The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 74

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964

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In . April following, the Rev. Lyman Whiting accepted the charge and preached a month, but did not begin his regular ministry until October 1, 1864. He remained until July 10, 1869, when his resignation compelled the congre- gation to seek elsewhere for a Pastor. The pulpit was first tendered to the Rev. J. S. Bingham, who declined, as did also the Rev. E. B. Fairfield, when a third call was made upon Mr. Bingham, who accepted, and has since remained in charge. He began in 1870, and his administration of affairs has been attended with most satisfactory results.

For a time, the congregation continued to worship in the stone church, which they had obtained from the former occupants. In 1844, they were how- ever ejected under foreclosure proceedings, going to the court house, and sub- sequently to the Baptist Church, in which to worship. In 1846, a church edi- fice was erected on the present site of the town-clock building, at a cost of $3,500. In 1849, the increase in numbers of the communicants compelled the erection of a lecture-room and other enlargements. The building was sold in 1857, when a new and much more elegant structure was projected, resulting in the present fine edifice at the corner of Locust and Tenth streets. At first, serv- ices were held in the basement from July 11, 1858, until April 1, 1860, when the church proper was taken possession of. On the evening of March 11, 1863, the church was entirely completed, and a concert given in honor thereof, at

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which an organ costing $4,000, and purchased entirely by voluntary contribu- tions of the people, was first sounded.

To-day the church is one of the largest in the city, with one of the best- appointed edifices in the State, free from debt, and in a highly prosperous con- dition.

German Congregational Church .- This association was organized in 1867, through the influence of the Rev. J. Guernsey, Superintendent of Home Mis- sions for the State of Iowa. The services at first were conducted by mission- aries, assisted by Mr. Guernsey, and so continued until 1868, when the Rev. H. Ficke accepted a call, and has remained in charge to the present time.

The congregation worship in a neat church edifice, erected in 1867, at the corner of Eighteenth and Clay streets, and now numbers about seventy mem- bers.

The church is considered to be in a prosperous condition, and has property valued at about $1,500.

Christian Church .- During the summer of 1844, Elder J. P. Lancaster, of Jacksonville, Ill., on the invitation of M. Mobley, President of the Miner's Bank, of Dubuque, visited the city and held a series of meetings, with a view to the establishment of a Christian 'church. The result of this visit was, that, on Sunday, September 8 of that year, the following-named persons, Robert O. Anderson, M. Mobley, P. R. Campbell, H. Henderson, Caroline Anderson, Martha Campbell, Martha Mobley, Hannah Pierce, Elizabeth Graves and Thomas White, all of them members of the Christian Church at other points, met at the court house, where Elder Lancaster had been preaching, and formed themselves into a worshiping congregation, under the style and title of the " Church of Christ," taking the laws of Christ as their only rule of faith and practice.

Meetings were regularly continued until December 23, 1845, at which time the society numbered sixty-eight members, when the organization was per- fected by the setting apart, in due form, by the imposition of hands, and the election, of the following officers : M. Mobley and William Gilliam, Elders; George Bennett and Richard Pierce, Deacons.

About this time, the church purchased and proceeded to occupy the Pres- byterian meeting-house, located on Locust street, east of Washington Square, known as the "Stone Church," which building the Christian Church continued to occupy until the summer of 1877, when they sold the old property to the African Methodists, and purchased the Episcopal church property, corner of Locust and Ninth streets, wherein they worshiped jointly with the Episco- palians, until 1878, when that congregation removed to their new edifice, corner of Main and Fourteenth streets.

The following have been regular Pastors of the Church of Christ since its organization : Elders, J. P. Lancaster, Charles Levan, James Mitchell, Dr. Pierre, J. Milton Bartlett, N. S. Bastian, W. G. Sweeney, B. Stover, E. A. Pardee, J. H. Hammond and J. N. Smith.

The present church membership is 100; the value of church property, $6,000, and the following the present officers : M. Mobley and James Howie, Elders ; R. O. Chaney and R. O. Anderson, Deacons ; M. Mobley, Treasurer, and Thomas Hardie, Clerk.

