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 35
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
commodious church building, costing $1,800, at which place, at the present, there is a wide awake active membership of 90. David Chambers, President and Clerk.
October 14, 1877, the Whitesboro branch was organized under the name of Buena Vista charge, and only kept up this organi- zation until the 13th of July, 1879, when by reason of removals the charge was disbanded.
Sometime in the spring of 1878, a branch was organized in Raglan, with the name of Pleasant View, but being within a few miles of Magnolia, the larger crystalized this and it became non est in 1883. The Evening Star branch, of Morgan town- ship, was organized on the 26th day of March, 1872, and by rea- son of weakness caused by removals, was discontinued in 1882.
On the 13th day of February, 1887, a branch was started on the Willow, in Magnolia township, known as the Willow branch. This is now in a healthy condition, with a member- ship of 48. John Hunt, President, and Henry C. Purcell, Clerk.
The last branch of the Latter Day Saints organized in this county was had at Logan on the 20th day of February, 1887, and the membership, in order to manifest their zeal for the cause which they had espoused, immediately set to work to build a house in which to worship, which undertaking was accomplished by the 10th of December, 1888, the same costing $1,600. At present there are 59 of a membership, and an excellent Sabbath- school Sabbath by Sabbath. Hon. P. Cadwell, President; Wm. R. Davison, Clerk.
The following is a recapitulation of that which has been stated, which shows the strength of the different branches:
Membership.
Little Sioux 207
Union Grove 33
Magnolia. . 167
Spring Creek.
90
Willow Valley 48
Logan.
59
Total
604
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
There is unquestionably enough in this country who are of. the belief, though not attached to the church in the way of having their names on the records of the church, to bring the membership up to 650. Rev. J. C. Crabb is now District Presi- dent, and Mr. William C. Cadwell, of Woodbine, District Sec- retary, the latter having continuously served in that capacity for the eight years last past. Very many of the oldest residents of this county are of this religious faith, and if I was required to select men whose every day life was to be the gauge for moral worth, I would be free at the present to say that I could find none in the county superior to the following, viz .: Mr. George Black- man, Mr. Lucius Merchant, Mr. A. W. Locklin, Mr. Donald Maule, Hon. P. Cadwell, Mr. David Cham bers.
Of this religious faith was Mr. David Gamet, Stephen Mahoney, Marvin Adams, etc., etc. These all lived active, useful and blameless lives, have been gathered to their fathers like a shock of corn in its season, and left to all an example of honor, honesty and fidelity worthy of imitation, and a consolation in the hour of death.
ROMAN CATHOLIC.
From the time of the early settlement of the county up to 1865, there were numerous persons in the county who were members of the above church, but not until that time did they feel that they were financially able to erect a building in which to worship, hence, in the early spring of the year last named, the following named persons, viz .: Mr. William Kennedy, wife and family; Mr. James Kennedy, wife and family; Mr. William Ferguson, wife and family; Mr. Patrick Morrow, wife and family; Mr. William Morrow, wife and family; David Morrow, Joseph Morrow, Mr. Timothy O'Connor, wife and family; and numerous others of the county, formed an organization in the year last named, and built at Magnolia, the first Catholic Church ever built in the county. This building cost, at the time the same was completed, the sum of $1,300. The first priest to
448
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
minister to these people was Father Kelley, who was followed by Father Dexiker, and at present, religious services are held at this place three Sabbaths of each month, by the priest in charge, viz .: Father Hayes. The present membership is 125.
Dunlap was the next to follow, from the fact that the com- pletion of the railroad to this place, and the establishment of a division of the road at Dunlap, brought many persons of this religious faith as settlers into the neighborhood and as citizens of the town. Dunlap is perhaps the wealthiest organization of this belief in the county, and few neighborhoods can boast of better or more law abiding citizen's. Here, in 1872, the following named persons, viz .: Michael Barrett, Jacob Barrett, Ed. Lehan, Mrs. R. B. Hillas, James Cormmie, S. J. P. Marsh, the McNalleys, etc., etc., etc., contributed of their means so freely, that in the year last aboved named, a Catholic chapel was completed, cost- ing $5,000, to which was soon added a rectory costing a like $5,000. They of this denomination have contributed at this locality with a liberal hand in the matter of providing a place of worship, as well as comfortable rooms for the priest. Since the time of the first organization here, the Church has made a splendid growth and at the present stands as above stated, first in the county as to this denomination, having a membership of 190. The first priest stationed at Dunlap was Father Annan, followed by Father Gennahan, then Father Moran, then Father Lynch, then Father MacCormack, the present incumbent.
