USA > Iowa > Lee County > Story of Lee County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 31
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The First Baptist Church of Fort Madison was organized on December 23, 1858, at the home of Charles Brewster, with twenty members. Rev. G. J. Johnson was the first pastor. Work was com- menced on a church building, located at the corner of Third and Market streets, in 1859, and the house was dedicated in 1861. Its cost was $14,000. This is one of the oldest church edifices in the city, but it is still in good condition, having been recently remodeled, has a large seating capacity, and meets all the needs of the congre- gation.
The Second Baptist Church of Fort Madison was organized by colored people in October, 1873. For many years the congregation has worshipped in the little church at 514 Market Street, which was erected about two years after the organization of the society. There is also a colored Baptist church in Keokuk.
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PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
On April 20, 1850, a meeting was held in the law offices of Dixon & Wickersham, at Keokuk, for the purpose of organizing a church of the Protestant Episcopal denomination. Bishop Kemper pre- sided and I. G. Wickersham acted as secretary. Committees were appointed to draft articles of association and solicit subscriptions. At another meeting, just a week later, General Van Antwerp and Edward Kilbourne were elected wardens, and Christian Garber, Hugh Doran, A. H. Heaslip, Guy Wells and Frank Bridgman, vestrymen. The name of St. John's was adopted, and in June Rev. Otis Hackett was installed as the first pastor. The first house of worship was completed in November, 1851, at a cost of $1,400. The present magnificent edifice, on the corner of Fourth and Con- cert streets, was completed about 1905.
Hope Episcopal Church in Fort Madison was organized on March 25, 1854, with Rev. William Adderly as the first rector; Edward Johnstone and William Thurston, wardens; W. W. Coriell, Henry Cattermole, James Cattermole, J. W. Albright, W. G. Albright, Anthony Smith and James M. Layton, vestrymen. Thir- teen families were represented in the original membership.
A parish had been organized in Fort Madison as early as 1845, but it was never incorporated and after a few years it went down. It was known as St. Peter's. A few Episcopal families continued to hold meetings occasionally until the establishment of Hope Church. The first house of worship was built in 1856-57, at the northwest corner of Fourth and Cedar streets. It was practically rebuilt about 1886, when a fine pipe organ was added, and a little later a fine brick rectory was built upon the lot adjoining the church. In 1905, by vote of the congregation, the name of the parish was changed from Hope to St. Luke's, by which it is now known.
An Episcopal church was organized at Montrose in 1861 by Rev. R. Jope of Keokuk, who served as rector for about six months. In 1869 a neat frame house of worship was erected, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. The membership then numbered forty, but deaths and removals so weakened the congregation that in time the organization was disbanded.
EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The oldest society of this denomination in the county is St. John's German Evangelical Church of Fort Madison, which was
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organized on June 2, 1848, with a minister named Ankele as pastor. In 1850 a lot on Walnut Street was purchased and a small house of worship was erected. In 1864 the present church, just north of the old one, was completed, at a cost of $7,000. The parsonage was erected in 1893.
The first church building in the Town of Franklin was erected by an Evangelical congregation in 1856. The stone chapel built by this church was afterward sold to the German Presbyterians.
St. Paul's Evangelical Church of Keokuk was organized in 1858, though meetings had been held prior to that time in the court room and other convenient places by the few German families who sub- scribed to the Evangelical creed. Soon after the organization was perfected, a small frame church was built on the corner of Exchange and Eighteenth streets. This church was subsequently sold for $600 and the society moved farther downtown, to the corner of Eleventh and Exchange streets, where a larger house of worship was erected. It served until 1874, when the present structure was erected, at a cost of $9,000. The parsonage was built in 1875. There are also German Evangelical churches at Charleston and Donnellson.
MISCELLANEOUS CHURCHES
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fort Madison, an English Lutheran society, was organized on January 1, 1871. The first meetings were held in a small house on Second Street and later in the Presbyterian Church until a church was finished in 1873. This house stood on Third Street, opposite Central Park, and was occupied for more than twenty years. During this period the serv- ices were conducted in the German language, but in 1892 the few members left decided to change to English. Since that time the church has had a steady growth. The present house of worship, a neat brick structure, at the corner of Des Moines and Hanover streets, was dedicated in 1897. There is a German Lutheran church at Primrose.
