USA > Iowa > Marshall County > History of Marshall county, Iowa > Part 8
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TAMBOS,
As they were called by a Marshall lady through some inadvertence of memory. "Tambos !" "Tambos !" she repeated, " Are they good to eat ?" Many had never seen tableaux and knew nothing of scenic effect, and pious people in the churches talked of the rigors of dis- cipline if they were repeated, denouncing them as an in- cipient theatre. A large fund was raised from the enter- tainment, and it passed off pleasantly to all concerned. An incident occurred just before the performance began. Mr. Wasson in arranging the curtains was behind them. and a light showed him full length, with his hair sticking up as if in need of a pair of shears. " Tambos, Number 1," whispered Pete Hep. burn to a lady; as the head kept bobbing from side to side like a jumping jack, the candles being in just the right position to make a really laughable scene Mr. Wasson, now one of our dignified merchants and a perfect gentleman, perhaps may have forgotten his role in the performance.
In 1858, came Mr. M. Rosenbaum, one of our fore- most business men, and an excellent critic in litera- ture and art, and with his intelligent lady made quite an addition to the circle of friendly intercourse and enjoyment. He was from Mansfield, Ohio. His wife died a few years ago, and he has since married a lady from the sunny South, of most agreeable manner and charming ways.
We must not overlook a brave soldier, that served three years in the army, and has done what he could for the Church-Mr. A. L. Vertz. He married a step-daughter of Mr. John Smith, who was quite an old settler, and lived on the Taft place, as it is now called. He is Judge Smith's father, and came here about 1852.
In the fall of 1859, the market for grain was so depressed-corn worth only ten cents per bushel-
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that Mr. Woodbury concluded to start a distillery to relieve the farmers. In October, he sent to Dubuque, by Mr. G. Hartwell, his engineer and master workman, for his castings. On reaching Union Grove, near the northeast corner of the county, he slipped accidentally under his wagon which was heavily loaded with flour, and was fatally injured, so that he died in a day or two after the occurrence. He left a widow with six little children to buffet with western life. But admi- rably Mrs. H. has performed her duties, as every citizen can testify. Mr. Woodbury only kept the dis- tillery in operation about a year, we are glad to record, and there has never been another here.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The pioneer church planted her standards early in the county, and the itinerant was seen with his Bible and saddle-bags, soon after the sound of the swinging ax and hum of bees marked the presence of the hardy emigrant. In 1851, Rev. Mr. Corkhill, and Rev. S. Dunton, familiarly called Father Dunton, occupied the Iowa City pulpit, but being aware of the needs of Central Iowa for missionary work, Father Dunton was persuaded to undertake the enterprise of founding the Marshall Mission. Late one night he reached a cabin on Linn Creek occupied by Mr. Ralls, chilled and hungry by his long ride. After enjoying Mr. R.'s hospitality, he attempted to go onward to Marietta, but after traveling perhaps twenty miles and trying to cross the creek, the high water having swung the only bridge from its position, he was obliged to return to Iowa City until a more favorable opportunity. Late in the spring he came back and organized a class or rather the first church in Marshall county, at the Mr. Griffiths we have already mentioned, at the corner of Le Grand. We think there were ten persons in the class. Afterward, about 1853, he organized another
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class, in Marshalltown, at the school-room in a house owned by Christopher Ford, and when the infant church was moved into the frame school-house, now used as the primary department of the public school, it fell under the care of Rev. Mr. Armstrong. But its progress was slow, and in the spring of 1857 it num- bered only thirty members. Alas! too many asso- ciate their worship with the splendid frescoes, the rich music of the organ, the eloquent tones of the preacher, forgetting that He is near, even in the small crowded room with rude pulpit and benches; yet the early Methodists had nothing of this. It was for a later age to find out that there is an aristocracy among the follow- ers of the humble carpenter and fishermen of Galilee ; that to turn up their noses at the representatives of these humble trades, is better than to wash the disciples' feet at His command. How Barbara Heck and Mrs. Fletcher would sigh to walk up the aisles of some of our fashionable churches !
But we return to the days of Rev. Mr. Stewart, and the quaint, yet forcible Br. Shinn, who was once appointed temporary chaplain of the House of Repre- sentatives. We insert the prayer upon that occasion. " Great God, bless the young and growing State of Iowa, bless her senators and representatives, bless her State officers, give us a sound currency, pure water, and undefiled religion, for Christ's sake. Amen."
