History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions, Part 28

Author: Foster, Emma Elizabeth Calderhead, 1857-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1276

USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 28

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Services are maintained on two Sundays in each month and Sunday school is held each Sunday morning.

Present officials: Louis T. Hardin, deacon ; warden, W. W. Hutchin- son ; vestrymen, Dr. F. W. Clark, Guy A. Pulleine and Carl W. Belknap.

IRVING.

The Episcopal church was organized in 1867 by Rev. Charles Holmes. For some time meetings were held in the school house. The membership was small and the meetings irregular and the church declined, but in 1874 it was reorganized by Bishop Vail and Reverend Holmes installed as pastor.

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In the fall of 1870 a small church home was erected at a cost of one thou- sand two hundred dollars. Rev. George Turner served as rector in 1883. The church is now in charge of Rer. Louis Harding, of Marysville.

BLUE RAPIDS.

Articles of association were adopted by the parish of St. Mark. Blue Rapids. March 1, 1871, to form a congregation of the Episcopal church.

The charter members were: Frank Hall. John McPherson, C. Y. Reed, Jane Reed, Eva Reed, E. A. MePherson, Luke P. Holmes, Walter R. Webb, M. S. Holmes, Charles Holmes, Matilda Webb, N. A. Stone, John W. Grif- fith. C. E. Olmstead, E. H. Comstock, Charles O. Clark and Emma Griffith.

The first meeting was hekl in Colonial hall, March 5. 1871. The first officials were: Charles Holmes, parish clerk; N. A. Stone, senior warden ; Charles Holmes, junior warden: C. E. Olmstead, John McPherson, John W. Griffith, vestrymen.

At the annual parish meeting held on Easter Monday, April 1, 1872, the following officers were elected: A. E. Sweetland, senior warden; Frank Hall, junior warden; E. Il. Comstock, C. E. Ohinstead, John McPherson, vestrymen. All anal elections since then have been held on the same day.

During the years 1871-74 Bishop Vail, the pioneer Episcopal bishop of Kansas, confirmed a number of candidates. These were the last confirma- tions held in Blue Rapids for a number of years.

Lacking a church building the church members became scattered and sme affiliated with other churches. Some removed to other localities and cleath claimed his toll. In 1883 three families of the Episcopal faith located in Blue Rapids, bringing a membership of nine to the church. These families were the Deaths, the Russells and Chaneys. Rev. Joseph Wayne. rector at Marysville, gathered the scattered members together and on May 20, 1888. services were resumed. On Easter morning regular services were held in the Congregational church by Bishop Thomas. The following day the annual election was held and the officials elected were: John McPherson, senior warden: J. A. Death, junior warden : Henry Harland, John Mulendez and Dr. Harry Humireville, vestrymen.

On June 15, 1901, Rev. H. C. Attwater assumed the pastorate of St. Marks. Under his ministry the church grew and prospered. \ church home was secured in Olmstead hall and furnished appropriately. Soon after this, through the efforts of Mrs. Mary J. Martin, a bequest of five hundred dollars was made St. Marks by Miss S. E. Maurice, of New York, and later the

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Congregational church edifice was purchased and a permanent church home secured. The church has been greatly improved, furnished with marble baptismal font, choir, stalls, lectern, prayer desk and hymn board. The lectern is a gift from the St. Agnes guild, in memory of Mrs. John McPher- son, long a loved member of the church. The altar vases were given by the Sunday school, in honor of Paul Wanamaker, who died August 13. 1913.

Early in 1901 Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Brown and Miss Florence Greer, (Mrs. Brown's daughter ), moved from Topeka to Blue Rapids, and became faithful workers in St. Mark. Miss Greer was especially active among the young people and her beautiful life was an example to all. Her death occurred on August 22, 1915.

