History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 23

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1042

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friend and liberal supporter of the parish throughout its entire history, without mentioning what is due to the efforts of the rector.

The whole number of communicants which have been connected with the parish at various times, is about 140. Number of baptisms-adults, twenty-two; infants, 119, making in all 141; confirmations, thirty-four; marriages, thirty- eight ; burials, eighty-one; present number of communicants, about sixty-five; size of the church at present, about seventy-five feet long and thirty-five feet broad, in the clear, exclusive of chancel recess with a view to enlargement at a future day by the addition of transepts so as to make a cruciform building; at present capable of seating about 300 persons and when enlarged as plans call for, affording sittings for about 1,000 persons. Parochial library for the read- ing of the congregation, mostly imported English works, of near 400 volumes, the generous gift of Ebenezer Cook. Sunday school library of about 140 volumes; Sunday school scholars, about sixty; teachers, six; rector, superin- tendent.

The Parochial association meets the first and third Tuesday evenings in every month except during Lent at the houses of parishioners with a view to promoting acquaintance and sociality among the members of the congregation, and exciting a deeper interest in the welfare of the parish. Church chairs pur- chased from the avails of the association at a cost of about $175, being the contribution of one dime per month from members with one dime also as en- trance fee.

ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.

In March, 1856, at the request of the Hon. John P. Cook, Gen. Sargent and thirty-three others, the Rev. Alfred Louderback, rector of Trinity church gave canonical consent to the organization of a second Episcopal society in the city of Davenport. At a meeting of the citizens favorable to the new enterprise held April 4, 1856, a second parish was organized under the name of St. Luke's parish. Bishop Henry W. Lee presided at this meeting and Charles Powers, Esq., was secretary. For nearly two years the services of this church were held in the small brick edifice on Brady, near the corner of Fourth street in the building formerly owned and occupied by the First Baptist church. During the first year of St. Luke's existence several clergymen officiated as temporary incumbents, among whom were Bishop Lee, Rev. George W. Watson and the Rev. Geo. C. Street. This enterprising society entered upon their work with much earnestness and determination. They fitted up their place of worship which though small was neat and convenient. The congregation increased and some were added to the church, when in March, 1857, the Rev. Horatio N. Powers became their permanent rector, took charge of the parish, and in the May fol- lowing entered upon his duties and still ministers to this people.

The little church on Brady, becoming too small, they determined on building a new house of worship, and although but a little more than a year had expired since their organization, yet on the first of July, 1857, the corner stone of a new church was laid with appropriate ceremonies. Bishop Lee delivered the address on the occasion and on the 14th of March following it was opened for divine service. The prompt and energetic spirit with which this little church under-

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took the erection of this beautiful and stately edifice, the harmonious and Chris- tian spirit in which they seem united in every good work is worthy of all note; and as the church edifice is a model one in our city, and in the west, we give a description of it here.

Its location is on Brady street, about half way up the bluff, being central in its position, and presents a very attractive appearance from the river. It is of gothic structure, built of brick, with a deep basement of limestone. The tower is fourteen feet square at the base, not including the buttresses which project two feet each. The extreme height to the top of the pinnacle is eighty-three feet from the base. The body of the church is eighty-five feet by forty-five feet, and thirty-one feet high in the clear. The exterior height is forty-four feet. The vestry south of the chancel is eleven feet by twelve feet.

In the basement is a large lecture room with four other small compartments. These rooms are fourteen feet, all finished, and some of them were occupied by Miss Lyons for a young ladies' school. The chancel is fourteen feet long by eighteen feet wide with a height of twenty-three feet; height of chancel arch, twenty feet. The organ gallery is large and convenient, the windows of stained glass, of two lancets each; the chancel window contains three lancets with appro- priate devices. The chancel furniture is all made of black walnut, of neat work- manship.

The lectern and pulpit are without the chancel rails and are built in handsome style. The pews are the same finish. The chairs alone cost over $100, and were a present from Col. Young. The books, which cost over $50, were presented by Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Jaynes. The carpeting and ornaments of the church were furnished by the ladies of the congregation. The architect was J. C. Cochran. The entire cost of the building was about $20,000. Nearly seventy families are now included in the parish. The number of communicants as last reported to the convention was sixty, but since the last report several have been added. The congregation is continually increasing and is already quite large. There is a Sabbath school connected with the church in a flourishing condition. When we take into consideration that this church so recently organized amid the financial pressure of the country, commenced such a work and prosecuted it to so success- ful a termination, we can but admire their worthy efforts and wish them many spiritual as well as temporal blessings.