Then we hear of Rev. Mr. Babcock in 1859 ; after- ward Rev. L. Truesdall who went in 1861 as Chaplain to the Second Iowa Cavalry. At the time of his pas- torate there was a great deal of dissension and bitter feeling, many were suspended, and it was an hour of deep gloom. The town had borrowed their building fund, so it was necessary to meet in the court house, the school room being too small. The Upper Iowa Conference met there in 1861, Bishop Scott presiding, who always seemed to us a representative of St. John, so sweet and mild is he in his manner to the brethren.
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In this conference year, the pastoral mantle fell upon Rev. Mr. Fuller, a popular preacher, and Rev. J. Ran- kin was presiding elder. In September, 1862, Rev. Mr. Thompson was appointed for a year, and the church very slowly made headway against the hosts of darkness, and not till the second year of the good Br. Rankin as pastor, did the noble old church come from under the cloud, " fair as the sun, clear as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners."
They, at this time, finished and furnished the chapel commenced in 1861, and since, under the ministrations of Rev. Mr. Kendig, and the gifted, scholarly Prof. Fellows, the church has taken her place in the front of the battle, having a good choir and organ, a mem- bership of 180, pays a salary of $1,200 per annum to the clergyman, besides donating largely to charitable objects. There is a Dorcas Society connected with the church, Mrs. M. A. Boardman, president, and Miss M. Hickox, secretary.
CAMP MEETING.
The first camp fires ever built by the Marshall Mis- sion flamed through the forest near Griffith's mill on Timber creek. Here, with no rustling silks or “ jew- els' shine," the old-fashioned Methodists from far and near, met in prayer and praise, Father Dunton took the lead and with another worthy brother carried on a very good work, with nothing to mar their sweet enjoy- ment of Christian love and duty.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Marshall county has a membership of nearly eight hundred, five cir- cuits with efficient pastors, and a parochial care of Sabbath Schools and " classes " at different points. Rev. J. S. Edwards, a young local preacher of great revival influence, has organized several classes and does glorious work in the vineyard of the Lord.
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A NEW SCHOOL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Was organized in 1858, and met in the court house, with Rev. N. Gordon as pastor. There was a little handful of the members-only nine. Mrs. Gerhart, a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, gave in her letter to make the number ecclesiastically complete. Mr. Gordon was a good man, right on the essential question of slavery which then agitated all religious bodies, but was not popular as a sensation preacher, and he remained only a year or so. Mr. John Fisher and N. Gillespie were the first deacons. After Mr. Gor don left, President Geiger of the Albion College preached occasionally, until 1862, when Rev. Mr. Deloss came to the town on a visit, and was prevailed upon to remain and minister to the wants of the church. And nobly he responded to the call, urged a closer union in spiritual matters, and the erection of a church structure ; he then appealed to every citizen of Mar- shalltown to give something to help lay its founda- tion and build thereon. He succeeded admirably, and the result was, that this church has one of the finest edifices in the State. Beautifully frescoed and painted, warmed by furnaces and lit by splendid chan- deliers, a good organ and choir, and a flourishing Sab- bath School, with only a small debt to detract from its financial success.
Mr. and Mrs. Gettings were among its first members, and still mingle with a large and fashionable congre- gation. Mrs. Gerhart is not living. Mr. Deloss did not live to see the end of his great work, and after a long and painful illness, just as the sun was tinting with its evening glories the spires and roof of his loved church, he sank to rest, praying sadly and sweet, " Thy will be done."
We never shall forget his masterly effort at the death of the martyred Lincoln ; the pure diction, the forcible language, all told the orator, the patriot and the Chris-
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tian. It was nearly his last public effort ; worn down with anxieties for the church and nation, his vigorous nature sank under it, and he sleeps in the cemetery that he was mainly instrumental in beautifying and ornamenting as befitting a burial place for the dead in our midst. The church is now under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Kellogg, a man ably fitted to fill the place of the lamented Deloss. The church building was commenced in 1863 and finished in 1865.
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
We may state that this organization is connected with that of Albion, generally, alternating public ser- vice with them. Prof. Geiger preached here, also the eloquent Schaeffer, the Rev. Messrs. Sternberg and Fair, and latterly the very classical Rev. W. Lepley. Their church building was commenced in 1861, the first in the city, but was not finished until 1864. It saw a deal of financial trouble, but by the united effort of Mr. Schaeffer and people it was nearly cleared from debt at its dedication in January, 1865. It saw great prosperity while under his guidance, but dissensions creeping in very stealthily at first, they are now without pastor or choir, and have rented their beautiful church to the
BAPTISTS,
Who were organized here in 1863 with sixteen mem- bers, meeting for worship at the court house, and Woodbury's Hall. Rev. Mr. Willy first, then Rev. N. Holmes from Webster City, have been the pastors of this church. They have a membership of over seventy, a splendid edifice in process of erection, which will be finished the coming season, and a Sab- bath School of sixty scholars.