In 1908 a fine rectory was built and first occupied by Rev. P. B. Pea- body, who was rector of St. Mark for nine years. Reverend Peabody left the charge at Blue Rapids to assume the pastorate of St. James church, Independence, Iowa. The present rector of St. Mark is the Rev. W. E. Rambo, of Brownsville, Pennsylvania. He became resident rector in Decem- ber, 1916. The church is prospering and has a devoted membership.

LUTHIERAN AND EVANGELICAL CHURCHES.

The English Lutheran church of Cottage Hill township was organized in 1879-80. The first pastor was Rev. D. Harbaugh. The first officials were Charles Dietelbach, L. R. Kistler, deacons; C. R. Kistler and F. J. Faulkner, elders.

Previous to this time Rev. F. R. Scherer and Rev. D. Harbaugh, both ministers of the English Lutheran church, preached in school houses in both Marshall and Washington counties.

After the building of the Keystone school house in district No. 92, preaching was held alternately in that school house and Pleasant Hill. In 1882-83 Rev. J. A. Lowe was installed as pastor and, largely through his efforts, the Waterville church was built in 1884. Reverend Sponseller suc- ceeded Reverend Lowe, and he planned and had the present church under construction in 1891.

Rev. I. B. Heisey followed Reverend Sponseller and under his charge the church was completed in 1892. The cost of the church was two thousand dollars. Reverend Heisey was well known as a pioneer citizen of the county. He was the well beloved pastor of the Waterville and Cottage Hill churches

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for twenty-one years. He took a well-earned rest in Illinois for some years and at present lives in Chapman, Kansas.

The present pastor of the church is Rev. Clark Powell, who has just been installed. The present number of members is twenty-three. The present church officials are: Ellers, D. C. Smith, M. M. Rice; deacons, George Rodecker. Andrew Hirt: trustees. Charles Stinson and Roy Rodecker.

There is a Sunday school in connection with the church, with forty mem- bers. Superintendent, Charles Stenson ; secretary, Myrtle Smith; treasurer, Mrs. Sarah Kistler.

ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, WALNUT TOWNSHIP.

The now existing church has its origin from the Scandinavians who settled in the western part of the county in the early seventies. The congre- gation was first organized as the Skandinaviske Evangeliske Lutherske Menighed, in Marshall county on 25th of March, 1874, with N. C. Brun. of Doniphan county, Kansas, as pastor and Jens T. Lund, H. M. Johnson and P. S. Lundgren as trustees, and Mart Scott as secretary. This congregation was not able to build a church at once and services were hell in settlers' homes and school houses until 1880, when a building was erected on a plot of two acres of ground in the southeast corner of northwest quarter of section 5. township 3. range 6, of which the south acre is set apart as a cemetery.

For three years the church had a resident pastor, but usually was served by pastors from other Scandinavian settlements.

In 1898 the charter was surrendered to the present organization, with Rev. 1. B. Heisy, of Waterville, as pastor, and since then it has been a part of the Waterville Lutheran pastorate.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH, MARYSVILLE.

This church was organized in 1868 by Rev. A. Bathe, with a good membership. Services were held in a frame buikling until 1876, when the present edifice was dedicated. The corner stone was laid in 1874 and a stone structure erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. The church still stands as erected, but has been remodeled slightly and a gallery for the choir added. In connection with the church a parochial school is maintained, where the young are instructed in the catechism and also in the German language.

Rev. A. Bathe was succeeded in 1870 by Rev. W. Goegel, who was suc-

GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH, MARYSVILLE.

SWEDISH LUTHERAN SALEM CHURCH, AXTELL.

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ceeded by Reverend Haas, in 1872. Rev. H. Barkman assumed charge in July, 1876, and remained until October, 1895. His successor was Rev. WV. Schaefer, who resigned in 1900, when Rev. L. Reinert was elected, who held the charge for nearly fourteen years, when the present incumbent, Rev. C. Bechtold, accepted the call of the congregation.

This congregation consists of about two hundred souls all told, in thirty-five families, with sixty adult individual members.

