USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > Burlington > Hand book of the First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Iowa > Part 2
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During the present pastorate of a little more than six years two hundred and fourteen persons have been added to the mem' bership of our Church. Of this number ninety were on profes- sion of faith. Sixty-four infants and twenty-four adults have been baptized. The Pastor has conducted an average of two hun- dred and fifty religious services each year.
The contributions to the Boards of the Church in this time amount to $2,768, against $1,432 in all her previous history ; show- ing in this particular a very gratifying advance.
For all congregational purposes, from 1855, to January 1st, 1877, $38,189 have been paid. Of this amount, $13,720, or more than one third has been raised in the last six years. The total amount for congregational and benevolent purposes, (except the Deacon's
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Hand Book and Record of the
fund,) in twenty-one years, is $42,389. The total number of mem- bers received since the organization is five hundred and seventy- four. The present membership, April 1st, 1877, is two hundred and forty-one.
It is but an act of justice to remind the Church of its obligations to the various gentlemen who have held the laborious, and often thankless, office of Trustee. Their time and services have been given freely to promote the interests of the Church. They have struggled with the financial question through many a dark hour; and armed with the subscription paper, they have bravely led the charge on that woeful enemy of churches, Debt, and have won the victory.
The following named gentlemen held the office of Trustee for the term of service indicated :
1845-Wm. B. Ewing, John F. Henry, J. C. Fletcher, Robert Arm- strong, Nathaniel Ervin.
1847-George W. Snyder, W. D. McCord, J. G. Law.
1848-George W. Snyder, Robert Armstrong, J. G. Law.
1849-J. Gear, O. H. Schenck, J. M. Swan.
1850-Robert Armstrong, J. G. Law, John Hollingsworth.
1852-Robert Armstrong, John Hollingsworth, Denise Denise.
1853-J. N. Evans, W. F. Jones, Denise Denise.
1854-D. Denise, W. F. Jonės, Daniel Winter.
1855-John Lahee, N. Ervin, O. H. Schenck. 1856-John Lahee, N. Ervin, George Robertson. 1857-8-George H. Lane, N. Ervin, J. P. Chapman.
1859-J. M. Williams, George H. Lane, William L. McPherrin.
1860-1-J. M. Williams, W. L. McPherrin, Warner Miller.
1862-T. McCosh, Warner Miller, Samuel Robinson.
1863-John Lahee, T. McCosh, Samuel Robinson.
1864-T. McCosh, Samuel Robinson, J. M. Williams. 1865-John Lahee, R. M. Green, J. J. Heider. 1866-John Lahee, J. R. Nelson, J. J. Heider. 1867-J. R. Nelson, A. G. Barhydt, J. K. Mccullough. 1868-A. M. Antrobus, A. G. Barhydt, John Lahee. 1869-Frank McKim, J. M. Rossell, George HI. Lane. 1870-Lionel Foster, W. E. Blake, Frank McKim. 1871-W. E. Blake, J. M. Robinson, John Dickie. 1872-W. E. Blake, William Lyon, J. M. Robinson. 1873-4-W. E. Blake, W. D. McCash, Wm. Lyon. 1875-J. V. Bean, C. H. Whiting, W. E. Blake. 1876-Thomas Shaver, J. V. Bean, C. H. Whiting. 1877-C. H. Whiting, J. V. Bean, O. II. Denise.
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First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Iowa.
Not behind the men, in self-sacrificing efforts and usefulness, have been the noble women of the Church, ever ready in the past, as now, to respond to demands upon their time and labor. The Su- perintendents and Teachers of the Sunday School have had no ? small share in promoting the growth and spiritual development of the Church. It would be a pleasure to give their names a place here; but no record of the School has been preserved; and it has been found impossible to secure a complete list. The ladies and gentlemen who have freely given their faithful services in leading the praises of the congregation, deserve a grateful recog- nition and remembrance of their labors. Among them, Mrs. Joshua Tracy and Mrs. J. S. Schramm have the honor of special mention for over twenty-four years each, of continuous service in the Choir.
