USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 58
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F
INDEPENDENCE IN 1904
P
U3ZUM 3297
CLOAX
& CCOMTAGE UHBERS AM TTYTEAS
INDEPENDENCE STREET CARNIVAL
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arrangements of the different departments would require a volume. It was most inspiring to see what an elaborate, valuable and extensive exhibition could be collected here in our own city.
The program for this carnival included all sorts of contests and the usual carnival attractions -- comedians, jugglers, acrobatic performers, bands, fiddlers and dancers. One of the great features was a circus parade under the management of King & Leytze. This parade was made up of the most ludicrous and clever imitations and burlesques.
The coronation of the Queen of Mirth and Beauty took place on Wednesday night at the coronation platform on which had been erected a throne beauti- fully fitted up for the occasion. The street was a blaze of light and the beauti- ful decorations, music and flowers made it a scene of fairyland enchantment. The crowd was in an ecstatically happy mood and everything passed off with clock-like precision. The coronation parade was made up of the usual heralds, bands, and flower girls, maids of honor, guards, and carriages with representa- tives of the nation. The beautiful coronation car, completely covered with white chrysanthemums drawn by three white horses, tandem, each led by a postilion in white, bearing the queen to be to the place of coronation. The coronation ceremony was beautiful and impressive and carefully carried out in every detail. At the close of the ceremony, the merchants' parade took place. This consisted of the coronation attendants and about twenty beautiful floats representing the different business firms. It finished the day's festivities.
A great amount of money was spent in making this display and excellent taste was exhibited. It was admittedly the finest parade ever seen in this part of Iowa.
The Friday's program was a repetition of the two previous days with some special features and several floats added to the parade.
That the street carnival was such a decided success was largely due to the untiring zeal and interest manifested in it by all of the business men and particularly to the efficient and energetic officers. President, A. T. O'Brien; secretary, A. G. Rigby, and the various committees of whom P. C. IIeege, I. C. Plane, C. A. Raffauf, W. C. Littlejohn, D. S. Jones, J. M. Romig, Z. Stout, E. E. Hasner, and R. F. Stewart, were chairmen.
The income from all sources was $1,389.75 and it was all burned up in that week of hilarity with the exception of $4.90, enough to buy headache capsules for the officers and committees.
CHAUTAUQUAS
In 1907 the first Independence Chautauqua was held, on the Lincoln School Grounds. Over a thousand tickets were sold the first year and this insured it for the next year. Large and enthusiastic audiences have always attended which increase from year to year, and as the attendance increases, better attrac- tions are presented. The first two years the programs covered but six days -. in 1909 was increased to seven days. Some of the best talent on the American platform have visited the Independence Chantauqua.
A list of all these fine things would prove highly entertaining and interest- ing but would occupy too much space.
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This week of the whole year is set apart by old and young as a season of profitable pleasure, which usually continues unabated through twenty-one per- formanees.
In some of the other towns in the county similar summer chautauquas are held and winter lecture courses, which afford wonderful opportunities for edu- cational and social development. This chautauqua and lecture course movement has brought the finest and best talent obtainable within reach of every one. The usual price for season tickets is $1.50 for adults, and $1 for children -- which ineludes special entertainment and instruction for the children.
Nothing that has ever been conceived has had a more broadening and uplifting effect or reached so many people as the chautauqua.
FLOWER SHOWS
Under the anspiees of the Civic Improvement League, two fine flower shows have been given, the first one in 1907 in the Munson Building. The hall was completely banked and bowered with vines and flowers. All the different clubs and societies and the different grades in the schools had flower booths, and many very beautiful and artistie designs were carried out. The booths were made in a friendly competition, prizes being awarded to the several different classes of exhibitors. Mr. Bland, the hospital florist, brought down a large part of the green house and greatly assisted in the arrangement and planning of the event. One of the features which attracted much attention was the competitive flower show porters which were entered. They were many and artistie and were afterwards sold at auction.
Another feature was the refreshment room which was like an enchanted bower in its wild and natural embellishments of flower and fern.
