USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 29
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Mr. E. S. Plimpton who labored in this field for over forty years, deserves special mention in this brief history. For many years he served as Sunday school superintendent, choir leader and teacher of the Young People's Bible class. A man of liberal education and truly worthy character, he was a power in each of these offices and no child could grow up in the church without re- ceiving an inspiration to lead a noble and useful life; and so it is that from this church have gone to various parts of the world characters equipped to fill places of power and influence for the right. Mr. Plimpton many times filled the pulpit most acceptably during the absence of pastors. This church has been singu- larly blessed with faithful workers, and we would that space permitted us to mention very many of those who have been "lights along the way." However, we will not close without mentioning our present competent clerk, Mrs. Helen M. Cassaday, who has kept our records perfectly for more than seventeen years and our efficient choir leader, Mrs. Lou F. Martin, who for many years has led the music and thereby has been very helpful to the church.
Four years ago the First Baptist church celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its organization. It was a happy occasion and one long to be remembered. The one living charter member was present, Mr. Albert F. Bond of this city. Greetings were read from many former pastors and absent members and the service throughout was most appropriate.
Through all these years the church has maintained its weekly prayer meet- ings, first in the homes before a church was erected; and its missionary society and Sabbath school have always been most consecrated organizations. The key note of the spiritual life of the church has been "Do all to the honor and glory of God," while the leaders have ever taught that "Giving doth not impoverish, neither doth withholding enrich."
The present directorate of the church is: Pastor, Rev. C. Edward La Reau; clerk, Mrs. Helen M. Cassaday; treasurer, Mr. H. A. Carpenter ; missionary treasurer, Miss Helen Hays; superintendent Sunday school, Mrs. Etta W. Plimpton ; president B. Y. P. A., Miss Fannie B. Hays ; president Mission Circle, Mrs. Frances Barber; organist, Miss May Hays; chairman trustees, Mr. H. A. Norman; senior deacon, Mr. J. L. Richardson.
DR. W. T. WRIGHT
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
By Dr. W. T. Wright.
The history of the Episcopal Church in Crawford County has to do almost solely with the towns of Vail and Denison. The first services were held at Vail in 1872, while the organization at Denison had its inception in 1875. From 1876 to 1879 Rev. Wm. Wright, of Denison, conducted services once or twice a month at the school house in Deloit, and in what was then called the Weatherhold school house, two miles south of the center of Otter creek township. The writer recollects many fervent meetings at these school houses.
An account by Mr. Fred Whiting states that several families from England, having settled in the year 1872 in the neighborhood of Vail, and being members of the church of England, a desire was felt by them for public worship. In accordance with this desire morning prayer was said in the Vail school house on Christmas day, 1872, the late Mr. H. Herbert Mundy officiating. This was the first Episcopal service held in Vail or Crawford county. On Christmas morn- ing, 1873, services were conducted in the Vail school house by Mr. Fred Whit- ing. Services were conducted at the residences of the different church members though most frequently with Mr. Charles Wood, either Mr. H. Mundy, or Mr. Fred Whiting, reading lay service.
One of these services was attended by a number of Episcopalians from Den- ison, who were detained overnight by a severe storm. Mr. Fred Whiting ac- casionally held a lay service at Denison. After a time all the Vail services were held by Mr. Fred Whiting, at the Vail school house.
The first visit of an Episcopal clergyman to Vail was on the occasion of the marriage of Mr. Charles Wood to Miss Emma Mundy, May II, 1875, when the Rev. George W. E. Fisse, assistant minister of St. Barnabas church, Omaha, Nebr., officiated.
The first minister to conduct public worship of the Episcopal church in Vail was Rev. Frederick T. Webb, of St. Paul's church, Council Bluffs. This was in the summer of 1875. Sunday School was organized at Vail about this time.
