USA > Iowa > Wapello County > The history of Wapello County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 60
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" With a purpose so distinct and definite, embodying, as they believed, principles vital to the maintenance of Christian liberty, with doctrinal purity, this little company, with faith and hope, addressed themselves to the work of laying the foundations of our grand historic Church in this place.
"At that time the population of Ottumwa did not, perhaps, exceed 600. From this fact we may infer something of the trials incident to the life and growth of the infant Church, yet being of those who are firm believers in the perseverance of the saints, they 'cast anchor and waited for the day.' For eighteen months after its organization the Church was supplied at irregular intervals by members of the Presbytery of Des Moines. During this period, while there was life, there was little growth.
" But all this time, unknown to the flock, the shepherd was being trained for his work, and in July, 1855, the first Pastor, Rev. J. M. McElroy, a licen- tiate of the Presbytery of Chillicothe, Ohio, arrived and entered with a zeal and devotion upon his work, which never flagged during a pastorate of nearly fourteen years. The first service was held in the old Court House, nearly oppo- site where the City Hall now stands. The present Court House was not yet inclosed. The Presbyterian and Baptist Churches secured joint occupancy of Leighton's Hall, on Main street, a room about 20x36 feet in size, with low
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ceiling, and reached by a flight of rickety outside stairs. The room was fur- nished with backless seats of cotton-wood boards. On the 6th of December, 1855, the ordination and installation of the Pastor took place. The sermon on that occasion was delivered by Rev. D. V. Smock ; the charge to the Pastor by Rev. S. C. McCune, and the charge to the people by Rev. G. M. Swan, who, in pointed terms, enjoined upon them to 'take care of their minister, his wife, and horse.'
"For two years after his arrival, the minister's time was divided between this place and Kirkville-two thirds being given to the Ottumwa Church.
" In the spring of 1856, the first house of worship was commenced, and, in June of the same year, was completed and occupied. Mr. Jonathan Heckard and brother, now members of this Church, residing near Point Isabel, con- tributed the timber for the frame and did all the carpenter work, Dr. Orr board- ing the men while at work. The entire cost of the building was, probably, about $1,200. The history of the material interests during this period can only be gathered from individual sources, as no congregational records were kept until September, 1863.
" The first building was afterward sold, and is now occupied as a private residence, immediately in the rear of the present church edifice. Some com- plaint was made at the time, that the church was too far out of town. The force of this objection will be better understood in the light of the fact that at that time a line drawn from the present residence of Judge Hendershott to this point, and extending west, along Fourth street, would have left the entire town on the river side, with much room to spare; while on the north side, there was no dwelling nearer than the present residence of Mr. Dana, more than a mile distant. It was with feelings of real comfort that the little band of worshipers entered the unpretending sanctuary. They now had a church home, and it was all their own. But scarcely had they recovered from their efforts to complete their church, when, with the community and the country at 'large, they were called to face the money panic of 1857 and 1858, which, with poor crops, made hard times for the people, and very close times as to temporal affairs with min- ister and church. The records, however, show that, during this financial crisis, the spiritual interests of the Church were more than usually prosperous, num- bers being hopefully converted and brought into the Church.
"Soon, however, the political sky became overcast with black and threaten- ing clouds, and the question of subsistence became merged into that of exist- ence, as call after call came for men to go to the front and place themselves in the dread array of battle. During those eventful years, the scenes and experi- ences which characterized every community and every church were enacted within the circle composing this congregation.
"From the families of this Church, seventeen men went to the front, of whom at least four never returned to fill again their places in social life. Within a few months, four successive Superintendents of the Sabbath school resigned and entered the army.
"But why attempt to describe that which is so vivid in the memory of so many ? The hardships of the camp; the dreary march; the shock of battle at the front; the inconvenience and privation at home, and above all, the dread and harrowing suspense while waiting for the list of killed and wounded and missing, as the telegraph flashed the intelligence of victory or defeat. Those were days in which the faith of God's people was sorely tried, but failed not. During all the war, as before and afterward, there was substan- tial harmony in the Church.
