USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 39
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After the church was dedicated, Reverend Avery, on account of advanced years, resigned the pastorate, and in the fall of 1872 Rev. O. D. Crawford became the pastor. The latter resigned in August, 1874, and on the 26th of September following Rev. W. H. Barrows took charge. He remained until March, 1877, and on April 25th following Rev. A. D. Kinzer took charge, remaining until January 19, 1888, when he tendered his resignation. Rev. A. S. Badger began his labors with the church on April 1, 1888, and continued until May 1, 1893. On October 1, 1893, Rev. J. W. Ferner took charge.
It was during the pastorate of Reverend Ferner that a new build- ing was erected on the site of the old structure, the latter being re- moved to the south end of the lot. The church was built in a style known to the architects as "Modern Renaissance," the walls being of St. Louis mottled pressed brick, the color being a good imitation of light gray stone. The extreme dimensions are 84 feet on Sixth street and 69 feet, 9 inches on Reeve street, the main tower being 71 feet high. The church, built and furnished at a cost of $16,600, was dedicated February 14, 1897, the sermon in the morning being preached by Rev. J. O. Stevenson, D. D., of Waterloo, Iowa, and the evening sermon by Rev. T. M. Price, of Iowa Falls. A pipe organ, the first one to occupy a place in any church in Hampton, was installed at a cost of $1,625.
On December 27, 1912, the interior of this church was destroyed by fire, leaving only the foundation and brick walls standing. Soon
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afterward the members began plans for restoring the interior of the building, and on Sunday, November 2, 1913, the building was rededi- cated by Rev. J. W. Ferner, who was pastor here when the former church was built and dedicated. While the original structure was considered a splendid building, it failed to equal in its interior ap- pointments the structure as it stands today. The exterior of the build- ing has been little changed for the reason that the foundation and brick walls passed through the fire intact, and with the exception of the roof and two large windows, the outward appearance is the same as before. The new roof is supported by steel trusses and covered with Pennsylvania slate. The interior, however, has been greatly improved in many ways. The pews and pulpit furniture are of quarter-sawed oak and the floor and inside woodwork of the auditor- ium, lecture room, choir room, etc., is oak. The building is lighted by electricity and heated with vacuum steam. The cost of rebuilding and refurnishing was $20,000, of which $11,000 was received from insurance companies, and the balance subscribed by members of the church and congregation, all of which was provided for prior to the dedicatory service.
Reverend Ferner's pastorate terminated April 29, 1900, and on the 4th of August following, Rev. John R. Ward took charge, remain- ing until September 5, 1901. His successor was Charles E. Tower, who assumed charge January 12, 1902, and remained until December II, 1904. The present pastor, Rev. James Thomson, began his pas- torate with the church March 5, 1905.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
On July 22, 1909, the corner-stone of the new Baptist Church building was laid, and the ceremonies due such an occasion were ob- served by the members and a large assemblage of the citizens of Hampton. Mrs. A. L. Clark carefully prepared and read the fol- lowing history of the Baptist society :
It was away back in the early spring of 1865, when this fair land of ours was under the shadow of a great dark overhanging war cloud, and the hearts of the people were wrung with sorrow, that this church, of which we are the happy and prosperous members, was or- ganized.
As the little flower lifts its head toward the sun from which it receives warmth and life and light, so Christian people in time of
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sorrow turn their faces toward the Sun of Righteousness and great Giver of all life and light.
It is not strange then, that at this peculiar time of danger to our country, a few earnest, faithful Christians should be found assembled in a little schoolhouse for the purpose of banding themselves together that they might the more effectually work for the upbuilding of God's kingdom. Such a meeting was held in the old frame school- house, situated on Fourth street, about three blocks east of the court- house, on February 15, 1865.
The record says: "This day there assembled at the schoolhouse in Hampton, several brethren and sisters who had been members of Baptist churches, and others who had been baptized, for the purpose of organizing a regular Baptist Church.
"Council convened, prayer by Rev. William Wood, of Cedar Falls, who with Rev. T. H. Judson, of West Fork, was invited to a seat in the council.
"Reverend Wood was chosen moderator, and T. H. Judson, clerk. The Articles of Faith, as contained in the Baptist Manual were adopted.
"Twelve persons then entered into covenant with God and with one another, and a church was recognized.
