USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 34
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
The First Presbyterian church at Hartley was partly organized Febru- ary 1, 1889, when friends of this denomination made efforts to establish the church here. The Rev. Andrew Herron, of Sanborn, had the matter in charge. he having been requested to address the people of Hartley on this subject. The services were held in the Methodist Episcopal church building. February 8, 1889, at three P. M .- hence this was really the first service of the denomination in the town of Hartley. Rev. Herron preached each other Sunday until April, that year, when a petition was sent to the presby- tery at Fort Dodge, asking to effect an organization at Hartley. At the meeting of the presbytery at Grand Junction, April 23d, that year, the peti- tion was found to be in good form and a committee appointed to organize the Hartley church. This committee consisted of Rev. T. S. Bailey, of Cedar Rapids, Rev. Andrew Herron and Elders T. S. Talmage and T. Crossan of the Sanborn Presbyterian church. Services were then held in Gross Hall, May 19, 1889, at three o'clock in the afternoon, at which time the First Presbyterian church of Hartley was really organized. The charter members were George Clyde. Mrs. Mary Clyde, James Wilson, Mrs. Agnes Wilson, J. W. Wardrup, Mrs. E. A. Wardrup, H. H. Brown, I. C. Gregg. Mrs. Rebekah Silverthorn: the first elders were James Wilson, John W. Wardrup; first set of trustees, J. M. Wilson, J. W. Wardrup, George Clyde, W. J. Lorshbough, Allen Crossan. The present membership of the Hartley church is thirty-nine. The present pastor is Rev. Frank Schweder.
THE REFORMED CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA.
This denomination ( which is very much like the Christian Reformed) was organized in Sheldon. April 23. 1895, by the classis of Iowa, by the fol- lowing ministers: Revs. P. Lepeltak, P. Bouma. J. M. Lumkes, and elders WV. Van Rooyen and C. Wierks. The charter members were: Mrs. Wie- kamp. R. Kooiker, J. Wynia, Mr. and Mrs. H. Niewendorp, Mrs. Hey- menses, Mr. and Mrs. D. Lemkuil, Mrs. H. Pronk, G. Vander Velde, Mr. and Mrs. Stroetman, Mr. and Mrs. B. Wilkins, Mr. and Mrs. K. Vroom, W. Stryland, D. Van Dasselaar. The ministers have been in the following order: Revs. H. Dykhuizen, 1898-1901: A. Van Arendonk, 1901-1904: William Stegman, 1904-1906: A. Rozendal. 1907-1909: H. Vandewald, 1910 to present time.
The first church and parsonage were erected at No. 805 Eleventh street, in 1898, costing two thousand eight hundred dollars. The second church was
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
built with parsonage, at No. 953 East Seventh street in 1911, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. The present membership is one hundred families ; members in full communion, one hundred and fifty; Sunday school attend- ance, one hundred and sixty. The consistory members in the autumn of 1913 were: Elders, A. Haze, H. Nienwendorp, D. Creulen, E. DenHerder ; deacons, L. Rozeboom. H. Mastbergen, B. Wilkins, J. Den Hartog.
At Archer this denomination is represented by a society formed about 1900 and in 1910 a church edifice was erected. The membership is now thirty families, with a membership of twenty-four in full communion. The pastors here have been : James Vander Heide, Rev. Vanhunelen, who came in July, 1911, and is doing an excellent work among the German and Holland people of the community.
This denomination also is represented at Sheldon, where Rev. Vander Naald is pastor.
At Sanborn is what is styled the Christian Reformed church, who also have a society at Sheldon.
THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA.
At the town of Calumet this denomination is represented by a society having a present membership of twenty-eight. It was organized in 1891, during which year a neat, good-sized church building was erected, at a cost of about two thousand four hundred dollars. Its pastors have been Revs. A. Jannesen, E. Rall, Rev. Conrad, Rev. Schligel (who died while pastor at Calumet ), J. J. Jaeck, H. Rixmann, the present pastor, who came in 191I. The church has a good parsonage and parochial school in connection with the church property. The school dates back to about the time the church was formed. A substantial school building was added to the church build- ing in 1910. The parsonage was built in 1909, taking the place of the old one. The membership is composed of persons both in and out of town.
OTHER CHURCHES.
The First Reformed church of Sheldon was incorporated March 7. 1898, by W. Van Stryland, A. Haze, A. K. de Jong, H. Nienwendrop, W. Stroeman, H. Buysman and S. Schryvers as officials and have erected a very fine church.
