USA > Iowa > Washington County > History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. I > Part 15
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The Christian church was founded at Shiloh August 18, '76, about which time a man shot a 'possum near there, and ever since there has been an active rivalry to hold the name of the locality, whether 'Possum Hollow or Shiloh. So far, the rodent is ahead, and President Taft's partiality for the animal may nail the prehensile creature to the spot for aye.
Pleasant Hill church is a two thousand-dollar specimen of architecture. The Methodists, the Darbyshires, Grays, Beenblossoms et al, raised their Ebenezer at said place.
A Union Christian conference was created February 7, 1905.
United Brethren got into Ainsworth in '60, the Stones, Hazens and more being of that persuasion, and the United Presbyterians said "present" April 25, '64. their church being made from overflows from Crawfordsville and
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Washington. A church was dedicated by Rev. Dr. J. R. Doig in '66, a one thousand two hundred-dollar frame, but it was sold in '73, and a three thou- sand five hundred-dollar church built and was dedicated by Rev. N. H. Brown. In '64, too, the M. E.'s got in on June 27.
Crawfordsville was a stronghold of United Presbyterians and a fortified home of abolitionists and other groups of humanitarians. The U. P.'s or- ganized in '46, or some of their spiritual progenitors did and the Crawfords, Maxwells, McCalls, Woolleys, Fergusons and others were prominent. In '50 the Presbyterians reinforced Zion, the Youngs, "Prathers and more being worthy representatives, and in '54 they had a one thousand eight hundred- dollar church.
But as early as '42, Rev. Charles Burnham and the Neals and others fig- ured as Congregationalists, and in '53 a frame church was dedicated. At Xenia there was an M. E. chapel, January 17, 61.
In Dutch Creek, Pleasant Valley U. P. church was organized in '48 by the Robhs, Jeffries, Junkins, Harrises, and in '56 they spent on a church, two thousand one hundred and sixty-eight dollars. Rev. J. F. Tate was pastor from '54 to '70. and again after Rev. John Lackey had served from '71 to '74.
In lowa township the M. E.'s had services as early as '42. In '73 they built a three thousand five hundred-dollar church, and the next year Rev. and Pro- fessor N. W. Fellows of the state university dedicated it. The Baptists and United Brethren were vigorous, but the Catholics were the strongest of all denominations. St. Vincent's church dates from '44. a frame was built in '48, an addition made in '58, a new two thousand seven hundred-dollar church in '77, and St. Mary's, costing four thousand five hundred dollars, appeared in `76. The costliest, most beautiful church in the county, costing forty-five thou- sand dollars, crowns the hill and is seen for miles every way, a big school on one flank, and on the other a ten thousand-dollar parsonage of brick, entirely modern throughout. Riverside leads the county in church architecture. Father Jacobsmaier is a remarkable organizer, a public-spirited citizen, a gentleman of the finest type-in all ways a model man. He has done a lot of good in this county.
The Catholics are strong in English River, too. In Richmond. Holy Trinity was built in '55, and a twenty thousand-dollar brick church succeeded it in '68, and twenty-five years ago a parochial school, and St. Vincent's on the hill had a school.
The United Brotherhood got in December 26, '64, and Nathan Littler. Gideon Bear and others organized Missionary Baptist church July 14. '66. In Kalona the M. E.'s incorporated November 26, '88, and renewed October 27. 1908.
Rev. T. H. Holmes Congregational Church
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Rev. John O'Laughlin Christian Church
Rev. C. J. Greenwood Baptist Church
Rev. Benjamin Eicher Emanuel Mennonite Church
PIONEER PASTORS
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September 12, '91, the Regular Missionary Baptist church was organized.