"The names of those who entered into this covenant were Wil- liam Albright, Jerusha Albright, C. J. Mott, S. C. Mott, Daniel Whitmarsh, Maria Whitmarsh, Mary P. Jones, Hulda St. Clair, Nancy Van Nuys, Elizabeth North, Nancy Grim and Amos Wheeler.
"Prayer was offered by T. H. Judson and it was then voted that this church be called the Hampton Baptist church. Voted that this church extend a call to Rev. T. H. Judson to become its pastor.
"Voted that the following named persons be received for baptism : Brothers Cannam, Grim, Eckly and St. Clair; and Sisters Cannam and Whitmarsh.
"By vote A. D. St. Clair was elected clerk pro tem."
We note that in the covenant meetings of the two following months A. D. St. Clair acted as clerk, and in May he was perma- nently elected to that office, which he held until March, 1869.
At this time, also, two deacons were elected-Daniel Whitmarsh and William Albright. In August of the same year the following named were elected trustees : Daniel Whitmarsh, William Albright, Jonas Grim and J. C. Cannam. Daniel Whitmarsh was also elected
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treasurer, and delegates were appointed "to attend the Cedar Valley Baptist Association, and ask for admission to that body."
Reverend Judson only remained with the church until December, 1866-a little less than two years; but in this time we find the church thoroughly organized for active Christian work. A large number had been added by baptism and by letter, and there was evidence of prosperity and Divine favor.
In April, 1867, the Rev. L. N. Call was in the field, and began a pastorate which lasted until February, 1875, covering a period of almost eight years.
It was during the ministry of Reverend Call, in 1870, that the Sunday school was organized, which has continued its regular sessions until the present, and in the same year the church edifice, which we are now remodeling and enlarging, was built, at a cost of nearly six thousand dollars, the members having previously worshiped, first in the little schoolhouse before mentioned, and later in the old stone schoolhouse, which stood about one block southwest of the court- house near the present Hampton Hotel.
The project of building the church was started in January, 1869, when lots were secured and a building committee appointed, con- sisting of the following named brethren : the pastor, Brothers Mott, Greene, Whitney and Clemmer. The work progressed rather slowly, however, and we find that the church was not completed and dedi- cated until July 17, 1870.
As this was the first church ever erected in Franklin county, it was an important event and drew a large crowd from all over the county, and many from adjoining counties. Rev. N. F. Ravlin, of Chicago, conducted the services of the day, assisted by the pastor, Rev. L. N. Call. We are told that Reverend Ravlin was a man of great ability and that he handled his subjects in a masterly way. A financial statement was made showing that the house had cost nearly six thousand dollars, all of which had been provided for with the exception of about twelve hundred dollars. An appeal was made for pledges to obtain this amount, and in a short time, by the generosity of those present, provision was made for the entire sum.
At the close of the evening service, the prayer of dedication was offered by Reverend Ravlin, who invoked the Divine blessing upon the work so nearly completed, and asked the continual presence of
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the Lord of Hosts in the building now solemly dedicated to his service.
The choir, under the direction of N. B. Chapman, sang the Doxology, in which the whole congregation joined, and the benedic- tion was pronounced, which ended the dedicatory services of the First Baptist church of Hampton. The house thus set apart for public worship was a frame structure, 36x58 feet in size, with the walls twenty feet high. The church grew and prospered under the ministry of its faithful pastor until his labor ended, when the church was without a pastor for about two years. It then extended a call to Rev. William Wilder, June 16, 1877, and his ministry continued four years, ending in June, 1881.
For six months the church was again without a pastor, but in January, 1882, Rev. L. B. Plummer received and accepted a call, and began his labors at once, which continued one year and four months, or until May, 1883.
In July of the same year there was adopted a resolution providing for the first yearly business meeting to be held the last Saturday in June, 1884.
Again the church was without a pastor almost a year, but in March, 1884, we find Rev. B. J. Boardman beginning a pastorate which covered but one year, when, almost immediately, he was suc- ceeded by Rev. J. P. Stephenson, who became pastor in May, 1885, at a salary of $1,000, per annum, various sums having previously been paid but not exceeding $900. Reverend Stephenson remained in the pastorate until April 1, 1887, and during this time an addition to the rear of the church was built, the church newly carpeted and other needed improvements made.