On the 27th of June, 1875, an organization was formed at Denison, under the name of the Episcopal Association of Denison, Iowa. The first meeting was held in the old court house. The object stated was to build up an Episco- pal church in Denison. The Denison Review of the following week, June 30, 1875, noted these services thus :
"The Episcopalians of our town and neighborhood held services both morn- ing and evening at Denison last Sunday. The services were conducted by the Rev. Frederick Webb, of Council Bluffs, and were held at the court house in the morning and at the Methodist church in the evening. There was a large attendance at both services and there is, no doubt, good material for the es- tablishment of a permanent Episcopal church in this town. A collection meet- ing was held after each service in order to give those who are interested in the work an opportunity of stating their ideas and what help they would give. The following sums were promised to be paid annually : Roger Hayne, $25.00; W.
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R. Hayne, $25,00; A. B. Hayne, $25.00; H. Gower, $25.00; J. Weitherhold, $25.00; E. Sherrard, $25.00; C. C. Lyttle, $20.00; J. Steele, $10.00; H. C. Laub, $20.00.
"A committee was organized to carry on the work consisting of Roger Hayne to act as president, Edward Sherrard as treasurer and H. Gower secretary.
"A ladies' society was also formed to assist in this work, Mrs. Roger Hayne, president ; Mrs. C. Lyttle, secretary. A Sunday school will be organized next Sabbath afternoon at 3 o'clock in the courthouse. Persons who were not pres- ent at these meetings and who are willing to contribute can add their names to the list by calling on the secretary."
A Sunday school was organized to meet each Sunday at 9 a. m., July 17, Rev. Mr. Webb again conducted services in the courthouse morning and even- ing, and on July 22, the Ladies Aid Society held a social entertainment of music and tableaux. The names of H. W. Hotchkiss and J. Fred Meyers were added to those subscribing.
On October 10, 1875, Rev. Sydney Smith of Des Moines held service at Denison both morning and evening and at Vail in the afternoon. On the after- noon of Sunday, October 31, 1875, Rev. Wm. Wright held a service in the schoolhouse at Vail and was after that regularly in charge while a resident at Denison. Mr. Wright conducted the first communion service of the Episcopal church at Vail in the winter of 1876, and the second at 8 a. m. of Easter day, April 16, 1876. February 27, 1876, Bishop R. H. Clarkson of Nebraska, at the dedication of the Episcopal church at Denison, confirmed the following five from Vail: Mrs. E. Bannister, Frederick Forrest, Henry Forrest, David Gurney, Reginald Platt. The First Episcopal visitation at Vail was on Saturday, May II, 1878, by Bishop Stevens Perry, in the schoolhouse, where four were con- firmed: Mrs. Eliza Miller, Mrs. Eliza Stewart, Miss Eliza Taylor and Mrs. Emily Forrest.
On November 1, 1875, Rev. Wm .Wright officiated for the first time in Deni- son, after which time Mr. Wright came regularly from Council Bluffs twice a month, and the alternate Sundays were filled by Mr. Roger Hayne with lay read- ing. At a meeting on December 3, 1875, Rev. Wm. Wright presiding, it was decided on motion "That the Episcopal Association of Denison do now form ourselves into a parish under the name of Trinity Parish." Roger Hayne was elected Senior Warden; Harry Gower, Junior Warden and Clerk; and J. G. Wygant, J. W. Steele, C. C. Lytle, Edward Sherrard, Alfred S. Hayne, Vestry- men. The Denison Review of December 1, 1875, contains this notice: "The Episcopal church building is progressing nicely. It will be under roof next week, and when finished will be a landmark of East Denison. It is rare that a church building is so quickly erected by the pluck of a few members." Mr. Wright, the rector, having been an architect, planned the building and made the drawings and specifications for the contractors. He also secured a part of the subscrip- tions from parishes in the east. The most of the cost, however, was made up in Denison. It reached about $2,024, exclusive of the two lots at No. 333 East Broadway, one of which cost the society $100, while the other was donated by the Blair Town Lot & Land Co. This church was dedicated on Sunday, March I, 1876, by the Right Rev. Bishop Clarkson, of Nebraska, assisted by Rev. F.
