USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa, History > Part 31
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There is also a Christian church at Lone Tree at the present time, but information is not available as to the date of its es- tablishment or its later work. In Clear Creek settlement the Christian church was represented first by Israel Clark, who preached in Sprague's Grove, and probably this was the be- ginning of the Tiffin church.
The rector of Trinity Episcopal church in 1893 wrote as follows :
The data available from which to draw the earliest his- tory of Trinity Parish are of the most meagre character, the first Parish records in our possession bearing the date of 1859. This fact is in part explained by the unorganized con- dition of general church work in this part of the country at the time when church services were first held here, Iowa being not yet a Diocese but a part of the great Missionary Jurisdiction of the Northwest, under the general supervision of the devoted apostle, Jackson Kemper, Bishop; and most of the missionary work that was done being the voluntary labor of love of those few and scattered clergymen who stationed themselves at the outposts along the river towns. We know that there were church people here prior to the year 1847, for there is record of a lot being given for an Episcopal church under certain condi-
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tions, some years before the time; but they must have been few and unorganized, for the conditions were not complied with, and the property fell into the hands of the Romanists. In 1847, the Rev. Alfred Louderback, at that time in charge of Trinity church, Davenport, baptized some children here, and organized a parish under the name and title which it still bears. This organization must have been provisional in its nature, for there seems to have been nothing done in the way of further church work here until 1853. In that year was held the first recorded vestry meeting, Stephen Maynard being senior warden and Samuel Bacon, junior warden, and the parish under the charge of the Rev. C. C. Townsend, missionary: Mr. Townsend reorganized the parish and in this year, 1853, March 27th, the parish was first incorporated. During the summer of 1853 services were held regularly in the Methodist Protestant house of worship, which had been rented for that purpose. During this summer was held the primary conven- tion of the Diocese, and on its rolls appears the name of Trinity church, Iowa City, represented by the missionary in charge and two delegates. With the date 1854 came the organization of the Diocese of Iowa, and the consecration of the Right Rev. Henry Washington Lee, D. D., as its first bishop, and from this time on for some years the parish appears to have had an era of prosperity.
In 1855 the Rev. Mr. Townsend was still here, and reports a congregation of "100 souls," regularly worshiping in the State House, which had been generously placed at their dis- posal for that purpose. He also reports two subscriptions of $500 each for the building of a new church.
In December of 1855 Mr. Townsend having withdrawn his services, the Rev. Willis B. Barris succeeded to the charge of the parish, and in the next year, 1856, the place of worship was changed from the State House to the house of worship of the Methodist Protestant congregation which was again rented by the parish.
In 1859 Dr. Barris resigned his charge, reporting to the con- vention of that year forty-seven communicants, and further stating that the parish was in an unusually prosperous condi- tion, and that the ladies had, with commendable zeal, raised dur- ing the year past over $400 for the purpose of a church lot. As
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I have said, the first records of the vestry that we have bear date of 1859, and are of a meeting held at the office of Wm. Reynolds, the Rev. Dr. Barris in the chair. At this meeting, which was held May 13th, the clerk was authorized to procure a suitable book for keeping the parish records, and a commit- tee consisting of Messrs. E. C. Lyons, C. W. Fackler, and P. S. Meserole was appointed to select a lot for building a church. From this date, our more reliable history begins.
On July 30, 1859, the Rev. Silas Totten, D. D., afterwards president of the University, was called to the rectorship of the parish, which he accepted, and on November 12th of the same year entered on his duties.
On January first, 1860, the place of worship was again changed, this time to the Lutheran church which was rented for the purpose. On July 1, 1860, Dr. Totten resigned the rectorship, having been elected president of the University, but continued to hold services for the congregation from time to time, in the church building of the Universalist Society, which was at this time rented for the purpose.
On June 24, 1861, the vestry extended a call to the Rev. D. W. Tolford, which call was accepted of date the next day. Mr. Tolford's stay was short. He resigned on September 23rd of the same year, having accepted the chaplaincy of the 10th Iowa Volunteers.