The Little Sioux Catholic Church was built at or near the year of 1883. The building of this place for worship was occas- ioned by reason of the distance many of the members were from any other place where such privileges were enjoyed, and hence, in order to keep pace with the times, this class built for their use a very neat church costing $1,000. Number of membership 46.
Modale also is graced by a Catholic Church building, which came into being during the year 1883, and though not of the greatness in size which is cause for boasting in many denom-
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
inations, still possesses as true and faithful a membership as ever met for worship in any building. The flock at this place is cared for by the same Priest that preaches to the church at Magnolia, viz .: Father Hayes. The church cost when built $1,000. Number of membership 37.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT MISSOURI VALLEY.
By the time this town was one year old there was a church building of the above denominational character erected in the place costing the sum of $2,500. Prior to this time religious services were had at this place, at which the Rev. Father John Dexiker officiated, and since the completion of said building the following named Priests have filled the pulpit, viz .: Father Eagan, Father McMamamie, Father Lynch, Father Duun, Father Urbay, Father Garrahan and Father P. J. Morrin, who at pre- sent is officiating.
Those who constituted the first membership of this part of the Missouri Valley parish, were Mr. Edward Burke and family, Mr. John Tamassia, Mr. J. D. Tamassia, Messrs. John and Locklin Moreton, Michael Doyle, Mr. J. Dayton, Mr. William Kennedy, and family, Mr. James Kennedy and family, Mr. James Dough- erty and family, Mr. Patrick Snyder, et al. Soon after the con- struction of the church building, a parsonage was purchased at a cost of $1,800 and donated to the church, and then a bell was purchased for the church building and placed in position, which up to the present is the largest church bell in the county, the weight thereof being 2,700 pounds. It can be distinctly heard for a distance of fifteen miles on a reasonably favorable day. This church numbers 300 members, and unless Dunlap is in the advance, is the preferable charge in the county of this denom- ination. As a summary, then, of the value of church property of this religious denomination in this county at the present, the same equals $17,800, and. a membership of 698. It might not be out of place to here state that the membership of the above
29
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
denomination includes those of the children of parents belong- ing to this church who have been confirmed. Were those of the other religious denominations in the county to include in the number of their membership the children of religious parents, who are members of the church, it would make quite a differ- ence in the numbers herein given.
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS,
which in this county had their origin at Magnolia at the time of the organization of the Methodist and Congregational churches at that place, have grown to such importance in the county at the present time that Harrison stands nearly at the front as to Sunday-school work in the State. It may be said (not in the way of boasting) that Harrison county was the first county in the State' to have and sustain a Sunday-school mission- ary, which was inaugurated in the spring of 1882, at which time a young man of Chicago, by the name of F. H. Jewett, came as aforesaid and labored for nearly two years as a Sunday-school missionary, within the boundaries of this county, the success of which undertaking far surpassed the hopes of the most sanguine, for in the incredibly short space of time in which this young hero labored among this people, a purer and more moral atmosphere permeated the entire county, and set in motion a work, which, being ably seconded by his successors, D. W. Comstock, R. A. Shaw and John A. Howard, calls together on each Sabbath 78 schools, with a force of teachers to the number of 351, and an attendance in the way of pupils to the number of 3,952, Sabbath by Sabbath. In calling attention to the undertaking and success of this work of love, I cannot forbear making favorable mention of this Mr. Jewett, who blazed out the by-paths to the different localities in the county, where he established or organized these schools, for be it known that in very many other vocations in life his mental and moral qualities would have commanded much greater remuneration, and by far less hardships, but he, feeling that duty called him to the work,
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
labored with such diligence, faith, love and earnestness, that his labors were abundantly rewarded by the unprecedented gather- ing of the youths of the land into the Sunday-schools, as well as a goodly number into the different churches. Two years of hard, unremitting toil in this field of labor and success, so under- mined a constitution not very rugged, that at the end of that period, he yielded his young life a sacrifice for the good of others. In the middle of 1884, Rev. D. W. Comstock took charge of the field made vacant by the death of Mr. Jewett and he in turn was followed by Rev. R. A. Shaw, who took charge of the work on May 20, 1885. On April 1, 1888, he was relieved by John A. Howard of Unionburg, Harrison county, Iowa, who is at the present time in charge.