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" In the year 1863, while most of the male members of the Church were in the army, the ladies, having in view the growing necessity for a larger church building, purchased the lot on which the present edifice stands, and which then extended to the alley adjoining the property of Mrs. George Gillaspy, for $325. By their own exertion they paid for it, and placed on the ground the rock to be used in the foundation of the building. The actual work of construction was commenced in 1865. The old church was sold, and services transferred to the Court House. The taxable property of the membership at this time was less than $40,000. The entire cost of lot, building and furnishing was about $8,000. Of this sum, the ladies secured about $1,500. The Board of Church Erection paid $800; personal friends in other places, about $100. The remainder was secured by direct and unremitting efforts by members and friends in this community. Only those who have passed through a similar experience can appreciate the toil and self-denial and sacrifice necessary to accomplish the result. But with this outward activity, and following it, there was manifested an earnest spiritual life. During the year 1866, the Church was blessed with more marked religious interest and larger accessions than at any previous time ; no extra means, yet a quiet, constant revival. The people were giving up their time- and substance until they felt it; they had brought all the tithes into the store- house, and the Lord opened the windows of heaven.
" For some time previous to the termination of the first pastorate, in April, 1869, the failing health of the Pastor compelled a partial cessation from active work. The congregation to whom he had ministered so long and with whom he had endured so much, and between whom and himself the strongest ties of Christian affection existed, declined to act upon his resignation, but voted a release from all pastoral work for six months, hoping that rest and freedom from care would result in fully-restored health. The Pastor, however, early in 1869, being convinced that restoration to health depended on complete freedom from responsibility, again asked the congregation to unite with him in seeking from the Presbytery a dissolution of the pastoral relations. Influenced by a sense of duty to their Pastor, the congregation acceded to the request, and, on the 21st day of April, 1869, the relation was dissolved. On the same day, a call was presented by the Church and placed in the hands of the present Pastor by the Presbytery of Ottumwa, and accepted. He entered on his work the 23d day of May, 1869, and was duly installed by a committee of the Presbytery on the 4th of June.
" During the time that has passed since then, God has given many tokens- of His favor. The Church has been united and harmonious.
" Less than one-third of those who were here in 1869 appear on the rolls now. During the same period, 152 persons have been admitted to member- ship."
The Methodist Episcopal Church was first represented in Ottumwa by Rev. Thomas Kirkpatrick in 1844. Services were held in a log cabin situated nearly where the First National Bank now stands. At about the same time, services were held in a log house where the Madison Block now is, which was owned by Peter Barnett and occupied by him. The first organization was effected in 1845, with Mr. Kirkpatrick, Pastor. Heman P. Graves was the first Leader. The following members were prominently identified with the Church at that time : Heman P. Graves and wife, Paul C. Jeffries and wife, Wash- ington Williams and wife, Martha Williams (now Mrs. C. C. Warden), Peter Barnett and wife, Mrs. Joseph Hayne, Sarah Pumroy, Sarah Lewis, J. C. Evans and wife. Services were held in different places-wherever arrangements could.
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be made-during the first months of existence, then in the old Court House, which stood about opposite the present City Hall. Subsequently, the Congre- gational church-building was thrown open to them, and while in that edifice & great revival of religion took place in Ottumwa, which marks an era in the history of the Church. Among those who then joined the Society and still live in the faith were Charles Lawrence and wife, John D. Devin, James A. Ham- mond and many others. Among the first official members were Paul C. Jef- fries, H. P. Graves, Joseph W. Caldwell, John D. Devin, Charles Lawrence, W. L. Boston and Thomas J. Holmes. The present officials are A. E. McCue, Charles Lawrence, W. B. Bonnifield, H. P. Graves, J. T. Hackworth, Isaac Mast, J. A. Hammond, Daniel Zollers, N. M. Tindell, George Haw, J. S. Wolf, George A. Witter, B. Randel, D. H. Emery. The Pastors have been Revs. Thomas Kirkpatrick, - Harrison, - Pierce, J. Hayden, Daniel Dickerson, L. T. Rowley, L. Case, - Fouts, A. C. McDonald, A. Robin- son, F. W. Evans, - Worthington, I. A. Bradrick, W. J. Spaulding, G. H. Clark, W. F. Cowles, E. H. Waring, W. C. Shippen, Thomas E. Corkhill, E. H. Wimans, J. T. Simmons, J. W. McDonald. The church edifice is of stone and brick, valued at $10,000. The parsonage property is valued at $3,000. The present membership is about two hundred and fifty.