On February 3, 1862, the Rev. F. M. Gray was called to the rectorship, which call was accepted, and Mr. Gray entered upon his duties on Easter day of that year. It was during Mr. Gray's rectorship, on the 18th of June, 1862, that a contract was made for the use of the building known as the "Athen- eum" for church purposes, which is the building later used as the office of the lumber yard on the corner of Dubuque and Burlington streets, a building which is often spoken of as "the old church;" which was for many years the home of the parish and in it many of the present members of this congregation were baptized or confirmed. Mr. Gray's stay was short, his resignation taking effect early in 1864; and from the parish meeting of Easter Monday, 1863, to the parish meeting of Easter Sunday, 1865, no records appear in the book. There must have been an interregnum here of about a year; but in 1865, the parish took on a new life, and on June 1st, called to
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its rectorship a man universally beloved and respected here, but recently gone to his rest, the Rev. Richard L. Ganter, at that time rector of Trinity church, Michigan City, Indiana. The history of Mr. Ganter's rectorship here is one of constant growth and prosperity. In September, 1866, the organ was purchased and set up, the same organ as at this present time in use, without the additions since made. In this same year a church lot was bought, being the property known as the "Lee property," this lot was later sold, and in 1868, the pres- ent property known as the "Ballard lots," was bought and has remained the property of the church ever since. In 1870 Dr. Ganter resigned the rectorship to accept the rectorship of St. Paul's, Akron, Ohio, of which parish he was rector until the time of his death but a few years since. Dr. Ganter came here a young man and was preeminnetly the man for the emergency. His removal from here was a misfortune felt long after he had gone.
His successor was the Rev. T. J. Brookes, who was called to the rectorship October 3, 1870. It was during this rector- ship that active steps were first taken toward the erection of a church building. The records of date, November 21, 1870, shows a resolution embodying a plan for a church building to cost $10,000 to $15,000, and a committee was appointed to secure subscriptions for the same.
On January 16, 1871, the plan of the church was formally opened and on the 23rd of the same month a contract was approved for its erection at a cost of $6,250. During the month of March the erection of the building was begun, and on the 27th day of April the corner stone was laid by Bishop Lee, with the usual ceremonies.
At a meeting of the vestry held in May, 1877, the question of the building of a rectory on the west church lot was dis- cussed and a committee was appointed to consult plans and secure estimates, and a further committee to obtain subscrip- tions, $600 being subscribed by the vestry on the spot. This work was at once proceeded with, and the rectory was com- pleted during that summer of 1878. In 1880 the Diocesan Convention met in this church. In the same year the credence table was placed in the church, as a memorial, by Dr. and Mrs.
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Ganter. In 1881 the alms chest, also a memorial, was placed in the church by the Bishop and Mrs. Perry.
The following memorials are in Trinity church: Dey Me- morial Font, Carson Memorial Library, Ganter (Boal) Me- morial Credence, Perry (Boal) Memorial Alms Chest, Lyon Memorial Eagle-Lectern, Lyon Memorial Window, St. Kath- erine's Guild (McBride) Memorial Window, Morrison Me- morial Window, Swire Memorial Window, Kimball Memorial Window, Newell Memorial Hymn Book Rest, Kimball and Griffith (Rigg) Memorial Window.314
Rev. W. D. Williams, D. D., is the present rector, commenc- ing his service in 1903.
In reference to the founder of the first Episcopal church in Iowa City, Rev. C. C. Townsend, the following is related by Hon. C. W. Irish: "Imagine my surprise when the Reverend Townsend, talking with me soon after our acquaintance began, proposed that I should join him in an attempt to organize a society of that church in Iowa City. He had been about John- son county and had found several members of his church, and now he desired my help and that of some other young folks to make the organization complete. . . I well remember our first meeting; it took place in Dr. Reynolds's school room in the second story of Old Mechanics' Academy. I can now recall it in memory's picture, only that little congregation, five or six in number, aside from the clergyman, nevertheless we went through the service without a hitch, succeeding even in the singing. We continued to meet with great regularity, and the few regular members, all of whom lived at various dis- tances in the country, came without fail, in spite of the severe winter weather which soon followed.
