USA > Iowa > Henry County > The history of Henry county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 62
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511
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
In 1856, two elections were held, one on April 7, and the other on August 9. This latter under a new charter. The first resulted as follows : Mayor, Samuel McFarland; Councilmen, A. H. Bereman, Moses Beers, C. N. McDowell, D. C. Frick; Treasurer, W. P. Brazelton ; Recorder, H. C. Saunders; Marshal, H. C. Fisher.
The second election gave for Mayor, Harpin Riggs; Councilmen, D. C. Frick, J. C. Lockwood, John B. Lash, Leroy G. Palmer, Peter Smith, M. L. Edwards, C. N. McDowell; Treasurer, Alvin Saunders; Recorder, John Tyner; Assessor, A. Goan; Marshal, Abner Wells.
1857-Mayor, James B. Shaw; Councilmen, John B. Lash, D. Z. Frick, John Craig, F. J. Clark, Henry Musgrove, G. W. Arms, J. C. Lockwood; Treasurer, John P. Grantham; Recorder, John B. Shaw; Assessor, Harper Riggs; Marshal, Abner Wells.
1858-Mayor, M. B. Darnell; Councilmen, John. B. Lash, D. Z. Frick, John Craig, W. N. White, F. J. Clark, William Jones, Sumner Stebbins ; Treasurer, John P. Grantham; Recorder, A. Goan; Assessor, Harper Riggs; Marshal, W. T. Spearman ; City Engineer, S. S. Watley.
1859-Mayor, T. W. Woolson; Councilmen, W. B. Chamberlain, W. N. White, R. T. Coburn, John Tyner, James Brunough, R. Allen, John B. Lash ; Treasurer, John P. Grantham ; Recorder, A. Goan; Assessor, Harper Riggs ; Marshal, W. T. Spearman.
1860-Mayor, T. W. Woolson ; Councilmen, John Tyner, J. M. Kibben, H. Musgrove, Harper Riggs, J. Kauffman, W. A. Saunders, John Eshelman ; Treasurer, John P. Grantham ; Recorder, A. Goan; Assessor, W. T. Spear- man; Marshal, H. Penny.
1861-Mayor, W. D. Leedham ; Councilmen, Harper Riggs, H. Musgrove, John Tyner, John Eshelman, John Craig, John S. McGregor, W. A. Saun- ders; Treasurer, George Cooper; Recorder, T. A. Bereman; Assessor, W. P. Smith; Marshal, W. S. McClaren.
1862-Mayor, W. D. Leedham ; Councilmen, John Craig, Harper Riggs, M. L. Edwards, R. Allen, John Tyner, A. Roads, W. A. Saunders; Treasurer, George Cooper; Recorder, O. H. Snyder; Assessor, H. H. McMillan ; Marshal, A. Wells.
1863-Mayors, A. H. Bereman (part term) ; John Tyner (to fill vacancy); Councilmen, John Tyner, W. A. Saunders, R. Allen, M. L. Edwards, John P. Grantham, Thomas Dodds, Joseph Howe; Treasurer, George Cooper ; Recorder, A. Goan ; Marshal, John Grabill.
1864-Mayor, W. D. Leedham; Councilmen, M. L. Edwards, W. A. Saun- ders, Peter Jericho, F. White, A. Roads, Thomas Dodds, W. Bird; Treasurer, George Cooper; Recorder, H. C. Saunders; Assessor, Harpin Riggs ; Mar- shal, John Grabill.
In 1864, the city was re-organized under a general incorporation act, and the place divided into four wards,
1865 -- Mayor, M. L. Edwards ; Councilmen : First Ward, G. W. Edwards, W. Bird; Second Ward, Charles Snider, L. W. Taylor (part term), Peter Jeri- cho (to fill vacancy) ; Third Ward, R. Allen, A. Roads; Fourth Ward, L. Snell, W. L. Smith; Treasurer, George Cooper; Solicitor, H. Ambler, Assessor, W. P. Smith; Marshal, E. D. Heatherington.
