USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 65
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Gad. Gilbert of Waterloo, but he relinquished his right for $20, the original amount.
During the summer of 1878, the services were held in the courthouse hall, and then held for over one year in the Baptist church. In the meantime the Con- gregational building had been moved to the northwest corner of the present central schoolhouse grounds, lengthened twenty feet in the rear, repaired, re- modeled and made ready for occupancy. Several years later the school board desiring the full block, and the church desiring a more commodious building, preparations began in 1885, to build the present edifice on McGregor street. The building committee consisted of Rev. W. H. Burnard, Capt. W. H. Ingham, H. S. Langdon and D. A. Buell. The contract was let for its erection to A. Wolfe for the sum of $9,700.00, and the building was completed during the year 1886. Its symmetrical proportions and design have elicited the most favorable re- marks from strangers visiting Algona. The ceiling, although of wood and made entirely by hand work, is especially noticeable for its attractiveness and beauty. Traveling men, who have attended services in all parts of the Union, have said that they nowhere saw any ceiling that surpassed the one in the Con- gregational church for a combination of beauty and simplicity. The bell that has pealed forth its silvery tones, calling to the services the congregations of nearly all the churches in town for many years, is not the original one purchased in 1868. That bell becoming cracked, after being in use for many years, was sent back to the company and recast into one of much larger size.
Dr. M. H. Hudson and August Zahlten, for their long and faithful service in the office, had been made deacons for life years before they passed away. The following named persons have also been deacons: Allen Smith, David Patter- son, A. W. Moffatt, D. D. Townsend, Milton Starr, Cheever Hudson, G. G. Washburn, Chester Dutton, H. S. Langdon, D. A. Buell, D. S. Miller, Dr. H. C. McCoy, C. M. Doxsee, N. Spencer, S. D. Patterson, C. B. Hutchins, Dr. W. T. Bourne, Andrew Peterson and C. D. Ward.
The experiences of Father Taylor in coming to the county, and for several years later while laboring in the pioneer settlements, and the high estimate the community had of his worth, have been noticed in preceding chapters. Suffice it now to say that he was quiet and gentle in all his movements, and had a sym- pathetic disposition which made him become recognized as Father, not only by his own church but by all others in the community as well. He was the leading spirit in all movements for the promotion of religion, morality and education. He lectured, taught school, taught singing school, served three terms as county superintendent and attended to his ministerial duties in the meantime.
Sunday, September 6, 1867, was a joyful day in his life and one of much im- portance to the church; for that was the date in which he was formally installed as pastor. Rev. J. Guernsey, agent for the Home Missionary Society, was the Moderator and gave the charge to the pastor. The sermon was by Rev. L. Whiting of Dubuque. Several other ministers from a distance were present and assisted in the services. He continued to preside over the little church he had founded until in the year of 1873 when he retired. He lived in the community until February 27, 1876, when he closed his eyes in death, beloved by hundreds of friends who realized the great loss his passing was to his parishioners and the community generally.
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Rev. H. B. Underwood came in 1873, from the East and became the second pastor. He was a man of considerable native ability and had a liberal educa- tion; but ill health caused him to remain in the pulpit but little over a year when he passed away, only seven weeks after he was married. It was during his charge that the church ceased to rely upon the Home Missionary Society for help.
It was during the year 1875, that Rev. W. H. Burnard came to take up the work his successor had begun. He was a man of commanding presence, dignified, serious and considerate. He was enterprising and began the movement which resulted in the sale of the State street church property and in the locating of the church elsewhere. It was he, furthermore, who induced the church to sell the second location and build where the church edifice now stands. The cele- bration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the life of the church occurred in 1883, Rev. Burnard delivering the address in the shaded yard of the J. E. Stacy liome. After twelve years of service he resigned and located elsewhere, but died a few years later.
Rev. W. E. Davidson, who came in 1888, remained eight years. He was a fluent speaker and an omnivorous reader of a wide range of subjects which he devoured and then gave to his audience, in true oratorical style.
Rev. C. E. Sinclair was the fifth pastor who came as the head of the church. He began his work in 1896 and remained only two years before embarking for the West. It was during his pastorate that the State Congregational Association was held in Algona. It was his realization that he was not intended for the pulpit that caused him to seek some other vocation. In recent years he has lived near San Francisco.