In English River and Lime Creek were many Amish, lapping over into Johnson and Iowa counties are Mennonites. Their population is one thousand two hundred, and five hundred communicants. Plain in dress, simple in habits, non-resistants, clergy unsalaried, taking no oaths, thrifty. frugal, God-fearing people. They settled in that region in '46, and Daniel P. Guenerich, Wm. Wertz, Peter Miller. Jacob Schwartzendruber were leaders. Their spiritual kin first settled in West Point in Lee county, but finding land titles faulty, they followed Rev. Joseph Goldsmith in '47 to Marion township. Bishop Sebastian Gerig, of Wayland, is now shepherd of the flock. These people try to keep unspotted from the world, inter-marry, that is, will not take affinities outside their church members, and divorce is utterly forbidden.
There was a Christian church in Richmond, the Bushes being influential members. And the Baptists, the Bears, Kerrs and others built a church, but later the Bohemians bought it for a dance hall, and its dedication got a "crick in its back" and lapsed.
The M. E.'s also had a church in Richmond, and a Bunker Hill church near Bunker Mill. established February 27, '63.
Lime Creek had the usual force of spiritual batteries. The first gun got the range at Wassonville. It was a Presbyterian six-pounder fired from Wasson's house. The Methodists and Seventh Day Adventists limbered up and went off at Pilotburg. One of the most notable of the county clergy, Rev. Dr. Hiram W. Thomas, of later Chicago fame, began his career there, coming to the Washington M. E. church afterwards He was as skinny as an eel, as thin as a lath, and bay-haired, but he advanced from glory to glory. His first wife was the making of him. She was ambitious for him, fenced off bores and cranks, had a world of fun with him, being an irrepressible humor- ist and wit. She could herself write a spanking sermon, that would make the hair of sinners curl. Probably, she was as delightful and brilliant a woman as ever sparkled in this county. She kept him up to his tasks, and stimulated him with all sorts of ginger, red and green peppers and tobasco sauce, horse- radish and other bitey things, and in revivals she could corral sinners in a barbed-wire inclosure of convictions, and make them feel that "getting re- ligion" was as fine as getting a shave from a lovely girl barber. The M. E.'s captured Daytonville, and a Christian church flourished not far away. In later years Methodists, Baptists and United Brethren took root in Wellman and U. B.'s in Nira.
Wassonville had in 1856 something quite as good as churches, so far as the humanities are concerned. It was a station on the underground railroad, and in the strenuous "free" Kansas times was a point on the highway trav-
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eled by abolition emigrants carrying Beecher's twin weapons, bibles and rifles. The late great Sigourney lawyer, George D. Woodin, was an active organizer of the forces that made Kansas a free state. Jim Lane and his band spent a Sunday at Wassonville, and John Brown stayed three weeks nearby, nursing a lame mule, leaving two boxes of clothing with a friend, to be called for later, but he never sent for them. Hero-worshippers would call Wassonville holy ground, slough their shoes at the sacred spot and go bare- foot on the places where trod a queer composite-a fanatic, a holy prophet, a crazy man, and a conscience incarnate, all these diverse elements constituting the mightiest moral hero of the nineteenth century, John Brown, whose soul still goes marching on.
Washington township has had the Pleasant Hill church of the Disciples of Christ since November 5, '66.
Franklin Congregational church arose February 20, '63. The Methodists organized in West Chester, February 22, '73, and dedicated a church next year, the U. P.'s August 7, '76, the Baptists some later.
Because of the rarity of a Moravian church, the hamlet of Grace Hill is distinguished as the habitat of the one sole church of that faith in lowa. There was another one in Newton, but it died. In 1854, Amos Miksch and bride came from Ohio. He entered two hundred and twenty acres of land at Grace Ilill, got aid from the Provincial Elders' conference at Bethlehem, Pa., borrowed all the money he could and with it entered three hundred acres adjoining his farm, and turned it over to the church, and it is now a permanent fund for the church's support. A bishop came from Bethlehem, and held a service at Mr. Miksch's house, and a church was organized with eighteen members, and it was incorporated February 28, '74. The leading spirits were said Miksch, C. S. Strohm, E. E. Rehmel, John Buxbaum and others. The numbers increased to forty, the Newton church to half that. The ministers get small salaries on principle as well as necessity, but the superanuates and their widows are pensioned. All members are taxed sixty cents a head. The Moravians claim to be the first Protestant church to send a missionary to the West Indies. When the islands forbade missionaries on account of slavery George Smith sold himself into slavery that he might preach the gospel to the blacks. That started the habit of college professors disguising them- selves as tramps, to write books on hobos.
