USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 41
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GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH By John C. Gates
On March 22, 1861, five members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Waterloo, Iowa, believed that a Methodist Church was needed on the east side of the Cedar River in Waterloo. So on that date they proceeded to incor- porate the First Methodist Episcopal Church of East Waterloo, Iowa. The names of the incorporators are: J. W. Hankinson, G. R. Benight, D. B. Gilbert, Joseph Gorrell and Rev. John W. Ayers.
A Sabbath school was organized on the east side of the river, but for a period of three years no regular preaching service was maintained and no effort was made for the erection of a church edifice.
In September, 1864, the session of the Upper Iowa Annual Conference was held in the basement of the newly erected church in West Waterloo, the main auditorium not being completed. At this session of the conference, the Rev. John Bowman became pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Water- loo. Under his efficient management and inspiration the members of his church residing on the east side of the river were moved to action. At a meeting of the board of trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of East Waterloo, held in February, 1865, a resolution was adopted in favor of erecting a church at the corner of Lafayette and Fifth streets, 36 feet by 58 feet. J. W. Hankinson, William Gilchrist and E. P. Albee were appointed building committee and A. C. Bunnell, treasurer. The contract was let to J. S. Barbec.
The church was completed at a cost of $4,600. It was dedicated September 24, 1865, by Rev. A. J. Kynett, D.D., at which time the membership numbered
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seventy. Rev. R. N. Earhart was the first pastor of said church, since which time the pastors and terms of service are as follows: Rev. R. N. Earhart, 1865 to 1867; Rev. J. B. Casebeer, 1867 to 1869; Rev. E. L. Miller, 1869 to 1870; Rev. H. S. Church, 1870 to 1872; Rev. G. W. Brindell. 1872 to 1875; Rev. J. R. Berry, 1875 to 1878; Rev. A. C. Manwell, 1878 to 1881 ; Rev. F. B. Chevington, 1881 to 1884; Rev. J. H. Rhea, 1884 to 1887; Rev. Frank Brush, 1887 to 1890; Rev. Eugene May, 1890 to 1891; Rev. J. E. Ensign, 1891 to 1893; Rev. W. F. Pitner, 1893 to 1897; Rev. T. M. Evans, 1897 to 1902; Rev. J. W. Bissell, 1902 to 1904; Rev. E. G. Chattermole, 1904 to 1906; Rev. E. D. Hull, 1906 to 1913 ; Rev. A. J. Northup, 1913 to -.
In October, 1876, the membership of the church being 250 the official board adopted the following resolution :
"Whereas, We have great need of better church facilities and our present church is too small to accommodate the congregation and whereas our esteemed sister, Cornelia A. Miller, has made a liberal offer of financial aid, therefore
"Resolved, That we will make a vigorous effort to build a new church."
Andrew Thompson, J. C. Gates, Rev. J. R. Berry, A. C. Bunnell, H. A. Bailey, E. T. Cowin and J. M. Lanning were appointed building committee of which J. C. Gates was secretary and H. A. Bailey treasurer. The site selected for the new church was the corner of Fourth and Mulberry streets, at a cost of $2,000. Work thereon was commenced April 19, 1877. The corner stone of the new brick edi- fice was laid July 4, 1877, by Rev. W. H. Perrine, D. D. The church was com- pleted at a cost of $16,000 and was dedicated by Bishop E. G. Andrews, D. D., . assisted by Rev. A. P. Mead, under whose persuasive appeal pledges were ob- tained to meet the entire indebtedness. During the pastorate of Rev. W. F. Pitner a pipe organ was placed in the church at a cost of $2,500 and extensive improvements were made in the basement.
In September, 1895, an amendment of the articles of incorporation was made, changing the corporate name to Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Waterloo, which amendment was executed by the trustees, H. D. Lamb, J. M. Steely, C. F. Fowler, E. E. Peek, C. W. Illingworth, W. L. Illingworth, George W. Harbin, J. E. Wyant, and M. L. Newton.
About this time M. L. Newton started a Sunday school on Broadway and be- came its superintendent, assisted by other members of Grace Church. This work resulted in the organization of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. A num- ber of members of Grace Church took transfers to that church.
In 1910 the Linden Methodist Episcopal Church was organized and some thirty-five members of Grace Church took transfers to Linden.