The only Unitarian church in the county is located at Keokuk. It was organized on October 4, 1853, at a meeting held in the school- house on Third Street, with S. B. Ayres presiding and Dr. John E. Sanborn, secretary. A Unitarian minister named Fuller was pres- ent, and upon his recommendation Rev. Leonard Whitney of Illinois was engaged as the first pastor. The "First Unitarian Society of Keokuk" was incorporated on November 22, 1853. Meetings were held in Concert Hall and other places until November 27, 1856,
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when a comfortable brick church at the corner of Fourth and High streets was "dedicated for the worship of the One only, God and Father of all." In 1874 a new church was completed, at a cost of $28,000.
After the death of Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, a divi- sion arose in the church and one branch withdrew under the name of the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," usually referred to as Latter Day Saints. On February 21, 1863, a church of this order was organized in the City of Keokuk, and some time later churches were organized at Montrose and Fort Madison. These are the only organizations of the Latter Day Saints ever founded in Lee County. This reorganized Mormon Church repudiates the doctrine of polygamy, one section of their Articles of Faith declaring: "We believe the doctrines of a plurality and a community of wives are heresies and opposed to the law of God."
As early as 1839 a few Mennonite families had located in the vicinity of West Point. In the spring of 1845 they were joined by John Miller, a Mennonite preacher, and steps were taken to organize a church. A meeting for that purpose was held at West Point on Saturday, May 10, 1845, which was well attended, and the people went home believing that a church would be established in the near future. That night Mr. Miller and his son-in-law, Henry Leisy, were murdered by robbers and the organization of the church was deferred until 1849. In 1850 a log house of worship was built on Sugar Creek, about three miles south of West Point. Five years later the congregation decided to remove to West Point, and a frame church was erected there in 1863. The old church site was used for many years as a cemetery.
In 1868 the Mennonites built an edifice at Franklin, which was used for a number of years as church, schoolhouse and pastor's resi- dence. The only church of this denomination reported in the Iowa Gazetteer for 1914 is the one located at Donnellson.
About the middle of December, 1878, H. C. Landes, N. W. Johnson and A. J. Hardin of Keokuk, while discussing the failure of the people to attend church, decided to organize a church that would hold services in the afternoon instead of Sunday mornings and even- ings, thus giving everybody an opportunity to attend the services. The organization that resulted was called the "Free for All Church." Rev. John Burgess began his labors as pastor on December 29, 1878. For a time the movement was a success and many people went to church on Sunday afternoons that had not been in the habit of going to the regular churches. Then the novelty of the innovation wore
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off, attendance decreased and in time the organization was aban- doned.
There is one Jewish religious organization in the county-the Congregation of B'nai Israel at Keokuk. It had its beginning on April 29, 1855, when a few Israelites of that city formed a benevolent society for the purpose of burying their dead according to the Jewish rites and customs. Michael Vogel was chosen president of this society, which was incorporated on September 3, 1855. In 1863 the present name was adopted, the corner-stone of the synagogue was laid in 1874, and the building was completed the next year, at a cost of $12,000.
There are a few other religious organizations in the county, but in the absence of records it is practically impossible to obtain their history. A Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Fort Madison in 1901. In Keokuk both the Young Men's and Young Women's Christian associations have fine buildings, and the Church of Christ, Scientist, has societies in both Fort Madison and Keokuk.
CHAPTER XXII
SOCIETIES AND FRATERNITIES
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FAIRS-WOMEN'S SOCIETIES-DAUGH- TERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION-KEOKUK AND FORT MADISON CLUBS-KEOKUK COUNTRY CLUB-MASONIC FRATERNITY-INDE- PENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-THE ELKS-MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES
Probably the first voluntary association of any kind in Lee County was an agricultural society. On July 17, 1841, a meeting was held at West Point for the purpose of organizing such a society. William Patterson presided and James H. Cowles acted as secretary. About one hundred and fifty people were present, among whom were Hugh T. Reid and D. F. Miller of Fort Madison, who addressed the meet- ing. A number of fine Durham cattle were exhibited at West Point on that occasion. A committee of five was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws and report at a meeting to be held in Fort Madison on the first Monday of the following October. No record of the Fort Madison meeting can be found, but it is likely some sort of a society was organized, as in September, 1842, a three days' fair was held near Keokuk, under the auspices of the "Lee County Asso- ciation," which was evidently short-lived. On November 1, 1851, the Lee County Agricultural Society was organized at Keokuk. T. B. Cumming, G. W. Edmondson and T. J. Chenowith were appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws, which were presented and adopted at the same meeting. William Lamb was elected the first president of the society and G. W. Edmondson the first secre- tary. Ralph P. Lowe, afterward governor of Iowa, was the first treasurer.