There is now a wide door of usefulness set open before this Church in Burlington. We have reached a position of strength and influence that makes us responsible for " bringing forth much fruit." God proportions blessings to His people's faithfulness, and they get more grace, who use the grace already bestowed. We shall be all the stronger, if we faitlifully exercise our Christian zeal in the support of Gospel work, and Sunday School missions in the neglected districts. No member of this Church will have a nobler monument to keep alive his memory in our city, than he who builds a Sunday School and Gospel Chapel, in one of the des- titute suburbs. The past teaches us that the Church has been prospered most when it has been most active. When the people sit at ease in Zion, the Lord withdraws His smile. The work done up to this hour, surely has not filled up the measure of our ability and usefulness. Is there not " more to follow ?" and better ? The future opens before us crowded with golden opportunities. Let us seize them every one. We will aim to be a living Church, a working Church, a fruitbearing Church. May every member count it an honor to be permitted to bear a part, however humble, in the upbuilding of Christ's Kingdom here; and may it be our only solicitude to have our names written, not in the fading his- tories of time, but in the Lamb's Book of Life. So shall we have at last, a place in the GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRST-BORN, WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.
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THE CHURCH.
I. Our Financial System.
Every man, according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give ; not grudgingly, or of necessity ; for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9:7.
THE TEMPORAL INTERESTS of our Church are managed by a Board of Trustees, elected annually by the Congregation. Money is needed for the support of the Pastor, and the ordinary running expenses of the home Church, and for the general extension of the Gospel through Missionary agencies. To secure the necessary funds, we have adopted the plan of Weekly Offerings. The plan has been in operation over one year, and so far, has been success- ful.
THE PLAN.
Each member and supporter of the Church is provided at the beginning of the year, with a card, containing an explanation of the system, and two blank spaces for pledges. One of these spaces is to be filled with the amount which the subscriber agrees to pay weekly for the support of the Church; including the Pastor's salary, the Sexton's hire, the Sunday School, fuel, light, insurance, &c. The other blank on the card is to be filled with the minimum amount which the subscriber will give to the general benevolent work of the Church, he agreeing to make this as much more as he is able.
These cards are then returned to the Treasurer, who enters the names on his book, and charges the amount of his weekly pledge to each subscriber. Envelopes, corresponding to the cards, with a blank space in which to enter the amount for current expenses, and another space for the amount for Benevolence, are furnished to each contributor.
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First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Iowa.
Payments are made by a weekly collection on the Sabbath day. The Treasurer credits each name with the payment made through the envelope, and his book shows every week how the account of each contributor stands up to date.
SOME ADVANTAGES OF THIS PLAN.
1. EVERY ONE, whether young or old, rich or poor, is called on to do, according to his ability, his share in the Lord's work.
2. THE PAYMENTS are made in the easiest way possible, week by week.
3. THE ANNOYANCE and the delay of collectors are avoided. Each person is his own collector.
4. GIVING TO THE LORD'S WORK is made a matter of con- science, an expression of love, an act of worship, and the subject of habitual thought and prayer.
5. DISTINCTIONS among worshippers, resting on wealth, are abolished. THE SEATS ARE ALL FREE. The poorest member of the church, giving as he is able, has done his part acceptably, “ as unto God."
6. IT SECURES THE PROMPT payment of the salary, and of the other obligations of the church.
There is no plan for raising money that will work itself. Suc- cess under the plan we have adopted depends on the united, hearty, conscientious support of the individual members of the congrega- tion. Payments must be made regularly, and promptly : and the amount must be measured by the divine rule, "As God hath pros- pered."
It is impossible to run the Church on uncertainties. The plan provides, and insists, that each member and supporter of the Church becomes responsible for a sum which he will pay. The amount of these pledges at the beginning of the year must equal a reasonable estimate of the expenditures. It will not do to go upon indefinite promises to "give something." It is the duty of the Trustees to see that they have the name and pledge of each person who is willing to do anything in support of the Church. This is not a plan for escaping individual responsibility.
If you are not supplied with the subscriber's card and envelopes, please apply to the Treasurer, or any of the Trustees.
Be careful always to have your name plainly written on your pay envelopes. It is manifestly impossible for the Treasurer to give proper credit if this is neglected.
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Hand Book and Record of the
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RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR 1876. 1
Received for current expenses.
$1,919 49
EXPENDED.
Pastor's salary
$1,500 00
Sexton. 125 00
Organist. 60 00
Fuel, Insurance and Miscellaneous
208 39 /
Sabbath School account.
26 10
Total
-$1,919 49
BENEVOLENT WORK.
Amount received
$413 42
APPROPRIATED TO THE FOLLOWING OBJECTS.
Home Missions. $102 33
Foreign Missions 152 96
Church Erection 38 25
Colportage
18 60
Education
28 94
Sustentation
24 80
Disabled Ministers' Fund.
