USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 56
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
When Mr. Barrows ended his chronicle of the First Presbyterian church the congregation was worshiping in the building which had been erected in 1853 on the north side of Third between Main and Harrison streets. Rev. J. D. Mason had resigned his pastorate and his successor had not been chosen. Rev. S. Mc- Anderson came from Pennsylvania to fill the vacancy, commencing his service in January of 1860 and continuing until December 31, 1869. It was during this pas- torate, in April, 1864, that the congregation sold the Third street church building to Woeber Brothers, carriage makers and bought St. Luke's church on the corner of Seventh and Brady streets. It was virtually an exchange as far as financial
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value is concerned, the consideration in each case being $6,000, although the con- struction cost of St. Luke's had been considerably more.
In the spring of 1870 Rev. J. B. Stewart, D. D., became pastor of the church and continued in that relation until October 1, 1872. Next New Year's day Dr. C. D. Nott, a grandson of the Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, president of Union college, came to the First church and remained until 1880. Rev. Dr. N. M. Clute next filled the pulpit and cared for the spiritual health of his people until May, 1885. Upon his resignation a search for his successor was made and it was almost a year before Dr. J. B. Little took up the work. The date was April, 1886, his installa- tion following June 15, 1886.
In June, 1896, Dr. Little resigned and November 8 of the same year Rev. Dr. John B. Donaldson came from Minneapolis to succeed him. Preparations were begun for the erection of a new church building which should be more commodious, nearer the center of the parish and more in accord with what is now considered a church building should be. March 18, 1898, ground was broken at the corner of Kirkwood boulevard and Iowa street. July 20th the corner stone was laid. De- cember 17, 1899, the completed church was dedicated.
The new structure is built of Marquette brown stone which has a magnesian stain, known as the "rain drop" marking. It makes the warmest, richest, stateliest structure that heart could wish. The architecture is Romanesque, the tower in the style of Richardson the eminent Boston architect and the carved oak leaves and foliage in the gables are of renaissance design. The interior is octagonal in shape while the ceiling is marked with a Maltese cross and a Greek cross. Every convenience and adjunct has been given place in this splendid building and it is considered a model church home by all who have seen it.
In April, 1907, the old building on Third street which was the location of the First Presbyterian church congregation for so many years was torn down to make room for a fine business block.
July 22, 1907, Dr. Donaldson, greatly beloved by his people for his ready sym- pathy, pulpit excellence and spirituality, resigned. His successor, Rev. Leroy M. Coffman, of Sidney, Ohio, accepted a call to this church, April 26, 1908, and has since his removal to Davenport been the shepherd of the flock. He has been assisted for some months by Rev. H. C. Anderson, who has especial charge of the work at Newcomb chapel.
MCCLELLAN HEIGHTS UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian church, a lineal ancestor of the United Presbyterian church, was organized in Davenport on October 21, 1854. There was at this time a membership of ten. Rev. William Graham was the pastor and Thomas M. Patterson and Alexander Blair were elected ruling elders. The or- ganization had property at the corner of Tenth and Scott streets. In 1858, through the union of the Associated and Associate Reformed Presbyterian denominations the United Presbyterian church was formed, and from that time on the Daven- port organization was known by that name. In the spring of 1883 the congrega- tion disposed of its property on Scott street and purchased property on the corner of Eleventh and Brady streets. The work continued in this new location un-
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der many ministries and with varying degrees of success until the year 1905. In the summer of that year Alexander Gilchrist, D. D., secretary of the United Pres- byterian Board of Home Missions, visited the Davenport field and, considering the work unsatisfactory, appointed Rev. W. R. Cox to be the acting pastor, with a view to bettering the efficiency of the church. After some months spent in getting acquainted with the condition of the congregation and the needs of the city, it was decided to rebuild in a new location. The old congregation was dis- solved and a new one organized May 15, 1906. A building site was secured at the corner of Jersey Ridge road and Fulton avenue. Here work was begun at once and the new church was dedicated September 29, 1907. Messrs. John Vander Heyden, Arthur Peterson and S. C. Gard were elected and ordained ruling elders. A. W. Jamieson was chosen chairman of the congregation. The membership of the new organization consisted of about thirty earnest, zealous people, who have not hesitated to grapple with the problems of a new work in a new field, and they have been signally blessed with a steady progress. Rev. W. R. Cox continued in the work till March, 1908. Rev. W. O. Chisholm took up the work in August, 1908, and still is with this people. The membership is now sixty-five.
