USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume I > Part 62
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In 1863, Rev. David N. Smith, on coming to assume the pastorate, objected to the promiscuous use of the upper part of the church. He told his people they must lift the mortgage. A committee waited on Messrs. Ingham and Callanan. Judge Callanan told them he and Mr. Ingham didn't want the prop- erty and they would help the church redeem it. "Raise us a little money and you can have all the time you want on the balance." The entire amount was soon raised, and within a year the church was dedicated. The congregation grew strong and a number of its members planted a second church on Seventh street near Aulmann's brewery. The nearness of the brewery became offensive. In time the two churches united in erecting the commodious church on Ninth and Pleasant streets which seemed ample for all coming time; but, in 1909, the con- gregation moved into the still larger and far more beautiful edifice on the hill on Pleasant street, facing Tenth.
The following named ministers have served the First Church :
Joseph Ackerman,3 1845; Andrew G. Pierce and James Ranier, 1846; James Q. Hammond, 1847-8; Joseph Ackerman, 1849; Michael Hare, 1850; Sanford Haines, 1851-2; William E. Butt, 1853; Edward W. Twinging, 1854; Samuel B. Crawford, 1855-6; George B. Jocelyn, 1857-8; Edward H. Waring, 1859; Eph- raim H. Wians, 1860; Eli M. H. Fleming, 1861; Charles C. Mabee, 1862; David N. Smith, 1863; Samuel M. Vernon, 1864-5; Pearl P. Ingalls, 1865-7; Addison C. Williams, 1867-70; Pearl P. Ingalls, 1870-73; Thomas S. Berry, 1873-6. Thomas F. Houts, 1876-7; Charles S. Ryman, 1877-80; Emerson K. Young. 1880-84; Emory Miller, 1884-7; Alfred H. Ames, 1887-92; Jos. L. Sooy, 1892-6 : E. L. Eaton, 1896-1900; Albert B. Storms, 1900-03; Edward T. Hagerman. 1903-10; George A. Scott, 1910.
Meantime congregations have gone out from the mother church until now
3 In Waring's history of the Iowa Conference this name is spelled Ockerman; and Waring adds that he "was assigned to 'Raccoon Forks mission,' but was changed to fill a vacancy at Ottumwa, then a more important place."
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
there are twenty churches that maintain the standards of Methodism in the Capital City. These are as follows :
Asbury-East Sixteenth and' Capitol avenue, Rev. Edward Fintel.
Burns-Twelfth and Crocker, Rev. LeRoy Woolrich. (This was the first Negro church organized in Des Moines. It was founded May 8, 1866, with S. T. Wells, pastor.)
Capital Park-East Thirteenth and Polk, Rev. J. C. Pike.
Easton Place-Easton boulevard and Wilbur, Rev. Carl Brown.
Fort Des Moines-South Ninth, Rev. W. A. Lower.
German -- 516 Third street, Rev. R. W. Tautenhahn. German-East Seventh and Scott, Rev. Albert Smith.
Grace-Nineteenth and Crocker, Rev. O. W. Fifer.
Highland Park-Fifth and Euclid avenue, Rev. John Arnold. Jordan-Walnut Hill, Rev. Roy Thomas.
Norwegian-Danish-East Ninth and Maple, Rev. A. Christensen.
Oak Grove-East Thirty-first, near the city limits, no settled pastor.
North Des Moines-Eighth and Washington, Rev. O. A. Luce.
Sevastopol-South Des Moines, Rev. Edward Durant.
Simpson-East Twenty-sixth and Capitol avenue, Rev. Clifton H. Hiller.
St. Paul's A. M. E .- Second and Center, Rev. I. N. Daniels.
Swedish-Pennsylvania avenue and Maple, Rev. Oscar R. Palm. Tenth M. E .- Sixth and Garfield, Rev. Edward Durant.
Wesley-East Eleventh and Des Moines, Rev. J. W. Abel.