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DISCIPLES CHURCH,
Sometimes called the Campbellite Baptists, have been holding meetings for two years in the court house, Rev. M. W. McCondell, pastor.
Their Sabbath School numbers fifty pupils, and the membership is constantly increasing in numbers and influence.
UNIVERSALISTS.
Claiming for their peculiar tenets the broad and liberal idea of the Fatherhood of God and brother- hood of man, and a practical christianity-theirs is the oldest church in the city. They have no place of worship, excepting in the town hall of Mr. Wood- bury, but have purchased a lot and intend to build soon. Their minister, Rev. J. P. Sanford, who has just returned from a journey to the Holy Land, with sandals wet by the sacred waters of the Jordan, will be a power to help them in the erection of a suitable church edifice for the wants of a large and wealthy organization.
MITE SOCIETIES, ETC.
Every church in the city has the above connected with them, mostly sustained by the energies of the ladies, the proceeds being used as a contingent fund. The meetings of these societies are very pleasant and agreeable, especially to strangers, as we have many coming in.
The Masons number about ninety. Odd Fellows, sixty-five, and the Good Templars, now battling against the enemy under the third organization, have a membership of seventy-five, with Mr. J. Roe as W. C.
THE PRESS.
As we have already mentioned the incidents con- nected with the establishing of the press at Albion and
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Marietta, making obeisance to Prof. Wilson as the senior editor, we take up the thread of history where the Iowa Central was removed to Marshalltown, ap- pearing under the name of the Marshall County Times, with Hon. H. C. Henderson and Dr. Taylor as editors. This was in 1860. In the summer of 1862, Chapin & Co. bought the old Marietta Express office, and pub- lished, in Mr. John Fisher's block, a journal under the name of the Iowa Valley News. This office burned down at the time of the great fire in the building. Previous to this, Mr. R. H. Barnhart being the pub- lisher of the Times, sold out to Mr. W. H. Gallup, who appeared as both editor and publisher. After the fire. Messrs. Chapin & Co. bought out the aforesaid Times, and with the remnant of his last enterprise, started out like the fabled Phoenix into the sunshine of popular favor under the name of the Marshall County Times and News, in 1863.
In connection with this weekly, Judge Ed. Rice started a daily, but after three months of existence it died out.
Messrs. Carlton and Howard, partners of Chapin, went into the army in Capt. Woodbury's Company, leaving the Chapin to go on alone without the Co.
In the summer of 1864, Barnhart Bros. established the Marshall County Expositor, a democratic paper, which was published with a moderate degree of suc- cess through a period of a year and six months.
Mr. Gallup repurchased the Times office, but in a short time sold to J. J. Britton, Esq., of Springfield, Ill., who again sold the unlucky elephant after an ownership of seven weeks and sinking over three hundred dollars, having bought both Times and Ex- positor offices, and published under the name of the Marshalltown Union.
The irrepressible Chapin came to Mr. Britton's rescue, taking the place of Prof. T. Clarke upon the tripod, who went to Chicago and was afterward known as the
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author of "Sir Copp." Chapin associated with him George Barnhart; the firm soon doubled the subscrip- tion list of the re-baptized Times, and in the summer of 1865, they sold to H. C. Henderson, and after a year of successful management, the office passed into the hands of C. Aldrich, Esq. and H. Welsh of Web- ster City, and the Times waves its banners still tri- umphant, with the largest circulation of any county paper in the State.
Messrs. Gregg (our senior lawyer), and Carlton, are publishing a neat reliable democratic journal, on the north side of the public square, yclept the Marshall County Advance-an excellent local sheet.
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This organization is of recent date, but embraces some of the most influential citizens in the county. Hon. Thomas Mercer is president, and Hon. E. H. Chapin, secretary. Messrs. Woodbury and Aldrich have offered magnificent premiums in connection with this society.
There is also a Young Men's Christian Association in progress, with Hon. H. W. Henderson as president, and J. A. Mabie, secretary.