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The earliest record books of this church have been lost, which make it diffi- cult for the historian to give a complete and accurate account of its organization. However, in 1899 the twenty-first anniversary of the church was held, at which the pastor of that day, Arthur M. Judy, and others, supplied most of the missing links in papers read upon that interesting occasion. The paper of Major Morton L. Marks appears to be the most pertinent to the subject. He relates :
"On June 28, 1868, Rev. Laird Collier preached afternoon and evening in the Burtis opera house to congregations which 'would have filled to overflowing any church in the city.' After the evening meeting the first recorded step toward the organization of the Unitarian church in Davenport was taken by the adoption of a motion offered by Dr. Barrows, that a Liberal church be organized. Sixty- three signatures of ladies and gentlemen who favored such an organization hav- ing been obtained, a committee consisting of H. Darlington, John Gallagan, A. Kimball, W. A. Remington and Dr. D. C. Roundy was appointed to canvass the matter further and report at an adjourned meeting in the opera house Tuesday, June 30th, two days later. The meeting having come together at the appointed time, the church was organized by the adoption of articles of association. At the same meeting the following trustees were elected: A. H. Bennett, Howard Darlington, John Gallagan, Dr. D. C. Roundy and A. Kimball. Twenty-eight signatures were secured at this meeting and it was decided to secure the services of a pastor. During the summer the pulpit was supplied as follows: July 19th, by Rev. Robert Collier, of Chicago; July 26th, by Rev. W. S. Haywood, of Bos- ton; August 23d, by Rev. F. E. Kitridge, of Concord, New Hampshire; August 26th, by Rev. McDaniel, of Brighton, Massachusetts ; September 27, 1868, and on the following Sunday, Rev. N. Seaver, of Boston, preached morning and after- noon at the Burtis opera house, and early in October the society extended to him a call to fill the pulpit, which he accepted and entered upon his pastoral duties
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November 14, 1868. February 16, 1871, articles of incorporation were filed by the following persons : D. C. Roundy, M. K. Parks, E. A. Day, John C. Bills, H. C. F. Jensen, George E. Hubbell and George H. French, for the purpose of ac- quiring and disposing of property and to create debts not to exceed $2,000, and in 1875, during Rev. Hunting's pastorate, the constitution upon which the church is now acting was adopted. For some time services were held in the Burtis opera house, then in the city hall. In 1870 the society built a church of its own, which was dedicated February 19, 1871. The present building, on the corner of Tenth and Perry streets, was erected in 1897 and in 1905 was remodeled.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.
The members of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, their church property entirely cleared from debt, dedicated it Sunday, June 29, 1908, formally, with services both in the morning and evening. The service rooms in the church, at the corner of Sixth and Perry streets, were crowded both in the morning and evening, and it was necessary to open the reading rooms to accommodate the members and visitors. On this occasion the following article was read :
The first knowledge of the healing work done through Christian Science was brought to this city by a lady in 1887. Being at one of the hotels she was soon known as a practitioner and many people went to her for help. One, a young girl, was lame, having one limb shorter than the other. She decided to try the treatment and asked a lady friend to go with her. Not believing the healing possible, but willing to help the girl all she could, she went. To her amazement the limb was lengthened and healed. When the girl bought her first pair of shoes, having both alike, this lady was present. Believing it a wonderful cure, this friend determined to know what power caused it. Inquiring of the practitioner she was told Mrs. Mary B. G. Eddy, of Boston, was the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" was the text book to get and study. She sent for a copy but had it in the house six months before reading it. In the meantime other literature had found is way to Davenport. Many people read it, thinking it Christian Science, or something just as good. Some of them were friends of the lady who sent for "Science and Health." Following her advice they gave up this literature and teaching to study "Science and Health." Christian Science now had a start. From this time on meetings were held in private houses for the discussion of Christian Science. Several teachers came and held classes. None of them stayed longer than a few weeks or months. Some read "Science and Health," some did not, but none of them were accredited teachers.