This last named church is one of the oldest church societies in the city. It was organized as Wesley M. E. Chapel in the fall of 1856, with only four mem- bers. The organizer was Rev. E. M. H. Fleming. In the winter following, a chapel building was erected, and in February, 1857, the building was dedi- cated. In 1863, under the supervision of Rev. P. F. Brazee, an addition to the chapel was built on the north end-the addition larger than the original chapel. By this time the membership had increased to 165.
A strong feature of the Methodist Episcopal organization in Iowa is the State Methodist Convention. The first of the series was held in Iowa City in 1871. The second was held in Des Moines May 31, 1881. Bishop John F. Hurst, then a resident of Des Moines, was elected president, and Dr. J. C. W. Coxie, secretary. Hon. Coker F. Clarkson, of the Iowa State Register, deliv- ered a pleasing address of welcome, to which Bishop Hurst gave a felicitous re- sponse. At the gathering, all the great subjects involved in the work of the church were ably presented, including the history of the church in the State, temperance, education, the press, the Sabbath and Sabbath schools, revival meth- ods, the local ministry, class meetings, the pastoral office, and missions. Those agencies that call out the energies of the ladies of the church were ably repre- sented by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, Mrs. W. P. Hepburn and others.
In a statistical view of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Iowa in 1909, it appears that the Des Moines conference then included six of the twenty-one districts in the State; 225 of the 757 pastorates; 215 of the 728 effective preach- ers ; 55,067 of the total membership of 153,821; 460 of the 1,385 churches; 205 of the 682 parsonages ; and the total value of church property in the Des Moines Conference was $2,111,800, while that of all the churches in the State is $7,628,242.
In 1881, the sum of $1,924 was apportioned to the districts as the part of the Iowa Conference toward the erection of an Episcopal residence in Des Moines. But as the General Conference of the church, in 1884, took away the resident bishop from Des Moines, the project was abandoned, and the money paid was refunded to the subscribers.
The Iowa Methodist Hospital of Des Moines is owned and controlled by the M. E. Church. It proffers its services to all who may need and desire them, without regard to race, nationality, color or creed, charging moderately those
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
who are able to pay and extending free service to others. Its surgical staff consists of seventeen members, and its corps of about fifty nurses has reached a high grade of efficiency.
The hospital opened its doors January 16, 1901, with about thirty beds. The first year it cared for three hundred patients.
During 1904-5 a west wing was built at a cost of $50,000, enlarging the capacity by about one hundred beds.
In ,1906, its patients numbered 1,321 ; in 1907, 1,558; in 1908, 1,935; in 1909, more than 2,000.
In 1908 a separate home for nurses was built at a cost of $30,000 with equip- ment. It accommodates seventy-five.
The property was originally valued at $35,000 ; it is now held to be worth not less than $200,000.
The Deaconess Home and Bible Training School, Des Moines, is one of the two homes sustained by the Methodist Episcopal Church in Iowa through the agency of the Woman's Home Missionary Society. In 1892 a Deaconess Home Association of Des Moines was formed and a small house rented as headquar- ters. Maj. A. C. Bidwell left to the First M. E. Church $2,500 for home mis- sionary work. This sum was turned over to the Association and with it the Bidwell Deaconess Home, on Ninth street, was founded. The property was conveyed to the Des Moines Conference Home Missionary Society. In 1904 the Home was enlarged by the addition of eleven rooms, at a cost of $5,200. Still other additions have since been made. In 1909 the family numbered fifty, including eight deaconesses and thirty-nine in the training school. The laudable purpose of the Home is to fit women for evangelistic and nurse work, at home and abroad.
ASA TURNER Pioneer Congregationalist Preacher
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
ated from Dartmouth College and Andover Seminary; and came to Dubuque in 1858. After leaving Plymouth church he was agent for the American Mis- sionary Association, pastor at Eddyville, treasurer and librarian of Iowa Col- lege, and for thirty-six years a trustee of Iowa College. His gifts to that institution run up into the thousands. He died November II, 1897. H. S. DeForest was a native of New York, and a graduate of Yale College and Divinity School. His Iowa pastorates were Des Moines, Plymouth, Council Bluffs and Waterloo. He was president of Talladega College for seventeen years. He died January 27, '96.
