USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa, History > Part 32
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CONGREGATIONAL AND UNITED BRETHREN 379
Brethren church and their children, took place from Virginia to the same spot. This contingent included Jacob Shuey, fath- er of the two first named men, who had preceded them to inves- tigate and returned again to Virginia, and the Rev. James E. Bowersox, a minister of the United Brethren whose numerous. children and grandchildren are an important factor in the Shueyville church at the present time. At a later date Mr. Bowersox was appointed to, and served, a charge located in the neighborhood of Solon, Johnson county. No one bearing the name of Shuey now lives in the village, or is connected with the church, though Robert G. Shuey, one of the original set- tlers, is a well known resident of Cedar Rapids.
Consistent with the character of their principles and relig- ious connections, the new comers who appear to have met with kindred spirits in their, at that time, far western home, formed a society on February, 1856, consisting of thirty-one members, which date thus announced the planting of the United Breth- ren church in Johnson county. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. Solomon Weaver, a regular minister of the denomin- ation, and who about the same time, became first president of the United Brethren college established at that period at West- ern, a village just over the line in Linn county. It may be remarked here, that in 1881 this educational institution of the church was removed to Toledo in Tama county, where it stands for all that is best in fitting young men and women for their life's work.
For several years the new congregation worshipped in the old brick district school house which stood on the site of the present structure in the village, but ground was early broken for a church building and the work brought well on the way .. The outbreak of the Civil War, however, in this, as in so many instances, halted the enterprise temporarily. Peace having come to the country, the builders resumed their task, and the completion of the basement enabled it to be used for services for a time. Eventually all was ready for dedication, which took place on May 1, 1870, the membership at this time being sixty-five and the Rev. Martin Bowman, pastor.
The dedication service was conducted by the Rev. J. J. Glossbrenner, D. D., bishop of the United Brethren church, and fourteenth in the order of its episcopacy. The occasion
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was a fine day flooded with sunshine. A large company was present, and on this day all the money necessary to liquidate the balance due on the building was cheerfully subscribed, and thus a red letter period in the history of the church and village came to a close.
Another dedication took place on Sunady, August 28, 1910, when a new parsonage formally passed into the hands of the church membership, an attractive and convenient minister's home, which had been erected on the site of its predecessor at Western. It stands in a capacious and inviting lot, and ad-
U. B. CHURCH, SHUEYVILLE
joining a church where the Sheuyville pastor also officiates on alternate Sunday evenings. This parsonage was also com- pleted free of debt.
The population of Shueyville is somewhat less than at the dedication of the church, but the membership of the latter is larger than at that time. Only one of the charter members remains, still living in the village, Mrs. Susan Williams, mother of the Rev. R. E. Williams, United Brethren minister of Des Moines, Iowa. The present pastor is the Rev. George Ben- nett, who coming from Stamford, Conn., to Iowa in April, 1910, joined the Iowa state conference of the United Brethren at its session in Toledo, the following October, and was forthwith appointed to the Shueyville charge. The official board of the
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charge consists of J. H. Potter, C. O. Anderson, W. H. Bower- sox, Charles Williams, W. O. Yessler, trustees; Jacob Bower- sox, Roy Yessler, class leaders ; James Bowersox, George Dav- is, stewards; Mrs. Belle Potter, Sunday school superintendent; Mrs. Adda Bowersox, treasurer of Women's Missionary So- ciety and Women's Aid; Mrs. Mollie Davis, president of Wo- men's Aid; Miss Alma Potter, president of Young People's Society; Miss Clara Bowersox, treasurer of Sunday school; Alva Yessler, treasurer of Young People's Society.
