USA > Iowa > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &t., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest etc > Part 71
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Many of the records of this early period are lost, but, so far as appears, the church, from the time of its organization till January, 1848, held its meetings in private houses, with only occasional preaching. At the last-named date, O. N. Gray and Norman Ives were appointed a committee to act in behalf of the church in the purchase of a brick house. In February of the same year, Chas. D. Gray was licensed to preach.
The first baptisms recorded occurred in March, 1849. The baptized were Sarah Berry, Omira M. Gray and Jerusha Jones. The name of the adminis- trator is not given.
In January, 1849, the church resolved to hire the room over A. Daniels & Bro.'s for meeting purposes, for one year. The room was rented for one year for $25. On December 8th, the church met in the room over A. Daniels & Bro.'s store for the first time. The first record of the settlement of a Pastor is as fol- lows: " March 9, 1850. Elder Williams being here as a Missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, was invited to become Pastor of the church, with the promise of $100 a year, to be raised by the church toward his support." The invitation was accepted.
August 3, 1850, Norman Ives, N. C. Gage and G. W. Lake were appointed Trustees and authorized to purchase a lot for a meeting house, and N. Cone,
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Rev. Mr. Williams, Deacon Vineyard, J. W. Gageby and John Ives were appointed a Building Committee. The lot on the corner south of A. Daniels & Bro.'s store was purchased ; price not recorded. The records do not show when the building of the church was begun, nor to whom the contracts were let, except the contract to put on the roof, which was taken by Moulin & Benest, July 12, 1851. October 11th, of the same year, $200 was borrowed at 6 per cent. to finish the house.
The church became a corporate body June 11, 1853.
When Rev. Mr. Williams closed his labors with the church, the record does not say ; but in the Summer of 1852, Rev. J. C. Ward became Pastor.
Rev. J. V. DeWitt became Pastor May 1, 1854. In May, 1855, the church resolved to assume the support of their Pastor without help from the Home Mission Society.
September 20, 1856, the church invited the Baptist Churches at Fairview, Kingston, Linn Grove, Shellsburg, Simmon's Creek, Jordan's Grove and Quas- queton to send delegates to meet in Marion Wednesday, November 19th, at 10 o'clock A. M., to consult in reference to organizing themselves into an associa- tion. Rev. Jonas Woodward, of Kingston, was invited to preach on the occa- sion, and Rev. A. Chapin, of Vinton, was invited to attend. The meeting was accordingly held, and resulted in the organization of what is still known as Linn Baptist Association.
March 13, 1858, several members were, at their request, dismissed to form a church at Center Point.
August 7, 1858, the church sent a delegation to Lisbon to organize a branch of the Marion church.
In June, 1874, the church exchanged its brick edifice on the corner below the Daniels' store for the Methodist house of worship across the street from the Presbyterian house. About one thousand dollars was expended in repairs.
In 1871, the church reported 106 members and $902 raised in the year for all purposes. In 1877, the membership was reported at 178, and the sum raised for all purposes in the year, $1,367, and the value of church property $10,000.
Church of Christ .- This society was established in the county at Dry Creek, May 6, 1843, by Elders Iram Wilson and James Berry. Among the original members were Thomas Radsback and wife, William Brookey, Alpheus Brown and wife, Thomas Cowles and wife, Ira Wilson and others. Before the close of 1845, there were about sixty members. Elder McConnell was the first located Pastor. He came about 1848 and remained many years. Elder Lucius Ames is the present Pastor of the church. The whole number of members at present is about 135. The house of worship is pleasantly situated in Marion, and was erected in 1856.
Congregational Church .- On Wednesday, August 8, 1877, the Congrega- tional Society of Marion laid the corner-stone of a handsome edifice for the worship of God after their method. The building is located on the site of the original church, and is a fine piece of architecture. It is constructed of brick with interior decorations in modern style, and cost the comparatively small sum of $11,000. Many churches of much less pleasing effect have cost twice that amount. The present membership of the society is 240.
On the occasion above referred to, Mr. R. D. Stephens, President of the First National Bank of Marion, delivered an address, which was prepared with great care, and is an epitome of the church history of Linn County as well as Marion, in the early times. The address is reproduced entire, because it con- tains much data as to the progress of the country.