1866-Mayor, W. D. Leedham ; Councilmen : First Ward, O. H. Snyder, W. J. Parker; Second Ward, L. W. Taylor, Peter Jericho; Third Ward, H. Musgrove, A. Roads; Fourth Ward, W. L. Smith, L. Snell; Treasurer,
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
0 -
George Cooper; City Clerk, J. Van Cise; Assessor, F. White; Marshal, E. D. Heatherington.
1867-Mayor, J. P. Grantham; Councilmen : First Ward, W. J. Parker, N. Greusel; Second Ward, R. Allen, L. W. Taylor'; Third Ward, R. S. Cole, H. Musgrove (part term); L. G. Palmer (to fill vacancy); Fourth Ward, J. W. Satterthwaite, W. L. Smith; Treasurer, John H. Whiting; City Clerk, C. H. Snyder; Assessor, W. P. Smith, Solicitor, E. A. Van Cise; Marshal, L. Virden.
1868-Mayor, F. White; Councilmen: First Ward, R. Root, W. J. Parker; Second Ward, Peter Jericho, R. Allen; Third Ward, Addison Roads, Smith Lyon; Fourth Ward, John B. Lash," J. W. Satterthwait; Treasurer, J. H. Whiting; City Clerk, W. McCoy ; Assessor, W. P. Smith; Marshal, N. J. Rogers.
1869-Mayor, A. C. Strawn; Councilmen: First Ward, R. Root and W. J. Parker; Second Ward, H. Ambler, Peter Jericho; Third Ward, L. G. Palmer and S. Lyon; Fourth Ward, W. P. Smith, John B. Lash; Treasurer, John H. Whiting; City Clerk, W. McCoy; Assessor, S. T. Trimble; Solicitor, R. J. Borgolthaus; Marshal, N. J. Rogers.
1870-Mayor, W. D. Leedham ; Councilmen : First Ward, R. Root, W. J. Parker; Second Ward, Peter Jericho, H. Ambler ; Third Ward, George Cooper, S. Lyon ; Fourth Ward, John B. Lash, W. P. Smith ; Treasurer, John H. Whiting ; City Clerk, W. McCoy ; Assessor, S. T. Trimble; Marshal, B. Beeson.
1871-Mayor, W. D. Leedham; Councilmen : First Ward, John D. Dug- dale, R. Root ; Second Ward, Peter Jericho, G. W. Trimble; Third Ward, P. Saunders, George Cooper ; Fourth Ward, T. A. Bereman, John B. Lash ; Treasurer, T. J. Van Hon; City Clerk, W. McCoy; Solicitor, W. I. Babb; Assessor, S. T. Trimble ; Marshal, John S. Craig.
1872-Mayor, A. T. Brooks; Councilmen : First Ward, John S. Mc- Gregor, John D. Dugdale; Second Ward, A. C. Strawn, G. W. Trimble; Third Ward, George Cooper, G. D. Trites; Fourth Ward, Dr. A. W. Mc- Clure, T. A. Bereman : Treasurer, T. J. Van Hon ; City Clerk, W. McCoy ; Assessor, G. W. Trimble; Marshal, J. W. Herbert.
1873-Mayor, W. D. Leedham ; Councilmen: First Ward, John D. Dug- dale, J. S. McGregor; Second Ward, Peter Jericho, A. C. Strawn ; Third Ward, S. Lyon, George Cooper ; Fourth Ward, W. L. Smith, Dr. A. W. McClure; Treasurer, T. J. Van Hon; City Clerk, W. McCoy ; Assessor, S. T. Trimble ; Solicitor, W. I. Babb ; Marshal, J. S. Craig.