The Main Street M. E. Church was organized in 1869, by Rev. E. L. Briggs, in Turner's Hall, with seventy members. The first official boards were composed of J. A. Hammond, W. H. Hammond, W. D. Noble, J. H. Goldsbury, D. H. Michael, Lewis Milford, J. S. Wood, M. McFarlin, W. O. Irons, S. V. Sampson, Thomas Sampson, William G. Sampson, L. C. Clark, W. C. Holden, W. J. Ennis, George W. Bowen, J. G. Baker, J. J. Ury and Samuel Moore. Services were held in Turner's Hall for one year, and then for three years in a hall on the corner of Jefferson and Main streets. The corner-stone of the present church edifice was laid July 5, 1873. The lecture- room was occupied in November, and the structure was completed during the administration of Rev. Thomas Stephenson. The church cost between $11,000 and $12,000, and the lot cost $2,200 additional. There is a good and prosper- ous Sunday school in operation, with an attendance of about seventy-five. The Pastors in charge have been: 1869, E. L. Briggs; 1871, J. C. Brown ; 1872, S. S. Murphy ; 1873, E. L. Schreiner; 1874, Thomas Stephenson ; 1875, I. N. Busby ; 1876, I. P. Teter. The original members were Samuel Moore, J. A. Hammond, Annie E. Hammond, J. G. Baker, Mary Hammond, Annie E. Baker, L. C. Clark, Laura G. Clark, George W. Bowen, Angie S. Bowen, W. H. Hammond, Eliza Hammond, W. J. Ennis. Mary J. Ennis, Thomas Sampson, Sarah Sampson, J. W. Holden, M. E. Holden, C. H. Henniman, Sarah Holly, L. M. Shreve, Mrs. Moffitt, William Baker, Amanda Baker, S. V. Sampson, S. L. Sampson, W. G. Sampson, H. H. Sampson, W. D. Noble, N. B. Noble, James Hodge, William Kidd, Mary Baker, M. B. Ogden, Helen Daggett, Nancy Beach, J. J. Ury, Lydia Ury, Mrs. Kidd, W. Macklin, W. O. Irons, M. A. Irons, J. H. Goldsbury, M. M. Goldsbury, M. McFarlin, Lydia A. Brandenburg, Emily Clifton, J. B. Baker, M. J. Parker, Martha E. Allen, Frank Ward, L. E. Ward, A. Burns, E. A. Burns, Emma Purnell, W. C. Holden, Lou S. Holden, C. E. Purnell, J. G. Mast, Fannie Mast, John Fernly, Hannah Fernly, Ella Hardy, Jennie Toon, Joseph Lockwood, Elizabeth Lock- wood, Sadie Myers, Stephen Green, Mrs. Green, Rebecca Rudd. The present membership is 235. The present official board is G. W. Bowen, Christian Haw, C. T. Rutter, W. H. Boston, D. H. Michaels, Thomas Thornburg, T. Wyckoff, A. C. Olney, B. F. Jeffries, C. Withro, Paul Caster, John Smith.
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Unitarian Society .- There is an Unitarian Society in Ottumwa, but no reg- ular meetings are held or permanent Pastor employed. As in almost all West- ern towns, the number of liberal Christians is limited in Ottumwa, but the present Society will undoubtedly develop into a sufficiently strong organization to maintain independent services.