Rev. W. J. Suckow, the sixth pastor, began his labors in 1898, and severed his connection with the church four years later. He is a profound student, a deep thinker, a brilliant conversationalist and a forceful pulpit speaker. He knows what he intends to say and says it in sentences of faultless English, with no attempt whatever at oratory. His sermons appealing as they do to both in- tellect and heart are not only entertaining but are productive of lasting benefit. Being of a poetic nature he frequently closes his sermons with an original verse that would be a credit to most any of the leading poets if found in their produc- tions. He is now preaching at Davenport.
The pastorate of Rev. O. H. Holmes began in 1902 and still continues. He is one of the most active of the several pastors in the management of the affairs of the church, and one of the most successful in causing the members to become engaged in some line of its work. He has the faculty for making things happen lively and often, and for keeping up an interest in all his undertakings. He is an interesting speaker and never fails to hold the closest attention of his audience. His sermons along the line of applied Christianity have met with popular favor, and are remarkable for the striking illustrations they contain to make clear the subjects under consideration. When the fiftieth anniversary of the church was celebrated, September 20-21, 1908, he was one of the leading spirits of the movement. The pipe organ which now adorns the interior of the church was installed during his administration, though the movement for its purchase was begun while his predecessor was here.
The Congregational parsonage was built in 1910. The premises when com .
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pleted with all the improvements cost about $7,500.00. This addition to the church property had been very much needed for a quarter of a century. The parsonage is equipped with all the modern improvements and installed in the best possible way.
The trustees are E. P. Keith, Capt. W. H. Ingham, T. P. Harrington, H. C. Adams and R. H. Quinby ; clerk, Dana Paxson ; treasurer, Jas. Patterson ; church clerk, Mrs. W. K. Ferguson; organist, Prof. L. T. Benjamin ; Sunday-school superintendent, Andrew Peterson; president of Ladies' Aid Society, Mrs. T. P. Harrington; treasurer, Mrs. C. O. Simpson; secretary, Mrs. Will F. Walker; president of C. E. Society, Prof. W. H. Stone. The Congregational Men's Club. of which L. J. Dickinson is the president, is one of the beneficial adjuncts of the society recently organized.
Methodism in Algona dates back to the fifties, but the time when the church organization occurred is not known even to the oldest settlers. It was an evolu- tion of slow growth for many years after Methodist services were begun to be held. The records of the early years of the church are very limited and it is unfortunate that no history has been written and preserved of the successive pastorates from the beginning to the present. The first record of any Methodist services being held appears in the memoirs of Father Taylor of the Congregational church. He notes that in November, 1857, the Methodists first held their services at the log hotel where McHugh was the proprietor. This hotel was the St. Nicholas, built by H. A. Henderson the year before, and stood on the present powerhouse corner. It was during that year of 1857, that Mrs. T. D. Stacy came to the county, and being a Methodist, was assigned to the class which had been organized, and was having its meetings at that hotel. Rev. H. C. Lawton of Fort Dodge had occasionally preached here for that denomination during the year previous but he was not the regular pastor. In those days all of the northwest part of the state was covered by the old-time circuit riders of the Methodist church, who preached at the different points as often as they could conveniently do so. This part of the state at that time belonged to the Upper Iowa Conference and Rev. Lawton was one of those circuit riders. At the time that Mrs. T. D. Stacy came, the class at the hotel was composed of Wm. Moore and Robt. Moore and their wives from the Black Cat, H. A. Hen- derson and wife of Algona, Malachi Clark and wife and Mrs. Philip Crose of Irvington, the leader of the class being Wm. Moore who lived on a farm now owned by C. Byson. At that time Rev. Lawton was the pastor of the class, and a Rev. Holmes the presiding elder. In the winter of 1857-8 a quarterly meeting was held in Algona at the same log hotel. A year later revival meet- ings were held by Circuit-Rider, Forbes, and the two Mallory brothers.
