USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 67
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111
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTH BEND.
church. The graduates of St. Joseph's Acad- emy rank with those of the best high schools. The foundation of the Assumption school, as we have seen, dates from the year 1853. It was greatly enlarged and improved in 1907, under the administration of Sister Boni- face. St. Joseph's Academy dates from 1866. It was built up under the direction of the efficient Sister Ambrose. a sister of the Rev. William Corby. chaplain in the Civil war, and for several years before his death the able provincial of the Order of the Holy Cross in America. The history of the Cath- olie church in South Bend should not be closed without special commemoration of the
the church since 1842:
Mr. William L. HI. Stocker; E. T. Manning; S. L. Col- lins: D. Thomas: A. S. Ames; Ira Corwin; C. Ager: T. P. Campbell; M. Mulcahy ; J. L. M. Young; T. E. Egbert; C. D. Chaffee; A. B. Chaffee; Carl D. Case; E. S. Stucker : G. M. Lehigh; David Cooper; and William Kirk Bryce. the present eloquent and ener- getic pastor.
It was in the month of January, 1874, dur- ing the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Young, that the frame church at the corner of Main
a. South Bend and the Men who have Made it, 1901, p. 37; Higgins Belden St. Joseph County Atlas, 1875, p. 24.
423
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
and Jefferson streets. on the present site of the post office, was burned. This is known in local annals as the Baptist church fire. and was one of the most terrible fire con- tests that the old volunteer fire department ever experienced. The weather was intensely cold and many of the firemen never recovered from the dreadful exposure then experienced. This building had been moved from the next lot south in 1864: and was at that time greatly enlarged and improved. After the fire of 1874, the building was repaired and used by the congregation until their removal to the fine stone edifice at the corner of Main and Wayne streets. in January, 1887. The
Mount Zion Baptist Church, 116 North Bird- sell street. the Rev. HI. M. Stoval, pastor ; the Immanuel Baptist Church, 875 South Marietta street, the Rev. W. F. Bostick, pas- tor: the Quincy Street Baptist Church, the Rev. Henry B. Finch. pastor, organized in
1906:
and the First
Swedish
Baptist
Church, corner of Laurel and Napier streets. See. 6 .- THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- St. James' Episcopal Church was organized as a parish July 28. 1868, with the Rev. George P. Schetky, as rector. Through the munifi- cence of Judge Powers Green, a church build- ing was ereeted in 1869 on the north side of Wayne street, a little east of Lafayette; and
ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH BEND.
old frame building was removed to the grounds of the Studebaker wagon factory, where it still continues to do service. The present field stone church, one of the most elegant and commodious in the city. was erected in 1886, but not occupied until 1887.
The Rev. Carl Delos Case came to the church in April, 1895, and remained for four years. He won the admiration of the com- munity as well as of the members of his own church. The present pastor, the Rev. William Kirk Bryce, has taken a like high place in public esteem.
Besides the First Church. there is the
was dedicated with appropriate services on September the fifth of that year. In January, 1871, the church was moved to a point a lit- tle north of the northwest corner of Lafay- ette and Jefferson streets. This building was again moved in 1898: this time to the north- west part of the city, where it was used as the Westminster Presbyterian Church. The lot on which it had stood was sold at the same time, and the present site. on the west side of Lafayette street, between Washington and Colfax, was purchased. On this lot the pres- ent handsome brick church was erected in 1894. The church was solemnly dedicated on
424
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
Christmas eve of that year, at a midnight service, by the Right Rev. Bishop of Spring- field, George Franklin Seymour. It is one of the finest churches in the city, and is valued at over thirty thousand dollars. The present rector is the Rev. Francis Milton Banfil, who was installed January 1, 1899.
Sec. 7 .- THE LUTHERAN CHURCH .- St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. of South Bend, was organized in 1878 by the Rev. Henry Siek. The original church, built on the southeast corner of Jefferson and Wil- liam streets, was dedicated August 21, 1878. The Rev. Paul Heid was the second pastor. He was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Trangott J. Thieme. The congregation has a large and substantial church building, and is in a flourishing condition. A note- worthy feature of this church is the excellent and largely attended parochial school which is attached to it. The history of this school is coeval with that of the church itself. While the parish was in its infancy, the first pastor. the Rev. Mr. Siek, taught the school himself. Afterwards, when conditions im- proved, a teacher was employed. And now. for several years past, two teachers are con- stantly engaged.
