USA > Iowa > Monroe County > An illustrated history of Monroe County, Iowa > Part 24
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Among the old charter members were John Hansel and wife, Daniel Miller and wife, Peter Miller and wife, David Kingery and wife, Wm. Warner and wife, Mrs. Abigail Miller, Mrs. Sarah Moss, and Frank Myers.
Elder Frank Myers was the first minister. He was succeeded by Elder Daniel Miller, who died in 1883. Since then, Elder Hiram Berkman and Elder John Follis have had charge of the congregation. Elder Berkman was ordained in 1881, and was associated with Elder Miller in the pastorate up to the death of the latter.
The Baptist Church.
The Baptists organized in 1855, with a small member- ship. They ceased to hold meetings in Albia in 1863, but two years later they held meetings in the Christian church, and in 1867 they built a church edifice, which in later years passed into the hands of the Christian denomination, and forms a part of the latter's present structure.
Rev. J. C. Miller had charge of the Albia congregation, and in later years Rev. Mace acted as pastor for a time, but at the present there is no organization in Albia.
There is also an organization in the western portion of Monroe Township, in the Woodcock-Thomas neighborhood, but they do not hold regular services there. In this con- gregation were the Woodcocks, Thomases, Youngs, and the Varnum family. The church building was erected in about the year 1860.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY. IOWA.
There is also another organization at Lovilia, and an- other at Hiteman. At the latter place they have a com- modious church building and a large membership.
An organization was made at Lovilia early in the '60s, but it died out, and no reorganization was made until 1893. They used the other church edifices as places of worship, and have at present a membership of 49. The present deacons are JJas. Stewart, A. F. Cobb, and H. H. Cormany. Their present pastor is Rev. Lanningham, who divides his time with the Hiteman class. Elder Dewees organized the first class, and the next preacher was Rev. Todd. Rev. Hicks took charge in the later '60s, but, becoming entangled in a scandal in which one of the sisters of his flock was co-related, the preacher withdrew, and the church went to pieces.
For many years the Missionary Baptists have had a kind of loose organization in the southern portion of the county. The term "Hardshell" has been applied to the less progressive element of the church, probably owing to their incorrigible opposition to modern church usages and doc- trines. This crustaceous appellation may also be in part owing to the rude or unsophisticated appearance of many of the members, together with their close-communion ideas. They seldom had church edifices, but congregated in school- houses, in which they became noted for the fervency and vigor of their revival meetings. The ministers were unedu- cated, but usually possessed a combination of backwoods eloquence and shrewdness which crowned their efforts with success.
In about the year 1890 Rev. Geo. Raney, of Appanoose County, built up a large and prosperous membership of Baptists in the vicinity of Foster, and, chiefly through his efforts, a handsome church edifice was erected at Foster. . 1 couple of years later it burned down and was rebuilt in 1894 and 1895. The church at Foster is in a prosperous condition, and the pulpit is now filled by Rev. Smith. The congregation have also erected a parsonage for their pastor.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The colored Methodists were organized in February. 1873, in the old Baptist church in Albia, by Rev. Benson. The following is a list of some of the prominent members: Mr. Jones, Mr. Henry Jones, Mr. Alf. Grayson, Mrs. Sarah Gray- son. Rev. Cornelius Thomas, Mrs. Mary Furgason, Mrs. Rilda
18-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
Hedge, Monroe Davis, Mrs. Indiana Thomas, and Elijah Morris.
Rev. Benson served in the pulpit two years, Rev. Hutchi- son, two years; Elder Holmes, one year; Rev. Johnson, two years; Rev. Rhinehart, two years; Rev. Malone, one year; Rev. Hammond, one year; Rev. Rhinehart, again one year; Rev. Williams, two years; Elder Peterson, one year; Rev. Addison, one year; Rev. Taylor, two years; Rev. Johnson, one year; Rev. F. W. Lewis, one year; Rev. Ford, one year; Rev. James, one year ; Rev. Rhinehart, again one year.
The present church structure was built in 1884, and the parsonage in 1895.
Grace Episcopal Church.
In 1867 Bishop Lee organized an Episcopal church in Albia with H. K. Steele, Geo. Hickenlooper, and a Mr. White as vestrymen. Mr. Hickenlooper did not belong to any church, but his wife was a member, and it was probably through her membership that he enjoyed the emoluments of the office. Rev. . J. E. Ryan, of Ottumwa, assisted the bishop in the organization.