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The exercises attending the laying of the corner-stone were as follows :
Invocation, by Rev. J. N. Platt, Pastor of the M. E Church.
Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. D. N. Mason, Pastor of the Baptist Church.
Hymn, " Christ is our Corner-stone," by Rev. J. A. Wilson, Pastor of the Christian Church.
The hymn was then sung by a choir from the various churches, in which the audience joined, Miss Cora Twogood at the organ.
'Then followed the historic address by R. D. Stephens, President of the First National Bank, which may be found in full below.
Prayer by Rev. W. A. Waterman, Pastor of the church.
Then followed the laying of the stone by Deacons A. P. Leach, H. Shedd, J. B. Scott, John Wallace, and Trustees H. Foster and J. K. Hervey.
After which, Rev. A. S. Marshall, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, delivered a congratu- latory address, when the exercises closed with the doxology and benediction.
MR. STEPHENS' ADDRESS.
With the Lord a thousand years is as a day. The age of this church is but thirty years. How small a fraction of a day is that about which and the events thereof to write a history. History belongs to the past, and not the present. The greater number of you here to-day are older than this church. More than half of you hailed the morning of existence and joyfully set out on the journey of life before the birth of this church. Yes, many of you before that hour had advanced to the meridian of life. Yet this organization of the followers of the Master has a history. Dearer still, it has hallowed associations to some which can never be written, but which will perish when the heart that cherishes them ceases to beat.
The first settlement of this town began in 1839. Can we realize that so short a time ago this was the frontier of civilization ? Great as has our progress been, scarcely has the grass grown over the blackened circle where burned the last fire of the Indian wick-ee-up; scarcely has died away the muffled dip of the oar that set the savage across our streams in his bark canoe, and scarcely has the rain washed out the tracks of the wild beasts which so lately grazed on this very spot ; but, measuring what has been done here and elsewhere in that short time, the wonder still grows that so much has been accomplished in so brief a period.
As men came here to reap the harvests of these rich prairies, so came, at the same time, ministers of the gospel of peace to gather for the Kingdom not of this earth. For seven years, there was more or less regular preaching here, to the different denominations, in the old Court Room then the only place of meeting, which was jointly used for dispensing justice, for working lodges of secret societies, for the worship of God by the followers of Jesus Christ, and for meet- ings of political conventions, which then, as now, periodically saved the country. That same old Court Room stands to-day, a wooden structure, now used for a bakery.
In 1847, Rev. B. Roberts came to this town, and then found here a small organization known as the first Presbyterian Church of Marion, New School. That small band had then selected this site for a church, with a view to erecting thereon a house of God. For that pur- pose the lot was donated by George Greene, late Judge ot the Supreme Court of the State, now a resident of this county.
Of that organization, I cannot find that there is any record in existence. The same was com- posed of persons who came here, Christians of different denominations, but all earnest in the desire to worship the living God. [We discover from old records that the First Presbyterian Church was organized November 11, 1839, the officers being William Vaughn and Samuel Ross, Elders ; Samuel Ross, Thomas Vaughn and William J. Carson, Trustees .- EDITOR. ]
Under Mr. Roberts' administration, the organization unanimously voted to form a Congrega- tional Church, and carried the vote into effect on the Saturday previous to the first Sabbath in April, 1848, by organizing the present church, the First Congregational Church of Marion, and adopting a confession and articles of faith, to which twenty members subscribed their names. As a few are familiar with these names, I give them; Mr. and Mrs. Amory Keyes; Mr. and Mrs. Jothan Keyes ; Mr. and Mrs. John Sharp; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hare; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. M. Stewart; Cyrus Rose, O. H. Lovitt, Thomas Downing, William Willis, Anna Willis, Narcissa Shinn, Catherine Ristine, Eliza Keyes (now Mrs. Robert Holmes), Miss Louisa F. Roberts, Mrs. Ermina A. Roberts (daughter and wife of the Pastor). Of these, there are but five now members of the church.