The Holy Trinity English Lutheran Church is located at the corner of Sherman avenue and Lindsey street. The Rev. Wil- in 1852, and a church erected that year. In liam Brenner is the pastor.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Gloria Dei Church is located at the southwest cor- ner of Chapin and Kerr streets. The Rev. John F. Borg is the nastor. The congrega- tion, which is very numerous and zealous, has erected a beautiful concrete stone church.
Sec. 8 .- THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH .- St. Peter's Evangelical Church was organized in 1863. The congregation has a handsome brick church at No. 429 West La Salle ave- nue. The Rev. Charles Koenig is the pastor.
Zion Church, located at No. 231 South St. Peter street, was established in 1888, by the Rev. Martin Goffeney, who has been pastor of the church from the beginning. In 1892 a
school was established in connection with the church; and in 1895 a neat parsonage was built. Both church and school are in a flour- ishing condition.
The First Church Evangelical Association is located at the northwest corner of Lafay- ette and Monroe streets. The pastor is the Rev. Fred Rausch. The congregation has a beautiful new brick church.
Mizpah Church is located at No. 126 West Monroe street. The Rev. James H. Rilling is the pastor.
The South Bend Evangelical Hungarian Protestant Church is located at No. 1422 West Washington street. The pastor is the Rev. Stephen Csepke.
' The Swedish Evangelical Mission Church is located at the corner of Scott and Orchard streets.
Sec. 9 .- THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH .- The Christian Church of South Bend was first organized on Portage prairie, at a point about four miles north of the city limits. The Rev. W. MeIlvaine, a zealons minister, was the first pastor. In the spring of 1851, Elder Mell- vaine secured the old seminary on West Washington, where services were held for a year. The lot on which the present church stands. on the east side of Main street, be- tween Wayne and Division, was purchased 1878 a larger building was erected on the same lot. This church building has been ma- terially enlarged and improved since that time.
The membership of this church has em- braced many of the best citizens of the city. Among the pastors after the Rev. Mr. Me- Ilvaine have been,-John Martindale, Reuben Wilson, Gideon Drapier, Frederick .J. Thomas, W. J. Homer, J. Belton, H. N. Lord, W. B. Hendrix, William P. Ailsworth, J. Hurd. George W. Sweeney, J. H. Stover. The present pastor is the Rev. G. W. Henry.
The Indiana Avenue Christian Church is located at the corner of Indiana avenue and Witwer street. This church was established
425
IHISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
principally through the zeal and eloquence of the Rev. P. J. Rice. The present pastor is the Rev. Arthur C. Mellenry. There is also the Linden Avenue Christian Church, lo- cated on Lincoln street.
Sec. 10 .- OTHER CHURCHES .- Other promi- nent churches in the city are the following : The First Brethren Church, located at No. 1212 South Michigan street, the Rev. David Eikenberry, pastor: the First United Breth- ren in Christ Church, No. 522 Sonth Michi- gan street. the Rev. R. J. Parrett, pastor; the German Baptist Brethren, corner of Cush- ing and Van Buren streets, the Rev. S. F. Sanger, pastor; the First Church of Christ, Scientist, corner of Madison and Main streets; the German Baptist Brethren Church, corner of Indiana avenue and Miami street, the Rev. Iliram W. Kreighbaum, pastor; the Beulah Chapel Evangelical Association, corner of Brick and Euclid avenues, the Rev. Noah F. Platz, pastor; the Sons of Israel, No. 420 South William street, the Rev. Max E. Alt- field. pastor: the Temple Bethel. corner of La Salle avenue and Taylor street, the Rev. Abraham Cronbach, pastor; the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, corner of Lind- sey street and Harrison avenue, Miss. Kate Bredemus, pastor.
