The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 81

Author: Western historical co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Iowa > Lee County > The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 81

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1865. the present bank was organized, under the national banking act, with a capital of $150,000, which remains unchanged. The authority of the Government was conferred July 15, 1865, and the bank was opened for business August 1, following. The first Directors were Enos H. Harrison, James F. Cox, Abraham B. Chittenden, George B. Smyth and Arthur Hosmer. The first officers were : James F. Cox, President; George B. Smyth, Vice Presi- dent ; and O. C. Hale, Cashier. The present Directors are Arthur Hosmer, Guy Wells, Abraham B. Chittenden, Oscar C. Hale and William F. Shelley. Arthur Hosmer is now the President; Guy Wells, Vice President; and O. C. Hale, Cashier. The bank has a surplus of $35,000.

KEOKUK NATIONAL BANK.

Organized June 15, 1872, with a paid-up capital of $100,000. William Patterson, President, and Ed. F. Brownell, Cashier, have held those positions since its organization. The first Directors were S. P. Pond, Smith Hamill, C. K. Peck, J. O. Voorhies, John Given, Samuel E. Carey, William Patterson, William A. Brownell and Ed. F. Brownell. C. K. Peck was succeeded by John N. Irwin, in 1877, the only change since the first organization.

KEOKUK SAVINGS BANK.

Incorporated December 19, 1867, and opened for business February 10, 1868. Edward Johnstone was its first President, and William Thompson, Cashier. Judge Johnstone, the present Cashier, has held that position since the bank entered upon the second year of its existence, and C. F. Davis, Pres- ident, since March 4, 1869.

The authorized capital is $100,000, one-half of which is paid up.

The present Directors are Stephen Irwin, C. F. Davis, B. P. Taber, Edward Johnstone and A. L. Connable.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

COMMERCIAL BANK.

Incorporated January 1, 1872, by Edmund Jaeger, B. B. Bower and J. W. Hobbs, with a paid-up capital of $50,000. It was re-organized in May follow- ing, with its present officers : R. F. Bower, President; H. W. Rothert, Vice President, and Edmund Jaeger, Cashier.

INSURANCE COMPANIES.

IOWA STATE INSURANCE COMPANY.

This Company, organized for insurance against fire, on the mutual plan, was incorporated January 26, 1855, by the following-named persons : E. H. Harrison, J. W. Rankin, A. Bridgman, William F. Turner, George B. Smyth, E. R. Ford, A. B. Chittenden, R. P. Creel, John McCune, C. Garber and C. H. Perry. These, by the Articles of Incorporation, were declared the first Board of Directors.

The first officers of the Company, elected February 2, 1855, were: E. H. Harrison, President ; J. W. Rankin, Vice President; W. F. Turner, Secre- tary, and A. Bridgman, Treasurer.

The present Board of Directors is constituted as follows : S. Hamill, R. F. Bower, W. A. Brownell, Hugh Robertson, S. E. Carey, A. L. Connable, Guy Wells and A. V. Leopold, of Keokuk ; Isaiah Meek, of Bonaparte; S. Rich- ards, of Bentonsport ; E. Manning, of Keosauqua, and I. Donahy, of Council Bluffs.

The present officers are : Smith Hamill, President; A. C. Connable, Vice President ; Samuel E. Carey, Treasurer, and Howard Tucker, Secretary.

This is the oldest insurance company in the State of Iowa, and is strictly a home institution, not doing business outside of the State.

THE IOWA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

This is a company organized on the mutual contribution plan, under which each member is assessed his proportion of a loss when the death of a member occurs. The Company was incorporated July 14, 1873, and commenced busi- siness March 3, 1874.

Edward Johnstone, C. F. Davis, J. M. Love, John A. Elliott, Edward Mumm, Caleb Baldwin, James F. Cox, J. M. Shelley, A. L. Connable, Edwin Manning, A. C. Roberts and Charles Doerr were the incorporators.

The first Directors were J. M. Shelley, A. L. Connable, C. F. Davis, Edward Johnstone, John A. Elliott, Edwin Manning and A. C. Roberts.

