USA > Iowa > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, Iowa, including a condensed history of the state, the early settlement of the county together with sketches of its pioneers > Part 34
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Rev. Wm. M. Pelan, from March, 1869, to 1872.
Rev. H. A. Barclay, from November, 1872, to November, 1878.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
Rev. R. S. McCune, from March, 1873, to December, 1874. Rev. A. N. Darley, from May, 1874, to March, 1875.
Rev. J. B. Welty, from fall of 1876, to August, 1878.
Rev. C. C. Wellen, from fall of 1880, to December, 1881.
Rev. S. N. Vail, from May, 1882, to April, 1885.
Rev. N. Chesnut, from November, 1885, to September, 1887.
Rev. P. S. Davis, from April 20th, 1888, and is at present ministering to the spiritual wants of the people of that vicinity.
DISCIPLES, OR CHRISTIANS,
Which by some, are perhaps known as Campbellites, have taken a strong hold on the people of the county, as is manifest by their progress and present number of membership and church buildings. The first branch of this church was organized in this country on the 1st day of December, 1854, at the residence of Rev. James Dungan, in Elk Grove, near the place now known as Reeder's Mills, in Jefferson township. The charter members, viz .: Samuel Dungan and wife, James Dungan, Mary Ann Dungan, Jane Dungan, Israel Evans and wife, and Miss Clement Evans. Rev. James Dungan was the first minister of this denomination who preached in the county, and though at that time engaged in farming, found time to study his sermons while following the plow. Father Dungan was quite talented, and was very zealous in the work of reformation, as harmless as honest, and set an example which to the present is felt in the community where he resided. In this class just spoken of, were the following named individuals, as now best recollected by those present, viz .: Father Israel Evans and his family, James Briggs (now deceased) and family, Mrs. Marion Richison (now Mrs. Scofield), Mrs. William D. Frazier, etc. Following this, a branch was organized at the Dr. Cole school house, at the place now known as Woodbine, which first came into existence in 1856, and continued in successful operation until 1858, at which time the removal of the greater portion of
28
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
the class so weakened the branch, that it remained somewhat dormant for a time. Those who constituted this first organiza- tion at Woodbine, were as follows, viz .: C. A. Kinnis, Dan N. Kinnis, Miss Jessie Kinnis (now Mrs. Josiah Coe), Miss Mary Kinnis (now Mrs. David R. Dungan, of Des Moines,) Mr. Nich- olas Francis and family, and the Johnson family, together with many others. About this time, March 31, 1858, David R. Dungan, D. D., son of the Rev. James Dungan, and brother to Mrs. Thos. F. Vanderhoof, began his ministry in this county, and while to-day he is one of the brainy men of this State, yet when a boy, was very much like the boys of the present. I will relate an anecdote which took place in this county at an early day at a camp meeting, in which this embryotic D. D. figured quite conspicuously, and played a good joke on an unsuspecting victim, who at the time was a seeker after religion; and 'tis this: While a protracted meeting was being held in the neighborhood of Elk Grove, among those who felt like repenting and find- ing forgiveness for their sins, was Mr. John Berrill, who having gone to the altar, soon had young Dungan at his side, the latter then not feeling religiously inclined, and while at the side of the unsuspecting Berrill, cautiously and secretly placed a deck of cards in his pocket, expecting that when Berrill would begin to feel real sorry, he would turn on the water works, and therefore would need his handkerchief, and hence placed the cards in the same pocket where the handkerchief was kept.
The plan was well laid, and as successfully executed, for soon Berrill began to shed copious quantities of tears, and when drawing his handkerchief, scattered a deck of cards in every direction, to the consternation of all " meetin' folks" and the infinite amusement of those who loved harmless fun. The father feeling indignant at the reported conduct of the son, would not believe the accusation, and called the future Divine, and asked, " Be these things so?" to which the son replied much after the fashion of one, who a long time ago was asked a ques-
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
tion and answered the same by asking another. David said: " Father, do you think that I would be guilty of such infamous conduct?" The father having faith in the son's innocence, dis- missed his informant by saying, "I do not think David guilty.'