Franklin also had the sect called Dunkards. Stephen Yoder began to preach in his house in '66, and got some fifty adherents, and he also preached in Keokuk and Johnson counties. When he could not find a tallow dip and matches in a school house. he said he would preach by moonshine. These good people never had a church in this county.
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MORAVIAN CHURCH AT GRACE HILL
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Seventy-six was one of the latest townships to organize, but the United Brethren had services at Martin Cochran's house in '62, and in '73 built a one thousand eight hundred-dollar frame church that President Kephart of Western College dedicated. The first Sunday school in the township was held at Cochran's home.
The Fishers, Weekses, Mclaughlins, Robbs and Hamels organized West- minster U. P. church in February, '67, and next year built a two thousand four hundred-dollar frame church. The pastors were Messrs. Tate, Lackey and others.
Zion Center dates from December 3, '93.
Though Highland is a late township, it was threaded with religious or- ganizations. Davis Creek Baptist church started July 11, '68, East Prairie M. E. church in '70, but in May, '76, they bought the East Prairie school house on section 8, for three hundred and fifty dollars, and worshipped in it. Bethel Presbyterian church bears date January 11, '82, the U. B. church August 26, '87, and Haskins First Presbyterian church October 25, 1902.
Jackson, too, waxed with spiritual fa'tness, thanks to the U. P.'s, M. E.'s and Baptists. The Glasgows, Lytles and more organized Grand Prairie U. P. church August 22, '50. and in '67 built a three thousand-dollar frame church, in which Rev. Dr. J. R. Doig and Rev. H. P. Ferguson preached.
Living Lake U. P. church was founded in '68, and the Meekses and Martins were active in it. Grand Prairie church finally lapsed into a barn, a sad fate, and decided anti-climax.
The Methodists built in Pleasant Plains a two thousand three hundred- dollar church, and the late Rev. F. A. Shearer organized a Presbyterian church April 11, '64. All these bodies had good church buildings running above two thousand two hundred dollars.
It is a shining fact, how much a single man may stand for in a church and county. Take a man like James Dawson, Calvin Craven, Nathan Littler, Martin Cochran, as types, each one a tremendous force. Craven was a power in Cedar, let loose in a seven hundred dollar church in February, '68. Its pastors were John Coffman, J. H. Miller, E. D. Porter, T. H. Jones. Hardly less powerful forces in the Lexington M. E. church were the Youngs, Gard- ners, Storeys, Bishops, in '63, and the Browns, Melvins and Dicks in the M. E. church that Rev. Mr. Kendig dedicated in September, '73. It cost two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.