At the first meeting of the Board, July 18, 1873, J. M. Shelly was elected President ; C. F. Davis, Vice President, and James F. Cox, Secretary. In January, 1874, Dr. J. M. Shaffer succeeded Cox as Secretary, the only change in officers since the organization of the Company. The business of the Com- pany is confined to the State of Iowa.

RELIGIOUS INTERESTS.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The first church-building erected in Keokuk was a frame building, which stood on the southeast corner of First and Blondeau streets, and was called St. John's Roman Catholic Church. This was built in 1838, and services were

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

held therein and mass celebrated by the Rev. Father J. G. Allemann, A. M. Pelamourgues, and other missionary Priests, until 1848, when Rev. John M. Villars was appointed Parish Priest by the Rev. Mathias Loras, first Bishop of Dubuque.

Father Villars remained Parish Priest until the year 1856, when St. Peter's Church, on Exchange, between Ninth and Tenth streets, was built, by Rev. William Emonds, who was the first Parish Priest of St. Peter's congregation. He has been followed, in succession, by Rev. Fathers J. G. Reffe, Louis Decailly, J. M. Trevis and the Rev. Thomas O'Reilly, now officiating.

St. Mary's, the German Roman Catholic Church, was built in 1867, by the Catholic Germans of Keokuk. Father Clement Johannes was the first Parish Priest, and was succeeded in regular order by the Rev. Fathers Joseph Knaepple, Joseph Weikman, Peter Male and Rev. James Orth, now in charge.

The church-building on the corner of Fourth and High streets, now called St. Francis de Sales, was bought by the Catholic citizens of Keokuk, from the New-School or First Presbyterian Church, in the year 1870. The first Parish Priest appointed for St. Francis de Sales congregation was F .. Hartin, and his successors were Rev. Fathers W. W. Dunn, Hugh Malone, John Barry, Joseph Gaffney and the present Pastor, Rev. Maurice Howard.

The Convent building, on Seventh and Timea streets, was erected in 1853, and occupied first by the Sisters of Visitation, who, in 1867, were succeeded by the Sisters of Charity, now occupying the building.

These Sisters, in addition to visiting the sick and performing other acts of charity, also have a day school for girls, in which all branches of learning nec- essary for an intellectual and moral education are taught.

Connected with St. Peter's Church are the Father Mathew Total Absti- nence and Benevolent Society, the Willibrordus (Apostle of Holland) Mutual Aid Society, the Sodalities of the Blessed Virgin, of the Holy Angels and the Children of Mary, also a parish school, where children are daily instructed in all branches appertaining to an English and religious education.

With St. Mary's (German) Church is connected the St. Joseph's Mutual Aid Society, the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin and a day school, kept by St. Franciscan Sisters, in which the children receive instruction in all the common branches of education, and in the English and German languages.

At the St. Francis de Sales Church. a Father Mathew Total Abstinence Society is also in full organization.

The Catholics of this city are well known for their liberality toward their church and schools.

Miss Mary Stafford, who played the organ in St. John's and St. Peter's, and who is now organist of St. Francis de Sales Church, deserves particular mention for her untiring efforts in keeping up the choirs in these different churches, only and solely to aid in the solemnity of the divine services.

FIRST M. E. CHURCH.

In 1840 or 1841, Rev. Samuel Clark, father of Samuel M. Clark, editor of the Gate City, held the first quarterly meeting in Keokuk, in the absence of Rev. Henry Summers, D. D., " that colossal-brained and venerable patriarch " at that time being Presiding Elder of this district, which included all of South- eastern Iowa then settled. Rev. Summers was a powerful debater and a strong man physically and mentally. He is still itinerating in Illinois.

In 1842, Rev. Daniel G. Cartwright and Rev. William Simpson preached occasionally. To the former is probably due the credit of organizing the first

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

class, which, in the spring of 1843, numbered twelve members, as follows : Thomas McCaveny and wife, John Forbes and wife, John Harman and wife, Ira Turner, Mrs. Eliza Wilson, Mrs. Samuel Reynolds, Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Elizabeth Martin.