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Webb, of Council Bluffs and the rector, Rev. Wm. Wright. In size 28x40 and seating 150, it has been large enough to meet the wants of the congregation to the present.
On Easter Monday following the dedication, the Senior and Junior Wardens as above recorded were reelected. At a meeting of the Sunday school Roger Hayne was elected superintendent, Harry Gower, assistant superintendent, J. W. Steele, treasurer and Mrs. McClellan, librarian.
The Denison Review of May 10, 1876, notes : "We are pleased to learn that Rev. Mr. Wright will build himself a parsonage and make Denison the head- quarters of his mission." For more than three years Mr. Wright conducted the parish at Denison and the mission at Vail, driving for afternoon service at Vail and back for the evening at Denison, occasionally when the roads were very bad, having no time before meeting for the evening meal. During these years Mr. Wright held regular monthly church services at what was then the town of Ida, since named Ida Grove, driving the thirty miles as the town of Ida had no railroads in 1876. After May, 1878, he held only occasionally a communion service at Vail and Mr. J. P. Fitch conducted lay service regularly at that town. Mr. Wright resigned at Denison in 1880, to remove to East Des Moines, and was among the founders of the church on the east side at Des Moines.
In 1881 Rev. L. C. Fackenthal, then in deacon's orders, took charge at Deni- son and conducted Episcopal service at Vail on alternate Sunday afternoons in the Methodist church. He was followed by Rev. W. J. Lynd, who was a resi- dent in Denison in 1882. Rev. Lynd laid the cornerstone of the church building at Vail in 1882. At this time the name of the organization at Vail was changed from Grace Mission to St. John's Mission. The first service in this building was held by Rev. Mr. Flack, in the summer of 1883. The building was moved in the spring of 1888 from lot 3, block 28, to lot I, block 17.
According to an item in the "Bible Student," a parish paper in 1896, Rev. Peter Fox of Sac City, began his charge at Vail October 27, 1884, and took charge at Denison, January 9, 1885. Denison at this time was reduced from a parish to the status of a mission, receiving aid from the diocesan fund. In 1886, Rev. W. W. Corbyn was appointed to care for the two missions and took up his residence at Vail. The Record in Vail says: "Mr. Corbyn, a resident of Vail, zealous and devoted to his work, was able to offer more church privileges than as a mission we had before known. The church seasons were observed, week- day services were held, Saint's days kept, and frequent celebrations of the Blessed Eucharist held early and mid-day and appropriate vestments used."
Mr. Corbyn leaving Vail in 1888, Rev. Peter Fox again took charge of the mission while residing in Sac City. On Sunday, October 4, 1891, Rev. Wm. Wright preached in St. John's church, Vail, and on November I took regular charge of Vail and Carroll, residing at Carroll. After one or two years, Mr. Wright took up his residence at Vail, and gave his whole attention to this mis- sion. Denison was for several years after 1890 without a regular Episcopal pastor, but was occasionally visited by Rev. Wm. Wright, in connection with Vail.
In 1898, Bishop Morrison appointed the Very Rev. Dean Allen Judd, resi- dent at Des Moines to the charge of several missions in western Iowa, among Vol. I-17
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them being Carroll, Vail and Denison. At this time Mr. Wright, by reason of the infirmities of years, and increasing ill health was compelled to close his work. Two years later, in June, 1900, at the age of 76 years, he was buried from the little church he had loved and cherished. His wife Rachel Wright after ten more years of active work, in this church and Sunday school, was laid to rest on March 13, 1910, at the age of 81. Dean Judd with great energy and devotion awakened renewed action in these missions. He was assisted in Crawford county by Rev. Mr. Talbot, from July, 1898, to January, 1900. Mr. Talbot resided at Mapleton. February 15, 1903, Mr. Storcy, then a student of Tabor College, pre- paring for the ministry, held lay service at Denison and afterwards attended al- ternately with Dean Judd for about six months. During the last years of Mr. Wright's service, the building had been repaired and Dean Judd led in a move- ment for interior improvement. He added a furnace, in 1903, and it was largely through the stimulus of his efforts that the Ladies' Guild was able in the sum- mer of 1905 to beautify the interior of the church. They were encouraged and assisted in this work by Rev. Mr. Joseph, who had followed Dean Judd, preach- ing his first sermon at Denison, September 13, 1903, though at that time only in deacon's orders. Mr. Joseph was ordained in February, 1904. For the next one and one-half years he successfully conducted the three missions of Carroll, Vail and Denison.