The First United Presbyterian church in Washington was, before its spir- itual migration. the Associate Presbyterian. It is not necessary to trace the several strands of history of Reformed Presbyterians, or Covenanters, Asso- ciate, Associate Reformed and what not-I never did have head enough to
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untangle the coils and kinks and get it straight, so I merely say that when James Dawson came here in 1839, and found Seceders scattered here and there toward Crawfordsville, they sent in to an eastern Presbytery for a preacher. It was the rule that before a man could be a full-fledged minister he must serve a year as itinerary missionary. George C. Vincent was licensed in Ohio, June 30, 1840, and was offered all of two hundred dollars to come here. W. J. Case, the only lawyer here, subscribed ten dollars toward the fund, and got a like pledge from every man in town, tho' several were rather loud infidels. However, in that age of Jeffersonian simplicity, no one thought the money of such kind, helpful men was tainted. Brother V., wife and two children came overland, in a buggy, and the ozone did them all good. On February 7, 1841, he preached the first sermon ever given here. Text, dis- course, all rumor and tradition of them, have gone down stream into oblivion, irrecoverable. He began his pastorate July 4 following. As no fireworks were allowed, there were no accidents and no casualties-it was a safe and sane Fourth of July. The congregation was organized October 14, by Revs. Win. Smith and D. G. Bullions. We know nothing about these clerical gen- tlemen. Smith, Smith, that is a familiar name-we have heard it somewhere before, but can't place him ; very likely he was a descendant of Captain John Smith whom Pocahontas saved from the Big Stick of Roosevelt Powhattan. Bullions is a good name-probably some kin, this minister, of Thomas H. Benton, alias "Old Bullion." Any way, they started the first congregation in this good town, and we all thank them for it. They were only eleven, but that is neither the number thirteen nor twenty-three, and we have reason to be glad they escaped those rocks. Let us record their names here: James and Elizabeth Dawson, George and Jane Dill, Wm. and Rosanna French, also Jennet French, Mrs. Thomas Ritchie, Mrs. Electa Conger, Mrs. Jane Jackson. Mrs. M. C. Vincent. The ruling ellers were Dawson and French. Installa- tion, November 24, '41 ; first communion, August 6, '42, held, like other public meetings, under the biggest of the group of elms on Gospel Ridge, on the lot where now stands Frank Stewart's house on West Washington street. The former owner wished to raise a few cabbages and things, and slew that giant tree, and he and his memory deserve as decoration a string of hen's teeth. At that meeting, thirty-five were received, twenty-eight by certificates from churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. So many joined, the court house would not hold them, and in '44 a church, twenty-four by thirty-six, twc stories, was built, and the loft used as a school, taught by the pastor as long as he staid. The building cost eight hundred dollars, but the labor and ma- terials were donated. Mr. Vincent served till September 8, 1847, when the Lord, having the same habits then as now, "called" him to another field, to
George C. Vincent
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Pennsylvania, and in a year Rev. W. H. Andrew came, also in a buggy, from the east. was installed September 14, 1848, and remained till April 10, 1851. The church grew, and building No. 2 was erected for three thousand dollars. A financier can spell town prosperity in those figures. But after a while this structure lapsed into what is now a mournful house, mis-named music hall, and it degenerated still farther into theater, barracks, skating rink, basket-ball gymnasium, under the ownership of Dr. Chilcote, Colonel Scofield and A. H. Wallace. The latter being the sole surviver is probably the one custodian of a lapsed dedication. What he does with the dedication I can't make out. He might stuff or can it.
Pastor No. 3 was W. H. Wilson, serving with ability from the fall of '53 to September 9, '69, when he went to Salinas, Cal., thence to The Dalles on the Columbia. In '64 the church had let him serve as chaplain in the army.
The present church was built for sixteen thousand dollars under his reign, but it has been twice remodelled at nearly as much expense since, and is now the finest auditorium in the city.
Rev. W. C. Williamson came April 19, '71, a Revolutionary anniversary, and stayed till July 21, '85. It was unfortunate that differences as to such non-essentials as instrumental music resulted in his withdrawal to Keokuk, then to Burlington. He was able, dearly beloved, full of sweetness and light. Whenever he has returned, series of affectionate ovations have overwhelmed him, but he liked them as the feeble, aged Voltaire enjoyed being "smothered under roses" when he returned to Paris from Geneva, a fortnight before his death. Far different from Montezuma's finish on "a bed of roses."
Rev. A. L. Davidson served from June 11, '89, to September 9, 1902, yielding to Rev. F. O. Ross, an odd genius, who came in 1903. He was at once a book-worm, a student, a scholar, and a man of the world, all wrapped up in politics. Indeed, as to that taste, he was more Methodist than United Presbyterian, and a distance like the diameter of the solar system separated him from a Covenanter who will not vote, tho' a critic. How Ross did like to read out the election returns, national election nights, making funny remarks, and leading the hip-hip-hurrah with all of a noisy boy's relish. He was a bully fellow, if that language is parliamentary. Alas! He died of ptomaine poisoning in July, 1909.