The efforts of Mr. D. R. Dungan were especially blessed and in a marvelous degree successful, for though thirty years have rolled into the past since the above occurrence there are here at present many old gray headed veterans of the Cross, that date their change of heart to the preaching of the subject of which refer- ence is here made, none of whom are more enthusiastic than Mr. Josiah Tuffly of Modale. As illustrative of what perseverance, industry and determination will accomplish, I will say that the boy who, in Harrison county in 1856 and 1857, was the captain commanding a breaking plow, has for the past eight years been and still is the first personage in the Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa. Rev. C. P. Evans, son of Israel Evans of Elk Grove, as well as Lindley M. Evans, were among the pioneer preachers of this vicinity, and somewhat antedated the preach- ing of Rev. D. R. Dungan. From 1858 to 1860, branches had been organized at Calhoun and divers other localities in the county which during the next score of years were suffered to die out, occasioned more by the location and building of the rail- roads in the county, than by want of religious zeal of members. This fact is not strange, for it is the history of railroads to make and break country towns. Places where there is a stabilty and a permanent and fixed place of trade compel the roads to approach; but not so with country towns. There is not a town in Harrison county to-day, with but one exception, but has been torn to fragments, like the destruction of a cyclone, by the rail- roads. Those who formed the Calhoun branch drifted to Mis- souri Valley and at the present belong to this branch. The early members of this locality were Mr. Champion Frazier and family of which sons and daughters being married formed quite an assembly, together with the Dartings and a host of others
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
make a healthy branch at the Valley at present. The first organization in Clay township was in 1858, under the preaching of D. R. Dungan, the names of those first on the church rolls at this place being Mr. Josiah Tuffly and wife, Mr. Thompson and wife and family and a family by the name of Fredrickson. This branch has been transferred to Modale and is at the present in excellent condition. A good church of sixty members and a magnificent Sabbath-school. Mondamin organized in 1878 with the following named members, viz .: Jacob Beaman and wife John Beaman and wife, Calvin Beaman and wife, Jacob Stine and wife. At the present this denomination have seventy members, a good church building costing $1,000, and a Sabbath-school of forty-seven.
All the church organizations of this denomination were in a chaotic state for a decade preceding 1881, at which time a re-or- ganization of the entire county was effected, and from that time summarizing and stating the present conditions, the same may be stated as follows: There are the following branches in this county: Woodbine, with a good church building; Logan, with a new church building erected and completed in 1887, especially by the efforts of Archie Johnson, Wm. Logan, Clayborn John- son, Charles Scofield and wife, Mrs. Briggs, James Moreland, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Michael Doyle and Mrs. Willson (mother of George Willson), costing when completed, $2,000; Missouri Val- ley, a good commodious church; Mondamin, with a good healthy membership, and a good church building, and Modale, headed by Josiah Tuffley, and a class of as earnest workers as ever graced an undertaking. This particular denomination in the county sustains five distinct branches, with good commodious church buildings, together with as many more different local branches which are not able financially to erect churches for worship. In 1884 these different branches formed a co-operat- ive association, holding meetings semi-annually at the different churches, of which association B. W. Crewdsen is President and
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
Marcellus Pugsley, Secretary. The value of church property at the different places herein named is placed by those belonging at $9,000, and the number of members at 517. At neither of the principal places of worship, nor at any of the little branches, is the Sabbath-school work neglected by these people. Scarcely a more healthy condition exists, as to the prosecution of the moral work in the county, than that manifest by the Disciples, or Christian Church of Harrison county.
Woodbine is now supplied by non-resident ministry. Mis- souri Valley, Modale and Mondamin are furnished spiritual food by Rev. J. Hardman, and Logan by Rev. J. R. Harlem.
GERMAN EVANGELISTS.
The first and only church of this denomination in the county was organized at Magnolia during the former part of the year 1858, the first members being as follows: Fred W. Hauff, Jr., and wife, Casper Hauff, Henry Hannaman and wife, George Niece and wife, Peter Smith and wife, Henry Lawrence and wife et al. For seven years this little band of Christians worshiped as best they could, without a public building, when during the year of 1867 they erected a very commodious church building at Magnolia at a cost of $1,200. From that date to the present they have increased in numbers and wealth, so that at the present time few individual religious organizations in the county possess a more healthy tone. At the church at the place last designated, religious service is had each Sabbath, where assemble a membership of 115, with a very excellent Sunday- school of 80 scholars. During the first year of their organ- ization, Rev. J. F. Scheiber occupied the pulpit in 1859 to 1860; Rev. H. Kleinsorge, 1861 and 1862; Rev. J. F. Beener, 1863 and 1864; Rev. H. Bunce, 1865; Anton Hulster, 1866; Rev. H. Bunce, 1867, 1868 and 1869; Rev. L. Scheurer, 1870; Rev. Otto Rall, 1871; Rev. H. Kohl, 1872; Rev. G. Gunner, 1873; Rev. H. Stellrecht, 1874 and 1875; Rev. H. Witte, 1876 and 1877; Rev.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
H. Stellrecht, 1878, 1879 and 1880; Rev. J. Pflaum, 1881 and 1882; Rev. H. Bunte, 1883, 1884 and 1885; Rev. G. Koehn, and 1886 and 1887, Rev. J. M. Zellhoefer who at the present date is the shepherd of this flock. In 1870 this class purchased a par- sonage at a considerable cost and have their minister residing in their midst. The present class leaders are as follows: Class number one, G. F. Reinhart; class number two, John Lentz; class number three, F. W. Hauff, Jr .; class number four, Charles. Fisher. Church Trustees at present, are F. W. Hauff, Jr., G. F. Reinhart, H. Unmach, John Steffon and John Alter.