During the year 1858, Rev. H. D. Burleigh came as the first resident pastor, making his home in a building that is now a portion of Captain Ingham's resi- dence. It was there that regular prayer meetings were held. In 1860, Rev. D. P. Billings was appointed pastor of the Algona Mission which comprised a cir- cuit of Hands' Grove, Sumner, Lotts Creek, Irvington, West Fork, Rolfe and the Black Cat. He made his home at Irvington. He was followed by Rev. W. F. Holbrook who staid two years. Then came W. S. Darwin, who was appointed to the work. He held his services at Algona in the old town hall. Living down on Lotts Creek, about fifteen miles south, he only came to Algona once a month
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to hold services. This county at that time belonged to the Fort Dodge district of the Upper Iowa Conference. This district with the Sioux City district com- prised many miles of uninhabited territory between Mason City and the Mis- souri river. Rev. Darwin was succeeded by a young man named E. H. King who took up his home at Irvington, but laboring under disadvantages he only staid one year. Then Rev. Seymour Snyder came in the fall of 1866, and for two years greatly strengthened the work. During his pastorate, services began to be held at Algona every two weeks, for the first time in the history of the church. He made his home in the old log hotel at Irvington and conducted a series of very successful revival meetings. His outside appointments besides Algona were at Armstrong Grove, Seneca, Greenwood, Lowrie, Black Cat, Buffalo Forks, Darien, Rice, Lotts Creek and other places. He was assisted by Fletcher Hand and Rev. Israel Jennings, the former living in Humboldt county and the latter at Algona. Later Rev. Snyder moved to Algona and held services at the resi- dence of Dr. and Mrs. S. G. A. Read in the southeast part of town. It was while living there that the first Methodist Sunday-school was organized in Al- gona with Dr. Reed as superintendent and Bible class teacher. At that time the board of trustees consisted of Dr. Read, W. W. Dean, A. A. Call, T. D. Stacy and Wm. B. Moore. The first parsonage built was the house now owned by Mr. Lovering, just east of the Northwestern track on McGregor street. Be- fore the house was fully finished the church decided to sell it and build else- where. The $650.00 realized from the sale were invested in a half acre of ground and a new house which is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Otto Koepke. In it lived the family of Rev. J. H. Todd and also Rev. Thorpe made his home there in the early '70s.
In the summer of 1868, the Methodist services were transferred to the hall of the county courthouse which had been erected in 1866. Along about 1869, the services were held in the upper room of the first schoolhouse, now the G. A. R. hall, and continued to be held there for some three years. Then in 1871, the chapel of Algona College was built and became the temporary sanctuary of wor- ship for the Methodists.
The various pastors who have had charge of the Methodist work in Algona have been Rev. H. C. Lawton and Rev. Forbes, 1857-58; Rev. H. D. Burleigh, 1858-60; Rev. D. P. Billings, 1860-62; Rev. W. F. Holbrook, 1862-64; Rev. W. S. Darwin, 1864-65; Rev. E. H. King, 1865-66; Rev. Seymour Snyder, 1866-68; Rev. J. H. Todd, 1868-71; Rev. W. L. Thorpe. 1871-72; Rev. J. H. Potter, 1872-73; Rev. L. H. Woodworth, 1873-74; Rev. B. C. Hammond. 1874-76; Rev. H. D. Brown, 1876-77 ; Rev. Bennett Mitchell, 1877-80; Rev. E. Hobbs, 1880-83 ; Rev. P. Eighmy, 1883-84; Rev. H. J. Huston, 1884-85 ; Rev. S. P. Marsh, 1885- 88; Rev. G. F. Fuller, 1888-80; Rev. Wm. Whitfield, 1889-91 ; Rev. A S. Flani- gan, 1891-92; Rev. Robt. Bagnell, 1892-94; Rev. Geo. H. Kennedy, 1894-95; Rev. G. W. Southwell, 1895-97; Rev. F. E. Day, 1897-99; Rev. R. T. Chipper- field, 1809-04; Rev. C. F. Spray. 1904-07; Rev. Walter Torbet, 1907-May, 1910; Rev. F. C. Taylor, May, 1910, to the present time.
One of the most eloquent of all these preachers was Rev. Thorpe. In fact, he was one of the most fluent of any of the preachers of any of the denominations ever residing in Algona. He was an eastern man, highly educated, and was an earnest worker in the cause. Rev. J. H. Todd was also a magnetic speaker who
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had the command of the English language almost equal to Rev. Thorpe's. His power in giving vivid descriptions and in making the past seem present, was remarkable. No local pastor has ever been more successful in conducting revival meetings alone than he. Notwithstanding his ability and the good he had accomplished, he had his failings, one of them being that he persisted in smoking a clay pipe wherever he went. Rev. Woodworth was a polished rhetori- cian and prepared his sermons with the utmost care. Others on the list who made pretentions to oratory and who were equal to their claims were Revs. Bagnell and Day. These preachers perhaps did no more for the welfare of their church than many of the others who took no pride in brilliant utterances from the pul- pit. In the matter of devoutness none exceeded Rev. Chipperfield.
