USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens > Part 71
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In the spring of 1856, S. S. Jones, President of the Air Line, who had wintered at Washington, concluded that his railroad could as easily have a "land grant " as the Illinois Central, which had just secured its magnificent appro- priation. Accordingly, members enough were "seen " and land grants secured for four railroads across Iowa, from east to west, the Air Line and railroads crossing at Dubuque, Burlington and Davenport. Jones returned to Lyons to
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
look after interests there, and during his absence the clause conferring the land upon the Air Line was stricken from the bill, presumably through the influ- ence of the Dubuque and Davenport Congressmen. The unconquered Jones rushed back to the capital, and, by demonstrating to the members in the inter- est of the rival lines the impossibility of keeping their own appropriations without also giving his line its share, compelled them, by arguments potent at Washington, to aid him in again securing the grant.
A plan somewhat similar to that so successful on the Illinois Central was adopted to raise funds, by bonding the road and lands. Contracts were let to responsible Eastern parties for the speedy construction of the railroad across the State, and, during 1857 until the panic, work was pushed along vigorously. Had it not been for that disaster, discussed elsewhere, forty miles of iron would have been laid by January 1, 1858, the road would have retained its land grant, and the subsequent history of Clinton County would have been materially mod- ified by its being the terminus and crossing-place of two trans-Iowan railways instead of one. Indeed, Thomas Walker of New York, who so successfully negotiated the bonds of the Illinois Central, was one of the Trustees of the Air Line. But the financial revulsion of course stopped the bond negotiation, and, on September 16, 1857, orders came to stop work, when nearly all the grading and culverts between Lyons and Maquoketa were completed.
As related elsewhere, the land grant was resumed and given to the Cedar Rapids & Missouri Railway, and the roadbed utilized by the Midland fourteen years afterward. In the meantime, the progress of the C., I. & N. Railway, narrated in the history of Clinton, its projectors having safely weathered the panic, had revolutionized the local railroad situation, and, unfortunately for the interests of both cities, Lyons remained till 1870 without direct railroad facil- ities.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The rapid growth of Lyons, at that time, fully justified the obtaining of a city charter, April 23, 1855, under which the city was administered till in 1873, it was incorporated under the general law. The first election was a very excit- ing affair, partisan feeling running very high. Of the first Council, five were Whigs, and two Democrats. One of the arguments used was to accuse an opponent of being what has since been termed a " carpet-bagger," a word for which the vocabulary of the time unfortunately furnished no synonym. It seems odd, at this time, that in so new a community there should have developed an antagonism between the old residents and new-comers ; but, doubtless, some of the political methods of to-day will seem equally grotesque after twenty-five years. The following is the roster of city officers and total votes :
April 23, 1855-Mayor, C. H. Toll; Aldermen - Ben Lake, J. J. Mathews, Charles Maclay, Thomas Crew, Michael Daly ; Marshal, J. R. Robertson ; Recorder, D. W. Ellis; Wharfmaster, Joseph Boyd.
Total vote, 161.
1856-Mayor, A. R. Cotton ; Recorder, J. C. Jefferey ; Treasurer, H. E. Gates; Marshal, Henry Bassett ; Assessor, John Sloan ; Wharfmaster, Charles Grant. Aldermen-First Ward, Ben Lake, J. J. Mathews ; Second Ward, A. C. Root, Thomas Crew; Third Ward, Elijah Buell, M. Daly.
1857-Mayor, Ezra Batcheller ; Treasurer, C. S. Hurlbert ; Recorder, J. C. Jefferey ; Marshal, Henry Bassett; Wharfmaster, E. S. Hawley; Asses- sor, G. W. Stumbaugh. Aldermen-First Ward, Ben Lake, W. E. Leffing- well ; Second Ward, D. H. Scott, A. C. Root ; Third Ward, John Garton, Elijah Buell.
Total vote, 468.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
1858 - Mayor, Z. T. Wilson ; Marshal, James Cressy ; Recorder, George Burton ; Treasurer, John E. Ennis; Assessor, P. T. Roe; Wharfmaster, Peter Rowan. Aldermen-First Ward. Derrick Adams, W. E. Leffingwell ; Second Ward, C. Liembach, D. H. Scott; Third Ward. John Garton, H. A. Truax. In July, Alderman Leffingwell resigned, and F. G. Heinrich was duly elected in his stead.
Total vote, 549.
