History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 92

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

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HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

by Bishop Ames, and that in the afternoon by Rev. R. S. Foster, president of the Northwestern University. The original cost of the church was $5.200, the steeple being very large and expensive. Mr. Tasker was suc- ceeded in the pastorate in September, 1857, by Rev. Henry Whipple, who re-organized the society and re- mained with it until 1859, when he was succeeded by Rev, David Teed, who remained until 1860. Mr. Teed was succeeded by Rev. Elijah Stone, who was pastor two years, and was succeeded in 1862 by Rev. Lucius Hawkins, who remained one year. Rev. E. M. Boring, now of Wheaton, Ill., became pastor in 1863, and remained one year. In 1864 Rev. T. L. Olm- sted was appointed pastor and remained eight months, the balance of his year being filled out by Rev. Elijah Stone, who during this time discovered that the board of trustees had never been legally organized, and succeeded in having a legal organization effected. In 1865, Rev. S. Guyer, was appointed and remained nne year. During his pastorate the church was removed to Maxwell Street, when the society became popularly known as the Maxwell-street Methodist Episcopal Church, though the re-organized society was incorpor- ated under the name of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church. At the time of the removal to the new loca- tion a division occurred among the members, somewhat more than one-third uniting themselves with the Cen- tenary Church. The Desplaines-street building, which was a frame structure, forty-five by seventy feet in size, was sold to the Evangelical Lutheran organization, which occupied it for a number of years as a church. From the time of its sale, the society worshiped in Foster mission, on Polk and Jefferson streets, until 1866, when they removed to their present location on Max- well Street, near Newberry Avenue. The pastors after the removal to Maxwell Street were Rev. A. T. Need- ham, appointed .in 1866; Rev. E. W. Fay, appointed in 1868; Rev. W. H. Burns, in 1869.

THE OWEN-STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. -The origin of this Church was in a Sunday school started in 1851, in a school-room on North Green Street. Of this Sunday school, Samuel Polkey was superintend- ent. In 1852 a Church was organized, consisting of the following members: Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Polkey, D. E. Lord, E. P. Lewis, Thomas Cannon, Mr. and Mrs. James Ridley, Mr. and Mrs. H. Waggoner, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Fulton, Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Williams, John Noble, Mrs. J. Lester, Mrs. Commons and Mrs. Toops. The society purchased two lots on the northeast corner of Sangamon and Owen streets, and a building was erected fronting on Owen Street, from which fact the Church received its name. The edifice was a small frame one, twenty-five by thirty-five feet in size, and cost SSoo. It had a seating capacity of three hundred. The first pastor, Rev. S. Guyon, was appointed in the fall of 1853, and remained two years, when he was suc- ceeded, in 1855, by Rev. C. French. Rev. William Tasker was appointed to the pastorate in 1856, and in 1857 Rev. Arza Brown was appointed by the Conference. MIr. Brown remained until the year 1860. In this year the name of the street was changed from Owen to Indiana, and consequently the name of the church was changed to the Indiana-street Methodist Episcopal Church. This name it retained until its removal to Ada Street, in 1869. The successor of Rev. Arza Brown in 1860 was Rev. Jacob Hartman, who remained one year and was succeeded by Rev. D. W. Couch. In 1863 Rev. W. D. Skelton was appointed pastor, and remained three years. During his pastorate the church first erected was taken down and replaced by a much more commodious edifice,

a description of which, being built during the period covered by our second volume, will find its proper place therein. The Sunday school still continues its exist- ence. Its first superintendent was Samuel Polkey, who has been succeeded by the following gentlemen: H. Waggoner. Mr. Wilsey, L. L. Bond. Edwin Waggoner, John Culver, Alonzo Wygant, B. T. Vincent, Mr. Goodno and H. G. Coulson.

