History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 95

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

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since known as " Carpenter's Addition to Chicago," for which he was laughed at at the time as having located a farm so far away from the city, and one which seemingly never could be plowed ex- cept with an anchor. This addition is bounded by Madison. Hal- sted and Kinzie streets, and by a line running from Kinzie to Madi- son Street, midway between Ann and Elizabeth. Contrary to Mr. Carpenter's expectations at the time of its purchase, he has lived to see it covered with buildings and to pay in taxes annually on one lot more than twice as much as the whole quarter section cos :. But if always sagacious in real estate investments, he made a mistake in endorsing for some friends. These friends failed to pay their creditors at the maturity of the debt. and Mr. Carpenter borrowed money with which to pay some of them. When the crisis of 1637 came this debt became due, and as it was not possible to sell real estate or borrow money, Mr. Carpenter in response to the demands of his creditors spread before a committee selected for the purpose. con- sisting of William H. Brown, and B. W. Raymond, his entire list of property from which they were to select sufficient to satisfy the debt, SS,600. The committee selected nine hundred and sixty acres of land in Fayette County, four and a half blocks in Carpen- ter's Addition to Chicago, a house and lot on LaSalle Street, near Washington, his homestead. and a half block in the school sec- tion. It was then generally conceded that the property chosen was worth more than twice the debt. As illustrating the soundness of Mr. Carpenter's judgment with reference to the future value of Chicago real estate, his opposition to the proposed sale in I$32 of the entire school section, bounded by State. Madison, Halsted and Twelfth streets, may be mentioned. One hundred and thirty- eight blocks were sold for $35.065. The four blocks that were not sold, bounded by Madison, state, Monroe and Dearborn streets, are now (1853) worth over $2.000,000. Mr. Carpenter retired from the Board of Education in 1865. and as a recognition of his services, one of Chicago's elegant school-houses was named the "Carpenter School." He nasalways been an advocate of education, temperance, religion and universal liberty. In 1$32, he wrote and circulated the first total abstinence pledge in Chicago and so far is known delivered in the log building of the Rev. Jesse Walker, the first temperance address in the city, and on the 19th of August of the same year as- sisted at the organization of the first Sunday school in the city. He was one of the first members of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, and also one of its first elders. His work as a member of the Third Presbyterian Church and as one of the organizers of the First Congregational Church. is detailed in connection with each. What he did for the Chicago Theological Seminary is referred to in its history. He was one of the organizers and since has been one of the most liberal supporters of the National Christian Asso- ciation, organized in opposition to secret societies, a sketch of which is inserted elsewhere in this History. Mr. Carpenter Was married first to Sarah F. Bridges, of Berkshire County, Mass .. May 10, t$30, who died in the following November. He was married to Miss Ann Thompson, of Saratoga County, N. Y .. April 23, 1834. She died in 1866. They had seven children, three of whom died in infancy. His youngest son died suddenly of heart disease September 8. 1$69. Two daughters are now liv- ing, Mrs. W. W. Cheney, and Mrs. Rev. Edward Hildreth. His third daughter, Mrs. Millie C. Strong died December 31. 1360.

PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- During the year 1852, informal consultations were held by members of the First Presbyterian Church with refer- ence to separating from that Church and forming a new one on the Congregational plan. In the early days of Chicago, Congregationalists arriving in the city, finding no Church of that denomination here. very generally united with Presbyterian churches, but as they increased in numbers they naturally became more desirous of founding churches similar to those of which they had been members in their former homes. The first regu- lar meeting for the purpose of consultation upon the propriety of organizing Plymouth Church was held October 7, 1852, at the heatse of Joseph Johnston. At this meeting a committee was appointed whose duty it became to secure a site upon which to erect a house of worship. At a meeting held October 27. also at the house of Mr. Johnston. a committee was appointed to solicit and collect funds and to superintend the erection of the church building upon the site selected by the former committee: and another committee was appoint- ed to prepare a plan of organization. At subsequent meetings the articles of faith, rules of the Church, etc.,

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PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS.

presented by the proper committee were adopted, and an Ecclesiastical Council convened December 1. 1852, for the purpose of creating the Church. which was organ- ized on that day and called the "Plymouth Congrega- tional Church of Chicago." The Ecclesiastical Council was composed of representatives from twenty-five churches. It was organized by the election of Rev. J. Gridley, moderator, and Revs. H. D. Kitchel and L. Benedict, scribes. A statement of reasons was made to the Council for the proposed organization of the Church, the main reasons being:

First. The conviction that the growth of the city warranted the establishment of another Church, professing the same funda- mental doctrines of faith and practice with that from which the sep- aration was made.