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Rev. William Fawcett is the pres- ent Pastor of this thriving congregation, whose place of worship, on Main street, between Eleventh and Twelfth, is one of the oldest church edifices in the county. To the Rev. Fawcett and the Dubuque Herald of April 28, 1878, is

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the writer indebted for the following historical sketch of the church from its earliest organization :

" Forty-five years ago treaties were so arranged with the Indians that white men were allowed to cross the Mississippi at this point. Rev. Barton Randle came, and preached the first Protestant sermon in the State of Iowa, at the boarding-house of Jesse M. Harrison, on November 6, 1833. In the small settlement he found willing. hearts and hands, and, on May 18, 1834, after preaching to a large congregation, the first religious society in Dubuque was formed by Mr. Kandle, consisting of twelve persons, as follows :

"Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson, parents of Mrs. J. P. Farley ; Patrick Smith, Mrs. Noble, F. Dean, now Mrs. Susan A. Lawrence, the only one of the little band living and still a member of the church; Mary Ann Jordan, Robert Bell, Abigail Wilder, Woodbury Massey and wife, William Hillery, Mrs. Francis Anderson and Mrs. Charles Morgan, colored.

" The little band grew, and, on June 23, 1834, the first house of worship was begun. John Johnson says in his diary of July 25: 'Raised the meeting- house to-day with a few hands and without spirits of any kind.' Probably one of the first raisings without the then usual accompaniment of drinking. The house stood near the center of what is now Washington Park, and is still stand- ing, near the gas-works, the logs being clapboarded over. It was the first church edifice in Iowa, and cost $250.

" Rev. N. S. Bastian was sent by his conference to establish a mission in Dubuque, and preached his first sermon on October 1, 1835. The first quarterly meeting was held on the 22d and 23d of the following month, Rev. Hooper Crews being the Presiding Elder. After Mr. Bastian, followed as Pastors :

"H. W. Reed, 1835 and 1836; Wellington Wigley, 1837 ; G. G. Worth- ington, for two years; I. I. Stewart, one year ; Washington Wilcox, two years ; Andrew Coleman, one; L. Bowman, two; I. I. Stewart, returning in. 1846, continued two years more; E. L. Norris and John Harris, each one year ; J. S. Demmitt, two years; William Hulbert, W. F. Cowles and T. E. Corkhill, each one year; A. J. Kynett and P. E. Brown, two years each ; A. W. Paige, one year ; Robert Laird Collier, now a prominent Unitarian clergyman, and G. W. Brindell, each two years, followed by A. H. Ames, who remained here three years, and was followed by J. M. Caldwell and J. L. S. Mckeown, one year each ; Mr. A. B. Kindig, two years, and Rev. E. K. Young, the present incumbent, first came in 1870, remained three years, was succeeded by J. H. Rhea, who also served three years, when Mr. Young returned and remained two years.

"Among the most prominent of the Presiding Elders was Rev. Bartholo- mew Weed, who served in this circuit from 1835 to 1837, and again from 1841 to 1844. He is now eighty-five years of age, retains his mental and physical faculties, and preaches in New Jersey, where he is Chaplain of the State Pen- itentiary. During his presidency, and while Washington Wilcox was Pastor, in 1841, it became evident that a new edifice was needed for the church, and the old brick church, lately torn down, corner of Locust and Seventh streets, was erected, and was the finest edifice in the place, if not in the State, at that time. But even this was not enough, for the growth of the city and society soon demanded larger quarters, and very much larger, and, in 1849, under the pastorate of Rev. John Harris, a building committee was appointed and author- ized by the Board of Trustees to secure a lot and take the necessary steps for the erection of a house for the use of a church ; this committee was composed

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of J. R. Rodgers, J. P. Farley and H. S. Hetherington. In 1853, the present church was completed and dedicated, Mr. J. P. Farley having donated the lot upon which it was erected. This was in the pastorate of W. F. Cowles.

"In 1869, under a building committee, comprising C. E. Hetherington, J. T. Hancock, M. S. Robinson, R. Rodgers and T. E. Roberts, the edifice was remodeled to a certain extent and put in better shape generally, and is to-day one of the largest and most beautiful auditoriums in the city.

" Hand in hand with the organization of the church, and commencing its existence in 1834, one of the most effective aids to church work has been the Sunday school, which from a few members and indefinite organization, J. P. Farley being one of its earliest Superintendents, has increased until now its average attendance is 250 scholars and twenty-eight officers and teachers, and is constantly increasing in numbers and popularity. The present Superintend- ent is Mr. W. E. Robinson, who has held the office, at different times, aggre- gating five years. The Palestine class, organized in 1864, has also proven a splendid aid to the church in attracting young people thereto, and making it popular with all classes. Mrs. D. N. Cooley conceived the idea of organizing a class of some nature with an intention, more especially, of providing a sort of church home for young people who were unconnected with other religious organizations, and, putting her idea into execution, she soon had a nucleus around which had gathered a great number, coming from outsiders and from the Meth- odist Sunday school, until it is now recognized as a powerful influence, in its way, in the church. From strictly Sunday meetings, it developed into occa- sional literary and musical entertainments given by the teacher at her pleasant parlors, and these have been constantly kept up, though at irregular intervals. They have been interspersed with parlor lectures and afterward by public lect- ures, several courses being given, until the Library Association started lectures, since when Mrs. Cooley has abandoned them.