"I have said that this trip to the wild west was on an errand of mercy. He had observed the children of the streets in cities, and concluded that the west was free from such influ- ences, being a farming community, and in his opinion the very best place for the street arabs of New York City. . For many of these he found good homes, where kindly hands and hearts undertook their guidance, and for the rest he provided the best and cheapest shelter that his limited means could afford. . . In some cases there were failures in this work and some of the waifs proved unworthy and became criminals,
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when it was rumored that Rev. C. C. Townsend was importing criminals by the carload into the surrounding country. These rumors grew, and, to the end of putting a stop to the apparent- ly criminal behavior, a criminal prosecution was brought against him. The old man, full of years, came under bonds for trial before a jury. . . . The trial was in progress in the court house on a warm summer's day, and Mr. Townsend was sitting near an open window with his hand on the sill, when without warning the heavy sash descended upon his fingers and so bruised and crushed them that he sickened, dying in a few days from what is commonly called lock-jaw. Thus ended a life devoted to charity and to aiding the helpless. . .. He sleeps, I believe, in an unmarked grave; let the good he did be his monument."
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CHAPTER XX
The Congregational and United Brethren Churches
TT was in the beginning of 1856 that the members of the 4 Congregational church began to feel the need of a "church of their own faith." In this desire they were urged "by a wish to establish a more harmonious and spiritual body than any then existing in the place." Accordingly they met together and after due consultation decided to hold a prayer meeting each Sunday evening, which custom continued throughout the spring and summer of that year at the house of J. W. Stow. However, no decisive steps were taken toward the organiza- tion of a church, until a society on the plan of the New England parishes was formed, which occurred on June 29, 1856, being incorporated on December 5, of the same year.
The next step in the progress of the congregation was the securing of a pastor, their attention being drawn to Rev. E. H. Nevin, whom they had heard during the summer. He was a resident of Massachusetts, and after considering the proposition of the membership he declined to come west at that time. Rev. Thomas Morong, of the same state, was then invited to visit the city and preach for the congregation, as a candidate only. He preached to the congregation during the month of August and then a call was extended to him to settle in Iowa City for the regular pastorate of the church. He ac- cepted and began his labors the following October. Imme- diately after his arrival a committee consisting of Morong, Stow, and Teesdale, was appointed to draw up "a form of faith and covenant for the proposed church." To the articles and church rules the following names were signed as charter members: Sophia M. Clark, J. W. Stow, Mary B. Stow, N. H. Brainerd, E. A. Brainerd, Jane Weighton, Mary L. Morong, John Teesdale. Henry P. Walton, Julia P. Walton, James P.
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Black, Mary H. Smith, Benjamin Alden, another Alden, and one Wheeler, whose first name is missing.
Since the regular services of the congregation began they had been using the Universalist house, which they had rented for a period of six months. Then it was planned to call a coun- cil for the double purpose of establishing a church and of in- stalling the pastor. For this purpose, therefore, letters were sent to the Congregational churches at Dubuque, Davenport, Muscatine, Burlington, Tipton, Durant, Wilton, and De Witt, and to Revs. Grinnell, Reed, and Blanchard, requesting them "to convene in this place on November 26, 1856, for this pur- pose." The "scribe" of that council prepared the following record :
"Pursuant to letters missive from a number of brethren in this place requesting a council to consider the question of organizing a Church of Christ of the Congregational order, and of installing the Rev. Thomas Morong as pastor, the fol- lowing churches were represented by their pastors and delegates, convened in the house of worship of the Universalist Church: Congregational Church of Davenport, Rev. George F. Magoun, pastor, E. O. Tade, delegate; Durant, Rev. J. S. Whittlesey, pastor, W. V. Doolittle, delegate; Muscatine, Rev. A. B. Robbins, pastor, Jacob Butler, delegate; Wilton, Rev. D. Knowles, minister, L. P. Johnston, delegate; Burlington, Rev. Wm. Salter, pastor; Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, Rev. J. Blanchard. Rev. Blanchard was chosen Moderator and Rev. A. B. Robbins, Scribe.