The Trinity Evangelical church of Hartley was incorporated January
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
22, 1900, by John Isley, Christopher B. Olhaussen, John H. Bordewick, Fred Gierke and Jacob Warner, trustees.
The Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's congregation at Sheldon was in- corporated July 6, 1904, by William Schmidt, Peter Kruse and O. Heitritter, trustees.
The First Reformed church of Archer was incorporated June 29, 1910, by Gerrit Maouw, H. Vollink, John Hoffmeier and J. Zorgdrager.
The Christian Reform church of Sheldon was incorporated February 29. 1912, by Jan Snip, Dick Van Dassear and Henry Balt as elders and R. Hoekstra, D. La Fleur, George de Vries and A. Shellhaas, deacons.
The Evangelical Lutheran St. Emanuel's congregation was organized in Center township in 1881 and built a fine, commodious church and school building, by Henry D. Year, Michael Steuck and many others. They have maintained a German school much of the time in connection with this church.
The German Evangelical Saint John's church of Primghar was organ- ized and incorporated in 1903 by Dick Horstman, Johan Wittrock, William Klink and Simon Brandt as trustees; Simon Brandt, treasurer; and C. F. Greve, secretary. They erected a very neat commodious church building.
The Episcopal church had at one time a large following in Sheldon and erected a church building, in which to worship, but for some years have not supported a rector and now have no regular services.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
At Archer a church of this denomination was formed about 1900 and at about that date a frame church edifice was erected, at a cost of seven hun- dred dollars. This society is not in a flourishing condition at this writing.
This church was among the first formed in early Sheldon. They have a good building, but at present the society is not strong and they have no pastor to lead them.
At Sutherland this denomination, organized many years ago, have a good building, but are now without a pastor and do not maintain regular services.
OTHER CHURCHES.
The Baptist society at Sheldon was organized in the eighties: they possess a neat church building, but have no regular pastor, and do not have regular services.
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O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN O'BRIEN COUNTY-1873 TO 1913.
By Rev. James McCormack.
In the beginning we deem it advisable to apologize to both the com- pilers of the history of O'Brien county, as well as to the reading public, for assuming so onerous a task as the writing of a history of the Catholic church in O'Brien county. In the performance of the task assigned, we wish to state that we have been guided to a great extent by information derived from the various sources to which we had recourse in narrating facts. His- tory is the record written by men, for men, of what men have done in times which it is beyond the power of the living witness to reach. So much for what history is. Now for the annals connected with the Catholic church in O'Brien county.
The parish records, as well as the testimony of the older members of St. Patrick's parish, agree in stating that Rt. Rev. Monseigneur Lennihan, who was pastor of old St. Mary's church, Sioux City, Iowa, had charge at an early day over the few scattered Catholic families in six or seven counties in northern Iowa, was the first priest who came to minister to the spiritual wants of the Catholics in Sheldon and surroundings. Monseigneur Lenni- han offered the holy sacrifice of the mass for the first time in Sheldon parish. in the home of Michael Burns, who then lived in Floyd township, in the year 1873 or 1874. Mr. Burns came to Floyd township, O'Brien county, Iowa, in the year 1872, and was numbered among the first settlers. He was a good neighbor, and aided many in those days of trial and much privations. The- congregation who greeted Monseigneur Lennihan on his first pastoral visit at the home of Mr. Burns consisted of twenty members. Joseph Shinski, who at that time lived in Sheldon, accompanied Father Lennihan on that memorable morning. No doubt the hearts of all present were gladdened by the presence of the priest, and brought forth, as it did to the apostles of old. the exultation of joy, "Lord, it is good for us to be here." After mass, the priest addressed his little flock, congratulated them on the many sacrifices made for church and country, exhorted them to persevere to the end, and finally made arrangements for his coming visits to attend them. The follow- ing are the names of those who attended the first mass said in O'Brien county : Joseph Shinski; Pat Kennedy, wife and family, and his father and mother ; Tim Donohue, known as "Little Tim," wife and family; Pat Carroll, wife and family : John Hart and family, and Michael Burns and family. There
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
were others whose names we failed to learn. This then may be said to be the nucleus in the formation of St. Patrick's parish, of Sheldon, Iowa.
Father Lennihan attended the Catholics of Sheldon during the years 1873 to 1876. He was one of our pioneer priests-a man of refined tastes. a fine orator, and a man who endeared himself to all classes. He was familiarly known to his people by the name of Father Bart.
