USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 42
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume I > Part 42
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
In 1773 the first conference was held, with ten ministers and 1, 160 members. The Revolutionary war came at this juncture, but instead of bringing disaster to the Methodists, really tended to increase their numbers. At the end of hos- tilities there were eighty preachers and 15,000 members. Wesley endeavored to get a bishop in England to ordain one of his preachers in America. He was not successful in this, so concluded he had the authority himself. Accordingly, on September 1, 1784, he ordained Whatcoat and Vasey as deacons, on the next day the elders, and Coke, superintendent. He instructed them to organize the American societies into a church. This was done at the Christmas Conference in Lovely Lane Chapel, Baltimore, December 24, 1784, to January 2d following. Here Asbury was ordained deacon, elder and superintendent, the societies taking the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Since then the growth has been great. In 1914 there were 62,416 churches of all branches; 41,925 ministers and 7,328,829 communicants.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, began in 1844, when the church was divided into two branches. The question of how to abolish slavery separated the members. The north churches believed in the excommunication of the states which favored slavery and the South maintained that such action would destroy all the good work which the denomination had accomplished in America. The General Conference in 1844 authorized the division.
The Methodist Protestant Church was started in 1828 and organized under that title in 1830. It traces its origin back to the Evangelical Reformation begun by John and Charles Wesley. The separation from the mother church "grew out of the controversy for rights of the laity in the lawmaking councils of the church."
The Methodists established themselves at Vernon Springs as early as 1855. The first church started in Cresco, in 1866, was that of the Methodists. It was a frame building, seating 300 people, and cost $3,000. In 1870 Cresco was made a station and Rev. J. Riddington came to preach to the people. He was followed by Revs. C. F. McLain, W. H. Brocksome, 1874; J. Dolph, 1874-76; J. L. Paine, 1876-80; George Elliott, 1880-81; G. W. Pratt, 1881-83; G. W. Ballou, 1883-85; J. D. Tull. 1885-88; F. M. Coleman, 1888-92; C. H. Marsh, 1892-93; W. C. McCurdy, 1893-95; T. E. Taylor, 1895-96; Frank P. Shaffer, 1896-99; Samuel W. Heald, 1899-1001 ; John Gammons, 1901-II; B. W. Soper, 1911-14; Will Kirwin, 1914-1917; Edwin J. Copeland, October 1, 1917 -. The Methodist Church Society at Cresco erected the present large and beautiful building in the year 1900. At conference time there were 418 members active in the church organization. The organization at Cresco was incorporated March 13, 1916, and the articles signed by John Farnsworth, M. H. Culbert, N. S. Durgin, Robert Addie, L. E. Emmons, Job Darrow, G. V. Punteney, B. F. Davis and William Kratz.
The Calvinistic Methodist Church at Lime Spring was organized March 26. 1892, by Evan H. Jones, John Price, Owen E. Thomas, G. G. Thomas, D. R. Jones and R. W. Williams.
The Methodists organized a church in Afton Township early in the year 1858. This society was started under Rev. W. Patterson. In Jamestown Town- ship Elder Mapes organized a class in 1869. In Albion Township the Methodists under Rev. William Lease started a society in 1856. In New Oregon, 1858 was
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, CRESCO
NORWEGIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, CRESCO
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
the year the Methodists established themselves. In Forest City Township two churches were started by this denomination about 1860, one at Foreston and one at Lime Spring. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Chester was organized in the township in March, 1858, with seven members. Reverend Norton of Spring Valley, Minn., supplying. The Chester Church was incorporoted May 14, 1890, by A. R. Hungerford, A. G. Hubbard, J. I. Turner, S. Radford, H. A. Murray, G. M. Plummer, Jay Roberts, H. K. Davis and W. C. Davis. Other Methodist churches in the county are located at Elma, Riceville and Bonair. Revs. Ray Busenbark, R. C. Lusk and E. C. Feree are in charge of the respective churches at this time.
CONGREGATIONAL
Congregationalism designates "a system of church organization or govern- ment, democratic in form, and rightly claimed by a great family of religious bodies, of which that popularly called Congregational is only one." This includes the polity of the Baptists, River and Plymouth Brethren, Christians. Disciples of Christ, Unitarians, Hebrew Synagogues, Adventists and American Lutherans. The word has other applications covering a broad area.