28 94
Freedmen
18 60
Total
- $413 42
1877.
Estimate of Current Expenses for 1877 .. .$2,350 00
Are you giving your just proportion of this amount? And can you not give in addition, at the lowest estimate, ten cents a week for Benevolence ?
Bring ye all the tithes into the store house that there may be meat in mine House, and prove me now herewith saith the Lord, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, aud pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal. 3: 10.
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First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Iowa.
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II.
RECEPTION OF MEMBERS.
They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying : Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. Fer. 50: 5.
ADMISSION to church membership is the act of the Session. Those who are already members elsewhere, are received on the presentation of a certificate of standing and dismission, from the church from which they come. (Any Evangelical Church is recog- nized by us.) Such letters should be presented without delay to the Pastor, or some member of the Session.
THE BAPTIZED CHILDREN of Church members, by virtue of their baptism, stand already in the relation to the Church of cove- nant members; and they are admitted by the Session to full com- munion on giving credible evidence of their knowledge of saving truth, and of their faith in Christ. The unbaptized, on a similar profession of their faith in Christ, and of their obedience to Him, are admitted also to the sealing ordinance of Baptism.
Applicants for membership are not examined in Theology. The Church asks that her children come to her as Christians, not as Theologians ; as learners of truth, not as those who have already attained.
Persons can be received at any time. Do not wait for the com- munion to come around before doing your duty.
The authority to admit members belongs to the Session only, and is exercised by their vote on the application in the meeting of Session. But our standards provide also for a confession of Christ in the presence of the congregation. The following form has been accepted by our Session as suitable for use in this public acknowledgement of membership.
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FORM OF RECEPTION.
At the time indicated by the Session, usually the Sabbath morning before the communion, the persons previously received by the Session take their places before the pulpit.
DEARLY BELOVED; Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We trust that you have come with a sincere heart, to make humble and loving confession of the Lord Jesus, in the presence of His Church and the world.
(T'o those already Baptized.)
You have received Baptism in your infancy, through your parents' relation to the Church. Instructed in the Holy Scriptures, and led, as we hope, by the Spirit of God making the truth ef- fectual to repentance and faith, you now desire to confess that Covenant God as your God; and you freely and wholly take Christ to be your Saviour, and give yourselves to His blessed service.
(To those who are to receive Baptism.)
We trust that you have been renewed by the Holy Spirit, and are prepared now to make an unfeigned confession of your faith, and to dedicate yourselves to the service of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
You confess and deplore your natural sinfulness, together with the guilt of your life past. You believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came into the world for our salvation, who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification ; through whom are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, even the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
You receive the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and you declare that it is the honest purpose of your heart, by the grace of God helping you, to conform your life to these holy precepts. Is this your belief and purpose ?
(The ordinance of Baptism is here to be administered, after which the Pastor proceeds, speaking now to all the new members.)
Dearly Beloved in Christ: The vows of God are upon you. You have renounced the world, the flesh and the devil; and, taking the Lord Jesus as your portion, you have professed it to be the pur- pose of your soul, henceforth to love him supremely, and to devote all your powers to His service. Now, let your soul magnify the Lord, and your spirit rejoice in God your Saviour. Count not
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First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Iowa.
yourselves to have apprehended, as though you were already per- fect; but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. Yield yourselves to Him who welcomes you as His disciples, henceforth to be taught, and nurtured unto His heaven- ly kingdom. Abide in Christ, that ye may be fruitful. For, know assuredly, that without Him, ye can do nothing. But by His grace abounding towards you, ye shall continue faithful unto death, and he will give you a Crown of Life.
(Those received by certificate, will now rise in their places, the others still standing.)
The Session of this Church has received you as those who are already in covenant with God. In transferring your church mem- bership to us, you cheerfully renew your consecration to the ser- vice of Christ, and you engage as members of His Body, to seek the peace, purity and edification of this Church; and to strive earnestly to perform all the duties, both public and private, which belong to you as members of the household of faith; that you may adorn the doctrine which you have professed.
(Here let the members of the Church rise.)
We welcome you, beloved of the Lord, into our number and fellowship. We will strive in faithfulness and love, to watch over you. We ask you to help us in our labors for the Lord. May our fellowship in the Gospel be sweet and profitable, and may we together, press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
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Hand Book and Record of the
III. INFANT BAPTISM.
The time for this ordinance is, usually, the Saturday previous to the communion. Pa- rents will notify the Pastor beforehand, of their intention to bring their child for Baptism ; and will give to him in writing, the full name of the child, with the date of its birth, that the record may be correctly made. The Sacrament of Baptism will be administered just before the Sermon.
