USA > Iowa > Boone County > History of Boone County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 41
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The first services of St. Paul's congregation were held in the Congregational Church and in Union Hall. The first rector of St. Paul's was Rev. John Hochuly, who only remained about one year. Rev. Robert Trewartha is mentioned as coming in 1871 and serv- ing the parish two years. This indicates a hiatus of three years between 1868 and 1871, in which the church was without a regular pastor. Rev. Sidney Smith succeeded Rev. Trewartha and termi- nated his pastorate in 1877. In the meantime, in 1876, St. Paul's Church was incorporated and Grace Episcopal Church was .organ- ized at Boone, by C. W. Lowrie, L. J. Alleman, J. H. Collier, James Wilson, M. A. Butler, W . F. Clark, M. W. Wells, E. E. Webb, J. W. Black, J. E. Buxton, John Pickering and James Fletcher. The first vestrymen were C. W. Lowrie, Austin Williams, M. A. Butler, L. J. Alleman and Jackson Orr, and it is presumed from the absence. of any recorded data, that Rector Sidney Smith first presided in the pulpit.
Services were first held by the Grace Society in the Baptist Church, later in a hall and then in a little chapel which the Baptists built on Fourth and Boone streets. This modest little building stood on the corner lot now the site of A. J. Barkley's beautiful home, and was never occupied by its owners. Some time before erecting their own edifice the members of Grace's met for worship in the Universal- ist Church.
St. Paul's and Grace Episcopal churches were not strong enough in numbers to maintain separate organizations and fully realizing the virtue of joining forces they consolidated in the year 1884, under the ministrations of Rev. Allen Judd, and adopted the name of Grace Episcopal Church. One year later, Rev. Samuel Gaynor was called to this parish, who took up the duties of pastor, which con- tinued for the succeeding five years. Under his administration, or
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on August 13, 1889, the corner stone for the present church edifice was laid and several months later, when the building became free of debt, it was consecrated and dedicated to the purposes intended. The structure is small, but the design readily gives the impression that the building is of the Church of England. It stands on a fine lot west of the Federal Building, on Eighth Street, and is constructed of brick. The ground which the building occupies cost $900 and the church was erected at an outlay of $4,400.
In 1889 Grace Episcopal Church had about forty members ; since then the number has been increased to seventy-five. Attendance at the Sunday school will average about thirty. The choir is a mixed, surpliced organization, whose voices are assisted by the strains of a vocalion organ. Auxiliary societies of the church are Grace Church Guild, St. Catherine's Guild and St. Agnes Guild.
The names of pastors succeeding Rector Gaynor at Grace Church follow: A. H. Barrington, 1890-1; Charles H. Bohn, 1891-4; W. H. Jones, 1894-7; Allen Judd, 1898-1900; S. M. Wilcox, 1900-1910; Thomas Horton, 1910-12; A. H. Brook, 1912-14.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TRINITY CHURCH
This society was organized in the year 1868, but prior to that time, as early as 1861, ministers came from Des Moines and preached to the German Lutheran people, services being held in the home of Mr. Zimbelman in Boonesboro. In the same year that the congre- gation was organized into a society, they erected a house of worship in Boonesboro. This building served its purpose until 1876, when it was sold and a church was erected at the corner of Eleventh and Marshall streets in Boone. In 1887 this gave way to a new church building, erected at the corner of Twelfth and Boone streets, which has served the congregation to the present time.
The original house of worship in Boonesboro is now used by the Free Methodist Society in Boonesboro, while the second build- ing, erected in 1876, has been enlarged and is now used by the parochial school, which has an attendance of between forty and fifty pupils. At the time the second church was erected, a school building and parsonage were also built and the latter now serves as a home for the parochial school teachers. The school is now in charge of Prof. John Grundmann. A new parsonage has also been erected on the lot adjoining that on which the church stands. The church property is valued today at about fifteen thousand dollars.
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The pastors who have served the congregation from the time of its organization to the present are: Revs. F. Doescher, 1868-69; L. Winter, 1869-71; G. Endres, 1871-78; J. P. Guenther, 1879-1906; O. Berbe, from 1906 to the present.