" The Palestine class has increased from its small beginning until it now averages an attendance of nearly one hundred. While it is religious in its teachings and intents, it is entirely non-sectarian, although naturally considered a Methodist class from its leader's connection with that church. Its literary and social treats are among the most popular in our city, and have drawn to religious and cultured feelings many who might have traveled far different paths but for its refined and pleasant attractions. By the side of the Palestine class in interest and importance is the infant class, having an average of eighty in attendance, with twelve competent teachers under the leadership of Mrs. Allen, Superintendent.

"The personal history of this church would prove most interesting, but we can merely give it a passing glance. Woodbury Massey, who is mentioned among the first twelve members, was a great uncle of the two young men so well known to present Dubuquers, and he donated $25, the largest subscription, to the $250 which the first church cost. J. P. Farley has been frequently mentioned above. Many of the other names are familiar. Amongthese early subscribers were Gen. Lewis and Gen. Jones, the former of whom united with the church in an early day. Others we have mentioned. Rev. R. W. Keeler is the pres- ent Presiding Elder of the circuit, and this church is organized as follows : Trustees-J. P. Farley, D. N. Cooley, J. T. Hancock, H. S. Hetherington, C. E. Hetherington, T. L. Meredith, R. Morrill, M. S. Robinson and V. J. Will- iams."

The congregation numbers 400 communicants, and the value of the church property is quoted at $50,000.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

German Methodist Church was established in 1841, Henry Wieneke and wife, Caspar Niepold and wife, Henry Grimme and wife, Adam Kress and wife, John Schwaegler and wife, and Elizabeth Kress, being the constituent members. Services were first held and the church duly organized in 1844, in a building at the corner of Locust and Seventh streets, where they remained until 1846, when a move was made to the corner of Eleventh and Jackson streets, where they remained until 1854, when another move was effected to the present location on Clay street, near the corner of Seventeenth.

The following is the list of ministers who have officiated: The Revs. John Mann, Frederick Schule, William Schreck, Mr. Korplage, William Dyer, Phillip Funk, Jacob Haas, Peter Himmers, Frederick Schuler, Carl Schuler, Christian Wanz, Herman Richter, Peter Schafer, Charles Lipprandt, E. R. Irnescher, J. B. Mauer, Phillip Hummel, John Hauck and Philip Wacker, the latter at present in charge. The congregation numbers about thirty-eight communicants ; the living is worth $400 per annum, and the church property is valued at $2,000.

African Methodist Episcopal Church is attached to the Galena Conference, and was organized November 26, 1870, with seven members, and W. J. Davis, Elder. At first, services were held in halls and private houses, but the con- gregation increased rapidly, and, in 1879, the little stone church on Locust, between Sixth and Seventh streets, erected in 1836-37, was purchased of the Christian Church for $1,500, and has since been occupied by this society.

The present congregation numbers 150 communicants ; the church property is valued at $1,000; and the following pastors have officiated-Revs. Henry Willett, Thomas A. Cheek, and F. Myers (the present incumbent).

First Presbyterian Church .- The first formal organization of a Presby- terian church in Dubuque occurred on the 14th of July, 1851, the Revs. J. D. Mason and S. H. Hazard being sent hither by the State Presbytery for that purpose. The church started with one Elder, and has had but one at a time since then, Mr. Lincoln T. Clark being the original Elder, who was in turn suc- ceeded by Judge T. S. Wilson. The congregation was organized with twenty members, as follows : Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln T. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Wilson, Dr. and Mrs. R. S. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Bemis, Mr. and Mrs. John Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thompson, Mrs. Margaret Ashmore (grandmother of Mrs. Lucius Langworthy), Mrs. Anna Carter, Mrs. Mary F. Fellows, Mrs. Martha Nightingale, Mrs. Helen Finley, Mrs. Sarah McHenry, Miss Florence McHenry and Miss Agnes McGill.