THE WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODIST EPISCOPAL. CHURCH .- On the first Sunday in 1845, about twenty- four people of Welsh origin assembled in the house of the late John Davis, at 208 West Lake Street, to hold a Sunday school, Robert Griffith, of Caernarvonshire, being instrumental in gathering them together. From this time forward a prayer meeting was held once each week, from house to house. The ministers that visited them that year were Rev. Richard Davis, of Racine, Wis., Rev. George Lewis, of Fox River, Wis., Rev. William J. Jones and Rev. John H. Evans, of Dodge- ville, Wis. The names of some of those who held meet- ings were as follows: John Davies, John J. Roberts, John B. Thomas, Evan Lewis, Robert Owen, Henry Roberts, David L. Roberts, and Mrs. Mary Evans, all members of English churches. There is an account of preaching in the fall of 1847, by Rev. W. J. Jones, and Rev. I. H. Evans, preaching in the house of Rev. Moses Williams on Wells Street, near Washington, and about the same time there was preaching by Rev. George Roberts, in the house of Evan Lewis. and by Rev. John Price Jones, in the house of James Thomas, on Prairie Street. In 1850 Rev. David Davis, of Prairieville, Wis., preached in the lecture-room of the Third Presbyterian church, on the corner of Union and Washington streets. In the spring of this year, the people of this inchoate church organization, rented a room at the corner of Ran- dolph and Canal streets, in which to hold regular relig- ious services. In July, 1850, Rev. Rees Evans, of Racine, came to Chicago and organized the Church, with thirteen members. The names of a few only of these original members are ascertainable, as follows: Rev. Moses Williams and wife, John B. Thomas and wife, Mrs. James Thomas, Mrs. Samuel Williams, Richard Newell and James Morgan. The first officers were John B. Thomas and James Morgan. Rev. Moses Williams preached for them every Sunday evening. In the summer of 1852, the Church bought a lot on Desplaines Street, between Randolph and Lake, on which they built a small frame church, thirty by forty feet, which was dedicated on the 26th of July in that year. The ministers present on this occasion were Revs. Edward Evans, of Racine, David Lewis, of Utica, N. Y., John Perry, of Racine, William R. Jones, of Milwaukee, and William Williams, of Big Creek. The building cost $781.33, which, with the exception of $51.50, was paid at the time of the dedication. The officers of the Church at the time were John Lawrence, Edward Williams and Potter Jones, and the trustees, Edward Williams, John B. Thomas, James Thomas, Owen Griffiths and Potter Jones. On October 13, 1853, Moses Williams was ordained a regular minis- ter, and at the same time Rev. Rees Evans accepted a call to the pastorate at a salary of $500. Mr. Evans remained until July, 1857, when he accepted a call to Cam- bria, Wis. On the 5th and 6th of November, 1853, the first Welsh Presbytery in Chicago was held. From 1857 until 1864 the pulpit was supplied by various ministers from Wisconsin and other places. In October. 1864, a call was extended to the Rev. D. Williams, of Milwaukee, at a salary of Stoo and a donation. Under his ministry the Church prospered, and the building soon became too small. In March. 1867, the society purchased the prop-

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PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS.

erty owned by them at the present time, of the Ameri- can Reformed Church, paying therefor $9,500. It is located at the northeast corner of Sangamon and Mon- roe streets. The lot is seventy-five by ninety-five feet. The old church was sold for $3,400. The new building was occupied by this congregation for the first time, on the first Sunday in 1867, the opening sermon being de- livered by Rev. Howell Parnell, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Rev. D. Williams was pastor until December, 1869. He died in Chicago in 1874. From 1869 to April, 1875, the Church was without a regular pastor and relied upon supplies. In the latter month a unanimous call was ex- tended to Rev. David Harries, the present pastor, at a salary of $1,200 and a donation. He commenced his labors with this Church on the second Sunday of August, 1875. The society at that time owed $3,000, and the membership was one hundred and sixty. At the present time the membership is three hundred and fifty, the debt has been liquidated and the Church is in excellent finan- cial and social condition. The officers of the Church at the present time are: Deacons, E. W. Evans, David Jones, John Jones, and R. R. Meredith; trustees, G. M. Owen, D. Jones, R. R. Meredith, R. W. Thomas, and E. A. Francis; treasurer, David Jones; secretary, Ellis Rice.

A brief history of the denomination is not inappropri- ate here. At Oxford, England, in November, 1729, a great revival prevailed, in which John and Charles Wesley and George Whitfield, with others, took active part. The name " Methodists " was given them as reviv- alists. In 1741 the Methodists became divided into two sects, the one Calvinistic, the other, including the Wesleys, Arminian. The revival reached Wales in 1735, Rev. Howell Harris and Rev. Daniel Rowland united with Whitfield. Harris was a thunderer, but Rowland was more like Whitfield. In 1739 there were nearly three hundred churches in South Wales. After a conversation with Harris, at Cardiff, Whitfield came to America. Rev. Daniel Rowland, of Slangeiths, Car- diganshire, Rev. William Williams, of Panty-Elza, Caermarthenshire, and Rev. Howell Davies, of Pem- brokeshire, were the main instruments in kindling this great revival which awakened all Wales, and now this Calvinistic Methodist, or as it is called in this country, Welsh Presbyterian Church, has in America Presby- teries, General Assemblies and funds-about one thou- sand five hundred churches, one hundred and thirty thousand communicants, eleven hundred ministers, and church property valued at $6,000,000. The denomina- tion is strong in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin, but has only one Church in Chicago .*