The first to come with authority to teach was a student of Mrs. Eddy. She spent three months in 1889, doing all she could to establish the work in that short time. But no one came to stay until 1891, when two gentlemen moved here to live and with the intention of practicing Christian Science. They opened the way for systematic work and teaching. For the following year meetings were held in a private house. Then room 21, Masonic Temple, was secured and First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Davenport, was organized May 31, 1892, with sixteen charter members, about half of them from Rock Island, Illinois. The
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first services were held Sunday mornings and Friday afternoons. The after- noon testimony meetings were soon changed to Wednesday evenings, the same as now. Interest in Christian Science-and attendance at the services-increased steadily until larger quarters were needed. During the summer of 1895 the Sun- day services were changed to Columbian hall, near Third and Brady streets. In the fall the people from Rock Island felt they were strong enough to commence the work in that city. So Wednesday evening meetings were begun, although they still attended Sunday services in Davenport.
October 25, 1896, First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rock Island, Illinois, was formed. This step forward took away about half the membership from the Davenport church. Being the result of progress and strength, giving the promise of two churches where there had been only one, all rejoiced when the organization was completed. Later on the Masonic Temple room was given up and all meet- ings held in Columbian hall. The congregation grew until it was necessary to find another place. As there was no larger hall in the city it was necessary to buy or build. So this fine location was secured. This change brought greater interest and attendance at the services ; more call for literature at the reading room. This has continued until now the church has paid the debt incurred with the pur- chase of its property and is rejoicing in greater freedom and prosperity, both spiritual and financial than ever before. The obstacles overcome have been many. The usual course has been followed here, beginning with the interest and work of one-then a handful of people to hold meetings-resulting in the organization of the church. Much gratitude should be given those who have worked earnestly and faithfully to accomplish this. They are to be congratulated upon the work.
MOUNT IDA PRESBYTERIAN.
In May. 1855, A. C. Fulton gave to the trustees of the First Presbyterian church a lot at the corner of Fulton and College avenues, to be used for church purposes, and there a mission was maintained by the First church until February 6, 1876, when the Renwick Memorial Presbyterian church was organized with twenty charter members, of which Mrs. Amanda Keever is still living. Rev. J. D. Mason, who served as pastor for the first few weeks until succeeded by Rev. W. S. Messmer, headed the list of the incorporators when the church was re- named the College Avenue Presbyterian church. Those associated with Mr. Mason in this incorporation were P. S. Morton, A. M. Miner, Thomas Havens, J. H. Knostman, James H. Weise, G. F. Knostman, J. W. Voodry, and Miss E. Andreas. The first board of elders comprised J. H. Knostman, P. S. Morton, Wm. Walker, and Thomas Havens.
The church building was erected on grounds enlarged by purchase in 1875 and to the original structure additions have been made as the congregation has grown. At this time this church organization faces the problem of providing more room for church services and Sunday school.
June 13, 1882, the church was reorganized as the Second Presbyterian church and a few years since the name was again changed to the Mt. Ida Presbyterian church.
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Rev. W. S. Messmer served as pastor in 1876-1877; Rev. J. W. Coleman, 1877-1878; Rev. Robert Edgar, 1881-1891 ; Rev. W. H. Kearns, 1891-1894; Rev. W. R. Williams, 1895-1896; Rev. J. H. McArthur, 1897-1898; Rev. D. W. Wy- lie, 1899-1902 ; Rev. Mott R. Sawyers from 1902 to the present time.
CALVARY BAPTIST.
This church was first known as the First Baptist church, and held its first religious service in the house of John M. Eldridge, which was on Brady street, and later converted into a photograph gallery. Rev. Israel Fisher was the first pastor. He left here for Oregon, where he died some years later. The church was organized by Rev. Mr. Fisher with the following charter members: J. M. Eldridge, Mrs. Mary Eldridge, John Swartout, Charles Swartout, Richard Price and wife and David Wilson and wife. Richard Price and David Wilson were the deacons. The congregation fitted up a room on Front street, over a store, as a place of worship, and held services there until they built a brick structure at the corner of Fourth and Brady on a lot donated by Antoine LeClaire to the church. Services were held here until the building became too small and finally they re- moved to the corner of Sixth and Main, where a pretentious brick structure was erected and later occupied by the high school and now used for a bakery by the Korn Bakery Company.
History records that in October, 1851, sixteen persons who had taken letters from the First Baptist church met in a school house on Perry street, now The Boies' undertaking rooms, for the purpose of organizing what is now the Cal- vary Baptist church. Among them the familiar names of Davis, Blood and Witherwax appear. They purchased with a dwelling the northwest corner of Fourth and Perry and services were held in this place for some time. In 1852 for various reasons this lot was sold and the southwest corner of Fourth was purchased-a lot including the one now occupied by the postoffice and also the one in the rear, now occupied by the Tri-City Electrical Company.