His last sermon was preached at Denison, May 14, 1905. During the sum- mer of 1905, with the improvements added by the Ladies' Guild and the financial aid of Bishop Morrison, who sent more than $100, the children's society of St. Agnes, gave $100 to provide for electric lighting. Mr. Joseph was followed by Rev. Arthur Pratt, on July 14, 1905. Mr. Pratt's work at the three missions was energetic and successful. He organized a surpliced choir. Mr. Pratt con- tinued in charge until July 8, 1907, when he returned to his childhood home in England.
After eight months without a pastor, Rev. C. A. Corbitt, then resident of Lemars, took regular charge of the three missions, preaching each Sunday as Rev. Mr. Pratt had done at Carroll, Vail and Denison. His first service in Denison was on March 29, 1908. He continued in charge until May, 1910, after which services were discontinued for one year, Mr. Corbitt again taking up this work in March, 1911, his home at this time being Sioux City.
The Ladies' Guild and the Sunday school were active working organizations during periods when there was no preaching. The Sunday school was reorgan- ized by Rev. Dean Judd, September 29, 1902, with Miss Mary Beard as superin- tendent, she holding the office until August, 1907. On Miss Beard's departure for her home in Montana, Mrs. R. Shaw Van was elected and still leads the school in 1911. The teachers since the reorganization in 1902 have been: Mrs. R. Shaw Van, Mrs. Thomas Morris, Mrs. Rachel Wright, Mrs. E. F. Tucker, Miss Nellie Evans, Mrs. S. G. Wright, Mrs. Phil A. Schlumberger, Miss Mary Beard, Rev. Mr. Joseph, Rev. Arthur Pratt, Miss Margaret Reynolds, Miss Anna Schlumberger, Miss Alma Wright and Miss Grace Schlumberger. The average attendance has been twenty-one.
Such is a brief record of events in the development of the Episcopal church of Crawford county. It is impossible to present a picture that would convey a
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realization of the thoughts and sentiments that have been prompted in thirty- five years by the public services and all the other gatherings for which any church organization is responsible. And yet I feel constrained to add as far as may be possible, the names of attendants, for simply a name catching the eye of a friend, will call up pictures and recollections that art is powerless to por- tray. In the beginning at Vail were the families of Wood, Mundy, Forrest, Whiting, Heavysides, added to almost at the first by J. P. Fitch and family and afterwards his grandchildren, the Chamberlins, Henry Shirtcliffe, wife and chil- dren, Mrs. Ainsworth and Mrs. Reilley and grandchildren. The Reilleys and Cramptons and after 1892 for more than ten years the Kinyons, the Misses Evans, the Doblers and children, the Prices and the Mahons; Mrs. Wm. Butler and daughter Carrie, John Knowles and family, Miss Minnie Evison, Mrs. Joe Rundlett, Mr. H. E. Rasmusson and family and Thomas Bartlett.