The next year, 1908, the flower show was given in the Company L Armory and in spite of the immensity of this place and its usual barnlike appearance it was made a marvel of loveliness. The same general ideas which had proven so sneeessful the year before were carried out and many new features intro- duced. Some of these that proved particularly fascinating was the fish pond and a paper bazaar where every conceivable thing that could be made of paper was sold. Booths selling refreshments, candies, bouquets and fancy articles. These flower shows proved a very lucrative means to assist the Civic League and it was determined to have another the next year, but a long continued drought ruined all the flowers and foliage and a show was out of the question. Since then the organization has been so ably assisted by individuals and by the City Council that publie benefits are not necessary.
St. James Episcopal Church
Public Library and Monson Industrial School St. John's Catholic Church Congregational Church Independence High School
GROUP OF INDEPENDENCE BUILDINGS
CHAPTER XXIII CHURCH HISTORY
THE FIRST SERVICE-THE CHURCHES OF INDEPENDENCE-CHURCH NOTES
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The first church service held in Independence was on Thursday evening, July 31, A. D. 1856, in the Methodist Chapel, the Right Rev. Henry Washington Lee, D. D., LL. D., bishop of Iowa, officiating. Rev. Renben H. Freeman (deacon), who had just been received from the diocese of New Jersey, and who resided near the town (and who was then, and he had been ever sinee, in infirm health), was present.
In regard to the first parochial organization, the Rev. Benjamin R. Gifford states as follows :
"I visited Independence in February, 1858, and held services at the Presby- terian house of worship on the evenings of the 17th, 18th and 19th. On February 19th there was a meeting of those interested at the office of Dr. Henry S. Chase. I presided, and after consultation it was decided to organize a parish, which was accordingly done, giving it the name of the Church of the Messiah. The following gentlemen were chosen as vestry men, viz .: Rev. Renben Freeman (deacon), Mr. Oziar, J. D. Myers, H. S. Chase, R. W. Wright, Thomas Seareliff, Thomas W. Close, G. B. Thomas and William Scott. Messrs. Freeman and Chase were chosen wardens."
The communieants registered at this date were the following, viz. : Rev. R. H. Freeman, Mrs. Freeman, Isaae S. Freeman, HI. S. Chase, Mrs. Chase, Mrs. Harriet A. Woodruff, Miss Sarah E. Homans, Mr. Oziar and Dr. R. W. Wright, though it does not appear that Doctor Wright ever communed.
The Rev. Mr. Gifford made arrangements with the parish to hold monthly serviees, which were held during the greater part of that year and also of the year 1859. The services were held principally in the Masonic and Morse halls. Some few were held in the courthouse, Brown's Hall and the Presbyterian Church.
At the annual convention held May 26 and 27, 1858, the parish was admitted into union with the dioeese.
On June 3, 1859, in the Presbyterian Church, Bishop Lee confirmed the fol- lowing persons, who formed the first class of the parish, viz. : Mrs. Harvey Snow, Mrs. J. D. Myers, Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith, all of whom became communieants. In February of that year a Sunday school was organized, with four teachers and twenty seholars. Its sessions were held when church services were held, 1 Vnl. I-30
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in the same building, but chiefly in the school room of Mrs. Woodruff, who is still living, and Miss Homans, who, by a kind providence, had been spared to labor therein up to November, 1897.
The Rev. Mr. Gifford resigned the parish about the end of the year 1859, and was succeeded by the Rev. Hale Townsend on the 10th of April, 1862. During his ministry, which closed May 30, 1864, the church building was ereeted, the cornerstone of which was laid on the 9th of September, 1863, by the rector, and an address delivered by Rev. J. H. C. Bonte, of Dubuque.
In consequence of some informality in the original parochial organization, a new parish was organized, the name being changed from the Church of the Messiah to St. James Church. The first service was held in the new church on Christmas day, 1863, and the church was consecrated by the Right Reverend Bishop Lee on the Sth of May, 1864. The original cost of St. James' was $1,750.
The third record, Rev. Jacob Rambo, was called in June, 1864; accepted and entered on his duties on the Ist of August ensuing. He gave two services a month for one year, at the end of which time he resigned.
The fourth rector, Rev. Henry Adams, appears to have held the rectorship for a brief period, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Hooker Eddy (deacon), who remained less than a year.
The sixth rector in succession. the Rev. W. W. Estabrooke, commeneed his duties on the first day of May, 1868, and resigned July, 1869, and was succeeded by Rev. A. P. Crouch, whose incumbency was of short duration. After an extended vacancy Rev. Chester Smith Percival, as the eighth rector in sue- cession, commenced his duties on the 12th of February, 1871, and continued two years.