During the same year under the pastorate of Rev. E. D. Hull the growth of Grace Church made it apparent that a new and larger church edifice was becom- ing necessary for the society. A new church site was obtained at a cost of $11,000 and a contract of sale of the Fourth Street property was made for $50,000. The following building committee was appointed: J. W. Arbuckle, C. F. Fowler, F. L. Benedict, E. E. Peek, Charles W. Illingworth, Charles H. Bingham, L. E. Park, treasurer, and Rev. E. D. Hull, secretary. In February, 1911, Messrs. Turnbull and Jones of Chicago were selected as architects, and Charles Wasson, of Water- loo, was appointed building supervisor. . Vol. I -22
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The cornerstone of the Fifth Street Church was laid in September, 1911, by Rev. T. M. Evans, district superintendent, assisted by Rev. Titus Lowe of Cedar Falls and Rev. W. F. Spry of Waterloo. On July 14. 1913, the church being completed, at a cost of $85,000, it was dedicated by Bishop William F. McDowell and pledges to meet an indebtedness of $18,000 were obtained by Rev. James Rowe, D. D.
But a record of the material prosperity of the church is a small part of its important history. Its true history is found in the lives of its pastors and faith- ful members who have promoted the various activities of the church since its organization, not only in the regular preaching services, but also in the choir and midweek meetings, the Sunday school, the Bible classes, the Epworth League, the Ladies Aid Society, the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Societies and latterly the Outlook Society and the Brotherhood.
The present membership of the church is about eight hundred and thirty.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL
After the division of the church in the early '6os the First Methodist Society continued to hold services on the west side.
The pastors who have occupied the pulpit of this church since the time of division are: Revs. S. A. Lee, Fairall U. Eberhart, D. Shaffer. W. Frank Pax- ton, W. P. Watkins, J. T. Crippen, I. K. Fuller, W. A. Allen, H. O Pratt, S. C. Bronson, J. G. Van Ness, W. F. Barclay, De Witt Clinton, George E. Scott, Homer C. Stuntz, S. W. Luce, W. F. Craft, J. E. Johnson, F. L. Loveland. W. F. Spry.
The first church used by this society was constructed in 1862-4 on the corner of Fourth and Jefferson. This building soon became too small and in 1889 a second house of worship was built at the corner of Fifth and Jefferson, which served the society until the construction of the present church. The old building is now used as a second-hand furniture store.
The cornerstone of the present church was laid May 18, 1910. The dedication services were to have been held March 5. 1911, but on the night preceding this day the entire dome of the new building was destroyed by fire. The loss was mostly covered by insurance and the damage was immediately repaired and the building dedicated July 9, 1911. The cost of the structure was $80,000.
There are at present 800 members in the church.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH
In 1895 about fifty German families of the St. Joseph's Church undertook to form a new parish, the new organization to be known as St. Mary's Parish. Property was secured for a new church at the corner of Park Avenue and Lafayette Street. The church was accordingly begun and completed. On Jan- uary 18, 1898, Father H. J. Hemesath from Centralia, Iowa, was appointed as the first pastor of the new church. The first service was held in the basement of the new church building, the superstructure not being finished. From that time until the completion of the church and parsonage in 1901 the people worked dili- gently to make the new society a success. In September, 1899, a parochial
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school was opened and has had a wonderful growth since that time. Father Hemesath died on November 17, 1905, and was succeeded by Reverend Father Forkenbrock on December 10. Additional property was immediately secured : the land adjoining on the east for a new parsonage, and the balance of the property fronting on Lafayette Street as far as Third Street for the St. Mary's high school building, which was built in 1906. This is one of the best Catholic high school buildings in the Middle West, built on the most modern and hygienic school plans. Lighting and heating systems have been installed in the church and parsonage, a pipe organ, and many other improvements have been added. Through the efforts of the church and its pastor a large amount of the credit is due for the building of the Franciscan Sisters' Hospital. Rev. H. P. Rohlman is in charge of the church now.
WALNUT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
The Walnut Street Baptist Church of Waterloo was organized on March 14, 1896, with a total of forty-one members. These constituted almost the whole membership of the old Free Will Baptist Church who resigned from that church to form the new society. On June 1, 1896, the first pastor was called, in the person of Rev. Robert Carroll. He stayed here for two years. A small lot at the junction of Lime and Walnut streets was secured of N. O. Munger for a five year period with an option to purchase the same for $1,500. In July, 1896, the cornerstone of the new church was laid and the building was dedicated in October of the same year. Dr. H. W. Tilden of Des Moines preached the ser- mon and Rev. E. M. Eldredge of Chicago collected the money to pay the debts. At the expiration of the lease the land was purchased at the above-named price. This original lot has been enlarged considerably since that time. Reverend Car- roll was succeeded by Dr. Hulbert G. Beeman on June 1, 1898.