MAGNOLIA.
GERMAN LUTHERAN.
The first organization of the above named religious denomina- tion which became permanent, was effected at the village of Magnolia in the early part of the year 1872, and consisted of the following named persons: Mr. Charles Michael and wife; Mr. Fred Michael and wife; Mr. Charles Plath and wife; Mr. Charles Dane and wife, and Mr. Herman Plath. These people kept. their organization well in hand, worshiping at school houses and at private families until the year of 1884, at which time having increased the membership, and by their frugality and almost unparalleled industry, they had become sufficiently wealthy so as to build a church building, which was accordingly done at- Magnolia in the year last-named, 1884. This building is a com- modious, handsome and well-arranged church, and cost these people $2,000, in which they worship Sabbath to Sabbath, and have the services of a very able minister in the person of the Rev. Mr. Newoffer. The membership at the present is fifty-five and the class is in excellent condition both financially and spirit- ually. In 1870, at the town of Dunlap, a temporary organiza- tion was had, under the efforts of a Rev. Ludwig, of Cleveland, Ohio, one Mr. Charles Dux being the President or Chairman, Mr. Fred Kimpel of the same place, Secretary, and numbering
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
thirty-two members, but by reason of the " tastes" of the greater portion of the above membership, the minister came to the con- clusion that he was casting his pearls before a disobedient and over reckless class, and as a consequence, played a trick on them which the devil has never done, i. e., left them. As soon as the minister abandoned the locality, the class disintegrated, and up to the present date has never been reorganized.
TUNKERS,
Or Dunkards, as they are often called, have had an organization in the county for the past twenty years, but up to the present, have never become sufficiently strong to build a church. Perhaps this class do not number beyond twenty-five at the present, and even the names of all these cannot now be learned, unless more time be taken to collect the same from the records of the Church. Most prominent among these are Mr. Lewis S. Snyder, who at times acts as the minister, and Mr. Jeremiah Motz and family, Mr. Isaac Teeter, Levi Miller and wife, I. I. Stevens and wife, A. Flynn et al.
BAPTISTS.
The first church building erected and completed, dedicated by the Baptists of the county, was at the town of Logan. Perhaps none in the entire county took more interest in the undertaking than did Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Rudasill, though Mr. Stephen Crow, Mr. John W. Wood and many others were very willing workers in this laudable enterprise. That which tended more to bring about the erection of a church building, the organization of a class of this denomination at the time and place about which I am relating, was the fact that, at this time there was not a Bap- tist organization in the entire county. An organization was effected on the 14th day of July, A. D., 1867, at which time the following named persons constituted the constituent members thereof:
Mr. P. J. Rudasill and wife, Mr. Stephen Crow and wife,
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
Elizabeth Crow, Franklin Crow, M. D. S. Crow and Mr. John W. Wood and wife. Soon very many were added to the above list, among whom were Mr. W. B. Copeland and wife, Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Paul, etc., and the church was able to stand alone. As soon as there was the faintest probability of ability to build a church building, the same was agitated, and many, though not belonging to this particular denomination, assisted in this laud- able enterprise, which resulted in the building of the present Baptist Church of Logan, and the completion thereof by the 24th day of December, A. D., 1867.
This building cost, at the time it was constructed, the sum of $1,800, and was used by many other denominations for a decade after completion, for the reason that the same preceded any other church building in Logan by five years. A very substan- tial parsonage has been added to this church property since the building of the church, costing $900, and withal, places the Bap- tists of Logan well to the front in religious work and liberality.
The first Baptist minister at this place, and perhaps one that did as much as any one in the crystalization of this class, was Rev. George Scott; then followed Rev. J. E. Lockwood, Rev. E. G. O. Groat, Rev. Sanders, Rev. J. C. Carter and, finally, Rev. F. J. Bryant.