Writes Mr. Douglass: "Perhaps it would be superfluous to give a sketch of Dr. Frisbie, he is so well known in Polk county, but this is what I say in my forthcoming book on Congregationalism in Iowa: Alva Lillie Frisbie came of the purest blood of the Pilgrim stock, though himself a New York Yankee, born in Delaware county, October 22, 1830. On his twentieth birthday, he learned his first lesson in the Latin grammar, and went on through Courtland Academy, Oberlin and Amherst Colleges, Yale and Andover Seminaries, to his first pas- torate of five years' duration, at Ansonia, Conn., beginning in February, 1860. One of these five years, he was at the front in the work of the Christian Com- mission, and as chaplain of the Twentieth Connecticut regiment; then six years at Danbury, and then Plymouth, Des Moines, for twenty-nine years pastor, and to this day Pastor Emeritus. For nearly thirty years he was the leading Con- gregational minister in the State; beyond dispute the Primate of the Congrega- tional Bishops of Iowa. By his position in the Cathedral parish, by his vigor of intellect, and by the abounding grace of good will and fellowship he gained and held this high distinction, and -- what is rare-excited no envy thereby. The good Doctor's testimony is: 'The long pastorate has been one of prolonged blessing and joy, in the fellowship of the splendid men of the Congregational ministry of Iowa, in the loving sympathy of the Plymouth people, and in the feeling that the labor in the Lord was not in vain. For all His name be praised.'"
The second church of Polk county was at Polk City, organized April 3, 1858. Rev. Joseph T. Cook, who organized Plymouth church, did the preliminary work in the organizing of the Polk City church. The first regular pastor was Rev. John K. Nutting,-born at Groton Mass., May 17, 1832. He graduated from Williams College and Hartford Seminary. He was ordained at Eddyville, but his first pastoral work was in Polk City. He was in charge from 1858 to 1860. His next pastorate was at Bradford, Iowa, where he built 2 "The Little Brown Church in the Vale," of which he was the architect and principal builder. His other Iowa pastorates have been Nashua, Monticello, Glenwood, Buffalo Center, Thompson, Gaza, Sioux Rapids, College Springs and Farmington. For a num- ber of years he was pastor in Ohio. He is still living, and nearly eighty years of age, and in charge of the church at Auburndale, Florida.
The pastors who followed Mr. Cook in Polk City are: E. Cleveland, '60-'62 ; William Apthorp, '62-'65; G. W. Palmer, '65-'70; Alexander Parker, '70-'71; L. S. Hand, '72-'78; John Grawe, '79-'80; R. W. Hughes, '83-'87; R. F. Laven- der. '87-'91 ; S. A. Arnold, '91-'92; L. C. Bellsmith, '93-'94; A. S. Houston, 94-'95; J. W. Buck, '95-'99; followed by the short pastorates of E. U. Menzier, and O. D. Crawford. The present pastor, since 1904, is J. H. Mintier. The first church building of the Polk City Congregationalists was the old schoolhouse, purchased and remodeled in 1863. The new building was dedicated January 30, 1870. The parsonage was purchased in 1879. The church building was re- modeled and rededicated October 22, 1899. Mr. Apthorp, the third pastor, came to Iowa in 1836, locating in Fort Madison, and supplying at Denmark. He was the first Congregational minister in the state, but not the first Congre- gational pastor. That honor belongs to Asa Turner. Mr. Apthorp, though a Congregational minister, was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Fort Madison.
2 Since immortalized in a popular song. See Midland Monthly, v. 5, p. 310.
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
The next church in Polk county was organized twenty years later,-"the Moriah" of Des Moines, in 1878. This church was Welsh at the first, but later became English. It served a good purpose for the people of the community for about twenty years. The name is still on the list, but the church is practically extinct.