The church membership grew steadily for nine years and soon the capacity of the small church building became inadequate. The need of larger quarters was strongly felt by the members. On February 27, 1907. three members of the church, inspired by noble impulses, offered the sum of $17,000 toward the erection of a new church, under the condition that the other members raise at least $13,000, the erection of the building to be started at once. This offer was acceptable to the people and in a very short time the required money was raised by sub- scription. The foundation of the church was laid in the autumn of 1907 and the finished church was dedicated October II, 1908. However, instead of costing $30,000 as originally intended, the cost ran up to $60,000.
The building is 138 by 94 feet, the longer side on Walnut and stands on a triangular lot with entrances on three streets. The church is well equipped with all modern church conveniences and is one of the best in Waterloo. Rev. J. B. Smith is the present pastor. The church is one of the two largest in Waterloo, having 900 members.
FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
This society was organized in Waterloo in the year 1869. There had been a church organized some time previously, but was not successful. At the date
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above, though, a small number met in the old David E. Champlin Hall on East Fourth and the church was started with twelve members. The first trustees were: S. V. R. Slade, Nathan Beebe and one other. Hiram Champlin was one of the first members. Rev. David E. Champlin was one of the first, if not the first, pastors of the society. The first church was a frame building standing on the corner of Lafayette Street and Park Avenue and the whole, including the lot, cost $2,200.
This society was organized by the following: Rev. D. E. Champlin, Mrs. L. Champlin, Mr. and Mrs. S. V. R. Slade, M. L. Ellis, Mr. and Mrs. J. H Bowers, Mr. and Mrs. P. MeStay, Mrs. A. Heisrodt, Misses J. Hubbard and M. J. Heis- rodt.
The pastors of this church have been : David E. Champlin, Messer, Hall, O. E. Baker. J. D. Palmer, Drake, Calkins, C. S. Frost.
The union of the Free Will Society with the regular Baptist church was ac- complished while Rev. G. F. Holt was pastor of the First Baptist Church. They united with the First Church in a body, forty-one strong, and all became members of the Walnut Street Church. This was in February. 1896.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
The First Baptist Church of Waterloo was organized on August 16. 1854. The first trustees were: H. N. Ayers, J. B. Severance, N. A. Chapin, N. J. Randolph, E. J. Phelps, C. K. Howe and S. Bagg.
The first services were held at the residence of Reverend Bicknell in a log- house on the west bank of the Cedar, near the foot of Second Street. Later some meetings were held in a log schoolhouse. Reverend Bicknell and Reverend Knapp supplied the pulpit at regular intervals. The first regular pastor was Rev. J. C. Miller and the services were held in Capwell's Hall, at the corner of Fifth and Commercial. Benight's Hall also was used, where the Russell-Lamson Block afterward stood. In 1857 Rev. A. G. Eberhart became the pastor and on April 12, 1858, the society was incorporated under the name of "The First Baptist Church and Society of Waterloo, Iowa." The names of the original incorporators were : Nelson Ayers, Thomas I. Mesick, Henry Sherman, Nehemiah J. Ran- dolph, William C. Clough, Rufus Ordway, Reuben Rush. The original organ- izers of the church were: Solomon Ayers, Julia Ayers, Sheldon Ayers, Jane C. Ayers, H. N. Ayers and wife, H. M. Ayers, Seth Lake, James Bicknell, wife and daughter, Lucy A. Bicknell, and two or three others, together with Reverend Knapp of Cedar Falls, Reverend Terry and another gentleman from the same place. The first revival of the church was conducted by Reverend Eberhart. After this revival the Presbyterian Church building was purchased and used as a lecture room.
Many of the earlier records of this society are out of existence, having been destroyed in the fire which destroyed the home of Dr. A. B. Mason, the church clerk at that time.
Rev. Frank Miller succeeded Reverend Eberhart, but as he was a Confederate in spirit he sought other fields at the opening of the Civil war. Rev. C. Billings Smith was the next pastor. Then came Rev. W. L. Hunter, William Tilley, E.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN WATERLOO, ERECTED 1856
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
K. Cressey, A. G. Eberhart and A. A. Russell. In 1874 Rev. Richard Garton became pastor and served for twelve years.
The contract for the erection of a new church was let to C. J. Maynard, of Waterloo, on June 22. 1880. The building was completed in the fall of 1881, the dedicatory sermon being preached on November 6th by Dr. W. W. Boyd of St. Louis.