1874-Mayor, A. T. Brooks ; Councilmen : First Ward, J. P. Brenholtz, John D. Dugdale; Second Ward, W. F. Dougherty, Peter Jericho; Third Ward, George W. Cooper, S. Lyon; Fourth Ward, O. V. Stough, W. L. Smith ; Treasurer, T. J. Van Hon ; City Clerk, W. McCoy ; Assessor, S. T. Trimble ; Marshal, M. T. Bevans.
1875-Mayor, A. T. Brooks; Councilmen : First Ward, J. S. McGregor, J. P. Brenholtz ; Second Ward, George H. Spahr, W. F. Dougherty ; Third Ward, S. Lyon, George Cooper; Fourth Ward, Calvin Gamage, O. V. Stough ; Treasurer, T. J. Van Hon ; City Clerk, W. A. Boyles ; Assessor, S. T. Trimble ; Solicitor, W. I. Babb ; Marshal, John Powell.
1876-Mayor, Peter Jericho ; Councilmen : First Ward, W. J. Parker, J. S. McGregor; Second Ward, W. F. McClary, George H. Spahr; Third Ward, C. J. Leedham, S. Lyon ; Fourth Ward, P. C. Tiffany, Calvin Gamage;
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Treasurer, T. J. Van Hon ; City Clerk, W. McCoy ; Assessor, S. T. Trimble ; Marshal, John Powell.
1877-Mayor, Peter Jericho ; Councilmen : First Ward, J. W. Hampton, W. J. Parker; Second Ward, George H. Spahr, W. F. McClary ; Third Ward, W. J. Jeffries, C. J. Leedham ; Fourth Ward, S. M. Pyle, P. C. Tiffany ; Treasurer, T. J. Van Hon ; City Clerk, W. McCoy; Assessor, H. D. Walker ; Solicitor, W. I. Babb ; Marshal, John Powell.
1878-Mayor, Peter Jericho ; Councilmen: First Ward, J. W. Hampton, J. S. McGregor ; Second Ward, George H. Spahr, W. F. McClary ; Third Ward, W. J. Jeffries, C. J. Leedham ; Fourth Ward, S. M. Pyle, P. C. Tiffany ; Treasurer, T. J. Van Hon; City Clerk, W. McCoy ; Assessor, S. T. Trimble; Solicitor, W. I. Babb ; Marshal, J. S. Craig; Street Commissioner, J. A. Higgins; Weighmaster, T. Mathews; City Engincer, J. A. Schreiner.
That an idea may be conceived of the business capacity of Mount Pleasant at an early day, a directory of the town, made in 1846, is appended :
John H. Randolph, P. & A. Saunders, D. Gilchrist & Co., E. S. Hill, A. Mckinney, H. Ray.
Druggists-B. F. Stephenson, Dr. Davis.
Saddlers-Edward Trine, J. D. Waugh.
Tinners-J. & W. Craig.
Tailors-Douglas & Rogers, John Eshelman, J. Pollock.
Cabinet-Shops-Reuben Allen, E. D. Young.
Blacksmiths-Rucker & Gass, John Campbell, Jacob Shoup.
Wagon-Shop-Pixley & Thomas.
Plow Manufactory-Mr. Buckley.
Gunsmith-Mr. Hixon.
Three shoe manufactories, four carpenter-shops, one turner, one paint-shop. Lawyers-William Thompson, John T. Morton, William H. Wallace, Frank. lin Street; A. Lotspeich.
Physicians-Dr. Darling, J. H. Temple, Charles S. Clark, J. D. Payne, G. W. Snyder, Dr. Farriss, Dr. Harper.
Magistrates-P. C. Tiffany, A. Mckinney.
Postmaster-John S. Bartruff."
Hotels-Henry House, P. C. Tiffany"; Mount Pleasant House, J. Bowman. 9
Churches-Methodist Episcopal, Pastor, Rev. Mr. Simpson ; Baptist, Rev. Mr. Burnett ; Christian, -; Presbyterian, -; Congregational, -. Lodges-Mount Pleasant (Masonic Lodge) No. 8.