Rev. Labaugh was their first regular preacher or rector. He continued his services until 1872 or 1873, when the organ- ization succumbed to financial embarrassment. At about this period they erected a church building, largely by means of funds advanced by Mr. Labaugh.
The church building was that now owned by the Catholic society on Benton Street. It passed out of the hands of the Episcopal society through the foreclosure of a mortgage.
The society still continues to hold services in Albia. They congregate in a hall over the Albia State Bank, and Rev. Whittam is the rector.
The Roman Catholics.
The Catholics numbered among the pioneer settlers of Monroe County, and were in the county before Iowa became a State. They early displayed that spirit of enterprise and devotion to their religion which has marked their course in every land and in every epoch of Christian history. Since then, four churches have been built in Monroe County and the society is flourishing.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
The membership in Monroe County is largely made up of our Irish population. They are quiet and industrious, and very greatly reverence their priest. The priests who have had charge of the organizations in the county have all been highly educated men, and an embellishment to any com- munity. They are not only capable of rendering wise spir- itual counsel to their parishioners, but also give temporal advice in matters of a worldly nature.
In order to illustrate the obedience with which the par- ishioners conform to the wishes of the priest, an incident is related as an actual occurrence, but the writer cannot vouch for its truth, though the episode probably occurred.
Some years ago, when they were raising funds with which to erect a church, the times were rather hard for an enterprise of this kind, and the story goes that the priest, from his position in the pulpit, would assign certain dona- tions to certain members of the parish; for instance, the Carrs would be directed to donate so many dollars, the Malones so many, etc. The priest, pointing to one old gentleman, said: "And you must give ten dollars." Whereupon the faithful parishioner arose, and in a meek though mildly remonstra- tive tone began : "May it plaze yer riverince, toims are verra hard an' the price of hogs is"-but at this stage of the re- monstrance the priest, pointing his finger at him, shouted: "You sit down, sir!" The old gentleman sat down, and a few days later somebody in Albia remarked to him that the priest was a little hard on him. "Yis, he wor," was his re- pły; "but the money will have to coom." "What will be the result if you fail?" was next asked. "His riverince would sind me to the divil if I refused."
In 1854 or 1855 the Catholics built a log church in the northeast corner of Hugh Fitz-Patrick's field. It stood by the side of the little grave-yard, which faced the Albia and Chariton highway. The spot where this little church stood is now growing in grass, but the place will long be remem- bered by the friends and descendants of those pioneer set- tlers who attended mass in this humble cabin of long ago.
The society was organized by Rev. Father Krakel, a Ger- man, who conducted mass in the early '50s, and who is now the venerable pastor of the principal parish in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Among this band of zealous pioneer Christians were the Carrs, Coadys, Conners, Cullenanes, Stacks, McDonalds,
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
Moloys, McDonoughs, Sinnots, and Sculleys. Through their efforts the handsome St. Patrick's Church at Stacyville was begun in 1860. This edifice was designed by Father Clifford, a young clergyman of rare talent and amiable social traits. The structure is built of stone. It is 100 feet in length, 60 feet wide, and 50 feet in height. It was an arduous undertaking to build it, at the time, and it was sev- eral years before it was completed. The parishioners were mostly poor at that time, and it was a great sacrifice on the part of many to contribute of their means. At one time this church interior, with the altar, statuary, and paint- ings, was classed as one of the handsomest in southern Iowa.
Among later settlers who were most active and liberal in their endeavors to complete the church were Edward O'Bryan, the Kelliher families, John Welsh, the Malones, the Colemans, and several others equally generous.
St. Patrick's Parish has had the following pastors since its organization: Fathers Krakel, McMenomy, Gleason, Malone, Cannon, Harrison, Ryan, Monyhan, Hayes, and Gaule. The latter is the present pastor.
The church edifice at Stacyville was built in 1864, and the ceremony of laying the corner-stone was observed May, 19, 1864. Bishop Smyth, of Dubuque, was present, and con- ducted the services. He placed the corner-stone, and be- neath it was deposited a bottle, hermetically sealed, con- taining the following: "Idibus Maii jumpe in feste pentecoste, anno domini 1864. Pio Nono, Papa Feliciter Ecclesiam Regente. Abraham Lincoln, Praside Statuum Faderoto- rum America Septenrionalis. Wm. M. Stone, Guberna- culum Status Iowa tenente. Illius Reomo Clemens Smyth, Biscopus Dubuquensis, hunce Primarium Lapidum. Inagno Coneorsu populi circumstante et equituum exoronte rite et solemniter posnit." There were also deposited with this record a silver five-cent piece, a five-cent bill of fractional currency, and a twenty-cent bill of currency; also a copy of the Albia Union of July 8, 1863-all of which are doubtless quietly resting to this day in their sealed receptacle.