The Rev. Thomas B. Kemp, the ninth rector, was called in June, 1873; accepted and entered upon his rectorship on the 1st of October ensuing.
In November of that year the church was enlarged by the addition of choir and vestry room, and in 1876 was rebuilt. The parish was out of debt, had a. fine church building. an endowment fund of $1,000, secured by Mr. Kemp, 137 communicants who claimed it as their home, and all, with twelve exceptions, residents of Buchanan County. The value of church and other property was about seven thousand dollars.
There were three missions under the charge of the rector, viz., one in Quas- queton, where the church had eleven communicants; one in Oelwein, Fayette County, seven communicants; one in Manchester, where the church had nine communicants.
The officers of St. James' at that time were the following: The Right Rev. William Stevens Perry, D. D., LL. D., bishop; Rev. T. B. Kemp, dean of the Northern Convocational District, and rector; Mr. Seth Newman and Mr. C. D. . Jones, lay readers ; Thomas Cochlan, Sr., and C. D. Jones, Jr., wardens; George Josseyln, treasurer : G. P. Hopkins, G. S. Woodruff (secretary ) and William R. Kenyon, vestry men ; G. Woodruff, choir master : Mrs. H. A. Woodruff, organist.
The improvements made during the rectorate of Rev. Mr. Kemp consisted of the addition of choir and vestry room and tower containing the bell, and briek veneering of the entire structure, the total cost being over two thousand dollars. As is usual in such cases, much credit for this work was due to the
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organization then known as the Ladies' Aid Society, and another called the Busy Bees. In 1879 the Sunday school presented to the parish a white marble font for baptisms and also the large chandelier which hangs in the center of the church.
Reverend Mr. Kemp gave up his charge in November, 1885, and was suc- ceeded in June, 1886, by the Rev. John W. Birchmore of Muneie, Indiana. Mr. Birchmore resigned July 1, 1888, and the parish was served by Rev. Fred- eriek Win. Wey from March, 1889, to February, 1890. During this time im- provements were made amounting to about one thousand dollars, consisting principally of the present pipe organ. In December, 1890, the Rev. Chas. B. Mec entered upon his duties as rector. In 1891 the parish secured at a nominal rental the use of the residence adjoining the church on the south for a rectory, the purchase of the property having been made as an investment of funds left by Mrs. Clara M. B. Snow to establish at some time a school for young ladies. In the following year the Parish Guild purchased and presented to the parish a building to be used as Guild Hall and the same was used for suppers, gnild meetings, and week-day Lenten services for a number of years. Reverend Mr. Mee resigned in 1896 and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. O. J. Scovell in March, 1897. Mr. Scovell organized a boy choir of from ten to twenty-five members, which aided greatly in the rendering of the services. Choir stalls of hard wood were added and a choir room fitted up in the base- ment, and a sufficient supply of vestments was provided by the Parish Guild and the Woman's Auxiliary. Mr. Seovell resigned in March, 1900, being forced to abandon the ministry by reason of ill health.
The parish remained vacant eight months, during which time the services were kept up by the resident lay-reader, Mr. C. D. Jones, and neighboring elergymen. Rev. Chas. J. Shutt entered upon his duties as rector on the twenty- first Sunday after Trinity. November 4, 1900. Mr. Shutt continued in charge of St. James' for nine years, during which time he baptized sixty persons, presented fifty-three to the bishop for confirmation, officiated at twenty-two marriages and thirty-six funerals. In 1901 and 1902 the arch of the chancel was remodeled to the more churchly gothic style and the chancel improved by a handsome new altar and altar rail. New hardwood pews were also installed, the money being raised by voluntary subscription. Arrangements were also perfected with the trustees of the Clara M. B. Snow school fund, by which the vestry now has at its disposal a full annual scholarship in St. Katharine's School at Davenport, one of the finest girls' schools in the West. This scholar- ship is available to any young lady residing within the bounds of St. James' parish.
Mr. Shutt was married in May, 1906, to Miss Edna M. Poor, one of the most estimable and active church workers. In November, 1909, Mr. Shutt ac- cepted a call to larger service in St. Luke's Church, Des Moines, his resignation being regretfully aceepted by the vestry of St. James.