On September 10, of this same year-1878-the Mitchellville church was organized. Dr. Frisbie had much to do with the organizing of this church, for he did the preliminary work in gathering the material and after the organization supplied the pulpit for about two years. He would preach at Plymouth in the morning, drive the twelve miles, hold a service at Mitchellville, and return for the evening service in the city. The pastors of the Mitchellville church have been as follows: Rev. J. W. Ferner, '80-'81; G. H. Sharpley, '83-'87; J. G. Sabin, '87-'89; H. C. Rosenberger, '89-'97; C. B. Taylor, '97-'99; V. B. Hill, '99-'01 ; W. L. Brandt. '01-'03; J. V. Rosewarne, '03-'05; L. W. Nine, '05-'06. Present pastor; since '07, P. H. Fisk. The first house was dedicated May 14, 1882, and the present building, September 27, 1903.
The fifth Congregational organization of the county was the Des Moines Pilgrim church, organized July 2, 1883. Here also, Dr. Frisbie is entitled to the credit of supervising the enterprise. Shortly before the organization, Rev. Sylvester S. Grinnell, a native of Ohio, and a graduate of Oberlin, began work in the east part of the city, and supported by the Iowa Home Missionary Society, prepared the church for organization. After leaving Des Moines, Mr. Grinnell had a pastorate at Rockford, Iowa, '84-'87, and other pastorates in Wisconsin and Michigan. He died September 12, '97. The pastors of Pilgrim church have been as follows: S. S. Grinnell, supply, '83-'84; A. W. Safford, '84-'88, now resides at Antioch, Ill .; A. D. Kinzer, '88-'92, at present resides at Kent, Wash- ington ; Clinton Douglass, '92-1900, deceased; J. W. Fetterhoff, 1900-'02, resid- ing now at Macon, Ill .; John B. Losey, '02-'07; Arthur Metcalf; '07-'I0, now pastor at Webster City; and Rev. John C. Prince, 191I.
The sixth church is the North Park, Des Moines, organized January 5, 1885. This, too, is the handiwork of Dr. Frisbie; although he knew it would cut into Plymouth's membership, somewhat, he thought there ought to be a church in the north part of the city, and took it upon himself to project the enterprise. Before the church was organized he secured the services of Rev. Benjamin St. John, who began work in that part of the city in 1884. Mr. St. John is a native. of Iowa, born and reared in Riceville, Howard county. He served the church from '84-'98; was for a time general missionary of the Iowa Home Missionary Society. Later he served the church at Fayette, and now resides at Benicia, California. Other pastors are John S. Colby, '98-'99; John Comin, '99-'08; Fred A. Stephens, '08-'09; and T. O. Douglass, Jr., present pastor, who began in 1910.
The next church to be organized was at Prairie Hill, March 17, 1886. This, during its existence, was associated with the Polk City church, and supplied by its pastors. It lived to do a good service for about a decade, and then disbanded.
The next is the Berwick church, organized July 13, 1886. For some years there had existed a Union church in the community now known as Berwick. Mr. Charles E. Blodgett, who was engaged in business in Des Moines, in 1885, supplied this Union church. Under his leadership it came into the Congrega- tional fellowship. He continued to supply the church until 1888. Mr. Blodgett now resides in Chicago. Subsequent pastors have been: M. D. Archer, '88-'91, deceased ; W. R. Griffiths, '91-'92, now in Wales; Joseph Steele, '92-'02, now pastor at Kingsley ; E. C. Chevis, '02-'03, now at New Windsor, Ill .; Nelson H. May, '03-'06, pastor in South Dakota; T. B. Couchman, '07-'08, Independence, Iowa; and the present pastor since '08, E. A. Elliott.
The next to be organized is Linn Grove, February 24, '91. The credit of the gathering of this church is to be given to Rev. Joseph Steele, at that time pastor at Berwick. He served the Linn Grove church from 1891 to 1895. Later this church was united with the Bondurant church.