The present vestry consists of Hon. John P. Cook, Dr. Wm. Keith, H. S. Finley, Wm. VanTuyl, Charles Powers, George H. French, Thomas J. Holmes, James A. Buchanan, V. R. Rowe. Senior warden, Dr. Wm. Keith; junior war- den, Wm. VanTuyl; treasurer, Wm. VanTuyl; J. A. Buchanan, secretary.

FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Although this church was not organized in Davenport until June 1, 1842, yet its ever active and pioneer spirit had penetrated the valley of the upper Missis- sippi and the gospel trumpet began to echo along our bluffs as early as the spring of 1836. The Rev. Mr. Gavitt, from Ohio, traveling through the county, preached the first sermon in the house of D. C. Eldridge this spring ; but the first attempt by the settlers to hold divine service was in a log cabin twelve feet square situ-

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ated on the land now owned by Judge Weston back of Rockingham. The meeting was conducted by W. L. Cook, Esq., and held as a prayer meeting. There were eight persons present.

In August of this year there was a society formed at Rockingham by John R. James, then connected with the Rock Island mission under the control of the Illinois conference. The Methodist conference was held this fall at Alton and the Rockingham society reported the wants of this region of country, its pros- pects for a wide field of labor, when the conference formed a circuit extending from the mouth of the Iowa river to the mouth of the Wabesipinecon. Rock- ingham then being the largest town and the only one of any importance in the circuit, it was called the Rockingham circuit, embracing all the country west as far as settlements were made. This circuit was about 200 miles around and con- sisted of a few families along the river and among the groves. Chauncey Hobert was sent to this circuit as preacher. He had been a soldier in the Black Hawk war which had just closed and was well calculated to traverse a country whose streams were unbridged and inhabitants widely scattered. He could swim creeks and sleep by the side of a log when night might overtake him. The first winter he had three appointments : one at Rockingham, one at a little town near the mouth of the Iowa river, called Black Hawk, and one at the cabin of Mr. Spencer, in Pleasant Valley, the father of our fellow citizen, Roswell H. Spencer. The appointments multiplied the following year, but Rockingham was the center and probably contained more members than all the balance of the circuit.

In the year 1839 B. Weed was presiding elder for the Iowa district. About this time the elder thought that there were sufficient members and encourage- ment to commence a society in Davenport and have an organization of the Meth- odist church in that place. Accordingly he authorized Wm. L. Cook to change his connection with the society and form a class if he could find the requisite number of members. His search among protestants resulted in finding five mem- bers besides himself and wife who had been members of churches in former days. A time was appointed for a meeting to be held at the house of Timothy Dillon, situated on Third street near Washington square. At this first meeting were present as members, Wm. L. Cook and wife, Timothy Dillon and wife, Israel Hall, W. S. Ruby and Mary Ruby. Here this little band of Christians, longing for a closer union with Him in whom they trusted in deep devotion, poured forth many desires for spiritual food in this strange land; and in that little cabin, alone with God, they dedicated themselves to Him and His service, renewing their, covenant vows and forming the First Methodist Episcopal church in the then little village of Davenport. Such were the beginnings of the church that now worships on the corner of Fifth and Brady streets with nearly 400 members.

From this time meetings were continued every Sabbath, being generally con- ducted by Mr. Cook. The society increased until private rooms became too small, and in the fall of 1840 the church, then numbering about twenty members, thought best to erect a building. Though its members were few and poor, they purchased a lot on Perry between Fourth and Fifth, which was then con- sidered out of town, and built the first brick chapel, which still stands on the same ground. This church was seated at first with slabs and split saplings, flat side up and lighted with a "chandelier," composed of a block of wood suspended

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by a rope from the ceiling in which were inserted some half dozen tallow candles, and warmed by a stove that looked as though it might have done good service before the flood. While thus seated, warmed and lighted, it came near passing out of the possession of the society by reason of an execution in the hands of the sheriff, issued upon a judgment for $150 for the purchase money of the lot. But those days of darkness passed away and the sun of prosperity, both spiritual and financial, dawned upon this church and continued to shine and bless the efforts of the little band, illustrating the truth of that saying, "We should not despise the day of small things."