1859-Mayor, John Sloan; Recorder, J. G. Smith ; Treasurer, Alex. Ennis ; Marshal. William H. Defreest; Assessor, B. W. Powers ; Wharfmaster, John Denahy. Alderman-First Ward, D. Adams, N. Boardman : Second Ward, C. Liembach, John Tierney; Third Ward, H. A. Truax, R. C. Johnson ; Fourth Ward, G. W. Stumbaugh, P. Carolan ; Fifth Ward, E. Buell, S. Penn ; Sixth Ward, J. C. Jefferey, J. H. Hawes.
Total vote, 502.
1860-Mayor. S. G. Magill; Recorder, H. P. Cox ; Treasurer, Alex. Ennis : Marshal, D. P. McDonald ; Assessor, John Aughenbaugh ; Wharf- master, Henry Hoag. Aldermen-First Ward, N. Boardman, C. D. Cunning- hamn; Second Ward, James Tierney, Thomas Leedham ; Third Ward, John B. Crosby. John Gallion ; Fourth Ward, E. Buell, L. Sheppard ; Fifth Ward, G. W. Stumbaugh, II. Schaale ; Sixth Ward, J. H. Hawes, Benj. Lake.
Total vote, 461.
1861-S. G. Magill, Mayor; George Parker, Recorder; J. G. Smith, Marshal; Robert Spear, Assessor; John Sloan, Treasurer; A. Bristol, Wharf- master. Aldermen-First Ward, N. Boardman, C. D. Cunningham ; Sec- ond Ward. William Marquis, Thomas Leedham; Third Ward, Charles Rich, John Gallion; Fourth Ward, D. W. Ellis, L. Sheppard; Fifth Ward, P. T. Roe, H. Schaale; Sixth Ward, P. Davidson. W. H. Gibbs.
Total vote, 442.
1862-Dead lock between S. G. Magill and E. Baldwin for Mayor, each having 275 votes, Magill, however, continuing in the office by a special election until his resignation, December 30, 1862. Robert Spear succeeded J. C. Miller as Recorder in June, and also resigned at the same time with Magill, R. M. Rockwell being his successor ; the other officers were, R. Ball, Marshal ; John Keyser, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, N. Boardman, J. E. Le Cavellier ; Second Ward. A. C. Root, William Marquis; Third Ward, C. Moezinger, G. J. Wilson ; Fourth Ward, D. W. Ellis, E. Buel ; Fifth Ward, Frank Lohberg. P. T. Roe ; Sixth Ward. H. J. Wright, W. H. Gibbs. On the resignation of Mayor Magill, Recorder Spear and Alderman Boardman, a special election was held January 14, 1863. Total vote, 231. F. G. Hein- rich was elected Mayor; R. M. Rockwell, Recorder, and N. Showerman, Alderman, First Ward.
Total vote, 553.
1863-F. G. Heinrich, Mayor; W. D. Clark, Marshal; I. N. Manville, Recorder: A. Ennis, Treasurer; D. W. Scott, Assessor; C. Griffin, Wharf- master. Aldermen-First Ward, J. E. Le Cavellier, N. Showerman ; Second Ward, Thomas Crew. A. C. Root; Third Ward, David Joyce, C. Moezinger ; Fourth Ward. Robert Spear, E. Buel ; Fifth Ward, William Buel, F. Loh- berg; Sixth Ward, W. H. Gibbs, H. J. Wright. Thomas Britt succeeded William Buell in July, on latter's resignation.
Total vote, 432.
1864-F. G. Heinrich, Mayor; W. W. Sanborn, Marshal; I. N. Man- ville, Recorder : J. M. Rice, Treasurer ; Robert Spear, Assessor; A. Bristol,
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, William Lyall, N. Showerman ; Second Ward, Thomas Crew, E. Batcheller ; Third Ward-James Tierney, Sr., David Joyce ; Fourth Ward, John Ott, Robert Spear; Fifth Ward, John Lee, Thomas Britt ; Sixth Ward, J. H. Barnum, W. H. Gibbs.
Total vote, 490.
1865-J. M. Rice, Mayor; W. W. Sanborn, Marshal; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; R. C. Bosworth, Treasurer ; E. Lukens, Assessor; R. H. Stewart, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, Ira Stockwell, William Lyall; Sec- ond Ward, A. C. Root, E. Batcheller ; Third Ward, G. W. Stumbaugh, James Tierney, Sr .; Fourth Ward, R. Spear, John Ott; Fifth Ward, F. Bierman, John Lee ; Sixth Ward, W. W. Sparks, J. H. Barnum.