Monseigneur Lennihan's second visit to the Catholics in and around Sheldon was in the fall of 1874. This time services were conducted in what was then known as the Husted hall. This hall was located where Mr. Hollander's drug store now stands. Father Lennihan, on other visits to Sheldon. said mass in the home of Joseph Shinski. Father Lennihan had in those days, as assistant. Rt. Rev. Father Garland, now of Independence. lowa. He said mass in Mr. Shinski's home also. Mr. and Mrs. Shinski still live in Sheldon and are hale and hearty. They are highly respected by the citizens of Sheldon. Mr. Shinski has been a painstaking and successful business man. He and his devoted wife now take life easy, enjoying the fruits from long years of industry and success. Afterwards Father Lenni- han and his assistant, Very Rev. J. J. Smith, pastor of the Catholic church, Emmettsburg. Iowa, at various times, attended the Catholics of Sheldon dur- ing the years 1887 and 1888. Father Smith was a man of great perseverance and wonderful endurance. He was a lover of fine horses and kept the finest horses in Palo Alto county. He took a prominent part in assisting to build up the church in those early days. He was pastor of the Emmettsburg church for over thirty years. He died a few years ago. Dominick O'Donnell, Peter Guenthier, Tom Downs, Pat Murray and brother. James Parden, John Dougherty and family, James Griffin and Patrick Kelly were also among the number of the early settlers who formed a part of the first congregation of the Sheldon parish. Hon. Timothy Donohue came to O'Brien county from the state of Michigan in 1878. Patrick Sullivan and family came to O'Brien county from the state of Minnesota in 1878, and James Beacom and family came from Jones county, Iowa, to O'Brien county in 1878. These families may also be said to form a part of the first congregation of Sheldon parish.
Each succeeding year brought in additional newcomers, who settled down on the prairie, and from the rapid increase the necessity of forming a parish forced itself upon the Catholics of Sheldon, and Rev. Patrick Lynch was officially appointed the first resident pastor of Sheldon parish by Rt. Rev. John Hennessy, then bishop of the state of Iowa. The appointment
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O BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
was made in the fall of 1879. Father Lynch held services on his coming to Sheldon, in the city hall, which was then located where the former home of Dr. W. H. Myers now stands. The hall was afterwards moved and located on the property now occupied by what is known as the Mckeever block. After a short time the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad Company deeded a quarter block of land for church purposes. The deed was made out to Joseph Shinski, Dominick O'Donnell and Peter Guenthier, as trustees for the newly organized parish, and in the spring of 1880 they commenced the erection of the first Catholic church in Sheldon. The dimensions of the church was thirty-seven feet in width, and sixty feet in length. The erection of this building was accomplished at an outlay of two thousand five hundred dollars, which, with necessary furnishings, brought the total expenditure for this purpose up to three thousand five hundred dollars. Rev. John A. O'Reilly, now of Rock Valley, succeeded Father Lynch, April 1, 1881, and remained as pastor until October 1, 1884, when Rev. Timothy Sullivan, now of Cedar Rapids, was appointed pastor of the Sheldon parish. Father Sullivan held the position of pastor of the Sheldon parish until November 13, 1889, when he was succeeded by Rev. James McCormack, who was appointed in 1890. He was succeeded by Very Rev. P. F. Farrelly, who acted as pastor until November 4, 1902. At that time Father Farrelly was succeeded by Very Rev. T. Tracy, who continued as pastor until December 1, 1905. when Rev. J. P. Barron was appointed pastor of Sheldon parish. Father Barron was succeeded by Father McCormack, the present pastor of the Sheldon congre- gation. he being appointed thereto in May, 1910, and for the second time sent back to fill such position. In the spring of 1911 Father McCormack, assisted by his faithful people, commenced the erection of their new church. The church was completed in 1912, and stands today, and for all time, a lasting monument to the priest and devoted Catholics of Sheldon. The total cost of the church was forty thousand dollars.
CATHOLIC CHURCH AT SANBORN.