For a period of upwards of forty years J. H. Kephart was superintendent of the Sunday school, but left the village in March, 1911, for the state of Colorado. It is a noticeable fact that this name and family, have more than the ordinary honor- able connection with the denomination at large. The Rev. Henry Kephart, minister of the United Brethren church, father of J. H. Kephart, accompanied by sons and daughters, came to Shueyville from Pennsylvania in the year 1871. Of his sons, three entered the ministry, the Rev. E. B. Kephart, D. D., be- coming bishop of the church, and the Rev. I. L. Kephart, D. D., editor of The Religious Telescope, the official organ of the de- nomination, while the Rev. C. J. Kephart, D. D., has filled im- portant pastoral charges in addition to serving a number of years as president of the denominational college at Avalon, Missouri, and later holding the same position in the Leander Clark college, Toledo, Iowa; Dr. Kephart is also a distin- guished Sunday school leader in denominational and inter-de- nominational work. The first two have passed away, but the last named continues to minister to the First United Brethren church, Dayton, Ohio, which city is the official home of the denomination. A daughter, Mary Kephart, became the wife of the Rev. Abram Crowell, a minister of the same commun- ion, who journeyed from Pennsylvania in the fall of 1870, and after living for a while at Western, settled in Shueyville in 1872.
Among the ministers who have gone out from the Shuey- ville church to labor in the Master's vineyard are the Rev. R. E. Williams, now of Des Moines; Rev. J. H. Albert, Stillwater, Minn .; Rev. C. J. Kephart, D. D., Dayton, Ohio; Rev. A. J. Benton, Fayette, Iowa; and Rev. H. C. Kephart (son of J. H. Kephart), of Denver, Colorado.
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In the prosecution of its work in Johnson county, other points have been occupied by the United Brethren church, among which is Cross Roads, a little northwest of the village of North Liberty where a church was dedicated on December 22, 1872, by the Rev. A. Schwimley, a United Brethren min- ister, at that time presiding elder in the East Des Moines con- ference (embracing the southeast section of Iowa) and for the past ten years a resident of Iowa City. Dr. Schwimley well remembers the occasion, as the day before the ceremony in journeying from the village of Tiffin to the district he had to encounter a temperature 30 degrees below zero, chilling him to the bone.
The large influx of strangers of different nationality and church affiliation, with the leaving of former settlers, has had its effect on the United Brethren. But, with these strangers becoming incorporated into the life of the neighborhood, and intelligently doing their part in its general progress, allied to the very happy spirit of union and co-operation prevailing so largely in denominational church life today, there is no reason why this church should not perpetually remain a fruitful factor in the community, where its adherents have so long lived and labored.
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CHAPTER XXI
Other Religious Organizations
T HE Society of Friends held meetings in the house of Mahlon Hollingsworth until in the autumn of 1868 when they decided to erect a meeting house on one of two sites which they had in view; one where the Franklin school house was later built, and the other where they finally concluded to locate. In the time of making the selection the points under consideration were nothing but native sod, and the decision was not an easy matter for those appointed to make the selec- tion, Aquila Whitacre, Elijah Gregg, R. B. Sanders, Mahlon Hollingsworth, Poakley Monday, John Welch, and Jonathan Gregg, who met upon the prairie to agree upon the location. Some difficulty arose in making the final decision, but it was not due to any differences among the committee personally, the choice being immaterial to some of them. In 1869 they had completed what they called half a house and thus it stood until the death of Aquila Whitacre who bequeathed a sum of five hundred dollars to complete the other half. This meeting house is located in the southeastern part of Scott township.
In 1854, a church which has the general name of the Church of God was organized in the township of Fremont. The orig- inal members were Daniel S. Ball and wife, the families of Joseph Hamilton, R. V. Smith, William Hill, Delates Graves, Joseph Holland, Mrs. David Drosbauch, C. M. and John Hol- land with probably others. The first name on the list here, is that of the man whose fees for election judge suggested the time of the first election in the township, as it is found upon the county records. They formerly held services in a school house near the residence of J. Steel, but afterwards erected a church building in Lone Tree. A church of this denomination was also organized in the township of Penn, the Hawk, Bechtel, and Kepford families being leading members. The church
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was located in section twelve in 1847 and in 1868 a new one was erected on the same site. This was dedicated by Elder H. L. Soule.