Total vote, 377.
1866-D. H. Scott, Mayor; C. J. Heule, Marshal; I. N. Manville, Recorder; C. D. Wohlenberg, Treasurer; A. Bristol, Wharfmaster; John Lee, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, A. B. Gleason, Ira Stockwell ; Sec- ond Ward, J. B. Franklin, A. C. Root; Third Ward, William Williams, G. W. Stumbaugh ; Fourth Ward. C. D. Scott, R. Spear; Fifth Ward, Michael Connelly, F. Bierman ; Sixth Ward, A. T. Wheeler, W. W. Sparks.
Total vote, 562.
1867-D. H. Scott, Mayor ; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; C. J. Heule, Mar- shal ; C. D. Wohlenberg, Treasurer ; Peter Rowan, Wharfmaster ; John Lee, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, L. T. Sloan, A. B. Gleason ; Second Ward, C. M. Baldwin, J. B. Franklin ; Third Ward, James Tierney, Jr .; William Williams ; Fourth Ward, G. A. Allen, C. D. Scott ; Fifth Ward, J. B. Dunn, M. Connelly ; Sixth Ward, Hiram Gates, A. T. Wheeler.
Total vote, 534.
1868-C. M. Baldwin, Mayor; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; James Tierney, Sr., Treasurer ; John Lee, Assessor. John Blessington, Marshal. James Haz- lett, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, G. A. Buffum, L. T. Sloan ; Second Ward, C. Moezinger, J. G. McDonnell ; Third Ward, S. A. Hubbell, James Tierney, Jr. ; Fourth Ward, E. M. Westbrook, G. A. Allen ; Fifth Ward, B. H. A. Henningsen, J. B. Dunn ; Sixth Ward, R. T. T. Spence, Hiram Gates.
Total vote, 579.
1869-C. M. Baldwin, Mayor; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; John Blessing- ton, Marshal; Bid. Gage, Treasurer ; John Lee, Assessor; W. M. Bentley, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, Ira Stockwell, G. A. Buffum ; Second Ward, L. P. Adams, J. A. Tierney ; Third Ward, D. H. Scott, E. Lanning ; Fourth Ward, E. Buell, E. M. Westbrook ; Fifth Ward, Henry Pape, B. H. A. Henningsen ; Sixth Ward, Thomas Leedham, R. T. T. Spence.
Total vote, 443. .
1870-A. C. Root, Mayor ; E. P. Savage, Marshal ; William Holmes, Treasurer ; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; Charles Weinkoop, Assessor ; W. M. Bentley, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, A. T. Pierpont, Ira Stock- well ; Second Ward, G. A. Earl, L. P. Adams ; Third Ward, C. Hass, D. H. Scott ; Fourth Ward, R. Spear, E. Buell ; Fifth Ward, D. Denehy, Henry Pape ; Sixth Ward, H. Gates, Thomas Leedham.
Total vote, 528.
1871-J. N. Cross, Mayor; J. A. Nattinger, Recorder ; A. F. Hill, Mar- shal ; John Garton, Treasurer ; G. W. Hammond, Assessor; W. M. Bentley, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, L. T. Sloan, A. T. Pierpont ; Second Ward, A. C. Root, G. A. Earl; Third Ward, Thomas Murtha, F. Winkler ;
P
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Fourth Ward, H. Wohlenberg, R. Spear; Fifth Ward, B. H. A. Henningsen, D. Denehy ; Sixth Ward, Bid. Gage, H. Gates.
Total vote, 544.
1872-David Joyce, Mayor ; H. F. Schaale, Marshal ; D. O. C. McCarthy, Recorder ; S. W. Baldwin, Treasurer; J. Garton, Assessor; W. M. Bentley, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward. G. W. Hammond, L. T. Sloan ; Second Ward, J. J. McDonnell. A. C. Root; Third Ward, D. H. Scott, Thomas Murtha ; Fourth Ward, Reuben Ball, H. Wohlenberg; Fifth Ward, T. C. Hannaher, B. H. A. Henningsen ; Sixth Ward, H. Gates, Bid Gage.
Total vote, 477.