The congregation now numbers three hundred and sixty-five communicants. In the course of years the German population has become pretty well Americanized, and while formerly the services were held exclusively in the German language, services in the morn- ing are now conducted in that language and the evening services are conducted in the English language.
In connection with the church there is a Ladies' Aid Society, numbering one hundred members. It is instrumental in bettering the social and religious life of the community, and has done much toward embellishing the church property, having made many im- provements on the church, parsonage and school buildings. Alto- gether it is a very lively society.
There is also a young peoples' society of some forty or fifty members, which rents a hall in the down town district, where regu- lar monthly meetings are held, and in the course of the year enter- tainments and the like are also held.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL MISSION CHURCH
This organization dates its existence back to the year 1869, when the first religious movement among the Swedish speaking people of Boone was made by meetings held in a hall situated where the Mason wholesale building now stands, owned at that time by Wil- liam Powers. As these were the first and only Swedish services held in the town, a great number of Swedish people assembled, and as time passed it became necessary to seek a larger and more con- venient place in which to gather. Accordingly, an American Bap- tist Church, located at Fourth and Boone streets, was rented for the purpose, and meetings were held at times when the church was not in use by its owners.
As interest in the work grew it became necessary to bring about a permanent organization and this resulted in the establishment of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Boone. A house of worship was erected in 1872. The church has at all times thrived in an atmos- phere of freedom and, consequently, has not at any time joined any special denomination. In later years, however, the name of the church was changed from the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church
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to the Swedish Evangelical Mission Church, in order to harmonize better with the denomination with which it has been working in both Home and Foreign Missions. It has never been united with the Swedish Free Church of America.
The organizers and members who have been most loyal and done most in its interest are P. T. Nelson, John T. Nelson, Andrew T. Nelson, A. P. Anderson, L. A. Kouse, Carl Carlson, Alfred Zandell, Andrew Swedberg, Hans Melander, John Hanson, J. W. Johnson, Swan Anderson, A. J. Peterson, Solomon Johnson, Emanuel Nelson, Andrew S. Nelson, Andrew Johnson, Abraham Gastofson, John A. Davis, Carl Goran Anderson and others.
Among the Swedish people as among all others, different denomi- nations are at work, due to the thoughts and beliefs of its Christian people, and naturally this condition has had a bearing upon this church. Even in the morn of its existence some members sympa- thized with one denomination, others with another. Consequently, some members advocated that the church unite with the Augustana svnod, but as the majority did not sanction this, those in favor of the idea withdrew and in the year 1877 organized a church of their own, which was the beginning of the present Swedish Lutheran Church. Later, when the Swedish Mission Covenant came into existence, some of the members favored that denomination. As the original church stood firmly on its principles of independence, these withdrew and formed what is today known as the Swedish Covenant Church.
Looking aside from these discussions the work of the original church has been carried on in peace and harmony and during its existence many souls have been saved and much good has been ac- complished. In the Foreign Mission the church has taken an active part and large sums of money have been sent out in order to bring the light of salvation to those dwelling in darkness.
Interest has also been manifested in the Home Mission, as the congregation has at all times been in favor of promoting any good and religious cause. The Swedish Old Peoples' Home at this place has been greatly aided by this church, inasmuch as it donated the site upon which it is built, and subscribed generously to the build- ing fund.
Pastors who during these many years have had charge of the church at different times are L. Retlof, N. Sweders, L. Larson, A. L. Anderson, L. L. Frisk, G. E. Christofferson, A. Norlander, N. Wick- strom, G. A. Young, A. P. Ljungberg, O. Anderson, J. H. Hedstrom,
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and at the time of this writing, it is in charge of Rev. August H. Modig.
The first church building erected was in 1872, the second in 1891, and the third in 1900; the last is here represented. During its many years of existence, services were held by the church at three different places at Boone, in a schoolhouse in the country, and in the chapel at Shepherdstown. Now, as roads and all conveniences for the country folks are greatly improved, no meetings are held in the rural districts. The country people attend the regular meet- ings at the church. In the chapel in Shepherdstown meetings are held occasionally and a Sunday school of about fifty children has regular sessions each Sunday.
The church with its different branches, as the Sunday school, Young Peoples' Society, Ladies' Aid, etc., exerts an influence over about five hundred persons. The valuation of the church property, including the church, chapel and parsonage, is about twenty thou- sand dollars.