Sec 11 .- THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSO- CIATION .- On November 27. 1906. the corner- stone of the 4-story and basement briek build- ing, with stone trimmings, at the northeast corner of Main and Wayne streets, which is to be the house of the Y. M. C. A. of South Bend, was laid. with impressive ceremonies. In the copper box inserted in the cornerstone were placed various articles and documents which may be of rare historie interest to some future generation, when, perhaps, this then venerable structure shall give place to another edifice. Amongst the documents placed in the box were a history of the Young Men's Christ- ian Association, prepared by Mr. Miller Guy, an officer of the local association ; a history, by Mr. Charles Arthur Carlisle, of the Stude- baker Brothers' Manufacturing Company,
through whose munificence the building is to be erected, and a history of the city of South Bend, by the writer. Through the courtesy of Mr. Guy the following sketch of the local association is taken from the general history deposited by him in the copper box then sealed up in the cornerstone of the Y. M. C. A. building :
The local Young Men's Christian Associa- tion of the city of South Bend dates from the ninth day of March, 1882. It was born of the great series of union revival meetings then being held under the leadership of Dr. L. W. Munhall, of Indianapolis, and who was at that time state secretary of the Young Men's Chris- tion Association of the state of Indiana. This first meeting was preliminary, and record of it has been preserved as follows :
"South Bend, Indiana. Thursday, March 9th, 1882.
"Nine-thirty o'clock P. M.
"In compliance with a call made by Dr. L. W. Munhall, state secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association of Indiana, a large number of people met in the lecture room of the First M. E. Church, at the close of a revival service.
"The meeting was called to order by Dr. Munhall, who proceeded to state the object and aim of association work, and to urge the organization of a Y. M. C. A. in South Bend.
"The sense of the meeting was then taken and on motion Marvin Campbell was made secretary pro tem .. after which it was moved and seconded that we proceed with the or- ganization at onee.
"On motion the various pastors of the city churches were then appointed a Committee on Constitution, and directed to report at the next meeting.
"A committee on permanent organization was called for and appointed as follows :
"E. C. Westervelt, of the First Presby- terian church.
"H. F. Clipfell, of the First Christian church.
".J. II. Wilson, of the First Methodist church.
"Geo. W. Loughman, of the Mich. St. Methodist church.
"Samuel Kinney, of the Baptist church.
"C. Liphart, of the German M. E. church.
"H. S. Fassett, of the Episcopal church.
"J. G. Kline, of the Evangelical church.
426
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
"Jasper E. Lewis, of the Reformed church.
"After a general discussion of the favor- able auspices under which we are about to or- ganize and the bright prospects of success, an adjournment was had until Friday night at the close of service.
"Marvin Campbell, Secy. pro tem. "O. H. Palmer, Secretary elect."
The permanent organization of the local was effected on the following evening, being Friday, March 10, 1882.
The meeting was called in the basement of the First Methodist Church at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, to hear the reports of the committees on organization. Sixty- three names were subscribed as charter mem- bers. The membership fee was fixed at one dollar per year. The official minutes of this first regular meeting of the association are as follows :
"South Bend, Indiana. March 10th, 1882. "Friday. Nine-thirty P. M.
"Pursuant to adjournment, a meeting of those interested in the organization of a Young Men's Christian Association was called to order by Dr. L. W. Munhall, in the lecture room of the First M. E. church, at the close of a revival service.
"The committee on constitution presented its report through the chairman, Rev. S. B. Town.
"The constitution submitted was substan- tially that subscribed to by the Y. M. C. A. at Indianapolis, and was unanimously adopted. "Sixty-three names were then attached to the instrument, after which the committee on permanent organization made a report, which was accepted and confirmed by the unanimous election of the following officers for the ensu- ing year.
Hon. Clement Studebaker, President.
Hon. Schuyler Colfax. 1st Vice President.
VICE PRESIDENTS.
Elmer Crockett,
1st Presbyterian.
Marvin Campbell,
1st Methodist.
Andrew J. Ruddick.
Mich. St. Methodist.
Jacob Ginrich,
German Methodist.
Baptist.
William Mack, Francis M. Hatch,
Reformed.
Herbert S. Fassett.
Episcopal.
Chas. Hartman,
Christian.
Emil Pabst, Evangelical.
John P. Rosen, Swedish.
George A. Baker, Cor. Secretary.
Orlando II. Palmer, Rec. Secretary. Willis A. Bugbee, Treasurer.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Samuel F. Allen Jasper E. Lewis
George W. Loughman Gilbert L. Elliott
George T. Hodson Henry F. Clipfell Daniel Achenbach
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
John M. Studebaker Eugene B. Adams
David Warner William Mack
M. N. Walworth Darwin II. Baker
Nathaniel Frame Josiah G. Keltner
Schuyler Colfax
"Congratulations and commendations hav- ing been extended the meeting adjourned.
"O. H. Palmer, Secretary."