Rev. W. O. Fisher, is the present pastor, a handsome, cultivated gentle- man who seems likely to stay a long while. He has a fine stage presence, indeed, he looks, acts and carries himself like Senator Cummins, is fluent, thoughtful, a hard worker, but is not robust. If he cares for his health with a sort of religious devotion, he should be with us many years, with profit to his congregation and to the entire community.
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There is not room to detail even the sketchiest history of all the local churches. But the First United Presbyterian merited an outline, as it was Washington's first, that is, historical church.
The Second United Presbyterian church was originally the Associate Reformed, but went into the union in '58. The first Associate Reform sermon preached in the county was earlier than Mr. Vincent's, viz., during the week between the first and second Sabbaths of July, 1835, by Rev. Alex. Blaikie, who was appointed by synod for that service. This happened within the bounds of Brighton congregation, long since dissolved. In '40, Dr. Samuel Findley and Benj. Waddle were sent out to visit mission fields, and the former preached the first Associate Reform sermon in Washington at Wm. Wallace's home, June 10, 1840. Then came ministers Samuel Sturgeon, Jeremiah Dick and J. B. Clark in '53-4. An Associate Reform church was organized either in '53 or '55, and Pastor Sawhill compromises on September II, 1854, when J. A. Donaldson and I. N. Smith were chosen ruling elders, and among the charter members ( the record prior to '58 is missing) were Mrs. M. M. Young, Alex. Young, Samuel and Mrs. McCloskey, Mrs. A. Adams, Mrs. Rebecca Norwood, Samuel R. Palmer, Sr., the colonel's father. The first communion was on September 24, '54; the first pastor was S. F. Van Atta, ordained and installed June 14, '55. He also had the Brighton charge, giving each a Sabbath about. This relation lasted till the fall of '63 when he was appointed by synod member of the Christian commission and went south on a gun-boat. with his wife. Below Vicksburg it was fired on by guerrillas in ambush. The captain bade all lie down flat on deck, but before the Van Attas could obey, a cannon ball virtually decapitated Mrs. Van Atta and a minnie ball lodging in his hip killed him the next day. He had served from June 14. '55 to May, '63. Then came, in turn, Abijah Conner, '65 to '69 ; N. E. Wade, '70 to '72 ; R. B. Taggart, '74 to '76; H. G. McVey, '77 to '80; J. R. Logue, '83 to January 1, 1903 ; W. R. Sawhill began March 1, 1903, and is still making abundantly good.
A brick church was built in '57, and in '77 they bought the Congregational church. The old brick stood on the sites of Daniel Wilde and James Work's present homes, and at noon recess the folks could look across the valley and see an ex-judge's bald head shine like a tin roof in the sun, as he hoed in his garden, and they had to vacate, I take it, tho' the distance from the square was a handicap. Besides, the condition of the church they bought, as de- scribed elsewhere, was such, they had to build, and the present pretty church was erected in 1890 and dedicated January 25, '91.
Van Atta is rated a martyr, and wears a halo in fond memory. The church proudly cherishes the name of Connor. He was a free lance, stopped the
First Place of Worship
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Third Place of Worship
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Second Place of Worship
FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
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slip-shod finances of the church, putting it on a cash basis, was small, sick, but plucky, afraid of neither man nor devil. Elected to the legislature after he broke down, he did not live to take his seat.
Logue held the pastorate twenty years, the longest in the church, and some say, in the city. Everybody liked, nay, loved him, as ditto Williamson. His fund of friendship availed him as much as a gift of diplomacy. He was our sole minister who went to Europe to get a wife. He did not know he had got her, when he came back here, but all unbeknownst he had caught the matrimonial microbe and the insidious thing kept gnawing till it got in its perfect work. He brought here a very superior woman, perhaps quite to the disappointment of the lovely local market.
