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 65
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The present rector, Rev. Thomas Casady, appointed January 5, 1908, took hold of the work with vigor and enthusiasm, and his four years of service have been marked with great progress. The old rectory has been moved away; the house and lot east of the church has been purchased for a rectory, and the com- modious and admirably arranged Neighborhood House built on the site of the old rectory at a cost of $30,000. The institutional work inaugurated by. Mr. Casady has greatly stimulated church work and is doing excellent "social uplift" work in the community. These improvements are nearly all paid for, and the outlook of the parish is bright.
St. Luke's parish, in North Des Moines, third of the Episcopal churches in Des Moines, traces its beginning back to about the year 1887, when at a meet- ing of ladies held at the home of J. M. Orvis, a guild was organized with Mrs. Orvis, president. The guild was afterward suspended, but the money it earned became a part of the church building fund. In the year 1899, a Sunday school was organized at the home of J. B. Marsh, with about forty members. W. C. Ince was elected superintendent, William Hoffman secretary, J. M. Orvis treas- urer, and Mrs. Anna West musical director. For several years, a faithful band of workers kept up the Sunday school, meeting at private houses and in the Baptist College. Judge David Ryan urged the claims of the mission upon the vestry of St. Paul's parish. In 1905, two-thirds of the Easter offering at St. Paul's was pledged to the North Des Moines Mission. This amounted to $1,- 359.83, --- which was increased to $2,125.83 by the North Des Moines people. A lot was purchased on Eighth street between Clark and State, a pretty little church built and dedicated May 6, 1906. At this first service in the new church, nine persons were baptized ; pledges were made for the support of a clergyman, and the mission was organized. Of the Bishop's committee appointed, Edward A. Temple was chosen president; Charles Clark, secretary ; J. B. Ryan, treas- urer. On July 4, 1906, the Bishop appointed Rev. F. T. Beckerman to be priest in charge of St. Luke's Mission, and he began his work in October of the same year. During Mr. Beckerman's time, the material and spiritual interests of the mission were advanced, and a parish house was built adjoining the church. In December, 1909, he was succeeded by Rev. Charles J. Shutt, under whose faith- ful ministrations the mission has become a self-supporting parish, and is steadily gaining in strength and usefulness.
CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST.
The Central Church of Christ, the pioneer of a dozen churches of this denomi- nation in Des Moines and its suburbs, had a humble origin in the religious zeal of a few pioneers in 1856. Several settlers in Fort Des Moines had brought with them the simple working faith of Alexander Campbell, and these were the nucleus of the church in the new city of Des Moines. The charter members of the pioneer organization were: David D. Skinner, Mrs. Mary Skinner, Samuel Bell, Mrs. Rachel Bell, Thomas Hendrix, Mrs. Pauline Hendrix, James L. Scott, Mrs. Mary A. Scott, Samuel Van Cleve, Mrs. Ruth L. Van Cleve, J. K. Gilcrest, Mrs. Julia Gilcrest, William H. Gilcrest, Mrs. Catherine Bell- Handly, Charles Nicholas, Mrs. Susan Nicholas, Benjamin F. Jones, Mrs. B. F. Jones, David Hamlin, David Hunter, William Croskey.
These pioneers, led by Evangelist B. F. Snook, attempted to organize a church in 1858, but nothing of a permanent nature was accomplished. The rallying point in those days was the Skinner home, on the site of the West High School.
In 1860, another attempt was made, and this proved successful, though the total membership did not exceed twenty-five. On the 12th day of September, of that year, this little band of Christians assembled in an upper room of the pioneer pork-packing house of Des Moines, owned by Alexander Scott-a brick building then standing on the east bank of the river. The Rev. Peter T. Russell -one of the noble band of circuit riders to whom the Iowa of to-day owes much for the start they gave the territory in things spiritual-had ridden across the State on horseback to lead the meeting. No settled pastor was within reach at the time. In 1862, the Rev. John Kimmons settled in Des Moines and divided time between the local charge and other congregations elsewhere.
The meetings of the church were first held in schoolhouses and public halls. In 1863, the first courthouse of Polk county, located on the site of the present Union depot, was bought by the church for $800.
In 1864, the Rev. James E. Gaston, of Abingdon, Ill., was called to Des Moines, and became the first settled pastor, at a salary of $800-a liberal salary for central Iowa in those days.
On July 1, 1866, the church dedicated a new building on Cherry street, the Rev. James Challen, of Davenport, conducting the dedicatory service.