Doubtless by few institutions of its kind can the claim be made and substantiated that their first officers and governing bodies were superior to or equal in ability to those who consented to act and work for the good of the local association. The records of the proceed- ings of the board of trustees, executive com- mittee and directors, disclose the fact that the Hon. Clement Studebaker held the office of president for two years, presided person- ally over its meetings, and was rarely absent from its business sessions, and that the Hon. Schuyler Colfax. its first distinguished vice president, assumed the duties of the office given him, and continued in touch with its af- fairs until his death.
Among the first officers chosen was Mr. El- mer Crockett, who has since given continuous service as, and still is, a member of the board of directors. Myron Campbell, who was an active charter member, and elected a director during the first few months after the organi- zation, has since continuously served in that capacity and is now treasurer of the associa- tion. Marvin Campbell and Willis A. Bugbee are still members of the board of trustees.
On account of the interest which attaches to it, in the light of recent developments in our local work, a report of a meeting held at the home of President Clement Studebaker is given in full, and is as follows:
"South Bend, Indiana, April 8th, 1882.
"Upon invitation of the president, a meet- ing of the association was held at his resi- dence, to which a number of the business men of the city were invited, that they might hear the objects and aims of association work dis- cussed by several Y. M. C. A. workers from abroad. Order was called by the president, who requested Dr. L. W. Munhall, state sec- retary, to open the meeting and state the ob- ject of it.
427
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
"Ile was followed by Mr. Hanghey, chair- man of the executive committee of the Indian- apolis association ; S. A. Kean, a prominent banker of Chicago and treasurer of the asso- ciation in that city; J. V. Farwell. the ‘Mer- chant Prince' of the same city; J. E. Deffen- baugh, former general secretary of the asso- ciation at Burlington, Iowa, and Hon. Schuy- ler Colfax, of South Bend.
"Each of the speakers presented the inter- est of the South Bend Association, and they spoke of the work of the Y. M. C. A. in gen- eral in forcible, plain and practical terms, urging those present to make large contribu- tions of time and money to the organization in South Bend.
"With a feeling that a lively interest had been created in our cause adjournment was had without date.
"O. HI. Palmer, "Ree. and Gen 'l Secretary."
The executive committee at a meeting held on the ninth day of April, 1882, elected Mr. Orlando II. Palmer general secretary, to take charge of the work for one year from the fif- teenth day of April. following, at salary of $1.000 per year.
Steps were taken immediately to secure suitable quarters in which to carry forward the work. The executive committee entered into negotiations with the South Bend Na- tional Bank for the use of the second and third stories of its building at 129 and 131 North Michigan street, known at the time as the "Old Price Theater," and leased the same for three years at $400 per year. The first regular meeting of the society was held in that place on May 17th, 1882, and was called to order and presided over by the Hon. Cle- ment Studebaker. Reports of the progress of the work at that gathering showed a total membership of 177 young men at the time.
Under the secretaryship of Mr. Palmer the work was ably and vigorously pushed. Reli- gious and social meetings were held regularly ; the membership reached 250; a library of sev- eral hundred volumes was secured, and his recognized ability gave the movement a good standing in the community. He received a call to the general secretaryship of the Indian- apolis association, and left this field January 30, 1884. to begin work at that place.
Immediately after the retirement of Mr. Palmer from the local work Mr. J. C. Stephens was engaged to fill the position tem- porarily, and held it until the following fall.
On the twenty-fifth day of September, 1884, the board of directors extended a call to George S. Fisher, of Anderson, Indiana, to take the position of general secretary in this city. The offer was accepted and Mr. Fisher took up the work soon after. He held the position for about one and one-half years.
In the spring and summer of 1885 Mr. Fisher organized and conducted the canvass for funds with which to purchase a home. Under his direction subscriptions to the amount of $8,000 were secured, for the pur- pose of purchasing and equipping the "Old Hotel Bristol," at 122 and 124 South Main street. The property was owned by Dr. Rob- ert Harris and Warren Irwin, and was offered for $11,000. The owners executed an agree- ment to convey the same for that amount on the second day of May, 1885. The requisite amount for the cash payment of $5,000 and repairs estimated at $3,000 being secured in the meantime, the deeds were executed for the same to the association on the eleventh day of August. 1885, and the work of repairing and renovating the building was taken up forth- with by the secretary.