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
The next in point of time is the Des Moines German, organized October 20, 1892. The material for the church was gathered by Rev. Carl Hess, general missionary for the German people of the state. The first pastor was Rev. Jacob Henn, born in Germany, April 27, 1835; educated in the Fatherland; a preacher of the Evangelical Association, '58-'93; pastor of the Des Moines church, '92-'98; subsequently had pastorates in Chicago and Muscatine; died February 20, 1903. The second pastor was Rev. Otto Gerhardt, who was also born and educated in Germany. The date of his birth was June 29, 1850. He was pastor of the Evangelical Association, '76-'98, and of the Des Moines church, '97-'99. He died in office, December 4, 1899. Subsequent pastors were John P. Wilhelmie, 1900-'02, and Julius H. Kramer, '02-'04. This was the last pastor. The church disbanded in 1904, some of the members going to other German and some to English churches.
The eleventh church in the county was organized at Runnells, February 18, 1893. The town had been in existence for years, but the community had been left without Gospel privileges. An attempt was made at Christian unity by building a Union house of worship. This made the situation all the more con- fused. More than a half-dozen different denominations were quarreling for the use of the building. By and by some of the people concluded Christian unity would be best secured by organizing a Congregational church. The first pastor was Protestant Methodist, R. C. Moulton, residing in Des Moines. He served the church for the first year. Subsequent pastors were: A. M. Leich- liter, '93-'95; J. A. High, '95-'97; L. F. Bufkin, '97-'01; J. F. Lansborough, 'OI-'02; L. S. Hand, '02-'05; W. A. Alcorn, '05-'07; Edwin S. McClure, '08-'09; H. M. Peterson since '09, pastor.
Bondurant was organized January 27, '94, and from the beginning until now has been united in support of a pastor with the Linn Grove church. The pastors are as follows: Joseph Steele, '91-'95; H. H. Long, '95-'98; H. W. Rose, '98-'99; H. G. Colley, '99-1900; G. W. Tingle, 1900-'02; B. C. Tillett, '02-'04; George O. Long, '05-'07; H. C. Rosenberger, '07-'IO.
Valley Junction organized November 5, 1895. Dr. Frisbie, here again, by his counsel and influence assisted in the founding of this church. The pastors have been as follows: F. L. Johnson, '96-1900; F. W. Horner, 1900-'02; B. C. Baumgartner, '02-'03; G. L. Marsh, '03-'04; W. C. Barber, '05-'07; F. H. Rich- ardson. '07-'08; George O. Thompson, '08-'10. The building was dedicated in '98, at a cost of $3,400.
The fourteenth Congregational church in the county, is at Ankeny, organized February 15, '98. This church was organized by Mr. Steele, while pastor at Berwick. He built up the Berwick church, had to do with the organization of Bondurant and Linn Grove: and now organized this church at Ankeny. Mr. Steele was pastor of the Ankeny church from '98-'99. He spent a year on the western coast, but has returned to Iowa, and is now pastor of the church at Kingsley. Rev. Monroe E. Bachman followed him at Ankeny. The church building was dedicated November 27, 1898. This is one of the few churches that never received aid from the Home Missionary Society.
The next church to be organized is the Greenwood, Des Moines, July 3, '98. The church was gathered by the labors of Rev. C. C. Harrah, who was in the field from January to December. 1898. Other pastors were, D. B. Spencer, '99-'01; W. C. Stone, '02; F. G. Beardsley, '02-'04; H. C. Rosenberger, '04-'07. The present pastor (since '07) is James P. Burling. The dedication occurred October 15, 1899.
Crocker was organized November 3, 1901. Joseph Steele, of Ankeny, or- ganized this church, and served as pastor from the organization to 1909.
The Union church of Des Moines, organized December 18, 1903, is a colored church. Rev. H. W. Porter was pastor from '04-'IO. The present pastor is Rev. J. P. Sims. A short time ago the church dedicated a fine brick building costing over $10,000. The church is now free from debt.