The Christian Science movement in Iowa City had its incep- tion in 1902. Many persons belonging to the most prominent families in the city, having experienced its beneficent results, became ardent advocates of its teachings. Meetings were held in private houses and the healing Gospel was gratefully re- ceived and disseminated. Gradually the interest increased, more, and still more people were healed and benefitted physi- cally, morally and spiritually, until it became necessary to engage a hall in which to hold the meetings. In 1903 the church was organized. This church maintains a free reading room which is located in the Koza building, and is open to the public each week day. At this reading room all the authorized Chris- tian Science literature may be procured and read.318
The Reformed church of Fremont township began its work in 1864 in the King school house, with a membership composed of A. P., Ellen, and Mary King, Mr. and Mrs. McNeal, Lottie McNeal, Adam Keishner and wife, Charles Fernstrom, Mr. and Mrs. James Lutz, James Allison and perhaps others who were its supporters. The church was first built in section ten at a cost of more than two thousand dollars when dedicated in 1877 by Rev. Albright, with the assistance of Rev. J. H. Buser the pastor at the time, and also for many years after.
Services in the town of Lone Tree were begun in 1874, in the Grange Hall, where they continued until the completion of the Baptist church in October, 1874. This church was then used until two years later, when the Methodist building was secured until the Reformed congregation had a house of their own. The membership now numbers more than one hundred fifty under the direction of Rev. J. F. Hawk, pastor. In 1909 a modern parsonage was erected for their pastor at an expense of three thousand dollars.319
There are many organizations relating to church work or charity that deserve consideration but many books would be required for this. However, it is quite necessary to mention the movement so long ago as 1858, when fifty persons, most of them young men, assembled in the chapel of the University, in accordance with a circular issued from the central office of
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OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
the Young Men's Christian Association in New York. This meeting was to provide a permanent organization, for which purpose, a committee composed of one member from each of the eight churches of the city was selected. Later we read of its taking on a form of organization, and possessing a library.
More than thirty years after the corner stone of Close Hall was laid, the permanent home of the Christian Associations of the University. This occurred November 14, 1890, after a heroic effort had been made to raise the funds for the building.
This was the seventh college association building in the United States, and the third State University building, only New York and Michigan preceding Iowa. Secretary Parsons in his address at this time said: "I want to congratulate that one to whom we are all grateful, Mrs. Helen Close, who has made this occasion of today a possibility."
The contents of the corner stone were : the Bible, constitution and articles of incorporation of the Christian Associations, list of subscribers to the building fund, program of exercises of the Jaying of the corner stone; copies of the University and city papers; and the handbooks for 1890 and 1891. Miss Salome Du- gan placed the box in the cavity in the stone, and with a silver trowel, knotted with old gold ribbon, spread the cement for the corner stone.
The "King's Daughters" of Oasis, called the Enlow Me- morial Circle, is probably an organization not ordinarily found in a town of this size, and doubtless its organization here is due to the fact that Mrs. Hindman, state secretary of the "King's Daughters," lived in the village in 1904, at the time the local circle was formed. Their purpose is to do all the good they can, and it was felt before the plans were completed that such a group could be of service in the community. The first officers included Mrs. Agnes Schofield, Mrs. V. D. Bumgardner, Mrs. Retta Pratt, Jesse Cochran, and Anna Knease. The present corresponding officers are, Mrs. Sarah Weider, Miss Anna En- low, Mrs. Cora Thompson, Miss Cora Michel, and Mrs. Bum- gardner.820
The King's Daughters, a branch of the national organiza- tion by that name, was established in Iowa City April 11, 1901, and from that date has continued its ministrations, which cover a great field of usefulness. Its mission is said to be of a
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"non-sectarian, religious, and altruistic" nature, and both branches working together have in Iowa City about one hun- dred and fifty members.
The object of this organization is expressed in the words, "not to be ministered unto but to minister," this being exempli- fied in its activities of a philanthropic and charitable kind, which include work among the poor, house to house visiting, and the collecting and distributing of such clothing, food, and supplies, as may be found needful among the deserving un- fortunates.