The Roman Catholic Church .- One of the most powerful religious organ- izations of this county is the Roman Catholic Church, under the immediate supervision of Rev. Father John Kreckel. The services of this reverend gen- tleman have been marked by abundant success. The origin of the Church in Wapello County dates back to 1849, when missionary work was begun by Rev. Father Villars, of Keokuk. He laid the first corner-stone, literally and figuratively, of the Ottumwa church, in that year. Rev. Alexander Hattenberger came to Ottumwa in 1851, and officiated for a time. The first church stood where the priest's residence now stands. In the winter of 1853, Father Kreckel came to minister to the Catholics of this region. This gentleman was born in the province of Nassau, Prussia, June 5, 1826. He removed to Baltimore at the age of sixteen years. His education was obtained in Europe, Baltimore and Cincinnati. When he first entered upon his work here, his parish included Wapello, Jefferson, Van Buren, Keokuk, Mahaska, Polk, Jasper, Marion, Monroe, Davis, Appanoose, Wayne and Decatur Counties. Many and many a night has been spent by him beneath the open sky, while he breasted inclement weather, on his lonely rides through his wide district. Days at a time he has lived in the saddle, and years were devoted to the introduction of his work through his large territory. He has earned the success which he has achieved. In 1854, Father Platte took charge of Polk and Jasper Counties; in 1856, Father Mitchell took Monroe, Marion and Decatur; in 1857, Father Slattery took Jefferson ; in 1859, Father Shanahan took Mahaska; in 1871, Father Moran took Van Buren, Davis, Appanoose and Wayne. The present stone church edifice was built in Ottumwa in 1860-61. Father Kreckel has been instrumental in building churches in Churchville, Eddyville and one in each of these counties : Monroe, Marion, Van Buren and Keokuk. In 1862, he induced the Sisters of Visitation, then at Keokuk, to establish an Academy of Visitation at Ottumwa. The present fine edifice and institution grew out of that. The cost has been over $36,000. The Academy is a boarding school, after the method of the Order, and has accommodations for about one hundred pupils. Girls only are admitted, and these from the ages of 6 to 24. There are some twenty-six Sisters engaged in the work, including all divisions, Choir, Lay and Out Sisters. The teachers are twelve in number. In addition to the Academy, the Sisters conduct a parochial school for girls, which has an attend- ance of about thirty. In August, 1877, Father Kreckel induced the Sisters of Humility of Mary, then at St. Joseph, Mo., to locate at Ottumwa. The object of this Order is to establish orphan asylums, hospitals, schools, and to minister to the sick. A parochial school, called St. Joseph's, for boys, was opened in Ottumwa, with an attendance of about one hundred. The outgrowth of the educational institutions of this Church is a school at Fairfield and one at Mar- shalltown. The Sisters of Humility are maintained by voluntary contributions. The Acadamy is practically self-sustaining. The work proposed by Father Kreckel is not yet completed. He contemplates the establishment of a hospital and the introduction of an academy for boys. The reverend Father is indorsed by his Church, and the society is very prosperous.
St. Mary's Episcopal Church .- The meeting at which St. Mary's Parish was organized was held at the office of John Jacob Wendall, Esq., on the 2d
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of May, 1857. Rev. Daniel Falloon Hutchinson, of Mt. Pleasant, presided ; and there were present Dr. L. D. Morse, James Hawley, James Sinnamon, Calvin J. Gilson, E. Washburn, John J. Wendall and W. F. Elmendorf.
Dr. L. D. Morse was appointed Senior Warden, and W. F. Elmendorf, Junior Warden. James Hawley, E. Washburn, C. J. Gilson, John J. Wendall and James Sinnamon were the first Vestrymen. Dr. Morse was appointed Treas- urer, and W. F. Elmendorf was elected Clerk of the Vestry. A committee to provide a suitable lot for church purposes was appointed, consisting of L. D. Morse, James Hawley, E. Washburn and J. J. Wendall.