In 1875, the fast-growing congregation bought, for $5,500, the property of the old school Presbyterian church, on Locust street, near Seventh, upon which the building of the Garver Hardware company now stands. When, later, a new church building was agreed upon, the property was sold for $24,000- thought to be a good price at the time.
Later, while the building was undergoing repairs, the church held services in Fairall block on the East side. The temporary change of base fortunately resulted in the organization of the Capitol Hill church, fifty-eight of its mem- bers taking letters from the parent church.
The founding of Drake university in Des Moines, in 1881, was an event of great importance to the Christian church at the State capital. From that time Des Moines became the rallying point of the church in Iowa. The founding
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of a church in University place followed in 1886-387 taking letters from the Central church.
Notwithstanding the numerous withdrawals from the parent church, the Central was still fruitful and its members continued to multiply, and a larger and more convenient edifice was deemed essential to the future growth of the organization. In May, 1889, the "Lamp" Sherman homestead, on Ninth and Pleasant streets, was bought for $11,000, and a building committee, composed of Messrs. Ewing, Breeden, Shuck, Shackleford, Owens and Jewett was ap- pointed, with D. R. Ewing as superintendent, Foster & Liebbe, architects, and George A. Jewett, secretary of the building committee. Ground was broken in June, 1889. The corner-stone was laid in the following November, Superin- tendent Ewing laying the stone. The ministers of all the down-town churches were invited to participate in the exercises. On the 19th of October, 1890, the building was dedicated. In the progress of the dedicatory service, the sum of $24,000 was raised toward the liquidation of the church debt. Former pastors Hobbs, Lucas and Hay assisted Dr. Breeden in celebrating this "red-letter day" in Des Moines church history. From that day began a new era of usefulness in the career of the Central Church of Christ.
A semi-centennial jubilee of this church was held on the 19th of October, 1910, with. sermons, addresses and sacred song, commemorative of the eventful history of the organization. Rev. Dr. H. O. Breeden, of San Francisco, who had been pastor of the Central church for twenty-three years, delivered the anniversary sermon, and in other ways assisted his worthy successor, Rev. Finis Idleman in making the occasion memorable.
The Sunday school also had a notable celebration over which Hon. N. E. Coffin presided, and in which greetings were exchanged by former superin- tendents.1
The regular pastors of the Central church from 1864 to 1910 are: James E. Gaston, to April, 1867; Alvin I. Hobbs, to June II, 1871 ; John Encel, to Febru- ary, 1872 ; D. H. Garry, to November 24, 1872 ; John C. Hay, to January 17, 1875 ; John W. Monsor, to March 19, 1876; D. R. Lucas, to June II, 1881 ; B. J. Rad- ford, to August 1, 1883; A. P. Cobb, to July 13, 1884 ; H. O. Breeden, from De- cember, 1885, to December, 1906. On the retiring pastor's recommendation, the Rev. Finis Idleman, of Paris, Ill., was chosen to succeed Dr. Breeden, and on the first day of January, 1907, Mr. Idleman began his successful pastorate here.
The outgrowth of the movement for the organization of a church of the Dis- ciples in Des Moines in 1860 is eloquently suggested by the following list of Chris- tian churches in Des Moines and its suburbs, with the membership of each :2
Central church, membership . 2,200
University Place, membership 2,800
Capitol Hill, membership 1,200
Grant Park, membership
400
Valley Junction, membership
350
Highland Park, membership
300
Park Avenue, membership
250
Mondamin Avenue, membership
I25
Ninth & Shaw, membership.
IIO
Chesterfield, membership
90
Clifton Heights, membership 30
Grand View, membership 30
Total membership 7,885
1 George A. Jewett, W. E. Coffin, D. F. Givens, E. A. Nye, J. W. Hill, G. L. Hostetler' and Dwight N. Lewis.
2 These figures and most of the information given in this subdivision of the chapter on "The Pioneer Churches of Des Moines" were drawn from the "Survey" of George A. Jewett Esq. read at the Jubilee service on October 19, 1910.
4
J. K. Gilcrest
5
Julia Gilcrest
Wm. H. Gilcrest
David D. Skinner
Mary Skinner
Peter T. Russell
8
7
9
Samuel Bell
Rachel Bell
Catherine Smith
CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN DES MOINES
3
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CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
The dedication of the Grand View Church of Christ, the happy culmination of the effort of Mrs. Nannie B. Howe to establish a church in Grand View Addition to the city, occurred June 25, 1911. The effort began with the opening of a Sun- day school at the home of Mrs. Howe on Hull avenue. Evening services were later established, students of the Bible department of Drake university preaching to good-sized audiences. The Brotherhood of University church came to Mrs. Howe's aid. They secured three lots on East Ninth street, near the end of the street-car line, then bought the frame building erected as a gymnasium of the Danish college, moved it onto the lots, finished and furnished it, giving it a seating capacity of 300. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Arthur Long, after a beautiful exercise by the girls of the Sunday school entitled "The Crowning of the Cross." Mr. Idleman made a successful appeal for funds, and Mr. Medbury gave the new church an inspiring greeting from University church.