On leaving the dwelling house on the corner of Fourth and Perry the people worshiped in the block, at the corner of Third and Brady, a place known as the Medical college, and at this time they enjoyed the pastoral services of Rev. E. M. Mills, who settled here in 1852 and served them for five years, during which time some seventy were added to the church by baptism. It was during his pastorate that the house of worship at Fourth and Perry was erected, first forty by sixty feet-and then an addition of twenty feet added on the west before the audience room was completed.
Rev. Mills resigned in 1857 and Rev. J. Butterfield, of Waterloo, New York, was called to succeed him. The building was approaching completion and was formally dedicated in May of that year, with the dedication sermon by Brother Mills, the first pastor. Brother Butterfield addressed himself with great efficiency to the financial burden which had been assumed to complete this house, and during his pastorate over fifty were added by baptism. During this time the first and second churches were united-a step that seemed necessary in order to save one building for the Baptists. In 1864 Rev. D. S. Watson succeeded to the
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pastorate. During his pastorate the old debt was canceled and the name of Calvary Regular Baptist church was taken. Rev. Watson was popular with all and especially liked by the young people. His great field was in the pulpit and many old and young who had previously given religion little thought came to hear his powerful sermons. Anyone of those present can remember as though it were yesterday a sermon on the Love of Christ. At its close he left the desk, came to one side of the very front of the platform, his tall form erect, and his dark eyes flashed from under darker eyebrows, and repeated Romans viii, 35.
Brother Watson resigned in 1867 and a year intervened before the church wel- comed Rev. T. W. Powell, a man whose kindness and sympathetic nature won many hearts. After a pastorate of two years ill health compelled him to resign to be succeeded by Rev. N. S. Burton, D. D., a man sound in doctrine and logical in his sermons. The North Davenport mission was established during his pas- torate and many added to the church. He was succeeded by Rev. T. W. Powell, who remained three years, but a delicate constitution obliged him to seek a field where the labor would be less. Rev. W. H. Stifler, D. D., was his successor, a man full of energy and life, and he served acceptably for over five years.
Rev. Frank L. Wilkins, D. D., was next called to the pastorate, and entered upon his work November 29, 1885. The church up to this time had occupied the stone edifice at the corner of Perry and Fourth streets. The church decided May 6, 1886, to undertake the building of a new house of worship to be located on the "Bluff." A site at the corner of Perry and Fourteenth streets was later purchased, at a cost of $3.400, and here, September 21, 1899, the cornerstone of the new edifice was laid. Special meetings in celebration of the semi-centennial of Baptist history in Davenport were held September 20th, 21st, and 22d; the Davenport association having by arrangement held its annual meeting on the previous two days. The delegates remained as a body to the local celebration. The week's meetings, with the laying of the stone on Saturday, mark the most memorable event in the history of Calvary church-practically the opening of a new era for the Baptist cause in Davenport.
The new edifice was dedicated Sunday, May 25, 1890. The total cost of the building with its furnishings, including the pipe organ ($3,100), was about $33,000.
Dr. Wilkins resigned the pastorate in 1891 to accept the general secretary- ship of the Baptist Young Peoples' Union of America. Rev. E. H. Lovett, of Oswego, New York, was called as his successor, remaining six years, years of large ingathering. Three hundred or more were added to the church. At his resignation, without interregnum and without visitation, Rev. J. W. Weddell, D. D., pastor of the "Old Tenth" church of Philadelphia, was called to the pas- torate. He responded to the call in a like generous spirit, and assumed spiritual charge in February, 1898, God's blessing being on the union from the first.
Rev. H. O. Rowlands of Lincoln, Neb., succeeded to the pastorate June, 1903. In 1910 a mission was started in the northern part of the city, a lot has been pur- chased and the erection of a building is contemplated in the near future. Present membership, 508.
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BEREA CONGREGATIONAL.
This church is made up by the merging of the German and Bethlehem Con- gregational organizations. The German Congregational church was organized in 1854 and services were held in a building on Fifth street, just west of Warren, until 1902, when property was bought at Fourth and Pine streets and a handsome church edifice erected thereon. Just north of the church and on the same lot a neat pressed brick parsonage was built. In this church services were held for fifty-six years without intermission, until its union with the Bethlehem church, in October, 1909.
