USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 28
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"JOSEPH BROBST, County Judge."
A small brick building was erected upon the lots donated by the county and was dedicated on May 28, 1856, by Rev. John Jay. About two years later this house was sold to the United Presbyterians and a two-story brick church was erected on the lot at the north- west corner of Fourth and Montgomery streets, where the present house of worship stands. This edifice was 40 by 60 feet and cost about six thousand dollars. During the next twenty years the con- gregation lost a number of members through the formation of other churches in the county, as well as several by death and removal. Then came an era of prosperity, beginning in the early '8os and con- tinuing till the present time.
The corner-stone of the present church edifice was laid with appropriate ceremonies on August 29, 1895, and the building was formally dedicated on April 12, 1896. From the inscription on the corner-stone it is learned that the building committee was composed of Rev. W. E. Mair, S. L. Collins, J. H. Auld and John McMillan.
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First Methodist Episcopal Church. Free Methodist Church. Congregational Church.
St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Christian Church. First Presbyterian Church.
GROUP OF KNOXVILLE CHURCHES
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
The structure has a stone foundation, with brick superstructure, slate roof and art glass windows. It is the home of one of the strongest church organizations in the county.
A Methodist Episcopal class of eight persons was organized in Washington Township in 1852 by a minister named Johnson. The first class leader was T. L. Strong, who lived just across the line in Lucas County. Meetings were held at first at the house of Henry Molesworth, a short distance east of the present town of Columbia. After that town was laid out a neat house of worship was erected there and the Methodist Episcopal Church of Columbia is still a power for good in that community.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Dallas was organized in the fall of 1853 at the house of Joel Campbell, with a membership of fourteen, though the Rev. Mr. Johnson had held services in the neighborhood for a year or more prior to that date, preaching at the homes of some of the settlers or in the schoolhouse. Rev. John Jay was the first pastor. In 1855 a church edifice was erected at a cost of $2,200. This church is still in existence and is in a fairly pros- perous condition.
Although the town of Red Rock was noted in the early days for its turbulent characters and rowdyism, there were enough Meth- odists settled in the vicinity to organize a church. The early history of the congregation appears to have been lost, so that the exact date of the organization of the church cannot be given. About 1855 or 1856 a substantial brick house of worship was erected and a Sunday school was organized.
Probably the next oldest Methodist Episcopal Church in the county is the one at Otley. It was organized in 1855 by Rev. R. B. Allender with fifteen members. Among the original members of this church were Boyd and William Donnel and their wives, the Honnolds, the Pendroys and Mr. and Mrs. John Young. Rev. R. B. Allender was the first pastor. The meetings were held in the Summit schoolhouse until 1870, when a frame church, 30 by 40 feet, was erected at a cost of $2,500.
In 1867 Doctor Beal and his wife, M. M. Gortner and wife, and R. S. Robinson and wife-six persons in all-organized themselves as the Methodist Episcopal Church of Marysville. Meetings were held at the homes of the members or in the schoolhouse for about seven years, when a frame church was erected at a cost of over two thousand dollars. It was dedicated on September 6, 1874, by Bishop Gilbert Haven. The membership at that time was about twenty.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Although this church has never been strong, either in numbers or financially, it has been a source of comfort to its members.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pella was organized on May 21, 1855, by Rev. J. Brooks, at that time the presiding elder of the district. Among the first members were Green T. Clark, W. L. Baston, J. F. Woodside, John B. and Robert Hamilton, John Greenwood and Horace Strickland. A house of worship was erected in 1857, but the congregation was unable to pay for it and it was sold for debt in 1862. About three years later a second church was erected, but it was too small to meet the demands of the growing society and a larger one was built in 1867. The contractor failed to do the work according to agreement and in 1870 the house was sold, the proceeds being applied to the payment of debts and repairing the old building. About 1879 a parsonage was built at a cost of $950, and later the present house of worship, near the railroad station, was erected. Here regular services are held and a Sunday school is maintained.
The Pleasantville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in January, 1872, and soon afterward a frame church building was erected at a cost of over three thousand dollars. A small class had been formed as early as 1846 at the home of Samuel Tibbett. The Pleasantville church has since erected a handsome brick edifice, and the congregation is in a prosperous state, both the church services and the Sunday school being well attended.