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
The last church to be organized in the county is the Adelphi, November 17, 1906. Adelphi is a small station a little south of the city. The church has had a surprising development and now numbers one hundred and sixty-two. Rev. W. A. Alcorn of Runnells, supplied the church for one year, 1906-07, and since that time Mr. R. C. Helfenstein has been in charge of the church. He is a student in one of the colleges of Des Moines.
CHAPTER III.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Two prominent names will ever be associated with the founding of the Presbyterian church in Fort Des Moines, those of "Father" Samuel Cowles --- and Rev. Thompson Bird,-the second-named, a man of rare strength and in- fluence in the civic as well as religious life of the community in which he early cast his lot. Mr. Cowles represented the "Old School" and Mr. Bird, the "New School," and yet both raised the same standard in the Des Moines valley and each in his own way worked for the religious upbuilding of community life on the frontier.
The Presbyterian church began work in Fort Des Moines in a sort of double- headed way.1 Rev. Thompson Bird £ exchanged horses with his class- mate, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, then pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Indianapolis, and harnessed his team for a journey to the west. With his wife and small family he drove across Indiana, Illinois and into Iowa, reaching [the Fort] in 1847. He organized the Central Presbyterian church (New School), on the 4th of June, 1848, with five members, in one of the block houses occupied by the soldiers. On the same day, Rev. Samuel Cowles organized an Old School Presbyterian church, of thirteen members, and called it the First Presbyterian church of Des Moines. Sometime after the organization of the First church it was supplied by Rev. Mr. Swan.
Here let us turn to the minutes of the spring meeting of the church in 1851. It was resolved "that the committee on missions apply to the Board of Domestic Missions for aid to the amount of $250, for Mr. George Swan, a licentiate, as missionary at Fort Des Moines and vicinity for the following reasons :
"Mr. G. M. Swan, having visited Fort Des Moines and preached to the acceptance of the congregation, they raised a subscription, and requested that he be commended to the board as a missionary. Fort Des Moines is an impor- tant place, surrounded by thriving settlements for fifty miles around; expected by many to be the future seat of State government. The church there is sixty- five miles distant from any other of our denomination, consists of sixteen mem- bers and can raise $100. Mr. Swan will preach there one-half his time, the other half in points where churches are likely to be organized, in three or four adjacent counties. Mr. Swan has no funds, needs a horse and books, and cannot labor in that region unless the board can aid him to the amount of $250. Boarding there is very dear, and from their circumstances, and the smallness of their houses, none of the members of the church are prepared to board him."
The author of "The Story of Iowa" commenting on this resolution says :
"That would hardly answer as a picture of the great city of Des Moines, with its large and prosperous churches, and splendid and hospitable Presby- terian homes of today; although the prophecy in regard to the future of this point has been exactly fulfilled. As to early results the following statement is taken from a volume published in 1854, but we have no means of verifying the accuracy of the figures given :
1 Rev. S. E. Wishard, D. D. (pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of Des Moines in the Eighties) in Harsha's "Story of Iowa," 1890, p. 277.
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"The Synod of Iowa is divided into three Presbyteries. According to the statistical reports for 1854, this Synod consists of the following :
No. Members No. Churches
I. Presbytery of Iowa
2. Presbytery of Cedar
247
24
799 47
3. Presbytery of Des Moines 787
100
In Synod of Iowa. 1,833 171"
The Presbytery of Des Moines in '54 included Fairfield, Libertyville, Sigour- ney, Birmingham, Winchester, Oskaloosa, Washington, Brighton, Albia, Craw- fordsville, Troy, Keosauqua, Bentonsport, Kirkville, Indianola, Ottumwa, Knox- ville, and Fort Des Moines.
Continuing the record of the First Church of Fort Des Moines,2 we find that, in '53, Mr. Swan was succeeded by Mr. Lippencot, who remained one year. Rev. Robert Drake, from Lebanon, Ohio, followed, remaining about three years. Rev. Mr. Taylor, of Winterset, subsequently gave part of his time to the church. Rev. D. L. Hughes succeeded, serving as pastor for three or four years. In 1856 the congregation erected a church building on Locust street, between Seventh and Eighth, which was occupied in 1858.
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