Vol. 1-30
CHAPTER IX.
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The United Presbyterian church obtained a foothold in Fort Des Moines in 1856-7, when Revs. D. D. Christy, William Douthett, J. N. Pressly and Jonathan Stewart were sent to Iowa, by the general synod of their church, as of old the spies were commissioned by Joshua to "view the land;" and the waiting souls in the Des Moines valley that received these missionaries felt as felt the woman who concealed the spies from their pursuers-that the Lord had given them the land to be converted to His uses. At the meeting of the general synod, in 1857, Rev. Jonathan Stewart was appointed a missionary to the West. About the middle of September of that year he entered Des Moines on horseback. He visited those likely to be interested in his mission and announced his purpose to preach to those who cared to hear him. He found a friend in the Rev. Thomp- son Bird, who gladly gave him the use of the Central Presbyterian church on Fourth street, south of the Kirkwood house. Mr. Stewart made a full report of the conditions and prospects in Des Moines, but the secretary could do nothing until the next meeting of the general assembly of the church in 1858.1 The home board appointed John H. Young missionary to the Des Moines valley for one year from July 1, 1858. Unable to enter the field until August, Mr. Young was preceded by Rev. J. A. Vance, of the neighboring county of Warren. The vicissitudes of missionary life in the Des Moines valley are well illustrated by this incident :
"There were great floods in July, which damaged bridges and prevented Mr. Vance from going back to Warren county, and Mr. Young from crossing the Skunk river, so on the first Sabbath of August Mr. Vance preached in Des Moines and Mr. Young in a log schoolhouse east of the Skunk river."
The formal organization of the First United Presbyterian church of Des Moines occurred October 15, 1858. Following is the record of the organiza- tion.
"Old School Presbyterian Church, "Des Moines, Ia., Oct. 15, 1858.
"The members and adherents of the United Presbyterian church residing in Des Moines and vicinity this day met in this place to organize themselves into a congregation.
"Rev. James Miller of St. Charles, Iowa, preached a sermon from 2d Cor., 8th Chp. and 9th vs., at the close of which session was by him constituted, the members being as follows, viz: Rev. James Miller, moderator ; John Lewis, rul- ing elder, and Rev. J. H. Young (missionary), clerk; Mr. John Lewis having first satisfied the moderator that he was a member in good standing in the Asso- ciate Reformed church and a ruling elder in Brighton congregation, Iowa.
"The following persons were then, upon certificate and attestation, received into membership: Mrs. Caroline Clark, from Blairsville, Pennsylvania, congrega- tion ; Mr. Stephen J. Loughran and Mrs. Loughran, of Davenport congregation of the Associate Reformed church, and Mr. David Hillis, from Madison (In- diana) congregation of the Associate church.
"The moderator then declared the congregation organized and after some
1 Semi-Centennial Souvenir of the First U. P. Church of Des Moines, 1908.
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words of encouragement and advice to the session and congregation, closed by pronouncing the benediction.
"JAMES MILLER, Moderator. "J. H. YOUNG, Clerk.
"Memorandum.
"Services were held regularly every Sabbath, either in the public schoolhouse or house of representatives, from the Ist of August until November, 1858. Hav- ing then been denied the privilege of longer occupying the schoolhouse, and the Capitol being too far distant from many of the congregation, during the winter season, Temperance hall, East Des Moines, was procured. We commenced our services in Temperance hall, November 2, 1858, and have continued them up to the present time, March 21, 1859. Our average attendance morning and after- noon since occupying Temperance hall has been from twenty-five to thirty. In January, 1859, a Bible class was formed in connection with the church, which is still continued and is conducted by Stephen J. Loughran. Thus far we have reason to feel that our labors have not been in vain in the Lord. Our prayer is that God will continue to bless our labors.
"March 21, 1859.
'J. H. YOUNG, Missionary."
The two branches of the church which had but just united, namely, the "Associate" and the "Associate Reformed," were both represented in this little body of charter members, and these were rejoiced to be able to exemplify in the then far West, the union happily consummated in the East.