SWEDISH OLD PEOPLES' HOME
At a conference of the Swedish Evangelical Free Church of the United States of America, held in Boone, June 8-14, 1910, the first consideration tending toward the need of a home for the worthy and superannuated members of the church came up for considera- tion and it was determined that an institution should be founded with the object of including the essential ideas of a home for old people to be supported and maintained by the church.
It was apparent to the members sitting in this convention that as a contemplated home to meet the ideas and plans of the church. the City of Boone was more centrally located and greatly to be de- sired than any other point in the state. Thereupon, a committee of the conference placed the responsibility on the present secretary. Ernest Carlson, to find a suitable location for buildings and sur- roundings for a home thus contemplated.
Up to this time there had been no funds appropriated for this most laudable undertaking, but they had already associated then- selves together as friends of the beneficence ; among others was Rev. E. Thorell, of Salt Lake City, Utah. It was his desire, formally ex- pressed, that the proposed home should be erected in Boone, lowa, at a spot near or about Division Street, and that Secretary Carlson be authorized to secure an option of the grounds desired for the
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SWEDISH OLD PEOPLE'S HOME, BOONE
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purpose. At the time there did not seem to be any available land for sale, but shortly it happened that a tract of land in what is known as the Spencer Addition to the City of Boone, but recently changed hands could be secured for a nominal price. But the society had not at its disposal any ready funds that could be applied in this regard and the prospect for the home was far from being bright and en- couraging. However, Andrew Johnson, of Boone, exhibited a large and generous interest and together with Ernest Carlson, he purchased the land on which the splendid home now stands.
At this time and some time previous thereto, the matter was be- fore the people of this faith throughout the country as to where the old peoples' home should be located. Many offers had been made in various sections of the country, but the local church having se- cured land, of which an unconditional offer of it had been made to the Free Church of the United States of America for an old peoples' home, the site in Boone was accepted, notwithstanding many gen- erous offers in the same connection came to the conference from all over the country for the purpose.
The offer of the local church and a donation of $5,000, raised through the efforts of the Commercial Association of Boone, were accepted by those managing this enterprise, and in the latter part of the year 1912 contracts were let for the home, which now stands as a splendid monument to the charitable spirit of the church and the aggressive and progressive energies manifested by the Boone Commercial Association.
The fact should not here be overlooked that at a stated meeting the Boone Church contributed $4,000 toward the building. To this end and to further the plans in view, a committee was elected at the Chicago conference to arrange for the subscription of funds and to provide the necessary details entering into the building of the home. This committee consisted of Rev. J. H. Hedstrom, Ernest Carlson, C. A. Johnson, O. A. Nelson, S. J. Webster, Emanuel Nel- son, and P. T. Nelson, of Boone; S. A. Bengston, of Madrid; and Rev. Albert Carlson, of Albert City. This splendid aggregation of men organized the standing committee for the home, July 11, 1911. To the aggregation was added T. A. Hanson and Joel E. Carlson, of Boone, as members of the building committee. Having arranged to make plans and specifications, the committee having the matter in hand let the contract for the building to C. W. Ennis, of Toledo, Iowa, June 3, 1912, and on the 14th day of February, 1913, the com-
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pleted building was turned over to those officially delegated as the ones in authority.
Some time in the month of March, 1913, a matron for the home in the person of Miss Alma Strand, a former missionary to China, was secured, who assumed the duties of her position at once. The building committee having the supervision of the constructing of the home was released from all further responsibilities on April 16, 1913, its work having been diligently and effectively accomplished. The institution, automatically, thereupon passed into the jurisdiction of the trustees of the Swedish Free Church, now known and desig- nated as the Swedish Evangelical Mission Church.
The building is a beautiful modern construction of brick and stone and is located on Division Street, facing the east, between Third and Fourth streets. The grounds take up one full block. The arrangement provides for thirty rooms, for the individual com- fort of inmates, also a large and cheerful dining room; a library, liberally and generously supplied with books and current literature; an office, very attractive in its appointments and appearance; a re- ception room, for the pleasure and convenience of members and visit- ing friends; a hospital and other conveniences demanded and found in institutions of this character. On the whole the Swedish Old Peoples' Home of Boone, which has a national distinction, is not only a joy and a comfort to those coming within the circle of its beneficence, but also a pride to the City of Boone, the State of lowa and to the large hearted and benevolent people who made its exist- ence a useful and grand possibility.