Services, at that time, were usually held in a log schoolhouse on the corner of Third and Johnson strects, where now stands the building occupied by rail- road offices.

In the year 1843, Rev. J. B. Hardy and Rev. M. Hare (now dead) were sent to this place. They preached for one year in Keokuk and vicinity. In 1844, Rev. Moses Shinn, now living in Omaha, preached, and the old Exchange Street Church-building was commenced-foundation laid and walls raised a few feet. Then came Rev. L. B. Dennis, still living in Illinois, who stayed two years and finished the house. This first Methodist Church in Keokuk was of brick, 42x60 feet. Hawkins Taylor built the house, taking the subscription- list of $600 for his pay. Ready cash was a scarce article in those days, and out of this Taylor got less than $50 in money; the balance was taken in trade.

The church was dedicated August 27, 1847. In the fall of that year, Rev. B. H. Russell came, and was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Crawford in 1848.

In 1849 and 1850, Rev. Joseph Brooks, afterward a prominent politician in Arkansas, was Pastor. He died at Little Rock in 1876. În 1851, came Rev. W. F. Cowles, under whose pastorate an addition was made to the church, built by B. B. Hinman. In 1852, Rev. J. Harris; in 1853, Isaac McClaskey, now dead. a man of fine talents; in 1854, Rev. R. S. Robertson, and, part of the year, Rev. A. C. McDonald. In 1855 and. 1856, Rev. Sanford Haines, "a sweet-spirited man," who afterward died in Des Moines. He was sent back a third year as a city missionary, and preached in "Scatter Good" Schoolhouse, which stood near the corner of Twelfth and Timea streets. In 1857, Rev. M. F. Shinn returned to the Exchange Street Church, and made his second year. In 1858, Rev. E. L. Briggs, afterward Presiding Elder; a part of that year, Rev. G. W. Conrad, now dead, preached. In 1859, Rev. F. W. Evans, a preacher of superior ability, was sent to the Church. In 1860, Rev. Miltiades Miller came; an excellent preacher. In 1861 and 1862, Rev. C. G. Milnes, now preaching in California, was Pastor. He was a practical, earnest, cheerful preacher, and had a revival, the fruits of which are still seen. In 1863, Rev. S. M. Vernon came for one year.

About this time, it was seriously contemplated by the Conference sitting in Keokuk, in 1864, to discontinue Exchange Street as a station, and make it a point in the circuit. Bishop E. L. Janes, however, was loath to "reduce" the old church, and finally decided to place it in charge of Rev. John Burgess for the coming year. Rev. Burgess' labors were wonderfully successful, and he was continued for three years. Each season, remarkable revival-meetings were held, and between three hundred and four hundred members were added. About one hundred of these were soldiers, nearly all of whom were afterward dismissed by letter. While under his charge, the church was repaired, at a cost of nearly $1,200, and, at the end of his third year, he left it out of debt, and a little money in the treasury, beside a parsonage lot free of debt, cost- ing $600.

In addition to his other labors, Mr. Burgess found time to complete his medical education, and graduated an M. D. at the College of Physicians and. Surgeons, in Keokuk.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

Rev. Burgess was succeeded by Rev. E. Winans, who remained year one. Rev. Banner Mark came in 1869, and preached two years. He was succeeded by Rev. E. L. Schreiner, who was in charge until 1873. Rev. S. S. Murphy, A. M., followed for two years; Rev. Dr. John Wheeler, for one year; W. N. Groome, for two years, ending in the fall of 1878, when the present Pastor, Rev. Thomas Stephenson, assumed charge. Mr. Stephenson is an earnest and effective preacher, and under his influence the Church is increasing in member- ship and influence.

In 1871, the Exchange Street Church was sold, and the congregation took possession of the new building known as the First M. E. Church, corner of Ninth and Timea streets, erected at a cost of about $9,000.

CHATHAM SQUARE M. E. CHURCH.