The following August, Rev. A. R. Weaver began the longest pastorate in the history of the church (save one, that of Rev. L. N. Call). He labored faithfully and earnestly for this church for more than five years, and was ably assisted by an earnest and consecrated wife. Under the leadership of this devoted couple, the church pros- pered and the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor (after- ward changed to the Baptist Young People's Union) was organized and built up and has been a potent factor for good in the church ever since.
Following the resignation of Reverend Weaver, Father Daniels came to us, and after supplying for a time, became the pastor in February, 1893, serving us one year. It was during this time that the
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electric lights were put in the church, the walls repapered and other improvements made.
Rev. J. B. Edmondson immediately succeeded Father Daniels and served the church a little over two years, when he was followed by Rev. D. McMasters, who came in July, 1896. He soon began to talk of a parsonage, which suggestion was favorably met by the members of the church and acted upon. A committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions for the same, and in one month enough money had been raised to warrant the church in beginning the erection of a parsonage, which it proceeded to do at once, and the close of the year 1898 found the pastor housed in a neat, comfortable home, which had been built at a cost of $1,560. Reverend McMasters' pastorate covered a period of four years, and in July, 1900, he resigned to be succeeded in November following by Rev. J. E. Wilkins, for whom the church held an ordination service on December 12th of the same vear, setting him apart to the gospel ministry.
In February, 1901, special meetings were held and February 10th the first Decision Day ever observed by the Baptist Sunday school resulted in the conversion of twenty-six members of the school, most of whom were baptized and received into the church.
In the four months that the church was without a pastor in 1900, the parsonage was papered, the church recarpeted, and a new side- walk built, at an expense of $200.
After a pastorate of less than two years, owing to the illness of his wife, Reverend Wilkins found it necessary to resign, June 28, 1902. He was followed in October of the same year by Rev. W. W. Pattengill, who remained with the church until July 31, 1905, when Rev. P. C. Nelson was in the field, beginning his work on the Ist of August and continuing until September 1, 1908.
Rev. E. E. Evans then received and accepted a call to become pastor of the church, and February Ist of the present year ( 1909) found him comfortably settled in the parsonage and ready to begin the Lords' work in this part of His vineyard.
Very soon the members began to plan to make some repairs upon the church property and on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1909, the proj- ect of rebuilding and enlarging was launched. It was at once decided to build and appoint a building committee to secure and submit plans to the church with an approximate cost, and to solicit funds, and if two-thirds of the contract price could be secured in good pledges, to proceed at once to let the contract. The
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committee appointed consisted of Rev. E. E. Evans, chairman ; W. B. Brian, N. B. Claypool, A. D. St. Clair, G. W. Pease, M. Gokey, John H. Philpot, William Seeger, Frank Dirst and A. C. Typer. This committee at once proceeded to secure plans and solicit sub- scriptions, and in June let the contract for rebuilding the church to George Sargent, for the sum of $8,838, exclusive of seats, fresco- ing and lights. The church was completed and dedicated October 10, 1909.
The present membership of the church is about two hundred, while the Sunday school has an average attendance of eighty. The young people have an organization known as the Baptist Young People's Union, and the only other society of the church is the Woman's Missionary Circle, the members of which perform most of the auxiliary work occasion requires. Reverend Evans closed his pastorate here in April, 1913, and the work was taken up on the 18th of May following by the present incumbent, Rev. N. J. Peterson.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The Christian church of Hampton dates back to the year 1891. On July 12th of that year, G. L. Brokaw, state evangelist, began a tent meeting, which continued six weeks. The meeting resulted in an organization of thirty-seven members, as follows: Mrs. William Parks, Mrs. W. P. Jeffers, Mr. and Mrs. A. Hand, Mr. and Mrs. E. McClellan, M. P. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Hall, Minnie Denton, Emma Parks, Loraine Jeffers, Jennie Whitman, Ethel Whitman, Mr. and Mrs. George Coppernoll, Flora Coppernoll, Ora Copper- noll, Maud Bird, Dora Bird, Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Saffell, Mae Jones, Florence Latham, Minnie Smith, Bertie Smith, Miss Pace, Maggie Myers, Sam Myers, Bert Foughty, Mr. and Mrs. T. I. Wade, Mr. and Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Madden and Mr. Gilchrist.