So far as advancing the cause of Methodism is concerned, no one of the list accomplished more than did Rev. Bennett Mitchell through whose efforts the first Methodist church building was erected. During the year 1878, a lot was purchased across the street, west from where the Congregational church is, and on it the edifice was built, Elder Mitchell being the master spirit of that enter- prise. The foundation was laid, the corner stone placed in position by Rev. Seymour Snyder, the bricks were burned and hauled upon the ground, the lower frame work put in and the walls partly built. Then some of the official mem- bers balked and to keep things moving, the preacher and his two boys, with a team, worked constantly for about three months. When two of the hands went on a strike, Rev. Mitchell pulled off his shoes, rolled up his pants, jumped into the pit and shoveled dirt into the mill so that the brickmaking might go on. Many still remember how he lifted and tugged, loading and unloading the founda- tion stones. To keep the work advancing, he did what not one preacher in ten thousand would do. In fact he performed a service for which he has never yet received due credit from the community. This brick edifice, erected by contractor O. W. McMurray, when fully completed answered the purpose at the time with much satisfaction. Rev. Hobbs was the first of the local preachers to hold services in it. It was dedicated in March, 1882, by Dr. Edward Ninde. The property had cost the Methodists about $7,000.00. In 1890, a seven-room parson- age was built under the pastorate of Rev. Wm. Whitfield. While Rev. Day was the pastor in 1898, the church was sold for $500.00. About the time of the sale a new site was purchased on the corner of Moore and Nebraska streets, where the commodious and beautiful brown stone church stands. Its large auditorium, rotunda at the entrance, lecture room opening into the auditorium, the Sunday- school department of fourteen separate class rooms, the basement, dining hall and ladies' kitchen, the large $2,000.00 pipe organ, the seating capacity of eight hundred and the equipments, make the edifice one that would give credit to a city of fifty thousand people. It cost about $30,000 but could not be built for much less than twice that amount at the present time. The trustees who labored with Pastor Day in erecting the structure were Peter Slagle, A. Hutchison, A. M. Johnson, M. N. Naudain and M. F. Randall, and the building committee con- sisted of W. C. Danson, A. Hutchison, F. S. Norton, Gardner Cowles, E. J. Gilmore, C. C. Sampson and M. F. Randall.
At the close of the services of Evangelist Lyon at the tabernacle. during Rev. Torbet's pastorate, the church received many converts. In May, 1910, Rev. Torbet was promoted to the position of district superintendent of the Ida Grove Vol. 1-32
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district, and the present pastor, F. C. Taylor, was appointed to this place by Bishop Joseph Berry.
In the summer of 1911, the parsonage was sold for $2,000.00 to Rev. Robt. Smylie and a lot for a new one was purchased for $600.00 where the present parsonage is now standing. It was completed in January, 1912, and the family of Pastor F. C. Taylor were the first to occupy it. It is well equipped with all the modern improvements and cost in the neighborhood of $5,000.00 less the price of the lot. This makes the Algona Methodist church property one of the best in the conference. About the time the building was finished the church made extensive improvements on the interior of the church edifice by installing a new heating system, and frescoing and decorating the walls, which necessitated an outlay of about $2,000.00. The church is fully organized in all its departments having a Sunday-school of over four hundred members, an Epworth League of eighty members, a Men's Brotherhood of forty members, a Boys' Club of thirty members, a Ladies' Aid Society, a W. F. M. F., and the W. H. M. S.
The church has entertained the Northwest Iowa Conference four times. First, in September, 1874, when it was presided over by Gilbert Haven at the College hall. There were forty-three preachers present, some of whom had come on horseback, some on mustangs and some on mules. The next time was in September, 1881, when Bishop Hurst presided. Rev. Robt. Smylie, D. D. was received at that session on credentials from the Methodist church in Canada. In 1889, the third session of the annual conference was held here and presided over by Bishop H. W. Warren. Many still remember the effective sermon he delivered, based on the text, "Bear Ye One Another's Burdens." At this ses- sion a class of twenty-two young men were received to enter the ministry and were admitted on trial. The fourth session of conference came in October, 1901, when Bishop Isaac W. Joyce presided. At least a couple of the Methodist preachers who were present will long remember the decisive action the bishop took in settling a personal controversy. Rev. F. C. Taylor the present pastor was admitted to trial at that session. He had just completed his education at Evanston but had been doing a little pulpit work in the meantime. An account of the relation of the church to the founding of the Methodist College at this place, years ago, has been presented in another chapter and needs not repeating at this time.