The first minister was the Rev. J. L. Lyon, who took charge in 1851, and remained one year, during which period a brick church was built, which has since been reconstructed into a residence: From the fall of 1851, until May, 1853, there was irregular preaching, and, at that time, Dr. Joshua Phillips was called, remaining until June, 1859; in the early fall of that year, the Rev. A. A. E. Taylor, subsequently President of the Wooster (Ohio) University, came, remaining until April, 1866, when he was succeeded by Charles Axtell, now of Tipton, in this State. He was followed by W. A. Ferguson, who served only about nine months, and, in the fall of 1868, the Rev. J. A. Reed, now of Springfield, Ill., took charge, continuing until the summer of 1869. During that year, the Rev. George C. Bayliss accepted a call, and served until March, 1871, when he was succeeded by the Rev. W. R. Marshall, whose fatal attack of illness in the pulpit will be remembered. After his death, in 1874, there was no regular preaching until the following spring, at which time a number of the communicants became connected with the Second Church. Mr. Ringland

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was the next Pastor, coming in April, 1875, and remaining until August, 1876. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. P. Conkey, the present incumbent, who was installed on Tuesday, May 14, 1878.

In the old brick church on Main street, was baptized the first child in Presbyterian fellowship in Dubuque, being Miss Alice Fellows. After leaving the brick church, the congregation worshiped in the Baptist, now Universalist, and Methodist churches, by the courtesy of these congregations, until 1857, when the frame of a church at the corner of Eleventh and Locust streets was erected, but blown down in a gale and yielded place to the present structure, which was put up soon after, and still accommodates the congregation, which numbers about 100. The value of the property is not stated.

The Second Presbyterian Church .- The First Church was of the old-school organization, but, on the 26th of August, 1855, the Second Church was organ- ized in the new-school fellowship, by the Rev. S. G. Spees, D. D. of Galena, with seventeen members, William Bothwell, Ruling Elder, and Thomas Belfield, Deacon. The society first occupied the Locust Street Methodist Church, but subsequently rented a hall on Main street. The Rev. J. Guernsey officiated as Pastor until 1856, when the congregation removed to a new edifice they had erected on Ninth street. There the Rev. J. H. Trowbridge became Pastor, and during the ensuing eighteen months the membership was augmented by accessions.

The present edifice was erected during the year 1859, and dedicated on the first Sunday of December in that year. It is located at the corner of Locust and Thirteenth streets, a handsome house of worship, and attended and sup- ported by a wealthy and refined congregation.

Mr. Trowbridge's pastorate continued for six years, and was followed by that of the Rev. H. B. Holmes, in 1862, lasting four years. The Rev. S. G. Spees, who organized the church, succeeded the last named, and acted as "stated supply " until May, 1871, during which time 159 members united, and the church improved until it is now regarded (and was then) as one of the finest in the city. Mr. Spees gave place to the Rev. L. A. Ostrander, under whose pastorate the church was highly successful. The present Pastor, the Rev. D. J. Burrell, was settled here in 1876.

Both these churches are in a flourishing condition, and, since 1870, in common with others, have been united under a general organization, the terms of "old " and "new " having been abolished.

First German Presbyterian Church was organized in 1847, the successor of a Congregational church, under the pastorate of the Rev. Peter Fleury, a minister of the German Reformed Church, of Switzerland. After a brief experience in Dubuque, he concluded his labors, and returned to the canton of Graubundten, his former home. A short intermission occurred subsequent to his departure, when Rev. J. B. Madulet accepted the charge, remaining until 1848, when the Rev. A. Van Vliet was called, under whose administration the congregation united with the then Old School Presbyterian Church. During his connection, the church prospered, many being added to the roll of mem- bership. He also undertook the education of young men for the ministry, and many ministers were sent out under his auspices to preach the Gospel. After a service of nearly twenty years, he died, and was succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Conzett, one of his pupils, who officiated until the spring of 1877, when the Rev. E. Kudobe, the present incumbent, took charge.

Previous to 1856, the congregation worshiped in a small brick building at the corner of Eighth and Iowa streets. In that year, however, the present

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edifice, at the corner of Seventeenth and Iowa streets, was completed, and the congregation moved thereto, since when it has remained in possession, the affairs of the church being in the hands of a Board of Trustees, which now consists of John Strobel, George Rath, Jacob Mathis, F. Margadant and C. M. Buettel. The present membership numbers ninety, and the value of the church property is estimated at $15,000.