The building had been used for a number of years as an old hotel, without rating, and as a cheap boarding house. Previous to its occupation by the Y. M. C. A. there are no traditions or prior history connected with it, that the association desires to perpetuate. The boys never eeased calling it the "Old Joint." and it appears that the name had come down from the time whereof "the mem- ory of man runneth not to the contrary." On the sixteenth day of December, 1885, Seere- tary Fisher reported to the board of directors that the building had been formally opened to the publie for association purposes.
Mr. Fisher thus seenrely placed the local work upon a final and lasting foundation. He was a bright, active, energetic young man, with executive ability. and a genuine hustler. The membership reached 310 during his term. He left South Bend early in the year 1886, and became state secretary of the Young Men's Christian Associations of Kansas.
The year following the retirement of Seere- tary Fisher from this field may be appropri- ately termed the "Dark Ages" of our local history. The movement suffered a dangerous relapse and it almost proved fatal. The see- retaryship went begging, and the canvass for a building fund had apparently exhausted the generosity of many of its supporters. The
423
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPHI COUNTY.
board called as general secretary Mr. C. A. Tiebout, who accepted, but resigned a few months later on the twelfth day of October, 1886. Public meetings were abandoned ; debts for current expenses accumulated and re- mained unpaid ; interest on the mortgage notes was not paid; the membership scattered and the members failed to renew upon expira- tion, and the directors talked of disbanding. F. J. Lewis Meyer, who was secretary of the board of directors, as a volunteer worker gave much time and attention to the work and held it together until the next secretary was se- cured, in the early spring of 1887.
Leslie C. Whiteomb will always be remem- bered as one of the bright particular stars in our local firmament, and was one of the best secretaries the state of Indiana has ever had. As a young man he came to South Bend to sell life insurance, and incidentally became inter- ested in the work of the association. The di- rectors asked him to take the position as gen- eral secretary for two or three months on trial. He took np the work under discouraging cir- cumstances. The fully paid membership had decreased to less than 100 and an indebtedness for current expenses to the amount of $2,000 had remained unpaid. The work had become disorganized and the workers discouraged. The old building soon became a scene of gen- eral activity under his guidance. The mem- bership was increased to 255 on May 10th, 1887, and on February 8th, 1888, before the end of his first year, reached a total of 334, 163 of whom were active, and 171 associate members. The average number of men tak- ing gymnasium work was about one hundred, and in the educational classes about fifty. A staff of committee men and helpers number- ing about seventy-five was organized. Every department of the work, religious, social, edu- cational and physical was set in motion. An entertainment course was provided; a free employment bureau was maintained, and ca- pable physical directors were employed.
It was during the secretaryship of Mr. Whitcomb that an eventful meeting was held, which should be remembered as one of our historical landmarks.
Mrs. J. M. Studebaker, always a warm friend and faithful worker of the association, extended a special invitation to all the com- mittees to meet at her residence on "Sunny- side." About seventy-five were present. Re- ports of all the different lines of activity were read and commented upon, and Mr. J. M.
Studebaker, Sr., made a short talk, in which he said that he was surprised and delighted to learn that such effective work was being done in our community, and that it had given him new light on the scope and importance of the Y. M. C. A. work.
Pondering these words anew after a lapse of one and a half decades, and in the light 1 subsequent developments, this event may be "remembered with the things that were among the high tides of the calendar." Mr. Wh.it- comb held the position until January 1, 1892. Mr. Logan succeeded him as acting secretary until July 30, following, when W. F. Carey was called to the field.
Mr. Carey was a hard working conscientious official and did efficient service, maintaining a good average for the six years of his term. All the departments were kept going. The membership averaged about 275. He resigned May 5, 1898, and became general secretary of the association at Pottsville, Pa. He, too, will be remembered as one of the builders of our work.
On June 30, 1898. Mr. Paul H. Metcalf be- came general secretary and held the position until July 31, 1899. He resigned for the pur- pose of accepting the assistant pastorate of an institutional church in Elyria, Ohio. Mr. Metcalf revived the entertainment course idea which had been abandoned some years before, and was so successful that the first series netted profits to the amount of $527.57 for the association.
From Angust 1. 1899, to May 15, 1902, the association was without the services of a regu- lar general secretary. The writer of this sketch and Prof. Calvin O. Davis of the city high school, as members of the board of di- rectors, gave considerable time to the work, but were unable to prevent a serious falling off in membership and interest. It was ex- ceedingly difficult to secure a leader with the meagre equipment on hand. Mr. Guy was acting secretary until January 1, 1901, and Mr. Davis followed until May 15, 1902.
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