This Church was organized in 1854. The first year, services under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Linderman, were held in a hall in "Mechanics' Block," on Main street, between Eighth and Ninth. The first Trustees of the Church were John N. Graham, Nathaniel Albertson, B. B. Hinman, Silas Haight, William C. Graham, Dr. M. F. Collins and J. G. Smith. Rev. Joseph Brooks, afterward of Arkansas, was sent by Conference as an agent to provide for the erection of a church, and it was largely due to his efforts that the present church was built.

Rev. William F. Cowles succeeded Rev. Linderman, as the regular Pastor, and, during his administration, the congregation took possession of the base- ment of the church. Rev. J. C. Smith came next, for two years, under whom the church was completed, and dedicated July 19, 1857. The lumber for finish- isng the building was brought by steamboat from the neighborhood of New Albany, Ind. 'The cost of the building was $22,000.

The following ministers, in succession, have presided over the Church since the completion of the building: Rev. Thomas E. Corkhill, nearly two years ; Rev. P. P. Ingalls, six months ; Rev. J. B. Hardy, one year ; Rev. Wesley Dennett, two years ; Rev. E. H. Waring, two years; Rev. John Haines, two years ; Rev. George N. Power, three years ; Rev. J. W. Chaffin, two years ; Rev. W. H. H. Pillsbury, two years ; Rev. John T. Simmons, two years, which completes the time until 1878, when Rev. C. L. Stafford, the present Pastor, assumed charge.

In 1876, the Church erected a handsome parsonage adjoining the church- building, the cost of which was $4,000.

The present membership of the Church is 160. It also maintains a flourish- ing Sabbath school, superintended by B. B. Hinman, with an attendance of 125 scholars.

GERMAN M. E. CHURCH.

In 1871, Rev. Richard Tillman, then residing at Farmington, preached in Chatham Square M. E. Church, the first sermon by a minister of this partic- ular organization. He had, on this occasion, an audience of two persons. Mr. Nicholas Blom, still residing in the city, and a young lady, whose name is not remembered. Mr. Tillman continued his visits to Keokuk every three weeks, and the next year organized a small church, which was incorporated Septem- ber 1, 1873. The present church-building, on the corner of Fourteenth and Johnson streets, was erected the same fall. Rev. Henry R. Riemer, the first regular minister, came in the fall of 1873, and remained two years. Rev. George Enzeroth came in September, 1875, and presided over the Church for the same length of time. Rev. William Zuppann succeeded in September, 1877,

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

and remained until January 1, 1879, when ill-health compelled him to sever his connection. The present Pastor, Rev. J. L. J. Barth, from New Orleans. La., assumed charge January 1. 1879.

The following have been Presiding Elders, assigned by the St. Louis Con- ference, to which the Church belongs : Rev. Henry Naumann, from September, 1872, to September, 1876, and Rev. Philip Kuhl, since the latter date. The present mermbership of the church is forty-one.

SWEDISH M. E. CHURCH OF KEOKUK AND MELROSE.

At a Quarterly Conference, held July 15, 1875, a class was organized in Keokuk, as a branch of the Church at Melrose, Lee County, and the following were elected Trustees for one year : A. P. Hanson, John Peterson and Will- iam Blom.

The first regular minister was Oscar J. Swan, who came September 21, 1874.' and remained one year. He was succeeded by Rev. John A. Gabrielson, who preached until the fall of 1878, since which time Mr. O. F. Linstrom has sup- plied the pulpit, as local minister.

Until September 20, 1877, services were held in the Exchange Street M. E. Church, and at Mission Schoolhouse, corner of Thirteenth and Bank streets.

On the date mentioned, the frame church, which had been built by the Swedish Lutherans, corner of Twelfth and Concert streets, was rented, and is still occupied.

The congregation at Melrose, ten miles northwest of Keokuk, has a church- building valued at $800.

FIRST AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH.