A petition was sent into conference in 1840 for a preacher, and F. A. Cheno- with was sent to the Davenport station, and in turn supplied the Rockingham pulpit. In 1853 the little brick church on Perry street becoming too small, a large, commodious house was erected on the corner of Fifth and Brady, which is now filled to overflowing, although a new church has been formed from this, Wesley chapel, built in 1856, but it is now closed. The new church on Brady was dedicated in July, 1854. It has an end gallery, class and lecture rooms below, a Sabbath school and a library ; also a parsonage attached and sexton's house. The whole church property is clear of debt.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

The first Baptist church was organized at the house of John M. Eldridge off the 14th day of September, 1839, with nine members. Its first settled minister was Elder Fisher, and Richard Pierce its first deacon. This church has passed through many difficulties and trials. Its first place of public worship was in a room fitted up over Mr. Lesslie's store on the corner of Front and Brady streets.

In 1842 they erected a small brick on Brady next door to Fourth, now converted into a meat market, where they worshipped until 1855, when it was sold by the church. In October, 1852, about twelve years after its organization sixteen of its members requested letters of dismission and received them, and on the 7th day of the same month organized a second church in Davenport.

In 1855 the First church built a very commodious brick house on the corner of Main and Sixth streets, where they now worship, having a roll of 180 mem- bers, with the Rev. G. M. Folwell for their pastor, who was settled in May, 1858, and ordained on the 23d of June in the same year.

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.

On the 6th of October, 1851, sixteen members of the First Baptist church in Davenport asked for and received letters of dismission for the purpose of or- ganizing another church. They met on the same day and unanimously resolved to call a council to take into consideration the propriety of reorganizing them- selves into a regular Baptist church. On the 7th of October the council met at the house of J. M. Witherwax, there being present the Rev. J. Teesdale, of the A. F. B. society ; Rev. J. L. Denison, Rock Island ; A. J. Johnson, of Burlington, Iowa; S. B. Johnson, Muscatine; Rev. Mr. Scots, Maquoketa; Rev. Dr. Car- penter, Blue Grass. After due deliberation and examination of all the circum-

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stances, they proceeded to organize the sixteen members into the "Second Bap- tist Church of Davenport, Iowa." A constitution and by-laws were drafted by a committee appointed, consisting of Dr. Blood, Mr. Solomon and Levi Davis.

The first officers of the church elected were Dr. J. M. Witherwax, C. G. Blood and W. M. Crosson, trustees ; Levi Davis, clerk, and J. Solomon, treasurer. Thus organized, this little church stood alone, amid every discouragement ; poor, and without a pastor or a place of worship. The schoolroom of the Misses Jones was procured (now the residence of Dr. Witherwax) and the services of the Rev. Professor Briggs were secured until a regular pastor could be obtained.

On the 13th of June, 1842, the Rev. E. M. Miles was called and settled. The church steadily increased in numbers, both by profession and by admission by letter. In February, 1853, the first movement was made toward building a house of worship. Between $3,000 and $4,000 were at once subscribed, and the present edifice commenced. It is of stone, forty-six feet by eighty feet, with basement and spire, well proportioned, and a beautiful as well as a durable house. Their church debt has recently been reduced to about $5,000, and it is now in a pros- perous condition. Its recent pastor, the Rev. Isaac Butterfield, succeeded Mr. Miles in June, 1858. The number of members since its organization, according to the church's records, has been 280; dismissals, ninety-seven ; exclusions, eleven ; and deaths, twelve. They were received-132 by baptism, and 143 by letter. The present number of members is 162. The Sabbath school attached to the church contains 200 scholars, with a good library.

Rev. Isaac Butterfield resigned his charge in November, 1863, having the satisfaction of leaving the church out of debt and prosperous.

FIRST ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

This church was established November 25, 1855. Jacob Steck was their first pastor, and, we believe, still continues to minister to the church.