Schools-" Mount Pleasant High School " and Female Seminary, Samuel L. Howe, Principal ; 120 students.
Select School-By Miss Huestis and Miss Mary Jane Young.
Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute-This institution, chartered by the Legislature of Iowa, is in a flourishing condition ; endowed with Professors in natural and moral philosophy, literature, languages, etc. The buildings are spacious and convenient, affording every facility for the accommodation of youth. Rev. A. J. Huestis, President.
By comparing the above with the present directory, the growth of the place is encouraging. The place now contains 6,000 inhabitants. There are seven- teen churches, two colleges, two seminaries, five public-school buildings, one rail- road, with a prospect of another, one woolen-mill, one glove factory, hospital for the insane, one public library, gas works, two foundry and machine shops, one scale works, one pork-packing house, three newspapers, five hotels, four planing- mills and sash factory, two steam flouring-mills, one trunk-factory, one boot and
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
shoe factory, one cigar-factory, four broom-factories, besides a number of wagon, harness, shoe, blacksmith and other shops, and many dry goods, hardware, drug, grocery, millinery, queensware and variety stores, livery-stables, restaurants and eating-houses, usually found in a city of this size.
There are as comfortable hotels in Mount Pleasant as can be found in the State.
Among the " dead issues " of Mount Pleasant, may be included those that. come after :
HOME STOCK INSURANCE COMPANY.
On the 1st of February, 1866, the Home Stock Insurance Company of Mount Pleasant organized with a capital of $50,000. Col. R. Root was made President ; C. H. Colby, Secretary ; W. A. Colby, General Agent. The Directors were Col. R. Root, B. F. Colby, W. P. Lay, Hugh Templin, W. A. Colby, D. E. Root and John Farriss.
Policies were issued insuring stock against accidental death, death by disease, or theft. The company run but two or three years, and it is said the first horse that died on their hands broke them up. In other words, the income was exceeded by the outlay.
MT. PLEASANT FOUNDRY AND MACHINE WORKS.
This company was organized on May 17, 1866. The officers were U. L. Phillips, President ; O. F. Griffith, Secretary and Treasurer, and H. H. Ballard, Superintendent.
The works were operated until about 1874, when a woolen-factory was was started in the building, and has been in working order since.
PLANTATION SPINNER MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
One of the branches of industry that would have been, but was not, was the "Plantation Spinner Manufacturing Company." It was organized June 17, 1867, and on the 24th, the election of officers took place. Col. George B. Corkhill was chosen President ; J. B. Coat, Secretary and Treasurer, and Hon. James Harlan, Col. A. H. Bereman and N. Hoyt, Directors.
The Company never did any business.
A gold stock exchange was once set on foot in this place, but the life of the enterprise did not extend beyond the undertaking.
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Agricultural Society of Henry, was regularly organized in 1865, and in the autumn of that year held their first fair.
Prior to this, however, efforts had been made to establish a permanent society, but the attempts resulted in failure, and, at the end of two or three seasons the project was given over until the establishing of the Society in 1865, of which John M. Hanson was President.
The present officers of the association are: T. E. Stevens, President ; Charles McMillen, Vice President; S. M. Pyle, Secretary; H. T. Bird, Treas- urer. The Society owns a good fair-ground, to which an addition has recently been made of twenty acres, by purchase. Its last exhibition was very success- ful and netted the Society handsomely, after paying liberal premiums. The influence of the Society has been salutary in inducing farmers to purchase better stock and take more pains in grain and fruit growing. The past year especially has witnessed the introduction of a number of valuable short horns, several excellent horses, some fine sheep and many varieties of good stock hogs. Several
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
breeders and shippers of the Poland China already realize a handsome revenue annually, while there are two or three quietly organizing a herd of Durham short horns from which to make sales within a few years.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
This organization among the farmers plays a very conspicuous part in the history of the county.