Following Reverend Garton came Rev. D. Reed, and he stayed two years. Then came Rev. G. F. Holt for six years ; Rev. J. A. Earl followed while Rev. W. L. Dorgan is the present pastor.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The First Congregational Church of Waterloo was organized by council on September 24, 1856, with the following charter members: Abram P. Hosford, Joseph P. White, and wife, Cynthia White, L. B. Worcester and wife, John H. Leavitt. The very beginnings of this church, however, go father back than the above date. On August 23, 1856, Saturday, a meeting was held at the schoolhouse in Waterloo by those interested in the denomination. Rev. Oliver Emerson, agent of the American Missionary Association, was the chairman and John H. Leavitt was the clerk of the meeting. The. Council which was called to organize the church was the direct result of this meeting. At the latter meeting Rev. G. H. Woodward, of Toledo, acted as moderator and Rev. A. Graves, of York, as scribe. L. C. Sanborn, Rev. William Kent and F. S. La Due also participated in these early meetings.
The society held its first meetings in the old log schoolhouse on Jefferson Street, afterward in Benight's Hall and Capwell's Hall. According to the records the first member admitted to the church on profession of faith was Mrs. Wheeler, afterwards Mrs. William Robinson. The first adult person to be baptized was Mary Maxwell; the first infant, Roger Leavitt.
The first building, at the corner of Jefferson and Fifth streets, was begun in the spring of 1857 and the church society began to use the basement of the church for services on December Ist of the same year, but the panic and consequent hard times delayed the completion of the building until 1860, when it was completed and dedicated on August 23d .. Rev. Isaac Russell of Buffalo preached the sermon. In 1872 this building was enlarged and improved. How- ever, by the year 1887 it had served its time and in November was razed. The second building was begun during the pastorate of Rev. J. O. Stevenson in the fall of 1887 and was finished in September of the following year. It was dedi- cated on September 20th. The dedicatory sermon was spoken by President Gates of Iowa College, Grinnell. The church building was enlarged in 1900. The congregation decided upon a change of location in the year 1907, so the church building was sold to a syndicate.
The cornerstone of the handsome new church building was laid July 3, 1907, and the structure dedicated on April 5, 1909. It is located on the corner of South and Fourth streets and represents an expenditure of about $70,000. It was completed under the pastorate of Rev. Walter H. Rollins. The church itself is constructed of Oriental brick and Bedford limestone. It is of Gothic style archi- tecture, the roof is covered with red slate, there is a dome of art glass, memorial
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windows are installed, and the dimensions of the building are 125 by 95 feet. The church building is modern in every respect and is a model of church construction.
The pastors who have served this society are as follows: T. S. La Due, 1857-8; John S. Whittlesey, 1858-9; Orville W. Merrill, 1859-62 ; Smith B. Goode- now, 1862-3; Edward S. Palmer, 1863-5; William H. Marble, 1865-8; George Thacher, 1868-71; Alfred A. Ellsworth, 1871-76; Henry S. DeForest, 1877-8; Clayton B. Welles, 1879-83; John H. Windsor, 1883-5; John O. Stevenson, 1886-98; Allen A. Tanner, 1898-1902; Charles H. Seccombe, 1903-6; Walter H. Rollins, May 3. 1906.
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC
On October 16, 1861, John H. Leavitt and James L. Cooley, administrators of the estate of Benjamin E. Cooley, sold to Bartholmew Kelley, John Fogarty and Nicholas F. Flood lots I and 4 in block 31, East Waterloo, to be held for the Catholic congregation. This was the beginning of the St. Joseph's Church. Two years later, 1863, a frame church building was constructed. Father Shields, of Waverly, Bremer County, first preached to the people, they being too poor to afford a resident priest. Rev. Maurice Flavin was his successor in 1855 and after him came Father Murphy who was later killed in a railway accident at Vincennes, Indiana. In 1869 Rev. Nicholas Scallon, the first resident priest of Waterloo, came. Two years after his coming "Our Lady of Victory" Academy, a parochial school, was erected. Also the frame of a church building was put up and the church soon completed. This was in 1880. Very soon after this Father Scal- lon was forced to resign on account of ill health and he died in Utah eight years later. Following him came Father Michael Nicholls, who remained one year; then G. T. Nagel in 1884 and he served until 1893, and Rev. P. J. Burke from then until May, 1895. It was during his pastorate that the demand for a German Catholic Church was made and the work of building St. Mary's Church was begun.
On October 24, 1895, Rev. Mark Cooney was appointed the pastor of St. Joseph's and in the following month assumed the charge. In February, 1900. Father Cooney declared the church free from debt and advised the construction of a better church building. A meeting to consider the proposition was called for March 4th and was largely attended. A subscription list was opened and $4.000 was immediately raised. Father Cooney named as a building committee the fol- lowing : C. D. Wangler, J. T. Sullivan and Nicholas Federspiel, and as soliciting committee, T. A. Gadbois, H. J. Dunnwald and M. J. O'Keefe. Lot 5 in the same block was bought to add to the five lots already had in order to make room for the new church. The lot cost $1,850.