The first fair given by this society was held on October 13-14, 1852, on the grounds of the medical college at Keokuk. The pre- mium list advertised amounted to $588, but the total amount awarded in prizes was $219. At the close of the fair the directors met in the
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lecture room of the medical college and elected Thomas W. Clagett, president; Absalom Anderson, vice president; William Leighton, secretary, and Arthur Bridgman, treasurer. The second and third fairs of this society were held at 'Keokuk, after which the place of exhibition was changed to West Point, where it remained until 1870.
On December 28, 1853, the State Agricultural Society was organ- ized at Fairfield. Only five counties were represented, viz. : Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Van Buren and Wapello. Josiah Hinkle of Lee was one of the committee to draft by-laws, and the board of directors, consisting of three from each of the thirteen counties, was elected. The Lee County representatives on that board were Arthur Bridg- man, Josiah Hinkle and Reuben Brackett. The board met at Fair- field on June 6, 1854, elected Thomas W. Clagett of Lee County president, and proceeded to select a date and arrange a premium list for the first state fair. There was some criticism because no prize was offered for lady horseback riders, and Judge Clagett offered a gold watch, which was won by Miss Belle Turner of Lee County.
In the fall of 1870 the citizens of Fort Madison prepared fair grounds and offered inducements which decided the directors to remove the fair from West Point to that place, where it was held for three or four years. The old society then became involved and terminated its existence in 1877. It was then reorganized and twenty acres of ground were leased at Donnellson and fitted up for fair grounds, and a successful fair was held there in the fall of that year. The officers of the society for 1914 were: Joseph Krebill, president; Joseph Carver, vice president; G. W. Mattern, treasurer; Chris Haffner, secretary ; D. McCulloch, superintendent of grounds ; H. C. Knapp, marshal.
Some of the citizens in the vicinity of West Point, after the fair was removed to Fort Madison, organized an association known as the West Point District Agricultural Society, which secured the grounds formerly occupied by the Lee County Agricultural Society, and has held fairs annually since 1872. The officers for 1914 were: George E. Rogers, president; Theodore Brinck, vice president; John Walljasper, secretary; T. J. Lampe, treasurer; Theodore Vonder- haar, superintendent of privileges, stalls and chief of police ; and John Lachman, marshal.
WOMEN'S SOCIETIES
One of the oldest organizations of women in the State of Iowa is the P. E. O. Just what these initials stand for is unknown to the
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uninitiated. As early as 1869, seven young girls, students in the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, conceived the idea of a society. One of these girls, speaking of it afterwards, says: "We had no very definite idea as to what we wanted to do, and when one said, 'What shall we call the society?' another suggested the name which that day bound together seven girls, and in 1914 held together in one great sisterhood 20,000 women." Miss Alice Bird, later Mrs. W. I. Babb, wrote the constitution. For many years P. E. O. was a college sorority, having chapters somewhat after the nature of the Greek letter fraternities. Its principal philanthropy is the main- tenance of a fund which is loaned to young women to assist them in acquiring a higher education. Hundreds of girls have been educated by these means, and it is said that not one dollar has ever been lost by failure to repay a loan. There are two chapters of the P. E. O. in Lee County, located at Fort Madison and Keokuk.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The Keokuk Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, was organized on October 26, 1896, with twelve charter members and the number 431. It is one of the oldest chapters of this order in Iowa, and its organization is due largely to the efforts of Miss Cora H. K. Pittmann, who was its first regent. Since its organization more than forty women have been elected to membership. The chapter has every year conducted a course of study on some topic of history, and has done patriotic educational work in the schools through the offering of prizes for the best standing in history grades and essays on historical subjects. The greatest work of the chapter was the erection of the statue of Chief Keokuk in Rand Park. This monument was unveiled on October 22, 1913, by Miss Agnes Evans Reeves and Miss Graffen Blood, two little girls, daughters of mem- bers of the chapter. Following is the list of the regents of this chapter since its organization: Cora H. K. Pittmann, Lucy Single- ton Howell, Mary Higbee Brownell, Eliza Janette Carter, Mary O. Hoyt, Marcia Jenkins Sawyer, Lida Hiller Lapsley, Elizabeth W. Dunlap, Ora Belle Cole, Grace Bisbee Hornoday, Winona Evans Reeves, Minnie A. B. Newcomb.