In 1874 a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Union Township with J. E. Rees, D. B. Horsman, Jasper Nye, H. D. Lucas and their wives, Mrs. Ann Harsin, Mrs. May E. Worthing- ton and Miss Emma Worthington as the charter members. Rev. A. H. Shaffer was the first pastor. For a time meetings were held at the Rees schoolhouse. Then a frame church building was erected near the northwest corner of section 4, about half a mile northwest of the schoolhouse.
There are also Methodist Episcopal churches at Bussey, Dur- ham, Flagler, Hamilton, Harvey and Tracy; old Bethel Church, in Clay Township; Zion Church, in Dallas; Mount Olive and Zion churches, in Indiana; one at Gosport, one in section 36, in the north- eastern part of Knoxville Township; Eden Church, about three miles west of the City of Knoxville; Bethel Church, in the north- western part of Lake Prairie Township, and Concord Church, in the northeastern part of Washington Township.
The first Methodist Protestant Church in the county was organ- ized at Wheeling in January, 1874, the Polsons, Hardins, William
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Reed, John and Samuel Trent and Simon Walker being some of the original members. Rev. Samuel Talbott was one of the first min- isters. Since then Methodist Protestant churches have been estab- lished at Bussey, Attica and Gosport.
The Free Methodist Church of Knoxville was organized in 1898, when a modest frame house of worship was erected at the northeast corner of Sixth and Marion streets, where the congregation still holds meetings. There was formerly a Free Methodist Church a short distance south of Flagler, and there is an African Methodist Epis- copal Church at Hawkeye. Efforts have been made to organize an African Methodist Episcopal Church at Knoxville, but at the begin- ning of the year 1915 nothing definite had been accomplished.
BAPTISTS
Although the Methodists were the first to hold services in the county, the Baptists were the first to organize a regular church society. Rev. M. J. Post organized what was known as the Aurora Missionary Baptist Church at the house of Israel Curtis, five miles south of Pella, in December, 1844. In April, 1854, the congrega- tion voted to remove to the town of Pella, chiefly because the Bap- tist convention had a short time previously decided to establish Cen- tral College at that point. The present church building, a substan- tial brick edifice located on Independence Street, between Main and Broadway, was dedicated in August, 1874, by Rev. L. A. Dunn, pres- ident of the college. It cost about eleven thousand dollars and is known as the First Baptist Church of Pella.
The Knoxville Baptist Church was organized in October, 1845. Among the original members were H. C. Conrey, Lawson G. Terry, Martha Terry, Luther C. Conrey, M. J. Post and Anna Jones. Rev. G. W. Bond was the first pastor and Dr. L. C. Conrey was the first clerk. In July, 1851, Rev. G. W. Bond, C. L. Ryley and W. D. Everett were appointed messengers or delegates to attend the meet- ing of the Des Moines Association at Agency City and make appli- cation for admission to the association, which was granted. By vote of the congregation in 1854 the church withdrew from the Des Moines Association and united with the Central. In August, 1855, the society purchased a lot at the northwest corner of First and Rob- inson streets and a little later S. G. Hunt (then pastor), H. C. Whit- ney and R. B. Mitchell were appointed a building committee. These brethren decided upon a brick edifice, 40 by 60 feet, which was com- pleted at a cost of a little over four thousand dollars and is still used by the congregation.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
The Coal Ridge Baptist Church was established in 1852, with Rev. Warren D. Everett as the first pastor. Among the first mem- bers were George W. and Louisa Martin, Sylvester McCown, who was for a long time the church clerk, J. S. Everett and David Dur- ham. For several years meetings were held in the schoolhouse or at the homes of the members, but in 1873 a small frame house of worship was erected near the northwest corner of section 23, a short distance from the old Village of Coalport. The Coal Ridge Church is still in existence, but it has lost much of its former prestige through the death or removal of the active members.