Very Rev. J. J. Smith, pastor of the Catholic church of Emmettsburg. Iowa, it is stated upon reliable authority, was the first priest to say mass in the Sanborn parish. Soon after Father Smith's coming to Sanborn, Father Lynch was stationed at Sheldon, in 1879, as pastor, with Sanborn, Primghar, Ashton, Sibley, Rock Valley, Rock Rapids, Hull and Hospers as outside stations, attended from Sheldon. Rev. J. A. O'Reilly succeeded Father Lynch at Sheldon in 1881. In November, 1882, Father O'Reilly started a
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
subscription list to build a church in Sanborn. The committee in charge was Mart Shea, M. Collins, Cornelius McCann and Dennis Crowley. In 1882 the framework of the church was completed. In 1884 Father Sullivan suc- ceeded Father O'Reilly at Sheldon. Father Sullivan paid off the debt on the church at Sanborn and improved the property. In 1889 Father McCormack had charge of Sheldon and outside missions and attended Sanborn. In November, 1893. the Sanborn parish secured its first resident pastor, Father Corbett. He was a delicate man and remained there only a short time. Father McNamara was appointed to Sanborn parish in December, 1895. The next pastor appointed to Sanborn was Rev. J. P. Martin. He erected the first parochial residence in that parish. Father McCormack succeeded Father Martin at Sanborn, August 18, 1898. He paid off some of the debt on the place and improved the church at a cost of three thousand three hun- dred eighty-two dollars and ninety-six cents. The present pastor at San- born is Rev. L. Cooper, a whole-souled and genial character, beloved by his people. Thomas Burns, deceased, was the first Catholic family to settle in Franklin township. He settled there June 8, 1874. Mrs. Farrell and family, Mrs. McKeever, T. Ryan and family, Charles Hart, Hugh Fahey and John Kelly were among the first parishoners.
THE CHURCH AT PRIMGHAR.
The first regular attendance received by the Catholics of Primghar was from Rev. Timothy Sullivan, who went to Primghar in the fall of 1887. He said mass in the court house. Father McCormack, who took his place at Sheldon, attended Primghar during the years 1890 to 1893, saying mass in the court room, and in the office of the sheriff of the county, at the latter's kind invitation. Both Father Sullivan and Father McCormack attended Hartley also in those days. Father McCormack was accustomed to say mass in the room over Gross & Herbst store: also in a hall on the south side of the street. This was during the years 1890 to 1893.
In 1900 the Catholics of Primghar bought their present church from the Methodist people, for four hundred and seventy-five dollars, moved it to the lots owned by them, and at that time built a foundation under it, plastered it, and put in new furniture, at a total expenditure of one thousand two hun- dred dollars. There were but twelve families in the first congregation of Primghar at that time, which included among others the following members : John Manning and sister, John Cassidy and Frank Cassidy, and families, Mrs. McFarland and family, Joe Halbach and Con. Harrington.
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
Sutherland was first attended from Sheldon by Father Sullivan, during the years 1885 to 1888. The little church was not built in Sutherland until the summer of 1888. The church was erected at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars, and the lot on which it stands was purchased for three hundred and fifty dollars. It was during Father Sullivan's administration that this church was erected. It was destroyed by a cyclone, June 24, 1891. Father McCormack came in 1890. He said mass two or three times in the church before it was destroyed. He said mass also in Mr. O'Brien's honie, and in the opera house. After Father McCormack, Rev. P. A. R. Tierney came from Spencer to attend Sutherland. Then Father McCauly and Father Logue, respectively, took charge. In 1903, Father Joseph Murtagh took charge of the Sutherland parish. He bought the first parochial residence owned by the parish, from Mr. Woodbury, for two thousand dollars. He did excellent work in this field, and was succeeded by Father Bradley in March, 1905, who, in turn, was succeeded by Father LeCair in February, 1907. Father LeCair remained at Sutherland until May 4, 1913, when the present pastor, Father Schemmel, was appointed to the mission of Suther- land and outside stations. Since his appointment he has made improvements on the church by putting a large basement hall under the same, and putting in a furnace capable of heating the entire building. These were needed im- provements, and Father Schemmel and his good people are to be congratu- lated on what they have accomplished.
Among the settlers who belong to the Sutherland parish we mention Michael Sweeney and Dennis O'Brien. Mr. Sweeney came to O'Brien county in 1873. The only Catholic family at Sutherland at the time Mr. Sweeney came was that of Thomas Merrick. John and Michael O'Donnell. Frank and Martin Klema, William and Frank Mathern, Joseph Lynch, George New, the Kopp Brothers ( John Kopp and August 'Kopp), and Mr. Betz. came later on.