The following table will show the Sabbath-schools in the county by townships:
Allen Township-No. of schools 4, teachers 11, scholars 111. Boyer Township-Schools 9, teachers 40, scholars 415.
Cass Township-Schools -, teachers 4, scholars 114. Clay Township-Schools 3, teachers 10, scholars 120. Cincinnati Township-Schools 2, teachers 7, scholars 80. Douglas Township-Schools 5, teachers 19, scholars 186. Harrison Township-Schools 4, teachers 21, scholars 387. Jackson Township-Schools 2, teachers 9, scholars 119. Jefferson Township-Schools 9, teachers 50, scholars 508. Lagrange Township-Schools 3, teachers 11, scholars 83. Lincoln Township-Schools 3, teachers 10, scholars 86. Magnolia Township-Schools 10, teachers 44, scholars 574. Morgan Township-Schools 3, teachers 25, scholars 175. Taylor Township-Schools 1, teachers 6, scholars 86. St. John Township-Schools 4, teachers 19, scholars 224. Union Township-Schools 4, teachers 24, scholars 246. Washington Township-Schools 3, teachers 13, scholars 163. Calhoun Township-Schools 1, teachers 4, scholars 39. Raglan Township-Schools 1, teachers 4, scholars 58.
452
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
The different denominations, as to these schools, as well as the names and postoffice address of the Superintendents are as fol- lows, viz .;
Congregational-D. Saterlee, Dunlap; N. S. Lawrence, Mag- nolia; C. P. Spooner, Mondamin; J. B. Warren, Modale.
Methodist-Dr. P. R. Crosswait, Logan; Dr. C. Clark, Dunlap; Rev. J. T. De Tar, Woodbine; W. B. Donn, Woodbine; Missouri Valley; H. D. Meech, Missouri Valley; J. Losh, Missouri Valley; Mrs. Davis, River Sioux; G. H. Gibson, Little Sioux; Mr. Fisher, Little Sioux; Mrs. Ellen Main, Mag- nolia; J. L. Beebe, Beebetown; John Williams, Reeder's Mills; L. M. Dakan, Reeder's Mills; W. S. Grosbeck, Persia.
Presbyterian-Rev. Cassett, Woodbine; A. W, Ford, Logan. Baptist-W. H. Garrett, Dunlap; Rev. Gray, Woodbine; O. P. Copeland, Logan; F. R. Coit, Missouri Valley.
Non-Denominational or Union Schools-T. P. Kellogg, Levi Stewart, Mrs. W. H. H. Wright and James E. Evans, Dunlap; J. Holeton, Hattie Witters, J. Smith, T. .. Powell, George Abrams, Henry DeCou and Mrs. G. W. Selleck, Woodbine; L J. Paul, J Z. Hunt, George Finley and C. Children, Logan; Wm. Bassier, Cal. Junction; George Green, Missouri Valley; Wm. Dixon, Cal. Junction; W. W. Morton and A. D. Hutchison, Modale; E. R. Thomas, Mondamin; R. Moss, River Sioux; Miss Mary Raymond, George Tuffley and George Reinhart, Magnolia; J. A. Howard, Washington township; C. S. Greenfield, Cass township; J. W. Plummer, Persia, and Rev. J. K. Jackson, Valley View.
These are nearly all in the neighborhood of the different addresses, and are country schools.
ยท
Latter Day Saints-Hon. P. Cadwell, Logan; C. P. Kimmish, Unionburg; David Chambers, Persia; Rev. J. F. McDowell, Little Sioux; J. F. Minturn, Magnolia. There are three or more schools in the county that do not keep up during the winter seasons that are not included in the above report.
453
HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
The Sabbath-school missionary is supported by the donations of the people interested in the Sabbath-school work in the county, and receives a salary of $600 per year for his services, but if this sum is not raised in the county then the mission pays the difference. This personage is ably assisted in the work and labor of love by very many good people within the county; fore- most among these are Mr. Casper Cadwell of Logan, Miss Mary Raymond, of Magnolia, etc., etc., as well as all the mininsters of the different denominations located in the county.