In April, 1913, the following officers were elected: Rev. J. H. Hedstrom, president; Ernest Carlson, secretary; Joel E. Carlson, treasurer. To complete the board of directors the following should be named: C. A. Johnson, T. A. Hanson, and N. Wickstrom, of Boone; L. Coleman, of Madrid; C. S. Fredrickson, Meriden; and Morris Peterson, Albert City. Up to December 1, 1913, the home was under the superintendence of Rev. J. H. Hedstrom. He re- moved to Chicago at that time and was succeeded in the office by Ernest Carlson. The first matron was Miss Alma Strand, as here- tofore mentioned. Upon her resignation in August, 1913, Miss Ce- celia Floden was appointed to fill the vacancy, which position she still holds. The membership of the home during the year and up to the present time as appears in the official record, numbered eight- een. In the meantime four of this little household quietly passed away and their names now find a place in the tender recollections
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of those who knew them well and in the honored section of the Home's archives.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Early in the 'zos a number of worthy men and women of Boone met upon occasion and held religious services pursuant to the teach- ings of the Christian Church. They were organized undoubtedly in the year 1876, as the following excerpt copied from the early record, now in possession of the clerk of the church, T. L. Jones, would indicate :
"Whereas, on the 14th day of March, A. D., 1876, in the city of Boone, Iowa, there was a church organized under the name and style of the Church of Christ, composed of the following mem- bers: B. C. Reynolds, Joseph M. Wishart, A. Dodd, A. Cornwell and sixteen others, associated together according to the New Testa- ment and,
"Whereas, it is deemed advisable that such a church become a body corporate in law, with all the rights, powers and privileges of such body corporate in law, such church does adopt the following articles of incorporation."
The church took out second incorporation papers in June, 1892. Mrs. Martha Moyer, living on Greene Street, at the age of seventy- eight, but having her mental faculties in full control, is able to state that in addition to those named in the first articles of incorporation there should be included Mrs. Martha McConkey, now Mrs. Mar- tha Moyer; Mr. and Mrs. William Ames, Mrs. Elizabeth Coats, Mrs. Nancy Paxton, Mrs. Annie Dodd, wife of A. Dodd; Mrs. B. C. Reynolds, Mrs. Joseph M. Wishart and Mrs. A. Cornwell. Rev. J. L. Brokaw was the organizing pastor and meetings were held for some time at the homes of the members.
The first building owned by the society was erected on a lot in the rear of the Alexander Block, on Arden Street. It was a small frame structure, and after serving the purposes of the members for some time it was sold to the African Methodist Episcopal Church Society about 1885. The society then bought a piece of land upon which the postoffice now stands, but sold it and in the interim the congregation met in the Universalist Church, which stood on Eighth Street, where the Boone Automobile Company is now located. Here services were held for some little time and then a lot was bought on the corner of Seventh and Carroll, upon which a frame building
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was erected in 1892. The church was dedicated January 29, 1893, by the pastor, Rev. R. A. Thompson, who was assisted by Rev. F. M. Rains, of Indianapolis. The property cost about eight thousand dol- lars. The congregation remained here for some time until another change was made by the disposal of that property to the Swedish Lutheran congregation. A lot was purchased at Eighth and Craw- ford streets, north of the new high school, upon which another frame building was erected. This was sold June 30, 1901, and in its stead a lot was purchased at Eighth and Greene streets, upon which the pres- ent beautiful and substantial brick building was erected in 1902, at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars. On August 3d of that year, dedicatory services took place under the direction of the pastor, Rev. J. M. Hoffman, assisted by Rev. H. O. Breeden, pastor of the Central Christian Church at Des Moines.
Following Rev. J. L. Brokaw, the pastors who have presided over the church are: Revs. J. A. Walters, L. S. Ridenour, J. M. Van- kirk, R. A. Thompson, William Walters, William Simones, R. H. Ingram, A. M. Newens, A. E. Cory, J. M. Hoffman, S. G. Grif- fith, C. E. Ward, E. L. Ely, J. A. Houser, H. F. Ritz, and the pres- ent incumbent, Rev. J. W. Babcock.