It will not do to praise Brother Sawhill as he deserves, for he is very modest. However, I will say he is an invaluable man in this, he saves things. He would be an admirable curator for the county historical society, for he has an instinct to file away documents of all sorts, of local interest, pamphlets, programs, write-ups, things that a dozen or fifty years hence will be priceless. If you ever want to find out anything Washingtonian, just bone Sawhill for it, and he'll bring it out of the 'treasures of the snow, as it were.
The church celebrated its semi-centennial September 12, 1904. Mr. Logue could not get here. Pastor Sawhill gave an interesting historical sermon, the 11th, and Brother Ross added to it in the evening, and Colonel Palmer made a good sheaf of reminiscences, and the banquet was a buster of a gastronomical feat, and the toasts and responses beat even the meats and gravies, vegetables, fruits, jellies, jams, preserves, pies and puddings all hollow.
On October 2, '41, Rev. Hezekiah Johnson, with Calvin Craven, Isaac Arnold and Samuel Kite and their wives concluded to organize a Baptist church, and the next Sunday he preached his first sermon. Craven was elected deacon and clerk. Having no regular home, they worshipped from house to house, often at Judge Enoch Ross'. Their first church dates from May 17, '51, located on the present site, and it is still used as a Sunday school room. Rev. Hiram Burnett preached the dedicatory sermon.
The second church was a seven thousand dollar affair, dedicated by Rev. N. F. Ravelin, of Chicago, December 24. '71. It, in turn, was remodelled, and dedicated by Rev. S. E. Wilcox, of Boone, November 19, '99. The pastors have been Johnson, Wm. E. Elliott. H. Burnett, Charles Thompson, A. Pratt, H. A. Borden, Arthur Stall, J. M. Wood, E. C. Cady, S. M. Cramblett, A. V. Bloodgood, A. Robbins, Gilman Parker, R. J. Langridge, Dr. E. C. Spinney, and among the later ones N. B. Rairden, J. C. Greenwood, A. T. Fowler, Robert Gray, John Stafford. E. F. Lilley, Roy D. Echlin, H. D. Rodgers,
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present incumbent. The notable pillars of the church were Judge Ross and daughters, C. Craven, N. Littler, Deacons Smith, Babcock, Sage, Doolittle, and at present Drs. Jenkins and Wickham, 'Squire Kerr, the Eldridges. Bakers, Longs, Bowmans, Sages, and others.
Frank Smith and Kate Ackley are held in fragrant memory for their long service in the choir, and after the pipe organ came Miss Ada Jenkins, whose death will ever be regretted while memory of her remains, showed unwonted and tireless devotion to music as a powerful aid to the religious sentiment's creation,
It is remarkable, the number of pastors in this church who came from Canada or were of English descent.
Trinity Protestant Episcopal Society was founded August 1, '54, but for forty years the little band had nothing to show for it but a lot that was to. revert to mother society if a church were not built on it. It lay vacant, raising weeds for a long while, tho' a corner stone was laid May 12. '56, by Bishop Lee, with imposing ceremonies. Finally, about '94, Mrs. Raguet, a bright woman, full of ginger, set yeast under things episcopal, and Trinity Chapel was built and consecrated June 16, 95. Dr. Paguet, of Muscatine, conducted services some time, followed by Mr. Fitch, a layman, and he by the first pastor, Frederick Parkinson, giving his time between What Cheer and this city, till he was drowned in Skunk river. Next layman James Shaeffer, Rev. Munro for three months, when Rev. Joseph de Forest, of Davenport, was a delight for two years. He died suddenly in San Francisco. Cameron Mor- rison filled the place in the summer of '93. The last pastor was the waggish Rev. R. G. Jones, but he, too, was called to Burlington, a devouring monster of a city that sucked out also brothers Schreckengast and Michels.
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