THE FIRST GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized August 15, 1847, with about twenty-five members, a portion of whom were A. Bied- ermann, Johanna Kessler, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Waller, Mrs. Baumgartner, Christian Mueller, George Krinbill, F. Rudolph, Mr. and Mrs. Bink, John Stoetzel, Andrew Krinbill, Mr. and Mrs. F. Heinz, Charles Kessler, Fried- rich Muchike and Ernst Dickermann. During the first year of their history they had preaching by mis- stonaries, but in 1848 they purchased a lot and a build- ing on Indiana Street, for $500, and had appointed a resident minister, Rev. Philip Barth. The first quar- terly conference in Chicago was held November 20, 1848, Rev. Conrad Eisenmerger being presiding elder, and Rev. A. Korfliage, preacher in charge of this Church, which was connected at the time with the Rock River

Conference. The class-leaders were Peter Heins.

George Krinbill and John Stoetzel. At the conference held October 31, 1856, a resolution was passed author- izing the Church to sell their Indiana-street property and purchase other in a more desirable location. £ der this resolution Revs. G. F. Mulfinger and Frederick Kopp were appointed a committee to carry its provis- Un- ions into effect. In 1857 a parsonage was erected and in the same year the new building on Clybourne Avenue was erected. It was of wood, thirty by fifty feet in dimensions, and cost about $2,000. This church was used by the congregation until 1863, when during the pastorate of Rev. William Pfaffle, it was moved to the back part of the lot, and a new brick church erected in its stead. This was a two-story building, forty by sev- enty feet in size, and cost about Sto,ooo. The fire of October, 1871, swept away all the property of the Church, including a very comfortable two-story frame parsonage, which cost about $2.500. After Mr. Barth, the pastors have been, Revs. A. Korfliage, appointed in 1849 ; J. J. Dreier, in 1850 ; Louis Kuntz, 1851 ; Philip Barth, 1852-53 ; Christian Wentz, 1854; J. H. Wes- terfeld, 1855 ; Christian Wentz, 1856; John L. Schaef- fer, 1858; Jacob Hass, 1859 ; Frederick Kluckhohn, 1860 ; William Pfaffle, 1862, who remained three years for the purpose of completing the new brick church : Jacob Bletsch, 1865 ; G. F. Mulfinger, 1868, and Fried- rich Rinder, 18jo, who became pastor one year before the fire, by which he lost $1,000. At this time the Church consisted of one hundred and ninety members, but the great calamity was very disastrous in its effects upon this society. Its members became scattered throughout the city, and many of them were obliged to leave Chicago to obtain the means of subsistance. However, those who adhered to the society soon recov- ered their courage and enterprise, and erected a tent- porary building promptly, which was dedicated on Sat- urday, November 11, 1871. In this building the society worshiped about eigliteen months, by which time their present building was erected. It is a frame two-story structure above the basement, forty-four by ninety feet in size, and cost about $17,000. The basement and first story are rented for business purposes and the up- per story used for regular religious services and Sunday school. The temporary church edifice was converted into a parsonage, and cost altogether about S2,500. Mr. Rinder was succeeded in 1874 by Rev. John W. Rocker, who remained until 1876, and was succeeded by Rev. John Schnell. In 1879, Rev. George H. Simons became pastor and remained until ISS2, when he was succeeded by Rev. Friedrich Rinder, who was pastor from 1870 to 1874, and is the present pastor. There are now two hundred and nine members.

CENTER-STREET MISSION, located on Dayton Street, was started by members of this Church, and a few from the VanBuren-street Church, in 1876, during the pastorate, in the First German Church, of Rev. John Schnell.

THE VAN BUREN-STREET GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized in 'October, 1852. by about twenty members, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Isele, Jacob Landauer, Mr. Baum- gartner and Frederick Fisher. Soon after the or- ganization they purchased two lots at the corner of Griswold and Van Buren streets, paying there- for $1,400. They also erected a small house of worship, which afterward became the parsonage. In the spring of 1854 they began the erection of a church building, with stone basement and frame superstructure. with steeple and bell, which was carried forward suffi-

. For the forte contained in the above brief sketch of the denomination, as well as the history of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Episcopal Church, this history is in-felted to Rev. faividt Harries.