Congregationalism, as we now know it, had its origin in discussions subse- quent to the English Reformation. The earliest advocates formed the radical side of the English Puritan Protestants. It is said that notwithstanding the fact that a church Congregational in organization existed in London in 1567, Congre- gationalism itself was first in the writings of Robert Browne, of Cambridge. He organized a Congregational Church at Norwich in 1580-1. He was compelled to seek his safety in Holland, whence he issued tracts advising a separation from the Church of England. This gave the name of Separatists to the early members of the denomination. In 1587 preaching was conducted by Henry Barrowe, an attorney of London, and John Greenwood, another Cambridge man. They had gathered a large following by their eloquence and consequently came under the eye of the Government. The organization of a Congregational Church in London in 1592 was closely followed by the hanging of Barrowe, Greenwood and John Penry in the next year. Most of the members were exiled to Amsterdam, Hol- land, where they were led by Francis Johnson and Henry Ainsworth. At Scrooby and Gainesborough in England other churches modeled after the Congregational were founded; both eventually sought refuge in Holland. The former church with Pastor Robinson and Elder Brewster went to Leyden in 1609, thence a small part emigrated to New England in 1620, founding Plymouth in December of that year. Here they lived and struggled under Brewster, William Bradford, Edward Winslow and Miles Standish. More came in 1628, having been driven out of England by Charles I. They united with the former party in 1629 and afterward Massachusetts became very strongly Congregational. By 1645 there were fifty-three churches; in 1816 there were 1,020 churches and about one hundred thousand members. In 1905 there were 5.931 churches and 700,000 members.
The First Congregational Church at Cresco is the outgrowth of the society at New Oregon. This society was organized in the last named place September 7, 1856, by Rev. J. W. Windsor, with sixteen members. Reverend Windsor re- mained until 1866, then came Rev. S. D. Peet. Shortly after Windsor was
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
recalled and in 1868 the church was removed to Cresco. The first building stood on the site of the Alliance store. The society was reorganized and the church building dedicated October 25, 1868. Rev. Samuel P. Sloan preached the dedica- tory sermon. The bell which was used in this church was the first church bell in Howard County and was presented to the society by a friend in New London, Conn. Reverend Southworth came to the church in 1871 and stayed until 1876, and then came Rev. A. S. McConnell, who remained until 1890. Following him the pastors have been : Revs. William Kaufman, 1890-91 ; James Oakey, 1891-94; Joseph Doggess, 1894-96; Otis H. Holmes, 1896-1902; John A. Eakin, 1902-05; Herbert J. Hinman, 1906-12; D. T. Robertson, 1912-15; and WV. A. Bockoven, 1915 -. The church building now in use by the society was constructed and dedi- cated in the year 1899.
In Saratoga Township a Congregational Church was organized in the summer of 1858 by Reverend Coleman. In Jamestown Township Messrs. Seeley and St. John, while returning from a Sabbath school at Rice's, discussed the matter of establishing a Sabbath school nearer home. A class was formed and from this developed a Congregational Church, which was organized with thirteen members by Reverend Coleman. Meetings were first held in the St. John and Seeley homes and in the schoolhouse. In New Oregon Township a Congregational Society was established in 1856 by Reverend Windsor. In Howard Center, in the spring of 1857, a Sunday school was established through the agency of the American Sun- day School Union. L. Hassett was the superintendent and Mrs. T. R. Perry was assistant. Rev. John Windsor preached at Howard Center every two weeks from 1857 to 1858 and then came Rev. C. E. Brown for another year.
The First Congregational Church at Riceville had its origin in the society formed in Saratoga Township, Howard County, in section 4, in 1858, with Wil- liam L. Coleman as moderator and Darius Seeley and wife, Isaac St. John and wife and daughter, Esther ; Smith W. Seeley; Theodore Sanders and wife; Clara Higgins ; Mary W. Fields, Rachael M. Banks, Zacheus Banks and Nancy A. D. Seeley.
September 1. 1866, by resolution the name was changed to the name of the Congregational Church of Jamestown and articles of incorporation were filed in Cresco and Osage in January, 1869. It was known as such until June, 1917, when it was changed to the First Congregational Church of Riceville, Iowa.
The first church building was erected in October, 1869. The pastors in the order of their services were: Revs. Edwin Teele, W. L. Coleman, C. S. Marvin, W. F. Harvey, S. Penfield, O. A. Thomas, J. H. Skiles, J. A. Brown, Abbie R. Hinckley, L. M. Pierce, N. L. Packard, T. C. Hunt, S. F. Huffman, Rev. J. James and C. W. Hempstead, beginning with 1913.