Not only in acts of mercy, but in law enforcement as well, although considerable tact is employed to make the law inconspicuous, the women of this uplifting agency have been efficient in securing the attendance of truant children at school and at times in preventing the abuse of the rights of children. Those who have improper homes have been removed to insti- tutions that are provided for them. Cases of incorrigibility have been reported to the proper officers, and inebriates have not escaped their attention, so far as the enforcement of law could prevail. One section of this Circle has the duty of look- ing after the "shut-ins and invalids, as well as crippled chil- dren."
The charity work of the city is largely in the hands of the King's Daughters, and they have provided for a free rest room as well as for a women's exchange, where home cooking may be found in a convenient part of the city. Other phases of their work affecting the general good of the community are managed with skill that is not usually found in organizations of this character.321
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CHAPTER XXII
The Amish People in Johnson County
T HE Amish pioneers of Iowa were John Rogie, Christian Kinsinger, Christian Wherry, Andrew Hauder, and Christian Reber, all from Butler county, Ohio; Joseph Ries from Canton, and Adam Vornwald, from Wayne county, who, with Christian Swartzendruber as the first elder then in his ninetieth year, came across the country to settle in the south- east corner of the state in Lee county, near the town of West Point. This settlement was made about 1840, but the organiza- tion of the church took place, as near as can be ascertained, in 1845. The original settlers of this sect came from Germany, stopping first in the state of Pennsylvania, some in Canada, and some landing in Ohio. The attraction to Iowa was to se- cure the cheap homes then coming into market for the first time, since the society as a whole had but limited means, mak- ing the purchase of homes in the east quite impossible without going into debt, and second that they might settle in a group and organize their church according to their own ideas.
The settlement in Lee county was in the noted Half Breed Tract, and while the soil was good and crops could be raised with little trouble, the land was uncertain as to its title, and many moved away to other parts, scattering the community contrary to the expectations of the founders of the settlement. The immediate settlement in Johnson county began after a prospecting tour made by some of the members of the society in 1840, when Daniel Miller, Joseph Miller, a minister, John Smyly, and John Schrock, from Somerset county, Pennsyl- vania, left home on an exploring tour. Traveling by steamboat as far west as Burlington, Iowa territory, they went from here across the prairies in different directions, seeking a suitable location for a home, passing through the counties of Des Moines, Henry, Washington, and Johnson, making mention
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at this time of Hickory Grove, on Deer creek, near where the old postoffice of Amish was located. From here they took a course that led them through lowa City, Cedar Rapids, and then to Chicago, which at this time was nothing but a rude village.
Returning through Indiana, they selected, as they thought, a suitable place for their future home in Elkhart county, near the town of Goshen. One may feel that they were somewhat desirous of going a shorter distance than the long road to Iowa, although they seem never to have forgotten the favorable spot that they referred to in the southwestern part of the coun- ty of Johnson.
A second excursion in search of cheap land was made in 1S45, by Daniel P. Guengerich and his half brother, Joseph J. Schwartzendruber, the first from Fairfield county, Ohio, and the second from Alleghany county, Maryland. They also came to Iowa by way of Keokuk, spending a few days with the settle- ment then in that vicinity, but soon coming to the new capital of the territory, Iowa City. From here they drifted to the old favorable site on Deer Creek, favorable because of three fea- tures that all men have sought for when in the search of ideal conditions for agriculture - fertile soil, good timber, and run- ning water. It is said by one of their number who is yet an authority among them that they might have chosen better land in general in Washington township, but the desirable conditions did not exist as at the place selected.
Having selected a home and made their claims by inscribing their names on the trees that grew on them, they returned to their former homes to make the necessary preparations for removing to Iowa the following spring, the year that Iowa be- came a state, 1846. The three who came at this time were Daniel Guengerich, J. J. Swartzendruber, and Willliam Wertz, a black- smith. Following the usual route by boat and overland they reached Bloomington, which was the most convenient point to their destination. Wagons conveyed their goods to Iowa City, where they stopped temporarily until arrangements could be made for the cabins on the claims. D. P. Guengerich found a cabin that was habitable near the old postoffice of Amish, and William Wertz moved in with John Lambert, a single man, near the same point. Not long after the arrival
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THE AMISH PEOPLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY 389
they went to the timber with the necessary tools to prepare the household furniture from the basswood trees that grew plenti- fully about in that neighborhood. Some of this home-made furniture is said to be in the possession of the Guengerich family to this date.