This "little German church on the corner," is one of the institutions of Marysville, which has shown the great quality of endurance, amidst all adversity. It has never in all these years been without a pastor and the church bell has never failed, on each succeeding Sabbath morn, as the years have come and gone, to call to the house of God a devoted congregation of worshippers.

Of the thirty-three original members of this congregation, the only ones now living are August Hohn and wife, and Christ Kracht and wife, of Marysville, and Fred Gerlinger, of West Allis, Wisconsin.

The present board of trustees are : Julius Plegge, Louis Sievert, Edward B. Menzel and John Peeks.

SWEDISH LUTHERAN.

The Swedish Lutheran Gloria Dei church of Cottage Hill, was organized on September 28, 1871. Rev. S. P. A. Lindahl perfected the organization. The first officers were : Deacons, N. P. Nelson, P. Hull and P. Blumquist ; trustees, Henry Nelson, John Olson and J. E. Nelson ; secretary, L. Ljoblom.

For two years the congregation was served by visiting ministers and the services were held in the Harbaugh school house. Rev. J. Veleen was the first regular pastor. He was succeeded by H. Olson.

On January 5, 1878, a location was secured and the present church was completed in 1886.

In 1894 a parsonage was built and Rev. B. S. Nystrom was the first pastor to live in it. He was succeeded by Rev. L. Ulden and Rev. N. J. Sture, who were succeeded by the present pastor.

The early membership was about one hundred and forty. In 1912 the membership was one hundred and twenty. The church is active in maintain- ing a Sunday school, in which the Swedish language is taught.

There is a Luther League and Ladies' Aid Society in connection with the church. The value of the church property is six thousand five hundred (21)

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dollars. The present officials of the church are: Pastor, M. J. Lonner ; deacons, .A. D. Moden, G. T. Nelson and Alfred Lindquist ; trustees, Frank Moden. Oscar Nelson and C. A. Peterson. Oscar Nelson is church treasurer and Mrs. M. J. Lonner, organist. The church owns a beautiful and well- kept cemetery, adjoining the church property.

EVANGELICAL LUTHIERAN ZION CIIURCH.

The Evangelical Lutheran Zion church at Herkimer was erected in 18)2 at a cost of two thousand two hundred dollars, with a membership of twelve. The names of the first officials were: J. H. Brockmeyer, presi- dent; William Thiele and E. Hormann, elders; W. H. Koeneke, treasurer ; C. Kulper, secretary. Later a parsonage was built at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars and a school at a cost of two thousand two hundred dol- lars. There are about twenty-five pupils attending the school. German is taught, religious training given and all English branches are taught as in the public schools. The minister is also the teacher.

The present membership of the church is twenty-five communicants and about two hundred attendants. The following are the present officers: H. Thiele, president ; William Thiele. William Fink and Theodore Schotte. elders; E. Hormann, treasurer : William Kruse. secretary.

The first pastor was H. Wein. The present pastor. H. C. Marting.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH, STOLZENBACII.

This church was organized in 1869 by Rev. A. Bathe, then the resi- dent pastor at Marysville. First services were held in the Otoe Indian mis- sion house, which stood on section 1. Baldwin township.

The mission house was a three-story concrete buikling, one hundred by fifty feet, and was erected by an Eastern church society, at the time the Indians were located on that reservation, for whatever use the Indian agent might make of it. I 1873 a hurricane tore the top story off this building. and after that it continued in operation as a two-story affair and was still used by this congregation for a meeting house. Later, the Merklinghaus school house, located on the same section, was used until 1879, when a church building was erected on the northeast corner of section 12. Baklerson town- ship. Up to 1892 this church was under the pastorage of Marysville, since then it has been combined with a church of the same denomination at Herki- mer.