Land was broken for the new church on July 9, 1900. On September 9th of the same year the cornerstone was laid. Rt. Rev. John Carroll, of Dubuque, delivered the address. The church was dedicated on October 6, 1901, by Arch- bishop Keane. Solemn high mass was celebrated following the occasion. Murphy & Ralston, of Waterloo, were the architects and C. E. Atkinson, of Webster City, was the contractor.
The church, when completed, cost $35,000, heated, lighted, stained glass win- dows, interior decorations and furniture.
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Father Cooney died Wednesday, October 27, 1909. Father E. J. Slattery is the present pastor.
Besides the parochial school the church has connected with it the following societies : Children of Mary Sodality ; Young Ladies' Sodality of the Immaculate Conception; Living Rosary Society for Married Ladies; League of the Sacred Heart; Men's Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Joseph's Court, N. 868; Women's Catholic Order of Foresters.
THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH
The first services of this society were held in the basement of the Congrega- tional Church, beginning in 1866. Reverend Durchner was the pastor, both here and at Cedar Falls. In 1867 Beck and Nauman's Hall was secured as a place of worship. Reverend Folch then supplied the pulpit. On July 1, 1869, articles of incorporation were adopted under the name of the Lutheran Church of Water- loo. The incorporators were: John Nauman, D. Kruse, Henry Vogel, Charles F. Sury, Godfried Hartman and Conrad Bockringer. Rev. Joseph Westenberger was the first resident pastor of this society, beginning his work in 1872. A brick church building, 31 by 56 feet, was erected during his pastorate, on Jefferson Street between Main and Third. Work was begun in July, 1872, and completed the fol- lowing October, costing altogether $2,500. After Reverend Westenberger came the following pastors: Revs. W. Buehring, C. Mardorf, H. Schertz. F. Mohrl. George Sandrock, C. P. Hasskarl.
GERMAN LUTHERAN IMMANUEL CHURCH
This church was established December 29, 1878. The first services were held in the railroad chapel on East Fourth Street. During the next spring the society became owners of a lot on Water Street, along the river front, but upon the building of the Illinois Central Railroad through the business district of town they were crowded out of this location. They bought then a triangular lot be- tween Walnut, Vine and Fremont streets.
The first permanent pastor of the church was Rev. George Metzger, who stayed three years. Next came Rev. Joseph H. Fischer, who remained 31/2 years. In December, 1888, Rev. Theodore Wolfram came to preach to the con- gregation, then consisting of only eight families. A new church was built in 1890.
The parochial school has been and is one of the important features of the church. The school was first conducted in a small building at the corner of Walnut and Fremont streets. In 1900 the attendance had grown to such an extent that a new schoolhouse, modern and properly equipped, was constructed. In 1902, the work of the school becoming too heavy upon the pastor, Prof. E. O. Bert- ram, a graduate Lutheran teacher, was called to assist.
The congregation is a part of the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church. Rev. H. Prekel is the present pastor of this church.
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EMANUEL EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
In the year 1857 the Cedar Valley country was taken up as a mission field by the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Association. During that year Jacob Schoeffle and J. Mohr were sent by said conference to seek the German settlers in these regions. The former missionary was perhaps the first to come through Waterloo. He did not tarry here, but went on to Cedar Falls, where he located. In the following year H. Kleinsorge. his successor, was appointed to Waterloo as a part of a large district lying from La Porte City into Bremer County and to Fort Dodge. Consequently his visits to Waterloo were infrequent. In 1861 H. Rinze was sent to this mission. also C. Pfile preached occasionally. then Jacob Keiper in 1863. In 1864 C. Berner was sent to this field. Services were held in a hall owned by J. D. Weaver, formerly Day's Hall, but up to this time no church had been organized.
The society at Waterloo was definitely established in 1865 by Joseph Har- lacher. The following were charter members: Daniel Holdiman. Hannah Holdi- man. Rebecca Holdiman, A. W. Haffa. Emma Haffa, E. J. Rickert. Mary Rick- ert. Rebecca Weber, Carl and Caroline Ziehmer. Levi Miller. Jacob Heyer. Caro- line Heyer, J. S. Hauger, Charles and Susan Rickert and S. M. Hauger. The congregation first met for services in the public school building, then in a hall on East Fourth Street, and in the year 1870 a church building was erected at the corner of East Park Avenue and Lafayette Street. under the pastorate of Rev. C. Egge.
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