St. Mary's Parish was admitted into union with the Diocesan Convention on the 27th of May. Rev. Daniel Falloon Hutchinson was elected the first Rector on the 6th of June, 1857. In July of the same year, two lots were purchased for a church site on the corner of Jefferson and Second streets. These were afterward sold in 1864, and another lot purchased, upon which the church now stands. The congregation first worshiped in the hall of the old Curlew House. In the spring of 1858, the Court House was used for occasional services, and so continued until May, 1863, when the Hall over Dr. Warden's store was rented for two years.
It very soon became evident to the people of the parish that their Rector, Mr. Hutchinson, so conducted the affairs of the Church as to be an injury, rather than a benefit. The matter was submitted to the Rt. Rev. Henry W. Lee, Bishop of the Diocese of Iowa, in September, and, upon investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Hutchinson had effected his entrance into the Church upon forged papers, and that he was in every way unworthy the confidence that had been reposed in him ; he was therefore deposed from the ministry by the Bishop.
On the 12th of July, 1857, Bishop Lee made his primary visitation to the Parish, when five persons were confirmed, namely : William Daggett, Edward H. Stiles, Sarah H. Sinnamon, Cordelia C. Beach and Frederick George. This ceremony took place in the hall of the Curlew House, which had been tem- porarily fitted up.
The first baptism was on the 3d of May, 1857, of the year-old child of Ben- jamin and Fanny Hoyland, who was christened Elizabeth Rebecca Hoyland.
There was an interim in which the services of the Church were mainly of a missionary character. The next Rector was Rev. B. F. Gifford, who came in December, 1860, and to whose faithful and self-denying services the perma- nence of the Parish was mainly due.
The Rev. W. F. Lloyd was Rector from July 22, 1864, until February 4, 1866. In February, 1865, preliminary movements were made toward building a church. N. H. White, an architect of Syracuse, N. Y., was engaged to make the plans, and Mr. Dunham supervised the work. The corner-stone of the church was laid August 17, 1865.
Rev. J. E. Ryan was Rector from April 26, 1866, to August 15, 1871. The debt of the Church was lifted March 7, 1869. Rev. W. C. Mills was Rector from February 1, 1872, to August 1, 1875. During the rectorship of these latter gentlemen, the church building was completed and furnished.
The present Rector, Rev. Arthur C. Stilson, entered upon his duties on the 16th of April, 1876. The primary visitation of the second Bishop of Iowa was made September 22, 1876.
When the Parish was organized, there were 12 communicants ; since that time there have been added 174, making a total of 186. The present number, owing to the varied changes caused by removals and deaths, as reported to the
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last convention, is 67. There have been 232 baptisms, and 99 persons con-
firmed in this Parish. There have been 35 marriages and 81 burials.
The Ladies' Guild, for church work in the parish, was organized November, 2, 1876.
First Baptist Church .- This Church was organized March 14, 1855. A Council of Recognition, composed of delegates from the following Churches, viz., Salem, Center, Richland and Steady Run, met on the same day, of which Rev. J. L. Cole was Moderator, and S. S. Cook, Clerk. Rev. J. L. Cole preached the sermon, and appears to have been the only minister present. Seventeen persons entered into the organization, viz., John Ballard, Elizabeth Wellman, Avia Wellman, Samuel Harper, Mary Harper, Ann Michael, Eliza Alcott, Daniel Barrett, Lydia Guthrie, Virginia Barrett, Eliza Harper, Melissa Fisher, Margaret Higdon, Frances Lewellyn, Charity Aldridge, Minerva Fisher and Barbary Ann Monk. The same day, one was baptized, Mrs. McCune. Three of these are still members of the Church, viz., Mary Harper, Eliza Alcott and Lydia Guthrie. Daniel Barrett was chosen the first Clerk. Rev. J. L. Cole served the Church as Pastor for a time.