Each township of the county has one or more, some four or five, subordinate granges, and there is a county council to which these send representatives of the latter. Frank Matthews is President, and R. W. Buchanan, Secretary. They manage a farmers' store in Mount Pleasant, of which John F. Houseman is Superintendent, and have a very flourishing insurance company, of which W. A. Coulter is President, and B. C. Kauffman, Secretary, and which has taken $500,000 worth of risks among farmers, on the mutual assessment plan, with mere incidental policy fee to pay expenses.
There are 36 working granges in the county, with a membership of 2,500 to 3,000. Their store has a capital of $10,000, and their average daily cash receipts on sales are $300.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Mt. Pleasant Lodge, No. 8, A., F. ยง A. M., was chartered January 8, 1845, with J. F. Kinney, W. M .; William Thompson, S. W .; Thomas McMillen, J. W .; and N. C. Hubbard, James Mahan, T. H. Curtz, T. H. Orendorf, J. C. Hall, Master Masons. The present officers are : T. A. Bereman, W. M .; T. J. Van Hon, S. W .; W. T. Johnson, J. W .; A. Roads, Treasurer, and A. H. Roberts, Secretary.
Xenium Lodge, No. 207, was chartered June 5, 1867. The officers were William L. Smith, W. M .; C. B. Gillis, S. W .; J. Mclellan, J. W. The names of the charter members, besides those of the officers mentioned, were W. H. Hatch, A. G. Davis, John L. Brown, E. H. Bartlett, F. C. Pitcher, L. W. Vale, William Dudley, F. T. Jamison, C. J. Leedham, William Gladden. J. H. Keller, David Fisher, E. A. Van Cise and D. L. Paramore. The present offi- cers are J. Mclellan, W. M .; J. W. Williams, S. W .; J. H. Keller, J. W .; S. N. Thompson, Secretary; J. D. Dugdale, Treasurer.
Henry Chapter, No. 8, held the first meeting under dispensation, February 5, 1855. The members under the dispensation were George Munson, H. J. Howard, John Craig, J. W. Winn, Reuben Allen, Robert Wilson and David Fisher. The charter officers were George. Munson, E. H. P .; H. J. Howard, King; John Craig, S .; J. N. Sater, Secretary ; Reuben Allen, Treasurer ; J. W. Winn, C. of H .; Jacob Hare, P. S .; Robert Allan, R. A. C .; David Fisher, M. 3d V .; Perry Master, M. 2d V .; D. M. Adams, M. 1st V .; Mr. Webster, Guard. The present officers are John McLellan, H. P .; W. I. Babb, King ; L. D. Lewelling, S .; T. J. Van Hon, Treasurer; B. L. Cozier, Secretary.
Jerusalem Commandery .- The first meeting of Jerusalem Commandery, No. 7, was April 2, 1866, and on June 3 of the same year a charter was granted. The members under dispensation were : T. Schreimer, W. L. Smith, H. Kronheimer, D. W. Robinson, J. W. Satterthwait, James Piper, H. Ambler, J. R. Fayerweather, D. F. Carnahan, W. E. Woodward, F. G. Kendall and F. Phelps. The officers under dispensation, and who served for a considerable time, were : R. F. Bower, E. C .; J. W. Satterthwait, Gen. ; W. L. Smith, C. G .; James P. Sanford, Prel. ; D. F. Carnahan, S. W. ; D. B. Smith, Jr., J. W .; W. E. Woodward, Treas. and Rec. ; D. W. Cowdrey, St. B .; Mr. Humphry, Sw. B. ; James Piper, W. ; J. M. Shaffer, 1st G. ; William Shaffer,
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
2d G. ; D. W. Cowdry, 3d G .; Theodore Schreimer, S. The officers under the charter were: W. E. Woodward, E. C .; J. W. Satterthwait, King, and W. L. Smith, C. G. The present officers are: J. W. Satterthwait, E. C .; John McLellan, Gen. ; T. J. Van Hon, C. Gen. ; W. I. Babb, Prel .; J. G. Dugdale, Treas. ; B. L. Cozier, Rec.