At Denison there were at first Roger Hayne and wife and brother Alfred Hayne, J. G. Wygant and wife, whose children and grandchildren afterward be- came active in church and Sunday school work. Miss Sarah Mills, Edw. Sher- rard with large family and afterwards children of his son Fred; F. J. Young and J. W. Steele and family; Wm. Raine and family; Rev. Wm. Wright and family, and after 1895 his son, Dr. Wright and wife and family, Mrs. Gillette and her daughter, Mrs. Ward Cramer, Wm. Northum and wife, Mrs. George Heston, daughters and grandchildren; John Crawford and wife, Mrs. Capt. Darling, Emma Standish, Jane Bouldron, Mary Ann Winklehofer, Mrs. Mollie Holmes, Mrs. Murray Cochrane. In the beginning and again in later years, a sister of Mrs. Rachel Wright, Miss Reynolds, who secured for Trinity a beauti- ful silver communion set, the gift of her old home parish at New Canaan, Conn .; Frank Tabor and wife, C. C. Lytle and wife, Harry Gower, Mrs. Van Steen- berg, who was the first organist, W. H. Wygant and wife and daughter Carrie, who was organist for several years, Mrs. M. McClellan, who was first Sunday school librarian, J. S. Nicholson, H. C. Wooster, Fred Close and W. B. Close, Jacob Weatherhold and family, and M. Stone and wife and afterward daughters and grandchild. Owing to removals there never has since been a time when the parish had nearly the same numerical or financial strength. After some years were added to the congregation, Miss Grace Meyers, who was an active worker in the Sunday school, Miss Angie Sayre, afterwards Mrs. U. G. Johnson, Miss Walker, afterwards Mrs. Thomas Morris, for many years up to the present an active worker in church and Sunday school, the family of Mrs. Wrigley whose son Mark became a member of the vestry, and daughter Mary and Anna, who married Phil A. Schlumberger, whose children afterward became active workers in church and Sunday school, Mrs. R. Shaw Van for many years a worker in guild and Sunday school and in later years was organist up to 1908, when she was succeeded by Miss Winifred Wright.
After 1902, the Misses Mary and Clara Beard and the Misses Evans, Emma Brodhurst, Mary Broadman, Msis Lizzie Fullick, afterward Mrs. Fred Marshal, Miss Hattie Cornwall, afterward Mrs. D. L. Boynton, was organist for some years, W. H. Gregory and son Horace, Mrs. S. G. Wright, in earlier days, and for several years away again for the last ten years as a member of the bishop's committee, which in a mission takes the place of a parish vestry, Mrs. O. A.
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Patterson also for several years was a member of the bishop's committee. Mrs. Don Butler of Arion and her daughter Stella, Miss Kate Dawson, Mrs. Hedman, Wm. Rogers and daughter Emily, Mrs. Ferguson, Mr. Rowland Philbrook, Mrs. Terry, Mrs. J. L. Ainsworth, Mr. and Mrs. Shirtcliffe, Mr. Joe Scott and family, Mr. Nicholas Scott and family, the Misses Watson, Miss Lucy Drake, Miss Reilley and Mrs. George McHenry.
It is a thought pleasing to the writer that this little sketch may fill its place in the history, just as the Episcopal church continues to take a part in the active life drama of Crawford county and that it may call up some recollections that shall give pleasure to the reader, who may be interested in some events and names here recorded.
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The German Evangelical Zion's Congregation of the Augsberg Confession was organized in Denison in January, 1868. The one of the pioneer churches. The first congregation was small as there were but few Germans in the vicinity. They were very faithful, however, and clung tenaciously to the religion of the Fatherland. The first minister was Rev. Doescher and in the beginning services were held once every four weeks in a private house or in the court house. The next clergymen were Rev. Lauterbach and Rev. Mertens. The first resident pastor was Rev. G. Harr, who was called in 1872. In 1873, the congregation bought the old brick school house which had been preceded by the west brick school. They also bought three lots in West Denison and this property has been occupied by them for church purposes ever since. In 1875, a parsonage was built and with the incoming rush of German immigration the church grew and prospered. After ten years of active and successful services in Denison, Rev. Harr accepted a call to another place. His successor, Rev. J. C. Theo. Brauer, was called in 1882, remaining but one year. In 1883, the congregation called W. T. Strobel. With his administration began the organization of the Parochial school which has been maintained up to this day. In 1888 the congregation voted to build a new church with dimensions 70 feet long, 34 feet wide and with a tower 70 feet. The corner stone was laid on Palm Sunday 1889, Rev. A. Amstern delivering the address. The building committee consisted of Carl Hartwig, Claus Salomon and Henry Otto, Sr. This church was completed and has given great satisfaction to the membership.