The Christian Church of Boone is a religious body made up of a splendid class of people who are strongly bound together through social and religious ties. The membership now numbers about three hundred. There is an average attendance at the Sunday school of about one hundred and forty. The auxiliary societies are the Chris- tian Endeavor, Ladies' Aid, etc.
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
One of the oldest church societies in Boone is the Universalist congregation, organized May 9, 1871, by L. J. Orr, A. B. Holcomb, Mr. and Mrs. George Wilmot, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Head, Mr. and Mrs. 11. B. Minier, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Fogg, J. P. Tillson, C. Schoonover, H. H. Sprague, Mr. and Mrs. A. Nellis, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Farr, J. R. Crary, J. M. Smith, E. Smith, E. Schoonover, H. Goddard and Mr. and Mrs. William B. Harman.
Within a short time and before the expiration of the year of its organization a frame church building was erected at the corner of Allen and Eighth streets, at a cost of approximately four thousand dollars. The building was dedicated June 4, 1871, by Rev. A. C.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BOONE
MARION STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BOONE
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Berry, who was assisted in the formal ceremonies by Rev. C. P. Nash. It may be well to state, however, that prior to the erection of the church edifice, the members of this society met for public worship in Metropolitan Hall, and later in Ives Hall.
The first house of worship served its purpose until the year 1899, when it was abandoned for a new one which was built on the cor- ner of Carroll and Seventh streets, the dedication of which occurred in the year 1900. The old building was turned over to the contractor, and helped in part to pay the expenses incurred by the building of the new church. The lots and the building were sold for $3,000, which meant a profit of $2,000, and the present site was purchased of C. Lowry, for $2,000. The dedication took place in September, 1900, and was conducted by the pastor, Rev. Wallace A. Williams, who was assisted by visiting clergymen of the Universalist Church, who at the time were here in attendance on the State Convention.
The names of the pastors who have served this charge are here given by A. P. Fogg, one of the surviving charter members, whose memory is very dependable : H. C. Holt, the organizing pastor, who remained about two years, his successor was H. L. Sweetzer, in charge about two years; H. B. Smith, one year; Reverend Payne, one year ; following Mr. Payne's retirement, the pulpit was without a pastor about four years, and then came Mrs. Mary A. Jerrod, who occupied the pulpit one year, and after an interval of a year Mrs. Jerrod was the regular pastor for another year.
The church was without a regular minister after the departure of Mrs. Jerrod until 1893, when A. H. Curtis was engaged and ful- filled the duties of the regularly employed pastor for nine months. He was followed by Mrs. Crum, who remained about two and a half years. Her successor was Mrs. Sophia Gibbs, who was here for a similar period and then came W. A. Williams, already mentioned as having been in charge at the time of the dedication of the present house of worship. He remained one year and then gave way to his successor, H. C. Richardson, whose pastorate extended over the period of two years, when Miss Jennie Bartholomew came and re- mained two years. Her successor was L. C. Black, whose incum- bency took up two years and lapsed when the present pastor, Rev. C. A. Polson, took charge, who came in the early part of 1913.
The Sunday school was organized on the 4th day of June, 1870, according to the recollection of Mr. Fogg, who was practically the first superintendent and gave to the organization his care and atten- tion, with an interval here and there, of thirty-three years. The
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membership at this time is not as strong as it was in former years and only numbers about forty-five. The attendance at the Sabbath school is about forty. The church has the usual auxiliary societies, which assist materially in preserving the interest to be desired.
GOSPEL TABERNACLE CHURCH
A religious society, known and designated as the Gospel Taber- nacle Church, was organized April 23, 1891, by Rev. J. Charles Crawford, a minister of the Congregational Church, with a large following, who became initial members. For five years the con- gregation worshiped in the old United . Presbyterian Church at Boonesboro, now the Fifth Ward of Boone. After vacating the church, which was soon thereafter torn down, this people worshiped in a tent, during the warm season, for three years, and in the winters covering a like period a hall was occupied.
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