There were twenty-five members at its organization. This society has had many difficulties to contend with. In 1856 a church edifice was commenced, but the financial difficulties delayed its completion, we believe, until the present season. It has a Sabbath school of seventy-five members and a library of 300 volumes.

SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, N. S.

In the fall of 1856 a number of members of the Presbyterian church, who were new school then residing in Davenport, feeling the want of a church of their own denomination, erected for that purpose a house on Iowa street between Sixth and Seventh streets, built entirely at the expense of Mr. H. Y. Slaymaker, and as soon as it was completed, it was burned down, taking fire from a carpen- ter's shop, which was burnt adjoining it. On the 4th of May, 1857, a church was formed by Rev. W. H. Spencer, then pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Rock Island, Ills., with twenty-eight members, the way having been prepared by Rev. Samuel Storrs Howe, of Iowa City, and Ruling Elder H. Y. Slaymaker, one of the first officers of the church. For some time they occupied Griggs'

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hall on Perry street; from thence they removed to Metropolitan hall and subse- quently to the house originally occupied by the First Baptist church on Brady.

The Rev. D. T. Packard, of Massachusetts, preached to them as a stated sup- ply for about a year, since which time they have had service but a few times, and are now altogether suspended. There were a number of accessions during Mr. Packard's ministry, but owing to removals from the city the number is now re- duced to fifteen members. After its organization and during the preaching of Mr. Packard, the congregation numbered 100 and a Sunday school had been com- menced ; but the financial difficulties of the west seemed to break into their ar- rangements, and the church has been abandoned for the present.

FIRST ASSOCIATE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

We believe this church is now without a pastor, and its house of worship closed. Of its origin and progress, we need not speak, but copy its history from Wilkie's "Davenport Past and Present":

"This church is situated on the southeast corner of Scott and Eleventh streets on a lot donated by Mr. James McIntosh. It is a neat, plain frame build- ing, thirty-five feet by forty-five feet, and calculated to seat between 300 and 400 persons. It was founded A. D. 1856. The congregation numbers about sixty members and is under the pastoral care of Rev. Samuel M. Hutchinson. They have a Sabbath school of thirty-one scholars and six teachers, with a library of 175 volumes.

"It may be observed that this church is in its infancy, and the only one of the kind in Davenport. It belongs to a large and influential branch of the Presby- terian family which originated in a union of Associate Presbyterians and Reformed Presbyterians who came from Scotland and Ireland as missionaries prior to the Revolution, and in the year 1782 they united together and retaining their primitive names in one, have since been known by the name of Associate Reformed Presbyterians. An effort has been made to unite this body with the Associate Presbyterians. If this proves successful, it may change the name of the church to United or Union Presbyterians."

THE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH.

The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Davenport, not mentioned in Mr. Barrows' history above is here briefly sketched by the editor of the Annals. It was organized with eleven members, October 29, 1859, by a committee of the Classis of Illinois, consisting of Rev. E. P. Livingston and Rev. C. D. Eltinge, Rev. C. G. VanDerveer, the minister of the congregation, being present.

The first consistory of the church was composed of Elders L. S. Viele and Anthony VanWyck, with Deacon John R. Rogers.

A neat church edifice, seating 250 persons, was erected at a cost of $3.500 on Brady street, corner of Eleventh, and dedicated on the 16th of September, 1860, when Rev. C. G. VanDerveer was installed as pastor. The church in 1863 num- bered forty members and the Sunday school ninety.

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Rev. C. G. VanDerveer was educated at the Dutch Reformed Theological seminary in New Brunswick, N. J. He has constantly officiated in his charge at Davenport except during a short time as chaplain of the Eighth Iowa Volunteer infantry, which was captured at the battle of Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing. After which he resumed his charge at Davenport.

STREET VIEW OF PRINCETON

PLEASANT VALLEY, FROM POPE'S BLUFF, LOOKING EAST

THE WILLARD BARROWS HISTORY:

CHAPTER V.

PLEASANT VALLEY TOWNSHIP.