Henry Lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F., was instituted May 22, 1848. The charter members were D. Gilchrist, H. C. Saunders, L. D. Housel, William P. Wightman and Charles Cliftman. The present officers are : Samuel Eicher, N. G. ; John Craig, V. G. ; H. D. Walker, Sec. ; W. F. McClary, Treas. The Trustees are Andrew Goan, O. V. Stough and Charles Kellogg. The cash assets of the Lodge are about $3,000.
Mystic Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F., was organized February 2, 1854. The present officers of the Lodge are : E. W. Evans, N. G. ; M. L. Bingham, V. G. ; M. M. Cary, R. S .; W. McCoy, P. S., and E. Baines, Treas.
In connection with the I. O. O. F. Lodge, is Industry Encampment, No. 18, I. O. O. F. This order was instituted October 15, 1857.
There are two regularly-formed temperance societies here.
Centre Lodge, No. 47, I. O. G. T., was chartered January 6, 1859.
Mount Pleasant Lodge, No. 201, I. O. G. T., was chartered October 1, 1865.
, There is, also, a Red-ribbon Club, of much prominence, located here.
Post No. 13, G. A. R., was organized September 27, 1866. The Post numbers about one hundred and twenty-five members.
There is also a military organization here, known as the Harlan Guards.
CITY INSTITUTIONS.
The city of Mount Pleasant has no fire department. The only approach to it is a hook and ladder company.
The reason no fire-engine has been purchased, or fire-brigade been formed, is, because the citizens look upon such an undertaking with suspicion. They would pattern after their neighboring townsmen, "but," they say, "were we to do so, the result would be as it has been in other Iowa cities. Some one would set a building on fire that he might enjoy the pleasure of seeing the engines work."
And thus the matter rests. There has never been an extensive fire here, and until there is, Mount Pleasant is not likely to purchase an engine.
There is a city hall here, a comparatively new building. The upper . por- tion is used as a council-room, while the lower part is finished for an engine- room.
Within the walls of the engine-house is a calaboose, for confining city pris- oners. It was finished six years ago. The capacity is only two cells; but with the small amount of crime at Mount Pleasant, the two little rooms are sufficient.
THE POORHOUSE.
About one and one-half miles southeast of town, and adjoining the Insane Hospital Farm, is the Henry County Poor-farm, whereon is located the Poor- house.
The farm contains 120 acres. The Poorhouse consists of a main (brick) building, size, 40x30, and a brick wing, 26x30. These buildings are used for the family and female departments. Adjoining this is a frame building, occu- pied by the male paupers. All of the buildings are two stories in height.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
The capacity of the buildings is intended for thirty panpers. The products of the farm are sufficient to keep the Poorhouse in supply.
The house was erected in 1854, during the period the County Judge system was in vogne-Judge Edwards on the bench. There was, therefore, no board of officers, the Judge attending to the business.
Sherman Crane was the first steward.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first religious society formed in Henry County, and the Mount Pleasant class was the original one here. The history of that primitive society is in reality the history of the commencement of religious exercises in this region. It is fortunate that there is a detailed statement of the organization and development of the Mount Pleasant M. E. Church.