1873-David Joyce, Mayor ; H. F. Schaale, Marshal ; D. O. C. McCarthy, Recorder ; John Dolan, Treasurer; C. Moezinger, Assessor ; William Ken- nedy, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, L. T. Sloan, G. W. Hammond ; Second Ward, Samuel Davy, J. J. McDonnell ; Third Ward, Phin. Snyder, D. H. Scott ; Fourth Ward, E. Buell, Reuben Ball; Fifth Ward, C. Wynkoop, T. C. Hannaher ; Sixth Ward, John Gallion, H. Gates.
Total vote, 538.
1874-J. J. McDonnell, Mayor; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor; J. M. Rice, Treasurer ; Thomas Kington, Assessor ; D. O. C. McCarthy, City Clerk. Aldermen-First Ward, C. D. Cunningham, James Hadlow ; Second Ward, A. C. Root, Samuel Davy; Third Ward, Phin. Snyder, D. H. Scott ; Fourth Ward, G. W. Brayton. S. Briggs ; Fifth Ward, T. C. Hannaher, B. H. A. Henningsen ; Sixth Ward, T. P. Crew, L. P. Adams.
Total vote, 671.
J. M. Rice, Treasurer, died in September, and D. S. Balch was appointed to fill the term ; Robert Hogle, appointed Marshal.
1875-C. M. Baldwin, Mayor : S. W. Baldwin, Treasurer ; Thomas King- ton, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, James Hadlow, C. D. Cunningham ; Second Ward, John Braun, Adam Schneider; Third Ward, D. H. Scott, Phin. Snyder ; Fourth Ward, S. Briggs, G. W. Brayton; Fifth Ward, John Simmons, T. C. Hannaher; Sixth Ward, M. H. Westbrook, L. P. Adams.
Total vote, 600.
J. C. Hopkins, appointed City Clerk ; J. Borman, Marshal ; R. Hogle, Marshal, vice Borman, resigned. S. W. Baldwin did not qualify, and D. S. Balch was again appointed.
1876-T. C. Hannaher, Mayor ; B. H. A. Henningsen, Treasurer ; Thomas Kington, Assessor ; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor. Aldermen-First Ward, C. D. Cunningham, James Hadlow; Second Ward, A. Schneider, J. Braun ; Third Ward, D. J. Batchelder, D. H. Scott ; Fourth Ward, John Hersam, G. W. Brayton ; Fifth Ward, S. Van Doran, H. Baker; Sixth Ward, T. R. Beers, M. H. Westbrook. J. C. Hopkins, City Clerk ; R. Hogle, Marshal.
Total vote, 712.
1877-C. Moeszinger, Mayor; B. H. A. Henningsen, Treasurer ; Thomas Kington, Assessor ; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor. Aldermen-First Ward, L. T. Sloan, C. D. Cunningham ; Second Ward, M. Longini, J. Braun ; Third Ward, John Tolson, D. J. Batchelder; Fourth Ward, Reuben Bal!, John Hersam ; Fifth Ward, Hobart Baker, A. Schneider ; Sixth Ward, M. W. Barry, T. R. Beers. D. O. C. McCarthy, City Clerk ; R. Hogle, Marshal.
Total vote, 713.
Mayor Moeszinger resigned in February, 1878, and E. R. Sayles was appointed to fill balance of term.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
1878-W. M. Bentley, Mayor; D. B. Snyder, Treasurer ; Thomas King- ton, Assessor ; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor. Aldermen-First Ward, S. I. Smith, L. T. Sloan ; Second Ward, A. C. Root, M. Longini ; Third Ward, D. J. Batchelder, John Tolson : Fourth Ward, A. Corning, R. Ball ; Fifth Ward, P. Carolan, H. Baker ; Sixth Ward, C. B. McDowell, M. W. Barry ; D. O. C. McCarthy, City Clerk ; R. Hogle, Marshal.
Total vote, 770; vote on annexation, 115 for, 494 against.
1879-J. S. Stratton, Mayor ; S. W. Baldwin, Treasurer; Thomas King- ton, Assessor ; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor. Aldermen-First Ward, J. H. Potts, S. I. Smith ; Second Ward, L. L. Stahle, A. C. Root ; Third Ward, Thomas Rowan, D. H. Scott ; Fourth Ward, M. D. Madden, William Hodg- kins ; Fifth Ward, H. Baker, P. Carolan ; Sixth Ward, M. W. Barry, C. B. McDowell ; D. O. C. McCarthy, City Clerk ; R. Hogle, Marshal.