This Church was organized in 1857, by Rev. W. A. Dove, with nine mem- bers, Mrs. Mary Givens, Mrs. Rosa Manning, Moses Henderson, York Ander- son, Mrs. Susan Hunt and four others whose names cannot be remembered. This first meeting was held in " Scatter Good " Schoolhouse, on the corner of Twelfth and Timea streets. Rev. Dove was born in Pennsylvania, and educated in Boston, Mass., and was a man of superior ability. He remained with the congregation two years, at the end of which time the Church had increased to over forty members.

Services were held in the schoolhouse above mentioned, and in various halls in the city until the present church-building on the corner of Fourteenth and Blondeau streets was occupied. The building of the church was commenced in 1870, and in April, just after it was inclosed, a furious hurricane leveled it with the ground. It was rebuilt, and in July, 1871, the basement was ready for occupancy. The interior of the main audience-room is not yet finished.

Rev. Mr. Dove has been succeeded by the following-named ministers in the order given : Rev. William Jackson, two years ; Rev. A. T. Hall, two years ; Rev. Madison Patterson, two years; Rev. Arbuckle, one year; Rev. J. W. Malone, two years ; Rev. Frederick Myers, three years; under whose labors the church was built ; Rev. Peter Cooper, two years ; Rev. Henry Brown, two years ; Rev. Joseph Perkins, one year; Rev. Frederick Myers again for eigh- teen months ; Rev. J. B. Dawson, the present Pastor, has presided over the con- gregation since March, 1878. Present membership about one hundred and fifty.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (N. S).

Researches into Presbyterian session-books have developed the fact that previous to the year 1843, there was a Presbyterian organization of some kind in Keokuk. This appears from the circumstance that at the date referred to, the congregation afterward known as New-School Presbyterians, resolved,

1. That our connection with the First Presbyterian Church of Keokuk, be, and the same. is hereby, dissolved.

2. That we proceed to organize ourselves with such of the brethren and sisters as sympa- thize with us, into a new church to be called the Congregational Church of Keokuk.

After this withdrawal, the earlier Church seems to have quietly melted. away.

The Congregational Church formed in 1843 was under the charge of Rev. Daniel Jones, Mr. Peter Wykoff being Ruling Elder. In 1845, owing to the increase of the Presbyterian elementya new change was made, it being then (as quoted from the session-book)

Resolved, That we consider it expedient to lay aside our present organization and adopt the Presbyterian form of government.

The ministerial succession in this Church is as follows : In 1848, Rev. Glen Woods ; in 1850, Rev. W. H. Williams; 1853, Rev. Samuel Snead; 1858, Rev. Mr. Aspinwall (supply); 1859, Rev. Silas Hawley (three months) ; 1860, Rev. Isaac Carey (acted as supply for two years); 1862, Rev. E. J. Gillett, D. D. (supply) ; 1866, Rev. I. N. Crittenden ; 1869, the Rev. E. J. Gillett was again called to the Church. In February, 1870, the union of the Old and New School Churches was formed, and the First Presbyterian Church by that name was known no more.

The first Presbyterian church-building in the city was a small frame, which stood on the corner of Second and Blondeau streets, built about 1841 or 1842. The stone church on the corner of Fourth and High streets, was afterward erected by the New-School Church, and, after the date of its union with the First Westminster Church, was sold to the Catholics, and is now known as St. Francis de Sales Church, of that denomination.

FIRST WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

On the 1st day of June, 1851, a Presbyterian Church was organized in Keokuk by Rev. James Sharon and Rev. J. G. Wilson, a committee of the Presbytery of Iowa, with the following members, fifteen in number: William G. Torrence, Thomas Martin and wife Elizabeth, James Borland and Nancy his wife, Mrs. Mary Ann Creel, Mrs. Mary Stotts, Mrs. Louisa D. Marshall, Mrs. Phebe Lowe, Mrs. Martha Johnston, Harvy Gillmore and wife Nancy, Mrs. Nancy Martin, William Patterson and wife Eleanor. William Patterson was elected the first Ruling Elder. The name adopted at this first meeting was the "First Presbyterian Church," but it was subsequently changed to the " First Westminster Presbyterian Church, of Keokuk," by which name it was incor- porated.