Second. A desire to be united under a Church Polity which would secure to the majority the right to carry their own acts of discipline and benevolence, and that would be free from all eccles- iastical connection with the sin of slavery.

These reasons were declared satisfactory by a unan- imous vote of the Council, the articles of faith, cove- nant and rules and declarations of the Church were all approved, and the Council proceeded to the organi- zation of the Church. The following order of exercises was observed:

Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. G. S. F. Savage; introductory prayer, by Rev. L. Farnham; sermon, by Rev. Flavel Bascom; reading minutes of council, by the scribe; reading articles of faith, etc., by moderator; consecrating prayer, by Rev. W. B. Dodge; fellowship of the churches, by Rev. L. S. Hobart; benediction, by the acting pastor, Rev. J. M. Davis. The original members were as follows, forty-eight in number: Frank- lin V. Pitney, Mrs. Franklin V. Pitney, Joseph Johnston, J. R. Shedd, Mrs. J. R. Shedd, Mrs. Clara MI. Waldo, Orlando Davidson, Mrs. Orlando Davidson, William H. Taylor, F. T. Seeley, Silas R. Ball, MIrs. Silas R. Ball, Miss Amelia Ball, Zebina Eastman, Mrs. Zebina East- man, Archibald Ridell, Mrs. Lucy Ridell, John H. But- ler, Mrs. John H. Butler, Thomas C. Whitemarsh, MIrs. William H. Taylor, Horatio Hitchcock, Mrs. Louisa S. Hitchcock, Mrs. Emeline C. Fulton, Mrs. Anna E. Ed- wards, Mrs. E. C. Husted, E. C. Stowell, Benjamin Carpenter, Mrs. Benjamin Carpenter, William P. Caton, Mrs. William P. Caton, Deliver Walker, Mrs. Deliver Walker, Miss Abby Walker, Mrs. Juliette F. White- marsh, Mrs. S. J. Stickney, Spencer Warner, Mrs. Spen- cer Warner, Nathaniel S. Cushing, Mrs. Melissa W. Cushing, Mrs. Haven, Carlos Haven, Mrs. Julia Ha- ven, Mrs. Cornelia M. Temple, George W. Richards, Mrs. Laura Richards, Mrs. Isabella Davis, A. S. Wilcox. The first forty-one of these were from the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago; the next three from the Galesburg Presbyterian Church; the next two fron the Congrega- tional Church at Harmar; Mrs. Isabella Davis from the Congregational Church, at Woonsocket, R. I., and A. S. Wilcox, from the Methodist Church, at Chicago. Religious services were held for a few weeks in War- ner's Hall, on Randolph Street, until the completion of the church building in January. This stood on the southwest corner of Madison and Dearborn streets, and Was dedicated on the last Sunday in January, 1853. It wis a trame structure, thirty by fifty feet in size, and CO -: 52.550. In the fall of 1955, it was moved to the corner of Third Avenue and Van Buren Street, and in it there the Church continued to worship until the fall of 1864, when it was sold. Rev. J. M. Davis remained pastor until July, 1853, and was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel H. Eggleston, who was called November 9, 1053, installed March 12, 1834. and resigned July 25, 1855. Kev. Joseph E. Roy, formerly pastor of the Con-

gregational Church at Brimfield, Illinois, was called August 15, 1855, commenced his ministerial labors on the first Sunday in November, was installed July 1, IS56, and resigned July 1, 1860. MIr. Roy's resigna- tion was occasioned by his having received on June 18, 1860, the appointment of District Secretary for the Northwest of the American Missionary Association, which appointment he desired to accept. The mem- bership of this Church increased somewhat irregularly for the first few years. In 1853, there were added forty members; in 1854, ten; in 1855, twenty-one; in 1856, sixty-one; and in 1857, thirty-seven.

SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- During the years IS53 and 1854, a corporation known as the "Ameri- can Car Company," carried on an extensive manufactory of railroad cars in Chicago. Their establishment was located on the lake shore at the foot of Rio Grande Street, now Twenty-sixth. The section of the city in the vicinity of their works, soon after they went into operation, became quite thickly settled by families con- nected therewith; the settlement became quite a village and received the name of Carville. A few New En- gland men connected with the company, assisted by the residents of Carville, applied themselves to the work of forming a new Church. and the erection of a church edifice. Prominent among the movers in this enterprise were the president of the American Car Company, Tim- othy Dwight, and the superintendent, J. H. Lyman. Deacon Joseph Johnston, of the Plymouth Congrega- tional Church, donated S300 toward the enterprise, and several other leading Chicago Congregationalists ably seconded the movement. The proprietors of the Car Company donated a lot on the northeast cornet of Cal- umet Avenue and Rio Grande Street, and during the summer of 1853, a house of worship was erected thereon. While this was being erected, religious services were reg- ularly held in a school-house standing near the inter- section of Calumet and Cottage Grove avenues, under the ministration of Rev. E. F. Dickinson, whose labors with his people commenced early in March, IS53, and were continued until the fall of 1854. During his pas- torate the new house of worship was completed and dedicated and the Church organization fully effected. The dedication occurred August 21, 1853. The follow- ing extract relating thereto is copied from the Chicago Daily Tribune, of August 24:

" The new house of worship erected near the American Car Company's works in this city, for the use of a Congregational Church and society, was dedicated to the service of God on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Rev. E. F. Dickinson conducted the in- troductory exercises. The sermon was preached by Rev. J. C. Holbrook. from the Tooth Psalm. Subject: 'The Benefit to Soci- ety of Public Worship.' Dedicatory prayer by Rev. J. M. Will- iams. This is a very neat edifice, built upon the general model of the l'lymouth church in this city: the dimensions are thirty-six by sixty feet and it contains sixty slips besides those for the use of the choir. The whole expense including furnishing will be about $2,500, besides the donation of the lot; )Ir. Lyman, the superin- tendent of the works, also generously donated a melodeon. The seats are to be free. There is also adjoining on the same lot, a small building designed for a school-house and conference room. Kev. E. F. Dickinson will preach there regularly at Io o'clock every Sahbath morning for the pre-ent. A good audience was in attendance on the occasion of the dedication. This is the third Congregational church edifice that has been opened in this city within the last six months, and there is another on the North side, which will be completed next month. The First Congregational Church on the West Side are also preparing to build a nine house. at an expense of about $15,000.'

The next event of importance was the organization of the Church. This was effected November 20, 1853. in the evening of which day Sunday , a Council con- vened at the church and proceeded to formally recognize the Church, which at that time consisted of fourteen

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HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

members, and which increased to nineteen members at the first communion, as follows: Rev. Edmund F. Dickinson, Mrs. Harriet N. Dickinson, H. E. Dickin- son, Mrs. Julia A. Dickinson, Jesse R. Langdon, Mrs. Artemisia Langdon, Mrs. Candace L. Langdon, Caleb F. Gates, Mrs. Mary E. Gates, Mrs. Mabel K. Gates, Charles Gates, Mrs. Laura Clapp, Joseph Harper, Mrs. Jane Harper, Mrs. Mary Putney, Samuel Truax, Mrs. Agnes M. Ballentine, Mrs. Harriet Chamberlain, Miss Mary Jane Haynes. After the retirement of Mr. Dickinson, a call was extended in October to Rev. Edwin E. Wells, of Bloomingdale, Ill., to occupy the field as a stated sup- ply, and during the same month he commenced his ministry. He proved to be a zealous and acceptable pastor, and during the brief period of his pastorate, a new interest was awakened in spiritual matters, and the congregation was largely increased. But his strength was not equal to the task, his health was impaired, and he died July 18, 1855. Days of affliction and adversity now came upon the Church. In addition to a death of a faithful and beloved pastor, the society suffered from . financial embarrassment. The American Car Company failed, and in consequence was unable to redeem its generous promises and pledges of support to the Church. This unexpected calamity occurring while their debts remained uncanceled, threatened the de- struction of the society. But although discouraged, they did not despair, nor cease their efforts to cancel their obligations, and thus relieve themselves of their burdens. In October, 1855, Rev. Cornelius S. Cady was called to the pastorate. He accepted the invitation and remained with the Church until October, 1856. when he resigned. During the period of his engagement, a series of special religious meetings was held by Rev. J. T. Avery, of Cleveland, Ohio, an evangelist, and a number of hopeful conversions was made. For some months after the retirement of Mr. Cady, occasional preaching was had in the church by Rev. H. L. Hammond and Rev. E. Goodman, of Chicago. At length an invitation was extended to Rev. William T. Bartle, of Kewanee, 111., to occupy the pulpit, and he commenced his minis- try June 21, 1857. MIr. Bartle resigned his pastorate April 24, 1859, having thus been with the Church nearly two years. These were also years of sore trial to the Church, especially on account of the financial crisis of 1857; but as the period covered by them, and its results to this devoted band of Christians is mostly within the space of time embraced in the second volume of this History, a detailed account thereof is deferred to that volume. At the close of the year 1854 the membership of the Church was twenty-one; in 1855, there were six additions, in 1856, nine, and in 1857, ten.