In December, 1909, Rev. Henry L. A. Fick of Eagle Grove, Iowa, was sent by the bishop as priest-in-charge and in March of the following year was called to be the rector. Mr. Fiek served the parish faithfully and successfully for 41/2 years, during which time all the obligations of the church for diocesan and general missions were fully met, and a nuelens established for a parish house
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fund. The sudden and untimely death of Mr. Fick is still fresh in the memory of our citizens. The funeral was held from the church on Tuesday, June 30, 1914, several of the clergy from surrounding towns being in attendance, and the music being rendered by the vested choir. The burial was in Evergreen Cemetery, Long Island.
Lay services have been maintained with some degree of regularity from that date until the present, November 14th, with an occasional supply by nearby clergy, and it is hoped before these lines are in print that St. James' parish may have secured the services of a new rector under whom the past record for good works may be maintained and carried forward to still greater things. The present membership consists of about eighty-five active communicants; the con- tributions for missions and work outside the parish amount to about three hun- dred dollars a year, besides some thirty to forty dollars by the Sunday school and a like amount by the Woman's Auxiliary.
The memorials in the church, in addition to a number of stained glass windows, are a sermon desk by Mr. Frank Megow in memory of his wife, Jennie Coghlan Megow ; a lecturn by Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Jones, in memory of her mother, Harriet A. Woodruff; a brass altar book-rest by the MeKees in memory of their mother, Mrs. Charlotte Wheeler; a hymn board in memory of George Burk, son of John and Sophie Burk; a lecturn Bible by Caroline B. Woodruff in memory of her father and mother; a large organist's hymnal in memory of Lillian Esther Fuller ; and an altar prayer book in memory of John Burk, Sr.
The present vestrymen are Messrs. C. D. Jones and Thos. Scareliff. Wardens: Messrs. Frank Megow, E. H. Sweet, C. E. Purdy, Geo. 11. MeKre. J. W. Kuhrke, E. Morphy, John G. Burk, and Robt. R. Plane. The only survivor of the orig- inal parish organization is Miss S. E. Homans, who at eighty-five is still a regular attendant.
The St. James Episcopal Church of Independence has always maintained several active church societies, among them a strong church auxiliary, which was started by Miss Homans and Mrs. Woodruff, many, many years ago.
This society has done a great deal of philanthropie and missionary work for their established missions and schools and for the poor in the congregation.
During the Lenten season they hold meetings once a week to sew for these several different interests and once a year hold a "Rummage Sale" for three or four days, from which they realize a goodly sum for these purposes. The Sunday school is one of the splendid auxiliaries of the church and that it is a live, active organization is attested by the large enrollment and the interest manifested.
METHODIST CHURCHI
There were but a few families in and about the present site of Independence when in 1850 Rev. Harvey Taylor, then traveling the Anamosa circuit, extended his mission into this hitherto unexplored region, annexing it to the Methodist field. He immediately formed a class at the old log schoolhouse, known as the Boone School-situated one and one-half miles east of Independence near the present location of the county poor farm. This class consisted of seven per- sons, as follows: Henry Sparling and his wife, Lavina Luckey Sparling, two of
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their children, Edwin and Emily, Isaac Sufficool, William Logan, and Thomas MeKenna. Henry Sparling was chosen leader of the class, a position held by him, with the exception of one year only, to the day of his death, twenty-nine years later. After a while Thomas MeKenna withdrew, Isaac Sufficool removed to Otter Creek a few miles north of Independence and there united with the Greeley Grove circuit. William Logan, by reason of his radical Abolition views, transferred his membership to the Wesleyan Church at Quasqueton. But per- haps the most honored name in the early history of the church is that of the Sparling family. "Father Sparling," as he was called, for many years had few if any equals in untiring zeal and devotion and long continued efforts to promote the interests, both spiritual and temporal, of the church of his choice. From the class over which he presided he lived to see a society of nearly three hundred members.
In the spring of 1851, several additions were made to the class from con- versions and immigration, among them Norman A. Bassett, who was chosen superintendent of a Sunday school organized at the Boone Schoolhouse and assistant leader of the class.
During the winter of 1851 and '52, meetings were held at Independence, first in a storeroom owned by C. W. Cummings on the north side of Main Street, then in a small building erected by William Brazleton, south of where the Com- mercial Bank is now located and about where the J. W. Lamb Implement House now stands (this building was also used as a schoolhouse) and then, meetings were held in N. A. Bassett's new residence on the west side of the river on River Street, long owned and occupied by Lyman J. Curtis. Esquire, and next we find them listening to the earnest practical preaching of Rev. William M. Brown in the little brick schoolhouse where now stands the county jail.