During the half century of this pioneer church three edifices were erected. The first was a small frame structure on East Second street, built at a cost of about $1,300. It was formally opened late in October, 1859. Nearly a score of years passed before the congregation began the campaign for a new and larger church. A lot was bought for $2,800 on the corner of West Grand avenue and Seventh street, and a brick church was erected. It was dedicated in 1878, under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. T. J. Kennedy. The board of church extension gave $5,000 and the local organization added $5,700. From a business point of view the property proved a good investment, for, after enjoying the use of the church until 1896, the property was sold for $18,000. The present valuable site on the corner of Ninth and School streets was purchased at a reasonable price and with the large balance a commodious, beautiful and modern edifice was erected. The first pastor to occupy the new building was Rev. W. T. McConnell. Its present membership is about 225.
Of the five charter members, three were participants in the semi-centennial of their church in 1908, namely, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen, J. Loughran and Mr .. David Hillis.
Its pulpit record, briefly given, is as follows: Rev. John H. Young con- tinued to serve as pastor till November, 1863. Rev. Thomas McCague, D. D., served as stated supply until July, 1866. He was succeeded by Rev. William Johnston, D. D., who remained until March, the following year. Rev. Richard Turnbull was installed in November, 1867, and remained until April, 1872. Rev. James P. Cowan, D. D., was installed in June, 1874, and served until April, 1878. Rev. T. J. Kennedy, D. D., became pastor in April, 1878, and remained five years. In December, 1883, Rev. Thomas A. Shaw was chosen pastor, and, after completing his theological course, entered upon his duties in the following March, serving until April, 1889. He was succeeded by Rev. W. T. McConnell, D. D., in May, 1890. His pastorate closed in December, 1897. Rev. A. C. Douglass accepted a call to this church and began his ministry in January, 1898. His pastorate closed January 31, 1910, when the present pastor, Rev. Charles P. Proudfit, succeeded him. The new pastor's work is strongly supplemented by a
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large class of men in the Sunday school, ably led by the veteran publicist and author, Hon. Henry Wallace, himself a preacher until failing health drove him from the pulpit to the farm.
An outcome of the pioneer activities of the First church and of the growth of Des Moines was the Second United Presbyterian church, organized in 1889 by sixty-eight members of the First church. An edifice was erected on the cor- ner of Sixth and Center streets. Its first pastor was Rev. W. H. Patterson, who served until June, 1901. Rev. J. A. Hervey succeeded him in the following year, serving until 1904. The growth of Des Moines to the northwest and the removal of several members led to a change of location. Through the labors of Rev. D. W. McQuiston, the Elmwood United Presbyterian church was organized in 1905, several members of the First and Second churches uniting in the organ- ization. The new church began its career of usefulness January 1, 1906. The property at Sixth and Center was sold and a beautiful and commodious house of worship was built at Thirty-fifth street and Cottage Grove avenue. The mem- bership of the new church is nearly a hundred. Mr. McQuiston was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Jamison, the present pastor.
A Third United Presbyterian church was organized in March, 1900, by mem- bers of the First church residing in East Des Moines. With a charter member- ship of only sixteen, the present membership is about one hundred. Rev. I. M. Knipe was pastor until 1904. Rev. J. A. Hervey served in 1905, and Rev. D. M. Davis to September, 1908. The church is located on East Ninth and Filmore.
10
Chas. Nicholas
Susan Nicholas
12
Judge W. V. B. Croskey
Mary P. Fuller
13
Jas. L. Scott
4
Mary Ann Scott
Mary Hopkins-Smith
CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN DES MOINES
CHAPTER X.
THE JEWISH CONGREGATIONS.
There had long been a small Jewish contingent on the East side, but not until after the holidays of 1873 was the congregation of Bnai Yeshurun orga- nized. Its first officers elected October 12, 1873, were: Joseph Kuhn, president ; J. Mandelbaum, vice-president; S. Redstone, secretary ; G. Jacobs, treasurer ; A. Lederer, D. Goldman and S. Goldstone, trustees. Its constitution was origi- nally written in German and translated into English by H. Riegelman, J. Mandel- baum and S. Redstone. On January II, 1874, a cemetery was purchased. June 8 of that year the congregation elected one Jacobs to preside over their spiritual affairs, and at the same time it joined the American Hebrew congregations. The first minister remained but two months, and L. Samish, a West side jeweler, was called to officiate during the approaching holidays.1 The next minister called was F. Shauer, of Milwaukee, who put new life into the congregation. On No- vember 1, 1874, Bnai Yeshurun unanimously decided to inaugurate the Minhag America in their services.