In 1870 the Catholic community of Melrose organized. They erected a humble church edifice, but the society in- creased so rapidly that more room was soon required. The old building was sold, and is now John Foutch's barn; and the present handsome and commodious building succeeded
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
it. Father O'Reilly is the priest who presides over these people.
Out at Weller stands a neat little church, built by the Catholics. As it is too small, it will soon be replaced by a larger structure.
The organists at these churches are: at Stacyville, Mrs. W. W. O'Bryan; at Melrose, Miss T. MeGrath; and at Weller, Miss Wallace. Their respective choirs, especially at Stacyville, attract the attention of all musical ears. The music is said to be exquisite.
In 1874 Father Harrison organized a congregation in Albia. They bought the Episcopal church when it was sold by foreclosure. and at present they hold service twice a week.
Father Ryan preached two years after Harrison's two years' service; then Father King took charge, and led the society for eight months during 1877-8. Father Daily then preached eight years, and was succeeded by Father Quinn, who preached three years. Father Fitz-Simmons next as- sumed charge, and preached a year, and was succeeded by Father MeCarville, who took charge in May, 1895, and who is now at the head of the society.
The Albia church has about 125 members living within the city.
The Catholic population of Monroe County reaches beyond 2,000. There are at present, 224 in Wayne Township, 542 in Jackson Township, 312 in Guilford Township. 398 in Cedar Township, about 200 in Union Township, and about 200 dis- tributed throughout the other townships, with about 125 in Albia.
The Society of Friends.
The Friends Church came into existence in Albia in the year 1895, through the policy of the Methodist Episcopal Church in expelling certain of its members for alleged insub- ordination to the doctrine of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A part of the latter church imbibed the doctrine of "holi- ness," or entire sanctification, insisting that this was the basic principle of original Methodism as enunciated by John Wesley. On being expelled, they affiliated with the Monroe County Holiness Association, and participated with the lat. tor in their camp-meetings and cottage prayer-meetings.
As the Holiness Association is inter-denominational in character, embracing a membership from all churches, vet
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
not being denominational itself, the Monroe County exiles from the Methodist Church decided not to join the Holiness Society as a body, but to investigate the tenets of the Friends organization at Oskaloosa. Accordingly they sent a delegate to Oskaloosa to request membership with the Friends of Oskaloosa.
Rev. G. M. Lemon, of Oskaloosa, superintendent of the Oskaloosa Quarterly Meeting, came to Albia, and, after fully investigating the matter, returned and sent a committee to Albia to examine applicants for membership. A favor- able report was submitted by the committee, and an organi- zation was made at Albia, which is known as the Albia Monthly Meeting of Friends. They congregated in Perry's opera house for a time, but later changed their place of meet- ing to Love's hall, where they meet at present.
The society, beginning with 40 members, has increased to nearly 250. They held meetings at Cedar Mines, where they gained about 100 proselytes. They also held services at the Morris school-house, about five miles west of Albia, where they gained about 50 accessions. Their pastor is Miss Lorena Tyrrell, a lady of remarkable energy and ability. She is universally beloved by her flock, and has been emi- nently successful in her pastoral duties.
The Albia Friends Church is officered by four deacons- namely, A. H. Humeston, Eli McAlister, Mrs. D. W. Nevins, and Mrs. Sarah Ireland. Mr. Harry Van Schoiak is clerk, and Dr. E. G. Powers corresponding secretary.
Early this fall (1896) they intend to erect a church edifice in Albia, which will have as large seating capacity as any in Albia. It will be erected two blocks north of the northwest corner of the Square and one block north of the Cramer Hotel. It will be a frame building, and it is expected that it will be completed during the present year.
The church creed of these Friends is the same as that of the original Friends, or Quakers, except that in the former faction the regulations of dress are eliminated. There is another striking contrast in their manner of worship. The original Friends, or Quakers, are silent and undemonstrative, while the latter are quite the opposite, often being carried beyond the point of diginity in their religious fervor.
The Monroe County Holiness Association.