While every reasonable effort has been made to build up the morals of the different communities where Sunday-schools have been organized or attempted by visiting families, circulating religious literature, urging all, young and old to attend and assist in the maintenance and crystalization of this labor of love, many have remained wholly indifferent as to the good resulting therefrom and as a consequence, nearly one-half of the children of school age in the county have never entered a Sabbath-school.
The question suggests itself to each reader, would it not be in keeping, and especially in harmony with scriptural teachings, for the good people of the county to direct the attention to the real wants of our own immediate neighborhoods, rather than to be constantly soliciting funds for the purpose of sending mission- aries to China and other foreign fields and particularly when half the crop of humanity at home remains unharvested?
THE LAST SAD RITES.
MEMORIAL SERVICES IN HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, SATOR- DAY, AUG. 8, 1885. - LOGAN'S GIFTED ORATORS DO HONOR TO THE OCCASION-SPEECHES IN FULL.
From the Harrison County Courier, Aug. 13, 1885.
There was a strict observance of memorial services through- out Harrison county on Saturday last, sacred to the memory of the late deeply lamented Ulysses S. Grant, in whose departure the Nation mourns the loss of one to whom, more than all others, its existence as a united and happy Republic is due. At Dunlap, Woodbine, Logan, Missouri Valley, Modale, Mondamin, Little Sioux, Magnolia and Persia, the day was appropriately observed. At the county seat our people were astir with prepar- ations at an early hour. Stores, dwellings and public buildings were suitably draped and decorated. The city park was prepared with seats, platform, etc., in the inviting shade of its overhang- ing trees, and by ten o'clock a large gathering was in attendance to listen to the exercises, which were opened by Marshal-of-the Day Hon. P. Cadwell, who announced the programme and intro- duced the speakers. Music was furnished by the cornet band and glee club. The services opened and closed with prayer by Rev. J. C. Carter. Five minute addresses were delivered by our gifted fellow citizens, Joe H. Smith, F. W. Hart, J. D. Hornby,
(454)
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
H. H. Roadifer, A. W. Clyde and S. I. King, all of which we report in full, as follows:
J. D. HORNBY.
Mr. President and Fellow Citizens :- Death is the only impar- tial power we know of. From the beginning and in all ages his step has been unfettered. There is but one agency to whom he has ever yielded homage, and at whose fiat he has relaxed his grasp. And so effectually does he close his door of egress that no word from his victim ever returns. All we can do is to stand without, and in grief and sorrow gaze through the eye of faith. Naught but the blood on the door post (and that a temporary check) has ever turned aside his entrance from cottage or palace. Such has been the observation of all ages. Horace, two thou- sand years ago, in a Latin ode to his friend Sestimus, wrote: " Pale death, with impartial step, knocks at cottages of the poor and the palaces of kings. The short sum total of life, O happy Sestimus, forbids that we should form remote expectations." In presence of this power we are helpless; and instinctively we turn to the individual friend, to the family circle, to the society or organization, to the tribe, to the state or nation, for sympathy. Individual sympathy has not been wanting.
The news of the death of U. S. Grant brought to my mind the musical and poetical composition of P. P. Bliss, in memory of William B. Bradbury. The genius of Bradbury had filled our land with song, whom none appreciated more than Bliss. List to his beautiful tribute:
" He's gone, he's gone, Gone to the silent land, Over the river of death, Into the silent land. Glad are the heavenly choirs; Sad is our pilgrim band."
The amount of tribute bestowed has almost universally been commensurate with the good done. He whose death we deplore
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
to-day, on account of having been an almost universal bene- factor, is mourned by all. His knowledge of the governments of the world made him attached to his own. The seat of the crowned monarch was not loftier than the presidential chair, surrounded on the same plain by fifty millions of people. This explains why a nation in thousands of gatherings do reverence to his memory.
The tribute to Bradbury, the composer and songster, above referred to, contains these thrilling words:
"Close to the great white throne, Thousands of children stand."
When we consider the position held by Grant in this country, and the peculiar and trying crisis through which he passed, how appropriate this tribute by the change of a single word.
"Close by the great white throne, Thousands of soldiers stand; . Welcome, oh, welcome, they sing, Home to the beautiful land."
" Marching along on our way, Pilgrims and strangers we roam, Soon shall we join the glad throng, Soon shall be resting at home."
H H. ROADIFER.