The First Universalist Society .- At a very early period after the settle- ment of Dubuque, say about the year 1837, there were a few persons among the inhabitants who avowed a belief in the doctrine of the early redemption of the human family from sin and their elevation to a state of endless felicity. In the fall of 1857, Brothers Tomlinson, Slade and Mason preached at Dubuque, and, in the month of January, 1858, efforts were undertaken to

form a Unitarian society. On Monday evening, March 22, of that year, a meeting of Liberal Christians was convened in a room over the store of Couch & Gilbert, at which Timothy Mason presided and A. McArthur acted as Sec- retary, and a society for the promotion of Liberal Christianity was organ- ized, with the following members : Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Couch, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur McArthur, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Hooper, Mr. and Mrs. George A. Blanchard, Mr. and Mrs. Longhurst, Timothy Mason, Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Downer, J. Buck, L. D. Randall, G. L. Mathews, O. Chamberlain, C. I. Richards, Charles McArthur, C. J. and D. S. Cummings, J. L. Stevens, Jr., L. K. Bowditch, George A. Clark, W. J. Williams, E. T. Plympton, J. Russ, A. J. Pease, J. E. Robinson, B. Coffin, P. D. Hosford, J. B. Lane, W. P. Allen, T. P. Mellon, W. E. Minot, A. A. Edgerton, E. Harwood, I. H. Morse and L. C. Howell.

Thereafter services were held at intervals, in the Odd Fellows' Hall, at which L. B. Mason, of Chicago, and others officiated, until the Rev. J. S. Dennis accepted a call and discharged the duties of Pastor until early in 1863, when he resigned. Until October 30, 1863, the pulpit was occupied by the Revs. Messrs. W. S. Balch and Fisk. At that date, the Rev. D. M. Reed was elected Pastor.

In the meantime, the society had increased in numbers ; became incorpor- ated, the Baptist Church edifice, corner of Tenth and Main streets, was pur- chased, repaired and occupied, and prosperity attended the efforts of the con- gregation. On the 23d of July, 1865, the Rev. Mr. Reed resigned, and the Rev. J. W. Hanson was tendered the pastorate, which he accepted. During the year 1869, the pulpit was supplied by various ministers, including the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, Miss A. J. Chapin, the Revs. J. J. Austin, G. S. Weaver, Henry Blanchard, W. R. Chamberlain, John G. Adams, J. E. Forrester, and others, until August 3, 1870, when the Rev. W. T. Clarke was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Hanson. The call was subsequently withdrawn, however, and the Rev. W. R. Chamberlain was sub- stituted, remaining until January 1, 1872, when he was succeeded by the Rev. J. N. Pardee.

Mr. Pardee remained in charge until September 1, 1873, when his resig- nation was accepted, and the Rev. Asa Countryman was called, who continued to officiate until February 1, 1877. On May 1, of the same year, the Rev. W. S. Balch took charge, and is still the Pastor.

The congregation numbers about three hundred, and the value of church property is quoted at $15,000.

Zion's Church of the Evangelical Association was organized about 1858, the first ministers being mission preachers from Illinois, and the first place of worship

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

a small unpretentious building on Eagle Point, now used as a schoolhouse in the Fifth Ward. £ The congregation gradually increased in numbers until this primitive establishment became too contracted, and it was necessary to procure more commodious accommodations. In 1873, a site was purchased at the corner of Seventeenth and Jackson streets, whereon the present edifice was erected. The building is of brick, 60x40 feet, with a steeple ninety feet in height, supplied with a melodious organ and the equipments usual to a house of worship. Its capacity is about three hundred.

The church has been under the following Pastors since its establishment : The Revs. John Kurtz, Jacob Himmel, Henry Lageschulte, A. Strohmeier, John Keiper, J. F. Berner, L. Scheurer, Jacob Nuhn, Henry Althaus, Herman Brauer, Emil Miller, C. C. Bfund and M. Groener and J. Knoche, the present. incumbent.

The congregation is stated at 125, the living worth $600 per annum, and the value of church property at $8,000.

St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church .- This congregation was organized in 1868. The constituent members were originally communi- cants of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dubuque, from which they separated on account of occurring differences in doctrine. The present. church is a member of the town district of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other States, and worships in a neat edifice near the corner of Jackson and Lake streets, part of which is also used as a school- house for the education of the children of parishioners. The following ministers have officiated to date : The Rev. Messrs. Riedel, Osterhaus, Stieg- meier and L. Dornseif, the present incumbent.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 74

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Number of Pages: 964

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964