In 1892 the doctrine of "holiness," or entire sanctification, became a conspicuous theme with a certain element of
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
the Methodist, United Brethren, and a few of the Baptist societies in Monroe County. They are very zealous in their convictions, and while participating in public worship some of them become so wrought up by their emotions that their feelings approach something like a spiritual frenzy. When seized by this feeling, it is not uncommon for the subject to sink into a sort of trance, and remain in this condition some- times for hours. This phenomenon usually transpires while the subject is experiencing the explusion of inbred sin by the influence of the Holy Spirit. The change, they assert, which their spiritual state undergoes in its transition from a sin- ful state to one of absolute sinlessness is instantaneous, irre- sistible, and overwhelming. Their souls are then isolated from all worldly temptations, and all inbred sin is rooted out.
Some of the more emotional of the members adhere to the doctrine of Christian science, and profess to heal dis- eases through divine interposition.
Among the charter members of this society were Chas. Bay, Jas. Neil, D. C. Crowell, G. H. Clemmons, T. H. Parker, L. H. Parker, Joseph Parker, and Mrs. Parker, his mother, . and the latter's daughter, Mrs. Maring, D. W. Nevins, Dr. Powers and wife, W. R. Kelsey, the Patersons, Mrs. L. A. McCreary, Mrs. Sarah Ireland, Rev. Wm. Whitlock and wife. J. A. Bigelow and wife, Dallas Winecup and wife, Isaac Trimble, D. C. Currier and wife, Mrs. Hurford, A. H. Hume- ston and family, and Sol Hickman.
S. H. Humeston, of Albia, is president of this society. and Mrs. Sarah Ireland is vice-president, Miss Bertha Hume- ston secretary, and Isaac Trimble treasurer. The society is inter-denominational in character, and is governed by a Com- mitttee of Council. The membership within the county is about 200.
Their doctrine is very simple, and is about the same as that of the Salvation Army. It teaches simplicity of dress and the Golden Rule, without any accompanying "isms." Each member is expected to follow his own conscience in dis- cerning the right. They disregard the usual outward cere- monials observed by the orthodox churches, and devote their attention to simple piety.
They have no church edifices, and employ no pastors for their local organization. They worship usually in a tent at certain intervals, and employ some noted evangelist of their persuasion to conduct a camp-meeting.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
CHAPTER XVI.
Arerage Crop Yield of Monroe County for 1895, and Other Statistical Items.
The following figures are taken from the Iowa Agri- cultural Report for 1895.
The average yield per acre of agricultural prod- ucts was:
Winter wheat, bushels. 22
Corn, bushels. 40
Oats, bushels. 34
Rye, bushels. . 16
Timothy seed, bushels
3.6
Clover seed, bushels
2
Millet seed, bushels 18
Potatoes, bushels ... 134
Sweet potatoes, bushels 136
Buckwheat, bushels
141
Sorghum, gallons. . 108
Hay, timothy, tons. . 1
For these staple products, the prices on December 1st averaged as follows:
Winter wheat. $0.42
Corn. .19
Oats .. .14
Rye .20
Timothy seed 1.32
Clover seed 4.50
Millet. . .25
Potatoes. .20
Sweet potatoes .87
Buckwheat .. .45
Sorghum
.55
Hay, timothy.
7.00
The average price per head for cows on same date was $28, and that of horses $34.
In 1895 there were 10 counties in Iowa which gave a higher yield per acre of winter wheat than Monroe County. The counties of Greene, Tama, and Guthrie averaged 25
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
bushels per acre, which was the highest. Carroll, Dallas, and Adair gave an average of 24 bushels to the aere, and Palo Alto, Frémont, Van Buren, Henry, Muscatine, and Washington 23 bushels per acre. Monroe County, with her average yield of 22 bushels, came next.
Little or no spring wheat has been sown in Monroe County within recent years.
In 1895 the highest yield of corn per aere was made by Frémont County, showing 50 bushels per acre; while that of Monroe County was 40 bushels. The highest average yield of oats was made by Montgomery County, showing 71 bushels per acre; while that of Monroe was 34.
For the present year (1896) the average yield for Monroe County of the foregoing staples will be much greater than for 1895, with the exception of the oat crop. The growth of the latter crop was so exuberant that a large proportion of the acreage within the county blew down before it was headed out, and it did not fill well. The corn crop is prob- ably the heaviest the county has ever produced, and its aver- age yield per acre will reach nearly that of the corn counties bordering on the Missouri River.
During the last three or four years the yield per acre of the hay crop has been decreasing, though the acreage has not been reduced. This is mainly owing to the gradual usurpa- tion of the fields of timothy by blue-grass. During the recent seasons of drought the timothy, making a light growth, and in many cases yielding no seed, permitted the blue-grass to take its place. The blue-grass, maturing the earliest of all grasses, made a rapid growth in the spring, when there was a little moisture in the earth. Its seed matured, germinated, and choked out the timothy, which had about succumbed to the dry weather.