The Mission Sunday school was organized in the late '6os to conduct instruc- tion in English in the west end of Davenport. For a number of years this Sunday school met at the German Congregational church on West Fifth street Sunday afternoons. In 1882 members of the Edwards Congregational church, with a few others who had been helping in the Sunday school, built Bethlehem hall on Warren street just south of Fifth. In 1894 the Bethlehem church was organ- ized as an independent society, and continued at the old location until its union with the German church in October, 1909, to form the Berea church. Under the leadership of the Rev. R. K. Atkinson, pastor of the Bethlehem church,. the Berea Congregational church was organized by merging with the Bethlehem as stated above. The church has 220 members and its property, consisting of a modern church building, valued at about $14,000. The Sunday school enrolls 230 mem- bers, and all the auxiliary organizations of the church are active and aggressive.
TRINITY GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.
This church was organized January 30, 1870, by the following twelve Chris- tian men: Jacob Stahmer, Paul Stahmer, John C. Stahmer, Fritz Meier, John Meier, Franz Peters, Peter Ruehmann, Franz Hagermann, Christian Harsch, Heinrich Oldson, Heinrich Dose, Frederick Loehndorf. At this time there were eighty-three members, and the first pastor was William Vonhof, who served from 1870 until 1871. His successor was E. Gieseke, whose pastorate continued from 1872 until 1875. From 1875 until 1878 Theo Bensen was the pastor. He was followed by J. Streckfuss, who remained until 1882. A. D. Greif was his suc- cessor, and filled the pulpit acceptably from March, 1883, to April 10, 1910, at which time it was his purpose to leave for Charter Oak, Iowa. During his pas- torate here Mr. Greif had two assistants, Christian W. Otto, from 1886 to 1887, and his son, H. P. Greif, from 1897 until 1900. The church erected a building in 1870 which is now used as a school for children of the congregation and in 1883 the present building was erected on Myrtle street near Fifth. The mem- bership now numbers 435, with 200 in the Sunday school.
HOLY CROSS EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.
This church is in East Davenport on Belle avenue. It was organized April 6, 1902, with three members: Otto C. Westphal, the pastor, Charles Poppe, and the present pastor, H. P. Greif. The first services were held in the chapel on
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Spring street and continued there for about six months. The congregation then removed to a vacant store room on Eddy street, where services were held three months, and the following four months meetings were held in the third story of the East Davenport Turner hall. At this time there were about twenty mem- bers. For the following six months there were no services, but during that time a new building was in course of erection on Belle avenue, and on April 6, 1902, the congregation occupied the new structure and listened to a dedicatory sermon which was preached by the visiting elder, Rev. A. D. Greif, the father of the present pastor. The building was of frame and with the lot the property cost $2,400. The membership consists of 128 persons, and in the Sunday school there are eighty-five children. The church is absolutely free of debt.
THE GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
This church was organized February 20, 1858, and its first pastor was Rev. Ulrich Von Gunten. The first services were held in a building on Brady and Fifth streets, which was the old English Methodist Episcopal church. The first trustees were Israel Hall, C. M. Peck, John Hornby, James Bradshaw and William Cook. The present church edifice was soon after built on the corner of Sixth and Warren streets. In the pastorate Rev. Von Gunten was succeeded by the following: J. M. Winkler, 1859-60; Peter Helwig, 1860-1; George Haas, 1861-2; M. Kaumermeyer, 1862-3; J. M. Winkler, 1863-4; Charles Heidel, 1864-5; Charles Haltkamp, 1865-6; Frederick Heinz, 1866-9; Philip Hehmer, 1869-72; Christ Peisch, 1872-73; J. G. Leist, 1873-5; Charles Halerhorst, 1875-6; Gott- freid Bonn, 1876-9; Henry Diener, 1879-80; William Winter, 1880-1; R. J. Till- man, 1881-3; John P. Miller, 1883-6; John C. Rapp, 1886-90; A. H. F. Hertzler, 1890-93 ; William Schoenig, 1893-8; George Ebzerath, 1898-1902 ; Charles J. Moel- ler, 1902-6; John C. Behrens, 1906-8; A. J. Luebbers, 1908. The membership of this church for several years has greatly diminished, owing to the fact that the children of the members prefer attending the English churches. The member- ship now is only about forty, with fifty in the Sunday school. Just east of the church and on the same lot, is the parsonage, which was built in 1881.
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