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Pastors serving this church were: Rev. A. Bathe, to 1870; Rev. W. Gogel, to 1872; Reverend Haas, to 1876; Rev. H. H. Barkman, to 1892; Reverend Vogt, to 1895: Reverend Bohnstengel, to 1895: Reverend Huebsch- mann, to 1901 ; Reverend Koch, to 1903; H. Grosse, to 1906; G. H. Schwake and Ad. Rahn, 1911 to 1914.

The pastor in charge of this congregation at present is Rev. E. Berg- strasser. The present membership is fifteen families, numbering seventy-one souls.

The mission house referred to above, was built by an Eastern church missionary society. The missionary in charge gathered up a couple of dozen papooses and tried to teach them to read and write and do kindergarten work; then the parents of the children insisted upon getting pay for the use of their children, and the work had to be dropped, and the building was used for a sort of community hall.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL IMMANUEL CHURCH, HERKIMER.

This church is an offspring of the church of the same denomination at Marysville, and was organized in 1890. Distance and growth of population in the surrounding country seemed to justify the separation.

Rev. E. Vogt had charge of this congregation from 1892 to 1897; Rev. H. Huebschmann, to 1901 ; Rev. Chr. Koch, to 1902 ; H. Grosse, to 1908; Rev. U. B. Slupianek, to 1912; Rev. L. Birnstengel, to present date.

The church edifice was erected in 1893 at a cost of one thousand dol- lars, and the records for 1915 show a congregation of one hundred and ten adults, consisting of thirty-nine families, making one hundred and sixty- three souls in all.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TRINITY CONGREGATION (GERMAN), WALNUT TOWNSHIP.

This congregation was first organized in 1886. The membership included nearly all the German families residing in the vicinity. Meetings were held in the Danish church. The congregation was served by neighboring pastors, namely, Revs. G. Polack, Frese, Hoyer, and Wein.

In 1906 the congregation was reorganized, the present property purchased and a good church built. The first resident pastor was Rev. J. Rabold, who served the congregation until February, 1911, when he accepted a call to

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western Kansas. During the summer of that year the new pastor, Rev. W. Cook, was installed.

The membership at present is as follows: Number of souls, one hundred eighty-five : communicants, ninety-eight ; voting members, thirty-one.

The present board of elders are Herman Scheibe, Martin Holle, and Iler- man Minge; R. Frohberg, chairman; H. Stohis, secretary ; A. Pronske, treas- urer.

A cemetery near the church is the object of care on the part of the church, and is in perfect order. Many of the good men and women who helped build and maintain the church sleep in peace and quiet within that inclosure.

AT HERMANSBURG.

Three and one-half miles northeast of Bremen, on an eminence named Hermansburg, which commands a fine view of the country for miles in each direction, stands the German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel church, known to the people of Marshall county and adjoining counties as the Hermans- burg church.

This church was erected in 1870 by an organization, which was per- fected in the year 1868, with twelve members.

The trustees of the first organization were: Friedrich Westermann, Louis Knees, Henry Meyer, Thomas Koeneke, John Bandich, secretary.

The early pastors who served this congregation were: Jonas Matthias. Leonhard Pfiffer, Gustav W. Polack and Friedrich Pennekamp.

Rev. Gustav Polack was a widely known pastor of the German Luth- eran Evangelical faith. Ile was originally from Illinois; came to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, thence to Marshall county. He served as pastor of the Hermansburg church from 1879 until his death in 1898. During the early years his pastorate extended as far north as Lanham and as far south as Ilerkimer. He established German Lutheran churches at Afton and Herki- mer in Marshall county; at Palmer. Linn and Strawberry in Washington county: at Bern in Nemaha county, and at Onaga and Duluth in Potta- watomie county. Because of this the influence of the Hermansburg church, being the central power, extended beyond the limits of the county. Reverend Polack closed his ministry with the church in 1898. He was buried on the day he had chosen to deliver his farewell sermon.

The church has prospered and now has a membership of eighty-eight. with a Sunday school of one hundred. There are two parochial schools in

OLD HERMANSBERG GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH AND CONGREGATION, ON HORSESHOE CREEK.