THE NEW ENGLAND CHURCH .- The New England Congregational Church was organized June 15, 1853. by a council of churches called for that purpose. Its membership at the time of the organization was twenty- one. The origin of the movement which resulted in the organization of this Church was as follows : The Prairie Herald, a religious newspaper published in Chi- cago, was offered for sale in 1852. The dedication of Plymouth Congregational Church was to occur in Jan- uary, 1853, and among others there were present in Chi- cago to assist in the dedication. Rev. L. S. Hobert, of Michigan and Rev. John C. Holbrook, of Dubuque, lowa. It occurred to these gentlemen to open negotiations for the purchase of the paper, hoping to make it the Con- gregational organ for the Northwest. . At a meeting held to consider the question of purchasing the paper, it was discovered that if the purchase were made

an editor must be secured at once. Rev. Mr. Holbrook consented to accept the editorship, provided a place could be found where he could at the same time prose- cute his ministry. A preliminary enterprise was there- fore started on the North Side, with a view to an ulti- mate Church organization, the enterprise being at first supported mainly by the members of the Plymouth Church. Services was held each Sunday afternoon at the North Market Hall, and prayer-meetings were held during the week at private houses. In the winter of 1852-53 it was deemed advisable to take steps toward the erection of a suitable house of worship. A piece of land was purchased in the name of Benjamin Carpenter at the corner of Indiana and Wolcott now State streets, and the necessary amount of money subscribed to make the first payment thereon and for the erection of a church building. About May 1, 1853, a committee was appointed to draft articles of faith, covenant, and rules for the government of the Church, and also a committee to call a council for the purpose of organizing a Church. The former committee consisted of Rer- John C. Holbrook, Charles G. Hammond, George C. Whitney and Lewis Broad. The second committee was composed of Rev. J. C. Holbrook, George C. Whitney and L. D. Olmsted. On the 15th of June the Council called by the second committee convened and or- ganized the Church, with the following twenty-one members : Rev. John C. Holbrook, Mrs. Ann Louisa Holbrook, Benjamin Carpenter, Mrs. Abigail H. Car- penter, Abraham Clark, Mrs. Melicent Clark, Miss Jane Clark, James N. Davidson, Mrs. Lucy Davidson, Miss Elizabeth Davidson, Orlando Davidson, Mrs. Caroline Davidson, George C. Whitney, Miss Sarah Whitney, Miss Rachel Cole, Lucius D. Olmsted, Mrs. Jesse Olm- sted, Charles G. Hammond and Mrs. C. B. Hammond. On July 6, Charles G. Hammond and George C. Whit- ney were elected deacons, and Orlando Davidson was elected clerk. On the 9th of October, the name," The New England Church," was adopted. Rev. John C. Holbrook remained with the Church as stated supply until January 1, 1856. He declined a call to settle as pastor, and soon afterward left the city. For a con- siderable time thereafter the pulpit was occupied by different clergymen, Rev. Charles P. Bush, a Presby- terian, remaining nine months. At length Rev. Samuel C. Bartlett, of Manchester, N. H., after having declined the first call, accepted the second and was installed as pastor April 15, 1857. Rev. Mr. Bartlett remained two years when he resigned in order to devote himself to the duties of the Professorship of Biblical literature in the Chicago Theological Seminary. to which office he had recently been appointed. The first church building erected at the corner of Indiana and State streets, was a frame structure forty by fifty-five feet in size, capable of seating five hundred people, and cost $2,000. The next building was erected in 1865, a description of which will be found in the second volume of this History. The membership of this Church at the time of organiza- tion, June 15, 1853, was twenty-one; November 6, eleven were added, three on profession, eight by letter; on December 20, three were added. one on profession, two by letter. In 1854 the additions to the membership were five. in 1855. fourteen, 1856. fourteen: and in 185; twenty-one. The total number received previous to January 1. 1858, was eighty-nine; the membership had been diminished in number twenty-three, seven by death, fifteen by dismission, mostly to join other churches, and one by excommunication, leaving the membership at the close of the first period of this His- tory, sixty-six.

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PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS.

THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH .- The first at- tempt to organize a Universalist Church in Chicago was made in 1836. In that year Rev. William Queal preached to a small congregation, and on the 11th of June organized the society which consisted of N. H. Bolles, E. E. Hunter, A. N. Marble, Chester Tupper, S. G. Trowbridge and S. C. Bennett, who worshiped for a number of years in Mechanic's Hall, in the old Saloon Building. Other places were occasionally oc- cupied, as Bennett's school-house, and the court-room. For a number of years the congregations were quite small, but among them were several persons who after- ward became prominent and leading citizens. Previous

FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

to 1843 the Church had no regular minister, but de- pended upon missionaries as supplies. The first church building erected by this society was located on Wash- ington Street, near the Clark-street Methodist Episcopal church. It was a frame building, thirty by forty-five feet in size, and cost $2,000. It was dedicated October 23, 1844, by Rev. William E. Manley, D. D., who had accepted a call to the Church in the preceeding January. Mr. Manley had preached for the Church in 1842. He remained pastor until 1845, when he was succeeded by Rev. Samuel P. Skinner, who was succeeded in October, 1855, by Rev. Samuel B. Mason. During Mr. Mason's pastorate the congregation had grown so large that a new church edifice became a necessity. Movements were therefore instituted looking to the erection of a building which should be a monument of architectural grandeur and beauty, and furnish the Church, which had become the leading Universalist Society of the Northwest, with a permanent religious home. A build- ing committee was appointed consisting of R. K. Swift, Henry Vreeland, B. F. Walker, Jacob Gage, S. P. Skinner, H. H. Husted, P. B. King, and M. D. Gilman. The first board of trustees consisted of M. D. Gilman. H. H. Husted and E. G. Hall. During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Mason the new church building. which was a remarkably attractive edifice, was completed. W. W. Boyington was the architect. The location of this building was at the southwest corner of Wabash Avenue and Van Buren Street. The dimensions of the building were seventy feet fronting on Wabash Avenue, and one hundred and eight feet deep on Van Buren Street, in- cluding the projection of the towers and turrets. The

style of architecture was Gothic, with lancet-head win- dows and doors. The front of the building was very graceful, the tower and spire in the center, the spire reaching to a height of one hundred and seventy-five feet. There was a turret on each front corner. and three entrances in the front, opening into a spacious vestibule. The exterior walls were of stone, rock faced, the spire and pinnacles being of wood. The main auditorium was on the second floor ; was fifty-eight by seventy-five feet in size, with galleries, and afforded comfortable seating for eight hundred people. The height of the walls was twenty-eight feet, and the ceil- ing was forty-three feet high in the center. The pulpit was erected in an octagonal recess. There was a very fine organ, erected by Mr. Erben. The basement was ten feet feet high in the clear and was elegantly fitted up for its purposes. . The cost of this building was S6o.oco. The dedication occurred May ;, 1857. Rev. E. H. Chapin, of New York City, preaching the sermon. The first church building of this society was sold to the Olivet Presbyterian Church. The successor in the pul- pit of Rev. Samuel B. Mason, was Rev. William W. King, who commenced his pastorate in August, 1857, and was succeeded by Rev. William H. Ryder, on Sun- day, January 1, 1860. The legal title of the parish is the First Universalist Society of Chicago, but it is gen- erally known as St. Paul's Universalist Church.

THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH was organized June 29, 1836, under the laws of Illinois, and with the title of " The First Unitarian Society of Chicago," SSoo were at once subscribed for the purchase of a lot. The first Unitarian preaching in Chicago was a few days or weeks previous, but in the same month of June. The services were held in the Lake House, which stood at the corner of Rush and Michigan streets. Dr. Charles Follen preached the sermon. Miss Martineau, who was on a tour through the West at the time, refers to that occasion in the following language: "We were unexpectedly detained over the Sunday in Chicago, and Dr. F. was requested to preach. Though only two hours' notice was given. a respectable congregation was assembled in the large room of the Lake House, a new hotel then builoing. Our seats were a few chairs, and benches, and planks laid on trestles. The preacher stood behind a rough pine table, on which a large Bible was placed. I was never present at a more interesting service, and I know that there were others who felt with me." For some time after the organization was per- fected the society had no regular pastor. Rev. Mr. Huntoon preached for some months in the summer of 1837, and in June, 1838, Rev. James Thompson. of Salem, Mass., preached a number of sermons. In 1839 Rev. Crawford Nightingale preached for some months, the society being accommodated in the Mechanics' In- stitute. On the 22d of June, this year, Rev. George W. Hosmer, of Buffalo, preached in the "City Saloon," on Unitarianism, and he also preached on the three succeeding Sundays. Some time afterward Rev. Mr. Barrett preached two Sundays. In October, Rev. Jo- seph Harrington arrived in Chicago and commenced his labor here as the pastor of the society. His first sermon was preached in the " City Saloon," to a con- gregation of ten persons. Religious services continued to be held in the same place until the spring of 1840, when Rev. Mr. Harrington decided to go East and solicit assistance to build a church. Upon his return a lot was purchased on Washington Street, between Clark and Dearborn, eighty by one hundred and eighty feet in size, for 8300. A contract was made with Alexander Lloyd for the erection of a building. It was erected

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 95

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