Total vote, 638.
CHURCHES.
Congregational .- In 1839, when the present Lyons Congregational Church was organized, there were only three churches of that denomination in Iowa. The society was originally instituted at the house of Henry Ustick, at Union Grove, Ill. It was a one-story, old-fashioned pioneer dwelling, built of logs, rough outside, hewn within. One large apartment served as parlor, sitting- room and dining-room combined. The furniture consisted of a few chairs and stools and a large plain table in the center. A huge back-log blazed in the ample fireplace, and rough boards furnished temporary seats for the initial gathering of Christian people. As a majority of the members resided in Ful- ton, the meetings were soon transferred thither.
In 1845, the society assumed the name of the Congregational Church of Lyons and Fulton. Rev. J. H. Prentiss was the first Pastor, followed by Revs. Oliver and Thomas P. Emerson, J. C. Holbrook and A. Hitchcock. After its change of name, the Church held its meetings mostly in Lyons. For a time, it had no regular abiding place. The first preaching services were held in the log cabin of Daniel Hess, on Second street, just north of the foundry, and last used as a blacksmith-shop, and in the cabin of William Hogan, rented for a time as a schoolhouse, which stood nearly upon the site of the old St. Louis House, near the landing. Services were also held successively at the cabin of Elijah Buell, in the Thomas neighborhood, at Rev. Hiram G. Warner's and in what is now Clinton. Most of the region now regularly laid out in streets and covered with stores and dwellings was then a comparative waste.
In 1847, the Fourth Street brick schoolhouse became the center of public worship for a congregation coming from a large circuit, including Teed's Grove and five miles south of Clinton's site. The building was shared in turn by the Congregationalists and Methodists, while both societies held occasional services in the outlying districts.
In 1846, William K. Vincent, afterward better known as "Deacon Vin- cent," was received into membership by letter. His portrait, still hanging in the place of honor in the chapel, by its high brow, determined eyes, thin and tightly compressed lips, indicates a character of the antique Puritan type-one that Hawthorne would have loved to have studied. For a long time he carried the Church almost alone, acting as Sunday-school superintendent, preacher, chorister and sexton, in fact doing everything that needed to be done. He never returned to his home without service because there chanced to be no minister present.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Living about two miles west of town, he was to be seen driving up with his ox team, each Lord's Day, "rain or shine," to whatever chanced to be the place of worship. He was as regular at Sabbath school and prayer-meeting. First unfastening his oxen and caring for their comfort, he would straightway unload the wood he had brought from his own pile, the supply for the day, and also material for lighting in the evening. and then, in his business-like way, build the fires and prepare for meeting. When the congregation had assembled, in his simple-hearted and fervent manner, he would take that part of the service in which he was most needed; generally with tuning-fork in hand, pitching the tunes, lining off the hymns, and leading the choir in the peculiar style of those times ; sometimes even acting as preacher. At one time, he went with his ox team to the interior of the State, hoping to there secure a minister for his destitute flock. His zeal was such that he once offered, as an amendment to the covenant, this article :
"And that you avoid the use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and gambling and cheating, and quarreling, and dancing, and slaveholding, and all other vices."
During 1847, Rev. Hiram G. Warner preached in his log cabin, two miles from town, and also in town until near the close of the year, when Mr. Emer- son renewed his engagement for the next two years. Rev. J. S. Francis, under the auspices of the Home Missionary Society, and Rev. J. T. Morey, a Frec-Will Baptist-sectarianism in those days gave way to Christian fraternity -each served as Pastor for two years, and Father Emerson filled another year's vacancy in 1853 and 1854.
May 4, 1854, fifteen years after its origin in Union Grove, the Church was incorporated, with Daniel Reed and J. R. Pearce as the first Trustees. In July following, the members residing in Illinois formed a Church at Fulton.
In 1854, Rev. J. C. Strong, formerly a missionary among the Choctaws, began a pastorate of two years, during which, owing to a disagreement as to the relations the Church sustained to Missionary Societies, a portion of the members withdrew to form the Presbyterian Church. For six months, the pulpit was occupied by supplies which could not have been very expensive, judging from an entry of $15 paid to Rev. N. Grant for preaching four Sab- baths.