Jean Espy Chapter of Fort Madison was organized on Novem- ber 14, 1901, with twenty charter members, and in 1914 the member- ship had been increased to forty-six, one of whom was a life member. This chapter was organized through the efforts of Miss Florence Espy and was named for her ancestor, who had thirteen descendants
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in the Continental army during the Revolution. The line of work laid down by the national organization is followed, such as marking historic sites, the observation of patriotic days, and the encourage- ment of the study of history in the schools by offering prizes, etc. The greatest work of this chapter was the erection of the monument at the foot of Broadway, in the form of a chimney, which marks the site of old Fort Madison. A full account of this monument, its inscription, etc., will be found in Chapter VIII. Following is a list of the regents of the chapter, in the order in which they served : Adele Kretsinger Stewart, Elizabeth Hesser Mason, Maggie L. Hanchett, Dell Phillips Glazier, Belle Hamilton, James Preston Roberts, Susanne Hesser Brown, and Sarah Johnson Casey. Mrs. Brown is a granddaughter of Frederick Hesser, who served in the Revolution, and Mrs. M. Katherine Robison, a member of the chap- ter, is a great-granddaughter of Betsy Ross, who made the first American flag.
The Keokuk Woman's Club was organized in January, 1898, with Mrs. William Ballinger as the first president; Mrs. Joseph Root, vice president; Mrs. Anette M. Sawyer, secretary; and Mrs. William A. Brownell, treasurer. The same year the club joined the Iowa Federation, and continued in the study of literature, art, domes- tic science, etc., until 1912, when it was merged into the Civic League. During its career it planted two rows of trees on Belknap Boulevard, erected four public drinking fountains on Main Street, and placed rubbish cans on the principal streets.
In May, 1912, the Keokuk Civic League was organized with a membership of 194 women. The constitution sets forth that "The object of the league shall be to bring together women interested in improving the city; to extend a knowledge of public affairs; to aid in improving civic conditions and to arouse an increased sense of responsibility for the safeguarding of the home and for the main- tenance and ennobling of that larger home of all-the city." The first officers of the league were as follows: Mrs. Winona Evans Reeves, president; Miss Lida Gordon Howell, first vice president ; Mrs. James Huiskamp, second vice president; Mrs. H. T. Herrick, recording secretary; Miss Rachel Roberts, corresponding secretary ; and Miss S. Elizabeth Matheney, treasurer.
Among the things accomplished by the league was its aid in the annual "clean up" day, conducting a garden contest among school children in which 300 took part and ten prizes were given, and the establishment of a systematic, sanitary collection of garbage. The membership is distributed all over the city.
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The Keokuk branch of the Ladies of Charity was formed on January 13, 1914, and is affiliated with the international society, the headquarters of which are in Paris, France. The aim of the society is to work with other organizations in promoting the general welfare of the community. A number of families have been aided, and at Christmas time in 1913 a large number of toys, Christmas dinners, etc., were distributed among the poor of the city. The officers in 1914 were: Mrs. Alois Weber, president; Mrs. C. A. McNamara, vice president; Mrs. I. S. Sawyer, recording secretary; Mrs. Mary Seibert, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Joseph O'Brien, treasurer.
The first suggestion for a Visiting Nurse Association in Keokuk was made by Mrs. C. D. Streeter, president of the Young Women's Christian Association. Mrs. Hugh L. Cooper made the first large contribution and the association was organized on January 1, 1913, with the following officers: Mrs. Corydon M. Rich, president; Miss Nettie Younker, first vice president; Mrs. Eugene S. Baker, second vice president; Miss Laura Alton, recording secretary ; Miss Agnes Trimble, financial and corresponding secretary; and Miss Elsie Buck, treasurer. Miss Emma Habenicht was elected visiting nurse and began her work on February 1, 1913.