Rev. Timothy Sullivan, who was pastor at Sheldon from 1884 to 1889. was the first priest to hold services in Paullina in 1885 or 1886. At that time there were but few Catholics in Paullina. After Father Sullivan's day, Rev. Father Murtagh, who was pastor at Sutherland in 1903, attended the church at Paullina and said mass in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Braig. It is said that the congregation consisted of nine members. After Father Murtagh came Father Bradley. He was succeeded by Father LeCair, and he was followed by the present pastor of Sutherland, Father Schnel, who finds the little congregation growing at Paullina so much so that the congre-
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gation is looking for larger quarters to hold service in. It is to be hoped in the near future the faithful and persevering Catholics of Paullina will build a church to the honor and glory of God and their own spiritual and temporal welfare.
Let us now close our historical narrative by saying that nowhere under the blue sky of heaven today has the Catholic church a grander field than right here in O'Brien county. We are living here today in the midst of the broadest and fairest minded men to be found anywhere in the country. If the Catholics of O'Brien county do not push forward the interests of their church to the best of their ability, in these days of golden opportunities, let them attribute no blame to any of their neighbors, but, on the contrary, blame themselves. Work now while the sun of God's glory shines bright to illumine your pathway through life. so that at the setting thereof we may be recom- pensed for work well done. Differ as we may in matters of faith, we stand united upon the common ground of charity and benevolence. In the words of Cardinal Gibbons. "We cannot, like our Divine Master, give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, and strength to the paralyzed limb, but we can work miracles of grace and mercy by relieving the distress of our suffering brethren." "Religion," says the Apostle, "pure and unde- filed before God, is this : to visit the fatherless and the widow in their tribula- tion, and to keep one's self unspotted from the world." Or shall we exclaim with the pagan Cicero of old, and say : "Homines ad Deos nunquam proprius accedunt quam salutem hominibus dando,"-there is no way by which men can approach nearer to the gods than by contributing to the welfare of their fellow creatures.
RELIGIOUS STATISTICS.
The state census reports for Iowa in 1905 give the following on the churches of O'Brien county :
No.
Value
Churches. Membership.
Baptist ( Regular)
I
100
of Property. $ 6,500
Catholic
4
1,175
II4,000
Christian
I
100
3,000
Christian Science
2
49
Congregational
3
320
9.850
Friends (Conservative)
I
86
1,200
German Baptist Brethren_
I
35
1,300
Lutheran
5
906
23,600
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
Value
No. Churches.
Membership.
of Property. 66,700
Methodist Episcopal
IO
972
Presbyterian
304
17,200
Total
32
4,047
$243.350
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The Young Men's Christian Association work as carried on in O'Brien county had its start in the year 1873 when, in Dupage township, Will county, Illinois, the work was started entirely by volunteer leadership and lasted four years, long enough to prove that such work could be done and done satisfactorily and for the wellbeing of the boys. "Uncle Robert" Weidensal saw what could be the future of this plan and gave much study and time to it and saw it experimented with in different sections of the United States. He urged the international conventions to make provisions for it and finally, after the work had been tried in fourteen different communities, it was recognized by the international convention and a special secretary was placed on the international staff to look after this work. It was at this time, 1903, that the work was started in Greene county, Iowa, with Fred M. Hansen, just out of Ames, as the county secretary. Mr. Hansen had charge of the work in that county for nearly three years and was requested to take charge of the state work and, as state county work secretary, has seen five more counties organized in this state in the following order, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Sac. Pocahontas and O'Brien.
After several requests for this type of work had been received at the state office from prominent men in this county, Mr. Hansen and his assistant, Donald G. Cathcart, came to O'Brien county on September 12, 1913, and began to investigate the county and, if enough people were found interested, to help with the organization. So much encouragement was received from the progressive, influential citizens that, after the people had been informed of what might be expected of the work, a county convention was called to meet at Primghar on October 8th and delegations were present from every town anxious to have the work started with two employed secretaries. After talks by Fred M. Hansen, Donald G. Cathcart, State Secretary W. M. Par- sons, Attorney E. B. Wilson, of Jefferson, Rev. Harries, of Paullina, Professor Graeber, of Sutherland, J. S. Webster of Hartley, it was decided to organize the county with the following as the first county committee :
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O'BRIEN AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES, IOWA.
John McCandless, F. E. Frisbee and W. E. Clagg, of Sheldon; D. M. Norton, of Sanborn: J. S. Webster and J. C. Joslin, of Hartley : O. H. Montzheimer and W. S. Armstrong, of Primghar: C. P. Jordan and Charles Youde, of Sutherland, and George Raw, George W. Smith and C. C. Cannon, of Paul- lina. It was also voted to employ two secretaries and raise a budget of three thousand five hundred dollars to carry on this work.
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