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HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

ciently to be ready for plastering, when the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company made an offer of $15,000 for the lots. This offer was accepted. Two lots at the corner of Van Buren Street and Fourth Avenue, upon which stood a residence, were then purchased, and to which the church and parsonage were moved. The church building was then finished, and the whole property became very valuable. The first minister in this church was Rev. August Kellner, who was appointed soon after the organization in 1852. He remained until 1854, when he was succeeded by Rev. Frederick Schu- ler. Rev. W. F. Koeneke was appointed in 1855, and was followed in 1856 by Rev. Christian F. Holl, who remained two years. In 185S Rev. Leopold Lass be- came pastor, and was succeeded in 1861 by Rev. Fred- erick Kopp. Mr. Kopp was succeeded in 1864 by Rev. Isidore Lewis, who remained one year, being succeeded in 1865 by Rev. C. A. Loeber, who remained until 1867. Rev. E. Wunderlich then became pastor and remained two years, being succeeded by Rev. Mr. Fichencher, who in 1872 was succeeded by Rev. C. A. Loeber, who remained four years as pastor and one year as agent for the society's property. Rev. J. W. Roecker was ap- pointed pastor in 1877, and was succeeded in 1878 by Rev. C. F. Allert, the last pastor of the Church. The property of the society, as completed in the year 1854, consisting of the two lots, church building, parsonage and rented residence, were used until the fire of October, r871, destroyed them. The society at that time was in a flourishing condition, and consisted of nearly two hun- dred members. Like many other societies, they were to some extent scattered and weakened by the great calamity; but those who remained attached to its fort- unes were by no means deprived of confidence in its future prosperity, as was shown by their refusal to accept an offer for the lots of $70,000, although advised to do so by some of the older and more experienced members. The plan adopted by the majority of the Church, which was composed of young and enthusiastic business men, was to erect a business block, following the successful example of the First Methodist Episco- pal Church, with the expectation that the income from rents would furnish the society with a handsome reve- nue. The lots were each fifty feet wide. Sixty feet in width was mortgaged for $40,000, at ten per cent an- nual interest, and a brick block erected thereon. This block is sixty by seventy-five feet in size, and four stories high. It was completed in 1873. The panic of this year prevented the realization of the hopes of the society, and the location did not prove as favorable for business as it was expected that it would. The annual interest on the debt, $4,000, added to the ordinary expenses of the society, proved too excessive a burden to be borne. The members became discouraged, and gradually fell away from the Church. In March, 1879, when the debt amounted to $48,000, and the member- ship was reduced to sixty, the mortgage was foreclosed. These sixty members distributed themselves among other German Methodist churches, uniting mainly with the Maxwell-street and Portland-avenue churches. In 1874 the Dayton-street Mission, which in 1879 became the Center-avenue Church, was started principally by members from the Van Buren-street Church. Among those active in the matter were Henry Ricker. Christian Cander and Charles Batsche. A sketch of this mission will be introduced in the third volume of this History.

MAXWELL-STREET GERMAN METHODIST EPISCO- PAL CHURCH .- Certain members of the First German Methodist Episcopal Church on Indiana Street, and of the Van Buren-street Methodist Episcopal Church, in

the year 1852, united in the formation of this society. In this movement about forty German Methodists were engaged. Among the more active ones were: Mr. and Mrs. Christian Brandes, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gils, August Theis, Henry Juengens, Mr. and Mrs. John Lange, Eliza Zempta, Conrad Ocho, William Pagen- hart, William Schreiner, Philip Ralfstadt, and Eruct Dikman. This society purchased a small building at the corner of Washington and Jefferson streets, where- in they worshiped about a year, with Rev. A. Kellner as their minister, when they moved their building to the corner of Harrison and Aberdeen streets, at a cost of $200. Here they remained until 1864, when under the supervision of Rev. P. Hinners, then in charge of the congregation, the church edifice at present owned and occupied was erected. From the sale of the old build- ing to the completion of the new one the congregation worshiped in a school-house at the corner of Halsted and Twelfth streets. The church on Maxwell Street is a brick basement with frame superstructure, surmounted by a low tower. It is forty-five by sixty-five feet in size and cost about $7,000. The first minister, after the removal to Harrison and Aberdeen streets, was Rev. Ernest Baar, who was succeeded by Rev. R. Ficken- scher, who in turn was succeeded in 1855 by Rev. Henry Senn. Since that date the pastors have been as follows: Revs. R. Fickenscher, 1856; W. Winter, 1858; Isidore Lewis, 1860; L. Lass, 1861; P. Hinners, 1863; F. Fischer, 1866; R. Fickenscher, 1868; C. G. Becker, 1870; J. W. Roccher, 1872 ; G. L. Mulfinger, 1874; C. A. Loeber, 1876; Frederick Gottschalk, 1879; and J. J. Keller in 1882. Three churches have thus far sprung from this society-the Emanuel, at the corner of Laflin and Nineteenth streets, the Portland-avenue, at the cor- ner of Portland Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street, and the church at the corner of Ullman and Thirty-first streets, dedicated September 2, 1883. A Sunday school has been connected with the German Society, or Max- well-street Church, since its organization. There are now from three hundred to four hundred children in attendance.