Rev. F. C. Taylor has met with continued success since he began his work at the head of the Algona church. He preaches able sermons that reach the heart, and speaks in a distinct, conversational tone with no apparent effort. He is as popular with the members of other denominations as with those of his own church.
The Baptist people did not succeed in organizing the first church in the county, but they did succeed in erecting the first church edifice after a desperate struggle to raise the necessary funds for that purpose. Good material for founding a Baptist church came into the settlements at an early date, but that material was widely scattered. Among those who came before the war who were later pillars in the church were the families of Luther Rist, James Hender- son, W. F. Hofius, Riley and Andrew Mason, M. C. Lathrop, Levi Maxwell, J. E. Blackford, and J. R. Armstrong. A little later to this group of stalwarts were added the families of C. M. Dickinson and N. A. Pine.
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The birth of the church occurred May 18, 1861 at a called meeting presided over by Moderator O. A. Holmes of Webster City. He was assisted by Revs. L. L. Frisk and William Sparks, the former living at Mineral Ridge and the latter at North Union. Those who joined were Riley Mason, wife and son Cecil, A. B. Mason and wife, Luther Rist and wife, S. S. Rist, W. F. Hofius and wife, M. C. Lathrop and wife, J. R. Armstrong, Electa Henderson, Eliza Maxwell, and Susan Paine. The next day Mary A. Rist was added to the number. A. B. Mason was the clerk that recorded the minutes of the proceedings. They had no pastor in sight but they held meetings occasionally at the homes of the various members. For several months they were held at Luther Rist's near Algona, then at Irvington at A. B. Mason's, and frequently at W. H. Hofius's, Jas. Henderson's and later at C. M. Dickinson's. Services were also held at times at the town hall before any regular preacher had come to take charge.
The first minister the church had was Rev. Wm. Leggett who came in 1864. He was a graduate of some eastern college and is remembered as having been a most eloquent preacher. He was chosen from among all of the fine speakers of this vicinity to deliver the Lincoln Memorial Address, a short time after the report of the assassination had reached the settlements. In 1866 he was suc- ceeded by Rev. Ira C. Cain, who conducted the services for a while at his home. In May of that year he started the movement to build a church not to exceed $2,500.00. The lots were donated by Judge Call for the edifice and the parson- age, and then soliciting for funds began. The difficulty in raising a sufficient amount to complete the church building caused the work to be delayed for several years before reaching completion. He remained three years and is living now at Los Angeles. Rev. Jas. Jeffreys was here in charge of the work in April, 1870 and was the first pastor to occupy it for church services. In 1871 the church was left with no pastor, and remained without one for more than six years. This was occasioned by the death of several of the leading mem- bers and the removal from the county of others. In February, 1878, Rev. C. Brooks came to take up the work and revive the church from its slumber. It was during that year that the church was dedicated, Rev. L. N. Call, of Webster City preaching the dedication sermon. There are still many residents of Algona who remember how ambitious he was to lead the choir in singing, and how his many peculiarities were in evidence. He was followel by Rev. H. A. Wilridge in 1878. He preached for a while, and then aspiring to be county superin- tendent made a race for that office in the fall of 1879, but was defeated. It is remembered that he stated his greatest ambition was to form a law partner- ship with some man who would do all the work and let him do the spouting. Following him at the head of the church came Rev. Joseph Mountain who did much to restore the weakened church and put it on a good working basis. He was a man of considerable ability and an active worker. He began his services in 1880. The next that came was Rev. G. W. Robinson, a good church worker and an interesting speaker. Rev. W. L. Wolfe was his successor in 1886, after a long period with no pastor. He was earnest in the cause and did all he could for the advancement of the work, considering the poor health with which he was afflicted. The next who came to take up the work and carry it forward was Rev. F. M. Smith who is remembered for his scholarly sermons and his zeal for the cause. He was followed by Rev. W. H. Dorward who came in
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