The present building was erected after the destructive fire of 1901 and was dedicated December 28, 1902.
CATHOLIC
To trace the origin of the Catholic Church would be far too stupendous a task for a work of this scope. However, it may be said by way of introduction that the Roman Catholic Church would be "that portion of Christendom which acknowledges the Pope or Bishop of Rome as its head and which considers such
ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, CRESCO, IOWA
A
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ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, CRESCO
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
adherence to this definite and visible center of unity as absolutely essential to membership in its ranks."
The first account of Catholicism in America is that of the presence of priests in Greenland in the Tenth Century. The diocese of Garder was established in III2, A. D. The first authentic history opens with 1494, when twelve priests accompanied Columbus to the New World. They were subject to the Spanish See of Seville until 1512, when the first American Episcopal See of San Domingo was created. In 1522 a see was established at Santiago, Cuba, and in 1530 one in Mexico. From these latter named sees were evangelized the Indians of the north- eastern and southwestern territories of the present United States. The Fran -. ciscans, Dominicans and Jesuits established missions through here at this time, also about this same time French missionaries labored with the savages of the St. Lawrence River, Maine, northern New York and on the Mississippi River. In 1634 Jesuit fathers were established in the originally Roman Catholic colony of Maryland and after 1681 Roman Catholics were in conjunction with Penn and the Quakers in Pennsylvania. Until 1784 they were under the spiritual juris- diction of the Vicar Apostolic of London and "their religious needs were at- tended to by such missionaries as could be induced to cross the ocean."
The American Revolution brought a change for the better. The various dis- orders of the Old World resulted in a large immigration, the greater per cent of which was Roman Catholic, which in turn was largely composed of Irishmen. In 1790 the See of Baltimore was created and John Carroll made the first bishop. There were then about 30,000 Catholics in the thirteen colonies. By 1820 the number had reached 250,000; in 1840 about 1,000,000; in 1870, 5,000,000; and now the Catholics in the United States number easily 16,000,000.
The church in the United States is divided into provinces and dioceses. Each province is presided over by an archbishop and this forms an archdiocese; besides there are eighty-five separate dioceses, one vicarate and one prefecture apostolic (Alaska). The dioceses are divided into parishes and missions.
The Church of the Assumption at Cresco was first established at New Oregon in 1858 and is the oldest Catholic Society in Howard County. It was afterward moved to Cresco, where a church building was erected in 1872. Father M. A. McCarty became the rector of the Assumption Church in 1871 and for a period of thirty-nine years gave his services to the people. In 1910 Rev. T. J. Murtagh was installed as rector of the church and is the present incumbent. The church was incorporated November 16, 1911, by James J. Keane, Roger Ryan, T. J. Murtagh, D. A. Lyons and Richard Geraty. Plans are being made for the erec- tion of a new church building in Cresco, to accommodate the greatly increased number of members. A parochial school is maintained in charge of the Sisters of Charity.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Cresco was started in 1870 by the families of Joseph Schafer, Peter Rink, Henry Baker, Jacob Lickteig, Jacob Baker, John Milz, John Meyer, August Faller, Peter Ferrie, Baldwin Isaacs, John Ferrie, George Goite, Peter DeLange, Jacob Schneider, George Schneider, William Ferrie, Joseph Lickteig and Frank Schneider. The first building was of frame and was dedicated on December 18, 1870. The church was then closed until Father Anthony Ambrose was appointed to Protivin in May, 1880, and he at- tended Cresco until February, 1883. The Jesuit fathers came in 1885 from
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Prairie du Chien. Then from 1885 until 1900 Rev. F. X. Boelding, of St. Lucas, Iowa, came every two weeks. Rev. Henry Loosbrock was the first regular pastor in February, 1900, and on May 7, 1910, Rev. J. P. Wagener, the present pastor, took charge. In 1900 a new brick church was erected and the old frame church used for the parochial school in charge of the Sisters of Mercy. This church quickly became inadequate to the needs of the society and a new one, much larger and handsomer, was constructed. The new structure was dedicated Febru- ary 20, 1917.
Other Catholic churches in Howard County are the Holy Trinity Church of Protivin, Our Lady of Lourdes Church at Lourdes and the Immaculate Concep- tion Church at Elma. All of the societies are large and well housed.