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connection with the church. One of the school buildings is on property adjoining the church, the other is three and one-half miles south and cast of the church. The common branches, extending as far as the eighth grade, are taught and, in addition, special instruction in the German language and in religious training is given. There are seventy-seven children enrolled in the two schools and two teachers are employed. Dwellings are furnished the teachers free of charge and salaries amounting to one thousand and fifty dollars annually, are paid. The cost of the two school buildings exceeded three thousand dollars.

The church owns forty-five acres of land, on part of which is located a well-kept cemetery. The present pastor of the church is Otto Menke, and the present officials are: Fred Friedrichs, John Rengstorf, Fred Holle; William Rabe, treasurer, and E. A. G. Mueller, secretary.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The first United Presbyterian church in Marshall county was organ- ized May 20, 1883, by Rev. Marion Morrison. D. D., with Capt. C. F. Mc- Culloch, A. B. Weede and S. M. Pressly as ruling elders. The location of this congregation was in the vicinity of the present city of Summerfield. There were twenty-three charter members as follow: Mr. and Mrs. C. F. McCulloch, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Smiley, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brown, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Weede, Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Pressly, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nash, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Hutchison, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Brown, E. J. Smiley, W. A. Smiley, Miss Carrie E. McCulloch. Miss Fannie Smiley and W. R. Brown.

For about six years the congregation worshipped in the school house in district 90, with Reverend Morrison, Rev. J. H. Montgomery and others as supplies, but when Summerfield was started a church building at a cost of about two thousand five hundred dollars was built and Rev. W. T. War- nock called as pastor in 1891. Rev. C. H. Mitchell succeeded Reverend Warnock as pastor in 1894 and eight years later Dr. J. C. Calhoun became pastor and continued for twelve years when the present pastor, Rev. W. L. Torrence, took charge.

The congregation now has one hundred ninety members and the Sab- bath school numbers more than two hundred." The church building has

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been enlarged and a commodious parsonage has been erected since the organization.

Eleven of the charter members are yet living, seven of whom reside within the bounds and continue as members of this church.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI.

On January 12, 1872, the following persons, who were of the Congrega- tional polity and faith, perfected a church organization in Blue Rapids : James Cooley, Charles E. Tibbetts, J. D. Field, F. G. Morris, J. E. Ball. John Palmer, J. C. Friselle, Lewis Phelps, John A. Smith. William Ekins and James A. Dawes. Of these men, James Cooley and Charles E. Tib- hetts had been in the county since 1866, and William Ekins and James . Dawes came later.

The first pastor was Rev. Arthur Smith. He died early in his minis- terial work. In 1879 came Rev. E. Skinner, of English birth, and during his ministry a church was erected and dedicated in October, 1882. Reverend Skinner died in 1901. Members moved away and the church declined. In 1902 the church property was leased to the Episcopal people and later sold to them. In 1910 the church formally disbanded. This church amply justified its existence by the part it took, for more than three decades, in the religious and social life of Blue Rapids. Among those who went out from under its guidance is Rev. Frank L. Macy, for many years a successful Congregational minister, now residing at Mil- ford. Kansas: Rev. Harry E. Vincent. a Congregationalist pastor, of New York state: Charles W. Elkins, of California, a Sunday school worker of national reputation. Among the prominent pastors who served the church may be noted Rev. Vernon H. Deming, of New England, and Rev. Wil- liam M. Brown, president of Tillotson College. Texas.

FREE METHODIST CHURCH.

The Free Methodist church of Frankfort. Kansas, was organized on May 24. 1007. The first members were: Rev. Charles H. Southworth, Wesley Long. Christian Reust, Samuel MeDonald and Edgar Long. The first trustees were: Christian Reust. Samuel MeDonald. Samuel .A. Reust.