Though the Church was organized at this date, yet it seems to have had but few meetings and to have made but little progress until the year 1858. Meantime, Rev. Joseph T. Roberts, LL. D., had settled with his family in Ottumwa, and in November of that year, Rev. S. H. Worcester, of Granville, Ohio, accepted the call of the Church and became its Pastor. From this time, regular meetings were held, part of the time in the old Presbyterian Church, and part of the time in the Court House. The social meetings were often held in private houses.
The house of worship, corner of Fifth and Court streets, in which the Church now meets, was erected in 1862. In 1866, it was enlarged.
The pastorate of Rev. S. H. Worcester continued until July, 1865, nearly seven years. In May, 1866, Rev. S. L. Burnham began labor as Pastor, con- tinuing until February, 1868. During this time, the Pastor was assisted in a revival mecting by Rev. Morgan Edwards, and many additions were made to the Church.
In June, 1868, Rev. R. A. Clapp became Pastor, and continued until March, 1871. Rev. C. Darby followed for a short time, and in December, 1872, Rev. William L. Brown became Pastor, serving two years and one month. During this pastorate, Rev. H. W. Brown, Evangelist, aided the Pastor in a revival effort, and a number were added to the Church. The present Pastor, Rev. J. Sunderland, began his labors May 1, 1875.
The Church has had seven Pastors. Though it meets still in its first- house of worship, it has purchased very cligible lots on Third street, at a cost of $1,650, upon which it hopes soon to erect a commodious house of worship.
During all the time since it entered its own house of worship, a good Sun- day school has been maintained. The officers and teachers of the school are : Superintendent, S. L. Burnham ; Secretary, C. Inskeep ; Librarians, Arthur and Ada Bayston ; Teachers, J. Sunderland, A. W. Gaston, M. J. Burns, W. T. Harper, E. A. Chambers, John Peach, W. H. Smith. Allan Johnston, Mrs. J. A. Burnham, Mrs. Lotspeich, Miss Irene Roberts, Miss Irene Portal, and Mrs. Nolan.
The Church has a Mission Circle, with the following officers : President, Mrs. E. A. Chambers ; Vice President, Mrs. M. E. Sunderland ; Secretary, Mrs. U. R. Walton ; Treasurer, Miss Irene Portal.
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A flourishing Mission Board, made up of the children of the Sunday school, was organized and led by Mrs. H. B. C. Gunn until her recent removal from the city.
The following are the present officers of the Church : Pastor, Rev. J. Sun- derland ; Deacons, P. F. Dana, S. H. Swiggett, E. H. Chambers ; Clerk, S. L. Burnham ; Treasurer, M. J. Burns ; Trustees, S. H. Swiggett, S. L. Burn- ham, E. H. Chambers, W. H. Cooper, T. K. Shepherd. The present mem- bership is 143.
The Church of Christ .- In March, 1845, on the third Lord's Day of that month, eight persons, to wit, Hugh Brown, Nathaniel Bell, M. J. Bell, his daughter, Eliza Halloway, J. Anderson and wife, H. H. Hendrick and Mr. Potts met and organized in a log schoolhouse, three miles north of Ottumwa, then known as Center Schoolhouse, which was 16x20 feet in size and built in the usual primitive fashion. The day was spent in prayer and praise. The creed adopted was the Bible in its fullest sense. The Church was known as the Union Church of the Disciples of Christ. The society met regularly, with- out preaching, until Mr. H. H. Hendrick was ordained Evangelist, in the fall of 1847. The ordination services were conducted by Aaron Chatterton, editor of the Christian Evangelist, printed at Fort Madison, Iowa. Other evangelists visited the society during the next decade, among them being Elder Aaron Harlin, Michael Coombs, Jacob Coombs, George Flint, Solomon Mckinney (who was whipped by a party of Proslavery men in Texas for preaching, by request, upon the relation of master and servant. Three hundred lashes were administered on his bare back, but the terrible persecution did not prove fatal).
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