At the time Brother Roberts came here, he was connected with the Synod of the New School Presbyterian Church, and his field of labor was Marion, Cedar Rapids and Sugar Grove, the grove two and one-half miles west of Mt. Vernon, which place at that time was unknown. Dur- ing his ministry, which ended in 1852, he organized what is now the First Presbyterian Church at Cedar Rapids, in 1848. For his support at these three stations, there was promised him the princely salary of $350, and his case was not different from many others, when performance lags far behind promise.
The records do not show when the old house, now torn down, was built, but the recollection of many present fixes the year 1849 as the year when the edifice was begun. The foundation was laid and the brick walls raised a few feet, when the limited resources failed, and it remained in this condition for a long time. Within its walls the sheep of the town sought shelter, so that it
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passed by the name of the "sheep pen." Sacrilegious as the name may sound to our ears, there are many who can testify that it was a place where many have been gathered as sheep into the fold of the Master. So may the new structure be, down to the end of time.
For building purposes, little money was contributed. This was a case where that which men had not could not be taken from them. The most of the contributions were in labor and material. Many worked on the building, George A. Patterson gave the wood to burn the brick. Nat. Chapman burned the brick. That the Pastor might feel that his salary was earned, in addition to his spiritual work, he quarried the rock, burned the lime, mixed the mortar and tended the masons, when the walls went up.
Chas. Nye was Agent of the Church; Charles Nye and Amory Keyes, Building Committee ; Charles Nye, H. Shedd, Henry Ristine and W. J. Patterson, Committee to Determine the Size. For building purposes, 1851, seven members subscribed $72, the largest, $25. The walls were up and the roof on in 1852, the year that Brother Roberts' labors ended here. He is still living in Washington County, this State, now, by ordination, the oldest Congregational minister in the State.
The first Deacons elected, as shown by the records, were James Wallace and A. Roberts, chosen at the annual meeting in 1850.
Not withstanding the house was long in building, the church kept up regular worship, using the second floor of the old brick building opposite and north of the town well, and the second floor in the building now owned by Mr. A. Daniels, east of the same. In the latter room, in January, 1850. the first revival of the church occurred. The Pastor was assisted by Rev. Mr. Woods, then of the American Tract Society.
True to the instincts of the Pilgrim Fathers of New England, and fixed in the idea that all men are made in the image of God, we find this church, in 1852, discussing the slavery question, which then began to divide the politics of the country. It was then solemnly voted that no minister, the owner of slaves, should be allowed to preach in its pulpit. As in politics, so in church, this question would not be put down, and in 1853, after a long consideration of this ques- tion and consultation by letter with a distant minister of the faith (Rev. Holbrook, of Chicago) about it, so that there might be " love toward all and malice toward none," the church deter- mined not to admit to fellowship any one who was the owner of slaves. The Rev. J. A. Reed, of the A. M. Society, present.
Thirty years ago, as now, boys and girls were born of the same parents, lodged under the same roof, ate at the same family table and alike married and were given in marriage. In the light of this we cannot understand the motives of our predecessors in requiring the sexes to sit apart in church, except that it was a Puritanical requirement that had outlasted its time, or that partings might be frequent to induce sober reflections, and meetings often to multiply joys. If they called this a yoke, it would be hard now to convince us that it was easy.
The Psalmist says " God setteth the solitary in families." At the wisdom of this there are few to cavil. The adoption of this rule in His worship here and hereafter would rob this church of half its usefulness and heaven of half its joys.
To entitle our church to hold property and perpetuate itself as a corporate body under the laws of the State, it was regularly incorporated in May, 1852, and articles placed on record. John Sharp, Chas. Nye and Amory Keyes were the first Trustees.
By its own limitation, that organization expired in twenty years, and the same was again re- organized in 1877.
In 1852, the church was first represented in the Minor Association, held at Davenport. Sam- uel Ross was the delegate. In July, the same year, all the outstanding bills against the church, on building, as far as the same had then gone, were settled-amount, $248-and so great was the joy that a grievous burden had been removed, that a day of thanksgiving and prayer was appointed and observed.