The Second Baptist Church of Pella was organized in 1858, with eighteen charter members, most of whom withdrew from the First Baptist Church because of a difference of opinion on three subjects, which they considered vital, to wit: 1. The members of the Second Church were opposed to slavery. 2. They were opposed to the sale of intoxicating liquors under the license system. 3. They were op- posed to all secret societies. In 1862 the society bought the old Methodist Episcopal Church and expended a considerable sum of money in repairs, making the total cost of the building about one thousand dollars.
In February, 1871, the Otley Baptist Church was organized with ten members, viz. : J. T. Hendershott, J. B. Hendershott, Mrs. Pen- ninah Hendershott, M. W. Yowell and wife, William White and wife, Mrs. C. Finley, Mrs. Sophronia Yowell and Columbus Long. Steps were immediately taken to erect a house of worship, and in November, 1871, a handsome frame church was dedicated by Rev. William Wood. This structure cost $4,000 and is still used by the church and Sunday school.
CHRISTIANS OR DISCIPLES 1
The Christian Church of Knoxville is the strongest organization of this denomination in the county. It was organized a few years prior to the beginning of the Civil war and its first place of worship was the old church edifice that had been erected by the Congrega- tionalists. In 1874, chiefly through the efforts and liberality of Lar- kin Wright, a commodious brick church was built on Main Street, two blocks west of the public square, on the lot occupied in 1914 by George H. Ramsay's residence. Some years later a division occurred, a number of the members withdrawing and worshiping in the old frame Presbyterian Church, on the site now occupied by the Knoxville Public Library. About 1910 the two factions united
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
again and erected the present magnificent church edifice on West Main Street, at a cost of approximately thirty thousand dollars. This is no doubt the finest church building in the county and the congre- gation is in a flourishing condition.
Rev. Hiram Moon held services in Washington Township as early as 1849 and organized a Christian Church, the first religious society in that township, with thirteen members. He preached the first sermon at his own house on Sunday, March 4, 1849.
John P. Glenn, one of the early settlers in Pleasant Grove Town- ship, was a minister of the Christian denomination and held meetings at various places in the county. In 1849 he organized the Christian Church of Pleasantville, with twelve members, among whom were himself and wife, James W. Gill, William F. Jordan, Isaac Metcalf, William Elder and their wives. In 1871 a frame house of worship was erected at a cost of something over three thousand dollars.
About 1860, John, Michael and Gibson Shook, Joseph Metcalf, William Farley and a few others organized the Christian Church of Wheeling Meetings were held in the schoolhouse for several years, but in 1867 a house of worship was erected at a cost of $1,400.
A Christian Church was organized in Union Township in 1878 and services were held in the Prickett schoolhouse. Englewood Church, in the southern part of Knoxville Township, was organized as a Christian society some years ago, and there is also a Christian Church at Dallas.
PRESBYTERIANS
The first society of this faith in the county, of which there is any record, was the United Presbyterian Church of Knoxville, which was organized on November 26, 1853. Among the first members were the Blacks, the MeMeekins, the McKinnis, Gaston, Stewart and Henderson families. This society purchased the old Methodist Church building and used it as a house of worship until 1865, when a new church edifice was built at the corner of Sixth and Montgom- ery streets at a cost of $3,000. It was dedicated by Rev. D. F. Bon- ner, then pastor. After a somewhat eventful career the church finally disbanded and the building in 1914 was used as a livery stable, hav- ing been removed to a lot on Main Street.
On December 17, 1853, the First Presbyterian Church of Knox- ville was organized with twelve members, among whom were Dr. W. B. Young and his wife, Joseph M. Clark, Joseph H. Morrison and several members of the Welch family. Dr. W. B. Young and
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
James Welch were the first elders and Rev. George M. Swan was the first pastor. In the summer of 1858 a frame church was erected on the corner now occupied by the Knoxville Public Library and was used as a home for the congregation until 1884, when the pres- ent brick edifice just across Third Street from the old church was erected. On September 27, 1858, a Sunday school was organized in connection with this church, with Jacob Elliott as the first super- intendent.
The First Presbyterian Church of Pella was organized on Au- gust 9, 1869, with ten members, five of whom belonged to the Voor- hees family. The others were A. F. and Lucy N. Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Mary T. Morgan and Clara O. Vanderley. Rev. John Fisher was the first pastor. In 1872 a frame house was built at a cost of about three thousand dollars and was dedicated by Mr. Fisher. This church has never fulfilled the anticipations of its founders, and sev- eral times in its history has been without a pastor and failed to hold regular meetings. There is a United Presbyterian Church at New- bern, established many years ago.