A fine debating club is in existence, whereof Mr. Ed. Boardman is the presiding officer, we believe. There is, too, a literary association with Prof. Wilson at its head, that has been of great benefit to the citi- zens of Marshalltown in introducing citizens from abroad, and in discussions of the questions that agitate society, they have been ably met by the members.
AID SOCIETIES.
After the war broke out and the soldiers needed sanitary supplies, there was a society organized in October, 1861, to aid the brave "boys in blue."
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Mrs. M. Rosenbaum was chosen president, and Miss Sarah Jane Howell, secretary. This was kept up under different officers for several years and was rather merged into the Orphans' Home Fair Society that was organized in May, 1865. This is so recent we have no space for its whole history, and will just note, that there was a great deal of hard work done, and all wrought as much as they were able. Perhaps the costliest present that any one lady gave, was the silk bed quilt presented by Mrs. J. M. Sherwood, which netted one hundred and thirty dollars. The whole proceeds of the Orphans' Home Fair at Marshalltown was sixteen thousand dollars.
As the years rolled on, almost every enterprise here has received an impetus from the white hand of woman. In aiding churches, schools, fairs, and the different societies for the freedmen and soldiers, she has borne an honorable part. Much of the labor of Sabbath Schools is performed by the ladies in getting up entertainments, fairs, etc., for their benefit. There are over thirty schools in the county, and that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Marshalltown, being the largest, numbers over two hundred and fifty pupils. It is supposed that there are nearly a thousand chil- dren in the Sabbath Schools of Marshall county.
CELEBRATION OF CEDAR RAPIDS AND MISSOURI RAIL- ROAD.
In March, 1863, the track being finished to Marshall- town, her citizens proposed to entertain the world, and Chicago in particular, to the best they had for good cheer, and with unbounded hospitality. There was a grand supper at Woodbury's Hall, toasts were drank, speeches made, and all were brim full of hilarity and joy at the completion of the line. Among other things said, the Hon. H. C. Henderson reported, " that the cattle along the line had grown fat since the road was
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built, the ladies were prettier, and the corn had prom- ised to 'grow one hundred bushels to the acre' the coming season.' "
The Chicago representatives seemed delighted with the attentions paid them, and they returned the com- pliment by giving our citizens the freedom of the Garden City in a great measure.
The following poem, composed and sung by Prof. Heighton, was an interesting feature of the celebration :
Hurrah! for the age of progression, Of telegraphs, printing and steam, Success to each lawful profession, Especially those worked by steam.
There's a price for the old farmer's turnips, A smile in his truth-beaming eye As he bids you a welcome " good morning," For he knows that the station is nigh.
The merchant, the priest and mechanic, The doctor and lawyer, also; Each walks, thinks, and acts much faster, For the engine has got them in tow.
Then join the bounding chorus, And let the echo be: The anvil, plow and engine- The friends of liberty.
It was a source of gratification to all concerned that the pioneer road of Central Iowa was so soon to be finished, for it gave a great impetus to trade, as it was many miles in advance of any other line in the State towards the Missouri. Mr. Woodbury, Dr. Glick, Mr. W. Rice and H. Anson, with other promi- nent citizens, some who had given twenty-five cent subscriptions, all met in joyful conclave at the comple- tion of the enterprise.
In the matter of celebrations, we take leave of the subject, by saying that our citizens were as happy as
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any in the republic at the taking of Richmond. Dr. Glick remarked, " I am full of glory ;" Chapin said, " My heart is too full for utterance ;" and the lamented Deloss made one of the most eloquent speeches ever delivered in Marshall county. The whole town was on the sidewalk, congratulating each other-flags blos- somed on every sign-post, and at the eaves of mansion and hut; and to have a friend in the army or wearing the " blue" at home, was a matter of deep joy and gratitude.
A PILGRIMAGE
From the Iowa river to the sacred Jordan, with all the fatigues, anxieties, and dangers from storms, Bedouins, and Italian banditti, has been successfully accom- plished by the Rev. J. P. Sanford of Marshalltown, the Universalist clergyman ; he also made a visit to the pyramids, and the sites of the ancient Thebes and Memphis of Egypt.