"After the organization of the council, letters were read in behalf of seventeen individuals 'six brethren and eleven sis- ters.' The articles of faith and covenant were approved, and the preliminary arrangements made for the installation of the new pastor. He was rigidly examined as to his proficiency in 'Christian experience, call to the ministry, theological views, knowledge of history, etc.,' when it was unanimously voted that the examination was satisfactory. A committee made the arrangements for the part each pastor was to take in the exer- cises that were to follow, Rev. Blanchard, was assigned to the sermon; Rev. Salter, the installing prayer; Rev. Geo. F. Ma- goun, the charge to the pastor. Minor parts were given to the remaining members of the visiting delegation. It will be no-
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ticed that the names here given included some of the members of the famous 'Iowa Band' of Congregationalists. As agreed the installation services were held at the Baptist church on the following morning, or November 27, 1856. It was voted, after the exercises were over to send an account of them to the 'Congregational Herald' and the 'Independent'."
The first annual meeting of this church was held on the evening of December 5, 1856, when two deacons and a clerk were elected, J. W. Stow for deacon for the term of four years, and Benjamin Alden for two years while J. S. Black was chos- en clerk for the term of one year. Only one meeting was held according to the record between the one mentioned above and the next annual meeting in November, 1857, which latter oc- curred in the Methodist Protestant house, the clerk J. S. Black, being absent, the pastor reported forty members received into the church during the first year of its organization.
In January the first regular pastor of the church sent his resignation to the congregation. He was then in the east, endeavoring to raise funds to assist in further establishing the church, but in the emergencies of the case felt in duty bound to surrender the work to some stronger man. The council called to consider his retirement was composed of some of the members of the body that installed him, although the name of Rev. Geo. F. Magoun now appears as the scribe. The meeting of this council took place in Market Hall. In August, 1859, N. J. Morrison was called to the pastorate from the church at Rochester, Michigan, but he declined the honor in a very plain letter of refusal. Reverend Hutchinson, of Connecticut, was the next candidate to appear before the congregation and he was summoned to become the pastor in November, 1859. Al- most the same council assembled to install him as came togeth- er three years before, to place in office the Rev. Morong. Less than one year passed before the Reverend Hutchinson handed his resignation to the clerk, and it was unanimously accepted.
At a meeting of the church congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran church in September, 1860, a call was extended to Rev. W. W. Allen, of Keokuk, who accepted the invitation. No further record appears as to the relations of the Reverend Allen and the congregation, but he was again asked to become the pastor in the fall of 1861, indicating that he had been in
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charge of the church the year previous, since he accepted the call "orally." September 14, 1863, in the midst of the trials of the Civil War, the congregation, few in numbers and now without a pastor, once more decided to suspend the meetings "indefinitely." The final record in the matter contains the following interesting ending of the seven years' history: "On Saturday evening, November 25, 1865, a called meeting of the members of the congregation remaining in the city was held at the home of N. H. Brainerd. There were present: Broth- ers Brainerd, Stone, and Turner, and their wives; Brothers E. Loud, C. Borland, and Dana Stone, also Sisters Smith, Luse, Clark, and L. and K. Brainerd. Brother Brainerd was made moderator. By request, letters of dismission were granted to the following members: J. T. Turner and wife, Dana Stone and wife, to the North Presbyterian church of Iowa City; Mrs. Abigail Luse to the South Presbyterian church of Iowa City; Mrs. G. H. Jerome, Eugene Dana, Edward Loud, Jas. W. Loud, to any evangelical church." $15
But the church would not remain "suspended," since the next year a new record begins in the history of the Congre- gational church. July, 1866, a meeting was held at the New School Presbyterian church to consider the advisability of re- organizing the Congregational church of Iowa City. It was then learned that there were about eighty persons in the place who were qualified to establish a congregation of the latter church. A committee was appointed to consider the entire proposition, the members being G. D. A. Hebard, N. H. Brain- erd, and Dr. John Doe. Once more the Rev. Geo. F. Magoun preached the organization sermon, and the "Congregational Church of Iowa City," was re-established with at least fifty- one members. The council at this time had a member from Grinnell, Rev. Magoun having located there, and become the president of Iowa college. Rev. G. D. A. Hebard was elected the first pastor.818
The first meetings appear to have been held at the Stone Presbyterian church, but in 1867, the house of the United Presbyterian church, which was built in 1872, on the site of the present Unitarian church, was rented for one year. Meet- ings were held later in the English Lutheran church, and one searches the records in vain for any account of the erection
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of the Congregational church. The only reference to the mat- ter is given in the following words: "Resolved, That the Church extend to Bro. Hebard a formal call to the pastoral office, and that his installation take place at the dedication of the church building." This was proposed on January 20, 1869, and the Rev. Hebard preached his farewell sermon on February 7, 1869.