Reverend Brokaw appointed the following officers for the organi- zation : Doctor Brown, elder; S. E. Hall and N. L. Saffell, deacons ; William Parks, S. E. Hall and Doctor Brown, trustees; Mrs. S. E. Hall, treasurer; Loraine Jeffers, clerk.
The new congregation met for a while on Wednesday evenings in the Evangelical church, and George Devol, who was then preaching at Bristow, came over at intervals and held services for the new society. On November 29th the church people secured the use of a hall over Baldwin's drug store, where they held their regular services.
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Shortly after this, J. H. Monday was secured to take the pastorate. After a short stay, he was succeeded by B. S. Denny, who remained as the pastor for six and a half years. It was during his ministry that the present house of worship was erected. The building was con- structed in the summer of 1892, and dedicated on the 18th day of December the same year, by F. M. Rains, secretary of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society.
Like all other new religious bodies, this church has passed through its own peculiar period of hardships and struggles in its early history ; yet the society had a steady growth from the beginning, and today holds a place in the front rank among the churches of Hampton. The Christian church now owns a substantial brick building at the corner of Fourth and Iowa streets, and a modern parsonage, on the lot adjoining; and not a dollar of indebtedness stands against either one. The church meets its local expenses promptly, not allowing them to run behind, gives annually several hundred dollars to foreign missions and has over four hundred dollars on deposit, as the "nest egg" for a building fund, which it hopes to use some time in the interests of all concerned. Already the present building is too small to accommodate the work that is being accomplished.
Following is the list of ministers who have served this church from its beginning: Revs. J. H. Monday, B. S. Denny, Sherman Hill, Howard Cramblet, W. S. Lemon, S. V. Williams, Frank Oviatt, William Baier, L. H. Sours and J. S. Coffin.
ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
The first religious services held in Hampton by persons of the Catholic faith took place at the home of Stephen Murphy, in 1870, under the ministrations of Father P. O'Dowd, who at the time resided at Ackley. The ordinance of mass was conducted by Father O'Dowd before a small congregation of men and women. The names of the heads of families are here given: Stephen Murphy, William Keefe, Patrick Rellihan, Patrick Monahan, Bernard McSwiggen, Timothy Flynn, Owen Johnson and James Keefe.
The ministrations of Father O'Dowd continued until 1880 and then Father J. J. Henley attended this parish for a year. He resided at Belmond. From 1882 the church was attended from Ackley by Fathers Daniel Murphy, W. L. Burns and Cannon. In 1892 Father Francis Wrenn was sent to this charge and was the first resident
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pastor. He remained until 1893. At this time services were held in Stonebrook's Hall and later over the corner drug store, Reeve and Fifth streets.
. Hampton was united to Allison as an out mission and was attended by Father McKeegan about six months. He was succeeded by Father James Ryan in 1894 and it was this pastor who built the church in 1895, and in November of that year Archbishop John Hennessy, of Dubuque, dedicated the house of worship. His Grace was assisted by the following priests: Revs. Fathers Kirby, of Greene; O'Connor, of Oelwein; Burns, of Rockwell; Halpin, of El- dora; and Hennessy, of Nevada. A class of seventy children received the sacrament of confirmation. The altar, donated by a friend out- side the parish, was built by Mr. Hackner, of La Crosse, at a cost of $400. The pews, furnished by the same person, at a cost of $240, are all that could be desired. W. A. Roberts, of Hampton, was the contractor of the building; he did honest and good work.
Previous to this, in 1903, Father Ryan took up his residence in Hampton, being transferred from Allison. The building committee of the church edifice was Frank Barry and William Ross. In 1904 Father Ryan was succeeded by Father Patrick Smith, who purchased a house near the church and took up his permanent residence. Father William McNamee succeeded him in 1907 and remained until 1909. In February of that year, Father P. J. O'Carragher came but was here only six or eight weeks, when he was succeeded by Father Walter Vaughn, who remained three weeks. On July 3, 1909, Father Nicholas Homan came and stayed until September Ist, when the present pastor, Rev. J. C. Wieneke, was sent here.
In 1910 the church building was greatly improved by renovation, frescoing, and the like, and in 1911 the parsonage was built at a cost of $4,500. The present value of the church property is estimated to be about $20,000. The membership increased steadily, and to such an extent that in August, 1913, Rev. Frederick W. McKin- ley was appointed as assistant to Father Wieneke, so that the charges included in the parish comprising Hampton, Dumont, Al- lison and Geneva, might have the proper ministrations. The present membership of the Hampton church is thirty families or between one hundred and fifty and two hundred souls. The average number of children in attendance at the Sunday school is thirty.