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Samuel Reust, Samuel Koch, E. S. Slifer and Wesley Long. Stewards : Joseph Reust. Tabitha Packard, Mary A. Alleman. Class leader, Wesley Long: treasurer, S. A. Reust ; secretary, Tabitha Packard. Membership of the church, twenty-nine. Superintendent of Sunday school, E. S. Slifer : membership of Sunday school, thirty. First pastor, C. S. Huston. The church was built in 1910. The present pastor is J. A. Chaney.

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

In July, 1880, Rev. Mr. Rhodes, of Seneca, organized a church of the Universalist faith at Vermillion, with forty members. Services were held by Reverend Rhodes in the school house and in an upper room of a store building, for some time, when the organization finally disbanded, many placing their membership in other denominations.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH.

On the corner of Fourteenth street and Broadway in Marysville, stands this little church, built and dedicated to the service of Christian Science, in the spring of 1893.

It is said that this is the second church building ever dedicated to the cause of Christian Science in the world.

Christian Science was first introduced into this county by Mrs. Lillie B. Shepard in the year 1887. In 1891 a Christian Science society was formed by a few families meeting in a hall.

In 1892 a Sunday school was organized with a goodly attendance. In 1893 a charter for a church was procured under the name of First Church of Christ, Scientist. There were fourteen charter members.

In 1903 the reading rooms connected with this church were established in a commodious suite of rooms in the White building.

There is regular Sunday service and Sunday school and Wednesday evening testimonial meetings are maintained by this organization.

BLUE RAPIDS.

This society was organized in May, 1912. Services are held every Sunday morning in the Odd Fellows hall.

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PENTECOST CHIURCII.

The Pentecost church at Blue Rapids was organized on August 6, 1907. by W. C. Craig, then bishop of the general Pentecost church, with twenty- three members. Officers were elected as follow: Elders, C. A. Bartell and E. J. McAAtee ; deacon, R. A. M: das O Wady; treasurer, Della Mc.Atee; recorder. W. E. Ellis; trustees, T. M. Guy. E. A. Wadley, C. A. Bartell, L. E. Payne and Zelina Westlake. Pastor, E. J. Mc. Atee.

A Bible school was organized with forty scholars. Officers and teach- ers as follow : Superintendent, A. E. Wadley; assistant superintendent, Iva Cox; secretary, D. L. Reed : treasurer, R. A. Mc. Atee ; teachers. R. A. Mc.Atee, W. E. Ellis, Ollie Wadley and Carrie Mc. \tee.

At the time of organization the congregation owned a building on Main street, purchased from the Christian church, in which services were held until a new church was built and dedicated on December 20, 1912. In January, 1917. there were only fifteen members.

The present officers are as follow : Ellers. E. J. McAAtee. R. A. Mc. Atee: deacon, Albert Warner : deaconess, Rebecca Mosher ; treasurer, E. J. McAtee ; recorder, Mrs. S. Burton; trustees, Albert Warner. Charles Mosher and R. A. Mc.Atee. Pastor, E. J. Mc. Atee.

The Bible school consists of twenty-three scholars. Superintendent. E. J. McAtee ; secretary, Maude Burton ; teachers. D. L. Reed, E. J. McAtce and Mrs. S. Burton.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

In a log cabin the first mass was celebrated in the Irish settlement in Cleveland township. The cabin was built in 1866 and at that time was considered a palatial residence. It became the property of W. P. and Cath- erine Gregg in 1867 and from that time until 1872, when a church was erected, Catholic services were held monthly in this house. The old log cabin, which became each month a tabernacle to the Most High, and which was always a hospitable home for the pioneer priest, has long since been abandoned as a residence but is still standing, one of the very few remain- ing log cabins in the county. It is the property of Hon. W. J. Gregg, of Frankfort. a son of the pioneer, and to Mr. Gregg the editor is indebted for the accompanying picture.

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History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions, Part 28

Author: Foster, Emma Elizabeth Calderhead, 1857- Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1276

Author: Foster, Emma Elizabeth Calderhead, 1857-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1276