Thus the record runs through the years from 1856 to 1869, when the struggles to become established were the same among all the congregations of the new country. Since then the la- bors have not ceased but have taken new directions, too many to be enlarged upon in this connection. The present church building was erected in 1868 at the cost of $30,000. A parson- age in the same block as the church building was provided in. 1891, but this was sold to the University in 1903, and the pres- ent parsonage property was purchased. In the same year the organ was installed at an expense of $2,500. Many different pastors have served this church since its reorganization, all of whom cannot be mentioned in the space permitted. Rev. J. T. Jones, is the present minister of this congregation.
The Bethlehem Mission was adopted by the Congregational church in 1886. It had been in existence for several years, and the Bible school sessions were held in the house of Dean C. M. Calkin. Preaching services were also conducted there in the Bohemian language and the enterprise was sustained by dif- ferent churches in the city. In the summer of 1888 the pastor,. deacons, and three others elected by the Congregational church became a corporate body to hold property and having secured a location on Fairchild street they erected a brick chapel and furnished it at a cost of seventeen hundred dollars. This is: known as "Bethlehem Chapel," and is the home of the Mission Bible School. The expense of conducting the same is met by the "Bethlehem Mission society," which is the incorporated body holding and controlling the property and directing all the work done in the Chapel.
About 1841 the first families settled in and about the region now known as the Welsh settlement in Union township. Most of these people came from Pennsylvania in these early days, among them the families of Edward T. Williams; T. O. Thom- as, who now lives in Iowa City, coming here among the very
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first; Henry Clement and Thomas Jones, who came in 1843; Richard Tudor, David H. Jones, and David D. Davis, in 1845. These large families who came in 1843, are all gone now and others are very much scattered. The Welsh Congregational church of the neighborhood was organized on January 20, 1846; it is sometimes given the additional title of the Welsh Con- gregational church of Old Man's creek. In the beginning the meetings were held from house to house with preaching but once a month by a minister whose name seems to be lost to memory now, but who served congregations in three places, one in Louisa county, at the Old Man's Creek appointment, and one other which cannot be accounted for now by the early set- tler who tells of these things.
Rev. David Knowles was the minister who organized the church on the date mentioned above with the following charter members whose names appear on the record of the church as it has been preserved from that time: Richard Tudor, David H. Jones, Edward Tudor, Oliver Thomas, David T. Davis, Thomas Davis, William Clement, Hugh Tudor, Elizabeth Tu- dor, Margaret Tudor, Susannah Jones, Jane Thomas, Ann Thomas, and Martha Davis.
Hugh Tudor donated the land and the first church building was erected in 1858. This building was the meeting place until the present house was built in 1870.317
The present pastor of the United Brethren church at Shuey- ville furnishes the data in the following, relative to that de- nomination :
The advent of the United Brethren into Johnson county presents features of unusual interest, and makes this part of the state of Iowa a debtor to Virginia in the planting of the denomination here more than half a century ago. Again, the founding of the village of Shueyville is identical with the be- ginning of the church, as the following will show :
In 1854 W. H. Shuey and his brother B. L. Shuey, each ac- companied by his wife, and all members of the United Breth- ren church, came from Virginia to what is now Jefferson town- ship, when the village of Shueyville, named after the family, was laid out, W. H. Shuey, the leader in the new settlement, being a land surveyor. The following year a further mi- gration, consisting of nine additional members of the United
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