On account of old age, Rev. Strobel resigned the pastorate in 1890, where- upon the congregation called Rev. F. Lothringer of Rock Island, Ill., who was ordained the latter part of August, 1890, by Rev. Strobel, assisted by Rev. Hermann of Arcadia. At that time there were thirty members and this was increased to forty-two members by 1895. In the summer of this year the con- gregation built a new parsonage and in 1897 the church celebrated its twenty- fifth anniversary. Rev. G. Harr and Rev. W. T. Strobel were the speakers and guests of honor. In the fall of 1893, the congregation called Rev. Wm. Frese of Council Bluffs, the present pastor. During the last eight years the congrega- tion has increased to ninety-one members. The Parochial school, which was formerly conducted by the pastors in charge of the congregation, is now in charge
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of a competent teacher, Mr. Theodore Benecke, Sr., who has been at the head of the school for the last four years. The congregation is free from debt and owns a valuable property in west Denison, which it means to improve as time goes on. The present church officers are Deacons F. J. Evers, Denison township; Wm. Lochmiller, of East Boyer; Robt. Ernst, of Denison. The trustees : Peter Meggers, of Denison; Lewis Messenbrink, of East Boyer ; C. H. Wendt, of Denison. School trustees are: Chas. Hartwig, Wm. Schurke and Mr. Peter Teut, of Denison.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TRINITY CHURCH. Manilla.
The Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church, of Manilla, was organized Oc- tober 24, 1886, at Aspinwall, Iowa, where the first services were held in the schoolhouse, and the congregation continued to meet at this point until 1888, when the services were transferred to the new town of Manilla. In 1893 a small church was built, at a cost of six hundred dollars, on lots I and 2, block 30, Manilla, which sufficed for the needs of the congregation until 1904, when the new church was built at a cost of three thousand dollars.
In the original organization of the church the charter members were: Charles Wenzel, Fred Wenzel, William Kraupp, John Swies, and Andrew Bohls. They now have twenty-six voting members, seventy communicants and one hundred and twenty-one regular attendants, including adults and children.
The list of the services of the pastors of the church is as follows: 1886, Rev. W. Mallon ; 1887, Rev. A. Ehler; 1897, Rev. Krog; 1904, Rev. Seegers; 1906, Rev. W. Engelke; 1908 to date, Rev. H. Wendt.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH. Manilla.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Peace congregation was organized at a special meeting held in Germania hall in Manilla, April 22, 1906. The first offi- cers elected were: F. C. Bock, President; Henry Wiese, Vice President; H. W. Lebeck, Secretary; and Frank Proescholdt, Treasurer.
A room in the school building was secured for temporary services and on July 15, 1906, it was decided to build a church. Mr. John Fastje of Denison was the contractor and the church was dedicated in December of the same year. Rev. P. Hoeppner of Waverly, Iowa, delivered the dedicatorial sermon in the morning and the Rev. G. Braun and Rev. E. Hansen, the home pastor, spoke in the afternoon. At the annual conference held at Clarence, Iowa, in the spring of 1907, the congregation was accepted into membership of the German Evan- gelical Synod of North America. Despite many difficulties, the young congrega- tion grew and prospered and in 1909, Rev. Paul Bratzel, was appointed assistant pastor. During the pastorate of Rev. E. Hansen, twenty-five persons were bap- tized, eighteen confirmed, and three buried. On Palm Sunday, 1909, eighteen children were confirmed.
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