BAPTIST
The First Baptist Church at Cresco had its beginning at Vernon Springs in 1857, when Rev. C. E. Brown organized a society. The church was afterward moved into Cresco and for a time met in Price's Hall. In 1882 a church building was erected on Elm Street and dedicated November 5th. This building was remodeled in 1900 and is now used by the church. Rev. J. A. Pettit is the present pastor of this church.
In 1859 the Baptists at Lime Spring under Rev. C. E. Brown perfected an organization. In Albion Township an organization was effected in 1856 by Rev. T. H. Minor.
OTHER CHURCHES
The Episcopal Society of Cresco was organized July 20, 1867, under the name of Grace Church. The first rector was Rev. J. Rambo. A church building was erected first in 1868 at a cost of $2,200, funds for which were supplied by friends in the East. The church is active now in Cresco, and though small, has an en- ergetic membership.
Other churches at Cresco are the German Lutheran and Norwegian Evan- gelical Lutheran, both in flourishing condition. The latter church was incor- porated September 20, 1879, by John Johnson, Ole T. Wastum and P. S. Grobel.
The Lime Spring Presbyterian Church was incorporated August 7, 1865, by A. D. C. Knowlton, Joseph Baldwin, D. J. Davies, G. W. Reed, and Norman Craig. The church was organized August 17, 1859, by order of the Dubuque Presbytery.
The First Church of Christ Scientist at Lime Spring was incorporated Decem- ber 30, 1907, by Mrs. Mary E. Palmquist, Mrs. Catherine Johns, Mrs. Anna C. Johns, A. E. Marsh, Mrs. Bertha L. Roberts, John G. Roberts and Thomas Johns. The Free Methodist Church at Lime Spring was incorporated January 3. 1889, by William P. and A. M. Cook. The Free Methodist Church at Bonair was incorporated October 20, 1891, by Arthur J. Cook and W. O. Simonds. The Evangelical Lutheran St. Peter's Church of Elma was incorporated in April, 1889, by Julius Lindermann, G. W. Heinmiller, William Unger and Leo Wachtel. There is also a Presbyterian Church at the Village of Chester.
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH, PROTIVIN
HOLY TRINITY PARSONAGE, PROTIVIN
Vol. 1-30
CHAPTER X
MISCELLANEOUS
( ENSUS REPORT-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY-DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION-RAILROADS-THE KYTE AFFAIR
CENSUS REPORT
The following statistics are compiled from the United States Census Report for the year 1870, and in connection with the report for 1910, following, may be used to note the growth of Howard County :
Number white inhabitants
6,270
Number colored inhabitants
12
Number acres improved land.
44,235
Number of horses
2,175
Number of mules
37
Number of milch cows
2,734
Number of working oxen
431
Number of sheep
1,648
Number of swine
2,640
Number bushels of wheat raised. 321.514
Number bushels of corn raised. 120.234
Number bushels of oats raised. 263.258
Number bushcls of barley raised
13.357
Number bushels of potatoes raised. 30,713
Number pounds of butter made. 108.351
From the report of 1910 we find statistics as follows :
Number of square miles in county 427
Population per square mile. 43.7
Rural population per square mile. 34.6
Number white inhabitants.
12,908
Number colored inhabitants.
12
Persors of native white parentage.
5.816
46
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Persons of foreign or mixed parentage. 5,264
Persons foreign born. 1,828
Males in county 6,623
Females in county . 6,297
Males of voting age 3,59I
Illiterate persons
60
Number of dwellings 2,892
Number of families 2,920
Number of farms
1,650
Approximate land area, acres.
299,785
Approximate land area in farms, acres.
285,402
Percentage of farms owned.
67
Total value of farm property $23,360,105
Total value of farm land. $16,337,781
Number of cattle
43.064
Number of horses
9,897
Number of mules
72
Number of swine
41,128
Number of sheep
11,619
Number of fowls
166,426
Number pounds butter produced.
227,404
Number pounds butter sold
124.75I
Number dozen eggs produced.
723,33I
Number dozen eggs sold
514,407
Number acres of corn
47,523
Number bushels corn produced.
1,488,538
Number acres of oats.
52,270
Number bushels oats produced.
1,324,616
Number acres of wheat.
755
Number bushels wheat produced.
12,70I
Number acres emmer and spelt.
318
Number bushels emmer and spelt produced. 7,006
Number acres of barley. 11,080
Number bushels of barley produced. 225,124
Number acres of buckwheat. 625
Number bushels buckwheat produced.
7,910
Number acres of rye. 84
Number bushels of rye produced
1,590
Total acreage
112,660
Total bushels grains produced.