St. Patrick's church is a credit and monument to the liberality and devotion of the Hampton Catholics. For the princely generosity
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of the Protestant friends, manifested on more than one occasion, the church has nothing but words of praise, gratitude and earnest appreciation.
ALBRECHT EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The Hampton mission of the church denoted in the caption at the head of this article, was organized December 10, 1882, by Rev. Wil- liam Kolb, with a membership of sixteen. Only two of the families, Messelheiser and Klousia, now remain in this vicinity. For a num- ber of years services were conducted in homes and other suitable places in the town. In 1891, a house of worship was erected on the corner of Franklin and Fourth streets. It is a frame structure, 28x44 feet, and cost something over two thousand dollars.
Rev. H. Butz came to this charge in 1891 and it was during his ministration here that the church was built. The year following, during the pastorate of Rev. H. Sassman, the old parsonage was sold, a new lot adjoining the church site secured, and a new residence for the pastor was erected, at a cost of about two thousand dollars.
Rev. V. Griese was the next pastor. He came in 1886 and remained until 1888. His successors follow: F. Tentz, L. F. Smith, G. P. Cawelti, Louis Scheurer, F. J. Lantow, A. F. Herzberg and J. Haehlen, the latter coming in April, 1912.
At present this mission consists of one appointment, with a mem- bership of sixty, a Sunday school of eighty pupils, a Young People's Association of twenty members, a faithful Woman's Missionary Society and an active Ladies' Aid Society. The condition of the field is encouraging, in spite of a great loss occasioned by the moving away of a number of families.
At a schoolhouse in Mott township, northeast of Hampton, a Union Sunday school is held and there Reverend Haehlen preaches each Sunday afternoon.
HAMPTON CEMETERY
In the silent little city on the hill, in the northeast part of Hamp- ton, lie peacefully sleeping many of the men and women who were factors in the making of this beautiful city of homes, churches and commercial activities. They performed the duties of life to the lasting benefit of posterity and repose in the sleep of the just. Their
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sepultures were but the forerunners of scores upon scores of others, who followed the course of nature, gave up the spirit to their Maker and became tenants of this "God's Acre," one of Hampton's beauty spots, held in reverence by all her people.
The first burial place selected by the citizens of Hampton was a plot of ground west of the village, on the south side of Squaw creek, and the first interment was that of the body of a Mrs. Ryan, who froze to death in the winter of 1856-57. Several burials took place here before the grounds were abandoned for that purpose.
At a meeting held at the courthouse, on Saturday, July 11, 1863, for the purpose of organizing the Hampton Cemetery Association, George H. Ingham was chosen president, George Beed secretary, and J. J. Johnson treasurer ; G. H. Ingham, A. Rice, J. J. Johnson, Nial McDonald and George Beed, trustees.
In September, 1863, the association purchased two and one-half acres of land of Obadiah Smith, in the northeast corner of the town, and laid out the tract into burial lots, many of which were imme- diately sold. Bodies deposited in the old burial grounds were disin- terred and laid in newly-made graves in the cemetery, probably never more to be disturbed by the hand of man. Ten years later ten acres of land were added to the grounds and from time to time other additions have been made. Today the Hampton cemetery is com- prised of about twenty-five acres, the additions surrounding the original plot of ground.
Hampton people take great pride in their cemetery, in the way of caring for the grounds and beautifying them. A sexton is employed for the purpose and he performs his duties so well that Hampton cemetery makes one of the city's show places, regardless of its mourn- ful and distressing associations.
In the northwest corner of the cemetery is a spot devoted to the burial of those of the Catholic faith. This is consecrated ground and many former members of St. Patrick's parish have found a final resting place here.
Some years ago, the women of Hampton took upon themselves an urgent though loving duty-the beautifying of the cemetery grounds and their constant superintendence. An association was formed, designated the Ladies' Cemetery Aid Society, whose members have been diligent and painstaking in the task assumed, in changing the aspect of the burial grounds from a general appearance of neglect into a cleanly, systematized and regulated place of burial. The grass Vol. 1-2S
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