FORM FOR INFANT BAPTISM.
Parents will bring their children and take seats in front of the Pulpit.
They brought young children to Him, that He should touch them; and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them : Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16.
And I will establish my covenant between Me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in all their generations, for an everlasting cove- nant, to be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee. Genesis 17:7.
Know ye therefore, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. So then, they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Galatians 3:7-9.
For the promise is unto you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Acts 2:39.
DEARLY BELOVED: When the Lord Jesus Christ, the great
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First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Iowa.
Head of the Church, had finished the work of redemption upon the earth, and was about to enter into His glory, He spake unto His disciples, saying: All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
In as much as this divine command, and the broad provisions of the Covenant of Grace, embrace all, even the remotest nations, we and our children are comprehended in it by our blessed Saviour.
Having therefore, the assurance that our children are equally with ourselves, included in the covenant and promise of God, it is your high privilege, in accordance with the practice of the Saints of all ages, to bring them, as you now do, that you may consecrate them to God, and that they may receive the sign and seal of grace in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
THE CONFESSION.
Before God and the Church, you now humbly and joyfully con- fess yourselves the disciples of the Lord Jesus, having entered into a covenant with the living God, to be His, with all you are, and have, and hope to be; and you here claim the privileges and benefits of that covenant for your children.
You confess that you are of a race that is by nature, corrupt and sinful; and that your children partake of this evil nature, and stand in need of the renewing and cleansing, which are wrought in us only by the Holy Ghost.
You look upon Baptism, not as in itself a saving ordinance, but as the sign and seal of the righteousness of faith in this Gospel day ; and you profess your belief and hope in the promise which God has made, under His Covenant, to believers and their children.
You recognize the truth, that the promise of God is conditioned upon the faithfulness of the believer; so that, while with a joyful trust, you give your children into the hands of the faithful God, you do also most solemnly covenant and promise, for 'your part, that by His grace, you will do what He requires of you in training them in His fear and love.
THE COVENANT.
Here let the Parents rise, and remain standing before the Pulpit.
DEARLY BELOVED: You do now enter into covenant with God that these children shall be His. You promise that you will teach
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Hand Book and Record of the
them the duties which they owe to Christ, their Saviour, and to His Church, of which they now become Baptized members; and that you will instruct them in the words of the Sacred Scriptures, and in the doctrines of religion as they are set forth in the Catechism. You promise to pray with them, and for them, and that you will teach them to pray; and that you will cause them to attend regu- larly upon the services of God's House, as soon as they are of fit years ; and that, by example and precept, you will diligently en- deavor to restrain them from all sin, and bring them up to a life of virtue and piety, such as becomes the members of the Church of Christ.
Conscious of the solemnity of this act, and of your own weak- ness, and humbly relying on God for wisdom and strength, that you may be faithful ; do you now promise that you will train these, your children, for the service of Christ and the Life Everlasting ?
Often read over the above covenant, and consider whether you are faithful.
For I know him, that he will command his children, and his house- hold after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD to do justice and judgment ; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him. GENESIS, 18: 19.
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First Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Iowa.
IV.
THE MEMBERSHIP.
MAY, 1877.
But rejoice rather because your names are written in Heaven. Luke 10 : 20
· Antrobus, Augustus M., 1301 Ætna. Augutta, Miss Mary, 318 South. Atkinson, Edward, Lynn. Atkinson, Mrs. Eliza, Lynn. Bailey, Miss Sadie, 810 N. Sixth. Baird, Mrs. M. F., 317 South Boundary.
Barhydt, Theodore W., 420 Iowa. Barhydt, Mrs. Eleanor, 420 Iowa. Barhydt, Aaron G., 203 Gunnison. Barhydt, Mrs. Mary R., 203 Gunnison.
Barnes, Mrs. E. S., 809 N. Seventh.
Barrie, Mrs. Addie M., 211 Pond. Bascomb, Wyman H., Bascomb, Mrs. Ella F.
Bean, Mrs. Mary P., 206 Pond.
Bean, John V., 206 Pond.
Bean, Miss Mary E., 206 Pond. Bennett, Mrs. Sarah, 1205 N. Seventh.
Blake, W. E., 902 University Place.
Blake, Mrs. S. L., 902 University Place. Bomberger, John E., 640 Foster. Bomberger, Mrs. Blanche E., 640 Foster.