THE FIRST SWEDISH METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized as the Scandinavian Mission early in 1853, by the Rev. S. B. Newman. There were originally twenty-five members, among them Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Lindgren, Mr. and Mrs. Olof Westergreen, and Mr. and Mrs. John Livergreen. As early as practicable after organization Mr. Newman erected a building on Illinois Street, near Market. This was during the sum- mer of 1854, and the dedication occurred September 24, the sermon being preached by Rev. O. G. Hedstrom from the Bethel Ship, New York City. This church was occupied by the society until burned down by the fire of 1871. Mr. Newman remained pastor until the fall of 1855, when he was followed by the Rev. Eric Shogren, who remained until 1859. Rev. J. Bredburg was then pastor from 1859 to 1861, and was succeeded by Rev. A. J. Anderson, who remained until 1864. Rev. Eric Shogren was then returned and remained un- til 1865. He was followed by Rev. N. O. Westergreen, from 1865 to 1868; by Rev. Nels Peterson, from 1868 to 1870, and by Rev. A. J. Anderson from IS;o to 1873. He was then again returned and remained from IS;3 to 1876, having as assistant from 1873 to 1874 Rev. Alfred Anderson, and from 1874 to 1876, Rev. N. O. Wester- green, who was also editor of the Swedish Church paper, "Sandebudet." Rev. Victor Witting was then pastor from 1876 to 1877 ; Rev. A. J. Anderson from 1877 to 1879. and Rev. D. S. Serlin from 1879 to ISS2. when the present pastor, Rev. H. W. Eklund, was appointed.

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After the destruction of their church on Illinois Street by the fire, the society immediately erected a temporary building at the corner of Market and Oak streets, which was used until 1876, when it was replaced by the present brick structure, which is seventy by seventy-two feet in size, has a seating capacity of Soo, and cost $30,000. A fine organ was put up in 1881. Adjoining the church is a two-story brick parsonage, costing about $2,500. The property of the society is free from incumbrance. The branches from this Church are the Second Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church on May Street organized in 1876; the Fifth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, organized in 1876, and the Lake View Swedish Method- ist Episcopal Church, organized in 1883, sketches of which will appear in the third volume of this History. The membership of this Church in 1858 was sixty; in 1872 three hundred and twenty-five; and in 1883 four hundred and thirty-six.

REV. S. B. NEWMAN - was born in Sweden September 15, 1802. He came to America in 1842, and joined the Alabama Con- ference in 1845. He went to New York in 1851, and came to Chi-

cago in 1852. Since leaving Chicago, in 1855, he has filled various pulpits in Methodist churches, as appointed to them by the con- ference, and was elder of the Illinois District from IS70 to 1675. At present he is pastor of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church at Moline, Ill., preaching also at Rock Island.

THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH was organ- ized in 1849. They at first worshiped in the semi- nary at the corner of Clark and Madison streets. Rev. Daniel Bagley was the first minister, preaching regularly in the seminary until the erection of the church building. situated at the northwest corner of Washington and Desplaines streets. Rev. Mr. Bagley, was succeeded, in 1850, by Rev. R. T. Strong: Rev. R. L. Ellis was appointed in 1851, Rev. Z. R. Ellis was appoint- ed in 1852 and Rev. R. F. Shinn was pastor in 1853 and 1854. Mr. Shinn was succeeded by Rev. George Ridding, who remained about two years, and was succeeded by Dr. Rogers, from Canada, a man of fine appearance and address and of considerable talent. But his connection with the Church was unfortunate, as certain difficulties, taken in connection with the indebt- edness of the society hastened the disbandment of the Church. During the pastorate of Mr. Shinn, the society purchased a lot upon which to erect a new church; deeding the lot in trust to him. This lot he re- deeded to the trustees some time after leaving the Church, and it was lost, together with the rest of their property on account of debts. In March, 1857, they were worshiping in a church at the corner of l'eoria and Fulton streets, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Rob- ert H. Sutton. On the 26th of April, Rev. W. B. Mack preached to this congregation. In August, 1858, Rev. P. J Strong preached to them, and in September Rev. W. B. Mack was appointed by the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church. Superintendent of the Chicago Mission, and commenced his labors in the church building of this denomination on the 26th of the month.

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 92

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340