With the church, 1852 was an eventful year. Having recovered from the sacrifices of build- ing for a few months, they undertook the job of plastering and putting in pulpit and temporary seats. The report of this work was submitted December 3, 1852, by Wells Stoddard, Chairman of the Committee. The cost was $176.69; amount paid, $44.82, and the balance, $131.87, a debt on the church, which was not paid till April, 1854, when there was another day of thanks- giving and prayer observed. In 1854 the church was seated. A short time after that the gal- lery was taken down. In 1858 or '59, the tower was built and the bell raised. Previous to this the bell was hung on a wooden frame at the southeast corner of the church, but a foot from the ground. When the seating came to be done, such an esthetical taste and spirit of emulation had crept into the church, that the work must be done according to the latest style. A resident mechanic (W. J. Patterson), whom you would all know, if I mentioned his name, started off on a tour of inspection. Arriving at Dubuque, he went to the Sunday morning services, secured a favorable seat, and while a practical sermon was being preached, he took in the inspiration of the hour, and at the same time, with a paper and pencil, sketched the form and style of the pews, desk and internal finish, returned home and executed the plans. For twenty and more years thereafter, the church worshiped in a house with city style and decorations.
As early as 1851, the church voted to call Rev. J. R. Mershon, and to pay him $350, and get $150 from the Home Missionary Society. But failing to raise the salary, he did not respond.
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Again the church, in July. 1852, called him, and voted to raise $150, and get $250 from the Home Missionary Society .. Among the papers of the church, there is a subscription to raise the salary of Rev. Mershon, containing fourteen names, amounting to $140, with amounts from $2 to $20 each, which, considering the names and the condition of the parties, may be regarded as a liberal subscription. Only five of those members are now among us. In May, 1854, Rev. Albert Manson, having just arrived here from Vermont, under commission from the Home Mis- sionary Society, was engaged as a minister, at a salary of $500, the church raising $283, and the Home Missionary Society paying $217.
Bro. Manson continued his engagement with the church up to and during the year 1857, and for some time after that was connected with the church, and a citizen here. He now lives at Quasquetown, and Rev. Mershon at Newton, Iowa.
In October, 1854, the joint meeting of the Minor Association of Dubuque and Davenport was held at this church, which was the first meeting of the Minor Association held here. Rev. J. H. Windsor, now of Grafton, Massachusetts was Moderator, and the venerable and much- beloved Dr. Robbins, for thirty-five years Pastor at Muscatine, administered the Lord's Supper. Mrs. Dr. Ristine and Mrs. Huldah James were the committee of entertainment.
May, 1855, John Sharp was chosen delegate, and represented this church for the first time, in the State Association, held at Burlington.
In 1853, occurred the first case of discipline, and, as the result of trials had during that and the following year, there were three excommunicated and two suspended. Also, in the same year, December 31, 1853, regular monthly prayer meetings were established, held on the first Monday in each month ; and on the same day it was voted to make the intermission betwee the two Sunday services twenty instead of thirty minutes, which was the regular New England method.
Miss Helen Keyes, now wife of J. D. Giffen, was the first case of infant baptism.
The engagement with Bro. Manson, who had been a faithful minister, serving when the membership was small and the society was weak, having expired, the church, in June, 1858, called D. S. Dickenson, then of Illinois, who remained for two years. The records do not show at what salary.
Sunday, June 22, 1860, Rev. J. H. Windsor preached the morning service. A church meeting was immediately held, which resulted in calling him, the church agreeing to pay $400, and relying for $100 on the Home Missionary Society. He remained, serving faithfully for three years, at the same salary. One year, the second, the church paid it all, the first year of self- support, and the last gave him a donation visit of $50 and upward. As a memento of his stay here, the ashes of one child rest in our cemetery, while the spirit is watching for his coming up to heaven. With him went the kind wishes of many, and around his memory cluster to-day many precious recollections.