Home matters being well established the new land holders took steps to gain legal recognition to the right of proprietor- ship, and went to Dubuque, where the land office was then lo- cated for this district, to enter the land. Owing to a crossing of claims as entered at the land office some ill feeling sprang up between the Amish people and others, which for a time threat- ened to cause serious trouble. The rumor went about that the new German settlers, some called them Dutch, had plenty of money and would soon make claim to much more land, thus narrowing the opportunities of those who had settled here, and were not of the Amish faith. On one occasion the news was sent among the settlers of the opposition, and a great number gathered at the home of Lambert, almost without warning, in- tending by this demonstration to drive them away from the country or scare them so that they would leave. The effect was not as expected, for calm reasoning on the part of the Amish settlers, and the assurance that they had come here with the intention of becoming good citizens, and for no other purpose, had its influence on sensible men, and they retired without dis- turbing anyone.
To illustrate the feeling it is only necessary to give the fol- lowing incident: D. F. Guengerich had brought two new wagons with him, one of them a spring wagon, a rather lux- urious possession in a new country, and the jealousy of the neighborhood and the hatred to some extent caused some one to remove and conceal two of the wheels of the vehicle. They were not found all summer long, but the calm spirit of the owner led to the return of the missing gear one night in Oc- tober.
In the summer of 1846, Elder Jacob Swartzendruber, from Maryland, made a visit to the settlement, and finding the conntry to his liking, he came with his three sons to the county in 1851. This was the year of rapid settlement in the community, eleven families arriving: John Guengerich with his family, from Fairfield county, Ohio; Peter Brenneman, also
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a minister, Isaac Esh, John Roth, John Schlabach, and Jacob P. Guengerich, from Holmes county, Ohio. Previous to this great immigration the families of Daniel Schoettler, Benedict Miller, and John Kempf came from Fairfield county, Ohio. All of these settled in the southwestern corner of Johnson county.
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Hard times struck the settlement in the fall of 1846, when many of them were sorely afflicted with the ague and malaria that was the torment of the early settlers. The result was dis- couragement in a number of cases and some were ready to give up the new claims and return to the old home. The sick- ness of the laboring men delayed the completion of the cabins until later in the year or in the beginning of 1847. At this time D. P. Guengerich bought a claim for $30, on which was a cabin of hewed logs. It was over the line in Washington county, but at this time county lines made little difference with settlements. When the family moved into this new possession one of the children remarked: "Why, father, that door looks like a stable door."
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The land office was located in Iowa City by this time, 1847, so that it was more convenient to the newcomers who were just now securing a legal title to the lands on which they had made claim. Lands were so easily secured at that time, and so often almost given away, that it seems strange to the present gen- eration that men did not secure vast tracts when the oppor- tunity offered. Some of them did, it is true, but many of the earliest settlers acquired only enough to make them moderately comfortable, and in fact many never retained any of the real estate that they had a title to early in their history, letting it slip through their fingers, if it may be so expressed, until it was far more valuable than they had ever anticipated it could be. A quarter section of Johnson county land was purchased by C. J. Swartzendruber as an addition to his Hickory Grove farm in 1851, for a land warrant, probably bought from some soldier of the Mexican War, of the value of $145, which made the price about ninety cents per acre.
It will be remembered that Daniel P. Guengerich was among the first of the Mennonite settlers in Johnson county, the fam- ily of Wm. Wertz coming at the same time. The former was a leader among his people and his life was so long identified with the county that some further mention is quite proper. He was
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THE AMISH PEOPLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY 391
born in 1813, in the principality of Waldeck, in Germany, being left without a father at the age of three years. He and his brother and widowed mother lived in the old German home until four years later, when Jacob Swartzendruber, of the old town of Mengeringhausen, married the widow. After the young people of the old and the new families had grown toward manhood, and the time came for the service in the army, the mother was anxious to emigrate to America, not only on ac- count of fear for the six sons, now, but on account of con- scientious scruples against going to war at all.
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