Bloom, Mrs. Mary E., 1118 Ash. Brokaw, Mrs. Christiana, 418 Pine. Brown, Mrs. Mary A., 1109 North Fifth. Brown, Mrs. Anna C., 1109 North Fifth.
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Browning, Miss Nannie, 805 North Fifth. Carson, William, 41412 Jefferson. Carson, Mrs. Nancy L., 41412 Jefferson. Chamberlin, Miss Anna, 201 North Third. Christiance, Mrs. Maria Veder, 420 Iowa. Clark, James, 402 South Leebrick.
Cook, Mrs. Lucia, 613 North Sixth.
Coulter, James, 830 Spring. Coulter, Mrs. Jane, 830 Spring. Coulter, Miss Gertrude, 830 Spring. Coulter, Mrs. Ida, 1307 Linden. Coultor, John B. 218 South Sixth .. Coultor, Mrs. Rebecca E., 218 South Sixth.
Coulter, Joseph F., 801 Warren. Cowles, Miss Marietta, 1303 Madison. Cowles, Miss Velma, 1303 Madison. Craven, Mrs. Edith, 213 South Gunnison. Crawford, Humphrey, 247 South Eighth. Crawford, Mrs. Mary M., 247 South Eighth. Crawford, Miss Mary J., 247 South Eighth. Crawford, Mrs. Mona, 815 South Main. Crawford, Miss Anna E., 815 South Main. Darling, Glasford HI., Augusta Road. Darling, George, Augusta Road. Darrow, Mrs. Isabella, 820 Maple. Davis, Miss Ada M., Agency. Denise, Denise, 617 Columbia.
Denise, Mrs. Mary, 617 Columbia.
Denise, O. H., 1101 Pleasant. Denise, Mrs. M., 1101 Pleasant. Derby, Mrs. Mary Bell, 841 Franklin. Dickie, John, 716 South Fifth. Dickie, Mrs. Jane, 716 South Fifth.
Dickie, Miss Jennie, 716 South Fifth.
Dorn, Mrs. E. A. 106 Columbia. Dunham, Mrs. Marian, 130 South Fifth. Dunn, William, 1313 Joy. Dunn, Mrs. Margaret, 1313 Joy. Elsroad, Mrs. Rachel, cor. Gertrude and Amelia. Everingham, Matthew, 216 Marietta. Everingham, Mrs. Marietta. 216 Marietta. Fisher, Charles W., 419 Jefferson. Foster, Lionel, 922 North Fifth.
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Foster, Mrs. Caroline, 922 North Fifth. Foster, Miss Mary, 922 North Fifth. Foster, Miss C. E., 922 North Fifth. Foster, Mrs. Lucia, 415 Columbia. Fulton, Mrs. Margaret, 119 South Fifth.
Fulton, Horace, 622 Court.
Funck, Mrs. Catharine, 841 Iowa. Gerlinger, Mrs. Caroline, 1418 Lewis. Gilbert, Mrs. Laura E., 1114 Angular. Glenn, Mrs. Martha, 603 Summer. Goodban, Miss Mina, 1103 North Sixth. Gordon, Mrs. Christiana, 600 North Third. Gordon, Miss Margaret J., 600 North Third. Graff, Robert J., 722 North Seventh.
Graff, Mrs. S. C., 722 North Seventh.
Gray, Miss Mary,
Green, Mrs. Harriet E., 400 High. Green, Miss Lillian, 902 University Place.
Guignon, Mrs. Emma I .. , 824 North.
Haight, Mrs. Josaphine, 917 Market. Hall, Miss Mary E., 1103 South Eighth. Hammack, Daniel M., 1201 ÆEtna. Hammack, Mrs. Bell S., 1201 ÆEtna.
Harbach, Mrs. Maria, 605 North Seventh.
Harper, Miss Anna, 1127 Smith. Heider, J. J., 90S Jefferson.
Heider, Mrs. Martha, 90S Jefferson. Hemphill, Miss Emma, 1405 Agency. Henderson, David L., 513 South Third. Henderson, Mrs. Emma, 513 South Third.
Hess, Mrs. Eliza A., 1113 Agency. Hill, George, 117 South Seventh.
Hill, Mrs. Carrie N., 117 South Seventh.
Hill, Mrs. R. L., 419 South Eighth. Hill, Miss Jennie, 419 South Eighth. Hobart, Mrs. Emma, 121 South Fifth.
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