In September, 1864, the church called the Rev. John A. Ross, then of the State of Maine, at $700, for which he labored two years ; when, in 1866, a council was called-the first ecclesias- tical body called by the church-and he was regularly installed the first Pastor of the church. In that capacity he did the minister's work faithfully, until July, 1873, when, by a similar council, his connection with the church was dissolved, making, in all, nine years labor in this field. After the second year, his salary was raised to $1,000. For the last two years he received $1,200 per year. During his pastorate, there occurred the most precious revival in the history of the church, and many sought and found membership, of which number was your speaker. Without making invidious comparison, it is safe to say that no minister left this church with more regrets in the hearts of his flock, and although he is now far away in Belfast, Maine, there is a strong chord of love here that reaches to him there. What he may perhaps have lacked in the social qualities he made full amends for in persistent study, high culture and finished scholarship.
It was during his pastorate, in 1871, the State Association met at this place, for the first time, the pleasant recollections of which are still fresh to you all.
Rev. Chas. H. Bissell, now of Traer, this State, was called in September, 1873, and labored in this field for eighteen months, at a salary of $1,200. Many remember still his earnest, zealous and emphatic sermons. After the close of his labors, for eight months the church had only an occasional supply, until December 1, 1875, under a call previously made and accepted, Rev. W. A. Waterman, then of Cameron, Mo , began his work for the church, at a salary of $1,500. In the following May, a council was called, at which he was installed the second Pastor of the church, Dr. Bingham, of Dubuque, preaching the sermon of the occasion. During the last Winter, the most wide-spread religious interest was awakened, and many were added to the roll of the faithful ; so that during his ministry thus far the membership has been more than doubled. But he is before you, and further speech of him delicacy forbids. The admissions for the last year were 107.
I must not omit to say that Deacon Hubbard Shedd and wife became members of this church in 1850, and from that to the present time, twenty-seven years, he has held an office in the church, the only case of the kind on the record, much to the satisfaction of the members.
The old church is gone. Still in our sight is much of the material to enter into the con- struction of the new. But six weeks ago its walls were pulled down. How many of you know
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its dimensions ? It took a committee of five to fix them, and shall they so soon be forgotten ? Its photograph should have gone under the corner-stone of the new, but it was neglected. While the facts are fresh (for it is now a thing of the past), let us make the record. It was 54 feet north and south by 33, and 16 feet high, with quarter pitch roof, flat ceiling, and tower 10x10 in the middle of the south end, and contained fifty-four pews. The last service was the first Sabbath in July.
Among the many resources had to raise money, the Church in 1854 voted that the members should pay in proportion as they were assessed for taxation. Among the papers I found the list for that year, comprising twenty names, and aggregating a total valuation of $38,923, less than an average of $2,000. Compare that with the present and who will not say that unto those who sought first the Lord's kingdom he has not richly added thereunto all the other things. Con- sider well, too, those of you who can remember, the impoverished condition and scanty resources of the pioneers compared with the prosperity of the present. It is said we are building too large and at too great a cost. We have added forty-three feet in length and nineteen feet in width. Has not God in these thirty years added more than that length to your members, and more than that width to your numbers and substance ? Can we even now say that we are com- ing as nobly and generously up to the help of the Lord as did those who built the first temple on this site ? The pianos and carriages of this congregation will alone build this new structure. Of these, the first builders had none, not one. Against these I would not utter reproach, but rather thank our Heavenly Father that we are able to have both. Whether we have planned wisely and will build well can better be told by those who shall a century hence, take down these walls and read the proceedings of this day, as deposited under this corner-stone. That they shall find in the record we make for ourselves as much to commend and as little to condemn as in the record we make for our predecessors, is the devout and fervent prayer, I believe, of you, as I know it is of myself.
The Seventh-Day Adventists .- This society was established about 1859 by Elder M. E. Cornell and others, who came to Marion with a tent in which to hold services, and continued for several weeks to preach there, resulting in the formation of a society with about sixty members. Meetings were held in a public hall until 1864, when a building was purchased, located on Market street, near the Baptist Church, and fitted for church purposes, during the Pastorate of Elder B. F. Snook. Elder W. H. Breckerhoff preached from 1866 to 1868.
In 1865, the society was divided, upon the belief of one division that their prophetess, Mrs. E. G. White, had divine revelations, the newspaper being an instrument of the portion discarding the revelations, the latter denomination now being known as the Church of God.
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