UNITED BRETHREN
Although this denomination has never played any conspicuous part in the religious history of the county, it was one of the first to enter the field in the organization of churches. Among the early settlers of Franklin and Dallas townships were a number of persons of this faith. In 1851 a minister named Demoss held services among those people and organized a society in each township, but no houses of worship were erected, the meetings being held in the schoolhouses.
LUTHERANS
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Knoxville was organized on November 26, 1853-the same day the United Presbyterian Church was formed. Joseph Brobst and wife, Abraham Rizor and wife, Henry Marthorn and wife and James G. Young and wife were among the original members. Rev. F. R. Scherer was the first pas- tor. Judge Brobst furnished a lot and erected a building which was sold to the church. In the course of time the congregation became so weakened by death and removal of members that the church was disbanded.
Most of the early settlers in the western part of Dallas Town- ship were Germans, part of whom were Lutherans in their religious
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
belief, and in 1854 a church of that faith was organized there by Rev. J. F. Shearer. About sixteen families united with the church, but unfortunately Mr. Shearer could speak only in the English lan- guage and some of his people could not thoroughly understand him. A little later Rev. Wilhelm Hounderdosse, a German minister, suc- ceeded Mr. Shearer and from that time the church prospered. This congregation has a commodious house of worship and a schoolhouse in the northwestern part of the township.
CONGREGATIONALISTS
On July 21, 1853, the County Court of Marion County issued the following order :
"On this day a petition of A. B. Miller and others is presented, praying the county judge to grant to the trustees of the First Con- gregational Church of Knoxville two lots lying in the town of Knox- ville, in this county, the same being the property of the county. After hearing said petition and having examined the matter, and being fully advised in the premises, it is ordered that said petition be granted; and it is further ordered by the county judge that the fol- lowing named lots, Nos. 7 and 8, in block 9, all being and lying in the Town of Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa, be sold and the amount sold for be set apart and donated to the First Congregational Church of Knoxville, provided said church will be built in the said Town of Knoxville.
"JOSEPH BROBST, County Judge."
The two lots were sold for fifty dollars, which amount was donated to the church. A house of worship was then erected, but after a short time the society went down and the building was sold to the Chris- tians. Knoxville was then without a Congregational Church for many years, when some of the Presbyterians withdrew from that church and organized another Congregational society, which built a frame house of worship on North First Street, two squares north of Main Street, where meetings are held regularly.
THE REFORMED CHURCH
This denomination was introduced in Marion County by the Hol- landers. Soon after they settled in the county in 1847 a society called the Christian Church was organized at Pella, with eight active
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
members, among whom were Rev. H. P. Scholte and Isaac Over- kamp, two of the leaders of the Holland colony. On September 19, 1856, the name of the organization was changed to the First Dutch Reformed Church, with Rev. P. J. Oggel as the first pastor of the new church. In 1871 work was commenced on a church building, located on Broadway, and it was dedicated in June, 1872. This building, which cost $25,000, has a seating capacity of about one thousand and is nearly always filled during services. All services are conducted in the Holland language. Before the present church edifice was erected the society held meetings in a small frame build- ing on the west side of the square until 1850, when a small brick church was erected, which in turn was succeeded by a frame church of larger dimensions.
The Second Reformed Church of Pella had its beginning in 1863, when the board of missions sent Rev. Abraham Thompson to Pella to organize an English-speaking congregation according to the doc- trines of the Reformed Church. Mr. Thompson entered zealously into his work and in the spring of 1865 the first church building was dedicated. It was a brick structure, erected at a cost of $4,000 and served the congregation for several years, when it became necessary to secure larger quarters. The present church edifice, located at the corner of Broadway and Liberty streets, was dedicated in 1908.
The Third Reformed Church of Pella was organized about the same time as the above, but its services are conducted in the Dutch language. Rev. C. Zubli was the first pastor. In 1870 a frame church was built at a cost of about five thousand dollars. The con- gregation in 1914 numbered over two hundred active members.
