyterian session, did not heed the sum- mons to appear, and was absent, as was also Mrs. Buchanan, another member of that church. After a fair and impartial judicial church trial, the session found that Sister Shields had never applied for membership in the United Presbyterian Church; that her name had never been publicly read out; that her name was not even on the record book of the United
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Presbyterian Church. Then the tribunal concluded its ses- sion by professing its high esteem and cordial fellowship towards the United Presbyterian Church, and declares that nothing in its decision should reflect on Brother Pressley. It further states that there was no evidence that Sister Shields ever called Brother Pressley a liar.
In 1878 it appears that John A. Edwards, a member of the church, became in some measure dissatisfied with Rev. Bachelor, the pastor. Edwards withheld a portion of his usually liberal pecuniary support of the church, and even hinted that the pastor ought to resign. A formal concilia- tion was finally made, and Mr. Edwards signed a written statement to the effect that possibly he might have misap- prehended the pastor's utterances and motives, and pro- fessed deep repentance and desired the forgiveness of the pastor. Rev. Bachelor also signed a statement exonerating Brother Edwards from any acts of malice, admitting also that the brother's actions were justifiable under the con- struction he had placed upon the pastor's utterances; he also receives Mr. Edwards back into the fold. A few days later the quarrel broke out afresh, and the pastor signs another statement to the effect that Brother Edwards had already disavowed his good concessions expressed under his signature. He censures him for declaring "that he would make no promise of any pecuniary support; thereby declaring that the small amount he had given during the last year (while in his offense) was all he expected to give."
It seems that at about this time the pastor had tendered his resignation as pastor, for the sessional record contains this entry:
"Report of Judicial Committee.
"The Judicial Committee to whom was referred the resignation of Rev. J. M. Bachelor as pastor of the church of Albia, would report: that after hearing very fully from both the pastor and elder from that church, they are duly impressed with the importance of emphasizing their sense of the sacred character of the pastoral relation; that the Lord Jesus Christ himself gave pastors; that it is sinful and dangerous to do that which tends to part asunder that which God hath joined together'; that any rude conduct is of the nature of an assault on the ordinances of God.
"With double force would we address the members of
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session, who at their ordination solemnly vowed to study the peace, unity, and purity of the church.
"When in any instance it becomes advisable to ask for a dissolution of the pastoral relation, we would remind them that there is a proper method of procedure in our book.
"But that any member of the church and especially any member of the session, who should cease attending the ordinances of God's house administered by the pastor, and withdraw his support in whole or in part, and decline to cooperate with his pastor in order to break up the pastoral relation, presbytery declares to be schismatical, and a breach of ordination vows, and highly censurable.
"While your court are fully alive. to the greatness of the sacrifice required in the dissolution of the pastoral relation of well-nigh a quarter of a century's duration, which being the only one the pastor ever had, and the object of his first and only love, in whose families are associations dearer than life, yet we are compelled to look the facts in the face and agree with a majority of the session-the fast friends of the pastor-that in view of the sadly divided condition of the church-for the pastor's comfort and usefulness-the resignation of the pastoral charge ought to be accepted, and though exceedingly sorry for this necessity, and expressing our heartfelt sympathy with the pastor, this is the recommendation of your com- mittee.
".J. H. Potter, "Josiah T. Young."
This expression of excessive kindness did not kill the pastor, as might be expected. He removed shortly after- wards to Osborn, Kansas, where he is engaged to this day in ministerial work. He is an able minister, and was greatly reverenced by his flock; notwithstanding, his church at Albia, at about the time of his resignation, had settled into a state of spiritual lethargy, which is often the result of retaining one pastor too long.
In September, 1878, Rev. E. L. Williams succeeded Rev. J. M. Bachelor as "supply" of the First Presbyterian Church at Albia. His labors dated from August 18, 1878, and were to continue one year. At the end of the year he was invited to the pastorate, but stated that he was not prepared to accept the call. However, he agreed to remain as "supply" for six months longer for $400, which proposi- tion was accepted by the session board.
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At a session dated September 20, 1880, Rev. Samuel Ollerinshaw was selected as pastor for six months, to succeed Mr. Williams. Salary to be not less than $400; $35 was also appropriated to defray his expenses and two weeks' services at Albia. Brother Dan'l Miller also received the thanks of the session for his services as bookkeeper and collector, and was re-elected for another year. In later years this gentleman acquired considerable notoriety as an expert bookkeeper, as cashier of the Monroe County Bank.
At a session of December 4, 1882, Jacob Kimball and Geo. Hartzer were suspended from the church on a charge of "walking disorderly," and of neglecting the means of grace; and in July of the next year Brother Daniel M. Miller was suspended for getting away with the funds of the church.
On August 31, 1885, a joint session of the Presbyterian and United Prebyterian churches of Albia was held for the purpose of considering a proposition to junite both congregations into one. Elders A. Bain, J. C. Rhea, W. E. Elder, and Daniel Forcythe represented the United Presby- terian Church, and Samuel Noble, D. H. Scott, A. A. Mason, John A. Edwards, and JJosiah T. Young represented the Presbyterian Church. Considerable discussion was had on the subject of union, but nothing was accomplished. The United Presbyterian brethren consented to unite if the other church would take the organ out of the church, adopt close communion, and sing psalms, none of which propositions were consented to.
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