In 1855, the Rev. L. S. Asbangh was preacher in charge. But previous to this a special meeting was ealled in March, 1852, for the purpose of electing a board of trustees. The meeting was held at the residence of Rev. Orin Lewis, a local preacher, living near the present residence of Mrs. S. S. Clarke, who, not long afterwards, removed to Quasqueton, where he lived for many years.
Rev. Harvey Taylor presided at the meeting which resulted in the choice of Henry Sparling, Orin Lewis, Isaac Sufficool, George Whaite, William Logan, R. W. Wright, and N. A. Bassett, all members of the church. The first quarterly meeting was held in the barn of Dr. R. W. Wright, situated in the block south of the Courthouse Park, where the E. O. Craig residence now is located, afford- ing evidence that a church edifiee was fast becoming a necessity.
On the 13th day of April, following the organization of the board of trustees, they proceeded to "Resolve, to purchase a lot." The object was not stated, but the object is evident, for a few days later we find them receiving bids for build- ing a church 22 by 30 feet. Only two bids were received, one for $400 and the other, N. A. Bassett's, for $300, was accepted by the board and the contract was at once entered into hy which he was to erect, enclose, and lay the floor. Three years later, in April. 1855. $12 was added for base and easings. Up to the time of signing the contract for the building, no site had been secured, though undoubtedly negotiations were pending, for on July 2, 1852, Ephraim Miller and wife in consideration of the sum of $27.00, conveyed by warranty
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deed, to the trustees of the M. E. Church of Independence, lot No. two (2), in bloek No. six (6), Stoughton & MeClure's Addition.
In June, 1853, the church building was so far advanced that IIon. F. S. Wilson of Dubuque obtained permission to hold regular session of the District Court of Buchanan County under its roof. J. S. Woodward, a prominent law- yer of the early days, was admitted to the bar at this term of court.
The new church was formally dedicated in the fall of 1853. Rev. George B. Bowman, the founder of Cornell College at Mount Vernon, officiated on this occasion.
About this time another lot-one block south-was purchased for the sum of $35.00 on which was erected a small dwelling which served as parsonage for ten years, when it was sold for $400. the proceeds put at interest and afterwards absorbed in a new church. .
In 1856. the Upper Iowa Conference was organized and at its first session ap- pointed Rev. J. L. Kelley, minister for Independence. This proved to be an unfortunate selection for before the expiration of a year Reverend Kelley got into trouble with some of the local disturbers with his earnest preaching against intemperance and kindred vices. He was arraigned before a justice of the peace on some trumped up charge, which on investigation proved groundless, and he was discharged. Thwarted in their purpose, the mob gathered at the residenee of W. A. Jones, where the pastor resided, and threatened him personal violence. Mr. W. A. Jones seized a shot gun and defined the impassioned mob, keeping them at bay until the minister was spirited away. He remained a member of this conference for many years, and lectured in Independence and gave some very interesting reminiscences of pioneer life.
Fortunately, under the disturbed condition of affairs, the Rev. David Poor of the Troy Conference became a resident of the village and consented to act as supply. His two sons and daughters also were active church workers. Through his effective preaching and genial personality the congregation was greatly en- larged and it soon became apparent that their present building was too small, for the overflowing congregation, so in 1858, under his supervision, an addition eighteen feet long was built on. In 1862, the board of trustees formally re- ported all church property free from debt, except to the amount of $6.00 and this small debt was about to be liquidated. In 1864, articles of incorporation were adopted and the church became a legal institution.
Rev. S. C. Freer was the preacher in charge at the time a new parsonage was in contemplation and was instrumental in raising the subscription for it. The building was to cost not less than eight hundred dollars. A month later a motion to postpone building was carried unanimously and strange to say the subject was not again agitated for eighteen years. The question of a parsonage thus summarily disposed of, the more important one of a new church edifice occupied the sole attention and discussion of the board at almost every meeting. Finally at a meeting on July 3, 1865, the board resolved "to build a good church, speedily as possible." And to hunt for a suitable site on the north side of Main Street, but the committee appointed for that purpose reported in favor of retaining their present site. The report was accepted and adopted. But again in November another committee was appointed for the same purpose and with like results. It was finally decided
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