Ladies and Gentlemen :- It is seldom an entire nation mourns the loss of a single man as we do to-day. But few have ever had such a funeral procession as that which to-day follows the remains of U. S. Grant to the final resting place. Fifty-five mil- lion people in mind and sympathy, are in that grand procession. Why is this? Young as I am I can well remember when the name of Grant was unknown. Even in Illinois, the State of his residence, outside of the immediate vicinity of his home, no one had ever heard of him. Twenty-five years ago, had a list of the great men of this country been made, U. S. Grant's name would not have been found in that list. Had a list of the rising, promising men been made, his name would not have been found
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
even in that list. He was then unknown. He had but few if any influential friends to assist him. He was not born to greatness, neither had he greatness thrust upon him. Yet at the time of his death no man on either continent was so well known and so highly honored throughout the entire civilized world as he. What name and fame he had he acquired by his own genius and personal exertion. In less than five years from the time he was commissioned colonel and placed in command of a regiment, he was commander-in-chief of one of the largest armies of modern times. His advancement and success in every position in which he was placed was truly wonderful. His military career is familiar to us all,-no need to repeat it here. We all feel proud of, and admire him for his brilliant record as a general.
But there was something grander and nobler in him than merely a successful general. He was a true man, just to his friends and generous to his enemies. While he did much for his country as a general, I apprehend he did equally as much by his unselfish, generous conduct at the close of, and after the war. Find if you can a higher type of manhood than that displayed by him at Appomattox. Realizing that the war was over, his only thought seemed to be how he could best make those who had so recently been his enemies feel at home with us once more; how he could best blot out every ill feeling; not even allowing his own army to celebrate the victory, lest he might unnecessarily wound the feelings of those to whom he was willing to extend the hand of friendship, and greet as his countrymen. Friends, had we of the North and they of the South aided with the same unselfish, generous spirit that he did, much of the sectional strife of the last twenty years might have been avoided. By his conduct he builded better than he knew. And by reason of the treatment extended to his conquered foe, the people north and south, those who fought in the gray as well as those who fought in the blue, to-day unite in honoring his memory. And while we meet here
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
to do honor to his memory, let us realize that in no way can we so well perpetuate it as by imitating his actions toward a con- quered foe; realize that through him and his patriotic army, this is an undivided country; realize that we of the North and they of the South are all citizens of this great republic; be united in fact and in spirit as we are in name,-then we will profit not only by what he did, as a warrior, but as well by his example. And in conclusion, let us ever hold dear the memory of the man whom we to-day consign to his last earthly resting place. Let us remember him, not only as the greatest of generals, not only as a statesman, but above all, let it not be forgotten that he was one of America's truest, noblest men, one who was charitable to all and held malice toward none. Peace to his ashes.
JOE. H. SMITH.
Commander and Friends :- Respect for the dead is a pervad- ing instinct of our common humanity. To honor the memory of the departed is regarded as a sacred trust. To the faithful discharge of affection and friendship we are irrevocably com- mitted.
Nor is the good name, fame and memory of him whose name is being to-day pronounced by every American tongue, left to the guardianship of those alone who knew and loved him in life.
There is something in the silent helplessness of the coffin and sepulchre that appeals with peculiar and pathetic force to the chivalry of our human nature. The discord of party passion, the conflict of individual interest, the fierce rivalry of personal ambition, and all that is base and unworthy in the eager struggle for precedence and supremacy, retire in silence from that presence whose majesty over the combined forces of nature is attested by the unnumbered dead of all nations.
If these proceedings to-day were but meaningless ceremony, if public business has been suspended that we might take part
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
in mere empty pageant, we should do scant honor to the mem- ory of him whose death is the theme of the occasion. Brought face to face to the sum and end of human hopes, so far as they center in this life, who shall say that the contemplation of that result may not guide us to loftier heights of purpose and effort by inspiring us with fresh zeal and devotion, make us fitter for the time when we, too, in an humble way, shall be the text for funeral discourse? Death has brought rest and tranquillity to a busy, restless soul, and changed duty on earth to higher duties in realms above.
Of the subject, for which a nation is in tears, it can be said, there was no Levitical blood lodged in his veins. He was the same in camp, battle, at the pinnacle of military glory, at the top round of political greatness, as when in, the humblest walks of life. In each capacity there was a grandeur and honesty of pur- pose that shed over each station a halo of glory and sublimity which is without parallel and challenges the admiration of all.
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