The oldest woman's club in Fort Madison is the Monday After- noon Club, which was organized by Mrs. Caroline Cattermole in September, 1899. The constitution states : "The object of this asso- ciation shall be the intellectual and social culture of its members." As its name indicates, meetings are held on Monday afternoons at the homes of the members. Half of the time at each meeting is devoted to study, and the other half to the discussion of current topics. It is a member of the Iowa Federation and contributes to all the great forward movements in which the federation is interested. During its career the club has had three presidents, Mrs. Foss, Mrs. Cattermole and Mrs. C. F. Wahrer.
In 1901 Mrs. Natalie Schafer conceived the idea of organizing a club of German women for the practice of the German language and the study of German literature. The works of Heinrich Heine were the first to be taken up for study and from this fact the organiza- tion adopted the name of the "Heine Club." This has been followed by a study of the classics, the modern poets, novelists and dramatists, varied by special programs to commemorate some literary anni- versary-such as the one hundredth anniversary of Schiller's birth. After the program at each meeting, a social hour of genuine German "Gemüthlichkeit" follows.
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Another active and energetic woman's club of Fort Madison is the King's Daughters, the first circle of which, called the Ida Mans- field, was organized on January 25, 1911, at the home of Mrs. W. S. Hamilton. Since that time four other circles have been formed in the city, and the total membership in September, 1914, was about one nundred and fifty. One circle has charge of the rest rooms on Pine Street, and the others are interested mainly along charitable and civic lines. The officers of the union in 1914 were: Mrs. J. H. Samuels, president; Mrs. H. E. Hershey, first vice president; Miss Hazel Amborn, second vice president; Mrs. Lora Schneider, recording sec- retary; Miss Laura Lofgreen, corresponding secretary; and Miss Florence Johnson, treasurer.
KEOKUK COUNTRY CLUB
One of the most prominent social organizations in Lee County is the Keokuk Country Club, which, in the summer of 1913, dedi- cated a handsome new clubhouse a few miles north of the city on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. The building stands on the highest level of the thirty-six acres which comprise the grounds of the club. Facing the river is a wide veranda, which opens into a large reception room. On the first floor there are also a dining room, kitchen and custodian's room, while upstairs are the men's quarters, baths, etc. A nine-hole golf course has been laid out on the grounds by Thomas Bendelow, the Chicago golf expert, and is one of the finest links along the Mississippi. The new clubhouse has been the scene of many parties and entertainments, and is one of the popular social centers of Keokuk.
MASONIC FRATERNITY
Of all the secret orders Masonry stands first in point of seniority. A tradition says the order was introduced in England by Prince Edwin about 926 A. D., and there are documents dated back to 1390. Mother Kilwinning Lodge of Scotland was organized in 1599 and has been in continuous existence from that time, being the oldest known lodge in the world. In June, 1717, the Grand Lodge of England was organized and is the mother of all Masonic bodies in the English-speaking world.
In 1730 Daniel Coxe of New Jersey was appointed by the English Grand Lodge "Provincial Grand Master of the Provinces of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in America." About the same
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time a provincial grand master was appointed for the New England colonies. Before the close of the year a lodge was established at Philadelphia and one in New Hampshire, each of which claims to be the first lodge in America.
Masonry was introduced into the Territory of Iowa under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, the first lodge being estab- lished under dispensation at Burlington November 20, 1840. Rising Sun Lodge, at Montrose, and Eagle Lodge, at Keokuk, held charters from the Grand Lodge of Illinois, but were known as Mormon lodges. They continued in existence until some time after the assas- sination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in June, 1844, though their charters had been revoked by the Illinois Grand Lodge and they could not participate in the organization of the Iowa Grand Lodge in January, 1844.
The oldest organized lodge in Lee County is Eagle Lodge, No. 12, located at Keokuk. It was organized under dispensation from the Iowa Grand Lodge, May 2, 1846, with Peter Kinleyside, wor- shipful master; Lyman E. Johnson, senior warden; Joseph C. Ains- worth, junior warden; and Joseph Welch, secretary.
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