1833 .- No one who has passed through that portion of our county lying upon the river above Davenport called Pleasant Valley, terminating at the point of the bluff at the mouth of Spencer's creek, can for a moment forget its natural beauty. A short distance above East Davenport the bluffs recede from the river, leaving the bottom lands a mile wide, very little of which ever overflow. The gently sloping bluffs continue for several miles, sometimes approaching and then receding from the river, forming at times landscape views of unsurpassed beauty. And now that these lands are dotted over with tasteful and well cultivated farms and gardens from the river even to the top of the bluffs in places, it presents one of the most lovely rural scenes upon the upper Mississippi. This lovely valley received its very appropriate name from one of its earliest settlers, Mrs. J. A. Birchard, who now lives there to enjoy the fruits of her early toil and privations.

The first settlement of that valley was coeval with that of Buffalo township. In the fall of 1833, Roswell H. Spencer, Esq., built a log cabin upon the bank of the river a little below the present ferry landing from Hampton, on the oppo- site side of the river, to Valley City, a town laid out upon this side of the river. The same strata of limestone rock that underlies Rock island and its vicinity crops out along the entire length of this valley and in fact to the head of the rapids. There are some springs of pure, cold water gushing forth at the base of the bluffs, near Messrs. Spencer's and Birchard's on Duck creek, and on Crow creek, called in Indian, "Kaw-ka-kaw-sepo." The timber lands, called "Spencer's Woods," were of immense value to this part of Scott county in fur- nishing abundant material for the settlement of Pleasant Valley. Some of the best farms in Iowa are in this valley and upon the prairie back of it in the same township, owned by A. J. Hyde and brother, the Henleys, Donaldsons, Hawleys and others who retain their original possessions obtained among the first of Scott county.

1834 .- During the winter of 1833 and 1834 J. B. Chamberlin, Esq., moved into the cabin built by Mr. Spencer, his being the first white family in the valley. In February or March they had a son born, who was the first white child born in the township. In the spring of 1834 Mr. Chamberlin built a cabin on the bank of the river, a little above the mouth of Crow creek, which is still standing, and is upon the farm now owned by G. B. and D. S. Hawley, Esqs. In addition to

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Messrs, Spencer and Chamberlin, the first settlers were Mr. Daniel Davison, Calvin Spencer and James Thompson.

1835 .- In 1835 Davis & Haskel built a grist mill, the first ever built in the county, or in this part of the state. It was situated on Crow creek, just above where the present river road crosses that stream, and although of most rude, primi- tive kind, having two common boulders rough hewn, for stones, yet it was one of the most essential improvements of that age. Settlers came from a great dis- tance for several years to this mill. It was a log building, and after serving the public faithfully for many years, it was allowed to tumble to decay. A saw mill, the first in the county, was also built in this valley in 1835 by Capt. Clark, of Buffalo. This was situated on Duck creek, near its mouth. These two mills, humble as they were, supplied the wants of the early settlers, not only of Pleas- ant Valley, but all the surrounding country for many miles. The immigrants into this township were Mr. M. J. Lyman, James Haskel, Thomas Davis, B. F. Pike, D. C. Davison, G. M. Pinneo, H. H. Pinneo, and Avery Pinneo.

1836 .- In the spring of 1836 this little settlement found themselves strug- gling and buffeting against the pressure and privations incident to a pioneer life, but with brave hearts and iron nerve they toiled on full of hope for the future. During the year they had an acquisition to their number of upwards of twenty families. This put new courage into their hearts, and the valley began to give way from her original beauty to that of the cultivated field and the benefits and blessings of a civilized life. Among the immigrants of this year was Mr. John Works, who was elected subsequently to the office of county commissioner, which office he filled till 1841. He was a plain, unassuming man of excellent judgment and sterling integrity. Also, among others, were Thomas Jones, Stephen Hen- ley, Andrew J. Hyde, Alfred White, H. G. Stone, J. A. Birchard, Samuel and Wheeler Hedges, Anson Rowe, Lewis Blackman, William Trask, Franklin Rowe, Hiram Green, John Wilson, Royal Gilman, S. H. Gilman, John J. Clark, John Tuttle, Daniel Wyman, and Geo. W. Thorn, most of whom are now living and counted among Scott county's earliest and best supporters.

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History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 23

Author: Downer, Harry E Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1042

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1042