The most protracted drought will not kill blue-grass. It becomes parched and brown, and even its roots become dried out and apparently dead. In this condition the plant will lie dormant for months; but when the rains come, the roots return to life and the plant soon regains its verdure. It grows in great profusion on all kinds of soil, and especially on unimproved lands and timber soil, and affords valuable grazing for live stock.
In 1895 there were 1,215.437 head of horses in the State of Iowa, and of this number Monroe County had 8,961. There were only 9 counties in the State having a less num-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
ber-viz., the counties of Osceola, Dickinson, Emmett, Win- nebago, Worth, Hancock, Palo Alto, Ida, and Pocahontas. Pottawattamie County had 21,695, and showed the largest number; and Dickinson County, with her 5,211 head, showed the smallest number.
In 1895 Iowa had 3,273,525 head of cattle, of which number Monroe County had 14,546. Fayette County showed 37,910 head, being the highest number; and Emmett County had the smallest number-7,720 head.
In the same year there were 3,895,316 head of hogs in the State, and Monroe County had 6,763 head. Cedar County stood first with her 67,593 head; and Dickinson County came last, with but 4,847 head.
In 1895 Monroe County had 12 cheese factories, far out- numbering any other county in the State; the next highest number being in Humboldt County, in which there are but 5.
While Monroe County stands without a rival as the banner cheese-producing county in the State, she contains but 1 creamery. Bremer County has 28, Dubuque 27, Jones 20, Fayette 22, and Linn 24.
Some years ago the farmers of Monroe County tested the relative profits yielded by these two industries. A creamery was established at Albia under the management of competent and experienced managers. Milk routes were established throughout the county, traversing almost to the remotest parts. The milk was brought to the creamery every day by wagons sent out by the creamery. At the same time the cheese industry had gotten fairly under way; but, after a test of one season, the farmers and dairymen decided that there was more profit in sending their milk to the cheese factories, and in thus supporting the latter, the former in- dustry was abandoned.
Monroe County contains 271,408 acres of land, whose assessed valuation in 1895 was $2,320,235. This valuation included town lots. The assessed valuation of personal property was $680,498. The assessed valuation of railroad property was $579,342, making a total assessed valuation of $3,580,175.
The State tax for the same was $9,194.85; and the county, district, and city taxes were $97,846.
In 1896 Monroe County contained a population of 15,870
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, IOWA.
people. There were also 5,269 youth enumerated in the county in that year.
The amount of the permanent fund held by Monroe County in 1895 was $60,912.14, and the amount of interest apportioned was $890.46.
To-day there are doubtless 20,000 or 30,000 acres of wild land in Monroe County, lying idle. While it presents con- siderable diversity in quality, the most of it is good soil, and will afford good pleasant homes to those who have the brawn and sinew and enterprise to occupy and develop it. The greater part of this land consists of timber and brush lands, and at present can be bought at from $5 to $20 per acre, aver- aging say $12 per acre. Of course, the locality in many cases is not at present the most enjoyable; but, with the rapid change in conditions which is steadily taking place, the remotest fastnesses of the county are destined in a dozen years hence to emerge into a happier and more advanced state of civilization. The refining influence of education is reaching out on every hand, wealth and enterprise join hands with education, and with their combined influence the county will improve and each succeeding generation will be an in- provement on its predecessor. School-houses and better public roads are breaking up the coarser phases of rural lite. There is no locality within the county so remote from civili- zation but that the farmer can get his mail in a half-hour's drive. With his good team and carriage, he now drives to the county seat after supper; whereas, in former years, it took him about all day to make the trip with his team of "plugs" and heavy lumber wagon.
Every foot of tillable Monroe County soil ought to be in cultivation. The poorest farm in the county will at least furnish a home for somebody. Nobody has ever been known to starve to death on a Monroe County farm. He can con- trive to make a living, at least, and make it honestly. He has the satisfaction of sitting under the shade of his own apple- tree, and the land is his, clear down to the center of the earth. For $400 or $500 he may be able to purchase a solid section of the earth, a quarter of a mile wide, a quarter of a mile deep, and over 3,000 miles in length. It cannot be taken from him for debt, and his domicile cannot be broken into by force, without legal permission. He has a right to de- fend his domicile against the invasion of others, even to the extremity of depriving the intruder of life.
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