The first minister was Rev. John Cummings, a licentiate, who died in 1852, before the expiration of his first year. In October, 1852, Rev. Justus T. Umsted was employed as Pastor. He served as supply until June, 1855, when he was regularly installed. The next year after its organization, the Church erected a house of worship on the site of the present Gate City build- ing, which was dedicated in November, 1852. In 1856, this building was sold to the United Presbyterian Church, and three vacant lots on the corner of

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

Seventh and Blondeau streets taken in exchange, on the rear end of which was erected the stone church fronting on Seventh street. This was dedicated on the second Sabbath in November, 1856. Mr. Umstead severed his connection with the Church as Pastor, in the fall of 1858. Rev. J. L. McKee came as supply early in 1859. and was succeeded the next spring by Rev. Addison D. Madeira, who remained until August, 1861. The present Pastor, Rev. Willis G. Craig, D. D., from Danville. Ky., a licentiate of Sangamon. Illinois, Pres- bytery, came in the spring of 1862, and on the 13th of the following November, was duly ordained and installed.

In February, 1870, the union of the Presbyterian Churches was consum- mated, in which the Old-School name was retained. This addition to an already large and growing congregation rendered necessary a more commodi- ous house of worship, and steps were at once taken to provide it.

In 1872, two years from the date of commencing the work, the present beautiful stone church, 60x100 feet, with its lofty spire 155 feet from the ground, was completed and ready for occupancy. Its total cost, including organ and furnishing, was $43,000. The members of the Building Committee, under whose direct supervision the whole work was done, were as follows: Rev. W. G. Craig, George B. Smyth, William Patterson, S. E. Carey, D. A. Kerr, A. Hosmer, H. B. Ten Eyck, William Fulton, Alex. Collier, J. M. Shelley and A. Hine.

In membership, the First Westminster congregation is the largest in the city, numbering over 400. In the Sabbath school held in the chapel of the old stone church, nearly 300 scholars are enrolled. A mission Sabbath school is also conducted at the corner of Bank and Fifteenth streets, with an average attendance of 100 scholars. The Ladies' Sewing Society, Young Ladies' Chapel Fund Society, Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society and the Working Band are organizations of the Church doing efficient work in their respective departments.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This Church was organized in the summer of 1853, under the name of the " Associate Church." The members composing the original organization were fourteen in number, as follows : Smith Hamill and wife, Robert French and wife, H. Copeland and wife, John Stannus and wife, John Hamilton and wife, Mrs. Taggart, Miss Jennie Taggart, Mrs. Galloway and Mrs. Mary B Ran- dolph. Rev. John Scott, D. D., from Monmouth, Ill., was present when the organization was effected.

The first meetings of the congregation were held in an old, dilapidated frame building on Second street, near Main, which was at the time used for a court-room.

In 1856, the Associate Church and the Associate Reformed Church, which had been in existence previous to 1853, formed a union, the present name was adopted, and the united congregation bought the frame church-building standing on the present site of the Gate City newspaper office, which had been erected by the Westminster Presbyterian Church. They occupied this building until the present edifice was erected, in 1867, on the corner of Ninth and Blondeau streets. The cost of this building was about $20,000.

Dr. James Brown, from Madison, Ind., was the first minister, coming in 1855, and remaining as Pastor nineteen years.

He was succeeded by the present Pastor, Rev. D. E. Shaw. The present membership of the Church is 140.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The facts embodied in this sketch are derived from a sermon delivered by its present Pastor, Rev. Clayton Welles, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of its organization, February 14, 1879 :

" Twenty-five years ago, on the 14th day of February, 1854, there gathered . in Keokuk, in accordance with public notice and invitation, a little company friendly to the formation of a Congregational Church. They met in what was then the First Presbyterian Church, standing at the corner of Second and Blondeau streets, a small frame chapel, afterward used for the Banner Mission Building, and now standing near the corner of Tenth and Timea streets and used as a tenement."

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The history of Lee county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 81

Author: Western historical co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 898

Author: Western historical co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 898