This church has one hundred and fifteen members, and a Sab- bath-school of the same number, viz .: one hundred and fifteen. Value of church property, $2,700. Members, one hundred and fifteen, Sabbath-school scholars one hundred and fifteen.
WOODBINE.
The First Baptist Church of Woodbine, was built and dedi- cated, free from debt, on the 29th day of October, 1882. This organization dates back to the 29th of January, 1870, at which time the organization was effected, the following named persons being the constituent membership, viz .: Mr. Stephen Crow and wife, Elizabeth Crow, Mr. Edmond Benton, Mr. John. Benton,
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
Thomas Butler, Franklin Crow, Marquis D. S. Crow, Byron Crow, Joseph N. Chapman, Lucius E. Eccleson, Mrs. Elizabeth Chapman, Mrs. Rosanna E. Eccleson and Lucinda Foster. This meeting was presided over by Rev. E. G. O. Groat as Moderator and Rev. J. E. Rockwell, Clerk, at which time and place articles of faith were adopted and the above class was recognized as a regular Baptist Church. This branch of the church, through great perseverance and self-sacrifice, has built at the place desig- nated a neat, handsome, well-constructed brick church and fur- nished the same in a very comfortable manner, at a cost of $1,400. In the matter of providing funds for the above enter- prise, Rev. Ira E. Kinney not only contributed of his own funds to the amount of $100, but at a time when the class was so weak that they could not afford the necessary means for paying their minister, served them very acceptably as pastor. Deacon Stephen Crow and Mr. S. Pelton, both members of the church, as well as Mr. David Barnum, the latter though not a member, gave liberally, even beyond expectation, toward the payments for the material necessary for the proper completion of this building. Since the organization the following named persons have occupied the pulpit, viz .: Rev. J. E. Rockwell, Rev. E. G. O. Groat, Rev. Ira E. Kenney, Rev. A. J. De Lano, Rev. J. C. Carter, Rev. T. F. Thickstun and the present incumbent Rev. W. F. Gray. The following persons served the church as Deacons, viz .: Mr. Stephen Crow, Mr. Joseph N. Chapman and T. J. Berkley. The present membership is 46; and the charge is in a flourishing condition at the present, both financially and spirit- ually, and has in successful operation a first-class Sabbath-school, under the management of young Mr. S. L. Berkley, with a membership of 63.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY ..
DUNLAP.
Following the organization of the Baptist church at Wood- bine, Dunlap fell into line and on the 27th day of July, 1872, the First Baptist Church of Dunlap was organized, having for their constituent members the following named persons, viz .: Rev. E. G. O. Groat and Bros. J. A. Ostrom and wife, Mrs. M. J. Ostrom, Mrs. Pickett, S. J. Kelley and Mrs. G. W. Chamber- lain. From 1872 up to and until the year 1879, this class, like all church organizations made the best of conditions and had worship at places as best suited the conveniences and surround- ings, at which time, viz .: 1879, they completed a church build- ing within the town of Dunlap, at a cost of $2,000. This caused considerable sacrifice on the part of the membership, from the fact that they were not very numerous, but on account of the zeal of those who were the members of this denomination, they were the more determined, and as a consequence the building was completed at the cost above stated. This denomination were very earnest in their work and have built up a very pros- perous crystalization, but at the present are without a pastor, which is only temporary. Scarcely any community in all the West has been more devoted to reform than this branch of the church, and all join in the hope of this organization, that the good influences so shed abroad by both members and ministers may be blessed an hundred fold in the moral reclamation of fallen humanity. No. of members 43. Sunday-school scholars 59.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AT MISSOURI VALLEY
Was organized at that place on the 14th day of October, 1887, the constituent members being Mr. E. J. Cobleigh, Mrs. E. A. Cann, Mr. T. J. Berkley and Mrs. N. D. Berkley, Mr. M. H. Goul- try, Mr. Charles Berkley (now deceased), Mrs. Hattie Chapman, Mrs. Laura Blake, Mrs. E. Augusta Levingston, Mrs. T. C. Berk- ley, Mrs. S. Z. Hileman, Miss Jennie Berkley (now Mrs. Miles), Miss M. L. Berkley (now Mrs. Cheever). The first pastor at
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
this place was Rev. William Sears, who in turn was followed by Rev. J. M. Bay; then Rev. W. E. Randall, then Rev. Taylor, then Rev. T. F. Thickstun and finally Rev. J. B. Murch. In the spring of 1883 a church building was put under contract, completed by the first of July, and dedicated on the 8th of the same month, which building cost the good people of Missouri Valley the sum of $1,000. This church at present numbers twenty-six members, all wide awake, active, earnest working persons whose efforts are more telling than in many other church organizations where the numerical strength is double that number. The present minister's salary is $800, barely suf- ficient to keep the wants of any reasonable family in moderate ordinary working condition. The first Sabbath-school was organized under the immediate superintendence at this place, on the 28th day of May, 1876, with the following roll of officers, viz .: E. J. Cobleigh, Superintendent; Mrs. M. Holbrook, Assistant Superintendent; F. M. Dance, Secretary; Mrs. E. A. Levingston, Treasurer, and Miss Addie Hobbs Librarian, and at the present time, Mr. Ed Sherwood is the Superintendent, with a good corps of teachers and 57 scholars.