In 1854 was begun the movement for building the brick church, the first Protestant Church edifice in Lyons, on the corner of Fifth street and Sixth avenue, in what was then called Newtown. The welfare of the community was quite closely identified with it, according to Deacon Vincent's quaint bit of his- tory in the record :
" In the spring of 1854, the attention of Eastern men of property was directed to Lyons as a safe place to make profitable investments. Among them were some professors, or, we might say, some rich Christians, who naturally inquired for the churches of the place, and the property-holders had to say, or tell them, that there were none. To which they answered: 'We feel that if a place like Lyons has not religion enough to maintain the worship of God, it cannot be a safe place to make investments ; ' and they, therefore, turned away to some other place. As one and another left the place in this way, property- holders began to feel that it would be to their interest to build a church at Lyons, if, by so doing, they could keep these rich Christians among us. It was then suggested that, if we undertook to build a church, we should be liber- ally assisted. I went into Lyons, and, on inquiry, found the impression very gen- eral that we ought to have, and must have, a church in the place. I, therefore,
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
immediately wrote to Mr. Emerson as the oldest and most influential min- ister in our neighborhood, who came to see for himself what the prospects were for such an undertaking. We visited almost every family in town, and the impression on his mind was that the prospects were favorable. He, therefore, drew up a subscription paper with the following result."
Among the names are many citizens now living, including Elijah Buell, who donated $125 and two lots. The edifice was erected in 1855-56; but, money failing, one lot was sold in order to put on the roof. It resembled the present German Catholic Church.
It was dedicated July 11, 1856, President Blanchard, then of Knox College, preaching the sermon. For several Sundays, between leaving the brick schoolhouse and occupying the new church, services were held in the building known as the old " Brick Catholic Church," just back of Snyder's drug store, which has since illustrated the mutability of circumstances by being used as a saloon. For some time the Church enjoyed the services of two pas- tors, Rev. G. R. Moore preaching in the forenoon and Rev. O. Miner in the evening.
During the ministry of Rev. L. J. White-1857-60-their Church expe- rienced many changes and great prosperity. About a year from the dedication of the "Pioneer Church," it seemed expedient to build again. The failure of the railroad to cross the river at that point, and as a large part of the congre- gation living on the south side of the creek, rendered the Newtown location undesirable. J. Q. Root and Deacon Vincent selected the present site for the second building. Instead of the present streets, much ground then (1857) between that point and where the railroad now runs, was a brush-covered waste. It was dedicated by President George F. Magoun just a year after the brick church. Its style was very much like that of the present structure, and cost $3,300. Crowded revivals were held in the lecture-room before the walls were lathed and plastered, with the wind and snow blowing through large open cracks. In 1859, a bell was procured, which became virtually the city curfew, or, at least, what the great historic bell Roland was to Ghent. It announced noon, it rang out fire alarms and jubilant peals over Union victories, it tolled the requiem of the dead and finally, January 16, 1860, when the church burned, passed through a fiery ordeal. The fire caught in the chapel ; the first alarm was sounded from the old belfry, the peal not ceasing till the rope was burned and the bell fell amid the crashing timbers into the debris below. After several years' service in the present steeple, it cracked and was mustered out ; now inverted on a granite block, it serves as a flower-vase on the lawn of J. Q. Root, and, also, as one of the most tangible relics of Lyons' past.
The present church was dedicated while yet unfinished, June 24, 1860, by Prof. Haven, D. D., of Chicago; and Rev. G. F. Magoun, in November, began a four-years' pastorate, after which he resigned, to become President of Iowa College at Grinnell. He was succeeded by Revs. M. W. Fairfield, T. M. Boss, 1866-70, during whose pastorate the present 1,200-pound bell was hung ; Rev. L. Curtis, 1870-75, and in May, 1875, by the present able Pastor, Rev. Sidney Crawford, whose judicious and successful service may be inferred from the present condition of the Church-170 members, fine choir and Sabbath school, and church property worth $10,000, and with seats for 500 people.
The Sabbath school, as a distinct body, dates back to 1854. It began with thirty-seven scholars, and Frances Page and Dr. Joseph Brown were the first Superintendents. The present Superintendent is J. C. Root, and number of pupils and teachers 250. The choir is, and has been, harmonious in every
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
sense. Mr. M. M. Jones and Mmes. C. H. Scott and M. O. Page and others having aided in its development. The Woman's Board of Missions, organized in 1871, has been one of the most efficient arms of the Church. Two devoted women have gone from the Church to make a noteworthy record as missionaries -Miss Mary Patrick, to Constantinople, and Miss Laura Day, to South Africa.
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