The first public function given under the auspices of the West side Jews was a "purim ball" in 1875, which proved to be very successful. The ball netted $230, which sum was handed over to the treasurer of the congregation for charit- able purposes.
M. Riegelman was president of Bnai Yeshurun congregation during. the years 1874-5, and Julius Mandelbaum during 1876-7. A suitable site for a synagogue was next selected, and a brick structure erected opposite the present Congrega- tional church.
In 1878 the congregation had strayed so far from the ancient standards of orthodoxy that A. Lederer, J. Alexander and M. Schloss resigned. Messrs. Kuhn, Goldstein and Samish were elected to fill their places.
The next ministers chosen were Messrs. Pollock and Dushner; but the Re- form Jews of Des Moines demanded a full-fledged minister and, in 1881, Rabbi Davidson of Ottumwa was chosen as both teacher and preacher.
The wives of the prominent Jews already named were, according to Rabbi Glazer,2 "the real spirit of the Jewish community." Every pioneer even unto this day bears witness of the heroic work of the Jewish ladies.
Going back to Bnai Israel, the East side congregation, the following were the charter members: Joseph Blotcky, M. Frank, Wolf Frank, Ben Cohen, Samuel Arenberg, David Cohen, Isaac Goldberg and Moses L. Levin.
In 1885 began the building of a synagogue on the East side. Ben Cohen, the first president of Bnai Israel, was that year succeeded by Joseph Blotcky. The congregation held out long against the new order of things; "but," says Rabbi Glazer, "gradually most of them have Americanized themselves, and soon a new order was attached to their laity life as well as their religious conduct."
In the years 1879-81 a division took place among the East side Jews, and during the holidays an attempt was made to organize a separate "mynion" which evidently failed, for two years later the two mynions were consolidated.
1 L. Samish died in Des Moines, in 1875.
2 Author of "The Jews in Iowa," from whom much of the data of this sketch was ob- tained.
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There was simultaneous progress in both the East and West side congrega- tions. "The Orthodox have a vigorous orthodoxy, and the reformers an ever- advancing Reform." By 1885, each congregation had erected permanent head- quarters, and notwithstanding their differences as to forms, "both aimed to dedi- cate their respective places of worship to the same God *
When the synagogues were dedicated, the events were of general interest, and Gentile joined with Jew in celebrating.
The West side congregation was later strengthened by the Younkers and the East side by Falk Brody and J. R. Cohen. Marcus Younker has served as vice- president and as president of Bnai Yeshuran congregation.
There are degrees of orthodoxy, and in time the temporary division already referred to was succeeded by an actual union of several Jewish families, mostly new-comers, who named the congregation Beth el Jacob, and these, without church or minister, have for several years conducted three services a day, accord- ing to orthodox laws. Its leader is C. Silberman. For a time Rabbi Zarchy ministered to this congregation.
ยท In 1895 a plan to establish a third orthodox congregation in the city was pushed to success by prominent West side merchants, including the Davidsons, L. Ginsburg, O. Cohen, Moses Levich, Abraham Adler and others. Among the Reform Jews who have ministered in Des Moines with most success were Rev. Dr. Isaac Mueller, now of Louisville, and the late Rabbi Sonnenschein, both men of marked individuality and highly respected by the community.
Rabbi Sonnenschein was succeeded by Rabbi Eugene Mannheimer, a young man of liberal education, wide range of information and rare public spirit. Since coming to Des Moines he has identified himself with the Associated Charities, social settlement work and other philanthropic movements and has gained the respect and regard of men of all creeds and conditions. The Jews are financially and socially very strong in Des Moines.
CHAPTER XI.
THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
"In the fall of 1880," wrote the Rev. Sylvan S. Hunting in his journal, "I came to Des Moines from Davenport to take up a forlorn hope in the form of a small body of Unitarians in this city. Four hundred dollars was all they could offer me as a salary, and the state conference added four hundred more. Eight hundred dollars as a salary! Think of it, reader, in a city where it cost us $1,500 or $2,000 to live! Well, I took up this job with a zeal that I never put into any other work, in a hall 60 by 20 feet-a small congregation indeed. But I induced everyone to believe that we could succeed, and we pushed the enterprise. The society raised its four hundred dollars, and then added a little more the second year. Then we began the church edifice. About $6,000 was raised in this city, and when we were through the American Unitarian associa- tion had put in $4,000 more. December 3, 1882, we dedicated a church-a good building and a small congregation.
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