Value of church property $1,100
No. of members 230
Sunday-schools 4
Sunday-school scholars 294
LATTER DAY SAINTS.
The people styling themselves Latter Day Saints are among the strongest religious societies of Harrison county. They claim to be the rightful and only legitimate successors of the church founded by Joseph Smith, at Palmyra, New York, in 1830. The persecutions following Smith's death at Carthage, Illinois, in 1844, compelled his adherents, then many thousands in number, in Hancock county, Illinois, and the adjacent territory in Illi- . nois, Missouri and Iowa, to seek new locations on which to settle.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
Brigham Young, as subsequent events proved, turned his eyes to California, then a Mexican Province, doubtless with an eye to the establishment of his peculiar doctrines with reference to polygamy and kindred iniquitous ideas, beyond the bounds of the Federal Government. But rigorous weather overtook them on the way and they went into winter quarters at Council Bluffs, in 1846. Thousands had refused to follow Brigham Young on his Western journey, and dispersed themselves at once from their Illinois rendezvous through nearly every State East of the Rocky mountains, to await the coming one in whom they could repose confidence as being the legitimate successor of their late lamented leader. Thousands more whose acquired habits of obedience to priestcraft had yet control of their judgment, fol- lowed Young to these winter quarters, but time and opportunity to observe, coupled with a growing lack of confidence, combined to cause hundreds to abandon him at the breaking up of camp in the spring of 1847. These naturally dispersed themselves into all the counties adjacent to Council Bluffs. In this manner was the seed sown from which has sprung the many prosper- ous churches of Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska. These old adherents of Smith and the early church all unite in saying that polygamy was never openly, at least, taught as a religious tenet prior to Young's settlement in Utah. They deny that it was ever countenanced in the least degree by the church authorities prior to the prophet's death; that Young's promulga- tion of this and kindred evil doctrines constituted him and his adherents apostates from the true church, and that Joseph Smith, the son of the original prophet, is alone the legal successor of his father and the original church, and as a distinguishing mark, they style themselves the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. The first branch to organize was at Union Grove, which organization has had a somewhat checkered career-sometimes . being very prosperous and at other times in an almost disorgan- ized condition. This branch claims the distinction of being the
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
only branch in Harrison county with which the General Confer- ence of the church has ever met. This branch is now in a very flourishing condition, with a membership of 33. Thomas Thomp- son, President, and P. C. Kimmish, Clerk.
The next branch to organize in the county was at Little Sioux, which though more than one quarter of a century has passed away since the first organization, is still in a lively condition, having a membership of 207, and a commodious church build- ing, costing $1,200. Rev. J. F. McDowel is President, and Wm. Stewart, Clerk.
In the early part of the sixties, the Raglan branch was organ- ized and maintained an active existence, but became disorganized on the 3d day of June, 1871, its members at that time uniting with the Magnolia charge. On the 23d day of February, 1863, a branch was organized at Bigler's Grove, under the name of the Bigler's Grove Branch, and on the 27th of April, 1865, the name was changed to the Morning Star branch, and this faded out of existence in December, of 1872, its members like the Raglan branch uniting with the Saints at Magnolia. A branch was organized at Twelve Mile Grove, April 24, 1864, and contin- ued for ten years, when the charge became disorganized by the members thereof uniting with the branch at Six Mile Grove. The Magnolia branch was organized on the 17th day of March, 1870, and still flourishes with an active, energetic membership of 167. At this place, these people worship in a large commo- dious church building costing $1,600. Donald Maule, President and Clerk. The Six Mile Grove branch was organized on the 3d day of April, 1870, and continued for fifteen years, and was discontinued on the 5th day of December, 1885. An organiza- tion was effected at Reeder's Mills in 1870, which continued until May, of 1874, when the same lapsed by reason of removals and lack of interest. Spring Creek branch, now known as the Persia church, was organized on the 18th day of October, 1876, and within the last five years has erected a large, handsome and
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