On the 16th and 17th of May, 1867, the "Holy Palmer" as he would have been termed in the days of the crusades, gave to the citizens of Marshalltown his impressions of Europe and Asia, which he traveled over, and the incidents of his journey to the interest- ing and sacred spots where the world's grandest history has been enacted. The tour was performed in the short space of one hundred and twenty-five days. The lectures were a rare treat to all present, as Mr. Sanford has fine descriptive powers, a voice of great flexibility and sweetness, and a genuine en- thusiasm consonant with the hallowed theme, when speaking of the Holy Land. Space forbids us to mention all the rare and curious relics which he obtained upon his pilgrimage and exhibited to the audience. We saw antique vases and lamps from the chambers of the pyramids, scarabæs, and shreds of cerements that wrapped the mummies of three thou- sand years ago ; olive berries and cedar from the hills
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of Judea, and shells from the shores of blue Galilee, which may have been pressed by the hallowed feet of the dear Christ eighteen centuries since, not forgetting the water from the sacred Jordan, and Dead Sea, which were all genuine, beyond doubt. We thank Mr. San- ford most devoutly for making this pilgrimage, as a representative of Iowa, to the old world.
A few more incidents connected with the gentle- man's career will be interesting to our readers. Mr. Sanford was born in Seneca, N. Y., in 1832, conse- quently he is thirty-five years of age. At the early age of nine, he lost his mother and was " bound out " three years, and upon his father marrying again, his indentures were canceled and he returned to the home-nest. But there arose " an unpleasantness," he Nasbyly remarks, and after a sound thrashing, he seeks his fortune in the West Indies, Mexico, South Amer- ica and the Southern States. After years of wandering he places his pilgrim feet upon Iowa soil, studies for the ministry and becomes a beloved pastor of the Universalist Church. During the war he was made lieutenant, and captain in the Second Iowa Cavalry, also a Colonel in the Forty-Seventh Iowa Infantry.
In the summer of 1865, he traveled over Europe and the British Isles, and in the past winter crossed the Atlantic a second time and visited the Holy Land, Egypt, etc., as we have mentioned.
His lectures have been pronounced by good critics as equal to Taylor's in word-painting and poetic en- thusiasm. He should publish an account of his travels in book form for the benefit of his many friends in Iowa.
The transition from word-painters to artists who paint with sunbeams, is comparatively easy as we gossip of our goodly citizens.
Mr. Datesman was the first artist in Marshalltown claiming from Daguerre the principles of the art so mysterious to the early pioneers, long before the age of
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ambrotype, photograph, etc. What wonderful im- provements we see in the pictures of to-day and those of twelve years ago. He was not the pioneer artist of the county, that honor being worn by F. Baum, who in Marietta made life-scenes from the bronzed features of the old settlers in 1854, a year before the advent of P. Datesman in Marshalltown.
Mr. Baum has published a beautiful map of Mar- shall county, giving to all a fine delineation of the different groves, water- and section-lines of the town- ships. They are now associated together in art-work and do a good business in their gallery on Main street, only equaled by the Hoosier soldier, J. Lee Knight, he taking the premium at the county fair of 1865 for the finest photographs on exhibition.
We have also an artist of real genius in the lithe, graceful figure of Miss C. A. Shaw, who has achieved wonders on canvas without crossing the threshold of any school of design, being entirely self-taught. She has an excellent likeness of Mrs. Giddings, one of our best families, from Ohio, a relative of Hon. Joshua Giddings, "the old man eloquent."
VIENNA.
Vienna township occupies the north-east corner of the county-has grove, water, prairie without stump or stone, ready for the plow-share, and with the advan- tage of a moral, intelligent people, it is one of the most desirable spots of earth to live upon. The Iowa makes a bend around the south-west corner of the township, Wolf and Dean Creeks are in the north and center, while Nicholson's heads in the south-in fact, running water in every direction for stock. Mr. Hunsden is one of the earliest settlers, and was post- master, an office he held from its establishment,- a very loyal man, having sent a whole family of sons to the Union army, two of whom were sacrificed, yet,
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like the grand old Roman, he regrets them not, so the country lives and is saved to liberty and freedom. He has splendid strawberries and currants, and the latch-string of hospitality hangs on the door in the fruit season.
Mr. Cleaver, an excellent citizen, is a refugee from Canada in the time of the revolution of 1838. He was a state prisoner at Toronto eight months and then banished into exile. His two sons, James and Kim, served with distinction and valor in the army ; one of his daughters, the brown-eyed "Jessie," mar- ried Prof. Heighton some years ago. His farmhouse is a pleasant resort for citizens of Marshalltown in the warm season, and many remember with pleasure the hours spent with music and chess, the smiles of wel- come from our hostess, and let us add, the most fragrant cup of coffee in the county.
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