3,067.535
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The fact that from the very beginning Howard County was a prosperous agricultural section led to the early formation of an agricultural society. The first move was made during the summer of 1858 and in the fall of the same year a fair was held under its auspices at Howard Center. The settlers brought in
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
their choice produce for exhibit, but the fair itself was more of a social event, in which the settlers and their families participated with keen pleasure. The agricultural society was soon abandoned, though, for lack of support. There were not enough residents in the county to make such an organization a success. In the year 1866 another effort was made and a company formed under the name of the Howard County Agricultural Society, but followed in the footsteps of its predecessor and disbanded. Not until 1871 was the third attempt made and this time was successful for a time. Ten acres of ground were secured and the proper buildings erected thereon. But the project of a county fair in Howard County seemed to be doomed to failure, as in the 'gos the society again came to grief. Since the last failure, no fairs have been held in Cresco. The land and buildings became the possession of one of the stockholders and the premises are now used as a stock farm.
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY
The Old Settlers' Society was organized during the year 1869, with Darius Seeley as president and H. D. Noble as secretary. The first annual gathering of this honored society was held during the same year at Gillett's Grove. Judge M. V. Burdick delivered the principal address of the day. In 1871 the second meeting was held at Lime Spring and W. Dobson was the principal speaker. The society was organized for the purpose of providing a common meeting place for the settlers and their families, where a chance for social and intellectual benefit would be afforded, as well as the preservation of the anecdotes and stories of pioneer life which is the red blood of a county's history.
DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION
Although long defunct, the Cresco Driving Park Association was at one time one of the strongest organizations in northern Iowa. This was organized in 1872 and about eighty acres of land a mile from the City of Cresco were purchased. The grounds were enclosed and therein a mile racing-track was laid out. After a few meetings interest declined and the organization dissolved automatically. The agricultural society occupied ten acres in the center of the grounds afterward.
RAILROADS
There are at present two main railroad lines which cross Howard County-the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago Great Western. In addition to the main line across the county the latter road also cuts off a very small corner in the northwest part of the county.
The coming of the steel rail and the "iron horse" was much welcomed by the people of Howard County. Before they had been compelled to travel over- land, through sloughs, across trackless prairies and along muddy trails, to obtain provisions and get their grain ground and marketed. The first record obtainable in regard to the railroad projects of early days is in the following form :
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CHICKASAW AND HOWARD COUNTIES
Proclamation
STATE OF IOWA, )
County of Howard ( SS.
In pursuance of the code of Iowa, and at the request of a portion of the people of said county, an election is hereby ordered to be held in the several town- ships in said county of Howard on the 3d of August, A. D., 1857, at the places where the last April elections were held, to vote upon the question, whether the said county of Howard, shall take $150,000 of the stock of the Northwestern Railroad Company and issue bonds in payment thereof, bearing interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum; the principal sum to be paid in twenty years ; and that a tax be levied upon the taxable property of said county, for the payment of interest and principal.
The said railroad company to pay the interest on the said bonds until said road is in operation to the east line of said county of Howard ; bonds to be issued when said road shall be in operation to Decorah, Winneshiek County, and perma- nently located to the west line of Howard County.
The form of the vote shall be, "for the railroad stock," "against the railroad stock."
Each affirmative vote shall be considered for the proposition entire.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said county, this first day of July A. D. 1857.
JAMES G. UPTON, County Judge. (Seal)
This scheme was never carried through for some reason and the railroad in question never built in the direction indicated.
At the September, 1863, session of the board of supervisors it was proposed to submit to the legal electors of the county a proposition to donate all the lands in the county known as "swamp lands" to aid in the construction and equip- ment of the McGregor Western Railroad, on the condition that the railroad should be built from North McGregor westward, to intersect Howard County from east to west. A vote on the proposition was ordered for the next general election, October 10, 1865. The election returns show the question was defeated by a vote of 390 to 141 ; nevertheless the proposition went through by some means and the lands were donated by the supervisors to the railroad. Just how this was accomplished is not known. At the October session the records show that the board passed a resolution that the question of extending the time in which the McGregor Western Railroad contracted to build their road through Howard County "be submitted to the people, the railroad company not being able to fill the said contract in regard to the point of time, and also on the question of giving the same railroad the benefit of all the swamp lands within the borders of the county." By a vote of 212 to 20 the people agreed to extend more time to the railroad company. On the question of giving the railroad the entire benefit of the swamp lands the people favored the act by 149 to 70.
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