In 1867, the Asbury Quarterly Conference authorized the preparation of a history of the Church, and selected Mr. John P. Grantham as the proper per- son to compile the record. The task was so ably performed by him that a lit- eral copy of the paper has been offered us by the society, for preservation herein. The period covered by the document is from 1835 to 1850. Here follows the history :
" As early as the latter part of the year 1835, that part of the Black Hawk Purchase in which Mount Pleasant is situated was made missionary ground, and the Rev. John Ruble, who had just been transferred from the Illinois to the Mis- souri Conference, was, by the latter sent on as a missionary to occupy and cultivate the new field. The exact date is not known, but it is understood that he came on promptly, and preached his first sermon in the house of Presley Saunders. Soon after his arrival, wisely concluding that it was not well for man to be alone, Mr. Ruble was united in marriage to Miss Diana C. Bowen, daughter of Isaac Bowen. But his work was short. In the month of May, an all-wise, yet inscrutable Providence released him from his labors on earth, and the man of God, the self-sacrificing missionary, was taken to his reward " beyond the river." He died and was buried in Burlington, but his remains were subse- quently removed to the old cemetery in Mount Pleasant, where his ashes now rest by the side of the wife of his youth.
" Mrs. Ruble lived to see the remains of her husband thus removed, and to bury by his side a second husband, Dr. W. C. Stephenson ; and to leave at the time of her own death a third husband, Samuel Smith. who has since been buried in the same lot. Thus four sleep together till the resurrection morn, when they will 'neither marry nor be given in marriage.'
"John Ruble was esteemed a man of God by all who knew him-all bore testimony to his faithful and efficient labors in the 'Master's vineyard.' And, notwithstanding his race was so short, he had the consolation, in his last hours, of knowing that his labors had not been in vain. Success had attended his efforts to rear the standard of Emmanuel in the wilds of the Black Hawk Pur- chase, and to organize on an enduring basis the church of his choice.
" The spring of 1837 found the village of Mount Pleasant growing rapidly, and the Methodist element, under the wise, efficient and spiritual economy. of the Church, not only keeping pace with other denominations, but in advance of them all. The society at this time probably numbered from thirty to forty members. These were not all in the village, but were scattered around for miles. They were all in one class, of which Henry M. Snyder, of precious memory, was leader.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
" Among those who were pioneers of Methodism in Mount Pleasant, and who were members of Father Snyder's class at the above date, Dr. Jesse D. Payne, Dr. W. L. Jenkins, Samuel Nelson and their families, are remembered by the writer.
" At that time, Norris Hobart was the 'Circuit Rider,' and administered the Word of Life to his Mount Pleasant hearers once in four weeks, extraor- dinaries excepted-for it must be borne in mind that it required a ride of from one hundred to two hundred miles each round, over a country destitute of roads, except such as were designated as 'bridle paths,' and with streams unbridged -hence the hungry flock could not always rely upon the monthly visitations of their preachers.
" It is worthy of remark, that in those primitive days of our Methodism, all this labor, toil and suffering were required and generally actually performed on a paid salary of from $100 to $200. Now, when we look at our stationed preachers, with salaries of from $1,000 to $1,200, and who are expected, ordi- narily, to preach only on the Sabbath, we are forced to the conclusion that some of the old landmarks of Methodist economy are being swept away-and so mote it be.
" Rev. Henry Summers was then Presiding Elder. He visited Mount Pleasant in the winter of 1837, and preached several sermons, handling, with- out gloves, as was his wont in those days, all who tied to the theological dogmas of Alexander Campbell.
" Norris Hobart was succeeded by Asa D. West, and then in turn came Thomas M. Kirkpatrick, Joel Arrington and Daniel G. Cartwright. Under the faithful labors of these men, Methodism took deep root and has had a steady growth.
" The Methodist Episcopal Church at Mount Pleasant, is not in possession of any official data, showing its history in detail prior to the year 1843. Up to that date, it had constituted a part of the Burlington circuit. Those persons who were on the ground. during the period from 1837 to 1843, can scarcely fail to remember that the most successful means employed by the Church in waging an aggressive warfare on the Empire of Darkness, was its annual camp- meetings. They were most emphatically the Church's latter-day pentecostal occasions. At these, hundreds were converted and added to the Church, and returned to their respective localities full of zeal. These annual meetings were at first held near Burlington, but were subsequently removed to the vicinity of New London.
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