There was also a Fourth Reformed Church organized in Pella, but on June 10, 1880, the name was changed to the Holland Pres- byterian Church, which took over the ownership of the church build- ing that had been erected at a cost of $3,000.
The Dutch Reformed Church of Otley was organized in 1871, with Rev. A. G. Lansing as pastor. Before the close of the year a frame house of worship was erected at a cost of $2,200 and dedicated. This congregation has been prosperous from the start and is one of the strong Reformed churches of the county.
In 1886 the First Christian Reformed Church of Pella was organ- ized by Rev. H. R. Koopman. Since then the churches at Leighton, Peoria and Sully have been drawn from this congregation and some of the members have united with the church at Otley. Notwith-
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
standing these subtractions the church is still in a flourishing condi- tion. There is also a Reformed Church at Harvey.
CATHOLICS
This denomination has never been particularly strong in Marion County. Among the early settlers in the western part of Dallas Township were a number of German Catholics, who felt the need of some place to worship according to the faith in which they had been brought up, and in 1854 nine of these pioneers met and organ- ized a Catholic Church. A hewed log house of worship, only 16 by :8 feet in size, with a small belfry, was erected. This was done without the aid of a priest, but soon afterward Father John Krekel came into the neighborhood and said the first mass in the new church. In 1874 the parish was established under the name of St. Joseph's, with Rev. John Bahman in charge. A new brick church was erected at a cost of $9,000. This building is located in the northwest corner of section 20 and is 40 by 60 feet in dimensions. A schoolhouse was built some time later and around this church and school has grown up the little hamlet of Bauer.
About 1877 or 1878 a Catholic mission was established at Knox- ville under the name of St. Michael's. It was attended by priests from Oskaloosa and Whatcheer. In 1908 the present house of wor- ship, a neat frame structure, was built near the west end of Marion Street and the name was changed to St. Anthony's. Late in the sum- mer of 1913 Rev. Martin O'Connell was appointed resident priest, the first in the history of the church, and about the close of the year 1914 St. Anthony's was made a separate parish. Work was then commenced on a priest's residence, which was almost completed at the beginning of the year 1915. There is a Catholic mission at Pella, which is attended by Father O'Connell of St. Anthony's.
MISCELLANEOUS CHURCHES
In 1869 an Evangelical Church, called White Breast Mission, was organized in Dallas Township with ten members, and a little later a neat frame church, 28 by 42 feet, was built in the northwest quar- ter of section 12, not far from the present Town of Melcher.
A church building called "Union Chapel" was erected by the people of Dallas Township in 1875 in the eastern part of section 25, about a mile and a half from the Lucas County line. It cost ahout sixteen hundred dollars and was free to all denominations.
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HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Another church of the same character was built some years later about two miles north of Knoxville, near the Pleasant Grove school- house, where a cemetery had been established many years before. Ministers of various denominations have filled the pulpit of this church at different times in its history.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church of Knoxville was organized some time in the 'zos and a neat frame house of worship was erected in the southern part of the city, where meetings are still held, though the congregation is not so strong as in the early years of its existence.
A society of Universalists was organized in Knoxville about the same time as the Seventh Day Adventists and meetings were held in the church of the latter denomination under the pastoral charge of a Mrs. Gillette. Two ministers named Brooks and Eberhart were the first Universalist preachers to hold services in the city. This con- gregation never owned a house of its own and after a few years was disbanded.
RURAL CHURCHES
A map of Marion County, issued in 1914 by order of the board of supervisors, shows a number of country churches located in vari- ous places in addition to those already mentioned. In Clay Town- ship there is a church in the east side of section 17, about two miles southwest of Harvey and not far from the Clay Center schoolhouse and another in section 32, near the Union school, in the southern part of the township.
The only country church shown in Franklin Township is located in the northeast corner of section 19, near the Springdale school- house and one mile from the Warren County line.
In the southern part of section 16, in Indiana Township, is what is known as the Wesley Church, and in section 19, a short distance west of the Round Grove school, and not far from the Hickory branch of Cedar Creek, is an old church and burial ground, where some of the old settlers worshiped and where their remains are interred.
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